Chapter 16: I Will Stand By You, Won't Let Nobody Hurt You
"I had sex with Genro." Shinjitsu admitted to Saikyo, as she listened and shot her bow. When she heard that, it threw of her aim, and the arrow landed in the ground. Shinjitsu saw her friend's reaction, and tried to hide the flush on her face. Her eyes seemed to be greener since that time, when they were making love. Was it Tasuki's love for her?
Saikyo's breath released sharply. *Everybody seems to be becoming themselves again. I am the only one who--* the kiss she had shared with Chichiri flashed in her heart. *Who is--* She hesitated and then sighed, closing her eyes. *Maybe not.*
Saikyo stood up fully and took another specially made arrow. Opening her eyes she locked them on the target, knocking the second arrow. She concentrated sternly, but the one eye--the beautiful ruby of Chichiri danced in her mind and heart. Releasing the arrow, again it drove itself into the ground. "Hmm." She frowned at her lack of focus. *What's up with me?*
Shinjitsu crossed her arms. "Seems, I'm not the only one losing to the past self." Saikyo heard the crude humor in her voice and ignored it. Shaking her head she knocked the third arrow. A voice stopped her, freezing her body, paralyzing her will.
"He loves you, ya know." Chichiri was behind them. Shinjitsu turned to him surprised.
"Houjun!" she then glanced at him, noticing that his mask was off. "You mean Genro, don't you?"
"I mean Genro and Tasuki."
"Well--I know that--"
"Obviously you don't. Other wise, you wouldn't try to avoid him." She was stunned. "Now, I'll have to ask to you to leave myself and Lady Saikyo." With a helpless look, she left, knowing she'd have to face Tasuki sooner or later.
Saikyo felt the eyes of her lover on her back and heard his footsteps coming from behind her. Gently, he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Don't be afraid, Saikyo, I only want to talk to you." Without any response from her he continued. "I know you're doing this to protect Miaka and all of us, but I have to tell you, I don't want it that way. I want to fight by your side, to protect you... It doesn't have to be like this." His hands slipped across her collarbone and he completely took her into his embrace. "Remember--" His lips touched to back of her neck, her hair just short enough to bare it. "Remember so many long nights?"
She choked. *Chichiri.*
"Remember my warmth? Remember every time I made you laugh?" His breath made goosebumps travel up and down her body. Catching her off guard, his hand slipped beneath her shirt.
"Um." She gasped feeling his large hand on her breast.
"Do you remember how I made you scream?" His voice was sensual, and she knew he wanted her in more than one way. His body wanted her, but his heart needed her. Closing her eyes, she could recall her cry for more as the made love, but she didn't want to go there. "Do you remember me inside of you?" A sharp feeling came to her stomach. His hand continued to caress her, and her body her body reacted, her eyes suddenly watching his hand. Silently she sighed as his fingers came back and then slid down her arm to her hand. Both the arrow and bow fell from her grasp. "I wanna be with you..." Those words made the stars on her hands glow. He did a soft circle around the right one, showing he knew she was coming around.
"Chichiri," she murmured, restless by his actions.
He clasped his hand over hers, entwining their fingers. "I love you," he whispered to her, Saikyo's fingers tightened over Chichiri's, "Densetsu." Almost simultaneously they turned and their mouths met, their tongues danced, their hands joined, and their body's met. Their together once again the game of love.
*I love you, Chichiri,* Saikyo admitted, turning her heart over to this man. But the fantasy ended with a voice calling.
"Houjun," a female voice familiar said. "Houjun, I've come back for you..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *I can't believe she would do that!* Nuriko cried running as hard as he possibly could. Tears ran down his face and he sobbed. *Mirakuru! I love you! I love you!! I love you!!!!!!!!!!!* Her laughing face and every moment lingered in his thoughts. He recalled her bright eyes react enthusiastically to his smiles or when they laughed so hard they began to cry.
Flashback (The next part is a series of memories.)
"Nuriko!" She smiled and sobbed and laughed all at the same time. "Nuriko- " She giggled and then threw her arms around him.
"You are such a silly girl," he had said through his laughter. "You're definitely something else!!!" He shook his head and held her to him.
"Tasuki!" Nuriko growled whipping away his tears. "Please, stop." Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Tasuki's confident look changed to concerned. *What's up with him?*
"Nuriko." Hotohori called over his shoulder.
Nuriko turned to attention. "Yes Highness?"
"Nuriko..." His eyes felt his pain.
"Please, Hotohori--" Nuriko blushed. "Emperor," He corrected himself. "Let me take her."
Gently Nuriko took the girl into his arms. Tears running down both their checks. Once they were united within the embrace there was a sensible connection between the two. "Nuriko..." She whispered his name. The blood on her hands stung at her heart.
"Mirakuru," Nuriko softly spoke her name for the first time. The sound rolled off his lips like a summer breeze, so gentle and peaceful. *What a pretty name.* "To save your friends innocence like that, was very noble of you."
"No..." Her voice was very depressing. "No, I didn't do anything worth the title of noble or heroic."
"How can you say that?!" Nuriko forced her to look into his eyes.
"I drew blood... I do not use my abilities for dark purposes." She turned away. "I did it out of arrogance, not for anyone else."
"That's how you destroyed the wall."
"Yes!" She returned to his eyes. "The anger inside of me, is too strong!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Mirakuru?" Nuriko asked. "What are you doing here?" Nuriko blinked and then looked back at the sunrise. It was very early in the morning, and she guessed no one got much sleep last night, especially her. She stayed up thinking about the kindness of Hotohori. His green eyes and his warm arms, made him seem unachievable to get.
*What am I doing?* Mirakuru shook her head. *There's no way I have a chance with an Emperor. I don't deserve him.* But she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to fall into the arms of bliss. She told herself there would never be anymore incidents as last night. She couldn't believe how unpractical she had been.
"Mirakuru." Nuriko shook her shoulders a bite.
"Huh?!" Back to reality. "Oh, Nuriko! Hi!" She flashed him a very cheesy smile.
"Welcome back." He grinned. "And good morning!" He sat down with her in the grass.
"Good morning, Nuriko." She smiled sweetly this time. Letting out a long sigh she stretched out her tight muscles. Flipping her ponytail over her shoulder, Nuriko noticed it was tied very similar to the way Tamahome's was before it got cut off by Suboshi. It swept down to below her waist and the rest of it was chin length and hanging into her eyes. "So why aren't you with the others?" She asked him.
"I'm not really hungry." He sighed deeply.
"What's the matter," she looked at him with her deep baby blues.
"Oh nothing." He let out another sigh.
"Uh-huh." She smirked and then stood up. "Ya know what. I really need to calm my nerves." She turned back at him and winked. "I'll be right over here," she pointed to a small, grassy opening.
"Okay." Nuriko let his thoughts drift as he lay back into the grass and closed his eyes. *Mirakuru... Such a beautiful girl. Why is she so afraid to let lose?*
*You don't want to see me let loose.* Mirakuru's thoughts melted with his.
*Why not?* He asked her telepathically.
*I would destroy everything.*
*I doubt that.* Nuriko let go of the mental connection and thought of his own insecurities. Kourin, his little sister, she was gone. He loved the Emperor, although he knew it would never be possible to love him, not really. And when he saw the pain in Mirakuru's eyes he was brought to tears. *Why does she feel so much hurt?* Slowly getting up he walked over to the spot where Mirakuru said she'd be. There she stood, her hands wrapped in a pray. There was something surrounding her, a power of some sort. A strong, bright, powerful aura. *Suzaku...*
He walked up to her without making a sound. Thinking he made it up to her silently, he noticed a fiery determination in her face. The wind blew softly through her dark tresses of her hair and her bangs flew away from her face. He watched her with anticipation. Her energy level went to zero, almost like she was dead. "Nuriko..." She whispered his name and then she began to float in the air, only a few feet of the ground but Nuriko was very freaked out.
He drew back. "What in the world?!" He saw her hair fly up and her power level went up rapidly. Letting out a few grunts she released bursts of energy that looked like fire. And the whole area went red for a quick moment. Nuriko quickly shielded his face. He heard a quick cry and opened his eyes. He saw her sitting back in the grass completely content. "Wha!!!!!!!" He gonked at her, "What the hell?!"
"Much better," she smiled joyfully and closed her eyes. He fell backwards anime style and looked like a chibi. (AN: ^_^6)
"I'll be here waiting... I only wanna be with you. Just love me through the darkness, in your arms. I want to say I love you, but I can only stay the night. 'Cause when morning comes, I will disappear." Tears streamed down Nuriko face as the angelic voices touched his very soul.
*Mirakuru, your voice is so beautiful, just like an angel.*
"I don't wanna go, but I have no choice. I'll hurt you if I stay, but I don't wanna go away."
"Nuriko," a female voice whispered gently, her brown hair braided instead of her Tamahome-hair- look-alike style. Mirakuru leaned over the sleeping Nuriko, his hair was undone and he looked so sweet sleeping there. The early morning sunlight danced on his face and his bare chest shown perfectly tanned and shaped. *And to think you want to be a woman, when you perfect the way you are.* His dark eyelashes were closed softly and she wondered just where her best friend was dreaming off into eternity. "Nuriko..."
His lips parted and his eyes slowly flickered open. The light reflected off his purple depths and made them violet and pure. He looked up at her and found her cobalt, sea-born eyes. Nuriko's head turned towards her more and the pillow fluffed out around his face. He couldn't look anymore like and angel then he did that moment.
"Hey." She smiled and blinked once, then again. "Sleep good?"
"Yeah..." The moment was all too peaceful and placid to be real. "Hmm." He licked his dry lips and sat up slightly. The sheet slipped further down his torso, exposing more of his male body.
"What you dream about?" She asked him very much amused by her own calmness.
"Hotohori..." He let out a sigh.
"Again?" She sighed more gravely then him and then chuckled aloud. "Typical Nuriko: such a sap and a hopeless romantic." She shuck her head and then smiled. "No wonder you are such a cutie."
"Huh?!" He blushed at her remark, surprised at her pleasant personality this morning. "Why are you in such a good mood?" He questioned her, breaking the peacefulness.
"Who says I'm never always in a good mood?" She turned her gaze out an opening in his room, watching the approach and pass of shadows. "And besides I'm looking forward to my training session with Tamahome. He promised to fight me even though I was a girl and I find that very sweet."
"Sound's like you like him. Hmm, do you?! Do you?!" He giggled and teased her.
"No!" Mirakuru frowned, turning back ot him, and then laughed at him as the sheet slipped further down his body. "Here," she said standing up. "You better get dressed."
"So I can look all pretty for his Highness?!" Nuriko laughed.
"No silly!" She through his clothes at his face and they landed in his lap. "So if somebody comes in they don't get the wrong idea about us." She winked. "You don't want to give Hotohori that idea, do you?"
"No." He pouted and then smiled again. "Hotohori? I love him." His eyes closed and he let out a sweet sigh of wishful thinking. His eyes lit up with hearts. Nuriko gazed off into space as she walked to the door.
*Yeah, I love him, too. But I can't tell you that, Nuriko...* She then turned back to the standing Nuriko, the sheet wrapped around his waist. *There's no way I'd betray you, my very best friend.* He was only two or three inches taller then she, but he still towered over her. "Nuriko?..."
"Yeah?" He looked up towards her eyes, now almost in tears. *Why are you so sad, Mirakuru?* They stood just like that, her head turned back, but her body facing opposite of his, and him half naked, but perfectly comfortable around her, for what seemed like and eternity. And then that's when it happened. They joined in one embrace. Tears streamed down her face and he felt the sheet drop to the ground as his arms went around her. "Mirakuru?..." He stood holding her completely open and exposed to her. Her face buried into his chest, she looked up into his eyes, his angel eyes.
"I don't want to pretend anymore," she begged for his warmth. "I don't want to do this." *I love Hotohori.*
"What do you want to tell me?" *What is it?*
"I can't do it." *I want him so bad.*
"What?" *Mirakuru.*
"I won't do it." *I want to touch him and for him to touch me.*
"Mirakuru?"
"Suzaku." *I will not betray Nuriko!*
"Mirakuru?..."
"Please..." *I want to be with Hotohori!*
"........"
"...don't..." "I can't do this.
"Mira--"
"...make me choose between them!"
"--kuru." Nuriko begged to know her troubles so he could make his best friend so happy. "Mirakuru?..."
Dead silence. Silence. Completely utter silence. Nothing but silence and an agonizing need for relief of the sadness in her heart. "I won't betray you...* She whispered without a explanation for him. Without a reason why. Her lips parted and said silently, *Hotohori... Nuriko... I can't do this. I love Hotohori, but Nuriko's my best friend and he loves him too. I can't break his heart like that. I won't break his trust, and I can't love Hotohori, at least, not out loud.*
In a brilliant blue blast all hope seemed lost for Nuriko, until a light of red shone on the seishi. His violet eyes widened as the power was so close to him. Fear and helplessness haunted his heart. Letting out a cry for life, he saw a quick flash of black, purple and blue, and long brown hair. The blue eyes he'd become familiar with glared the opposite direction. "Uhh..." *Mirakuru?!*
"No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She searched within herself. *Suzaku... Suzaku... Suzaku... Friendship... Help me protect my friend!* Mirakuru found the strength inside of her to fight. *I can't let this happen! Not after we've fought so hard to maintain peace.* Memories of precious and just plain simple moments flooded back to her. Nuriko's pain from his sister's death, and how she held him all that night. No matter how hard she tried she never could find the strength to fight, with or without hurting someone, and he always told her the reasons she had to fight and that they needed her. He never let her give up and so she never did. A blinding garnet blast left Mirakuru's hands, the small gems on her wrist glowing intensely. Countering his attack wasn't easy and she could see by the look in his eyes that he was shocked at her strength. The attacks clashed and sent a ring of purple for miles. . . . . . . . . .
"I can't believe this, she's so strong!" Nakago's voice was shaky. His eyes widened.
"Nakago!" Soi cried.
"Nakago!" Yui's voice ran dry.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!" The symbol of Suzaku appeared on her forehead, proving her destiny. She sent the general hard into a near by wall. It cracked and then shattered but he remaind on his feet.
As the dust cleared Nakago slowly saw the fighting beauty. Her finger no more than a couple of inches away from his face and Suzaku burned brightly on her foreheand for the first time. She panted wildly, her hair blowing softly away from her face. Blue eyes found that of the enemy, but there was a difference between the two set of twin baby blues. His were cold and gray and her's were almost shinning, as she had just realized her power from deep within her soul. "Don't think you can hurt any of these people, my friends. And I swear don't you dare challenge Suzaku..."
Nakago grinned and hid a chuckle. "Really?"
"Hmm..." She nodded, and then came close enough to kiss him. "You know what they say... when you play with fire, your going to get burned..." She smirked and then turned back the other way, glacing at Yui. *I know you don't hate Miaka...* And then the tears came, spreading across her cheeks and down to the ground. Suzaku faded only to have her gems glowing brighter than ever. They were reacting to her emotion, her very soul. "Nuriko!" *I almost lost him!!* "Nuriko!!"
Instantly he ran to her finding her willing and ready to be held, but confused by her actions. "What's the matter?!"
"I..." She choked on her words. "I almost lost you..."
"Oh Mirakuru," he smiled. He let her head up to see him and wiped away her tears. He let out a little chuckle and smiled again. "Well, you don't have to worry about anything now, I'm perfectly fine, thanks to you."
She tried to smile. And then hugged him tighter to her. "So glad I finally woke up..."
"Exactly!" Kakusei joined in. "Don't think for a minute that we will let you talk to our beloved Priestess like this." Her confidence was higher that normal. "You challenge her, and you challenge us!" She blinked at herself. "Woh!" She held her head. "Where did that come from?!?!"
"A little thing I like to call Suzaku..." Mirakuru had joined them and was more than ready to fight. "You wanna fight Yui?" She bent her knees and her hands went to fists. "Bring it on!"
"Mm..." Yui backed down. "I can't fight all of them." She looked to Nakago.
He nodded, eyes shut and then smiled. "It'll be my pleasure."
"I'll fight you again!" She concentrated for a moment and then looked to Nuriko.
He nodded, "You can do it."
"K..." She smiled and then felt her energy rise. "Bring it!"
"It's okay," he whispered. "Just let me hold you, Mirako. I almost lost you today, please stay with me a few moments longer." He tightened his grip on her as if she would try to escape from her. "I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you, Mirakuru." He sighed. "Thanks to you I am still here breathing, feeling, and living. It's a miracle you finally awake to the power that I always knew as inside of you. You're my Miracle, you know that?"
"Nuriko..." she whispered his name with her heart shaking. *What is it?*
"My Miracle..." He smiled and her eyes shined. "My Miracle..."
Nuriko sat on his bed, alone, cold, and sad. *I can't believe I struck back at the Emperor..." He shook his head and then layed back against the softness of the pillow. *But I did. Even if she is still a virgin, still pure and innocent. He will said it himself, 'I would never take anyone's innocence like that, I would only make love to them, they way I intend to do to Mirakuru, once she is ready for me.' He knew Hotohori all to well. He'd wait as long as he could and then he'd have her. He'd do anything to keep her.
There was no doubt in the warrior's mind that Hotohori loved her as he himself did. No one could deny how Hotohori felt about Mirakuru, no one. But he also loved her. His body began feeling like that of a man when he had first saw her, as the Emperor had said. He felt the overwhelming urge to take her and drive himself into her. But that was not Nuriko's nature, not in the least. He wanted to hold her, but not as her friend, as her only desire, as her man, as her passion, as the one she loved.
"Ryuuen?" The voice he'd grown to love spoke his real name.
"Mirakuru?!" He was surprised to see her especially the way he had treated Hotohori and the fact that she had punched him right in the face. A bruise glazed his face.
"I must have hit you pretty hard, huh?" She smiled slightly.
"What do you want?" He asked suspiciously.
The smile disappeared from her face and her eyes met his. "I wanted to ask you something." He sat up as she sat down beside him. Taking his loose hair in her hands she began to braid it which he noticed her calmness.
"Hmm."
"...Why did you attack Hotohori?" She asked from behind him, her eyes focused on his hair. His eyes watched her and then he looked down at his hands. They clasped and then released.
"I was angry."
"That's not it."
"No... I hate him for having you. Because I want you for myself. I love you..."
She stopped. The words had finally come out of his mouth. *I love you?!* She froze. *He loves me?????... This wasn't anything I ever expected.* She tied the hair band around the end and she felt his hands against her shoulders, pushing her down. "Nuriko?..." She begged him not to, silently she cried Hotohori's name, but part of her cried Nuriko's name. His lips claimed hers and she didn't push away. *I don't know what to do anymore, I've lost all sense.*
Present
*To think of her like this seems foolish, to believe that she might feel the same, is stupid.* He stopped running and fell to his knees, *My only wish is that I am given to chance to love her right, even if Hotohori is good to her too, I want to try.* Bringing his hand to his eyes, he brushed away the tears. "But I guess it's okay to love her as my friend too, after all, I haven't completely lost her," he said aloud, "Still she is like my best friend. And no matter how hard or tough it is, how much it hurts, or how much I want differently, I want her to be happy." He smiled and stood up and looked up at the Sakura blossoms. "I will stand by you."
"I had sex with Genro." Shinjitsu admitted to Saikyo, as she listened and shot her bow. When she heard that, it threw of her aim, and the arrow landed in the ground. Shinjitsu saw her friend's reaction, and tried to hide the flush on her face. Her eyes seemed to be greener since that time, when they were making love. Was it Tasuki's love for her?
Saikyo's breath released sharply. *Everybody seems to be becoming themselves again. I am the only one who--* the kiss she had shared with Chichiri flashed in her heart. *Who is--* She hesitated and then sighed, closing her eyes. *Maybe not.*
Saikyo stood up fully and took another specially made arrow. Opening her eyes she locked them on the target, knocking the second arrow. She concentrated sternly, but the one eye--the beautiful ruby of Chichiri danced in her mind and heart. Releasing the arrow, again it drove itself into the ground. "Hmm." She frowned at her lack of focus. *What's up with me?*
Shinjitsu crossed her arms. "Seems, I'm not the only one losing to the past self." Saikyo heard the crude humor in her voice and ignored it. Shaking her head she knocked the third arrow. A voice stopped her, freezing her body, paralyzing her will.
"He loves you, ya know." Chichiri was behind them. Shinjitsu turned to him surprised.
"Houjun!" she then glanced at him, noticing that his mask was off. "You mean Genro, don't you?"
"I mean Genro and Tasuki."
"Well--I know that--"
"Obviously you don't. Other wise, you wouldn't try to avoid him." She was stunned. "Now, I'll have to ask to you to leave myself and Lady Saikyo." With a helpless look, she left, knowing she'd have to face Tasuki sooner or later.
Saikyo felt the eyes of her lover on her back and heard his footsteps coming from behind her. Gently, he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Don't be afraid, Saikyo, I only want to talk to you." Without any response from her he continued. "I know you're doing this to protect Miaka and all of us, but I have to tell you, I don't want it that way. I want to fight by your side, to protect you... It doesn't have to be like this." His hands slipped across her collarbone and he completely took her into his embrace. "Remember--" His lips touched to back of her neck, her hair just short enough to bare it. "Remember so many long nights?"
She choked. *Chichiri.*
"Remember my warmth? Remember every time I made you laugh?" His breath made goosebumps travel up and down her body. Catching her off guard, his hand slipped beneath her shirt.
"Um." She gasped feeling his large hand on her breast.
"Do you remember how I made you scream?" His voice was sensual, and she knew he wanted her in more than one way. His body wanted her, but his heart needed her. Closing her eyes, she could recall her cry for more as the made love, but she didn't want to go there. "Do you remember me inside of you?" A sharp feeling came to her stomach. His hand continued to caress her, and her body her body reacted, her eyes suddenly watching his hand. Silently she sighed as his fingers came back and then slid down her arm to her hand. Both the arrow and bow fell from her grasp. "I wanna be with you..." Those words made the stars on her hands glow. He did a soft circle around the right one, showing he knew she was coming around.
"Chichiri," she murmured, restless by his actions.
He clasped his hand over hers, entwining their fingers. "I love you," he whispered to her, Saikyo's fingers tightened over Chichiri's, "Densetsu." Almost simultaneously they turned and their mouths met, their tongues danced, their hands joined, and their body's met. Their together once again the game of love.
*I love you, Chichiri,* Saikyo admitted, turning her heart over to this man. But the fantasy ended with a voice calling.
"Houjun," a female voice familiar said. "Houjun, I've come back for you..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *I can't believe she would do that!* Nuriko cried running as hard as he possibly could. Tears ran down his face and he sobbed. *Mirakuru! I love you! I love you!! I love you!!!!!!!!!!!* Her laughing face and every moment lingered in his thoughts. He recalled her bright eyes react enthusiastically to his smiles or when they laughed so hard they began to cry.
Flashback (The next part is a series of memories.)
"Nuriko!" She smiled and sobbed and laughed all at the same time. "Nuriko- " She giggled and then threw her arms around him.
"You are such a silly girl," he had said through his laughter. "You're definitely something else!!!" He shook his head and held her to him.
"Tasuki!" Nuriko growled whipping away his tears. "Please, stop." Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Tasuki's confident look changed to concerned. *What's up with him?*
"Nuriko." Hotohori called over his shoulder.
Nuriko turned to attention. "Yes Highness?"
"Nuriko..." His eyes felt his pain.
"Please, Hotohori--" Nuriko blushed. "Emperor," He corrected himself. "Let me take her."
Gently Nuriko took the girl into his arms. Tears running down both their checks. Once they were united within the embrace there was a sensible connection between the two. "Nuriko..." She whispered his name. The blood on her hands stung at her heart.
"Mirakuru," Nuriko softly spoke her name for the first time. The sound rolled off his lips like a summer breeze, so gentle and peaceful. *What a pretty name.* "To save your friends innocence like that, was very noble of you."
"No..." Her voice was very depressing. "No, I didn't do anything worth the title of noble or heroic."
"How can you say that?!" Nuriko forced her to look into his eyes.
"I drew blood... I do not use my abilities for dark purposes." She turned away. "I did it out of arrogance, not for anyone else."
"That's how you destroyed the wall."
"Yes!" She returned to his eyes. "The anger inside of me, is too strong!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Mirakuru?" Nuriko asked. "What are you doing here?" Nuriko blinked and then looked back at the sunrise. It was very early in the morning, and she guessed no one got much sleep last night, especially her. She stayed up thinking about the kindness of Hotohori. His green eyes and his warm arms, made him seem unachievable to get.
*What am I doing?* Mirakuru shook her head. *There's no way I have a chance with an Emperor. I don't deserve him.* But she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to fall into the arms of bliss. She told herself there would never be anymore incidents as last night. She couldn't believe how unpractical she had been.
"Mirakuru." Nuriko shook her shoulders a bite.
"Huh?!" Back to reality. "Oh, Nuriko! Hi!" She flashed him a very cheesy smile.
"Welcome back." He grinned. "And good morning!" He sat down with her in the grass.
"Good morning, Nuriko." She smiled sweetly this time. Letting out a long sigh she stretched out her tight muscles. Flipping her ponytail over her shoulder, Nuriko noticed it was tied very similar to the way Tamahome's was before it got cut off by Suboshi. It swept down to below her waist and the rest of it was chin length and hanging into her eyes. "So why aren't you with the others?" She asked him.
"I'm not really hungry." He sighed deeply.
"What's the matter," she looked at him with her deep baby blues.
"Oh nothing." He let out another sigh.
"Uh-huh." She smirked and then stood up. "Ya know what. I really need to calm my nerves." She turned back at him and winked. "I'll be right over here," she pointed to a small, grassy opening.
"Okay." Nuriko let his thoughts drift as he lay back into the grass and closed his eyes. *Mirakuru... Such a beautiful girl. Why is she so afraid to let lose?*
*You don't want to see me let loose.* Mirakuru's thoughts melted with his.
*Why not?* He asked her telepathically.
*I would destroy everything.*
*I doubt that.* Nuriko let go of the mental connection and thought of his own insecurities. Kourin, his little sister, she was gone. He loved the Emperor, although he knew it would never be possible to love him, not really. And when he saw the pain in Mirakuru's eyes he was brought to tears. *Why does she feel so much hurt?* Slowly getting up he walked over to the spot where Mirakuru said she'd be. There she stood, her hands wrapped in a pray. There was something surrounding her, a power of some sort. A strong, bright, powerful aura. *Suzaku...*
He walked up to her without making a sound. Thinking he made it up to her silently, he noticed a fiery determination in her face. The wind blew softly through her dark tresses of her hair and her bangs flew away from her face. He watched her with anticipation. Her energy level went to zero, almost like she was dead. "Nuriko..." She whispered his name and then she began to float in the air, only a few feet of the ground but Nuriko was very freaked out.
He drew back. "What in the world?!" He saw her hair fly up and her power level went up rapidly. Letting out a few grunts she released bursts of energy that looked like fire. And the whole area went red for a quick moment. Nuriko quickly shielded his face. He heard a quick cry and opened his eyes. He saw her sitting back in the grass completely content. "Wha!!!!!!!" He gonked at her, "What the hell?!"
"Much better," she smiled joyfully and closed her eyes. He fell backwards anime style and looked like a chibi. (AN: ^_^6)
"I'll be here waiting... I only wanna be with you. Just love me through the darkness, in your arms. I want to say I love you, but I can only stay the night. 'Cause when morning comes, I will disappear." Tears streamed down Nuriko face as the angelic voices touched his very soul.
*Mirakuru, your voice is so beautiful, just like an angel.*
"I don't wanna go, but I have no choice. I'll hurt you if I stay, but I don't wanna go away."
"Nuriko," a female voice whispered gently, her brown hair braided instead of her Tamahome-hair- look-alike style. Mirakuru leaned over the sleeping Nuriko, his hair was undone and he looked so sweet sleeping there. The early morning sunlight danced on his face and his bare chest shown perfectly tanned and shaped. *And to think you want to be a woman, when you perfect the way you are.* His dark eyelashes were closed softly and she wondered just where her best friend was dreaming off into eternity. "Nuriko..."
His lips parted and his eyes slowly flickered open. The light reflected off his purple depths and made them violet and pure. He looked up at her and found her cobalt, sea-born eyes. Nuriko's head turned towards her more and the pillow fluffed out around his face. He couldn't look anymore like and angel then he did that moment.
"Hey." She smiled and blinked once, then again. "Sleep good?"
"Yeah..." The moment was all too peaceful and placid to be real. "Hmm." He licked his dry lips and sat up slightly. The sheet slipped further down his torso, exposing more of his male body.
"What you dream about?" She asked him very much amused by her own calmness.
"Hotohori..." He let out a sigh.
"Again?" She sighed more gravely then him and then chuckled aloud. "Typical Nuriko: such a sap and a hopeless romantic." She shuck her head and then smiled. "No wonder you are such a cutie."
"Huh?!" He blushed at her remark, surprised at her pleasant personality this morning. "Why are you in such a good mood?" He questioned her, breaking the peacefulness.
"Who says I'm never always in a good mood?" She turned her gaze out an opening in his room, watching the approach and pass of shadows. "And besides I'm looking forward to my training session with Tamahome. He promised to fight me even though I was a girl and I find that very sweet."
"Sound's like you like him. Hmm, do you?! Do you?!" He giggled and teased her.
"No!" Mirakuru frowned, turning back ot him, and then laughed at him as the sheet slipped further down his body. "Here," she said standing up. "You better get dressed."
"So I can look all pretty for his Highness?!" Nuriko laughed.
"No silly!" She through his clothes at his face and they landed in his lap. "So if somebody comes in they don't get the wrong idea about us." She winked. "You don't want to give Hotohori that idea, do you?"
"No." He pouted and then smiled again. "Hotohori? I love him." His eyes closed and he let out a sweet sigh of wishful thinking. His eyes lit up with hearts. Nuriko gazed off into space as she walked to the door.
*Yeah, I love him, too. But I can't tell you that, Nuriko...* She then turned back to the standing Nuriko, the sheet wrapped around his waist. *There's no way I'd betray you, my very best friend.* He was only two or three inches taller then she, but he still towered over her. "Nuriko?..."
"Yeah?" He looked up towards her eyes, now almost in tears. *Why are you so sad, Mirakuru?* They stood just like that, her head turned back, but her body facing opposite of his, and him half naked, but perfectly comfortable around her, for what seemed like and eternity. And then that's when it happened. They joined in one embrace. Tears streamed down her face and he felt the sheet drop to the ground as his arms went around her. "Mirakuru?..." He stood holding her completely open and exposed to her. Her face buried into his chest, she looked up into his eyes, his angel eyes.
"I don't want to pretend anymore," she begged for his warmth. "I don't want to do this." *I love Hotohori.*
"What do you want to tell me?" *What is it?*
"I can't do it." *I want him so bad.*
"What?" *Mirakuru.*
"I won't do it." *I want to touch him and for him to touch me.*
"Mirakuru?"
"Suzaku." *I will not betray Nuriko!*
"Mirakuru?..."
"Please..." *I want to be with Hotohori!*
"........"
"...don't..." "I can't do this.
"Mira--"
"...make me choose between them!"
"--kuru." Nuriko begged to know her troubles so he could make his best friend so happy. "Mirakuru?..."
Dead silence. Silence. Completely utter silence. Nothing but silence and an agonizing need for relief of the sadness in her heart. "I won't betray you...* She whispered without a explanation for him. Without a reason why. Her lips parted and said silently, *Hotohori... Nuriko... I can't do this. I love Hotohori, but Nuriko's my best friend and he loves him too. I can't break his heart like that. I won't break his trust, and I can't love Hotohori, at least, not out loud.*
In a brilliant blue blast all hope seemed lost for Nuriko, until a light of red shone on the seishi. His violet eyes widened as the power was so close to him. Fear and helplessness haunted his heart. Letting out a cry for life, he saw a quick flash of black, purple and blue, and long brown hair. The blue eyes he'd become familiar with glared the opposite direction. "Uhh..." *Mirakuru?!*
"No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She searched within herself. *Suzaku... Suzaku... Suzaku... Friendship... Help me protect my friend!* Mirakuru found the strength inside of her to fight. *I can't let this happen! Not after we've fought so hard to maintain peace.* Memories of precious and just plain simple moments flooded back to her. Nuriko's pain from his sister's death, and how she held him all that night. No matter how hard she tried she never could find the strength to fight, with or without hurting someone, and he always told her the reasons she had to fight and that they needed her. He never let her give up and so she never did. A blinding garnet blast left Mirakuru's hands, the small gems on her wrist glowing intensely. Countering his attack wasn't easy and she could see by the look in his eyes that he was shocked at her strength. The attacks clashed and sent a ring of purple for miles. . . . . . . . . .
"I can't believe this, she's so strong!" Nakago's voice was shaky. His eyes widened.
"Nakago!" Soi cried.
"Nakago!" Yui's voice ran dry.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!" The symbol of Suzaku appeared on her forehead, proving her destiny. She sent the general hard into a near by wall. It cracked and then shattered but he remaind on his feet.
As the dust cleared Nakago slowly saw the fighting beauty. Her finger no more than a couple of inches away from his face and Suzaku burned brightly on her foreheand for the first time. She panted wildly, her hair blowing softly away from her face. Blue eyes found that of the enemy, but there was a difference between the two set of twin baby blues. His were cold and gray and her's were almost shinning, as she had just realized her power from deep within her soul. "Don't think you can hurt any of these people, my friends. And I swear don't you dare challenge Suzaku..."
Nakago grinned and hid a chuckle. "Really?"
"Hmm..." She nodded, and then came close enough to kiss him. "You know what they say... when you play with fire, your going to get burned..." She smirked and then turned back the other way, glacing at Yui. *I know you don't hate Miaka...* And then the tears came, spreading across her cheeks and down to the ground. Suzaku faded only to have her gems glowing brighter than ever. They were reacting to her emotion, her very soul. "Nuriko!" *I almost lost him!!* "Nuriko!!"
Instantly he ran to her finding her willing and ready to be held, but confused by her actions. "What's the matter?!"
"I..." She choked on her words. "I almost lost you..."
"Oh Mirakuru," he smiled. He let her head up to see him and wiped away her tears. He let out a little chuckle and smiled again. "Well, you don't have to worry about anything now, I'm perfectly fine, thanks to you."
She tried to smile. And then hugged him tighter to her. "So glad I finally woke up..."
"Exactly!" Kakusei joined in. "Don't think for a minute that we will let you talk to our beloved Priestess like this." Her confidence was higher that normal. "You challenge her, and you challenge us!" She blinked at herself. "Woh!" She held her head. "Where did that come from?!?!"
"A little thing I like to call Suzaku..." Mirakuru had joined them and was more than ready to fight. "You wanna fight Yui?" She bent her knees and her hands went to fists. "Bring it on!"
"Mm..." Yui backed down. "I can't fight all of them." She looked to Nakago.
He nodded, eyes shut and then smiled. "It'll be my pleasure."
"I'll fight you again!" She concentrated for a moment and then looked to Nuriko.
He nodded, "You can do it."
"K..." She smiled and then felt her energy rise. "Bring it!"
"It's okay," he whispered. "Just let me hold you, Mirako. I almost lost you today, please stay with me a few moments longer." He tightened his grip on her as if she would try to escape from her. "I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you, Mirakuru." He sighed. "Thanks to you I am still here breathing, feeling, and living. It's a miracle you finally awake to the power that I always knew as inside of you. You're my Miracle, you know that?"
"Nuriko..." she whispered his name with her heart shaking. *What is it?*
"My Miracle..." He smiled and her eyes shined. "My Miracle..."
Nuriko sat on his bed, alone, cold, and sad. *I can't believe I struck back at the Emperor..." He shook his head and then layed back against the softness of the pillow. *But I did. Even if she is still a virgin, still pure and innocent. He will said it himself, 'I would never take anyone's innocence like that, I would only make love to them, they way I intend to do to Mirakuru, once she is ready for me.' He knew Hotohori all to well. He'd wait as long as he could and then he'd have her. He'd do anything to keep her.
There was no doubt in the warrior's mind that Hotohori loved her as he himself did. No one could deny how Hotohori felt about Mirakuru, no one. But he also loved her. His body began feeling like that of a man when he had first saw her, as the Emperor had said. He felt the overwhelming urge to take her and drive himself into her. But that was not Nuriko's nature, not in the least. He wanted to hold her, but not as her friend, as her only desire, as her man, as her passion, as the one she loved.
"Ryuuen?" The voice he'd grown to love spoke his real name.
"Mirakuru?!" He was surprised to see her especially the way he had treated Hotohori and the fact that she had punched him right in the face. A bruise glazed his face.
"I must have hit you pretty hard, huh?" She smiled slightly.
"What do you want?" He asked suspiciously.
The smile disappeared from her face and her eyes met his. "I wanted to ask you something." He sat up as she sat down beside him. Taking his loose hair in her hands she began to braid it which he noticed her calmness.
"Hmm."
"...Why did you attack Hotohori?" She asked from behind him, her eyes focused on his hair. His eyes watched her and then he looked down at his hands. They clasped and then released.
"I was angry."
"That's not it."
"No... I hate him for having you. Because I want you for myself. I love you..."
She stopped. The words had finally come out of his mouth. *I love you?!* She froze. *He loves me?????... This wasn't anything I ever expected.* She tied the hair band around the end and she felt his hands against her shoulders, pushing her down. "Nuriko?..." She begged him not to, silently she cried Hotohori's name, but part of her cried Nuriko's name. His lips claimed hers and she didn't push away. *I don't know what to do anymore, I've lost all sense.*
Present
*To think of her like this seems foolish, to believe that she might feel the same, is stupid.* He stopped running and fell to his knees, *My only wish is that I am given to chance to love her right, even if Hotohori is good to her too, I want to try.* Bringing his hand to his eyes, he brushed away the tears. "But I guess it's okay to love her as my friend too, after all, I haven't completely lost her," he said aloud, "Still she is like my best friend. And no matter how hard or tough it is, how much it hurts, or how much I want differently, I want her to be happy." He smiled and stood up and looked up at the Sakura blossoms. "I will stand by you."