Disclaimer: I don't own FY.
Author's note: I rewrote this fanfic and corrected the errors the previous version had. So, it's not a complete make-over since the sequence is relatively the same. Some readers felt the previous version was lacking in details so I added more information to close some probable loopholes that may occur in future. Please enjoy.
"I guess the good still prevails...in the end."
Feeling his strength slowly ebbing away, he merely closed his eyes and felt the breeze. He knew he would die simply because it was his destiny to die. After all, he was the villain in this story and all villains had to die in order to bring the story to a happy ending, no? Nakago knew it made perfect sense that he, alongside the other fallen warriors, was to be stripped off their right to live happy lives. Needless to say, he was forced to accept his destiny to suffer and then be killed just to pave the way for heroes to be born.
Nakago smiled bitterly. He understood that he had to be killed but for the love of Seiryu- who was he kidding? He had not hazard a good guess who would be the hero for slaying the greatest villain. He should have known- the greatest villain would obviously (had to be obviously) killed by the most noteworthy hero. It was just that way, wasn't it? Wasn't it also the case that the bigger and fiercer the dragon, the greater the glory? Dragon..? How appropriate.
Despite his cynical mind, Nakago stared into his so-called nemesis' dark eyes and wondered deeply. There was no point getting angry that he was bested by a pathetic excuse for a celestial warrior who had the help of six other warriors and the strength of the priestess. There was absolutely no point lamenting on his defeat; on his fall.
Although he knew it was futile to lament on his inevitable defeat, he could not fathom the heaviness he felt in his heart. Most certainly, this was the first time he tasted defeat as a warrior, as a General of an army...and as a man. What was worse was that this was perhaps the first time he failed her. Nakago smiled weakly. Perhaps she was not the little girl he thought she was; perhaps she had the wits and maturity of a young woman and foresaw his failure. Perhaps that was the reason she turned her back on him at the last minute. If so, would she forgive him for his defeat?
Would she shake her head and say "It's alright," because he failed her?
Was this failure truly inevitable? Was there no way he could have fought against destiny and carve his own future?
Nakago didn't understand even when he was a step away from disappearing behind death's door. Why was he even worried if she would forgive him? She was just another human, just another woman who entered his life and played a big part. His mom had been the first but as fate had it; he murdered her in cold blood. Oh Seiryu, there was no need to reminisced the horrible past, the unspeakable truth that made him who he was for the past 14 years.
He looked down, seeing part of his lower torso dissolving into tiny specks of silver dust. He remembered seeing those dust. When those dead Suzaku warriors appeared, they were restructured by the dust. Perhaps his body was turning into silver ash to be stored away so that Taitsukun could summon him and play him a puppet like the Gods did. Or maybe, he was turning into nothingness for no one wanted a devil incarnate amongst them. Perhaps he'd finally go to Tenkou where he shall rest in peace forever...Rest in peaceful torture.
"Tamahome...boy..."he whispered weakly and winced when he heard it was a soft rasping tone.
"Nakago..." His nemesis trailed off. Despite having slipped and allowed the young 'hero' a little light view of his past, the young man still could not keep the venomous hatred out of his name. That was okay. He never needed this boy's respect or acknowledgment.
Perhaps now, since he was disappearing into the nothingness called eternal torture, he could bare a little more of his heart and his soul. Maybe he was speaking the truth when he told Soi that she was not the one who could please him. Wrong. He knew it to be the truth- Soi was not the woman who could please and satisfy him. She could not understand him like he would like her to.
"Tell Her Eminence that I'm sorry." He choked on a mouthful of blood and gave a ghost of a smile that he hoped was more of a sympathetic smile than a grimace. "Tell her, I'm sorry for everything... and I had never planned to hurt her. I didn't lie when I said..."
Tamahome looked at his nemesis, his greatest hatred and strangely, his idol. Unspoken and unbidden, he knew he respected and idolized the dead blond blue eyed Shogun like no other. As a final means to honour a dead man's wish, he would do it even if he never forgave the man. After all, this man was the one who staged the entire massacre of his innocent family.
Tamahome shook his head to clear his doubts and said a silent prayer for the fallen Seiryu celestial warrior. It was truly a wonder how a Seiryu celestial warrior was more than equal to the might of seven Suzaku warriors and the priestess. Tamahome knew he needed the power of the other warriors, Miaka's strength as a priestess, his own strength, a little of Suzaku, a sealed Seiryu, a power boost by Taitsukun and ultimately, a wavering, faltering Nakago. Perhaps, if Nakago was not welcoming death he would not have died and the one dead would possibly be him- Tamahome.
"It's finally over! We did it, Tamahome!" A brown haired girl ran into his arms and he held her tight. Wrong, they didn't do anything... Nakago chose to die.
"Miaka..."
"Tamahome?"
"Please..."
"What is it? I'll do it; you can count it on me!" She punched the air and smiled confidently to him. Indeed the storm has passed and her radiant smile vanquished most of his self-doubts. The story, their story, was finally coming to an end.
"Tell Yui that Nakago said this, 'I'm sorry. I had never planned for her or her heart to be hurt. He didn't lie when he said, he..." Tamahome didn't know what Nakago had said when his voice started to trail off as a ghostly whisper. "Oh he also said something like, 'Yui-sama...my Murin Breatha Dan.'"*
Miaka nodded, her large brown eyes filled with hot tears. She felt the words and hopefully, just hopefully, she could relate the words to Yui with the same amount of emotion. If any couple deserved to be together, apart from them, it was Yui and Nakago. Truth to be said, they were the true star-crossed lovers who were too confused, too afraid to love and too focused on their revenge that they didn't have time to express the silent bursting love for each other.
"Tamahome, I think I know what I want with my remaining two wishes..." This made everyone's ears perk up in interest. "For my next wish; Kaijin! Let me live with Tamahome in these repaired worlds as lovers forever!"
Suzaku, the red phoenix nodded and everything around them grew bright with a blinding white light.
"Kaijin! Let Yui and Nakago live happily ever after together and forever in a safe world!"
"Are you sure, My Priestess?" Suzaku asked through telepathy and so did all the other Suzaku warriors. None, safe for Tamahome, understood Miaka for making such absurd wish as her last.
"I'm sure Suzaku. I'm very sure that is what I want for my best friend...and Nakago." If phoenixes could smile, Suzaku would. It was heart-warming to know there were still humans who were not too selfish. Perhaps his brothers as well as he had chosen the right ladies as their Priestess. They had created such a fine set of warriors that serve to protect the priestesses. Yes, things were finally as it should be until the war with Tenkou brought about a new set of revelations.
* You are my soul mate or simply soul mate.
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