Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ The Girl Who Didn't Believe ❯ The Morning After ( Chapter 19 )

The Girl Who Didn't Believe

Konnichiwa, minna!! ^^ I'm back with chapter 19!! Special thanks to all my reviewers for the ultra nice reviews that all of you have given me. Arrigato gozaimasu!! I will try not to disappoint you readers out there!!^^ Also, I'd like to thank Nuriko no mikos for helping me beta-edit all these chapters. YAY!! No need to ask you readers to forgive me for my horrible grammars!! ^^ Well, onward with the story!!

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 19-The Morning After

"Ohayo, minna!!"

"Ohayo, no da!!"

"…"

Kitten pranced into the breakfast room and settled into a chair beside Tasuki. So far, only the two seishi were present.

"Oi, Tasuki." The genki girl nudged her koibito. "What's up with you? Why are you so grouchy?"

The redhead in question slumped over the table.

"…don't disturb me…wanna sleep some more…"

Kitten sweatdropped.

"Seems that Tasuki is not fully awake yet, no da."

Kitten glanced across the table to look at Chichiri, who was helping himself to a serving of porridge. Kitten followed his example and too took a bowl of porridge.

"Sou ka…"

Chichiri glanced at the girl.

"Nani, no da?"

"About Sable and Kamui…"

The seishi stopped eating and looked sharply at the girl.

"Hai?"

Kitten looked nervously at Chichiri but plunged on determinedly. Tasuki was still dead to the world.

"Idon'tmeantooffendyoupleasedon'tthinktoomuchaboutthisdemoIthink thatKamuiwouldbegoodforSableandhenceIhopethatyouwouldnottrytointerfereinthe irbuddingrelationship."

The blue-haired seishi put down his spoon and there was a long silence.

"You do not have to worry; I am also keen to see the two of them together too. Sable deserves to be happy."

Kitten look up quickly.

"Honto desuka? You really don't mind?"

Kitten thought she saw Chichiri stiffen slightly but it happened so fast that she decided that it was her own imagination.

"Iie."

"Sugoi!!" Kitten smiled widely. "Then you can help me bring both of them together!! You really don't mind, right?"

"Hai."

Kitten looked at Chichiri curiously. Why was the man speaking in monosyllables today?

She was about to ask when Tasuki stretched and straightened from his slouch.

"Sou ka, it's a promise, ne, Chichiri?" Kitten hurried.

"Hai."

"What are you talking about? What have I missed?" The redhead reached lazily for Kitten's porridge and began to eat it.

"Anou…nan demo nai!! And stop eating my food!!" Kitten tried in vain to snatch away her bowl. "Go get your own, you slouch!!"

Tasuki, with his mouth full of food, muttered something unintelligible.

Giving up at last, the girl stalked over to get herself a new bowl of congee. She was settling back into the chair when Sable came in with Kamui.

"Ohayo!!"

"Ohayo."

"Ohayo, Sab, Kamui!!"

"Ohayo, no da!!"

Tasuki was still eating and did not bother with the pleasantries.

"Say, Sable," Kitten said slyly. "How did the two of you end up being together so early in the morning?"

The brunette flushed.

"Kamui was escorting me here. I sort of got lost."

The man in question gave no response to Kitten's teasing other than the amusement that darkened his sky blue eyes. He followed Sable to the breakfast table and sat the brunette down before settling down himself. Sable thanked him quietly and began reaching for a bowl that was way out of reach. The girl was about to stand up for it when the requested bowl appeared before her. Looking up, she saw that it was Chichiri who had helped.

There was an awkward silence as the two of them stared at each other. Kitten and Tasuki were busy eating and had not noticed.

However, neither saw the narrowed pale blue eyes that observed every movement the pair made with sharp clarity.

"Anou…you wanted this, no da?" Chichiri asked at last breaking the silence. He set the cutlery on the table.

"H…hai." Sable stammered. "Arrigato, Chichiri."

The said man merely nodded before sitting down again.

The meal commenced with silence for the next half an hour.

"Okay!! I'm done!!" Kitten jumped up from her seat. Tasuki too stood up slowly.

"Me too."

The girl turned to Chichiri.

"What about you, Chichiri?"

Chichiri stood up.

"Hai, no da. I'm done."

"Great!! Then let's go!! You said that you'd help me improve my abilities!!"

Chichiri looked confused.

"Nani? I did, no da?"

Kitten frowned at him.

"HAI. Did you FORGET?!!"

Chichiri sweatdropped.

"Hai. I guess I did promise that."

Tasuki scratched his head.

"Matte. What about Sable? Shouldn't we wait for her?"

Sable was still consuming her breakfast.

"It is all right." Sable smiled at the trio. "Kamui is waiting for me. We will go look for you people later."

Kamui nodded.

"Hai."

"That's settled, no da. Let's go Kitten, no da." The blue-haired seishi strode out of the room.

Kitten and Tasuki stared at each other before trailing slowly behind the man.

`Wow, Chichiri sure is eager for Sable and Kamui to be alone.' Kitten thought. She shut the breakfast room door gently behind her.

`I hope that what I am doing is correct.'

##########

Sable ate her breakfast leisurely. Kamui was already done with his. There was a companionable silence.

"What do you think of Chichiri, Sable?"

The brunette was so surprised by the unexpected question that she dropped her spoon.

"Na…nani?" The girl stammered. `I see Chichiri as just a…a friend and a protector, that's all."

`She is lying.' Kamui thought in a clinically detached manner. `The relationship between the two is more than meets the eye.'

Kamui lowered his head.

"Sou ka."

Sable craned her head to look at the man.

"Why do you ask, Kamui?"

"Let's just say that I was curious."

"I see…" The girl pushed away her food. "I am full now, Kamui. Let's go find the group!!"

Sable sprung up from her seat and rushed to the doorway. She turned to wait for Kamui.

"Hurry, Kamui!"

"Hai."

The blonde walked towards Sable.

`I will be keeping my eye on you, Suzaku shichi seishi Chichiri.'

##########

When the pair reached the courtyard where Chichiri, Tasuki and Kitten were supposed to be, they saw only the two seishi.

"Anou…" Sable asked. "Where is Kit?"

"What do you think?" Tasuki muttered, swatting halfheartedly at a tiny sparrow that was determinedly trying to sit itself on the redhead's head. "STOP IT, ONNA!! I AM NOT A FUCKING PERCH!!"

Chichiri sweatdropped and Sable laughed at the comical sight the trio made.

Kitten the sparrow saw her best friend then.

//Konnichiwa, Sable!!//

The brunette's eyes twinkled.

//What are you doing to poor Tasuki, Kit?//

The sparrow gave up all attempts to perch on Tasuki's head then, much to the man's relief, and flew to land on Sable's shoulder.

//Chichiri was teaching me the proper ways of transformation!! I can change my form to mimic all kinds of animals!!// Kitten's gleeful voice rang in Sable's head.

"Good for you then."

Kamui stared at the fragile creature that Sable was talking to.

"I suppose that the sparrow is Kitten."

Tasuki looked warily at Kamui.

"Hai, the girls have magical powers, though we do not know what Sable's is."

"Sou ka."

He turned his attention back to the brunette who was still talking intently with Kitten.

//How are things between Kamui and yourself?/

Sable looked uncomfortable.

//Can we talk about that later?//

The sparrow tilted her head inquisitively.

//Okay,' Kitten said at last. //But I'm expecting a good answer from you.//

The diminished girl took to the air. She fluttered around everyone for a while before transforming again.

Delicate wings lengthened, becoming sturdier. Feathers became bigger and it's coloration altered to become a golden brown instead of a dirty brown. Claws extended, becoming more deadly and beak curved and sharpened. The same beak opened to give the majestic shriek of a golden eagle.

Everything happened within a blink of an eye.

"Sugoi…" Sable breathed.

The bird of prey landed gracefully on a perch that one of the servants had thoughtfully obtained for it and extending its wings, it gave a gracious bow.

Sable grinned again. Kitten was such a show off.

Kamui stared at Sable with deep curiosity.

//Don't you feel anything for the power that your friend had just presented in full glory?//

The brunette snapped her head around to look at Kamui.

//Nani!! You can communicate telepathically too?//

A nod.

//A gift from Seiryu. Now answer my question.//

Sable tilted her head with confusion.

//What do you mean? Of course I felt something. I am so proud of Kitten.//

Kamui stared hard at the girl, trying to determine whether if she was telling the truth.

//What?// Sable exclaimed. //Why are you looking at me like that?//

//You don't feel jealous of her powers?//

Sable was beginning to understand what Kamui was getting at.

//No. No. Why should I be jealous about things like that?// Sable asked. //Power is a materialistic thing. An object. It is non-living. To be jealous of something like that is not worthwhile at all.// Her dark green eyes turned dreamy then. //Love, on the other hand…is another different story…to know that the one you love loves another; I can't help but be jealous…//

Sable sobered then.

//Doushite? Why do you ask?//

Kamui straightened rapidly.

//I just wondered if you were feeling all right.//

Sable tried to read from his eyes but the thickly lashed lids lowered effectively hiding all kinds of emotions that might have been displayed.

Before she could enquire more, Kamui turned away and addressed the group as a whole.

"Gomen nasai, demo I have to go to the imperial palace to see to the emperor now. However, before I go, I'd like to inform all you that there is a formal dinner tonight at the palace and that all of you are invited. I will see all of you tonight."

Kamui strode away before anyone of them could say anything.

"Anou…" Sable said.

Kitten had already disappeared, no doubt to a room to change back into her human form. Chichiri was not very surprised. He sat on a bench and laid his staff beside him. What concerned Sable was Tasuki's explosive reaction.

"WHAT THE FUCK!!!" Tasuki cursed. "The baka wants us to go to the fucking palace?!! I was nearly beaten to death the last time I went there!!"

The redhead started pacing agitatedly back and forth.

Kitten rushed into the courtyard then. Seeing Tasuki's restless movements and Chichiri and Sable's placid ones, she asked.

"What happened? What have I missed?"

"We are invited to a formal dinner in the Kutou imperial palace, no da."

"Oh." Kitten murmured. "Not bad. We have nothing to do here anyway."

Tasuki turned on Kitten.

"Not bad?!! Those Kutou bastards would kill us if they have the chance. We will never be able to make it out alive!!" The redhead ended in a wail.

Kitten shook her head.

"Geez, Tasuki. You need not worry. If you are so afraid, I'll protect you."

Tasuki turned as red as his hair.

"What…what the fuck are you trying to imply?!!" he stuttered with wounded pride. "I can fucking protect myself!!"

Kitten dusted her hands.

"Good. Then the matter is settled. We will go to the palace tonight." The blue-haired girl ignored Tasuki, whose mouth was opening and closing like a dying fish, and turned to her friend.

"Come on, Sable," She walked to her friend and started dragging her away. "Let's go prepare!!"

Sable stared at Kitten.

"Are you joking, Kit? It is barely afternoon and the dinner is at night!!"

"So?"

The brunette sweatdropped.

Kitten took the opportunity to hurry Sable to their rooms and tossing the words to Chichiri before they left.

"Chichiri!! Make sure that Tasuki is appropriately dressed!! Take care of him, kay?"

Chichiri looked at the pair that had already disappeared and turned back to Tasuki, who had went chibi and was desperately hitting his head on the floor.

Chichiri sighed.

"Daaaaaaaaa?"

##########

Sable found herself being rushed into the room by Kitten.

"Now, Kit…"

She turned to see Kitten locking the door.

"What are you trying to do?"

Kitten shushed her friend.

"Sable no baka!! Did you really think that I give a damn about spending half my day applying make-up for just a stupid dinner?" Kitten placed her hands in her waist. "I just wanted to keep the guys out of the way. Now, tell me what is going on between you and Kamui."

Sable blinked.

"Anou…there is really nothing to say, actually…" The brunette made an attempt to walk to the other end of the room.

"IIE, SAB!! You will sit down on the bed and start by telling me how you feel about Kamui!!"

Sable sank down on the bed obediently.

Sighing, she said. "What is there to tell? Kamui asked to court me officially, that's all."

Kitten looked sharply at her friend. She had not missed the fact that Sable did not look very happy about that fact.

"And?" She prodded.

"And nothing!!" Sable said, beginning to feel frustrated.

"So you feel nothing for Kamui?"

"Hai…iie…wakarinai!! I don't know…all I know that I should get over Chichiri and concentrate on Kamui but…" Sable trailed off brokenly.

"But you can't." Kitten finished simply.

Sable's shoulders slumped.

"You are right. I just can't. How do you forget the person you will always…love?"

Kitten whipped her head to face Sable.

"Nani?!!" Kitten asked. "You LOVE Chichiri?"

Sable nodded slightly.

"I had thought that what you felt for him was just infatuation……which was why I was trying to push you to Kamui; to get over your infatuation."

Kitten nodded her head then.

"And you are right, Sab. You can never get over love. I had tried with Tasuki but I just can't." Smiling softly, she added. "And I thank Suzaku for that too; for had I succeeded, I would have missed this joy that the both of us bring to each other."

Sable swore that she was jealous of Kitten at that very moment. The girl had come very far. Once, she was a girl so skittish at any sign of relationship; but now, she is a woman in love, confident in the fact that her love is returned.

Kitten snapped out of her daydream and turned to Sable in the most business like way.

"Okay, now that we have established some facts as to who you really like, I think that I have to make some necessary changes."

Sable was still feeling confused.

"What made you think that I was only infatuated with Chichiri?"

Kitten rolled her eyes and ticked off one finger.

"Firstly, you have liked him before we even came into the Universe of the Four Gods and saw him face to face. So I had thought that you were just smitten with his looks and kawaii-ness. Secondly," Kitten ticked off her second finger. "You never told me how you felt about him and I never asked you as I thought that you would tell me when you were ready. Anyway," The girl sighed. "I think that it is my fault. I shouldn't have jumped to any conclusions before pressing you for the truth."

"Gomen nasai, Kit." Sable apologized. "I should have told you, demo I myself was still quite confused about it."

Kitten grinned.

"Never mind. Now that everything is cleared, let's find you a dress that will make Chichiri forget everything and run back to you."

"KIT!!"

##########

"I don't wanna to go to the imperial palace!! And you can't make me!! So there!!"

Chichiri was having a headache.

It was nearing night and Tasuki was still not dressed for the dinner. Normally, the blue-haired man would have used his magic to `persuade' the bandit to see sense but on rare occasions like this, even magic could not work to make Tasuki listen.

Why?

It was because of the fact that the tessen-wielding seishi had been chibi ever since the girls left.

The redhead had figured out that Chichiri could not do anything to him if he was chibi. His clothes just would not fit.

"Come on, Tasuki, no da." Chichiri pleaded. "I don't think that the palace will be that horrible, no da. And can you at least please change back to normal and wear the clothes that Kamui had prepared for us, no da? See, it is not that bad. I am already wearing mine and it hasn't killed me yet, no da."

Indeed, Chichiri was resplendent in his burgundy robes. The outfit had flattered his lean build, making his shoulders look broader, tapering downwards to slim hips. The man would have looked dashing if he had taken off his ridiculous mask, which made him look more like a jester than guest.

"No, no, no. I have no problem with the clothes. I just don't wanna go. And why do you keep on going `Kamui this' and `Kamui that' all the time? Blondie is gonna steal your girl from under you and yet you just sit there and allow him to do exactly that. Hell, you even help along him too!!"

Chichiri kept silent.

Tasuki looked at Chichiri and, sighing, popped back to normal.

"Aw, man, come on, Chiri. You know that what I just said was correct. Why are you so keen in putting the two of them together? I see your reaction whenever that Kamui fawns on Sable. You looked so hurt. I just don't understand. Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Chichiri gave no reply other than tossing the clothes to Tasuki who caught them expertly with one hand.

"Tasuki, you do not know everything, so I suggest that you don't try to jump to the wrong conclusions. I have my reasons. So please leave that be and go change now. The girls are coming soon."

Tasuki looked at his friend and shook his head. However, he did go back to his room to change.

`Chichiri looks so miserable nowadays. I wonder what is eating at him.'

##########

It seemed that Tasuki had not dressed in vain. His elegant azure court clothes matched Kitten's.

Tasuki had gaped when Kitten sashayed over to the two seishis in Kutou's traditional clothing. The semi-transparent blue outfit was revealing, to say the least, and it showed flashes of flat, tanned midriff, long gorgeous thighs and rounded chest.

The girl stood before her koibito and turned one complete revolution before stopping.

"Well?" She asked.

Tasuki looked as if he was nearing apoplexy.

"You…you are going to fall out of your clothes." He sputtered at last. "They are too revealing. Go back and change."

Kitten did not like hearing that.

"Oh? Is that so?" She asked sweetly. "In that case, would a sack do?"

The daft man looked as if he was actually considering the possibility, much to Kitten's vexation. She was about to tell him that she was not intending to change again when Sable appeared.

"Anou…"

The group turned to look at the source of that murmur.

And stared (with the exception of Kitten who had saw the outfit already).

While Kitten was a vision of exoticism, Sable was a picture of demureness.

That did not mean that the brunette look dowdy.

Dressed in the traditional costume of Konan, she may have been covered from head to toe in deep red, but the outfit emphasized the graceful curve of her neck, her tiny waist and gently flaring hips.

The brunette looked enchanting.

Chichiri was stumped. Where Sable had looked pretty before, she was ravishing now.

Tasuki merely frowned. He looked from one girl to another. Both had their hair down.

"Why is it that Sable can dress so modestly and yet you cannot?"

Kitten glared at Tasuki but otherwise ignored him.

Chichiri sweatdropped. He was sure that that was not the correct thing to say to one's date.

However, Tasuki, being the usual blunt fellow that he is, did not stop there. He examined the girls carefully.

"Dammit, Sable, even if you are covered from head to toe, you are still too pretty. Chiri and I are going to have to spend the rest of our evening chasing away overly interested parties."

Sable sweatdropped.

Before anyone could say anything, a pair of servants appeared and bowed before the surprised group.

"Kamui-sama is currently awaiting for the arrival of his guests in the imperial palace. So can the four of you kindly follow us outside to the courtyard? The horse-drawn carriage that is waiting there will bring you to the palace. Arrigato gozaimasu, and may you have a nice evening ahead of you."

The group nodded and followed the two servants out to the courtyard.

Kitten gasped with wonder.

"Sugoi…" Sable muttered.

The carriage was elegantly decorated with touches of blue and it bespoke of wealth and prestige. All in all, the coach was fairy tale material.

Chichiri shook his head and smiled at the girls' delight whereas Tasuki merely muttered dark things under his breath. After the girls had calmed down suitably, the redhead escorted Kitten into the carriage. Chichiri was about to do the same when the coach driver stopped him.

"Gomen nasai." The driver apologized. "Demo are you Sable-san?"

The brunette exchanged a curious look with Chichiri and nodded at last.

"Hai. Atashi wa Sable desu."

The driver bowed then.

"Konbanwa, Sable-san. Please wait."

The driver walked to the back of the carriage and withdrew a bouquet of forget-me-nots. He walked back to the couple and presented the flowers to Sable with a flourish.

"Kamui-sama says that this is a simple gift fitting for a woman who enjoys simple pleasures."

Sable flushed and accepted the flowers.

"Arrigato gozaimasu." She thanked the man politely. The man bowed again in reply.

`Sou ka…Kamui remembered our conversation in the garden.'

Unbidden, a troubled thought haunted Sable and she frowned.

`Kamui…what am I going to do about him? He is so sweet…I don't want to hurt him…'

"Anou…" Chichiri interrupted. "Are you ready to get into the carriage, Sable, no da?"

He had not missed Sable's frown earlier.

`Funny,' he thought with slight heartache. `She should be glad that Kamui is paying attention to her…demo why is she looking so lost?'

Sable snapped out of her confused thoughts and looked at Chichiri.

"H…hai. Let's go…" she frowned again. "Chichiri, why are you wearing your mask? Why don't you take it off for once?"

Chichiri helped the brunette up to the carriage.

"I don't think so, no da. I don't want to scare people off, no da. The mask will stay on tonight, no da."

"I see…" Sable did not attempt to ask anymore.

The cozy confines of the carriage were very plush and fine.

Sable and Chichiri sweatdropped when they saw Tasuki and Kitten seated together, engaged in a deeply spontaneous kiss.

"Anou…I see that the two of you are not pissed off at each other anymore."

Chichiri's sweatdrop grew bigger.

Upon hearing Sable's dry remark, Kitten eeped and sprung away from Tasuki.

The said redhead, on the other hand, was grinning like an idiot.

"The two of you were taking so long!!" Kitten wailed, trying desperately to use that as an excuse.

Sable arched an eyebrow.

"Uh-huh. And the two of you were trying to pass time?"

Chichiri laughed out loud.

Kitten sputtered and looked to Tasuki for help. Unfortunately, the man's grin merely widened.

Sable shook her head and sat down. Chichiri settled beside her.

Kitten saw the flowers then.

"Oi, Chichiri. You gave Sab the flowers?"

Awkward silence.

Kitten did not take the hint. Turning to Tasuki, she said.

"See, Tasuki? You should learn to be more sensitive like Chichiri!! He even bothered to…"

"Iie."

The blue-haired girl looked at Chichiri.

"Iie?" she echoed.

The man nodded.

"It wasn't me who gave the flowers; it was Kamui."

"Oh…I see."

Awkward silence.

`Shimatta.' Kitten winced inwardly. `Take head, hit wall…' she thought.

Thinking to redeem the situation, she joked with Tasuki.

"Hey, Tasuki, I was not done with you yet!! You should learn to be more sensitive like Kamui!!"

The said redhead snorted, muttering something about rotting in hell first.

Sable decided to help then.

"Tasuki, you needn't be like Kamui!! All you have to do is to kiss Kitten stupid and she will shut up!!"

"SABLE!!" the blue-haired girl cried out with mortification. "Can't you just let that go?!!"

The earlier tension gone, the group laughed.

Nobody spoke about the flowers for the remainder of the trip to the palace.

^^ How was this chapter? I hope that it is quite up to the expectations of you readers. Well, nothing much other that to tell you ppl that I am trying my hand at writing one-shot fics, and that it would be out in the next few days…and rest assured that I will not discontinue writing this fic. In fact, I am already starting with chapter 20. Well, till then, please review!! Arrigato gozaimasu!!