Kida: *Looks at Tamahome* Dude, get out of your damn slump.
Tamahome: *Sits there in the corner, poking a wall*
Naruto: *Sweat-drops* Wow, he must really love Aika to be acting like this.
Kida: Yeah...he actually chewed on one of my plates earlier. Anyways, Nuriko! Go for it!
Nuriko: Kida Tenshi does not own Naruto or Fushigi Yuugi. She only owns Aika Hitsubasa and any other future OCs. Enojy!
In order to help her recover from her self-inflicted wound, Taiitsukun the controller transfused blood from Hotohori and Tamahome into the injured Lady Aika. Realizing that the kunais formed a link between their world and this one, the Lady Aika, Yui, and Naruto concentrated their efforts and opened the channel between the two worlds. Lady Aika was finally able to return to her own world. However, once there, she and Naruto discovered that their best friend Yui…
"Yui…just where are you?" Aika whispered with worry. Was nowhere to be found. Aika sighed a bit, hoping Yui was alright. "Did you talk to her mother at all?" She asked Naruto.
"Yeah, Mrs. Hongo said Yui hasn't been there almost all day. She thought Yui had been with us," Naruto said to her.
"What are you guys talking about?" Sai asked looking between the two. Aika started at the cup of tea for a moment before looking at them.
"What I'm about you tell you is going to be very shocking. All I ask is that you trust and believe me when I tell you," she said to them.
"Aika, you've never lied to us before so we know you won't lie to us now," Sakura assured.
"Alright," Aika nodded. She took out the book she and Naruto had found at the library before showing them. "This book is known as the Book of the Universe of the Four Gods. Those four Gods are Suzaku, Seiryuu, Byakko, and Genbu. Somehow, I was sucked into the book when Naruto and I began reading it. When I was first there I was in a desert and I thought I was in the Sand Village. Suddenly some slave traders tried to take me. I fought back, but I guess I wasn't strong enough. Then a boy with dark blue hair and lavender eyes showed up, fighting the two slave traders off. He also had a symbol of the ogre on his forehead. His name is Tamahome. I followed him to a place called the Konan Empire then I lost him. I tried looking for him until I needed to take a break.
"This one guy then had me come with him, telling me he was a friend of Tamahome's. Unfortunately, I was wrong. He and some others wanted me for other reasons. I used Taijutsu like Rock Lee taught me and took them down. At least until one pulled me down and….well, that's when Tamahome showed up and saved me again. I told him about who I was and he said he would help me get home.
"That's when there was a small parade for the ruler they call and Emperor. I tried to save a woman who was being mugged until the Emperor's guards thought I was a threat. Once again, Tamahome saved me, at least until something weird happened and it involved a red light. The Emperor ordered to have us thrown in jail. I managed to get me and Tamahome out by using the transformation jutsu. We tried to find a way out and I learned about the four Gods.
"Then my stomach kinda took over and made me go to a kitchen seeing as I hadn't eaten in an entire day there. I left the kitchen then was lost. Once outside, I met the Emperor Hotohori who helped me and Tamahome before telling me I'm the Priestess of Suzaku. A girl of legend whose dreams came true," Aika explained.
"Tamahome? Hotohori? Priestess? How the hell are you coming up with this?" Sasuke asked.
"I don't think she's making this up. The detail she's giving in the course of only two hours from what Naruto told me, she's telling the truth," Yamato stated. Kakashi nodded in agreement.
"It's all really hard to believe, but I can tell you're not making this up," Kakashi said to Aika who gave a small smile in thanks. "Continue."
"Right. Well, after all that happened, I learned there were more warriors I needed to find. So we gathered anyone who specialized in literature and martial arts. Tamahome ended up kicking their asses until I tried to test the men into attacking me. When they did, I ran to a pagoda that ended up being destroyed and crumbled down on me. Tamahome saved me from being crushed, but got injured himself. It's then a woman named Kourin showed up and got us out with this amazing strength she had. She turned out to be another warrior named Nuriko. She hated me at first seeing as Hotohori seemed to be in love with me. So she wanted to get revenge and went after Tamahome who…I happen to like," Aika blushed.
"Oh, is he really cute?" Sakura asked smiling.
"Sakura…" Sasuke sighed.
"Well, he is really handsome. I'll have to make sure to take a camera when I go back so I can take a picture of them," Aika smiled back at her. "Anyways after a little incident with Nuriko, it turned out that Tamahome was upset and I followed him out of the palace when he went to go sell some things I gave him. He has an obsession with money. He ended up trying act as my agent until we were overcrowded and got out of there.
"Some guys tried to attack us and Tamahome fought. I helped him a bit too. Tamahome still seemed to be upset with me and I wanted to know why. I then slipped up and told him I loved him. He said he didn't love me and I ended up getting sick. It turned out the stress and fatigue got to me of being in a new place. Cultural change. So Hotohori suggested we all travel to go see the controller of the universe Taiitsukun. We got into a bit of trouble there when it started becoming misty. Tamahome ended up pissing me off and I ran off to go clear my head. It's then I smelled perfume that smelled like my mothers."
"Strawberries, cherry blossoms, and vanilla," Naruto remembered making Aika nod.
"Yeah. It turned out to be a trap and I was in another realm where I encountered my…darker half of my heart. This other Aika reminded me of someone I knew when I was younger," Aika said keeping her eyes off Sasuke who frowned.
"How did she remind you of me?" He asked her. He knew she was talking about him.
"She….she wanted revenge on those who killed my mother. She was cold, sinister. While being trapped in a mirror, she tried being me. She told Hotohori she loved him while I was desperately trying to get them to see she wasn't me. When Hotohori and Tamahome found out, they tried to fight against her. She did something to try and drain them of their strength. I then figured out a way to kill her. To kill her…I had to kill myself. I took a kunai from my mother's pouch and stabbed myself in the chest, making sure to miss my heart.
"Nuriko, who I had found out was really a man, killed the fake Aika and I came back to the real world. While I seemed to be in limbo, I could hear Tamahome, Hotohori, Nuriko, Naruto, and Yui trying to call me back. Naruto and Yui got through to me and I woke up to learn that Tamahome and Hotohori injured themselves to give me blood. That's when we were taken to Taiitsukun who told me it was all a test to see if I was really the Priestess of Suzaku. After we were all patched up, we learned I was apparently too weak to get back on my own.
"Taiitsukun performed a blood transfusion on me using Tamahome's and Hotohori's blood. I was then strong enough to go home. I then learned that I needed some kind of object to link me to both worlds. It turned out to be the kunais. Me, Naruto, and Yui each had a kunai so it helped with the link. I was then brought back home only to learn Yui had gone missing. And now, here we are," Aika finished explaining.
"All of this happened within the course of two hours?" Sai blinked.
"Surprising, huh?" Aika smiled a bit.
"Well, if what you say is true then that book is dangerous, Aika," Kakashi stated.
"Yeah, that story you told us is like a magic spell itself, right?" Sasuke asked. "It's the same way a scroll from the Sage of the Six Path's can be translated into a story. But this Book of the Universe of the Four Gods doesn't seem to be like those scrolls. It could be more like a book of sorcery."
"Sorcery, huh?" Aika asked interested.
"Yeah, kinda like a book of spells. I remember reading a book about that kind of thing. If that spell is as old as you say it is, Aika, it may have very strong magical power which could make it very dangerous," Sakura said to her.
"Dangerous?" Aika whispered with a frown as she thought of Tamahome.
"And any wish you make on it will probably involve some sort of sacrifice," Sai said.
"Sacrifice?! I don't think so," Aika said to him. She didn't want to think of sacrifice!
"It makes sense, Aika. Think of the devil. You ask something of him then he'll demand a sacrifice," Kakashi said to her.
"Okay, now you're all pulling my leg because you don't believe me," Aika muttered.
"Hey! I believe you! I was there with you! Well, I read it-but I saw it all with my own eyes! Believe it!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Okay, Naruto believes. Anyway, Tamahome and the others weren't dangerous at all," Aika said firmly.
"Aika," Tamahome's voice echoed in her head.
"You're just letting yourself get side tracked," Yamato said making Aika look at him questioningly. "Your shop. If your parents knew you were wasting your time with some story and now working on that shop that you've put years of labor into. How would they react?"
"Hey! What do you know about her parents?! I happen to think they would be proud of her becoming a Priestess!" Naruto glared at him.
"She's not a Priestess! Maybe you two fell asleep in the library and ended up dreaming this whole thing," Yamato said to him. Kakashi sighed and looked at Aika.
"Just promise you won't go near that book again, okay?" He asked before Aika looked down. He placed a hand on her head. "Hey, it's probably nothing. Like Yamato said, it was probably just a dream."
"One that Naruto and I dreamed at the same time? Kakashi, I know what I saw was real. Please, you have to believe me," Aika frowned at him. Soon he, Yamato, Sai, Sasuke, and Sakura left. 'Even if I promised not to read anymore of the book…'
"Promise you'll come back, Aika," Tamahome's face flashed through her head.
"I just can't forget," she whispered. Naruto went up to her with a frown and pulled her into his arms with a sigh.
"Hey, we'll get through this. They may not believe you yet, but they will. I promise," Naruto said to her. Aika smiled a bit as her head rested on his chest.
"Thanks, Naruto. Hey, Naruto?"
"Hm?"
"Can you maybe train me? I want to be able to help the others so they don't have to worry so much," she said to him. Naruto grinned.
"No problem!" He agreed. Suddenly a black cat ran out and up onto Aika's shoulders. Aika giggled.
"Hello, Niko," she greeted as she pet the purring cat. Naruto pet the cat.
"You know, it's weird how Niko seems to be the only cat that likes me," he muttered making Aika giggled. "Come on. Let's do a little training before getting some rest. It's still early," he said to her. Aika nodded and set Niko down on the couch before leaving with Naruto after grabbing some weapons. Naruto started training her with some Taijutsu first to see how far she was. After that they practiced Ninjutsu. Turns out her two elements are fire and lightning.
"Naruto, you know I'll have to go back. I promised not only Tamahome, but Taiitsukun, Nuriko, and Hotohori," Aika said as they training.
"I know. I just wish I could come with you. I wish I could be one of your warriors so I could keep you safe," Naruto replied.
"You have other things to worry about. You're training to become Hokage, then you have to take care of Hinata, then you also have your own students. You can't just focus on helping me," Aika pointed out as they stopped, panting.
"Aika, if there's anything your parents taught me, it's that family comes first. You're my family, my little sister. So you're just gonna have to put up with me," Naruto said to her before they went back to sparing. Aika couldn't help but smile a little.
"Thank you, big brother," she whispered. Soon they were done with training and went back into Aika's house. Naruto had to go and let Hinata know that he would be staying with Aika for a bit to help her out. Aika was in her room, at her desk. She took out her notebook and wrote Tamahome's name. "Tamahome," she whispered. She thought of him then Nuriko, and then Hotohori.
"Aika?" She heard. She looked up to see Tamahome beside her. "Hey, what's wrong? Aika?" He asked smiling. Aika smiled.
"Tamahome." She went to cup his cheek until he disappeared. "Tamahome…." She murmured before looking down. "Stupid, you know Tamahome can't come here like that. He'll never be able to come here. He's not a part of this world," she said before feeling tears in her eyes. 'No matter how much I miss him or love him, he only exists inside that book.'
"Just promise you won't go near that book again, okay?" Kakashi had asked.
"I'm sorry, Kakashi. But I want to see him and the others again. I want to go back into that book…it's the only place where I feel like I belong. The place where I feel I can be useful," Aika said before she gasped. "The Book of the Universe of the Four Gods. Could she be? Oh no, don't tell me Yui was sucked into that book now!"
"Aika!" Yui's voice rang through her head. Aika heard the door.
"Hey, Aika! Where are you?" Naruto called.
"Naruto!" Aika shouted before he ran into her room. "Y-Yui! I-I think she's in the book now!" She said making his eyes widen.
"Are you sure?" He asked her.
"Yes! I can feel it in my gut!" She stated before picking up the book. "I can just feel that she's in here. I don't know how, but I can. Naruto, I need to go back there, now!" Aika said with determination in her eyes. She ran to the bathroom where she took a shower, getting cleaned up.
"What if something goes wrong and you both can't get out, huh?" Naruto pointed out as he kept his back turned when she came out and went to get dressed.
"I'll find a way to get Yui out," Aika said simply.
"But what about you?" Naruto asked.
"I don't care about me, Naruto! Yui doesn't belong there. I didn't mean for her to get sucked into this, literally," Aika said as she finished. Naruto turned and saw her dressed in her mother's old outfit. It was the clouded fishnet tank top with a black mini skirt, dark red thigh-high leggings, over the knee boots that were black with a red stripe on the outside, a long vest jacket that was red with gold trimmings, red fingerless fishnet arm warmers that mainly just cover her forearm and palm, then a red belt that held her shuriken, kunai, and medicine pouches. On her thigh was her kunai and senbon holder. Aika kept her hair down like normal.
"Aika…you look just like her," Naruto said with a sad smile. Aika returned it.
"If only I had brown hair, huh?" She asked before putting some extra clothes in a bag. She then went to the kitchen and put some snack foods in there before putting in the necessities and a camera. "All ready to go," she said to him. Naruto sighed a bit and nodded before grabbing the book. He handed it to her and she smiled at him. "Tell the others I'm sorry, but I have to do this. I won't be able to rest until I've reach the last word of this book. See you later!" She said before the book glowed red. "Just hang on, Yui. I'm coming. Tamahome!" It's then she disappeared and Naruto caught the book.
"Be careful, Aika," Naruto said as he stared at the book.
~0~
At the palace, Hotohori was sitting at the edge of a long table, his councilors there as well.
"What are we going to do?"
"To think it's come to this."
"Your Highness, you know we have done nothing to invite this aggression."
"For the past few years, Konan has been peaceful and quiet."
"Yes, maybe too quiet," a guy said. Hotohori rubbed his forehead.
"But…" suddenly there was a red glow making his eyes widen.
"Look out!" A woman shouted. Hotohori looked up and suddenly Aika landed in his arms. She smiled. "Sorry about that, Hotohori."
"Aika!"
"It's the Priestess! We're saved! The Priestess of Suzaku" The councilors smiled. Aika gave a shy smile as she got up.
"Hey, guys. I'm back and-." She was suddenly pulled into Hotohori's arms.
"I have missed you so much," Hotohori whispered in relief.
'Hotohori…Why is he happy to see me?' Aika blushed slightly before relaxing from the unexpected hug. She then learned why he missed her so much. "What?! It's been three months since I left here?!" She asked surprised.
"Yes. Time flies like an arrow, doesn't it?" Hotohori smiled.
"Well, actually, when I got back home after I left here…" Aika thought back to when she was home. "I've missed you all so much!" She said surprising Sakura and Sasuke as she hugged them.
"Aika, we just saw you yesterday," Sasuke said.
"Times must pass at different speeds here and at home," Aika mused.
"While you were gone, many troubles have befallen the Empire," Hotohori stated.
"Troubles? What kind of troubles?" Aika asked, eyes narrowed in concern.
"Aika, we must ask a favor of you. The Priestess of Suzaku. As Emperor, I must ask you to find the remaining four Celestial Warriors at once," Hotohori said to her as she took off her back pack. "Battalions of Kutou's soldiers are gathering at the countries border."
"What for?" Aika asked him.
"Kutou has wanted Konan's land for a very long time," Hotohori replied.
'If it's not one problem then it's another! If Yui gets caught in this then who knows what kind of trouble she'll get into! She has no fighting experience at all. If she ever saw fighting then it was when I was training with the others,' Aika thought panicked. "I'm sorry to ask, Hotohori, but have you seem a girl who dresses in a similar fashion to me? She has short blond hair and blue eyes."
"No, nothing. Who is she, Aika?" Hotohori asked her.
"She's my friend Yui," she replied. Hotohori grasped her by her shoulders.
"Aika, once we find all seven Celestial Warriors, you can invoke the power of Suzaku and save the Konan Empire," he told her.
"The power of Suzaku. Of course! Once I gather all seven Celestial Warriors, I can summon Suzaku and have any wish granted. If I can do that then I can find Yui, help her, and also help the Konan Empire,' she thought. She nodded to Hotohori. "You can't count on me," she said before running off to go find Nuriko and Tamahome. 'First of all, I'll go see Tamahome and ask him to go with me.'
"Aika?" A familiar voice called. Aika stopped and turned to see purple hair and brown eyes. "It's you!" Nuriko smiled before the two hugged with big smiles.
"Nuriko, I've missed you!"
"I've missed you too, Aika!" Nuriko smiled as they pulled away.
"Oh, by the way, have you seem Tamahome?" Aika asked curious.
"Tamahome isn't here anymore," Nuriko replied. "He just left a few days ago. He said he had to earn some money and then go visit his family."
"I see. Well, family is important," Aika smiled a bit in understanding. "But still, that's not going to stop me from going to look for him," she stated.
"No worries, I'll come with you and help," Nuriko said before changing and going to see Hotohori.
"Hotohori, I'm going to go find Tamahome. I'm going to need his help," Aika stated.
"You're going to look for Tamahome?" Hotohori repeated surprised.
"Yup."
"All by yourself?"
"Well, Nuriko volunteered to come with me," Aika smiled before looking at Nuriko who was dressed in male clothing, his hair tied in a braid over his shoulder.
"Nuriko?" Hotohori blinked.
"That's right. Dressed as a male, you almost didn't recognize Nuriko, did you? I have admit, Nuriko, you can pull off male and female looks," Aika said. Nuriko smiled a bit.
"Well, I'm sure it'll draw less attention if I dress this way," he said to her. Hotohori didn't seem to like it too much and sighed.
"We've received reports that Kutou spies have infiltrated the region. Be careful," he said.
"Is that-?" Aika saw the scroll in Hotohori's hand.
"Suzaku's universe of the four Gods. The only item we have with any clues to help you find the remaining Celestial Warriors. I'm sure Taiitsukun won't mind if I give it to you. The Priestess of Suzaku." He said to them before they left. Aika wore the wrap again as she rode behind Nuriko on the horse.
"By the way, I never asked about your outfit," Nuriko said.
"Oh, it was my mother's. I wanted to be able to be more suitable for fighting," Aika told her.
"Fighting? Aika, you don't need to do that."
"Yes, I do. I don't want to be useless to all of you. Tamahome and Hotohori got hurt because I was weak. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me again," Aika said to him. Nuriko sighed.
"How about unless we say, then you can fight. Just be careful," he said to her.
"I promise!" Aika smiled. She then began thinking about Tamahome. 'Why is Tamahome thinking about money at a time like this?' "It's been too long."
"Yeah, three months! But you made it back! Tamakins will be real happy!" Nuriko told her.
"What do you mean, Nuriko?"
"After you left Tamahome just sort of lost it and wondered around all the time in a daze," Nuriko said as he remembered. Tamahome sitting on the railing with a bird's nest on his head. Then at the dining table with Tamahome eating a plate. "That's a plate, Tamakins," Nuriko had said. Nuriko chuckled. "I wish you could have seen it."
"Really?"
"So quit your worrying!"
"Hey! I'm not worrying!" Aika said stubbornly.
"Tamahome is in love with you!"
"No he's not! He told me himself he didn't feel that way at all."
"That's only because he didn't realize it at the time," Nuriko stated before his eyes narrowed. "I've never seen it get so dark so quickly before."
"Neither have I. It's getting darker and darker," Aika stated scanning the area.
"Straight into pitch black."
"Are we going the right way?" Aika asked until the horse bucked up making Aika fall off.
"Are you alright?" Nuriko asked as soon as he got control of the horse.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Aika replied until there was figure standing over her with a scythe. "Hey! What's the big idea, pal?" Aika glared as she got kunai ready for an attack.
"Tell me what you're doing here!" The man demanded.
"That voice sounds like…" Aika's eyes widened. Another man walked up with a torch and revealed Tamahome.
"Aika," Tamahome said surprised as she stood up.
"Tamahome," Aika said surprised as well. Tamahome brought a hand up and caressed her cheek before cupping her face with both.
"Aika, can it really be you? These last three lonely months have felt more like a thousand years to me," Tamahome said before smiling. Aika felt tears prick her eyes that were too stubborn to call as she placed her hands on his, her cheeks having a light blush on them.
"Tamahome, I've missed you so much," Aika smiled before hugging him tightly. Tamahome hugged her back just as tight.
"I've missed you too, Aika," he said as he rested a hand on the back of her head to keep her there. Aika listened to his heartbeat making her smile more. She missed everything about him. His voice, his warmth, and his heartbeat. They soon pulled back. "So, are you feeling better?" He smiled as he wiped the tears away from her eyes that were threatening to spill over.
"Yeah, I am," Aika replied with a smile before Nuriko cleared his throat. The two then realized people were watching making them blush and jump apart.
"Tamahome, who are these people?" A man asked. Tamahome smiled and placed a hand on Aika's head.
"This is Aika, Priestess of Suzaku. And this guy's gay," Tamahome said jabbing his thumb at Nuriko. Nuriko squawked at that and punched him over the head. "Actually, he's Nuriko, one of the Suzaku Seven just like me."
"Hi," Nuriko smiled at everyone. Tamahome turned to Aika.
"Everyone's afraid of the Kutou army and there have been reports about a lot of suspicious people showing up lately in this vicinity. So, I hired myself out to protect this village. Heh, as long as I'm around everything is safe and sound," he said smiling. Aika smiled back.
'Tamahome hasn't changed a bit,' she thought until the fire suddenly went out.
"What happened?!"
"The flame went out, but there's no wind!"
"Light a torch, quickly!" Tamahome ordered. Suddenly there were hands covering Aika's mouth. Aika fought to get free.
~0~
Naruto sat on the bed and read the book.
"Disembodied hands reached out from the darkness and carried off the Priestess of Suzaku."
~0~
Aika screamed from behind the hands as she was carried away.
"Aika!" Tamahome cried out.
Kida: *Blinkes* Wow, two chapters written in one day...I'm so fudging proud of myself!
Naruto: It's only two chapters.
Kida: *Glares* Call me a nerd, but it's a big deal to me! The only time I seem to have patience is when writing my stories!
Tamahome: She's got you there, Naruto.
Kida: *Grins* You're finally out of your slump! Good, you'll stop eating my plates now. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Please favorite and comment!