AN: ::sighs:: School starts soon _ Yuck! Well, as promised, here is the next chapter. I thank everyone for reviewing ^-^ Cause without you I would have never kept going. Sadly, I think this is the last chapter. ::sniffles:: It's been fun. I'm looking towards making a sequel to this later on, so look out for it.
~*^-^*~
Tasuki buried his head in his hands and did something he hadn't done for a long time. He wept. Silent tears trailed down his face as he hugged Miaka's body to his. It was terribly cold and lifeless. How could someone so full of life have her existence snuffed out like a candle? Behind him he could faintly hear the soft whimpers of Chiriko and the mews of Tama. He could hear the insane chuckled of Hitoshi. He could vaguely hear Nuriko pounding Hitoshi with threats and questions.
"Why did you do it!? Aren't your plans ruined now!?"
Nuriko slammed Hitoshi into the wall. He flinched slightly, but kept his smile firmly on his face.
"What matters now is that Yumi has been avenged. She is happy now. She can rest in peace."
"How can you say that!?"
Nuriko gritted his teeth as he fought back tears. His hands kept a white-knuckled grip on Hitoshi's shirt, keeping him pressed firmly against the wall.
"Miaka never did anything to harm Yumi! If anything she tried to protect her!"
"From who!?"
"From you!"
Tasuki, who had been silent up until now, spoke. Nobody dared to move as he gently set Miaka's body down on the ground. The silence was deafening as he stalked over to where Nuriko held Hitoshi. His eyes flared dangerously as he stood next to his fellow seishi.
"…She tired to save her from you."
He spat angrily. His tears had long since dried, but new ones threatened to spill. He fought them back and continued to glare at the young boy before him. Hitoshi's eyes widened in shock. Had he really harmed Yumi? Had it been his fault?
"You're lying."
"If I'm lying, then why is Yumi dead?"
Tasuki's voice was low and even. He watched with no sympathy as Hitoshi's face fell. Nuriko hesitated before slowly letting go of Hitoshi's shirt. The boy sunk to the ground, not finding it in his legs to hold himself upright. Tasuki spun on his heel and walked silently back to his miko. Nuriko took one last glance at the shaken boy before also turning and following. Hitoshi's sobs echoed throughout the silent palace. What had he done?
~*^-^*~
'Miaka…'Where was she? Miaka cracked her eyes open. It was dark. She forced them open all the way and looked around. She was in a dark void, similar to before. Except this time, something was different. This time she was alone. This time she wasn't under the influence of a spell. This time, she was dead.
She let out a soft gasp as memories came flooding back to her. She whimpered and sank to the ground.
"I want to go home."
Her voice cracked with emotion. She curled up in a ball and rocked back and forth, finding no comfort in the gesture. She stayed like that for a while, until a painfully familiar red light washed over her.
"S-Suzaku?"
She looked over her shoulder and wiped her eyes. Sure enough, a large red Phoenix with glittering red feathers stood before her. Quickly, she jumped to her feet.
"Suzaku, Can you…take me back?"
'Take you back? To your seishi?'She nodded eagerly, hands clasped in front of chest. Her eyes sparkled with renewed hope that the bird hated to crush.
'I'm…sorry, my child. That I cannot do.'
Just as expected, her face fell and her chin trembled. She couldn't go back?
"W-why not!? What about everyone? I want to see them! I need to…"
She broke off and turned her watery eyes to the ground. Sniffling, she ran a sleeve past her eyes.
'Again, I am sorry. Even as a god, I am not able to permit that.'
"But what about Hotohori? And Nuriko? And the others? They were there with me today!"
Suzaku nodded thoughtfully.
'That is true, but they are not alive. I can, however, grant you temporary access to see them.'
Miaka bit her lip. Did she really want to go see them all, knowing that she had to leave shortly after? Her thoughts drifted to Tasuki and she nodded.
"I'd like that."
'You will be just like your deceased seishi. You only have ten minutes. Go.'
"Ten minutes?"
She didn't have any more time to protest before a white light blinded her.
~*^-^*~
"Tasuki…We should go."
Nuriko gently placed a hand on his fellow seishi's shoulder. Regardless of the fact that he was dead, he and the other seishi had been granted the power to be somewhat solid. Nuriko was grateful, knowing that he could at least try to comfort his friend. A shimmering white light erupted before the group and they shielded their eyes. When it faded, Tasuki was the first to recover.
"Mi-Miaka!?"
He jumped to his feet and embraced the ghastly girl before him. She looked startled, but quickly wrapped her arms around him and hugged back with equal passion. The other seishi stared in awe. Finally, Chichiri spoke.
"Miaka-chan…you're…like Mitsukake and the others now, aren't you?"
He dropped his usual 'no da', seeing as this was not the time or the place to use it. Miaka pulled away from Tasuki and regarded Chichiri sadly. She shook her head.
"Iie. Suzaku only gave me enough power to come and say goodbye."
A faint smile graced her lips as she looked over each of her seishi. They had all been through so much.
"Can…Suzaku…can he…. bring Yumi back?"
Hitoshi, who had long been forgotten, croaked from his huddled position in the far corner of the room. Miaka looked over at him. To his shock and relief, she was not looking at him with hate and contempt, but with sadness and regret. She stood slowly and almost floated to the young boy. Kneeling down in front of him, she ignored the others' curious stares.
"I don't know. But I do know, that she loves you. And that she's at peace now."
Miaka smiled and Hitoshi felt more tears cloud his vision. He sniffled and his chin trembled. Miaka smiled, almost motherly, and opened her arms. Hitoshi hesitated for a second before throwing himself in the girls' arms. He buried his face in the fabric of her shirt, not noticing that it had not feel of smell. It was just there. Like she was. She murmured soothing words to him as she gently ran her hand through his hair.
"It's all right."
She soothed quietly. The boy's cries subsided and he soon fell asleep. Smiling, Miaka laid him down on the ground and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. He stirred, but did not waken. Sighing softly, she stood and faced her now startled seishi.
"What?"
"How…how can you be so kind to someone who just ended your life and caused you grief?"
It was Hotohori who spoke. Miaka smiled sadly and shrugged. How could she hate the boy? He had been misled all his life, she had realized. And even though there wasn't a chance for her; there was a chance for him.
"Miaka…"
Tasuki's voice was cracked with emotion. Miaka turned towards him and she felt tears well up in her own eyes.
"Tasuki."
"Come on. Let's leave them alone."
Mitsukake ushered everyone out of the room. Nuriko gently scooped up Hitoshi and Tama and left the room, quietly shutting the door behind them.
~*^-^*~
They stood in uncomfortable silence for a while. Miaka fidgeted nervously under his heavy gaze. Finally, she spoke.
"Tasuki…I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"Why am I sorry?"
"Iie. Why are you gone? Why, after I finally found out how you felt? Why did Suzaku take you away?"
Tasuki choked on tears and looked away. Miaka was at his side in an instant, wiping away some of the tears that had slipped past his barrier.
"Shh…I was happy, for the time I had with you. Happy, and grateful."
She cried silently as she caressed his cheek. He leaned into her palm. A red light flashed before them and both knew her visit was over.
'Come, Miaka. It is time.'
She nodded reluctantly and turned to Tasuki. Fresh tears filled his eyes as he watched her.
"Aishteru."
She whispered before kissing him one last time. Tasuki forced himself not to think of anything but her and the kiss. It ended shortly after, and both pulled away.
"Sayonara."
Miaka whispered, a crystalline tear rolling down her cheek. Tasuki watched as it fell to the floor, splattering at impact. She calmly walked over to the giant bird and smiled sadly. Tasuki couldn't move. His jaw wouldn't work and his feet were frozen to their spot.
Miaka closed her eyes and forced back tears as she and Suzaku were engulfed by the red light that she had come to know.
"Miaka! Don't go!"
Tasuki screamed in desperation as she disappeared. He stared at the spot she had just been standing in.
"MIAKA!!"
~*^-^*~
"MIAKA!!"
Miaka grimaced as she heard her name. She turned, as if to go back, but Suzaku spread his wings, stopping her from doing so. She dropped her head and continued forward. To where? She didn't know.
'We have company…'"Huh?"
She looked up as she saw three rather large figures approaching. Her eyes widened as she realized exactly who they were.
"Genbu! Byakko! Seiryu!"
She squeaked and curtsied, unsure of what to do. She heard what sounded like laughter before she looked up.
'Suzaku, we have come with a decision.'
It was Genbu who had spoken. Miaka stared at the Gods with great interest as they talked.
'Seeing as how much your miko is attached to both out world and her seishi, we've come with a compromise.'
"A compromise!"
Miaka's eyes shone with hope as she glanced from God to God. Suzaku seemed to hesitate before nodding at them to continue.
'We need a miko to stay in this world to keep it from destruction. Miaka seems like a reliable candidate.'
Byakko spoke, looking at the girl. Her grin widened as she listened. It was almost too good to be real.
'But, there is one problem.'
"A problem?"
Miaka frowned and stepped forward slightly. Seiryu nodded. Never did she expect to be conversing with Seiryu, especially after everything that had happened in the past.
'You will no be able to go back to your real world. You will be allowed to visit to close any affairs you have, but then you must live here, forever.'
Miaka couldn't help but smile. She could live with Tasuki again! She nodded.
"I'll do it! I'm sure my mom and brother will understand."
'Very well. Close your eyes.'
Miaka obliged and smiled when a warm tingling sensation coursed through her blood. She was going home.
~*^-^*~
"Tasuki…Tasuki! Wake up!"
Tasuki groaned and opened his eyes. What had happened? He was lying on the palace floor.
"Must have been sleeping…"
He muttered and sat up, rubbing his head. He heard a soft giggle to his right and froze. Breathing deeply, he turned.
"Hey."
"M-Miaka?"
He reached out and ran a hand over her cheek. Her eyes flutter closed in pure bliss. Unlike before when her skin was cool to the touch, it was silky.
"Oh Kami-sama…. you're…?"
She nodded and flung her arms around him. He clutched her to him in a desperate attempt to make sure she was real. And she was.
"Aishteru Tasuki."
"Aishteru, Miaka."
He whispered, inhaling her sent greedily. She smiled into his neck and sighed happily. From the doorway, the rest of the seishi were watching. Nuriko sighed and smiled.
"I think it's over, no da."
"Yea. With Miaka around again, I think Hitoshi might just be able to change his ways."
Nuriko motioned to the still soundly sleeping boy. The rest of the seishi nodded.
"So I guess their dreams did come true after all."
~*OWARI*~
~*^-^*~
AN: Waii waii! It's finished! It's finished! ^-^ I want to thank everyone who reviewed this story. You're all great! Okay, so the ending was a little crappy, but I was running out of ideas! ^-^
Please Read and Review!