Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ A Dragon's Call ❯ Preparing For Battle ( Chapter 12 )

Chapter Twelve - Preparing For Battle

The Thomas house was silent, not a soul around. The police had been their earlier, in the early morning. A small fire had broken out in the kitchen, prodding the neighbors to call the fire department. Upon arriving, the firefighters dealt with the blaze succinctly. After it was out, they searched the house to see if anyone needed treatment.

They immediately called the police and paramedics. Once the police arrived, they quartered off the area, the dead bodies of Zachariah and Rachel Thomas taken to the coroners. Yellow police caution tape surrounded the property, proclaiming it a homicide crime scene.

As things were, it was a good thing the brothers had dodged when anyone came near. The police had issued an A.P.B. on the two. Joshua was considered armed and dangerous, whereas his brother was just wanted for questioning.

Coming to their home, Jonathan knew at that moment that they would have to leave San Marcos. With what happen4ed at home, coupled with the incident at the Homecoming Dance, they were fugitives. It was strange, but that thought didn't bother him as much as he thought it would.

The two snuck in the backyard, keeping to the fence and shrubbery. Jonathan stopped at a large potted plant. Reaching into the pot, he dug around for a moment before retrieving the spare house key. Fitting the key into the lock, he opened the door. The door slid behind them, locking once more.

Joshua wrinkled his nose as they left the pantry and entered the kitchen. Burnt fumes wafted in the air, the charred remains of the stove still smoking. Both grimaced as they realized their mother had been cooking still before…her death.

Neither felt remorse at what had been done. Rachel's death had been long in coming. Their mother had no longer been sane, so to them it had been a mercy killing. More of a mercy to them, than to her. Life with her had been unbearable. The only thing that had sustained them through the years of horror had been each other.

Where once there had been only the love between each other, now a third party had entered the equation. Jonathan knew that his brother felt immensely protective over Yui. He also knew that he had the very same feelings for her as his twin.

Now that they were alone, without even the fear of tripping over their parents bodies, they looked at each other. Silence prevailed, increasing the unease of the room. Finally, after a near oppressive silence, it was broken.

"I love her."

They blinked, staring at each other. They'd each spoken the same words at the same time. Jonathan chuckled, shaking his head. Joshua gave him a lopsided grin before holding onto his brother. His head pillowed over his brother's beating heart, his arms securely around Jonathan's chest, he sighed. "I love you, Jonathan. My feelings for her have not changed that."

"Nor have mine." Jonathan whispered as he held his brother close, his fingers running through the blond silken strands of hair on his chest.

"What does it mean? That we can still love each other but love a girl we've never met before with equal passion?" Joshua asked, looking up at his brother.

Jonathan shrugged. "Fate. Destiny. Love."

Unable to control himself, Joshua snickered. "Didn't we say that we were going to take control of our lives and screw fate?!"

"Er…oh shut up!" Jonathan grinned, playfully pushing his twin. "We have work to do!"

"Right!" Joshua jumped into action, going over to the fireplace. Sticking out his tongue in concentration, he rummaged around on the top of the chimney entrance, searching for something. "Ah ha!" Finding it, an audible click could be heard. The front flooring of the fireplace popped open just enough to allow a couple of fingers inside.

Joshua wedged his fingers inside, pulling open the panel. Inside lay two small boxes. The first that he took out was long and slender, a little longer than his forearm. This he passed over to his brother.

The second box that came out was square-shaped. Nearly eight inches high, it took a bit for him to remove it from the confined space. Finally removing it, the brothers sat across from one another, their faces grim and serious.

No one knew of the boxes, not even Rachel. When they had been eight years old, a strange thing had occurred. The night of their birthday, while they were in their room, a bright blue light had flashed. Once their eyes had cleared, they had found the two boxes. When their mother had gone out that day, they had snuck downstairs and hid their mysterious gifts.

Now it was time to leave and they had no other possessions that they valued. Once they retrieved Yui, they would disappear, starting a new life together.

Staring at one another, they took a breath. Hands hovering over the boxes, the twins finally opened them.

Jonathan gasped as he lifted the exquisitely crafted glass flute from its velvet bed. It was handcrafted, the flute itself a deep azure blue. Black etchings lined in silver decorated the body of the instrument. In kanji, the name of 'Amiboshi' showed clearly among the etchings, which also included a fierce dragon. The instrument seemed to pulse with power.

Awestruck, Joshua gazed at his brother's gift. It was truly an exquisite piece of art. He found himself apprehensive about seeing his own, and jealous at his brother for such a magnificent gift.

Taking a deep breath, he opened his own box. Inside, nestled in a bed of black velvet lay…

"My ryuuseisui!" Joshua removed the two spheres. Each one was its own work of art. Sectioned off, each section alternated between a dark blue or purple. On the north and south pole of each sphere, there was a circle of burnished gold. A long cord connected the two spheres, velvety azure in color. Holding it in his hand, he gasped as he saw a name, written in kanji, embroidered into the side of one sphere. 'Suboshi' could be plainly seen.

The brothers looked at one another, awed. There was only two people who could have done this. The first was Yui. But how could she? She'd never even known of their existence until the night before. How could she have given them a gift seven years ago when they just met?

It was impossible. Which only left one other, and that was equally as impossible. It couldn't have been any of the members of the Seiryuu Seven either. They hadn't even known about the twins until recently.

They looked at one another, swallowing reflexively. There was only one explanation.

Seiryuu.

Their god, the one that they had served so faithfully in their last life, had miraculously sent them these gifts, signs of their true loyalty and station. They were Seiryuu Shichiseishi and always would be.

They felt the presence of Seiryuu, as if he resided within the precious artifacts in their hands. A long moment of silence passed between the twins as they listened closely to the voice buried within the artifacts. In unison, they nodded once in confirmation.

A shaft of sunlight entered through a crack in the curtains, falling onto each twin's eyes. They blinked, coming to themselves. Jonathan looked to his twin, a smirk on his face. To all but Joshua, Jonathan's expression would have caused fear within them.

"I think we have an appointment to keep, otouto." He was no longer the quiet young man. He had a hard gaze, the same one he'd held when he attempted to kill the Suzaku Seishi and their Miko. It was unnerving, boarding on frightening. One would have expected such an expression on the younger of the brothers.

Contrary, Joshua had a serene look on his face. The thought of avenging those that he loved filled him with glee. He knew just how badly they would pay. He nodded enthusiastically. "Hai, Aniki! I'm ready!"

As the two brothers gathered their weapons and departed, neither realized that since Seiryuu made his presence known, they'd been speaking in an ancient form of Chinese, very similar to Japanese.