Another Side Chapter 21: City of the Dead pt 2, a fushigi yuugi fanfic

Alright guys, sorry I didn't upload this earlier today, wanted to finish chapter 23, but that didn't happen, so here you go! A chapter a week anyways because I am really trying on this xD

Also, MORE EMOTIONAL WHUMPAGE! Especially towards the end :3 God, I love writing sometimes xD

Note: I used the song 'Hallelujah' by Jeff Buckley here, but I changed some of the lyrics to more fit the situation. It's a little less lovers and more friendsy - not completely but I did my best on that. So, that song does not belong to me :) The manga and anything familiar is Fushigi Yuugi area and everything else is mine.

Another Side

Chapter 21

City of the Dead pt 2

Hotohori gathered Miaka in his arms, his frantic expression matching the one on Igneous' face. "We have to go back to the village!" Both he and Igneous rushed ahead as Nuriko explained the situation to Tasuki (gosh, it was weird to think of him that way now Igneous thought to herself for a split second), who looked more and more perplexed and angry as Nuriko talked.

Tasuki scowled, a flash of worry going through him. The more he thought about it the more it boggled him, so he decided to just plain not think about the weird feelings he got around Igneous and Miaka. Fucking girls, messing up his life.

Glancing up at Igneous, he thought it was going to be okay for a little bit though.

He wouldn't know what he would do if she started to cry though. Hide, more than likely - Crying girls freak him the fuck out.

Night had fallen when they arrived back to the village. Miraculously, Tasuki had brought a horse, and Miaka was the one to ride it. Nuriko rushed ahead, catching up to Shoka and explaining the situation to her. He and Hotohori pleaded with her to heal Miaka's sight, but…

"I'm sorry, I can't." Igneous' world was tilting, dread filling her from the inside out. "I only know how to bring back the dead. There is nothing I can do while she's still alive." Her bad feeling grew once more, almost taking her breath with how swift it came back to her. She rubbed the bite on her arm, which was throbbing angrily.

It didn't matter right now though, Miaka was more important.

"That doesn't mean we can kill her!" Tasuki yelled, scowling down at the ground. "There must be a medicine!"

Igneous growled at her fellow redhead. "Nobody said anything about killing Miaka."

"Hey it's okay! There might be a medicine in the town we should try our luck!"

Igneous' ire calmed as soon as it arrived. She shook her head, taking Miaka's hand and putting it in the crook of her elbow. "Ever the optimist, Miaka."

The door slammed shut in their faces. Igneous growled, trying to find a perfectly good reason to slam the door open and bash every one of these men's heads in while they still lived. Miaka was tugging her away to the next house though, probably from preventing her to do that very thing. Now, Miaka was using a walking stick to feel her way, not wanting to rely entirely on Igneous just to go places.

Igneous was glad that she was able to do so without tripping often. Go Miaka.

The next one allowed them in, and as they explained the situation, his face grew more and more tired and harried. He leaned back from his counter, saying that he couldn't do anything for her.

Miaka was the first to snap, and Igneous was surprised.

"Well, couldn't you examine me at least?!" And then Igneous just stared as Miaka yelled at a plant instead of the doctor. She sighed as she continued to berate the doctor (plant) and Igneous had to turn her around as Nuriko pointed out that the doctor was the other way from where Miaka was facing.

This was becoming tedious.

The doctor grumbled, crossing his arms. "There's a chance that Myo Juann can heal you." Igneous' brow rose. This was the first time they heard of this guy. Everyone else just kind of shut them out when they realized Miaka had that stupid disease. "He lives on the other side of town, but he refuses to see anyone! Even refuses to leave his damn house." Then the doctor stood up, glaring at the Suzaku clan before him. "Now, get out!"

"Damn that doctor." Tasuki muttered as the door was slammed behind him. Igneous was inclined to agree, but Miaka stumbled just a bit and so her focus was on her friend.

Shoka was being kind as well, trying to help Miaka up and telling her to power through. Igneous smiled at that – Miaka could basically make friends with anyone the way she is.

Except for that blonde prick. Igneous frowned, anger rolling through her at the thought of Nakago and Yui. Once she had the chance, she was going to destroy the blonde and put his head on a pike – he had no right to take their friend away from them, to try and kill them.

She was tempted to set fire to Seiryu's temple next time she saw it. Maybe Tasuki would be willing to help her with it.

"FISH!" Igneous was pulled from her thoughts to see Miaka dive towards a fish that had fallen on the ground. Nuriko was awe-struck, muttering something about Miaka's nose.

"Yeah, Miaka and food have a special relationship." Igneous giggled, seeing Miaka tumble with a guy that looked like he had better days just to have ownership of the fish.

Tasuki looked gob-smacked, trying to make sense of the scene before him. Igneous laughed at him, seeing Miaka chase after the man, threatening him for taking her fish.

"She-she's a demon!"

"Only when it comes to food, Tasuki. Now come on, before she gets into any more trouble."

Igneous didn't even realize until she turned back to check on her that Shoka had left. "Ah, she said something about going back to her house. Miss Shoka probably had stuff to do." Nuriko was the one to enlighten Igneous' unasked question. She smiled at him in thanks then continued to follow Miaka towards the house.

Miaka continued to wobble. "You are sick, Miaka, that is normal!" Tasuki growled in agreement with Igneous, but Miaka ignored them in favor of following her nose.

Of all the times, Igneous thought, now would be the time her stomach kicked into high gear for some food.

The redhead flinched, clutching her injured arm to herself. She hasn't said anything about it, because Miaka was going to die. What was her arm compared to a human life?

Igneous shook the thoughts from her head, scowling at herself. Miaka would not die, not on her watch, dammit!

"I'm gonna take a closer look!" Miaka rushed ahead towards a small house that looked almost on the verge of collapsing on itself, but it looked well taken care of otherwise.

"Hotohori, if you would please?"

The emperor smiled at Igneous, following close behind Miaka as they peeked into the house.

Tasuki still looked gob smacked, his mouth hanging open at Miaka's actions.

Igneous smirked, pushing his mouth closed. "You'll get used to it."

Tasuki blushed brightly.

"Hey guys, there's a lot of medicine pots! This must be Myo Juann's place!" Tasuki wasted no time in opening up the door to the man's home, wanting to forget that he blushed when a girl touched him. Suzaku, Koji would be laughing his ass off right now.

"Hey, you Myo Juann?" The man only blinked in surprise. Tasuki pulled Miaka in front of him. "We'd like you to examine this girl."

Hotohori was the next to chime in. "Yes, please! She just lost her sight because of that terrible disease that has killed several villagers." Igneous flinched at that reminder, but her heart steeled itself. No matter what Miaka could not die because of some gods-forsaken disease.

Where there was a will, there will be a way.

Myo Juann looked away from them, trembling. Igneous tilted her head, looking at him inquisitively, ignoring Miaka and Tasuki arguing a bit in the background. The man seemed… lost somehow, even though he was right there in front of her.

The man turned his back fully on them, crossing his arms. "I am not a doctor anymore." His voice was deep, rumbling across the distance to reach her ears. "Leave me!"

"You are taking care of an animal – you can take care of a girl." As always, Nuriko was refusing to back down from this. He could be really stubborn when he wanted to, which reminded Igneous of that time she and Miaka had to 'work' under him because of his jealousy of Miaka.

That was kind of humorous, but not really, because she also remembered nearly drowning in that damn pond for a stupid fake pearl.

Miaka was also fairly stubborn. Must be why the two butt heads so often.

"I don't want to have anything to do with humans anymore!" His voice rose to a scary height, and Igneous flinched back, her fear of harm coming to her overriding her want to hide anything and everything in her past. An arm, clad in back, wrapped around her shoulders as the man continued to yell at them, slamming his own door in their face.

Igneous continued to tremble, trying to take deep breaths to calm down. Nuriko appeared in her vision, encasing her in another hug as he rubbed her back.

There weren't any words exchanged – Nuriko already knew that Igneous was almost on the edge of losing it when she had been yelled at.

Tasuki looked on in confusion, wondering what the hell that had been about.

All he knew was that Igneous had looked afraid, so very afraid, and he had to do something to make her feel safe.

He wanted to know what the hell was going on. What were her secrets?

Tasuki growled, banging on the man's door once more. "HEY! OPEN UP!"

The walk back to the village was filled with angry mutterings and quiet contemplations. Even after nearly forty-five minutes, Myo Juann did not budge in his decision.

Igneous looked at the ground, hearing Tasuki call him all sorts of words to vent out his own frustration. Hotohori held onto Miaka, helping her keep her footing along the way. It was obvious the emperor was worried about her – of course, he had viable reason to do so. Miaka had somehow procured an incurable disease, and it made Igneous nearly lose her mind every time she envisioned Miaka's still body.

"Hey, are you alright?" Nuriko was close to her, trying to give her support without touching her.

Igneous was quiet as she thought about that, but it was enough for Nuriko. He sighed, pulling her gently into his own side.

She took a deep breath, trying to will away her thoughts and think up another plan. There had to be something else, anything else! Miaka could not die.

Igneous stumbled, a weird numbing pain traveling up her legs, but she could still walk. Ahead of them, Miaka fell to the ground, her legs not holding her up any longer. Igneous paled, pushing herself forward to fall next to Miaka, her hands flitting about her friend in worry.

She could feel the struggle Miaka was in, in the back of her mind where she recognized Miaka was stubbornly staying without either of their consent. She could feel that slight numbing sensation in her own legs, an echo of what Miaka must have been feeling.

"My legs… I can't feel them."

Or not. Such was their luck.

Miaka then collapsed onto Igneous, breathing hard. She felt her forehead, looking up at Hotohori in alarm. "She's hotter than she was earlier."

Hotohori gathered Miaka in his arms, Tasuki helping Igneous up from the ground as well. "We'll have to go to Shoka then." Nuriko mumbled, not pleased with the way the situation was turning out.

Shoka quickly pulled them into her home, gesturing for Hotohori to place Miaka on a bed. Igneous essentially bullying her way next to her to help Miaka change into more breathable clothing. She gave the clothing to Nuriko for safe keeping, knowing that he knew the importance of the items. It was their only other connection to their world, and Miaka wouldn't want to lose it no matter what.

Miaka was settled into the bed, her eyes still closed, her breath painting the air before her a humid white. Hotohori held her hand tight while Igneous sat on the bed, using her legs as Miaka's pillow. Igneous had growled angrily at Shoka when she suggested the redhead move to a safer location.

Shoka figured it wasn't a good idea to argue with the redhead any more anyways.

Tasuki scowled, not comfortable with the situation at all. "We can't just stand around folding our arms! We gotta do something!" Nuriko agreed, not wanting to see either of his Priestesses suffer much longer.

Shoka sighed, her glittering eyes closed. "I'm afraid there is no other option. Only one solution is left – we should kill her."

"ABSOLUTELY NOT! GET AWAY FROM US!" Everyone jumped back from Igneous. She cuddled Miaka's head to her, her eyes a blazing gold as she glared at the beautiful necromancer before her. "Don't you ever dare suggest something like that in front of me." Her words no longer grated together, instead they thundered and rolled around the room, shaking the core of everyone that stood in that room.

Nuriko watched in surprise – he had never seen Igneous' eyes do that, never heard her like that before. Sure, she got scary angry when it came to Miaka, but this was on a different level entirely.

It's like there was something dormant in her, something frightening and possessive, that awoke in that moment to protect Miaka from danger.

Shoka was determined though, her mouth set in a hard line. "I can bring her back, health and all. Like this, she is suffering, and will not be able to hold on much longer." Igneous' growls grew louder. "It is better to die and revive than it is to suffer anymore."

Igneous nearly snapped at that, if it wasn't for one weakened hand petting her face. Igneous looked down at Miaka, seeing her try to look at her through no doubt blackened space. "I'm fine with that." Igneous stopped growling, her previously gold and fire eyes turning back to that pure sky blue that Nuriko was so familiar with. She looked shocked as Miaka continued with, "if I stay in this condition, I won't be able to find the seven constellations. I don't want to stay like this, please!"

Tears rolled down Miaka's face, making the young girl frown.

"Miaka, please don't do this." Igneous was trembling, shaking as a leaf would in a cold wind. "I can't stand to see you dead, not even if it was for a minute, a second. That would…" She swallowed. "Please, I don't want you taken away from me, not you too."

Miaka smiled sadly.

"Igneous, I promise I'll come right back, the same as myself, then we'll be right back onto the road for the next constellation." The men looked away as the sickened girl comforted Igneous from outright sobs to heavy breaths.

Hotohori opened his mouth, determined, before he was stopped by Igneous.

"Get out."

"Wait, what?"

Igneous looked up at them, and it was a broken woman that faced them. Tasuki shuffled in place, way too uncomfortable with the circumstances, but wanting to make sure that Igneous was okay, that Igneous would be alright after all this.

"Get out." It wasn't said with any malice, just a quiet plea from a friend to her friends. "I… I want some time alone with her."

Everyone shuffled out of the room, but stayed close by.

Hotohori sighed, dragging his hand through his (admittedly still gorgeous what the hell Hotohori) hair, not wanting to do what he was about to do. He was an emperor, however, and being an emperor had to do with making the right choice, the tough call.

Even if it broke his own heart.

"I'll do it." Nuriko gasped in surprise, too shocked by Igneous' earlier transformation earlier to do anything about the anger rising up in him. "I don't want to put that burden on any of you, so I'll do it." Hotohori summoned his sword, his hands in a vice grip around the scabbard.

Nuriko knew it was inappropriate, but he fell just a little bit more in love with Hotohori.

Still, as a father now, he had to say his own objections.

Surprisingly, it wasn't Nuriko that spoke up. "What, you're really going to do it?! What about Igneous, she's going to be destroyed about this!" He threw his arm back to the door, gesturing to the two hidden Priestesses inside the room.

Shoka was quiet, watching them argue before her. No matter their decision, the outcome would still be the same for her.

"I think that's why Igneous wanted to be alone with her." Nuriko managed to make Tasuki glance to the side. He glanced at the door again, and was surprised he could hear the two girls talking. "Hold on, be quiet just a minute."

"I'm sorry Igneous."

Someone sucked in a deep breath – more than likely Igneous. "I know, I just…"

"I didn't mean to remind you of your mom, you know I would never do that on purpose."

Igneous chuckled, sniveling. "Yeah, I know. You never met her, but you respect her too much for that… I'm sorry about my outburst."

Both girls giggled, but the giggling stopped as Miaka coughed harshly.

Her voice was weaker as she spoke next. "Ya know, your voice is back."

Igneous didn't speak.

"Will you sing to me again?"

Tasuki was surprised, looking between the two other men at his side. They seemed just as shocked, but Nuriko was the one to explain that Igneous liked to sing sometimes, and Miaka really enjoyed it, so Igneous would sing for her whenever the young Priestess asked.

That was a strange relationship in Tasuki's mind, but one that made his own heartache. Why couldn't he have such a sweet relationship with his own mother or sisters?

"W-which one would you like to hear?"

"You know I like whatever you sing."

Hotohori's lips quirked up, the dialogue almost the exact same as they were heading to Tai-Yu Junn's mountain all those months ago. Gosh, it seemed so long ago, but so close.

"Okay… just, close your eyes, okay? Try to get some rest."

There was some shuffling behind the door, and then a quiet voice, sweet and melodious, drifted from beyond the door, and it had everyone spell bound.

"I have heard there was a secret chord
that David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
It goes like this:
the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift
the baffled king composing 'hallelujah'