Noriko rested her head in her hands silently, leaning against the table with her elbows. Her fingers clenched tightly together as her mind spiralled with many thoughts, everything now made perfect sense. Why Miaka had seemingly become the shadow of her former self. If she had known she was in this kind of relationship she would have intervened sooner, Yui had warned her Tamahome wasn't the same as he used to be, but this wasn't what she imagined at all. Everything he was, everything he used to be, the friend and ally she trusted and admired. The guy who would do anything for Miaka, he was gone. He no longer existed, knowing that hurt her deeply. She had been there through it all, right up until the quest for the shinzaho, then her story came to an end, now here her new life began. She was so angry, how could he do this to her? Hadn't Miaka suffered enough in the past? The Tamahome she knew from the book would have never acted like this, would have never treated Miaka this way. But things changed, it had been nearly 5 years since then. Everything they went through in the book was bound to have damaged Miaka in many ways.
Losing your friends, losing your best friend, betrayal, death, loss, trauma, those kinds of things left an imprint on you. God knows Miaka was stronger and more resilient than she appeared to be. The worst part she was she couldn't tell anyone about it, as nobody would believe such a thing. Few people in her world even knew what she even went through. But Miaka had changed for the better too, it gave her hope. She had grown beautiful and lovely, blossoming into a fine woman whom many of the fallen Suzaku would be proud of. To see their priestess living so happily and becoming a more mature person. But recently vines had trapped her into a state of perpetual unhappiness. Why Miaka was lonely, why she was sad, why she always seemed so distant and closed herself off. It was because of Taka, he had clipped her wings and was changing her, breaking her spirit with no awareness of it at all. He went away for days on end, sometimes never coming home and then abruptly appearing. Suddenly showering her with affection after being away for so long, leaving Miaka confused and lonely. Yet never able to understand why she could come to hate him. Miaka had no job, acting as a housewife to take care of their home and Taka's needs, which led to her being so isolated from those around her. She rarely saw her friends and whomever she became attached to he would become possessive, such as when she hugged Miaka and he accused her of cheating on him. She was neglected of attention and affection nearly regularly, a form of emotional and psychological abuse. Expecting Miaka to obediently wait for him and pine for attention every time he came home. She hated seeing Miaka being treated this way.
She scoffed under her breath in frustration "If I knew he would make her this unhappy, I'd have stolen her away back then. Maybe… I could have lived too" she whispered hoarsely, her voice full of pain. She had sacrificed her feelings for Miaka so Taka could be happy with the girl he loved. She had risked her life to gain the Shinzaho which Yui later revealed had been stolen by Nakago, meaning her death had been in vain. Yet, Miaka's life had become so empty instead. God, she felt sick, she was trying to restrain the anger bubbling inside of her. She thanked Suzaku for granting her wish to be reborn because now she had a purpose. She would rescue Miaka from her unhappy life and truly make her feel loved.
Suddenly the front door opened, but she paid no mind. Simply a clicking noise at the back of her mind. All she could think about was Miaka, on her own again in that empty flat waiting for Taka to come home and keep her company. Yui then entered the living room, weary from a day of work. Slowly taking off her shoes and looking for her flatmate. A worried and sympathetic expression appeared on her face when she saw Noriko sitting alone in the dark. "Did something happen?" she asked patiently. After having lived with Noriko for a year, she had come to understand the latter's moods rather well. Nuriko was a very passionate being, though most of the time she was known for being sarcastic and playful, a tomboy at heart. She was also very sensitive, protective and wore her heart on her sleeve. Watching people she loved suffer was not something she took well, especially given her past in the book. Yui could feel relaxed around her, open up and trust her indefinitely. Wishing she had a friend like Noriko in the book, someone she could rely on when things got bad.
Noriko chuckled sarcastically, there was never hiding anything from Yui. "On my break, I bumped into Miaka at a coffee shop. She looked so unhappy I felt like my heart was being squeezed. I wanted so badly to kiss her and make it all go away, all I could do was hold her. Then Taka showed up and accused her of an affair, I wanted to punch him. God, what happened to him? They used to be so happy, she used to be so happy" she growled.
Yui sighed, yes she had noticed this too. Taka never wanted Miaka to have a life outside of him. Every man was a possible threat now, Miaka had become so lovely that she caught everyone's eye. Her reddish-brown waves, greenish-gold eyes and a lovely figure. But he made Miaka feel like being pretty was a crime. He left her at home where she would cry, lie awake, become antisocial and pass her days waiting for him to come home. She rarely ate, left her home, or even answered her phone. Unable to watch Miaka destroy herself, she stepped in. Miaka was an amazing girl, she was loyal, courageous, kind and resilient, she had never given up on Yui even after all she put her through. She still loved her and was the best friend Yui could ever ask for. She was always there when she was at her lowest and always listened when she had a panic attack or nightmares about the book. She never judged her for anything she did. Now she would do the same for Miaka, she would stand by her best friend and help her through this mess too. "Yeah, that's Taka for you. He's fine with me, but only me. He knows I'm her friend, but anyone else he doesn't recognize he will isolate her. He assumes she will always wait for him and when she goes away she has to be cheating. He manipulates her into obedience and expects her to stay at home" she scoffs. She laughed at the fact that she once liked Taka, hell that she stole him away from Miaka. He wasn't even worth it anymore, he was a jerk.
Noriko looked up, trying to hide the fact that she wanted to cry so badly. The fact that she wanted to beat Taka's face to a bloody pulp for putting Miaka through this. "I… all of us, the Suzaku seven. We loved Miaka, but me, Tasuki and Hotohori. We loved her as more than that, we wanted her, as a woman. If… if we, if I had known he would do this. We would have never given her up" she whispered her voice cracking. She would have fought Miaka, she would have told her that she loved her more than anything. She would have held her close and never let her go.
Yui felt a sharp pain in her chest, her heart squeezing. She was never naïve to the fact that some of Miaka's seishi had been in love with her. First Hotohori, then Nuriko and then Tasuki. But they gave it all up so that Tamahome could have his happy ending with her. Now she wished she had tried harder to break them up if Taka was going to treat her this way. Hotohori had loved her since he was a boy, loyal to only her even after marriage and when she went to gather the Shinzaho. The last thing he thought of before he died was his priestess. But she ran into the arms of Tamahome, who ended up being the wrong man. Tasuki was awkward and stubborn with her, due to being overwhelmed as a child by his female-only family. However, he soon softened around her and became like a big brother to her. Only he too came to love Miaka and was jealous of Taka, his possession making that clear. Though gruff sometimes, he would have spoiled Miaka too. All 3 of them could have loved Miaka the right way, been a better man or in Noriko's current case a better woman. Their possible love stories with her had been cast aside, Miaka probably regretting that more than anything now. Yui approached Noriko slowly, not speaking a single word. Her blue eyes were patient and filled with sadness. She then reached out her arms and gently wrapped them around Noriko. Holding her close, hoping to chase away her sadness.
"Gomen, it was my fault. I was so selfish and petty back then, I hated that you all loved Miaka compared to my warriors. If I had known…. How much you all could have made her happy. I…. I never would have…" Yui choked, her voice cracking into a wobble. Nakago had manipulated her, using her assault and weaving it into a false tale. Using her pain, confusion and sadness as a tool to make her a loyal puppet. But in reality, he had never cared about her at all. Not like Tetsuya who treated her so well. She had allowed him to kill so many innocent people, manipulated Tamahome into obedience as her slave. Beat Tasuki like a rag doll with a possessed Tamahome, murdered a weakened Hotohori, Tamahome's entire family, Noriko had been murdered by Ashitare attempting to gain the Shinzaho, Chiriko had even sacrificed his life to stop Miboshi. All of those things were her fault, because of her selfishness.
Noriko softened, Yui had been a girl the same as Miaka. She had a worse introduction into the book than Miaka. She had nobody who cared about her, not like her best friend had. But she had become a kinder and stronger person because of it. She softly leaned against Yui, reaching up a hand to grip Yui's arm "No, you were just a kid. You didn't know better. After what happened you had no choice but to trust Nakago. I just… I wish I could have done something to save Miaka from this" she mumbled.
Yui nodded softly "You can't undo the past, but you can save Miaka now. We can get her away from him" she reassured Noriko. She wouldn't allow Miaka to be miserable, to live in the shell she did now. She wanted her best friend back, she wanted her to be the person she loved.
Miaka lay silently in bed, gazing at her bedside table in boredom. The tick of the clock in the background becoming a pain, the light buzz in the background filling her mind like a hypnotic echo. Her fingers running patterns in the bedsheets absentmindedly, working through the complicated mass of feelings laying dormant inside of her heart. She couldn't even look at Taka, it was like she was living with an alien, some strange being instead of her boyfriend. Touching him felt wrong, felt strange and empty. She didn't feel happy whenever she was around him, her mood always felt so depressed and lonely. Sometimes she wondered what her life would have been like if she had accepted Hotohori's love or even courted with Tasuki. Maybe that would have been more happier with them, truly being appreciated by someone instead of pretending to live a happy life that ultimately made her feel so sad. Hotohori had loved her since he was a boy, falling for the girl of legends who would save their great nation. He had been nothing but loyal to her and only wished to love her and to be loved in return. He had a heart of gold and was a truly kind and gentle man, breaking her heart that she had not chosen him in the end. Knowing the sad fate he had suffered at the hands of Nakago. Tasuki at first had treated her like a pest, but slowly warmed up to her and treated her like a kid sister, but over time that platonic love grew to romantic. However, he tried to hide it but seeing her fight with Taka all the time had caused him to act on his feelings for her. Maybe they both could have given her a happier life.
Taka lay on his side, his head rested on the pillow, breath fast. He laughed a little under his breath, feeling happy to have some alone time with his girlfriend, unaware of her depleted mood. Then again, he rarely noticed anything nowadays. She sighed under her breath, slowly climbing out of the bed and letting the sheets fall. She couldn't stay here, she felt like she was trapped. In a haze, she walked towards the bathroom to clean herself and leave this place. "Miaka?" Taka called, he had hoped they would spoon and cuddle. Talk a little while they had some alone time. Why was she suddenly so eager to leave him? They rarely saw each other nowadays. He was owed time off by his boss and he wanted to spend it with her. He wanted to make memories he could think fondly of at work, had she made plans without him or something? That wasn't fair, he had been looking forward to seeing her for so long. He knew it wasn't easy balancing careers and a relationship, but he was trying damn it. He wanted to make up for making her feel so lonely all the time.
"I'm going to see Yui" she responded bluntly, her tone cold and sharp. She would rather see her best friend than sit around with Taka. She was simply giving him a taste of his own medicine. She stormed out of the bedroom in silence, not looking at him.
Taka lay there in confusion, she was still acting so strange. She showed a coldness towards him that he couldn't understand. She smiled for others but treated him with new hostility, it made no sense. Didn't she love him? He worked hard for them, he was loyal to nobody but her. He came home expecting love and praise from her but was met with unfamiliarity and boredom. Just what was happening to her? He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure things out.
Miaka stood under the hot spray of the shower, staring at the marble wall, the sound of the shower pattering on the tiled floor and walls echoing in her ears. Her hair clinging to her with the damp of the shower. She felt herself release a heavy sigh of relief, she could breathe again. Taka had argued with her again when they got home, demanding to know why she would smile for someone else yet push him away. They were lovers, he demanded an explanation. She told him to drop it and leave her be. Then he had grabbed her and kissed her, in the past that would have made her so happy. To know he still wanted her as much as he did then. But now his kisses meant nothing, they felt wrong, cold, forced. Like kissing Nakago. Wondering if her life would always be this way, trapped and longing for something else. She gripped her hands into fists, she felt sick inside. She couldn't live like this anymore, whether Taka liked it or not she needed a divorce. He had clipped her wings for long enough, she needed to fly again. To free herself from this prison. "No more, I can't pretend like this" she mumbled. She couldn't lie as she had for so long like this life was normal and things would get better. It was killing her inside. This wasn't love, this wasn't happiness, this was endless loneliness and forced one sided love. Taka still thought the world of her and was stuck in a dream of believing everything was still as good as it had always been. But she could see the cracks and the flaws, she didn't want this anymore. She wanted her own life, she wanted to live for herself. She wanted to be her own person, not living for someone else's needs. No waiting in an empty house, no crying alone while they were gone for hours or days on end. No having to cancel plans and avoid people for broken promises. She wanted to reconnect and become the person she used to be, happy. The girl who knew that everything would work itself out in the end. The optimist she used to be, not the new pessimistic girl she was.
Miaka pulled a white T-shirt over her head calmly, having changed into a simple pair of blue skinny jeans, a shirt and some shoes. Grabbing a zipped hoodie as she headed for the door. Her hair still a little wet from the shower. She needed to see Yui, she needed a break, a familiar face and a sense of warmth. If she stayed a second longer in this flat she would puke. The tension in the air felt like a wall, she couldn't muster anything to say because even speaking to him felt forced. She needed time to get her head right, without him interfering or asking where she was. Space was healthy in a relationship and she hadn't had that in a long time, she had been neglected of happiness for so long now. She deserved to spoil herself for crying out loud, she more than deserved it.
Taka sat up in confusion, she was leaving? At this time of the night? But to where and to see whom? She was acting so odd. "Miaka?" he asked in concern, what was the matter with her. He wanted to cuddle his lover, to feel her body against his own, he wanted to stay beside her. Didn't she love him anymore? Like the days when she would hug him as he slept or randomly visit her in his room simply to see him.
"Don't wait up for me, I don't know when I'm coming home" she replied bitterly. Now he would know how it felt, how she had been forced to live that way for so long. A taste of his own medicine. She wasn't going to wait around for him anymore, she wanted her life back, before he ruined everything. Taka felt his heart being squeezed as the front door slammed. Miaka had left him here all alone. He had worked so hard for his time off and now Miaka was choosing to ignore him. Didn't he know how hard he worked to make her happy?
Miaka strolled the empty streets, closing out the sounds of the world around her. Barely aware of the chatter of people and the occasional traffic going down the road. All she could think about was how much she hated him. She shivered slightly at the coldness she felt due to her still wet hair. Her lips turning a light blue in the chilly air, burying her hands deeper into her pockets for warmth. Every time she kissed him, every time she looked at him, she felt like she was living with a stranger. Once upon a time she had loved him, would have done anything for him, now she felt nothing at all. Realizing how long she had lied to herself, that Taka would change and that things would get better. She felt so stupid, waiting for him and wasting her time on a man who was not the same as he had once been. It had taken seeing Noriko and Yui waking her up from the dream to realize that. God what a fool she had been. She felt her eyes stinging with hot tears, her sight turning wobbly as the tears filled her eyes. Reflecting like glass in the night lights, she bit her lip and tried to hold them back. She couldn't cry here, she didn't want to make a scene. But she cracked, her lip trembled and the sobs escaped her throat. Small at first and then heavier, hugging herself for strength as the bitterness got the better of her.
Miaka sat silently on a bench, staring at the floor like a lost child. Ignoring the chill in the air, enjoying the scent of the night, it had been so long since she had felt her own personal space. She needed this, she deserved this. She scrolled through her contacts in a daze before she found Keisuke's phone number. She knew Yui would be worried but she couldn't show her face like this. Right now, she needed her big brother. The usual ringtone of the dial echoed in her ear. She knew it was selfish but she hoped more than anything that he would answer her calls. That he would pick up and come running, like had when she was in the book.
"Miaka?" his voice eventually responded. Shouldn't she be asleep at this time of night? Didn't she have plans? Was it an emergency? Did she have an argument with their mother? Those two always seemed to butt heads, but at least it had gotten better in recent years.
She felt herself sigh with relief, good he had picked up. She didn't know what she would have done if he didn't answer, she needed to speak to someone right now. She was just so fed up with it all. "Hey Keisuke, sorry for calling so late" she apologized wearily. It felt good to hear his voice. Like when she was a little kid and used to sneak into his bed during thunderstorms.
He went quiet for a while, he was probably worried about her. She hadn't seen him in a while after things got bad with Taka. Closing in on herself and shutting him out. "Miaka, are you ok? Where are you?" he asked. He had a gut instinct for knowing when Miaka was in some kind of trouble, like a sixth sense of some kind.
Miaka laughed wearily, trying not to start crying again. "I… I went for a walk. I don't really know, I just… I needed to get out of there. I guess… I'm on a bench somewhere" she confessed. She hadn't really been thinking, she just hated the way she felt whenever Taka came home. Like she was living in a dream, her emotions locked away until she left the house. A state of constant comfortable numbness.
"Stay where you are, don't move got it" he replied sternly. There is was, the protective big brother tone she knew so well. How she had missed that. How she had missed him too. Always reliable to the very end.
"Hai, Onii-chan" she teased sarcastically. Knowing how much that would wind him up. But she felt relieved to know that he would be coming to see her. That he would come and find her.
Miaka leaned back on the bench, staring at the endless sea of stars in the inky blue depths. Her heart felt so at peace, more so than it had in a long time. She wondered if her remaining warriors were also staring at the same sky and thinking of her. The cold now meant nothing, she didn't feel the goosebumps. Her hair had dried a little in the time she had been sat here. Having time to herself like this, it was very calming. She felt more relaxed than she had in awhile. When she was a teenager, she would have locked herself in her room and sulked. Or run to her friends and ranted about how much her life sucked. Now as an adult, she ran away and hid for privacy. How things had changed.
Soon she heard approaching footsteps but paid them no mind. She already knew who it would be before they even spoke. "Miaka? What the hell are you doing out here so late?" Keisuke replied in frustration. She wasn't a kid anymore, she needed to be aware of the potential danger she put herself in. What that would do to the people around her. But at least she was safe, that was what mattered right now.
Miaka sighed, watching her breath in the air like smoke. She sat up slowly, giving him a sad smile. "Gomen, me and Taka. We… had a fight, I just… I can't stand being around him nowadays" she confessed. She always felt like she was happier when she was anywhere but around Taka, like he was a dark cloud that always seemed to follow her around.
Keisuke hesitated, he knew their relationship had been on edge for a while. Aware of the fact that taka had been more than neglectful of her lately. But she was seemingly under a spell of believing things would get better. Now she was waking up. He approached a nearby vending machine, grabbing them both a coffee. Neither of them would be sleeping much tonight, he could see it in her eyes. Maybe staying at Yui's would be best for her right now. Once upon a time, he told Miaka that the book would only make her unhappy, he had been wrong. That Tamahome was a fictional character who didn't belong in their world, he had been right. Yes, Taka had been reborn with false but new memories, but he made her unhappy. Big brothers always knew best. "You could have never known Miaka, he was a different guy then. But now, he's barely even recognizable. I know he's the one connection you have to Suzaku. But is he really worth it?" Keisuke asked.
Miaka shifted, was Keisuke always so wise? Or had she just been too naïve to listen in the past? "I ask myself that so much, I used to love him so much it hurt. Now I can't stand him" she admitted. His smile was something that felt alien, his presence felt like an intrusion, she wanted him to leave and never come back. That way, she may be happy again. The life they built together was now falling apart and nothing they could do would make it any better, it just became worse.
Keisuke approached, holding a coffee for himself and hot cocoa for her. Extra cream on top. She took the drink gratefully, allowing the steam to rise for a while and warm her hands. "Miaka, you and Yui both endured so much in that book. I'm proud of how much you've grown. But lately, you've become someone else, because of Taka, you've become a shell. I hate seeing you so unhappy".
Miaka hummed, somehow all their words were blending together and becoming repetitive, but they all had the same meaning. Everyone just wanted what was best for her. "Yui said the same thing, I honestly think you guys are smarter than me" she joked. If she had known her life would become this mess at 15, she would have cut off her feelings sooner.
"Some things you have to learn the hard way kiddo" Keisuke comforted her. Reaching out a hand to gently pat her head. Even now she felt more like a kid than ever despite having grown so much. Stuck in another mess and having a hard time of getting out of it by herself.
Miaka laughed painfully under her breath, wasn't that the truth? The man she loved now became someone she hated. Being with Yui and Noriko made her happier than she had been in a long time. Irony at its finest. "Keisuke, thanks for being here. I really needed someone to talk to". No matter how much he annoyed her, she would always love him. He was always there in a heartbeat when things got rough.
Keisuke smiled "No prob sis, what I'm here for" he teased. But he would have to have words with Taka in the future, he wouldn't allow this to go on. He was breaking Miaka into pieces.
Yui opened her front door in surprise, her eyes filling with worry and shock as she saw the Yuki siblings standing outside of her flat. "Miaka? Keisuke? What?" she babbled in confusion. Were they hurt? Had something bad happened? Was it an emergency? Had Taka done something? She had a bad feeling about this. She wondered why Miaka hadn't called her since their dinner. She had heard about how depressed she had been when Noriko bumped into her on their break, how Taka showed up and she reverted to her usual self. She hadn't been able to contact her and had become closed off again. Seeing that she was ok if not at a random time brought her relief.
"Sorry for bursting in on you like this Yui-chan. I… I just got a bit lonely again is all" Miaka lied. No, she wanted to be home, in Yui's flat. Where she felt warm and loved, not in that cell of a home she lived in. She needed her best friend and it was as simple as that. Yui had always been like a sister to her, someone she could always depend on. She wondered if Yui would be ok with her moving in and leaving Taka alone in that flat by himself from now on.
Keisuke gave a goofy smile and rubbed the back of his head nervously. He knew this was a bad time and seemed suspicious, but she had every right to be worried. "I didn't want my little sis walking the streets by herself at this time. Good to see you Yui" Keisuke complimented cheerfully. She would be safe with Yui, she wouldn't let him in the front door if she could help it. She was like a guard dog, she would fight him tooth and claw before he got even an inch near Miaka.
Yui softened a warm smile on her face. She could see Miaka was a mess, she could see she was forcing another smile. She could only guess what had happened, as per usual Taka had made Miaka cry. "No stay as long as you like, I was just making some tea. It's so cold out, come warm up" she offered. It had been so long since she last saw Keisuke and he and Noriko had never been properly introduced. It would be good for her to meet Miaka's big brother.
"Yui you are a dear, Tetsuya really doesn't know how lucky he is" Keisuke jokes. He was out of town on business but he kept in regular contact with himself and Yui. Always the dutiful boyfriend. Even if the story that led to their romance was a bit odd.
"Miaka, what happened? Why were you out so late? Your poor brother must have been worried sick! Hell, you have me worried sick" Noriko scolded firmly. What had she been thinking and more importantly, what had Taka done now? Whenever Miaka was unhappy nowadays, it was because of something he had done. He was better at making Miaka cry than he was at making her smile lately. God, even reborn he was still an idiot.
Miaka winced, seeing the anger and concern in Noriko's eyes, even now she was still as protective as she had been in the book. She bowed her head and messed with her fingers awkwardly "Gomen… I needed some air, I wasn't thinking" she mumbled. Even back in the book she was causing problems for her warriors, but the memory of old times did make her feel a little better.
Noriko sighed, at least she dressed for the weather kind of. She didn't run out in thin clothing. She rubbed her eyes in frustration, she really hadn't changed since then. She patted Miaka's head fondly "Just be more careful next time, we love you is all". Like that time she went out in a storm after Tamahome was brainwashed by Nakago and attacked her. Aside from the danger she put herself in, she could have made herself severely ill going out in such heavy rain.
Miaka blushed, feeling a sense of warmth in her chest. Taka hadn't shown her this kind of affection in years, months even. A natural sense of gentleness that made her feel so safe. How she had missed this kind of comfort. "Hai, Noriko" she apologized shyly. She wished Noriko would hug her like always and never let her go again.
Keisuke blinked, a look of conflict appearing on his face. Had he just heard Miaka right? "Wait, Noriko? As in Nuriko from the book? That warrior who liked to dress as a girl?" he asked in confusion. But hadn't Noriko died? He had been killed by Ashitare ordered by Nakago, killing off the warriors to prevent Suzaku from being summoned. But how could that be? There was a long and awkward silence between the 3 teens, they hadn't really spoken openly about this yet. Miaka was still getting used to the fact that Noriko was even alive. It felt so strange and yet so right, like old times.
Noriko shifted, she would have met Keisuke in the future anyway. But she was slowly easing her way into Miaka's life, they had only just met a month ago. This was all new to her too. Yui was the only person she could go to as running to Miaka felt odd. She had built up a life since then, to prepare herself for meeting Miaka again. But now they were finally reunited, so meeting the family only came naturally. She approached nervously, holding out a hand to Keisuke "Hi, um… you kinda already known me. I mean, you read about me when Miaka was my priestess back in her middle school years. But um.. this is the first time we've officially met. I'm Noriko Miyazaki, previous Nuriko of the Suzaku seven" she laughed awkwardly. God this felt so odd. Hey, this may sound odd but I was once a fictional character in a book but now I'm reborn as a human and a girl. I once protected your sister from evil celestial warriors and summoning a beast god and ended up being killed. Also, I had a huge crush on her, yeah nice.
Keisuke blinked, so Nuriko had been reborn like Taka? How long had Miaka, hell even Yui known about this? Did Taka even know his previous fellow warrior was even alive now? This was so confusing. Was Suzaku just giving all of his past Senshi new lives now? He didn't understand but he was probably going to in time. He looked at Miaka for answers and hoping she had some and fast. She had just dropped a bombshell on his lap.
"Noriko was my best friend in the book, she always looked out for me. She was always there, but after Nakago ruined the ceremony we had to find the Shinzaho. But Nakago he… he had Noriko killed to get it. But now… she's back again like Taka" Miaka explained. Losing her had been the worst day of her life, the worst feeling she had ever felt. The first warrior she ever lost. Knowing how powerless she could feel, unable to undo such a loss. Her heart had been broken into a million pieces.
Keisuke sighed, he knew how close Miaka and Noriko had been. Losing her warriors had broken her heart. Having her back again must have meant the world to Miaka. No wonder she had been starting to recover. "Miaka can be a handful as you know. She's grown up a lot but she's still clumsy as ever. I was worried when she started to recline due to Taka being an idiot. But since you came back into her life, well. Yui was telling me was starting to improve. The old Miaka wouldn't have stormed out of her apartment in the middle of the night".
Noriko smiled, sensing she had already been accepted by Keisuke. He seemed like a pretty awesome big brother. Making her wonder how her own was doing nowadays in the world of the book. He had lost two siblings now. "Yes, she is, still a crybaby and sometimes clueless. But her heart is as big as ever and I'm happy to be by her side again". Able to make up for the lost time they were apart and finally make new memories with the girl she loved.
Yui smiled in the background, she had a feeling Keisuke would quickly warm up to Noriko. Hell, if they ended up being in the relationship she hoped for he would accept them. They all wanted Miaka to be happy, no matter what form it came in.
Taka sat at the edge of the bed, gripping the mobile phone like a vice. Miaka wasn't answering her phone, Keisuke wouldn't pick up. Why was she pushing him away? Why wasn't she giving him answers? He had felt so happy to finally have her in his arms, to embrace the girl he loved, whom he fought for as Tamahome. But now her heart was getting further and further away from him. Like she was a stranger to him. "Miaka, what's going on in that head of yours, who are you now?" he growled impatiently. He wanted his beloved priestess back, the one who ran into his arms without hesitation. Who loved him endlessly. He scrolled through his contacts until he found Yui's number. He only called her in case of emergencies. When he had no answers and nobody else he could turn to. Miaka's confidant. He clicked the green and waited for the phone to ring.
"Taka?" Yui's cold voice answered. She sounded so hostile, so scary, just like she had back in the book. Back when she was their enemy because of Nakago. He wondered what he could have done to make her so angry. He made a note to apologize to her later for whatever he did to piss her off.
"Yui, is Miaka with you? Is she ok? She just ran out of the apartment, I want her to come home" he asked anxiously. Her hair was still wet from the shower and it was cold, what if she got sick? They needed to talk and he had a lot to make up for, but how was he supposed to do that if she kept avoiding him?
Yui breathed heavily into the phone, her voice tense and frustrated. Was she ok? Had something happened? "Taka, don't call me again. Miaka is fine, but it's clear she doesn't want to speak to you. You should figure that out already" she snapped.
Taka stared at the phone, his eyes wide and worry filling his heart. So Miaka was with her, but what had she said? Why was Yui mad at him and why was Miaka avoiding him? He didn't understand anything. He had a bad feeling about all of this.