Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Altered Realities ❯ Dancing With the Devil ( Chapter 7 )

A/N: To my new good buddy, Miss Reya (AKA Pookie-Bear2); this chapter is just for you. Hope you like it sweetie, and thanks for doing such a fantastic job both on the posterboard and especially on the fanart. You're amazing!

 

Warnings: Goofish-ness, Tenkou, eeeebiiiilllll and other junk.

 

Chapter 7: Dancing with the Devil

 

 

Her eyes fluttered open for a moment before immediately closing again. A groan issued from her lips as she flung an arm over her eyes to block out the annoyingly bright sunlight that spilled across her bed. `I am never drinking sake again. If this is what happens the next day I want no part of alcohol.' She rolled to her side and pulled the sheet up over her head, determined to lie there until she felt human again.

 

Her head was pounding, her mouth tasted disgusting and someone wanted her attention. It was hard to distinguish the soft rapping at her door from the agonizing thump in her brain, but whoever was out there was persistent. The knocking continued for long minutes, never stopping even once.

 

With a growl she eased her way up in to a sitting position and slipped her legs slowly over the edge of the bed. Leaning forward and pushing against the side with weak arms, she finally gained her feet and staggered over to the door. Resting against it for a moment, she sighed as the knocking stopped and closed her eyes in relief. Forcing her eyes open once again, she leaned back and pulled the door open slightly allowing only her head to poke out.

 

“Yeah, what?” she snapped, immediately regretting her harsh tone as it set her head to throbbing once again.

 

The slim bandit grinned at her obvious discomfort, his curly green hair falling rakishly over laughing blue eyes. “Th' boss wan's ya up. Says ya've been out all mornin'. Told me ta tell ya it's midday an' ya gotta bunch a shit ta do afore ya's kin do yer quest thing.” He spoke softly, showing pity for her aching head.

 

Miaka nodded and closed the door as he turned and walked away. Tiptoeing back to her bed she sat down gingerly before casting a glance around the room for her clothes. Coming up empty handed she frowned. “Where the hell are my clothes?”

 

A brief flash of passionate kisses and roving hands caused her to gasp in surprise; surely she hadn't slept with anyone! Casting a furtive glance over her shoulder she sighed in relief.

 

Her bed was empty.

 

Her relief was short lived as aggravation quickly took its place. Standing abruptly from the bed, and regretting it immediately, she moved over to the large trunk at the foot of her bed and flipped it open.

 

Not a pair of pants in sight, instead it seemed to be filled strange clothes. Skirts that would fall only to mid thigh, shirts that had only enough material to barely cover her to the waist, and frilly pieces of lace and satin that looked as if they were supposed to be smalls but were far too sheer to offer protection. Digging through the trunk some more she finally gave up and tugged a black skirt and a green `shirt' out and pulled them on.

 

She felt naked. She was bare from wrist to shoulder and her breasts seemed to want to escape their meager prison. The skirt showed off far too much skin in her opinion but it was all she had at the moment.

 

Glaring down at the trunk as if it were the cause of her problem, a piece of bright red silk caught her attention. She stooped down and snatched it up. Holding it out and looking it over she could tell it was a harness of some sort. Examining the ends of the harness she found small hooks and eye latches; she fit them together and held the harness aloft.

 

“This looks like it should go around a body, but where?” Glancing down at herself she frowned as she tried to work out just where this garment was supposed to go. Her eyes widened as she looked from her breasts to the harness and back. “Maybe it's a new kind of chest binding.” Shrugging to herself she tugged off her borrowed shirt and unhooked the fastenings on the chest harness. Sliding her arms under the straps, she reached around herself and tried to fasten the hooks.

 

Much cursing and fumbling later she grinned in triumph, the silk chest harness fit perfectly! There was something hard on the underside, but the way it seemed to force her breasts up as it contained them gave her a decidedly feminine look. A smirk curved her lips, `Let them tell me I'm not girlie now!'

 

Pulling the shirt over her head once again and snagging a pair of strappy shoes, she felt that she was as dressed as she was going to get and walked over to the door. Combing her fingers through her hair in an attempt to make the wild mass lay down. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether she would shock her hosts or not. Raising her chin and straightened her shoulders as she opened the door and stalked out.

oooo

 

The dining hall was filled to capacity. Bandits laughed and joked as they ate their midday meal. Miaka looked around the corner nervously for Tasuki and Chichiri, hoping she could get to their table without being noticed too much. Spotting them not far away she stepped out of her hiding place and froze.

 

The moment she had revealed herself, the dining hall went utterly silent save for the distinctive sound of plates and utensils crashing in to the tables from numb fingers as their owners gaped at her.

 

Embarrassment caused her head to drop as she quickly moved to the table where her companions were staring at her in the same shocked silence as the rest of the bandits.

 

“Mi-chan,” Tasuki breathed as his eyes moved over her form, taking in the clothes she wore. “Where didja get those? They look like th' miko's.”

 

Kouji grinned and pulled Miaka down to sit beside him. “Don't mind him, he's a baka. We put the miko's old clothes in that room a few years ago. She'd left `em at th' palace an' aho over there decided ta keep `em, th' hentai.”

 

Tasuki's cheeks flushed. “I AIN'T NO HENTAI, AHO!” Crossing his arms over his chest he frowned. “Just didn't want `er ta drop back in an' not have nothin' ta wear. Ya know th' servants at th' palace woulda kept `em fer themselves. `Sides, Mi-chan needs somethin' ta wear while her clothes are getting' washed so it seems I was right in bringin' `em!” Chest puffed out in pride at having done something right, Tasuki shot Kouji a smug smirk and tugged Miaka over to sit on his lap.

 

Miaka's eyes widened and she froze at the familiar embrace. She closed her eyes and sighed as the looped arms around her waist kept her prisoner. “Let me go, Tasuki-san.”

 

When no answer was forthcoming, she tilted her head back to glance up at him. His eyes flared bright gold as his gaze dropped to her mouth and, never being a man to hesitate, dropped his head to capture her mouth in the most scorching kiss she had ever received.

 

The rough nudge of his mouth against hers prompted her lips to part of their own volition, granting him access to the sweet cavern beyond. His tongue surged forward to mate and war with hers and her arms wound around his neck to hold him to her.

 

A loud `ahem' dragged her from the silken threads of desire his kiss had wound around her. She jerked backwards from his mouth and pulled her arms from his neck, thoroughly embarrassed at her behavior. Wiggling in his grasp, she looked over to Chichiri and blushed. “Loan me one of your shoes, please.”

 

The monk looked confused but complied, leaning over, tugging one of his shoes off and handing it to her.

 

Taking the shoe she turned to Tasuki and gave him a sweet smile before whacking him over the head with the shoe and handing it back to its owner. “Don't do that in public, ya hentai! I ain't one a yer light skirts and ya can't just grab and kiss me like that!”

 

Holding his abused head, Tasuki smirked. “So, I just gotta wait `till I c'n get ya alone? Like I had ya last night?”

 

Confused and flustered she stood from the table and stalked away in a huff.

 

Kouji watched silently, angry that his friend wanted the same woman he did but afraid he was going to lose in the end. `If she decides she wants ya, Genrou, I'll back off. Judgin' by th' way she kissed ya back I'd say ya already won. Be good ta her or I'll take her away.' Plastering a nonchalant grin on his face, Kouji stood from the table. “I'll go check on `er, she must'a forgot we had plans ta make.”

 

Oooo

 

He was tired.

 

It had been a long day and he was ready to find his bed and sleep for a few weeks.

 

After finding and convincing Miaka to come back to the table and discuss their plans, the bandits had helped gather everything they would need for their journey. Who knew four people could need so much junk for a quick little trip?

 

Four bags apiece filled to overflowing with rations, clothes, weapons and camping gear had been piled next to the main doors to await their departure. Miaka had tried to tell the bandits that they wouldn't need very much as they were going to go straight to the palace and would have everything they needed there, but the men of Reikaku had laughed and waved off her objections.

 

Shaking her head and muttering something under breath she had grabbed Kouji and Tasuki and dragged them off to the sparring ring where she proceeded to hand them their asses.

 

`Damn! Who'd a thought she'd be so tough? Even Genrou, with his speed, couldn't beat `er back fer too long! That woman is quick an' fierce. I'd be proud callin' `er “leader”. Bet th' guys in `er world are very protective a her, even if'n she don't need it.' Rolling his shoulders to work out the kinks and ease the delightfully tired muscles, Kouji snatched a bottle of sake and made a beeline for his room.

 

It was still early but almost everyone had gone to their respective room for the night, intent on getting up early to see off their comrades.

 

Walking into his room, Kouji shut the door and set his sake on the bedside table. Pulling his sweaty shirt and tossing it to a corner he stood beside his bed, uncorking the sake and taking a deep pull directly from the bottle. He closed his eyes against the sweet sting of the liquor snaking its way down his throat and when he opened his eyes he was surprised to see everything had changed.

 

Gone were the rough wood floors and furnishings; stone and granite had taken their place and when he turned his head to figure out just what had happened he came chest to face with a tiny woman.

 

He knew he wasn't an overly big man, barely reaching six-foot if he left his boots on, but this woman was tiny! He had to drop his chin almost flush to his chest in order to see the top of her head. The soft white silk of her hair flowed over her shoulders in waves, both hiding and revealing her lack of clothing while her yellow, cat-like eyes seemed to glow with hidden power.

 

All in all, she was the most beautiful and most frightening woman he had ever laid eyes on.

 

“Who th' fuck are ya and how th' hell did I get here?” A growl met his questions and he diverted his eyes from the vision of beauty to meet angry yellow/honey eyes set in the face of the man he had grown up with. “Genrou! What th' fuck are ya doin' here man? I-“ he broke off as the man he had called friend for the last ten years of his life crawled across the floor on hands and knees to kneel at the small woman's feet.

 

“Kouji, I'd like you to meet my pet: Tasuki, Suzaku no Shounin.” Her cultured voice was soft and sweet but the tone behind her words held a hint of pride and malice.

 

Kouji's eyes moved over the look-alike in awe of the similarities and differences between this Tasuki and the Genrou he had grown up with. Where Genrou had amber eyes and flaming red hair this boy, this shounin, had light honey orbs and dark auburn locks. `This is the one Miaka's in love with? He's barely a man! I doubt he's more than twenty! What the hell is he doin' here?'

 

The shounin frowned, a growl of menace issuing from his throat. “Get him out of here, Mistress, he's not worthy of you.” Kouji noted that the boy's voice was dark and rough but was unsure if that had changed as well as his eyes and hair.

 

“Let him go, ya bitch! He's just a kid, if'n ya wanna real fight then fight me!” Tossing down his sake bottle, he pulled small, lethal looking daggers from sheaths at his hips and dropped back, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

 

The auburn haired boy lunged forward but was stilled by a small hand gripping his hair gently. “Kouji is just joking, Tasuki. Aren't you, Kouji? You really don't want to put my pet in danger, do you? I'm sure that Miaka would be highly distressed to know you put her dear, precious Tasu-chan in peril.”

 

Biting off a savage curse, Kouji resheathed his daggers. “What th' fuck do ya want? A trade? I'll take his place if'n ya let th' kid go. How's that for a deal?”

 

The small woman smiled chillingly, “No. I want to send a message. You tell Miaka that Tenkou has her man and that he has been extremely accommodating. Tell her that his love for her has vanished the same way his virginity has.”

 

Kouji growled but nodded for her to continue.

 

She looked down at the red haired boy and grinned, “Hold him.”

 

Faster than he could see, the boy leapt to his feet and pulled Kouji in to a hold that the bandit couldn't escape. Kouji thrashed and struggled to no avail; Tenkou smirked and stepped closer.

 

She raised a small black fan and swiped it sideways, tearing a long rip in the air. Pulling the jagged edges apart, she reached inside and with one hand, pulled a young man through to the shoulders. Horror and fear warred for dominance on his face as Tenkou clenched her hand in the hair on top of his head.

 

"Time for you to realize that I do not play around."

 

Kouji watched in morbid fascination as she pressed her fingers in to the man's chest and pulled out a thin, wispy substance. "This is his soul, if I pull it completely out he will die." A smirk graced her face as she gave a sharp tug, pulling the soul from the man's body. As the young man went limp, her smirk widened.

 

The soul burst into flames.

 

“OOPS! Now he can never be reincarnated, too bad. He might have been a good man.” She dropped body back through portal and sealed it with a wave of her hand.

 

“You dead hearted bitch! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT FROM US!?” Kouji's struggles resumed with renewed effort, his emotional upheaval granting him strength where he had none but it was still not enough to break free of the superhuman strength of the boy.

 

"Leaving that young girl in your world so that I could destroy both worlds was just for kicks... but now I see that there are brains behind her minuscule beauty. She has captured two hearts and the aide of both a powerful monk and the controller of your world; I must say I am impressed. You should know though that she'll never find her onyx tessen simply because I will not allow her to. Your precious Taiitsukun is no match for me, my power is far greater than hers shall ever be.

 

“Come little bandit, show us your intelligence by leaving that little girl alone. I'd hate to see you looking helpless when someone from her world dies. You see, your dear 'Miaka-chan' doesn't know that with every death that occurs in her world she must suffer as well.”

 

Kouji's rage grew as did his struggles. “I'll see you in hell before I let ya hurt her!”

 

Tenkou laughed as she shifted her hair over her shoulder, “How funny, you are in hell my dear bandit. Now be smart, take your comrades and leave that girl to her fate. It will be much easier on you all.”

 

Stepping closer to the writhing bandit she grasped his chin. “You can't win. No matter how hard you try you will never beat me. My plans will go forward and my world will be absorbed in to yours, granting me further access to the 'special perks' that are provided there. I can already feel the merger beginning. Soon the people of my world will begin to die and I am itching to see your reaction to what it does to that sweet young girl.”

 

Pressing glowing purple lips to his cheek she continued, “You can't imagine the amount of glee that fills me when I think of the pain that will be inflicted on her when that happens. The horror that will over come you when you realize that there is nothing you can do to help her will be delicious.”

 

Tracing her lips over his cheek to hover over his mouth she whispered, “Do my bidding,” and pressed a poisoned kiss to his unwilling lips.

 

Kouji fought as hard as he could but the drug in her kiss overpowered his control. Too soon for his comfort his will broke and the tender desire he had felt for Miaka transmuted into something far too dark for his liking.

 

He was too far gone to care after only a few moments locked in her thrall. She leaned back from him and smiled sweetly. “Go home and pass along my little message.”

 

Dark energy swirled around him for a brief moment and when next he blinked he was back in his own room as if nothing had happened.

 

Oooo

 

He had just lain down to sleep when he felt something strange, a flicker of energy that was gone before he could recognize it fully. Sitting bolt upright and flaring out his ki, Chichiri checked every last energy signature in the stronghold; panic only gripped him when he came up one ki short.

 

“KOUJI!” Flinging the blankets back and snatching on his shirt and pants, the monk tore out of his room and dashed down the hall.

 

Tasuki and Miaka joined him moments later and all three seishi raced to Kouji's room. Shoving the door open they were surprised to see Kouji standing in the middle of the room staring at them strangely. “What, somethin' goin' on? Why'd all a ya-“ Kouji's words were cut short, his attention narrowed in on Miaka.

 

Miaka stood completely still; all color had drained from her face and she was gasping for breath. “Something's wrong…”

 

A scream ripped from her chest and she collapsed to the floor.

 

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

END! Of chapter 7 anyway! ^_^ Let me know what you think.

 

LOVE!

 

V.M.