Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Bridge Over the Abyss ❯ Degrees of betrayal ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: The characters from Fushigi Yuugi are the creations and property of Yuu Watase and related enterprises. The character of Doctor Who is the property of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). I do not own them and do not make any profit from this fiction except for my own enjoyment in spending time with them.

However, the original plotline, as well as all original characters in this story DO belong to me and may not be used elsewhere without my permission.

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Chapter 4. Degrees of Betrayal

The dragonfly hovered above the swirling current, appearing to pause above the two gently bobbing floats in puzzled contemplation of the foreign objects in the familiar landscape. The susurrus waters of the river lulled the inhabitants of the riverbank into a sense of somnolent peace.

All but one.

A sound of impatience. "Tch!"

A sleepy musical voice. "Something wrong, Shouryuu?"

"Thought I had a bite--but it got away!"

The Doctor removed the replica of his old brimmed hat from its resting place over his eyes and raised himself up on his elbows to regard the young man seated beside him on the grassy bank of the small river. The warmth of the afternoon had compelled him to remove his velvet frock coat and loosen his cravat, so he appeared slightly disheveled and vaguely bemused as he blinked sleepily at his companion.

"Are you hungry?"

The black mask turned to face him, conveying confusion in spite of the fact that only mouth and chin were visible. "No, not particularly. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I thought you might be hungry, and that's why you're so anxious to catch a fish. Myself, I'm not particularly hungry either, so it really doesn't matter to me whether or not I get a bite. Seems a waste to catch a fish when I don't intend to eat it."

The young magician stared at his friend in confusion. "If you don't want to catch fish, then why are you fishing?"

"Ah," replied the Doctor. "There's a profound question for you. But am I really fishing?" He scratched his chin in apparent confusion. "Did I even remember to bait the hooks?"

"What?!" the young man cried out in aggravation. "Do you mean that I've been sitting here staring at this line for over an hour, and there's not even any bait on the hook? Why would you waste my time that way?"

"Hmmm," mused the Doctor. "But has it really been a waste of time? Haven't you enjoyed the peace of the afternoon, listening to the cicadas and the birds and watching the floats drift in the current? Is the capture of a piscene creature the only thing that gives meaning to this exercise? Especially when you're not particularly interested in consuming said creature. If you did catch a fish, would you simply pack your things and return home, having accomplished your goal for the day? Or would you prefer to stay around and perhaps spend more time in deep, uninterrupted thought?"

Shouryuu tilted his head as he stared at his new friend. "I'm not sure if I understand you. Are you saying that the point of fishing is not necessarily to catch fish?"

The Doctor beamed at him. "Precisely! I could tell that you were a quick study! It's true that if you are hungry and need to eat, then the point of fishing is unquestionably to catch a fish of consumable proportions. But more often, for me anyway, fishing is a wonderful opportunity to let the mind wander down broad paths of inner contemplation. This life seldom leaves us time or space enough to contemplate what we should do before we actually go out and start doing it. I like to think of fishing as a way to prevent disastrous actions on my part by giving me the chance to ponder how I really feel about a situation before I get involved or take action."

Shouryuu frowned under his mask, carefully considering the Doctor's words. Part of his brain recommended that he simply ignore the often strange ramblings of his foreign friend, but the last two weeks had taught him that the Doctor's insouciant manner of talking often masked layers of meaning that lay concealed behind his words. In fact, Shouryuu often spent the evening meditation mulling over the Doctor's latest whimsical cascade of philosophical musings instead of the darker questions of how to recognize and defeat evil. Although Shouryuu knew that he should feel guilty over shirking the mental exercises expected of the students of the academy, he couldn't bring himself to stop wandering the brighter paths of contemplation laid before him by the Doctor.

He carefully laid his fishing pole down, propping it on a rock, and turned towards his companion to ask further enlightenment. But the Doctor was no longer sprawled comfortably on the riverbank; he sat upright, his arms draped around his knees. Although his posture remained outwardly relaxed, Shouryuu could read that every line of the Doctor's body was poised in tense alertness. The young magician found his own muscles growing taut in readiness.

"We have company," the Doctor breathed.

Shouryuu immediately sent out his ki to investigate the area, taking care to shield his own presence. There, just up on the hill to the west--someone was questing around, shielding his own ki with far less skill than Shouryuu. Shouryuu's ki touched softly around the shield, feeling out identifying energy signatures, then pulled back in shock and rage.

"Damn him!" swore Shouryuu, his anger exploding outward, making his own shield waver. The mystical eyes behind his mask glittered and flashed, matching the turbulence of his thoughts. "Will he never leave me in peace? Is there no place where I can be free of his damnable, relentless prying?" He trembled with fury.

The intruder on the hill looked up suddenly, detecting the wavering of Shouryuu's ki shield. He hesitated only a moment, then started down the hill towards them. Shouryuu felt his rage rising until it nearly choked him

The Doctor placed a restraining hand on Shouryuu's arm. "It's too late for us to conceal our presence, so we may as well prepare to make the best of this situation." He turned a warning gaze on his companion's black mask. "Remember, Shouryuu--to lose control over yourself is to give control to your opponent." He bent and picked up the fishing pole, forcing it back into Shouryuu's hands. "Now try to remember the point of fishing...and let's see what we find on the end of our hooks." He flashed a cheeky grin at his companion and leaned back on the riverbank, replacing his hat over his face.

Shouryuu felt his anger abate slightly at the Doctor's confidence. Perhaps the Doctor was right; perhaps there was a way to turn this situation to their advantage. He readjusted his shield to completely block his ki and assumed an outwardly tranquil demeanor.

Their uninvited guest picked his way carefully along the riverbank until he reached them. Shouryuu kept his eye on his fishing line, steadfastly ignoring the intruder, determined to make this situation as uncomfortable as possible for him. He knew that the interloper didn't know quite what to make of the circumstances, or who he should address first--the stranger who appeared for all intents and purposes to be asleep or his fellow magician who appeared to be absorbed in his own world. Finally, the intruder fell back on familiarity and cleared his throat.

"Er, konnichiwa, Shouryuu-senpai."

Shouryuu stared at his fishing line and counted to ten, then turned his mask towards the younger student. He silently examined the boy who stood before him: the long black hair with steely silver highlights tied into a high ponytail, the green eyes flecked with yellow staring out from behind the tan mask which showed his status as an underclassman. A few of the other upperclassmen wore black masks like Shouryuu and Magus-Sensei, but only Shouryuu and his master wore masks that sported the mysterious glittering eyes. As far as the other students knew, those eyes were the true features of their senior and sensei.

The boy shifted uncomfortably under his senior's glittering stare. Shouryuu decided that the tension had risen to a satisfying level, so he broke his silence.

"Maboroshi." he murmured softly. "What brings you out here?" Shouryuu was pleased with his calm, cool tone.

The youth shifted again, glancing at the supine form of the Doctor, before meeting his elder's eyes again. "I…uh… I, ummmm…I decided to take a walk, and the next thing I knew, I ended up here." The words came out in a rush, but he trailed off before the frankly skeptical look in Shouryuu's eyes.

Maboroshi decided to try a slightly more truthful tack. "I also hoped to find you, Shouryuu-senpai, for I have a question regarding our last lecture on the nature of..." He looked at the Doctor once again, unsure of what to make of the apparently unconscious stranger, and what was safe to speak of in his presence.

Shouryuu could have laughed out loud at the young man's discomfiture. "Serves him right!" he thought with more malice than maturity. Shouryuu was actually beginning to enjoy the situation--until Maboroshi suddenly decided to ignore the stranger and fastened his eyes on Shouryuu with an eager, hungry gaze.

The yellow-green eyes traveled Shouryuu's form from his long silvery blue hair tied in a simple low ponytail to the plain black slippers on his feet. The younger student's eyes lingered on the white cotton of his senior's shirt as it stretched over broadening shoulders, trailing slowly down to the narrow waist encircled by the drawstring waistband of his blue-grey trousers…then paused lower yet. Shouryuu felt a hot flush rise up beneath his mask and found himself wishing fervently for the all-encompassing cloak that usually hid his form.

"The nature of what?" The normally velvet tones were now sharp and direct, and Shouryuu startled nearly as violently as Maboroshi at the demand coming from the previously recumbent form. The Doctor sat up, pushing his hat back on his head and fixing their guest with a direct, unnerving stare. "I believe that you were speaking." His voice was silky but the force behind the request was unmistakable. Shouryuu stared at his new friend; he had never seen this side of the Doctor before.

Maboroshi was even more disconcerted by the Doctor's abrupt manner. The Doctor stared intently at the young man for one moment more, then suddenly relaxed, beaming. "Do forgive me," he said amiably. "It's just that one of my pet peeves is when people fail to complete their sentences. Makes it ever so much more difficult to understand what they're getting at." His eyes sharpened for a moment, pinning Maboroshi once again beneath the azure gaze before relaxing back into amiable vagueness. "I don't believe you've introduced yourself." The voice held the gentle remonstrance of a parent to a wayward child.

Maboroshi's eyes were blinking rapidly, betraying his confusion at the rapidly changing moods of the Doctor. His mouth worked a few times in silence before he choked out his name. "M-Maboroshi," he stuttered.

The Doctor gave a faint half-smile. "Maboroshi, is it? Well, you may call me…" he paused for a moment, then continued smoothly, "…Bowman. Bowman-san."

Shouryuu stared for a moment at his friend. Why was the Doctor hiding his true name? He gave himself a mental shake. Not that "Doctor" was his real name, either, yet Shouryuu felt certain that it was the name that he gave to his friends. He felt unreasonably pleased that the Doctor trusted him with his true identity and was also appreciative that the Doctor was wary of Maboroshi.

"Bo-men-san," repeated Maboroshi thoughtfully. He bowed politely with the oily respect he showed to all his elders. "I do not recognize you from these parts, Bomen-san. Are you by chance a traveler in this land?"

The Doctor inclined his head politely. "I have been known to make the odd journey or so."

"May I ask how you and Shouryuu-senpai are acquainted?"

"You just did," replied the Doctor flippantly. "So consider it done."

Maboroshi's eyes turned to Shouryuu in confusion. The elder student smiled for the first time since Maboroshi had appeared. "You requested permission to ask a question, then asked it. The…er, Bomen-san is not required to answer it." Shouryuu fought to keep the smugness out of his tone.

Maboroshi's eyes flashed momentarily at being the butt of an inside joke between Shouryuu and this stranger. He narrowed his eyes and turned his gaze on the stranger, trying to read the man's ki.

"You know, it's really the most extraordinary thing about many humans with psychic abilities," the Doctor remarked mildly. "They would be appalled at the thought of going up to a complete stranger and requesting that person to remove his clothing so as to get a better look at him--yet think nothing of the considerably more invasive act of looking into that same stranger's mind."

Maboroshi flushed and started back, frustrated at the effortless way the stranger blocked him at every turn. But frustration was a familiar emotion to the young man, so he responded in his usual way. Bowing deeply, he murmured, "A thousand apologies, Bomen-san. I did not mean to be presumptuous."

For a moment, pity shone out of the Doctor's eyes. Shouryuu was reminded of Maboroshi's difficult past and felt a twinge of guilt at his teasing of the young man.

"No matter. No offense meant, and so none taken," the Doctor murmured reassuringly. "After all, it's a common mistake of youth. How old are you, anyway; fourteen, fifteen?"

"Sixteen!" Maboroshi retorted, offended--then flushed as he realized that he had revealed his true age to Shouryuu and the stranger.

"Ah, sixteen," the Doctor remarked cheerfully. "That explains it: an exciting, passionate age! Standing on the threshold of manhood, both certain and uncertain of how the world works…" He sighed dramatically, appearing to regret his lost youth--but suddenly turned a wickedly gleeful grin on his two young companions. "You couldn't pay me enough to be sixteen again!"

Maboroshi stared in confusion, but Shouryuu burst out laughing, appreciating the truth in the Doctor's humorous words. Maboroshi turned widened eyes towards Shouryuu, having never before witnessed his senior laughing so openly. For a moment, the lost boy stared out of the young man's eyes, allowing his loneliness and longing to belong show openly in his eyes as he bit his lip.

For the first time, Shouryuu felt a sudden rush of warmth towards the boy; he felt that he could almost like Maboroshi in this vulnerable and boyish state, with none of the calculating behaviors that life had forced him to learn. He smiled kindly at his young classmate.

"Sit down," he invited gently. "I believe you had a question for me?"

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"But it is our duty to hunt down Evil and destroy it by whatever means we can!" Maboroshi's voice was impassioned, confident of this unequivocal truth. He sat a short distance from Shouryuu, waving his hands to emphasize his statements as he looked back and forth between his fellow magician and the mysterious gaijin stranger.

The Doctor contemplated the float on his fishing line as it swirled gently in the river's current. "There is an important judgment that must be made before you embark on your mission to rid the universe of evil, however--and that is to determine what Evil truly is."

Maboroshi shook his head in impatience. "That is what last night's lecture was about: the nature of Evil and how to recognize it. But I don't understand the problem! To me, the concept is simple; Evil is that which threatens and destroys your life!"

Shouryuu sat between Maboroshi and the Doctor, glancing occasionally at the younger student but more often studying the expressions on the Doctor's face. He couldn't shake the feeling that the Doctor was trying to convey something of importance to him…and perhaps to Maboroshi, as well. The magician contemplated the flawless façade that the Doctor wore in Maboroshi's presence; even with Shouryuu's heightened sensitivity to the nuances of ki, the Doctor appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary traveler somewhat bemused by the foreign land in which he found himself. There was no trace of the dazzling and tremendous power that he had on occasion shown to Shouryuu.

Compared to the impressive shield the Doctor now stood behind, the masks that he and Magus-sensei wore were nothing more than children's toys. "He reveals only what he wishes to reveal…" thought Shouryuu, and shivered. He looked up suddenly to find that azure gaze fixed on him in a serious stare which slowly broke into a reassuring smile.

The Doctor turned his gaze back to Maboroshi. "Well, that is certainly a subjective view of Evil--and perhaps the best way to look at it. The problem occurs when you decide to take on all of the evil in your world; it's at this point that the concept begins to blur."

"I don't understand!" burst out Maboroshi. "Why should it blur? Isn't there a universal truth of Good and Evil…"

"Right and Wrong, Black and White…" intoned the Doctor. "If only life would cooperate in making things so neat and tidy. The trouble is that the Universe unreasonably insists upon painting reality through shades of grey, not to mention an almost infinite palette of colors. And this ties the concept of Evil into the sticky question of point-of view. Take for example…" the Doctor looked around, his gaze finally settling on a flurry of tiny movements in the tall grass, "…the field mouse. To the field mouse, the owl is the embodiment of Evil. Should we then kill all the owls for the Greater Good of the mouse? But then again, the field mouse itself is a tangible evil to the farmer with his storehouse of grain. Fine, let's kill all the mice for the sake of the farmer and let the owls live. However, we have now destroyed a major source of food for the owl. Have we now become the embodiment of Evil to the owl?"

Maboroshi snorted in contempt. "This doesn't apply. You're merely rattling on about the course of nature. It has nothing to do with greater evils, such as demons and mononokes!"

Shouryuu raised an eyebrow at the younger man's unthinking rudeness, but the Doctor appeared not to notice. He smiled at Shouryuu. "You are markedly silent during this discussion, Shouryuu. What do you think?"

Shouryuu met his gaze with a pensive frown. "You've given me a great deal to think about as usual, D… Bomen-san. Are you saying that we should remove ourselves from the battle between Good and Evil; that we should decline to get involved?"

The Doctor stared for a moment, then burst into peals of laughter. He laughed until he nearly cried, holding his sides. Maboroshi turned a startled look at Shouryuu, his eyes clearly showing his conviction that his senior had gotten mixed up with a madman. Shouryuu merely watched the Doctor in worried bewilderment.

Finally, the Doctor regained control of himself, wiping the tears from his eyes. "I beg your pardon!" he gasped. "It's just that I suddenly had a vision of the looks on the faces of the High Council if they ever heard me preaching non-involvement! Hah!" He struggled to keep from laughing again, finally winning the contest.

He cleared his throat, returning to his serious mode as suddenly as he had left it. "To answer your question, Shouryuu: No, I am not saying that we should turn away from Evil and let it run amok. Nor should we let sentient beings become oppressed if there's anything we can do about it. What I'm trying to warn you about is the danger of thinking that you can take on all of the Evil in the Universe for the sake of the almighty Greater Good and escape unscathed. And also warn you away from the blithe recklessness that increases the possibility of making a mistake that will come at very high cost to the innocent bystander."

Maboroshi shook his head. "You needn't warn us of the costs of fighting Evil; we have already pledged our lives to this cause. And we have also learned of the reality of unavoidable casualties. The lives of the innocent are often a necessary sacrifice in the battle against evil."

The Doctor's gaze grew dark. "You speak so lightly of such things--necessary sacrifices, acceptable losses!" He took a deep breath and once again regained control. "This is the very thing that most worries me about your academy," he remarked in a milder tone, "...the willful adherence to the cause of the Greater Good that blinds you to the reality of the suffering of the innocent beings caught in the middle of your battle. There is a quote by a famous philosopher in my favorite wor... er, country. `He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster...'"

Maboroshi stared in confusion, trying to sort out the foreign words in his head. However, Shouryuu lifted his gaze from where he had been contemplating the ground and locked eyes with the Doctor. "I think I understand," he spoke softly. "If we enter into the battle against Evil over and over again--and use fire to fight fire, not caring about killing innocents in the process--then we will become that which we fight. Monsters."

The Doctor shot him a beaming smile. "Excellent, Shouryuu! Perceptive as always!"

The younger student looked up, suddenly wanting Bomen-san's approval for himself. "But Bomen-san, does this mean that we should throw ourselves into battle without weapons, impaling our bodies on our enemy's spears? Won't that help Evil to win, as well as destroy us in the process?"

The Doctor smiled at the young man. "Also very perceptive, Maboroshi! An excellent--and difficult--question to answer. It has been answered in many ways through the ages, sometimes with self-annihilation, as you have asked and sometimes with mass destruction. Both methods have succeeded...and failed, depending on the circumstances." The traveler sighed. "Perhaps the best advice I can give you is to never lose sight of what should be your primary goal: not the destruction of Evil but rather the preservation of Life. So as you march into battle, take care to avoid trampling the very people you seek to protect…" his voice trailed off as he stared into the slanting rays of the sun.

Shouryuu spoke, gently breaking the Doctor's sudden trance. "Er, Bomen-san?"

The Doctor blinked, then turned to Shouryuu with his customary energy and good humor. "Yes, my boy!"

"Is there anything else you wish to tell us?"

The beaming smile was once again bestowed upon the two youths. "Yes! You're going to be late if you don't hurry!"

Maboroshi stared at the angle of the sun and hissed in dismay. "He's right, Shouryuu-senpai! Evening meditation will be starting soon!"

The elder student nodded at the boy. "Run ahead, Maboroshi-kun. I will catch up to you shortly." As the younger boy ran off, Shouryuu turned to his friend. "Tomorrow, then?" he inquired hopefully.

The Doctor fixed a serious look upon him. "Yes, but try to come without your young friend. There is something of importance I must tell you."

Shouryuu nodded, fighting a sinking feeling in his stomach. He knew that the Doctor couldn't remain by the river forever, but he dreaded the day when his new friend would continue on his travels. Shouryuu was surprised by the feeling of desolation that suddenly seized him.

The Doctor placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't be sad," he chided gently, as he had on their first meeting. "Perhaps you will be pleased with what I have to tell you. At any rate, your young friend waits impatiently, so we will continue this tomorrow."

Shouryuu smiled and gripped the Doctor's hand as it rested on his shoulder. "Until tomorrow, then…" he breathed, then turned and walked towards the silhouette of Maboroshi as the boy gestured impatiently in the light of the setting sun.

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The two young men strode swiftly towards the darkness at the junction where the thickly forested foothills met the gently rolling plains. Shouryuu lifted his ash staff and muttered a quiet spell at the slight shimmer that trembled in the air, barely visible in the increasing twilight. Suddenly the air swirled, dark shapes rapidly forming in the shimmer, coming into focus as the shape of a large three-story compound solidified into reality. The youths ducked through the large, imposing gates, leaving the mystical shield to cloak the compound once again.

They hurried through the doors into the vaulted halls, speaking in low voices. "We are too late for the evening meditation; I will have to make our excuses to Magus-Sensei," Shouryuu murmured. He caught the younger student by the arm. "Maboroshi…" he trailed off, uncertain of what to say, having never needed to ask a favor of the youth before.

Maboroshi looked up at him expectantly. Shouryuu plunged ahead. "About this afternoon--our mutual friend--could we keep this just between ourselves?"

Maboroshi's eyes shone at the thought of Shouryuu sharing a secret with him. "Of course, Shouryuu-senpai. You have my word."

Shouryuu placed a hand on the boy's shoulder in gratitude. "Thank you, Maboroshi-kun. I deeply appreciate your confidence."

The younger student beamed under his mask. Perhaps…perhaps this was the beginning of something profound between them. Perhaps they could become friends.

His pleasant daydream was interrupted by the creak of a heavy door opening. To his dismay, the Sensei stood before them in the doorway of his study, his tall form silhouetted in the light shining from his room.

The deep voice rolled over them like a breaking wave. "Ah, Shouryuu, Maboroshi. I am pleased that you made time to join us at last. We are appreciative of your efforts to fit us into your busy days. Do come in."

The two delinquent students crept into the room behind the imposing form of their master. Maboroshi glanced around at the ornate furnishings: the rich carpets, the intricate tapestries on the walls, the mysterious objects of brass or gold or crystal that rotated, dipped or gyrated in mystical orbits. The Sensei sat down behind a large, intricately carved desk and motioned for them to be seated before him. Shouryuu paused before sitting to bow respectfully to his mentor.

"Magus-Sensei." His tones were soft and apologetic. "Please excuse my rudeness in arriving late yet again. I would also like to take responsibility for the tardiness of Maboroshi. He accompanied me this afternoon on my wanderings and urged me back to the gakkou, but my meandering pace slowed him so that he, too, failed to arrive on time. The fault is entirely mine."

Maboroshi stared at Shouryuu. He didn't expect this! He had never expected Shouryuu to cover for him. "Perhaps that is what friends do for one another," thought the boy, and felt a sudden rush of warmth.

The pale, glittering eyes of the Master rested on them for one moment longer before turning away, releasing them. "No matter," the deep voice murmured. "You are here now at a opportune time. You have the honor to be the first to be introduced to our newest student. Due to her considerable skills and experience, she is entering as an upperclassman. She will also contribute to your knowledge by teaching some classes."

From the shadows behind the sensei stepped a small cloaked figure. She pushed back her hood to reveal long black hair shimmering with highlights of midnight blue. She wore the traditional black mask of the upperclassmen, its bottom edge resting near curved pink lips. The overall impression was that of a lovely girl in the full bloom of young womanhood--until Shouryuu caught a glimpse of the eyes behind the mask.

They were pleasingly large and slanted, shining with a light gold, nearly yellow light…but there was something about them that sent a chill down his spine. He risked a closer look; yes, he was right. The light gold irises were just a shade too narrow, giving the eyes the look of a predatory bird. "Or a snake," thought Shouryuu, then firmly repressed his shivers, not wishing to alert Magus-Sensei to his discomfort. The young magician rebuked himself for his reaction. Who was he to judge someone on their personal appearance, especially in regard to their eyes? To compensate for his mental rudeness, Shouryuu decided to introduce himself first and bowed deeply to the girl in respect. "Welcome," he murmured softly. "I am honored to make your acquaintance. My name is Shouryuu."

Maboroshi was startled at this breach of protocol but hurried to follow his senior's example, bowing equally as deep. "I am called Maboroshi. I also extend my welcome."

The girl looked from one to the other in intense interest. Just when her silence nearly crossed into rudeness, she bowed quickly to them. "I am honored to meet you, Shouryuu-san, Maboroshi-san. You may call me Kurayami." Her voice was high-pitched but surprisingly raspy, giving it an almost androgynous tone.

Shouryuu was suddenly overcome with a sense of oppression. He frowned behind his mask before deciding to ponder it in his own quarters. Perhaps it was due to the overwhelming number of problems he had had to deal with today. He turned to the new student with another polite bow. "Kurayami-san," he murmured in polite acknowledgement. He turned to Magus-Sensei and bowed deeply again. "May I be excused, Sensei? I feel the need to complete my evening meditations."

The keen eyes regarded him carefully for a long moment, but finally, the mouth beneath the mask curved into a smile. "Of course, Shouryuu," the velvet tones responded gently. "We look forward to seeing you at morning studies."

Shouryuu bowed once again to everyone in the room and quickly exited, his cloak swirling around him in his rapid movement.

The golden eyes of the newest student followed him out of the room. She turned to Magus and gave a short bow. "I believe that I, too, will retire, Sensei. Thank you for your welcome." She made a cursory bow to the underclassman, then retreated through the door that stood behind Magus.

Maboroshi stood for a moment, nonplussed at being left alone in the room with his Master. He began to make his own farewell bow but was stopped by a hand on his arm.

"Maboroshi."

The young student froze, certain that the Sensei's wrath would fall at last, when he was the only one left to receive it. He lifted fearful eyes to the Sensei's mask while mentally cursing Shouryuu for abandoning him.

"Hai, Sensei?" he responded in a quavering voice.

"Please have a seat."

Maboroshi sat down nervously, glancing anxiously at the Sensei's eyes.

Magus spoke, his voice smooth and reassuring. "You needn't be nervous. I want only to commend you on the progress you've made since your arrival. You have worked hard at your studies, and any shortfalls in your techniques are compensated by your dedication to the principles of this school."

Maboroshi shifted in his seat, flattered by the praise, but concerned by the gentle criticism. "Shortfalls?" he queried anxiously.

The sensei nodded, seating himself behind his desk. "Nothing serious as yet. We will attribute certain...weaknesses, shall we say? to youth and inexperience. However, I do hope to see significant improvement in this next term. There is, after all, a high level of competition for each seat in the school. I receive new petitions for entrance from eager would-be magicians every day." Magus indicated a small pile of scrolls on his desk.

The boy swallowed nervously. After all of his hard work, could he truly be in danger of losing his place? He shuddered at the thought of returning to his former life. "Magus-Sensei," he stammered. "I seek only to perform to the best of my abilities. If there is anything else you would recommend for me: more hours of training, longer periods of meditation..."

"As I said, " the Master interrupted smoothly, "there is no need to be concerned as yet. And I would like to reiterate that your dedication in adhering to the principles we teach is an inspiration to your fellow students. There are many ways to remain a valuable member of our academy. Helping wayward peers back into the embrace of their true calling is one of the most important."

Maboroshi paled. The Master knew! Somehow he knew that Maboroshi had been seduced into considering the radical philosophies of Shouryuu's mysterious friend. The youth trembled, feeling sick. Why did he ever imagine that he could hide anything from the Sensei?

Magus continued in his deep, velvety voice. "It is a true act of courage to act on the behalf of a fellow magician who may be struggling to understand the concepts that you grasp so easily. I myself could offer assistance to such a divided soul--if only I knew where to offer it. For that crucial information, I rely on people who have the courage to forge ahead on behalf of their peers. You see, too often, people hesitate to summon help for another because of the fear of betrayal of that person's trust. But there are degrees of betrayal, Maboroshi--and the breaking of a confidence for the benefit of the confiding person is hardly a betrayal at all."

The youth felt sweat bead on his face beneath his mask. He knew perfectly well to whom the Master was referring. The Master knew all! Or perhaps not all, but enough to know if he lied. Maboroshi gripped his hands together. "It's him or me," he whispered to himself. "Him or me."

He felt tears rise in his eyes, remembering Shouryuu's unexpected kindness this afternoon. All the elder student had asked in return for the gentle friendship was confidentiality. But then again, Shouryuu obviously thought that he had fooled the Master. 'He must have betrayed himself!' thought Maboroshi. `The Master knew long before I did--so Shouryuu betrayed himself!' An unreasonable anger rose in the young man's breast. `Why should I suffer for his foolishness? Why should I be the one to pay the price for the trouble between the Sensei and his star pupil?!'

Suddenly Maboroshi was seized with the envy that always filled him when he saw people more fortunate than him. `Star pupil!' he thought again in resentment. `No matter how angry the Master may become with Shouryuu, he will never threaten him with expulsion, because of the extent of his talents!' He felt the familiar anger fill him as he remembered Shouryuu's past rejections. `No, I was never good enough for him; he was always too far above me. Pure of heart and mind; he's never known the pain that I've suffered!'

Maboroshi suddenly looked up into the Master's mask, realizing that the man had sat quietly watching his internal struggles. With that, he realized that his silence had betrayed him. `Him or me.' the young student thought bitterly--and began to speak.

"Sensei, I have reason to be concerned about Shouryuu-senpai. You see, there's this man..."

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Maboroshi stood at the door, released after imparting all he knew. The Sensei's deep voice rumbled out once again. "A few last questions, Maboroshi. Did you sense anything...unusual about this traveler? Perhaps a sense of...hidden power?"

The young magician shook his head. "No, he seemed to be an ordinary foreigner. Nothing special."

"And you said he gave his name as Bomen-san; not Jon Sumisu-- or perhaps Isha-san?"

"No, just Bomen-san, Sensei."

Magus breathed an internal sigh of relief. This traveler did not fit his description, as far as he knew. At any rate, the odds were a million to one that he would ever find this pocket universe. 'Enough of this paranoia!' The Master thought to himself impatiently. He looked up at his young accomplice.

"Do you have any idea why this traveler is so interested in Shouryuu?" he inquired, hoping for some small piece of valuable information.

Maboroshi closed his eyes, his mind a swirling jumble of thoughts and emotions: anger, grief, resentment, envy. The knowledge that he had just betrayed his one friend made him hate Shouryuu with a passion, loathe him for being the cause of his guilt and loss. "They're lovers!" he burst out, wanting to damn Shouryuu in every last way, needing to drag him down in the eyes of the Sensei.

The Sensei's mystical eyes widened in surprise, but he kept his voice even. "You are certain of this?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes!" snarled the distraught youth. "I saw them! It was...disgusting!"

Magus surreptitiously touched the surface of the young man's thoughts. Yes, the boy was truly upset; he must be speaking the truth. He struggled to suppress a sudden urge to laugh. So that's all it was: the infatuation of first love. Magus could have shouted in relief; this confirmed that the traveler could not be him. He was famous--or infamous--for his imperviousness to romantic entanglements.

Magus suddenly felt pleased with himself, the world in general, and Maboroshi in particular. "Well done, Maboroshi." His deep voice was at its most caressing. "I will not forget your contribution tonight. You may go now. We shall look forward to seeing you at morning studies."

Maboroshi bowed, then left the room, puzzling over the raging conflict in his heart. He should be preening himself over the Sensei's praise--so why did he feel like crying? He shook himself in angry frustration, then strode swiftly towards his quarters, pushing the tormented thoughts away.

Back in the study, Magus sat back in his chair, still pleased. The problem was much smaller than he thought; it shouldn't be that difficult to get Shouryuu back, especially once this traveler continued on his way.

"I wouldn't be so smug if I were you," rasped a familiar, high-pitched voice. The new student reappeared in the doorway behind his desk, her movements eerily smooth as if she floated above the floor. She dipped her head in a slight bow, "Sensei," she intoned in mocking respect.

The Master frowned at her. "Kurayami," he chided softly. "You will remember that you are still a student of this school and as such, owe me the proper gestures of respect. Your talents may be considerable, but no one is irreplaceable."

The girl bowed her head in submission but sent him a mocking glance from beneath her lashes. "No one--except for Shouryuu?" she queried.

"He is very valuable, yes, but I reiterate: no one is irreplaceable."

The snakelike eyes narrowed further in amusement. "Do not be so hasty, honored Master. He is the very one you cannot afford to lose."

Magus leaned forward. "You seem certain of that. What is it that you see in him?"

"Very little, to tell the truth. He shields himself with impressive adeptness. However, what one glimpses through the few tiny cracks in his armor is a power beyond any I have seen in any white magician before, and matches those of most dark sorcerers. He is a force to be reckoned with, Magus-san. He can either help your cause to triumph - or destroy it in its tracks."

Magus let out a long breath. "So I had suspected," he murmured thoughtfully. "I had seen the beginnings of this power in him eighteen months ago, but I have not fully realized what the training has accomplished. He is quite sensitive to being read, you see, and I wished to keep his trust. But if he truly is this powerful, then it is essential that we bring him back into the fold. I hope that it will not be difficult; after all, he did believe in our cause whole-heartedly just a few months ago." The sensei sighed. "One would think that we wouldn't have lost him so easily to an obsession with a stranger, but I suppose that is inevitable when dealing with adolescents."

Kurayami narrowed her eyes, the predatory look taking over her features. "Somehow I do not detect the waves of physical infatuation emanating from him. If they are there, they are eclipsed by something more dangerous."

"And that is?"

"The ensnaring of his heart and mind."

Magus frowned. "We have very little time, then. We must bring him back as soon as possible to minimize the damage."

Kurayami produced a scroll from her cloak. "I may have the means here. This is a petition to you for help in a very difficult exorcism in a nearby village. I recommend that you allow Shouryuu to deal with it, with my assistance. If executed properly, it may well accomplish what you wish in showing him the importance of the school's mission. As for this mysterious traveler…we have no knowledge as to his interest in Shouryuu, other than the beauty of the youth, of course."

"So you noticed that, then, even with the cloak and mask…and the scars?" The deep voice rumbled in amusement.

Kurayami's narrow eyes flashed. "Do not mistake my perceptiveness for weakness, Magus-san. I am not touched by beauty; I merely note it as an important feature that has its uses and misuses. Scarred or not, the boy is still attractive, and that may be a detriment to our mission. Perhaps I should rid us of this traveler who proves to be such a distraction."

The Sensei met the yellow eyes steadily, staring her down. "You know that it is against the tenets of the academy to permit random killing for no reason other than personal profit. I cannot condone the elimination of a man merely for the sake of our own advantage."

The snake-like eyes stared back at him, then widened innocently. "I never mentioned killing him; I thought only of providing some encouragement for him to continue on his way."

Magus stared at her a moment longer, then sighed. "Very well, but I prefer to know nothing of this matter, and so I will claim if any of your actions come to light. We must adhere to our own principles if we expect the students to follow us."

The young woman bowed in acquiescence and left the room. Once alone in the corridor, she laughed softly in derision. "Magus-Sensei," she hissed to herself. "You blind, pitiful fool!"

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Back at the National Library in Tokyo…

A different young woman in another place and time stared at the text in consternation. "That bitch!" she swore in disbelief. "What is she planning?" She flipped back through the pages to see if she missed anything and came across the passage detailing Maboroshi's accusation. Her eyes narrowed in anger. "That little SHIT!" she raged. "That slimy, back-stabbing, double-crossing, two-faced little SHIT!"

She tossed the book aside and began to pace, her anger filling her with nervous energy. She brushed her fingers through her short, wavy hair, pulling at the dark strands in frustration. "Damn it!" she swore. "There's got to be a way that I can warn them!"

Suddenly, she heard a loud creak from the corridor outside the References room. She quickly ducked behind the last row of bookshelves, curling up so as to remain hidden. The door opened, and she heard a male voice mutter testily to himself. "Left the lights on again; they always leave the lights on!" He clicked off the light switch and shut the door firmly. She sat in the darkness for a moment, listening to the security guard's footsteps fade away, then rose to her feet, feeling her way carefully to the door. She fumbled for the light switch, fighting feelings of panic as she encountered only smooth wall in the utter blackness of the room.

Moving her hands frantically up and down and all around the area, she finally encountered the switches significantly to the right of where she thought they would be. She flipped a switch and sighed in relief as the room once more clicked into view. Deciding that it might be a good idea to check her escape route, she tried the door--and found it firmly locked. Panic gripped her once again, and she pulled frantically at the doorknob. It rattled and wobbled but refused to give.

The girl slid down the wall and sighed in defeat. "Well, fuck me!" she muttered. She glanced over to the last row, where the book lay on the floor. She crouched down and picked it up. "If it's gonna be a long night, at least I have some good reading material," she sighed.

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