Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ The New Nuriko ❯ Chapter 2

The New Nuriko
Chapter 2
Written By: Korin Chou
(nuriko_oneechan@hotmail.com)

What's happened before in the last chapter:

After the untimely death of her older brother Ryuen, Korin Chou gave up her life as a girl to become a boy and live out the life her brother would have if he had lived. An added bonus was the appearance of the kanji sign "Willow" on her left arm, marking her as the new Suzaku Seishi, Nuriko and given super speed like powers.

Korin took on the name "Kirien" and left home at age 9 when her family disagreed with her choice in becoming a boy, and set off into the country on her own, making friends along the way...

~5 years Later, Sailo Capital~

One spring day, a small group of people was walking through the streets of Sailo, minding their own business. A closer look revealed the group to be an old man and woman, and a young boy no older than 14 with them, who carried a pack filled with things they had bought in the market.

"Tomahome, what is the first rule of a seishi of a miko?" The old man asked as they walked.

The boy, Tomahome, slowed down his pace long enough to speak, immediately. "To protect the miko at all costs, master Tokaki." Tomahome replied, knowing the answer already.

"Correct, Tomahome." the old woman said. "Second rule of a seishi's duty to their miko?"

"The second rule of the seishi's is..." Tomahome began only to have his words cut off by the sound of a commotion coming from down the street. "Hey what's that sound, Subaru-sama, Tokaki-sama?"

A young boy, wearing a yellow scarf over his face and another covering his head, was running from a vendor, his arms filled with stolen food. People tried to grab him as he went by only found themselves grabbing nothing but air.

The vendor in question was shouting and cursing the boy out, while running after him followed by others, yelling for the guards. "Come back here you little thief! I'll show the error of stealing from me! Bring that back here!"

The boy looked over his shoulder and shouted back, "I'm not stupid enough to let myself get caught old man!" he shouted as he seemed to put on more speed as he went.

Turning back around to look in front of him, he barely managed to avoid running into the group elderly couple, and dodged, making eye contact with Tomahome as he ran by, then ducked into an alley, and was soon out of sight.

The vendor finally stopped running, to catch his breath as he slowly realized that his target had escaped him. "DAMN! The little brat escaped me again."

Tomahome, Tokaki, Subaru watched in awe of what they had seen. Tokaki and Subaru shared a glance before staring down at Tomahome, who was still staring in the direction that the other boy had gone in.

"Tokaki... That ki." Subaru said quietly as she stared at her husband.

"I know dear. I sensed it too. That child is a Suzaku seishi." Tokaki said as he looked back at her. "I felt his ki the minute he ran past us. And you don't have to guess at what his power is. Seeing how fast he was moving just as he ran by us."

"This means that we need to find him and take him back with us to the temple for training if he is one. He won't survive out here as a thief because one of these days they might just catch him before he has a chance to run away again." Subaru said

Tokaki only nodded his head when he felt a tug on his pants, and looked down to see Tomahome looking up at him.

"His ki? I felt it too, sir. Does that mean that he's like me? Someone who's going to protect the Suzaku no Miko when and if she comes to our world?"

"Yes Tomahome. That boy just might be that." Tokaki said reassuringly.

"Are we going to go find him?" Tomahome asked excitedly.

"Tokaki and I will go look for him. You are going to go back to the temple with our supplies and give them to Tatara, and tell him what we found."

"Aw, but I want to go too!" Tomahome whined as he stared at his mentors.

"Tomahome, do as your told. Besides you're already going to be late for your lessons with Tatara. Your leaving in a few days to go home to your family to spend the week with them, remember? Now get going, obaka-chan." Tsubaru said teasingly.

Tomahome turned away, muttering "Don't call me that!" as he lifted his pack and began walking away heading towards the temple.

Tokaki and Subaru watch him go, making sure that he didn't try to backtrack on them, then they turn and head into the alley, moving faster than what someone their age should have been able to go.

~1 hour later~

Tokaki and Subaru sat near a fountain in the city courtyard taking a break, and out of breath from their search.

"How hard can it be to find one kid in this city?!" Tokaki demanded angrily between gasps, as he tried to catch his breath.

"Don't be so uptight, Subaru-kun. It's not like we know who it is we are looking for, since the child had his face covered up so no one could see what he looked like." Subaru said reassuringly.

"If only we were 57 years younger, it would be easier to find him, here just by searching for that kids ki." Tokaki complained as he looked around searchingly. "I can only feel faint glimpses of the ki right now."

Subaku placed her arm around her husbands' shoulders to comfort him. "We could always make ourselves..." She began only to be interrupted by Tokaki's exclamation.

"NO! Our life span would be cut shorter than what it already is. We might be able to live as long as Tatara, but unlike him, we're still growing old physically. You know what will happen if we use our powers--"

Subaku placed a hand on his lips to silence him. "I know. It was just an idea, dear." She said petulantly. Then stopped, ssand sat up straighter to look around. "Did you feel that?"

Tokaki was looking around too. "Yes, I felt it. Looks like the boy we're looking for is around here somewhere. But where?"

Just then they both heard the sound of children laughing and running footsteps, coming from behind them. They both turn around to see a group of boys and girls heading into the area, some of the children munching on some food, that the couple recognized as what had been stolen earlier that day.

But what caught their attention the most was the boy who was in the lead. As the children got closer they saw that the boy had long dark violet hair tied back into a pigtail, and amber eyes. They recognized the clothing he was still wearing, with the scarves that had been covering his face before were now hanging loosely around his neck.

The children didn't noticing the couple yet, as they all got into the argument with Kirien.

"Tokaki... That boy with the violet hair..." Subaru said in a whisper.

"I know Subaru." He said as he stood up to then started to make his way to children with Subaru right behind him.

The children surrounded Kirien cheering him on his exploits that day and thanking him for the food he had brought back for all of them to eat.

"Come on you guys, I don't need to hear this. I'm just lucky I didn't get caught by that vendor when he spotted me or by someone else." he turned to one of the other boys. "Tronis it's your turn to get food next time when this runs out."

Tronis stared at Kirien for a moment before answering. "You should be the one to go on food raids all the time, Kiri, since you seem to have a better chance of escaping."

"That maybe true Tronis but, I told you guys I can't stay here for long. I plan to leave soon, to go back to what I was doing before I ran into you guys. I've got to get prepared for something that may not even happen yet." Kirien informed Tronis haughtily as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I can't do that if I'm running from guards or vendors."

"Well we need you around here, Kirien!" Tronis protested as he tried to think of some way of getting Kirien to change his mind, "Look at how well the gangs been doing since you came along."

All the other children voiced their agreements to that.

"Well I can't, I need to--" Kirien began when a shrill whistle could be heard coming from close by.

They recognized it as being the lookout's warning whistle, and they look around to see an elderly couple almost a few feet from them, that they all recognized as being what some of the adults called the Byakko Seishi.

Some of the children bolted for the alleys, while others stayed behind to watch what might happen.

"No need to run, kids. We only want to talk to you, boy." Tokaki said as he pointed at Kirien, who had been ready to bolt too.

"Me? Why would you want to talk to me for, old man? I don't have anything that should interest you" Kirien said as he turned his attention to Tokaki.

Tokaki walked up to Kirien and whacked him on the head. "Show some respect to your elders brat!"

"What did you do that for!" Kirien shouted as he held his head and got ready to punch back. "Baka jiji." He muttered under his breath as he rubbed his head.

"Why you little…" Tokaki began.

Subaru broke in before things got out of hand. "I am Subaru, and this is my husband Tokaki We're interested in speaking to you because we believe your one of the Suzaku seishi. From the aura you gave off earlier today it could be no other." Subaru said in a kind voice.

Kirien stiffened at her words then turned away. "So what if I am? What's it to you?"

"What are you doing so far from Kunon then? You look like you could be no older than 11 years old to be out here running with a gang of thieves." Subaru asked.

"I'm 13! And I left Kunon and my family behind years ago, nobody wanted me around back then, so I left. And these are my friends." Kirien said angrily. "You still didn't answer my question, old man. What do you want? Or else I'm out of here."

"You shouldn't be living on your own like this..." Subaru began only to have her words cut off by Tokaki.

"We are here to offer you a proposition, kid." Tokaki said as he stared at Kirien. "If your up to it, that is."

"What kind of proposition?" Kirien asked cautiously, his eyes narrowing in suspicion, as he looked between the old couple.

Subaru knelt before Kirien and placed her hands on his shoulders to get a better look at him. "We would like to know if you would like to come to our temple to learn more about the seishi? We could teach you everything you may need to know to protect your miko when she comes." Subaru said calmly, "We already have Tomahome staying there."

Kirien looked interested at that. "Really? You know that much about the miko's and their seishi and can show me what I need to know?" he asked excitedly.

"We both heard you say that you had been planning on leaving anyways. This way you can still remain in the city and be with your 'friends' without missing them." Tsubaru added in.

"Well..." Kirien began despite the loud protests from his companions. He ignored them all, and put on his brightest smile. "I'll give you guys a try. Maybe you'll be able to show me what I want to know. My name is Kirien Chou. But I'm also the Suzaku Seishi, Nuriko" he said as he rolled up his sleeve to show his seishi sign, which was glowing brightly.

"Good!" Subaru exclaimed as she started to place her arm across Kirien's shoulders, "Now if you'll come with us, we'll see about getting you settled, Kirien--" She began only to have Kirien duck under her arm, and began to sprint away from them with the other children following behind "What..."

"I'm not leaving yet. I gotta go and get my stuff from where I'm staying with the others. And say good-bye. I'll come to the temple later tonight. I already know the way there." Kirien shouted back as she disappeared before either of them could respond.

Tokaki and Subaru just stood there in shock, and they both shook their heads in exasperation.

"Nuriko, huh?" Tokaki said quietly. "I can tell already that that one's going to be a handful in training, for both us and Tatara." Tokaki said, humorously, a smile spreading on his face. "But I think that we are up to the challenge. Right my love?"

Subaru turned her attention to Tokaki, a smile mirroring his own showing on her face. "Right, Tokaki-kun. Come on, let's get back to the temple, and inform Tatara of our new student. And I'll have a chamber prepared for him."

Awhile later, at the temple

Everyone was just beginning to settle down to dinner, when a guard came in announcing that they had a guest. The guard stepped back, trying to keep any part of his clothing from touching the small form behind him, stood Kirien, with a bag strung over his shoulder.

"So here's the little punk now." Tokaki commented as he and the others stand. "What took you so long?"

"Tokaki, you promised to be nice." Subaru said as she frowned at her husband as she stood up, and walked over to Kirien. "Welcome Nuriko. I hope that you will enjoy your stay here for as long as you choose to remain. Ignore my husband, he's all bark and no bite."

"Thanks Subaru-san. But I don't think that I'll be staying here for long," Kirien said as she glared at Tokaki and stuck out his tongue at him. "And I prefer to go by Kirien."

Tatara also stood up to move towards the new arrival. "Hello Kirien. I am Tatara, and I will be another one of your teachers." Tatara greeted as he raised a hand towards Kirien.

Kirien hesitantly took Tatara's hand into his own and shook it. "Hi, Tatara-san." He looked between Tatara and Subaru and Tokaki, taking in the age differences between the trio. "Are you their son? I heard that the only Tatara living here is supposed to be an old man... But you look like..."

"...Like a young man in his 20's?" Tatara finished for Kirien, bringing a blush to Kirien's face. "It's alright. I *am* the real Tatara. It's because of a spell I'm under that allows me to look as young as I do. But if I ever leave the temple grounds, I'll start aging to the true age that I really am." he said sadly.

Kirien stared at Tatara silently not saying anything for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever, Tatara-san." he said as he looked around the room, before his eyes rested on Subaru. Saying good-bye to Tatara, Kirien makes his way towards Subaru and Tokaki.

"Is there anywhere that I can get some sleep? I'm tired from the walk here." he asked, his voice sounding warned out as he spoke.

"But you just got here. Don't you wish for anything to eat before going to bed?" Subaru asked.

Kirien only shook his head as he stifled a yawn. "Nope. I already grabbed something to eat on my way here. I'm not hungry anymore."

Tokaki snickered at Kirien words. "'Grabbed' something, huh. I wonder who the brat stole it from first."

Hearing the old man's comment, Kirien glared at Tokaki, before following Subaru out of the dining room, with his bag slung over his shoulder.

As she walked through the halls of the temple towards the sleeping area, Tsubaru glanced warily over at the silent boy that followed. On her first meeting with the child earlier, she could sense tenseness inside of him, and felt that something must have to him that caused him to be giving off these types of vibes.

"So, Nuriko," Tsubaru began, deciding to start up a conversation. "What brings you to Sailo? You said earlier that you left Kunon because of family problems? Do you want to talk about it?"

"There's not much to talk about, Tsubaru-san." Kirien said as he eyed the elderly woman with uncertain eyes. "I got to Sailo a year ago, with my friends. When I was 9 years old, my older brother was killed in an accident, and my parents didn't like the way I handled things after his death, so I left before things got ugly."

"Things like what?" Tsubaru asked, her interest now piqued at this little bit of information. "If you were only 9 years old when you left home, I'm surprised you've survived on your own for so long and gotten this far. What did you do that made your parents mad at you?" she asked, as she came to a stop in front of a door, and pulled out a set of keys.

"Don't want to talk about it." Kirien said as he glanced up at Tsubaru as he realized that the older woman had stopped. "Is that the room I'll be staying in?"

"Yes it is." Tsubaru said as she finally found the right key and fit it into the doorway. "This room is where you will be assigned to stay in, during the time you are here." She said as she pushed the door open, giving the boy a full view of what was on the other side.

The room was sparsely decorated, lit up by several candleholders on the walls. In one corner of the room was a wooden desk. Next to it stood a dresser with 3 drawers. In another corner was a small bed with blankets and sheets neatly folded at the foot. On one side of the bed was a small oval shaped rug with oriental designs drawn on it. Hanging from a wall next to the desk was a mirror.

Kirien looked around the room in surprise before turning back around to face Tsubarru with a stunned look on his face, raising a hand up to point a finger at himself. "This room's for me?" he asked uncertainly as he looked up into Tsubaru's eyes.

"Yes why shouldn't it be?" Tsubaru asked as she ushered the boy into the room. "Your both a guest and a member of the Suzaku seishi." Tsubarru said as she took the bag from Kirien's unresisting hands. "Your rooms no different than what we've given the rest of our students that room here."

"Oh. Okay then..." Kirien said absent mindedly as he sat down on the bed. As he lands on it, he can feel the soft downy softness from the feathers that were stuffed inside it. "I just thought that--"

"Don't worry about it." Tsubaru cut in, stopping Kirien from finishing his sentence. "No one's going to treat you any differently than any of the other kids that live here in the temple, no matter what their background is." she said reassuring the boy, while ruffling his hair, then frowned slightly as she got this odd sense of something not being right about the child.

Nuriko glanced up from his accessing the room, and caught Tsubaru's frown, then jerked away from her. "Now that I'm here, can I have some privacy please? I want to get some sleep." he asked, as he moved towards his sack. Tsubaru stared at the back of the boy for a few moments before finally backing down, and moved towards the door.

"Would you like a bath sent up for you so you can freshen up?" Tsubaru asked as she made her way towards the bedroom door.

"No. I don't need one. At least not for tonight." Nuriko said as he dropped the bag onto the bed.

"All right then. Here's the key to your room if you need it." she said while dropping the key on a nearby dresser. "We're going to be starting your training tomorrow morning, bright and early. So get plenty of sleep. You'll need it for the days ahead." Tsubaru said as she shut the door behind her.

Nuriko waited a few moments, as he listened as the footsteps of the elderly woman made their way back down the corridor, before letting out a breath of air, not realizing that he had been holding it at that moment. Sighing silently to himself he walked over to the door, while picking up the key. Moving up to the door, he inserts the key into the lock, and turns it, hearing the satisfying click of the lock as it was put into place.

"That was easy." Nuriko thought silently to himself as he moved back towards the bed. He sits down on the bed and unties the strings on his sandals, before yanking them off and placing them at the foot of the bed. Standing back up, he heads for the mirror his hands moving slowly towards Nuriko glanced at his reflection in the mirror, and saw the tired look in his eyes as his face stared back at her.

"*_Dang it_!*" he cursed silently to himself as his hands moved up to begin removing the buttons of the shirt he wore, "I'm going to need to get some more rest if I'm going to start training here. So might as well take the bandages off." He thought to himself, as he removed his shirt, revealing bandages wrapped tightly around his chest.

Staring at her reflection for a few moments, Kirien fingered the bandages for a few seconds, before he got ready to undo the tied ends on her back, when a loud knocking sound came from her bedroom door. Startled, she spun around towards the door, before remembering that she had locked it a few minutes ago.

"Hold on a second." She called, as another knock sounded on the door, as she rushed back to her bed he pulls the shirt back on, straightening out to make sure nothing seemed to be out of place, before making his way towards the door.

Turning the lock, she pulls the door open to reveal the boy from earlier, holding a pile of linen in his arms.

"Hi. My name is Xong Gui-sui." Tomahome said politely as he bowed, "But I am known by everyone by my nickname, Tomahome, one of the other Suzaku seishi." He added as he stood back up, to face Kirien. "Tsubaru-san sent me up to bring you the things you'll need for the training tomorrow," Tomahome said as he held out the linen to show her. "They gave the assignment of showing you the ropes of how to get by around here."

"Kirien Chou, better known as the Suzaku seishi, Nuriko," Kirien said in a bored tone as he took the linen out of Tomahome's arms and unceremoniously dumped them on the bed, planning to sort through them once he was alone again, as she turned back around to glance at Tomahome, she notices that he was staring at her intently. "What are you looking at? Do I have something on my face?"

"You look pretty young to be out on your own, Nuriko." Tomahome said as he crossed his arms over his chest as he gave the violet haired boy an appraising look. "How old are you anyways? Ten years old?"

"For your information I'm thirteen!" Kirien snapped as he glared at the other boy her face flushing in anger, as she turned her back on him, "Everybody's always thinking that I'm a lot younger, because of my size. It's not like it's my fault that I haven't grown as tall as some boys my age yet." He said indignantly.

"Chill out will ya?" Tomahome asked as he playfully patted the top of Kirien's head, only to have it knocked away, and gain another glare from the other boy. "I didn't mean anything by it anyways. I'm thirteen too."

"Well if you are you going to be staying here for awhile, I guess we'll have to stick together in our training. Kirien, do you want to be friends?" Tomahome asked seriously, as he faced Kirien, giving the other boy, as he held out a hand towards Kirien.

Hesitating for a moment, Kirien grinned before reaching out to grip Tomahome's arm in shook it. "Sure, why not, Toma-chan." He said as he met Tomahome's eyes, and gave his hand a squeeze.

"Toma-*chan*?" Tomahome asked incredulously, as an eyebrow rose up as he looked at Kirien

"That's what I always call all of my friends, Tomahome." Kirien said cheerfully. "You can call me Kiri, or Nuriko for your choice." He said as he started to usher Tomaahome out of the room. "Now I want to be alone. If I'm going to be starting training tomorrow, I'll need all the sleep that I'm going to get."

"Sure." Tomahoma said as he found himself back out in the hall within seconds. "Goodnight, Kiri-kun."

"Night Tomahome." Kirien called as he shut the door behind the dark haired boy.

To Be Continued…

Author's Notes: HI all! Here's the next chapter of my "The New Nuriko" storyline. Before anyone asks me why I placed the Byakkou seishi's, Tatara, Tokaki, and Subaru into my storyline, is because I figured that they might be a personal asset to Korin's life as a boy.

I decided that Tomahome would be the first of the Suzaku Seishi that she meets, since Tomahome was a student of those three (though I don't know how old he really was when he began studying with them ^_^) learning more about his powers and his duty as a seishi to his miko from them. And they are practically the same age too. ^_^