Kida: Holy fudge, there's like twelve more chapters to go!
Kido: Really? Only that many?
Tamahome: Kind of a surprise there. You've been working on this anime for what? Two months now?
Kida: Yeah, crazy. It feels like I just started this a couple weeks ago! IT'S SO SAD!
Naruto: Eh? Why?
Kida: I'll miss you all! *Tears up*
Tamahome&Naruto&Kido: *Panic* Don't cry!
Tasuki: While those idiots try to calm Kida down, I'll do the disclaimer. Kida Tenshi doesn't own Naruto or Fushigi Yuugi. She only owns Aika Hitsubasa and blah, blah, blah.
Devastated by her ordeal, Lady Aika left Tamahome in the middle of the night and wondered out into the wilderness alone. The Lady Aika was rescued by none other than Amiboshi of the Seiryuu Seven who had long been presumed dead. But Amiboshi seems to have lost his memory and is now living under the name of Kaika, the adopted son of an older couple in Makan Village.
~0~
"The Uchiha Police Task Force?" Shikamaru asked as they stood in front of the old building.
"Yeah, my father was the head of the Task Force," Sasuke said to him.
"Apparently Asato Uchiha was also the leader of this investigation. At least that's what it said in the book. Who's Asato?" Naruto asked.
"He was my grandfather, the head of the Task Force before my father was," Sasuke replied.
"And you found this in the book? Good work, Naruto," Shikamaru said, a bit impressed. "But that information isn't public domain, is it? Is this legit?"
"Important documents reference room. No unauthorized personnel," Naruto replied.
"Well, that shouldn't matter now. I just hope the files weren't cleaned out after the massacre," Sasuke said looking at the building. Naruto patted his shoulder before they went in.
~0~
"Why can't you and I live together forever?" Kaika asked as he held Aika in his arms. Her eyes widened.
"A-Ami, I mean, Kaika, what are you talking about?" She asked, a little afraid to know.
"If you stay here, I promise you won't be hurt by anything anymore. This village is peaceful. All the people here are decent and hard working. If you stayed, you wouldn't have to worry about a thing. Father and mother would be so happy," Kaika said to her.
'I wouldn't be hurt by anything anymore,' Aika thought. She suddenly blushed when she realized her chest was almost out and gasped as she turned. Kaika quickly got up.
"Sorry! I was only trying to help, I'm sorry," he said facing away from her, picking his shirt and coat up. "Your fever has gone down, you should take it easy today though. Still, won't you give some thought to what I've said to you?" He asked her before walking away. Aika sat up as she covered her chest.
'Live here forever?' She thought still surprised.
~0~
Tamahome walked with Aika who was really Soi and suddenly fell to his knees and hands. Soi knelt beside him.
"What's wrong?" She asked him.
"Nothing. Suddenly my body is burning up. Strange," Tamahome panted a bit.
"The heat must have gotten to you. Let's go somewhere and rest, kay?" Soi asked softly. A little ways away was Tomo, watching them.
"I see. She put the potion in her own mouth then passed it on to Tamahome when they kissed. Impressive, Soi. You are a master manipulator of men," he said as Soi took Tamahome into a building with a wind mill. "Now Tamahome, as you embrace your beloved within my illusion, Soi will draw the life from you and your body will rot," he said before cackling. Soi removed her cloak before removing Tamahome's shirt. She then began kissing his neck.
~0~
Aika gasped as she shot up.
"I…I had another dream…about that guy…" she murmured, angered about the thought of Nakago.
"Aika dear?" Kaika's mother asked. Aika looked over.
"Yes, ma'am?" She asked.
"May we speak with you?"
"Yes, ma'am," Aika replied before Kaika's parents walked in and over to her.
"Forgive me. When I overheard you talking earlier I was frightened and thought our son was going to leave us again," the woman told her, holding Aika's old clothes.
"Again?" Aika asked, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"A long time ago, we lost our son Kaika. When we came upon that boy in the river, it was as if our son had returned to us," Kaika's father said.
"I was afraid we would lose him again. Please forgive me," Kaika's mother pleaded. Aika gave a soft smile.
"Don't worry. No harm was done. I feel fine now," she assured.
"Here are your garments," Kaika's mother said, handing them to her with a small smile. "I washed and mended them."
"Now, please, get some rest," Kaika's father said before leaving with his wife. Aika picked up the wallet that rested on her clothing only to find a photo had been underneath. It was the picture she took of the whole group.
'I'll never see Tamahome again or any of the others and now that I'm unable to summon Suzaku, there's no way home. I can never return to my own world and I won't see my friends again,' Aika thought before softly sobbing. Her wallet fell and opened to a picture of her, Naruto, and Yui. She picked it up. "Yui, now I understand your pain, your frustration, even your anger. I didn't understand anything before," she murmured.
"Aika?" Kaika asked making her look over after wiping her tears. She saw him walk in with a bowl.
"Kaika."
"Take this," Kaika said handing her a bowl.
"What is it?" Aika asked.
"Forgetfulness leaves. If you drink this, you'll forget everything that's ever happened to you," he replied making her eyes widen a bit.
~0~
Panting was heard throughout the room from both Tamahome and Soi who was impersonating Aika.
"Aika…" Tamahome breathed as Soi kissed his neck. He smiled as he looked up at her. "I love you."
"I do too. I love you too," Soi smiled back at him. Niko growled a bit before meowing at Tamahome, dressing as Aika. He meowed 'Tamahome! She may LOOK like Aika….but she's really THIS kind of girl.' He turned into Soi in a cloak. He was then slapped with a flyswatter.
~0~
Kaika sat next to Aika as she held the bowl of forgetfulness leaves. She was silently debating whether or not to take it.
"Take this and wish as hard as you can to forget everything that's happened. Then you can finally be happy. There's nothing to think about, go on," Kaika encouraged.
'If I drink this I can be happy. I will forget all the bad things that have ever happened to me,' Aika thought before going to bring the bowl to her lips. Suddenly the clanking of her bracelets was sounded making her stop. She looked at them. 'Forget? About Nuriko? And the others? And Naruto? And Yui? And…and forget about Tamahome who still loves me even after all that's happened to me?' She thought before frowning deeply. She then smashed the bowl on the ground.
~0~
Tamahome sat up, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Tamahome, what's wrong?" Soi asked.
"I can't. We shouldn't be doing this now," Tamahome said to her.
"Why not?"
"You still haven't summoned Suzaku," Tamahome stated.
"But after what Nakago did to me…it's already too late, I've lost he right to summon Suzaku," Soi said acting upset.
"No, I just don't believe that. I'm sure how to explain what I mean, but we should never be willing to abandon all our hope. If we do then it really is all over. As long as even the slightest possibility remains, we have to believe, Aika," Tamahome said looking at Soi who stared at him with shock.
~0~
"But why? Why? Don't you wanna be happy?" Kaika asked her as he stood.
"I…I can't. I can't forget them. The people that care about me. I can't forget the people who have saved my life again and again. The people I love. I can't do that!" Aika said trying not to cry at the thought of forgetting those she cares about.
"You're talking about Tamahome, aren't you, Aika?" Kaika asked making her gasp a bit. "What happened to him anyway? The last time I saw you, you two were always together." Aika snapped her head up to him.
"What did you just say? Does that mean-?"
"It does. I remember. Everything. I am Amiboshi of the Seiryuu Seven, your enemy," Amiboshi said to her.
"So you do remember your life before this? Then why did you pretend that you didn't?" Aika asked him. Amiboshi walked over to the window.
"At that time, I really wanted to die."
"Why?"
"Kutou wasn't peaceful like Konan. The land where I was born was racked with civil war. When Suboshi and I were very young, we saw our parents killed in a battle our country was caught up in. So when Lady Yui appeared from another world, I thought Kutou might finally find peace if we could only summon Seiryuu. Then I heard that if Konan summoned Suzaku, it would take over the world and never let us achieve that peace. That's what Nakago told us. As a Warrior of Seiryuu, I had to fight against you and the Suzaku Seven. As I fell into the river, I thought 'if I disappear from the scene, we won't be able to summon Seiryuu'. The great war that was brewing between us would never begin, nobody would get caught in the middle of it, and no innocent children would have to suffer the way my brother and I have had to," Amiboshi explained to her.
"Amiboshi…." Aika whispered. He turned to her with anger and sadness.
"War is horrible and meaningless, Aika! Don't you think so too?!" He asked her.
"I do," Aika stated.
"Then stay here with me! Without us, neither side can summon greater power, the power of Seiryuu or the power of Suzaku to fight with!"
"There's a way to summon Suzaku and Seiryuu without you or I even having to be there," Aika stated making Amiboshi's eyes widen. 'Yui's being used,' she thought angered.
"Sadly no. I'm afraid the Lady Yui remains a virgin," Nakago's voice rang through her head.
'Nakago's been lying to Yui all along so he can use her to take over this world!' Aika thought.
"That's why you have to try to save her, Aika," Chichiri had told her. Aika's eyes narrowed with determination and she stood up, looking at Amiboshi.
"I have to go."
"You have to go where?" Amiboshi asked her.
"To find Nakago, to save my friend Yui, and to convince her to summon Seiryuu now," Aika said to him.
"Huh?!"
"If she knew she was being lied to, I think Yui would stop doing what Nakago and the Kutou Emperor tell her to. Then she could take charge and wish for peace in your land. Good idea, huh?" Aika said with a slight smile.
"Yeah, it might be a good idea, but it will never work," Amiboshi said to her. He then turned when she began undressing to get dressed into her old clothes. "Aren't you afraid to do that? To deliver yourself up to the enemy?"
"Maybe I have no chance and maybe it won't work, but I don't want to grow up to be a coward that keeps running away from things," Aika stated. All her life, she's been trying to stay strong, for her parents and for her friends. She had to stay strong.
"But…"
"Amiboshi," Aika said making the said guy turn to see her all dressed, except for her vest coat. "You know that character for 'to run away'?"
"Well, yeah," Amiboshi replied. Aika smiled a bit and walked up to the window. She breathed on it to fog it up before she began drawing the character.
"There, right?" She asked.
"Yeah, so?" Amiboshi asked. She erased a part of it before breathing again and writing something else.
"So if you change one part of it, it means 'to challenge'. I guess means there's a thin line between running away from and facing a problem and who choses which side," Aika said with a soft smile.
"Aika…" Amiboshi murmured. Aika let out a small giggle.
"Actually, Yui was the one who taught me this," she said as the fog on the window disappeared.
~0~
"Sorry, fella," Tamahome said as he got dressed. Niko stretched. "Okay, we're off."
'Why isn't the elixir working? Is the love this boy shares with the Priestess of Suzaku stronger than the power of my love potion?' Soi thought as Niko jumped up to Tamahome's shoulder.
"You underestimated him, Soi," Tomo said making Tamahome stop.
"Who're you?" Tamahome asked, reading to fight as Tomo appeared.
"I am Tomo of the Seiryuu Seven. And although this is the first time we've met, this is where we shall kill you," he said. Tamahome's eyes widened a bit and he looked at Aika. The illusion disappeared to reveal Soi.
~0~
Aika grabbed her clip and started pinning her bangs in place.
'I don't think it'll be easy for Yui and I to make up, but summoning Seiryuu is our only chance now. I can't let Nakago keep having his way. We can asked Seiryuu to grant peace throughout this entire world and after that, we'll ask him to send us both home. We'll go back to be normal Leaf Village civilians and open our shop and everything will be solves. It'll all be over. It'll be over between Tamahome and I too,' she thought. She suddenly heard groaning and turned to see Amiboshi's adoptive parents on the ground with an arrow in the father's back. There were horses riding outside. Amiboshi ran to his parents with Aika.
"Father! Mother!" Amiboshi exclaimed.
"Get them inside! Quickly!" Aika told him before they brought his parents inside. She could hear people being hit with arrows and being stricken down by swords. "Are you all right?" She asked Amiboshi's father.
"Yeah, they hit my shoulder, but mother…" he said, holding his shoulder and looking at his wife.
"She'll be fine. She just fainted from the shock," Aika assured.
"Father, brace yourself," Amiboshi said getting ready to pull the arrow out. He then did so earning a painful cry from his father. Amiboshi looked at the arrow as Aika used medical Ninjutsu on the father's shoulder. "This is a Kutou arrow. They must have figured it out," he hissed slightly.
"What do you mean?" Aika asked.
"Earlier when you were suffering, I used my life force to lower your fever. Nakago must have detected my presence here in Makan," Amiboshi explained.
'No. It's me they want, not Amiboshi? But why are they still after me? I'm not a threat now. I'm lost the power to summon Suzaku. I can't let this go on! There's no reason for this kind of destruction. I will never forgive them for hurting these innocent villagers, I can't!' Aika thought with narrowed eyes and gritted teeth. She stood and ran out of the house.
"No, Aika! Wait a minute!" Amiboshi shouted running after her. "What are you doing?! Don't go out there! Hold on! Wait!" He shouted as he grabbed her wrist.
"Let me go! This has to stop! I'm going to find Nakago and I'm gonna punch his lights out!" Aika said wanting to beat the blonde man to a pulp. They heard horses and Amiboshi stood in front of Aika protectively.
"We thought we'd find you here, Priestess of Suzaku! Now come along with us, quickly and quietly," the soldier said to her.
"Aika, get back," Amiboshi said as he gently pushed her to back up.
"You dare resist?" The Kutou solider smirked before swiping at Amiboshi who dodged the attacks.
"Amiboshi!" Aika called with worry.
"Stay right there! Cover your ears and close your eyes!" Amiboshi ordered her. She covered her ears as she turned away. Amiboshi took out his flute making the soldier's eyes widen a bit.
"It's that flute!" He exclaimed. Amiboshi started playing the tune making the soldier groan and cry out in pain as he gripped his head. Soon all the soldiers were just like the first.
'Burst,' Amiboshi thought with a glare as he kept playing. It's then the soldiers burst open, blood spraying out and they were all dead. Amiboshi walked over to Aika and patted her shoulder making her look at him as she uncovered her ears. "It's all right he's gone," he said as she stood with him. "The sound probably ruptured all his soldiers too," he said to her. They then looked in one direction with slightly wide eyes. "I sense a powerful life force."
"Amiboshi?"
"It must be Tomo."
~0~
"So now then, what environment would you like to die in, Tamahome? If you have a preference, I would be more than willing to give you the illusion of your choice," Tomo said.
"Your name is Tomo?" Tamahome asked.
"Correct."
"Uh huh, what's with the hair and the make-up? It's embarrassing to even look at my eyes. They're going into shock! How can you expect to be taken seriously? Black and blue stripes and feathers? What were you thinking? It's just wrong!" Tamahome said rubbing his forehead. Niko snickered in his cat like way.
"Heh, how pitiful. You have no sense of style and cannot appreciate my magnificent artistry. In my make-up design, the black represents loyalty; the indigo, trickery. And the brilliant touches of gold I added for flavor," Tomo said with closed eyes.
"Uh, Tamahome left. He's outside," Soi pointed, using her cloak to cover herself.
"What?" Tomo asked shocked before turning to see Tamahome blowing a raspberry at him before jumping down with Niko. Tamahome then started running with the black cat in tow.
'An illusion? Then where's the real Aika?' He thought. He suddenly came to a stop when he made it to a cliff. He then saw a city of lights in the distance.
"Those are the lights of the Sairo capitol. The real one," Tomo said walking up.
"Then, my friends aren't there?" Tamahome asked glaring a bit at him. Tomo cackled.
"Your friends are in an illusionary capitol city of my own creation. They don't even notice they're unprotected and growing weaker and weaker. They're deaths are fast approaching just like…your own," Tomo smirked before thorn vines appeared out of the ground and grabbed Tamahome.
~0~
Amiboshi gasped.
"What is it?" Aika asked him.
"Tamahome is nearby!" Amiboshi stated making Aika's eyes widen a bit. She looked back in the direction before frowning.
"No, I can't. I can't see him," she murmured.
"But why not?"
"I can't tell you the reason why, but I don't deserve to be with him anymore," Aika said to him.
"But why?! You love each other so much it's plain to see! The two of you have to be together! I'll bring him here! You understand? Please! I'll be right back, you just wait here!" Amiboshi said to her before he was going to leave.
"Kaika!" Amiboshi's father said appearing in front of him.
"Father! Father…"
"If you go, then take the juice of the forgetfulness leaves with you. It may come in handy," his father said handing him a jar. Amiboshi took it and looked at him. "Don't worry about your mother and me," he smiled.
"Father, thank you," Amiboshi smiled back at him. He then looked at Aika. "Aika, please wait here for me! I promise I'll bring Tamahome back. You were meant to be together! It's your fate!" He said before running off.
'Is it?' Aika thought to herself. She wasn't normally one who believed in fate or destiny but ever since coming here….
~0~
"Tell me, do those thorns sting some?" Tomo smirked as Tamahome struggled against the vines. "Hang in there. I will relieve your discomfort very soon. I prefer not to kill people immediately upon their capture. Instead I grant them satisfaction and then open death's door," he said before walking up. He then left his feathers brush Tamahome.
"What are you doing, pervert?!" Tamahome growled.
"It was such a calculated waste, wasn't it? I used my considerable powers to let you see Soi as the one you love. Wasn't that exquisite?" Tomo asked letting his feathers brush Tamahome again. "It may have been an illusion, but I created a masterpiece for you. The warmth of her skin, the sweetness of her sigh, so real you could have died contentedly at her comfortable arms," he said with each swipe making Tamahome struggle more. "I comprehend completely how very precious she is to you. Your bride to be," he cackled. "Why don't I take her for myself after I'm finished with you?" He asked making Tamahome's eyes widen before he glared at the Seiryuu Warrior.
"Do anything to Aika and I will kill you!" He growled.
~0~
Amiboshi kept running, trying to make his way to Tamahome as fast as he could. To help him and get the Suzaku Warrior back to Aika.
~0~
Aika had ran from the Makan Village.
'Forgive me, Amiboshi. I do want to see Tamahome again, but I don't deserve him or his love now,' she thought as she stopped and looking at the burning village. 'Finding Yui and going back to my own world is best now. Best for Tamahome too,' she thought before she went back to running.
~0~
"What a drag, we should have just asked Lord Kakashi about the file," Shikamaru said as they looked.
"Are you kidding? He would have our heads! He was the one that told Aika to forget about that book!" Naruto told him.
"Plus, I doubt he knows anything about Okuta," Sasuke said. Soon Shikamaru had left and then came back with coffee for all of them. He gave a slight smile when he saw Naruto asleep. "The first time since yesterday that he actually got any sleep," Sasuke smirked a bit before sipping his coffee.
"That's Naruto for you. Works till he drops," Shikamaru said earning a nod of agreement from the raven haired man.
'Time. No matter how you figure it, time passes faster in the book than it does here. We've gotta learn more about this book before the girl I think of as a little sister is older than I am!' Naruto thought in his sleep.
~0~
Aika kept running until she saw a woman with long mahogany hair and grey eyes, dressed in a black cloak.
"Soi!"
Kida: Oh the drama!
Naruto: Put down the candy!
Kida: *Growls* Never!
Tamahome: K-Kida, p-put down the candy now...
Kida: Touch my candy and I'll cut off your manhood!
Tamahome&Naruto: *Pale and back away, hugging each other*
Kido: I learn it's best to stay away from her when she's like this. We hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Please favorite and comment!