I do not own Fushigi yugi or any of the connected characters. Those belong to Yu Watase and not me. Do I really have to put emphasis on that now?
-Ten-Faced Paladin
Fushigi Yugi: Dansei Tsure
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 8: The Aimless Heart
It was a blur of emotion that everyone was heading as they struggled to bring Miaka back to the palace. The young Priestess of Suzaku had collapsed after being saved from thugs and Tamahome dropped a proverbial boulder on Miaka's heart. Nuriko was the one actually carrying Miaka since she was the strongest. It didn't mean that she liked the job though. Tamahome and Matthew were just keeping up behind her. Matthew kept sending glares at Tamahome the whole way back.
"What happened out there?!" Hotohori demanded as he helped put Miaka to bed and the healer looked her over for her sickness. "Look at how she suffers."
"My apologies your majesty," Tamahome sighed. His wound had already stopped bleeding.
"Now tell me what happened!" Hotohri replied, not caring about the apology. "Your future may depend on your reply!"
Matthew watched Tamahome flinched at the sterness in his voice. It was obvious now that he was feeling guilty about what had happened out there. Matthew was to a certain degree as well, but he had arrived too late in the fight to really make a difference. It didn't make him feel any better about it but it was at least a reason to deal with it.
Tamahome tensed slightly as he gave his reply, "She was surrounded by local thugs so I rescued her. That was all."
'Bullshit!' Matthew roared internally. 'What about the part where you crushed Miaka's heart?'
The healer had finally finished his examination while as he turned to face Hotohori and the others. His grim look did not inspire great hopes, "Your majesty, her eminence is not doing well. She is exhausted both physically and mentally. The stress must have been incredible to do this."
Tamahome flinched visibly at this. He knew that he was probably part of the reason that this was happening to Miaka.
"Can she recover?" Hotohori asked desperately.
"I believe that this condition has been building for a while," the healer replied. "A physical recovery is very much possible.but...a mental one will be much harder. I can't say for sure."
"Dammit!" Matthew cursed as he punched the wall. This small action caused everyone to look at him. They all understood his anger, but didn't feel the need to express anything like it. Matthew looked up and saw Tamahome gazing at him. Matthew then felt his blood boil just by seeing his face. "Tamahome, come with me."
Hotohori didn't try to stop them as Tamahome wordlessly followed Matthew out of the room. The young emperor looked up to see a confused Nuriko. She kept loking back and forth between Hotohori and the doorwhay that the two young men exited from.
"They have their own issues to deal with," Hotohori sighed as he turned his gaze back to Miaka. "Let them do as they will for now."
Matthew walked through the hallways until he came out to the main garden. He then came to a stop somewhere in the middle of the area. Tamahome stopped right behind him. the young martial artist waited for a few moments before he decided to speak.
"Well?" he asked. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
Matthew did reply. It's just that he didn't reply with words. The boy from another world quickly whirled around and planted a hard right into Tamahome's face. Tamahome stubled back with a grunt while clutching his jaw. He would be feeling that one tomorrow.
"This is your fault you know," Matthew replied while taking a deep breath. "You had better apologize or I'm going to do that multiplied by one hundred."
"Duly noted," Tamahome grunted while rubbing his jaw. He slumped as felt the guilt finally breaking out of it's dam and appearing in his eyes. "I didn't want to hurt her like that. I just thought that she'd be happier with the emperor so I just decided to let her down. Besides, no one has come out and confessed to me like that! I had no freaking idea what to do!"
"Two things wrong with that little plan you had there genius," Matthew sighed in annoyance as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "The first is that your little reply wasn't all that gentle but if what the doc says is true then no matter what you said besides yes might have made Miaka drop like a rock anyway. The second thing is that you never considered how Miaka feels about Hotohori."
"It's obvious to me," Tamahome replied with a frown. "I saw how they were all over each other in Hotohori's room."
"God you are so dense," Matthew growled in frustration. "I talked to Miaka this morning about that. He came onto her. Miaka doesn't want position or money or anything else that being with the emperor can give. She just wanted you."
Tamahome's head jerked up in surprise, "What?"
"Miaka told me that she isn't in love with Hotohori," Matthew replied. "She wanted to be with you! Though, after this little stunt you pulled I might be wrong about that."
Tamahome began to look downcast as the words that were spoken hit home. Matthew shook his head before walking past him towards the stairs that went inside.
"Don't look so down," Matthew replied. "Miaka's a forgiving person so if you just apologize and explain your reasons I'm sure you'll come around. You even got me and Nuriko backing you up."
"Huh?" Tamahome wondered."Nuriko? Why would she want to help Miaka? She hates her."
"Simple," Matthew laughed. "According to her, Hotohori is her man. If you hook up with Miaka then Hotohri is free for Nuriko to snatch for herself."
"Oh yeah," Tamahome realised as he rubbed his jaw again. "You got a pretty mean punch there. A little training and you'd be a real contender."
"Better watcch out then," Matthew smirked. "If I do turn out to be a celestial warrior then you won't know what hit you."
Matthew then walked inside with Tamahome close behind. Both of them were feeling a little better about the situation. At least now Matthew knew why Tamahome did what he did. A moment of sheer stupidity. Tamahome was also feeling a little better too. He now had some friends who could help him with his situation. Even if one of them were only in it for herself. The two of them walked back into the room where Miaka was resting to see Hotohori still there at her bedside. Nuriko was off to the side somewhere with a mix of a scowl and a worried frown on her face. The scowl was for how Hotohri was fawning over Miaka while the frown was for her worries if Miaka was going to be alright. Both celestial warriors idly noticed the slight bruise forming on Tamahome's jaw along with Matthew's raw right hand. They both decided to keep their mouths closed.
"I don't suppose that it's too much to hope for that she's gotten better in the last few minutes?" Matthew asked sarcastically.
"Unfortunately no," Hotohori sighed as he stood up to look at the two young men. "I was about to have someone find you two. Into my chambers. Now."
Nuriko, Matthew, and Tamahome didn't hesitate in following their friend to his room where he sat at his desk. He sighed deeply before resting his head in his hands. He looked rather depressed and his words just made the depression even more apparent. He looked up to his friends before speking to them.
"While you two were out no doubt resolving your issues with each other, Miaka was talking in her sleep about going home," Hotohori explained. "I am also a little concerned about you Matthew. Are you feeling anything like Miaka right now?"
"Nope," Matthew replied with a shake of his head. "I'm feeling as fit now as when I got here. Then again, Miaka's got a lot more pressure riding on her so I guess I would be fine."
"At least that is some good news," Hotohori sighed. "She's only getting worse and I have no idea what to do."
The strain in Hotohori's voice was echoing just how badly this was tearing him up inside. Here he was, the emperor of Hong-Nan, one of the most powerful people in the country, and he couldn't even help someone who was quickly becoming so precious to him. Everyone was very much silent until Nuriko suddenly got an idea.
"Why don't we just send her home?" asked Nuriko. "Briefly anyway. She might get better and then she can come back."
Tamahome flinched visibly. Matthew could tell that this was going to be a problem for him in the future. He had to admit though, sending Miaka back home might be the best solution right now. back home she was at least surrounded by familiar places and people. She had also mentioned that she wanted to smooth things over with her mom.
"That sounds like a good idea," Matthew agreed. "It might be for the best right now."
"I agree," Hotohori nodded. "But how do we find a way back to her world...wait! Tai Yi-Jun!'
"Who?" Matthew asked in confusion.
"Tai Yi-Jun is the one who gave us 'The Universe of the four Gods!'" Hotohori explained. "If anyone knows how to get Miaka back to her own world then it will be her. I am sure of it."
"I suppose that's something," Matthew nodded.
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Matthew waited outside Miaka's room while Hotohori let her know what they were planning. He could also tell that Hotohori was expressing his feelings to Miaka again through his kind words. Matthew had to hand it to the guy, he wasn't afraid to let other people know how he felt about such things. Down the hall, he could see Tamahome and Nuriko arguing about something. The brawny woman had already pitched a table at him before stomping over to the martial artist and began their little argument. Matthew could see the huge goose egg on Tamahome's from where he was standing.
'That had to hurt,' Matthew snickered to himself just as Hotohori stepped into the hallway.
"How is she feeling?" Matthew asked the young emperor.
"She looks better," Hotohori replied with a sigh. "At least she is awake though. We won't have to travel with an unconcious passenger now."
"There is that," Matthew nodded. "Well, I talk to her a little and see if she feels like chatting."
"A good idea," Hotohori nodded. "You are from her world so she might be a little more open with you."
Matthew quietly stepped into the room where he found Miaka sitting up in her bed. She was looking rather depressed. She was holding her knees up to her chest under the cover of her blankets and her head was reasting on her knees. Matthew just closed the door behind him befoe stepping closer.
"You know," he began. "The depressed look doesn't really suit you."
"I can't really help it right now," Miaka sighed before she looked to Matthew. She noticed a somewhat purple bruise that formed on his right hand. "What happened to your hand. Looks nasty."
"Ah, Tamahome and I had a few words concerning what happened," Matthew sighed as he held up his hand and gazed at the bruise. "I guess I hit him harder than thought."
"You and Tamahome had a fight?!" Miaka gasped, some of her hyperactve attitude returnng. "How badly did he kick your butt?"
"Hey," Matthew snorted n amusement. "I'm not that bad of a fighter. Besdes, I think he let me hit him. He probably felt guilty for what he helped do to you."
"He did?" Miaka wondered. "It was my fault in the frst place. I let myself get all worked up about a character in a book. Where does it get me? My heart broken, that's what."
"Oh come on," Matthew sighed while shaking his head. "Tamahome has some reasons for turning you down like he did. Not all of them were particularly good or even smart ones, but he has his reasons. Besides, you've known him for how long? Almost a week? Relationships don't regularly happen that fast. In Hotohori's case it's because he knew what he was lookng for in a woman. With Tamahome, I'm sure it's because of somekind of personal reason."
Matthew was sorely tempted to tell Miaka what Tamahome had told him. The only reason he didn't is because he didn't want to betray whatever trust Tamahome had put n him when he announced those reasons. Another motive for not telling was that he personally believed that it was up to Tamahome himself to let Miaka know those reasons.
"I guess you have a point. Again." Maka pouted while she slouched even deep than before. "Still, it doesn't make it hurt any less."
That was when tears began to creep into Miaka's eyes again. No knowing what else to do, Matthew went by instinct and wrapped his arms around the sepressed girl. Miaka didn't pull back while she just leaned in closer slightly. Matthew had a slightly red hue on his face at this. He wasn't really used to being this close to a girl to be honest.
"I'm sorry if this is a little akward, but..." Matthew tried to say before he was interrupted.
"No, it's okay," Miaka replied. "I like getting hugs. I want to know though, how did you get so smart anyway? I mean, figuring out Nuriko, Helping me think things through this morning. Where did you get it all? Were you a playboy back in the west?"
"What?!" Matthew gaped as he let go of Miaka to see her revealing a small smile on her face. Realising that he had been tricked, Matthew just sighed. "Vey funny."
Miaka just giggled a little. "Your face was priceless."
"Nice to see at least a small smile on your face," Matthew snickered. "Well, if you must know, I just read a lot of books and use my common sense. It's not that hard when you're looking from the outside I guess. What I want to know is how you have so many friends."
"Huh?" Miaka wondered. "What do you mean? Don't you have a lot of friends too?"
"Not really," Matthew shrugged. "You and Yui are pretty much the only two people who talk to me regularly."
"What?" Miaka gaped. "What are you talking about? Lots of girls talk about you and the boys in the class metion your name every now and then. Everyone talks about you."
"Yeah," Matthew nodded. "They talk about me. I said you and Yui were the ones who actually talked to me regularly. I'm by myself most the time if you hadn't noticed."
"Now that's not right," Miaka frowned. "Me and my friends talk to you all the time. I just thought that you were making conversation."
"Nope," Matthew smirked. "Didn't have anyone else to talk to. Oh I'm sure that your friends don't mind me but I don't have a chance to talk to them as much as I do you and Yui. Maybe most people are afraid of me or it's because I'm foreign or something. I'm not entirely sure about that."
"Wow," Miaka breathed. "I thought I was the only one with serious problems."
"Trust me, you aren't," Matthew smiled. "And since I'm in this world with you then I have a pretty good insight on some of the pressures you have. So don't be afraid to talk if you want. I mean, if what's his name...Keisuke, isn't around then I can lend an ear if you want."
"Thanks," Miaka nodded. "I guess you're right. I'm not really alone here am I?"
"Nope," Matthew replied as he stood up. "So chin up kid. You're headng home soon so just relax and take load off. We'll handle everything for you."
Miaka nodded and Matthew left the room. Now Miaka could really tell why Yui was so adamant about him being a good person. It was because he was. she still thought that he was a jerk sometimes becuse of some of the dumb things he says, but he didn't say them to hurt anyone's feelings. He just sad them to lighten the mood. Yui did tell her that he even made the odd comment about himself. Now that she thought about it, Yui never mentioned anything negative about him. Miaka decided to ponde that or the future. Right now, she just wanted to get some rest.
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Three Days Later...
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Miaka was walking outsde where the horses were being packed. She was feeling well enough to walk now.Talkning to Matthew had relieved a little bit of the pressure she was feeling anyway. Her fever was still there but she didn't want anyone to worry aboout her so she hadn't told anyone about it. She looked to the side and saw Tamahome and Matthew tying the luggage to the horses. Actually, Tamahome was teaching Matthew how to tie the luggage. When he finished the demonstration, Matthew dropped a few Ryo into Tamahome's hands. Nuriko was off to the side looking pretty and doing absolutely nothing. Hotohori was walking past the horses wth hs advisors close behnd.
"But your majesty," one advsor protested. "We really should send a contingent of guards with you just in case."
"Nonsense," Hotohori smiled as he tightened hs wristbands. "We merely wish to inspect the domain on our own. With Tamahome and Nuriok coming along, we will be completely safe."
"True," another advisor nodded. "but your majesty, no matter how common your garments are, your elegence just cannot be hidden."
"You speak the truth," Hotohori laughed heartilly. "So I will not take that as a compliment."
Miaka just sweatdropped at the exchange. There was so much narcissm in the air, one could cut it with a knife. Deciding that she needed to vacate immediately, Maka headed over to the horses to check her things.Unfortunately, she forgot that Tamahome was there and when the young man in question turned to look at her, they both froze in their spots. They were both utterly quiet as they sweatdropped nervously. Finally, the mood was too much to handle and Miaka quickly dashed away. Tamahome just turned around and went back to the luggage, cursing himself for not being able to say anything.
"Smooth move," Matthew remarked from his horse. "You might just get somewhere in about ten years of you keep that up."
"Shut up!" Tamahome snapped. "This is harder than it looks!"
"I'm sure it is," Matthew nodded. "We have the whole trip ahead of us so you have plenty of time to apologize. Just don't screw it up. Otherwise I'll just have to hit you again."
"You can try," Tamahome smirked.
Matthew laughed as he returned to his horse. Soon everyone was gettng their things and mounting up. Hotohori gave his parting words to hs advisors and ministers before the small group set out twoards where they would find Tai Yi-Jun. Miaka had decided to ride with Hotohori, but she was wearing a cloak so no one in the city would recognize her and cause a riot. Tamahome, Nuriko, and Matthew had all managed to get their own horses to ride on. Not that nuriko didn't try to share with the emperor. She was sendng glares at Miaka every now and then. Tamahome was just riding alongside Hotohori and Miaka without saying a word. Miaka had tried to make some conversation with bad jokes but those weren't working out.
"Those two are pathetic," Matthew sghed.
"You're telling me," Nuriko growled. "At this rate they'll never get together and I'll never get my precious Hotohori!"
Things just continued on uncomfortably. The only one didn't seem to notice this was Hotohori. Matthew figured the guy either had a selective attention span or he really was oblivious to that sort of thing. When the sun was finally settng, it was a unanimous decision to camp out at a clearing that was just up ahead. matthew sighed in relief as he slipped off his horse to sooth hs saddle sores. He was about to reach for his bed roll when he was yanked to the side by Nuriko.
"Ow!" Matthew snapped. "What is it?! You almost snapped my arm off!"
"Quiet!" Nuriko hissed. "I have the perfect ploy to get Tamahome and Miaka back together again!"
"Oh I can't wait to hear this," Matthew grumbled.
"It's so simple!" Nuriko insisted. "There's a small sprin nearby. I found it when I was exploring the area. I can just tell Miaka that she can take a bath there and shoow her the way. After that, it's just a simple matter of getting Tamahome to check on her and he'll no doubt see all the wonderful female qualities Miaka has to offer. The he will just have to answer his manly calliings and take advantage of her. To her delight of course. It's genius!"
Matthew just stared at Nuriko like she had just grown a second head, "That has got to be one of the most perverted ideas I have ever heard. Just what makes you so sure that Tamahome will actually do that? I mean, he's not exactly the churning hormones type."
"Oh, he will," Nuriko grinned. "His feeelings for Miaka will show him the way."
"Whatever," Matthew sighed. "I'm just going to get some sleep. If I find Tamahome's dead body tomorrow then I'll know your little plot failed."
Matthew then returned to his luggage and got his bedroll. He unrolled it and set it down by the tre where Tamahome and Hotohori were already resting. Laying back, he watched Nuriko walk over to Miaka and feed her this bit aboout the spring. Apparently Nuriko had made up this marvellous lie about the sprngs having magic healing powers or some load of baloney. Miaka actually bought it hook, line, and sinker. Matthew just snroted as he watched Miaka go. After a few moments, Nuriko walked over to the boys and grabbbed Tamahome by the leg and dragged him off in the direction miaka had went. hotohori, who wasn't actually sleeping, opened his eye to see them go.
"What was that about I wonder?" he spoke out loud.
"A bad idea in action," Matthew replied. "We'll no doubt hear about this later."
"You sound as if you know what is about to happen," Hotohori pointed out.
"It's just another plot cooked up by Nuriko," Matthew sighed. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. It's just a way for Tamahome and Miaka to get over the tension that they have been feeling around each other."
"I had notced that," Hotohori noddeed. "I was hoping that they would resolve it on their own but I guess they needed a push in the right direction after all."
"I guess they did," Matthew agreed. "Tamahome's been feelng pretty depressed about it himself. Blames himself for what happened to Miaka back in the city. I personally don't think he should shoulder all the blame,but it's nce to know he's a decent guy under all the money-grubby attitude of his."
"Hmm," Hotohori nodded.
Suddenly, there was a high pitched scream that cut through the night before a loud splash quickly followed. Hotohori grabbed his sword while Matthew stood up. The two young men dashed in the direction that they heard the scream. Trees whizzed past them as they both feared the worst for the person who made that scream. It was no doubt Miaka. They both continued on until they met up with Tamahome. What was curious about this little encounter was that he was soaking wet.
"Tamahome!" Hotohori called. "Is Miaka alright?"
"She's fine," Tamahome replied. "Just had a scare wth a floating log. She somehow thought of it as a snake."
Matthew couldn't help but notice that Tamahome was showing some of his old attitude again. The foreigner could guess that he had probably made up with Miaka at long last.
"Then why are you wet?" Hotohori asked sternly.
This was when Tamahome becomae evasive, "Uh...funny thing there. In the midst of the screaming and pounding logs, I sorta found out that the log was in the middle of the pool. When I attacked it, I sorta fell in."
Hotohori seemed satisifed as he put hs sword back into it's sheathe. Matthew could see Tamahome's blushing face and he smirked. The red face could be counted towards embarassment about fallng in the pool, but Matthew could teell that it was somethng else. Letting Hotohori go on ahead, Matthew hung back with Tamahome.
"You saw Miaka naked didn't you?" Matthew asked out of the blue.
"What?! No!" Tamahome denied vehemently, his face turnng crimson. "Well, maybe a little."
"Thought so," Matthew laughed as he and the celestial warrior began walking back to camp. "More importantly though, did you manage to apologze for being such a moron?"
"I wasn't being a moron," Tamahome replied. "And yeah, I did. You were right. She is a forgiving person."
Matthew nodded as they both got back to the campsite. They both took ther sleeping spots back and just waited for the two women to return. It wasn't much of a long wait in all honesty. Nuriko and Miaka returned in good time. Nuriko looked a little nervous about something while Miaka looked like she had just caught her brother with his girlfriend or something. Matthew really didn't care at ths point. He was too tired for that. Whatever it was could just wait until morning.
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While the warriors slept, their progress was being watched. The figure gazed at them all curiously.
"So, the priestess of Suzaku wishes to find Tai Yi-Jun does she? Well, you will not be arriving so easily!"
Thus, the figure began to plot. A few ideas had come but the figures gaze had lingered on Matthew for a moment. He was so far, unpredictable. He seemed to have a cool head and looked like he may be able to handle himself in a battle. The other warriors were easy enough to peg in their abilities but this wide-eyed boy was a bit more of a mystery. No doubt his role would become more apparent with time. Likewise wth his skill. Only time would tell.
To Be Continued.
A/N: Chapter 8 is up and ready to rock. Hope you all like this one. I thought I could use this one to give a little more insight into Matthew himself. well, the trip to Tai Yi-Jun is underway and already thngs are going crazy. Nuriko plotting, Tamahome being stubborn, and Matthew just watchng the chaos unfold while Hotohori is somewhat oblivious to it all. Miaka is going to have her hands full.