Written by: Hoshihikari4ever
Disclaimer: I do not own FY!
Spoiler: Whole Series plus OVA's plus Side stores
Parings: Miaka/Hotohori
Note: "…." = talkItalic/Underline = words on paper, scrolls, etc… Italic = thoughts/dreams
Chapter 7"News from Konan!" A solider stated. He found that he was once again having the nightmares. "Is Nagako-sama here?" The solider continued "What news may that be?" The guard in front of the tent replied. "It's about Konan's emperor…" "Ah….alright…You may enter…" The solider thank the guard before walking inside the tent. He too floated inside to watch the scene, knowing now, that wherever the general was, his Miko would be there as well.
"Sir…" The solider kneeled with one knee…" "Yes….?" The general asked, without turning to face the man.
The invisible man focused his eyes on the general, and then at where the other was looking. By now, he was use to Nagako's harsh treatments, and what the older man had called his most brilliant torture techniques, which were written down in endless scrolls, so that he wasn't too surprised to see his Miko with a collar and leash around her neck, though the stockings never seemed to cease.
"It seems that Lord Tamahome's plan has failed…" The general didn't reply, as if he hadn't heard him. "The emperor of Konan, was somehow magically healed, by the sudden sickness and injuries which came and went like a gust of wind. It is said that he shows no signs of surrendering, though it is rumored that he is highly disturbed by the fact that his Miko is in enemy hands. He doesn't eat nor sleep well, and his emperor duties seemed abandoned. There is also a greater rumor that he has been locked inside his room for days, without speaking or welcoming any visitors…" The solider inhaled softly. "Everyone's been worried about him…you know…that he might not make it…if…if…he continues like this…" There was another pause. "I think…I think…all we need now is time…If we drag it long enough…if there was more time…" The man didn't finish as he realize it was not in his place to advise the general. Waiting a bit longer, but seeing no response, the solider dismissed himself from the other's presence.
Nagako waited for the footsteps to disappear before speaking. "Suzaku no Miko…what a pity. It is clear now, that all I need to do is wait…Even if the world doesn't know…even if you have died…this will haunt you forever…" The general pulled the leash slightly, and the Miko walked closer. "You will be charged with Emperor Saihitei's death, and be forever haunted by your Senshi, Hotohori. Did you know…do you know that its you who has sent him his death warrant…" Miaka bit her lip. "All I need now is time…That boy won't survive any longer without food or sleep." The Miko said and did nothing.
"Now, I must excuses myself. I have more important matters to attend to. In the meantime, I think its torturous enough to just know that you are helpless, all you can do is watch as time slowly ticks away…for both of you…" Nagako let the leash fall, and walked towards the exit. "Miaka…if you submit to me now…I may spare him the pain…no…excuses me…you will spare him the pain to decide…between love and duty. If you do so…his spiritual self shall never again witness us…and your pain and sorrow shall never again, haunt his dreams…" The general smiled evilly, as he took one glance directly at the invisible man, once more giving him the feeling that the general knew that he was here.
The news and information gained today finally sunk into the Miko. She gave out a yelp as she realize what the general had said and meant.
"Hot…Hotohori…" she muttered, sitting down, pulling up her knees, and letting her chin rest on top of them. "I can't see you…but I know you're here…I can feel your spirit…I know you've been with me since the beginning…in the past and now…and now I'm grateful for it…"
The invisible man swept forward, as he tried to touch his Miko. "Miaka…I'm here…I'm right here…" The emperor mussed, but the women didn't seem to have heard him.
"Thank you…Thank you…." The women continued. "Thank you…thank you so much…for everything…" "Miaka!!" Hotohori called out. "Miaka!!"
"Please…please forget about me…Gomen nasai! Gomen nasai!" Miaka buried her face deeper into her knees. "I've caused you so much pain and sorrow. I'm sorry…I'm sorry! Please just forget about me…" "Baka!! Baka Miaka…" Hotohori hovered above her, as he wrapped his hands around her.
"Hotohori…if you're really here…then listen carefully to me…please…" "I'm right here…Miaka…I'm right here…" He tried to touch her cheeks, but his hand went through her. "Hotohori?" The women's face tilted up, as she felt something brush across her face. Looking around, she didn't see anyone. Disappointed, she continued to speak.
"Hotohori…I'm sorry…but please…wherever you are…just forget about me…" she paused. "I will submit to Nagako…so please…" Hotohori couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was the first time, he had seen Miaka fall apart like this, never before had she been so broken. The old Miaka he knew was a strong will person, and he knew that she'll fight till life was sapped away from her. Yet, something changed, there was something different about the women before him, and the one that he knew so well.
"I'm not doing this, because I'm weak. I'm not doing this because we're losing. I'm not doing this, because I know that I'm living on the line between life and death. I'm not doing this because I'm greedy…I'm not doing this for any of that!" She huffed, and sniffed. "Hotohori…I know you're a very understanding person, and you may not accept the reason…but its for you…for you and all the other Senshi.
Hotohori's mouth dropped, as his eyebrows rose. He wondered, how this could help any of them, any one else for that matter, especially him.
"Miaka…Miaka…" There was no response, not the slightest acknowledgment of him, aside from the fact that she kept saying she could sense his presence.
"Hotohori…If I die here and now…please do not grieve for me. Please don't even acknowledge my existence." She looked up to what seemed to be the ceiling.
"Suzaku…if you're up there…if you are still watching over me…" "Of course he is…" Hotohori interjected, "and do not lose faith in him…" However, he did not finish, as he felt more then saw the God appear before her. He could see his magnificent body, and red aurora surrounded him. "Suzaku-sama…Kami-sama…" The emperor gracefully fell onto his knees, before his God.
"Su…Suzaku!" Miaka cried out, surprised. "You've called me Priestess…and now I answer thee…" Miaka humbly bent over, on her knees. "You have done well, my priestess…" "No…I've failed…as usual…" Miaka hesitated. "I've decided to…" "hush my Miko…I know exactly what you have decide…" Miaka's eyes shot up at the God. "I have been watching you…" Miaka nodded numbly.
"I know the decision you have made…" Suzaku paused. "and it is because of this that I proudly proclaim you as my Miko. That is why you were chosen." His hand touched her cheek, as he lifted it up. "I will not talk you out of it…for you have good intentions…" He paused. "Your sacrifice will not be wasted…"
Hotohori couldn't believe it. Suzaku, was actually allowing Miaka to do what she must. "No!! I object! I will not risk losing Miaka!" He didn't know if either of them could hear him, but he had to try. He believe that he had equal say in matters like these.
Suzaku seemed to have stilled. "Suzaku?" Miaka asked, as she saw that the God was distracted. "However…I will say this…is duty worth this? Is duty worth the loss of love?"
Miaka hung her head. "I've chosen duty. I will not risk any of them…I will not cause any more of them the pain that they have already suffered."
"Pain…do you really think losing you would ease my pain?? Miaka!!" Hotohori was now shouting, as he stood up. "You will not die for duty!! I refuse to accept that! If any one has any duty, it would be me. I'm the emperor! I have a whole empire riding on my back. I won't give up! You will not give up!!" Hotohori took a step forward. "As your emperor Miaka, I will not allow you to make such sacrifices!!"
Suzaku shifted his body a bit, turned his head towards Hotohori, before truing back to Miaka.
"Duty…yes…duty…I chose duty." Miaka bit her lower lip. "Suzaku, this is what I must do. Hotohori…I can't burden him any more." "and what does this have to do with him?" Suzaku asked, though he himself knew why. "I can't let his love for me, make him make foolish decisions. I know very well how he feels for me. However, he must understand. He must understand, that if he chose duty, and sacrificed me, that there would be only one life that would be lost, one compared to a whole empire!"
The emperor's heart thumped rapidly. "When, I die…or whatever happens to me…can you transfer this to him. He must chose duty and not love. There's too much at stake. From what I've heard, he's killing himself…he's been disturbed by what to decide." Miaka met Suzaku's eyes for him. "Now, because he cannot decide, I will decide for him."
"He…he will become a great emperor. He…he will gather the rest of the Senshi, and the army to fight. They will fight, each and everyone of them will fight, for the sake of Konan as a whole. Only when Kuto is defeated will there be rejoice, will the empire celebrate victory. Hotohori will lead them." Miaka's lips formed into a smile. "but most importantly, I will be with them, with him. I will live within his memory forever…"
"Mia…" Hotohori couldn't speak, as tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. It seemed as though time had rushed through him, and everything that Miaka had said, had actually come to pass.
"and what if he refuses…" Suzaku muttered, asking the question that Hotohori wanted to ask. "He will not. I am the Miko, he is a Senshi. In the end, no matter what happens, he dares not refuse an order. He will do what I say, even if he won't accept it. He must do what I have told you…otherwise my sacrifice will be a waste."
"I will tell him. You have chosen duty…and now its time that he does…" "Thank you…"
Then, everything around the emperor swirled rapidly, as it all disappeared. He was briefly consumed by darkness before crimson light formed, and then to Suzaku.
Suzaku looked directly at Hotohori.
"Now you must return Saihitei. You know your path…now you must take it…You will oblige the Miko's last wish…" "But Suzaku…I cannot chose duty over love!! Please Suzaku…please…" His God glared at him, daring to speak.
"You shall gather the Senshi. You shall prepare the army. Even if I cannot be summoned this time, remember, both Miaka and I will be watching over you…We will protect Konan…"
The lights dimmed, as a portal opened for Hotohori to return. "Remember…remember…duty over love… Miaka will be right here waiting for you…"
The emperor jolted up in bed. "Duty…over love…. " he repeated over and over again, shaking his head. "Suzaku, Miaka…I'm sorry…" He twisted to the side.
I'm sorry…but I can't. Miaka…I will come for you…I'm sorry…forgive me…for disobeying your wishes…