CHAPTER 3: Chasing Shadows

Kishuku skipped home, whistling a cheerful tune. He wasn't a freak. The symbol that had caused him so much pain had a purpose; and not just any purpose, possibly one of the noblest and most honorable in the entire country. He was a Suzaku shichiseishi- a legendary warrior. Sighing dreamily, Kishuku stopped a moment and closed his eyes. It felt good to be part of something.

"My, you seem happy evening," his mother remarked as he entered the hut. Smiling at her son, she bustled about preparing their food. "You should wash up for supper. Did you remember to bring the water in?"

Kishuku smacked his forehead and looked up at her sheepishly. "Aiee, I forgot. I left the buckets by the well when those boys started chasing me earlier." At her questioning look, he forced a smile. "Ne, I'll go get it."

"Iie," a gruff voice sounded from the doorway. "I already got them."

Kishuku's face flamed. As soon as he had been old enough, he had begged his parents to let him help around the house. His mother had originally thought him too young but he had surprised them by taking two of the water buckets out one day and fetching water for the night. The well was not far but he had been proud of his accomplishment. Ever since then, the job had been his.

The expression on his father's shuttered face made it clear that whatever trust he had placed in his young son had been diminished somewhat and Kishuku flushed in embarrassment and shame. "Ah, gomen, tousan... I-"

His father's next words chipped the little boy's heart.

"I hope, that when you become a Suzaku seishi, you are not as careless as you are around here."

With that, he disappeared into the parental bedroom, leaving an open-mouthed Kishuku shocked at the table. His eyes felt hot and he blinked quickly, his eyes still glued to the now shut door.

"Kishuku,"

His mother's gentle voice nudged those hot tears until they leaked from his eyes unwillingly. Embarrassed, he brushed his face with one sleeve, as much to dry it as to hide it from view.

A swish of cloth, and she was kneeling before him, cuddling him against her shoulder. "Kishuku," she repeated as he shivered in her arms, "your father is just worried about you. He doesn't want you to get hurt."

Another half-choked sob. "I know." He looked up at her pleadingly, dark bangs flopping over his young face. With those saddened eyes and lost expression, she was almost reduced to tears at the sight of her little baby hurting this way. It was worse than when he had returned from the store a few weeks ago muddied and bruised. After she had tended his hurts, all that had been wounded was his pride. This, she could tell, was going to take much longer to heal.

His tiny arms tightened around her neck and he tucked his head under her chin. "Are you mad at me too, okaasan?"

The answer was immediate. "Iie!" Frowning, she pulled away and held him at arms' length, her eyes boring into his. "Kishuku, no matter where life leads you, or whatever happens to you, we will always be right beside you. Don't ever forget that."

"Even tousan?"

She pulled him back into her embrace, cradling him like the baby he still was, no matter how much he'd grown. "Hai," she whispered, "even tousan."

The little boy nodded and, after a moment, climbed off her lap. "Ne, I'm a little tired now. Can I go to sleep?"

She nodded and watched as he flashed her a sad little smile before padding softly to his room. With a sigh, she stood and started putting the food away so they could save it for tomorrow. She had lost her appetite anyway, a condition everyone in the house seemed to be suffering from except for the youngest, Chuuei. Even now, she could hear the baby cry as his dinner was delayed a few moments.

Frowning, she headed for the baby's room, mentally rehearsing the thrashing she was going to give her husband as soon as she had fed her other son. The night promised to be a long one.

~*~*~*~*~
Breakfast the next morning was a sordid affair. His father ate slowly, refusing to meet Kishuku's pleading gaze from across the table. The boy's food stayed, for the most part, untouched, not that the fare was terribly exciting; it was the leftovers from last night. Chuuei was squealing up a storm in the next room, adding to the tension.

"Kishuku."

He all but jumped out of his seat. "H-hai, otousan?"

"You are not to go anywhere near that stranger, today, or until I say so. Do you understand?"

The boy's face fell. "Hai."

"Look at me when I'm talking to you! Do you understand?"

Something in the boy cracked and his body tensed in response. Slowly, his eyes raised but the expression in them was anything but compliant.

"Hai, tousan," he managed through gritted teeth. "Wakarimasu."

His father flared. "Don't take that voice with me, young man. I am still the head of this family. I have raised you, I have provided for you. The least you can do is show me a little respect."

Kishuku's eyes strayed to the floor and stayed there. After a few tense moments, the chair across the table toppled. He looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of the older man disappearing out the door. Immediately, his shoulders sagged, the pent-up frustration dissipating with his father's departure.

His options were few. He could either run mope around the house, waiting for his mother to send him out on some errand, thus inviting another encounter with his four "friends," or he could find Hahm-sensei and start getting on with his life.

The choice wasn't difficult.

With a jaunty step and a heart lighter than it had been the last few weeks, he grabbed one last piece of bread and skipped out of the house, taking care to hug his mother on the way out. She didn't question it. She understood.

With one last wave, she watched her son stroll down the street to meet a stranger who would presumably make a warrior out of him. Against his father's wishes, without him knowing, but with her approval. She sighed heavily and hoped she knew what she was doing.

~*~*~*~*~
Kishuku stood in front of the well-kept house, puzzled. No one was home. He'd tried the door, the backyard, even a little of the forest beyond without results. A bit dejected, he plopped down on the front steps to wait. Maybe they had stepped out for a bit...

Fifteen minutes passed and Kishuku was starting to think he had made a big mistake. Maybe Hahm-sensei had realized he was unfit to be a seishi and left. Or maybe he had gotten hurt and was lying in the road somewhere! No, the older man could take care of himself. Couldn't he? He was working himself into a little ball of worry when he finally heard footsteps on the front walk.

"Kishuku!" called an unfamiliar female voice. "What are you doing here?"

He jumped up, startled. The woman looked at him kindly and motioned towards the door. "My name is Dourim, Lan's wife. Why don't you come on in?"

Kishuku nodded and scrambled up hastily. After a moment of hesitation, he plucked at the lady's sleeve.

"Do you need help with those?" he asked shyly.

She smiled warmly. "Thank you." Shifting slightly, she handed him one of the lighter bags and disappeared inside.

"What were you doing out there anyway?" she asked as they put away the food.

"I was waiting for Hahm-sensei. He said yesterday he would teach me..."

To his surprise, she laughed. "Didn't you see him outside?"

Kishuku shook his head, puzzled. "Iie, I looked around the house, behind it, and even in the forest!" he exclaimed, rather proud at being so thorough.

Dourim regarded him, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Did you ever think to look... up?"

The boy blinked. "Up?" he repeated.

With a light chuckle, Dourim took his hand and led him back outside. At the entrance of the yard was a large tree, a rather magnificent speciman Kishuku had used to landmark the house. Stopping at the base of the trunk, she craned her neck upwards, aiming her voice at the thick branches.

"Lan! You get your worthless, no-good, hentai behind down here this instant!"

Kishuku jumped. That was the second time she had startled him out of his wits today. She smiled reassuringly at him then frowned as a movement from above made both of them look up.

A lithe figure swung down from the branches, to land next to them as silently as a cat. Smirking, he flashed Kishuku an impish smile, simultaneously ducking the blow his wife aimed at his head.

"Ohayo, little seishi."

The little boy's jaw dropped. He'd been sitting out here Suzaku knows how long, worrying and fretting, and all the while, the man he had been searching for had been sitting up there in that tree? No doubt watching him as well. The thought brought fire in his veins.

"You've been sitting there the whole time and didn't SAY anything?" he blurted before thinking.

Lan's eyes narrowed, his gaze hard. "First lesson. Never assume someone's not there just because you can't see them."

Dourim chose that moment to make a quiet exit and retreat into the house. Kishuku didn't even notice her departure, his full concentration on his teacher and the stern rebuke in his eyes.

Lan held his stare. "Let's begin."

Author's Notes: So I'm dragging this out. *evil grin* Want more? Let me know!

Credits for this go to Felicia, aka Tomo no Miko, whose site I used to get the info regarding Tokaki, such as his real name, etc. *bows* Visit her site at: http://www.sempai.org/~felicia/fushigi.html

Again, many hugs and plushies go to Quicksilver for the thorough (and speedy) beta and to Laurelgand for putting up with my incessant questioning. Also to Lyra, Gerald, Night~Mare, and everyone in CL for the encouragement. Thanks minna!!

Disclaimer: All original materials belong to their respective owners. Fushigi Yuugi belongs to Watase Yuu and a bunch of big companies. No copyright infringement is intended. The story is mine and I would appreciate an email asking me for permission before posting it anywhere else.

"The Calling" Chapter 3- Copyright © August 13, 2000 by Moonsong. All Rights Reserved.