Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ The Ties that Bind ❯ Let Your Soul Take You Where You Long To Be ( Chapter 3 )

Author's Notes: ROFL, I looove twincest...when it comes to Amiboshi x Suboshi, but unfortunately there won't be any of it in this story ;-;. After all, I have a lovely little PG-13 rating that I'm determined to keep after all XD. But, I DO plan on writing a twincest fic in the future...so don't worry about that ;x. anyway...enjoy!

For a while, all Yui could do was linger there in shock. Her lips parted as though to say something, but absolutely no sound escaped. Finally, gathering a hold of herself, she grasped the story's beginning, moving it toward her desk. Without thought, she took a match and struck it along the wooden edge. The flame itself was lowered to the wick of a lavender scented candle. One that she received as a birthday present from Miaka at some point in time. She watched as it took light and then furrowed her brows, dipping the edge of the paper into the fire. Yui's eyes widened once blue sparks began to emit from the parchment. As smoke tried to consume it, the paper was surrounded by a bright aura, disappearing from her grasp.

Her hand dropped against her side and she slowly turned to face her bed. Unblinking eyes focused on the paper there. It was completely unblemished, not even a scorch mark where she had tried to burn. A shaky sob captured in her chest. What was she going to do?! Slowly, unwillingly, she stepped forward, sinking onto the mattress's edge. Flaxen strands were swept aside with one hand and her heart was beating in her throat. How could this happen? Why could something as simple as wanting to revive Suboshi turn out so wrong...?

"I don't want to go back. I want to stay here...if I wouldn't have done something as stupid at this..." She sighed, and lowered her head silently. Berating herself really wouldn't get her very far after all. This story was determined to get her inside of it, and it was only a matter of time before it happened.

With a brilliant flash of turquoise, the paper appeared on Yui's lap. She spared a wary glance toward it and then pinched those lips together for a deep frown. If there was no way she could destroy it, then the only thing she could do was read. A deep breath was drawn in and she lifted the story eye-level.

Her weary voice began aloud, forcing each syllable out of her mouth, "Kai-Ka turned around...to find that he was alone. With Tomo's words weighing heavily on his heart...he returned to the cottage in Makan Village and waited for morning to come..."

Sunrise snuck over the mountains and splashed everything in sight with its warm touch. In that very village of Sairou, a rather thoughtless melody could be heard. The tune would have normally had much more emotion behind it, but Kai-Ka's mind was far too cluttered with thoughts to really play the heartfelt notes. After a while, his bedroom door swung open and his 'mother' poked her head in through the crack.

"Kai-Ka, your breakfast is getting cold. Didn't you hear me call you?"

The song stopped and he lowered his flute to his lap, "Ie, gomen, Kaasan. My mind is just elsewhere."

The plump woman frowned and stepped in the area completely, "Is something wrong?"

Kai-Ka shook his head and forced a smile, "Ie, I'm fine now. Just give me a minute to get dressed and I'll be out shortly."

She nodded hesitantly, regarding her son for a few moments longer before she exited the chamber. The door was sealed behind herself and the boy sighed, rising to his feet. His clothing was stripped off as he walked toward a stand, setting his flute down upon it. Bare skin was covered by clean slacks as well as a tunic, this one a rich lavender. He spared a glance toward his mirrored image and pursed his lips somewhat.

"I shouldn't bother them with questions...I don't want to be a burden, but I must know..." His brows knit together in determination and he made his way out to the cozy kitchen, seating himself before his plate.

The father looked up and offered a smile, "Ohayou, Kai-Ka."

"Ohayou, Tousan..."

"Your mother and I have been thinking..."

"About what?"

"Well, Kai-Ka, pretty soon you're going to be sixteen and at that age a boy should be preparing to find a wife. Someone they can take care of and start a family with. I'm sorry things didn't work out for you and that Miaka girl--"

"She was a very sweet girl..." The mother added, pouring Kai-Ka some tea water. "She would have been a nice addition to the family..."

The father furrowed his brows at the interruption and then continued, "Nonetheless, I think you should start looking for a bride-to-be. We're getting older, Kai-Ka, and we want nothing more than to see our grandchildren for a few good years before we die."

Throughout the speech, Kai-Ka was pushing at the food on his plate with his chop sticks and he blinked at the sudden silence, "Gomen ne, what did you say?"

His mother sighed, "Kai-Ka, what's wrong? You're so distracted, is there something on your mind?"

He remained quiet for a moment, debating whether or not to say something before he simply responded, "Hai...there is."

"Well...?" The father prodded.

A breath was drawn into the musician's lips and he quickly raised those eyes to his parents, "Do I have a little brother? An 'otouto'...?"

The woman gasped suddenly, dropping the plate she was holding which shattered on the ground into multiple porcelain fragments. A pleading glance was sent toward her husband, but he simply shook his head. It was time they told Kai-Ka the truth. They knew he had been given the forgetfulness leaves the very moment they found him beaten and bloodied on their doorstep--when he didn't remember them at first and they told him they were his parents. He accepted the news right away without question, but now it seemed as though he was beginning to remember his old life.

"You may very well have an otouto out there. We only found you when you drifted up from the river..." He informed.

Crystalline oculars went wide, "The river?"

"Hai. It seemed as though you were dying and we took you in. You see, our real son Kai-Ka had been swept away one day in that river as well and when we found you, it was as though our son came back to us. You hadn't remembered anything, so we called you Kai-Ka and kept you as our son...

"To prove yourself to the people of Sairou, you left to hunt down the giant weasel one night and that very night, you killed it, bringing back with you that girl Miaka. She was in terrible shape, but we all took care of her. Though, it seemed there was more to Miaka. She knew of your life, Kai-Ka. She knew your real name...what was it again?" He glanced toward his wife for the response.

"Amiboshi..." She replied sadly.

Kai-Ka's brows raised. So, Tomo was telling the truth!

"Hai, Hai...she knew your name was Amiboshi. And she also knew a bit more...but we didn't find any of it out. Your mother, after finding out Miaka knew about your life, ran off and mixed up a soup with the forgetfulness leaves and gave it to Miaka..."

"Why?" The boy looked toward his Kaasan in question.

"I was afraid that if you remembered, we would lose you again. I wasn't able to bear the thought of having another son leave..." She admitted.

"But, it was you who saved Miaka, Kai-Ka. And soon afterward, Sairou was attacked by Kutou forces. You ran off with the girl and promised to return. That is all we know really. You were away for one full day and when you did come back, you were hurt very badly. And then when you woke up, you remembered nothing. Somehow or another, you ingested the forgetfulness leaves..." The father wrapped up the story.

Kai-Ka sank into silence for a long moment, allowing everything that he was told to settle in his mind, "Is...there any way to reverse the effects? Or, will I just never remember my life again?"

"Do you want to, Kai-Ka? Do you really want to? What if you took them yourself because there was something you wanted to forget...?" The woman placed one hand on her son's shoulder.

"That's just a risk I'll have to take, Kaasan."

"If you're sure, then you can see the Shaman in the house at the edge of town. He has a potion to reverse it's affects...oh, and Kai-Ka. When we found you the second time, you were wearing this..." His father stood up and pulled an outfit that was somewhat torn out of a chest. He handed it toward the lad. "I don't know if this has any meaning to you. We know it wasn't yours, for you didn't leave the house in it. But, some of it was torn to patch up your wounds. Obviously someone brought you back here safely..."

The fifteen year old reached forward, bringing the orange gi closer. His thumb ran over the black lining of the cloth. No, it wasn't his own. He was sure of it, just a feeling he had deep in the pit of his stomach. Though, the clothing was familiar; familiar in that same way looking at his reflection or the word 'aniki' had been the night before. Perhaps it was all related to his dream. Perhaps that "second him" had really been his otouto. A younger twin brother, it certainly made sense.

"Then, I'll go see him now..." Kai-Ka pushed himself up to his feet and then started for his room. He simply grasped his flute and set the clothes he received on his bed. Afterward, he reemerged glancing toward his parents. "Arigatou for telling me...I promise I'll return soon."

"Have a safe trip, Kai-Ka..." Both called out to him.

" 'Kai-Ka smiled faintly and then left his house. By the time he returned, he would have the knowledge of his life beforehand and because of that, he headed toward the Shaman's place with nothing short of determination set in his eyes,' " Yui sighed and then watched a few more characters appear on the page. Her shoulders rolled back and she continued to read. " 'Meanwhile, the stirrings of a new evil emerged in Kutou palace...more specifically the Shrine of Seiryuu. Tomo, of the Seiryuu shichiseishi arrived there by foot and bowed low to the ground...' "

"Tomo...it seems you've returned as well, did you run into any of the others?" A deep voice rose up from the shadows.

"Hai, Nakago-sama. I met up with Amiboshi who doesn't seem to remember anything of his life and goes by the name 'Kai-Ka' now. He would be very easy to kill if he gets in our way..."

The blonde Hin Tribesman stepped out from behind the statue of Seiryuu which had been fixed and now stood as the proud guardian of it's own shrine. In the man's arms was a body; a female body that was rather limp and lifeless. Maroon tinted strands flowed over his arms, drifting toward the ground much like a waterfall and her visage possessed a peaceful expression. The woman was Soi, another member of the Seiryuu shichiseishi, though oddly enough she wasn't alive--or so it seemed.

Tomo rose to his feet, moving toward Nakago's side, "She still hasn't awakened, Nakago-sama?"

"Ie...she's alive, but she won't open her eyes. Demo..." He lay her down on a stone bench which resided near the spring. "I'm most certain she will soon..."

"Hai, when it really matters. Soi has never let you down in her life and I doubt she'll start after it..." A cackle escaped his lips.

Cold oculars of a steely blue lifted to the drifting ripples in the stream, watching them stretch outward and eventually fade to nothing. Those lids sealed away his eyes, and Nakago lowered his head somewhat, allowing lengthy golden spun thread to weave itself over his shoulder guards. For the moment, only the quiet sound of the rushing water filled the silence, but then the man spoke up.

"The Seiryuu no Miko will be arriving in our world soon. It is imperative that we find her first, Tomo. Neither of the twins can get to her and most certainly not those damn fools of the Suzakuu Shichiseishi...Tasuki or Chichiri."

"I can take care of those wretched Suzakuu warriors for you, Nakago-sama..." A grin spread across painted tiers--being obsequious when it came to Nakago was bound to get him far after all...

"Ie...Miboshi will take care of it. After all, his powers are not completely blocked out by Seiryuu being sealed away. He mastered many dark spells that are completely unrelated to his being a seishi..." Nakago smirked, dimples playing at the corners of his handsome face. "Besides, Tomo, the body Miboshi took before he died will come in quite useful for pulling the strings of those fools."

"What body did he take?" Tomo tilted his head in confusion, silvery feathers swaying with the movement.

"None other than their celestial warrior...Chiriko."

That near-silent evil laugh sounded again, "Nakago-sama, you are truly brilliant."

He didn't acknowledge the compliment, simply spoke again, "Demo, I do have a job for you, Tomo."

"Oh? Anything you wish, Nakago-sama. I only live to please you..." The illusionist stressed the word 'please' in an almost hopeful manner. Again, his comment went ignored.

"I want you to be on the lookout for Yui. If you find her, bring her here to me...and if anyone else finds her, kill them. I will not have anyone stand in the way of my dream this time around..."

"Hai..." Tomo bowed deeply and then walked off.

Nakago looked after him with an unreadable expression and then lowered that gaze to the resting form beside him. One hand moved forward to caress the smooth skin and he sighed, "Soi..."

Kai-Ka hadn't realized how warm it was going to be otherwise he wouldn't have worn long sleeves. He pulled the lengthy fabric up his arms and made his way through the dirt paths in Makan Village. The sun lingered high above him, beating down unrelentlessly as though trying to prevent him from reaching his destination, but he continued on the same. Finally, it was in sight--the largest house on the outskirts of town. Kai-Ka smiled and then headed toward it. Now, he would be able to find out which life he wanted to live--forevermore as Kai-Ka...or...Amiboshi.

Pushing off with his heel, he sprinted in the direction. He didn't notice the sweltering heat any longer or anything that could possibly slow him down. Everything seemed to fly by swiftly, and he surpassed all obstacles, skidding to a halt in front of the porch. The fatigue managed to catch up with him, and tagged him there, leaving Kai-Ka gasping and sputtering for the much-needed oxygen. His bent forward, bracing himself by placing hands on his knees and one moved away for a second. That forearm slid smoothly across his forehead, collecting tiny beads of perspiration. Then, he advanced up the stairs and knocked lightly on the door. Waiting for a few moments (moments that seemed like an eternity), it finally opened before him.

A rather oddly dressed man stood there, regarding the youth in question, "Yes?"

"A-anou, excuse me, are you the shaman?" Kai-Ka raised his brows.

The stranger bowed his head and stepped aside, "Hai, I've been expecting you, young one. Please come in..."

Kai-Ka blinked and nodded, inching in a bit more. Those crystalline spheres darted over the dimly lit room, studying the potions and other odd concoctions on the shelves. The air was heavily perfumed with incense and overly warm at that. It almost made him nauseous, but he forced that feeling aside, following the shaman to a tiny table in the center. Two chairs were placed opposite each other, and the man motioned him to take a seat as he plopped himself down in one. A bit cautiously, the musician sank down on the flat surface, glancing toward the stranger with a faint smile.

"Now..." The man began, leaning forward with an eerie smirk. "Do you want your fortune read? That will cost--"

"Ie, I didn't come by for that. I need the antidote for forgetfulness leaves. That's why I'm here, I heard you could help me..."

There was a sudden jingle of various necklaces around the shaman's neck as he leaned forward, raising one knarled finger to point at him, "Ah, I see. Are you the one inflicted?"

"H-Hai..."

"And what reasons did you come about taking these?"

"A-anou...that, I don't remember..." Kai-Ka sweatdropped, thinking that, that should have been pretty obvious.

"Ah, of course. And what if you took those leaves yourself? What if you did it to forget something that you never wanted to remember again, hm?"

"I'm willing to take that risk. I'm willing to put it all on the line for this knowledge. Onegai, mister, onegai..."

"Very well then," He pushed himself up to his feet and grasped a few jars. The contents were all poured into a goblet and he handed it toward Kai-Ka. "But, before you drink it, think of this: you may be making the mistake of your life. Your past will come to you so quickly that you may enter a state of shock. Only if your strong, should you drink this..."

The musician eyed him for a moment and then peered down at the cup before him. Those lashes lowered quietly and his brows knit together. He had to do this...if not for himself, then for his 'otouto.' Trembling digits reached forward to receive the brass stem which nearly slipped due to the thick layer of sweat that coated his palm. Kai-Ka's heart thumped against his rib cage, threatening to break free as the rim was brought to his lips and rested there. After a few silent moments, he forced himself to tip it back and the contents filled his mouth with a cool refreshment that was quickly swallowed into his body.

For a moment, there was no reaction except for an increase of nervousness. And then it started to hit him. Slow at first, then all of a sudden increasing in speed. The fresh flow of memories played before him starting from ones when he was very small and quickly flashing to the next one. A couple were more vivid as they resurfaced, showing the random points in his life...no...in Amiboshi's life. His parents...real parents, his twin brother (he had been right!), the Seiryuu Shichiseishi, Miaka. It all entered his mind at once, forcing him to topple off the seat. His palm pressed against his pounding forehead. The Shaman was right, it was a bit much to take in, but he was strong. He would get through this!

Kai-Ka looked in on the scene, the one his parents had informed him of -- when he left with Miaka to find Tamahome, and Tomo had stopped him from saving Miaka. A vine of thorns held him back, digging painfully into his flesh. In order to break his illusion, he snapped his pinkie bone and distracted him with a spell on his flute! So, that was why he knew how to play it so well. Everything was coming back so clearly...yes, there was a fight. A major fight between himself and Tomo, one in which he nearly died in. He would have died, had his twin brother not come to the rescue. With his strange weapon...oh, what were those called again? Ah, yes! It came back to him quickly...his brother's weapon, the Ryuuseisui. Those were used to kill the Seiryuu seishi. He could almost feel his otouto's arms around him again, and the conversation was so clear and crisp, it was as though it was happening right then and there. He tried to get his brother to drink the leaves of forgetfulness, so they could live forever and abandon that war, but instead it was Suboshi who gave him the potion! It was forced into his mouth with a kiss, one last kiss from his twin, before everything faded and it became Kai-Ka's memories.

A quivering breath was drawn into Amiboshi's lips and he pushed himself up to his feet, clutching onto the back of the chair to keep his balance, "So that was what happened..."

"Are you all right, young lad?"

He glanced up quickly, having completely forgotten he wasn't alone in that room. The seat was released and he stood on his own, closing those eyes in a happy manner, "Hai, hai! Everything's fine. Arigatou, mister. For everything you have done. Here, take these..."

A few gold galleons were placed on the table and after that, Amiboshi dazedly stepped out of the shaman's house. He took a glance around the town and sighed somewhat. It felt good to have his memories back and that knowledge of his life before. He didn't want a life if it was without his brother, and he wished his twin could have realized that back then. Why had he given him the juice of forgetfulness? His love for Yui-sama, that was what he said, though Amiboshi just couldn't understand any of it. They had been together forever, and they should still be together. They were twins, two parts of a whole that needed to share that life in close proximity to one another. Yui could have lived with them, so long as all three were together. He wouldn't have minded at all...but if Suboshi was still alive out there somewhere, he would find him and receive the truth. But first and foremost, he needed to keep his promise to his Kaasan and Tousan.

As he started toward his home, a faint smile creased his lips, "I suppose it's good I came back to be Amiboshi. Though, I really am not Amiboshi at all. I was born as Bu Koutoku, ne?"

He laughed somewhat to himself and then raced away, feeling much happier than when he had left.

Yui pulled her eyes away from the paper and glanced toward the clock on her wall. An hour had gone by so quickly, but she couldn't read anymore. She was already late from the time she gave Miaka about going over there, though perhaps taking this to the Yuki home would help solve the mystery as to why it was so insistent upon making her return. Without further thought, she pulled on her jacket and headed to the doorway with the story in hand. She slipped her feet into those shoes beginning to leave, though her attention was pulled elsewhere. The parchment in her hand was illuminated with some sort of strange aqua-hued light.

"Nani?!"

She stepped back from the area and put her attention on the papers in her hand. A brow raised in confusion, though those eyes suddenly widened. Yui realized what was going on at that exact moment. But even as she knew, it as too late to do anything about it. With a nearly muffled shriek, the aura surrounded her body, filling it with an oddly comforting warmth. Her home, everything around her was vanishing from view. She reached out her hand in an attempt to grasp the fading surroundings, but to no avail. One final cry was yelled at the top of her lungs.

"MIAKA! HELP ME!!"

Everything became a blur before her very eyes and it streaked by swiftly. Those lids closed tightly and her jaw quivered somewhat. This was it. This was the very moment she had been afraid of. She was returning to that book, to the place where only horrible memories waited for her. Before Yui knew it, the ground seemed to become solid and rose up to connect with her face. It took a while for it to settle in, but once it did, a few tears slid down her cheeks, followed by a soft cry.

"Doushite...?" Her lower lip trembled and her voice cracked with emotion. "DOUSHITE?!"

Yui collapsed against the soft grass again. Weeps were quieted by the sleeves of her jacket. Though any noise immediately hushed once a lantern's light fell over her. She sucked in a breath and remained as silent as possible. Hopefully, whoever...whatever it was would just disappear and leave her alone. But instead, a familiar voice spoke up.

"A-anou, miss? Are you all right?"

The weary Seiryuu no Miko lifted her head slowly, droplets of saline still cascading down her face. Her eyes widened and she pushed herself upright, "S-Suboshi!"

He appeared equally as stunned, though a bright grin lit up those features, "Yui-sama! You've come back! You've returned!"

Her shoulders slumped and she looked around the forested surroundings. Hands ran unsettlingly down her arms, attempting to coax away her fear, Hai, that's right. I've come back. I came back to the one place I never wanted to come back to. 'The Universe of the Four Gods.'