Chapter 1 – The Dream


Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. Yuu Watase does.


The priestess of Suzaku... what's that?

According to ancient legend, the character which appears on your majesty's neck marks you as one destined to be a protector of a priestess who shall come from another world and summon the power of Suzaku.

The priestess of Suzaku... a girl who will appear from another world... maybe she will be able to save me from the loneliness I feel... maybe she will love me as a person and not just the next emperor but as a man. Surely... surely...

"Master Saihitei! Please wake up, you're dreaming again!" Maori gently shook the prince's shoulder to wake him up.

"Maori..." The young prince sluggishly opened his eyes and slowly sat up with right elbow supporting his weight.

"Master... Did you just suffer from a nightmare again?" The governess asked him with concern etched on her face. "Tell me. What is it about?"

Saihitei shook his head while staring at the blanket. "I can't remember anymore... I don't understand Maori. Why... why do I always have the same dream? But the moment I wake up, the memory of that dream disappears in my mind leaving not a single trace nor sign for me to remember."

The governess gently placed her hand on the young prince's shoulder. "Don't worry, master... maybe because you're still too young to remember such dream. Sooner or later you will wake up from sleep with a complete memory of it." She smiled at him reassuringly. "As of this moment, you have to be ready for breakfast before your father calls for you. Remember, today is your parents' 20th wedding anniversary. The guests will arrive in a few hours.

Saihitei lazily got up and went straight to the bathroom. Warm bath did the relaxing and soothing trick. After less than an hour, he stepped out of his room and went to the dining hall. He saw his parents and eldest brother already seated on their respective chairs. "Good morning, Father, Mother..." He bowed gracefully. "Happy 20th Wedding Anniversary."

"Thank you, dear son." His mother replied. They heard the giggling sounds and turned their head towards the direction of the two princesses.

Realizing their audience, the two ceased teasing each other and flashed a lovely smile before greeting their parents and two older brothers. After their breakfast, the emperor ordered the entire family to go to the library.

"You already know that today is the first day of the celebration, and a few special guests are invited to commemorate this occasion."

Few is an understatement but Saihitei and the rest didn't say anything as they continued to listen to their father's instruction such as behaving in front of the guests in a manner that fits every inch of royalty. "Remember you carry the name Seishukun." They heard him say.

After hearing their father's monologue, they all went to their individual rooms to change in appropriate attire for the special occasion.

Saihitei tied his long silky hair, fitting it in a small hat which gives him the distinction of a prince, while his mind was dragged onto wandering on and off about his dream and his father's instructions simultaneously. Honestly, he was confident they will carry out the job just fine since all of them had been taught and trained the proper decorum at a very young age. He and his 16-year old eldest brother, crown prince Tendou, has been assigned to greet the arrival of the honorable guests at the main hall, while his twin sisters were assigned to offer flowers to the female guests.

After fixing his hat, the prince turned his attention to the five layered robes. He quietly put on the undergarments, followed by the full length outer robes, and finally securing it with a wide orange waistband-like sash. He sighed in front of the large mirror while he inspected the scarlet silky fabric, brushing his fingers to the embroidered imperial family crest of 18 petal mon at the upper left side of his robe.

He took a glimpse outside the window and saw the head horse keeper, Haruo with a few assistants and servants from a distance, getting busy preparing the saddles of the horses and ponies that will be used to entertain the children and teens. He smiled wistfully when he saw Hydra, his personal horse prancing playfully alongside Cepheus, Tendou's horse.

Seeing Hydra in a playful mood made him want to change the suddenly annoying robes into riding gear, after all, today if not of the important occasion were his and Tendou's scheduled horseback riding. Since it was a three-day celebration, it only meant he will also miss their swordplay session tomorrow. He unconsciously tugged the red cuffs of his light orange long sleeve, slightly narrowing his eyes in curiosity on how Hydra would react to the number of strangers that were sure to mount him in the next few hours, and wondered if the young horse will enjoy another company.

He sighed. Today will be a long and boring day, he thought.

Suddenly, the prince remembered when he accidentally overheard his parents talking about him at the courtyard when he was on his way back to his room from his swordplay session. This happened merely weeks after he celebrated his 11th birthday. His father was complaining his lack of interest about politics and serious matters, compared to Tendou, and when his mother tried to defend him that he had just turned 11 and still considered a child, his father turned a deaf ear and contend that he was not a normal child but a royal prince.

He certainly didn't appreciate the comparison but who was he to complain and so he made some effort to be more sociable but then found it taxing and very unlike him. Saihitei remembered asking Maori if there was anything wrong with his preferences, having his moment of peace and interacting with nature and genuine people like her and Haruo rather than having boring discussion with government officials and businessmen about politics, fame and wealth.

There's nothing wrong, prince Saihitei. But because you are the emperor's son, it's only natural that people would expect more from you. You are after-all the second in line to the throne.

But he didn't want to become an emperor. He wasn't really sure but there was a small part in him that didn't wish to live this kind of life. It was kind of a faint longing or distant memory or whatever… but it was there, hiding somewhere beneath the sleeves of his heart.

There was nothing normal in his life, having four bodyguards whenever he leaves the palace wasn't normal. Learning without having to experience enrolling in a school wasn't normal, growing up without a single friend or playmate other than his cousins wasn't at all normal, forcing to act a grown up when he has yet to learn a lot is certainly by all accounts not normal. These and many other things made him despise his status as nobility. Oddity at its finest, he might always utter in response to all these huge, legal, and formal obligations.

Saihitei sighed once again before turning around and glancing at his bed. He was again reminded of his dream he couldn't comprehend. Ever since he turned 11, he was having this constant dream but whenever he wakes up, the memory disappears like a shooting star. He dared not tell his mother and father to prevent them from worrying, at the same time, there was nothing to tell since he can't remember even a tiny speck of detail.

He heard a gentle knock from his door. "Master Saihitei, your mother asks if you're now decent to welcome the guests." Maori's voice emanated from the doorway.

The prince frowned slightly and glanced at the mirror for final inspection. "Please tell mother, I'm on my way to the main hall." He replied and gracefully walked towards the door.


Tendou and Saihitei were standing side by side to greet the arriving guests, some wore the familiar faces of relatives from both his mother and father side and closed friends, some of them were families of dignitaries and royal bloods from neighboring countries such as Korea and Thailand. Despite the absence of the Prime Minister due to an important meeting with the US president, his wife and children arrived to wish the royal couple. He was pleasantly surprised that unlike the previous celebrations and ceremonies, this indeed was exceptionally one of a kind considering the adults had brought their children. It was like a family day rather than celebrating the usual wedding anniversary of his parents.

He smiled with the idea that unlike the previous occasion, there is a good chance he might enjoy this celebration.

Tendou was particularly astonished with the sudden enthusiasm of his younger brother and if he was not mistaken, did he just see the excitement in Saihitei's golden brown eyes as he made a slight bow to the guests with a wistful smile on his lips?

"Tendou! Saihitei!" Both princes turned to the older man with baritone voice walking towards their direction, behind him was his wife and two children accompanied by their governess. "You have indeed grown up handsomely, boys! The man exclaimed.

"Thank you, uncle Naoto." Tendou replied. The man was a third cousin of their mother.

"How time flies, the last time I saw you Saihitei, you were still a two year old boy and you Tendou was only seven at that time." The man stated. Seeing the obvious puzzlement on Saihitei's face, the man continued. "Ah, of course, prince Saihitei, you don't remember me. But I know you very well since you carry the trademark color of your mother's eyes! Ah, by the way, let me introduce you to your aunt and my daughters, Houki and Kourin.

Saihitei noticed his eldest brother's unusual gazed towards their supposed 4th degree cousin, Houki, as if he was put under a love spell, but turned pale when he realized she was staring at him obliviously.

He cleared his throat and smile. "It's an honor to finally meet you and your family, dear uncle. Mother and Father will be delighted to find your presence here. Please feel at home and we'll continue our talk later."

When the family went inside the reception hall, Tendou brushed his side and pointed to Houki's direction. "I have never seen such beauty in my 16 years of existence." He said poetically.

"I am not surprised of her extraordinary beauty, brother. After all, she is a relative of our mother, no matter how distant. Almost all our relatives in mother's side carry a unique personality." Saihitei replied casually.

Tendou smiled, with a proof of attentiveness. "She doesn't have the trademark eye color of mother's family, meaning she got it from uncle's wife. Besides, who cares if she's a distant relative, a 4th degree cousin..." he smirked. "...the blood that binds us is almost as thin as a single hair strand."

Saihitei didn't reply and Tendou smiled smugly. What does he expect from his younger brother? He was just an 11-year old prince who knew nothing about love and courtship.

They continued to welcome their guests and both young men noted the number of children and teenagers almost equaled the number of adults. "Prince Tendou! Prince Saihitei" They heard the approaching man's voice behind the Japanese boy wearing a beige and navy blue kimono.

The man was a member of the house of Councilors and considered best friend of his father in his youth, when he was still crown prince. He was holding in his right hand a young Japanese girl wearing a cream and fuchsia pink floral silky fabric kimono complimented by fuchsia pink ribbons that firmly held her hair tied in a bun on each side. He let go of her hand and gesture a respectful bow to the two princes. The boy followed the man while the little girl shyly lowered her head, a few loose locks cascades covering her heart shape face making it impossible to see her facial features.

For some reasons, Saihitei couldn't take his eyes off of the little girl but the almost discreet gaze didn't escape from the eagle eyes of his eldest brother.

"Ah! Councilor Keibu! We are pleased to see you! Father will be glad to see his old best friend!" Tendou exclaimed jovially.

"The honor is mine, Prince Tendou." He replied with the same enthusiasm. "I have known both your mother and father since we were your age and this day is indeed a wonderful celebration to commemorate their 20 years wedding anniversary."

"Thank you, Uncle Keibu." Tendou replied, dropping formalities. "And so who are these kids?" by that he only meant the little girl since he remembered meeting the eldest son twice though he can't remember his name.

"Ah, of course... Prince Tendou, Prince Saihitei" Keibu smiled and tilted his head to his eldest "you already met my eldest, Keisukei…"

"Pleased to meet you again, Prince Tendou, Prince Saihitei." Keisukei replied respectfully while the little girl mumbled something incoherent while hiding behind his brother.

Tendou chuckled, amused at the little girl's behavior. She was obviously not comfortable with strangers.

"Please forgive my little daughter. This is her first time to attend this kind of social gathering."

Saihitei who was standing quietly smiled and approached her. "And who are you little one?"

The girl blushed shyly and tightened her hold to his father's hand. "Go on… don't be shy." Keibu said encouragingly.

"Miaka… Yuuki Miaka, your princesses…" She said shyly in a low voice.

The crown prince pursed his lips to hide his chortle. He has no intention to embarrass the little girl but princesses? He found it rather amusing coming from a child than insulting.

"And how old is she?" Saihitei couldn't help but to ask. The question raised an eyebrow on Tendou.

"She just turned 8 last month, Prince Saihitei." Keibu Replied.

Saihitei nodded quietly and leaned forward. "Miaka, I am Saihitei... I am very pleased to meet you." he said while drawing his hand to her, a gesture of hand shake leaving Tendou's raised eyebrow suspended on his forehead.

Miaka shyly looked up and brushed the hair that covers her eyes. She smiled slightly, her pale cheeks turned carnation pink.

In an instant that his golden brown orbs locked gazed with her hazel brown eyes, a memory of his dream flashed in his mind like an arrow hitting its target. The priestess of Suzaku... what's that? Saihitei felt an incredible pain on his head but he tried to suppress it for fear that it will scare the little girl.

Miaka extended her small frail hand to shake hands with Saihitei. The innocent touch of their skin brought an electric current to their bodies. Miaka immediately took back her hand and hid behind her father, frightened.

Saihitei wobbled and placed his right hand on his forehead while the other clutched the right arm of his brother for support.

According to ancient legend, the character which appears on your majesty's neck marks you as one destined to be a protector of a priestess who shall come from another world and summon the power of Suzaku.

Tendou was shocked with the sudden reaction while Maori from behind immediately ran towards Saihitei to assist him.

"Saihitei, are you alright?" The tension from Tendou's voice reverberated, worried why his brother suddenly turned pale, his hands cold and beads of sweats surfaced on his forehead.

The priestess of Suzaku... a girl who will appear from another world... maybe she will be able to save me from the loneliness I feel... maybe she will love me as a person and not just the next emperor but as a man. Surely... surely...

"Prince Saihitei!" Maori called out.

"Maori, Chingching! Assist Prince Saihitei in his chambers now!" Tendou ordered in a clear voice. "Shu! Call the doctor immediately!"

"P-priestess..." The last words that escaped from Saihitei's mouth before the crimson light blinded his sight and fell on the arms of Tendou and Maori. "Suzaku..."


End of Chapter 1

A/N:

It's been a while, I had been extremely busy last year but hopefully, I'll be able to update this story at least once in every month. No promises though... anyway, I have re-written this chapter and found it satisfying than my first try. Please continue to bear with me, I'm trying my best to give you my readers, a decent story and so a quick review is very much appreciated for me to know if i'm making progress or not. =)