白寅伝
Hakuinden: The Legend of the White Tiger

Introduction & Disclaimer

I've had a couple of people ask if I was ever going to do anything about this story, and actually I was surprised;) I thought nobody actually cared that much about it, so I let it slide in light of other things.

I'm hopelessly busy at the moment, and what I'm uploading now was written mostly last July. Writing a decent story is fun but also hard work, and I have to prioritise the things which most people are following over things that aren't getting any feedback or active interest in them. My Bleach fic is my current priority, but I have no objection in finishing at least the second instalment and maybe looking at the third if I think people are actually interested in reading it. (I do sort of want to get to a point where my concept of past Karasuki is involved, because I likes him).

Basically, if you like it, please review. Because otherwise I'll think nobody's bothered and nothing will get done.

So I'll upload the first bit, and see how it goes. It's basically in the reader's hands from hereon in :)

Part Two is called "Kage", or "Shadow". I won't explain the title because I think it will become self-explanatory as time goes on.

The significance of Suzuno's diary and of Arina's connection to it will be clearly explained in this story, I imagine, if it's not already obvious to people what that connection is. Since, obviously, Arina is no longer in the real world, the function of the book and the flashback scenes are also different in this story. Instead of being simply flashback memories from Suzuno's perspective, they will generally operate as chapters alongside the current time chapters and will tie the story together, it's hoped, into something more coherent. For the most part the recollections of Suzuno's adventures will be told from her point of view or from the point of view of either of two of her seishi. One of those seishi is Toroki, on account of her sight. The other I won't reveal yet, since it would be too much of a spoiler at this stage. But the reasons for it will, I think, make good sense.

The first story introduced three Seishi in Suzuno's past world – Tokaki, Tatara, Toroki. In the present, three Seishi were referenced (one of which was obviously Toroki/Myoume, right?). This story should introduce at least one, probably two more Seishi to Suzuno, and will reference at least two more Seishi in the present. (Possibly three. I'm not 100% sure yet). I won't say who is what or anything else yet except to say that there's no reason for them to appear in the same order in the present as they maybe did in the past.

For the sake of saving confusion, at the moment I intend the original incarnations of Byakko's people to be referred to by their stellar names. There is one exception to this rule which will also become clear as the story progresses. Conversely, and as with Myoume's example, the reincarnated Byakko Seishi will be referred to mostly by their given names. This might not be in keeping with Watase-sensei's style but if you've got two characters called Tokaki knocking about it begins to get a bit confusing, right? And it seems to me that the originals are the originals so deserve the proper names ;)

As ever, I don't own Yuugi or any of Watase Yuu's concepts. Any of Watase-sensei or Nishizaki-sensei's characters used are used with acknowledgement of their ownership and hopefully won't result in too much warping or bending to fit the storyline. Any additional characters not printed about in official Fushigi Yuugi sources are my own creation, as is the foundation of Suzuno's legend. This is not an official interpretation, simply my own fan interpretation of what MIGHT have happened when Suzuno came to Sairou. Consequently the incarnations (past and present) of Toroki, Amefuri, Kokie and Karasuki are entirely whims of my own imagining and not based on anything Watase-sensei may or may not devise in the future for her Byakko Seishi. The reincarnated forms of Tokaki, Tatara and Subaru are inspired in part by the originals although not carbon copies! The Meihi tribe and any other tribe not mentioned in Fushigi Yuugi literature is also my creation. Yaminzoku, Bakuzoku and other Yuugi-referenced peoples are copyright to the authors involved and not to me!


With that said, on with the story!


第二巻：影
Volume Two: Kage
"Kizutsuite yowaru teoi no kemono demo ikiru no ka, nigeru no ka, subete jibun shidai"
(Even a damaged, weakening, wounded beast has to decide for himself whether to run or to live)
Nuriko "Perfect World"

Synopsis


Prologue
Beyond the Blue Sky

The meadow stretched for miles and miles, flowers blooming at irregular intervals among the blades of grass that still glittered with dew. In the sky above, the sun was beginning its daily climb, launching itself higher and higher and from the clustered buildings over the horizon came the sound of children laughing and playing as their adult guardians busied themselves with morning tasks.

From the brow of the hill, a lone figure stood watching them, a faint, almost nostalgic smile on his face as he took in the eager shouts and calls of the young boys and girls as they tossed a worn ball between them. Even from that vantage point he could see the genuine camaraderie that the young ones shared, and from somewhere deep inside he felt a pang of recognition as if once, in some distant time, he had had that feeling too.

He had not been to this one before. Many days had passed since he had begun his journey, so many that he no longer knew how long he had been travelling or how many places he had seen. He had simply followed the glow of the sun, seeking its warm rays. So long as there was sun, he knew, there was no darkness. And it was only in the darkness that he had fear…when doubts and troubles returned to plague him and torture his very dreams with taunts and jeers.

He leant up against the trunk of a nearby tree, folding his arms across his chest as he took a moment to reassure himself. The sky was clear and blue, he reminded himself. There were no shadows here. For the time being, at least, he was safe. In the sky above his head, birds sang and danced as they strengthened their bonds of courtship ready for a season of new births, and something in their gentle, repetitive melody calmed his ragged emotions. This was a place of life and happiness, and if he pushed forward and tried his best, maybe he would be able to become a part of it.

Thus comforted, the man made his way cautiously down the hill towards the small settlement, observing the children at their merry game as he did so. They did not step back to avoid his coming, but nor did they acknowledge his presence, and although he brushed right past the leader, he did not even generate a shout or a glance from any of the youngsters. For some reason their disinterest made him feel lonely. Everyone in this place seemed to belong, he reflected sadly. But not him. For some reason he could not touch these people – and deep down inside he knew they could not even see him.

So this was not his place, then. It was not the place of peace that, in absence of all other memories and knowledge he somehow knew he was on a pilgrimage to find. His name, his past, his future – all had been obscured in his daily battle between the sun and the darkness. Yet somehow he knew that if he kept on going, eventually he would find that place which would welcome him as one of its own.

But it was not this place, and he would have to travel on. Inwardly he shivered, disliking the curl of fear that gnawed at the edge of his awareness. He would have to face the darkness between this sunny place and the next, and he knew only too well what monsters that darkness was capable of concealing.

He made his way through the village, preparing to set out on the winding trail that, like so many others, led into an unknown, unseen future. As he reached the cluster of willow trees, however, he felt a sense of someone watching him and he faltered, raising his eyes from the ground as he tried to work out where the sensation came from. At first he thought it must be imagination – a delusion put into his mind by his tiredness and his apprehension of once more facing the night demons. Yet even as he told himself this, he met the eyes of a stranger and all thoughts flew from his head as he registered the intensity in this apparition's golden stare.

For a moment nothing seemed to move, as if even the breeze through the trees had been quelled by this snow-haired, amber eyed individual. Then, soundlessly and purposefully the newcomer stepped forward, approaching the traveller until he stood only a few steps away. As he moved, the green and pleasant landscape seemed to blur into a whirl of lights and colours until there were none but the two of them left, face to face in a strange, disorientating swirl of light.

Too struck to even speak, the traveller swallowed hard, unable to flinch back as the apparition reached out a hand to touch his shoulder.

As soon as those claw-edged fingertips brushed against the traveller's skin, a bevy of images and emotions flooded through his senses, causing the man to gasp and fall back under the weight of their intensity.

"I am sorry." The white-haired apparition spoke softly, in words that seemed silent yet capable of resonating across the whole of the strange world in which they now found themselves. "I have need of you."

"You…" At length the traveller found his words, recognition and anger flooding through him as he realised who the stranger was.

"Yes." As if guessing his thoughts, the apparition nodded. "Your instinct is correct. I am that one. You may not wish to face me, yet you must face me…it is inevitable. But this time I still have need of you. You have a duty to fulfil and I need you to fulfil it."

"Why would I do anything of the kind?" The traveller pulled back, glaring at his companion in disbelief. "After everything…"


"If you do not, it will only become worse." The stranger shook his head slowly. "This is not my work. None of it has been. But without your help, I cannot reverse it. So I have need of you. And I must make you understand…for the sake of everyone, I must."

He reached out, grasping the traveller tightly once more as he brushed his cold pale fingers across his companion's skin. As he drew closer to the man's neck, he flexed his fingers, and the sharp, claw-like nails scraped against the skin of the traveller's throat. The touch was barely more than fleeting, but sharp enough to feel like the cut of some kind of blade, and traveller gasped at the burning pain that seemed to suddenly pierce through his skin. He brought his own fingers to his neck gingerly, touching the scratched area and drawing his hand back as if expecting to see blood. There was none, however, merely the lingering traces of iridescent opal light. For a moment he stared at these spectral fragments, as if trying to work out whether they had come from him or from the stranger and as he did so, he was aware of the faint zig-zagging of black that criss-crossed briefly across his forearms. He let out a yell, fear coursing through him as he shoved his assailant away, falling to his knees as a sudden dizziness overwhelmed him. At this obvious distress, he apparition sighed, taking a step back as he observed his companion in resignation.

"Your wounds run deeply." He observed sadly. "And you resist me, even now. Have you learnt nothing from your months of travelling, my friend? Do you not understand yet that it's a journey that goes on forever? While this goes on you cannot possibly find what you are looking for."

The traveller gazed up at him mutely, and a flicker of compassion reflected in the apparition's golden eyes.

"I am not the one you should hate." He said softly. "But I know I will not make you believe with words alone, will I?"

"I haven't forgotten so much that I don't know who you are and what you've done to me." The traveller managed, his voice hoarse as the pain of his assailant's nail marks still burned against his skin. "You gave me my memories to make me understand, but all it's done is make me hate you all over again. Why would I believe anything you said to me, ever? You aren't even able to show me your true self, trapped in that false shell as if you believe I don't know what you really are. I have nothing to say to you."

"Unless you stop and listen, you will never truly understand." The apparition said softly, such genuine regret in his odd gaze that despite himself the traveller felt his conviction waning. "Dig deep into your memories, my friend. Memories of before this time. Memories that run deeper than the ones currently bubbling angrily across your senses. If you do, then you will see that this is not my doing. You will know how deep it runs, and the reasons why it does. And more, you will see why they will continue to cause you suffering until they are eradicated once and for all."

His eyes narrowed.


"You…and the others." He said quietly, and for a moment the traveller felt a pang of ice shoot through him as he interpreted the meaning in the other's cryptic words. A face flickered briefly across his senses and he bit his lip, fighting to control the swell of emotion that surged through his detached senses.

The will to protect someone at any cost…do you really think that's all it will take to save that one from my taint?

Through the morass of images and sounds one voice seemed to echo through, growing stronger with every moment as it taunted and teased at his wits. It was the voice of a woman, yet disembodied and rich with cold derision, and despite himself the traveller's heart quaked with fear as her words stabbed through him one more time.

Was all that you sacrificed such a small and worthless thing? Pitiful human – do you really think you can escape my spell or fox my intentions through such a feeble human gesture?

He closed his eyes, forcing his panic back as he struggled to separate the confused swirl of memories and sensations into their proper places. As he did so, he felt the shadow of something dark and twisted loom out of the black and with a jolt he realised where he had seen it before.

His eyes snapped open and he gazed at the apparition in horror.

"The darkness." He whispered. "The demons who plague me…it's her, isn't it? I can hear her voice…like somehow she's able to speak through my mind. This one…it's all…been her?"

The apparition nodded.

"A curse is a curse, regardless of when it's levelled, or at whom." He said gravely. "And you, my friend, bear the core of that curse. But it is not just on you. And as time goes on, the chance of things becoming worse are greater. It has been a long time, after all, since I was last able to intervene. Because of her magic, my own spells of protection have weakened. They will continue to do so…until it is too late."

He held out a hand, pulling the traveller to his feet.

"You may still hate me, and I am sorry for it." He said evenly. "But I want you to believe I never meant you harm. I have always done all I could do to protect those of you touched by her curse. You are ones I value greatly – you and your brethren all. For my sake and the sake of so many, this thing has been allowed to fester and grow. And my ability to prevent it grows weaker."

He frowned.

"A century ago a girl made a prophesy." He said slowly, and the traveller's eyes widened as, unbidden, a second female voice echoed through his senses.

"Makiko's bleak vision of the future hasn't been destroyed – only postponed. And at some time in the future we will be like this again."

Softly he repeated the words aloud, and the apparition nodded.

"You remember, then." He said, an approving glint in his amber gaze. "Good. That saves time, if you can recall such things without my having to help you."

"Who spoke that prophesy?" The traveller demanded, suddenly agitated, and the apparition smiled.

"Why ask questions to which you know the answer?" He chided gently. "The one you think it was, in a time before this time."

"I…" The traveller bit his lip, as memories swirled once more against his senses. "Then if that's…but…"

"The prophesy was spoken within the Kanin mountains by the one known as Toroki to the one known as Subaru." The spectre said simply. "That was then and this is now. Things have changed beyond recognition and the soul who spoke those words has been reborn into a new form. Yet you know that if it was spoken by Toroki's incarnation, you know that it is also the truth. Makiko – the dark mage you see tainting your nightmares – she will rise again. She will be released from her prison. And without your help…"

He trailed off, and the traveller's eyes narrowed.

"Isn't it a bit late to come asking for my help?" He asked quietly. "Especially when you're here in front of me – why don't you go and do it yourself?"

"Because without the help of you and your brethren, I can't go there." The apparition said softly. "This place is not the same. You know it as well as I do, don't you? Since I touched you, you remember all of who and what you are. More, of all you have ever been."

He smiled.

"I will not make you help me. I will leave it up to you." He added. "If you do, or if you don't, the benefits and consequences will be yours to face and accept. You are one who prefers that, I think…you can think it out for yourself. But time is growing ever shorter. Before long that darkness won't simply occupy your nights. It will begin to shrivel at your days – and not just yours but the days of others, too. Here, there – everywhere."


The traveller was silent for a moment, then, at length, he raised his head.

"If you were to go there, could you stop it?" He asked quietly. The apparition nodded.

"If I was there, then yes. I could." He agreed. "But to get there…"

"I know." The traveller cut across him, holding up his hands. "I understand that bit."

He sighed.

"I believe you." He said at length, reluctance in his eyes. "I don't want to, but I do. I've seen that darkness and I've felt the oppressiveness of it as it tried to devour me. I know that you're serious, when you talk about a curse."

His eyes narrowed.

"You're saying, in fact, that all of it is because of that? Everything?" He added. "Aren't you? That all the things I thought…are because the weight of the curse's core is…"

"Sealed within your heart. Yes." The apparition nodded once more, and the traveller detected relief in his companion. "Then you do understand…and I can call on you to help?"

"But like I said, I'm like this." The traveller held out his hands, noticing as he did so that the strange black criss-crossing marks had vanished from his skin. He put his fingers to his throat, feeling the warmth there but it no longer hurt, and he offered a rueful smile, shrugging his shoulders.

"I made a choice." He added. "That choice makes your job harder, doesn't it?"

"If you will help me, then I will help you." The spectre promised. "Consider this your path to redemption, if you like. Your release from the endless, wandering prison you've been trapped in since the day you left that place and entered this. I will provide for you and you will help protect and provide for my chosen. You will be needed, far more than you realise. I will want to rely on you – will I be able to do that?"

The traveller hesitated, then, slowly, he nodded his head.

"All right." He said frankly. "All right. But no games or funny business, all right? I want to be clear on all the conditions and circumstances before I begin, this time. I don't want to lose these memories you've woken in me – any of them, regardless of where they're from. I want to be prepared, this time."

"You have my word." His companion said solemnly, pressing his hands together as they both became bathed in dazzling white light. "I will put my faith in you, my friend…for the sake of all my people, don't let me down."