Alexisa ran through the palace, not knowing where to go, she just ran. Her feet carried to a pond. She walked towards the edge and sat down and looked in to the water. 'Way to go Alexisa, your not even back a day and you have gone and yelled at Tasuki. That has got to be a record,' thought Alexisa as she looked into the water. 'Why was I picked to be the Guardian, I mean couldn't Suzaku picked someone better? What does make me special?' wondered Alexisa as she sat looking down at the water. 'What am I going to do? I yelled at Tasuki for no reason, and now the whole palace knows about it,' thought Alexisa as she started down at the water.
"We all are chosen for a reason," said a voice.
"Huh? Who's there?" asked Alexisa as she looked up from the water and looked around the pond.
"You were wondering why you were chosen," said Chichiri coming out from behind a tree with his mask in his hand.
"Hi Chichiri," said Alexisa looking back at the water.
"None of us know why we are chosen, all of us ask our self the same thing, and we all come to the same conclusion. We can't chose our destiny but we decided to make the most of it by living each day to its full its with no regrets," said Chichiri as he walked closer to her and sat down next to her.
"Is that what you did?"
"Yes I did, it took me a while to accept it but once I meet the other warriors it got easier."
"How?"
"Well, we are all in the same boat, if you think about it. None of us know what tomorrow brings but we face it without fear," said Chichiri looking at her.
"Yea, I guess your right."
"And don't worry about Tasuki, he will get over it, ya know," said Chichiri slipping his mask back on.
"Yea, I'm sure he will," said Alexisa laughing a little, and standing up. "Thanks, Chichiri," said Alexisa giving me a hug. Chichiri looked down at her and returned the hug.
"Well I think that we should go heading to the dining hall," said Chichiri.
"Sure that sounds good," said Alexisa as he followed Chichiri to the hall. Once they opened the door to the hall Alexisa saw that almost everyone had gathered there. Everyone looked up to see who had entered and all she got in return was shocked faces.
"Is that all I get?"
"Alexisa!" yelled Miaka as she ran to her friend. "I had heard you where back, but I could not find you."
"Well I think everyone 'heard' I was back," said Alexisa meaning the argument that she had with Tasuki earlier. Alexisa hugged Miaka back and looked around the room at her friends, and then she saw one person that she did not know. 'That must be Chiriko, but I don't feel the same connection to him that I feel from the others,' thought Alexisa.
"Please come and sit," said Hotohori
Chichiri walked to an empty seat as did Miaka, Alexisa stood standing by the door. "First I want to apologize to you, Nuriko, Miaka, Hotohori, and Tasuki," she said looking at them all in turn. "I should have let you know that I was leaving, but instead I chose just to leave, and now I know that was a wrong choice. So I am here apologizing for my actions," said Alexisa as she looked at them, and making her way to the only other empty seat in between Nuriko and Tasuki.
"Alexisa, don't worry about that, why don't you tell us what you did at Mt. Taikyoku," said Nuriko.
"Well I mostly trained with Nyan-Nyan, and Taitsukun, to come to think of it, that is all the did. When I was not sleeping which was only for a few hours a night, I trained."
"I for one am more interested in you being called the Guardian of Suzaku," said Hotohori. "Did Taitsukun tell you anything about that?"
"She did,"
"And?" asked Nuriko
"Well there was not much, just that a Guardian is the most valuable warrior that a Priestess could have, it is my duty to protect all of you not just Miaka, and I have the powers of all the warriors in me, but if I use their power I will become weak, that is why I was training," said Alexisa.
"That's it?" asked Miaka "There has to be more."
"No that's about it," said Alexisa, I won't tell them anything about me dying, that will just bring them down, and they all should be happy right now,' Thought Alexisa as she looked down at her food deep in thought.
"So when you mean you have all our powers you mean?" asked Chichiri
"I have Nuriko's strength, Hotohori's skill with a sword, Chichiri magic, Mit's healing, Tasuki's speed, Tamahome's Martial skill, and Chiriko's… chi manipulation, but I have to be careful like back at the village. I used Mits healing power and I was weak so my strength left me weak. That is why I had to train, so the next time I use my power it will not take all of my strength," said Alexisa as she began to eat. "So when are we going to get Tamahome back?"
"Chichiri is planning to open a commutation with him to let him know of our plans," said Hotohori.
"Plans?" asked Alexisa "Oh were that what you were talking about when I came in and bothered you earlier."
"Yes, we were in fact,"
"And as soon as we have Tamahome back we will be able to summon Suzaku," said Hotohori
"Then I will be able to have my wishes granted," said Miaka
'Yea, and then I will stop living,' thought Alexisa as she pushed her plate away.
Everyone else had stopped eating and the servants in the room took their plates away. Hotohori and Chichiri went off to discuss the plans to retrieve Tamahome from Kuto, and everyone else began to leave the table. Hotohori informed Alexisa that the other warriors had made a room for her beside Miaka, he told her where she could find the room and told to if she got lost to ask either Miaka or one of the other warriors for help. Alexisa found Tasuki and tried to make her way to him but when she entered the hall way she did not see him. 'I will apologies to him later then I guess,' thought Alexisa as she walked down the hall. As Alexisa walked down the hall she saw Chiriko turning a corner on front of her. 'Guess this is a good of enough time as any,' thought Alexisa as she ran to catch up with Chiriko
"Hey Chiriko."
"Yea?" asked Chiriko as he turned to face her.
"Can we talk?" asked Alexisa as he continued to walk down the hall.
"Sure about what?"
"Well how did the others find you?"
"Well I actually stumbled upon them, my village was attacked a few weeks ago and I managed to escape, I was traveling when I saw some bats acting Miaka, and the rest you know," said Chiriko looking at her.
"You said your village was attacked?" asked Alexisa as they approached her room.
"Soldiers from Kuto started attacking villages on the border."
Alexisa stopped in front of her room and pushed open the doors.
"I think it is time to tell the truth Chiriko," said Alexisa as she looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"As a Guardian there was one small detail that I left out, I am able to sense the presences of the warriors, and I know that you are not a Suzaku warrior. So want to tell me who you are and what your intention is here?" asked Alexisa as she walked into the room with Chiriko behind her, and as the door closed as she asked her last question.
"I don't know what you are talking about Alexisa, I'm Chiriko of the Suzaku Seven."
"No you are not, I do not know who you are but I can not allow you to bring harm to any of the warriors. Now tell me who you are," said Alexisa as she crossed her arms and looked at him.
"Should have known that a Guardian would not be fooled," said Chiriko under his breath.
"So what is your real name?"
"I am Amiboshi."
"A Seiryu warrior, but what are you doing here?" asked Alexisa
"Nakago sent me, he told me to strop the summoning of Suzaku at all cost, or the Konan army would kill the people of Kuto," said Amiboshi as he looked up at her.
"That is totally wrong, it is Kuto that has been killing people, we have been trying to help everyone by summoning Suzaku," said Alexisa as she moved closer towards Amiboshi.
"But I don't understand, why would Nakago tell me the wrong thing?"
"I think he is trying to control you, he is trying to get you to do his bidding for him, so you think that we are the enemy but we really aren't."
"I don't understand. So are you going to tell His Highness about this?"
"I have to, after all it is my duty to," said Alexisa as she leaned against a wall.
"What do you think will happen to me?"
"That I am not to sure about, His Highness is a reasonable person. But tell me one thing Amiboshi. What have you felt the past month?"
"Felt?" asked Amiboshi as he moved into the center of the room.
"Yea, like your feelings. After all this time do you think that Konan would attack and kill everyone?"
"No, I suppose not, His Highness would not allow that."
"Exactly, and I won't let Hotohori imprison you for life," said Alexisa
"But you're the Guardian of Suzaku, it is your duty to protect them all," said Amiboshi as he looked at her.
"I know what my duty is Amiboshi, but I don't feel any anger from you. Taitsukun told me to follow my heart and my heart is telling me that you are not evil, you were used a pawn that Nakago used to further his plans," said Alexisa as she pushed off the wall and walked closer to him.
"So what are you going to do?"
"We are going to tell His Highness about this, and then I will protect you as well."
"But I am not a warrior of Suzaku."
"I know that, but from what I can sense from you, you seem like a nice and caring person. Think about what Nakago wants you do Amiboshi," said Alexisa as she put a hand on his shoulder. "From the small amount time that I have known you, you seem good, and innocent you should have never been born a warrior but that is a fact of life that we have to del with. I am sorry that you had to give up your old life for one of a warrior. All I ask is that you think over the kindness of the others here," said Alexisa as she walked out of the room, leaving Amiboshi standing in her room, thinking over his thoughts. Alexisa closed the door ad leaned up against the frame. 'Well that is just one more thing that I need to do now,' thought Alexisa as she looked up at the night sky. 'All I need to do now is to find Hotohori,' she thought as she began to wander the halls again. 'Man, why didn't I just tell Amiboshi to leave my room instead I left and now I have no where to go,' yawned Alexisa as she turned the corner and bumped into someone. She looked up from the ground and saw that she had bumped into Tasuki.
"Tasuki," she said as she looked at him. He just started back at her not saying a word; he turned to leave when she grabbed his arm. "Wait, please, I need to tell you something," she said getting up form the ground and holding on to his arm tighter. "I am sorry about earlier, I should not have yelled, I am sorry," said Alexisa as she released his arm and hung her hands down by her side.
"No I am the one that should be sorry," said Tasuki as he kept his back towards her and hung his head. "I had no reason to yell at you, I was just so mad, I should have known that you left for a reason, but I was just so mad." Alexisa looked up at Tasuki's back as the last sentence was spoken. "Just do me a favor though, next time you leave, make sure you tell me," said Tasuki as he walked off down the hall. Alexisa looked at his back as he walked off down the hall with a silent promise never again to make her friends worry about her, as she watched him turn a corner and vanish from her sight. Alexisa stood in the hallway for another few minutes before she turned around and went back to her room, when she arrived Amiboshi had left and she was thankful, since that meant she would finally get come sleep. She loved being back with her friends but she never knew how much energy it took to keep up with everyone. She lay back down in her bed thinking about everything that had happened to her in the past few months. 'Who ever thought that I would get transported into a book, being a legendary Guardian and have the lives of eight people depend on me. I mean the most responsibility that I had back home was to clean, now eight lives all depend on me, and me alone. The odd thing though is that I don't miss home, I feel like I belong here and that I am home,' thought Alexisa as she looked up at the ceiling, and as sleep consumed her.
Alexisa opened her eyes, to see her room bathed in a soft light from outside, birds were chirping outside her window, she stretchered her arms out and felt at peace. She sat up in bed and looked around the room, her window was opened slightly letting the small breeze and light into the room, she hung her legs over the side of the bed and realized that she had fallen asleep in her clothes. She had forgotten to change before she went to sleep. 'Opps,' she thought as she got up from the bed and walked towards the window and opened it up all the way. Outside her window the sun had risen pretty high in the sky, birds, and trees blew in the light breeze that passed her window. She turned away from the window and faced her room once more; she walked towards the door hoping to find someone to help her find a bath. Once she opened the door she found an unfamiliar back turned towards her.
"Well bout time you woke up," said Nuriko as he turned around.
"Nuriko! How are you?" asked Alexisa
"I can't believe that you came back yesterday and did not come see me," said Nuriko as he crossed his arms and turned his head away from her.
"What?"
"I mean you go see Chiriko and not me, I would think that our friendship meant more than that,"
"Nuriko"
"No I see how it is," said Nuriko walking away
"Nuriko, I wanted to save the best for last," said Alexisa form her doorway.
"You mean it?" asked Nuriko as he turned around.
"Of course, you really think I would forget about you?" asked Alexisa
"Well I thought you did," he replied looking down.
"I would not forget you," said Alexisa walking over towards him and giving me a hug, "Now do you know where I can get a bath?" asked Alexisa as she released the hug. "Sure follow me," said Nuriko leading the way down the halls and to the bath chamber. Nuriko led Alexisa to the bath chamber, there Nuriko left Alexisa saying that he needed to bother Tasuki or something along those lines. Alexisa thanked Nuriko and Alexisa proceed to take a bath, Alexisa took her time soaking and relaxing in the hot water. After her fingers began to wrinkle she knew that she had been in the water for two long, she left the warmth of the water and saw that new clothes had been left for her. Nuriko must had told the maids that she preferred pants, since there was a tunic of a light pink color, and black riding pants. Alexisa dried off her body and slipped into the clothes that had been left, She used a red strip of cloth that was with the clothes to tie her pants around her waist since they were a little to big for her. She dried her hair and tied it back into a bun with her last remaining hair tie that had been around her wrist when she had come to this world. Alexisa looked at herself in the mirror and she almost had not recognized herself, she had lost weight ever since coming here and her face and shoulders looked like that of someone much older than she was. 'It's all because of the responsibility that I carry now,' thought Alexisa as he tucked the last remaining pieces of her hair into the bun and walked out the door. She walked the halls trying to find Hotohori to talk to him. She knew that they were going to Kuto to get Tamahome back and she wanted to be part of that effort. She walked around until she found him standing by the eastern gardens looking at the sky.
"It is not very often you get free time huh?" she asked as she walked up beside him.
"It has even been more troublesome with the summoning approaching," said Hotohori as he looked away from the sky and faced Alexisa. "What brings you all the way out here?"
"Well I wanted to talk you about something."
"You are referring to us going to Kuto. Am I correct? I assumed that you would want to go as well," said Hotohori looking at her.
"Yea, it is part of my duty."
"I thought that would be your reply so I have already informed Chichiri that you would be accompanying him."
"Thank you for understanding Your Highness," said Alexisa as she bowed her head in respect for him.
"All I ask is that you do me one favor," said Hotohori as he looked at Alexisa's as she raised her head and meet his eyes. "Protect Miaka, I know she will be safe with Tamahome, but I have this feeling that something will go wrong. I will not be able to go, so please protect her in my place," said Hotohori.
"I will protect her with my life, Your Majesty," said Alexisa as she bowed her head once again. Hotohori leaned his head a small amount then left Alexisa standing in the grass.
Alexisa stayed in the eastern gardens until dusk, she sat underneath a tree and gathered her thoughts about the current situation that she had found herself in. She knew that she had to tell Hotohori the truth about Amiboshi, but she feared what would happen to the boy. She had told him that she would not let anything happen to him, but could she keep that promise. Yes, she was the Guardian but how much power did that name give her; she knew that she could not command the Empire of an entire nation to listen to her. She just hoped that Hotohori would listen to reason. She watched the sun set and then got up and walked to where she new Chichiri and the rest of the group was. She opened the door to see Amiboshi (Chiriko) asking Chichiri why could they not come along as well.
"What do you mean we can't come?" asked Chiriko
"The fewer people that go, the better it will be, ya know."
Alexisa walked over besides Chichiri and looked at the group. "Are we about to leave?" asked Alexisa as she looked at Chichiri.
"What do you mean you're going?" asked Tasuki
"Of course I'm going," said Alexisa as she crossed her arms across her chest.
"Well then, I'm going to," said Tasuki as he walked beside her.
"Dummy, you can't go."
"Of course I can."
"You can't and that's final," said Alexisa
"Actually I think Tasuki can come you know."
"Huh?" asked both Alexisa and Tasuki as they looked at him.
"Well let's go," said Chichiri as he laid out his kasa and stepped onto it. Alexisa, Tasuki, Miaka followed suit and Alexisa watched as the room disappeared.
The next thing Alexisa knew she that she was sitting on a tree branch with Chichiri sitting next to her.
"Well that was not that bad," said Alexisa as he smiled and looked at Chichiri.
"Good job, Chichiri, but I think you need to work on your landings," said two voices from below her.
"Well Alexisa and I landed fine, ya know," said Chichiri looking down at them.
Once Tasuki, and Miaka untangled themselves from each other, Alexisa and Chichiri jumped out of the tree and landed next to them.
"So where to now?" asked Alexisa
"Tamahome sad that he would meet me at a bug tree surrounded by flowers," said Miaka getting to her feet.
"Great, where do we start looking, this whole place has trees in it."
"The only thing we can do," said Alexisa as she walked in front of the group. "Start looking," continued Alexisa as she walked towards some bushes. Miaka ran off following Alexisa, while Tasuki and Chichiri followed Miaka. The group searched for ten minutes or so until they across the tree that they were going to meet Tamahome under. Miaka was happy to finally be at the tree that once she saw it she ran towards it and looked at the moonlight sky above them. They all gathered around the tree waiting for Tamahome to appear, within the next few minutes Alexisa could hear footsteps in the distance. She could not tell exactly how many there were but she knew that Tamahome had not come alone. She walked around to the front of the tree and stood in front of Miaka.
"Alexisa, what's the matter…" started Miaka when she noticed the rustling of the bushes.
"Yui!" called Miaka as she saw her friend appear from the bushes. Alexisa stopped Miaka before she could run to her friend. "Don't something's not right," said Alexisa in Miaka's ear.
"Yui, where's Tamahome?" asked Miaka
"Him, I think he is sleeping,"
"No, your wrong, he was supposed to meet me," said Miaka as she broke free of Alexisa's hold and ran to her friend, "Miaka, stop," Yelled Alexisa as she ran towards her, only to be knocked back before she reached Miaka.
"Do you really think that you came this far without our noticing, Guardian," said a man walking out of the shadows.
"Who are you?" asked Alexisa as she looked at the man.
"I am quiet shocked that you do not know who I am, after all I know all about you," said the man as he looked down at her.
"Nakago, let Miaka go," said Chichiri
'Nakago,' thought Alexisa as she looked up at him.
"I thought I had felt some weak life forces in the area, welcome to Kuto, warriors of Suzaku, to bad it will be your last visit," said Nakago as he raised his hand towards where Chichiri and Tasuki stood. Alexisa watched in slow motion as energy gathered in Nakago's palm and shoot towards them. She pushed herself off the ground and ran into the path of the blast, she crossed her arms in front of her face and prepared to be knocked back. She felt the impact of the blast and she felt the ground and her knees connect. Her arms stun and she was breathing hard. "You think that will stop me," said Alexisa looking p at him. "Tasuki, Chichiri get out of here!" yelled Alexisa.
"What are you kidding me?"
"I said go, we will have a better chance. We still have to bring back Tamahome, and we can't do that if were dead, now go," yelled Alexisa.
"I think she's right Tasuki," said Chichiri as he grabbed his friend's shoulder and teleported away.
Alexisa saw Chichiri and Tasuki vanish from where they were standing, but she knew that they could not escape the barrier, she was happy though, that they still had a chance to get out of here, before she passed out she saw Nakago walking towards her, and he was laughing.
Author's Note:
Ok folks, sorry for not updating sooner but things hae been getting crazy with me for the past few days. I am still trying to update as much as I can but it might get down to a new chapter every month, with christmas right around the corner. So I ask that you have patenice(sp), This story has alreday come farer than I thought it would, so I am happy... As far as the reviews go the small amount that I have recieved back are appreciated, like I said before I am not going to depand reviews from my readers. So that is it for now, I am hoping to update again soon, but like I said I can't make any promises, so please bear with me. Enjoy the story folks...
-JediMadchen86