TITLE: Counterpoint
AUTHOR: Winter
EMAIL ADDRESS: winteryuu@hotmail.com
DISTRIBUTION: My site (Kindred Spirits), FF.net, anyone who wants it -- just let me know where it's going.
SPOILERS: The entire series, including a little bit of the OAVs and "Seiran Den", the Nakago novel.
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY: This is the story of a girl who gathered the Seven Seishi of Seiryuu, and obtained the power to make every wish come true... Partly AU (Yui/Nakago).
DISCLAIMER: "Fushigi Yuugi" is owned by Watase Yuu, etc. I make no claims.
FEEDBACK: Would be very much appreciated.

AUTHOR'S NOTES 1: This is my first FY fic, so I'm still getting a feel for how to write the characters and incorporate the FY style. *Constructive* criticism would be appreciated.

AUTHOR'S NOTES 2: I have never seen either of the FY OAVs, nor have I read any of the FY novels, but I have heard summaries of a few of them, so this fic may include a couple of references to events in those, but I can't guarantee their accuracy. Please accept my apologies in advance, and I hope you'll overlook any inconsistencies.

AUTHOR'S NOTES 3: For the purposes of this fic, the events in FY never took place, meaning that Yui and Miaka were never pulled into the book before, they've never heard of the "Universe of the Four Gods", etc. Some of the character histories may be altered as well, hence the AU part.

AUTHOR'S NOTES 4: This fic will most likely include some alternate pairings, foremost of which is Yui/Nakago. Why, you ask? Because I happen to like the pairing, and I don't believe its been done before. I hope this won't turn anyone away from the story, but if anyone is highly anti-alternate pairings, then consider this as your warning (and please do not flame me).

~*~*~*~

PART ONE
The Girl of the Legend

"Yui-chan, why do you always have to hang out in such strange places?" Miaka asked playfully, turning to her best friend of over ten years. The two were walking into the National Library, Yui carrying a handful of books.

"I'm just here to return these books," Yui replied, "You're the one that decided to come along."

"But you asked me to!" Miaka wailed.

Yui smiled affectionately at her friend, "And you agreed." Yui would be the first to admit that Miaka was practically her polar opposite, and yet she was the closest friend Yui had ever had, and the best friend she could possibly wish for. She wondered briefly what she would ever do without Miaka's constant presence by her side, and hoped she would never have to find out. After all, the two had already made plans to attend the same high school, no matter what.

"Of course," Miaka returned the smile, "but could you hurry it up? The word 'national' just makes me nervous."

Chuckling at her friend's comment, Yui replied, "I promise I won't be long."

"Good," Miaka sighed, her attention beginning to wander. Spotting a vending machine in the opposite hallway, she reflexively headed towards it, mentally berating herself for her lack of control.

"Miaka?" Yui called out, returning a few minutes later to find her friend missing. Sighing in amused exasperation, she realized there was only one possible place Miaka would have gone, and promptly started off in the direction of the closest vending machine.

As she turned into the hallway, Yui was met with a blinding blue light, and she instinctively threw an arm up to shield her eyes. The light died down a few moments later to reveal a stairway directly in front of her. "What was that?" she wondered aloud as she began to walk towards the stairs, her feet seemingly moving of their own accord.

"Yui-chan?" Miaka suddenly appeared, having heard Yui's voice. Seeing Yui entering a restricted room past the stairs, Miaka quickly followed, wondering what had suddenly gotten into her friend. "Yui-chan!" she called out again upon walking into the room.

Yui turned around to face Miaka, "Oh, Miaka, there you are."

"What are you doing?"

"I..." Yui trailed off as she turned her head to look back down at an old book lying conspicuously on the floor. "There's just this book here..."

Miaka grinned as she came to stand next to Yui. "Leave it to you to go wandering into strange places chasing after a book."

"I didn't come chasing after the book," Yui grumbled lightly as she crouched down on the floor next to the book. "I saw this really bright blue light, and then I just sort of...ended up here."

The next thing Yui knew, she was sprawled out on the floor, Miaka hovering protectively over her and checking for fever, injuries, and deliria. "I'm not delusional!" Yui chided her friend, pushing herself up into a sitting position.

"Okay, okay," Miaka held up her hands in surrender and took a seat next to Yui. "So what about this blue light?"

"I don't know," Yui shook her head, her hands reaching for the book.

"And what's with the book?"

"Apparently it's an ancient Chinese novel," Yui replied, "'The Universe of the Four Gods.'"

"Chinese novel?"

"M-hm," Yui nodded, opening the book gently and reading the first couple of lines inside. "Thus, the girl of the legend opened the door to another world."

"How odd," Miaka peered over Yui's shoulder to read along with her friend.

Yui continued, "'This is the story of a girl who gathered the Seven Seishi of Seiryuu, and obtained the power to make every wish come true. The story itself is an incantation. Whoever finishes reading it shall receive this power. As soon as the page is turned, the story will become the truth and begin.'"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Miaka asked, perplexed.

"How should I know?" Yui shrugged, beginning to turn the page to see what else was written.

"Yui-chan, look!" Miaka suddenly exclaimed, pointing to the blue light that had suddenly formed around both the book and Yui.

"Miaka!" Yui screamed as she felt herself being pulled by some invisible force, the pressure too great for her to overcome.

"Yui-chan!" Miaka lunged forward and attempted to wrap her arms around the other girl, who was rapidly vanishing into the light right before her eyes. Unfortunately, Miaka lunged right *through* Yui. Quickly scrambling onto her knees, Miaka turned to see Yui mouthing her name one last time as she disappeared into the pages of the book.

***

Yui groaned as she pushed herself to her knees, her body aching from the fall. Fall? The memories of the events in the library suddenly rushed to the surface of her mind, and Yui looked down to see that she was kneeling on a dirt road.

"What in the...?" Getting to her feet, Yui scanned the area around her, panicking slightly as she realized that she definitely was not in the library anymore. As she began to process the scenery around her, a nagging suspicion wove its way into her mind, but Yui forcefully shook it off.

It was impossible to get drawn *into* a book, wasn't it?

Knowing that she at least needed some answers, Yui began to wander down the road, completely at a loss as to where it would lead her. As she walked, she gazed at the structure of the buildings around her and noted that the architectural style was very old. It was almost as though she were wandering the streets of ancient China...

'Thus, the girl of the legend opened the door to another world.'

It couldn't be, could it?

"Hey, check out that girl."

Yui froze as she heard the voice, filled with malicious intent. She turned slightly and caught sight of two men leering at her.

"She's wearing strange clothes, but she's good looking," said one.

"Why don't you play with us?" asked the other, as the two began advancing upon her.

Oh, god.

Horror seized her in its icy grip as Yui turned to flee, her heart hammering away in her chest. This couldn't be happening!

"Wait!"

"Catch her!"

As she heard the mens' heavy footfalls fast approaching, Yui cried out for help and silently prayed for assistance to any gods that would listen. "Help me! Somebody, please, help me!"

"Yui-chan!!!"

"Miaka?" Yui unconsciously slowed her pace as she glanced around her, searching for the source of her best friend's fear-stricken voice. That proved to be her mistake.

"Got her!" one of the men exclaimed as Yui felt them pounce on her from behind.

"No!" she screamed, shaking herself violently in an attempt to break free of their grasp. "Help me! Somebody, help me! Miaka!!!"

"Yui-chan!" Miaka screamed at the book lying open before her. Still in the library, Miaka could only sit by helplessly as she read of her friend being attacked by the two men. "Someone, help her!" she yelled, her fists beating harshly against the floor as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Yui-chan..."

She suddenly felt a sharp pain across the side of her head, and her eyes widened in shock as she read of one of the men striking Yui across the temple. An instant passed before she felt another pain in her stomach, and another across her cheek. Fear threatened to overwhelm her as she noticed scratches appearing along her legs, bruises upon her wrists. And for one heartbreaking moment, she could *feel* Yui's terror...

What in the world was going on?

***

Nakago exhaled as he strolled casually along the streets of inner city Kutou. It wasn't often that he went out for a walk, but he did enjoy the time to himself, away from the palace. It often gave him a chance to think, an excuse to plan.

His musings were cut short by a frightened scream slicing into the stillness of the air. Nakago paused mid-step, glancing in the direction of the sound but seeing nothing. An unknown sensation grabbed at him, but he shrugged it off as he continued on his way.

"Help me! Somebody, help me! Miaka!"

Nakago cursed under his breath as he heard the cry again. This time, he took off towards the voice, not understanding his sudden compulsion to help. He quickly found the source of the distressed call, and as he gazed at the two filthy men holding down a struggling young girl, he felt his attack ki begin to rise with the urge to kill someone. More specifically, *two* someones.

As he unleashed his power upon the unsuspecting men, past and present blended together, as a scene from fourteen years before began to unravel in Nakago's mind. The sound of agonized screams continued to pierce the air, and the stench of blood invaded his nostrils. The voice of a frightened young boy calling desperately to his mother reached his ears, along with the sadistic laughs of grown soldiers. Nakago felt the intense hatred rise in his chest, and in the span of an instant the soldiers became nothing more that dust. Turning his gaze to where his mother should have been lying safe and untouched, Nakago's heart--and perhaps even his mind--shattered as he found nothing but a pile of ash...

Past once more faded into present, and Nakago found himself peering through the settling dust at the outline of a young woman sprawled on the ground.

Dazed, Yui sat up awkwardly and frantically began to straighten her clothing. Dear god, she had almost been... Noticing the outline of a man standing several feet in front of her, Yui scrambled to her feet, her knees wobbling slightly as she tried to support her weight. Yui took several calming breaths, but no matter how hard she tried, her breathing still came in ragged, shallow gasps. She had no idea what exactly happened--one minute the two men were on top of her, and the next, there was nothing but dust sprinkling to the ground--but Yui knew that this man had somehow...killed her attackers. She shuddered involuntarily as her mind dwelled briefly on what might have happened had he not shown up to save her.

As the dust cleared, Nakago was finally able to get a clear look at the girl, and he froze momentarily at what he saw. Blonde hair.

It was odd, but even after all these years, the first thing he ever noticed about a person was his hair color, and he hadn't seen *that* particular hair-color in so very long...

"Thank you," the girl stammered, apparently still shaken from the attack.

"Young girls shouldn't be wandering around alone in this part of the city," he responded nonchalantly, though wondering to himself why he was even bothering to speak to the girl at all. Allowing his gaze to wander past her hair and take in the rest of her person, Nakago once again found himself mildly startled, this time by her odd clothing. Could it be...?

"Obviously," Yui smiled tightly, finding herself simultaneously drawn to and intimidated by this handsome man with his intense blue gaze. Finally managing to recompose herself somewhat, she continued, "It's just...I'm not from around here, and I seem to be a bit lost."

"Obviously," Nakago replied in turn.

"Could you tell me where we are?" Yui finally asked, her curiosity getting the better of her as she once again glanced nervously at the buildings around her.

"You must be from a very faraway place if you don't even know that much," Nakago answered her smoothly.

Yui flushed in embarrassment at his comment. Ignoring the fact that he apparently thought she was a fool, Yui pressed on, "Yes, I am, but I'd really like to know wha--er, where this place is."

Nakago gazed at the girl for a moment, intent on catching her reactions, before replying, "We are in"--her face brightened--"Kutou Country."--then promptly fell again.

'Kutou Country?' Yui wondered to herself in disappointment, as that answer succeeded in telling her absolutely nothing. "Oh."

"Apparently this does not help your dilemma," Nakago stated, an amused smirk on his face.

"Not really," Yui shook her head, forcing a light laugh. She was standing in places unknown, most likely inside a book, with a man who had just saved her from two would-be-rapists, apparently through the use of some type of special power, and here she was acting like a lost, frightened little schoolgirl.

Well, technically she *was* a lost, frightened little schoolgirl, and Yui didn't like it one bit. Quite frankly the entire experience was almost surreal, and having her emotions cascade from one end of the spectrum to the next in a span of minutes was not very pleasing. Yui sighed as she once again fought to regain control of herself, deciding that for the time being, she would get the answers she needed. Emotions would come later. Much later.

"Perhaps you could tell me where you are from," the blond man asked her.

Yui's eyes widened in surprise at his words. Where *she* was from? She snorted slightly as she pondered how to answer that question; it was hardly as if she could come right out and tell this man that she believed she was from another world, and that she had apparently been transported to this--Kutou Country--through a book. A mental picture of Miaka cheerfully slapping this man across the back and telling him just that flashed suddenly into Yui's mind, bringing a small smile to her face. Miaka...how had she heard her voice earlier?

"Something I've said has amused you?" Nakago asked, perplexed by the girl's strange reaction.

Forcing herself to repress the smile, Yui cleared her throat as she answered, "No, I'm sorry. I was just...thinking of a friend."

"I see," Nakago nodded slightly, feeling a slight twinge in his chest. He, too, had had friends once upon a time, friends that could cause him to smile at the mere thought of them. That was no longer the case. Scowling, Nakago once again buried the long repressed memories. Deciding that the girl was not yet ready to reveal to him where she was from, which only served to confirm his suspicions, he instead inquired, "Would you at least honor me with your name?"

Yui couldn't help but blush at the way he phrased the question. Men certainly didn't talk like *that* anymore. "Hongou Yui," she finally replied.

Nakago bowed in greeting, "A pleasure, Yui-sama. I am Nakago."

Yui raised an eyebrow at his introduction. Deciding that perhaps that was simply the custom, she shrugged it off and replied, "It's very nice to finally learn the name of the man that saved me. Thank you again, Nakago-sama."

Nakago merely shook his head, "Please, just Nakago. And it was my duty to come to your aid, so do not dwell on it."

"Duty?" Yui wondered out-loud.

'In more ways that one, it would seem,' Nakago thought to himself, but simply answered, "As the General of Kutou, it is my duty to keep the peace."

Yui's eyes widened upon learning of his position. "General?"

Nakago nodded, then suggested, "Perhaps it would be best if you returned with me to the palace."

"Palace?"

"Unless you have made arrangements to stay elsewhere?"

"Well, no, I haven't, but..."

"Then you plan on returning to your home?"

"Yes!" Yui exclaimed. After realizing that she had no idea how to return home, she sheepishly amended, "Well, not yet."

"Then for the time being, you shall remain at the palace. I am sure the Emperor will welcome you."

"Emperor?" Yui echoed again, mentally kicking herself. Should she really accept Nakago's offer to go the palace? And even if she didn't, where else would she go? The thought of running into another attacker frightened her senseless, but she *did* still need answers as to where she was...

Seeing the girl's internal debate reflected in her eyes, Nakago merely smiled and extended his hand to her. "Come." If this girl was indeed his Miko, she could not have come at a more opportune time, and he would have to make sure that she not only stayed out of harm's way, but also remained within his reach. All of his plans depended on it.

Gazing at Nakago's outstretched arm, Yui's fate was sealed. She returned his smile before placing her hand in his own and allowing him to lead her away.

***

Yui's walk to and arrival at the palace was fairly uneventful. She and Nakago had not talked much along the way, except for when she would ask him about various peculiarities she observed, as he seemed entirely wrapped up in his own thoughts. Though it wasn't as if the silence was an uncomfortable one, either. Yui couldn't explain it, perhaps it was because he had protected her once already, but despite her all too recent ordeal, she felt safe as she stood there with Nakago at her side.

"What is this?" Yui asked as she stared at the two large double doors in front of her. After entering the palace, Nakago had ordered some servants to prepare a room for her, then immediately led her here.

"This is the temple of Seiryuu," he told her almost solemnly. Moving forward, he opened the doors and stepped inside, then turned and motioned for Yui to join him. Locking her unsure gaze onto Nakago's expectant one, Yui followed his lead. As she stepped over the threshold to the temple, she watched as a slow smile crept onto Nakago's face.

"Nakago?" she questioned once she was fully inside the room. Yui's breath caught as she heard his response.

"It seems the temple has accepted you...Seiryuu no Miko."

END PART ONE

Final comments: I realize that not much really happened in this part, but I just wanted to get things set up for the rest of the fic, sort of test the waters to see if anyone's even interested in reading this, and appease my muse, who has been nagging me with ideas for this fic for the last several weeks. =)

Also, does anyone happen to have any information on Miboshi, or know of a good place to find some? Thanks.