Embrace the Memory
Chapter Four
Lies
"T-tamahome..." Miaka tossed in her bed, Chichiri sat beside her. Her hand was tightly grasped in his. (They are at an inn)
"Onegai, Miaka.... Wake up.... Onegai...." Chichiri pressed his (soft) lips on the back of Miaka's hand, "Wake up...."
Tasuki watched this from outside the door, "Sheesh... He hasn't left her since they came back. he won't even talk to me! What am I going to do?"
"I'm baaaack!" A cheerful voice called as the door closed behind them.
"N-nuriko!" Tasuki stuttered, "Where have you fuckin' been?!" He narrowed his eyes.
"Shopping! With Miaka, I had to fill our food supply, again.... Where is she, anyway?"
"That room over there," Tasuki pointed to the one one door to the right of them.
"Oh," Nuriko stepped that way.
"I wouldn't-" Tasuki didn't get to finish. Nuriko's eyes widened and he stepped back.
"W-what is Chichiri doing?" Nuriko sputtered.
"Kissing Miaka in step one places," Tasuki replied.
"Step one?" Nuriko asked.
"Cheek, hand, hair, forehead. Stuff like that. Step two is lips, things under shirt. Step three is-" Tasuki explained.
"I don't even want to hear about step three," Nuriko put his hands up in defence and stepped into his own room, "Tasuki! Since Chichiri's hoggin your room, I guess you're stuck sharing with me!"
(Muttering)"Great, I get to sleep with the cross-dresser,"
"I heard that! You're not sleeping with me! You're sharing a room at a cheep inn! For that, you can sleep outside the room!" Nuriko called back.
"Matte!" Tasuki said as he rushed in.
"Hah, you fell for it!" Nuriko cracked up.
"Shut up, Nuriko. Look, a lot of hell happened while you were gone," Tasuki said in a very serious voice.
"Nani?" Nuriko suddenly turned serious again.
"Lets review this.... Miaka caught Tamahome kissing Yui after Tamahome managed to lure Yui from the claws of Seiryuu... Miaka killed Yui. Tamahome comitted suicide. That about sums it up,"
"Tamahome-" Nuriko began.
"That's not what happened!" a voice called from behind the wall.
"Shit! He finally responded!" Tasuki cried, racing for the door.
"Nani?!" Nuriko asked as he followed.
"Chichiri hasn't done anything 'cept comfort Miaka since we got back!" Tasuki replied as they entered Miaka's room. They found Chichiri standing up, his mask of course, was absent. He had lost it in the river. Tears streamed down his face and his hands were clenched in fists at his side.
"It wasn't Miaka's fault! Miaka tried to save Yui! Yui was the one who let go of the bow on purpose! Tamahome was caught by Nakago! If you tell Miaka what you just told Nuriko, Miaka will blame her self and there will be no one who can ease her suffering!" they couldn't remember ever seeing Chichiri so upset.
"Ch-chichiri..." Tasuki stammered, not knowing how to react. Chichiri sighed and sat back down nect to Miaka. He stroked Miaka's hair with one hand, singing softly.
Meguriawase hitosu machigaeba
itoshisa sae toge ni natte shizumeta
mune no soko ni shizumeta otami ga
himoi wo age iki wo fukikaeshita...
(A few lines from Mizu Kagami)
(translation:)
If you make even one meeting wrong,
Then even the feeling of love become thorns,
The pain I submerged deep in my heart
screamed and was revived. (I think....)
"Tamahome....!" Miaka cried in her sleep.
~ยค~
"Yui-sama, you have finally awakened. Welcome back,"
"N-nakago?" Yui asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her throat hurt and her vision was blurred.
"We found you in the river on the outskirts of Kotou,"
"Suboshi...." Yui whispered. Her head was clearing up, "Tamahome... Miaka...."
"Tamahome is right here, Yui-sama," Nakago helped her sit up. Tamahome was chained in the corner of the room, much like how Ashitare had been chained.
"Tamahome!" Yui got up and bent down next to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder. Tamahome pulled away, "Nani? What's wrong, Tamahome?"
"Ch," Tamahome turned away, "It's because of you I can never be with Miaka. It's my fault, but it's because of you," Yui looked up at nakago for answers.
"He's been like that since we brought you in," Nakago did his equivalent to a shrug.
"Gomen nasai, Tamahome, Miaka..."