Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ The Girl Who Didn't Believe ❯ The Chase Is On ( Chapter 18 )

The Girl Who Didn't Believe

Okay, for the first time, I have no footnotes…Just let me say the usual and we will go on with the story. Okay, gomen nasai for all the spelling, tenses, and grammar errors that I might make in this chapter. Arrigato gozaimasu and onegai, please review this fic after reading. Thanks. ^^

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 18- The Chase Is On

"Don't you understand, Sable? I am here to protect you."

Sable was stunned. What did that mean?

"You are joking, aren't you?" Kitten asked nervously.

Kamui straightened from Sable.

"Iie, I do not make jests out of matters like this. Seiryu had told me that Sable is mine."

"Demo…demo…" Tasuki sputtered. He looked to Chichiri for help but the blue-haired seishi was still in shock.

"Seiryu told you THAT?!!"

Kamui smiled. The redhead seemed to have some trouble hearing.

"Hai."

"Demo he can't just do that!!" Kitten protested. "Sable is a person; Seiryu can't just give her to you!!"

"You are mistaken; Seiryu didn't gift her to me. He had merely said that Sable is mine for the taking if I can win her heart in the next one and a half months." The blonde man lowered his head. "Furthermore, I think that she will make me a good wife."

Sable stared at Kamui in a whole new perspective.

`He saved me because he wants to marry me?'

Chichiri snapped back from his shock then.

"NANI!! You want to marry Sable?!!" The seishi asked. "Demo, you have only known of her existence just two days ago!! How do you know that she is the one for you?!!"

Kamui raised thickly lashed eyes to look Sable square in the eyes.

"I had an inkling the moment Seiryu introduced me to her. When I finally saw her today, my inkling was more or less confirmed."

Kitten stared at Kamui uncomfortably.

`This guy really means what he says.' The blue-haired girl thought. `He is really going to go after Sable.'

Sable interrupted then.

"Anou…gomen nasai, Kamui…but I don't even know you as a friend or anything…"

Kamui smiled tenderly at the brunette.

"Never mind about this now, you will understand what I mean someday. For now, you should rest."

Sable nodded.

"Hai."

Kamui strode to the door.

"I will leave you with your friends now." Turning to the other three, he said. "When you all are ready to leave Sable's room, just pull the cord and a servant will appear to direct you to your rooms. I apologize for not being able to entertain all of you; there are affairs that I need to see to. Until tonight, ja na."

The foursome watched the man vacate the room. When he was gone, Kitten started laughing.

Sable glared at her friend.

"You think that this is very hilarious, don't you?"

A nod.

"Sab, when we were in our own world, you weren't even that popular!! Now that we came into the Universe of the Four Gods, it seems that guys are falling all over you!! The irony of it all!!"

Sable sighed.

"But I don't want Kamui to like me…"

Kitten sobered.

"Why not? He is drop dead gorgeous, dashing, famous, rich…did you see how he charged in and saved you? And he wants to wed you too!! Hoo boy, if I were you, I'd go after him!!"

Tasuki glowered at Kitten.

"Whatever thoughts you are having, kindly remember that you are already taken. And what's so good about blondie, anyway? He is a KUTOU official, for Suzaku's sake!!"

"You say that as if it is a bad thing." Kitten replied.

Tasuki turned red.

"Of course it is!!"

Kitten sweatdropped and turned back to Sable.

"Anou…Sable, as Kamui said, don't you worry about that now. It is not as if that he is going to carry you off in the middle of the night or something; he is gonna woo you, ne? So sit back and enjoy!!"

Sable flushed and peeked at Chichiri to see how he was taking all this. However, to the brunette's frustration, Chichiri's mask prevented her from gauging his emotions.

The girl was about to ask the seishi for his input when she suddenly yawned.

"I think that Sable is tired, no da, not to mention all of us too, no da. Why don't all of us go to our own rooms for some rest before we discuss this again during dinner, no da?"

Kitten and Tasuki nodded. Everyone bid Sable goodbye and Kitten pulled the cord before going outside with the two seishi to await the arrival of the servant who would lead them to their rooms.

Sable waited for the door to be closed before yawning again. Burrowing into the comfy confines of the blanket, the exhausted girl fell asleep quickly.

##########

In the realm of the gods…

"SEIRYU!! YOU SLIMY WORM!!"

Seiryu turned to see Suzaku storming towards him.

"Yes, Suzaku?"

The said kami-sama glared murderously at his dragon brother.

"How could you introduce your Kamui to my Sable!! You knew very well that Sable was meant for Chichiri!!"

The armored man shrugged.

"So? YOUR Chichiri wasn't going to cherish her, so MY Kamui will. And by the way, be careful, you are turning dangerously pink, little brother."

"You…you…" Suzaku sputtered even as he hurriedly took deep calming breaths.

Genbu and Byakko strolled by.

"What is going on?" The tiger god asked inquisitively.

Suzaku turned to his second brother, turning bright pink with renewed agitation.

"HE interfered with Sable!!"

Byakko took a cautious step back.

"Whoa…Suzaku, you should calm down a little."

Genbu agreed.

"Hai, Suzaku, you will calm down first."

The phoenix glared at his brothers before closing his eyes and thinking peaceful thoughts. Slowly, he stopped glowing THAT pink.

"Okay," Suzaku nodded. "Okay. I am feeling better now. As I was saying, he, Seiryu, interfered with Sable!!"

"Oh?" Genbu was curious. "What did he do?"

"The disgusting snake introduced his Nakago clone to Sable!! And now, the said clone is in love with the girl and is determined to court her!!"

"Don't call me that, bird brain!!"

"Oh?!! I will call you what I want to, lizard breath!!"

Byakko frowned

"Come on, you two are like, what? Five centuries old already? And yet you are behaving like little kids."

Seiryu did not bother to answer.

Suzaku turned a shade brighter.

Byakko and Genbu looked at each other before retreating slightly away from the phoenix.

"What?!!" Suzaku cried out. "Why are you two going backwards?!! And I want you to answer me; who is right, me or Seiryu?!!"

"Uh…" Genbu ventured cautiously. "Why don't you think peaceful thoughts first, Suzaku? You are getting too worked up."

The god of Konan immediately started thinking calm thoughts and beautiful scenery.

"You know," Byakko said while Suzaku was doing just that. "I think that Seiryu is not in the wrong. After all, your mortals are in his territory and therefore he could do what he wants to them."

"Deep thoughts, beautiful scenery, Deep thoughts, beautiful scenery, Deep thoughts, beautiful scenery, Deep thoughts, beautiful scenery, Deep thoughts, beautiful scenery, Deep thoughts, beautiful scenery, Deep thoughts, beautiful scenery…" Suzaku muttered to himself.

"Yeah, I think I agree." Genbu added. "Seiryu can do what he wants to them."

"Deepthoughtspeacefulscenerydeepthoughtspeacefulscenerydeepthou ghtspeacefulscenerydeepthoughtspeacefulscenerydeepthoughtspeacefulsceneryde epthoughtspeacefulscenerydeepthoughtspeacefulscenerydeepthoughtspeacefulsce nery…"

Seiryu smirked.

"Of course I have the right to do what I want…I'm just humoring Suzie here…"

"CALMTHOUGHTSPEACEFULSCENERYCALMTHOUGHTSPEACEFULSCENERYCALMTHOU GHTSPEACEFULSCENERYCALMTHOUGHTSPEACEFULSCENERYCALMTHOUGHTSPEACEFULSCENERYCA LMTHOUGHTSPEACEFULSCENERYCALMTHOUGHTSPEACEFULSCENERYCALMTHOUGHTSPEACEFULSCE NERY CALMTHOUGHTSPEACEFULSCENERYCALMTHOUGHTSPEACEFULSCENERY…WHAT THE HELL, FURIOUS THOUGTS AND BLOODY SCENERY!! I HAVE ENOUGH!! YOU BAKA DRAGON!!"

Suzaku flared a bright pink as he stalked towards a surprised Seiryu.

"Don't blame me, brother, but I think you deserved it."

The redhead swung his fists and hit Seiryu hard on the face.

Seiryu's look of shock as he went down was comical indeed.

Genbu and Byakko cracked up.

No longer glowing that pink (not glowing pink at all, period), Suzaku looked at his hands with bemusement.

"Brothers," he announced. "I think that I have found a way to cure my strange affliction for turning into an infant."

Genbu and Byakko glanced at Seiryu, who was out cold, and laughed some more.

"Yeah, we agree." Byakko gasped. "It even has a side benefit of shutting dear old Seiryu up!!"

Suzaku grinned with his two older brothers.

His day was suddenly looking much brighter than it once was.

##########

It was nearing dinnertime and Chichiri was in one of the numerous gardens that graced Kamui's home. He had tried to rest in the guest room that was meant for him but sleep just would not come for him. Unbidden, thoughts of Sable invaded his mind.

`Sable…doushite? Why do I keep thinking of her? The delightful husky sound of her laughter, the concerned tilt of her head whenever she is listening to whatever I am saying…Why? And now…there is Kamui…'

The blue-haired man just did not know what to think of anymore. He did not understand why it made him feel so uncomfortable to see the blonde man and Sable together. Somehow, he felt somewhat…betrayed.

`But then,' the practical part of him said ruthlessly. `you were the one who chose to let her go. What right do you have to feel this way?'

`Yeah…' Chichiri thought to himself as he removed his mask. `What right do I have indeed? I have none at all. Sable and I, we are just not meant to be…I must try to remember that…and think of Sable's happiness from now on, not mine. Demo would Kamui make her happy?'

Even as he pondered on that, he felt an answering twinge deep inside him.

`IIE!! I MUST NOT think of my own wants!! Sables' are the most important!! After what you have done to hurt her feelings, you are still thinking of yourself?!!' The man scolded himself harshly. "You, Ri Houjun, are so selfish, you know?!! You cannot do that anymore!! From now on, you would make sure that Sable is happy!! You'll make her forget her infatuation with you even if it means that you have to put Kamui together with her!!"

Chichiri was still deep in thoughts when Tasuki walked by.

"Oi, Chiri!! There you are!! We were all looking for you!! It is time for dinner!! Let's go try some Kutou cuisine!! Not that they would be better than Konan's…What are you doing sitting in the garden anyway?"

Chichiri sweatdropped. Tasuki was a patriotic citizen of his country. In his opinion, whatever Kutou has, Konan have better.

"Iie…I was just sitting here and thinking, no da."

Tasuki merely gave his friend a speculative look. Chichiri gave no sign of acknowledging that look. He merely popped his mask back into place and summoned all the cheerfulness he could master into his next words.

"Anou…you said dinner right, no da? Let's go, I'm hungry, no da!"

The seishi prepared to vacate the garden.

"You know, Chiri, if you want her, fight for her."

Chichiri paused before the redhead.

There was a long pause and Tasuki wondered vaguely if his question was heard.

"Iie, Tasuki." Chichiri said at last, all signs of cheerfulness gone. "She deserves someone much better than me, someone like Kamui. Like it or not, I'm going to try my best to bring them together."

Tasuki was flabbergasted.

"What the fuck?!! You are just going to give up like that?"

"I think that Kutou cuisine would be quite delicious, no da."

Tasuki glared at Chichiri, who was walking away. It was obvious that the blue-haired seishi was done with the topic.

"Damn," the redhead muttered. "This is such a huge mess."

Rushing up Chichiri, he yelled. "IIE!! Iie, iie, iie!! Konan cuisine is better, I tell you!!"

##########

The dining room was huge and there was a gigantic round table in the middle. The searing arrangements were as followed: Kamui was seated beside Sable, with Kitten on the brunette's other side. Tasuki was in between Kitten and Chichiri, who was flanking the group.

Sable was still feeling too unstable to eat much despite Kamui's insistence. Kitten was observing the two of them with undisguised interest and Tasuki was helping himself to all the food that was placed on the table. Chichiri was just as determined as the redhead in eating. He seemed to renew his efforts in shoveling as much food as humanely possible every time he happened to look across the table to see Kamui fawning on the pretty brunette.

"Eat."

Sable looked a little queasy.

"Iie, Kamui. I do not have the appetite."

"You must eat, Sable. Already, you are too skinny. How about something light? Porridge, perhaps?"

Sable sighed. The man would never stop until he got his way.

"Hai."

Kamui nodded with satisfaction and when about the task of ordering a servant to prepare the porridge.

"Wow, Kamui," Kitten exclaimed lightly. "You sure take good care of Sable here."

Kamui's lips quirked whereas Sable blushed furiously.

"Kitten!!"

The mischievous girl looked innocently at her friend.

"What?!!"

Sable was about to open her mouth to say something else when she noticed an avid audience listening to the both of them.

"I…Iie. Nothing." She stammered at last, but glared at Kitten all the same, promising revenge.

Before anyone can say anything more, the servant arrived with the congee.

Sable looked at the bowl before her, sighed and began to take in a few bites. To her surprise, her appetite gradually increased and she ate more.

"Your servants are very efficient, Kamui." Kitten remarked.

A gracious nod.

"That is my most important requirement for them. Arrigato for the compliment. I will relay your praise to them."

Tasuki started to mutter something about Nakago being a control freak too, much to Kitten's exasperation.

"Okay, I'm done. I can't eat anymore." The brunette pushed away a bowl of half eaten porridge. Immediately, a servant silently appeared to clear the bowl. Sable thanked the man.

"Okay…" Kitten said cautiously when the manservant left. "What do we do now?"

Kamui stood up then.

"If you all do not mind, I'd like to spend some time with Sable alone."

It was not a request, but a statement.

"Demo I do mind…WHAT, ONNA?!!" Tasuki glared at Kitten, all the while rubbing his side where the girl had shoved her elbow.

Kitten shook her head and smiled sweetly at Kamui.

"Iie, iie, we do not mind at all. In fact, I think that a walk in the garden might make Sab feel better."

Actually, Kitten had other motives for putting the two of them together. She had figured that maybe Kamui might help ease the hurt that Chichiri had caused to her friend.

Sable stared at the blonde man who was extending his hands towards her and looked around the room for help.

Tasuki and Kitten were out as they were already busy squabbling with each other.

Which left Chichiri.

"Anou…Chichiri, do you want to go for a walk with us too?"

The brunette stared hopefully at Chichiri but to no avail. She watched disappointed as the seishi closed his eye briefly before declining.

"Iie, no da. I do not wish to go to the gardens, no da. I have just been there before dinner. Besides," Chichiri added. "I think that the both of you need to know each other better, no da."

Sable looked at the blue-haired man, who was feeling extremely uncomfortable by now.

`Doushite?' Sable thought with slight heartache. `Why is he so eager to push me towards Kamui? Doesn't he at least feel something for me?'

"Anou…I think that I will retire to my room; I had not rest today and am very tired, no da. Oyasumi." Chichiri left the room in a rush.

##########

The Suzaku shichi seishi strode to his room rapidly. He reached it in no time and entered it. Once inside, he shut the door and locked it.

Chichiri took off his mask then and clenched his fingers into painful fists. It actually took him quit awhile to unclench them again.

What he has done earlier on in the dining room had almost unmanned him.

It had taken a lot from his self-discipline not to disagree with Kamui and to push Sable to the man. He actually had to brace himself to say what he had to say. Sable would never know what it had cost him.

`Demo…' Chichiri expelled a painfully shaky breath. `Demo never mind. As long as it makes her happy again…I don't mind.'

##########

Kamui looked at the brunette.

"Well, let's go."

Sable nodded and accepted his offered hand. The two of them left the room unnoticed (by now, Tasuki and Kitten were having a food fight, much to the dismay of the servants) and moved in the general direction of one of the gardens.

"Why do they call you Sab?"

Sable glanced quickly at the tall, impassive man who was striding beside her.

"Oh…it is just a nickname." Sable rushed out. "You can call me Sab too, if you want."

Kamui smiled.

"Arrigato for the permission, demo iie, I will not. I prefer to go by your full name."

The girl tilted her head with curiosity.

"Doushite?"

"Because it is so beautiful," He stopped to tuck a strand of hair behind the girl's ear. "Just like it's owner."

Sable flushed.

Kamui acted as if everything was normal and continued escorting Sable to the garden.

Even in the moonlight, the garden was a beautiful place. Colored flowers adorned the pathway, perfuming the place with their delicate scent. There was a pavilion that graced the place, and Kamui led Sable there.

"Arrigato for bringing me here."

Kamui turned to observe the girl. She had her eyes closed and was contentedly taking in deep breaths of fresh air.

"Most women I know would not appreciate it if I were to bring them here. They prefer more material gifts. You are the first exception."

"Material gifts?" Sable echoed. "I'd rather prefer simple pleasures like this. It calms and relaxes me."

`Simple pleasure…" Kamui thought. `I like that.'

To him, Sable was like a breath of fresh air after years of being cooped up in a musty room. She intrigued him greatly and nobody had ever succeeded in doing that, be it a male or a female.

"Sou ka…about us, Sable…" The brunette tensed up rapidly but the man plunged on nonetheless. "I must tell you that I am determined to win your favors."

Sable stared wildly at Kamui.

`He can't be serious, can he?'

"Anou…Kamui…demo as I said before, I don't even know you well to become a friend…"

The man shook his head.

"I know, Sable, I know. I understand. Demo," he looked at her with fierce determination. "Give me a chance. It would be unfair if you disagree with something as harmless as that."

Sable pondered Kamui's request thoughtfully.

`Hai…it won't hurt to let him try. Anyway, it isn't as if he would listen to me. All he is doing now is just informing me that like it or not, he is coming after me. NO choice here. Furthermore,' the brunette thought with depression. `Chichiri was so eager to put us together…he all but charged off to leave us alone…is it really time for me to get over him?'

Sable was getting more and more confused.

`Is it really time for me to get over him?'

`Do I want to?'

`But I should, if I want all the hurt to stop. Demo…'

`Could I really let go of him so easily?'

`I must try…'

`No matter what, I must…'

`"Don't love anyone more that they love you," they say…'

`Maybe it really is time to let go…'

`But then again, maybe not…'

`How could you let go so easily the one you love?'

`What should I do?'

Sable closed her eyes and searched deep within herself.

What had she felt?

She probed the deepest part of her heart.

And gasped.

Her examination of her own feelings had brought back all the pain that she had thought was successfully numbed.

Now, all she felt was sorrow, anguish.

`Face it, Sable.' A voice whispered sadly. `How do you fight a dead woman? You can't. Can't you see? Can't you see that when Chichiri's beloved Kouran died, his heart followed her to the grave too. You can't do anything to change that. Let go. Don't hurt yourself unnecessary anymore…'

At that, Sable came to a conclusion.

Hesitantly, she put a hand on top of Kamui's.

"Sable."

Sable shut her eyes briefly.

`If this is really for the best, then why am I feeling such a strong sense of regret?'

`Iie…IIE!! Let him go!! You must!!'

When she opened them again, Kamui saw resolution in those beautiful dark green depths.

"Hai, Kamui."

`Am I right?'

`Will Kamui help me forget my feelings for Chichiri?'

`If it so…'

Sable staggered closer to the blonde man.

`Atashi wa…atashi wa…would like to know you better."

`If it is so…then…then why do I feel…as if…as if…I am throwing away something irreplaceable?'

Chapter 18 owari!! Arrigato gozaimasu to Nuriko no mikos for helping to beta-edit this chapter!! ^^ I look forward to working with you and thank you for all the compliments. You have made my head swell. @__@. Well, for all readers please review!! ^^ I am one-third through chapter 19 already ^^ Just to tell the usual reviewers that I will upload the next chapter by next week…Until then, ja, minna-san!!