((Disclaimer: As usual, I do not own Fushigi Yuugi, thank Suzaku. If I did we'd all be in biiiiiiiig trouble.
I do own Rei, Hikari, and Motoki, and would be grateful if I never saw them used in another fanfic without my permission.
Warning: Yes, this is a serious one this time. There is some mild gore in this chapter, so I urge anyone who is disturbed by violent images to not read this chapter!))
Chapter Six: Fate and Future
"That is the Lost Gods' Prophecy." Tai Yi-Jun finished minutes later.
Rei's eyes had become determined during the speech. She now turned that gaze on the ancient woman. "No." she said. One word. Final.
Tai Yi-Jun's eyes flashed in anger. "What do you mean 'no'? It is fated!"
Rei sprang to her feet, eyes blazing. "You want to talk to me about fate?! My parents died in a freak accident! You know what my remaining family told me?! That I shouldn't let it get to me, that it was 'fate'! My sister committed suicide over some idiot that didn't deserve her! She left a note saying it was 'fate'!" She paused, features defiant. "I will not be kept here on the false pretense of fate." she said softly.
"…Child, come with me." the creator said, turning to float down a corridor leading off the courtyard.
Chichiri moved to follow, not wanting to leave his friend's side when she seemed to be in so much pain.
"Disciple, this does not concern you."
He frowned, but held his place, watching silently as they left.
~*0*~
The room was circular, a raised dais in the center. On the dais was a large circular mirror, surface rippling strangely, concentric circles spreading outwards to begin again in an endless pattern.
The mirror mesmerized Rei. She felt as if invisible threads were tugging her forward, and she snapped out of her stupor.
"What the hell is that?!"
Tai Yi-Jun fixed her gimlet glare on the woman. "It is a mirror."
"No shit, Sherlock. What's it for?" Rei rolled her eyes.
"You don't have a single iota of respect, do you?" the Oracle snapped.
"I had it surgically removed."
Tai Yi-Jun just shook her head in exasperation.
Rei yawned. Hopefully this wouldn't take too long. "So why'd you bring me in here with the freaky mirror?" she asked.
The creator ignored her, floating onto the dais to halt before the mirror. With a muttered spell the surface calmed, glowing slightly as an image formed.
Tall, evenly spaced skyscrapers, taxi cabs… It looked like…
"Tokyo," she breathed. Rei moved to stand beside the wizened figure. "Why show me this? Are you sending me home?"
Tai Yi-Jun continued to ignore her. The image changed again. Now it showed a small village, architecture showing clearly that it was from this world, possibly somewhere nearby.
As Rei watched, the village was consumed in flame, a dark wave of spears and swords pouring through. All the army left behind was ashes and corpses… Except one child.
She clutched at her mother's cold hands, sobbing, oblivious to the carnage around her. Though the mirror did not emit sound, Rei knew the child was calling out to the body, not understanding why her mother had been taken away.
Tears pricked at her eyes. She knew that pain…
The image changed again.
Mt. Reikaku, walls washed in blood. Bandits were scattered everywhere, fat, leechlike creatures slithered among the bodies, latching onto any who still lived and sucking at their wounds. Only one man was still standing, and as she watched Tasuki was felled by an enemy sword.
Rei longed to turn away as the scene changed yet again, tears streaming down her cheeks.
This time it only showed one man. He fought the demons back with his magic, but they kept coming. One caught him from behind with its claws, tearing into his back. In a flash it was all over, and azure strands trailed through a pool of deep crimson.
She let out a strangled sob.
The mirror faded back to darkness, surface rippling as gently as before.
Tai Yi-Jun finally turned to Rei. "The choice is yours alone. You may go, but in doing so you will be condemning thousands to death."
"D-Demo… They're just characters in a storybook…" she whispered frantically, brushing her tears away with the back of one hand.
"After traveling with my student for a week, can you truly believe that?"
Rei wished she could. A part of her knew this was real, and that she would have countless deaths on her soul if she left. Leaving would be like sending a whole world to the guillotine. Not only would thousands of innocents die, but her friends in this world would as well… She couldn't let that happen. Could she?
Indecision reared its ugly head. What if the prophecy simply repeated the past? Then she could die here! Finally, a rational thought made itself known through the haze of guilt and uncertainty.
'…A waste of life that colossal… I'd give my life to stop it…'
In her mind she had made her decision, but in her heart she had not. Fear of death is humanities greatest common ground. "…I want to meet Hikari before I make my choice."
Tai Yi-Jun nodded. "Very well. You must find him, however. Remember, his temple is in the South."
"How am I supposed to find it?"
A small mirror appeared in the Oracle's hand. She handed it to Rei. "It will show you the way," she said.
The kanji for 'purity' flashed once, briefly, before fading away. The woman hissed in surprise.
"So this'll show the kanji for 'purity' when I'm neat the temple, right?" she asked.
"That is correct."
"Nifty." She slipped the hand-mirror into a pouch at her waist. "Shall we?"
~*0*~
Chichiri paced restlessly, pausing occasionally to cast a furtive glance toward the corridor his sensei and friend had disappeared down. He wanted to be sure that Rei was all right. Her ki had been so emotionally tense when she left that he had felt as if someone were choking him.
Inadvertently his thoughts turned to his own inner sadness. How long had it been since he had told Miaka about his tragic past? It must have been at least a year…
For a time the pain had ebbed as he became surrounded by friends, and his life had once again had meaning. Then, as if fate had a personal grudge against him, those friends had begun to be taken away, and he found himself losing sight of his purpose.
The pain had returned ten-fold, sharpened by new, raw wounds. Sometimes, in the dark seclusion of the night, he could still here their voices…
Suddenly Chichiri sat down in a meditating pose, sensing Rei's ki returning.
~*0*~
"Are you planning to go to Hikari's temple alone, Rei?"
"…I was," Rei said, "Is that a bad idea?"
Tai Yi-Jun considered this for a moment. "Yes… and no. There are many dangers here you are not aware of. But, if you wish to go alone, you may be protected by Hikari."
She floated next to Rei as they moved down the corridor.
"Although I wouldn't trust my vapid child that far." she muttered ominously.
If Rei heard, she showed no signs of a reaction. Instead, she said, "Anou… I think I'll go it alone. I don't want anyone getting hurt for my sake."
The Oracle gave her an appraising stare. "Perhaps I misjudged you, child. It takes either a very brave soul to risk oneself, or a great fool." she said at last.
"I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted." Rei replied wryly as they stepped out into the sunlit courtyard. "…Is he asleep?" she wondered aloud, indicating Chichiri with her chin. He looked that way to her.
Tai Yi-Jun followed the woman's gaze. She almost smiled. To all intents and purposes her former pupil seemed to be deep in meditation, but she knew he had been pacing. He had been worried when they left, and their prolonged absence would have caused him to fret to the point of distraction.
…Not only that, but there was a straight line of flattened grass where he had paced unceasingly until he sensed their approach.
"He is meditating. Why don't you go and tell him that you are staying a while longer?"
"Why?"
"Don't be dim, child. He was worried for you. Why else?" Tai Yi-Jun said with uncharacteristic gentleness.
Rei studied the ancient figure carefully. Somehow she knew that the creator was telling the truth. A warm sensation settled in the pit of her stomach. 'He cares about me!' a voice cried in jubilation. Once again, she stomped on that voice. 'So what? What do I care?!' she thought ruefully.
The Oracle watched the emotions registering briefly on Rei's face. She nodded in satisfaction. "I thought so."
Rei jumped, startled by the unexpected murmur. "You 'thought so' what?" she asked suspiciously.
"Never you mind." She pushed Rei forward slightly. "Go on."
Sticking her tongue out at the ancient woman, Rei did as she was told. "Mou!"
Chichiri looked up at the call. "Rei."
"Tai Yi-Jun said that I should tell that I'm staying for a while."
The monk was silent for a moment, stunned. The mask continued to smile as he gaped at her. She wasn't leaving?
Emotions surged through him, surprise, joy, a hundred others, indefinable and new.
"Chichiri? He-llo-o, anybody home?"
The mask's smile almost seemed to get bigger as he grinned up at her. "That's great no da!"
Rei found herself grinning back. The man's perpetual cheerfulness was incredibly catching.
The Oracle watched from the archway, frowning thoughtfully. The second part of the prophecy was coming to fruition. The one part she hadn't told Rei and her disciple about. She clapped for her servant…
And grinned.
((*gringrin*
Review time!
Otaku-no-miko: Thanks for reviewing, and a friendly little reminder: Keep your pencil away from my notebook. I've told you that I don't appreciate it when you edit Rei. I edit it myself during the typing process. If it happens again I'll start taking your pencil away while you read. If there is a problem please tell me. Don't just fix it, okay? Sometimes things are the way they are because I want them that way.
Wolfdog: Yah, prophecies are a little over-used, but it was necessary for the fic to work. Thanks for reviewing! Sorry I haven't been on the pb lately, my pc just refuses to work on that page! Wah!
Random reviewer: I appreciate your input, and yes, Chiri is a little OOC. I did that on purpose. I like to add new qualities to characters that I feel make them more endearing in my work. But I'll try to keep him as in character as possible, okay?
So sorry if I forgot anybody!! See you next chapter! Check out Hawaii's Blue for me, okay? I'd really like some reviews on that one.))
I do own Rei, Hikari, and Motoki, and would be grateful if I never saw them used in another fanfic without my permission.
Warning: Yes, this is a serious one this time. There is some mild gore in this chapter, so I urge anyone who is disturbed by violent images to not read this chapter!))
Chapter Six: Fate and Future
"That is the Lost Gods' Prophecy." Tai Yi-Jun finished minutes later.
Rei's eyes had become determined during the speech. She now turned that gaze on the ancient woman. "No." she said. One word. Final.
Tai Yi-Jun's eyes flashed in anger. "What do you mean 'no'? It is fated!"
Rei sprang to her feet, eyes blazing. "You want to talk to me about fate?! My parents died in a freak accident! You know what my remaining family told me?! That I shouldn't let it get to me, that it was 'fate'! My sister committed suicide over some idiot that didn't deserve her! She left a note saying it was 'fate'!" She paused, features defiant. "I will not be kept here on the false pretense of fate." she said softly.
"…Child, come with me." the creator said, turning to float down a corridor leading off the courtyard.
Chichiri moved to follow, not wanting to leave his friend's side when she seemed to be in so much pain.
"Disciple, this does not concern you."
He frowned, but held his place, watching silently as they left.
~*0*~
The room was circular, a raised dais in the center. On the dais was a large circular mirror, surface rippling strangely, concentric circles spreading outwards to begin again in an endless pattern.
The mirror mesmerized Rei. She felt as if invisible threads were tugging her forward, and she snapped out of her stupor.
"What the hell is that?!"
Tai Yi-Jun fixed her gimlet glare on the woman. "It is a mirror."
"No shit, Sherlock. What's it for?" Rei rolled her eyes.
"You don't have a single iota of respect, do you?" the Oracle snapped.
"I had it surgically removed."
Tai Yi-Jun just shook her head in exasperation.
Rei yawned. Hopefully this wouldn't take too long. "So why'd you bring me in here with the freaky mirror?" she asked.
The creator ignored her, floating onto the dais to halt before the mirror. With a muttered spell the surface calmed, glowing slightly as an image formed.
Tall, evenly spaced skyscrapers, taxi cabs… It looked like…
"Tokyo," she breathed. Rei moved to stand beside the wizened figure. "Why show me this? Are you sending me home?"
Tai Yi-Jun continued to ignore her. The image changed again. Now it showed a small village, architecture showing clearly that it was from this world, possibly somewhere nearby.
As Rei watched, the village was consumed in flame, a dark wave of spears and swords pouring through. All the army left behind was ashes and corpses… Except one child.
She clutched at her mother's cold hands, sobbing, oblivious to the carnage around her. Though the mirror did not emit sound, Rei knew the child was calling out to the body, not understanding why her mother had been taken away.
Tears pricked at her eyes. She knew that pain…
The image changed again.
Mt. Reikaku, walls washed in blood. Bandits were scattered everywhere, fat, leechlike creatures slithered among the bodies, latching onto any who still lived and sucking at their wounds. Only one man was still standing, and as she watched Tasuki was felled by an enemy sword.
Rei longed to turn away as the scene changed yet again, tears streaming down her cheeks.
This time it only showed one man. He fought the demons back with his magic, but they kept coming. One caught him from behind with its claws, tearing into his back. In a flash it was all over, and azure strands trailed through a pool of deep crimson.
She let out a strangled sob.
The mirror faded back to darkness, surface rippling as gently as before.
Tai Yi-Jun finally turned to Rei. "The choice is yours alone. You may go, but in doing so you will be condemning thousands to death."
"D-Demo… They're just characters in a storybook…" she whispered frantically, brushing her tears away with the back of one hand.
"After traveling with my student for a week, can you truly believe that?"
Rei wished she could. A part of her knew this was real, and that she would have countless deaths on her soul if she left. Leaving would be like sending a whole world to the guillotine. Not only would thousands of innocents die, but her friends in this world would as well… She couldn't let that happen. Could she?
Indecision reared its ugly head. What if the prophecy simply repeated the past? Then she could die here! Finally, a rational thought made itself known through the haze of guilt and uncertainty.
'…A waste of life that colossal… I'd give my life to stop it…'
In her mind she had made her decision, but in her heart she had not. Fear of death is humanities greatest common ground. "…I want to meet Hikari before I make my choice."
Tai Yi-Jun nodded. "Very well. You must find him, however. Remember, his temple is in the South."
"How am I supposed to find it?"
A small mirror appeared in the Oracle's hand. She handed it to Rei. "It will show you the way," she said.
The kanji for 'purity' flashed once, briefly, before fading away. The woman hissed in surprise.
"So this'll show the kanji for 'purity' when I'm neat the temple, right?" she asked.
"That is correct."
"Nifty." She slipped the hand-mirror into a pouch at her waist. "Shall we?"
~*0*~
Chichiri paced restlessly, pausing occasionally to cast a furtive glance toward the corridor his sensei and friend had disappeared down. He wanted to be sure that Rei was all right. Her ki had been so emotionally tense when she left that he had felt as if someone were choking him.
Inadvertently his thoughts turned to his own inner sadness. How long had it been since he had told Miaka about his tragic past? It must have been at least a year…
For a time the pain had ebbed as he became surrounded by friends, and his life had once again had meaning. Then, as if fate had a personal grudge against him, those friends had begun to be taken away, and he found himself losing sight of his purpose.
The pain had returned ten-fold, sharpened by new, raw wounds. Sometimes, in the dark seclusion of the night, he could still here their voices…
Suddenly Chichiri sat down in a meditating pose, sensing Rei's ki returning.
~*0*~
"Are you planning to go to Hikari's temple alone, Rei?"
"…I was," Rei said, "Is that a bad idea?"
Tai Yi-Jun considered this for a moment. "Yes… and no. There are many dangers here you are not aware of. But, if you wish to go alone, you may be protected by Hikari."
She floated next to Rei as they moved down the corridor.
"Although I wouldn't trust my vapid child that far." she muttered ominously.
If Rei heard, she showed no signs of a reaction. Instead, she said, "Anou… I think I'll go it alone. I don't want anyone getting hurt for my sake."
The Oracle gave her an appraising stare. "Perhaps I misjudged you, child. It takes either a very brave soul to risk oneself, or a great fool." she said at last.
"I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted." Rei replied wryly as they stepped out into the sunlit courtyard. "…Is he asleep?" she wondered aloud, indicating Chichiri with her chin. He looked that way to her.
Tai Yi-Jun followed the woman's gaze. She almost smiled. To all intents and purposes her former pupil seemed to be deep in meditation, but she knew he had been pacing. He had been worried when they left, and their prolonged absence would have caused him to fret to the point of distraction.
…Not only that, but there was a straight line of flattened grass where he had paced unceasingly until he sensed their approach.
"He is meditating. Why don't you go and tell him that you are staying a while longer?"
"Why?"
"Don't be dim, child. He was worried for you. Why else?" Tai Yi-Jun said with uncharacteristic gentleness.
Rei studied the ancient figure carefully. Somehow she knew that the creator was telling the truth. A warm sensation settled in the pit of her stomach. 'He cares about me!' a voice cried in jubilation. Once again, she stomped on that voice. 'So what? What do I care?!' she thought ruefully.
The Oracle watched the emotions registering briefly on Rei's face. She nodded in satisfaction. "I thought so."
Rei jumped, startled by the unexpected murmur. "You 'thought so' what?" she asked suspiciously.
"Never you mind." She pushed Rei forward slightly. "Go on."
Sticking her tongue out at the ancient woman, Rei did as she was told. "Mou!"
Chichiri looked up at the call. "Rei."
"Tai Yi-Jun said that I should tell that I'm staying for a while."
The monk was silent for a moment, stunned. The mask continued to smile as he gaped at her. She wasn't leaving?
Emotions surged through him, surprise, joy, a hundred others, indefinable and new.
"Chichiri? He-llo-o, anybody home?"
The mask's smile almost seemed to get bigger as he grinned up at her. "That's great no da!"
Rei found herself grinning back. The man's perpetual cheerfulness was incredibly catching.
The Oracle watched from the archway, frowning thoughtfully. The second part of the prophecy was coming to fruition. The one part she hadn't told Rei and her disciple about. She clapped for her servant…
And grinned.
((*gringrin*
Review time!
Otaku-no-miko: Thanks for reviewing, and a friendly little reminder: Keep your pencil away from my notebook. I've told you that I don't appreciate it when you edit Rei. I edit it myself during the typing process. If it happens again I'll start taking your pencil away while you read. If there is a problem please tell me. Don't just fix it, okay? Sometimes things are the way they are because I want them that way.
Wolfdog: Yah, prophecies are a little over-used, but it was necessary for the fic to work. Thanks for reviewing! Sorry I haven't been on the pb lately, my pc just refuses to work on that page! Wah!
Random reviewer: I appreciate your input, and yes, Chiri is a little OOC. I did that on purpose. I like to add new qualities to characters that I feel make them more endearing in my work. But I'll try to keep him as in character as possible, okay?
So sorry if I forgot anybody!! See you next chapter! Check out Hawaii's Blue for me, okay? I'd really like some reviews on that one.))