Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Shi Jin no Miko ❯ Befriending An Enemy ( Chapter 2 )

So, how did you like the first Chapter? Well, it's obvious that you liked it well enough to read the second one (that's always good…I think) Well, please review! (And if there's anything you want me to clarify, go ahead and email me: lolagurl@mystupidschool.com; please use that one, my other email has some `issues'

Key/Legend:

Italics-Thoughts

Bold AND Italics- Flashbacks

Shi Jin no Miko

Chapter 2: Befriending an Enemy

Morning soon came and brought it's light across the mountains. Kumiko awoke to the noise of chirping birds, and slowly opened her eyes. She gave a small curse and got up. "I'm still here," She sighed. Kumiko knew Miaka would have packed her school uniform someplace, so she started to quietly search through bags. Tasuki had finally fallen asleep and was sprawled out by where the fire used to be. His flaming hair the color of sunsets was his pillow, and he didn't have any blankets. "Pathetic," Kumiko rolled her eyes. He was so stupid.

She found her uniform and hastily changed into it. She thought it warmer than the kimono, even if there was a bit of dirt on it. She also found a bit of the food, which she ate quickly. It was boring being the only one up, but Kumiko thought it better than having Tasuki bug her. She found a stream where she got water and washed her hair the best she could without shampoo. When she returned, Tasuki was still sleeping. "So lazy, Tasuki," she sighed and nudged him with her foot. "Go away, Kouji, I'm still sleeping." He said groggily. "Um, I'm not Kouji. Sorry. We need to get moving if we want to get to the Kyoto temple." Tasuki groaned. He'd thought yesterday had been a nightmare.

"Okay, I'm going." He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Good." Kumiko folded up her blanket and put her bag once again over her shoulder. "C'mon, we don't have all day to sit around, Tasuki!" When they were at last on their way, Kumiko didn't resort to listening to music, but instead listened to the music around her. Tasuki completely ignored her, but continued to lead the way. Near mid-afternoon, Tasuki proclaimed, "Okay, we're here." Kumiko blinked. " I don't recognize this place, are you sure?" Tasuki didn't answer, but instead rode ahead of her. "Tasuki! We're not at the Kyoto temple! I demand to know where we are!!!" She yelled, urging her horse to go faster.

"Genrou! Long time no see!" A man ran outside to meet Tasuki. "Genrou? What the hell?" Kumiko wondered out loud. "Kouji, how goes your new job as leader?" Tasuki jumped of his horse to greet his friend. "Fine, I suppose. Eiken is still being a pain in the ass though. But he could easily be gotten rid of," Kouji grinned, giving a violent motion. "Tasuki, this isn't funny. Tell me where we are!" Kumiko had caught up, and was towering over Tasuki and Kouji. "She's cute," Kouji laughed. "She may be cute, but she's a real bitch." Tasuki whispered back.

"Oh that's it. I'm NOT speaking to you." She got off her horse and started to pet his soft mane. Kouji continued to ask Tasuki questions. "Is that the girl that was here last time, the Priestess of Suzaku?" Tasuki shook his head and briefly explained the situation. Kouji nodded. "Okay, I get it. So is she like that all the time?" Kouji pointed to Kumiko. Tasuki nodded. "Sadly." "Shut up Tasuki!" She called. "I thought you weren't speaking to me!" He called back to her. She clenched her fists and continued to pay attention to the horse. "At least you're beautiful," She cooed, petting it some more.

"But anyway, tell me more about what's going on here," Tasuki said. "Doesn't look like much has changed." Kouji laughed. "It hasn't. Other than the fact that women aren't constantly here to fit Eiken's err…. needs." Both of them laughed. "Y'now, if she's that annoying, Kumiko could always have a little play time with some of the guys," Kouji grinned, letting his mischievous side take the better of him. "Nah, she'd probably kick their asses anyway."

"Kumiko, we're going inside!" Tasuki called, shutting the door. She sighed. "Okay. Whatever." Kumiko usually wouldn't care whether or not they did. But for some reason, Kumiko didn't want to be alone. "It's not as if I care what he thinks," She laughed out loud to herself. She never cared what others thought. Even in a tough private school, where first impressions meant everything, Kumiko couldn't care more or less what people called or thought about her. So why was this world so different?

But deep down, Kumiko knew why she cared: He had called her a bitch. Something nobody had ever called her before, even by the horrible girls at school. Does he really think that? Am I really being that mean and annoying? She supposed that being inside a book and having to save the world might have put a little bit of stress on her, but did she really come off as a bitch? She shook her head, as if to mentally shake the thoughts out of her. "Maybe I'll apologize," She said softly to the horse, "What do you think?" The horse gave a small noise and Kumiko laughed. "Okay, if you say so."

She slid open the door and was engulfed in the pandemonium. They were all obviously drunk; Singing songs and laughing like morons. Kouji and Tasuki were amongst them all. Kumiko sought them out, after getting more than fifty sexual comments and references. "Tasuki, what the hell is going on?" Not too good a start on an apology. "Well, what do you think, smart one?" He then turned to Kouji and said, "She won't be a virgin by the time she leaves this room." "Guys! Do something!" She demanded. "Like what? Once these parties start, they don't end for a while," Kouji laughed.

Kumiko felt like yelling and reprimanding rather than apologizing. Instead of doing either, she stormed out of the room, pushing past everyone to get to the door. "Narrow-minded ass holes!" She made a fist and punched her other hands. "I swear the next time Tasuki-" She began. "-The next time I what?" Kumiko turned around to see Tasuki with a smug look on his face, leaning against a tree. "The next time you pull something like this, I'm going to go off on my own." He laughed. "Yea, and you'd be able to find the way by yourself?" Kumiko gave him a look of defiance. "You've forgotten. I'm the priestess of four gods. I can do it on my own."

Tasuki sighed. "Women. You're so wretched and sad, I almost feel sorry for you. But then I remember how annoying you are and I take it back." The words hit Kumiko like blows to the face. She said nothing, but as instead stared into his malicious amber eyes. "Whatever Tasuki, whatever." She turned her heel and walked away from him, leaving him in a state of shock. Now THAT was unexpected. Why didn't she just yell profanities at me? Tasuki shrugged and went back inside to join the party. He didn't know why he came outside in the first place.

Although she didn't know where she was going, Kumiko kept walking. She didn't want to go far, but she didn't want to turn back either. This is hopeless. I'm NEVER going home at this rate. What will mom do, call the police? She'll think I dropped out of school and ran away…Kumiko gave a sigh and sat down against a tree. The blood red outline of the sun against the horizon was beginning to fade, and hues of pink and purple started to define the puffy cumulus clouds.

Kumiko didn't bother going in when it got dark; for she knew what Kouji said was true: Once one of those parties started, they didn't end for a while. She wrapped her arms around her shoulders to keep in the warmth and closed her eyes, trying to ignore the boisterous noise from inside. What should I do now? What would you want me to do…dad… Kumiko flinched: She didn't want to think about her father, or anything to do with him. Her eyes stung at her, but Kumiko held back the tears. Not here, not now, She thought, forcing the pain back into the corner of her mind.

When she awoke, it was early morning and the sun was just sneaking out from behind the tops of the trees. Kumiko yawned. "Did I really sleep against this tree?" She thought out loud. She stood up slowly, her legs aching from staying in the same position all night long. The rowdy merrymaking had stopped, or so it seemed, and Kumiko decided now would be a good time to go inside. Everyone was apparently sleeping, because the room where everyone had been was deserted. That is, except for two figures who were talking quietly in the dim corner of the room.

"So, where have you been?" Tasuki asked, almost casually. "Outside. Sleeping. Didn't you even bother looking?" Kumiko asked. Tasuki shrugged. "No." Kumiko blinked. Was he intentionally trying to hurt her feelings or bruise her pride? It sure seemed so to Kumiko, but then, she could never be sure. "Ok, so do you have everything ready?" Kouji asked. Tasuki nodded. "Yea. Thanks for the help. I'll see ya soon enough." "Good luck." Kouji pointed to Kumiko, who gave him a dirty look. "Yea, well, I'll do what I can. Good luck wouldn't be enough: I'd need a miracle." Tasuki then turned to Kumiko. "Okay, we're leaving then." Kumiko felt slightly pleased, she didn't even need to ask when they were leaving.

That day's traveling seemed to go much slower than the two previous days. Kumiko had a terrible headache and every second seemed like 10. In addition to that, Tasuki's words kept playing back in her head: Good Luck wouldn't be enough…I'd need a miracle. What's that supposed to mean? Why does he refer to me as if I'm such a horrible burden? The thoughts nagged her all morning. They passed a traveler, who they asked of outside news. He told them all he knew: Kuto still wasn't allowing anyone in or out, The priestess of Suzaku was continuing on her journey in hopes of summoning her god, and the newest news: Word had spread about the Priestess of Four gods.

Kumiko had a feeling that it wasn't a good thing. Even though she was a symbol of peace, she knew better: There were some who wanted absolute power, and peace didn't matter as long as they were in charge. Her life would be at stake. "Looks like it's still quite a battle," Kumiko mumbled as they waved the traveler goodbye. "Miaka. Yui. How could you?"

"C'mon, you're not serious! Your mom's making you go to a prep school?! Jonan's not good enough or something?" Yui was in shock. Kumiko nodded sadly. "Yea. She says she wants the best for me, and that I would make her proud if I became a doctor or a lawyer. If she really knew what I wanted to do with my life…she'd freak." Miaka laughed slightly. "Probably. But, are we going to see you again? Kyoto's pretty far…" Kumiko smiled. "Don't worry. I'll make sure I get to visit you guys."

"Oh wait, I'm such a ditz, I almost forgot! I got you guys something," Kumiko reached into her pocket and took out three bracelets. "Miaka, the red bracelet's for you: You're full of life, and have compassion for all people close to you. Yui, you get the blue one: Because I could never find another true blue friend. And besides, it matches your eyes!" Kumiko handed them each their bracelets, and they put them on immediately. "Thanks so much Kumiko! Hey, don't you have one?" Miaka embraced her friend. "Yea. Mines pink." "Why pink?" Yui asked. "For L-O-V-E!" Miaka laughed. "No. Pink because it's the color of innocence and peace." All three girls started laughing.

Around noon, Kumiko and Tasuki stopped to rest for a moment. When she felt she could stand it no longer, Kumiko asked, "What did you mean when you told Kouji you'd need a miracle?" Tasuki didn't answer for a minute. "I'd need a miracle to put up with you." That was the final straw for Kumiko. "You know what I hate? Red headed pyromaniacs whose hobbies are drinking, swearing, and lighting people on fire!" "Oh really? Cuz' I hate stupid girls who only think about themselves!" Tasuki shot back, his grip on his Tessin getting firmer by the second. "Ugh, you know you are the most rude and arrogant human being I've ever met and I wish you would just leave!" Kumiko shouted. Tasuki shrugged. "Fine. Find your way by yourself oh great priestess of four gods." He turned and started to walk in the direction of which they came. A flood of guilt and shame instantly washed Kumiko's sudden anger away.

"Tasuki…wait." He stopped. Kumiko's knees trembled beneath her as she shakily said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Any of it. It's just…" she stopped. She swallowed her tears and continued, "It's just SO hard for me to be here. You don't know what it's like to see two of your best friends fighting each other over the stupidest thing. And to be in the middle of it where either of them could turn their backs. I…I just really need a friend right now." She could no longer withstand the tears, or her own weight. She fell to the ground and started to cry, like she had needed to for months. Tasuki knelt by the shattered girl and forced her to look him in the eye. " Hey Look, I'm not mad at you if that's what you think." Kumiko forced a small laugh. "Liar." Tasuki blinked. "Okay, maybe I'm a little pissed from when we first met and all but…" he couldn't find the words.

"…You don't have to find your way on your own. And…I guess I'll be your friend and stuff." Kumiko gave a small smile and wiped away her tears. "Let's start over. From the beginning okay? My name's Kumiko." She held out her hand. Tasuki, not accustomed to `starting over' shrugged it off and said, "Tasuki. Nice to meet you." He helped her up to her feet and she gave an authentic smile Tasuki had never seen from her. "Shall we be going?" She asked lightly. He nodded. You Know, this new beginning this might not be so bad after all…. He thought to himself.

The silence on the way was now almost unbearable for Kumiko. "Tasuki, you didn't really tell me about yourself. Neither did Miaka." "Well, what do you want to know?" He asked, looking at her with a surprised look on his face. "I dunno. I guess I can tell you about first, so you can get the hang of it, I suppose. Let's see, I turn 16 in five days, I forgot about that, I live in Kyoto, and I don't have any siblings." Tasuki sighed and said, "17. I grew up in a village called Taito but ran away when I was 15 and I have five older sisters." "Really? That'd be fun!" Kumiko said, thinking if she had five sisters that they'd get along great. "So it would seem," Tasuki shook his head. "Not if you're a guy."

Kumiko continued to talk, and ask questions, and Tasuki kept answering. "You know another thing about women," He joked, "Is that once they start talking they never shut up." Kumiko stuck out her tongue playfully. "Well, guys don't know when they need to shut up either. That's why they always say the wrong thing at the wrong time." She laughed. The idle talk continued, along with the occasional teasing, and the time passed quickly. Kumiko never really had any guy friends before, and she supposed that it wasn't so bad. Surprisingly, she enjoyed his company for the first time.

When it was dark, the two stopped and made camp, as Kumiko decided to call it. She found it ironic that before time went so slowly when she was miserable, but now that she was content, time went to fast. She was getting sleepy, and she went to bid Tasuki goodnight. "Hey, aren't you going to sleep?" He shook his head. "Nope. I stay out here for at least a little while longer," He poked the fire with a stick, causing one of the logs to break into pieces. "Well, then I'll just sit out here with you so you don't have to be alone," She sat down opposite from him and watched the fire smoldering. "Y'know, you don't have to," Tasuki said. Kumiko shook her head and replied, "I know. But I want to." "How come you weren't so-" "Happy-go-lucky before?" She laughed. "Let's just call it PMS." He blinked. She shook her head and laughed. "Oh never mind. Sometimes it seems like I have a lot of different personalities. Sometimes I can be aggravated by everything, other times I'm really happy. Then I can get really emotional, and who knows what else." "So which one's the real you?" Tasuki asked.

Kumiko shrugged. "They're all me, I guess. I'm usually in the middle. Not so temperamental." Tasuki nodded, to show he understood, but he quite didn't. How could she be so different? The only thing he could say for certain was that she wasn't anything like the one sided people he'd met. "So, why do you hate women anyway?" The fire crackled and illuminated Kumiko's face in the pale moonlight. Tasuki looked up from the fire.

"Like I said, I have five older sisters. And they tried to dress me up like…. it." Kumiko raised an eyebrow. "It? It the clown?" Tasuki shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about. They tried to dress me up like NURIKO. They were horrible." He imitated them in high-pitched voices. "'Oh Tasuki-Kun you'd look SOOOO cute in pink! Let's put some theater make-up on him, he'd look so Kawaii! Tasuki, come here and we'll dress you up all pretty like us."' Kumiko giggled. "What? What's so funny about that?" he asked her. "I dunno. You'd just…look funny dressing up like Nuriko."

"Yea, well he enjoys it. I think." Tasuki shrugged. "He fooled me. I thought he was a women," Kumiko gave a small smirk. "Yea, well he fooled half the guys back at headquarters." They both broke into a fit of laughter. "Why am I not surprised?" Kumiko said between gasps of laughter. When they both finally stopped laughing, she smiled and said, "Tasuki…thank you. I know I've been a pain. Just…let me know when I'm annoying ok?" He looked at her quizzically. "Okay, sure."

Kumiko yawned. "Alright, I think I'm going to give in and go to sleep now. You?" Tasuki shrugged. "I dunno. I'm not all that tired yet." Kumiko sighed and said, "Okay, whatever you say. Goodnight." "Yea, goodnight. See ya in the morning." Kumiko stared up at the stars through the evergreen trees. She wondered if she were in her world, she could look up at the same stars. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. A snapping noise awoke Kumiko in the night. It was dark around her and the fire was only a pile of embers.

She sat up slightly and looked around. Her eyes were adjusted to the darkness, but it was still hard to see. An uneasy feeling settled in Kumiko's stomach: Something…or someone was nearby. I need light…she thought frantically. Suddenly, a small orb of light started to glow from her fingertips. Soon it grew big bright as a flashlight. "My powers certainly are a benefit of being a priestess," Kumiko stood up and slowly looked around. The light grew brighter and her subconscious request. Out of nowhere, a hand clasped around her mouth. Instinctively, she thrust her elbow into her attacker's stomach and whisked around. The man clenched his stomach and fell to the ground. A whizzing noise went passed her ears as Kumiko felt a sudden pain in her shoulder.

There's obviously more than one…She thought. Kumiko rapidly ran to her sword that she had received from Hotohori. "You want to kill me? Than do it the right way." A man approached from the surrounding woods, put down his bow and arrow, and launched at her with his sword. Kumiko swung at him and suddenly her sword was covered in blood and the man lay dead on the ground. All of the sudden she couldn't breathe. They aren't real, this is a book. They're not really alive. It's just a story, she assured herself. His companion, who as still on the ground looked frantically up at Kumiko. He was unarmed.

"Now, tell me who you are and who sent you." She pointed the sword at him and put it to his throat.

"Never," He spat. She pressed the sword closer to his neck. "I mean it. Tell me, or you will die." In a second's time, the tables had turned. A third assassin, who had obviously been hiding, now had a sword to her throat.

"Lower your weapon." He commanded. Kumiko struggled, but he advised her, "We're the assassins. Think about it logically." She reluctantly dropped her weapon to the ground. "Now you die," He laughed.

"REKKA SHIN'EN!" A sudden burst of flames swallowed her attacker as he fell to the ground screaming. Kumiko turned to see Tasuki, who was smirking slightly. "Don't mess with me, or Kumiko." He warned. When Kumiko turned back, the one man left alive had escaped. Breathing hard, Kumiko fell to her knees and clutched her chest. She had never been so scared in her life. "You okay?" Tasuki held out his hand. She nodded, grabbed her blood-covered sword, and stood up. "Yea. Thank you so much. If you wouldn't have saved me, I'd be dead." "Or worse."

Kumiko gave him a puzzled look. "What's worse than being dead?" Tasuki raised his eyebrows. "Trust me, there's worse." Kumiko only nodded. She ran her hand across her neck. "He almost got me there." She laughed, for she had escaped death quite simply without even realizing it. "Hey, look, isn't it cool? I have light at my fingertips. My powers rock!" She held her hand out for Tasuki to see, and he nodded. "Kumiko, you're bleeding!" Until that moment, she had completely ignored the pain in her right shoulder. She looked down to see that the blood had stained through her white shirt. "Oh, so I am. In' that funny?"

She pulled down her sleeve so she could see the gash in her arm. Tasuki reached out his hand and touched it slightly, which caused Kumiko more pain. "Ow you baka! Don't touch it!" She winced. "Sorry," He said remorsefully. "It's ok. I think I have a first aid kit in my bag. Glad I carry it with me." She grabbed her small bag and started looking through it, letting things fall where they may. "Ah, found it!" She grabbed the diminutive tin with the first aid sign on it. Tasuki helped wrap her shoulder, which she graciously thanked him for. "Hey, stuff fell out of your bag," They both started to gather things up and put them back in the bag. Tasuki stopped at an object and stared at it.

"What's this?" He asked her. Kumiko snatched the photo from him. "It's a photograph. A moment frozen in time, I guess. You take picture with something called a camera." She held it tightly in her hands, not wanting to show him. "So, what was it a picture of?" he asked, getting up and trying to see it. She was silent for a moment, but then suddenly said, "My family." Even though she didn't want to, she handed the picture back to him. He looked at it closely. "Is that you?" He asked, pointing to a familiar figure. Kumiko nodded. "That's mom on the right, and on the left is…my dad." She bit her lip. "But he's gone now. Passed away."

"You mean he's-" "Dead." Kumiko's words overlapped Tasuki's. "Oh." "He died a few months ago." Tasuki handed her the picture, which she put in the bag. "I don't really think I can sleep after that," She said, trying to smile. "Yea…" Tasuki's thoughts were elsewhere. I didn't know she lost her father…no wonder she was so horribly mean. I shouldn't have been so awful, he thought, a strong pang of guilt in his side. "Kumiko" She looked up at him with her stunning hazel eyes. "I was wondering…" "Yes?" "Did your attackers ever say anything about who sent them? Or where they were from?" Kumiko shook her head, a disappointed look upon her face. "Nope. I couldn't get it out of them."

She sighed. "I'm of no use." Then she laughed and said, "Well other than saving the world." Her smile left her face, as she could keep the act up no longer. The uneasy yet familiar feeling of fear sent chills up and down her spine. She could have easily died. And there would be others sent to kill her, Kumiko was sure of that. "What is it? Are you ok?" Tasuki's voice snapped Kumiko back to reality. "Yea, I'm fine. I just think I should at least try to sleep. Y'know, so I won't be tired tomorrow when we leave." She grabbed the remaining things that belonged in her bag and shoved them in carelessly. Tasuki nodded and she lay back down.

The light that had once sprung from her fingers dimmed, and then disappeared completely. She sighed, trying to exhale the fear and anxiety that filled her. Though she tried, sleep did not come to her. Maybe it's for the better. I should keep on guard… Priestess of Four Gods… The words echoed. She hadn't even been there for a week, and she was already sick of that title. What was she supposed to do anyway? Tai Itsukun hadn't given her many details, only that she had to control the gods and stop them from fighting. Kumiko bit her lip; This wasn't going to be easy, and how much would she have to give up to save this place?