A/n: If Fushigi Yuugi was mine, you would be paying for all these fics…
You'll Be There, Ne?
I recall you as the seishi whom I never really met. Maybe it was the age difference, or the fact that you were always with Tamahome-kun and Tasuki-kun, whereas I was more likely to be found in the library. We were so different, yet I remember that day I found you sitting in front of your mirror, crying at your own reflection.
I asked what was wrong, and you nearly refused to tell me. However, I persuaded you in the end, and you said that you were thinking of your sister. I know I'm not Chichiri-sama, but even I can understand pain and guilt, despite my age. I'm not sure if you've realized… I think intelligence, my gift, is also my curse. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I was not a seishi. How would I have reacted to you? But that's not the point. I know how you feel. I saw my older brother die in front of me.
I still feel so guilty about that. Perhaps I can keep a secret better than all of you. None of you knew that. You scared me. I thought no one would ever suspect me, little Chiriko of having a dark secret. And yet after I spoke to you, comforted you, you suddenly turned around and asked me. For some peculiar reason, I believed I could trust you. But of course I could. I was merely afraid, after my family thought that I had caused his death, that you too would rush away, appalled at me. You know something? All the seishi have been the only ones who I have really been close to. Especially you. You were there, when I was afraid.
I spoke to you sometimes. We could have been the best of friends, or at least quite good friends. But you left too soon. I wasn't even there to say good-bye. I regret that. I thought about you quite often, when I was quiet. The others didn't really realize, except Mitsukake-sama. I was quite content to stay in my world of books, too content perhaps…
Then there was another death. Tatara-sama. Yet as I stood there, I didn't see Tatara-sama. Not Subaru-sama, not Tokaki-sama. Instead, you. Miaka-san, with your head in her lap, Tamahome-kun, both begging you to just wait a little while longer, till the others came. I wasn't paying attention to anything, and then… Miboshi came.
If it wasn't for the other seishi and Miaka-san, I might have killed them. A horrible thought. But now I am happy. I'm proud to die for the Suzaku seishi, as a Suzaku seishi. I understand you now. It hurts so much… and my vision is blurring… I can hear Tasuki and Mitsukake… and I wonder. I can see my brother again… and hopefully you, too.
You'll be there, ne?