Author's Notes:
    Due to finding out that there was still a lot of mistakes in the
fanfic( I am thanking Megan Jones for that), I would like to repost the
story again. Anyway... there isn't much thing that was changed but still
I am hoping you would read it again. I am still accepting C&C or
opinions
( Whether you like or not...) for the fanfic.
Enjoy!

Thanks to our pre-readers : Lord Talon, Ratbat, Seratia, Kahlil Noriega,
Jonathan Lloyd, Black Ice, Skuld63282@aol.com and Ezrial1@aol.com.

Disclaimer: All Ranma 1/2  characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Co.
All Fushigi-yuugi characters belongs to Yu Watase.

Fushigi Mizu
by: Dy

< Country of Konan >

    With their hands held together in a tender gesture of love and
companionship, Miaka and Tamahome stood outside her bedchamber. They
dreaded having to say goodnight, because then they would have to part
for hours, not seeing each other again until the sun rose the next
day... or so they thought.

    Miaka brought up her other hand and toyed absently with her
ponytail.

    "I failed to summon Suzaku's powers again. If I didn't know better,
I had truly believe that I'm not meant for this task," she said giggling
a little self-consciously.

     Tamahome gave her a tight smile in reponse. "Rest and forget your
worries, Miaka. We would all try again tomorrow."

     Miaka immediately brightened up and nodded her assent, oblivious of
the tension around Tamahome's mouth.

     "Goodnight, Tama-chan..." Miaka raised herself on tiptoes and aimed
for his lips. She encircled his neck with her arms.

     A few seconds later, Tamahome lifted his lips from hers and pulled
away from her embrace.

     "It's getting late... I have to go. You need as much sleep as you
can get if we are to try calling Suzaku again. You know how much Konan's
fate depends on it."

     "Yes, I do..." she agreed whole-heartedly.

     Miaka'a mind started working overtime with visions of what would
happen should she fail again. She vowed with determination, "As long as
it is in my powers to do so, I will help this country, Konan, rise from
despair to glorious victory." A large flame of conviction began blazing
brightly all around  Miaka, fueled by the strong emotions racing through
her entire being.

     "Let's not get too carried away here..." Tamahome reminded, fanning
down the sudden fire in an attempt to stop the disastrous idea from
forming inside Miaka's brain. Having been the one to save her neck from
mishap after mishap, he knew first-hand how draining such an
experience could be.

     She smiled sheepishly and muttered an apology. "Sorry..."

     Opening the door to her room, Miaka stepped inside and hurriedly
turned around to greet Tamahome for the last time. "Sweet dreams,
Tama-chan. I'll see you tomorrow."

     "Right... tomorrow." As soon as he heard the unmistakable sound of
the door being shut, Tamahome released the tired sigh he'd been holding
back for quite a while now. With a distracted look in his eyes, he
retraced his steps back to the castle's main hall.

     He was very confused, but he wasn't really sure why. A part of him
wanted to believe that it was all because of the pressure his country
was in,the growing chaos, the inevitable war with Kutou, but deep
inside, he knew that it was something else...

     It was Miaka. She was so innocent, so naive... so helpless. He was
worried that she might not be able to bear all the problems they were
going through and might suddenly break down one day. She didn't realize
that to save others, one must first know how to save oneself.

     He sighed again and paused as he passed a window. He noticed how
beautiful the night was, with all the stars shining so bright. On
impulse, he whispered a heartfelt wish...

     "I wish our priestess was a stronger woman." Then he continued
walking through the silent corridors of the Royal Konan Palace, making
his way to his own bedchamber.

                                                                     * *
*

     In the depths of the mystical forest where the sorcerer's territory
lay, Taiitsu-kun watched the couple's exchange in her enchanted mirror.
She gave a small nod at Tamahome's little whim. How clever of him to
sense what Taiitsu-kun was about to do...

     "It is time..." her raspy voice rang out against the fortress'
peaceful walls. With a wave of her fingers, the image in the crystal
ball changed...


* * *

     "Tama! Where are you, Tama? Chichiri's looking for you..."

     Tamahome whirled around at the sound of his name being called.
Almost immediately, he heard the sound of loud laughing and guffawing.
His eyes darkened menacingly.

     "TASUKI!!!"

     Tasuki quickly crouched down to catch Mitsukake's scampering white
cat, Tama.

     "Good morning, Tama! I didn't know you were there! Up so early?"
Tasuki said, this time referring to Tamahome as he let go of the cat.

     His bright orange hair hid his smirk from Tamahome's view. Tasuki
decided to tease Tamahome a little more since his friend seemed to be in
a testy mood this morning.

     "Damn right you didn't!" Tamahome scowled darkly and approached
Tasuki, his intentions obviously taking on a violent turn.

     Tasuki's grin widened as he reached for his fan. "Cool it, Tama.
Your fur's getting all ruffled. Here, let me help you..."

     Tasuki flipped open the iron fan and wildly swung a stroke in the
air, throwing hot flames all over the place, especially all over
Tamahome.

     Tamahome tried to leap out of the way, but he wasn't fast enough.
In the end though, he did manage to escape unharmed, but totally
blackened. Soots stained his cheeks and clothes. Combined with the
fierce frown on his face, he looked every bit like the ogre his blazing
character branded him to be.

     Tasuki laughed harder and harder until his sides began to hurt. He
saw Tamahome lunge at him and so he turned around to flee across the
hall, but a hand grasped his shirt collar and stopped him. Twisting
around, he was surprised to see a pair of violet eyes instead of dark
blue ones.

     "Nuriko! When did you get here?!?"

     "Nice to see you, too, Tasuki. Good morning, Tamahome, did you
sleep well?" Nuriko answered.

     Nuriko, the strongest of the seven Seishi, smiled as he held
Tasuki up in the air with one hand and held Tamahome up with the other.
He was glad he came just in time to stop another of the famous
"Tasuki-Tamahome" arguments. Hotohori-sama wouldn't have been pleased.

     "Yes, thank you. Can I get down now?" came Tamahome's reply.

     "Dammit, Nuriko! Let me go!" a struggling Tasuki shouted.

     "We have to get going. Hotohori-sama wants us to see him at
breakfast," he informed them in a business-like tone. Being one of the
Emperor's closest friends had its advantages.

     "By the way, have any of you seen Miaka?" Nuriko asked.

     Tamahome felt a flash of uneasiness at the mention of Miaka's name.

     "I've been to her room a while ago. She wasn't there, so I assumed
she was with you." Tamahome answered

     "Funny... Hotohori-sama said the very same thing. He's been looking
for her since the sun came up because he wants to talk to her about the
legendary amulet that might help us summon Suzaku." Nuriko said
thoughtfully, his eyebrows raised.

     This was very unusual indeed. Miaka was seldom alone. Given her
cheerful disposition, she usually preferred having some company around
rather than be all by herself.

     Just then, Chichiri came running out of the corner. His face was
contorted with fear and panic as he announced.

      "The castle's in an uproar! Miaka is missing!!"


* * *

     "How can she be missing?!? I just saw her to her room last night!!
Are you sure your soldiers are looking hard enough, Hotohori?" Tamahome
demanded hotly as white fury ran through his veins.

     He couldn't believe this was happening! It was just as he feared...
the minute he turned his back, Miaka was reduced to a helpless creature
who couldn't even defend herself.

     Hotohori gave him an intent look and decided to forgive Tamahome
for challenging him like that. He knew his friend needed utmost
understanding right now because the only girl he had ever cared for
suddenly vanished without a trace.

     "They're doing their best, Tamahome," Hotohori said in an attempt
to ease him.

     "Maybe she was captured by Nakago's men sometime during the night,"
Chiriko suggested helpfully, unintentionally speaking out what the
others most feared.

     Chichiri shook his head vehemently from where he sat near the
window. "She's gone farther away than that... I can't feel her chi, no
da."

     "Either that, or Nakago must be blocking off your powers with his
own," Nuriko pointed out, pacing worriedly just behind Hotohori's chair.

     "Damn that Nakago! I say we go there and find out by OURSELVES."
Tasuki stood up abruptly and held out his fan, itching to do battle.

     "A bloody battle will do no good," Mitsukake said.

     Soon enough, the whole room was vibrating with various shouted
ideas on how to rescue Miaka.

     Hotohori hit the table with a resounding thud to get their
attention.

     "Wherever Miaka may be, we must all remember one thing: Nakago is
never to know that she is missing. Once he finds out, Konan is finished.
We won't stand  a chance against Nakago and his men, especially now that
our priestess is gone. There'll be no way to summon Suzaku."

     "I'll issue out a decree that not a word about this should escape
the castle walls. Otherwise, the risk will be too high," he went on.

     Tamahome held up  a hand and said solemnly, "Hotohori-sama, please
allow me to search for Miaka on my own. I promise to be discreet and to
take utmost care."

     Hotohori nodded his permission. "Before you do, search the entire
Konan before you search the outskirts of our territory. She could be
somewhere there."

     Tamahome was out of the door in the next second, running as if his
very life depended on it.

     Nuriko coughed noisily to break the sudden silence that descended
on the room. "What do we do now?" he asked. They couldn't go on a search
of their own and maintain secrecy at the same time. Soon enough, their
tasks would raise suspicions all over town.

     "We ask for a decoy," Hotohori stated simply.

     "Excuse me?" Chiriko said, dumbstruck.

     Hotohori leaned back on his chair and rubbed his chin pensively. "A
decoy... another girl from Miaka's world. If we're to deceive Nakago,
we'll need another girl of Miaka's upbringing... and more."

     The rest of the five Seishis stared at Hotohori with the most
disbelieving expressions in their faces. They were all wondering if
perhaps their young emperor lost his mind sometime between the discovery
of Miaka's disappearance and now... Considering he himself loved the
priestess, such a possibility couldn't be ruled out.

     Just then, a mysterious voice filled the room, speaking but three
words.

     "It is time..."


* * *

< Nerima, Japan >

     The bright morning sun streamed through the wide windows of
Fuurinkan High's school library as the whole junior class busied
themselves with their respective research projects. Study period had
never been spent this wisely before, but since a good project grade
ensured an examination exemption, the students had decided to be smart
and grab the chance as it passed by.

     In the farthest corner of the library, where the sunlight was weak
and the air was filled with dust, stood a girl with short blue-black
hair and angry eyes. She was infuriated beyond belief that the teacher
would assigned such a hard topic for her to work on. Hell... she wasn't
even sure if their library had the book she was looking for or not! Old
legends, indeed!

     Mumbling all the while about legendary weirdoes that she didn't
really care a thing for, Akane Tendou went on tiptoes and reached for
the hard-bound book she spotted on the topmost shelf. It was very dusty,
and the pages were obviously yellowing with age, but from where she
stood, she could make out the words "universe" and "gods" on the cover.
Judging from its title, it was pretty safe to say that the book
contained something about legends.

     Her fingers inched closer and closer to the book, until finally,
she felt it against her fingertips. With a soft grunt, she tugged hard.

     The book came tumbling down, landing noisily on the floor. Along
with it, Akane thought she heard the distant sound of wings flapping.

     She took a glance around the place as if to make sure. She wouldn't
have been surprised if she saw a bird behind her. Seeing nothing, she
bent down to retrieve the book and blew the dust away for good measure.

     Just then, she heard a suspiciously familiar voice a couple of
aisles away.

     "Oh, Ryoga darling... I miss you so much! Why did you leave me?"

     Akane's eyes narrowed into thin slits as she got closer to the
voice. A few steps more and the culprit came into view.

     "Leave you? I'm sorry, but I don't even remember you... you must be
ahh... mistaken... Is this the Tendo house?" Ryoga said as he backed
away, eventually trapping himself against the bookcase.

     The voice spoke up again, her tone positively sobbing. "But
Ryoga... I'm your fiancee!... I've been following you everywhere because
I need you so..." the girl, dressed in the blue-green and white
Fuurinkan uniform, held Ryoga tightly in a passionate embrace, her
abundant breasts pressing against his chest.

     Instantly, Ryoga's nose bled and he fainted in front of her causing
the books behind him to crashed down on top of him.

     Akane's temper exploded along with it. "Ranma! You pervert!!!"

     "What!?!" Ranma exclaimed, turning at the sound of Akane's voice. A
hard-bound book hit her head as she turned, however, formed a huge
rock-sized lump amidst her red tresses.

     The book fell again, flipping open to a particular page as if
directed to do so.

     "Akane, you fool! You ruined my plan!" Ranma said, exasperated. She
reached for the book and heard some wings flapping. She twisted around
to see what it was, but before she could move, a red light flashed into
her eyes and enveloped her body.

    "What the..." Ranma said.

     Then a strange voice filled her mind, "It is time..."

     In the next minute, an eerie silence filled the library.

    Ranma Saotome was gone.