Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ The Girl and the Curse ❯ Michi and Izumi ( Chapter 5 )

Author's Note: I am so sorry to all the people who were waiting for this chapter. For some reason I kept hitting little blocks on my writing, plus the huge amount of homework and quite to work on it, lots of delays have happened. Oh by the way does any one think the rating on this should go up if it says the F$#& word??

 

Emily: Well since you now know her name lets have Michi do the disclaimer again.

 

Michi: (glaring at Emily) Make me.

 

Emily: (sweetly) You're forgetting how many secrets I have on you.

 

Michi: (eyes get big) You wouldn't!

 

Emily: (smugly) Do you really want to test that?

 

Michi: (gets mad) FINE! Emily also known as antyem13 does NOT and never will own Fushigi Yugi or its characters. They all belong to Yuu Watase-sama also known as someone who can write unlike antyem13.

 

Emily: That last part was uncalled for. (glares and Michi, then smiles to readers) But I do own all of the Original Characters, like Izumi and Michi, in this story and the plot line.

 

Izumi: How come I'm not in this one??

 

Emily: Because you're a brat.

 

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`This' = Thoughts of a character.

 

/./././././ = Beginning/End of flashback.

 

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Chapter 5:

 

Michi and Izumi

 

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Michi continued walking even though she didn't really know where she was going. She had already taken the wrong path a few times, but she was determined to find Izumi no matter what. `She looked like she was in pain, the kind of pain that could kill you without ever making a mark on you.' She felt like she had to try to help anyone with that look. After all if someone hadn't helped her when she had that look, she would have died by her own hand. She thought of it as like a chain that should never be broken, a chain of people helping each other, by keeping them from ending everything.

 

She found herself looking at a lake, it was beautiful. The sunset was reflected in the lake and there were hills in front of the sun, it was a cliché picturesque scene, yet more beautiful then all the paintings, pictures, and post cards she had seen of similar scenes.

 

As she remembered what her purpose was, she scanned the shore of the lake carefully. She spotted someone on the shore a short distance away from her, the person was curled into the fetal position. It was like the person was trying to disappear into nothing, hiding from the world. She walked closer to the figure cautiously.

 

On closer inspection she could clearly see that the person sitting on the shore of the lake was Izumi. She seemed to be breathing irregularly, almost as if she was having trouble catching her breath. Michi recognized it as the sound of someone crying. She walked towards her slowly, deliberately making noise while doing so. She saw Izumi's shoulders stiffen when she got a few feet from her. She hesitantly sat down beside her. She had to fight the instinct to pull the girl into a hug, like she had so many times with her nieces and nephews after getting a scrape from falling. Instead she settled for laying a hand on the girls shoulder.

 

Izumi was scared. Frightened by who might be there, and by what would happen next. Then she herd the person next to her speak.

 

“It's ok, I'm not gonna tell on you for crying.” Michi said gently.

 

Izumi jerked her head up to see who was speaking. When she saw Michi she didn't know what to do, so she just stared at her.

 

After being stared at for a while Michi got uncomfortable. “Um… do I have something on my face?” She never had liked being studied by other people.

 

Izumi gave herself a shake. “Uh… n-no you don't, I just didn't expect…” her voice trailed off.

 

Michi just nodded “I wouldn't expect me ether.”

 

Izumi gave her a blank look still trying to figure out what she had just said.

 

Michi just laughed softly. “Don't worry about it, I just came to find you that's all.”

 

Unfortunately that brought Izumi back to her current situation and what had happened just a short while ago, mostly her actions. Her disappointment with herself was clearly displayed on her features, as she hung her head in some mix of shame and despair.

 

“Are you going to tell me?” Michi asked, breaking the silence.

 

“Tell you what?” Izumi knew what Michi was asking but wanted to avoid it if she could.

 

“Why you got so mad, and what it was that got you so mad in the first place.”

 

“Oh, that. I thought you meant something else,” said Izumi with her head hung low to hide any sing that may give her real thoughts away.

 

“No you didn't, you knew what I was talking about,” Michi paused “but you're scared. That's normal you know.”

 

Izumi looked up at Michi. “It is?”

 

Michi smiled a little at Izumi. “Yea I was scared too, I didn't want to face the problems that I had, I thought that would make them real. It was really hard at first, but it did get better. Now I can talk about it a little with other people. True, I still have problems talking to people that actually know me but, I'm slowly getting better. I know it might not seem true right now but, you really do start to feel better once you start talking.”

 

Izumi just looked at her, with a sorrowful look in her eyes. “If I told someone, they would know what I've done. If I can't forgive myself how can I expect other people to?”

 

“There is almost nothing that you could have done that would make me think of you any differently, but you don't have to tell me what you've done. I just want to know what it was that made you so upset. If you want to keep talking after that, I'll listen, if you don't want to keep talking then I'll sit here and keep you company. Ether way it's your choice if you want to talk, or not.” Michi's voice was soft and caring, something that she usually tried to keep from her voice at all cost, except in moments when it was absolutely necessary, which was far too often for her liking. After all she was trying to hide the fact that she had feelings in the first place.

 

“Little onna. My father and my brother used to call me that, they died a long time ago. I've never let anyone else call me that, no one but them.” She looked weary, with sadness clear on her face.

 

Michi nodded in understanding “That makes since,” her voice was low and quiet, almost like she was talking to herself and not Izumi.

 

They sat there until the sun was all but gone.

 

After some encouragement from Michi, Izumi got up and walked with her back to the stronghold.

 

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Tasuki and Kouji sat at the table where dinner had been served, a wile ago, both were sipping at their sake slowly. They had tried to talk, but each time they ended up in silence, after a wile they gave up. The sound of the doors of the `big' room being opened echoed through out the room slowly. Both men looked up towards the door.

 

They saw Michi walking slowly into the room. She paused after she was inside, took a deep breath and looked up. She spotted them and started walking over quickly.

 

Instead of sitting down normally, she seemed to just let herself crumble, knowing she would be stopped half way by her seat. Her face seemed calm, even though her emotions were in turmoil from the recent assault they had been dealt. She looked first at Kouji then at Tasuki.

 

“You gonna pass me a cup or am I gonna have ta just steal that bottle of sake?” Michi let some of the fatigued show on her face wile asking her question.

 

Tasuki just looked at her for a second. “Um…. I guess I'll give ya a cup…” he looked over a Kouji questioningly. Kouji just shrugged. Tasuki grabbed cup and pored her some sake. She downed it in one gulp, making both men stare in astonishment, along with a hint of surprise.

 

“I happen to be able to drink my share boys, now then how about we talk about earlier?” she smiled mischievously while saying the first part, but her expression became more somber at the end of her question.

 

Both men were speechless. They both thought that most girls from another world were like Miaka and she wouldn't even ask for sake much less be able to handle it with ease.

 

“It turns out that you accidentally brought up some bad memories for her. She didn't really mean freak out on you. She kind a lost it there for a minuet if you know what I mean. You know when you called her `little onna'” both men nodded “well the only people that used to call her that were her father and her bother. They've been dead for a while now. She said that she just wanted to be alone for now, she's in her room.” She took a deep breath after her explanation and blew it out in defeat. She was emotionally and physically drained. She reached for the bottle of sake, and filled her cup.

 

Kouji looked over at Tasuki. “You really messed up this time Genrou.”

 

Tasuki was still processing the new information, he looked as if he had been told that his Harisen would never work again. “Yea I really fucked it up good this time.” He got up from the table, with a strange look on his face. His eyes didn't seem to be seeing what was right in front of him, like they were focused in on another place or time.

 

Michi and Kouji watched him silently as he walked out of the `big' room and into the hallway. Michi turned to the man sitting next to her “you don't think he'll try to talk to her now, do you?” her concern was clearly displayed on her face.

 

“Na he won't go near `er. Genrou is stupid, but he's not that stupid.” He tried his best to sound comforting.

 

She nodded her head in acknowledgement and let out a deep sigh. “One hell of a day, ne?”

 

He let out a sigh of his own. “Yea one hell of a day.”

 

She downed another cup of sake and bid goodnight to the bandit.

 

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Izumi sat in her room. She didn't feel tired at all, if anything she felt like she was in hyper alert mode. Like anything could suddenly jump out at her and attack. She had tried every thing she could think of to fall asleep, well almost everything, she still hadn't tried sake or knocking herself out.

 

Her mind drifted over her conversation with Michi. Again she couldn't shake the feeling that she knew the girl somehow, but for the life of her she couldn't remember ever seeing her.

 

She looked out her window to see the moon high in the night sky, it had be well past midnight, most people would be asleep she was sure of that. `Well most people that aren't stupid like me, that is.' She thought dismally. The situation being what it was, she figured that she would be alone if she went out on the porch of the stronghold. She left her room with all the stealth she could manage. While concentrating on being silent she failed to notice that the room next to hers happen to be missing it's occupant as well.

 

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Michi was exhausted both physically and emotionally, yet her mind refused to let her find the comfort of sleep.

 

Her mind was far too busy for sleep. It kept going over the day that should have ended long ago.

 

Snatches of her day replayed in her head. First when she woke up what she thought to be her mothers face, until she realized Izumi's eyes were a different color. Then when she thought her brother was there, but realized that Tasuki's eyes were also a different color. Next was the fight between Izumi and Tasuki that she had seen, not something you usually saw where she was from, most fights where with guns, never swords or fans. Her mind left the fight quickly, it moved right to her talk with Izumi.

 

Izumi seemed to have a past almost as bad as her own. She was very much in pain, not physical pain; she seemed to be able to handle that easily, but emotional pain. The kind of pain only guilt could bring a pain that Michi knew too well.

 

She sat up and shook her head angrily. `I am not going to go over that again, I don't need the pain!' After giving herself a good shaking she sat in her bed feeling defeated. `Maybe if I take a walk I'll be able to sleep then.' She walked quietly outside but instead of taking a walk she sat on the steps of the porch and watched the stars for a while.

 

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Tasuki couldn't sleep. He knew that he had hurt Izumi deeply. He had stepped over one of the never talked about lines that you just don't cross. It was something that he deeply regretted doing, the last thing that had been on his mind was trying to tear her down emotionally. While he may act like everyone else's feelings didn't matter he really did care, he cared far more then he wanted to admit.

 

Normally if he couldn't sleep he would have gone out to the porch, but there was no way he would do that tonight. He didn't want to risk seeing Izumi, or having to deal with the tension that would definitely be there if they were to see each other. He knew he wouldn't be able to face her yet, not when he had said something so cruel. True, it hadn't been said on purpose, but that didn't soften the memories that had been brought into recollection because of his words.

 

Memories he had more then he wanted, mostly of his closest friends dying. Each of them had been good friends, weather he had been all that close to them or not, and they had become more of a family to him then his real relations had ever been.

 

First it was Nuriko, he was the first dying so they could get the shinzaho.

 

Then Chiriko, he died to save them from Miboshi.

 

Mitsukake was next, he used the last of his energy to heal a sick child.

 

Then Hottohori, he died for his country's peace and for his friends' peace.

 

Tomahome left with Miaka, after becoming Taka but still he was gone.

 

That left him and Chichiri. They were last of the Suzaku Seishi, and the only ones to survive the summoning of the beast god in their original forms. The longer he dwelt on these thoughts the more depressed he became, until he snapped himself out of the ruthless cycle of painful thoughts.

 

He gave up the fight with his brain of trying to sleep. It simply wasn't possible right now, maybe after some fresh air he would be able to find the comforting oblivion that was sleep.

 

Instead of going out on the porch he opened his window to the roof of the porch, a place that no one else would be for sure. He crawled out of the window carefully, he didn't really feel like falling off of the roof, seeing as it would hurt like hell. After making it all the way out of his window he lay on his back with his arms under his head.

 

He was unaware that his location would make it extremely easy to eavesdrop on an interesting conversation.

 

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Michi sat peacefully watching the stars for more then an hour. She was just starting to relax a little when she felt something behind her. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, telling her that she needed to go on full alert fast. Her adrenalin started to flow, making her get ready to run as fast as possible. The sound of a sigh made her turn her head towards the maker of said sound.

 

When she turned she let out a breath that she didn't even know she'd been holding.

 

“What are you doing here Izumi? You scared the shit out of me,” the words were let out quickly between deep breaths. She was attempting to tell her body to be calm, so far it didn't work.

 

Izumi looked at her and blinked for a moment, while her brain processed what had just happened.

 

“I couldn't sleep so I figured I would come out here,” she paused to think of something to say, “but since you're out here, I guess I'll just go back inside.” She started to turn only to be stopped by the voice of Michi.

 

“Why don't you stay? It's not like I'll try to eat you or something,” she grinned as she joked with the rather down seeming girl.

Izumi just stared at her.

 

Michi could see that she wasn't taking the bait. She held up her hands in a gesture of surrender, “I won't bite, I promise. Plus you can keep me company, it's kinda creepy out here by myself.”

 

After a moment's hesitation, Izumi accepted the offer and sat next to her on the steps. It was comfortable in this girls' presence, strangely calming, yet it seemed so natural.

 

They sat there in a comfortable silence for a while, both caught up in their own thoughts. But when Michi started thinking more about the girl that sat next to her she became quite curious as to Izumi's thoughts about the men here. (A.N. Michi is always curious about what guys her friends like, she doesn't do the mach maker thing but she always wants to know.)

 

“So Izumi are there any guys you like here?” Her voice had a clear mischievous ring to it.

 

Izumi had to think a moment to make sure she wasn't hearing things. “What?” Her eyes were blinking a mile a minute, while her mind was trying to decipher what had been said.

 

“You know, do you like any of the guys here? There are plenty to choose from, even if they are bandits. There's no way you don't like at least one, right?” Michi was getting a little bit ahead of herself but was far too curious to stop.

 

Izumi just stared at her with a shocked blank expression. “You can't be serious.” Her voice showed her disbelief of what she was hearing.

 

“Oh come on,” she said with exasperation “please tell me that you noticed that these guys are at least a little good looking.” Since there was no response from Izumi so she continued with her comments. “I mean, hell there's Kouji, he's pretty good looken' plus he happens to be a bit of a sweet heart. Or Tasuki, he aint too bad looken' ether, true his personality sucks but you can still appreciate that the guy is hot. Even I'll admit that and it's kinda creepy since the guy looks a little like my brother.” She shuddered at the thought, at least he didn't act like her brother did or she would've tried to kill him already. She looked over at Izumi trying to see if she would play along with her.

 

Izumi was still rather shocked at what was being said to her. “I never expected this.” She spoke her thought out loud absentmindedly.

 

“What, is it so weird for me to want to know if you like one, or some, of the guys here? I already told you what I think but you have yet to say a thing.” She let out an exasperated sigh. “Come on, get in girly mode for a minute and talk boys with me-e-e.” She pleaded, using her specialty of puppy dog eyes.

 

Izumi tried hard to fight her want to feel normal, and give into what Michi was asking. In the end the braking of her will was inevitable, after all she had always wished for a friend to do these kinds of things with. Her internal struggle showed on her face unknown to her. When her expression turned to one of defeat Michi let out a high pitched giggle.

 

“So tell me what you think, come on!”

 

“Do I have to?” she asked in a rather pitiful voice.

 

“Yes, I command that you tell me what you think of the males here.” She straitened her posture as she tilted her head up effectively making her nose turn up at Izumi. Michi was trying to imitate a queen, it wasn't all that convincing.

 

Izumi gave her a questioning look. “What was that?”

 

Michi just shrugged. “Me being playful, it happens sometimes,” she paused, then remembered the original goal of this conversation. “Now what do you think of the men around here?”

 

Izumi just gave a defeated sigh. “Ok, ok I give. You win, you evil pest.” Michi smiled brightly at that comment. “Kouji is kinda good looken, but I think of him as my brother, so that's just gross. As for Tasuki he could be cute if he just lost the personality defects. Other then that, I don't really know any of the others well enough to think their cute.” She shrugged, she wasn't really sure if her answer would satisfy Michi.

 

Michi grinned like an idiot for a good five minuets while Izumi just stared off into space. When the amber eyed girl finally snapped out of it, she looked over at Izumi and grinned sheepishly. “Sorry about that little…. um… the whole girly thing just now. I kinda lose it after a really stressful day, like today, and normally I end up really drunk, witch would be a really bad idea here, or I get all hyper and start being like a little kid again. I guess I was a little too out of it to warn you that I might turn weird on you.”

 

Izumi sweatdroped at this, not quite knowing what to say. “Um…. it's ok, I guess. It's not like I told you my deepest darkest secrets or anything so, just don't say anything to the guys, we both would never hear the end of it, believe me that would not be a good idea.”

 

“Believe me I don't want my secret to get out. I have a reputation to protect,” she stated in a reassuring voice.

 

Izumi gave her a confused look, “what reputation is that?”

 

She responded with an indignant look. “I have spent years crafting my image, how dare you insult me like that.” She pursed her lips and folded her arms like a five year old.

 

Izumi let out a snort. “Some image!” she couldn't help but laugh.

 

Her jaw dropped, then snapped shut. “You're mean,” she stated with as much dignity as one could while acting like a five year old. She turned to leave Izumi alone, but turned back and grabbed her arm. “Come on it's time for bed,” she ordered.

 

They both ended up laughing, together as they entered the stronghold. Both had the sense to quiet down as they crept to their rooms.

 

While climbing the stairs Michi gave the brown eyed girl a meaningful look, as she looked back to the stairs she spoke. “He didn't mean to. You know that right?”

 

As the meaning of these words downed on her Izumi froze. Her eyes seemed to lose the sparkle that they had held just a short while ago.

 

“Yeah, I know, but I still don't know how to say sorry for it.” The gilt of taking out her pain on someone that had nothing to do with it was not something she enjoyed. It was eating at her slowly, leaving a very unpleasant dead feeling in its wake.

 

Michi gently patted her on the back. “It might be easier then you think.” It sounded like she was trying to convince herself of that as well as Izumi. That simple sentence ended up helping both the girls find sleep that night.

 

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Tasuki just stood there, still as a statue, he was still trying to process what he had just heard.

 

He hadn't been outside long when he suddenly heard one of the girls speak, he jumped a little at the sudden sound.

 

At first he just tried to ignore them but when one of them started talking about men he carefully stood to go back into his room through his window.

 

Then he heard his best friends' name, he had to clamp his hands over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. When he was done laughing he almost fell off the roof, he could have sworn that he just heard his name.

 

His eyes grew twice there normal size as he herd the comment that followed his name. `One of them thinks I'm. . . . . . . . . . . oh shit. This is NOT good.'

 

He was still a bit shell shocked at what he was hearing, both the girls were acting how Miaka and Nuriko used to, weird. It was almost like being back with his sisters, they never had been very good at keeping quiet while they gossiped.

 

Yet not long after talking, they started joking around with each other. It wasn't that different from what he and Kouji did. Strange, he didn't know that girls even did that, or that their ways of showing friendship were rather similar to the ways guys did. For him it was a lot to wrap his head around, to understand that girls weren't as different as he thought, not as foreign and unfamiliar as he liked to think.

 

He sat there thinking for a long time after the two girls went back to bed. He still couldn't shake the feeling that he should have realized some things a long time ago. Maybe then some things would have turned out different.

 

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To Be Continued…

 

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Author's Note: WOW That took a long time. I hope to get the next chapter done faster then this one but there is no guarantee, hope you guys had Happy Holidays (always seems like they go by so fast).

 

Thank you's to:

Queen of Monkey Magic (I still cant figure out how you came up with that name)

Kristall (sorry you had to wait so long just to find out what happened with M&I)

And last but not least

Critias (thanks for the review)

 

Now then as always if you bothered to read pleas give me a review, you don't have to write much just let me know you want it to continue, it helps a ton.