Reality is Worse than Nightmares
Miaka ate her full. Chichiri and Taka watched her in amazement. "That was so delicious! Oh, I can't eat another bite."
Chichiri and Taka grew huge sweat drops on their heads. "Miaka, you ate eleven plates no da."
"Oh...well what can I say? When your hungry your hungry!" Miaka smiled widely. "Hey, Chichiri. Do you know if Tasuki will be alright?" Miaka grew a worried face. Taka looked down and frowned.
"He'll be alright no da. Knowing Tasuki, he is probably out drinking or something no da." Chichiri stood up and walked towards the door. "Come on. Let's go to the inn. Plus you did want to talk to me Miaka no da."
Miaka looked into the sincere seishi's eyes. She gave a smile, and stood up. "Alright... Taka...come on aren't you coming." She looked down at him. He was still sitting.
"That's alright Miaka. I feel like staying here for awhile." Taka thought of a reason to stay. "I need to eat."
Miaka looked quit confused. "Taka...I thought that we just ate."
"Not really. You ate my food before I had a chance to eat any of it." Miaka felt quit embarrassed. "Besides...you wanted to talk to Chichiri alone. So go on ahead. I'll catch up."
"Come on Miaka. He'll be alright no da." Chichiri put his hand on Miaka's shoulder. "Let him eat."
"Alright. I guess. See you later Taka."
"Aw...Yeah! Hey get me some more sake!" Tasuki picked up his empty cup and held it in the air. "God! This is great! I haven't had a drink in a long time! HEY! Come on! Bring me some more sake!" Tasuki was quite pink in his cheeks. He was drunk, and Yui knew it.
"Here you are sir." The bartender put another round of sake on the counter. "Enjoy."
"Ya' k...know I...will. Ha ha ha ha!!!" Tasuki picked up another cup and downed it.
"Um...Tasuki? Don't you think you had enough?" Yui stared at the drunken red head.
"What are ya' ta...lkin aboot?" Tasuki began to slur his words. He picked up the last cup and drank it with one gulp. "I...only had...Uh. Ha ha! I don't k...now!"
'Oh gosh. I need to get Tasuki back to the inn,' Yui thought. "Come on Tasuki." She stood up and wrapped Tasuki's arm around her neck. She lifted with all her strength to get him out of his seat. She helped him walk back to the inn. Yui pushed the inn door open with her free hand.
"YUI!" Miaka ran to give her friend a hug. Miaka stopped running half way towards Yui soon after, seeing Tasuki being dragged in. "What...what happened to him?"
"He had a little to much to drink."
"What the...fuck ar...ya' talkin abot?" Tasuki fell to the ground.
"Oh dear." Miaka stared down at Tasuki. "We may need Chichiri's help."
"I'll go get him Miaka. Where is he?"
"I'm right here no da!" Chichiri walked down the steps towards the two girls. "What happened to Tasuki?" He bent down and observed the passed out seishi. "I should have known no da. He's been drinking again." He lifted Tasuki to his feet. 'Tasuki, do you always have to bury your problems by drinking,' Chichiri thought. "Come on no da. Let's get him to his room." Miaka and Yui lifted him up. Miaka wrapped his left arm around her neck, and Chichiri did the same with Tasuki's right arm. They brought him upstairs, and into his room. Miaka and Chichiri placed him on a bed. "Come on no da. Let's go talk."
"Alright. Yui, I need to talk to you too." Miaka headed out the room, and Chichiri and Yui followed her. When Miaka reached the doorway to exit Tasuki's room, she looked back.
"Miaka?" Yui stared at Miaka puzzlingly.
"Nothing Yui...lets go."
Taka sat alone at the table. 'Ugh...Tasuki!'
Miaka entered her sleeping quarters, with Yui and Chichiri behind her. She went and sat down on a bed. "Wow! I can't believe it. Yui! You came into this world. How? Why?" Miaka smiled at Yui, and watched her dear friend move towards the bed on the other side of the room.
"It's a long story Miaka. A blue light suddenly appeared, and I found myself here." Yui smiled back in response to Miaka's smile.
Chichiri found a place on the floor mat and sat down. "A blue light? I thought Seiryu was sealed for all time no da?" He sat in confusion. 'I wonder no da?'
Miaka and Yui stared at Chichiri, while he was in a deep thought. "Well anyway! It's nice to see you here Yui." Miaka paused. "Yui, did you believe Taka? When...when he told you about Sati."
"Sort of." Yui moved her shoulders up, in an 'I don't really know' kind of way.
Chichiri looked up. He thought about Tasuki. "Miaka? What did you want to talk about?"
Miaka looked over at Chichiri. "It's..." Miaka felt quite shy. "It's about Tasuki."
Yui looked at Miaka in surprise. "Miaka...how come you are so concerned about Tasuki?" She wanted to see if Miaka felt the same way as Tasuki did.
"I don't really know. I never really spent much time with him, because I was always with Tamahome or Taka. Not until a few days ago, when I returned here, I finally realized how much...how much I...care for him." Miaka lifted her knees to her face and buried her head. She spoke to Chichiri. "That's why I need your help. Tasuki has found a place in my heart, a place that is more than a friend. He always protects me. It's also sweet when he cares when I cry. But, I...I still love Taka. " Miaka lifted her head, and turned to Yui. "I need to ask you Yui. What should I do?"
Chichiri interrupted. "How do you feel Miaka no da?"
Miaka shrugged. "Chichiri..."
Chichiri interrupted again. He took off his mask. "You just have to make a choice no da. No matter which one you choose, someone will be hurt no da. Not physically, but mentally no da." Tears formed in Miaka's eyes. She held them back with all her will power. Chichiri continued, "I went through the same thing, as you know already. I chose my fiancé over my best friend. I loved him too, but he ended up dead because of me. Now I know why my fiancé left me. Not because she didn't love me no da, but because she felt like she had betrayed me, when in reality she did nothing wrong no da. I think back, and if I chose my friend or didn't make a choice at all, and not let anger or desire take over, then they might both be with me now no da." Chichiri was about to cry. Miaka and Yui could hear it in his voice. "Miaka, remember this. No one can go through life without love no da. So chose the love that comes with happiness." He got off the floor. "Miaka, I don't know if I was any help, but it is getting late no da." Chichiri put his mask back on. "Let's get some sleep. I'm sorry no da, but we'll finish talking tomorrow."
Taka stood outside the door of Miaka's room. 'Miaka! I won't lose you to him!' He heard Chichiri start walking towards the door from inside. He hurried and ran into his room across the hall. He went and jumped on a bed, and lay down.
Chichiri walked in. "I guess I'll be sleeping in here with you no da. Tasuki is a little drunk, and I think it's best if we leave him alone no da." Chichiri walked to the only available bed.
'Tasuki! I'll keep you from Miaka!' Taka closed his eyes.
Miaka relaxed herself on her bed. "Yui...do you think Tasuki feels the same way?"
Yui changed into one of Miaka's sleeping shirts she found in the bag. She knew Tasuki loved her, but Yui knew that Miaka had to find out on her own. She promised Tasuki at the bar that she wouldn't say anything. "Miaka, don't worry about it." Yui got into her bed, and pulled the covers over her body. Minutes of silence passed. "Miaka...I hope you make the right decision."
Tasuki turned back and forth in his sleep. Flashes of the nightmare, the nightmare he couldn't get rid of, appeared in his mind.
"NO! TASUKI! PLEASE STOP! THIS ISN'T LIKE YOU!" Miaka's screams echoed through his head.
"I love you... Please forget about Taka. He doesn't deserve you!" Tasuki pulled up Miaka's shirt.
"TASUKI! NOOO...."
"NOO!" Tasuki jerked himself up. He found himself in a room alone, but didn't care where he was at that moment. "Suzaku help me." Tasuki put his face into his hand. He was wet from his sweat. He was nearly in tears. 'Please, when will they stop?'
Miaka woke from a scream, a scream she seemed to be worried about. She looked across the room, and saw that Yui in the other bed sound asleep. "Yui? Yui are you awake?" Yui didn't respond. Miaka pulled her legs over the edge of her bed. "Maybe...maybe Chichiri or Taka screamed?" She stood up, and walked toward the door and out the hall. She moved across the hall and cracked the door open, and took a look inside. She saw Chichiri sleeping soundly in one bed, and Taka sleeping in the other. "Chichiri," Miaka whispered. 'I guess their both asleep...Tasuki!' Miaka shut the door as silently as she could, and moved down the hall at slow tiptoe steps. She stood in front of Tasuki's door. She did the same as she did with Chichiri's room. She slowly peered in and her eyes widened. Tasuki...was crying. "Tasuki?"
Tasuki took his face out of his hands. His face was wet from tears and sweat. He stared into her confused face. He couldn't...no words escaped his lips. He watched as Miaka walked towards him. She was in a shirt only. He remembered his nightmare. Tasuki panicked and crawled backwards. He didn't feel himself stop; he suddenly fell off the bed.
"Tasuki!" Miaka ran and got on top of the bed that Tasuki used to be in. She peered over the side and saw him in a crouched position. "Tasuki? Was it...was it you who I heard scream something?" She scooted herself closer to the edge. She could see Tasuki form more tears in his eyes, even though she could tell that he was trying to hide it. 'How do you feel Miaka no da?' Chichiri's phrase echoed in her head. 'I...I love him,' she thought. She got off the bed and sat down on the floor next to Tasuki. She leaned herself forward and wrapped her arms around him. Tasuki's eyes jerked open. "Tasuki. You always comforted me. Please. Let me comfort you."
Tasuki's nightmare flashed in his head again. He forcefully pulled himself away from his Miko. He stood up quickly, and walked backwards into the wall. He stood their looking down at Miaka, who was sitting on the floor on her knees.
Miaka felt quit confused. "Tasuki? What's wrong?" She stood up and slowly walked towards him. But, with each step she took, Tasuki tried to step away from her slowly, moving against the wall. He finally found himself trapped in a corner of the room His face was turned away from hers. "Tasuki! Quit moving away from me! Why? Why are you so scared of me?" Miaka was beginning to cry.
Tasuki could hear the sobbing in her voice. He turned his face fast and looked at her. Tears flowed down her face. He felt himself move towards her. He grabbed hold of her, and embraced her. "I'm sorry Miaka. I didn't mean ta' make ya' cry. I'm...I'm alright now." He kept hold of her. The visions still appeared in his mind. He knew the nightmare happened in reality; Tasuki's body tightened with fear. Everything faded away. All his worries, visions, and fears vanished, when he felt Miaka's arms wrap around him. He embraced her tighter.
Miaka felt so safe in his arms. 'Miaka...I hope you make the right decision.' Yui's voice echoed in her head. 'I hope I do,' Miaka thought. She released herself from Tasuki and smiled. "Well I hope you'll feel better soon. You need to get some rest." She boosted herself and kissed Tasuki on his cheek. When Miaka released herself, she felt strange. Kissing Tasuki on the cheek has never been a big deal to her. But now, she feels like she was betraying Taka.
"Miaka? What's wrong?" He stared down at Miaka, who had her face facing the floor. "I told ya' I'm sorry. Please don't cry."
"It's not...It's not that Tasuki." She looked up at the confused red head. "Don't worry about it." She pulled herself closer to Tasuki. "Tasuki I..."
"MIAKA!" Yui's scream, from Miaka's room, reached the embracing couple.
Miaka and Tasuki looked towards the door. "Yui!" Miaka moved away from Tasuki. 'She could be in danger.' Miaka stormed out of Tasuki's room, and ran to hers. She peered inside as to not let the enemy see her. She looked over the frame of the doorway and saw Yui bending down on her knees. Her face was in her hands and was crying. Chichiri and Taka were with her.
"Don't worry Yui no da." Chichiri hovered over the crying girl.
"Miaka could be in danger or worse. I don't know where she could be. She could be...be..." Yui heard a crash. She looked up and saw Miaka face flat on the floor. " IN THE DOOR!" She got up and raised her fist. "Miaka! Where have you been?"
"Yui I..." Miaka looked into her angry friends face.
"Miaka what's goin' on?" Tasuki looked at Miaka on the ground. "Ya' stormed out of my room pretty fast..." Tasuki looked up and saw Taka staring at him angrily.
Miaka ate her full. Chichiri and Taka watched her in amazement. "That was so delicious! Oh, I can't eat another bite."
Chichiri and Taka grew huge sweat drops on their heads. "Miaka, you ate eleven plates no da."
"Oh...well what can I say? When your hungry your hungry!" Miaka smiled widely. "Hey, Chichiri. Do you know if Tasuki will be alright?" Miaka grew a worried face. Taka looked down and frowned.
"He'll be alright no da. Knowing Tasuki, he is probably out drinking or something no da." Chichiri stood up and walked towards the door. "Come on. Let's go to the inn. Plus you did want to talk to me Miaka no da."
Miaka looked into the sincere seishi's eyes. She gave a smile, and stood up. "Alright... Taka...come on aren't you coming." She looked down at him. He was still sitting.
"That's alright Miaka. I feel like staying here for awhile." Taka thought of a reason to stay. "I need to eat."
Miaka looked quit confused. "Taka...I thought that we just ate."
"Not really. You ate my food before I had a chance to eat any of it." Miaka felt quit embarrassed. "Besides...you wanted to talk to Chichiri alone. So go on ahead. I'll catch up."
"Come on Miaka. He'll be alright no da." Chichiri put his hand on Miaka's shoulder. "Let him eat."
"Alright. I guess. See you later Taka."
"Aw...Yeah! Hey get me some more sake!" Tasuki picked up his empty cup and held it in the air. "God! This is great! I haven't had a drink in a long time! HEY! Come on! Bring me some more sake!" Tasuki was quite pink in his cheeks. He was drunk, and Yui knew it.
"Here you are sir." The bartender put another round of sake on the counter. "Enjoy."
"Ya' k...know I...will. Ha ha ha ha!!!" Tasuki picked up another cup and downed it.
"Um...Tasuki? Don't you think you had enough?" Yui stared at the drunken red head.
"What are ya' ta...lkin aboot?" Tasuki began to slur his words. He picked up the last cup and drank it with one gulp. "I...only had...Uh. Ha ha! I don't k...now!"
'Oh gosh. I need to get Tasuki back to the inn,' Yui thought. "Come on Tasuki." She stood up and wrapped Tasuki's arm around her neck. She lifted with all her strength to get him out of his seat. She helped him walk back to the inn. Yui pushed the inn door open with her free hand.
"YUI!" Miaka ran to give her friend a hug. Miaka stopped running half way towards Yui soon after, seeing Tasuki being dragged in. "What...what happened to him?"
"He had a little to much to drink."
"What the...fuck ar...ya' talkin abot?" Tasuki fell to the ground.
"Oh dear." Miaka stared down at Tasuki. "We may need Chichiri's help."
"I'll go get him Miaka. Where is he?"
"I'm right here no da!" Chichiri walked down the steps towards the two girls. "What happened to Tasuki?" He bent down and observed the passed out seishi. "I should have known no da. He's been drinking again." He lifted Tasuki to his feet. 'Tasuki, do you always have to bury your problems by drinking,' Chichiri thought. "Come on no da. Let's get him to his room." Miaka and Yui lifted him up. Miaka wrapped his left arm around her neck, and Chichiri did the same with Tasuki's right arm. They brought him upstairs, and into his room. Miaka and Chichiri placed him on a bed. "Come on no da. Let's go talk."
"Alright. Yui, I need to talk to you too." Miaka headed out the room, and Chichiri and Yui followed her. When Miaka reached the doorway to exit Tasuki's room, she looked back.
"Miaka?" Yui stared at Miaka puzzlingly.
"Nothing Yui...lets go."
Taka sat alone at the table. 'Ugh...Tasuki!'
Miaka entered her sleeping quarters, with Yui and Chichiri behind her. She went and sat down on a bed. "Wow! I can't believe it. Yui! You came into this world. How? Why?" Miaka smiled at Yui, and watched her dear friend move towards the bed on the other side of the room.
"It's a long story Miaka. A blue light suddenly appeared, and I found myself here." Yui smiled back in response to Miaka's smile.
Chichiri found a place on the floor mat and sat down. "A blue light? I thought Seiryu was sealed for all time no da?" He sat in confusion. 'I wonder no da?'
Miaka and Yui stared at Chichiri, while he was in a deep thought. "Well anyway! It's nice to see you here Yui." Miaka paused. "Yui, did you believe Taka? When...when he told you about Sati."
"Sort of." Yui moved her shoulders up, in an 'I don't really know' kind of way.
Chichiri looked up. He thought about Tasuki. "Miaka? What did you want to talk about?"
Miaka looked over at Chichiri. "It's..." Miaka felt quite shy. "It's about Tasuki."
Yui looked at Miaka in surprise. "Miaka...how come you are so concerned about Tasuki?" She wanted to see if Miaka felt the same way as Tasuki did.
"I don't really know. I never really spent much time with him, because I was always with Tamahome or Taka. Not until a few days ago, when I returned here, I finally realized how much...how much I...care for him." Miaka lifted her knees to her face and buried her head. She spoke to Chichiri. "That's why I need your help. Tasuki has found a place in my heart, a place that is more than a friend. He always protects me. It's also sweet when he cares when I cry. But, I...I still love Taka. " Miaka lifted her head, and turned to Yui. "I need to ask you Yui. What should I do?"
Chichiri interrupted. "How do you feel Miaka no da?"
Miaka shrugged. "Chichiri..."
Chichiri interrupted again. He took off his mask. "You just have to make a choice no da. No matter which one you choose, someone will be hurt no da. Not physically, but mentally no da." Tears formed in Miaka's eyes. She held them back with all her will power. Chichiri continued, "I went through the same thing, as you know already. I chose my fiancé over my best friend. I loved him too, but he ended up dead because of me. Now I know why my fiancé left me. Not because she didn't love me no da, but because she felt like she had betrayed me, when in reality she did nothing wrong no da. I think back, and if I chose my friend or didn't make a choice at all, and not let anger or desire take over, then they might both be with me now no da." Chichiri was about to cry. Miaka and Yui could hear it in his voice. "Miaka, remember this. No one can go through life without love no da. So chose the love that comes with happiness." He got off the floor. "Miaka, I don't know if I was any help, but it is getting late no da." Chichiri put his mask back on. "Let's get some sleep. I'm sorry no da, but we'll finish talking tomorrow."
Taka stood outside the door of Miaka's room. 'Miaka! I won't lose you to him!' He heard Chichiri start walking towards the door from inside. He hurried and ran into his room across the hall. He went and jumped on a bed, and lay down.
Chichiri walked in. "I guess I'll be sleeping in here with you no da. Tasuki is a little drunk, and I think it's best if we leave him alone no da." Chichiri walked to the only available bed.
'Tasuki! I'll keep you from Miaka!' Taka closed his eyes.
Miaka relaxed herself on her bed. "Yui...do you think Tasuki feels the same way?"
Yui changed into one of Miaka's sleeping shirts she found in the bag. She knew Tasuki loved her, but Yui knew that Miaka had to find out on her own. She promised Tasuki at the bar that she wouldn't say anything. "Miaka, don't worry about it." Yui got into her bed, and pulled the covers over her body. Minutes of silence passed. "Miaka...I hope you make the right decision."
Tasuki turned back and forth in his sleep. Flashes of the nightmare, the nightmare he couldn't get rid of, appeared in his mind.
"NO! TASUKI! PLEASE STOP! THIS ISN'T LIKE YOU!" Miaka's screams echoed through his head.
"I love you... Please forget about Taka. He doesn't deserve you!" Tasuki pulled up Miaka's shirt.
"TASUKI! NOOO...."
"NOO!" Tasuki jerked himself up. He found himself in a room alone, but didn't care where he was at that moment. "Suzaku help me." Tasuki put his face into his hand. He was wet from his sweat. He was nearly in tears. 'Please, when will they stop?'
Miaka woke from a scream, a scream she seemed to be worried about. She looked across the room, and saw that Yui in the other bed sound asleep. "Yui? Yui are you awake?" Yui didn't respond. Miaka pulled her legs over the edge of her bed. "Maybe...maybe Chichiri or Taka screamed?" She stood up, and walked toward the door and out the hall. She moved across the hall and cracked the door open, and took a look inside. She saw Chichiri sleeping soundly in one bed, and Taka sleeping in the other. "Chichiri," Miaka whispered. 'I guess their both asleep...Tasuki!' Miaka shut the door as silently as she could, and moved down the hall at slow tiptoe steps. She stood in front of Tasuki's door. She did the same as she did with Chichiri's room. She slowly peered in and her eyes widened. Tasuki...was crying. "Tasuki?"
Tasuki took his face out of his hands. His face was wet from tears and sweat. He stared into her confused face. He couldn't...no words escaped his lips. He watched as Miaka walked towards him. She was in a shirt only. He remembered his nightmare. Tasuki panicked and crawled backwards. He didn't feel himself stop; he suddenly fell off the bed.
"Tasuki!" Miaka ran and got on top of the bed that Tasuki used to be in. She peered over the side and saw him in a crouched position. "Tasuki? Was it...was it you who I heard scream something?" She scooted herself closer to the edge. She could see Tasuki form more tears in his eyes, even though she could tell that he was trying to hide it. 'How do you feel Miaka no da?' Chichiri's phrase echoed in her head. 'I...I love him,' she thought. She got off the bed and sat down on the floor next to Tasuki. She leaned herself forward and wrapped her arms around him. Tasuki's eyes jerked open. "Tasuki. You always comforted me. Please. Let me comfort you."
Tasuki's nightmare flashed in his head again. He forcefully pulled himself away from his Miko. He stood up quickly, and walked backwards into the wall. He stood their looking down at Miaka, who was sitting on the floor on her knees.
Miaka felt quit confused. "Tasuki? What's wrong?" She stood up and slowly walked towards him. But, with each step she took, Tasuki tried to step away from her slowly, moving against the wall. He finally found himself trapped in a corner of the room His face was turned away from hers. "Tasuki! Quit moving away from me! Why? Why are you so scared of me?" Miaka was beginning to cry.
Tasuki could hear the sobbing in her voice. He turned his face fast and looked at her. Tears flowed down her face. He felt himself move towards her. He grabbed hold of her, and embraced her. "I'm sorry Miaka. I didn't mean ta' make ya' cry. I'm...I'm alright now." He kept hold of her. The visions still appeared in his mind. He knew the nightmare happened in reality; Tasuki's body tightened with fear. Everything faded away. All his worries, visions, and fears vanished, when he felt Miaka's arms wrap around him. He embraced her tighter.
Miaka felt so safe in his arms. 'Miaka...I hope you make the right decision.' Yui's voice echoed in her head. 'I hope I do,' Miaka thought. She released herself from Tasuki and smiled. "Well I hope you'll feel better soon. You need to get some rest." She boosted herself and kissed Tasuki on his cheek. When Miaka released herself, she felt strange. Kissing Tasuki on the cheek has never been a big deal to her. But now, she feels like she was betraying Taka.
"Miaka? What's wrong?" He stared down at Miaka, who had her face facing the floor. "I told ya' I'm sorry. Please don't cry."
"It's not...It's not that Tasuki." She looked up at the confused red head. "Don't worry about it." She pulled herself closer to Tasuki. "Tasuki I..."
"MIAKA!" Yui's scream, from Miaka's room, reached the embracing couple.
Miaka and Tasuki looked towards the door. "Yui!" Miaka moved away from Tasuki. 'She could be in danger.' Miaka stormed out of Tasuki's room, and ran to hers. She peered inside as to not let the enemy see her. She looked over the frame of the doorway and saw Yui bending down on her knees. Her face was in her hands and was crying. Chichiri and Taka were with her.
"Don't worry Yui no da." Chichiri hovered over the crying girl.
"Miaka could be in danger or worse. I don't know where she could be. She could be...be..." Yui heard a crash. She looked up and saw Miaka face flat on the floor. " IN THE DOOR!" She got up and raised her fist. "Miaka! Where have you been?"
"Yui I..." Miaka looked into her angry friends face.
"Miaka what's goin' on?" Tasuki looked at Miaka on the ground. "Ya' stormed out of my room pretty fast..." Tasuki looked up and saw Taka staring at him angrily.