Disclaimers: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi.
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Narrator's POV
You called me, Chen Entato. Hikitsu of the Genbu Seishi. Protector of the Genbu no Miko. What do you want? Genbu said in a big, powerful voice that was both wonderful and horrible at the same time to Hikitsu. His voice almost sounded like the harsh winds of a blizzard, blowing through the opening in a small cave, threatening those inside. Or like a small flower, peaking through the snow. A ray of sunshine of a cold day.
Although most people would have cowered under the gaze of the mighty god, Hikitsu didn't falter. He was afraid, but he had spent years learning to control his emotions. He knew what the answer to the gods question was. He knew what he had to say. But what if Genbu doesn't do what you want? He's a god, and you're just a human. How do you know that he'll grant your wish?' asked a small part of him. I don't.' Hikitsu told that part. But I have to try anyway...'
Genbu... I have called you here for a simple reason. Please, I ask you, please heal Uruki. If you must, then you may take my life in exchange for hers. But... But please, Genbu. Spare her. Genbu's high eyebrows raised several notches.
Why do you ask this of me, my son? He inquired. To many, to might have seemed strange that he used the phrase, my son, but both the god and the human understood it. In many ways, Hikitsu was Genbu's son. Genbu had created him, although he hadn't given birth to him. All of the Genbu Seishi were Genbu's sons' and . Just as all the Genbu Seishi were , in a way. They all shared the same destiny, to protect the priestess of Genbu, and to be her warriors that help her summon Genbu.
Hikitsu looked down at his bare feet. Because if something happened to her, I don't know what I'd do. Because I think that I'd go insane, like I almost did when Sora died. Because... He looked back up and met Genbu's green eyes. And Genbu could see that his eyes burning with the fire of purpose and belief in what he was about to say. Because I love her. Because I love her more than anything on this Earth, and because I would rather die than see her hurt. Genbu smiled a bit. It was the answer that he'd been hoping to hear. He had often looked through the dimensions and watched his seishi. More than anything, he wanted them to be happy. He wanted them to find a purpose in life. Not just protecting the Genbu no Miko. That was their destiny. He wanted them to find something that they wanted to do with their life. A purpose other than their destiny. After all, they where his . And parents always want their children to be happy, don't they?
Very well... I will grant your wish. Hikitsu sighed in relief.
Thank you! He said in a relived voice. Then, he lowered his eyes once more. Then... Then in exchange for her life, you may kill me. Hikitsu automatically expected the god to kill him. Earlier, he had said that in exchange for Uruki's life, Genbu could kill him.
Do you want to die, Chen Entato? The question surprised Hikitsu.
W-well, no. But I'm willing to die for her life. And earlier I said that you could kill me in exchange for her life... he answered truthfully.
Yes... You said that I could kill you. Not that I had to. And yet, now you are saying that you are ready for me to take your life. Did I say that I was going to kill you in exchange for her life, Chen Entato?
W-w-well, no but... but I just assumed-
Ah... So you assumed that I was going to kill you. Well, now. I have a choice, don't I? I can either do as you assumed', or I can let you live. The god interrupted. Hikitsu stared. Does he mean that he might let me live and save Uruki?!' He had never thought that the god might let him live. Now... What do you think I should do? The god asked.
Um... Er... Hikitsu didn't know what to say. He didn't want to seem greedy or to attached to his life by saying that he thought that he should let him live. But... He really wanted to live. The god smiled, knowing what he was thinking. (Hey! He's a god! So he knows these things. Don't ask me how!)
Very well... Good bye, Chen Entato. Hikitsu of the Genbu Seishi. Protector of the Genbu no Miko... Goodbye, my son. Until we meet again...
And with that, the god slowly faded into nothingness. Hikitsu, found himself back in the room with Uruki lying on the bed beside him. But now she was no longer struggling to breath and taking irregular, forced breaths. She was breathing normally, and when Hikitsu felt her wrist for a pulse, it was there, beating regularly. He sighed in relief and watched her sleeping face, with a small smile turing the corners on his mouth upward...
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Uruki's POV
Slowly, oh so slowly, I opened my eyes. They felt like a heavy bricks against my eyes. My entire body ached. I had never hurt so much in my life. Slowly I looked around. I was in a dark, plain room. There weren't many things in it.
You're awake. Thank Genbu, said a relived voice that sounded strangely familiar from the chair beside me. I turned to see who it was and saw Hikitsu sitting beside me. But... he was gone, wasn't he. He had gone to find the other seishi with Takiko, Tomite, Iname and Hatsui. Right?
H-Hikitsu? What are you doing here? I asked in a small voice. It hurt to much to talk any louder.
We came back from our journey yesterday. We found the last seishi. She's an old woman. And she's... um... a bit weird. But now Takiko-san can summon Genbu as soon as you're better.
But... I feel fine, I told him.
You do?! He didn't seem to believe me.
Well... if you don't count the aching pain all over my body, yes. When I said that, I could have sworn that I saw the corners of his mouth twitch upward, but it might have just been my imagination or a trick of the light.
Well then... If your feeling so fine, I'll just go get Hatsui. He'll know if your okay. He stood to leave.
Maybe I wouldn't have done it if I weren't so tired. If it didn't feel like my eyelids where going to fall at any moment despite my efforts to keep them open. Perhaps if my mind hadn't been so clouded over... it doesn't matter. I could make up a million excuses. But that doesn't validate what I did. Slowly, I reached out a shaking hand and grasped the back of his retreating shirt.
Don't go.... Please... Stay with me.... Just until I fall asleep... I begged him. When my hand had touched his shirt, he had frozen. Now he looked slowly around at me and his gray eyes (eye?) met my brown ones.
Very well... But only until you fall asleep, he said and sat back down in the chair beside the bed. Him doing this brought back one of my most precious memories of when I was still a small child. I was sick and my grandfather stayed with me, just as Hikitsu was doing now.
~*~
Bai-Ling, I'm going to get a doctor. He'll make you feel better.
No.... I don't want you to leave, grandfather. Please don't leave me here all alone. I'll be scared.
Nonsense. You're a big girl, aren't you. Your going to grow up and be one of the strongest of the great Genbu Seishi so that you can protect the Genbu no Miko, right?
But... But I'm scared... I don't feel brave at all. If I have to always be brave... Then maybe I don't want to be one of the Genbu Seishi... I just don't want to be alone. Please... Just wait until I'm asleep...
*sigh* Very well. I'll stay
~*~
I felt content with Hikitsu there, looking after me, just as I had with my grandfather when I was little. I didn't even care if I seemed like I was acting like a child to him, like I normally would have. I would always love him, no matter what he thought of me. And at that moment, the thing that I wanted the most was for him to be there with me. For him not to leave. For him to never leave. And with that thought, I let my heavy eyelids close and I drifted off into the lands of dreams.
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~End of Chapter 28~
Strangely enough, I like this chapter. It's not as bad as most of my other chapters. Still, I suppose that the end was a bit cheesy. I don't know what came over me when I was writing it. I do like the part with the god though. I thought that I did Genbu well. Do you? Anyway, please review. More coming soon.
