Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ The Girl Who Didn't Believe ❯ Now What? ( Chapter 15 )

The Girl Who Didn't Believe

Konnichi wa,minna!! I'm back!! I know, it is still Chinese New Year; so let me wish all of you a Happy Chinese New Year!! Most of you must be wondering why I am rushing like mad to come out with as many chapters as I can for this whole week. It is because due to the festive season, we have a four-day holiday and so I can spend more time writing. Furthermore, after the holidays end, school is officially starting; which means that orientation is over!! *sniffles* Which also means that I won't be able to write as quickly as I did before, so you got my reason!!

Okay, back to the usual stuff; gomen nasai for all the spelling, tenses and grammar errors that I might make in the future. And onegai, ppl out there, please help me review this fic. Arrigato gozaimasu. ^__^

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the FY characters. They belong to Yuu Watase. I do own Kitten and Sable, though.

`…' = thoughts

//…// = telepathic conversation

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

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

********** = dream sequence

That's all, minna!! Enjoy!!

Chapter 15-Now What?

The group watched as Suzaku disappeared.

There was a long moment of silence.

Then Tasuki spoke up.

"Well, he's gone."

That sentence snapped the rest out of their stupor.

Kouji tested the weight of the daggers.

"It sure was fun with him around."

"I agree, no da."

Kitten glared at the men.

"What are you all talking about?!! We will see Suzie in four and a half months time!! You guys are talking as if you all already had him dead and buried six feet under!!"

Tasuki sweatdropped.

One and a half months ago, Kitten had treated Suzaku like her number one public enemy. One and a half months later, she had switched sides to become Suzaku's staunchest defender.

"Anou…Kitten, there is no need to be so agitated. You will see Suzaku again, so don't you worry."

Kitten glared at Tasuki before slumping a little.

"Demo…demo what kind of friend is Suzaku anyway?!!" the blue-haired girl burst out. "He didn't even come to say goodbye to each of us personally; just left dramatically."

Tasuki walked over to Kitten then, and nudge her with his shoulder.

"Ne, Kit, you are upset because of that? Demo don't you know, he is a god, it won't do if he makes sappy exits, you know."

Kitten had to smile at the picture she had conjured up, thanks to Tasuki's descriptions.

"Hai, no da. I agree with Tasuki."

Chichiri's intrusion immediately reminded the girl of what had happened before the Suzaku's untimely exit.

"You shut up!!" The amethyst-eyed girl snarled at the man. "I still have not dealt with you for hurting Sable like that!! This is for Sable!!"

Thus said, Kitten stalked towards Chichiri. Before, Tasuki could stop her; Kitten raised her hand and brought them down on Chichiri's cheek. Hard.

The slap of palm against flesh echoed in the stunned silence.

"What the…Kit, what do you think you are doing? Apologize to Chichiri immediately!!" Kouji muttered at last.

Chichiri, to his credit, did not flinch. Instead, he lowered his head and took off his mask.

"Iie, Kouji, demo I deserve it. By telling the truth, I have hurt Sable. I deserve all of it."

Kouji was confused.

"What are you talking abou…"

Tasuki interrupted.

"Kouji, I won't ask if I were you; this thing is very complicated."

The scarred bandit raised an eyebrow and realized that Tasuki was right; he would not want to know; by now the tension in the courtyard was so thick that he could easily cut it with a knife.

"Hai." The bandit said at last. "Yer right, Gen. I don't think that I want to know. Anou…I will leave all of you here to sort out your differences. Until tomorrow, oyasumi nasai."

Tasuki watched his best friend retreat into the safety of the building.

"Coward." He muttered under his breath even as he turned his attention back to Kitten and Chichiri.

Kitten was surprised that Chichiri did not even attempt to dodge her slap. There and then she knew that Chichiri would never have hurt Sable if he could have avoided it. But then, on the other hand, Sable is her best friend and she had to defend the brunette. So, Kitten was about to rip into Chichiri's hide when Sable finally interrupted.

"Iie, Kitten. It was not Chichiri's fault at all. He didn't hurt me. He was just being truthful. Anyway…this is not the way to treat your protector. Furthermore, this is not the time for conflict. We need to decide which capital to head to next." Sable admonished slightly. Turning to a surprised Chichiri, she continued. "Gomen nasai, Chichiri, daijoubu?"

"Ha…hai." Chichiri stammered. He did not know what to make of this. How could she be so calm after all that he had done to her?

"Okay then," Sable said matter of factly. "I suggest for all of us to go and rest for the night and then we will discuss the details for our journey tomorrow. I think that all of us are worn out by today's unexpected event."

"Hai." Tasuki and Kitten chorused.

"In that case, I will return to my room then. Oyasumi nasai." Sable turned and walked away.

Tasuki stared at Chichiri.

"Well, what are you waiting for? You really want Kit to pop you one? Go after Sable!!"

Moved into action, Chichiri nodded and strode after the brunette.

Kitten and Tasuki watched their friends leave the courtyard.

"Sou ka…did Chichiri tell you why he did that?"

"Iie, he refuses to say. But I'm sure that he has his reasons."

"I know." Kitten said. "He is really sorry; he wouldn't have stood there for me to hit if he weren't."

Tasuki looked at Kitten.

"I do not understand…but then…" He leant close to Kitten. "Don't ever let that happen to us, ne?"

Kitten smirked.

"Don't you worry about that; if you even attempt to try to do something like what Chichiri did, I will swear that I will unman you. In the most painful way ever."

Tasuki winced.

"Hai, and let's say that your persuasion has done wonders in convincing me."

##########

Chichiri finally caught up with Sable at her doorstep. He suddenly felt very awkward as he did not know what to say next.

"Anou…Sable."

Sable stopped and turned.

"Chichiri."

`Why can't he leave me in peace?' she thought quietly. `It is bad enough that I am fighting a losing battle against myself; it is near impossible to lock him away in my mind.'

"Boku wa…boku wa…gomen nasai, Sable. I didn't mean to hurt you. Demo my feelings are already set on…Kouran." Chichiri rushed out even as his mind protested.

`You are lying, Chichiri mine…uso yo…'

"I know, Chichiri; I'm sorry if my feelings for you have made you feel awkward. I will make sure that it doesn't happen again."

Chichiri looked at Sable. Is she really that forgiving?

"Then you are not angry at me?"

"Iie. Why would I be?" Sable asked the blue-haired man.

"But I hurt you…"

"Hai," Sable confirmed. "You did injure me when you were being so cold and all; but I know that you didn't do it purposely; you just wanted to make things clear between us. I understood what you were trying to accomplish and I respect you for it."

Chichiri looked as if he was going to say some more but Sable quickly interrupted with a large yawn.

"Chichiri, gomen nasai, but today had really tired me out. If that is all, I bid you good night."

"Ha…hai. Oyasumi nasai."

Chichiri watched as Sable entered her room and shut the door.

Turning, he made to leave but a thought halted him in his tracks.

`Why does Sable's calm acceptance of my rejection of her make me feel so…empty inside?"

##########

`Why didn't I react when Chichiri rejected me?'

Sable sat on her bed and wondered.

`Why can't I cry? Why won't the tears come?'

She did not know why, but all her feelings concerning Chichiri were numbed.

`Maybe this is what enables me to still talk to him so normally.'

The sensitive part of her had wanted to weep, but the other part, the sensible one, had calmly analyzed the entire situation and decided that such actions were useless and may even distress those around her. Both parts compromised at last; Sable would not cry, and all feelings about Chichiri would be frozen to help facilitate that.

Sighing, Sable prepared herself for bed. No use wondering about what had happened. The best thing to do now is to concentrate on treating Chichiri like a friend.

##########

The next morning dawned bright and early.

"Wakey wakey up!! Sable!!"

Sable forced open an eye to see her disgustingly cheerful friend. The fact that anyone could be so happy at this early in the morning was beyond the brunette's comprehension.

"Don'tdisturbmelemmesleepsomemore…"

"Come on!!" Kitten tugged away the blankets that covered Sable. In reaction, the girl flinched as the cold morning air reached her warm body.

"Brrrrr…"

"Are you going to wake up now?" The overly genki girl demanded.

"Hai…hai." Sable muttered. However, she made no move to vacate her comfy bed.

Kitten sighed.

`I suppose that I shouldn't rush Sab so…after all. Yesterday had been very trying for her…with Chichiri suddenly turning on her like that and all…'

"Don't do it, Kit. Don't pity me."

Kitten stared at her friend.

"Na…NANI!!" The blue-haired girl stammered. "I don't know what you are talking about…"

Sable sat up and crawled out of bed then.

"You were about to let me have my way, didn't you? Seeing that yesterday's little run-in with Chichiri had shaken me and all, ne?"

Kitten was shocked, to say the least. She looked suspiciously at her friend.

"How did YOU know that?"

Sable looked slightly surprised then.

"Wakarinai." The brunette confessed as her friend facefaulted. "I was trying my best to go back to sleep when your voice rang out in my head; saying something about not wanting to rush me too much due to yesterday's events."

"Demo…demo…" Kitten stuttered. "How can THAT be possible!!"

Both looked at each other. And came to the same conclusion.

^^^^^^^^^^

Next, the phoenix god turned to the girls.

"For you both, I have helped to awaken the magical abilities that had before lain dormant in you. I think that they might help in your quests."

^^^^^^^^^^

"Suzaku!!" Sable exclaimed. "Because of him, I think that we can communicate telepathically now. Why don't you give it a try, Kit?"

Kitten looked dubious but agreed. She concentrated hard and asked:

//SABLE!! CAN YOU HEAR ME!!//

The said girl winced.

//Kit, // Sable's exasperated voice transmitted itself into Kitten's mind. //Please do not concentrate so hard whenever you want to talk telepathically; when you do that, I believe that your voice is amplified a few times over.//

//OOPS. Heheh. I mean oops. Gomen nasai, ne, Sab?"//

Sable shook her head.

The pair of them must be looking like imbeciles. If anyone were to look into the brunette's room earlier, all that they will see is the girls doing nothing but staring at each other and smiling slightly for the past ten minutes.

"Kit…now that you have woken me up, let's go for breakfast."

//Hai!! I'm hungry, come to think of it!!//

Sable sweatdropped.

"Anou…Kit…can we talk normally? I find it very stupid to talk telepathically when we are alone."

The younger girl made a face.

//Spoilsport.//

Sable threw her hands up then.

"Hmm…why do I even care?!!" Unbeknownst to her, Kitten had actually succeeded in doing what she had come for: to cheer up the green-eyed girl. "Wait for me here while I go brush teeth."

//Hai!!//

Sable did not even bother to react.

##########

Kitten and Sable were already having breakfast in the cafeteria when the men arrived.

"Ohayo g!!

"Ohayo to you too!!"

The men settled down beside the girls.

"So," Kouji started. "Y'all settled yer indifferences already?"

Silence as Kitten and Tasuki stopped what they were doing and stared at Sable and Chichiri.

Chichiri was stumped. What was he to say?

"Oh…hai." Sable said at last. "There was a slight misunderstanding; everything is cleared now. Chichiri and I are good friends again!!"

Chichiri looked gratefully at Sable.

"Ah…so that was what yesterday was about, ne? Both of you had a disagreement. Tsk…tsk." Kouji said. "I had expected the two of you to be the more matured ones, ya know? But then," the scarred bandit exaggerated. "I have to agree that the habits of Tasuki and Kitten does tend to rub on people the wrong way…"

Chichiri and Sable sweatdropped.

"Anou…"

"What do you mean by `the more mature ones'?" Tasuki demanded.

"Yeah!! And what habits do we have that rubs people the wrong way?" Kitten glared. For once, the two were on the same side of an argument.

Sweatdrops grew bigger.

Kouji looked amused at the fuming looks that were thrown at him and continued eating his breakfast.

"So," Kouji said again after he swallowed a mouthful of food. "Where are you people going to next?"

Kitten looked at Sable.

"Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know; maybe Kutou?"

That got a reaction from both seishi. A big one. Both surged out of their seats, alarming the girls a little.

"Na…Nani?!!"

"You can't be serious!!" Tasuki said. "Seiryu will flatten us gladly!!"

"Hai, no da!!"

Kitten and Sable looked calmly at each other.

//What do you think?// Kitten asked Sable telepathically.

//I don't see any problems with Kutou. In fact, I think that we should go there as soon as possible; we don't know what evil plans that Seiryu might hatch if we give him more time to think about the challenges he should mete us. Anyway, we have to face him sooner or later…so why not now?//

Kitten agreed.

//Okay then. I see no fault in your reasoning. We will go to Kutou.//

The three men were extremely curious.

Tasuki, Kouji and Chichiri looked on as Sable and Kitten stared intently at each other.

"What are they doing?" Kouji asked.

"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Tasuki muttered back.

Chichiri had a nagging suspicion that he knew what was going on, but he did not voice it out. Not yet, anyway.

Tasuki was about to ask the girls when they snapped out of it.

"We will go to Kutou." Kitten said.

"Hai." Sable backed Kitten.

That immediately distracted the men from their original question.

"Onna!! Do you want us to die early!! I'm still young, you know?!!" Tasuki started.

Kitten rolled her eyes and turned to Kouji.

"Why did you ever pick such a whiny wimp to be your best friend?"

Of which Kouji calmly retorted, "The same reason why you picked the same whiny wimp to be your koibito."

Kitten turned red from hyperventilating. Tasuki's mouth opened and shut like a fish out of water. He could not believe what he had just heard, and coming from the mouths of his best friend and girlfriend too. Chichiri daaaed while Sable, the brunette laughed.

Chichiri looked at Sable discreetly. Her husky laughter had secretly pleased him. It had bothered him a lot when she was upset; firstly because he was the one who hurt her; and secondly because he could sense all her emotions.

Kitten recovered then, and she mock glared at Kouji, who gamely pretended to be petrified.

"I will get you for this, Kouji!!"

"As per normal, I'd like to see you try."

Kitten sniffed then and turned back to the pressing matters at hand.

"Sable and I kinda agreed that we should move on to Kutou first."

Tasuki narrowed his eyes.

"Doushite?"

"Anou…because good things always come last?"

Kouji rolled his eyes.

"Wrong answer, Kit."

Kitten grinned.

"I know…I was trying to be funny…"

More exasperated looks.

"Okay, okay!!" Kitten said. "Sab will explain. She is much better at this than I am. I swear, you guys have no sense of humor."

"Yeah…" Tasuki muttered. "And you have a depraved sense of humor."

Kitten heard, and unfortunately for everyone else except the redhead (he deserved it. Totally.), an argument ensued.

It actually took half an hour before Sable could continue with her explanation.

Turns out that when the duo started quarrelling, Kouji, with precious little to amuse him, had decided to use that squabble as sort of an early morning entertainment. He refused to help Sable and Chichiri break up the fight, and instead, yelled words of `encouragement' to further instigate the bicker. At last, Chichiri had to use his staff to knock some sense into the older bandit, and he finally quit baiting the two.

When everybody had settled down reasonably again, Sable started to explain.

"You see, I think that we should go there as soon as possible as we do not know what other plans Seiryu might hatch if we give him any more time to think about the challenges he should mete us. Anyway, we have to face him sooner or later, so I don't see any problem with that."

"Demo…demo still, we cannot go to Seiryu's domain first!!" Tasuki sputtered indignantly. "The other gods will think that we favor him or something!!"

Chichiri stared thoughtfully at the seishi bandit.

"I think that Sable is right, no da." He said at last, much to the astonishment of Tasuki. "Her reasoning is good, no da, and anyway, Suzaku had already made peace with Seiryu, no da, so by going to Kutou first, we are, in a diplomatic way, showing him that we support the truce."

Kouji stared at Tasuki, who was hyperventilating.

"Come on, Gen, he's right, ya know."

"Demo…demo…" Tasuki was running out of excuses. He had a bad feeling about going to Kutou.

Kitten sighed dramatically.

"You know what, Tasuki?" The said girl asked. "Since you are so afraid, why don't you stay here with Kouji for the next one and a half month and let Chichiri and us head to Kutou alone?"

Tasuki turned redder still.

"I am not afraid of Seiryu!! I am not afraid of anything, period!! I was just had an uneasy feeling that's all!!"

Kitten smiled toothily at the redhead.

"Nani? I thought that you were afraid of girls and water…"

Tasuki growled in reply while Kouji looked surprised.

"Hey, Gen, I know that you don't like girls but…" he started laughing. "Yer scared of water too? Yer a bloody hammer, or what?"

Tasuki's glare at Kitten promised painful revenge. Kitten merely smiled wider.

"Stop calling me a hammer!!" Tasuki grumbled at Kouji. "It's bad enough that obake-chan and gay boy calls me that all the time; so not you too!!"

"They called you that too?!!" the laughter grew louder.

Tasuki turned chibi then, and started bopping an equally chibi tessen on his friend's stupid head.

"Itai!! Itai!! Okay, I will stop!! Stop hitting me with that damn harisen!!"

Tasuki popped back to normal then.

Chichiri sweatdropped while Kitten and Sable grinned.

"Anou…so it is settled, no da. Kutou it is, no da. Are you agreeable with that, Tasuki, no da?"

Tasuki glared affronted at Chichiri.

"Do I have a fucking choice?"

Sweatdrop grew bigger.

"Okay," Sable continued. "We will rest and pack today and set out for Kutou tomorrow morning. Is that all right?"

Nods from all directions as the group resumed eating their breakfast.

##########

In the realms of the gods…

"HAH!! I won the bet!! I won the bet, Genbu!! Pay up!! Pay up!!"

The said god of the north grumbled even as he pulled out bags of gems from mid air and surrendered them into the gloating hands of his tiger brother.

Seiryu smirked. Genbu and Byakko had been betting on which country the Suzaku's seishi and the two girls would go next. Byakko had bet on, needless to say, Kutou, while Genbu had betted on his own country, Hokkan.

The dragon god turned his attention to his younger brother.

Suzaku was at that moment, staring anxiously at a mirror.

Seiryu shook his head.

Without even going up front to look into the mirror, he knew that the phoenix was no doubt looking over the four mortals. Again. Suzie's one and a half stay with those mortals had seemed to strike a protective chord in him.

"Sou ka…" the dragon said, startling Suzaku a little. "Now, they are very brave to choose my domain."

Suzaku frowned at Seiryu.

"They are only mortals. Please reconsider your challenge, whatever it is."

"Nonsense. Two of them are your seishi. And if love is enough for your miko to overcome mine, I'm sure that whatever I set for them will be considered easy. However," Seiryu paused meaningfully. "There seems to be some trouble in paradise…"

Suzaku sighed. He had hoped that Seiryu would not notice that. But that was too much to ask for. The dragon god was very alert to all that happened around him, and he won't hesitate to use what he had found.

"Hai, brother. There is some problem between Chichiri and Sable. My seishi can't seem to forget a past love."

The handsome blue-haired man arched an eyebrow.

"Sou ka…how interesting…"

Suzaku looked suspiciously at his brother and groaned inwardly.

"Iie, Seiryu…you are not going to make use of that fact, are you?"

"Wakarinai…I might, or I might not…" The said kami-sama trailed off as he watched his brother start turning slightly pink with dismay.

Remembering what always happened whenever Suzaku gets too frustrated, Seiryu backed off. Fast.

"Anou…I have to go back to Kutou to prepare a welcoming for your mortals. Until then, ja na!!" The god of the east poofed and disappeared, even as his younger brother let loose a screech of aggravation.

##########

Somewhere in Kutou, was a young man. He was barely twenty-five, but was already one of the highest ranking officials in the country. Like the blond shogun of Kutou who perished two years ago, he was also from the Hin tribe, and just as handsome and intelligent as his predecessor. He had no lack for feminine company, and could be as tenacious as a bulldog when he is after something. All in all, he is an exact replica of Nakago's characteristics. However, one thing that he did not have in common with the shogun is that Kamui genuinely cared for the well being of the country, and that had put him in Seiryu's good books.

The blond man was in the imperial palace attending to state affairs when Seiryu dropped in.

"Who are you." The man stated calmly, as if people appeared and disappeared into his room everyday.

//Kamui…who am I indeed?// the dragon god raised himself to his impressive height. //I am Seiryu, the protector god of Kutou.//

Kamui raised a blond eyebrow.

//Impress me.//

Seiryu smirked. The boy sure learns fast. The god raised a hand, and pulled a mirror out of mid air.

//Watch, Kamui. Mirror, show me Sable!!//

Sure enough, the mirror cleared and revealed Sable.

Kamui watched expressionless as the brunette laughed with another blue-haired girl. Something about the brown-haired girl captured his attention.

It was her beautiful green eyes.

Although she was laughing outwardly, those haunting eyes remained sad.

Kamui was captivated. Both men watched until the image faded away and the mirror fogged until it was back to normal.

Kamui looked Seiryu in the eye confidently.

//I want her.//

Seiryu smiled.

//That was what I hoped…//

Chapter 15 finished!! Ha ha!! How was it!! Gomen nasai for Kitten slapping Chichiri!! Please do not flame me for that!! Sympathize with Kitten: What would you do if a guy hurts your best friend? Okay he is very bishie, but still Kit has no choice, ne?!! Sorry, and I will make sure that Kitten apologizes to Chichiri later on, okay? ^^ Sorry if the name Kamui was kinda unoriginal. I got it from X. Gomen!! I just can't think of any other name!! ^^ I hope that the plot is okay…Well, nothing much to write, except for readers to please review!! Arrigato gozaimasu!! And a Happy Chinese New Year to all!!