Kida: Dude...you just made Aika sick.
Tamahome: I didn't mean to!
Naruto: *Glares at Tamahome* Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you for hurting her feelings.
Kida: *Sighs* Unfortunately, he's needed for this story, Naruto.
Naruto: Dammit!
Tamahome: *Sighs of relief* Thank you, Kida.
Kida: Oh, you're not off the hook, dude. *Hits him over the head with a paper fan* Genjo Sanzo's paper fan, great use for training monkeys and water sprites.
Naruto: Wrong anime, but it works. Kida Tenshi does not own Naruto or Fushigi Yuugi. She only owns Aika Hitsubasa and any other future OCs. Enjoy! Believe it!
Aika Hitsubasa, the Priestess of Suzaku, was faithfully protected and cared for by Tamahome and she found herself strongly moved by his loyalty and tenderness. Meanwhile, the Emperor Hotohori pledged his devotion and proposed to her, asking for her hand in marriage. Still attracted to her first protector, Miaka tries to figure out Tamahome's feelings for her.
"Because I-I love you, you idiot!" Aika shouted before covering her mouth with surprise. The Lady Aika fell unconscious and she became very ill.
~0~
Back at the palace, Aika was lying in bed. Tamahome and Nuriko stood by the bed while Hotohori was sitting in a chair next to it. Hotohori made Aika drink some water before lying her head back down. Aika's cheeks where red, she was pale and sweaty, and was panting from her fever.
"Oh Miaka," Hotohori said with worry.
"I'm sorry, Sire. I feel responsible," Tamahome said to Hotohori as he looked at Aika with guilty eyes.
"Tamahome, tell me all that happened outside this court," Hotohori demanded. "I need to know the circumstances to determine your punishment."
"What do you care what happens to me?!" Aika's voice echoed in Tamahome's head.
"It doesn't matter, does it?" Tamahome had asked.
"To me it does! It does matter to me because I-I love you, you idiot!" Aika shouted. Tamahome's bangs shadowed his eyes.
"I saved her from a bunch of gangsters. That's all there was to it," Tamahome stated. Hotohori looked at him, almost disbelievingly.
"Excuse me, Sire," the doctor said getting their attention. "I'm very troubled. The Priestess is very weak and I can only surmise the commission of Suzaku can only be too large a burden for her. She suffers from extreme exhaustion and is notably stressed, mentally as well as physically. Her physical health should recover. However, mentally it is uncertain," the doctor told them.
"So she may not improve then," Hotohori said.
"That is difficult to say, Sire," the doctor replied.
"Naruto….Sasuke…Sakura…" Aika whispered in her sleep.
"You do want to go back," Tamahome frowned as he remembered her mentioning those names.
"Back to your own world," Hotohori agreed with a frown. "Tamahome, Nuriko."
"Sire?" The two asked.
"I need to speak with you," he said to them as they all left the room.
"Yui…" Aika whispered.
~0~
Hotohori rested his forehead against his folded hands as he sat at his desk, Nuriko and Tamahome standing on opposite sides of it.
"We've got to do something otherwise Aika might get even worse," Hotohori said to them.
"Under these circumstances, I think we should send her back to wherever they came from, your Highness," Nuriko said before popping a grape into her mouth.
"You would think that," Tamahome retorted, not really liking her at all now.
"However, who knows how to accomplish such a feat?" Hotohori asked as he thought to himself. "Ah, Taiitsukun," he realized.
"The Taiitsukun?" Tamahome and Nuriko asked surprised.
"That's correct. Taiitsukun is the great master whose hermitage is lodged in Mount Taikyoku. It is Taiitsukun that bestowed upon us the Book of the Universe of the Four Gods and who might know how to send Aika home, back to their own world. Attendants, heed! Bring me the Universe of the Four Gods at once!" Hotohori ordered one of his attendants.
"Yes, Sire!" The man replied before going to do so.
~0~
"It does matters because I-I love you!" Aika shouted before covering her mouth.
"I'm sorry. I don't feel anything for you like that," Tamahome said before walking away. Aika stared up at the ceiling.
'Tamahome…Where…Where am I?' She thought to herself. 'Oh yeah, I remember. I told Tamahome….oh, what a fool. I finally realize how much I love him and right away I scare him off. I'm so stupid!' Aika thought as she began crying. The door opened making her looked over. "W-who's there?" Aika asked until she saw Hotohori.
"Aika," Hotohori said with relief.
"Hotohori," Aika smiled a bit.
"How are you?" Hotohori asked her as he took a seat by her.
"I'm fine, still a little tired," Aika replied.
"You'll be all right, Aika. We think we've found a way to send you back to your own world," Hotohori said making her smile.
"Really?" She asked him as she placed a hand on his arm. Hotohori nodded.
"You have only to call upon Taiitsukun," Hotohori stated.
"Taiitsukun?" Aika asked him.
"To return to your own world, there's no other choice but to go to Mount Taikyoku where Taiitsukun lives. The Seven Warriors of Suzaku must travel alone and reach the mountain on their own merit," Hotohori explained to her before removing his crown off which made his fair fall freely. "It's rather far from here, but I promise to take you there along with Nuriko and Tamahome."
"But without my help, this entire Empire could perish forever. Isn't that what you told me?" Aika asked worried. Hotohori cupped her cheek after moving some of her black bangs away.
"Please, don't concern yourself with that right now. I've asked too much of you and I am so sorry is has made you ill," Hotohori said to her with worry and guilt.
"Hotohori," Aika murmured.
"But Aika, I want you to promise," Hotohori said.
"What do you want me to promise, Hotohori?" She asked.
"That after you regain your health in your own world, you'll both return back to Konan. For the sake of the empire and for me," he said to her before gently pulling her to him.
'Oh Hotohori, he truly does care about me. I am going back to my own world. Yes, I have to. And I'll forget about Tamahome. I've caused him so much trouble though. I should apologize to him,' Aika thought to herself. What those two didn't know was that Tamahome was outside the room, leaning against the wall and listening. Tamahome then started walking away. Nuriko saw him and threw a table at him making Tamahome fall. She then stomped on him.
"What's the big idea looking so upset?! This whole thing is all your fault for reject Aika!" Nuriko shouted. Tamahome jumped up with a bump on his head.
"Butt out, banshee! Who asked you anyways?! It's none of your business!" He shouted at her as he flailed his arm.
"What do you mean it's none of my business?!" She growled before grabbing him by the collar, anime tears running down her face. "You gotta do something and quick or the Emperor will never pay any attention to me ever!" She said before grabbing him by the neck. "Listen to me, wise guy, you better apologize to her!" She growled before letting him go. "And I'll make the Emperor fall in love with me," she said love struck.
"Aha! So now the truth comes out!" Tamahome pointed at her.
"So what?" Nuriko pointed at him. "You're no better than me. Was it manly of you to hurt her feelings? And you love Aika, don't you, Tamahome? You should be ashamed of yourself for being jealous of your own Emperor," Nuriko scolded.
"Jealous, huh? Right. Haha. I haven't even known Aika that long, so what makes you possibly think I'd be in love with her?" Tamahome asked her. "Besides, what I happen to love most of all is cold. Hard. Cash. So you can keep your jealousy all to yourself," Tamahome said walking away. Nuriko watched him leave with disappointment in her eyes. As soon as Tamahome turned around the corner, he leaned against the wall. "Am I jealous?" He asked himself.
~0~
The next day, everyone was ready to head out. Aika was all dressed up and watching two maids get Hotohori ready.
"Sire, are you certain you need no guards for attendance? No retinue of any kind?" A councilor asked.
"Why should I? This is my Empire and I have the authority to travel freely throughout it, do I not?" Hotohori asked him.
"Still in all, your Imperial Grace cannot be concealed even in these common street clothes, your Majesty." Hotohori chuckled and poked the councilor's forehead.
"You're right. The truth is the truth is the truth, councilor," Hotohori chuckled.
"Does he have to agree someone compliments him?" Aika muttered to herself as she watched the two. She looked over at Tamahome who was loading something onto the horse. He looked at her before the two blushed and looked away from each other. Nuriko looked between the two before blinking then flailing her arms.
"HOW IRRITATING!" She growled before they all mounted the horses. Aika was sitting on Hotohori's horse, in front of Hotohori. She was wearing a wrap to hide her identity.
"In my absence, I leave things in your hands," Hotohori said as the gate opened.
"As you command, Sire," the councilor replied before they all road off. Soon they were in a desert like area outside the Empire.
"We'll be safe from here on. No need to hide," Hotohori said as he gently moved the wrap off Aika. Aika saw Tamahome who looked back at her before she looked down.
'Talk about awkward,' she thought with a soft sight.
'I have to say something,' Tamahome thought to himself.
'It's really tense around here. Maybe I can try and lighten the mood,' she thought. "What do you call a ninja that can use lightning release? A shocking shinobi!" She smiled as she tried to joke. No one laughed making her sweat-drop. "Get it? Because he's a ninja that…can use…lightning….Sheesh, talk about a tough crowd," she mumbled. 'That normally gets Lord Kakashi!' She thought. Soon it was night time and they tied the horses up for the night. Hotohori was leaning against the tree while sitting on the ground and Tamahome was laying down, using his sack as a pillow. Aika had snuck away and was leaning against a tree. She panted as she rested her forehead against her wrist. "I can feel my fever rise. This traveling is hard on me," she murmured. 'How the hell do Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura do it?' Someone then walked up behind her.
"Aika?" Nuriko asked making Aika gasp in surprise. Aika looked at her.
"Nuriko, it's only you," Aika said relieved.
"Yeah. Look, I can see you're suffering and I know just the remedy," Nuriko said to her. Aika was a little hesitant considering the earring incident.
"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Uh huh! Listen, there's a small mineral spring deep in the forest. They say the healing water cures man of all his ills! Why don't you go there? It might be just what the doctor ordered."
"A mineral bath?" Aika asked. Well, she did feel the need for a bath. She stood up with Nuriko. "Thanks, Nuriko. You're a life saver. Keep it a secret for now, okay?" She asked. She didn't want to make Hotohori and Tamahome worry.
"Yeah, sure I will!" Nuriko smiled as the raven haired girl ran off. Nuriko then smirked before going over to Tamahome. She grabbed his ankle and started dragging him off, causing the poor boy to hit his head before he stood up…with three bumps.
"Jeez opetes! What are you doing?!" Tamahome asked, looking like a chibi with anime tears.
"I've got a message from Aika. 'Meet me at the mineral springs that's deep within the forest'," Nuriko told him.
"Why should I do that, huh?!" Tamahome glared. Nuriko started strangling him.
"If you call yourself a man, you'll patch up the trouble you caused!" She shouted before letting him go and laughing as she walked away.
~0~
Aika was walking around to find the spring. She was desperate for a nice bath. She sighed a bit, knowing she should have taken one before they left the palace. She soon found it and smiled.
"Oh good," she mused. 'Healing waters, huh? Good, I don't need them to worry about me anymore,' she thought as she removed her light purple sash.
~0~
"Deep in the forest, the Priestess of Suzaku found a small mineral spring and there she undressed," Naruto ready before panting a little. His cheeks were tinted as he wiped his forehead of sweat. 'Just great, now I have a fever,' he thought. He then remembered what all happened. 'My pants had a blood stain and then I was soaking wet. Whatever happens to the Priestess of Suzaku is happening to me too,' he thought as he looked at the book. Suddenly the door opened and he looked over. "Yui…"
"Naruto, I've been looking all over for you and Aika," Yui said walking over to him. She frowned. "Naruto, you look sick," she said before feeling his forehead. "You have a fever! What happened?"
"Yui, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. But you need to know," Naruto said before he started telling her everything. She didn't believe it until she read the book.
"Aika…are you really trapped in a book?"
~0~
Aika got into the water after she had taken her clothes off. She let out a relaxed sigh at the feeling of the water.
"This water's nice and warm," she murmured. "Almost like one of the hot springs back home." What she didn't know was that someone was sneaking around.
~0~
Tamahome had his arms crossed behind his head as he grumbled to himself, walking through the forest to go meet up with Aika.
"I'm not traipsing around out here in the woods because Aika asked me to. I'm just killing time," he told himself.
~0~
Aika was cleaning herself up, humming a song until she heard something dive into the water making her gasp a bit as she turned.
~0~
Tamahome kept walking until he heard Aika scream making his lavender eyes widen.
"Aika!" He shouted before going after her.
~0~
Aika was pulled down under water and fought to swim up. She made it up and saw something coming after her, keeping her arms crossed to cover her chest.
"Aika!" She heard Tamahome call before seeing him jump over. "Get back! Stay away!" Tamahome shouted before attacking what was swimming after the brown eyed girl. She looked around.
"Tamahome? Where are you? Tamahome!" She called not seeing him. She then looked at the water. 'If he's still in the water then…oh no! He's still fighting that…whatever the hell it was?!' She thought. "Tamahome! Where are you?!" She asked looking around. "Don't tell me you let that thing kill you!" She exclaimed.
"I'm not dead. Be quiet," Tamahome grumbled as his head submerged. Aika looked at him.
"Oh, good. You're okay," she said relieved until she saw the log by Tamahome.
"Here's the thing that was after you, a piece of drift wood," he muttered. "You go into hysterics over nothing. You're such a girl."
"Oh shut up! At how fast it was coming at me and with how dark it was, that piece of wood could look like anything!" Aika said pointing to the wood. Tamahome suddenly saw her chest before the two blushed and turned away from each other quickly, Aika covering her chest with her arms.
"I didn't see anything!" Tamahome told her.
"I-I didn't say you did," Aika replied. 'Though I know you did. It's the reason we turned around,' she thought. They were silent for a moment. 'Here's your chance, Aika. It's time to apologize to him. For telling him I love him. I'll just say it was a joke and that I didn't mean it,' she thought. "I…"
"I'm sorry!" Tamahome and Aika said in unison.
"Huh?" Aika asked in shock. Tamahome looked at her.
"I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings, you know, that day that you fainted. It was the first time that any girl had ever told me that she loved me," he said before turning away. "I don't think I believed it a-and I-I didn't know what you say. For the last seventeen years money has been my main concern and it still is," he told her before getting out of the water. "Anyway, I'll take you to Taiitsukun just the same and make sure that you're safe. I hope that you feel better soon," he smiled a bit before running off.
'Tamahome,' she thought as she watched him. Suddenly Nuriko fell out of a tree. "God dammit, Nuriko!" Aika growled. Nuriko snapped her fingers as if her plan had failed.
"Jeez. I was so sure he was gonna make a move," Nuriko muttered.
"You mean you tricked me? So it was all a damn hoax?!" Aika growled at her. Nuriko looked a little scared at the girl's glare. Aika then slowly smile. "Thank you, Nuriko," she said getting out of the water. She then dried off before putting her kimono back on. "I've been trying to find a way to apologize to him and now I did it. Looks like he and I are back on good terms. But…" Aika glared before grabbing her by her robes. "You couldn't have warned me?!" She asked shaking her until suddenly the front of the dress was opened to reveal…no breasts?! Aika blinked. "N-no breasts? Y-you're a man….Dude, what the hell?!" She asked backing away in surprise. Nuriko laughed in a purple spot light like he was amused that he had been caught.
"Oh, I guess it's about time I'm exposed. Yes, I'm a man, I only dress up like a woman," Nuriko smiled.
"Okay, okay. You're a man. But you say you're in love with Hotohori and you kissed Tamahome right on the lips! So either you're homosexual or you just like teasing other guys, such as Hotohori, into thinking you're a woman!" Aika sweat-dropped.
"Oh, you're so naïve. Sex doesn't matter when it comes to true love," Nuriko said before Aika anime fell.
'Now I've really got a headache. I just found out the Warrior I thought was female is really a guy and is in love with another guy! I really hope this doesn't get any crazier before we reach Taiitsukun or I might explode like one of Deidara's bombs!' Aika thought.
~0~
An old woman chuckled as she watched Aika and Nuriko.
"The Priestess of Suzaku, eh? Very interesting. Don't think for a minute you'll be able to reach me too easily, weakling child."
~0~
Soon the group was crossing the river with their horses on a long boat. Aika was resting against the side and sighed a little.
'I really don't feel so good. How much further until we reach Mount Taikyoku? I can't wait…I really want to go home…' she thought sadly. She looked at the scenery.
"Admiring the scenery?" Hotohori asked making her look at him. She smiled slightly.
"A little. We have a river like this in the outskirts of our village. I was actually thinking of when my parents took me and my friends Naruto and Yui there to swim," she reminisced.
"Aika," Tamahome said getting her attention. "When the Emperor mentioned your dreams coming true, you said something about finally having your family back. What was that about?" He asked her. Aika frowned and looked back out at the water. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to," he said softly.
"No, it's okay. You would probably find out sooner or later. My mother was a ninja. A talented one actually. She was ranked Jounin," Aika smiled a bit as she remembered her mother. "She was strong, intelligent, and beautiful. On her last mission, it was an S-rank which is usually the hardest of all missions. Her team was ambushed and…she died with her teammates. I was only six at the time. Six years later my father got sick. He stayed in the hospital and eventually died because we didn't have the money for the surgery he needed. For the past four years, I've been on my own, saving up money to open my own shop. I kinda closed myself off from everyone except Naruto, Yui, Sasuke, Sakura, and our new Hokage Kakashi. The only ones I'm really close to are Naruto and Yui," she said as stray tear fell down her cheek. Tamahome frowned and wiped her tear away. Hotohori was looking at the girl with sympathy, even Nuriko was as well.
"I'm sorry I brought it up, Aika," Tamahome said softly to her. Aika wiped her tears away.
"It's nothing, I'm just being a big baby," she said to him, pretty much brushing off her past. Tamahome frowned more at that, knowing she didn't want sympathy. They made it to a village and had some dinner. Aika noticed Hotohori had left them and went to find him. She soon found him and walked up. "Hotohori, is something on your mind?"
"Just looking at the mountain range. I'm taking it all in, but I'm thinking…nothing," he said to her. Aika took a seat by him and looked at the mountains.
"I know what you mean. I never really paid attention to the scenery around me lately. I've been too busy focusing on opening my shop. I want to make my father proud," she said with a small smile.
"Your father…I succeeded my late father to the thrown when I was only fourteen years old. My mother guided me and strongly defended my claim against any opposition and she was responsible for my sovereignty. You could say I was merely a puppet in the shadow of her iron will. After she died, everything around me became so terribly quite. I had faithful courtiers and many loyal subjects by then, but I was lonely in those quiet days and felt like a bird in a golden cage," Hotohori said to her. Aika gave a soft smile to him.
"But now you can spread your wings and fly to wherever you want to. You're free now, Hotohori," she said surprising him. "You're still young and you're not alone. You have me, Tamahome, and Nuriko." Hotohori wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
"You have such a kindly heart, do you know that, Aika? So warm and encouraging," Hotohori said, resting his head against her with his eyes closed.
'My heart, it's racing!' Aika thought.
'I want to be by her side, forever,' Hotohori thought to himself. Suddenly Nuriko fell out of a tree making Aika and Hotohori look at her. Tamahome was holding Nuriko back.
"Let me at her!" Nuriko shouted.
"What on earth is Nuriko so upset about?" Hotohori asked obliviously. Tamahome looked at Aika, trying to not let his jealousy show.
'Tamahome…' Aika frowned as she looked at him.
~0~
"My, oh my. Perhaps I shall have to test them. Vapor and mist resurrect from your sleep, turning and fogging. Within your wall's keep, send her a shadow the side she can't see. Envelope and cloak her and show her to me!" The old woman ordered as a mirror floated up and spun before disappearing.
~0~
"Hey, Aika!" Tamahome called. Aika was walking ahead while Tamahome was walking with his horse. "You know, you should wait for us."
"I can manage," Aika said, fuming about Nuriko. She suddenly tripped making the skirt of her kimono go up as she fell. Tamahome saw and blushed before walking up to her, his blush disappearing.
"There now, you see?" Tamahome lent a hand out to her. Aika looked at him and saw he had been looking at her skirt. She sat on her knees and held her skirt down.
"Just what are those eyes staring at?" She asked glaring with a blush. Tamahome blushed as well and looked away.
"Nothing! I-I didn't look!"
"Yeah, and I'm a pink unicorn that's jumping over sparkling rainbows," Aika said sarcastically. "I know you were looking at my panties, and I know for a fact you saw me naked before!"
"So?" Tamahome asked turning around, arms crossed behind his head. "Who cares if I saw you naked or not? If you had bigger breasts, more like a woman, then I might notice, but what's the big deal?" He asked as Aika got up while glaring. She focused chakra into her fist and punched him.
"I hate you, you jerk!" She shouted before running off, leaving a bloodied Tamahome.
~0~
"Nuriko, don't you think it's really quite peculiar?" Hotohori asked as they looked around the area.
"No, not at all. I think we would make a wonderful couple, Sire," Nuriko said sounding like a fan girl.
"That's not what I meant. It seems unusual that we have mist at this time of day," he stated.
"I agree, your Majesty. And it also seems like we've been walking in circles for a while," he told him. Tamahome walked up to Hotohori.
"Sire."
"Tamahome, where is Aika?" Hotohori asked when he didn't see the brown eyed girl.
"Well, you see, the fog started getting thick then suddenly she disappeared," Tamahome told him. Hotohori's eyes widened a bit.
"Disappeared?"
~0~
Aika was walking, glaring at the ground as she thought about the blue haired male.
'Why does Tamahome have to be like that? Hotohori seems to care more about me than he does,' she thought before stopping. She suddenly heard birds screeching making her look around. "What? Where are they?" She asked looking around for the others. "Don't tell me I got lost," she muttered before suddenly smelling something. It smelled like… "Mom's perfume?" She asked. She knew that scent very well. It was a mix of strawberries and cherry blossoms with a hint of vanilla. She followed the smell and suddenly saw her mother who had long chestnut brown hair and brown eyes. She was dressed in a grey tank with a black skirt, a red vest that ended at her upper thigh with gold trimming. She also wore black thigh-high leggings with black over the knee boots, and dark red, fishnet, arm warmers. "Mom?" She asked. Her mother gave that warm smile that Aika loved. "Mama!" Aika cried out before running to her. She was then in her mother's arms. "Mama," she softly sobbed. Her mother didn't say anything and Aika saw the dark area before looking at a mirror like wall. She ran up to it and banged on it. "Hey! What the hell is this?!"
"Welcome to the mirror world, Aika," a cold voice said. She looked over and saw a smirking version of herself. It reminded her of Sasuke when he had wanted revenge.
"W-what the hell?"
~0~
"Inside the mirror, a girl that looked very much like her stared at the Priestess. This impersonator smirked coldly and reprimanded the Priestess," Yui read as she sat next to Naruto.
"Smirked coldly? Almost reminds me of Sasuke," Naruto murmured.
~0~
"You are such a greedy person, Aika. Really, I'm quite ashamed of myself," the sinister version of Aika smirked at the stunned Aika.
Kida: *Glares at Tamahome* Tamahome, you're a real ass, you know that?
Tamahome: *Groans, still rubbing injured head* What the hell did I do this time?
Kida: You don't not mention a girl's chest in a negative way unless you want to be hit, you dumbass!
Naruto: *Smirks* Even I know that!
Kida: *Sweat-drops* Naruto, you told Sakura she hadn't changed a bit even after two years and she kicked your ass.
Naruto: *Sweat-drops* Oh yeah...
Kida: Oh brother. Well, I hope you all like this chapter! Please favorite and comment, loves!