"Hearts Aflame" by Ai Yuukan

Chapter 18

Vivien tried to slip her coins into the juice machine, but her fingers were shaking too badly, that they dropped to the ground. Samantha picked them up for her and got her a drink. Vivien wrapped her arms around herself. She felt.. cold.. and weak.. She rested her hand on her stomach. She was going to have a baby.. a baby who would never know her aunt.. Vivien's favorite sister and her.. best.. friend. Tears welled up in her eyes. It hurt so much..

Suddenly, several nurses ran into the hallway. Samantha stopped one of them. "Nani? What's going on?"

"A crazy man! Went into Room 106!"

Vivien froze in shock. Lilian's room!

"Nakago!" Vivien and her sisters ran into the room just in time to see one brave nurse replace the mask over Lilian's mouth. Vivien just stared.. the way Nakago was bent over Lilian's pale body.. He really.. did love her. Her heart softened for the general. Nakago..

Nakago turned to stare at them, his body emitting a fierce, blue aura. "You.. you killed her!" He shot a ball of blue chi at the sisters, and roared angrily when they ducked as one.

Vivien watched in horror as the blue light surrounding Nakago intensified and grew. "Kate! Take us to the others! Now!" Samantha shouted to her sister. "Uncle was right.. he blames US! We have to summon the gods. NOW!"

Kathryn nodded. "Right." She closed her eyes, grabbed her sisters' hands.. and disappeared.

Nakago glared at the space where the sisters had just been. "You think you can run.." Without another word, he teleported out of the hospital room, following their chi.

"He's coming!" Vivien shouted to her friend as they arrived. Apparently, Kathryn had had a few powers that she hadn't told them about. Teleportation? Since when?

Miaka's eyes widened in shock. "He's what?!"

Samantha grabbed Miaka. "We run, now!"

"You cannot hide."

Tamahome swore and pulled Miaka behind him. "Stay behind me, Miaka!"

Nakago's eyes narrowed. "Hand her over, Tamahome."

Tamahome's own eyes narrowed. "Like hell I will! What do you want with her?!"

Miaka's eyes were wide with fear. Vivien took her and gave her strength. "He doesn't want me, Tamahome.."

Yui stepped out from behind Tetsuya. "He wants me."

Tamahome swore again. "What the hell do you want with Yui?!"

Nakago never removed his gaze from Yui. "I came here to have a promise fulfilled by Yui-sama." His voice was calm and deadly. "Seiryuu's final power exists for me."

Yui gasped as she finally felt Seiryuu return to her. Tetsuya held her up.

"I won't lose her.. I won't lose anyone.. not anymore.. I am no longer interested in this world. I lost my mother.. I lost Soi. But I won't lose Lily."

Vivien's heart constricted. She had no idea he loved her sister like that.. Suddenly, everything became clear. Her eyes widened in shock. Everything was changing.. Everything..

Tamahome shook his head, his attitude softening towards the Seiryuu seishi. "I understand how you feel, Nakago.. but it can't happen. Both of us love women who came from this world. We can't remain with them forever.. since we really don't exist."

Nakago didn't move.

Tamahome nodded. "That's right. Both you and I are no more than fictitious men from a book. We were only created by the people who live in this world!" He said, hoping to dissuade Nakago. He knew the look in his eyes too well.. he would die to save the one he loved.. and quite possibly die in the process. "We cannot exist outside the book.. Even I have to return to the book soon!"

Nakago's eyes softened. "So?"

Tamahome stared. "What?!"

Nakago smiled sadly. "Even if what you said is true.. we both exist, as you can see.. What's the difference? The Suzaku no Miko's love for you made you real.. as the love between Lily and myself has made me real.. I love Lily.. and she loves me. Your love is not the only one that can cross time and space.. our love is just as strong."

Miaka stared at Nakago, awed by his completely changed personality. "Nakago.."

Tamahome shook his head. "You want Yui to wish her alive, then?"

Nakago nodded. "I cannot live without her."

Suddenly, Vivien knew the truth.. she closed her eyes, trying not to cry out in pain as grief overwhelmed her heart. Tamahome voiced the truth aloud for them both.

"Then I guess you have to die.." Tamahome stared sadly at his nemesis. "I cannot allow you to make Seiryuu grant her the third wish.. She will be devoured by him, and a life will be lost because of your selfishness." His eyes flashed. "I love Miaka with all my heart.. but I know that it is wrong to have her lose her best friend because of it. No one can be that selfish.. and risk another's life because of it. Do you think Lilian-sama would be happy that another will be killed so she may live? Both of us know Lilian wouldn't want that.. I.. cannot allow you to do that. One life for another.. that's too selfish."

Vivien tried to hold back her tears. She had to sacrifice Lilian... her best friend.. her own sister.. but if Yui wished for Lilian's life.. Yui would be sacrificed instead. And she knew without a doubt, Lilian wouldn't have wanted that.. She knew.. because she loved her sister and had known her all her life.. Because she knew her best friend.. and Tamahome was speaking the truth about her. She knew.. it was true. But then pain wouldn't stop.. How could it? How could she let go of.. Her eyes stung with unshed tears.

Nakago's eyes narrowed. ".. How interesting. You plan on defeating me? You, who have lost the power of a Suzaku seishi.. an ordinary human?" He smirked. "Go ahead and try.. I won't lose her."

Maybe I should just do as Nakago says.. I don't want Lily to die either.. but.. Yui stared at Miaka, trying to break through Nakago's barrier with a piece of debris. "Just wait, Yui-chan! I'll get you out of here!"

Yui just stared. "Miaka.."

Miaka suddenly stiffened as she saw Nakago walk towards them. "Nakago!"

Yui stared at Nakago. "Nakago." He only wants to save her..

"The barrier I created around Yui-sama.. cannot be penetrated by anyone."

Miaka glared at Nakago. "What happened to Tamahome?" She saw him smirk. "What happened to Tamahome?!"

"'Tamahome's life was extinguished before Nakago..'" Keisuke gaped. "It can't be! How can Tamahome die?! The hero isn't supposed to die!"

Tetsuya finally reached his friend. "Keisuke! I just saw the emergency broadcast on T.V.! Man, I was worried.. I thought it couldn't possibly happen, but.." He noticed Keisuke's face. "Hey, what's with that face?"

"Tamahome got killed by Nakago! What should we do? Miaka and Yui are going to get killed by him, too!"

Tetsuya swore. "The police and the S.W.A.T. team can't even get near them."

Keisuke frowned in concentration. "If we could somehow point this book at Nakago.. maybe we could send him back into the book..?"

Tetsuya shook his head. "Impossible. Before that happened, we'd get zapped by his beams and we'd end up in another world."

Keisuke's eyes brightened. "In that case..!"

Tetsuya frowned. "In that case..?"

"We'll just have to get Tasuki and Chichiri to fight for us!"

Tetsuya looked surprised. impressed, and defeated. "Keisuke, calm down. They're just ordinary people right now."

Keisuke shook his head. "They're a lot stronger than ordinary people. There's no time left!" He grabbed the book. "Tasuki! Chichiri! Please, let them hear this.."

"He was such a nice man." The servant said sadly. "For his age, he thought of the people very much. He always seemed lonely.. but when he met the Suzaku no Miko and the rest of you.. he always seemed to be full of joy.."

"Tasuki! Chichiri!" Keisuke's voice penetrated into the book world. "You can hear me, right? I'm Miaka's older brother, Keisuke!"

Tasuki stared. "Miaka's older brother?!" What the hell was going on?!

"My sister.. please help Miaka. Nakago came over to this world, and Miaka's about to get killed!"

Chichiri gasped. "Miaka is.?!"

"You're the only ones I can ask! Please grab Miaka's backpack.. I mean, her luggage, and wish to come here! Hurry!"

"Oy! Where's Vi?" Tasuki yelled up at the voice. Was Vivien all right?!

"Vi?"

"Vivien Smith!"

"She's here! All her sisters are here, too! Please hurry!"

Tasuki grabbed Miaka's backpack. He turned to Chichiri. "Chichiri, I'm going. Vi needs me."

"I'm going with you." Amiboshi said, coming up behind them.

Tasuki and Chichiri jumped. "Ami.. ah.. Kaika!"

"All the sisters are there. Samantha, too. I'm going with you guys." Amiboshi said gravely. He had snuck into the Konan palace.. somehow knowing he was needed there.

Tasuki's eyes softened. He understood the kid perfectly.

"We can help too, you know!" Three nyan-nyans said cheerfully, popping up next to Tasuki. Tasuki fell to the floor in shocked surprise.

"Nyan-nyan!"

"Hee!" The nyan-nyans giggled. "We can help! Help! Help!"

Chichiri sweatdropped. "How?"

The nyan-nyans giggled again. "We bring, bring you to other world!" They said merrily. One of the nyan-nyans walked over to Hotohori and pinched his cheek before giggling again.

Tasuki sweatdropped. "Hey, midget! Have some respect for the dead!"

The nyan-nyan giggled before jumping into Hotohori's body. Everyone gaped. The servant had fainted long ago. Before their eyes, Hotohori opened his eyes and sat up.

"HOTOHORI!" Everyone stared, shocked.

"Hey, man?" Tasuki said nervously. "Aren't you dead?"

Hotohori smiled. "Yes, I am. I'm borrowing the nyan-nyan's body." He stood up. "All four of us are going to Kathryn's world."

The remaining three nyan-nyans nodded their heads merrily. "HAI!!! We came to help, help, help!"

"Now Hotohori-kun's fixed, we can go now!" One of them said merrily before poofing away.

"Hold on to backpack and wish hard!" Poof!

"Bye-bye!" Poof!

Tasuki sweatdropped. Those little midgets scared him.

"It's a lie.. A lie.. Tamahome wouldn't lose. Tamahome.."

"Don't worry, Miaka. You too can create a miracle!" Vivien said, touching Miaka's shoulder. Now was not a time to lose their senses.

"Kyoku.."

Nakago turned to Yui. "Now, Yui-sama.. Using the last wish from Seiryuu, wish that Lilian would live. She was your friend, too."

"No! She won't listen to you anymore!" Samantha said, appearing beside Vivien and Miaka with Kathryn.

"Let her go!" Kathryn demanded angrily.

Nakago stared at Lilian's sisters. "You would have your sister die?"

Vivien glared at Nakago, with tears in her eyes. How dare he! "We wouldn't.. but if Lily lives.. she won't be happy that you sacrificed Yui's life for hers, would she now?"

Nakago stared at the Suzaku seishi. "You want her to die."

Samantha glared at Nakago. "We would never want that! We love her!" Samantha said angrily, a tear streaming down her cheek. "We don't know anything now! Everything's changed! We don't know what's going to happen. so we won't have you risk Yui's life! Lily wouldn't want that!"

"The whole ending of the story is unknown, even to us! We know nothing now! But Lily would hate us as well if she knew we were willing to sacrifice the life of our friend so she could live!" Kathryn said angrily, openly crying.

"We know you love Lily. we love her too! But you know this isn't right! Yui's life for another's.. It's wrong! You know it's wrong! And you know Lily wouldn't have it this way." Vivien said, crying. She loved her sister more than anything.. she didn't want her to die..! But she knew, deep in her heart, that Lilian would want it that way.

Nakago's eyes flashed and his mouth hardened. "Yui-sama.. One must keep their promises.. or I'll have to go back on my word as well. My promise."

Yui stared at Nakago fearfully. "Promise?"

Nakago's eyes flashed and the small debris on the ground rose. Yui gasped when they started to throw themselves at Miaka and her friends, slashing at them. Vivien erected a wall of fire to protect her. Kathryn managed to stop the debris before her with her telekinetic powers. Samantha froze them. Miaka was unprotected. "Miaka!"

"The promise I made not to kill the Suzaku no Miko.. and Lilian's sisters. Of course, she may want to die here and now. To go to the place where the man she loved awaits her."

Yui shook her head tearfully. "Stop it! Miaka'll die!"

"Now.. Yui-sama. Use the final power of Seiryuu. Do as I say, or I won't be above killing the Suzaku no Miko. I might even change my mind and decide to destroy this world as well."

Miaka rose, trembling. Vivien, Kathryn, and Samantha rushed to her. "Yui- chan.. don't listen to him. No matter what he does to me.. Even if I die."

Nakago smirked. "If Yui-sama doesn't do as I say.. I will destroy this world."

Miaka shook her head. "I know what you're thinking, Nakago.. but.. At the time, I hated this place. But.. But, this is the world we live in! We were born here, grew up here, and made friends here!" She looked to Yui. "Right, Yui? Right? If you grant his wish, Lily will hate us for it! Your life for hers! You know Lily would never agree to that!"

Nakago waved his hand and Miaka was thrown against a wall. "Be quiet, girl." His eyes flashed. "You love Tamahome, and I love Lily. I love like you. Even I.. what's the harm in my wanting to have her live? I lost my mother and I lost a woman who loved me. I'm not losing Lily. I'm not losing her.. ever!"

Vivien couldn't stop her tears from falling. Nakago.. she wanted Lilian to live, but not this way! Lilian..

"Yui.."

Yui stared at the crumpled heap that was Miaka. "Baka.. after going through all this, you still believe in me?" She stared at her friend. "Miaka, finally, I understand. I was jealous.. The thought of you abandoning me, and going off with Tamahome. I loved Tamahome. I.. if you hadn't been in the way.. I probably wouldn't have been such a bitch and tried to take him." She smiled weakly. "I know you didn't betray me. I understand you better than Tamahome does.. because I've known you ever since we were little. I was just jealous, because I felt as though I was the only one being hurt.. and couldn't find my place between you and Tamahome."

Miaka shook her head. "Yui."

Tears began to flow down Yui's cheeks. "But.. that doesn't matter anymore. I'm tired.. I wanted to go to the same high school, but.." Yui's eyes shone. "Bye-bye." Lily.. live.. Miaka.. be happy. "Kai-jin."