Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi.
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Narrator's POV
'I think that I may be falling in love with her' Tomite's words kept repeating in Takiko's head. 'He loves me? But... But... Do I love him? I don't think I do. How can I face him now? How can I ever face him again after what I heard?' She was sitting in her tent. She hadn't come out since the day before when she'd heard Tomite tell Hikitsu tell that he was in love with her. She didn't know how to face him. Hikitsu silently stepped into the tent.
"I'm sorry. I never should have suggested for you to spy on Tomite and I. Now you've heard something that Tomite should have been able to tell you himself."
"It's okay. I'm just... a little surprised."
"Well... Okay... But Tomite is getting worried about you. He seems to think that it's all his fault."
"I don't know how to face him," Takiko confessed. "How can I? I'm not sure how I feel about him. When I'm around him, I feel something that I've never felt before. But I don't think it's love. I don't know what to do. He doesn't even know that I heard!"
"Nonetheless, you still need to talk to him. He thinks that it's his fault that you're acting like this. You should tell him that you heard. And if you don't feel that you can do that, then you should at least tell him that it's not his fault!"
"You're right. I shouldn't let him worry for something that isn't his fault." For half a second surprise flittered across his face. Then he returned to its usually impassive form. He was surprised, although he hid it well like most of his feelings. He had expected Takiko to object. Instead she'd agreed. "Could you tell Tomite that I would like to talk to him? Please."
"Sure. I'll go tell him now."
"No! Not now! I meant She stopped. Hikitsu had already left. "Later." She finished quietly to herself...
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Tomite's POV
I was worried about Takiko-sama. Ever since the day before, she'd been in her tent. I got the feeling that she was avoiding me. Of course, she had every right to avoid me. After what I'd said to her. I couldn't believe that I'd said those things to her. Takiko meant so much to me. How could I have been so cruel to the one I loved?
"Tomite-san!" Hikitsu's voice startled me out if my thoughts. I hadn't even known he was there. Hikitsu had a way of sneaking up on you that I couldn't identify. It was quite strange. "Takiko-sama wants to talk to you!"
"Oh! Okay. I'll be right there Hikitsu-san." I walked towards the tent. Hikitsu watched me. I had to wonder how much he knew about Takiko and me. He was very mysterious. He never told us anything about himself; yet, I at least, had told him many things about me. I had to wonder how I could trust him. There was something about Hikitsu. Something dark and sad. I couldn't really explain it. And yet, for some reason, I felt that I could trust him. I almost felt drawn to him. I walked into the tent that Takiko was in. Her back was towards me.
"Um... You wanted to see me Takiko-sama? Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Uh... Yes. Please sit down Tomite-san." I obediently sat. Takiko said nothing. The silence was killing me.
"I'm sorry!" We both said at the same time. Then we looked at one another.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things. They where cruel, and I hurt your feelings. I should have been more considerate of your feelings. If you want, I guess that we can stay a little longer till I've fully recovered," I told her. To my surprise, she smiled at me.
"Oh, Tomtie-san. You have no reason to be sorry. I'm the one who should be saying that. I was only thinking of myself. You where thinking of your entire nation! And I said some pretty mean things too. I'm the one who should be saying sorry." And so Takiko and I made up. Maybe my love for her would never be returned, but, at least then, that was enough. I was happy.
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Hikitsu's POV
Tomite and Takiko seemed to have made up. I was glad. I had to wonder if Tomite knew how much Takiko had heard. Oh well, it wasn't any of my business, anyway. And last time I had tried to pry into other peoples business, it had turned out disasters. I watched as Tomite helped Takiko onto his horse and then got on himself. Takiko held onto him as I, too, mounted up. It was the day after they had made up and we'd decided to leave. After all, we needed to find the other Genbu Seishi before Kutou attacked the capital. We had already been getting some reports that some villages and tribes on the outskirts of Hokkan had been attacked and destroyed. I felt a little nervous when we started off. I knew that we'd be passing her grave. I wasn't sure if I could do it. The madness just may take me again. But I also knew that I had to if I didn't want more people to die, just like her. I didn't want anyone else to go threw what I went threw. I didn't want anyone else to suffer like I did. And if that was what I wanted, then I'd have to risk the madness.
"Come on Hikitsu-san! Lets go!" Tomite called to me.
"Yes, yes. I'm coming Tomite-san." I answered as I kicked my horse into a trot. I'd have to think about that stuff later. For now, it was my duty to protect Takiko-sama, and I would do my duty. For her. It was what she would have wanted...
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Tomite's POV
Hikitsu kicked his horse into a trot and quickly overtook me. I, too, kicked my horse into a trot and rode behind him. He was quiet. It was obvious that he was thinking about something. I couldn't help but wonder what. Takiko shifted nervously behind me. The silence was uncomfortable. The only one who seemed unaffected by it was Hikitsu.
We walked in silence for a couple miles and were making good progress, when suddenly Hikitsu stopped. He got off his horse and walked over to a grave. The grave had been trampled and the gravestone was overturned. In Hokkan, that was a great disrespect to the dead. I didn't know about anywhere else, but I suspected that it was the same. Hikitsu quietly smoothed the dirt and turned the grave marker upright.
"How dare they do this?! He whispered fiercely. I wondered if the grave had belonged to someone he knew. "They have no right to do this!"
"Was that someone you knew?" Takiko asked quietly.
"Yes. It was someone very special to me," he answered.
"Who was it?" I asked. It was rude, but I couldn't contain my curiosity. Hikitsu was always so calm. What could make him so angry? Even if this was someone's grave that had been very special to him. I didn't think that even that could make him this angry.
"Her name was Sora. She was the healer's daughter in my tribe, which was at the foot of this mountain. She and I where... lovers, I guess. One day a rival tribe attacked our tribe. We were taken completely by surprise. It wasn't long before we were wiped out. In the fray, an enemy arrow hit Sora. She died in my arms. I took her up here to bury her the next day. She'd always loved this place. She'd come here all the time. The least I could do for her was put her in a place that she had always been happy," to my surprise, he began to cry. One by one, the tears slowly slid down his cheeks. "That arrow was meant for me. She blocked it with her body. She died for me!" Now the tears where flowing freely. He wasn't fighting them anymore. Takiko dismounted and walked over to him. Slowly she put her arms around his shoulders thinking that he'd pull back. He didn't. He just cried there in her arms. I felt mixed emotions at that moment. I felt sorry for Hikitsu, but I also felt jealous. Takiko had never held me. Of course, I knew that I wouldn't want to have my loved one killed right in front of me...
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Hikitsu's POV
We camped near Sora's grave that night. I wondered who had violated it. If I ever found out, I knew that I would probably kill them. That moment kept racing threw my head. When Sora had jumped in front of the arrow meant for me. If only I could of stopped it. I hadn't even told Takiko and Tomite everything. After Sora's death, I'd just about gone crazy. I'd just wondered around. I'd even thought about killing myself. The only thing that had kept me alive was the knowledge that she'd died for me. That she'd wanted me to live. That's why I'd started my life over. I'd found a new village. Led a new life. Even given myself a new name. But I'd never loved again. I didn't think that I ever would.
Tomite and Takiko didn't talk to me much that night. I guess that they thought that I needed some time alone. After they had fallen asleep, I crept out of the tent that Tomite and I shared. I slowly walked back to Sora's grave. Once there, I was swamped by memories.
Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bump you!
No... It's okay... No harm done...
Here... Let me help you pick those up.
Thank you
I'm Entato. Who are you?
Sora. I'm the daughter of the healer of this village.
Sora... I
Yes... What is it Entato?
Well... You know that I love you, right?
Yes.
Well... I mean... That I love you a lot?
Of course... What are you getting at?
Sora... Will you marr- CRASH
What was that?! Good Genbu, What was that?!
I-I don't know...
I didn't notice the person that followed me to sora's grave until I'd been there for a while, lost in my memories I didn't know how long.
"Hello Tomite. Out for a nice walk?" I asked him.
"I guess I can't fool you Hikitsu."
"No, you can't. Is there some reason you're here?"
"Yea. To see if you're okay. I mean... After my family died, I sort of lost it for a few years."
"You're family is dead?"
"Yea."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Well... I'm sorry to hear you're story too."
"How did they die? That is... If you don't mind talking about it."
"No. It's okay," And with that, he told me his story. "Now I guess where even," he added after he was done.
What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well... I know your story and you know mine. So now where even. It wasn't really fair when I knew you're story and you didn't know mine."
"Yeah... I guess so."
"Hikitsu... Do you think of us as friends?" He asked suddenly.
"Well... I don't really know you very well... And you don't really know me very well... But yes... I think we're friends."
"Cool. After all, we're both seishi. We share the same destiny."
"To protect the priestess of Genbu, and to be her warriors that help her summon Genbu..."
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End of chapter 6
Wow! This is a really long chapter! It's my longest so far! Anyway, if you couldn't tell with the memory thing, The first one was when they met. (Hikitsu bumped into her.) The second one was when Hikitsu was about to ask Sora to marry him but the other tribe attacked them and killed her. That's what the crash was.
Anyway, thank you to all my reviewers! I'm finally getting some! Also, thank you to my new baita (sp?), Juggalette! (Everyone give her a hand!) Thank you so much! You've helped me out a lot! Please review! More coming soon!
--Hydra-star
