Twin Novae
By Cypher

Part Three - Taka

"Good morning!" I smiled and waved as Kotoku and Shunkaku ran by.
"Morning!" Shunkaku slowed down and looked back.

Kotoku was more focused and grabbed his brother's arm. "Shun! Get moving! We're going to be late for college!"

"Gah! Alright! See you tonight, Taka!"

I watch them run around the corner and chuckle. They were cute together. I thought it was nice that Shunkaku offered to stay in Japan. Kotoku certainly was happier.

Of course, I knew WHY Kotoku was happier.

I hadn't meant to walk in on them. I had borrowed a book and just dropped by to return it. I wasn't sure what to do when I walked in and saw, well, I think the best term would be foreplay. Neither of them noticed me at first. In fact, it wasn't until the book hit the ground that one of them stopped and glanced up. The other was still in the mood. I must've had the stupidest look on my face.

The one that had stopped, Kotoku it seemed, whapped Shunkaku and told him to knock it off. Shunkaku had looked over at me, and laughed.

Like I said, the stupidest look on my face. Stupider than when Kotoku had brought Shunkaku to meet the Suzaku Warrior reincarnations. Everyone was tense, especially Joe a.k.a. Nuriko. But Kotoku explained that Suboshi couldn't control his weapon in this life, and after talking things over Shunkaku realized that this life was different than the last. It was a fresh beginning.

Tasuki hit it off with Shunkaku really well. Before long both of them had been talking and laughing, all with the most colorful language I had ever heard. Kotoku had his head down and was red. I think he really didn't appreciate his brother using such vulgar language.

Joe seemed to know Shunkaku, and in fact the younger twin had pulled the purple haired warrior aside and they spoke to each other. All of us were surprised when Joe punched Shunkaku, but even more surprised when Shunkaku hit back. Apparently he was under the impression that Joe was a girl. Go figure.

Duke Prio, Andy Won, Pedro, and Chichiri were wary around Shunkaku, and though the five eventually became friends, they were no where near as close to Shunkaku as Tasuki and Joe. In fact, I think Shunkaku was intimidated by Chichiri, mainly because he still had his Celestial Warrior powers as he was brought into this world, rather than reborn into it.

And then there was me. Taka. Shunkaku was very quiet, and couldn't quite meet my eyes. I guess it makes sense. I remember what he did to my family, how he had such a deep hatred for me. But after a few minutes, he looked at me with those golden eyes and said something that must've been very hard for him to do.

"I'm sorry. I know that nothing I say or do can excuse what I've done. But..that was our past life. I...I would like very much if we could be friends. Like you are with my older brother."

His older brother. I knew how much Suboshi had looked up to Amiboshi. Apparently it had carried into this life. I smiled and nodded, and though it took some time and work, we were pretty good friends now.

Miaka forgave Shunkaku for Suboshi's actions. Well, to her, Shunkaku wasn't Suboshi, he was Shunkaku, Kotoku's brother. She has such a big and generous heart. Is it any wonder I love her? When the twins hang out with us, Shunkaku likes to tease Miaka, and Tasuki sometimes joins in, with Joe whapping them both into the ground. All of us always have a good laugh at that.

Yui, Keisuke, and Tetsuya weren't as open as Miaka, especially Yui and Tetsuya. Surprisingly, Shunkaku told Yui that he was sorry for Suboshi taking advantage of her feelings. Apparently, he never had true feelings for her, but he was in such an unstable emotional state at the time he had latched onto her. Tetsuya eased up on him after that, and while Keisuke sometimes gets scared by the younger twin, Shunkaku was able to fit in.

So, the twins had entered the circle of Suzaku friends, and all seemed normal between them, until that day when I walked in and Shunkaku laughed while Kotoku tried to silence him. It was Kotoku, in fact, who went and got their robes and, while donning his, he dumped Shunkaku's on top of its owner.

Kotoku closed the door and took me aside, and told me that there were secrets of he and his brother he hadn't revealed, even to the Seiyru Celestial Warriors in their past lives. He and Shunkaku were brothers, but they were more than that. Their last life, they only got a short time together, but this time they wanted to do it right, to live out their love in peace. Yes, he knew of modern rules and such, but he didn't care. He made me promise not to tell anybody.

Shunkaku jumped in before I could answer, and for a second the Seiryu Warrior Suboshi appeared. He warned me that if I hurt his brother in any way, including revealing this, he'd make sure I suffered.

Kotoku scolded Shunkaku, but I understood. The loyalty from Suboshi was still there, and stronger now that they were...together. I promised, but asked to know any other secrets. Kotoku and Shunkaku's quiet response and glances at each other let me know there was a whole lot more.

And it hit like a brick truck.

Nakago and Soi were reincarnated, and the twins' parents, no less. They lived a while away, and were different than in their last life, but it was still heavy news to take in. Shunkaku added another to that list: Tomo. Kotoku didn't know of it, and Shunkaku revealed that he knew someone in the States that had taken advantage of him, and now that he thought back on the person, on their looks, it was Tomo, minus the make-up.

I was certainly curious what a make-up-less Tomo looked like, but the stunned and sympathetic look Kotoku was giving his brother made me realize that I shouldn't pry into the matter. I wondered if, considering Tomo's history, he had taken advantage of Shunkaku in an...improper way.

I of course didn't, and probably won't ever, find out.

And so life continued. They were finishing up college, though not graduating in the traditional sense. Kotoku's flute CDs finally hit the big time, and he signed with a music company doing what he loved: composing and playing music exclusively for the flute.

Shunkaku was proud, though upset that he probably couldn't go with his brother whenever Kotoku went on tour. Kotoku assured Shunkaku that he would stay away as little as possible. They didn't think I saw them, but they stole a quick kiss.

Shunkaku, who had remained undeclared for so long, finally decided he knew what he wanted to do: teach martial arts. True, he hadn't chosen which field, and he still liked weapons and entered competitions, but it was something he enjoyed. I wasn't sure how well he'd do as a teacher until I saw him teaching Duke Prio to defend himself, and while he was harsh and crude, Prio learned the techniques in one session that lasted under three hours. He'd succeed, granted probably by unethical means.

And still, after nearly two years, no one but I knew their secret. Miaka was clue less, of course, but some of the Suzaku group might suspect, especially Joe. He wasn't one to object to such things, though. He still loved the reincarnated Hotohori, Andy Won, the Chinese pop star idol.

I stop outside the college and look at the sky. The twins and the Suzaku group were getting together to watch a meteor shower that night. Duke Prio had estimated a shower tonight, and invited everyone to watch. Kotoku once told me that he and Shunkaku, in their past lives, had been called the incarnation of the Legend of the Shooting Stars. I remember that legend from Tamahome's memories. Tonight will be a special event for them, even if all they can do is hold each other.

But still, I think it was nice that they were able to find themselves in this world, to experience their love and lives together.

Like twin novae, dying hundreds of years ago only to be reborn in the distant future.