Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Kaleidoscope ❯ Forgotten Love ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: My first author's note… I'm so proud! The only thing I really have to say is that I am in need of a BETA, desperately. So, if this is riddled with mistakes, please forgive me, for I have yet to find someone to edit it for me. This is only rated M for mild swearing, and a lemon later on. Nothing to severe, well, I don't think so at least.

Disclaimer: The only things I own are my OC's, I wish I owned Hotohori, maybe even Tasuki, but, alas, I do not.

Names and Pronunciations:

Ami- Trustworthy (Ah-Mee)

Yuki- Snow, Luck (U-Key)

 

Kaleidoscope

Chapter One

 

Yuki gave a sigh, slamming her Algebra book closed in frustration. In all honesty, who really cared what a-1b2/ab x a2b3/b-2 was anyway? (The answer is b6) Her head was pounding, it was two in the morning, and she was tired. Her stereo was playing in the background; music from the soundtrack of Wicked, which often helped her think. But not tonight, or rather, this morning. Her black cat, Yoda, was asleep on her bed, and was looking much more inviting than her Algebra homework to say the least. “Aw, screw this. Guess it'd be better to be awake in class and not have my homework, than be asleep and have it.” And with that logic, Yuki rose and walked over to the bed she had pressed in a corner.

 

Her apartment room was a mess. It was the only thought her sleepless brain could make out as she crossed the room, stumbling slightly over the various trinkets and clothed scattered upon the hardwood floors. It had been a blessing that she didn't trip, fall, and land on her but with the grace of a small elephant, as she had on numerous occasions, with her natural born grace. Yuki literally fell into her bed, the warmth of the coverlet threatening to swallow her as she fell into a deep, oblivious sleep.

 

She didn't know how much later it was that she awoke, her head still pounding furiously, Yoda determinedly asleep on her chest. Yuki looked down her nose at the sleeping cat, mentally cursing his unusual habits. He always loved to be on her when either of them slept, and could never settle for being next to her. Yuk assumed that he simply enjoyed annoying her. Or he was just a damn cat pervert. The latter seemed unlikely, but he was human enough in all of his other aspects, was it not possible for him to be a pervert? Yuki shook her head violently and pushed the heavy cat off her, throwing her covers aside. Yoda shot her a very hurt look and streaked off to glare at her from beneath a table.

 

She had left her stereo on the previous night, and it was now playing the beginning cords of Thank Goodness. “How nice.” Yuki mumbled dryly, throwing her legs over the side of her bed and standing on wobbly feet. She could tell by the way light rain gathered on the window beside her bed, by the particular way her light flickered, and the fact that she tripped half way to her dresser and landed on her face, that it was going to be a very long day. The girl opened the top drawer of her dresser and pulled out a pair of ripped cargo pants and a soft white turtle neck sweater.

 

Yuki hummed half-heartedly with the music, pulling on the loose fitting pants and the skin tight sweater. Deciding not to bother with her hair too much, she ran her brush through her short red brown locks while walking into the room the served as a kitchen.

 

Her humming turned to soft singing as she removed a packet of oatmeal from her pantry and poured it into a bowl. Walking over to her mini refrigerator, Yuki pulled out the jug of milk, and made a mental note that she needed to buy more. Pouring the last of the milk into the bowl with the powdered oatmeal, she tossed the empty jug carelessly into the trash can beside the sink. After putting the bowl into the microwave, Yuki left the room to change the CD, as the current one was giving her a headache.

 

As she was walking past her desk, something caught her eye. A small, flaming red book, with Chinese figures across the front. Though she was certain she had never seen it before in her life, the book was laying haphazardly across the clutter of the desk as if she had placed it there herself. Her curiosity piqued, Yuki turned to face the desk, one hand reaching out to touch the book. It was strangely warm to the touch when she picked it up, and she nearly dropped the book in surprise. Running her fingertips over the insignias on the cover, Yuki was again surprised, as she found she could read them perfectly.

 

“The Universe of the Four Gods?” Yuki questioned softly, flipping the book over in her hands as she walked back into the kitchen. “Where did you come from?” Her eyebrows knitted as she saw that the back was completely blank, as was every single page except for the title page, which held the same words as the cover. She let out a frustrated sigh. What was the point of finding a fascinating book if there was nothing in it? Yuki placed the book on her kitchen table and walked over to the microwave, where her warm breakfast was waiting for her.

 

As she ate, her eyes were fixed on the book that lay innocently across the table from her. It looked harmless enough. Hell, it was a book, how could it be anything but harmless? Even so, there was still the matter of how it had gotten there, and how she could read the title if she had never taken a single lesson on anything to do with China, unless you count seventh grade history. Yuki was certain that she had never seen the book before in her life, but then, how, just how had it gotten to her room, to her des of all places?

 

Yoda sprang on top of the table at that exact moment, just as he did every morning, to beg for food. As his green eyes fell upon the book, however, Yoda gave a very un-Yoda like hiss and leapt away again, his ears pinned to the back of his head. Now Yuki knew something was definitely wrong with the book. Yoda only hissed when he was seriously pissed, or seriously afraid. Either one seemed a pretty good reason for her to be scared of the book. If it could scare or anger her fearless feline, there was no telling what it could do to her.

 

The book was even warmed as she picked it up again, this time much more cautiously, and it even seemed to pulsate a strange sort of energy. She brushed it off as her imagination, however. No book, no matter how strange, could radiate heat and `pulsate energy'. After tossing the book into her bag, Yuki threw it over her shoulder, fastening the clasp. Yoda slinked out from under her bed to look at her worriedly, green eyes filled with an unspoken concern. “I'll be fine, silly. I'm just going to the library to see someone about this strange book, and then I'll go to class. I'll see you in a few hours.” Despite her reassuring words to her cat, Yuki couldn't help but feel uneasy as she let the apartment, slamming the door behind her.

 

The wind whipped her hair into her face as she walked the blustery streets, trying her best to stay under shop signs and avoid the rain. She tried to ignore the growing heat of the book against her leg, considerable hot even through the thick fabric of the bag. Finally, Yuki stopped, and pulled the book out of the bag, staring at it in wonder and confusion. The symbols on the cover had begun to glow red, still reading the same words The Universe of the Four Gods. With her brow furrowed, Yuki crossed the street, her eyes focused on the book, and paying no real attention to what she was doing.

 

The book grew white hot in her hand, and Yuki stopped dead, in the middle of the street. A horn blared, tires screeched, and Yuki felt herself being flung into the air. She landed a few feet away on the pavement, with a sickening crack, the book laying next to her. Through a haze of pain, she could hear words being whispered all around her, not from the crowd of people gathered around her, but from some other place. Then, there was an almost blinding flash of red light, warm, and all around her. And then, she knew no more.

 

--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--

 

The sun was shining through the open window, letting in the welcoming summer warmth. Birds could he herd outside, singing their praises to the morning. Silky sheets rested across her body. And her head hurt like hell. Yuki's eyes fluttered open, and she found herself in the biggest, most elaborate room she had ever seen in her life.

 

Rich wooden floors were her ground and matching furniture adorned the room. A tall armoire stood in the corner and a small dresser was next to it. A little nightstand stood next to the bed with a few lit candles. A small metal basin filled with water sat on the stand. The headboard of the bed was intricately carved with flower and leaf designs. An open door led to what she guessed to be a closet. The main door led to the hall. There was no glass in the window, just some silk curtains that blew gently in the breeze.

 

Yuki was unable to finish her musings, as right then, a small woman entered the room, looking frazzled and stressed, to say the least. In normal circumstances, she would have been very motherly and kind looking, her black hair drawn back into a bun to keep it out of her face. But stressed like that, she reminded Yuki of her mother, which wasn't a good thing. The woman sighed and looked over to where Yuki was. Yuki opened her mouth to ask her where she was, and the woman looked like she was on the verge of a heart attack.

 

“I'm not dead.” Yuki murmured, more to herself than the woman. The woman tensed, jumped, and then gave Yuki a look of pure delight.

 

“Of course you're not dead. Oh, His Majesty will be so pleased when he sees you've woken up!” She gushed, laving the room once again and not caring that he left her behind. Well, at least that wasn't strange… Yuki thought dryly, sitting up as best she could, feeling like someone was attacking her had with a jackhammer. It seemed that as soon as the woman had left, she was back again, apparently through with screaming her head off, and ready to tell her where the hell she was. Huffing slightly, the woman made her way to Yuki's bedside, taking a cloth from the water basin, and pressing it to her forehead. “How are you feeling milady?” The woman questioned gently, joy still evident through her sparkling brown eyes.

 

Milady? Yuki thought, this woman must be senile. “Like I was hit by a truck,” she replied sarcastically, knowing that she actually had been hit by a truck, “Where am I anyway? This is to grand to be a hospital, am I in someone's house?” The woman looked confused, her eyebrows nearly touching as she lifted the cloth and pressed a soft hand to her forehead.

 

“What is a truck?” The woman asked, putting the cloth back into the basin, “you are in Konan, milady. What's a hospital? And this is the house of the emperor, your husband.” Yuki's heart nearly stopped. This woman honestly had no idea what a truck or hospital were. And Konan, where was that? Wasn't it some country in China? The emperor, her husband? Yuki could honestly say, as forgetful as she was, that she would remember if she was married.

 

“Husband? I can't be married, I'm only seventeen. Who are you? What are you talking about?” A thousand questions ran through her brain all at once, threatening to swallow her in a mass of confusion.

 

“I can assure you, he is your husband. His majesty has been worried sick about you, and hasn't left your side since you were found a week ago.” When Yuki still looked confused, the woman sighed. “You really can't remember, can you? My name is Ami, and I've been your caretaker since you were two.” Yuki felt something lie guilt surge through her. This woman, Ami, looked so hurt, so heartbroken that she didn't know her, that she didn't remember.

 

“By my side the whole time, eh? Where is he now, then?” She questioned stubbornly, still not willing to believe that she was in China, and had a husband who was an emperor. Maybe she was in heaven, and this was all an elaborate joke being played on her by all of the angels. Okay, that was stupid. But it seemed more logical than accepting the fact that she had been thrown how ever many years into the past, and was being told she was an empress.

 

“I'm right here, are you unwell?” Came a soft, worried sounding baritone from the doorway. Yuki's head snapped to see where the voice had come from, and almost immediately after decided that sudden movement was not such a good thing. The man, for it was a man, was tall, and very handsome. His long black hair was barley restrained by a white silk ribbon, tied loosely in a pony tail and thrown over his shoulder. A few of the soft looking strands hung in his golden eyes, which were shining with concern, and… love?

 

“Of course I'm `unwell' you idiot. I've just been unconscious for God knows how long, my head hurts, I have no idea where I am, and I don't know who any of you people are.” She ranted, closing her eyes and raising her voice slightly to the beautiful man. Yuki was now in no mood for this, she was tired, she was hungry, and she desperately wanted to go home. She even wanted to have Yoda here with her, laying on her stomach again. A weight was placed on the edge of the bed she was laying on, which was large enough for at least three people, and another hand was placed on her face. Long, very soft fingers caressed the side of her face, sending light little tingles through her body. Almost regretfully, Yuki opened her eyes and stared into the warm, gold ones of this strange man. “Where am I?” She asked again, her voice softer.

 

“You are in the royal palace in Konan, love. You've been unconscious for nearly a month. I was so frightened I would lose you.” He whispered, drawing Yuki into a sweet embrace that made her hiss with pain.

 

“Who are you?” Yuki questioned, as the man buried his face in her hair. Upon hearing her question, he pulled back, his hands on her upper arms, sun kissed eyes holding genuine traces of hurt. He scanned her face, as if making completely sure that she was who he thought she was, before he told her his name.

 

“I am Hotohori, and you are my wife.” Yuki felt another pang of regret. This was the man the woman, who was standing of to the side, had been saying was her husband. He certainly was handsome, and even more beautiful than herself. And there was something about him that was so familiar, something about the way his voice sounded, about the way he looked at her. Something in the very back of her mind telling her that she should remember him, know him. But she didn't.

 

“I'm sorry, but I've never seen you before in my life.” He slowly let her go, and she fell back onto the pillows, her eyes still watching the crestfallen man, Hotohori, he called himself.

 

“Ami, what's wrong with her? Why can't she remember us?” His voice was cracked, and it seemed like he was holding back tears. This man, Hotohori, must really love whoever he thought she was. But she was sure it wasn't her. If it was, she would have some sort of memory of him, wouldn't she?

 

“Look, I'm real sorry about this, I guess you must have the wrong girl…” Hotohori, who had his back turned to her and was conversing with Ami in a low voice, whipped around, fire in his eyes. He was scary when he was angry, and Yuki cowered beneath his gaze, not entirely sure what she had done to anger him so. His gaze softened as he looked upon her, and he seated himself on the edge of her bed, stroking her hair.

 

“I know this must be very confusing, if you truly don't remember me, but I assure you, you are the woman I married. Don't ever doubt that, and don't ever doubt that I love you. If you need time to remember, I will give you that. But you will remember. I know you will.” He spoke kindly, yet, his tone sounded more like he was convincing himself more than her. He pressed a light kiss to her forehead and swept out of the room, crimson and silver robes swirling around his figure as he went. Ami left soon after, blowing out each light, and wishing her a good night before leaving the room as well, closing the door behind her.

 

Yuki closed her eyes and tried to sleep. But she found that she couldn't. Too much had happened in the last twenty four hours for her to possibly sleep, no matter how exhausted she was. She had found a strange book that glowed, got hit by a car, and suddenly found herself here, where some beautiful emperor claimed she was his wife. If that wasn't a full day, she didn't know what was. He was so kind, so hopeful, so loving towards her that even after only a few moments of knowing him, it hurt to let him down.

 

It was all too much. Right now, all she really wanted was to crawl into a hole and never have to think again. Perhaps she would wake up and find that this was all some very strange dream. Find that she was really in a hospital, surrounded by her friends and family. Maybe even wake to find her fat lump of a cat sleeping soundly on top of her, as he had that morning, as if the whole thing had never happened.

 

She suddenly remembered something. Yoda had known. He had known there was something strange about the book, had warned her about it even, and she had ignored him, brushing it off as him being stupid. And now look where she was; trying to sleep in a huge, unfamiliar bed, in a huge, unfamiliar country, with a tall, unfamiliar man claiming that she was his wife. The damn cat had been right.

 

With a defeated sigh, Yuki slowly scooted herself so that her back was against the wall, and fell into a fitful sleep, dreaming of men with long hair and beautiful golden eyes.

 

--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--

 

“Yuki. Come on love, you must wake up now.” She shifted beneath the heavy blankets and opened one eye experimentally. A beautiful face peered down at her, a kind smile plastered across it. Her other eye opened, and she rolled over in the bed to face the man she knew was the one she had met earlier, Hotohori. “I have food for you when you're ready, though I'm sure your thoroughly hungry after not eating for so long.” And he was right. She was absolutely famished.

 

Sitting up, she caught sight of a tray sitting in his lap, burdened heavily with breads, rice, and fruit; some of her favorites. She gratefully accepted it when Hotohori placed the tray in her lap, and began to eat almost immediately. She was so hungry, and she had never tasted anything better in her life, but she still had questions. The man, Hotohori, who had brought her food, was now just sitting and watching her eat, making her uncomfortable. “Um, is there any particular reason why you're staring at me… Your Highness?” She asked, remembering that he was supposed to be an emperor.

 

He looked down at her questioningly, a small grin playing across his face. “Does is bother you? I'll leave if you'd like me to. And please, you must call me Hotohori.”

 

“No, don't leave. I just find it hard to eat when people stare at me. It makes me uncomfortable.” Yuki admitted sheepishly, turning a lovely shade of chartreuse. It had always been one of her pet peeves; people watching her eat, but telling an emperor not to stare at her seemed a bit different than telling her sister not too.

 

“All right, I'll close my eyes,” she could tell her was joking with her, but she closed in eyes anyway, as to not look at her. Yuki giggled and chucked a strawberry at him, which hit him directly in the forehead. He opened a brilliantly golden eye to glare at her. “You know the punishment for throwing food at the emperor?” His voice was suddenly serious, and she became frightened. Had she seriously offended him? Was he going to kill her now?

 

He rose, eyes fixed on her, a serious stormy expression fixed on his handsome face, and removed the tray from her lap. The emperor bent down so that their noses were almost touching, and she could feel his warm breath on her chin and neck. Suddenly, she felt his hands at her sides, tickling her mercilessly. Yuki let out a yelp of surprised laughter and began to squirm, begging him in between gasps and laughs to stop. “I don't think so. You must be punished for your offence.”

 

“YOUR HIGHNESS!” Both people froze at the sound of a screeching voice coming from the doorway. Hotohori turned to look at who Yuki realized was the woman from earlier, Ami. She had astern look on her face, and was glaring directly at Hotohori. “You were to give her the food and then leave. She does not need this extraneous activity just after all that has happened. I know that she is your wife, but you really must think of her health. Do you want her to faint again?” She scolded, walking briskly over and taking the tray from the foot of the bed. “My lady, I suggest you get some more rest. However good you may feel, your body has yet to fully recover. I'm sure by tomorrow you'll be back up an about, but for now, rest.”

 

Hotohori sent a resentful look at her retreating back, but settled into his chair nonetheless. “Sorry I got you into trouble.” Yuki apologized, resting her head back against the mound of pillows behind her.

 

“I'm not in trouble. Ami is just, overprotective, when it comes to you. Come to think of it, so am I. But I think she is right. You have food in you, and now I think a bit more rest is the best thing for you. I'll see you in the morning.” He bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead as he had before, then made to leave.

 

“No. Hotohori, wait. Will you… will you stay with me? Just until I fall asleep. I mean, I'm really not sure of anything right now, an I think I'd feel better if you were here and…” He cut her off with a finger pressed to her lips.

 

“Anything for you. I'll watch over you until you're asleep.” Yuki sighed and snuggled into her covers, It was nice knowing that there was someone in this strange place that really cared about her. She still wasn't sure where she was, or who any of the people she had met were, but there was one thing that she knew for sure. This wonderful man, who she had only known for a few short hours, truly and genuinely cared about her.

 

FIN

(For Now)