Author's Notes: See chapter one for disclaimer and explanation.
Love, Life, and Death By Annie-chan Chapter Fifteen: BereavedThey had failed.
Hôjun sat on the bank of one of the ponds dotting the palace grounds, his fishing line dangling in the water. The attempt to summon Suzaku, just yesterday, had failed.
Why? Because, they had been fooled into thinking a Seiryû Seishi was one of their own.
Hôjun remembered very little between facing Tamahome in Kutô-koku to a few hours before the summoning ceremony. He had taken serious injury to his back, and the next day, had been stuck in his room when a possessed Tamahome came to the palace to kill Miaka. All Hôjun remembered from Tamahome's coming was a feeling of dread and repressed pain. After that, it was just an agonized blur…
He had been told, by a hesitant Tasuki, that he had broken down into tears for reasons unknown to the fire-headed Seishi, and had started seizing a moment later. His back and ribs had taken substantially more damage during the seizure, which explained the coma he had fallen into until Mitsukake had the chance to heal him up, but the reason for the seizure was a mystery. Hôjun vaguely remembered an onrush of unwanted memories, then blackness. The next thing he knew was the warm healing spell washing over him as his fellow Seishi worked his magic on him.
He had woken up to everyone in his room, Mitsukake just having finished the healing, and was indescribably relieved upon learning that their champion had been restored to his original money-grubbing self. He thought everything would go smoothly after that, for the summoning had been only a few hours away. Indeed, everybody thought that.
But, during the ceremony, just after the exquisitely dressed Miko threw Kônan-koku's Shi Jin Tenchi Sho into the ceremonial fire, the unexpected lilt of a flute broke the confused silence resulting from the absence of the expected Phoenix God. Everyone had turned their eyes to Chiriko, the youngest of the group, and found that they had been tricked in the most malicious way. Chiriko was Amiboshi, a Seiryû Seishi sent from Kutô-koku to assassinate them and prevent Suzaku's coming. Before anyone had been able to react, a head splitting screeching filled the air from the young man's flute, and Hôjun would have fallen prey to the murderous music—as the rest of them nearly did—had it not been for a young boy disrupting the notes with a grass harp. As his thoughts cleared, he remembered Tamahome and Tasuki running after Amiboshi out of the shrine, then Miaka nearly tearing the sleeves off his tunic as she shook him, yelling at him to take her to them. They had teleported to the riverbank—landing right on Tasuki—just in time to see Amiboshi fall over the edge to the rushing waters below.
Hôjun felt genuine sorrow for the boy's death. He had shown himself to be a very kind and honest young man (except for the deceiving them into thinking he was a Suzaku Seishi part), and everyone loved his music and his good humor. Besides, if he really wanted to kill them, he wouldn't have run when he did. He would have tried again. The look on Amiboshi's face as he fell to the river was Hôjun's personal proof that he really meant them no harm. He seemed to be saying, I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry.
He had just been following orders, no doubt from the blond shôgun. And, following those orders cost him his life. Hôjun couldn't convey in words just how tragic the boy's premature death struck him as.
They had learned upon returning that the boy who saved them from Amiboshi's music was none other than the real Chiriko, but unfortunately, they could no longer summon Suzaku, due to the scroll being burnt to ashes. After a rather heart-stopping appearance by Taiitsukun, the Suzaku Seishi had gotten a boost in their powers, for they were to go to Hokkan-koku to get the Shinzahô of Genbu to summon their god.
Now, Hôjun wanted time to just sit and fish and think about stuff. He really hadn't much time lately to just let the world go by without him like he sometimes liked to do. His mind kept drifting back home, to his wife and children, to the familiar surroundings of the Shôryû Valley. He just couldn't describe how much he wanted to see them again.
A familiar presence came into his consciousness. Miaka was behind him, and she seemed to be watching the fishing line in the water. After a minute, she sat down beside him.
"Ne, Chichiri?" she asked. "Are there any fish in this pond?"
"Who knows, no da?" he answered, with a slight shrug of his shoulders. The Miko didn't seem to have a response to that.
"Ano…Chichiri?" she asked again. "Um…why do you wear that mask of yours all the time?"
Hôjun had certainly not expected that to pop out of Miaka's mouth. He turned his head to look at her, no words coming to mind to answer her question with.
"Oh!" the Miko squeaked. "Gomen nasai! If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to!"
"Iie, no da," he said quietly. "You've asked the question, no da. I guess you have a right to know, no da. I probably shouldn't keep secrets like this from my friends, anyway, no da. I just can't bring myself to tell them on my own, no da." He took a deep breath, summoning up the courage to recount the horrible events that nearly brought his life, and his soul, to ruin. "Six years ago, soon after my eighteenth birthday, I was engaged to a young lady named Kôran, no da. She loved me very much, and I loved her back at least as deeply, no da. But, my best friend, Hikô, had fallen in love with her as well, no da. The…the day before our wedding was to be, I…I saw them…" He had to break off for a minute, composing himself. "I found them by the riverbanks of the Shôryû River, which ran near the village, kissing." He stopped, swallowing hard. Beside him, Miaka gasped softly, realizing the pain he must have gone through. He continued, trying to keep his voice steady. "I…I was horrified. To see the one you're ready to swear your very soul to in another's arms…I just can't even begin to describe it. I went to her house the next morning, to see if it had all been a horrible nightmare, and she…she rejected me. She said she couldn't marry me anymore. I…I totally lost it. I didn't take my anger out on her…I could never hurt her, even in a fit of rage. Instead, I went to my house, found my father's hunting knives, and…" He stopped again, trying to keep back tears summoned by the awful memories. He raised his hand. "With this hand…I killed my best friend."
Miaka was stunned. To have her most gentle and kind-hearted Seishi confess such an atrocity was shocking, to say the least. This man sitting beside her…he never seemed to have such a dark secret before! Just how much had he gone through to keep it a secret from everybody?!
"I got this scar in the fight," Hôjun continued, removing his mask and pointing to the jagged mark on his face. "I didn't stab Hikô like I intended, but shoved him into the river. I knew very well he couldn't swim, but I pushed him anyway. When I got home, I found my entire village gone. There had been torrential rains lately, and the river suddenly flooded the valley, washing away the entire town. My…my mother, father, and older brother were killed. My younger sister and I were the only Ris to survive. Kôran had also been spared, and…she wouldn't believe I had killed Hikô. She kept insisting it must have been an accident. I…I want so much to believe that. You don't know how horrified and ashamed of myself I was for killing Hikô when I realized what I had done. But…I know I am responsible. I can never write something like that off as just an accident. If I hadn't gone after him in the first place, he would never have…"
Miaka put a hand on Hôjun's trembling shoulder, trying to comfort him. He seemed ready to cry, but no tears fell. He absolutely refused to cry in front of the Miko.
"Anyway," Hôjun continued, calming down, "Kôran and I were married about a month later, and we now have a five-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son, no da." He replaced his mask and his high falsetto.
"Hontô ni?!" Miaka squealed. "I'd love to see them sometime! I bet they're just so kawaii! And, I want to meet your wife, too! Is she pretty?"
Hôjun smiled wistfully. "She's absolutely gorgeous, no da."
"Miaka!" Nuriko could be heard calling from the palace walkway. "Miaka-akachan aka mamushi!" The purple-haired transvestite seemed fond of making odd rhymes of Miaka's name, judging by the gleeful tone in which he sang the unexpected little jingle.
"Hai!" Miaka called back, getting up, bidding Hôjun goodbye, and heading off toward Nuriko. Hôjun watched her go until a small tug vibrated up his fishing line.
"Da!" Hôjun peeped as he reeled the tiny fish, hardly as big as his finger, in.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next day had come, and one of Hotohori's ships was being prepared for the journey to Hokkan-koku. Miaka and all her Seishi, save Hotohori, were going. The emperor had to stay behind, as he had duties to his country.
Hôjun watched in amusement as Tamahome teased Tasuki about being afraid of the water, and started laughing as the Seishi leader picked the bandit up and hung him over the edge of the dock.
The ship was to sail in five days, and they were just starting to get it ready for the voyage. Hôjun helped them patch up a weakness some of the workers found in the hull, for he had nothing else to do at the time. Most of the other Seishi were milling around, lending a hand here and there, Hotohori presiding over everything with the harbormaster.
"Oi! Chichiri!" he heard Miaka call for him a few minutes after the hull was fixed. She and Tamahome had been talking to Hotohori.
"Hai, Miaka-chan, no da?" he asked as he walked up.
"Tamahome and I are going to bring his family here to the palace, to keep them safe from the attacks on the villages near the border," Miaka explained. "It's five days till we leave, so why don't you visit your wife and kids? You seemed to miss them so much when you told me about them yesterday. It shown in your face."
Hôjun blinked. He hadn't really expected that to be mentioned. But, now that he thought about it, it was the perfect time to go see them.
"Nani?!" Tasuki squawked from a little ways away. "Chichiri's got a wife and kids?!" Apparently, Hôjun hadn't told anyone but Miaka about that. They ignored Tasuki for the moment.
"Hotohori? Can he go?" Miaka asked, giving the emperor Bambi eyes.
"Why, yes, of course," Hotohori answered, backing a little away from Miaka. He didn't want her glomping him again like she had when he suggested Tamahome bring his family to the palace. "We still have five days until you leave. You should go visit your family while you can. I am sure they miss you."
"Hai, no da," Hôjun replied. "I miss them as well, no da." He bowed to his emperor. "Arigatô gozaimasu, Heika-sama, no da!"
A little while later, when he was sure all the woodwork in the ship was fine, he said his goodbyes and disappeared into his kasa. He reappeared on a hilltop to the south of Shôryû. There was a spray of trees between him and the village, but he looked forward to walking through familiar forest again.
As he got into the trees, he became aware of the sound of playing. Walking a little longer, he came across a bunch of children playing tag, watched over by a girl, about fifteen years old, a sister to two of the children.
"Tôsan!" Tori called, spying her father coming toward them. She broke out of the group and ran toward him, jumping into his arms. "You're back!"
"Yes, for a few days, Tori-chan, no da," Hôjun said, squeezing his daughter tight.
"Ohayô, Ri-sama," the fifteen-year-old said, coming over.
"Ohayô, Jôhin, no da," he replied, giving her a smile. Jôhin was a friend of Hanabira's. He turned to his daughter. "Why don't you run home and tell Kâsan that someone's come to visit for a few days, but don't tell her who it is, no da. Let me surprise her, no da."
"Hai!" the little girl squealed, jumping out of his arms and running toward home.
"So, how is everything, Jôhin-chan, no da?" Hôjun asked the girl as Tori ran down the hill.
"Well…" the girl hesitated to answer, as if something was wrong. "I think you should see for yourself when you get home, Sir."
"What do you mean, no da?" Hôjun asked, feeling a little nervous. "Has something happened, no da?" Fear clutched his chest. "Are my wife and son all right, no da?!" He had seen his daughter, but how were his wife and son?
"They're fine, Ri-sama," Jôhin assured him. "I think you should go now. Your wife is waiting for you, Sir."
Hôjun waited for a few seconds more, then began walking toward the town. Kuso, no da, he thought, a little annoyed. I wish Jôhin wasn't so hesitant to just come out and deliver bad news, no da.
As he neared town, people on the outskirts greeted him warmly. He was a well-respected member of the community, and they were glad to have him back. Soon, he got to his house, which was near the edge of town, closest to the forest to get wood for his business. He took a deep breath and stepped inside.
There she was. She was kneeling at the table, sewing shut a hole that had been ripped in one of Seiryoku's tiny little tunics. Her back was mostly turned toward him, and she was unaware of his presence. Tori could be heard playing with little Seiryoku in the next room.
Hôjun removed his mask, his heart aching at the sight. She was beautiful, a goddess in his eyes. He had gone too long without laying eyes or hands on her. What he could see of her face was laced with sorrow, her loneliness without him making its mark on her flawless features.
Without further hesitation, he slipped up behind her, kneeled down, and wrapped his arms tight around her, pressing a kiss to her neck. "Beautiful, no da," he murmured against her skin. "Completely stunning, no da."
She stiffened for an instant as his arms tightened around her, but relaxed completely when she heard his voice. "Hôjun!" she gasped. "It's you!"
"Yes, it's me, no da," he purred, nuzzling her cheek. "I have four days, no da. We are to leave for Hokkan-koku in five, no da."
"Hokkan-koku?" she wondered, leaning into his embrace. "Why there?"
"I'll explain later, no da," he replied. "Just let me hold you right now, no da."
She turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face against his chest, breathing him in. Yes, she belonged with him, just like this. After a while, though, an urgent bit of news just couldn't be ignored anymore.
"Hôjun," she began, separating from him enough to look him in the face. "Something bad has happened. Very bad."
"Nani, no da?" he inquired. "Jôhin was implying something bad, no da. What's happened, no da?" Nervousness was rising in his chest again.
"I think you should come with me, Love," she said, rising to her feet. She slipped on her shoes by the door and led him to a house not far away.
"This is…Yûkan's house, no da," he said, speaking the name of his imôto's fiancé. The house seemed very quiet, and the nervousness grew a little more. He stepped up to the door as Kôran knocked.
Yûkan's mother was surprised to see him. "Ah! Ohayô, Ri-sama! Ri-san! Please, come inside!"
"How is she, Bi-san?" Kôran asked as they entered.
"Oh, she's just getting worse, Ri-san," the woman answered sadly. She turned to Hôjun. "Your imôto is very ill, Ri-sama."
Hôjun stopped in his tracks. "Hanabira, no da?!" he exclaimed. "Where is she, no da?!" He ran into the room the Bi matriarch pointed to and skidded to a halt, shocked. His lovely sixteen-year-old imôto lay on the bed, clearly ill within an inch of her life.
"Imôto-chan, no da!" he choked, falling to his knees by the bed. "What happened to you, no da?!"
The girl opened her eyes slightly, turning her head to look upon her brother. That simple action seemed to cost her a great deal of strength. She tried to say something, but only succeeded in a pitiful moan.
"My dear Yûkan has died," Bi-san said, her voice greatly pained. "He had some mysterious disease that the town medic has only seen three times before. Sweet little Hanabira looked after him until the moment he died, the poor thing. She tired herself out." The woman stopped to wipe a tear from her eye. "The disease is hardly contagious at all, so there wasn't much worry over that, but…your darling sister got sick with it the very day he died." She wiped more tears away. "Her grief over Yûkan's death is only making it kill her faster! They were to be married in a month. And…there's no way to cure this disease, Ri-sama."
No cure! Hôjun thought miserably. Oh, Suzaku, why her?! "Hanabira!" he cried, clutching at her fevered hand. "Why you?! Why you?!" Tears were sliding down his face, dripping to the floor below. "It's not fair!" he whined, wishing to the gods he could save his imôto. She had done nothing wrong in her life! She was too young to die!
"Ani…ki…" Hanabira croaked, and he nearly cried aloud, for there was nothing left of her former bouncy tone. "Suki…da yo…" She closed her eyes, the last thing she saw being her aniki, and suddenly relaxed completely.
She was dead.
Hôjun stared dumbly for a minute. Her ki…it just…disappeared. Then…
"No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Hôjun howled, letting go of his sister's hand and slamming his fists down on the bed. His fingers dug into the bedding, ripping through it like paper. "Hanabira! Come back to us! Come back to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
He would have collapsed backward if his wife hadn't been there, her arms around his waist, supporting his sagging frame. Another gone! he screamed mentally. Another of my family, gone!!!!! Oh, Suzaku, WHY?!?!?!?!
He crushed his wife to him, as if afraid he would lose her, too, and wept bitterly against her shoulder. She was dead…Ri Hanabira was dead, gone away from her home, her loved ones…
And, she would never come back again.
To be continued…Author's Notes: Yes, I know I'm being mean to my little Chichiri-chan again. Please don't hurt me! It's just that life was so much more uncertain then as it is now. Just be glad I didn't do anything to his wife and kids! That would have really messed him up bad. During his talk with Miaka by the pond, I left the "no da" out intentionally. And, yes, I know it didn't really take five days to prepare the ship for Hokkan-koku, but I stretched it out to give Hôjun time to visit home. Anyway, send anything you have to say to mangareader@hotmail.com, onegai shimasu! Please don't flame me for killing Hanabira, though! I apologize in advance, so you don't have to!