DISCLAIMER: This week I am pretending to be Lady Macbeth, not Watase Yu. So I can't even pretend to own FY ~cries~
AUTHOR'S NOTES: ~is SWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMPED~
Week of finals. I have four. Two I don't have to worry about (there basically IS no final; it's opinion questions), one I'm very prepared for, and the last might just about kill me. It's not a traditional final by any means, much more of a project than a final, and it takes a LOOOOOOOOOOOOT of preparation.
This wouldn't be so bad, but I also have Drama Banquet this week! ^^;;;;;;; Actually, by the time you're reading this Banquet will be over, but it's a LOT of work and a LONG evening and it cuts into my time to prep for my project-final. Swaaaaaaaamped ^^;;;
(Two days later...) Yesp, Banquet was definitely fun and it was DEFINITELY long. I didn't get hom 'til past midnight, but I don't regret it at all. It's usually a pretty emotional night, but I was fine... until the Senior Walk and Final Bow. Lord, I saw my friends up there and they were crying their eyes out and I just lost it. Thank god I brought LOTS of tissues; that's my job every year ^_^
And the Project Final is over. In fact, the actual -thing- we'd been preparing for was very anticlimactic. We were all fretting over presentation that the actual play-acting went over our heads. 'Twas weird.
People crying for specific characters ~pokes Mikka-chan and Elwing Silme~ they'll be here eventually! I promise, I'm gonna bring 'em in! It just might take awhile, please be patient!
I'm gonna shut up and post this now ^_^
Dr. Seo regarded Miaka, and the book she held in her hand, for a minute before turning to look at Reijirou. "Let me go sign out, I'll be right back." He turned and quietly left the room.
The four of them looked at each other nervously. Nuriko shrugged. "I guess we have a few minutes then." He leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, looking at the floor.
Abruptly Reijirou picked up the phone and dialed his home, momentarily wondering what the phone bill would be from the hospital. No one answered. The machine picked up after a few rings. "Hi, it's me, listen, can someone drop by soon and bring me some clothes? And books? And my CD player? And backpack? And… well, you get the picture. Thanks. Bye." He hung up and returned to staring at the wall, feeling uncomfortable all of a sudden.
"Bored?" Risako asked, looking out the window.
"Severely. And I want my own clothes." Risako pinked slightly, still not looking at him, as if she had just remembered he was wearing one very uncomfortable hospital gown. Reijirou was amused by this. Apparently Nuriko was as well, because he glanced over at Risako and started laughing silently.
"That's enough now," Miaka said calmly. The room lapsed back into silence again, everyone within their own thoughts. Their nerves were tangible in the suddenly static air. They were all apprehensive, even Miaka and Nuriko. Would Seo Murai believe their story? The man was still mostly an unknown entity. Reijirou at least knew what to expect with Gesshin – lots of yelling and cussing and denying it. But he was familiar. What about this man?
They all jumped when the door opened with a click, quickly looking that way. Dr. Seo stepped back into the room, his long white coat and clipboard gone to reveal a casual sweater and slacks. There was no expression on his face. Reijirou briefly wondered if that was his way of preparing himself for the worst, but blinked in surprise when he saw the other three looking at him. Apparently he was supposed to begin. He cleared his throat nervously. "Have a seat, Dr. Seo."
The large man simply sat and watched him, face not revealing anything.
"Uh… do you remember asking me about the 'knife' wounds?"
He nodded.
"This is… sort of about that…"
Dr. Seo leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, biting his bottom lip. "Well, that would explain the strange wounds… but…"
"But?" Miaka asked hesitantly.
"But, how can that story really be true? You were possessed? You threw him into a street light? This ghost of your former life kept you alive? It sounds like something out of one of those new age books." His voice was alarmingly calm, as if he were trying to talk a bunch of nut cases out of believing the walls were attacking them.
Reijirou sighed. He honestly could not blame him for thinking that way, but he wished the truth was a bit closer to what most people considered reality. "I know it sounds strange, but that's the way it happened."
Dr. Seo simply shook his head, an unbelieving expression on his face.
Nuriko sighed in his corner. "There's only one way to prove it quickly." He began glowing with a faint red light.
Murai was not prepared for what came next. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a faint red light, and spun in that direction. His jaw dropped as he saw the light trace the outline of a person – a person who, from the side, had exactly the same profile as Reijirou-san. It was like looking at a reverse silhouette. He hadn't through it possible, but his mouth opened even further in disbelief as the image of the person started to form. That haircut… that stance… As the image got clearer he saw the telltale mole and the stubborn facial expression. But for the clothing the two were exactly alike. Except… this new copy of Reijirou looked like a ghost – pale; he could fuzzily see the opposite wall through him. Then the ghost turned to look straight at him, a direct stare, mimicking Murai's own from before.
"Now do you believe?" The ghost asked as the red light dissipated from around him, vanishing into nothing. Even the voice was exactly like Reijirou-san's.
He couldn't speak. His mouth opened and closed silently a couple of times, finding no words to express himself.
"Oh well, I've been wanting to do this for awhile anyway." The ghost calmly walked over, another small flash of red light emitting from his unusual bracelets, and just as calmly picked up the chair Murai was sitting on. With one hand.
Murai couldn't help it; he let out a small yelp of surprise and grabbed the arms of the chair, looking down at the floor from what was a long way up – even for him. His head was nearly touching the ceiling, and the ghost didn't even have his arm extended all the way. He didn't want to find out if this ghost could put him through to the next floor. He glanced down nervously. "C-Could you put me down now, please?"
The ghost smirked and lowered him to the floor again, stepping back and crossing his arms over his chest. "Now do you believe?" he asked again.
"H-Hai, I believe." Murai swept a hand over his face, wiping away the sweat that had appeared there. "How can I not after that?"
Miaka-san came forward again, holding out the white book to him. "Then will you please read this tonight? It will explain everything better than we can."
He hesitantly took the book, wondering what it was, but deciding to not dwell on that looked at Miaka. "What does all this have to do with me?"
He saw the three humans wince. "Well… It's… complicated. Please, read the book. Oh, this one as well." She reached into the briefcase again and picked up another white book, much slimmer, and handed it to him. "It goes after the thick one." She took a deep breath and folded her hands in front of her. "And… we need to ask you a favor."
"What?" he asked cautiously. Did these people want him to do something crazy?
"Would you please heal Reijirou?"
He blinked. He hadn't been expecting that. "I've already done what I can for him… I've put in stitches and given him blood, now it's up to his body to heal."
Risako-san sighed and shook her head as the ghost stepped up to him again, planting its hands on its hips and bending over to look him straight in the eye. "You personally might not be able to do more, but Mitsukake can."
"Who's that?" Murai had himself more under control at that point, he neither flinched nor moved as the ghost stared him down.
"You, in a way. Just like I am Reijirou and vise versa, you are Mitsukake. And vice versa."
"You mean…"
The ghost nodded. "Yes. He's a former life of yours."
Murai was quiet again, but in thought instead of in shock. The ghost blinked at him and straightened up, giving him more space. Miaka-san, Reijirou-san, and Risako-san were all looking at him.
"What was this… Mitsukake person like?" he hesitantly asked after a few moments.
He thought he saw a smile flicker across Miaka-san's face, but he couldn't be sure. "A lot like you, actually. You two look the same. You're both quiet, although you're a bit more open. He was very dedicated to his work – as a doctor no less – and his patients. In fact, he died to save the life of a tiny baby girl." Murai nodded silently, taking it in. "What else… he was in love with a woman named Shoka, but he lost her early, before they could be married. He never got over her death. He was very kind and considerate, always helping others and thinking of himself last."
"He was the one to comfort everyone and keep them moving when I died," the ghost said quietly. "I was very grateful to him for that."
"And he had powers." Miaka-san took another deep breath, and Murai could tell this would be harder to believe than the rest about the man. "He had the power to heal, which is why he became a doctor. He could fix anything, except death." Miaka-san nodded in Reijirou-san's direction. "If he were here now he could fix Reijirou perfectly, leaving no scar or any sign of injury."
"Which is why we need him, and you." Reijirou-san's voice spoke up unexpectedly, and he whirled to face the boy in the bed. "There's something coming, something awful, which is threatening to kill everyone who in their past lives was involved with that book, such as you and I." Reijirou-san nodded towards the books Murai still held in his hands. "And their families and friends as well. That's what attacked and almost… killed me. The only reason I'm still alive is because Nuriko was with me. We have to let every person know so they're prepared and can defend themselves. And if defending means pulling former lives out of the book, then that's what we have to do."
"Wait, are you saying my former life is in this book?" Murai held up the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho.
Risako-san shook her head again and reached into Miaka-san's briefcase. "No, it's in here." Her hand drew out a book with a reddish-brown cover and pale binding, a very old-looking book. "You have a translation. This is the original, with the power."
The ghost – no, Nuriko – walked over to Risako and gently touched the book. Its pages began to glow with a faint red light, the same as what he had emitted before. Apparently this effect also took Risako by surprise because she jumped slightly, eyes wider than normal, but settled down almost immediately. He briefly wondered if she were getting used to strange happenings. For his part he could only stare at the book, the light, and Nuriko. After a few moment Nuriko took his hand away and the glow slowly died.
"Will you help us?" Miaka-san asked quietly when the last glimmer had vanished.
Murai looked at each of them for a moment, searching their faces, even Nuriko's. They all had solemn, determined expressions. He didn't believe in mass hallucinations, and right in front of him was a… ghost? spirit? So he had no choice but to reluctantly take their story as true. And if this man, Mitsukake, really was him, then the part about the threat to their lives might be real as well…
He better humor them, in any case. If they really were insane, it was a benign form, the form it was usually best to play along with for a little. And if he did, he might be able to get out of here sooner rather than later.
"What do I have to do?"
Miaka sighed in relief and Risako smiled at Dr. Seo. "Thank you. Just sit there." She crossed the room to him and repeated the steps Miaka had taken with Reijirou just the day before, positioning his arms out in front of him, holding the book face up and flat. "Don't drop it. This will be a little startling, but it won't work if you let go. And concentrate on everything you know about Mitsukake, concentrate hard." She glanced back at Miaka, moving back to stand next to the bed. "Are you ready?"
Miaka nodded resolutely and stepped up in front of the doctor, ready to assume her miko stance, but was interrupted by Reijirou. "Are you sure you'll be all right this time Miaka? I can't help you if you pass out now."
Miaka smiled at him over her shoulder. "Yes, I will, I'm much stronger today. And with Nuriko here it will be easier, since he'll be giving me energy as well. The first one is always the hardest." Risako briefly wondered how she'd know that if she'd never done this before Nuriko, but focused on Miaka and Dr. Seo as Miaka folded her hands together, closed her eyes, and began to chant softly.
Almost immediately the room took on a different quality, a soundless snapping and crackling working their way into the atmosphere. The air in the room almost seemed to boil and pop like thousands of little soap bubbles. Risako reached behind her and quietly closed the blinds. It wouldn't do to let anyone else see the strange goings-on in the room.
Everyone else had their eyes closed, even Reijirou, concentrating and helping from the bed. Maybe that was why she was the only one to see the flash of bright red light that exploded away from the book in a circle, engulfing the room in its glow and not dissipating. The book began to release its silvery-grayish smoke, the sure signal that the summoning was working. It grew to the ceiling and out from the center of the book, much wider and higher than it had been the first time. She didn't gasp, and Dr. Seo didn't open his eyes as Reijirou had, but rather flexed his fingers as the smoke overwhelmed them. Risako wondered what it felt like, minutely sad that she'd never know. The dark shape began forming in the smoke, much larger than Nuriko's had been, seeming to match Dr. Seo inch for inch.
Again she was reminded of the day before as Miaka's voice picked up sudden volume, climbing to a shout. "…from the book, please come out to us!" And again the smoke exploded, twisting into the light and vanishing, and again she was looking at a ghostly-pale person who could have been a twin to the one holding the book. He was wearing a white shirt, dark pants, and a type of yellow jacket that was tied with a dark sash. Around his head were tied two strips of cloth, one yellow like the jacket, the other purple, cinched so they crossed in front.
All of a sudden she was very tired, and she leaned against the wall for support, wondering just how soundly she'd slept the night before. The new ghost landed easily on the floor and looked at Dr. Seo, seeming to study him, while Dr. Seo rose and regarded him back, both with curious expressions on their faces. Then, definitely unexpectedly, they both grinned.
"Eeep," Miaka squeaked from where she'd retreated to.
Mitsukake glanced in her direction. "Are you all right, Miaka?"
"Y-Yes… it's just I think that's the first time I've seen you smile."
Mitsukake glanced at Dr. Seo and they both started to laugh, deep, rumbling, identical laughs that suited them much better than their normal stoic expressions. Mitsukake walked over and hugged Miaka. "It's definitely not. Ahh, I've missed you, things were always a bit duller with you gone."
Miaka smiled and hugged him back. "I've missed you, too."
"And I don't count for anything?" Nuriko piped up, wearing his usual teasing grin.
Mitsukake looked over at Nuriko. "You do, but you're definitely not as well-behaved as Miaka."
Nuriko whistled. "Wow, your attitude's gotten much lighter… what happened?"
Mitsukake smiled. "Shoka."
Risako nodded to herself. Being reunited with one's love would put anyone in a better mood.
"I'd get up and welcome you, but I'm under doctor's orders to stay still." Reijirou smirked from his bed.
"Ahh, the new Nuriko. Pleasure to meet you."
Nuriko nodded. "He's Reijirou. And she's Risako." He pointed in her direction.
Mitsukake nodded at them both, then looked at Miaka. "I'm assuming, unless someone can tell me otherwise, we've come because of the threat."
She nodded and launched into the entire explanation of everything that had happened so far, everything they'd found out, and everything that would probably happen, explaining the situation to Mitsukake and Dr. Seo. Nuriko helped her, filling in some of the blanks she didn't know or understand.
Risako jumped slightly when something touched her wrist unexpectedly, glancing down and relaxing when she saw Reijirou's fingers grazing her skin to get her attention. "Brings back memories, doesn't it?" He said, not watching her, but the gathering around the foot of the bed.
She nodded, hoping her voice didn't quiver and give away her sudden fatigue; she didn't want people fussing over her. "All except for the fainting miko thing."
He grinned up at her, completely unsuspecting. "True."
Risako couldn't conceal it much longer; she away from the bed and approached Miaka. "Miaka, how do you feel?"
"I'm fine already!"
Nuriko frowned slightly at Miaka, remembering what had happened last time. "Sit." His tone of voice would accept no arguments, and Miaka sat, grumbling. "Don't say anything, you fainted last time!" Somehow he managed to sound like a concerned father and worried mother at the same time.
"But I was doing it on my own then, I'm perfectly fine now!"
Mitsukake also frowned slightly. "She fainted after she called you, Nuriko?"
"Yeah, she used too much energy."
Mitsukake knelt next to Miaka's chair and held out his left hand. Risako saw the red mark of "sadness" gradually fade into view on his palm and a soft green light surround Miaka, tinting the room. There was a slight change in Miaka's posture as she sat up straighter, and her eyes, which had been narrower than usual, opened the rest of the way. She grinned guiltily. "Well, maybe I was a little tired…"
"So that's what you meant when you said power…" Dr. Seo commented softly to one side. "If all the doctors in the world had that…" He fell silent again and shook his head.
Mitsukake rose and placed his now-ordinary hand on Dr. Seo's shoulder. "Not all of them do, but you have a bit of it."
"I do?"
"Yeah, when you touched my bandages, the wounds hurt less. That's how we knew you were Mitsukake," Reijirou spoke up.
"Speaking of which… Mitsukake, would you please heal Reijirou?" Miaka requested softly.
The tall healer nodded. "I'll do what I can." He walked over to the bed and held his hand above Reijirou's prone form, and the soft green light again slowly filled the room. Risako felt more at peace as the light washed over her than she had been for days. He folded his hand, and the light vanished. "It's well begun, all there's left to do is speed up the natural healing."
"Wait, Mitsukake." Dr. Seo unexpectedly remarked. All heads turned toward him. Risako was slightly amazed the doctor was this comfortable with Mitsukake this fast, but it was all to the better. "When you heal him, leave some scar. Our medicine isn't advanced enough to make him perfect after being wounded so badly. It might look suspicious otherwise."
Mitsukake glanced at Reijirou again. "Do you mind?"
"Of course not." Reijirou grinned impishly. "Scars attract the girls."
Miaka, Dr. Seo, and Nuriko stifled laughter as Mitsukake smiled. "All right then." The healer closed his eyes and took a deep breath, opening his hand once again. Most of the green light this time went into Reijirou, and he gasped. After a few seconds the healer opened his eyes and lowered his hand, and the light dissipated once again. "You should be fine now. I've left the scars, but they won't affect your movement. Try standing up."
Reijirou nodded, grinning like crazy at being able to move again, and carefully pulled himself up into a sitting position. Risako saw Dr. Seo quietly leave the room. Nuriko walked over to the bed, offering him a hand, which Reijirou shook his head at. Nuriko shrugged and stayed where he was. Reijirou cautiously swung his legs out to dangle off the bed, then even more cautiously pulled himself up, standing on his own two feet. "Looks like a day of confinement isn't enough to WHOA!" He caught himself on Nuriko's shoulder as his knees started to give way.
Nuriko grinned and stood him up straight again. "What were you going to say?" Reijirou just glared at him.
Mitsukake chuckled. "You still need rest. You're healed now, but the effects of the blood loss and the healing have taken most of your energy. A good night's sleep should be enough to give you back full health."
"Now, Reijirou-san, if you would please lie down on this." Dr. Seo came back, wheeling a gurney.
"What for?" Reijirou inquired, nonetheless walking shakily over and sitting down.
Dr. Seo smiled down at him. "We're going to take those stitches out. You don't need them anymore."
"YEAH!" Reijirou lay down on the gurney, grinning happily as Dr. Seo pulled the thin blanket over him and pushed him out the door, Mitsukake and Nuriko following and talking.
Miaka and Risako watched them leave, then Miaka stood up and stretched. "I'll be right back, I need some coffee. Want some?"
Risako nodded. "Please, I need caffeine in my system." She dug in her pocket and pulled out her wallet, pulling out a few coins and handing them to Miaka. Miaka nodded and left also, still looking a bit tired, but walking steadily.
Risako looked around the empty room and flopped in a chair, suddenly depressed in the silence. All right, so now I'm used to being on the go. What do I do when there's nothing to do?
A sound from the hallway drew her gaze to the door. A hand, its fingers' long nails painted a vibrant blue, knocked on the open door, then the person came in without waiting for an answer. "Reijirou-chan, I've brought your stuff!" It was Chiaki, her thick braid swinging in her wake. She blinked when she saw Risako in there, alone. "Where's Reijirou-chan?"
"The doctor took him down to surgery for a minute. He should be back soon."
"Damn, I can't wait, I've got a date." Chiaki set down the large duffel bag and Reijirou's backpack next to the empty bed. "Can you tell him it's what he asked for?"
Risako nodded. "Yeah, I will. Are you going out with Suezo?" Reijirou and Nuriko's comments from earlier flitted through her mind.
Chiaki grinned. "Yep. We're going to have fun."
Risako laughed. "I hope you do."
"Ne, Risako-san…" Chiaki was suddenly serious. Risako glanced up at her and unconsciously shivered minutely. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Hai, what is it?"
"Well, it's about my brother… and you…"
Risako blinked and forced down a groan. "What?"
"You're here whenever I come here, and you were with Reijirou last night when everything happened. What's going on between you?"
Risako barely managed to keep from rolling her eyes. "Nothing. We're friends, we have a couple of classes together, that's all."
"Uh-huh." Chiaki clearly didn't believe a word of it. "Well, I have to be going, tell him I'll see him later. 'Bye." She waved and walked out the door.
Risako allowed herself to groan as the door closed behind Chiaki. It wasn't the first time in the last couple hours she'd heard that question, and she was getting very tired of it. And why did people insist on seeing something between them that wasn't there? There wasn't any reason. None at all, she told herself firmly. None at all...
AUTHOR'S NOTES II: And FINALLY next chapter we get to the REALLY weird stuff. This is the point when I decided it was okay to have 9-page long chapters ^_^ I just couldn't fit everything in 13 into 7 pages (which was my maximum length until this point) and so I expanded. It definitely allows me some more flexibility.
Ugh, wish me luck on the finals... I NEED IT!
And if you have any questions, just ask! I'll see what I can do! ^_^
