Author's notes and warnings: Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I am soooooo tickled pink! Thank you, thank you, and thank you!
At first I was going to put this as part of 'My strength, My Love', but changed my mine. I think it should stand-alone. I won't make it too long, a couple of chapters at best. From experience I find that it is harder to write when it's dragged out. (But I thought that about 'Past Perfect' [my first DBZ fic] too and it ended up with 7 chapters...oh well) BTW, if you've read 'Past Perfect', I'm working on a sequel ~.~
The story will pick up from the very end of 'My Strength, My love'; present day China. I'm using different names for the character but you'll be able to figure it out easy. Um...except maybe Chichiri's new name. It's Ryosuke or just Ryo for short. I just really like that name, okay? Some lemon here and there and lots of 'dreams' or flashbacks. The story is pretty much inspired by 'Once Upon a Dream', the beautiful waltz from Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'. It just screams Chichiri/Tasuki reincarnation story. (In case you didn't know, this is a male / male love story, shounen ai, yaoi, etc.)
Disclaimer: **Sigh** I do not own Fushigi Yuugi or it's character, neither do I come anywhere close to owning 'Once Upon a Dream'
Once Upon a Dream - Part One: Longing
By Moonraven
' I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you, the gleam in your eyes are so familiar a gleam
Yet I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you'll do,
You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream.'
"Wake up, Tasuki no da!" Cheery voice broke into his restless sleep. "We'll be late, na no da."
He rolled over on his stomach and shoved his head under the pillow. "Don't wanna." He mumbled sleepily. He loved that voice, though. It brought peace and comfort to sooth the turmoil of his dreams.
Laughter rang from the side of his bed and he can feel the mattress give as the owner of that voice crawled on next to him.
"Tasuki-chan." Damn! He's using that tone again. It can always turn his knees to putty. Hot breath caress his ear as his dream lover lie on top of him. "Please wake up."
"Fuck, Chiri. If you think I'm leaving this bed AND you, you've got another thought coming." He arched up sensually into the lean body above him. He can feel the growing hardness press firmly against the crack of his butt. He groaned loudly, unable to suppress the desire that send tremors through his body.
"AH! Fuck me, Chiri and I'll get up." He whimpered as he rubbed his rear against the hardness. Above him, he heard his lover moaned into his hair. That sound made his erection doubled in intensity.
"Tasuki! If I do, we'll be even MORE late, no da." His beloved reasoned breathlessly. "But I promise, if you get up now, we'll leave the celebration early and I'll fuck you until you can't walk, na no da." His voice promised just that.
"Nooo!" He whined, grinding himself against the other man. "Fuck me now, Chiri, please. I can't wait!" He moaned in desperation...
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"WAKE UP YOU ASSHOLE!" A very angry voice yelled into his eardrums and hands shook him violently.
"Oi, Chichiri, What the fuck....?" He complained groggily as he rolled over onto his back.
"I'm not this fucking 'Chichiri' you asshole. Wake the fuck up and stop your yammering about another fucking guy. Damn you, Terry, Damn you!"
Terry opened his sleepy hazel eyes and found himself staring into the eyes of his thoroughly pissed off lover, Kenji. He blinked and swallowed hard.
"You always do this, Terry. I'm getting damn tired of listening to you moan and groan his fucking name. What the hell is wrong with you?" Ken was angry, Ken was frustrated, and Ken was jealous.
Terry was speechless.
He was still trying to overcome the overwhelming sense of loss at not finding Chichiri next to him. He felt empty and he longed for the other man. Terry swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to calm his lover. It was not Kenji's fault that he, Terry, was so fucked up.
"Sorry, Ken. I don't know what the hell's going on. It's getting worse. I don't fucking know what to do."
He rolled back on his stomach and buried his face in his pillow. He hated to see the pain and jealousy in Kenji's eyes but he understood. If it was him listening to his lover's dreams with another guy, he'd find this dream lover and beat the crap out of him.
"The question is DO you want to do anything about it at all? You seem totally happy to keep be fucking with him." Ken's voice was strained with emotion. In times like this, he wished they hadn't complicated their relationship. A quick fuck now and then to relief teenage hormones was one thing. To move in and be a 'couple' was totally something else.
"Of course, I do!" Terry looked up from his pillow. Shit! He really hated to do this to Ken. "It's just a fucking dream. You know, you took that psychological shit, didn't you?"
Ken sighed for the hundredth time. "I'm not an expert, you big oaf! I told you a million times to go see a psychiatrist, but no-o-o-o-o. Mr. I - can - fucking - handle - this was gonna beat it on his own. 'I just need some lovin', baby' you said. 'I just need someone to understand me' you said. And last but not least, 'I just need to get laid, Ken.' Fuck you, Terry. You've been getting my ass for years, and now that we've moved in together, even more often than before. Why haven't you gotten rid of this fuckin' dream yet?" He was nearly yelling by the end of the tirade.
"Look, Ken, I told you about these dreams long before we ever got together. It never bothered you before, why so pissed off now?"
"I didn't have to sleep with you and listen to you whimper all night, you big jerk! I'm thinking that moving in with you was a big mistake. At least before we just fuck and go our own way." Ken ran his hand through his black hair in frustration. "And why the hell is it getting worse when we got to China? Now, not only are you screwing with this guy every night, you're spacing out during the day too! What's up with that?"
It's true. Ever since they've arrived in China with their class a week ago, Terry's had series of déjà vu. And yesterday, while walking along a mountain path with Ken, he swore Chichiri was walking next to him, talking and smiling happily. He did a double take and blinked in shock, then found that it was Ken who's walking with him. He resented Ken so much at that time, he felt really bad about it later. But why couldn't it be Chichiri?
He had no answer for Ken and didn't pretend to be any wiser. He can only apologize again and pulled him down into the soft bed with him. If he can't convince Ken with words, maybe he can with his body.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Chichiri! What the hell are you doing?" Fear edged the younger man's face. Fear for the safety of his lover's and not for his own. "Chiri, come with me now!" he demanded, holding out his hand. "Please, Chiri, don't do this." Tasuki's voice was choked with emotion and tears filled his eyes.
"I'll be fine, Tasuki, please take the villagers out of here, no da. Hurry Tasuki, there isn't much time." His own voice was calm and strong. He cannot have Tasuki stay here where there can still be danger to the bandit. He needed to convince Tasuki that all would be well. It was a lie that he hoped will save his lover's life.
"No, Chiri. Don't fuckin' give me that! If everything's gonna be fine, why send us away? What the fuck's going on? I thought you sealed him away." Tasuki's stared at his partner who was standing by the fountain he had sealed the demon in. Red glowing light engulfed the whole fountain including Chichiri. The monk stood his ground, refusing to leave the barrier he had erected.
Tasuki, refusing to leave him, turned to the stunned villagers and yelled at them to get going. As the villagers scrambled away toward safety, Tasuki turned back towards the man within the barrier. The monk looked back at him steadily, silently willing him to stay away.
"Tasuki...." he whispered sadly. His energy was waning and he must keep most of his chi focused on the barrier to keep the evil in. He had just enough life force left to send the deathblow to the entity inside the fountain. After that, well, after that he hoped the barrier will hold and the entity will be trapped inside. Then everyone would be safe, including Tasuki.
He gasped as he realizes what his mate was doing. Tasuki was walking back toward him with eyes filled with determination. No! Tasuki cannot die. He won't allow it!
"TASUKI! NO! Stay outside the barrier! NO!" He yelled at his stubborn lover, desperate tears spilled from his eye.
Tasuki continued to push grimly at the barrier with his shoulder.
"NO! Tasuki, please, no!" He was frantically yelling at the bandit but Tasuki was not listening.
"For all of eternity, Chiri. I ain't leaving you." Was all Tasuki said as he broke into the barrier and took the trembling monk into his arms.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"TASUKI NO-O-O-O!" Ryosuke woke up with a scream, his heart pounding thunderously in his chest. Sweat soaked his shirt and dampens his hair and face. He reached up to wipe the moisture from his face and found that most of it was tears, he was crying. At the thought of losing the fiery haired bandit, his chest tighten and he found it difficult to breath.
What's going on? For years, he's been dreaming on and off of a certain orange hair young man. He had passed it off as adolescence wet dreams. Later, when he's grown passed that age and still dreamed of him, he just thought that his mind was using an image it was accustomed to.
But this past 2 months living in China had brought the dreams on nightly. He can never remember all the details of the dreams but the face of one young man never waver. Worse yet, the feelings that accompany the dreams stays with him all day....until the next dream. He didn't mind so much when he woke feeling happy and fulfilled. This time, however, his heart ached and the devastation racked throughout his body. What the hell was going on?
With a groan, Ryosuke left his bed and went over to the kitchen for some tea. He decided to finish up on some more research since sleep was out of the question. It was already close to 5 a.m. so it's not like he'll miss much more rest anyway. Sifting through his paper he remembered that he's suppose to give a lectured tour to some third year college students on a trip from the United States. Ugh! He didn't like that one bit but it's a part of the requirement for his thesis; Ancient Chinese religion and philosophy in the modern world. He found that most of these tourist type students are skeptics and tend to poke fun at his lectures. They behave outrageously and mostly disrespectful towards Suzaku. He hated that the most.
Six more months and he'll get his doctorate. At 26 years of age, Ryo knew that he is pretty young for that particular degree but he had worked hard. Many of his professors didn't get their doctorate until they are in their thirties. Having a very rich family didn't hurt either. He can devote all his time studying and not have to worry about part time jobs. Kaede and Hiro, his childhood friends are still working on their masters. The fact that they kept changing their majors didn't help.
He's been having dreams of a life in ancient China since he can remember. He's known since a very young age that his studies will involve that subject. Especially when, at around the age of 16, he started having these more specific dreams of 6 other guys and a girl. Especially the fang guy with the fan. Why can't he remember all of his dreams? Why do they feel so real?
Ryo flipped through his notes with some irritation. Then he froze. It was the page with his drawings of the Shrine of Suzaku. The place where he's lecturing tomorrow, well actually this morning. He loved this place and found himself there everyday. He felt safe there, not that he's in danger or anything but safe and warm. And loved. But that's not what shocked him when he saw the page. It was the legend associated with the shrine. Locals had this oral tradition that was passed down for thousands of years...
"It is said, no da, that if a couple pledge their love to Suzaku in front of the shrine, if their love is true, they will be united for eternity, na no da. They will be together in every incarnation to come."
Ryo blinked and looked around. Did he say that? That speech pattern sounded like him in his dreams. But what do the dreams have to do with the Shrine of Suzaku?
The sound of his alarm clock took him from his thoughts. It's 6 o'clock already. With a sigh, Ryo gathered his paper together and pack his materials for the lecture. Even though he really hated these lectures, he had to admit that today he's beginning to have a different feeling altogether. He felt sure something exciting is going to happen. The feeling of dread changed to anticipation as he went to take a shower.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Oi, Oi, quit yanking." Terry complained as Ken tucked on his sleeve.
"Then hurry! The bus is going to leave us behind and we'll miss the tour and lecture of the day." Ken was busy dragging Terry with one hand while reading the summaries to the day's events, held in the other hand.
"Good! Then we can go back to bed and have some more fun." Terry gave Ken a meaningful wink.
"Terry! These 2 months in China is not a vacation! We have reports to make when we get back and at this rate, we'll fail this course for sure!" Ken shoved him into the bus.
"It was a stupid subject to begin with." Terry complained as he sat down. "Why the hell did we pick Ancient Chinese Religion and Philosophy anyway?" Terry whined.
"....."
"Okay, okay, so it's my fucking fault. I thought it was a good idea at the time. I mean it came with a discounted trip and everything." He gave his lover a fanged grin.
"You thought it was a good idea because all your fuckin' dreams were in ancient China. Don't give me that discounted trip shit. Your family's loaded. You don't need the god damn discount." Ken was pouting again when reminded of Terry's dreams.
"Aw, come on, Ken. I don't want to fight anymore today, please. I have a good feeling about today. Something great is gonna happen." He smiled enthusiastically at Ken. "Please? No more fights?" Now he added the puppy dog eye look.
Ken can't help but smile back. How can anyone stay mad at Terry when he's like that? "You have a good feeling, huh? Okay, buddy, no more fights."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Well? What do you think so far? This came to me so fast I finished it in a couple of days. I hope you like it. Next chapter they will meet but how will THAT turn out? Can you guess who Ken is supposed to be? Easy, huh? And Kaede and Hiro? ~.~ Anyway, please let me know what you think. I wrote for all of you Tas/Chi fans!!!. Arigatou!!!!