Title: The Prophecy of Genbu

Series: Fushigi Yuugi

Rating: MA

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN THIS SERIES. The Fushigi Yuugi universe belongs to Watase Yuu-san and I do not claim this universe whatsoever. I am only writing a story for fun, not profit. For other notes, please refer to chapter one.

Chapter Three

A New Ally

Cassandra wept and shook with fear as small mewls and whimpers escaped her throat. The wolves were closing in around on her from the trees. It seemed her screams had gone unheard and she closed her eyes tightly. I guess I'm not so strong after all. Iname, I'm sorry I let you down. If only I was stronger, like you, this wouldn't be happening. The thought of her friend's gentle smile and strong heart made Cassandra sob bitterly. She was no priestess…and she had been stupid in wanting to try and be one. Suddenly, the howls of wolves in pain and the swooshing of arrows filled the air and the young girl covered her head and curled up in a ball as she heard bodies falling into the snow. When everything was silent once more, she cracked open her eyes and gasped. The wolves had been slain. Arrows pierced their thick hides and blood stained the snow red. A shadowy figure moved through the trees, plucking arrows from the carcasses as he went and Cassandra immediately felt wary, trying to press herself against the trunk of the tree so as to appear smaller and stay hidden. After waiting a few moments, she peered beyond the tree and sighed.

"No one there…" a sudden hand on her shoulder made her shriek and she found herself meeting a face with silver eyes. "J-Jia?"

The man's lip curled disdainfully. "You're a stupid, foolish girl. Half frozen and sniveling, I should have left you for the beasts to feed upon. Little idiot. What were you thinking?"

"H-hey! D-don't talk t-t-to m-me l-l-like th-that!" she stammered, her teeth chattering with every word. "But th-thank y-you for s-saving me."

He merely scoffed and headed for the cabin. "Get in here already. Otherwise that punk protector of yours will have my head." When he didn't hear Cassandra following, Jia turned and glared. "Well? Get up already!"

"I can't! My feet are so c-c-cold, I ca-can't f-feel them!"

Sighing and grumbling, Jia headed back over to Cassandra and scooped her into his arms. It was true, she was rather cold and he frowned a little. Stupid girl must have been out here longer than I thought. With ease that told of his strength, Jia carried Cassandra through the snow and up the porch steps to his front door. But once he was there, he paused.

"What's wrong?"

"Open the door, I can't exactly reach it unless you want me to drop you."

"Stop ordering me around," but she reached out and undid the latch, pushing the door open for them.

Ignoring her, Jia stepped over the threshold and kicked the door closed behind them. There was a fire roaring in the hearth and everything was sparsely, but comfortably, furnished. Stalking towards the fire, Jia set Cassandra down on a plush rug and went to check that nothing had been disturbed in his absence. Gratefully, she removed her boots and set them by the fire to dry. Wriggling her red toes, Cassandra began to rub a bit of warmth back into them. Jia watched from the kitchen, his silver eyes giving away nothing of what he felt. After a few moments of silent observation, Jia walked over in his bare feet and settled down next to her. He placed his heavy coat on the floor, revealing the thin shirt and tunic he wore underneath. They look hand-embroidered, Cassandra noted. Glancing up, she studied his profile reflected in the firelight. The man had a strong nose and chin, with defined cheekbones and chiseled features hardened by weather and roughened with age. His hands were broad and the palms dry and roughened from years of hard work. Is the weather so harsh here in Hokkan? She could see the gleam in his eyes and it was intelligent and cunning but beneath that was a soul-shattering sadness that seemed to engulf him.

"What are you looking at?" he snapped, startling her out of her daze. "Don't look at me with those sorrowful eyes. I do not need nor want your pity."

"I'm just wondering…" she paused and looked at her hands. "Why are you so sad?"

"What makes you think I'm sad?"

She twisted her fingers nervously. "Your eyes."

"So?"

"Well…" Cassandra looked into the fire, still twisting her fingers in her lap. "I know I don't know anything about you except your name and while I can't be sure if I'm right or not, you just seem so sad. Whenever I look into your eyes, it makes me want to cry. It's as though your heart isn't there anymore."

Jia studied her for a few moments, then scoffed, smirking. "All right, say you are correct in your assumption. Why did you come out here then?"

"Because…I…well, I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to find out why you were sad. I wanted to help."

"Help?" his voice was a bark and his laughter dripped with sarcasm. "What makes you think that you, a stranger from another world, could help a man you only just met? Let alone a man like me."

Cassandra gazed at her lap, her bangs shadowing her eyes. "Because I know what it's like to be so sad. Imagine if you will, a young girl who's been torn away from her home and thrust into a new world where she's expected to become a priestess and save an entire country from war and strife and to know that she could possibly die doing it. Although my family has forgotten me, I…"

Her hanging statement brought a shadow to Jia's eyes and he faced her. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, my father's a man who is married to his business. He was working the day they brought me home. My mother was never really my mother. She was always gone, always handing my brother and I off to the care of nannies and other minders. I've never known two more selfish people in my life. They were so caught up in their own petty lives that they barely knew they had children. My brother, Matthew, on the other hand," and she smiled softly.

"What about your brother?"

"My brother was my everything. He went to all of my school functions, he taught me so many things that our parents neglected, and he was my best friend as well as my brother. Matthew loves me and he always will, just as I love him, but he's living his own life now and has moved on. He doesn't need me anymore. And my parents never wanted me, but…" she trailed off and then turned to him with a shaky smile. "Matthew believes in me, so I'll be just fine."

For a while, Jia just sat there, looking at nothing. Cassandra didn't know what she said, but it obviously had an effect on him. Because there was something else reflected in those silver orbs that darkened them considerably. Is that…? Before she could look closer, Jia rose to his feet and walked into the kitchen.

"Jia?"

"What?"

"Where's your wife? Your father gave me the impression you were married," Cassandra looked around. "Is she asleep?"

There was a long pause as Jia's hand tightened around the container he was holding. "Yes. She's asleep…in the ground. Along with my little girl and my little boy. They're all asleep under the willow tree."

Cassandra's eyes widened and her hands flew to her mouth. "Oh. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…I'm sorry. I'll go now. Thank you."

She reached for her boots, but stopped when Jia spoke. "You're searching for the Genbu Seishi, aren't you? You are the Genbu no Miko after all."

"I…I don't know if I can be."

"What are you talking about?" her words made Jia whirl around to face her, eyes flashing. "Of course you are, you have to be!"

"If I can't save myself from a pack of wolves and hypothermia, how am I going to save this country? I want to, believe me when I say that I want to. If there were a way for me to save this place, the people in it…to somehow become that strong then I'd do it. I'd do it in a heartbeat. Iname's counting on me and I don't want to let him down. But most of all, I don't want to let myself down."

Jia said nothing as he gazed at her. He wasn't sure if it was because she looked like his little girl or because he felt sorry for her, but…Jia wanted her to be strong. He wanted Cassandra to become strong enough to save Hokkan, summon Genbu, and live to tell the tale. Absently, he rubbed his left hip, tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear, sighed, and placed a hand on her shoulder. I want you to succeed, Cassandra. Genbu help me, but I do.

"Cassandra…that is your name, correct?" at her nod he continued. "I do believe I can help you. There is a man in this village that goes by the name Urumiya. He is one of the Genbu Seishi."

"Really? He's here? Where is he? Do you know where I can find him?"

"Yes I do. However, I must warn you Cassandra, he is a very cold and callous man. No one dares to approach him because they fear his powers as a Seishi. He is a very powerful man."

"His powers?"

"Yes. Urumiya's powers lie in memories. He is able to erase, manipulate, and even change them. Or he could implant a false memory, complete with the details that would make it utterly believable to the victim. Many fear him getting inside their heads. Do you still wish to meet him?"

"I do. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared, but there's nothing else I can do. I've got to find Urumiya, no matter what."

Jia was about to say more when he heard the pounding of hoof beats outside. Frowning, he rose stiffly and grabbed his bow and a quiver of arrows before heading for the door. Swinging the quiver on his back, he blew the flame out in a lantern. Cassandra rose as well, but Jia pointed again to the floor, indicating that she should sit still and be quiet. Green eyes darted about with curiosity and a bit of unease as she settled on the rug again. The sound of horses and men grew louder and the blue-haired man waited. Finally, they slowed and Cassandra's heart raced as she realized they were close. Lanterns swung like fireflies in the night and Jia opened the door.

"Well, well, the famous general Nakago. I'm surprised. What brings you to my humble home?" Jia's voice was mocking as he closed the door behind him. "And so late at night."

"Dong Jia, you should be glad it was I who came, rather than being struck down by an assassin of Kutou."

"You came here once before when I was away and robbed me of the most precious things in my life. Why have you returned? I have nothing left of value for you to take. You made sure to that."

"I have been hearing some rumors. Not thinking of rising up against Kutou are you, Dong Jia?"

Cassandra frowned as she opened the door just a crack and peered through. Jia stiffened, but didn't move, hoping that she wasn't revealed. Stupid girl, why didn't she stay inside like I said? The leader was a man with long blonde hair and cold, narrow blue eyes. Like ice. That's what they remind me of. Jia's eyes may have made her sad, but this man's eyes made her tremble to the depths of her soul. He was bedecked and blue and green armor that resembled dragon scales, a cloak covering half of his outfit, but it was clear that he was a man of great power and Cassandra shivered. The man's aura was so cold. Looking between him and Jia, she wondered why he was here and how Jia knew him. Stay hidden Cassandra. He knew that if Nakago found out about the new Genbu no Miko, it would be disastrous.

"What's the matter, Dong Jia? You're awfully quiet for someone who is surrounded on all sides by Kutou's soldiers. Have you nothing to say in your defense?" he smirked, confidence and cunning written all over his features. That's when Nakago noticed the door move and a flash of green. "Well, it seems to me that you have found a replacement for your dead wife."

"What?"

In the blink of an eye, Nakago had raised his hand and fired a pale blue life force blast that shot through the air straight toward Cassandra's hiding place. Damn it, he spotted her! Jia dove for the door and tackled the young girl to the floor as the blast grazed his hip and tore a hole in the opposite wall. The cabin shook around them and Cassandra whimpered. Wincing as he realized his clothing and a bit of his skin had been singed by the blast, Jia covered Cassandra so debris wouldn't fall on her as best he could. Once the shaking had settled, Jia rose and growled, dust and debris falling from him.

"Cassandra, are you all right?"

"Um, yeah, I, I think I'm okay," she stammered, shaking all over as she sat up and shook dust from her hair. "Jia! Your hip!"

Glowing black was the sigil for "roof top" on Jia's left hip. Nakago's features hardened as he watched Jia rise to his feet. So, he's one of the Genbu Seishi. Then that means the girl…? He glanced at Cassandra. She must be the Genbu no Miko. The prophecy has come to pass after 200 years. How interesting. Glancing back at Jia, Nakago noted the hardness in the man's eyes. They were like hammered silver as he stood protectively in front of Cassandra.

"Jia, you mean you're-?" Cassandra glanced from his hip and back up to Jia's eyes.

"That's right. I'm Urumiya, a proud member of the Genbu Shichi Seishi," and he glanced beyond Nakago, a smirk coming to his features. "And it appears that we have company."

Nakago turned and a flash of silver took down three of his soldiers. Blood splattered through the air and cries of anguish broke the stillness of the night as the figure leapt over the dead bodies and landed beside Urumiya. Green eyes were amused as they gazed into disbelieving silver orbs.

"Yo," Iname smirked and wiped his bloody weapon against the snow.

"So you finally made it, eh kid?"

"How many times-?"

"Never mind. This bum," he gestured to Nakago. "Just tried to kill Cassandra. Are you going to stand for that?"

"Not a chance in hell," Iname's smile was feral as he turned to face Nakago, his glaive at the ready. "What about you, old man? Don't you have a bone to pick with this guy?"

"Of course. In fact, I have several."

He raised his bow, quiver resting against his back, as Iname charged into the fray. The glaive's blade flashed in the moonlight, cutting down one soldier after another. Aided by the barrage of arrows fired from Urumiya's bow, the soldiers were no match for the two skilled men. One by one the men collapsed, gutted and with arrows peppering their corpses. Finally, only Nakago remained. Both were poised to continue their attack and while Nakago would have enjoyed the exercise, he knew he was at a bit of a disadvantage. His powers were not as well developed as he would have liked and it was two against one.

"I will withdraw for now. But make no mistake I shall not forget this. Nor will I forget your miko's face."

With that, he turned his horse and headed into the trees, intent on getting back to Kutou and informing the Emperor that the prophecy had come to pass and a new Genbu no Miko had been chosen. And before our Seiryu no Miko arrived. This could prove troublesome. Iname watched the blonde man leave before spitting on the blood-soaked ground. Urumiya lowered his bow and turned to Cassandra, who was still crouched behind the cracked door. She had a pot in her hands and he recognized it as the one that held a salve for burn wounds. Opening the door, Cassandra stepped out and began to apply the salve to his hip.

"I can do that myself."

"Never mind that. You're coming with us, aren't you Urumiya? After all, we need you and it would be wonderful to have you. Right, Iname?"

Iname rubbed the back of his head as he came up the steps of the porch, his glaive in resting position at his side. "Well sure, I mean…he is one of us after all and he did do a decent job of protecting you. By the way Cassandra, why did you leave the inn? I told you to stay there!"

"I wanted to see Urumiya," she wiped her hands on her jeans and rose. "There you go that should help."

"Still, you could have been hurt."

Shaking his head, Iname was about to read her the riot act when Cassandra sank to her knees, mumbling to herself and holding her head. Urumiya caught her as she slumped forward and yawned. Iname immediately began to panic, thinking that she'd been hurt and even started to yell at Urumiya, when the man glared at him and scooped her into his arms.

"She just fell asleep you idiot. Calm down or you'll wake her up."

"Sorry. Wait, you mean she's sleeping? Oh good…"

"What, did you think she was injured?" Urumiya scoffed as the two of them headed back to town. "Gather my arrows, would you? And give me a little more credit than that, kid, I did protect her after all."

"Don't call me kid! Yes, I thought she was hurt. It's understandable, considering the circumstances. I didn't think you would care so much either way," he paused as they continued walking. "Do you care now? Knowing what you know?"

Urumiya didn't answer. He merely kept walking until they reached the inn. Once they were inside, Urumiya lay Cassandra onto her pallet and covered her with a blanket. Iname watched from the door, still full of questions he wanted to ask the other man. He watched as Urumiya threaded his fingers through her hair and looked at her with an expression Iname couldn't place. It looks familiar. Where have I seen that expression before? As he was pondering that, Urumiya rose and walked right past him. Quickly, Iname chased after him.

"You never answered my question," he said as soon as they were out in the hall. "Do you actually care about her now? Knowing that she's our miko?"

There was a long silence where Urumiya just stared at the opposite wall. Since his back was to Iname, the young man couldn't tell what he was thinking. He couldn't see Urumiya's expression tighten under that question. Midnight blue hair, worked loose from the slicked back hold, fell around his face and brushed his cheeks and he tucked it back absently.

"Let me ask you this kid. Do you protect and are about her because she's Cassandra or because she's the Genbu no Miko?"

"It's because she's Cassandra of course. When I found her, I saw a frightened girl, all alone, and it obviously looked like she was far from home. We both know what can happen to young, frightened girls in these times," Iname absently scratched the back of his neck. "I wanted to protect her, help her find her way home, no matter what it took. She reminded me so much of my little sister, I couldn't just leave her like that. Now that I know she's the Genbu no Miko, I'm still going to look after and protect her but now I'll do so a hundredfold. People will be after her just because she's the Genbu no Miko and she'll need us to protect her. She deserves to have warriors who will also be her friends, don't you think?'

"So…it's because she's Cassandra. Now, can you expect me to echo your sentiments, Iname?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. Are you saying you're not coming with us, Urumiya? You met Cassandra, you obviously protected her from Nakago, so what's stopping you from deciding?"

"What if I told you I wasn't going with you and the priestess? How would you react, I wonder?"

"I'd be pissed off."

Urumiya chuckled bitterly. "So simple an answer. Don't you want to elaborate?"

"Well certainly my good man. You see, I'd be angry because one: you're shirking your duties as a Seishi. Two: you'd make Cassandra cry and that I just can't allow. Three: we wouldn't be able to summon Genbu without you. Four-"

"Are you quite finished?"

"Yes. Four and lastly: you're a great fighter and a good man, Urumiya. I'd be honored to learn all I can from someone like you."

There was a pause and Urumiya began to chuckle.

"Ah, flattery gets you everywhere. To tell you the truth, Iname, I was planning on going with you in the morning. Believe it or not…I do believe that Cassandra has what it takes to be the miko all of Hokkan has been hoping for. Someone who won't be like Takiko-sama and share her fate. She has a good heart and a strong head on her shoulders when she's not scared out of her mind."

Iname grinned. "Well, we're glad to have you with us, Urumiya."