Author notes:
1 - I got some feedback about me leaving out Houki and Boushin. I didn't want to allow a married Hotohori-sama almost kiss Miaka. (previous chapter) Also, I like the single Hotohori much better.
2 - As you read Chiriko's parts, remember that in this fic he is 21 years and VERY good looking (if you've seen Watase-sensei's sketch of him at age 16, you know what I mean. If you haven't seen it, go here: http://www.suzakuseishi.com/Chiriko/oldchiriko.gif) His hair is the same and he kept his nice baby face =D
3 - Warning: SPOILERS, I repeat, there are HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD IN THIS NEXT NOTE!!!: I got a comment in a review about certain characters being dead... but still alive in the fic. A lot of fiction doesn't comply with logic, and this is one of them. It was a very good comment from the reviewer, and thank you for it. Wouldn't it suck if in this chapter, all the characters said, "Oh yeah, Nuriko died. We forgot. Now we just have Chichiri to look for"? This also might be strange, "Hey Chiriko, you died, why are you here? So did you, Hotohori!" LOL.. That's why all the characters remain alive (this is not challenged in the fic/nothing is brought up about it) in this fan fic...
***
Chapter 4 - Gone
Miaka opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling with a smile, reminiscently.
Miaka: Oh, it really seems like yesterday. Every day I stayed here I would wake up just like this...
Voice: Just like this?
Miaka: (gasp) (turned around in her bed)
Tamahome: Do you recall this?
He gave her a small peck on the lips.
Miaka (smiling): Tamahome.
Tamahome: I missed you. I woke up in the middle of the night to find the space to my left empty.
Tamahome and Miaka kissed deeply... and when they're lips parted...
Miaka (romantically): Nuri- (she stopped herself abruptly with a look of shock on her face)
Tamahome (shocked): Were you just about to say...
Miaka (nervous): Y-Yes, yes...! Because I... I- I just remembered that we have to find Nuriko and Chichiri!
Tamahome (nodding): Mm, right.
Miaka (thinking): Why did I think about Nuriko when I was kissing Tamahome just now?
**a memory of Nuriko's voice in her head**
But I just want to tell you that I feel something for you...and I think it may be love (now quickly)... I- I KNOW it is love...
**memory ended**
Miaka (thinking): He really loved me a lot... and I still feel that same love for him.
She looked up at Tamahome.
Tamahome (staring at her strangely): Well... you said it yourself, let's find them.
*Now in Hotohori's chambers*
Hotohori: Asking Taiitsukun where they are will be the best way.
Miaka: That's right! She could tell us, couldn't she!? ^_^
Tasuki (loudly): Well, now, how about we get going!
Hotohori: I will be staying here. The others will be coming with you, Miaka.
Miaka (nodding): I understand. But I have a question. Why didn't you try looking for Nuriko and Chichiri before?
Chiriko: Ohh, Tasuki has tried looking a few times, but he kinda gave up after looking for so long...
Tasuki (mumbling): . I looked everywhere.
Tamahome (putting his arm around Miaka): Well, may we go head for Taiitsukun's palace now, Hotohori?
Hotohori: (nod)
***
After a while of riding on horses towards Taiitsukun's palace...
Tasuki: If Chichiri wasn't missing too, he just could transport us there. :(
Miaka: Aww, Tasuki, you miss your buddies, don't you? You're just a big softy, aren't you?
Tasuki (embarrassed): Eh..heh heh what are you talking about?...
Tamahome: We're pretty close to Taiitsukun's palace now! ^.^
Chiriko: Yes, we just need to turn this corner and there will be more forestry to travel across, then we'll be there.
But Miaka, Tamahome, Chiriko and Tasuki unexpectedly saw Taiitsukun's palace appear before them just as Chiriko said that.
Miaka: Taiitsukun's palace!
Chiriko: This - it just... can't be right... O_o
Tasuki: ^_^ Well it is right, because there's the palace! Seems you were wrong, eh?
Chiriko: But I know there should be more forest land... I studied the geography over and over...
Tamahome: Chiriko, you coming?
Chiriko: Um... yes...
***
After being invited in by Taiitsukun...
Tasuki: Taiitsukun, where are they now?!
Taiitsukun concentrated for about five seconds.
Taiitsukun: I... I can't sense their life forces...
Miaka: What... you... you must be able to sense them!
Taiitsukun: I'm afraid this means... (long pause) they're...
Tamahome: What?!
Taiitsukun: Chichiri and Nuriko are... dead...
The room filled with coldness as the news of horror came upon Miaka and her incomplete seishi.
Tasuki: No, no, you're just joking, right Taiitsukun?! Tell me you're joking!
Taiitsukun: I'm sorry.
Chiriko: No... they're probably just suppressing their life forces! Right, Taiitsukun?
Taiitsukun: I don't think that's it.
Miaka: No. It must be a mistake.
Tamahome (quickly and excitedly): Taiitsukun... you have a mirror that records everything that happens, right? Could you try showing us what they're doing now?
Taiitsukun (eyes widening with shock and then speaking with uneasiness): Oh... (long pause) Well... follow me.
***
Miaka and her incomplete seishi, lead by Taiitsukun, walked into a room, and were now looking up at a mirror.
Taiitsukun: This will show the last event that took place place having to do with Chichiri and Nuriko.
An image of Chichiri appeared on the screen, kneeling at a grave.
Chichiri (viewed on the mirror): May you rest in peace, my dear friend and fellow seishi, Nuriko.
Miaka gasped as she saw Chichiri's hand wipe snow off the grave to reveal: "Ryuuen Chou (Nuriko)". Miaka shook her head hard.
Miaka (loudly): No. NO!!! IT CAN'T BE!!! (bursting with sobs)
Tamahome grabbed onto Miaka as tears filled his eyes. Tasuki sat in the corner covering his face as his body shook with sobs, as Mitsukake and Chiriko prayed silently.
On the mirror, Chichiri left a purple flower on Nuriko's grave and said a prayer, and walked away slowly.
Taiitsukun looked down with no expression on her face. She looked up.
Taiitsukun: Nuriko died three weeks ago after being buried in a snow avalanche.
Tasuki looked up suddenly, his face streaming with tears.
Taiitsukun: Chichiri was gone at the time and came back too late.
Chiriko: No. It's a lie. I know the statistics of the average avalanche, and also knowing the statistics of Nuriko's strength, he could brush off the worst of all avalanches... easily!
Miaka's eyes widened with hope.
Taiitsukun: Well, he was sleeping at the time and hadn't even known...
Tamahome: Old hag, you sound a little uneasy to me! Mind explaining?
Taiitsukun: It is hard for me to explain this death to you, because if it hard for you to accept this. I'm explaining it the best I can, and I'm called an "old hag"?!
Mitsukake: There's no use for arguing. We still have Chichiri to look for.
Tamahome: But first, don't you think we should go back to the Konan palace and explain this to Hotohori?
Chiriko: Yes. We'll look for Chichiri tomorrow.
Miaka's head rose, as she harshly wiped away her tears with her eyebrows lifted.
Miaka: I still don't believe it. I want proof.
The group stared at Miaka, feeling sad that she hadn't accepted it yet.
Miaka (stern and serious): Taiitsukun, if Nuriko's really dead, show me when it happened.
Taiitsukun showed signs of being aggravated, but now being shown on the mirror was Nuriko peacefully sprawled out in the snow wearing warm clothing. He turned over and tossed a bit, making his braid flop all over. The mirror focused onto his hand where a squirrel was nibbling at it.
Nuriko (slightly woken up): Get... off (yawn)
Nuriko picked up a staff that was laying nearby and began wacking the area around him, attempting to hit the squirrel in his sleep, missing of course. That's when a rumbling sound was heard. It was louder and louder, but Nuriko remained asleep, he turned over on his other side and let out a sigh as the squirrel ran away. The rumbling noise increased. Rocks and snow fell hard onto the peacefully sleeping, unaware Nuriko.
As Miaka watched, fear and horror filled her eyes and she placed a hand over her mouth. The other was gripping onto Tamahome's shoulder. Tamahome whispered words of denial, and tears came. Tasuki's eyes let out a stream of tears as his jaw shook uncontrollably. Mitsukake's solemn face was filled with sorrow and Chiriko covered his face with his hands, tears escaping between his fingers. Nuriko really was gone and now everyone knew it.
**Author notes: :-( It's...SAD! I almost cried and I'm the writer! But there's more... it doesn't end here! A lot more is gonna happen and chapter 5 is already up. It's short, not even a page long so read it ^_^
1 - I got some feedback about me leaving out Houki and Boushin. I didn't want to allow a married Hotohori-sama almost kiss Miaka. (previous chapter) Also, I like the single Hotohori much better.
2 - As you read Chiriko's parts, remember that in this fic he is 21 years and VERY good looking (if you've seen Watase-sensei's sketch of him at age 16, you know what I mean. If you haven't seen it, go here: http://www.suzakuseishi.com/Chiriko/oldchiriko.gif) His hair is the same and he kept his nice baby face =D
3 - Warning: SPOILERS, I repeat, there are HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD IN THIS NEXT NOTE!!!: I got a comment in a review about certain characters being dead... but still alive in the fic. A lot of fiction doesn't comply with logic, and this is one of them. It was a very good comment from the reviewer, and thank you for it. Wouldn't it suck if in this chapter, all the characters said, "Oh yeah, Nuriko died. We forgot. Now we just have Chichiri to look for"? This also might be strange, "Hey Chiriko, you died, why are you here? So did you, Hotohori!" LOL.. That's why all the characters remain alive (this is not challenged in the fic/nothing is brought up about it) in this fan fic...
***
Chapter 4 - Gone
Miaka opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling with a smile, reminiscently.
Miaka: Oh, it really seems like yesterday. Every day I stayed here I would wake up just like this...
Voice: Just like this?
Miaka: (gasp) (turned around in her bed)
Tamahome: Do you recall this?
He gave her a small peck on the lips.
Miaka (smiling): Tamahome.
Tamahome: I missed you. I woke up in the middle of the night to find the space to my left empty.
Tamahome and Miaka kissed deeply... and when they're lips parted...
Miaka (romantically): Nuri- (she stopped herself abruptly with a look of shock on her face)
Tamahome (shocked): Were you just about to say...
Miaka (nervous): Y-Yes, yes...! Because I... I- I just remembered that we have to find Nuriko and Chichiri!
Tamahome (nodding): Mm, right.
Miaka (thinking): Why did I think about Nuriko when I was kissing Tamahome just now?
**a memory of Nuriko's voice in her head**
But I just want to tell you that I feel something for you...and I think it may be love (now quickly)... I- I KNOW it is love...
**memory ended**
Miaka (thinking): He really loved me a lot... and I still feel that same love for him.
She looked up at Tamahome.
Tamahome (staring at her strangely): Well... you said it yourself, let's find them.
*Now in Hotohori's chambers*
Hotohori: Asking Taiitsukun where they are will be the best way.
Miaka: That's right! She could tell us, couldn't she!? ^_^
Tasuki (loudly): Well, now, how about we get going!
Hotohori: I will be staying here. The others will be coming with you, Miaka.
Miaka (nodding): I understand. But I have a question. Why didn't you try looking for Nuriko and Chichiri before?
Chiriko: Ohh, Tasuki has tried looking a few times, but he kinda gave up after looking for so long...
Tasuki (mumbling): . I looked everywhere.
Tamahome (putting his arm around Miaka): Well, may we go head for Taiitsukun's palace now, Hotohori?
Hotohori: (nod)
***
After a while of riding on horses towards Taiitsukun's palace...
Tasuki: If Chichiri wasn't missing too, he just could transport us there. :(
Miaka: Aww, Tasuki, you miss your buddies, don't you? You're just a big softy, aren't you?
Tasuki (embarrassed): Eh..heh heh what are you talking about?...
Tamahome: We're pretty close to Taiitsukun's palace now! ^.^
Chiriko: Yes, we just need to turn this corner and there will be more forestry to travel across, then we'll be there.
But Miaka, Tamahome, Chiriko and Tasuki unexpectedly saw Taiitsukun's palace appear before them just as Chiriko said that.
Miaka: Taiitsukun's palace!
Chiriko: This - it just... can't be right... O_o
Tasuki: ^_^ Well it is right, because there's the palace! Seems you were wrong, eh?
Chiriko: But I know there should be more forest land... I studied the geography over and over...
Tamahome: Chiriko, you coming?
Chiriko: Um... yes...
***
After being invited in by Taiitsukun...
Tasuki: Taiitsukun, where are they now?!
Taiitsukun concentrated for about five seconds.
Taiitsukun: I... I can't sense their life forces...
Miaka: What... you... you must be able to sense them!
Taiitsukun: I'm afraid this means... (long pause) they're...
Tamahome: What?!
Taiitsukun: Chichiri and Nuriko are... dead...
The room filled with coldness as the news of horror came upon Miaka and her incomplete seishi.
Tasuki: No, no, you're just joking, right Taiitsukun?! Tell me you're joking!
Taiitsukun: I'm sorry.
Chiriko: No... they're probably just suppressing their life forces! Right, Taiitsukun?
Taiitsukun: I don't think that's it.
Miaka: No. It must be a mistake.
Tamahome (quickly and excitedly): Taiitsukun... you have a mirror that records everything that happens, right? Could you try showing us what they're doing now?
Taiitsukun (eyes widening with shock and then speaking with uneasiness): Oh... (long pause) Well... follow me.
***
Miaka and her incomplete seishi, lead by Taiitsukun, walked into a room, and were now looking up at a mirror.
Taiitsukun: This will show the last event that took place place having to do with Chichiri and Nuriko.
An image of Chichiri appeared on the screen, kneeling at a grave.
Chichiri (viewed on the mirror): May you rest in peace, my dear friend and fellow seishi, Nuriko.
Miaka gasped as she saw Chichiri's hand wipe snow off the grave to reveal: "Ryuuen Chou (Nuriko)". Miaka shook her head hard.
Miaka (loudly): No. NO!!! IT CAN'T BE!!! (bursting with sobs)
Tamahome grabbed onto Miaka as tears filled his eyes. Tasuki sat in the corner covering his face as his body shook with sobs, as Mitsukake and Chiriko prayed silently.
On the mirror, Chichiri left a purple flower on Nuriko's grave and said a prayer, and walked away slowly.
Taiitsukun looked down with no expression on her face. She looked up.
Taiitsukun: Nuriko died three weeks ago after being buried in a snow avalanche.
Tasuki looked up suddenly, his face streaming with tears.
Taiitsukun: Chichiri was gone at the time and came back too late.
Chiriko: No. It's a lie. I know the statistics of the average avalanche, and also knowing the statistics of Nuriko's strength, he could brush off the worst of all avalanches... easily!
Miaka's eyes widened with hope.
Taiitsukun: Well, he was sleeping at the time and hadn't even known...
Tamahome: Old hag, you sound a little uneasy to me! Mind explaining?
Taiitsukun: It is hard for me to explain this death to you, because if it hard for you to accept this. I'm explaining it the best I can, and I'm called an "old hag"?!
Mitsukake: There's no use for arguing. We still have Chichiri to look for.
Tamahome: But first, don't you think we should go back to the Konan palace and explain this to Hotohori?
Chiriko: Yes. We'll look for Chichiri tomorrow.
Miaka's head rose, as she harshly wiped away her tears with her eyebrows lifted.
Miaka: I still don't believe it. I want proof.
The group stared at Miaka, feeling sad that she hadn't accepted it yet.
Miaka (stern and serious): Taiitsukun, if Nuriko's really dead, show me when it happened.
Taiitsukun showed signs of being aggravated, but now being shown on the mirror was Nuriko peacefully sprawled out in the snow wearing warm clothing. He turned over and tossed a bit, making his braid flop all over. The mirror focused onto his hand where a squirrel was nibbling at it.
Nuriko (slightly woken up): Get... off (yawn)
Nuriko picked up a staff that was laying nearby and began wacking the area around him, attempting to hit the squirrel in his sleep, missing of course. That's when a rumbling sound was heard. It was louder and louder, but Nuriko remained asleep, he turned over on his other side and let out a sigh as the squirrel ran away. The rumbling noise increased. Rocks and snow fell hard onto the peacefully sleeping, unaware Nuriko.
As Miaka watched, fear and horror filled her eyes and she placed a hand over her mouth. The other was gripping onto Tamahome's shoulder. Tamahome whispered words of denial, and tears came. Tasuki's eyes let out a stream of tears as his jaw shook uncontrollably. Mitsukake's solemn face was filled with sorrow and Chiriko covered his face with his hands, tears escaping between his fingers. Nuriko really was gone and now everyone knew it.
**Author notes: :-( It's...SAD! I almost cried and I'm the writer! But there's more... it doesn't end here! A lot more is gonna happen and chapter 5 is already up. It's short, not even a page long so read it ^_^