Disclaimer: Once again, I absolutely do not own Yuu Watase's Fushigi Yuugi characters such as Genrou, Kouji or Chichiri. I do however, absolutely own Reiko and everybody else unfamiliar.

Author's Note: Like the previous chapters, I've read this through and changed all those little mistakes. I hope I got everything though. Enjoy! =)

Chapter three: The attack

"What's the hurry?" Kouji asked. "You can leave tomorrow."

"No. I have to go now. It's important." Reiko said.

"Not so fast, kid." Genrou put his hand on her shoulder. "I wanna hear your story first. Tell us, and we'll help you. Deal?"

Reiko looked into his amber eyes. I can trust him. He seems like good guy. "Deal."

Back at the hideout:

Reiko breathed in, and started

"It all started a couple of months back. At Hokkan. That's where I'm from. Anyways, the General, Nakuto, he wanted to take over the kingdom. And obviously, the Emperor and his wife were in the way. He managed to get his supporters, even within the palace grounds he had supporters. They helped him to get control of the palace. But the Emperor didn't give in without a fight of course. In fact, Nakuto couldn't beat him, so he used the Emperor's daughter to get his ways. He used her to blackmail the Emperor into giving into him. And father gave in to him, for me."

Reiko paused. She started to feel the anger accumulate in her. She still hated Nakuto. Genrou and Kouji looked at her in surprise.

I knew her name sounded familiar, Genrou thought. She's the Princess of Hokkan.

Reiko continued. "I-I was supposed to help Nakuto do something. But father prohibited it. He said no matter what, I cannot help Nakuto bring our nation down. So I listened to my father, even when.. even when Nakuto killed them.. he killed them in front of my very own eyes."

Tears welled up in Reiko's eyes. "Still, after my parents deaths, I refused to help him. He locked me up and all, but he couldn't really do anything. He couldn't risk getting me so hurt that'll kill me. My death was the last thing he wanted. He needed me. So for months, I went through hell, and yet, I still refuse to help him. Then one night, my servant Ayame, she helped me escape. But.. but she got killed. Nakuto killed her. And then that's when you found me, I suppose." Her voice cracked.

"That's why I need to go to the Empress quickly. I think she can help. Ayame told me to look for her. Please, help me." Reiko begged.

"Well then Kouji," Genrou stretched his arms. "It's time for an adventure, eh?"

Reiko was filled with delight. "THANK YOU!" she hugged Genrou.

"HEY! I DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Kouji smiled and shook his head.

Genrou went to get his horse ready.

Why am I helping this girl out? He questioned himself. I don't help girls. I hate girls! They're always causing trouble.

"Genrou?" Reiko's voice entered the stable.

"Yeah kid, waddya want?"

"Nothing. I just wanna say.. thanks. For helping me."

Genrou blushed.

"Wait. What really happened to your teeth?"

"Shut up kid!"

Genrou helped Reiko mount his horse. "Hey, where's Kouji?"

"I'm not going, Genrou." Kouji came out from the trees.

"It's bad enough with you going off. I can't leave the gang behind by themselves. Who knows what shit they'd get themselves into?" Kouji said.

"Kouji," Genrou shook his head. "You know, you'd make a better leader than me."

"Stuff it fang-boy. Compliments will not make me change my mind. Just hurry up, help this girl out and come back."

Genrou mounted his horse. "Yeah. I'd come back soon."

The two rode through the night, the wind in their hair. Damn this girl's hair stinks. Genrou said to himself. I should have let her freshen up back at the mountain.

The forest was quiet. Unusually quiet. Genrou kept looking over his shoulder. Why does it feel like somebody's following us?

"Genrou..." Reiko looked up, with a troubled expression. "I have a bad feeling about this. I think someone's followi-" Genrou montioned to her to keep quiet. They halted.

"Funny. I feel the same thing. We'd better get going though." Just as they started to go off again, an arrow whizzed by their heads so suddenly that it made the horse go berserk. Both of them fell off hard smack on the ground.

"Reiko! Are you alright?"

"Oww. Yeah i guess?" She rubbed her elbow.

"Ya sure bout that?" Genrou held her arm and checked her elbow. "Ya dislocated it, and its bad. Are you inhuman or what? Doesn't it hurt?"

"You're touching me." Reiko said, surprised. "I thought you couldn't stand physical contact with girls?"

"Don't be an idiot Reiko," he took off his jacket and bit off his right sleeve. "You're hurt, so that's an exception." Genrou tied the ripped cloth over her shoulder and around her arm.

Genrou suddenly pulled Reiko towards the ground as another arrow flew over them. He blushed, realising how close Reiko was to him as she whined in pain. "GENROU! CAN'T YOU BE A LIL BIT MORE CAREFUL WITH ME? I'M HURT REMEMBER?"

The bandit carried her swiftly and made a run for it. Where's that damned horse?! Genrou looked frantically around as he ran.

"Gen-chan! Behind you!" Reiko screamed. He ducked just before the arrow could hit them, but he tripped over a tree root, dropping Reiko.

"Shit," the bandit muttered to himself. Then he heard Reiko's muffled cry.

A tall man, dressed in black had grabbed Reiko, his hand cupped over her mouth. "I'll be taking her back, mister. Run along now before i hurt you."

Reiko struggled, and the man suddenly cried out in pain when she bit him. His grip on her did not loosen though. Then without warning, Reiko kicked back into his groin, making him scream out in pain, again. The man let her go.

Realising his chance, Genrou took his tessen. "LEKKA SHIN"EN!!" he sent a rush of fire towards the assailant.

Reiko noticed a red mark glowing on his right forearm. Her eyes widened. He's one of the remaining Suzaku Seishi! She watched him burn the crap out of the guy.

Just then, that same, haunting twang of an arrow made Reiko look up, startled. She heard Genrou's voice shouting her name, before blacking out.

"Reiko!" Genrou shouted as he saw the arrow hurtling towards her. The arrow had hit Reiko's left chest and she fainted. Without a moment's hesitation, Genrou carried her once more and ran as fast as he could. He knew the city would be near, then he could get help.

Chichiri! he suddenly thought. I could call out to Chichiri to help me! Let's just hope he'd hear me. "Chichiri! CHICHIRI!" he cried out as an arrow came flying, right onto his back.

Chichiri bolted up. Did I just hear Tasuki calling me? He scratched his head. "CHICHIRI!" Tasuki's voice came out of nowhere. "I NEED HELP, CHICHIRI! I'M JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY GROUNDS. HURRY!" With that, Chichiri grabbed his staff and in a flash, he had vanished.

"Ahh," the voiced neared Genrou. "A Suzaku Seishi, am i right?"

Genrou flinched. "Who are you? Whaddya want?"

"You know what I want. Give her to me now."

"Over my dea--"

"Dead body? My pleasure." To whom the voice belonged to came into Genrou's view. He didn't look any different from the previous one.

Suddenly, a red light covered them. "Sorry, not today, no da," Chichiri said with his staff pointing towards the stranger. And they disappeared with the blink of an eye.

So, Reiko has gotten the help of the remaining 2 Suzaku Seishi. That's not enough to keep her away from me. The man, clad in black, holding the accursed bow, laughed to himself.

Alright, so i did promise some action. Action enough!? hahaha. well. hope so. Please please review? =)