Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ A New Page ❯ The Past ( Chapter 5 )

Houjun tossed and turned in his sleep. His mind was racing through faint memories of a distant time.

"HIKOU!" Houjun/Chichiri cried. Houjun watched in horror as he fought his best friend.

"You stole her from me…" Chichiri said dangerously.

Chichiri had a murderous look in his eyes, as he lunged at Hikou. The rain was mixing with the blood on Hikou's arm from Chichiri's attack. Houjun watched the two ex-friends fight till Hikou was caught in the river. He watched horrified, as he tried to pull his friend out and a tree took his eye, as his friend was lost to the river.

Houjun blinked and the area changed to that of a palace on a mountain. Houjun studied the man, who looked remarkably like himself. The only difference was a scar on the other man's eye. He watched as the man was performing some sort of spell under the guidance of an old woman. Houjun couldn't help but feel as if he knew the old woman from somewhere.

Houjun saw the scene then change to him hiding behind bushes, as a bunch of arrows head towards a young girl. He quickly grabbed the girl and brought her to safety, and he disappeared into that strange looking hat. After that, he watched, as he appeared again to save the girl. This time, he entered a poor old house that looked like something from ancient China. He fought some weird mage, and saw he had a red symbol on his knee. Watching the scene, he saw a blue haired man with a similar symbol on his forehead.

Houjun continued to watch scenes of this man's life flash before him until he saw the red-haired man, Tasuki, got hit trying to save him. He stared in shock as the two kissed, and then he too died.

"What is going on?" Houjun asked, in shock.

"You're witnessing your past life," an old woman's voice said.

"What? Why?" Houjun asked confused.

"You were never able to be truly happy in your past life, therefore the god Suzaku granted you a second life in this world. You must find your friends again Houjun, or rather, Chichiri," the woman said appearing before him.

"But I don't understand…" he said.

"You will. You must forgive me for this, but it is the only way," the woman said before slowly disappearing.

"Wait, who are you?" Houjun asked.

"Taitsu-kun," the woman said before disappearing completely and Houjun woke up.

"What a crazy dream…" Houjun whispered and got up.

Kouji yawned and tried to fall back to sleep. Genrou hit him with a pillow.

"God damn it, Genrou! Let me sleep!" Kouji shouted. "We don't have to go to school today anyway!"

"Yeah, but I had the weirdest fucking dream yet!" Genrou said.

"Me too, and I'm trying ta forget and dream about something better," Kouji said turning away and putting his head under the pillow.

"Was it about a past life?" Genrou asked, stealing his brother's pillow.

"No, I kicked your ass for waking me up!" Kouji said, stealing back his pillow.

"GENROU! KOUJI! BREAKFAST!" the boys' mother called.

Genrou and Kouji looked at each other then ran faster then a bolt of lightning downstairs to get breakfast.

Genrou sighed and actually tried to pay attention to the tutor. Something about math just put him to sleep. Hell, everything about school puts me to sleep, Genrou thought with a grin.

"Genrou, pay attention," Houjun said quietly closing a book.

"Huh? Oh sorry," Genrou said yawning.

Houjun sighed.

"Yo, I'll be right back," Kouji said before leaving the room.

"Genrou, it's very clear you don't want to learn anything. But you could at least try to stay awake," Houjun said, slightly annoyed.

"Yeah right. I don't understand why you're even here," Genrou said laying on his bed, looking at Houjun upside-down.

"I'm here to teach you what you're missing in school," Houjun said simply for the third time that day.

"Yeah, but why a monk?" Genrou asked.

"Because I'm not going to be a monk, that's more an excuse I give my two friends. I'm learning to become a teacher from some of the best teachers in Japan," Houjun explained.

"Why would you wanna tell your friends you're tryin' ta be a monk?" Genrou said, interested.

"It's hard to explain. They're engaged, and it gives me an excuse to miss the wedding, and for her not to feel guilty about cheating on me when we were engaged," Houjun said looking away.

"Geez, that sucks. So, ya still love her, and they love each other?" Genrou asked, sitting up.

"No, I know she still cares about me. She'd hurt herself again if she thought I wanted to still be with her. She thinks I don't love her, so she is content to love him," Houjun said, then sighed. "But I wouldn't expect you to understand. I don't know why I'm even telling you this."

"I dunno either, but I think I do understand. Reminds me of something I saw in a dream once… This guy said something about fighting with his best friend over cheating with his fiancée. In the end, the best friend and fiancée along with all his friends and family died. It was weird," Genrou explained while doodling in his notebook.

"Really?" Houjun asked interested.

"Yeah, I've been having a lot of weird dreams like that. Like last night some old hag was telling me about me in a past life where I had some kinda symbol on my arm, and this big metal fan and I was leader of a bunch of bandits, and shit like that," Genrou continued. Houjun laughed.

"Then maybe you're not the only one. Did she say something about a god named Suzaku?" Houjun asked.

"Yeah, something about serving him and his miko or somethin'," Genrou added.

"Was her name Taitsu-kun?" Houjun asked.

"Back!" Kouji said cheerfully as he entered the room again.

"So, what subject is next?" Genrou asked bored. Houjun took this as a sign that they'd continue the conversation later.

"We're going to practice Kanji," Houjun said simply. Both boys groaned. Houjun couldn't help but smirk at how alike they were.