Impersonation

Chapter: Past Flutter

Many years have passed…

It was a grand day for a celebration in Zaibach; crowds of anticipating people were gathered near a large steel walled fortress. Twin oversized black metal doors were closed securely, and a few guards stood post from stands higher than the length of the doors themselves. Many sturdy looking men, all shapes and sizes were waiting anxiously a few meters from the towering entrance.

"Excuse me ma'am," a young boy uttered as he accidentally plowed into a plump lady and her teen son. He kept his eyes glued to the floor, spouting apologies profusely and rubbing his hands together.

The teen son of the lady gave a small smile, "it's alright. I believe you have apologized more than enough times!" The teen laughed, his bright blue eyes twinkling as he held out his hand in an inviting manner. "My name's Shesta, yours?"

Grinning sheepishly, the young boy lifted his gaze off the floor and mumbled, "Hi…Hikou." Hikou's eyes were a luminous green, a stunning mix of fresh leaf and stone jade. His hair was a wild disarray of short tendrils the color of copper gold, framing his effeminate face prettily.

I almost feel sorry for the poor lad. He looks so out of place and small. Shesta thought, observing Hikou's thin lanky form. Shesta towered over him by a good couple inches and had a more distinct male build as opposed to the frail almost feminine appearance of Hikou. If it weren't for his flat chest and sword strapped to his belt, he could pass for a woman.

"Well…I should get going…Good Luck." Hikou suddenly felt self conscious and uncomfortable by Shesta's close scrutiny, so he said his leave and scurried away.

That was close thought Hikou and let out the breath he unconsciously held back. Running a hand through his hair, he hoped he wouldn't run into any more strangers that would scrutinize his appearance. Trudging along, the small youth observed his surroundings, many spectators and anxious men ranging from slight to bulking. Hikou sighed, letting waves of intimidation fall over him, how could he compete against these Goliaths? "Damn. The only think I've got is a sword and dry humor…what a waste." The green-eyed youth grumbled, kicking up dirt.

"Itai!" Suddenly, Hikou felt all the wind get knocked out of him and stumbled to the ground clumsily. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" he snapped, looking up he found himself face to face with large russet orbs and an innocent face. "Uh…"

Automatically, the person bowed repeatedly while spouting apologies profusely. This person reminded him of his earlier interaction with that new guy Shesta. Hikou couldn't tell whether it was a male or female because he/she was slight and thin limbed not unlike him.

Hikou's face flushed, the he/she was very clumsy and when he bowed the person almost bowled the green-eyed youth over again. "Erm…maybe you should get up?" Hikou spoke very lowly, in a soft voice that seemed to fit with his effeminate features.

The he/she launched off of Hikou, still sputtering admissions of guilt. The unidentifiable gendered being was finally determined as male…but Hikou wasn't sure. This russet-eyed youth who was probably only an inch or so shorter than him was very feminine looking. He had a rounded face with large russet colored eyes and a long braid coming out of the back of his head the color of chocolate.

Hikou laughed lightly, in a lilting tone and waved his hand dismissively. "No, no it's okay! Don't wo-"

Unexpectedly, a fanfare of trumpets roared, interrupting Hikou in his words. Brushing off the russet-eyed boy, Hikou rushed towards the din of clamor.

"Finally!"

********************************

Finally, the new general in the Zaibach militia would conclude his pick to the expecting men. His pale fair features contrasted sharply with the dark blue and black armor of his suit, his narrow eyes were indiscernible, shifting from crimson violet to carmine red. He was a vision of strength and one to be greatly respected.

"I thank you for all coming to participate in an even like this. To become one of the elite, a Dragonslayer, but unfortunately most of you will be disappointed…" The general's voice was sly and mocking as he paced on the platform, not meeting any hopeful faces in any chance to refrain from laughing. "Not all of you will have the honor of serving under one as great as me! So suck it up!"

Dilandau heard a discrete cough from his right side, causing him to glare swiftly at him, but remembered he had an audience. Switching his attention back to the audience, he continued as if he was never interrupted. "Now…I will satisfy your curiosities and announce my new Slayers…Miguel Lorriene…Touya Dehounne…"

*****************

Hikou Zaghnn…Waitaminute…That's me!

"Huh? Whoa!" Hikou blinked and stumbled towards the platform, feeling numb from shock. He hardly noticed the familiar youth with a chocolate braid patting his back as he came to a parade rest beside the other new slayers.

Hitomi's soon to be forgotten; now only Hikou will be known and remembered.

*******

Tohru couldn't believe it. She was finally going to see him again! Kyou! The young boy who left her years ago, somehow transformed from a scrawny boy to a amber eyed Adonis. Kyou was a very handsome...gorgeous seventeen year old man. Reminiscing of past memories drudged up hated realities for Tohru as thoughts grated her mind.

He left me all alone…just to be a Dragonslayer. He promised me everything in one true moment of joy for me and broke everyone he made in one sentence and a cold glance. We grew up to be best friends and you took me for granted, leaving me to wait.

Forever in misery…

Tohru felt her lips start to frown but firmly kept her blank mask on her face. The mask she made sure was familiar to her features, a blank indifferent façade to match her new person.

Tohru felt an odd fluttering curling in her belly when she stepped onto the platform, patting the familiar green-eyed youth.

"There he is…" Tohru whispered, the wind carrying her words off into oblivion as her breath caught.

He changed a lot from the skinny fourteen year old that left her three years ago. His once wide crimson brown orbs were narrower, their color polished amber. His height was towering and his formerly bony arms were thicker with a muscular build that seemed to send delicious warm tingles through her body. His fiery red locks were the only feature that hadn't seemed to change; short and unruly bangs framed Kyou's intense amber irises.

Maybe it was still the same old Kyou from Romania, * the boy that managed to capture such strong affections from her.

Kyou…

Tohru froze, and then drew her face into a cold indifferent visage; her deep russet eyes were clouded by a beautiful olive green partially.

Tohru you're here to prove something! Plus, he'll never recognize you, it's been too long and you aren't Tohru Honda anymore! Wise up.

The little voice inside her head was right, she wasn't Tohru Honda anymore. That fierce tomboy was under a new alias, a new face, and a new persona.

You are now the face of Touya Dehounne…a Dragonslayer in the ranks.

Tohru was oblivious to repeated glances of a redheaded Dragonslayer, his amber eyes darkening partly to mahogany. Recognition flashed momentarily through his intense eyes, only to have it come as quickly as it came.

*********

"Each of you will have a roommate for now until…you get more familiar with the ranks of the Zaibach army. For now, I'll let you all get settled and then there will be a meet to go over standards and procedures."

Kyou was very distinct as he walked along side a comrade Dragonslayer; his fiery mane seemed to stand out against the normal neutral hair colors. His copper eyes were sharp, feline like with angled features that were sly and intimidating.

Something was bothering the redhead as he listened to Gatti continues speaking to the new recruits, his feline eyes glancing furtively at a russet eyed youth. He was younger than him, Kyou was sure of, and also much more slender and short. Kyou smirked, thoughts of being able to crush the puny boy with only a flick of a wrist running through his head. Suddenly he frowned, feeling something was amiss. The amber eyed man felt as if he should know that new recruit his thoughts kept straying back to…Touya, that's his name?

Touya's features were certainly not angular, but round and cherubic. His large russet olive eyes that glimmered with almost innocence was an eyesore in the crowds of military personnel, it was very out of place. His features reminded Kyou of somebody…someone from long ago. A person Kyou left behind, the reason for his regret.

Tohru…

The air around the redhead suddenly became tense as his mouth twitched into an angry scowl of shameful longing. He wasn't supposed to remember her, she was his past…and he left it to pursue a better future.

"Kyou?! KYOU!" General of the Dragonslayers, Dilandau Albatou, scowled at Kyou's distracted face.

"Eh?" Kyou blinked, ramming his reverie of past regrets to the back of his mind and straightening up. He piped, "My apologies, Lord Dilandau, it won't happen again."

Dilandau nodded in acknowledgment, frown plastered firmly on his pale visage, "Good to hear."

*******

Aiyaiyai yai!! I'm sorry fans for the really really really long wait for this chapter but I couldn't seem to write it out the way I wanted it! Finally, though I got everything in mind, and looky! My writing has even improved greatly! So please forgive me!

I'm not sure of the pairing with Hitomi, but for all you Furuba (or Fruits Basket) fans…this is also a Kyou/Tohru pairing! Yay! I love unusual pairings! I love Yuki to pieces but I think Kyou and Tohru make an adorable couple!

Also in the later chapters, I might even take some characters from Fuushigi Yuugi! I love pairings with Yui! She's my fave FY character!

Maybe Suboshi/Yui, but I'm leaning towards the even more uncommon Yui/Chichiri (Wai!! Chichiri is soo Hott!!)

Also I'd like to give a big thank you to all you patient fans of this story! I'm sorry again! But be happy now! I got my writing spirit back!