Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Gin Aki (Silver Autumn) ❯ The Plague Begins ( Chapter 1 )

Author's Note:

O.T.: I, Opaaru Tsuki have officially penetrated through all of the barriers placed up by other writers and I am now posting my first ever ficcy! Yes now it's time for me to join the ranks of all other authoresses! WAI! I'm an authoress!

**All authoresses with at least an ounce of sense grab their works and run**

First let me tell all you peoples that I love, that's L-O-V-E, my fic! It is my baby! I raised it from a little paragraph during English class! *hugs fic* I prefer constructive criticism to flaming, but if you must be evil, make it constructive flaming! I warn you to follow my advice or else I'll be forced to do something unpleasant… and I don't know what it is because no one has been foolish enough to ignore my advice! You no like, you no read!!! Now it's time for introductions. This fic is a Chichiri/OC with the possibility of Tasuki/OC depending on reviewers' wishes. I am an obsessive perfectionist so I have strived for historical and geographical precision! (I'm a weirdo huh?). Oh! Before I forget, I'd like you to meet… Glitz! (^_^) She's going to appear around the story and provide visual aid!

Chichiri: When does the story start no da?

O.T.: *Slaps hand over Chichiri's mouth* Are you crazy?! Do you want me to get sued?

Chichiri: …O.o…[or rather O.~]

O.T. : *Hand still over Chichiri's mouth* You can't talk yet! I haven't put up the disclaimer! I DO NOT in any way shape or form own Fushigi Yuugi. They are the property of the wonderful Yuu Watase and some other people. She is kind enough to let crazed fangirls like us borrow her characters and for a brief moment use them as we see fit.

*grins evilly at Chichiri (<_<'), who backs off slowly before breaking into an all out sprint*

Okay peoples I've held you up long enough, go on read my story. Shoo! A bishonen needs catching and I have a bottle of chocolate syrup with his name on it!

*^_^*

Prologue/Chapter One - The Plague Begins

"Hana no saku sekai ni inochi miru you ni

Tori ga tobu shunkan jiyuu o kanjiru

Kaze ni mimi o sumaseba toki ga arawarete

Tsuki o miru kokoro ni seijaku ga oriru

In the world where flowers bloom, Just like looking into life

In the instant the bird takes to flight, It feels freedom

If you listen to the wind, And time appears to you

A silence will fall, On the heart watching the moon"

- Kachou Fuugetsu, Chichiri

The autumn breeze blew gently through the forest, swirling around a lone masked figure. He was resting peacefully by a lake, his eyes closed in deep thought. The song of a passing bird pierced through the silence of the surrounding woods. The lapping of the lake against the shore beckoned. He stood, fishing rod in hand, and approached the crystalline water which glittered like a polished sapphire. A dull plop was heard as the baited hook hit the water. Chichiri sighed contentedly as he waited for a tug on the line, the gentle breeze toying with his hair.

Autumn is here, he thought, winter isn't far behind no da. Maybe I should start heading west, it would be bad if I got caught in the rain or worse yet the snow. Hmm … I'm sure I could spend winter with Tasuki or even Taiitsu-kun no da.

Just then his thoughts were interrupted by a pull on the line. As he dragged in the fish he decided to begin his journey west right after lunch. It would be simple for him to just teleport to either location, but getting there by foot would be half the fun. Besides, he was in no hurry.

-^_^-

Meanwhile, in the bandit's stronghold Tasuki was sitting in his room relaxing. He tipped his chair back, and folded his hand's behind his head. Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

"Knock, knock. Who's there? Your buddy Kouji got sumthin' important to tell ya. Oh, Kouji come right in why doncha."

Tasuki smiled, only one person in the world would have a conversation with himself out loud.

"Come in Kouji, what's this important thing ya gotta tell me?"

"'Member the Lee brothers?"

"The new guys, yeah."

"They're dead."

"What?!" yelled Tasuki as he fell backwards on his chair, "How? When?"

"Couple a minutes ago. They've been complainin 'bout headaches an' stomach cramps fer two days, thought it was somthin' they ate. Ya gotta be kiddin' Kouji. Yeah, tell me about it."

"I gotta see this," said Tasuki as he sprang to his feet. As he arrived he saw a small crowd had gathered around the room's entrance. He entered the room and grimaced as he saw the two brothers. Their faces were twisted in agony, and their glazed eyes were opened wide. He waved a hand in front of their faces with no response. Ugh…Whatever killed them must've been painful.

"Alright boys lets get these two buried 'fore anyone else gets sick. Best burn the sheets too, don't think any of ya would want 'em anyway. Shame when ya think about it those two coulda made some bandits," lied Tasuki. Humph, I can't remember when those two morons got anything right. Even their last haul wasn't any good. Stupid idiots robbed a merchant that hadn't sold anything yet. Well, we got some nice western curtains fer tha place. Still that's no way ta go. Wonder what killed them.

-^_^-

As Chichiri walked through the forest he spotted a large column of smoke rising from a nearby village. Oh no, not another one no da. This is starting to get serious. It's the third one this week. I wonder if Taiitsu-kun has any idea of what's going on no da.

On his way west he had seen fires such as this one. Once he had seen an entire village engulfed in flames some of the occupants were dead within, the cause was disease. Obviously all of these recent deaths were caused by the same sickness. So many people were becoming infected at such a high rate that there was only one word adequate enough to describe it …plague.

I never thought I would live to see an actual plague no da, he thought as he edged around the burning village, I heard about them from my village's elders. They talked about whole villages destroyed, chaos, and the loss of loved ones. Hmm, it seems to be getting worse as I move west no da. But if it's coming from the west then Taiitsu-kun should already know, and it might have already reached Mt. Reikaku… A single thought cut short his musing. TASUKI!

He rapidly placed his kasa on his head and disappeared into it. He landed at his desired destination with his signature gracefulness [sarcasm, duh], only this time something broke his fall. He was in Tasuki chamber, but strangely enough the bandit was nowhere in sight. The ground where he had landed began to shift and emit a muffled sound. Chichiri looked down at a very squished, very angry red haired bandit. An embarrassed chibi-monk jumped aside giving his friend room to breathe. (>.<')

"Er …gomen Tasuki," said Chichiri as he scratched the back of his head I embarrassment.

"…*pant*…Are ya trying ta kill me?!" gasped a chibi Tasuki. (O.O)

"Uh, it was an accident no da."

"Of all the places ya coulda landed ya chose mine."

After a few more seconds of Tasuki complaining and Chichiri apologizing they finally got around to greeting each other.

"Well it's nice ta see ya," said Tasuki.

"Nice to see you too no da," said Chichiri.

"What brings ya ta these parts?"

"Well I'm on my way to see Taiitsu-kun no da, and decided to check on you first. It looks like a plague has hit and I was worried. I'm hoping Taiitsu-kun will help."

"A plague huh?" asked Tasuki nonchalantly.

"Hai no da, it seems to be getting worse as you head west."

"Well that explains it."

"Explains what no da?"

"A couple days ago two of my bandits died, but nobody knew what killed 'em, turns out they robbed some merchant comin' from Sairou. They didn't take much, just some curtains and stuff, must've been enough ta kill 'em though."

"Did anyone else come in contact with the merchant?"

"Nah, besides, once they died I told my men ta burn their sheets and stuff."

"Strange…" said Chichiri as his brow furrowed with confusion, "Taiitsu-kun is usually very conscious of what goes on in her universe. I would've expected some sort of contact so as to help us or at least give us warning no da."

"Humph, that 'ol hag's probably waitin fer us to go chase her, well I ain't going."

Chichiri smiled softly, he knew that Taiitsu-kun and Tasuki didn't exactly get along, not that Tasuki had ever tried to close that gap. Chichiri's thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock at the door. The red-haired bandit was half expecting to hear a short monologue but it never came, instead another knock was heard. Tasuki opened the door warily to find a short pudgy bandit instead of the usual Kouji.

"What do ya want Kanji?" demanded Tasuki.

"Boss, it's Kouji. He's down sick, just like tha Lee brothers."

"What da ya mean?! Kouji was nowhere near those two idiots."

"Yeah he was boss, he's the one who found 'em dead."

"I don't believe this!" Tasuki turned to face Chichiri with a troubled look in his amber eyes, "There's gotta be a cure or somethin'. I mean, there's always ways of fightin' stuff like this, right?" he asked the monk, "You've been travelin' fer days. You've seen how people 'ave been treating this."

Chichiri shook his head sadly.

"I didn't stop in any villages. It didn't seem safe no da. Right now your best hope is with Taiitsu-kun," he stated. Tasuki mumbled something that sounded like an acceptance and dismissed Kanji.

Early the next day Tasuki got ready to leave. He appointed Kanji as leader during his absence on account that he was the oldest and least likely to become ambitious [he was also the only one who could read and write, hence his nickname]. Chichiri patiently waited for the two bandits inside Tasuki's room. His kesa was spread upon the floor awaiting the three passengers. Finally, Kouji and Tasuki entered the room ready to go.

"It's about time no da. I was beginning to think you weren't coming no da."

"Yeah, yeah let's get this over with," grumbled Tasuki.

Chichiri nodded in agreement and raised his staff, the kesa shimmered with power and then gave off a brilliant white light. The monk and the bandits were absorbed by the brightness, and then they vanished. The three men landed in a pile just outside Taiitsu-kun's chamber. Chichiri was squashing Kouji, and both of them had made a pancake of poor Tasuki. Three little chibi figures were then struggling to stand up and untangle themselves from everybody else. The doors of the chamber silently opened wide revealing an already pissed Taiitsu-kun. <.<'

"ARE YOU THREE GOING TO KEEP THIS UP ALL DAY?!" boomed the creator. The three little chibi men immediately split apart and bowed. Kouji looked up and immediately became paralyzed with fear for the unattractive face.

Chichiri was the first to approach the fuming old woman. "Daaa… Taiitsu-kun-sama, da, we were wondering…"

"I know why you're here, dimwits!" snapped Taiitsu-kun irritably, "I've been expecting you for some time now, although I see you took longer than was necessary."

"Humph, if it was so damn urgent then why didn't ya call us?" mumbled Tasuki angrily. Taiitsu-kun's sharp ears heard the muttered remark.

"I was hoping you two would show a little intelligence and initiative, but I now see that was expecting too much of you!" barked Taiitsu-kun.

"So now we're here, are ya gonna heal him or not?"

Taiitsu-kun closed her eyes as if she were seeking patience before answering. "No."

"WHAT! Why not?!" demanded Tasuki enraged, "Just 'cause ya hate my guts is no reason ta hold back on us now!"

Chichiri looked puzzled, I don't think Taiitsu-kun would take a grudge that far no da. No, there's another reason. Tasuki's rambling irritated Taiitsu-kun to the point where a noticeable tick had formed in her forehead.

"ENOUGH!" she thundered silencing Tasuki, "I did not say I didn't want to help you. What I meant was that I don't have the power to do so, do you think your friend is the only one affected? The plague has spread at an incredible rate end even I with my power cannot stop it. There is more at work here than what you have seen! A dark force is building west of here. It was subtle at first, but now it has grown strong in power. His strength now allows him to block my mirrors. That is why I could not contact you."

"His strength?" asked Chichiri failing to hide the surprise from his voice. The thought of a being other than a deity with the ability to thwart Taiitsu-kun was unnerving.

"Yes, someone is controlling this plague. The reason I can't heal this sickness is because it affects both a person's body and essence."

"Then there is no hope for any of us…" trailed off Chichiri.

Instantly, Kouji let out a moan and collapsed on the floor. Tasuki rushed to his side and lifted him to a sitting position. The pain made his breathing labored and sweat beaded on his brow.

"Kouji, daijobou no da?" asked Chichiri approaching him tentatively. Kouji nodded weakly as another pain spasm overtook him. Taiitsu-kun observed the fallen bandit. There was a look in her eyes as if she were considering her options. With a heavy sigh she summoned a Nyan-Nyan. An excessively cute girl in a pink outfit appeared and the creator whispered something in her ear. The Nyan-Nyan's eyes opened wide.

"But, but, Taiitsu-kun…"

"JUST DO IT!" *_*'

The Nyan-Nyan flickered out of existence, and immediately returned clutching a glowing rose-colored crystal in her chubby little hand. She handed the crystal, which was attached to a silver chain, to Taiitsu-kun.

"Chichiri take this," she commanded, "place it around his neck."

As the chain looped around Kouji's neck, the crystal glowed brighter. Immediately Kouji felt the pain recede. It was not completely gone, but it faded down to a numbed ache. Tasuki smiled as he saw his friend stand up.

"Ya did it Taiitsu-kun, I knew ya could heal 'im!"

"I did nothing," replied Taiitsu-kun, "my power did not heal your friend. It merely reduced the plague's potency. As long as you wear it the illness will not consume you," once again Taiitsu-kun sighed as if she was indecisive, "The power wasn't even mine. This crystal was a parting gift from a friend long ago. She gave it to me, and for many years I have dreaded having to use it. The gem has enough power for one bearer after that it becomes useless."

Weathered hands pressed against her temples, and for the first time since his arrival, Chichiri noticed how tired his sensei looked.

"There is one who can stop this… if she is ready," she continued.

"Who no da?"

"Come with me," she motioned as she rose from her throne-like seat, "I will show you through my mirrors, if they are not blocked."

Taiitsu-kun led the travelers into a room filled with mirrors. She stopped before the largest reflective disk. At first it only showed swirling gray mist, then an image of a girl took shape. She was sitting upon the roof of her house and wore a navy blue turtleneck and an almost-black blue denim jacket with a brown suede collar, along with sky blue jeans. Her saddened eyes were a deep shade of brown, which harmonized with her light tan complexion. Her hair was a bluish black, and a little less than shoulder length. It flowed in the breeze as she sketched the approaching sunset. She was tall and somewhat bulky missing all the grace and daintiness usually associated with beauty.

She looks sad no da, thought Chichiri as he looked at the troubled face in the mirror, I wonder what's wrong no da.

~_~.

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Aw, poor Glitz you guys tired her out! S'okay Glitz-chan you can take a break for now. As for you people reading this… What are you still doing here? Please review!

*steps out with a fire hose* I'm ready for all of you! The sooner you review, the sooner I post:

Chapter Two - First Encounters in the Night