Hello and welcome to another chapter. This fic was first going to be written by D.S.M, but as she is so busy dealing with everything life keeps throwing at her, I am writing this up myself. ( well I have written the rest on my own. ) However, I will attempt to stay as faithful to her ideas as I can. Although I have mentioned in " Trammel Line Stories" that Eiji is a "cat" and Oishi a "dog", I have not yet fully revealed their true Mythic natures and will do so here. One little clue: "Dono" comes from the word "Tono", which means "Lord". It is higher than " Sama" and confers complete respect. And the " Bright moon" ? Well.....read on and you shall find out!
" Heart Of Dragon Gold---The Chronicles Of The Mythic Brotherhood."
Story: Tora Macaw.
Concept: D.S.M
Chapter 1
Prologue
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" Seigaku wins" called the lines man from his high seat.
Striding forward the Golden pair shook hand with their opponents, then together they strolled from the court.
" It's hot" said Oishi wiping his sweaty brow with the back of his hand. " I need a drink."
" Water, water..." panted Eiji in reply.
Passing through the gate, they accepted the enthusiastic acclaim of their fellow time mates, then reached for the drinking flasks nestled against their gear bags. Smiling tenderly, Oishi held out a towel to his doubles partner who took it; his right hand briefly lingering on Oishi's, then the springy redhead vigorously applied it to his moist face, neck and hair. Oishi gave his own face similar ministrations with a second towel, then nodded to his captain as the stoic youth approached them.
" Well done. Again, your skills have bought victory to Seigaku."
The grinning face of Eiji appeared from beneath his towel, and one deep blue eye closed in a wink as Tezuka turned away to speak with Fuji.
Taking a long drink from his water bottle, the young man voiced a contented sigh then tipped his head back and closed his eyes. Drawing a deep breath, Eiji enjoyed the warmth of the sun on his face now he was no longer running about under it's fiery, hot radiance. A light breeze gently fanned his face to stir the tendrils of his hair and dry the last traces of tennis induced moisture on his cooling skin. Flushed redness bought on by the intense exercise faded away, leaving him with a warm glow of satisfaction for a job well done. Two gentle hands softly caressed his sides, then a pair of arms encircled his waist from behind. Humming contentedly as silky lips briefly flicked lightly against his ear, Eiji then turned to gaze into glittering twin orbs of forest green.
" hmm...Oishi, that's nice nya."
" Good" came the loving murmur as the dark haired boy reached up to carefully caress one smooth, pink cheek. " You mustn't exhaust yourself."
The long fingers dragged down the side of Eiji's face, then brushed with feather-light tenderness against the large white bandage that was a permanent feature of his lover's face. The flame haired youth gasped at the gentle touch and closed his eyes as he turned his body to accept his boy friends warm embrace. Oishi placed a soft kiss on top of Eiji's head, then lightly gripped the youth's shoulders so the teenager gazed up at him. For a moment, Oishi's eyes searched his lover's face, the he spoke with tender concern.
" Does it hurt again?"
Lifting his right hand so his fingers lingered on the bandage, Eiji's azure eyes clouded over as deeply buried pain rose out of the depths of his memory to briefly plague him. Seeing the flash of hurt within those beautiful large orbs, Oishi held his lover close and wished with every fibre of his being he could turn back time and prevent the terrifying occurrence that had once befallen his life's light. But such power was not his to command and all he could do now was to offer comfort to the one he loved with all his heart.
Trembling in his lover's arms, Eiji felt his cheek momentarily burn and he shuddered with fear as the memories he had fought so hard and so long to suppress, clawed their loathsome way out of the deepest recesses of his mind, and he unwilling found himself being transported back in time; to just over one year ago...........
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Eiji awoke as he always did; in the small hours before dawn.
Propping himself up on his right elbow, he gazed at the overhead stars twinkling in the dark sky beyond his bedroom window.
Throwing back his bedding, his breath hissed in a lengthy yawn as his lips curled back revealing catlike teeth.
Blinking his dark blue eyes as they flooded with flecks of shimmering gold, the red haired youth stood, stretched contentedly and reached for the black clothing neatly folded beside his bed. He dressed rapidly as he knew he only had two hours before sunrise, but for him, it was plenty of time to play in pre-dawn darkness; in a time that belonged to the cats.
Dodging the very occasional car by ducking under or behind some form of cover that always presented itself when needed, a large, lean cat with fur the color of fire slipped unseen through deserted streets as he bounded toward a nearby hill top.
The high earth mound loomed up before him as a great brooding shadow sitting silently framed by the bright glittering celestial curtain, bringing a happy smile to the felines lips as he began his assent.
Atop the hill was a huge old dumpster crate. When sitting upon it, one could get a grand view of the entire city all laid out like a giant toy, but to the young feline, it was like looking out at the entire world.
It was his favourite place, a special place and far as he was concerned, it was his hill alone.
Drawing near the summit, his nostrils twitched as the powerful sent of a stranger floated to him on the light breeze and at once, Eiji felt a serge of unreasonable anger. How dare someone else be here, invading his hill top and intrude upon his privacy! Laying his ears flat against his skull, the big cat slunk forward, his long body held low to the ground as he snarled a challenge at the invader.
Two eyes of green flame set in a broad canine face regarded him calmly as a long bristle-furred tail wagged in greeting, but the red furred cat answered with a growl as the fur along his spine stood stiffly.
"You have invaded my hill top dog! Go Away!"
Normally, the sound of a human voice issuing from the mouth of a lion-sized cat was enough to send any dog with half a brain fleeing in terror, but this one mealy cocked it's head to one side then lifted a forepaw that more closely resembled a human hand as it softly spoke.
" I mean you no harm."
Eiji glared as he drank in the sight of the short glossy fur all bridled with varying shadow shades ranging from smoky grey to light silver and deepest black, before locking eyes with those of the dog.
" Nya!! This is my place you flea scratcher! My hill, my place, my dumpster!! Just who do you think you are to be sitting up there in my special spot?"
Standing, the large canine Twitched its triangular, stand-up ears, then leapt down lightly to stroll quietly past the enraged cat as it spat savagely. Stopping a short distance away, the great dog swung its tail then looked back to speak over one muscular shoulder.
" Sorry, I had no idea that crate was your private property. I'll be going now."
Flicking his own tail as the smooth coated dog walked slowly away, Eiji suddenly felt his anger drain away due to the kindness in the bridled canines smooth voice. Leaping up to stand atop the crate, he watched the stranger trot down the hill and be swallowed up by the shadows, then he turned his attention to the sky. Tomorrow would mark the beginning of a whole new phase in his life and slipping back into his birth form, Eiji linked his clawed hands behind his head to mull over his future.
There had once been a time when his kind had been plentiful, but now only a scant handful remained. None of them lived in Japan anymore and Eiji wouldn't have even known of their existence if his mother hadn't informed him. Sighing. he sadly thought of his long dead father. He had been what Eiji was now and as the power came only through the male blood line, his older sister was perfectly human. 'Even so' he mused as a group of shooting stars blazed silvery trails across the sky, 'cats still adore her...' Sitting up, he let his long legs dangle over the crates edge and drew his claws along the top. In the eastern sky, a faint orange glow was forming to herald the coming of dawn. Soon, he would have to return home.
There was a slinking movement on the ground, then several cats vaulted onto the crate to stand before him. One of them, a smooth coated tabby spoke quietly.
" You seem troubled my lord."
Reaching out to caress his subjects as they purred and slunk about him, Eiji smiled sadly. True enough; he could summon and control every breed of cat in existence, but while they were respectful and polite, he keenly felt the absence of a true friend, a companion. Lifting the tabby into his lap, he gently informed the creature he was fine and just thinking about starting in a new school.
" Human Learning, pah!! a fool's errand. Humans know nothing."
Eiji laughed brightly at the cats scornful tone as he lovingly stroked it.
" Does this mean a human is only good for opening a tin of cat food then, nya? "
" Indeed!" the cat answered smugly " They at least have hands. So, where is it you will go to learn the things a human needs to know?"
Glancing at the rosy, glowing dawn sky, Eiji became fully human as he gave his friend an apologetic pat, then stood up to stretch.
" It's a good place, and it's called Seishun Academy.
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Reaching home after an easy jog, Eiji ate his breakfast, brushed his teeth ( and spent a few minutes admiring the gleaming white fangs of his true self ) Then dressed in his brand new black school uniform. Bounding enthusiastically from his house, he paused a moment to cry out " High school, here I come Nya!!" then tore off down the street at a dead run.
Standing before the high gates as large groups of chatting students swarmed about him, Eiji's dark eyes gleamed with excitement. After the boredom that had been lower school, attending high school now seemed to be a very interesting prospect. Opening his mind, the young mythic attuned his senses and almost fell down in shock. A power reading such as he'd never felt before briefly touched him only to zip away and leave him gasping.
' Nya! What in the world was THAT? I've never felt anything like it! '
Straightening, Eiji regained his breath then caught sight of a golden-brown haired student intently studying him from a short distance away. Meeting the youths steady Hazel-Gold eyes, Eiji suddenly felt drawn to him in a way he couldn't explain. He knew the youth was a Mythic, but he was keeping his identity shielded in way that most had yet to master.
His calm scrutiny over, the regal youth turned and strolled away to be rapidly swallowed up by the vast milling crowds.
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The bell shrilled out its strident summons and Eiji entered his first ever class at Seishun. Sitting, he glanced around at his classmates and almost stood up again in surprise when a pair of very blue eyes opened up to gaze into his own. Lifting a trembling finger, Eiji whispered; ' you...your a...you are...Blood.'
" Really?" answered the teenager with a serene smile and light silvery laugh. " saa...how very strange."
Laying his left arm across his desk, the 'blood' youth rested his cheek on his right palm and regarded his shocked classmate calmly.
" I feel you are connected to cats in some way, hmmm...do you play tennis?"
"Huh?" The unexpected question took him completely by surprise. "Er...yes, I er...I do play...a little.."
Again the boy laughed in his quiet, yet sinister way. Eiji started to hunt around in his mind for something more to say, but his teacher was speaking, and there was no more time for talk.
Morning break rolled around and was soon followed by lunch. Eiji sat beside his classmate and gave Fuji a wicked grin as the subject of tennis once more rose up between them.
"Nya! I can play a little tennis, wanna see nya?"
Fuji smiled. " Nya? ha ha...the way you say that you sound like you're meowing." Ducking his head, Eiji blushed and Fuji passed him a prawn from his obento box. " saa...I would like to see you play. I believe there will be selections held after school today for Seigaku regulars. Lets see how good you are then."
Laughing, Eiji declared it would be a disaster, but he agreed anyway.
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Leaping high into the air, Eiji smacked the ball clean out of the sky and sent it zipping back at his startled opponent who swung and missed.
"Game! 6 games to 2. Kikumaru wins!"
Striding off the court, Eiji laughed nervously at the watching crowd, then joined Fuji by the fence. Tipping his head to one side, the smiling teenager smirked; " Play a little tennis hmm? A disaster hmm?" Looking over to where a woman in a pink tracksuit stood appraising the hopefuls, Fuji then murmured " I think you have impressed the coach."
" Think so Nya? Well it looks like I may make the team! Then, we can play together 'cause your really good too!"
When the last group of players trudged from the courts, the older woman raised her clip board then called for attention.
" The following students have been selected: Syusuke Fuji, "
Nudging his new friend as Ryuzaki called out a second name, Eiji whispered, ' I knew you would make it, nya! '
Two more names were called then the coach announced; " Eiji Kikumaru!"
Barely able to
contain his excitement, Eiji jumped about then stopped to gape as a new player
was called fourth.
" Kunimitsu Tezuka"
' It's him! The guy from this morning! '
As though picking Eiji's thoughts from the air, the proud youth with the wind-swept looking hair turned his imperial gaze towards him a moment, then returned his full attention to the coach. The flame haired youth peered at Fuji then grinned as he noticed the look on his friends face. ' I think his in love! '
Sweeping the students with a stern gaze, the coach called out a new name. " Syuichiro Oishi! "
Placing his hands behind his back, Eiji glanced idly at the short haired youth as he passed, then startled as the players scent drifted into his highly sensitive nostrils. Shaking, Eiji recognized the smell as the same strong dog-like odour from the early morning.
But try as he might, he couldn't see past the canines human disguise.
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That night with the combined excitement of being selected for the school tennis team and making new friends, Eiji found he was too restless to sleep. Donning his black clothing, He stole out into the night, blissfully unaware of his terrifying ordeal to come.
To be continued......
Cliffee...sort of. Hope to able to update this soon, but the Christmas holidays have begun and I have a lot of other things to do, so please be patent. I will type up Oishi's stat's on next posting.
Please leave your review, and thank you to all my readers for your past support. You are all so wonderful!! I will happily answer any questions you have on this series by e-mail, or you can wait for another question and answer page.
Take care everyone!!!!