Suzaku no Saiai
Part VII
Standard disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi is copyrighted by Watase Yuu, Shogakukan,
TV Tokyo, Movic, and Studio Pierrot, and maybe some other people, if I forgot
anyone.^^; Anyway, please don't sue, me. I'm just a poor college student. Kourin
and Jin Feng were created by me, but I'm not responsible for their actions in this
fanfic. I can't control them anymore! If you think you might be more successful
controlling them, feel free to borrow them. Just drop me a line at
jscaife@austin.rr.com to let me know.
Kourin wrinkled her brow thoughtfully. "The other three clans wouldn't happen to
be the green tortoise, the bengal tiger, and the white dragon, would they?" At
Taiitsukun's nod she took a deep breath. "My ancestress was Suzaku's beloved,
ne? And I am her reincarnation? How does Jin Feng fit into this?"
"She is your unclaimed immortality," the creator answered. "When you healed
Nuriko she is responsible for the seishi sign appearing on your neck, marking you
as belonging to Suzaku. I don't know why she didn't just use her own sign
though. It would have saved a lot of confusion!"
The girl's face darkened, and she looked down at her feet. "Anou...Taiitsukun,
what about Hotohori? He loves me and wants me to be his empress."
"Throw away your feelings for him now, Kourin-chan!" the creator ordered
harshly. "Your destiny is elsewhere. If you persist in holding onto your feelings
both of you will suffer and perhaps even be punished for it." Besides, Taiitsukun
thought to herself, the rivalry between the seishi who love her could destroy
Suzaku's side before Konan even has to face Kutou! The girl must go with
Suzaku, for now! I thought these things were over after Miaka made her choice!
A stubborn look crossed Kourin's face. "And what if I choose to take Suzaku's
punishment rather than lose the warm encompassing love that I have been
searching for?" she challenged.
Taiitsukun finally lost her temper with the obstinate girl and slapped her across
the face like she'd been a Nyan Nyan. Kourin clutched her throbbing cheek and
looked at Taiitsukun in surprise. "That was to teach you to respect those with
more knowledge than you!" Taiitsukun snapped. "You're nineteen years old; stop
acting like a spoiled child and grow up!" The girl opened her mouth to protest, but
the creator cut her off with a curt gesture. "Do you even realize what it means to
be Hotohori's wife, the Empress of Konan? It means that everything you say,
every move you make, is scrutinized and criticized. The Empress must be an
example to the people of Konan, but right now I don't think you're strong enough!
Also, because Nuriko and Hotohori both love you there's tension between them.
If you clearly choose one over the other you are capable of destroying the
Suzaku seishi and any hope for peace! Is that what you want, Kourin?!"
The girl shuffled her feet and shook her head slowly. "I never wanted to hurt
anyone," she said softly. "I just wanted to be happy...but it seems everything I
touch is destroyed: my family...Konan...maybe even the four kingdoms
themselves." She looked up, and her eyes burned with mystical golden light. "It
seems the only thing I can do is consider what Suzaku wants of me."
"Wai! Wai!" a SD Jin Feng cried enthusiastically, glomping Kourin's leg. "We're
gonna me-erge!"
Kourin desperately tried to pry the now child-like phoenix woman off. "Don't jump
to conclusions! I only said that I'd think about it."
She woke up in an unfamiliar room. The smell of medicine and worry permeated
the air, and there were other signs that someone had been deathly ill. She turned
her head slightly and unsuccessfully tried to fight back a groan. Her whole body
felt so heavy!
Nuriko was jolted out of his shallow doze by the slight sound. He jumped up and
ran to the side of the bed. He gently clasped the sick girl's hand. "Daijoubu,
Kourin-chan," Nuriko murmured softly. "I'm back. I promised I wouldn't leave
you." Not counting the fact that I can't leave thanks to Jin Feng, the young man
thought wryly.
To his surprise and delight, "Since when was I 'Kourin-chan'," the sick girl
protested weakly with only a shadow of her customary asperity. "I was enjoying
'Kourin-sama' myself."
He carefully gathered her in his arms for an enthusiastic hug. "You're finally
awake!"
"What do you mean 'finally awake'?" Kourin asked quizzically. "I just met
Hotohori a few hours ago, ne?"
Nuriko shook his head gravely. "We had a terrible argument after you met
Hotohori, and you stomped out. About five minutes later I found you passed out
in the walkway. I brought you here and ran to find a doctor. By the time we
returned you were having fever induced hallucinations. The doctor didn't want to
risk moving you, so I've been taking care of you for the past week."
"I've been like this for the past week?" the girl asked incredulously. "What did the
doctor say was wrong?"
"He said that you'd simply overextended your chi, using more than your body
naturally created, and only bedrest would cure it," Nuriko shrugged. "Hotohori's
come to see you every day," he added reluctantly. "He's worried about you a lot."
Kourin painfully turned her back to him. "It doesn't matter now," she whispered
sadly and curled into a ball. Nuriko sucked in his breath and put one hand next to
her head and placed his face level with hers.
"What do you mean 'it doesn't matter now'?" he demanded. "Last time I checked
you were madly in love with Hotohori, but now his taking time out of his busy
schedule as emperor isn't important?!"
Kourin curled up even more tightly and let the hot tears flow silently down her
cheeks. She could never explain to Nuriko why her attitude had changed so
radically. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping the young man would just
disappear. The room was silent except for the sound of metal sliding against
leather...
"I suggest you leave her alone," Hotohori commanded icily.
Kourin opened her eyes in a flash. The young emperor stood imposingly at the
edge of the bed with the tip of his sword at Nuriko's throat. The purple-haired
seishi carefully climbed off the bed, conscious of the lethal blade.
"In fact I think it would be best if you left," the Emperor continued, and icy fire
flashed in his beautiful liquid eyes.
Nuriko gulped. Damn that Jin Feng! he cursed mentally. "I'm afraid I can't do that,
Hotohori-sama," he said levelly.
The perfect royal eyebrows lifted. "I see. Guards! Remove this man immediately!"
Kourin stared at the scene in fascination. This was a Hotohori she'd never seen!
In place of the gentle, lonely, loving man, he had become the imposing, regal
emperor of Konan. Maybe this is what Taiitsukun meant about me not being
ready, she thought sadly. I'm not the right woman to support this man.
"Matte yo!" Nuriko cried as the guards grabbed him and began pulling him away.
"Kourin and I are..." He was dragged out the door before he could finish.
Hotohori sat down on the side of the bed. "I brought you a present," he smiled
eagerly, once again the lonely young man. He pulled a stuffed animal from
behind his back and awkwardly thrust it towards Kourin. "I hope you like it."
The girl took the small stuffed creature in her hands. "It's a teddy bear," she said
in surprise, "but where did you get one here?"
The young emperor blushed and shifted uncomfortably. "Actually Miaka gave it to
me," he confided in embarrassment, "but I thought that it might provide you with
some company when I'm not here."
Kourin couldn't hold back her delighted smile, and she hugged the stuffed bear
tightly. "Do you think Saihitei would be a good name?" she teased. Forgive me,
Taiitsukun, but I can't help myself!
The guards had succeeded in dragging Nuriko across the courtyard when the
chest pains became so strong he was forced to his knees. "Kuso!" he swore
angrily. "Kourin's not strong enough!" Ignoring the jabs and kicks from the guards
Nuriko began to crawl back across the courtyard. One guard grabbed him and
lifted the young man to face level.
"Listen, I don't care that you're a Suzaku seishi," he said firmly. "The Emperor
said not to let you back in there."
Nuriko's temper snapped. "You idiotic fool! If I just wanted to cause trouble I
wouldn't bother trying to get back in there! Kourin, the Emperor's beloved, will be
seriously injured if I don't get back in there now!"
The guard looked unimpressed and began hauling Nuriko back towards the
dungeon. The young man nearly passed out from the increased pressure in his
chest just as an agonizing female scream rang out across the courtyard.
Hotohori gazed on in horror as Kourin's already fragile body was wracked with
excruciating spasms. She gasped for air, and, finally, a scream labouriously
escaped her lips.
"Get me in there now!" Nuriko commanded breathlessly. Wordlessly, the guard
obeyed, carrying his captive back towards the room.
The Emperor looked up as the guard returned with Nuriko dangling from his
beefy fist. "He was supposed to be taken to the dungeon," he stated pointedly.
"I know what's wrong with Kourin," Nuriko sputtered. Why can't I breath yet? he
thought anxiously. I'm back in the range of the bond.
"I want you to kiss her," Jin Feng's voice whispered teasingly.
"I can't do that!" Nuriko thought back urgently. "Hotohori will kill me for sure! What
are you doing in my head again anyway?"
"Make up an excuse," the phoenix woman said flippantly, ignoring Nuriko's
question. "You're a bright boy."
Nuriko tried to take a deep breath. "Could you carry me to the bed?" he asked his
captor hesitantly. The guard clomped across the few remaining feet and
unceremoniously dumped him on the floor. Grasping the edge of the bed Nuriko
struggled to reach a kneeling position. After several long minutes he finally
reached his goal. Now came the hard part.
Using his legendary strength Nuriko caught the girl's flailing arms and pulled
himself onto the bed. He paled under Hotohori's questioning gaze and mumbled
weakly, " Anou...chi transfer..." The Emperor nodded, apparently, satisfied, and
sat back. Nuriko gulped and bent his head. What type of kiss did it have to be
anyway?
"No chaste little pecks on the cheeks or lips!" Jin Feng threatened. "I want a real
kiss, so those don't count."
The young man mentally groaned. I was afraid of that.
He caressed Kourin's lips gently with his own before covering them entirely. His
chest began to release, and he could feel the girl's spasms lessen, but they still
wouldn't stop. Fearing the worst Nuriko forced his tongue through the slight gap
in her lips. Kourin's mouth had retained the subtle spicy flavour he remembered
from their previous kisses. There were no foreign tastes, and Nuriko felt gratified
by the thought that Hotohori hadn't kissed Kourin. The tightness in his chest
faded completely, but lost in the pleasant sensations Nuriko didn't even notice.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp chi 'zap', and he jumped back startled.
"I'm fine now, so you can stop sharing your spit," Kourin said acidly, but she
smiled to soften her words.
"How did you know what to do?" Hotohori asked in awe. "Sugoi, Nuriko!"
"It's just a technique I saw used once," the purple-haired seishi said off-handedly,
"and I thought it might work." He moved away from the bed slowly, but the toy in
Kourin's arms caught his eye. "Hey, that's Miaka's bear, isn't it?"
Kourin held it out and said, "Hotohori gave him to me. He thinks I need Miaka's
sunny disposition more than him right now." She looked at Hotohori coyly. "I still
think Saihitei's a nice name for him."
"Miaka called it 'Keisuke' after her oniisan," Nuriko said curtly. "I think you should
keep its original name." He sat gingerly on the couch that had been brought in to
be used as a bed and tried to ignore the feelings that Kourin's kiss had aroused.
How can Jin Feng constantly manipulate me into these situations? he thought
miserably. Kourin's not meant for any mortal man's bride, but...
"I like you better than I like him," Jin Feng's sweet voice whispered in his ear.
"Are you talking in my mind again?" the young man queried, exhaustedly.
"No, I'm here; you just can't see me," the phoenix woman replied. "Don't worry;
they can't hear us."
"Why don't you like Hotohori?" Nuriko asked, allowing his curiousity full rein.
"He's a kind, gentle man, and he loves her with his entire being."
Jin Feng played with her hair before answering. "I've discovered that I really like
Kourin quite a bit. She has fire and life to her, not to mention strength of
character and will. Sharing a body with her won't be hard. I mean we're so close
in personality that she only gains the powers of an immortal and loses nothing!
Hotohori dampens that spark in her; the type of love she feels for him makes her
docile. You, on the other hand, fan Kourin's inner flame to its full potential."
"That's because we fight all the time," Nuriko pointed out drily. "I'm an annoyance
to her."
"Are you really that blind?" Jin Feng asked in surprise. "Haven't you realized the
truth yet?"
"Enlighten me," the young man drawled. "You seem to know everything anyway."
"There's a strong physical attraction between you two!" the golden woman
exploded in exasperation. "Sure, Kourin thinks she loves him, but deep down
inside it's only because Suzaku told her to return to Konan. The silly fool thinks
she wants a calm, dependable man, but after a month of marriage she'd be
bored stiff! She needs a man who'll keep her on her toes!"
"Chotto matte!" Nuriko broke in. "If Kourin's destined to rise to the heaven's and
join Suzaku it doesn't matter whether she's attracted to me or not!"
Jin Feng suddenly stepped through a transparent door of air. "It matters a great
deal,"" she murmured huskily, "because I intend to enjoy my mortal existence to
the fullest." She strode towards him purposefully, and Nuriko felt like a trapped
animal. The stunning phoenix woman ran her hands through his thick purple hair
and smiled. "I think she may just be a tiny bit jealous of me," and she kissed him.
Nuriko stiffened in shock, and then his mind went completely blank. Afterwards
he was never entirely sure about what had happened, but he did remember Jin
Feng making a strange gesture and thinking, "Now she's bound to me as well for
the moment and can experience everything I do..."
Kourin had the odd sensation that someone was kissing her, but the only person
in the room was Hotohori, sitting sedately next to the bed. Suddenly, her ears
picked up the faint echoes of a woman's sensuous laugh, and then, "Nuriko
darling," her immortal doppelg„nger's voice purred, "let's make her really jealous,
shall we?"
Kourin scowled. Somehow Jin Feng had made her way into the outside world.
Jealous, huh? Kourin would show that meddling phoenix woman jealous! She
threw her arms around Hotohori's neck, trying to ignore the intense pain. I don't
care what Taiitsukun said! she thought bitterly. If Nuriko can mess around with
Jin Feng, I can love Hotohori.
Hotohori froze under the sudden onslaught of affection from his beloved. His
mind refused to function, but his body instinctively reacted when her burning lips
touched his. The normally reserved young emperor had discovered his skill at
lovemaking in the dreamworld, and he mentally thanked Suzaku, later of course,
after the testosterone rush had worn off. For the time being he tightened his
embrace possessively and let his hormones take control.
"Look at her!" Nuriko gasped in agitation. "She has no shame! None whatsoever!
What if someone came in?"
"The Emperor's made it fairly clear that Kourin is his chosen empress," Jin Feng
pointed out. "We did manage to arouse her anger and jealousy though."
"It wasn't supposed to send her rushing into Hotohori's waiting arms!" the young
man accused piteously.
"So I messed up a little!" the phoenix woman snapped. "I didn't expect her to be
quite that contrary! Ja, Ryuu-chan, I can't sustain this form any longer."
Kourin's eyes widened as Nuriko slowly reappeared on the sofa. He's been there
the whole time? she questioned herself. Jin Feng must have more power than I
realized. She demurely pushed Hotohori away and cast her gaze downward.
"I...I'm sorry, Hotohori, but I just don't feel comfortable now that Nuriko's back."
Hotohori smiled indulgently. "Daijoubu, Kourin. Intimacy is something that should
be kept between two people."
"Don't you have any imperial paperwork to do?" Nuriko scowled blackly. "I think
that your fiance‚ and I need to talk."
Hotohori struggled against the impulse to take action against the other young
man's words, when a hand on his arm restrained him. Kourin had managed to sit
upright, and her eyes seemed a little icy. Gomen, Hotohori, but I have to push
you away... "I think you should leave now," she stated cooly. "There is no need
for you to stay any longer."
Confusion flitted over the young emperor's face, but the strength of his imperial
training quickly enforced a fa‡ade of composure. "As you wish, Kourin," he
answered neutrally. "Shall I join you for dinner this evening?"
A look of disgust passed over the girl's face, and in a tone as if she were
speaking to a very young, very stupid child, she replied, "If you insist."
"I think that you should rest," Hotohori said almost curtly. Turning on his heel
Konan's young emperor glided away, regal and bewildered.
Like an agitated cat Nuriko shook out his purple mane and stalked to the bed. His
entire body was tense and angry energy exuded from his pores in waves.
Unheeding Kourin's weakened state he slammed her up against the headboard.
"What the fuck happened while you were passed out?!" he demanded. "You
woke up saying that it didn't make any difference how much you and Hotohori
loved each other. Then you were 'sharing spit', as you charmingly put it, with him
as if you had to merge with him here and now! Two seconds later you dismissed
him as if he were merely an annoyance or inconvenience to you. I'm pretty sure
that Hotohori's confused as hell, and I know that I am!"
"It's none of your business!" Kourin snapped, and the sign on her neck began to
glow as her chi elevated due to her anger. "The one who needs to do some
explaining is you Mr. 'Let's make Kourin jealous'!"
"That wasn't my idea!" Nuriko protested, turning red.
"Prove it!" Kourin demanded.
"I won't unless you give me a good reason for your behaviour!" the Suzaku seishi
threatened, bring his face close to the girl's.
Kourin started to raise her hand, but Nuriko pinned her wrist like a knife pinning a
butterfly. Her eyes became frantic like a caged animal's, but she managed to
force, "Let go of me right now, Nuriko!" past her lips.
"Oh, the romantic tension is just killing me!" a third voice interjected from across
the room. "This is the part where the hero and heroine get so angry that they end
up all over each other, ne?"
Two pairs of eyes, one brown, one burgandy, turned in shock. Jin Feng was
casually perched on Nuriko's vanity, filing her nails. She smiled brightly. "I was
lonely, so I thought I'd come out to play with you kids."
Glossary
? Wai --interjection indicating excitement.
? daijoubu -- it's okay, all right
? -chan and -sama -- Chan is a suffix to names that implies closeness or that
something is small or cute, sama indicates that the person is above you in status
? ne -- a question particle similar to how we use, 'right?'in English
? chi -- Life energy like the Force in Star Wars
? Kuso -- shit
? sugoi -- Wow, awesome, cool^^
? Oniisan -- older brother
? chotto matte -- Wait a minute
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
c 1997 jscaife@austin.rr.com
Part VII
Standard disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi is copyrighted by Watase Yuu, Shogakukan,
TV Tokyo, Movic, and Studio Pierrot, and maybe some other people, if I forgot
anyone.^^; Anyway, please don't sue, me. I'm just a poor college student. Kourin
and Jin Feng were created by me, but I'm not responsible for their actions in this
fanfic. I can't control them anymore! If you think you might be more successful
controlling them, feel free to borrow them. Just drop me a line at
jscaife@austin.rr.com to let me know.
Kourin wrinkled her brow thoughtfully. "The other three clans wouldn't happen to
be the green tortoise, the bengal tiger, and the white dragon, would they?" At
Taiitsukun's nod she took a deep breath. "My ancestress was Suzaku's beloved,
ne? And I am her reincarnation? How does Jin Feng fit into this?"
"She is your unclaimed immortality," the creator answered. "When you healed
Nuriko she is responsible for the seishi sign appearing on your neck, marking you
as belonging to Suzaku. I don't know why she didn't just use her own sign
though. It would have saved a lot of confusion!"
The girl's face darkened, and she looked down at her feet. "Anou...Taiitsukun,
what about Hotohori? He loves me and wants me to be his empress."
"Throw away your feelings for him now, Kourin-chan!" the creator ordered
harshly. "Your destiny is elsewhere. If you persist in holding onto your feelings
both of you will suffer and perhaps even be punished for it." Besides, Taiitsukun
thought to herself, the rivalry between the seishi who love her could destroy
Suzaku's side before Konan even has to face Kutou! The girl must go with
Suzaku, for now! I thought these things were over after Miaka made her choice!
A stubborn look crossed Kourin's face. "And what if I choose to take Suzaku's
punishment rather than lose the warm encompassing love that I have been
searching for?" she challenged.
Taiitsukun finally lost her temper with the obstinate girl and slapped her across
the face like she'd been a Nyan Nyan. Kourin clutched her throbbing cheek and
looked at Taiitsukun in surprise. "That was to teach you to respect those with
more knowledge than you!" Taiitsukun snapped. "You're nineteen years old; stop
acting like a spoiled child and grow up!" The girl opened her mouth to protest, but
the creator cut her off with a curt gesture. "Do you even realize what it means to
be Hotohori's wife, the Empress of Konan? It means that everything you say,
every move you make, is scrutinized and criticized. The Empress must be an
example to the people of Konan, but right now I don't think you're strong enough!
Also, because Nuriko and Hotohori both love you there's tension between them.
If you clearly choose one over the other you are capable of destroying the
Suzaku seishi and any hope for peace! Is that what you want, Kourin?!"
The girl shuffled her feet and shook her head slowly. "I never wanted to hurt
anyone," she said softly. "I just wanted to be happy...but it seems everything I
touch is destroyed: my family...Konan...maybe even the four kingdoms
themselves." She looked up, and her eyes burned with mystical golden light. "It
seems the only thing I can do is consider what Suzaku wants of me."
"Wai! Wai!" a SD Jin Feng cried enthusiastically, glomping Kourin's leg. "We're
gonna me-erge!"
Kourin desperately tried to pry the now child-like phoenix woman off. "Don't jump
to conclusions! I only said that I'd think about it."
She woke up in an unfamiliar room. The smell of medicine and worry permeated
the air, and there were other signs that someone had been deathly ill. She turned
her head slightly and unsuccessfully tried to fight back a groan. Her whole body
felt so heavy!
Nuriko was jolted out of his shallow doze by the slight sound. He jumped up and
ran to the side of the bed. He gently clasped the sick girl's hand. "Daijoubu,
Kourin-chan," Nuriko murmured softly. "I'm back. I promised I wouldn't leave
you." Not counting the fact that I can't leave thanks to Jin Feng, the young man
thought wryly.
To his surprise and delight, "Since when was I 'Kourin-chan'," the sick girl
protested weakly with only a shadow of her customary asperity. "I was enjoying
'Kourin-sama' myself."
He carefully gathered her in his arms for an enthusiastic hug. "You're finally
awake!"
"What do you mean 'finally awake'?" Kourin asked quizzically. "I just met
Hotohori a few hours ago, ne?"
Nuriko shook his head gravely. "We had a terrible argument after you met
Hotohori, and you stomped out. About five minutes later I found you passed out
in the walkway. I brought you here and ran to find a doctor. By the time we
returned you were having fever induced hallucinations. The doctor didn't want to
risk moving you, so I've been taking care of you for the past week."
"I've been like this for the past week?" the girl asked incredulously. "What did the
doctor say was wrong?"
"He said that you'd simply overextended your chi, using more than your body
naturally created, and only bedrest would cure it," Nuriko shrugged. "Hotohori's
come to see you every day," he added reluctantly. "He's worried about you a lot."
Kourin painfully turned her back to him. "It doesn't matter now," she whispered
sadly and curled into a ball. Nuriko sucked in his breath and put one hand next to
her head and placed his face level with hers.
"What do you mean 'it doesn't matter now'?" he demanded. "Last time I checked
you were madly in love with Hotohori, but now his taking time out of his busy
schedule as emperor isn't important?!"
Kourin curled up even more tightly and let the hot tears flow silently down her
cheeks. She could never explain to Nuriko why her attitude had changed so
radically. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping the young man would just
disappear. The room was silent except for the sound of metal sliding against
leather...
"I suggest you leave her alone," Hotohori commanded icily.
Kourin opened her eyes in a flash. The young emperor stood imposingly at the
edge of the bed with the tip of his sword at Nuriko's throat. The purple-haired
seishi carefully climbed off the bed, conscious of the lethal blade.
"In fact I think it would be best if you left," the Emperor continued, and icy fire
flashed in his beautiful liquid eyes.
Nuriko gulped. Damn that Jin Feng! he cursed mentally. "I'm afraid I can't do that,
Hotohori-sama," he said levelly.
The perfect royal eyebrows lifted. "I see. Guards! Remove this man immediately!"
Kourin stared at the scene in fascination. This was a Hotohori she'd never seen!
In place of the gentle, lonely, loving man, he had become the imposing, regal
emperor of Konan. Maybe this is what Taiitsukun meant about me not being
ready, she thought sadly. I'm not the right woman to support this man.
"Matte yo!" Nuriko cried as the guards grabbed him and began pulling him away.
"Kourin and I are..." He was dragged out the door before he could finish.
Hotohori sat down on the side of the bed. "I brought you a present," he smiled
eagerly, once again the lonely young man. He pulled a stuffed animal from
behind his back and awkwardly thrust it towards Kourin. "I hope you like it."
The girl took the small stuffed creature in her hands. "It's a teddy bear," she said
in surprise, "but where did you get one here?"
The young emperor blushed and shifted uncomfortably. "Actually Miaka gave it to
me," he confided in embarrassment, "but I thought that it might provide you with
some company when I'm not here."
Kourin couldn't hold back her delighted smile, and she hugged the stuffed bear
tightly. "Do you think Saihitei would be a good name?" she teased. Forgive me,
Taiitsukun, but I can't help myself!
The guards had succeeded in dragging Nuriko across the courtyard when the
chest pains became so strong he was forced to his knees. "Kuso!" he swore
angrily. "Kourin's not strong enough!" Ignoring the jabs and kicks from the guards
Nuriko began to crawl back across the courtyard. One guard grabbed him and
lifted the young man to face level.
"Listen, I don't care that you're a Suzaku seishi," he said firmly. "The Emperor
said not to let you back in there."
Nuriko's temper snapped. "You idiotic fool! If I just wanted to cause trouble I
wouldn't bother trying to get back in there! Kourin, the Emperor's beloved, will be
seriously injured if I don't get back in there now!"
The guard looked unimpressed and began hauling Nuriko back towards the
dungeon. The young man nearly passed out from the increased pressure in his
chest just as an agonizing female scream rang out across the courtyard.
Hotohori gazed on in horror as Kourin's already fragile body was wracked with
excruciating spasms. She gasped for air, and, finally, a scream labouriously
escaped her lips.
"Get me in there now!" Nuriko commanded breathlessly. Wordlessly, the guard
obeyed, carrying his captive back towards the room.
The Emperor looked up as the guard returned with Nuriko dangling from his
beefy fist. "He was supposed to be taken to the dungeon," he stated pointedly.
"I know what's wrong with Kourin," Nuriko sputtered. Why can't I breath yet? he
thought anxiously. I'm back in the range of the bond.
"I want you to kiss her," Jin Feng's voice whispered teasingly.
"I can't do that!" Nuriko thought back urgently. "Hotohori will kill me for sure! What
are you doing in my head again anyway?"
"Make up an excuse," the phoenix woman said flippantly, ignoring Nuriko's
question. "You're a bright boy."
Nuriko tried to take a deep breath. "Could you carry me to the bed?" he asked his
captor hesitantly. The guard clomped across the few remaining feet and
unceremoniously dumped him on the floor. Grasping the edge of the bed Nuriko
struggled to reach a kneeling position. After several long minutes he finally
reached his goal. Now came the hard part.
Using his legendary strength Nuriko caught the girl's flailing arms and pulled
himself onto the bed. He paled under Hotohori's questioning gaze and mumbled
weakly, " Anou...chi transfer..." The Emperor nodded, apparently, satisfied, and
sat back. Nuriko gulped and bent his head. What type of kiss did it have to be
anyway?
"No chaste little pecks on the cheeks or lips!" Jin Feng threatened. "I want a real
kiss, so those don't count."
The young man mentally groaned. I was afraid of that.
He caressed Kourin's lips gently with his own before covering them entirely. His
chest began to release, and he could feel the girl's spasms lessen, but they still
wouldn't stop. Fearing the worst Nuriko forced his tongue through the slight gap
in her lips. Kourin's mouth had retained the subtle spicy flavour he remembered
from their previous kisses. There were no foreign tastes, and Nuriko felt gratified
by the thought that Hotohori hadn't kissed Kourin. The tightness in his chest
faded completely, but lost in the pleasant sensations Nuriko didn't even notice.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp chi 'zap', and he jumped back startled.
"I'm fine now, so you can stop sharing your spit," Kourin said acidly, but she
smiled to soften her words.
"How did you know what to do?" Hotohori asked in awe. "Sugoi, Nuriko!"
"It's just a technique I saw used once," the purple-haired seishi said off-handedly,
"and I thought it might work." He moved away from the bed slowly, but the toy in
Kourin's arms caught his eye. "Hey, that's Miaka's bear, isn't it?"
Kourin held it out and said, "Hotohori gave him to me. He thinks I need Miaka's
sunny disposition more than him right now." She looked at Hotohori coyly. "I still
think Saihitei's a nice name for him."
"Miaka called it 'Keisuke' after her oniisan," Nuriko said curtly. "I think you should
keep its original name." He sat gingerly on the couch that had been brought in to
be used as a bed and tried to ignore the feelings that Kourin's kiss had aroused.
How can Jin Feng constantly manipulate me into these situations? he thought
miserably. Kourin's not meant for any mortal man's bride, but...
"I like you better than I like him," Jin Feng's sweet voice whispered in his ear.
"Are you talking in my mind again?" the young man queried, exhaustedly.
"No, I'm here; you just can't see me," the phoenix woman replied. "Don't worry;
they can't hear us."
"Why don't you like Hotohori?" Nuriko asked, allowing his curiousity full rein.
"He's a kind, gentle man, and he loves her with his entire being."
Jin Feng played with her hair before answering. "I've discovered that I really like
Kourin quite a bit. She has fire and life to her, not to mention strength of
character and will. Sharing a body with her won't be hard. I mean we're so close
in personality that she only gains the powers of an immortal and loses nothing!
Hotohori dampens that spark in her; the type of love she feels for him makes her
docile. You, on the other hand, fan Kourin's inner flame to its full potential."
"That's because we fight all the time," Nuriko pointed out drily. "I'm an annoyance
to her."
"Are you really that blind?" Jin Feng asked in surprise. "Haven't you realized the
truth yet?"
"Enlighten me," the young man drawled. "You seem to know everything anyway."
"There's a strong physical attraction between you two!" the golden woman
exploded in exasperation. "Sure, Kourin thinks she loves him, but deep down
inside it's only because Suzaku told her to return to Konan. The silly fool thinks
she wants a calm, dependable man, but after a month of marriage she'd be
bored stiff! She needs a man who'll keep her on her toes!"
"Chotto matte!" Nuriko broke in. "If Kourin's destined to rise to the heaven's and
join Suzaku it doesn't matter whether she's attracted to me or not!"
Jin Feng suddenly stepped through a transparent door of air. "It matters a great
deal,"" she murmured huskily, "because I intend to enjoy my mortal existence to
the fullest." She strode towards him purposefully, and Nuriko felt like a trapped
animal. The stunning phoenix woman ran her hands through his thick purple hair
and smiled. "I think she may just be a tiny bit jealous of me," and she kissed him.
Nuriko stiffened in shock, and then his mind went completely blank. Afterwards
he was never entirely sure about what had happened, but he did remember Jin
Feng making a strange gesture and thinking, "Now she's bound to me as well for
the moment and can experience everything I do..."
Kourin had the odd sensation that someone was kissing her, but the only person
in the room was Hotohori, sitting sedately next to the bed. Suddenly, her ears
picked up the faint echoes of a woman's sensuous laugh, and then, "Nuriko
darling," her immortal doppelg„nger's voice purred, "let's make her really jealous,
shall we?"
Kourin scowled. Somehow Jin Feng had made her way into the outside world.
Jealous, huh? Kourin would show that meddling phoenix woman jealous! She
threw her arms around Hotohori's neck, trying to ignore the intense pain. I don't
care what Taiitsukun said! she thought bitterly. If Nuriko can mess around with
Jin Feng, I can love Hotohori.
Hotohori froze under the sudden onslaught of affection from his beloved. His
mind refused to function, but his body instinctively reacted when her burning lips
touched his. The normally reserved young emperor had discovered his skill at
lovemaking in the dreamworld, and he mentally thanked Suzaku, later of course,
after the testosterone rush had worn off. For the time being he tightened his
embrace possessively and let his hormones take control.
"Look at her!" Nuriko gasped in agitation. "She has no shame! None whatsoever!
What if someone came in?"
"The Emperor's made it fairly clear that Kourin is his chosen empress," Jin Feng
pointed out. "We did manage to arouse her anger and jealousy though."
"It wasn't supposed to send her rushing into Hotohori's waiting arms!" the young
man accused piteously.
"So I messed up a little!" the phoenix woman snapped. "I didn't expect her to be
quite that contrary! Ja, Ryuu-chan, I can't sustain this form any longer."
Kourin's eyes widened as Nuriko slowly reappeared on the sofa. He's been there
the whole time? she questioned herself. Jin Feng must have more power than I
realized. She demurely pushed Hotohori away and cast her gaze downward.
"I...I'm sorry, Hotohori, but I just don't feel comfortable now that Nuriko's back."
Hotohori smiled indulgently. "Daijoubu, Kourin. Intimacy is something that should
be kept between two people."
"Don't you have any imperial paperwork to do?" Nuriko scowled blackly. "I think
that your fiance‚ and I need to talk."
Hotohori struggled against the impulse to take action against the other young
man's words, when a hand on his arm restrained him. Kourin had managed to sit
upright, and her eyes seemed a little icy. Gomen, Hotohori, but I have to push
you away... "I think you should leave now," she stated cooly. "There is no need
for you to stay any longer."
Confusion flitted over the young emperor's face, but the strength of his imperial
training quickly enforced a fa‡ade of composure. "As you wish, Kourin," he
answered neutrally. "Shall I join you for dinner this evening?"
A look of disgust passed over the girl's face, and in a tone as if she were
speaking to a very young, very stupid child, she replied, "If you insist."
"I think that you should rest," Hotohori said almost curtly. Turning on his heel
Konan's young emperor glided away, regal and bewildered.
Like an agitated cat Nuriko shook out his purple mane and stalked to the bed. His
entire body was tense and angry energy exuded from his pores in waves.
Unheeding Kourin's weakened state he slammed her up against the headboard.
"What the fuck happened while you were passed out?!" he demanded. "You
woke up saying that it didn't make any difference how much you and Hotohori
loved each other. Then you were 'sharing spit', as you charmingly put it, with him
as if you had to merge with him here and now! Two seconds later you dismissed
him as if he were merely an annoyance or inconvenience to you. I'm pretty sure
that Hotohori's confused as hell, and I know that I am!"
"It's none of your business!" Kourin snapped, and the sign on her neck began to
glow as her chi elevated due to her anger. "The one who needs to do some
explaining is you Mr. 'Let's make Kourin jealous'!"
"That wasn't my idea!" Nuriko protested, turning red.
"Prove it!" Kourin demanded.
"I won't unless you give me a good reason for your behaviour!" the Suzaku seishi
threatened, bring his face close to the girl's.
Kourin started to raise her hand, but Nuriko pinned her wrist like a knife pinning a
butterfly. Her eyes became frantic like a caged animal's, but she managed to
force, "Let go of me right now, Nuriko!" past her lips.
"Oh, the romantic tension is just killing me!" a third voice interjected from across
the room. "This is the part where the hero and heroine get so angry that they end
up all over each other, ne?"
Two pairs of eyes, one brown, one burgandy, turned in shock. Jin Feng was
casually perched on Nuriko's vanity, filing her nails. She smiled brightly. "I was
lonely, so I thought I'd come out to play with you kids."
Glossary
? Wai --interjection indicating excitement.
? daijoubu -- it's okay, all right
? -chan and -sama -- Chan is a suffix to names that implies closeness or that
something is small or cute, sama indicates that the person is above you in status
? ne -- a question particle similar to how we use, 'right?'in English
? chi -- Life energy like the Force in Star Wars
? Kuso -- shit
? sugoi -- Wow, awesome, cool^^
? Oniisan -- older brother
? chotto matte -- Wait a minute
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
c 1997 jscaife@austin.rr.com