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The Prophecy of Genbu	By : Ree Category: +. to F > Fushigi Yuugi Views: 1222 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Title: The Prophecy of Genbu

Series: Fushigi Yuugi

Rating: MA

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN THIS SERIES. The Fushigi
Yuugi universe belongs to Watase Yuu-san and I do not claim this universe
whatsoever. I am only writing a story for fun, not profit. For other notes,
please refer to chapter one.

Chapter Four

The Emperor of Hokkan

Genbu
sat back in his seat, a pleased look on his features as he observed the events
happening among the mortals.� He stroked
his sleek moustache as he thought.� The
first miko he�d summoned had been a failure and he�d
taken ridicule from Suzaku and Seiryu for years afterward.� It had only become worse when Byakko�s
miko, Suzuno, had successfully coupled with him and returned to her own world
after saving his country of Sairou from disaster.� Being the eldest and wisest of the four gods, this was simply
unacceptable.� The only good thing about
his predicament was that Seiryu and Suzaku had not yet summoned their miko
yet.� This would give him more time to
correct his mistake.

�Are you still sulking in front of that
orb, Genbu?�

�Seiryu.�
Simply because I am thoughtful does not imply that I am sulking.� What do you want?� I have duties to attend to.�

�I am simply concerned, my dear old
friend.� After that fiasco with your
miko, one would think-�

�That was 200 years ago, Seiryu.� Now, I have selected a new miko and she has
already arrived in this world and found two of the Genbu Shichi Seishi.� In fact, they�ve also
encountered your Nakago.� Iname and
Urumiya seemed to prove enough to cause him to retreat.�

Smirking
at the outrage look on his rival�s face, Genbu turned back to his orb and
gazed in at the trio of mortals asleep in the inn.� Iname was asleep against the wall, staying close to
Cassandra.� Urumiya was asleep nearby,
making sure that the two of them were within easy reach.� Genbu smiled as he took in the closeness and
the protective nature that was already there in his warriors for their
miko.� They will all be just
fine.� The sun rose to illuminate
the sleeping trio.� They had shifted in
the night and now Cassandra�s head rested against Iname�s
leg and her feet were resting on Urumiya�s legs
so she would have the physical comfort of their presence throughout the
night.� Genbu�s
smile became a smirk as he turned to Seiryu.

�Look down at them, Seiryu.� Even in sleep, my warriors show the close
bonds that are forming between them and their miko.� They will not be parted from her so easily and that devotion is
to be admired.� In this frightened, yet
determined girl, Urumiya sees the daughter he lost.� Iname sees someone he can love and protect as a younger
sister.� These three shall form the base
of a strong team of Genbu warriors.�
They will be far stronger than their predecessors and you shall soon be
eating your words, Seiryu.� Just wait
and see.�

The
guardian god of the east snorted.� �We
shall see.�

Spinning
on his heel, Seiryu stalked from the room.�
That left his triumphant rival smirking and plotting as he observed his
warriors.� The first rays of light
illuminated the room and caused Urumiya�s eye to
twitch.� Groaning, he tried to turn his
face from the sun so he could go back to sleep.� It had been a long day yesterday and he wanted to enjoy a good
night�s sleep while he could.� His groan and the sunlight caused Cassandra
to stir.� Green eyes opened and she
looked up.� Iname?� Did he stay like this with me all
night?� Quietly and carefully, she
sat up so she wouldn�t wake him.� Smiling at Urumiya as he curled in on himself, trying to get some
more sleep, Cassandra lifted her feet from his legs and went to wash up.� She splashed cold water onto her face and
sighed as she walked towards the window.

�I wonder if I really can be the Genbu no
Miko.� I wonder if I�m
strong enough,� she mused and reached under her blouse
to draw out her necklace.� The charm was
in the shape of a musical note.� �I
know what you�d say, Matthew.� You�d tell me to keep my chin up and never
give up.� We�ve
been through tough stuff before�and we�ve
always come through.� Still, now I�m
on my own.� I just hope I can make you
proud of me.� And I hope I can protect
them when the time comes.�

She
looked back at the sleeping pair and a warm smile made her face glow.� A warm morning breeze wafted through the
window and brushed Cassandra�s hair over her shoulders and breasts as
she drank in the peaceful sight.� Iname�s
eyes cracked open and he yawned widely.�
Damn I slept like a rock.� Too
bad I got a crick in my neck.� He
rubbed his neck absently and glanced at the window.� At first, all he could see was a silhouette glowing in the
morning light.� That made his eyes open
wider and for a moment, he swore he saw the Genbu no Miko.� That the woman that Hokkan had prayed for
had finally appeared.� Her green eyes
were so gentle and the smile she wore filled him with hope for their
country.� He reached out to touch this
heavenly vision, just to make sure she was real�

�Iname?�
Iname, what are you doing?�

�What?� the
vision faded and the sight of Cassandra standing in front of him greeted
Iname.� She�s gone.�

�I asked if you were all right.�

His
vision swam and for a moment he suffered a deep pang of disappointment that the
vision had faded.� �Yes
Cassandra, I�m all right.� Sorry, I thought I was dreaming for a moment.� What time is it?�

�Morning.�
We need to get going if we�re going
to make it to the capital today.� Why
don�t you pack up and I�ll
wake Urumiya?�

�All right.�

Yawning
widely, Iname rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand and went to take care of
the packs.� Cassandra went over to
Urumiya and shook him.� Her whispers
were soft and urgent as she firmly jostled his shoulder, trying to get him to
wake up.� Iname rolled his eyes and
shook his head as he tucked everything into their packs.� Let�s
see, I hope we don�t forget anything.� Despite
the fact that Cassandra raised her voice and shook him harder, Urumiya slept
on.

�Damn!�
He�s a heavy sleeper that�s
for sure,� Cassandra grumbled and looked
around.� �Iname,
where�s your glaive?�

�Why?�

�Because I have an idea on how to wake up
Urumiya.� Now, where is it?�

Iname
picked it up and handed it to her with a questioning look.� What are you up to, Cassandra?� He watched in growing horror as she swung
the flat of his glaive blade back and brought it forward.� It connected solidly with the side of
Urumiya�s head and knocked him over.� What in the hell?� Is she trying to knock him out?� Iname was struck speechless as he watched
Cassandra prod Urumiya with the butt of the glaive.� A lump was rising on his head, but he didn�t
even twitch.

�That man�is
something else.� Anyone else would have
at least woken up from that�� he muttered as Urumiya snored on.

�Oh this is ridiculous!�

�What are you-?�

Before
he could finish, Cassandra had slammed the butt of the staff into Urumiya�s
crotch.� There was a pause where Iname
sweat-dropped and a long silence followed.�
Then�

�AAARRRRGGGHHH!!�

The
painful scream filled the air and shook the foundation of the inn.� Many people stopped what they were doing on
the street and glanced back at the building.�
The other people staying inside all inched away from the room, not
wanting to be near that little disaster.

�Good morning Urumiya!�
Cassandra�s voice was cheerful and she placed the
glaive into Iname�s hands.�
�I�m glad
you slept well, but it�s time to go!�

�Who�wants to�die?�
Urumiya growled and looked around.� �YOU!�

�Wait!�
Wait, Urumiya, I can explain!� Iname
pleaded, waving his hands in surrender, forgetting that he still clutched the
glaive.� �Really,
I swear I didn�t do it!�
It was all Cassandra�s idea!�

�Now you die!�

As the
two broke out into a scuffle in front of her, Cassandra just stared blankly at
them for a few moments.� Iname was
pleading for Urumiya to be merciful as the man tried to wring the younger boy�s
neck.� Well�at least he�s
awake�she began to giggle.� Her giggles then became peals of
laughter.� That made the men stop.� Urumiya had Iname in a headlock and Iname
was trying to tear Urumiya�s hair out.� For a while they just stared as Cassandra continued to
laugh.� Exchanging looks, the two men
slowly began to chuckle until Iname was also laughing loudly and collapsed onto
the floor as Urumiya released him.�
Urumiya was much more subdued, but it was obvious he was amused.� After a few moments, they all managed to
settle down.� Iname sat up, shaking his
head and rubbing his sides.

�And what, may I ask, is so funny Cassandra?�

�You two.�
You were fighting like you were brothers or something.�

Iname
merely rolled his as they collected themselves.� The trio rose and gathered up their things, getting ready to
leave the inn.� Urumiya was walking a
little slower than normal and Cassandra couldn�t help
but giggle every once in a while.� Once
their horses were saddled and their belongings loaded, Urumiya winced as he
pulled himself into the saddle.�
Cassandra clamored onto her horse and waited for Iname as he swung
himself up and settled.� Clicking her
tongue, Cassandra lead the way out of the city.� For another day the three of them rode onward, trying to pass the
time on the way the capital with talk and the occasional song from
Cassandra.� Her nerves were fried as
they approached the gates that led to the capital city.� Her throat closed and she reached out to
grab something and wound up with a fistful of Urumiya�s
shirt.� Glancing down, he met her eyes
and smiled slightly.

�Don�t worry,�
he reassured her as they rode through the snowy streets.� �You�re
going to be fine.�

�People are staring at me.�

�It�s
because of your hair.� That color isn�t
common around here.�

Cassandra
reached up and absently fingered the strands of hair that fell around her
face.� She�d always
been proud of her hair, but because of the looks she was getting, she pulled
the hood of her coat up and over her head.�
Just to be on the safe side.�
When they reached the palace gates, Cassandra was immediately struck by
how immense it was.� While she was
gawking at the graceful architecture and sloped buildings in shades of green
and black, Urumiya approached the guards.

�Let us pass, we have business with the
Emperor.�

�What sort of business?�

�We are members of the Genbu Shichi
Seishi,� Urumiya lowered the side of his pants to
reveal the glowing symbol on his hip.� �Our
new miko has finally arrived and we are escorting her to the palace.�

�Oh!�
Yes, at once sir!� Open the
gates, let them pass!� the guard bowed deeply to the trio.� �Please,
this way.�

The
guards showed the three of them inside immediately.� As their mounts and belongings were seen to, they were given
rooms to stay in to rest and refresh themselves until they could meet with the
Emperor.� Iname stretched as he headed
for his room, saying he was going to take a nap.� Rolling his eyes, Urumiya turned and asked Cassandra if she
needed anything.� She said no and urged
him to go rest.� Nodding, he turned and
headed down the hall, saying that she should go to him if she needed
anything.� Left on her own for a while,
Cassandra began to wander through the corridors of the palace.� It certainly is lovely.� Her eyes were drawn to the various works
of art that lined the walls as well as the beautiful carvings in the
pillars.� Everything was in shades of
black and green, but there were other colors such as blue, gold, and grey mixed
in as well.� The craftsmanship of
everything from the tiles to the roof accents was exquisite and Cassandra
marveled at all of it.� This is all
so breath taking.� I can�t imagine the time it must have taken to build this
palace.� Glancing to her right, she paused.

�What�s this?�

The
mural painting that caught her attention was the most beautiful work of art she�d
ever seen.� Stretched across the wall,
it seemed to be made up of two separate pictures, and yet they bled into
one.� On one side was the legend of the
first Genbu no Miko and her Seishi.� Her
form was painted in a black silhouette and surrounded by the silhouettes of her
guardian warriors.� On the other side
was an image of the god Genbu spread across the kingdom of Hokkan.� It�s
as if he�s watching over and guiding them.� What
impressed Cassandra the most was how well the two pictures seemed to blend
together to tell one story.

�Do you like it?�

The
sudden question made Cassandra jump and she backed away from the painting,
looking for the speaker.� Standing in
the hallway was an elegant-looking man bedecked in black and green robes.� Touches of gold along the sleeves and sash
around his waist made his pale skin appear to be even paler.� He looked young, around his mid 20�s
or so, with a narrow nose and thin lips.�
He won�t win any beauty contests, Cassandra thought as she studied
him.� Still, his brown eyes are so
warm and his hair is the color of a raven�s
wing.� The impish smile that curved on his lips
made him appear younger and made Cassandra smile.� Moving with quiet grace, his slippers making no sound on the
floor, he stood beside her.

�Do you like the painting?�

�Huh?�
Oh�yes!�
Yes, I like it very much.� Even
if it seems to be two different pictures, it�s the
same story.�

�Really?� he
seemed interested.� �What
makes you say that?�

�Well, if you look at it, those are the
seven stars of Genbu and that�s the Genbu no Miko,�
she pointed out the images as she spoke.�
�While over there you have Hokkan with its
guardian god, Genbu.� So, it�s
really the same story.� It tells the
tale of the beast god and his miko 200 years ago.�

�That�s very
good.� Most people look at it and see
two different pictures.�

�Well, then they�re
obviously missing something.� These
pictures are connected.� They�re
like two sides of the same coin.� Both
sides tell a tale that�s part of the whole of Hokkan.� Don�t you
agree?�

The man
smiled and his eyes shone with appreciation and joy.� �Thank you.� You�re the first person who has seen what I
meant to express in my painting.�

�You�painted
this?�

�Indeed I did.� May I ask how you managed to figure out the message?�

�Well�my
brother likes to paint.� It�s
what he went away to school for.� He
taught me how to look beneath the paint and see the message.� I was never any good at drawing, so he
taught me other things.�

�Really?�
If you are not good at drawing�then
what are your talents, my dear?�

She
brightened.� �I
sing.� I like to bring comfort,
happiness, and laughter, anything through my music.� Still, my father never approved.�
He stopped my singing lessons a few years ago.� I haven�t had much inspiration��
she trailed off.� �My
singing helped me to forget��

�Forget what, my dear?�

She
shook her head.� �No,
it�s�it�s
all right.� Just family troubles is
all.� I have to move on if I�m
going to become the Genbu no Miko and save Hokkan.� I have to focus on the here and the now.� I�ll be
strong for myself and for those that need me.�
I may cry a lot and I�ll admit I�m not
the bravest person in the world, but I�m going
to do my best no matter what.�

The man
paused for a moment, then turned.� �Come
with me, my dear, there�s something I want to show you.�

�What-?�

The man
took her hand and guided her through the halls.� Cassandra was barely able to keep up and was out of breath when
they reached their destination.� Damn
this guy moves fast.� Must be because he�s wearing a dress,
she chuckled at the thought and bent over to ease the stitch in her side.� The door before them was simple and plain,
except it had a rather complicated locking system that Tokoyami carefully undid
before opening the door.

�Please go inside.� I will join you momentarily.�

�Oh.�
All right.�

Cassandra
straightened and headed inside.� Lamps
flickered to life around the room and illuminated the wide, airy room.� Her eyes widened and she gasped at the
beautiful studio.� The walls had been
white, but they were now splashed with colors and different Chinese characters
that blessed the room and were said to encourage creative energy.� Some of the paint had even reached the
ceiling, as though it had splattered there from what had been thrown at the
wall.� Canvases littered the area, some
on easels, and others with outlines, and there was one large, half-finished painting
that Cassandra wanted to take a look at in a moment.� She wandered over to the shelves against the wall and
smiled.� Paints, charcoal, brushes,
water, paper, and other supplies were stacked high in the shelves and on
numerous surfaces over the room.� As she
was drinking in the beautiful room, the man she met before came walking in.

�Oh!�
You�re back!�
Cassandra smiled warmly.

�Indeed.�

He was
smiling gently as he approached her.�
The clothes he wore now were old and simple, all splattered with paint.� Just pants, boots, and a loose shirt.� His hair was pulled back in a low ponytail
and he went and opened the windows, which looked out over the gardens.

�What do you think of my studio, my dear?�

�This is yours?�
her tone was surprised and pleased as she spun in place, looking around.� �It�s
beautiful!� Too beautiful for words,
sir.�

�Thank you, but please don�t
call me that.� My name is Toko.�

�It�s nice
to meet you Toko.� I�m
Cassandra,� and she offered him a bow.

Toko
smiled and took her hand, brushing a kiss to the backs of her knuckles, making
Cassandra blush.� �It�s
a pleasure to meet you as well, Lady Cassandra.� Would you do me the honor of sitting with me?� I would enjoy company while I was
painting.� And perhaps I could hear you
sing.� It�s rare
that I have the chance to share my art with someone.� Even my wife, who is my dearest friend, doesn�t
appreciate my love of painting.�

�You have a wife, Toko?�
she took her hand back and settled on a stool nearby the half-finished
painting.

�Yes I do.� Her name is Meilaka and I have known her since we were children,�
he settled down in front of the painting and replaced it with a fresh
canvas.� �Would
you sing for me, Cassandra?�

She
beamed brightly.� �Of
course I would.�

Turning
so she was facing the gardens, she breathed in the fresh, clean scent of the
snow and began to sing.� Her voice was
soft and sweet, but grew with confidence and passion when she sang of love lost
and love found again.� Cassandra sang of
betrayals and hope, of the distant seas and the furthest stars.� She sang in English, Japanese, and even a
little Italian.� For the first few
moments, Toko simply watched her, a warm look in his eyes.� Even though some of the languages she spoke
were unfamiliar to him, the beauty and the love was evident in every clear
note.� His charcoal brush began to glide
over the blank canvas as he encouraged her to keep singing.� Toko�s eyes
darted back and forth between Cassandra and the painting he was working on and
he basked in the sound of her voice.� It�s so strange.� For
some reason, I feel filled with contentment and peace�as if my soul was healed�he was drawn out of his reverie by the sound of footsteps in
the corridor.� Frowning, he quickly
covered the painting.

�What is it?�
Cassandra had been jolted out of her song by the heavy thudding of boots.� �Are we
in trouble?�

�No, don�t worry,�
he said just as a group of men burst into the room.

�Sire!�
Forgive us, but the men that arrived with the Genbu no Miko are
demanding to see her and make certain she is unharmed.� We tried to assure them that she was with
you, but they wouldn�t listen!� the
captain saluted Toko as he spoke, the rest of his men following suit.

�Sire?�
Then that means��

�Ah, and here I was hoping I�d
stay a secret a while longer,� Toko sighed and shook his head.� �Very
well, inform Iname and Urumiya that Lady Cassandra is changing for dinner and
will arrive when we are served tonight.�

�Of course, Your Majesty.�

The
guards saluted and departed from the studio.�
Toko sighed and glanced over at Cassandra, who wouldn�t
look at him.� Reaching out, he touched
her head gently and began to stroke her hair between his fingers.� I am deeply sorry, Cassandra.� But this was for your own good.� She still refused to look at him, even
as he sat down beside her and tried to call to her.

�Lady Cassandra?�

��Why?�
Why didn�t you tell me?� You made me look like a fool.�
Isn�t that right, Emperor Tokoyami?�

�Cassandra,� he ran
his fingers through his hair and at least had the grace to look ashamed.� �Cassandra,
I didn�t tell you because I wanted to get to
know you.� As a man, not as the
Emperor.� Besides, if you had known it
was me, you wouldn�t have been nearly as open with me, would
you?�

�Well, I guess�I
mean�okay, you�re
right.� I wouldn�t
have told you so much about myself.� I
probably wouldn�t have sung for you either.� I still don�t like
that you lied to me though.�

Toko
chuckled and knelt before her, placing his hands over hers, resting them in her
lap.� �I am
glad that I got to know you as a man though, Lady Cassandra.� The young woman I saw before me spoke of her
hopes for the future, of her love of music, and in your beautiful voice I felt
as though my soul had found peace.� You
hold such faith and trust in your two Genbu Shichi Seishi and you have taken on
a mantle which most would never attempt.�
That�s how I knew��

�Knew what Toko?�

Chuckling
at the use of his nickname, he brushed his fingers over her cheek.� �That you
were the Genbu no Miko.� You will be the
one to save Hokkan, when the time is right.�
For now, you are a young girl who is trying to find her footing in a
strange new world.� Just know that you
won�t have to do that alone, Lady
Cassandra.� We will be by your side to
help and protect you.� In return, we ask
nothing of you�except that you believe in us.� Now come, my Lady.� I would like for you to meet my wife and you must be dressed for
dinner.� I think you will like Meilaka
and I know she will be charmed by your beautiful voice and good heart.�

�All right,� she got
to her feet and headed for the door.� As
she reached for the door, she paused.� �Toko?�

He
paused behind her.� �Yes,
my lady?�

�You can just call me Cassandra if you
like.� I don�t
want you to be so formal.� After all, we�re
friends now aren�t we?�

Toko
looked startled for a moment and then he smiled.� �Yes.�
Yes, of course.�

The two
of them left the studio and headed towards their respective rooms.� Tokoyami introduced Cassandra to his wife,
Meilaka, who bowed to the priestess and immediately took her aside to dress her
for dinner.� After all, the young woman
was going to be presented to the heads of the nation and she had to look her
best.� As Cassandra soaked in the bath
that had been prepared for her, she thought back to the time she�d
spent with Toko and smiled.� He�s not what I expected of the Emperor.� I think I could grow to like him.�
She hoped they would be able to spend time together again soon.� A maid called to her to inform her that it
was time for her to dress and she rose from the bath and went to prepare
herself.� While Cassandra was getting
ready, Tokoyami was in conference with Iname and Urumiya.

�I apologize for hiding Cassandra from
you.� However, please understand that I
only wished to get to know her, to see if she was truly the one.� As the Emperor, it is my duty to ensure the
safety of my people.� Also��
he glared at the two.� �I�m
very disappointed in you both.� You�ve
alerted Kutou to our priestess being here and you�ve
placed Cassandra in unnecessary danger.�

�Emperor, it wasn�t
our fault.� Nakago was trying to kill
her.� We had to protect her,�
Iname was insistent as he leaned over, bracing his hands on the desk.� �It was
our duty as the Genbu Shichi Seishi.�

�Nakago is just a punk with a lot of
power,� Urumiya cut in.� �However,
he doesn�t have his priestess.� Nor do any of the other nations.�

�Yes and that allows us an advantage over
them.� However, there�s
still the history behind the Genbu no Miko and Cassandra remains ignorant to
the truth.� If Cassandra isn�t
stronger than Takiko-sama was, then she will be killed and devoured by the
beast god,� Tokoyami�s voice
was flat and his eyes narrowed.� �Hokkan
cannot afford to go through that again.�

�I agree,� Urumiya
said as he stood to Tokoyami�s other side.� �Cassandra must not know about the
dangers, otherwise she will certainly try to run away in fear.� The girl is somewhat of a coward and I�m
hopeful that with a bit of training she will be cured of that.�

As the
men talked, outside the door Cassandra stood frozen.� She�d heard everything and her hand clenched
in a fist.� They�re lying to me.� They�re all lying to me.�
And Urumiya�he thinks I�m a coward?� They don�t care about me at all, they just care that I�m going to save their country!� Furious
and hurt beyond means, she spun on her heel and dashed towards her room.� Ripping off the elegant clothing she�d
been given for that evening�s meal, she threw on simpler traveling
clothes and packed a bag full of supplies before heading for the stables.

�I guess if they can�t
trust me to know the truth, then they just don�t need
me,� she had a stable hand saddle her horse
and she swung herself up.

Although
she wasn�t used to riding, Cassandra vowed that
she would endure it.� Clicking her
tongue, the Genbu no Miko rode from the stables and headed away from the palace.� She left the capital city�and
her warriors behind.

*�� *�� *�� *�� *

Well, here�s another chapter
:D� I�ll try to keep updating as often
as possible, but I hand write all of the chapters first before I transfer them
and that takes a while.� Hope you
enjoy!� Read and review!
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The Prophecy of Genbu