-Ten-Faced Paladin
Fushigi Yugi: Dansei Tsure By Ten-Faced Paladin Chapter 3: The Boy with the Demon Star
Miaka groaned as she slowly woke up. Her mind was doing a large checklist which told her that she was sleeping on something soft. She slowly opened her eyes which revealed a dark blurry shape above her. She blinked a little and wiped her eyes. Her eyes focoused in to see the face of Matthew above her.
"Morning princess," he smiled.
"Augh!" Miaka shrieked in shock.
Matthew then immediately found himself on the recieving end of a rather hard slap. He sat back and held his throbbing cheek. While he was muttering something about being high-strung, Miaka began taking in her surroundings. She found that she and Matthew were sitting on top of a cart filled with items. The wares were covered with a canvas.
"Wh...what happened?" she asked. "Where are we?"
"Don't you remember?" Matthew asked, while nursing his cheek. "We were sucked into that book in the library."
"Oh!" Miaka gasped. "Now I remember!"
"There ya go," Matthew smiled. "So, what exactly do we do now that we're here?"
Miaka held her finger to her chin as she thought about it. She didn't want to go home after the argument with her mother. She then resolved that she was going to take her chances in the book.
"You know," Miaka smiled. "We should see if we can find that boy with the demon mark on his head. At least we know he's friendly."
Matthew almost grimaced at the mention of that guy. In his opinion, the guy was a money grubbing jerk. Even if he did save them, he tried to charge them for it. What made him even more upset was the fact that Miaka was probably right.
"It's a start I guess," Matthew sighed.
Miaka smiled brightly and the both of them slipped off the cart and began walking alongside it. They both looked ahead and saw a massive castle behind a stone wall. It was all made in Chinese style structures.
"Wow!" Miaka gasped. "I'm impressed! It's like a movie set!"
"I'm inclined to agree," Matthew nodded. "We don't have much like this back home."
The two of them looked back to the crowds, trying not to get squashed underneath. Miaka's eyes landed on someone in particular and she gasped. Matthew followed her gaze and both of them managed to get a glimpse of the boy who had the demon mark on his head.
"It's him!" Miaka gasped with a smile.
"That was fast," Matthew remarked.
Miaka began pushing herself past people, trying to catch up with him. For once,being smaller was helping her. Matthew had to squeeze through the crowds while Miaka was having a much easier time about it. When both of them finally got some breathing space, they discovered that they had lost him.
"How can you move so fast?" Matthew gasped as he came out of the crowds. "It's like walking upriver for me."
"I dunno," Miaka shrugged. "What do you think is going on? It looks like some kind of festival."
"Seems like it to me," Matthew agreed. "So just what do you think they're celebrating?"
Matthew looked up from his huffing to see that Miaka was gone. He looked around to see just where she had disappeared to. It was like she had just vanished.
"Where'd she go now?" Matthew complained.
The scent of food caught his nose and it became clear. Yui had told him that Miaka had a thing for food. The dream she had the day before and how she freaked about the lack of places to eat when all three of them got sucked into the book was undeniable proof.
"Food," Matthew grumbled. "She smelled food. Just perfect."
Grumbling to himself again, Matthew set off again. Now he not only had to find the boy with the mark on his head, but now he had to find Miaka too. He kept asking himself just why he kept getting into messes like this.
While Matthew began his search, Miaka had found the quarry that she had pursued. She stood at the booth where sweet buns were being made. She started drooling which caused everyone who could see her start staring.
"Do you want anything?" the man in charge of the booth asked.
"Huh?" Miaka gaspeed. "Oh, yes. The sweet buns please."
The man scooped up several of the buns and handed them to Miaka. She promptly paid him with a few coins.
"Oh, mister, have you seen a boy with a demon mark on his forhead?" she asked.
"Sorry," the man replied. "Haven't seen a guy like that."
Miaka pouted and nodded. She then began walking away while beginning to munch on a sweet bun.
"Hey! What kind of money is this!" the man shouted behind her.
Miaka shrieked and beagn running. She kept running until she stopped where she figured where she had left Matthew. Her only problem was that he wasn't there anymore. She just huffed to herself.
"Great," she sighed. "He's rude, unfiendly sometimes, and impatient. I'd like to see him get a girlfriend with an attitude like that."
Someone tapped on her shoulder and she turned around to see a young man smiling in a friendly manner.
"Hi," he greeted. "I heard you were looking for someone. A boy with a mark for demon on his head. Right?"
"That's right," Miaka smiled.
"Then I think I might know who you're looking for," the man smiled. "Would you like to walk with me?"
"Okay!" Miaka smiled brightly. 'Take that Matt! My fifteen years of boyfriendlessness are about to come to an end!'
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Matthew was sitting in a noodle shop slurping up the contents of his bowl. He had managed to sell some of the stuff he had brought with him in his backpack. Namely some sketches he made of sites back in Japan and his sketch pencils. The artist he sold them to wanted to know how he made the pictures. He paid pretty well for them too. Buying the noodles barely made a dent in the cash he got.
"Hey, have you heard?" he heard one customer ask. "There's a girl in wierd clothes running around nearby."
"Oh yeah?" his friend asked. "I heard she was looking for a boy with a demon on his forehead."
Matthew's head snapped up and looked at the two who were conversing. He was about to stand up and begin asking them more questions, when suddenly a blur shot past him and beat him there.
"Is that true?" the blur asked when it came to a stop, revealing the very boy Matthew and Miaka were looking for.
"Woah!" the two men gasped.
Matthew was inclined to agree. He had never seen anyone move that fast before. Not even some of the speed stars on thee track team could move that fast. Just how skilled was this guy?
"Is she a girl in a short skirt with her hair done in buns, or did she have short hair?" the guy asked. "Was she with a tall guy with brown hair?"
"How would I know?" one fo the customers asked. "Just who are you?"
"Oh! Sorry," the guy smiled as he reached into his shirt. "My card."
"Jack-of-all-trades?" the man asked as he read it.
"Yup," the guy smiled. "As long as you pay, I'll do just about anything."
Matthew shook his head. So far, his opinion of the guy was unchanged. He was still a money-grubbing jerk. At least he seemed to remember him, Miaka, and Yui. Explaining things to him would be easier.
"Call me anytime," the guy smiled. "Well, I must be going."
He turned to leave and began heading for the door. Matthew realised that he was going to miss this chance. He may actually be able to help find Miaka.
"Hey!" Matthew called as he chased after the guy. "Wait a minute, Mr. Jack-of-all-trades!"
The guy stopped and turned around as Matthew caught up with him. His eyes looked at him with recognition.
"Hey, I remember you," he remarked. "You're that guy that was with those two girls."
"Yeah, Miaka and Yui," Matthew nodded. "I came back with the girl with the buns. She's been looking for you all over the place. I got seperated from her and I could use some help finding her."
"Oh yeah?" the guy smiled. "That little commission would cost about ten Mon. You still poor?"
"I'll gve you five now and five after we find her," Matthew sighed. "If she's in trouble and you help out then I'll give you another ten."
"Okay!" the guy grinned widely as he gave a thumbs up. "I'm on the job!"
"Fine," Matthew smiled. "My name's Matt. Just who are you anyway?"
"Me?" he asked. "I'm Xong Gui-Siu. Just call me Tamahome. Everyone else does."
"Okay Tamahome," Matthew smiled. "Let's find Miaka already."
Matthew was about to leave when Tamahome grabbed him by the shoulder. Matthew looked back to see Tamahome holding out his hand. Matthew sweatdropped. When it came to money this guy was a sharp one.
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While Matthew and Tamahome began their search, Miaka was following the man who said that he could lead her to her quarry. They had been walking for a while and Miaka was starting to get impatient.
"So where is this friend of yours?" Miaka asked.
"Right here," a new voice spoke.
Miaka quickly found herself in the midst of a group of men. They were all looking at her with a bad look in their eyes.
"Wow," one man snickered. "You found a strange one this time."
"Well," another reason. "She's an exoctic one. We'll probably make a fortune off her clothes alone!"
"I heard exotic girls taste different," a third sneered.
"What?" Miaka gasped before turning to the man who led her there. "Hey! You lied to me!"
"Not my fault that you're so gullible," the fourth man laughed with a shrug.
As the four men slowly started moving around her, Miaka began to realise that the book world wasn't as different as home was. There were punks here as well. Then she had a sudden idea. This world was just a book anyway. It wasn't like she would get into trouble for fighting or anything.
"Okay punks!" Miaka growled while discarding her jacket and rolling up her sleeves. "You see these BCG vaccination tracks? Now I'm going to make you pay!"
The four punks just stared at her. That was one heck of a surprise since they hadn't seen a woman act like that before.
"Check out this move I saw on a movie three days ago!" Miaka shouted as she ran at them.
She delived a powerful clothesline into one thug's neck. It sent him sprawling to the ground wheezing. The other three began to back away as she turned her attention to them. A German suplex was next on the list as Miaka got a hold of a second thug. The other two met some serious damage to their manhood as Miaka finished up with them. Soon all four of them were on the ground groaning in pain.
"Wow," Miaka smiled as she wiped the sweat off her face. "Do I got it or what?"
She turned to walk away when ahand gripped her ankle and she fell to the ground. She quickly turned over to find herself pinned to the ground by the guy who led her there.
"Hey!" Miaka cried. "Let me go!"
"Shut up!" the man growled. "Now you're going to get it!"
Miaka's elation at winning her first fight was soon replaced by fear. She stuggled as much as she could but the man was just too strong. She wanted to scream but her voice was caught in her throat.
'Someone help me!' she cried internally. 'Mom! Keisuke!'
The thug began unbottoning her shirt when he suddenly collapsed. Miaka noticed a rock rolling to the side. Someone had thrown him at the thug and knocked him out. After rolling the thug off of her, she looked up and saw two faces she had never been so relieved to see. The boy with the demon mark and Matthew.
"Wow," the boy remarked. "It is you. What happened to your other friend?"
"She didn't come with us," Matthew sighed. "I told you that Tamahome,"
"Tama...home?" Miaka asked in a whisper as she stood up.
"That's me," Tamahome smiled. "Are you okay?"
"I was scared!" Miaka sobbed as she captured Tamahome in a rib-crunching hug. "So scared!"
Tamahome gently rested his hand on the back of her head and stroked her hair. Matthew leaned against a wall and waited for her to finish. Some friend he was. He couldn't even help Miaka when she really needed it.
"So I'm told you've been looking for me?" aksed Tamahome.
"Um...yes," Miaka nodded, a small flush coming onto her face.
"Well?" Tamahome asked. "What for?"
Miaka suddenly went silent. She hadn't considered that much yet. She was just so caught up with finding her savior that she had forgotten just why she was looking for him in the first place.
Matthew slapped his palm into his face. Of all the times for Miaka to look like a moron. The girl had it bad for that guy. As if the girl couldn't look any more pathetic right now.
"Nothing?" Tamahome asked. "Okay. Then I'll collect from your friend now."
Tamahome began walking away from Miaka, who just seemed somewhat dazed. Matthew began sifting through his pockets to try and get the money he owed Tamahome.
'I do her a big favor and what do I get?' Matthew thought to himself sourly.
"Wait!" Miaka cried as she leaped at Tamahome.
Her aim was a little off as she grabbed Tamahome's legs. This caused him to fall over hard, smashing his head against the ground.
"You trying to kill the guy?" Matthew asked, his laughter struggling to be kept in.
"Now listen you!" Tamahome growled as he stood up, his nose bleeding slightly.
"I wanted to thank you!" Miaka said quickly. "That's it! I wanted to thank you!"
"That's it?" Tamahome sighed while he wiped his nose. "Look, you don't have to worry about paying me. Your friend is taking care of that."
"But I still owe you for the last time!" Miakasaid almost desperately.
"Are you trying to make me poor again!" Matthew growled. "I'm the one who's paying this guy!"
"Then I'll pay him back!" Miaka frowned.
"Don't sweat it okay?" Tamahome sighed. "Look, I've got work so stop following me. Just go home! The both of you!"
Miaka's expression turned downcast as bitter memories came back. Matthew frowned. Maybe now he would hear just why Miaka was so desperate to leave her house in the first place.
"I couldn't even if I wanted to," Miaka said quietly. "Not after that fight I had with my mom. I don't want to be alone."
"What am I?" Matthew sighed under his breath. "Chopped liver? Why do guys like Tamahome get girls like Yui and Miaka?"
"Well you can't keep hanging off me like this," Tamahome said sternly with a frown.
"But...what if we can help in your work?" Miaka asked. "Can we stay with you then?"
Matthew frowned. He was being drawn into Miaka's schemes and there was probably little he could do in the end. He discovered early that he couldn't win when it came to arguing with women. Especially cute ones. Tamahome seemed to be the new target for Miaka's puppy eyes attack.
Tamahome scratched his cheek as he let his gaze wander. He noticed that the emperor's procession coming. As he saw it coming, an idea came to his mind. It would probably be enough to get the girl off of him. The guy would probably keep her away.
"Tell you what," Tamahome smiled. "See that procession over there? That's for the emperor. He's in that carriage in the middle there. If you could snatch a few gems from his crown then I'll be rolling in money."
"You shouldn't tell her that," Matthew smiled. "She'll really try. Probably die trying but she'll try."
"I'm sure," Tamahome smiled. "Everyone knows it's impossible so I'll just mosey along."
Matthew looked to see Miaka and his jaw dropped when he saw her running towards the procession.
"Miaka! Are you crazy!" Matthew shouted.
Tamahome quickly turned around and he facefaulted. Miaka really was racing over to the procession to get the jewels.
"You thought I was serious!" Tamahome shouted in disbelief.
"If I get them you'll let us come with you right?" Miaka smiled as she kept going.
"Miak get back here!" Mtthew shouted as he gave chase. Tamahome got up and followed him. "Te emperor will probably kill you for trying!"
He turned to Tamahime, "He will won't he?"
"I dunno," Tamhome shrugged. "Let's not find out."
Miaka kept running towards the procession. She was a girl on a mission. She raced alongside the cart. She could see someone inside. He was wearing some extravagent robes and was looking pretty royal in her mind.
"Hey!" she shouted. "Are you the emperor?"
The young man looked at her slightly. Miaka couldn't see his face clearly but she didn't care. She really needed some jewels from his crown.
"Who is this?" he asked in some mild curiosity.
"I need a favour," Miaka spoke with her cutest smile, trying to win him over. "Would it bee too much trouble for you to spare at least one jewel from your crown? I owe it to someone who saved my life."
"Gah!" Matthew and Tamahome cried in disbelief. She was going to get herself killed!
"Hey!" a guard shouted. "No one is rude to the emperor! Kill her!"
When the guard shouted those two words, Tamahome leaped into action. He leaped over the nearest guards and raced towards the emperor. Seeing a distraction, Matthew darted past the guards and followed him. Just as a different guard was planning to strike Miaka down, Tamahome grabbed her and pulled her out of harms way. Matthew grabbed a spear from a distraceted guard and caught up to his two friends, brandishing it and keeping the guards away.
"Are you some kind of moron!" Tamahome shouted. "What's wrong with you? Are you trying to get yourself killed!"
Miaka looked up into Tamahome's eyes with a look of relief mixed with distress, "You saved me again. Thanks, but now I owe you for two rescues now!"
Tamahome looked shocked for a moment. This girl was really somethong else. To just go up tp the emperor and ask for some jewels took some serious guts. Not that he didn't have them of course.
"Tell you what," Tamahome smiled. "Just for that little stunt, I'll take you and your buddy under my wing."
"Really?" Miaka gasped happily. "But you've saved me twice for free now! I have to give you something."
"Yeah, you do." Tamahome smiled, a gleam coming into his eyes. "So I'm going to claim a reward now."
Then, with that, he pressed his lips softly to Miaka's forehead in a kiss. It completely threw her off. She wasn't quite expecting a bit of romance in the thick of things. She was also feeling the deepest blush she ever felt rising to her face.
Matthew saw that little stolen kiss and he grumbled, "We're about to get arrested or killed now and they're stealing kisses?" He just gripped his stolen weapon tighter as he watched the guards spot them. This was not looking good.
As Miaka's disbelief and blush grew bigger, her body began to glow red. Literally. The red light grew brighter like the rising sun. Tamahome drew back as the guards became rooted to the spot. It wasn't happening to just Miaka either. Matthew was also beginning to get enveloped in light. Only his was white. Everyone was watching in awe at the spectacle. Both of the students could feel themselves vanishing as their respective lights grew brighter.
'We're vanishing!' Miaka gasped internally. 'It's just like when we came into the book.'
She looked around and saw the scenery vanishing to reveal the library again. Even Tamahome was vanishing.
'No, wait!' Miaka cried internally. 'Not yet! I want to at least say goodbye!'
Matthew was also having his own kind of conflict.
'Heading back already?' he thought. 'I don't think so. Tamahome's still in trouble and it's our fault. I may not like him, but he's okay. Do you hear me book?'
"I said stop!" they both shouted at the same time.
With that, the lights instantly vanished and the dust seemed to settle. Miaka looked up to see that she had grabbed Tamahome. Matthew looked around and saw everyone staring with wide eyes and slack jaws.
"I guess we're back," Miaka laughed nervously.
"You think?" Matthew remarked sarcastically.
Tamahome looked down on Miaka with confusion all over his face, "What are you two?"
The emperor watched in silent amazement. This event may just be the sign that his kingdom had been looking for. He immediately got one of his guarrd's attention.
"Detain the girl and the two young men," he spoke quickly.
"huh? Uh, yes sire!" the guard nodded.
It wasn't long before Matthew, Tamahome, and Miaka found themselves trapped in a cirlce of spears. Matthew sighed as he dropped his weapon and kicked in over to the guards. The one he stole it from quickly picked it up.
"Tamahome," Miaka squeaked in fear as she saw the light gleaming off the weapons.
Tamahome frowned darkly while Matthew sighed heavily, "We are so screwed."
To Be Continued
A/N: Well, there it is folks. I finally got it out and it's posted! Sorry about the lack of updates, with starting at University, homework, and other stories, it's a little harder to keep up than I thought. Don't think I've forgotten though. I'm still working hard and still trying to update quickly so don't abandon me yet!