YnM Fanfiction
"Gates"

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Disclaimer: YnM belongs to Youko Matsushita-sensei.

"Here we are."

Tsuzuki glanced at Tenkou with a dubious expression. She smiled at him.

"... This is your house?" He asked Tenkou who nodded. They were at the rear of an extremely large and opulent palace. Tsuzuki fidgeted, worried. This residence was even bigger than Byakko's. Who is Tenkou...?

"Come on, Tsuzuki. It's getting light." Tsuzuki flushed, clutching at his makeshift blanket while Tenkou giggled.

"... I'll wait outside, Tenkou."
"Are you sure? Someone might come along and see you."
"Someone might see me inside."
"You don't have to worry. This is my home."
"That's what worries me." Considering how young Tenkou was, the last thing Tsuzuki wanted to happen was for her family to spot him with her in the state he was in.

Tenkou tilted her head, looking up at him with a curious light in her eyes. "... You don't want to be seen with me?"

Tsuzuki jumped. She had read his thoughts. He glanced at her, startled. "... It's not that I don't want to be seen with you," he finally managed to say after a nervous swallow. "I just don't want your family to get the wrong impression of me." He gestured at his blanket.

Tenkou gazed at him steadily. "... It's okay. Oniichan knows you."

Tsuzuki blinked. ... Her brother knows me...? Before he could ask who her brother was, Tenkou nodded briskly. "Very well, Tsuzuki-san, please wait here. I will return soon."

Tsuzuki could only nod silently as she entered the residence.

***

Something was tickling his nose. Asleep, Kijin grimaced and sneezed, rubbing at his nose.

Someone giggled, and he bolted up wide awake, startling Tenkou who was sitting cross-legged on his bed and by his side.

He almost yelled had Tenkou not greeted him cheerfully. "Ohayo, oniichan!" She smiled warmly, waving at him.

"... T- t- t," Kijin stuttered.
"Tenkou-chan," she stated clearly, giving him a mock frown.

Kijin shut his mouth, bit his lower lip and closed his eyes, concentrating hard to calm down his racing heart. Waking up to find his supposed to be baby sister in his bed was not a good way to start the day. Of all the ages, she had to choose her spectre form to be that of an adolescent.

"Do I look better this way, Kijin-chan?" Kijin frowned. She sounded younger now. Slowly, he opened his eyes. A cute little girl was grinning at him. Then, she stuck her tongue out and chanted, "Kijin-chan no baka. Kijin-chan no baka..."

Irritation flared. "Don't talk to me that way," He told her coldly. Suddenly, he frowned. "Where did you learn that from?"

Tenkou folded her arms and shook her head. "Will not tell."
Kijin folded his arms. "Yes, you will."
"Will not."
"Will do."
"Will not."

Kijin winced. He had not expected to go through this sort of exchange with Tenkou so soon.

Tenkou started chanting again. "Kijin-chan no baka..."

Kijin lunged forward and grabbed her.

*POOF*

Tenkou turned back to her teenage form at which point Kijin froze and let go hurriedly.

"... Don't do that!" His hands were shaking badly, and he backed away from her as far as he could on the bed. He stilled when Tenkou placed her hands on the bed and crawled slowly towards him.

"... Stop! Don't come any closer!" Kijin fought hard not to grab at the sheets.

Tenkou stopped. "... I don't understand," she murmured, sitting back on her legs. Her eyes closed. Her head tilted thoughtfully. "... You like me this way... yet you don't."

Kijin's jaw clenched. ... Empathy... like mother. "... Tenkou-"

"I don't understand, oniichan. You act like Tsuzuki-san, but he doesn't mind when-"

"NANI?!"

***

Tsuzuki was shivering. A light rain had began falling moments after Tenkou went inside. He glanced up to the canopy of the tree that he was standing and taking shelter under, suddenly reminded of Byakko.

... I wonder where Byakko-sama is right now... Tsuzuki lowered his head, forcing himself not to think of the White Tiger. He missed the shikigami terribly.

"... Gomen nasai..." He murmured, and closed his eyes tightly. The loneliness he felt was almost unbearable.

"That Rikugou broke his promise." Tsuzuki's eyes snapped open.
"I told him to take care of you." He looked up to see Byakko lounging on a branch high up above him.

"... Byakko-sama!"

Byakko looked down at him, smiling. "Oi, Tsuzuki-san. You shouldn't be out in the rain."

He wasn't even feeling cold. Tsuzuki smiled back. "I'm so happy to see you," he said with undisguised joy.

Byakko jumped down and landed in his tiger form. He sheltered the shinigami from the rain as Tsuzuki hugged him. He purred when Tsuzuki fondly scratched him behind the ears.

"Kawaii!"

Both turned to see Kijin staring at them with a dumbfounded expression. Tenkou was running towards them.

"Byakko-san is so cute!" A delighted Tenkou smiled at them. "May I hug you too?"

Byakko's tail looped around Tenkou as he smiled, fangs gleaming. "You are cute too, Tenkou-hime."

"... What?!" Tsuzuki backed off as Tenkou hugged Byakko who purred loudly.

Kijin didn't look so well. "... You know too, Byak-"

"Kijin-kun, this cute sister of yours was the one who got me into trouble with Souryuu." Byakko didn't seem angry at all.

Tenkou giggled. "You wanted so much to go to the party and to play with me."

Byakko looked sheepish. "I got myself into trouble," he admitted before transforming back into ningen form.

Tenkou looked disappointed, but laughed when Byakko's tail brushed against her face. She then turned into a little girl and chased Byakko's tail.

Tsuzuki looked ready to faint.

***
**
*

"And so only Souryuu-sama disagrees." Byakko concluded, glancing down at Tenkou who was asleep, curled up in his lap with his tail clutched tightly in her hands.

Kijin shook his head sadly, saying, "Tousama is stubborn."

Both shikigami looked at Tsuzuki, who was now dressed properly in clothes Kijin provided for him. The shinigami stared back at them, his expression, uncertain. His eyes flickered down from Byakko's face to Tenkou then glanced to Kijin.

Kijin winced while Byakko grinned, murmuring, "Does your father know about this, Kijin-kun?"

"No!" Kijin blushed red, and his hand waved frantically, its long sleeve fanning his hot face.

Tsuzuki blinked. "... How...?"

"It's complicated! Please, don't tell anyone about this. Especially father!" Kijin was utterly embarrassed.

Byakko chuckled. "Don't worry." (No one would believe me anyway.)

Tsuzuki looked worried. (I don't want Souryuu-sama to find out either.)

***
**
*

"... Nani?" Tsuzuki wasn't certain he heard Byakko right.

Tail waving enthusiastically, Byakko repeated, "If we get Suzaku-neesan's approval, everything will be all right."

***
**
*

Tsuzuki was alone now. He kept his eyes down, watching his feet take each step. ... Why did I agree?

He remembered how Byakko's eyes lit up when he came up with the idea. If the Phoenix take their side, then even the Dragon couldn't argue further.

Tsuzuki paused, looking up to stare at the horizon, broken by Mt. Kurama.

Let's go, Tsuzuki! To the south!

Tsuzuki looked back. There was no one behind him.

... No, I must do this alone, Byakko-sama.

On his right, a gust of wind suddenly blew.

Let me do this alone.

***

... Am I lost...?

She sighed heavily, crouching down to wrap her arms around her knees. She was exhausted. To her right, the sun was setting.

Hmm... I'm still heading the right way... I hope. After a few moments' rest, she stood up and continued towards the forest at the base of the mountain.

***

It's getting dark... Tsuzuki paused at the forest's edge and peered warily into the leafy shadows.

A noise made him jumped. It was only a cricket. Tsuzuki breathed out, his hand against his chest. He wished Byakko was with him.

No... I must do this alone. Tsuzuki straightened, determined. He would get the Phoenix's approval by himself. If he couldn't even do that, then he didn't deserve to command Byakko.

He took one step forward, and chaos ensued.

***

The forest was on fire. Coughing, she managed to stand up and bravely faced the Phoenix. Suzaku stared back, flames leaping menacingly from her wings and talons.

Wakaba jumped back just a tongue of fire singed the spot she was just on. Her blue eyes narrowed as she took out a fuda.

She threw it just as Suzaku attacked and froze when someone stepped in between them.

***

The fuda in his hands disintegrated instantly, and Tsuzuki was knocked aside and into the ground hard. Before he could recover, his arms were grabbed roughly, and he was lifted up bodily into the air.

***

What is this. Suzaku landed lightly on the ground and stared at the man dangling from the grips of her guardians.

"No interference allowed," Kojirou calmly informed the stranger, who was struggling to free himself.

"Wonderful," muttered Kotarou, "now we have to do it all over again."

"Let go!" Yelled their captive.

Suzaku lowered her gaze and looked at the girl, whose expression was dumbfounded.

She frowned and pointed at the stranger. "Do you know him?"

The girl shook her head immediately.

Suzaku sighed. She didn't appreciate her time being wasted. "Guardians!" She called out commandingly. "Take her back to the gate."

"Yes, Suzaku-sama," said both Tengu immediately. Kotarou pointed at the stranger, who had ceased struggling and who was now holding tight to both guardians' arms. "What will we do with this one?"

Suzaku shrugged. "I do not care. Just settle this matter." She considered the candidate carefully before transforming back to phoenix form and flying away. As she did, the fires around them died down.

...

"Please don't hurt him."

"Do not worry," said Kojirou, "We have no reason to harm him."

Kotarou was trying to pry the stranger's fingers off his arm. "... Good grip," he commented.

"Don't drop me! ... Onegai!"

***

"Who are you?" Wakaba asked politely. Sitting in front of her, he blinked at her silently before hesitantly answering, "My name is Asato..." Then, he fell silent.

"... Asato," she repeated, wondering why he was reluctant to tell his name. "I am pleased to meet you. I am Wakaba Kannuki."

"I know," he then said, "You introduced yourself after they released me."

She smiled. "Gomen. You seemed preoccupied. I thought you didn't hear me."

He smiled back. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to seem ungrateful. Thank you very much for saving me."

"Oh no. I didn't do much. They would never hurt you."

Asato didn't seem to believe her and began looking around. They were in one of many common rooms in the Tengu stronghold.

Wakaba watched as Asato stood up and walked around, examining the room. When she was sure he wasn't paying attention to her, she looked down to the floor, her posture slumping. She was tired and disappointed.

... I was so close. Suzaku-sama showed herself to me... finally. Wakaba closed her eyes, remembering Kotarou and Kojirou's words.

You aren't ready yet, Kannuki-chan. Kotarou smiled encouragingly. Don't worry about it. Besides, Suzaku-sama has not sent you away.

You have a reprieve, Kojirou had agreed in his soft voice. It is good he arrived. You are too young. It must never be done in haste.

... I was afraid. I am still afraid...

"Wakaba-san?" Asato's voice startled her, and she straightened, looking up to stare at him. He looked worried. "Are you all right, Wakaba-san?"

"... Hai! I was just thinking, that's all."
"Thinking about what?"
"... It's complicated."
"... Are you trying to catch Suzaku-sama?"

Wakaba looked away from him. "... It's too hard to explain..." She didn't see him scratching his head. "... I didn't know mortals could enter Gensoukai," he said.

"... Are you a shikigami, Asato-san?"
"Huh? No no, I'm not."
"I thought not. You don't feel like a shikigami to me... but you are not mortal either."
"..."
"Are you from Meifu?"

***

Tsuzuki wasn't sure at all how to explain himself to a mortal little girl. He didn't even understand why she was in this world in the first place.

"Are you from Meifu?" Wakaba repeated the question again, looking at him intently.

"... Yes, I am," he finally answered.

Her blue eyes brightened, and she stood up quickly, asking, "Is my mother all right?"

Speechless, Tsuzuki could only stare at her with a guilty expression on his face.

***
**
*

"Who is she?"

Kotarou glanced aside to Asato who had uttered the question. Both of them were standing on the bottom step of the stairs leading to an inner courtyard where Kojirou was training Wakaba.

"She is a candidate to be Suzaku no Miko."

Asato's eyes widened and narrowed with suspicion. "... Isn't she too young to be a candidate?"

Kotarou shrugged. "This is none of your concern, shinigami. The gods choose who they wish."

"I know that, but still-"

"Kojirou-chan, please take me to heaven!"

Both Kotarou and Asato looked at Wakaba who was tugging at Kojirou's robes.

"Please! I just want to see my mother!"

Kojirou kneeled down and looked at her. "Kannuki-chan, I'm sorry. I have already told you I do not have that power."

"But you have wings! You can fly to heaven!"

Kotarou sighed, turned away and walked back up the stairs. He gestured at Asato to follow him.

***

"When did her mother die?"
"When she was born. Her father takes care of her as best as he can. When he is away, we take care of her."
"Does he know?"
"He does. He is one of few mortals who know. Before he married her mother, he was told everything. He understands the family's history though he ignores most details."
"... It would be better to let her live a normal mortal life."

Kotarou suddenly stopped and faced him, frowning. "You are shinigami. You should know the candidates have no choice if they have potential."

Tsuzuki shook his head. "I have still a lot to learn. ... But I know it is wrong to put so much responsibility on a little girl's shoulders."

Kotarou looked away. "... That is why my brother and I are trying to prepare her. ... Suzaku-sama is fair, but very demanding."

***

The wind was blowing strong today. Kojirou tightened his hold around Kannuki. His wings beat faster as they hovered high above the land.

"Your world is so beautiful, Kojirou-chan!" Kannuki extended her arms out and tilted her head back to smile up at him. Kojirou returned her smile.

"Please take me to heaven," she said softly.

Kojirou shook his head, and she looked back down, her arms falling. "... I don't want to go back."

"You must," he said gently, "your father will miss you."

She ducked her head down guiltily. "... But-"

"Shh, Kannuki-chan." Kojirou rested his chin on her head. "You will return here again and soon. Until then, we will miss you."

The air in front of them suddenly shimmered, and they flew through the gate before Wakaba could say anything else.

To be continued...

Author's note:
uhm... well, I wasn't thinking hard when I wrote this part, and I avoided dealing directly with Souryuu and Suzaku. I'm having trouble thinking how they think. Genbu's difficult too. Byakko gives me no headaches.