AUTHOR'S NOTES: In the anime version of Fushigi Yuugi the "Four God's Heaven and Earth" is written in ancient Chinese (not that the characters are actually ancient Chinese characters). But in the manga the book found by Miaka and Yui was written in Japanese and was translated from the original Chinese by the father of Genbu no Miko. I'll be using the manga version of events rather than the anime version. BTW I've taken the title of this fic from the character song for Hikitsu and Tomite. Its so sad (WAAAAAA!!!)
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IF YOU SMILE
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PROLOGUE
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Do you know that even animals dream? Don't believe me? Watch a puppy next time as it lies nestled in the warm embrace of its mother, its brothers and sisters. Notice that I didn't mention the father? Ah, I suppose this could be seen as an ironic reflection of my own situation…
Notice how the puppy's ears and nose twitch as in its mind's eye it chases butterflies in a sun-drenched meadow. Of course the dream could very well be a nightmare instead. Oh well, my wife always told me that I was an optimist, an incurable romantic, a dreamer and idealist. According to her it was one of my most endearing traits. Was…hmm, its funny how life turns out isn't it. I'm definitely no longer an idealist, but I'm still an optimist.
Do you believe in wishes? I do. When we, I mean my daughter and I, first moved into this drafty old house I rearranged the desk in the room that I took to be my study so that I could glance up and look at the stars. I need to look at the stars. It reminds me of why I'm doing what I am doing.
It's a beautiful winter's night tonight, with not a single cloud to mar my view of the heavens. Its ironic how the cold dead air of winter seems to give the stars extra life as they shine with a brilliant intensity that I've never seen before. Perhaps it is an omen. I call the constellations I can see from my window by their names - Tomite, Hikitsu, Iname, Uruki, Urimiya, Hatsui and Naname, the seven constellations of the animal god Genbu. My European friends once told me how in their countries, it was believed that if you wish upon a star, your dreams would come true. The ancient Chinese believed something similar.
Those names I mentioned before are only the Japanese names. The Chinese, that ancient culture from which the scroll in front of me comes from, called them something quite different, though the characters and meanings are the same.
That reminds me, it's time to get back to work. I pick up a brush and start writing in Japanese on the blank pages in front of me:
"This is the story of a girl who gathered the seven Constellations of Genbu. She obtained omnipotent powers and made every wish come true. The book itself is an incantation. Whoever finishes reading it will receive these powers. When the page is turned, the story will become the truth and begin."
'Four gods sleep.' I wonder if gods dream and if they do, are they the same as the dreams of mortal men - and of course puppies?
Far from the mortal confines of Earth, a being smiled in slumber. From it came an echoing whisper, "Come to me…"
****************************
IF YOU SMILE
****************************
PROLOGUE
****************
Do you know that even animals dream? Don't believe me? Watch a puppy next time as it lies nestled in the warm embrace of its mother, its brothers and sisters. Notice that I didn't mention the father? Ah, I suppose this could be seen as an ironic reflection of my own situation…
Notice how the puppy's ears and nose twitch as in its mind's eye it chases butterflies in a sun-drenched meadow. Of course the dream could very well be a nightmare instead. Oh well, my wife always told me that I was an optimist, an incurable romantic, a dreamer and idealist. According to her it was one of my most endearing traits. Was…hmm, its funny how life turns out isn't it. I'm definitely no longer an idealist, but I'm still an optimist.
Do you believe in wishes? I do. When we, I mean my daughter and I, first moved into this drafty old house I rearranged the desk in the room that I took to be my study so that I could glance up and look at the stars. I need to look at the stars. It reminds me of why I'm doing what I am doing.
It's a beautiful winter's night tonight, with not a single cloud to mar my view of the heavens. Its ironic how the cold dead air of winter seems to give the stars extra life as they shine with a brilliant intensity that I've never seen before. Perhaps it is an omen. I call the constellations I can see from my window by their names - Tomite, Hikitsu, Iname, Uruki, Urimiya, Hatsui and Naname, the seven constellations of the animal god Genbu. My European friends once told me how in their countries, it was believed that if you wish upon a star, your dreams would come true. The ancient Chinese believed something similar.
Those names I mentioned before are only the Japanese names. The Chinese, that ancient culture from which the scroll in front of me comes from, called them something quite different, though the characters and meanings are the same.
That reminds me, it's time to get back to work. I pick up a brush and start writing in Japanese on the blank pages in front of me:
"This is the story of a girl who gathered the seven Constellations of Genbu. She obtained omnipotent powers and made every wish come true. The book itself is an incantation. Whoever finishes reading it will receive these powers. When the page is turned, the story will become the truth and begin."
'Four gods sleep.' I wonder if gods dream and if they do, are they the same as the dreams of mortal men - and of course puppies?
Far from the mortal confines of Earth, a being smiled in slumber. From it came an echoing whisper, "Come to me…"