Disclaimer: I don't own the original FY characters; I own Kei, Taki, Lily, Jason, their kids and any other person who isn't a FY character.
Thoughts
Memories
Summary: The book was supposed to be sealed forever, never to trouble the real world again. But when the child of a seishi and descendant of a miko finds it 20 years later, there's no telling what could happen. When 17-year-old Akane finds the book, she understands what her parents tried to teach her through out her life. When she meets the son of her father's best friend, old ideals clash with modern thinking and sparks will fly. She and her cousins will learn about their parents' past and why they had hoped to leave it behind.
~*~Review Response~*~
~Jamie - Hello again. Surprised? I knew you'd have an interesting reaction to the ending. So you'd prefer Kimiko not to be timid? Okay. I can do that. It actually works better with what I'd been planning. I hope you like what I come up with.
~Draco - Gotta love computers, right? I'm glad another reader has come back to see what I've cooked up this time. I hope you find it as good as my first.
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Akane slowly opened her eyes. Sunlight poured in from an eastern window of the room. As she rubbed her eyes, she realized she didn't recognize the room. 'Where am I?' She felt something touching her. She moved the blanket and nearly screamed. An arm was draped over her waist. Before she screamed, she saw what the arm was connected to. Kano lay, still asleep, on his side next to her. As he slept, she watched him. 'He's not so bad when he's asleep…too bad he is such a jackass when he's awake…' She put her hands behind her head and lay on her back staring at the ceiling. 'So I wasn't dreaming…I am stuck here…I'm stuck in ancient China with a group of bandits my dad used to lead…my dad is a bandit? I have got to find out more about this if I ever get home…'
Kano woke up to find himself holding onto something. 'Funny, I don't remember bringing someone to bed…' When his vision cleared he saw familiar jet-black hair. 'Akane…'
"Morning…" She murmured looking to her side.
"Morning. Sleep okay?"
"Fine…" Her attention seemed drawn back to the ceiling.
Kano pulled his arm back and stared up at the ceiling. "Something interesting up there?"
"Nah…just thinking…"
"You still don't really believe you're here, do you?"
"I dunno…I guess I don't. If you were me, would you?"
"I guess not…" He sat up and kicked the blankets off and got out of bed.
"You in some kinda hurry?"
"We have a raid today." He took a shirt from a drawer and put it on.
"A raid?"
"We are bandits. It's what we do. Rob from the rich type stuff, ya know?"
"Oh, right. Silly me." She sat up and folded her legs under her. "Kano?"
"Huh?"
"Do I have to sleep here every night?"
Kano felt a tug at his heart. "Is something wrong with sleeping in my room?"
"N…no…that's not what I meant. You misunderstand me…" She got flustered. "I just don't like sharing. I'm an only child. I don't share."
"I offered to sleep on the cot…"
"It's your room though…"
"Oh, shut up. We are not getting into that again…" He sat on his bed and pulled on some socks and boots.
She watched him quietly. "What am I supposed to do while you guys are out?"
"Could help the maids cook dinner…"
"And blow up the kitchen? I don't think you want me to cook. I can't cook for crap."
"You can't cook?" He snickered.
"Shut up! No…my mom tried to teach me, but I don't get it. I burnt everything…" She blushed.
"Well, since you can't cook. I'll have to ask Dad. Come on…" He pulled her off the bed.
"Okay…" She grabbed her shoes and shuffled after him.
"Maybe I should teach you how to cook one of these days…"
"You can cook?"
"Well, I wouldn't starve if I was on my own…"
"You'd be wasting your time."
"Don't have much else to do around here anyway." He shrugged. "Just wait for the occasional raid."
"You make it sound so boring."
"It is after so long…"
"Oh…" She was quiet again and continued after him.
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Kimiko and Hiroshi sat in the park, drinking juice. She ran a hand through her deep violet hair. "Akane is in a book? She was sucked into the book I gave her. Is that what you're trying to say?"
"I guess…" He stared into the can. "Take it or leave it…"
She stared at him and thought for a moment. "Am I in trouble with her parents?"
"I dunno…why?"
"Well, if I was the one who gave her the book…you said they weren't too happy about finding out she was there, right?"
"Yeah…I did…wait a minute, you believe me?"
"Is there a reason I shouldn't? Besides the seemingly complete absurdity of your story?"
"Well, other than that…I guess not…"
"You never lied to me before. It's weird, I know…but it's kinda exciting too, if it's true I mean." She laid her hand on his. "If you believe it, then so do I."
"Thanks Kimiko…" He hid a blush. "I figured you'd think I was crazy."
"Hiroshi, I've always thought you were crazy. But I owe it to you to believe you without question. You insisted on hanging out with me even when I hated you. I'll never understand why, but you did."
He looked at her. "Because I've had a crush on you for 4 years, maybe?' He smiled. "I remember how much you used to hate me…"
"Shut up! Don't bring that up!" She blushed and swatted at him. "How many times do I have to apologize for that?"
He chuckled. "You're done apologizing for that. I just like bringing it up."
"Jeez, you're mean!" He laughed a little more.
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An 11-year-old Hiroshi silently stared across the schoolyard. He was staring at her again. Another 11-year-old stood in the midst of a lot of classmates. She stood a little taller than some of them. He liked her deep violet hair. Her bright green eyes sparkled in the bright sunlight. She seemed to be a leader among the other girls and they would follow her everywhere. Hiroshi had liked her for a long time, but he didn't have classes with her, nor did he know her name.
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A year later, Hiroshi found himself sitting behind the violet haired girl in his class. She paid no attention to him, but he didn't care. At least he had finally learned her name. Takani Kimiko.
After classes ended, everyone left to get their things and go home. Hiroshi went to his locker, next to Kimiko's. She was busy talking to one of her friends before the other girl left and went through her locker.
She suddenly turned to him. "Do we have history homework?"
"Huh?" He was a little surprised. "Uh, yeah…pages 31-40…"
She gave him a funny look. "Thanks."
He stood, a little stupefied, watching her go.
He put his books in his bag and followed the same path Kimiko took out of the school. When she got to the door, two boys came out of nowhere through the door from outside and knocked her things out of her hands.
They stopped for moment. "Sorry, Kimiko."
"Sorry? If you're really sorry, you pick up my stuff." She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
"We really don't have time."
"Now!" She glared hard at them.
"Eep!" The two scrambled to pick up her things. "Here!" They handed her all her things and ran away again. She muttered something to herself and kept walking.
Hiroshi saw one more of her books on the ground. He picked it up and followed. "Hey, Kimiko?"
"Yeah?" She cast a glance over her shoulder.
"I think this is yours." He offered her the book.
"Thanks." She took the book from him and looked him over. "Those were your friends, right?"
"I dunno if I'd call them friends really…"
"Right…" She rolled her eyes and reached for the door.
"Something wrong?"
"Nothing you'd care about." She muttered.
"What?" He was taken aback and confused.
"It's nothing a little rich boy like you needs to worry about."
"A little rich boy? Me?"
"Yeah, you. Spoiled little rich boy."
"I am not!"
"Prove it!"
"How? Tell me and I'll do it!"
"Really? Let's just see about that!"
The two glared at each other and left the school to go their separate ways.
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Kimiko rested her head on Hiroshi's shoulder and chuckled as they walked. "I can't believe you actually did that…"
"I told you I'd prove I wasn't a spoiled little rich boy." He smiled. 'I can't believe my crush on her survived what she put me through…'
"You were right. That's what I get for judging people before I know them…" She laced her fingers with his and they kept walking out of the park.
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Akane stood in the brush near a well-used road. She was dressed in ragged clothes and had dirt smudged on her face as well. "So let me get this straight, I lay on the ground until someone comes. Then when they come and look at me, I act hurt until you guys finish?"
"That's about it." Kano nodded.
"And if they try and, you know, like take me or something?"
"Attack." Kano handed her his twin daggers. "You know how to, right?"
"Uh huh." She tied the knives onto her belt and hid the two sheathes in the folds of the ragged dress. She walked into the center of the road and lay down. She held her ear to the ground and listened carefully.
"Dad, will she be okay?" Kano stared at his father.
"She'll be fine. There are two men keeping and eye on her so if she ends up in over her head, they'll get her out."
"Okay…"
"You're worried about her…" It was a statement not a question. "And it isn't just because she's a girl, is it?"
"No…" Kano turned from him.
"It's not wrong to like her you know…"
"I think a wagon's coming…"
The bandits took their places. Akane felt the vibrations of horses' hooves on the ground. Her body involuntarily tensed. She willed herself to relax and close her eyes.
She heard the shouts of some of the caravan members getting their guards to check her out. When they reached her, she softly moaned and feigned regaining consciousness.
"Miss, are you alright? Are you hurt?"
She almost felt bad about lying to them and distracting them from their job. But another part of her reminded her that her father was a bandit too and this was a part of who she was in a way. "I think I'm okay…" She rubbed her head.
"Were you attacked?"
"Yes…they came from the north…a small group…"
One of them 'helped' her to her feet. "Where do you live? We can see you back if you like."
"No…I think I'll be fine…" She saw that the bandits were already finished with taking anything and everything of value from the people at the wagon. Kano gave her the signal to get out. "I'll be on my way. Thank you for your help though." She bowed politely and hurried into the woods.
The confused guards watched her go and turned back to the wagon, horrified to see everything taken. They gaped when they realized the Mt. Reikaku bandits had struck and the girl had been with them.
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Nyoko and Naoko sat at the table reading the book. Naoko shook her shoulder length hair around. "Why does Akane get to do all the fun stuff?"
"You call bandit raids fun? It's dangerous…"
"Of course it's fun! Sure it's dangerous too, but things aren't interesting if they're totally safe. Everyone needs a little risk in their lives."
"Maybe you're right…" Nyoko stared at a picture of Akane riding with Kano back to the bandit hide out after the raid. "Risk does make things interesting…"
"Of course I'm right! I'm always right. Listen to your big sister!" She stood up and smirked at Nyoko.
"By 5 minutes!"
"Still older!"
"Oh you!" Nyoko hopped off her chair and ran after Naoko. "That's so not fair!"
"All's fair in love, war and family!" Naoko took off running and giggling.
Jason watched his daughters from the doorway. He sighed and shook his head. They understood so little about the danger Akane was in. Though the more the adults thought about it, the more it seemed like sending the kids was the only way. He sighed again and went back to the den.
Kei was sitting in the couch staring at the floor. She had attempted many times to reenter the book but to no avail. She had no idea what was wrong.
Lily handed her a glass of water. "How are you feeling?"
"About as good as I can be I suppose…" She took the glass and stared at it.
"Please don't got all far off into your thoughts again…we'll get Akane okay?"
"I know…but we can't get there…I've tried going though the book…it doesn't work."
"Really?" Lily cast a glance to the book. "You mean it won't respond anymore?"
"Exactly…" She murmured.
"Maybe we're too old…" Jason sat across from Kei.
"Too old?" The women asked.
"Magic and gods is for people who are young, who aren't set in their ways…remember, the only other time your grandmother went through the book was when Nozomi was still around. There's probably something that keeps older people from going there without a very good reason." Jason sighed.
"What the hell!?!??!!!?!?!?!???!??!?!" A scream from one of the boys startled the three adults. They got up and ran to where it came from. Tasuki, Taki, Hotohori, Nuriko, and Chichiri were already there. Toru was stumbling backwards staring at a mirror. Toshiro was completely frozen.
Chichiri held Toru up. "What is it, no da?" He stared at the mirror. "You…"
"Was I too sudden?" The all to familiar image of a black haired woman stood where Toru's reflection should have been.
"Nozomi…" Kei stared at the woman's reflection. "You're back…"
"Kei…everyone…" Nozomi stepped out of the mirror as a transparent entity.
Nyoko, Naoko, Toru and Toshiro stared in awe of the new presence. None of the 4 could find their voices.
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Akane watched half the bandits she was with pack up what they had stolen. She wiped the dirt from her face and faced Kano. "What are they doing with the stuff?"
"Taking it down to the villages." He noticed how confused she looked. "You didn't think we kept it all did you?"
"Well…uh…I didn't think…"
"That we'd be helping anyone? We only take money from those who can stand to lose it. There are people who need it more than them."
'A bandit charity? Why not? Better than celebrities…' She followed Kano back up to his room. "Kano?"
"Yeah?" He sat on the bed.
"I wanna go home…" She slumped onto the bed next to him. "I mean…I love it here…but I want to go home…part of me wants to be here, but another stronger part is really homesick…"
He uncharacteristically wrapped his arm around her shoulders comfortingly. "Then we'll get you home soon."
She rested her head on his shoulder. "Promise?"
"Promise…" He pulled her close and rested his chin on her head. 'What the hell am I doing? I can't help her…I'm just a bandit. I can't do squat to help and I just said I would…' He ignored his thoughts as Akane wrapped her arms around his neck.
She stared at him for a brief moment before giving him a quick kiss. "Thanks Kano." She smiled slightly.
"Sure…" He murmured and kissed her back.
She blushed. Wasn't this the same boy who called her a stupid little girl? Then again, things change.
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Now you guys know the first kiss of the story had to be with Kano and Akane, right? Good, just checking.
~*~Shadow Hawk~*~
3/4/03