Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi doesn't belong to me. ;.; They belong to the lovely Watase-san ^.^ So please don't sue me. I have nothing of worth unless textbooks are all you want.

Author's note: I just had to write this fic! And now that I did, I'm happy. It's cute, a little sad. But you know what? Oh well. I hope you like it!

1 Near End

By: Ruri-chan

The pain. I don't know how I was able to follow through with it. But I knew I had to save everyone. I knew the instant Miaka-san was trying to get to me I had to save them. Save them to save our world, our country. Doing nothing was not an option.

Once the point reached my heart, I wanted to let go. It hurt so much. The pain was searing and I couldn't see straight. However, to let go meant Miboshi would have time to find another host for his evil spirit. I could not allow that. So I hung on, digging the point deeper into my heart. Minna-san, you must understand if I am healed, then Miboshi will come back as well.

Everyone said I was brave. Tasuki-san said that what I did was the bravest thing a man can do. Was I brave? All I knew was I had to do it. It was the right thing. My mind and heart both agreed. I must save them. They are stronger than I and have more power to defeat our enemies. I must do the only possible thing to destroy this evil being. Sacrifice myself.

The pain is going away. I feel like I'm floating. I close my eyes to feel the warmth on my face. I open them and in front of me is a beautiful field, filled with trees, flowers and bushes. The sky is a perfect blue with the warm sun. As I look around, someone is coming towards me.

The person was slightly built and had purple hair. It was definitely male but the way he walked was very graceful. The moment I saw his eyes I knew it was Nuriko-san.

"Welcome home," he told me.

I nodded, "Hai, Nuriko-san." I looked back and saw a picture where Tasuki-san and Mitsukake-san were sitting next to my body.

"They will miss you very much, Chiriko," Nuriko-san said after a pause.

"Will they? I haven't done anything significant."

Nuriko-san put his hand on my head. "Just being their friend and companion was enough Chiriko. And you sacrificed yourself for their sake. You were very brave."

I looked up and Nuriko-san and smiled, "I will miss them as well."

Nuriko laughed, "I miss them, too. But all we can do is wait. They'll come soon."

Content, I looked at the picture in the air that showed everyone, "Hai."

- Ruri-chan 10/01