Author's Notes:
This chapter may be confusing, you'll know what I mean. Hint: Miaka's letter
Still Loving You…
By: g3ozLizh
Chapter Fourteen
Three months had passed and silence reigned the palace of Konan. But underneath that veil of silence lies an unwavering melancholy… and emptiness. Somehow, things just didn't feel right.
During that span of time, about a day from Miaka's disappearance, a letter was arrived for the Emperor of Konan.
It was early evening and a figure was standing just outside Miaka's former room, facing the dimly lit expanse of green land before him. Emperor Hotohori glanced down and read the paper over and over again.
As what is scrolled in her ever so familiar handwriting, the letter, emanating with much enthusiasm as what you would expect from Miaka, read that she is currently living with Tamahome somewhere along the boundaries of Konan and hoped to settle any misunderstandings, problems between them before going back to the palace. And probably a period of time to spend with him. A fresh new start was what she wanted to have. Finally, he was assured of Miaka's safety.
He looked up and stared blankly ahead. Over the softly-rushing pond, over the gentle-shaking bushes, over the graceful swaying of the willowy trees, beyond the horizon. As far as the eyes that emptily gazes can see. The hand tenderly holding the letter slowly went down to the sides.
She is forever gone from me.
Hotohori closed his eyes and tried vainly to conceal the pain of the finality behind her words. As if on cue, a rush of wind blew against him, its cold, damp, refreshing ways brushing past. It heightened his sense of loneliness and yet, it offered something… anew. What comes along with that finality is not the end but a start of something new.
You have a new life now. I must go on with my own, no matter how much I don't want to. Living without you is like experiencing being all alone in this world all over again. When you came into my night-painted world, you brought the morning and everything bright and cheery about it with you. The nights only served to complement that morning and together, they balanced. Together, they made the day whole as much as you made my life complete. So now that you're gone, the night-painted world is darker than ever.
He had never gotten over Miaka… and never will.
I'm sorry, Miaka, for failing to keep my promise; a part of my heart will always be for you.
He opened his eyes and stared up the sky. There were no stars twinkling, no moon shining, no life at all. Just a vast empty black space staring back at him. Somehow, that did not surprise him. It just seemed right that it would be that way since everything else is falling apart.
He took a chance to glance once again at the last line that held sadness as much as promise in them: Thanks so much, Hotohori, you've done so much. I can only hope that you will find your much-deserved happiness as I have. I will pray to Suzaku for you to find that certain girl who does not gobble everything in sight. Then a big genki face of what Hotohori assumes to be Miaka's attempt on drawing herself.
A soft smallest of smiles, as if hesitant to touch the coldness of feelings, crept itself on the swordsman's stoic expression. You will always be the Miaka I know… only, I wished it was… you will always be my Miaka.
But I will not fail on my other promise…
He may not have recalled it until now for fear of being reminded of a promise… a moment in time flashes back in his mind.
They just stared at each other like that for what seemed like eternity, arms around each other, memorizing each detail, each feature, whatever they could at the little time they have left and engraving it in their minds and hearts. They know that this would be last sweet memory they will have together, along with the other memories that each of them will treasure for life.
And in those eyes, Hotohori read the invincible message in it: Hotohori, promise me you'll move on. You have so much to give.
What happened next, he barred it from resurfacing but it flowed out anyway just as his love for Miaka is unstoppable.
Finally, Hotohori spoke. "Miaka, would it be okay to… to kiss you one last time and to say I love you?"
Miaka nodded, trembling with unexplained emotions --- emotions that she didn't know she harbored.
So with her consent, Hotohori leaned down, bringing his lips closer to the woman he loved but will love forever. At the touch of his lips on hers, Miaka's whole body quivered, melting in his warm embrace. In between kisses, Hotohori would whisper I love yous and Miaka just can't help kissing him back. It's as if they're doing everything now to fill those years to come that they're not together anymore.
He didn't know he had his eyes closed until he felt the tiniest hint of liquid trailing down his cheek. His voice barely reached that of a scream but it was spoken with such conviction. "No!" he thrashed with his arm, the letter crumpled in his grip. "I must stop this!"
Once again, he opened his eyes and then took a deep breath.
For the sake of his promise, for the sake of the empire ---
"Your Highness."
His silent moment with himself was broken. He was not taken by surprise by the sudden interference nor did he bother turning around.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but your dinner with Miss Houki is ready."
He still didn't move but he replied, "Yes, tell her I'll be coming there shortly."
… I will move on.
Author's Notes:
Me: Now that was pretty short… bur hopefully sweet.
Readers: "…"
Me: *eyebrow twirches* Well, I did say hopefully, I didn't say it is!
Chibi-Hotohori: Calm down, g3ozLizh-san. *pats heaving shoulder* They understand that you're… you are… err… (what goes on his mind: you're lazy and didn't take the effort to really sit and write! What about the poor readers who were rooting to see me and Miaka together again???) err…
Chibi-Tasuki: *noncommittally* What he meant to say is you're really in a deep shit if you don't start working you're but off now.
Me: *swivels on computer chair to shoot daggers at Tasuki* Why you… *fists shaking*
Chibi-Tasuki: *as if reading my mind* Honestly, I don't think I really owe ya anything 'coz… *he calmly stands up then waves arms frantically in the air* you didn't even bother including me in it!!!!
Chibi-Nuriko: Yeah and what was that about my part? *makes a face*
Me: Hey! I included both of you!!!
Chibi-Nuriko: *waves a hand dismissively* Yeah, whatever.
Me: *totally ticked off* I don't see Chichiri complaining!
Chibi-Tasuki: *smirks* That's because he isn't here.
Me: *looks around, confused* What?
Chibi-Nuriko: And probably the others who you did not "include" doesn't even know of this fic! *dryly says this*
Me: That's it! That's the last straw! For someone so cute, you two could really piss me off!
Chibi-Hotohori: *intervenes* Now, now, let's not get excited here.
Me: *doesn't pay attention to him* You're gonna get this, you two! Take this!
*punch! punch!*
Me: NO!!! Hotohori!!!!!
*Hotohori falls over with a bump on the head and a black eye, his eyes unfocused.*
Me: I need him for his next scene with Miaka! Gaah!!!
Chibi-Nuriko: Ooops! *covers mouth* Guess that's another "excuse" for you to delay this fic! (think of Nuriko in the first episodes with this) Ohohohohoho!!!
^_^ Hopefully, you guys will review. This is just a sort of interlude as I will be fast forwarding three months. And (this may be good or bad), I have just realized that this isn't anywhere near the ending of my fic!!! And this is not a PWP (plot- what plot?).
OOCness? Tell me. You tired of waiting? Tell me! Just want me to get it over and done with (read: just tell you the whole story in a summary one chapter flat)? Tell me!!!
Arigato for reading this far!
A million thanks to the readers who never fail to leave a review (you know who you are!)!!! Bear with me, guys! .
And yeah! I love Toya of Ayashi no Ceres!!! *drools*
