Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Stalking the Wolf ❯ Hedging ( Chapter 3 )

Stalking the Wolf

 

By: Yahnkehy/V.M.

 

A/N: Hello all! Sorry about the long intermission between the last chapter and this one, but muse-chan took a long lunch break. His pay has been garnished for this oversight, so no more of these glaringly long silences should happen again. Also, there is going to be a little fast forwarding done in this chapter, so that we can move along to the juicy bits. ^-^

 

 

Chapter Warnings: Language, incest

 

 

Chapter Rating: 17 or high T

 

 

Chapter 2: Hedging

 

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Life had become a whirlwind for Genrou since meeting the luscious Lady Alana. Tea every other day, dancing three times at every party they attended together-which was a clear statement to the <i>ton</i> that he was going to ask for her hand- and taking air in his phaeton every morning in Hyde Park filled his days. He felt light, giddy and nervous but still there was the lingering doubt in the back of his head that this wasn't right. The face that had flashed in the flames was not Alana's, nor was it Hotohori's. He pushed that out of his mind though as he drove up the circular drive to Bronsville's estate.

 

Today he was to have a private lunch with Lady Alana in the hedge maze, where he hoped to pop the question. He'd spent days agonizing over which ring to buy her and had finally settled-at Tibbs' prodding- on a ruby solitaire set to look as though a phoenix held the half-carat stone.

 

It was whimsical of him to buy something so nostalgic, but it felt right to finally end this curse with a symbol of the god that had granted his new happiness. Hopping out of his phaeton and handing over the reigns to the dark-haired boy that ran up to take them, he whistled an old Konan love song that his mother used to sing to his father late at night when he was a boy.

 

He went up the steps three at a time, eager to have lunch with the woman that would break his curse, and rapped at the door. Smythe answered and lead him in with a small, approving smile. “The Lady Alana has gone out to the maze, my lord, to set up your repast. Should I call Tommy in to lead you around to the maze and help you find her?” Smythe asked, politely taking Genrou's hat and over coat.

 

“Thanks, Smythe, I'd like that.” Genrou was sure he could find the way himself, but it would be nice to have someone along who knew the way. The faster he could get to Alana, the sooner he could ask for her hand and end the curse that was keeping him alive and forever young.

 

Smythe left and returned shortly with the boy who had taken his phaeton. Taking a closer look at the boy, Genrou felt a niggling of recognition. This young man, barely twelve, bore a striking resemblance to Tamahome but he quickly shoved that thought aside as well. There could <i>not</i> be more than two reincarnated seishi in one place at one time. It wasn't possible. Or so he told himself.

 

Tommy was ecstatic to have been called into the main house, even more so to be asked to personally show a real lord around the place. He'd grown up on the Bronsville's estate and knew the maze like the back of his hand. “This way, my lord! The maze is really nice this time of year! The vines are all curled around the angel statues and make them look really nice, of course there's the usual boring flowers too... if you like that kind of thing.”

 

Genrou laughed, easily seeing this boy as a good kid who was just like all of the other boys his age; determined to claim all things girly as `gross'. “Flowers are nice, kid, once ya get older yer gonna find out that flowers have meanin's behind `em. Maybe once ya get to likin' a girl you'll take more interest in `em. Girls like flowers, but ya gotta put together a bouquet really careful. See, this one I got for Lady Alana's got Apple Blossom for promise, bronze chrysanthemum for excitement, hibiscus for delicate beauty, hyacinth for sincerity, and lilac for first love. Flowers tell th' woman yer courtin' what she means to ya. They ain't that bad, once ya know what yer lookin' at.”

 

Tommy stared at the bouquet; nodding silently as each description and meaning behind the flowers were given. “They still just look like flowers to me. Maybe when I'm older, like you said, I'll get what flowers mean.”

 

Genrou grinned and followed the boy into the maze, listening to the idle chatter that came out of the boy's mouth with a fatherly grin. Perhaps one day, not too far into the future it seemed, he'd have his own son that he could have talks like this with.

 

The sound of a feminine groan caught his ear and Genrou grabbed Tommy by the back of his shirt, clamping a hand over the boy's mouth to keep him quiet. Perking his ears and listening for the sounds again, he reverted to his bandit upbringing and narrowed his eyes as he crept through the maze, the boy staying silent as he was carried along for the ride.

 

The sounds seemed to be more frequent, now, as they came closer to their source. A single petty coat draped over a low standing angel statue caught Genrou's eye and he frowned. Alana was supposed to be out here alone, perhaps she was being attacked... that didn't seem too likely seeing as how the sounds were obviously sensual rather than frightened.

 

Back to the hedges, Genrou peeked around the bit of greenery and felt his heart freeze. Lady Alana lay on her back, legs thrown up in the air with Lord Ryan pounding away at her in a lover's embrace. Keeping the boy's head turned away from the sight, Genrou was frozen in place. He watched until the lovers called out their release.

 

Alana cupped her brother's head and pulled him to her breast, “I can't wait to have our delicious Genrou in these little trysts. I think he'd scream so beautifully under you, dearest.”

 

Ryan laughed, “I knew you chose him for me, but don't you have any interest in him at all? He seems positively smitten with you, my love.” He leaned up on one elbow, gazing down at her with a mischievous grin.

 

“Of course not. He's a simpleton, easily wrapped around my finger. I prefer men whom I have to fight for their attention, not some love sick fool who pants after me.” Her voice was cold, tone disgusted. It was all Genrou needed to hear.

 

He eased back towards the entrance. He'd known it was too good to be true. He felt sick to his stomach; he'd been strung along so that he would be pliable enough for Ryan to have him. Alana had no intentions of ever even trying to love him.

 

Dragging Tommy back to the entrance of the maze and handing the bouquet to him, Genrou sighed and rubbed a weary hand over his face. “Tommy, let me tell ya somethin'. Girls are nice, sweet and soft, but some of `em are down right evil. Be careful of who ya let get close to ya, they might just be waitin' to drive a knife in yer heart.”

 

With that said, he strode from the maze and into the house, stopping only long enough to grab his hat, coat and tell Bronsville that he would not be asking for the Lady Alana's hand in marriage. He made up a story about his lands in Scotland being in a rather bad way and needed to get to them. Bronsville seemed to buy it and wished his friend godspeed.

 

It would be years before Genrou would set foot on British soil again, nearly a century. He went into seclusion, always sending Taiitsukun away when he'd come to ask about when he would start his journey to love once more.

 

His seclusion ended, however, when the world wars began. He raised his sword and tessen in battle yet again; eager to test his mettle against the new technology and see if maybe the new weapons could give him relief from the never-ending life he suffered in loneliness.

 

His efforts were in vain, though; with each new gun shot, lost limb, or seemingly mortal wound he was gifted a new look at just how Suzaku was sustaining his life. Red light would flare from the holes, gouges, and slices, leaving the skin as unmarred as a newborn babe.

 

Lost in further depression, Genrou stayed out of life. Sitting on the edges of it until the time was right. Until the fateful day when he felt the birth of his miko.

 

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How's that for a comeback? ^-^ Hope you all liked it!

 

Love! Yahnkehy