Author's notes: No more sadness for poor Nuriko. This story will have it's share of angst, but I will change things just a little. I hate more than anyone to alter the storyline, but in this story, Nuriko never died.


~ -----denotes a characters thoughts

******** -------indicates a change of events


The overall rating for this story is "R" for sexual situations and general adult content. I'll try to give ratings with each chapter. The rating for this chapter is "PG".







"Nuriko...please....please help me!" A blood soaked Miaka threw a small hand in front of her in an attempt to reach her warrior. Nuriko lunged towards her with all his ferocity, but his effort fell short. Again and again, he tried, fighting to break whatever held him in place. Tears flowed down his face and dropped of his chin. He needed to help her, but no matter the force he emitted, he was stuck. He watched helplessly as his priestess faded. Blood oozed from her body and ran beneath his bare feet. The warmth and sticky wetness of it nauseated him. His stomach lurched and his vision dimmed. He fought to extend his hand, but was denied. He breathed apologies between ragged sobs. Something was calling him and whatever it was, would not be refused. He gave into it, and relaxed his body. He felt rather than heard Miaka ask him why he had abandoned her. Then all turned black. .


the way it was meant to be


Golden strands of sun broke through trees and hit the ground in patches. They met the wet morning grass and seemed to dance upon it, making the palace ground glisten and sparkle the way it did each morning. The chirps of night insects had faded with the sunrise and had been replaced with songs of birds. Another day was beginning, full of the obligations it promised to bring. Nuriko silently made his way past the many servants who were also beginning their day, occasionally stopping to nod as he continued his casual stride. His day had begun hours before, when the sun hadn't yet peaked over the palace walls. He found all the activity rather bothersome and longed for a quiet place to think. He walked until he came across a small pond overgrown with exotic plants. Even with all the time he had spent at the palace, he had never once came across the place. A small stone bench sat directly beside it. It was weather-worn and many pieces had broken off and were presently laying on the ground covered in a brilliant green moss. Although he hadn't been walking long, this place seemed far away from the activity the palace maintained. The little scene before him possessed an air of quite tranquility and the cracked bench looked strangely inviting. He sighed and took a seat upon it. Maybe this would be a good place to get lost in thought. He pushed the rest of the world out of his mind and concentrated his thoughts upon two things.


***********************


"Hurry up, Miaka! We're going to be late for dinner." Miaka Yuuki burst tempestuously from the bathroom, glowering at Taka as she passed. She grabbed a black shirt from a nearby chair and tugged it over her head, mumbling choice words as she did.


" really don't think Yui will care if we're five minutes late, Taka." She turned and gave him and gave him a warning smile as she ripped one of many pink, spongy curlers from her hair. "We'll just tell her traffic was bad." She continued pulling curlers out, scattering them on the floor as she made her way to the bedroom.


".....but..we're walking.." Taka shrugged and plopped onto the couch, crunching one of the pink sponges as he did. Fine, Yui was, after all, Miaka's friend. Why did he care if they were late or not? Still she had invited them over to have a pre-Christmas dinner that she herself had made. Of course, it wasn't like Miaka to be late for supper. Taka couldn't help but notice that she hadn't been herself recently. He despised being late for anything, so he decided to hurry her along. He stood up and grabbed her coat from the back of the couch. He walked into the bedroom where Miaka was tugging on a long, black skirt, and threw the coat onto the bed.


"Here, we're leaving. Right now." He walked out before she had a chance to say anything, put on his own coat and walked out the door. "Make sure you lock the door behind you, Miaka."


Miaka turned around, ready to give Taka a piece of her mind. Just who did he think he was? Why was it so important they were there right on time? It was just Yui. "Taka, why...."


She stopped when she saw he was no longer there. She barely heard him tell her to lock the door behind her. She sighed and grabbed her coat from the bed. She would have a talk with him later. He had been such a jerk recently, he was almost a complete stranger to her. She zipped her skirt and grabbed her jacket and her purse, then ran out the door almost forgetting to lock it.


She shook her head as she ran to catch up with Taka. ~If I forgot to lock the door, that would just give him another reason to yell at me~


The walk to Yui's apartment seemed longer than it was. The wind was cold and it stung Miaka's bare face. She silently cursed herself for forgetting her scarf. Taka walked fast and made no attempt to talk to her. She was confused and a little hurt to see him acting this way. Just last night he had told her that he loved her-and she had spent the night in his bed. On the street cars sped by, a few honking their horns angrily. She wished, not for the first time before or after she had went into the book, that she could get away from everything. Ride into the sunset so to speak....close to the one that loved her...close to Taka. Maybe, just maybe, they should have stayed in the book. They were given the chance, and that would have gotten her away from all the responsibilities of this world. Not that she couldn't handle it, but she sometimes missed her seshi. She shivered and pulled her coat tighter around her body and tried to push those thoughts from her mind. She shouldn't be thinking things like that. Still...it would be nice to...


"Wow, I didn't think we'd ever make it. This is the place, right Miaka?" Miaka raised her eyes to look at the back of Taka's head as they neared the building. She just nodded silently.


Dinner had gone exactly as anyone would have thought. Taka apologized profusely for being late while Miaka, forgetting all her worries, shoved food into her mouth. One could even say dinner was going better than thought. Rather than Taka feeling uncomfortable around Yui, the two got a long like old friends. They talked and laughed, paying little to no attention to the others around them. Miaka found herself getting a little jealous, but chided herself. He was being nice to her, nothing more. Yui was her best friend, and she would have most assuredly told her of any feelings left for Tamahome...or Taka.


"Hey Miaka, do you think about the book much?" Miaka turned her attention away from her food and stared into Yui's questioning eyes.


"I, uh....sometimes.." She lied, ever since her and Taka had come back to live in her world, she couldn't go through asingle day without remembering their times in the book. All of her friends...all of the sacrifices they made for her happiness. She had left them. Without properly thanking any of them, she had left them. She held back tears, how could she have been so selfish? "I try not to think about it, so me and Taka can go on with our new life together."


"That doesn't mean you have to forget about it." Yui was frowning, making Miaka wonder why her friend was showing such interest in those past affairs. "You never know what could happen, Miaka. You should never forget who your true friends are. I, of all people, know that." Yui shot Miaka a warm smile, then turned to Taka once more.

~Just what was that all about? Does Yui know something I don't?~


Miaka excused herself from the table and headed towards the bathroom. All of the talk of the book had made her feel uneasy and just a little sad. Come to think of it, she was feeling downright strange. Her stomach had started to hurt a little and she felt lightheaded....



{slow start...I know. I'm jus tryin to get the plot goin. This may be a long story...so just hang in there with me. As always, thanks for takin the time to read my story and please let me know what you think. Keeps me goin ya know}