Written by: Hoshihikari4ever
Disclaimer: I do not own FY!
Spoiler: Whole Series plus OVA's plus Side stores
Parings: Miaka/Hotohori
Note: "…." = talk Italic/Underline = words on paper, scrolls, etc… Italic = thoughts/dreams
Chapter 4He bolted up. His body was numb and filled with sweat. Taking in a few quick breaths, he tried to calm down.
"Miaka….Miaka….Miaka….." Hotohori whispered again and again. "No….Miaka….Miaka…no…Nakago…No…."
"Easy Heika-sama…easy…it's alright…its alright…you're safe…." Hotohori slowly looked around. Once more he found himself inside his own room. His whole body was aching. Lifting his robe up a bit to expose flesh, he found to his horror that he had cuts and marks. Taking a finger, he brushed across the wounds, his finger picking up the red bloodstains.
A gasp broke the silence, bringing Hotohori back to his senses. Tilting his head slightly, he noticed for the first time that he was not alone. A young servant boy was carrying a damp towel.
"You're injured Heika-sama….you're injured…." The boy whispered again and again, and then it hit him of what he was saying. "Wait here…I'll get a doctor….I'll get a doctor…" Hotohori only nodded. The boy bowed quickly, before bolting out of the room.
* * *
Nagako continued to stared at Miaka, his eyes, lingering on her neck. Though the room had stopped glowing red, 'sei' was still emitted from her skin.
"What the hell are you looking at!!" Miaka grumbled, annoyed. She picked up the blanket and wrapped it around her body. "After touching me…and basically devouring me…you're still wearing that hungry look…." Nagako rolled his eyes. "Do you really want to know…Do you really want to know how you emitted that crimson light…though of course its too late…. If only you've been able to do so sooner…No, let me rephrase it….if only he would have protected you sooner….I've already touched you…and my job is complete…." "It's never too late to have Suzaku's protection…" Miaka snapped back, still not admitting to what had happened, though she knew for sure, that there was no way that she would be pure…after all, this time she had not fainted, had lived through it.
Nagako rolled his eyes. "Don't pretend to be stupid to me….Miaka….You know as well as I, that it wasn't Suzaku's protection…He was here….I felt his presence….he's still here…." This time it was Miaka who laughed. "Who? Dare Nagako? As you said yourself….my Senshi have no memories and have no clue that I'm stuck here with you…." "Or do they??" Nagako countered, his voice rising above hers.
Miaka still had the confused expression. Sighing…Nagako snapped his fingers. A mirror appeared before her. Miaka lifted it up to look at her face, not noticing that Nagako took this time to dress and leave.
Staring back was indeed herself. Her hair, scattered about her face. Slight tears forming under her eyes. He body was a mess. Still, this was not what had attracted her attention. It was the mark…the mark, which still glowed faintly on her neck. Now, the tears, started to pour, drip onto the mirror as she relized, that it was Hotohori….who had protected her….It was him, that had once again pulled through to her…making the impossible, possible.
Hotohori…Hotohori…Arigatou…Arigatou…* * *
" How is he doctor…." The doctor bent closer to the man's ear. "Yes….yes….I understand…." The prime Minster nodded. "Alright…thank you doctor…" The Prime Mister continued as he escorted the man, out of the room.
Taking the bottle of medicine, which the doctor gave him, he went over to his emperor. Hotohori looked at the man, questioning him.
"The doctor says you'll be ok…Heika-sama…please listen to me…you've been stressed out these past few days….its really starting to get onto your heath…With enough rest, you should be healed quickly….As for the outer wounds, those are minor, yet fatal at the same time. Even a minor cut, can become fatal, if not treated properly, let alone you having so much…." Hotohori sighed, as he tried to sit in a more comfortable position.
There was a brief silence.
If only Mitsukake was here. I won't be suffering so…No need for medicine…
"Heika-sama…may I ask you a question….?" "Hm…?" "How….how did you obtain the wounds…you've never left the palace grounds since a year back, so it couldn't have obtained it then. You didn't have any injuries two days ago…its so recent….like it just popped out from thin air…which I'm afraid is quite impossible…Do you…did you hurt yourself….?"
Hotohori thought back hard. Finally the answer came to him. It was from the 'dream'. He had been weaken while he was asleep….
"Can you keep a secret?" The Prime Minster frowned, but relaxed once he realized he was going to finally get the emperor to talk, which had become difficult by each passing day…
"Do you remember when I was young….the first time you told me about the Suzaku no Miko….?" "Hai…of course I do…but what does that have to do with anything….?" "Everything…." Hotohori inhaled slowly. "Ever since that night….I've been dreaming of a faceless women, someone who would bring me out of this life…this life…." The Prime Minister eyed him. "and then…one day…she had a face…and a name…she came and went, as if it was a dream…." The man nodded.
"Well…these few days it has gotten worst. I have dreams…dreams which feel more real then reality." "Can you explain?" "It's like its not a dream all. Before our last meeting…I had dreamt of happier times, times when we were together…" "but the Suzaku no Miko never appeared…" "or how I'd imagine it would be if she was to appear." Hotohori said. "How Miaka…the Miko and I would be….along with the other Senshi…" The Prime Minister could do nothing but nod, telling the emperor that he was listening.
"and that meeting…I had the first of many other nightmares…." "The time when your Senshi symbol glowed?" "The reason my mark glows…is the signal of danger…danger for either Miko or Senshi…" "I see…" "and that 'dream' I had…included Miaka returning…except this time….she ended up with Nagako…Nagako…and….and the…the traitor…" Both Tamahome and Nagako's face flashed through his mind as he spat out the name. "Nagako? The Kuto shogun?" "Yes…the one and only Nagako…" "but….how is it possible…how can that happen…if she's the Suzaku no Miko…then she should end up in Konan….Besides….it's just a dream….you probably are just too worried…and sometimes…it turns into reality…." Hotohori remained silent. "but that was just the beginning…the later nightmares are even worst…"
The older man though a bit. "Let me give you some advice Heika-sama…." Hotohori looked up at the man, their eyes meeting. "From what I've heard….I think you're love sick…I think that's the cause of your sickness…." Hotohori remained silent. The man continued. "and my advice is….to…just…to just forget about her….maybe then…only then you'll be able to heal and you'll be well again…Besides…its all happening in your head…there's no proof…so…yes….my advice is to just forget and move on…besides you always have the hearm.
Hotohori's eyes flashed with anger. His face suddenly contorted, causing him to turn red. His hands clenched into fist. Instantly, at once, the Prime Minister knew that he had spoken something very wrong.
"Miaka….Miaka….Is real….and you won't disrespect her….There is NO way I'll forget about her….and don't you ever dare mention that hearm….I'll do whatever it takes…to make sure she's safe…no matter what happens…Dream or not…. I will find out the truth. Miaka she means too much for me to lose…"
The man bowed lowed. "Forgive me…your majesty….forgive….me…."
"Never speak about her like that again….you understand me…I will not tolerate it…." "Yes, Your Majesty…" "Now…leave…" "but…Heika-sama…you're still injured…I need to help fix you up…." "Just leave….It was a mistake telling you my personal life…." "but…" Hotohori glared at the man, and he fell silent. "Don't mention anything we spoke about….I don't want the others worried…" "Hai…" "Now leave…" He opened his mouth. "Just leave…!" Hotohori shouted, nearly losing his voice. The man nodded, bowed, and left without another sound.
* * *
"Are you sure?" Nagako asked once more. "Yes, Nagako, yes sir….What you just told me, has nothing to do with me…I didn't use my shin, nor cast any other illusions on him…." Tomo replied. Nagako remained silent, thinking about it.
"Then that means, then that can only mean one thing…." His blue eyes flashed as he realized the answer. "That can only mean Saihitei's much more stronger then I gave him credit for…" He spoke, more to himself, then to the listener. "Miaka's reappearance must have woken that power in him, powers that I'm sure he's unaware of." Tomo nodded. "Yes, I have to agree Nagako, its to our disadvantage that, that emperor could cause a…." "The boy emperor….." Nagako countered. "Even after all these years, he still hadn't grown up…." Tomo smiled a bit. "Could cause a problem…" he finished.
"Yet, we can also use this to our advantage…." "Who's there…." Tomo spun around, glancing at the door of the tent. Standing there, a few feet away, shaded by darkness was a figure.
Nagako looked up, unsurprised. "How much have you heard?" he asked quietly. The figure stepped closer, and revealed himself to the two men. Tomo frowned at the sight of him.
"Everything sir….and I have a plan…I know the perfect way to crush Saihitei…." Nagako nodded, giving consent. The man, cleared his throat, and began to speak. By the time he was finished, Nagako had an amused face.
"Yes…its possible…but everything must work out precisely…." Tomo said. "Yes…that requires teamwork…If this works then Konan will for sure crumble….Nagako, sir, let me go on this task…trust me alright, I won't fail you….."
Nagako stared at the man, his eyes moving up and down upon him. At last he replied. "Very well, I'll write the letter…and we shall follow the plan….it does seem flawless…." The man kneeled on one knee, bowed, and then stood up. "I'll prepare for the journey then…." Without waiting for a reply, the man disappeared within misty night.
"Nagako sir, why did you let him go…?" "because…he is best suited for the task….Tomo…he may not be the best man, but he's the best suited for it…." He replied, though the real reason was swarming in his head.
I'm using him Baka…the way I'm using you Tomo…the Seiryuu Senishi and the way I had used the Seiryuu no Miko. I manipulate people to do the dirty work. Besides, he has an advantage of going. After all…he is a Suzaku Senshi…
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Done….! You probably figured out who the man was at the end of the fic….oh well, then that's good. Curios about the plan? Well Review, and I'll post sooner. Review!!