Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Bridge Over the Abyss ❯ Masks, mirrors, and truth ( Chapter 7 )

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

Musical selection: "Silent Wings" by Secret Garden from their CD "Once in a Red Moon, " copyright 2002, Universal Music AS, Norway; Composed by Rolf Lovland, Lyrics by Anne Hampton Callaway

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Chapter 7. Masks, Mirrors, and Truth

She woke slowly for the second time that day, this time in dim light, her head aching from her near suffocation. She felt around gingerly before focusing on her surroundings; it looked as if she had been left lying on a straw mat in a rough wood house. Sitting up, she winced at the bruises on her body, probably incurred while being dragged through the woods. She got to her feet and walked around the simple one-room shelter, rubbing her arms. She was glad that she wasn't tied up, but she had no doubt that she was now a prisoner of whoever had taken her in the woods. "Fuckin' lovely way to spend summer break," she muttered to herself.

Suddenly, she heard the hoofbeats of several horses approaching at a rapid clip. She moved swiftly to the window, pulling aside the bamboo shade and squinting out into the midday sunlight. She appeared to be in a very small gathering of simple houses, more of a hamlet than a village. A plain dirt path snaked through the center of the loose congregation of homes and led up into the foothills, where it wound out of sight on its way to the mountain peaks.

A flash of motion caught her eye, and she looked up at the incongruous sight of two turbaned and veiled riders trotting swiftly up the dirt path, leading a third horse behind them. The horse was small and shaggy, but it appeared sturdy, trotting unconcernedly beneath an awkward, bulky load that included, of all things, a large leather case that appeared to hold some kind of musical instrument.

"Cello?" the girl wondered. "Or string bass? I keep forgetting which is larger." Her eyes followed the riders until they passed out of her line of sight. She smirked in sudden amusement. "The Lawrence of Arabia Musical Duo off on their World Tour. Exceptional Selections Played for the Delectation of the Citizens of the Universe of the Four Gods!" She laughed at her own joke. "Yep, no doubt about it! I missed my true calling when I decided not to go into stand-up!"

Suddenly, she heard excited whispers and giggles outside the house and caught sight of a head ducking down behind the window. Leaning over the window sill, she peered outside, catching sight of three adolescents, two boys and a girl, running off in the opposite direction.

"She's awake!" they called excitedly. "Miko-sama, she's awake now!"

She ducked back into the room, trying to smooth down her hair. There was no mirror, but she knew that her unruly locks were probably sticking out in about twenty different directions. Miko-sama; that term meant Lady Priestess. In other words, she could shortly expect a visit from the village wise-woman. Something inside her relaxed in relief; it was probably unreasonable to expect anything, but the presence of children and an older woman made her feel a little more secure about her future. She trusted that another woman wouldn't let any harm come to her.

The door opened, and a tall, slender figure stood in the doorway, bearing a scythe.

"Gyaaaaaahhhhh!" the girl from the library screamed, leaping up and running to the opposite corner of the room. She backed into the corner, panting and trying to get into a defensible position.

The figure slowly lowered the scythe to the floor. "My apologies, my lady, I didn't mean to frighten you." The miko's voice was soft and cultured. "The children fetched me directly from the fields, and I had no time to..."

"Children!" shouted the three outraged teens, crowding into the room behind her.

"We're not children!" argued the girl, who looked to be about fourteen years old. "We're the fearless adventurers who found the Girl of Legend!"

The miko turned a stern glance on all three youths. "Yes, and you also managed to smother her into unconsciousness." The teens dropped their belligerent stances and looked abashed. "I have spoken to you before about your rash kidnapping of every foreign woman who appears in the sacred wood! In the last year, I have had to make apologies to a Hin priestess, a woman of the Kel Tagelmousse, and a very irate bandit girl!"

The eldest boy, a sturdy youth of sixteen or so summers, stepped forward. "But this time we got the right one, Miko-sama! Just look at her clothes--they have to come from another world! Where else could you get such ugly mannish garments?!" he cried, waving a hand at her jeans.

The library girl flushed. "Now wait just one minute here," she growled. "I'll have you know that these jeans cost me a fortune!"

"Jeeeeeeenz," murmured the youths, impressed.

The miko sighed. "My apologies yet again, my lady. They do not mean to be insulting; they just hope to be the ones to find the Girl of Prophecy." Her dark eyes examined the library girl. "Please excuse my poor manners. My name is Ruiko, and I am the miko of Kawagishi village." Her eyes glimmered with faint hope. "I do not recognize you from these parts, my lady. May I ask your name and where your home village is?"

The library girl sighed, unsure of how much she should confide in these people. "Well, I can tell you that my name is Josselin…but it's a little hard to explain where I came from."

"Joss-reen… Joss-err-een… Jah-shreeen…" The three youths tried to get their tongues around her name.

Josselin interrupted, impatient. "You can call me just Joss, if that's any easier."

"Jus-joss…Juuhhs-jossss…"

"No, not Just-Joss; Joss, that's all!"

"Joss!" the youngsters exclaimed, triumphant.

"Joss-sama," corrected Ruiko-sama, frowning at them.

"No, no, nooooo; Joss-san will be good enough. I'm hardly a noble lady!" stammered Josselin, embarrassed.

The miko turned a keen, appraising glance on the young woman. "May I ask about your home village? I would be very happy to escort you there since my young friends so rudely interrupted your day."

The teens pouted in disappointment, the second boy, a tall youth who appeared to be about 15 years old, possessing a particularly effective pout.

Josselin flushed. "I…I'm afraid that's not possible. I live very far from here…Very far!" She swallowed nervously. "Listen, I would be perfectly happy if you could just return me to the woods where I first…where you found me. I need to find some friends before they leave me behind. If they haven't already left," she added under her breath.

"Why would your friends leave you? It seems...strange that friends would behave in such a way."

Joss flushed and stammered under the miko's keen gaze. "Well, you see, they don't exactly know that I'm here...ummmmm...Look, I know that this sounds confusing, but I don't have time to explain it all to you! Could you please...!" Joss struggled for a reasonable tone. "Could you please just escort me back there?"

"Of course, Joss-san. My apologies yet again for your rough treatment at the hands of these young people, who are further compounding their rudeness by failing to introduce themselves properly!"

The three teens flushed darkly under the miko's pointed reprimand. The girl stepped forward and bowed deeply. "My name is Sachiko, and this is my friend Makoto," she indicated the tall fifteen-year-old boy. "And this clod is my brother Yoshio!" waving a disdainful hand at the sturdy sixteen-year old boy. The large boy glared and made a grab at her, but Sachiko nimbly side-stepped his grasp. Ruiko frowned at the children's antics, but Joss broke into a smile. It was obvious that Sachiko, in spite of being the youngest and smallest, was the ringleader of the group--and Joss heartily approved of females in dominant roles.

"Very well, Sachiko-san," Joss placed a sarcastic emphasis on the honorific, grinning cheerfully. "Lead on to the scene of the crime!"

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Two hours later, she was much less cheerful. An hour's hike had led them back to the hot spring, but a careful search of the surrounding area revealed no inhabitants, nor any sign of there ever having been human habitation. Joss might have thought that she dreamed the whole thing--except for the simple leather hair tie she found on the banks of the steaming pool. She stooped to pick it up, her face flushing at the memory of the scene. Damnit! She should have rushed out of the lilacs and revealed herself, no matter how embarrassing the situation was! Now she was stuck lost and alone in a foreign world, with no idea how to find the only two people who might be able to help her. Joss dropped onto the ground in a disconsolate heap, raking her hands through her hair in frustration. The three teens stood off to one side, guiltily observing her obvious distress.

Ruiko-sama reappeared from the thicket of trees that the Doctor had stepped out of hours earlier. Joss looked up hopefully as the miko squatted beside her. "I have found traces of a campfire on the far side of the next clearing. It had been buried carefully, and it took all of my abilities to find that much. Your friends have covered their tracks very skillfully; almost as if they were afraid of being followed." Ruiko's gaze was curious.

Joss sighed deeply, remembering Magus and Kurayami. It wasn't surprising that the Doctor and Shouryuu should try to cover all traces of their wherabouts; the Doctor was no fool, and he had already survived one attack on his person. It just made it that much more difficult for her to find them! She cursed the dark conspirators yet again, this time for their role in her own misery. "Just you wait, Kurayami!" she muttered under her breath. "Someday, it'll be just you and me and a big stick--Just you wait!"

Ruiko waited patiently for Joss' reaction. The younger woman looked up hopefully. "Maybe someone in the village knows something. Has anyone mentioned seeing strangers? One young man about age twenty, accompanied by a foreigner wearing strange velvet clothes?"

The miko frowned. "It is not unusual to see strangers in Kawagishi village, since we are situated near both the river and the mountain road. But since this morning, the only strangers we have seen were those men of the Kel Tagelmousse."

"Kel Tagelmousse?"

"A nomadic people from Sairou who sometimes trade with us. The men are always turbaned and veiled, so I did not notice any strange foreign clothes."

"Oh, I think I saw them when I first woke up! But they seemed to be just passing through."

"Yes, I believe that was them. This time, they didn't stop to trade; they just rode straight through, leading a little horse."

"Little horse..." Joss frowned, trying to remember where she had just recently heard that phrase. That's right--she had read it in the book! The Doctor was leading a little horse down the hillside...

"Ohhhhhh, SHIT!" she screamed, shocking Ruiko-sama and delighting Sachiko and company. She staggered around the hot spring, clutching at her hair again. "I can't believe it! I was within twenty feet of them again, and I just...! Shit, shit, SHIT!"

She continued to curse, flinging her rage at the sky. "Damn you, Suzaku! What kind of twisted sense of humor do you have, anyway?! If I ever get my hands on you, I'm gonna pluck you till you're BALD!" Now even the teens were shocked by her blasphemy, while Ruiko-sama was certain that the foreign girl had gone mad.

Finally Joss became aware of the shocked silence of her companions. She took a deep breath and attempted to speak in a more controlled voice. "Well," she said in an embarrassed tone, "please accept my apologies for that uncontrolled display of... ummmm, it's been a very frustrating day, and I guess I'm not dealing with it very well."

Ruiko-sama stepped forward, relieved that the foreign girl appeared to have regained her wits. "No, the apologies are all mine. You would never have found yourself so far from your companions if it hadn't been for my young friends."

"See?" hissed Sachiko to Makoto. "Only the Girl of Legend would dare to speak so to Suzaku!" Makoto had a look of skepticism fixed on his young, handsome features, but Yoshio nodded in agreement with his quicker-witted sister

Ruiko-sama fixed them with a quelling look, then turned to begin the trek back to the village. "We should return to Kawagishi and from there formulate a plan to assist you, Joss-san. My village is small and poor, but whatever we have is at your disposal."

Joss was ashamed of her bad temper. "Thank you, Ruiko-sama, for your kindness. I would hope to require very little. Perhaps someone to guide me along the road until I catch up with my friends." The teens vibrated with excitement but remained silent under Ruiko's severe eye.

The miko sighed, turning the small party back towards the village. "There is a problem with that plan, Lady Joss. Your friends are several hours ahead of us. A half-league into the foothills beyond the village, the mountain road splits into three branches. The first branch occurs low in the foothills, turning to the west until it joins with the main thoroughfare to Eiyou, the Imperial City. The mountain road continues higher into the foothills, then splits in two once again. One branch leads over the mountains through the eastern pass, staying away from the higher altitudes, winding around until it reaches the East Road, a trade route that eventually ends in Kutou. The other branch, however, continues straight over the mountains, taking the highest passes into the wildest parts of Konan. Almost no one takes this route--except for people on blessed pilgrimages...and bandits."

Joss' shoulders drooped in resignation as she plodded along. "So you're saying that there's no way for us to know which path they took?"

"No…not unless they let you know something about their final destination."

A soft sigh. "No...no, they didn't."

The small party continued on their trek in silence, the gloom of their visitor dampening even the enthusiasm of the irrepressible Sachiko. As soon as they drew within sight of the village, two sets of parents began shouting at their wayward children to complete their chores before sundown. The teens dragged off reluctantly, looking back at Joss, but Ruiko shooed them towards their duties before guiding the foreign girl into her home.

One hour and two cups of tea later, Joss remained morose, considering and discarding various plans as she watched the sun descend behind the trees. She had to do something; she couldn't just sit in this village and wait for Suzaku to come down on a cloud. She was observant enough to deduce that the village barely supported its own inhabitants; an extra mouth to feed meant that someone had to go short, and that someone was most likely Ruiko-sama. Joss sighed deeply, inhaling the fragrance of the jasmine petals that floated on the surface of her tea.

Ruiko-sama looked up from her weaving in the far corner. She had been puttering around her house with various tasks, politely giving Joss some space in which to gather her thoughts. But at her visitor's disheartened exhalation, she left her work.

"Excuse me, Joss-san, but perhaps I could help you if only you would confide in me. I apologize for my presumption in asking for your trust after such short acquaintance, but..."

"No, no, you're not presumptuous at all, Ruiko-sama. I'm the one who's being rude by being so evasive and vague about my circumstances." Anxiety darkened Joss' brown eyes. "It's just that I'm afraid that if I told you the truth about where I come from, you might think that I'm insane."

Amusement lit up the miko's face. "You might be surprised at what I might believe. For example, I might believe that you came from another world."

Joss drew in a sharp breath. "How did you know?! Does this happen all the time around here--girls dropping out of the sky from another world?"

The miko's laugh was light and musical. "No, in fact it has never happened in my lifetime. But prophecy tells us that we can expect a girl to arrive from another world to assist us when Konan finds itself in mortal peril. I can tell you that the situation is deteriorating with our neighboring country of Kutou. They treat our new emperor with arrogance and disdain and make raids on our border towns, although they claim that such raids are due to bandits." Ruiko-sama sighed. "The emperor has sent out decrees to all areas of Konan, seeking out anyone who may know of a strange girl from another land, and he has offered a substantial reward to whomever can bring him the Girl of Prophecy. Thus the wild schemes and unfortunate capturing of every foreign woman by my three young friends: they hope to be the ones who find the Chosen One of Suzaku."

Joss' eyes widened for a moment, but then she shook her head. "I may come from another world, but I don't think that I'm the Girl of Prophecy. For one thing, Suzaku didn't exactly choose me; I sorta demanded that he bring me here...for a reason other than saving Konan. And another thing," Joss coughed self-consciously, "I'm not exactly a girl. I mean, I'm female, all right, but...I'm a little older than what is usually called a girl, at least in these parts."

Ruiko nodded wisely. "Ah, yes, I had noticed that you were well beyond marriageable age, far older than what we expected."

Joss choked on her tea. "Well, I'm not exactly ready to be put out of my misery, either!"

"I apologize yet again, Joss-san; I did not mean to insult you. All that I know is that the old scrolls placed the previous Girls of Legend near age fifteen--the normal age for a girl to be promised in marriage."

"Fifteen?! In my world, you'd be arrested for trying to...marry a fifteen-year-old, whether boy or girl! In fact, I've just reached the age where people consider me old enough to make a life decision like marriage."

"Different worlds," breathed Ruiko-sama, her eyes wide with wonder. "And these 'older' women from your world--some of them survive childbirth?"

"Some?! Most women survive--!" Joss stopped suddenly, realizing the reason behind the youthful brides. 'Stronger immune systems,' she thought to herself. 'Better able to fight infection, which is probably a universal problem during childbirth. Not to mention being on the upward slope of fertility, enabling them to give birth to greater numbers of children, increasing the chances that at least one or two of the children will survive into adulthood." Joss sighed. It was so easy to be judgmental about child-brides when one stood safely behind the shields of antiseptics, antibiotics, and vaccinations. The harsher realities of less advanced societies forced them to make compromises to ensure their survival. Yet it was difficult not to cringe at the price that had to be paid by the young and vulnerable.

"Why must it always be the children who suffer?" whispered Joss...then blinked. Where had she just heard those words? Oh, yes--the Doctor, in his conversation with Suzaku. That memory drew her thoughts from their somber path back to her own--and Ruiko-sama's--predicament. What was her next course of action? She looked up into the kind, wise eyes of the village miko and decided to put her independent nature to the side for once and ask for help.

"Ruiko-sama, you have been more than kind to me, but I'm afraid that I need to ask even more from you. I'll be honest; I'm afraid that perhaps I've arrived in your world uninvited in a way, and the only people that can help me are the two men I had described to you. However," Joss gave an embarrassed cough, "they're not really my friends. I mean, I think of them as friends, but they don't even know I exist. And so--so I'm pretty much lost and alone in a strange land, and I'm not sure what I should do next!"

The miko sat down beside Joss and clasped the girl's hand between both of her own. "You are not alone, Joss-san; I will always be your friend." Joss smiled back at her gratefully. Ruiko assumed a mock-severe expression. "Not to mention those three young scamps who owe you much more than just friendship! But we understand that you cannot remain here indefinitely. There is only one person that I can think of who can help you--and that is the Emperor."

Joss shuddered. She remembered the autocratic ways of historic royalty as depicted in books and on television--most vividly, the way that the least offense would result in one's head rolling across the floor. She had no idea as to how to address the Emperor or even how deep to bow in his presence; with her ignorance of local courtesies, it would be like placing her neck in the noose to go before such a powerful person. She cleared her throat.

"Errrrrr, Ruiko-sama, I'm not sure that's such a good idea. I mean, what if I offend the Emperor? I could end up dead before I get more than three sentences out of my mouth. Is there somebody, maybe a little less high-ranking, that I could go to for help?"

Ruiko smiled. "I've heard that the new Emperor is very kind and tolerant. And the one thing that I'm certain of is that he is very likely to be eager to speak with you; even if you are not the Girl of Prophecy, you do come from another world, and that aspect alone makes you very valuable as a source of information. I also find your manners to be very pleasant...although I might recommend that you refrain from using colorful expressions of dismay in his presence and making threats against his patron god." The miko's eyes danced in amusement.

"Well," Joss sighed. "I can't come up with a better plan, so I guess I'll just have to hope for the best with the Emperor. I think I'll leave first thing in the morning. Did you say that the first branch off the mountain road leads to the Imperial City?"

"Oh, Joss-san, I will not abandon you to make your way through this country all alone. I will accompany you--and I have a very strong suspicion that we may find ourselves with three young escorts, as well. After all, they will need to collect their reward, won't they?"

Joss and Ruiko both burst out laughing. After a few moments, Joss began to look embarrassed and uncomfortable. "Errrrrr, Ruiko-sama, I need to ask you about..." she whispered in the miko's ear.

"Oh, of course! I should have let you know earlier. Here," the miko handed something to the younger woman and pointed her out the door.

One minute later, a shadowed figure marched out into the twilit woods, clutching something that looked like a small shovel and a bundle of papers. She grumbled to herself as she stomped out into the darkness. "Note to myself - the next time I decide to get myself transported to an alternate universe, make sure that the most primitive form of plumbing they have is the flush toilet! God, I hate camping!"

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That same night, in a sheltered copse of trees just off the rarely traveled southbound branch of the mountain road that led high into the mountains, a pair of travelers paused in their journey. Their campfire crackled and leaped merrily in its small circle of stones, sending tiny glowing sparks shooting heavenward, disappearing into the velvet blackness of the night. The two men sat contemplating the fire--well, one man sat gazing meditatively into the flames. The other would sit, stare into the flames a bit, then leap up and add some twigs, sit and ponder the resulting sparks for a few seconds more, then leap up and run into their tent, return bearing books or apples, sit for another half-minute, then leap up, and...

"Doctor!"

"Yes, Houjun?"

"Must you...? Can't you...?!" A controlled breath, then a gentle, patient tone. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Why, no, thank you very much all the same. Why do you ask?"

"You seem a little unsettled this evening."

"Do I? I hadn't noticed. Are you certain?"

"Yes!" In a quieter tone. "Yes; is something troubling you?"

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Perhaps I just have a mild case of ants-in-the-pants."

A mahogany eye turned to his in shock, wide with a combination of sympathy and horror. "You should have said something earlier, Doctor! There's a spell that I could try!"

The musical laugh rang out, cutting off Houjun's offer of help. "Oh, no, I didn't mean that literally, Houjun! It's just an expression I picked up on Ear...during my travels. It means that I'm restless for no particular reason." The azure eyes danced in amusement. "And as much confidence as I have in your abilities, my dear boy, I would just as soon avoid having any spells directed at my...pants."

Houjun couldn't help joining in with the Doctor's infectious laughter. He marveled once again at the feeling of lightness that filled him in this man's presence. But just as the warm glow of lamplight emphasizes the shadows outside the door, Houjun's current happiness could not erase the darkness that lurked at the edges of his soul.

The young magician turned his gaze back to the fire, frowning as he felt carefully around his ki. There it was again: a strange sensation of darkness; no, almost a lack of sensation, like a limb that had fallen asleep. He had first begun to notice it the second time he utilized the soul-killing magic, but it had become even more marked now, especially since this last exorcism. Houjun shuddered; he had tried to keep thoughts of that dark and tragic event out of his mind as they rode into the mountains, but it was inevitable that the exorcism would return to haunt him as soon as he had time to think. Even the Doctor's compassion and forgiveness could not erase the hold that the tragedy had on his thoughts...and his soul.

Houjun propped his chin in his hand and sighed. Beyond his grief for Toumo and Midori-sama, beyond his growing rage at Kurayami and Magus, he was ashamed to admit that there was also a frisson of fear for himself. This darkness in his ki--what did it mean for his future? Would it ever go away? Or would it swallow him bit by bit until there was nothing left of him? He pondered his unknown fate darkly...then realized that there was now someone with whom he could share his burdens. That someone sat quietly beside him for once, staring into the flames, waiting patiently.

"Doctor."

"Hmmmm?"

"Do you remember what you said a few days ago about fighting with monsters? Do you think that could happen to me--becoming a...monster?"

A deep sigh from the traveler.

"Doctor?!"

"No, don't panic. I'm not about to say 'Yes!' You must remember the entire quote: 'He who fights with monsters might take care lest he become a monster,' the operative term being, 'might take care.' It just implies that there is a risk; it is not a certainty."

"But what about me? Am I at greater risk?"

The dancing flames sent ripples of light and shadow to play across the traveler's face. Houjun strained to make out his expression behind the mask of flickering light and dark. The Doctor's eyes suddenly turned to Houjun, their emerald depths glowing in his shadowed face. The musical tones of his voice held a strange resonance.

"Any one of us can become a monster. Some of the worst monsters in history have been, to all outward appearances, innocuous, unassuming men. But it is true that those of us who wrestle with the darkness seem to have the greatest potential to become one with it. This may be due to some power within us that calls out to the power of evil to join with it...or it may just be the fact that close proximity to the darkness presents increased opportunities for evil to cross over into us. The second part of that quote about monsters goes on to say: 'And if you gaze for long into an abyss...the abyss gazes also into you.'"

The resonant voice paused for a moment, then continued, picking its words with care. "The abilities you possess that allow you to join with the darkness and turn its power to your hand--yes, those do place you at greater risk, Houjun. But your willingness to enter into battle on the side of Good is also one of your best defenses against Evil. You have a fierce heart and a strong soul...and once again, these attributes help you to stave off Evil, at the same time that they draw Evil to you. The abyss gazes into you each time that you gaze into it, and so gains knowledge of you; knowledge that translates into power over you. How often you can enter Evil's battleground and still retain yourself--no one knows, not even me." A soft sigh. "And I can't tell you how often I wish I did know."

Houjun's voice was controlled and steady. "So what am I to do, Doctor? Avoid fighting Evil for my own sake, allowing people like Kurayami to wreak their destruction unopposed? Or go into battle time and time again until I am lost; perhaps even joining with the Evil, thus strengthening it even more? How do I fight the abyss without gazing into it?!" In spite of his best efforts, frustration still reverberated in his tones.

The Doctor placed his hand on Houjun's. "There is another way," he replied softly. "In spite of our best intentions, there will always be times when we are forced to descend into the abyss--but we needn't do that every time. We can fight Evil another way."

"How?"

"We can build a bridge over the abyss. We can create a path that leads others and ourselves out of the reach of the pit. It takes tremendous effort, but in the end, it may well be the most effective way to defeat the darkness."

Houjun frowned as he tried to grasp the concept. "Could you be more specific, Doctor? I'm sorry, but I need you to explain it to me a little more clearly."

The Doctor's eyes twinkled as they lost their mystical glow and shaded back to their customary blue. "I believe that it's better to show someone what you mean instead of telling him. So you will have to wait, Houjun, until the end of our journey--and then I shall expect you to explain it to me."

He laughed as Houjun tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn. "Off to bed with you, young man!" he commanded, waving a hand towards the tent. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

Houjun rose and turned towards the tent, then paused. "Aren't you coming, Doctor?" He flushed briefly. "I mean, I could take first watch if you would like to get some rest."

"Oh, I'm not standing watch, Houjun. It's really not necessary at this point in our journey. I merely do not require much sleep." He sighed at the skeptical look in Houjun's eye. "Oh, very well; what if I promise to get some sleep as soon as I feel the need for it? Will that suffice, Mother Hen?"

The young magician cocked an eyebrow at his friend, then nodded. "See that you do," he ordered, then turned and entered the tent.

The Doctor tilted his head in bemusement. "Since when did he become the one in charge?" he asked himself, then grinned. Turning back to the fire, he became somber once more. "The abyss..." he whispered, and shivered. He spent a few minutes in dark introspection, then gave himself a quick internal shake. Turning around, he picked up his book and bit into his apple, settling into a comfortable position for the night.

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The next afternoon, as the sun began its long descent into the west, two mounted figures paused at the crest of the largest foothill. They gazed off into the distance at the snow-covered peak that rose above the surrounding mist-covered mountains. One of the veiled men pulled his horse so that it danced closer to his companion's mount.

"So that's it then--Mount Taikyoku?"

"Yes." His companion continued to stare at the peak in calm absorption, seeming to placidly enjoy the view.

"It looks to be at least two days ride before we reach the base; then Suzaku only knows how long it will take to ascend to the summit. Do you think we have enough rations and supplies, or should we stop at the next village?"

Blue eyes creased briefly in amusement. "More than enough--since we'll be there and back by tonight."

"Tonight?!" Houjun could not keep the disbelief out of his voice. He firmly repressed his incredulous questions, trying to school himself in self-discipline and calm acceptance of his master's words, as he had been taught in the school of the warrior-magicians.

"Oh, that's a load of rubbish!" barked the Doctor, making the magician jump. "How are you ever going to learn anything if you don't ask questions? All that twaddle about Zen-like acceptance of someone's unproven assertions is just a sort of petty tyranny of the mind. I can see that we're going to have to do some spring cleaning to rid you of some of the absolute claptrap they poured into your head at that place!"

Houjun cocked his visible eyebrow at his friend. "Doctor?"

"Yes, my boy?"

"You've been reading my mind again."

The Doctor flushed beneath his face veil. "Assuredly not! I promise you that I have this translational interface completely under my control. I would never dream of doing something so rude!"

"Doctor..."

"No, I distinctly heard you speak aloud! I'm certain of it!"

"You heard me speak aloud regarding my intention not to speak my questions aloud."

"Ah...er...well, when you put it that way..." An appealing azure glance was sent his way. "You're quite certain that you didn't verbalize those thoughts?"

A brief nod.

A deep sigh. "Well, it seems I owe you an apology yet again. I never meant to..."

"Doctor."

"Yes?"

The mahogany eye creased in amusement. "I don't mind. I just wanted to tease you a bit."

A merry laugh rang out over the foothills. "I thought as much! I suspected that there was a sense of humor lurking somewhere under that sober, introspective demeanor!"

"Well, since you encourage me to ask questions, here are a few that have passed through my mind. First of all, how are we going to get to Mount Taikyoku and back by nightfall? Next, why exactly are we going there? Does this have anything to do with us building that bridge you spoke of? Last--how do you keep making things appear out of thin air? First that fishing net, then all these strange camping supplies, not to mention that "chello" thing--and where do they come from? I've never seen materials like this before!"

The Doctor dropped his reins onto his horse's neck and held up both hands in self-defense, laughing. "Enough already, my boy! It seems to be either feast or famine with you. So to answer your questions, by magic, you'll see, yes, and all will become clear in the end! If I sound somewhat cryptic, it's because the first of your questions is about to be answered. Here is our transport to Mount Taikyoku now."

Houjun looked up to see a dark shape spinning towards them out of the sky. He jerked his reins in surprise, and his horse snorted and danced out of the way of the strange object. To his complete amazement, a large and ornate carpet settled gently on the ground before them. The Doctor dismounted and tied his horse and the mountain pony to a nearby tree, then scattered some hay wisps before them. Houjun numbly followed suit, sneaking peeks at the carpet as if expecting it to jump up and attack them. The Doctor then strolled over and sat down on the carpet, crossing his legs. The young magician followed him hesitantly.

"Don't be afraid, Houjun; it's perfectly safe. At least I think it is..." The traveler grinned. "It's also terribly cliched, but then again, why tamper with success? A flying carpet should meet our needs perfectly!"

The carpet rose gently into the air, then moved forward at high speed. Surprisingly, it mystically avoided generating the strong wind and icy cold that should have been produced by the speed of their passage; it was as if they were contained in a protective bubble. Nevertheless, Houjun could not help clutching nervously at the carpet fibers as he gazed down at the long drop beneath them. A cheerful voice reached his ears. "The trick is: don't look down. That's how I deal with my fear of heights!"

Houjun looked up as they rapidly approached the snowy, windswept peak of Mount Taikyoku. He pulled his nomadic robes tightly around himself, bracing for the expected blast of icy wind, but to his shock, the landscape suddenly shifted to that of a verdant mountaintop lushly decorated with the blooms of high spring. Set high on the peak was a large complex of buildings comprised of an ornate, sprawling palace and several smaller buildings surrounding a large open courtyard. The carpet drifted around mystical floating spheres to land gently in the exquisite gardens of the courtyard. Houjun followed the Doctor on unsteady legs, swiveling around to stare at the intricately carved temples that bordered the courtyard of the enormous palace. His gaze kept drifting back to the floating spheres that were glowing in the light of the setting sun. He felt a strange sense of disconnection, as if he were walking in a dream.

The Doctor pattered ahead happily, gazing at a piece of paper that appeared to be some kind of map. He whistled a lively tune as he negotiated the courtyard and strode into the dim passages of the palace. Houjun couldn't help but feel that there was something slightly disrespectful about the Doctor's whistling. The hushed and solemn atmosphere seemed to demand an equally hushed and respectful attitude from its visitors, but the Doctor sent the cheerful notes out into the air like a challenge.

At last, they stood before two enormous doors richly decorated with elaborate carvings of the Four Gods. The Doctor paused only a moment before pushing confidently through the doors. The travelers looked around at the spacious, vaulted interior of the temple, decorated with skillfully rendered statues of the Four Gods. The soft golden light from intricately pierced oil lamps reflected off the gold of Suzaku's phoenix wings, the ebony of Genbu's tortoise shell, the white jade and black obsidian of Byakko's tiger stripes, and the sapphire dragon eyes of Seiryuu. A quietly murmuring serenity fountain sent its waters trickling smoothly down a marble slope to form a moat around a large raised dais.

Houjun's head suddenly snapped up as he sensed a presence in the temple with them. He raised his ash staff into a defensive position as he heard a low, rumbling growl issuing from the shadows behind the dais.

The Doctor placed a hand on the staff, restraining him, then began to make odd kissing noises in the direction of the growl. "Here, Puss, Puss," he called softly.

A huge shape stalked around the dais, its silver-blue fur rippling over a heavily muscled body that stood nearly two meters at the shoulder. Houjun froze in shock at the sight of the enormous panther, but the Doctor only increased his kissing noises. "Here, kitty, kitty," he called. "Who's a pretty kitty, then, right? Whooooooooo's a pretty, pretty kitty?"

The young magician glanced askance at his mentor, who appeared to have lost his mind. "Er, Doctor..." he hissed, trying to bring the man back to his senses. The panther stalked closer, its silver eyes flashing feline contempt at the Doctor's friendly overtures.

"Oh, you're such a sweet puss!" exclaimed the Doctor, completely ignoring the raised hackles and hostile stare of the animal. Houjun struggled to pull his staff from the Doctor's grip. Although the Doctor had only a few fingers lightly touching the staff, his companion was surprised to find that he was unable to budge it. The Doctor made some more kissing noises at the panther, who suddenly hissed in fury at the interlopers.

"Oh, you don't like being treated like a cat, eh?" The Doctor's voice was suddenly clear and mocking. "Well, I don't like being treated like a mouse. So why don't we stop playing games and start communicating like two sentient beings?"

The panther's eyes flashed silver as it opened its mouth, baring its fangs. There was a flash of light--then a young woman stood before them, her blue hair twisted up into an elaborate hairdo. She wore silken robes over diaphanous underdresses, giving her a rich and mystical appearance. Houjun closed his jaw when he realized that he was gaping stupidly at the girl. Once again, he was grateful for the concealing face veil.

"You are in the Temple of Taiitsukun, the Oracle of the Four Gods." Her voice was clear and cultured. "You will state your purpose in coming here."

"Manners," clucked the Doctor disapprovingly. "You should be expecting us, but perhaps there has been a breakdown in communications. Well, I'll go ahead with the introductions, then. I'm the Doctor and this is my friend Ri-san. We are here to consult with Taiitsukun by special request." The Doctor drew close to the girl and opened his hand. She stared at the object in his palm, then looked up into his suddenly sharp gaze.

"Very well," she acceded graciously. "I will inform Taiitsukun of your arrival. Please make yourselves comfortable. If you need anything, you may call for me; my name is Nyan." She turned and walked out of the shrine, her steps still imbued with feline grace.

As soon as she left the shrine, the Doctor let out a long breath and turned an amused gaze at his companion. "Well, I don't know about you, but for a moment there, I thought we were done for!" he remarked cheerfully.

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Deep within the palace, an imposing, graceful male figure clad in an elaborate robe and headdress waved his hand and converted himself into his usual guise--that of an intimidatingly ugly old woman with fierce, beady eyes and hanging jowls. She/he floated in a cross-legged position as she/he peered into a mystical mirror, the reflection showing not her unprepossessing features but rather the scene within her own temple, two figures waiting within. The Oracle of the Four Gods glared at a veiled and turbaned figure as he moved energetically around her temple, opening and peering curiously inside cabinets and decorative jars, occasionally uttering exclamations of interest and pleasure. His companion was more enigmatic, standing quietly to one side but keeping his attention sharply focused on the moving figure. The moving figure turned and knocked an elaborate vase off its stand, catching it skillfully with a cry of "Whoops!" Taiitsukun sighed in aggravation as she arranged her ribbons around her person. She had hoped to instill some apprehensive dread in her visitors by subjecting them to a long wait, but it was obvious that she needed to make an appearance before they destroyed all the artifacts in her temple.

"Ahem!" The Oracle appeared suddenly in her shrine, floating ominously above her dais and fixing the hyperactive one with her best gimlet-eyed glare, complete with quivering jowls. The quieter one flinched back, although he did not utter a sound--but to her considerable disappointment, the energetic one failed to react to her formidable appearance with the expected cries of dismay and fear. Instead, he unhooked his face veil, as if to get a better look at her, and fixed her with a delighted, cheeky grin.

"Ah, there you are!" His voice was musical and strangely accented, his features handsome and strong. "I had almost given up hope of seeing you today! It is ever so kind of you to tear yourself away from your multitude of duties to grant us the pleasure of your company!"

Taiitsukun narrowed her eyes at the stranger, suspecting mockery beneath his effusiveness, but he fixed her with a limpid, innocent gaze, unblinking in the face of her piercing stare. Abandoning her attempt to intimidate him, she decided to proceed with their encounter.

"You have requested an audience with me, and so I have appeared. You may state the purpose of your visit without delay!"

The Doctor winced at her harsh tones. "My, manners certainly seem to be in short supply on top of mystical mountains. Yet it provides no excuse for me to forget my own manners. I am the Doctor, and this is my friend Ri-san. I have been recommended to seek you out by a...mutual friend."

He drew closer to Taiitsukun, showing her the object in his hand. She stared down at the crimson phoenix feather. It was as she had been forewarned by Suzaku: the Doctor had arrived, and the feather served as proof of his identity. Taiitsukun sighed, knowing that she now had to treat him with a modicum of civility.

"Very well, Doctor, what is it that I can do for you--you and your friend?" She sent a keen glance towards the enigmatic figure in the shadows, but he remained securely hidden behind a shield of impressive magnitude and density. Whenever she tried to get a glimpse of his ki, it was as if she were blocked by swirling, shifting shadows. Taiitsukun frowned, distrustful of his secretive persona.

The Doctor's ki, on the other hand, seemed to be dancing in a rainbow of shimmering light. However, as she looked closer, she realized that she was seeing images reflecting at her from all directions as if she were gazing at a wall of mirrors. The Oracle clenched her jaw. The Doctor, for all his apparent openness, was as securely hidden as his companion. He was a trickster who could make one believe in the visions he presented before one's eyes. Taiitsukun mentally cursed Suzaku for bringing strangers into their carefully ordered universe. The phoenix-god was one of the younger seikun and still exhibited impulsive behaviors from time to time, often breaking rules that they had painstakingly crafted over the millennia to protect their fragile world.

The Doctor interrupted her dark musings. "I need to borrow a device from you; a device recommended by our mutual friend. Its purpose is to display the location of certain...celestial symbols."

Taiitsukun scowled furiously. "This is completely unprecedented! That mirror is only for the use of the Girl of Legend! It is her destined duty to assemble the, er, celestial symbols, and none may interfere, not even an itinerant wanderer, no matter how impressive his connections. I know for a fact that it is far too early to seek out the ones you want; most of them are not even of age! Who knows what damage you may do to the timelines if you bring them together before their predestined time?"

"I never said that I was going to bring them together. It is not my intention to take over the role of the Girl of Legend," blue eyes creased in amusement. "I have, let's say, a physician's interest in these celestial symbols. And if you would like to recheck my credentials, I have them right here." He subtly waved the phoenix feather in her direction, keeping the object hidden from his quiet companion. Taiitsukun narrowed her eyes as she realized that the Doctor wanted to keep much of this mission hidden from the other man.

"Nyan!" she called out harshly. Seconds later, a cherubic blue-haired girl popped into view, swooping merrily over their heads. Her demeanor was very different from the cautious, challenging personality she had presented a few minutes ago. "Fetch the celestial mirror--the smaller one."

Nyan's eyes flashed silver briefly in surprise and doubt. But Taiitsukun directed a quelling glare in her direction, so the girl flew off shrieking happily. "Yes, yes! Nyan-nyan seeks, Nyan-nyan fetches! Nyan-nyan wants to make Taiitsukun's scary face happy!"

The Oracle sighed in aggravation, and the Doctor tucked the feather away in a fold of his robes. Moments later, Nyan-nyan popped back into view clutching a compact-like mirror. Taiitsukun handed it to the Doctor, who peered at its surface. A crimson symbol began to form mistily beneath the reflective glass, finally taking shape on the surface.

"Star," breathed the Doctor. "And city--the Imperial City, I presume?"

Taiitsukun nodded curtly. "So it would seem. Your journey commences there, Doctor. I wish you luck in your endeavor."

"Wait, please. I have one more request." He waved his quiet companion to their side and signaled him to remove his turban and veil. "My young friend has rather distinctive features, and it is essential that we travel incognito on our quest. I was hoping that you might provide us with a way to conceal his true features."

Taiitsukun gazed at the young man's scarred face in shock. It was not the scar that shocked her; his apprehension had caused his shield to waver for a moment, and she caught a brief glimpse of... The youth seemed to stand in a halo of crimson light, feathered wings sweeping upward from his shoulders, and-- The Oracle gasped.

"It can't be!" she hissed. "It's not possible; not for the past few centuries!"

Houjun cast his eye down in humiliation, mistaking her reaction for dismay at his disfigurement.

The Doctor frowned at Taiitsukun and signaled her to move away from the youth. "That's enough," he rebuked quietly. "He has burdens enough; he doesn't need to add any more to his load."

Taiitsukun shook her head. "No, you don't understand. This changes everything! You must leave him here with me; I will train him in what he needs to know!"

"No." The refusal was flat. "He will be yours soon enough, but for now, he's coming with me. What he needs right now, you cannot provide. He will come back to you when it's time."

"Time!" Her tones were harsh and angry. "What do you know of time?!"

The Doctor's gaze grew distant. "Oh, I know a bit about it..." His eyes turned to meet hers, and she was surprised to see that they now shimmered with an emerald light. Taiitsukun gasped for the second time, as the ki of the Doctor suddenly revealed itself from behind his shield of light.

He was far older than she had expected; far older than anyone she had ever met before, outside of herself and her fellow seikun. He was perhaps half her age and yet--yet there was a sense of eternity about him, as if he had been present at events that had occurred millennia before her own birth. Taiitsukun suddenly shivered. The feeling of time became oppressive, as if the centuries were accumulating around her, weighing her down in the passage of years. She looked up into the stranger's green-blue eyes and suddenly saw a vision of him striding towards her, parting the ocean of years, moving lightly through the currents of time--and then she understood. "You're a time-traveler," she whispered in awe, her eyes narrowing as she made out yet something more about him; something murky, hidden, barely visible to her inner eye. Taiitsukun sucked in her breath. "And something more--you can also alter..."

"Yes, yes, enough about me," interrupted the Doctor, his eyes shading back to an innocent blue. "Let's talk about you." His tones were smooth and pleasant, but she sensed that he was fiercely warning her away from this aspect of his person. She decided to comply, suddenly unsure of exactly how much power was hidden within his outwardly innocuous form. Taiitsukun frowned as she once more considered the rashness of Suzaku in bringing the Doctor here. However, there was no blaming Suzaku for the initial problem that precipitated the seikun's plan.

"What do you think you can do for my young friend? Perhaps a mystical mask?"

Taiitsukun blinked, having forgotten about the other part of the Doctor's request in the shock of recent revelations. She cleared her throat. "Of course, Doctor. Nyan-nyan!"

The cherubic girl appeared from right behind her, popping loudly into view, causing Taiitsukun to flinch and mutter angrily. "You heard the Doctor. Fetch a mask immediately!" Nyan-nyan flew off, giggling happily, only to return moments later. Taiitsukun signaled the younger man to approach her. He now stood securely behind his ki shield again, but he couldn't help flinching away from her keen, assessing gaze.

Taiitsukun handed him a blank, flesh-colored mask of a mystical, shifting material. "Put it on," she ordered.

Houjun lifted the mask to his face hesitantly, wary of the fact that it appeared to have no eyeholes or nostril vents as yet--but felt the mystical material attach to his own skin, melting into it. He realized that he could see and breathe perfectly. The Doctor had a look of surprise written across his features. Nyan-nyan flew up and presented the young magician with a mirror.

Houjun stared at the man in the mirror. It was him--his face, his features as they looked before the flood, but older now, showing his new maturity. Silvery-blue bangs hung low across his face, brushing past mahogany eyes that turned and focused in perfect accord, as if both eyes were real. The firm, delicate nose looked as it had in the past, the bridge lacking the scar that slashed across it. His mouth trembled in emotion, and his eyes, both mystical and real, filled with tears.

The Doctor reached him in a few quick strides, gripping his shoulders in a reassuring squeeze before handing over his discarded turban and veil. Houjun fumbled with them gratefully, glad to hide the tears that ran silently down his face. His mentor turned and addressed the Oracle in his stead.

"Thank you," he murmured in gratitude. "We are in your debt."

Taiitsukun nodded in acknowledgement, faintly surprised at the honest expression of emotion from the two previously enigmatic figures. However, she could not resist trying to pry beneath the surface of the Doctor's astounding self-possession one last time.

"So, Doctor...you are unique in being unperturbed by my appearance. Perhaps someone warned you of what to expect?"

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no," the Doctor hastened to assure her. "When you've traveled as much as I have, you learn to look at outward appearances with a certain amount of perspective. After all, standards of beauty vary widely from place to place. For example, your current guise would make you all the rage among the flying toad-hydras of Arcturus IV. In fact, you would be beating suitors off with a stick." He paused, stroking his lip, deep in thought. "Of course, that being an essential component of their mating ritual, I'm not certain if you would care for the response..."

"Out, you insolent young dog!" the Oracle shouted, having finally lost all patience with the man.

The Doctor sketched a deep and elaborate bow in the manner of a seventeenth-century courtier, then seized his companion's arm and made a rapid exit from the shrine.

Once outside the shrine, he leaned back against the elaborately carved doors and shook with muffled laughter. Houjun peered anxiously around the Doctor's shoulders to see if Taiitsukun would suddenly appear and shout at them for desecrating her shrine.

"Doctor..."

The Doctor regained control with some difficulty, gasping for breath, then refastening his veil. "Yes, my boy?" The azure eyes still danced with merriment.

"Do you think it's wise to provoke a being as powerful as the Oracle?"

The lilting tones were flippant. "Oh, she's a dear old thing with no real harm in her."

Houjun raised his eyebrows at hearing the Oracle of the Four Gods described as "a dear old thing."

"In any case," the Doctor continued, his voice still bubbling with amusement, "half the fun in life is living dangerously!"

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Glossary of Japanese Terms:

-sama: suffix denoting high respect, equivalent to "my lord" or "my lady"'

-san: suffix denoting respect, equivalent to Mr. or Ms.

Quotation source:

"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster,

And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

Friedrich Nietzsche, Jenseits von Gut und Bose

Obtained from the Kate Orman Seventh Doctor novel called "The Left-Handed Hummingbird." (copyright 1993, Virgin Publishing)

(11-28-04) Thanks for reading!