CHAPTER 2
A/N: Okay, in this chapter, I'm going to try and put in all the other Suzaku Seven, work into it what they've been doing since their new lives in Japan started. So it'll delve more into Nuriko, but also talk about the others…or most of them. Don't hold your breath for Chichiri; he won't be here for another chapter or so.
Dedications: Marcy. For telling me the Japanese word for "I love you." Aishitaimasu, Marcy! (Whoops…that's the really strong form, huh? Oh well. I stick by it. I just hope Carrieann doesn't try to kill meeee……lol.)
Important Stuff: Aishitaimasu = I love you. Muchos thanks to Marcy for telling me that! ^_________^
~*~
"All finished?"
"Yes, nurse. Send in the next patient please. Who is he?"
"A 14 year old boy...he has a sore throat...I think we may need to do a strep test."
"Very well. Send him in." The nurse left the room, closing the door behind her. The doctor, a tall, muscled man with dark hair and deep eyes, stepped into his office momentarily. Rifling the papers, he sighed. //That dream again last night...will I ever find them?// The dream ran through his head again. The screams of a girl...long blonde hair and blue eyes shining into his, tear filled. //Please...save Miaka. Kill me...if I die, the monster dies with me and all the people in town are saved. Please do it! Kill me...Mitsukake!//
The sound of the door opening interrupted Mitsukake's thoughts. //Shoka...it seems so real.// Shaking his head, he pulled on a clean pair of gloves and walked into the other room, taking the papers the nurse offered. "Now, what seems to be problem here, young..." He paused, scanning the paper for his patient's name. "...Chiriko." //Chiriko?!// His head snapped up, wide eyes connecting with a pair very similar in expression, but wider and younger. "Chiriko!"
"Mitsukake!" The young boy he had known so many years ago sat before him, bare feet dangling off the side of the bench, shocked eyes soon crinkling up into the adorable smile of so many years before. "Now how in Suzaku's name you end up here?!" Mitsukake questioned, slipping into older times in the midst of the situation, once again invoking the old god.
"Suzaku..." Chiriko repeated happily. "So it truly wasn't all a dream. I had wondered...as to your question, I have no idea. I guess I finally hit my growth spurt, or something like that."
"It doesn't matter. I'm just..." Mitsukake was at a loss for words. "I'm just so happy to find you again!" Forgoing all pretenses of playing the roles of doctor and patient, he pulled Chiriko into a tight hug.
"I'm happy to see you too, Mitsukake. I was so lonely without all of my friends of the Suzaku Seven," Chiriko said softly, thinking of all the years, all the lives he had gone through alone. "Of course, I was never truly alone in any of those lives...it's just...the bond we of the Suzaku Seven hold is a very strong bond...a bond set into place by the Fates. With that bond lacking..."
Mitsukake held the boy at arms length, staring seriously into his eyes. "I understand." There was a pause, and Mitsukake turned back to his clipboard. "Now, how about we take a look at that sore throat of yours?"
~*~
"Hotohori?"
"Yes, father?" The eighteen year old stood at attention as his father addressed him, turning away from the mirror he had been looking into, making sure he looked picture-perfect before heading out to school.
"I'm counting on you to try your hardest. I know it's difficult...switching to a new school. But my name is very well known, and I'd like you to set a good example."
"Yes, father." Hotohori smiled. His father was a famous government official; saying his name was very well known was a bit of an understatement.
"Not that I know why I'm telling you this," his father continued. "You always do set a good example. Don't need to be told." He smiled fondly at his son. "Have a good day, son." He tousled Hotohori's hair.
"DaaaaAAD!" Hotohori whined, rushing back to the mirror. "I just got this looking right!" Whipping out a comb, he began frantically fixing his hair.
His father laughed. "Hurry up with your grooming, Fabio. You're going to be late for your first day." Turning, he left for work.
Scowling good-naturedly, Hotohori tucked one last hair into place and examined himself. Satisfied, he blew himself a kiss before grabbing his book satchel and hurrying out to his car. //I hope this first day goes well...I hope there are some nice kids there...// Tilting the mirror to better see the cars behind him (and his own glorious profile), Hotohori revved the car and pulled out of the driveway, heading off to school.
~*~
"Why do I have to go here?!"
The petit redheaded woman sighed in exasperation. "Well, you don't give us much choice, Tasuki! If you didn't get in so many fights, we wouldn't have to keep transferring you! Parents complain when you beat up their children more than once...it gets a little trying. There was no way you could have stayed in the last school...fighting half of the boys in school was bad enough...did you really have to go after the principle's son himself?!"
Tasuki snickered; his mother swatted the back of his head. "Ow!"
"You deserved it! I mean it, Tasuki! I'm sick of transferring you to different schools! This is it! If you get kicked out again, you're paying for school yourself!"
"Alright, alright, I get the picture!"
"Good..." his mother smiled fondly at him. Leaning over, she gave him a peck on the cheek.
"Yeack!" he protested, trying to pretend he didn't like the sign of affection, but truly he lapped it up.
"Yuck yourself!" she responded merrily. "Now scoot! Get your rear in gear! I have to take you to school in fifteen minutes!"
~*~
"Nuriko! Get UP!"
Nuriko grumbled into his pillow. //I don't want to face another new school...another new day...I wanna go back to bed and dream about Hotohori and the others...//
"Nuriko, I MEAN IT!" His mother, now standing next to his bed, yanked the covers off. Nuriko huddled into a ball immediately, not liking the cool air without the protection of his quilt.
"Maaa!"
"Don't "Maaa" me! You're going to be late!" She tugged on his long violet hair. "Get up now or I'll cut off your hair."
In a flash, Nuriko was up and out of bed. "I'm up, I'm UP!" He raced past her, clutching his waist-length purple hair close, pausing only to stick his tongue out at her playfully before dashing into the bathroom to shower.
Fifty minutes later, Nuriko deigned to show himself in the kitchen. Dressed in his school uniform, the collar unbuttoned in what was clearly supposed to be a jaunty, self-confidant way, his long violet hair braided loosely and tossed casually over one shoulder, he breezed into the kitchen and sat easily down in his chair. "Mornin' dad, mom, Kourin." He looked up at his family, who was staring at him, parents in exasperation and sister looking as though she was suppressing a major fit of giggles. "Whaaaaat?!"
"We have ten minutes to get you to school, which is at least fifteen minutes away!" his mother cried, thoroughly rankled. "From now on, you're getting up at five, Nuriko!"
"FIVE?!"
"You're never ready on time! You take too long of a shower!"
"It takes a long time to wash all this hair!" Nuriko exclaimed.
"Then maybe we should cut it off!" his mother shot back.
Nuriko rose out of his chair, palms flat on the table and fire in his eyes. "Over my dead body!"
"Don't tempt me, young man!" Shoving a piece of toast in her son's mouth, she grabbed him by the ear and dragged him out of the chair. "You're not going to be late your first day of school! Come on, Kourin. We'll take you to the airport directly after dropping your brother off at school." Pausing only to grab Nuriko's satchel and thrust it into his hands, she dragged him out to the car.
"Everyone in?" Nuriko's father questioned, looking back at his children in the rearview mirror. "Alright then. We're off."
Nuriko stared out the window at the house, thinking longingly of the bed he'd like to be in at that moment when he felt a smaller hand slide it's way into his. Looking to his left, he saw Kourin smile reassuringly at him.
The ride was way too short for Nuriko's liking. Sliding out of the car, he stared in dread at the building hundreds of other students were pouring into as the bell rang, all of them wearing the same uniform as him. He thought wistfully of the "past life" he remembered, the comfortable clothing he wore...then colored at the remembrance that in those dreams, he dressed as a girl half of the time.
"Nuriko?"
Turning, Nuriko saw Kourin holding his satchel out to him. Disregarding the bag, he pulled his sister into his arms, hugging her tight and willing the burning tears not to fall, to go back where they came from. "I'm going to miss you...Kourin."
She was crying too, but hiding it well. "It'll be okay, Nuriko. Don't worry. You'll charm them all...you always do." Pulling reluctantly away, she waved goodbye, refusing to let the tears fall, trying to be strong for him. Always for him. "Goodbye, Nuriko." Getting into the car, Kourin closed the door behind her. Nuriko watched as the car drove off, and Kourin looked back, one hand pressed against the window in a farewell wave, both of them watching until the other grew too small to see. Nuriko watched his sister smile sadly, watched her lips move slowly so that he could read the words she spoke silently. "Aishitaimasu."
// Aishitaimasu, Kourin. Aishitaimasu.//
~TBC~