Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Shi Jin no Miko ❯ Mistaken Identity ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yugi. I wish. I do however own Kumiko! ^_^ Mischa belongs to my friend Paris, just so you know. Ok, that pretty much sums it up. Have fun, keep reading! (And don't forget to review)

Key/Legend:

Italics-Thoughts

Bold AND Italics- Flashbacks

Shi Jin no Miko

Chapter 5 : Mistaken Identity

Kumiko awoke bright and early. It was the first time in the past two days she didn't have to wake up and stop the fighting between Tasuki and Mischa. She sighed. I wonder if they'll learn to get along the way we have… The sky outside was cloudy, and stratus clouds lined the sky. "Looks like a rainy day." Kumiko said aloud to herself. She stretched and got out of bed. She was the only one awake; everyone else still lay in a peaceful slumber in their beds. Kumiko looked at her presents.

She had received a beautiful picture that Mischa had drawn on paper. It showed the four gods, all in a giant swirl of chaos. It made Kumiko smile, knowing that it was the truth. Miaka had given her a bracelet of gold, which she put on right next to her pink one on her left wrist. Chichiri, who was very gifted with magic, had created a whirlwind of colorful pictures in the air. Kumiko smiled, for she was happy with how her birthday had been. Even though she didn't spend it with her family, she felt at home with Miaka, Mischa and her senshi. Somehow, she felt as if she belonged.

Rinlai suddenly came through the door, smiling happily. She had a basket full of vegetation. "Did you pick that all this morning?" Kumiko asked. Rinlai nodded. "I had a feeling that it would rain. I wanted to do it know, a day more and the plants wouldn't be much greener." Kumiko nodded, then asked, "May I help you with anything?" Rinlai sighed, "Well, I suppose you could. I need some help getting breakfast ready." "Say no more, I'll assist you in anything you need." Rinlai's face lit up, which lightened Kumiko's mood even more. She was right, seeing others happy was payment enough.

Kumiko and Rinlai easily made conversation as they worked. Kumiko found her easy to talk to, even if she was twice her age. "After my husband died, things got quiet here. There was no more music, no more laughing. I couldn't stand it anymore. There had to be someway I couldn't brighten the house up again. So, I started to let travelers stay with me. Soon there was music and laughter. I felt much more happy sharing my house with others, rather than keeping it all to myself. I guess I'm just one of those people who must be around others to be happy." Kumiko smiled. "I'm sorta versatile. It doesn't matter if I'm by myself or not. I like to be around the people I care about, but it's better for me to go it alone when I'm around others I can't cope with."

Soon, the others started to wake up. First Miaka, who was obviously awoken by her hunger, then Tamahome, Chichiri and Chiriko. "Do you know when we'll be expecting Emperor Hotohori?" Kumiko asked. Miaka shrugged. "The Emperor?" Rinlai repeated, not believing what she had heard. "Yes, Emperor Hotohori is coming this way. He is to meet up with us as we make our journey." Rinlai shyly said, "I do not know if my house is fit for the great Emperor's visit." Miaka shook her head and replied, "No no, it's fine really! Hotohori's really great, honestly. He doesn't mind getting out of the palace once in awhile."

"Nah, he just likes to be with you," Nuriko had woken up while Miaka was taking. He grinned and gave her a nudge with his elbow. "I don't know what you mean by it," Miaka defended. Before anybody could say anything else, the sound of an opening door came from the others side of the room.

Emperor Hotohori stood Casually against the doorframe, dressed not in his proper imperial dress, but in peasant cloths. "Emperor Hotohori," Kumiko bowed. Rinlai looked shocked, and slightly embarrassed. "Hotohori, I'm so glad you're here!" Miaka rushed up to him and hugged him. He smiled. "It's wonderful to see you too, Miaka." "What'sgoingon?" Tasuki had gotten up, his hair completely messy, his sake jug in his hand. Kumiko blinked. "Well Konan's EMPEROR just showed up. And you had to make this display of yourself hung over." She turned to Hotohori. "Emperor Hotohori, I must thank you for the weapons you have given to me to borrow. They've saved my life more than once." "And so have I," Tasuki retorted sitting down, holding his head. "Well I'm glad to hear it," Hotohori said smiling.

"That I've saved her life more than once, or that the weapons did?" Tasuki said unenthusiastically. "The weapons." Kumiko and Hotohori spoke in unison. Mischa soon came into the room and saw the emperor. "Oh I remember you, Hotohori, right?" Hotohori nodded at Mischa's question. Miaka grabbed Hotohori's hand and lead him over to Rinlai. "Hotohori, let me introduce you to Rinlai. She's nice enough to let us stay here with her." Rinlai got down on her knees and bowed respectfully. "There is no need to bow to me so respectfully, even if I am your emperor. I'm also a simple man," he said, touching her head. Rinlai got to her feet, flushing slightly at his command.

"I suppose we should wake them up," Kumiko pointed to Tamahome and Mitsukake, who lay sleeping still. Mischa shrugged. "Couldn't hurt." After waking the two reluctant men up, everyone ate. There was much conversation, especially about the festivities the previous night. "Well, I wish you a happy birthday, Kumiko." Hotohori smiled, and she smiled back. Kumiko had never expected the brave leader of an empire to be so kind.

"Kumiko, where are you and fang-boy headed?" Mischa asked her, after they where done. "What the hell was that for?" Tasuki argued. "Because you have fangs. You'd think of all people you'd notice," Mischa replied smugly. "I do NOT have fangs!" Tasuki said, self consciously rubbing his tongue over his canine teeth. Kumiko giggled. "I think there cute," She commented. Mischa made a face. "It makes him look like a bat child!" Kumiko shrugged. "Maybe so, but it's one of those little features that makes him who he is," Kumiko said. "Please, spare me of the philosophical talk. I get it enough at school. Blah." The two girls laughed, which left Tasuki in confusion.

"Oh I'm sorry, did you not know what the word philosophical means?" Mischa cooed at Tasuki in baby talk. "He he, do you not know what the words shut the hell up mean?" He mocked. "Ok that's it, knock it off!" Kumiko warned. But to no avail. "Are you looking for a fight, Tasuki?" Mischa said, standing up from the table. Everyone was silent. Tasuki gave a sly grin and replied, "Well maybe I am." Mischa furrowed her eyebrows, and walked away. Tasuki blinked. "Woa, that was it?" He turned to Kumiko who sighed. "Tasuki, you just lost."

Mischa hurried outside, away from everyone else. How she hated Tasuki. "That bastard. He doesn't know the first thing about me," She clenched her fists tightly. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down. But it didn't help much, her anger continued to gnaw at her insides. She took out a shiruken star and flung it into a nearby tree. After retrieving it and throwing it a few more times, she got bored of it and decided to find something else to do.

There's gotta be some way to get back at that jerk, she thought scornfully. "Hey Mischa-kun, you shouldn't have to stay out here all day just because Tasuki's being a baka." Nuriko grinned at her surprised face. Suddenly her eyes grew wide as a giant grin crossed her face. "Nuriko, you're a genius! Thank you!" She hugged him, much to his surprise. "You're…welcome, I guess. Although I'm not quite sure what I did." He awkwardly hugged her.

Mischa ran back inside the house and went right past everyone else. She found her bag and frantically started searching through it. "Uh Mischa, what are you looking for?" Kumiko asked, getting hit in the face with a black t-shirt. "Hold on," She continued to look through her bag. "Are all your cloths black?" Kumiko asked, handing her the shirt back. Mischa nodded. "Well, except for this." She pulled a light pink kimono out of her bag. "I see…" Kumiko said. "Be right back."

Kumiko followed Mischa. "What are you planning to do with it?" Kumiko asked. "You'll see…" Mischa grinned. Before going into the common `hang out' room, as she called it, she grabbed a bucket. "Oh no." "Tasuki………" Mischa called in a sing-song voice. Tasuki groaned. "Now what?" She held up both items. "You choose. The water, or the dress." "Oh hell no, you can't make me," he replied smugly. Mischa narrowed her eyebrows. "Wanna bet?" She was dead serious. "Choose. Now."

Everyone knew that when she used that tone, it wasn't good to argue. Five minutes later, the humiliated Tasuki came out in a pink kimono. They all tried hard to stifle their laughs. Finally Kumiko giggled, "Oh Tasuki-kun you look SOOO cute in pink!" "SHUT UP!" Laughter erupted in the room, as everyone else started rolling on the ground laughing. "What I wouldn't give for a camera!" Mischa exclaimed. Kumiko handed one to her. "You owe me big time, Mischa."

Mischa grinned and pointed the camera at Tasuki. "Say cheese, Tasuki." "Cheese?" She took a picture at that exact moment. "What was that?" Tamahome asked looking around. Kumiko rolled her eyes. "And you wonder how in the world technology grew so rapidly compared to this." Mischa nodded. Once again, Kumiko giggled. "I don't get it, why is it so funny when Tasuki does the whole cross dressing thing and not Nuriko?" She wondered aloud. "Because unlike that baka, Nuriko actually has enough sense to make himself look like a woman," Mischa replied.

"Can I get out of this stupid thing now?" Tasuki complained. Kumiko gave him a sympathetic look and then turned to Mischa. "Don't you think he's suffered enough?" Mischa sighed. "I suppose. But you had BETTER learned your lesson, Tasuki. I'm more powerful than you." Tasuki glared at her, then went out of the room to go change back into his regular cloths. While he was gone, the other men in the room exchanged uncomfortable looks. Any of them could easily piss of Mischa, and be in the dress next. "Mischa, you're nice enough not to do that to me, right?" Chiriko asked, timidly smiling at her with his bright childish eyes. Mischa smiled and replied, "Of course sweetie!" She ruffled his hair. "I wouldn't do that to you."

"Now that's just scary, no da." Chichiri commented at the change in Mischa's attitude. Mischa gave him a warning look. "I didn't mean it! I really didn't, no da!" He said this all very quickly, but Mischa just laughed. "I love having them scared of me." The idle chat continued, and Kumiko noticed that Tasuki never came returned. "I'll be right back guys," Kumiko said, getting up from her seat to look for him. She knocked on the door. "Tasuki? Are you in there?" There was no answer. "Okay, I'm coming in now. If you don't want me seeing you stark naked say something now." But still, there was no answer.

She sighed and opened the door. The room was completely empty. The kimono lay on the floor and Tasuki's cloths were gone. There was a note lying on the floor. Kumiko picked it up and tried to read it the best she could. It was in Chinese, and unfortunately for Kumiko, she didn't know much. Luckily, the symbols were familiar and she was able to make out the phrase, `be back later'. "Damn you Tasuki," Kumiko cursed. Rolling her eyes, she went back into the other room without saying a word.

Kumiko waked right passed them before anyone could say anything. "You better be at that bar Pyro boy," She said quietly to herself. "Or else." She marched down the street, angry that Tasuki would just leave when he felt like it. What if nobody had found that note? He could be in trouble and nobody would know it. Suddenly a thought struck her. That was how he felt. How stupid could she have been to not see it? She had left without leaving a note at all; she just wandered down the street where anybody could take advantage of her. A pang of guilt stung at Kumiko. Tasuki was only trying to protect her, and she had never even considered why he was so protective.

Before she even got to take a step further, two pairs of hands reached out and grabbed her. "What the-" Kumiko began, but her mouth was covered by a hand and she was lifted off the ground away from the familiar area. She kicked and squirmed, but it was to no avail, her capturers were strong and could easily fight her power. They sat her down inside a building and tied her to a chair.

"You cause much trouble, Suzaku no miko," The first one said. "What the hell are you talking about?! I'm not the Priestess of Suzaku!" She spat, glaring at her three attackers.

"Sure you aren't," The second sneered. "I'm not!" She yelled. One shushed her. "You are a trouble maker," The first furrowed his eyebrows. "How many times do I have to tell you in order for you to process it through your little brains? I'm not the Suzaku no Miko! I'm the-" she stopped.

"You're the what?" The third asked, intrigued. Kumiko let a sly smile slip across her face. "I'm not telling." If she could buy time, somebody would come looking for her, and she might be able to get answers out of these three. "You'd better," The second warned. "Or what? You'll kill me? For all you know, I may be a very important person. First tell me who you three are, and maybe I'll answer your question." "Are names are unimportant. But I'll tell ya this: We were sent by the emperor of Kuto to kill the Suzaku no Miko. She's been causin' much trouble for the Seiryuu no miko."

Kumiko's eyes grew slightly. They were from Kuto! "So, you've met the Seiryuu no miko?" Kumiko asked casually. The third nodded. "Once or twice. She's never actually addressed us by name, only to us as servants." "And has she found her senshi?" Kumiko immediately realized how stupid her question was. The first eyed her suspiciously and replied, "Why would you care unless you are the Suzaku no miko?" Kumiko rolled her eyes. "Has it ever occurred to you that I'm FRIENDS with her?"

"There's no way the Priestess of Seiryuu would make friends with her sworn enemy," One said stiffly. "For the last frickin' time, I'm NOT the priestess of Suzaku! I'm the Shi Jin no Miko, Priestess of Four Gods! I'm not on ANYBODY'S side and will you just PLEASE let me go?!" Kumiko yelled. The three looked at her, slightly stunned, then looked at each other. "Well, now that's different. We're not stupid. We know that assassins have been sent after you too. Why don't we just get rid of you know and get the honor for ourselves. What do ya' think, boys?" The third asked his companions.

"You lay a hand on me and I'll make sure you'll never walk again," Kumiko warned, her heart beating faster. She was afraid of what was going to happen, not only her, but to everyone else if she died. "And how ya gonna do that?" The second grinned, his face two inches away from Kumiko's. "With my help." Came a voice.

"REKKA SHIN'EN!" Tasuki had appeared while the four were talking. His tessin emitted streams of fire, burning the three assassins badly. They screamed in agony on the floor, writhing miserably beneath Tasuki's feat. "Don't touch her," he spat as he turned away from the pitiful sight. He looked at Kumiko with worried eyes and asked, "Are you okay?" She nodded and answered, "yea, thanks to you."

He to untie the rope that bound her hands. "You sure seem to have a knack for getting into trouble." "Yea well, at least it was for a good cause," She said rubbing her wrists, which had rope marks on them. "Wadda ya mean by that?" She stared at him. "I went to find you." He quirked an eyebrow. "But…why?" She blushed slightly. "Well…I was worried about you. Until then, I didn't realize why you got so upset yesterday when I took off. Now I feel really bad," She shifted uncomfortably. "It's ok. I just…can't believe you were worried about me," He `escorted' her out. "Well, everyone's got somebody to worry about them, right?" She said, almost brightly.

"I guess. What I meant was…I was surprised you'd be worried about me when you knew I could handle myself." She rolled her eyes. "Why did I have a feeling you'd say that?" He grinned. "Because, I'm predictable." Kumiko nodded. "Uh huh. And I know right about know you're gonna try flicking me in the ear again." Tasuki was a little surprised, maybe he was predictable. "Yea well, like I said," he got quiet as they reached the door. Everyone was surprised to see the two.

"Where've you been?" Miaka asked. Mischa grinned maliciously and answered, "probably off professing their love and doing those things that lovers do." She batted her eyelashes and broke out laughing. "MISCHA! Tasuki's not the only one who's gonna kill you this time!" Kumiko jumped towards Mischa, who ran. Tasuki sat down, exhausted.

"So, where HAVE you been?" Mitsukake said, slightly intrigued by the two's mysterious disappearance. "oh you know, went to go get a few drinks, burnt three assassins to a crisp, all in a days work," He replied casually. Nuriko blinked. "You lie." "Do I look like I'm lying?" He said. "It looks like you've had a little to much sake for today, no da." Chichiri pointed out. Tasuki sighed. "Whatever. Don't believe me. But when Kumiko comes in here and tells you the same thing you're gonna believe her."

"Kumiko, what DID happen?" Miaka asked. Kumiko stopped chasing Mischa and came back into the room. "Oh, I got mistaken for the Suzaku no miko and almost got killed. But Tasuki showed up at the last minute, as he always does, and fried them to a crisp." She said this all in one breath, as casually as Tasuki had. "Ok, maybe he wasn't lying," Nuriko, admitted. "Told ya," Tasuki grinned.

"But as to how much sake he had, I wouldn't know. I was to busy telling three thick sculled assassins that I wasn't Miaka." Miaka looked back at Kumiko, worried. "Did they hurt you?" She asked. "Well, not really. They only tied my hands up, but it didn't hurt. They probably would have killed me though." "This is starting to get much more dangerous than we would have ever thought," Miaka said. The room was silent.

Mischa came back in and said, "Hey while you two where gone, you missed lunch. Although, half of us did too. Miaka pretty much ate it all before we could get our hands on it." Rinlai smiled. "That's alright, I made extras. I didn't it out right away thinking that you would be full, but seems like you need it." She came back from the kitchen with ramen. "Yay, ramen noodles!" Kumiko grinned as she took the bowl graciously.

"I swear, they're the best microwave able food in existence," Mischa said. Kumiko nodded. "What's a microwave?" Hotohori asked Miaka. " They're a tool we use back home to heat food up. It's much faster than a fire. "Yea well, a good ol' fire is better any day," Tasuki pointed out. "Well that's in your opinion. And we all know you have a strange fetish with fire," Chiriko replied. Tasuki blinked. "You're a pyromaniac," Chiriko said. Tasuki continued to stare at him as if he was crazy. Chiriko sighed and said, "You're obsessed with fire." "Oh, yes." Tasuki replied.

"He's not the only one. Mischa has serious problems," Miaka said. "Do not," Mischa argued. "Mischa, you burnt down you're churches nativity scene!" Mischa folded her arms, "I was only ten! And it was an accident. It was their fault anyway. They shouldn't have left CANDLES there for the little children to play with." Kumiko laughed. "Well, it's not as bad as what I've done. I almost blew up our schools science wing because my friend Rei dared me to mix light a match near rubbing alcohol. I got about a months worth of detention." Tasuki blinked. There was no way in hell these girls could be fellow pyros….