Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Bedlam and Vertigo ❯ Nemesis ( Chapter 5 )

A/N: W00t!!! I AM BACK from a long absence. Now the only college crap I need to worry about is packing up my stuff for the move into my dorm and figuring out where my classes are... O.o

So.... here is another chapter of B&V. =D

As you read, you'll notice obscure things about Kurai that may confuse you... don't worry, things will be more clear in future chapters.

.... I don't have much else to say... except that all disclaimers apply... of course... O.o

Miaka came out of Tasuki's room reluctantly. The dress was a little uncomfortable and hard to move around in. She preferred to dress more comfortably, in looser clothes. This dress was beautiful, but she had an idea that she wasn't going to receive as much oxygen into her lungs due to the tight bodice. Her skirt made walking slightly limited, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle.

She ran her hands down her dress. It was smooth and soft to the touch. It may be too formal for an outing to the marketplace, but it's all right. She'll surely knock Tasuki off his feet--

She stopped right there. Something strange was going on with her. Why is it... that when I'm around Tasuki... I feel... different? Am I...?

Miaka glanced down the hall distractedly, as if expecting the bandit seishi to appear any minute. I can't be... not now... not when... She didn't dare finish her thought.

The young woman started her trek down the hall.

"You're worthless..." Tani rasped, glaring at her brother. "You worthless piece of shit.... afraid of everything, huh??! Too afraid to save your cousins??"

"Although you're older... you don't set a good example for me to follow."

Damn you, Tani...

"I dare you... I dare you to kill me! You scared, ne? Kill me, then!"

I will...

"Kill me... prove you're not afraid... that you have more power than me!"

And I did.... didn't I? And I didn't stop there, didn't I? I killed Okaa-san and Otou-san, too. Am I a 'fraidy-cat now, Tani? Am I?

Kurai ended up in the outskirts of a town, it seemed. A dusty road let to an unfamiliar territory that looked very out-of-place for the time period he really lived in. He narrowed his eyes.

I won't stop. I'll never stop. I'll find a way to kill you. Again and again. Come back to me so I can kill you again...

Kurai began his walk into town, the shuffle of his worn shoes against the sandy path the only sound he heard. He slipped his hand into one of his baggy pockets, feeling the handle of the cold handgun against his warm fingers.

I'm not scared of anything now.

"What's takin' her??" Tasuki yawned impatiently, not bothering to politely cover his mouth as he did so. He was waiting by the front door of the headquarters with Chichiri and Kouji, walking around in his spot unsettledly. He incessantly tapped his tessen against his shoulder.

Tasuki didn't like to keep still when waiting for people.

"She'll be here, no da," Chichiri spoke up cheerfully. "She is a woman, after all. They tend to take longer in getting ready."

Kouji rubbed his chin, smirking. "Actually, come t'think of it, Genrou here takes all the time in the world primping in th'mornin'...."

Chichiri gave Tasuki a look.

"Don't. Start." The orange-haired bandit leered menacingly at his fellow seishi, knowing the monk would most likely come up with another "Tasuki is a woman" joke.

"Da," Chichiri said nonchalantly, ignoring him, "what are we doing, anyway?" He looked at Kouji for the answer. "You said we were going to visit someone in town, no da."

"Yeah," Kouji replied, running a hand through his royal-blue hair. "I have a li'l bit o' family in town... not a lotta people know this, but my cousin Yamako and her daughter Kiku-chan, my niece, work in the marketplace, sellin' sweet potatoes." He looked almost embarrassed. Talking about his only family was a bit of a personal thing to him.

Tasuki pursed his lips together in thought. "Hn... I think I remember you mentionin' them to me once..."

Chichiri cleared his throat loudly and stood up straighter, his staff hitting the ground meaningfully. The two bandits looked at him cluelessly.

"Oi, are we ready to go?" came a sweet and familiar feminine voice.

Kouji was the first to turn, regarding the newly-arrived miko with slight surprise. Tasuki, now curious of Kouji's reaction, turned as well.

He froze and dropped his tessen, making it make a loud clang sound against the ground. He stood there blinking for a few seconds before bending down to clumsily pick it up again. As he did, he saw a pair of unworldly looking shoes in front of his face. Tasuki gulped, just staring at her feet.

Miaka laughed from above him. "What's wrong, Tasuki?"

"U-Uh, nothin'," he stammered.

What was wrong with him? Be smooth, Tasuki, he ordered himself. He stood up quickly, perhaps too quickly, for he ended up getting dizzy and tipped forward slightly. Miaka held him steady, putting her hands on his shoulders. Tasuki looked from her soft, brown hair, which fell in gentle waves around her shoulders, to her darling green eyes, then to her slender neck, and finally, to the red dress that clung to the curves of her body in a nearly sensuous manner. Realizing what he was about to think, Tasuki laughed loudly and stepped away from her, hiding his nervousness.

Miaka never made him this nervous before...

"... What's so funny?" she asked, looking up at him with an eyebrow raised. "Daijoubu, Tasuki? You're acting strangely..."

"Nothin'," he insisted, tucking his tessen into his holster. "I'm fuckin' fine, Miaka." It took his three tries to successfully put it in. Strange what a woman could do to him. This is probably partly why I never get involved with women in the first place, Tasuki thought sarcastically.

"Miaka-chan...! Did you forget about us, no da?" Chichiri spoke up.

"Oh!" Miaka cheerfully moved past Tasuki and went over to Chichiri and Kouji. Tasuki stayed where he was, lowering his head slightly in thought.

He had always thought of Miaka as a little sister. Protecting her, spending time with her as a friend. Why did he like her? What could have happened when his lips met hers that one time when he gave her mouth-to-mouth? He knew that it was he who felt something for the miko, with no spell's influence.

Tasuki turned around and watched a bit as Miaka modeled the dress for Chichiri and Kouji, who were both impressed at the perfect fit.

The bandit seishi started walking toward them and chimed in, "Ya ready?"

Miaka nodded. Kouji went ahead and opened the doors. He led the way, followed by Chichiri, Miaka, and finally, Tasuki. Chichiri craned his neck to glance at him and then slowed down until he was in step with the fanged warrior. "Look at her, no da," he whispered.

"Huh?" Tasuki uttered in a normal volume.

The monk nodded toward their priestess, who was walking in front of them. "Look at her face, Tasuki. She's smiling. Despite the tragedy, she's still smiling for our sake..."

Tasuki looked at Miaka, the his face softening ever so slightly. She doesn't have to be so strong for us...

Chichiri peered at his friend closely. "What are you thinking, no da?" There was a teasing edge to his voice, and Tasuki sensed it easily.

"Nothin'," he barked irritatedly.

"That's been your favorite word today, no da."

The bandit seishi snorted. "What's it to you, damn monk?"

"Tsk, tsk... Tasuki-chaaan." Chichiri said in a normal voice, dragging out the last syllable. He went on ahead and caught up with Kouji in the front.

Shaking his head, Tasuki caught up with Miaka, who greeted him optimistically.

"Hi, Tasuki."

Her smile was fake. He scrutinized her for a little bit. She was definitely thinking about that. He had never felt so sympathetic toward someone before. Without thinking, he lifted a hand slightly and with it, grasped hers.

Miaka's expression turned into one of surprise, her eyes widening a little. She looked up at her seishi in curiosity.

He felt awkward at first, especially at the gaze burning into him, but that soon melted away when he felt her fingers entertwine with his to make the hold more comfortable.

"Tasuki?" she piped up softly.

He refused to look at her. Instead, he forced his blush down, just staring ahead as they walked down the rocky path to the base of the mountain.

Miaka stared into his face. She didn't know how he could tell, but somehow, Tasuki knew how she was really feeling. She turned her head back to the front, bowing her head to hide her face. A tear escaped her eye. Arigatou, Tasuki... she thought gratefully.

Kurai looked warily at the hustle and bustle of the marketplace, still wondering where the hell he was. Keeping cool and collected, he pushed past sellers and traders, looking around in slight awe.

What the fuck is Tani up to now? What did she do?

It was as if he were in another world or dimension.

"Sir? Excuse me, sir?"

Kurai looked down at his side. A little girl, who looked about seven years old with dark blue hair in a messy ponytail, stared up at him, a courteous smile on her young face. She was holding a basket of fresh sweet potatoes.

She held one up toward him, still smiling. "Would you like to buy one?"

Not answering her, he started walking away. The little girl started running after him, her tiny strides desperately trying to catch up to his longer ones.

"Sir! Please! I'll sell it to you really cheap!"

Fuck off, kid.

"We need the money, sir.... can you please buy a sweet potato?"

He bent down to her level, his angry eyes boring into her innocent ones. "Find some other fucker to sell your shit to, brat," he hissed harshly.

The girl froze, shocked by the words he had said to her. She suddenly looked frightened, quivering slightly as she held on to the handle of the basket tightly with both of her hands.

Smirking slightly, Kurai dipped a hand into his pocket, his fingers finding the handle of the unused handgun. "Wanna see something?" he asked her suddenly, his voice dripping with feigned sweetness.

A/N: .... I don't know what to say... I hope you liked this chapter. It took me a lot longer than necessary. O.o I already know what's happening in the next chapter, so I hope that it won't take me as long to post it.

.... See ya later?.... @.@ Wow, my brain is SO gone...