Sorry its been a while since I've posted anything for this. I've been
really busy lately, but chapter 4 is done now, so...

As always, C&C is begged for, please don't send me any flames, though.

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

Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi and many of the characters in this fic are not
mine. Yu Watase as the
creator of Fushigi Yuugi and Pioneer Video have all of their proclaimed
rights, only some of the
characters are mine. Don't sue me. I'm a college student and have no
money or life so suing me
won't do any good whatsoever.

 Fushigi Yuugi: The Return of the White Tiger
Chapter 4: A Guide Half Dead
By: Wesley Bridges
Homepage: http://members.xoom.com/Souldrake/Fushigi/


Timeline Notes: This takes place about 3 days after Chapter 3.

Warnings and other stuff: To my knowledge, this does not contain any
spoilers to the main series
of Fushigi Yuugi. It will, however, in later episodes.
********************************************************************************

     Akiya and Tatara sat in the inner shrine within the Temple of
Byakko. Their arms were
both folded in a silent prayer to the large golden idol representing the
white tiger guardian of the
western lands. After a few moments, both looked up, then to each other.

     "You wanted to talk to me about something, Tatara?" Akiya asked
timidly.

     "The time has come to give you this." Tatara said handing her a
sealed scroll.

     "What is it?"

     "This is the scroll that Byakko left just before he returned to the
stars. He said it was to
remain unopened unless another Miko should appear in Sairo."

     Akiya carefully broke the ornate wax seal on the scroll then
unrolled it looking upon the
lavishly drawn characters.

     "To the Miko whose appearance is unexplained," Akiya read awkwardly
from the scroll.
"There is a task to be done, a task that you will only learn of in time.
The warring gods can leave
much devastation in their wake, but be blind to the plots of their
followers. An agreement has
been reached between the two gods whose Mikos have already summoned to
their world. To
help you, I have entrusted the seven warriors that live within the
western land with your
protection. Four of whom will be awaiting you, the other three must be
found: A guide who
stands half dead; A minstrel whose songs appease the winds; and an
unknowing traveler of the
sand filled seas."

     "What does this all mean, Tatara?" Akiya asked

     "It seems you have been chosen for a task... but other than that I
cannot be certain."

     "Is there anyone who might be able to help?"

     "As a matter of fact, there is," Tatara said after some thought.
"Taiitsukun may be able to
help us."

     "Taiitsukun?"

     "Yes. She dwells on Mt. Taiyo. She is the creator of all. If anyone
would know what this
means, she would. I will make arrangements for you to travel there."

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

     Kagatsu laid in a bed where his father gingerly cut away the bloody
bandages covering
his right arm and shoulder while Eki sat on the opposite side waiting
hopefully. She had been
staying with Kagatsu's father for the past three days in an almost
zombie-like state. Every now
and then Subaru and Tokaki would come to check on her and tell her of
the latest developments
in looking for the remaining seishi.

     "Ah, excuse the interruption," Dasugi said walking into the room.
"Dinner is ready."

     "Ah, good," Kagatsu's father said finishing up the splinting and
re-bandaging Kagatsu's
right arm and shoulder. "I'm not sure how I or Eki would manage if you
haven't volunteered to
help out, Dasugi."

     "Oh, its no trouble at all," Dasugi said rubbing the back of his
head. "Kagatsu's saved my
life more times than I can count. This is the least I can do for you and
him."

     "Come on, Eki, you need to eat something." Kagatsu's father said
warmly.

     "Huh? Alright," Eki answered in a tranced voice.

     "Don't worry, he'll be fine."

     Dasugi and Kagatsu's father left the room while Eki stayed for a
moment.

     "She's taking this awfully hard." Dasugi said as they entered the
hallway.

     "Kagatsu and Eki were friends since they were five. He's always
looked after her, but
this is the first time he's been hurt this badly... that, and friendship
grows stronger over time..."

     "Should we..."

     "No, let her be alone for a little bit, she'll get over it soon."

     Inside the room, Eki's eyes began to fill with tears. She placed
her head on Kagatsu's
chest, then began to cry vehemently.

     "Huh?" Dasugi said hearing Eki.

     "She's needed to let it out for a while," Kagatsu's father said
quietly from the hall.

     Eki's emotions soon took over her. She continued to cry
uncontrollably for several
minutes before she lost complete control, screaming at the top of her
lungs and hitting Kagatsu
squarely on the chest.

     Not being able to let this be, Kagatsu's father and Dasugi rushed
back into the room.

     "WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Eki screamed as she proceeded to shake Kagatsu
violently.

     "Eki, calm down! You'll do more harm than good!" Kagatsu's father
said trying to
restrain her.

     "NOOO! HE CAN'T!!!!! I CAN'T!!!!!!!! I...." Eki said, still
yelling, but calming down.

     "That's better."

     "Yeah, you don't want to kill him, do you? He's still alive you
know," Dasugi said.

     "Even with your ability to restore life, Eki, you wouldn't be able
to heal him before his
injuries killed him again," Kagatsu's father added.

     Eki froze in place, eyes wide almost in realization of what she
did, then she collapsed
back into the chair and began crying again. Soon after, a knock came
from the front door.

     "I'll get it," Dasugi said heading for the door.

     When he opened the door, he saw Tokaki and Subaru stood on the
porch.

     "We're not interrupting anything, are we?" Subaru asked as he
gestured them inside.

     "Not at all," Dasugi said still edgy from the previous experience
with Eki. "Dinner is just
about ready, you're welcome to join us."

     "Thank you," Tokaki said politely.

     "How is Eki doing?" Subaru asked concerned.

     "She's um... she's doing just fine." Dasugi answered hesitantly, a
sweat drop forming on
his forehead.

     "What happened?" Tokaki asked skeptically.

     "She kinda had a breakdown or something.... She's doing better
now."

     "How's Kagatsu doing?" Subaru asked as Dasugi led them down the
hallway to see Eki.

     "No changes, yet."

     Dasugi slid the door open and led Subaru and Tokaki into the room
where Eki and
Kagatsu's father looked over Kagatsu. Kagatsu's father tried to restrain
Eki as she went through
another fit of hitting.

     "S...S...ubaru... Tokaki..." Eki said faintly as they walked in.

     "Its alright Eki. Kagatsu will pull through..." Subaru said as Eki
rushed over and hugged
her still crying.

     "As long as she stops beating him to death," Tokaki remarked slyly.

     "You're NOT helping the situation any!" Subaru said annoyed.

     "Well, its true, no one's been beaten to life before." Tokaki
retaliated.

     "Unnngh..." a faint voice moaned painfully.

     Eki's eyes widened as she turned from Subaru, for a moment,
everyone looked to Eki.

     "Tokaki's.... right.... you should be.... more gentle...." Kagatsu
said weakly and
laboriously.

     "Kagatsu?!" Eki said rushing to the bedside.

     "You're kidding, he woke up... after that?!" Dasugi said quietly.

     "He must be used to it by now," Tokaki said quietly to Dasugi.

     "Must be..."

     "How do you feel, Kagatsu?" Eki said happily by the side of the
bed.

     "I don't know..." Kagatsu said faintly. "All I can feel.... is...
pain at the moment..."

     "You're lucky to be alive," Tokaki said in an overly serious tone.

     "This... wasn't... supposed to happen.... Somehow... to much power
was... released...
when I attacked.... Besides... there's something... I need to tell...
you...."

     "Save your strength, Kagatsu. You can tell us tomorrow, just get
some rest for now."

     "Oh, that reminds me, Eki," Subaru said. "Tatara wants you to
accompany Akiya to Mt. Taiyo
tomorrow. He's looking for a guide right now. One of us may go along
with you for protection."

     "Mt. Taiyo? That's where Taiitsukun lives, right?" Eki asked

     "Yes, that's right." Subaru answered.

     "Well, then," Kagatsu's father said. "You'd better get some rest.
Don't worry about him,
I'll make sure he stays put."

     "Thanks." Eki said happily, as she, Subaru and Tokaki left.

     "She sure is a different person when she's happy," Dasugi said.

     "Yes, she is."

     "You're lucky in more ways than one, Kagatsu." Dasugi said slyly.

     "Just... what do you mean... by that?" Kagatsu said, his voice
getting a bit stronger.

     "Don't tell me you don't know." Dasugi said in an annoyed overtone.

     "Don't know what?" Kagatsu demanded, to the best of his weakened
ability.

     "You must have broken more than your arm in that last battle. I
just hope it recovers as
quickly." Dasugi said as he exited the room.

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

     The next afternoon, Eki and Akiya packed their horses with the aid
of Tatara, Subaru and
Tokaki, a third horse stood by ready in the event Tokaki needed to come
along.

     "The guide should be here soon." Tokaki said as he strapped down
the last pack to the
horse.

     "Everything is arranged for you. If the guide has no escort, Tokaki
will go along with you
for protection."

     "I wish I could check on Kagatsu before we go..." Akiya said
disappointed.

     "Its best if you didn't. If you did he'd most likely insist on
coming with you," Subaru
said.

     "Yeah, I guess you're right." Eki said.

     "He's late." Tokaki said after a few moments.

     "I do hope that wasn't the guide you called for." A cloaked figure
with a familiar voice
said as he entered the temple grounds, followed by a horse.

     "It... it can't be." Tokaki said in disgust.

     Soon after the figure entered, Dasugi followed, a little surprised
from an event which
must have happened shortly before.

     "Surely you didn't think I was just going to stay here." The figure
said removing the
cloak revealing Kagatsu, his right arm and upper body heavily covered
with bandages, rendering
his arm immobile.

     "You are in no condition to travel!" Tokaki growled.

     "I may be half dead, but I'm more fit to be a guide that whoever
they were." Kagatsu said
gesturing to two figures lying against the outer wall of the temple,
unconscious.

     "Half dead?!" Akiya said shuffling through her saddle packs.

     "Guide...?" Tatara continued perplexed.

     "What, what is it?" Eki asked

     "Kagatsu... you... you're a... seishi?!" Akiya managed to say,
still surprised.

     "WHAT?!" everyone excluding Tatara and Akiya said, eyes wide in
shock.

     "That's the other reason I came..." Kagatsu said heavily. "I... I'm
sorry for hiding
it from you for all this time... but... I've had my doubts, and I didn't
want to say anything... When
I realized it... I wanted to make up for the things I said to you... I
thought I could do that by
bringing Akiya to Taisei... but I was wrong. Then I tried to save them
by myself... but that didn't
go as planned either.... All that aside... please... forgive what I've
done before... and allow me to
aid you as the shichiseshi, Kagasuki."

     For a moment, no one said anything, or moved from their positions.

     "Why didn't you tell me that?!" Dasugi whispered, annoyed.

     "I didn't tell anyone, for various reasons." Kagatsu whispered
back.

     "I knew there was something more important about you than what you
thought of
yourself." Eki said rushing up to Kagatsu, and giving him a hug.

     "Hey... watch the arm," Kagatsu said, wincing from the pain.

     "Oh, sorry.... so... where's your character? Lemme see!" Eki said
playfully.

     "It's not somewhere I can really show you right now..." Kagatsu
began, then hesitated
slightly.

     Eki blushed slightly at Kagatsu's hesitance.

     "Its on my right shoulder under all these bandages." Kagatsu
finished quickly.

     Eki's face turned an even deeper shade of red as Kagatsu finished.

     "Which is the other reason I want to go along. I cannot afford to
not be able to use my arm
for 3 weeks. Taiitsukun can heal it within a day."

     "Not just foolhardy bravery? I'm impressed." Tokaki said firmly.

     "I understand things better now. I must live to perform my duties,
and that is what I shall do."

     "Well, now that your conscious, I can take care of the arm for
you." Subaru said warmly.

     "Oh, that's right," Eki said smiling happily. "Subaru will have you
fixed up in no time."

     Subaru concentrated her powers around Kagatsu forming a yellow
sphere of energy. The
energy swirled about the sphere for several seconds then slowed as the
sphere faded away.

     "Feel better?" Akiya asked walking over to Eki and Kagatsu.

     "Yeah, it does... thank you, Subaru."

     Subaru replied with a pleasant smile as Kagatsu slowly began to
remove the layers upon
layers of bandages and splinting that sustained his broken limb.

     "Well..." Eki said gloomily

     "Well, what?" Kagatsu said finally getting to the last layer of
bandaging.

     "Hurry up, I wanna see your character!"

     "Why? It's not like it will look all that different from yours."

     "I want to see it too." Akiya said moving closer.

     *Why do I all of a sudden get the feeling I'm the main attraction
at a freak show?*
Kagatsu thought gloomily to himself.

     "How did you get all the luck with the girls, Kagatsu?" Dasugi said
quietly in his left ear.

     "Huh?!" Kagatsu said surprised. "What are you talking about,
Dasugi?"

     "You really are dense aren't you?" Dasugi said grimly, his eyes
narrowing.

     "Tatara has been awfully quiet." Subaru said to Tokaki looking over
at Tatara, who
stood, just observing the fuss a few feet away.

     "Must remind him of the past," Tokaki replied. "Those two act a lot
like Suzuno did with
Tatara... I just hope nothing someone will get hurt over is going on."

     "Its hard to tell what there is between them," Subaru said becoming
more serious. "Akiya
does like him... but she doesn't act as openly as Eki... and Kagatsu
doesn't seem to show
anything other than friendship to them... maybe he's more like a big
brother with Eki... but..."

     "I'm going to go with them. It may not be necessary, but it should
be discussed with
Kagatsu."

     "Alright."

     "Hey! No fair!" Eki yelled loud enough for those nearby to shelter
their ears.

     "What? It's a white character. Were you expecting something
exciting or something?"
Kagatsu countered.

     "That's not what I'm yelling about! Your character has too many
meanings!"

     "And why are you worried about this?"

     "What does it mean?" Akiya asked curiously.

     "Well... in some cases it means three... in other cases it can mean
coming, or going, or
visiting... defeat and..." Eki hesitated slightly and blushed before she
said the last meaning, then
whispered it into Akiya's ear.

     "What?! Really?!" Akiya said turning red

     "Ok, you two, what is the little secret?" Kagatsu demanded.

     "Oh, nothing, nothing at all" both chimed in unison.

     *Why don't I believe that?* Kagatsu thought sarcastically to
himself.

     "Alright." Tokaki said, "We've spent enough time here. Its time we
got going."

     "You're coming with us, Tokaki?" Eki asked

     "Yes. Tatara and Subaru can handle the Shinzaho."

     "Alright... Dasugi, could you stay and look out for my dad? Also,
check in with Tatara
and Subaru to see if they need anything." Kagatsu requested.

     "Huh? Oh, uh, sure." Dasugi said

     "Thanks... alright, let's get going." Kagatsu said as he mounted
his horse.

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

     "Aww.... Its getting really hot." Eki complained slumping down on
her horse and fanning
herself trying to get cool.

     "It certainly is..." Tokaki muttered as he observed Eki take off
her outer robe leaving a
silken white dress underneath.

     "I don't think Subaru would approve of that gaze, Tokaki." Kagatsu
said, tapping Tokaki
on the back of his head, and jogging him from his fixed stare.

     "Kagatsu, how can you take the heat so easily, anyway?" Akiya
asked, tiring from the
heat.

     "I'm used to it, I guess," he answered. "I used to have to travel
in the desert at midday."

     "I feel like I'm in an oven..." Eki said laboriously.

     "If we keep traveling in this direction, there is a town just
north-east of here," Kagatsu
informed the group.

     "Really?!" Eki said surprised. "I've never heard of any towns or
villages out this way."

     "You'll have to take my word, then." Kagatsu said; easing his weary
horse who returned
him a look as if to say, "You had better not be kidding."


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

     The small village of Yakura rose slowly from the barren plains of
central east Sairo. .
Children ran through the streets playing a game of tag, while young
girls followed their mothers
eager to learn how to become good wives.

     One girl, a young woman in her late teens or early twenties,
carried a wicker basket filled
with cloth and various linens. As she walked through the crowded
streets, she stopped suddenly
and turned her head to look down the road, as if expecting to see
something. A gentle breeze
picked up causing her dark, almost maroon colored hair to fan out around
her body, her large
brown eyes affixed to the edge of the road where the village began.

     Soon, four figures on horseback appeared at the town's edge. The
girl's face brightened
with a big smile as she faced the riders.

     "Look everyone," she said brightly. "Sanshi is back, and he's
brought visitors!"

     "What?!" came the voice of several other villagers as they stopped
and looked to the
riders, now easily recognizable as Kagatsu, Eki, Akiya and Tokaki.

     The girl rushed up to Kagatsu's horse, and several other villagers
rushed around forming
a semicircle in front of all four riders.

     "Talk about being the center of attention." Akiya said surprised.

     Kagatsu dismounted, walked to the girl, who put her basket down,
and gave her a hug
and kiss while Akiya and Eki nearly fell of their horses from the shock
of the event.

     "Who are your friends, Sanshi... er... I guess its Kagatsu now,
right?"

     "This is Eki, and Tokaki," Kagatsu said gesturing to Eki and Tokaki
respectively. "They
are two of the Byakko shichiseishi, and this," he continued gesturing to
Akiya, "is Akiya,
Byakko no Miko."

     "B...Byakko no Miko?!" the girl said exasperated, above the excited
murmurs from the
crowds.

     "And, this," Kagatsu said addressing the group and gesturing to the
girl, "is my cousin,
Mia."

     Eki and Akiya both breathed highly unsubtle sighs of relief, while
Tokaki took careful
note of the event for a moment, before his attention was immediately
averted by a young lady
just walking in to the crowd.

     "So... it seems you're like a local hero here, Kagatsu." Eki said
looking at all the people
gathered around

     "He is," Mia said cheerfully. "This town, for a long time, was
known only for the
beautiful women born here. Many of the girls, including myself, all hope
that one day we will
find wealthy, and handsome, husbands. San... er... Kagatsu is the only
person of status ever to
really be born here, being one of the shichiseishi..."

     "You were born here, Kagatsu?" Eki and Akiya chimed in unison, each
beginning to
form alternative motives.

     Kagatsu nodded, then turned to look at Tokaki who gazed into the
crowd.

     "Tokaki..." Kagatsu called,

     *Wow... what a figure.* Tokaki thought watching the girl in a
drunken gaze. *Oh, but
look at that one... look at her bust... and her waist.... and her....*

     "Tokaki!" Kagatsu called louder,

     "Huh? What is it?" Tokaki asked coming out of his drunken state.

     "There's... ah... something I need to do here... Could you take
Akiya and Eki and I'll
meet you at the inn when I'm done?"

     "Alright." Tokaki said. "Don't be too long, though."

     "I won't."

     Kagatsu took his horse and walked down one of the branching streets
away from the
group while Tokaki led Akiya towards the inn. Eki stopped and watched
Kagatsu go for a bit,
before slipping away and following him down the road.

     When Kagatsu emerged from the streets, he stood in front of a large
open area where the
earth was stained with black, charred areas with scattered wood, stakes,
stones and other objects
marking various places, almost randomly. It looked like a war zone to
Eki, who stood a couple
hundred feet behind watching Kagatsu as he looked upon the place as if
it held a deep meaning
to him.

     "This is the old part of the city." Kagatsu said, so Eki could hear
him.

     "I... guess I wasn't too good at being unnoticed." Eki said as she
walked up to him.

     "Its alright," Kagatsu said calmly. "There are things here I feel I
need to tell you."

     "This place.... it looks like a graveyard."

     "In a way it is," Kagatsu said walking into the old city followed
by Eki. "Exactly thirteen
years ago from this day, Kutou soldiers came through here trying to find
a new front to take
Konan. Before Sairo soldiers could intercept them and drive them out,
they arrived here, at this
town, and burned everything, and murdered hundreds."

     Kagatsu turned down what was once a road, then a series of others
and stopped before
one area where two large wooden crosses, and four smaller ones stood in
a blackened area.

     "This... this is the place where I watched my mother, my father,
and my three older
sisters die at the hands of Kutou's army. The house was already on
flames, a soldier came in and
killed my mother and father. My sisters hid together behind a chest,
while I hid further away.
The soldier approached my sisters, but before he could do anything, the
roof collapsed killing
him, and my sisters in the flames. It broke a whole in the wall allowing
me just enough room to
escape... and I did just that."

     "Th... that's terrible!" Eki said, her eyes wide and tear filled.

     "From that day on," Kagatsu continued in a voice as grim as if
Death himself were telling
the story. "I no longer believed I was a shichiseishi. I... I believed
that if I was, Byakko would
have done something to help my family, or that I would be able to
protect them... but I wasn't....
I.... I don't know why I'm telling you this... I always thought I should
shelter you from what has
haunted me for all these years... but... something... made me feel it
was right..."

     "Kagatsu..." Eki said in a worried voice to herself.

 "Eki..." Kagatsu said, suddenly becoming very alert and urgent. "Find
Tokaki and Akiya and make sure they're alright."

 "Why... what's going on?" Eki protested slightly.

 "Just hurry up!"

 Eki nodded, a bit timid, then rushed off through the streets. Once Eki
left, a figure emerged from the shadows of a crumbling stone structure,
and approached Kagatsu.

 "Very observant." The figure said in a dark tone. "You indeed must be
very skilled in the arts of ninjitsu."

 "Who are you?" Kagatsu asked darkly.

 "Just someone trying to give you an offer. You are well known in this
village, and liked... but a ninja is a ninja..."

 "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

 The figure chuckled smugly to himself for a moment before continuing,
"You have been without a clan for some time. How about joining ours, or
perhaps we could pay you for your services. You see, our... master has
asked us to locate a person, someone close to you. I can assure you that
her safety will not be sacrificed, nor will she be harmed in any way."

 "By this someone, you mean Byakko no Miko, don't you?"

 "Of course."

 "I'm sorry, but you seem to be mistaken. I may have trained as a ninja,
but I am also one of the Byakko shichiseishi. I will not allow Byakko no
Miko to be taken anywhere without all the information being given to me,
even then I would stay by her side at all times."

 "Well... then I guess this leaves us with no other option." the figure
said grimly, snapping his fingers.

 Almost immediately, over a dozen more figures materialized from the
shadows in the old city. The figure crossed his arms proudly as the
figures closed in around Kagatsu.

 "Kagatsu!" Eki cried out as she emerged from the back streets closely
followed by Tokaki and Akiya.

 Kagatsu turned slightly to see her, but when he did, the first figure
jumped high into the air over Kagatsu. Eki produced a metal chakram from
her robe and threw it with all of her effort into the group. The chakram
made contact with the ninja just as his knife was about to come down on
Kagatsu causing him to miss and fall to the ground. Kagatsu drew his
swords and launched two waves of energy into the surrounding assailants
taking several with each blast. Some of the attackers dodged the wave
and circled around, only to be met by the blades of a suddenly appearing
Tokaki. After a few more moments of Kagatsu both fighting and launching
ki waves, and Tokaki teleporting and fighting, the assailants were
defeated.

 "You fight well." Tokaki said sheathing his sword.

 "I get by," Kagatsu replied, placing his katanas into their sheaths. "I
am not as skilled as you are. And as for you," he said to Eki as he
walked to her. "You're not to bad with that."

 "Huh?" Eki said, blushing. "Well... I... had a good teacher."

 "Who were they?" Akiya asked timidly.

 "I don't know, but I believe I can say there are more of them, and that
we will not become friends anytime soon." Kagatsu answered.

 "Are they from around here?" Tokaki asked.

 "No, if they were they would have known more about me than they did. I
don't, however, think it was a chance that we met here, though."

 "Then we will need to be more careful on our way to see Taiitsukun."
Eki said.

 "Agreed, but for now, let's get some rest. When night comes we should
be able to get to Mt. Taiyo easily."

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

End Chapter 4

Souldrake

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

     -The Mighty SoulDrake