Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ The Girl Who Didn't Believe ❯ More Explanations ( Chapter 8 )

The Girl Who Didn't Believe

Hello all!! I'm ba-ack!! With chapter 8, I think. You know what? I'm collecting FY mangas now!! They are so kewl!! They are ex too, come to think of it. Sigh…guess I have to save some more money. School is starting tomorrow…I hope that it will turn out all right. Man, a new year, a new level, a new school, sounds exciting. Well…enough of me, gotta do the same old stuff now!! Minna, gomen for spelling, grammar and tenses mistakes that I'd make later! ^__^ Oh, before I forget again I'd like to thank all my reviewers…arrigato gozaimasu!!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the FY characters. I do own Kitten and Sable, though.

//…//=telepathic conversations

`…'=thoughts

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

^^^^^^^^^^=recall

That's all, minna!! Enjoy!

Chapter 8-More Explanations

Sable, the two Suzaku shichi seishi, and Kouji were waiting impatiently outside the room where a physician is now examining Kitten.

Tasuki was pacing up and down the hallway, muttering to himself every once in a while. Chichiri was busy comforting a distraught Sable and Kouji was doing nothing but amusedly observing the entire scene.

Right after Chichiri had teleported the group to Mt. Reikaku, Tasuki had ordered the bandits to go `persuade' a doctor to come to the bandits' lair as soon as possible.

Kouji had been near enough his friend to see that the girl whom he was carrying was badly injured. Thus, wisely, he had not demanded for any answers. Instead, he led the group to a room, where Tasuki immediately laid the girl onto the bed.

The redheaded man did not have any time to do anything else because the doctor arrived soon after. He chased everybody out of the room, which was why the small group was waiting impatiently outside.

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't been so careless, Kitten would never have needed to push me aside and take the stab that was meant for me." Sable muttered.

Chichiri frowned.

"Sable no da, you know that it is useless to play this `what ifs' game, no da. What's done is done. I'm sure that Kitten did it voluntarily. No one forced her to right, no da?"

"Yes, demo…"

"No buts," Chichiri cut off. "Since Kitten did it out of her own will. Why are you blaming yourself, no da? You should be proud to have such a wonderful friend, no da."

"Demo…demo…"

"Okay, Sable, no da. If you're so keen to blame yourself. Let me ask you one question then, no da. If both you and Kitten's roles were reversed, would you do the same for her as what she had done for you?"

"What kind of stupid question is that?!! Of course I would!!" Sable's green eyes flashed as she answered furiously.

"Then, Sable, no da, I think that you've just got your answer. Why are you blaming yourself when you would have done the same thing for Kitten?"

That stopped Sable's remorse.

`Chichiri is right. What use do I have for regret and finger pointing? I'm better off being thankful for having such a good friend.'

Sable sighed and looked at Chichiri.

"You are right, Chichiri. There is no use blaming myself. I think that what I should really do now is to think of ways to pamper Kitten when she awakes. Knowing her, that would be exactly what she's expecting" Sable said, smiling.

"Well, no da, you know best. You are her best friend after all, no da. I'm just glad that you are thinking properly again, no da."

"Arrigato gozaimasu, Chichiri, for comforting me and making me see sense."

At that, Chichiri turned a bright pink under his mask.

"It's…okay," he stuttered. "You're welcome, no da."

There was an awkward silence after that.

Seeing that there was nothing else for all of them to do but fret, Kouji then decided that it was time for someone to do some serious explaining and immediately broke the silence.

"Genrou, Chichiri, who are the two girls and why is that one injured?" he asked indicating the girl in the closed room. "And why exactly are you people here? What I would also like to know is that why is the imperial palace involved in this too?"

Tasuki looked surprised at the questions whereas Chichiri and Sable looked at each other.

"Should we tell him?" Sable enquired.

"I think so, no da. After all we need the help of the Mt. Reikaku bandits and we are borrowing their place to stay for a month and a half, no da."

"Okay, then," Tasuki cut in. "Then you can do the explaining."

"Why is it always me, no da?"

"You explained to Houki-sama before. I think that you can do it again. Besides I'm in no mood to explain anything. Dammit!! Why is the fucking doctor taking so bloody long?" Tasuki cursed as he strode to the closed doors and pounded furiously on them. "Oi!! What are you doing to her that is taking so long?!! She'd better be fit and hale again when these doors open or I swear that I'm gonna kill you myself, you baka doctor!!"

Sable, Chichiri and Kouji sweatdropped.

"Anou…Tasuki," Sable interrupted as Kouji went and dragged his irate friend from the doors. "It has only been ten minutes since the doctor went in. I'm sure that he needs a little longer to dress up Kitten's wound."

"Yeah! 'Lax, man!! Yer acting as if she's gonna die or something." Kouji said.

Kouji had obviously picked the wrong words to say because Tasuki turned white at the word "die" and he renewed his efforts at trying to escape from Kouji's grip.

"Lemme go!! Listen up, you baka doctor!!" he roared at the closed doors. "If she dies, you die too, hear?!!"

Sable, Chichiri and Kouji's sweatdrops grew bigger.

"Anou…Tasuki, no da," Chichiri advised. "kindly pull yourself together. You're embarrassing everyone here, no da. And stop that yelling, no da, I can't talk to Kouji about our circumstances with you making such a racket here, no da."

At that reprimand, Tasuki ceased struggling.

"Are ya gonna behave now, Gen?" Kouji asked, even as he released his friend.

"Yeah, I guess I kinda over reacted. Chiri, you can start your explanations now."

Chichiri nodded and immediately launched into their predicament. Basically, he told Kouji what he told Houki, only adding the parts where they had met and fought off the highway robbers.

At the end of the tale, Kouji arched his eyebrow.

"Yer telling me that that god awful ugly chicken-like thingy that came with y'all is our god, Suzaku?"

"Anou…hai, no da. Demo he will go back to normal in a month and a half and that is the reason why we came here, no da; we did not want all of Konan to know what had happened to their esteemed god, no da. Similarly, we did not want Kutou to know too; think of what will happen if they do, they'd never let us forget this, no da!!"

"I see yer point." Kouji nodded. "Very well, you people are welcome in Mt. Reikaku for as long as you like. Say, by the way, where's Suzaku?"

Chichiri stared at Sable who stared at Tasuki who stared back at Chichiri.

"I thought YOU had him!!" they said to each other.

"Bakayarou!! I was carrying Kitten, how could I have Suzie!!"

"Suzie??" Kouji asked.

"Suzaku, no da." Chichiri answered. "He's not with me either. After teleporting all of us here, no da, I was too dazed to do anything, no da."

"And I was too busy supporting Chichiri!!"

"Okay, if he's not here, then where is he?" Tasuki asked Kouji, who turned red.

"How was I to know? And I asked you three, remember? Baka!!"

"Okay…okay, stop the name-calling guys, let's calm down and recall," Sable instructed. "Now, where and when was the last time we saw Suzaku?"

"The last time was when I teleported everyone to the courtyard where all the bandits were, no da…"

The trio stared at each other,

"SHIT!!" They yelled. As one, they raced to the courtyard, with a surprised Kouji trailing slightly behind.

"Dammit. Dammit." Tasuki chanted as they sprinted in the direction of said courtyard. "Kuso. Shit. This is not good. Bandits plus Suzaku equals to…"

Chaos.

The foursome skidded into the place just in time to see pure, unadulterated chaos. The said kami-sama was screeching at the top of his chicken lungs as he ran/waddled frantically around the courtyard to avoid capture. The band of bandits were chasing after the god, just as equally determined to catch the bird, if not for the only reason of getting it to shut up.

Suzaku obviously saw the arrival of his seishis as he immediately ran/waddled towards them.

//MY SEISHI!! HELP ME!! THOSE HEATHENS ACTUALLY THINK THAT I'M A GIFT TURKEY!!//

Upon hearing that, Tasuki could not help but laugh out loud. However, he did fulfill his duty as his god's seishi by striding forward and picking up Suzaku.

Sable and Chichiri merely shook their heads and smiled. Kouji looked at the trio oddly. He had not heard Suzaku mind-speak.

"Boss!! That stupid turkey is gonna be the death of us!!" one of the men panted.

"Yea!! Didn't know of a turkey that could make so much noise. Hell!! I don't know of any bird that can!!" another said.

Kouji frowned at that.

"Don't say that about the bird. You guys might not know but this bird is none other than…"

Sable, Chichiri and Tasuki looked at one another in near panic. It would not do for every one to know Suzaku's identity!

"Yeah," Tasuki cut in hurriedly. "This bird is none other that Chichiri's pet bird!!"

"No da?? MY bird??" Chichiri echoed as Sable and Tasuki nodded frantically. "Anou…hai, my pet bird, no da. Gomen-nasai for not telling you people and letting you all mistake him for a…" Chichiri remembered what Suzaku just said. "anou, for a…gift turkey, no da."

The bandits grumbled but seemed to accept the apology. Very soon, the band dispersed to attend to their individual chores.

The foursome, plus Suzaku, slowly walked back to the room where Kitten and the doctor were.

"Why didn't you want me to tell them about Suzaku?" Kouji asked.

"We'd appreciate it if as less people know about this as possible, no da. More people knowing about Suzaku means higher chance of Suzaku's identity being discovered by the world, no da."

"I see."

//WHO IS THIS MAN?//

"Oh, Suzaku," said Tasuki casually. "Meet my friend and the co-leader of the Mt. Reikaku bandits, Kouji."

Kouji immediately bowed courteously.

"Kami-sama."

Suzaku nodded regally.

//THANK YOU, KOUJI, FOR LOANING US MT. REIKAKU AND HELPING ME KEEP THIS EMBARESSING SECRET.//

"My pleasure, kami-sama." If Kouji was surprised by the voice that suddenly appeared in his head, he gave no indication of it.

The rest of the walk back was made in silence and they were about to reach the room's entrance when Sable spoke.

"Gomen-nasai, but Suzaku, why didn't you call out for us earlier?"

//THERE IS NO NEED TO. ANYWAY, KITTEN'S HEALTH IS MORE IMPORTANT. HOW IS SHE, BY THE WAY? ANY NEWS?//

Everyone shook their heads.

"But I think that we're about to find out soon, no da." Chichiri said just as the door to the room opened and a weary-looking man stepped out. Everyone gathered around the exhausted-looking physician as he closed the doors behind him carefully.

"How is Kitten?" Tasuki asked anxiously.

"If you're referring to that girl inside, then there's no need to worry. The weapon, whatever that it was, didn't hit any important organs, just some muscles. The reason that the girl had fainted is because of too much blood loss. She will wake up in a few hours time, depending on how exhausted she is. I've sewn her wound close. It will heal in a month's time." The doctor instructed the group some more on how to take care of the injury and left shortly after.

The group then trooped into the room. Sure enough, Kitten was still unconscious and her shirt was only kind of half on. Her left shoulder was swathed with snowy white bandages that were beginning to become slightly tinted by bloodstains.

Sable immediately pulled the blankets over Kitten's prone body. It was cold up the mountain and furthermore, it would not do for the men to see Kitten in this half-dressed state.

"Okay, no da. The doctor said that Kitten is just plain exhausted, so it doesn't make sense for all of us to stand here and watch over her, especially when we ourselves are all tuckered out, no da."

"I agree with Chichiri here. You people must be exhausted too." Kouji said. "Why don't y'all go have some dinner first, and then we'd work out who is gonna watch over her at which time later, ne? For the moment, I will do the honors until y'all come back." At that, Kouji dragged a chair to the side of the bed and straddled it.

The group was still reluctant to leave. Kouji mock-glared at them.

"I said that I'd watch her!! So, what are y'all waiting for? Go to the cafeteria, now. Don't worry, I promise to keep my eyes glued on her at all times, okay?!!" Somehow, that didn't come out right and immediately a fist, a staff and a tessen landed on his head.

"Hentai-pervert!!"

"Itai!! Itai!! OUCH!! What was that for?!! Ya know I didn't mean it THAT way!!"

The trio merely shook their heads and with Tasuki still carrying Suzaku, they walked towards the cafeteria.

Dinner was a hurried affair. There was not much talking between the four of them, other than Tasuki's occasional hurrying.

"Relax, Tasuki, no da." said Chichiri between bites. "Not everyone has your seishi speed in eating, you know."

//I HAVE TO AGREE. TASUKI, STOP HURRYING US. IT IS VERY UNDIGNIFIED FOR ONE TO SHOVEL FOOD.// Suzaku said as he daintily picked on his fruits.

Eventually, half an hour later, to be exact, everyone finished their meals. They hurried back to the room again. Kouji, true to his word, was slouched in his chair, keeping watch.

"So, y'all back. Any idea who's gonna take first watch?"

//TASUKI.//

"Tasuki, no da."

"Of course, it is Tasuki."

Suzaku, Chichiri and Sable answered as one. Kouji looked at the trio before switching his attention to Tasuki.

"Sou ka…"

"NANI!! How do you three know!!" Tasuki asked loudly before subsiding. "Well, I suppose that you are correct. I will take first shift then."

"As if it isn't obvious. Who was the one who looked as if he himself is going to faint when he saw Kit's injury? Who's the one who threatened the doctor physical harm when he took too long to treat Kit? And who was the one who was so anxious to get back after dinner to see if Kit is any better?"

With each of the examples Sable listed, Tasuki turned redder.

Kouji took note of that obvious fact. `Interesting.' He thought.

"Well…anou…I was supposed to protect her…" Tasuki stammered out an excuse.

The group merely smirked in unison and ironed out a few more details before they all dispersed to settle for the night, leaving Tasuki and Kitten alone.

"I guess it's just you and me now, Kitten." Tasuki said as he sat on the chair that Kouji had vacated earlier.

He stared at Kitten's sleeping form. Unbidden, the memory of today's events rose to haunt him…

^^^^^^^^^^

"What say you if I call you bitch, huh?"

Kitten had paled at that savage remark and Tasuki had blanched, too. He had not meant it to be so…cruel, but more like as a joke. However, his inner self had reacted and it had come out as a snarl.

^^^^^^^^^^

Tasuki winced at that memory. It was true; he had hurt Kitten badly. But why, why was it that when he saw Kitten's hurt look, did he feel as if his own heart had been ripped out too?

"Dammit," he muttered. "What the fuck is going on here? Why do I feel as if I'm hurt too? And how the hell am I supposed to fix this?"

Tasuki rested his head on his arms.

"Kuso…" he spoke to Kitten's inert form. "Gomen-nasai, Kitten, I didn't mean to do that to you, actually. I…I just don't know…"

Tasuki spent the rest of his watch deep in thoughts.

##########

Three hours later…

Kouji walked into Kitten's room. It was his turn to take over the shift. He saw Tasuki slumped against the chair, apparently asleep. Quickly, he awoke his friend and sent him to bed.

"Gen, I will look after her. You are tired too, go have yer rest."

"Anou…demo you have to call me when she wakes up, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah…off you go, then."

Tasuki left at last with great reluctance. Kouji smirked to himself.

"Hey, Kitten, I may not know you much, but from what I see, if you are willing to save your friend and get hurt yourself, you are either very close to your friend or just plain stupid."

He leaned against a pillar and continued.

"I wonder what is it between you and Genrou. All I know is that he seems extremely worried and guilty towards you. What had he done to you, huh? He has never acted like that towards girls before. Maybe there is really some grain of truth about the allure of foreign girls after all."

He shook his head with bemusement.

"Well, whatever it is, I hope that you'd get well soon. It'd be fascinating to see what will happen to you two. I really have to hand it to you, though, onna. That's some feat you managed. Congratulations…you have single handedly caused Tasuki to fall in love with you without even him knowing it."

At that remark, Kitten stirred and groaned softly. Kouji started at that and immediately strode over to the bed.

Amethyst eyes met brown ones.

"Anou…Kouji…is that you? So, we're at Mt. Reikaku, now? Where are the others? Chikuso, but my shoulder hurts."

"Whoa…whoa…slowly, onna, one question at a time"

Kouji answered Kitten's questions as best as he could. Kitten nodded at the end of it.

"I see…" she said. "Anou…so they're all resting now. Okay…"

Kouji stared at Kitten intently.

"Kitten…gomen-nasai, but can I call you by that? Are you feeling okay? You have been out for almost half a day."

"Hai, I'm okay, and you are welcome to call me Kitten, or even Kit."

"Anou…do you want to rest some more, or what?"

Kitten stared at Kouji as if he was crazy.

"Uh…in case you have forgotten, I had slept, albeit unwillingly, for half a day. I'd rather do the `or what' that you've just suggested."

"Okay…then do you mind if I ask you some questions?"

"Iie."

"Here goes, then. Can you tell me what is going on between you and Gen, Genrou that is?"

Kitten bit her lip as she contemplated how to answer. Should she tell the truth, or should she lie?

Kouji obviously guessed her intentions because he hurriedly added.

"Please tell me the truth. I'd like to know what is bothering Gen."

"Okay, then, Kouji. If you insist."

Kitten told him everything. How Tasuki and her were at loggerheads at just about everything, about all the amusing squabbles and name-calling that happened during the entire journey, about her decision to try to make friends with Tasuki, and lastly, she told him about the incident that happened before the robbers attacked.

"I see…" was all that he said when Kitten finished.

Kouji sighed.

`Gen, you are such a bakayarou sometimes.' He thought.

Kouji was about to suggest for Kitten to rest again, when the doors opened and Chichiri, Sable, Suzaku and Tasuki trooped in. He hadn't realized that it was dawn already.

"You are awake, no da."

"Kit!! Are you all right? Don't scare me like that in future, okay? And next time, when something like that happens, please let me deal with it." Sable rushed.

Kitten grinned at Sable.

"What?!! And miss your mollycoddling after that? Fat chance I will!"

"Well, no da, I can see that you're almost back to normal, no da."

Chichiri turned to look at Tasuki, who was at that moment, glaring at Kouji.

"Why didn't you inform me when Kitten had awakened?"

"Hey, Gen, yer tired remember? And I've decided that you need your rest. After all, it is not like you've missed anything important. Look, I'm gonna go take a nap or something now. Help me look after the Mt. Reikaku affairs for a while, ne?"

With that, Kouji walked out of the door.

Once outside, he shook his head. `Genrou no baka…if I'm not wrong, he still has NO IDEA what is going on. Well, that's Genrou for you. Once obtuse and blunt, always obtuse and blunt. Things like that will never change.'

He started walking towards his room.

`I guess it is up to me now to help my bro see sense. It is so obvious that both of them like each other. I wonder what I can do…" Kouji thought as he neared his room.

Suddenly, an idea came to his head. He smirked.

`This next month is going to be interesting. Hell for Gen, but definitely gonna be very entertaining for everybody else. But for now,' he yawned as he slipped into his room and sprawled on his bed. `I'm gonna get some well deserved rest. Let the games begin when I wake up,' was his last thought before he fell asleep.

Heheheh…chapter 8 end. I think that this chappie was a little boring for everyone. Gomen-nasai!! But, as I've put in for the title, there are a lot of explanations in this chapter. For next chapter, you people are gonna know of Kouji's little plan and maybe I'd add in some WAFF (warm and fuzzy feelings, for those who don't know) for Chichiri and Sable. Sorry for keeping you readers waiting, but I do realize that Chichiri and Sable's relationship has not been progressing lately and I promise that I'd try to remedy that long overdue fact (thanks to Riverwood for that suggestion). Also, special thanks to Metajoker for the enlightening `Japanese lessons'. Heheh. Well, till then, please review!! Arrigato gozaimasu!! ^___~