Miryuu scowled at the scene. 

"I canyt belive it....we lost. We lost the shinzaho!" she howled ehr last sentence, throwing her golet to the floor. It shattered into golden shards.

They were back in the thrown room, all gathered around Suboshiko's magic mirror. It was a simple mirror, a round silver one with an ornalmental dragon. it was adroned with 10 blue ribons. Each one had either the sighn for a Suzaku seishi, or he kanji for the first syllable in H-chan, K-chan, or Migenrou's names. 

Suboshiko sighed. "My lady, theese chi bonds are evry hard to keep up...could you pelase just choose someone?"

"Ah, yes..." the symbol on Miryuu's forehead began to glow. "If I cant get the shinzaho with one of YOU fools, Ill simply have to use an inside man...are you sure you can control them, Tomo?"

He nodded, a smirk playing on his face. "As long as the chi bond remians unbroken, my voice will haunt them."

"Allright then. We simply need to fidn the weakest one...that little boy's death was a double blessing to us." She chuckled. "That one..." she pointed at one of the ribbons. It began to exude a black mist. "He si the weakest. I will use HIM. Who is he, Suboshiko?"

She studied the symbol at the end of the ribbon. "Wing...I belive it is Tasuki, my lady."

"Excellent."

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Harmonychan productions presents
A Fushigi Yuugi Fanfic-Ripples in the Water
Chapter :Crosed ribbons
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The inside was ice. Pure, cold ice. Looking at it would be enough to make you shiver. Going inside was a total different matter...

H-chan ducked behind Chichiri. "I dont wanna go in..cant I wait out here?"

Chichiri shook his head. "Only thr miko can claim the Shinzahou."

"Dang. Ah well." She spread her wings, trying to fan the heat of the firey feathers onto her shivering seishi and friends. "Hey ho, lets go!"

"Great shes quotuing Ramones..."K-chan muttered as they walked in. The first thing they noticed was that it was slippery. 

*THUMP!*

"Owwwwww!" Nuriko stood up, rubbing her sore hinder. "W-Watch it guys, this is some smooth ice..."

"No problem." H-chan flapped into the air. "Hahah" she stuck out her tounge at K-chan, who was madly scramblin on the ice. " You have to sli-ip! You have to-ouch!" K-chan grabbed her by the foot and yanked her down. She slipped and slode into a wall. She shakily stood up, then tried to swat K-chan. This resulted in her falling again. 

"Baka ya rou!" H-chan yelled aat her chortling best fried. Chichiri sighed and scooped her up. "You have to learn to be mroe careful, ne no da?"

"Hai..." He held her in front of him, and she settled into his arms. She was very tired, and still shook up over Chiriko...she looked over Chichiri's shoulder at Tasuki. His head was down, and he was still holding the dagger. He had wiped it clean, thank god..."Tasuki? Daijobu da?"

He looked up, and the pain in his eyes made her wince. He gave he a lopsided grin. "Not quite."

H-chan resisted the urge to jump out of Chichiri's arms and give him a hug. "Mou..." she muttered. What exactly was she supposed to do? 

Tasuki turned his face away from H-chan, letting the grin fall into a grimace. Why Chiriko? His best friend...

"AUUGH!" A stabbing pain in the middle of the chest. He fell to his knees, coughing. Things were gettign blurry..he felt over come by blackness. All around him, almost like black fog..so thinck it blocked anything but the voice....

"she really cares for you. she really cares for YOU. so why does she stay with him?"

"U-uresi...." he moaned, summoning all of his strenght. The voice was errily soothing, and familiar-but it was wrong!  He felt himself fighting, but he also felt another part of himself...a long hidden one...one that was starting to agree...


Around him, the seishi had dropped their things and gathered in worry. "Mitsukake!" Migenrou cried. 

He put his hand over him, releasing healing Chi. H-chan sat beside him, a hand on his arm. she turned a worried face up to Chichiri, a face that clearly showed the toll of the day.  "Chichiri-san, what happened? Will he be okay?"

Chichiri shook his head. "Hes fine. He was just overcome with greif, I think...it will pass."

Inside Tasuki's mind, the voices raged on. "all he does is HURT her. he dosent love her. hes just toyig with her. hes lonely since his girlfriend died is all...so hes using your  miko."

"U-uresi!" he whimpered. The light of Mitsuake's chi began to penetrate the darkness.

"you love her. dont let her be hurt again." 

"URESIII!!!!" He screamed. The fog rolled away. He came back to himself with a jolt. He was on his back, on the ground, fists curled tightly at his sides. He slowly opened his eyes to see everyone looking down on him. H-chan had a hand on his shoulder, and was studying him worriedly. "Tasuki-san? Can you go on? Chichiri could send you back..."

"Naw."He sat up, rubbing the back of his head. "Im fine. Just a little dizzy...not much air this %$#@in high up." He held the little hand on his shoulder, a wide grin spreading on his face. "See? All better."

"Ah." H-chan blushed a little. Why the heck was he bein so nice all of a sudden?

Chichiri's head darted up. "Evil Chi, minna! Get ready to fight!"

"Yosh!" Tamahome cheered. "Finnaly!"

"Dont be so eager..." K-chan sighed. "You wanna get killed?"

H-chan pumped her fist in the air. "Im on it!" She dashed in front of the group and spread her wings, taking a defiant pose. "I am Suzaku no Miko! If you are the holders of the Shinzaho, please...umm...give it to us!"(Im not going to make avery good miko if i cant figure out more important sounding speeches...)

Light poured into the dim cavern. Two figured were shilloueted atthe very back of the cavern. "SUZAKU NO MIKO!" the yelled in unison.

H-chan fell to her knees, bowing, flats of her hands pressed ito the chilling ice floor. "Hai!"

"IF YOU WANT THE SHINZAHO, YOU MUST PROVE YOU ARE THE MIKO!"

She stood up. "Whatever you want!"

"TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES!"

"Na-nani?" The group shaed a collective facefault. H-chan crossed her arms over her chest, bright red. "Hentai!"

The figures looked mildly irritated. One sighed. "WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING OF....THAT NATURE! JUST DO IT IF YOU WANT THE SHINZAHO!"

H-chan turned back to her seishi. They were all blushing slightly, and Chichiri had puled his kasa down over his head. Tamahome began to stammer. "If..if you dont want-"

"No way! Weve come this far! But-" She turned them all around and shoved them to the back wall. "No peeking1 No peeking! Shoo! Shoo!"

"Like theres anything I wanna see!" Tasuki laughed. Nuriko whapped him. "Shes being Nob-"
 Tamahome glanced oevr at Nuriko in confusion. "Hey, how come your over here?" 

"Ummm....to make sure you guys dont peek! Yeah, thats it!" Nuriko giggled nervously. "Now turn around or Ill pop ya one!"

Tasuki nudged the slightly embarrased Chichiri "Nee...you gonna look?"

"Uresi!" Chichiri pulled the kasa lower over his face. "I intend to live to see tomorow no da."

A bit to the right, H-chan was in her underwear and scowling at the figures. "This is it! Far as it goes! If you cant do, um whatever this is like-"

The figures sighed again. "THAT IS FAR ENOUGH. PREPARE FOR YOUR TEST!"

"Hai!" H-chan stood, eyes closed. 

Jets of water blasted up from underneath her. "YAAH!" She jumped up and down, tryign to get out of them. "coldcoldcoldcold-"

"ALLOW THEM TO FREZZE YOU IF YOU WANT THE SHINZAHO!"

Gritting her teeth, she stood still. The water soaked her, and instantly froze. They layers of ice began to coat her, getting thicker and thicker untill she was trapped in a fair sized chunk of ice.

Nuriko peeked over. "Chichiri! She's frozen solid!"

Chichiri refused to turn around, knowing that if he did, not only would H-chan whap him one, but that he would have to help her. He was fairly sure that he wasnt allowed to aid ehr escape. 

"Ne, Chichi-"  Tasuki leered, but Nuriko whapped him. "Dont even start!"

K-chan tugged Chichiri's sleve. "Think she can get ou of that?"

He nodded solemnly. "She is the miko no da."

Inside the ice, H-chan was scared. She was quickly running out of breath, and she was frezing. She would die unles she could at least make some heat, like a fire-

(THE WINGS! Duh!) She began to concentrate all her chi into the wings. They glowed brightly. 

"Chichiri!" Migenrou cried gleefully. "Her wings are getting really bright!" The splintering sound of breaking ice filled the air. 

*SHATTER* 

The ice shattered into a thousand little red sparkles.c She was able to maintain a courageous pose for all of 30 seconds, then she collapsed shivering. "CO-OLD!" 

Chichiri, laughing, walked over and draped his kasa over her. "You look freezing no da!"

She glared up at him. "I told you not to lo-*choo!*" she rubbed her bright red nose. He laughed again. "I think you have a cold no da."

"You sure about that?" He knelt and wrapped his arms around her. 

Migenrou watched the scene with  a smirk. "Cute...now we get the shinzaho! Sugoi, ne neechan?" She looked up at her brother. There was clear anger on his face. She tugged on his sleeve. "Whats worng, Nii-chan?"

Tasuki wrenched his eyes away. (Hes not jsut toying with her...thats love. It has to be. Or else...) He patted his ni-chan on the head. "Its awesome...I was just a little overcome."

"Are you sure youre okay?"

"Sure Im sure. As %$#@in sure as I can be!" He cackled.

A few feet away, H-chan had pulled her clothes back on with the help of K-chan as a human sheild. "Whats a good friend for, anyway?" K-chan laughed.

"Ypou make a better door than a window, and Im greatful for that." H-chan pated hetr o nthe head. "Now then." She turned to the shadowy shillouettes, still a few feet away. "Hey! HEY! I did exactly as you requested! I want the shinzaho NOW!"


"Allright." The grren light filled the cavern. The two seishi walked forward. One of them was tall, with long blonde ahir and an eyepatch. The other was short, with a russian looking hat over spiky balck hair. The taller one bowed. "I am Mishuru. This is Tomite. For years, we have waited for the Miko to claim the shinzaho...now, thank Genbu, that day has finnaly arrived."

H-chan bowed before them. She harrumpehd, and the otehr seishi did likewise. "Ariagtou...now, please, can I have it? I need to get back to Konan!"

The elder one smiled. "Mikos are always so impatient..the fragility of youth." He sighed, maybe with nostalgia. "Can you belive we will finnaly rest, Tomite?"

"It almost seems imposssible, Mishuru..." The younger one sighed as well. The put their hands together and began to murmur.  A green cvhi rose before them.

"Nani?" H-chan looked to Chichiri. He smiled. "Thyere summoning the shinaho no da!"

"Oh."She watched intently as the green chi began to swirl into snow and ice. It crystallized into a beautiful necklace, one that sparkled and shimmered with power. it levitated over to H-chan, who carefully slipped it oevr her neck. "Wow..." She raised a hand to the beads, wincing with their power. It almost seemed unreal...the shinzaho was finnaly hers! Tears sparng to her eyes. (Why do i feel so sad all of a sudden? Because all of this will be over soon...) She filcked them away. (No time for sadness. I have to be strong! I am Suzaku no Miko!) She stood proudly. "Ariagtou gozaimasu."

"Its allright. The neckalce has recognized you-you are the true, only miko. Be strong, young one!" The two became translucent and faded before the seishi's astonished eyes.

K-chan glomped H-chan. "Can you belive it! The Shinzaho! We are halfway there!" They did a gleefull little dance, and they were joined by Migenrou. They danced around in a circle, chanting and laughing. "We win! we win! We win! Number one! Number one!" 
held up a hand. "I hate to break up the pep rally, but we DO have to get back and tell Heiga-sama the good news."

"Good point no da!" Chichiri spread his kesa over the ice. "Minna, yuku yo nan no da!"It began to glow. Tasuki poked at it. "What the-%$@!" he shreiked as it sucked him inside. The rest followed suit.

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Hotohori sat at his imperial cabinet table, surrounded by his trusted advisors. They all wore worried frowns as he tapped his fangers on the table. "I know I felt a burst of chi from the Suzaku seishi. There have been no reports from Kutou?"

They all shook their heads. The lead one wrung hsi hands. "In fact, theyve been quiet for a long time...I fear some kind of subterfuge, your majesty."

Hotohori nodded, his beautiful face grim. "Indeed...I pray the others get back so-"

*PING!*

Hotohori blinked twice. He rubbed his eyes. "Mi-minna?" 

The seishi were in a crubmled heap on the cabinet table, grumbling and rubbing their heads. H-chan sat on the top of the pile, looking mildy sheepish. She raised a hand. "Um...hiyah, Hotohori-sama. I got the shinzaho!" She lifted up the strand of beads to his face, the beads glingting. "See?"

"H-chan..." Tamahome growled.

"Yeah?"

"GET UP!" All the seishi yelled, still pinned under her. 

"Oh. Hai." She stood up, a deep red. They got up, grumbling about what a dope the Miko was being that day."Y'all allright?"

"Sure, Daisy Mae." K-chan snorted. H-chan thwacked ehr. 

Hotohori put a hand pver his mouth to conceal his smirk. "Ganbaru ne, Haruka-san. Now we need only capture the otehr one..."

"What?" H-chans eyes widened. "Another one?!?"

Hotohori nodded. "Yes. While the power of both is not required, it is far safer for the Miko if both are used..."

"Whatevers safer for the miko no da." Chichiri said. The rest nodded ascent.  

"But-this isnt a safe venture!" H-chan turned to the group, worry etched pn her face. They had all been through so much..she didnt want any more suffering!  "Another one of us could easily be-" She quickly cut herself off at the look on Tasuki's face. In his belt, Chiriko's dagger still glimmered whitely. 

"Another one?" realization crosed Hotohori's face. "...Chiriko doko wa?"

Nuriko knelt beside him, biting his lip. "Ill tell you everything, darling...maybe you should all go get ready for dinner."

"Yes." Hotohori clapped, and a dozen handmaids appeared. "Show theese people proper attire for a formal celebratory dinner!"

"Hai, heiga-sama!" they all cheered in unison.

"Does formal attire include my nifty blue shoes?" H-chan muttered as they were lead off.

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"La, la la, lalala..." H-chan hummed, putting on her red dress. "Mou,  I feel so much BETTER after a bath..."

"You said it." K-chan was buisly trying to towel off ehr hair. "My hair always gets so FRIZZZY when I towle-dry it...damnit! I want my hair-dryer!" 

Migenrou snorted, already dressed in her bandit clothes. "You think you have a problem? I have my brothers face AND his hair."

"Oooh...two strikes!" H-chan giggled.

"Ne, Tasuki's shonen!" K-chan said.

"NA-NIII?" The two squealed. They all burst out laughing. It was standard girl conversation, gossiping and vanity. H-chan relished it. It was a break from all the seriousness, the pain they had endured. The subject of Chiriko was ebing tactfully avoided, at least around Migenrou. Right now speaking of him was like pouring salt in a wound...acknowledging his presence at the back of their minds would be too much. Later they could talk about it. Rigth now, a little dress-up would be a fun distraction. The handmaids, having realized this, had set out all the finest jewlery and clothing they could find. The girls went on a spree, shirfitng through piles of gold and jewels.

"Wow...isnt this pretty?" K-chan held up a silver necklace. "I love it..."

"Cute!" H-chan said. She shifted through the ple. "Jewlery isnt really my forte..."

"Here!" Migenrou held up a hairthing. It was two sticks, held togetehr by an enamel flower. "Why dont you hold your hair back? it looks so pretty up..."

"Okay! Can you-"

"No problem." In a few quick movements, Migenrou had manipulated H-chans hair into the hairthing and up into a bun. 

"Ka-waiii!" K-chan cheered. "You gotta go show Chichiri!"

"Yeah, I think i will." H-chan went red. (Im still not used to this...)

Migenrou laughed. "Why are you so shy about him?"

"Huh?"

"About Chichiri...whenever anyone mentions anything, you go red!" Migenrou raised her eyebrows. "Its almost like youre embarrased of him or soemthing...he loves you, dosent he?"

"I think so..." H-chan trield off. It had been nagging at her mind even since the moment he had said it. (I dont love you...yet. Whats that supposed to mean?) She bit her pinkie, a nervous habit/ (Hponestly, what does it take? I never kneew anythign could take this much emotional effort. Its gonna be wort it tho.)

K-chan smiled. "Its a good thing youre so stubborn, H-chan. Im suprised you havent given up on him! I perfer my romance straight out."

H-chan shrugged as they began to swish torwards the main hallway in their fine chineese silks. "Its just gonna take time, is all..Ive gotten this far. no stopping now. He hasnt mentioned her in a while...maybe he's forgetting?"

Migenrou shook her  head. "You dont forget something like that. Wishfull thinking, H-chan."

"I dont want him to forget!" she cried. "Its just-"

Footsteps came from around the corner. They froze, possessing the girl telelpathy that enables you to know when to shut up. Sure enough, Tasuki and Chichiri turned the corner.

"Chichiri-san!" H-chan glomped him. He laughed and put a hand on her head. "H-chan, you look as pretty as-" his hand froze. 

She looked up. "Chichiri-san? Daijobu-?"

He plicked the sticks out of the hair with shaking hands.  "Nani? Theese are..."

"What? What are they?" H-chan looed desperate. The girls looked sad for her. Tasuki just looked confused. 

"Theyre Houki's." He whispered in a pained voice,. For once, H-chan was greatfull for the mask...she couldnt bear looking at his real face right then. 

In Tasuki, the voices had returned, and they were geting louder. The fog seeped in around him, subtly this time. (see? all he does is cause her pain. you would never cause her pain...you dont casue those you love pain...)

She bit her lip, once again confronted with the memory of a long-dead girl. "I...I didnt know! Im sorry...stuipid hairsticks! I never liked em anyway!" She snorted. She treid to put a hand on Chichiri's arm, but he shrugged away. 

She growled. "Stupid..." She lifted one slippered foot above the jewled hairsticks.

"Dont!" Chichiri cried. He dropped to his knees, closing his hands over the chopsticks. 

"Chichiri!" she said sadly. "Theyre just HASHI..."

"Dame yo, H-chan. Why dont you go on to dinner." His voice was stern. 

"Fine." The anger in her voice was unmistakeable. (How much do i have to put up with from this dead girl?!?) The compassion she felt for Chichiri was starting to wane on a wave of irritablity and sadness. It seemed no matter what she did, she could never really touch him...

She was suprised out of her somberness by a hand on her arm. She looked up so see Tasuki, grinning a warm brotherly grin. "Why dont we go out to dinner, H-chan? Just you and me."

Angry at Chichiri and despreate to leave the bad vibes of the place, she said "Allright, lets go." hey left the two stunned girls and one sad monk in the hallway, both angry, one controlled by forces he couldnt understand and one by forces she was too familiar with.

And on his arm, the sighn flickered and sputtered away. 
HE imperceptibly nodded in a greement. On his arm, had anyone been distracted from the sceen in front of them, they would have seen his schichiseishi sighn flickering. With a burst of light, the vouices disapeared, leaving him with sorrow. (Thats not right at all...poor H-chan. How can you love someone who causes you pain?)

(You dont love him.)

end chapter!