Just a note because I forgot before, that I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. Duh! Also check out my other fanfiction, the Road Less Travelled (shameless self- promotion). Oh yeah, don't forget to review thanks!

Chapter Two: The Gathering Darkness

21 years later...

There was a shift in the air, a force existing on the edge of consciousness. Ayumi paused in the act of gathering plants for the umpteenth time, staring at the clouds gathering over the tops of the mountains that ringed her valley. Lowering her head she resumed her task, unable to shake the sense of unease that pervaded her mind. Normally the task of gathering the medicinal herbs and flowers that grew wild around her home would only take an hour or more, but today Ayumi was in the wilds for much longer. It didn't help that she was unusually distracted. Shaking off the feeling, Ayumi gathered her skirts and rested the basket on her hip as she turned back toward the village. Her mother Saori had instructed her in the art of healing, almost from the time she could speak, as her mother did before her. Ayumi was a fast learner and almost had an innate ability that even seemed to surpass her mother at times. However what she loved most was helping people, and was very proud of the responsibility that came with it.

Ayumi scanned the countryside with her cerulean eyes, taking in the beauty of the countryside as if she had never seen it before. She never grew tired of looking at her peaceful and fertile valley, and spent as much time in it as she could. Anyone looking at she scene would be struck by the lovely picture Ayumi made as she moved gracefully along the worn path, her body swaying slightly as she walked. No one could deny that Ayumi was a beautiful girl, much like her mother in her mannerisms. However there was something more to Ayumi, an almost erethral quality that was present in her very being. For those reasons, Ayumi both drew and repelled people from her, and as a consequence she had few friends. The notable exception was a young village girl named Toya. Toya and Ayumi had been inseparable since they were children, and if Ayumi had her way, it would always be so. However Toya had recently accepted an offer of marriage and would be moving to her new husband's village after the wedding. Ayumi herself was almost at the end of the usual marriageable age for her region, and had received a few offers in the past few years, but Ayumi was never interested in one man enough to leave her home. She resigned herself to the fact that she would most likely be an old maid, which secretly suited her just fine.

Ayumi glanced at she sky again; a line creasing her smooth forehead as she watched the churning clouds at the edge of the valley. Quickening her step, she knew it wouldn't be long before the storm was upon her, and she really did not feel like getting herself or the plants wet. This summer had been the most turbulent in her memory. Storms seemed to materialise out of thin air, and many of the domestic animals were uneasy, as if something was bothering them. Most of the villagers did not seem concerned, but Ayumi was not so sure. She felt that nature was trying to tell them something, but they were not listening.

Shifting the basket to her other hip, Ayumi lifted her long pink hair off the back of her neck, briefly exposing the bright red birthmark hidden underneath. Ayumi's unusual hair was often the object of curiosity, but usually only with strangers who had never seen her before. Even those people often forgot in time, and her fellow villagers did not seem to even notice anything unusual anymore. The birthmark however was a closely guarded secret. Only four people in the village knew of its existence, Ayumi, Toya, Saori and Saori's friend Yana, and all were sworn to secrecy. Ayumi did not know why her birthmark was taboo, while she had seen many others in her short lifetime. She never questioned why her mother insisted that she never show it to anyone, just accepting her mother's request easily as she always did.

" Hey Ayumi!"

Looking up Ayumi smiled, waving back at Toya who was walking up the path towards her. " Hey yourself! What are you doing all the way out here?"

Coming to a stop before her, Toya bent over in mock exhaustion as Ayumi laughed. Throwing her long dark braid over her shoulder, Toya straightened slowly, her brown eyes sparking. Her betrothal bracelet caught the fading sun, sending golden sparks on her pretty face. " Your mother was worried sick about you when she realised you hadn't returned yet. She sent me to look for you, and told me if I found you unhurt I should give you a smack for making her worry."

" Wait a minute!" Ayumi laughed, ducking out of the way of the mock blow, " I bet she didn't say that."

" Damn right she did young lady!" Toya chided, linking her arm with Ayumi's as she fell into step beside her." What took you so long today? Usually you are back within an hour or two, I was actually getting worried myself."

" I'm sorry that I had you all concerned," Ayumi said sincerely, " I just couldn't seem to focus today. I kept getting distracted which made me really late."

" Were you thinking about your dreams again?"

Ayumi stumbled briefly as a vision of people screaming in pain flashed through her mind. Ayumi had only told Toya about the disturbing dreams she had been having recently, ones full of pain and death. They had become increasingly more vivid and frequent, but Ayumi still tried to ignore them, even though they bothered her very much.

" No, I try not to think about them. " Ayumi said quietly, her eyes downcast.

Toya looked at her in sympathy, wishing that she could help her. Toya loved Ayumi like the sister that she never had, and dreaded the fact that they both would soon be separated by her marriage. Shaking Ayumi's arm she tried to lighten the atmosphere by changing the subject.

" Did you know that Mia's baby is almost here? That is why your mother couldn't come for you herself, she is helping the midwives. I guess Mia is very close."

Ayumi smiled, brightening visibly at the news. " That is very good, such a wonderful thing is sure to lift everyone's spirits. We all need something to celebrate these days."

" Exactly!" Toya smiled, tugging on Ayumi's arm, " And I want to be there when she gives birth! Last one there has to change the diapers!" She yelled as she broke into a run.

" Cheater!" Ayumi laughed, running after Toya juggling the basket in her arms.

~@@@@@~

Ayumi knew something was wrong as she entered the village closely behind Toya. Everything was quiet except for a low wail that seemed to echo throughout the whole compound. As Ayumi and Toya walked uneasily toward Mia's house, the wailing grew louder. Simultaneously, Ayumi and Toya looked at each other, eyes wide. " Mia's baby." Running toward her house, they had almost reached the door when Saori came out, her birthing clothes covered in blood. Cheering slightly when she saw Ayumi, she shook her head slowly at their silent question. Ayumi covered her mouth as Toya's eyes filled with tears. " Oh no!" She said, her voice giving out.

" I'm sorry girls." Saori said, wrapping her arms around the girls' shoulders. " I know that she was a friend of yours, and that we all would have liked the baby to live. It was a very easy birth until the end. The baby came out stillborn, and then Mia started bleeding heavily. We've only just managed to stop the bleeding, although she doesn't look good. I.I'm not sure that she is going to make it."

Saori held them close as they both cried out their sorrow. Using the sleeve of her dress to wipe away their tears, she cupped both girls under their chins and smiled at them, her own face streaked with tears. " The best thing that you can do for her now is to stay positive and pray to Suzaku for her recovery. She is young and could have many more babies. Why don't you both go home and rest? Ayumi, I'm going to stay in case Mia or her family needs me."

Nodding silently both girls turned toward their homes, pausing briefly to embrace before they parted. Ayumi walked up the familiar path to her cottage at the edge of town, its peaceful exterior virtually unchanged in all her twenty-one years. Opening the door, she breathed in deeply the scent of drying flowers that perpetually hung in the air, as she placed the forgotten basket on a nearby table. Wrapping her arms around her body almost protectively, she moved to the window, watching the wind bend the trees as the storm that had threatened all day finally descended on the village. Suddenly, hot tears ran down her face as she slid to the floor, her back against the wall. Resting her head on her knees, Ayumi's slight body shook with her sobs at she cried for Mia and her lost baby, a silent prayer in her head.

~@@@@@~

"Dammit Chichiri! I can't see anythin'!"

" This storm came out of nowhere no da We'd better find some shelter fast na no da." Chichiri said, putting his finger to his chin in thought.

Tasuki glowered at him pulling his coat closer, shielding his eyes against the dust that was whipping around him. It had been Chichiri's idea to take a trip around Konan's provinces, and Tasuki had agreed to go with him. Tasuki's frown grew deeper as he realised that he was now a victim of his own restlessness. It seemed that they had been walking in the darkness forever, without any relief in sight.

" I don't even know what the hell I'm doin' here." Tasuki grumbled, trudging forward with Chichiri close behind.

" You're here because you couldn't stand being in court anymore. You were sick of everyone yelling at you for breaking all the priceless objects, no da."

" Hey! " Tasuki turned back to yell in Chichiri's face, his amber eyes flashing, " It's not my fault that everythin' is so breakable an' little! What's the point of havin' things that you gotta tiptoe around anyway?" Tasuki resumed walking, his fists clenched around his travelling bag. " Besides, I couldn't stand to see Hotohori moping since Miaka went home. Man, that guy is one love sick sap."

Chichiri smiled to himself as he clutched his staff, keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of safety. It was true that the Emperor was more moody than usual since Miaka left. He had tried unsuccessfully to convince Miaka to stay with him in Konan once and for all, and had only cheered slightly when Miaka promised that she would return as soon as possible. Despite Tasuki's crudeness, he did have a point. The mood at court was what one wouldn't call lively recently, and something else had prodded Chichiri to leave. There was a sense of unease in Konan, like an unknown threat. Nothing Tasuki and Chichiri had seen so far on their trip had convinced him of any imminent danger, but the feeling had not disappeared all the same.

" Hey there's a light over there!"

Chichiri was snapped from his reverie by almost colliding with Tasuki, who had stopped to point at a cluster of lights a little way off, nestled in a protective enclave in the valley.

" Well, we'd better go try our luck at getting shelter for the night there no da. This storm doesn't seem like it's about to stop any time soon no da."

Slightly cheered by the prospect of shelter, the two men set out for the village quickly, sliding along the muddy path in their haste.

~@@@@@@~

Ayumi was awakened from her deep slumber by a loud peal of thunder. Rolling over in her bed, Ayumi looked out the window trying to discern how long she was asleep, but the darkness made it difficult. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could make out the edges of her room and the open door. The house was gloomy and silent, and Ayumi prayed that her mother was not late because there was a new emergency at Mia's house. Rising, Ayumi threw a robe over her head and smoothed her long hair off her face. After lighting some candles and a large fire, the house was decidedly cheerier, and Ayumi's mood lifted considerably. Ayumi arranged herself in front of the fire, warming her hands on a cup of tea. As she sipped the hot liquid her thoughts drifted to the events of the day. The sadness over Mia's loss felt like a stone in her stomach, and she felt fresh tears prick her eyes. " It's just not fair, " she thought, " Mia of all people should have had that baby; and poor Juno. No one has said anything about him, yet he was the father. He's probably drowning his sorrows at Jaina's Tavern. Life is so cruel sometimes."

Ayumi's thoughts trailed off as the clutched the tea in her hands. As much as she tried not to she couldn't dispel the thought that Mia's stillborn baby was a result of the lingering uneasiness she felt. Despite her attempts to ignore or explain them away, the feelings remained. At times like these Ayumi thought about her own mother, the only parent she had ever known. She and her Saori were more like best friends than mother and daughter, and Ayumi loved her beyond words. When she was younger, Ayumi noticing that most of the other children had two parents, asked about her father. Saori had looked slightly taken aback, but then she gave Ayumi a hug and told her than she was the child of her heart, the child of her love. Those emotions in Saori were so strong she explained, that it was enough to create her without a father. Ayumi had accepted that explanation without question as she always did, but now she couldn't help but wonder.

A loud thumping noise like someone kicking at her front door broke Ayumi from her daydream. She jumped up, hastily setting her tea on a nearby table. It couldn't be her mother, as she would have just entered, so Ayumi's curiosity increased as she thought who could be calling at this hour and in such a storm. Crossing the room swiftly, Ayumi put her hand on the doorknob, but jumped back with an exclamation of surprise as the door burst open to deposit two muddy bodies on the floor. As Ayumi gazed in wonderment, one of the bodies disentangled themselves and stood up, laughing at his companion squirming on the ground. Noticing Ayumi for the first time he turned to her, his amber eyes sparkling in amusement, a fanged grin splitting his muddy face.