Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Fushigi Yuugi: The Next Chapter ❯ Episode Three: New Allies ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: ItsTheDee
As a war looms on the horizon, the two young women and their seishi companions scramble to find the rest of the Konan Warriors. And, while they may not have to look very far, they soon discover that their new allies are anything but your typical warriors.

Anime/Manga: Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Shoujo / Romance / Fantasy / Drama / Comedy / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.10.2005 | Updated On: 12.10.2005 | Pages: 7 | Words: 19.3K | Visits: 314 | Status: Completed

Disclaimer: I still don't own Konan, Suzaku and all characters and seishi pertaining to them. Kiori and Ritsuka are and shall forever be mine, and that holds for all the other “originals” (you'll know `em when they appear, trust me). Obviously the story is mine as well.
Rating:PG-13, for crude humour, moderate language, and violence.
 
Translation Notes:
Taiyou - Sun
Tsuki - Moon
Akai - Red
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~Episode Three: New Allies~
 
"Keisuke, I was thinking."
"Well for God's sake stop it, you don't wanna hurt yourself."
"C'mon, I'm trying to be serious!" Tetsuya snapped. He held up the book, smacking the cover with his index finger every so often to make a point. "Okay, so Ritsuka and Kiori have been drawn into this book to help Konan fight this `Setsuka-sama.'" Keisuke nodded in a somewhat patronizing manner; Tetsuya shot him a look but continued. "Well, all right, that's great and all... but tell me this: how could they get into the Universe of the Four Gods anyway? The gods were all summoned and there don't seem to be any `godly forces' meddling in this battle, so..."
"You mean you haven't figured it out yet?"
Tetsuya shook his head, setting the hardbound book down for a moment. "I can't seem to make any sense of it."
Keisuke put his chin in his hands. "Well, I can't be certain, but it seems to me that this is sort of like..." But before he could explain what it “seemed sort of like” the door to their apartment creaked open and a girl's voice cut across the apartment.
"Tetsuya! You're here, aren't you?" A feminine face framed with long blonde hair poked its way around the door. The young woman's eyes fell on the dark-haired college student and a smile lit up her face. "Hah, there you are! Oh, hi Keisuke."
Keisuke leaped forward and snatched at the book, clutching it close to his chest and covering the title with his arms. "Yui! Hey! What're you doin' here at this hour, huh?"
The young woman raised an eyebrow. “It's only six o'clock.”
“Yeah, but still, don't you need your beauty sleep? I mean, not to say that you aren't beautiful enough already of course, it's just I wouldn't want you to be too tired for school or anything...”
“Might I suggest cutting back on the coffee?” Yui said with a chuckle. “And in answer to your earlier question, Tetsuya's taking me out tonight.”
"Oh, guess I am," he muttered into his hands.
The high school student frowned, taking a light seat on the arm of the couch. Her voice quivered and her eyes filled with tears, but the tiny smirk on her lips gave away her game. “You didn't... forget me... did you?”
"Heheh, of course not,” Tetsuya assured her, rising reluctantly to his feet. “I'd never forget you."
"I know you wouldn't," she replied with a giggle. Yui stood to leave. Her eyes slid across the room and happened to land on Keisuke, who was now attempting to sneak away while hiding the book behind his back. “Um, Keisuke... what is that?"
"What's what!?" he yelped.
"The book you're doing a really bad job at hiding." Yui tried to look over his shoulder, but Keisuke wriggled just out of reach.
"Oh, it's nothing, I promise!" Keisuke put on what he hoped was his very best “innocent” face, but Yui didn't seem to buy it. She advanced suspiciously on the young man, still attempting to snatch a glance at the ancient text. Every time she tried to get a look at it, he would move sideways just enough to hide it again.
Just watching the two was starting to make Tetsuya dizzy. He put a hand on Yui's arm. "Aw, relax Yui; it's one of those things some guys like 'reading.'"
Her eyes widened. "Oh? Keisuke's into that?"
Tetsuya nodded and sighed. "Sad, isn't it? The poor guy's so desperate."
Keisuke turned a brilliant red and glared at his roommate. Yui noticed the look, misunderstood it, and giggled. "Oh, don't worry about it Keisuke - lots of guys your age do that sort of thing. Really, I promise it doesn't bother me.” She turned to her boyfriend, still trying and failing to hide her amusement. “Well, then, I guess you and I ought to leave him 'alone.'" She snickered again and headed for the door.
"Tell me what happens," Tetsuya whispered in his friend's ear.
"I'm gonna kill you," Keisuke growled.
"Aw, I love you too buddy."
"Tetsuya?"
"Coming Yui-chan!"
Once the door had shut behind them, Keisuke breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down with the book.
---
"So there isn't any way for us to get back home until we help out with this so-called prophecy!?" Ritsuka demanded. The redhead was leaning so far over the table that she had practically mounted it, and was currently nose-to-nose with the Empress.
Houki sweatdropped and pulled back. "I am afraid so, Ritsuka-san. And, if I may be completely honest, I am uncertain as to how you will be returning home even after this war is over." Ritsuka's head hit the table in frustration.
"Maybe the ones they're talking about aren't us," Kiori remarked, a desperate plea in her voice.
Tasuki snorted. "Yeah, girls from other worlds pop up around here all th' time, fer no reason at all."
Houki was a bit kinder but no less truthful. "That is always a possibility, but it is a rather small one."
"You wouldn't happen to have any other clues, would you na no da?" Chichiri inquired. “That might help us clear this up a bit.”
"As a matter of fact, once I had my servants look around we discovered quite a few scrolls - all riddles, I am afraid - that might be of use. Some are so old they can barely be read. I'm having my scholars rewrite those, but in the meantime..." the Empress pulled a parchment from the folds of her dress, offering the two young women a small smile. “I expected a situation like this, so I brought this along to help us end the suspense before morning.”
"I guess wishing that that scroll tells us exactly how t'beat our new enemy is askin' too much," Tasuki muttered into his teacup.
"Much too much, I would say. Though this should help us discover the identities of our `Priestess' kind'." Houki unrolled the ancient parchment. "They are clues to our chosen warriors. The first two are quite simple:
"Power that hides behind a smile
Boldand burning flame,
Your allies shall be different
But your numbers shall be the same."
"Hey, that's us no da!" Chichiri cried, his cheerful smile once more in place.
"Oryaa! Time fer us t'kick some Seiryuu—" Chichiri coughed and Tasuki blushed, "uh, Elemental ass!"
Tasuki began punching at the air as if “practicing” for his upcoming battles, with Chichiri just barely ducking his moves. They watched the college girls out of the corners of their eyes, pleased to see a tiny smile tracing Kiori's features. There was nothing carefree or entertaining about war, both seishi knew that perfectly well and had no desire to partake in another bloody battle - but there was also no reason for their companions to know that just yet.
Ritsuka seemed immune to the seishi's antics, however, and immediately snapped: "Where's the part about the girls from another world?"
"It comes next. You will have to tell me if this describes the two of you:
"A quietsoul with a need for peace
Shall come into the land
And a stubborn one with a lust for battle
To lend aid to Konan."
Ritsuka threw up her arms. “Oops, see, that's not us, guess we'll just have to find a way home—”
Tasuki tossed his chopsticks at the redhead, grinning as they plunked into the side of her head with a satisfying thwack. “Ahou [Moron]. How c'd that second one not be you? It couldn't be more you unless it said right there in th' scroll: `an' they shall call her Red the Terrible, an' she shall bring a blight across the land of Konan'...”
Ritsuka jumped across the table and tackled the fire-throwing seishi. For once, Kiori didn't try to intervene in the spat, but merely looked at her hands and nodded. "It's us. It has to be us. How could it not be us? Oh, it's actually us..."
"Hey, cheer up no da!" a chibi Chichiri popped up next to the young woman, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "I'm sure everything'll work out all right, no da!"
Tasuki looked up from where he had Ritsuka in a leg lock, nodding and waving his tessen with vigor. "We watch out fer our seven. Anyone tries anythin' and it's REKKA SHIN'EN! - they're fried!"
“So don't look so sad, okay? You'll be fine so long as we're around no da,” Chichiri said, flashing his most reassuring smile.
Kiori managed a weak giggle and the tiniest of nods. Houki smiled. "I do apologize for your involvement, but it seems that you have a pair of very capable warriors to protect you."
Ritsuka glared up at the Empress from her position on the floor. "Protecting?” her eyes blazed with the fires of a challenge. “Let's get one thing straight: I don't need protecting, and I especially don't need it from Fang-boy over here."
Tasuki glared right back, too annoyed to stop her from wriggling free of his current stranglehold. "C'mon, I was tryin' t'cheer you up! It's not my fault yer afraid t'go into battle!”
"I'm not afraid!" Ritsuka snapped, waving a hand towards the door. "Bring on the army! I'll take `em one by one or all at once, doesn't matter to me so long as I can do it without your help!"
"Right, this comin' from some little girl who's never even seen a sword!”
"You wanna test that theory?"
Sparks flew between their eyes.
Kiori sighed, her tiny smile turning back into a frustrated frown. She set her head in her hands and massaged slowly at her temples, wondering if that might decrease the headache that was exploding at the back of her eyes. "Well, that half second of camaraderie was nice while it lasted, I guess."
Houki blinked, thoroughly confused by the sudden mood change. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, no, Ritsuka's just one of those 'anything you can do, I can do better' kind of people," Kiori explained. "The riddle wasn't kidding about the stubbornness either."
"Are there any clues about the other members?" Chichiri interjected. "We should figure those out soon, so we can track down the rest of the warriors."
"They are waiting in my study," Houki assured him. She stood slowly, hiding a yawn behind one of her wide sleeves and flashing the monk a tired smile. "But it is rather late. Perhaps we should all get some sleep before we try to undertake anything too difficult. We can work on the riddles first thing tomorrow, if you like."
"Good idea," Kiori agreed. She opened her mouth to speak, changed her mind at the last moment, watched as the Empress turned to exit, then changed her mind again and blurted out, "Houki-sama!” The Empress turned, looking startled. Kiori blushed and lowered her voice, saying somewhat timidly, “May I ask a question?"
"Certainly."
"When will this war begin? I mean, I've never been on a kendo or archery team before, so I don't really know what I'm doing, and I've certainly never...” she nearly choked on the next words; the very idea was almost too appalling to mention, “killed anyone before. I'll need practice if I'm to help at all, or at least some kind of guidebook, or... oh, I don't know.” The college girl put her head in her hands again, muttering her next words into the table. “I guess I'm just a little nervous about the whole thing."
Houki frowned, uncertain of how to comfort the nervous woman. After a moment she gave up and decided to just answer the question. "I could not tell you, Kiori. Sometime within the next few weeks, I suppose. Everything I know comes from my spies."
"Try not to think too much about it no da," Chichiri advised. "Worrying about the future is a lot like worrying about the past: you won't find many answers, but you're bound to find a couple of good headaches.” He smiled, helping the young woman from her chair and preparing to walk her back to her room. “Focus on a good night's sleep instead, and on solving those riddles in the morning."
"Mm," Kiori agreed. Despite the monk's words, she still knew she wouldn't rest easy that night. She doubted she would rest easy until she was home in Tokyo, where she belonged. "Ritsuka, let's go back to our room. Ritsuka...?"
She glanced over, sweatdropping at what she saw. Her redheaded friend was still fighting viciously with Tasuki, trying to wrestle the tessen out of his hand. Somehow she managed to taunt him even as she battled tooth and claw, and she never seemed to run out of ways to provoke the fiery seishi. "Hey Fang-boy, the scroll said you were flaming."
"What are you implyin'!?"
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"No, but... stop laughin'! Yer pushin' it, Red!"
"Oh, I'm scared! The flaming Tasuki's gonna get me!"
"At close range this thing stings!"
"So do my kicks when they're aimed at your shins!"
"Ow! Ow! RED!"
Kiori rubbed at her temples again and noticed Chichiri was mirroring the action. “I'm tempted to just leave them here to kill each other,” she grumbled under her breath.
“Hai, but who knows what they might do if they go unchecked?” the monk replied with a sigh. “We wouldn't want them to burn down the entire palace... no da...”
“Shall we, then?”
“I suppose so na no da.”
The pair literally tackled their friends and pulled them away from each other, berating the young brawlers as they dragged them back to their separate rooms.
"Your temper is going to get you killed someday no da."
"Can't you behave in front of the Empress? You're making Japanese women look bad."
"Hey, c'mon Chichiri, don't pull on my coat so hard!"
"Aw, Kiori, we were only play-fighting. And don't - ouch - tug on my hair like that - oof!"
---
The boy Tsuchi opened the door to the spacious, lavish room he and two of his companions shared. His soft golden eyes swept the room slowly. In the corner sat a pair of comfortable plush chairs and a polished mahogany desk, along with a shelf lined with reading material for the young residents. Above the messy bed in the far right corner hung a series of bags and several unknown herbs and spices, along with a pair of knives and a slim sword. Directly across from that sat a tidy bed; a simple wall scroll hung above this, depicting the four gods and their corresponding star symbols. Positioned at a slight angle from this bed sat Tsuchi's own living quarters; his walls were bare, but scattered across his bed lay a variety of potions and potential mixtures. At the back of the spacious room hung a gold-gilded black curtain, an ominous reminder of the other pair of young warriors who occupied the living quarters.
A tall, golden-eyed boy with messy white hair threw his legs over the side of one of the chairs, waving at his companion. "Oi, Tsuchi, yer back! What's the word from," he rolled his eyes and waved his arms in a mock bow, "her Royal Highness?"
"You shouldn't say things like that, Kaze," Tsuchi hissed, glancing about nervously. "What if Setsuka-sama's listening?"
"What, y'mean like she's got one-a Mizu-chan's seein' crystals on us?” he asked with a confident grin. “Well, what do I care about that? I'm not afraid of Setsuka's pet," he tossed a small pellet into the air, leapt to his feet and caught it all in one fluid motion. "She tries somethin' an' I'll-"
"You wouldn't dare," a commanding female voice ordered. A girl in shades of dark blue and black looked up from a scroll she was studying - she blended so perfectly with the shadows that Tsuchi hadn't even noticed her presence. The older girl frowned at the white-haired boy, speaking slowly as she rolled the scroll back up. "Mizu-chan is one of us, Kaze, no matter what sort of relationship she holds with the Lady. We do not attack our own, not unless we are given orders, and she would do the same thing."
Kaze snorted, snatching the scroll from the girl and tossing it back onto the narrow shelf. "Ch! Always gotta stick up fer the kid, eh, Sora?"
"I stick up for no one but myself," she replied in an offhand manner, brushing a stray wisp of midnight blue hair from her face. "I'm telling the truth, is all. Mizu-chan is our ally and friend - she would only spy if she was ordered to, like the rest of us would."
"`Like the rest of us would,' eh? Good t'know I've got such a loyal group-a allies,” Kaze grumbled. He noticed Sora's eyes narrowing further and decided to avoid an argument for the moment. “Ah, but whatever," he ended with a shrug, flopping down onto his nearby unmade bed. "So Tsuchi, what's the word from upstairs?"
"The army marches soon. The war's about to begin," Tsuchi reported. "We're supposed to stay here with Setsuka-sama until we're called into action."
Sora's golden eyes lit up. She kept her face as smooth as a river, like all good warriors were supposed to do, but her voice was visibly excited. "And just when might that be...?"
“I, um, I'm not entirely sure, Sora-senpai, but...” Tsuchi fidgeted unhappily, playing with his headband. "She... she wants me to tell, um...” he looked down at the ground and muttered the rest out in one quick breath, “she wants me to tell The Two to get ready."
"She what!?" Kaze stood again, eyes blazing and voice filled with rage. "Why's the Lady want that pair-a antisocial brothers t'draw first blood!? What's wrong with me 'n' Sora!?"
Tsuchi's voice trembled under his friend's hard glare. "I-I'm just telling you what she told me, Kaze. How should I—”
Kaze grabbed the younger boy's collar, golden eyes alight and aching for violence. "Well, messenger boy, how `bout you go tell yer precious Lady that if she doesn't plan on lettin' me get some action sometime soon then she can find another Element t'play in her little war game!"
The youth opened his mouth to stammer a frightened reply, but Sora's impassive voice cut him off. "Oh, leave him alone, Kaze. He's only a child." Tsuchi's eyes blazed for a moment, but he said nothing. "At this point, our greater concern should be finding the Seventh. How can Setsuka-sama expect to beat a great empire like Konan without the full Seven? What about Kaji?"
“What about Kaji, what about Kaji?” the fiery Element mimicked. He released Tsuchi, spitting to show his contempt. "I don't give a rat's ass about Kaji. When's our turn, Sora!? When do I get t'prove myself!?"
"Patience, Kaze."
The teen whirled around just in time to see two boys appear in the center of the room, landing lightly on their feet. The shorter of the two was a well-muscled youth with hard golden eyes and matching hair pulled back into a short topknot. He held a short staff in one hand, gripping it just below the honey-colored globe at its tip and swinging it lazily from side to side. The action seemed almost challenging, and there was no mistaking the malice behind his wolfish smile. "You will fight, Kaze, when the Lady deems you ready, and not a second sooner. And until you are ready, we more experienced Elements will take care of the war-work."
Kaze met the young man stare for stare. "One blast from one-a those seishi is all it's gonna take t'finish you off, Taiyou. And I'll be right there, ready t'spit on yer grave an' take yer place." He spat again to prove his point.
"Arrogant little brat, aren't we?" the older boy remarked with a sneer. He gripped his staff tighter, pointing the globe at his rival. "Someday that mouth of yours might get you killed. Let's not forget which of us the Lady called the `most impressive' and which of us she called the `most brash, undisciplined, and'... oh, what was that last one she said about you? Was it weak or just inexperienced? I always forget..."
"You wanna find out just how weak I am, you cocky son of a—"
"Enough, Kaze!" Sora cut in, grabbing at her comrade's arm and pulling him roughly away from the brothers. "You'd be better off focusing that energy on the army in Konan. Taiyou is not your enemy."
"Not right now, anyway," Taiyou agreed. He marched across the room towards the hanging curtain which led to his private quarters, but turned at the last minute to shoot the white-haired youth one last threat. "Once we've won this war, you might want to sleep with one eye open, comrade."
“Make sure y'live through it first, friend,” Kaze shot right back.
Taiyou snorted and disappeared behind the flowing black curtain. A moment of silence passed, and then the tallest of the pair spoke. He looked out at the trio from beneath two long bangs of silver hair, though perhaps it would be fairer to say he looked through them. The boy's eyes were nearly lifeless - a weak reflection of life, really - and if he paid attention to anything besides his brother and fighting, no one else had discovered that “anything” yet. He rarely spoke, but when he did it was in a quiet tone, the kind that made you strain to listen. "My Ani [Older brother] is a dangerous enemy to gain, Kaze-kun. I do not wish to see a battle break out among allies, nor do I relish the idea of making you my enemy, but if Taiyou truly despises you that much...”
"Ch! You really are nothin' but a reflection of the sun's light. Just like the real moon, huh Tsuki?" Kaze jeered.
He shrugged. “Forget I said anything, then.” His cold, golden eyes passed over the trio. "Oyasuminasai [Good night]." He closed his eyes and concentrated on the room he and his brother shared. When he opened his eyes again a moment later he found himself staring at the darkened wall above his bed. Teleportation was a useful skill. Tsuki took a seat on his bed, staring across the dim room at his brother. "I understand that Kaze-kun is a bit troublesome, but he is one of our own. Should we not at least try to reach a truce with him, Onii-sama?”
"Kaze's a punk," Taiyou snapped, his eyes flashing through the darkness. "He doesn't know the first thing about fighting, or about discipline, or about respect." He ran a hand along the top of his weapon, grinning at the thought of the future. "Don't worry though, I won't kill him quite yet. Not until Setsuka-sama doesn't need him anymore. But that's as far as our `camaraderie' goes. I'm obligated to obey Her Ladyship and no one else. As far as I - or any of those other `Element friends' of ours - am concerned, allies are utterly useless."
---
Kiori and Ritsuka, once again dressed in their own clothing, met up with their seishi companions at breakfast around mid-morning. Both girls muffled yawns behind their sleeves, but their slight sleepiness didn't prevent them from piling their plates with food. Tasuki shot the redhead several murderous looks while she made it a point to completely ignore him, but Chichiri greeted the pair with a friendly smile and a wave of his chopsticks.
"How did you sleep?" Chichiri asked after noting their stifled yawns. "I hope you weren't up all night worrying about the war no da."
Kiori smiled as she piled rice higher into her bowl. "Actually, I slept really well. The palace beds are fantastic - it's almost like sleeping on air."
"Thanks to all those mutterings about war last night, I couldn't stop thinking about it,” Ritsuka grumbled. “And it didn't help that Kiori made me sleep on the floor.” She covered a huge yawn and rubbed at her half-open eyes for emphasis.
"We'll switch off tonight," Kiori reasoned. Her friend shoved some food into her mouth, mumbling something that sounded rude. The brunette rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the pair of seishi. "Did you sleep okay?"
"Like a rock no da!"
Tasuki grinned. "As well as I could, what with Chichiri snorin' in the room next door." He jerked a thumb at his friend and snickered. “He doesn't look it, but those roars of his could wake a den of bears - an', if I remember some of our little `adventures' around Konan correctly, they have.”
"Actually,” Chichiri remarked coolly, slurping on some noodles drenched in a pale brown sauce, “I think it was you lighting a fire on the father's back that really set them off. And I don't snore, no da."
Tasuki ignored the jab and continued, countering deftly, "How would you know if ya don't snore? I think I oughta know pretty well, though. Luckily I'm used to it by now; otherwise I never woulda fallen asleep."
The monk glowered, his smile slipping into a look of mild annoyance. "I don't snore, no da.”
"You snore like a—" Tasuki found himself face-to-face with a floating Taiitsukun. He yelped and dove for cover under the table, practically shrieking, "AH! Monster!"
The transformed seishi smiled. "Now, what don't I do no da?"
"Snore, snore!" A puff of smoke later, Chichiri was back to his normal form. Tasuki poked his head out from his hiding place, glaring daggers at his seishi friend. "Dammit, don't do that! Ya damn near gave me a heart attack! Lucky thing I didn't pass out!"
"I'd hardly call that luck..." Ritsuka looked up to see Tasuki holding his bowl of soup above her head. "Wah! Gomen gomen, I was just kidding!"
Kiori cocked her head, watching Chichiri curiously. "You changed... is that another one of those Suzaku gifts?"
"Hai! It's a piece of cake to change my appearance, no da!" he agreed.
"So, like, you could turn into anyone? Even me, or Ritsuka, or Tasuki..." Kiori began.
Ritsuka leapt from her seat, clasping her hands together and turning her big blue eyes pleadingly on the monk. “Oh, please promise me you won't ever do that! One ugly fang-boy is too many as it is! If I had to stare at two of him I'd die of shock, I just know it!”
Tasuki raised his bowl again and looked ready to really toss the rice onto the redhead this time, but just as he was about to fling his bowl Houki entered, holding a scroll in one hand. "Ohayou gozaimasu. It's good to see you all again." She cocked an eyebrow at Tasuki's raised arm; the bandit muttered something and, much to Ritsuka's relief, hurriedly lowered the bowl. Chichiri and Kiori did their best to stifle giggles as the Empress took her seat.
Ritsuka was not one to beat about the bush. She pointed towards the scroll, asking around a mouthful of rice, “So, is that the scroll with the riddles to the rest of our seven?"
Houki nodded. "If you would like, I can read the rest to you while you eat."
"Please do," the redhead agreed. "I couldn't stop thinking about it while I lay awake on that cold, hard floor last night." Kiori groaned into her tea.
"Very well, then." The Empress unrolled the paper and continued where she had left off:
"The fifth, a resemblance to afriend gone away
Do not underestimate this leader, I say!
A blood-colored youth will become the sixth one
Heed not her age, she shall get the job done
For the seventh, from an old life comes a chief
A solitary flame shall find thisthief
Will Konan prevail? Only time shall tell
The answer lies within love's well."
Silence filled the room. Finally, Tasuki's impatient voice demanded: "And?"
"And that is all," Houki finished. She redid the ribbon the scroll, flashing a weak smile at her companions. "Not much, I know, and all in riddles. I believe I may know the identities of the fifth and sixth, though."
Chichiri said nothing for a moment, running the rhyme over in his mind. "Resembling a dead friend, a leader who can't be underestimated...” he laughed and nodded. “Of course! That makes sense, no da!"
"It does?" Ritsuka asked.
Chichiri nodded. "There's only one person I know who fits that description." He pointed triumphantly at the Empress. "Nuriko's look-alike, the leader of Konan, and you can't underestimate an Empress with spies... Houki-sama, it can only be you no da!"
Instead of looking surprised Houki blushed a deep red. "Must you keep bringing up that spies business?"
"So it is you?" Kiori queried.
"Mm. Or, at least, I am under the belief that it is me. As Chichiri said, there does not seem to be anyone else who fits the description."
"Ya gotta point there," Tasuki agreed. "Man, these legends sure do like puttin' Konan's leader in danger, don't they?"
Chichiri tapped an index finger against his forever-smiling mouth, eyebrows scrunched together in thought. "Now, about that `blood-colored youth'... I'm sorry Houki-sama, but I can't think of anyone off the top of my head no da."
The Empress smiled. "That is where I may be able to help you. I believe the girl the scroll speaks of is our Palace Warrior."
"You have one-a those?" Tasuki asked. He shook his head, chuckling slightly. “Man, I'm outta touch. We really haven't visited in a while, have we?”
“It has been far too long, my friend.” Houki stood, gesturing for the others to follow her outside. "We decided such a warrior was necessary, since Boshin-chan is so young and I am most certainly not a warrior. Shortly after your last visit we held a tournament to determine our new `guardian,' I suppose you could say. She is the greatest fighter Konan possesses, as well as the protector of the Holy Sword that once belonged to my husband."
"So why didn't you have her lead the army?" Tasuki grumbled.
"I doubt the soldiers would have treated her with much respect." Houki noticed the curious looks, but offered them nothing but a small smile. "You will see what I mean."
The Empress led them down the palace's outer walkway, around the corners of many ornately carved buildings and verandas, past a pair of well-tended gardens, along the edge of a glistening pond, and finally to a wide wooden path that led to a set of buildings slightly to the right of the rest of the palace. "This is where the army - and our private warriors - trains."
Tasuki and Chichiri had been to the complex many times before and paid little attention to it. Kiori and Ritsuka, however, craned their heads around to get a good look at the long wooden building. It was built simply, unlike the rest of the palace, and divided by a narrow partition into two segments. The whole thing was painted a plain white with a set of double doors in the center. The right building possessed a gently sloping red-tiled roof, but the building to the left appeared to be open to the elements. Inside, the clash of metal and twang of bows could be heard. Kiori took in the scene with a sort of resignation, knowing that she'd have to spend some time in here before long, but Ritsuka looked about almost hungrily, as if relishing the inevitable training sessions.
Houki gestured to a man standing just outside the buildings. "Excuse me, Kaito?"
The middle-aged man bowed low, peering up at the Empress through his short black bangs. "Your Majesty. How may I serve you?"
"Is our Palace Warrior training inside?" He nodded. "Could you fetch her, please?"
"Hai, Houki-sama." He disappeared within the building, shouting as he went. "Oi, oi! Anyone seen Akai?"
Tasuki grinned. "Hey, she's got the same name as you, Red."
Ritsuka sweatdropped. "How witty of you," she drawled.
Kiori punched her fist into her open palm. "Oh, I get it! 'Blood-colored warrior!' Akai [Red] for blood!"
"You make it sound like such a violent name. I prefer to think of it as `Akai' for strawberry, or `Akai' for a summer's sunset," a female voice called jokingly from nearby. All eyes turned to see a short girl slip out of the training ring's main doors. She stepped into the sunlight and offered the cluster of companions a low bow. "Majesty, you wanted to speak with me?"
The young women blinked. Chichiri's eyebrows shot up. Tasuki's mouth fell open. Wide violet-red eyes stared up at them from a face still round from childhood, though there was a certain maturity in those innocent orbs that was hard to deny. Her face was framed by a head of dark violet hair, which she kept pulled back with a tight headband. She was clad in the simple warrior's garb of a red tunic trimmed with gold, pants a deep crimson, and black slippers that would make it easier to move quickly. She looked every bit the Palace Warrior, except for one tiny fact: she was barely in her teens.
"Akai, it is a pleasure to see you. You are over here training so much these days that I am rarely granted the pleasure of your company," Houki greeted.
The disbelieving question burst from four mouths at once. "She's Akai!?"
"The pleasure is all mine, Houki-sama," Akai said. She rose from her bow and turned her eyes to the others. "Oh! Who are your guests, Majesty?"
The Empress stepped back and swept a hand towards the two young women. "Akai, I'd like you to meet Sakamoto Kiori and Ikido Ritsuka. They are young women from the Priestess' world." Akai's eyes widened just slightly, but she retained her composure in a hurry and bowed low to the pair. "And these men I believe you may already know, though it is unlikely that you realize it. Akai, I am pleased to introduce Chichiri and Tasuki, Suzaku shichiseishi."
The girl's head snapped up and for the first time that afternoon her cool eyes flashed with shock. She stumbled over her words for a moment but finally found her tongue and cried: “The Tasuki and Chichiri!? The Suzaku shichiseishi!?"
"Are there any other seishi I should know about?" Tasuki muttered.
Akai all but flew across the short distance to stand at the seishi's sides, staring up into their surprised faces and practically oozing with excitement and joy. "Oh, Suzaku! Oh, Suzaku, this can't possibly be happening, I - I'm actually meeting you! I've heard so many stories... I never thought I'd... it doesn't possi... I became a fighter because of you, because of all the wonderful things I heard, and all the heroic deeds you've accomplished! I want to be just like you, just as tough and courageous and noble and... oh, oh, oh! This is a dream come true!"
Chichiri shifted from foot to foot and blushed a deep pink. "Oh, c'mon, we're not that tough and noble no da."
"But you are! If I could become half the warriors you are, I'd be content!"
"Huh. Who knew they were all that fantastic?" Ritsuka remarked to no one in particular.
Akai heard the remark. Her ears turned a light shade of red and she whirled on the redhead. In spite of her age the two were almost the same height, and the young warrior did her best to stare down the foreign woman. "Everyone knows, that's who! Chichiri-sama and Tasuki-sama, are, are... words can't describe it! You couldn't count the number of great deeds they've done, even if you had a whole lifetime to do the counting! They're positively, absolutely, and undeniably indestructible!"
"Are they that powerful?" Kiori asked.
"You better believe it," Akai ordered. She turned back to the seishi, clasping her hands under her chin and gushing uncontrollably. "Tasuki-sama the Brave, Chichiri-sama the Poised... oh, wait'll the people in my village hear about this! They'll never believe it - even I hardly believe it!” In one fluid motion she tore the empty scabbard from her waist and a hairpin from her violet head and presented them to the young men. “If it's not too much trouble, um, that is, if you wouldn't mind... it's just... may I have an autograph, O Seishi?" She glanced up through her bangs, watching the pair with hopeful young eyes.
Tasuki chuckled. "Sure, why not?" He took the offered hairpin and scrawled his short, choppy signature onto the leather scabbard.
"Anything for a fan, I guess," Chichiri agreed.
Houki smothered a laugh. "I suppose word of your deeds travels fast. Even I was unaware that each of you had been given names of valor." The Empress noted that, while Tasuki seemed to be soaking up this praise, Chichiri's face had turned a slight pink and he couldn't quite meet anyone's eyes. She hid a smile behind her sleeve and decided to spare the monk any further embarrassment. "Akai, I have some important matters I must discuss with you. Do you have a free moment?”
The young warrior turned her attention to Houki and immediately switched back to her calm, formal attitude. "For the Empress, I have all the time in the world."
---
"A legend, hm?" Akai said after hearing the story. "And I'm a part of it?"
"Hai," Chichiri agreed, "along with the five of us no da."
The young warrior put her chin in her hands. "Sounds like some tough business. I know about Takkan's forces pretty well after hearing the reconnaissance reports, but they've never mentioned anything about these warriors. So do we know anything about these `Elements'? Their strengths, their weaknesses, exactly where their alliances lie or where their powers originate... anything like that at all?"
“Nothing at the moment,” Houki admitted.
“Hm,” Akai stared at the table for a moment, chewing pensively on her lip. “That's no good. We need as much information as we can get. I imagine they'll be marching soon, judging by the latest report... if we can spare someone Your Majesty, please try to send out another spy within the next few days. Fighting an enemy you know nothing about is like throwing rocks into a dark well - you haven't the faintest idea what you'll hit.”
Tasuki chuckled. “I never figgered you fer a campaigner, but yer pretty war wise fer a kid.”
Her eyes narrowed. "I'm the Palace Warrior for a reason, you know. I may not have a lot of experience but I do have a duty to uphold, so I have to be prepared at all times. And kid or not, I could still take you-” she stopped, drawing in a horrified breath. Akai dove from her chair and threw herself to the ground, touching her forehead to the floor over and over again. "Oh I'm so sorry Tasuki-sama, I didn't mean to speak so disrespectfully! There's absolutely no way I could ever defeat you, not in a thousand years! I spoke out of turn, I wasn't thinking, I just got carried away - oh, please don't smite me!"
"Smite you?" Tasuki stared at her for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Hah! Trust me Akai, you don't gotta worry about that. I like t'see people with some confidence in their abilities.” He jerked a thumb at the other redhead. “An' I'd rather torture Red here any day of th' week."
"Domo arigatou gozaimashita, Tasuki-sama!"
"At any rate," Chichiri said, sweatdropping at the infatuated girl, "we don't know very much at all, and if they're arriving within the next week it's unlikely that we'll be able to learn anything before the first attack no da. I imagine they're pretty powerful, though, otherwise a small nation like Takkan would never think of starting this war."
"At this point our best move would probably be to find the last member of our group,” Kiori interjected timidly. She looked to Chichiri for confirmation; he nodded in agreement. Encouraged by the monk's reaction, the young woman continued. "How does that last rhyme go again?"
Chichiri recited what he could remember. "A Chief from an old life, a flame knows where to find them."
Tasuki opened his mouth thoughtfully, but Houki missed the silent gesture and stood. "There is no need to strain ourselves with that right now.” She glanced around the table, smiling at her new comrades. "Why not have a bit of lunch, and then move to the training yards again? I am certain that Kiori and Ritsuka would like a bit of practice if they plan on fighting, and perhaps if there is time some of our tougher warriors could lose to Akai."
"Is this kid really that good?" Tasuki wondered aloud, his previous remark forgotten at the thought of a good lunch and an upcoming weapons session.
The girl's violet-red eyes narrowed. "Call me a kid again and I'll show you how good I am by—”Akai clapped a hand over her mouth. Her forehead hit the ground again in an almost spasmodic bow. "Gomen nasai, Tasuki-sama, gomen nasai!"
---
Kiori whistled appreciatively as Akai's sword sailed in a graceful arc. The bamboo of the bokken [practice sword] almost shone in the waning afternoon light, but neither Akai nor her opponent noticed its perfect beauty. All they saw was her bokken sail down and slam into the young man's weapon. They stood locked for a moment, then Akai smiled and flicked her wrist, twisting his bokken and sending it skittering harmlessly to the side. "Rokuban [Number six]," she said with a confident nod. Akai turned away from the soldier. "Okay, so who's next?"
Several Konan trainees mumbled excuses and hurried out of the training court. Tasuki glanced around, chuckling. "Heh, no more takers from th' masses? Well, I guess if they wanna save their pride, then I may's take ya on."
Akai's cheeks glowed with embarrassment. "Oh Tasuki-sama, you honor me, but I wouldn't have a chance against a seishi. You deserve competition that is worthy of your blade."
“Competition?” Tasuki waved his hand at the deserted court. "You whipped any other competition I mighta had! Ya got talent Akai, no mistake about that, an' I need th' practice. C'mon, you c'n compete."
"I couldn't Tasuki-sama! I absolutely couldn't! It'd be a disgrace to your skills!" Akai insisted.
The seishi opened his mouth to continue the argument, but before he could a voice behind said, "Well if you don't wanna take him on, then what if I do?"
All eyes turned, and all mouths dropped. Kiori managed to find her voice first, and yelped in disbelief. “Ritsuka!”
The redhead leaned against the rail and smiled across at her friend. In one athletic motion she leapt over the rail and stood next to the bandit, flashing the onlooker's a victory sign. "Bing-o! I figure I should warm up for the war, and this guy,” she jerked a thumb at the bandit, “might be the closest thing to competition around here."
The mention of his fighting skills seemed to snap Tasuki out of his momentary shock. He faced the redhead, pointing a skeptical index finger at the woman. "Me? Fight you?" She nodded. Tasuki blinked, stood silent for a moment... then slapped his knee and burst out laughing. "Hah! Me! Fight you! Aww, Red, that's th' best one I've heard in a long time!” He wiped a tear from his eye and tried to still his laughter. “Haha... Yer pretty damn funny when ya wanna be, y'know that?"
"Tasuki-sama would blast you into ashes," Akai agreed. "Even someone from the Priestess' world is no match for a Suzaku shichiseishi."
Ritsuka widened her eyes to allow maximum innocence and chewed coyly on a hangnail. "Oh, pwease Tasuki-chan? I know I'm just a wittle girl, but won't you wet me fight you wiff the pointy sticks?" As quickly as her eyes had widened they narrowed again, and for a brief second Tasuki almost wondered if she wasn't joking after all. "Or are you afraid of losing to a girl, Tasuki-chan?"
"'Course I'm not scared," he retorted. "An' don't call me Tasuki-chan!"
"Then what's the problem... Tasuki-chan?"
His teeth ground together so tightly Ritsuka thought he might break them. "Are you blind, or just unbelievably stupid? I've been trainin' with this thing,” he held up his practice bokken, “fer most-a my life, an' you've never even touched a sword. I ain't wastin' my time on some city-born, idiotic, arrogant little girl."
Ritsuka's eyes flashed at his closing remarks, but she held her ground and kept her cool. "Well, I think you're afraid of me, Tasuki-chan." She taunted. The redhead placed her hands behind her head and made as if to exit the courts. "Huh, too chicken to fight a `city-born, idiotic, arrogant little girl.' Some seishi."
The bandit's entire body flared with his crimson life force. He grabbed at the back of Ritsuka's blue tank top, stopping her in her tracks. His voice grated with barely concealed loathing as he snapped out between gritted teeth, "In the ring, Red."
The redheaded woman said nothing, but her victorious smile could be seen from space. She skipped over to the nearby weapons wall, which housed a variety of bokken of different size and weight. She skimmed over the rack, testing a few out in her hand, then picked out one of the smaller swords and joined Tasuki in the middle ring. The girl held the weapon awkwardly in one hand and turned to face her opponent, looking thoroughly confused at the strange instrument in her arms.
"Take her out, Tasuki-sama!" Akai cheered from the sidelines.
Kiori sighed. "Obviously my money's on Tasuki, but who should we cheer for?"
"Neither of them," Chichiri muttered. "Whoever one wins will just gloat about it, which will make the other angry-"
"Which will result in us cleaning up the mess (no da)," they said simultaneously.
Houki banged a small gong: the signal to begin. Tasuki snickered and imitated Ritsuka's awkward one-handed style, twirling his bokken in an overly-elaborate fashion. "Yer in way over yer head, Red. But see, I'm actually a pretty nice guy when ya don't piss me off, and I don't wanna hurt ya, so I promise that I'll go easy on—"
Ritsuka set her jaw and jerked her other hand up to hold the weapon. Tasuki blinked in surprise, momentarily frozen as he watched the girl change in a matter of milliseconds from an awkward suburban woman to a skilled fighter. She pivoted sharply on one foot and brought her sword around in a short horizontal snap, slamming the middle of her wooden blade directly into Tasuki's hilt. His grip was still loose and awkward; the blade fumbled from his hand, and before he could get a good grasp on it Ritsuka's bokken strung again, disarming him in two short moves.
The bandit's weapon spun twice through the air and landed point-first in the dirt. Ritsuka set her own blade at the side of his neck, right next to his gaping mouth. Her eyes blazed, but her mouth was all smiles. “I don't think it'll be necessary for you to `take it easy on me.' But then again I'm just a city-born, idiotic, arrogant little girl, so I don't really know much. What do you think, Tasuki-chan?”
A profound silence filled the courts.
Houki jerked from her stupor and banged the gong to end the match. "Ano... it would seem that Ritsuka is the... is the victor..."
The redhead immediately dropped her sword, jumping back a few steps and flashing her look of pure innocence again. "Oh, Tasuki-chan, did I forget to mention that I've been on a Kendo team since I was five?" He nodded blankly. Ritsuka giggled. "Oops. Then I guess that I also forgot to tell you I'm a three-time gold medalist at the Intercollegiate Tokyo Kendo Tourney?" Tasuki could do nothing but nod again. Ritsuka giggled, but it was anything but innocent. "Silly me."
A startled chuckle slipped from Kiori's lips. "Huh. I can't believe she never mentioned that to me. Who knew Ritsuka was that talented?"
"I guess Tasuki found out the hard way no da," Chichiri remarked with a dazed smile. "She caught him off-guard, but that was still a nice display. What do you think, Akai?"
The two glanced over to see Akai staring at Ritsuka, eyes wide and sparkling. Miniature hearts were practically popping off her head as she clasped her hands and exclaimed, "Ritsuka-san is... so cool!"
Chichiri and Kiori face-vaulted.
Ritsuka offered another toothy grin in Tasuki's direction, who hadn't moved from his shocked position in the battle ring. She picked up the two bokken and set them back in their proper spots, then threw a wink in the bandit's direction. "You know, I think I like 'Tasuki-chan' better than 'Fang-boy.' What do you think?"
"I think the boys on Mount Reikaku would laugh me out of the gang if they heard about this."
"That's so charming Tasuki-chan!"
---
Hataku knelt before the Lady Setsuka. Her patience was limited and her interest in war tactics almost nonexistent, so he wasted no time in his report. "The army is assembled and ready to move out at your command."
"You didn't send one of the seven as a messenger this time," Setsuka remarked. Her eyes trailed across the long, welted lash that Hataku carried from right eye to cheek: his punishment for using an Element as a servant. "I'm glad my `reminder' has sunk in so effectively."
He did not bother to glance up or respond to her remarks, but his brown eyes blazed with anger and hurt. "When shall we move out?"
She smiled, staring down at the shogun with her cold, excited eyes. Hataku stifled the wave of fear that slithered down his spine at the sight of those glinting silver orbs. "March at daybreak, as soon as you are able, on the double. That's a four-day march, correct?"
"Hai, Setsuka-sama."
She sunk her blood-red nails into the arms of her throne, intoxicated by the thought of conquest. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect. I shall watch your progress, so do not dawdle or I will know without fail. Once you reach the outer walls, set up camp. I will use Tsuki's abilities to meet you there and give further instructions.”
Hataku stood, nodding with much more surety than he had so far. A battle was something he could understand and grasp in his hands, unlike his Lady's strange mood swings and violent tendencies. "Hai, Setsuka-sama."
"Oh, and Hataku?" their eyes met across the room. "My orders will be followed. What I say may not always make sense to you, but it is not your place to judge your Lady's wishes. Remember that, and do not disobey."
The shogun's voice remained respectfully void of emotion, despite the disgusted look that flashed across his features for the smallest of moments. "Wakatta [Understood]."
"...'Once he departed, Setsuka leaned back in her chair. Her eyes trailedacrosstheroom towards thelegend carved upon the wall at the far end, the legend written in the foreign script that only she could read. She smiled thinly, whispering only one word: "Soon."'" Keisuke looked up at the clock: it was already seven. "End Chapter Three."
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Ye Olde Mundane Ramblings: December 10, 2005; 11:24 PM
 
Ni-hao! (Apparently I'm Chinese today)
Sorry I haven't updated in about a billion years. I actually have been adding episodes to this story on fanfiction.net, but I keep forgetting that I have a MediaMiner account (probably because of the lack of reviews *nudgenudgewinkwink* ^^)! I'll try to be better about updating from now on, I promise!
 
I can't think of anything direly important to prattle on about in this chapter. I changed up a lot more in here than I did in the others, primarily making Ritsuka a student of Kendo instead of Fencing (it seemed more fitting for the sword style of ancient China). I “detailed up” buildings, people, and certain situations as well, though probably the biggest changes came in the Ritsuka-Tasuki fight scene at the end. This is really the way I intended it from day one, only when I first wrote it I didn't have the “detail skills” to explain the battle scene just right. So hooray for edits!
 
Hm... guess that's everything for now. Episode Four isn't extremely long (not right now anyway, though after the edits, who knows?) so I'll probably try to post it in here before the month is out. Thank you all for your incredible patience with my erratic updates, and I hope to see you in the next installment!
 
Your Authoress - Dee