CAST:
Miyakaede: Kaede Rukawa (Miyaka)
Tamakira: Akira Sendoh (Tamahome)
Hotosashi: Hisashi Mitsui (Hotohori)
Nurikenji: Kenji Fujima (Nuriko)
Chirikoshino: Hiroaki Koshino (Chiriko)
Chichitoru: Toru Hanagata (Chichiru)
Mitsugami: Ryoji Ikegami (Mitsukake)
Tasukuragi: Hanamichi Sakuragi (Tasuki)
Yohei Mito (Reader)
Tetsuo (Reader)
Makigo: Shinichi Maki (Nakago)
Kiyuita: Kiyota Nobunaga (Yui)
Soi-ichiro: Soichiro Jin (Soi)
Miyaboshi: Ryota Miyagi (Amiboshi)
Moroboshi: Dai Morohoshi (Suboshi)
Tomoichi: Hikoichi Aida (Tomo)
PART I
It was the last semester of school and everyone seemed to be studying really hard, or at least, almost everyone.
"Rukawa, will you pay attention?!" their history teacher yelled irritably.
Rukawa, however, just lifted his head and looked at his teacher sleepily and, well, went back to sleep.
"We'll see about that…" The teacher muttered under his breath and continued writing. When the bell rang the teacher motioned Rukawa to come forward.
"Since you've been showing a very abhorrent behavior from the moment you first walked in this classroom, the possibility of you passing this subject is, well, so-so," said the teacher whose lips were curling to a sneer. Rukawa stood still.
"If you're interested in passing you might as well give me a detailed and precise history of the city of Kanagawa. Not just history but I want you to trace it back from the very ancient time when the people of Shohokuto and Koainan ruled the land. You are to study and analyze every important scene and prove that it is not just an epic, that is if you can but if you fail, you can just read every book that says something about it. This means you will have to visit every library present in Kanagawa and do an awful lot of intensive reading. If your stubbornness comes in the way you might get expelled or worse, banned from the basketball club. Clear?"
The last sentence rang in his ears and gave him something to think about,
If I wouldn't be joining the basketball club I won't be able to see him again…I won't be able to prove I'm the best in Japan.
He thought as he was dismissed, knowing that it was more than he could bear. How he desired his ex-gangster deeply and secretly. He liked his crystal blue eyes, which color is almost identical to his fox-like ones. He liked his deep handsome voice, his broad shoulders, his immaturity and humor. He liked even his scar, which was the only flaw on his otherwise perfect face.
Well, I guess I'll have to dig that shit, as the bastard wants it.
On the other hand, at Kiyota Nobunaga's house, 8:00 in the morning,
"Mom, I'm not attending your wedding anniversary this evening I have to watch Fushigi Yugi's OVA, it's the best and you see it's educational-"
"I won't hear any word from you 'til you join the celebration, young man, every important person's going too. The mayors of Hokkaido, Hiroshima and Kanagawa, the cabinet members of Japan, the governors of-"
"Mom, I don't need to waste my time over these uninteresting people, why don't you just leave me alone with Tamahome-I mean-it's just a 20th wedding anniversary and to think that you and dad see each other everyday. It's stupid," said Kiyota not giving his mom a chance to answer for he had already stormed out of their house. His mother was about to run after him but his father just shook his head as if to say 'let him be.'
"Look at your son! He seems to be growing backwards. You're not letting him be like this, he's becoming more of a brat each day and, well, more ridiculous." Mrs. Kiyota said angrily.
"I think he needs some consideration and time alone. I can see he's a growing man and it's just a part of his, er, development."
Mrs. Kiyota sighed and let her husband lead him in to the car.
Kiyota ran as fast as he could. He looked around to see if his mother sent anyone to follow him but the street was empty. He sighed deeply and wondered what he would do next. He lifted his head to find himself standing in front of Kanagawa Public Library.
I think I'll hide here, this is the last place mom would suspect me to go. He went inside the library. Just then an elderly woman came to him and asked,
"Can I help you?"
Kiyota hesitated, he didn't know what to say, he had only been in the library twice in his life, including now. "I, er, I was wondering if I could find a book regarding, er," he paused to think of his interests, "Regarding Suzaku, yeah that's it."
"I see, you probably are doing a research. A young man also asked me where to find one a while ago, I think he's still here, just look around for him and I guess you can share books. And, er, by the way, it's Shohozaku because Suzaku is the general term for the phoenix, ne?"
Kiyota wanted to tell her that there was such a thing as Suzaku but he had no time to argue. "Okay, thank you" he said as he looked around for an empty seat.
Well I guess there's nothing left to do, I might as well look for Suzaku. It did exist I know, I believe. Kiyota thought.
On the other hand, Rukawa sat alone 'reading' books; he wasn't actually reading; he was half-asleep. His fox-eyes were obviously drooping. He was turning the pages and he found the books dull for there were no pictures. Earlier, he had read stories about the handsome emperor, Hotosashi. He was only six when he became emperor. He had blue eyes and the fairest face in the land as it was described. It reminded Rukawa of someone he knew—someone dear to him.
He decided to look for a more detailed book, he stood up and proceeded to the restricted area. There were only a few people in the library, he noticed and eyed the large selection that was the restricted area.
If it's restricted, why are there so many? He thought dully. Whatever…
As he stepped up the small set of stairs that elevated the restricted area, he spotted a thick brown book that—stupid as it may sound—beckoned to him. He went over to the shelf and grabbed the book and tried to pull it but strong as he was, he couldn't. He heard a grunt from the other side of the shelf and he peeked at whatever it was that made the noise. Sure enough there was the wild monkey, Kiyota Nobunaga, pulling the book as hard as he can.
"Get off the book," he said in his infamous monotone.
Kiyota made a face and tried to pull it again. "No, I saw it first," he insisted but Rukawa's grasp of the book was too much for him.
"I saw it first, do'aho.
"How dare you insult me?" Kiyota asked grumpily, "What are you doin' here anyway?"
"None of your business, loser," he insulted the other boy which made him angrier.
"I AM NOT A LOSER, LOSER!" his voice grew to a scandalous volume. "I'm the best rookie in Kanagawa so just hand me the stupid book!" The few people that were within earshot which, was about within a half-mile radius began eyeing them but fortunately, the librarian didn't notice the scuffle that was about to ensue.
Rukawa wasn't about to go down without a fight. The stronger of the two boys yanked the book harder and Kiyota's head jerked forward but his grip didn't loosen. One of his feet was already pushing against the shelf for support and he was panting heavily. Rukawa could feel the strain in his hand so he expended another one and Kiyota did the same. After the pointless tug-of-war, each of them got hold of one side of the book and it tore into two.
"Look what you've done! You vile, you evil, you fiend-" Kiyota yelled.
Rukawa threw him the piece he was holding and said, "Here, I won't be needing it anymore…"
Kiyota went red in fury but before he could say anything more, red and orange flames were coming out of the torn pages of the book. Kiyota watched the lights in amazement while Rukawa's eyes grew slightly wider. The lights surrounded both of them, the environment they were in seemed to be fading very fast; they were travelling off somewhere. Kiyota opened his mouth in fascination but Rukawa's face remained almost expressionless though horror was in his eyes. They closed their eyes as if to protect them from any harm. Whether they had traveled through time or space none of them could tell but as they opened their eyes they knew they were parted.
Rukawa was cold for his raiment was only his basketball clothes (short shorts and practice jersey). At first he thought he was in a dream when the world was young and people were few for he had been standing along a road of sand and beside were fields of green. But he realized that his hands were red and in obvious pain, he had difficulty in taking the book from Kiyota.
Kuso, where am I? Whatever. He thought as he walked further, he knew he needed someone to tell him where he was. His feet grew weary as he reached a small town; he had never seen houses such as these. They were far too ornate from the houses in Kanagawa where he grew up. He passed through a small path between two houses when he heard voices with strange accent but familiar language.
"Look at this, a lost maiden fresh from bath. Fair of face," said a voice
"And of skin. Dazzling blue eyes like those of the emperor's," said the second
"Lashes are too thick though and tall, probably taller than the lord."
"And limbs long as a spider's and white as a candle."
Rukawa turned around to see who these simile-oriented people were, four men were behind him, evil was their stare yet grinning were their lips. His eyes narrowed and muttered,
"Perverts."
But one of them stepped forward; he seemed to be the mightiest among them.
"We speak of you, my fair lady, will you join us to a cup of tea?" he said mockingly.
"Teme." Rukawa answered as he turned to go. But an arm grabbed him.
"What is it you called us? Are you from afar? For in my life here in this town I have never seen a lady fair as the twilight in the woods of Shohokuto."
Rukawa could bear this no longer, he faced the man as if to show how much taller he was and grabbed the arm that locked him. As quick as sound, he twisted it and left the man on the ground in pain. The other three looked aghast, one of them managed to speak,
"Why my lady, you are strong." But Rukawa didn't even look back.
"I'll make you pay for this," claimed the other man. He motioned for his companions. They grabbed Rukawa's arms and legs. The boy struggled but he couldn't move, what could he do? There were four of them. The man he had just injured stepped up to him and lifted Rukawa's chin slowly and told him,
"Do you want me to show you what we can do to you?"
Rukawa didn't answer; he just stared back coldly.
"Answer me or I'll-" He was cut short when a fist hit the middle of his face. A spiky haired boy was wrestling the man down. Rukawa broke free, who ever it was who caused the commotion he didn't bother to know. He just turned to go; he knew he had no time to thank or help the boy though he was walking quite slowly.
Rukawa was about five yards away when the boy who helped him called out to him leaving the men on the ground.
"Hey my lady! Wait up!"
Rukawa turned his head but he didn't look at the boy who had caught up with him. "Hi, er, do you need help? You seem to be new around here," the boy said catching for breath.
Rukawa was about to shove him off when he realized he needed to know where he was, badly. So he turned to the boy who turned out to be a little bit taller than him.
Must be the hair… he thought.
He was to ask for directions when he recognized the boy, unmistakably, it was Akira Sendoh of Ryonan High, whom he considered his toughest rival in basketball though they didn't play quite evenly, the taller boy was better. But before he could speak, the boy said,
"I'm Tamakira and I'd be glad to help a lost maiden." He said flashing his very handsome 50,000-megawatt smile.
"Tamakira and lost maiden my ass." Rukawa answered even more flatly concealing the rudeness of his response and his irritation.
"Pardon me?" Sendoh asked looking perplexed.
"Out of the way, Sendoh."
"What is that you called me?" The boy asked looking puzzled.
"Do me a favor and cut the crap."
"Easy, I was only trying to help. Well if you can manage your way that'll be fine with me. But my fair lady, what's your name?"
"I said shut up, Akira Sendo'aho,"
"No, it's Tamakira not Akira, but I was only asking for your name."
But Rukawa had had enough; he rolled his eyes and turned to go. But Tamakira was persistent; he followed Rukawa without knowing that he's no more than a lost boy, not a maiden or anything. Rukawa spoke not another word though Tamakira was telling him everything he had to know about the land.
-tbc-
A/N: If you review, we'll keep posting ^__^