Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi, nor any of its characters. They are all Yu Watase property.

Fushigi Yuugi: "How I fell in love with your silence"

Tasuki/Genrou x OC

"The Only Way That We Can Live, Is If We Grow.

The Only Way That We Can Grow Is If We Change.

The Only Way That We Can Change Is If We learn.

The Only Way We Can Learn Is If We Are Exposed.

And The Only Way That We Can Become Exposed

Is If We Throw Ourselves Out Into The Open."

- C. JoyBelle C.

ooo

Chapter 16:

"Oh yes, Tamahome." Hotohori approached the group on the dock, smiling. "About your family… What would you say to have them brought here?" Tamahome stared in shock. "You will probably be worried about your young siblings while you're away, won't you? I would like to give them a home in the city."

Sakura broke into a giant smile as Tamahome expressed his gratitude to the emperor. Hotohori was such a marvelous man. He was good at hiding his emotions, but he was kind and loving. He cared about his people perhaps even more than his own life, it was his greatest quality as a ruler.

Nuriko chuckled when Hotohori blushed from Miaka's teasing. "He really is a big softy, isn't he?" Sakura nodded excitedly. He stole a quick glance towards Genrou, who was talking to Chichiri, and placed a gentle hand on the crown of her head. "Are you happy, Sa-chan? About that loud-mouthed guy, I mean." She beamed, her smile warming his heart.

"He hasn't tried anything funny, has he?" he asked. Sakura flushed crimson, flailing her arms nervously. Nuriko smirked. "Oh he has, huh?"

"I-It w-wasn't a-anything l-like t-that!"

"No, of course it wasn't!" He laughed when her cheeks darkened even more.

She punched his arm. "You're mean, Nuriko!" His only answer was to draw her in for a half-hug, kissing her forehead.

Sakura, touched her hot cheeks. That conversation had awakened the butterflies in her belly. Since the night of the festival, Genrou hadn't touched her like that again. They slept together, cuddling, but he didn't try anything else. She assumed he was giving her time to process everything and to make her comfortable around him, which was fine by her. Her body still caught fire whenever she remembered the touch of his lips… his hands… his fingers…

Oh dear god, I need to stop thinking about this! Sakura shook her head furiously. She looked at the bandit and he flashed her a toothy grin, waving.

She loved him deeply and she wanted more of his fire and passion. But she was so embarrassed. Did he really find her sexy? She was a blushing mess every time he was around her. How could he feel attracted to her like that?

"Oi, Sakura!" She turned around to watch Tamahome curiously. He was grinning. "We're going to get my family! Wanna come with us? Miaka says they really like you!" When her eyes glistened, he laughed and beckoned her to join them.

On their way to the small village, Sakura hung back with Nuriko to allow her sister and Tamahome some privacy. He wanted to buy presents for his siblings and she was helping him as they walked by the shops. For someone who was so parsimonious he seemed to be having a lot of fun spending his savings. It was endearing.

Seizing their distraction, Nuriko put a finger to his lips and, when Sakura cocked her head to the side amused, he ducked under a stall. Miaka was happily looking at the handcrafted items in display when he jumped and frightened her to death. Sakura laughed as her sister clutched her chest, glaring at her sneaky friend. Their bantering lasted all the way to Tamahome's house.

"Oi, cut it out already! Girls' arguments are so noisy." He rolled his eyes, sniggering, "oh wait. One of you is gay…!"

"Ta… ma…!"

Sakura giggled as he bolted away from Nuriko, racing to the little hut. He called everyone with a smile, opening the door and peeking inside. The sight he was met with froze him in shock, in horror. They were dead. All of them. His father… Chuei… even his little siblings.

Horrified, Sakura watched the lifeless bodies and the blood spilled on the floor wide-eyed. NO! They can't be…! Please…!

"Bro… ther…" Yuiren's voice was barely whisper but it didn't go unheard.

Tamahome darted towards her in panic. "Yuiren… YUIREN!" He held her in his arms as her blue eyes looked up with a mix of pain and love. Sakura fell to her knees beside them, sobbing.

"Okaeri… onii-chan… onee-chan…" Yuiren croaked breathily. "I made… onee-chan… a present…"

Sakura barely registered her sister crying into Nuriko's frozen arms. Her tears streamed harder, quicker. Her pain was suffocating, unbearable. She pleaded for Mitsukake, for something… anything to save the innocent little girl.

"Yuiren…" Tamahome's eyes filled with tears, begging, "please don't talk… just lie still…"

"Yuiren's… been a good girl… I really have… so, please…" She reached out to touch his wet cheek with her small cold hand. "Don't leave us again… please…?"

He clutched her hand fiercely. "I won't leave! I won't! Onii-chan will never leave you again! I'll stay with you forever, Yuiren! So please… please…!" As he held her, she smiled one last time before all life abandoned her. Sakura grabbed her limp hand, crying desperately. Yuiren!

"YUIREN!" Tamahome's shriek pierced through their hearts, shattering them.

Sakura couldn't breathe. Images were flashing to her mind. Images of Chuei blushing when she kissed his cheek… Yuiren and Gyokuran playing with her hair… Shunkei smiling, his eyes wide and happy…

Why was this happening? Who would something so horrifying? They were innocent, they didn't deserve such cruel fate… they didn't…

The sound of music froze her. Reaching to the belt of her cheongsam, her fingers brushed the thin wooden flute strapped to it. It was still there. But if it was… then who was playing? It was the same, the song was the same. She stumbled to her feet, reaching the door where Miaka was still clinging to Nuriko.

There was shadow on the roof. As she tried to focus her eyes, forcing, begging them so see, Sakura felt the rush of power again. Her body was glowing. And when her vision cleared she saw him.

"Amiboshi!"

Nuriko and Miaka were as stunned as she was. "You're alive? But how….?!"

"That blood… you… you did this…!"

"No!" Sakura cried. Cold grey eyes fell on her and she saw recognition flicker in them. "How could you, Amiboshi…?!"

"I am not Amiboshi," he growled, "and this… this is my revenge for killing my brother!"

She stepped forward but Nuriko held her back. "Stay back, Sakura! He isn't him!"

"My name is Suboshi, one of the eight warriors of Seiryu. Amiboshi was my brother, and you killed him!"

"No!" Sakura shook her head vehemently. "You're wrong! We didn't kill him! It was an accident!"

Suboshi yielded his ryuseisui, snarling, "I will not listen to your excuses and lies-"

"They're not lies!" She grabbed the flute from her belt and showed it to him. His face froze for a second. "I loved your brother! I would've never allowed anyone to hurt him! I wanted to save him… I wanted to save him so badly! You have to believe me! I loved him!"

He hesitated. Looking into the eyes of the girl he had dreamed of, seeing the raw honesty in her, he wanted to believe her. His brother's love for her was begging him to trust her. He was conflicted, he didn't know what to do.

"Suboshi…" Her voice stirred something in him. He gazed into her beautiful face and a strange warmth spread over his chest. What was she? Sakura reached out. "Please come down… enough death… please… your brother wouldn't have wanted this…"

Suboshi clenched his hands. "NO! Your friends killed him! So now I'm going to kill them too!"

Sakura watched in horror as the ryuseisui lurched towards her sister and Nuriko. He was quick and ducked away in time. The weapon hit the tree behind them, sending it crashing down. She was overwhelmed with relief.

"Are you impressed by my power?" Suboshi sneered.

"You…" Tamahome appeared in the doorway. His symbol was ablaze, pulsating with smoldering power. His face dark and murderous. "You killed my father… my siblings… YOU USED THAT TO RIP THEM APART?!" His chi exploded, rippling waves blasting the ground. Sakura could feel it, his raw, brutal force.

Growling, Suboshi lunged another attack. The ryuseisui whipped at Tamahome, landing several cuts on his body repeatedly. But that pain was nothing. It couldn't compare to the agony inside of him. He had killed his family in cold blood. He was a monster. And he would pay.

One of the blows chopped off his braided hair. His eyes hardened into cold hard steal. "Your power… is that all of it?"

"TAKE THIS!"

Suboshi cried out, attacking. Tamahome defended and a feral ruthless power overtook him as the fight began. They lunged at each other brutally, breaking and crushing everything in their way.

"NO! STOP THIS!" Sakura closed her eyes. Their hate and pain was making her suffer. She didn't want to see. She didn't want any more death.

Tamahome cornered Suboshi against a wall, clutching his neck in a vice-like grip. Suboshi couldn't breathe. His lungs begged desperately for air and he clawed at his wrist to make him let go, but he didn't. Tamahome was beyond any reason now. He drew his fist, preparing to finish him.

Sakura followed her instinct. She grabbed the staff from behind her back, it came alive with a blinding crimson glow. A bird whistled, the sound piercing both warriors, forcing Tamahome to release Suboshi and they both dropped to their knees, covering their ears in agony. Their chi slowly slipped away and the jewels in her staff absorbed it, glistening with the swirling power.

"ENOUGH PAIN!" Her screech caused a blast that sent everyone backwards.

"Sakura…!" Nuriko tightened his grip on Miaka, shocked and frightened by the sudden outburst of a girl whose nature was usually so quiet and peaceful. Sakura's rage was absolutely frightening.

She ignored him as she marched towards the two wide-eyed boys on the ground. Her glow was darker, brighter, undulating from her body. "Killing each other will not fix anything. It won't bring innocent lives back," she told them in a steadier voice.

"How can you say that?! He killed my family!"

"I know, but this won't bring you any peace, Tamahome! Revenge consumes one's soul, it destroys it to the point of no salvation… I don't want that for you and neither does Miaka!" She saw him look towards her crying sister in anguish. He curled his hands into fists. Sakura crouched in front of Suboshi. He didn't move, or even blink as she took his face in her hands, gazing into his lost, cold eyes. "I don't want that for you either…"

"It's too late for my soul," he choked. Her touch was stirring things in him that he didn't want to feel. He couldn't let her in any more than she already was. He couldn't… yet, the piece of his brother still remaining inside of him was fighting, he didn't want to let go.

"No, Suboshi, it's not… it's never too late to change…" Sakura's hands shook faintly. He looked exactly like Amiboshi and the memories were almost too painful. Amiboshi was dead, nothing could ever change it. But Suboshi wasn't and she wanted to stop the darkness that was swallowing him before it was too late. "Let me help you…"

A tiny speck of light flickered in his eyes, but then lightning struck. They were enveloped in a blazing blue flash, clouding their vision. Sakura felt him vanish from her hold in panic. When the light subsided, she saw a dark cloaked shadow standing on the roof with Suboshi's unconscious form under its arm.

"For heaven's sake…" The shadow's voice was soft and feminine. "This is your own fault for being so weak and letting a girl play you."

Next to her, Tamahome rose to his feet and growled, "Are you one of Seiryu's sacred eight?"

"My name is Soi. For now, I have come only to introduce myself." She sounded mocking, taunting almost. "What is the matter Tamahome? Are you still going to let a girl tame you? Do you not thirst for revenge after the brutal murder of your dearest family?"

Tamahome snarled hit by a new wave of rage. He lunged forward to rip the enemy apart but a pair of arms around his mid-waist stopped him. Sakura gripped him harder, terrified for him.

"See if you can hold on to that power until the next time we meet. And you better stay away from Suboshi, little girl!" Soi sneered before disappearing.

The stronger Tamahome's struggles became, the harder Sakura gripped him. He was thrashing out of control. The chi she had previously taken away was now being replenished in higher, fiercer quantities. If he didn't take control fast, then he would…

"Stop, Tamahome!" Nuriko joined her, using his supernatural strength to keep him restrained. "You have to calm down! Even your body can't take much more of this kind of power!" He howled, struggling more violently. Nuriko cried, "You have to remember who you are…! You are…!"

"You are Shou Kishuku, of the Suzaku Eight!" Sakura shouted when her friend couldn't.

"Listen to us! You have been chosen to protect the priestess of Suzaku!"

"To protect Miaka…!" Her voice cracked as her body convulsed with sobs. She was warm, burning with the heat of the glow powering her. "Onee-chan... it's hurting onee-chan to see you like this…!"

Slowly, his rage lessened, his movements ceased. Little by little, Tamahome returned to the man he was. The man Sakura knew he was supposed to be. And as he did, her power slipped away and she stumbled back in wobbly legs. Her vision slurred, fading around the edges. She heard someone call her but she couldn't place the voice.

Then darkness took over.

When Genrou saw Nuriko arrive at the palace alone with an unconscious Sakura limp in his arms, he experienced a kind of fear he had never known before. He took her from him with shaky hands, cradling her to his chest. She was cold, so cold. And pale, terrifyingly so. He stroked her cheek gently as if she could crumble with the softest of touches.

"W-What…" He gulped dryly. "What happened?"

"I'll tell you everything but we need to get her into a bed and call for Mitsukake," Nuriko declared firmly. The trembling bandit nodded and followed him to Sakura's bedroom.

While Nuriko went to find Mitsukake, Genrou grabbed a stool and sat by her bed, clutching her tiny hand in his. Her chest was heaving up and down, which was good, but her breathing was shallow and faint. Her lips were turning purple and her skin paler. He was scared. If he lost her, he wouldn't be able to live. He didn't want to live without her, he would rather die with her than continue living.

Mitsukake was quick once he got there. His face was hard and tense as he used his power to heal her. Meanwhile Nuriko told them both everything about the events that transpired earlier, unable to fight back the tears when he recalled the little children's lifeless bodies.

"Her staff did that?" Genrou asked in shock after Nuriko finished.

He shook his head. "I don't think it was the staff at all… I think it served as a catalyst for her power… Tasuki, it was frightening. I've never seen something like that… her desperation to stop them from hurting each other transformed her into an entirely different person… she had so much power…"

"That explains her loss of conscience," Mitsukake said, brushing Sakura's forehead. She had a lot more color on her cheeks and her lips were no longer purple, but back to their lovely shade of red. "She's drained. Yielding that much power from her chi must've taken a large toll on her."

Genrou bit his lip, watching her. "Is she gonna be okay?"

"Yes, she's going to be fine. She just needs to rest."

"Thank Suzaku…!" he breathed, shoulders sagging with relief. "This woman's gonna be the death of me… why can't she freakin' stay outta trouble?"

Nuriko showed a hint of a smile as he gazed upon the beautiful girl too. "There's another thing that's bothering me…" The other two men waited expectantly. His eyes eyebrows met. "When she used her staff… I heard… I mean I might've imagined, but I could swear I heard a bird… but it couldn't have been… right?"

"Couldn't've been what?" Genrou cocked his head to the side confused.

"You don't mean…" Mitsukake trailed off uncertainly.

Glancing impatiently between his two of silent friends who were suspiciously staring at each other, Genrou clicked his tongue. "Can ya two bobbleheads fuckin' tell me what yer yappin' about?" he growled.

"We think it might've been Suzaku, Tasuki."

"What?! But how is that possible?"

"How am I supposed to know that, idiot?" Nuriko snapped before sighing. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "All I know is it sounded like him and she was glowing red again. And talking... again… I still don't understand how she can talk!"

"It happens in dangerous situations, so perhaps it's because she senses peril…" Mitsukake offered.

Genrou tightened his grip on Sakura's hand, his eyes softening. "It's not 'cause ov' that… she's done it without bein' in danger…"

"Oh?" Nuriko quirked a quizzical eyebrow. When Genrou blushed, growing unexpectedly flustered, his lips tugged into a smirk. "Did it happen in the bedroom by any chance, naughty Tasuki?"

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" He flailed his arms furiously with flaming cheeks. His friends erupted into a fit of good-naturedly laughter, which only worsened his embarrassment. He covered his face mortified.

Mitsukake placed a hand on his shoulder with a smile. "It's nothing to be shy about. It's normal, you're in love."

"We didn't do anything!"

"I know," Nuriko replied.

Genrou squinted his eyes at the smirk on his face. "Whatdya mean by that?!"

"I mean she told me." He shrugged.

"She did what?!"

Nuriko's face was of complete innocence. "Well she didn't say anything exactly, but she's very easy to read. She got all flustered when I wanted to make sure you hadn't tried anything funny, so it was pretty obvious you had."

"I didn't try anythin' funny…" he grumbled under his breath. "Can we go back to what we were talkin' about?"

"Why are you so nervous? You're not particularly innocent, you know," Mitsukake pointed out curiously.

"I know I'm not! But she is…"

"Not for long," Nuriko joked, getting a growl from the fiery bandit. He raised his hands defensively. "Hey, I'm just teasing you! Geez, Tasuki, calm down… Why are you getting so riddled up about this? We're not being crass, we're friends and we care about the both of you. It's just harmless conversation."

Genrou pursed his lips tightly. He knew that. They weren't doing anything wrong, it was the type of discussion he would easily have with Koji had he been there. Yet, he felt… dirty for talking about Sakura in such a way. In fact, he felt dirty for even having touched her the last time. He shouldn't have taken advantage of her grief like that. She wasn't like the other women he had been with.

The memories of Sakura's naked body writhing under his touch wouldn't stop plaguing his mind. God, he wanted her so much that he burned just by picturing it again. If she was any other girl Genrou would've pinned her to the bed that very same night and he would've had his way with her in more ways than one. She was no other girl though, and he was ashamed even to think about her like that.

"What's wrong, Tasuki?" Nuriko insisted, noticing his distress.

He sighed heavily. "Yer both gonna laugh at me…"

"Of course we won't," Mitsukake objected.

"Yeah, talk to us."

"I don't wanna… stain her…" His friends frowned confused, but he wasn't very good with words. "Look I dunno how t' explain this! She's just so… pure, y'know? She blushes every time I kiss her and everythin' about her just glows. I'm terrified of tainting that by stealin' her innocence or whatever…" He let out a dry chuckle. "Fuck, this emotional talkin' really ain't fer me…"

Nuriko's frowned deeper as he watched him. He understood what he was trying to say, but he didn't like it. "You think you're not good enough. Why? If she loves you then it means she finds you enough for her, and that's all it matters."

"She's blind," he muttered bitterly. "She has the most annoyin' habit ov' seein' the good in everyone, even in bad people… but one day she's gonna wake up and realize I've done and seen things that made me into a filthy thief… then she'll regret givin' herself t' me…"

"You're wrong, you know?" Mitsukake shook his head. "Sakura knows who you are, Tasuki, why do you think she calls you by your bandit name? She's not expecting you to be anything else than that. We all have flaws and scars, even pasts we want to forget. Sakura may be pure and innocent, but being with you won't take that away from her because you love her, and she loves you. What is there that is more pure than that?"

His words eased some of his worries. Not all of them, but most and for that he was grateful. Genrou smiled softly. "Thanks. That makes me feel better… kinda," he said honestly. "I'm still terrified ov' bein' wit' her though…"

Nuriko rolled his eyes. "You're thinking too much. She's not made of crystal, you're not going to break her."

"That's not it, stupid. I just…" He blushed furiously, looking at the ground. "I want her so much I'm afraid ov' loosin' it… I don't wanna scare her…"

Both men laughed. "Well, it's understandable if you lose it a little, I mean… Sakura is something else entirely different," Nuriko pointed out, gazing at her with loving eyes. "I think even I am a little star-struck…"

"She is quite lovely yes," Mitsukake agreed with a smile. Genrou scowled. He didn't like other men thinking about Sakura. "You are quite the lucky thief, aren't you Tasuki?"

"Yes, I am," he answered proudly.

Amethyst eyes… He gazed inside of them in awe as her thumbs stroked both of his cheeks. She was so close… and she was so warm, so beautiful. But she looked so sad… why did she look so sad?

"Suboshi…"

Her voice was like a summer breeze, comforting, inviting. He liked the way she said his name, it rolled off her tongue in a feathery caress. Still, it sounded so sad… why did she sound so sad?

He longed to see her smile… her lips curling upwards, lighting her face. Hadn't he seen her do that once? Or maybe it had been a dream… were these strange stirrings in his chest his or his brother's? He was so confused…

"Let me help you, Suboshi…"

Yes, he whispered in his mind. Help me…

When something wet dripped down his temple, Suboshi fluttered his eyes open. The first thing he saw was the ceiling of his room. He had made it back to the palace, to Kutou. But how? He couldn't remember anything past Sakura's blinding amethyst eyes and the touch of her hands.

"Suboshi!" He shifted his head to the right and met the familiar face of the priestess. Her forehead was creased, dark rings under her eyes. She looked tired. Had she been caring for him?

"Yui… sama…?"

"How are you feeling, Suboshi?"

"Fine… I think…" He tried to sit up but she promptly pushed him back to the mattress again. "What happened?"

"Soi brought you," she explained. "She said you had attacked the celestial warriors of Suzaku… what were you thinking? You could've gotten seriously hurt, or worse – killed!"

Suboshi grunted. He didn't like his fellow female warrior. Knowing she had to save him was more than embarrassing. "At least I got a little revenge…"

"What did you do?"

"Nothing Yui-sama must know," he replied quickly, adverting his gaze elsewhere. Yes, he had gotten his revenge, but he hadn't been nearly as satisfying as he hoped for. He was ashamed of what he had done. Amethyst eyes flashed before him again, making his heart ache. "I saw Yui-sama's friend… Sakura…"

Yui gasped and she leaned forward anxiously. "Was she okay? You didn't hurt her, did you? Suboshi!"

"I didn't hurt her, miko-sama… She seemed fine but…"

"She's one of them," she finished, pursing her lips.

He nodded. "She stopped him from killing me… I don't understand why… and she said they didn't kill my brother, that it was an accident…"

"Wait." Yui lifted her eyebrow. "She said? What do you mean? Sakura is mute, she doesn't speak."

"What? That's not possible, she talked to me, I heard her."

Yui was beyond shocked. Could she have gained her voice when she came into the book?

This was bad. If Miaka was going to Hokkan to retrieve the shinzaho and Sakura was one of the eight celestial warriors of Suzaku, then she would have to fight them. And she didn't know if she would be strong enough to face Sakura…

Another chapter done! So what did you guys think? :)