Disclaimers: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi.
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Narrator's POV
Tomite watched in horror from the wall as with a burst of speed, Hikitsu blocked the oncoming sword, the tip of it just sticking through his back. He jumped off the wall and fought his way through to where he had seen Hikitsu fall. But when he got there, it was to late. He found Uruki there, clutching the lifeless form of Hikitsu to her chest, heedless of the tears streaming down her cheeks. She stroked his hair and kissed his blood caked lips as if she refused to believe that he was dead.
No..... No.... She whispered as Tomite watched. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be dead. That was impossible. He'd been there since the beginning.
~*~
My name is Chen Entato, but you may call me Hikitsu."
~*~
Slowly, the other Genbu Seishi began to arrive at the sean. They had all felt Hikitsu's life trickle beyond reach, into oblivion. Now they watched as Uruki held their fallen friend.
Only Namame and Umiyame had ever known of Uruki's feelings for Hikitsu, but now there was no doubt in anyone's mind of how she felt. It was evident on her every feature.
"You're not dead," Uruki said to Hikitsu, to his closed eyes and immobile form. "You're not dead, because if you were, I would have died too."
~*~
"I think that Tomite has a hard time express his feelings. I don't think that he meant to hurt you. He must not be used to other people worrying about him and doesn't really know how to reply."
~*~
She released his hand, letting it slip limply down the ground, bringing her own hand, free now, back to his face, touching his eyelids, feeling them under her fingers.
"You're not dead. I won't let you be dead." He couldn't die. Not like this. He had given so much to her. She needed to give back to him.
She fumbled blindly for his hand, grabbing it and holding on as if to a lifeline. The chi flared and he channeled it in a brilliant rush of green light and heat and energy. She felt it spread over his body, fill it, infuse it, and she held her breath, waiting for that spark to kindle, to tell her that there was a living soul inside the dead shell.
Nothing.
~*~
"Her name was Sora. She was the healer's daughter in my tribe, which was at the foot of this mountain. She and I where... lovers, I guess. One day a rival tribe attacked our tribe. We were taken completely by surprise. It wasn't long before we were wiped out. In the fray, an enemy arrow hit Sora. She died in my arms. I took her up here to bury her the next day. She'd always loved this place. She'd come here all the time. The least I could do for her was put her in a place that she had always been happy.... That arrow was meant for me. She blocked it with her body. She died for me."
~*~
No..... No..... She whispered again.
He can't be..... started Namame, but wasn't able to finish.
Iname finished for him. No one could believe it. Hikitsu? Dead? It just didn't make sense. He was the strongest of them all. He had been there since the beginning. He was the second seishi that Takiko had found. How could he be dead? That was impossible... Right?
I..... Yes... He is... Tomite answered.
Uruki yelled to them. NO! HE'S NOT DEAD! HE CAN'T BE DEAD! I can't believe it.... I won't believe it! He's not dead! He can't be dead! It's impossible!' she thought. The others just looked at her with pity in their eyes. She ignored them. once again, she tried to put her chi into him, to find some spark of life. But there was none. None at all.
~*~
"Say, Uruki... What was it like, back where you came from? We were all there for a little while, but we didn't get to see much."
~*~
She whispered once again. She tried again, only to get the same results.
No..... You're alive.... You were just speaking.... I don't know what I have always lov' means..... You have to tell me.... There was a long pause before she finally added, The others watched all this worriedly, but none ventured close to the girl. With the glowing, green aura, the blood smeared all over her clothes, and the way that she was acting, Uruki looked scary. None of them knew what she would do if they tried to get close to her. However, she was also in pain, and Umiyame couldn't let that continue. The old woman wasn't very close to Uruki, but she knew how hard it was to loose the person closest to her, whether the person was family or not. She may have been able to tell the girl that she was weak for crying over the boy that she loved kissing another girl, but not this. She knew what sort of pain Uruki was going through, and she couldn't let someone else suffer through that pain alone. So, slowly, she approached the distressed girl and pulled her away from Hikitsu's body.
She whispered, comforting the younger girl, her voice surprisingly soft. He's in a better place now...
No.... He's not dead... He can't be dead...
Stupid girl! The sudden harshness in Umiyame's voice surprised Uruki. She looked up into her eyes, but saw no pity.
~*~
Takiko... Why don't you go and help in the infirmary. They could always use an extra hand, and that way you'll know if any of us get hurt. You can't go out and fight like the rest of us. It's two dangerous. If you die then we will all be doomed. If something happens to one of us, then we may be able to ask Tai-Itsukun for help and she may know a way to summon Genbu if that we don't.
~*~
You stupid, stupid girl! He's dead! Nothing will bring him back! She softened her voice and continued, still no pity in her eyes and voice. Sometimes people die, and there's nothing you can do about it. Hikitsu died, not in the line of duty, but protecting you. If you just mope around mourning his death for the rest of your life, his sacrifice will be wasted. He died so that you could live. He made the ultimate sacrifice so that your life could go on. It was the most honorable death that he could possibly have asked for.
Nobody's telling you to get over his death right away. You'll never get over his death. None of us will. The wound will never heal completely, and there's nothing that we can do about that. The pain is what makes us human. Without it, we would only be machines. But we can move on. We must morn his death, but not forget to celebrate his life. That is the most important thing. Surprisingly, these words seemed to help Uruki more than any words of pity ever could have.
Your right... She said slowly, still sobbing. Slowly, she went back to Hikitsu's body and lifted him up. I... I'll take him back inside the palace. The rest of you... You'd better get back to the battle. She tried to smile and look happier, but no one was buying it. We still have to save Hokkan, right? She said, and then made her way back into the palace. The other turned back to the battle. Uruki was right. They still had a country and people to save. And they would save it. They would do it for Hikitsu.
~*~
"Uruki, I know what you're thinking. You think that you're going to be nice and safe here while we're off risking our butts trying to find the last seishi. But you're wrong. The most likely thing that will happen is that we'll be staying at some inn while you risk your life defending the capital. I really mean it Uruki. I'm more worried about you and Namame than I am about myself."
~*~
"I am. And might I be so rude to ask, who are you? You seem to know all of us quite well, but none of us know you."
~*~
Genbu! Come here! NOW!
~*~
I'm not really sure. She suddenly started to have trouble breathing, and she began to glow with a strange green light. It was almost like Genbu himself was visiting her to helping her. Then, somehow, she was healed.
~*~
Uruki... I have always lov....
~*~
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~End of Chapter 31~
Wow! Another chapter with only one POV. I wrote this chapter as a tribute of sorts to Hikitsu. That's why it has a bunch of his quotes from all over the story, from his first to his last. I also really wanted to show just how much Uruki cared for Hikitsu. Also, I'm really sorry about how long this chapter took me to write. My computer was acting up and so my dad had to fix it and wouldn't let me on. Sorry. Please review. More coming soon.
