Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi or any of the characters. They were created by Yuu Watase, and are owned by all those wonderful people who helped publish it (Flower Comics, Yuu Watase, etc, etc). This fanfic is also a spoiler. For those who haven't seen past episode... oh, 29 or so may be in for a big surprise. Any comments or critique on this fanfic should be sent to mihokiyo@galaxypolice.com. Please remember I wrote this about... back in 1998. I'm re-editing as I go along, and will post chapters as I get to that point. Any comments will help. Thanks again.
There comes a time in everyones life when that person takes a look at every decision they made and idly wonder if those had been the correct ones. On the same coin - what also passes through the minds of mortals are the very "what ifs?" of life. Usually when this does happen, a dream of how that life may have been can form together. This isn't a dream. This is an alternate reality. So the dreams that these individuals view are just a glimmer at what would be called a mirror to the other world.
Nuriko of the seven Suzaku Seishi had his dream. It was very cold outside due to the Hokkan-koku weather. The Suzaku Seven had traveled for days and arrived at a city named 'Tolan'. The group had just become one step closer to finding the Shinzahou for Suzaku's Miko.
That long night was special. Nuriko, as a man, explained his feelings for Miaka to Tamahome. It took him months to come to this conclusion and he never had the intention to change things from the way they were. A very noble step indeed. The boys drank all night and eventually in the late hours, Nuriko had stumbled back to the room and promptly passed out. This is where our story begins...
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About Eight Years ago...
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Ryuuen was enjoying an exceptional day. He decided to wander through the town that day, hoping to find a friend to play with or do some window shopping. The boy was about ten years old. He wore an expensive chinese outfit, yellow and green in color with a pair of dark pants to complete the outfit.. His hair tied up in a traditional bun, bangs hanging over his eyes beautiful light purple eyes. Ryuuen smiled and looked to the sky as the sun washed over his face. Suddenly a flash of panic and terror drove through his mind. "What is this uneasiness I feel?" He thought as he clenched his hand to his chest. It was as if his whole life had flashed before himself and he knew what was about to take place. He turned to the left to view his younger sister Kourin skipping toward him.
She giggled and yelling in a playful voice that echoed, "Onii-sama~...!" Kourin smiled at her older brother, waving a hand and began to run across the dusty road to meet up with Ryuuen.
Ryuuen's eyes widened, mouthing the words, "No, not again!" This time, something was different. He took a quick stride to run toward his sister and collided harshly into her. She fell to the side of the road, put out of harms way. He opened his eyes to a runaway horsecart directly atop him. He shrieked, arms instinctivly covering his head before the milisecond it took for the impact. Ryuuen wasn't fortunate. The horse smashed into his shoulder causing a crunch sound and immediate dislocation of it. A few ribs on his right side shattered on the impact. The boy spun aside and collided with the ground, blacking out instantly.
Kourin watched her brother go down. His shirt was now bloodied and torn from the accident. "ONIISAMA!!!" Kourin ran to help him up. His blood was everywhere, dripping onto her and staining her silken outfit. Tears ran down her cheeks as she yelled out, "S-someone please help me!" Her eyes shifted down and took notice to a faint red glowing 'Ryuu' kanji on his chest. This was when she realized her brother wasn't ready to die.
Night time had washed over the city. The peaceful atmosphere of the city disrrupted by an odd sinking feeling in the air. Ryuuen lied in his bed, body battered and torn enough to have made even the town doctor a bit squeamish. His breath was shallow, short and sharp as Kourin undid his hair bun, carefully taking care of her brother.
The town doctor looked over the young boy, very unsure of how to explain the situation to the family. Ryuuen and Kourin's older brother, Rokou, walked over to the bedside to check on his brother. The expression on the doctors face was sad.
"His ribs are shattered from here to here." The doctor pointed to sections along the right side of Ryuuen's body. "His arm was dislocated, but I straightened that out. I gave him some herbs that will hopefully stop the pain for him. This is terrible event for your family. I'm very sorry. I cannot guarantee that he'll even live through the week. He's a strong boy. Perhaps Suzaku will watch over him for you. There's nothing more I can do now. Good night to you."
The doctor packed up his items and left the home. Ryuuen's parents had never imagined anything of this scale to happen to a child of theirs. Dumbstruck and subsiding into a miserable ball of depression they exited Ryuuen's room. Rokou put his hand on Kourin's shoulder and spoke in a formal and soft voice he had always carried.
"Kourin... you need sleep. There's nothing we can do for him now. You're too young to do anything."
Kourin snapped back, "That's what you say about him, don't you? Even though he always protected me - He PROTECTS me, always! I'm staying right here!"
Rokou looked hurt. He had always been left out even when he had been included. His expression lowered as he turned and walked out the door. Rokou was unable to even respond to his younger sisters outburst. He shut the door behind him.
Kourin placed a washcloth over Ryuuen's forehead as the faint gasps for breath can be heard the closer she sat to him. "...Oniisama. You must be in pain." She whispered. Her hand ran through his hair. His bangs pulled neatly aside so they wouldn't block his eyes.
Ryuuen winced and choked. His clenched eyes flooded with tears. His opened mouth screamed out a holler of pain, muffled only by his sobs. Ryuuen had awakened with a start. His crying quieted when he buried his head into the blanket beside him. 'It hurts too much to be dead.' He thought, 'My pain goes away when I cry... but it hurts even when I do that.'
"Oniisama!" A shaky voice asked. Kourin placed her hand over his to give a reassuring squeeze. He looked at her with teary red eyes, the expression on his face changed drastically.
"You're alive! I did it! You're safe... I'm so glad..." His strength wiped completely. Ryuuen closed his eyes to sleep once more.
"Oniisama! Of course I'm alive. You saved me... Oniisama? Oniisama?! Are you all right!?" Kourin tried to wake him but couldn't.
Ryuuen slipped into a coma that lasted a long week. The signs of harm partially healed but not forgotten. From that point in Ryuuen's life, had trouble breathing occasionally and his overall body essance - his 'chi' was weak. It took him months to even recooperate to being the energetic child he once was, problems aside. His parents decided to enroll him in some form of martial arts - to better his chi and body. The instructor helped him learn to tolerate the pain he had to deal with on a daily basis and in turn trained him to defend himself. Ryuuen's favorite weapon was the 'San Gee Kwan' or the three piece sectional staff. He was never much of a fighter, but he did this to keep himself in shape and continue on with the lessons of his youth and to stay in tune with his internal 'chi'. When he turned seventeen, there had been a major royal event. The Emperor of Konan Koku was rather young and needed an empress to carry on the royal bloodline. Even though Emperor Saihitei was not the only child in his family, he'd been the one chosen to sit as the head of the country.
A joyous parade went through the capital city of Eiyou. Ryuuen and Kourin watched rather excitedly.
"Aaaah... this is so great! The Emperor is very kind to come out into the city like this. I hear that he is very handsome and healthy. I wish I was like him." Ryuuen said quietly.
"Oniisama, you shouldn't talk like that. I've seen him before and you are much more handsome." Kourin giggled to herself. "But... I've been thinking of going to the palace to give our humble family a chance to become royalty." Her tone was serious, "I just want to see what it's like to live there."
"R... really!? You're not serious, are you?" Ryuuen was very surprised by this. "Chasing around an emperor just doesn't seem like something you'd want to do. We'd still need you at the shop..."
"Rokou-oniisama has things under control, and with you learning the ropes... I really don't need to be around. Please, just let me do this." She said in her 'I'm going to do it anyway' type of voice.
Ryuuen nodded, first to her, then to himself. He commented, "I'll visit you then. I promise. What kind of big brother would I be if I didn't check on you, right?" He rubbed the back of his head with a smile.
Kourin smiled back widely, "Okay then, it's a promise." and hugged her older brother.
After that day, Kourin was taken to the palace to live, and hopefully be chosen by the Emperor Saihitei.
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One Year Later
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Ryuuen smiled. He had a good feeling about this day. His heart was warm, lifted just by the thought of seeing his sister once more. This was a bit after his 18th birthday and suddenly had an inner sensation that he 'belonged' the closer he got to the palace walls. His name meant nothing, but his sister had requested for the guard to let him in that special day. For some reason, there had also been a bit of traffic going through those gates - the Emperor had requested for all the academically and physically exceptional of his country to gather. 'I'm not one of those' Ryuuen thought, 'I don't think they'll bother with me.' His outfit was a combination of violets, blacks, and some golds. The family business definetly invoked an influence in the creation of his fashion tastes. He headed over to the east side of the palace courtyard, where the ladies' living quarters lied. His hair was pulled back, into a fancy pony tail to show off how much hair he had. He looked around, until he finally came across a group of young girls.
"Uhm... excuse me but... have you seen a girl named Kourin? She's my sister.. I've come to visit her."
The crowd of girls giggled and murmured amongst themselves, "Oh look at him! He's so adorable!" "That's Kourin-san's older brother? No wonder she's been hiding him." "Look at that hair, it so gorgeous!" "I hate it when men have better hair than I do."
Ryuuen blushed a bit, looking around, "I'd like to see... her... I mean..."
A voice piped up, "Oniisama? Is that you!?" She looked him over. "I can't believe it! It's so good to see you!" She hugged him. Some girls looked at Kourin jealously, but at least she had a reason to hug him.
"It's been so long... how've Mom, Dad, and Rokou-oniisama been? Have you been getting better?" Kourin asked.
Ryuuen nodded. "I've been getting much better. The business has been rather busy lately, with all this uproar about Suzaku no Miko and all."
Kourin made a pout face, "I can't believe it, I've been here for almost a year and the Emperor has maybe talked to me... once? Twice? That girl just waltzed in here and he's just distracted by her like we never existed."
"Is that so?" He inquired curiously. "Where are they now? Maybe I can catch a glimpse of this 'Miko'."
Kourin walked Ryuuen over to the edge of the courtyard, pointing over to a girl looking confident and dressed in strange clothing. She said echoed, because of the distance> "Anyone with a symbol on their body please raise their hand?" Ryuuen froze in his tracks, stunned by her words and look as if it'd been a slice of deja vu. He knew that voice, he knew those clothes. This wasn't something he thought would happen when he went to the palace. Everything had a familiar tone, but never had he felt it so strongly.
"Oniisama, you look just like the Emperor does." Kourin stated in a rather annoyed tone, "What is it with her? She seems so plain."
Ryuuen glanced over at Kourin after finally breaking his gaze, "I'm sorry... just... I feel this is something more than what it seems. Maybe I can provide a distraction for her and you could try to win over the Emperor's heart?" He joked.
After a long moment, Kourin thought about it. She fehed lightly, "Nice try. We can't get near him, after all, he IS the Emperor... they make sure it's hard to get near him."
"Leave that to me. I think I just saw my cue." Ryuuen glanced over to the courtyard as a loud crash rumbled through the area. The stone pillars crumbled and fell over Suzaku no Miko and her protector. "And not a minute too soon." He started to walk over to the crumbled mess.
A visier said to the Emperor, "Please, Emperor... you can't do this, it's no use."
"Someone has to help them." Saihitei snapped back.
Ryuuen smiled a little cockily, "Did someone say they needed a little help?" He kneeled down beside the Emperor and easily began to toss the large pieces of building over to the side. Saihitei watched in awe. Ryuuen put a hand on his waist, "Oh wow... they're still alive. You must have the devil's own luck."
Miaka looked up at the shadowcast figure of the boy, 'Who is this person?' She thought, a little stunned at his strength.
The medical staff helped to clean up the Miko and her protector. Mainly the protector received the brunt of the fall. Emperor Saihitei looked Ryuuen over and asked, "I thank you for helping us. What's your name?"
"My name?" He blinked, unsure of how to answer. Ryuuen closed his eyes and then took a deep breath, carefully unbuttoning the first two clasps of his shirt. "I'm known as Chou Ryuuen, my parents own a shop in the city. But you may call me 'Nuriko'." His hand pulled the shirt aside to display the brightly glowing kanji of 'Ryuu' on his chest.
Saihitei stared in awe, "You're one of the Suzaku Seishi!?" He ahemed to cleared his voice, "I'm Saihitei, as you know, but my Suzaku Seishi name is 'Hotohori'. Over there is Tamahome," He pointed to the bandaged up Tamahome, "And this is Suzaku no Miko, Miaka."
Nuriko glanced Miaka over and took a step closer to her. "You're the Miko of Suzaku?" He closed his eyes again, lost in an overwhelming sense of familiarity. He hesitantly touched his hand to her cheek. Miaka blinked and looked up with a nod. He tilted his head and murmured a little confidently, "I can see why." A rush of excitement coursed through his system looking down into her innocent brown eyes. Ryuuen lifted her chin toward him and softly pressed his lips into Miaka's with a gentle kiss.
Miaka stammered and pulled away, stunned by the boys' sudden forwardness. "What do you think you're doing!?!" She stared at him. Nuriko blushed and covered his lips. "I'm so sorry... something just... pulled me to do that. Please forgive me." He kneeled down in front of the Miko respectively. Miaka looked confused and said with a shy voice to him, "Please... you really don't have to do that, it's unnecessary, really." Miaka's hand waved him up. "It's okay..." She blushed a little herself.
Hotohori and Tamahome glared at the newcomer. Hotohori kept his cool, the tone in his voice calm and almost disinterested, "Now if that is over... I would like to know how you found your way into the palace today, young sir?"
Nuriko stammered and attempted to find the words, "You're the Emperor... of Konan! This is such an honor!!! I'm so sorry for being dishonorable toward the Miko!" Nuriko stayed bowed.
Kourin wandered over, "Oniisama! What were you thinking back there!? Are you trying to get kicked out of the palace or something?" Her eyes moved over to where Hotohori was, surprised. She apologized profusely about her unmannered brother bowed down respectfully as well.
After some talking, they all had finally migrated into the palace, explanations and proper introductions made. Nuriko told Miaka how he had an odd dream once and pictured her. He told what had happened and felt it wasn't any excuse, but that it was the reason for his sudden behavior. She forgave him.
* * *
"Good afternoon, Miko-sama." Kourin approached the young girl.
"Please call me Miaka. What can I do for you? I think your brother is with Hotohori and Tamahome discussing how we can get the other seishi." Miaka beamed enthusiastically.
"Well, in truth, I wanted to talk to you... about my brother." She leaned against the railway to get a better view of Miaka. "I've never seen him do that. Kiss a girl, I mean. He was always so concerned that no one would accept his love. I'm worried about him... so I've come to you to ask what your position with him will be?"
Miaka gasped! Her cheeks pinked at the mention of this situation. "What do you mean, my position with him? Nuriko is just a good friend... he can't possibly like me like that... could he?" She looked confused as if she didn't know the answer to her own question.
"I've never seen him do that. It's the only explanation I could think of. Do you like the Emperor more? I'll be straightforward, my position for being here is to win over and marry the Emperor and I don't like competition. But... I'll cooperate, because I don't think you feel the same back. I think my brother really likes you and I could never hate you for that very reason."
"Kourin-san... I really don't know what to do about this, but I think I understand. Perhaps I should put in a good word to the Emperor for you?" Miaka asked.
"Wait." She paused. "I would like to do that on my own, thank you. I would rather you talked to my brother, if that's okay? Just get to know him, if even as a friend." Kourin smiled reassuringly. "He's a really great person."
Miaka nodded faintly, "I'll do that... then. I miss my brother back home, maybe he could be like an older brother to me?" She waved to Kourin, "Thanks for the advice!" and zoomed down the corridor.
* * *
"Eh? Who could that be? Come in!" Miaka asked.
Nuriko opened the door and closed it from behind. He looked a bit nervous, a faint smile flashed over to Miaka when his confidence started to give out. She grinned, "Nuriko! Hi! How're you today?".
"I'm uhh... I suppose I'm doing fine. Just a little nervous about the trip, is all. Can I sit down?" He asked in a shy voice.
Miaka nodded and offered a place to sit down. Nuriko looked around then took a deep breath, settling in. Miaka had a blank look on her face, not sure what to expect.
"So you want to go home?" Nuriko started. He had a sad expression on his face, " I'm sorry to hear that... I mean... we haven't even gathered the other seishi yet. Why do you want to leave so early? Is there something you don't like about us here?"
Miaka shook her head no. "No! No! It's not anything to do with anyone. Everyone has been so nice to me, I'm really just a little homesick is all. I honestly didn't think I would be, but here I am. I have been wondering how Okaasan, Oniichan, and Yui-chan have been holding up with me being gone so long." She paused, with a giggle, "Listen to me, first I wanted to get away from it all, now I want to go back and make sure they know I'm not dead."
Nuriko nodded faintly and commented, "You're a very good daughter and sister then, for going back. You are coming back to us though, right? I know I'd miss you." He looked down.
Miaka smiled and hugged Nuriko, "Thank you."
It was a long night. Nuriko and Miaka stayed up talking for a good portion of it. He stopped being the embarrassed kid with a crush to more of the best friend-older brother type. This was a major step for both and his feelings deepened even more for her.
* * *
Nuriko left the room at a very late hour of the night. A shadowed Tamahome sat outside the door and followed as Nuriko departed the chambers of Suzaku no Miko. Nuriko turned the corner down corridor, then Tamahome grabbed the back of his shirt, spun him around and pushed Nuriko harsly up against the palace wall.
"What are you doing!?!?" Stammered a very startled Nuriko. "Let go of me!" He grabbed Tamahome's hand and pushed him away. Nuriko's breath was sharp and shallow in an attempt to calm down.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but Miaka is mine. I found her and fell in love with her first!" Tamahome growled.
Nuriko's widened. Guilt crept into his voice as he held his hands in front, waving, "I... I didn't do anything! I was just talking to her. If you were a man, you would tell her yourself instead of attacking the closest victim. I just want to get to know her better."
"You jerk... what is with you, do think you're better than me because of how you grew up!? Where you came from? Don't joke around like that with me. Sometimes that isn't how things are done." Tamahome sneered, grabbing Nuriko's shirt once more and giving him a shove, then turned and walked back down the hallway to Miaka's room.
Nuriko fell back and slid down the wall after Tamahome rounded the corner, breathing sharply still. His eyes closed as slumped over and passed out on the hallway floor.
* * *
The door echoed with the sharp pounding. "Miaka! I'm coming in!" Tamahome yelled.
A tired Miaka sat up in her bed and whined back, "What are you doing up this late Tamahome? I'm sleeping..."
"Liar! I just saw Nuriko come from the room! Let me in! I have to talk to you about something!" Tamahome barged into the room.
"Tamahome!!" Miaka yelled. She threw a cup at him. The cup smacked him upside the head as he growled, "What are you trying to do, kill me?!"
"You came in here when I said I was sleeping! You deserved it." Miaka stuck out her tongue and biiiiihed back at Tamahome.
Tamahome took a serious stance and walked over to Miaka, "This isn't what I came here for."
"What did you come here for?" Miaka blinked rather obliviously.
Tamahome placed a hand on her shoulder to pull her closer. Miaka struggled, "Tamahome! Cut that out, you're scaring me!" She pushed him aside and ran past out the door.
Tamahome blinked and followed, "Miaka! Wait a second...!" Suddenly a loud "UAAH!" is heard up ahead down the corridor. It was Miaka's voice. "Miaka! Are you okay?" He stated as he rounded the corner, only to find that she had tripped over a passed out Nuriko.
"Nuriko!? Nuriko?! Wake up! This isn't some place to sleep." Miaka shook him gently, hoping to wake him.
Tamahome's eyes widened a little. He realized that is where he left Nuriko only a few moments before. His motions sharp, as he kneeled down to help pick Nuriko up. "Miaka, we've got to get him to a doctor. I think this is serious!"
Miaka nodded and ran off to get a doctor as Tamahome carried Nuriko to the seishi's bedroom. It wasn't all that difficult for one of Tamahome's stature. Guilt coursed through his body as he put his fellow seishi onto the bed.
'I didn't even hurt him.' Tamahome thought. 'What happened? I hope it's not too serious.'
Tamahome paced nervously in the room until Miaka and a palace doctor had arrived. Later in the night, Hotohori was summoned and then finally Kourin had arrived. The look on her face could have been described as mild fear and shock.
"Oh no... not this all over again..." Kourin ran to Nuriko's side, "Someone please tell me what happened!?"
Tamahome said quietly and only half-truthfully, "He just had a little trouble breathing when I left him to visit Miaka's room... I didn't know he fainted until Miaka found him." His eyes shifted downward from any looks.
Kourin sighed and looked at her brother. "I wish it wouldn't haunt him like this." She took his hand and looked at the others, "How do I explain this? Ryuuen-Oniisama had an accident when we were younger..." she started.
"What kind of accident?" Miaka asked curiously.
"It must have been... a good 8 or so years ago. I was almost hit by a horse... and Oniisama saved me. He got hurt really bad though." She looked down at him, pained by the memory.
Hotohori blinked, then asked, "8 years ago? Was it a little before fall?"
Kourin nodded. She ran her free hand through his hair. "His right side was horribly mangled... the doctors were surprised he actually lived through it all. It was always about his will to live and how Suzaku protected him through it all. Sometimes, when he would get worked up or scared, he would have problems breathing and pass out."
"He was near death?" Hotohori asked. "That's so strange...". He glanced over at Tamahome, "Maybe I'm imagining things, but I don't know how to describe it... I think I knew that happened. Tamahome, did you?"
Tamahome blinked, "I don't know. That was a while ago... I wish I could say I did. If you felt that, Hotohori-sama... wouldn't that mean we were all connected?"
Hotohori nodded sharply. He then commented, "But that really doesn't help us right now. Miaka... do you think anything from your world may be able to help him?"
Miaka thought for a moment, 'It sounds like athesma really. Maybe I can bring him back some stuff and he can get better!' She nodded strongly, "Yes! I do believe so."
"Okay then. Tomorrow we'll leave for Taikyoku to send Miaka home. The sooner the better. I think Nuriko will have to stay behind. I don't want to risk him getting hurt further by traveling. This was rather unexpected..." Stated Hotohori.
Nuriko awoke about half a day after the others had left. His upper chest was tight for days after that little incident. He was distraught and frustrated until Tamahome and Hotohori had returned from Mt. Taikyoku. They never spoke of what happened during the trip other than Miaka had returned to her home.
* * *