Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ The Girl Who Didn't Believe ❯ Explanations, Explanations ( Chapter 6 )

The Girl Who Didn't Believe

Hi, everyone!! I'm back with chapter 6!! How's that for a first fic, huh, huh? Didn't think that I'd be able to make it that far. Ummm…let's see what other nonsense I can think of now…Uh-huh!! Got it!! Did I mention before how the Fushigi Yuugi TV Series soundtrack rox?!! Well, it does!! Congratulations to Satou Akemi for the opening theme, Itooshii Hito no Tame ni and also for Wakatte-ita hazu. For Konno Yukari, well done for the ending theme Tokimeki no Doukasen and Winner!! Heheheh. The best wishes for the FY singers are kinda retarded coz FY came out in 1995 or something, but I just have to say it. Please humor me!! ^__^ Well, that's enough nonsense for this chapter!! Okay, lastly, gomen for spelling, grammar, or tenses mistakes that you're going to read, and after reading, THOU SHALT REVIEW!! I COMMAND IT!! Heheh…

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the FY character. I own Kitten and Sable, though.

//…//= telepathic conversation.

`thoughts' = thoughts

########## = at another place

Enjoy!!

Chapter 6-Explanations, Explanations

Tasuki, Chichiri, Sable, Kitten and Suzaku were in the throne room. They were all waiting for Empress Houki. They had been hastily ushered in immediately after the Empress had discovered Suzaku's identity. Suzaku, of course, was released from the mule and carried in by Kitten.

"Why is it always MY DUTY to look after HIM?!!" Kitten demanded to know. "I don't even like him."

Tasuki frowned at that.

"What do ya mean, "Why is it always you"? YOU are the one who landed all of us in this stupid mess!!"

Kitten turned a dull red. She was about to come back with an angry retort when the courtiers announced the arrival of the Empress.

Everyone turned and bowed respectfully.

Houki dismissed the servants and waited for all of them to vacate the room.

"Sou ka…Can someone please tell me exactly what happened?"

The small group stared at each other. Then Chichiri stepped out.

"Houki-sama, no da, everything started like this…"

Chichiri then told the Empress a summarized version of the events that happened, why Kitten and Sable were sent here, why they are all going on a quest, what happened to Suzaku…

After his recount, Houki frowned.

"Chichiri-san, are you telling me that the god of our arch enemy, Kutou, is the one who reduced Suzaku to this state?"

"Hai, no da."

"Preposterous!! How could something like that happen?"

Turning, Houki faced Suzaku, who was at that moment trying his best to look as regal and elegant as possible.

"Suzaku-sama," Houki greeted. "Can you understand me?"

An imperial nod.

"Okay, so, what do you think we should do now?"

//RULER OF KONAN, I SUGGEST THAT WE KEEP THIS MATTER DOWN. IT WOULDN'T DO IF THE CITIZENS OF KONAN, OR WORSE, KUTOU KNOW OF MY TEMPORARY CONDITION.//

Houki was a little startled at first when she heard a majestic voice ringing inside her head. It took her a while to realize that it was Suzaku.

The foursome, having heard the conversation, nodded. (A/N: For now, whenever Suzaku mind speaks, Chichiri, Tasuki, Kitten and Sable would also be able to hear.)

"It makes sense, yer highness." Tasuki murmured. "If those Kutou bastards know of this, we'd never hear the end of it."

"You are right. But what do you propose we do right now? Any ideas?"

"Houki-sama, no da, I think the four of us should wander around in the countryside of Konan and not stay permanently in the capital for the next one and a half months, no da. If by any chance the truth leaks out around here, we won't be able to stop it from circulating, no da. Furthermore, the palace walls have ears, if you understand what I mean, no da."

"You're right. Demo you can't just wander about blindly for the next one and a half months. No offense to Tasuki-san here, but the backwoods of Konan is very quiet and dangerous, full of bandits and robbers. I do not doubt your seishi abilities here, but what if Suzaku is spirited away and mistaken for some poultry? The results would be disastrous. There must be a place that you guys can go to for the duration."

Suzaku shuddered at the thought of being mistaken as food whereas the quartet was thoughtfully silent.

"Umm…somewhere in the countryside but safe…"Kitten thought aloud.

Suddenly, it struck her.

"I know!!"

Everyone turned to look at her.

Kitten turned to Sable in excitement.

"Sab!! You know, that mountain where Tasuki's band of bandits are?"

"Do you mean Mt. Reikaku? Hey, that's a great idea!! We'd be deep inside a mountain with a gang of bandits to protect Suzaku!! No one would think of going there!!"

Houki and Chichiri looked at each other. This solution sounds perfect. Tasuki, on the other hand, looked absolutely petrified.

"Houki-sama…surely you do not agree with the idea, right?" Tasuki stuttered.

"Why not, Tasuki-san? It sounds wonderful to me."

"Yeah, no da. Furthermore no da, didn't you tell me how much you wanted to visit Kouji and the others?"

"Demo…demo…"

//I TOO THINK THAT IT IS A GOOD IDEA.// Suzaku boomed into everyone's heads.

"Then it's settled," Houki announced. "But for today, I'd suggest for the group of you to spend the night here and have a good rest before setting out for Mt. Reikaku tomorrow."

At that, Houki pulled a cord that hung beside her throne. Almost immediately, a pair of servants arrived.

"The servants would lead you four to rooms that had been prepared for you. Your belongings are already inside said rooms. I'd see you later, during dinner, after you all have settled in. Oh, and Chichiri, Tasuki? Boushin has been asking for his two uncles since he'd heard of your arrival. Maybe you two can make some time for him after dinner."

"Hai, Houki-sama." The two seishi replied.

At that the foursome retreated from the room to leave the Empress to see to other matters.

Suddenly, Kitten groaned.

"Suzaku…you are very heavy. Uh…can anyone help me?"

Chichiri and Sable were up front talking, and did not hear Kitten.

Tasuki heard but did not reply. He was too busy pouting. He was, after all, going to have to bring the girls into his hideout.

All in all, nobody offered to take Suzaku.

"You are too fat, Suzie…you should lose some weight."

//HMMMPPP…IMPERTINENT WENCH! YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO BE BEARING MY ROYAL WEIGHT!//

Suzaku should not have said that.

"You're right, Suzaku, I'm impertinent. In fact, too impertinent to even deserve to be bearing your royal weight." Kitten said sweetly as she bent down and dropped Suzaku on the floor.

"So, my noble Kami-sama, you can sit here on your very majestic behind and wait until someone more deserving comes by."

Thus said, Kitten left a surprised Suzaku in the middle of the courtyard and rushed off to catch up with the others.

It did not take long for Suzaku to retaliate. Soon, everyone in the palace heard of his displeasure.

//MY SEISHI!! HOW DARE YOU ABANDON ME?!!// Suzaku wailed.

Chichiri and Sable stopped. Together with Tasuki, they looked back. All four had heard the vocal and mind complains that Suzaku had made.

All three turned to look at Kitten.

"Where is Suzaku, no da?"

"He is in the courtyard." Kitten muttered, pointing behind her.

The trio looked behind her and sure enough, there was Suzaku.

He looked mad as hell and was trying his best to waddle towards the waiting group as quickly as possible. He looked so ridiculous that Kitten and Tasuki roared with laughter. Chichiri and Sable, merely sweatdropped, as usual.

When Suzaku reached them, he did not stop.

Instead, he when straight up to Kitten and Tasuki and shrieked at them instead. No doubt he was vowing eternal vengeance against the two of them. Tasuki and Kitten merely winced a little before grinning at each other like two idiots.

Chichiri shook his head and scooped up his irate god.

"Let's go, no da. I want to get this done with as soon as possible before dinner."

//TAKE ME THERE TOO, FOR I WANT TO SEE THE FUTURE RULER OF MY LAND.//

"Hai, Kami-sama, no da."

The servants hurriedly guided the group to their respective rooms. The four rooms were all situated beside each other. Each of the rooms was richly and tastefully decorated with beautiful deep red undertones.

//MY COLORS.// Suzaku said, taking great pride in that fact.

Kitten rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"I know…I know…but what I'd really want to know now is that who is going to bunk with Suzie here."

Silence.

"It has to be either of you guys. Don't expect us girls to share a room with him. He might be a god and a baby one at that, but he's still a guy. Technically, I think." Kitten continued.

//WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY `TECHNICALLY'? LET ME TELL YOU THAT I'M A VERY MANLY GOD.//

Kitten snorted.

"Manly chicken, you mean."

Tasuki laughed outright whereas Chichiri and Sable merely grinned slightly.

Suzaku huffed mentally in everyone's minds.

//SINCE TASUKI FINDS MY PRESENCE SO JOYFUL, I'D LIKE TO SHARE HIS ROOM TONIGHT.//

That shut Tasuki up effectively.

"NANI!"

The rest started laughing. Tasuki's expression was so comical.

"You're gonna get it now, Tasuki-chan!!" Kitten taunted.

"I find that I've to agree with Kitten-san, no da." Chichiri said, wiping tears of laughter from behind his mask.

Tasuki growled, and grabbed Suzaku from Chichiri before stalking into his room. Sable too smiled and retreated into her room.

"Kitten-san, is there anything else you need, no da?"

"Oh iie, Chichiri-san, and please call me Kitten, will you? I'm a little tired of adding a `san' behind your name every time I have to address you."

"Sure, Kitten, no da. Then, I'd see you later, no da?"

"Hai. See ya later."

Kitten and Chichiri withdrew into their respective rooms for a quick rest.

##########

Two hours later, the group gathered outside.

Sable and Kitten had dressed casually and were waiting outside whereas Chichiri went into Tasuki's room to get Suzaku. Moments later, they heard a deafening crow followed by vicious curses compliment of a certain redheaded pyromaniac.

Sable stared at Kitten, smiling.

"Don't look at me," Kitten retorted, "I don't even want to guess what is going on in there."

The girls waited patiently.

Eventually, Chichiri came out with a gloating Suzaku whereas Tasuki stumbled out, still cursing under his breath.

"I take it that Suzaku's other ability now is to serve as an alarm to wake people up?" Sable asked, amused.

"More like an alarm to scare the beeheebees outta innocent people." Tasuki muttered.

"You are not innocent, Tasuki-chan, no matter who tells you so." Kitten said.

"Don't call me that," the redhead bared his fangs at Kitten.

Kitten merely returned the gesture by sticking her tongue out.

Sable shook her head in exasperation.

"As sweet and as cozy as you two are behaving now, we really need to go to the dining room now. Houki-sama and Boushin are no doubt waiting for us."

"NANI!!" Kitten and Tasuki yelled. Both of them went chibi.

Chibi Kitten's eyes were slit as she advanced towards Sable slowly.

"WHO is SWEET and COZY?!!"

"Anou…"

Chibi Tasuki immediately agreed.

"WE are not like that!! Are you crazy?!! I don't even like girls!!"

Kitten didn't know what happened, but somehow Tasuki's vehement denial hurt her. `It doesn't make sense,' she thought, quickly pushing it aside. `I'd analyze that later.' She promised. But for now…

"Yeah, Sable, take that back. Tasuki's gay, remember?"

"Yea…NO!! WHAT!! Onna, I'm gonna kill you!! I'm not okama!!"

Chichiri dropped his gaze on the floor and sighed. Not this again.

Suzaku, on the other hand, was extremely interested. He looked on as Tasuki chased after a hysterically laughing Kitten with his tessen.

He had seen the look on Kitten's face earlier and the surprise he saw there had caused him endless relief. Kitten was slowly starting to realize her feelings for Tasuki.

He turned his stare to Sable. He didn't need to worry about the other one. She's already half gone. What he worried about more is Chichiri. Would he be able to forget Kouran and love again?

"Stop, no da. We really have to go. We can't keep the Empress and the young prince waiting."

"I'd settle that with you later, onna."

"I'd like to see you try, pyro."

"Why…"

"Okay, no da. Enough." Chichiri and Sable slid quickly between the duo. Chichiri took the opportunity to dump Suzaku in Tasuki's hands to keep him occupied.

The group then hurried to the dining room.

##########

Sure enough, Houki and her son were already there. The foursome (A/N: Suzaku cannot talk, thus he cannot apologize. Furthermore, gods do not apologize at all, period.) apologized for being late before taking their seats. A special perch was prepared for Suzaku. Tasuki promptly deposited the god there and proceeded to find a seat as far away from the perch as possible.

Boushin, however, did not have such qualms about Suzaku. In fact, he headed straight towards the perch, where the preening god stood.

"Uncle Chichiri, Uncle Scary-face, why is this bird so weird? It has no feathers and it is pink. I think that it looks like a plucked chicken."

Suzaku looked horrified by the young boy's remark. In fact, he looked as if he is going to cry at any moment.

The others merely smiled, with the exception of Tasuki, who seemed to find Boushin's description of the infant phoenix hilarious.

Boushin merely looked confused. What did he say that was so funny? He smiled and decided to continue.

"I think that it is as kowai as Uncle Scary-face here. Is that why you own this pet bird?"

Tasuki stopped laughing then, and started to turn several interesting shades of red. The group's grins widened. Kitten, however, burst out laughing.

"Yeah, Uncle Kowai-face." Kitten gasped out. "Did you keep the bird to complement your face?"

//THAT'S NOT FUNNY.//

"That's not funny."

Kitten laughed again.

"Both of you even echo each other's words."

//DO NOT.//

"Do not."

Tasuki and Suzaku looked at each other.

//DO NOT MIMIC ME.//

"Do not mimic me."

That was the last straw. Everyone cracked up. Even Tasuki smiled.

Suzaku, however, pretended not to recognize them. `Stupid mortals. What's so funny?'

Houki wiped tears from her eyes.

"I apologize to you both, Suzaku and Tasuki, for Boushin's remarks."

//DOESN'T THE CHILD KNOWS WHO I AM?//

Houki stared apologetically at Suzaku again.

"Gomen nasai, but I think that it is best that Boushin does not know about your present state. He won't understand. But I promise you that I'd tell him when he is older, though." Houki added hastily.

That seemed to appease Suzaku and without further ado, the dinner started.

Suzaku was given the most exotic of fruits and Kitten and Sable's eyes lit up when they saw the delicious Chinese cuisine that was specially prepared for them. They ate enthusiastically and complemented Houki after the meal.

"Empress Houki…"

"Houki-sama will do."

"Anou…Houki-sama…you have good cooks!!"

Houki smiled.

"It's my duty as a host to make sure that you four have the best food possible."

Tasuki scowled at that.

"Don't expect this kinda luxury at Mt. Reikaku." He muttered.

Everyone ignored him.

Boushin then left his seat and went to the two seishi.

"Can you play with me, uncle Chichiri, uncle Scary-face?"

Houki interrupted at that.

"Boushin, love, your uncles have a busy day tomorrow…"

Boushin visibly wilted.

"It's alright, no da. Both of us promised to play with Boushin, after all."

"Yeah, it's okay, I suppose." Tasuki added.

"Well…"Houki hesistated.

"Please, kaa-san! Onegai?"

"Okay then, but only for a while, ne?"

Boushin nodded and started pulling the two seishi out of the door.

"We'd be by the lake, no da!!" said Chichiri before he, too disappeared from view.

The departure of the seishis left an awkward silence between the women.

"Sou ka…why don't you girls tell me what your world is like?"

"Hai."

The girls spent the rest of the hour talking to Houki about the world that they knew so well.

Sable, however, was not that immersed into the conversation, She was daydreaming, thinking about what a good father Chichiri would have been if he had kids.

Houki and Kitten were discussing about the difference in the type of transportation between their worlds when they finally noticed Sable's glazed expression.

Houki did not know what to make of it.

"Is she alright?"

Kitten grinned. She had guessed exactly what Sable was thinking about.

"Yeah, Houki-sama. Don't worry too much about her. Watch."

At that, Kitten crept behind Sable and mimicked a certain blue-haired monk's speech pattern.

"Sable, no da? I think I love you no da!! Let's get married, no da!!" Kitten said in the same peculiar pitch that Chichiri always used.

"NANI…But Chichiri…you're a monk, remem…MATTE!! KITTEN!!"

Sable turned a deep red as she saw Houki-sama. Her hands were covering her mouth and her eyes were twinkling with laughter. She also spotted Kitten, who was by now rolling on the floor with laughter.

"You're going to be SO dead, Kit!!"

"You should have," Kitten gasped, holding her sides. "seen your face!! So funny!! Ouch! Itai! Itai!"

Sable was giving Kitten some deserving whacks.

"You have embarrassed me in front of the Empress of Konan!!" Sable wailed.

Houki merely laughed merrily.

"You two are so kawaii. No wonder you are such best friends. I have never laughed so much before. And Sable, it is not embarrassing to let people know of your feelings. I too, remember a time," She paused, smiling wistfully. "a time when I daydreamed of my love too…"

The girls sobered then.

"Gomen, Houki-sama, we didn't mean to…"

"Didn't mean to what? Remind me of Hotohori-sama? Demo…demo I wanted to thank you two…for helping me remember, for reminding me…you see, I have managed to forget about those precious few moments that we had together. Arrigato."

The girls were stunned. They didn't know what to do.

"H…hai."

Houki shook her head slightly, then, as if to shake away her musings.

"Silly me, what am I thinking?" She gave the girls a playful smile to show that she's all right, before becoming serious again. "Sable, I take it that you like Chichiri?"

A shy nod.

"Then you better try to let him know. Because…because you never know when fate might decide to separate you both."

Houki advised.

"But…how? He's a monk…it will never be possible." Sable stammered.

Houki looked surprised at that admission.

"Didn't you know that Chichiri had not been a monk since the Summoning two years ago?"

"NANI?!!" The girls cried.

"Hai, that's true. He might still walk around with that staff of his, but he has denounced his priesthood two years ago."

Kitten start laughing again.

"I can see that the trip tomorrow to Mt. Reikaku is gonna be interesting."

"Doushite?" a confused Houki asked.

"You see, Sable here has convinced herself that Chichiri is off-limits. But now that he is not…whoo boy!!"

Sable blushed furiously.

"I see," Houki smiled. "Good luck, then, Sable." She winked at the girl.

Sable was about to say something in return when the guys returned.

Boushin burst into the room, full of giggles. Chichiri and a wet Tasuki trailed behind.

The ladies stared.

"Sweet Suzaku…what happened to you, Tasuki-san?" Houki asked.

"Oh…kaa-san! We were playing hide and seek and it was Uncle Chichiri's turn to look for us. Uncle Scary-face was hiding behind a tree beside the lake when Uncle Chichiri suddenly popped out of his hat and surprised Uncle Scary-face so much that he fell into the lake!!"

Tasuki grumbled a little while the others smiled.

"Can we do that again, kaa-san?"

"I'm afraid not today, dear. It's getting late and everyone needs their rest. Maybe tomorrow, ne?"

Boushin nodded excitedly.

"Hai!"

With that the group was about to leave when they heard a squawk.

//ARE YOU PEOPLE LEAVING ME HERE?//

"Gomen, gomen, Suzaku, no da." said Chichiri as he rushed back to gather the bird.

Sable and Kitten looked horrified at each other. Suzaku must have heard everything they had said earlier!!

//DON'T WORRY, GIRLS. I WON'T TELL ANYONE ABOUT THAT. YOU CAN TRUST THE PROMISE OFA GOD.//

The girls looked relieved.

"Say what? Oi, what were you three talking about that is so secretive?"

"Oh, nothing…just gossip and this and that." Houki covered smoothly.

Tasuki and Chichiri didn't look as if they believe her, but they kept quiet.

The group walked the Empress and the young prince to their living quarters.

"See you all tomorrow, uncle Chichiri, uncle scary-face, Sable-san and Kitten-san!" Boushin waved before the servants brought him into the room, leaving Houki with the group.

"See you tomorrow, Houki-sama." The four chorused.

"Oh yes, and Sable?" Houki called.

"Hai."

"Take my advice, ne?"

"Hai."

"Good night, then." Houki, too retreated to her room.

The rest of the walk back was silent, with Chichiri and Tasuki too exhausted by the day's event to maintain small talk, and the girls deep in thought.

Suzaku was silent too. After listening to Houki's conversation with the girls, he was feeling more than a little remorseful.

`I should have tried harder to protect my seishi then. If I had, Hotohori would still have been alive and the three of them would have been a complete family." He thought. It was the first time Suzaku had realized how the feud between he and Seiryu had caused so much misery to the others.

Chapter 6 end!! Is it okay, huh? And about Chichiri denouncing his priesthood, YAY!! How else am I gonna let Sable and Chiri's relationship go further, ne, ne? And thanks to Metajoker for those Japanese words! Arrigato! To all readers: gomen nasai if my story is progressing too slowly and getting too boring. I promise to speed things up a little and add in some action scenes soon! What say you guys, huh? Please review!! Arrigato!! ^__<