Fushigi Yuugi: Everlasting Story

Disclaimer: The characters of Fushigi Yuugi belong to Yuu Watase. But any new characters belong to me. ^_^

Chapter 4: Awakening…

Youjin looked down at his hands. He touched is face…his forehead. His forehead felt hot. The symbol of the ogre glowed brightly.

"I feel so different…like I'm not me any more…am I just Tamahome now, or am I Youjin, or both? I don't understand what's happened to me…"

The memories he had gained were painful and somewhat disturbing. To see someone recklessly put their life on the line for someone…his father had been a brave man.

But to imagine his father and mother being that young…and that sappy…he suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over him.

It passed and he again thought of the offer he had accepted.

"Now I have to be brave, and fight, like he did…for my Miko. But who is she?"

"Kid, you okay?" Tasuki asked. Youjin looked at him with hazel eyes and nodded quietly. Tasuki hadn't noticed before how much he resembled his father…but now that he thought of it… he grinned. "Damn, you are your father's son. You wouldn't admit that anything was wrong even if there was."

"Taiitsukun, I've never fought before in my life. How do you –any of you- expect for me to learn in such a short amount of time?" Youjin asked.

"You already know how," Taiitsukun replied. "At least, Tamahome remembers. Let him help you. Just call for him."

Youjin closed his eyes and sighed. Surely enough, he felt the presence of another in his mind.

"Tamahome…"

The presence made no reply.

"Tamahome, wake up…I need your help." Still, nothing. "…We have to work together, Tamahome…father…" The presence stirred. "Help me." And, like water flowing from a broken dam, the presence of Tamahome filled him. "Help me protect Suzaku no Miko…"

"I, uh, I think he's got it," Tasuki said, watching Youjin's body glow scarlet. "Yeah, definitely." Youjin slowly opened his eyes; they had changed to a strange mix of hazel and violet; switching colors from one moment to the next. Taiitsukun frowned. This wasn't turning out the way she had planned.

"Uh, miss….um, yeah…what's happening to Youjin?" Nisou asked.

"I didn't anticipate this," Taiitsukun muttered.

"Didn't anticipate what?" Nisou was worried now. Youjin didn't look or feel like himself…

"Tamahome is fighting for control of Youjin."

"I…I can't move my body," Youjin thought. "Tamahome…what are you doing? Stop this! We have to work together…!" He struggled to regain control over his actions.

"Youjin!" Nisou shouted. "Don't let him control you…you're you, you're not Tamahome! Can't any of you do anything?!" She turned to the other warriors and Taiitsukun, who just watched Youjin and Tamahome struggling in the same body.

"This is a test," Chichiri muttered, "isn't it, Taiitsukun? You should have warned him about Tamahome's influence, no da…"

"Hell, he of all people should know what Tamahome is like," Tasuki muttered. "After all, they're related 'n all…"

"Youjin hasn't seen his father in seven years," Nisou whispered. "That's what he told me when we first met."

"Did Taka chicken out and leave them or something?" Tasuki seemed amused now. "Taiitsukun, what happened to Taka?"

"Taka…" Taiitsukun said slowly, still studying Youjin. "He died, seven years ago in their time."

"Tamahome, let go! Stop fighting me!" Youjin mustered all of his strength to fight the entity that wished to possess him. "I won't let you do this…! If I ever want to see my mother and my home again…I have to win! I have to!"

He pulled his strength together and tensed the muscles in his arm, trying with all his might just to move it himself.

"It's like my body's fighting me…damn it, Tamahome! Stop this!"

"Youjin…!" Nisou shouted. "Come on, you can do this!" She bit her lip and crossed her fingers…he hadn't moved at all since Taiitsukun had awakened the sleeping warrior spirit inside of him.

Suddenly, his left thumb jerked. His wrist. Then he clenched his hand into a fist slowly.

He moved a foot forward…and started to walk slowly, as if he was walking through water. But he was moving…!

"Youjin!" Nisou cried happily.

"I…I can do this," he muttered, gritting his teeth. "I-I…won't…lose!" With a sudden burst of energy he jolted forward and collided with Tasuki, sending them both sprawling on the ground.

"Damn it!! What the hell did you do that for, you little punk?!" Tasuki shouted, picking himself off of the grassy ground.

"It wasn't my fault!" Youjin yelled back.

"Did you have to land right the fuck on top of me though?!"

"Maybe you should learn to move out of the way then!"

"Shut your damn mouth!"

"The hell I will!"

"Ummm…someone do something," Nisou suggested.

"This is too much fun to watch," Nuriko said, grinning. "I wonder if they'll start fighting?"

"Looks like they already are, no da."

"We're just wasting time with this," Hotohori muttered. "Tasuki! Youjin! We don't have time for this!"

"Sorry," Youjin apologized. "…Even though he started it."

"What the hell?! Shut your fucking mouth, you little bastard!" Tasuki was now chasing Youjin around in circles, and neither of them was gaining an advantage over the other.

"I guess that even though Tamahome's spirit's in another body…he and Tasuki will never get along," Nuriko muttered, folding her arms over her chest.

"Well they'd better learn to, else we won't get anything done, no da."

"Damn it, leave me alone!" Youjin shouted.

"Not before I kick your ass, kid!" Suddenly, Youjin stopped.

"Well, Fang-boy, let's see who gets their ass kicked!"

"You're on!"

"Youjin! This isn't getting us anywhere," Nisou pointed out. "Hotohori said we're just wasting time, and it seems like there's something important that needs to be done, and I want to go home, so please stop!"

Youjin immediately backed away from Tasuki. Something about the way Nisou spoke reminded him that at some time, he would have to return home…

He would be anticipating that time.

~*~

"So, what, is Youjin Tamahome now?" Yui asked. This was all too much to believe…

"I think he's…I'm not sure," Miaka muttered with a frown. "I'm sure that he's still Youjin…but I suspect that he has Tamahome's spirit in him as well."

"Miaka…" Yui trailed off, looking at her friend with concern. "Are you alright? I know this must be hard…"

"No, Yui, I'm fine," Miaka lied. Dangerous possibilities and situations kept running through her mind…every single what if that went along with Youjin's presence in the book was negative. "I'm just a bit shaken by all of this…that's all."

"This is absurd," Kouko muttered.

"Then why don't you leave?" Miaka asked, looking into Kouko's worried gray eyes.

"Because this is the only lead I have to go on," Kouko explained. "And if I leave now, I may never see my daughter again."