Fushigi Yuugi: Death's Enchantment
Episode Eight
"We Are One"
Misty Schmitt
16 April 2001
(Finished 29 May 2001)

---------------------------

A/N: I wrote this fic years and years ago. I'm posting it here because I am no longer updating the original site I had dedicated to it. Please be nice when you comment, and remember that I (and my writing style) have changed since 2001.

---------------------------

As the last embers of the fire's life died down and soothing dawn showed her face in the land again, Aino rose and headed toward the lake beside which Tasuki had set up camp. She saw the lovely blue water and longed more than anything to just be a part of it. Aino unclothed and waded out into the cool waters. As she ran her white hands over the surface of the water, she looked back to see Tasuki still asleep. Her eyes betrayed the love and hurt she felt, even as she tried to banish these thoughts. Hurriedly, she half swam, half walked over to a small waterfall, the source of the lake.

A nice shower! I haven't had one of these since… since I was home, living a normal life! This might at least make me feel better… even if it doesn't.. I'll be clean… I've got to find a way to summon the life power of Seishi, so that I can help his other friends. So far, I've only uncovered the violent, evil side of her magic.. And what did that dream of Hisaki mean? Questions… but never any answers.

Aino was lost deep in thought… she never expected something would be wading up behind her, but something was…

Suddenly, strong arms reached out and grabbed the priestess, pulling her close to warm, bare flesh. Aino screamed with surprise, her eyes wide with fear.

"Don't be scared… It's just… me."

"T-Tasuki-kun?" Aino murmured.

"Yes." His eyes were closed and from them streamed the slight shimmer of his silver tears. He buried his face in her wet hair. "I am here."

"Why? What are you doing?" She turned sharply in his arms, a confused, yet stern look covering her face. Immediately, her eyes went wide with wonder. "You.. You're crying. Why, Tasuki?"

"I.. never meant to hurt you. About his highness. I can't even pretend to understand you or your purpose; I just have to trust that you did what you had to do, and to save me…. I never should have treated you cruelly. And now, today we will finally reach that mountain, who knows what will happened to us. I wanted you to know how I feel.. I need you to know that…."

"Shhh, Tasuki. You can tell me after this is all over. Tell me then, ok?"

"But…"

"Then, Tasuki." Aino wrapped her wet arms around his body, leaned her head on his chest and sighed. He in turn held her tightly, forcing himself to be strong. For once in his life, Tasuki didn't want to fight. All he wanted was for her to be safe, and for her to be with him. That's all that mattered to him, the violence of his entire existence flowed from him. All that was left of him was love.

Is this how it feels like with Tama and Miaka? No wonder Tama acts like such an idiot for her sake. It is what he lives for. She, Aino, is what I live for now.

The moment passed and they separated. Aino looked deeply into the amber eyes of this strange man and knew she loved him, knew she'd die for him. She also suddenly knew that she was standing naked before him. Her face turned crimson as she flared with sudden anger.

"TASUKI! Quit staring, you freak! What is wrong with you? Why are you always peeping on me when I'm naked… you you… you pervert!" with that, Aino turned, hoping her long hair would cover everything back there. "I suppose you can't leave your tip, though, can you?" Aino laughed.

"Well, I…. Have something. For you. I… ermm.. I tried to leave it for you last time, but you didn't take it. Here. It was my mother's. I…."

He dropped a shiny object in Aino's hand and abruptly left. The gravity of the situation had finally gotten to him. He suddenly needed to be alone to think for a while.

Aino looked into her palm at the object Tasuki had dropped there. She saw a simple silver chain, adorned with a silver pendant. A smooth, oval jewel that was at once one million shades of blue and white was set within the pendant. As Aino held it, she felt a strange but familiar warmth flowing throughout her body. She suddenly felt very sad. She immediately put the necklace on and looked at her reflection in the lake's surface. She saw a pale woman child with red hair staring back at her. The girl looked afraid, very afraid, but the jewel hanging delicately between the girl's collarbones looked serene. It fit there, like it always belonged right there.

"It's starting again, Raifu." Aino muttered. Surprised, she wondered just who Raifu was. She decided to forget it and waded back to shore. She clothed herself and then headed back to the camp.

What she saw didn't make sense to her at first. There was no campsite. From the way the woods looked, there never was a campsite. No ashes left from the fire, no disturbed grasses… nothing.

Have.. I gotten lost? What is this, the campsite was… here just a second ago! What's the deal here!

"TASUKI! Tasuki where are you. I.. I think I've gotten lost… I can't find you!" Aino screamed into the silent forest. Her answer was… nothing. Still merely confused, Aino angrily tied her long wet hair up into a twist at the nape of her neck.

"Ok, Tasuki! I'm getting really pissed! You better tell me where you are……" Still no answer. Aino's skin grew cold, fear edged its way into the back of her mind. Something, something told her to turn around.

That darkness, the same as last time, he was there, just behind her. Aino's skin began to crawl as her eyes widened in fear. From somewhere deep within the blackness, a man laughed. A familiar laugh….

"T..Tasuki? Are you there?"

Aino stared hard into the darkness in hopes that Tasuki would not be there… if he was, he was in trouble for sure… and after what had happened last time, Aino knew she was no match for this powerful entity. To her surprise, the darkness began clearing, and a figure walked out. She could slowly begin to make out the features of this individual. Male, tall, from the way he walked, she could tell he had an easy confidence, somewhat wild hair, flashing white teeth.. no, they were fangs.

"Fangs! Tasuki?"

The figure laughed and stepped fully into light. He flinched as the bright sunlight hit him, his amber eyes closing for a moment as an expression of pain crossed his face in a brief instant. His red hair shone vibrantly. This was Tasuki, for sure, but different. He looked… cruel. He was dressed differently. Where the familiar boots and coat were, there was now a long black kimono with red designs running rampantly over the surface. He wore a black leather thong tied around his forehead, a blood red jewel hovering in the center of his forehead. He wore a silver necklace; much like Aino's except the jewel was red to match his headdress. A sneer rested itself on his face.

"Aino-sama. What is it? Are you lost?" He asked with false sincerity, "Here, let me help!"

Tasuki threw three flaming discs at Aino. Taking her by surprise. She could not dodge them. They hit her full force and knocked her to the ground, binding her hands, feet and mouth. Tasuki strode up to the weakened Aino and grinned.

"Now, my reluctant priestess, you will come to me. You will be my dark saviour."

As Tasuki reached for Aino, she cringed in terror, sliding away from his touch.

"Oh? Are you afraid of him, your love? Scared of Raifu…. No, no, this time it's that wretched boy, Tasuki, isn't it? Tasuki, Raifu, same thing. They are of the same spirit, no matter."

Aino's eyes betrayed her confusion…

"Did you think I was him? HA! Stupid girl. But that will change when you know your true purpose. I had to have a body to materialize. I am a spirit… he was the most convenient, though red is not my favorite hair color. I'd prefer black. Eh, you work with what you're given. Now, enough. It's time to go."

Aino suddenly became very angry.

What the hell does he mean "Tasuki and Raifu are of the same spirit"? I am sick and damn tired of all this mystery shit… and if he is in Tasuki.. where is Tasuki?

The image of Hotohori badly scarred and defeated burned itself into her mind.

"NOOOOO!" Aino screamed and in a burst of purple energy, the bindings disappeared.

"Listen up, asshole! What have you done with him? If you hurt him.. I swear to God I'll…"

"What? Kill him? No, I don't think you could do that, can you, little girl? Tasuki is here. That is all you have to know."

"No, damnit! I want to know where in the hell he is! Tell me, or I won't become your dark anything!" Aino mentally prepared herself for the possibility of having to battle Tasuki.. perhaps to the death… She knew she had to… but could she?

"If you have to know, impertinent girl, he is now a spirit, existing in the space that spirits exist in. That is all anyone knows. He will slowly fade from existence if he cannot be reunited with his body. Do you want that, girl? Do you? Answer me!"

"N…no…"

"Then I suggest that you do nothing until I instruct you to do so! Yes, you are mine now…mine"

The thing that was inside Tasuki smiled devilishly and walked toward Aino; then held her face between his hands. Her eyes flashed darkly with anger and contempt as he let an evil laugh escape his throat.

"So close, yet so far, eh, priestess?"

Aino spat in his face.

"Go to hell!" the Shi no Miko screamed.

"I have, it's no fun. I like this world and this body much, much more…."

He whispered gently into Aino's ear, then kissed her. Aino's perfect blue eyes flashed wide with surprise, then narrowed with anger. She pushed him away and desperately shot a bright purple disc of energy at him, fully intending to kill him. It hit him in the face, leaving a deep, bloody gash down the left side of his face, over his eye.

"Fine. If you want to play, I will play. I must determine your competency, anyway. What better way than this…? Look, priestess…" Tasuki created a bright orb of white light that began to spin, slowly at first, then faster and faster. Aino squinted into the light and… she made out several figures!

"Oh! Tamahome! Miaka! Yui! Nuriko! Chichiri! What have you done with them!"

Aino turned to question the demon, but he was already gone. The only thing left of him was his quickly vanishing eyes, those eyes that had, only moments before, been filled with concern and.. was that love?

"Come and get them if you dare, Priestess of Death.. They are waiting for you.. they are waiting for their dark saviour!" An eerie laughter filled the forest.. and then nothing.

Life carried in the woods as if nothing out of the ordinary had ever occurred… Aino collapsed to the ground wearily.

I hit him full force! It only cut him a little! Oh, Aino, think! What can you do? What in the world can you possibly do against that! You're so weak and pitiful, you might as well just give in.. at least their lives may be spared… for a little while longer, anyways… Damn, I hate this.. I just want to go home… Home!

The small red head curled into a ball, wishing she could just disappear, and waited for darkness to descend upon her.

The thick fog was too much for her to bear, but she knew she must trudge through it, somehow, she knew it was imperative that she make it to the other side of this grey mist. It clung to every part of her body, every piece of clothing, every pore. It was so thick that she felt it had to be holding her back, keeping her from some part of herself that it didn't want her to see. Still, Aino moved forward. She had no idea where she was or why, or even what lay on the other side of this immensely dark obstacle, she just felt the need to move, always forward. Her hair was tangled, her clothes were tattered, and her body was covered with tiny cuts and bruises. The thick undergrowth of the eerie forest in which she was traveling whipped at her bare arms and face in collaboration with the fog to keep her back, away from the secret that lay just outside, just beyond her reach.

Keep going, Aino.. just keep going! I am here, waiting for you!

That one thought consumed her.. That something.. someone was waiting for her at the end of this torture. For hours, this was what filled her mind…

"I am here."

Aino looked wildly about her for the origin of that strangely familiar voice.. a voice that had just announced itself as The One.

"Who… are you?" Aino asked meekly.

"I am…."

Suddenly a bright purple flash of light eliminated the dark fog. Aino covered her eyes to shield them from the blinding light. When she took her hands from her face, she found she was surrounded by a soft, lavender glow. From the light's origin, she saw a figure slowly materialize. The feminine figure had long, flowing hair and wore a very long skirt. Ribbons rippled out from her like the graceful boughs of the willow. As Aino's eyes adjusted to the bright radiance the girl emanated, she took a sharp gasp… could this be?

"…..you," the figure finished her statement.

"No.. this can't be…. How are you me?"

The girl smiled.

"I have always been here! You know me. I am here when you are angered, when you are scared… You have never understood or accepted me… I always had to fight you to become real… but now… now, I am afraid you must accept me… for I am your former self, the Sei no Miko.. the priestess of life…."

"You… you were the reason I blacked out all those times? You are why I never remembered those horrible things I said to Yui? I don't want to 'accept' you! I'll never forgive you!"

"Yui, yes… that little wretch.. but I am afraid you have no other choice. The demon will most certainly beat you easily as you stand… all your friends… including him.. will die.. along with this world.. and eventually others. Him… my Raifu."

"What are you saying? I don't understand you!……"

"You have but to accept me, and you will know all… I promise! You cannot gain the full power of Seishi until the summoning ceremony, which cannot be performed in the presence of an evil heart. If it is, a terrible blackness will descend on this and all worlds through you. You will lose yourself completely to it. You will have to get your friends and get away from there… which means.."

"Beating the demon…. But what if… I am afraid… he has already beaten me twice….."

Aino looked up at herself….

"You already have that power… I already have that power, don't I!"

The girl smiled down at Aino…

"I am smart! Yes, Aino.. you already possess a great deal of Seishi's power.. but not all of it, not yet. Beating the demon will not be by any means an effortless venture. But now that you know me… now that you know of the power you possess.. it can be done. All you have to do now is.."

"Accept myself." Aino whispered, her eyes closed… Can I do that? Can I look at myself for who I really am and love myself? Aino opened her eyes slowly. The lavender glow was still there, but her other self was not. She looked frantically around her until she noticed the ground. It was so far beneath her! She was floating! Her feet were bare and her ivory skin showed no marks or abrasions. Her hair cascaded freely around her, her skirt flowed as though a gentle breeze were stirring in the silent wood.

"I… am… you," a soft voice whispered.

Suddenly, memories of an ancient time, of another life filled her mind… Nakago, the Demon, the prophecies of another… even Tasuki? No, that was Raifu… Raifu with his sad eyes and big heart….

"We… are… one," Aino murmured in answer.

The woods were bright when Aino awoke from what she knew couldn't have been a dream. She looked with fierce eyes at Mount Taikyoku.

"Kisama! You will now pay for taking everything I ever loved from me…. You will give him back to me this time. This time I swear Raifu.. Tasuki. I won't let you die! DO YOU HEAR ME, DEVIL! THIS WILL END IN YOUR DESTRUCTION! I won't be defeated! MAKENAI!"