Meant to be Together
Disclaimer : Although the plot is made by myself, I don't own Fushigi Yuugi characters; that credit goes to YuWatase. Also I used some characters from my other favorite anime such as X, Card Capture Sakura and Wedding Peach.
Chapter 3. Note
It was nearly noon when Miaka and Nuriko reached the hospital. It was a wide, four-floored, and white building. Miaka ran to the nurses' station.
"Please do not run in the hospital," a nurse said politely as Miaka ran past her.
The nurse at the desk looked up at Miaka with surprise. "Isn't this Miaka?"
"Pardon?"
"It's me, Yuzuriha. We went to middle school together, remember?" the girl smiled brightly, happy to see her old friend.
Miaka blinked her eyes fastly until she remembered. "Oh, yes, I do remember you," Miaka nodded. "Listen, I have an important business."
Yuzuriha nodded. "What is it?"
"I am looking for a patient named Taka. My friend told me he used to be in room 202."
Yuzuriha snapped her hand. "Oh, that handsome patient! I remember him. He used to walk around the garden everyday."
"Do you know where he is or what happened to him?"
Miaka's friend smiled sadly. "He left. He went to America. His illness…no one in this hospital could cure him. The doctors decided to send him to the US."
Miaka felt her heart sinking. "No…"
"I'm sorry."
Nuriko watched Miaka as she slowly sank to the ground. He knelt beside her and hugged her. "Miaka…"
"No… NO! He wouldn't. He wouldn't leave me without saying goodbye."
"Miaka," Yuzuriha said slowly, "Taka… left a note. He asked to give it to a girl named Miaka if she came." She handed the note to her friend. Yuzuriha tried to smile. "I remember that when I was on night duty, I would hear him calling your name before he went to sleep."
Miaka looked shocked. "Taka…" She quickly opened the letter.
'Miaka, when you are reading this, I won't be in Japan anymore. When I first learned that I was diagnosed with an unknown illness, my first thought was you. I thought about how you might get hurt because of it. I didn't want to see your tears. I didn't want to make you cry. I didn't want to make you worry. I know that keeping a secret between two people is not right, but I wanted you to go on with your life even when I'm not around you. I thought perhaps making you angry by leaving you may strengthen you more than staying by my side. Please understand me. I love you so much, Miaka. You are my love. We were never meant to be together. Tamahome.'
'Never…meant to be together? What does it possibly mean?' She blinked her eyes a few times.
"Miaka," Nuriko said worriedly.
"Nuriko, Tamahome said that he and I were never meant to be. What does that mean?"
Nuriko's eyes grew wider.
Miaka laughed, her eyes filled with tears. Then her face turned to its normal, sorrow-filled feature. "I…I can't believe he said that. I know how much he loved me and loves me."
"Miaka…"
"Yuzuriha, where is the garden? I would like to take a walk…by myself," Miaka said as she looked at Nuriko with an apology.
Yuzuriha quickly directed her friend.
Miaka walked to the garden. It was filled with multi-colored flowers: lilies, daisies, roses, irises… Miaka looked around, but could see nothing except Tamahome's face.
'Miaka.'
She clearly remembered his deep voice. "Taka."
Suddenly Taichi kun appeared. "Miaka."
"Taichi kun!"
"Miaka, you should not feel despaired. Tamahome is right about saying that you two were never meant to be."
"What does that mean?"
Taichi kun looked at Miaka in her eyes. "Tamahome loves you dearly. I have no doubt that he doesn't. However, someone else is waiting for you to be his love, and same goes with Tamahome."
Miaka looked surprised. "I thought Tamahome was THE ONE."
Taichi kun chuckled. "Many people think the same way when they only see one person as their love. However, you have to rememer there are many more people in the world than just one person. Someone else is waiting for you right now at this moment. You just have to realize that."
Miaka nodded. "I… I'm not so sure right now, but I think I'll understand it very soon. Yes, very soon."
Taichi kun nodded. "You will. I know you will." She disappeared.
Miaka contemplated on what the goddess said. 'Somebody else…waiting for me…' She walked slowly back toward the hospital and found Nuriko standing in front of the building. "Nuriko," Miaka said softly, "thank you…"
Nuriko shrugged. 'I don't know what I did, but that's okay as long as Miaka is happy.'
"Race you to the car." Miaka laughed as she ran.
"What! That's not fair! You had a head start!"
"Hey, I'm a girl" Miaka showed her tongue.
Nuriko frowned, but he felt joyful seeing Miaka back to her normal self.
"I won!" Miaka cried out. "Now, for my prize, I want you to take me on a date right now. I don't want to go back to school." Miaka smiled.
"Fine. Where do you want to go?"
"Umm… Park."
Nuriko grinned. "Ah, how about shopping? I want to go shopping for some clothes."
Miaka smiled brightly and said, "Oh, I would love to see you wearing tuxedos, and maybe some girlish clothes."
Nuriko cleared his throat and looked at Miaka "I'll look beautiful and handsome no matter what I wear," he boasted proudly.
"Hai, hai. Let's go."
The two walked to the shopping mall together, politely refusing the old driver's courtesy. They walked arm in arm, which made Nuriko's face brightly red. He never had a girl folding her arms around his. He closely examined Miaka's face and was relaxed to find her look comfortable.
"Let's go in there."
Nuriko looked at the store display that had a mannequin wearing tuxedoes. "What?"
Miaka laughed. "I want you to try them on. I wonder how you'll look with tux. Please?" she made a puppy face.
Nuriko made a pouting face. "No, no, no. I never tried it on. Besides, I feel comfortable wearing 'normal' clothes."
"Aw, come on," Miaka smiled, "are you afraid you'll look bad in it?"
Nuriko grimaced. "Fine, fine. I know I'll look good. Just wait and see!"
When they entered the store, Miaka and Nuriko were greeted by a young man. "Welcome to Today's Tux. My name is Youskae. If you need anything, please let me know."
"Thank you," Miaka politely said as she smiled at him. "May I ask you what school you go to? Your name seems very familiar."
Youskae grinned. "I go to XY Highschool."
"Oh my goodness!" Miaka exclaimed, "me too! I heard you got an extra break because of your hard effort in the soccer team," Miaka smiled, "but you are working part-time? Wow… Anyway, aren't you…dating Momoko?"
"Oh, you must be friend of her. Yes, I am her boyfriend. A handsome one."
"You still play soccer, right?" Miaka asked.
The guy nodded.
Nuriko looked back and forth from Miaka to Youskae.
"Nuriko, this is the captain of our school's soccer team. Well… since Yanagiba senpai graduated."
"Nice to meet you, Nuriko."
"Nuriko just came to our school today."
Youskae nodded. "So, how do you like the school so far? I bet you hate it since you guys are skipping already." He slightly touched Nuriko on the side with an elbow.
Nuriko grinned sheepishly. "Too bureaucratic," he simply said.
"Anyway, I'd better go help other customers. Have fun, you two." Youskae winked and left Miaka and Nuriko.
"Well, let's look around" Miaka said brightly.