(A/N No anime or internet for a week makes me have some weird dreams. This one came to me in a dream. Hope you like it. Everqueen)
Tasuki threw the door open with a large grin at the gathered group of friends on his doorstep. "Hey, come on in."
The hall and foyer filled with greetings as the rest of the Suzaku warriors and their miko filed past the ex bandit and entered the living room of Chichiri and Tasuki's apartment. They had just settled down on the various couches and chairs when the blue haired magician entered, arms laden with bags and boxes, including one fabric wrapped object under his arm.
"Welcome, minna-chan, no da. We brought presents back for everyone." He smiled and held out gifts to the others as they proclaimed over the presents, all very native of the area in the southwestern part of the united states that they had visited.
When all the gifts were passed out and opened, dinner was quickly ordered and then Chichiri and Tasuki settled in the final love seat and smiled at each other. Chichiri still held the cloth bound bundle in his arms.
"What do you have there, Chichiri?" Miaka queried. "Is it edible?" The group burst into laughter as Tasuki groaned and dropped his head into his hands and Chichiri got a fake look of surprise and fear on his face. "No, no da. It's not edible. We found something very special while we were in New Mexico and we want to share it with you, no da."
Tasuki was practically bouncing in his seat. Chichiri smiled at his lover and then unwrapped the bundle and pulled out a old looking journal and held it up for the group to see. Chiriko, who was sitting closest to Chichiri (other then Tasuki) saw the inscribed words on the cover and read them out loud. "Journal of John Banklar" He sat back in surprise and a smile bloomed across his face, even as the others looked very confused by the book. "It's the story of you and Tasuki in your past life?"
As Chichiri and Tasuki gave beaming grins and nodded the rest of the group leaned forward eagerly at the thought of what this book contained.
"How did you find it, Chichiri?" Tamahome looked in interest at the well preserved book and then turned inquiring eyes to the two seishi.
"I hid it, no da. I magically protected it, hid it and then sealed it so only myself or Tasuki could find it, no da. I had hoped that the protection spells would still be up when we went, but we didn't know if they would be, so we kept it a secret that we were really going to get the book, no da." Tasuki was nodding. "Yep, it's the story of how John and Shaun met. Those were our names in our past life." The group settled back in and Miaka clapped her hands. "Oh please, Chichiri, Tasuki, read it to us. We all want to know."
"Yeah, Fang boy, I want to hear about the mountain man, Tasuki. This should be interesting." Tasuki bared his fangs at Nuriko in a good natured gesture and Chichiri chuckled. "Fine. I will read it to you, if you wish. This was written as a journal though and I will skip over the parts that were written before I met Tasuki."
Tasuki smiled a bit "Oh, but read about why you left Boston to begin with, Chichiri. And then give a summarized version of your first few months there." The former monk nodded and opened the book as the group settled back and let the smooth tones of their resident magician settle over them, pulling them into the story of John and Shaun.
LEAVING BOSTON LEADING UP TO THE CAPTURE OF JOHN!
Leaving on this train has got to be one of the best feelings in the world. I cannot begin to describe the relief I feel to be away from this oppressive city and heading into the wild frontier. Not only to get away from the "flowery Miss. Delphina Whirling" as the Boston rag likes to call her, but from my medling parents and those seeking to help me find happiness when I really just want to be left alone. I am leaving for my first teaching assignment outside of the Boston area and my mother was very unconsolible with my leaving. I do say that she has sequestered herself into her room and has not left for anything but meal times. She did cry most horribly when I went and bid her fairwell. I guess I should be the good little son and just stay where she wants me to, but as my dear friends, Karolyn and Harold, say, I need to live my own life. Only those two alone know what I am looking for, and it is something that "flowery Miss. Delphina Whirling" can not provide me.
(Chichiri looks up from his reading with a smile. "Oh, Karolyn and Harold were the reincarnations of Korin and Hikou. They were married in that life too, no da." He returns to his reading.)
Well, it has now been a week since I have arrived in the New Nexico territory village of Tularosa. I must say, the view out here is absolutely breathtaking. To the east lie spectacular mountains, I am told they are the Sacramento's, that rise majestically from the ground. This quant little town is nestled against them and across the basin, to the west, is another mountain range. Halfway though the basin, which is desert, is startling white sands. I have not been out there, not many people have, considering the dangers of travelling in the desert in late summer, or anytime for that matter, but I must say, sunsets here are truely a sight to behold. As the sun sets over the mountains, the sky routinely turns varying shades of blue, purple, red, orange and yellow. I have never seen a more beautiful sight.
I am surprised to find myself homesick for Boston though. As pleased as I am to be away from there and truely enchanted by my new surroundings, I still find myself surprised to step from my dwelling or the school house and not be greated by the familiar aroma of the sea. As Mr. Smith down in the general store remarked, "It's all the sand and none of the ocean here, lad." A true statement.
(By this point, Tasuki, and most of the other seishi are leaned back in their chairs, eyes closed, listening to the words of Chichiri. Miaka, however, is leaning forward, methodically eatting an assortment of nuts off the table, taking in Chichiri's every word. Chichiri skips forward a bit and smiles as he finds the entry he is looking for.)
I can not believe I was that foolish. At least I have taken you along, Journal, on this foolishness, so I have some means of writting my foolishness down to you, record it for future people to find. Not that it would do them much good to find this journal, as this is written in some obscure ancient Chinese dialect I seemed to have picked up from somewhere. I even find myself thinking in this language alot. And dream in this language as well, strange dreams, but I digress. I'm drifting off subject. I have been kidnapped. Maybe that is not the correct term, but my mind is too aflutter right now to think more then I already am. It started off innocently enough. It was a lovely day, not too cold, just enough snow. I had remembered a trail I had found earlier right after I moved here and thought it would be nice to watch the sun fade. If I watched it set, I could easily make it back to town by night fall, as long as I didn't dwaddle. Or so I thought. I did not expect to be taken by savages. Yes, I am now a prisoner in an indian tribe. I still can not believe this has happened. I write this down now, in case I do not make it out of here alive. Mayhap this journal, if found, will bring my mother some amount of comfort and peace as she screams to my memorial "I told you so" as she is wont to do.
However, a small incident has given me rise for hope. As I was lead to whom I believe to be the tribe elder, he suddenly yelped in what I can only assume is surprise, pointed at my knee and began to chatter rapidly to the others in the tribal area. Two warriors were swift to leave, at what I believe were his instructions and I was escorted into this shelter where I await Suzaku knows what fate. This incident might not make sense to any reading this journal, but as long as I can remember, upon my left knee is ancient chinese kanji, the symbol for 'well'. It is not visible to others, I have guessed, as I have never been questioned on it by others that have seen my knee, but I see it plain as day. I also see aura's around people. Mine is very active, more so then others. I once saw a purple haired man (I do not lie) that had a very active aura also. I have always suspected since then that this man might also have a kanji symbol upon his body, but I lost track of him before I could introduce myself and have not seen him since.
I think I am rambling, I can digress that I am rambling now due to my fear of this situation. Karolyn always said it was a bad habit of mine to ramble when uncertain. I think she There is conversation outside and it grows closer. Farewell for now, Journal and everyone else.
BACK IN CHICHIRI AND TASUKI'S APARTMENT-
Chichiri glances up as the doorbell rings and the group jumps and then lets out a shaky laugh as one. Tasuki jumps up and answers the door and the delicious smell of take out drifts into the living room before the door shuts and he returns with an armful of boxes and cartons. He sets these down in front of Miaka and then returns to the hallway and returns with everyone elses food. Chichiri eats swiftly as Tasuki takes the journal from the monk and starts to read, his food left to wait in favor of continuing the story.