Kida: There, thirty-one episodes done!
Naruto: You skipped one of the episodes.
Kida: Oh, well, I don't really count that one. It was just a filler to let people know all that's happened so far.
Tamahome: How many more are there.
Kida: Twenty more! Oi, I've got my work cut out for me.
Shikamaru: How troublesome. Kida Tenshi doesn't own Naruto or Fushigi Yuugi. She only owns Aika Hitsubasa and future OCs, if there will be any.
Kida: You never know!
As Lady Aika set out for Hokan, a Warrior of the Seiryuu Seven, Soi, appeared to challenge her.
"Hakojiraihou!" She shouted before more lighting started striking for Aika who easily dodged the lightning. The holy sword that Hotohori had given her, rescued them from near disaster. Aika let out a battle cry as she swung the sword.
~0~
"May I have your attention please?" The woman over the speaker said. "The library will be closing shortly."
"Hey, guys, this place is ready to close. What do we do now?" Shikamaru asked Naruto and Sasuke. Sai had escorted Hinata and Sakura home so now it was just the three of them.
"We cannot leave," Sasuke stated as he and Naruto gathered the books.
"Not yet, we've gotta keep our eyes on this thing. Don't forget the book!" Naruto said before the two took off.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Shikamaru called.
"Where we won't be bothered!" Naruto replied. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow before sighing.
"What a drag…"
~0~
Aika sighed a bit as she walked out of the tent then shivered a little, her hands rubbing her arms to keep warm.
"It's cold," she whispered to herself. She looked over and saw Tasuki leaning against the tree with a blanket while Chichiri was next to him, cleaning his staff. "Where's Tamahome, guys?" She asked them.
"He took off somewhere with that nasty little kid in tow," Tasuki replied with a bit of an attitude. Kurama rolled his eyes with a smirk.
"What's the matter with Tasuki?" Aika asked Chichiri with an amused smile.
"Tasuki's face scared the kid so bad he started to cry and then he ran away, ya know," Chichiri replied. Kurama laughed while Aika stifled a giggle.
"HOW COULD THAT LITTLE PIPSQUEAK THINK MY FACE IS SCARY?!" Tasuki spazzed.
"Don't blow up at us! Calm down, ya know!" Chichiri said trying to calm him down while Kurama laughed and Aika giggled.
"I saw them head into the woods," Nuriko said as he walked up.
"Nuriko," Aika smiled a bit before the purple haired man tossed her the blankets which she caught.
"Bring them a blanket," Nuriko said to her.
"That's a good idea. No need for them to catch a cold," Aika smiled in agreement before running off to find Tamahome and the boy. Aika ran into the woods then, a blanket around her shoulders while carrying the other blanket.
"Come on, what's wrong?" Tamahome asked. Aika looked over to see the little boy on a smaller horse while Tamahome was beside them. "No, you've gotta hang on tighter. Don't you wanna learn how to ride in proper style?"
"I can't," the little boy said to him.
"If a man can't ride a horse like a real man, people will make fun of him and you don't want that now, do you?" Tamahome asked him.
"No way! I'll learn to ride, I promise!" The boy said determined.
"Good. That's the spirit," Tamahome smiled. Aika smiled as she watched them. It was rather cute to see in her eyes.
"Tamahome," she piped up as she walked over.
"Aika," Tamahome smiled when he saw her. He looked back at the boy. "Okay, it's getting pretty late. You better get yourself to bed." The boy nodded and got off the horse.
"See you later!" The boy waved with a big smile before leaving with the horse.
"Okay, see ya," Tamahome smiled as he waved back.
"Kids love being around you because they know you enjoy it too," Aika mused with a smile.
"Why do you think I ever started hanging around with you?" Tamahome joked.
"Hey, I'm not a little kid, ya know," Aika pouted a bit with a blush.
"Well, in the beginning to me, you seemed a lot like a little sister," Tamahome said as he remembered when he rescued her from those bandits.
"I was scared. I was so scared," Aika light sobbed into his chest as Tamahome held her. Aika blushed and looked away. "So that's how you think of me, huh? Just a little sister."
"At first that's how I thought of you, but then I realized I was in love with you," Tamahome said with a tender smile. Aika smiled with a shy blush.
"That's better," she said to him. "Now, put the blanket on so you don't catch a cold," she said giving him the blanket.
"Yes, mother," Tamahome said sarcastically as he took the blanket.
"Don't make me pinch you," Aika playfully threatened making him chuckle.
"After you summon Suzaku and our mission's complete, I want us to be together. I mean it," Tamahome said as he walked with her. Aika looked at him with a small smile.
"I want to be with you too, Tamahome," she replied.
"I know you do, but where? Where will we be able to stay together?" Tamahome asked making Aika stop walking with surprise. Tamahome stopped beside her. "I've been thinking about it, going over and over it in my mind; about what happened to the Priestess of Genbu when she was done here," he said making her remember when they talked to the elder. "The Priestess of Genbu, after she summoned Genbu, did she leave this land and return to her own world?"
"Tamahome?" Aika asked looking at him.
"Well, that's what I was told, but of course, I do not know all the details," Tomoru replied. Tamahome's bangs shadowed his eyes.
"Will you go back to your own world once you've succeeded in summoning Suzaku? I don't know about your world and I'm sure I can't go there, but as a Priestess, surely you can," Tamahome said making her frown.
'Tamahome only exists inside this book and I'm a person from the real world. I always knew that, but I didn't want to think about it. I'm just a village civilian working to open my own shop and Naruto, Sasuke, all my friends are there. There where I spent all sixteen years of my life, my real world. But Tamahome doesn't exist there,' she thought sadly. "I….I don't know what to say…" she whispered.
"Please, don't go," Tamahome said making her head snap up in shock. "Please don't go back there," he said before going over to her and hugging her close. "Please stay here with me."
"Tamahome, w-we're not supposed to do this. You have to let me go," Aika said to him, her hands on his chest. She wanted to push him back, but a large part of her wanted to stay there. Tamahome held her closer.
"I don't want to. All the time, I worry about it all the time. I don't wanna lose you," Tamahome said, his voice a little shaky. Aika looked up at him.
'If I stay here, I give up my old world forever, but in exchange I never have to leave Tamahome,' she thought as Tamahome cupped her cheek. "I don't want to leave you…I love you," she said softly before hugging him around his neck. Tamahome hugged her back tightly. "I'll stay here. I'll stay here forever." 'I'll give up my friends and the life I've always known. If I can just be here with Tamahome, I can give all the rest of it up. I want to be with you,' she thought. What they didn't know was that Nuriko was watching them from behind a tree. Kurama sighed a bit as he walked up to him.
"You know, I hope she can stay here," he said.
"Hm? Why do you say that, Kurama?" Nuriko asked. Kurama gave a slight smile.
"She…seems happier here. Coming here and meeting all of you, she seems to have a new light in her eyes. Back home, sure, she loved her friends, but she wasn't happy. She had too many bad memories there," he replied.
"But won't you all miss her?" Nuriko frowned.
"Of course, we'll miss her like hell. But as long as she's happy, that's all the rest of us care about. Believe it or not, we've all had a feeling she would leave us sooner or later. We just didn't know how," Kurama sighed as he looked at Aika. 'To think, Kit. You were the one who helped Naruto soften me up a bit.'
~0~
The next morning, the Suzaku Warriors and Priestess were getting ready to set off. They had all been given warm clothes to keep them from getting sick with the cold weather.
"First and foremost, take care of yourselves," Tomoru said to them. Aika smiled at him.
"We will. Thank you for your hospitality," she said with a bow of respect. The little boy ran up to Tamahome.
"Big brother…" he frowned.
"Hi," Tamahome smiled at him.
"I promise you that I will learn how to ride, I know I will! Because then I can ride over to your country and visit you there," the little boy said determined with tears pricking his eyes. Tamahome bent down and placed a hand on the boy's head.
"Okay, that's a promise then. We'll see each other again," Tamahome smiled at him. The boy smiled back and nodded before looking at Tasuki.
"Goodbye, Mr. Scary Face! Bye!" The boy waved while Tasuki sweat-dropped and waved back. "Don't scare any little kids, kay?"
"This kid will not shut up about my face," Tasuki grumbled to himself. Aika giggled a bit. The boy then hugged Kurama. "Will I see you again, Kurama?"
"I hope so, Kit," Kurama replied before tickling the kid a little with his tails. The boy giggled before Kurama stopped. Kurama then jumped up to Nuriko who was on his horse already. Tamahome helped Aika onto the horse before he got on in front of her. They all then took off.
"Come back and see us! Bye, bye!" The boy waved at them. Aika smiled and waved back before looking ahead.
'We're almost there. We have to find the Shinzahou in Turan. I'm sorry about this, Yui, but….no! For Yui's sake too! I have to summon Suzaku as soon as I can! I have to!' Aika thought determined as she held onto Tamahome.
~0~
Nakago soon made it to a tent and stepped on a bone, breaking it. He walked in and saw who he wanted to see.
"It's your turn now, Ashitare. Lady Yui and Suboshi have already left for Turan. This is the land of your ancestry. You will know how to find the Priestess of Suzaku and with that native strength of yours, you will slaughter her," Nakago stated. Ashitare smirked before letting out a roar.
~0~
The group soon made it to the town on their horses and looked around.
"So, this is Turan," Tamahome mused.
"Yeah, we finally made it here!" Tasuki smirked.
"It's cold here," Chiriko said from behind Mitsukake. Kurama jumped over and Chiriko caught him. Kurama then wrapped his tails around him.
"Don't worry, Kit. I'll keep ya warm," Kurama said making the young Warrior smile.
"Thank you, Kurama," he said petting him. Aika suddenly saw some snow and smiled as she looked up.
"It's snowing," she observed.
"Wow, you almost never see snow back home in Konan. Weather's too nice there," Nuriko smiled as he looked.
"This is actually my first time seeing it. Back in my village, it never snows. It's nice weather all year round, like spring. Sometimes it's hot like summer though," Aika said as she stared at the snow. She then caught some snowflakes in her hand. She then remembered her friends. 'Oh wait, that's right. I decided last night….Once I summon Suzaku, I'm going to stay here in this world. I said I would give up my old life, all my friends and everything I've ever known,' she thought as she remembered the night before. She smiled a bit and rested her head against Tamahome's shoulder.
"Hot…it gets so hot I want to shave off my fur!" Kurama grumbled making the others chuckle. After a bit they stopped at a restaurant to get something warm to eat. Chichiri then opened a map of the area.
"Well then, where do we go from here?" Tamahome asked.
"Well, right now we're at the city gates, ya know. We should split up and search for clues about the Shinzahou. Since Chiriko is just a kid, I'll team up with him, ya know," Chichiri said.
"My pleasure," Chiriko smiled.
"And since Tasuki's such a hot head, the even tempered Mitsukake should go with him, ya know," Chichiri added.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tasuki muttered.
"It means you're reckless. I'll go with those two then. Seeing as you can sense us through magic, I'll sense if anyone's in trouble through chakra," Kurama said.
"That sounds like a good idea, ya know," Chichiri agreed.
"And naturally I should go with Aika," Tamahome smiled. Aika gave a smile at that before looking at Nuriko.
"Then what about Nuriko?" She asked curiously. Nuriko hummed in thought, looking at his bracelets.
"I'd prefer to go with Aika and Tamahome. As steward of his Majesty Hotohori, I have to protect you in his place," Nuriko smiled at Aika. It's then a man walked up.
"Hey, baby," he said sounding drunk. He gripped Nuriko's chin. "Oh yeah, you're a pretty one. How's about you share a drink with me?" He grinned. Nuriko then beat him to a pulp before cracking his knuckles.
"Sorry, buddy. I'm not that kind of girl," Nuriko said sitting back down.
"Hey, baby, maybe it's not such a great idea for you to pair up with Aika. Looks like they're plenty of rednecks around this joint," Tasuki smirked.
"Heyo, sweet cheeks! I'll buy you a drink! What do ya say?" A man asked Nuriko and Aika.
"No kidding," Tamahome snorted. "If the sight of two girls together here causes this much excitement we're never gonna get anywhere without a bunch of hassles along the way."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. The problem is I look like a girl!" Nuriko said a little annoyed. "Aika, can I borrow your kunai?" He asked.
"Oh, sure," Aika raised an eyebrow before digging a kunai out. She then handed it to him. They were all shocked at what Nuriko did with it. He cut his braided hair off, making it short.
"There," Nuriko said. Aika sighed a bit.
"Give me the kunai," she said. Nuriko gave it back and Aika fix his hair to making it look more natural. "There, now it looks like you didn't just chop it off."
"W-what a waste," Tamahome said looking at the long hair that was now in Nuriko's hand.
"Nuriko, are you sure about this? You'll give up looking like a girl?" Kurama asked frowning a bit. He knew the story from Aika.
"It's all right. It's done. I don't feel the need to do the crossdressing act any longer. Besides, I can't have this mane of hair flapping all over the place while I'm trying to fight the Seiryuu Seven, can I?" Nuriko smiled.
"Yeah, the Seiryuu Seven. That's right. They may attack us when we least expect them to," Tamahome said completely serious.
"Exactly. The biggest problem is finding a way to keep in touch with each other while we're split up looking for the Shinzahou. But if I use any of my magic, the enemy will be able to find us, ya know," Chichiri said.
"And I can't use any Jutsus for the same reason," Aika sighed.
"Yeah, that's tricky," Tasuki agreed.
"Hey, I have a great idea!" Chiriko piped up making Tasuki spaz out.
"Hey, kid! Don't get some dramatic, would ya?!" Tasuki asked him.
"Ignore my hot headed brother. What's your great idea, Chiriko?" Aika asked.
"It's these," Chiriko put some signal flares on the table.
"Fireworks?" Tamahome asked.
"They're signal flares. Some teams use them to let another team know where they are," Aika said to him.
"That's right! If you find out anything about the Shinzahou, just light one of these to let us know. They can be seen from anywhere within the city boundaries," Chiriko stated.
~0~
The sound of chains and footsteps made it through the snow on the cliff that over looked the village.
"Turan. There, I smell it. The succulent smell of foreign flesh. I smell a Suzaku girl and her friends," Ashitare said before growling. He then let out a roar.
~0~
Aika heard the roar and snapped her head behind her.
"What's that? What makes a sound like that?" She asked not liking that sound. The last time she heard anything close to that was when Naruto lost control of Kurama's power.
"A wild dog?" Tamahome murmured, not liking the sound either.
'What now? Why do I suddenly feel like something horrible is closing in on us?' She thought to herself as her fist clenched at her chest.
"Hey, hey! Look at this! Did you see this old monument here?" Nuriko smiled as he pointed to it. They all looked a large stone tablet in a small shrine.
"What is it?" Aika asked looking at it.
"There's a small carving of Genbu on the top. Do you think it might give us a clue about the Shinzahou somehow?" Nuriko asked.
"What is all that? Those characters look like worm tracks," Tamahome said looking at the inscription. Aika then saw an old woman walking by.
"Oh, excuse me, ma'am. Could you read this for us please?" She asked politely.
"Oh this. No, this is an ancient language we stopped using two hundred years ago," the old woman said looking at it.
"Ancient language?" Aika mused.
"The only people who can read it now are learning scholars," the woman told her.
"I know someone who can read it," a man said. Aika looked over to see a man wearing a green wrap on is head, dressed in black and purple and his hair was brown. "Are you all travelers in our country?"
"Yes, we are. Do you really know someone who can read this script?" Aika asked hopeful.
"Yeah, my father knows how to read this thing. I'll take you to him right now. Come on, follow me," the man said starting to walk away.
"Come on, guys. Let's go with him," Aika said to Tamahome and Nuriko. The old woman grabbed her coat.
"Hold it. I wouldn't if I were you. That man's a well-known ne'er-do-well. It's true his father was a scholar at one time, but now he's fallen on some hard times," she told the girl.
"So don't come if you don't want to," the man smirked.
"I'll go," Tamahome stated. "Aika, you stay here with Nuriko and wait until I get back," he said to Aika before going to follow the man.
"You are not going alone," Aika argued, worrying for his safety and well-being.
"Nuriko, take care of her," Tamahome said to his fellow Warrior.
"You got it," Nuriko replied. Tamahome then followed the man.
"I hope he will be all right," the old woman said as Aika looked worried.
'That bad feeling just keeps getting worse and worse…'
~0~
Yui now walked in front of Suboshi who was leading the horse.
"You're not still too cold, are you, Lady Yui?" Suboshi asked.
"Yes, I am," Yui snarled a bit. Suboshi sweat-dropped.
"You don't have to snarl at me about it…" he mumbled. "Nakago said that we'd discover clues about the Shinzahou if we searched here in Turan. He said he was sending Ashitare to deal with the Suzaku Seven." Yui stopped.
"Have Aika and Tamahome arrived here already?" She asked. Suboshi raised an eyebrow.
"A while back, I heard Nakago mentioned some guy had rejected you pretty badly. Was that Tamahome?" He asked. Yui gathered some snow and threw it at him. Suboshi groaned and rubbed his eyes. "Lady Yui, I, uh…" he saw her missing. "Lady Yui? Lady Yui? Where'd she go?" He asked looking around.
~0~
Tamahome followed the man as he looked around, keeping his guard up.
"Hey, how much further until we get to this place, huh?" He asked. The man stopped then.
"This is it," he smirked standing next to a door. He then led the Warrior into a tavern.
'Oh boy, got a bad feeling about this,' Tamahome thought as he looked around. Suddenly there was a knife at his throat. It was the man who had led him there.
"Hand over all your dough, pal," he smirked.
"I had a hunch you'd turn out to be a scum bag and a liar too," Tamahome said not fazed by the knife.
"I didn't lie to you. The guy drinking at that table over there is my dad. It's obvious your traveled from some distant land. You must have a little do re mi along, so hand it over now," the man ordered.
"Yeah, well, sorry to disappoint you, buddy, but I don't have any mullah. I might even have to barrow some myself," Tamahome said with a confident smile.
"You wanna play it that way, friend? We'll take it out of your flesh instead!" The man told him.
"Hey! Hey! I didn't know you guys were into that! Sorry, fellas! That's not my game! I like girls!" Tamahome said making an X with his arms.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" The man snapped at him. "Shut your mouth, wise guy! I've had enough of your lip! You need help keeping it shut, I've got some volunteers!" He said before nodding to the men. It's then the others went to attack Tamahome. The man smirked with his back turned thinking his men would win. "Well, that's how it goes. He should just done what I asked him to begin with-what?!" His eyes bugged out when he saw it was Tamahome who had taken them all down.
"Woo yeah! That felt good! So you done now?" Tamahome asked grinning. The man growled and went to punch him. Tamahome smirked and went to do a side kick.
"Holt it!" The man's father said making them stop, Tamahome's foot stopping at the side of the man's face. "Give it up, son. You've lost. And you, stranger, you don't seem like the usual sort of amateur treasure hunter we usually get wondering around these parts."
"You got that right," Tamahome said tapping the man's cheek with his foot. He smirked at the old man, his symbol glowing. "Another half second and I'd have smashed his face in, but for an understanding father I'll show some mercy."
~0~
'Uh oh. It's nice to finally be away from Suboshi, but now I'm lost,' Yui thought as she walked around. 'Still, it's refreshing to be alone for a change,' she smiled a bit. She kept walking until she heard some men laughing and talking.
"I know, there were two of them, they came at me twice and then they stopped," one of the men said. Yui then remembered the day she was raped and ran away from them.
~0~
"I see, you're a Warrior of the Suzaku Seven," the old man said to Tamahome who nodded. "In that case, listen well. This is what is written in ancient script on the monument: 'This shrine is dedicated to the Shinzahou, bequeathed treasure of Genbu. In the shape of a shell that Priestess of Genbu used to protect our land forever more, it is now hidden deep in the caves of Mount Koku and can only be opened by one loyal to the four Gods faith'," the old man told him. Tamahome thanked him before running out to get back to Aika and Nuriko.
'The Shinzahou is in Mount Koku, Aika's going to be so happy about this,' He thought smiling. He kept running until someone bumped into him. He saw her and his eyes widened. "Yui!"
"Tamahome!" Yui said with wide eyes as well.
~0~
"What's taking Tamahome so long?" Aika asked worried. That feeling was just growing worse.
"Don't be such a worry wart. I'm sure he'll be back very soon," Nuriko told her as they sat at the monument.
"Sorry," Aika sighed thought Nuriko could see the girl was getting one of those 'vibes' again. "Can I ask you something? Don't you have any regrets cutting all your hair off?"
"No, I don't think so. I thought that having this long hair could make it up for losing my little sister Kourin," Nuriko said with a small smile as he look at the pouch that held his once long hair.
"You know, I have to say, you do look really cool with your hair cut like that," Aika smiled at him.
"Oh come on, haven't you ever noticed how attractive I am?" Nuriko asked smugly.
"You're mighty quick to take a compliment, aren't you?" Aika teased.
"What are you trying to say?" Nuriko asked acting offended. The two shared a look before they laughed. Aika smiled and took his hand, giving it a small squeeze.
"I'm glad we met, Nuriko. Even though it was a rough start, I'm still happy. You're sometimes like a big sister and other times like a big brother to me," she said to him. Nuriko smiled, touched by what she said. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"And you're like a little sister to me, Aika. In a way, you remind me of Kourin. This time I'm going to do better as a big brother. I'm going to protect you, no matter what."
~0~
"What are you doing here?" Tamahome asked Yui, keeping his guard up. "Of course, you're after the Shinzahou too," he said. His eyes widened a bit and he looked around for any Seiryuu Warriors.
"I am alone. Nakago and Suboshi aren't here with me now," Yui stated.
"Do you still consider yourself Aika's mortal enemy?" Tamahome asked making Yui look away with narrowed eyes. "You don't understand how she feels about you. She told you she didn't betray you. Why can't you believe her?"
"No more of that! Don't you realize that none of that makes any difference anymore? I am the Priestess of Seiryuu and that fact alone makes me your sworn enemy! This is your big chance, isn't it?! Why don't you kill me?!" Yui shouted as she went to take step forward, slipping on the snow.
"Look out!" Tamahome exclaimed catching her.
"Let me go!" Yui said after she was in his arms and pushed away. She then slapped him. "Why do you always have to be so nice?! Especially when you don't even care about me!"
"That's not true, Yui. You're a good person, I know that and you're Aika's best friend," Tamahome said trying to get through to her.
"Stop it!" Yui said before turning with tears running down her cheeks. "We can never be friends! Never again!"
"Why are you so stubborn? It's not too late to change your mind. You haven't summoned Seiryuu, there's still time," Tamahome said to her.
"No. I've already made up my mind. I will summon Seiryuu, but you don't have to worry, I have no intention of involving you in any way. I'm sure Aika's wish to Suzaku will be to stay with you. I don't know why she would, it's stupid! Because the…the truth is that, if Aika doesn't summon Suzaku there's no way you could ever spend your life with her! Who even cares about you anyway?! You're just a character in a story book!" She shouted at him making him stand there stunned.
~0~
Aika gasped a bit as she felt something sharp cold flashed through her.
"What's wrong, Aika? Are you cold?" Nuriko asked her worried.
"No, but a chill just went up my spine," Aika replied.
"A chill?"
"I'm really worried about Tamahome and I'm getting a bad feeling. I'm going to go look for him," Aika said standing up.
"Hey, Aika! Me too!" Nuriko said standing and following her.
"I have found you," Ashitare said without Aika or Nuriko hearing
~0~
"Wait, are you sure about this? It says to keep out," Shikamaru said as he followed Naruto and Sasuke to the reference room. Where Naruto and Aika had first found the book.
"Be quiet. Just keep your eyes on that book," Naruto said to him before looking through one of the books as they sat in the room. "Okuta…Okuta…where'd it go?! It was right here somewhere!" Naruto said frustrated. Shikamaru sighed and sat down with him and Sasuke who was also looking through the books.
"Alright, I'll keep reading," Shikamaru said opening the red book "As Nakago had ordered, Ashitare arrived to kill the Priestess of Suzaku."
"What's that?!" Naruto asked looking at the book too.
~0~
Aika kept walking until she heard an animalistic voice making her freeze.
"Priestess of Suzaku," Ashitare said making Aika turn sharply to see a large man white hair and red eyes, a scar on his left eye. "You must die!" He growled before going to attack. Nuriko ran up in hopes to protect the Priestess.
"AIKA!"
Kida: *Hiding behind Tamahome*
Tamahome: Why are you hiding behind me?
Kida: I don't want Ashitare to eat me.
Naruto: Why would he eat you?
Kida:...he ends up dead in two more chapters...
Ashitare: *Growls*
Kida: Eep! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Favorite and comment! Bye! *Runs for the hills*