Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Dreams Alter Reality ❯ Office Space ( Chapter 10 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

It's October now, one of my favorite months. I love fall, but I love winter even more. Alot of people can't stand the cold, but I love it. I love the biting cold in your cheeks, the way your breath steams, and the way it widens your eyes. Got asthma from childhood again, and it helps me breathe easier. And everyone is so quick to hibernate, when I am wide awake, another good reason. I also love the spookiness of this month for Halloween. I read scary books and scary stories and am currently in a mood of Romero zombie flicks. It's good to get that scary chill!

"Pull me under" by Dream Theatre is good backdrop when I was writing this. Give some of that band a listen, it gives good mental stimulation.
Also, "Forca" by Nelly Furtado :P Great visual imagery!

All thanks to my lovely mate/fiancee and/or wife. I call her wife even if we can't get that title legally... but when you have a partner that takes care of business with you, and the household, what else do you call that? Wifey wife wife how do I love thee, let me count the ways! Just woke up from 8 uninterrupted hours of content sleep at her side so the world is all in its right.

Thanks to Miss KittyLynne, be-all guru of FY to my knowledge. She has a ready appreciation and passion that all fans are happy to share and discuss, Banditscribe is a wonderful group! I hope you enjoy this one, hon! There's some goodies that you'll appreciate. (grin)

Thanks also to the lovely iluvmitsukake! Your words always make my day, believe me. There are rarer FY fans online these days, so a kind word is appreciated! Mayo is a character that got her debute in the last OVA series, Eikoden. It's a good four episodes, and a great ending to the whole she-bang. I recommend giving it a try!
Also thanks to fushigiyuugifan, Delton Ruu, AnimeRoseAssassin.
Also a special one to Kisaki Akizuki! I appreciate the point out to the annoying '8's' breaking up the scenes; it's that fanfiction dot net's editing is weird in it's allowing for a spacer, and I find a huge gap still disconcerting. Hence the 8's ^_^;;; I know, it's strange.

I am rewatching the end of the FY series, and am now in the ova's. My noticing Nakago's resemblance to Prince Bo-Hui tickled again when I saw the episode where Nakago finally killed the Kutou emperor. He said, with chilly vengeance, "This is for what you did to my people." And blasts his molecules away to nothing; just like Jean Grey in X-Men 3! Then he opens his eyes, and looks empty inside; like even though he did what he always wanted to, there wasn't an ounce of satisfaction. Hmm....


Disclaimer: I do not claim to own the likeness or characters of the Fushigi Yuugi series. They belong solely to Watase Yuu and her gorgeous talent! Anybody read another series of hers, "Absolute Boyfriend?" Her drawing and storytelling only get better with time.


"Dreams Alter Reality" chapter ten
"Office Space"



Miaka walked into the elementary school office area, Yui keeping easy pace. Her best friend was chattering about something Asakura had done in his last visit, some prank played on his brother, but Miaka couldn't confess to listening. Her brown eyes scanned the familiar faces of her colleagues, Eri-chan and Principal Sumiyoshi. She knew today was Tetsuo's first day, having called Sumiyoshi himself to ask how the interview had gone.

"Not so bad, he's quite rough around the edges and more than alittle nervous... but he might do."

'Yes, he might do at that,' Miaka breathed silently to herself. To say she was nervous also was like saying the sun was out. Her heart flamed in hope, but sank when looking around the front desks. She didn't see any sign of him. Had he missed out? Or was he late? Sumiyoshi wasn't one for tardiness...

"And then Saito grabbed Asakura and put him in a headlock faster than you could blink! He was soaking wet and...." Yui tucked a long lock of hair into her bun. "Are you even listening, Miaka?"

"Huh?" Miaka blinked. Yui crossed her arms, then crooked her eyebrow knowingly.

"Ohhh, so today is HIS first day. It completely slipped my mind."

"I couldn't sleep," Miaka confessed. "Oh, Yui, what if he doesn't show?"

"Well, I wouldn't worry about it too much. You DO know where he lives," Yui teased.

"I know, but..." Miaka made another scan, her heart sinking low. A man backed out of the supply closet suddenly, his arms loaded with paper and office paraphenalia. His back was to her, but Miaka knew that red hair anywhere.

And then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

"Well..." she heard Yui say. "All I can say is 'yowza.' "

Miaka agreed. She was red-hot throughout her core, watching the college student go about tidying up his new desk. He really cut a slim figure of a man in khaki slacks and button down shirt. Her eyes kept lingering over the flat tummy behind his belt. But if she kept going, she was going to be a pervert before she knew it!

"So which one was he? The emperor?" Yui whispered at her side. Miaka shook her head, smiling fondly.

"The bandit. Tasuki," she admitted. Yui giggled and elbowed her.

"I always knew you secretly had a thing for the bad boy image! Oooh sweep me up and tie me..."

"He's not a delinquent!" Miaka protested. "He just knows when to stick up for people. Although... he DID carry me off when I first met him in the book..."

'Don't try any funny business. I hate girls, but since yer Eiken's...'

"Woo-hoo! Too much! I love it when I'm right," Yui said eagerly. Tetsuo looked up at the commotion; saw the two women. He smiled and ambled their way.

"For Suzaku's sake, be quiet already!" Miaka hissed. Yui tapped her arm, grinning.

"I'll be good as long as you will be!" she gave back before Tetsuo stopped within speaking distance.

"Good morning, Miaka-san," he grinned. Miaka blushed prettily and bobbed a demure bow.

"I told you, it's just..."

"I know, but we're at a place of work. I should show you the proper title of respect," Tetsuo said. Miaka nodded, her face flushed warm.

"Of course... Tetsuo-kun. We should be respectful," she agreed. His eyes told her it would be a different matter if they were not there.

"Ahem!" Yui coughed. Miaka jumped, guilty of another eye-lock with Tetsuo's smouldering amber gaze.

"Oh! May I introduce you to my dearest friend, Boshin Yui," she offered as grandly as she could be for being tardy with it. Yui stepped up, her hand extended to shake.

"I'm the one to come to about any embarrassing stories," she offered. Tetsuo laughed and shook her hand, then bowed.

"That's good to hear. And I'll do my best here!"

"You'll do fine," Yui assured him. "Well, I'm going to get my office ready for sessions. I'll catch up with you both later!"

Miaka silently thanked her friend for the discrete way out and waved. Yui winked back. Miaka was dimly aware of Eri getting in at her own front desk, picking up the phone for the school's first call of the day.

"Good morning, and thank you for calling...."

"I must be getting ready, too," Miaka admitted. "You'll be fine?" Tetsuo nodded, scratching the back of his neck. He had tamed his hair down somewhat but several areas still stuck out, refusing the gel he had used.

"Sumiyoshi-san said I'd be shadowing Eri-kun today, to get the hang of it. I'll ace it," he vowed. Miaka clasped her hands together.

"If you have any questions or need anything.... I'm just a door away," Miaka said and walked to her office with a sway in her hips that she was sure Tetsuo was gawking over.

Tetsuo watched his dream woman go with a wistful longing on his face. He was snapped out of his passion-hazed hue when Eri called him over.

"How are you, Tetsuo-kun? We'll begin on calls, since we'll get alot of them! Now, to transer a call, press this button here. Hold is, well, the hold button. And remember, always be polite," she chirped. Tetsuo sank down into his wheeled chair, trying to keep his head from spinning. He nodded and took it all in.




*****




Type reports. Sort files. Answer the phone. Know who and what to refer the call to. Greet children coming into the lobby. It was a long morning, and a grueling one for Tetsuo. He liked to think he did well, but he wasn't sure. Half the times, he had to run to Eri-kun for answers! The motherly woman took it in stride, and really helped him out. When a little girl started bawling at him for asking what she needed, Eri took her by the hand and gently spoke to her.

Tetsuo leaned back in his chair during a brief moment of silence, and sighed. He glanced over at the counselor's offices and wondered what Miaka was doing in there. The only time he had seen her all morning was an appointment with a fifth grade boy. Miaka had greeted the kid cheerfully, and invited him inside. Tetsuo knew a moment of envy just watching.

Sukunami Miaka... Miaka.... Miaka.... The woman he had dreamed of in his hometown had the very same name, the same eyes and laugh. If anyone were to meet a dream walking, this was it. Tetsuo knew it in his soul. He had felt the startling connection when he had chased Miro away from her...

That he was here to love this woman, he had no doubt. Tetsuo wasn't going to deem it a mere coincidence, when her eyes leapt when meeting his, or the way her knees trembled when she spoke to him.

It was more than the possibility of a romance, of a physical relationship. It seemed important he be with her. The rest was all bonus, as far as he was concerned.

'I can't stand this,' Tetsuo thought, his face flushed. His dreams had been intense all week to the point of embarrassment. When he saw Miaka this morning, the need to take her in his arms was so strong, he wasn't sure how he was able to control himself. He ached to be inside her and it wasn't just implicated lust. He could trust her, and Miaka should know she could trust him.

The fire burned between them, as bright as the kanji symbol that burned his right wrist occasionally. Tetsuo was sure she was interested, and he hoped to God it wasn't just male assumption on his part. He knew how girls were; just because they smiled didn't mean they wanted you. You had to dig carefully, you had to KNOW before touching a woman, that she wanted your hands there. Tetsuo's past experiences had all been with accurately read signs from classmates, however.

This was the first time he had been with someone several years older. He didn't intend to mess things up. He would take care of things. Tetsuo leaned back in his chair, a small smile on his lips as he allowed himself a well-deserved ten second daydream. Miaka had a voluptuous figure, round but curvy from childbirth and maturity. Her breasts were so large as to spill out of his hands if he filled his palms with them. The thought was very arousing. So were her thin waist and round, flaring hips. She was so different, than....

The ice, the memory of ice kicked into his mind suddenly, filling his nostrils and lungs with frigid temperature. A young girl was undressing before his eyes, his wide orbs taking in the skinny curves even as someone was squawking next to him to NOT look. But he had seen enough before a hand clamped over his eyes. Long, white legs, smooth, bare arms with strange bracelets adorning the wrists. The best part had been the small, high breasts.

The girl was shivering so badly, that tiny nipples poked the front of her undershift. Tetsuo remembered... that even though it was freezing here, a certain lower region beneath his robe and coat was very warm. And he had wanted to lend her that warmth and wrap her up in his coat, save her life from the ice....

"Are you listening, Tetsuo-kun?" Eri asked. Tetsuo blinked and the emotions and images of his memory vanished like a bubble in the air. Gone.... like the young girl in them...

"Yes, Eri-kun. I'm sorry," Tetsuo bowed his head. His unruly bangs flopped into his eyes.

Eri smiled. "That's okay, but we still have alot to go over! Now, if you want to add something here, you hit this button..."

Tetsuo wasn't sure what remembering in broad daylight could mean. He was sure they were memories and not fanciful dreaming. Ice? A cave? A hidden treasure and ghosts of.... Genbu warriors?? Who the heck was Genbu, anyhow?

The memories whispered in his ears while awake now, and they had intensified since his meeting Miaka in the flesh. Tetsuo wasn't sure he could ever tell her something this strange.... because she might not think anything of it.


****


"Does Hiroshi seem alittle nervous to you?" Sadako asked curiously. Naisen clasped one arm around her waist, pulling her back from the wall of students walking past them. The tall blond shrugged.

"He's been having a hard time of it lately," he admitted, remembering tears welling up in stormy blue eyes. "And his mother is acting strange."

"Miaka-san is?" Sadako asked, her tongue favoring the familar name. "But just look at him. He looks like he'll rocket through the roof if you touch him!"

She pointed and Naisen peered over the heads of the crowd easily until he found their friend. Hiroshi seemed lost in thought, his face pink with whatever was going through his mind. When Toya shyly moved past, Naisen was quick to notice. How he moved his fingers against Hiroshi's and the blue-haired boy stood ramrod, as though electricfied.
And Naisen could feel the heat between their gazes even from here.

"Good for Toya," he said finally. "He got what he always wanted."

"I was wondering how that'd go," Sadako admitted. "It takes alot to come out. I was wondering how Hiroshi was going to go with it...."

"You're saying you think he's made for a woman?" Naisen asked. Sadako laughed.

"Oh, no, it's just that his mother made him for love, and he answered the call of the most unlikely version of it..."

"You want what you want," Naisen murmured into her ear. "Isn't that right?"

Sadako flushed, closing her eyes against his strong shoulder. The very memory of disrobing in a strange tent on campaign and settling on top of ready, stiffened flesh swept through her mind. "You should know that," she retorted.

Naisen smiled lazily, his blue eyes slit. "I do. Just stay with me and let me show you how."

"What, now?" Sadako asked in mock confusion. Naisen squeezed her; let her go.

"And they say boys are vulgar."



****


"Are Yui and Miaka in?" a smooth male voice asked. Tetsuo looked up from a stack of papers and went cross-eyed. And he looked between, one, make that two, identical bookends!

"Nuuuuh.... sure. They're in the break room," Tetsuo was reluctant to give out. The twins grinned as one and turned as a finely-tuned unit to move to the back. Tetsuo felt a rush of irritation and stood abruptly.

"Wait!" the wheels of his chair snagged on the carpet, so quick was his movement. "Who are you?"

"Yui's husband, Saito," Saito flashed his white teeth at him. Tetsuo nodded at that, before turning to his brother.

"Wait a second, what about you??"

"A good friend," Asakura grinned, his pearly whites glinting in the sunlight. Tetsuo's eyes were quick to notice his broad chest and powerfully wide shoulders forming a path to his dream woman, his twin at his side.

And Tetsuo hated him for it. His jealousy hung, still, when Yui squealed and wrapped herself into Saito's widespread arms.

Miaka reacted more conservatively, but far too familiarly with the other one for his liking...

"Asakura-san! Where have you been hiding yourself?" Miaka asked. Asakura sketched a courteous bow.

"I've been keeping away for too long, haven't I?" he asked sheepishly. "I promise not to remain a stranger." Miaka smiled as he winked, and turned positively red as he raised her hand to kiss.

Tetsuo seethed in the background.

Sensing his battle chi flaring up across the way, Miaka blushed and pulled her hand away.

"I should hope not," she said. Saito clasped Yui's hip, pulling her for a close squeeze.

"Yeah, well, Brother Mine here already paid for that little prank, so he'll be welcome around the house again."

"I didn't think it was that bad! Mariko got a real kick out of it," Asakura protested.

"That's WHY I was sore with you," Saito said dryly. "She's been planting little booby traps all over the apartment until she saw we punished you too!"

Yui and Miaka giggled as Asakura scratched the back of his neck.

"Yeah, stop teaching my daughter bad habits!" Yui said with mock anger. Asakura pressed one hand over his heart.

"I do so solemnly swear that by the time I have a child.... I'll have taught your kid all the bad tricks!"

"Mou!" Yui swatted him while Miaka tried to act as mediator.

"Speaking OF, Miaka-chan IS available now," Saito teased. Miaka's face sobered, more sensing than hearing Tetsuo's sharp inhale. Her young man was hovering close to their prepheral vision, trying to act as if he weren't.

Asakura's eyes twinkled but Yui looked between her best friend and the red-haired student lingering around the front desks.
And she saw a link between them, almost seeing the red string of fate knotted and tied between the two in midair. She could feel the heat of Suzaku's fire tinging the air... And she knew her brother-in-law had a snowball's chance in hell with her dear Miaka.

Asakura was oblivious to Tetsuo, and watched his friend with growing interest. "Miaka-san has her pick of men, whenever she's ready," he declared. "But that's always been the case."

Saito was always teasing him about her; now that Taka had passed away, he was all but trying to play matchmaker between the two with his unsubtle but well-meaning hints.

Miaka blushed prettily, the shade of pink that made men and boys go crazy. She had certainly had her seishi on one knee, their fists clasped over their hearts in the unspoken oath of undying devotion to her.

"I don't know," she said carefully. "I'll have to wait and sort my feelings. A widow's sure to have alot of baggage for anyone to want to brave."

Tetsuo's eyes softened. She had lost someone very dear to her, and really shouldn't be giving him the time of day. Oh, Miaka....

"But you're braver than most," Saito protested. "You have strength enough for any man!"

"You always take care of us," Yui added. "Let someone take care of YOU for a change! Who knows, you might like it."

'I could take care of you...' Tetsuo amended in his thoughts. His amber eyes watched Miaka with unspoken zeal.

"I want to..." Miaka said. Her eyes wrinkled at the corners with sadness. "Just let me choose in my own time."

Tetsuo let out a small exhale. He smiled and sat down to finish his files.

"I'll be there if you need a shoulder to cry on," Asakura said smoothly. His handsome features pitched into a blush. "Anytime. I care about you, Miaka-san!"

Saito raised a fist and winked at his brother. Way to take the assertive approach! A tiny storm cloud appeared over Tetsuo's head. He gloomily regarded the far more handsome man with undisguised loathing.

Miaka looked swept away, but she nodded gamely. "Thank you, Asakura...."

'Amiboshi....thank you.'

As if hearing her thoughts, Asakura patted his coat pocket where a flute lay. He winked and walked off with Yui, whistling an easy melody. Saito gave Miaka a small hug and looked over the top of her head at the sulky college student.

"He has the feel of Suzaku's touch all over him," he whispered to Miaka. The aged Suzaku no Miko straightened her spine. Her serious eyes met his.

"Does he feel the same as the students you saw a few weeks ago?" she asked. Her heart pounded hard against her chest.

Saito nodded once. "Yes. He is one of your own. May he be one with love in his heart for you."

"They all loved me, in their own way. I was the recepient of their affection," Miaka smiled fondly. "Tetsuo-san remembers some of his past life, I'm sure of it."

"Break it to him the right way," Saito said. "Lucky we trusted Yui with all our hearts and knew what she said of our memories to be right."

Miaka clasped his arm fondly. "You always loved and trusted her."

"Yeah... well, the wife's waving at me. Give our best to Hiroshi-kun."

"I will...." Miaka started to get a headache at the thought of her growing son. He was almost a man himself.

"How will you introduce him to all of this? Tetsuo's not too many years older himself."

Miaka blushed, embarrassed to be indicated she was robbing the cradle.

"That's the worst part of all of this," she confessed. "Tetsuo's the first I've met, and my others are all younger!"

"They did look high school level," Saito admitted.

"We'll have to talk more on THAT later," Miaka said. Eri made her way over and bowed a greeting to Saito.

"Miaka-chan, is there any way you can come cheer this big lug up? He's been moping the past hour or so!"

Miaka laughed and nodded. "Of course, Eri-kun! Well, bye, Saito."

"Take care of business," he winked rogueishly. He ambled to meet up with Yui and his brother. Miaka turned towards her irate, younger man and stopped a hand's span away.

"Tetsuo-kun? How was it today?" she asked. Tetsuo had been pillowing his head on his arm, an apparent victim of depression, but shot straight up at the sound of her voice.

"Miaka-san! Uh, it went fine! Think I did pretty good," Tetsuo showed his teeth in a fierce grin, flexing one bicep proudly.

Miaka brought a hand to her mouth, smiling at his macho display. Tasuki always was one for upping his persona with gallant pride and Tetsuo was no exception.

"That's good to hear. I want to know that we'd be keeping you alittle while longer," she couldn't keep the joy out of her voice and Tetsuo watched with rapture.

"Yeah, well... you can never keep me down!" he exclaimed and was rewarded with a chuckle.

"I imagine I couldn't," she murmured and Tetsuo's eyes went wide at the wording. He flushed bright red.

"I say my impending victory over the kiddies deserves a celebration. How about we go for some tea? My treat." And it would be, for he had scrimped his money for the week down to the very cent.

Miaka nodded, and they both glanced at the clock. It was ten minutes to three, before their workday was over. Cleaning up paperwork could take from an hour to longer, but Tetsuo wouldn't have any from a first day, and she had been very careful to complete hers on time.

"I'd love to," she said and was rewarded with a dart of pink across Tetsuo's facade of youth.

They were early today and she'd have time to get home and begin Hiroshi's dinner. She'd have to tell him and she wasn't looking forward to it.


****


Direction was not his forte.

He knew every subject at school and was even advancing into college courses. He could spew out most any information or fact you needed or didn't need.

But tell him to go to the corner store and Lost became a constant companion.

"It's gotta be around here somewhere..." Chen mumbled. He pushed his high ponytail off his forehead and studied his slip of paper, even daring to turn it upside down if that would help.

It didn't.

The short teenager was so absorbed in his self-induced angst over direction, that he didn't notice the passersby deliberately stepping around him as he slowed up movement on the sidewalk. The small black shoes took the teen past the hem of a robe and naked toes encased in sandals.

Chen stumbled and almost tripped over the draping robe's edge flung onto the sidewalk, and then of course, almost over the monk it was attached to.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Chen blushed. He grabbed onto his backpack strap with one hand, trying to keep the heavy book-laden bag from flying into the other boy. The smooth scalp of the boy bowed low into Chen's vision.

"That's alright, no harm done," he offered. Mitsuko straightened and found the student's eyes with his own. He felt a thread of fate fly straight from him into the slightly taller teen.

He clutched his broom, his face paling. 'I know you... I know you....'

"You...."

"Huh?" Chen asked. He looked down at his immaculate uniform, his freshly shined shoes and his pack. It had to be his hair. Everyone was always telling him to cut it or something, but he, always with his nose in a book, never had the time. "What is it?"

"Uhmm..." Mitsuko blinked hard, stared, then turned his gaze to a normal one. "Nothing. Nothing at all." The reincarnation of Miboshi scratched his hairless neck with a tiny hand.

"Okay..." Chen said, wondering what THAT was about. He uprighted his piece of paper, mumbling.

"Anou..." Mitsuko ventured. "Are you trying to find something?"

"Yeah," Chen admitted defeat and handed over his notebook sheet. "I was supposed to find this corner store for my parents because they carry a certain kind of seaweed wrap, and I have no idea where it is!"

The small monk regarded the open boy with a steady gaze. So vulnerable, just like back then....

"Uhm, you do know it's right behind you, right," he said, leaning on his bamboo broom. Chen looked at his paper, then across the street behind him, and turned bright red.

"Oh, dear kami," Chen cursed.

Mitsuko smiled wryly. "It's okay! I can't find my way around out much either; as you can see, I don't get out much." He lifted up his left wrist where his prayer beads were tied firmly. He clacked them together for the proper effect.

"But still, thank you so very much!" Chen bowed. His odd ponytail flopped over his scalp. Mitsuko shrugged, feeling oddly uncomfortable. His teacher, the shrine owner's son, swept along, his wide robes flowing.

"Mitsuko-kun! Have you lit the candles for our evening patrons? I did not give you cause to play with your friends!" he snapped. The monk blushed red, the tips of his ears pink and he bowed low.

"I'm sorry, Teacher. This one needed directions and I was assisting."

The teacher took a glance at Chen's offered paper and gave him an odd look. "Can't you find any place just down the street? What are they teaching children these days?"

Chen's shoulders sank defiantly. "Quite alot, actually," he retorted. Before he could recite his marks in college courses, Mitsuko bowed, giving the senior monk cause to be satisfied.

Chen grumbled as the tall, bald man flapped away in his robes. "So I get lost easy, big deal!"

"I wouldn't take it to heart," Mitsuko offered serenely. "He's just cranky in his old age."

"Well, thanks anyway..."

"It's Mitsuko," Mitsuko offered. Chen bowed.

"Nice to meet you! I'm Chen."

Mitsuko smiled although his eyes were sad. 'You have no idea about me, just like back then.'

"A pleasure."

"Well, I really have to get going. Maybe I'll stop by sometime!" Chen offered. The small shrine looked tidy and inviting, and where was a student without occasional prayers for luck?

The monk smiled and bowed again. "Of course, that would be wonderful. Well, bye..."

As the slightly-taller boy jogged through traffic to the store, Mitsuko sighed, feeling the masks of his past life changing hand again and again and again.

The husband he had taken, hurting the wife with his actions. The little girl, effective but embarrassing to his male ego. The old senior monk in Xi-Lang; his disciple. And then...

'It was so easy to take you over.... just as easy as the others.' The monk's apprentice sighed and began sweeping with earnest.

"I'm sorry."



****


Miaka dashed into the front door of her home as if the hounds of hell were nipping on her heels. She wasn't in any danger, except for her opponent, the clock. Her watch read 4:45 pm., and she may or may not have beat Hiroshi home. It all depended on whether he went to study or play with his friends.

Naisen's clear blue eyes pierced her mind's eye as she tossed her purse at the coat rack, and toed her shoes off in the entryway. "Oooh... got it," she murmured, stepping up and into the life she had shared with her husband. A pang of guilt stabbed her as she took in the familiar surroundings Taka had readily used.

Miaka cradled her arms, her hands massaging the elbows. She had had a wonderful time with Tetsuo, but even though she longed to talk about their time with his past life and their old friends, she couldn't, so a constraint had been placed on her usually glib tongue.

Taka had been the same way, somewhat, but he had at least KNOWN about his former existence as a Suzaku schiseishi. Tetsuo did not.

"I'm just a sucker for all of them..." Miaka mumbled, feeling her spirits sink. Tetsuo was a handsome, young man, as brash yet chivalrous as Tasuki. He filled out gallantly as a man, though his shoulders still needed alittle more room to broaden; his height, already impressive. His eyes had been bright as they sat and chatted, papercups of tea and the remains of a giant chocolate cookie spread between them. He had even nudged the larger portion of the cookie at her, and she almost could cry, remembering how Tasuki had always shared treats with her.

There were other occasions she had not permitted herself when she walked with him as Tasuki. When he licked melted chocolate from his long fingertips, Miaka chose to stare as his white teeth parted to allow his tongue's release. When he caught her eye, she gave him unspoken words in a slow gaze.

Well, so what if he had no memories of his past life? He was still here now and that's what mattered!

Cheered, Miaka moved through the living room on her way to the kitchen. A hunched figure halted her, scaring the living daylights out of her.

"EEK!" she shrieked in typical Miaka fashion and jumped back for the sofa. Hiroshi looked up from the desk chair he was half-crouched, half-kneeling on. A textbook lay open next to the living room PC and her mature son watched her, amused.

"I doubt that's going to be much of a weapon, Ma," he said dryly. Miaka peeked out from under the sofa's throw blanket, eyes wide. She lowered the blanket and smiled sheepishly.

"I didn't know you were home. How was your day, my love?" she brightened. Taka's son hooded his eyes, even as he tried to fight a tell-tale smile.

"It was... eventful. Mama, Toya told me he had feelings for me the other day."

"Oooh..." Miaka steeled herself for another discussion of 'love was love', no matter if it weren't the birds and bees but honeycomb and nectar. Hiroshi lowered his face, his bangs covering his eyes. Maybe it hadn't gone well.... "What did you say to him?"

"I told him.... you said never to be afraid of your heart," Hiroshi made out. Miaka nodded, Taka's face far from memory. Tetsuo's smiling facade filled her mind instead.

"If your heart tells you it's right, well... it must be," she agreed.

"I kissed him, Mama," Hiroshi confessed in a sudden rush. Hesitation tinged his proclamation, as if expecting a homophobic tirade. His long fingers twitched, then laced together.

Miaka watched his fear, and smiled softly. She laid her hand gently on her son's.

"And how did you feel about that?" she asked quietly. Her eyes were warm. Hiroshi stared into them, and leaned into her ready understanding.

"I liked it! I really liked it.... and him," Hiroshi said, his lips tingling with the memory. They stung with the memory of whipping sand....

"Well, that's good..."

"But I saw something when we... were... you know," Hiroshi gestured. "I saw a desert and a boy with a bunch of old-time actors. He was so lonely and looked up at me!"

Miaka's smile froze on his face and she felt the hapless urge to scratch her cheek as the muscle twitched. Was this... a memory from Tomo?

"Oh?" she asked weakly. Hiroshi spread his hands, his eyes wide.

"It was so strange, and I told Toya what I saw.... and he said it was a memory of another life! How is that possible, Mama?"

"I... I.. I don't, that is..." Miaka said weakly. She felt as caught as if she were five and had one hand in the cookie jar. The urge to flee was strong.

"And Toya said you might know something about that...." Adolescent suspicion filled his blue eyes. "Does this have something to do with the pictures in your room?"

"HUH?" Miaka sweat-dropped and began to regret leaving out the framed memento of her full group of beloved seishi. She should have listened to Taka and put it away... "What are you asking me, son?"

Hiroshi laid his elbow on his textbook and swiveled his chair to face her. "Who are the men in that picture?? You know the one, where you're still in school. I recognize Papa, but who are the rest?"

Oh, boy. And Miaka thought she had all the surprises she could handle in her life already.

"They're... they're... they were friends I had when I was young," Well, that was certainly true.

Hiroshi's brow creased as he nodded at that. That made sense. "But who are they? Where are they now?" he pressed.

Miaka's eyes dropped in sadness. "They've all passed away, Hiroshi. I was very close to them...."

Hiroshi felt bad, taking his mother's word and stopped his inquiry at signs of her grief. 'She has to be thinking of Papa now, too.... oh, shit, I went and made her cry.'

"Oh... I didn't know, Mama. I just wanted to understand," Hiroshi said, abashed. Miaka smiled serenely and ruffled his hair.

"It's okay, precious. I know you meant no harm."

"And that's everything? There's nothing else?" Hiroshi dared to venture. Miaka smoothed the pictures on her buddhist altar in the living room solemnly. Her face was red.

"No... nothing else," she said with the jerky tone of the liar. Hiroshi watched her fingers settle onto a small golden phoenix statue, bought on impulse by his mother. It's faux-ruby eyes seemed to gleam brightly.

"Okay..." Hiroshi knew that even were he to beg and plead, she would never let up any of her secrets. She had told him something and for the time being, it would have to be enough.

"Do you want a snack, sweetie?" Miaka asked, back in her eternal Mommy Mode. Hiroshi held up a bag of chips and smiled.

"I'm okay. So, why were you so late today?" Hiroshi wondered. His mother surprisingly blushed and put a hand to her cheek. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good...

"Oh! I, uh, was welcoming a new member of our Adminstrative staff. We went out to tea," Miaka said lamely. And that part WAS true. But Yui and Eri had gone after a short while, leaving the two alone none-too-discreetly.

"And her name?" Hiroshi stuck a pencil between his teeth and turned back to the computer monitor.

"Shinwa Tetsuo," Miaka gave meekly. The pencil fell out of Hiroshi's mouth. A man? His mother was out with a man after school?

"Tetsuo... a he?" Hiroshi asked, stunned. It was only ten months since Papa had died.... ten months!

Miaka nodded rapidly, trying to warm Hiroshi to the idea. "Yes, he's a college student from Osaka, studying anthropology and psychology..."

'And his eyes fill me with Suzaku's flame.... Oh, Tasuki... '

"Uh huh," Hiroshi said, sounding defeated. Poor Papa. "Can I go to Toya's house?"

Miaka's smile deepened. "Of course... won't you tell him and his parents hello from me?"

Hiroshi nodded and collected up his hoodie sweatshirt. He grabbed his schoolbag, and stepped into his sneakers. As he walked, he watched night develope, his wandering pace leading him closer to where his apparent boyfriend lived. Boyfriend.... it really didn't seem to be real.

But Hiroshi was glad to have him when he was greeted by the beautiful pair that were his parents.

"Hiroshi-kun! An honor as always!" Toya's father wore his hair long, as his son did. It was carefully plaited in three sections and was longer than his wife's elaborate braid.

"What brings you out here?" Toya's mother chirped, her flawless beauty stunning the teenager.

"Oh, nothing much, you know, homework and all," Hiroshi mumbled, shy. "Is Toya here?"

"He's in his room," his mother pushed him forward gently. "Why don't you go on ahead?"

Hiroshi heard a double-meaning there that she probably hadn't intended. To him, it sounded like the perfect solution to his self-induced agony of his mother's attraction to another man. "Thanks!"

He left the couple to their scripts and laptop, and made his way to the bedroom of his friend. Where other teenagers might have hung anarchy symbols or other equally warning signs from their bedroom doors, a simple kabuki mask hung from Toya's, the oddly painted face seeming to watch the teenager as he neared the slab of wood. He always had liked the mask, even though it's swirls of black against white made his eyes ache. The empty eyesockets followed his every movement as he approached.

Hiroshi knocked once and the door flew open as if in anticipation to his arrival. Hiroshi smiled.

"Hi," he blushed. Toya looked adorable in a shirt too large for him and knee-length athletic pants. The collar of the shirt half fell off the boy's slim shoulder and Toya hauled it up gracefully.

"I heard you in the living room. You okay?" Toya asked. His heart pounded hard.

Hiroshi shrugged, his skinny shoulders rising up then down. "I dont know... I think so. I found out that my mother met this new guy at her work. And he's in college."

"Oh..." Toya sat daintily on the edge of his bed, tucking his thin legs under him. "That's not too much older than us."

"I know," Hiroshi said miserably and flopped onto his back. "Oooof! I keep thinking if Papa saw her this way, he'd be sad."

"Or pissed," Toya said. Tamahome's scowling face came to mind. He leaned to the side and cautiously laid his small fingers on Hiroshi's chest. Hiroshi looked up owlishly at him. "I wouldn't worry about it too much... your dad was a great man. But people get lonely. We both know this..."

Hiroshi nodded and lay back as Toya settled his head against him. "Now aren't you glad you decided to open your big mouth?"

Toya blushed and petted his fingers shyly over Hiroshi's side. "Yes... "

The two boys twined and kissed.




*****



Two forms danced around each other in the seperated silence of enclosed space. The silhouettes stated the forms were of a boy and girl, alone in the gym storage closet. One gestured, the other pleaded with outspread palms.

"I told you, we can't ever do this! I'm in love with someone else," the girl said. She twirled a long lock of purple hair nervously. The boy placed his large hands on her shoulders, his chin hovering over the top of her head. He was enormously tall for his age, and aptly proportioned.

"All I'm asking is a chance. He hasn't shown any interest in you like that," the boy said, trying to win her over with logic. The girl shook her head wildly, tears stinging her eyes.

"Don't say that! He's just going through so much," the girl pleaded. The boy settled his chin in her hair, and turned her around to face him. The girl's pleas were muffled against the wall of his chest.

"I will never hurt you. I want to take care of you. I love you," he said with all the earnest zeal of youth. The girl looked undecided until he leaned low and captured her mouth with his own.

As if opening a floodgate, the two scrambled against each other, pressing close thruogh clothing loosened by unskilled hands. The heat suffused them both and they burned; clung to each other, as if trying to mate through the obstacle of linen. The boy, inspired, lifted her up against him with strong, steady hands. The girl twined her hands through short, spiky hair.

The sliding door to the storage closet rasped open suddenly with a loud clack, making the guilty party seperate in a haze of passionate confusion. The unintended intruder stared, first unbelieving, then in warring betrayal.

"Nana?" he asked the girl who had been his friend for life. Her uniform top was askew across her petite breasts, the sailor bow untied in her companion's haste. The purple-haired beauty was red all over and wouldn't meet his eyes.

Then he turned to the culprit, his eyes narrowed. "Mareshi??"

The tall boy looked as if he wished he were anywhere else but here, he was so embarrassed. But Hideyuki was faring far worse.... humiliation and betrayal thrummed throughout his entire being.

"Hideyuki...." Nana whispered, holdiing up one hand beseechingly. The slim boy turned and ran, his ponytail flying over his shoulder. "Hideyuki, wait!"

Mareshi's shoulders slumped as Nana gazed adoringly at the disappearing back of their beautiful friend. "Nana..." he pleaded.

His friend looked up at him with tears cascading down her cheeks.

"Look what you did to him!" she screamed. Mareshi recoiled as if struck.

"I didn't know he was there, I promise you!" The tall student argued gently.

"I'm going to check on him...." Nana wrestled from his hands and ran off.

"Nana, wait!" Mareshi called. His deep baritone bit into Nana's ears as she tried to outrun the very sound of attraction.



****



End for now

Oh ho, how was that? Nuriko's incarnation carries a torch for Mit's! That came out on the fly and was more fun than I thought it would be. Who will help little Hotohori heal through this ordeal? Houki or Shyoka??
I had alot of fun with this one. Obviously I have plans for Tetsuo and Miaka (evil grin). And so do the Four gods for the rest. Chiriko was fun to explore as most often look over him. So was Miboshi. Least looked at character of the series, as well as Ashitare. Quickest deaths too :P Hiroshi is becoming an enigma to me; he has no soul link to the book world, yet he is a son of Suzaku no Miko and Tamahome's reincarnation. I think that entitles him to a piece of the celestial pie, so to speak.
I may be seen as overlooking Taka, having him die so early in this story, and I am more of a Tasuki fan, but I still see him as a rational, gentle human being. I hope I wind up doing him alittle bit of justice.

Til next time! Much appreciation to you all.

Most sincerely
Pen Rose 10/05/08