Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Dreams Alter Reality ❯ The Dreams Remain ( Chapter 2 )

The sparse but hearty reviews really inspired me to at least try to update within a week :P I'm pleased those who follow my stories read this and seemed to enjoy it.

As always, the biggest thanks to Miss Kittylynne for always inspiring me, and always having a kind word ^_^ May health always be hers, and her Bandit ever waiting on her hand and foot (lol)

 

This chapter is dedicated to Miss KittyLynne, FushigiYugifan, black panther, Nuni-chan, iluvmistsukake, and others. And to Ledefey cause I love her so much. And to Silvery Rin even if she doesn't read Fushigi Yuugi fanfiction.

Using Tetsuo for Tasuki's reincarnated name is mainly for my love of Otomo Katsuhiro's “Akira.” This milestone in manga and animation really inspired me to try others of the same medium from Japan.

 

“Dreams Alter Reality” chapter two

The Dreams Remain

 

The woman before him was Sadako. Soi. Sadako. It was Her, all Naisen needed to know. He lifted his head, and his hair, far longer, cascaded over his shoulders. Those wide slopes of flesh were more pronounced, muscled and honed to bear the weight of armor and weapon. His chest was thin, but finely toned, his arms lean, his hands powerful.

“Nakago…..” Sadako whispered, this older version of the schoolgirl he knew. She was taller, her breasts rounder, her curves more pronounced and her thighs pressed close as if to hide what he knew so intimately about her. When she stepped closer to him, her thighs parted and he glimpsed the short crop of hair hiding her feminine charms.

 

“Soi…why do you fear this?” Was that his voice? It was deeper, powerful and commanded power, yet asked for respect all at once. The woman he knew to be younger crawled to straddle his bare hips. Nothing stood between them but their flesh. His arousal rose against her soft belly and stiffened pleasantly against her close company. She bent to kiss him, her lips soft and open to his tongue. Her hair fell around them, tickling and heightening his lustful mood. When she leaned close to his shoulders, her breasts brushed his chest.

Naisen groaned with the memory. Was this memory? It felt so good….. His heart stirred in his broad chest, troubled with himself as it usually was. He masked his lips and eyes however. Often, he wouldn't even utter a groan of orgasm, masking his emotions so well that even in that intimate act he held himself back from Soi.

 

It would sadden Sadako if she couldn't have all of him this time. Naisen felt deep remorse even with her memory's lush curves pressing all over him and against him. She was the only woman he would allow in his tent, and she knew this, but there may be a reason she was the only one. He could not trust anyone to relax around, even a fellow Seiryuu seishi warrior and celestial comrade. Especially since she was defined as thus, he could not open his heart or his memories.

She could have the memories of his troubled young eyes as he saved her from the hands of a rapist. And the memories of holy battle at his side and gaining their celestial status with the Emperor and in each other's arms. But she could not have all of him in this memory…

 

Naisen shifted under the older Sadako and sighed as she aroused him with hands and mouth, her womanhood wet against his rigid arousal. When he opened his eyes to her, Sadako looked at him through the woman's eyes.

“I love you.”

 

Naisen woke up slowly, his body aching with the dream's physical pleasantness. His heart throbbed in his chest however, and he gripped his torso with widely splayed fingers. He knew his limitations and strengths in that last great life, and knowing helped him better this life. He had Soi again, and he would let her know all of him. Somehow he would resolve to make it all work. All of it. But his old doubts sometimes gnawed at his fervent desire to better his life. Old fears and old habits were hard to break from one life to another. Naisen scrubbed his palm against his eyes, willing the old migraine to heel.

His cell phone rang out lowly, portraying a ring tone to an anime that Hiroshi watched with him when they were younger. Naisen reached for it quickly lest his parents waken too early, and cradled it against his bare shoulder.

 

“Moshi moshi?”

“Naisen….did you?…” Sadako asked.

Naisen leaned back, the sheets pushed back off of his half naked form.

“Yes….I did.” Naisen cleared his throat and tried to push the conversation to more of the mundane. “Sadako….

“Dummy….” Sadako chided brightly. “I'll see you on the way to school.”

 

* * * *

 

Naisen rose and stretched lightly before dressing in his school's uniform. He combed his hair, and went to eat breakfast with his foster parents. His dad was a very thin man with a pencil mustache and glasses. It was a common occurrence six days a week to see him dressed in suit and tie, looking over business files. His wife was a mirror opposite, plump where he was thin, and dressed in casual clothes around the house.

It was a welcome sight either way. Naisen accepted a kiss from his mother, and a nod from his father, and sat down at the table.

 

“How is Boshin-san?” Naisen's foster mother asked. Naisen smiled, shoveling rice into his mouth.

“She is well. Mariko-chan is getting huge!”

 

Naisen's foster father glanced up over the tops of his glasses. “And your girlfriend?”

Naisen's reaction was instantaneous. He blushed, remembering soft curves, warm lower lips against his penis and sad eyes over him. The teen stammered and rubbed his neck softly with one fist as he tried to get out a coherent response

His father raised one pencil-thin eyebrow and smiled wryly. “Just take it carefully, son. I know how it was to be that age.”

 

“Should we talk about…. you know?” Naisens mother suggested. Naisen coughed and sipped his juice, pretending he didn't know he was about to get `the talk' for the second time in two years.

“I know, Mom! I won't dishonor Sadako-chan,” Naisen offered. His thin shoulders tightened as his parents exchanged glances. His mother beamed and ruffled his hair affectionately.

“And the words you use, why you're a man grown already. Have a good day at school, Naisen dear,” she said, handing him a wrapped bento box. Naisen accepted it with a shy grin. His father nodded his head to him as per usual, granting him the usual amount of respect.

 

Naisen reflected that that brief nod of the head was far more knowledgeable of his limitations and strengths than the old Emperor's had been. Naisen blinked the cobwebs from his eyes and made his way to the entryway. He had to separate his mind from what was now and what was past. Sometimes the memories swarmed so thick that he almost called his friends their old names, and he almost wanted to flare out at Mrs. Sukunami.

 

Hiroshi was a mental slap in the face for keeping his lives separate. Whenever the old feelings of caustic aloofness rose in him, his friend's sharp eyes and questions kept him rooted down. His familiar looks to Suzaku Celestial Star Tamahome sometimes made his heart burn with an unfathomable cold rage. But Naisen had to make due with his memories of his friend that he had known before he had been reawakened to the other life. Hiroshi was his friend, not his enemy.

Naisen greeted him with a smile as usual. Hiroshi's eyes looked as gaunt as they had been ever since his father died last year. His own troubles with his memories were not top priority when his friend and his mother were grieving. So when Hiroshi mumbled a greeting, Naisen gripped his shoulder hard and his friend paused, his eyes seeing something off in the distant. But he shook with emotion as Naisen lent him his unspoken support.

 

Feeling better, Naisen greeted Sadako with a one-armed hug. Sadako squeezed him and moved to take Hiroshi's arm. By and by she tried to take his mind off of the loss of his father with kind words and gentle touches. Naisen knew Sadako was far more loyal to him than he had ever been to her in the past, and needn't fear any ulterior motive to their blue-haired friend.

Hiroshi may not have shared the holy war in the past, but he was here now and he deserved loyal friendship as much as all of the troubled Seiryu warriors did. Naisen laughed in response to a half-hearted joke Hiroshi made, his eyes glazing in thought as he studied the head of his friend.

Being the son of a priestess of a God, and a reincarnated celestial star bathed Sukunami Hiroshi with a hazy golden light, if one squinted just right. Naisen didn't know if Hiroshi would inherit any special abilities like he and his friends had, but he had a special life ahead of him.

 

When they reached school, and Toya ambled forward with his morning's greeting, Naisen turned to regard his girlfriend with his slow careful gaze. Sadako's eyes were as sad as they had been in that memory-dream. His mouth straightened to a thin line as he tried to think of what to say to take the sting from that shared memory-dream.

 

Sadako merely hopped up and kissed his cheek and darted off to her classroom. Naisen sighed, and followed Hiroshi and Toya.

 

* * * *

 

Miaka slept at a secretary's desk, her head cushioned on her arms. She seemed to be so tired lately, even at work. Eri, Yui, and even Sumiyoshi took it easy on her, as grief couldn't be assuaged within the confines of a matter of days, let alone a year. She had lost her cherished soul mate and that would not be healed with the blinking of one year passing.

She could not understand why that disease took Taka from her. She could only grieve, and pray to Suzaku. Often Hiroshi found her clutching a framed picture of a younger version of herself with seven men. As strange as things were now, Miaka knew her son couldn't handle THAT.

 

Now as a steady line of drool puddle under her cheek and against her arm, Miaka fell into an easy dream-filled sleep. Eri was covering all of the office's calls, and much of her workload, so it was a relief to fall into easy rest. Even if it was just for a moment.

 

Miaka walked down a rocky barren bath in a desert land. The sun beat hard overhead and perspiration made her blouse cling to her arms and stomach in patches of sweat. This was the border-lining desert near the land of Konan and Miaka remembered the landscape from her first entry to the book world, Yui in tow. She looked around suddenly at the assessment, half expecting to see the pair of bandits who had captured her friend. Their involvement had enticed a passing Tamahome to intervene and save the day, so to speak.

Tamahome…..Taka…. Miaka's heart seized and she swept her gaze to the scraggly trees, the stones and dirt, her emotion in her eyes. This had to be part a memory, for he was not coming to see her. He had passed again, and possibly into the stream to be reborn. She could not count herself fortunate again to see her lover reborn again in this lifetime.

She had traveled a world, befriended celestial warriors, saved others, held the seed and power of a God and saved Tokyo. Tamahome had transcended his role, been reborn in her world, and defeated a Usurper at her side with their friends. They had made a son, and been granted peace and marriage. So many things for one woman to accomplish and proceed through, but she had done it to the best of her ability.

 

But Taka was gone. And she was alone now in the wake of his passing, too weary to hope for his arrival. She would be an old woman and he would be so young. And that was if he was reborn in this lifetime….

“Why did you take him, Suzaku??” Miaka sank to her knees and covered her face with her palms. The dust of the desert pricked her lashes through her fingers and caressed her tears. Miaka was truly on her way to unleashing another flood of tears when a harsh laugh sounded against the bleak sky and desert sand.

 

“Hey, lady! What ya doin' just sittin' there? Ya'll get sunstroke!” The voice was young, masculine and just a touch irate. Miaka raised wet eyes to look up. The young man was very tall, and slim with a touch of hard muscle covering his lithe frame. Unruly red hair with the ends dyed black swept past his shirt collar, a loud t-shirt with a catch phrase writ large with bold red letters. `Reggae Rock n roll style' were the English words on the shirt and Miaka found a moment of absurd hilarity.

If anything, they stopped her tears!

 

“I…I was lost for a moment…..” Miaka made to rise and grimaced as her ankle tucked under her at the wrong angle. The firey-haired youth smirked and extended a large hand down. Miaka had to squint up into the sun as she looked up his body to his face. The sun behind him colored his red head a blaze of gold.

Miaka felt a moment's peace as she laid her hand in his and was pulled to her feet. At the feel of his large warm fingers covering hers, she felt something familiar. The youth grinned rakishly at her. He seemed a confidant man very assured in his interactions with the world, even older attractive women. Or so she was made to think as his eyes gleamed hopefully at her.

“Well, you don't hafta fear, Tetsuo's here! I'm sure we'll find water somewhere. But we don't need the cheese. It won't sustain you,” he said and Miaka knew that although his words were strange, of course they made perfect sense in this dream world.

 

“Okay! Wherever you would have me, we'll be safe.” Were had those words come from? This dream was a strange one at any rate. She could almost expect to see dragons of the west flapping their wings overhead as the youth lead her through the dirt and rocks and sand. Passing one boulder covered with slices of cheese helped the ethereal reality present itself.

 

“You are always safe. With me. I will keep you safe,” the youth named Tetsuo promised. He stood tall and Miaka saw him grip an iron fan tightly with one fist suddenly. Although he wore only the funny t-shirt, jeans and sneakers, the dusty wind blew the edges of a black coat around his form, soft as a whisper and delicate as a bubble. Just as tender as a soap bubble, the coat of dust vanished into the sky.

 

Miaka stared up into Tetsuo's earnest and tender eyes, awed at the vow of protection laced through his words and in his being. And as she tried to remember who this was, her lips formed the words instinct felt in her belly.

“You have always kept me safe….”

 

And Miaka woke, her arm fairly damp, and her mind and heart confused.

In Hokkaido, one red-haired teen was screamed at for falling asleep in class and made to stand in the hallway.

Woman and student both wondered the ramifications of such a fantastical meeting.

 

“What does it mean?” Miaka murmured, sorting paperwork with Eri.

“What was that about?” Tetsuo mumbled, balancing on one foot then to another.

 

* * * *

 

“Hey! Sadako!” a male voice called out. Sadako froze, cringing.

`Please, don't let it be him….' She mentally begged. Fate was not kind in this moment, for the voice heralded Noriyoshi, the tallest boy in Naisen's class and residential creep. Every girl in his class had been hit on by him, and depending on if they fell for his greasy charms, had a variety of horror stories about the overconfident youth. Now that he had run out of game in his year, he started working on the younger year classes.

And recently he had landed on trying to win over Sadako with a vengeance.

 

“What is it, Noriyoshi-kun?” Sadako asked politely. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited to hear what his excuse was this day.

The tall handsome youth grinned and raked a hand through his spiky bangs.

“Oh nothing, just wondering if you wanted to go out with me today. Just coffee if you have too much homework.” The suggestion may have been kind if he hadn't been leering at the mention of too much work for the younger year. Sadako's spine straightened and she raised a cool eyebrow.

It wasn't like she was unused to dealing with undesired men in the last life. Her strength and beauty had won her a myriad of men who wanted to possess her, or BE possessed by her. She had had the power of the storms to aid her then, and she had it now. She knew control however, and wouldn't just lance a lightning bolt through the hall window, no matter how desired that result could be. Even that may be seem out of place, so Sadako was resolved to get out of the unwanted situation with words alone.

 

“I am sincerely sorry….” Sadako tried not to smile at her own wording. “But we second years have far too much schoolwork! Perhaps another time.”

`Yeah, when the devil becomes an Olympic ice skater.'

 

Noriyoshi did not look amused. His handsome face was flushed with anger.

“Who do you think you….” he started when a hand landed on his shoulder.

 

“What's going on here?” Naisen asked. Noriyoshi fumed in his face, but the blond could have been sculpted of ice; he did not move easily in the wake of sullen rage.

“Nothing's going on….. let's just go, Naisen,” Sadako suggested. Naisen's large fingers were clenched hard, the knuckles white over the boy's shoulder. But let him go he did. Sadako dared to put her arm through Naisen's as they walked off.

Naisen sighed and looked down at his girlfriend. “Does he always bother you? He doesn't have the best reputation you know.”

“I know…..” Sadako laid her head against his shoulder briefly. The fabric of his uniform jacket scratched her cheek.

 

Naisen's hands unclenched again and looked down over his girlfriend's red hair. Her face was flushed, and she looked momentarily at ease. Jerks like Noriyoshi were many and close between, it seemed. He titled Sadako's chin up and kissed her shortly. They pulled apart just as a teacher came bustling up to stop any hanky-panky at their school.

 

* * * *

 

When Toya and Hiroshi met up with Naisen and Sadako after school, someone else was there to visit the group as they banded together for the walk home.

“What does HE want?” Toya asked, flipping the ends of his long hair over one delicate shoulder. Noriyoshi glowered behind them, following at a distance. Maybe he truly did fear any prowess of Naisen's that he radiated, but they all could see he was marshalling some courage for a confrontation.

 

“He just doesn't know when to quit!” Sadako groaned. Naisen squeezed her fingers and let her hand go.

“We may have to deal with him, either way,” he promised, his voice low. Sadako looked up to see his forehead traced with an ancient character. It wasn't glowing yet, but if Naisen couldn't control his rising anger, it would flare bright enough.

 

“Come on, Noriyoshi, leave us alone,” Hiroshi offered gallantly, his voice not unkind. Noriyoshi ignored the blue-haired boy and sidled up to Sadako. He didn't see her hand on Naisen's arm, or ignored it outright. Putting on a sickly sweet smile, he put an arm between his target and foe, effectively separating them.

Naisen looked surprised, while Toya flashed a glare at the playboy. Hiroshi shook his head. Sadako just looked mad. Having your arm jerked forward when you didn't want to be touched would do that.

 

“I'm not talking to you,” Noriyoshi didn't look at any of the other boys. He had eyes only for Sadako. Flashing that weak smile again, he leaned close. “What say you and I go for that coffee? We can be alone out of this crowd and no one could bother us.”

 

There had been a chance of rain since earlier in the morning, but now the scant few clouds in the sky grouped together swiftly, banding out of Sadako's anger and frustration.

“I told you, no! I don't want to go out with you,” Sadako hissed. Naisen's eyes glazed in cold rage.

 

“The lady told you no. Let her go….” Naisen warned. Noriyoshi laughed, and tightened his hold on Sadako's arm, making her cry out. When was this jerk ever strong? Being held down against her will reminded her of darker times when her father yelled horribly, and even darker in the other great life. Her fear threatened to overwhelm her….

 

When she was let go suddenly, thrust aside as Hiroshi and Naisen sprang forward to intercept their arrogant peer. Sadako fell to her knees from the abruptness of it all. Hiroshi howled vengeance as he and Naisen grappled with the taller boy and Sadako was aware of Toya's hands on her arms, helping her to stand as they witnessed the tussle before them. When had Hiroshi become so valiant for her safety? So caring? He always had been but seeing him defend her….If she hadn't been in love with Naisen already, she would have seen Hiroshi in a more loving light. She didn't care for him any less as he moved as one with Naisen. They looked as if they had fought together all of their days.

 

Naisen growled as Noriyoshi threw both of them off him and landed glancing punches off of his jaw, and across Hiroshi's eye. His friend was panting, beyond rage for their friend as he stood at Naisen's side, fists clenched. Naisen grasped Hiroshi's shoulder, never taking his eyes off of Noriyoshi's mocking grin.

 

“Don't, Hiroshi. He's mine,” Naisen commanded. Hiroshi paused under the terse strict tone his friend used so easily and backed off. A man needed to fight his own battles sometimes even if two were better against one large opponent.

“Go on, Naisen. But if he knocks you out, I'll take him down for you.”

 

Naisen shook his head, his eyes as blue as a glacier and just as cold as he rubbed at his jaw with one bruised fist. “You're going to regret doing that to my girlfriend. Sadako doesn't want to see you, or anyone like you. You should accept defeat and run.”

Noriyoshi spat and raised his fists in the air.

 

“What say we settle this already? I want to get going on our date already,” he leered. Naisen shook his head. If he just acquiesced, he would get out without any more hurts. Really, sometimes men were just stupid.

 

“She doesn't want to go out with you!” Naisen swore. Hiroshi called encouragement behind him. Sadako looked around nervously as the half empty schoolyard began to fill up again. A crowd of their peers was forming and if any powers were used, there would be witnesses. They couldn't have that…. Cold sweat beaded on the reincarnated girl's brow and she felt Toya's fingers grip her shoulders hard enough to hurt.

 

“Toya….” She whispered. She didn't have to say another word. Toya nodded, watching the spectacle before them as Hiroshi cheered like a loon.

“I've brought a clam…. And it's going to be okay, Sadako-chan,” he whispered. The thunder roiled overhead and Sadako felt more at ease.

 

As well at ease as she could be as her young boyfriend traded blows with the tall student. Punches were exchanged as well as curses, the verbal on Noriyoshi's side. Naisen only grunted, his eyes gleaming with a mad anger. Rain began to fall over everyone. Some of the crowd dispersed, thrusting books and bags up to cover them from the wet as they ran for shelter. Others remained, calling out taunts or cheers. Sumiyoshi stepped back into a large puddle and the thunder pealed hard overhead.

Toya's hands clenched Sadako's wet shirt and she heard him whistle under his breathe. A long jagged lightning bolt darted down, as if drawn to the puddle beneath the boy's feet.

 

“Sadako!…”

Sadako heard her friend whisper far-off over her shoulder and she furrowed her brow. Willing her power to be used only a fraction of a fraction's worth, she guided the lightning down to strike the pavement before Noriyoshi, scaring the boy witless and side-zapping his feet from the water's current. But otherwise, leaving the boy unharmed.

 

Naisen looked up, and caught Sadako's wild eyes. He ended it with one savage punch to the boy's cheek, knocking him down. His power laced between his hands suddenly, chi as erratic as his wildly thumping heart and darting eyes.

“Hey what's that on his forehead??” one girl called out. Many answered her questioning derision and Naisen flashed a startled look towards his friends. Hiroshi nudged Noriyoshi with his foot, and did not notice.

 

Sadako looked over her shoulder to see Toya thrust one hand into his pants pocket. He did not draw out his tool for illusion and thus his spell was cast in secret. The students around them blinked hard, and turned to walk away, instantly forgetting all they had witnessed after school. Noriyoshi closed his eyes and took a nap in the rain.

 

Hiroshi, Naisen, Sadako and Toya all regrouped to exchange a quick word, then ran off as one down the street.

“Did you see that lightning? It was incredible! And what great timing,” Hiroshi marveled as he held his uniform jacket over his head. His bangs plastered to his forehead nevertheless. The three reincarnated seishi exchanged glances and joked it off with their friend.

By the time they had reached the shrine where Mitsuko lived, they were half soaked through, but in better spirits. Their friend greeted them with a shout, and gestured the four students into the shrine, drops sliding down his shaved head as he held the door for them.

 

Soon Mitsuko had hot tea poured for his friends and reincarnated comrades, and his senior priest had handed out towels. Sadako scrubbed at her wet hair, but the hardwood floors were beaded with small puddles beneath them. Hiroshi shook off like a dog, making Toya complain for the extra shower. Mitsuko laughed and inquired to their escapade as Naisen looked bruised.

And Naisen…. Naisen leaned against Sadako as he sipped at tea, silent as he savored her shivering warmth. Sadako smiled up at the warmth in his blue eyes and took his hand between hers. As their friends laughed and joked around them, she kissed his fingertips. The small silent promise in the gesture seared Naisen's heart, but thrust warmth throughout him.

Their parents may not want them together yet, but their adult minds wanted to consummate their feelings physically. The small gestures Sadako pressed onto Naisen made his blood throb. And it made him feel good, a whole man with her.

 

Boshin Yui stood at the closed balcony to her family's apartment and watched the storm outside. The rains and thunder lashed Tokyo with almost playful regard to people's plans. It had been angry before, but now joyful in its play. This was Sadako-chan's doing wasn't it? She would have to talk to her about controlling her power…. But the fact the storm had lightened up within minutes spoke for her attempts at control. Yui wondered if Sadako was with Naisen and being very happy right now.

Saito came up behind her and wrapped his arms around Yui's waist. “Why do you watch the storm so?” he murmured. His heart throbbed to bursting with the love he held for his wife and she leaned back against his welcome warmth.

“It makes me think of our friends,” she confessed and Saito needn't ask which friends. Each visit with Naisen and Sadako, and their friends told him all he needed to remember.

 

“You have a large heart, Yui,” he whispered, kissing her neck affectionately. “You would have everyone as happy because you are…”

Yui nodded and brought her arm back to run her fingers through his sandy hair.

 

“I would…. but I'm trying to help them. They haven't had the best time revealing their emotions..”

 

Saito nodded and when Mariko came running up to throw her arms around their legs, he didn't ask further.

 

End for now

The slogan on Dream Tetsuo's shirt was from a very insane Simpsons episode. Points if you guess which one. The mention of cheese in a desert is from a dream episode of Buffy, season four finale.

My thoughts on grief are mentioned in this chapter. The comment about grief not being gone in say, one year, is directed at my hateful ex. She's never lost a parent (or both in my case) so was rather not understanding about my feelings regarding grief. To each their own, I suppose.

Like it? Hate it? Send a review! Review is crack to fanfiction authors.

 

Most sincerely yours, penpaninu 1/21/06