Letting Go

By: Tenmei

"I won't let go!" he said.

Well, he did, and I was soon dead. I was then quickly and easily possessed by the water demon and found that I was a part of the water and could control it's currents and everything about it.

I was angry with Houjun for killing me and my first thought was to get even. He got what he wanted, to get me out of the way. So I would soon get what I wanted.

I saw her walking beside the river, something I was now a part of. I caused the waters to swell up and make a huge wave which I directed at her. She looked at the river and her sad eyes widened.

"Hikou!" she gasped.

I was surprised she could see me.

She then cried out, "No! Please No!" not trying to escape because she knew she couldn't. As the wave arched above her head she screamed out his name.

"Houjun!" The sound ringing and echoing loudly through the mountains.

In my mind I wondered how she dared to call out his name after what he did, and instead of letting her linger a moment longer I decided to take her then. I then released the towering wall of water from my power.

She knelt, bowed her head in sorrow, and whispered hoarsely one last time, "Houjun." before the wave crashed upon her dragging her towards me and beneath my surface.

He came running only minutes later. He must have heard her calling. I took one of her hair ribbons and caused it to float by the bank.

He saw it and jumped in searching for her, but he couldn't find her because I had hidden her.

I could have taken him then also, but I wanted him to live and be alone and unhappy.

As time went by I found I had powers no one else had and discovered a mark on my body. By appearing to several people I found I was of Tenkou, a celestial warrior, and I joined them.

Four years passed after my death and I found myself with my fellow warriors fighting against the Suzaku warriors. One of who was Houjun, who I instantly regretted not killing four years ago because he did not look alone or unhappy.

Then I found out why. It was because he had found a family in the Suzaku seishi. A plan formed in my mind. I would take the Priestess of Suzaku and drown her. Once she was gone the group would disband the Houjun would be alone once more. But I soon found out it was going to take a little more effort for my plan to work. I was quickly surrounded by Houjun, that character Tasuki who had just a little too much of that "special" mineral water I gave him, and Tamahome who was probably the Priestess's boyfriend or something. I put up a water wall to block them, but Houjun transported himself inside, grabbed me, and transported me out of it. I found out we were in a well and Houjun was yelling.

"Use the fan on the well!" Houjun yelled to Tasuki. There was an argument that using the fan would kill Houjun also, but Houjun yelled back to do it anyway. And when I realized he intended to die with me I was stunned. He turned to me and said two simple words.

"I'm sorry." he said and I could see tears in his eyes.

I began to yell "wait" but before I could I felt a tremendous pain all at once and the demon began to leave me to dissolve back into water.

I heard Houjun cry out in pain and I looked at him. He had been hit by large pieces of the well and was in pain but not dying.

Instead he was clutching my hand.

I looked him in the eye, wondering what happened to the other, and he said, "This time-I won't let go-no matter what-you know."

We had a long talk, for I was dissolving slowly. We talked it out, both of us crying and soon he had forgiven me and I him. All the while he was in great pain but I knew he wouldn't let go this time.

And now as I approach death's door, I remember my secret and make one last command to the waters.