From Way Before
Chapter 1 – Life Is Like A Boat
~Story Start (You aged +/- 10)~
"Sayonara Koumyou Sanzo-Sama! Koryuu-kun!" You call over your shoulder, "I'll come back soon!" You've just spent a couple of weeks at the temple with your brother, befriending Koumyou Sanzo and Koryuu, a boy about a year older than you.
"See you soon, _-san!" The young blonde-haired monk calls back to you as you leave the temple.
"Sayonara _-chan!" The Sanzo priest on his left calls to you with a smile, "Make sure you look after her well Shuei!"
"Don't worry, Sanzo-Sama, she'll be fine!" Your brother calls back to the priest as you disappear out of view.
~(You are aged +/- 12)~
You are playing outside with Taisho after a heavy work session with your father and Taisho's guardian Jakumo. You hear a sound in the bushes near your house and go to see what it is. Taisho follows you, keeping close as you part the bushes. You see a man sat there, shirtless, with his back to you. The man has shoulder length brown hair and has a staff with him, a staff that you recognise.
"Brother Shuei?" You ask, "It is you, Shuei!" You say as the man turns around and you see his face. You run to him but stop short as you reach him, he faces you and your eyes widen in shock. On the left side of his chest a talisman was stuck, pulsating and veins seemed to come from it. "Brother Shuei, what happened to you?"
"_... I had to..." Shuei tells you, you see the look of pain on his face. It's not pain from what you have said; it's a different sort of pain... from the talisman.
"The Curse of Oria!" You exclaim, "You said you'd never use that one, ever!" You cry, tears welling up in your eyes.
"_, I had no choice..." Shuei tells you, walking closer to you, "The youkai attacked the temple they killed Koumyou Sanzo-Sama and many of the other monks, it was the only way that I could protect the survivors."
"Oh brother!" You cry, hugging him, resting your head on the right hand side of his chest.
"_, I need you to do something for me." Shuei tells you, releasing from you from his embrace and kneeling down so that you are at the same level, "Tell Okaa-san and Otou-san that I'm sorry but I cannot visit them anymore."
"Shuei, does that mean?" You sob.
"I can't fully control the curse which has become another side of me, _." Shuei tells you, tears welling in his eyes, "This other side wants to destroy all demons and there are too many here to allow me to stay without hurting one of them."
"Where will you go?" You ask whilst weeping.
"I'll travel around for a while..." Shuei tells you before he starts to scream and holds his head in pain. It soon seems to pass but when he looks at you again his eyes are very different, much crueller than those of your brothers. "I will destroy all of the youkai scum, none will survive! I will comes for those here too!" This version of Shuei tells you, gripping onto your shoulders so hard that it hurts.
"Shuei... please stop this..." You beg. He suddenly releases you and turns, walking away from you, "I... I cannot control Rikudo..." Shuei tells you, his soft voice and features returning, "I will give you a sign when I return. I will try to stop him but there is no going back now..." He starts to walk away from you.
"Brother! Wait!" You call after him, running towards him. Shuei turns and looks at you, giving you a sad smile before swiftly running away, too fast for you to catch up.
~A Few Months Later~
"Stupid Hanyou!"
"Disgusting Taboo child!"
"You can't play with us!"
"We play ningen versus Youkai..."
"And you're not Youkai..."
"Nor ningen..."
"So which side would you be on?"
"ENOUGH!" You shout at the top of your lungs. You command aimed at the boys that surrounded you red-haired friend. It was always the same. They taunted him, teased him and, on rare occasions, took to beating him. You hated it.
"Why do you stick up for him, _?"
"Yeah, he's a cross-breed, you shouldn't associate yourself with him."
"What would your brother say if he knew that you were friends with a mongrel?"
"Shuei knows and doesn't care. Buddhists don't care about breeding, it' all to do with love and peace." You say, defending your friend.
"Whatever, _." The boys say, walking away from you and the Hanyou.
Once they boys have left, you feel a hand on your shoulder. You turn around to see your friend standing there, blushing, his big brother beside him.
"Gojyo, you're gonna have to learn to stick up for yourself!" You tell the red-haired and red-eyed boy, poking your tongue out at him. His brother pats your head.
"Gojyo what have you got to say to _?"
"Thanks..." Gojyo mutters, embarrassed.
"S'kay." You reply, grinning, "You woulda done the same for me, wouldn't he, Jien?"
"Right!" Jien agrees, grinning, "You coming for dinner, _?"
"Sure!" You agree, "What time?"
"Sevenish. You two can stay out til then." He tells you, standing up and walking away, "Don't be late!"
"We won't!" Both you and Gojyo call to him.
"Wanna play Dai Hin Min?" You ask, getting a pack of cards out of your pocket.
"Sure." Gojyo agrees, "What are we betting on this time?"
"What have you got in mind?" You ask.
"If you lose..." Gojyo thinks for a moment, "I get a kiss." You look at him with a shocked expression.
"Fine." You reply with a smirk, "And if I win you have to do my chores for a week."
"Done." Gojyo agrees as you shake hands on your bet.