Lo and behold, the sequel to "My Dreams aren't as Empty." This story will be seven years in the future. Most of the kids will be fifteen and in middle school. As most anime's go, a lot of adult things happen when they're that age in that school year (laugh). Saito and Yui will be married, and Taka well.,…..just read ahead. Miaka will remain Miaka however. Couldn't alter her if I wanted to! But as for our world? Well, the title says it all.

If you haven't read the story preluding this, you might want to before you go through this. It is called "My Dreams aren't as Empty." To avoid confusion, a recap of reincarnated names and who they belong to in my story:

Nakago is Naisen, now a boy of 15.

Soi is Sadako, now a girl of 14.

Ashitare is Ash, now a half wolf mongrel.

Miboshi is Mitsuko, now a shrine's assistant of age 15 .

Tomo is Toya, now a boy of 15.

Suboshi is Saito, now Yui's husband.

Amiboshi is Asakura, now Yui's brother in law.

Hiroshi is not a reincarnation from the book world, but is a son of Taka and Miaka.

Mariko is not a reincarnation from the book world, but is a daughter of Saito and Yui.

Is to indicate a flashback, but it will be painstakingly clear when you get to it.

Disclaimer: Penpaninu does not claim to own Fushigi Yuugi or Eikoden or any of it's incarnates that belong solely to its talented creator. Is not making a dime on this. Does claim to see the Mysterious Play in life however.

This story is dedicated to Miss KittyLynne especially, to Fushigiyugifan, black panther, Nuni-chan and others.

"Dreams Alter Reality" chapter one

After the years passed by

Years passed. One year to two, two to four, then before one could blink, seven short years passed almost in an instant. Naisen, Sadako and the other boys remained friends, and entered middle school together. The young men were growing tall with slim shoulders and narrow hips. Sadako willowed out slowly but surely, her hair growing in undulating cascades down her back.

Hiroshi revealed feelings towards Sadako in their years together and it was Naisen he confessed his want to date the slender red-haired girl.

A fierce pride made Naisen pull his friend aside and speak with low and urgent words to keep Sadako to himself. Hiroshi understood and backed off. Their friendship was not damaged in the slightest.

Sadako always loved Naisen so it was he she accepted. They shared their first kisses, sweet innocent pressing of lips that evolved later with shy advances to tongue caresses. They were so young, Naisen's foster parents feared they'd move along far too quickly and when indeed they tried to hold each other on his bed, Naisen's new mother stepped in and explained some rules for the household.

It didn't mean they couldn't meet after school for some more learning how to touch each other.

Hiroshi grew tall and robust, but his mother grew sad and small with grief. Taka had passed a mere year before from some bizarre inflammation of a common virus and Miaka still grieved for him. Two who had gone beyond the passage of one life to live and love together could not be easily forgotten. While Miaka was resolved not to forget her love and husband, she tried not to let it affect her life now. While her heart seared drastically for her lost companion, she kept her feet firmly anchored to the concrete of Tokyo so she may remain for her son.

Hiroshi really was his father's son. They were so alike in the shade of their skin to the darkness of their eyes, and the blue color to their hair. Hiroshi was even kind and chivalrous like Taka was, Miaka reflected with a hand over her mouth. Her son was courteous to others, and girls crushed on him at school and wanted his strength to shield them. It really wasn't fair that he would put off his own romantic pursuits to protect her, but Miaka was grateful all the same.

Hiroshi genuinely worried for his mother. He helped her in every way he could, but he could only be awed she held an indomitable will of banded iron that carried her through the good times and the bad. And these were certainly the bad. Hiroshi always knew his mother to have a smile on her face, so her naked grief was a frightening thing to behold.

He could only understand her lamentation. He missed his father terribly and the fact he couldn't see him at dinner table, or at his old school or hugging his mother was a terrible knot in his throat and in his stomach.

Naisen still kept in contact with his old school's guidance counselor. Hongo Yui, now Boshin Yui, talked with him happily as friends instead of in clinical terms and Naisen was glad to keep such a friend. He was glad about her marriage to Boshin Saito, and they all had been invited. The two were simply so happy together. Much like how his heart would ease slowly when in Sadako's presence. Naisen had had several more dreams regarding Yui-san and he confessed his treasonous deeds to her in a fit of childish fear. Yui only hugged him and said everyone did things they wish they hadn't. She was no stranger to this guilt, but she said something Sukunami-san had said before.

You could learn to love and continue your life to the best you can. Just live. Naisen, who often was called to baby sit the result of Yui-san's happiness with her husband, could only laugh and agree. Yui's daughter, Mariko, had Saito's hair and her eyes and loved when he came to watch her.

As Naisen's foster parents couldn't have children, he was glad to visit his old counselor's family. It was kind of fun watching Mariko. She was like a younger sister a lot of the time. And often Yui would let Naisen bring Sadako over to help. Naisen enjoyed the time spent with girlfriend and foster sister alike, but his almost healed heart hurt. How could he be allowed happiness? Even a little bit after all that had happened?

Yui-san forgave him, Sadako earned his affection, and Saito-san looked on him as a younger brother now. How could he have come out on top? Naisen mused ponderously as he leaned back on the couch, waiting for Sadako to finish putting Mariko to bed. Saito-san and Yui-san were due back within the hour, but it didn't mean he and Sadako couldn't pursue their own embraces.

Just as Naisen was starting to give himself a headache, his eyes slitting shut with the beginning of a migraine, a door closed and Sadako came to him. The middle school girl smoothed her short skirt and smiled helplessly at the beauty of her boyfriend before her. Leaning back, one leg crooked invitingly and his long hair tousled from sliding his fingers through it…. it was more than enough that he would want her in return. The girls in his class all thought him quite the looker. And he chose to be with her, a full year below. Sadako felt a twinge of possessive pride and cleared her throat. Naisen slit one eye open.

"Mariko-chan's finally down," Sadako giggled. She hopped on the couch beside Naisen and kissed his cheek chastely. Naisen's eyes opened fully and he smiled, his heart in his gaze. Sadako nervously watched him, her throat dry with anticipation. It had been this way for the past two years, growing more charged with each touch between them.

"She went down with only two stories? I ought be surprised," Naisen chuckled. His large hands unfastened his school jacket collar, opening his smooth throat to Sadako's thoughtful gaze. The few times she had kissed him there, he had shuddered with such longing that it almost could paralyze her. When Naisen turned to take in Sadako once more, he saw her with a very red face. Her expression was thoughtful however.

"What is it?" Naisen asked. He truly looked so perplexed that Sadako giggled.

"You, that's what!" Sadako patted her boyfriend's face. Naisen captured her hand and entwined their fingers together.

"What about me?"

"Only the hotness that IS you," Sadako said smugly. Naisen leaned forward and kissed her. The kiss threatened to erupt full force as the two young teens strained against each other. Finally Sadako pressed her small form against Naisen's side, her breasts pressing hard against him. Naisen gulped audibly and kept her still with his hands. Sadako jerked against him and fell back on the couch, Naisen tumbling with her.

"What are you doing?" Naisen gasped as their lips pressed shortly. Sadako ran her hands through his longish hair and wriggled her legs restlessly. She didn't know what to do now that they were horizontal and Naisen's red face expressed this reciprocated frustration.

"I just…want to lay here with you," Sadako said simply. Naisen let her small hands pull his face down for more sweet kisses when they heard the front door open.

Male laughter jarred the teens from their hazy world and Naisen scrambled off of Sadako to fall onto the carpet, banging his knees. He fell the rest of the way on his behind in his panic to avoid adult scrutiny.

"Ow!" he exclaimed loudly. Saito grinned at the two love struck children and helped Yui off with her coat.

"Now that's what I call some affection," Saito teased. Yui pushed at his broad chest, stepping out of her shoes.

"I've got your affection right here," she warned. Saito shrugged and made his way in, giving the two students time to gather their senses. Naisen rose to his feet, rubbing his rear. Sadako arranged her hair quickly, her face as red as her long tresses.

"We were just…." Sadako began lamely, not even able to finish a coherent sentence. Her lips were reddened and kiss-bruised. Yui made a mental note to have another 'talk' with her reincarnated seishi about going too far on her living room sofa while babysitting Mariko.

"I was helping her…." Naisen added somewhat pathetically, buttoning the collar to this uniform jacket. Saito barked with laughter, his hands on his slim hips.

"Oh let up on them, Yui! They're a couple too, they're allowed to hold each other when they want," Saito offered. Naisen grinned widely his thanks. The two men nodded as they gazed at each other. Sadako smoothed her hair back softly and felt the seishi camaraderie spark between all three of them.

"Just not when our daughter can see," Yui offered politely and Naisen flushed scarlet. Her reincarnated general had become such a young thoughtful man growing into his physical strength that it made her heart glad to see he could be a man without the weight of a country on his slim shoulders.

"My apologies, Yui-san. Sadako and I will watch ourselves here," Naisen offered smoothly. Yui kissed his cheek and ruffled his hair.

"There, now off with you both!" Yui handed her seishi the sum of his services to share with Sadako, and turned to hug the young woman in farewell.

Sadako clasped her arms around the older blond woman easily, smiling happily. The roles were reversed, she was the young one needing the older woman to trust in. She knew she could trust Yui-san as Yui-san had so wanted to trust her in the last life.

Besides, when her parents had divorced a few short years ago, Yui-san had proved an invaluable ally in talking to her about her fears for familial commitment.

"How will I know who I marry will be the right one?" Sadako had confessed, nervous as a maid on her wedding night. Yui had clasped her shoulder softly.

"You will know, because you know how your life must go. And I think you've chosen the one you're meant to be with." This had been said with a wink that made Sadako blush even now.

"Goodbye, Yui-san! Say Good morning to Mariko-chan for us," Sadako waved, taking Naisen's hand. Saito leaned down to kiss her cheek in passing as she went. The door closed behind the teens.

Saito followed his wife back to check on their daughter. "That is always a welcome sight for me," he confessed quietly. Yui took his large hand and led him away lest he wake their child.

"Our daughter sleeping in her bed?" Yui asked. Her palm smoothed over Saito's cheek lovingly.

"Oh, yes…. and you in ours…. The both of you with me," Saito smiled. Yui traced the tell tale lines crinkling along the sides of his eyes. He was not quite thirty and still as trim and hale as ever, his face a mirror to his brother who lived away across town from them.

Yui turned into his arms and leaned up to kiss him. Saito smiled and squeezed her close.

Naisen and Sadako walked home, opting to ride the rails instead of the bus. Their hands reached out and squeezed together as they walked down the concrete steps. The swift breezes the subway cars blew flapped their coats around, and rustled their long unbound hair. Naisen sat on a bench to wait for their train, and Sadako leaned close against his shoulder. Naisen looked softly over the top of her head and closed his eyes a moment. A large man walked near them and Naisen slit his eyes open and gave him a questioning gaze that brooked for no argument. The man, who looked as far dark as Naisen's gaze did, seemed to rethink his position and went on his way.

The train rumbled up, bringing a fresh blast of cold air in the tunnel. Sadako shivered and Naisen took her arm, walking on when the doors slid open with an audible 'ping.' Sadako stretched and grinned before she and her boyfriend sat side by side against the cold of the train car.

"How did your talk with Yui-san go?" Naisen asked, stifling a yawn. He seemed to get little sleep the nights he and Sadako went to school, and babysat Mariko afterwards. His foster parents didn't mind the friendship with his old counselor and her family, but he had to be back before the trains stopped running. Sadako's parents didn't seem to mind one way or another, but it sickened her that they thought she and Naisen were already sleeping together.

Not that the thought hadn't crossed her mind since she and he hit puberty, Sadako reflected as she blew on her gloved hands. Naisen and she had kept having dream-memories of the last life, of her above him while her hair shielded them from the world….

"It went well enough! She really helped me out…. Like when Dad comes back to visit," Sadako looked down. Naisen nodded.

"How does that make you feel?" he intoned with a slowly deepening voice. Sadako had to smile.

"Now you're using Yui-san's line," she teased. "And it doesn't make me feel so good since they give me the ninth degree about you. They think they're going to find you with me in the middle of the night…"

Naisen smiled slightly, his face red. "Some day, maybe. Well, they won't catch me with you."

Sadako blushed. They got off on their stop and Naisen walked Sadako home first before turning to his neighborhood.

"Hiroshi left a message on my cell," Sadako commented, looking at the thin instrument. "I'll call him back before I go to bed."

"Tell him hi, I'm just going to sleep," Naisen offered, stretching one lean arm over his head. Sadako stepped on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"All right, I will. I hope he's okay…" Sadako mused as they parted ways. She said hello to her mother, and clicked open her cell. Punching in the speed dial to Hiroshi's number, she knelt to pet Ash, now a full-grown wolfling pup. He was as high as her waist now, and she could rest her arm on his back if she chose.

"Hiroshi-kun? Yeah, its Sadako…." Sadako said, sitting on her bed. Ash leaped up to lay his head in her lap, pulling his lip back over his teeth in a mock smile.

Hiroshi hung up with Sadako and peered into the kitchen. His mother was sitting at the small table, her head on her arms. From where he stood at his newly acquired height, she looked to be dozing. But for all he knew, she could be awake, and crying silently as he had seen her do numerous times.

Hiroshi's eyes saddened and he cleared his throat. "Mama?"

Sukunami Miaka sat up, rubbing her wet cheek with the back of a slender hand. "My boy…. how was your day?" she asked weakly, her lips stretched in as bright a smile as she could make. My Taka, how I miss you. Hiroshi is your every image…. If she glazed her eyes just right, the lithe vision of her tall son could almost be her lost love….

Hiroshi cleared his throat and smiled weakly. His eyes strained sadly as he stepped forward to kiss his mother's cheek dutifully. "It went fine. Naisen and I got to practice softball during physical education today."

Miaka chuckled lightly and held her son's face in her hands. "Oh, that's good. How are your friends? Naisen-kun?"

She would ever ask him that, Hiroshi reflected. Sometimes he felt his best friend and his mother knew a lot more than he did, shared some deep secret. He resolved not to let it trouble him as it once might have.

"Naisen's fine! He and Sadako-chan went to watch Mariko-chan tonight." With Yui-san being as close as a foster aunt, Hiroshi knew Mariko since her birth, and saw her first smiles, her first toddling steps as if he were a brother in blood if not in spirit. Naisen knew her as well as he did and it was as if they shared a sibling through his 'Aunt Yui.'

"Oh, that's fine…." Miaka mused quietly. "I should call Yui-chan soon…."

Hiroshi nodded fervently.

"You should, Mama! She worries about you as well…" Hiroshi gulped. The scene was so normal he could almost expect to see his father walk in any moment for a snack before bedtime. The way his mother glanced over his shoulder toward the living room confirmed she shared his want.

"I'm sure she does…" Miaka said idly, and cleared the cobwebs from her mind. "Do you have any homework?" At a shake from Hiroshi's dark head she sighed.

"Well, off to bed with you, son. I'll see you tomorrow before school."

Hiroshi knelt and kissed his mother's cheek again. When did she seem so short, so small? Where had those lines near the corners of her eyes come from? Her hair was still dark, it's wonderful auburn brown, but there were a few lines of silver. Did grief age one prematurely? Did grief take the joy from one's life?

Hiroshi's heart seized and he resolved to ever make his mother smile, as he tried to since the funeral over a year ago. He didn't know if he would be the one to ease his mother's heart, but he would support her.

As Hiroshi readied for sleep, he offered an offshoot of a hazy prayer to the heavens. 'Help my mother, if someone is listening. She deserves to be happy.'

Suzaku leaned over the teenager as he slept deeply and evenly. His feathered wings of flame brushed ethereal over the boy of his reincarnated seishi and the Phoenix God smiled softly.

'Your mother shall never go for want. This is the will of Suzaku Sekun, and his priestess will be ever cared for. I have sent someone already.'

Off in Hokkaido, a seventeen-year old red-haired high school student watched the stars, or what were visible. If he squinted just right, maybe he could see the stars from his dreams….

"Tetsuo, come inside," his mother called. The young man took his elbow off his knee and swung his leg down, rising to his impressive height.

"Coming, Mom!" Tetsuo called, but stole one last glance at the night sky. His heart twisted and burned for someone he could not name. But in his dreams, he curled his strong fingers through brown hair, held a small woman close and protected her with fist and flame. Sure his dreams bordered on the fantasy, but that's all they were, were dreams. Right? Then why did it feel so real…. and why did his right forearm burn with the passion the dreams wrought?

"I must be going crazy," Tetsuo shrugged. He shut the door and went inside. He couldn't help hoping for a dream even now, even if it couldn't be real.

Miaka knelt before the small family altar before she prepared for bed as she did most every night. Taka's portrait hung framed before the incense holders, somber yet smiling as if to give her strength. Courage, she must have courage, Miaka thought, her daily mantra as she prayed earnestly to her departed love.

"Lately it is a struggle…Taka, watch over me. Suzaku, cradle him in your embrace and help me never to forget…" Miaka pressed her palms together and closed her eyes, lips forming the words noiselessly.

Every night, she remembered the last time she saw Taka, laying in a hospital bed, his face gaunt and shallow with pain as she held his hand tightly between hers. She could still hear his dear voice speaking his final words, even if the memory of his voice was fading, bit by bit…and it had only been a little over a year!

How weak his large hands had been between hers…. How pale he had seemed, how tired but loving his eyes…. Miaka closed her eyes tighter, and tears squeezed around the closed lids. She remembered as she prayed….

"I can't be with you, Miaka…." Taka had whispered. The strain of speaking was showing on his face. He was in so much pain….. Miaka kissed his hand, her eyes naked with fear.

"Don't speak, Taka. You can't strain yourself!" she whispered hurriedly.

Taka put one hand in the air and coughed. Miaka held onto his other hand so tight, she left marks. "Let me…..I know someone will come for you….and take care of you….. for me…."

Miaka's eyes flowed with a fountain of agony. "No….," she whispered, her mouth lined with the constraint of holding her pain back. "No, Taka, I can't…."

"Don't ever hold back…. any part of yourself back…." Taka smiled as his eyes darkened. As his fingers curled around her cheek lovingly, she wondered if he could see her anymore. "You aren't living if you hold yourself back…."

Miaka cried out a forced laugh, her smile the image of pain. Her tears flowed over her husband's hand. Her words from his lips…. Her advice turned back to herself. It was one of the more rare times Tamahome's reincarnation would speak of his previous life's deity. Taka so wanted to live his new life the way he wanted…. but now he would be pious and loyal. At the very end he would show his deepest strength.

"Taka…."

"Suzaku's will….. live….. live ….and…love…."

"Taka…." Miaka whispered his name again and again as he eased back, his eyes sliding closed. A small smile played across his lips and he gave up his old soul.

Miaka kissed his still lips before he went completely cold, savoring the last brush against the spark of the man she knew in another world to this one. And she wept.

Miaka brushed the tears from her eyes as she closed the altar doors, smiling with soft pain. "I love you , Taka…. May Suzaku hold you in his embrace ever after…."

As Miaka readied for bed, the red-haired teen across the islands lay awake in bed. He cushioned his unruly head of hair on his lithe arm, staring up at the dark ceiling. Somewhere, there was a woman just for him. He could feel it. It was the fire bird's will, the plumed bird that looked at him knowingly in the corner of his mind and the corner of his dreams as he loved a woman with dark hair.

"And one day, I will find her…." Tetsuo was sure of it.

End for now

The sequel to "My Dreams aren't as Empty." And this story will continue. Like it? Hate it? Please review. Review is crack to a fanfiction author.

Most sincerely yours, penpaninu 1/12/06