Well, this is a little different, but at least one thing remains the same; Fushigi Yuugi is still not mine. If only that would change.

Taka didn't have to worry about his family getting in the way as he tried to settle into his new dorm room. They'd been a pain last year, but now he was a sophomore and they were more used to him being away. When he'd tried to move into a dorm last year, everything had been a mess with so many little siblings running around. And his girlfriend. This year, Miaka would be here with him, so he'd get to see her more often. Plus the money he saved on gas could be put to better use, such as buying Miaka hot dogs or desserts. He thought about hunting her down but decided to wait. As a freshman, her family would be going nuts trying to "help" her unpack and getting used to the idea that she wouldn't be home every afternoon. His father had been the same.

Taka smiled thinking of his father. So very much like the man he vaguely remembered from the book, yet also so different. His father had never been sick a day in his life. His father was so proud of him, even if he was a bit confused at why his boy wanted to double major in pre-law and mathematics (what else for a tax lawyer?). He had never quite understood the obsession with money. He had even been willing to get his son an off-campus apartment that year. But Taka had said he'd liked the dorms. And that they were much cheaper. The only issue with dorms was roommates.

Last year he'd roomed with Genrou. Tasuki. Now that had been an experience. He laughed to himself at memories he knew he'd found disturbing at the time. Hopefully his new roommate wouldn't be that bad.  Or at least less likely to spiral into the pit of alcoholism. He knew it would be a freshman, hopefully one who respected the status that came with being older.

"Holy shit." Taka turned to see the people who had entered the room. One was a woman in her late forties. She appeared slightly nervous. It was the boy who had spoken. Not a boy, rather a young man who looked very like a boy, with his shaggy bangs falling in his eyes. Taka looked at the freshman from the ground up, from shoes to jeans to sweatshirt to face. The face told him why new roommate had cursed. His new roommate was Suboshi.

"What's the matter?" The woman was anxious, as any freshman's mother would be, but her nerves seemed different from what Taka remembered his mother's were like. She seemed more worried about the situation than about her son. But from what Taka knew of her son, he couldn't blame her. He stared blankly at Suboshi, who quickly turned away to face the woman.

"Nothing's the matter, Aunt Rennie. It's just kinda final now, isn't it?" The woman sighed slightly.

"Yes it is. But are you sure you don't want me to stay for a while? Help you settle?" Suboshi turned back to Taka with the slightest fear in his eyes.

"I'm sure." He said. Then, under his breath added, "I'm so very sure."

The woman was obviously relieved. "Okay, just don't forget-"

"Goodbye Aunt Rennie." The woman left. Suboshi sighed and absently brushed the bangs out of his eyes. "Ho-ly shit."

Taka glared across the room at his old enemy. He looked so much the same. Except for his eyes. They didn't have the anger he remembered. They had been frightened momentarily but now they we dull, lethargic. They didn't fit with Suboshi. Taka supposed it could have been Amiboshi, but the eyes didn't fit him either. And something about the way he'd spoken convinced Taka beyond any real doubt.

"We can't room together." Taka spoke slowly, trying to master his feelings. He was talking to a murderer. "I'll talk to the RA. Tell him-"

"That we can't room together because I slaughtered you family and tried to rape your girlfriend and kill you?" His tone was infuriatingly sarcastic. He dropped the bags he was carrying and scratched at his left wrist. Taka reminded himself that this boy in this life hadn't done anything. "You're right, though. We can't room together."

Taka took a deep breath. "If we wait a couple of weeks, we may be able to come up with some excuse."

"If we can last a couple of weeks." Taka nodded slightly. This was not the best way to start the school year, but it wouldn't last. It couldn't last.

The door opened suddenly and a guy Taka knew from last year leaned in.

"Hey Taka, how's it going? See you've met your new roommate." He turned and smiled at the freshman. "I'm Todd, the RA on this floor. My room's down the hall, if you have any problems. But in your place, I'd talk to your roommate first. Taka's a great guy; he'll be just like a big brother. Anyway, the annual pre-fall-semester party is tomorrow night and I'll expect to see you both there. Bye for now, kiddies."

The RA ducked out of the room. Taka could hear him greet the people next door. In his own room, time froze for a brief instant. Then, very slowly, Suboshi sat on the floor where he'd been standing. He leaned against the bed and began to cry. Softly at first, but the whimpering gradually became violent sobs. He scratched harshly and rapidly at his arm. Taka felt a trace of sympathy for the boy on the floor. He was reminded of his own little brother. His little brother that this boy had killed. Taka turned his back on the sobbing child.

"Stop crying."

"Shut the fuck up." The voice was shaking and his breath ragged. "You'll never be like him. Never. Never. Never."

Taka grabbed one of his textbooks and sat down on his bed to read. The dry history didn't quite drown out the one word, half-sobbed half-muttered, repeated over and over.

"Never."

I wouldn't mind any ideas on how to continue this one. Or if I should. And as Renfield says, "The reviews are the life," so please review or I'll have to start feeding him spiders again. Yuck.