autumnleaf16

Title: Who is it for?
Written at: July 17 2007
Summary: what happens if Hanamura- sensei from Jyosei Shounan tries to get Shiraishi join her school. This story will be focusing on Shiraishi, but it will be from the point of view from Watanabe Osamu.
Theme: The importance of Shiraishi’s team mates in his decision of playing perfect tennis.
Word count: 1107
Note: My initial idea was actually using Mizuki trying to recruit Shiraishi, but I then decided to use Hanamaura as I think she is more likely to go to Osaka. This fan fiction actually relates to my Watanabe/OC fan fiction that I am currently doing on fan fiction net. That story is kind of the sequel to “Sacrifice” as it begin when the third years are in senior high school.

Watanabe’s initial reaction at hearing about the visitor was hoping that a miracle has happened, even though he has been advised to give up too many times during the long years that passed since that day.
His lips almost curled into a sneer when he saw his visitor- who was sitting comfortably in his office and reading his files.
“Even you have a limit.” He told her as he deliberately lit a cigarette. He didn’t particularly want one, but she hated that smell above all things, it even surpasses her loathing for him.
“I am paying a professional visit as one coach to another.”
“From all accounts, your visits are more like thievery, if not robbery. However, I am very surprised that you actually come all the way to Osaka to do your latest theft.”
“What make you think that you can lecture me, Osamu? You hardly do your job.”
“One who interferes too often is actually a poor coach, because the team he combined together is not a good one.” He said as he snapped his files shut, but not before taking a quick glance at the name. “Zaizen-kun is quite a smart choice for you, Aoi, since he might easily feel overshadowed by the rest of the team.”
“You haven’t really changed either, one bad judgement after another.” She said with a smirk. “You will find out who I have my eyes on when he enters.”
His next guess was Chitose, since he was the one with the least amount of loyalty to Shitenhouji, as he only became a student here from the start of this school year. More importantly, he was one of the two wings of Kyuushu.
He certainly didn’t expect the captain of the tennis team to walk in. He quickly turned to Hanamura as he greatly desired to see her lose her composure.
She was actually smiling, indicating that the right person has arrived.
“Sensei, are you alright?” Shiraishi asked rather worriedly, as Wabanabe began to laugh so hard that he was actually bending down, with his hand clutching his stomach. Even though merriment seemed something that still came to him easily, he was behaving in an extreme way that his students has never seen before, not even when he first saw Konjiki and Hitouji’s fully developed ‘joking tennis’.
“When is the last time I had such a good laugh?” Watanabe finally said. “Aoi…this is the dumbest thing I have ever heard!”
“You wouldn’t be laughing when I succeed.” She snapped back angrily.
Smiling confidently, he told Shiraishi that he would leave them alone. He was perfectly confident that she would not gain a new toy to mould into a master piece, but he still decided that stand outside the door, instead of going to the tennis court immediately.
“Jyosei Shounan? I have not heard of that school before, but the only schools outside Kansai that I am familiar with are those who are top four in the regional, and the ones I met in last year’s nationals.”
Though Shiraishi’s words were polite, they could be an insult as Watanabe was sure that Shiraishi worked out half of her purpose. Although only Shiraishi knew whether the meanings behind his words were intentional or not.
Watanabe actually realized that he was quite nervous when he learnt of Hanamura’s bait: the presence of a coach who would constantly guide him, something that he had lacked. This was unexpected, although it shouldn’t be.
“That would be very nice,” Shiraishi admitted, “But Watanabe sensei is a good coach. His main job is to teach us tennis, and he certainly does this very well. As a regular in the team when he first arrived, I was one of the eight that played against him due to some of the seniors challenging him. He played against two of us at a time and won all four rounds. So I personally know how great a tennis player he is.”
But that wasn’t enough, Watanabe realized. When he first came he thought that he should only focus on doing what he was paid for, since he never liked being ordered about by his own coach. He never appreciated any counsels as he didn’t require any until he was twenty years old- when the disaster happened.
Although he was sure that Shiraishi would not give up his position of being the captain of Shitenhouji- a school that was regarded as performing very well in tennis- in exchange for the possibility of being a regular member in Jyosei Shounan. Who would give up what they have for something that they might not even have? Especially if the formal was much more appealing then the latter.
“It is not for myself.” The boy suddenly said, causing both adults to frown due to the strangeness of his words. One’s persuasions were halted, while the other’s thoughts were interrupted.
“Sensei, you want me to go to your school due to the way you saw me play, but I only play like that because it helps my team. I do that because of my bond with the school and team. If I go to your school then enjoyment, instead of winning, will be my main goal. I wouldn’t be playing in the style that made you want to recruit me into your tennis team in the first place.”

Watanabe made sure that he was out onto the court when Shiraishi reappeared, by then he has heard the latest rumour about the captain and his girlfriend.
“Sensei, your friend left.” Was all Shiraishi said, his voice was polite but not warm, as he has given up on asking him for advices other then tennis after his response to letting the first years participate.
Watanabe knew that it was his own fault for not understanding until it was too late. Maybe it was because Shiraishi was the opposite of him- he succeeded in doing what Watanabe did not. Shiraishi could continue playing tennis even though the one he most wanted to see him play was no longer there.
Hanamura’s visits were always painful because she reminded him why his revelation happened. Teaching others and helping them to find success became more enjoyable, as he stopped finding pleasure in his own games when he realized that she would never be watching him again.
Perhaps he wasn’t really playing tennis for himself either.
Meanwhile, Shiraishi was explaining something very patiently to a group of first years, even though he must be in a really foul mood as he broke up with his beloved girl friend only a few days ago.
Watanabe vowed that he would make things up somehow.

This story is the first fan fiction I wrote for Prince of Tennis, and this was actually before I even properly read the manga. I wrote this story: “In order to win” and I really thought that would be it. But then since I got 2 immediate reviews I was really motivated and I then decided to actually expand the idea I had in my mind. Which led to “Sacrifice”, which I already put on my blog. At that time I decided that “Sacrifice” was kind of like a prequel of this story but then after I finished “sacrifice” I still have more ideas so I ended up writing them in random one shots and putting them all in chapters. So “Chapters” sort of become a collection of one shots. They are not always related to sacrifice as some are really just random what if scenarios… I think I ended up trying to explore a particular theme in each short story in “Chapters” although some are just random drabbles, or random one shot that I just wanted to write

Title: In order to win
Written at: June 23 2007
Summary: After his match with Fuji, Shiraishi begins to examine his attitude on the importance of winning as well as thinking about all he did for the sake of achieving this goal. He then starts to question himself…
Theme: Whether the result of winning is more important then the process of winning, as well as examining when you have gone too far in order to be the winner.
Word count: 1370

He won the game.
He played against the legendary Fuji from Seigaku and emerged as the victor. This was the first time that anyone has achieved this in an official game.
His team mates were cheering wildly, and even his coach was laughing instead of simply smiling.
But Shiraishi Kuranosuke did not appear as if he was the one who caused all this. Though he was the winner, he displayed no obvious emotions, he simply gave a brief nod to the rest before he sat down to observe the game with what seemed to be a dispassionate gaze.
“The process doesn’t matter, the important thing is the result- the win.” His coach reminded the captain with what he often lectured to his teams.
“I won by pure chance. Yes, I won the match but…”
“I got it.” His coach interrupted. “You are not happy because you are angry and even a bit jealous.”
“Jealous? I am not…” he began indignantly but had to sigh and admit the truth. “You are right, I am jealous. I worked so hard and sacrificed so much in order to win. But he,” he gestured to the direction of the Seigaku team. “Is able to win against everyone else without even really trying. What angers me the most is that I would have lost despite all my efforts if he had concentrated since the very beginning.”
His perfect tennis…nothing could bore him more then that now! Yet he still did it because he wanted to win every single match in order to let his school advance even higher.
But he was beginning to wonder about his own decision.
“How hard I try does not matter,” he continued, his voice unusually bitter, his head was even bent down, “Geniuses are always geniuses and therefore better.”
“But you beat the genius because you wanted to win so much.” His coach reminded him once more. “And all these people witness the result of this. You won, Shiraishi, and perhaps this well deserved victory is actually a reward. You tried so hard in order to win, while he didn’t, so the result is you beating him.
“Or are you simply disappointed because you think that the person who you most want to see your victory is not here?” the coach’s voice turned rather sly at this point. “If I have to criticize you for anything then it is for this, that your desire for our school to win interfered in your private life too much. I think Tanako Ashita will certainly agree with me.”
The name made Shiraishi look up and he automatically stretched his hands out to the girl that had appeared beside his coach.
“Ashita…”
She was wearing the sakura patterned yukata that she had wore on their first date with her hair tied by that lace-like ribbon which had been his first present to her. Unfortunately, she also dressed like that when he told her that he had to break up with her for the sake of tennis.
“Did you see the match?” he asked, quickly dropping his hands. Seeing that they ended up resting on the racquet, he quickly crossed them instead. The tennis racquet served as a reminder of how she had hit him with it as she was so angry.
“I think I saw it.” She said softly. “I thought that you won and both the reaction of Seigaku and our school supported this. But then I saw you and I begin to wonder.”
“I did win.”
“Then why aren’t you happy…Shiraishi? Isn’t all your actions this year, including breaking up with me, done for the sake of winning? So you can concentrate on tennis one hundred percent?” she asked cuttingly.
“I am starting to realize that winning shouldn’t be everything.” He finally said, trying hard to recover from his initial sadness at hearing her address him by his last name. “When I am on court I often get bored with my ‘perfect tennis’, and sometimes I even need to ask myself why I do this.
“And most of all…I feel empty after every match regardless of the result because you aren’t there.”
She would watch him play tennis whenever she could, just as he would always try to attend her karate competitions. They would always be filled with a sense of achievement if they did well, because they felt that the other were proud of them.
He twitched slightly when he suddenly felt her sitting down right beside him, the dry fabric of her sleeves almost brushing his slightly drenched bandages.
“I mean, I am glad that I won, I really am, but it is just that…” he continued, rather nervous due to how close she suddenly was.
“You feel a sense of ‘so what if I won?” she supplied for him. “Also, tennis is no longer fun so you don’t really want to do it sometimes. Then to make matter worse for today is that your opponent…”
“I really want to hit him with my racquet as you did that day. Oh, I don’t blame you, I did deserve it.” He added this very quickly to prevent her from speaking, he did not think that he should have an apology but to have none would probably make him feel even worse. “But I guess I own him some thanks for teaching me a valuable lesson: to make me wonder whether the result is the most important thing. Maybe is the process but I still don’t really know.”
“I think I can help you to understand. When I enter any karate match,” she began after a long pause, putting her hands on her knees instead of crossing them. “I get a sense of achievement if I had a good contest, not just because I won. What is there to be proud of if you won for the mere reason that your opponent absolutely sucked? I might as well just go and randomly pick fights with people on the street if I feel happy just due to winning.”
He allowed his hands to rest on his knees as well, almost touching hers, before he spoke. “You always were better then me in almost everything. Do you still remember our first proper meeting? There I was, wanting to be Prince Charming by defending you against these delinquents by wading them off with my tennis racquet? I ended up being saved by you as you used karate to beat them all up.”
“But, Kuranosuke, I liked you ever since that moment because you tried!” she said, because she finally turned to look at him, he saw that she was actually smiling.
“Ashita,” he began slowly, his hand reaching to take hers, encouraged by her use of his first name again, “I have been such an idiot and I really am so sorry for hurting you. But can we…”
“I still feel the same way about you.” She told him shyly as their hands clasped together. “I’m still angry about the reason of our break up but I think we can work though that somehow.”
“I will never do something so stupid like that again.” He promised her. “Now I truly realized that I was wrong in wanting to win so obsessively.”
Depending on the result of this match against Seigaku, he might still need to play his ‘perfect tennis’ again but it would be bearable as Ashita would be watching him. Mostly, he would only need to play it for a few more times. He had already decided that he would never be in a position where the result of his actions would affect a whole team again, instead of just himself.
His future seemed very optimistic now, he would continue playing tennis next year but he would not be in a team, he would play solo instead. Ashita would be beside him. He would naturally hope to win, but it would no longer be an obsession that drives him to do something that he did not really enjoy.
That way, he would be able to enjoy tennis as he once did. He would be able to have fun in each match again.
That was, he realized, the main point of any sport or art.

I wrote this fan fiction and even though it is using the idea I have from my fan fiction ‘sacrifice’ I don’t think I will put it on fan fiction net as I feel that this is kind of like a fan fiction of a fan fiction. I am using the ideas from sacrifice but this isn’t my actual story. THIS IS A ONE SHOT INDEPENDENT FROM MY OTHER FAN FICTIONS. But it just uses some of the ideas and scenarios in my other fan fiction.

But I got the idea for this story when I was reading my friend’s blog, and somehow it involved a whole thing about Tezuka and his sacrifice- what he did with his arm. This then made me want to explore the idea of what it really meant, and how his opponent must feel. Since Shiraishi is the only character I feel I can try and write, as I think I simply don’t have a grasp of any other characters, (because I can’t be bother to unwind their wools- don’t worry if you don’t get this. This is a reference to one of my previous entries on the blog) I decided to do a what if idea- what if Tezuka had the problem with his arm when he is playing with Shiraishi (in this story the two of them are playing singles 1 and both schools have two win each, so this is the deciding match.)

I know that it would be much better to try and explore the singles 3 match of Tezuka and Sanada in the nationals but since I am really unable to portray these two characters, I decided to use Shiraishi.

Because Shiraishi is such a calm and composed character I don’t think he will be having an emotional outburst, but I want to show him being affected so I extend this what if- this fan fiction is a bit of a ‘what if’ to my fan fiction- which as all fan fictions are, are what if scenes. But basically in this scene I’m taking his relationship with Ashita as a bit more far then what it was like in the original story (in the original story they just liked each other when they are in junior high school, but for this fan fiction presume that they were realizing that they love each other). The reason for this is to explain why Shiraishi might not be as composed as he really is. But this fan fiction’s main purpose it to explore the whole idea of Tezuka’s sacrifice and what his opponent might feel using this fan fiction scenario to show it.

I got a bit tired and fed up with links during my experience with them in putting up my fushigi yugi link, so my stories for a while will not be having links.

Final note: This is using the ideas in ‘sacrifice’ but it is not connected with my other fan fictions, this is a stand off story with the idea of ‘what if this happened instead of what happened in ‘sacrifice’’.

Word of warning: this story puts Tezuka’s actions in a rather negative light.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Photos could be mended but what about her heart? Shiraishi had carefully taped the ripped apart pieces together with the unchanged one as a guide, but the tear was still there.
Just as what he did would always be present even if they managed to reconcile. But he still rather have a ripped photo instead of only seeing this scene in his memory.
“Shiraishi, are you really alright?” Yuuji finally asked.
His friend has put the two photos in his bag and took out his tennis racquet, about to go and play the final deciding match.
They did not know what exactly had happened, but it was not hard to guess. Shiraishi had returned to their lodging after their meeting and grabbed his tennis racquet without saying one word of greeting to anyone before he went to practice madly in the nearby court. Their coach had to stop him by snatching the racquet away.
“Winning the nationals is the only thing I have left so I have to win!” had been Shiraishi’s protest.
“I will be.” Shiraishi said with a rather bitter smile. “I always manage when I play tennis.”
Ashita was right, he thought, he was already beginning to be more occupied with the game instead of thinking about yesterday. Maybe he really wasn’t meant to be her boy friend.
But it still hurt, and he now knew that it would continue to hurt even if Shitenhouji became the champion.

She stood out very easily as she was in one of her many yukata, but there was a difference from now and the numerous times that she watched his game: she was not smiling at him.
“Tanako?” Koharu and Yuuji echoed out in some surprise as their friend would have told them about her presence in Tokyo.
“Ashita…what are you doing here?” Shiraishi asked, as puzzled as the rest.
“I need to talk to you.” Was her simple reply. “Alone. Now.”
Watanabe quickly arranged this with what seemed to be light hearted teasing about youth, but some of the regulars could tell that he was rather worried.
“I came to Tokyo because I believed that we can work all this out,” Ashita began, her voice very cold as this was the only way she could keep her dignity. “But now I realized that I was wrong as I finally understand your choice: it wasn’t even about tennis. It was a decision between your team and me
“You choose your team…that is the most important thing to you.”
He couldn’t defend himself in any way as that was what he did, he broke up with her because if she was there, then he might choose to focus on her instead of devoting himself to tennis for the sake of his team.
Yet he clung onto the hope that he might be able to redeem himself once he achieved his dream of taking his team to the finals. The fact she still seemed to care for him encouraged him to continue this wistful thinking. (1)
A foolish belief as who would willingly be second best?
“So what is the point of holding onto what he once had?” upon saying this, she raised her hand to untie the ribbon that he had tied onto her hair on her birthday, the one where they spent together.
“Ashita, can you not give me another chance?” he pleaded, refusing to accept the dangling ribbon.
“Your first priority is your team, to win the nationals with them.” She said coldly as she let the ribbon fall to the ground. “I never demanded to be the very first thing in your life but being only a second thought is simply too much.”
“That is not true.” He protested, grabbing her by the wrist as she was turning away. “You are equally important too! This year has been so empty because you are not there…I feel these pain even when we won the Kansai regional.”
“I don’t think I believe you anymore.” she said bitterly, wrenching her hand out of his grasp. “How can I believe someone who dumped me just because my presence might distract him when I stopped demanding anything from him?”
Saying so, she took out her copy of the precious photo that he took almost every where with him since it lived in the same place with his tennis racquet.
“This is my proof.”
She tore the photo in two before she placed the now separated parts together inorder to rip it again.
“What we once had is like this photo.” She stated as she shoved the many pieces into his hand. “But do you know…I was beginning to think that I didn’t just like you when you broke up with me.”
“Ashita…”
“Tanako, my name is Tanako. Please remember that…Shiraishi-kun.” (2)

Like the regulars of the team and the members of the tennis club, Watanabe was watching the current match with a deep frown, but unlike the others, it was not caused so much by the actual result, but due to his worrying about the effect this would have on Shiraishi.
“I have a very bad feeling that this game is very dangerous for Shiraishi.” He commented. “I don’t really know why but I believe that something will be happening very soon.”
He was feeling very guilty because his interference of letting Tanako Ashita come to Tokyo seemed to have backfired.
What Shiraishi didn’t understand was that emotion was a living thing- his attempt of burying it could only be a temporary evasion. A burst would eventuate and the eruption would be much severe if there had been many other emotions.
In Shiraishi’s case, he did have many other hidden grievances that he hid.
Soon enough, the catalyst to unburying all this appeared: it was Tezuka’s injury.
Shiraishi managed to let the game be dragged on as he would return every single serve even if he was at the losing end of 0-40 or 40-0. He did this because he refused to just give a game away, especially when he was capable of holding on. (3)
“Forty all!” the umpire cried out even as Tezuka dropped his racquet due to his pain.
“TEZUKA-BUCHOU!” a loud scream appeared from Seigaku, while most other schools made some comment about the injury.
Shiraishi had a much more closer view then almost every one else since he was directly facing Tezuka. He could tell that the wrist was actually swollen, indicating that it had the potential of being much worse.
“You should get off court, Tezuka-kun.” Shiraishi stated with sincere concern. “That is a very serious injury.”
“Is that all you have to say?” Tezuka asked emotionlessly as he picked up his racquet again.
“Are you crazy? Do you not know what will happen if you continue?” Shiraishi almost felt like screaming, if this was happening to him then his coach would now be in the process of dragging him off, saying “Don’t be an idiot, Shiraishi. Beside, I’ve already forfeit the match for you so there is nothing you can do about it.”
“You are mistaken, Shiraishi-san, to think that our buchou will just give up before the very last point has been decided.” Momoshiro commented. (4)
“Tezuka-kun, I beg you to forfeit one last time.” Shiraishi pleaded. “I don’t want to play against someone with the knowledge that I might do great harm to them, but if you don’t forfeit then I will have to continue playing for my team.”
“Is that all your have to say?” Tezuka stated once again.
“If that is your resolution then don’t blame me for what I have to do.” Shiraishi whispered softly as he served.
He knew that Tezuka was naturally unable to return this serve because he was still in the process of recovering from his injury.
The mummer of disbelieve was to turn into hostility when some of Shiraishi’s serves forced Tezuka to drop his racquet partly due to the force he used, and partly because Tezuka’s injury weakened him greatly.
“But that is not his fault.” Kenya began indignantly due to the accusations from the Seigaku cheerleaders . “Shiraishi’s can’t just play with less strength…sensei?”
Watanabe got up from his seat without saying anything and walked to stand in front of the Seigaku regulars and club members. His expression did not seem particularly harsh in anyway, but his students could tell that he must be more then a bit angry in order to do this.
“How can you blame Shiriashi for what is happening to your buchou’s arm?” Watanabe asked very coldly. “Isn’t it natural that Shiraishi will not want to lose by preventing the game to be given to Tezkua and therefore tries to return each serve in the hope of scoring himself? It is not his fault that Shiraishi has a much better stamina then your buchou.
“You especially,” Watanabe said as he pointed to Kaidou, “Can not blame Shiraishi since what you do to your opponent is a similar thing, and unlike you- Shiraishi did not do this on purpose.
“Last of all, how is it our fault if Tezuka did not want to stop playing even though he knows the risk? His arm is getting worse because you guys are not stopping him. Why should my student have to suffer for his opponent’s problems?
“Beside, Tezuka is doing what he does in order to continue playing, do you think he will actually be happy if Shiraishi defaulted or deliberately let him win because of this?” (5)
Watanabe saw Shiriashi giving him a nod of gratitude before he resumed playing. The reason of his actions was partly due to the knowledge that the boy would be screaming himself if someone did not yell for him.
But he was actually truly angry at what was happening, and he would still be angry even if he was not personally involved in this match. What kind of example was this buchou setting up for his regulars? His actions were all but encouraging his team mates to play recklessly.
He supposed some allowances must be made since they were, at the most, only boys of fifteen years old. A very young age, although it was quite easy to forget this. An age where they usually all desired to excel in the thing that they chose, and in this case it was tennis.
Their coach, on the other hand, was different. No coach who truly cares for their students should allow this- to let their students risk injuring themselves permanently.
This was also part of their job! To prevent such dangers from happening!

In the end, Shiraishi was the one who lost, and the clapping for the winner was probably the loudest anyone had heard throughout the whole tournament, as well as being earned at Shiraishi’s expense.
Tezuka was lying on his side of the court with his right hand pressing his now rather swollen and limp left wrist while Shiraishi was half kneeling on the ground even though he was not physically injured.
Apart from these who knew him quite well, it was not easy to see that he was undergoing an emotionally crisis.
He never expected them to automatically win just because of his actions, but it was still very difficult for him to come to term with the knowledge that his dream would never come true.
Even worse was the fact that he felt he was to be blamed as he was the one who lose this deciding game.
The cheering were beginning to hurt in more then one way, especially the praises of how Tezuka deserved to win due to this sacrifice.
He should leave as soon as he could, but he seemed unable to even more, so he continued to hear these words being repeated over and over again.
Was his own sacrifices worth it? He couldn’t help but to question himself since what he wanted would not be his.
He might have had more fun…Ashita might be watching him now. At the very least she would not say that he never cared for her at all, to be accused of such a thing by someone so precious to him hurt greatly.
The worst part was that this was all his own fault- he was the one that forced himself to make this decision, he made a mistake by choosing in the first place as he finally realized that he could not be satisfied with having just one.
An understanding that came much too late as he now had neither.
He did not deny that this was all the result of his own folly, but nonetheless they were the sacrifices he did as he was the buchou.
So why were they all acting as if he never did such a thing? As if Tezuka was the only who did sacrifices for his team?
He was very tired…he tried to do what he believed to be the best for his team and the result simply hurts too much. He did not expect people to praise him for it at all, but seeing it being dismissed completely was too much.

Shiraishi’s words were spoken out very softly, but the tone immediately hushed the crowd. Anger was present, but so was sadness- showing that this was not just caused by his current lose.
“So I should lose just because of this?” he whispered brokenly. “If he should win just because of his sacrifices, then what about all that I did? Doesn’t playing this perfect tennis, which is the most boring thing in the world, for so long not mean anything?
“I never once complained about my actions because this is my duty by being the buchou. My team has to be the most important thing. Likewise my coach made this decision of letting me be the buchou since my second year even though he knew that this would not be a good thing for me.
“I don’t blame him anymore as I understand that he too, must put our team first.
“So why do you all think only he did sacrifices?” Shiraishi continued, “And why should I lose just because Tezuka wishes for Seigaku to be the champion? What make you think that I have a different goal? Why else would I want to win so obsessively? I did not do all that I did for fun, it was all because I have a dream of wanting Shitenhouji to win.
“Seigaku won because it is better then Shitenhouji in skills, but not because of your wish to win, as I wish for that so much too! So does my coach and all my team mates!”
Shiraishi was a skilled enough player and his school have performed very well in the last nationals so most of the audience has seen him before. They usually judged him to be someone quite good tempered and one who acted in a mature way.
An image that contrasted greatly with the boy who seemed to be on the verge of screaming and even crying.
His team mates’ shock clearly indicated that this was the first time their buchou behaved like this. Even the one who prophesised about the out burst was still surprised at the actual result- which was why he didn’t do anything.
Some one from Seigaku must have retorted something and the immediate reproach and apology from his own team mates indicated that it was not as wise thing to say. (6)
“Would you sacrifice almost all your enjoyment in tennis for your team for more then a whole year? Would you? And would you sacrifice the person you care for the most?” Shiraishi snapped back angrily, his voice finally raised to be qualified as a yell. “Sacrifices are not just limited to a physical injury! Don’t tell me that all I did was nothing! Especially making her go away…I care for her so much…I might even love her…but because of what I did she now think that I never cared for her…
“I know that I am the only one to be blamed for this,” he admitted, his voice now much calmer and he even prepared to stand up and walk to the net. “But no matter what, I did what I did for my team, so stop saying that he is the only one who made sacrifices. However wrong…however foolish I have been, my actions were still guided by what made him do this very same thing.”
When Shiraishi stood up, he was awarded with clapping as well, although there many who still did not understands. But those who did all clapped with great enthusiasm as they could realise how much it would hurt to do what Shiraishi did.
It was a particular loud clap that caused Watanabe to discover her- a much more difficult task then usual as she blended in with the rest quite easily due since she was wearing her school uniform.
“I think he does not need to lose in both cases.” Watanabe commented as he took something out from Shiraishi’s bag. “Children need guidance, and perhaps I can actually do what I intended.”

Ashita was deeply startled when he tapped her on the shoulder, since she was completely focused on watching Shiraishi. Her clenched hands were a further indication.
“It is not my fault that he lost.” Was the first thing she said to the coach of Shitenhouji.
Although she almost wished that this was not true, as it would show her that she was much more important. But she was not that selfish as she wanted him to win due to knowing how much this meant to him.
“Of course not. But this is.” Watanabe said, pointing to the court.
“It was that school adding insult to his injury!” Ashita immediately retorted angrily. “I’ll be angry too if I am him! First blaming him for blaming their buchou’s own problems and then suggesting that Kura…Shiraishi did not deserve to win! As if they are the only ones who want to win and…”
”Yes, he might not be doing this if he won but I doubt that he would be smiling as your are really precious to him, losing you really affected him greatly.” Saying so he placed the taped up photograph and the ribbon carefully wrapped in tissues into her hand. “Some times there are things of equal importance, but you don’t always know it when you should. Tanako-chan, is this not a good enough proof of how much he cares for you?”
At the sight of these treasures he had preserved so carefully she could only nod because she found herself unable to speak right now.
“Then go and tell him.” Watanabe said gently. “I think he will be able to accept losing if you are there beside him.”


(1) Another difference from my original fan fiction, as in the original story he actually doesn’t know that she still like him, which I think make more sense since he is only fourteen, if not fifteen.
(2) Basically in Japanese culture you rarely call some one by their first name unless you know them really really well and you usually have known them for a very long time (a bit like Inui and Yanagi). But I think you can call your boy and girl friend by their first name. So Shiraishi used to call Ashita by her first name as she was his girl friend, but now she is telling him that he doesn’t have the right to call her that and he should call her ‘Tanako’ as a normal friend or class mate would have to do.
(3) Just for those who doesn’t understand tennis, which I didn’t understand for ages. Say that they are at a situation of 40-0, where the 40 is scored by Tezuka. Basically all Tezuka have to do is to score one more time and the game will go to him, and then you start the whole thing again. But in Shiraishi’s case he have to score four times (I think, I am not very sure) so in some cases some people in his position will just give up the next ball as they might think it is not worth it, having to spend that much stamina in trying to score a game, which you might not even get, as your opponent just have to score one more time. This actually has been done- by one of the regulars in midoriyama when they played against Kaidou and Inui.
(4) This is a reference to what Momoshiro and Ryuzaki-sensei had said in the kantou regional, during Echizen’s match with Sanada. Sengoku was saying that Echizen should give up as otherwise he might be harmed- Momoshiro then told him that he is wrong, while Ryuzaki-sensei added that no one in Seigaku will give up before the game finishes.
(5) A totally random side note but this is my favorite part in the whole story: Watanabe’s speech.
(6) In regard to who said the really rude thing I leave it up to you to decide.

Final Author’s Note: I really wanted to show the following ideas in this fan fiction.

1) it is not the fault of Tezuka’s opponent that this is happening to him. (I must admit I made that mistake myself too.) But the fact that Tezuka can not last a very long match is his own fault because it is not wrong to drag a match out- whether on purpose (as Atobe tend to do) or as an accident (as what Shiraishi do in this story). Many players does this in order to study their opponent’s technique.

2) Seigaku is probably the last lot who can yell accusations at their opponents because it is Seigaku who didn’t stop Tezuka. Why should his opponent have to forfeit when there is nothing wrong with them? Why should the opponent have to forfeit because Tezuka can not play anymore? If there is something wrong with someone then that person must suffer for it himself, it is not fair for his opponent to suffer this.

3) Tezuka is doing what he did so he can continue playing anymore, would he actually want his opponent to forfeit and deliberately lose to him? I don’t think so, I believe he want his opponent to continue playing.

4) lastly, Tezuka is not the only buchou who performed sacrifices, a lot of the other buchou did too. I do not like how Tezuka is seen as the only one to perform sacrifices just because his sacrifices is more easy to see. I am not saying what Tezuka does is not admirable, but I am just saying, it is not the only thing, and it is not fair that he should win just because of that action.

5) my disappointment in Ryuzaki sensei as a coach, I really think she should not let them continue. I also really believe that unlike her, Watanabe would stop his students if they are in a similar position.

Additionally, this story also kind of show him realizing tennis is not enough, he can’t just be happy just because of tennis. I think he thought that he could manage and he believe that he should do this, but then he realize that you can not just make tennis into the only thing, that you need other things too, but this is more specific to this fan fiction.

Rikkai
Inui: “Renji, you are my good friend so you must save me!”
Yanagi: “Don’t worry, Sadaharu, I’ve already calculated all this. Niou will get ride of every one.”
Everyone else: “INUI SADAHARU! We know that you are in there!”
Niou: “What are you guys being so noisy for? We are trying to practice!”
Everyone else: “We just want to get Inui Sadaharu…”
Niou: “Then why are you guys here? Gosh, that sign, in case you didn’t see it, says ‘Rikkai’, not ‘Seigaku’.”
Everyone else: “But we saw him running in here…”
Niou: “You think we will just let him stay in. Wait a second…are you guys all trying to spy on us? I knew it! Well, this is actually a breach of privacy!”

(Niou manages to send everyone off)

Inui: “I am forever in your debt, Renji.”
Yanagi: “No need to thank me, Sadaharu. You see, Rikkai have a policy of avenging our own grievances our self, we do not want anyone else to intervene.” (5)
Marui: “Can we please start?”
Yanagi: “Wait, first of all, are both Genichirou and Yagyuu with Seiichi?”
Kirihara: “Yukimura-buchou assured me that he will keep them occupied.” (6)
Yanagi: “Good. Ah, Sadaharu, you want to say: ‘What can a seaweed head like you do to me’, don’t you?” (7)
Inui: “I DON’T!!!”
Kirihara: “I am so going to kill you!”

Yanagi: “This is strange, we always had to refill the juice jug our self. The possibility that the staff did is x%, the likehood of this being done by one of us is y%. That then means…”
Marui: “JUICE!!!” (drinks it in one go.)

(Marui starts to roll on the ground in pain.)

Yukimura: “What is wrong, Bunta? Is this because you found out that Akaya ate your secret stash of cakes a day ago?”
Marui: “I knew it! Akaya, you are the one that did it!”
Kirihara: “It wasn’t me, I swear! It was a…a ladybug!” (8)
Marui: “KI-RI-HA-RA A-KA-YA! I-AM-GOING-TO…”

(Marui suddenly breaks off due to the a new set of pain)
[This is a further proof of how powerful Inui juice really is]

Yanagi: (opens his eyes) “Seiichi, don’t drink…”

(a glass drops onto the ground)

Yukimura: “My head suddenly hurt so much…I feel so sick…”

(1) I decided to be nice to Minami and not let him having to drink Inui juice.
(2) I think Kai actually calls Hirakoba just by his first name, and least that is what he did the OVA commentary.
(3) I think Ashita have quite a right to be angry. First of all, she is really tired and she is obviously not in a mood for jokes. She is asking some sympathy from Shiraishi and instead of giving her any, he gave this really foul drink to her (note- she wouldn’t have drank it if he didn’t tell her that it is really nice). So I think her being quite angry is not that unreasonable.
(4) If I stick to the story completely then I probably wouldn’t have included Shitenhouji. Cause all I can see is Shiraishi saying: “Ew, this stuff is really disgusting’ and then just forget about it. So that is why I included the character of Tanako Ashita from my fan fictions.
(5) I just can’t get this bit right, basically Yanagi is saying if someone injured any one of them, they will deal with this themselves. They will bash that person up themselves and so prevents any one else hitting them.
(6) These two are not here because I think they might disapprove the idea of getting revenge this way.
(7) This bit is curtsey of my sister, who came up with it and really believed that Yanagi would have used this in order to re-charge Kirihara in the doubles 2 match in the finals.
(8) Kirihara said a caterpillar ate Marui’s bento in the ova commentary, I decided to change the type of insect…

Sorry to all those in St Rudolph and Rokkaku, you guys are so normal that I didn’t know how to fit any one you in…But I quite like this what if scene, I’ll even say it is one of the best ones I have ever written.

I wanted to put this up in one entry, but since I can’t, I thought I’ll just add an bonus scenario. This extra what if scenario will be different because it actually wouldn’t feature any of Shitenhouji’s players. But Watanabe will come out, as it plays on the following ideas…

If Watanabe is Seigaku’s coach…
(Seigaku’s tennis team is about to go in a restaurant or something.)

The owner: “So that is nine students and one adult.”

(Everyone prepare to pay)

The owner: (to Tezuka) “Sensei, I still need so and so more dollars.”
Tezuka: “I am the buchou, that is the coach.”
The owner: “Hahaha, don’t joke about such things, sensei! That kid look much younger then you.”
Tezuka: “…”
Watanabe: (after he first spends quite some time laughing) “He is right, I am their coach. See?” (takes out identification)
The owner: “Eh? I thought you are one of the students.”
Watanabe: “So I still look quite young!” (laughs) “Wait…it could just mean that Tezuka looks old. See, Tezuka, that is why I tell you that you have to smile more.”

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/


Full title: You reap what you sow…(ie. The consequences of distributing out Inui juice to the other schools…)

I suddenly got this idea the other day. The presumption is that almost all the school has been gathered together for some sort of training and then Inui had the idea of letting other schools drink his Inui juice.

Note: For Shitenhouji I actually included ideas from my own fan fiction, because otherwise I don’t see how I can include Shitenhouj in it, since I think their reaction will be pretty normal. So I included Tanako Ashita in it, the original character in my fan fiction “Sacrifice” and “Chapters”, and I guess she is here as a volunteer, a bit like what Sakuno and An did in the American team arc. (So just presume that Shiraishi have a girl friend as that is her role in the story.)

This what if scenario differs because of the narrative. There isn’t any specific distinction between thoughts and actual speeches because the italic bits are flash backs…

“words”= speech
(action)= action in the present
“words”= speech in the past
(action)= action in the past.

The start of everything
Inui: “Oh hohoho, it is finally completed! My latest invention- deluxe Inui juice. Not only does have the same favouring as the previous one, it also looks exactly like real juice. No one should be able to suspect anything!
Inui: “Hohoho, I should be able to get a lot of data tomorrow! Hohohoho…”

(Inui spends the rest of the night planting Inui juice in every school’s dormitory)

Seigaku
Inui: (Notebook in hand) “Why is no one affected by my juice at all? There should be some people complaining while others would be drinking water madly. At the very least Fuji would make some comment.”
Inui: “Unless everyone is immune to Inui juice already? I must go to other schools and investigate.”

Ooishi: “What a lovely day! A shame that no one else is up yet. Oh? Someone actually filled up our juice jug this early? I really must thank whoever that did this.

(pours himself a glass- immediately rushes to find water after he drinks it…)

Ooishi: “Inui must be the one responsible for this! What should I do then? If I just leave it here then someone is bound to drink it, but it will be a great waste of food if I just throws it away…”
Ooishi: “What should I do? What should I do?”

(footsteps)

Ooishi: “As the fuku-buchou I must do what is good for the team! Yes, I must!!!”

(pours all the juice down the sink)

Momoshiro: “Echizen, don’t you think that Inui-senpai is up to something?”
Echizen: “He probably made more of these drinks…”

(After a long discussion the two of them decide to warn everyone about the mysteriously filled up juice jug on each table by writing the truth out on a note. However, due to tragic reasons each note is delivered too late as no one was saved due to it. Nor did the two of them realise that they should prevent their senapi from being in great danger by stopping him going around to collect the data of his work…)

Hyoutei
Inui: “I can’t believe that they are eating such fancy food! The meal itself must have cost quite a fortune, not to mention the delivery fee.
Inui: “Why are they all looking at me in such a strange way? As if they are deciding whether to curse or thank me?”

Atobe: “Finally, some decent service! Ore-sama can not believe that they expect ore-sama to refill the juice jug by going to the kitchen myself!”
Shishido: “Che…I bet he paid them just because he can’t be bothered to do it himself.”
Ootori: “Now, now, Shishido-san.”

(everyone pours out a glass…)

Atobe: “What is this? This is disgusting! Kabaji, fetch Ore-sama’s cell phone! Ore-sama is going to get some decent food so we can all wash this foul taste away!”
Kabaji: “Usu.”

Hyoutei regulars excluding Atobe: “Should we strangle him for making that juice or thank him for letting us have this meal?”

Yamabuki
Sengoku: “Why, it’s Inui-kun! Lucky! I am so glad so see you!”
Inui: “Is it possible that my juice did not have any effect on Yamabuki at all as they want to thank me!”
Dan: “Sengoku-senpai, are you sure that this is a good idea? Don’t you think that it will be too dangerous?”
Sengoku: “Oh, I am sure Inui-kun can manage! Akutsu! Inui Sadaharu, the maker of that juice is here!”
Akutsu: “Where? I am going to beat him up so that he’ll regret ever putting that thing onto the table.”

(Inui starts to run)

Sengoku: “Hmm…today is meant to be a very lucky day for me.” (Continues reading)
Dan: (Splutters and gags)
Sengoku: “What is wrong?”
Dan: “That juice!” (continues chocking)
Minami: “Everyone, I just got a note from Seigaku warning us to not drink the filled up juice in case it is ‘the poison made by our Inui-senpai.’” (1)
Sengoku: “Phew, I was just going to drink it. LUCKY!”
Minami: “Sengoku! Dan, are you alright?”
Dan: “I think so…”
Sengoku: “Don’t worry, we’ll avenge you. Just don’t say anything until I do.”

(Akutsu enters and grab the jug of juice…)

Higa
Inui: “Crap! He is still chasing me!”
Kai: (In Okinawa dialect) “Rin, that guy running toward us is Inui Sadaharu. The one who made that juice.” (2)
Hirakoba: (In Okinawa dialect) “Really? I am going to get him!!!”
Kite: (In Okinawa dialect) “Just don’t give him any permanent injury.”
Inui: “What did they say…why is Hirakoba chasing me as well now?”
Akutsu: “Get out of my way!”
Hirakoba: “Who the heck are you? You get out of my way!”
Akutsu: “I am Akutsu Jin and don’t command me!”

(a fight between Hirakoba and Akutsu begins…)

Kite: “We must remember all that we went through and why: it is to make a name for Okinawa…”
Hirakoba: “Why does this juice taste like goya?”
Kite: “Interrupting me when I am talking? Do you really want to eat goya?”
Hirakoba: “I don’t! But this really tastes like goya!!!”
Kai: “Let me have a taste! Wow…it really does taste like goya!”
Chinen: “Is it possible that our coach…”
Hirakoba: “Yuck! I feel sick now!”
Kite: “Hm…I don’t think it is likely but…”
Hirakoba: “Ew…why does this have to happen to me!!!”

Fodoumine
Inui: “Phew, that was close. Luckily only one from each school was chasing after me…”
Tetsu: “There he is! The one who did this to Tachibana-san!”
Sakurai: “We will get him!!!”
Ibu: “Is it really my fault that I didn’t read the note earlier? But how was I supposed to know that it would contain such an important message?”
Kamio: “Shinji, don’t worry about such a thing now! Just get him!!! Everyone, I’m going with the rhythm!”

Tachibana: “As always we will give our best shot and show everyone that Fudoumine is not to be taken lightly.”
Fudoumine (excluding Tachibana): “Yes, Tachibana-san!”

(Tachibana drinks the juice and rushes to throw up)
[Note- this juice affects everyone in a different way…]

Fudoumine (excluding Tachibana): “TACHIBANA-SAN!!!”

Shitenhouji
Inui: “I am in great trouble now as a whole team is chasing me! The possibility of being captured by them is x%, while the like hood of being harmed is 100%!
Zaizen: “Kenya-senpai, isn’t that the guy who made that juice?”
Kenya: “Really? Maybe we can be saved for this torture! Shiraishi…”
Shiraishi: “Do you want to clean the whole camp instead of just our dormitory?”
Kenya: “But I have something very important to tell you! Inui from Seigaku is running past us.”
Shiraishi: “The one who made that juice?”
Yuuji: “Where is he?”
Koharu: “I am going to make him pay for making Yuu-kun and I get punished as well when we didn’t do even anything.”
Zaizen: “Senpai-tachi, you two technically…”
Shiraishi: “Alright, I’ll cancel all the extra trainings if one of you can grab hold of him.”
Shitenhouji (excluding Shiraishi and Kintarou): “We will!!!”
Tetsu: “Why is niisan’s team mates running with us?”
Gin: “He made all of us get punished by Shiraishi due to his juice.”
Kamio: “I am not going to let you outrun me this time!!!”
Kenya: “I am sorry but the Speed star of Naniwa is much faster, especially in matters of life and death!!!”

Kenya: “This drink is disgusting!”
Zaizen: “If only Chitose-senpai told us about the note earlier!”
Chitose: “Why don’t we hide this from Shiraishi until he drinks it?”
Zaizen: “I do want to see buchou’s reaction.”
Shiraishi: “Someone filled up the juice jug? Is the juice nice?”

(Zaizen, Kenya and Chitose all nods madly)

Ashita: “Kuranosuke, I am so tired. One of the coaches just made me run across the whole camp in order to deliver this bunch of paper, then made me carry boxes of equipment…”
Shiraishi: (gives the glass in his hand to her) “Have a drink then.”
Ashita: “I don’t really like these kind of juice.”
Shiraishi: “But this one is really nice.”
Ashita: “If you say so then I’ll drink it.”
Kenya: “Tanako-chan, wait…”

(Ashita begins to throw up.)

Shiraishi: “Ashita are you really alright?”
Ashita: “How can you tell me that this is nice? There should be a limit to joking around! Lying in order to make me drink this is going a bit too far!” (Ashita exits with a loud slam of the door) (3)

(Shiraishi then dips his finger into the juice and licks it.)

(a long silence…)

(Shiraishi went to the board that consists their practise schedule and write times two beside every item)

(Gin wisely starts to run)

Chitose: “Hmm…” (activates his pinnacle of wisdom) “Crap!” (starts to run too)
Kenya: “Shiraishi, I know that you are mad but don’t you think that this punishment is a bit too harsh?”
Shiraishi: “That was not any punishment as I would be doing it too, it really just is extra training. But since you and Zaizen specifically reminded me, you two can clean up the whole dormitory tonight.”

(Koharu and Yuuji wisely tries to sneak off)

Shiraishi: “Koharu and Yuuji, since you two threw some water bomb into one of the teacher’s office a few weeks ago you two can join Kenya and Zaizen in cleaning up as well.”
Koharu: “How did he even know…”
Yuuji: “Just start running before he mentions any other stuff that we did!” (4)

First of all this theory that I saw relates to fan fiction and shonen-ai so as usual, if you can not stand that kind of stuff then don’t read anymore.

Ok…to start the story from the beginning. As I said before, I don’t really like Fuji, yet I do quite like reading Shiraishi/Fuji fan fictions. Well, I would prefer to read Shiraishi/OC pairings but his fan fictions are not that easy to find so I got to a stage of “I don’t care what pairing is in it as long as the story is not that badly written and contains Shiraishi”. Well…my favourite pairing is Watanabe/Shiraishi but that is like virtually impossible to find, likewise Shiraishi/Kenya stories are quite hard to find as well. But anyway, I was reading fan fiction on a Chinese community when I suddenly saw this very interesting article: it discusses the idea that Shiraishi and Fuji actually knew each other when they were little. The article is very interesting although it is not really reliable due to two reasons.

1= I simply don’t think that Konomi-sensei intends such a deep thing and hide it this way. Konomi-sensei is not exactly the most…reliable author. Example- upon finding out that Ishida Gin (Shitenhouji) is the brother of Ishida Tetsu (Fudomine) a couple of readers actually went to re-read 20.5 and discovered that this was not mentioned in 20.5! (in 20.5 he only had a sister). The author then said the following: “Oh, feel free to add that he has a brother in 20.5 yourself.” So I mean, can one honestly say that Konomi-sensei planned all these hidden messages? I am sorry but I think not.

2= the translation used by the writer does not seem very reliable. It does not match up with most of the translation I have seen (my own version of the manga, the version I download, the ova translation etc etc.) For example, in volume 29, when Shiraishi first come out, I think most versions have him saying: “Tezuka-kun looks much more stronger this year”, whereas her version is “Tezuka-kun, I am much more stronger this year.”

However, she does have some very interesting points in regard to some aspects and it also sort of makes sense. As I said, I found this article highly interesting and it actually did make me think although I still don’t believe in her theory, but I thought I would share some of the points in her article that I really like as well as some of my own view in regard to what her article had made me think. For those who can read Chinese this is the link to it: http://post.baidu.com/f?kz=164905390/

1) In genius 316, Shiraishi tells Fuji to use his triple counters and the point she raised is very interesting. Shiraishi is not a data collector like Inui/Yanagi/Mizuki and even Koharu- so we can presume that he knows about the triple counters either because Fuji is famous for it, or because he has watched tapes (most schools do this), or because he heard it from Koharu. But this not fully make sense because by this time Fuji already had his fourth counter developed. Since it happened in the second round it should be wide knowledge now. If Shiraishi obtained his knowledge from Koharu then surely Koharu would know about the fourth counter and told him about it, and if he know about the triple counters from tapes then he must have seen this because he would surely watch Fuji’s most recent game (Fuji did not play in the quarter final so his last game was in the second round, which was when he finished his fourth counter).

So this is a very interesting question, why does Shiraishi says triple counters and omits the last counter? I know that everyone still calls it triple counters despite the fourth one but why does Shiraishi not says “use all of your counters?” it is also very important to realise that Shiraishi just used his special smash (which remain unnamed, I’m waiting for a very nice name from 40.5), where the ball spins in a circle- something that the fourth counter can attack. Shiriashi will surely mentions the fourth triple counter if he knows about it, but yet he only mentions the three counter even though he just did something that will work against the fourth counter.

I can not help but to admit that the author of this article has a very good point by her suggestion that Shiraishi knows about the triple counters due to memories of their child hood, and that he fails to mention the fourth counter because he does not know about it. He knows the triple counters because he knows it when they were children together, and so does not know about the fourth counter because Fuji only recently developed it. So his knowledge is from a past quite some time ago.

2) In genius 316- Shiriaishi’s famous monologue. “Fuji, I am sorry…” as she pointed out- why should he apologise? It is natural that you must do what ever you can in order to win, especially if it is ok. And in his case his perfect tennis is something that is perfectly honourable, so his apology is very strange. Is it because his sense of ethic is unusually strong? But this does not make sense as he has done nothing that is wrong in anyway, you can not possible argue that he did anything wrong or even rude. So why is Shiraishi apologising for dominating the game and about to win? He is a very smart kid so he will know that his perfect tennis is perfectly alright, and that he has done nothing wrong. So why should he apologise? Unless there really is something in the past that makes him feel bad for winning and dominating the game?

3) Continuing from the same scene: “To tell the truth/to be honest, there is nothing in the world that is more boring then perfect tennis.” As she described, this sounds like a complaint you would voice out to an old friend. It is certainly something that you would not tell just anyone. The question then become this…by this time has Shiraishi broke free from addressing Fuji, and is now thinking to himself? For me, I thought that he is speaking to himself at this point, but this still does not make sense either way.

Alright, I’ll start with the presumption that lady had, that he is still addressing Fuji. Why would Shiraishi be telling Fuji this if Fuji is just his first time opponent? Unless he says this in anger- because he knows that Fuji is the opposite for him- enjoyment first and not really trying. So it is kind of a “Can you actually understand what I have to go through for the sake of my team?” but this does not make sense. Because if he says this in anger, then why would he add an apology at the beginning?

So let us presume that he has broke up from his address to Fuji, and is now thinking to himself (what I believe). This still does not make sense. If he is just thinking to himself then why would he add that bit in the front? The “To be honest…” Wouldn’t he just jump straight to the point and says “This perfect tennis is the most boring thing in the world.” Why add the “To tell the truth” as if he is trying to convince someone that this really is boring? One would not want to convince oneself about something negative. So it does not make sense if Shiraishi is trying to tell himself that what he does is the most boring thing in the world, he should be trying to tell himself that perfect tennis is not that bad.


In conclusion, I still don’t really think there is any kind of that stuff but that lady does raised some very good points and now I have the following question.
1) Why did Shiraishi omits to mention the fourth counter?
2) Why does Shiraishi felt that he should apologise to Fuji for using his perfect tennis?
3) Who is he addressing when he thought of how boring his perfect tennis is? If to himself, then why try to convince himself of something negative as well as something that he knows is true. If to Fuji…why would he tell Fuji this?

10:11 – 10:29 = Kaidou and Momoshiro are being lectured by Ryuzaki-sensei, I can’t help but to wonder whether Watanabe is doing the same thing? Well…how he lectures them. I really want to see!

10:47 – 10:50 = Momoshiro and Kaidou going on court with masks…once again Tezuka shows no expression at all. Gosh…if Watanabe is his coach. “TEZUKA!!! It is very important to smile as your facial expression is too numb! You must try to smile a bit more!” (begins to pull his cheeks).
Somehow I can really see Watanabe doing the above…Actually it is probably a good thing that Watanabe is not Tezuka’s coach as I can see the following happening if Watanabe is Seigaku’s coach
(Seigaku’s tennis team is about to go in a restaurant or something.
The owner: “So that is nine students and one adult.”
(Everyone prepare to pay)
The owner: (to Tezuka): “Sensei, I still need so and so more dollars.”
Tezuka: “I am the buchou, that is the coach.”
The owner: “Hahaha, don’t joke about such things, sensei! That kid look much younger then you.”
Tezuka: “…”
Watanabe: (after he first spends quite some time laughing) “He is right, I am their coach. See?” (takes out identification)
The owner: “Eh? I thought you are one of the students.”
Watanabe: “So I still look quite young!” (laughs) “Wait…it could just mean that Tezuka looks old. See, Tezuka, that is why I tell you that you have to smile more.”

10.59 – 11:01 = the poor umpire is completely disregarded. The umpire really deserves to be treated with more respect (firm nod) as the umpire sees clearer then anyone else (refers to whenever Sanada uses his wind, wood, fire, mountain thing- the whole stadium is covered with lightening and I couldn’t even see the people, but some how the umpire can actually still see the ball… and also referring to Niou’s ability of transforming into his opponents. While everyone else goes ‘it’s Tezuka!’ the umpire still goes ‘Niou!’)

11:01 – 11:10 = Watanabe telling the umpire that there is no rule that says you can’t wear masks. But does he actually have to stand up and walk to tell the judge this…it seems that Watanabe is really enjoying this. But as always, I can’t help but to wish that he might have helped Shiraishi, to let him be able to have enjoyment in his games once again.

12:10 – 12:15 = Inui’s explanation, the main point is that Tezuka’s expression is still unchanged… a while ago I wrote that in Shitenhouji, whenever Watanabe needs to correct someone’s posture he might just say “go and take a look at Shiraishi” since Shiraishi is the bible of tennis and all that. I think in this case, when Ryuzaki-sensei told Kaidou and Momoshiro to keep a poker face she should just have said: “Take a look at Tezuka” because Tezuka can probably be the illustration for the term “poker face”.

13:14 – 13:16 = I just want to insert this shot of Shitenhouji in! I was quite surprised when I saw this shot as Shiraishi is actually sitting down. I then really like this shot- the fact that he is sitting down in the very centre while his team mates all stand around him. A perfect picture of a good buchou!

13:17 – 13:21 = same picture, but a shot from the front instead of the back.


14:38 = Yuuji’s imitation act is about to start…but why do they have to show this in such a scary way? With him standing with his back to Koharu in the shadows it seem as if he is going to turn around and hit someone with his racquet…

14:42 – 14:45 = as I saw this bit I realize that I shouldn’t have complained about the previous shot, what is with his eyes only being two orb of light and the really evil smirk…to be honest I find this shot quite creepy…

14:47 – 14:50 = Watanabe: “Oh, is it finally going to be used, that?” My immediate thought- “Sensei, do you know how dodgy that sounds coming from you?”… Although this bit kind of remind me of a scene in fruits basket, when Yuki went to visit Ayame. Ayame’s assistant/girl friend then was saying how Honda (I can’t remember her name right now…sorry all fruit basket fans) will really suit this particular dress, and they kept referring to it as ‘that’. So Yuki was screaming: “What is that? What is that?”. And as I previously stated, I find Watanabe drawn much better in this episode.

14:56 – 15:21 = Yuuji’s imitation begin. I think the voice Yuuji used when he imitated Momoshiro and Kaidou is probably not the voice of his seiyuu. It is probably the voice of the two’s seiyuu since it is completely identical. (ie. The two seiyuu spoke when Yuuji spoke in imitation of Momoshiro and Kaidou) I really want to see Koharu and Yuuji playing against Shiraishi and Kenya! (well, to be honest I just really want to see Shiraishi and Kenya playing doubles together as I think they will be really awesome together, but in particular I want their opponent to be Koharu and Yuuji!) I am not sure why but I just really want to see that. And I think cause they are all friends, it will be super friendly with comments like…Kenya- “The speed star of Nanizawa is still faster, Yuuji!” Yuuji: “Want to bet?” I don’t know why but I just really want to see Shiraishi/Kenya playing a doubles match- especially against Koharu and Yuuji.

15:34 – 15:35 = Shiraishi and Kenya commenting about Yuuji’s imitation act. This scene makes me feels that they are in great synch too. Kenya said: “It appears” while Shiraishi then immediately adds: “Yuuji’s impressions” after Kenya. I mean…Shiraishi is basically finishing Kenya’s sentence for him. Isn’t this a proof that the two of them are in great synch, and will be great doubles partners? But it is really weird…I really don’t know why but I just think that Kenya and Shiraishi had some sort of past rivalries that prevented them from being closer friends, which is a big pity- because I feel that they would have been best friends now, a bit like Koharu and Yuuji if nothing had happened (I think they are just very close friends now), and that Kenya’s now very strong loyalty is his way of making up the past.
By the way- please notice Shiraishi’s hand- the action he does. He often put his hand in this position- not really resting his chin against his hand- but more leaning his cheeks against his fingers, which will be spread- and sometimes it almost looks like Atobe’s insight pose. I noticed this after seeing him doing it so many times…


15:42 – 16:23 = Watanabe’s explanation about Yuuji. First of all…a hat really is a very powerful thing as Watanabe actually looks quite different when his hat covers his face completely. I feel that this is one of the changes in the OVA. In the original manga Watanabe’s face is actually covered by his hat about half of the time, where as his face is hardly covered in the OVA.
I really like this bit because I quite like Yusa Koji’s voice- his voice have quite a special texture. It is kind of…husky, yet not low, so I like his voice, I think I generally like higher voice. And of course, Kansai-ben… I really like Yusa Koji’s Kansai- ben. I saw someone complaining about the OVA as they didn’t like how Shiraishi’s accent is exaggerated. Me, I am the complete opposite! I love listening to Kansai-ben ever since I first heard Shiraishi and then his coach speak in the OVA.

16:43 – 16:46 = Yuuji’s comment about impression. I just have to put a screenshot of this scene in as I think he looks really cool. Unfortunately I can’t do justice to this scene, as I can’t show how he moved his racquet. The initial focus on how he moved his racquet sort of remind me of episode 2, when we focused on Shiraishi’s racquet before he suddenly brought it down.


16:52 – 16:53 = This bit is very interesting, we suddenly get this shot of Shiraishi, Kenya, Kintarou and Gin. I like how it is shown as a collage instead of just a shot of the four of them standing (with the exception of the buchou) in front of the court.


16:54 = Koharu and Yuuji. I really like this idea but I have to complain though. While I can understand why their player number nine is not shown (he doesn’t even have a name and he didn’t play at all) and Chitose, (since he technically quit by this time) what about Zaizen? After all, he is most likely to be the buchou next year (ok, I admit, this is just my own believe). But I mean, he is part of the team! If he is not in it because he really can’t fit in the picture (although I don’t really believe this) then I think they should have excluded Kintarou (although I really like Kintarou…) and just show Shiraishi, Kenya and Gin as they are all third years. So it is the idea of ‘We have known about how these two work as we have been with them in the club ever since we were all first years.’. Or…not have Gin which kind of shows the idea of the buchou and fuku-buchou observing the knowledge that they knew all along. (voice of reason: “Shiraishi is the buchou, true, but Kenya is not the Fuku-buchou!” Autumn leaf: “I didn’t hear anything!!!”) (I apologize but this is just something I really believe should be true even though there is no proof. But I just really really think that Kenya should be the fuku-buchou of Shitenhouji.)


17:54 – 18:09 = the whole thing about whether Momoshiro and Kaidou switched. I really don’t like this bit because I seriously don’t believe that they would have failed to notice that the voice and the cloth was the same. Although the OVA made it better by having Yuuji suggests that they might have changed during the interval- hinting that they could have changed clothes although I still can’t…don’t believe that they failed to notice that there was not switch.

18:12 = I know that this manga is already very fantasy like but this bit is still too extreme…a dark cloud suddenly appeared as the game is about to enter tie break.

18:14 – 18:23 = the game enters into tie break and the all familiar wind appears again. I must say, this is too overdramatic…and rather unrealistically. If you are going to have wind for dramatic effect then fine but…we first see Koharu and Yuuji, with their uniforms blowing due to the wind, but the extreme bit is that Kaidou and Momoshiro, who are standing directly next to them, does not have their clothes blown by the wind in anyway…their clothes are only being blown by the wind after we have a close shot of them. In conclusion- the weather in prince of tennis purely depends on the situation and the camera angle.
A similar thing has actually happened in the singles 3 match (so maybe something like this will be happening in the singles 2 and doubles 1 match?) but as Shiraishi prepares to hit the ball after his really sad and beautiful speech you can see his hair and uniform being blown by the wind…likewise when Fuji first appeared there was wind blowing his hair, but yet Shiraishi was not affected by any wind when he steps onto the court only a few second later…
Actually I shouldn’t really be complaining about this…I think the latest genius’s wind is the worse I have ever seen. (I am referring to the whole Niou/Fuji singles 2 match in the finals of the nationals, although if I could then I will really like to forget about that match completely.) But Inui was saying how Fuji can do his sixth counter because he is so experienced with the wind, and the last shot of Fuji, with his back to us, make him seem like some kind of god of the wind (Kaze no Kami…)

19:28 – 19:40 = Yuuji realizing that Momoshiro and Kaidou haven’t changed at all. Once again, I can only say this: I seriously don’t believe that Yuuji will only discover this at tie-break. The OVA actually made me see the whole doubles 2 match with a new perspective. While Koharu is a genius with his IQ over 200, I sort of feel that Yuuji complement him really well. From this match I feel that while Koharu provides the intelligence of the two, Yuuji is there to provide wisdom.
Why does it now sound like as if I am discussing about boy love pairing? First of all, the whole Shiraishi and Kenya thing- although I rather have Shiraishi being with his coach (voice of reason= “who the heck is asking you that!!!”) and now Koharu and Yuuji. But to tell the truth, I am actually one of the few people who does not believe that Koharu and Yuuji are a couple. I just think that they are very good friends who enjoy behaving in such an extreme way. But seriously, I think Koharu and Yuuji are a really good doubles combination.
I thought that bit about how one can not change habit is very interesting, it reminds me of what Niou said in the anime about habits, I think it is something about how habits can not really be easily altered, this then immediately made me think about what has been said about Shiraishi in the OVA: he does not have any bad habits at all. Perhaps this is a back fire? Due to playing with someone who really doesn’t have a particular habit they forgot about how important habits are? No, I can not believe this, I think I still simply can not accept that Yuuji and Koharu did not realize that there was no switch earlier on other then the fact that they are doomed to lose for the mere reason of being in the way of the hero school.

19:44 – 19:49 = Kenya comments about what his cousin has told him- these two cousins seem to be quite close- a very good example of sibling/kindred relationship, unlike some others. (cough cough) But I want to point this out: Kenya says “Yuushi is right”, he is referring to his cousin. The reason I am making such a big fuss over this is because the version of OVA that I have actually translated it wrongly. That version translated to Yuuji. But I actually went to specifically hear it as it is possible that the OVA decided to change this, but no, it is still “Yuushi”.
I think Kenya is portrayed much more maturely in the OVA, and I think his voice helped a lot- it is way lower then what I thought Kenya’s voice should be. (so the OVA make me even more convinced that he should be the fuku-buchou.)

20:02 – 20:03 = We sees Shitenhouji’s reaction to their lose, and their expression is so sad, and of course they are sad- why should they not be sad? They have an exact same dream as Seigaku- they wish to win the nationals as much as Seigaku. I have to say though, I never realized this until I started to like Shitenhouji. Before I just thought it is natural that Seigaku should win as they are the hero school, the other school’s existence is to lose as they are not the hero school. (I am so sorry for having thought this…) I admit that this is sad, but that is the way it is, they are not the hero school. But then once I like Shitnehouji I start to question why this should happen? Because Shitenhouji made me realize that all these boys have the same dream, so why is it fair that one school should have it granted just because they are the hero school? Heck…what am I saying? Basically Shitenhouji made me realize that I can not accept this idea even if that is the way it is!!! So that is an additional reason that I want Rikkai to win (I admit, the main reason is that I just don’t want Seigaku to win) but if Rikkai win then it shows that “hey this is not just about you winning because you are the hero school”. As always I quote that comment which I once saw on a Shiraishi-forum “If you have to let Seigaku win then fine, but don’t make the others so strong that it seems clear that Seigaku only win because they are the hero school.”
But as I look at this bit I have to say that I really think Kenya looks like the fuku-buchou.

20:5 – 20:17 = the game has ended and the opponents are about to shake each other’s hand. One of the reason I really like Shitenhouji is that they all have a high respect for their opponents (while, maybe we should exclude Zaizen due to what he said about Kawamura and we didn’t get to see him play. Sigh…) and I also really like the fact that they accepts their loses and acknowledge it. For me this scene is a great example, Koharu and Yuuji admits that they lose and even compliments Kaidou and Momoshiro (I have to say this though- Momoshiro and Kaidou, you two are better at imitating each other true, but you guys know each other for more then a whole year. Yuuji is good at imitating people he doesn’t know!!! Basically I want to say this: “Yuuji, don’t just dismiss your own skills so lightly! You are still better at imitation!!!” Even though the two of them has been, to a certain extent, rather amoral (I mean, using the thousand hand Buddha to prevent your opponents from scoring by making them laugh too much…) once they finish the game you they show that they are actually really worthy opponents because they will admit their lose and compliment you. I think even if they had won they will still compliment Momoshiro and Kaidou (a bit like what Shiraishi did).
Another example of this for me is the whole Chitose/Tachibana singles 2 match in the quarter-final. The idea that you want to do all that you can to win, and that you guys are going to be opponents. Hince Chitose and Tachibana’s greeting is a bit cold for two who are said to be quite good friends. But once they finishes the game they immediately greeted each other very warmly- almost a sense of getting the business done before you can get personal. (a good example of close friends who are now in rival schools, unlike two certain certain someone. Seriously, I was so shocked at the fact that they just gave each other a slight hand shake…)

20:18 – 20:30 = Tezuka speaking…I am not being harsh but this is probably the longest he has spoken for quite some time. You really have to feel sorry for him in the last episode, the words he spoke was getting progressively less each time he speaks…
In Episode 2…
First time Tezuka speaks: “It’s perfect…his playing style doesn’t have any extra movements.”
Second time: “That’s not all.”
Third time: “Fuji…”
Wait he had his famous “Yuudan sezu ni ikou” in the very beginning so I guess my theory just got disrupted. (sniff…)

20:32 – 20:50 = “uniforms” are exchanged, not really- just their wig and masks. Why is there a pika pika back ground as they shake hands? (Pika pika sort of means very shiny. Basically what is happening in this scene). In regard to this scene I saw the most interesting comment about it. This lady wrote the following on her blog: “What is with the shining teeth? Are you kids trying to do a tooth paste ad or something?”
That comment just cracks me up whenever I think about it. But once again, I have to ask myself, does Shitenhouji really follows this whole “The one who wins is the winner?” if they do, then why is their buchou upset about his own win while Koharu and Yuuji can accept their lose so graciously?

20:51 – 20:54 = Shiraishi says the following: “What are they laughing so cheerfully for?” I really like this bit partly because I love the Kansai-ben in this sentence, it just sounds so nice. As well as a more serious reason: I think this whole doubles 2 match is making him wonder whether his belief is right. I think he is starting to ask him self whether he is right in wanting to win so obsessively due to the whole idea of the one who wins is the winner, because why is he, the winner, not feeling happy while his two friends, who lost, did not seem to mind losing that much as they had a good game.

I saw someone talking about the OVA for prince of tennis by doing it the way I will be doing, instead of just talking about it in an over all manner. I really like the way that person did it, because you can know the exact point she talked about. So here is my version and I will do this for the whole of OVA 2 (Which very sadly just have 6 episodes. I think this is unfair because in the earlier days it seems that a noticeable match get to take about two episodes the very most.) but for some reason I decided to start with episode 3 first. (Considering the size of this I will be very surprised if it can actually fit in less then two entries…)

Note of explanation: the first series of OVA (OVA 1) contains 13 episode and then we have OVA 2. So what happens is that the first episode of OVA 2 is also often described as episode 14 of the OVA, as well as Episode 1 of OVA 2. For the entries that deal with my OVA commentaries, I will be referring to the OVA 2’s episode as episode one, episode two etc.

Basically…
OVA 2 episode 1 (episode 14): Fudoumine vs. Shitenhouji
OVA 2 episode 2 (episode 15): Roar
OVA 2 episode 3 (episode 16): The horror of Joking tennis
OVA 2 episode 4 (episode 17): Seigaku’s baggage
OVA 2 episode 5 (episode 18): The two doors

We don’t know the title for the last episode of the Shitenhouji arc (ok, this is also called the nationals semi-final arc, actually to tell the truth this is probably the proper name but I like calling it the Shitenhouji arc). I will put it up when I find out.

So here it is, be warned that this is from a Shitenhouji fan’s perspective and I actually quite like Koharu and Yuuji.

NOTE= this blog does not have pictures so please refer to my proper blog at life journal if you want to see the pictures…

0:01 = the episode actually opens with Shiraishi going to shake Fuji’s hand and I really like that bit, and this is better then the last episode because of the really haunting music in the back ground- is it piano? I have no idea…but I really like the music though. As this episode is the joking tennis match (the very first prince of tennis match that I saw) I thought that I’ll be going hahaha throughout the whole episode but I actually felt like crying within the first minute as…

0:33 – 0:40 = Because Episode 2 actually cut of the bit when Tezuka and Fuji talked about Shiraishi, I felt that the OVA was focusing on Seigaku much more, so I did not expect there to be the whole Kenya talking to Shiraishi thing. Unlike the last episode, which just ends with Fuji walking away, we actually continue the scene in this episode with Shiraishi recollecting what happened at the final point of the game. We actually focuses on Shiraishi and I am really glad that they showed us this bit to show how he is not happy as he believes he only won due to chance (which I believe is not true) but it is good that we get to see this because this is a major part of his character. He really would prefer to have more fun instead of being so obsessed with winning if only he was not the buchou. The very beautiful music in the back ground then make you even more touched. I also think that he is bitter about his win because it is yet another reminder of why he have to do this, why he have to play his perfect tennis, but I understand that they can’t really show this.

0:42 = I just have to include this screen shot as Shiraishi’s expression here is just drawn too good, this is exactly what I think he must have felt.


0:44 – 0:50 = as I said, I really didn’t expect to see this bit due to what I said before. I really like this bit, Kenya trying to help Shiraishi (which is another reason of why I believe Kenya can occupy the position of fuku-buchou. It is logical to expect the fuku-buchou being the first one to comfort the buchou.) Although in general Shitenhouji’s regulars all seem really close with each other. But my main complaint: Watanabe-sensei…don’t you think you should say something to this kid? Considering all that he have done for his team, don’t you think it is right for you, as the coach to help him? To be honest, for the longest time I thought that Watanabe was the one who remind Shiraishi about the whole ‘the one who wins is the winner thing’. Well…before anyone start to laugh at me this is my defense: my sister told me that Shiraishi was reminded about this by his coach.

0:51 = another screen shot because Shiraishi just looks so cute in this shot.


0:58 = we switch to Seigaku and Tezuka really angers me here. I can not believe that he just stood there with his arms crossed and basically just ignored Fuji. Even if Fuji is not his friend (which is not true, as they are really great friends) you still have the obligation to console him as the buchou- especially considering how miserable he is.

1:24 = the new opening then starts…

1:55 – 2:02 = Kintarou and Echizen sort of facing each other, the first appearance of the mysterious wind that will constantly be present in the semi-final…

2:02 – 2:07 = the two team facing each other…I really like this bit because Shitenhouji happens to have nine people as well (although I still don’t really see the purpose of their mysterious player number nine) but it just look really good, a sort of a long shot starting with the two buchou facing each other.

2:08 = cameo appearance of what happens in the Rikkai singles 2 match in the semi-final. That guy (Kirihara’s opponent) should really be grateful that he played Kirihara as otherwise how would he even manage to make it to the opening for the shitenhouji arc of the game?

2:17 = this time, the team members of Shitenhouji and Rikkai (no offence but why are you guys coming out? This is the Shitenhouji arc! You guys already had your own appearance in the kantou regional and you will get to appear in the finals of the nationals so why are you guys appearing now?! People in Shitenhouji only get this opening and the last one to appear!!! Although Rikkai, Yamabuki and even St Rudolph appeared in the opening for OVA 1 and 2 too.) are shown to appear in a slide show. Basically we have a picture of Zaizen and Gin standing together, then we have Shiraishi appearing and his picture sort of covers the previous one…the effect is very interesting.

2:18 = the example from above (ok, I admit, I just wanted to put this picture in because I really like Shiraishi’s expression.) Well, not like but he is drawn to beautifully. Although the fact that he looks so sad make me want to scream about how unfair he has been treated, as well as how great this guy is for doing what he did. I think this picture sort of summarizes his whole ‘I’ll like to stop playing my perfect tennis if I can, but I can’t because I must play it for my team. So be it then.’


2:20 = another reason why I like this OVA opening better. Watanabe comes out! And his is even playing with his hat! And even their player number nine come out. Well…I think Watanabe deserves to come out but their player number nine…

2:24 = Yukimura and his coat…to be honest I am still really surprised that Yukimura is the one who always have his coat draped around him instead of Atobe, considering that Atobe always have to do his throw the coat into the air thing in order to began his game.

2:56 – 3:49 = the infamous appearance of Shitenhoujis’ infamous doubles! Watching this whole bit just cracked me up though, especially since the OVA did it in a much more dramatic way.

3:51 – 3:53 = I am so glad that Watanbe had his ‘Eh, did I say such a thing?’ I don’t know why but I just really like this bit. I also think Watanabe is drawn much better in Episode 3 and 4. Seriously, I am convinced that he looks evil in the previous two episodes. I think he actually looks more like himself in the original manga, although the fact that his hair is red is just…while his clothes. I don’t actually know which one is worse. In the manga it is him wearing a really weird hat with a matching shirt, but otherwise there is nothing wrong with his pants and coat. But in the anime even though his hat is normal, he is wearing pale pink shirt with dark red pant and a brown hat. (translation, no sense of colour!!!) Yeah…I don’t know which situation is worse.
But here is a picture of Watanabe…


By the way, I actually finally found a trading card with Watanabe on it.


I have to say, I really want to know whether Watanabe did teach them this too- the whole ‘you must always stay together’

4:13 = Yuuji’s famous: ‘You traitor, you want to die?’ speech. The scary thing is that I actually know this phrase now due to having heard it too often.
I also noticed some thing else during this point: the stadium is almost empty. WHERE IS EVERYONE??? (well, it is better then the finals, you started off with a very large crowd but by the time of doubles 2 the stadium is much more empty…)

5:10 = Momoshiro is having his name mispronounced again- Sengoku also mispronounce his name. As I saw this bit I suddenly wonder- Yuuji, are you the one responsible for Kintarou pronouncing many people’s name wrong? I can see this scene in my head. Kintarou: “What is this name? It looks so hard?” Yuuji: “It’s Koshimae.” Kintarou: “Oh, ok. Thanks!” (in the OVA commentary Kintarou actually calls Atobe Atode, which made Kenya says: “I’ve been wondering about this for sometimes, Kin-chan, are you actually deliberately mispronouncing everyone’s name?” Laugh….I wouldn’t be surprised if Kenya got his last name pronounced wrongly as Oshitari is apparently quite an unusual last name. Watanabe probably just goes: “As long as he get my name right then I don’t care…”) Actually… in one of the dating games for Prince of tennis, Gakuto will tell the PC that he actually mispronounced Oshitari’s name.

5:30 = the thousand hand Buddha. I still remember the fact that I just cracked up when I first saw this in the manga. I believe that Shitenhouji’s regulars actually practice against Koharu and Yuuji in order to make them self really calm in a game. If you can be immune to joking tennis then you pretty much can be immune to almost everything.


6:11 – 6:15 = Ooishi and Kikumaru’s praises. I am really glad that this bit happens because it is a reminder that Koharu and Yuuji are really good, even though they just demonstrate their skills in such a weird way. I think this is also a reminder that one should just not dismiss their skills, because it is quite tempting too do so- just judging by appearance. This idea then also applies to Watanabe, because I think quite a lot of people (myself included) initially just dismissed the possibility of Watanabe being a good coach due to his appearance and attitude, which is quite unfair for him as he is actually one of the best coaches in the story. (in my opinion he is the best coach).

6:32 = I included this screen shot because I really like Kawamura’s expression…


6:42 = I love Kin-chan’s expression in this picture!!! Kenya’s expression is also quite interesting. It seems a “Haha, I am so glad that this is not happening to me this time expression.” So I then believe that a similar thing has happened to him in the past (being danced around by these two), which then make me even more convinced that Shitenhouji’s regular often play against Koharu and Yuuji in order to train their mental strength.

6:44 = Kenya commenting that he doesn’t want to play against them. What he says does not offend me, but I am really angry that he is saying it, because this is Zaizen’s line. So that poor kid’s only line seem to be saying Kawamura is Seigaku’s burden and then get told off by Shiraishi which to me, shows Shiraishi’s character more then Zaizen’s own character. Zaizen should be saying this line- that he doesn’t want to play against Koharu and Yuuji and this is another indication of Koharu and Yuuji’s skill because Zaizen is actually quite cocky, but even he does not want to play against them.

6:50 = Shiraishi appears again! (I’m just commenting this out due to my personal biasm…)

7:15 – 7:17 = Koharu explaining about the boomerang snake shot…what is it with the wind? It look as if he is standing in front of someone who wants to charge at him, not knowing that he is all prepared for the attack. In short, a bizarre image…(remind me of the angel sanctuary OVA, when Setsuna hurled the stone Kira gave him to him, we sees Kira just standing there even though this wind began to blow around him.)

7:21 – 7:50 = I take back what I just said, this get so much worse…the eerie green colour that Koharu turned into is so much worse then the wind…the weird ray of light make things even worse…

7:52 = Shiraishi appears again. I just want to point out this once again.

8:01 = is it me or is Shiraishi’s expression a bit evil as he points out that Koharu’s data is much better then Inui?

8:41 – 8:56 = Koharu begins to reveal all the data he have on Kaidou. I really don’t want to know how he got these data. Once again, this makes me wonder… “Watanabe-sensei, what are you teaching these kids…”

9:07 – 9:08 = Momoshiro calling Koharu a stalker. I feel that I have to defend Shitenhouji in this case! To me, this is a bit like the kettle calling the pot black. Seigaku have Inui, who actually hides in locker and get data as people get changed!!! (although this only seem to have happened in the game, not the actual story)

9:35 = the score board appears and watching it just make me sad because I really think Shiraishi deserves to have a more glorious in then 7-6. I really think it should be 6-0. How could he not have got one more point just because Fuji suddenly recovers? I am so sorry but I just think that is too much of a miracle…I think Fuji should have recovered when the game was about to become 5-0, not 6-0.

9:56 = this scene is really…well…Shitenhouji must be a very open school…

9:58 = for all who have see the above scene will have no problem in wondering why Momoshiro and Kaidou ends up like this
.

I don’t know about where everyone else due to the time differences but right now it is the middle of Christmas in where I live. Basically I would like to wish everyone a merry and happy Christmas and I really hope that everyone will have a really great day!!! And a really good boxing day too!!!

圣诞节，亦作主圣诞日，在台湾也称作耶诞节，是教会年历的一个传统节日，它是基督徒庆祝耶稣基督诞生的庆祝日。在圣诞节，大部分的基督教教堂都会先在12月24日的平安夜举行礼拜，然后在12月25日庆祝圣诞节；而基督教的另一大分支东正教的圣诞节庆祝则在每年的1月7日。根据基督教福音书，耶稣是伯利恒的圣母玛利亚受圣灵感孕后生下的，玛利亚和丈夫约瑟当时正在去罗马人口普查注册的路上。耶稣的出生在信徒看来是犹太教预言中的弥赛亚将要到来计划的实现，因为伯利恒是约瑟祖先大卫一族的家。圣诞节也是西方世界以及其他很多地区的公共假日，例如：在亚洲的香港、马来西亚和新加坡。但耶稣确切的出生日期是存在争议的。

圣诞节的英语Christmas，即“基督弥撒”。有时又缩写为“Xmas”。这可能是因为 X 类似于希腊字母 Χ（Chi）；Χ 是“基督”的希腊语 Χριστόςì（Christos）中的首个字母。有人认为这可能是因为近年来西方多元文化的兴起，为了尊重其它信仰的人士，以淡化圣诞节的宗教色彩。荷兰语名称类似英语，称作Kerstmis，常缩短为Kerst。

圣诞节西班牙语称为Navidad，葡萄牙语称为Natal，波兰语称为Boże Narodzenie，法语称为Noël，意大利语称为Natale，加泰罗尼亚语称为Nadal，意思是“诞生”，更清晰地反映圣诞节的意思。与此相对，德语称为Weihnachten，意思仅为“神圣的夜晚”。


[编辑] 圣诞节的故事

在耶稣出生后第十二夜，来自东方的三博士朝拜了耶稣耶稣基督出生的故事已经流传了多个世纪，主要根据基督教福音书中的马太福音和路加福音而来。马可福音及约翰福音没有着重记载耶稣的童年生活，路加的版本写于其他三本之后，比较详尽的介绍了耶稣早期的生活细节。

路加描述说，玛利亚年幼时收到天使加百利的消息，身为处女的她借由圣灵受孕。当时罗马皇帝奥古斯都有下旨，叫天下人民各归各城人口普查，于是她和丈夫约瑟离开在加利利的拿撒勒城上犹太去,这是居里扭作叙利亚总督之后，头一次报名上册，途中他们经过约瑟祖先大卫生活的伯利恒城，在伯利恒因为在乡村旅店已经没有空房，他们只好寄宿在旅舍外面，玛利亚在那儿的马厩里生下了耶稣，这里的“马厩”根据圣经版本不同而不同，但通常是一个喂食槽或是个畜栏。基督出生在伯利恒，伯利恒是约瑟祖先大卫王的家，这就实现了以色列的预言。后来耶稣家逃到埃及是为了逃避愤怒的大希律王的追杀，因为希律王听说了在伯利恒出生一个新的犹太王。当希律王死后，新的犹太王继位，他并不认识耶稣和他的父母，因此耶稣的生命就没有了威胁，这样耶稣和家人返回了以色列，他们定居在拿撒勒。

同时与基督降生的故事从福音书里传向大众的还包括东方三博士（Magi，古波斯祭司）参拜的故事，以及耶稣出生时天使向附近的牧羊人报喜的记录。三位博士，看见伯利恒方向的天空上有一颗大星，于是便跟着它来到了耶稣基督的出生地。由于他们向当时的希率王打听新的犹太国王，才导致马太福音中耶稣一家的逃难经历。根据圣经版本的不同，东方三博士也作“祭司”、“王”或“贤者”；他们可能来自阿拉伯半岛，因为他们献给耶稣的礼物里包括“黄金、乳香和没药”。多年以来，天文学家和历史学家给出了一堆相互矛盾的天文事件的组合以解释这一以前从未看到过的巨星。1

耶稣具体的出生时间已被认定为九月份与十月份之间。现在所庆祝的圣诞节（12月25日）来源于公元后400余年，当基督教成为罗马王国的国教后，为了将当时大众所庆祝的太阳之节（12月25日）与新的国教结合起来，之所以把耶稣的出生日定为现在圣诞节的日期。历史上耶稣的存在是历史学家们公认的（请参考有关调查），但耶稣的神性却一直在辩论中。基督徒们相信耶稣同时是百分之百的人与百分之百的神，某些其它宗教相信耶稣是神的先知，或者是一位伟大的教师。


[编辑] 庆祝日期
《圣经》没有记载耶稣的出生日期。关于耶稣基督真实生辰日之调查在耶稣基督死后200年就开始了，天主教教会建立了庆祝习俗。因此圣诞节现在对于大部分西方世界的基督徒(东正教、罗马公教和新教)来说是12月25日。而在科普特、耶路撒冷、俄罗斯、塞尔维亚及格鲁吉亚等东正教地区，圣诞节则是1月7日。这是因为他们即没有接受格里高利历改革也没有接受修正后的儒略历，因此他们原来在12月25日的圣诞节在1900年到2099年的这一段时间内将延迟到1月7日。保加利亚和罗马尼亚也是东正教区，但圣诞节日期上遵循西欧习惯为12月25日，但复活节则遵从东正教习惯。亚美尼亚教会更关注主显节，而不是圣诞节。

很多人认为耶稣不是在12月25日出生的。他出生的日子可能在10月1日左右；因为只有在年中这个时候，牧羊人才会晚上在户外看守羊群。（路加福音2:8-12）耶稣从来没有吩咐基督徒庆祝他的生日。12月25日原来是波斯太阳神（即光明之神）密特拉（Mithra）的诞辰，是一个异教徒节日，同时太阳神也是罗马国教众神之一。这一天又是罗马历书的冬至节，崇拜太阳神的异教徒都把这一天当作春天的希望，万物复苏的开始。可能由于这个原因，罗马教会才选择这一天作为圣诞节。这是教会初期力图把异教徒的风俗习惯基督教化的措施之一。后来，虽然大多数教会都接受12月25日为圣诞节，但又固各地教会使用的历书不同，具体日期不能统一，于是就把12月24日到第二年的1月6日定为圣诞节节期（Christmas Tide），各地教会可以根据当地具体情况在这段节期之内庆祝圣诞节。

又有天文学家根据有关耶稣出生时的天文现象-天上的一颗大星-又推算出在公元前6年4月17日才是确切的耶稣诞辰日。


[编辑] 习俗与庆祝
圣诞习俗数量众多，包括世俗，宗教，国家，圣诞相关，国与国之间差别很大。大部分人熟悉的圣诞符号及活动，如圣诞树，圣诞火腿，圣诞柴，冬青，槲寄生以及互赠礼物，都是基督教传教士从早期Asatru异教的冬至假日Yule里吸收而来。对冬至的庆祝早在基督教到达北欧之前就在那里广为进行了，今天圣诞节一词在斯堪的纳维亚语里依然是异教的jul（或yule）。圣诞树被认为最早出现在德国。

教宗额我略一世没有试图去禁止流行的异教节日，而是允许基督教的教士对它们赋予基督教的意义重新解释，他允许了大部分的习俗继续存在，只是稍加修正，甚至保持原样2。宗教及政府当局与庆祝者之间的交易使圣诞节得以继续。在基督教神权统治繁荣的地区，如克伦威尔治下的英格兰和早期新英格兰殖民地，庆祝活动是被禁止的3。在俄国革命后，圣诞庆祝被苏联苏维埃共产党政权禁止了75年。即使是在现在一些教派里，如被基督教正统教会视为异端的耶和华见证人，一些清教徒组织，以及一些极端保守的基督教基要派，仍旧把圣诞节看作没有圣经认可的异教徒节日，并拒绝庆祝它。


[编辑] 民间习俗
自从圣诞庆祝习俗在北欧流行之后，结合着北半球冬季的圣诞装饰和圣诞老人神话出现了。


[编辑] 圣诞老人和他带来的礼物

经典的快乐圣诞老人头像圣诞节送礼物已经接近成为一个全球通行的习惯了.神秘人物带给小孩子们礼物的概念衍生自圣尼古拉斯，尼古拉斯是一位4世纪生活在小亚细亚的好心主教。荷兰人在圣尼古拉斯节(12月6日)模仿他送礼物.在北美洲,英国殖民者把这一传统溶入圣诞假期的庆祝里，而Sinterklaas也就相应的成为圣诞老人或者称为Saint Nick(圣尼克)的人物了。在英籍美国人的传统中，圣诞老人总是快活的在圣诞前夜乘着驯鹿拉的雪橇到来，他从烟囱爬进屋内，留下给孩子们的礼物，吃掉孩子们为他留下的食物。他在一年中的其他时间里忙于制作礼物和监督孩子们的行为并记录下来。

法语中圣诞老人叫做Père Noel，他和圣诞老人几乎完全一样，其红白相间的衣服曾经使可口可乐公司获得灵感,在1930年代画出了传遍世界的圣诞老人形象.在一些文化中,圣诞老人身旁跟随着Knecht Ruprecht，或是称作"黑彼得"(Black Peter)的家伙。一些版本中，玩具作坊里的侏儒制作了节日礼物，有时圣诞老人与圣诞夫人是夫妻。圣诞季期间,在北美和英国的很多超市里,都有小孩可以向其要礼物的圣诞老人出现。

在许多国家里，孩子们准备好空的容器，以便圣诞老人可以装进一些小礼物，如玩具，糖果或水果。在美国，孩子们平安夜在壁炉上悬挂圣诞袜，因为圣诞老人说过要在圣诞前夜从烟囱下来把礼物放到袜子里。在其他国家，孩子们把空鞋放到户外，以便圣诞老人可以在圣诞前夜（或圣尼古拉斯日12月5日）赠送礼物。赠送礼物不单单是指圣诞老人，家庭成员和朋友也互相给予礼物。


[编辑] 送礼时间
在许多国家，圣尼古拉斯日仍然是互赠礼物的日子。德国很多地方，12月5日晚上，小孩儿们把鞋子拿出放在窗台上，第二天早上他们将发现鞋里放满了糖果和小礼物。在德国，主要的送礼日期是12月24日，圣诞老人带来礼物或放在圣诞树下。在匈牙利也是如此，只是送礼的人是小耶和华，而不是圣诞老人。

在很多地区，包括荷兰，圣诞假日仍然保存了它的宗教性质。而在西班牙和其他一些有相似传统的国家里，在1月6日主显节送礼物的人则是祭司(Magi)，算命人和异教牧师。

歌曲圣诞十二日道出了其中一个送礼习俗。当中描述了英国人传统上会从圣诞节到显现节每天互送礼物庆祝。在世界大部份地方，圣诞礼物都是在平安夜晚上或圣诞节早上送出的。直至不久以，英国人都是于节礼日送礼给朋友的。


[编辑] 圣诞卡
圣诞卡(圣诞卡片)在美国和欧洲很流行，这也是维持远处亲戚和朋友关系的一种好方法.许多家庭随贺卡带上年度家庭合照，或/和家庭新闻，新闻一般包括家庭成员在过去一年的优点特长等内容。


[编辑] 圣诞装饰
在西方国家里，圣诞节也是一个家庭团聚和喜庆的节日，通常会装扮圣诞树。在西方，不论是否基督徒，过圣诞节时都要准备一棵圣诞树，以增加节日的欢乐气氛。圣诞树一般是用杉柏之类的常绿树做成，象征生命长存。树上装饰着各种灯烛、彩花、玩具、星星，挂上各种圣诞礼物。圣诞之夜，人们围着圣诞树唱歌跳舞，尽情欢乐。

圣诞装饰包括以圣诞装饰和圣诞灯装饰的圣诞树，户内以花环和常绿植物加以装饰，特别的，冬青和槲寄生是传统采用的材料.在南北美洲和少数欧洲地区，传统上户外以灯光装饰，包括用灯火装饰的雪橇，雪人和其他圣诞形象。

传统的圣诞花是猩猩木（别名一品红、圣诞红，花色有猩红、粉红、乳白等）.圣诞植物还包括冬青，红孤挺花，圣诞仙人掌。

市政当局也会对圣诞装饰加以支持，在街道悬挂圣诞标语或者是在广场放置圣诞树.在美国，装饰还曾经因为包括了宗教主题而被多次起诉，控方认为这是政府认可某种特定宗教的行为，违反了信仰自由。


[编辑] 圣诞士的糖
传说士的糖是一位希望见证耶稣的糖果商人发明。


[编辑] 社会方面和娱乐
很多国家里，商业机构，学校以及组织团体会在圣诞节前几周举行圣诞聚会和舞会.一些组织还会有圣诞游行表演，表演有时会包括基督降生的故事.这种表演在拉丁美洲尤其常见.一些团体还会有露天唱诗活动，如访问邻居家歌唱圣诞歌曲.有时人们辑由假日唤起人关注人与人之间的关系，参与特别的义工工作，或是进行慈善筹款活动。

在圣诞节或平安夜，人们经常会准备一盘丰盛的圣诞大餐来享用，菜一般都是所在国家里的传统菜色.很多地区，特别是东欧，家庭圣诞大餐前人们会禁食一阵.很多国家里，糖果和宴请也是圣诞庆祝的重要一部分。


[编辑] 宗教习俗及庆祝
宗教庆祝是以将临期/降临节开始的，将临期是对大约在11月尾基督降生预期的庆祝，将临期教会会有特别的活动或仪式.一般包括降临节颂歌，这段时间内使用将临期历庆祝，期间还会向儿童发送糖果和巧克力.在圣诞节前，教会会在教堂安排用许多圣诞活动，唱诗班也会在教堂里演唱圣诞歌曲. 在平安夜和圣诞节，特别活动包括子夜弥撒。

其他宗教信仰也会乘圣诞假日期间庆祝他们各自的冬季庆典.最明显的例子就是犹太教的光明节，在21世纪的今天，家庭成员在光明节内也开始互赠礼物了。

圣诞节同时也合理的为伊斯兰世界接受，因为耶稣在伊斯兰教里也是一位先知，庆祝他的降生是没有理由被拒绝的.圣诞节的世俗庆祝对在西方国家的穆斯林们来说已经变得非常普遍了。


[编辑] 地区性习俗与庆祝

[编辑] 北欧
德国和荷兰在12月6日庆祝类似英语国家的圣尼古拉斯日.荷兰语称作Sinterklaasavond(圣尼古拉斯事件)的日子要比圣诞节重要的多，虽然近年来，一些荷兰人也开始庆祝平安夜和圣诞老人。

Sinterklaas这一形象是由真实的圣尼古拉斯和英国以及美洲的圣诞老人综合演化而来，Sinterklaas会在12月5日给企求礼物的小朋友带来礼物。他的装束是红色的主教外套和主教发冠，骑着一匹白色骏马在房顶间穿梭，Sinterklaas有一群被称为'zwarte Pieten'(黑彼得)的喜爱恶作剧的助手。在德国、奥地利和瑞士的部分地区，令小朋友感到恐惧的Knecht Ruprecht也会出现在传说中。

在德国，圣诞节的庆祝在大部分地区仍然是传统之一。德国于12月25日时，有点类似中国的新年，一家人会一起吃晚餐，饭后一起听音乐和谈谈这一年的生活情况，且小孩会于学校美劳课或是闲于时间自行制作手工艺品，或者利用自己的零用钱，买礼物送给父母亲，来渡过圣诞节。然后12月26日时，会有亲戚到你家作客或者是你父母带你拜访亲戚家，有点像中国的初二回娘家。在圣尼古拉斯日后，圣诞节基本是属于儿童们的节日，一般真正的圣诞礼物送出日期是发生在圣诞前夜，在简单的晚餐后圣诞礼物会被放置在圣诞树下。而圣诞大餐传统上要在12月25日享用，主菜一般是家禽(典型的例子是一只烤鹅)。圣诞礼物是与圣尼古拉斯长的很像的Weihnachtsmann（直译圣诞老人）带来的，或者有时候由Christkind带来-一位可能是或可能不是代表婴儿时期耶稣的顽皮的小朋友。商业上，Striezelmarkt绝对是一个全世界的圣诞礼物制作中心，这也是德国东部城市德累斯顿地区的骄傲，巧妙制作和印刷的产品被销往世界各地。不过近年来随着中国玩具的大量涌入，给德累斯顿当地的企业带来了不少的压力。甚至有些公司开始打算把车间转移到东欧、土耳其甚至亚洲地区，以提高产品在价格上的竞争力。

Image:Weihnachtsmarkt.jpg在瑞典，传统上公司会在圣诞节前一星期邀请员工参加一个圣诞smörgåsbord午餐(julbord或jullunch)。为了防止圣诞节期间可能导致的食物中毒，瑞典报纸传统上每年都要不遗余力的作一些实验室试验有关的报道，警告市民冷肉和蛋黄酱这些东西不要放在室温条件下以防变质。圣诞节在瑞典任何一个地方都是享受美食时节，圣诞节盛宴上的重点还是以烘烤火腿为主，但是哪一天享用它在不同的地方却也不同。不过在瑞典有一个约定俗成的惯例，那就是圣诞前夜这一天也就是12月24日下午3点准时收看迪士尼的特别节目。

挪威的圣诞大餐会在12月24日举行,挪威各个地区都有自己特定的食物做为圣诞晚餐，然后"Julenissen"(jule是圣诞的意思,nissen是挪威传说中的精灵)会带礼物给表现好的小朋友。经过安静的与家人团聚的12月25日，节礼日后会有另一场大型庆祝，儿童们会在此时在邻居中挨家挨户接受款待。Joulupukki(或圣诞山羊)是芬兰版的圣诞老人。他坐在驯鹿拉的雪橇里给表现好的小朋友发送礼物。


[编辑] 南欧

希腊的圣诞船装饰意大利人的圣诞节柔合了现代传统及罗马祖先遗留下、庆祝Natale（译者注：圣诞节的意大利文）的习俗。圣诞的降临节同日从古罗马的神农节（Saturnalia）中的异教徒庆典由来的可能性，而她们的假期就从这天开始一直到显现节。食物、宗教仪式、圣诞摆设和送礼都是重点项目。在某些地区，礼物是由La Befana（译者注：意大利传说送礼物给小朋友的老妇）于显现节时送出的，其他的地区则由小耶稣于圣诞节或平安夜送出。而近年，他们的位置渐渐被Babbo Natale－一个像圣诞老人的人物－取代。

在希腊，纵然树木是要进口的，但船是圣诞的传统像征。


[编辑] 中欧
在捷克共和国人们主要是在12月24日或圣诞夜(Štědrý den意思为慷慨的一天)庆祝圣诞节,这天晚上大家会相互赠送礼物.虽在12月25号和26号也可以.根据传统,礼物是由Ježíšek("小耶稣")或带来的.为了使节日更丰富有趣,很多古老的圣诞传统保存了下来.人们被告戒在正式的晚宴准备好前,圣诞夜里不能吃任何东西,为了能看见闪闪发亮的烤猪.礼物被安置在圣诞树下(通常是云杉或松树).人们将会在晚餐后开启自己的礼物.

另外捷克的圣诞传统习俗还包括对来年的预测.他们将苹果切开,如果第一下能看见苹果核就预示来年具有好运气,如果没有就表示来年的不顺.女孩们将她们的鞋子从肩头抛过,如果鞋尖指向门的方向,就预示着着女孩来年将会出嫁.另一个传统是将一点熔铅倒入水中,根据铅在水中形成的形状来猜测来年的运式.

在波兰,圣诞夜是宴会的第一天.宴会是从圣诞夜第一颗星星出现时开始的,然后大家开始互赠礼物.在第二天人们会走访亲戚朋友们.

在斯洛伐克,圣诞节是一个大型的家庭,食物,宗教庆典.2001年,一个大型的耶稣诞生场景在布拉迪斯拉发造建并展出,还计划将它封装以在其他城市展出.


[编辑] 东欧和俄国
在东欧，斯拉夫的乡村有个传统称为“森林爷爷”(Ded Moroz).根据传说，他乘着神奇的"三驾马车"（一种装饰华丽由三只马拉动的雪橇）旅行，并且分送礼物给小孩子们。他被认为是圣诞老人更胜于是圣尼古拉斯的后代。

从1992年苏联解体后开始，圣诞节日祝在俄国重新复苏。圣诞夜的“神圣晚餐”包含十二道菜肴，每一道都是为了纪念耶稣的门徒。虽然俄国的传统有些被转移到新年，但大多数仍被保留至今日，例如：拜访并给“森林爷爷”和他的“雪女”的礼物。许多现存的俄国圣诞节习俗，包括圣诞树或是“yolka”，都在彼得大帝十八世纪末期的西游之后流传开。

在波兰，圣诞夜是斋戒的第一天，然后，在第一颗星星出现，交换礼物之后人们便开始享受。而接下来的日子通常是用来拜访朋友的。


[编辑] 英国

为了庆祝圣诞节所装饰的房子（英国西南部）圣诞拉炮（Christmas cracker）是一种庆祝圣诞节不可或缺的形式，而圣诞童话闹剧（pantomime）更是风行于年轻的家庭中。节日Nine Lessons and Carols在剑桥是一个很流行的宗教活动。自从西元1947年开始每年挪威首都奥斯陆都会赠送一棵云杉树给英国人民作为表示英国于二战支援挪威的感谢之意。这棵树立于伦敦的特拉法加广场（鸽子广场, Trafalgar Square）而且是全英国最知名的圣诞树, 象征着英国和挪威人民之间的友谊。


[编辑] 北美
除了在加拿大魁北克省出现法国式的圣诞老人Pere Noel之外，在美国和加拿大，圣诞老人的习俗基本上是相同的。纽约洛克菲勒中心的摆放圣诞树和滑冰场的盛大溜冰活动、华盛顿的给白宫上圣诞装饰的的活动，是美国圣诞节中最亮丽的风景线。北美防空联合司令部在每年都会跟踪圣诞老人在全球的行程，这引起了众多媒体的关注和报道。

在墨西哥，posada是诸多非宗教式的圣诞节庆祝活动中的最亮点。在九天中，一群群城镇市民挨家挨户地走访，象征着刚出生的耶稣的拜访者。人们还在特定时间在家中玩从piñata中打出圣诞礼物的小游戏。


[编辑] 南美
在天主教盛行的南美，圣诞节的庆祝活动充满着宗教主题。在这些国家，世俗的风俗和互赠礼物是欧洲和美洲土著人传统的混合体，并且正越来越多的受到了美国文化的影响。 在哥伦比亚赠送礼物的传统中有一个为孩子们带来礼物的"El Niño Jesus" （小基督），在智利成了"Viejo Pasquero"（圣诞老人），在巴西有被称为"Papai Noel"，后两者与通常意义上的圣诞老人有很大联系。南美洲的圣诞老人穿的更加凉快，这或许与南美温暖的圣诞节有关。圣诞老人可以通过很多方法在晚上进入孩子们的房间，从梯子到跳跃床，应有尽有。在阿根廷，人们在一月六日，当地的“三圣节”（"Three Kings Day"）赠送圣诞礼物，那时是孩子们在去伯利恒朝圣的路上遇见的圣者用点心和小礼物装满了孩子们放在床下的鞋子。

无论在人们的家中还是在公共场合，耶稣形象在南美的圣诞庆祝中都扮演着重要角色。在像秘鲁这样有着大量南美原住民后裔的地区，耶稣形象会使用历史悠久的技法手工雕刻。在墨西哥，乡村居民一起参与一场围绕耶稣基督诞生的故事表演也是常见的。全家一起享用圣诞大餐是非常重要的，饭菜内容各有不同。但圣诞烛光却几乎是夏夜中都有的一景，特别的ì在巴西城市中还常常可以在这天观赏烟火表演。


[编辑] 亚洲
早年台湾在12月25日这一天同时庆祝“行宪纪念日”，纪念在1947年12月25日制订的“中华民国宪法”，所以很凑巧的圣诞节也放假一天；1998年台湾实施隔周周休二日，12月25日由当时行政院以放假可以跟国际接轨为由而维持放假，但2001年正式实施双休日制之后，行宪纪念日已经不放假（但部份适用工时双周84小时制的劳工，仍然有放假），不过民众庆祝圣诞节的气氛却愈来愈浓厚。中华民国总统陈水扁在2005年11月25日赠勋教廷前任外交部长陶然枢机主教后，表示希望台湾“与世界同步”，圣诞节也放假一天。当时引起部分台湾舆论认为陈水扁是刻意以“圣诞节放假”来巩固教廷邦交。

日本民众完全接受了西方圣诞老人来庆祝圣诞节，但是他们的新年是更重要的节日。在印度大部分教育机构有圣诞假期，假期在圣诞节前几天开始在元旦几天后结束。圣诞节因为圣诞老人礼物和购物在印地语里被叫“bada din”（大日子）。

属于天主教国家菲律宾拥有世界上最长的圣诞季。传统上，菲律宾的圣诞节从12月16日开始。传统上被西班牙人被称作“Misas de Aguinaldo”（礼物弥撒），他们更通俗的菲律宾名字是“Simbang Gabi”。12月24日的平安夜会有预先准备好的“noche buena”——在午夜弥撒后的传统圣诞盛宴。家庭成员坐在一起尽情享用传统“noche buena”，菜主要包括“queso de bola”（乾酪球，通常使用伊丹奶酪做成）和“jamon”（圣诞火腿）。节日里孩子们会向他们的神父要“aguinaldos”（礼物）神父则会快乐的赠与礼物然后祝福他们繁荣快乐。

在香港，圣诞节是法定公众假期(12月25日及12月26日，即圣诞节及节礼日)。圣诞节气氛相当浓厚，很多商场早在11月上中旬已开始布置圣诞灯饰。平安夜，年青人喜欢带着情侣到尖沙咀欣赏圣诞灯饰，开圣诞派对，或到兰桂坊等地狂欢，基督教及天主教徒则会参加报佳音等宗教聚会。圣诞日及翌日，商店、食肆及娱乐场所仍会照常营业，不少人会陪同爱侣出外消遣，亦有不少人会出国旅行。最近几年，圣诞节将焦点完全集中在与情侣一起庆祝，变成一年内第二个情人节。此外，香港人普遍误解节礼日为“拆礼物日(Boxing Day)”，以为所有在圣诞节前接受的礼物必须要待到此日才可拆开。其实欧美并没有此传统。在欧美，所有圣诞节礼物早在平安夜或者圣诞日早上已经拆开。

在韩国和帝汶岛，都拥有数量可观的基督徒，所以在那里圣诞节也是官方假日。


[编辑] 其他南半球地区
南半球的英联邦国家的圣诞节依然是在12月25日庆祝，虽然其时正值他们夏季的酷暑时节.这与圣诞节通常的冬季形象很不协调，这种错位的结果会出现穿着红色毛皮大氅的圣诞老人却乘着冲浪板到澳大利亚的邦迪海滩去吃露天火鸡烧烤。


[编辑] 其他地区
参见冬季节日列表和世界上的圣诞节以了解非英语国家的相关消息。


[编辑] 圣诞艺术及媒体
圣诞节激发了许多虚构的圣诞故事，试图用现在的神话故事的形式表现圣诞节精神。内容通常是触动心灵的关于圣诞奇迹的故事。他们中的一些已经变得非常有名并且已经变为大众文化的一部分，这些故事已经被作为圣诞传统流传至今。


圣诞期间上映的新片是不仅是每年电影工业票房的保证，圣诞也是各大电影公司和著名导演群雄逐鹿的黄金时节这其中最为著名的是柴可夫斯基创作的胡桃夹子芭蕾舞剧。故事叙述的是一位年轻俄国女孩在圣诞夜进入梦境后发现圣诞饰品都有了生命的故事，类似的还有查尔斯·狄更斯所著的《小气财神》。《小气财神》讲述的是一个关于吝啬鬼Ebenezer Scrooge的故事。Scrooge拒绝圣诞节所代表的发善心和同情他人的精神ì直到他遇见了向他展现了后果的代表过去，现在和将来的圣诞精灵。通过这个和其他一些故事，狄更斯基本把英语国家的圣诞节庆祝状况描述了出来(树，葡萄干布丁，颂歌等等)同时故事也反对了圣诞节期间的商业气息。

如果说狄更斯描述了英语国家的圣诞景象，那么Thomas Nast和克莱门特·摩尔就提供了现代英语国家圣诞老人的基本形象。Nast的19世纪的图画给出了圣诞老人的相貌,同时摩尔的A Visit from St. Nicholas一诗(通俗的名字是"圣诞前夜"The Night Before Christmas)则描绘了圣诞老人胖乎乎声音宏亮的形象和圣诞前夜乘着雪橇来到屋顶的情形。

虽然圣诞节的符号象征已经通过电视电影广泛传播，但在一些坚持传统的国家仍旧保持原样，圣诞老人及其故事也各国有别。一些斯堪的纳维亚地区的圣诞节故事并非如狄更斯描述的那样轻松愉快，如安徒生的"卖火柴的小女孩"。贫困无助的小女孩在平安夜赤脚走在覆着白雪的街道上，徒劳的试图去卖出她的火柴，对身边人们幸福的圣诞庆祝她只能看着。她不敢回家，因为她爸又在酗酒。不像英语国家的圣诞故事，卖火柴的小女孩的故事最终以悲剧结尾。

许多关于圣诞节的故事都收录在电影和电视上，同时亦被无数次地于电台和电视上广播。自从19世纪80年代，随着家庭影像制品的普及，每年的圣诞假日期间，这些故事的录像带和影碟都得到了热卖。一个著名的例子是电影 风云人物，这电影的主题就是映射一首圣诞赞颂歌。 影片中的英雄乔治·贝利是一个商人，梦想帮助社区里的每一个人。有一年圣诞夜守护天使找到正在绝望中就要自杀的他，并向他指出他的存在对周围的其他人意义有多么的重大。最著名的动画产品莫过于查理·布朗的圣诞节，查理·布朗因为不满意发现假日的深层次含义的尝试而苦恼不已。

为数不多的真实故事成了永远流传的圣诞故事。圣诞赞美歌《平安夜》背后的故事还有 "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" 是其中最著名的。

广播和电视也会安排圣诞主题的节目。广播电台会播放圣诞歌曲，经典音乐，赞美诗合唱如亨德尔的《弥赛亚》。其中经典圣诞歌曲有改编自柴可夫斯基地芭蕾舞乐章的胡桃夹子和约翰·塞巴斯蒂安·巴赫的《圣诞宗教剧》(作品号第 BWV 248)。电视台也会在圣诞节期间奉献出多姿多彩的节目，讲述传统，播放一些经典影片，制作一些专题节目等。


[编辑] 圣诞节经济

德国波恩的圣诞节市场圣诞节通常对于庆祝圣诞节的国家来说，是最大的每年一度的经济刺激。在几乎所有零售领域，销售会发生戏剧性的增长，如人们购买礼物，装饰，供应为来宾准备的派对。

商店借机以高价推出新产品，消费者则借这段时间买一些打折商品。在美国，零售业的 圣诞购物季被延长到始于感恩节，到耶稣受难日才结束。。对一些商店和商业机构来说，圣诞节是他们一年中唯一关门的日子。圣诞节和新年的打折活动使得商店卖掉他们积压的产品，这一现象的经济影响力会持续到节后。

很多原教旨主义基督徒，也是所谓的反拜金主义者，谴责圣诞节的商业化。他们谴责圣诞季受控于金钱和贪欲，随害了它更重要的出于怜悯、慷慨和仁慈的价值。过量发行的宣传页还有其他的问题也会在圣诞节期间导致社会问题出现上升的趋势。

在北美，圣诞节假期电影季各个制片公司往往会推出本年度最令人期待片子，借以在假期赢得良好的票房和奥斯卡奖的入门券。另一个发片季节就是暑假了。 圣诞影片一般不迟于感恩节前公映，因为过了这个时间后这样的主题就不再那么受欢迎了。


[编辑] 圣诞节的社会影响
因为圣诞节的焦点在于与朋友和家庭一起庆祝(在香港更将焦点集中在与情侣一起庆祝，成为一年内另一个情人节)，所以没有家庭或情侣的人，以及最近遭受损失的人在圣诞节期间更容易患上抑郁症。因此圣诞期间对心理咨询服务的需求增加。

人们发现圣诞期间自杀和谋杀率会出现一个小峰值，可能是因为假日庆祝少不了酒精助兴的缘故。但无论如何，自杀率最高的月份还是5月和6月；圣诞期间因为酒后开车相关的灾难因而也有所增加。

在基督教国家里，非基督教徒会在圣诞节感觉到没有意思，因为商店都关门了，朋友们也都去度假了，他们的唯一娱乐只是“电影和中国餐馆”了，电影院还会为了在假日赚钱保持开放。中国人开的店铺不会在这个热闹的日子里关门。


[编辑] 圣诞节日期起源的几种理论
相关文章: 耶稣生死年表

曾有许多不同的日期被建议用来纪念耶稣诞辰，但为什么用12月25日这样一个日子来纪念会最终被广泛接受依然没有一个合理的解释。下面列举了各种可能的原因：

天主教百科全书上的关于圣诞节的条目 介绍了各地最早的圣诞节。圣诞节并没有出现在早期基督教的节期之中，如爱任纽和特土良都未提及。关于圣诞节期最早的记载来自公元200年左右的亚历山太，其时亚历山太的革利免称，有些埃及神学家不仅对基督的生年，同时也对他的生日过分好奇4，并把这个生日定在奥古斯都在朝的第二十八年 Pachon 月25日（即阳历5月20日）。325年的第一次尼西亚公会议时亚历山太的教会确定了 dies Nativitatis et Epiphaniae（圣诞节和主显节的日期）。在12月庆祝的圣诞于五世纪时传入埃及。在耶路撒冷，来自波尔多的朝圣者 Egeria（亦称 Silvia）见证圣烛节（圣诞后四十日）是在1月6日后的四十日，而当地圣诞应为一月六日。在安提阿，公元386年前后金口约翰呼吁教会统一在12月25日庆祝基督诞辰，其中一部分人在其他日子庆祝这一节期至少已经十年。
早期基督徒借用异教的不同的神如阿波罗太阳神，地狱判官（埃及主神之一），丘比特（罗马主神），普路托斯（希腊神）或者的远古时代诺亚之曾孙宁录生日来庆祝。
异教徒的冬至节借用，例如日尔曼民族的Yule节，冬至日之后庆祝的罗马太阳神诞辰，或者罗马农神节。
来自耶稣降生于光明节期间的传统（犹太光明节，基色娄月（Kislev）25日，开始于Tevet)。 基色娄月一般对应公历12月份。在旧儒略历，耶稣生日是公元前5年基色娄月25日，对应公历是11月25日。
圣诞节基于耶稣受难日。由于耶稣死亡的确切日期在四本福音书中没有明确记载，早期的基督徒试着去推测，得出大约在3月25日或者4月6日。根据圣经旧约预言耶稣将死于整岁数或者他降临的某一个整年，基督徒以此来推算耶稣的生日：耶稣受难日加上9个月就是他的生日——12月25日或者1月6日。这样与其说圣诞节是从异教徒那偷换来的不如说本来他就是真的发生过。

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/


This is a rant. I really can’t stand moth not because they gross me out but because they are such a nuisance!!! I would not mind them so much if they just perched somewhere and stay out of my way. What I really can’t stand is the fact that they keep on flying around right in front of me, as that naturally diverts my attention. Although I spouse if they just fly around then I can sort of manage, but it is the fact that they keep on landing on you- that is quite gross. And it is hard to concentrate when they do that.

I think the worst experience I have had with moth is the time when I was literally attacked by one. I think I was about to go to sleep or something when this quite large moth suddenly attacked me. It must have been at least two centre metres, one of these really fat ones too. It literally attacked me as it aimed for my eyes, it pocked my eyes… (ew ew ew). Although the biggest moth I have ever seen is about at least five centre metres. I was just in my room when I saw this large as moth. Ohime-sama would have had a panic attack if she saw it…

But I think I now have an even worse experience….sort of. This happened during the period I was trying to study. I got addicted to drinking tea due to studying for the exam. When I get into my studying period I get quite greedy, I really want to have something nice that I can drink. So water is not enough, but keep on drinking juice and milo and soft drinks is really unhealthy. So I became a very vivid tea drinker. Tea is healthy and the best thing is that you can use one tea bag for a lot of time. I would start the day by making a mug of tea and the tea would be quite strong for the very first time, which is good because you need energy in the very start of the day cause you just got up. Then by the end of the day the tea bag will start to produce tea that is less cafine contained, which is very good because if I drink strong tea too late then I will actually have problems in sleeping. (eh…it seems I have forgot my original subject completely…)

So anyway, I was trying to study with a mug of tea beside me, and then this moth then came, flying around and for some reason it literally leapt into the mug and let us just say it did not manage to fly back up. That sight is naturally some thing I did not wish to see.

This is totally random but yeah, this is my horrifying experiences with moths.

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/

Gosh…I had one of my worst ever day at work the other day as I did the most stupid…most embarrassing thing. (I rather drink Inui juice if I could some how reverse what I did). Okay…one of my job is to get the rice onto the plate/bowls so I have to make sure that the rice is cooked. (I usually wash the rice and cook it- press cook). We use steam pots (I think that is what it is called) and you basically have to fill the pot with a certain amount of water. Too much will make it another type of rice, while too little will make the rice too dry. Since sometimes the pot of rice will be put in the actual steam pot by my boss, I tend to take the lid off and check whether the rice in there or not. So I don’t know why, but on that day I actually just pressed cook. The problem is that I didn’t put any water so….

A WHOLE POT OF RICE WENT TO WASTE!!! I felt super guilty because so much food was wasted.

Second agenda- Murphy’s law. For two days customers would come at 8:15 or so, just when I am starting to make my dinner. (one part of my wage). So the other day I decided: “Maybe I should be a bit clever and alter my cooking time.” The other day I had to eat my ramen between making food because of a bunch of customer that suddenly came after I just had one or two bite. When I finally get to properly eat my ramen it was cold…(cries…) So that was why at the other day I decided at 8:10, to make dinner now. Partly due to the fact that customers seem to like to show up at about 8:15, and also because there has been no one in the food court for the last ten minutes.

Guess what happens? I have barely start to cook when a bunch of customers showed up. (Me: “………”)

Although the other day the worst case came. I was actually about to leave, I have done all that I can do in regard to packing up and shutting the store, I actually had my bag in my hand and I was just about to step out of the stall when this person came. I think my face must have been something like this: “You just try to tell me that you want to order something…” as that customer actually asked my boss about whether we are still open TWICE! So I presume that my face was not very friendly…

So that is a few incidents of what has been happening. Since I finally uploaded all my Fushigi Yugi fan fiction (a very difficult task due to the word length for each chapter) I decided to type some daily life stuff.

Gosh…I had one of my worst ever day at work the other day as I did the most stupid…most embarrassing thing. (I rather drink Inui juice if I could some how reverse what I did). Okay…one of my job is to get the rice onto the plate/bowls so I have to make sure that the rice is cooked. (I usually wash the rice and cook it- press cook). We use steam pots (I think that is what it is called) and you basically have to fill the pot with a certain amount of water. Too much will make it another type of rice, while too little will make the rice too dry. Since sometimes the pot of rice will be put in the actual steam pot by my boss, I tend to take the lid off and check whether the rice in there or not. So I don’t know why, but on that day I actually just pressed cook. The problem is that I didn’t put any water so….

A WHOLE POT OF RICE WENT TO WASTE!!! I felt super guilty because so much food was wasted.

Second agenda- Murphy’s law. For two days customers would come at 8:15 or so, just when I am starting to make my dinner. (one part of my wage). So the other day I decided: “Maybe I should be a bit clever and alter my cooking time.” The other day I had to eat my ramen between making food because of a bunch of customer that suddenly came after I just had one or two bite. When I finally get to properly eat my ramen it was cold…(cries…) So that was why at the other day I decided at 8:10, to make dinner now. Partly due to the fact that customers seem to like to show up at about 8:15, and also because there has been no one in the food court for the last ten minutes.

Guess what happens? I have barely start to cook when a bunch of customers showed up. (Me: “………”)

Although the other day the worst case came. I was actually about to leave, I have done all that I can do in regard to packing up and shutting the store, I actually had my bag in my hand and I was just about to step out of the stall when this person came. I think my face must have been something like this: “You just try to tell me that you want to order something…” as that customer actually asked my boss about whether we are still open TWICE! So I presume that my face was not very friendly…

So that is a few incidents of what has been happening. Since I finally uploaded all my Fushigi Yugi fan fiction (a very difficult task due to the word length for each chapter) I decided to type some daily life stuff.

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/

So after ten whole days I will finally have put up my fushigi yugi fan fiction, well, the second one. The problem with this fan fiction is that it seems to have too many words…as life journal keep on telling me that the entry is too large, so I kept on having to split it into pieces, which I really don’t like. But I think I shall try and have a welcoming post and list my stories, so you can just find links to various chapters from that entry, instead of having to use tag, which can get troublesome, especially when some chapters are split. But anyway, here it is…the epilogue.

Epilogue

She was awake even before her eyes opened, as Yuri could hear the crying of her two children- a sound that she has not heard for such a long time. At their crying she instantly felt a slight pang in her heart, so she quickly sat up.
Upon doing so, she saw that she was now dressed in one of her sleeping attires, and she was lying over a futon. Raising her hand she touched her head, and was satisfied in knowing that the jade headdress was no longer there, but back to it’s proper place: on her statue in the temple of Seiryuu.
“You are awake.” Her husband greeted her with a gentle kiss as he handed her one of their children, who immediately ceased their crying due to being in the arms of their mother after their father had lifted them out of their cradle.
At the sight of their two beautiful children, Yuri couldn’t help but to smile, even though she had many questions to ask Hotohori…Seishuku. (1)
“We are at Ryoen’s apartment, he will be staying in Ju-An’s room until we leave. It seems more suitable for us to use my brother’s apartment.” Seishuku quickly explained, crouching to sit beside her, “It…it has been three days since we all returned to Tokyo.”
“What has happened?” she asked simply.
He began to explain how both she and Miaka had remained unconscious even though they left the universe of the four gods, and even though Yui said that her parents would not be home until a few days later, Ryoen had insisted on giving his room to ‘his brother and sister’.
“He is most concerned about you.” Seishuku said with a slight smile,
“He is trying to make amends.” Yuri said, she too was smiling. “I think I will be able to forgive him quite quick.”
“Quicker then Miaka?”
“Ryoen is trying, she is…she has not.”
“I believe that will soon change.” Seishuku commented as he took a letter out from his sleeves and placed it on the empty space on the futon. “This is from Miaka.” (2)
Upon receiving the letter she naturally leant forward to pick it up, but much to her surprise, Seishuku took her hand into his instead, preventing her from opening it.
“I do not deny that what is in there is important, but what concerns me the most right now is you.” He stated gently, but firmly. “Yuri, please tell me what happened. What did Seiryuu…”
Nodding, she began to explain everything to him: what Seiryuu’s true teaching was. At one point she almost wept, because she was recollecting all that which had happened to her celestial warriors, while she was happy that they all made peace, it was still impossible to not feel sad at their sufferings.
“So this is Seiryuu’s true teaching.” He said quietly when she finally finished speaking, by this time he had placed his arms around his wife and their two children, as she ended up shaking slightly. “In a way it is so obvious…”
“But often the simplest thing ends up so complicated.” Yuri replied grimly, her tone very clear and almost emotionless. “It is bad to only know love, but yet to never taste love is the worst punishment there can ever be. In the same way to only experience despair will bring nothing but pain, but it is also the knowledge of despair that creates happiness.”
“So sayth the priestess of Seiryuu.” Seishuku added, understanding why she was suddenly being so formal.
“Who spoke for the last time as Houki Yuri.” Yuri finished before she turned around to gently kiss her husband. “I do not know how you can understand so much without me telling you, I do not think that I will ever know, but I am clever enough to be grateful.”
He only smiled, as he was afraid that his voice would chock if he tried to speak, what happened was deeply symbolic: it meant that Yuri would never have to be the priestess of Seiryuu again in this life, they would be able to truly live in peace as they were now both free of their duties.
They were also lucky for having no fear of death at all, as they already knew what would happen when that day arrived. They would be able to go back to the heaven which they had come from, and without anyone telling them, the two of them knew that the life would only be happy after all that had happened.
Something had happened, and maybe it was something bad, but neither of them could recollect what had happened, and as a further insurance of making sure that no one would remember the past, they were made to not care about what had once happened.
“We have about four days in Tokyo before we return to Konan.” Seishuku told her, glancing at the calendar when Ryoen had pinned onto his wall. He smiled as he read his brother’s scrawl over the whole paper: what was once so important would now almost be light hearted due to the adventure they had undergone in the universe of the four gods.
“Haha…” Yuri whispered to herself, before bending her head down to kiss her two children. “I want them to meet my Haha.”
“We can go now.”
At the suggestion of visiting the cemetery now, Yuri immediately nodded. Even though Seishuku and Yuri had told everyone else that the urgent excuse of visiting Yuri’s mother was only said in order for them to have a way to let them leave now, both of them knew that it was not true.
But they led other to believe it was that because the others would insist the two of them going to the cemetery first. They did not lie due to any lack of love, but it was more due to an understanding. Yuri understood that she must enter the universe of the four gods first, that was what must be done as quickly as possible. But her wish of taking her children to her mother had never once dimmed.
“Shall we still take that strange curry to her?” Seishuku asked, recollecting how Yuri had spent the night before his fist visit to her mother’s grave making some kind of Indian curry that ended up as bright orange. Even though Yuri had explained to him many times that the curry was meant to be that colour, he was still not convinced. (3)
“That was her favourite food.” She said with a light smile, even though her eyes were slightly teary due to the memories of her dead mother. “She loved curry more then any other type of food, and we would go to this curry restaurant at least once a month- even though it was rather expensive. Haha selected many different type of curries as I can still remember all the weird colour food she had: orange; green; yellow.... But that orange curry appeared more time on her plate then any other.” (4)

As he watched Yuri placing the bowl of curry she had purposely brought for her mother so carefully onto the small grave, he had to smile, as he wonders whether she had been that careful with the shinzaho of Seiryuu!
He had been relatively nervous when he first came here with her, as he was rather worried about the unknown woman’s approval even though it really did not matter. But even though Yuri’s mother was dead, she was still a very important presence in Yuri’s life, only she was no longer as dominating as she had once been.
Throughout the visit he had been rather tense, looking at many things as a signal- such as the slight chill that suddenly arrived, or the leaves being blown across her grave. He only relaxed when Yuri told him that she felt the perfectly lovely day was a sign of her mother being very happy.
“Not that it matters that much,” she had added, “but I am so much happier to know that she is pleased.”
After she placed the food down, Yuri leant forward to trace her finger over her mother’s engraved name on the stone: Houki Chiai. Much to her surprise, there was not much dust in there despite the absence of what must be the only few visitors. Yuri had no way of contacting her maternal relatives, so it seems that they probably did not even know about her mother’s death.
Of course, the rather tidy grave did not arouse her suspension from her, as she concluded that it must be due to a very dutiful caretaker. Likewise, she did not regard the middle age man a few steps away as an unusual sight.
“Haha, I am still very happy in my marriage to Seishuku,” Yuri began, “I am very happy in Konan, and his parents even love me as if I am their own child, in a way, I feel as if I have parents again. Do not ever worry that I am not happy.” Turning to her husband, who has knelt down beside her, she took the two children from him and held it toward the grave. “You are a grandmother now, these two beautiful children are your grandchildren.”
Not far away, the other visitor in the graveyard chocked as he heard what Yuri just said, but this went unnoticed by both Yuri and Seishuku, as they were both fixing their eyes on Houki Chiai’s grave.
He began to walk toward them, until he finally placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Who are you?” Yuri demanded as she turned around to face the ‘stranger’, automatically holding her children away from him.
Seishuku instinctively took a step forward to stand in front of his wife and children while his hand immediately went to grasp his sword, only to realize that he was not in a time where he would carry his weapon out onto the streets. (5)
“I am not…I am not going to do anything.” The man quickly said, raising his two hands into the air. The truth was that he was a bit upset that Yuri would even consider such a thing, as it meant that she truly had not the faintest idea of who he was.
But then how could he blame her?
“My name…my name is Yuki Akira.”
“Yuki…” Seishuku repeated the last name with a frown as he was sure that he had heard of it before.
At the last name, Yuri’s face immediately darkened, and she wonder whether she would rather meet a maniac instead of this man whom she had not seen for more then seven years or so, although he would have a slightly different memory from her due to what Miaka had asked Suzaku had done.
But the fact that she had moved out of the house when she was only fifteen years old has not changed. She had immediately left when she finally finished junior high school and was able to work full time, what she had wanted to do for quite sometime. The only reason that she stayed was because that was what her mother would have wanted.
Either way, she still remembered the day that he simply left.
“What do you want?” she asked bluntly. “After seven…five years of complete neglect…no, even more then that…you show up in front of me. You certainly can’t expect me to welcome you with loving arms and call you chichi.” (6)
“I can understand that.” Akira said sadly, as he turned away from his daughter’s cold eyes. She really looked so much like Houki Chiai, the woman whom he had briefly loved. The two of them were both so beautiful in a womanly way, but unlike the mother, the daughter lacked that air of irresponsible enchantment. Perhaps the problem with Yuri was that she looked too much like her mother that her father could never be sure that she really was his daughter as well. (7)
“I…I am not Miaka or Keisuke. I have more to blame you for then you divorcing your wife and never let any of them hear from you again. None of us know where you went.” Yuri continued quietly. “But for me, you had disappointed me since the day I entered your house after my haha’s death.”
“That man is your father?” Seishuku asked her as he placed an arm around her once more in order to comfort her, at her nod, he gently pulled her closer to him, hoping to sooth her somehow.
“I decided to become one of the staff in my company’s American expansion.” He began again, “and business was busy, so it was a way of diversion. Then I…then I decided to return to Japan because I wish to see my children.”
“You children? Do they even include me?” Yuri jabbed in bitterly, obviously remembering the neglect she had received from him.
He could do nothing but sigh as he looked into her dark eyes once more, in truth he was not sure of what he was going to do, so he decided that the easiest thing was to visit Houki Chiai’s grave first: she would give him no discouragement.
“Do you hate me so much, Yuri?” he finally asked, already prepared for the blow.
Much to his surprise, she actually shook her head.
“I don’t hate you, I just can’t forgive you so easily. I resent you for what you did but if you wish to patch things up then I a willing to try. In my life…” her voice softened slightly as she recollected the warriors of Seiryuu as well as her two maids in Konan, “I have met many people whom I grew to love, but whom I am no longer with, as well as people whom I will meet up with. I learnt that there are people whom we must part with when time pass, so if we miss an opportunity, we might never be able to meet with them again, and even if we do, it would not be what it was in this life. (8)
“I regard you as one of these people, so I don’t want to regret missing the chance of mending things with you.” She stated firmly. “It would not be easy, and it might appear that I hate you at times, but I truly do wish to make amends.
“So…so…” taking a deep breath she walked forward so that she was right in front of him, and then handed him the piece of paper that she quickly wrote her address on. “I hope you will write to me, and I will write back to you.”
Gratefully, he accepted the paper. he thought about asking her in regard to the two children she held in his arms, but decided that it would be pushing his luck a bit too far.
“I…I think I am going.” Yuri told him softly, but her tone was not as harsh as he had accepted. “I wish for to think first, but maybe…maybe we can meet before I leave Tokyo.”
He made sure that his daughter and her family left before he knelt in front of Houki Chiai’s grave, fixing his eyes on the name- originally covered by a rather deep layer of dust.
“Is that your doing?” He asked impulsively. “Is that your way of thanking me for tidying you grave?”

Yuri couldn’t help but to turn to her mother’s grave, and at the sight of her father kneeling in front of it, she suddenly realized that in a way, he had to make peace with himself in regard to her mother as well. In a way, her father was not so different from her.
She truly meant what she said to him, as she truly regret not being able to be with her two maids in that way that they had been- because that was a life she would never return too.
That was why she realize the importance of forgiving. She thought about the letter Miaka wrote to her, she would make amend with that too. This time, she knew that she would be able to love her sister without forcing her self too, as Miaka was trying to make amend- instead of just taking everything for granted.
As for her father, she would never able to love him as much as she loved her mother, and she doubt that she would ever call him chichi. But she believed that she would be able to have a father in the very end as well as both a younger sister and brother.
These objectives would be achieved, although the process of accomplishing them would prevent her life from being fully problem-free.
“Life will not be fully easy, because no life is perfect.” She told Seishuku as they began to walk out of the graveyard once more. “But everything would be alright now.
“It will be because that is Seiryuu’s promise to us.”
Happily she leant back against Seishuku, even as her two children were sleeping in her embrace. This day seemed particularly lovely and right now, all she wanted is to be with her husband and their children.
There was nothing that prevented her from this. The two of them were walking back to Ryoen’s apartment leisurely, as they no longer need to rush. As they past a row of shops, they heard a song being sung that made the two of them smile at one another.
“If we are reborn
I will be born as myself
Then I will find you
Once again.” (9)
“I am reborn into this world as Seishuku and in a way, was I not searching for you?” Seishuku told Yuri as he kissed her again, “Then I found you once again.”
“And I’ll always be waiting for you.” She told him lovingly. “I love you so much.”
He was with her again, and she knew that they would never be separated again, because of that, she could safely say that their life would always be happy from now on.

(1) Since they are back in Tokyo (Japan), they’ll be using their real names once again.
(2) This is totally random but I was reading a book set in ancient china, and they were talking about how during that dynasty people didn’t have pockets so they would put everything in their sleeves and since the story talks about this thieve, they explained about how thieves would steal by slashing the sleeves. But basically, I’m presuming the people in fushigi yugi probably used their sleeves as pockets too.
(3) I think this is quite a common eastern custom to place food on the grave of your loved one to eat, or even just somewhere. I came to New Zealand when I was only seven, but I visit my family in Taiwan and when we visit my granddad’s grave (Taiwan), we actually brought food and placed it on the grave. But it doesn’t always have to be done when you visit the grave, you can do this at home as well, my dad actually does this in our house (New Zealand) as well. When we have something we don’t eat everyday, and/or is really special, he would place a plate of this food underneath the portrait for them to eat. It is the idea of giving food for them. I am Christian so I don’t really believe this as I have my own belief in regard to this which is different from ancient tradition but I don’t see any harm doing it, and it is a very affectionate sign too.
(4) I am not 100% sure about this but most of the Japanese curries I have seen sold are a brownish shade, so not bright orange. I don’t know why but I just want to have this bit- although it is not really relevant. But anyway, the curry that Yuri’s mother likes is the Indian curry ‘Butter Chicken’. Personal confession, that is my favorite curry of all time!!! (For anyone who haven’t try it…try it! It is really so good!!!)
And as for Seishuku’s reaction, he has spent most of his life in the country side’s, so I think he probably wouldn’t have much experience with foreign food. While Hotohori lives in feudal China!!!
(5) I think this is quite a good illustration of showing their character. Yuri would not mind being protected.
(6) Yuri will be twenty two very soon, so Seishuku will either soon be twenty two or just having been twenty two, as he is only a few weeks older then her. Since she was about fifteen it’ll be about eight or six years since her father left her (given that she was actually thirteen, but due to the altered time she ended up as being fifteen when he left her) the whole time thing.
And as the last name shown, the man is actually her and Miaka’s father.
(7) Just making sure, but Yuri really is his daughter.
(8) Despite what I said, the idea of reincarnation is at work. Yuri and Hotohori/Seishuku will go to some form of heaven with the rest celestial warriors and the priestess, but everyone else would be reincarnated, like her mother and her two maids.
(9) I really love inserting songs into fan fictions but I know that it can get to tideious if you insert too much so I have actually been very good in controlling myself. But when I saw this song I just felt that I had to use it. this song is called ‘Eternal Wind’ and it is from Ayashi no Ceres (which is another of Watase Yuu’s brilliant work. I also really like this song because I believe it is about my favourite character, Shuro, and the one that she love, Kei. I really love the song and when I hear that verse I just decided that I have to put it into buried memoires because I felt that it really describe what happens in regard to Hotohori and Yuri really well, especially in regard to the prologue story.

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/

Now that Tenkou was finally destroyed forever, each of the four priestesses turned to their warrior, in relief, in happiness and even just because they were there.
Unlike Takiko, Suzuno and Miaka, Yuri did not receive any embraces from her seven celestial warriors. They still stood a few paces apart from her, surrounding her in the circle of seven as everyone did in the ritual.
Not that she wanted to be like the other three priestesses, she only looked at them, just as they observed her. She did not even realize their presence until she began to feel the presence of their spirit as the four priestesses began to chant with the god that they served. At that time, she was unable to spare any attention, and if she could-she would be looking at Hotohori.
She had only seen these seven who were meant to protect her once, just before Seiryuu was summoned. Then…she had ended all of their life with her own hands, all for the sake of Hotohori, a celestial warrior of Suzaku.
He was alive, she knew that now, she also knew that as soon as she turned her gaze to look at him, he would notice her eyes resting on his immediately and he would run to her to gather her in his arms.
But she did not fix her gaze on Hotohori, she continued to look at her seven celestial warriors. Strange as it was, they all seemed to be watching her with smiles in their eyes, if they were not smiling already. She was deeply surprised as she could still recollect the anguish and curses they had possessed and hurled just before she ended their lives.
Nakago, with a strange gentle smile, was probably the celestial warrior that she knew the most, the one who sought to manipulate her completely, but it was the woman beside him: Soi, who haunted her the most. Were they really different? The woman she had become in the very end was not unlike Soi, who would sell her own soul to do anything for the one that she love. Yuri could not help but to laugh as she recalled how she did not become the priestesses of Suzaku because she had been afraid of dying. (5)
Strangely, Soi was not what she had remembered, instead of armours the woman was in a rather fancy dress with her long hair decorated by flowers. (6)
On the other side of Nakago was a barely recognizable man, he was a rather young man with long dark hair that was rather similar to Hotohori’s hair in texture, colour and length, the main difference was that he gathered it up in a high pony tail instead. Yuri could barely recognize him as Tomo, who had painted a strange mask on his face. (7)
Then she saw the twins, probably the only unchanged face, although they were more happy as they were together again. Ashitaire was beside them, with his death he finally escaped the beast part in him that always haunted him.
But it was the last man, she truly could not recollect having seen him before. By default, she worked out that he was Miboshi, but there was not a hint of similarity that everyone else possessed, however little.
He seemed a man who almost escaped his teens, no more then nineteen, but certainly above eighteen. He was actually a rather striking man to look upon with relatively attractive features. Strangely, his hair was the same unusual shade of light blond like Nakago’s, but his eyes were a very dark brown that almost seemed black.
Looking at him made Yuri thought of Hotohori, there seemed to be something similar in their bearing and posture. (8)
Unable to bear this silence anymore, she finally spoke.
“I am sorry for what I did, but I do not regret it, so I cannot apologise.” She finally stated softly.
Much to her surprise, those that she killed answered by a laugh, or a smile.
“It is true that we hated you, and cursed you even as you killed us.” Nakago began, speaking for his following companions. “But with our death, we gained the peace that we lost long ago. We are happy in death, what few of us actually possessed when we lived. This happiness is given to us by you, even though you didn’t intend it, but we still thank you nonetheless. (9)
“Without you,” at this point Nakago actually knelt down, but Yuri knew that this time, he was sincere instead of doing the action as a way of controlling and deceiving her. “We would not be able to find this peace even though we would still die. You are our priestess and only you could help us. You did help us, so I thank you for what you did.
“You all are happy then.” Yuri finally said. “But why…why is it that we had to meet that way?”
“It was our fate for what we had done.” The strange man who was Miboshi spoke rather sadly, at the recurring look of disbelieve from Yuri he smiled and assured her: “I am Miboshi, priestess, this is what I truly looked like, this is my true body.
“It seems that all the celestial warriors as well as the priestess of Seiryuu are cursed with knowing great despair.” He continued sagely, despite the seemingly youthful experience, he was well over two hundred when he died. “But most of us ended up wanting to repay the world back for what it inflicted on us, or at the very least we ended not caring.
Soi and Yuri were probably the only ones who managed to not fall as deep as the rest, but their lonely childhood made them loving the one that they love with an additional almost frightening gratitude, that they would literally do anything for the sake of the one they love if they needed to. The twins were rather similar to them too. (10)
Nakago did not want to be a god for the simple sake of power, he did it because he wanted revenge; Ashitaire was so cruelly treated that he really believed everyone deserved to die; likewise Tomo had little scruples in harming another; while Miboshi was perhaps the very worst. (11)
“Who are you then?” why was it that she was possessed with the desire of wanting to know more about them, instead of going to Hotohori? Maybe it was because she finally had the chance to be what Miaka was to the celestial warriors of Suzaku, with her own celestial warriors.
I rather have love from a few, instead of being worshiped by a whole kingdom, she realized, I always want that.
Miboshi smiled and he turned to look at Takiko and the warriors of Genbu. Somehow, Uruki happened to catch his gaze, and his eyes suddenly widened and he even raised a hand to rub them.
“He is seeing my father’s image in me.” Miboshi explained. “My father was Hakei, during the arrival of the priestess of Genbu he was the future emperor of Kutou and he sought the destruction of Hokkan. He also wanted to kill me.”
As Hakei told Uruki, he would never accept the arrival of the priestess of Seiryuu, or any of her celestial warriors. Ironically, within a month his son, the first celestial warrior of Seiryuu was born from his favourite concubine: a beautiful woman from the Hin tribe. But no amount of beauty could have aided the child from his father at all.
“Since the moment I was born, I had been constantly escaping from assassins, which made me want to live even more, just to show them that I would live. I ended up learning all sort of dark magic for the sake of power that would help me to live. When I was almost nineteen, one of the assassins finally managed to be ‘successful’ as he burnt this body-my real body. That was the night I first possessed a child, which was also the night that I truly lost any chance of redemption.” Miboshi concluded the story.
“Priestess of Seiryuu, I told my story to you not because I want your pity as I know that what I did was wrong. But I want you to understand why I ended up as what I was.”
“I too, I do not ask you to forgive me for what I almost done to your sister.” Tomo added, “But I do not want you to hate me if you ever think of me.”
Raising her hands to her eyes Yuri realized that she was actually crying due to them. As they said, she could not remember them all with love and affection as the other priestesses would, or might have. But she was happy with the mere knowledge that her celestial warriors might have loved her, as the others’ warriors did.
Fate was still cruel, but right now she would describe it as unkind instead of malicious. Most importantly of all, she understood why they were her celestial warriors, because they were very much like her.
“We must return now,” Nakago said, putting his arm around Soi’s waist, but much to his surprise, she actually shook his hold off to walk up to their priestess, and put her hands over Yuri’s.
“Yuri and Kaen are so alike.” Soi stated softly. (12)
“Although I was luckier then you,” Yuri nodded, “But yes, we are so alike. I would have done all that you did.”
“We will meet again,” the other woman prophesised, “Do not be afraid of dying, because we will all be there to guide you to that place, and we will all welcome you.” (13)
Then the celestial warriors of Seiryuu were all gone
“Seiryuu, are you not leaving too?” Yuri asked softly, as she felt herself sinking to the ground, the last of her strength finally fleeing due to what she just did. Likewise, the same thing was happening to Miaka. But one man was walking away from his priestess to run to her instead. It could only be Hotohori…she soon knew that she was gathered into his arms and he was holding her against him so tightly.
But she was no longer there, instead, she was standing beside Seiryuu in his temple, with her statue below his dragon form. Walking up to it she unclasped the jade headdress and rewound it around the statue’s lifelike hair before she turned to face Seiryuu, without him telling her, she knew that she would not see Seiryuu again until the day that she dies.
“Are you happy with what you discovered?” he only paused slightly to allow her head to nod, as he guessed it would. “Do you still hate me and the others for making you the priestess of Seiryuu instead of Suzaku?”
“I still think that Miaka is luckier to be the priestess of Suzaku.” Yuri stated. “I don’t think I will ever be happy that I have to go through such despair in order for your summoning, but I understand why now.
“I am the priestess of Seiryuu, I can be no other because that is who I am. As for hatred, yes, when I thought that Hotohori died I did hate the whole world, including you. But it was an instinctive hatred.”
She could feel Hotohori’s arms on her, and she could only wonder how she must appear to him and hope that he was not worrying too much.
She knew that she must do something alone first, although she would tell Hotohori every single detail of her action. It was just like what had happened in Konan, when Hotohori talked with his younger brother in the room where he had witnessed the death of their older brother. He had whispered everything to her that night, but he had to be with his brother alone.
She still loved him so much, but yet she could not go to him immediately. Just as he had his duty of being the emperor of Konan, as well as a celestial warrior of Suzaku, she must finish her last task as the priestess of Seiryuu: to understand his teachings as it was meant to be received.
“Despair was not meant to end up like this.” At last, Seiryuu spoke. “Despair exists alongside love because it is meant to work alongside love, to let people appreciate their lives. Tell me the truth, are you not able to value your life more because of all that you had underwent when you were my priestess?” seeing the nod he continued. “Despair, like all other emotion, is not purely good or bad, I will not explain about the negatives of love because I think you already understand that too well.
“But my own people, even most of the seven chosen ones, did not understand. Instead of being grateful for their present situation they sought to achieve happiness by inflicting the same pain that they had undergone.” (14)
“Nonetheless it is not something easy.” Yuri protested. “No matter what, love…” she suddenly paused when she recollected what happened to many of the celestial warriors of Suzaku due to love: Hotohori almost died when she left him; because of his sister’s death Nuriko ended up abandoning his gender in order to capture her memory; Chichiri and Mitsukake were both haunted by their lovers’ death; while she heard that Taisuki almost violated a girl he loved as much as a sister due to loving her a bit too much.
As for herself, what might she have become?
“I understand now.” She whispered.
“But it is also true that I have made you suffer much by making you into my priestess.” Seiryuu suddenly said.
“You do not mean what you did to me in this life, do you?” Yuri asked sharply. “I know by now that I had a past life, a life before I became Houki Yuri, then Houkigou.”
At this, Seiryuu only nodded. “But do you really desire to know what had happened, what had caused all this to be? Do you really wish to know?” he asked softly.
At his last sentence, Yuri shivered, as they were exactly what Hikitsu had asked her, just before he used his power to let her see the past.
“What would be the right thing to do?” she questioned her deity. “Is it to remember my past and be strong by coming to term with it? Or will real strength be ignoring the opportunity of discovering the truth because I know I will not be able to face it?”
This time, it was Seiryuu’s turn to recollect what had happened a long time ago. She had been dressed in a much more plain blue dress, as she was merely one of the servants in the temple- not an official. She was actually clutching to a broom as she had been doing her daily duty of sweeping when he first approached her.
“What would be the right thing to do?” she had said these very same words as he told her his decision of making her into his chosen one by making her into the priestess of Seiryuu. “Is it to accept this destiny of being a priestess, to be my country’s protector along with the deity whose temple I am raised up in? Or should I follow my own wish and refuse, as I know that I would not be a good priestess because all I ever wanted is to live a normal life like most other girls?”
How could he bear to tell her all that which had happened? Beginning with how he forced her into a life that she did not want.
“I do not desire happiness from power, or from doing something noble. The type of happiness I desire will be from finding a man that I love and marrying him, as well as having children with him. That has been what I had wanted every since I was old enough to understand.” She had stated clearly.
The four gods all had to select a young virginal girl from their kingdom to be their priestess- channelling the four gods’ power by giving them their body as their vessel- and she was the one he had chosen, although she made it clear that all she wanted was to be able to leave the temple and live a normal life.
They also existed for the sake of making sure that Tenkou remained sealed, that was one of their duties.
Perhaps what happened to his priestess was a punishment for him as well.
She had done her duties until the day she saw Hotohori, the celestial warrior of Suzaku. They ended up as lovers in every sense, even though she was meant to remain virginal.
Then the punishments, when she was denounced by the three other priestesses, and almost all the other celestial warriors for doing what she did. For some reason they seemed to have thought that they, who were made to judge men, also had the power to judge those a level higher.
The four gods had chosen their priestesses as well as creating seven celestial warriors for each one from the twenty eight constellations as a way of preventing injustice and cruelty over their kingdom. Instead, one of these celestial warriors ended up dying due to the other’s misjudgement, while his priestess ended up so furious with what happened that she almost ended up working for Tenkou.
Would she be able to accept the fact that in her depression, she had listened to Tenkou’s lies, and was going to take the shinzaho to him, only to be driven to suicide due to her guilt at how far she had fallen, and would have fall?
Then Hotohori went insane with grief as he saw her dying, the celestial warrior of Suzaku ended up staining his sword due to being possessed, with the first sacrifice being the woman who was the beloved of his dearest friend. (15)
Most of, how would she react to the truth that the priestesses and celestial warriors were not sent down to help their selective kingdoms, but were cast down in punishment due to what had happened on that day? (16)
“I cannot tell her all that had happened in the past.” Seiryuu realized. “She would find out when she finally dies- when this all end- but that is not until some years later.”
He stretched his hand out and gently placed it against her brow. Her eyes immediately became vacant, and her hands slumped to her sides.
“I will not let her know.” Seiryuu decided, he pressed his hands slightly- causing a blue light to surround them.
When he finally withdrew his hand, her eyes were closed.
“You will not even remember anything that is related to what had happened.” Seiryuu stated softly as he picked her up in his arms, about to return her to Hotohori. “And I will make sure that no one else does too.
“You will be able to have a life that is only filled with happiness…the sort of happiness which you had always longed for, what I took you away from.”

(1) I know Yuri is being rather harsh and unreasonable here but I think it is understandable considering her life. She had spent the majority of her childhood/teenage hood unloved by anyone, and it might even be fair to say that she had suffered mental and emotional abuse, being constantly reminded that her presence is running the family, and now it appears as if her husband is dead, and she loves Hotohori so much so I guess a nervous break down. You can say that he represents all the good thing in her life: her children, her new family. Later on she’ll use the following concepts to explain: when you are in love every thing seems perfect and you love everyone, but when you are in despair you end up hating every single person.
(2) I was reading Ayashi no Ceres, aka Ceres, celestial legend when I wrote the following and I have the picture of the transformation to Ceres in mind, so that is what I tried to do with Yuri. Speaking of that I actually really like how Ceres is drawn.
(3) In relation to my prologue story- in a way what she did in her past life affects this life, but she did still have the hard deal as what happened in that past life was no full fault of her.
(4) I really don’t know much about Suzuno as we only recently discovers about Takiko in Genbu Kaiden, but I do want to make it clear that she is coming out and as a priestess she is as important as everyone else, although she doesn’t say much in this story.
(5) I suddenly realized that bit, so I had to explain it. Initially Yuri didn’t tell Hotohori that she was not from this world as she was afraid that she would have to be the priestess of Suzaku and die, but by the end of the two years she really ended up being in love so much that she would do anything for him, including dying and killing.
(6) I really like Soi’s character, especially how she is feminine yet strong. I love the little detail of her lipstick, showing her actual desire of being feminine. According to the author, she would have loved to draw Soi in a bridal gown beside Nakago (there is a picture of Soi wearing a bridal gown of one of the native Chinese tribe in one of the chapter covers. It’s sixty something…)
(7) Tomo is actually drawn quite good looking, so I almost think that it is a shame that he have to have that weird mask. I’m sorry to say but I rather him not having the mask instead of Chichiri. I mean…the first time I saw a picture of him without the mask, as himself I was actually pretty shock. Ok…to be honest I was shocked only after I worked out who the heck that guy is.
(8) All this bit I am making up completely. And as Yuri guessed correctly, his mother is from the same tribe (Hin I think) as Nakago, and he is also of royal blood. Being of one those who was naturally born with such royalty and posture. 
(9) I want to get this through, this idea: that the warriors of Seiryuu are not evil, it is the harsh circumstances that they had that ended up making them evil, or at the very least they become cruel and harsh. So even though they are all going to be rather out of character, I’m saying that it is because they are dead, and gained the peace and understanding that only death could bring. And technically they were sent down by heaven with the purpose of helping a kingdom, so I strongly believe now that they are actually all good people.
(10) Although the more I think about and write this story the more Soi and Yuri seemed to resemble each other, and as I mentioned earlier, the darker her character seem to become. She does love Hotohori because she truly love him, not because out of mere gratitude, in fact this was one of the things she was afraid of, hence why she only married him three months after their meting. In the same way I really don’t think Soi loved Nakago just because he saved her, but that was something additional to what she feels for him. I think I won’t publish this as it just seems too…strange even for me? I think Yuri would have ended up doing what Soi would do, but Yuri is luckier then Soi by far, because in this story Hotohori really loves her back in a very strong way too.
(11) Since this story is a Hotohori central story, the rest are not really focused so I have no idea whether that flute guy was in love with Miaka or not, probably not. Although it’s strange, Hotohori’s character doesn’t seem to have changed that much, but it might be because I feel Watase Yuu defined him really well that I can’t really change him.
An interesting thing that I thought of about Hotohori in regard to Fushigi Yugi and I am including this in my story. What is better? The love of the one person that you love, or the worship of a whole nation. I regard this as kind of what Hotohori went through in the end, he did not have the love of Miaka, but he knew that his people loved him in the worshipful way. Which is what is happening to Yuri in this story as well, in the beginning. She was not loved by her celestial warriors, but yet the whole of Kutou worships her. I think for Yuri and for Hotohori, they rather have the first- to be love back by the one that you love.
But I am getting sidetracked, the main point is that I feel that is what happened to the warriors of Seiryuu now, that they all were actually very good people, only that their circumstance made them like that, after all, they were all part of the twenty eight who were chosen by the over all god (Taiitsukun.)
(12) Kaen is Soi’s real name, and it is one of the most beautiful name I have ever seen.
(13) I know that in Fushigi Yugi everyone get reincarnated but I never like the idea of reincarnation, that always seem to be so tragic. To always have to part those dear to you and loose them after you find them, the possibility that you never see them again. I just can’t do that, so everyone is going to some sort of heaven, although it seems that the celestial warriors were from heaven in the first place.
(14) Kamiyasu (the new emperor of Kutou) is a very good example of understanding the teaching of despair the right way,
(15) I’m sure you guys can figure out who the guy is, who his ‘best friend’ was, although the woman might not be that easy as she is a change from the original story.

(16) Well, I think this would have got quite confusing but it is all related to the prologue, and I guess what I just give is a very dehydrated version of my prologue story. As I said, I know that some people would probably not like this, but hey- I just want to do it, so well…it’s done. I’ll explain this in more details as it does get confusing, or you can just ignore this bit and pretend it never happened. I wouldn’t blame you if you choose to do this. Seriously, no hard feelings at all if you don’t really like my prologue story’s idea. I think it is a pretty crazy idea.

It might be a good idea to re-read certain bits: Chapter 1: When Yuri recollected what she remembered after her death- what she had seen, as well as Hotohori's dream at the very end of the chapter; Chapter 5: in the very beginning of the chapter- when Tenkou was talking about Yuri; Chapter 6: The parts when Hikitsu come out- especially when he begin to talk about the last time he saw Yuri, as well as his mentioning of not wanting the past to repeat again; and the beginning to this chapter- what Tenkou said to her as well as the bit when Takiko comes out, what she thought about Yuri. And of course, what Seiryuu just said. Hopefully when you re-read them after this footnote it’ll be ‘oh I understand now’.

Basically the four gods needed to select a priestess and they did. The priestess were a bit like intercessors, and the gods stay in their body, so they have to be virginal. The priestess also served as judges for some cases, some mortal feel they did not receive justice, so they would go to the temple and pray to the gods, and the priestess was meant to answer them and give them a judgement. By being a priestess, they were sort of immortal- like their celestial warriors, but they were still not on the same level as the four gods. What happened is that Yuri was technically sinning by being with Hotohori as she was meant to be virginal, and the others found out and as a result they were angry with her- and she and the one they believed to be her partner in crime (they didn’t realize it was Hotohori) were trialled, even though only the four gods had the right to judge and punish her. Due to what happened Tenkou tried to get her to betray the others, and she was so depressed and angry that she agreed, only to realize how foolish she was, so she committed suicide, and Hotohori naturally got really angry and Tenkou ended up possessing him.

The four beast gods then decided that everyone has been in the wrong somehow- either by merely taking some part in it, or not doing something to stop the tragedy (the deaths), so they were all cast down in order to meet their priestesses and re-find the shinzaho and summon their gods. As for why the priestesses ended up being from the other world, I can only say, it is because it is what happens in the original story and I only got this idea in the writing of buried memories, so I guess there will be some contradiction.

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/

Chapter Nine

What Yuri failed to understand, was why Tenkou seemed to be so vindictive to her. Even though he glanced at all of them with a cold dislike, his gaze hardened to a pure loathing once he turned to her.
Feeling Hotohori’s arms tightening around her, she knew that he was wandering about the same thing. As for Hotohori…the look in Tenkou’s eyes as they focused on her husband was a cruel amusement.
“What do you want?” Miaka yelled bravely beside Tamahome, who immediately shoved her to the safety of his back.
Tenkou ignored her and continued to look at Yuri and Hotohori.
“You present yourself as so noble and tragic, priestess of Seiryuu, but I wonder how you would act if you learn the truth- that every pain which happens to you is something that you deserve.”
“Don’t listen to him, neesan!” Miaka screamed back. “You know that all he said would only be lies…”
“Is it a lie that you killed the seven celestial warriors of Seiryuu?” Tenkou said evenly, his smirk growing even crueler. “There are many more things I can say to break you, but I have decided to not waste anymore time now.”
Saying so he waved his hand slightly, and all of a sudden Hotohori felt Yuri stiffening in his arms. She then turned around and he saw that her eyes were now vacant. He titled her head up, only to find her continue staring at him with that empty expression.
Her lips parted slightly, whispering something…
“Hotohori…” at the sound of his own name he naturally bent his head down to hear what she was saying.
“Hotohori…don’t leave me…don’t go away”
Saying so she actually pushed him away in order to kneel down, all this time her vacant eyes seemed to be staring hard at something that only she could see, and tears were silently making their way down her face. Kneeling down she stretched her hands out, putting it over something invisible as they were in midair.
As she whispered one more time, he realized what Tenkou must have done.
“Don’t die.”
“What…what is happening?” he just managed to hear Ryoen muttering behind him, and barely recognized the voice of the person who explained. All he could do was to continue looking at Yuri, even though she was trapped in the illusion that Tenkou created.
An illusionary world where Hotohori was killed.
“So she is weak,” Tenkou said, the malicious delight he had in watching Yuri’s suffering through his spell made the rest all glare back or fumble with their weapons, although both Chichiri and Mitsukake were trying to maintain control by making everyone calm down.
The two of them just managed to breathe a sigh of relief when even Tasuki put down his fan, only to notice Hotohori-who had drawn out his sword. Seeing this Chichiri acted on instinct, he went up and grabbed Hotohori, as there was not even time for casting any spells.
“You cannot just fight blindly!” he screamed out, his fingers clawing around the other man due to his refusal at being restrained.
“How can I watch this and do nothing?!” Hotohori yelled back, thinking of the pain Yuri would be suffering due to the illusion. There was nothing worse then to see your loved one dying, he would know because that was what he suffered when Yuri summoned Seiryuu.

Everything had happened so quickly for Yuri. She only recollected being in Hotohori’s embrace as Tenkou appeared, what he said had made her unfocused as she began to think of all the strange things that had happened, as well as numerous curious words that had been said to her.
It seemed that she had a life before this one, and in that life, she seemed to have committed some sort of crime along with Hotohori.
“Is all that happened to me in this life as a punishment for what I did in my last life?” she asked herself softly.
At this irony, she laughed bitterly. Her past had affected her so much, that she almost risked losing happiness. The truth was that she had fallen in love with Hotohori very quickly, but she had been afraid of loving him due to her mother’s numerous failed relationships. For the first few weeks of her marriage she had actually been very afraid that her husband would one day wake up and regret everything.
It was ironic that when she finally achieved happiness by abandoning her past, it came to haunt her again more then once.
As for Tenkou’s sneers and taunts, they were not unfamiliar. But the strangest thing was that she could also see an image of that cruel face transforming into a kind one…what would only be done to seduce someone’s service and loyalty.
Had she been in such a position in the past?
Suddenly, Tenkou raised his hands. The moment he did so, she felt the arms around her loosening. She didn’t want to turn around because she knew that she would see something that she would loath, but nonetheless she still had to turn.
Hotohori was falling down, and as he did so, time literally seemed to stop, although she would have laughed at herself for seeing the world in such a cliché term. She felt that she could have prevented him from falling if she stretched out her hand, but somehow her arms were moving so slowly as well. She could barely hear herself whispering his name.
It was like what would happen in a nightmare, only that this was her reality. Smiling at her one last time, Hotohori closed his eyes, and she knew that he would never look at her so lovingly with these golden orbs in this world again.
He…he was dead…Tenkou killed him.
“Hotohori…don’t leave me…don’t go away” she whispered again.
Someone grabbed her, preventing her from holding her beloved, she angrily shoved him away, even as she began to cry. Kneeling, she rested her hand over his body, finding that she was not strong enough to even wrap her arms around him a last time.
“Don’t die.” She implored, even though he could no longer hear her.
She didn’t know what to do other then to kneel in front of him and cry. She knew that he might die before her, but she had refused to think of how she should grief, as after meeting him in her old world, she always believed that the two of them would reach old age together. If that had happened, then she would not be irrational, she could accept his death and take comfort in knowing that she would soon join him.
When she was the empress of Konan…there had been times when she worried about his heath due to the welfare of the state, but she had always allowed herself be soothed by him whenever he embraced and held her.
Then Miaka had come, and that arrival had resulted in her departure. The one thing she had been certain as she left Hotohori was that she was doing something that should help to lengthen his life.
For the first time in her life she almost regretted having chosen to be the priestess of Seiryuu in order to save Hotohori, because she finally understood the full dept of pain that she had put Hotohori through by choosing to die.
Why was it that she still did not hate this world? It had brought her so much pain…so much despair. They first threw her here to be the wife of one of the few man who could not make her his first priority, even though he love her, then it was this world that snatched her away from him.
This world demanded her to be the priestess of Seiryuu…by doing so it forced her to walk onto a path where all the possible endings were tragic.
The best path was to her own death…
Suddenly, she frowned as she recollected what Seiryuu had told her. The clue to summoning him was related to what had happened last time. Initially she had thought it referred to the celestial warriors and the sacred scroll, but now she was remembering what had happened to her solely when she first prepared to summon Seiryuu.
“A path of despair…” She whispered to herself. “All I wanted was to be with Hotohori, but that was the one thing impossible. Now the same thing is happening, all I want is Hotohori, but he is dead.”
She was experiencing the greatest amount of despair that was possible for her.
“I understand now.” She realized bitterly. “In order to summon their god, the priestess must know and understand about the maximum emotion her deity is in charge of. Suzaku is in charge of love, and when she first summoned Suzaku, Miaka and Tamahome had declared out their intention of being with each other forever, and this time they have physically loved each other.
“As for me…the deity I serve is in charge of despair. It is this emotion that I felt and is feeling.”
I hate you, Seiryuu, for doing this to me, she said inside her mind bitterly as she stood up, even though her face was still bowed down to let her hair conceal her features. I will do what you demand me to do, but I am only doing this because this is what must be done.
I am not destroying Tenkou because you said that it must be done, she continued, taking one last look at the body of Hotohori, but because I want him to pay for Hotohori’s deah.
“I understand what I must do now.” She repeated, and with that she stopped her wild sobbing and turned to look at Tenkou straight in the eyes without flinching. Her mind now very clear.
“Do you really actually think that what you have done ensured your victory?” she hissed softly.
“You can never summon Seiryuu now, you are truly a weakling, to let such petty emotions affect you again.” Tenkou taunted back, still thrilled at the disarray her emotions had been.
“You are a fool, Tenkou! For that you will be sealed once again.” Yuri spat back, and the confidence in her tone surprised every one. “You have just helped Seiryuu to come out.”
Tenkou was preparing to laugh again when he suddenly saw the blue light that began to surround her, they gathered themselves around her and began to grew brighter and brighter. For the first time since he started his plans he saw the possibility of failure. Strangely, there was also a soft red light that appeared from the stone that she clutched in her hand.
“Neesan…” Miaka began.
“The last of the seven stones that represent some sort of love all the celestial warriors of Suzaku feel.” With what appeared as great anger Yuri threw it to Mika. “The truth is, Miaka, I really resent you sometimes. Being love by everyone, by our father and our brother, by your seven celestial warriors.” Here she chuckled and glanced at her hands. “I did not even obtain the lightest affection from any of the seven celestial warriors of Seiryuu, they only used me just as I used them. And I killed them… (1)
“But until today I didn’t care that much, because I wanted you to love me as a sister. I wanted another person’s love. But today, I realize that I almost hate you!” at her scream the blue light around her brightened and there seemed to be a wind blowing from within her body as her garment and ribbons were flapping to every single direction and her hair was snaking themselves around her throat. (2)
“Why is it that you are the priestess of Suzaku, while I am the priestess of Seiryuu?!”
“Yuri, be…reasonable…” Chichiri began rather worriedly.
“Reasonable when my fate makes me serve a god whose will is for me to suffer?” she snapped. “Suzaku wields the power of love so all Miaka have to do to summon Suzaku is to love someone with the ultimate love, her lessons in understanding this was to first find the one she love, then to experience love physically. But I can only summon Seiryuu if I taste the maximum emotion Seiryuu is in charge of, and he wields the power of despair!
“When I first summoned Seiryuu the only ending I had was death, and now Hotohori is killed because I…
“I...I don’t believe…I can’t believe that I could have committed any sort of sin in a past life to be in this position.” At this sentence her voice dropped to a very soft whisper, allowing others to quickly butt in. (3)
“What about little Boushin and Seihana, you have your children to think of!” Mitsukake pointed out.
“I am not saying that I have nothing to live for due to his death as I do love my children, but with his death I cannot be happy again!”
Hotohori wanted nothing more then to go up and embrace her, but he did not as the alien look in her eyes hurt him so much.
He did not blame her one bit, as he understood how her past actually hurt and haunt her even now. After all these years of being lonely she was paranoid of being alone again when she finally found someone, and so she had held onto him tightly just as he clung onto her. They were so similar.
Unknown to Miaka, Hotohori also knew that Yuri was a bit angry at the altered past, because she did not felt that Miaka made any sacrifice at all. Also, Miaka had constantly been protected by her warriors, someone-usually Tamahome- would always be reassuring her that everything was alright, and that whatever happened was not her fault.
But because she was so eager for Miaka and her to have a loving relationship, she only whispered those doubts to him once, on that night. Just as he was, she was so desperate to be loved!
Yuri knelt down and stretched her hands out, her face completely emotionless despite the tears that continued to stream down. Very softly she began to chant the summoning of Seiryuu again, now knowing all the words. The flat chanting seemed more haunting then the loud screams she had as it seemed to be devoid of any emotions.
She would have given it all up if it wasn’t for the sake of her two beautiful children. Part of the reasons she loved her children was naturally because they were Hotohori’s children as well, but she would have loved the children anyway just for the sole sake that they had been in her womb. For the unique wonder that her children was borne from her, an emotion all mothers feel, no matter how the children were conceived.
“Seiryuu come to us.” She whispered. “We need you now.”
As she finished speaking, the light around her shifted from her body to being in front of her, and her flapping garment and hair finally became still. Her outstretched hands remain stretched, as someone was holding onto them.
“Seiryuu.” Yuri said softly, as he now stood in front of her, his clawed hands around her’s. “Seiryuu, I have done as I was asked.”
He nodded, and stepped forward so that he was directly in front of her. But it was to Miaka that he spoke first, although he did not shift his gaze away from his priestess.
“Summon Suzaku now, we cannot waste time.”
As Miaka nodded and began to chant to Suzaku, he finally spoke to Yuri.
“Are you willing to lend me your body again?”
“I wish for Tenkou do die.” She said firmly. “I will do anything.”
He pulled her to him, and as their skin touched she felt his body being pressed into hers. He was entering her body a second time, and like the first time she summoned him, she would be a vessel that channelled his powers.
This would be different from the time that he possessed her body that night in Kutou, as it had been a moment when he temporarily controlled her body due to her state of mind. A method that could never be long, as giving her body to the god completely could result in the death of the priestess.
“Then summon Genbu and his priestess.” He ordered.
Closing her eyes, she took off the necklace and held it in front of her, and began to whisper what Seiryuu was telling her. A few steps beside her, Miaka was doing the same with the mirror that was the shinzaho of Byakko.
Yuri felt her whole body shaking slightly while her hand was getting sweaty, as the chain seemed to be slipping slightly. This was natural, to summon a god was a very demanding task, and trying to call out another deity immediately after the first act was naturally even more hard.
That was why the priestesses need to have a very strong will, as the tasks require all their concentration. Tenkou’s plan might have worked as Yuri would have been in a state of shock that prevent her from doing anything, especially an activity that was very difficult.
Once again, Yuri felt hands closing over her own hands. Opening her eyes, she saw her, Takiko, the priestess of Genbu. The younger woman smiled at her as she took the necklace out of Yuri’s hold and placed it around her neck.
“So this day has finally come.” Takiko said softly. “And so we finally meet again…” she was probably going to say more when she suddenly halted, a frown appearing on his face and it seemed as if she was listening to some one else speaking.
“Very well, Genbu, I will not waste anytime.” Takiko said with a slight nod, before she turned around so that she stood beside Yuri, instead of being in front of her. “Together, we will summon our celestial warriors to us.”
Yuri did not ask any questions, she only know that she must do what she was ordered right now.
Meanwhile, Tenkou launched another attack, only to have it deflected back due to the gods that were now presented in all four priestesses. Without meaning to, he recollected the day that he was first sealed: it was exactly like this day. The four gods standing around him in a circle with that haughty expression on their faces…
It became worse when the twenty eight celestial warriors were all present, symbolising the day when he thought that he would never be free again. He had been in his prison when he looked up to see the four priestesses around the seal, with their seven celestial warriors beside them- strengthening his seal.
“I refuse.” He clenched out. No matter what he wanted to break free of his seal, to take all that he rightly deserved.
“The four gods gave you a chance, Tenkou,” Suzuno stated quietly. “They sealed you instead of killing you, hoping that you would one day change. But not only did you not try to redeem yourself, you even attempt to break free of your seal to do destruction upon this world.” (4)
“For that, you will now die.” Takiko said firmly.
The priestess of Genbu had so many things that she wanted to say to the priestess of Seiryuu, starting with an apology for all that had happened on that day, as she now knew that she might have easily done all that Yuri had.
Now is not the time, Takiko, Genbu told her firmly, as she turned to look at the priestess of Seiryuu once again. The other woman was slightly pale, but her face was determined: she would carry out her duty.
Tenkou would be destroyed forever when the four gods combined their power through their priestesses with their celestial warriors. This was what should have been done when Tenkou first gained his dark powers.
Yuri closed her eyes again, ready to perform the final step. She closed her eyes because she could not bear to look at the faces of those whom she betrayed: her celestial warriors, along with the face of those whom she had hurt: the priestess of Suzaku and some of her celestial warriors.
The moment Seiryuu entered her body, she was freed from the illusionary world which she had been trapped in. She knew that Hotohori was alive, and could not help but to feel slightly ashamed at all that she had expressed due to thinking that he had died.
But now was not the time to think about such things, she must only concentrate on this one thing.

The chanting of the four priestesses grew louder as they all began to release their words together, as well as receiving the energy their celestial warriors were giving to them to increase their powers.
“With the power of Seiryuu…” Yuri cried out loudly, even as the others stated the names of their own god, “Let the being Tenkou be destroyed forever.”
The blue light shoot out to mingle with the other three lights, piercing right through Tenkou’s shield. Cursing, he fell down, only to quickly raise his hand in disbelieve.
It was bleeding, what had not happened since the day he was killed in front of the people he was meant to one day rule, the execution ordered by the man who had been his own father. The very same city would end up being ravaged so much that it end up as only a piece of wild lands, as even the ruins of the once magnificent palace disintegrated completely, while every single person had died.
He had personally made sure that no one would survive, especially the one he once called father.
The four priestesses were no long visible, instead, he was kneeling in front of the executioner’s block once more. He had been forced to be beheaded on the very top of the city, so everyone could witness the deed.
He saw the numerous faces below him again, some were jeering, others averted their gaze while the last group were muttering some sort or prayer in hope that this would be the last time they would hear of him.
There was not a single face that was filled with sadness or pity.
Even his own father, who stood right in front of him, was looking at him with nothing but disgust at what he had ended up as. He found it so hard to believe that this was the same man who used to smile whenever he saw his third son: the son he made into his heir despite many protests.
His father was saying something to his people…the same thing he had said on that day, a speech of apology at what the son he had once been so proud of had committed, there were no words of sadness, or even regret at all.
How could I have found peace with such a death? He said to himself angrily, as he saw the axe rising once more.
I will…I will find a way to have my revenge on them all! He repeated these very same words but unlike last time, the final thing he saw was the descending axe.

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/

It was not a scream of horror, but more one of shock. Running outside, they saw that Yuri was standing some distance away from Seishuku, who did not seem to have moved, as the scattered flowers were by his feet- indicating where Yuri had stood. (14)
"Don't...don't come near me!" Yuri was saying to Seishuku. Turning around she saw the rest of the Suzaku warrior with Hotohori among there. "You...don't come near either!"
With the exception of their clothing and the fact that one had his hair gathered back, while the other's hair was completely untied, the two men were identical similar in appearance. Closing his eyes in order for the casting of a spell, Chichiri was to discover that the two men had the same aura around them.
"What is this?" Miaka mumbled.
"Obviously one of them is not real, and from what we have heard one of them might be created by Tenkou." Chiriko analyzed rather rationally. "But the problem is that we cannot really figure out who is the real one."
"They both seem identical." Nuriko stated, next to Yuri, he was the one they expected to detect the real one, as Ryoen was Seishuku's brother, while Nuriko's memories of Hotohori were deeper then the other celestial warriors of Suzaku, as he had been in love with his emperor. "Neesan..."
"How am I suppose to work out who is the real person?" Yuri chocked out. "Hotohori...he has been beside me all these time that it is not possible for him to be fake but if Seishuku is not real it does not make sense as well. What he has said to me...he..."
Perhaps what she feared the most was that Hotohori was not real, because she would never be able to forgive herself if she had lay with another man- if he was even a man- under the believe that he was her husband.
Unable to control herself she sank down to the ground, causing both Hotohori and Seishuku to automatically step forward to her in concern.
"I don't want either of you to come near me right now!" Yuri repeated.
"But you love him, you must be able to know..." Miaka began but was quickly hushed by Nuriko. (15)
"I don't!" Yuri screamed out.
Suddenly, Seishuku went up to her and grabbed her by the arms.
"What...what are you doing?" Yuri whispered brokenly. "Why do I even ask that? Who are you?"
"Yuri, it is me." Seishuku said tenderly. "I don't know what has been done that caused that...that copy of me to be made, but I don't blame you at all for what happened. Tenkou, Tenkou did this."
All of a sudden Yuri saw that image once again, of Hotohori with Miiru. The insecure bit inside her pointed out that surely her husband would never be with another woman, even if it was by a spell. But rationality quickly stepped in by reminding her that Hikitsu, a celestial warrior of Genbu, had acknowledged Hotohori's presence, surely he would be able to tell whether the man beside her was the real celestial warrior or not.
Seiryuu had appeared as well, if her husband was actually one of Tenkou's minions then wouldn't the god she serve tell her? But he did say that he had little time to do all that he would do...
She was so frustrated that she lacked the will to struggle even as Seishuku held her close.
"It is not fair for you to suffer so much, to be alone and be with that thing Tenkou created." Seishuku was saying, Hotohori would have tore Yuri out of his hold if it wasn't for Nuriko holding him back with his strength, which was regained with his memories.
"Aniki, if you are my aniki, then you must not be irrational." the younger man advised him. "Please see this from our point, and try to be calm."
But how can he be calm when Yuri was being held by what might be one of Tenkou's minions, especially considering what the last one did.
"Yuri, let us leave all this. We have suffered too much already." Seishuku repeated.
"You would have us leaving our duty?" Yuri asked softly, leaning forward.
"I am sick of it all, protecting Miaka when it is you that I truly worry about, as well as not being with you because of the responsibility I have toward my kingdom. Now that I am no longer bind by my duty, this new quest exists to separate me from you again. I don't want that, I don't want to be away from you."
"And so you will take me away from this right now?" Yuri repeated, her hand now resting against his thigh.
"We will go away from all this, have we not done enough? We..."
He was cut off abruptly when Yuri shoved him away from her, as well as drawing his sword out of its sheath to hold it right in front of him.
"Who are you?" Yuri stated flatly, ignoring the mutterings of all the other.
All with the exception of Hotohori, as he was beginning to realize just who the other was.
"Yuri, what are you doing?" Seishuku chocked out, the shock and hurt look on his face was so realistic that it just did not seem to be possible for it to have come from any other man other then him.
"Whoever you are, you are not Hotohori or Seishuku. Yes, you are like him in almost every aspect until you betrayed yourself.” she released a chuckle, but there were no mirth in it at all. "He...he would never abandon his duty no matter what, at least not all of it, what you just suggested us to do."
"It's because I am sick of my duties, what they caused us to do! Surely you out of all people would understand!"
"Yes, he would speak of abandoning his duties, and I can understand why he would play with these thoughts." Yuri continued calmly. "And to an extent he is not following his duties as a celestial warrior of Suzaku by being with me, but we are still doing what must be done, not running away as you suggested.
"No mater what, Hotohori would never do that. (16)
"So I ask you again. Who are you?"
"The part of me that wishes to be free of all responsibility." Hotohori answered softly as he stepped away from all the others to go to Seishuku. "The part of me that wishes to do what I want, instead of doing what I must because of the decrees of the gods. I hate that part of me, as well as envy him. I hate him because he is doing what I regard as despicable, yet I can not help but to admire him because he is doing what I truly wants to do." (17)
By this time Hotohori had managed to stand right in front of Seishuku, even though the other was backing away.
"I don't know what has happened to make you stand in front of me but enough is enough." Hotohori stated sternly. "I understand now, it is normal to feel what I feel, so I accept your presence in me." Saying so he reached out to hold the other man, pulling him towards his own body. "Return to my body." (18)
A red light surrounded the two of them, and the rest could do nothing but to watch Seishuku being literally pulled into Hotohori. Strangely, it was not sickening in any way, as Seishuku began to fade the closer he approached Hotohori.
When he was finally gone, Hotohori bent his head down- perhaps in acknowledgement to the other part in him- making his hair fell over his shoulders. This revealed his neck and the glowing character of ‘star’ that appeared there.
Stretching his hand to Yuri, she immediately went to him, embracing him tightly. Smiling at her, he placed something in her hand.
But their joy was very short, as the light disappeared very quickly due to the shadow that began to circle around them.
"Tenkou." Yuri whispered to Hotohori, who nodded and pulled her into his embrace even more, although he knew that he could offer her very little protection from Tenkou.
"Say good bye to your beloved, priestess of Seiryuu." Tenkou said with a smirk as he stepped out from the shadows, but the chillingness in his voice was enough to make everyone shudder at the thought of what he would do.
Another of his plan failed, leaving him with only the last final plan.

(11) Neesan is a way of calling some one ‘elder sister’
(2) Hopefully I managed to make that good, the whole issue between Yuri and Nuriko (Ryoen). On a side note, their rivalry actually started since that prologue story!
(3) This was mentioned in the beginning of Volume 15, when Suzaku told Miaka about Tenkou
(4) To be honest the last ova really surprised me due to the fact that Miaka and Tamahome didn't seem to have marry immediately after the second OVA, although I suppose they probably did have to arrange everything
(5) Watase Yuu said that Taisuki's love for Miaka is really more of a sibling love, and his actions are like an over possessiveness towards a young sister, which cause you to be angry when they are in love with another other then you. Personally I don't think that Taisuki is in love with Miaka in the romantic romantic fashion, my view is what I just described.
(6) I know that these two things are both admirable but as I said, I don't like Miaka and now I think she is too angelical that is just seem unnatural, I mean, there are times when you have to fight despite who your opponent is. But then I just don't like Miaka so I'm highly biased, I admit that I’m just anti-Miaka, so I might just not like something for the sake that she did it. Although I really don't know how my liking of her shifted to a slight dislike, that eventually turned to a really strong negative feeling. But as I warned in the front, if you like Miaka, then don't read my story! At least don't read this one, I think the first one is not that bad
(7) As shown in the original fushigi yugi, Tasuki had great difficulty in riding his horse
(8) Yeap, this is Seishuku. Presuming that most people know the original story, I think you would be able to figure out what I'm doing and what has happened!)
(9) In the original story Hotohori gave this sword to Miaka, as a replacement of him. He wanted his sword to be able to protect her as he is unable to be beside her, poor Hotohori. But this didn't happen in this story, as it simply didn't happen.
(10) I kind of feel that many of the warriors of Suzaku sees things in too much a black and white fashion, or at least that is what I feel now, I feel that Chichiri would be exempt from this with Hotohori (him being an emperor, and he is definitely not naive) because Chichiri had done wrongs himself. As for what Rin did, well he probably did something similar to the manga but I don't know because I never wrote about his actions, I only included Miiru's.)
(11) This will relate to my prologue, I’m really letting the ideas for my prologue running wild in Buried memories. But as explained, it's like about their past past life, what happened is that Yuri had once sang this song to Hotohori in their past past life.
(12) Ok...I really have a thing for Fushigi Yugi character songs, and I have the very bad habit of twisting songs to fit into my ideas even if it is certain that there is no possible ways that a song can be about certain characters. But I often listen to a song and go 'oh that song is describing so and so so well, even though I know that it is not about so and so.' As seen in hidden secrets, I did that with Hotohori's character songs, using quite a lot of it, I couldn't resist doing this in Buried memories too, apart from the difference is that this time, and it is Yuri who is doing the quoting. But this is actually someone else's character song (well duh, Yuri is an oc) This is taken from Soi's character song 'Please tremble', as I really like Soi and I feel that she and Yuri are kind of similar. Note: the actress who did Soi sounds so beautiful when she sing, so I really recommend hearing Soi's character songs, even if you don't like her, as it really is worth it. Being biased here but I think she and Koyasu Takehito and the guy who did Taisuki, sang the best out of the whole cast.
(13) To avoid confusion, Seishuku is the one that Chichiri and the rest found, while Hotohori is the one that accompanied Yuri ever since she woke up in Kutou.
(14) I've been watching Weiss Kreuz lately and for some reason that caused me to have images of flowers, so I couldn't help but to include some in this fan fiction. I kind of want to do a fan fiction for Weiss too, as it is a really good story, a bit moralizing but it's still really good. Although I wouldn't be doing one yet as there is no definite plot, only a character)
(15) Unlike Miaka, Yuri does not know which one is real just by looking at them, but this does not mean that she love him any less. Because as it will be revealed, both are Hotohori in a way.
(16) Hotohori is not doing his full duty by protecting Yuri instead of Miaka, but he is still doing the whole stop Tenkou quest. And he has told Yuri that he doesn't want to be bind to his duties as he once was, but he did not say that he would abandon his duties, although he admits that it is tempting.
(17) It kind of sound like split personality eh? At least I thought about it that way when I first came up with this idea? The fact that I came up with the idea when I was listening to sukisyo drama cd didn't help. For those who don't know, Sukisyo is this game/drama/cd the Koyasu Takehito is in-who as we all know by now, is the voice actor for Hotohori, and in Sukisyo, Koyasu's role is Yoru, the alternate ego of the protagonist Sora.
(18) This is basically what happened in the book with Taka and Tamahome, the only difference is that in my story it's Seishuku and Hotohori, and it's caused by Hotohori's blood. That was what Tenkou meant.

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/

Chapter Eight

The seven celestial warriors of Suzaku had come up with a plan for those who stayed in Konan. They would meet in the cottage that Chichiri had once stayed in when he spent that period of his life in meditation, provided that they finished their business before the others’ return from Sairou, as that would be quicker.
Leaving the palace of Konan had been a rather tearful event due to the farewells, but it was something that had to be done. The past would always exist, but one could not live in it forever.
Yuri had took great comfort in knowing that both her maids were now very happy, as Chinatsu would soon be the empress of Konan, while Hotohori was equally happy that Kotsuki had find happiness by being able to be married to the woman that he loves. That was the only way he could live the maximum happiness despite his role’s demand: to be the emperor was to always be lonely, the only way to ease the pain slightly was by having someone who would be beside you to support you.
As for Nuriko…he and his brother has achieved the understanding they never had in their past life.
“You will always be my aniki, but you don’t need me now!” Nuriko had told Rokou sincerely, “You are as strong as me! You even did what I could not do. The past is not the present, but the past will always exist. Therefore, you will always be my aniki, even when I leave this world. I will never stop thinking of you as my aniki.”
The five of them had arrived in the cottage with little difficulty, although they were all worried about Hotohori, who insisted on only resting when they arrived, instead of spending more time in the palace.
“This is more important!” he had pointed out, which was not untrue, but his main reason was probably not wanting to live in the past too much by remaining in the palace of Konan. “We really need to see the rest, and talk about what to do.”
Nonetheless, he was forced by everyone else to lie on the makeshift cot Yuri had quickly made for him the moment they arrived in the cottage.
“You have to rest, Hotohori, considering what happened to you.” Mitsukake stated, using his authority as a doctor.
Entering the cottage, Nuriko found Yuri kneeling beside her husband, her hand resting on his forehead. Even though she was still dressed in the ceremonial robe of Seiryuu with the shinzaho around her hair, Nuriko felt as if he was at the village of Konan once again.
It was on the eve of his brother’s marriage, as traditional the bridal couple was meant to spend the whole day separated. Ryoen…now Nuriko, had been asked by his elder brother to deliver something to Yuri. He had an opportunity of being close with his future sister, but he had thrown it away.
“I gather that you and aniki had a difficult time? The two of you haven’t really explained what had all happened.” Nuriko finally said quietly, making the woman turn around to face him.
Yuri nodded, “It had been hard. A lot of things had happened and…” here she paused and spread her hands wide as a gesture of confusion. “Why do I feel as if I am trying to convince you that the reason I agreed to your brother’s proposal is because I love him, not because I wanted to have a roof over my head?”
“So you remember that too…” he muttered softly. “Actually, I need to talk to you about all that had happened.”
“What Ryoen did?”
He nodded this time. “I…I want to try and explain. You see, as Ryoen… my brother and I…since we were little, we had been very close. He had his friends while I had mine, but there was still always this deep closeness the two of us shared. I suppose it’s also due to the fact that we were siblings, so we shared a same home, unlike friends…”
“Then I came and all of a sudden your brother is completely occupied by me, even when you are at home.” Yuri finished, “I don’t blame you that much for it, although it did upset me a lot. But I think the frustration is mainly due to the fact that you really thought that I was marrying him for a mercenary reason, and you continued to believe that even after everyone else was saying that it is obvious how much I really love him.”
“I know I am wrong now…but you have to admit, it was very strange for me when I did not have my memories.” Nuriko protested. “He saw you for what I believed to be the first time, and immediately asked you to marry him.”
“Then how could I have agreed to marry him for a mercenary reason when it did not seem that he was that well off?” Yuri pointed out.
At this logic, he could only sigh again. “I really am sorry.”
Much to his surprise, his sister in law actually smiled and even stood up to place her hands on his shoulder with true sincerity.
“That is all I want, Ryoen…Nuriko. I can forgive you for everything.” At his confusion, she began to explain, but not managing to keep the slight bitterness out of her voice. “Sometimes we make mistakes that are our fault, even though we cannot be fully blamed for it. At such a mistake, the only thing to do is to apologise, instead of pretending that it never happened.”
“Have you committed such a mistake?”
She nodded for the second time. “So has Miaka.”
Miaka? Nuriko would have tried to work out what Yuri meant had she not walked out of the cottage, at this he quickly ran after her, as his apology was only half completed.
He found her talking to Mitsukake softly, probably asking after Hotohori’s condition. Chiriko was sitting beside them, reading a scroll with great concentration.
“He only needs rest.” Mitsukake reassured Yuri, before he resumed his original task of examining the herbs in his hands. “I know you feel bad about what happened with the possession but it really wasn’t your fault.”
“You apologised, and that is the main point, isn’t it?” Nuriko pointed out with a sincere smile as he repeated what Yuri just said to him.
Smiling in relief, Yuri nodded and sat down with Nuriko. She knew that she should be worried about all that would come, but right now she was happy. Even though her companions were the celestial warriors of Suzaku, they made her feel as if she truly was one of them- that she had a right to be here.
This must be what it would feel like to be the priestess of Suzaku, Yuri thought, the quest would be hard, but it would not always be that bad due to her companions.
But the greater the happiness you have, the greater the despair you would receive, her subconscious reminded her.
Her reveries were interrupted by Nuriko, who shifted himself in order to look at her in the eyes.
“I…I explained my actions as Ryoen, but I also need to explain myself as Nuriko.”
“You resented me, I knew that.” Yuri said softly, recollecting the numerous times the other celestial warrior glared at her. She had regarded these emotions as being natural, as she believed the other to be a woman.
She only discovered Nuriko’s true gender shortly before her death, and by that time she was in so much pain that she didn’t care at all.
“There were only a few women before it was my turn to see the emperor,” Nuriko began explaining, referring to the day when Hotohori was meant to be electing an empress out of the one hundred concubines. “Then an official told us that we were all to go to the quarters we had been assigned to, because the emperor had already chosen the one he wants.
“It’s silly but at that time I had lived as a woman for so long that I really believed that I am a woman. So I was in love with the emperor, or rather, I believed that I was in love with him.
“But I didn’t start to really dislike you until you left the palace, because Hotohori…aniki was so upset. I blamed you and believed that if I was so lucky to have his love, I would never do anything that would cause him such pain. I…”
“Nuriko, you said that the past is important, but I do not think we should let some past become a chain either.” Yuri interrupted him gently. “Some memories should be let go. Not buried…because they can never be buried…but be accepted and therefore forgotten.”
Nuriko nodded, unable to describe the vast amount of relief he felt at her suggestion. Why was it that he felt so guilty due to the negative feelings he had towards her? It was not completely abnormal, but when he gained his memories, and recollected how he had treated her, he felt as if he had committed a crime!
“What do you feel about me now?” Yuri asked curiously.
He paused a bit before he spoke: “At the end of my life as Nuriko, before we all left this world, I admired you for your courage, at what you dared to do. Now, I wish for you to be as an older sister whom I can love.
“In fact…can I call you neesan?” (1)
At her nod, Nuriko felt that he had got rid of his burden at last, as he finally made peace with Yuri. (2)

Unlike the shinzaho of Genbu, the shinzaho of Byakko was obtained with relatively little difficulty. That was why Miaka; Tamahome; Chichiri; Taisuki, were either in a cheerful mood as they headed back toward Konan, or felt a bit better even after all that had happened in Konan- before Chichiri and Taisuki got their own stones.
Miaka and Tamahome were extremely happy, as they had obtained Tamahome’s stone due to a procedure that brought the two lovers nothing but great happiness. In order to summon Suzaku, as well as gaining Tamahome’s stone, Miaka and he must understand the maximum emotion that Suzaku was in charge of, which was love. (3)
In order to do this, the two of them finally became one entity. Now the two of them were riding on a horse together, Tamahome with his hands around Miaka's waist tightly, while she leant back, smiling in great content as she finally had all that she wanted. After what they did, the two of them had decided that they would marry as soon as they arrive back in Tokyo. (4)
"This is what I wanted for so long!" Miaka giggled, squeezing Tamahome's hand, ignoring the other’s good natured teasing.
"I really am glad that they are still so happy together." Taisuki commented out to Chichiri, who was recollecting the woman who had been his fiancée, whom he vowed to immediately be with as soon as he returned. He was not so much a fool as to waste a second chance when he knew of it.
Taisuki could not forgive himself for what he had done yet, even though the others assured him that he completely redeemed himself due to the part he played when Chichiri was attacked.
"The most disgusting bit is actually not because I tried to force her," Taisuki said once more, his voice now very quiet to prevent the pair in front of them hearing, "But it is because it is done due to a possessive jealousy. I always regard Miaka as a little sister...the type of sister who depends on me. I like that as I am the youngest in my family and my sisters have always dominated over me.
"Then when...when that man..." he paused slightly and shook her head, "I don't want to say his name yet."
"I understand," Chichiri assured him, "I think I'm not ready to be reminded of what he did either."
"After he went, I saw Tamahome and I was just so angry that he didn't look after Miaka, and as a result I didn't think he deserve her, I felt that I actually had the right to judge because I regard her as my younger sister. Likewise, I did that disgusting act due to the fact that I believe I am only doing this for the best of her." (5)
"Loving someone too much is not always a good thing," Chichiri said rather sagely, "I killed one who is my best friend due to loving her too much."
The two of them exchanged a slight smile before they caught up with the others, determined to not worry Miaka. They all truly adore her as she was the one who never once distrusted them, as well as helping them to make the right choice. Taisuki doubted that any one else in her situation would not hate him after what he did, while Chichiri was sure that he would never find the courage to not fight with the one who had been his best friend if Miaka was not there. (6)
"What is it?" Taisuki cursed when he almost collided into Tamahome, making his already small control over his horse even thinner. (7)
"A person is there..." Tamahome whispered, nodding toward a corner surrounded by bushes.
Nodding in understanding, Chichiri began to chant some sort of spell.
"Who is it? Who is it?" Miaka asked eagerly, trying to lean forward to see the hidden person.
Chichiri suddenly frowned, and he actually got off his horse to walk toward the bush.
"Chichiri, what are you doing? That is dangerous!" Taisuki hissed, pulling out his fan.
"It will not be, because I sense the aura of a celestial warrior of Suzaku, although it is not very strong." Chichiri explained.
Without warning, he banged his staff down, making the leaves part way to reveal the person hidden in there.
He was lying on the ground, his body slightly wounded as part of his cloth was stained due to blood. At the sudden light, he tilted his head, making his hair fell to one side of the face in a long cascade of pure raven black, as the ribbon that usually gathered it back had been broken.
"SEISHUKU!" Chichiri chocked out. "Why are you here? Where is Yuri?" (8)
Sighing, Seishuku sat up, one hand resting on his brow, while the other was pressed over one of the wounds in his stomach.
"I don't know...I don't know anything. All I remember is that I asked Seiryuu to let me go with Yuri, then the next thing I know is that I'm here and then I saw him...Tenkou. He...he attacked me but did not kill me, as he said that he intend to torture me even more by what he would do to Yuri." at the mentioning of her name his voice quickly changed to one of deep worry. "Yuri...do you not know what happened to Yuri at all?"
"We have heard nothing of Yuri-neesan at all!" Miaka said worriedly. "We presume that you’ll be in Kutou with her.”
Seishuku shook his head furiously, and brought his fist down. "So once again I let her travel alone...once again I fail to help her at all."
"It isn't your fault that this happened." his priestess assured him. "Beside, I’m sure that Yuri-neesan is fine, Kotsuki told us that the new ruler of Kutou is a very good man and that everyone in Kutou really loves Yuri."
"I suppose that assures me slightly but I am still really worried about her- especially as she is alone." unclenching his fist he grabbed the object next to him, and as he held it towards him, they saw that it was the sword that Taitsukun had gave him.
The sword was also holy in a way, not everyone could hold it- at least not those who possessed evil thoughts. (9)
Initially, Chichiri had been rather suspicious at Seishuku's appearance, because he was sure that Seiryuu would let Seishuku accompany Yuri. He was perhaps the only one who was fully certain that Seiryuu was not a bad deity at all, despite what he had done to Yuri, as well as the crimes his people had committed. What happened with Rin also helped to make him a bit more cautious. (10)
But then he saw Seishuku touching and holding the sword, so he was certain that the man in front of them was really the last emperor of Konan, as well as one of his best friends in his new life.
"I only hope that Yuri is fine." Seishuku was muttering, and the sincerity in his voice along with his obvious love for his wife made it very hard to believe that this was someone else acting as Seishuku.

Even though the cottage that Chichiri had stayed in was isolated, there was actually a small field of flowers beside it. Yuri found herself drawn to these wildflowers, and singing softly as she began to pick them. The strangest bit was that the lyrics of the song suddenly came to her, making it appear as if she already knew the song, although she was certain that she had not heard it before.
Yet she felt a deep sadness that seemed personal as she sang it. She told herself it was because the words were like a reminder for what had happened to her and Hotohori, but somehow that did not seem to be the true explanation. (11)
"I would be able to say that I was happy to sacrifice my life for him
If it was the only way to protect him
I can show him a smile for even as my breath is fading away
This calmness can never be taken fro me
Not even by whatever destiny I have
When the pain reaches to the very heart of me
I’ll be looking at you
My love for you will remain eternal even when my entire body rots out." (12)
She shivered slightly as she ended her singing, which made her decide to continue her flower picking in silence. She much preferred the memories of what was certain.
Smiling, she saw herself as the empress of Konan, picking flowers with the help of her maids, who stood behind her with a basket each as she selected the flowers she preferred and carefully cut it. She didn't usually spent much of her time picking flowers as the royal gardeners was responsible, but there were a few times when she wanted a change in her schedule and so she would end up in the garden with the most abundant number of flowers.
Once, Hotohori had finished court early and he had went up to her, embracing her from behind even as she was holding a bunch of flowers next to her breast...
A pair of arms surrounded her, but she was unafraid because she knew who it was.
"Hotohori, are you feeling better?" she asked gently, tilting her head back to look into the face of her husband.
"Yuri, I miss you so much!" he whispered as he turned her around to hold her against him tightly, as well as kissing her very passionately.
She couldn't help but to giggle at this. "You only spent a day resting!"
"A day?" Seishuku repeated with a deep frown. "Yuri, it had been many days as the last time I saw you was when we were still in Tokyo!" (13)

As soon as they arrived at the cottage, Seishuku had insisted on going to find Yuri, as he knew that she was here. They naturally let him as they could all understand his need of seeing her.
The rest found Chiriko and Nuriko sitting in a spot behind the cottage, completely unaware of their arrival. Once everyone exchanged greeting, they told them that Mitsukake was inside the cottage.
No one noticed the figure lying at one corner of the cottage.
"So Yuri is here?" Tamahome immediately asked.
"She is." Mitsukake stated simply. "Chichiri, I need to talk to you about Hotohori."
The other immediately agreed and even allowed himself to be pulled away from the rest, as the three of them were best friends. "Ryoen...Nuriko should come as well."
"No, their conflict is already solved," Chichiri did not regard this as strange as he thought that Mitsukake meant that Nuriko had finally understand his brother's actions due to the regaining of his memories, that being the main barrier between the siblings. "It is more related with you...and I...
"Chichiri, haven't you realize that we always treated Hotohori as the outsider because of his position as the emperor?"
At this Chichiri couldn't help but to feel a deep pang of guilt as he realized the accuracy of this statement, and he too, began to try and think how Hotohori must have felt.
"To be honest, I never realized how painful it must have been for him whenever we call him 'Hotohori-sama' due to respect, until he made me see that..."
"Wait a moment!" Chichiri immediately looked up at this statement: "You said that..."
"When I saw him with Yuri, I had called him Hotohori-sama and he..."
"You met him already?" Chichiri frowned. "That's strange, I was sure that he did not head this way."
It was Mitsukake's turn to frown this time. "Hotohori had been with us ever since he arrived in Konan with Yuri a day or two ago."
"Who...who is Seishuku then?" Chichiri demanded, his voice no longer hushed.
It was this that finally caused Hotohori to wake up. Sitting up he greeted his companions, wondering why some of them were looking at him with such a strange expression that seemed to be a mixture of shook and horror. Was it because they were all seeing him as the emperor of Konan again? This would make sense if it was only Tamahome and Taisuki, but strangely enough, Miaka was amongst them as well.
Then they heard Yuri scream.

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/

This story is getting quite troublesome to put up since each chapter have so many words, so I have to split it up into various parts for each single chapter.

(1) This is kind of shifting responsibility, I can’t be bothered writing about how everyone regained their memory, or, in Tamahome’s case, finding the stone.
(2) Oniisan is the most formal way of addressing your older brother, and niichan seems the most informal, but I want aniki to be used instead, because I think that is what both the real Nuriko and Hotohori calls their elder brother. Although I think Aniki must be rather affectionate too since Hotohori actually addresses his mother and father in the very affectionate term of chichi and haha, as well as using that to describe him and Houki when he talked to his son, so I am saying that Aniki is a rather affectionate term, I hope!!! As before, do correct me if I am wrong because I really want to get it right.
(3) I have never mentioned about Hotohori’s sister at all, so I want to do it in this fan fiction, the sequel. Apparently he actually have two half sisters which make this very interesting, because it would be so much more easy to make him have two elder sisters: the ones who were born and neglected because they were not the sons wanted. But I can’t really remember any mentioning of his two sisters in the novel at all.
(4) In regard to this it is really harsh but it seems that in most society, especially in China, the status of the mother does not matter so much, as long as the father is of a higher status, that is why there’s legitimization. (Although you don’t even need that in China until modern 20th century.) Also, it could be because of a double standard. But it is so ironic that the emperor could basically elect any woman to be his concubines and even empress, as long as she was not born too low, but yet the emperor’s other children, especially his daughters would have to marry quite high.
(5) I especially mention this as I feel that the conversation is kind of getting light hearted, that it seems a bit weird for these two to suddenly talk about these things in a rather casual manner when both of them are really nervous and awkward around each other.
(6) Ok sexist I know but don’t blame me, it is real history! In the novel it seems that these girls get to go home as soon as the emperor choose to marry but I wanted to make it more realistic as I think what happened in the novel is way too ideailistic. So I kind of made it half way between what really roughtly happened in Chinese history and what happened in the novel/manga etc. What really happened for many Chinese dynasty is that when the emperor died, all his concubines would be sent to nunnery and other religious centers (while, Chinese equivalent). In my story the concubines must stay in the palace until the emperor die but they are free to go home once he dies, as oppose to being sent to these religious centres.
(7) I’m not fully sure whether this is done, but I think it might not be impossible. I am really glad that I get to talk about Yuri’s two maids a bit more, as I kind of like them.
(8) Just incase any one is actually wondering, and if I don’t get to mention her two maids due to the story. Chinatsu did manage to become the empress, so she’s the fifth empress of Konan as she is allowed to marry Kotsuki.
(9) I know that it is not a heart attack or something but that is what Taka did in the book.
(10) Originally I wasn’t sure whether I can manage to show one of them (apart from Hotohori) finding their stone. I’m glad that I managed. I think I better explain about the stones in further details because I don’t think I actually understand myself that clear. But to make one thing clear, Nuriko gained his stone when he called Rokou his brother, while Rokou did something out of love for his brother. So it all kind of relate to love. So something along the line like that.
Right now, there is only two more stones left: Hotohori’s and Tamahome’s.

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/

Together the two of them walked back to join the rest, happy because they had finally made peace with each other even though neither of them could be said to be in the wrong.
Looking at Hotohori, who was actually smiling, Kotsuki suddenly felt as he did in the garden all these years ago: that here was someone who would help him and listen to him without blaming him for being weak or for being troublesome, as his mother and full blood brother had often done.
“Aniki, even though I am the emperor, I feel as if I am your subject just by standing next to you.” He admitted. “This is because I am only the people’s current ruler, while you are their eternal ideal. My advisors often compare me to you, especially those who had served you when you were the emperor.”
“And the irony is that I gained that by abandoning my duty. When I was living as Saihitei, these same advisors often criticized me.”
“But why?” Kotsuki found himself so drawn to these words, that he even forgets about the speaker’s identity and relationship to him. He felt as if he was a child discovering a new twist in his favourite story. “They always say that you rule the kingdom…
“Kotsuki, do you know what the main duties of the emperor are?” Hotohori was affected as well, it was as if he was in the village of Konan again, with his brother begging for a bedtime story, which would sometimes happen. This was the family that he had always wanted. “It is to rule his kingdom the best as he could, yes, but it is also to provide an heir for his people as a means of security. (5)
“I married at the right age, but I never provided the kingdom with an heir. Yuri seemed to be barren and when such a thing happens I should elect another concubine. But I love Yuri so much that I could not do such thing, even if that meant putting my kingdom in a slight danger.”
“I must produce an heir then as all our other brothers are dead.” Kotsuki decided without much enthusiasm. “But I…It is ironic, aniki. The one woman I love perhaps in the same way as you love Yuri, is one of the women I cannot marry.”
“One of the women you cannot marry?”
“Her name is Chinatsu, do you recognize that name?”
At this name Hotohori nodded. He did not remember any other of his concubines other then these two twins who were elected even though they were only twelve, because they were Yuri’s maids and his beloved had love them like her own sisters.
Nonetheless both she and her sister had been his concubines, and so they were almost his property for that time. Of course, when the emperor died then all the concubines were free to leave the palace if they wish, although some stayed as they had nowhere else to go. Many concubines actually married very easily as their stay in the palace made them very desirable wives- provided that they were not too old. (6)
However the mother of the future emperor was demanded to be a virgin, even in name as well.
“It might not be an impossible thing, Kotsuki.” Hotohori offered kindly. “After all, everyone knew that I only love the one I chose to be my empress and took no interest in any other concubine.”
“I really do love Chinatsu but I…I have been afraid.” Kotsuki admitted. “She thinks that I don’t love her enough to try and marry her but the truth is, I love her too much that I rather her think that I don’t want to marry her instead of I might not be able to marry her.”
“Because you hope that by letting her think that she might end up loving another. It is selfish, like my desire of letting Yuri live by dying.”
“Then what should I do?”
For the first time Hotohori put his arms around his brother to pull him into a hug.
“You don’t need me to tell you when you already have the answer.”

Yuri was pleased to be able to meet Chiharu once again. Her other maid was now married to one of Kotsuki’s officials: an intelligent young man who became one of the officials only a year ago.
He was considered as one of the rising stars of court, and as a result, he had been privileged enough to be allowed to live in the palace for most of the time, although he still had his home to return too. He had been the son of a rather successful merchant, so he could expect a comfortable surrounding if he ever leave the palace.
Chiharu was naturally very happy with this arrangement, as this meant that she could see her beloved twin whenever she could, as well as having the opportunity of being free from the rules of the palace, which could be rather strangling at times. (7)
Today, she had said goodbye to her husband, and was starting to prepare herself for finding her twin sister in order to learn about what the celestial warriors plan to do today, as she was like Chinatsu- they were both very eager with the hope of seeing the empress they had served.
Unlike her twin, the cut of her clothes were more fine, as she was the wife of one of the emperor’s official. But the similar thing about the two twins was that they both used very elaborate decorations to dress their hair: the last things Yuri had gave them.
She was arranging her hair when she noticed the red ribbon in the half opened drawer- her mistress had been so fond of tying her hair with a single red ribbon.
“Chinatsu…” she began to greet her sister only to suddenly pause as she saw the figure that followed Chinatsu in the mirror.
Half of her hair fell down along with numerous hair pins as Chiharu stood up from her seat very abruptly to kneel in front of Yuri.
At this Yuri almost laughed, she had almost forgotten about all these rules in this world. She now recollected how everyone would bow to her as soon as Hotohori announced that they would be married in one week’s time.
“I never stopped wishing that I could see you again…mistress.” Chiharu whispered even though she was crying, while her tears made her sister began to cry again.
“I miss you two too.” Yuri whispered, returning their embraces tightly. “Not because you two were my maids and served me…but because I loved you two as my younger sisters.”
“What of your half-sister? The priestess of Suzaku?” one of them asked curiously.
Yuri’s face darkened as she began to explain what had happened, and much to her surprise, the two of them understood her perfectly and assured her that she was not wrong at all.
“Like Kotsuki and his other brothers.” Chinatsu summarized the situation perfectly. “You do not become siblings just by sharing a parent.”
The three of them spend a very long time about all that had happened, the two younger girls embracing Yuri in happiness as she told them about her two children, while Yuri in turn, offered congratulations about Chiharu’s husband and tried to comfort Chinatsu.
The knock on the door made them frowned, as none of them wished to be disturbed at all.
“Who is it?” Chiharu commanded, as this was her husband’s private chamber after all.
“It is I, Hotohori. I heard that Yuri is here.”
At her husband’s voice, Yuri quickly got up to open the door for him, hoping that he would not be very upset due to the talk he had with his younger brother. No doubt it was some painful part of his past.
“Hotohori…” Yuri began but she immediately stopped at the sight of the man who stood behind Hotohori.
The emperor.
She was wondering whether she should kneel down when the emperor bowed to her instead.
“You are the priestess of Seiryuu, and you are my brother’s wife, therefore it is I who must pay respect to you.” Kotsuki said softly, before he turned to the two kneeling figures behind Yuri. “Chinatsu…I wish…I wish to announce my desire of making you into my empress before my council. If that is not disagreeable to you…then I would like you to come with me now.”
The object of his affection only bent her head even more down, and her voice was shaking, he suspected that it was due to tears.
“You majesty…I was the concubine of your brother so therefore…”
“But everyone know that the only woman my brother ever…” at this the young emperor was actually blushing slightly. “Well, it is not an uncommon knowledge that with the exception of Houkigou, he touched no woman at all.”
“If your advisors consent, then you would marry me?”
“You know that I want to marry you.” At the shock of her head he sighed, and began to explain.
As he finished speaking, Kotsuki half knelt down to embrace the woman he loved. She was openly crying by this time, and her body continued shaking even though the man who she loved was holding her against him, something she had dreamt of for so long.
“I believe they would let me, because after all, no one could make my brother elect another concubine, so I think my radical actions might not be frowned upon so much. Most of all,” he stated firmly, “I don’t want what happened to you to happen to other girls. Being selected to be the possible wife of a man who does not want you at all.
“I am not blaming you in anyway, aniki, because I know why you had to bow down to tradition, for the same reason I was prepared to. But the difference is that I already have someone who I want to marry.”
“That is all I want.” Chinatsu whispered. “I can be happy as long as I know that you want to marry me.”
“You will come with me then?” at her nod Kotsuki gently took her hand into his, then turned to Chiharu, “Will you accompany us as a witness?”
Hotohori smiled as he and Yuri watched Kotsuki depart with the two girls that had once been her maids. Chinatsu was still holding onto Kotsuki’s hand tightly, while Chiharu placed an arm reassuringly on her twin’s spare hand.
“I think they will let him marry her.” Hotohori told Yuri as he slipped his arm around her waist. “In time of peace…it is easy to break rules. Although…” he added this as an afterthought as they began to walk to the library, where they believed the others were. “That is often why peace get replaced by war.”
“But you believe that Chinatsu will be allowed to become the empress?”
Hotohori nodded. “Yuri, don’t be offended but an empress really only have one duty, and that is…”
“I know what it is.” She said with a slightly bitter smile, but she gave his hand a squeeze to let him know that she was not angry with him.
“Kotsuki have an advantage.” Hotohori explained, “His predecessor, myself, did not have any children. The people would really be happy as long as Kotsuki produces an heir, as that is all they wanted in a peaceful kingdom. They are not so concerned about the background of the empress as long as her past is not that tainted, which Chinatsu’s isn’t. Knowing them, they might even make it into a romantic story.
“If they would not be unhappy, then that would not matter that much, as officials would not complain as long as the people are relatively happy, and provided that the emperor did not act too radical. And as I said before, in time of peace it is easy. Unlike others, he does not need to make peace by treaties of marriages. That had happened before.”
“I want Chinatsu to find happiness with the man that she loves as Chiharu and I have.” Yuri stated. (8)
At this word Hotohori suddenly stopped walking and gathered Yuri into a tight embrace. “Yes…we are happy even after all that which had happened because we are together.”

Mitsukake could understand why Hotohori might be angry at the way he had adreesed him, but he simply couldn’t help it. It was true that as Ju-An and Seishuku, the two of them had been best friends. But they were now at this world again: where he was nothing but a doctor, while Hotohori had been the emperor…his emperor.
“Oh, you are all still here.” Hotohori said softly as he entered the room with Yuri, who was still clad in the robe of the priestess of Seiryuu, although Chiharu had offered her finest dresses for her.
Looking at Yuri in her formal robes, Chiriko couldn’t help but to flinch slightly due to guilt. He was the first celestial warrior the empress had found when she left the palace, and he had promised that he would go to the palace immediately. If he had, then he might have spared her so much pain.
“I am sorry.” He whispered.
“For what?” Yuri frowned, she never found out that he actually did not keep the promise that he had made.
As Chiriko began to explain, Hotohori turned toward Mitsukake. His expression darkened into disgust as the other automatically thought about kneeling then turned to Ryoen, who was the only other person in the room besides Yuri who was not affected by the fact that he was once the emperor of Konan.
“Does the past erase the present completely?” he wonder out aloud.
“Hotohori-sama…” Mitsukake began, hoping to explain.
“I always hate the ‘sama’ people would attach to the end of my name- if they would even call my name.” Hotohori began, his voice very soft. “It successfully reminds me that I am and will remain being the outsider.”
“The outsider, but you did so much…” Chiriko protested, temporarily breaking free from his conversation with Yuri.
“I did do much, but they were acts done alone. It was bad enough that I couldn’t travel with all of you after the failed attempt of summoning Suzaku because of my duties, then I am constantly being reminded of how I am the outsider by being addressed as ‘sama.’
“I know how all of you addresses each other, and none of you attaches these strangling suffixs. They might be a sign of respect, but they also mean that you regard the person as being so different from you that you do not consider them on the same level as you. It is a barrier.
“The worst bit is that I had believed that the celestial warriors would not treat me as if I am the emperor. I had hoped that they would be my friends.”
Mitsukake suddenly remembered the moment when Yuri had died. Even though the emperor had been surrounded by so many people, he seemed so lonely when she was not there, as opposed to the time when he embrace her: even he could tell that the two of them were meant to be together.
How lonely he must have been, he realized, as the emperor he was expected to come up with a solution when he was only a young man as well. He and the rest of the celestial warriors were to be blamed as well, Hotohori was right, they made him as an outsider.
Everyone else was regarded as a friend, so it didn’t matter whether they were a bandit or a young child, but whenever thought of Hotohori, they never stopped thinking of him as any other but the emperor.
Didn’t Tamahome, Nuriko and Taisuki teased each other the whole time, with even Chiriko, Chichiri and himself joining in at certain times? But whenever Hotohori was concerned, they showed nothing but respect to him.
They had managed to use respect to excluded him completely. They were wrong because Hotohori was a celestial warrior of Suzaku, so they were all meant to be equal- as he said, he expected them treat him as a friend.
“I am so sorry…Hotohori.” Mitsukake admitted.
“I am no longer the emperor of Konan,” Hotohori stated, “So I hope that this time I can truly be one of the celestial warriors of Suzaku, as Seishuku was to the others. I suppose that is the only reason that I might not like my name sometimes, because of the sama attached with it.”
He was going to speak more when a loud cry of pain suddenly interrupted his speech. Clutching to his heart, he sank onto the floor. (9)
“What is wrong?” Yuri quickly demanded, kneeling down to put a supporting arm around him, but much to her shock- he actually slapped her hand away.
“That…that woman who disguised herself as that maid in Kutou…it must be her.” he managed to pant out. “I…I don’t know what she did but Yuri, don’t touch me as it might harm you.”
“But I...I can’t just watch and…” she protested.
“Maybe my power can help him somehow.” Mitsukake suggested.
He went to place his hand over Hotohori’s brow, but this action only made Hotohori scream even more painful, and even more loud. He lashed out with his limbs again, but this time, it was out of an instinct due to the pain the other’s hand brought.
“Aniki…please!” Ryoen implored, as he went forward to grab his brother’s arms, after Hotohori struck Mitsukake’s face. “We are…”
“Mitsukake and Nuriko…I mean Ryoen, don’t touch him at all!” Chiriko quickly yelled out. He even got up to grab Ryoen and started to drag him away. “I think as the celestial warriors of Suzaku will cause him pain if we touches him in anyway.”
Hotohori managed a weak smile as he nodded, “That is true. When Yuri held me it did not hurt, but when Mitsukake and Ryoen tried to touch me, the pain worsened so much.”

Far away, Miiru narrowed her eyes, so they discovered this quicker then she had expected. She had originally intended for him to suffer greatly due to them not knowing that it was them that brought him more pain.
Undaunted, her lips curled into a thin smile as she dangled the blood doll in her hand. She would move onto the next part of her plan then.

In Konan, Hotohori screamed once again, the pain in his body had worsened even though the other three celestial warriors were some distant away from him. Whatever curse was put on him, it even resembled a standard disease, it would worsen.
“How do we heal him? There must be way?” Ryoen demanded to Mitsukake once again. “You are the doctor, you should know!”
“I heal sicknesses, not curses!” Mitsukake had to force his voice to be calm because hw as panicking as he fixed his gaze onto Hotohori.
His whole body was now thrashing and Yuri barely manages to hold him down. He didn’t want her to even come to contact least the curse was contagious, but there was no other way as someone must restrain him, and the three others would only make the matter worse.
“Hotohori…please!” Yuri was whispering, her tears falling onto him. For a brief second, only a slight instant, that managed to calm him down a little. “I know how much it must hurt but please, hold on while we try to find a way to cure you!”
He couldn’t even speak, but could only nod. As the latest spasm of pain came over, his head was thrown back and in the process, his long hair fell to one side, revealing his ears- which was bleeding on one side.
Suddenly, Mitsukake remembered what had once happened with a patient. Much to his surprise then, his power was not effective in anyway. Later on, they discovered that the person was sick due to being possessed by a demon, who managed to enter from his wounds.
He had managed to save that man by sucking the being out from the wound.
Eagerly, he began to tell them the story.
“It will work! It have to work!” Yuri said excitedly.
“Yes, but Yuri, it is dangerous!” Mitsukake pointed out. “And you can’t do it and hold onto him at the same time!”
Yuri’s reply was interrupted when Hotohori suffered another wave of pain, this time it was even worse- his body could barely respond to this attack. Yuri tried to hold on but was shoved away from him due to the way his body was shaking.
“I will do anything because I simply can’t bear to see him like t his!” Yuri whispered very determinedly, her hand tightly clenched together. “I am not afraid of what will happen as long as I can save him!”
At this declaration the others turned to Hotohori instead, and they all gasped, because he had managed to control his possessed body. His face was very pale and screwed up in pain, while his fingers seemed to be white due to how tightly he was clenching them.
But the important thing was he had managed to dominate his body’s instinct of shaking madly due to the pain.
“Yuri, do it. I will…I will be able to endure the pain because that is what you did for me.” Hotohori declared out. “That day when you died…when my vision was taken away from me it seemed my hearing was as well because I never heard you make any noises at all, although I knew what had happened later on…If you could do that, then I can endure this pain.”
Clasping his hand into his, Yuri nodded and leant forward, while Hotohori closed his eyes and forced his body to stop moving in order for her to suck the poison out.
But it was not easy at all…
“Aniki, why don’t you do something?” Ryoen suddenly screamed out.
Initially they all thought he meant Hotohori, and this naturally made both Mitsukake and Chiriko turning to Ryoen, frowning rather angrily. He was already doing so much more then what they believe that they could have done themselves.
But Ryoen was not looking at Hotohori, he was looking and addressing Rokou instead.
The slightly elder man had hunched to a corner due to the shock of what was happening, and no one could really blame him. But it was at a moment when you had to accept all that was happening and find a way to do something.
“How…how can I do what you want me to do…” Rokou whispered. “I am not like you, I am a normal being!”
“Aniki, you don’t need to be like me to do this!” Ryoen snapped, not realizing that he continued to address the other as his brother, what he was not fully sure of. “Why can’t you help Yuri?”
“You want me to…whatever that thing in there…”
“I know you are afraid but I know that you can do it!” Ryoen continued. “If you don’t help him…if you don’t even try then I swear, I will hate you forever even though you are my brother!”
Wordlessly, the other man stood up and his face was equally pale as Hotohori’s. Ryoen immediately cursed himself, as he felt that he was being a bit too harsh. After all, he himself was rather afraid at whatever the thing was in his brother.
Rokou walked to Hotohori and Yuri, who was still trying to suck the poison out. Without saying a word, he grabbed Hotohori, forcing his body to be still.
It was obvious that he was not used to doing such a thing, as his own body began to shake. But nonetheless, he continued.
With Hotohori’s body finally being almost completely still Yuri was able to lean forward and began to suck whatever that possessed his body out properly.
A moment later Yuri bent back, gagging. Turning her face away from Hotohori, she spat the blood out. Almost immediately, Mitsukake grabbed one of the daggers lying on the shelf and stabbed the small pile of blood.
He knew that he was successful when the blood disappeared, and was then replaced by a bright red light.
Exhausted, Hotohori leant back toward the wall, before Yuri threw her arms around his neck to embrace him tightly. As he pulled her closer, he suddenly felt something heavy in his hand. Unclenching his fingers, he smiled.
“Nuriko…this is yours.”
Stunned at his brother addressing him by his other name, Ryoen held out his hand to accept the object.
It was one of the seven stones that the celestial warriors of Suzaku must find, and this one contained the memories of Nuriko. (10)

The doll made from blood broke, leaving Miiru with nothing but a small pool of blood in front of her. Greatly angered, she raised her hand to brush them away.
Her hand halted in midair, looking down she saw that a hand had pierced right through her body.
The act of killing was so swift that she didn’t even have time to speak, even though she parted her mouth in the attempt of forming out a name.
Was it her Rin’s? Or was it Tenkou’s? No one would ever be able to answer this question now.
Smirking, Tenkou used his clean hand to gather the small pile of blood up to make use that they were not mixed with Miiru’s blood in anyway. She turned out to be absolutely useless in the end, and he was certainly not going to let her death, the only thing she did right because of the slight satisfaction it gave him, to ruin this new plan.
“Everyone underestimates the power of a person’s blood,” he said softly, “This little amount will be enough to torture the priestess of Seiryuu even more.”

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/

Chapter Seven

One month had passed since the return of the Suzaku Warriors and their priestess, and Kotsuki was still trying in vain to find some clue about his elder brother and his sister in law.
Much has happened, the most important thing being that the other four out of the seven celestial warriors of Suzaku had all gained both the memories of their past life, as well as the stone. (1)
Hotohori was still missing along with Yuri, although both Chichiri and Mitsukake strongly believed that the two of them would be in Kutou.
Ryoen was the only one who still did not remember, Nuriko was the only one absent.
“I hate this.” Ryoen muttered again. “Being useless because I don’t remember about being Nuriko at all.”
He was sitting with the emperor in Kotsuki’s private library, what was once his brother’s, with Mitsukake and Chiriko at the other end of the room, both absorbed in the book or scroll that they held. The two young men who were talking had become very intimate friends due to their link through Seishuku/Hotohori.
Miaka, Tamahome, Taisuki and Chichiri had left to go to Sairou, to gain the Shinzaho of Byakko, while Chiriko and Mitsukake decided to stay in the palace with Ryoen. They claimed that it was because they would not be that useful to everyone due to the nature of their powers, but Ryoen knew that they did it for his sake.
It had been a week since the others left and Ryoen had to admit, if it wasn’t for Mitsukake and Chiriko then he would have ended up being mad by now. To let everyone go and be in danger…even though Chichiri had reassured him many times that their travelling this time should not be dangerous at all.
But what worried him the most, was Seishuku…Hotohori. It was not just worrying about his brother being in danger, he was also deeply concerned that Seishuku might not wish to be acknowledged as his brother now that he has returned to the world where he had been Hotohori.
The story about how he once competed with Yuri for Hotohori’s affection did not help him at all.
Strange enough, he actually wanted to see Yuri as Nuriko had, because even though Nuriko had been jealous of her, he seemed to have accepted the end of his impossible dream with good grace. Ryoen idolised his brother, so there were times when he was so angry with himself for not approving of his brother’s marriage through his own jealousies.
“Would you really feel useful if you become Nuriko again?” Kotsuki asked softly, when he was in the company of those who trusts, his voice would drop to the quiet whisper that he used most of the time before he became the emperor. “Being powerful but unable to do what you truly want is worse then just being simply hopeless.”
“Is that what you feel?” Ryoen asked.
The young emperor shook his head. “I think that is what my brother felt, to be the emperor as well as a celestial warrior of Suzaku, but is yet unable to…”
Whatever he wanted to say next was halted by the knock on the door. Sighing, the young man draped his elaborate royal robe over the rather simple clothing he had changed into, and raised his voice as he gave permission for the messenger to enter.
It was Chinatsu who had three people beside her, two of them were covered with a rather thick cloak that draped over their whole body, concealing their faces.
The uncloaked person was not a stranger to the palace. He was Rokou, the brother of Nuriko. By chance, Mitsukake and Ryoen had met him when the two of them went to the market. From that day on, Rokou would be a constant visitor in the palace with the goal of making his younger brother remembering him.
Ryoen did not know how he should feel with this man who was his brother when he had been Nuriko. He was very soft spoken and there was a sense of fragility around him, Ryoen felt that he had to be very careful in dealing with him, as he almost shattered when Ryoen failed to recognize him.
“Are…are you that ashamed of me?” the younger man had whispered brokenly.
He was not the same as Seishuku. This was not to say that Seishuku was not a gentle or a quiet man, but Ryoen could recollect many occasions when his brother had been a protective elder brother. Something that Rokou seemed to lack.
“These two are messengers from Kutou.” Chinatsu announced, keeping her eyes on the hem of her skirt instead of facing the emperor, “Or so the guards say.”
“Perhaps they bring news of Hotohori-sama.” Mitsukake said sadly.
“Hotohori-sama?” the suffix was almost spat out by the very familiar voice. “You, Ju-An, are one of my two best friends! Why is it that you refer to me that way just because you regained your memories of our past lives? Are you saying that all our friendships are gone just because of different statuses in the past?”
Angrily, Hotohori yanked the hood of his cloak off to reveal himself, as well as the dark blue clothes that he had on. It looked rather odd on him, as he did not usually wear such colours, even in his life as Seishuku. But in a strange way it was rather fitting.
Beside him, Yuri gently laid her arm over his, understanding the pain and sadness that he felt just by returning to the palace where he had been both prisoner and ruler: the emperor, the most powerful man, but also the weakest man, because he could not do what he truly desires.
Like Hotohori she wore the cloak as a disguise, as neither of them wanted to be recognized on the streets. Although in her case, it would be her clothing that betrays her instead of her appearance.
Yuri had put on the robe of the priestess of Seiryuu, and even wore the headdress in her hair. She could not explain why but she felt that it was appropriate for her to dress this way, even though she was leaving Kutou for the country guarded by Suzaku.
The kingdom that was once Hotohori’s.
Upon seeing the woman whom she had served as a mistress, and whom she loved in the way of the perfect elder sister, Chinatsu immediately knelt down in front of Yuri, as she had done many times.
“Chinatsu…” at the sight of the girl Yuri quickly bend down so she could look at the girl on eye level, knowing the girl she would remain kneeling down for quite some times, even if Yuri told her to get up.
“Mistress…you returned to Konan.” Chinatsu whispered in wonder, now holding the end of Yuri’s gown.
“Not as the empress, only as the priestess of Seiryuu.” Yuri said softly. “So I am no longer you mistress.”
Chinatsu only shook her head and continued to hold onto the fabric even more tightly. “You will always be my mistress, it started ever since the day you saved Chiharu and I from our fate of being the emperor’s unwanted concubines.”
“A fact I wish to forget.” Kotsuki muttered darkly. There had been something almost magical the moment he saw Chinatsu with her twin sister, who he thought to be only the late empress’ maids.
Then he learnt of her true position: a woman that might not be regarded as a worthy bride for him because technically, she had had been another man’s property.
“You…you…it is not as if you even tried to marry me!” Chinatsu whispered sadly. “You…you…” tears appeared in her eyes and she turned to Yuri, to be pulled into a loving embrace.
At this moment Yuri marvelled at the change in Chinatsu, no doubt she also reflected Chiharu’s changes. When she left the two of them were only fourteen, two young girls instead of two women.
Chinatsu was eighteen now, the age when she had married Hotohori. The maid that she treasured as a much younger sister seemed to have become a full grown woman now, certainly no longer a little girl as she was in love.
“I…” Kotsuki began but stopped, there was no point in denying the truth.
“Your majesty,” Chinatsu said, facing Yuri. “Will you come to see Chiharu and her husband with me if you can? She married one of the emperor’s officials a year ago.”
Yuri nodded, “But first,” she whispered as she gently loosened Chinatsu’s hold to stand next to Hotohori once more. “First…”

The two brothers faced one another, both staring into the other’s face to find some betrayal of acknowledgement. For Hotohori, that meeting they had when he just became the emperor, was one of the only two proper meetings he had of this younger half brother.
As for Kotsuki, he had seen his brother many times when Saihitei paraded around the town, as well as being rather familiar with his brother’s appearance at the time of Suzaku’s summoning due to the paintings in the temple. But Hotohori was still a stranger to him as much as Kotsuki must be to him.
Even though both harboured hope of seeing the other, they were silent as they simply did not know what to say at all.
“I…” Hotohori finally began awkwardly. “I…I am glad to see you…Kotsuki…through my journey here I heard that you are a very good emperor. The emperor of Kutou himself told me that you are a good ruler.”
“Not as good as you.” Kotsuki replied in equal uneasiness. Even though he was draped in the elaborate robes befitted of an emperor, while his elder brother was dressed in simple clothes that peasants would wear, he still felt as if he was the subject, while Hotohori was the emperor once again.
“That much be…Houkigou.” He stated the obvious. “I have always wanted to meet her, she is your wife in your new life as well?”
Hotohori nodded, and once more a silence elapsed, Mitsukake and Chiriko were both edging towards the door, wanting to escape from this rather awkward family reunion.
“I…I wanted to meet you too.” Kotsuki burst out, after Hotohori finally let out a sigh. “I…I…oniisan…”
Hotohori’s face darkened so much at this address that Kotsuki wondered whether the other wished to be acknowledged as his brother at all.
“Oniisan is it?” Hotohori finally said very sadly, bending his head down so that his loose hair covered up his face. “I cannot blame you though, I should just be grateful that you are actually willing to admit that I am your brother.” (2)
“Oniisan?” Kotsuki repeated again.
Hotohori turned to Ryoen, and the younger boy immediately went up to hug him tightly, for a moment Hotohori looked rather blank, but he quickly smiled rather sadly with the appearance of realization, and he quickly returned the hug.
“Ryoen, it is good to see you again.” he said softly.
“Aniki, how do you know that I am Ryoen, not Nuriko?” his younger brother asked curiously. “Is it that obvious, the difference?”
Hotohori shook his head sadly as he said: “Nuriko would no longer call me aniki. Very likely he would call me Hotohori-sama too.”
“But that is ridiculous!” Ryoen yelled out. “You are my aniki, and you always would be…” but his voiced trailed off as he noticed the look of deep betrayal and sadness on Rokou’s face.
“So that is it, isn’t it.” he whispered brokenly, his hands were even shaking slightly as he raised it to point at Hotohori, so great was his shock that he didn’t even consider what he was doing, as he was treating the man who was his last emperor in a rather rude fashion. “I have to be like that man in order for you to acknowledge me as your aniki.”
This was not completely untrue, as Ryoen had compared his ‘two brothers’ and decided that he preferred Seishuku as a brother instead of Rokou. But his main reason for not calling Rokou aniki at all, even though he knew that this stranger was really Nuriko’s brother, was because he had no memory of the other being his brother.
Hotohori turned to his other brother, and began to speak again. The room was occupied by an very awkward silence: Mitsukake and Chiriko were still near the door, as even though they wanted to escape, they felt that they should be there to support their friends; due to Rokou’s outburst Ryoen was even more confused, while Rokou was beginning to feel a bit embarrassed for what happened; Chinatsu had knelt by Yuri’s feet once more; and Yuri would have stopped her had she not been too occupied with her husband.
“I think that Kotsuki…” Hotohori suddenly paused in the middle of his speech and repeated the name of his half brother again. “Kotsuki…should I be calling you that? Do you wish for me to call you by your title?”
“No!” the current emperor of Konan almost cried out in horror at the suggestion, and his gaze wandered to Chinatsu, who immediately bent her head down. “You would know what it feels like to be regarded as an object instead of a person just because of our role as the emperor.”
Hotohori nodded, “Very well, Kotsuki then. There is a favour that I would ask of you.”
“A favour?”
“Yes, there is something that I must do now that I am here in the palace, and seeing you after all these years.
“I must ask for your forgiveness.”
“Forgiveness? Oniisan, I know now that what happened ten years ago was not your fault.”
Hotohori suddenly chocked as he looked at his brother, the expression on his younger brother’s face was just like Hikitsu’s. It was an acceptance of some sort of crime that he had done to them.
But he would not let that distract him right now, he shook his head sadly as he whispered: “That is not the sin that I am talking about, although I do apologise for what happened after that walk in the garden. I truly didn’t mean any of it, as I had really wanted you to be my brother, a companion, a friend. I was so happy when I saw you entering the palace, I really thought…”
“Did you think that I was an assassin when you saw the dagger in my gift?”
“I do not know.” Hotohori admitted bitterly. “Perhaps I did but Kotsuki, no doubt you found me as much to blame as my mother at that time. After all, out family was not a family at all.”
His younger brother could only nod in agreement. A father who never cared for any of his many children, while the mothers of his children spend a majority of their life squabbling for power. They all claimed that it was for their child, but both Hotohori and Kotsuki felt that it was for themselves more.
All the emperor’s children were puppets to their mother. Mostly notably was naturally Hotohori, who actually succeeded in being the emperor, although he was a very fair ruler who was well loved and praised by his people, it was a role that he always wished to be free from.
But the very early years of Saihitei’s reign of rules were stained by his mother’s actions. In order to keep her younger son on the throne, she had crushed any sign of danger with cruelty, even ordering the execution of her other son.
Hotohori could remember little of Tendo, the brother whom he shared both father and mother with. Maybe Tendo had believed that he would have been the next emperor, after all, he was the eldest son of the emperor and empress. He used to spend many of his time thinking about policies that he thinks should be applied.
Unlike the future emperor of Konan, he actually started to prepare himself for the role of emperor. He might have been a good emperor too, as he did cared for his people very much, despite some of the radical ideas he had that might not have worked so well.
He certainly wanted the role enough to rebel against his own mother and his only full blooded brother.
Bogyoku, the emperor’s eldest son. He never spared any chances of glaring at Hotohori or Tendo in anger if he could. Unlike his younger brother, he resented his birth for being born from a concubine instead of being a son of the empress. Perhaps he would not have felt so bad if he wasn’t the eldest son of the emperor. He worked with his mother’s plan eagerly, as he wanted to be the next emperor to prove that he could, to show the empress that despite not being her son, he would still take the throne of his father.
Then there was Ogi and Kotsuki, the younger brothers of Hotohori, who were not considered as candidates in this game for power, but were certainly players. The studious and intelligent Ogi was seen as a danger by the empress, whose assassination attempt ended up killing the mother of the young boy…who was not even a man yet. This caused him to become one of Tendo’s helpers, and he willingly died for Tendo, as he believed that this half brother could avenge his mother for him.
The universe of the four gods was like ancient china in many ways, even the status of the two sexes. Most times, women were disadvantaged, but in this battle, being a female helped the emperor’s only two daughters greatly. (3)
Had they been two extra sons instead of being two daughters, then their life span might have been much shorter, even though they would not have been considered as candidates for the throne even if they were boys as they belonged to the younger lot of the emperor’s children. The two girls were both younger then Hotohori, who was the third oldest in this dysfunctional family.
The elder daughter of the emperor was only a year younger then the brother that became the emperor immediately after their father’s death, but she was wise enough to know, along with her mother, she had no claim to the throne at all, but she was still in danger for the mere sake of being the emperor’s child.
That was why her mother begged the empress to let her return to her origins, having been a rural farmer’s daughter who lived at the border of Konan and Kutou. She even engaged her daughter to one of the peasants there, knowing that this would allow them to survive as the future emperor of Konan could never have a father who was not of royal blood, even if his mother was directly descended from the emperor. (4)
She actually ended up being in love with the person she was engaged to when the empress died, even though no one in the village had believed that they would actually get married, the boy’s family agreed to a fake engagement for the sake of helping the imperial concubine who was once a part of their village. Eventually, she married this man and lived in happiness until the day when soldiers from Kutou attacked their village.
Luckily, she was only killed, instead of raped. But it almost seemed the each and every one of the imperial family was cursed.
Hotohori’s other sister, however, was not so lucky. Her mother was much more ambitious and was deeply disappointed to only have given birth to a daughter from the brief amount of time the emperor had given her some attention.
She began to work with most of the emperor’s advisors by the bribery of her body, trying to find a way to let her daughter be engaged to a man who could give her great power. Ironically, it was Hotohori’s father who ordered their execution when she began to become involved in a plot.
Her daughter was no more then a child when she was killed.
But what haunted Hotohori the most was the death of Bogyoku- the eldest son of the third emperor of Konan, because he was witness to his death.

Hotohori’s request was to be lead to one of the rather isolated part of the palace that few people knew about. He cloaked himself once again as he followed his half brother as if he was only a mere servant, but Kotsuki felt that such a thing was impossible.
His elder brother had demanded to be taken to that place alone, he even told his wife, Houkigou…Yuri, that he must do this by himself although he greatly wished that she could be beside him.
“That would make it easier but yet I must do this alone.” Hotohori had whispered.
“Is this it?” Kotsuki asked when his brother paused in front of a door. Reaching to the handle, he was deeply surprised when he discovered that the door wasn’t locked at all, unlike most of the rooms in the palace.
“What is this point of locking a room such as this?” his brother said rather bitterly as he entered.
The room seemed empty, there was no furniture or any other indication of once having a human lived there, other then a lonely chair at one corner. It seemed that only spiders and mice live here, as this part of the corridor was rarely visited by any servants to clean.
“I was sitting there,” Hotohori whispered, pointing to the chair as he walked to the centre of the room and knelt down, clasping his hands together tightly as he bowed his head down, his hair almost covering his face, but not enough to conceal the sadness in his eyes from his younger brother. “Haha was behind me. Then…”
“Then?”
“Then they brought them in, your haha and aniki. It was in this room where it had happened…”
“Their…execution?” Kotsuki was not found of his mother or his full blood brother because it was hard to love someone whom he never knew and who only saw him as a tool or something that was just there. But it was still quite hard to learn or hear about their death.
Hotohori nodded. “Here in this room…”
He was not even fifteen when his mother brought him to this room to witness the execution of his eldest brother, and the women that had bore him.
“You must see, Hotohori, how I will protect you by punishing anyone that dares to hurt you.” She had told him, towering over him with her hands on his shoulder.
“But haha…surely execution is…”
“Hotohori, they have dared to harm you and for that alone they deserve the worse possible death.” he did not knew that she actually ordered these two to be actively tortured until later on.
“So just nod when the guard ask you the question, and ignore the two traitors completely.” She crouched down to face her seated son, her gaze was so powerful and so intense that the emperor, who was but a boy, could only nod.
Satisfied, she moved to stand behind him, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly.
“They pleaded to me, your Haha and aniki.” Hotohori continued. “Do not think less of them, because only a fool would not wish for life.” At this he smiled bitterly. “In a way Yuri and I…in a way the two of us are fools as we would have gladly died in order to let the other live.”
“I do not see you as being a fool either…aniki.”
“Aniki?” Hotohori repeated this word softly and tilted his head up to face his younger brother. “Aniki?”
“You are my aniki, he was just my oniisan.” Kotsuki declared out firmly. “Bogyoku was my brother because we shared the same parents, but you are my brother because you want to be my brother. Therefore, you are my aniki.”
He expected his elder brother to smile, but Hotohori only frowned even more.
“I had caused him and your haha to die, Kotsuki.” The elder man said darkly. “If I had wanted to then I could have saved them but…”
Kotsuki realized that Hotohori was guilty not because he let his mother and brother die, but because he did not prevent them from being killed by offering any form of resistance toward the empress’ orders. It was not what he did, but what he might have done.
On that day Hotohori had heard their pleas and he was moved, but the firm grip on his shoulders prevented him from consenting to their pleas. Instead, he just watched the execution being performed. His return to Konan made him realize that he never forgive himself for this act which he labelled as great cowardliness.
Smiling, Kotsuki walked up to kneel in front of his brother so that they were at eye level.
“Aniki, I do not blame you for what happened that day just as I no longer blame you for what happened to me when you first became the emperor. It is not anyone’s fault to be tricked and manipulate by their mother. I myself, is the same.
“As for my mother and my other brother’s death…I do not feel happiness at this because after all, they are related to me through blood, and I am sad because lives had been taken by force. But I do not grief that much because who do I mourn for a brother who was not even like a brother? While my mother was only my mother because she gave birth to me?”
For the first time since he arrived in Konan, Hotohori smiled sincerely . “Then I am glad.”

my proper blog is at: http://autumn-leaf16.livejournal.com/

“I don’t want to see this again.” Yuri whispered.
That was the beginning of it all, when her originally very happy life started to become bad, when her happiness was slowly destroyed by a sadness that turned into depression.
She continued walking, either someone was forcing her to walk or that she simply lacked the strength herself to stop. It was as if she was entering a long row of rooms which all contained some part of her past. The rooms were all joined together so that she could not even be free from these memories for a single moment.
She saw herself as the unwanted child in her father’s house again, then she witnessed the day when her stepmother forced her to cut her hair. There had been another argument and it ended with her father yanking her by the hair and slicing her hair off by force due to a kitchen knife.
“We must all compromise.” He had said stiffly in order to conceal his guilt as he watched how the young girl knelt down to gather her shorn off hair. (11)
She resumed her walking, unaware that tears were streaking down her face until she tasted something salty with her mouth. She placed her fingers over her eyes briefly, then quickly removed them.
There was no point in wiping them away as more would follow.
“I am scared to go on, at least when I am by myself.” She admitted to herself, pausing before she opened the next door.
Ironically, and even cruelly, the next memory was what she just saw: where Hotohori was tangled in the arms of another woman. The act of betray was replaying in front of her once again.
This was simply too much for her.
She sank onto the floor once again and closed her eyes, what would happen if she just remained here and ignore everything? Would she be able to remain inside her own heart forever? In a way she wanted to, perhaps she could find some form of peace here by denying her other memories.
“I am not a brave person.” She whispered as she lifted her head up to stare at the door that would take her back, then turned back to look at the door that would make her remember more.
Strangely, there were now two doors. Without even standing up, she could see some of the images behind them.
Behind the first door was an image of her in the robe of the priestess of Seiryuu, what she was wearing now, with the shinzaho of Seiryuu twisted with her hair. But the difference was that one hand held a mirror, while the other clinched around a ring and the chain of a necklace.
Without being told, Yuri knew that the image there was what had happened in the past. If she entered then she would discover the whole truth, but she was beginning to doubt her ability of facing it.
Especially if she had committed what might be a crime.
The other door showed the image of a beckoning hand that was clawed and covered with scales.
“Will I be able to summon you even if I refuse to see what had happened?” she questioned.
Seiryuu continued beckoning to her, and for this reason she believed that she would not be condemned if she went to him now. She did not want to know her past at this moment, she was simply too afraid, and most of all: she did not want to face what had happened if Hotohori would not be there to help her.
Closing her eyes again, she reached out to grasp that beckoning hand.

Even though Yuri’s mind was in turmoil, her body remained very still. Hikitsu was still holding onto her, but he was beginning to question his own actions; Hotohori was kneeling right beside her, his hand clenched to prevent himself from reaching out to her; while Kamiyasu was watching this in a state of confusion and shock.
Yuri moved slightly, and Hikitsu frowned, there was something strange about her. Technically, he was dead and so he should not be affected by her living form although he was allowed to be able to touch her. For the first time since he held her, he could feel a weight.
Without warning her hand shot out and grabbed him by the throat tightly, what should be an impossible thing. Hikitsu had to force himself to look at her instead of closing his eye due to the pain made by her hand, a feeling that he had been denied of since the day he died more then two centuries ago.
Her eyes was different…they had become blue and the pupil and iris has shifted in size. They were no longer the eyes of a human woman, but that of a dragon. (12)
Lowering his eyes with great pain, he confirmed his believe when he saw that her hands were covered with blue scales.
“Seiryuu…” the celestial warrior of Genbu whispered, here was a being that had the power to do something to him.
“You are brave, Hikitsu, to do something that you know I did not want.” Even though Seiryuu was using Yuri’s body, he was actually speaking with his own voice. “You would show her what had happened? She almost would have remembered what had happened before on that day.”
“Would you have the past repeating itself again?” Hikitsu demanded. “Yuri and Hotohori had both played a part in Tenkou breaking free from his chains by simply loving each other.”
“Tenkou will be stopped.” Seiryuu stated simply. “And this time he will be destroyed.”
Hikitsu was going to speak again when the god suddenly released his hold to drop him down into the pile of water.
“My time here is limited,” he said grimly, “Tenkou would soon come if I do not leave. But there is one thing I must do, for my priestess.”
Gesturing the door he let out a ray of light that shattered the bolt completely, forcing the double door to be thrown open. This revealed the eavesdropper: Miiru.
The seemingly innocent woman blushed modestly and was going to begin her excuse when Seiryuu shifted Yuri’s hand to point to her. A blue light engulfed her and within seconds she was screaming.
“Minion of Tenkou, show your true self.” Seiryuu commanded.
Miiru spat on the ground as a reply, but much to her horror her body was beginning to shift back into that disgusting being she had become just for loving her brother too much. What happened to her body was rather ironic as it was what she had done too many others, with Hotohori as the latest victim.
Inside her own body, Yuri gasped as she saw what the maid whom Hotohori had been with shift into a…a monster!
“That is what she really is,” Seiryuu explained. “She is one of Tenkou’s minions and no doubt she was sent to do what she did in order to break you.”
“Why did Hotohori…” she began.
“She controlled him somehow. Do not blame him for what he had done, it was truly not his fault.” Seiryuu reassured her. “I would destroy her but I must go now.” Saying to he simply left, while Miiru snarled at them before she too, departed.
Standing up Yuri turned to her husband, who was still looking at her so tenderly even though she had refused to trust him. With her hands shaking slightly, she stretched it out to him.
Smiling for the first time since he woke up with her gone, Hotohori pulled his wife into a loving embrace.
“You were not to be blamed anymore then I am.” He said gently as she began to whisper her apologies. “I doubt that I could act any better. I would probably have pulled out my sword and demanded the other to fight me.” he added light heartedly.
“But I…” Yuri began.
“It was not your fault.” He repeated.
“I did realize one thing.” She whispered. “Despite all that I still loved you. In fact, I was so angry because I love you.”
“We will manage.” He promised.
Watching them, Hikitsu had to smile. After all that they had caused he shouldn’t be so happy but he could not help it, Hotohori had been his dear friend while he was starting to regard Yuri as a younger sister: he had wanted her to be happy.
“I will believe that we have all learned from our mistakes.” He decided as he moved to stand before the two embracing couple and hung the shinzaho of Genbu around Yuri’s neck.
“This will be in your keeping until the priestess of Genbu come for it.” he declared out. “Yuri, remember one thing. No matter what happens you have a duty as the priestess of Seiryuu. Right now, that duty is to summon Seiryuu and then Genbu in order to destroy Tenkou. Let no grief upset you so much that you will turn away from this goal.”
After his depart, Kamiyasu knelt down in the water beside them. He smiled sadly as he realized that no matter what, the one person he desired would never be his. After what Hotohori had done, he did thought about offering his proposal to Yuri once more as he believed that she might choose to stay here.
“I am sorry,” he said to Hotohori, “but if even Yuri blames you then I cannot be condemned that much.”
“I understand.” The man whom could be regarded as some type of rival said with a brief nod, then released Yuri’s in order to let the emperor of Kutou say good bye to her.
“Yuri…” Kamiyasu began as he took her hands in his, then raised it to his lips. “I…I hope you will always have happiness.”
There was really nothing more to be said other then that. He knew that now she had the shinzaho of Genbu as well as the shinzaho of Seiryuu she would want to leave in order to search for the rest of their companions, and they had found nothing useful in regard to help her with summoning the deities either.
“Am I leaving?” Yuri asked.
“I know you and Hotohori both want to go to Konan. Now is a very good time.” he said.
Yuri nodded as he guessed all that she and Hotohori had thought of. They did have to find Miaka and the rest of the Suzaku warriors, and also, Hotohori wanted to go to Konan because that was his home.
“I will leave soon then.” Yuri decided before she withdrew her hands away from this man who loved her in his own strange way. “Kamiyasu…may you find happiness too.”
“I will find it as long as my kingdom is safe.”
At this Yuri nodded again.
“I promise to try and not let my emotions affect me. This time, I will save Kutou not just because of Hotohori.”

(1) It is not the same type of love as what Hotohori feel for Yuri, I think it is kind of more of a really idealistical idolization. It is a bit like what Hotohori feel for Miaka (original story) but not the same as that either. It is simply a strong affection different from love…kind of hard to explain. What he feel toward her is rather platonic as well, it’s simply the desire of having her beside him.
(2) I don’t want Yuri’s character to be portrayed as the wrong way, by taking his hand she is simply accepting his devotion to her as well as telling him that she will only ever accept his devotion because she is in love with Hotohori, and will remain in love with her.
(3) If I was doing short chapters then this would be a chapter end because I guess you can say this is a cliff hanger?
(4) I am not fully sure if that is the right colour of Miiru’s eyes but I looked at the back of the cover for volume 16 and it showed her with purple/lavender eyes. By the way I noticed that the cover for the Chinese version and English version are different…
(5) This is basically what happened with Tamahome and Miiru in the original story, as well as Miaka and Rin. They basically gained some sort of control over their victim’s body, and note that in my story Miiru took some blood from Hotohori- which will be used in the later part of the fan fiction!
(6) The thing about Hikitsu is that his appearance is a bit of a contradiction at some point. In fushigi yuri- he appeared with chest length hair that is the colour of silverish blond, kind of silvery but in Genbu Kaiden his hair- although it remained the same length- become a very pale blond. Then we have the genbu kaiden game, where his hair is the same pale blond but is now waist length. Me, I personally like the way he is drawn in the Genbu Kaiden game best- where he has very long hair the colour of pale gold. Because of that, I will describe Hikitsu in my story as he appears in the game, very long pale blond hair.
(7) Hikitsu is my favourite character in Genbu Kaiden. But anyway, I really feel that Hikitsu is so much like Hotohori, they both have this really sad expression on their face that is caused by what they suffered in life. I really think that these two are the most beautiful drawn characters I have ever seen.
(8) I know that Hikitsu is talking weirdly but this is all related to my prologue, so hopefully you will find out what he means.
(9) I can kind of relate to this as I used to have really really long hair (up to my waist) and you do get a bit flattered when pretty compliment it. Silly I know but it is the truth.
(10) Don’t know why but I just wanted to do this bit. Well, a flash back. So that’s how Yuri’s mother died, due to cancer. This bit is also symbolic for Yuri.
(11) Yuri is vain about her hair not just because she like it, but it is mainly because by having her hair long it remind her of her mother, who had very long hair as well.
(12) I don’t exactly remember what colour Sieryuu’s eyes are, so I am just going to say that it is blue since is a blue dragon. Although that word is more like aqua but I don’t like that colour as my intermediate uniform was this aqua colour and it is really ugly but ok, off the topic.