Disclaimer:I do not own "Fushigi Yuugi" and all canonical characters, which belong to Yuu Watase with the exception of OC characters.
The sun shone brightly over the expansive area of forest, yet, the morning rays of sunshine did nothing to help prevent the puffs of breath that kept leaving Ayumu's mouth. Rubbing her shivering hands, she trekked between the trees to a small forest glade, far away from inquisiting stares of the villagers, who still viewed her and Wei with no small dose of scrutiny. "Can't be helped," she thought.
Soon enough, the trees gave way to a small clearing covered in a thick layer of snow. Grimacing at the sight, she trudged along. Ayumu still was glad that Konan's winters had nothing compared to Hokkan's. Letting out a puff of air, she walked up to crudely placed boards, picking up those that fell under the heavy weight of snow.
Semi-satisfied with the results, she walked a couple of steps back. Ayumu took a deep breath and reached out her dominant hand toward the closest board. Closing her eyes, Ayumu focused on the warm feeling deep inside her core, her "inner flame" as she imagined it as. She imagined a blue flame spreading from her heart towards the hand she was reaching out. The tinkling of warmth followed her train of thoughts and soon, the blue sparks manifested themselves on her palm. Opening her eyes, she focused her aim and the flame she imagined sprung to life.
Free and wild, it bursted out. In her mind, she compared it to an enraged dragon, devouring everything in its path. Yet halfway towards the goal, the flame sizzled out leaving only a melted snow in its wake.
"Why doesn't it work!?" Frustrated, Ayumu stomped her foot on the ground a couple of times. "That happens every single time! What am I supposed to do!? Scream Shazam or something?!" On her last word, an energy burst blasted from her foot, toppling Ayumu on her back.
She looked at the bright blue sky in a daze, unbothered by the melting snow and cold on her back, focused mostly by the ringing in the clear and loud ringing in her ears.
Ayumu groaned, another epic failure. Almost 4 months in and she still had shit control of her powers….or any control at all. Anytime she managed to produce the energy blasts it literally backfires on her. How the hell did any of the warriors have such great control in the anime?! Did all of them go to a special guardian camp? Or are in some sort of special club she has no privy to? Even Wei had better control over his powers than her!
Standing up, Ayumu tried to ignore the ringing in her ears which sounded suspiciously like someone's giggling. With finger digging in her ear, she looked around. With nothing amiss, she decided to check out the traps she previously laid down and trudged back home.
Keiyu raised his brow, clearly unimpressed by the state she came back from her little excursion. Ayumu smiled sheepishly, what a sight she might have made. Clothes covered in wet, muddy patches, rims of her sleeves singed from the failed energy blast.
"Peace?..." she asked, holding out the rabbits she had caught as a meagre smile twitched at poorly hidden snickers resounding behind her temporary "guardian".
"Go take a bath," Keiyu took the rabbits with an exasperated sigh, shaking his head as he proceeded to dismantle the prey. Ayumu grimaced at the sight, never getting over the perceived "grosseness" of the act, despite the years spent learning the deed from her own mother. Her "modern" sensibilities shining through and through, even before she fully remembered.
With a huff she turned her gaze towards the source of previous snickering. Dismissing Juan, sitting by the table, engrossed in his own world consisting of medical plants, she turned to look at the not-so-well hidden form of Wei, hunched at the entrance of the room. His weight supported by the hefty crutches she had made, lessening the strain on his still healing leg. It would take a time before he makes full recovery.
It took some time on all of their part to get Wei comfortable enough with everyone. Not that Ayumu could blame him, taking into consideration the life he might have led before meeting her. The initial two months of their stay at the doctor's household were filled with growls, grunts and snarls from the giant man. Only her presence prevented him from lunging at the doctor. Juan wasn't an exception.
Getting Wei to trust them both was a slow and tedious process, but little by little he reached the point where he could tolerate being in the presence of those two. Ayumu speculated that having a steady flow of food and roof over his head might have helped. Alongside her warnings and glares…Still a progress. Although the sudden semi-attachment to Juan was suspicious. Did Juan used his powers by accident? She could only guess…
Giving Wei an unimpressed stare, she headed out to get herself clean.
"Still no progress, I presume?" Keiyu spoke in the middle of the dinner. The rabbits she hunted earlier became a delicious and filling stew served during the dinner. A typical winter meal. Ayumu paused at the sudden question. The quiet humm around the spoon in her mouth was the only confirmation. Evading the inquiring look the doctor gave her, she turned to Wei and Juan sitting in front of her. The former devouring his meal in an uncouth manner while the latter's attempts at escaping the zone of the splatter. Keiyu and her moved further back without any comments, long used to the mess the giant man made during the meal times. Ayumu resigned herself to once again cleaning his mess, literally speaking.
She lit the candle in her mind for Juan, the epitome of patience and virtue. An unusual case for any other typical 8-years old. Her own brother was a little gremlin at that age, hidden deep,deep behind the gentle mask he wore before their mother. Ayumu would know, she was there when he pulled various mean spirited pranks on the other children….not that she didn't help him though.
"None at all…"Ayumu replied without looking at the doctor. Keiyu hummed, engrossed in his thoughts. Absent-mindedly, Ayumu smacked the hand reaching out for her bowl and continued eating, ignoring the pathetic whimper across from her.
"Have you perhaps heard the legend of Taiitsukun?" Her neck almost snapped at the speed in which she turned her head towards Keiyuu. That's right…Taitsukun. She played a pivotal role in the manga despite her comedy inserts.
"You mean that famous sage?" She asked for a good measure. "The one hidden deep inside the mountains, the great mystic, that Taitsu-blugh-?!" A hand to her face halted her questioning. Ayumu returned from invading Keiyu's personal bubble with a pout.
"Yes, that Taitsukun." Keiyu answered with exasperation. Coughing into his closed fist he continued: "During my research, I have stumbled upon references towards her persona. In accordance with the legend found in Hokkan, she had aided the Priestess of Genbu during her journey."
Everyone in the room pinged with interest, though Ayumu suspected Wei's concern lied for a completely different reason, if the way he eyed the unguarded food bowl had any say in it. Juan leaned in, anticipation clearly written on his face.
"If she was present during the time of Genbu Priestess, wouldn't that mean that she is very, very old then?" Inquired Juan. Keiyu took a sip of his ever present tea,
"Taitsukun may be a being beyond our scope of understanding. We can't compare her to a normal human being, same as we cannot comprehend the entirety of the Four Beast Gods." Keiyu's sombre look went unnoticed by Juan, though Ayumu could somewhat understand the doctor's sentiments. She wondered, if her mother lived, would she also share the doctor's worry for her and Ayuru, despite her religion? Ayumu smiled softly to herself. She knew the answer. Though what else her mother hid from her and Ayuru?
Unfortunately, that's the question she would never have an answer to.
"Slowly push your leg toward your chest. Yes, just like that…and gently put it down." Following Keiyu's instructions, Ayumu kept a gentle touch on Wei's leg for support, making sure he completed his exercises in a proper manner. Neither she or Keiyu wanted the situation where he would pull something by accident.
"You are doing well Wei," Ayumu wiped the sweat from his brows. Wei, unbothered by her action, kept glaring at his leg. Or maybe, she mused, it was a look of concentration. Sometimes it was hard to tell with him.
The sounds of panting and grunts long-since filled the room, Ayumu and Wei were staying. They were simple exercises but for someone with such extensive injury it would be no wonder if they were uncomfortable or even painful, still, they were absolutely pivotal to regain full mobility.
" The leg is healing quite well, I think it is about time we can start putting more weight on it, but…" Keiyu gave Wei a stern look, "Wei must not be too hasty. "
Wei grumbled before looking away.
"Hmmm, from next week onward we could implement squats and calve raises exercises. I believe you would assist him with those, is that right, Ayumu?" She nodded in confirmation.
"Very well, that's going to be all for now. It is no good overstraining yourself. Both of you should rest for now, don't think I haven't seen you working on a salve earlier Ayumu," Keiyu remarked before she could express her objection. Seeing no arguments, the doctor left the room without further adieu.
"That's going well." She remarked to Wei, lying on his side on the bed. A quiet hum was the only indication he was listening to her.
"Hey, don't go all grumpy on me now." She huffed, feelings of annoyance bubbling inside. She gave him a small poke, before her hand was lightly swatted away.
"Rude….Actually,with the rate you are healing right now, you should be fit to go at the beginning of the spring." He turned to look at her, brows still pinched in irritation. Ayumu restrained herself from swatting at him. "Think about it that way, at least now we have stable shelter during the winter time. Konan's winters, while not as harsh as Hokkans, are still more severe than whatever we experience in Kutou. We can actually prepare enough resources for travel…" Ayumu looked away from his gaze, sheepishly and added, "If you still want to travel with me, that's it…"
"Still want…" Ayumu felt relief upon hearing his gruff thought of travelling alone in a foreing country filled her with dread. So far the both of them really lucked out, meeting Keiyu and Juan….but not everyone would be so kind as to lend a helping hand to a total stranger.
"I'm glad" and she really was, after everything she felt a little less alone. "I was wondering, you know? Since both of us are guardians of Seiryuu," though she was mostly a half-baked one at most…
At the mention of Seiryuu, Wei perked up with attention." Did you know about it?" She asked, curious over his reaction.
"Ashitare…the woman called me Ashitare" A woman? Who? "Before she stopped moving, and I was closed.." Closed?
"Ah, the cage and freak show…" She muttered with sudden understanding. Wei gave her a nod. Then the woman he mentioned must have been his mother…" I see, in the end both you and I are not that different…Did…did your moth…did anyone ever explain to you what Seiryuu even is" Ayumu asked with hesitation. Wei just shook his head in an answer.
"You know that mystery powers we had used previously? For example, your transformation and the blue energy I can emit? A deity protecting Kutou has bestowed them upon us, to help protect the people and the priestess. Usually there are seven celestial warriors, but…." Ayumu took a deep breath. Wei kept looking at her, his gaze searching. "You know how that woman called you Ashitare?" At Wei's nod, she continued," The name "Ashitare" represent one of the guardians of the Seiryuu." She pointed her finger at him. " It is you." Surprised filled his gaze, before a silly smile showed up on his face, alongside the saliva. Ayumu didn't want to know what he might have imagined. She snapped her fingers.
"You are Ashitare and you are also Wei. It's the same with me, well, kind of." Placing hand on her chest, Ayumu ignored the questioning look from the man. "I'm one half of''Nakago". The second half is my twin brother. That's why, where other Guardian Deities have seven warriors, Seiryuu has eight in a sense." Ayumu took Wei's hands into her own, she wasn't sure for who's sake she made this gesture.
"Wei, I don't know the reason why it became such. I don't even know how to properly use my powers." She gave his hands a gentle squeeze…"But, there's someone who might know the answer."
Ayumu steeled her resolve and looked deep into Wei's eyes.
"Wei, once you healed, we are going to search for Taitsukun"