Reincarnation
by: oronoda
*Copyright: Yuu Watase owns FY I don't although I wish I did....sniff.
*Note: Okay so Seihitei is Saihitei. I looked it up and silly me and my spelling errors. So I guess I'll go with the correct spelling from now on...sorry for the inconvience.
Chapter 7: The Flame is Rekindled.
Many teachers found that David was a hard student to stuff information into. Some thought that he just lacked motivation. Some thought that he suffered from some learning disorder. Others thought that he was just completely incompetent and totally useless. The truth was, David didn't really care about math or science or history. All he cared about was running. Running being a motif in his mind of just being free from everything, having not to be confined to walls and that of law. Of course David wouldn't put it like that. He would simply say, "Fuck you! I don't care what you say!"
His and Luke's English teacher, Sister Mary Agnes, was an older woman who's years of teaching taught her a thing or two about handling kids. She often appeared bitchy and strict which was due to her experience. However, David reached the conclusion that the years of celibacy just seriously frustrated her thus making her a complete bitch.
Mary Agnes thought David to be a handful, but she believed she could somehow straighten David out. She knew that he wasn't on the path to Satan. Not yet anyway.
It was a normal Tuesday afternoon. Both Luke and David had English last. Luke still didn't have a clue, after Chiriko, where they others could be. On this Tuesday a book report was due and they would discuss the next project which would be in groups.
While the nun was discussing this, David once again got into his old habit of folding his paper into a paper fan. Sister Mary Agnes picked up his paper all wrinkled.
"David, what is this?" she said.
"I got bored with you talking," David explained truthfully.
Sister tried to flatten it as Luke gave her his. It was in perfect condition. The sister said a little bit slyly, "David you could learn a lot from Luke here. The two of you will work together on the next project."
Luke blushed. David turned red with fury, "Why do I have to be with him?"
"Hush now," Sister Mary Agnes said.
"Hush?!" David exclaimed.
"Yes, Hush as in be quiet," Luke whispered to David next to him.
"I wasn't talking to you!" David yelled back.
"David you will work with Luke," Sister said. "Or you will come here every saturday from 6 to 6 do manual labor and organize all the hymnals."
David's eyes grew wide. Sister smiled, "I thought so." She continued down the aisle picking up the other students' book report. After this, Sister said that everyone should get into their groups to discuss what should be done.
Luke turned to David, "So...."
"So...you are going to end up doing it all," David said non-chalantly placing his hands behind his head. "I can't afford to get another F and I got track and karate."
Luke sweatdrops, "Stop being so lazy, no da." He covered his mouth. David eyed him weird.
"I swear, your brother is so normal....what happened to you?" he said.
Luke just sighed, "Its better than being someone who's one talent is running, just running, no da," He smiled a little.
"I can fight as well!" David defended.
Luke shrugged his shoulders, "But you really should help with the project, no da."
"WOULD YOU STOP SAYING THAT!?!"
That turned heads, each head with its own sweatdrop.
"You are the one drawing attention, no da," Luke said quietly to David, who turned bright red and tried to look all normal.
"Okay!" David exclaimed. He took out his notebook and flipped threw it. Luke couldn't help but notice that many of the pages, although not filled with notes, was more filled with pictures of fire. A few more pages fell out, a majority of them all folded and crinkly from his stupid fans.
Then it hit Luke so hard, Luke nearly fell over in stupidity, "I can't believe I didn't see it before!" he thought. "David is TASUKI."
It all made sense; his attitude, his obsession with fire, the fact that he was always annoyed with Luke. It all pointed to Tasuki. The habit of the fan was obvious, Tasuki's favorite possession and weapon was a Tessen or an iron fan that omitted fire when the encantation, "Rekka Shenin" was uttered. His running made sense for Tasuki's power was indeed speed.
David was annoyed with Luke was because Chichiri often teased Tasuki. It was basically because Chichiri liked to smack Tasuki into line. It was the battle between the most mature one and the most immature one. The two balanced each other out, especially when they were the only ones left. Also, Chichiri was very wise and witty, Tasuki was somewhat brash and impulsive and his comebacks usually consisted of, "Shut up!" and some childish name calling.
David and Brian being close also had great significance. Chiriko and Tasuki, although also complete opposites, were like brothers. The two were very close. When Chiriko was dying, he begged Tasuki to finish him. Tasuki couldn't. He broke down a cried.
Before Luke could think anymore, the bell rang. He told David, "Are you doing anything? Cuz we could go to the library."
David, gathering up his things, a little bit pissed just shrugged his shoulders. Without saying a word, the two headed to the library. While there, Chichiri brought up the question.
"David, this is going to sound weird..."
"Everything that comes out of your mouth is weird," David said
Luke laughed, "That was actually very witty for you, Tasuki."
David was caught off gaurd, "Tasuki? Why did you call me that?"
"Because that is your name, no da."
"Um...not really...it's David."
"Yes it is."
"Is not!"
"Yes it is."
"Is not!"
Luke sighed. "What do you think of past lives?"
David gave Luke a strange look, "I'm Catholic. We don't believe in past lives."
"They exist. And I knew you in a past life. We were co-workers, warriors chosen by the god to protect the country..."
"The United States?"
"No! Konan. A world that doesn't exist on this plane."
"You need help..." David then, got to his feet and proceeded out the door. Luke was ready for this and casted the binding spell. David struggled but couldn't move.
Luke, still maintaining consentration, approached David smiling.
David said uneasy, "Luke, are you...."
"Yes I am, Tasuki, no da," was Chichiri's reply.
David sweatdropped, "Could you..."
Luke let go and David jerked forward.
"How did you do that?!"
"It is my power from Suzaku, from my old life," Luke said.
David laughed skeptically, "Okay, and you are saying I have similar powers? I'm sorry I am just some normal everyday junior high student."
"Your powers are from the same source," Luke explained. "Just different in nature, no da."
David snickered again, "How come I don't seem to have any powers?"
"That is because you haven't recovered your memory," Luke said.
David took a step backwards towards the door. He was beginning to feel uneasy, "I think you have the wrong person..."
Luke rolled his eyes, "You tried to use that excuse before. But we don't have much time. You are popularly known as Genrou by your bandit friends. You star name is Tasuki and your symbol is the wing."
"No, seriously, what makes you think that I am the right guy?"
"All signs point to it, no da," Luke explained, "Your love for fire. Your habit of folding paper fans."
"They aren't fans, they are accordians! Fans are something girls would do," David said his voice cracking nervously.
"...your stretched out cootie phase," Luke grinned. "Your attitude, were things all in your past life."
"So?"
"And why do you think you like track so much?"
"Why do I like track? Because I hit someone with a baseball bat when in little league!"
"Okay that could be true," Chichiri said. "But I bet I know something that most people don't know."
In a mocking fashion, David said, "And what is that?"
"You are afraid of water," Luke said a matter-of-factly.
A gong seemed to go off for a brief second while David looked totally shocked. However he shook it off, "I am not..."
"Prove it."
The gong got louder. Once again David shook it off, "I don't have to prove anything."
"I'm serious," Luke said. "My family has a boat in the harbor. If you can go out in it without panicking, I won't talk to you ever again, no da."
David was still hesitant. However, he tried to make it seem that he was just thinking it was all stupid.
"If you aren't afraid of water, why are you so scared?" Luke reasoned.
The metaphorical gong got louder. David knew that Luke, had once again, out-witted him.
*********************************************************************
Luke and David walked, barely talking to each other, to the harbor. When, the harbor was in plain view, Luke noticed David tense up.
"If you want to turn back, Tasuki," Chichiri said noticing how tense David already was.
"Don't call me that," David said. "Lets just get on the damn boat and have you committed."
Luke grinned a little uneasily. "Okay our boat is that motor boat called 'Emily'."
David shrugged and walked over to the boat. Luke noticed how he didn't look directly at the water but rather up. After both are in, David sat down on the side and was tenser than a wooden board. Luke went to untie the boat to the deck.
"Are you sure you want to continue?" Luke asked.
"YES!" David said a little bit more shaky then he would have liked it to be.
Luke shrugged his shoulders and pushed off. Afterwards, Luke enjoyed the salt air in his face and occassionally looked at David as they continued to float out to sea. David's face was now getting pretty pale and he was beginning to sweat. Luke figured he was holding out pretty well but had a feeling he would snap at any moment.
Soon, the harbor was at a great distance. All that was around was water on all sides. There was a boat about 100 feet away from Luke's boat. Luke knew who it was. It was some kid named Patrick who Luke figured to be homeschooled. He often went out on the boat and went fishing when Luke was, with three dogs, a golden retriever, a labrador, and a skipperkee. Sometimes Patrick was with his mom and dad, sometimes just his dad, sometimes alone. Right now he was alone and he gave Luke a holler. Luke hollered back.
"Okay you can turn around now," David said smiling uneasily.
"Why?" Luke said baiting a fish hook. "You aren't afraid..."
"N.....YES I AM!" David fell to his knees shaking. He was in the middle of a panic attack. "TURN AROUND RIGHT NOW GODDAMNIT!!!"
David had a flashback to when he was 5 when his mom and dad took him to the ocean on a boat. He had panicked and lashed out. Since then he never went anywhere near large bodies of water.
Luke was surprised by David's harsh words. "Then I guess that would make you Tasuki then."
This was the wrong thing to say. David got to his feet just as a big wave came. David lost his balance and fell into the water. Luke reached out his hand but he was too late. David fell into the water head first. Luke tried to strain himself to see where David had fallen. He couldn't see anything. Then, to his horror he heard a sickening thud from below the boat. Luke, taking a paddle tried to push in the opposite direction he though David could be floating, screaming, "Help! Somebody!" He heard a splash behind him. He turned around to see that Patrick had jumped into the water followed by his golden retriever. Patrick made his way behind the boat. Dived under for a quick second then popped up. Panting, a bit stressed, he said, "I see him." and dived down.
***********************************************************************
David, was uncounciously floating to the bottom of the ocean with a big bump on his head. His mind however, began to fill with some strange imagery. He was in an atmosphere much like ancient China. It was very stormy outside. He was a different person in a different time. He was looking towards an incrediably stormy swollen river. A blue-haired monk was in front of him holding a barrier over the rapid water.
"Hurry! I cannot hold too much longer, no da!" the monk said.
David felt himself picking up a sand back and passing it up to an already starting pile. On top of the pile stood a beautiful woman, who was dressed in men's clothing. David was very attracted to her. And if you took away the stress in her eyes, you could tell she felt the same way about him. He handed the sand bag to her and she quickly placed it on top. David felt himself turn to get another. This continued for a bit when suddenly he heard a "DAAA! Spell's broken, no da!" David saw the sand bags about to fall over. He did not have to be told to run. He ran almost faster than the wind to higher ground. When he stopped, he noticed the kanji of "wing" glowing on his right wrist.
He looked over at the river as it began to engulf parts of the village they were trying to save. His heart dropped to his feet. He heard a female voice scream, "Tasuki-kun!"
"I'm comin' Yu'li!" he screamed and in an instant he was back at the swollen water's edge. However, Yu'Li, the girl from before, was already being swept into the current. Being rather impulsive, he jumped into the river immediately being swept away. He tried to get closer to his loved one. He grabbed onto Yu'li and tried to keep her above water. Unfortunately Tasuki could no swim. He was normally afraid of water. He just loved Yu'li so much. The water was soon all he saw. Yu'li was sort of using him like a human raft so she was safe, however, Genrou was not safe. Water began to pour into his lungs and he could no longer breathe. The lack of oxygen caused him to black out.
He felt himself floating in the blackness. He was just a soul without a body. The blackness lifted. It was at the edge of a river bank and the sun was peeking behind the clouds. He looked down and saw his own body, his head on the lap of his beloved. He had bright red hair and a bit of wolfish appearence to himself. His body looked water logged and white as paste.
Yu'Li was in hystarics, "Tasuki-kun!? Why?!" She screamed. The blue-haired monk approached the scene. He removed his mask which revealed a scar across his left eye. The right eye had tears coming from them. He covered both his eyes with hands and bent down to one knee. The two alive mourned for the passing of Tasuki.
Tasuki was sad for his own passing. He had saved the only girl he had ever cared about, besides Miaka. However, with Yu'li the feelings were mutual. He laughed to himself, partly to stop hurting, "This always happens when I mess with girls."
**********************************************************************
Patrick had pulled David up onto the boat and proceeded to check for the vital signs. Luke did not know this but Patrick was a lifegaurd at a local resort.
"He still has a pulse, he is just not breathing," Patrick said. He proceeded to do mouth to mouth.
Oh no, Chichiri thought. I killed Tasuki. His soul will be stuck in this plane and by the time I track it down again it would be too late.
Suddenly, David jerked forward and water came out of his mouth in a spit. David was up and coughed over and over again panting.
"Are you okay?" Luke asked.
David didn't answer. He was rather embarressed.
"You almost died," Patrick said. "And that bump on your head is pretty bad. I suggest, as a liscensed lifegaurd, that you go to the hospital."
David did feel a little dizzy and his head throbbed. However, he snapped, "I don't need any doctor! Just drive me back now!"
Luke, a little bit counserned did as he was told. Patrick jumped off the boat after saying good bye and swam to his boat. Luke handed David a towel and David just covered himself in it and curled into a ball on the bottom of the boat. He did not want to sit up and see the ocean. And there was no sense in trying to act all brave. Luke now knew he had chickened out. And for some weird reason, David felt very sad. He had no idea why. A few tears escaped his eyes, then more, soon he was crying softly.
Luke chose not to speak. He was now convinced that David was Tasuki it was just Tasuki was awfully stubborn. He was usually someone who fought and fought when it came to acceptance. Such as, even though he and Tamahome were close, Tasuki found it extremely difficult to forgive Tamahome for kicking his ass. He was known to hold a grudge. He was just going to have to wait and see if he could find everyone else.
He headed back to the harbor feeling rather upset with himself of what he put David through. He looked straight ahead most of the time. Occassionally he would look back at the heap on the floor who he could hear crying. Soon they reached the harbor and Luke tied the family boat to the dock.
"Okay, David, we're on land. I am very sorry," said Luke and he was genuinely sorry. "I didn't think you would get hurt."
David whiped his eyes and got to his feet a bit shakily. He was a bit dizzy from the bump. Careful not to look at the water, he got out of the boat. Luke offered to help him but he wouldn't take it.
Luke was concerned that David wasn't going to make it home. So he ended up following him invisable to make sure he didn't fall over and hurt himself. There were a few close calls but he made it to the lower middle class section of town into a bunch of apartment houses. Luke made sure that David made it into his apartment alright and then turned to go to his house.
David entered his place of residence to see his father, rather drunk watching TV, like always. He was ever since David's mother left four years earlier. His father was just a lazy drunk, all depressed. He saw David walk in sort of staggering.
"What happened to you?"
David answered, "Just sort of bumped my head...thats all. And someone squirted me with a hose."
"You weren't fighting again were you? I don't want to get another phone call."
"You won't," David said.
**********************************************************************
That night, David had a rough night. It was a combination of his hurt head and some very strange dreams...
The first one involved a dream in which he was much younger. About 5 girls all older than him were giving him a hard time. And when his mother, a rather large breasted woman, came in he somehow got blamed. He screamed, "I HATE GIRLS!"
David woke up after that dream. It was rather weird. He fell asleep again, and he dreamed himself about his own age, in the dead of night gathering things into a sack. Next, he sneaked out of his house and headed toward the mountain. That caused him to wake up again.
"What strange dreams these are," David thought. He fell asleep again.
The next dream involved getting an iron fan from an dying bandit. We he hollared, "Rekka Shenin!" fire would come out of it. For some reason, David woke up again. It was like his subconcious and councious were having a war for control. Or his counciousness didn't want him to know something.
David forced himself to sleep again. The next dream involved him rescuing a rather odd girl from the clutches of Eiken, a fellow bandit who took his position while away. This girl was looking for someone named Tasuki and offered to help Genrou get his position back as the leader of the bandits. After a very odd fight, Genrou got his former position. The girl, Miaka Yuuki, introduced herself to be the Suzaku No Miko. David or rather Genrou knew that he was the one Tasuki but he didn't want to leave his home so he told them he was dead. However, after seeing them off to Northern Konan to a dangerous area, Tasuki decided to follow them. He helped them tourch zombies and saved them. He was then welcomed into the group.
David woke up this time and it was ready for school. His head felt a little bit better and he had a track meet today that he needed to go to. So he shook off his strange dreams and got ready for school.
***********************************************************************
Nothing happened in school that was interesting. Luke didn't talk to him much. He was still feeling bad. David's head still hurt and he keep on getting images in his head when he is Tasuki. He began to wonder if Luke was actually sane despite what he thought before. He shook it off. His excuse was, he was being open to suggestion. Luke suggested that he was Tasuki and his brain was filling in the blanks.
His head was getting better and by the afternoon it was almost all gone. At the track meet, he was warming up to go. While warming up, a rush of memories seem to come flooding back. Everything from calling on Suzaku the first time (or trying to) to finally summoning suzaku later. David thought to himself, I am Tasuki. His David side said, that he better stop it or he is going to be diagnosed sckizophrenic or multiple personalities. Besides, David reasoned, Tasuki had powers you don't.
He coach called for David to get at the starting point. He did as he was told and took a deep breath. The Tasuki voice in his head told him to wake up and face reality. David tried to shake it off. The rifle went off with a bang. David took off easily taking an easy lead. Then, his wrist started itch. There was a strange feeling there. Suddenly, he felt himself move faster and faster. He never have been this fast. Everything seemed to blur. His feet were on fire. Hell, he was running on air. He heard intense cheering from the the stands. And before he knew it, he crossed the finish line. He didn't even feel that winded. People crowded him. He heard people mutter that he broke a world record. David's wrist was bothering him. He looked down and on his wrist. To his shock, it was the kanji symbol for wing. In his head he heard, "How's that for proof."
David, now Tasuki, knew he had to get to Luke's house like now. The crowd was thick so he figured he could squeeze through. He did and when on the road he made a break for it. His new found speed brought him where he wanted to go rather quickly.
"Genrou is back in action," he thought with a grin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I thought that chapter would never end. I thought it was gonna be fun but it was somewhat tedious. I think the reason is because I wanted to try to keep true to both Tasuki and Chichiri ^_^.
by: oronoda
*Copyright: Yuu Watase owns FY I don't although I wish I did....sniff.
*Note: Okay so Seihitei is Saihitei. I looked it up and silly me and my spelling errors. So I guess I'll go with the correct spelling from now on...sorry for the inconvience.
Chapter 7: The Flame is Rekindled.
Many teachers found that David was a hard student to stuff information into. Some thought that he just lacked motivation. Some thought that he suffered from some learning disorder. Others thought that he was just completely incompetent and totally useless. The truth was, David didn't really care about math or science or history. All he cared about was running. Running being a motif in his mind of just being free from everything, having not to be confined to walls and that of law. Of course David wouldn't put it like that. He would simply say, "Fuck you! I don't care what you say!"
His and Luke's English teacher, Sister Mary Agnes, was an older woman who's years of teaching taught her a thing or two about handling kids. She often appeared bitchy and strict which was due to her experience. However, David reached the conclusion that the years of celibacy just seriously frustrated her thus making her a complete bitch.
Mary Agnes thought David to be a handful, but she believed she could somehow straighten David out. She knew that he wasn't on the path to Satan. Not yet anyway.
It was a normal Tuesday afternoon. Both Luke and David had English last. Luke still didn't have a clue, after Chiriko, where they others could be. On this Tuesday a book report was due and they would discuss the next project which would be in groups.
While the nun was discussing this, David once again got into his old habit of folding his paper into a paper fan. Sister Mary Agnes picked up his paper all wrinkled.
"David, what is this?" she said.
"I got bored with you talking," David explained truthfully.
Sister tried to flatten it as Luke gave her his. It was in perfect condition. The sister said a little bit slyly, "David you could learn a lot from Luke here. The two of you will work together on the next project."
Luke blushed. David turned red with fury, "Why do I have to be with him?"
"Hush now," Sister Mary Agnes said.
"Hush?!" David exclaimed.
"Yes, Hush as in be quiet," Luke whispered to David next to him.
"I wasn't talking to you!" David yelled back.
"David you will work with Luke," Sister said. "Or you will come here every saturday from 6 to 6 do manual labor and organize all the hymnals."
David's eyes grew wide. Sister smiled, "I thought so." She continued down the aisle picking up the other students' book report. After this, Sister said that everyone should get into their groups to discuss what should be done.
Luke turned to David, "So...."
"So...you are going to end up doing it all," David said non-chalantly placing his hands behind his head. "I can't afford to get another F and I got track and karate."
Luke sweatdrops, "Stop being so lazy, no da." He covered his mouth. David eyed him weird.
"I swear, your brother is so normal....what happened to you?" he said.
Luke just sighed, "Its better than being someone who's one talent is running, just running, no da," He smiled a little.
"I can fight as well!" David defended.
Luke shrugged his shoulders, "But you really should help with the project, no da."
"WOULD YOU STOP SAYING THAT!?!"
That turned heads, each head with its own sweatdrop.
"You are the one drawing attention, no da," Luke said quietly to David, who turned bright red and tried to look all normal.
"Okay!" David exclaimed. He took out his notebook and flipped threw it. Luke couldn't help but notice that many of the pages, although not filled with notes, was more filled with pictures of fire. A few more pages fell out, a majority of them all folded and crinkly from his stupid fans.
Then it hit Luke so hard, Luke nearly fell over in stupidity, "I can't believe I didn't see it before!" he thought. "David is TASUKI."
It all made sense; his attitude, his obsession with fire, the fact that he was always annoyed with Luke. It all pointed to Tasuki. The habit of the fan was obvious, Tasuki's favorite possession and weapon was a Tessen or an iron fan that omitted fire when the encantation, "Rekka Shenin" was uttered. His running made sense for Tasuki's power was indeed speed.
David was annoyed with Luke was because Chichiri often teased Tasuki. It was basically because Chichiri liked to smack Tasuki into line. It was the battle between the most mature one and the most immature one. The two balanced each other out, especially when they were the only ones left. Also, Chichiri was very wise and witty, Tasuki was somewhat brash and impulsive and his comebacks usually consisted of, "Shut up!" and some childish name calling.
David and Brian being close also had great significance. Chiriko and Tasuki, although also complete opposites, were like brothers. The two were very close. When Chiriko was dying, he begged Tasuki to finish him. Tasuki couldn't. He broke down a cried.
Before Luke could think anymore, the bell rang. He told David, "Are you doing anything? Cuz we could go to the library."
David, gathering up his things, a little bit pissed just shrugged his shoulders. Without saying a word, the two headed to the library. While there, Chichiri brought up the question.
"David, this is going to sound weird..."
"Everything that comes out of your mouth is weird," David said
Luke laughed, "That was actually very witty for you, Tasuki."
David was caught off gaurd, "Tasuki? Why did you call me that?"
"Because that is your name, no da."
"Um...not really...it's David."
"Yes it is."
"Is not!"
"Yes it is."
"Is not!"
Luke sighed. "What do you think of past lives?"
David gave Luke a strange look, "I'm Catholic. We don't believe in past lives."
"They exist. And I knew you in a past life. We were co-workers, warriors chosen by the god to protect the country..."
"The United States?"
"No! Konan. A world that doesn't exist on this plane."
"You need help..." David then, got to his feet and proceeded out the door. Luke was ready for this and casted the binding spell. David struggled but couldn't move.
Luke, still maintaining consentration, approached David smiling.
David said uneasy, "Luke, are you...."
"Yes I am, Tasuki, no da," was Chichiri's reply.
David sweatdropped, "Could you..."
Luke let go and David jerked forward.
"How did you do that?!"
"It is my power from Suzaku, from my old life," Luke said.
David laughed skeptically, "Okay, and you are saying I have similar powers? I'm sorry I am just some normal everyday junior high student."
"Your powers are from the same source," Luke explained. "Just different in nature, no da."
David snickered again, "How come I don't seem to have any powers?"
"That is because you haven't recovered your memory," Luke said.
David took a step backwards towards the door. He was beginning to feel uneasy, "I think you have the wrong person..."
Luke rolled his eyes, "You tried to use that excuse before. But we don't have much time. You are popularly known as Genrou by your bandit friends. You star name is Tasuki and your symbol is the wing."
"No, seriously, what makes you think that I am the right guy?"
"All signs point to it, no da," Luke explained, "Your love for fire. Your habit of folding paper fans."
"They aren't fans, they are accordians! Fans are something girls would do," David said his voice cracking nervously.
"...your stretched out cootie phase," Luke grinned. "Your attitude, were things all in your past life."
"So?"
"And why do you think you like track so much?"
"Why do I like track? Because I hit someone with a baseball bat when in little league!"
"Okay that could be true," Chichiri said. "But I bet I know something that most people don't know."
In a mocking fashion, David said, "And what is that?"
"You are afraid of water," Luke said a matter-of-factly.
A gong seemed to go off for a brief second while David looked totally shocked. However he shook it off, "I am not..."
"Prove it."
The gong got louder. Once again David shook it off, "I don't have to prove anything."
"I'm serious," Luke said. "My family has a boat in the harbor. If you can go out in it without panicking, I won't talk to you ever again, no da."
David was still hesitant. However, he tried to make it seem that he was just thinking it was all stupid.
"If you aren't afraid of water, why are you so scared?" Luke reasoned.
The metaphorical gong got louder. David knew that Luke, had once again, out-witted him.
*********************************************************************
Luke and David walked, barely talking to each other, to the harbor. When, the harbor was in plain view, Luke noticed David tense up.
"If you want to turn back, Tasuki," Chichiri said noticing how tense David already was.
"Don't call me that," David said. "Lets just get on the damn boat and have you committed."
Luke grinned a little uneasily. "Okay our boat is that motor boat called 'Emily'."
David shrugged and walked over to the boat. Luke noticed how he didn't look directly at the water but rather up. After both are in, David sat down on the side and was tenser than a wooden board. Luke went to untie the boat to the deck.
"Are you sure you want to continue?" Luke asked.
"YES!" David said a little bit more shaky then he would have liked it to be.
Luke shrugged his shoulders and pushed off. Afterwards, Luke enjoyed the salt air in his face and occassionally looked at David as they continued to float out to sea. David's face was now getting pretty pale and he was beginning to sweat. Luke figured he was holding out pretty well but had a feeling he would snap at any moment.
Soon, the harbor was at a great distance. All that was around was water on all sides. There was a boat about 100 feet away from Luke's boat. Luke knew who it was. It was some kid named Patrick who Luke figured to be homeschooled. He often went out on the boat and went fishing when Luke was, with three dogs, a golden retriever, a labrador, and a skipperkee. Sometimes Patrick was with his mom and dad, sometimes just his dad, sometimes alone. Right now he was alone and he gave Luke a holler. Luke hollered back.
"Okay you can turn around now," David said smiling uneasily.
"Why?" Luke said baiting a fish hook. "You aren't afraid..."
"N.....YES I AM!" David fell to his knees shaking. He was in the middle of a panic attack. "TURN AROUND RIGHT NOW GODDAMNIT!!!"
David had a flashback to when he was 5 when his mom and dad took him to the ocean on a boat. He had panicked and lashed out. Since then he never went anywhere near large bodies of water.
Luke was surprised by David's harsh words. "Then I guess that would make you Tasuki then."
This was the wrong thing to say. David got to his feet just as a big wave came. David lost his balance and fell into the water. Luke reached out his hand but he was too late. David fell into the water head first. Luke tried to strain himself to see where David had fallen. He couldn't see anything. Then, to his horror he heard a sickening thud from below the boat. Luke, taking a paddle tried to push in the opposite direction he though David could be floating, screaming, "Help! Somebody!" He heard a splash behind him. He turned around to see that Patrick had jumped into the water followed by his golden retriever. Patrick made his way behind the boat. Dived under for a quick second then popped up. Panting, a bit stressed, he said, "I see him." and dived down.
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David, was uncounciously floating to the bottom of the ocean with a big bump on his head. His mind however, began to fill with some strange imagery. He was in an atmosphere much like ancient China. It was very stormy outside. He was a different person in a different time. He was looking towards an incrediably stormy swollen river. A blue-haired monk was in front of him holding a barrier over the rapid water.
"Hurry! I cannot hold too much longer, no da!" the monk said.
David felt himself picking up a sand back and passing it up to an already starting pile. On top of the pile stood a beautiful woman, who was dressed in men's clothing. David was very attracted to her. And if you took away the stress in her eyes, you could tell she felt the same way about him. He handed the sand bag to her and she quickly placed it on top. David felt himself turn to get another. This continued for a bit when suddenly he heard a "DAAA! Spell's broken, no da!" David saw the sand bags about to fall over. He did not have to be told to run. He ran almost faster than the wind to higher ground. When he stopped, he noticed the kanji of "wing" glowing on his right wrist.
He looked over at the river as it began to engulf parts of the village they were trying to save. His heart dropped to his feet. He heard a female voice scream, "Tasuki-kun!"
"I'm comin' Yu'li!" he screamed and in an instant he was back at the swollen water's edge. However, Yu'Li, the girl from before, was already being swept into the current. Being rather impulsive, he jumped into the river immediately being swept away. He tried to get closer to his loved one. He grabbed onto Yu'li and tried to keep her above water. Unfortunately Tasuki could no swim. He was normally afraid of water. He just loved Yu'li so much. The water was soon all he saw. Yu'li was sort of using him like a human raft so she was safe, however, Genrou was not safe. Water began to pour into his lungs and he could no longer breathe. The lack of oxygen caused him to black out.
He felt himself floating in the blackness. He was just a soul without a body. The blackness lifted. It was at the edge of a river bank and the sun was peeking behind the clouds. He looked down and saw his own body, his head on the lap of his beloved. He had bright red hair and a bit of wolfish appearence to himself. His body looked water logged and white as paste.
Yu'Li was in hystarics, "Tasuki-kun!? Why?!" She screamed. The blue-haired monk approached the scene. He removed his mask which revealed a scar across his left eye. The right eye had tears coming from them. He covered both his eyes with hands and bent down to one knee. The two alive mourned for the passing of Tasuki.
Tasuki was sad for his own passing. He had saved the only girl he had ever cared about, besides Miaka. However, with Yu'li the feelings were mutual. He laughed to himself, partly to stop hurting, "This always happens when I mess with girls."
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Patrick had pulled David up onto the boat and proceeded to check for the vital signs. Luke did not know this but Patrick was a lifegaurd at a local resort.
"He still has a pulse, he is just not breathing," Patrick said. He proceeded to do mouth to mouth.
Oh no, Chichiri thought. I killed Tasuki. His soul will be stuck in this plane and by the time I track it down again it would be too late.
Suddenly, David jerked forward and water came out of his mouth in a spit. David was up and coughed over and over again panting.
"Are you okay?" Luke asked.
David didn't answer. He was rather embarressed.
"You almost died," Patrick said. "And that bump on your head is pretty bad. I suggest, as a liscensed lifegaurd, that you go to the hospital."
David did feel a little dizzy and his head throbbed. However, he snapped, "I don't need any doctor! Just drive me back now!"
Luke, a little bit counserned did as he was told. Patrick jumped off the boat after saying good bye and swam to his boat. Luke handed David a towel and David just covered himself in it and curled into a ball on the bottom of the boat. He did not want to sit up and see the ocean. And there was no sense in trying to act all brave. Luke now knew he had chickened out. And for some weird reason, David felt very sad. He had no idea why. A few tears escaped his eyes, then more, soon he was crying softly.
Luke chose not to speak. He was now convinced that David was Tasuki it was just Tasuki was awfully stubborn. He was usually someone who fought and fought when it came to acceptance. Such as, even though he and Tamahome were close, Tasuki found it extremely difficult to forgive Tamahome for kicking his ass. He was known to hold a grudge. He was just going to have to wait and see if he could find everyone else.
He headed back to the harbor feeling rather upset with himself of what he put David through. He looked straight ahead most of the time. Occassionally he would look back at the heap on the floor who he could hear crying. Soon they reached the harbor and Luke tied the family boat to the dock.
"Okay, David, we're on land. I am very sorry," said Luke and he was genuinely sorry. "I didn't think you would get hurt."
David whiped his eyes and got to his feet a bit shakily. He was a bit dizzy from the bump. Careful not to look at the water, he got out of the boat. Luke offered to help him but he wouldn't take it.
Luke was concerned that David wasn't going to make it home. So he ended up following him invisable to make sure he didn't fall over and hurt himself. There were a few close calls but he made it to the lower middle class section of town into a bunch of apartment houses. Luke made sure that David made it into his apartment alright and then turned to go to his house.
David entered his place of residence to see his father, rather drunk watching TV, like always. He was ever since David's mother left four years earlier. His father was just a lazy drunk, all depressed. He saw David walk in sort of staggering.
"What happened to you?"
David answered, "Just sort of bumped my head...thats all. And someone squirted me with a hose."
"You weren't fighting again were you? I don't want to get another phone call."
"You won't," David said.
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That night, David had a rough night. It was a combination of his hurt head and some very strange dreams...
The first one involved a dream in which he was much younger. About 5 girls all older than him were giving him a hard time. And when his mother, a rather large breasted woman, came in he somehow got blamed. He screamed, "I HATE GIRLS!"
David woke up after that dream. It was rather weird. He fell asleep again, and he dreamed himself about his own age, in the dead of night gathering things into a sack. Next, he sneaked out of his house and headed toward the mountain. That caused him to wake up again.
"What strange dreams these are," David thought. He fell asleep again.
The next dream involved getting an iron fan from an dying bandit. We he hollared, "Rekka Shenin!" fire would come out of it. For some reason, David woke up again. It was like his subconcious and councious were having a war for control. Or his counciousness didn't want him to know something.
David forced himself to sleep again. The next dream involved him rescuing a rather odd girl from the clutches of Eiken, a fellow bandit who took his position while away. This girl was looking for someone named Tasuki and offered to help Genrou get his position back as the leader of the bandits. After a very odd fight, Genrou got his former position. The girl, Miaka Yuuki, introduced herself to be the Suzaku No Miko. David or rather Genrou knew that he was the one Tasuki but he didn't want to leave his home so he told them he was dead. However, after seeing them off to Northern Konan to a dangerous area, Tasuki decided to follow them. He helped them tourch zombies and saved them. He was then welcomed into the group.
David woke up this time and it was ready for school. His head felt a little bit better and he had a track meet today that he needed to go to. So he shook off his strange dreams and got ready for school.
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Nothing happened in school that was interesting. Luke didn't talk to him much. He was still feeling bad. David's head still hurt and he keep on getting images in his head when he is Tasuki. He began to wonder if Luke was actually sane despite what he thought before. He shook it off. His excuse was, he was being open to suggestion. Luke suggested that he was Tasuki and his brain was filling in the blanks.
His head was getting better and by the afternoon it was almost all gone. At the track meet, he was warming up to go. While warming up, a rush of memories seem to come flooding back. Everything from calling on Suzaku the first time (or trying to) to finally summoning suzaku later. David thought to himself, I am Tasuki. His David side said, that he better stop it or he is going to be diagnosed sckizophrenic or multiple personalities. Besides, David reasoned, Tasuki had powers you don't.
He coach called for David to get at the starting point. He did as he was told and took a deep breath. The Tasuki voice in his head told him to wake up and face reality. David tried to shake it off. The rifle went off with a bang. David took off easily taking an easy lead. Then, his wrist started itch. There was a strange feeling there. Suddenly, he felt himself move faster and faster. He never have been this fast. Everything seemed to blur. His feet were on fire. Hell, he was running on air. He heard intense cheering from the the stands. And before he knew it, he crossed the finish line. He didn't even feel that winded. People crowded him. He heard people mutter that he broke a world record. David's wrist was bothering him. He looked down and on his wrist. To his shock, it was the kanji symbol for wing. In his head he heard, "How's that for proof."
David, now Tasuki, knew he had to get to Luke's house like now. The crowd was thick so he figured he could squeeze through. He did and when on the road he made a break for it. His new found speed brought him where he wanted to go rather quickly.
"Genrou is back in action," he thought with a grin.
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I thought that chapter would never end. I thought it was gonna be fun but it was somewhat tedious. I think the reason is because I wanted to try to keep true to both Tasuki and Chichiri ^_^.