A/N: Hey there. Posting a trigger warning. For those more sensitive, the first section of this chapter is pretty much sexual assault, although it doesn't get too far. Please feel free to skip it.

Episode Three: Explanation

After the smoke cleared, Nari found herself surrounded by the group of angry women who had been chasing the two of them. Immediately her mind flew to Nazo. Where was her brother and was he safe? Had he abandoned her to these barbarous women? No, that was nothing like him. Had he managed to escape then? It had been him the women had been after. If they had him, how could she protect him? She was weak, so weak that it frustrated her to no end that he always had to be the one protecting her.

"Well, well, looks like that one attacked us again," the woman who seemed to be the leader said. She snorted. "Seems she forgot someone though. Shame the man escaped, but perhaps we can... have fun with the remaining one. Who knows, maybe she's secretly also a man and we interrupted them while they were trying to disguise themselves."

That got a laugh from the women. Nari cowered where she sat against a tree. She covered her head with her arms. So her brother had escaped. Good. As for herself, she really was a woman, so she was-

"Even so, if she's a woman, she's been found in the company of a man. By the laws of our land, we must still punish her."

"Question her. She may yet reveal his whereabouts."

Nari froze. What? Before she could react, she was seized by two of the women, dragged away from the tree, and thrown to the ground. She stifled a cry as someone's fingers curled around her hair and yanked her head back. The ugly stank of unwashed skin and dried sweat reached her nose.

"So. Where is the man who was previously with you?" a soft voice whispered next to her ear. "Tell me and perhaps I may spare your pitiful life."

"I don't know anything!" Nari responded.

A cloth was roughly wrapped around her mouth and face, and she tasted its acerbic tang. It was abruptly tightened and Nari almost choked. Fear stabbed through her chest and her heart raced. "Answer me!" the voice demanded.

Nari refused to say anything, only glare at the woman defiantly. The woman's brown eyes studied her malevolently.

"Strip her," she ordered and backed away.

Nari's blood ran cold. The women started to move towards her and she fought against the women restraining her arms. She tried to scream, but the cloth muffled her cries. Her scalp burned as the hold on her hair tightened. She felt hands tear at her clothes, but they were having difficulty with the buttons. In the midst of the struggle, another cloth was shoved unceremoniously over her eyes.

"Perhaps this is unnecessary," a new voice put in. "She is merely a girl. The strange man could have been a coincidence. Why not give her a chance to explain herself? Besides, she cannot speak if you block her voice or terrify her."

Nari slowly felt the hold on her hair loosen. "Perhaps.." her captor said. "All right, you win, Your Highness."

"Now all of you leave us," the girl said. "I wish to speak to her alone. Return when I call only."

The blindfold was unwrapped from Nari's eyes and she was forced to her knees before the newcomer. She squeezed her eyes shut as she gathered her bearings again. Footsteps approached her and she shrank back, expecting a slap across the face, but a kind hand reached forward. "Do not be afraid," the girl said. "I am here to protect you."

Nari took the hand offered. "Th-thank you."

The hand was surprisingly strong and Nari was pulled to her feet. As the girl brushed off her clothing for her, Nari examined her. Her previous captor had called her "Your Highness," signifying royalty, but she didn't see anything royal about her except the elaborate headpiece on the girl's light blue hair. A fire gem rested between the dim red moonstones, and her long hair was swept back into a ponytail. She was dressed in a simple dark blue robe, and her equally dark eyes were contemplative. She looked to be about Nari's age and wore a blue silk shirt and bronze plated armor covering her chest and forming a short skirt around her waist and legs. The girl noticed Nari's scrutiny and smiled. "My name is Aremi, but you may call me Shoshi. My mother is the ruler of this land."

"What land is this?" Nari wondered. "I have never seen clothing like this except for in stories."

"This is Nyosei, land of women and ruled by them. We are a small island compared to our brothers, but we hold our own. Any man caught trespassing on our land is immediately captured and given three choices: one, to have his eyes gouged out and become a sex toy to the women to help them reproduce until he has been worn out; two, become a mere slave and be forced to do manual labor and all the heavy work; or three, execution." Her smile turned grim. "It is not a lucky life for those who land here."

"But my bro-" Nari started to say.

Shoshi placed a finger on her lips. "Say nothing. For now, he is merely a stranger whom you happened to meet. It is for both your protection."

"Why do I need protection?" Nari questioned. Then she realized her place and quickly added, "Your Highness."

"No need to call me that," Shoshi said with a kind smile. "That is for my countrywomen only."

Nari nodded slowly. "A-All right.."

"Call me Shoshi," the princess prompted.

Hesitation and a small touch of fear showed on Nari's face, but when she saw that Shoshi meant it, she relaxed. "Shoshi," she said with a notable tone of relief in her voice.

Shoshi's smile widened and her eyes crinkled. "You have landed on this island in foreign clothes obviously not of the four surrounding countries," she continued, returning to the topic at hand. "You also appeared with a man, something taboo here. Most likely you will have to run the gauntlet."

"The gauntlet?" Nari gasped out. "But-!" Her thoughts flew. She was the studious type, not the athletic type! The most running she did was to the library when her books were about to be overdue and even then she had to jog. How was she going to survive such a strenuous challenge?

"Are you from another world?" Shoshi suddenly asked, breaking Nari free of her thoughts. "How did you get here? I have never seen your style of clothing before."

"I'm.. I'm from Japan, and since I assume this is China.." Nari shook her head. "I don't know. I could be. I don't know how I got here at least."

"What were you doing before you got here?"

Nari was confused. "I was reading a book, and-" there was a brief hesitation. She knew what she had to do, but she didn't know if she could pull it off. "The s-stranger came over with a cup of cappuccino and sat down next to me."

Shoshi's face turned contemplative at the mention of the book. "A book?" she asked.

Realization dawned on Nari. "You mean I came through that book to get here?"

"According to the other legends of the bordering countries' Priestesses, yes, that would be how you got here," Shoshi said. "In times of great peril, a girl from another world will appear and summon Tenkyoku, Nyosei's protector, and bring peace back to our land." She frowned. "But it is strange. We are in no trouble right now. No one is invading us, and our economy holds strong."

"P-perhaps it could be the other countries?" Nari asked hesitantly.

"That I have my doubts," Shoshi answered. "They all have their own gods; why would they need us?" She shifted her stance and tugged on her ponytail. "Besides, their Priestesses have already wished them eternal peace and protection, except for Kutou.. Could it be..?"

Nari frowned. "Could it be what?"

Suddenly Shoshi tensed and took Nari's hand. "Someone's coming."

Nari quickly glanced at Shoshi. "Is it my brother?"

Shoshi nodded. "Yes, but he's with someone else. I think.." she frowned. "He is with a girl, and I sense power from her. I think she may be another seishi."

"Seishi? What's a seishi?" Nari asked in confusion. "Are they part of the legend, too?"

A small smile crept over Shoshi's face. "Perhaps I should explain everything to you in a more comfortable atmosphere. Shall we head back to the palace?" she asked, offering Nari a hand.

"But what about-"

The look in Shoshi's eyes stopped her, and slowly Nari forced a smile and took Shoshi's hand. "Of course," she said. "And will I see that stranger again at the palace?"

Shoshi's smile faded. "That remains to be seen. We need to go now." Then she thrust her fist into the air. "Women of Nyosei, let us head back home!"

There was the sound of loud galloping, and the clearing was suddenly filled with fierce, armored women. "Let us go!" one of them shouted, waving her glittering sword above her head. "Let us return to the Empress!"

Shoshi leaped onto her own horse, which had been led to her by another one of the Nyosein women. She helped Nari get on behind her, then turned her attention back to her army. "To home!" she shouted, pointing her sword toward the direction of the palace.

"To home!" the rest of the crowd shouted.

Nari was unable to hold back anymore. "Wait!" she cried out. "Why aren't we waiting for him?"

"There is no time," Shoshi answered shortly. "We must get you to safety first. If they can find us this time, they can find us again." She whirled her horse around, and Nari had to cling onto the princess to stay on. Please let me find my brother, she thought silently, sending a prayer up into the sky. Please let him be safe..

x

The squirrel watched as the girl left with the women. It sniffed its nose. Was she the one? Was she its Priestess? She wore strange clothes, just like it had been foretold in the legends, and but there was something different about her. It did not quite match the squirrel's own wavelength, but perhaps it was because she was after all from another world? Much as it wanted to approach her at the moment, it was afraid the other girl protecting its Priestess might not let him near. After all, many people believed squirrels carried illnesses, part of the reason why it was actually a squirrel at the moment; it could be left alone to live however it wanted.

The squirrel munched on a nut it had grabbed earlier as it contemplated its next step. It made the decision then to follow his Priestess and show up at an opportune time. Besides, humans could be scary, and he didn't want to have to try to talk to more than one at a time.

x

A few minutes later, Haien and Nazo appeared on the empty beach. Nazo immediately broke free from her and began searching for Nari. She couldn't be far! They had only been separated for a few minutes – where she could have run off to, or worse, he feared, been taken captive to?

"Nari, where-" Nazo saw the frown on Haien's face. "What's wrong?" he demanded.

"They're not here anymore," Haien said slowly. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be concentrating on something. "They were here just a few minutes ago, but they left before we could catch them."

Nazo whirled around. "What?!"

"It's true," Haien insisted. "I can still feel her chi here. She was here just a few minutes ago with some of the Nyosein women." She furrowed her brow. "We may have a complication. There's a possibility they sensed me coming."

Nazo groaned. "Do you know where they went at least?"

Haien turned to look at Nazo and nodded. "Of course I do. They went back to the palace. That's where the gauntlet is usually held."

"She's going to run the gauntlet?!" Nazo's voice rose into a squeak. "But she can't! That'll-"

Haien placed a finger on Nazo's lips and looked into his eyes intently. "Hush. You don't know if this will turn out to be a good thing or not."

Nazo shoved Haien's hand away angrily. "It won't be a good thing! Take me to her now!" He clutched his jacket around him tightly. "Please.. I don't know what I would do if something happens to her."

She seemed to be mulling over something. He had a feeling it was whether or not she should keep risking herself for him. Surely the work she did made her an enemy of these crazy women. Fine. He didn't care if he went by himself. This girl he had just met didn't need to risk her life for Nari and him. Before he could announce that though, she seized Nazo's arm. "C'mon, let's go then!" she said. "And make sure you follow whatever story I come up with!"

Nazo barely had time to exclaim before they vanished again.

x

Glittering blue eyes watched through a crystal ball as the purple light faded. A brilliant red tongue slipped out and licked pale lips. "Interesting," a low voice said. "It looks as if the legend is about to unfold."

"I never doubted it would," another voice, higher in pitch, responded. "It was bound to happen. Shame it has to happen now, but it'll be much more fun this way."

"We'll have to be something about the extra one," the first voice mused. "That will be interesting."

"This group will be fun to toy with," a third voice joined in. "Who wants to deal with them first?"

"I will," the first voice said, and the tongue slipped out again. "You know I love this kind of thing."

"And this time, our plans will unravel exactly the way we planned," the second voice answered. There was a laugh, and the eyes disappeared. All that remained behind was a wisp of smoke.

Next Episode: A Dumb Charade - Nazo is desperate to find his sister, but how far will he have to go to do so? And who were the voices?

A/N: I know the beginning sort of seems like the original Fushigi Yuugi, but the story will be different, I promise. That said, thank you for reading! Also, if you skipped the first part, the Nyosein women tried to strip Nari so they could find out if she was a woman or not, but Shoshi (the Nyosein crown princess) stopped them.