Kida: Am I the only one that wants to hurt Tamahome?!
Naruto: No! I wanna help you! Believe it!
Kida: Okay, fox boy! Let's go kick some ass!
Hotohori: I get why you want to hurt him...but I sense another reason.
Kida: Read and find out, my hot friend!
Mitsukake: Kida Tenshi does not own Naruto or Fushigi Yuugi. She only owns Aika Hitsubasa and any future OCs. Please enjoy.
Tamahome's personality had already been changed Nakago's dose of Kodoku, even as Lad Aika eagerly awaited their reunion. Tamahome had seemingly forgotten everything and engaged Tasuki in a fierce, nearly fatal battle.
"Goodbye…" Aika whispered as her tears stream down her face. Using Chichiri's magical powers, the Lady Aika was able to break through the barrier and return to Konan.
"Tamahome?" Yui asked concerned when she saw his tears. However, memories of the Lady Aika remained deep inside Tamahome's heart which Nakago's poison could not erase.
~0~
"Hotohori received Chichiri's report of all that had occurred. He was shocked to hear the Priestess had been injured by Tamahome," Sai read.
"Yeah, well, he's not alone," Naruto muttered.
~0~
"Chichiri, are you completely certain of what you just told me?" Hotohori asked, not wanting to really believe Tamahome would do such a thing. Chichiri frowned. "Tamahome's not ever coming back to Konan? Is that what you are telling me?" Everyone looked down or upset at that. "And it was Tamahome who caused the wound to Aika's arm. I just cannot believe it," Hotohori said looking down.
"Don't forget the wound in her heart, Kit," Kurama said looking down with his ears flat against his head.
"Sire," Mitsukake said standing, getting everyone's attention. "It's possible it could be an internal manipulation. Kurama, you said that there was a strange scent in Tamahome's blood," he said.
"Yeah, it was dark. It almost reminded me of the darkness someone else I knew had," Kurama replied thinking of how Sasuke was. "Why?"
"I think Tamahome may have swallowed a Kodoku as well as be under some spell. And if that's the case, I'm afraid I cannot heal him," Mitsukake stated.
"Kodoku? Then that is why Aika did that," Hotohori frowned deeply as he remembered her crying in his arms.
"I told Tamahome 'goodbye'….forever…" Aika whispered through her tears. Hotohori sighed as he covered his eyes.
'How can this be?' He asked. Kurama sighed a bit and looked at Mitsukake.
"Come with me so you can heal Aika's arm," he murmured while Mitsukake nodded and followed him to Aika's room. "Hey, Kit, Mitsukake's here to heal your arm," Kurama said pushing the door open. Aika looked at them and nodded. Mitsukake knelt down next to her and began healing her arm. Chiriko had followed and was sitting at the little table in her room.
"There you go, Priestess," Mitsukake smiled at her. "You'll be fine now," he said before standing.
"Thank you, Mitsukake," Aika murmured as she rubbed her arm. "Please be sure to heal Tasuki as best as you can too, okay?" She smiled as Niko jumped up to Mitsukake's shoulder. Mitsukake looked at her and saw her smiling face. "What is it?"
"Never mind," Mitsukake replied as Chiriko looked between the two. "Just get some rest now," he said as he left, Niko meowing and waving goodbye. Chiriko smiled at Aika.
"Uh, um, tell me a melody you'd like to hear and I'll play it for you, okay?" He said holding up his flute.
"Uh…well…I-I'm not sure that's a good idea," Aika replied.
"Huh? Why's that?" Chiriko blinked.
"Where I'm from, we kind of have different styles of music. I don't really know anything from here and you don't really know anything from there, so…" she trailed off.
"Oh, I see. How about a type then? Folk music, lullabies…" Chiriko suggested. Aika smiled a bit at him.
"There was a melody you played before we met in that village. It was beautiful, soft and sweet…can you play that one maybe?" She asked.
"Sure, but why that one?" Chiriko asked curious.
"The way it sounded remind me of how my mother used to play," she replied. Chiriko smiled at that and nodded before he began playing the melody.
~0~
In Tasuki's room, Tasuki cried out in pain as Mitsukake wrapped his wounds. Tasuki's left arm and leg were wrapped with splints and he almost looked like a mummy.
"Can't you do that a little softer?! It feels like your tryin' to kill me!" Tasuki shouted at him.
"You have three broken ribs, a left arm and leg broken, multiple contusions and sprains all of over. If you can live through that then nothing I do will kill you," Mitsukake stated. He checked his bag then. "I'll heal you once my power's regenerated."
"That's no excuse for not treating me like a human being," Tasuki said to him. "Wait a sec, what about Aika? You used your power to cure her, didn't you?"
"I can only heal her exterior wounds, not the damage that's been done to her heart," Mitsukake replied. Kurama sighed as he heard him.
"Too bad you couldn't," he whispered before going to find the others.
~0~
Aika was lying in bed as she listened to Chiriko play the flute. She thought about what had just happened with Tamahome. It would be something she'd never forget. The doors opened and she saw Hotohori, Nuriko, and Chiriko. Nuriko was holding Kurama in his arms. Chiriko had stopped playing his flute.
'Hotohori,' Aika thought as Hotohori walked over, Chiriko standing up.
"Don't let us bother you, Chiriko," Hotohori said to the other Warrior. He made it to Aika and frowned with worry.
"Hotohori, I'm sorry. It's hopeless, now we can't summon Suzaku," Aika said with an apologetic smile.
"Never mind all that. The only thing that matters to me is that you recover," Hotohori said to her. Aika sat up.
"I'm okay. After all, Mitsukake healed my arm," Aika said. She wanted to ignore the other pain so she put on a fake smile.
"That's not what I meant," Hotohori frowned. Aika saw the others frowning sadly at her.
"W-wait, why does everyone look so serious, huh? I mean, come on now, I'm fine now, really. There's nothing no one can do about Tamahome so I've given up on him. I'm perfectly fine now!" Aika said before letting out a small giggle. Kurama let his ears flatten against his head, knowing she wasn't fine at all.
"You do not have to force yourself to be cheerful," Hotohori said making Aika frown and look down at her hands.
"What are you talking about, Hotohori? I'm not forcing myself," she said to him, obviously in denial.
"You cannot be perfectly fine, can you? For you, Tamahome has been-."
"I'm fine! I said I was fine so drop it!" Aika finally snapped. "Can't you just leave me alone? There's even times where I like to be by myself! As a matter of fact, I've grown accustomed to it!" Hotohori looked at her with hurt in his eyes making Aika frown and look at him with guilt. "I-I'm sorry…" Hotohori walked away. "Hotohori…"
"Ah, well, we better go too, Aika," Nuriko said before everyone else left. Aika looked down at her hands.
"Hotohori, I'm so sorry…" Aika whispered thickly.
~0~
Outside the room, Hotohori was looking at the wall, his fist on the wall.
"Uh, your Majesty?" Nuriko asked. He then jumped when Hotohori punched the wall.
"I'm so ashamed I can do nothing for her. She's been hurt badly and is in so much pain and I had no idea what to say to her. It grieved me to see Aika suffer, yet force herself to smile and still when I try to offer her some comfort, I did nothing to soothe her spirits. I only made it worse," he said ashamed in himself. Kurama sighed a bit.
"Hotohori, do not blame yourself. Right now, what she needs is space…and possibly a fuzzy cuddle buddy," Kurama added with a hit of a joke. He then frowned. "Aika's been through so much and I've seen it when I was nothing but a spirit in a young boy's body. She lost her mother, then her father, then her friend Sasuke left…all that pain she did her best to lock away is coming back to her because Tamahome left her. I know it's not his fault, but he still caused her this pain. All I can say now is that we need to give her some space. I'll go be her stuff animal for the time being," he said jumping out of Nuriko's arms and going back into Aika's room. He walked over to her and jumped onto the bed. "Hey, Kit. Need a fuzzy animal to hug?" He asked. Aika looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"Kurama…."
"Come on. Can you resist a fox with nine tails? And here I thought you said nine tails were better than one…I'm sure Shukaku got pretty pissed at that," Kurama said making Aika smile slightly. She nodded to him and opened her arms. Kurama crawled into her lap and she hugged him. "I'm always here for you, Kit. I may have been a jerk when you met me, but I've learned to open up over the past couple of years," he said to her. Aika laid down as she held Kurama to her.
"Thank you, Kurama," Aika whispered.
~0~
"Ow," Tamahome said before hissing as Yui attended to his wounds.
"Are you all right, Tamahome?" Yui asked concerned.
"Yeah, the scratches aren't that bad, really," Tamahome assured. He then punched his fist into his other hand. "Just a few more minutes and I would have killed that guy Tasuki," he gritted his teeth.
"But even if you had killed Tasuki, Chichiri, and Kurama, you wouldn't have killed Aika, would you?" Yui asked him.
"What are you talking about, Yui?" Tamahome asked her.
"It's true. Or then what was all your crying about, huh? It was because Aika was leaving you, wasn't it?" She asked him. Tamahome grabbed her. "Tamahome!" She was suddenly pinned underneath him.
"Remember what I told you? I belong to you," he said as she blushed. He then leaned down and kissed her.
'It's true that Tamahome belongs to me now,' she thought as she turned her head while he began kissing her neck. 'But this Tamahome is…' Tamahome pulled back.
"Goodbye," Aika's voice rang in Tamahome's head. He then saw her heartbroken brown eyes in his head. "Goodbye, Tamahome. Goodbye, my love." Tamahome got off Yui and sat on the bed. Yui sat up to look at him and Tamahome stood up.
"I'm sorry, Yui," Tamahome said to her before walking away. Tamahome made it outside the room and looked at the hair clip that belonged to Aika. He remembered how it kept the bangs out of her right eye. He clutched it in his hand, gritting his teeth. 'Why? Why did I suddenly see that girl's face? I'll have to kill her right away in order to rid my system of her. I better find her.'
~0~
Aika had changed out of her pajamas was now dressed in a pale red sweater and black shorts. Her raven hair was tied up in a ponytail, her bangs over her right eye. Kurama was asleep on her bed.
'Hotohori, he must be so mad now after the terrible way I spoke to him,' she thought sadly. She got up and left the room. She was walking around the palace, listening to the rain and wind. 'What am I going to do now? Tamahome and Yui aren't coming back. I won't be able to summon Suzaku. Now I won't ever be able to go back to my own world,' she thought. Aika then stopped when she heard a door squeaking. She looked over at the room. 'This is where Tamahome stayed,' she thought. She walked in and over to his bed. She then picked up the old dark blue tunic he wore when they met. 'Tamahome's clothes.' She inhaled the scent as she held it close. 'They still smell like him,' she thought as she saw his once warm face. There were now tears running down her cheeks. "A lie…it's a lie…" she threw his shirt down. "I'm not fine at all! From the moment I first looked at him, he was always there for me! I was able to survive in this world because Tamahome was beside me, but not anymore," she softly sobbed before kneeling down, her head in her arms that rested on the bed. "Just how much more heart break do I have to endure?!" She shouted to no one.
~0~
Nuriko was walking, carrying a thing of tea and food on a tray. HE looked out at the rain.
"This rain won't let up any time soon. It looks like a real storm out there," he mused before going to Aika's room. "Aika, I brought you some food. I had them prepare some of your favorite dishes for you," he smiled as he walked in. His smile vanished when he saw Aika wasn't in her room. "Aika…" he let the tray drop and hit the ground which made Kurama wake up. He rubbed his eyes and saw Aika was gone making him look around.
"Aika? Aika, where are ya, Kit?" He asked before seeing her night clothes on the bed. He looked at Nuriko who looked just as horror stricken ask he did.
~0~
"So you think that Aika has disappeared?" Hotohori asked urgently. "Are you sure?"
"We can't find her anywhere, Sire. And she left this note," Nuriko said sadly as he handed him the note. Kurama was pacing, letting out reckless growls. The only thing that the note said was 'goodbye'.
"Could she be-?" Hotohori stood up and walked out of the room quickly. He began running. "Please Aika, don't hurt yourself!"
~0~
Aika walked through the rain, her arms crossed as her hands rubbed her arms, subconsciously trying to keep herself warm.
"Just promise me you won't go near that book again, okay?" Kakashi asked her.
'Kakashi, this is what I get for not listening to you. I wanted to see Naruto at least one more time, but now I can't go home. I've got nowhere to go,' Aika thought.
"Time to die," Tamahome smirked before going to attacking.
"I don't have anyone anymore," Aika said with tears. She suddenly saw she was by a pond that had rough moving currents. 'I-I just can't stand this pain anymore. Mama…' she thought thinking of her beautiful mother. 'Papa…' she thought of her warm hearted father. 'Naruto…' the blonde knuckle head she thought of as a brother. 'Yui…' the girl she thought of as a sister. 'And…' "Tamahome," she whispered thinking of the man she loved. "They've either died or abandoned me or I won't be able to see them again…it hurts so much," Aika choked out. She walked into the water and kept walking until she was underneath.
"Aika!" She heard someone yell.
'Hotohori…I-I'm so sorry,' Aika thought before she sunk further into the water. One the land, Hotohori was looking for the Priestess.
"Can you hear me, Aika?! Aika, where are you?! Aika!" He shouted as he made it to the wild pond. He suddenly saw a shoe slip out. A black slipper with a small buckle on it. His eyes widened. "Aika!" He gasped. He dove into the water and began searching for her. He suddenly found her trapped in seaweed and went to get her out.
~0~
Nuriko bent down and picked up the Emperor's crown.
"I know this belongs to his Majesty," he said.
"Come on, Kit. Where are you?" Kurama asked with worry from Mitsukake's arms.
~0~
Hotohori got her out of the seaweed and hoped she would wake up. Her head went slack making his eyes widen.
'Aika! Don't give up! You must not die!' He thought as he held the woman he loved close. 'Suzaku, give me strength!' He prayed until his symbol started glowing. 'I care not what happens to me! But Aika must not die!' He said before his symbol shined brightly in the water. "AIKA!" He screamed before there was an explosion in the water. The other saw the glowing light from the water.
"What is that?!" Chiriko asked surprised. They watched in awe as a glowing orb came out of the water. In the orb was Hotohori carrying Aika.
"Aika! His Highness!" Nuriko said shocked. The orb landed by them as the water calmed down. Nuriko ran over and knelt down by them. "Aika," he said with worry. Kurama ran over as well.
"Come on, Kit. Speak to me!" He pleaded. Chichiri ran over and began checking her over. He smiled.
"She'll be all right. She's still alive and breathing," he assured. Hotohori smiled in relief and held Aika close to him.
"Thank goodness."
~0~
Aika soon woke up to find herself in bed. She was surprised to see herself there.
"Aika," a man said. Aika looked over to see Hotohori.
"Hotohori…"
"Everything is all right now, Aika. You have made it through safely," Hotohori softly smiled.
"What happened?" Aika asked, a bit out of it yet. "Where am I?" She asked. She suddenly remembered she had been drowning in the water and sat up quickly. "I'm still alive after all that?! How can it be?!" She asked Hotohori. The Emperor was blushed because…well…Aika was nude. Aika suddenly realized and turned dark red as she covered her chest with the blanket. Hotohori smiled.
"I am relieved to see you so energetic again," he said to her.
'I can barely remember hearing a voice calling for me just before I passed out. Was it him?' Aika though to herself.
"Aika!" The familiar voice shouted.
'He looks pale. Did he save me? After all the mean things I said to him?' Aika thought as tears being to flood her eyes, a light blush on her cheeks. She threw herself into his chest. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry for being such an idiot," she softly sobbed. Hotohori wrapped his arms around her.
"It's all right, Aika. Please don't cry now," he said soothingly to her. He pulled back and cupped her cheeks. "I will spend my entire life protecting you, I'll stay with you always. I want you here with me, sharing all my days."
'Hotohori…' Aika thought with a light blush.
"I have long had to control my feelings for you, but I will not any longer. Now there is nothing left to stand in the way of them," Hotohori smiled gently as he pulled her into his arms. "Let me try to help you forget Tamahome because I love you dearly, Aika." Aika pulled away to look at him.
"Hotohori, I have to-." Hotohori then kissed her making her eyes widen. 'Hotohori,' her eyes softened and Hotohori took her hand into his that rested on his chest. Aika closed her eyes as she melted into the kiss. 'I…I have to….'
~0~
While it was raining outside, Tamahome had made his way to Konan. He soon made it to a small cliff that over looked the kingdom.
"So this is the capitol of Konan, huh? This time I'll make sure I kill her. Prepare to die, Priestess of Suzaku," he smirked.
~0~
Hotohori pulled away from the kiss to see Aika's warm brown eyes and the blush on her cheeks.
'Hotohori…'
"Did you know I have always been in love with you? And I want…I want you to love me," Hotohori said with a soft smile.
"Hotohori," Aika said with surprised. Hotohori bent his head down and began kissing her neck. "Hotohori…" she suddenly thought of her and Tamahome making her eyes widen a bit. They softened and she gently pushed him away. "I'm sorry. I'm not ready yet," she said to him.
"Of course, I can understand that," Hotohori assured as he then sat in his chair next to the bed. "You should think it over carefully. I shall stay here with you," he said as he began stroking her hair. "So just relax and get some sleep," he added as he gently took her hand into his. Aika smiled softly at him.
'His warm hands, his gentle voice, Hotohori really does care for me. I've always known it, but I never acknowledged it or responded to him before. I should just…return his feelings. It's the best thing to do. Then I'll be able to forget…I'll be able to forget him,' Aika thought of Tamahome and did her best to keep the tears away as she closed her eyes.
~0~
Nuriko was in his room, watching the rain in his window.
"Oh your Majesty, you really are a noble hero," he said. "That's not it…it would be better…" he imagined himself in Aika's place before suddenly acting like a fan girl while the others sweat-dropped at the crossdresser. "Maybe I should try drowning myself." Tasuki laughed.
"You would still be under water!" He said to him.
"But if Tamahome never comes back here, we can't summon Suzaku, right?" Chiriko asked worried. Nuriko had punched Tasuki into a wall making Kurama laugh. "What'll we do?"
~0~
A Konan soldier walked up to the other.
"Okay, your shift's over," he said. The other soldier nodded and began walking away. He was suddenly grabbed making him groan. "Huh? Who's there?!" He asked before he was suddenly knocked out by Tamahome. Tamahome smirked and began walking.
~0~
"And you allowed Tamahome to go to Konan?!" Yui glared at Nakago. "Why?!"
"He wanted to the assignment. He volunteered for it," Nakago replied.
"I'm going to kill the Priestess of Suzaku," Tamahome said with determination.
"I'm hoping he'll kill all the rest of the Suzaku Seven, especially their Emperor Cai Pi, better known as Hotohori. It occurred to me since he's one of Suzaku's followers, any barriers they have won't affect him," Nakago stated.
"You're lying! You know you plan to use him for this from the very beginning!" Yui glared at him.
"Your words wound me," Nakago smiled a bit before placing his hands on her shoulders. "It was what you wished for, remember? I brought him here for your sake. Everything I've done has been to make you happy," he said to her. Yui was surprised before glaring and slapping him.
"Do you really think that this sort of business makes me happy?!" She asked before running away. Nakago held his throbbing cheek before smirking.
~0~
Aika had fallen asleep after talking with Hotohori. She slowly woke up and her eyes widened when she saw Hotohori sleeping, his head on her pillow. She then remembered why he was in here and smiled a bit.
'Now I remember. Hotohori stayed with me,' she thought before seeing he was still holding her hand making her smile a little more. 'I'm surprised he kept right on holding my hand. He really does look sweet when he's asleep.' She smiled softly when Hotohori opened his eyes with a soft smile of his own. 'Maybe I could fall in love with someone like him.' She placed her other hand on his, gently rubbing the back with her thumb. "Hotohori, I've thought about what you've said….and I think I might be ready to-."
"Highness!" A councilor called from outside Aika's room. "The guard reports that a traitor has slipped inside the imperial palace!" He reported from outside with the two guardsmen.
"A traitor?" Hotohori asked urgent.
"Your Majesty, according to my men, it's a Warrior of the Suzaku Seven. They say it's Master Tamahome, Sire," the councilor said. Aika's eyes widened as she put on her robe.
'Tamahome!' She thought. She gasped a bit. "He's here to try and kill me," she said remembering how Tamahome had been trying to kill her before. Hotohori stood up, his hand holding Aika's wrist surprising her. "Hotohori?!" She was suddenly pushed into a room and saw Hotohori close the door. "Hotohori!" She called as Hotohori locked the door. "What are you doing?!"
"Aika, stay in there until I have dealt with this. Am I clear? Do not open this door for anyone," Hotohori said firmly. "I will protect you with my life. Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
'Hotohori, please don't do what I think you're going to do!' Aika thought panicked. "Hotohori! Wait!" She banged on the door. Hotohori just walked away.
'Aika, I cannot forgive anyone who hurt you. No matter who it is. Even one whom Heaven has fated to be my friend,' Hotohori thought.
~0~
"Wait a minute, Chiriko!" Nuriko said trying to stop the younger male. "Is it really Tamahome?"
"Are you sure about that?!" Tasuki asked as they all ran down some steps.
"Quite sure! I overheard the guards talking and they-!" Chiriko gasped when he saw Tamahome.
"Where is the Priestess of Suzaku?" Tamahome asked with a cold tone.
"T-Tamahome," Nuriko said surprised to see him acting like this.
"How dare you?! You've got some nerve!" Tasuki growled.
"He really does…stay behind me!" Kurama ordered the Warriors. He grew a couple sizes so he was the same height as Tamahome. He looked more vicious and was growling as his nine tails flared and swished with anger. "If you want to get to Aika then you have to go through me."
~0~
"Tamahome arrived in Konan to kill the Priestess of Suzaku. He now prepared to confront the Suzaku Warriors and Kurama who stood before them as her protectors," Naruto read.
~0~
"This doesn't concern you. Where is the Priestess of Suzaku?" Tamahome snarled.
"As far as you're concerned, pal, she is my concern!" Kurama growled before going to attack.
"Tamahome!" Hotohori shouted making Kurama stop to see Hotohori walking over.
"What are you doing, Sire?" Nuriko asked worried when he saw the other sword in hand. Hotohori stood across from Tamahome. He glared at his old friend and there was a red light outlining him.
"The Priestess of Suzaku is safe. I will never you lay one finger on Aika again! The time for words is now over. Defend yourself, Tamahome!" Hotohori said ready to fight him. Kurama stayed in front of the other Warriors as he looked between the two.
'Hotohori, if you have to, if you have no choice…then kill him.'
Kida: Oh boy...a brawl between Tamahome and Hotohori...I need popcorn!
Kido: *Shares popcorn* Way ahead of ya, sis.
Hotohori: *Sweat-drops* You want to see us fight?
Kida: Well...yeah. After all, it's almost like you're fighting for Aika's love. But Tamahome is evil right now and wants to kill her while you're protecting her. Plus...I think Tamahome needs a good beating.
Hotohori: I see...
Kida: I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Please favorite and comment!