Misara blinked a few times, then opened her eyes completely. Almost immediately shutting them again, she winced at the bright sunlight and rubbed at her eyes.
"Are you awake now?" A voice drifted over.
She turned toward the sound and saw Keisuke sitting in a nearby chair, a can in one hand and the Universe of the Four Gods book in the other.
"What happened?" She asked. "I thought Yui wished for her and Miaka to leave the book world...didn't she?"
Keisuke shrugged. "That's what Yui said. I don't know why you came back too, since she didn't say anything about you." He answered. "But then again," he continued, "you weren't the only one here that wasn't supposed to come."
Misara was in the process of looking around the room when her head whipped back toward Keisuke. "What do you mean?"
Keisuke motioned with his thumb toward a closed door. "Apparently Tamahome came with you as well." Misara groaned quietly.
"Great..." she muttered. Just then, another door flew open and Tetsuya strode into the room, followed closely by a red-headed girl who looked very ashamed of herself.
"Taylor?" Misara asked, although it wasn't really a question. She could see it was her best friend.
"Misara, I'm really sorry!" Taylor cried out. "I didn't mean any of those things I said or did...please believe me!"
"Apparently, she was under a spell of Nakago's while in the book." Keisuke said, holding it up. "It was broken when you sent her here with your ring."
Misara stood up. "Really?" she asked hesitantly.
Keisuke nodded, as did Tetsuya. Misara decided to believe them and went to embrace her friend. Taylor burst into tears.
"I'm so sorry!" She cried.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Taylor, really." Misara assured her. "I'm done with that world now."
Taylor lifted her head from Misara's shoulder. "What do you mean?" She asked, alarmed.
"I'm not the Goddess of the Sky anymore." Misara said quietly. "I mean, if there's no more Suzaku, there's no more...me."
"But what about...?" Taylor trailed off, but Misara understood her unsaid question. She sighed.
"I can't go back to that world now anyway, and even if I could...I don't think I could stay with Hotohori for the rest of my life." She looked up at Taylor. "Away from my mom, you, everything I've ever known? I couldn't give up my dreams for that sort of life...even though I love him..." Her voice cracked and she stopped speaking to get a hold of herself. "So-it doesn't matter anymore. I'm sure Hotohori will understand." She said louder, her voice still wavering.
Keisuke sighed. "Maybe..." He muttered.
"What?" Misara turned to him. "Maybe what?"
He held up the book. "Hotohori is just a character in this book...I don't think he really exists." Misara still looked confused, so Keisuke hurried on. "This book was written a long time ago-but its basically a spell book. It takes the reader into it, where they live out the story, complete their role as priestess, and leave the book world. So technically, Hotohori is not a real person, and neither is-" he stopped, looked at the closed door behind him, and lower his voice before continuing. "Neither is Tamahome."
A day later, Misara had had plenty of time to ponder Keisuke's thoughts on the book world-but she was still as confused as ever. Everything in that world had seemed so real to her...Hotohori was real, she was sure of it, but she was sure Miaka felt the same way about Tamahome-and that Miaka also knew he couldn't be real at the same time. She was so confused. Although she had told Taylor otherwise, a part of her still wanted to go back into that world, and be with Hotohori and all the other friends she had made there. It seemed like a good idea, to be with them for the rest of her life. But on the other hand, she couldn't leave her mother, or Taylor...or her school, her violin, and all her belongings. She had decided, before she would even think of deciding whether to go or stay, that she couldn't have both worlds. If she chose to stay here, she could never think about that other world again. And if she chose to go there and marry Hotohori...and be happy...she couldn't take anything with her to remind her of the life she left behind.
The next two days passed in a blur. Misara went out with Keisuke a few times as he tried desperately to cheer her up. She was grateful to him for that, but she was too preoccupied with her thoughts to play video games or eat at a real Japanese sushi restaurant. Taylor tried to get in contact with Yui, but Yui wouldn't speak to her, Misara, or Miaka at all. It was hard for the two girls to leave Miaka's apartment, since they didn't speak Japanese and the tricks of the book world didn't carry over into this one. So the two of them stayed with Miaka, and Keisuke and Tetsuya visited them daily and tried to keep them company. But it wasn't until about four days after they had first left the book world that Keisuke brought it to Misara to read her something from it.
He read of the battles between Kutou and Konan, boring Misara until he came to a part about Hotohori. Even as he was reading, the words were being filled in with the rest of the story. Keisuke read that Hotohori had come face to face with Nakago, and they were now preparing to fight. Even though Misara loved him with all her heart and knew he was strong, she knew he couldn't win against Nakago...not without Suzaku. Without thinking, she grabbed the book from Keisuke.
"You idiot!" She screamed at it. "Don't fight him!" Her eyes welled up. "Don't fight him...please!"
"please..." Hotohori looked up into the sky. He thought he had heard something...Misara's voice. His thoughts returning to the battle at hand, he noticed Nakago staring at him with a look he couldn't read. But then the voice came again.
"Hotohori, stop!" It cried, louder this time. It seemed to come from everywhere. "Please, oh please Hotohori!" It was definitely Misara's voice, of that he was certain. "Misara?" he called. "Where are you?" "Oh Hotohori, don't fight with Nakago! He'll kill you, I know it!" It sounded like she was crying. Hotohori looked at Nakago. It was clear he could hear the voice too, and his face was a mixture of fury and jealousy. Misara must be speaking to him from her world, Hotohori decided. But how could she do that? But all of a sudden, he knew. He reached into his tunic and pulled out a large, golden ring on a chain. On the ring was Suzaku, and it was growing warmer. "Misara!" Hotohori called. "Why won't you come back?" There was a long pause, broken only by a loud sob from Misara. "Oh, please don't fight him, Hotohori! I'm not there to protect you-and he'll kill you if you fight him!" "Why won't you come back, Misara!" Hotohori cried. "Don't you love me?"
"You know I do!" She cried back. Nakago kicked his horse in anger and it reared back, but Hotohori hardly noticed.
"Then why won't you come back and stay with me, forever?" He asked.
"I can't, Hotohori...I just can't stay with you."
Stunned, Hotohori sat bewildered for a moment without speaking.
"Oh Hotohori! I don't care if you hate me now, just don't fight him! I couldn't bear it if you died, Hotohori, please!"
Hotohori's eyes narrowed.
"Please, Hotohori!" Misara's voice begged him.
Hotohori ignored her and urged his horse forward. Nakago smiled-just a little-and moved into an attack position.
"Hotohori, no!"
Hotohori ignored her again and kicked his horse, while at the same time, Nakago did the same, the two enemies lunging simultaneously at each other.
"Hotohori!!!"
There was a flash of light between Hotohori and Nakago, and another at the same time in front of Keisuke. Keisuke blinked rapidly, and when the light subsided, Misara had disappeared.
"Taylor! Tetsuya! Get in here!" He yelled loudly at the two, who were in another room.
The flash of light frightened both horses, and they each reared back, almost throwing off their riders, who were equally surprised. When the light was gone, in its place was Misara, almost. The figure looked exactly like her, but was transparent and shimmery white. She stood facing Hotohori, her arms held out to block him from moving further toward Nakago.
Hotohori, although upset at Misara's refusal to stay with him, was immensely glad to see her, at least one last time. He jumped off his horse and ran toward her. She held up her hand to stop him from embracing her though, and he stood a few feet in front of her, noticing the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
"Why...?" He asked again. "Why won't you stay here, with me?"
She only looked at him sadly, and didn't reply. Hotohori noticed her form was getting more solid every second.
He was so sad and angry at the same time, he didn't know what to say. No doubt she had her reasons, he supposed, but not telling him why was just cruel.
Suddenly, Misara heard soft laughter behind her. She whirled around angrily and came face to face with Nakago. By this time, she was becoming even more solid, almost completely a part of this world, and part of her knew that if she came here completely, she might not be able to leave again. But her mind was on Nakago now, and she was so angry at him, she wanted to kill him.
Whipping that book out of her pocket, she waved it in his face. "Where did you get this? I want to know. It's not Taylor's, so how did you get it?"
He smiled that sardonic smile of his before answering. "Actually, it was your friend that found it in that library. Apparently, someone else has been in this world, someone from yours who speaks your language."
Misara looked down at the book again. It was just an ordinary hardcover book, but it was small enough to fit in her pocket...and it did look kind of old.
"Now that you've had a turn to question me, I want to ask you one of my own." Nakago said, still smiling. Misara looked up at him silently, waiting for the question. "Why won't you stay here, in this world?" Noticing that he didn't say "with Hotohori", Misara was a little taken aback, and unsure of what to say. She wasn't going to tell HIM the reason, but why he would ask anyway was beyond her.
Ignoring his question, she turned back to Hotohori. "I came here to stop you from fighting Nakago." She said to him, turning the book over and over in her hands. "Now that that's done...I have to go home."
"But we're not finished...no, not at all..." Nakago said, drawing his sword. Hotohori quickly did the same.
"No!" Misara cried again. "Hotohori, don't!" She tugged on his arm. "Let's just go."
"Stay back, Misara." Hotohori said quietly. "Stay out of this." He turned and looked at her, but she couldn't read his expression. "I'm going to kill him...for everything he's done to you."
"But you can't kill him!" She cried, louder this time. "He's too strong!"
Suddenly, Hotohori's eyes became angry, and he pushed Misara off him. Turning back to face Nakago, he was about to charge when an unexpected blast from Nakago threw Hotohori on his back. Nakago stood over him, sword raised, ready to impale Hotohori. Hotohori didn't move.
"Get up!" Misara screamed at him. "He's going to kill you if you don't get up!"
"I don't care anymore..." Hotohori said quietly. "I just wanted to say one thing to you first...just to let you know how I feel about you-how I've always felt about you." Apparently, Nakago thought this was amusing, so he waited for Hotohori to finish.
"When you left the first time...right after we had failed to summon Suzaku...the next day it snowed here in Konan. It hardly ever snows, but that day it did. And when I woke up, and realized that you were really gone, and you would never come back, it seemed a long time left that I would have to live...always cold."
Misara stared at him, while Nakago decided that he had heard enough. He raised his sword above his head, but just before he stabbed Hotohori, Misara dove between Hotohori and Nakago's sword, the sword going through her instead, and stopping before it pierced Hotohori's armor.
**AAAAAHHHH! That's not the end, I swear! Not a very nice way to end this story, I know, so don't be mad, because it's not the end of it! I've grown rather attached to this, actually...and I've actually got plans for the OAV...what do you guys think? No, Misara doesn't die, if that's what you're worried about. Let me know if you think I should do the OAV...or how I should destroy Nakago...or how many times you think I should make Miaka go hungry...or whatever. Talk to me! Tell me the story is not bad! (Tell me if it is!) And coming soon...THE FINAL CHAPTER!! (of this part of the story anyway, if you guys want me to do the OAV...otherwise I'll just end it there) Complete with sappy song and all. I've already got one picked out, too.**
"Are you awake now?" A voice drifted over.
She turned toward the sound and saw Keisuke sitting in a nearby chair, a can in one hand and the Universe of the Four Gods book in the other.
"What happened?" She asked. "I thought Yui wished for her and Miaka to leave the book world...didn't she?"
Keisuke shrugged. "That's what Yui said. I don't know why you came back too, since she didn't say anything about you." He answered. "But then again," he continued, "you weren't the only one here that wasn't supposed to come."
Misara was in the process of looking around the room when her head whipped back toward Keisuke. "What do you mean?"
Keisuke motioned with his thumb toward a closed door. "Apparently Tamahome came with you as well." Misara groaned quietly.
"Great..." she muttered. Just then, another door flew open and Tetsuya strode into the room, followed closely by a red-headed girl who looked very ashamed of herself.
"Taylor?" Misara asked, although it wasn't really a question. She could see it was her best friend.
"Misara, I'm really sorry!" Taylor cried out. "I didn't mean any of those things I said or did...please believe me!"
"Apparently, she was under a spell of Nakago's while in the book." Keisuke said, holding it up. "It was broken when you sent her here with your ring."
Misara stood up. "Really?" she asked hesitantly.
Keisuke nodded, as did Tetsuya. Misara decided to believe them and went to embrace her friend. Taylor burst into tears.
"I'm so sorry!" She cried.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Taylor, really." Misara assured her. "I'm done with that world now."
Taylor lifted her head from Misara's shoulder. "What do you mean?" She asked, alarmed.
"I'm not the Goddess of the Sky anymore." Misara said quietly. "I mean, if there's no more Suzaku, there's no more...me."
"But what about...?" Taylor trailed off, but Misara understood her unsaid question. She sighed.
"I can't go back to that world now anyway, and even if I could...I don't think I could stay with Hotohori for the rest of my life." She looked up at Taylor. "Away from my mom, you, everything I've ever known? I couldn't give up my dreams for that sort of life...even though I love him..." Her voice cracked and she stopped speaking to get a hold of herself. "So-it doesn't matter anymore. I'm sure Hotohori will understand." She said louder, her voice still wavering.
Keisuke sighed. "Maybe..." He muttered.
"What?" Misara turned to him. "Maybe what?"
He held up the book. "Hotohori is just a character in this book...I don't think he really exists." Misara still looked confused, so Keisuke hurried on. "This book was written a long time ago-but its basically a spell book. It takes the reader into it, where they live out the story, complete their role as priestess, and leave the book world. So technically, Hotohori is not a real person, and neither is-" he stopped, looked at the closed door behind him, and lower his voice before continuing. "Neither is Tamahome."
A day later, Misara had had plenty of time to ponder Keisuke's thoughts on the book world-but she was still as confused as ever. Everything in that world had seemed so real to her...Hotohori was real, she was sure of it, but she was sure Miaka felt the same way about Tamahome-and that Miaka also knew he couldn't be real at the same time. She was so confused. Although she had told Taylor otherwise, a part of her still wanted to go back into that world, and be with Hotohori and all the other friends she had made there. It seemed like a good idea, to be with them for the rest of her life. But on the other hand, she couldn't leave her mother, or Taylor...or her school, her violin, and all her belongings. She had decided, before she would even think of deciding whether to go or stay, that she couldn't have both worlds. If she chose to stay here, she could never think about that other world again. And if she chose to go there and marry Hotohori...and be happy...she couldn't take anything with her to remind her of the life she left behind.
The next two days passed in a blur. Misara went out with Keisuke a few times as he tried desperately to cheer her up. She was grateful to him for that, but she was too preoccupied with her thoughts to play video games or eat at a real Japanese sushi restaurant. Taylor tried to get in contact with Yui, but Yui wouldn't speak to her, Misara, or Miaka at all. It was hard for the two girls to leave Miaka's apartment, since they didn't speak Japanese and the tricks of the book world didn't carry over into this one. So the two of them stayed with Miaka, and Keisuke and Tetsuya visited them daily and tried to keep them company. But it wasn't until about four days after they had first left the book world that Keisuke brought it to Misara to read her something from it.
He read of the battles between Kutou and Konan, boring Misara until he came to a part about Hotohori. Even as he was reading, the words were being filled in with the rest of the story. Keisuke read that Hotohori had come face to face with Nakago, and they were now preparing to fight. Even though Misara loved him with all her heart and knew he was strong, she knew he couldn't win against Nakago...not without Suzaku. Without thinking, she grabbed the book from Keisuke.
"You idiot!" She screamed at it. "Don't fight him!" Her eyes welled up. "Don't fight him...please!"
"please..." Hotohori looked up into the sky. He thought he had heard something...Misara's voice. His thoughts returning to the battle at hand, he noticed Nakago staring at him with a look he couldn't read. But then the voice came again.
"Hotohori, stop!" It cried, louder this time. It seemed to come from everywhere. "Please, oh please Hotohori!" It was definitely Misara's voice, of that he was certain. "Misara?" he called. "Where are you?" "Oh Hotohori, don't fight with Nakago! He'll kill you, I know it!" It sounded like she was crying. Hotohori looked at Nakago. It was clear he could hear the voice too, and his face was a mixture of fury and jealousy. Misara must be speaking to him from her world, Hotohori decided. But how could she do that? But all of a sudden, he knew. He reached into his tunic and pulled out a large, golden ring on a chain. On the ring was Suzaku, and it was growing warmer. "Misara!" Hotohori called. "Why won't you come back?" There was a long pause, broken only by a loud sob from Misara. "Oh, please don't fight him, Hotohori! I'm not there to protect you-and he'll kill you if you fight him!" "Why won't you come back, Misara!" Hotohori cried. "Don't you love me?"
"You know I do!" She cried back. Nakago kicked his horse in anger and it reared back, but Hotohori hardly noticed.
"Then why won't you come back and stay with me, forever?" He asked.
"I can't, Hotohori...I just can't stay with you."
Stunned, Hotohori sat bewildered for a moment without speaking.
"Oh Hotohori! I don't care if you hate me now, just don't fight him! I couldn't bear it if you died, Hotohori, please!"
Hotohori's eyes narrowed.
"Please, Hotohori!" Misara's voice begged him.
Hotohori ignored her and urged his horse forward. Nakago smiled-just a little-and moved into an attack position.
"Hotohori, no!"
Hotohori ignored her again and kicked his horse, while at the same time, Nakago did the same, the two enemies lunging simultaneously at each other.
"Hotohori!!!"
There was a flash of light between Hotohori and Nakago, and another at the same time in front of Keisuke. Keisuke blinked rapidly, and when the light subsided, Misara had disappeared.
"Taylor! Tetsuya! Get in here!" He yelled loudly at the two, who were in another room.
The flash of light frightened both horses, and they each reared back, almost throwing off their riders, who were equally surprised. When the light was gone, in its place was Misara, almost. The figure looked exactly like her, but was transparent and shimmery white. She stood facing Hotohori, her arms held out to block him from moving further toward Nakago.
Hotohori, although upset at Misara's refusal to stay with him, was immensely glad to see her, at least one last time. He jumped off his horse and ran toward her. She held up her hand to stop him from embracing her though, and he stood a few feet in front of her, noticing the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
"Why...?" He asked again. "Why won't you stay here, with me?"
She only looked at him sadly, and didn't reply. Hotohori noticed her form was getting more solid every second.
He was so sad and angry at the same time, he didn't know what to say. No doubt she had her reasons, he supposed, but not telling him why was just cruel.
Suddenly, Misara heard soft laughter behind her. She whirled around angrily and came face to face with Nakago. By this time, she was becoming even more solid, almost completely a part of this world, and part of her knew that if she came here completely, she might not be able to leave again. But her mind was on Nakago now, and she was so angry at him, she wanted to kill him.
Whipping that book out of her pocket, she waved it in his face. "Where did you get this? I want to know. It's not Taylor's, so how did you get it?"
He smiled that sardonic smile of his before answering. "Actually, it was your friend that found it in that library. Apparently, someone else has been in this world, someone from yours who speaks your language."
Misara looked down at the book again. It was just an ordinary hardcover book, but it was small enough to fit in her pocket...and it did look kind of old.
"Now that you've had a turn to question me, I want to ask you one of my own." Nakago said, still smiling. Misara looked up at him silently, waiting for the question. "Why won't you stay here, in this world?" Noticing that he didn't say "with Hotohori", Misara was a little taken aback, and unsure of what to say. She wasn't going to tell HIM the reason, but why he would ask anyway was beyond her.
Ignoring his question, she turned back to Hotohori. "I came here to stop you from fighting Nakago." She said to him, turning the book over and over in her hands. "Now that that's done...I have to go home."
"But we're not finished...no, not at all..." Nakago said, drawing his sword. Hotohori quickly did the same.
"No!" Misara cried again. "Hotohori, don't!" She tugged on his arm. "Let's just go."
"Stay back, Misara." Hotohori said quietly. "Stay out of this." He turned and looked at her, but she couldn't read his expression. "I'm going to kill him...for everything he's done to you."
"But you can't kill him!" She cried, louder this time. "He's too strong!"
Suddenly, Hotohori's eyes became angry, and he pushed Misara off him. Turning back to face Nakago, he was about to charge when an unexpected blast from Nakago threw Hotohori on his back. Nakago stood over him, sword raised, ready to impale Hotohori. Hotohori didn't move.
"Get up!" Misara screamed at him. "He's going to kill you if you don't get up!"
"I don't care anymore..." Hotohori said quietly. "I just wanted to say one thing to you first...just to let you know how I feel about you-how I've always felt about you." Apparently, Nakago thought this was amusing, so he waited for Hotohori to finish.
"When you left the first time...right after we had failed to summon Suzaku...the next day it snowed here in Konan. It hardly ever snows, but that day it did. And when I woke up, and realized that you were really gone, and you would never come back, it seemed a long time left that I would have to live...always cold."
Misara stared at him, while Nakago decided that he had heard enough. He raised his sword above his head, but just before he stabbed Hotohori, Misara dove between Hotohori and Nakago's sword, the sword going through her instead, and stopping before it pierced Hotohori's armor.
**AAAAAHHHH! That's not the end, I swear! Not a very nice way to end this story, I know, so don't be mad, because it's not the end of it! I've grown rather attached to this, actually...and I've actually got plans for the OAV...what do you guys think? No, Misara doesn't die, if that's what you're worried about. Let me know if you think I should do the OAV...or how I should destroy Nakago...or how many times you think I should make Miaka go hungry...or whatever. Talk to me! Tell me the story is not bad! (Tell me if it is!) And coming soon...THE FINAL CHAPTER!! (of this part of the story anyway, if you guys want me to do the OAV...otherwise I'll just end it there) Complete with sappy song and all. I've already got one picked out, too.**
