Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ The Girl Who Didn't Believe ❯ A Bastard Child ( Chapter 32 )

The Girl Who Didn't Believe

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

@@@@@@@@@@ = mirror projection

That's all, minna-san!! Enjoy!!

Chapter 32-A Bastard Child

"Ne Chichiri, when are we going to reach the capital?" Kitten whined. "It is so damned hot here!!"

The blue-haired seishi sweatdropped.

"Anou…soon, no da."

"Soon? You have been saying that for the past two hours!!" Kitten looked incensed.

"That's because you have been asking the same question for the past said hours." Tasuki commented dryly.

The girl ignored her koi; it was just too hot to argue. Looking suspiciously at Chichiri, she asked. "Are you just trying to placate me? We are lost, right? I knew it!!" Kitten frowned. "What is wrong with men and directions?!! The Celestial Guardians are also like that. Can't you just admit that we are lost?" The girl was getting more and more agitated by the moment.

Chichiri's sweatdrop grew bigger.

"Anou…"

"I am going to die!! I can't believe that I will die this way!!" Kitten was about to open her mouth to say something more when Sable shoved a bottle of water into her face and pushed her friend towards the back of the mules.

"Eheheh…don't mind Kit, guys. She just needs some water. You know how it is," The brunette shrugged daintily. "She gets a little batty without her daily dose of water."

The two seishi nodded warily and Sable pulled a protesting Kitten away from them.

"What was that for?" The girl demanded after a healthy swig from the bottle.

"Stop trying to irritate them, Kit." Sable was exasperated.

"Who? Me?" Kitten batted large, amethyst eyes at her friend. Sable could not help but laugh.

"Yes you."

"But I wasn't, honest!!"

The brunette rolled her eyes. "You know, for someone who is so adamant about not doing it, you sure are doing a great job at irritating them."

The blue-haired girl grinned unrepentantly.

"So? The art of annoying people is a gift. I'd like to think of it as my calling."

"Some calling."

Kitten pouted.

"You under appreciate my ability." The girl was about to flounce back front to the guys when Sable stopped her.

"Nani yo?!!"

"Uh-uh, Kit. You are going to stay here until your hyperness runs out."

"But…there is nothing to do here!! Ever since Aoi, Akai and Haiiro left us, it is so boring here!!"

The brunette looked around. Kitten was correct. All around them were nothing but miles and miles of sand. They had parted ways with the Elemental Trio three days ago, at the border of Kutou. The immortals had wished the four of them good luck and had continued northwards while the others had headed west.

"What about we talk instead, hmm, Kit? It had been quite awhile since we had a private conversation."

Kitten looked interested.

"We can talk about anything? Anything at all?"

"Yes."

"I suppose that it is okay then, provided that I get to start to get the ball rolling."

"Okay."

"So…" Kitten's face turned calculating, and Sable groaned inwardly.

Sweet kami, what trouble had she invited this time?

"What's up with you and Chichiri?"

The brunette nearly dropped the bottle that she had been drinking from.

"Huh?"

The blue-haired girl looked impatiently at her friend.

"Come on, you know what I mean. We all know that Kamui stepped back and gave Chichiri a chance with you, but I don't know, something is not right."

"What do you mean by that?" Sable stammered slightly.

"Even Tasuki is confused now," Kitten continued as if she had not heard Sable's question. "Every time you are distressed or when Chichiri feels upset, the two of you will somehow sense it and look for the other for comfort or to be comforted. I think that those are the only times that you people act like a couple. Other than that, both of you will be acting as if you are nothing but friends. So what is between you two?" Kitten stared at her friend.

"Wakarinai." Sable said softly at last. "All I know is that, I never meant for it to get so complicated. I do not even know how it got to be like this, and worse, I don't know what to do about it."

Kitten regarded Sable sympathetically. She felt sorry for her friend. Chichiri had given Sable nothing but misery from the first time they met.

Sable had helped shoulder the burden of Chichiri's past, but what had he given her in return?

More grief.

Sure, she and Tasuki had their own set of problems too, but throughout it all, she had been emotionally secure by the knowledge that the redhead loves her more than his own life. They had their share of happiness from the past few months, and for that, Kitten was content.

Sable, on the other hand, was another different story. From the way the blue-haired seishi kept alternating between pushing her away and then wanting her back again, Kitten was really surprised that the brunette was able to take it for so long. Had it been her, she would have given up and moved on a long time ago.

`But then,' Kitten thought. `I am not the one in love with Chichiri. And Chichiri has his own problems to sort out.'

"I don't know how to go on after this." Sable confided, breaking Kitten's thoughts. She did not know why she is telling all these to Kitten, but it had made her feel better. "I am afraid that if I go one step too fast, or do something wrong, he will push me away again."

Sable looked so miserable that Kitten felt for her. She hugged Sable, and glad for the show of support, the girl hugged back.

"Thank you." Sable said quietly.

"Daijoubu," She murmured into her friend's brunette hair. "Everything will turn out just fine."

Kitten shook her head and sighed. Men are so obtuse sometimes. She silently thanked the kami above that Tasuki does not carry as much emotional baggage as Chichiri does and that the redhead is too dense to even try to hide his emotions. It was weird; but Tasuki is predictable in his own unpredictable way. Kitten could always read him like an open book.

Chichiri, however, is another different pot of fish.

The older seishi had managed to confront his past, and just now, he had won Sable from Kamui. Now the only thing for him to do is to win back Sable's trust again. Sable loved Chichiri, but it was obvious to all that she was afraid that Chichiri would one day pull another stupid stunt and push her away again.

`It must have been an emotionally draining,' Kitten thought. `What is it like; to pin all your hopes and love on one person, and only to have him shatter them again and again, albeit the fact that it was unintentional?'

She held Sable tighter, trying to will all her support to her friend. Suddenly, an idea struck Kitten, and she released the girl.

"Sab, you are afraid that Chichiri will run the moment you do something wrong right?" The brunette nodded. "Then why don't you confront him? The two of you have been walking on egg shells around each other. Why don't you confront him and ask him what he really wants? No offense here, but I think that the two of you are looking very miserable around each other."

"Confront him?" Sable remembered the last time that she had did that; and the grief that it had cost her that night had nearly brought her to her knees.

"Yes, Sab. You must do it, since he is not planning to. Or are you just content to leave things this way?"

The girl shook her head, and Kitten beamed.

"There you go then; you also know that the situation cannot always remain like this. Who knows, maybe he is waiting for you to make the first move." Kitten's eyes narrowed then. "Wait a moment, Sab. That time when we were still at Kamui's house and Chichiri told you that he liked you, have you ever answered him back?"

Sable shook her head, and immediately, comprehension dawned.

"That's it!!" Kitten wanted to smack her head against her forehead. "You did not answer him at all; he is most probably thinking that you have rejected him, that all you want is his friendship. That is why he is not doing anything at all!!" The blue-haired girl crowed in victory. "Hah!! Kitten Akani, top-grade psychologist, solves another case yet again!!"

Sable shook her head at her friend's antics. Was Kitten correct then? Is everything as simple as it seems? If it is, then she and Chichiri would have been agonizing over nothing then. Almost immediately, Sable felt the urge to run up to the blue-haired seishi and tell him of her own feelings. She blushed hotly just imagining Chichiri's reaction.

"Ho!! What is this? A blush?!! What are you thinking, Sab?" Kitten asked her friend. "Ah, no need to tell me; I can guess. It involves our good ole' Chiri, ne?" The girl winked playfully.

"You know," Kitten whispered conspiratorially. "I can help get Chichiri alone with you when we reach the capital of Sairo, you know? Then you can tell him your feelings, and…you know?" Kitten turned red herself.

"KIT!! I am going to kill you!! What are you thinking?!!" Sable blustered.

"Did I think wrongly then?" The blue-haired girl asked cheekily. Sable blushed harder.

"Eheheh…I will leave you here to think about what you want to say to Chichiri later. I am going to the front now!!" Kitten skipped to the seishi and attached herself to Tasuki, who was loudly demanding for his koi to quit it as it was very hot.

Predictably, Kitten ignored him and started to pester Chichiri by asking how long more they must travel before reaching Sairo.

Sable watched with amusement as the blue-haired seishi sweatdropped and gave the girl the same answer that he had given her earlier, much to Kitten's displeasure.

`A day with the seishi…' The brunette mused. `Who would have thought that all of us would end up together? A few months ago, we were in our own world and they are in the Universe of the Four Gods, never thinking that our paths will ever cross. But now, Kit and Tasuki are together, and Chichiri and I…what do we have?'

Sable's look of amusement earlier faded, and she frowned.

`Chichiri and I…we have no status at all. Somewhere between friends and lovers?' Forest green eyes narrowed with determination. `I will make our position together clear by today if that is the last thing that I do.'

##########

In the heavenly realms of Sairo…

"Do you understand what you are supposed to do?"

The veiled servant kneeling by the god of Sairo nodded grimly.

"Hai, kami-sama."

"Good." Byakko smiled a feral smile. "You have never failed me before, Saki. I hope that you won't start now."

"Iie, Byakko-sama." The person said softly. "I understand your position. I won't fail you."

The tiger god nodded in satisfaction.

"In that case, I shall leave everything in your capable hands, girl." Byakko turned and faded away. "Got to look for Genbu now…"

Saki waited till the tiger god is completely gone before climbing to her feet.

"You make me do all your dirty work every time, Byakko."

The words were uttered softly, but the bitterness behind them was unmistakable.

There was no reply to that sentence, but Saki had expected that; Byakko had never bothered to linger long enough to exchange idle words with people he consider as servants. He just gave them their orders, and then left to pursue whatever that is occupying him.

It had always been like that, for centuries and centuries, even before she came to work under him. Saki winced slightly at that memory.

^^^^^^^^^^

One hundred years ago…

"Where is she?"

"Here is the girl, kami-sama."

Kaira remembered hands propelling her forwards to the throne-like room. Being a little girl of not more than ten years of age, she whimpered. The white-haired man sitting on the throne in front of her looked very tall, and big, even from afar.

The little girl supposed that it was safe that he was not even looking at her.

"Now, girl. Quit that noise." The man who had brought her in here chided her sharply. Kaira winced in fear. Pitiful looking tears threatened to flow from her eerie-looking golden eyes.

`Okaa-san…Why did you leave me here?'

"So, what happened to the mother?" Byakko asked the man, still ignoring the girl.

The man fidgeted slightly.

"You see, Byakko-sama, the woman is tired of rearing an illegitimate child all alone and thus, she decided to bring her here. The child's mother is getting married tomorrow, and her new husband does not like the idea of raising a bastard under his roof."

"Sou ka."

Kaira was struck. Despite the fact that she was only eight, she understood what the man had said clearly.

Okaa-san had abandoned her.

Pain, hurt and sadness from the betrayal filled her young heart.

`Doushite, kaa-san? I thought that I was your little girl? You said that you loved me, and that nothing can replace me? Kaa-san, what happened to all your promises?'

"Fine, in that case, she may stay." Byakko said at last. "What is her name?"

"Kaira, Kami-sama. The child's name is Kaira."

The god wrinkled his nose in distaste.

"Kaira? What an ugly name. From now on, she will be called Saki." Waving his hands, Byakko continued. "Now take her away, I have other things to do."

Too shocked by what the man had revealed about her mother, Kaira had not resisted when the man herded her out of the room. Throughout the blur that had heralded her stay in the heavenly realms, one thing remained clear to Kaira.

Never once had the tiger god laid eyes on the young girl.

^^^^^^^^^^

`But honestly,' an inner voice chided softly, bringing her back to reality. `What had you expected then? That he welcomes you with wide open arms and loving words? You were nothing but a burden to him. A mistake that he has made and must now take responsibility. What makes you think that he will be nicer to you now? Sure, you did everything flawlessly,' the voice was cutting by now. Taunting. "All your missions were executed successfully. But so what? It is not worth shit to him.'

At that thought, Saki ached. All she had ever wanted was acceptance. Was that so hard to get? Realizing the direction of her thoughts, the girl gritted her teeth and clamped the offending thoughts down.

`Iie, Kaira died a long time ago. All emotions had died with her the moment she was accepted into the heavenly realms a hundred years ago. The girl who took over her, the girl Saki has no feelings whatsoever.' Golden eyes narrowed in determination. `She cannot have any feelings. She CANNOT.'

At last, convinced that she had successfully battled her past and won, the slender figure prepared for her journey to Sairo. She grabbed a tiny bag containing her necessary belongings and untied her veil.

Pristine white hair waterfalled down her back.

"I will never fail you, Byakko." Turning, Saki took a long last look at the heavenly realm before teleporting. However, her last few uttered words lingered in the air even after she was gone.

"But what will happen the day I do, otou-sama?"

##########

"Man, I am beat!!" Kitten flopped onto the bed. They had reached the capital, and had immediately checked into the first decent inn that they saw. Chichiri had ordered for two rooms, and Sable and Kitten were sharing one, whereas the seishi were sharing the other.

"Kit!!" Sable huffed, glaring at her friend all the while. "Can you help me help YOU carry YOUR luggage?!! Don't understand why you must take so many things here."

"Eheheh…" The blue-haired girl grinned unrepentantly at the brunette. "Gomen ne…" She crawled reluctantly out of the bed and proceeded to haul her belongings into the room.

When that was done and the room door shut, the two girls dropped themselves on the bed.

"Shit…" Kitten mumbled. "One and a half months of merciless heat. I am going to die of heat exhaustion."

"You are exaggerating, my friend. Though I have to admit that Sairo is desert country."

"Enough of talking about the heat; it is making me feel even warmer. So, are you planning to confess your feelings tonight?" Kitten leered comically.

"H…hai." The brunette stammered out, much to Kitten's surprise. She looked earnestly at the younger girl. "Will you help me, Kit?"

"Help? How?"

"You know, the way you told Tasuki you loved him?" Sable asked shyly. "The way you put it through to him must have been excellent. He accepted you straight away, right?"

Kitten nodded enthusiastically and suddenly froze when she realized what Sable wanted her to do.

"YOU WANT ME TO CONFESS YOUR FEELINGS TO CHICHIRI?!!"

The brunette winced.

"Of course not." She muttered. "I just want to hear what you say. Teach me."

Kitten calmed down then. Sighing, she shook her head, and although she was younger than Sable, the girl could not resist ruffling the brunette's hair.

"Aw…Sab, there is no fixed way as to how to confess your feelings. If you want to know, part of my `declaration of love' involves throwing a piece of stone at Tasuki's head. I don't think that Chichiri would appreciate that." Kitten grinned, and Sable smiled. "Come to think of it, Tasuki was not very happy either. You should have seen his face then!!" The blue-haired girl laughed out lout.

At last, the laughter subsided, and Kitten regarded her anxious friend seriously.

"Really, Sab." The blue-haired girl told the brunette. "I know it sounds corny, but just say what your heart tells you to say. Tell him truthfully about how you feel. It is the thought that counts, after all."

Sable nodded dubiously at that piece of advice. Kitten had told her nothing that she had not known.

Kitten laid an arm over Sable's shoulder.

"Daijoubu. As I said, everything will turn out fine. Don't you worry too much; this route is what every lover has to struggle through alone. I can't help you much here, but I know that you will do just fine. After all, I did, didn't I?" Kitten wrinkled her nose, and Sable smiled.

"Tell you what," Kitten looked at Sable. "Why don't you just do it tonight? Tell him tonight that is. I will keep Tasuki busy, while you two say what you need to say, sounds fine?"

Eyes filled with determination, Sable nodded.

"Hai."

"Good. But for now, we rest…" A grumbling sound escaped from Kitten's stomach. "Or not…anou…I don't know about you, but HARAHETTA!!"

Sable laughed as Kitten dragged her out of the bed and eventually, room.

"Sab!! Hayaku!! I am very hungry, you know!! And we still have to look for Tasuki and Chichiri!!"

"Hai, hai!!" Sable smiled at her impatient friend. She could hardly believe that this is the girl who had given her all that wise advice earlier. But all she knew for sure was this;

`Tonight, everything will be made clear.'

##########

The girl known as Saki approached the inn that Suzaku's seishi and the two foreign girls are staying. As she neared the building, Saki's hand strayed into her pocket, fingering the packet that Byakko had given to her.

^^^^^^^^^^

"Just pour everything into the drink of the blue-haired seishi known as Chichiri."

^^^^^^^^^^

The white-haired girl had secretly observed the group of four ever since the girls had entered the Universe of the Four Gods. She admired the courage of the girls, and also the bravery and unitedness of the two Suzaku seishi.

`But duty is duty, and I cannot refute the orders, especially when they are coming from Byakko.'

Saki entered the building.

"Hayaku, Tasuki!! I swear that you are being deliberately slow!! I am hungry, you know?!!"

"If you weren't that hyper earlier on, you won't be hungry at all!!" A familiar redhead grumbled.

Saki stiffened and craned her neck slightly to the right, and sure enough, the girls and the two seishi were at the dining quarters of the inn. She watched as the group seated themselves around one of the tables. It was dinner time, and the dining quarters were bustling. The waiters were busy, and the customers demanding.

It was the perfect backdrop for Saki to execute her plan. The girl hid herself in the shadows, and with a muttered spell, she transformed herself to look like one of the serving staff.

"May I take your orders?" She approached the table and asked the group.

"Oh please." Kitten asked delightedly. "I want this and this and this…"

Tasuki rolled his eyes.

Saki dutifully took the orders.

"I will be back with refreshments soon."

The white-haired girl hurried into the kitchen and withdrew with a tray containing four cups of tea. Discreetly, Saki removed the packet of powder and sifted them into one of the cups.

"Here you go!!" The girl distributed the refreshments left and right, leaving the last cup to Chichiri. She lingered around the table until the all four drank from their respective cups. Satisfied, Saki walked away and changed back into her original form.

Now all that she got to do is to wait for the drug to take effect.

##########

In the realm of the gods…

Seiryu's eyes narrowed.

What the hell does Byakko think he is doing?

The dragon got up from his seat in one fluid move and was about to teleport to Byakko's domain to demand for some answers when Suzaku appeared.

"Why is Byakko employing his daughter for?"

Seiryu shrugged.

"Beats me. It seems that he is really serious about proving the girls wrong, Suzie."

The phoenix was so engrossed in his worries that he let that insult pass.

Smirking slightly, Seiryu teleported from the room. It seemed that there is something that he must do.

`Whatever are you planning, Byakko?'

##########

"Man, I am full." Kitten groaned.

"Serves you right for being so greedy." Tasuki commented, earning a whack on the head from the said girl.

He glared.

Kitten was about to yell at her koi when she remembered her supposed mission.

"Anou…Tasuki, I think that I want to take a walk around the city after such a huge meal. Can we go, onegai?" She batted ridiculously large amethyst eyes at the redhead.

Tasuki snorted, but he did get up from his seat.

"Quit it, Kit. It makes you look like some goldfish." Kitten opened her mouth to answer, but could not find a suitable answer, and so, she closed it again. Tasuki laughed. "Now, you really look like a goldfish, kirei."

Kitten turned red and she started glaring furiously at Tasuki, but the fiery seishi merely turned to Chichiri.

"Hey Chiri, ya heard Kit. She wants to go for a walk, and being the devoted koibito that I am," Tasuki exaggerated. "I am going to go with her. Ja na!!" With that, Tasuki left with Kitten in tow.

Sable and Chichiri watched as the couple walked out of the inn and disappeared from sight.

There was a long pause in silence then, as each was lost in thoughts.

"So…" Sable managed awkwardly after awhile. "What are you thinking about, Chichiri?"

The blue-haired seishi had been unusually quiet during dinner.

There was no reply, and Sable repeated her question, albeit a little more concernedly this time.

"Aa, nan demo nai, no da." Chichiri started, a little dazed looking.

"Oh."

There is a longer silence this time, as Sable gathered her courage to tell Chichiri of her feelings.

"Anou…Chichiri, can I tell you something?"

"A…aa." The blue-haired seishi sounded harsh, and Sable stared at him. As usual, the brunette can't see much as his face is hidden by the dratted mask.

"I…I…" Sable stammered. "I think I like you very much, Chichiri." Her confession was like a load eased off her shoulders, and Sable felt relieved.

The relief did not last long, however, as there was no reply from Chichiri.

The silence stretched, and Sable became anxious and tensed.

"Go away now, Sable." Chichiri said at last. He took off his mask, and there was a pained expression on his face.

"Go away."

Hahahah!! That is what I call a magnificent cliffhanger!! Betcha don't feel all that good towards me anymore. Heehee. Well, the plot thickens!! Byakko's bastard daughter appears!! And what next? Stay tuned to find out!! (Man I sound like some corny sitcom commentator -_-;;;)

Hey minna-san!! Remember to review this chapter and tell me what you think!! Also, please forgive me for any spelling, tenses and grammatical errors that are in this chapter. Gomen nasai!!

Until next time!!