Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Ateratraatrum Noxnoctis ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Ater Atra Atrum Nox Noctis

Chapter 3

A young lady with shoulder length blond hair that hung freely faced her parents. Her father had been over seas acquiring new material, as he was a renowned translator in the Tokyo area. He bore the bad news that he had told the young lady's mother. He had been deported quickly and swiftly from the western world at the dawn of the attacks on Pearl Harbour, now, they lived in fear of their lives.

"The Americans have started attacks against us. To remain here, that is not an option. Our emperor had sent a warning for all people to brace themselves for an attack, as the Americans have declared war against us and our allies." Her father explained, his expression grimly sombre.

"Demo, 'tousan! What's going to happen?" The young woman demanded in a panic, her cerulean blue eyes flaring with anxiety. She knew her best friend had already been taken to the countryside. She was now alone in the city, no one to seek comfort with. Her best friend had that young man whom she had fallen in love with in the Shijin Tenchisho world; she had only negative memories and a longing in her heart for the boy that had thrown himself at her feet.

She raised a hand to cover where her heart was beating. She heard it resounding in her ears. Her hand clutched the material of her kimono. She felt scared. She had been a fond advocate of Japan's imperialistic and militaristic stance. She found it wonderful that the empire was expanding, yet now, she was fearful of it because the empire had awakened a sleeping giant.

'Onegai, Suboshi…where are you?' A tear slid from her left eye, as she recalled how her best friend had her own protector whom was given a second chance. Her heart felt heavy with jealousy. 'Miaka, you have Tamahome, I have no one…'

~~~~

"You…you're identical to me…" was all Séamus could utter, as he stared in disbelief at the young man who he believed to be his brother. No, scratch that, his twin brother.

Jeremiah blinked, it was too perplexing to disgust. He shook his head. There was no way that this was possible. Family, that was possible, but a twin?! That was ludicrous. It was almost laughable, yet, he didn't find himself throwing his head back, casting off a mocking laugh at this young man's claims. It almost seemed to put the missing pieces of the puzzle together. The tingling connection he felt, the alluring pull that brought him to this very pub. It all seemed too linked.

Stepping forward, he touched a hand to Séamus' face. He could see some resemblance between them, but there still wasn't enough light in his favour. He felt the connection; that made up for the lack of light that displayed the features and appearance of the young man in a clear way.

"Uh… Séamus, this is going to sound…weird, but…"

"Seadh, mate?!"

"What the hell did you just say?"

"Aye, mate."

Jeremiah once more shook his head; Séamus was too strange, yet too intriguing in an alluring way. He replied, "I was wondering if… - I can't see you clearly and I want to believe what you're telling me. I need to see you outside without the dimness of this place."

Séamus shrugged. "Guess I agree to that." He dropped a couple of coins on the counter. "Couple of shillings covers the tab. Don't worry 'bout yours, I doubt you have the right coinage anyway."

The second class private blinked, stunned. This total stranger, who was mostly like a cousin, maybe a brother, or even more a twin, had just calmly picked up the cost by dropping a couple of coins on the counter, telling him to forget about it. No really had done it before. After all, there was no such thing as charity as an orphan, as far as he knew, there was only pity and an off chance that someone might adopt you. He had grown hardened towards humanity in general. After all, everyone he had known and see had been self-serving bastards.

Unable to respond, Jeremiah meekly cast a glance at the ground. "I…thank you. I don't know how to react, but thank you, I guess."

"What's wrong?" Séamus seemed to immediately sense something off in the other young man. He didn't know quite why, he just did. Lamenting, he moved to place a hand on Jeremiah's shoulder, indicating that he too was ready to leave.

Once out the door of the tavern, Séamus pushed the one who did look quiet like him, gently, into the light of a flickering street lamp. Wandering over, he paused, less than a foot from where Jeremiah stood, even more shocked that before. It was now his turn to utter the same words that had been earlier stated by the one so identical to him. "You….you're identical to me! I…I thought you were bluffing, or at that, maybe just seeing things. After all, the lighting in the speak easy wasn't so great."

"Jeremiah, do me a favour and shut-up, you're babbling near incoherently." Séamus quipped, a tad on the impatient side. Yet, his expression didn't convey the same thing. He wore something of a warm smile. He didn't quite realise that he was, it just happened.

The entity within him stirred eagerly.

"Aniki…" The name came on reflex. Immediately, Séamus' hand flew up, covering his mouth. He hadn't realised that he had said it. Now it was in the open and there was sweet all he could do except wait for the reaction of Jeremiah, who would surely now think less of him. He quickly glanced away. "Don't pay any mind to me mate, I really don't know what I'm saying. My mouth didn't consult my brain before I spoke."

'Aniki. That's what he just said. It's one of the names I hear in my dreams, and in a voice that sounds remarkably like his!' Jeremiah stared in awe at the one identical to him. It was terrifying reassuring that someone had known this. It relieved something from his soul.

Bringing his hand to Séamus' face, he forced the young man to look at him. "I'm not going to forget it, not this time. Furthermore, you can help me. If what you said is linked to what I hope you're going to be saying, then you don't have to question if its reality or not."

"You think it might be more than delusions?!" Séamus paused thoughtfully. He then placed both hands on Jeremiah's shoulders. "You're having strange dreams as well, of a place that seems like Ancient China?! With something that seems more fantasy than reality?"

"Y-yes! Yes, that's exactly it!" Jeremiah answered happily, thankful that someone had finally been able to be on the same level of him. It soothed him; helped reassured him that he wasn't at all losing his mind. He all but embraced the one that could without a question be his brother; and more than that, a brother he had been with in a previous life. Maybe this was a second chance to make up for not protecting him.

"You don't think…" Séamus began. This was eerie, but a wonderful eerie. "That…the dreams we have are real and that…this is a second chance?"

"You think that as well?!" Jeremiah was overwhelmed with joyous happiness. He had never truly felt this. He had remained cut-off from society; he had even distanced himself from the other society rejects. He had refused to let himself feel anything. But this was different. The young man that he spoke to was family, or so seemed. After all, he had the name that was easily noted and he did look strikingly identical to this young man. Maybe something was going to change.

His hand reflexively touched a thin scar on his left wrist. He had tried to escape another way, but they had stopped him. It had been in vain. But they hadn't been able to stop him from letting himself die through emotional pain. Slowly he had attempted to end his life like that; even in the army he had been like that. He really didn't care about anything. He had nothing to care about. His whole life had been worthless.

Moving forward, Jeremiah stared hard into Séamus' eyes. He felt a connection with this youth. Though he had just met, the bond he felt was undeniable. He sighed softly. "You're Catholic, you believe in miracles, right?"

"That's right."

"Then do you believe that this meeting is by divine intervention?"

"Could be, I don't know. Maybe it was pure coincidence and good timing, mate. There's no knowing the will of the divine. It acts in mysterious ways unknown to man."

Jeremiah nodded mutely. He didn't know how to react. This stranger that seemed to be no doubt real family was being so openly kind to him. Maybe he had just had a narrow view on the world because he had been an orphan and had saw only the negative side of the Great Depression that plagued the United States of America. This stranger; his twin, also seemed understanding, with a human side.

"I agree with you, it's quite possible. There is no way to prove that the divine did or didn't interfere. Who are we to question what their will is."

Unconsciously, Séamus placed an arm around Jeremiah's shoulders. "If you don't have to head back to the base, stay 'round a while. You can come to my flat. I feel like a fool having to talk to you out here. My place ain't too far off this road."

Smiling wanly, Jeremiah felt somewhat wanted. This was nice; reassuring. It gave him a sense of what he had been taught. The orphanage he had been at, was operated under the authority of the Catholic Church. The Priests who served as the children's guardians preached sermons of how the good Christian was respectful of his fellowman and should treat him as he himself wished to be treated. "Do unto others what thou does unto thy self", was what he had been taught, yet, he had never practised it. Now he was being victim of that very practice. This young man, who he felt he should be calling brother, was treating him kindly, without question.

'So, that's what they had meant. Maybe I just hadn't been meant for that place. People are too cold and closed. Folks here are easier going, considering the war and all.' He cast a glance at Séamus. He nodded. "I could spare a day or so, might as well take a look around town."

"Sounds fine mate. You should really try n' get yourself put on duty here, that way you don't have to get your damned arse blown off by them goddamn bloody Nationalists who think they are so great. They deserve the Brits." Séamus callously remarked, as he escorted the one he truly believed was not only his twin in this life, but from before, to a place he rented.

Jeremiah considered thoroughly what was being proposed to him. He could sense an underlying concern coming from the other young man. It was so soothing. It calmed him, letting him break down his hard bitter shield he had encased himself in since he was a child. He sighed softly, touching his hand to the hand Séamus had on his shoulder.

He halted briefly. Taking Séamus' arm from around his shoulder, he held the young man's injured, bandaged wrist in hand. Gingerly running his fingers over the wrist and hand, Jeremiah pressed, "how did you hurt your wrist?"

"Broke it in a fight when the bastard tried to do me in. Broke it breaking m'fall." Séamus shrugged evasively. "Nothing really. Better than getting a knife wound in the chest or finding yourself staring up the chamber of a calibre."

Jeremiah all but fainted. This guy acted like facing a gun was nothing; like just taking a walk in the park! He whimpered softly and backed away. "Eh… Séamus, a-are you feeling all right?! You're not mad or anything?!"

"It's all right, Jeremiah. It's normal here, ever since before we were borne. It's just intense fighting; occurs randomly. If you live in fear of it, it'll kill you, you have to take it in stride." Séamus explained. "And if I were mad, I'd be mad as a hatter."

"Uh, interesting imagery." Jeremiah remarked, glancing away. He didn't know quite what to make of what had just been said. He wondered if he had stepped into something of an insane asylum in the form of a country. People seemed very nice and kind here and perhaps a few screws loose.

"'Tis so I imagine it must be! Imagery as in figurative or literal…"

"And what have you been eating? You're near stark raving mad!'

"Pray tell why mate."

"Because you're too damned perky and not at all bitter. You take life in stride, even when it bites you on the ass. Even when you get hurt, it's no biggie. How can people be kind; so willing to be nice? You live in a damned war zone and you act like it's peace time!!"

"Innit…is there something wrong with perky?!" Séamus pressed, stepping up, coming nose to nose with Jeremiah. "You have been sheltered, mate. You're too bitter, it ain't healthy for you."

Jeremiah took a step back, he then signed in resignation. "You're right. I'm not used to it, forgive me."

"It's fine, no need for forgiveness, mate, you done no wrong." Séamus assured the young man he presumed and accepted as his brother. He did so willing. There was no two ways about it. Jeremiah looked like him, bore their mother's name. This, he accepted.

The second class private's jaw fell open mildly. "You…what?! I bark at you and you embrace my remarks…" Tears stung Jeremiah's eyes, he was lost for words to express his feelings to this young man. "I…thank you."

"There's no thanks with brothers. It's all mutual." Séamus replied off-handily. "You are my brother, or so I believe you are." He held up his hand, the palm facing Jeremiah. "You right palm has a scar, right?"

"But…how…" Jeremiah stopped short of asked, as he studied Séamus' left palm. The scar this young man had matched his, giving a clear indication that they were indeed brothers, but more than that, twins.

Smiling, he pressed the palm of his hand against the other young man's. "It matches."

"It does." Séamus nodded solemnly.