Eheh. I know, I know. I promised to update every month, but… well, life happens. ;

Disclaimer(s): Fushigi Yuugi does not belong to me. My friend has an awesome wall scroll, though. I do, however, own Rei Kishi, Hikari, and Motoki. Not to mention Pip. Pip is mah friend! I wuff Pip.

Warning(s): The effects of boredom on the intelligent mind. Not to mention said intelligent mind being stressed...

Chapter 11: Politics

Two weeks had already gone by since Rei and her warriors had been deposited in Sairo. Tokaki and Subaru were kind enough to let them stay in their large estate at the request of both Chichiri and Tatara; although Rei suspected that seeing their old friend alive and well was the main reason the old couple were so accommodating.

Almost at once Chichiri, Mitsukake, and Hikitsu had settled into a rhythm that would spell their days. Walking out among the people, trying to find out what they wanted, what they all agreed upon. The problem was that none of them agreed on anything.

"How are we supposed to unify them if they don't even care about each other?!" Hikitsu cried, slumping over his desk.

Chichiri and Mitsukake exchanged a glance. The monk sighed, placing his brush back into the inkwell. "There has to be something, no da. People always have common ground, we just haven't found it yet," he said calmly.

"But- !"

"Hikitsu-sama, perhaps this is not the best task for you," Mitsukake cut in.

The grey-haired man abruptly stood up and began pacing. He scowled. "It's just taking so damned long! There has to be something!"

"Should I call for a time out?" a voice interrupted. It was cool and unperturbed, with an undertone of amusement.

All three turned to glare at Rei, with the exception of Chichiri, who of course had his smiling mask on.

She sighed and shook her head, walking into the room and sitting down between the monk and healer. "Sounds to me like you all need a break."

Mitsukake nodded. "Hai. However... Until we unite the people of Sairo under your flag, we won't truly be able to rest."

"Hn. I think you should all just relax. Sometimes if you stop looking for something, you find it," Rei said.

Chichiri blinked under his mask. Since when had she become so wise? Maybe they needed a break after all... "I heard there's supposed to be a harvest festival tonight, no da," he suggested.

Rei raised her eyebrows. "A harvest festival? In the desert?"

"Hai."

"What do they harvest?"

Chichiri opened his mouth to answer, then closed it. Even his mask looked embarrassed. "I... don't know no da."

She smirked. "Well, alright. But I want all three of you to take the whole day off, you hear me?"

Hikitsu and Mistukake exchanged glances. The healer shrugged. "Whatever you say, Rei-sama."

"Good."

.::0::.

The sun was blistering hot over the desert, sending waves of heat dancing into the air above the distant dunes. The people of Sairou had long since taken refuge in their homes.

Rei leaned out over the railing along the edge of the covered walkway that ran around Tokaki's and Subaru's home. She idly chewed on the end of a dried-out weed, head resting on one hand and eyes half-closed in a look of abject boredom. There just wasn't anything to do here! Chichiri had effectively disappeared after she'd told he and the other's to take the day off.

She sighed. If only she felt comfortable around some of the other seishi that were supposed to be her guardians! The woman knew she'd have to gain their respect and friendship eventually, but for now... For now they shunned her.

'Damned Hikari... why'd he have to drag me here? There have got to be other people that would be more qualified for this...'

Maybe... maybe there was something about her that no one else had. Whatever it was, Rei felt that Hikari could have at least told her what it was. That would have helped. But, no, being a god he'd had to come over all mysterious.

Rei closed her eyes, shaking her head slowly. "Gah... Why me?"

"Something bothering you, no da?"

Rei's eyes snapped open and she whipped her head to the side. Her wide eyes met half-moon lines. "Don't do that!"

"Do what no da?" Chichiri asked, grinning like a very pleased cat.

"Appearing next to people without saying anything isn't very nice..." Rei muttered, trying her best to stay annoyed with her friend. She found herself grinning along with him. Damn his cheerfulness was infectious! "Where have you been, anyway?"

The monk shrugged one shoulder. "Around no da."

Rei glared. "Fine, be all mysterious." She turned to look out towards the distant dunes again. "Everybody else is, why shouldn't you?" she muttered under her breath.

She had underestimated the sharpness of Chichiri's ears. "Give them time, Rei. Most of them are still getting used to having bodies again, let alone having a new prophecy to fulfill," he said seriously, all traces of joviality gone from his soft voice. "They're good people, they'll open up eventually."

"I suppose you're right." She turned to face him, smiling slightly. "Hey, at least I have you, right?"

"That's right no da!" said the monk, mask smiling cheerfully as always.

.::0::.

Rei stared at her reflection in the mirror, one eyebrow raised. Subaru, hearing about Rei's plans to attend the harvest festival had swooped down upon the girl in the middle of a corridor. One hour later, Rei's hair had been swept up into a complicated knot that the older woman swore was the newest fashion among the girls in the village. Rei could deal with the hair-do, although she had entertained some cynical thoughts about how often Subaru got out of the house these days.

Her non-plussed look was directed at the dress Subaru had bullied her into wearing. It was... pink. And that was only the beginning of its troubles. There were complicated folds, and a white sash. It had flowers.

Rei sighed. 'If someone had told me a month ago that I'd be wearing pink I would have laughed in their face,' she mused, spinning slowly to get the full effect of the dress. She had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that it did accentuate her better features. The pink seemed to make her skin seem a little less pale, too.

The door cracked open and Rei spun around, blue eyes meeting Tasuki's gold. The bandit grinned, fangs peeking out between his lips. "Hey, onna, you look good," he said, then ducked as a small clay pot whizzed past his head to smash on the wall behind him. "That was a compliment ya psycho!"

"Not in that tone of voice, it wasn't," Rei growled.

The bandit snorted. "Whatever makes yer boat float. I was sent ta fetch ya. We're all ready to go," he said.

Rei nodded and followed him out, wobbling slightly on her raised sandals.

.::0::.

A hush fell over the warriors as their champion stepped out under the starlight. Rei felt herself blushing with so many eyes on her and she trained her eyes on the ground. When it seemed as if the stunned silence was going to go on forever, she glanced up, her eyes catching on the half-moon smile of Chichiri's mask. She couldn't tell if he was looking at her or not, but she felt as if he was. She felt strangely calm.

Rei cleared her throat. "Erm..." she started, then faltered. She felt as if something was expected of her. "Shall we...?"

Apparently that was it. The seishi began walking, Soi and Tasuki settling to bickering, Mitukake and Tatara walking together in peaceful silence, and Tomite and Hikitsu teasing each other relentlessly as they walked.

Chichiri fell into step next to Rei, smiling serenely. Of course, he always seemed to be smiling, but she could feel the peace flowing from him. It was comforting. As they turned a bend in the road that would put Tokaki and Subaru's home out of sight, she heard the sound of a hand smacking the back of a head.

"You old lech!" Subaru's indignant voice floated to them.

Rei laughed. "Those two are so... so..."

"Perfect no da?" Chichiri supplied.

"Yeah."

His smile widened under the mask. It was a lovely night. The stars were shining so brightly that the new moon was a perfect black disk hanging in the sky. The monk snuck a glance at his companion out of the corner of his eye. Rei looked beautiful tonight, with the starlight making her hair and skin glow.

"What are you thinking about, Chichiri?" Rei asked as they walked a little behind the others.

Chichiri blinked, averting his gaze back to the sky. "It's a beautiful night no da. Perfect for a festival," he said.

"Yes..." Rei sounded almost disappointed.

"Is something wrong no da?"

"Hmm? Oh, no. Nothing at all," Rei said.

Dun dun dun!! And I finally update after more than a year, and what do I leave you with? A CLIFFIE!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!

Will the festival go off without a hitch? Will Rei and Chiri finally have the epiphany I'm sure some of you have been waiting for? WILL TOKAKI STOP BEING A LECH??

Find out all this and more in:

CHAPTER 12

And now a message from the author…

Gomen ne, minna! I lost all the lovely reviews you sent! And some of the not-so-lovely ones… coughcough So… uh… review this chapter… and… um… I'll give you a cookie?