Fushigi Yuugi: Death's Enchantment
Episode Two:
"Intrigue"
Misty Schmitt
19 February 2001

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A/N: I wrote this story YEARS AND YEARS ago (look at the date up there!). I corrected for grammar, but for the most part, this is what I wrote when I was a freshman in college. Please be kind.

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I thought I would never have to come back here! You lied to me! You lied!

Aino awoke suddenly to find herself in a magnificent room. The bed she was in was the most comfortable she had ever experienced, the entire thing was so soft, she felt so warm and safe. She looked about herself to see gilded everything. Gold everywhere!

"Sheesh… these people must not understand the concept of 'overkill'! Oh, hold on…. ! Where am I? In that dream?"

"I thought we cleared that up, Aino-sama! This is the real thing. This is no dream!" that green-haired Hoto… something told her.

If he looks THAT good, this HAS to be a dream… the only guys I ever talk to that are so good looking are in my dreams!

"Yes, I know… I am very beautiful, aren't I? Allow me to re-introduce myself. I am Hoto…."

"Yes, yes.. Hotohori of the Suzaku seven, Emperor Saihetei of Konan.. you really don't have to go through all that again!" Aino quipped "And I don't think you're all that good looking, so quit smiling!"

Hotohori laughed, Aino looked at him with bewilderment on her face. Wasn't I just mean to him? Why is he smiling at me still? Damnit, I wanted him to shut his arrogant mouth!

"What now?" Aino asked, trying not to let her irritation show through. Being a red head, that was incredibly hard for her… "Well? Are you going to tell me just what in the hell all this is about! I'm tired of you looking at me with that smirk on your face!"

"Aino-sama.. tsk tsk… We ARE going to have to work on your patience…"

"C'mon, Hoto-whatever.. just tell me I need to do to get home."

"First, you must eat, and then we will make the trip to Mt. Taikyoku to speak to Taiitsukun. She has gone there to rest, the spell she has maintained over myself and the other deceased members of the team has exhausted her.."

"D…did you say 'deceased'?"

"Yes, I did.. but all that will be explained at dinner, where you will formally meet the other six of the Suzaku Seven, plus the priestesses…."

"Yui-chan… Seiryu."

"What was that, Aino-Sama?"

"N.. nothing… err… Dinner?"

"Yes, it is in an hour… you can freshen up in the adjoining wash room. There are fresh clothes in the wardrobe there." He said, motioning to what amounted to the most extravagant closet Aino had ever seen. "You're welcome to use them while my servants are cleaning and mending your own."

At that, Hotohori rose from his seated position, "I shall see you at dinner, Aino-Sama. I will send someone to come get you. Until then…" And left the room alone to Aino.

Aino rose and walked across to the washroom. What she saw astounded her. This was no ordinary bathing room…. The floors were made completely of marble. There were six gigantic columns of pure white holding up the ceiling of the largest open-air bath Aino had ever seen.

"Wow…." Aino whispered…. And immediately plunged herself into the warm spring waters of the deep blue pool, neglecting to take off any clothing… The future priestess splashed about and played for the entire hour. She was extremely fond of swimming, and she hadn't been to a real pool in years.

"Ahem?"

In the midst of her playing, Aino turned suddenly to see a very wet, very irritated flame haired man standing at the edge of the pool.

"Who are you….?"

"I was sent to bring you to dinner…. Hotohori must've thought it would be cute to see two red heads traveling together… Anyway, you're apparently not ready. Just like a woman. Lose track of time, a man comes to take them to dinner and what do they do? They're still splashing around in the bathtub with clothes on! I hate 'em!"

"What do you mean 'just like women'? What kind of an arrogant, chauvinistic, pig headed man are you! You have your nerve, intruding on a LADY like this! Especially one from a different world, I don't know how things work here! I ought to just……!"

The lady Aino then pulled a very surprised Tasuki into the pool.

"That'll serve you right, you damned jerk!"

Tasuki couldn't manage a single word; he just sat there simmering in the water and the heat of his anger, watching Aino step out of the pool towards her room. As he watched her move, the way her strange clothes clung to her body… his anger began to slowly disperse. In fact, he became very interested in seeing this strange girl walk away from him and also very aware of the stirring of an emotion very rarely felt in Tasuki's breast…. Longing. He watched as she walked over to the wardrobe and reached behind her for the zipper of her strange, dark pants…. Tasuki's heart thumped in his throat as he watched, wide eyed…. Slowly, she turned to face him. He smiled dreamily.

BANG!

Tasuki snapped out of his dream world as he felt the crunch of a chair against his skull.

"HENTAI! ECHI! ECHI! You pervert! Do you mind LEAVING so I can get into some dry clothes! Damn, some people! Don't you guys know about privacy here? Every time I wake up, that green haired guy is always around, and now you're sitting there dreaming about molesting me, you sicko…… !"

"I am not! For your information, a little girl like you could HARDLY excite me! I like my women FULL GROWN! You're hardly worth my attention.."

"Oh dear… I'm sorry, miss! Has Tasuki here been too much trouble? His Highness thought it would be best if I came down to check on you two, you know?"

"Ahh! Another one! No, Mr. Whatever You Are, I do not know! I am utterly confused! Stuff like this only happens to animated fifteen-year-old girls in sailor-fuku where I come from!"

"Huh!" Both Tasuki and the new comer asked.

"Oh, never mind! Just both of you go away so I can get dressed!"

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How very entertaining. Yes, Shi no Miko, go to dinner. Eat with them, your sworn enemies. Soon you'll remember. I promise!
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"Tasuki! What happened to you! You're soaking wet, and there's a huge purple bump on your head!"
"Thanks for letting me know, Miaka. How BRILLIANT of you. I had a run in with the Shi no Miko."

"I don't like that girl one bit! She's mean and look, she's fifteen minutes late!"

"Miaka…?"

"Yes, Nuriko?"

"Have you ever been on time for anything in your life?"

"NUR-IKO! That's fifteen minutes I could have been EATING!" Miaka said with tears streaming.

"Agh, Miaka! You and your stomach!"

"Ahem. I'm sorry for being late, Miaka. Its just that I love swimming so much, and then this guy here…" motioning towards Tasuki "Where did you find him?"

That's the first time she's said my name.
Miaka, rather taken aback at the sincerity of her apology, looked up to see everyone at the table gazing up, amazed. She quickly directed her gaze at the object of their attentions and saw Aino.

No, this is more than just Aino. She really does look like a goddess.

Miaka looked over at Tamahome. He, too, couldn't help but stare at Aino. Miaka looked down, ashamed that she could not look like such a glorious priestess for her love. As a tear spilled out of the corner of her eye, she felt a warm hand squeeze her own.

"Don't worry, Miaka. I am yours. You are my one and only goddess!" The Suzaku no Miko looked up to see Tamahome gazing at her warmly. "I love you, baka!"

Still, Aino is very beautiful.

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Oh! Jealousy now… how very wonderful!
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"Aino! You do our royal robes justice! You look splendid!" Hotohori exclaimed.

"Even better than you, Hotohori!" Chiriko joked.

"Ha." Hotohori rather sarcastically laughed. "Allow me to finally introduce you to the whole of the Suzaku Seven! I am Hotohori. The others, starting from my right hand are: Tamahome, Tasuki (whom I am sure you have already met!), Nuriko, Chichiri, Chiriko, and Mitsukake. These are the celestial warriors bound to protect the priestess of Suzaku, Miaka-Sama, to Miaka-Sama's right is her best friend, the Seiryu no Miko, Yui-Sama."

"So only one of you is a woman? Nuriko, it must be terrible having to work with that guy!" Aino said, motioning towards Tasuki.

"Umm, actually, we're all guys…" Nuriko managed.

"All? Even you? But you're so… so… beautiful!"

"Yes, yes… but still, I am a man. I know, it's hard to believe that a man could possess such delicate beauty…"

"Is there any chance that you and the emperor are related? If so, it seems that arrogance runs in the family!" Aino chided… then giggled… then laughed so hard, tears began to form in her eyes. She was finally sobbing for all she was worth, the humor had left the situation.

"What am I doing here? I just want to go home! There is nothing but misery here – death and sadness for me. Nothing I do here will ever be of any good…… All sorrow…. Just let me go home. I can't be here….. He lied…. You…. you lied to me. Do you hear me, you bastard! You lied to me, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!" A blazing purple light surrounded Aino. Her long red hair whipped in the wind generated by her flaming life force. She was anger. Her eyes shone a cold and bright, unearthly blue light. "You bastard, Nakago! You lied, didn't you? WHY!"

All of the celestial warriors jumped to their feet at once.

"Nakago! Did you say Nakago?" Yui asked of her. "Tell me! How… how do you know him? TELL ME!"

Aino looked at Yui with those icy cold eyes, hatred filling her heart. "It was you, wasn't it? You bitch! I am here because of your stupidity!"

"AINO SAMA! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT! TELL US!" Hotohori shouted at the raging goddess.

Aino looked through him, to Tasuki. Her eyes warmed, filled with fresh tears.

"Oh, it's you. Why didn't you help me then, before I…. " Aino collapsed, the anger too much for her.

"Quickly, someone get her some water!" Hotohori demanded, and then, "What was that all about? How does she know who Nakago was? I think this has gotten out of hand." He muttered to himself. The emperor looked up to see an astonished Tasuki.

"It… it was like she knew me. I mean.. she looked into my soul… I…."

"Tasuki! Calm down. I don't know what we've gotten ourselves into, I don't even know how we can control something like her…. So we can't have you going crazy about what she says! We need everyone on this team, 100! Do you understand?"

"Yeah…. Yes, your highness."

"We have to get to Taiitsukun. We leave tomorrow!"

"Yes, your highness!"

My head, it hurts so much. What have I done? I don't like it when this happens... and its been happening more frequently lately. Am I finally going crazy? I'm scared I'll hurt someone some day… or worse!

The morning sun shone brightly in Aino's eyes, her thoughts drifted away from her. Very cautiously, Chichiri sneaked into her room.

"A…Aino-Sama? It's… uh… time to wake up, you know?"

"You don't have to be afraid of me. You're the one called Chichiri, aren't you? Were you there last night?"

Chichiri nodded.

"Wh.. what did I do?" Aino paused for a moment, noticed Chichiri's hesitance, and said, "Never mind. I suppose I can guess that it wasn't good by the way you refuse to answer me.."

"No… that's not why I didn't answer you, you know? Are you telling me you can't remember any of it?"

"No. I never can. But I really don't want to talk about it now. Where are we going?"

"Hotohori Sama feels that it would be in your best interest to speak with the creator of this world, Taiitsukun. The Suzaku Seven are going to travel with you for protection, although I don't think you'll need it, not with that temper, you know?"

"She's a fellow red head, YOU KNOW?" Tasuki interrupted. "Are you coming, Aino SAMA?"

"Oh.. THAT guy… Chichiri, can you tell this pervert that there will be no strip shows this morning and that he can just leave my tip on the dresser as he walks out?"

"Well, Chichiri, why don't you tell this little girl that I wouldn't pay her to have sex with me if I were blind and drunk? In fact, I'd rather make love to a donkey.. or Nuriko… or… Hey, what!"

Tasuki looked up from his rambling to see Aino and Chichiri huddled close together looking very frightened and very super deformed.

"Did anyone say anything about sex, Chichiri?" Aino whispered.

"Or anything about a donkey?" Chichiri whispered back, "Tasuki, you've gotta keep your fantasies to yourself, you know? What if Nuriko had heard?"

"AGH! Rekka Shi…. Oh… you're too damn cute to flame when you're super deformed, Chichiri! I'll leave you two alone."

As he walked out of the room, Tasuki left a silver piece on the dresser.

"YOU… YOU nasty pervert!" Aino called after him… "AGH! I can't stand that guy!"

Outside, the sun cheered Aino's spirits. She took in the breath taking beauty of the palace and breathed in the crystal clear air.

"I've never gotten to breathe such beautiful air in my life! This place is amazing!"

Yes you have, and if you could remember, you'd realize it wasn't that great of a place the last time.

Aino shook suddenly with cold. As she did, she glanced over at the group gathered to travel to Mt. Taikyoku. She noticed that the blond girl wasn't with them. What did I do?

"Uhh.. Miaka?"

"What?" she asked icicly.

Aino winced, "Where is your friend….. Yui?"

"She's… she's over there." Miaka said, motioning toward the fountain in the center of the commons, "But I wouldn't go over there if I were you."

Wow. Miaka, what was that cold look for?

"Y… Yui?"

"Just leave me alone. How can you come talk to me after those things you said last night? Just leave me!"

"Yui, I'm sorry for whatever I did or said, but you have to believe me, I don't remember any of that. I don't know why it's so important to me that you understand, but it is! I feel that you're the only one here who can even begin to know me, and I don't know why! There's… there's something inside me, Yui. Something I cannot be released from. It scares me... I think it's evil. It is twisted and dark, and I hate myself every time I wake up and can't remember anything because that means I've let it take control again!"

"You, you really don't remember?"

"No, Yui. I don't even know what went on last night... just that it happened again and that, that I hurt you. I'm sorry, I really am. Gomen Nasai!"

"I… I suppose its okay…"

"Good! Whew, that's a relief!"

But you said Nakago's name. You knew him, and you said that I was the one that made you come here… What do you know, Priestess of Death?

Yui watched the red headed girl walk towards the group, confusion filling her head. She looked at the faint scar on her wrist before walking to the waiting party herself.

Why, Nakago?

"Because, Lady Yui, you were naïve and stupid."

A hand grabbed Yui's wrist and turned her around violently. Yui looked up into the face of a stranger.

"Wh - Who are you? Let me GO!"

"Don't you recognize your old savior? No, you wouldn't with your blind human eyes," the stranger spit his words venomously at Yui. His eyes stared past Yui toward Aino.

"I demand you, tell me who you are!"

"Yui, Yui.. still so naïve? I am hurt that you can't see past this new exterior. I am hurt that you do not recognize me at all… after all I have done for you.. Saving you from those street punks.. saving your life! You ungrateful…." The man thrust Yui to the ground.

"Na… Na… Nakago? It can't be… You're… dead!" Yui screamed.

"Am I?" the man asked, a cruel smile playing on his lips, "But don't worry…. I am not here for you. You are.. insignificant. I am here after…. Her."

"Miaka… No… Aino?"

"How intuitive of you, Yui."

"Tell me.. what is your connection with her… I have to know."

"All will reveal itself at my bidding.. Just know this, Seiryu no Miko.. She will be the priestess you could never be. The priestess of death is also the priestess of rebirth.. she is two sides of the same coin, and I need her!"

"NAKAGO… NO!"

The Suzaku Seven were on their feet in an instant, ready to fight…. Nakago?

"Yui! Yui! Are you alright?" Miaka yelled desperately at her friend. Yui ran toward Miaka and collapsed in a crying ball in Miaka's arms.

"He's here! He's after Aino! You've got to protect her!"

"Do not worry, Tamahome … I choose not to kill you, yet. I am only after the girl. Give her to me!"

"No! We will not allow you to take Yui!"

Nakago smiled, a cold laugh escaping his lips.

"I'm sorry for the confusion, but you see, I am not after Yui. She is of no use to me. She is worthless. I am after the Shi no Miko. I would like to retrieve my dark savior."

Aino looked up, horrified.

"No…" she gasped, "No, you can't let him have me! He's… he's going to do something terrible to me, I feel it…" Aino's eyes rolled up into her head and for a moment, she went limp.

"Nakago, leave me be!" Aino's mouth said, but this wasn't Aino. "I am not for you. You know that as well as I. You lied to me. You told me my suffering was over! Then you bring me here to this world again, disrupt my sleep, take me to him, the one I did love, the one I had to leave, the only one that could have saved me…..! You are low, Nakago!"

The bright light began to flow around Aino again, "HOW COULD YOU!"

A bright ball of purple energy shot from Aino's fingertips. Nakago dodged it effortlessly.

"Easily, priestess. I love toying with you, I always have! And now, I tire of this. COME!"

Nakago held his hand to her and suddenly Aino disappeared from her place beside Miaka and reappeared in Nakago's arms.

"NOOOO……!" Yui shrieked.

Nakago, along with Aino, disappeared.

All returned to normal within the palace grounds.