The Promise: A Tasuki and Miaka Love Story
By KittyLynne
(All rights to Fushigi Yûgi and its characters belong to Watase Yû /Shogakukan Shoujo Comics/TV Tokyo/ Studio Pierrot / Pioneer Entertainment. I am making no profit from this writing venture; I'm just a poor fan that wants more airtime for Fang Boy.)
Author's note: Spoilers aplenty for TV series and OAVs. Chapter Rating: 14+ for off color language. A big hug and thank you to BlackHawk666 for catching the typographical whoopsie in this chapter!
Chapter One: A Strong But Lonely Heart
Miaka Yuuki made an unannounced visit to the Tokyo apartment shared by her brother and his best friend. She had been given a key when she'd been pressed into plant watering duty for the two bachelors, and had never abused the privilege until today.
Slamming the door shut, she made a beeline for the living room, calling Keisuke's name. Her words and steps came to a screeching halt at the sight of the couple seated on the sofa who had broken off a passionate lip lock to stare at her in shock. Miaka blushed. "I'm so sorry! I thought Keisuke was back from exams…I got a letter from Taka–I didn't know you two were-I'm so sorry!"
Tetsuya Kajiwara smirked as he replaced his Ray Bans. "No worries, it's nothing that a cold shower can't fix."
Yui Hongo elbowed him, and then turned to her best friend with a smile. "You got a letter from Taka? No wonder you're excited!"
The petite brunette smiled wryly. "He's only been gone for six weeks, but it seems like six years! They won't let them use any cyber technology in boot camp-I'm so glad he isn't adverse to writing by snail mail or I'd go crazy!"
"Well don't hover- sit down and open it!" Yui ordered.
"Yes, regale us with the endless soliloquy of love that your sweetheart has composed," Tetsuya added with a straight face.
Yui gave him a look. "Don't you mean 'soliloquy of endless love'?"
"Sure, that's what I meant..."
"Mou, Tetsuya!"
"Sorry." He tweaked a stray lock of her blonde hair and smirked at Miaka as she stuck out her tongue at him. "Please carry on."
"You of all people should want to listen closely, Tetsu-senpai." She said sweetly. "I'm sure you'd like some ideas for more poems for Yui-chan."
Tetsuya lowered his sunglasses and shot her a disgruntled look.
"Oh...you haven't given it to her yet?" Miaka asked, covering her mouth in mock distress. "My bad!"
Yui smiled from ear to ear. "You've written a poem for me, Tetsuya?"
"Well, yeah...sorta."
"You're so sweet!" She beamed at him, blue eyes shining. "No one has ever done that for me."
Patches of dull red appeared on Tetsuya's cheekbones. "It's really not that big of a deal," he mumbled, smoothing a hand over his ruffled brown hair.
"It is to me!" Yui declared. Leaning forward, she planted a loud kiss on his cheek and watched in delight as his blush deepened. "When can I read it?"
"I have a couple more stanzas to write. But what does Taka have to say?" He sent a pleading glance to Miaka, who took pity on her friend.
"Let's find out!" She said.
As she flopped down in the chair opposite the sofa and opened the letter with fumbling fingers, Tetsuya tried to subdue his cynicism. It was no secret to those that knew them best that Miaka and Taka's relationship had become increasingly strained in the passing months. Declarations of undying love may have been enough at the start, but there had to be more going for them than that in the future. In his opinion, Taka had taken a liking to flying without a co-pilot in life. For someone who had fought so hard to be with Miaka, he took a lot about her for granted.
And Miaka...well, she wasn't one to give up on her dreams. She'd hung in there, and made the best of everything so far while Taka did his thing, but even she had limits.
His concerns were confirmed when Yui suddenly grabbed his arm and whispered in his ear. "Something's wrong!"
Tetsuya turned his head, and blanched at seeing the huge tears welling in Miaka's eyes. "Uh-oh." 'Shit. Here we go.'
Yui moved quickly to grasp her friend's arms. "What is it? Is it Taka? Is he all right?"
Miaka's laugh was short and surprisingly bitter for someone who usually looked on the bright side of things. "Taka is fine. Everything's...fine."
The flatness in her voice worried Yui more than tears. "Something is wrong. Don't say it's nothing, because I know better!"
"You know me well." Miaka said, with a failed attempt at a smile. "It seems Taka's been selected to become a part of an elite special operations group in his division."
"Oh!" Yui exclaimed. "That's...good?"
Tetsuya spoke up. "I'd say so. My understanding is new enlistees aren't considered for those kinds of positions."
"Yes, Taka says it's almost unheard of, and it's a huge honor that he was selected." Miaka told him. "He says that he put in for it on his drill instructor's recommendation, but didn't think he'd ever be considered." She hesitated, then continued so quietly her listeners had to lean towards her to hear. "Taking this assignment also will mean that he has to go to the States for special courses. The facility where he'd be living and training is a highly classified location, so we won't be allowed to have any contact for the six months he has to be there."
Yui stared incredulously at her friend. "Six months? I can't believe...aren't there other assignments?"
"Not half as prestigious as this. If he wants to do this kind of thing, it's not a choice, he goes where they send him."
"I see." Yui frowned. "So he's writing to check with you before he accepts the position?"
Wiping her cheeks, Miaka shook her head. "He's already gone ahead and signed on. He says he knew that I'd understand how important it is to him to serve his country, and that this position will relieve all his worries about providing a secure future for us."
Yui's mouth opened and then shut with an audible click.
"He wants me to come and live with him in the States when he finishes his training. We can be married and get housing from the military there." Miaka continued in a monotone. "They will look out for me while he's in the field, and even find a job for me if I want one. After I learn English a bit better I can go back to college."
Yui's laugh held disbelief and irritation. "So what does he expect you to do until then?" Her friend had developed goals and aspirations apart from being Mrs. Taka Sukunami, and it was Yui's opinion that was what would make the relationship stronger. "You stay around Uni for six more months, then drop out once he sends for you? Will you be able to finish your degree? Will your credits transfer to the States?"
"I... don't know." Miaka's hands lifted and fell back into her lap. "He says to look at the larger perspective, that the inconveniences and sacrifices are small compared to the benefits. Being apart will only strengthen our resolve to spend our lives together while it makes it possible for him to take care of me, which is what he was meant to do in this world." She drew in a breath. "He's right, it's not the end of the world, not like when I was wondering every day if he was going to disappear forever. This I can h-handle..."
Tetsuya watched with an aching heart as fresh tears welled in Miaka's eyes. Over the many years that he had known her, he'd come to regard her as the surrogate sister he had never thought he had needed, but dearly loved once she had touched his life. It deeply upset him seeing her this way, although she was the only female he knew besides Yui that actually looked pretty when she cried.
With the demeanor of a benevolent big brother, he'd watched and marveled as Miaka had blossomed from girlish cuteness into a mature beauty, but that was only one obvious change since her time in the book. She'd become much more academically oriented thanks to a new-found ambition to teach, and less prone to fits of clumsiness, thanks to the ballet classes she and Yui had been attending. It had been exciting to see her newfound confidence and her growth as a person, and to listen to her talk of plans for the future that encompassed her goal of making a better life for kids at risk. With her intuitive understanding of what made people tick and her never- say-die spunkiness, she was the perfect candidate to make a difference.
She was a sweet and friendly person, too. When word got out about Taka's extended absence, he was certain it wouldn't be long before he and Keisuke would be engaged in staving off advances from lurking admirers unwilling to take no for an answer. Miaka would keep them all at arm's length as she carried on with her classes and waited for Taka to send for her. And when he did, she would toss aside her plans, quit school and go to America to live the life that Taka wanted for them without any idea of where she fit in. Miaka being Miaka, she would endure, just like she had in the book. But thinking about that past is what had Tetsuya wondering if this sacrifice was necessary.
'Miaka! Your celestial warriors helped and fought hard for you because they all wanted you to realize your own destiny! Hotohori said you'd outgrown the need for their oversight! Tasuki believed you'd win all your battles! What happened in the book shows what one person can do when they are determined to make a difference. How can you be at peace with yourself if you don't fight to finish what you've started?'
He longed to give voice to this protest, but he knew he didn't have the right to make her question Taka's choice, or force her to see she deserved a choice of her own. Amazing to know that the young woman who'd captured the heart of an emperor and three other warriors besides Tamahome would still deny that there was anything special about her to warrant that consideration. Even though she had risked all to save Yui, and devoted herself to Tamahome to the point of making the ultimate sacrifice for him.
Taka had been always been obsessed with protecting and providing for Miaka. With the poor economy, a stint in the service had initially seemed to be a good choice after graduation; two years as an officer on a nearby base with civilian visiting privileges and paid leave was a ticket to a good paying position and an ideal set-up for the two of them as Miaka finished up her Chinese literature studies and primary education degrees at University. This Special Ops gig, however, was an entirely different story. He knew from a cousin's experience that being in a military intelligence program was far from having a family friendly career ...which was why Taka should have discussed all aspects of it with Miaka before accepting. She had a right to know the all of the drawbacks of being the spouse of an operative, and the right to decide for herself if she could live with them.
Catching Yui's eye, Tetsuya glared meaningfully at the letter crumpled in Miaka's hand. She nodded and glared at the letter too as she addressed her friend.
"Miaka, I think you should go and call Taka right now. I'm sure there's a grace period for him changing his mind. Tell him you don't want him to do it!"
"I can't do that, Yui." Miaka replied heavily. "I can't be selfish. It's something he feels he has to do for our greater good, and he's going to do it no matter what I say or how I feel about it." A brief smile curved her lips. "It's an inherited trait, you know. Tamahome was the same way."
Yui frowned. "That doesn't make it okay!"
"Maybe not." Miaka agreed. "But I knew he was that way before, so I have no cause for complaint."
Tetsuya's apprehension deepened. Comparisons between the two men were inevitable, especially after the last epic battle with Tenkou had resulted in the merging of the memories of Tamahome and Taka. It couldn't be easy to be living with someone else's memories, and he sometimes wondered if Taka was trying too hard to live up to them.
"Miaka-chan, I know it's an honor for Taka, but yet I'm sorry this is happening." He murmured, casting about in his mind for something to say that would comfort her. "Keisuke should be back soon. He'll come up with a plan to get you through this."
Miaka gave him a tremulous smile. "I just don't know what I'd do without the three of you."
"We'll always be here for you, Mi-chan." Tetsuya stated. "You're family."
Yui softly agreed with him as she tightened her protective embrace around her dearest friend.
Miaka tried to speak, but could only choke out a simple 'thank you' before lowering her head into her hands.
Above her bowed head, her two friends exchanged glances filled with worry, one thought running their minds.
Taka was determined to make his life's fortune, but ignoring the past could be costly.
To be continued…