Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ A Dragon's Call ❯ Waiting ( Chapter 13 )

Chapter Thirteen - Waiting

The day seemed endless as the group whittled away the hours until midnight. The twins were oddly silent, their faces grim with determination. The group of young people sat in Dainty brother's living room. Chris, Miaka and Michael sat on the sofa, watching television. The others were in the dining room, a large map covering the table.

Nicholas and Christopher's parents were on vacation, so there was plenty of room for everyone. Not to mention the fact that they had the house all to themselves. Nicholas had half expected Tarek and Miaka to go off alone. But to his surprise, they did not. Instead, Miaka had spent the time with her former seishi. She'd even managed to coax a brief smile from Jonathan.

Tarek, on the other hand, had spent all of his time with Joshua. The two seemed to be getting along famously. Tarek did everything he possibly could to keep young Joshua from falling in the pit of despair the young man was feeling.

The young Austrian could see the signs beginning again. If the young man wasn't careful, the tragedy that had befallen him before would be repeated. Tarek wasn't afraid of Joshua retaliating against him. Joshua had finally come to terms with what he'd done in his past life. Tarek didn't want to that confidence torn apart.

The group planned on leaving the house at eleven. It would give them plenty of time to arrive and to scope out the place. In the kitchen, Reykia was making dinner, Anthony helping her. The clock read seven, which left them with four more hours to kill.

At the moment, Tarek and Joshua sat in the den, on a long couch. On the table, a glass chess set sat, obviously being used. The two former enemies sat opposite each other, the chess set between them. It was obvious Joshua's mind wasn't on the game, as every five minutes he'd glance up at the clock on the wall. Finally, Tarek placed a hand on the young man's arm, startling him.

"Joshua, relax. Yui is all right. They don't dare hurt her." Tarek reassured his new friend as he moved one of his pieces.

"It's just…I don't see why we have to wait! Why can't we go get her now?!" Joshua protested for what may have been the thousandth time.

"Hey…" Tarek reached out, putting his arm around the young man as Joshua tried to stifle a sob. "Joshua, I know how you feel. You want to do anything and everything to find her. I felt the same way. But you must have patience." He smiled, ruffling the boy's hair. "I'm going to tell you something that the others wanted to keep secret from you and your brother."

"Oh?" Joshua's tears ceased as he gazed up at Tarek suspiciously.

The elder boy nodded solemnly. "The others had the idea of getting Yui back themselves and not involving you and your brother…"

"They can't do that!!" Joshua interrupted, angered.

Tarek grinned, putting a restraining hand on the young man. "Calm down. Let me finish."

Joshua grumbled, but calmed a bit. He nodded, indicating he was ready.

"As I said, that was our plan. You two have been through so much pain and hurt already. We wanted to spare you more." Tarek sighed, his hand clenching into a fist. "But we could not find them. They were not at the designated location, nor around the area. We had no other place to look, so gave up. We decided to wait until the meeting time then."

Joshua slumped against the couch, a defeated look about him. Tarek's words had effectively halted any idea he might have had of going to rescue Yui alone.

"Joshua, I know how you fell." Tarek began, his hand on the young man's shoulder.

Glaring, Joshua shrugged Tarek's hand off his shoulder. "You don't know shit! I DIED FOR HER! My blood poured from my body so she would be safe! People thought I was crazy because I dreamed of a woman I'd never met!"

Tarek listened calmly, never interrupting Joshua through his tirade. Once the former Seiryuu Seishi took a breath, Tarek held up his hand for silence.

"I know more about what you feel then you realize, Suboshi. I remember what happened very clearly. But there are events that transpired after your death that you're not aware of."

"Like what?!" Joshua asked defiantly.

Tarek couldn't help but grin. No matter what had happened, Suboshi hadn't changed much. He hoped, given time, the two could be friends.

"Hush and I'll tell you." Tarek grinned again, seeing the glare sent his way. He cleared his throat, then grew solemn. "After your…death, the final battle against Nakago occurred. During the battle, while I was trying to protect Miaka and Yui, I died."

"Huh?!"

Tarek smiled at the young man's confusion. "Yes. We battled and he threw me into a building. The impact broke my back and neck instantly. I don't know what happened from first hand knowledge, just what Miaka has told me."

"What happened?" Joshua whispered, his eyes wide in wonder.

"Yui used her last wish to unseal Suzaku, and was then absorbed. Miaka summoned Suzaku and used one of her wishes to bring back Yui." Tarek couldn't help but grin as Joshua's eyes grew wider and wider. "That was when the rest of my friends and I returned and defeated Nakago. Afterwards, we were split up and reborn here."

"Oh." Joshua couldn't remember much after dying. There were times he wondered how his brother could be with him when he'd left Amiboshi alive in Sairou.

"I know what you're thinking. But time runs differently in the world of the four gods than it does here. I've wondered myself how Tasuki and Chichiri could be here. But I'm not done yet. I have something else important to tell you." Tarek intoned as Joshua stiffened. "You mentioned I didn't understand. Let me tell you a little story.

"There was once a young boy filled with promise. He grew up in a small village in Austria. His family was very old fashioned, as was his village. Children were still taught in a one room schoolhouse."

Joshua listened, looking up at Tarek. He suddenly realized that Tarek was talking about himself.

"All his life, this boy's had been plagued by dreams and nightmares. And a vision that refused to let him go." Tarek stared out at the chess set, his eyes distant as he continued.

"He'd begun to have this vision when he turned ten. For seven years, the vision of a beautiful russet-haired woman standing near a Ferris wheel plagued him. He never forgot the dream and he searched endless years for the wheel, knowing that if he found it, he'd find her.

"When he was sixteen, he found it. Leafing through a copy of 'National Geographic,' he'd found the wheel in a small town in the United States. This confused him, as he knew the girl was Japanese. But he followed his heart nonetheless and prepared for his journey.

"His relatives found out and took action. They forbade him from leaving, threatening to disown him. He paid no attention to them, continuing with his plans."

Swallowing, Joshua fidgeted in his seat. He hadn't realized how hard Tarek's life had been. He hadn't thought it possible, but it might be conceivable that Tarek's life had been worse than his own.

Tarek grinned, putting a hand on Joshua's shoulder. "Don't worry, there is a happy ending to all this. Despite the threat of being disowned, the young man followed his heart. He took all the money in his savings account, packed his bags and left. He journeyed for a time before coming to the States. He did find the Ferris wheel, as well as the woman from his dreams."

Joshua smiled a true smile. "So is this 'happily ever after'?"

"Ah, Joshua. There are never any 'happily ever after's.' There are always problems to overcome. That is life. Besides, 'happily ever after' is overrated." Tarek winked, sitting back. "But things will work out. Just have faith. Believe in that little dream that is inside us all."

* * *

The water of the Pacific Ocean glittered like diamonds as moonlight fell upon it. Midnight was fast approaching.

One of the things San Marcos was known forw as the white beaches lining the coast. Most beaches in California were a typical yellow. But there, there were so many calcium deposits that it turned the beach white.

It sparkled in the moonlight, the only thing that gave her comfort as Yui stood near the edge of the beach. Water lapped around her ankles as she stood, waiting. Dirk had finally agreed to unbind her, so her hands were rubbing her sore wrists. The past fourteen hours had been grueling for the young woman.

In an attempt to keep Yui out of his enemies hands, he'd moved her around, never at one place for long. The longest she'd ever been at one place had been an hour. Then she was moved again.

Nor did it seem that Dirk trusted his people either. She'd never been alone with one of her seishi. There had always been two with her. Usually Dirk had paired her off with the two she knew as Ashitare and Miboshi.

Throughout the entire day, however, Sam had done his best to stay near her. Even when Sasha came to relieve him, or Dirk. Neither had said a word about it. Yui had never gotten to know Ashitare, mainly because Nakago had forbidden it. He had professed concern for her as a reason; stating that Ashitare was too dangerous for her to meet.

Whether it was true, she didn't know. But she was ever so thankful for his presence now.

Yui stared coldly at Dirk, her back straight and her head held high. She had grown since the last she'd seen him. Both physically and emotionally. She was no longer the lost girl seeking his affection and approval. Yui had come to see her true self, and had made amends. Not only to Miaka, but to herself as well. Unlike during the final summoning of Suzaku, she was at peace with herself.

This did not go well with Dirk's plans. His entire scheme was determined on his ability to manipulate her. To say he was not happy would be an understatement. Nevertheless, he was determined to go through with his plan. Yui may be averse to doing as he told her at the moment, but once they had the twins, he was sure she would be very amicable to his wishes.

As the moon came to its zenith, Yui finally addressed her captors. "It's midnight. No ones here. You've failed, Nakago. Just as you failed the last time."

"I think not. They're here. I feel their presence." Dirk countered her statement with conviction. "They will come and once they do, you will summon Seiryuu."

Yui stared at Dirk for a long moment, incredulous. She smirked, shaking her head. "Is that what this is all about? You want Seiryuu to grant your wish of godhood? You truly are amusing."

He glared at her, not appreciating being laughed at. She ignored him, continuing.

"You truly are predictable, Nakago. I would never have thought it. But your plan is doomed to failure! Even if I would grant you such a wish, which I can assure you I won't, how am I to summon Seiryuu, here? We are not in the book world! Once more, we do not have all seven seishi! Tomo is dead, remember?!"

It was Dirk's turn to smirk. He gave a nasty chuckle, pulling something from his pocket. Everyone gasped, staring at the clamshell in Dirk's hand. "You see, Yui, not all things are as they appear."

The clam shell landed on the white sand in front of Yui. A blue light could be seen from inside a crack in the shell. All of a sudden, the top popped open. Yui covered her eyes with her bound hands with a cry.

"I didn't realize I was so hideous to you, Seiryuu no Miko."

Yui looked up, eyes wide. She gasped in astonishment and wonder.

Tomo stood before her, or rather Tomo's reincarnation of Raphael. A sly smirk was on Raphael's lips as he moved closer to the stunned Yui. She cried out as his hand gripped her chin painfully. "How?!"

He smirked, shaking his head as he moved away form her. "Ah, that is my little secret, Seiryuu no Miko."

"So you see Yui, I have not failed. All of Seiryuu's Seishi will gather and you will summon him. Only this time, you WILL grant my wish." Dirk replied as he stood before her. His hand gripped her upper arm painfully. "Am I clear?"

Her mouth opened to reply, but stopped. A large red flash appeared at the top of the bluff, only a couple hundred feet from where they now stood. She could make out ten figures. Seven of which a red aura surrounded them.

Yui gave a glad cry, seeing her friends. She had always known they would come for her.

The ten rescuers descended from the bluff, striding purposefully towards Yui and the Seiryuu Seven. At the sight of Raphael, they stopped, shock on their faces.

While they were distracted, Dirk ordered his fellows to attack. The four spanned out, fanning Dirk as he stood next to Yui, on guard.

The former Suzaku Seishi fanned out as well, pairing up. There may only be five of their enemies, but they were taking no chances. En masse, they met their rivals and enemies head on.