Spellbound*(5/6)By Sakata Ri Houjun ******************* Genrou woke, alone. For a moment, he thought it hadall been another one of his dreams. The beautifulcerulean-haired man, the ruined temple, the globe thatheld the power of a god. A hallucination brought onby fatigue. But he recognized the room and got out of bed as thesun streamed in. Was it you, or another, he made love to in the night? Genrou’s eyes went dark as the voice whispered slylyin his head. He called another’s name. Believes youto fill the place of his dead lover and has lured youhere. The room was suddenly airless. He reached blindly forthe door, found only swirling air. He has you trapped here. He will use you to gain whathe wants. Who will you be when this is finished? Genrou yanked open the door and stumbled out,trembling all over. Something cold and smelling ofdeath had crowded into that room. Damn imagination running away with me, he thought. Whose wouldn’t, under these circumstances? He went tofind Houjun. He was writing. His hands were graceful, his movementprecise as he wrote one character after another on thepaper. Genrou’s suddenly found himself wanting hiscamera. And him. Houjun looked up and smiled. “Did you finally decideto join the living, no da?” “Is it late?” He laughed as he stood and kissed him lightly. “Halfpast-ten, demo you always were a late sleeper, na noda.” Looking serious, then, Genrou asked, “Did I choose tocome here, Houjun, or did you?” He has lured you here. He will use you to gain whathe wants. “Did I choose for you to be here, no da? I-is thatwhat you think? After all I’ve told you?” “Just answer the damn question.” Houjun’s heart wept in despair. Genrou was looking athim with none of the love he needed. “No, Genrou, Idid not force you to come here. If that had been inmy power, would I have waited so long for you? Iasked you to come, but the choice was yours. “You broke my heart when you shut me out. That choicewas yours also, for the knowledge was in your heart. I was born loving you. There’s been no other in myheart. Everything I am, or was, or will be, is yours. I cannot change my heart.” Turning, Houjun bolted from the room, tears stinginghis eyes. Genrou went after him but found no trace ofthe older man outside. Houjun told him that he lovedhim. But leaving before he had a chance to examinehis own heart? Houjun expected too much. Wanted toomuch. Then he turned and stared at the temple. And knew. “All right, damn it,” he muttered as he strode towardthe ruins. “No magic, no legends. We’re going totalk this thing through.” He stepped toward the arch and was stopped by atransparent shield that blocked him. “What kind of fucking game is this?” Eyes narrowed,he drove his shoulder against it; it yielded nothing. He circled the temple, testing each opening. “Houjun!” He pounded the air with his fists untilthey ached. “Let me the fuck in!” From that high parapet, Houjun faced the distantmountains. He heard Genrou call for him. But hisdecision was made. He couldn’t tell the younger man that his life waslost if by the hour of midnight he had not vowed hislove. He had done all he could and Tasuki was nevercoming back to him. At least Genrou would beprotected, his lover spared, and the shinzaho would besealed away. Mikuni didn’t know how strong his will was. Didn’tknow that that he carried a powder of poison with him. If his love did not triumph, he would end his lifeagain. Houjun had only hours now to gather his ki. He began the chant. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Genrou backed away. “Go on and sulk then,” he shoutedas he stalked back to the dwelling. He shoved open the bedroom door, reached for hiscamera. Under it was a leather garment. “That wasn’t here before,” he muttered. Gingerly hepicked up the wide strip of soft leather, dyed goldand crafted with an intricate design. He thought atfirst it was a strange belt, but something told himotherwise. He buckled the garment across his chest, crossingdiagonal from one shoulder. It fit perfectly. As hestarted to remove it, he thought he heard a voicewhispering. A gift. Only a gift. “I look like a damn baka, but the hell with it,” hemuttered and, snatching up his camera, he wentoutside. Wandering the hills, he ran through roll after roll offilm. Spending the morning thus had settled his mood. It was time to go back and find Houjun. Suddenly a flash of white caught his eye. Houjun’scat stood at the edge of the forest-his slanted eyesbeckoning him to follow. Genrou took a step forward,and then swore lightly when the cat whirled away withimpossible speed into the woods. Genrou dived after it, following the sounds as itcrashed through the brush. Surprisingly, he was ableto keep up with the cat’s blistering pace. Then therewas silence. The sun burned like a furnace though the shelteringleaves. Desperate for relief, he knelt by a brook. He reached down to cup some water in his hand, andpulled back a cup of coffee. “Do you good to get away for a few days.” “Nani?” He stared down at the mug in his hands, andthen looked up into his mother’s face. “Here now, he needs some water, not caffeine,” saidhis father. And water ran out of the kitchen faucetinto a glass. Genrou sipped the water, shuddered. “I had the mostbizarre fucking dream.” “Daijobu,” his mother said. “Everyone has dreams. You need rest.” “I’m not crazy, Ma. There was this man. Houjun.” His father chuckled. “You need sleep. Don’t give himanother thought. He’s only trying to trap you.” Suddenly Genrou felt calm. “You’re not real,” hesaid. “I reject you.” Then he was running down a narrow road, breathless andheart hammering. “Tasuki,” said a voice that was ancient and wise. Andfamiliar. Genrou stopped and turned in the darkness only to leapback in absolute fear at the sight of the owner ofthat voice. “Sunakake Baba!” The wizened old woman shook her head sadly. “Youstill haven’t changed, bandit boy.” Gasping for breath, Genrou asked, “Dare da?” “The question should be who you are. You stillhaven’t accepted the truth. Knowing this and lovingyou, Chichiri has sent you away from danger and facesthe demon alone.” “Sent me where? How?” “Open your eyes, Tasuki,” the woman said, “and takewhat is offered to you. Chichiri waits. Without you,he dies this night.” “Dies?” Terror gripped his belly. “Am I too late?” She only shook her head and faded back into air. He awoke stretched out on the bank. The moon wasrising in a dark sky. “Iya.” He stumbled to his feetand felt a strange weight on his back. “I can’t betoo late.” Now the trees lashed, whipped by a wind that came fromnowhere. Overhead, lightning dimmed the glow of thefull moon. “Chichiri. Wait for me. Aishiteru.” The white cat from before appeared, it’s patient eyesfocused. Tasuki rushed toward it as it leaped intothe shadows, then fell into a clearing where moonlightbeamed on an ebony horse. Taking the reins, Tasuki vaulted onto the saddle andtrumpeted a battle cry. As he rode, he reached backand withdrew his tessen; ready to protect the one heloved with his life.