Title: Disrememberance (formerly Trading Places) [9/?]

Disclaimer: I don't own them and the idea for the role reversal came from the debate on the fyfanfictionML. Idea for Miboshi was stolen in part from WingSong2003, who graciously betaed this for me. Fuuka and Yuuma are from the Tamahome Novel.

Rating: PG-13

Notes: AU; role reversal of the Suzaku and Seiryuu no Seishi. The title of the story was changed as 'Trading Places' didn't seem to fit with the more serious tone the story has taken on.

Warnings: Language; bastard Hotohori; Yaoi hints

/ ... / = thoughts
~~~~~~~~~~ = scene change
//...// = flashback
*...* = emphasis
'...' = disembodied voices

~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

Ougi waved the advisors away as a young man in black uniform came running into the throne room. "Heika! Lord Rokou's men have returned and have brought the Shogun's party with them!"

"Send them in immediately! Prepare rooms for the priestess and her Seishi. I want them to feel welcome here." He straightened his posture unconsciously and glanced to the young woman at his side. His marriage had not been his idea originally, but he was quite pleased with the woman his brothers had chosen. Not only was Fuuka a respected member of his brother's harem, but she had also quickly earned the respect of the court. It was because of this that he had been able to leave the everyday running of his court to her, even though she was pregnant, while he concentrated on Sairou. He sent her a small smile then turned back to the door as another man in black walked in leading a group of travelers. "Saihitei! What happened? You look like ... "

Ryuuen opened his mouth slightly to say something but closed it quickly when Rokou smiled, shaking his head ever so slightly. Hotohori sighed and waved off his brother's concern. "We had a run in with some bandits that got too far from their mountain. Thanks to your goon squad here, they went down rather easy." He moved closer to the throne and smirked at Ougi. "Although, I am curious as to how you knew we were coming?"

"All in good time, brother, all in good time. First, allow me to welcome the rest of your companions." Ougi stood from his throne and walked over to Miaka. He took the young woman's hand and brought it to his lips. "Priestess. It is an honor that you have come to my home. I hope that you and your Seishi will enjoy your stay here."

Miaka smiled, bowing slightly. "Thank you for welcoming us, heika. I just hope that you can help us in our quest. We still have three more Seishi to find. Do you know where any of them are?"

Ougi smiled. "All of that can wait for another time, my lady. It is much more important that you and the others rest first." He moved away from the brunette before she could protest. "Rokou, Yuuma, show our guests to their quarters, if you please. I have business to discuss with my brother."

Rokou nodded, taking his brother and Miaka by the arm. The two seemed rather surprised at the sudden dismissal they received and turn questioning glances to him. The younger Chow brother merely shook his head and sent Ryuuen a glance that meant he would explain later. Ryuuen sighed, leveling a slight glare at his sibling. "It would seem that this isn't unusual behavior for our host. Perhaps it is simply better if we go along with it for now, Priestess."

Frowning, Miaka turned back to see Yuuma, whom they had learned was actually the Empress' brother, leading the others. Chichiri and Mitsukake seemed rather put off by the rude treatment while Tamahome seemed to just be glad to be out of the room. /He still seems to be acting rather strange. Especially around Hotohori. I'll have to talk to him later. I still haven't had a chance to say more than a few words to him since we left the inn. But at least he doesn't seem so angry now./ She turned back to the two brothers and sighed when they seemed to be having another of their silent conversations. /I shall also have to ask Ryuuen about his brother. He hasn't said word one since he rescued us from the bandits./

Tamahome sighed, trudging along after Yuuma. His mind was still on everything that had happened at the inn and how his father had insisted that he go with the Shogun. When the boy had promised to return once it was over, his father had merely turned and walked away. He could see his mother in the background crying, though over what he wasn't entirely sure. Whatever the Shogun had said to them, they obviously expected him not to return for a long time, if ever. /I wonder ... what did Hotohori-sama say to them? And why did my mother look as if she had just lost another child?/

~~~~~~~~~~

Hotohori glared slightly at his brother as the others were escorted out of the throne room. "What are you up to, Ougi? Why bring her here?" He motioned toward Fuuka, frowning at the slight sad smile on her face.

Ougi sighed, dropping the smile he had forced for the others. "I didn't want to worry the Priestess, but ... I'm afraid there is a problem. Sairou has been pushing hard. They've invaded several of the outlying villages. Some of the reports I've gotten are bad. I was on my way to Eiyou to ask for Tendoh's help, when I learned of your presence here. I have to see to this, Saihitei. I have waited long enough for you to arrive here to see what you thought of the situation. My armies haven't had much luck of late and I fear that it may be because of my absence." He then turned to Fuuka. "She is here because I will be leaving my kingdom in her hands. I want her to know what is happening. She knows everything that happens in my kingdom."


When Hotohori looked doubtful that his brother had waited simply because he wanted his advice on a battle plan, Fuuka stood, absently placing a hand on her abdomen. It was rather obvious that she was pregnant, but she still seemed to command the presence of an Empress. "Saihitei-sama, I am the one that wanted him to wait for you to arrive. I would be most thankful if you would escort my lord husband into battle."

Hotohori nodded slightly in the direction of the Empress before turning to his brother. "Of course I shall go with you, if you want. I have grown rather tired of babysitting the Priestess this last month. A good fight with the Sairou army will be just the thing I need to lift my spirits." A small smile crossed his face, thinking of how long it had been since he had had a proper fight. "But what of the others? Kutou has already started gathering their Seishi, we don't have much time to find the rest of the Suzaku."

Ougi smiled slightly. "Rokou and the others will watch over them. And once we return, I will tell you all I know of the Seishi." He walked over to his throne, turning back to face his brother. "Or are you so confident in your spy that you think she has already succeeded in killing the Seiryuu no Miko?"

Hotohori glared at his brother. He ordered the guards out of the room and faced Ougi. "I would appreciate if you did not mention that little fact to anyone. It is, or rather was, a secret. How did *you* find out?"

"You and Tendoh are not the only ones that have secrets, brother. If you would be willing to help me show Sairou that Konan isn't the weak little dog they think we are, I will tell you what you want to know." Ougi resumed his place next to his wife and motioned for her to sit. "The Priestess and the others will be safe here. Rokou and Yuuma would never allow them to come to any harm."

/Ougi isn't smart enough to find that out by himself. What is he trying to pull?/ Hotohori dismissed the speculation, concentrating on practical matters. /But unless I find out who's been spying for him, he may just screw things up enough to make Tendoh nervous. I can't have that./ He nodded stiffly. "Very well, brother. I will help you. But once we return, you have to tell me how you knew we were coming. And why you seem to know everything that is happening on the other side of the country."

~~~~~~~~~~

"HE'S going where!?"

Chichiri winced and motioned for the Priestess to lower her voice. "Miaka-san, please lower your voice. Ryuuen said he would go with him and take care of him. You can't expect him to wait around here all day. He IS just a child."

Miaka glared at the blue haired man and tried to storm past him. "I know he's a child! That's why Tamahome shouldn't be going into the city on his own!"

Yuuma rolled his eyes. "But Priestess--"

Rokou placed a hand on his arm, shaking his head. He watched as the brunette stormed out of the room, intent on finding the youngest member of their group. Ever since Hotohori and Ougi had left to stop Sairou, the Priestess had taken on the role of big sister to the youngest Seishi, though it seemed clear to him that there was something deeply troubling the young girl. As soon as his brother returned, he intended to make sure he got to the bottom of it.

Chichiri sighed. "Mits ..." He smiled when the tall shapeshifter turned into a young maid and followed after the Priestess. Chichiri then turned to the others. "I hope Lord Hotohori and Lord Ougi return soon. I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I think Miaka is going to drive us crazy if they don't."

Yuuma smirked as Rokou started chuckling beside him. "Miaka, huh? Not 'the Priestess'? Or 'Miaka-sama'? Careful, Chichiri-san, someone might think that there was more to your relationship with the Priestess than is appropriate."

"Stop tormenting the poor boy, Yuuma." Fuuka stepped into the room, her best glare on her face. The effect seemed lost on the three, however when she sneezed.

The three men turned to the Empress and bowed. Yuuma grinned at the younger woman before grabbing Chichiri by the neck. "But Onee-san, I was just ..."

Fuuka hid her smile behind the sleeve of her robe. "Enough brother. I do not want to hear that you have been mercilessly teasing the Seishi again. Or I'll let Rokou and his partner take care of redesigning your bedroom."

As Yuuma paled and backed away from Chichiri, the young man turned a curious gaze to Rokou. "Partner?"

Fuuka nodded. "Yes, you haven't met him yet. He's off taking care of something for my lord husband and should be back in a few days." She paused for a moment, one hand clutching her stomach. "Lord Chichiri ... please go find Lord Mitsukake. I think ... the baby ..."

Chichiri nodded, chanting a quick incantation before seeming to vanish into the floor.

"Fuuka? Are you ..." Yuuma rushed to her side as she collapsed, sending a helpless glance to Rokou. The purple haired man quickly moved to his side, easily lifting the smaller woman and carrying her to her chambers. "Rokou, I ... it isn't time. She still has another month before ... what is going on, Rokou?"

Shaking his head, the purple haired man placed the young woman onto the bed. /You don't want to know, old friend. You *really* don't want to know./

~~~~~~~~~~

Yui listened silently as Nakago explained everything that had happened. Apparently, it was shortly after she had vanished that the guards were able to stop the attack on Suboshi. And although most of his physical wounds had already healed, there was one wound that the healers said would never heal. Suboshi was now blind, his attackers knowing that if he could not see them, he could not identify them. Amiboshi had recovered completely and was caring for his younger twin like a worried mother hen.

"Almost as if he feels guilty," Tomo replied quietly.

Nakago glared at him. "Not this again, Tomo. How many times have I told you that I will not call his loyalty into question? It lies the same as your own: to Seiryuu and Kutou."

Tomo stood from his place beside the blond and started toward the door. "To Seiryuu I have no doubt that he is loyal. But it is his loyalty to Kutou that I question."

"Why?" Yui looked to the illusionist, suddenly very curious as to why the book had not told her friends that the young flutist had even been attacked. "Why do you doubt his loyalty?"

Tomo paused by the doorway, one hand unconsciously going to the dagger in his belt. "Just too many unanswered questions, my lady. It is a matter for me to be concerned with, not you."

Yui walked over to him and took the dagger. "No. I am the one who was supposed to die that day and yet he nearly died protecting me. He is my Seishi, Tomo, just as you are. I will talk to him." She glanced at the others. Miboshi seemed preoccupied with something outside of the room while Nakago and Soi both looked rather tired. Yui had learned that they had been by the Prince's side most of the time since he had fallen ill, while Tomo had been tending to the twins. Their search for the last Seishi had been practically halted with the attack on Suboshi. It was only by luck that they managed to find Miboshi in the harem.

"I am sorry that I have not been here for you. But I promise you that I will not leave again until Seiryuu is called."

/And if Amiboshi is a traitor, I will kill him myself. Suboshi or no./ As Yui walked out of the room, fingering the cold metal weapon in her hands, she missed the tiny smile buried beneath the folds of a robe.

~~~~~~~~~~
"As the Seiryuu no Miko approached the twin warriors' bedroom, she heard the brothers speaking of her return. Suboshi, younger of the two and once her biggest supporter, now seemed angry that she had returned. The Lady Yui knew from Tomo that the young boy thought she had left him on purpose and that his faith in Seiryuu had been so shaken by the attack, that as she listened to his next words, she made up her mind to never tell him that it was the Beast God himself that had sent her away. She listened as he begged his brother to kill him, because Seishi or no, without his sight, he was useless to the Priestess ..."

Tetsuya sighed as he placed the book onto the coffee table and looked up at the others. It had already been nearly two days since Yui had left the last time and so far, they had managed to cover for both girls with their mothers. Miaka and Keisuke's father had yet to call any of them to even check on her. The three boys however, had each had to take time away from reading the book to worry about their own lives. And since they had promised that they would wait until they were all together before continuing, even though they knew that it didn't help matters much, they had left the book sitting quietly in Tetsuya's apartment for nearly an entire day.

"Guys, I really think we should tell them what's going on."

"What do you mean, tell them? Tell who?" Keisuke looked at his long time friend curiously. "You can't mean mom and Mrs. H. They'll kill us. They'll kill them when they get back. I just wish ... I wish we had a way to talk to them."

Kyoshi raised an eyebrow as he glanced over his term paper for the nth time looking for any mistakes he might have made while typing. He'd already found at least four references to the Book world and wondered how many of his other homework assignments had mentions of the Seishi or of the fights with the bandits. "What do you mean, a way to talk to them?" Sighing, he turned away from the computer, giving up on finishing his work in light of a new way to possibly help the girls.

"Well, when Miaka went back last time, a strand of her hair somehow got stuck between the pages of the book. I was able to talk to her, though only for a brief time, as she had Tasuki burn the hair. Although ... I don't know if it will work this time. Miaka and Yui were bound by their school uniforms, but this time, neither is wearing one. And I can't think of anything that they are wearing that has an identical--"

Tetsuya jumped from his seat on the sofa and ran into the bedroom. He returned a few moments later and dropped something into Keisuke's hand. The elder Yuuki looked at the small blue stone for several moments. "This is ..."

"Yui's earring. The one she got from ... Nakago."

"But it's just one earring, Tetsuya. It can't help us. Nakago only ever gave her one."

"But Soi gave her another." Kyoshi glanced at Tetsuya to make sure he was getting the story right. "When she came home, she had two. She said that Soi had helped her find one to go with the one she had."

Tetsuya nodded. "That's right. You were trying to convince your mother not to send out a search party for Miaka. Yui said that shortly after they had gone to the palace, Soi had seen the earring and asked where she had got it. She had said at the time that she wasn't sure. Soi took it to a jeweler and had one made exactly like it. So Yui ..."

'Tetsuya?'


All three men froze as the blue stone began to glow slightly and the blonde's voice echoed through the room. 'Tetsuya? I guess I really am losing it, I thought I ...'

"Yui!?"

~~~~~~~~~~

The blonde Priestess froze in her tracks as the unmistakable sound of her fiance's voice sounded in the empty hallway. She immediately looked for signs of Tomo in the hallway, thinking it was one of his illusions. After the attack by the harem girl, she had had trouble sleeping and had asked him for help. He had created for her the illusion of Tetsuya's apartment. An almost perfect replica. Almost, but not quite. As Tomo had relied more on his physical strength than that of his Seishi ability, he had never quite perfected creating other people. "Tetsuya?"

/Yui, don't be silly. Tetsuya's in another world./ "I guess I really am losing it, I thought I ..."

'Yui!?'

"Keisuke!?"

'Yui, it really is you!'

"Tetsuya, how ...? How can you be talking to me?"

'Remember that earring that you could never remember getting? Well, you're not going to believe this, but ... you got it from Nakago.'

Yui gasped, her hand immediately going to her ear. "Nakago?" A flash of the kind man she had come to know crossed her mind before fading into the cold man she remembered from her dreams. "Tetsuya, what do you know about my life that I don't?"

There was a long pause and Yui feared for a moment that it had all been a dream. 'You'd better go back to your room. This is going to take a while.'




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