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All characters involved in this fanfic with spoilers are the property of Watase Yuu sensei. Please give Virgo-chan comments on how you feel about it and tell her. For any prove read error, tell me.
Part 2: Reopening
by Virgo-chan
Taiyo sighed. She flopped into the sofa, totally drained, both physically and emotionally. First, she worried about Yui when she started acting strange - all because of a guy that looked just like her dead friend. Then Yui collapsed in the final period of the day; so did Miaka. And guess who was the one stuck dragging her cousin back home, and was too stubborn to accept when a certain super cute new student asked her if she needed help because she was too determined to show that she wasn't weak?
< *sigh* I don't think I'll ever be able to keep from being such a tomboy...> Taiyo thought, playing with the end of her braid. The rest of her day didn't went to well, either.
The sensei didn't let her skip her presentation (which she hadn't prepared) because of Yui's fainting, and the rest of the time, her mind kept wandering.
It would go from thinking about Miaka's story, to worrying herself being ragged by her cousin - to... something she just couldn't figure out. It was like scenes from an old 'B' movie she forgotten that contained eight people and, strangely enough, herself. One was a young man with long snow blonde hair and piercing green eyes. Usually he was with a beautiful young woman. Her hair was long and held in two rings on her head, then fell like a cascading soft green waterfall down on her back. She recalled all the love shared between the young couple, the passionate looks and secretive smiles. There were others, but they didn't stick with them. She'd seen a flash of long hair, a soft smile or sharp eyes, and the clanging of metal and quick movements. Then... there was one face... One out of seven that she knew, somehow, would always protect her.
The gentle, handsome features, the kind dark eyes and long silky brown hair - She remembered him the fondest, the taste of his lips, and how his hands would travel over her body as she melted against his muscular frame. How her heart would thrill as a rough finger caressed her face; his warm breath against her neck as he spoke to her with a low, gently rumbling voice.
It all came back to her now, as she pictured the man again. A name rose from the depths of her heart. "Tatara..."
The sound of her own voice broke Taiyo's daydream. She realized that she was still sprawled on the front room couch. "Na...ni...?" She placed her hand on her head. < I hope that I didn't catch whatever Miaka-chan and Yui-chan have.> She thought dimly. It's already been an hour since she got home, but it only seemed like a few seconds of reflection.
"This is getting strange." She said to herself. With a half sigh, Taiyo rolled onto the floor and walked to the kitchen.
After a light meal and a quick shower, she sat in front of her desk, studying for another boring Math test. That's when she heard it - Pages flipping wildly from an unseen book; the sound of metal against metal; people shouting, screaming, crying; familiar voices taking up a war cry; the sound of running feet coming to meet her on all sides. - Someone called her name, but it was lost in the invisible battles all around her.
Taiyo gasped, trying to find the voice to scream, trying to get her frozen limbs to carry her away.
She felt something splattered to her. Stunned, Taiyo looked down, curious as to what the warm liquid was. Nothing - absolutely nothing has spilled on her shorts. Then, a dull color began to appear, and something trickled down her leg, wet and thick.
In the dark, she narrowed her eyes, trying to see what it was, and she let out a strangled scream. Blood... covering her feet, running over her legs and sprinkled on her pajamas. She felt weak and reached out to steady herself on her desk, but to found only a blackened, smoking tree. She jerked back.
Her room... her room was gone. Instead, she was in the middle of a gloomy battlefield. She stood in shock, looking at the still bodies that littered the desert floor, with flags and banners fluttering limply in the wind, smoke rising from craters where the sand had been blasted away. Her face was drained of blood and Taiyo stumbled back. A hand was reaching to her gapping mouth.
A warm and reassuring presence wrapped his strong arms around her in a protective embrace.
"Gomen nasai, I wished you had not see this..." he murmured in her ear, and he turned Taiyo around.
She was captivated by his compassionate liquid eyes, pouring calmness into the very depths of her soul. Taiyo's knees shook and she crumpled against him. She could feel the gentle beating of his heart against his bare chest, and the warmth from his soft skin. He ran a finger down her naked body, memorizing every curve and craves. She sighed contently. Suddenly, his warm lips descended on her own, hungrily, seeking her love as she was seeking his.
"Tatara... Don't leave me..." She whispered.
"I won't ever, my love. On this I swear."
The last sentence faded in her ears as Taiyo found herself back in her own room, arms wrapping around herself. It was dusk already.
< Nani? What the hell happened?> Her gaze fell to her Math book. < All this studying must be making me mad. I really hate school...> But something in her mind told her that everything she thought she had imagined was real. The truth is that she, though maybe not the she that she was now, had met and loved the very same man she had just dreamed. < Doushite? Why can't I meet a hunk like him - now_?>
Shaking her head, the young girl retreated back to the front room, draining out her thoughts with music, light and TV. She flipped through the channels boringly; nothing even seemed to be on lately. So, she settled to watching Channel V. The gentle Japanese melodies soothed her nerves and lulled her to a sense of security. Taiyo sang along to the J-Pop, thoroughly forgetting what had happened a few minutes ago - until an old Chinese folk song came up.
With a jolt, Taiyo sat up, with her heart pounding. That tune... it was so familiar, but she just couldn't remember where she had heard it before.
"No... no! Something is wrong. Something isn't right here..." She tried to laugh, but it caught in her throat. A strange feeling pressed against her chest, smothering her. But it seemed so familiar, she couldn't tell what this feeling meant. Suddenly, something glowed beside her. She turned to the object giving off the white illumination as it sat on the once empty lamp table.
There sat a thick book, bound in leather and the pages yellow with age. She could smell the ancientness of its pages and the crinkling of its spine as an waft of wind flipped it open.
Voices merged together in her mind, filling her every thought, not allowing her to think, or even recognizing them. Words began to form in her head, a deep, rumbling voice of thunder fading in and out of them.
<...I have found you...> It faltered about her mind as screams, cries and shouts stated the smooth voice. <...Nintey years have passed... But now I seek your help again... Though you may not remember me... Will you help your old friend...?>
"Who... who are..."
"Taiyo-chan? Daijoubu?"
She jerked. "N-nani? Doko..." Taiyo glanced about her and found Miaka, Taka and Yui looking right back at her. The girls were all sitting side by side on the subway, still in their forest green vests and skirts, school bags sitting on their laps while Tama stood in front of his innazuke.
"Daijoubu, Taiyo-chan?" Miaka asked again. "We have been calling you for about a minute."
"Ano... gomen minna. I was just in deep thinking... that's all."
Yui sniffed, with a slight grin on her face. "Che. And I can guess what it was about, too. I swear, my girl. You just can't keep your mind off a cute guy for one second, can you?"
She just waved off the comment. "Whatever, it was nothing important, anyhow." The loud speaker announced the next stop and Taiyo stood up. "Hayaku, Yui-chan. This is our stop."
Her cousin stood obediently up speaking a slight 'hai'. "Are you sure you're alright, Taiyo-chan? You look kinda out of it, right now."
"Daijoubu, Yui-chan. Besides, you're the one that fainted, or did you forget?"
The two walked off the car in silence, hand in hand. In the same state, the two high school girls hurried through the choked corridors, surrendered their tickets to the machine and climbed the long stairs into the sun and streets.
"You know, I'm getting a bit worried about you, Taiyo-chan." Yui said. She almost missed the senseless babble as her cousin would talk on and on about nothing. But now that she was so withdrawn, it made Yui slightly worry.
"Hmm? Oh, Yui-chan, you are such a worry wart!" Taiyo flashed a smile (failing miserably to keep it from looking fake) over her shoulder. "There's absolutely noth-" She stopped, and Yui nearly colliding into her back.
"Nani yo, Taiyo-chan?"
"Kami-sama!.... it can't be..."
"Nani? What can't be what?"
"It's him..." Taiyo dropped Yui's hand and began to push through the crowds.
"Him? Him who? Oi! Taiyo-chan! Don't leave me here!" With an agitated sigh, she began to move forward.
"'Cuse me, pardon me. Gomen," She shoved into the crowd. "Arigatou! Ops... My bag... I didn't mean to push..."Suddenly she looked up, with fear in her eyes.
< No..no.No.no...no! > She screamed in her mind. < He's moving and I can't get across the street in time!> "Tatara!" She yelled, but she was being pushed back in the tide of people poured against her. "MATTE!!!" She leapt against the moving bodies and into the street.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Miko-sama? What are you doing out here? You should go back inside."
"Eh? Subaru-san. Gomen... I just wanted to go for a little walk, that's all."
The young woman smiled gently. "Well, who am I to be a wet rag?"
"Subaru-san?"
"Hai?"
"Have you seen Tatara anywhere?"
"Iie, gomen. I think he's out with Tokaki."
"Oh. Never mind, then."
The two stayed quiet and watched the clear night sky.
"It's a beautiful night, ne, Miko-sama?"
"Hai. You can see miles away through endless sky tonight."
"Do you usually see so many stars where you come from?"
"Well... occasionally. But sometimes, there's so much light from the town and so many clouds that you can't see as many as you can see here."
"Are you happy in here, Miko-sama?"
"Hai. I've never seen anything like here and it's so nice and peaceful. And I've met you three and you all became my friends."
"Sou... Then you would help us find all the Shichi Seishi and use the wishes to help us?"
"Hai. I'd do anything to help, Subaru-san."
The elder woman chuckled. "Girl, I know I'm older then you, but I'm not that old."
"Gomen, Subaru-sa, I mean, Subaru."
"That's better." The young manipulator of time stretched. "I'm tired. I'm going to find Tokaki and turn in for the night."
"Don't stay up too late."
"Funny. Jya, Miko-sama!"
"Subaru..."
"Eh?"
"Would you not call me 'Miko-sama'?"
"Unn. Jya, Suzuno-san."
"Jya."
She stood there alone for a while, just starring up at the diamond studded sky, thinking about before.
/"Miko-sama?"/
/"Hai, Tatara?"/
/"Why are you helping us?"/
/"Nani?"/
/"Our country is being destroyed, everyone's wounded, and the other countries don't want to you to call Byakko out to destroy them. You could and very well might get killed. Why are you helping us?"/
/"Tatara... First, you have to understand something about my world. Many people care about no one but themselves. Yes, family and friends have love with each other, but they would think twice about dying for them, no matter what they say. The world has been over run with wars and fights and no one's happy. People die in the street everyday. Someone kills another out of fear, or anger, or just because they want to. In the place where I live, everyone lives in fear of someone. It can be an abusive, alcoholic spouse or parent, a next-door neighbor or a just one common human being in the street. I don't want that to happen here. I'm not going to attack anyone, I just want everyone to live happily. We have nothing like Byakko to help us make our world right again. We have our kami-sama. But no matter how many times or how many people pray, he hasn't helped us yet."/
/"Then... I will make sure that you will never get hurt."/
/"Eh? What do you mean?"/
/"I swear upon Byakko and the Shichi Seishi that I'll give my life in protecting you."
/"Tatara... Arigato..."/
/"It's an honor to protect someone with a heart as beautiful as yours, Miko-sama."/
Suzuno blushed as she remembered his words, and gently fingered the place on her hand where Tatara then kissed her.
"Miko-sama?"
She startled.
"Gomen nasai, Miko-sama. I didn't mean to frighten you."
"Daijoubu, Tatara. Is there something I can help you with?"
"You said you were looking for me?"
"H-hai. I was just wondering where you were, that's all."
Suddenly, something fell in to her hands. Byakko no Miko looked at it in the dark. One of Tatara's seed necklaces.
"Nani...?"
"I know that I won't be able to be with you all the time. So I had this specially made. You take one of those seeds, wish for me to come, and throw it one the ground. Then I shall appear before you, no matter where you are."
"Tatara... Arigato."
"Miko-san?"
"Hai?"
"Are you going to go back to your world after you've called Byakko?"
"I don't know. I guess, doushite?"
"I was just curious, that's all."
"Oh..."
"But I just want to know..."
"Hai?"
"That I will miss you greatly."
"Tatara, will you promise me something?"
"Hai?"
"Promise me that you... you won't forget me..."
Tatara wrapped his arms around her shoulders, holding her tightly. "I will never forget you, Miko-sama. You're so very important to me."
"Tatara..."
"Because I... Daisuki....yo, Miko-sama..."
Her eyes widened. She looked at his face, in to his dark eyes and found only love peering back at her. Her heart clenched together. She had wished that it wouldn't happen, that she wouldn't fall. But it was far too late for her, she had already given Byakko's champion her heart. Hesitantly, she leaned forward, and lightly place her mouth over his, and the two melted into each other.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
<...Byakko no Miko... Byakko no Miko...> Taiyo groaned.
< What the hell is happening? What's going on with me?>
<...Nintey years... It is time to remind you of me...>
Memories flashed in her mind: Falling in to a desert; meandering in a lively city; meeting an Emperor; learning about the Shichi Seishi; meeting her seven protectors and friends.
...Subaru. Tokaki. Tatara. Akane. Hikaze. Inochi. Yumetsu.
She relived from the final good-byes - watched Kutou's general plunged from a cliff with Akane's limp body in his arms. Cried as Hikaze writhed in the winds that he controlled with such pride. Shield away when soldiers dragged Inochi, that was never to be heard again. Screamed when Yumetsu was tortured and killed before her very eyes. Protested from being torn away from Tatara's kiss and protective embrace. From the love and care that Subaru and Tokaki gave her. - But she always remembered Tatara's promise.
/...I will appear before you, no matter where you are.../
Then, her beloved Tatara died and his spirit came back for hers, just like he had promised long ago. And Subaru and Tokaki died in their sleep, in each other's arms, with loving smiles on their faces. They passed away into an endless sleep they've waited for over a hundred years.
Taiyo staggered as the feelings and memories flooded her mind. < What is all this memories? They can't be mine, can they?>
<...In a way... they are...>
< How? I never did any of this stuff! I never met any of these people! I don't even know who you are! In fact, I'll bet I'll be going to the funny farm soon! Matte...!> She mentally narrowed her eyes. < Am I on Candid Camera?>
<...Byakko no Miko... You are correct in assuming that this didn't happen to you... This all happened to a young girl named Suzuno... She is the original Byakko no Miko...>
< Then why are you talking to me?>
<...She had already died... But when she was too old to be my Miko... I had to wait 61 years until a young girl with a strong heart and will help me once more...>
< So what do you want from me?>
<...Turn and look upon me...>
The young girl did so. And she came nose to nose with a giant white tiger.
"HOLLY SHIT!"
Taiyo leapt behind the sofa with a jump that would make any long jumper jealous (C'mon! She was in the kitchen!). "Dear Lord, oh Holly Mary in heaven, pleasepleasepleasepleasePLEASE don't let this big tiger eat me!"
Sad tiger looked at her, cocked it's head to one side. Taiyo jumped up and grabbed the closest thing to her.
"Stay back! I have a lamp and I know how to use it! I know you're an endangered species, but if you so much as lick your lips at me, I'll cream you!"
<...I'm afraid I'm lost...>
"K'so, it's telepathic!" She backed up wearily from the large feline. "Okay, here's the deal. I'll give you directions to the nearest zoo and you don't eat me. Okay? How 'bout I through in a couple peanut butter sandwiches, too? Will you not eat me then?"
<...You've missed understood, Byakko no Miko... I will not eat you... You only have to do me a favor...>
"...If I do... will you not eat me?"
<...I didn't even intend to in the first place... I just need your help...>
"You... you're the guy in my head?" The tiger nodded. "Oh... um... Just what is your name, anyways?"
<...I am called Byakko Seikun... or Byakko...>
"Anoo... Byakko Seikun, what is that you want me to do?"
The tiger turned and chuckled. <...I just needed you to remember everything from the Shijin Ten Chi Sho right now... If you're still wondering about all of this, talk to your two friends Yui and Miaka... Seiryuu and Suzaku told me they were decent Mikos... At least, they didn't attack their God...>
Taiyo blinked, embarrassed and slowly lowered the lamp. "Oh yeah, about that... Don't tell the Wild-life Federation about me, okay?"
<...Of course I won't... But you might want to wake up now... You still have to study for that math test tomorrow...>
On cue, Taiyo's eyes snapped open. She was sitting at her desk, with math book open in front of her where she had last had it. She rubbed her eyes and moaned to herself.
"Great... just perfect. My mind has snapped and I'm only fifteen."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I'd like to take this time to thank the Fushigi Yuugi Fan Stuff Mailing List for letting me post this, Mit-chan for giving it its own page, and Rei J for the giant tiger scarring the living daylights out of Taiyo. If I get any info wrong, I'm sorry. But I haven't seen all of the show and none of the OAVs, please bare with me on this. Also, I have no proper training in the Japanese language, this is mostly guessed work that I gathered from other fics and subbed anime. Also, in case you haven't guessed it yet, Fushigi Yuugi charactors are not mine, nor do I take any credit for them. But don't take Taiyo, Umiiro, or any other FY character without my permission because I made them up.
Any comments, e-mail LadyVirgo@hotmail.com. No flames, but any corrections or compliments are encouraged. Thank you.