Sorry for the delay in this chapter, I've been having a hard time getting into the right side of my muse—thank God a published poet told me she'd want to read my published works soon and I felt so thrilled that I wanted to practice and practice writing. Aahahaha. Anyway, thanks for reading this fic, though it's been quite long. Thanks for the wonderful reviews. Hope you continue reading and hope you like this chapter.

Fallenmad: Don't worry, I'm planning to end this fic in nine more chapters so everything will be fast-paced and clear. Hope you'll read through to the end.

Michi: Ahahaha. We'll see if Sai and Yui will still end up together. *vicious laughter*

XxLadyYuixX: Wow, good to know you're starting to like Nakago--I am in love with him but he's so darn hard to write, especially the two of them! (Probably the reason why I'm kinda stuck in JPTM.)

Leah_lover: Hope you like this chapter--it's solely Yui and Nakago here. Sorry for the spoiler. Enjoy reading!

Princess-of-doctors: Ahahaha, I agree and I like the word you used: wishy-washy. I'll use that term in the succeeding chapters okay? :)

Flowerypetal: Absurd that the fic is titled Serendipity, but don't worry, everything will even out soon. Ehehe. Hope you still continue reading!

Disclaimer: Writing Hotohori and Yui in one story is 100% fanfic.

Chapter 16: Nakago?

By Slavedriver2008

The moon was high when I opened my eyes. A familiar image of blue curtains greeted my view. It was dark outside and the room was cold and frigid. The silence rang sharply on my ears, reminding me of the state I was in after the events in the slums of Kutou. I turned away from the window, my body felt like wet cement—heavy, painfully heavy. My eyes were throbbing and I momentarily forgot why. Images surfaced in my thoughts and my heart ached.

Hotohori. Sai. He was not mine anymore.

I closed my eyes and the tears fell again. How can everything end so soon? Why did people have to always come between us? Why can't they give us at least a day of peace? I was crying again. I turned sideways and clutched the linen near my face, trying to control my sobs. I slapped him last night and told him I hate him. He probably hates me too. He hates me. The possibility clasped my heart and I wanted to die then and there. It hurt so much.

Footsteps emanated from the direction of the windows but I didn't give a damn. I was in pain again, the way I always was inside the book. And another Suzaku sei caused it. I winced when I realized I was comparing. Damn, when will I grow out of the book? When will I stop looking back with so many negative emotions? Why did I have to let the past events affect me?

I've grown up, I'm no longer the Yui who would hurt her bestfriend just to have her revenge. I'm no longer the girl who would foolishly follow her heart and willingly let herself be used. Well…I thought I changed. Looking back on what happened to Sai and the current sadness enveloping me, I realized I was still the same—stupid, restless, pathetic.

Weak.

A big hand wrapped around my closed fist and strong arms wrapped around me. Someone lied beside me and embraced me gently. My eyes widened, the scene was too familiar. A head leaned to me and kissed me gently on the temple.

"Don't worry, I'm here," a deep familiar voice whispered and a familiar rush pervaded my body. Was it…? "I'm sorry I could not protect you sooner…Yui-sama…" I turned to him, my eyes overflowing with tears, and when I met his warm gaze, the tears seemed to have rushed out more.

"Nakago?"

The exact replica of my former warrior smiled softly and I reached for his face to know if he was indeed alive, if it was really him on top of me, smiling and looking warmly. He gently touched my face and brushed through the tears. I closed my eyes, savoring the warmth of his fingers on my wan skin. He leaned slowly to plant a kiss on my forehead.

"How are you feeling now?" he whispered and I looked back, thinking of someone else.

"Is he hurt?" I blurted out and Nakago looked quizzically. "He ran after me. He called me," I whispered beyond my control. Why was I thinking of Sai? I should be thinking of Nakago. He's holding me now, making me feel better. And he said he wanted to protect me. Stop thinking of a Suzaku sei, I told myself, but I could not stop. "He probably hates me now…I hurt him…" My lips trembled and Nakago looked back with concern.

"Shhh…he's okay. Can I do anything to relieve the pain?" he asked continuously and if I was not in my present state, I would have laughed with the panic in his voice. Nakago never panicked, let alone allow emotions become evident in his voice. I wanted to berate myself for thinking of someone else. I should focus on Nakago. Him and only him. I was in love with him right? He was the greatest love of my life.

It was unbelievable. I never thought the day would come when Nakago would show himself in this world and hold me like the old times. His caresses, his stares, his voice—everything was so nostalgic and bittersweet. Just like before, he held me when my heart was yearning for someone else. How can we be in the same situation in the book? Why hadn't he appeared earlier? If he came back sooner, I wouldn't have fallen for Sai. I wouldn't have been hurting now. I would have been kissing the former shogun and making love to him the way I've always wanted to.

Fate was so cruel.

As cruel as the time I entered the book and became Seiryuu no miko instead of being a Suzaku priestess. As vicious as to let me be attacked and stripped of clothes on the streets. As unkind as the night I woke up with a terrible pain in my wrist and a brokenness that would never heal. The universe had not conspired to give me a happy life, both in the book and in this lifetime. And now, more than making me suffer, fate was teasing me with two loves that can never be mine.

"Can you…hold me the way you used to…?" I asked in a low voice. It was the only thing I wanted now, Nakago and his strong arms. A smile spread on his lips and his blue eyes, that used to be so cold, sent warmth through my body. He slowly pulled me closer in the bed and I relaxed in his arms. His fingers brushed through my hair and planted soft kisses at the top of my head. It was so comfortable that sleep consumed me after a few minutes. And I slept peacefully even though I was grieving.

In my dreams, someone else was comforting me—a man with long brown hair and deep hazel eyes, who always fueled a heat even within me even without lifting a finger.

A/N: A dramatic chapter reminiscent of Yui's Seiryuu no miko days. Was thinking of putting additional scenes but I think a solo Yui-Nakago scene would be perfect after what happened last chapter. Hope you like this chapter, though. Will update soon. :)