Love
Written by: HoshiHikari4ever
ADVANCE \d 5Disclaimer: I do not own Fy. I wish I did.
Parings: H/M
Please Read and Review!!!
Chapter 12
Hotohori held his Miko tightly, unwilling to let go. Miaka held him back. No one spoke, an understanding passed through them. No words were needed to describe the situation; no words could describe the feeling that they felt for each other.
The emperor stroke the soft hair of Miaka, breathing in her scent, closing her eyes, and letting his feelings take over.
"Hotohori…….." Miaka whispered. "Yes Miaka….." "Tell me what happened, tell me what happened, why did you leave the palace, why were you so stupid to come and retrieve me alone. You know you shoudn't have done that…." "I came because I loved you Miaka…." Then is a soft voice, he spoke of what had happened to him, all that he thought was real, all that he tried to do. "You see, you scared me to death. I thought I killed you. It was so real, I thought I was living in reality." He held her closer. "I'm afraid, I'm so afraid that this is an illusion, so afraid to lose you, so afraid, that I don't want to open my eyes. It feels like a dream. One day you are here, next day you're dead, and I find myself holding you in my arms once again. I'm so afraid, so scared Miaka, I don't want to open my eyes and find you gone."
Miaka stroke his cheeks, listening silently. "Sh…it's alright, it's alright" She felt as if she was comforting a small child. She felt like a mother, a mother holding her son, smoothing him with soft and comforting words.
Hotohori…I've never seen him like this. I've never seen him break down like this, this is a side I've never seen before. He's been strong. He's always be strong. I could always look up to him, we could always look up to him. He's like a small child now, a child needing it's mother. A mother, I'm like the mother. He's needs my comfort now.
Miaka let him cry softly on her shoulder, patting his back, whispering smoothing words. "It's alright, Hotohori, That's in the past, the past. It means nothing now. I'm here, I'm right here. I'll always be here for you." "Miaka…." She hushed him, kissing him gently, muttering his name endlessly. Miaka held his chin, and stared at him. "Open your eyes. It's alright, I'll still be right here…." She watched as his eyes slowly flickered open, one at a time. The two stared at each other, before he turned away.
"What's wrong Hotohori?" "Nothing, nothing…I just want to sit here and hold you close. She smiled, letting him cradle her gently. He murmur her name, letting his eyes close. He was extremely tired, much had happened, and he barely had time to sleep.
A long time passed. Miaka slowly noticed that Hotohori had stopped calling out to her, nor was he rocking her. She looked up, her eyes questioning. Her eyes relaxed when she saw that he was sleeping.
Wow! How can he do that? How can he sleep while sitting up? How can he just spoil such a special moment for both of us, by falling asleep on me?
She quietly got up and stretched, not wanting to wake the emperor.
Oh, he looks so cute while sleeping. I suppose it is kind of late. He's been through a lot, he should sleep, should get some rest.
Carefully, she laid him down on his bed, pulling up the covers. As she turned to leave, a thought she heard, "Thank you Miaka, Good night my love…." She looked at him, but he was still fast asleep. She placed a soft kiss on his forehead. "Good night my love…."
* * *
The Seishi, advisors and Miko were all sitting in large discussion table. Hotohori and Miaka sat next to each other at the end. The Seishi sat down on the left, in the order, which Miaka had found them, and the adviors sat across from them, by rank.
Hotohori sighed. This was going nowhere.
"Thank you Tasuki, but I'm afraid that will not work, nor was it on topic…" Hotohori said. Tasuki had mentioned something about the Seishi attacking Kuto head on, and capturing Yui.
"Why not…?" "because….." Hotohori sounded irritated. "because for one Konan is not that strong. It can barely hold up defenses, let alone attack. Also, the Seishi can't just go alone even if they do have powers, because we'll be outnumbered, more then 100,000 to 1."
Tasuki sighed. "Next, does anyone have another plan, another strategy." There was some murmuring among the advisors. Hotohori thought he heard something to his dislike. "What was that?" he asked. "Speak up so that all can hear…" One of the adviors hesitated, glancing at Hotohori then at Miaka, and finally to the other Seishi. "Well if Suzaku could be summoned then…." Another advisor jabbed that one hard in the ribs with his elbow, for having him mention that. No one spoke. Hotohori threw a deadly glare at the one who had mentioned it. The man open his mouth, about to apologize, but the emperor spoke first. "Well….does…anyone…anyone else have…another plan….one that does not….does not require the beast god's power…" he spoke in a deadly calm way, sweeping the whole room with his eyes, causing them to lower their gaze, when the emperor's eyes locked with them.
Finally Chichiri spoke up. "Well on the matter of Suzaku…" he spoke slowly, choosing the words carefully, knowing full well that the emperor was already in a bad mood by this meeting. "I think we should look into that no da…" He and the emperor's eyes locked. "I think we should visit Taiitsukun again, and tell her our situation, maybe she can help us no da…" Hotohori did not speak, he was considering this. "There is no point in…." "Yup Chichiri I think that is a wonderful idea, the best one today…." Everyone stared at Miaka, who had been quiet all along. "Wouldn't you agree Hotohori…I think you would. Taiitsukun probably can help us, in fact I'm sure of it." Hotohori looked as though he was going to protest, object against this idea. He looked at everyone, then at Miaka and at Chichiri. "You never know no da, this might be good…" he sighed. "Then it's settled. We'll see what she has to say, before we continue on with today's discussion."
There was a murmur in agreement. Then the oldest advisor stood up, bowed to Hotohori, and left. The others followed suit. Tasuki was about to stand up to leave when Hotohori called him back. "Sit down, we're not finished…" Tasuki shook his head slightly, before sitting down.
"Well now…." The emperor stared at Chichiri waiting for him to continue. "I think we should leave for Taiitsukun as soon as possible. We don't want to waste time." "Yes, I agree" Miaka spoke up. "It nearly took us forever to get to Mt. Taikyoku last time, didn't we Nuriko, Hotohori….?" The two nodded. "and so much danger too almost got us killed to huh?" Another nod from them. "it's a dangerous road Chichiri…" The monk smiled. "Hey, I can help then." He took out his Keza (is that the bowl shaped hat thing, if not correct me!). "Oh! Yeah, we don't have to walk this time…Hehe!" Miaka hugged the monk. "Well, we should head off now, get it over sooner, and come back sooner, no da…." "Well Miaka, I'm coming…" Tasuki spoke up. "I want to meet this Taiitsukun." He swished open his teesen. "If he turns out like Tamahome, then I'm going to fry her to ashes." The monk frowned underneath his mask. Miaka thought back to the condition that Tamahome had left him and then smiled. "No, I don't think it'll be that bad…and I'm sure you won't want to flame her…" "why not…" "you'll see…" "so I can come…" then he mumbled. "I'm glad I don't have to give her another bun…" Miaka smiled. "A bun would be nice…" she teased. "and yeah you can come, we all are, cause all the Seishi must go…."
* * *
Taiitsukun was bored. She floated in and out, from room to room. Behind her were the Nayn-Nayn (is that how you spell it…?) always saying that they could help fix her face.
"Oh shut up! Scram all of you, otherwise I swear I'll murder you…" With that the Nayn-Nayn's disappeared from sight.
Well I got rid of them, now some peaceful time to think.
At that moment a Keza appeared in front of her.
Oh, no what the hell does he want. Does he have someone else I need to heal, because they're injured? Bet it's Miaka, and the worthless Tamahome again.
At that point, a red haired man fell through the Keza. Before he could stand up, a little boy fell on top of him. The two groaned. Before they knew it, another two men fell on top of them, one purpled harried and the other had a bandana. Then a man with long silky black hair. In his arms was the Miko. The monk came out last. "Well we made it no da, that was fast right?" "Yeah, yeah fast, now will you all get off me!" The monk looked down to see that he was sitting on top of a heap of Seishi and Miko. "Whoops no da…" He got off hastily. The rest followed suit.
"Miaka, are you alright, did Chichiri squish you?" Hotohori asked, wrapping his arms protectively around her. "No, Hotohori, it's ok…" The emperor nodded, before turning to his companions. "How about you guys." "Fine no da…" Everyone else besides Chichiri was rubbing their back. "Thank's a lot monk boy. I think I prefer traveling on the road, at least I would't be injured!" The cross dresser rounded on the monk. "Sorry no da…I just need to…" A scream echoed through the room. All movement and speech stopped.
They all looked at Hotohori, who was the one that screamed. His hands were covering his own face, and Miaka's. "Oh my gosh! I'm hideous" he cried. They looked to see him pointing at a mirror. "What the fuck? There isn't anything wrong…." Of course there isn't…." Tasuki turned to see a hideous looking grandma floating next to him. He too screamed. Before anyone could do anything, a couple of more voices screamed.
"Hotohori……" Miaka asked, trying to see. "Don't look Miaka, don't look, it's hideous, so unbeautiful. When did I become so ugly?" "No you're not…" "Yes, I am, that mirrior over there says so…"
"Oh, cool off Hotohori….it's not like you've seen a ghost no da…it's just Taiitsukun…" The monk looked up at the her. "Sorry," he whispered. She nodded. "Taiitsukun, that was Taiitsukun right, not me right, it was Taiisukun right?" Hotohori asked. "Yes no da…." He slowly released Miaka, so that she could see. "Yup, Hotohori…it's Taiitsukun alright…." She pulled his hands away from his eyes. He stared at the Creator, letting out a sigh of relive, before truing away slightly, so that he did not have to look at her. "Well, I can't believe this, I'm stuck here for an hour. Oh Suzaku, what have I done to deserve this, what have I done to deserve an hour with the most hideous creature alive. How am I suppose to lay eyes on her?" he whispered ever so softly, but not enough, that Miaka was able to hear him, she nudge him lightly to stop him from blabbing. "Sorry…" she whispered to Taiisukun, "but you know Hotohori can't stand it, so please on my behalf, don't force him to look at you…." Taiisukun smiled. "Very well…very well…."
"Well umm…you're Taiitsukun the Creater right?" Chiriko asked. "Ah yes I am…" She looked at them all. "Hmm…Miaka, Hotohori, Nuriko, Chichiri, Tasuki, Mitsukake, and Chiriko…" she spoke their name once as their eyes met. She only did not look at Hotohori directly, respecting him, respecting his role, and respecting what Miaka had just said. "Well, I see that Tamahome isn't here…." No one spoke.
"Well you see Taiitsukun, that is why we are here, because Tamahome's gone, because he left me, and everyone, everything else behind forever…." Miaka held onto Hotohori, as a streak of tears rolled down her eyes. Hotohori, gently whipped them away, with his fingers. He bent over and kissed her once, before resuming his position as before, with his arms wrapped protectively around her.
Taiitsukun seemed to have noticed this change. "I see…." She mumbled. "Explain if you will…." Miaka nodded, before stringing together the events since she returned to Konan without Kuto. She grasped onto Hotohori, and he gave her all the support that she needed. When all was done, Taiitsukun only nodded, indicating that she had heard what had happened. She was deep in thought.
"Please Taiitsukun, please tell me what I should do. Please tell me what I can do. I need to summon Suzaku, and save Konan, please…."
"You can't summon Suzaku." Miaka stood there frozen to the core. "You've failed Miaka, after all I've done for you, and you still manage to fail!" "It's not her fault!" Hotohori spoke up, defending his beloved Miko, since she seemed to be lost of words. "Not her fault! How can it be not her fault, answer that Hotohori! I gave her everything, I practically laid down the path for her, in front of her, she manages to fail, it is her fault, I already done my share!"
Anger boiled in the emperor. No matter what, no one was going to talk about Miaka like that, with that tone of voice. He wasn't going to stand for that kind of insult, he was going to defend Miaka.
Without thinking who he was up against, he released Miaka. He pulled out his sword, and grabbed Taiitsukun by her collar, holding his sword against her throat. "No one," he whispered. "No one, is going to speak about Miaka like that. I swear I'll kill anyone, I swear, I'll kill anyone for…." "Release me Hotohori….." Taiitsukun spoke, half smiling, as if nothing was about to happen. "Apologize to Miaka first!" He pushed the sword closer, irritated by her. "Release me Hotohori, release me…" "Apologize to her! Apologize to her for what you said!" "Why should I, why should I apologize for something…." "If you don't then I'll kill you….I swear. I won't…."
"Hotohori, release her…." Miaka spoke up, finally gaining back her voice. "She's right you know, she's right. I failed. It's my fault that everything happened. It's my fault that Suzaku can't be summoned, it's my fault that I lost my best friend and ex-lover. So much people had to suffer, and so much people are going to suffer. Yui, Tamahome, Hotohori, Nuriko, Chichiri, Tasuki, Mitsukake, Chiriko, and even Amiboshi, and later on the people of Konan would suffer at the hands of Nagako, just because I failed in summoning Suzaku. Taiitsukun's right, it's all my fault, just because I can't summon Suzaku." Hotohori turned to face her, seeing tears streak down her eyes. He let go of Taiitsukun, placed back his sword, and returned to Miaka. He picked her up, and walked away, carding her in his arms, trying to smooth her.
"Wait…" Taiisukun began. Hotohori ignored her, and continued to walk away. "I never said, I never said, there isn't another way to summon Suzaku, I only said it was Miaka's fault that that Suzaku couldn't be summoned." Hotohori stopped in his tracks. "What did you say…" he whispered. "I said, there is another way to summon Suzaku…." "Another…another way…" Hotohori asked, truing around, to see the Creator smiling.
Miaka instantly scrambled out of Hotohori's arms. She approached her, kneeling before her. The rest of the Seishi followed suit. "Please Taiitsukun, if there is another way, please tell me, please, I swear I'll summon him." Taiitsukun closed her eyes for a while, before opening them. "This isn't easy Miaka, I'm afraid you might not be able to handle it." "I don't care, Taiitsukun,"
"You must retrieve the Shinzaho." "What is that?" "It is the relics that are left behind after a beast god is summoned." She paused. "You must retrive the Genbu and Byakko Shinzaho's from Hokkan and Sairo." Miaka's eyes lit up. "Is that all…" "Yes, only then can you summon Suzaku…." "Then that isn't hard…" "Nor easy Miaka…." Hotohori spoke up. "Hokkan and Sairo are two different countries, to the north and west of Konan. Although, we are not enemies, like Konan and Kuto, we are also not friends. Konan, has been quiet, for a long time, perhaps too quiet…" Miaka nodded. "I see…at least we are not enemies, that makes it much easier….." "well not too easy either no da….that Seiryuu Seishi Amiboshi died, which means…" "Yui would be there too…" "Exactly….Miaka, you know, you don't have to go…." "no, I will…" she stood up. "This is my only chance, and so, I won't waste it…!" She turned to her Seishi. "Come on you guys, let's go!" They stood up, next to her. "Thanks Taiitsukun!" Miaka took the Keza from Chichiri. "Miaka, would you mind if I speak to you alone…" The Miko hesitated. "Can I have at least one Seishi…." She stole a glance at the emperor. "No…" "Well alright, um…Hotohori, you won't mind, would you…" The emperor shook his head, before taking the lead to leave.
"Well Miaka, what was that about huh?" Miaka blushed furiously. "Um…nothing…." She said before changing the subject. "Well Taiitsukun, I think I should apologize…." "for what…." "you know, what Hotohori did at first, I'm sure he didn't mean it….he's just being a little over protective." "Really, but you enjoy it, don't you….." Miaka blushed again. "So anyways, enough of that, what did you want to talk to me about Taiitsukun?" The Miko's voice became serious. "Something important, very important, something that you must not forget."
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Done! Wow! I did another chap so quickly. Thanks you guys for the reviews. I really appreciate it!
Note: I might have mentioned something about this whole story taking place after Miaka returns to Konan after Tamahome leaves her forever, (episode 20 or so in the anime). Well forget that! I'm changing it so that it happens after Amiboshi drowns and before the first summoning of Suzaku. I think that makes better sense, because I have the real Chiriko, from the start of my fic, and well everything just seems to fit better this way.
Please Read/Review!!! I really want to know if there are people who reads this fic, no not just one or two, that won't do. So please take time to Review! (yes, I will continue this fic as long as I get reviews….)
^_^