Written by: Hoshihikari4ever
Summary: Miaka exchanges letters with someone "back home" during her and the Seishi's journey to obtain the Shinzaho. The story is mostly told through Miaka and her correspondent's point of view.
Spoilers Warning: the whole series….major spoilers from season 2 and up and Fushigi Yuugi Gaiden novels….Suzaku Hi Den (Hotohori's novel….I only read the summary so please forgive me if it is inaccurate, it would help if anyone can be so kind to give me a translation of it in English!)
Author Note: Remember to check out my bio! Please note that this chapter was taken and changed from chapter 14 of 'Love'. I regretfully say that I will discontinue writing 'Love'
Please Read and Review!
Parings: Miaka and Hotohori
"Nuriko! Please…please stop!! You'll die!" Miaka yelled from the sidelines, as she regained composure of the battle between her Senshi and Ashitari.
"Miaka…don't worry about me ok….I'll get this boulder away…and you can….the rest of you can get the Shinzaho…"
His body shook a bit, and he knew that he didn't have much time. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated on what he knew would be his last and final task.
Dam this boulder! If I could just get it out of my way!
He mentally slapped himself for thinking but not acting. "Please Suzaku, give me strength…!" he yelled as he lifted up the enormous mass. He threw it to the side, crushing the beast that he had just fought against. He panted, staring at his success.
Miaka ran up to her third Senshi, as his body shook and fell, collapsing in front of the massive doors, which she knew would lead them to the Shizaho.
She ran up to him, lifting him up slightly, so that his head rested on her knees. "Nuriko….Nuriko…" Miaka sobbed. "Hang in there…" Nuriko whipped away the tears which fell on him. "Sh…Miaka…it'll be alright…neh…" The man painfully tilted his head to the side.
"Do you remember Miaka….the old times….with me, Tamahome…and Hotohori…just….just the four of us…" "Nuriko….." "How…could I forget…?" "Remember….remember…them….as long….as long….as I'm in your memory…I….I will live on…"
"No Nuriko!! No! You'll be fine…You won't die! You can't die!! You're strong….you won't lose to death…." "Mia…Miaka…I don't regret doing what I did….I'm proud…I'm proud that I lived my life the way…..the way I did…I'm proud to be your Senshi…." Nuriko coughed, as blood spluttered out.
He touched her face, feeling the tears on her cheeks, whipping them away. "Sh… don't cry…it's not the end. I know we'll meet again soon." "No….No….You're not going to die! Nuriko! Don't die!!" He chuckled softly, as if he did not hear her. "I'm going to miss you Miaka…going miss you a lot. You know take care of yourself. I've cause you some much pain in the past, breaking you apart form Hotohori-sama…can you forgive me….?" "Of course Nuriko!!" "Can you tell him that too, ask for my forgiveness?" "No, you are going to do that! You'll tell Hotohori yourself. You'll come back with us, after we find the Shizaho's and you'll tell him that yourself!!" Nuriko shook his head. "I don't have much time…I know it…"
Using his hand, he felt for something. Painfully, he took it out. "Miaka…fire it…the others will be here shortly…" Miaka nodded, as she pulled the firecracker, and fired it into the sky. "Hang on…Nuriko…Mitsukake….he'll be here soon….please…."
Still, she felt the life drain out of her friend. "Miaka….take….take…..car….care…of your….yourse…..and….take….care of….hei…heika….for…..for….." "Nuriko!!!" Helplessly, she sat stunned as her best friend died.
Miaka, didn't know how long she sat, sobbing and crying…calling out to her friend….with no response…
A cry caught Miaka's attention. Flying towards them was a phoenix. "Mika…." Miaka cried out, surprised that the bird was this fast, for she had only sent the last letter three days ago.
The bird hooted as it soared down on her, landing gracefully next to her. As always, there was a letter, but Miaka was in no mood to read at this particular moment. Instead, she turned the letter over and using the blood, which surrounded her, wrote two words onto it.
"Please…get this back to Hotohori as soon as possible." She tied it on. Whipping away her tears, she took off Nuriko's bracelets…the one that Taiitsukun had given him, tying them securely onto the phoenix.
The bird lowered its head, in sorrow, as if it understood the situation. Minutes, slowly ticked by and then the bird flew off. Miaka wonderend briefly why the bird went off in such a rush, but then realized that people and horse were approaching.
"Miaka!!!" Tasuki was the first to reach her. She looked up at him, before, bounding onto him, and then sobbed uncontrollably. "He's dead…..He's dead…." was all that she could say.
The other Senshi eventually showed up, shock to find their friend and companion dead.
There was no words to describe the pain, so silence took over. Mitsukake restored Nuriko's body so that he looked as though he was sleeping. Working together, they managed to bury and then pay their respects to their friend.
A hand touched Miaka. "We must move on….He would not have want us to dwell on the pain and sorrow, but to move on no da…." Miaka nodded numbly, as she buried herself in his arms, taking confront from all the Senshi.
Grief swelled throughout his body. His hands shook, at the letter and bracelets that he held onto tightly.
The letter was short, brief, filled with both tears, blood and water.
He's dead
That was all that it was, but its message was clear and shocking.
Nuriko…thank you…
So how was it? Sad…. Review!
