This chapter has been rewritten, so it's better now. Fits more with the style I have for writing now. All this because of Clarinet. Thank you for the advice you gave me! Not sure how much better it is, but at least it goes more into his past, right? o.o;

Disclaimer: FY and all its characters belong to their original owners. I have just taken the liberty of twisting the plot around so it fits my own selfish ideas. XD Original idea of Taiitsukun having her own seishi belong to Kitty and me. No stealing! :P

Several years pass...

Chapter Two – A Well's Beginnings

Chichiri, who had been reborn as Shou Hidoen, lived in a small village surrounded by trees, with fields where the peasants grew their food to the left. He and Meiran were his parents' only children, but it wasn't as odd as it would have been several centuries ago. Nowadays, most parents only had two or three children. It was simply too expensive to house more than that many offspring.

As before in his past life, Hidoen befriended two other children. Kageyo and Tsuriko, who were brothers. Kageyo had been born with a stillborn twin sister. He, although he was only four to Hidoen and Tsuriko's ten, constantly ran after them, trying to keep up with them just as little brothers always did. However, despite the six-year difference, the three of them were extremely close. They even had nicknames for each other. Kageyo was Chichan, Hidoen was Richan, and Tsuriko was Tsuchan.

"Chichan, hurry up! You're falling behind!" Tsuriko called.

The four-year old struggled behind the two older boys. "I can't! Your legs are this much longer than mine because you're older!" He stopped and panted, his light brown hair drooping. "Wait for me!"

"But so? You can run at least!"

"Aw come on, Tsu. We should wait for Chi," Hidoen said good-naturedly. He, unlike Tsuriko, was more patient with Kageyo. He looked around, wondering where Meiran was, but when he didn't see her, shrugged. If she wanted to help their parents, it was her choice.

The two of them waited until the little boy caught up, then immediately ran into the forest. Adventure, as always, would await them, something Hidoen and Tsuriko had learned since they had first set foot into the cheerful woods.

........

Three years later during a drought period, their happy childhood came to come to an end. Because of continuous crop failures, Hidoen and Tsuriko's fathers decided to move. However, they were to go to different areas of Konan. Hidoen to a village near the Shouryuu river, and Kageyo and Tsuriko to the capital, Eiyo.

"Richan!" A plaintive voice cried.

Hidoen, who was thirteen by now, turned toward Kageyo's voice. He bit his lip, for he had long dreaded this encounter. He didn't want to move to a new village where he wouldn't know anyone and would have to make new friends. Why did they have to move? He hated the drought, for that was what forced them to move. Why didn't Suzaku grant them rain? It didn't make any sense. Was their God trying to make them suffer?

Kageyo threw his arms around Hidoen's neck. "Richan!" He rubbed his head against the older boy's shoulder. "Richan, I want you to move with us."

Hidoen smiled. "Chichan, you know that isn't possible." A little sigh escaped from his lips. "Father's always been a farmer, so he wants to keep at it. Your father on the other hand, knows some scholarly work. He could easily find work in the city."

"But..."

It was always difficult to say goodbyes, and that was something Hidoen was beginning to learn. Meiran had told him something of this, but it hadn't prepared him for the aching in his heart. Would he never see his two friends again? He clenched his fists. No. He couldn't think that way. Quickly, he removed the rosary, a family heirloom, from his neck and placed it around Kageyo's neck. "Here. You can keep this. As a promise that we'll meet again."

Kageyo's green eyes went round. He knew what a precious treasure the rosary was and wasn't sure if he could keep it from harm. After all, he was only a seven-year old and knew little of the world around him. The boy gulped and promised himself that he would guard the rosary with his life. But what could he give in return? Then a thought popped into his head and he drew back from Hidoen, a secretive smile on him. "Wait."

Quickly he turned and ran back into his house. Where was it? Where was that scroll his father had? Although Kageyo knew he shouldn't take the scroll from his house, it was the only thing he had of value that he could give his friend. After a few minutes of searching, he found the battered scroll and ran back outside to Hidoen, thrusting it into his friend's hands. "Here. This is a scroll that has magical powers. It belonged to my father, but he said he would give it to me when I was older. You can have it until we meet again, ok? But don't ever open it unless you're really in trouble and need help. That's what Father told me!"

Hidoen tucked the gift into his shirt and his lip trembled. "It's a promise. We'll meet again and exchange our presents when we do." He looked over to his house and saw the horse and cart all ready. "I... I suppose I need to go now." With a small gasp, he flung his arms around Kageyo and hugged him tightly. "We'll see each other again, I promise," he whispered.

Kageyo mutely nodded, and Hidoen broke free, turning on his heel and sprinting as fast as he could toward his house. He couldn't look back, because if he did and saw Kageyo's face, he would start crying, and that was something he had outgrown five years ago.

There was a lump in Kageyo's throat, and no matter how he swallowed, it refused to go down. He heard his brother's footsteps behind him, but didn't turn.

"Sis..." Tsuriko said quietly.

Kageyo, who had refused to live her life as a girl from the start and refused to change her dress when children took on their proper outfits at three. That secret had been carefully guarded in the family, with not even their closest friends knowing. But it didn't matter to Tsuriko and Kageyo, for she had been as good as a boy in all the games they played, despite their age difference. She finally turned, the tears that she had been fighting in her eyes. "Brother.."

Tsuriko noticed the rosary around her neck and smiled sadly. "That's Hidoen's isn't it?"

She smiled at her older brother. "Yeah. The two of us made a pact that we'd see each other again."

"Come on, Mother wants us to go home now." He took her hand and the two of them returned to their cottage. Memories of their games together still floated in Kageyo's mind however.

..........

After an hour-long journey, the Shou family was finally at their new home. They unpacked their belongings at the house closest to the river. Hidoen looked around silently, searching out for places he could play while bored.

Fifteen-year old Meiran noticed her younger brother not paying attention the moving and laughed. "Mother, we should let Hidoen explore the village. He's going to want some playmates now because Kageyo and Tsuriko aren't here anymore."

Madam Shou smiled. "Go along then, Hidoen. Go make some new friends."

Hidoen grinned and began running farther into the village. Along some bushes, he heard giggles and stopped. Slowly he walked toward the sound, curious. Who was there?

The chuckling became louder and two children, a boy and girl, popped out. The boy, who had dark navy hair tied in a ponytail, choked as he laughed. "I'm, I'm Ryuuno!" he finally managed to say between giggles.

Hidoen's eyes widened. The two kids looked about his age, too! What luck he had, he mused to himself. "I'm Hidoen," he promptly responded.

The girl, with two brown buns on her head and bright blue eyes, smiled. "And I'm Tenmai."

Hidoen grinned. It seemed he didn't have to worry about being lonely anymore. "Can you show me around the village?"

"Of course," Tenmai said and took his hand, pulling her with him. Ryuuno laughed and followed the pair.

...........

Four years later......

"Ryuuno! How could you do this to me?! You betrayed me!" Hidoen rushed at Ryuuno and started punching him. Rain poured down around the two of them, but he ignored it. All the shower was doing was feeding his rage at his two friends.

Ryuuno didn't respond for a little while, water dripping down his bangs. "All Tenmai and I did was kiss! Hidoen, listen to me!" He did his best to block Hidoen's blows. "It was nothing!" Finally, he got tired of Hidoen pummeling him so he began fighting back. "Hidoen!"

"Ryuuno, how could you steal Tenmai from me? How could you?" His anger blinded all reason. Hidoen pulled out his dagger and plunged it into Ryuuno before his friend could do anything.

Ryuuno's brown eyes bulged and he gasped. "Hi-Hidoen! What are you doing?" He yanked the knife out of his chest and flung it to the ground. Blood gushed from his wound and he staggered backward. "Tenmai and I didn't mean anything! I already told you! We just kissed! It wasn't even her fault! I forced myself on her!"

Hidoen was beyond reasoning, his amber eyes wild. Betrayal. It was something his seventeen-year old mind wasn't prepared for. "What do you mean, you didn't mean anything? Tenmai told me she was going to marry you instead! You call that not meaning anything?! Ryuuno, I want you to die!" he screamed hoarsely. Tenmai, the first girl he had experienced the stirrings of love for. Gone. All because of his so-called best friend.

Suddenly, the river level, which had been gradually rising, swelled and Ryuuno was caught in a wave that flung him over the shore. "Hidoen! Help me!"

Hidoen saw his ex-friend's plight and forgot his anger, rushing into the water. "Ryuuno, don't worry. I'll save you! I promise I won't let go!" He grabbed a rock on the bank and tightened his grip on his friend's hand. With a heave, he began pulling Ryuuno out of the water. "Almost there. Don't worry."

Ryuuno smiled. "I know. I trust you."

Hidoen strained. Ryuuno was almost to the shore, and despite everything, he couldn't let his friend die. "I'm going to get you out of there." He grimaced. "And after I do, I'm going to kill you."

A large log, about three feet long and six inches across, rushed down the river, zooming toward the two of them. "Hidoen, watch out!" Ryuuno shouted.

Startled, Hidoen instinctively let go of Ryuuno's hand to protect his face, but it was too late. The log slammed into his left eye. "AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" he screamed in pain. It was unbearable! The pain was searing, as if his eye was on white fire, and he almost lost his hold on the rock.

"Hidoen, you promised you wouldn't let go!" Ryuuno shrieked as he plummeted into the river and vanished into its impenetrable depths.

"Ryuuno!" Hidoen screamed. He reached for his friend again, but was thrown back by a flash of red light. "NOOOOO!!!!" He hit the ground and fell to his knees, gasping with pain. Ryuuno, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to let go. He clenched his fist, furious at himself. How could he have done this? His breath shivered out and he sighed. I guess I should go tell the village. He tore a piece of damp cloth of his shirt and bandaged it around his eye, successfully stemming the bleeding a little. Da, this hurts so much, but no more than I deserve.

After several minutes, he was in sight of the village, standing on the hills surrounding it. He collapsed to the ground. No. No way. NOOOOOO! He leapt up and started sprinting. Everywhere he looked, there was water. Only the tips of the roofs showed where the houses had once been. Tenmai! Meiran! Mom! Dad! No, they can't be dead, too! He slammed his palms into the earth, tears and blood mingling with the rain. Everyone.... He couldn't breathe. This was too much for him. He choked and let himself fall to the ground, weeping.

Hidoen felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Richan?"

Hidoen raised his mud-smeared face. "Meiran!" he cried happily. "You're alive! How can that be?" He hugged her tightly, accidentally staining her blue dress with his blood, for it had leaked through the cloth. "Meiran, I thought you died...." he sobbed. At least.. at least one other person from his family was alive.

Meiran knelt down next to her brother and wrapped her arms around him comforting. "No. I was out when the flood happened. Hidoen, what happened to your eye? And where are Ryuuno and Tenmai? Weren't they with you?"

"Tenmai killed herself and Ryuuno drowned," Hidoen replied dully. It wasn't something he wanted to talk about, especially since it was his fault his friend died.

Meiran looked down. "I see." Something was wrong. Things weren't supposed to happen this way.

Hidoen sobbed uncontrollably, clinging to her shirt. "Meiran, what am I going to do? I killed someone! It's all my fault Ryuuno's dead!"

Tears came to her eyes. Hidoen... she didn't know what to do. This wasn't supposed to happen! How had this happened? It was a repeat of the past. She wrapped her arms around her brother tighter. "It's all right, Richan. Things will turn out for the better." She handed him her handkerchief. "They always do."

Blood stained Meiran's handkerchief as Hidoen wiped his tears away. "No, they won't. They never will." He removed Meiran's arms from him. "I'm going to remove all this pain. I can't take it anymore!" He stood and started running toward the river.

Meiran jumped up. "Hidoen! Wait!" When her brother didn't stop, her eyes flickered sadly. "Ok. I didn't want to resort to this, but... Richan can't die." She spread her arms out. "Freeze!" Hidoen immediately froze in place, his left foot raised.

Meiran walked up to him. "Richan, no, Chichiri. Stop. Please," she pleaded. "Don't kill yourself. There's still so much for you to look to." She looked into his eyes. "You don't know just how many people are depending on you."

Hidoen stared at Meiran disbelievingly as if he didn't know her. "Who are you? How come I didn't know you could do this kind of stuff?"

"I am your sister. But I am also Nyan from Mt. Taiyoku. I am one of Taiitsukun's helpers." She lowered her eyes. "I asked to be reincarnated with you so I could help you in your quest." Suddenly, she felt pain go through her chest. No! Not now! She crumpled to the ground. "Hidoen...I, I can't tell you much more anymore. Only that you must remember who you really are. And that it is your job to protect our world!" She breathed one last sigh and stopped moving.

"Meiran? Meiran!" He grabbed her. "Meiran, wake up! You can't be dead! You can't be dead, too! Meiran! MEIRAN!!!"

A small violet orb rose from her chest. Hidoen watched it float up, knowing that it was his sister's soul. Tears came to his eyes. Was there any way to save her now? If even she died, he would be the sole survivor to his village. He hung his head. How had this happened? First Tenmai had killed herself, and then Ryuuno had drowned all because of him, Hidoen.

He closed his eyes in pain. It was a good thing Kageyo couldn't see him now. He took out the battered scroll his friend had given him.

Kageyo's soft voice spoke in his head, repeating his last words. 'Don't open it unless you really need help! That's what Father told me.'

If I ever needed help, this is the time. He cracked open the seal and let it unravel.

Hidoen stepped back in surprise. The scroll had become a road of some sort! He cautiously took a step, uncertain of what would happen. The road seemed to beckon him to continue. Bracing himself, he took another step and walked down the scroll.

.......

Ok, I rewrote this chapter, thanks to Clarinet's advice.. Go check out her stories, too; they're awesome. :D