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~*~
~watergoddess14 - I'm so happy you liked the 1st one. I didn't think anyone else would be reading it. I'm happy to have another reader for this story too.
~Jamie - Glad you like Kimiko. I just love to write and if I don't, my head will either explode from too many ideas or I'll lose them all. I can't wait till I get more involved with the Kano/Reizo thing. I doubt it'll be this chapter, but I believe you'll find it very surprising when I do get to it.
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Kano's POV
A week…Akane's been here a week already. So she wants to go home, I know…but I don't want her to go…
So I like her…so what? I know I was mean to her…but she's not so bad…
My dad's been arranging to take her to the capital. They could give her more help there…maybe even find her a way home…
Dammit! Why'd I have to like a girl from another world? It's not even like I have any power that can protect her or anything. I'm not a Suzaku Seishi, I'm not a monk, I'm not royalty, I'm just a bandit…a simple thief…that's all I am…hardly worthy of being near her considering her parents and the rest of her family.
She should have gone to the capital when she first got here…I wouldn't have started to like her then…she would have been outta sight and outta mind…
I rolled onto my back and stared at my ceiling. Akane stares at the ceiling a lot…it helps you think oddly enough…I let out a long sigh. She shouldn't be here…not just at the bandit stronghold, in the book. Every kid is taught about the Guardian and the war. Every kid knows our world is sealed off from the miko's world. I was only 1 when it happened…who or what broke the seal of a Goddess that commands the power of all the beast gods?
"Kano?" Her sleepy voice drew my attention from the ceiling.
"Yeah?"
"Why are you up? It's the middle of the night…" She was right. Moonlight poured in through a window. Guess I hadn't noticed.
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Akane's POV
Even in the dark, I could see his bright emerald eyes full of though. He thinks too much.
"I could ask you, too." He turned to me.
"I just wake up sometimes. I think there's too much light in here. My room is usually pitch black." I rolled onto my stomach and rested my chin on my hands. "Now why aren't you asleep?" I studied his features.
"Just thinking…" He stared at the ceiling.
"Stop that and talk to me." I brushed my hand against his shoulder.
I felt his muscles tense. "You shouldn't be here…"
What did he mean by that? In his room? At the stronghold? Where? The bluntness of his words hurt, no matter what the meaning, and I pulled my hand away.
"I didn't mean it that way…" He murmured and stopped my hand.
"Then what did you mean?" I couldn't help but still feel hurt by his words, but my heart raced while his hand was on mine.
He turned on his side and faced me. "How much do you know about what happened when your parents were still here?"
"Not much…just that my mom and her friends met their soul mates, well those were their words, not mine, and that the book was supposed to be closed."
"They told you squat." He sat up in the bed. "Time for a Konan history lesson. Sit up and listen."
I did as he told me to. I was curious. This was what my parents never told me. "So where do we start?"
"Before your parents were here." He took a deep breath. "You great-grandmother was on of Suzaku's mikos, a very powerful one at that, and when a miko comes, war is waged between Konan and Kutou. Always. Hikari knew the only way to stop the killing was to seal the portal. She couldn't do it herself, but there was a legend she heard about a goddess that could. Your mother ended up being the mortal that carried the goddess into our world."
"War broke out didn't it?"
"Yeah…your dad fought the general of Kutou during the war for the sake of revenge and won."
"Revenge for what? My dad doesn't hold grudges."
"The general, Nakago a Seiryuu seishi, killed your mother."
"My mother's not dead! What are you talking about?!" How could my mother be dead? There must be some mistake, right?
"She died saving your father's life. An arrow through the heart…" His voice lowered to a whisper.
I felt tears in my eyes. "Then what happened? How…how the hell is it she's still around?!?!"
He pulled me into his arms. I felt his hand on my head. "Shhh…I was getting to that." I was panicked. Being closer to him calmed me a bit. I clung to him. "When your mom died, the goddess took her body and stopped the war. Your dad killed Nakago to avenge your mother. Even though the war was over, everyone was devastated by the loss…" He swallowed hard. "No one really knows what happened during the week she was gone, but the goddess stayed in the palace for a while. Then one night, your father was called to the shrine in the place by an unknown voice. Your mother was brought back to life that night."
I stared at him for a while. "Are you serious? My mother came back from the dead?"
"Yeah…" He nodded. "Then the book was sealed by the power of the goddess. No one supposed to come here from your world. That's what I meant…something broke the seal on the book."
"Oh…" So he didn't mean it the way I thought he did. And I understand why Mom and Dad never told me everything. "Kano?"
"Huh?"
"Do you think…do you think…never mind…" I rested my head on his shoulder.
"Do I think what?"
"Never mind…"
"No, what did you want to ask?" He forced me to look at him.
"Do you think I have some greater purpose here?"
"Maybe…I wouldn't doubt it. You have a lot of power in your blood. Mikos, royalty, seishi, bandits, I wouldn't be surprised." He smiled at me through the darkness.
Power? Me? I cast a glance to a bed table. The knives Kano lent me sat on the table. "Kano?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you want your knives back?"
He looked at me for a moment. "Nah…keep 'em."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Never know when you might need 'em."
"Okay." We stayed quiet for a little while. Silence is loud. The only noise that was around came from some bugs outside. It seemed so much louder when it was the only thing around.
I wonder how long I can stay in Kano's arms before he pushes me away or something makes me pull away.
Why do I like him? Do I like him? Yeah, I guess I do. Though he doesn't necessarily like me as far as I know.
I felt his grip on me loosen. I looked up at him. He was falling asleep. Guess the history lesson wore him out.
"Ready to sleep?" I slipped out of his arms.
"Yeah…" He yawned.
Should I take advantage of his sleepy state? Maybe a little. "Kano?"
"Huh?"
"It's cold. Can I sleep closer to you?"
"Sure…whatever…" He was already more than half asleep.
I curled up close to him. It was a little cold and the blankets weren't much. I wasn't totally lying. His arm snaked around my waist as I stared at his sleeping face. He looks so cute when he's sleeping. Cute? I called him cute? Yeah…guess I did.
I laid my head on his chest and thought for a while. A poem that hangs in a frame above my bed popped into my head. "Love me now, or love me never; but if you love me now, love me forever…" I murmured it softly. Do I want Kano to love me? I think I do.
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Reizo walked the halls of the Kutou palace. He was angry, though he kept his composure. His spies told him of the plan to move Akane to the capital. If she actually got there, his plan would never work. Palace guards had gotten better over the years and she would be too well protected in the capital.
He entered his room and slowly closed the door. A small, locked journal sat in a bookshelf. He mused over the lock on the book. No one entered his room for fear of his wrath. There was really no need for it. He opened the lock, sat down and began to write.
Everything is almost ready. I will get that whore. Once I have her, I am debating killing her outright versus making her suffer for a while. Father, you would like it if she suffered rather than just killing her, but letting her live would give those damn people time to rescue her, doesn't it? We wouldn't want that would we, Father? You'd rather see her suffer though, correct? I am sure I can make time and make her suffer for a little while.
I'd like to see her suffer myself. She may be treated well for her bloodline in Konan…I hate writing that word…but she will suffer here. Her father murdered you, Father…I will kill her before she has a chance to inflict damage upon my person. I'll take the revenge for both of us. My victory is yours, Father.
And then there's the matter of my brother…half brother, that is…Kano. I was debating offering him a place here. There's always room for family. But as I feared, he has feelings for the whore…I need to take action against him, don't I, Father? He can't interfere. He has power. He may not know it, but he has it, doesn't he, Father? You told me so. You are never wrong.
Should I kill him, Father? If I can turn him over to our side, his power would be useful. Could he be turned? Everyone is broken at a certain point, right? There are ways of breaking everyone, right? Yes…everyone breaks. It is a most enjoyable thing to watch them break. I have watched many a prisoner break. It is most interesting to see how much the human mind can take before some become blathering fools.
I feel you like the idea of breaking Kano's will. It seems almost a shame to break a brother, but precautions must be taken. He cannot be allowed to realize his power can he, Father? No…even I would not be able to stand against him if he realizes what he is. That's why he must either be killed or turned to this side. I hope I can turn him, but he is strong. He will not be broken easily.
Killing Kano would make that whore suffer even more. I want to see her suffer as much as you do, Father. Sacrificing him will actually make victory sweeter. The screams of the whore will be like music when Kano falls. Father, you'd like to see that right? She deserves to suffer.
His blue-gray eyes flashed briefly as he finished his last words. A smile of pure evil spread across his dark features. In his eyes, his plan would work and the stage would be set for his revenge. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hiroshi and Kimiko walked into the house. One voice could be heard in the living room.
Hiroshi didn't recognize the voice at all. "That's weird…who's that?"
"Dunno. Doesn't sound familiar…"
The two walked into the living room where the adults and two sets of twins listened to a transparent figure standing in the room.
"What the? Who's that?" Hiroshi stared in confusion.
Everyone turned to the new comers. Nozomi looked at Hiroshi then to Taki and Hotohori. "Yours I assume? Do they both know?"
Taki noted Kimiko's slightly confused face. "They know a little, I think."
Kimiko walked around Nozomi. "So…it is true…"
"You doubted?" Nozomi watched the girl circle her without fear.
"If you were human, would you believe all this without growing up around it?"
"Sharp girl…" Nozomi noted.
Hiroshi looked at his mom. "Who's that?"
"The Guardian." Taki murmured.
"What's she doing here?"
"Explaining what happened to Akane."
"Guess I'm a little late then."
"Not your fault."
Nozomi watched the two teens take a seat with the other kids. "Now like I was saying, the seal was broken by someone in the book."
"Who?" Kei demanded.
"You won't like it one bit…"
"I want to know why my daughter is there!"
"Fine…fine…last time you all were there, Nakago had a 3 year old son. That boy, Reizo, now 20, found a way to break the seal."
"Nakago had a son?" Tasuki was furious. "Who would sleep with him besides Soi?"
"You won't like that answer either…"
"Why?"
"Reizo's mother is Kanako, Kano's mother."
Tasuki felt like a truck hit him. "Kanako? Kanako was with Nakago? I knew I didn't like her."
"Who's Kano?" Kei asked.
"Kouji's son." He murmured.
"Kouji has kids?"
"Just Kano."
"And Kano is the half brother of Kutou's newest general." Nozomi shook her head.
"That's fucked up…" Jason muttered.
Nuriko elbowed him. Naoko and Nyoko giggled. "Daddy said a bad word again…"
Nozomi suppressed a smile. "Anyway, I came because Akane has to get out of the book. Reizo wants to kill her. He'll stop at nothing to do so."
"But can we do anything?" Toshiro asked.
"You can go in the book to get her."
"Nozomi, I already tried." Kei stood up.
"Well, the 8 of you can't." She motioned to the adults. "Only the children can go though."
"Why?" Hotohori asked. He motioned to the other seishi. "Not even us? It was our home for years…"
"No…" She murmured. "Adults are rarely capable of traveling through. If you want to get her out, the children will have to go."
The adults stared at their children who stared at each other.
"Why us?" Toru blurted out. "Why can't our moms and dads go? They're the ones who know this stuff."
"I don't think I understand it either, no da."
"Children have a better…how to put it…mystic inclination, I believe. They haven't lived long enough to stop believing in magicks and the like. And a better ability to adapt to the new world."
"But I've never believed in magic." Hiroshi shot back.
"Not magic, magick. There's a difference. It's a subconscious thing."
"Oh."
"You have to decide soon. Akane's in great danger and I can only do so much to protect her."
"Nozomi, how can we send them through?" Kei stood up.
"It will have to be tonight. They must also go in pairs. It's safer. I'll explain more tonight if you decide to send them." She faded back into the mirror.
Toru and Toshiro stared at each other. "Did that really just happen, Toshiro?"
"I don't know. Everything I've learned in school would tell me no…but considering our family, I guess I'd say yes."
"Oh. Okay."
Kimiko sat on the arm of the chair Hiroshi was in. He looked up at her. "So, still think I'm sane?"
"As much as I always did. So, you think you're gonna go in to get Akane?"
"Probably. If she's in danger of being killed…"
"Then I guess I'll have to come with." She spoke as if she decided the moment she walked into the house.
"What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with you." Hiroshi was more than a little shocked.
"Oh, but it does." She slid of the arm into the seat of the chair with Hiroshi. "I gave her the book, didn't I?"
"Yeah…so?"
"I'm the one who sorta got her there. I should do whatever I can to help her. She's my friend. I can't stand by knowing some psycho guy plans to kill her. That's not cool."
"But I dunno if…"
"Oh shush! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself if that's what you're worried about. Besides, if I don't go, you don't have a partner to go through with."
Hiroshi scanned the room. She was right. There were the twins and him. With Akane gone, there was an odd number of kids. "I guess you're right…" He knew she was right. No one in their class dared make fun of Kimiko. She would hear about it and promptly put an end to it.
"Of course I'm right." She smiled.
Hiroshi blushed. "R…right…"
Taki smiled. "Well, that makes 3 pairs. Are we sending them tonight? They should be a little more prepared…."
"We don't have the time though…" Kei sighed. "They should just pack and we'll fill them in along the way. It's really all we can do."
The others solemnly nodded. The 6 kids would be packed up and ready to leave that night.
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REIZO'S A PSYCHOPATH!!!! Run for your lives!!!! Eep…reading that over now I realize it's like, really creepy…I can't believe I wrote that. He's talking to dead people…I've created a psychopath…
I have too much time to write. I'm off school today. 'Teacher day of renewal' A.K.A. 'We don't want to see you after telling your parents how stupid you all are at parent/teacher conferences'. We had a 'Snow Day' on Wed. too A.K.A. 'There's a little snow out there and it's cold, so screw teaching today'. Only good thing about living in the Chicago area is the off chance of a snow day. Otherwise it's bloody cold in the winter! I wanna live where it's warm!
Anyway, that's enough of my complaining. Review please!
~*~Shadow Hawk~*~
3/7/03