Title: Falsities
Fandom: Fushigi Yuugi
Pairing: Nakago/Soi
Rating: PG.
Word Count: 364
Summary/Description: Nakago has made himself eat his own words.
Warning/Spoilers: Spoilers for the end of the anime.
A/N: 31 days, February 26th: we deceive ourselves. This is quite probably the last Nakago/Soi I will ever write. And you have to admit; I write too much.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi.
Nakago doesn't regret.
Every move he makes, everything he says, everything he does is all part of a premeditated plan to achieve his goals. He does nothing without first analysing the consequences, making sure that they will turn out to his liking and to his benefit. His actions are controlled and measured; he does not misstep or misspeak. Any extenuating circumstances are taken in stride without so much as a flinch; there is no room for rue.
What to say of this scenario, he doesn't know.
She has been dead for some six hours now. Her hair drapes in tangles over his arms, hot and heavy with sweat. Her bloods clots, sullying her clothes and his own, making them redolent with the coppery smell. Her limbs are stiffening horribly; holding her in his arms is becoming something of a chore, but he will not put her down, not for more than a few minutes. Her face… Nakago cannot look at Soi's face. He looks at her high cheekbones and expressive mouth and paper pale skin and feels like a fool.
It will not be long before the end. The Emperor of Kutou is dead, a few hours ago dispatched by his own hand. The Suzaku Seishi is crumbling to pieces; they will be effectively crushed in no time at all. He knows his wish, and Yui-sama awaits him.
Nakago looks down at the dead woman in his arms. She looks peaceful, almost happy, and the irony of it does not escape him. He remembers all too clearly what he said to her, yesterday night before she left his tent.
"There is only one woman I want at my side at the end, and that woman is not you."
He almost laughs. He has made himself eat his own words.
Nakago, though, doesn't regret. Soi did not die in vain, and she will not pass unheralded. She is gong to be there at the end, she is going to watch him take this new world by the reigns and she will be there for him. The gods help him, she is going to be by his side. She was always by his side.