Disclaimer: all of the characters in this story belong to… Yuu Watase. Not me. Enjoy !!!

Cold. That was all he felt. The now red snow and the shivering of his body were the only sensations that would come through. The warm red liquid now turned icy, and Nuriko was lying there trembling on a bed of ice, stained deep crimson with his lifeblood. On the brink of consciousness, he could saw a hand placed his face and a warm light embraced him. Then everything went black.

"Mmmmm."

"He's awake," a female voice screamed a little too loudly. Groggily Nuriko opened his confused violet eyes and stared into a pair of watery chocolate orbs.

"Nuriko! I'm so happy you're alright."

"I'm alive?"

"Mitsukake got there just in time to save you."

The confused senshi took the time to look around. He was lying on a soft bed in a well-furnished room that he recognized to be his; they were in the Hong-nan Palace. He heard several rapid footsteps that seemed to be heading in their direction. He looked up at his miko and for the first time he noticed the beautifully jeweled necklace she was currently wearing around her neck.

"So you got the Shentso-po of the Priestess of Genbu?"

He was about to ask how she got it when six very worried men suddenly ran into the room. Tasuki and Tamahome tripped over each other getting in. Chiriko peaked his head inside then jumped over the senshi pile. Then came the blue haired monk, the solemn Mitsukake, and the ever regal and beautiful Hotohori.

"How are you feeling Nuriko?" Miaka asked with worried eyes.

"We are glad to see you are well Nuriko," said Hotohori.

Nuriko smiled at Miaka as she looked up at Tamahome but he wouldn't meet her eyes. While she stared at him she noticed something was off on her love. He was sporting a red looking mark on his neck that wasn't there yesterday afternoon but was there now. She knew something was wrong. She remembered seeing him go off last night and didn't hear him come back until late but thought it was just for a walk to clear his head; now she's thinking something different. Nuriko caught her gaze and instantly realized what the mark Tamahome so proudly wore was. He had given many while he was escapading as a woman.

"Nuriko, why don't you go get some fresh air. It's a beautiful day outside and you've been in bed for days. You must be stiff," said Miaka.

"Yea, I'll do that. Why don't you come with me?" the purple haired senshi asked.

"Um, sure.

Miaka helped Nuriko out of bed and left, dragging the other out with her so Nuriko could change. When he was don't he emerged wearing comfortable men's clothing. As they walked slowly through the halls and into the gardens, Miaka and Nuriko chatted happily, but he could see the sadness and concern in her eyes.

"Miaka, do you think something is going on with Tamahome?" he asked carefully

"Well not really, why?" Miaka responded feigning ignorance.

"I know you saw that red mark on his neck"

"Yea so, what of it?" she asked while pleading with Suzaku in her mind that he won't tell her what she already knew.

"Miaka it's a love mark," Nuriko said as if she was a child, "Has he been acting strange?"

"What do you mean strange?" she asked with her back to him

"Has he been going out and coming back unusually late, drunk for no reason, and smelling strongly of perfume?" he asked quietly, almost instantly regretting doing so. Dark realization donned on her and those usually bright warm eyes grew cold and watery.

"Well he has been coming back late and drunk but u haven't noticed the smell of perfume on him" she whispered softly "he also won't look me in the eye, not even today when you woke up." she said with tears in her eyes.

"I thought he loved me. Tamahome promised me that we would always be together no matter what. Why is he doing this to me?" she screamed before falling to her knees and allowing a river of tears to flow.

Tamahome had been walking up and down the halls all day, trying to figure out a way to tell Miaka that he just didn't love her anymore. He had realized something had changed between them the day they had gotten the Shentso-po. After seeing Miaka break down the way she did for Nuriko then bow to the lingering spirits that guarded their treasure so faithfully, he didn't think he would want a wife that would try to do everything for herself. He had begun to remember all of the times he had to save her because she didn't listen to him. He didn't want a wife that would defy his every wish. He didn't want a servant either but she was just a little to strong willed; and still that's what he liked about her. He liked the fire she possessed, except when it was used against others and not him. This was his problem. This was also why he started to see another woman. 'Maybe I should tell Miaka about Xi-Fang. Oh well I'll just…' his thought was interrupted by Miaka's pain filled voice screaming,

"I thought he loved me. Tamahome promised that we would always be together no matter what. Why is he doing this to me?"

"Oh no."

All Hotohori could think about was Miaka. He had asked Tasuke to fallow Tamahome last night. When Tasuke told him what Tamahome was doing, his insides made an extremely uncomfortable jump at the thought of Miaka finding out. He knew there would be a lot of tears. Then he remembered what she tried to do when Tamahome was under Nakago's control. At that thought the emperor decided to go find her. As he approached the gardens using a common hallway he heard Miaka scream about Tamahome's betrayal and ran over to comfort her. When he got there he found his miko crying on the floor with Nuriko panicking in the middle of the hall and a shocked Tamahome at the opposite end of it. On instinct, he ran over to Miaka and scooped her up in his arms. She latched on to Hotohori's robes with a vice grip while he and Nuriko glared daggers at Tamahome.

'Oh if looks could kill,' they thought.

Hotohori carried the weeping girl to his room and laid her on his bed; or at least he tried to. She had a strong grip on him along with no plans of letting go. He would have to get in with her. When he did so she snuggled up closer to him and opened reddening chocolate eyes.

"Hotohori why is Tamahome doing this to me?" she weakly asked

"I don't know Miaka but I will find out, now sleep." she commanded

"Will you leave when I fall asleep?" she asked

"Do you want me to?" he asked hoping she would say no.

"N-no. Umm Hotohori, could you hold me?" She asked shyly as soft blush graced her face.

He smiled down at her then gathered her in his arms, kissing her forehead and placing his chin on her head.

"For now and always Miaka Yuki. For and eternity and more if you let me," he said unsure of what her response would be. The room filled with a deafening silence and he feared she had fallen asleep until she moved her head so she could look him in the eye.

"Hotohori, I need you," she paused when his eyes widened in shock, "I need you to help me forget Tamahome. Please make me forget." she finished as a tear rolled down her cheek. It didn't get very far though; Hotohori wiped it away then placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

"I love you Miaka, and you may not love me yet but I hope that soon you will forget him and see only me."

"I'll try Hotohori. I'll try really hard. I promise that this time I will…" she mumbles as she yawned "…give you a chance. I promise." those were her last words before falling into a blissful sleep.