http://clampfix.fanworks.net/guests/fushigi2.txt </head><body><pre> Just in time for the New Year too! Hope you enjoy! - Jennifer Mondazzi (a.k.a. Rena/Maigrey) p.s. If you'd like to comment on this story (contructive criticisms welcome), or have questions about any of it, please e-mail me. I always enjoy knowing what my readers honestly think and feel. My favorite questions to ask are: Who is your favorite character so far and why? Which character repulsed you the most and why? What scenario drew your interest the most? p.p.s. I will eventually be HTMLing all of my stories, so look for a future mailing about the URL. p.p.p.s. For you Dragonball, X and Tokyo Babylon fans, part 2 of "Can We Start Over?" will be coming out probably by Monday, Jan. 5th, at the latest, followed shortly thereafter by part 7 of "Dreams of a Blue Sky" and then part 12 of "To Live On..." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------= "Fushigi Yuugi - The Fabulous Adventure" Part 2 - A New Me Will Bloom... by: Jennifer L. Mondazzi October 20th, 1997-December 30th, 1997 Yui Hongo, the Priestess-Maiden of Seiryuu, sat huddling in her large, cold Pao alone, staring at the scar on her wrist. The longer she looked at the ugly slash, the more she was reminded of the fact that no man would want her for a wife now, especially not after _that _had happened to her. Yui couldn't even bring herself to think the word for the act that had been so horribly forced upon her all those months earlier, when she'd first arrived in this hateful world. It was too raw, too painful for her to remember, so she forced it back, trying to shut the large knot of pain away, attempting to bury it under her anger and hatred. It was a futile attempt, however. An audible sob escaped her lips, and the tears came, pouring down her cheeks in hot rivulets. Her small shoulders shook with the effort of trying to hold back the overwhelming tide of self-pity, remorse, and guilt. "Lady Yui," a soft voice came from outside, startling her, "may I come in?" Yui hastily wiped the streaks from her face, and cleared her expression, hoping to maintain a neutral facade. She turned her back to the opening, embarrassed that her guest would know what she had been doing, and not wanting him to know the truth. After a few deep, clearing breaths, and combing her fingers through her hair to straighten it, she responded. "Of course. Come in Suboshi." The young Warrior of Seiryuu pulled back the tent flap just enough for him to slip into the room, making a concerted effort not to let the little bit of warmth inside escape. Yui was grateful for his consideration, but hoped he'd deliver his message and quickly leave her to her thoughts again. "Lady Yui, forgive my intrusion," Suboshi murmured politely, "but Nakago sent me ahead to tell you that he'd like to call a meeting of the Seishi as soon as he comes back to camp. He's requested your presence as well. He has something important to discuss with all of us." Yui cleared her throat. "Did he says what it was?" she asked, curious. "No, Miko, but he seemed very upset at whatever it was." Suboshi paused, and Yui knew he wanted to say more, but was reluctant to. "What is it?" she asked, instinctively hearing what wasn't being said. It was the young man's turn to clear his own throat before answering. "Soi was talking with him when he instructed me to go find you, but I caught a little of their conversation," he confessed. Yui could hear the blush in his voice, and smiled. Suboshi tried to be, despite his fierce temper, very proper. Some things were just not done in civilized society, including eavesdropping. "And what did you hear?" she prompted him, unconsciously turning her profile to him. Suboshi's surprised gasp reached her ears clearly from across the room, and she turned away again, knowing he had seen her tear-streaked face. <<Stupid! >she mentally berated herself for her lack of attention. <<Now he knows that something's wrong!> His hand, suddenly warm and comforting on her shoulder, startled her. "My lady, what has happened?" he asked, concerned. His warm breath brushed against the back of her neck, and made Yui shiver from more than just the chill. She willed herself to take a small step forward, to distance herself from him, and immediately he let his hand drop away. She had felt his hesitation, and could almost sense his disappointment in the still room. Riotous emotions built up within her - part of her wanted the comfort that Suboshi offered, but part of her was afraid of it. No, she steeled herself. If she relied upon his kindness and accepted his consolation, then he'd find out what had happened to her. Enough people knew already - she didn't need anymore pity. "Tell me, Suboshi," she ordered coldly, unemotional, focusing the conversation back on track, and away from her. "What was it that you overheard?" There was a stunned silence that lasted for the space of five heartbeats, but then Suboshi finally managed to stammer out a satisfactory reply. "So...Soi was talking about the Genbu Miko. She...she seems to believe that she's seen some of the Genbu Seishi around this area." He paused dramatically, to let it sink in, then continued. "Lady Yui, if that were true, then...then that would mean that Genbu's Miko has returned to this world, wouldn't it? I...I didn't think that was possible." "It appears that you, as well as the rest of us, have thought wrong then," a new voice informed them from just outside the entrance. Yui jumped, then willed her heart to slow its sudden racing. She'd known that Nakago would be coming, so his sudden arrival shouldn't have unnerved her. She composed herself, and faced him with more courage than what she felt she currently had inside. Suboshi spun around at his superior's voice, startled by the entrance of the Seiryuu Miko's Protector to the tent. Following Nakago came Soi, Ashitare, Miboshi and then Tomo, all wrapped in heavy fur coats and bundled against the frigid temperatures of Hokkan's northern-most territory. Tomo shook snow off of his wrap, as smooth and elegant as ever, and took one of the small stools in the center of the tent for himself. Soi silently took the seat next to him, while Ashitare and Miboshi both stood in the corners of the tent, opposite each other. Nakago approached Yui and Suboshi, his movements graceful despite his great height and build. "Mistress Yui, what Suboshi tells you is true," he said, bowing in greeting. "Soi and Ashitare have discovered the presence of three Genbu Seishi in this area, and Miboshi reports that a fourth Genbu Seishi and a Byakko Seishi both tried to break through his barrier last night. =46rom this information, we can only assume that the Mikos for both Genbu and Byakko are also due to arrive in this world sometime soon, if they are not already here." "How is this possible?" she demanded, panic constricting her heart. She looked accusingly at Nakago. "You told me that the Priestesses for Genbu and Byakko had already arrived in this world years ago." "Yes, Miko, this is true," Miboshi replied, floating towards her, and stopping a mere foot away. Yui unconsciously took a step away from the strange, three-eyed monk before she had realized what she was doing. Since they had been introduced, she had been uncomfortable around this abnormal, little man, and he seemed to both understand and enjoy her discomfort. Perhaps it was all in her imagination, but she could swear that he intentionally added the slight maniacal cackle to his voice just to get a shocked or disgusted reaction from her. So far, it was working, and this irritated her. She was the Seiryuu Miko, after all, and being afraid of her Seishi was ridiculous. In addition, how could they ever respect and follow her if she cowered before them? Grinding her teeth, she squared her shoulders, and stepped forward once more, aware that everyone in the tent watched her carefully. Miboshi grinned, his third eye blinking as he did so, and Yui swallowed back her revulsion, concentrating on listening to the rest of the man's tale. "Both the Mikos for Byakko and Genbu arrived long ago, according to the scribes," he relayed, folding his small hands into the folds of his robes, "and it is true that both left soon after they had summoned their Gods." His eyes, all three of them, narrowed in what appeared to be aggravation. "However, the legends do not tell us much of their experiences while in this world, nor what happened to them once they left. In truth, the Miko Codex - known as 'The Four Gods of Sky and Earth' - has never said whether it is possible for there to be more than one Priestess destined for each God, but we have always assumed it as such. The emergence of these new Seishi for Byakko and Genbu would contradict this belief, however." Yui shook her head stubbornly, halting Miboshi's next words. "How can you know that?" she argued. "Their arrival could all be some sort of freakishly, random act." A familiar tug in her heart told her otherwise, yet she pressed on, not wanting to accept the possibility that was being presented to her. "Only Miaka and I know of the book's existence." This time, it was Suboshi who interrupted. "Book?" Yui reeled back as if struck, realizing that she'd said too much. How could she explain to any of them that they were nothing more than characters in a strange book that had been locked away for gods-knew-how-long in an off-limits section of the Tokyo National Library? They'd think she'd flipped off the deep end at best, at worst, that she was telling the truth. Her brain tried to quickly think of a way to correct the damage and head off any more questions. The half-lie was a bad one, she knew, but it was the best she could come up with on the spot. "Y...yes, the spell book that Miaka and I used to summon ourselves to this world. We used it to come here." Well, it wasn't a complete lie. She felt a little better when Tomo, Soi and Suboshi all nodded in acceptance of her story. Ashitare seemed not to care one way or the other. Perhaps it had been beyond his comprehension? Nakago and Miboshi, however, worried her. Both had narrowed eyes, which silently seemed to be trying to pick her brain, saying that they hadn't bought into her fabrication as easily as the others. "So...so, that means that this entire thing has to be a mistake," she stammered, simultaneously trying to take the pressure off of herself, and put it back onto the situation at hand. Her hopes that the appearance of these new warriors might somehow be explained as an odd coincidence were instantly dashed, however, by the voice of logic and reason. "No," Tomo assured her calmly, picking at a loose thread on his parka. "Seishi are only fated to be born in the time before a Miko is to appear." Suboshi stepped protectively to Yui's side. "How can you be sure?" he asked, loyally taking her side in the discussion. Miboshi turned his attention to the young boy, who met him stare for stare, unflinching. He sniffed in disdain. "Because the Miko Codex says so quite clearly," the Lama replied arrogantly. "If you'd bother to read it, you'd know that, commoner boy." The younger Seishi's face reddened in anger, but he clamped his jaw tightly, and swallowed the remark he had been about to make, settling for simply sneering in silence. He didn't want to start a fight in front of Lady Yui, especially since she had been so upset earlier. He'd seen the still-wet tracks of her tears, and her moist, wounded eyes when she had turned her profile to him. It had hurt him to know that he could do nothing for her at that moment. Not wanting to cause her any more pain, Suboshi kept his volatile temper in check. Later, though, he'd have his revenge against Miboshi for everything he had done and said since he had first come to their encampment only a short week before. Suboshi didn't like nor trust the hermit further than he could throw him, and would feel absolutely no qualms about his disappearance either - especially if he, himself, took part in it. The strange, cursed man had rubbed him the wrong way from the get-go, but he had made himself a real enemy when he had made a rude comment about Amiboshi's death while in Suboshi's presence. His older twin's demise was a terribly sensitive issue, and Miboshi had known it, purposefully mentioning it to see how far he could push his fellow Seishi. That kind of mistake wasn't one that would be simply forgiven. So, Suboshi bided his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to rid the world of the little, mutant-freak of nature, knowing he'd be doing everyone a better service for it. Suboshi smirked, his murderous thoughts clearly showing in his every feature. Miboshi cackled lightly, reading the promise in the younger man's eyes. He welcomed the challenge with a slight nod, and then drifted back to the corner where he had come from, having spoken his peace. "Mistress," Nakago addressed Yui reverently, drawing attention back to the matter at hand, "if there are two other Mikos out there, it will only be a matter of time before they appear, and gather all of their own Seishi together." He reached out, and clasped one of Yui's hands in his own, lightly squeezing her fingertips to emphasize his feelings. "With Suzaku's Miko and her Seishi here as well, we have little time left." Yui looked down at her fingers, entwined with her most trusted advisor's own, and nodded. "Then we need to find both Shinzaho first," she resolved, taking a deep breath. She removed her hand from Nakago's, turning her back to the entire assembly, and looked back at the scar on her wrist. The silence stretched between them all, and it seemed that everyone hinged on Yui's next words. "Find it for me," she ordered them all, her voice hard, determined. "Find both Byakko's and Genbu's Shinzaho for me, put them in my hands, let me call forth Seiryuu, and I will reward the one who succeeds in this task with one of my three wishes." There were several gasps from the assemblage at this generous offer, and Yui permitted herself a small, triumphant smile. There was nothing that her fighter-protectors wouldn't do now to get to the two holy relics. By offering them the possibility of having their own wish, she was, in effect, offering them their most treasured desire, but she cared little for that. She only wanted to guarantee that Miaka didn't call Suzaku first - that Miaka suffered in turn for everything that Yui had endured. Nakago broke the startled silence then, his voice calm and collected. "And what of these new Seishi, my Lady?" His tone implied what he'd like to do, and Yui understood immediately what he was asking. She turned to face them again, sighed deeply, and nodded, conceding to this one request. "Do as you see fit, Nakago. I leave it in your capable hands. Now, leave me, all of you, please." She permitted herself to sound a little tired with that last bit, hoping they would believe her to be, so that they would leave quicker. Her Protector bowed low at the waist, and the other Seishi stood or drifted towards the exit. They left without words, caught up in their own private thoughts. Suboshi took one last look at his Miko, worried for her, but then he, too, bowed and left, respecting her need for privacy. When they were all finally gone, Yui found herself strangely lonely, and debated calling one of them back - if only for their physical company. Instead, she sat herself down in a chair and began reviewing her English and Science lessons, needing the peace that such studies offered. "Lord Nakago, what are your orders?" Soi asked dutifully, once everyone was out of earshot of their Miko's tent. They all stopped, waiting for their leader to command them. He looked out over the endless, white expanse of the frozen tundra and gave them their instructions. "Tomo, you are to watch the Suzaku Seishi carefully. I believe that they are the closest to finding the Shinzaho right now. Follow them, and when you find out the resting place of Genbu's sacred relic, report back immediately." He smirked. "Do not take it upon yourself to glory-hunt, either," he warned, staring at the man from the corner of his eye. "Lady Yui's offer is enough to tempt all of us, but they are six to your one. We don't want the Shinzaho to fall into the Suzaku Miko's hands because of overconfidence. Lady Yui would be enraged." The strangely-painted face of the mysterious Tomo lifted at the corners of his lips slightly, making him appear demonic, and he snickered evilly. "Yes, Lord Nakago," he uttered, and within seconds, was completely gone from sight, using his Shin Clam to create the illusion of his disappearance. Nakago addressed Suboshi next. "Find the rest of the Byakko Warriors, and report back in detail on them. We need to know their numbers, whether they've found their Miko yet, and their powers. They may prove trouble for Lady Yui if we're not careful." The youngest of their group nodded mutely, and turned towards the tethered horses without a word, his duty clear. Nakago chuckled to himself. Bu Shunkaku, the one known as Suboshi, was the easiest to manipulate and control - he needed only to mention their Miko's name and the boy's infatuation for her controlled his actions. He almost envied the naivet=E9 of youth. Almost. "Ashitare..." Nakago turned his full attention to the half-man, half-wolf creature, which hulked in the background silently. "You are to protect Mistress Yui, for now. No matter where she goes, you will be there to watch her, and if she is harmed in any way, you will be held responsible. Is that understood?" The creature grunted in reply, and turned his massive bulk quickly back towards his Miko's tent. For one so large, he moved quickly, covering the space between where he had stood and his mistress' Pao within a few strides. "And what of me, my Lord?" Soi asked hesitantly, when Nakago remained quiet for several seconds. He looked as Soi carefully, measuring her through narrowed, calculating eyes. "I want you to watch the Genbu Seishi," he informed her. "Get me information about them, Soi, and make sure it's thorough. We must know our enemies, after all." Soi bowed her head in acquiescence. "It will be done, my Lord," she asserted, then headed off in the same direction as Suboshi had. Nakago watched her go, allowing himself a moment to admire the slight sway of her hips. Miboshi sniggered, as if reading his superior's thoughts, drawing Nakago's attention away from the lovely sight. "And what will you have me do?" the monk asked, giving Kutou's General a knowing, sarcastic grin. Nakago's icy return made the man's twisted smile falter until it was replaced with a truer emotion - that of barely concealed hatred. It was Nakago's turn to smirk then, knowing that he had turned the tables on his fellow Seishi. He decided to pour salt in the wound by giving the monk exactly what he was asking for. "You will continue reviewing the old writings for any reference to the Mikos, and the possible meaning of having all four appear at the same time in this world. I want to know what it means - and soon." Miboshi nodded once, stiffly, then floated off towards his tent. As he passed by Nakago, he halted, hovering in the air, shoulder-to-shoulder with the man. "Knowing one's enemies is always a prudent, and oftentimes a life-saving strategy," he commented off-handedly, then floated on his way towards his own Pao. Nakago's nefarious grin grew wider as he stood there for several minutes in utter stillness, listening to the wind blow across the crystallized plain. Miboshi's message had been clear - a sure threat. He admired the tenacity of his fellow Seishi, but quickly realized that, eventually, he'd have to take care of the wicked, little spirit that was currently possessing the body of the Lama. That one was getting too big for his robes, it seemed. When the time came, Nakago would take immense pleasure in seeing those garments torn to shreds. He headed towards his palanquin to plan out his strategies. On second though, maybe he'd let Suboshi do Miboshi in for him, instead. If he was lucky, they'd wipe each other out, and save him the trouble of having to doing it later. "Who's there?" Yui jumped up from her chair as a dark shadow lay across the tent flap. She dropped her book in her seat, and faced the intruder. A coarse, deep voice replied simply its name. "Ashitare." "Come in," she offered, grateful that someone had come back, even if it was the silent giant of the group. Although she had never felt comfortable around this particular Seishi either, she still recognized that he would do her no harm. He belonged to Seiryuu, and indirectly to her as Seiryuu's Miko, for that matter. Besides, he was a welcome answer to the loneliness that threatened to invade her senses. Studying, for the moment, was doing nothing to help calm her restlessness. The colossal man entered her domain and set himself down on her floor in the middle of the small area, watching her intently and saying absolutely nothing. Yui was instantly irritated with this behavior. She had wanted a companion for the afternoon, not a bodyguard! <<At least Suboshi gives me both>, she thought fondly, <<even if he doesn't always say the right thing.> She secretly found herself hoping that the boy would just magically appear. She wanted a little fun right at that moment, and since their ages were close, he being exactly two months her elder, Suboshi could appreciate and relate to her in a way that the other Seishi could not. She sat back down in her chair and waited, occasionally peeking at the tent flap, looking for that familiar shadow. After an hour, she knew that the boy wouldn't be coming back for a while; Nakago had probably sent him on some errand. This increased her ire proportionally, and when she looked over at Ashitare's calm gaze again, she could take no more. Her words were waspish as she addressed him. "What do you want? Surely, you didn't come here just to watch me? And don't sit on the ground like that; you look like some sort of animal." Ashitare continued to observe her for several seconds in silence, weighing her with his unfathomable eyes, then slowly, gracefully, he stood. His incredible bulk seemed to engulf the small Pao, and Yui found it suddenly extraordinarily uncomfortable. She looked out the crack in the eaves, and made her decision. Grabbing her fur-lined coat, she donned it and then did the same with her cap and gloves. "I need to get out of here," she murmured, knowing that his keen hearing would pick up her words. She finished the last wrist-button on the gloves, readjusted her cap on her head, and turned to him with a bright, completely fake smile. "Let's go out for a walk, shall we?" she offered, and hurriedly left the tent. Ashitare's massive steps tromped along behind her, keeping pace easily. Within ten minutes, the duo had left the encampment behind, and crested a hill overlooking the small vale. Yui gasp at the beauty around her. "It's so...so white!" she exclaimed, her breath frosting in the chilled air. Everything around her was bathed in a blanket of sparkling snow, and it all twinkled like miniature stars in the mid-morning sun. As she stood there, for some incomprehensible reason, she discovered the need to simply hear a voice, even if it was her own. She began relating her tales out loud, heedless of whether her attendant was really listening or not. "In my world, I don't remember ever seeing snow like this. It usually turns to a slushy-brown color within a day after falling. I suppose it must have something to do with the air. There _are_ a lot of people there, and they _do_ move around a lot. Maybe all of the unnatural heat is the cause of it. Whatever the reason, winter in Tokyo isn't nearly as pretty as it is here. I wonder if Hokkan is always like this, or if it's seasonal?" Ashitare said nothing in response. He listened, watching his Miko carefully. Soon, she grew fidgety, and then excitable. She rubbed her hands over her arms to brush away the chill, continuing to stare out at the horizon. Off to the west, dark clouds loomed, bringing the promise of another storm. "You never say anything really," she commented off-handedly, trying to draw him into conversation with her. She wanted to, no, _needed_ to engage in a friendly chat with someone. She hadn't done so in a long time, she realized. "I mean, I know nothing about you, and yet, you're my Seishi..." That stopped her, as she considered exactly what she did know of those who had sworn to protect her even at the cost of their own lives. After thinking hard about it, she came to a startling conclusion. "I guess I really don't know much about any of you, do I?" Still, the large man did not respond, and she began to wonder if he was even behind her anymore, or if he had wandered back to camp. No, she could feel his presence close-by if she stretched her senses out to seek him, so there was no question that he had heard her. She guessed that either he was incredibly shy, not very eloquent or simply watchful, and that one of these was the reason for his behavior. She decided to try one last time. "I know that Ashitare is your Seiryuu name. What is your real name? Where are you from?" She heard the soft crunch of the snow as Ashitare shifted slightly, and then he was behind her, barely touching her back with his massive chest. The heat she felt running off of his body warmed her even across the distance, and right through her clothes. Something inside of her shivered in response, but not in the same way as when Suboshi had touched her. This was more alarming - not in the least bit enticing. When Ashitare spoke, Yui found herself shaking all over. "You're afraid of me," he stated in his gravely voice, matter-of-factly. "I smell it, Miko." She froze, her eyes wide, her breath catching in her throat. He did not touch her, but to Yui, she felt as though his massive hands were strangling her, closing off her breathing, smothering her. She began trembling violently, realizing the truth. She was frightened of him, more so than of any of her other Seishi, including Miboshi. Ashitare was terrifying in a primal way. He was a predator, and she was small enough, weak enough to be considered prey. She could vaguely smell the decayed blood upon his breath, as he loomed over her, and she absently wondered what animal he had killed and eaten recently. Had it even been an animal? Her eyes darted all around, her impulsive, intuitive side screaming at her to flee and not look back. Where was Suboshi when she needed him? Why had Nakago sent this one to her instead of coming himself? Damn them both! <<You're doing it again>, a small voice in her head warned her. <<Letting yourself be frightened of your own protectors. Foolish girl.> Yui's shaking subsided, and a new anger rose within her. She was acting like a scared child, she realized, and there was no reason for it whatsoever. Ashitare was a Seiryuu Seishi, and would never harm her - could never harm her. The Dragon God would not allow it. Besides, Ashitare was like her in at least one way - he was lonely. Deep inside of him, he was crying out for someone to try to understand him. She could sense this, could see it about his dark aura, and that, above all else, connected them. Perhaps this time alone with him was an opportunity. She was his Miko, and if anyone among them would try to understand the other, it should be her. She came to a decision, then, and went with what her instincts told her was the right thing to do. She leaned back against Ashitare's chest, and put her trust in her God, hoping she had not made the gravest mistake of her life. At first, Ashitare did not move. In fact, he seemed quite surprised by his Miko's actions. For several minutes, he let her recline against him, and neither said a word, trying to perceive the other's intentions. When he leaned over her, to sniff at her hair and clothes, Yui did not move, forcing herself to remain calm and in control of her fear. Eventually, hesitantly, he placed a strong, accepting hand gently on her right shoulder. Yui positioned her own left hand over his, and let the silence express the feelings that clumsy words could not fully convey. The two stood like that for several minutes, ignoring the cold, taking comfort in each other's new-found understanding. =09 What she hadn't realized then, and would much later, was that his gesture had been significant in the wolfman's mind; it sealed a pact between them, and symbolized his acceptance of her as both his Miko and his packmate. "So what did you get in your trip through town this morning?" Mitsukake curiously asked Miaka, pulling his roan up to the horse that she and Tamahome shared. She flashed him a brilliant smile, and reached into her fur-lined coat, seeking the hidden pocket. Within seconds, she produced a small, intricately designed dagger, hidden within a sturdy, leather sheath. "Nuriko and I got a matching pair!" she announced, holding the weapon out for him to see. Mitsukake took it in his hand, and steadied his grip on the reins before exposing the sharp blade. It glinted in the noon-time sunlight, its silver edges smooth and sharp. A small, polished garnet twinkled from the center of the bound handle. "Very nice," he appraised, resheathing the dagger and handing it back to her. "It is crafted and balanced well." "I still don't understand why you need it," Tamahome complained, obviously annoyed. "You've got six Seishi here to protect you." Chichiri's horse suddenly appeared on the other side of Miaka's, and he jumped into the conversation, his fox-like face smiling mischievously. "Not to mention Emperor Hotohori's chi-filled sword, na no da." Miaka smiled and shrugged. "We thought it would be nice to have something to remember our adventure by when this is all over." "Your end may come sooner than you think, Miko of Suzaku!" a man's voice called out from the forest somewhere in front of them. Tamahome pulled short the horse, and stopped, searching for the possible threat. Likewise, the others did the same, and for several minutes, nothing but the horses hooves scrunching on the packed snow of the road, and their own breaths, could be heard. The forest was like a silent, smothering presence all around them, hiding all sorts of imaginary monsters. Without warning, Tamahome pushed Miaka to the side and out of harm's way, just a milli-second before something wet and razor-sharp pierced his upper, right arm. His cry of pain was loud in the hushed space. Miaka gasped as she felt herself shoved aside roughly. She lost her balance and fell out of the saddle, landing awkwardly on the hard ground below. There was a loud crack as she struck the solid earth, and hot pain flashed throughout her body. She gasped for breath, sucking in the frigid, wintry air as she did so, and gasped again as the pain in her side stabbed at her mercilessly. Above her, Tamahome's horse reared, it's hooves threatening to trample her as its rider struggled with the reigns and his wounded shoulder. Miaka rolled out of the way just as the stallion's two front legs stomped down where her head would have been. She continued rolling, despite the pain in her ribs, until she felt the snow-covered undergrowth of the forest surround her. She paused, knowing that she was off of the road, and out of immediate danger. Glancing up quickly, she had just enough time to scream a futile warning as a giant wave of water smashed into the horses at high speed. The rush washed over the animals, knocking their footing from under them. All of the Seishi struggled to keep from losing their saddles, and themselves, within the strange, unexpected attack. In the back of the pack, she heard a cry from Chiriko's lips, as the young boy tumbled off the horse he shared with Tasuki, and was crushed into the side of a tree at full force by another mysterious conduit of water. Miaka watched, helplessly, as her youngest Seishi lost consciousness instantly, his splattered blood painting his parka a nasty crimson. She screamed Chiriko's name, feeling tears gather in her eyes, praying that she could get to him in time... Standing, painfully, on shaky legs, she started towards her friend, only to be blocked by a funnel of water appearing before her. From within it, a shadowy figure materialized, and then a hand reached out, grasping the front of Miaka's shirt. It pulled her towards the leering face of a man, his blue eyes narrowed in wickedness. "Well, Maiden of Suzaku," he addressed her with a sneer. "It seems that you're not half as good as I expected you to be." The man grinned maliciously, and snickered, continuing to pull her towards the center of the liquid whirlwind. "Ashura's sure to reward me for bringing you to her." Miaka struck out, kicking and punching, and finally, her fist connected with the man's chin, knocking him back. His grip loosened on her chemise, and she took the opportunity to escape. Forcing past the pain, using the rush of adrenaline to propel her, she ran as far and as fast as she could, grasping at her wounded side as she did so. Back, into the depths of the overgrown forest, Miaka ran, until finally, her legs could go no further. She collapsed onto her knees, feeling the hard ground underneath tear at them, but paid little heed to it. Her side was burning now, and as she took her hand away, she could see the blood seeping through her school uniform quickly. She was hurt - badly. Had Mitsukake made it out alright too? If so, he might be able to help her. She glanced around, looking for him, and stopped. There was no one around, and the sounds of her friends' struggles were silent. The road was nowhere to be seen either. Panic gripped Miaka, twisting at her insides until they felt knotted. She was lost. Stopping short, she cut off the growing fears, forcing herself to remain calm. Surely, Tamahome would find her; he always came to her rescue. She only had to wait for him, and he would appear, albeit worried and upset at her for having run so far away. He would undoubtedly scold her, and then hug and kiss her, and everything would be alright again. Yes, she only had to wait for Tamahome. Holding onto her side, applying pressure in the hopes of stopping the bleeding, she huddled behind a tree, and waited, listening intently to the quiet forest around her. Settling wood, or the snap of snow-burdened branches were the only sounds, however, and after a long wait, the cold started seeping through her coat. Blowing on her quickly-numbing fingers, Miaka shivered uncontrollably, waiting and hoping. After what seemed an eternity, when the dark canopy of the forest began to darken further with the coming of late afternoon, the sounds of approaching footsteps crunching through the icy snow came towards her. Miaka froze, not sure of who the approaching stranger was. If it was Tamahome or one of the others, surely they would have called out to her by now. She scrunched up into a tighter, smaller ball, pressing her knees against her chest, and breathing into her jacket to keep the steam from giving away her position, just in case. Her heart beat loudly in her ears, and a gnawing terror began to creep up into her throat as the footsteps got closer each second. Then, they halted and there was silence again. Miaka, eyes wide, ears straining to hear, froze as well. The whinny of a horse as it snuffed startled her. She turned slightly to look over her right shoulder, and there, directly-diagonal from her, Chichiri's horse stood, its owner nowhere nearby. Had the animal simply gotten lost in the confusion and ended up, like her, out here as well? Miaka chose to look at it as a good omen, and, painfully uncurled, forcing herself to stand and walk towards the beast. Maybe she'd be able to ride it back to find help. Her side was slightly numb, but she could feel where the seeping blood had begun to congeal, sticking to the fabric of her shirt under her thick, fur-lined jacket. It peeled away from the skin underneath as she moved, and she pressed her hand to it once more, trying to keep the fabric in place. If the wound re-opened, it could get worse, she knew. As she drew close, the horse shied away, but calmly, Miaka began crooning to it, lulling it into trusting her. "It's alright. See? I'm not going to hurt you. Just please, I need your help. Will you help me?" The horse's response was to move away again, but Miaka continued patiently trying to win the beast over. Finally, she managed to get the reigns in hand, but her small moment of triumphant turned to one of consternation. How was she going to mount the saddle with an injured side? This presented a serious problem. Just as she was trying to get a foot in the stirrup, a voice from behind her froze her in her tracks her. "I knew you'd come out, eventually, Maiden of Suzaku. I just had to leave the horse there, and wait. You're so pathetically predictable." The strange man from earlier appeared in front of her, grabbing the reigns from her surprised hands, and shoved her back against the rough bark of a nearby tree. Another shot of pain crept up her side and she gasped, grabbing onto her ribs protectively. Leaning over her, Miaka finally got a good look at the face of her attacker. He would have been a handsome man, had his pretty blue eyes not seemed so full of vicious intent. His golden-brown hair was tied back from his face by a blue-colored leather strip, showing off his triangular-shaped face. Dressed in a similar jacket as her own, and wearing expensive boots, and a small gold-hoop earring in his left ear, everything about this man screamed 'aristocrat' to her. The only thing that ruined the effect was a small, ragged scar, which trailed from his right cheek to the crack where his lips met, marring the perfection. With that in place, he seemed more like a well-dressed pirate. As if sensing her thoughts, the man stroked the scar with his right index finger, tracing across its breadth, the movement as graceful as if he'd done it thousands of times in practice. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said with airs about him. He mock-bowed, confident that Miaka wasn't able to get away from him even should she try again. She realized that this was probably the case, since her side burned as if on fire. "My name is Shougo Asagi, and I am a Seishi of Genbu, the God of the North." Miaka felt her blood run like ice. "Genbu's...Seishi?" she heard herself ask, unaware that it was spoken in barely a whisper. The man snickered again, the sound grating to the nerves. "Yes, little Miko, I am Genbu's Seishi," he reaffirmed, reaching down to pat a spot on his left thigh. "I'd show you my symbol as proof," he offered with a smirk, "but right now might not be the best place for that sort of thing. It is rather cold out here." So fast that she barely saw him more, he grabbed a hold of her right arm, and pulled her towards him roughly. Pressed up against his length, Miaka felt the heat leach off of him onto her, helping to ease her nearly frostbitten fingers. However, there was a 'feel' to him that reeked of bad intent, and Miaka found herself wanting to gag, even as he pressed her closer. She weakly struggled, tired and cold, but not wanting to give up without a fight. "Tamahome!" she cried out loudly, praying that he'd hear her. "Tamahome - help me!" She pushed, her injured side making it hard for her to breathe, but Asagi's grasp was firm. "Now, now, little Miko," he chastised, "we can't have you making a scene. It doesn't matter that there's no one around, and that I thoroughly tromped your friends back there, but still..." "Tamahome! Tasuki! Nuriko! Chichiri! Umph..." she shouted, pushing away from the foulness of this man. "Someone - HELP ME!!!" Asagi laughed, enjoying her struggles, maintaining a good grasp on her despite Miaka's best efforts. He began hauling her towards the horse, with the intent of throwing her over the saddle, belly first. She kicked out, not caring that she hit the horse, hoping the animal would step on the man's foot or jerk away because of her flailing. Anything that she could do to make the situation harder on him gave her immense gratification, even as every movement brought her closer and closer to the edge of passing out from the pain. Surprisingly, Asagi suddenly dropped her, and stepped away, his own scream of pain ringing loudly in her ear. Miaka hurried under the horse's belly, scurrying to the otherside, and took off, limping and staggering as she went. It didn't matter where she went, as long as it was away from Asagi and his disgusting hands. Huffing in exertion, she moved as fast as she could, not looking back. Soon though, she stumbled, and landed....into a pair of arms. A soft voice murmured to her in her ear, breathing warm and sweet upon her face. "Easy now, girl, I've got you. You're safe." Gasping for breath, Miaka looked up into a very handsome - almost beautiful - teenage boy's face. His large, deep brown eyes captured hers and they held. His triangular face was wider than Asagi's had been, almost giving it a feminine appeal. The hair was a chestnut color, cropped short in the back, with bangs that hung in his eyes slightly. His left ear was pierced, and a small, diamond stud sparkled and caught her attention. Beneath her fingers, his dark, woolen cloak hung loose, non-constricting to his frame, barely brushing his pants across the calves, and touching upon the tops of his boots. Across his back was strung a bow and a quiver of black-feathered arrows. Miaka noted, as her gaze traveled up to his eyes once more, that the boy had been carefully sizing her up in a similar manner, and she blushed in embarrassment. She turned away, and when she did so, a wave of nausea swam over her. She groaned and shut her eyes. The boy spoke again, his gravely voice firmer than before, but just as tender as earlier. "You're going to be alright," he reassured, lifting her delicately and helping her regain her feet. He kept his arms around her waist, safeguarding, even after she had managed to stand on her own. "I took care of your 'friend' over there," he indicated with a jerk of his chin back over her shoulder, "and he shouldn't be bothering you again." The last was said with a slightly amused tone, and Miaka chanced a glance over her shoulder, curious. A few hundred yards away, she could see Asagi struggling with something near a tall, barren elm. When he moved to the side, she caught a glance of his hand, glistening with blood, nailed into the bark by an arrow. The raven-colored feathers were the only part visible, indicating that the shaft had sunk deep. Miaka winced, imagining the agony that such a wound would cause. Suddenly, the boy stiffened next to her, and his head jerked to the left. His eyes narrowed in concentration, and he leaned an ear in that direction, listening to something that Miaka couldn't hear. He clicked his tongue in irritation, and then, as if making up his mind quickly, he picked her up carefully, trying not to hurt her, and placed her against a solid tree not far from where they stood. Placing her hand on a nearby branch to help her support herself, he stepped away, glancing back towards the left again quickly. It was then that Miaka heard the voices calling out to her, searching for their lost Miko. "Miaka! Where are you?! MIAKA!" It was Tasuki! Miaka felt relief in her heart, and hope returned. The boy turned back to her. "Look, I have to go now," he said, shifting his bow on his back to a more comfortable position. "I'll take care of Mr. Personality for you. Just try to get out of these woods by nightfall, if you can." He turned away, towards where Asagi was, and stopped short, swearing under his breath. Miaka quickly looked in the same direction and her breath caught in her throat. Asagi was nowhere to be seen, and the arrow lay, broken and bloodied, nearby where he had been. He had escaped. The boy started off in that direction to pursue, but Miaka stopped him. "Why?" she called out. "Why do we need to be out of the forest by dark?" He turned back, his head jerking from the direction where Tasuki was coming towards the place where Asagi seemed to be heading -according to the glistening droplets of bloods in the snow - and sighed in frustration. "Look, this place is just dangerous. There are all sorts of animals here that you can't find in other countries. Just take my word on it and be out of here, even if you have to push your horses to do so." He turned and ran off without another glance back. "Wait! I don't even know your name!" she called out, but there was no one to answer her. She sighed, and gasped in pain that such a movement caused. She gripped her side again, and breathed shallow, hoping to minimize the pain. Again, Tasuki's voice, this time, joined by Chichiri's and Nuriko's, could be heard getting closer. "Miaka, where are you?!?" She took a deep breath, biting back on the pain, and shouted as loudly as she could. "I'M HERE!" Within minutes, Tasuki's bright, flaming hair came into view, followed by Chichiri's staff, and Nuriko's relieved smile, and soon afterwards, she was being carried back in the former bandit's arms to where the others were gathered. Mitsukake healed both Chiriko's and her wounds, and then she told them everything she knew, including being saved by a mysterious boy, and his warning about the woods. Deciding to heed good advise, the group packed up everything they could find, collected what horses they had retrieved, doubled-up in riding, and moved onward. By nightfall, they had reached the edge of the forest, and below, they could see the quaint, little town beneath Mount Black. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief, and headed down into the small community, looking forward to a night of much-needed rest. That night, after Mitsukake had checked on her one last time and everyone else went off to bed, Miaka sat alone, staring into the mirror as she brushed her hair, and wondered who the mysterious boy with the diamond earring really was, and if she'd ever get the chance to say 'thank-you' to him for saving her life. "Well, that kind of confirms it, huh?" Ferio asked around a mouthful of bread. "Genbu's Seishi are trying to kill off the Mikos." "You're jumping to conclusions," Subaru murmured, sitting before the small, weakly-lit fire and chewing on his own meager dinner. Earlier, he had exchanged his typical white robes for more practical traveling garb, and now he appeared to look much like any other peasant, dressed in dark, patchy clothes, lined with some sort of animal's fur to ward off the cold. "It was one attack, and he didn't seem to be trying to kill her so much as catch her." "Yea, but..." Ferio argued, only to be cut-off by Sohma this time. "I clearly heard Asagi say that Ashura would reward him for bringing the Suzaku Maiden to her. That sort of implies that they intended on keeping her alive long enough to rendezvous with Genbu's Protector, =46erio." "I don't know," Ferio remained steadfast, "I don't trust Ashura further than I can...well...you know what I mean. Anyway, I think she's got something up her sleeve, and that can't spell anything but trouble for us, not to mention any of the other Seishi." Yasha remained silent, considering what he had heard, wondering if it could be true. When Sohma had relayed to them her report of everything that she had seen, it had stunned him that Suzaku's Seishi could have been caught so completely off-guard; he had expected better, considering what he knew of them. At the very least, the magician, Chichiri, should have detected Asagi's elemental magic upon his summoning. The fact that he hadn't indicated someone else had possibly been present, and had used their powers to help dampen the effect. Maybe it had been an illusion created by the Sakurazukamori? He didn't know. Of course, it _could_ have been this mysterious boy that Sohma spoke so highly of. From one perspective, it seemed too uncanny that he had just _happened_ to show up at the right time to save the Suzaku Priestess. Although, his garb, as Sohma had described, indicated that he had come from a border area; the type of cloak he wore and the fact that he was an archer was definitely an indication of one who lived in the Steppe area of Sairou country. But, why would he wander this far north? It just wasn't possible that he was lost. Steppe people were the best survivors of any peoples on the continent. They were known to be able to tell almost the precise time of day even from deep within the earth's caverns, and they were able to shoot their prey from hundreds of yards away within a few inches of accuracy. The fact that they tended to exist well in almost any climate was a tribute to their toughness. Lurking in forests were as familiar to them as within the deserts or out on the Savannah, and settling in such a locale afforded them the opportunity to perfect these survival skills. Because of their almost nomadic existence, the people of the Steppes were also considered uncivilized, uncouth, and wild. However, 'wild' did not equate to being either 'stupid' or 'directionally challenged', therefore, there had to be a reason why the boy would be here, at this exact time and at this exact place. "Yasha? You alright?" Ferio asked, waving a hand in front of the elder man's face. Yasha blinked, and nodded out of his reverie. "I wanted to know what you make of all this," the young Prince asked, curious. Yasha considered his answer carefully. "The archer boy must be a Seishi," he said finally, matter-of-factly. Sohma nodded. "That's what I thought too," she confirmed. "It doesn't make sense that a person from the Steppes would be here otherwise." Subaru looked up then. "How do you know he's from the Steppes?" he asked, putting his insubstantial dinner aside for the moment. =09 Seeing an opportunity, Ferio snatched it up behind his fellow Seishi's back and gobbled it down in one bite. Subaru hadn't noticed, or, if he did, he made no issue of it, for which, Ferio was glad. "His clothes," Sohma replied, as if it were the most obvious conclusion. "And the way he shot that arrow. Too accurate _not _to be a Steppe clansmen." "So, even if we don't know why Asagi or Ashura wanted the Suzaku Miko, at least we found another Byakko Seishi. That's still good, right?" =46erio exclaimed happily, leaning back against an overturned log, and stretching his feet out towards the small flames. Yasha nodded again, saying nothing. "It would be better if we'd found our Miko though," the young Prince continued, staring into the fire, almost mesmerized by their flickering. No one could say anything to that. Everyone knew that having their Miko present might simplify things immensely; for where the Miko was, the Seishi were attracted to go, almost as if by some strange quirk of =46ate. Maybe if they found Byakko's Miko, they'd quickly be able to gather the remaining Seishi. "Subaru, Ferio," Yasha addressed them commandingly, as his position dictated. "I want you two to find this boy who saved the Suzaku Miko, and find out if he _is _one of us. If so, bring him back. If he's one of Genbu's..." He stopped himself short of saying what he felt, but everyone clearly understood the situation. Words weren't necessary to convey the seriousness of their predicament. "Either way," he continued on, "we may have to take steps to assure that he doesn't meet up with Genbu's Warriors." "I bet he _is_ one of us!" Ferio proclaimed, already on his feet and heading for his horse. Subaru walked not far behind, his dark clothes almost blending into the gloom that surrounded their small camp. "It's just too uncanny. Luck must be on our side this time!" "Luck has little to do with it, in my experience," Subaru muttered, quickly resaddling his own mare. "What do you mean?" Ferio asked inquisitively. "Things just seem too coincidental, in my opinion, sometimes," Subaru responded, shrugging, and getting a foot in his stirrup. He pulled his thin frame up and over, saddling the horse with a practiced ease. For not the first time, Sohma wondered where the strange Onmyoujitsu had really come from. He spoke little about himself, including his past, but one thing was certain - his hatred for the Genbu Seishi ran deeper than it appeared on the surface. Each time they were mentioned, his eyes took on a hard, determined glint, borderlining on murderous. Curiously, she wondered about that as she watched the young sorcerer-exorcist quietly argue about the pros and cons of believing in chance versus predestined consequences with the young Prince of Sairou Country. When the two were finally out of earshot, she turned back towards Yasha, and sat down across from him, chewing on her small traveling rations, watching his face carefully. She could see him trying to puzzle out the newest facts, comparing them to what he knew already, trying to come up with a match or a new piece to add to the intricate puzzle. Finally, the silence became to much for even her. "What do you think Ashura's up to?" she asked, quietly watching and waiting for a response. Yasha didn't blink an eye at the implication that his ex-lover was scheming some sort of dastardly plan for them - he rarely did any more. Long ago, Sohma knew, it bothered him to even hear Ashura's name mentioned in casual conversation, but time and experience had hardened him, and he no longer denied the truth. Perhaps that was the greatest tragedy of it all, she mused. "I'm not sure," he muttered, truly perplexed. "Nothing she does make sense to what I knew about her. It's like she's a completely different person now." His frustration was obvious, even from this distance. It radiated outwardly in a wave of displeasure and ire which combated Sohma's own temper, dampening her spirits. "We need to predict her next move, otherwise we'll end up two steps behind," she cautioned. "You know how fast her mind works, how good she is at playing this type of game. In truth, she's the one part of this equation that worries me." Yasha could only nod in agreement, his far-away eyes seeing memories that only he would know. Sometimes, Sohma wished that she could be privy to such thoughts... "Are you scared?" she dared to ask, already knowing the answer hidden deep within the isolation of Yasha's gaze. He stood then, as graceful as a serpent unwinding itself, towering over her, and threw his small cup of water back into the snow. Sohma understood his silence probably even more than he, himself, did - she had studied it for years, picking it apart, discovering its true meaning. She rubbed her hands across her arms, shivering, not from the small gust that had swept down from out of the mountains to the north, but from the answer that Yasha had not dared to speak aloud. "Use Subaru's talisman to get past the Seiryuu wards, and go into their camp tonight. Find out what new things they may have discovered," he commanded her, striding over to the horses, and resaddling his own stallion, packing away his things. "I'm going down into the town at the base of the Mountain to spy on Suzaku's group. Meet me in the stables at sundown, tomorrow night." "What about the others?" she asked, quickly removing all traces of their passing and dousing the fire. "I'll use Subaru's bottled shikigami to deliver them the message of the meeting," he said, mounting the saddle, and turning away without another word. "Good luck!" Sohma called out, but Yasha was already gone, his black form merging with the darkness completely. She sighed, quickly finished up her cover-up, and started out to the Seiryuu's encampment. En route, she prayed to Byakko to protect her fellow Seishi, and for the Tiger God to help guide the man who right now felt the fear of the unknown looming on his horizon, so that, when the time came, he wouldn't falter, as he was deathly afraid he might. That done, she eagerly looked forward to the next challenge - to find out if Subaru's talisman would really work against the Seiryuu Seishi, and Miboshi's wards. After all, anything she could do to anger and irritate the little monk would bring her immense pleasure. She owed him for his betrayal anyway... Asagi stumbled through the door of the Widow's Inn, clutching his hastily bandaged hand to him, and attempting to hide the wounded limb within the folds of his jacket. The local authorities, after all, tended to arrest first, and ask questions later, and he had already wasted enough time playing cat and mouse against the mysterious archer who dodged his steps at every turn for the last four hours. He was late for the meeting. Mistress Ashura would not be pleased. Climbing the stairs two at a time, he reached her room within seconds. The sweat glistened off of his forehead, streaming down his face, but he paid it no heed, knocking lightly upon the old wood without further hesitation. With a creak, the door opened, and standing, haloed by the flickering, dim candlelight inside the room, was the Sakurazukamori. He smiled in a pleasant, sardonic way. "Ah, so you've finally decided to grace us with your presence," he murmured, his sensual voice laced with a mocking quality that had become commonplace whenever he spoke to the Master of Water. Shougo wanted to respond scathingly towards the smug man, but before he could, Seishirou stepped to the side, indicating that he should enter the current demesne of the Genbu Seishi. As he did so, Asagi felt the change in the atmosphere immediately. The air grew stifling to breathe, the stench of old, dried blood wafted towards him, and the room's temperature was oppressively warm. Carefully, he stood near the exit, searching the shadows for movement, ever aware that the lethal assassin stood at his back. On the right, in the darkest corner, a cowled figure sat in a chair, wisps of pale, white hair tumbling out from the top of the mantle. A hint of pure, white skin, seeming to eerily glow, peeked out from the sable-colored cloth, but no eyes were visible. Despite this, Asagi felt the cold gaze of his fellow Seishi, Nataku, upon him, almost burning him with its intensity. No doubt, the 'Eater of Souls' had smelled his injury immediately upon his entering. "Report," came a soft voice from near the window. Stepping into the moonlight which streamed through the glass, Ashura's lithe figure emerged, breathtaking, as always, in its loveliness. For an instant, Asagi became painfully aware of his reaction to the beautiful, dark-haired Seishi, and he was forced to shift his stance, trying to appear inconspicuous as he did so. Even then, he knew that Seishirou had guessed his thoughts by the tell-tale snicker from behind. Asagi mentally winced, throwing a silent curse at his nemesis-companion, while trying to remain neutral-faced. "I followed the Suzaku group into the Forest of Midgar, and engaged the Seishi as you instructed," he began, his voice faltering at first, but gaining confidence as he continued. "Dividing their Miko from them proved easier than expected, as did tracking and catching her. I had her within my grasp..." "And yet, I do not see her with you now," Ashura remarked, her voice strangely dispassionate, hollow and empty. Asagi swallowed past the lump that began forming in this throat, and stuttered a response. "Ye...yes, well, I had her and...and was preparing to return with the Maiden when a stranger appeared unexpectedly and attacked me." Asagi produced the shredded mess that was his left palm to them all, shaking it as he spoke. "The little bastard shot an arrow through my hand from more than two hundred paces away, and I dropped the Suzaku Priestess accidentally. I decided to abandon the mission, at that point - it was too risky." He saw the thin, graceful form shift slightly, as Ashura turned her profile away from him. "And none followed your escape?" Asagi debated lying to her, but then thought better of it. The woman had a way of seeing through untruths. "Well, the kid with the bow trailed me at first. He was extraordinarily fast, and but I eventually dodged him on the outskirts of town. There's no way he could have followed me to the Inn." Ashura faced him once more, and seemed to consider his words carefully, weighing the truth of them. Her golden eyes captured his, and in the hushed room, it suddenly felt as though only the two of them existed in the whole wide world. It was like being on one of those expensive narcotics that he had tried as a young man; it created a strange sort-of focused tunnel-vision , where he felt himself lost within Ashura's gaze, acutely aware of every breath she took, and of the rhythm of her beating heart. He wanted more, wanted to drown within her and with her. In that second, he would have slit his own throat just to please her. Then, the spell was broken, and he was released. Gasping for breath, he bent over at the waist, clutching his nauseated stomach and blinking away the fuzziness from about his senses. "Tell me more about this boy with the bow," Ashura instructed him, coaxing, and yet deceptively dictating at the same time. Asagi knew that he had no choice but to obey if he wanted to get out of this alive. His leader's displeasure at his actions was obvious even from this distance, and, as he relayed what he knew, he silently prayed to Genbu to protect him. When he was finished, he remained quiet, clenching the fingers of his good hand around the wrist of his damaged one nervously, hoping that he had somehow appeased Ashura's anger. "Sounds like a person from the Steppes," Seishirou commented, breaking the silence. Asagi looked back to see that the man had taken up a position near the door, leaning against it with arms folded. His one cursed eye gleamed a milky white in the dim light, reflecting his Genbu Seishi symbol - ORU, "to bend" - dully within it. "What would he be doing this far north?" Asagi inquired, bewildered. "I've never met one, but the Steppe people supposedly never leave their lands." "No, they typically don't," Seishirou agreed, his eyes narrowing in consideration. He said nothing more, but it was clearly obvious that he was weighing this new information carefully. Asagi had no doubt that, somehow, the man would find a way to use it to win favor with their leader. Movement from the corner of his eye brought his attention back towards the figure standing alone by the window. Ashura ran a delicate fingertip across the pane, looking out into the distance as she did so. "You let the Maiden get away," she stated simply, her voice carrying no malice, anger or threat. The lack of emotion was almost as frightening as Ashura's display of displeasure, and Asagi felt his stomach tighten into knots. "I...I didn't have a choice. I was wounded, and against six other Seishi..." "Seven," she hissed, suddenly vicious, cutting him off. Asagi blinked in confusion. What? Seven Seishi? He was sure there had only been the six belonging to Suzaku, so why then did Ashura insist on there having been one more? Unless... "You think the boy was a Seishi?" he asked, shocked at the revelation. "But...why? He didn't seem all that powerful to me." "Imbecile! Didn't the fact that he could even keep pace with you alert you to the fact that he wasn't a normal human?" Ashura asked, clearly annoyed. "Only one blessed by the Gods could have accomplished such a feat." She began pacing back and forth, chewing on her bottom lip and spouting off her thoughts at random. "It all makes perfect sense now. Why else would one of the clansmen abandon their Holy Land to come to Hokkan's northern-most border, specifically at this exact time? No, his presence here is no accident." Asagi mulled over her words, letting the reality sink in. Another Seishi - but who's? "You suspect who this boy may really belong to, don't you, Mistress Ashura?" Nataku dared to ask, his strangely effeminate voice carrying a deep understanding to its tone. Asagi wondered if such familiar knowledge came from the man's constant presence around their leader, or if it came from something more? Had Nataku shared a 'kiss' with Genbu's Protector? After several long seconds, Ashura had still not responded to the question, and Seishirou took the opportunity to speak his peace. "Since we know who all of the Seiryuu and Suzaku Seishi are, the boy can only be a Genbu Seishi...or..." He left the thought hanging over all of their heads, and the implication wasn't lost on any of them. If he was truly a Seishi, the boy might very well belong to Byakko. It would make sense, since he appeared to derive from the Steppe region within Byakko's land - in Sairou Country. "With the emergence of three of the four groups already," Seishirou continued, "the possibility exists that the Byakko Miko will also arrive in this world. If so, her Seishi will not be far behind. The boy could be the first to have heard the calling, if he is one of the Tiger God's servants." He shifted slightly within the shadows. "Eventually, they will all gather here, my Lady," he stated, apparently unaffected by such an idea. "The presence of so many of the Chosen in one area will call to them, as it did even to us." "Four Mikos..." Asagi breathed, clearly astonished. Never had he heard of such a thing happening, and he had been actually very well-versed in the ancient prophecies thanks to his noble upbringing. If it was true, and all four Mikos had appeared in their world at the same time, it could only be a bad omen. Ashura remained silent, mentally cursing herself for not having finished off that fool ex-lover of hers long ago. Sentimentality had always been one of her weakest points, she knew. As Seishirou had rightly predicted, there was a certain 'pull' towards others of their kind, and having so many of the Chosen Ones concentrated in a single area so tightly - between themselves, the Suzaku and the Seiryuu groups - the probability of him arriving here now increased ten-fold. Eventually, she'd run into him. It was only a matter of time now. Certainly, the emergence of the Tiger God's Seishi came as no surprise to her - she had known long ago that Yasha was one of them. He bore their symbol - BAN, 'to guard', upon his forehead, just as she bore the symbol of Genbu upon hers - MEIYO, meaning 'glory'. In the beginning, the two of them had tried to deny their Fates, blissfully throwing caution and common sense to the wind, but Ashura had known deep within, in some small section of her heart, that it would never work. The 'voice' she had heard so often in her mind while growing up had confirmed this suspicion, showing her images of what would eventually be. It had explained to her that she and Yasha would have to sit on opposite sides of the battlefield when, and if, a war ever came between their two peoples. They would be forced to fight each other, and a very real probability existed that one might kill the other. There would be no other choice. When she had confronted him later about the likelihood that such a thing might come to pass, Yasha had not answered her, and it was in that moment that Ashura knew the truth. That Yasha would chose his duty and honor to a faceless God, whom he had never met, over his very real and tangible feelings for her had hurt more than anything ever had - including the murder of her father, when she was eleven years old, by the current Emperor of Hokkan...her father's old friend, and the man she had once called 'uncle'... She had run away not long after their discussion, placing a great distance between herself and the man she had built every dream around, filled with a great, aching sorrow and bitterness about the unfairness of life, and the cruelty of love. Now, all these years later, events had transpired to bring him here, at this specific time and place, so that he might begin fulfilling the promise to which he had been born. Perhaps it was time for her to do likewise. She smirked wryly at the irony of the situation. It seemed she was destined to kill Yasha after all. The voice had spoken true, as it always had. There had never been a reason to doubt =46ate, it seemed. So be it. "Seishirou," Ashura addressed the illusionist-sorcerer in the same cold tone she had used earlier, "you will bring me this boy from the Steppes, so that I may see with my own eyes whom he truly belongs to." Her command was said with a finality to it that Asagi internally shuddered over, and he speculated as to what decision it was that she had finally come to after the many minutes of her silent musing. Again, an awful sense of foreboding swept over him, as it had earlier, and he suddenly felt very weary from playing this guessing game for too long. The Sakurazukamori moved away from the wall, bowed deeply in acquiescence to his mistress, and seemed to melt back into the shadows of the room, disappearing entirely without a word. For not the first time, Asagi wondered if the man had really been here at all, or had he simply been a conjured illusion? He doubted even Seishirou would pull such a stunt with Ashura in charge, but one never really knew with that butcher. "Shougo," she addressed him then, turning back to glance out at the snow which had begun to fall once more beyond the sealed layer of glass, "get your hand looked at by the local doctor. It appears to be festering already." Asagi looked down at his hand once, seeing that she spoke the truth - the blood had begun to cake within its wrappings, which were drenched a dark, sanguious color. If he didn't treat it soon, it would most definitely bring on the fever. He bowed as well, preparing to take his leave, thankful that he was getting off so lightly for having botched his mission. Ashura was granting him a reprieve for bringing him news of this new possible Seishi. Perhaps his luck was holding true after all. He began backing towards the door, but stopped when she spoke again. "I would think that you should pray to Genbu, Asagi, for your good fortune today," she cautioned in a deadly whisper that hinted at so much innuendo. "The next time, you may just lose the appendage altogether, if not your life." Shougo took the hint, and continued backing away, bowing low at the waist and ignoring the pain in his numbing hand. When he touched the handle of the door, he unlocked it and pulled it open. Trying to keep some semblance of dignity, as his status required, he managed not to fumble too much with the door before shutting it behind him. "Has the Shura Sword reacted yet?" Nataku asked, carefully readjusting his severian-colored robes about his body, and shifting slightly in his seat. Ashura did not turn from her vigilance at the window, as she spoke, watching as Asagi's form moved away from the Inn, out among the quiet, sleepy streets towards the end of the town, where the doctor was known to reside. "No, my friend, not yet," she replied, her voice suddenly conveying her deep exhaustion. Staying awake for most of the last two days had begun to wear upon her frayed nerves. Perhaps tonight she would be able to sleep, and not dream... "What will you do," the pale, reanimated corpse wondered aloud, slight amusement in his tone, "should the boy not be one of Genbu's?" There was an odd hope in the tone that Ashura recognized. Stepping over to him, she chuckled, placing a familiar hand on the man's shoulder. "I shall give him to you, then," she promised, and watched as a small, chalk-colored fang poke out from between Nataku's smiling lips. "You are most gracious, my Lady," he intoned, bowing his head slightly. Suddenly, as if all the bluster had rushed away, Ashura lost her brief spurt of enthusiasm, and sighed loudly. "I think I'll get something to eat before turning in for the night," she commented, moving towards the doorway, intending on going down to the tavern's dining area below. She was slightly surprised to hear Nataku's robes shift, indicating that he had stood up. She turned back, noting the beautiful, pale features and mesmerizing lavender-colored eyes of her associate, and wondered what he was up to. "Perhaps I will too," he commented with a sideways smirk, silently asking her permission. Ashura nodded once, then opened the door and walked out, heading for the lights and sounds coming from below, thankful to be around normal, living people for just a little while. TO BE CONTINUED... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author's Notes: =46.Y.I., the Four Gods of The Sky and Earth are: Suzaku - The Southern Red Peacock [Phoenix] (protector of Konan Country) Seiryuu - The Eastern Blue Dragon (protector of Kutou Country) Byakko - The Western White Tiger (protector of Sairou Country) Genbu - The Northern Mysterious Warrior [Snake/Turtle combined] (protector of Hokkan Country) If you are unfamiliar with the term "shikigami" might I suggest that you look it up in the "X" manga (translated into English by Viz Comics as "X/1999", for those who can't read Japanese) or the "Tokyo Babylon" manga (untranslated commerically, but translations in English are available on the web). There is a much better explanation in those stories of what this is than one I could give you right now. Hopefully, you caught the reference to Final Fantasy VII. In case you missed it, it had to do with the Forest being called 'Midgar'. Because I enjoyed the game so much, I thought I'd do a few cameos from the characters there as well. Keep reading the different parts to this story as they come, and maybe you can spot them. **For the sake of creativity, I have altered the original works and characters of the original authors and combined them into this work of fanfiction. To them, and to all who read this and enjoy it, this story is dedicated to you.** "Fushigi Yuugi" is the property of Yuu Watase, Shougakukan, and Da Ran Publishing, 1993. "Tokyo Babylon", "X", "RG Veda", "Miyuki-chan In Wonderland", "Magic Knights Rayearth", "Wish" and "Clover" are the copyright of CLAMP, and Kodakowa Publishing, 1992-1997. "Sohryuden: Legend of the Dragon Kings" is the copyright of its author (whoever that is, I'm not sure), and it's publisher (ditto). "Final Fantasy VII" is the copyright of Square Co, Ltd., 1997, and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other characters and events of this story are the property of Jennifer L. Mondazzi, copyright 1997. **Please do not copy or replicate this work without written permission from this fanfiction author.** </pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>