AN: This is the Nakago/Usagi story that I promised during Christmas ^.^;; Sorry it took so long. This was the work of my labour during my extremely BORING chemistry class. And since my parents were actually nice enough to give me back my mouse today, so I'm going to posted it now, instead of Valentine's day or March break ^_^ One shot or should I continue? You decide ^_~
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Prologue
"Why? Why didn't you dodge?" the Suzaku seishi whispered in horror, as flashes of the other's memories bombarded his head. Faint laughter from a golden haired girl echoed in his shocked mind.
"In this world, only the strongest survive. You've proved that Suzaku was the more powerful," Nakago whispered, words slightly muffled through he blood that filled his lungs. "Only the ones with a will to survive can win." With these words, the last of the Seiryuu seishi took hold of a fistful of blue hair, and pushed back his rival.
The pain was slowly disappearing, just like how his body was fading away from reality.
"Nakago?…Nakago?"
The blond man looked up when his name was called out in that sweet familiar voice. "Okaa-san?" a smile formed on his face as a golden light embraced him. "Usa?"
Miaka, and the rest of the Suzaku seishi watched in wonder as a beam of light pierced through the dark smoking sky, and formed in front of the dying Seiryuu seishi. Slowly, the light transformed into the figure of a young woman. Giggling softly, she held out her hand in invitation, whispering a few words that couldn't reach the Suzaku no miko's ears.
A brilliant flash appeared, making everyone cover their eyes against the intense silver rays. When the light finally died down, Nakago's content smile was the only thing they saw, before they were brought back to the destroyed city of Tokyo.
"What…what happened?" Miaka asked hesitantly.
"He's finally free now."
"Tamahome," the red haired girl whispered. "You're crying."
The blue haired young man quickly wiped away the tears. Don't take this the wrong way. I'm not crying for you. He thought to his former enemy. He finally understood why. Why the blond man tried so hard…
~*~*~*~
It was summer, but in the bare and windowless chamber, it was colder than the harshest winter. Above the room, everyone was bustling around in preparation in preparation for a new day. But in this chamber, hidden in a secret passage ten meters underneath the Kutou palace, the silence was deafening.
A beautiful young woman stood alone proudly in the dark room, lit only by a single candle. In front of her, on a little table, laid a tray with three objects. A dagger, a long piece of white silk, and a small vial.
This was her punishment for falling in love. She probably wasn't the first to die like this. After all, who could not but hate the Emperor? Being the coward that he was, he couldn't even execute her publicly, afraid of losing face, having his Empress in love with the commander of his armies. Even if the lecherous old man wasn't afraid of shaming his manhood, there was still the threat of her home country attacking, if it was known that she was ever harmed.
Usagi wasn't just any ordinary girl chosen for the Emperor's harem. She was the princess and only daughter of the ruling Empress of Japan. The Empress offered her daughter to the Emperor of Kutou, to stop the Emperor from attacking the small island country.
She was an object, a gift, a bribe. But it didn't matter to Usagi, as long as her beautiful emerald isle was safe, she would sacrifice herself. If her home country learnt that their beloved Princess Usagi was killed by the Emperor, the small country of Japan would no doubt start a war with Kutou. Even though Japan was a small country, its warriors were brave and fierce. Another reason why the Emperor ordered her execution to be done in secret, so he could just lie to the Empress Serenity, about the Princess's "unfortunate death due to a mysterious illness."
She didn't know how their secret got revealed. But in the court full of envious courtiers, anyone could have revealed their forbidden love to the Emperor. All she knew was that he was holding her tightly in his arms, telling her stories of his childhood, when the Emperor discovered them.
The Emperor couldn't kill her beloved, because as a Seiryuu seishi, he was needed to serve the miko when she arrives, but the Emperor sent her beloved far away, to the border, to fight the tribes who were rebelling against Kutou's rule. And her…she had been waiting for this moment patiently.
She had known that their love would end like this. Despite how much he assured her with the wish from Seiryuu. She had seen her own death before, in all the nightmares she had when she was with the Emperor.
A wise woman once told her, when she was little, never to fall in love. For if she does, she would die before she could tell him 'aishiteru'. That was why she tried so hard not to feel anything when they first met. But in the end, it was useless, no matter how much she told herself not to fall in love with him, she still did.
Picking up the vial, she lifted it up salute. She didn't regret her decisions. Her short period of happiness with him was so much more precious than all the riches that the Emperor of Kutou showered her with. But if only she could see him one last time, to tell him how she felt…
"Your Highness, it's time," one of the guards said through the thick door.
Usagi smiled sadly, the vial against her lips. Maybe it was her imagination, but she thought she heard the sound of pounding steps running towards her. It must be her imagination. Her beloved was sent to the border, he couldn't known about the Emperor's plan of her execution.
The door slammed open just as the empty vial shattered to pieces on the stone floor. The two guards laid dead on the ground.
His blond hair was matted down by sweat to his handsome face, and blood dripped down his unsheathed sword.
They stared at each other across the chamber, their blue eyes speaking to another without words.
"Usa."
"Nakago," the words fell from her lips just as a sharp stab of pain in her stomach made her crumble to the ground.
Dropping his sword carelessly, the shogun was immediately by her side, holding her tightly against him like so many times before.
"Why? Why did you…No matter. Let's get you out of here and find the antidote!" he lifted her in his arms.
"It's…no use Nakago," Usagi choked out, breathing in gasps. "There's no antidote. They told me that this is the strongest poison. And whoever…whoever drinks it down, will die in a matter of few minutes."
Hot tears dropped onto her face, as the young man lifted up his face. "Why? Why didn't you wait for me?" he managed to ask through the tears.
"Because…," the blonde girl smiled despite the cutting pain in her. "I…I know that I will die…but I'm happy to…pay this price…in exchange for all the times that we…we were together.
"I'm sorry," she bit her lips against the scream that threatened to come out. Reaching up, she wiped away a tear, that was soon replaced by fresh ones. "I wish that I had told you sooner…but aishiteru Nakago, forever…" the slim hand against his cheek dropped down, her body shook violently before it went still.
AN: *Scrambles into her kitty den just as the rotten tomatoes hit the gundanium door* ^_^;;; I know, it's not an appropriate story for Valentine's Day, that's why I changed the posting date. But this idea has been playing around in my head for a long time, and I just have to get it out. So what do you think? Should it be a one shot? Or should I continue? Leave the answer in the reviews ^_~