Something worth leaving behind

Chapter three: A dream? Or something...more?

A/N: Welcome, welcome! This is yet another resurrection fic- but done WAAAAY BETTER! Lots of angst, sap, bashing, drama, and ACTION! Yeah! kay...pairings... Nuriko/Nakago, Nuriko/Hotohori and Miaka/Tamahome(Taka) WHEW!

Disclaimer: No, I do not own FY. Nor do I own any songs in this story.

P.S: THIS IS A BIG CHAPTER FOR CHICHIRI FOLKS! CHIRI LOVERS START THE YELLING! WHOOT! waves chichiri flag

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Miaka knew it was coming, she knew it in the deepest, darkest, farthest corner of her mind, but she would never have been able to stop it.

Saihitei jumped to his feet, "NURIKO!"

Ryuuen's breath caught in his throat as he locked eyes with the fan who had stood and screamed a name he had only been called in his dreams. He had a second to realize this was the same person he referred to as Hotohori...Before his world went black and Cho Ryuuen collapsed on the stage.

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It was deathly silent, the entire concert hall had frozen. Time was standing still. All of a sudden, something akin to a cold breeze blew across their backs, a voice spoke something in a language no one recognized, and the time really was frozen. No one moved. A woman two rows back was stuck in mid-cry. A child was staring wide-eyed, confusion permanently etched into wide green eyes.

"Wh-What is this!" Miaka stood quickly, moving back into Taka, clutching at his shirt. "Taka...What is this!"

The seishi seemed unable to move, shocked and perplexed at what had just happened. Saihitei was the first to move. He bolted toward the stage, where Ryuuen lay on his side, eyes closed, hair falling softly around his face as blood zagged its way down his cheek from his hairline. "Nuriko!" He cried, vaulting up on the stage edge.

Houjun gasped, "HEIKA! NO!" His eyes widened as he sprinted toward the other, "HOTOHORI-SAMA!" He pulled on Sai's arm, jerking him back and behind him as a large blue-white ball of energy exploded as it hit Houjun, leaving the reincarnated seishi screaming in agony as he fell to his jean-clad knees, his powder-blue hair softly falling over his face.

"C-Chichiri!" Saihitei cried, having to pick himself off the floor. He lunged to catch the falling man, but someone beat him to it. A mere blur of red. Tasuki. The bandit knelt on the stage, cradling the ex-monk against his chest. "Chiri...?"

Miaka screamed, her hands covering her mouth as she spun, latching onto Myojuan. "Mitsukake! Hel-"

"H-Heika...?"

"Houjun." Saihiei whispered brokenly, kneeling next to the other two. "Why? Why did you do that? WHY!"

Houjun smiled softly, "Because I never got to do it...the first time..." His eyes smiled up fondly at the younger man. "I wasn't able...to stop you...Even though...I knew what was...going to happen."1

"Shh, Chichiri.." Genrou murmured, having to answer for the stunned man across from him. "That's all over now, remember? Its in the past...We don't have to worry about it anymore." Tears began to well up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He wasn't going to cry- he wasn't!

"Don't you see, Tasuki...?" The former monk shook his head, "Its not over...far from it in fact...Its...its..." He arched in pain, a cry slipping past his lips. "Just...Beginning...!" Blood began to dribble from his parted mouth, sliding to his chin as his eyes finally closed.

"CHICHIRI!" Miaka screamed, shaking her warriors out of their stupor.

Myojuan jumped forward, praying to Suzaku as he moved that...somehow...his powers would be restored- like that of Tasuki's and...Nakago. He had one leg on the stage before he realized exactly what they were all playing into. He didn't even have time to cry out as another blast of energy charged toward...him.

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What's going on...? I feel like something important is going on...and that I should be a part of it...But...Its so safe here.

Ryuuen tilted his head back, pulling the other's arms more tightly around himself. Yes, it was safe here...He was safe as long as he stayed with Ayuru. Compassionate sky-blue eyes smiled down at him, wisps of blonde hair tickling the younger man's cheek as he closed his eyes once again, basking in his lover's warmth.

"Nuriko."

The name triggered something deep inside of the singer and he flinched, melting to the one who held him. That name...it frightened him for some reason. He didn't know why, but he didn't like the name 'Nuriko'.

"Why are you doing this, Nuriko? Cant you see what's happening?"

I don't want to.

The words slipped past his lips before he could stop them. Now what was going on? He certainly wasn't this...Nuriko person. But...Why was he answering the voice then? Wait...WHY was there a voice?

"Now what kind of attitude is that?" The voice chuckled as the air in front of the youth shimmered. A form began to emerge...lean frame, kind eyes um...eye...Blue hair!

Chichiri smiled down at the other, "This isn't the Nuri I remember. Our Nuriko was strong, courageous, loving, loyal...A person I could never hope to be."

But you are that kind of person, Chichiri!2

Well SHEESH! His mouth certainly was being rebellious today. Answering to weird, foreign names...calling someone ELSE, weird foreign names...Today really was a day to remember, wasn't it? Ryuuen shifted so that Ayuru's arms encircled him completely. Why wasn't he saying anything? Didn't he realize how frightened his lover was of this man?

But...he wasn't. Scared that was. He blinked in surprise as this 'Chichiri' knelt in front of him, a monk's kesa fluttering in some unseen wind. He felt...safe, safer than how he felt when he was with Ayuru. What the heck was going on...!

What do you want from me?

Chichiri sighed, "Do you know how much you are hurting Hotohori by doing this?"

Cho Ryuuen's heart skipped a beat, literally. I-I don't understand. Ayuru told me...he told me Hotohori had hurt me...He said-

Something akin to anger flashed in the other's remaining eye, and he snarled, yes, snarled. "Hotohori would never hurt you, Nuriko. He loves you, just as you loved him so long ago in Konan. We have all finally found each other again, and you believe the once man who had torn us all apart!"

The singer jerked back, startled by the amount of hatrage the mere mention of 'Ayuru' caused in the other's tone and posture. Chichiri was literally quivering in rage! What...What do you mean?

For the first time, warm mahogany met with light violet and their gazes locked, "Nuriko...Ayuru...Nakago...he killed you."3

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Myojuan squeezed his eyes shut...not wanting to see his death come hurtling at him from the shadows like the messenger of death. He waited for the agonizing pain, the free-falling feeling as he was sent into the air...But nothing happened and he cautiously opened his eyes.

"H-Hayaku!" Doukun cried, standing in between the healer and the attack. His hands were in front of him, braced against the energy as he bit his lip to keep from crying out again.

"Chiriko!" He yelled, startled. Since when did the young man know how to erect a shield!

"HAYAKU!"

Myojuan did as told, scrambling onto the stage even as the other lost his control and the attack slammed past him; dangerously close to his face by the way, and fizzled out by the far wall.

"Even when I think I know the Suzaku shichiseishi they pull something new." A cold and familiar voice spoke from the shadows, just as Ayuru came walking out, hands in his pockets. "Well done, I must say. Only one casualty for you- that's a record, isnt it?"

"Nakago." Taka hissed, hiding Miaka behind him. "What are YOU doing here!"

"Heh." The blonde chuckled, kneeling down to pick up the fallen Ryuuen, cradling him against his chest. "Im just here to pick up my boyfriend that's all." He looked at them all and then smirked, "Ciao."4

And he vanished, leaving the seishi in various degrees of shock and confusion. As one they all looked to Saihitei, who was gazing at where the seiryuu seishi had just vanished with a look of horror and pain on his face.

"N-Nuriko..."

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"Nuriko...?"

Ryuuen shook his head, refusing to listen to the other any longer. Lies, they were all lies! He didn't want to hear them any more! LEAVE ME ALONE!

"Nuri-"

I SAID LEAVE! GO! I DON T EVEN WANT TO LOOK AT YOU! GO NOW!"

It took him a few seconds to realize the other had actually done what he said. Curling up in Ayuru's arms he laid his head on the other's chest with a sigh. It was going to be all right, he just knew it. He was with his love.

Then why...why did it feel like a piece of his soul was missing...?

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DUNDUNDUN! Is he remembering...? See that little button on the bottom left hand corner of your screen, the one that says 'submit review'? Ya do? GOOD! NOW CLICK IT AND REVIEW!

Longest chapter so far! I just love my Chichiri- can you tell? smile

okay here is What's up with the numbers:

1: He's talking about when Hotohori died and he was too late to get there to save him.

2: This is the REAL Chichiri- the one from the book. The one that is hidden deep inside the present Houjun's body. If that makes sense.

3: In affect, Nakago really did kill Nuriko. Ashitare was only acting on orders, after all, and if Nakago hadnt whipped him like he did, the stupid beast would probably have only run away instead of facing certain death. That's my idea anyway.

4: Yes, I know. He said 'Ciao' Nakago would not say 'Ciao'. But I had to do it anyway. I dunno, it seemed funny at the time. shrug