Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Firebird ❯ Tubling Into Destiny ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi, so suing would be uneventful.

Vera-chan: I've only seen about 18 episodes of FY, so if people are slightly OOC, please forgive me. Also, it's sorta AU, but not too much. Please R&R, and no flames.

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"Firebird"

Ch. 1 "Tumbling into Destiny"

Hotori walked down the crowded street, trying not to bump into anyone else. She hated crowds, that's why she was leaving the city. She was entering the market area when it started to rain, and after a few moments she realized she was caught in a downpour.

`There's a bookstore.' She noticed. `I'll just duck in there until the rain stops…'

The first thing she noticed upon entering was the nearly overpowering musty smell.

"Can I help you?" The elderly woman behind the counter asked in a soft voice.

"Oh, I was just-" Hotori started but was cut off.

"Getting out of the rain?" The old woman asked. " Nevertheless, I think I have a book that might interest you."

She held out an old brown book that looked well read.

"No thank you." Hotori said as politely as possible. "I'm not much of a reader………"

"Just read a few lines." The old woman smiled. "I'm positive the plot will………draw you in…"

Hotori sighed, and took the book. She had nothing better to do, at least until it stopped raining. She sat down in a dusty armchair, not bothering to take off her backpack. She opened the book, and noticed it was written in ancient Chinese. Lucky for her, languages were her favorite thing to learn.

`There was once a young girl that felt she had no place in the world. She was unaware of her past, and scared for what may come in the future. Sometimes, however, the key to the future can lay in the secrets of the past.'

`Very mysterious.' Hotori thought, then went on.

`The girl thought the best thing to do was run from the uncertain. Little did she know running would send her tumbling into the arms of her destiny.'

A sudden red light overcame Hotori, and she felt the sudden sensation that she was falling. She tried to scream, but couldn't make the sound. After a few moments, she landed hard on the ground. She stood up and looked around her. It was nighttime, wherever she was. She could hear whistling, and decided to follow the sound. She winced with the first step.

`Fall must've hurt my ankle.' She realized. `Hurts like heck, but I'll be okay.'

She quickly came to a small lake and saw a blue haired man sitting on a rock, fishing.

She crept up slowly, not wishing to frighten him.

"Excuse me?" She asked softly. Nothing. "Hello………excuse me?"

He said nothing, and she slowly reached out a hand to get his attention. She tapped him on the shoulder, then stifled a laugh at his reaction. The man jumped out of shock and tumbled into the lake, frightening off the few fish that had come up.

"Ah, Seiryuu no Senshi, no da!" He hollered, getting into a fighting stance, and still standing in the knee high water. "You will not defeat me, no da! Even though I'm alone, no da! Bring it on, no da!"

"The what?" She asked, leaning against a nearby tree to rest her ankle. "Bring what on? I'm just looking for some help."

"Help, no da?" He asked. "Why would a Seiryuu no Senshi need my help, no da?"

"I don't know who this `Seiryuu' is." Hotori insisted, a little annoyed. "I was just reading this book and poof! I'm here."

"Book, no da?" He asked, then examined her clothing. She didn't dress like the people of this time. "You're not from around here, are you, no da?"

"No, what was your first clue?" She replied sarcastically, rubbing her sore ankle.

"We've got to get you to Hotohori-sama, no da!" The blue haired man rushed forward to take her hand. "He'll be glad to know the Suzaku no Miko has returned, no da!"

"Hang on a minute. I am no miko." Hotori said, wobbling back a little. "And I'd at least like to know your name before you take me anywhere."

"My name is Chichiri. No da." He bowed quickly, then straightened up. "What's yours, no da?"

"I'm Hotori." She smiled. "Now could you please tell me where I am?"

"You're in the woods, no da!" he said with a wide grin. "In China, no da!"

"China? But I as just in Tokyo and-" She started, but was surprised when Chichiri rushed forward. He grabbed a kasa off the shore, and put it on his head.

"We'll take a short cut, no da!" He said happily, holding her extremely close.

`What the-?' She wondered, but felt a sudden tingling. The kasa grew and covered them…or did they shrink? She wasn't sure, but it felt weird. There was a moment or two that she had the oddest floating feeling, but then it left and she felt normal again. The hat shrunk…or they grew, whichever it was, but this time they were inside………a very fancy inside.

"What was that?" She asked, still in shock.

"Magic, no da!" Chichiri smiled, then took her hand. "Come with me, no da."

He started to pull her off down a hallway, but she stopped. He turned, a questioning look on his face.

"My ankle is twisted." She explained. "I don't suppose I could lean on you………"

He nodded silently, and they started down the hallway. They walked a few moments, then saw a woman coming out of one of the rooms. She was very pretty with long purple hair in a braid and big brown eyes.

"Nuriko, no da!" Chichiri called, getting her attention.

"Well, if it isn't the weirdo." She called back with a small laugh. "Who's that?"

"The new Suzaku no Miko, no da." He said. He seemed very excited. "She came though a book just like Miaka, no da."

Nuriko looked a little skeptical, but walked up.

"You look familiar." She said, giving Hotori the once over. "Long blue hair………distinct green eyes………"

"Is Hotohori-sama nearby, no da?" Chichiri asked, looking around.

She nodded. "I'll take you to him." She started going further down the hallway, and Hotori, with Chichiri's help, followed. As they walked, Hotori looked around her.

`Wow.' She thought. `This must be a very high class place………'

She was enjoying looking at all the beautiful furnishings, but felt a lump in her throat as they stopped at a grand set of double doors.