Here's the next chapter of my FY fic. I'm sure there may be some typos
and gramatical errors, hopefully its not too bad. Many, many, many
thanks to Jen Webster, my prereader, and to all who have supported me
thus far. Hope you like this chapter.

Fushigi Yuugi: The Return of the White Tiger
By Wesley Bridges
Based upon the Fushigi Yuugi series and characters by Yu Watasei

 ***********************************************************
 * The time that passes in and between episodes here may be*
 * a little different from the main series, and I'm not    *
 * sure exactly of the time passage between them, so I will*
 * guess this starts around FY episode about 9 or 10       *
 ***********************************************************

Chapter 2: Of White Tigers and Deadly Flowers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 The sun rose high over the capital city of Sairo bringing with
 it the high temperatures of the arid country. At the Temple of
 Byakko, Eki knelt in front of a large golden statue of a tiger.
 Beside her sat a man, appearing in his early twenties or so with
 long brown hair.

 "He still hasn't come back, Tatara," Eki said softly.

 "I'm sure he's fine," Tatara assured her.

 "Its been three days since he left... and its not like Kagatsu
 not to tell me where he's going."

 "I'm sure he has his reasons. Have faith in him."

 "Hey, Tatara..."

 "Hmm?" he replied

 "Do... do you have faith in him?"

 "Well...," Tatara said smiling a bit, "he is someone special to
 you, that can't make him all that bad. You must have faith in
 him as I do with Suzuno."

 "I will." Eki said smiling, then walked out of the room.

*************************************************************************

 Several li from the capital city, Kagatsu, Akiya and the two
 Konan guards rode through the hot desert on weary horses. The
 sun was just beginning to make the desert a blazing ocean of
 sand, but the four travelers continued onward.

 "There is a small village a little way off our path northward."
 Kagatsu said reassuring his horse. "I would suggest we rest there
 until nightfall. Sairo is still a fair distance away."

 "We need extra supplies of water if we wish to reach Sairo as
 well." One of the guards mentioned.

 "I figured as much," Kagatsu said veering northward. "We'd better
 be off before our horses faint on us."

 After about a half an hour of pushing their horses as far as
 they could go, they reached a small village of clay-like
 buildings.

 "This is the village of Shouju," Kagatsu said, dismounting. "This
 is one of the last places to get supplies and shelter until the
 capital."

 "Everything looks so peaceful here," Akiya said, looking at the
 villagers going about thier lives, "so much different from home."

 "I suppose," Kagatsu said, not fully understanding Akiya's
 statement. "Anyway, let us make our arrangements and get some
 rest."

 After a few minutes of wandering the town, the group came to a
 small inn and tavern in the center of town.

 "Hey, look at the pretty lady," a drunken man said, as Akiya
 entered the tavern.

 "Yeeeaah," another man said, "she shur ish a fine catch!"

 "Don't mind them," Kagatsu said softly. "Just keep your eyes
 ahead and try not to do anything to encurage them."

 The four made their way to the back counter to see about renting
 a room or two until nightfall. Many more drunks joined in the
 chorus attempting to allure Akiya away from her guards, but none
 attempted to approach due to the armed guards around her. Finally,
 the group reached the counter.

 "Do you have two rooms available?" Kagatsu asked the man behind
 the counter.

 "Sure do," the man replied. "It'll be one silver tiel a night.
 Is that alright?"

 "That will be fine." Kagatsu said, handing the man two coins.

 "The rooms will be ready in a few minutes."

 "Thank you."

 The four waited around the counter not wanting to draw any more
 attention then they had already. After about ten minutes, the
 man told them their rooms were ready and led them upstairs to
 the rooms.

 "Enjoy your stay," the man said, then quickly walked back
 downstairs.

 Akiya opened up one of the rooms and walked inside followed by
 Kagatsu and the two guards. The room was simple with a bed, and
 a low table for writing.

 "Oh look!" Akiya said walking to the bed, "This flower... its
 gorgeous!"

 "Don't touch that flower!" Kagatsu yelled just getting a glimpse
 of the flower Akiya was reaching for.

 "But...," Akiya began, freezing in position.

 "That flower is known as a Desert Lotus. They do not grow anywhere
 around this part of Sairo. They are highly poisonous, just by
 exposing your skin to the secreations of its petals, a human will
 die."

 "Who would do such a thing?" one of the guards asked.

 "I don't know, but it is a safe bet it has to do with that group
 from earlier."

 "I thought you killed them all." Akiya said, shying away from the
 bed.

 "Before I could, one of the ninjas that threw the stars at us
 dashed off. Who ever they are, it is you they're after."

 "But what did I do to them?"

 "I don't know. We'll check the other room, if nothing is in there
 you'll stay in it. The guards and I will take turns guarding your
 room."

 "Alright," Akiya said, walking to the door. "Kagatsu..." she said
 pausing at the door.

 "What is it?"

 "What did you do... back then?"

 "Like I told you before, don't worry about it. You'll learn soon
 enough."

 Akiya and the guards left the room and went next door to check
 the other room.

 *So... this is why, Byakko?* Kagatsu thought. *Is this why you
 chose me? I see my purpose now, but... what of all the others?
 Eki..., the other three Seishi... I've kept this secret from them.
 I've even denied my position to myself. Am I truly ready to serve
 as one of your seven?*

 Kagatsu snapped out of his thought process as a large thud came
 from the room next door. Not knowing the cause of the noise, he
 instantly sprang into action and rushed out of the room.

 "Wait a minute!" the guard said trying to prevent Kagatsu from
 entering.

 Kagatsu burst past the two guards, opened the the door and rushed
 inside to see Akiya in nothing but her underwear just getting up
 off the floor. Kagatsu's face blazed with heat as the blood rushed
 into it. He spun around quickly to try to minimize the situation.

 "Kaga...tsu? Akiya said as she stood up.

 "Um... I'm sorry about that... are you... alright?"

 "I'm fine, is something wrong?"

 "Well, um, you're..."

 "Oh, uh... I was just going to take a bath, when I tripped over
 something." Akiya said, blushing, as she became aware of her lack
 of clothing.

 "Oh..., well... Enjoy your bath, and get some rest. You'll need
 it for this evening." Kagatsu said, then left quickly.

 *Kagatsu... he keeps trying to be so distant, but there's
 something about him...,* Akiya thought returning to her bath,
 *It's probably nothing. It's probably just my imagination, but...*

*************************************************************************

 Kagatsu walked back upstairs after almost a half an hour of asking
 if anyone saw anyone going upstairs other than the caretakers. After
 negative results, he asked the caretakers if they knew or had seen
 anything peculiar. Again, he learned nothing. As he came to Akiya's
 room, he saw the two guards, still standing at attention, guarding
 the door.

 "Alright," Kagatsu said approaching the guards. "You're on a trip
 too, I'll relieve you guys for a while."

 "But..." one of the guards said.

 "Look, its both of our jobs to protect her. Your orders come from
 your emperor, mine... from a higher source. Take a break and
 enjoy yourselves for a while. She'll be safe with me."

 "Th... thank you." the guards said, then slowly walked off.

 Kagatsu lightly knocked on Akiya's door seeing if she was up. There
 was no reply, so he decided to check on her. He opened the door
 quietly to find her asleep.

 *Good, she's asleep,* Kagatsu thought.

 Kagatsu stayed in the room a while, and from time to time noticed
 her toss in her sleep as if having bad dreams.

 *She must be having a rough time,* Kagatsu thought. *I can't say
 I blame her, being in a foriegn world, being attacked...*

 As Kagatsu opened the door to check on the guards, Akiya awoke.

 "Kagatsu?" Akiya said, as she sat up.

 "Yes?" he answered stopping

 "I... I thought it was you. Somehow, I knew you were here... where
 are you going?"

 "Just to check on the guards. I'm relieving them for a while."

 "Oh... um... come back quickly, ok? I don't know what it is, but
 when you're around... I feel... safe."

 "Don't worry," Kagatsu said. "I won't be gone long."

 Kagatsu slipped out the door and closed it behind him. He didn't
 have to go far to find the guards, who were sitting in the next
 room playing a game of Mah Jong. Glad the guards were close by in
 the event something acutally happened, and because they seemed to
 be enjoying themselves a little, Kagatsu went back to Akiya's room
 and found her asleep again. He took a chair near the table and
 sat down by the foot of the bed.

 *Why do I get the feeling that this is wrong?* Kagatsu thought.
 *I know I'm supposed to protect her, but... something feels strange
 being here when she's sleeping... and from what happened earlier.
 Eki has been like a little sister to me, but we've grown up since
 those days... but something about Akiya and Eki... makes what I'm
 doing right now seem... wrong. Why is that? Why do these things
 keep happening to me?*

 Kagatsu's thoughts soon made him weary, and he found himself
 falling asleep in the chair.

*************************************************************************

 Several hours passed, soon Kagatsu's eyes jerked open and he
 stood up quickly.

 *Something's not right.* Kagatsu thought. *There is a hostile
 presence nearby.*

 Kagatsu quietly walked to the door to the room and opened it.
 The halls were empty and the sun had just sunk under the horizon.
 Looking off the balcony, Kagatsu saw that the bar was crowded
 with people drinking and enjoying themselves.

 "Kagatsu?" Akiya said awakening.

 "Right here." Kagatsu said from the doorway.

 "Is everything all right? I suddenly got this sensation that
 something bad happened."

 "Its alright. You stay here, I'll go check things out. I won't be
 long."

 "Alright."

 Kagatsu slipped out the door and quietly shut it behind him. He
 walked over to the next room to look in at the guards. Both were
 on the floor, appearantly sleeping, by the table where they were
 playing a Mah Jong game, which looked unfinished.

 Kagatsu walked to the closer of the two and knelt down.

 "Hey." Kagatsu said shaking the guard a little. "Will you wake
 up already?"

 Kagatsu rolled the guard on his back and saw a pale face with a
 blank stare.

 *Dead?* Kagatsu thought *How can that be? No signs of struggle.*

 Kagatsu checked the body carefully. He lived with his father who
 was a well trained doctor, and he helped out with patients every
 now and then, so he learned several things, and with his ninja
 training, he knew a bit about dead people as well.

 The guard's body had no open wounds what-so-ever. Kagatsu looked
 over the arms and the hands. The guard's skin was cold and clammy,
 and the fingertips were blue with a yellowish tinge about them.

 *Poisoned?* Kagatsu thought. *There's no open wounds, and the
 hands look strange, but how was it administered? The fingers are...
 *

 Kagatsu's eyes went straight to the unfinished Mah Jong game. He
 quickly went back to Akiya's room where he found her held by a
 man in a mask dressed in black.

 "Well, now, look what we have here." the man said. "Is this your
 friend, little girl?"

 "Let her go." Kagatsu said, swords drawn.

 "Not so fast, Shenchi. Put down your weapons, or I will kill her.
 It matters not to my superiors."

 "Shenchi? I'm sorry, but you have the wrong person. Now let her
 go."

 "Drop your weapons."

 Kagatsu placed his swords on the ground.

 "Ha. Did you really think I would let her go?"

 "Of course not, but I would recomend it."

 "Oh, and just what are you going to do to me, Shenchi?"

 "I told you. That's not my name." Kagatsu said, focusing his
 energies. Power rushed through him as a warm feeling eminated from
 his right shoulder. Several moments later, Kagatsu faded out of
 sight.

 "Huh?" The man said, looking around frantically. "Wh... where'd
 he go?"

 The man slowly made his way to the door with a struggling Akiya.
 Just as he began through it though, three throwing stars flew through
 the air behing him. The first one hit the middle of his back causing
 the muscles in his arms to spasm and release their grip on Akiya.
 The second pierced the back of his knee sending him to the ground.
 As his knees hit the ground, the thrid dug deep into the base of
 his neck, and the man fell to the ground, dead.

 Akiya looked down at the man who once held her captive, then to
 Kagatsu who now stood visible several feet behind him. She ran
 up to him and hugged him.

 "Hey... uh, Wh... what was that for?" Kagatsu asked

 "Thank you." Akiya said pulling away. "I.. its just that I was
 scared... and you are the first person here who actually... I mean
 I feel..."

 "Don't worry about it. Come on, we'd best get moving. Don't take
 anything, we'll purchase new rations and water supplies."

 "Why what happened?"

 "The guards who were with you have been poisoned. We can't take
 the chance any of our possessions have been poisoned as well."

 "A...alright."

*************************************************************************

 Under the watchful eye of the moon sitting just above the horizon,
 Kagatsu and Akiya left on thier horses heading west toward the
 capital city. The desert wes still warm from the heat of the day,
 but it was quickly cooling down providing almost perfect travel
 conditions. Both traveled without saying a word for almost an hour;
 Kagatsu in front, and Akiya following at a small distance.

 "Alright." Kagatsu said breaking the silence, "What's on your mind?"

 "Huh?" Akiya asked surprised. "What do you mean?"

 "You've haven't spoken a word ever since we left the inn, so what's
 on your mind?"

 "Oh... nothing... its just that... that man back there... he seemed
 so sure of who you were.... I'm probably just paranoid."

 "I keep many secrets about myself, some of which I've never told
 another soul. Someday soon, these secrets will have to come out,
 so now I will explain to you whatever the man had told you
 previously about me."

 "I... its ok, really. You don't have to..."

 "Don't worry, there are others who know this much about me. See,
 the art of ninjitsu is not taught very many places outside of a
 true clan. Events happened in my childhood which made me seek the
 skills of the ninja, and so at the age of nine, I joined a clan.
 The clan's purpose was supposed to be to foil the assassinations
 and other high crimes comitted by other clans, so I trained there
 for six years. Then I discovered that this clan, was actually part
 of another. A clan that took young idealists, such as myself, and
 warped their minds until they no longer cared. After that, I tried
 my best to leave the clan, but I knew that since I knew the true
 intentions of the clan, I couldn't leave alive. During a mission
 that was going bad... I faked my death, and never again returned
 to the clan, instead putting my skills to more useful applications."

 "But why did he call you Shenchi?" Akiya asked after a pause.

 "Shenchi is my birth name. I have no care for it. My foster father
 nick named me Kagatsu when I was young, so I adopted it as my
 real name."

 "I see."

 "Hey, cheer up a bit will you? Like I said, I've been putting my
 skills to better uses, and right now that's protecting you. That
 I can gaurentee will not change. I can also guarentee that you
 will learn the rest of what I'm holding back in a few days or so.
 I just need some time, ok?"

 "Ok." Akiya said smiling with satisfaction.

 The two riders came to the top of a rocky outcropping from which
 the desert sloped down from quickly. In the distance, a large
 spread of lights indicated a city was down below.

 "That is the capital." Kagatsu said pointing to the cluster of
 lights.

 "It looks so beautiful from here... just like a cluster of stars."

 "We'll get there in about an hour. When we arrive, I'll take you
 to the Emperor. If he accepts you as the returning Byakko no
 Miko, then surely he will arrange for your stay."

 "Do you think I could be Byakko no Miko?"

 "Emperor Hotohori may be young, but he is very wise when it comes
 to the prophecy of the Miko. Along with my own reasons, I would
 be the first to address you as priestess."

 "Thank you... for your support."

 "Its my pleasure." Kagatsu said smiling a little.

*************************************************************************

 Eki and Tatara knelt before the large golden statue of Byakko
 in the prayer room of the temple. A knock broke the silence within
 the room, and a guard dressed in the Imperial Guard uniforms of
 Sairo entered and stood quietly in the back. Tatara and Eki
 finished their prayers and turned to the visitor.

 "Pardon my intrusion, but the emperor has declared the appearance
 of another Byakko no Miko!" the guard reported.

 "What?!" Tatara and Eki excalimed in unison.

 "He did not believe it at first, but as the guards were going to
 take the girl and her companion away, a white light surrounded the
 girl and pushed the guards away. When the guards were inspected,
 strange claw marks appeared where they were hit."

 "Where is she now?" Tatara asked

 "She and her companion are being led to the temple as we speak."
 the guard said, then exited.

 "Do you think it could be Suzuno?" Eki asked quietly.

 "I don't know, but I hope so." Tatara replied.

 Tatara and Eki walked out the the main hall of the temple and were
 soon joined by an elderly woman and man.

 "Subaru, Tokaki, did you hear?" Eki asked excited.

 "Yes, we just heard. Is it really true?" Subaru answered.

 Just then the doors opened and two imperial guards walked in and
 then stepped aside. Then Kagatsu and Akiya entered the temple.

 "Kagatsu!" Eki exclaimed running up and hugging him. "Don't you
 dare worry me like that again!" she said as she proceeded to
 pound on him.

 "Relax! I won't it just sorta... happened." Kagatsu replied.

 "Wow... she is soooo sexy." Tokaki said quietly. "But not as
 sexy as you, honey." he added quickly alieviating the quelling
 anger in the woman beside him

 "And you are?" Tatara asked Akiya.

 "I'm Akiya. Akiya Byasune." she replied timidly.

 "The Emperor has declared her Byakko no Miko who has returned after
 ninety years." one of the guards proclaimed

 "Oh..." Tatara said slightly disappointed. "Ah, sorry. I am
 Tatara." he said over his disappointment. "This is Subaru, and
 Tokaki.."

 "And I'm Eki" Eki said waving happily.

 "Yes." Tatara continued. "We are four of the Byakko seven."

 "Byakko seven?" Akiya asked.

 "Yes, seven celestial warriors who protect Byakko no Miko, and
 with the power Byakko has entrusted to each of the seven, will
 grant the power to summon Byakko to the priestess. Tokaki,
 Subaru and I are reminants from the seven who summoned Byakko
 ninety years ago."

 "Then that would mean..."

 "Yes, we are over one hundred years old. Eki, is the first and only
 of the new seishi that have come here. You must find the rest
 of the Byakko seven. The names of the Byakko seven are: Tatara,
 Subaru, Tokaki, Ekie, Kagasuki, Amefuri, and Toroki. The last
 three are yet to be found."

 "I understand." Akiya said.

 "Good, then I'll show you to your room."

 Akiya followed Tatara, who motioned the other three seishi to
 follow as well. After walking a ways down the hallway, they opened
 a door to a decently sized bedroom. Akiya walked over to the bed
 and layed upon it while the four seishi sat around a table.

 "There are things we must discuss, now that another Miko has
 arrived." Tatara said.

 "Yes, we must now protect the Shinzaho as well as her." Tokaki
 replied.

 "There is no mistaking that she is the Miko. Her chi is much to
 strong for there to be any mistaking it." Subaru added.

 "Akiya, how did you get to Sairo?" Eki asked looking to the bed.

 No reply came from Akiya as she lay asleep.

 "Let her rest." Tatara said. "Much of this must be discussed
 amongst ourselves anyway."

**************************************************************************

 In the main hall of the temple, Kagatsu waited for a while before
 deciding to leave.

 "If anyone is looking for me, tell them I've gone to the spring."
 Kagatsu told a guard on his way out.

 "Will do." the guard replied.

 The spring was a small pool of water just south of the city. Being
 very arid, such springs were very rare, and generally had cities
 nearby. Kagatsu stared into the clear waters watching his reflection
 which stared back with the same distant look.

 *I should have told them.* he thought. *Its not like it would have
 mattered anyway.*

 Kagatsu rolled the sleeve of his right arm up and undid the old
 bandages that he had placed there the previous evening. He took
 some of the water and washed the dried blood away cooling the
 healing wounds. As the dried blood washed away, a white character
 glowed dimly on his shoulder. Kagatsu then rolled down his sleeve
 and continued to stare into the water.

*************************************************************************

End Episode 2


SD

--
"May the journey through the darkness give you comfort
 in the presence of the everlasting light"

     -The Mighty SoulDrake