Disclaimer:
The characters and story of Fushigi Yuugi belong to Watase Yuu. I'm only borrowing them for a brief moment to have some fun, and I promise I will put them back when I am done with them.

Warning:
This story contains spoilers up to episode 35, possibly more. If you haven't seen any of those eps or the ones beyond them, and it will ruin the story for you to know, please do not read any further.

Dedication:
This story is dedicated to Colin.

Fushigi Yuugi:
Painful Knowledge
Part Six - Yui
by: Yuuki Miyaka

I hate her. How can someone so very stupid get all the best in life? I suppose that's what I can't understand. I've worked all my life to make my future a good one, and she's done nothing but eat. And yet, I'm the one who has all the problems, while she coasts along without doing any work. And she's the one who has all the good things happen to her.

I could understand the fact that she didn't find me immediately. And I can understand that she was sent home when I was brought here. But she didn't come back for me. She didn't care about me at all. It's Tamahome that she's here for.

Once upon a time we were best friends, and I trusted her. When we both ended up in this world for those few minutes, when we both met Tamahome, I can understand how she liked him. He was magnificent. But something happened. She was chosen to be Suzaku no Miko. I only wish I could understand. I was sent back home, and had to read about everything that happened to her.

Looking back, I know that she's had some hard times. But nothing nearly as difficult as I've had. After all, her seishi actually care for her. I can only wish I had seishi like that. Something in her inspires trust and caring. She inspired it in me, she inspires it in others. And what happens to me? I'm stuck with a shogun who doesn't seem to understand that I know what he's doing to me. But what am I supposed to do? Call him out on it? He did save me from those thugs.

I don't even remember what happened to me, really. But I do know that when I woke up, when I realized what had happened to me, Nakago was there, comforting me, keeping me alive when all I wanted to do was end the pain. He saved my life, more than once. Why should I not do what he says? It doesn't matter if he really cares about me. Not anymore. All that matters at this point is the knowledge that he's helping me to win over her.

Perhaps I should forgive her. But I can't. She was my best friend, and she wasn't there for me when I needed her. How can anyone forgive their friend that? And I've figured out the perfect punishment for her. I'll take Tamahome from her, once and for all. He's her most prized possession. And she'll know who takes him from her. How can she not?

But schoolwork calls. Once I go back to my world, all of this will cease to exist. And I have to be prepared for the Academy exam. I can't let her have that as well. There has to be something for me.

~From the heart of Yui~

Author's Notes:
Perhaps I didn't succeed, but what I was trying to do here was to make Yui out as bitter but understanding. She knows that Miaka didn't really betray her, and to my mind, she knows that Nakago is using her. But at this point, she doesn't care who's doing what. It doesn't matter anymore, because her life is so screwed up right now.

At any rate, I hope you enjoyed. Please forgive me the delay in getting this out.