Fushigi Akugi
Chapter 4: Blaze of Crimson: Suzaku's Messger Shall Rise

    ||The moon was just rising as Chichiri lightly knocked on the bandit leader's door. The younger seishi had promised a surprise for him after the two had confessed their feelings for eachother.
    "Come in," the teen's voice called, both alluring and playful to the monk's ears. The elder seishi had left his usual gear (1) behind in favor of a simple evening with Tasuki. Likewise, the bandit greeted him sans trenchcoat, tessen, and boots.
    Chichiri gaped at the elaborate candle-lit dinner the usually irresponsible and unorganized teen had set up in his brief absence to bathe and change. The delicate spread was eaten slowly to preserve the moment, though the time seemed to pass quickly as the two talked about the past six months since the summoning. Palace life didn't seem to suit Tasuki, but the bandit was just happy to be near Chichiri. It was nearing midnight when the monk rose to leave.
    "It's getting late, no da. I should get going to bed, na no da," he smiled gently at the bandit.
    "So soon?" the teen growled softly and seductively. "But I got more planned fer ya. Now get your sweet little ass over here," he grinned, crossing the space between them and encircling the elder seishi in a warm embrace.
    "N-nan-" was all the mage could say before Tasuki's mouth covered his in a soft, sweet kiss. Cautiously, he raised a hand to the back of his neck and sought to deepen the kiss; his tongue licking lightly at Chichiri's lips. The monk obliged, allowing his slender arms to warp around Tasuki.
    'Gods...he smells so good...an' he's so warm...' Tasuki thought as he swiftly lifted his beloved in his arms and delicately spread him out on the prepared pillows on his bed. Their lips met again as his large hands roamed restlessly over the mages slim form.
    He soon found himself untying the dark belt at his waist and unlacing his tunic. Soft reassurances were whispered as he slid open the bothersome clothing and allowed his callused hands to come in contact with the smooth skin they found there. He lightly nosed at Chichiri's throat and began to bathe his throat in small licks, allowing his fangs to graze the sensitive flesh.
    "Tasuki," the man below him half moaned, half sighed. He gasped as the brigand's fingers found and began to pinch his right nipple. His mouth trailed down to the unattended nipple and began to lavish it in sucks and nips. He switched to the other after a moment; his fingers moving to the one he'd just finished with.
    Nimble hands slid down to remove his own belt and began unlacing his tunic with trembling fingers. A sly grin spread across his face and he rose to assist him in the removal of both tunic and pants before returning the favor. He sat for a moment on the knees, his eyes raking appraisingly over the paler man's slender body before he sprawled atop him again, their lips meeting in another fiery kiss. He could sense, however, the apprehension the smaller man felt.
    "Don't worry, Chiri, I won't do anything ya don't want me to, k?" he soothed. His lips moved to lavish attention now on the scar that sealed his lover's left eye; slowly bathing it in kisses and licks. Chichiri wimpered softly at first, unused to anyone else touching his scar, however, he was soon sighing softly at the warm affection.
    Discreetly, Tasuki produced a bottle of clove lotion he'd received from Nuriko upon request. He wanted this night to be perfect and didn't want to harm the angel below him too much. Carefully, he dipped three fingers into the cool cream and again pressed his mouth to Chichiri's. As his tongue sought for entrance to Chichiri's mouth, his nimble fingers sought it elsewhere.
    Upon the intrusion, Chichiri gasped and moaned deeply into
    Tasuki's mouth, trembling with the mix of emotions it caused.
    "Daijoubu, aka-chan(2). Just relax and I promise you'll enjoy it." He carefully stretched the mage before adding a second and then a third finger. He waited patiently until he felt the elder man was ready and then generously coated his arousal with the lotion. He knew it would be painful for the mage at first, but hoped that his efforts to make his first time more enjoyable would help. Carefully, he eased himself into the smaller man, laying kisses on his soft lips comfortingly. He pressed his cheek against Chichiri's as his entire length was engulfed by him, sighing softly into the mage's ear. He waited again until he felt Chichiri was ready to continue before smiling slyly.
    "I'm honored...ta be the one ta take yer virginity, tenshi(3)," he whispered. He began to move, slowly adjusting to the feel of the older seishi before opting for a faster pace.  Chichiri responded to this by wrapping his long, slender legs around the bandit's waist. Both of the symbols glowed in the dim light of the room and Tasuki felt as if he and his lover were one.
    'Gods, he feels so good...I love him so much...so close...'||
    Suddenly, he was no longer in bed atop the mage, but frozen before Tenkou. The demon lord smirked as a ball of dark energy flew towards the bandit.
    'No...not again...please...' he pleaded voicelessly.
    "IYA!" Chichiri cried, appearing between Tasuki and the deadly blast. The energy tore through his slender frame, destroying him in an instant.

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    "Iya!" Tasuki sat up quickly, shaking violently. His body and hair were damp with sweat and his vision was blurred in the dim light of the full moon that filtered through the high windows of his room. He gasped for air, wiping tears from his eyes and cursing blindly.
    'Where am I again?' he wondered vaguely.
    "Tasuki-sama, daijoubu-ka?" a gentle voice asked from the now open door-way.
    "Hai, hai," he muttered. 'That's right, we're at the Mt. Cyan bandits' stronghold,' he recalled wearily. They had met them on the road towards the Suzaku no Hato no Doukutsu(4) and the next Jewel of Memory, which happened to be in the possession of Serge(5), the bandits' leader.
    Though, to call them 'bandits' was wrong. They were actually the protectors of the Doukutsu and punished anyone who tried to enter it.
    "What's troubling you, Tasuki-sama?" the young attendant asked. He was fifteen and had shoulder-length chestnut hair and ice blue eyes. The soft candlelight made his eyes as well as the medallion he wore around his neck of the same color glitter like ice. The medallion bore on it an emblazed image of a dove flying upwards that was only slightly darker in color. Even at this late hour, the youth wore a royal blue tunic and black pants tucked into his ebony boots. A long knife was tucked into his lavender belt as if he was expecting to use the weapon, although it was highly unlikely.
    "Just worried 'bout this whole trial thing Ch- I mean, Houjun's goin' through in the mornin', that's all," the fanged seishi replied.
    "There's nothing to worry about," the boy smiled. He reached into his pocket and produced a small white envelope (6), offering it to the bandit. "Here, this'll help you relax some."
    "Nah, forget it, Yama. I'll be ok."
    Shrugging, the teen replaced the offered drug and looked into
    Tasuki's amber eyes confidently.
    "Then it's not the trial that is worrying you, but the fact that you are in love with Houjun-sama, ne?"
    "Na-nani?" Tasuki stammered.
    "Well, my brother and I noticed that you seemed upset when it was not your memory stone that Serge had and then again when he mentioned having a girl-friend in his home world, so we just assumed that was why." The youth smiled at Tasuki, eyes bright. "But you shouldn't worry about that either because I'm sure that, if you two are truly soul-mates, then everything will work out in the end."
    "How can you be so damned sure? He's get someone else waitin' fer him back in his wo-"
    "Because he was originally from this world and it is this world that is his true home," Yama interrupted.
    "And if you believe that the love you have for him and he had for you was genuine, then it was Suzaku's doing and he will find his way to your arms again; especially after you recover your Jewel of Memory." If Tasuki hadn't met Yama's older twin, Fuji(7), earlier, he would have sworn the teen before him was a ventriloquist. The two brothers, like Amiboshi and Suboshi, were indistinguishable aside from their eye and medallion color. Fuji's eyes were the color of fire as was his medallion, which also bore the symbol of a dove on it.Fuji sighed softly and placed a hand on Yama's shoulder.
    "Time for bed, oni-chan."
    "Yeah, I know," the younger of the two smiled and turned to leave.
    "Don't worry about the trial or the Hato's feelings for you, Tasuki-sama. Suzaku-seikun is the God of Love, right? Things'll work out if you believe they will. Oyasumi."
    Tasuki smiled, baring his fangs. "Alright. Yer right. I just gotta trust Chiri, that's all..." he sighed, lying back. He pulled the sheets over him and hugged his pillow. "I just gotta believe..."

    The morning was bright and warm as Serge, Yama, and Fuji led
the Suzaku no Miko and her seishi to the entrance of the Doukutsu.
    The entrance was actually a testing area for the one who aspired to become the Dove of Suzaku and was somehow concealed within a stony hill with a flat, grassy area atop it. the entrance was sealed with two, large stone doors that no one save a mage could open as they were too heavy to be opened by even someone with Nuriko's strength.
    "In here, Houjun, you will find your trails," Serge began. He was a tall man who stood only an inch shorter that Mitsukake with short, dark blue hair and clear, gold eyes. He, as many of his men, wore black pants tucked into black boots and donned a soft white tunic cinched at the waist with a red belt; a dagger at each hip. Though he was nearly thirty-seven, he looked and sounded as young as Tamahome and was clean-shaven.
    "You'll be tested in three ways for the attribute necessary of the Suzaku no Hato. It won't be easy in the least, but, if you have what it takes, you can do it.
    "First, you'll be tested for you speed, agility, and reflexes with a test of judgement and intuition. Next will be a test of determination and faith in yourself as well as you cause that will also measure your physical prowess. Your final test is one of power and potential that will force you to call on your innate skills and powers that Suzaku has granted you. All three tests will allow your over-seer to judge you and deem whether or not you are worthy of the title you seek." He sighed softly and listened to the mutterings of the seishi behind him. He was worried that perhaps the boy was not the one and that he would have to wait until another sought the title.
    He glanced back; realizing that Houjun was silent and froze. He had been expecting the youth to be frightened if not in awe of the task before him, but instead saw a calm strength within his mahogany eyes.
    'No, his entire being seems to be radiating this power. Could this boy truly be the one?' Surge wondered.
    Houjun smiled after a moment and moved forward towards the massive doorway. Towards his destiny.
    "Alright, then, I guess there's no turning back." He raised his right hand to the doors and focused briefly. With almost no effort, the twin doors opened towards him. He looked back at his friends and grinned. "Wish me luck!"
    "Go fer it Chiri!" Tasuki shouted, flashing his famed fanged grin.
    "Good luck, Hato-sama!" the twins chimed in unison while Serge could only stare in mild disbelief. The doors slid closed behind Houjun and the trials began.

    In an instant, the cavern was plunged into a solid darkness only to flash brilliently again as lightening streaked through the darkness. Houjun lept to one side, dodging the attack only to be forced to dive out of the way as another followed it. Getting the idea, he charged blindly forward. He honed his senses on what he saw between the flashes of light that followed him closely and predicting where the next strike would land. After having absorbed Mistake's Jewel of Memory, he had become aware of his innate abilities that he had glimpsed during his fight against the chimera four days earlier after finding Miaka's Jewel of Memory.
    Finally, he spotted the exit to the first trial; a dark portal that was hidden within the deepest shadows. He lept through it, barely managing to catch the edge of the floor as he discovered there was no floor beyond the door.
    "Great, a cliff, no da," he muttered. He looked up, gritting his teeth as laughter echoed through the dark cavern.
    "Very well done, Chichiri of the Suzaku, however, it is a two- mile high cliff and you are in the center of it. Your odds of climbing up here are far less that reasonable. Give up and perhaps you will be spared," a voice called down to him.
    "Ha, you think you can scare me?" Houjun called back, beginning to climb upwards. "Sure, it might be hard, but if there's even a miniscule chance of me making it, then I will. My friends, no, everyone is counting on me to become the Dove of Suzaku and stop Tenkou. I will-no-I must become the Dove." Hand and foot holds were difficult to find as he ascended the cliff slowly. He quickly learned that the cliff wall was also roughly textured as he pulled himself higher as the jagged surface cut his arms and legs painfully but not enough to cause major bloodloss.
    After climbing for an unknown amount of time, he paused, hugging the wall as he caught his breath. His entire body ached with fatigue and he felt almost too weak to continue.
    'Makenai...that's right,' he thought, feeling sweat trickle down his back and chest. 'That's one of the first Japanese words I learned...and the one I use whenever I feeling like giving up...ever since ninth grade...' he sighed and forced his body to respond. "I won't give up...not now," he growled, his fingers aching in protest. "Not then...not ever...makenai!"
    After another eternity of struggling, his hand found a ledge instead of wall. A small, weary smile crossed the teens face as he pulled himself onto it; the smooth, cool stone ground a blessing to his sore body.
    'So tired,' he thought as his eyes drifted closed. 'I could just fall asleep right here, no da...demo,' he forced himself to his feet and made his way forward. The darkness seemed to give way slowly as he did; no longer as dark as a tomb. A slight breeze caressed his sweat-soaked body as he went towards the glow the promised to let him escape. His eyes re-adjusted slowly and he soon found himself atop the moonlit hill in a garden that would have put Hotohori's palace gardens to shame. Flowers of every possible color, shape, size, and fragrance blooming on everything from trees to bushes. The grass was ankle deep and soft, but also seemed to vary in colors. Beyond the garden, there was rubble. Looking to his left, Houjun saw sand and, beside that, snow.
    "Where on earth..." he began, studying the landscape in awe. Suddenly, it struck him. "Everything here represents something from each of the four lands!"
    "Correct." The voice behind him startled him and he spun around to face his tester. He resembled Serge in every aspect and donned a short, white robe cinched at the waist with a crimson belt. Beneath it he wore black pants tucked into black boots. In his slender hands, he held a staff that was as tall as he was, the top in the shape of a crescent moon with an iridescent star-shaped crystal within it resting directly where the moon met the staff. "You have done well, so far, however, time was slowed in the trial cave and, now that you have escaped the darkness, the mere hours you were inside have become twenty hours that you have gone without rest, food, or water. You now must face me in combat, however, you can not win, boy." As he spoke, Houjun began to feel even more exhausted and hungry. He focused on the mage before him, desperately trying to stay awake.
    "I won't give up that easily, no da," he informed the other.
    "Hm hm hm, well, then, prepare to die at the hands of Magus Rimald(8)!" The mage cried, a blast of lightning striking Houjun and sending him sprawling to the edge of the hill.
    'Shimatta, he's right...' Houjun thought bleakly, his eyes sliding closed. 'Minna, gomen...I'm just not strong enough...'
    <Please, Houjun,> Samantha's voice came to him. His blue, tear-drop shaped pendent(9) began to glow faintly as her words unknowingly crossed the barriers of the book.
    "Samantha?" he whispered weakly.
    <Houjun, I know you're tired, but please...please don't let him beat you...> Samantha pleaded. <Look down at your friends. They're fighting Nakago and they aren't giving up. He's a lot stronger than they are and he guy, Serge, is already hurt bad. I know
it seems like I'm asking a lot of you, but please, Houjun...Please get up...> A trickle of water hit his face from above and he looked up.
    'Samantha...that's right, we're connected by out necklaces...just like Miaka and Yui were connected through there school uniforms...' he recalled, forcing himself up. He glanced down at his friends.
    'That's right...my friends...they're fighting Nakago...for me...' He rose to his feet painfully and turned towards the advancing mage, a red energy surrounding his hand as he began to cast a spell.
    'Then I must fight for them.' The red light streaked towards Magus, who deflected it with ease.
    "It will take more than that to stop me," he chuckled, firing another blast of energy at Houjun. Again the Teen hit the ground and again he stumbled to his feet. "Give it up, you can't win in your condition, boy."
    "Your right," Houjun rasped, clutching his side. "I probably don't stand much of a chance against you, demo," he held his left hand towards the mage, calling a spell to mind. "If I lose, I die and if I give up, I die. I know that giving up would be less painful, but I have to fight. My friends are counting on me, as is this world. Sammy's praying for me not to die and my friends are fighting Nakago because they believe in me. Makenai, no da!" He sent out another attack and Magus could only marvel at what he felt as the blast hit him. It wasn't enough to kill him, but he could sense a pure, raw power within it. He watched as Houjun dropped to one knee, barely able to keep his balance yet seeming willing to throw out another attack if needed.
    "Houjun," Magus spoke softly. The teen's eyes met his own and he smiled. "Even though your power is not even at half strength, I'm very impressed. I can sense a pure energy from you that bares neither anger nor hatred. You truly are Suzaku's Dove, Houjun Akia Ri." A pillar of golden light engulfed Houjun, healing his wounds and refreshing his body. For a brief moment, Mahogany eyes met gold one and an understanding crossed between the two mages. Magus held out his hand, offering the scroll Houjun had come for.
    "With that, Hato, you can unlock all of your powers, but for now, I can only grant you an increase of power and strength. Once you are whole again, then read the scroll." The pillar of light began to fade and, with it, so did Magus. "Good luck, Houjun. May all your wishes be dreams and may all your dreams come true."
    "Houjun stared at the spot where the mage had stood only moments before and suddenly realized the change in the atmosphere. No longer was it a clear, cloudless night, but dark clouds choked the sky, thunder crashing all around him and lightening flashing as bright as day. He clenched his fist and looked back to his friends. With a firm nod and stretching his renewed body, he lept over the edge and towards his friends.

    Nakago was becoming tired of the feebly attempts to delay his entry into the Doukutsu. He was finally preparing to just fry them all when a burst of white light nearly hit his feet. He looked up disbelieving as Houjun glided towards the ground on elegant white wings the shimmered with an iridescent light. He landed lightly between Nakago and his friends.
    "That's far enough, Nakago," the teen stated, drawing his sword as thunder crashed above them and a flash of lightening threw shadows around them. It had yet begun to rain, but the storm was now fully under way.

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YEA! Four down, eight to go, no da! OK. I know alot of the lines sound familiar and I must admit that all the sex stuff wasn't my idea, but I put it together for your enjoyment, despite the risk of plagiarism, no da^-^;; I think I've said too much, no da...

**To reiterate, the stuff between the "||" marks is not my works(I'm saying this for my health for when/if Nuri-chan ever reads this so she doesn't kill me, no da-_-;;)

(1) Beads, kesa, kasa, staff
(2) meaning: It's alright, baby^_~
(3) meaning: angel
(4) meaning: Den of the Dove of Suzaku, for those of you not paying attention to chapter three, no da.
(5) eh...I have a fetish for Chrono Cross(and Chrono Trigger, no da)
(6) No, it's not kodoku(sp?), no da
(7) Um, they needed names, and, well, it just seemed to work, being they're from a mountain. More about them in coming chapters, no da^_~*
(8) Magus, as in the Magus from Chrono Trigger. Rimald is a name that I pulled out of somewhere while listening to the Fushigi Yuugi TV Original Soundtrack at around 2:30am
(9) Quiz: What color is Samantha's pendant? Just seeing if you guys are paying attention, no da^_~*

Wow, that's a lot of footnotes, no da. E-mail me with questions and comments, no da. I need the encouragement, na no da.Anyways, so Houjun has acquired the scroll and some nifty new abilities, but can he defeat Nakago in combat? Why do I refer to Chichiri as Houjun? Why did the weather suddenly turn bad?

Next up:
Fushigi Akugi
Chapter 5: Eyes Blinded By Evil: Confronting Nakago

"I will go...I will..."
-Chichiri: OVA II Episode 5: The Transience of a Water Mirror