Kida: A new chapter! I hope you all like it!

Naruto: I did, it has more action in it!

Kida: *Hits him over the head with paper fan* Would you not give away any spoilers?!

Tamahome: Don't most of the chapters have action in it?

Kida: Yes, but Naruto's a big mouth and would probably tell more about it before people got to read it!

Tamahome: True. Kida Tenshi does not own Naruto or Fushigi Yuugi. She only owns Aika Hitsubasa and any other future OCs. Enjoy!

The Lady Aika, Priestess of Suzaku, had finally returned to her home. But even though she was back in the ninja world, she and Naruto could not find their friend Yui. Lady Aika came to realize that Yui must have somehow taken her place, falling into the book. Falling into the Universe of the Four Gods and into the other world. Concerned for her best friend's safety, Lady Aika returned through the book to go after her. She learned that in the short time she had been gone three months had passed in the world of the book and Kutou was preparing to invade the Konan Empire. When the Emperor asked her to find the Suzaku Seven, Lady Aika and Nuriko set out to find Tamahome.

"What's the big idea, pal?!" Aika glared as she got kunai ready for an attack. Suddenly a man with a torch walked up. "Tamahome?"

"Aika," Tamahome said relieved. But before she knew what was happening, the Lady Aika was pulled away into the night. Aika screamed behind the hand as she struggled to get away. "Aika!" Tamahome screamed before going after her. Nuriko was about to follow until he saw something and turned to see two bright lights coming at him and the men. Tamahome hadn't noticed and kept running until he reached an area, looking around. "They disappeared," he panted.

~0~

'Okay! That's it! I've had it!' Aika thought before opening her mouth and sinking her teeth into the hand.

"OW!" The man shouted before letting her go. Aika was let go and turned with a kunai in hand. She then saw it was a monk with light blue hair dressed in traveling attire.

"That really hurt, ya know," he said to her before blowing on his hand. Aika glared.

'Just who is this guy?' She thought to herself as she kept her kunai ready for attack.

"What a healthy bite you have there, Priestess of Suzaku. I should have asked you before I rescued you from the Kutou warriors, ya know," he said to her. Aika sweat-dropped with a WTF look on her face.

"What the-?" She went to ask until she saw him kneel down and putting his straw hat on.

"Don't let them catch you off guard, Priestess!" He said before disappearing under the hat. Aika blinked at that. She picked the hat up.

"Well, I'll be damned," she said looking over the hat. "He vanished without a trace…if you don't include the hat that is," she muttered to herself. Magic, what a strange concept. "And I didn't even bother to ask for his name," she added. 'And here he thought I was in danger and tried to rescue me…good intentions, bad observation.'

"Aika!" Tamahome said appearing. Aika turned and saw him.

"Tamahome," she said with relief.

"Are you alright?" He asked worried. Aika nodded as she stood up.

"Yeah, I'm okay," she replied before looking at the hat. 'Just who are these guys and why do they want me?' She thought to herself. They suddenly heard a blood curdling scream from Nuriko making the hair on the back of Aika's neck stand up. Aika put the hat on around her neck before she and Tamahome ran to where they heard Nuriko's scream. They made it there to see Nuriko pinned against a tree, panicked with arrows around him. Tamahome and Aika gasped when they saw all the men dead from the arrows in them. "Oh my…god…" Aika whispered with wide eyes. Tamahome pulled her close and covered her eyes.

"Don't look," he said to her. Aika moved his hand away.

"What went on here, Nuriko?" Aika asked as she felt anger surge through her. Tamahome knew from that look that this wasn't the first time she's seen someone die or already dead. It wasn't, Aika had seen many dead from the village invasions and from the war.

"We were ambushed in the trees by a hail of arrows," Nuriko glared as he crushed the arrow. "It was right after we lost sight of the two of you," he added before remembering what happened a few minutes before. He had turned to see something shining and arrows rained down. He was pinned to the tree and heard the screams of the men who died. "I could swear those arrows were meant for you, Aika," he said to me. I was shaking with anger.

"Yeah, they were meant for me. Apparently Kutou sees me as a threat. The guy that had grabbed me told me they were," she stated.

"You spoke to him?" Tamahome asked her. He saw her shaking angrily and placed his hand on her shoulder, hoping to calm her down. Aika nodded.

"They were killed because someone was trying to get to me," she said with anger and guilt in her tone. Tamahome frowned and pulled her close.

"Don't say that," he said softly as her head rested on his chest. They were soon in the village and offered some food. Aika ate a bit, mostly just poking the food around.

"You need to eat something, Aika. I know this was all a shock, but you need to eat," Nuriko said to her.

"The guy in the hat told me I was being stalked by Kutou warriors and he was right," Aika stated. Tamahome looked at her.

"They know the Priestess is the protector of this kingdom. They have a lot of reasons for wanting her dead," he stated. Aika frowned a bit and Tamahome smiled at her. "Don't worry about a thing, Aika. I'll take care of you. I'm not gonna let you out of my sight again," he promised. Aika fought down a blush and smiled slightly.

"Thank you, but that's not really what I'm worried about," she stated. Before Tamahome could ask her to clarify, the door flew open with a man rushing in.

"We have trouble, Tamahome!"

"Bandits are about to storm the west gate!" Another guy said. Tamahome got up with a smile

"Aha! It's money time!" He beamed. Aika and Nuriko gave him looks and Tamahome straightened up, clearing his throat. "Oh yes, I promised to keep Aika safe. Nuriko, you watch her. Bye!" He said before running out. "Woohoo! Time to kick some bandit butt!"

"Money loving idiot," Aika muttered with a tick mark on her temple.

"Maybe we outta do something about Tamahome's greed before we find the Suzaku Warriors," Nuriko suggested to Aika.

"Got that right," she agreed.

"Maybe you have Tamahome all wrong," an old man piped up. "He may charge money, but his prices are very reasonable."

~0~

Outside, Tamahome was smirking as he took down all the bandits until they were on a pile. He was then standing on the pile, holding two of the bandits.

"Thirty intruders defeated, pays thirty!" He smiled at the two guys who had asked for help.

"Not much money for someone who just saved a village."

"That's barely enough for ten loaves of bread and a cup of coffee."

~0~

"Tamahome's a very good man," the old man said to the two.

"But a good man would defend the village because he cares about it! Not because he wanted to be paid money for his services!" Nuriko told him.

"Money? What harm is there in asking for a few cents?"

"Is that all?"

"Now who's being selfish? It really isn't much, why pick on him so?"

'Why in the world does Tamahome want money so badly?' Aika thought to herself. Nuriko and Aika were given a room and Aika went to bed after taking off everything put her leggings, tank top, and skirt. Aika slept through the night until it was morning. She sighed a bit and rubbed her forehead. 'I can't stop thinking about Tamahome. Why is he so obsessed with money?' She thought until she heard something. She looked out the window to see Tamahome putting something on the horse, earning neighs of protest.

"Whoa, easy there," Tamahome calmed the horse.

"What is he doing?" Aika whispered as Tamahome mounted the horse and started to leave. "Now, just where is that boy going so early in the morning?" She asked before smirking. "Bingo," she said before looking at Nuriko. She tried waking the guy up. "Wake up, sleepy head!" She called shaking her. Nuriko didn't wake up. "God, she's as bad as Naruto," Aika muttered before smirking when she got an idea. She went over to her bag and took out a flashlight. She opened Nuriko's eyes and shined the light into it making Nuriko scream bloody murder. "Yup, I knew that would work."

~0~

"Well, if it isn't young Tamahome! How ya doin'?" A man asked as Tamahome went passed him on his horse.

"Fine, I thought I'd drop in for a visit," Tamahome smiled.

"Well, what do you know? This must be his home village," Nuriko mused as he and Aika sat on the horse.

"I think you're right. This place looks amazing though, peaceful," Aika smiled. It reminded her of the beautiful farm lands back in her village.

"Aika," Nuriko said making Aika look over at Tamahome. She then saw him get off his horse. She was then surprised to see a bright smile from Tamahome as four kids ran up to him, calling him 'big brother'. Aika could see how much Tamahome loved his little siblings due to the smile and the hug he was giving them.

"Chuei, Yuiren, Shunkei, Gyokuran, have you all been good?" Tamahome asked them.

"Yeah! We've all been good!" One of the kids replied while the others giggled.

'I've never seen Tamahome this happy before,' Aika smiled softly as she watched him.

"Dad, I'm home," Tamahome said walking into the house with his siblings who clinged to him.

'It's a side of him I've never seen,' Aika added in thought before she and Nuriko decided to eavesdrop on them. The man looked at Tamahome with a smile as he laid in bed.

"Tamahome," he greeted as Tamahome knelt down by the bed.

"You're looking better every day, dad. And…" Tamahome chuckled as he pulled out the ryou he had on a rope. "Look at this. I brought home some money to help out," he said to him.

"Thank you, that means a lot. Chuei's been taking care of things while you've been gone," Tamahome's father said. Tamahome smiled at his little brother.

"Chuei, well done," he said placing his hand on Chuei's head.

"Well, I'm not doing too bad," Chuei said sheepishly. "But the crops aren't looking good."

"Don't worry. Just keep that money and make sure to spend it wisely," Tamahome said to him.

"Thank you, son. I'm glad you find the time and room in your heart to care about us. But it's time for you to begin building a life of your own. You should be married, son," Tamahome's father said to him as Aika and Nuriko listened. Tamahome smiled at his old man.

"Maybe. But in the meantime, I'm fine," he said before standing with his baby sister hanging onto his hand. "Well, listen, I gotta go," he said before looking at Chuei. "Chuei, you make sure to take care of everybody, alright?"

"Can't you stay for super?" Shunkei asked.

"Stay with us big brother, please," Yuiren pleased as she hugged her brother's leg. Tamahome felt his heart break a little. He bent down and placed his hands on his sister's shoulders.

"Not this time. But I will bring you a new doll next time I visit," Tamahome promised. Yuiren hugged him.

"No! All I want is you!" Yuiren cried.

"Yuiren, listen. I need all you kids to stay strong. You know everything I do is for you guys. I have to go away and do what I do and get money for us. Just try to be patient. Money is scarce, all I can charge anyone is just enough for us," Tamahome said as he held his siblings. Aika covered her mouth with her hand.

"Well, I prefer money to any 'thank you's'," Tamahome said to Aika after kneeling down in front of her. He ran up the steps and faced everyone. "The price is one silver ryou each!" He said holding the gum up.

'Then that…that was for his family,' Aika thought before she and Nuriko cried like babies

"Tamakins is so brilliant!" Nuriko sobbed as Aika softly blew her nose into a handkerchief.

"Now it all makes sense, why he need the money. To support his family!" Aika whimpered.

"Yuiren!" Tamahome exclaimed making Aika looked at the window. "Yuiren, what's wrong?" He asked holding his sister.

"He can be mad at me for following him later,' Aika thought as she opened the window and jumped in. "Let me see her," she said to Tamahome before gently taking Yuiren from his arms. Tamahome looked at her with surprise. She then felt the little girl's fore head. "She has a fever and she doesn't look too good," she said before looking at Chuei. "We need to get this girl into bed. Please, bring me a damp cloth," she said to him.

"Right!" Chuei said before running to get the wet cloth.

"She needs to sweat off this fever. Bring more blankets, lots of them," she added as he tucked Yuiren into bed.

"Okay!" Chuei said after coming back with the wet cloth. He gave that to her then went to get the blankets as Aika placed the cloth on Yuiren's forehead. She then took out some medicine from her pouch.

"She needs to take some of this medicine. Tamahome, can you please get some water for her to wash it down?" Aika asked.

"Right!" Tamahome agreed before going to get a cup of water. Aika covered Yuiren up.

"I have to give you some medicine. It's going to taste bad, but it'll make you better," she said softly to Yuiren before giving her the medicine. She took the glass of water from Tamahome and helped Yuiren drink it. Aika waited a bit, keeping the wet cloth on Yuiren's forehead. She then smiled a bit. "It looks like the medicine is starting to work," she mused.

"Now then," Tamahome said making Aika sweat-drop. "Do you wanna tell me why you followed me here, Aika?" Tamahome demanded.

"W-well, uh, you see, um…I-it's a pretty funny story! I'm sure you'll get a great kick out of it!" Aika said letting out one of Kakahi's nervous laughs that she picked up.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure I will!" Tamahome shouted. Gyokuran grabbed her big brother's arm.

"Hey, big brother, who is this person? Is she you're wife?" She asked innocently. Tamahome and Aika blushed darkly.

"WHAT?!" Tamahome exclaimed with shock. "That girl? You gotta be crazy, Gyokuran!"

"I-I'm not even ready to be married yet!" Aika exclaimed.

"Don't listen to them," Nuriko said making the two teens look at him. Nuriko was talking to Tamahome's father who sweat-dropped. "They might act embarrassed, but they've gotten very close. I'm sure they've gone all the way by now. Mhmm," he said making the father look like he fainted.

"Don't make jokes with such a straight face or he'll believe you, idiot!" Tamahome blushed darkly at him. Aika even had a dark blush.

'Tamahome's blushing…it's kinda cute,' she thought seeing the red on the blue haired man's cheeks.

"Hi, big brother," Yuiren greeted softly as she looked over. Aika smiled and looked at Tamahome.

"She's getting better. Why don't you keep her company? I'll go get her some more water," she said before she started to go do so.

"Aika," Tamahome said making Aika stop and look at him. "Thank you, for everything," he smiled a bit at her. Aika smiled with a light blush.

"Anytime, Tamahome. I mean it," she said to him. She then left to go fetch some water after grabbing the bucket. What she didn't know was that there were some men watching her from the trees.

"So, the Priestess of Suzaku walks alone."

"We have her at last!" Aika filled the bucket and looked at her reflection.

"Now that I think about it, helping Tamahome with the children almost makes me feel like I am his wife," she mumbled with a light blush. A dragon came by and made her reflection disappear. "Hey, just what the hell am I thinking? He and I aren't even dating and here I am fantasizing about being his wife. Tamahome couldn't possible ever think of me that way. Anyways, he's only a character in a book," Aika said with a small sigh. She then looked at the scroll Hotohori had given her. 'Anyways, Hotohori mentioned that there are some clues in here to help me with finding the rest of the Suzaku Seven and maybe even Yui. I can't spend time dawdling around. I have to find the last four Warriors and save Yui,' she thought before seeing the word monk. "Monk. Okay, so if that's the first word then the last one is mask then…man, I need Yui or Naruto, hell, even Kakashi to teach me more about reading these," she muttered. She saw a shadow and turned to see a man with a pick ace, smirking at her.

"Well, well, the Priestess of Suzaku," he mused. Aika glared before smirking as she drew a kunai.

"As a matter of fact, I am. You know, you should choose your opponents more wisely," she said before taking a fighting stance.

~0~

"What are you doing, loser?" Sasuke's voice rang from Aika's window.

"Gah! What the hell are you doing here, bastard?!" Naruto shouted.

"I came to see how Aika was doing since her 'experience'," Sasuke said climbing into the room.

"You don't have to believe it. She's went back to the Universe of the Four Gods anyways. I guarantee you won't find her in the village or any other," Naruto said before looking back at the book. Out of curiosity, Sasuke began listening to him read. "As she sat by the river bank, a man approached her. Within seconds, the Priestess of Suzaku found herself fighting for her life," Naruto read and his eyes widened. "Fighting for her life?! Sorry if I'm doubting you, Aika, but…Tamahome, save the girl! Believe it!"

~0~

Tamahome's head snapped up.

"Tamahome?" Nuriko asked.

"Something's wrong with Aika!" He shouted before running out.

"Tamahome, wait!" Nuriko shouted, but the blue haired boy didn't stop.

~0~

The pick axe came down and Aika blocked it with her kunai. She smirked at him.

"Watch where you're swinging that thing, someone could get hurt," she said in a teasing tone as she flipped away. She kept dodging and blocking, hoping the guy would tire out. "Wow, you don't tire easily," Aika mused. She blocked the pick axe again, but the impact made her go back into a tree. She looked up and saw the pick axe coming down and was ready to block until the guy was suddenly kicked away. In front of her stood Tamahome. "Perfect timing, Tamahome," Aika smiled a bit.

"Hey, I can't let you have all the fun," Tamahome said to her. Suddenly another man jumped out wearing a mask like cloak. He came down, his hand covered with lightning as it hit the ground when Tamahome and Aika jumped away. Aika glared at the man.

"Stop right there!" She said ready to attack until two arms came out from behind her and shot two lights from his hands at the man.

"Didn't even touch him!" Tamahome exclaimed with shock as the guy landed over by the guy from before. It's then the two men disappeared and the straw hat came off Aika's back. Once the hat landed on the ground, the monk from behind appeared out of the hat with a staff. Tamahome glared and pulled Aika away.

"Hey, that's the guy who pulled me into the forest before those guys attacked," Aika mused.

"The guy who seemed to know so much about these people who want the Priestess of Suzaku dead," Tamahome said keeping his glare on the monk who smiled and nodded. "Well? Who are you? You don't look like a regular person," Tamahome said rudely. Aika gave him a look and nudged him in the ribs making him groan.

"Tamahome, manners," she scolded.

"Hey, you don't have to be mean, ya know. I'm just your basic wonderer, ya know," the monk told him offended. "And it seems Aika can take good care of herself, ya know."

"Got that right," Aika nodded with a smile. They all then started making their way back to the village.

"I warned you about those men, ya know. You should have sensed the enemy's presence. Very careless, ya know. What's your excuse, Tamahome?" The monk asked almost like he was scolding.

"Well, thanks for the warning and the help against the assassins," Aika smiled at him.

"The time for thanks is not now but later, ya know. And if you wanna stay alive, I'll give you some advice, ya know. I can already see you take responsibilities for your own actions, ya know. Because if you didn't, innocent people would suffer on your account. But don't be afraid to ask for help, ya know," he said to her. Aika thought about his words until Nuriko's scream and cries of help from the children reached her ears. Tamahome glared.

"That cowardly Kutou assassin! He wouldn't dare!" He growled before going to help Nuriko and his family. Aika froze.

'Innocent people would suffer on my account? Dammit! This is all my fault! If Tamahome hadn't come after me to help me then his family wouldn't be in danger!' She thought before quickly running after Tamahome.

"Don't be foolish!" The monk called. Tamahome opened the door and his eyes widened as did Aika's when she saw them.

"Tamahome!" Shunkei cried. Gyokuran, Shunkei, Chuei, and Nuriko were tied in some kind of bandaged webbing.

"Big brother!" the other kids cried.

"Aika! Tamahome! Stay back!" Nuriko shouted. The assassin appeared then. Tamahome went to punch him only be caught in the bandaged webbing as well.

"Tamahome!" Aika called.

"You see, Priestess of Suzaku, if you want your friends to live, you'll let me kill you without resistance," the assassin said as he drew his sword. Aika was shaking with anger.

"You really are an idiot. Coming after those I care about was your first and last mistake," she growled before glaring at him. "Kids, close your eyes. You don't need to see this," she said to the children who closed their eyes. Aika did some hand seals before bringing her hand down, gripping her wrist. "Chidori!" She shouted before lightning engulfed her hand. She then ran forward with a battle cry and thrusted her hand, getting the assassin in the chest. "Using innocent children as bait…you'll be rotting in the bottom pits of hell for this one," Aika said coldly before pulling her hand out as the guy fell to the ground. Tamahome and Nuriko were staring at her in shock. Aika pulled the body out of the house so the kids didn't have to see it. She disposed of it before washing her arm off. She went back to the house where she saw the monk use magic to get everyone out of the webbing. Tamahome walked up to Aika.

"Aika, what was that?" He asked.

"One of the things I learned from a friend of mine," Aika replied.

"No, I mean that cold look you had on your face. I only saw that once before," Tamahome said meaning the Mirror Aika. Aika frowned a bit.

"I'm sorry you had to see that. But I don't stand for anyone using children, let alone my friends, as leverage to get me," she stated.

"You didn't even flinch when you killed him," Nuriko stated.

"Where I'm from, I'm too used to death. I've seen worse than that and I've heard worse," Aika stated as she remembered all the battles she'd seen when she was younger. Tamahome hugged her.

"Thank you, for saving them," he said to her. 'Though I should be the one keeping you safe.' Aika hugged him back.

"I told you, anytime. You can't always be there to protect me so I guess my training comes in handy," Aika smiled a bit.

"Yeah, it does," Tamahome replied. Aika pulled back and looked at the monk. She lifted his pant leg and revealed the mark on his knee.

"I knew it, one of the Suzaku Seven," she murmured. The kids ran to Tamahome, crying. Nuriko wrapped his arm around Aika. "Now, any idea what this Kutou army wants me dead?" She asked the monk.

"I think their own Priestess has appeared. I heard about it on my travels, ya know," Chichiri told her. Aika thought back to the other Gods.

"Instead of the Priestess of Suzaku, they plan on having a different Priestess…the Priestess of Seiryuu, right?" Aika asked crossing her arms.

"You are quite observant, ya know!" The monk smiled. Aika sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"I just wish I asked that guy who the Priestess of Seiryuu was," she whispered to herself.

"So you're one of the Suzaku Seven too, huh?" Nuriko asked the monk.

"Oh yeah!" The monk laughed. "My name is Chichiri, ya know!"

"Does the skin on your face always peel off?" Aika raised an eyebrow as she pointed to it. "You weren't hurt, were you?" She asked with concern.

"My face is fine, ya know!" Chichiri smiled before suddenly ripping that off to reveal a new face. "I always keep a spare, ya know!"

"Good work, Aika. You found the fourth member of the Suzaku Seven! Though personally I think he's a little weird," Nuriko said to Aika.

"Okay, I'll be weird and you be gay, ya know," Chichiri sweat-dropped. Aika looked over as she heard sobbing. She saw Tamahome holding is little siblings.

"Big brother," Gyokuran sobbed.

"It's all right, Gyokuran," Tamahome soothed. "Chichiri says he doesn't sense anymore enemies in our village," he assured. Aika stood and walked over to him.

"Tamahome," she said getting his attention. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused. I'm afraid this is all my fault," she said, guilt clear in her eyes. Tamahome's father smiled warmly at her.

"Please don't think that way. We are honored that the Priestess of Suzaku would see fit to visit our humble little dwelling."

"But, sir…"

"He told you not to worry, so don't. You did nothing wrong," Tamahome assured her. Aika wanted to argue, but decided against it. Soon everything was completely calmed down and the four were sitting at the table. "So there's a legend of the Seven Stars in the Kutou Empire as well?"

"Like I said, I heard it while I was traveling their borders, ya know. Ever since Kutou heard that the Priestess of Suzaku had appeared in Konan, they've been searching for the Priestess of Seiryuu," Chichiri stated.

"So you're saying the same Aika is trying to gain the power of Suzaku to make her wishes come true, the Priestess of Seiryuu would probably be seeking the power of Seiryuu for the same reason," Tamahome stated earning nod from Chichiri.

"It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. After all, the old witch or whatever you call her, Taiitsukun, gave each of the four kingdoms their own neat copy of the Universe of the Four Gods," Nuriko said.

"But in order to get their Priestess, they would need to get a girl from a different world-." Aika gasped. 'Yui…if Yui did end up coming to this world then she could be found by the Kutou Empire and they could make her into the Priestess of Seiryuu. Then…she and I would be enemies here….' Aika thought sadly.

"Aika, is something wrong? You're not speaking. You're as white as a ghost!" Nuriko said to her. Aika stood and put on a fake cheery smile.

"It's nothing! No worries! I just remembered I have something I need to take care of. Oh look, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!" She said sounding like the rabbit from one of the books she read before running out of the house.

"Aika!" Tamahome called. Aika just kept walking.

"I have to get to Kutou. I have to find Yui. I have to do this so no more innocent people will be in danger," Aika said as she remembered the men that were killed and how Tamahome's family was attacked. She then started running. "I won't let anyone else get killed or hurt because of me. I have to go to Kutou. Alone."

~0~

"And so, unprotected and alone, the Priestess of Suzaku ventured out for the land of Kutou," Naruto read. Sasuke knew that was like Aika to do something like that.

"Aika, please be careful."

Naruto: That girl better be careful.

Kida: *Rolls eyes* Come on, Aika's a smart and strong girl. She knows what she's doing.

Kido: That I doubt. You put yourself into your OCs. So seeing as you're an idiot, then she's an idiot.

Kida: *Glares deadly at him* Must...kill...brother...

Tamahome: I'd run right about now.

Kido: *Gulps* Right. *Runs to Mexico*

Kida: I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Please favorite and comment! Now, I have a brother to kill. *Picks up scythe and runs after Kido*