Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ How I fell in love with your silence ❯ 2. Slowly changing ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

2. Slowly changing

Two weeks had come and gone by already since Sakura first had stepped in that world. After talking to the boys who’d saved her, she learned that, apparently, she had somehow gone back in time and traveled to Ancient China, either that or she was in a different dimension entirely.
According to Koji, her “part-time tutor”, there were four main territories: Kutou, to the East; Hokkan, to the North; Sairou, to the West; and, where she currently was, Konan, in the South. Each territory had its own deity – a god, so to speak. Seiryuu, Genbu, Byakko and Suzaku respectively.
Seiryuu was the god of spring and metal. It took the form of a giant azure dragon and it was a war-related deity who usually had trouble getting along with its other companions. Genbu belonged to the winter season and its element was water. It made sense because it took the form of a giant turtle, carrying a serpent on its back. Byakko took the form of a white tiger and it was the god of autumn and gold. Lastly, Suzaku was the god of summer and fire, a magnificent phoenix-like bird who was cherished by couples and lovers.
When Koji told her about Suzaku, the pieces of the puzzle clicked together inside Sakura’s head. Suzaku had been the one to bring her into the book. The god of love. But with what purpose? Koji clearly didn’t believe her story, so she couldn’t exactly ask him and even if he did, she was sure he wouldn’t know what to answer.
No matter how hard she tried, many of the pieces still wouldn’t click together.
Sakura and Genrou didn’t talk much when they were alone. A few words now and again but, other than that, nothing more. It suited her fine because she was uncomfortable talking to boys. However, Genrou would often come next to her looking as if he wanted to tell her something before changing his mind at the last second and storming away.
It was… dare she say it, endearing. Still strange, of course.  She had grown fond of him that week. Genrou might not have been the most chatter of the box, but he was very kind. Whenever Sakura would try to cook – and try because she had never cooked in her life –, he would always gulp down everything she’d make, even if it tasted horribly. If he’d notice her moping around, staring out the window thinking of her sister and sighing, Genrou was quick to make her do chores or something distractive to get her out of that mood.
Those little things touched her heart against her will, and she could feel herself warming up to him. Of course he still kept a distant relation with her but, thanks to his small gestures and willingness to start a conversation, Sakura knew it wasn’t out of hate or disdain. It was just the way he was.  
Koji wasn’t as distant as Genrou and, though he would only come by once in a while, they had become good friends. Everything she had learned from that world, she had from him. She was worried that she might’ve been bothering him with her curiosity at first, but Koji was excited to have someone looking up to him like Sakura did, like he was an intellectual.
They would spend hours talking about anything, just getting to know each other. Sakura was constantly surprised with the little new things she’d find out about him every day, even when she thought she had him all figured out already.
They seemed like really close friends – Genrou and Koji, that is. Sakura had considered the possibility of them being brothers or related. Genrou was quick to correct her, though. They had grown up together, but they were just best friends and part of the same bandits’ guild.
When Sakura was found out that Genrou, the man she was living with, was a bandit, the rightful leader of a guild at that, she was more than a little frightened. She had been robbed once, in the street she used to take from her high school to her house. It had been a traumatizing experience and she hadn’t been able to get out of her bedroom for almost a month, too scared to face the outside world. She eventually grew out of her fear but she still remembered how the robber had gripped her waist and put a knife against her throat, threatening to harm her if she didn’t give away all her money.
Genrou easily saw through her hesitance and the way she would jump whenever he’d call her. He might’ve not been a genius but it didn’t take him long to catch up to what was wrong. So, one day, after he had just gotten back from his last trip to the village, Genrou dragged her outside and dropped a dagger in her hand, saying he was going to teach her how to use it if it made her feel safer. Sakura was against all kinds of weapons – a born pacifist – but she couldn’t say no to his offer, especially because he only wanted to put an end to her worries.
Sometimes the two of them would spend hours training, just outside Genrou’s place. No matter how clumsy and terrible she was Genrou was always surprisingly patient, except when he’d unintentionally snap at her. Sakura got used to it fast though, and, after a while, it stopped bothering her. He would always end up apologizing… in his own way at least.
When they weren’t training, Genrou was nowhere at the house. Sakura had no idea where he disappeared to or what he did during that time. However, something was always the same when he got back: the stoic expression on his face. Wherever he went, it seemed to worry him.
This was one of those days.
Sakura was laying on the bed, it was now hers because Genrou had refused to let her sleep on the floor (although he didn’t exactly say it, just said that he liked the floor better). She had a yellowish piece of parchment in front of her and, to spend time, she was drawing a star-filled sky. Sakura had always liked stars; they were twinkling little specks of beauty.
By the time the sun began to set, she was already giving her final touches to the drawing when Genrou came in. He looked stoic as usual, but his face softened after taking one glance at her. Even if he didn’t want to admit to himself, Sakura looked really cute with her legs up and her hair fanning around her as she expertly swept the brush across the parchment. It didn’t seem like she had noticed him arriving, her eyes hadn’t strayed from the task.
A spark of curiosity flickered in him. What’s she drawin’?
He walked over to the bed and peered over her shoulders, careful as not to disturb her. He was surprised from what he saw. The starry sky Sakura had drawn with Chinese ink was one of the most beautiful artworks he’d ever seen. It rivaled a professional’s work.
“Wow,” he breathed, startling Sakura to death. She sat up so fast that her drawing fell off the bed. Genrou quickly picked it before the fresh ink could be ruined. “Sorry, didn’t mean t’ scare ya. You did this?”
Sakura nodded, accepting her work from his hands as he handed it back to her.
“It’s real good, ya know? I mean, not that I know anythin’ ‘bout art but it looks real pretty,” Genrou mumbled. Sakura smiled in return. “Ya like stars?” She nodded cheerfully. “I heard someone in town sayin’ there’s gonna be a star shower t’night… ya wanna watch it? The roof’s got a pretty good view…”
Her smile widened into an ear-to-ear grin. Genrou blushed a little but, deep down, felt happy to be the one making her smile like that.
They walked outside as soon as night fell over the mountain. After climbing on the rooftop, Genrou pulled Sakura up, trying not to grab her too hard, and helped her settle down. He took a seat by her right, next.
Genrou fell back, crossing his arms behind his head, and Sakura followed the example. She scanned the skies with her eyes in amazement. The sky was different from the one she often saw from her window. There were so many constellations and stars she didn’t know… One in particular caught her attention. She felt drawn by its orange color.
Hesitantly, Sakura poked the bandit’s shoulder to call him. Genrou slightly shifted his head, looking at her with an annoyance.
“What?” Sakura pointed towards the constellation she was staring at in a silent question. He couldn’t help but to break into a smirk. “Those are the eight Warriors o’ Suzaku an’ that one – the one yer pointin’ at – is Tasuki.”
“Tasuki?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“What about that one?” Sakura asked as she then gestured to the constellation right next to Tasuki.
“That’s Nagisai, the sixth warrior an’… Tasuki’s lover…” Genrou’s voice dropped into a bitter tone, confusing her. She looked up at him quizzically and he chuckled, shaking his head. “Ya see, there’s this legend my folk use t’ tell, ‘bout a thief who fell in love with a beautiful princess. They said the two o’ them met when the thief assaulted the palace. He was supposed t’ get into the imperial room, grab the golden crown o’ the emperor an’ get the hell outta there. It was as simple as that, but, on the way out, the guards saw ‘im, so, t’ lose them, he hid in the princess’s bedroom. When he turned ‘round, the thief saw the princess sittin’ by the window and, they say, they fell in love from the moment their eyes met. The thief thought she was gonna turn ‘im in an’ took his sword out t’ defend ‘imself, but the princess smiled, jokin’ that he could take her jewelry too if he wanted.”
Sakura’s eyes grew big, her mind already deep into the tale.
“What a brave princess,” she said, impressed.
“Ahh that’s what the thief thought too.” Genrou smiled, proud to have gotten her attention so quickly. “He was so impressed by her attitude that he went back the next day. An’ the day after, an’ the next, an’ so on. Little by little they engaged a secret romance. But the emperor found out an’ forbade them t’ ever see each other ever again. The thief an’ the princess went against his orders; they ran away together an’ settled down in a quiet village. Unfortunately, soon after, the imperial guards tracked them down. They had orders t’ kill just the thief, so they did – they killed ‘im right in front of the princess. When the guards tried t’ take her away, she struggled t’ get free an’ kneeled down by the thief’s body, crying ‘til she had no voice. Heartbroken, the princess grabbed her lover’s sword an’ pierced it through her heart.”
“Suzaku,” he continued, “the god o’ love, took pity on them, warmed t’ the core by such devotion. He turned them both into the constellations Tasuki and Nagisai so that they could always be together, even after death. See that string, right there?” Sakura nodded. “It’s there to connect them – to bind them forever.”
Sakura shoke his shoulder, to get Genrou to look at her, and said, “that’s called the red string of fate (1).”
“String o’ fate… tsk.” Genrou snapped his tongue. “Everythin’ just a load o’ bullshit if ya ask me. As if a thief like Tasuki would fall for a creature as horrible as a woman.”
His words tugged at her heart more than she was willing to admit to herself. She had already heard him say, more than once in fact, that women were nothing but trouble. It was obvious he didn’t like them. However, actually hearing him say it so bluntly, and obviously not concerned about her at all, stung Sakura’s feelings.
If he hated women so much, why had he let her stay at his place with him? Why hadn’t he just let her go away when she was willing to? It was silly to think Genrou felt like he had any kind of obligation towards her because Koji had told her a hundred times that he had been the one to save her from the woods. Genrou had no type of connection with her… then why was he still holding on to her and being so kind?
It didn’t make sense.
“Hey, look!”
Sitting up, she glanced up at the sky and the display she met marveled her. Thousands of stars fell across the sky, showering over their heads like a silver rain of endless beauty. Sakura had heard of meteor showers from her Astronomy teacher but this, she guessed, was not a normal shower. There were so many of them; it felt as if every star in the sky was falling over the world.
The wind suddenly picked up. Sakura relished on the happiness she felt while witnessing such wonderful show, feeling the cool wind caressing her face. At that moment, she felt nearly like flying.
“Beautiful ain’t it, Sakura?”
Her heart did a flip in her chest. Sakura – he had called her Sakura. He had never called her name before. He would usually just address to her by girl or hey you.
Sakura peered at him over her shoulder, nodding and giving him her happiest most beautiful smile. And, for a split second, it was Genrou’s heart leaping. Her hair was flying in every direction, her cheeks were pink, her eyes had never looked so bright… and, he thought, the star shower suddenly paled in comparison.
Sakura was the most splendid thing he had ever seen.
Dear Suzaku, he thought, his eyes widening in realization, could it that I don’t hate women after all?




(A/N: Okay just so you know, the real “Tasuki” constellation, which is actually called Crater, doesn’t have any other near it or at least not any that might look like tied together – Nagisai was completely made up by me. Moreover, the “Princess and the Thief” tale is also a product of my imagination.)

A couple days later, Genrou was still struggling with his dilemma. All of a sudden, he wasn’t quite so sure whether or not he hated women. When he had last visited the village, he tried to go into the women’s tea house and, right after going in, he had already had enough of it. His body still went numb cold and he still felt unbearably annoyed whenever any of them would open their mouths, even if just to say hello.
He had decided it better to stay clear from Sakura. Well, as clearer as he could, taking in account that they did live under the same roof and half their time was spent together. It was beginning to worry Sakura, though, because she had no idea what she had done wrong. She really thought things were going fine with the two of them.
One afternoon, Sakura, tired of being cooped up inside the house, decided to wait outside for Genrou to get back from wherever he went when he went out. She was sitting on an old wooden box near the door.
By the sun, Genrou should be coming soon. Almost as if he had heard her, Genrou’s tall and lean silhouette quickly appeared the stairs leading to the top of the mountain.
Genrou groaned inwardly when he noticed her. He was supposed to be avoiding her, couldn’t she get the message? He had thought he was being rather obvious about it.
"Hey," he dimly greeted, waving a hand. Sakura jumped to her feet and stomped towards him. Once she had stopped him, she gestured to her clothes and her skin, doing some washing-movements. “Ya wanna take a bath?” She nodded enthusiastically. “Well… I suppose I can take ya t’ the spring… I could use some cleanin’ myself. Come on.”
Genrou lead her down the mountain, keeping a steady rhythm, but he soon noticed that Sakura was having a hard time keeping up with his long strides and was tripping over everything while trying to catch up. Blushing furiously, Genrou picked her up bridal-style and ran, his amazing speed getting them there in no time.
Sakura was so surprised when her feet were swept off the floor, she didn’t even remembered to protest against it. Well this was different. She thought he was keeping his distance.
The spring was in a little clearing, away from the village but close enough from their house. It wasn’t very large and there was a rock in the middle of the water. A couple bushes had grown too much and some of the heaviest branches were falling down, the leaves dipping in.
Genrou dropped her unceremoniously to her feet, ignoring her glare.
"I'll be waitin’ by the trees ‘till ya finish, ‘kay? Try not t' take too long," he said, walking off.
After making sure he really wasn’t peeking, Sakura undid the bow around her waist. Her white kimono-dress slid down her shoulders, pooling around her feet on the ground. She sunk in the water, relishing in its lukewarm temperature and delicious sensation as it enveloped her skin. Then, when her body had gotten relaxed and comfortable, Sakura started with her hair.
A little further in the forest, Genrou was impatiently pacing back and forth. He wanted to take a bath too, but he figured Sakura would be there for a while. His sisters used to take hours washing their hair.
Genrou sighed dejectedly. Then, he noticed the towel was still with him. He groaned loudly in frustration.
“Dammit! Why the heck didn’t I remember t’ leave it there?!” He vented out to the silent forest. “What the hell am I supposed t’ do now?!”
He contemplated his options. First, he thought he could just stay where he was and let her fend for herself, but that seemed a bit too cruel. Then, he considered if he should go back there.
Well, that seemed like the only valid option.
Genrou returned to the clearing. Before stepping into it, he politely covered his eyes and called her out.
"Sakura? It's me, you uh... forgot yer towel! Can I open my eyes or are ya... are ya... uh..." He stumbled a little in his words. Awkward situations really took the best out of him.
A pebble hit him the forehead. Genrou took it as a confirmation, so he uncovered his eyes. His cheeks, already beat red, went even redder. She might’ve not been stark naked but she wasn't exactly entirely covered either. She had her bare arms crossed over her chest to hide it, yet it was still showing some cleavage, and her smooth white skin was sparkling with the last beams of sun falling over the drops of water.
Damn it be Suzaku! Genrou gulped loudly. He took a couple more steps towards the spring and dropped the sloppily folded towel near the edge.
"Ya gonna take much longer?" He covered up his embarrassment with annoyance. "I need t' clean up too."
Sakura went thoughtful for a moment or two, before gesturing to the water and Genrou. "You can bathe with me, if you want to", she was telling him, her cheeks flushing bright pink.
"What?! Have ya gone mental? There's no way I'm gettin' in there while yer still in it!" He panicked. Sakura smiled fondly and swam to the rock in the middle of the spring, partially hiding behind it so that it served as barrier. Genrou hesitated first. "Oh... well... huh… I guess it's fine if it’s like that... but ya gotta turn around!"
Of course she did.
Sakura heard the thud of his clothes plopping to the ground. Suddenly, it became hard for her to breath, it only got worse when Genrou came inside with a loud splash. Her heart was pounding so harshly in her chest, she wondered if he wouldn’t be able to hear it. She sneaked a peak over the rock, only to have a fright with the pair of golden eyes accusingly staring at her. She quickly turned back, hiding her blushing face in her hands in sheer embarrassment.
It stayed silent between them, except for the occasional rustling in the water when one of them would wash themselves. Not an awkward silence, though, rather a comfortable one.
"Ya know... this is kinda nice..." Genrou confessed after a while, surprising her. "Maybe it's 'cause ya can’t talk, but yer not like those other annoyin’ girls. Most o' the time, it's almost like yer not even there... Were ya born like that?" Sakura nodded as he shifted a little watching her face fall. "An' ya don't like it, do ya?" She fiercely shoke her head. Genrou's eyes softened in compassion. "You will definitely talk one day, because I’ll find yer voice fer ya, Sakura. I promise, so don’t be sad, a’ight?"
His words made her heart burn hot. No one had ever promised to give her back her voice – not even her siblings.
Overwhelmed by her feelings, Sakura went around the rock and took Genrou's big hand in her small one, not once flinching with its strange warmth. She thought Genrou would push her away, or scold her, but instead he gripped her hand tighter and looked up to the slowly darkening sky.
Unbeknownst by the two of them, the two symbols in their forearms (Sakura's left and Genrou's right) glowed with a strange, yet divine, red light. Unbeknownst by them, their meeting was far from being a mere coincidence. Yes, because Suzaku, himself, was guiding that girl like he was guiding his Priestess.

About an hour, later Genrou decided to get out. Sakura, however, stayed in for a while longer, enjoying the tranquility of the water. Meanwhile he cleaned their clothes, lit a small fire and put them out to dry. As he did this, though, Genrou kept stealing glances in Sakura’s direction. Even in the dark, he could see the contours of her body, the reflection of her red hair...
He shook his head, blushing. Why am I thinkin' like this? 'S not like I like her or anythin'.  
His clothes dried faster, so he hurriedly put them on. But there was still one problem: Sakura's kimono would still take some time draying off, and it seemed like she wanted to get out. With a resigned sigh, Genrou took his off his jacket, reached it forward, opened it and looked the other way as she got out and patted herself dry with the towel.
"Yer clothes are dryin', 'kay? I hope ya don't mind wearin' my jacket fer a few minutes," he said after she had dressed the piece of clothe far too big for her. Genrou had never really noticed before but Sakura was very small, he would even say almost frail-looking.
They sat by the fire in silence – Genrou on one side and Sakura on another. Whenever he would sneak a look at her, she would be staring the fire in deep thought. For once, Genrou actually wished to know what was going through her head, what she was thinking and feeling. Even with her brows furred in concentration, Sakura still was the most beautiful girl he had seen in his life... and he had met a lot of women – hence why he disliked them so much, they all brought him trouble.
Genrou moved to sit by her side. The movement caught Sakura’s attention. She looked back at him quizzically.
"Ne, Sakura... what're ya always thinkin' 'bout? I never really asked ya, but Koji told me somethin' about how ya got here through some book.... wanna talk ‘bout it?"
Sakura launched herself in an animated and complicated gesturing, giving her best to get him to understand and, at the same time, praying that he would believe her instead of making fun of her like Koji. Throughout the explanation, Genrou kept on nodding. There was a long pause when she finished, where he considered everything.
That close, Sakura had the perfect chance to observe his face clearly. As the youngest of her family, Sakura was never one to be around with boys and she never quite thought about them either. Even though she didn’t pay attention to boys, she thought Genrou was very handsome. His face was smooth and softly shaped with gentle lines and a strong jaw. His lips might’ve not been full but they matched him and Sakura knew, for a fact, that, when they stretched into a grin, they would show a pair of sharp fangs. The color of his eyes was mesmerizingly gold, with just the faintest tint of dark green, an unique but splendid combination.
I’ve never really noticed before, but he really is gorgeous.
"I believe ya," he suddenly said, startling her. She awed at him, him returning the look with a smirk. "Ya don't seem the type that would lie an' I've seen my share o' strange things so yeah… I believe it. It also explains those strange clothes ya were wearin'. What were those anyway? They common in yer world?" She chuckled and moved her hands around, his gaze attentively following all of her movements. "Fer school? Ya have t' wear uniforms fer school? That’s stupid!"
Sakura wondered about his school, watching amused as Genrou winced.
"Ugh, don't even remind me! Ya think it's a just coincidence that I ended up becomin’ a thief? School wasn't fer me, I hated it – all o’ it. There were people tellin' me what t' do, how t' do it, what was right an' what was wrong... I was never one t' follow orders t' begin with, so I jumped into the first chance t' leave town I got."
Sakura’s curiosity spiked. Didn't he have any family? Why would he want so badly to leave his hometown just to escape school? Seeing as she was getting so good at making up signs, she decided to ask him.
"O' course I had a family. I wasn’t born out o’ thin air. Had a big one too actually: a mother, a father an' five freekin’ annoyin' sisters." Sakura's mouth opened in a small 'o'; now she knew why he disliked women. Genrou continued, "they really made my life a livin' hell. All my mother did was boss me ‘round, an' my sisters were always tellin' me t' do this an’ that fer them. I was ecstatic to be gettin’ outta there."
"Don't you miss them?"  
Genrou snickered. "Psh, as if. I'm kinda like a lone wolf, I guess. I like bein' on my own." This time he didn’t miss the hurt passing through Sakura’s eyes before she looked the other way. He got nervous. "I-I... look... I didn't mean it like that! I honestly didn't! Yer different, Sakura, one o' the few people I like havin' around."
Sakura timidly lifted her eyes to meet his. There was nothing but sincerity swimming inside of them. Eventually she smiled, pushing a piece of her hair behind her ear.
They settled into a comfortable silence after that. This time, however, was different, because when Genrou had leaned back into his hands, he had unconsciously left enough room for Sakura to be slightly nested into the warmth of his body.
Things between them had already began to change.