ふしぎ遊戯：乙女の心

Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Shichi Seishi

This history is still ongoing, so making assumptions and judgements in the character section is not something I'm prepared to do *lol* :) There is still a lot of speculation about the various different ways in which Takiko might summon Genbu, how the situation with Urumiya's split soul will translate itself into a ceremony and, of course, how Tomite and Hikitsu ended up in that cave guarding the Shinzahou after it was all over.

Everyone has their theories on this count, and I'm no different. It has recently been confirmed that Takiko has TB, which was the only logical explanation for why someone with as strong a character as her cannot bear Genbu's invasion of her body. One question answered, but I think most people probably guessed it was coming ;)

As for Hikitsu and Tomite, I'm still working on this one. I've heard various theories floating around, but the truth is, none of them completely make sense.

The theory
Hikitsu and Tomite died in conflict before Genbu was raised, and therefore their 'reikon' were on hand to protect the Shinzahou when Takiko created it.
The problem
If Tomite and Hikitsu weren't alive at the summoning of Genbu, how did Takiko summon the God? She was the first Priestess, so there were no Shinzahou before she created hers. Surely in the absence of a divine treasure, summoning the God would be impossible? Additionally, if they died before the summoning ceremony, they would not have been present when the God was called. In which case, why were they selected to guard the Shinzahou and in such a remote place? Somewhat contrived, surely?
The possible explanation/positives
Maybe there was another way to raise Genbu that didn't involve Shinzahou or Seishi. If there is, we haven't learnt about it yet.

The theory
Hikitsu and Tomite were present at the summoning ceremony, and were only consigned to be guardians of the Shinzahou after both died a natural death.
The problem
If Hikitsu and Tomite were alive at the summoning of Genbu and when Takiko went back to her world, it seems unlikely that they have spent two hundred years in that cave.
Possible explanations/positive points
Hikitsu and Tomite may have been killed after Genbu's summoning, or even during it by some unknown power/enemy. Takiko probably did not make a third wish, which may have left her Seishi vulnerable - after all Einosuke killed Takiko to prevent Genbu engulfing her.

Hikitsu and Tomite's memory may be confused since they have been brought back as reikon to protect the Shinzahou. Their concept of time may depend on the people who come into the cave. Their youthful appearance can be explained in the same way as Tatara and Suzuno's were when they died and crossed over to meet. Equally, they may not remember a time before they entered the cave. Neither Hikitsu nor Tomite ever say that they died in Genbu's service exactly, or that they did not live a life afterwards. Therefore the two hundred years might simply be because people coming in say it's been that long. In that case, though, who had the Shinzahou in the interim years between Takiko's leaving the world and Tomite and Hikitsu's deaths?

Hikitsu and Tomite may have entered some bizarre suicide pact to protect the Shinzahou, and sealed themselves in the cave of their own volition after Takiko's return to her world. However, considering that Hikitsu had his sister and Tomite other family, I think this unlikely unless something horrible befell those people in the interim fight.

The theory
Hikitsu and Tomite's presence in the cave was manipulated by the entrance of Suzaku no Miko into the ShijinTenchishou. To summarise, Hikitsu and Tomite's spirits were not in the cave until Miaka, a Miko who would need the Shinzahou, came to Kounan (or even until the failed ceremony in Eiyou). If that's the case, everything significant in the ShijinTenchishou can be said to be the work of an entering Miko as the world manipulates itself to suit the needs of that Priestess.

The problem
Isn't it really boring if you start thinking of the world as being entirely created to suit Miaka's legend? Not to mention the fact that the two conflicting Miko are involved - Miaka's people retrieve the Shinzahou, but Yui's steal it outside the cave. Which Miko is the world bending to suit?

Possible explanations/positive points
This would at least explain why Tomite and Hikitsu are in the cave, guarding the Shinzahou. I'm just depressed by the idea that we're supposed to think of the world as being fictionally created by people from Miaka's world. :S

It will be very interesting to see exactly what does happen. To date, as far as I can tell (up to volume 8 although I've not read it through properly yet), none of Genbu's Seishi are dead ^_^.