Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Yuu Watase or Fushigi Yugi.
Blah, I'm running off of a sugar high, I don't have the energy to come up
with a crazy disclaimer. . . Although I am listening to Kaze no Uta as I
write to this. Appropriate, ne?
Funny Looking Animated Man (No way related to Altair Maine): Then have yourself a Red Bull!
Lady Sage: Wha.???
FLAM: Because Red Bull gives you wiiiiiiiiiiiiings!!!! *drinks from a random can that came out of nowhere and sprouts wings*
Lady Sage: Yeah, and causes cancer. Ounce for ounce, tea has more caffeine. *gets some tea*
FLAM: Oh, poo. *wings fall off and he gets all depressed*
Lady Sage: *rings bell* Nuriko!
*Nuriko appears in a tuxedo*
Lady Sage: ^_^ Ooooh, I like this. *points to FLAM* Get rid of that. (Sounds really snotty, ne? I'm nice.it's just those commercials annoy the everything out of me)
*Nuriko throws him offstage*
Lady Sage: Hmm, I've really digressed, ne? Well, onto the fic!
(From Rokou's point of view)
I was born into an affluent family around the western edge of the Konan Empire. Ryuuen was born when I was two years old, and one year later, our little sister Kourin was born. We were all very close, but Ryuuen and Kourin. . . they seemed to have something special. Something I could never be a part of. Something I was jealous of, sometimes. They seemed to be connected beyond just brother and sister.
Life was hard for me sometimes. I was a complete and total wimp - I still am, really - and I was bullied a lot. I came home crying and covered in bruises at least once a week. But what hurt more than the kicks and punches was that I was being a bad big brother. I wanted Ryuuen to look up to me, to see me as a role model. But instead, he saw me as. . . I don't know what he saw me as, really. Not someone to look up to, definitely.
When I was ten, a day that changed all of our lives happened. Something that none of us would have predicted. Something that shaped our destinies. . .
~**~
A fist slammed into his cheekbone. "Ow! You guys, what was that for?" I whined, rubbing the area, which was already swelling. The only reply was a swift kick in the stomach. "Oof!" I grunted, and curled up on the ground, covering my neck, groin, and belly to protect them from the blows which rained down on me. The bullies, mostly boys more or less me age, formed a circle around me and starting kicking at me relentlessly.
"Onii-san?" I heard Ryuuen's voice. *Damn it,* I thought. *I don't want him to see me this way!* "Hey, leave him alone!"
"Sure," I heard a sneering voice say. "I'm in the mood for some fresh meat!"
*Please, leave him alone!* I screamed mentally. *Beat me up instead!* But something inside me blocked me from saying it. A part of me wanted the beating to end, no matter who else got hurt, and it dominated me. It also made me feel lower than the dust and dirt that covered me.
I heard Kourin shriek, and Ryuuen yell, "Hey, that's not fair!" There were loud shouts, and the sound of punching. I winced, and curled even tighter into my little ball. Poor Ryuuen and Kourin. . . I longed to come to their aid, but I was terrified.
Finally, the yells and punches ended. Slowly, I uncurled myself, ready to go get my parents to come and help my younger siblings. Instead, Ryuuen was standing in the middle of several unconscious - but hopefully alive - bodies, with Kourin off to the side, staring with big eyes and one bun pulled loose. Ryuuen stared at his hands in apparent shock, and started to run. "Ryuuen!" I called after him, but he didn't pay any attention.
I approached my little sister. "What happened, Kourin?" I asked.
I expected a babbling, terrified reply, but instead, her eyes shone with excitement. "Ryuuen-nii-san beat up all the bad bullies! He told them to leave you alone, but one pulled my hair instead - it really hurt, too! - and then he got *really* mad and there was a big flash of red light and he beat all of them up! He was sooooo strong that they all ran away!"
I was a bit confused, to say the least. I knew Ryuuen was stronger than me; it was one of my greatest embarrassments in life. But no one was strong enough to beat up all those bullies, all of whom were stronger than him. It was impossible - but by Kourin's account, it had happened.
When I got home, the doctor was seeing Ryuuen. According to my parents, he had collapsed as soon as he arrived, and they had, of course, called the town doctor over. After a tense half-hour, the doctor walked out.
"Ryuuen. . . how is he?" my mother asked worriedly. She was always a worrier, right until the very end.
"Ryuuen is perfectly healthy. In fact, I can do absolutely nothing for him, except recommend a brief period of bed rest. I believe you would be better off calling a priest."
"What's that supposed to mean?" my father asked.
"Well, when I was examining him, I discovered that Ryuuen had a glowing red kanji on his left collarbone. It read "willow": the mark of the Suzaku seishi, Nuriko."
My mother fell back on the cushion. There was a loud thud when she missed and her tailbone hit the floor. Kourin, of course, started giggling.
"What does this mean?" she whispered. "Does it mean we'll have to send our little Ryuuen away to the palace?" Tears started to form in her eyes. "I don't want to lose my baby boy!"
"I honestly cannot say," he told us. "Only a priest, or an official, will be able to tell you."
Mother started crying, and my dad was growing visibly angrier. Kourin decided it was a good time to leave and fled to her playroom. I thought she had the right idea, but I had a different destination in mind - Ryuuen's room.
He was sitting up, awake and alert, and reading a book. "Nii-san!" he greeted me cheerfully. "Look what sensei (AN: Here, sensei means doctor) gave me! He said it was a reward for standing up to those bullies, and making it so their parents would have to call him and pay for his help." He laughed, but there was something strained in it.
"Ryuuen," I whispered. "They're saying you're Nuriko."
He stopped laughing suddenly and looked at me. "I know. Here, look," he showed me his left chest, and sure enough, there it was, glowing a bright, unmistakable red: the character for "willow".
I was speechless. All I could say was, "Wow." Lame, I know. After a moment to collect my thoughts, I said, "Do you know what this means?"
"It means that I'm really strong! And someday, I get to protect the Suzaku no Miko!"
I was a little surprised by his answer, but then I started to laugh. "Yeah!" I said. "Someday!"
~**~
"What a heartwarming story," Kourin said. She grabbed Rokou's drink and took a swig.
"Hey! That's mine!" Rokou protested. "Don't go acting all familiar just because I told you a bit of my past."
"But all my drink's gone, and I don't have any money to buy more AND pay for the rest of the trip," she pouted. "Besides, we might as well be friendly as long as we're traveling together."
"But it's alcoholic, and you're too young to drink." He was, of course, referring to the drink.
"Humph! It's chilly out here and I need something to warm my bones."
"Then put on warm clothing." He drained his cup. "Hey, I told you a story. Why don't you tell me one about you?"
"About me?" Kourin shrugged. "Nothing much to say. I'm an illegitimate child born on the southern borders of Sailo. My mother was an astrologer. That's pretty much it."
Rokou could tell she was hiding something. Her eyes, which often revealed everything she felt, had gone opaque and she had stopped bothering to brush her hair out of her eyes when she said that. But he wasn't one to press for information.
She suddenly stood. "I think I'll go to bed now. Goodnight." As she went to leave, she started to cough. Hard.
"Hey, are you okay?" Rokou asked. She didn't reply, only doubled over and began to cough harder. When she was done, she stood with her back to him and wiped something away from her mouth. She turned around and smiled. "I'm fine!" she assured him. "The cold air is just irritating my windpipe. No big deal. See you in the morning." And she left. But as she walked away, Rokou swore he saw something bright red and wet on the back of her hand. *Blood?* he wondered. He shook his head. Kourin was certainly mystery to be figured out. But his bed was calling to him; she would have to wait until morning. He paid the bill, and left up the stairs.
Funny Looking Animated Man (No way related to Altair Maine): Then have yourself a Red Bull!
Lady Sage: Wha.???
FLAM: Because Red Bull gives you wiiiiiiiiiiiiings!!!! *drinks from a random can that came out of nowhere and sprouts wings*
Lady Sage: Yeah, and causes cancer. Ounce for ounce, tea has more caffeine. *gets some tea*
FLAM: Oh, poo. *wings fall off and he gets all depressed*
Lady Sage: *rings bell* Nuriko!
*Nuriko appears in a tuxedo*
Lady Sage: ^_^ Ooooh, I like this. *points to FLAM* Get rid of that. (Sounds really snotty, ne? I'm nice.it's just those commercials annoy the everything out of me)
*Nuriko throws him offstage*
Lady Sage: Hmm, I've really digressed, ne? Well, onto the fic!
(From Rokou's point of view)
I was born into an affluent family around the western edge of the Konan Empire. Ryuuen was born when I was two years old, and one year later, our little sister Kourin was born. We were all very close, but Ryuuen and Kourin. . . they seemed to have something special. Something I could never be a part of. Something I was jealous of, sometimes. They seemed to be connected beyond just brother and sister.
Life was hard for me sometimes. I was a complete and total wimp - I still am, really - and I was bullied a lot. I came home crying and covered in bruises at least once a week. But what hurt more than the kicks and punches was that I was being a bad big brother. I wanted Ryuuen to look up to me, to see me as a role model. But instead, he saw me as. . . I don't know what he saw me as, really. Not someone to look up to, definitely.
When I was ten, a day that changed all of our lives happened. Something that none of us would have predicted. Something that shaped our destinies. . .
~**~
A fist slammed into his cheekbone. "Ow! You guys, what was that for?" I whined, rubbing the area, which was already swelling. The only reply was a swift kick in the stomach. "Oof!" I grunted, and curled up on the ground, covering my neck, groin, and belly to protect them from the blows which rained down on me. The bullies, mostly boys more or less me age, formed a circle around me and starting kicking at me relentlessly.
"Onii-san?" I heard Ryuuen's voice. *Damn it,* I thought. *I don't want him to see me this way!* "Hey, leave him alone!"
"Sure," I heard a sneering voice say. "I'm in the mood for some fresh meat!"
*Please, leave him alone!* I screamed mentally. *Beat me up instead!* But something inside me blocked me from saying it. A part of me wanted the beating to end, no matter who else got hurt, and it dominated me. It also made me feel lower than the dust and dirt that covered me.
I heard Kourin shriek, and Ryuuen yell, "Hey, that's not fair!" There were loud shouts, and the sound of punching. I winced, and curled even tighter into my little ball. Poor Ryuuen and Kourin. . . I longed to come to their aid, but I was terrified.
Finally, the yells and punches ended. Slowly, I uncurled myself, ready to go get my parents to come and help my younger siblings. Instead, Ryuuen was standing in the middle of several unconscious - but hopefully alive - bodies, with Kourin off to the side, staring with big eyes and one bun pulled loose. Ryuuen stared at his hands in apparent shock, and started to run. "Ryuuen!" I called after him, but he didn't pay any attention.
I approached my little sister. "What happened, Kourin?" I asked.
I expected a babbling, terrified reply, but instead, her eyes shone with excitement. "Ryuuen-nii-san beat up all the bad bullies! He told them to leave you alone, but one pulled my hair instead - it really hurt, too! - and then he got *really* mad and there was a big flash of red light and he beat all of them up! He was sooooo strong that they all ran away!"
I was a bit confused, to say the least. I knew Ryuuen was stronger than me; it was one of my greatest embarrassments in life. But no one was strong enough to beat up all those bullies, all of whom were stronger than him. It was impossible - but by Kourin's account, it had happened.
When I got home, the doctor was seeing Ryuuen. According to my parents, he had collapsed as soon as he arrived, and they had, of course, called the town doctor over. After a tense half-hour, the doctor walked out.
"Ryuuen. . . how is he?" my mother asked worriedly. She was always a worrier, right until the very end.
"Ryuuen is perfectly healthy. In fact, I can do absolutely nothing for him, except recommend a brief period of bed rest. I believe you would be better off calling a priest."
"What's that supposed to mean?" my father asked.
"Well, when I was examining him, I discovered that Ryuuen had a glowing red kanji on his left collarbone. It read "willow": the mark of the Suzaku seishi, Nuriko."
My mother fell back on the cushion. There was a loud thud when she missed and her tailbone hit the floor. Kourin, of course, started giggling.
"What does this mean?" she whispered. "Does it mean we'll have to send our little Ryuuen away to the palace?" Tears started to form in her eyes. "I don't want to lose my baby boy!"
"I honestly cannot say," he told us. "Only a priest, or an official, will be able to tell you."
Mother started crying, and my dad was growing visibly angrier. Kourin decided it was a good time to leave and fled to her playroom. I thought she had the right idea, but I had a different destination in mind - Ryuuen's room.
He was sitting up, awake and alert, and reading a book. "Nii-san!" he greeted me cheerfully. "Look what sensei (AN: Here, sensei means doctor) gave me! He said it was a reward for standing up to those bullies, and making it so their parents would have to call him and pay for his help." He laughed, but there was something strained in it.
"Ryuuen," I whispered. "They're saying you're Nuriko."
He stopped laughing suddenly and looked at me. "I know. Here, look," he showed me his left chest, and sure enough, there it was, glowing a bright, unmistakable red: the character for "willow".
I was speechless. All I could say was, "Wow." Lame, I know. After a moment to collect my thoughts, I said, "Do you know what this means?"
"It means that I'm really strong! And someday, I get to protect the Suzaku no Miko!"
I was a little surprised by his answer, but then I started to laugh. "Yeah!" I said. "Someday!"
~**~
"What a heartwarming story," Kourin said. She grabbed Rokou's drink and took a swig.
"Hey! That's mine!" Rokou protested. "Don't go acting all familiar just because I told you a bit of my past."
"But all my drink's gone, and I don't have any money to buy more AND pay for the rest of the trip," she pouted. "Besides, we might as well be friendly as long as we're traveling together."
"But it's alcoholic, and you're too young to drink." He was, of course, referring to the drink.
"Humph! It's chilly out here and I need something to warm my bones."
"Then put on warm clothing." He drained his cup. "Hey, I told you a story. Why don't you tell me one about you?"
"About me?" Kourin shrugged. "Nothing much to say. I'm an illegitimate child born on the southern borders of Sailo. My mother was an astrologer. That's pretty much it."
Rokou could tell she was hiding something. Her eyes, which often revealed everything she felt, had gone opaque and she had stopped bothering to brush her hair out of her eyes when she said that. But he wasn't one to press for information.
She suddenly stood. "I think I'll go to bed now. Goodnight." As she went to leave, she started to cough. Hard.
"Hey, are you okay?" Rokou asked. She didn't reply, only doubled over and began to cough harder. When she was done, she stood with her back to him and wiped something away from her mouth. She turned around and smiled. "I'm fine!" she assured him. "The cold air is just irritating my windpipe. No big deal. See you in the morning." And she left. But as she walked away, Rokou swore he saw something bright red and wet on the back of her hand. *Blood?* he wondered. He shook his head. Kourin was certainly mystery to be figured out. But his bed was calling to him; she would have to wait until morning. He paid the bill, and left up the stairs.