The Golden Phoenix
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! So sorry for it to have taken so long! Gomen nasai! Sorry! The first and foremost reason for this late update is because of my HP fic 'The Reign of Darkness'. It was this close pinches fingers together to finishing, and so for a time, I paused all off my other fics to complete it (in which I am happy to say is complete). After that well, other HP ideas popped up and just had to put it onto paper. So did that. By the time that had settled, well, ideas for my FY stories ceased and became fragments, though the original idea for all of them are still here. As I said, it wasn't there, so I paid less attention to it, until now, when I've finally gotten some reviews good enough to encourage me to sit down and concentrate on it. It's all thanks to my reviewers that this fic is back up and running!
Please Read and Review!
Parings: Miaka and Hotohori
Chapter 6Grief swelled throughout his body. His hands shook, at the letter and bracelets that he held onto tightly.
The letter was short, brief, filled with tears, blood and water.
He's dead
That was all that it was, but its message was clear and shocking.
Nuriko…thank you
Hotohori sat there, grief stricken, suddenly unable to eat. He had barely touched the dinner that was laid out before him. In fact, he had barely sat comfortable enough to enjoy his meal.
"Heika-sama Are you alright…?" One of the guards asked. The emperor didn't reply for a long time. "We are not hungry…" was all he said, though a soft growl from his stomach defied his words. The guard spoke up hesitantly, "but sire, Lady Houki awaits in the dinning room." Hotohori waived the man off, not taking in the word that was being said. He was suppose to dine with Houki tonight as his advisors said it would be good for him. The emperor knew better. It was just an excuses for those old men, who wished nothing more for him to marry and bear and child.
"We shall reside early for the night. We are tired." The guard opened his mouth to protest, but the look Hotohori gave him, closed it. "We shall reside…" he repeated, harshly. "Yes, hekia-sama." The guard didn't know what else to do, but bow and leave. Hotohori didn't mean to be cruel. Yet, numerous emotions, thoughts and feelings boiled in his veins. He was overcome with grief and worry. The emperor, hadn't wanted to postponed the dinner either for it was better then spending more time with his advisors. He had to admit it was a good change. Yet, at this moment in time, he had no mood to do anything but think and let grief consume him.
Taking Mika, the letter and the bracelets with him, he retreated into the solitude of his chambers. That night, he had a restless sleep, plague by a dream that seemed all too real, only to wake up panting heavily in the middle of the night. Trying to push the nightmare of his friend's death out of his mind, he twisted and turned in bed until slumber took him once more.
The next morning, Hotohori woke with sunshine streaming down his curtains, reflecting off his closed eyes. He stayed that way, bathing in the warmth of the sun, in his bed until it was way past waking hours. He didn't want to get up for that would mean facing reality, which at this point was harsh cruel and cold. Still, he could not think, by sleeping, lying in bed, so he stood and started pacing instated.
He let himself lie in bed and sleep in for the longest time, grieving and sullen. The death had hit hard, too hard, where and when he had least expected it, causing it to be a devastating blow.
Ok, take that back. I was expecting it. Houki had warned me only days before. Houki had deliberately said he was in danger. Danger, but not life threatening there was no mention about death. Nothing. No warning, no sign. Danger, how in the world would I know that such a thing could leave a permit scar. The Suzaku seven had tread through thin ice, so many times, and managed to pull through. It made no sense. What had made him fall? What had caused the ice to shatter and break?
Hotohori continued pondering, question after question arouse, all of them unsolvable.
Where were the other Senshi? Are they Ok? Is Miaka Ok? What exactly happened?
Suddenly, nothing matter more to him then his companions safely and well being.
Will they be alright? Would they be able to pull through with the task at hand, even if the rest are physically undamaged? Will they fall apart? Can they overcome this and move on to face the dangers that lie ahead. Oh Suzaku, if only I could be with them. Be with Miaka to replace that void that Tamahome and Nuriko had left. For once, being an emperor means nothing. I have complete power over a nation, and still I can't protect the ones I love.
Why Suzaku why was I bless with such power, when in truth I am powerless. Why, why do I always have to watch those who I care the most suffer, my country, the Senshi, Miaka?
The emperor did not get a reply. He was walking in circles, the way his questions came. So much had suddenly happened that he wasn't prepared for it.
First with Miaka and Tamahome's fight that still left the ogre's whereabouts unknown. Houki's sudden appearance and then Nuriko's untimely death. If he thought that he had it worst, he couldn't think just how Miaka was coping.
Miaka, and Nuriko. That was all that occupied his mind. Forget about Tamahome. He had long abandoned that man and had let the man do as he please, as long as he didn't hurt Miaka. Well technically, he had, but now he was gone, and that matter more to him then the former. The other Senshi had always come second when compared to the Priestess, and this was no exception, and it was how it would stay. Hotohori sighed. He would let the group deal with it themselves. Even if he wanted to help, he couldn't. What could he do? He was so far away, too far away for his liking. That left one problem. A problem that he tried to avoid: Houki.
Houki How can I tell her? How can I bring her the news? It's obvious that you and Nuriko were close, so close that if things had been different, you would have been a wonderful couple. On top of that, it was rude for me to just throw her off like that. I mean, I'm the emperor, but still, I am not above basic manners and disciple. I still need to make it up to her. Maybe then, I could gently let her in on the news. Yes, that's what I'll do. Maybe do her a favor even, as long as it is appropriate.
Having his decision made, he decided to leave his chamber and get through with it. It was nearly lunch and it would do good to dine with her, to make up for the lost dinner. Besides, he just wanted to get through with it. He didn't want more ideas to form in his advisors head.
Sighing deeply, he reluctantly left his chamber, wandering aimlessly down the hall. When he finally bumped into one of those advisors, or more like the other way around, as he had always been avoiding those loony old bats, the man pulled him aside and spoke first.
"Heika-sama!" The advisor pulled him aside. Hotohori could tell their were dark rings under the other man's eyes as if he did not have enough sleep.
"Yes? Make it quick. We do not wish for our precious free time to be wasted" The emperor inwardly smiled. He liked playing with his advisors and making them feel intimated. It was one of the very few ways that Hotohori had found that he could get-back at them.
"Last night, your majesty had agreed to dine with Lady Houki" The man seemed to hesitate as though thinking of how to phrase the following words. "and may I advise, that this does not happen again. As Emperor you must keep your word of honor…"
This man was brave, bold and bright. It was no wonder mother had placed him as my highest advisor before she died. Though I was a puppet at that time, she knew that he would not allow me to be so afterwards. She had ensured my ascendance to the throne by placing him here.
Waving a hand, Hotohori cut the man short. "I do keep my word of honor." "but Heika-sama, you promised to dine with Houki-sama"
Persistent man, stubborn at times, yet that is how he gets his job done.
"However at times, things come up and it must be dealt with first. The dinner can be proponed until further notice. We do keep our word of honor. It is just something came up and it must be delayed, that is all."
The advisor looked confused. Hotohori took a look at him, as though pondering if he should tell the truth.
"Last night, I was informed that Suzaku no Senshi Nuriko had died" came out in an awfully silent tone, but the advisor was able to pick it up word for word. He looked up at his emperor, startled, with questioning eyes.
"I will not say anymore. I myself am short on details. So do not think of pressuring, for it will be in vain." The advisor seemed to understand the solemnest of the atmosphere at the emperor rarely used 'I' and the painful tone that was spoken.
"so yes, we did not mean to delay the dinner. We merely had no appetite whatsoever and truly did not believe the importance of it, as it is minor to the magnitude caused my friend's death."
The advisor did not know what to say. "I am sorry heika-sama. If I could do anything, get you anything….anything at all…I did not understand the situation, please forgive me for assuming"
Hotohori shook his head gloomily. "I am fine" he let that linger, before starting again. The man would never understand. There was no way he could.
"However, you are correct in the fact that we must abide to what we say." A pause. "Very well. I will dine with Lady Houki tonight, but more because it is your wish then mines. You understand enough to know my take on matters such as marriage, no matter what others may think". There Hotohori had said it, making it clear for the thousandth time that he had no interest whatsoever on anything but the current war at hand, and even if he ever considered the idea at all, there was only one person that he would marry, and that was Miaka.
The advisor bowed deeply. "Thank you Heika-sama." Then after rising, he dismissed himself from his emperor's presence.
Hotohori stared after him, shaking his head slightly, as he headed back into his chamber to prepare for tonight. Waiting for tonight's dinner, he took out a quill, as well as a fresh sheet of paper. Not really thinking, he let himself write and write, pausing only later that evening to have his meal, before returning to complete the letter in which he then let Mika deliver to Miaka.
Once again! Sorry for the amount of time that elapsed between chapter 5 and 6. This is NOT a dead story. I've just haven't focused enough attention here (in which I promise I will change). Chapter 7 should be up shortly as I've begun to write again for this fic. Thank you for waiting and being patient! Please Review!
