Eternity Knot

Chapter Two

By Sakata Ri Houjun

AN: I vow to one day write a bittersweet story reuiniting Kouran with Chichiri, okay. This just isn't it.

This was an idea I entertained a while back, a thought that sparked a plot of sorts. The flood made Chichiri into a monk, and the clues given to find Chichiri was 'monk' and 'mask'. So wouldn't it stand to reason that Kouran and Hikou were meant to die so that he would achieve his destiny?

And then at the end of the series, he and Tasuki, two young warriors to the god of love, are left alone but travel together for two years.

So I'm thinking, what would happen if Kouran survived, Houjun married her, but then he met his 'soulmate' later? That's the feel I'm going for anyways.

I don't hate Kouran, except for the fact that she broke my poor monk's heart, but Ihave written her into my stories before. In fact my first fic gave her a substantial part, a reincrnated form that Chichiri actually saved. But that's another story...

~***~

Houjun stared down at his hands, which were now balled up into tight fists on the delicate fabric of the silken robes he wore. If he had to glance up at the mirror, reflected back would not be his face but that of the Emperor, who he called Hotohori.

Houjun had used this newly developed skill once he realized that the younger man was in love with the Suzaku no Miko. And while he, himself would have preferred to stay and protect her, he felt compelled to oblige the overburdened Emperor his wish.

Still, even with Nuriko and Hotohori at her side, he couldn't help but worry.

He could recall how he first met the Suzaku no Miko, traveling in the direction as specified in his dream from Taiitsukun, only to percieve a warning that danger was nearby. Almost as if guided by some invisible hand, he ended up saving a young woman, one who would bite his hand in gratitude. And while nursing his injury, he was able to meet two of his fellow warriors.*

Ever since that night, despite the nearly comedic and painful circumstances, he had taken an immediate liking to the Miko. Her spirit, her energy, it all closely mirrored Katsumi's. Being with the Miko and protecting her, Houjun missed his wife and child all the more.

For a moment, he imagined how Katsumi was doing. Unfortunately, an advisor interrupted his thoughts.

"Your Majesty?"

Houjun straightened up, attempting to look as poised and confident as Hotohori appeared. "Hai?"

"The Suzaku no Miko has returned, with quite a following."

Houjun jumped from the ornate throne and ran unceremoniously towards the palace gates. Just as he caught sight of Miaka, he transformed back to his original form in a puff of smoke.

He joyously clasped the young woman's hands in his own, a relieved smile crossing his face. "Welcome back!" He noticed that his voice had taken on the high-pitched tone that his daughter used whenever she got excited.

From the corner of his eye, a red-haired figure jumped back in fright and pointed at him wide-eyed. "Who is that?" his rough voice nearly yelled.

Nuriko laughed at the youth. "He's just Chichiri, a seishi like us."

Inwardly, Houjun grimaced. He never did get used to his seishi name. He half-turned to introduce himself, to insist that he be called Houjun for what would have been the hundredth time since following his dream's instructions. But he stopped as he got his first good look at the redhead.

There seemed to be something familiar about the eyes, the color of the hair, the hint of fangs peeking below his lip. It was as if he knew him from somewhere. But Houjun prided himself on his perfect memory and none of his memories could place this man's face.

Then, for an instant, he suddenly felt as if his body was engulfed in flames, burning him alive. It wasn't painful though, in fact it felt good. Almost like...

But the sensation was gone, leaving his body to break out into a cold sweat. All this had lasted but a heartbeat, but it seemed a lot longer to the cerulean-haired man.

The next thing he knew, Hotohori walked up from behind him in the full regalia of his station. Houjun spun and greeted the younger man, turning his back on the disturbing thoughts and the nameless man who had inspired them.

*~~~*

Houjun picked his way through the elaborate garden, the moon showering silverly shadows across the fragile blossoms, finding peace in the tranquil beauty and the solitude it afforded him. Tomorrow night he would be taking Miaka into the heart of an enemy nation to retrieve Tamahome and the scroll needed to summon the beast god.

Yesterday, he would have been glad to be so near the end. Once Suzaku was summoned, he could go home to Kouran and Katsumi. But now...

Now, he wasn't ready to leave. It was almost as if his heart and soul belonged here, among his newfound friends, protecting Miaka, and..

Was that all?

He reached out and touched a lotus blossom, Katsumi's favorites. When this was over, he would go home, but he'd certainly come and visit the other seishi. Perhaps, he'd even bring Katsumi to meet Hotohori and see this beautiful garden. He smiled at the thought, but still felt as if there was something more behind it all.

"Oi, Chichiri!" came a rough voice from behind him. "What are ya doing out here this late?"

Houjun turned to find Tasuki watching him curiously. He acknowledged the bandit leader with a nod before returning his attention to the delicate flower.

"Just thinking..."

The redhead grunted in reply and moved closer to the older seishi. "Ya like flowers?"

"Sometimes. Lotuses remind me of...someone back home."

Tasuki didn't say anything for a while. "Gomen."

Houjun faced the bandit again. "Nani?"

"Earlier today. Gomen ne. I didn't mean..."

It suddenly dawned on Houjun that the younger man was referring to his comment when he had first met him. He smirked then, feeling his body relax in the company of a fellow seishi. "Oh that. I imagine I must have startled you so I need to be the one to apologize."

Tasuki snorted and tossed his ragged bangs from his eyes. "I don't scare that easily, ya know. So don't get too full of yourself."

Houjun laughed. "I won't."

The bandit looked up then and locked eyes with the older seishi. Houjun froze as the feeling from before overwhelmed him again and he began trembling faintly. Tasuki blinked as his attention was diverted elsewhere and the spell broke.

"What's that around your neck?"

Absently, Houjun cradled the silver charm in his hand and looked down at the intricate yet simple design of loops. "Just a reminder of who's waiting for me back home."

"She must be beautiful."

"She is. We grew up together and..." he stopped, realizing that he had let slip about Kouran. Quickly, he blushed and turned away.

"Miss her?" Tasuki inquired, oblivious to Houjun's unease.

The cerulean-haired man had never spoken about Kouran, Katsumi, or any part of his life before he showed up. The others respected his need for privacy. Houjun wanted to keep the two parts of his life separate.* He was only here out of duty.

Right?

Houjun realized that he hadn't answered the bandit's question when he noticed the younger seishi staring at him intently. "Ah, gomen," Houjun breathed before clearing his throat. "What was the question?"

"Your girl back home, do ya miss her?"

Houjun nodded solemnly. "I do."

A look of sadness crossed behind his golden eyes and Houjun's heart began racing. An errant thought surfaced and he voiced his question. "Don't you have some one waiting for you?"

The bandit shook his head as he turned. Houjun felt ashamed at having caused such a reaction with a simple question. He felt like apologizing but instead let his curiosity probe further.

"Family or friends perhaps?"

The bandit shrugged, keeping his face away form Houjun's gaze. "I don't see my family much and I've a whole gang of assholes that I'm to lead when I get back."

Houjun was taken aback by the redhead's use of a curse word as an affectionate term. Never had he met anyone quite like this man. He stifled a yawn behind one hand.

"I guess I'd better get to bed," he murmured.

"Hai. I should too," Tasuki replied as he turned around. "After all, we're getting back Tamahome and the scroll tomorrow."

*~~~*

A red glow enveloped their bodies as he held the bandit closer to him. Miaka knelt nearby, weeping loudly, her broken arm hanging uselessly. Houjun wanted to comfort her, but Tasuki needed to be supported before they made their journey back to Konan else there'd be even greater damage done to his already badly beaten body. He should have realized the meaning behind the parting words that Tasuki had said last night.

Houjun reassured the Miko regardless, letting her know that Tasuki was going to survive. She gazed at Tamahome, heartbroken as more tears fell and Houjun could understand the feeling.

As Kutou began to disappear around them, he gazed down at the fiery youth who had fearlessly challenged their fellow seishi. At first he had been an even match against Tamahome, but then held back at Miaka's request. Ultimately, the bandit had decided that his sacrifice meant that he and Miaka could escape, but a miracle provided by Chiriko's flute had all three on their way home.

Home? Since when did he think of the palace as his home? Kouran and Katsumi weren't there, so he could never think of that grand structure as his home. So then why...?

Within his arms, Tasuki groaned, his good eye fluttering open. Houjun looked down at him and smiled reassuringly. "We're almost there. You're going to make it."

"I had...to protect...you," he grunted in between sharps breaths. He grimaced as he tried to smile.

Houjun was taken aback by his companion's statement. He then laughed, trying to play off the awkwardness of the moment. "You mean you had to protect Miaka, right?"

"At first...I did...but when...when that asshole...threatened you too...I...I was willing to...to die..."

"Don't talk so much, you'll just hurt yourself worse." Houjun attempted to steer the bandit away from the subject. He wasn't sure he wanted to know just why Tasuki had decided to protect him.

"That girl...back home? She's...very lucky. I don't think...she'd forgive...forgive me...if I didn't...do what...I did." Tasuki's eye closed again as the throne room of the Konan palace came into focus through the red light.

Houjun breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know why he had been so worried about why Tasuki had protected him. What he had done was for Kouran and Katsumi and someday he'd have to return the favor.

Houjun was distracted enough by these thoughts that he didn't hear Tasuki whisper softly, "And...neither would I..."

~***~

More side notes:

*Because Chiri's not a monk, he wouldn't have his kasa, therefore he would do his ultra-kawaii SD hat trick, disappearing before Miaka's confused eyes. Instead, I think he'd still be there blowing on his hand as Tamahome came running up. But I do belive he'd have the power to fight off that spider web assassin easily, thus saving Tama-kins' family.

*This is a bit harder to explain. For plot purposes I belive that Chiri is striving to be normal and doesn't want to talk about hs family, keeping it apart from his life as a seishi. There's no real reason behind this other than a plot device, which you'll see later on. So think of it as a personal decision made by him.

So how did you like this so far? Let me know if this skipping around is an annoying thing. I know it seems like I'm only focsing on scenes between Tasuki and Chichiri, but I'm trying to figure out how this new, and probablynot improved, Chichiri would interact with the other seishi. And for those who like Kouran and Katsumi, don't worry, they'll be coming eventaully back into the scene, but first...