Sorrows of the Past
Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, own Fushigi Yuugi, because I'm not Watase Yuu. I wish I was her though… Oh well… drops to the floor and worships an idol of Yuu Watase for making one of the best animes ever
Author's Notes: It's me again with another chapter of Sorrows of the Past. We had examinations this week and we just finished, so that's what held us temporarily. I hope I don't fail… Okay, here it is.
Chapter Two
Tasuki stepped out of the crowded airport and into the even more crowded streets of the city. It had been one hell of an uncomfortable and irritating flight. He sat between a crying baby and an old man. The baby never stopped crying, his high-pitched voice still engraved onto Tasuki's memory. There were times when the baby's drool would travel from the mouth to Tasuki's jeans. The old man, on the other hand, snored like a trombone, and sometimes leaned his head onto Tasuki's shoulder.
Tasuki felt a wave of nausea overcome him as the memory played itself in his mind. 'Damn airplane ride!' he mumbled to himself as a frown formed between his brows. 'Next time I ride on a fuckin' airplane, I get ta ride in the fuckin' window seat! At least that way, I only hafta deal with one fuckin' passenger!'
He walked out of the shade and into the light, causing his reddish-orange hair to imitate a flame in its fiery glory. He waved a taxi and a car immediately halted in front of him. He knocked on the back of the car, signaling the driver to open his trunk. A few seconds later, the trunk door opened and Tasuki lifted the three large and heavy bags with incredible ease and placed them in locations where they wouldn't be easily thrown around so much during the drive.
Once Tasuki got inside the not-so-luxurious vehicle, he gave directions to the driver, and the twenty-minute drive began. He looked outside where people, trees, cars, and buildings mixed in the window. He familiarized himself once again with the city and the neighborhood. Memories ran rampant inside his head as the car passed by the once familiar locations. And in most of the memories, there was one person that never disappeared.
Miaka.
The name gave a shudder running up and down his spine.
Miaka Yuuki had been his responsibility when he was young. Miaka's mother and Tasuki's mother met at a community mother-child workshop and from then on, the two became good friends. When Miaka's mom acquired a job, it was an eleven-year old Tasuki's job to take care of a six-year old Miaka. His mom volunteered for him of course.
Tasuki hated the job given to him. He had better things to do than baby-sit. And he had to baby-sit a GIRL! He wanted to do boy things. Like play with his Play Station, or learn how to skateboard, or hang out and play dirty with his friends. But no! He just had to baby-sit Miaka or else his mother would ground him in his room. And all five of his sisters just adored Miaka.
A nightmarish childhood is what Tasuki had, just because of a girl with mischievous and wild russet hair, large and expressive green eyes and chubby little hands that would empty their refrigerator in less than an hour. Tasuki always wondered how someone could consume so much food in such a small amount of time. And considering the size of Miaka's small childish body, it amazed him even more.
He remembered when he and Miaka were alone in his house and Miaka had just eaten a meal that was fit for five grown male adults. Then after that, Tasuki had to put Miaka to sleep, but the stubborn little girl wouldn't allow it. She still wanted to play with Tasuki.
"Onii-chan, please let me play with you!" Miaka wailed, waving her stubby little arms in the air. Tasuki groaned in reply.
"Mia-chan, for the hundredth time, I AM NOT YOUR ONII-CHAN! And I don't play with damn girls!" Tasuki screamed back.
Tasuki smirked at the memory. Miaka had cried after that, and he had treated her with ice cream using his savings. After that memory, another one of Miaka played itself in his subconscious.
Tasuki was trying to skateboard and Miaka was happily watching him while eating chips in a bench. Then suddenly bullies of Tasuki's age appeared, and had taken Tasuki's skateboard. The skateboard was new, bought by his mother as a birthday present. Then they started beating Tasuki, punching him and kicking him. Miaka approached them, and courageously placed herself in between the bullies and a Tasuki in a fetus position. He was groaning in pain. Miaka stretched her arms at her sides and put on the meanest and most serious face she could manage. Instead of continuing on beating Tasuki, the bullies laughed and had told Tasuki that he was lame, because he couldn't defend himself and instead, a little girl did. They left with his skateboard.
"Onii-chan! Onii-chan!" Miaka screamed after they had left. "Are you okay?"
"Chiksho! Miaka, why?" he asked, struggling to stand up. "Do you know how embarrassed I am? Why? Next time, why don't you just mind your own fuckin' business?"
"Onii-chan…" Miaka whimpered, fighting the tears that she knew were coming. She stepped backwards for a couple of steps.
Tasuki wished he could take back what he said as soon as they left his lips. "Mia-chan…" Tasuki sighed as he watched Miaka run towards their house. She was only doing what she thought was right. She would have defended anyone, even if it was a complete stranger lying down on the floor. Miaka asked for his forgiveness by buying him a new skateboard with her savings. Of course her savings weren't enough, so her mother helped her. It wasn't as good as the stolen one, but it touched Tasuki's heart.
Tasuki realized the irony of it all. It was his fault, not hers. She defended him, he screamed at her. He was the one who was supposed to apologize, but she did instead and even bought him a new skateboard.
Tasuki wondered how Miaka's doing right now. He wondered what she would look like. Tasuki smirked as a picture of a fat and happy teenage girl with russet hair tied in pigtails came into mind. Her chubby face would be smudged with food from all the eating and both her hands would be busy holding cookies, bread, chips and other sorts of foodstuff.
Even though he made it extremely obvious to everyone that he hated his responsibility as Miaka's caretaker, he really enjoyed her company. She was kind, thoughtful, and deeply cared for everyone. She always had a smile on her face. Always. She was the only one who saw through his bad-boy image and looked at him as a person. She believed that he would one day achieve great things. She was the only one who believed in him.
Tasuki noticed that they were now entering Southside, where he used to live, where his childhood memories are spent, where his life had once been based on. The town's name was intricately engraved onto an arch that rose high above the road. Not one thing had changed. The neighborhood brought more memories into his mind that had been kept away for so many years.
The car drove by beautiful houses, with white picket fences around the very lush yards. The sidewalks were occupied by people walking, children playing, and bikers and skateboarders. This was the very essence of Southside. It was the town in its element. Peace and a cozy feeling of being at home. That's why so many people love it here.
Then the grocery store came to a view and his mind suddenly went blank. He saw Miaka, sitting down on a bench, her head was bent down and he couldn't really see her face. It could be anyone, but there wasn't anyone with a hair of that color. It's the same flowing dark hair that had once haunted him in his dreams. She disappeared out of view as the car went on forward for his house.
"Oi!" Tasuki said to the driver. "Drop me here!"
"N-Nani?" the old man asked, obviously baffled by his passenger's words. "But it isn't even near to…"
"I know that!" Tasuki rudely interrupted. "I used to live here ya know. Just drop me here."
"H-Hai. But your belongings…" the man gave in, seeing as how his passenger was in a bad mood.
"Bring them to my house," Tasuki interrupted yet again. "If one single thread is missing from my bags, I will personally hunt you down and kick yer ass! Ya got that old man?"
"H-Hai!" the old man quickly replied and drove off to his supposed destination.
Tasuki smirked as he watched the car getting smaller and smaller. Then he walked to the grocery store. Not for long, he saw the one story building come into view. In front of it, sitting on a bench, is Miaka, head still bent low.
The picture of Miaka as a fat teenager abruptly disappeared into oblivion. She was the exact opposite of what he had in mind. She wasn't fat, but she wasn't thin either. Her figure was just right. Her silky smooth russet hair fell around her shoulders and proceeded to her back. Her hands were poised onto her lap, her legs crossed, and her long shoulder bag leaning against her hip.
As Tasuki approached her, he wondered what Miaka's reaction would be as soon as she sees him. He then wondered what she could be thinking right now and what she was doing in the grocery store.
'She was probably buying more food for herself and right now, she's too shy to let anyone see her wolf down the food that she just bought,' he thought as a sneer appeared in his face.
He went around her back and decided to surprise her. It was his way of greeting her, ever since they were children. He stealthily approached her from behind and waited for the right moment.
Now.
oOo
Author's Notes:
I'm so sorry if this one's kind of short. I promise the next chapters will be longer.
Anyway, Southside isn't a real town. Just something I came up with. And the neighborhood is, basically, your typical small town. Anyway, you'll get more info on Tasuki in the following chapters.
I don't know if this fic will be a TasxMia fic because I'm not sure what I want yet. I love both Tama and Tasuki, so, I guess time can only tell.
kellygarcia59