DISCLAIMER: I had Japanese candy today, it was sooooooo good. My friend who owned the candy even let me keep the container after it was done. You know what else is good and comes from Japan? Fushigi Yugi. But I don't have it. I have the DVDs, many many pictures from the internet, and both English and Japanese manga, but not Fushigi Yugi itself. Somehow I doubt that Watase Yuu-sama is gonna let me keep Fushigi Yugi...
AUTHOR'S NOTES: All right, now comes the part where I apologize for being a hypocrite and explain exactly what I'm being a hypocrite about and, more importantly, why. I've said somewhere (can't remember exactly where) that this wasn't going to be a seishi/OC-romance story, and I meant it. But unfortunately it's not going to be that simple. But let me explain before you throw me to the snakes, and maybe you can forgive me ^^;;;;;
All right, I've said before that this was the first fic I ever started writing. I started writing this a month before I even looked at the FY section on ff.n, although I'd been to the site in general before. And so I was pretty ignorant of the cliches, which helped me avoid a great many of them (for example, before I looked at ff.n, I never even considered the fact that a reincarnation can have the memories and the powers come flooding into them for... fill in a reason here. I just took the summoning thing for granted). But unfortunately not the OC-romance curse... Although it's not as bad as it sounds. I couldn't make up my mind whether I wanted them to get together or not (in fact, even ~counts~ half a year after writing chapter 13, the one I'm posting now, I'm still not sure if I'd have them get together or not if I was left to my own devices), and the story reflects that in a way. I think at the time I wrote this chapter I'd "decided" on a leave-people-hanging-as-to-if-they-do-or-don't approach, which means that I'd dance around it for awhile before giving the final judgement. And so there's stuff in the next few chapters that can easily be taken in a romantic way, a teasing romantic way, or anything else "romantic" you can think of. I've been trying to write it out of my chapters as I go along, which is one reason the link on my page is down - the versions of the chapters on my site are the "unmodified" versions, and don't entirely flow with what I have up, although I'm not changing other things.
However, I'm not taking out anything after this. ~waits for the commotion and uproar and shouts of rage to die down and dodges a tomato~ I dislike Mary-Sues more than the next ten people combined, but this isn't a Mary-Sue. It just got written with romantic tension in some scenes. In truth, if you want my honest opinion, I think all the romantic tension from Market got funneled over here ^^;;; There are some scenes that flat-out won't be there without it, especially one with Gesshin teasing Reijirou that I enjoy to the max. And my favorite line so far in this fic depends upon it entirely. ~shrugs~ It's gonna be there, but overall I don't think the outcome is going to be couple-dom, if for no other reason than I can't write romance. If that's not something you can accept, then you don't have to read it, I won't mind. But don't say I didn't warn you.
.................. OK, how many of you skipped all that and came down here? ^^;;;;;;; Sorry for being so serious, but I felt it merited enforcing, especially after I promised none earlier. Hope everyone understands.
Now for fun stuff! ^_^ J. Liha, if you can't tell by my ongoing ramble above, even I'm not sure what's going on. I just write, I don't ask questions, especially when characters can possess you ^^;;;;;; Thanks Lib-chan for the well-wishes, I did good! Although I couldn't listen to Rent, because me no own the CDs (I downloaded every song onto my computer, it took a week!). Enya, thanks sweetie! ~huggles~ Sorry, me and cliffies have a firm, long-standing relationship ~firm nod~ I am in love with them. I shamelessly employ them to make people come back and read more ^_^ Lilandra, I try not to let my things die, but I may have to for awhile... check at the bottom for explanations about that. qkslvr, what language do you mean? I took Kadiri's name to my online Jap dictionary and dissected it because that's the type of nerd I am ^_^ Nothing there for "Kadiri" (although I'm the first to admit it's far from the complete Japanese language), but "ka" means "beautiful," "di" is "day," and "ri" is "advantage." They all have other meanings as well ("ri" also means "clever"), but nothing bad ^_^ Ain't it wonderful the way a word in one language can be disgusting but in another one it could be something entirely different?
New paragraph! Elwing Silme, you weren't being pushy! ~grins~ We're just not there yet! Don't worry, you'll know when the time comes. Kryssa, I sincerely hope no one ever said seishi life could be boring, or they don't know the series very well, do they? ^_^ And Chibigreenwizardmon, I hope this one lives up to expectations. Actually, that note goes for everyone ^^;;; I do hope I don't disappoint. And I'm glad everyone likes Mits and Murai, I like 'em too! ^_^ Actually, I want Mits as my big brother... being an only child can suck sometimes.
"…and I can finally stand up and run again!" Reijirou finished up excitedly, babbling happily as Dr. Seo took out the stitches while Mistukake looked on in interest.
"Well, not right away, Reijirou-san. You still need rest. One night, correct?" The doctor looked at Mitsukake briefly before clipping another stitch.
"Yes." Mitsukake was splitting his attention between watching the process and looking around the operating room, an almost-comical expression of awe and apprehension on his face at the sight of all the medical equipment. "Amazing, the things from this world are truly beyond belief."
Nuriko grinned, feeling proud of having finally gotten used to all the surprises around him – at least to the point where he didn't shriek at every one of them. "Just don't touch, they have a tendency to yell at you when you do."
Reijirou shot him a mild "don't-push-your-luck" type of glare. "Only at you. And only because you try to wreck nearly everything." Nuriko just smiled cutely while the doctors chuckled.
"Done with the arm." Dr. Seo pulled out the last stitch and set it on the small tray that was positioned next to the gurney. "Now, Reijirou-san, would you please sit up? The bandages will be easier to take off that way." Reijirou nodded and complied, hauling himself up with his arms, happy that the muscles didn't pull against the new scars. Dr. Seo and Mitsukake removed the bandages, standing next to each other and talking in quiet voices, gesturing at Reijirou. Dr. Seo nodded and began clipping the many stitches embedded in his torso, quickly pulling out the thin threads that had saved his life. He was almost sorry to see them go. Almost.
After a few minutes the very last stitch was removed, and Reijirou lay down again, worn and beginning to feel drowsy. He briefly considered getting redressed, but sank into a warm stupor when the blanket was pulled over him again.
"Ne, Mitsukake, do you think I could help him?" he heard Nuriko ask as his eyes closed.
"Do you mean…" Reijirou assumed that was Mitsukake, it was impossible for him to tell the healer and the doctor apart by voice alone. He guessed Nuriko nodded, because one of the tall men began talking again, although he couldn't catch what it was. He heard Nuriko laugh, and the sound of hands being clapped together.
Abruptly he was shocked awake, eyes flying open, as something warm hit his chest and seemed to enter him, filing him to the pores with warm, liquid fire. He felt… alive, complete, as he had once before. The reassuring weights were back around his wrists. Let me guess.
A laugh answered him in his own head, and once again his own voice responded with thoughts he wasn't thinking. ~ That's right, I'm in you again. ~
Do I never get a say in this?
~ Not usually, ~ Nuriko replied in his typical cheerful manner.
Reijirou blinked up at Dr. Seo and Mitsukake, both of whom were looking down at him in their studious fashion. "What's this all about now?"
"Well, Nuriko had the idea that you would recover faster if he… helped you out," Mitsukake said in explanation. "It probably will work, seishi seem to have amazing healing capabilities. He can pass some of that on to you, but only if he's in you."
~ But I'm not possessing you, so don't worry about me doing anything weird with your body. ~ He felt Nuriko grin mischievously. ~ At least, don't worry yet. ~
I'm in trouble. Nuriko just laughed as Dr. Seo wheeled the gurney out of surgery and back towards his room.
Reijirou closed his eyes and decided to relax for awhile, hearing the doctors talk but not taking in what they were saying. Their deep voices were soothing, like deep instruments, and he began drifting off to sleep again, still feeling the liquid fire in his veins, the sign of Nuriko's presence in his body.
~ Ne, Reijirou, ~ Nuriko said before he was completely asleep.
Wha? he replied sleepily.
~ This might sound a bit strange, but do you want to see some of my memories? ~
What the...? What was he talking about?
He heard Nuriko chuckle. ~ While I'm in you, I can share my memories with you. You can see what really happened to me, instead of just reading it in a book... ~ His voice grew more serious. ~ It may help later if you know the whole story. ~
Reijirou subconsciously groaned. Would he never get a break from this until it was over? Does it have to be now?
~ Not at all. In fact, it'd probably work better when you're asleep. Getting tired of all this? ~
You could say that, he responded dryly.
~ Getting annoyed? ~ He felt Nuriko grin again.
I think that fits better.
"We're here." Mitsukake opened the door to his room, and Dr. Seo pushed the gurney through the door. He had to stop fairly suddenly to avoid running into the bags that had appeared in the room, and Reijirou/Nuriko was given a slight jolt. "What's all that stuff?"
"Oh." Risako looked up from her coffee and the book she was reading – Miaka was once again absorbed in her computer – and winced. She set down the cup and book and quickly picked up the bags. "Chiaki-san came by and left some things for you, Reijirou."
"Finally, real clothes!"
Risako grinned and set his backpack and duffel bag in a chair, where they were within easy reach of the stretcher, then took Miaka by the arm. "Come on, leave the boy in privacy." She literally dragged the older woman into the hall, laughing and ignoring the protests of "Wait! Waaaaaiiiiiit!" as Miaka was torn from her precious computer.
The other three/four watched them go, a grin playing over Reijirou's/Nuriko's face, Dr. Seo and Mitsukake wearing identical looks of mild amusement. "That girl knows how to get what she wants," Reijirou commented. "Could you two please go out, too?" The tall doctors nodded and left, resuming their conversation where it had been interrupted by the baggage. Reijirou/Nuriko swung his legs over the side of the gurney, sitting up carefully, but thankfully not feeling like he would fall over as he had before. He stood up with equal caution and was relieved to find his legs plenty strong enough to support him. The sudden strength in his body prompted him to throw caution to the wind and grabbed the duffel bag, digging through it and throwing clothing everywhere, finally finding his sleep gear.
He quickly pulled the clothes on, but didn't open the door to the others right away. Instead he repacked (or shoved everything back in the duffel bag), then spent a couple of minutes walking around the room, getting used to being on his feet again. It felt wonderful to just be able to move. He tilted back his head and let out a small crow of triumph.
Inside him, Nuriko giggled again. ~ I guess that means you're feeling better then. ~
Damn straight I am! He sat in the unoccupied chair, stretching his legs to their full length, working out his unusued muscles. And tomorrow I'm getting out of here, thank God – er, Suzaku.
~ And hopefully this will be over soon. ~
Yeah, hopefully. Reijirou reluctantly relinquished his seat in the chair with a sigh, and walked over to open the door to his friends again.
The next morning, Nuriko "sleeping" inside him (he could feel him snoring lightly), Reijirou checked himself out of the hospital. He went straight to Dr. Seo's office, wondering briefly if the man ever went home, and had his papers signed. He'd had to laugh when he'd seen what Dr. Seo had written on his release form.
"Released against doctor's advice?"
The older man grinned, as did Mitsukake, who was lounging in a spare chair. "Think about it. Today, true, you'd be well enough to leave – if you went to your house and did nothing but rest for about a week. If we don't want to attract undue attention, then we have to fib occasionally. Especially since you are quite obviously in perfect health once again."
Reijirou nodded. "I guess I'm lucky I got you as a doctor then."
Mitsukake shook his head. "That wasn't luck. That was fate. It was meant to happen."
"Yeah, possibly. We'll see you two later then." He gathered his things and left the office, returning the doctors' waves over his shoulder.
It felt great to be wearing his own clothes again, walking and talking like a normal person. It felt even better to step outside and feel the sunshine on his face, the wind whipping through his hair, feel totally alive. Having a near-death experience had subconsciously boosted his appreciation for his life higher than he'd thought possible.
He felt a yawn in his mind, and his body suddenly stretched on its own, nearly falling down as it overbalanced. He grinned as it was righted. Morning lazy.
~ Mmm… morning. Suzaku, that was more exhausting than I thought it'd be. ~ Again his body stretched, rising on tiptoe and settling down again. Reijirou was somewhat grateful there were few to no passersby in that part of town at that time of day. ~ Giving you my memories took a lot out of me. ~
Well? Did it work?
~ Why don't you find out? Just concentrate on something you know I did and it should come to you. ~ He felt Nuriko settle down again inside himself, pleasantly lethargic. He closed his eyes and picked a scene at random, one that had entertained him a lot even when he was just reading about it: when Nuriko and Hotohori had been captured by the bandits and made to be serving "girls". It took a second, but suddenly on his eyelids there was a miniature movie playing, all from a perspective he knew was Nuriko's. He could feel every emotion Nuriko had then, hear all his thoughts as well. It was like it was his own memory, and he was simply bringing it to mind again.
That's cool, how'd you do that?
~ I'm not sure, I just knew I could and I did. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to rest some more. ~ It was almost like a light being turned off. Nuriko "rolled over" and "went back to sleep", leaving Reijirou in complete control of his body again.
He glanced down the road in the direction of his home – the same way he'd stumbled up thirty-six hours before, bleeding slowly to death. He couldn't suppress a shudder, and turned his back on it to find the nearest bus stop in the other direction.
Fifteen minutes later he was on the bus that would take him to the stop near his house. He dropped the correct change in the meter and took a seat, putting the duffel bag behind his feet and holding the backpack in his lap. He sat staring out the window as the scenery went by, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, depending on the traffic. He shuddered again as the bus went by the place of the fight, then blinked in surprise as they crawled farther away, turning around in his seat to make sure he'd seen right. That streetlight… the streetlight he'd punched Ashitare into was bent violently where the wolf-man's body had hit it. It was like some giant had grown tired with playing with giant-sized paper clips and planted it in the ground. He had caused that. With Nuriko inside him he could be stronger than anyone in history, except Nuriko himself. He moved his arm slightly, causing the bracelet to clink against his watch and smiling, slightly grimly, when he heard it. He'd be ready the next time.
A tap on his shoulder drew his attention back into the bus. While he'd been privately thinking, the bus had stopped more than once, picking up several passengers. Seats were becoming a precious commodity. He looked up, blinking as he saw a guy a couple years older than him bent in what looked like a very uncomfortable position to avoid getting hit with a very large woman's very large shopping bag. "Hey, is this seat free?" he asked a bit desperately.
"Sure, have it." Reijirou moved over as much as he could to give the guy room to squeeze in before the large woman claimed it. He managed to slide in and sit down just before the woman turned, preventing hysterical yelling.
He sighed in relief. "Thank you, I did not want to get hit with that thing again."
Reijirou snorted slightly and grinned. "Don't worry, I can sympathize." He settled back in his own seat, ready to relax for awhile. For some reason he felt completely at ease with this guy.
"Not to be pushy or anything, but you wouldn't happen to be Reijirou-san, would you?"
The comfortable feeling sailed out the window. Reijirou quickly looked at him, sizing him up, and groaned. Stupid, idiot, how could he have missed it?!
"What is it? Are you still sick?"
"No, it's all right, you threw me for a loop, is all." He pushed his bangs out of his face, concealing a grimace with his hand. Chalk up another weird coincidence to Suzaku's account... "I'm Reijirou. I take it you're Suezo-san."
Suezo grinned. "That's right, I guess Chiaki's been talking."
"Yeah, and Risako told me what you looked like." He was sitting on a bus crawling through rush hour morning traffic a day and a half after he'd been almost fatally attacked with the former emperor next to him and he had no idea what to say. What do you talk about with the reincarnation of the guy your former incarnation repeatedly claimed to love, especially when he doesn't know anything about all that yet?! Time to call out the reserves. NURIKO! Nuriko, wake up!
He could've sworn he felt Nuriko try to push him away, but it didn't really work as well as the seishi might have hoped. He shouted again, and Nuriko's voice grumbled into being. ~ If you want me to be of any use later you're going to have to let me recuperate. ~
Yeah, but look! He tried the mental-prodding thing himself, "grabbing" Nuriko by the "shoulders" and "shaking" him. LOOK NOW!
Nuriko grumbled as he aligned his eyes with Reijirou's and sleepily looked at what Reijirou was so insistent about. Then he woke up. ~ HOLY SHIT! ~
That amused Reijirou to no end. You're starting to sound like Gesshin.
~ Tasuki, ~ Nuriko automatically fired back. He was starting to panic. ~ Suzaku, what do we do now?! ~
Why do you think I woke you up?! I have no idea! Then he became aware that Suezo was speaking, and had been for awhile. "Sorry, what? I didn't hear that."
"I said that I thought you were supposed to be in the hospital. Chiaki and I went there last night to bring you clothes." He glanced up and down, a cursory examination. "And apparently you got them."
Reijirou grinned in relief. Something neutral! Clothing! "Yeah, thanks for bringing them. Hospital gowns are not comfortable."
Thankfully, Reijirou was beginning to calm down again. No matter what Nuriko thought or felt, he had no feelings for this guy except perhaps as someone cool to hang out with. He could see why he hadn't recognized Hotohori right away, even with the distinctive voice. His hair, which was obviously long, was pulled back into a loose ponytail, hiding behind his body and making it seem as if he was short-haired. His clothing was much more what Reijirou wore on the first day of class then what an emperor would wear, the jeans even more beat up than Reijirou's had been. He looked like... like a regular person. Reijirou briefly wondered if he was happier that way before Suezo's voice pulled him back to the present again.
"I know, I've been in one or two myself." He looked at Reijirou once, with a mildly puzzled glance that made Reijirou want to lean away for some reason. "Sorry, but somehow… it kind of feels like I know you already."
Bye bye comfortable feeling. Oh. Shit. NURIKO!
~ I know I know, but I don't know! Just wing it! ~
Reijirou tried to shrug casually, desperately wishing he was a better actor. "Chiaki and I can be a lot alike, maybe that's where you're getting it from."
Suezo also shrugged. "Possibly." They seemingly settled into silence, but Reijirou's "internal dialogue" continued.
He seems happier, looser maybe. Reijirou said off-handedly.
~ Yeah. He was a great emperor, but his personality was more like me or Tama, like a commoner. Probably part of the reason he sympathized with the common man so well. ~
Yeah… wonder how he likes being one now.
He felt Nuriko grin. ~ Remember, he doesn't know he was once the most powerful man in the entire country. He probably doesn't remember what it feels like to be anything BUT a common man. ~
True. They, too, lapsed into silence.
A few minutes later they were at the stop before Reijirou's, and Suezo noticed their location at the same time Reijirou did. "You're going to need to get off." He looked around for a place to step to while Reijirou passed.
Reijirou nodded. "Yeah, next is me. Um, Suezo-san?"
"Yes?"
Reijirou grinned impishly. "Don't tell Chiaki or my family I'm out. I wanna surprise 'em."
Suezo laughed, that full laugh that Reijirou now knew had marked the Konan Emperor's happiest moments. This laugh seemed more used though. Reijirou thought he'd taken the "let down" from emperor to common really well. "All right, I won't. Planning on scaring them?"
"How could you guess? Whoops, me." Suezo stood up and scooted back far enough in the aisle to give Reijirou room to drag his stuff out behind him as the bus pulled to a stop at the familiar little glass hut. "See you later, Suezo-san."
"All right, Reijirou-san. Tell Chiaki hi for me."
"I will." Reijirou yanked his bag through the door before it closed and began walking the block to his family's apartment. Well, that could've gone a lot worse.
~ Definitely. Ugh, have any soap? I feel like washing my mouth out. ~
Reijirou smirked. C'mon, it's not THAT bad.
~ No, but I sounded like TASUKI for Suzaku's sake! Bleh! ~ Reijirou laughed the rest of the way to the apartment as Nuriko swore various things about never sounding like the crude-mouthed bandit again.
Reijirou considered himself very fortunate that no one answered the pounding he'd given the door. In fact, there was a small dent in the door after he was done. He chalked it up to one more strange effect Nuriko had on him and let himself in with his key.
With Hajime and Chiaki at school, and his parents at work, the place seemed strangely quiet, even though someone had left the TV on. His stomach rumbled, and he went into the kitchen to find something to eat, glancing at the clock. 9:43. No one should be home for awhile. He could relax for a little and take a shower.
First, however, his stomach demanded attention. "Yeah yeah, I'll feed you I'll feed you, give me a minute." He reached into the pantry and pulled out a random box of cereal, acutely aware that without help he'd never produce non-cardboard food like Gesshin had two days before.
~ What, you want to learn how to cook? ~
Kind of, yeah, that way when I'm on my own I won't be eating meals-in-a-box forever.
~ I can probably talk you through it. Want to try? ~
He'd forgotten Nuriko had known how to cook; it was one of those little details that seemed to slip his mind easily. And as tempting as it was to have something real to eat for the first time in two days, he was still wary. You sure it's safe? You don't know what half this stuff does, or is.
He felt Nuriko grin again. ~ You're not Tasuki. You won't set anything on fire. As long as you listen to me, that is. ~
Reijirou considered for exactly half a second before shoving the cereal back in the pantry and pushing up his sleeves. All right, what do I do?
Half an hour later he was comfortably ensconced in his father's favorite easy chair, the big one right in front of the TV, watching the morning news and eating a breakfast he'd managed not to burn for once. He wasn't quite sure what he was eating, but he knew what had gone into it and it tasted pretty damn good, so he wasn't complaining.
Nuriko had finally left him, and was sprawled across the couch in the manner of someone too drained to move. Reijirou grinned; Nuriko had just fallen out of him onto the couch and hadn't budged since. It was pretty comical.
The commercial break ended, and the obligatory older-but-you-could-tell-she-was-a-beauty-in-her-youth anchorwoman and also obligatory same-thing-goes anchorman came back on screen, shuffling papers. The anchorwoman looked at the camera with her Dazzling Professional Smile. "Welcome back, and hello to those of you just joining us. The city counsel…"
"Reijirou?"
He swallowed a mouthful of... something. "Yeah?"
"What is this… program?" Nuriko paused, but he didn't stumble over the new word.
"It's the news. This is how we know what's going on around the world. Hush, I want to listen." He'd been denied access to a newspaper for two days, there was no way he'd miss out on this. Nuriko shushed, either too fatigued to protest or actually taking an interest in it. Reijirou took another bite of Nuriko's cooking.
"… And in an update, the male body found early this morning in a downtown alleyway has been identified. Lowle Adam, a freshman-" Reijirou choked, pounding on his chest and gasping for breath.
"Reijirou?! What is it?!" Nuriko was by his side in an instant, helpfully banging him on the back to allow him to swallow. Reijirou quickly drank some water and waved Nuriko silent. He turned up the volume on the television, making sure he hadn't misheard.
"… been reported missing three hours before his body was found. His parents told police he hadn't returned home after his classes yesterday. The cause of death has been attributed to blood loss sustained during the attack, and there is still no clue as to the party responsible. Police have admitted that Lowle is not the only one to have been attacked in this manner, and have said the other victim was also a male student at that university. They did, however, decline to release the other victim's name, saying that he was recuperating from the same types of wounds in one of the city's hospitals. The police are investigating possible connections to the victims through Seinan University, and urge-" Reijirou turned it off. He couldn't listen any more.
"Reijirou?" Nuriko asked hesitantly. "What's going on? Not trying to be funny, but you look like you've just seen a ghost. You're as white as a sheet." Reijirou felt a ghostly hand press against his forehead. "Doesn't look like you have a fever though…"
"Nakago." Reijirou spoke the name so quietly he could barely hear himself. Nuriko had to strain to make it out.
"Huh? What? What about Nakago?" Nuriko sat next to him on the arm of the chair.
"Nakago… he killed Nakago."
Nuriko looked at him in confusion for a minute, then seemed to pale even more as his jaw slowly dropped, turning his head from Reijirou to the TV and back. "You mean…"
Reijirou nodded, unable to speak.
"Suzaku…" Nuriko breathed. "Suzaku, Seiryu, Genbu, Byakko… Gods above, help us all."
Reijirou slowly bent his head, shaking it minutely. "If he can kill the strongest of us all… No one can beat him… We don't stand a chance…"
"Iya." Something in Nuriko's voice made him look up. It wasn't forceful, it wasn't determined, there was just… something. He suddenly understood what had made Nuriko so important to everyone. "Ashitare-" Nuriko flinched a little as he said that name "-didn't kill the strongest of us. That boy wasn't the strongest. Nakago was, and Nakago hadn't been called. Right now you and I are the strongest." He sighed heavily. "If only that boy had Nakago with him… this entire thing may have been over…"
"He didn't though." Reijirou hung his head again.
Nuriko looked at him with intense sympathy. This was definitely the first time someone Reijirou's age, that he had known, had been killed. In some ways it was harder to deal with loss as an adult than as a kid, although he knew he hadn't handled it the exact right way. Looking at Reijirou at that moment, Nuriko suddenly felt the urge to comfort him, as he had with Miaka, with Tamahome, with most of them. But this new him was still a puzzle, and he wasn't sure how to do it.
He hesitantly put out a hand and placed it on Reijirou's shoulder, simply letting him know he was there for the time being. To his surprise Reijirou put his own hand over his. He seemed to draw strength from the seishi through their contact.
After a few minutes Reijirou pushed Nuriko's hand off his shoulder and stood up, going to the telephone. He quickly punched in a number he'd learned by heart in the last two days. "Miaka? We've got problems. Big ones."
Half an hour later everything was arranged. He'd spoken briefly to Miaka, then called Risako's pager and left a message for her. A quick call to the hospital got him the information that Dr. Seo had finally gone home, and a helpful nurse gave him the number. The phone had been answered by a woman, speaking a bit loudly to be heard over the very juvenile male voice in the background, and had given him right to Dr. Seo. He'd agreed to the plan that Miaka and Reijirou had thought up in a hurry.
Reijirou hung up the phone after saying goodbye to the doctor and Mitsukake. "Come on Nuriko, we're going."
"Where? And what's going on?" Nuriko had sat silently by, watching with a serious expression on his face, as the plan had been made, not understanding half of it.
"We're going to Gesshin's. We're waking him up before Ashitare goes after him." Chiaki mercifully hadn't taken the car that day. Reijirou scooped up the keys and pulled on a fresh jacket as he and Nuriko left the apartment, locking the door tightly. "Ashitare probably knows where Gesshin lives, since he was with me that night. We've got to get him…" Nuriko simply nodded and started jogging, proving his coping with new devices by easily opening the door to the stairs.
Reijirou peeled out of the parking lot in the beat-up yellow convertible, Nuriko in the seat next to him, both mute and focused completely on the road ahead. Reijirou had never driven that way before: tight, controlled, and fast, like a professional racer. But inside he was hardening into a grim ball of determination. No one else would die while he had a say in it. This was just one step of many, but it was one more chance for life.
Nuriko felt the same, with some slightly different reasons. When he and Chiriko and Mitsukake and Hotohori had died in the other world, they had known what they were getting into. They knew there was a chance they would die. So they'd been prepared for it. This new Nakago, Lowle Adam, hadn't known at all, was simply out having fun. And Reijirou wouldn't have known either had it not been for a string of lucky coincidences. This would stop. Now.
Reijirou arrived in front of Gesshin's building in two-thirds of the time it normally took him and pulled into a space. He vaulted from the car and pounded inside the building, up the steps to the Ijiris' fourth floor apartment, Nuriko flying beside him. He skidded to a halt outside the door to 4C and banged on the door, hoping Gesshin wasn't working that morning.
"Shit, I'm comin', I'm comin', hold yer damn horses." Gesshin opened the door and scowled at his visitor, a look that would've made Reijirou nervous if he'd been more like himself. "Fuck man, why're ya comin' poundin' around here NOW?!" He was discreetly trying to hide something behind his back.
"Shut the hell up and listen to me." The tone in Reijirou's voice shocked Gesshin into silence. "You've gotta come with me. Now. There's no time to explain, but you've gotta." Fortunately Gesshin was wearing clothes, not his sleep stuff. Good. Less attention attracted that way.
"Why?" Gesshin scowled again. "It's m' mornin' off, I don' have t' do anythin' I don' wan' t'day. Go away an' leave me alone." He slammed the door, but Nuriko caught it with his foot before it could close and kicked it open again.
Reijirou and Nuriko stormed purposefully into the room. Nuriko still hadn't revealed himself to Gesshin, and wasn't planning on it. The boy was panicked enough as it was, as his rapidly widening eyes proved. Reijirou gave Gesshin the scowl to end all scowls. "You are coming with me."
"Who says."
Reijirou groaned and shot Nuriko a purposeful look. Nuriko nodded, understanding, and jumped. Once again Reijirou was filled with that liquid fire as Nuriko entered him. "I'm sorry man, but I've gotta do this. It's for your own good."
Minutes later Reijirou/Nuriko pulled into the hospital's parking lot, found a spot, and hauled the unconscious Gesshin out of the backseat. Flipping him easily over his shoulders, he walked quickly to the lobby where he'd agreed to meet Miaka.
The automatic door opened to reveal Miaka, talking to an elderly lady, and a bored nurse behind the counter, reading a magazine. Miaka looked up as they entered and abruptly burst out into laughter.
"Sorry, I had to knock him out to get him here. Where to?"
"Just down that hall and to your right. His name's on the door," she said, pointing down the correct hallway. Reijirou/Nuriko nodded and started down the hall, walking swiftly and easily supporting his large burden.
Miaka turned back to the nurse and the old woman before she followed. Both of them had stunned looks on their faces. Miaka smiled kindly. "He doesn't take well to getting shots."
AUTHOR'S NOTES II: Weird Stuff has begun! Honestly, was anyone expecting Adam to die?
All right, yet another explanation. This one is nowhere near as complicated though.
All through this past year at school (starting in September and ending in early April) I've been competing for the chance to go to GHP, or Governor's Honors Program. It's very hard to get into, as you compete against people from all over the state, literally, and they only take a verrrrrrrrrry limited amount of students. I tried out in communicative arts (AKA comm arts, lit, Everything About the English Language Rolled Into One) and spent most of this past year in various states of nervousness and worry (and I thought my nails couldn't get any shorter...). My friends who were also trying out weren't any better, it's a nerve wracking process! Sheesh, they make you wait two months after the final interview to tell you if you're in or not!
But I MADE IT! I nearly fainted when I heard, I was so excited. Good thing I didn't, I was in Calc at the time... One of 90 in the entire state (which I am not going to name here) to make it in comm arts. I still quite don't believe it. Anyway, what it entails is going away for six weeks (during the summer, obviously) to one of the state universities. I'm not even sure how I'm going to be able to WRITE down there, let alone upload. But I'll give it my best, I really will! The Upload Test will take place on June 17th, and if it works I'm gonna try to stick to my normal schedule. But if things suddenly stop that's why. I don't want you all to think I'm deserting you if that happens, I just can't get it to work! Although, at the moment I can't see any reason why it wouldn't. But we'll see!
All right, maybe it was as complicated. I can't tell a story in a short form. Ja neeeeee! ^_^
