It was the weekend and Saihitei decided to go for a drive to clear his head. Besides, he needed to explore his new city and its shops. He was a gay man from Tokyo, how could he resist? He woke late, around ten (Saihitei was a morning person). He didn't bother letting anyone know where he was going. He didn't have to.

It was a beautiful Fall day; crisp and colorful, a perfect day to go driving. It was his one release. He had no friends, no close family; nothing but money and good looks. And that knowledge hurt him. But when he drove at breakneck speed, reckless and uncaring, the powerful purr of the engine all around him, the pull of the wind in his hair, the countryside speeding past him, nothing but blurry splashes of color, it didn't hurt. He didn't think; he didn't care; he was free.

In the morning, Ryuuen awoke to his sister pouncing on him and yelling for him to wake up.

"Ry-chan, wake up! You promised to take me shopping today!" Ryuuen rubbed his bleary eyes as he stirred.

"Oi! What'sgoingon?" He murmured groggily.

"Ry-chan, you promised!"

"I promised what?"

"To take me shopping!" Kourin repeated, exasperated with her brother. "How could you forget?"

"I didn't forget. It's just too early. Wake me up in an hour." He tried to turn over, closing his eyes and smiling to himself as he imagined the look on his sister's face.

"Oh no you don't, mister! Ry, it's after ten!" She punched him in the arm playfully.

"Didn't mom tell you I'm sick?" Ryuuen groaned into his pillow. Kourin knew he would give in, he always did, but it was still fun teasing her.

"Whatever! Chou Ryuuen, you have five seconds to get out of that bed!"

"Or what?" Ryuuen challenged through a smirk.

"One! Two!-" began Kourin, counting rather fast.

"Okay! Okay! You win! Stop screeching, miss morning breath!" Kourin was not offended, used to their playful banter.

"Look who's talking, Barbie doll!" She tossed back. "Not so pretty first thing in the morning!"

"Oh yeah?" Ryuuen said, flashing a dangerous grin. He pulled her down and tickled her mercilessly until she was curled into a giggling, kicking ball gasping for him to stop. "Now go get ready."

Kourin still wore the tank top and shorts she'd slept in and her hair was a disheveled mess. She squealed in delight and bounded out of the room crying "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" over her shoulder. Ryuuen chuckled at her then sighed. Now that he'd agreed, he would have to get out of bed.

An hour later, he sat on the couch waiting for Kourin, who yelled "just about ready!" down the stairs every few minutes. He looked like a model in tight, dark blue jeans that made his legs look a mile long, a long gray and black graphic t-shirt, steel gray military jacket, and a sparkling, silver, wool scarf, embellished with tassels. His long, purple hair was pulled into a perfect ponytail at the back of his head. When Kourin finally came down, Ryuuen looked her over approvingly. He had taught her well. She now wore a maroon, knit dress, cinched at the waist with an earthy brown belt. In addition, she'd donned opaque tights, beret, and flats to match her belt. Her makeup was impeccable and she had styled her hair so that it hung in waves down her back. They were dressed to kill.

"Very chic," Ryuuen commented, beaming.

They took a train into the city and on to the eccentric neighborhood where their mother's store was located, just south. It was not yet noon and already the streets were crowded with shoppers: oddly dressed teens in droves of four to ten, couples, gay and lesbian mostly, the lone, middle aged man walking quickly and clutching a brown paper bag…

The shops ranged from fortune tellers to vintage boutiques, vegan-friendly cafes to adult toystores. On the outskirts lay nightclubs and karaoke bars. At night, foreign films played in the park. It was Ryuuen's favorite place to hang out and he took his sister there often.

It was a little chilly, but a very nice day altogether. Ryuuen bought Kourin a Chai tea from a coffee chop, but chose his favorite, Oolong, for himself. They visited every store, buying little and chatting with many of the storeowners and employees they met and knew.

"No, no, no!" Ryuuen said to Kourin, when they came to Chou's Adult Bookstore: XXX Manga, Novels, Short Stories. "Eighteen and older, sweetheart." He teased.

"But, Ry, we just got this new yaoi series in! Mom won't let me have it, but I heard it's really cute! Please, Ry, I just want to go in and see it!" Ryuuen laughed at her childish antics. She was pulling on his arm and jumping up and down, attracting strange glances from passersby.

"Let me see what I can do. Wait here." He kissed her forehead and went inside the store.

Saihitei drove slowly now. He really had no choice with all the shoppers crowding the streets as well as the sidewalks. He took the opportunity to observe the shopping district. There were no high-end shops or 5-star bistros on every corner, but it was a nice area. Everything and everyone had an artistic, bohemian feel about them.

Ryuuen found the series his sister wanted with ease, as it was on display. It was typical: beautiful, naked gay boys in a meadow on the cover, and chock full of enough smut to keep even the most devout fangirl satisfied. His mother wasn't in, so he secretly reserved it for her. He couldn't deny his baby sister anything. With a sly smile playing on his lips, he started out of the store.

Kourin waited patiently for Ryuuen. She knew her brother was up to something; he just had to be! And it wasn't as if she didn't deserve it, what with the present she had gotten him for his birthday: she and Rouku had pooled together to buy him a deluxe spa package for two, so he really did owe her, even though she was hoping he would take her as his guest. Who else? She really was spoiled by him. But I don't exploit it…too often. She thought, grinning to herself.

Her cell phone vibrated in her purse. As she pulled it out, she dropped it. It fell to the ground, bounced off the sidewalk, and skidded into the street. To her credit, she looked both ways before crossing. A car was coming, but she figured she had enough time to grab her phone. However, during its fall, the back had come off and the battery had fallen out, and both lay several feet away. If she didn't get it before the car came, it was sure to be run over. She darted into the road, gathering the pieces as quickly as she could.

Saihitei's eyes widened in surprise; he had just seen Ryuuen, of all people, in all places! But, why was he standing in the middle of the street? And why on Earth was he dressed like a girl? On second thought, it couldn't be Ryuuen. The person in the road wasn't dressed like a girl, she really was a girl. The resemblance was unsettling. But again, why was she standing in the middle of the street?

In the lane next to him, a sleek blue car was speeding towards her. Why wasn't he slowing? And why wasn't the girl getting the hell out of the way? He looked up and saw terror etched on her face. She was too scared to move. Gods, she even has the same eyes! Saihitei thought. He and the blue car were neck-to-neck now, and Saihitei chanced a glance at the other driver. My God, he's talking on a cell phone!

Saihitei honked his horn at both the driver and the girl. The girl didn't move; the driver looked up. Horror flashed across his face and he slammed on his breaks. But it was too late. They were too close and he was going too fast. Saihitei didn't think, he didn't question. He simply swerved in front of the other car, mere feet in front of her. He absorbed the impact with his beloved Porsche, on the empty passenger's side thankfully. At the last second, the girl dropped to the ground and covered her head with her thin arms.

Air bags exploded around him, shielding and jarring him. Pain erupted in the right side of his head and in his shoulder. Smoke issued profusely from the blue car, clouding his vision. Saihitei lifted his head and looked over his shoulder. The girl was miraculously unharmed. He could hear gasps and mutters from the onlookers and then, out of the concerned din rose a terrible scream.

At first, Saihitei thought it had come from the girl, which was understandable; she was recovering from a near-death experience after all. But it wasn't her. She was just now peering up in wonder from the protection of her arms. Saihitei saw a flash of vibrant purple hair. It was Ryuuen, running to the fallen girl and screaming in anguish. He took her in his arms and held her, squeezed her, examined every bit of her, all the while sobbing.

"Kourin, Kourin! Not again! Gods, not again! Please, no!" Ironically, it was Kourin who twisted in her brother's embrace to comfort him, patting him on the back and stroking his hair.

"Big brother, I'm alright! I'm safe. Ry-chan, look at me, I'm fine." Ryuuen met her gaze.

"You aren't hurt?"

"Not at all. I'm an idiot, but I'm fine." She smiled weakly up at him and they stood. Already they could hear the wailing sirens of an ambulance in the distance; somebody in the crowd must have taken the initiative.

The driver of the blue car stumbled out of his vehicle, tears streaming down his cheeks. He was a sandy-haired Japanese boy of about sixteen or seventeen. He hurried over to them, bowing and apologizing and cursing. Saihitei got out of his own car, fell out to be more precise. Ryuuen's eyes went wide in shock.

"You!" Was all he could manage. Saihitei flushed, every part of him yearning to reach out and touch the other boy, so close, so warm. There was no ice in Ryuuen's voice now, only shock and overwhelming gratitude. In fact, the look in his eyes was borderline worshipful. For the first time, Ryuuen let go of his sister. He ran to Saihitei and threw his arms around his neck, pressing his face into Saihitei's broad chest.

"You saved her. You saved her!" He kissed him everywhere he could reach, his neck, his chin, his cheeks, his lips, his forehead. Saihitei winced, his shoulder hurt so bad it was all he could do not to cry out. "Oh, you're hurt! I'm sorry!" Ryuuen said quickly pulling back. A short pause. Then, "..I'm so sorry…for how I-" And he burst into fresh sobs. Saihitei wrapped his good arm around Ryuuen, pulling him close, tears of his own seeping from his closed eyes, though from pain or emotion he could not tell. Kourin cleared her throat suggestively and the two hurriedly broke apart.

Ryuuen rushed back to his sister. The sandy-haired boy was still trying to apologize. He made the mistake of grabbing Ryuuen's arm to do so. Ryuuen turned and his face instantly drained of all color.

"You!" Though it was the same greeting he had given Saihitei, this time it took on an entirely different meaning. He pictured Kourin dead. If the car had been going any faster, if Saihitei had not been there, if Saihitei had not known what to do…In his mind's eye it was as if the boy had tried to kill Kourin, on purpose. The things Ryuuen wanted to do to him, the pain Ryuuen wanted to cause him, the agony, the grief-

"Ryuuen, no!" Kourin cried. Her brother's right fist collided with the boy's jaw. His second punch landed square on his nose. His knuckles seared. He was punching hard. In his life, he had never hit anyone, with real menace. But now he could think of no better reason. And it felt good to see the blonde boy stumbling backwards, away from his assault, begging for mercy Ryuuen didn't feel.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill your whole goddamn family, you worthless piece of shit! I'll kill you!" A strong hand and a weaker one grabbed him from behind and drug him back. Kourin let go, allowing Saihitei to pull her brother to his chest. Ryuuen stopped struggling as Saihitei's spicy scent enveloped him, dulling him. But rage still seethed in his heart.

The police arrived seconds before the ambulance. There were still many, many people watching to see what would happen. The 0fficers questioned the four of them briefly. Saihitei called his tow truck company and gave the officer his insurance information before he joined Ryuuen and Kourin in the ambulance.

The other driver was to ride in the police car as there was only one ambulance present and it was decided he should be kept as far away far Ryuuen as possible.

The service one received upon arriving in an ambulance was surprisingly efficient, Ryuuen noted. In moments, Kourin was sitting on a cot in the ER, separated from Saihitei and the almost murderer by thin, pastel curtains on her left and right. Ryuuen squeezed her hand tightly.

"…Kourin, I thought I had lost you…When I saw you lying on the ground…" He broke off.

"Ry-chan, it's alright. I'm so sorry to cause so much trouble: the commotion, that guy's car, the hospital bill…and all those people watching. I'm so embarrassed! And all over a stupid cell phone!"

She showed Ryuuen the pieces of her phone. A snort of laughter escaped him. He met her eye. In moments, both brother and sister were doubled over, giggling like mad. Saihitei pulled back his curtain.

"What's so funny?" He inquired. A thick bandage was taped to his head to staunch the bleeding.

"Oh, I didn't mean to disturb you!" Kourin got off the cot and bowed deeply. "You…you saved my life. How can I ever say thank you?" She approached tentatively, a blush tinting her cheeks. She wasn't usually so shy, but her savior was gorgeous! His bandages and scratches only made him look more heroic.

"Don't thank me…I should be thanking you." Saihitei smiled up at Ryuuen. "If things had gone differently, your brother would never have forgiven me."

"Who says I forgive you?" Ryuuen teased, attempting to look as if he really meant it.

"But it wasn't your fault!" Kourin protested. "You saved my life!" Ryuuen broke in there, laughing.

"Kourin, this is Saihitei." Kourin gasped, eyes going wide.

"Oh my goodness!" her vow to tell him off was forgotten. "I…I'm sorry about your car," she whispered instead. So this was the boy Ryuuen had told her so much about? She had to hand it to him, her brother had chosen well.

At that moment, the double doors of the emergency room swung forward and a din of voices broke into the calm. Ryuuen pulled back the other curtain to take a peek, even though it meant looking at the boy who had almost killed his sister. A nurse had entered and was gesturing toward them. Tailing her was the rest of the Chou family and a boy who looked exactly like the blonde boy sitting inches away. Ryuuen gaped. They were identical! It was always a surprise to meet twins.

The Chou's ran over to Ryuuen and Kourin. Ryuuen had called them from the ambulance. Mrs. Chou hugged her daughter tight. As Ryuuen's family exchanged hugs, kisses, and tears, Saihitei couldn't help but marvel at them. They were so obviously a family. They were so natural, so comfortable together. Not to mention the physical resemblance. All but Mrs. Chou had striking heads of purple hair. But, to make up for it, it seemed, all three Chou children had inherited her eyes; such vibrant, lively, beautiful eyes.

He sat watching them for what felt like ages. And he would have kept on watching. He would kill to be in their inner-circle, enveloped in their free and easy warmth.

Mrs. Chou noticed him.

She released Kourin and turned her wise, teary gaze on him. Slowly, she rose from the cot and moved towards him, hands outstretched. She reached for him and pulled him into an embrace. Shock showed on Saihitei's face, and then joy. He could almost feel the love in her in his very bones. He had never been hugged like that by his own mother.

"Thank you," She murmured in his ear. "Thank you. I can never thank you enough." She pulled away and cupped his face in her hands, her eyes searching his. "The police officer told us what happened. You could have been killed. But you were willing to sacrifice yourself for my daughter…and for that, you have my eternal gratitude."

Saihitei thought to protest, to tell her that it hadn't been as heroic as all that; that he had just been in the right place at the right time and acted on instinct. But he brushed those thoughts to a far away place. Mrs. Chou could hug him for the rest of her life if she so chose. But she kissed his cheek and then released him. Saihitei blushed.

Across from them, the enemy twins were huddled, looking pitifully at the Chou's. The uninjured of the two stood, but Mr. Chou and Rouku blocked his way.

"Is he the one responsible for all of this?" Mr. Chou thundered, drawing the attention of several patients and nurses. One of the latter came over to them.

"Please sir, I'm going to have to ask you to calm down."

"Don't you tell me to calm down! He could have killed my daughter! He could have killed her, do you hear? She could be dead because of you!" He spat at the blondes.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" The twin who had been driving cried. Fresh tears poured down his cheeks. "I wasn't paying attention! I wasn't watching! It's all my fault!"

For the first time, Ryuuen was able to look at him without anger. He should have been watching the road, but he knew now that Kourin was also at fault. Now that Ryuuen looked closely at him, he seemed somehow familiar. Had they met?

The doctor entered. He was a tall, powerfully built man, the very picture of masculinity. If it had not been for his kind, quiet eyes, he would have been quite intimidating. Someone must have paged him. He approached with long, even steps. Ryuuen gave a start of surprise. There was an air of familiarity about him too.

"Alright, everyone, if you would please sit down. Excuse the delay; very busy schedule." He sat down in a rolling office chair the suddenly flustered nurse brought for him. "Please sit," he repeated, glancing pointedly up at Mr. Chou, who was still standing and openly scowling. The doctor's voice was steady and soothing, the kind of voice that was naturally commanding without an increase in volume. He smiled kindly as the older man stiffly obeyed.

"Let's see…" The doctor began, "I understand the three of you were involved in a car accident." His gaze flicked from Saihitei, to Kourin, to one of the twins. "Mr. Seishuku, you will be treated for a concussion, so you'll be staying overnight. And we'll have your shoulder x-rayed as well. Ms. Chou, we'll take you to x-ray right away. Ladies first." He turned to Mrs. Chou who gasped audibly at that. "The X-ray will only ensure that everything is alright, as it seems. The ambulance report has come in and so we aren't too worried. You're a very lucky young lady." He offered a grim smile. "And you, Mr. Bu, will be getting some stitches and then the officers in the hall would like a word." With that, he stood. A nurse wheeling a gurney had come into the room.

"Ms. Chou, with the nurse, if you would. Mr. Seishuku, she should return for you within the next fifteen minutes." Saihitei nodded. He was sad to see the Chou's go. Mrs. Chou had opted to accompany Kourin to the x-ray room, and a nurse was insisting that Mr. Chou and his sons take seats in the waiting room.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to stay here with Saihitei," Ryuuen said. Saihitei was both surprised and pleased. The nurse bowed and escorted his father and brother out of the emergency room.

Ryuuen turned to Saihitei. He took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh, rubbing a hand over his face nervously. It came to rest on his throat, his face pale and suddenly anxious.

"How are you feeling?" He finally asked, managing a weak smile.

"Like crap, to be honest." Saihitei laughed to himself. "I have a headache like you wouldn't believe. And my shoulder…I think I dislocated it."

"My God! I'm sorry-"

"Don't be. No good deed goes unpunished, right?" He continued to laugh. It was a pleasant sound, but Ryuuen was still feeling anxious, and shaken by everything that had happened. He wrung his hands as he stood before Saihitei, a strange look in his eyes.

"Saihitei…Sai, I want to apologize to you-"

"Don't apologize. And don't thank me again either!" Saihitei said before the other boy could even form the words. Ryuuen grinned, whereas Saihitei's face looked suddenly melancholy "...You're very lucky, Ryuuen…" Ryuuen nodded energetically at this.

"Thanks to you. When I think of what might have happened, I-"

"No, not that," Saihitei interrupted absently. "That too, but, I meant…you have a wonderful family." Ryuuen nodded again, slower this time, as he caught Saihitei's meaning. He was suddenly aware of the fact that no one had come to the hospital to see about Saihitei.

"That I do… And that's why I'm, that's why we're all, so grateful to you for saving Kourin. Her…death…it would just tear us apart. Myself especially. I'm closer to her than anyone. She's my best friend…And sometimes…I don't know, I just feel…" Ryuuen trailed off.

"What is it?" Saihitei pressed gently. He knew that Kourin had died young in the last life. Could Ryuuen possibly be remembering? He recalled Ryuuen saying something about "Not again!" at the scene of the crash.

"I don't know! I've just always felt like I would lose her…Like I had lost her, but somehow got her back…It's the strangest feeling. But it's terrible! Because I constantly feel like I'll lose her again…I just know I lost her before," said Ryuuen, talking more to himself than to Saihitei. "And this might sound crazy, but ever since we met, I've been having… weird dreams. I've even been recognizing people I've never met…I don't know if I'm going crazy or…but something's off, Sai." Ryuuen met the other man's eye.

He felt a warm breeze graze his cheek.

This I will do for you...

And then it all came rushing back. Everything: his childhood in Konan, his family's store, his neighborhood, his friends, Kourin's death, his life in the Imperial harem, his adventures with the Priestess of Suzaku, his death…

Ryuuen fell to the hospital floor, hyperventilating. Saihitei ran to his aid.

"Ryuuen?" He shouted.

Ryuuen cried out, his eyes bright with pain. His hands went to his chest, where the symbol for "Willow" was blazing, searching for blood, wounds, scars, even those evil claws protruding from his chest. But he found only Saihitei's hands. He was whole. He was safe…

"Breathe. Just breathe," Saihitei whispered, rubbing his chest and hugging him tight.

"Hotohori-sama!" Ryuuen looked up at him in surprise. The man was weeping brokenly. When he found he was able, Saihitei spoke.

"Nuriko…No, Ryuuen, I-I'm so sorry. For everything-"

Shh! Shh!" Ryuuen whispered, an attempt to calm him. "You don't have to apologize."

"Yes, I do. I need to say this now; now before….I don't want to lose you again and have you forget. I have hurt you in both lives. How many second chances do you think I'll get?"

Saihitei took Ryuuen's face in his hands. He temporarily freed a hand to wipe away the tears blurring his vision. "Ryuuen, I love you. As Nuriko, as Ryuuen, man or woman, as whoever you are. I'm so unimaginably sorry it's taken so long to tell you. It was so complicated in the last life; I was so stupid, I cared about all the wrong things… But I'm telling you now, and I will tell you every day for the rest of my life…I will give you anything you ask for! And even if you wish never to see me again, I will-" Ryuuen interrupted him there.

"Hotohori-sama, how could I ask never to see you again? I love you. I've always loved you. Even in this life I love you. I've never really believed in 'love at first sight' …but how else can I explain how I felt from the first moment we met?" Ryuuen laughed, albeit a bit hysterically, and wiped away the rest of Saihitei's tears with the tips of his fingers. Saihitei closed his eyes at Ryuuen's touch. He opened them to meet a face radiant with joy. "It doesn't matter how long it took. It's worth all the pain just to hear you say those words to me now, in this moment…Suzaku has given you to me. It's time to put the past behind us and enjoy the future He has given us."

Saihitei kissed him. A second later he hissed in pain, having totally forgotten about his shoulder.

"Sorry," said Ryuuen quickly, wincing for him. "No good deed goes unpunished, right?" Saihitei smiled.

"Some do." And he kissed Ryuuen again.

~*Owari*~