Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi is the creation of Yuu Watase.

The following fic's loosely based on incidents in the anime. SPOILERS. It's seen from the POV of the Byakko seishi.

Chapter 1: Flow of Time

90 years before. Sairou. A white-haired man strolled aimlessly through the streets.

Sacrifices. And more sacrifices. As a Byakko Seishi, Tokaki knows that as one of the seven chosen, sacrifice will be demanded of them. It is their lot in life. Was it worth it? He has no answer. His homeland of Sairou was safe now that the miko had summoned the sacred guardian of the West, the White Tiger, Byakko.

Maybe he should go chase a few skirts. That always cheered him up a bit. But not today. Yesterday, they had gone to the shrine again to visit Tatara, their fellow seishi. It's been a month since Suzuno left for her world, leaving them a world of peace. Leaving poor Tatara behind.

It isn't fair! Why was it such that such a loving couple must be parted? Why had Byakko denied them this wish? It was not just Suzuno and Tatara who wished it be so. All the rest of them wished it. No, the sacred beast cannot grant this wish…

Dammit! He kicked a stone and sent it flying into the sea of grass. They had first met in this very field outside the city. The wind-stirred grass, dry and brittle, amidst which stood the girl who was to be the savior of Sairou. Byakko no miko. Oosugi Suzuno.

Tokaki could recall it clearly. They were hunting wildfowl. Two very different young men. Tatara is gentle with long dark hair. Tokaki was known as the city's white-haired pervert for annoying the womenfolk. The hunt was Tatara's idea of a distraction after his friend had lifted one too many skirts. Tatara's father, a local magistrate, had threatened to exile Tokaki to the army camp on the border. They found the miko standing lost in the grass.

That was when Tatara fell in love with the equally gentle Suzuno.

They have been friends since boyhood. Tokaki's was the captain of the guard at the courthouse and it was a matter of time before the boys became fast friends. They both enjoyed the open air. It hurt him to think of poor Tatara trapped in the shrine of Byakko. Shut off from the outside, away from the open fields and gardens he loved.

Tokaki lay down on the carpet of grass, letting the sun warm him, savoring the caress of the wind. Was it worth it, Tatara?

"Tokaki?" A shadow blocked off his sun. He blinked, noticing the swell of her breasts as she bent over him… "Sexy…" He murmured as he reached out. Subaru slapped his hand aside. "Pervert!" He was now behind her and whisked her flowing skirt upwards.

"Want me to switch your body to the time when you got hit by that horse carriage?" Subaru threatened with a slight smile. She sat down beside him on the grass. "It's Tatara and Suzuno, isn't it?" Tokaki nodded as the grin died on his lips. Subaru allowed him to put his arm across her shoulders. They sat for a while in silence, listening to the wind rustle the grass stalks.

"Subaru, why did you have to do that to Tatara? The shrine's a prison to him…"

"It was his wish. I tried to talk him out of it," Subaru sighed. Tatara's wish had troubled her. She had gone to ask the Holy One for guidance. The Holy One judged in Tatara's favor and allowed the shrine of Byakko to be used as Tatara's sanctuary from time. "The power of love I guess… Tokaki, stop touching my behind!"

"Sorry, habit I guess." Tokaki regretfully withdrew his hand where it had wandered down Subaru's back. "How long will he have to wait? An eternity of waiting? Imprisonment as he supposedly guards a mirror… Oh, what's time anyway?"

"Suzuno's quite cut up by that as well. Remember the legend of Genbu no miko about a hundred years ago in Hokkan? Suzuno knows that miko, a family friend or something. She died about ten years ago in their world…" The white-haired girl tried to do her calculations and failed. She gave up. "I dunno. It seems that time moves faster in our world than theirs."

"Doesn't feel that way," her fellow seishi rolled over and pouted. Poor Tatara. "Will they ever meet up?"

Tokaki stole a glance at Subaru. A sassy beauty. He secretly loved her except he never dared to broach that subject with her. Tatara knew of course. He's been urging him to profess his love for the girl. Come on, brother, you know the two of you were meant to be. Go for it! What's the worse that can happen?

Sure…She'll reject him and laugh at him. If that happened…

"Tokaki… I wanted to say something to you for a long time…" Subaru started. Her heart was pounding. Before Suzuno left, Subaru had told the miko about her feelings for a certain white-haired rogue. Suzuno was very encouraging. Still, it had taken her more than a month to reach her decision. She had the quickest tongue in the city. She teased the men endlessly and yet now… she's feeling like some country maid.

"Subaru… I have something to tell you as well!" Tokaki blurted as he grabbed her shoulders. She sat mesmerized by the seriousness in Tokaki's golden eyes. She had never seen him so serious. Even in battle, he kept a half-playful air about him. She swallowed and spoke at the same time he did.

"I love you!" They stared at each other as the wind rustled the grass. It was Tokaki who spoke next. "Subaru, will you be my wife?" Subaru nodded and kissed him on the lips. He hugged her and held her tightly as dusk faded into night.

Sairou. The old woman caught a glimpse of her reflection in the garden pond. Her hair was white as always but she had lost her girlish figure for a more matronly one. It irked her that her husband was still going strong. It must be chasing skirts that kept him in shape. He traveled throughout the land. She never knew when he'll be coming home. The rogue… She smiled.

"Darling! I'm home!" Tokaki climbed over their garden wall. "Wow! The place looks great!"

"Tatara's been teaching me a bit about gardening. I've nothing better to do while waiting for you to come home," Subaru chided. "Where've you been? We're expecting you back for the Star Festival."

"How's he?"

"The same." Tatara will not age so long as he stayed in the shrine. Subaru had stopped time in his body all those years ago. The other seishi have passed on. Both she and Tokaki were well into their old age. Soon…

"Old man?" Her husband was troubled. Decades of living together had given them a deep shared understanding. She could tell. He shook his head and pulled at his beard. "Later, my desert bloom."

She'll have to wait. She went to prepare him a bath.

(End of chapter)

Author's notes:

Focused a bit on Tokaki & Subaru's feelings towards what happened to Suzuno & Tatara. I really like the old couple. Think they're cool and thebond they have is the type that comes from decades of living together. Expect more domestic sweetness. R&R please.

P.S. I can't recall their non-seishi names... if they have any in the manga or anime, please tell me.