GAHHHHHH!!! Tomo's possessed my phone!! How? Why?! I'll tell you! Every time I pick it up off the receiver it's fine, but when I try to dial something, anything, it cackles! It goes, "takkakakaa!" I swear it does! It's so creepy!!! I can't even dial for help! Okay... um… As I go to find help (aka an exorcist) why don't you read the next chapter? Good idea, right? *ponders* I wonder if I can keep Tomo? After I get him out of my phone (yes, my phone), that is… Damn, Seiryuu is *weird* sometimes… *dials random numbers* No! I've been… disconnected!!!

Once again, I'm afraid I'm going to have to apologize.  This is yet another revision, but is includes all the chapters thus far. Since I finally decided to proofread and edit this story, I've found hundreds of stupid mistakes. These mistakes include leaving out words, improper word tenses, and etcetera. Being without a computer for an entire week, I drove myself absolutely crazy by staring at all the errors with no way to correct them and so now that I have a computer to work on, my revised edition is finally out. Sorry again and thanks to everyone for living with my incompetence all this time! ^^&

Hehehe… Guess what? I need to revise this chapter. Again!  I watched the OAV again and realized that I screwed up big time so as soon as I finish chapter four, I'm going to be fixing this one. I'm so sorry! No more spoilers for me, ne? Expect to see the revisions soon and if it won't be too much trouble, please reread this chapter when they're out. I'll provide notice when it's repaired. Sorry!

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Nijuusei

Chapter 4: Dreams of a Past Reality

By Kaen

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The hot days of summer were taking their toll on the village's numerous crops. It seemed like everyone was always outside, doing one thing or another to help the withering crops and Kai-Ka was no exception. In the past two years that he could remember, the summer's heat had never been so severe. He sighed, wiping the sweat off his brow before gripping the handle of ground pick and plunging back into the hardened soil. There was no point in getting pessimistic about the situation, especially when there was important work to be done.

"Aniki…"

Kai–Ka froze, pausing momentarily from his work in the fields. He stood rigid and silent, listening intently to hear the voice again. It was so strange… It didn't feel like the voice was coming from somewhere around him, but rather… Absurd, he told himself. There was no way someone could be communicating with him mentally. Dismissing the thought Kai-Ka raised the hoe above his head and began to strike the hard ground with it again.

"Aniki!"

Kai-Ka gasped. He was sure of it this time! That voice hadn't been from outside of him. Was he going insane? Maybe the heat was getting to him. He had been working the entire morning. I should probably be taking a break soon, anyway, he thought, noting the high position of the sun. But that voice just wouldn't leave him alone. What was it talking about, anyway? Kai-Ka knew for a fact that he was an only-child, so why did someone keep on calling "Aniki" to him?

"He's such a hard worker!"

Kai-Ka blinked twice, the voice of the other villager bringing him out of his deep concentration.

"Yeah, I wish my son did half the work he does!" commented another villager.

Shrugging off the compliments as being about him, not to him, Kai-Ka began walking deeper in the fields. He didn't like people watching him work; it made him uneasy.  After he was a comfortable distance away, he lifted up the large tool again and then…

"ANIKI!!" the voice screamed, being far too loud to be ignored. That cry…Kai-Ka dropped the tool, his breathing shallow and coarse. His eyes grew wide and unfocused and then Kai-Ka felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, almost like something had gone right through him. He doubled over, barely keeping himself from passing out. Although he felt as though he'd been impaled, the pain of Kai-Ka's body was no match for the agony in his heart. Emotions flew through him with the force of a coursing river, such strong feelings of utter terror and regret and something he couldn't exactly name…

"Aniki," a hoarse voice whispered, "Aniki! I'm scared! I-I don't want to die here… I'm afraid…"

Die?! Who's dying? That voice was afraid of death? Or maybe afraid of dying alone? Who in the world was that? Kai-Ka was trembling as he shut his eyes tightly, unable to ignore the emotional blur and pain any longer. He was forgetting something; he just knew it! But what could be so important yet completely evade him at the same time?

It was then that Kai-Ka felt something wet pooling beneath him. His eyes flew open and he was startled to see a deep blue liquid surrounding him and walls beginning to form around him. He gasped and tried to move, but the blue liquid (water?) was spreading too quickly and soon it had totally engulfed him. Kai-Ka attempted to scream, but the water left him totally mute and disoriented. His mind began to grow dim and his consciousness faded, but as quickly as it had begun, it ceased. Was that how it felt… to die?

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A policeman watched from behind his desk as the convict stirred in his sleep. He was quiet most the time, but it really was nerve-wracking when he'd let out a cry like someone was trying to kill him. Shuddering, the policeman turned his eyes back to his newspaper. Just as long as the kid shut up until they figured out who he was. The kid, who looked about eighteen, claimed to be new in the city and didn't know his phone number yet. The policeman shrugged. He could have sworn he'd seen that same kid around the city before, but then again he could be mistaking him for someone else. The police officer paused in his thoughts to reflect on the arrest.

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When the police car had arrived the manager of the store had already cornered the youth. Although he made no attempt to escape, he kept on arguing that he was innocent and he didn't know what the manager was even talking about. The kid just kept on saying that he was new in the city and he was taking a break from moving in the new house when he came to the convenience store. The weird part was that the kid had the money to pay for the three sodas he'd chosen and was about to, so the store's clerk had said, when the manager burst from the back rooms and accused him. The slob –eh, manager- had waited until the cops arrived before he even explained what was going on and the kid seemed totally oblivious of the crime he was talking about. The policeman shuddered again, remembering the most interesting part of the arrest. While the manager was trying to prove that the kid had stolen a loaf of bread, he kneeled on the floor and yanked up the kid's baggy pant leg. Naturally, the kid freaked and fell over. He landed with a resounding "thud," being totally perplexed. Needless to say, there was no bread up the kid's pants…

The manager was furious to be proven wrong, but the guy just didn't give up. He dragged the entire group, including the kid, into the back room where he rewound the security camera's tape where there was indeed a kid stuffing a loaf of bread up the leg of his pants. On camera the youth had looked a little rougher, but the visual of his face and the clothes left no doubt in the law officials' mind. Not requesting to see any more of the tape, the officers arrested the youth who was silent with the shock of supposedly seeing himself commit a crime he never did. He'd been completely silent on the ride to the station, obviously lost in deep thought.

The officer knew it must have been his first felony from the way he was clueless on what to do once they reached the station, and all the while the officer couldn't help but pity him. He just looked too lost and innocent to commit even the smallest crime. After showing him to his cell, the kid even thanked him, a sure sign of a good upbringing. He didn't protest at all, either. He just sat down on the hard bed, eventually reclining and going to sleep.

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The policeman sighed and propped his feet on the desk. It wasn't like him to feel pity for his prisoners, but this kid just seemed so lost. He didn't even know his phone number or exact address, so he just waited for his parents to come looking for him. Giving the kid one last glance the policeman lifted the newspaper up again and lost himself in the many articles. He didn't notice when the captive fell completely silent and his breathing slowed to an imperceptibly light pattern.

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Kai-Ka felt that he was somehow suspended in midair even before he opened his eyes. It was an incredible feeling, like how it must feel to fly. The air was cool, but not chilling and felt wonderful after being in the sun for so long. The sounds of water could be heard from every direction, splashing and dripping. It was so peaceful and Kai-Ka found himself growing very tired. Forcing back his growing weariness, Kai-Ka slowly opened his eyes to his ambiance. It was beautiful… far too breathtaking for mere words…

Pure and clear water flowed from everywhere. Waterfalls scaled down from invisible walls and poured into what should have been a basin of water, but instead was a clear night's sky. The stars and dark night swirled slowly beneath him and the waterfalls continued to fall until they were completely out of sight, leaving behind trails of white mist amongst the stars. Above Kai-Ka was what could be called a ceiling, which appeared to be the endless horizon of a lake rippled as though a stone had just been thrown into it. The ceiling's undulations never stopped, but Kai-Ka could just barely make out his own reflection. In a surreal movement Kai-Ka felt himself drawn to the so-called ceiling of the mystical place in just one act of sheer will. Reaching up to touch it gingerly Kai-Ka was surprised to find that the seemingly delicate surface of the water was a rippling, yet hard glasslike barrier. Slowly retracting his hand Kai-Ka was startled to find that his reflection did not.

He gazed wondrously back at his image as his own reflection gave him a warm and loving smile. Bringing himself closer to the barrier, Kai-Ka's "reflection" stared at him fixedly before finally speaking.

"Aniki… Can you see me now?" His voice was filled with anxiety and it was obvious he'd been trying to reach Kai-Ka for quite some time. Kai-Ka shook slightly from the intensity in the other's eyes. Who was he? A part of himself? Why would a part of himself be calling him "elder brother," though? It just didn't make sense.  Realizing that the mirror image was waiting for an answer, Kai-Ka complied.

"Yes, I can see you… but who are you?" he asked, his eyes burning with an intensity equal to that of his "reflection." He had been a little hesitant to speak at first, afraid that he really was talking to himself. Upon realizing that his reflection's question had not been of his own mind's conception Kai-Ka began to speak with more confidence.

"Do you truly not remember me, your Otouto?" Although the reflection seemed to expect this fact, a wave of grief shadowed his face all the same. Smiling sadly, the reflection –no, his "brother"- brought something into his hand from thin air. Kai-Ka stared in wonder as the object took the form of a flute, but something slender weighing down his own hand diverted his attention. Holding up the object, Kai-Ka realized that he held the same flute, identical right down to the tassel tied at the end of it.

The instrument felt strangely familiar in his hands and yet another nagging feeling began to form in the back of Kai-Ka's mind. Kai-Ka felt himself bringing the instrument to his lips, he himself mirroring his "little brother." Smiling reassuringly, the younger of the two boys began to play a slow and sorrowful melody. Kai-Ka felt himself playing along inevitably. Somehow the tune felt old and familiar, but Kai-Ka could not place where he'd heard it before. As the duet continued, Kai-Ka could feel his mind and heart gradually unlocking. His mind became a distant haze, but Kai-Ka kept playing, allowing his heart to lead the way. Almost there… what's been hidden for so long and what I long to know…I can almost remember! The other noticed this change in Kai-Ka's actions and his eyes softened, continuing the mysterious duet.

In that instant the final wall around Kai-Ka's heart collapsed and his lost memories were finally brought to light. Kai-Ka lost himself in memories and revelations, amazed to find that he'd led a much more exciting life than he had previously thought. He was Amiboshi, of the Seiryuu Seven. He was ally of Suzaku, despite his celestial connotation. He was an orphan of a civil war, and the identical twin of Bu Shunkaku, Suboshi another warrior of the Seiryuu. He finally knew the truth about his adoptive parents. All the revelations brought to light after so much time filled him with joy yet weighed his soul down with sorrow at the same time. The leaves of forgetfulness; he could remember how he forget everything, why he wanted to and lastly, who had let him. His entire peaceful life was given to him out of the compassion of his Otouto. His little brother had let him forget, he himself no longer tied in the conflict between Suzaku and Seiryuu.

Amiboshi, no longer considering himself Kai-Ka, felt the steady pull bringing him back to his current reality. He was grateful for the lack of gravity in the chamber, knowing that he surely would have collapsed from the flood of memories if there had been. He still had a loose grip on the flute, and he subconsciously noted that the only sound to be heard was the falling of water. Suboshi had stopped playing. Suboshi, my little brother…

"Otouto…" Amiboshi whispered, his soft voice full of love and indebtedness. He couldn't remember a time when he had ever loved his brother more. Amiboshi looked up to meet the warm eyes of his brother. They just stared at each other for a long time, taking in the other's aura and being content in that presence. Amiboshi finally broke the silence by asking the question that had been puzzling him since he had remembered.

"Otouto, what happened in those years I couldn't remember? Why must I see you here in spirit but not in body?"

The long remorseful silence seemed to answer the question itself. Amiboshi found himself expecting the worst, confirming his fears before Suboshi even spoke. Suboshi looked away as he sensed Amiboshi's anxiousness. He didn't want to explain what had happened, but Aniki had every right to and needed to know. Taking a weary breath, Suboshi began to tell his story

"I… I died… In our miko's world, Aniki. Two years ago. I know you felt it! All my fear and loneliness… It was all relayed back to you, but only for a second. You cried, but you didn't know why. And when you felt like half of you had been torn away, or rather when it had returned, and it had! I came back to you! My spirit has been with you for two years, Aniki. We were the way we were supposed to be during that time, I think. My spirit was asleep, but I know you felt my presence and now… I've been with you all this time, but I awoke now to ask a favor of you…"

Amiboshi was astonished. First at finding that his beloved Otouto was dead and had been for two years, and second at learning that they had been rejoined. He didn't know which shocked him more, but he just couldn't understand why he hadn't been able to sense his twin's ki. It was so unusual that he had gone undetected for so long, even though he had still been suffering from a rather strange form of amnesia. Realizing that his twin was still waiting for his response, Amiboshi brought himself back to the matter at hand.

"I need your body," Amiboshi gasped. If Suboshi was dead, what business did he have with Amiboshi's body? Was there something he didn't know yet?

"Why, Otouto? Please go on," Amiboshi said shakily, his mind a thickening blur of questions and thoughts.

"Hai… The priestess, Yui-sama, has returned to our world, but not as Seiryuu no Miko…

She is now the Priestess of Genbu, and although I don't understand why, she is nonetheless in need of my, I mean our protection. Please, Aniki! We must protect her!"

"Yui-sama? Seiryuu's miko? How could she return as the priestess for another god…?" Amiboshi was thinking aloud and Suboshi decided to remain silent. Turning back to Amiboshi, Suboshi pleaded to his brother again.

"Please, Aniki! We must protect her… please!" the desperation in his twins voice was unmistakable; he really was begging. Amiboshi stared at Suboshi for a minute before asking, "You love her, don't you? She's the girl you died for before, isn't she?"

Suboshi's eyes began to tear up before he smiled weakly and nodded. It would have been obvious to anyone to see the unconditional love that shone from Suboshi's dark blue eyes. Amiboshi's returned the smile, letting out a soft chuckle. Suboshi looked at him questioningly, and Amiboshi answered, "Who would have ever thought it? My little brother in love. Even I had never considered such a possibility." Suboshi blushed.

Amiboshi's soft laughter died away, the realm's only sound once again being the splashing of water. The twins stared intensely at each other for another minute, neither breaking the eye contact. Finally, Amiboshi sighed heavily and nodded slightly, indicating his agreement. He knew how much his Otouto cared about Yui and if it required the use of Amiboshi's own body to defend her, so be it. Amiboshi's solemn look changed into a look of entertainment as his twin smiled widely from the other side of the impediment. In an unexpected move Suboshi lifted his hand to the glass water, the ripple of the water rebounding off it. Suboshi closed his eyes in deep concentration and exerted a forceful energy on the glass water and Amiboshi gasped as the barrier that separated them cracked.

In just another second the glass water completely shattered and the sharp shards sparkled as they spun and flew in every direction. Amiboshi shielded his face with his arms, but when the shards hit, they had no more impact than water would. He lowered his arms and observed in fascination as the shards transformed into rounded droplets of water. He turned his attention back to his brother when he noticed that they were much closer than before; within arm's reach. Suboshi smiled gently as he took his brother's hands and raised them up, bending at the elbow so that Amiboshi's palms were in facing him. Suboshi then laced his Aniki's fingers with his own. Stopping to gaze at his brother one last time, Suboshi's nearly soundless words filled Amiboshi's mind.

"Thank you, Aniki..."

With these last words, Suboshi closed his eyes as well the distance between his and Amiboshi's face and pressed a light kiss to his lips. Amiboshi closed his eyes as well as he felt a soft light emit from his body. The blue light began to form an aurora between their two bodies. Amiboshi was frozen in time as he felt Suboshi's body start to fade. Amiboshi soon could no longer feel Suboshi's physical form, but the warmth that was seeping into his soul was unmistakable. In a brilliant flash of light, Amiboshi lost his control of all logical thought and his body was given to the spirit of his brother. Amiboshi felt warm and comfortable as his spirit relaxed in the place of their reunion.

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Kokuei stepped carefully around the many boxes in the entryway. It was painfully obvious that the people must have just moved in that day. The natural lighting of the house was poor, and it took a little while for Kokuei's eyes to adjust to the sudden change. He stood in the hall for a while before he could bring himself to go up the steps and confront that woman who'd mistaken him for someone else. Maneuvering carefully around the randomly strewn boxes, Kokuei made his way to the stairs. They creaked loudly and he cringed at the noise, but he continued his journey through the foreign house.

Seeing that only one room was lighted, Kokuei made his way towards it. He felt incredibly nervous. What if they accuse me of entry without permission? Kokuei had nearly been caught for stealing before, but he'd never attempted entry into someone's house. Stopping in front of the doorway Kokuei stopped muttered a meek, "Uh… Excuse me…"The woman who was kneeling on the floor with her back towards him turned and flashed a quick smile. It was evident that she still thought that Kokuei was "Hiashi." Walking over to where the woman kneeled in front of a box, Kokuei knelt down himself at eye level with the lady. He was about to speak when she spoke first.

"Welcome home, hun. Did you get the-" Before she even finished the sentence she took a closer at Kokuei, or rather at his shirt, and let out a shocked cry. Kokuei remembered with a start that there was still dried blood on it.

"Hiashi! What in the world happened to your clothes? Did you get into a fight or something? You must have been jumped! Oh, my God! I'll call the-"

Seeing the way that this one-sided conversation was headed, Kokuei naturally felt implied to interrupt. "Nothing happened," he assured the woman quickly, "at least not today. Don't worry about me." He added as an afterthought while smiling gently. The woman nodded slowly, still in shock, before she turned back to the open box and pulled out a clean pair of pants and a dark green sweater. She handed the clothes to Kokuei before he could protest and walked out of the room, stopping just outside the door to tell him to call her when he was done changing. She stared at him for a couple seconds longer and then informed him that he needed a shower. Kokuei shot her a look of annoyance but she didn't see it because she was already walking down the hall. Realizing that the woman still didn't know that he wasn't her son, Kokuei ran to catch her.

"Wait! I'm not-" Kokuei shut up abruptly. The woman was crying, seeking comfort in the arms of, who he imagined, was her husband. They didn't notice him and Kokuei crept back into the room silently. He couldn't bring himself to tell him that he wasn't their son. They'd just be more worried. Kokuei blinked. Why did he suddenly care so much? He tightened his grip around the bundle of clean clothing.

Sighing in defeat, Kokuei closed the hardwood door and slumped against it. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror behind the door and admitted that he did indeed need a shower. Besides, he wanted to look nice for Yui and the clothes that lady had handed him were definitely nice. Drawing a deep breath, he opened the door and walked quickly and silently down the hall until he found the bathroom. Walking inside the small room Kokuei flipped on the light switch and closed and locked the door behind him.  He set the clothes down on the counter and then shuffled around in the cupboards until he found a large towel, soap, and a suitable shampoo. Kokuei was surprised to find that they had already unpacked so much. Shutting the cabinet door Kokuei turned to examine the shower. He quickly figured out the water controls and allowed the water to warm up. Removing the loaf of bread from his pants, he placed it on the counter with his other new treasures. Kokuei then stripped down naked, pausing to unwrap the dirtied bandages around his arm. The wound seemed to be healing fine. Yui would be happy to see that. Smiling at the thought of Yui, Kokuei checked the water temperature one last time before stepping inside the shower and relaxing under its warm and soothing cascade.

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Suboshi's consciousness finally returned and he pushed himself up off of the cold ground. It was getting dark out and Yui would be arriving in this world any time now. He had to hurry, but first, he needed to find some different clothing. His brother's farmhand outfit was dirty and smelled bad and Suboshi didn't want to greet Yui smelling literally like dirt. Picking up the tool his twin had been using Suboshi began the short walk back to the house. He was fairly certain he remembered which one it was from when he'd carried his brother back to it the last time they'd been together. Suboshi made an effort to stay hidden in the shadows to avoid any unnecessary confrontations. He made it back to his brother's home without any problems. Laying the ground pick alongside the house and then sneaking inside, he made his way to what he assumed was his brother's room. He was right.

Amiboshi's room was simply decorated, but cheerful. Wide strips of light fabric pinned to the walls drooped down artistically and served as the rooms only decorations to color the thin, blank walls. One of the darker pieces was being used to cover the doorway, which Suboshi was thankful for. There was one large window above the futon that had a pleasant view overlooking the hillside and, knowing his Aniki, was probably an ideal stage for the sunrise. Suboshi walked over to the orderly shelves where "Kai-Ka's" clothes where stacked and rummaged through them until he found an outfit he liked, which ironically was very recognizable. It was the outfit Amiboshi had been wearing when he had first drifted to this village by the quick current of the river. It was Suboshi's favorite selection from out of all the other clothes and he shrugged off the dirty clothes, soon changing into the cleaner, more familiar ones. Pausing to check his appearance in the jagged mirror, Suboshi was content and he walked directly from the bedroom to the front door. His back was to Amiboshi's adoptive parents and he was about to leave when they stopped him.

"Kai-Ka, Where are you going?" the elderly woman asked. She took in his appearance and gasped. "Kai-Ka! The last time you wore those clothes…"

Suboshi didn't even flinch as the woman's eyes filled with tears. He knew that they were there, but he didn't want to see them and he didn't turn around. There was a moment of silence as the only sound that could be heard was the dinner boiling on the stove. The woman finally spoke, asking a far more tentative question.

"You'll come back soon, right?"

Suboshi's facial expression didn't change as he began to walk out the door. He wasn't going to make any promises he didn't know that he could keep. Aniki, you're so lucky. These people care about you so much. Suboshi didn't see the woman break down sobbing or the raw worry in Kai-Ka's father's eyes as he attempted to comfort the woman.

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The night was still and unusually chilly. The sky was clear and the stars shone brightly, joining the nearly full moon in its effort to light the darkened world. The mountains were silhouetted by the soft moonlight and the dim lighting made the night seem to stretch out infinitely. Upon closer examination, one would have realized that this still night was extraordinarily different from any other. The ghosts of Suzaku Seishi stood alongside their living counterparts and their miko. The Seiryuu Seishi ghost of Nakago stood scorning a very alive Tomo, as they both stood tormenting each other as well as the young Genbu Seishi. The entire scene was the image of chaos and to a particular Seiryuu Seishi, the new Genbu no Miko was all that he cared about. Yui's eyes were glowing an eerie bright green, and she was totally oblivious to what was happening around her. Suboshi had rushed to her side in an attempt to awake her from her trance, but his efforts were cut short as a powerful blast awakened her for him and the green faded from her eyes just before she lost her balance. He immediately caught her, treasuring the feeling of her in his arms again. In the confusion of the moment, everyone was caught off guard by the neon-magenta light that was being emitted by some unseen force. That same light took the form of a man with amazingly long grayish hair and shocking yellow cat eyes. Suboshi's first instinct was to protect Yui, but his attempts proved too late. He watched in shock as she was lifted away from him far to quickly to for him to react.

Yui was elevated in a sphere of pinkish light and electrical rings of neon green circled around her. She looked as though she were still unconscious from being snapped out of her green-eyed trance so abruptly. Suboshi could do nothing but watch in anxiety. The man continued to talk from his point floating in the air, but Suboshi didn't hear any of it. When it felt that he was going to go insane from the torture of the situation, Suboshi heard Amiboshi's voice. "Otouto, why don't you save her?" questioned Amiboshi from somewhere deep inside Suboshi's soul.

"Aniki, if I save her your body will be destroyed. You'll die!" exclaimed Suboshi, but there was hardly any time before Amiboshi's reply. His voice was strong and unwavering as he spoke his words.

"Otouto, please save the girl that you love. When I allowed you to take position over my body, I was fully aware of the risks. I knew that this might happen and I'm not afraid. Now, please save Lady Yui!"

Suboshi's eyes filed with tears as he held out his right arm, palm down. "Thank you, Aniki…" whispered Suboshi, as the familiar form of the ryuuseisuii appeared on his straightened and stiff fingers. In a mere second, his task was complete. Suboshi had launched the ryuuseisuii at Tenkou, making him lose his concentration on the captivation of Yui. Suboshi jumped to catch her as she fell, but as his arms wrapped under her back and her knees, the powerful deflective shield of Tenkou caused the ryuuseisuii to rebound. Before he had even landed safely with Yui, Suboshi felt the expected force of the ryuuseisuii tearing a hole through his abdomen. Just like before, he mused weakly. Suboshi could feel his life draining steadily away, but he waited for Yui to awaken. In a matter of seconds, she was conscious and staring into Suboshi's warm tear-filled eyes. He held her in a supportive and tender position for a little while, but soon began to speak to her.

"Yui-sama, I love you… I always have. I'm so happy I had a chance to see you again…" Suboshi's voice started to grow hoarse and weak, and Yui looked at him questioningly.

"Suboshi, why are you telling me these things now?" Yui gasped as his eyes began to drift shut, even though he was clearly trying so hard to keep them open. "Suboshi? Why now?" she choked out, her own voice falling to a subtle whisper.

"I love you, Yui-sama…" Suboshi's body slumped down as his eyes fluttered the last time and Yui felt the comfortable support of her body give way.

"Suboshi? Suboshi?!" Yui cried, the Suzaku Seishi staring in pity. The stars grew brighter as the moon broke free of the clouds and a despairing scream pierced the night.

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Hiashi awoke with a start, breathing heavily and sweating. What was happening to him? First the weird house, and now this! He sat straight up in the makeshift bed of his cell, his breath now coming in ragged sobs. It was then that he realized that he was crying, as the tears fell freely down his already dampened cheeks. Several minutes later Hiashi felt that he had finally gotten a grip on himself. He brought himself back to the present and stared mindlessly at the cell's floor. Was he really going insane? He could have sworn that he'd lived that situation before and that pain felt so real. What was wrong with him? Was he just too tired from the move? Groaning as a headache threatened to overwhelm him, Hiashi pushed himself up off the bench/bed and made his way to the barred wall of the cell.

"Excuse me…" Hiashi called weakly, hoping that the policeman who had been watching him before was still there. He sighed in relief as he heard the shuffle of newspapers and the clicking of shoes against the cement floor. It was the same man who had shown him here, and for that Hiashi was secretly thankful.

"Um… may I have something to drink, like water?" Hiashi asked, timidly. He really didn't want to inconvenience anyone, but he really did feel sick. The other man stared at him for a second before nodding and turning to walk to the water machine. He pulled out two plastic cups from the metal holder and filled them completely with cool water. Hiashi watched intently as the policeman did this and returned to in front of his cell. Upon handing him the two cups of water, Hiashi thanked him and went back to sit on the bench. Hiashi took shallow sips of the water, savoring every drop. He looked at the clock outside the cell and noted despairingly that he'd been at the station for nearly two hours. Why weren't his parents looking for him yet? It wasn't like them at all. Sighing, Hiashi finished off the first cup of water and reached for the second. He decided to pass the time by trying to decipher the strange dreams and memories that he that day. Were they perhaps an omen that he wasn't supposed to be here in this place? Or maybe signs that something extraordinary was about to happen…?

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Ta-Daaa!! So, do you think I did a good job on the spoilers? I was amazed that I managed to remember that much about it, actually. ^^& Well, what do you think? This is my longest chapter yet, finally beating the prologue! I'm very proud of myself, so I'd really, really appreciate lots of lovely reviews. Once again, you have no idea how awesome it is for me to get positive responses to my fic! By the way, I'd like to apologize for not including very much Yui/Kokuei interaction in this chapter and as a side note, I don't own Suboshi's loaf of bread either. As another note, I don't support twinsest. I apologize to those of you who do, but Angel Sanctuary and the Utena movie really burned me out on the topic. I wrote the reunion of Suboshi and Amiboshi as closely as I could relate it to the last time that they were together, which was, I believe, after Suboshi had just 'splatted' Tomo, so… Speaking of Tomo, we… got him out of my phone. My Okaasan fixed it, calling it rotary dialing since the phone was… unplugged. Stop laughing at me… Wow, this is a long author's note. I better end it before you all start throwing stuff at me, so I'll try to have the next chapter out soon. Thanks for reading!

-Kaen ^^