Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi or El Hazard. Nor do I own any of the characters. All I know is that this story is the product of excessive anime watching and an overactive imagination.

Rated R for language and possible hentaishness

The Eye of the Four Gods

(a cross-over between Fushigi Yuugi and El Hazard)

By CrossworldNoMiko

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"Wait a minute!" Makoto shouted as the two girls before him each grabbed a hold of one side of his shirt collar. He couldn't help but think that this wasn't going to end well.

"We're tired of waiting, Makoto!" One of them yelled. "We need to talk. Now!"

"Demo…" Before he could finish speaking, Makoto was shoved up against the library wall, leaving him breathless, and gasping for air. Why did this always have to happen? Shayla and Nanami… It seemed like they were always angry with him. It was as if he had done something wrong. But what could he have done to deserve such torture?

The two tightened their grip on his collar. Again, he gasped for air, becoming increasingly dizzy from the lack of oxygen. He looked back and forth between the two. Nanami was shouting at him fiercely, while Shayla mumbled curses under her breath, tears rolling down her cheeks. But Makoto couldn't hear what they were saying. His head hurt, and his chest hurt too. He wished that they would just leave him alone, so he could get back to work. He had to figure out the secret to the Eye of God, or he would never find her. He just had to find her… Ifurita.

"Makoto!? Are you even listening to me!?" Nanami said angrily. She waited, and when he didn't answer she frowned. "Fine! I give up!" As if on cue, Nanami and Shayla let go of his shirt, bringing him back to the situation at hand. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, Nanami took a step forward and slapped him across his face.

"One day, Makoto Mizuhara… One day you'll realize just how important your friends are!" And with that, Nanami turned around and began to walk towards the door.

Makoto brought his hand up to his cheek, not because it hurt, but because the action shocked him. She hit me…he thought. My best friend…she… He wanted to call her back. He wanted to run to her, give her a hug, and say he was sorry. But he found himself unable to move…and all his voice could manage was a whisper.

"Nanami…" He raised his arm and reached for her, but it was too late. She was already out the door. Nanami… Behind him, he could hear someone crying, her sobs growing louder every second that passed. He turned to face her.

"Bastard…" she whispered. She was standing with her head down, fists clenched by her sides.

"Shayla…" he said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder, and taking hold of her chin, forcing her to look into his face.

She blushed, as even the slightest touch of his hand sent chills down her spine. He always had that effect on her. "Oh, Makoto!" She cried, as she lunged at him, lightly, throwing her arms around him in an embrace. She loved him so much…

"Shayla…" he returned, as he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed gently. He felt her rest her head on his shoulder, her breathing becoming more relaxed. He didn't know what was wrong, but he was her friend. He would make sure that she was okay. "Don't worry, Shayla…" he began. "Everything is going to be alright."

At that, Shayla lifted her head off of his shoulder and pushed him away from her. "No…" she hissed, as she took a few steps back. "No!" she said again, this time louder. It would never be alright! Makoto would never love her, not the way she loved him. Never…

"Shayla, I'm…" Another rocking blow, only this time, he was hit full force, with Shayla's fist. He lay on the ground with his hand on his other cheek, eyes closed to avoid watching the room spin around him.

She stood over him, staring down, a heated fury growing inside of her. "You're what?" asked the red-head, almost calmly. "Sorry?" She fought to hold back the tears she felt inside. She wanted to take it back. She wanted to help him up, hug him, and say that she was sorry. But he had deserved it. And now HE wanted to say sorry? Sorry wouldn't change the way she felt about him. Sorry wouldn't make up for the mixed signals, the false hopes, and the sleepless nights.

"I HATE YOU, MAKOTO!!!"

His eyes shot open, as he heard those words spoken to him, the world coming back into focus. She…hates me? He thought as the meaning sunk in deep. He watched Shayla run out of the room, sobbing loudly. He winced as the door slammed, feeling like another blow…this one to the heart. Shayla… Gomen nasai…

Nanami watched from around the corner as Shayla ran out of the library and down the palace hall. She had heard everything, and she didn't blame her one bit. She had every right to be mad at him. They both did. Nanami had seen the look in Makoto's eyes when they were trying to talk to him. He was thinking about HER again…Ifurita. It just wasn't fair. She had known him her whole life. They grew up together and developed a strong bond through something that was more than just any friendship. It was…Well that didn't matter now, did it?

All SHE had to do was touch him once and an instant connection formed between them. They know more about each other than I could learn in several lifetimes. How am I supposed to compete with that? Nanami sighed and leaned back against the wall in contemplation. Would Makoto ever love her the way she loved him?

Nanami heard a noise coming from the library. She listened carefully. What was that? She walked to the library door and opened it only enough to peek inside. She peered into the crack and saw Makoto lying on his back, trembling. Was he crying? She felt a wetness overcome her cheek. SHE was crying too. She couldn't bear to see him like this… He was her best friend. She wanted to comfort him and make it better, She wanted to run over, hug him, and say she was sorry… She took a step toward him.

Makoto heard the wooden floor creak. Was someone here? "Hello?" He asked.

Nanami stepped back into the hall and quickly shut the door. What was she doing? Makoto deserved what he had gotten. And besides…he'll get over it soon enough. So will Shayla. "And so will I…" Soon enough.

Makoto managed to get up on his hands and knees. He looked over at the large double doors that served as an entrance and an exit to the library. He looked just in time to see them closing. Could it have been Nanami or Shayla? He listened again, but heard nothing. Who was he kidding? They didn't want to talk to him, not after the way he had acted. Why couldn't he just listen to what they had to say? He clenched his fists and slammed them on the ground. "Baka…" Suddenly, he felt the ground begin to shift. Slowly at first, then violently. The floor beneath him started to glow a pale shade of red and he could do nothing but stare in wonder of what was happening. The light grew brighter until it engulfed his entire body and…

He fell…

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"Itai…" Makoto groaned, as he rubbed his back. It seemed like everything was going wrong. A slap from his best friend, a punch from the Fire Priestess, and he still wasn't any closer to finding Ifurita!

And now he falls through the library floor and lands in this…this place. Where was he anyway? He opened his eyes and all he could see was darkness. Great…just great…

Makoto put his hands on the ground and pushed himself up. Then he tried to feel his way around, stumbling on a few objects that he couldn't identify…and probably wouldn't want to. Maybe there was a doorknob or a light switch somewhere. He came to what felt like a wall and glided his fingers across it. There was a row of objects, leather. Books! There was a bookshelf! This must be an old part of the library.

Makoto felt a bit relieved and excited at the same time. Could one of these books contain what I have been searching for? He continued to feel his way across the shelf, when all of a sudden, one of the books began to glow. It was that same red light that caused him to end up here. He jumped back, afraid of what might happen. Soon enough, the glow faded.

Again, the room was filled with darkness. Makoto didn't know what to do. What if that book was the key to the eye of God? Then again, what if it wasn't? Makoto silently cursed himself. What was he doing? Why was he so scared? He lifted his arm slowly, reaching his hand out, but stopped himself when he saw the light appearing. He hadn't touched it yet. Why was it… He took a deep breath.

Just do it… he told himself silently, moving closer to the book, sparking the light yet again. "Just DO it!!!" He leapt forward and placed his hand on it. He could feel it's warmth flow throughout his body. And as the light continued to illuminate the room, he removed the book from the shelf.

Now, he couldn't turn back even if he wanted to. The book drew him in, leaving him unable to control his body. A violent wind blew through the small, windowless area, sending papers, scrolls, and books flying in all directions. It was so powerful, so overwhelming that the boy could hardly breathe. Yet, all he could do was stare at the book in his hands as the wind whispered to him…

Read…

Makoto decided that this wasn't such a good idea after all. What kind of trouble had he gotten himself into this time? "No…" he managed. "I…I can't." He closed his eyes to avoid seeing the words on the red, leather cover. But whatever was there with him didn't take kindly to disobedience. At that moment, a hot pain shot through Makoto's back, causing him to yelp in pain and fall to his knees.

READ… the wind demanded. Makoto didn't think that was a good idea, so he squeezed his eyes shut even tighter. But his attempts were in vain. He was no match for the force that came over him. His eyes shot open and his head swung down in the direction of the book, so that he had to look at it. He didn't like this…not one bit. But he couldn't control it. He had to…

READ… the wind shouted one last time to Makoto, who had no strength to resist. So he gave in and read the words aloud, without one clue as to what it all meant.

"The Universe…Of the Four Gods?"