Disclaimer: I still don't own Fushigi Yuugi!
Author's Note: Ok, I realized how pathetically short the first chapter is, so I'll upload the second as well. Hope ya'll like it! (I did try to add a little humor.I like humor! ^^) ~R.A.
~~~ Chapter 2: Comfort and Insight
Nuriko hugged her tighter, "Shhh..It's ok, it'll work out somehow, Miaka." Miaka smiled weakly, "Thanks Nuriko. You always seem to understand."
He laughed, "Well, I /am/ your only female influence." He tapped his temple, "I know how your mind works."
She shook her head, "No, it's not that.well, it's partly that, but, well, we became friends, good friends. To the others, I'm the one they protect, the one they dreamed of, the one they're destined to be with, but you're the one who probably knows me the best, because we got to be friends. I'm glad."
Nuriko nodded, "I'm glad, too. I'm glad you made me get over my jealousy."
"You mean it doesn't bug you anymore, Nuriko?"
"Nope. Now I know that he and I aren't meant to be; just as I know that you and Tamahome are."
Miaka stared at the ground, "I'm not so sure anymore. Sometimes, I think he only stays because he feels it's his destiny to love and protect me-like it's an obligation. I mean, he doesn't even know me-only that we've been fighting to be together every second." She sighs, "I think that love is based on emotion, which we have, but also on knowing, and we've never truly stopped to get to know each other. Truthfully, none of the seishi has, except you, and Hotohori, a little, only I'm more of a dream or ideal to him. To the others, I'm miko first, but I feel like with you, I'm friend first."
When it sounded like she was done, Nuriko said, "I see what you mean, Miaka, and if you ever want to talk and get away from it all, ask, and we can take a 'girls' day-off, ok."
Miaka smiled weakly, "Thanks, I needed that."
"You're welcome. Do you feel up to going back now?" At Miaka's nod, Nuriko helped her to her feet and led her out of the clearing. The sun had set, casting misty shadows on everything. Absently, Nuriko thought that it was very serene. Presently, Miaka said, "Nuriko?" "Hmm?" "C-can I ask you something?...kinda personal." "Ano.sure Miaka. What is it?" "Well.you always say that you're my only 'female influence', and.well, sometimes I wonder if you're really as feminine as you say, or think, you are." Nuriko looked at her, "Ano.is that really a question?" "Well, what I mean is, you're not gay, are you? I mean, not really. Personally, I think that you're just not afraid to go for who you love, be it man, or woman. I mean, if you found the right girl, you would love her, ne? It would just depend." Nuriko just stared at Miaka. "Wha-? You know, I think you're one of the few to really understand.well, me." He looked at her mock-suspiciously, "When did a ditz like you get so insightful?" Miaka shrugged and grinned, "I dunno. Guess even ditzes like me have their moments.but why didn't you explain it to the others? If /I/ could get it, why not them?" Nuriko sighed, "Ya know, I think it takes a different kind of crazy to get me.but I'm glad you understand, Miaka.I truly am." Miaka hugged him, "Well, you always help me and now that I understand, you can talk to me, too." Nuriko smiled his thanks, but thought *Oh, Miaka, if only you knew. But no, I won't mess up you and Tamahome.I'll try to help, though that bonehead doesn't deserve you, considering the way he acts.*
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
They reached the palace, and as Miaka headed off to her room, Nuriko said, "Remember, if you want to talk, you know where I am."
Miaka grinned back, "Same!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Watching Nuriko's retreating form, Miaka thought back to their conversation. He always seemed to know if there was something wrong, especially between her and Tamahome. Even if she tried to hide it, he always found her and got her to talk about her problems. She always felt better afterwards, and he never really asked for anything in return. She smiled as she reached her room and went in. He was such a good friend (At least, after a bumpy start, that is.) and Miaka was glad /she/could have a chance to be able to help Nuriko. She was sad that her best friend couldn't have the man he wanted, but Hotohori just didn't seem to swing that way.well, if he ever found anyone else (man, or woman), she would try her best to help him.
Miaka lay on her bed, going through the people she (and Nuriko) knew, trying to see if there was anyone suitable for Nuriko.
*Hmm,* she thought, *I think the other seishi are out.they've accepted him, but I don't know if they really understand-he needs someone who understands. Let's see.anyone else we've met in our travels? It'd need to be a man (or woman) who wasn't afraid of a feminine guy. Ano...only Hotohori, and he's not interested. Ok, then a woman who's not afraid of a guy who can look prettier than she, ano.none.*
"Oh!" The last she said out loud as she sat straight up in bed. She hadn't realized it until then, but *Oh! Whoh! The only one who fits the criteria is.is.ME!*
Miaka was surprised, but she didn't completely throw away the notion.
Lying back down on her bed, Miaka began wondering: What if she hadn't met Tamahome first; what if she had fallen in love with Nuriko to begin with? Would she be having this many er.relationship issues? *Maybe,* she thought. *I probably wouldn't have gotten to know Nuriko as well.at least this way, we're friends first.*
As Miaka went over what this could mean, she wondered if she did actually love Nuriko. Surprisingly, she found herself thinking that, if she wasn't with Tamahome, she'd want to be with Nuriko. *Probably because we've been friends for a while, so we understand each other-at least more than Tamahome and I, or even the other seishi do. And he's always there to cheer me up when I have problems-he makes me feel good.all the time.almost more so than when I'm with Tamaho-NO!*
At the last thought, Miaka clapped her hands over her mouth. *No! I'm destined to be with Tamahome! I'm--* "What the H*** is /that/?!"
~~~ Dun dun dun! A cliff-hanger!!!! Bet you'll /never/ guess what it is!!! (If you think you know, tell me in your review..If you get it right, I'll try to remember to recognize you!) That's all for now, folks! ~R.A.
Author's Note: Ok, I realized how pathetically short the first chapter is, so I'll upload the second as well. Hope ya'll like it! (I did try to add a little humor.I like humor! ^^) ~R.A.
~~~ Chapter 2: Comfort and Insight
Nuriko hugged her tighter, "Shhh..It's ok, it'll work out somehow, Miaka." Miaka smiled weakly, "Thanks Nuriko. You always seem to understand."
He laughed, "Well, I /am/ your only female influence." He tapped his temple, "I know how your mind works."
She shook her head, "No, it's not that.well, it's partly that, but, well, we became friends, good friends. To the others, I'm the one they protect, the one they dreamed of, the one they're destined to be with, but you're the one who probably knows me the best, because we got to be friends. I'm glad."
Nuriko nodded, "I'm glad, too. I'm glad you made me get over my jealousy."
"You mean it doesn't bug you anymore, Nuriko?"
"Nope. Now I know that he and I aren't meant to be; just as I know that you and Tamahome are."
Miaka stared at the ground, "I'm not so sure anymore. Sometimes, I think he only stays because he feels it's his destiny to love and protect me-like it's an obligation. I mean, he doesn't even know me-only that we've been fighting to be together every second." She sighs, "I think that love is based on emotion, which we have, but also on knowing, and we've never truly stopped to get to know each other. Truthfully, none of the seishi has, except you, and Hotohori, a little, only I'm more of a dream or ideal to him. To the others, I'm miko first, but I feel like with you, I'm friend first."
When it sounded like she was done, Nuriko said, "I see what you mean, Miaka, and if you ever want to talk and get away from it all, ask, and we can take a 'girls' day-off, ok."
Miaka smiled weakly, "Thanks, I needed that."
"You're welcome. Do you feel up to going back now?" At Miaka's nod, Nuriko helped her to her feet and led her out of the clearing. The sun had set, casting misty shadows on everything. Absently, Nuriko thought that it was very serene. Presently, Miaka said, "Nuriko?" "Hmm?" "C-can I ask you something?...kinda personal." "Ano.sure Miaka. What is it?" "Well.you always say that you're my only 'female influence', and.well, sometimes I wonder if you're really as feminine as you say, or think, you are." Nuriko looked at her, "Ano.is that really a question?" "Well, what I mean is, you're not gay, are you? I mean, not really. Personally, I think that you're just not afraid to go for who you love, be it man, or woman. I mean, if you found the right girl, you would love her, ne? It would just depend." Nuriko just stared at Miaka. "Wha-? You know, I think you're one of the few to really understand.well, me." He looked at her mock-suspiciously, "When did a ditz like you get so insightful?" Miaka shrugged and grinned, "I dunno. Guess even ditzes like me have their moments.but why didn't you explain it to the others? If /I/ could get it, why not them?" Nuriko sighed, "Ya know, I think it takes a different kind of crazy to get me.but I'm glad you understand, Miaka.I truly am." Miaka hugged him, "Well, you always help me and now that I understand, you can talk to me, too." Nuriko smiled his thanks, but thought *Oh, Miaka, if only you knew. But no, I won't mess up you and Tamahome.I'll try to help, though that bonehead doesn't deserve you, considering the way he acts.*
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
They reached the palace, and as Miaka headed off to her room, Nuriko said, "Remember, if you want to talk, you know where I am."
Miaka grinned back, "Same!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Watching Nuriko's retreating form, Miaka thought back to their conversation. He always seemed to know if there was something wrong, especially between her and Tamahome. Even if she tried to hide it, he always found her and got her to talk about her problems. She always felt better afterwards, and he never really asked for anything in return. She smiled as she reached her room and went in. He was such a good friend (At least, after a bumpy start, that is.) and Miaka was glad /she/could have a chance to be able to help Nuriko. She was sad that her best friend couldn't have the man he wanted, but Hotohori just didn't seem to swing that way.well, if he ever found anyone else (man, or woman), she would try her best to help him.
Miaka lay on her bed, going through the people she (and Nuriko) knew, trying to see if there was anyone suitable for Nuriko.
*Hmm,* she thought, *I think the other seishi are out.they've accepted him, but I don't know if they really understand-he needs someone who understands. Let's see.anyone else we've met in our travels? It'd need to be a man (or woman) who wasn't afraid of a feminine guy. Ano...only Hotohori, and he's not interested. Ok, then a woman who's not afraid of a guy who can look prettier than she, ano.none.*
"Oh!" The last she said out loud as she sat straight up in bed. She hadn't realized it until then, but *Oh! Whoh! The only one who fits the criteria is.is.ME!*
Miaka was surprised, but she didn't completely throw away the notion.
Lying back down on her bed, Miaka began wondering: What if she hadn't met Tamahome first; what if she had fallen in love with Nuriko to begin with? Would she be having this many er.relationship issues? *Maybe,* she thought. *I probably wouldn't have gotten to know Nuriko as well.at least this way, we're friends first.*
As Miaka went over what this could mean, she wondered if she did actually love Nuriko. Surprisingly, she found herself thinking that, if she wasn't with Tamahome, she'd want to be with Nuriko. *Probably because we've been friends for a while, so we understand each other-at least more than Tamahome and I, or even the other seishi do. And he's always there to cheer me up when I have problems-he makes me feel good.all the time.almost more so than when I'm with Tamaho-NO!*
At the last thought, Miaka clapped her hands over her mouth. *No! I'm destined to be with Tamahome! I'm--* "What the H*** is /that/?!"
~~~ Dun dun dun! A cliff-hanger!!!! Bet you'll /never/ guess what it is!!! (If you think you know, tell me in your review..If you get it right, I'll try to remember to recognize you!) That's all for now, folks! ~R.A.