Irashaimase (Welcome). This is a story about the Kutou soldiers Shigi and Hien... mainly Shigi. The small amount of Japanese I've used (I've tried to minimise it... as best I can -'), I've added a note at the bottom, if you don't happen to know the word. This is my first fanfic up on here... any help is welcome

Declaration: I do not, in anyway, own or take credit for Fushigi Yuugi or any of it's characters. Their rights belong to Yuu Watase-sama and the various comic distributors.

FUSHIGI YUUGI GENBU KAIDEN

SHIGI KAIDEN

Chapter 1: Warrior in the Night

Location: Tourai Village

He yawned and rubbed his eyes. The night was still quiet, but he felt anxious about something. Looking around his room, he noticed his two brothers were still sleeping soundly. Shura was curled up into a ball, clinging to his pillow. Hien was on Shura's other side, sprawled out along the length of his area, snoring loudly. Shigi smiled at them before heading quietly to the door. No matter how fast he moved, his feet were silent on the cold wooden floor. It was the end of autumn and Shigi looked up in awe at the scarlet trees glowing in the moonlight as he stepped outside. He climbed the tree closest to his home and took a long wooden stick that his uncle had carved in the shape of a swords blade. It was perfect, and apparently identical to those used by the people his uncle trained in the army. Shigi jumped out of the tree with ease, landing strongly on the grass. It crunched under his feet as he started up the hill. There, he could see the entire valley. Although the night was calm, he felt extremely uneasy. Then he saw it. In the distance, he saw a large mass of black, numerous banners fluttering in the breeze above it. His purple eyes went wide and he ran back to his house. He refused to stop, even though his body ached, until he was shaking Hien's shoulder furiously.

"Hien! Wake up!"

Hien groaned and mumbled incoherently. Shigi frowned, but was already scooping Shura into arms. He kicked Hien in the ribs, annoyed at his lack of compliance.

"Get up!" he yelled.

"Huh! What!" Hien exclaimed, sitting up and looking wildly around.

"Get up, I said! We have to go!"

"What's going on in here?"

Shigi could tell by his father's tone that he was surprised to see it was he who was making a commotion. Shura clung to Shigi's shirt half-heartedly as he began to drift back to sleep. When Shigi turned to look at his parents, they could tell something was definitely wrong.

"They're coming!"

"Who, Shigi?" his mother asked with one hand on her husband's arm.

"The black army. They're coming."

"That's impossible," his father frowned, "They wouldn't be. Kutou has a peace treaty with…"

"They're coming, god damn it!" Shigi snapped and the world seemed to fall silent, "I saw them! I went up to the hill and I saw them!"

Hien's mouth was hanging open as he was still in shock by his brother's sudden disregard for his gentle nature. However, he recollected himself and pulled out his own sword like weapon from beside his mattress. Their parents had already left the house and were spreading the news. Shigi pushed Hien with his foot and started towards the door. Hien scrambled to his feet and followed. They hurried up the hill as many of the other civilians began screaming. Shigi knew he should not, but he looked back. He could see fire set to many of the homes and black-clad soldiers butchering his neighbours and friends. With wide eyes, he was frozen momentarily. Shigi pushed against Hien's back, who had stopped to look.

"Just keep going!" Shigi called over the cries below.

Once they were safely on the hill, Shigi handed Shura to Hien, who tried to hush his little brother. Cautiously, Shigi moved to the trees and looked down at his village. He was shaking as he watched the carnage that the Hokkan army were causing to his home. Eventually, he had had enough and went back to Hien.

"Stay here!"

"But…"

"I'm getting mum and dad."

"But…"

"Don't follow me."

"But…"

"No 'buts', just stay here!"

"But, Aniue!"

"Hien, listen to me."

Hien merely looked up at him like a lost puppy. He was confused and scared with Shura crying into his shirt as he sat on his lap. Shigi had a strict look on his face that Hien could not argue with.

"I'll be back in a little bit. Stay here and out of sight. Nothing's going to happen to you. I'll come back, I promise!"

"But, Aniue!"

Shigi had already began to run back towards the village, his stick in hand. When he came across his first soldier, he froze. Luckily, he was behind him and he was not noticed. Shigi forced himself to be determined and strong, striking his opponent as hard as he could. He dropped his own weapon and picked up the soldier's sword. Even though it was heavier than he thought, he could still hold it. Remembering all the things that his uncle had taught both he and Hien, he drove the blade through a gap in the man's armour and across his neck. He was shaking when the soldier collapsed in a bloody heap in front of him. The whole idea of killing a person was much more real than he had imagined. Someone called behind him and he stepped sidewards. A blade caught his sleave, but only lightly cut his arm. Shigi steadied the sword and attempted to attack again. The second soldier was much harder than the first, for he was not dazed from a blow to the head. Shigi suffered cuts on his face, neck and other arm. However, surprising even himself, he overpowered the soldier. The sword dropped from his trembling hands and splashed blood upon the bottom of his pants. He was scared and felt as though his chest and head would explode. Taking a deep breath, he restrained himself from crying. He could only barely register the screams around him and acidic smell from the falling of smouldered wood. His clothes were covered in blood.

Suddenly, something familiar touched his mind and he turned around. He could sense his parents not too far away. Shigi began to run through the burning village, past the bodies of both those familiar to him and not, without a second glance. He eventually found his parents near the village well, surrounded by soldiers, who were jeering at them. Shigi felt strengthened when he saw his father standing fearlessly in front of his wife. He was proud, and resembled his family well with his jade embroidered Seiryuu sword in hand. A tall young man walked forward with the air of an authority figure. Shigi hid behind a pillar that used to be part of the arch outside the well. He was used to such a feeling; all the men of his family had it. His uncle was the Supreme General of the Kutou Army, and his oldest uncle was the Emperor of Kutou. It was not something he was new to. Shigi frowned as the man walked closer to his father. They spoke for a moment, and not once did Shigi's father portray anything but pride and strength. Shigi was moved by his courage. His eyes went wide as the commanding officer thrust his large blade through Shigi's father's stomach, all the while, the prince portraying little fear. Before any of the other barbaric soldiers had the chance to jump on his mother, the soldier had killed her too.

"CHICHIUE!" Shigi cried out, "HAHAUE!"

Shigi was trembling was rage and was not controlling himself as he wandered from behind the pillar. It registered that what he was doing was dangerous, but something was urging him forward. The Hokkan warriors laughed at him. The rage was overwhelming and Shigi had no control over the blades that formed in the air around him. They shot out and struck down the soldiers as he screamed out. A short dagger appeared in his hand as he rushed forward and jumped at the man who had killed his parents. He slashed as hard as he could, cutting across his face and forcing his armed hand into his side. The man withdrew with the surviving soldiers. Only after a few minutes did Shigi relax and the weapons disappeared. Tears rolled down his face and he edge forward, kneeling beside his parents. He touched their faces and closed their eyes. It was hard to contemplate that he would never see them again. He snapped out of his grieving phase as something crumbled behind him. His path was blocked. Though still snuffling, he knew he had to get out of the village and away from the flames. Crying softly and coughing, he urged his way to the hill on the other side of the village. There, he stood and watched the flame devour his home and the people he loved. Silent tears fell down his face, his clothes sprayed with blood. The blood of the man who murdered his parents covered his hand while it dripped gradually to the ground. The only people he had left now were his brothers.

While he wandered into the trees, Shigi muttered vengefully, tears burning his eyes, "Liars. They're all liars. They said they wouldn't attack us again, they wouldn't hurt us. They're just liars. I'll destroy all the liars!"

Overwhelmed with physical, mental and emotional agony, Shigi collapsed onto the grass. Though he was unconscious, tears continued to stream from his already pained eyes. The only sound of the night was the crackling flames from his burning village.

Note:

Aniue - a polite form for "older brother"

Chichiue - a polite form of "father"

Hahaue -a polite form for "mother"