Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yugi.
Saiai
Chapter 2: Hope
Chichiri, now known as Ri Hojun, was on his way to a new exhibit in his recently purchased museum.
He had no idea why he had purchased the museum. It was small and was located miles away from any major cities. Nevertheless, he felt that it was his obligation to appear at the opening day of the exhibit, for formality's sake.
Ri Hojun sat in his limo and sighed in boredom. He really hated making public appearances; people always stared at his scar in fear and disgust. He would have sent a substitute, but he had felt an unusual pull to go, so he had gathered his courage and went on his unhappy way.
At the museum, the previous owner was anxiously pacing the entrance. Keisuke Yuki had built the museum after Taka had died, and gave Miaka a job as the head tour guide, Taka had had no life insurance, so she was left with nothing. Keisuke knew she needed a job, and wanted to keep a close eye on her. He knew she was almost beyond any hope. Unfortunately, he had had to sell it due to financial difficulties. He had, surprisingly, gotten an offer from a big shot company owner from the city, and said big shot had let him continue running it and allowed him to keep all of his employees. He was very nervous now that the man was appearing at the museum, hoping that he had done a good enough job so he could keep it running. Keisuke wasn't so much worried about himself, as he was Miaka.
Miaka had been barely holding on, keeping her act together only as much as she had to. It had been two years since Taka's death.
Her son, Hoshi, had become a very serious and quiet boy. He preferred staying inside and cleaning up the house to playing outside. Her daughter, Tania, was a very happy baby that toddled along after her brother. Miaka often was to distraught to take care of her children, so Hoshi became self-sufficient and took care of his baby sister to the point that Tania was unaware of her mother, only succeeding in making Miaka even more distraught.
Miaka's only escape from her personal hell was her job. Working was the only thing that could make her forget her terrible misfortunes. Unfortunately, after work, she became extremely depressed to the point that she wanted to kill herself. When Keisuke had told her that their employer was coming to the museum she worked on pushing all her feelings aside and concentrated on making a good impression for her employer.
As Miaka waited at the front desk of the museum, checking her appearance for the umpteenth time in her small mirror, Ri Hojun's limo pulled up in front of the museum. Miaka's stomach clenched and she nervously smoothed her skirt, putting on her best smile.
Ri Hojun stepped out of his limo and made his way to the door, which Keisuke was holding open.
"Hojun-san, welcome," Keisuke said extending his hand.
"Thank-you, Yuki-san. I am happy to be here," Ri replied happily, shaking Keisukes hand.
"Thank you, sir. Please come this way and my head tour guide will show you the new exhibit." Keisuke led him to where Miaka was waiting.
When Miaka saw Ri, she was taken aback. He was Chichiri! Then she frowned, "No," she thought, "it's not him. He's in the book." She then resumed smiling and bowed. "Welcome, Hojun-san. My name is Miaka. I will be your tour guide this afternoon."
When Ri saw her face as she straightened out of her bow, he felt a jolt and memories came flooding in—memories of being a celestial warrior, and of Chichiri.
Chichiri blinked and shook his head. He looked again at Miaka and felt a surge of protectiveness and compassion overwhelm him.
"Sir? Would you like to start the tour?" Miaka asked.
"Yes please, Miaka-san," Chichiri said, remembering to be formal. "This is a private tour, correct?"
"Y-yes, sir," Miaka said, blushing slightly.
"Then by all means, proceed," Chichiri said extending his hand in front of him.
"Right. This way, please," Miaka said and led him to the door that led to the large exhibit. The exhibit was about Ancient China, focused mainly on the dynasties that had ruled the country. Since there was so much history to cover, the exhibit spanned through half of the museum.
"Do you like it, Chi—sorry—sir?" Miaka asked, blushing. She had almost called him Chichiri!
"What were you about to call me, Miaka?" Chichiri asked, smirking.
Miaka blushed, "Chichiri, sir. You remind me of someone I knew a long time ago. I'm sorry."
"It's okay Miaka. I am Chichiri, no da," Chichiri said examining a display about the Qin Dynasty.
"What? How? When? Why?" Miaka asked, confused and about to cry.
" I came to save you. Suzaku sent me, no da," Chichiri explained, looking away from the display
"Save me? From what?" Miaka asked, her eyes filling with tears. Did he know?
"From yourself, mainly. He told me about Tamahome"
Miaka let out a sob and turned away from him. Chichiri embraced her from behind, "I know it hurts. I'm here now. Let it all out," Chichiri whispered in her ear.
Miaka turned around and put her face against his chest and let out loud sobs of anguish, pouring out her heart to the man she had trusted and loved as her celestial warrior.
Chichiri felt her pain and embraced her tightly, almost crying, himself, because of her pain. Then he began to feel other emotions, ones that were very unfit for the situation, and he pushed them back.. His purpose was to protect and watch over her, not to have frivolous feelings toward her.
Miaka felt strangely comfortable in his arms and cried all her sorrows out. She suddenly felt as if she were betraying Tamahome. She pushed away from Chichiri and cried, "No Chichiri, don't touch me! Leave me alone. I'll be fine."
"Miaka, please, I meant only to comfort you, nothing more." Chichiri said, pushing back feelings of regret and longing.
"Good. Because I know Tamahome is waiting for me. He's alive, Chichiri, he's just got to be alive!" Miaka cried.
Chichiri saw what Suzaku had meant by she was killing her self over his death. "I just want to help you, Miaka. Tamahome has, sadly, passed on and Suzaku can't stand to see you in such aguish and despair, no da. Please let me help you, Miaka!" Chichiri begged and grabbed her hand.
"No! Leave me alone! I don't need your help! Go away!" Miaka yelled, and pushed him away before running off.
"Miaka! Please wait!" Chichiri shouted, running after her.
He found her curled in a ball on the ground, crying. "Miaka, please let me help," Chichiri said and wrapped his arm around her.
"Oh, Chichiri! Why didn't Suzaku just revive Tamahome?" Miaka cried.
Slight anger clouded Chichiri's mind. "I don't know, so you'll just have to deal with me, no da. But you need to let me help you," Chichiri said.
"No! I don't need help! Why does no one understand?! I'm fine go away!!" Miaka cried and pushed Chichiri to the ground, and ran back into the exhibit.
"Miaka! Please!" Chichiri yelled, running after her.
"No! If Suzaku wanted to help me he should have sent Tamahome back to me!" Miaka yelled.
"Miaka! You're killing yourself!" Chichiri yelled, catching up with her, grabbing her by the arms," Think about your children! How do you think they feel?! Having a mother who isn't able to care for them, that must be hard for them! Their Tamahomes children! How do you think he feels about you leaving them alone while you seep in despair?!" Chichiri yelled, slightly shaking her, his anger clouding his judgement.
"Let me go! How would you know what Tamahome would want?! Leave my children out of this!" Miaka yelled beating his chest with her fists.
"How do I know? Because he was my friend Miaka. He saved my life, now in return I'm going to save his beloved. Even if I have to do it by force!" Chichiri said calmly.
Miaka looked at him with hurt in her eyes. "No, I won't let you. Just leave me and my family alone! Go back to the book!" she yelled.
"No, I won't. As a celestial warrior I must protect my priestess. Tamahome would have wanted you taken care of by someone he could trust. I will protect you."
"I am no longer Suzaku's priestess, I gave up that right when I bedded Tamahome and became his wife." Miaka said without emotion.
"No you will always be the Priestess of Suzaku, until the day you die." Chichiri said. "Suzaku sent me to help you. Tmahome was your beloved. I'm not asking you to forget him, I'm just going to help you with the pain. Trust me, he would have wanted you to be happy."
"I can't forget Tamahome," she sniffed, " Bu if it's what he would have wanted, then fine."
"And your children? Will you get through this for them as well? I'm sure they love you." Chichiri said.
"No, Tania doesn't even know who I am. Hoshi..He must hate me by now." Miaka whispered, new tears beginning to flow.
"Then let me help you. I'll help you to reconnect with them. Please, Miaka let me help you." Chichiri begged.
"A-alright, I'll try, if it's what he would have wanted for us." Miaka said giving in finally.
Chichiri breathed a sigh of relief.
"Great! I'll help you through this, Miaka, I promise! Should I come over to your house?" Chichiri asked, excited that she had given in.
"I have a small apartment—just two bedrooms. It was all I could afford," Miaka confessed sheepishly.
"I'll get a house and I'll help you through this," Chichiri said.
"Only as friends. I'll let you help me only as a friend, nothing more," Miaka said.
"Of course as a friend. Where would you like to live?" Chichiri asked, his shoulders drooping slightly.
"The country, the middle of nowhere. Where I can see the stars." Miaka whispered.
"Okay! Now let's go inform the others," Chichiri said, and got up, dragging her behind him. Miaka smiled slightly, seeing part of the happy-go-lucky monk she used to know.
Chichiri informed his driver that he was going to buy a house in the countryside for his new friend. Miaka hurriedly informed Keisuke as to what was going on. Keisuke completely understood, and was very relieved that help had finally come for his sister, and he prayed that she would accept Chichiri's help. He began to feel hope for the first time in a long time.
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A/n: Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter! Oh, and I took all the annoying notes and corrections out of Chapter One, so please go back and re-read it if you can.
If you noticed, Chichiri's "No da's" were a bit lax, because the situation didn't seem appropriate for them. Thank you!