Fushigi Yuugi: The Next Generation - Part 16

Disclaimer: Yuu Watase owns Fushigi Yuugi. I own all the new characters. Do not steal. I know that there's a lot of them, and I shouldn't care, but I do.

Author's Note: We are now checking in with the Northern Empire of Hokkan. The Genbu group now takes center stage. Next time we'll be back in Konan with the favorite Suzaku group.

"YOU ARE BY FAR THE MOST STUPID WOMAN I HAVE EVER MEET!" bellowed Kokoro at the top of his lungs. Yoko was just looking at him. Yogensha and Seizonsha were superdeformed, and looking at the two of them. Yoko is sweatdropped.

"I didn't know it was yours," said Yoko in a small voice. She was talking about his sword.

"ARE YOU BLIND? THIS MARK MEANS IT'S MY SWORD!" exclaimed Kokoro.

Yogensha and Seizonsha had tried earlier to stop them, but they caught on fast that Kokoro didn't like being corrected. So, they wisely stayed out of the arguments that Kokoro and Yoko were always having. It was really annoying, but Yoko just bothered Kokoro so much. It was the little things she kept doing.

"The snow is coming down awful hard," said Seizonsha.

"Yes. We have to find some shelter. We can't possible pitch up tents in a snow storm like this," agreed Yogensha.

The two of them ignored Yoko and Kokoro's arguing. They looked around, but they couldn't see almost ten feet in front of them. The snow was coming down harder. Seizonsha was dressed warm enough, so was Kokoro. Yogensha and Yoko had underestimated how cold it was going to be.

"Look over there. I think I see some light," said Kokoro.

"I see it, too," chimed in Yoko.

"Let's head over there. Maybe we'll be allowed to stay there for the evening," said Yogensha.

The four of them made their way to the light source. What they found was a temple. Actually a monastery. It was large and very old. There was a monk at the pair of iron doors. He stopped them.

"I am sorry. This is one of the temples of Genbu. It's dedicated to the Genbu no Miko and her seishi. Only men may enter, but the woman must remain outside," instructed the monk.

"But, she's the new Genbu no Miko," stepped in Seizonsha.

"There is no new Genbu no Miko. She summoned Genbu more than two hundred years ago," disagreed the monk.

"Please believe us," implored Yogensha quietly. He glowed the kanji on his head. Seizonsha pulled his outer robes out a little bit, and glowed his kanji. Kokoro should his kanji on the top of his hand. The monk's eyes widened. He called that the doors should be opened. When the doors opened, the four of them saw an army of monks on the ground bowing to all of them.

"Hi everyone!" greeted Yoko happily with a wave.

"Shut up!" ordered Kokoro.

"Don't tell me to shut up," mumbled Yoko to him. They were now locked in a staring contest. The other two seishi were superdeformed. The monks had sweatdrops. Kokoro and Yoko were having another fight.

"Welcome to our humble monastery, Genbu no Miko. We have been waiting for you to come. We know what is happening to our world. Please forgive us," begged one of the monks humbly.

"Sure. Of course, I forgive you," said Yoko.

"Thank you for your kindness," bowed the monk.

The group was allowed to stay the night. One of the monks was quietly observing them. Yogensha noticed him. He focused his chi, and his eyes widened. That monk was a seishi. Yogensha stood up and walked over to the monk.

"Hello, my name is Yogensha," said Yogensha with a smile.

"My name is Shi Tanfu. I have been a monk for the past three years," informed the monk. He seemed younger than most of the monks there. He looked about Yogensha's age. His head was shaved and his eyes were green. On the top of his forehead was a forest green dot. He had a serene air about him. He appeared to be wiser than his age.

"You are a seishi," announced Yogensha in a quiet voice.

"How did you know that?" asked Shin Tanfu.

"I am a seer. I can see that your kanji is on your right thumb. What I can't tell is what your powers are," answered Yogensha.

"I am known as Kasumi. Haze. My powers are illusions. I can make illusions," said the young monk, "When my powers showed up my parents sent me here to train to be a celestial warrior. They knew that I was a seishi."

"I'll introduce you to the others," said Yogensha as he helped Kasumi up.

The pair walked over to the others. Kokoro was actually quiet for once. Maybe, it was because Yoko was busy eating to say anything to aggravate him. Seizonsha looked up at them questioningly.

"This is Shi Tanfu. He's our fourth seishi. His kanji is located on his right thumb," said Yogensha. Yoko nearly choked on her food in surprise. Seizonsha rubbed her back until she recovered. Kokoro was standing up.

"Show us your kanji," demanded Kokoro.

"My name is Kasumi," he said as he glowed the kanji on his right thumb.

"Cool!" exclaimed Yoko when she saw the kanji. Kokoro, Seizonsha, and Kasumi gave her strange looks. They didn't know what she meant.

"That's a phrase from our world," said Yogensha.

"Cool?" asked Kokoro. He started laughing hysterically. Yoko smacked him upside the head. "What'd you do that for?!" shouted Kokoro.

"Don't insult me," said Yoko.

"I didn't insult you," answered Kokoro back.

"Shut up."

"NO! YOU SHUT UP!"

The other three seishi had sweatdrops. Seizonsha had a feeling of calm and happiness he had not experience in a long time. The three of them ignored Yoko and Kokoro's arguing.

"What is it like in your world?" asked Seizonsha looking at Yogensha.

"It's a wondrous place. There are great buildings made of stone that are several stories high. The streets are paved with concrete. We have all sorts of technology. However, no one has powers like here," said Yogensha.

"Is it like our world?" asked Kasumi.

"No. Our world is warm. But, that depends on where you are. Kind of like here. Kokoro said that the other kingdoms are different," said Yogensha.

Yogensha and Kasumi talked more about the other world. It was truly interesting. Seizonsha started to think about his past.

~*~Flashback~*~

Seizonsha used to have a real name. A name that was all his own. His name was An Zhishi. He was the first son of one of the highest nobles in all of Hokkan. His father was a very proud man who believe in appearances.

Zhishi was out riding one day when he first saw her. Her name was Mai. He saw her wandering around with a lost look on her face. Her hair was long and black. Her eyes were a dark brown color. They were like doe eyes.

"Do you need any help?" asked Zhishi.

"No. Please leave me alone," answered Mai.

"Let me help you," said Zhishi. He didn't know why, but he just had to help her.

She looked at him and smiled. This was the moment that started to change Zhishi's life.

He fell deeply in love with her. She fell in love with him. Zhishi knew that she was a peasant, and would never have the approval of his father. But, he couldn't help it. Her laughter made his life brighter. Her smile made him smile. They continued seeing each other for many months.

One day, Zhishi's world came crashing down. Zhishi was with her in the field with his horse. He saw his father rode up with his men to them. Zhishi watched in horror as the put Mai in shackles.

"What are you doing, Father? Let her go," pleaded Zhishi.

"You knew that she was here all along?" asked his father.

"Yes. Why are you doing this?" asked Zhishi.

"Because she is a criminal. She murdered one of our fellow neighboring nobles. She could have killed you if we hadn't come at all," answered his father. He gave the order to take her away. Mai stared at Zhishi with pleading eyes. He couldn't just abandon her. He had to help her.

Zhishi found her in the dungeon. Her clothes were torn and she looked like she hadn't eaten in days. Zhishi's heart broken when he saw her.

"You murdered someone," said Zhishi in a whisper.

"I didn't mean to. It was an accident. I swear it. He tried to rape me. I protected myself. I couldn't let him hurt me, Zhishi. Please believe me," begged Mai in a whisper.

Zhishi knew the noble she had killed. He was a bad man who used women. He deserved his fate. Zhishi had decided to help her. Mai was sentenced to death. He had to get her out before they could kill her.

On the night of the escape, they were caught. Zhishi was brought to his father. His father looked down upon him with shame written on his face.

"You have brought shame to the An House. And to yourself. You assisted a murderer. You are an embarrassment to yourself and to your class. However, you are my son. I intend to show you mercy. You are here by banished from this manor and village. You are stripped of your name and title. You are no longer my son. You will leave this land before sundown. Before the execution. This is my command," his father said in a quiet voice. Zhishi hung his head down. Being banished into exile was worse than being killed. He had to live with the shame of what he had done.

Worse he wasn't allowed to stay to see Mai get executed. When they got caught she had told him to come to the execution, so that he may give her courage by being there. Zhishi left his home in a quiet manner. His father had forbidden his younger siblings from saying goodbye to him.

He left with only the clothes on his back and the pain in his heart. Zhishi never saw Mai's last moments. He was a broken man at a young age. His father had doomed him to be alone.

~*~End of Flash~*~

Yogensha looked at Seizonsha. Yogensha just discovered something else about his powers. He could read thoughts. Right now, Yogensha could see all of Seizonsha memories, but he said nothing. He felt bad for being able to do it. He just couldn't help it.

"Why don't you have a name, Seizonsha?" asked Yogensha, "My real name is Sasaki Yoshi."

"I brought shame and dishonor to my family. It wasn't too long ago when I was someone important. Now I am no one," said Seizonsha.

"That's not true. You are a Genbu seishi. Imagine out of all the people in this Empire only a few people are chosen by Genbu to be a seishi," said Yogensha.

"I do not seek redemption for my past actions. I only seek a purpose in this life. To justify my existence. So, that I would have lived in vain. My mission now is to serve my miko and my fellow seishi," declared Seizonsha in a quiet, strong, and solemn voice.

Yogensha couldn't help but smile at Seizonsha's pledge. He smiled at the rest of his group. Yogensha knew that their group was filled with strong people. He also knew that deep inside, Yoko was very strong person. Yogensha hoped and prayed that the other groups were just as strong.

~*ClareBear's Omake*~

Miaka (with tears in large eyes): What a tragic past?! Poor Seizonsha.

Nuriko: Yes. It's sad. But, I think it's a requirement or something that at least one person per group has a tragic past. I don't know why the Gods do it that way.

Tamahome: I wonder how the Suzaku group is doing. The other groups are assembling strongly.

Hotohori: With my son on group they should do well.

Nuriko (with rolling eyes): Just because your son is on the Suzaku group doesn't mean they'll succeed.

Hotohori: What are you saying, Nuriko? My son is intelligent, beautiful, and has authority. Just like me!

Nuriko (under breath): At least, he doesn't have your ego.

Hotohori: WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!

Nuriko (with an innocent smile): Nothing