Chapter 8: Hidden Jealousy
Hikari :
"Hikari? Daijoubu?" Ling asked. "If you grip that mug any tighter, I swear you're gonna break it," Ling said with a laugh.
"Huh?" I looked down. True, I gripped the handle of the mug so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I loosened my grip.
"What's the matter?" Ling asked concerned.
"Nothing. I was just thinking," I replied, smiling at her.
I looked out of the window. I watched as the raven haired boy, about a few years older than me picked up his little sister laughing. "You're such a little brat!" He laughed again, hugging her close to his body. I was filled with jealousy.
It was break-time for me. Usually, I spent my time looking out of the window. But, I hated every single time when a happy looking family passed by the inn. And for some reason, looking at them made me want to cry. "Grow up. So you're alone. Big deal. Only strong people stand alone. I don't need anyone. Not friends or FAMILY!!!" I cursed under my breath.
It just wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that I had amnesia. It wasn't fair that I could only remember memories ever since I was fourteen. My entire childhood was a total blank. I didn't care. Or do I...
"Hikari!!!" Ling's mother called me.
"Coming!!!" I quickly finished my drink and went to her. "Hai?"
"Listen, go serve the family at that corner. Take their orders. Quickly!!!" Ling's mother hushed me out of the kitchen. Sheesh. Sometimes, I hated my job. Why on earth did I choose to work in an inn with a mini restaurant inside? It was tiring!!!
I walked towards the table and took their orders. "Is that all sir?" I asked politely. I was just about to leave when the young boy, no older than six stopped me.
"Matte!!! I want some sweet peanut buns as well!!! Gimme four!!!" he looked at his father. "Can I, Daddy? Can I?"
His father nodded, chuckling. "My goodness, Kai. When will you be full?" His mother laughed. His older sister sitting beside him laughed too.
"I'll add that as well," I smiled sweetly and left the table for good. I couldn't help but to feel even more sorry for myself. Stupid family.
'The truth is... I want one... Of my own... My very own family...' a voice said at the back of my head.
I woke up. That dream again? Almost every night, it was the same dream. All over again. Nothing else. Why must I torture myself every night? I sighed. 'Maybe a walk will help,' I thought to myself. I got out of bed and put on my shoes.
I sighed as lean against the pillar. "Doushite? Why must that dream always haunt me? Why must I have this feelings?" I said aloud. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, trying to forget that dream. A cool breeze blew.
Suddenly, I heard a loud cry of a bird. I opened my eyes. Everything was red.
Suddenly, I was transported in a totally different place. Three young siblings sat at the table, waiting for their father and older brother. The father came in the room. He looked weak and frail.
"Tamahome?" I asked in surprise when I saw a ten year old boy entering the scene. What was happening? Was this Tamahome's past or something? I looked closely. Iie, that cannot be Tamahome. Tamahome never had his hair in a bun. Or did he?
The siblings joked and laughed with their father while eating. They only had rice and a small salmon fish to eat. Yet, they were happily laughing away.
A tear rolled down my cheek. "Is this a joke, Suzaku? Are you trying to make me more jealous?" I said out aloud angrily. The family didn't hear me. Just then, the door burst opened.
"Amiboshi?" I cried out in surprise. Amiboshi had an angry expression on his face. Iie, it wasn't anger. It was hatred. Pure hatred.
"Amiboshi? What's going on?" I demanded. It was of no use. No one heard me. A five year old girl screamed as an unattached ryuuseisui burst through her. Her other older siblings screamed as blood splattered on the walls.
"Chikuso! I can't believe that I can't do anything." I gritted my teeth as I watched the family being murdered by Amiboshi. Matte!!! A ryuuseisui? Amiboshi never used a ryuuseisui!!! He used a flute. Who used such a weapon to kill? Suboshi!!! Amiboshi's twin brother!!!
All of a sudden, everything faded. "Save them... Save Tamahome's family..." a voice whispered.
"Huh what was that suppose to mean?" I asked. "Matte!!! Suzaku!!!"
Too late.
Was that a vision... Of the future? What if I couldn't save them? Like I couldn't save Ling's family? I had a vision once, about the death of Ling's family. But I couldn't stop it. I couldn't save them. Another vision was useless!!!
"Try..." the voice whispered again.
"Hikari? Daijoubu?"
Huh? I looked at the person. "Oh, Amiboshi. What are you doing here?"
"Couldn't sleep. And you?"
"The same," I replied.
Amiboshi:
I was walking around, trying to clear my mind when a saw Hikari standing alone, leaning against a pillar. She was glowing bright red. I watched in silence for a few minutes before approaching her. When I came closer, she stopped glowing but she was looking faraway into the distance, like a daydreamer.
"Hikari, Daijoubu?" I asked her concerned.
She took several seconds before snapping out of her daydream and answered my question. "Oh, Amiboshi. What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Couldn't sleep. And you?"
"The same," she replied, giving me a smile. "Amiboshi, do you know where Tamahome's family live?"
I nodded. "Hai. I've met them before."
"Great!!! Slightly before sunrise, can you meet me outside my room? Before everyone wakes up? Bring me to his family. There's something important that I need to do." She said worriedly.
"Anou... Demo... I'm not suppose to go anywhere..."
"Just bring me to his family!!! It's a matter of life and death!!!" I had never seen her so angry before.
"If you say so."
"Great!!!" With that, she was off.
I sighed and shook my head. I wondered what that girl was up to.
Hikari:
It was just slightly before dawn when we set off. Stealing two horses from the stables, we rode off towards the direction of Tamahome's village. When we arrived there, villagers had just begun to set up their stalls, started to trade and working in the fields. Amiboshi and I got off our horses and tied them up to a tree.
"Amiboshi! Matte! It's rude to barge in the house so early in the morning. Let's go grab a quick bite and buy his family some breakfast as well!" I suggested. Amiboshi readily agreed.
"Aa!!! After all, with Miaka eating everything, I barely ate dinner last night." Amiboshi replied softly.
We ate a quick breakfast at a restaurant and bought some fried noodles for Tamahome's family. I couldn't help thinking about the vision Suzaku gave me. What if really couldn't save them?
"Hikari?" I snapped out of my daydreams. Amiboshi looked at me worriedly.
"You didn't tell me why we needed to visit them."
"Oh. It's difficult to explain. Let's just trust my guts okay?" I smiled at him.
Amiboshi nodded silently.
As we past by the rows of houses, I couldn't help noticing several children playing happily with a ball. I sighed.
'Again, Hikari? I thought this was over a long time ago!!!' I scolded myself mentally.
"We're here!!!" Amiboshi declared. I looked at the tiny house in front of me. The door made from wood was rotting. The roof had several large holes in it. Was this Tamahome's house?
I walked up the door and knocked on it politely. A tiny five year old girl opened the door.
"Ohayo! Little girl, may I see your father?"
"Daddy!!! There's a pretty girl outside the door!!! She's with... Mister!!!' The little girl ran to Amiboshi.
"Ohayo, Yurien. Remember me?" He picked Yurien up.
Yurien nodded happily. "You're the man who played the nice music!!! Where's brother Tamahome? And Miaka? I made a necklace for Miaka to wear for her wedding!!!" Yurien took out a bead necklace from her pocket.
"That's nice," Amiboshi commented with a smile.
"Can I help you?" an old man asked. A young brunette boy clinged to his leg.
"Ohayo gozaimasu. We're from the palace to inform you of some really good news. Your family has been given permission to stay at the palace. Tamahome will come to pick you up later. We thought we would come and tell you slightly earlier so you and your family and get ready," I said politely.
"Hai. We've bought some breakfast for you as well. We hope that we aren't a bother to you and your family," Amiboshi added as he held up two bags of food that we bought.
"Aren't you the seishi, Chiriko?" the man said suddenly as soon as he saw Amiboshi. Amiboshi stiffened before nodding silently.
The man invited us in to meet his family. He had four adorable kids with the oldest being ten years old and the youngest only five. His wife had died giving birth to Yurien, the youngest. Ever since then, Tamahome had been in charge of the household. Tamahome went to the capital to find a job while his father and Chuien worked in the village fields. The oldest daughter helped looked after the other siblings. They were poor but so close knitted. I felt another pang of jealousy.
I helped Amiboshi to unpack the foodstuff on the table.
"I forgot!!!" Amiboshi said suddenly as he was unpacking the foodstuff.
"Nani?" I asked him.
"I forgot to buy the fruits!!!" Amiboshi smacked his forehead.
"It's okay. You don't have to. This food both of you bought is more than enough," Tamahome's father said humbly.
"Iie. A meal isn't healthy without fruits," Amiboshi flashed a smile and dashed out of the house.
"Ojou-san, arigatou for these."
"Daijoubu. Hikari. Call me Hikari would be fine, oji-san," I replied smiling.
I looked out of the window. When will Suboshi come? Chikuso! Suzaku never told me the time!!!
I sighed.
Then, I sense another presence in the house. "Minna-san!!! Get to the back of the house!!!" I cried out.
Everyone looked at me stupidly. All of a sudden, the door swung open as two unattached ryuuseisui balls spinning madly flew into the direction of Yurien. The little girl screamed.
"YURIEN!!!" Her father cried out.
Narrator:
Yurien looked in fear at the small puddle of blood on the floor.
"Daijoubu ka?" Hikari asked the little girl. Yurien nodded weakly.
Hikari had just saved Yurien's life by catching the two unattached balls with her bare hands.
Blood dripped from her palm. 'Chikuso! The battle barely started and I'm bleeding already.' Hikari thought silently to herself.
"Minna-san. Go to the kitchen and lock the doors and windows. The father quickly gathered his children and they rushed to the kitchen. At least they were safe...
"Who are you and how dare you interfere!!!" Suboshi said angrily.
Hikari just smiled.
"What cha' smiling for bitch?!"
Without warning, Hikari sent the two balls of ryuuseisui flying into Suboshi's direction. Suboshi managed to duck them in time. One of them missed his face by an inch.
"Suboshi, I suggest you calm down. I'm not here to fight you. If I do fight you, I'll beat all the crap out of you that you don't even know yourself." Hikari warned. The smile on her face remain as she tried to control herself from doing anything stupid.
'Chikuso! If only this boy would listen to what I want to say.' Hikari thought silently as she watched Suboshi, trying to predict what his next move was.
"Listen. My real objective is for you to meet up with..." Hikari barely finished her sentence when Suboshi interrupted.
"URUSAI!!! KISAMA... You think that talking will save you?! After you tortured my brother?"
"Torture? What are you talking about?" Hikari asked in disbelief. This boy must be mad.
"Don't you deny it!!! You torture my brother that he almost died!!! You forced him to say that he is alright!!!" screamed an enraged Suboshi.
Hikari shook her head. "Iie, Suboshi. Gomen." With that, Hikari fired a glowing pink ki ball at Suboshi.
Hikari:
I caught Suboshi in my arms as he collapsed. I merely fired a ball of ki that made anything it hit fall asleep. I sighed. At least he isn't killing or harming anyone. I gently dragged the sleeping seishi and placed him on a chair.
"Hikari? Nani..." Amiboshi burst into the room. "SHUNKAKU!!!" Amiboshi immediately rushed to Suboshi's side. "Shun? Daijoubu ka? Shun?" When Suboshi didn't answer, Amiboshi looked up at me, horrified. "What have you done to him?"
"Amiboshi. Relax. He's just asleep, that's all."
Amiboshi looked at Suboshi worriedly. "Nani... How? Why?"
I quietly explained the situation to him. Amiboshi could only stroke his brother's face and nodded silently, agreeing with me that Suboshi was jumping into conclusions too easily.
"Well, we better get the family out of the kitchen. They must be scared to death." I suggested as I wrapped a clean cloth around my wound.
Narrator:
Chuien opened the kitchen door timidly with a chopper in his hand. He was greeted by the surprising sight before him. All the food were unpacked and placed neatly on plates on the eating table. There was a big basket of fruits on the table as well. The pool of blood on the floor was gone without a stain.
"Ah, Chuien! Gomen nasai for that inconvenience. I bought the fruits already!" Amiboshi said happily as he pointed to the fruits.
"Huh? Umm ... Arigatou gozaimasu demo. What about the guy? With the sharp ball thingy?" Chuien asked surprised. "And Hikari-san?"
"I'm here!!!" Hikari chirped as she entered the room. "I just went out for a while, that's all". Chuien couldn't help noticing the blood stained cloth wrapped around Hikari's hand.
"The man with the ball thing... Don't worry! He left. He won't disturb you anymore," Amiboshi answered. "Remember to pack your stuffs!!! Gomen, demo Hikari and I have to leave now."
"Shitsurei shimasu!" Hikari and Amiboshi said together and with that, they left.
Hikari:
"Here!" I showed Amiboshi and Suboshi two palm sized crystal balls. "That way, you can communicate, see each other as well as feel each others feelings wherever you are!!! And it doesn't break easily!!!" I handed them each a crystal ball. Amiboshi, Suboshi and I were at the outskirts of Tamahome' village. Amiboshi and I had cleared up the mess Suboshi made and left the house.
"Honto ni?" the twins asked at the same time as they stared at the crystal ball.
"Honto. But only under one condition."
"Drats!!! I knew there was a catch!!!" Suboshi said angrily as he threw the ball to the ground. To his surprise, the ball bounced back and smacked him in the face.
"Itai!!!" Suboshi grumbled as he rubbed his nose. Amiboshi's face flushed pink as he tried to hold back a laugh.
"I told you that it doesn't break easily. Just keep these two promises, Suboshi. Firstly, promise that you will not let your emotions cloud your decisions. Secondly, don't let Nakago find out. Amiboshi? You on the other hand, please look after your brother. Make sure he doesn't do something stupid, risking his or others' lives again. Period. Get it?" I looked at the twins who nodded.
"As long as I get to see my brother!!!" they both said and hugged each other tightly.
Their sweet reunion only lasted for a few minutes.
"Suboshi. Time for you to leave. Go back before Nakago suspect something," I said. I opened a portal leading to the outskirts of the Kutou capital and Suboshi jumped into. Before he disappeared, he said loudly, "Take care, aniki!!! Love ya!!!"
Once again, I couldn't help but to feel jealous.
Author's notes: Wow, that was definitely the longest chapter written, period!!! Exams are coming!!! AHHH!!!! Anyway, I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. If I did, everyone would already own at least one scene in the show. Haha.. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter!!! I know I do!!!
List of Japanese words :
Doushite – Why?
Anou – Uh
Aa – Yes
Ohayo gozaimasu – Good morning (formal)
Ojou-san – Miss
Oji-san – Sir
Minna-san – Everyone (Polite)
Kisama – You (Vulgar)
Shitsurei shimasu – Excuse me (Said when leaving a place or conversation)
Aniki – Older brother