Hello and welcome back! Look at that, the actual next week, LOL. Little bit over, BUT IT COUNTS!

So, uh, this chapter has a surprise guest in it :D Totally last minute and surprised me, but! I think you'll enjoy it ;)

Do not own Fushigi Yuugi nor am I making any money from making this story.

Another Side

Chapter 38

Golden Sea

It was hours later, before the sun had set, when Igneous finally awoke, a cloth set on her forehead to help stave off any fever that she could have gained. At her groan, there was shuffling on both sides of her. Her eyes popped open, feeling somebody squeeze her body. At the familiar head of brown hair, Igneous relaxed, petting Miaka's head as the girl sobbed into her stomach.

"Igneous, you're awake!" She turned to see Nuriko and Tasuki sag in relief, their expressions identical.

Tasuki scooted closer, hugging her head close to him as he whispered, "I'm so glad to see you awake." Igneous closed her own eyes, blocking out all the sudden light that had enveloped her senses when she was jolted awake. She focused on Tasuki, on how his fingers handled her so carefully, his scent of the woods being more calming than any quiet corner than Igneous went to hide in her life.

"Igneous!" At Miaka's wail, Igneous pulled back from Tasuki, laying a gentle hand on his face, smiling in thanks at him, before turning to focus on her friend. "Don't do that again! I was so scared!"

"Sure, Miaka." Igneous smiled softly. Nuriko sighed, slightly aggravated, knowing that Igneous would definitely throw herself in front of Miaka for the sake of saving her from whatever danger the redhead perceived. If that included her fellow warriors… Well then, nothing was to stop her wrath. "Oh, where's Tamahome? Is he okay?"

Nuriko pointed Igneous towards where he last saw his fellow warrior. When Igneous walked over there (with the help of a protesting Tasuki), she saw that he was sitting before a mass of graves, each one dug and marked with a piece of wood. She could see that his shoulders were slightly shaking.

Motioning for Tasuki to stay back (Miaka was staying back a ways), Igneous walked forward and settled down next to Tamahome, not really saying anything as he startled at her presence.

"I'm so sorry Tamahome." Igneous said, eyes distant, not wanting to focus on any one of the graves. She hoped the two children were buried together, resting in some kind of peace. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

There was silence for a while, so Igneous took this moment to send a prayer to Suzaku. She didn't do these things very often, but she figured that her father would understand. 'Guide them, give them a good home, plenty of toys and full meals. These people did not deserve to be casualties of this...'

"Thank you." Igneous raised a brow at Tamahome. "You..." He swallowed his words, wiping his eyes to clear the tears that were constantly streaming down his face. "You saved my family, even though you don't like me very much."

Igneous heaved a sigh. "I only like you as much as you make Miaka happy. And..." She turned back to glance at Miaka, who was looking more fidgety the longer they sat there talking. Igneous could see that red string once again. "You make her very happy, even with the obstacles in your way."

Tamahome, silent once again, understood what Igneous' words were – they were a blessing for the two of them, even though they couldn't do anything right then and there. Not even for a long while, but he suspected that Igneous knew anyways. Her and Miaka were tighter than anything he had seen before.

His respect for her grew, and thus he knew that there was one more thing he had to do.

Igneous turned to go, deeming the conversation over, before feeling a tug on her sleeve. She turned, surprised, to see Tamahome kneeling before her, a determined glint in his eye. "I owe you a life debt, several times over. I have already sworn to Miaka that I would do everything in my power to protect her, give her the life she deserves. I swear to you, Igneous, that I will protect you, find a way for you to live the life you deserve."

Igneous was shocked, unaware of her own silent tear running down her face. She wiped it away quickly, a small grin enveloping her face. "Thank you, Tamahome." She clasped his hand, a small electrical current traveling her spine. In that moment, the redhead knew that something had changed, something for the better. "Though, I just prefer that you protect Miaka."

She pulled him into a standing position. Igneous gestured to Miaka. "She's been worried about you. Don't worry, we'll pray over the village, and then we will go whenever you're ready."

"Thank you."

"Continue doing that, and I think that you'll like me!"

They had a good laugh over that, and then Tamahome was speaking with a crying Miaka. Igneous went back to Tasuki, hugging him and filling her senses with just him.

"You and I," Tasuki growled, nose buried in her hair. "Need ta talk bout your self-sacrificing habits."

"Yeah, that's not going to stop."

Tasuki sighed, but gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Well, Imma just have ta make sure it doesn't happen."

Though there was a dark cloud they had encountered, there were better days ahead of them, and both modern day women had sworn to themselves then and there that Seiryuu must not rise. Their hearts hurt at the thought of fighting with Yui, but it must be done, for the safety of the kingdom they had grown to love and care for.

Once they got back, both Miaka and Igneous pulled Hotohori to the side, quietly explaining to him what had happened. If Igneous didn't know better, she thought Hotohori had looked at Tamahome with a bit more respect than before. "That truly happened?"

"Yes, and I'm so sorry that it cost you a whole village." Igneous apologized once more, feeling the guilt gnaw at her from the inside. She still stood by what she did for Tamahome's family, but so many more lives were lost – was it worth it?

"You did the right thing, Igneous, and I thank you and Suzaku that none of you were lost in the fight." Hotohori laid a hand on Igneous' shoulder, smiling at her, feeling that same guilt she was trying to fight grow within him as well.

It occurred to the emperor then that he and the redhead had quite a bit in common. They both had the proclivity to protect those they loved to the extremes, and take on the whole world, as if it was their duty to do so. For Hotohori, it literally is his duty to do so as he was an emperor, but he didn't quite understand why Igneous took on the world and all of its sorrows.

He both respected Igneous, and mourned for her at the same time.

Igneous smiled at Hotohori, a little sad, but knowing that he meant well. It was better, in the eyes of the legend, that a whole village was lost rather than any of the Suzaku clan. A bitter reality, and Igneous wasn't sure if she wanted to live with such a thing. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the rest of the warriors lift Tasuki while the bandit freaked out.

She sighed, giving Hotohori an apology as she went and tried to moderate the situation. Or, at the very least, try and take control of it.

Eventually though, she got them to let go of Tasuki, who simply hid behind her, glaring at the rest of his fellow warriors.

They set off on the great ship, the sun making the great blue sea shine a blinding gold before them. Sadly, Hotohori was not setting with them, but both Miaka and Igneous understood.

"He has a kingdom to run." Igneous muttered, leaning against the rail with Miaka, eyes distant as she scanned the lights and beauty of the sea. "I don't blame him, I just hope he stays safe." She frowned, sitting up a bit straighter. "Who knows if the Seiryuu warr – Miaka, is that his sword?"

Miaka, bless her heart, had the decency to blush. She pulled the sword closer as she explained the conversation she and Hotohori had, saying, "well, he gave it to me, saying that he couldn't come with. I think he felt guilty, and wanted some way to protect us while staying at the palace." Miaka looked down, her blush gone but smile soft. "He also said that this sword should protect you as well. I think he also feels guilty in not being there for you."

Igneous chuckled, throwing an arm around Miaka's shoulder, her grin huge. "I'm here to protect you, that's my job. Besides that, I'm kind of glad he gave it to you. We're not going to be around forever to protect you, and I would rather that you had a weapon with you at all times."

Miaka whined, saying the sword was heavy, but it was a good jest between the two friends. They were glad for the reprieve, for they had a long week ahead of them, and at the end of it all, there was still Yui to work with.

Igneous hoped everything was not lost.

The grass was a deep, rich green. Flowers were dotted around the field, the air rich with the sweet scent of freshly picked fruit. There were children running among the flowers, laughing and feeling free for the first time in forever. Their stomachs were full, their clothes soft and hair clean. Many parents were sitting in the shade of the sweet sun, talking and giggling.

A man with bright red hair and burning golden eyes stood to the side, hidden in the shadows, watching over the newest attendants.

They never stayed long, the souls in Heaven, but Suzaku still watched. He still watched the humans, and he was always surprised by something each and every time, learning something new.

A boy and a girl, holding hands with far too similar features, ran up to him, grinning up at him.

"Um, Suzaku-san?"

The god smiled softly, kneeling down before the twins. "What is it I can do for you, young ones?"

The boy hid behind his sister, suddenly far too shy after the two words he had spoken. The girl shook, but she kept her head held high, though her eyes stayed respectfully at his feet.

"Can you tell her that it's not her fault?" Suzaku's eyebrow rose, the girl wringing her hands as she spoke further. "We know that she was just doing it to protect Tama-san's family, and we don't blame her for it, not at all, Suzaku-san."

Her eyes reminded him of one he fell in love with, so long ago. There was the same fire and determination resting in her soul there. He was saddened, Suzaku realized, to see that it had not come to fruition as of yet.

"Don't worry, I will tell her."

"Thank you, Suzaku-san!"

With that, the children ran off to play with the others from the village, an erratic game of tag going on. He watched for a moment longer before turning his head to the side, a soft smile on his face.

"You miss her."

A beautiful woman, dressed in the softest pinks decorated in delicate gold, stepped out of the shadows, showing her bare feet and pale skin. Her limbs were long and delicate, her red hair luscious and wavy, reminiscent of fire in the way it moved. Her lips turned up into a small, yet sad, smile, her eyes glued onto the children.

"I miss many things, but yes, I do miss her."

Suzaku watched her for a moment. His hand reached forward, gently tilting her chin until her bright blue eyes were locked with his golden ones. He cradled her head, her golden crown glittering as he did so.

"You would be proud of her, my darling."

She chuckled, her voice so similar that sometimes Suzaku could see daughter and mother as one and the same sometimes. "I always was, my fire."

sosososososososoooooooo what did ya'll think :D No name was given, but I think it was pretty obvious who it was here in that last bit xD I decided not to end with Yui this chapter, but since Hokkan is coming up, she'll be taking up a bit more space. SPEAKING OF HOKKAN! I am so fucking glad I finally got these dumbasses on the bloody boat, LOL. Forever in coming.

Sorry this is a short chapter guys :( But reviews!

nowitsagummybear thank you for your review! So am I, because there is going to be so much that's going to be different that this will finally seem like an actual fanfiction xD Then again it's an actual fanfiction, so whatever, LOL

Hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter :D Tell me what you think!

Tiryn