Hello everyone! I hope you're enjoying the story so far. This is chapter eight, and please review or e-mail me at SetsunaPuu21@cs.com. Thank you.

Title: Words from the heart
Author: JupiterHalo
Date written: December 1, 2001
Rating: PG-13
Part: 8/?

Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi or the characters associated with it.

"..." means talking
'...' means thinking
**** means a transition between scenes

"We should see dreaming as one of our responsibilities, rather than an alternative to one." - Mary Engelbreit
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Miaka ran down the hall, tears blurring her vision. She loved Taka, didn't she? Didn't she?! She turned a corner and ran into something solid and warm. Miaka looked up and saw Nuriko, his eyes full of concern. "What's wrong, Miaka? Talk to me." "Well... Hotohori... he..." Nuriko's eyes became slits. "Did he hurt you? If he did, I swear to Suzaku that I'll kill him!" "No! Hotohori didn't do anything like that!" Miaka reassured him. "Then what is it?" Nuriko pulled Miaka into a tight hug, rubbing her back gently. "Come on, let's go someplace where we won't be disturbed." Miaka nodded, and they walked down the hall towards Nuriko's room.
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"There you are, Heika!" The head guard tried to catch his breath, since he had ran all over the palace looking for Hotohori. "We have reports of an assassin in the city, who has been sent to kill you!" "I see... I'll take precautions." Hotohori said quietly, staring out at the stars. 'Miaka...' "Good. I shall leave guards all around the palace." Hotohori nodded, and the man left. 'Wait... assassin?! That means that Miaka...' Hotohori's eyes widened, and he started running, determined to find Miaka and protect her.
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"So, what happened?" Nuriko and Miaka were now seated on Nuriko's bed, Miaka clutching a pillow to her chest. "Well..." Miaka told Nuriko everything that had happened since she had locked herself in her room. "Ah, I see..." he nodded in understanding when Miaka was done. "Do you love him?" She gasped and looked straight at Nuriko. "What?" "Do you love him?" Nuriko repeated gently. "Yes... but... Taka..." Miaka whispered dejectedly. Nuriko sighed. "Come on, Miaka... you don't owe Taka anything. He would want you to be happy, and if Hotohori makes you happy, then you two deserve each other." "I know..." Nuriko smiled and patted Miaka on the back. "Don't worry, things will turn out all right in the end. How about we go get something to eat?" Suddenly, Miaka felt hungry. "Okay."
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Hotohori had searched everywhere he could think of. She wasn't even in the kitchen! "Damn..." he muttered. "Where is she?!"
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"Yuuki-san, I know that you love your daughter very much. But, I have some bad news." Keisuke and his mother inhaled sharply. "You... you don't think she's going to recover, do you?" Keisuke finally asked. The doctor shook her head. "No, I think that she can recover, but your insurance doesn't cover this kind of thing. You can't afford to put her on life support for much longer." "So, we may have to let her go?" The doctor nodded. "Yes, Yuuki-san. If she doesn't wake up within the next forty-eight hours, then I'm afraid that we'll have to cut off her life support."
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"MIAKA!!!!!" Hotohori yelled across the courtyard, silently thanking Suzaku that he had found her. "Hotohori?!" Miaka looked shocked. "What is it, Hotohori-sama?" Nuriko asked, stepping in front of Miaka in a protective gesture. "I have some news. You must get back into the palace immediately!" "Why?" Miaka asked, confused. "There is an assassin lurking about, and I don't want you in danger." Hotohori made a formal bow. "If you would please follow me, then I shall escort you back into the palace." As he turned to take hold of Miaka's arm, Miaka noticed a movement out of the corner of her eye. "Hotohori! Watch out!" Miaka screamed, and pushed him out of the way. As Hotohori fell to the ground, he saw a black-cloaked person jump out of the shadows, and stab Miaka right near her heart. "Miaka!!!" Hotohori sprung forward to attack the assassin, but Nuriko was faster. With a simple twist of his arm, the assassin's neck was broken, and he was dead. With that done, Hotohori crawled over to where Miaka was, tears in his eyes. "Miaka, please don't die..." he whispered. Miaka was shaking in pain. "It... it hurts..." "Shhhh, I know..." Hotohori kissed her forehead lightly. "You'll be okay... you have to be." he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Miaka... please wake up." Miaka closed her eyes in pain. 'Keisuke?' "They say that if you don't, they'll kill you! Please, Miaka... don't leave us. I'm sorry..." Miaka looked down and saw her feet disappearing. "No! I don't want to go back to my own world!" Miaka cried out, heedless of the pain it caused her. Hotohori's eyes widened when he realized what was happening. "Miaka! Don't go, please!" Hotohori cried. "Hotohori... I love you... I'm so sorry." she whispered, as her hands started disappearing. "Be happy..." "I'll never be happy without you "Miaka... don't die!" Hotohori cried. "Hotohori... I love you... I'm so sorry." she whispered, as her hands started disappearing. "Be happy..." "I'll never be happy without you," he answered. She reached up and touched his face with translucent, bloody fingers. "Miaka! I'll find a way back to you, I promise!" Hotohori yelled, as she disappeared entirely in a reddish light. When the light disappeared, all Hotohori was clutching in his arms was a bloody sword.
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Miaka's eyes opened wide. "Miaka?!" Keisuke cried in joy. No one said anything, though, as she turned onto her side and wept.

So, what do you think so far? I'll try to have the next chapter out soon, which I think will be an epilogue. Please review, or e-mail me.

Love always,
~JupiterHalo~