Kida: I have bad news and I have good news. What do you wanna hear first?
Naruto: Give us the bad news first.
Kida: Okay, bad news is there's only three more chapters left after this.
Guys: WHAT?!
Kida: *Grins* Good news is there will be a sequel!
Tasuki: Oh good...you almost scared me there for a minute.
Kida: Hehe...I, Kida Tenshi, do not own Naruto or Fushigi Yuugi. I only own Aika Hitsubasa and future OCs. Please enjoy, loves!
"Tamahome…" Aika asked surprised at Tamahome.
"Whoever gave you permission to speak to me like that, obnoxious brat?!" Tamahome spat before going to attack her.
"I refuse to believe it!" Aika shouted. Nakago's spell changed Tamahome's personality and obscured his memories. He hates Aika now and even tried to kill her. Devastated by Tamahome's change of heart, Aika began to despair and nearly lost her will to live.
"Where is the Priestess of Suzaku?" Tamahome glared at the Warriors. Hotohori confronted Tamahome who had returned to Konan to assassinate Lady Aika.
"I will never let you lay one finger on Aika again!" Hotohori glared at Tamahome. It was still pouring rain outside and Kurama looked between the two. Kurama went back to his smaller form.
"Kurama, go look for Aika and stay with her," Tasuki whispered. Kurama glanced at him and nodded before discretely taking off away from the scene to find his friend. Hotohori's body was glowing red as he was ready to fight against the other Suzaku Warrior. Lightning cracked in the sky above Tamahome as Hotohori glared.
"Hn," Tamahome smirked at the Emperor who tossed a sword over to him.
"You take up the weapon there! I will not do battle with an unarmed opponent!" Hotohori called as he drew his own sword. Tamahome just smirked at him, a chance to take down all the Suzaku Warriors and the Priestess of Suzaku herself.
"The Priestess of Suzaku is not your only target. Make sure Hotohori, Emperor Cai Pi of Konan, is assassinated as well," Nakago had ordered.
"And here he is," Tamahome smirked as he picked up the sword and unsheathed it. He then threw the sheath away from them. Hotohori got into his position to fight while Tamahome removed his black cloak and got ready to fight as well.
~0~
In the palace, the guards ran by the door Aika was behind, locked in.
"Tamahome's drawn a sword against the Emperor!" A guard shouted as they ran. Aika banged on the door, hoping someone would let her out.
"Hey! Open the door! Somebody open this door! Somebody!" She shouted before resting her forehead against it in frustration. 'I have to stop them. Hotohori might kill Tamahome to protect me!' Her eyes widened at the thought. "Please! Isn't anybody out there?!" She shouted as she banged the door once more.
"Aika! Look out below!" Kurama called making Aika look up. Suddenly Kurama was on her face making her spaz out and flail her arms wildly. She then grabbed Kurama off her face and held him. "Eh, hiya! How ya doin'?" Kurama asked with a nervous chuckle.
"Kurama, how did you get in here?" Aika asked surprised.
"The window," Kurama looked at the said window over the door. Aika grinned and hugged the fox.
"Kurama, you my friend, are a life saver!" She said to him
"Aw shucks. I try!" Kurama grinned making Aika giggle a bit. She placed him on her shoulder before looking up at the window.
"Okay, this should be easy. Time to put that training to use!" Aika said getting ready to climb.
~0~
Tamahome ran and attacked Hotohori first and Hotohori blocked the attack, making sound of sword hitting sword sound through the air. The dancing of their blades continued, clashing together as each tried to land a hit on each other. Hotohori went passed him as they attacked. Landing behind Tamahome, he had managed to slice Tamahome's right sleeve revealing the wound. Hotohori glared at him as his symbol glowed and Tamahome glared back. Hotohori jumped up with a battled cry and swung his sword down while Tamahome blocked the hit with his own sword. Tamahome gritted his teeth as their eyes connected.
"Tamahome, have you really forgotten your place here in Konan and just how Aika has meant to you?!" Hotohori shouted through the noise of the pouring rain.
"Talk sense!" Tamahome snapped as he pushed back making Hotohori jumped away to avoid Tamahome swing of the blade.
"Those two look like they really wanna kill each other!" Chiriko exclaimed. "Shouldn't we try and stop them?"
"Impossible," Nuriko said making Chiriko look at him in question. "Can't you see it? Can't you see the intensity of his Majesty's life force? A man who normally so gentle…it's destiny and nothing will stop them. Not until one of them is utterly defeated by the other," he stated, not liking this any more than Chiriko.
"You'll never beat me, Tamahome!" Hotohori growled as they swiped their swords at each other and blocked hits. "Man to man, I will not be defeated! Especially by you!"
~0~
Aika ran towards the wall and jumped off it, aiming for the window which she reached. She used the muscles in her arms to pull herself up. She made it to the small window and did her best to get out of it only to end up falling and landing on her face. Kurama landed on the ground beside her. Aika groaned as she sat up and rubbed her nose.
"Ouch, that hurt," she muttered. She looked at Kurama. "Kurama, take me to Tamahome and Hotohori, quickly!"
"Right, this way, Kit!" Kurama replied before showing her the way to the battle. "Please tell me you have a plan."
"Yeah, a last resort," Aika replied as they ran. 'I have to stop them. If I don't….If I don't, one of them will die!'
~0~
Hotohori swiped his sword and got Tamahome's chest. Tamahome groaned and collapsed to his knees.
"Boy, the Emperor's kicking some serious butt! He's got Tamahome right where he wants him! Grabbing for cover!" Tasuki smirked.
"The Emperor's life force is a lot stronger than Tamahome's now, ya know. It's his single minded desire to protect Aika that has made him that much more powerful," Chichiri stated.
"If you insist on trying to kill Aika, Tamahome, I'll have to kill you first before you get the chance to!" Hotohori yelled as he raised his sword while Tamahome gritted his teeth.
~0~
Aika ran and made it to a corner. She then gasped as she saw them. She saw Tamahome run over to Hotohori and jumped up, his sword over his head to strike.
"Die!" Tamahome shouted. Aika's eyes widened and she ran over to them.
"NO!" She screamed surprising Tamahome. Hotohori used that chance and stabbed Tamahome through the side. Aika stood there, frozen. Kurama ran over and was shocked to see it as well. Tamahome was wide eyed as he fell back to the ground. "TAMAHOME!"
~0~
"The Priestess of Suzaku's scream echoed through the Konan Palace," Naruto frowned deeply, knowing his best friend was hurting. He sighed before going back to reading. "Strucken down by Hotohori, Tamahome fell in the court of Konan where he had once sworn his love to the Priestess of Suzaku."
~0~
"Tamahome…" Aika whispered, her voice thick with tears that didn't come to her eyes. Hotohori lowered his sword as Aika ran over to the fallen Suzaku Warrior. "Tamahome!" She gently gathered him into her arms. "Tamahome, please, you have to wake up. Please, don't die…I-I couldn't stand it if you left me again. Please, not again," she softly sobbed. Hotohori realized what he just did and dropped his sword to the ground, shaking. Everyone else was just as horror stricken as the Emperor. "Please, you can't die. You just can't. You're stronger than this. Please!" She sobbed as she brought her hand to his wound and tried to heal it. It was a vital wound. "Dammit! Come on!" She shouted at her hand. It glowed green, but it wasn't healing. Tamahome slowly opened his eyes.
"Priestess of…Su…zaku…" Tamahome choked out making Aika look at him.
"Tamahome, just hang on, okay? I-I'll have you healed up soon," Aika said with a slight smile. She then saw him trying to reach for his sword.
"Kill you….I must…I must kill you," he said as he tried to reach for the sword. Aika's eyes narrowed before she made him look at her.
"You really are an idiot, Tamahome. The Tamahome I knew was strong and could fight for what he really wanted," she said before grabbing the sword and putting it in his hand, surprising everyone. "If you really want to kill me then go for it. If me dying is what helps you snap out of this then I'll gladly die. If it doesn't…" Aika let out a bitter chuckle. "Then everything I'm saying now is just a waste of my own breath. But before you do anything, let me say this," she frowned sadly as she cupped his cheek gently. "I love you, Tamahome. I have always loved you and even in the afterlife, I'll love you," she said before kissing him. Tamahome's eyes widened before he squeezed them shut.
"Kill her…kill her…kill her…" Nakago's voice started fading from his head. Tamahome opened his eyes to see the tears threatening to spill from Aika's closed eyes. "You must kill the Priestess of Suzaku." Tamahome's eyes clenched shut again.
"I love you," Aika said to him.
'Her voice…her hair…her lips…' Tamahome thought before seeing Aika with a happy and warm smile.
"It's a promise, Tamahome….We'll be together next time for real….Be there waiting for me when the moon has risen to it's highest…" Aika's voice and images ran through his head. He brought the sword up so the tip of the blade was at her back.
"Aika, look out!" Nuriko shouted.
"Aika! Get away from him!" Kurama shouted. He and Nuriko went to go after her until Hotohori stopped them, his arm blocking them.
"No! Wait! Look at what's happening!" Hotohori told them. Tamahome's hand slackened and the sword fell out of his hand, the sound of the metal hitting the ground was sounded. Aika pulled back and saw the symbol of the Ogre glowing on Tamahome's forehead. Tamahome smiled softly at her.
"Aika…"
'The Ogre symbol…i-it's back,' Aika thought with tears. Tamahome reached a hand up and cupped her cheek, wiping her tears away.
"Why…are you crying? I'm sorry…I promised to meet you when the moon had risen, but I was late. I know it and I never made it," Tamahome said to her. Aika's eyes widened a bit before she closed them, letting her tears finally slip as she smiled warmly. She brought her hand up and held his there. Her other hand gently held his wrist as she leaned into his hand.
"No, it's all right. The moon has just now risen, see?" She asked while the others stood there stunned. 'You're finally here, Tamahome,' she thought. She then wrapped her arms around his neck. "Tamahome!"
"Aika!" Tamahome hugged her close to him. Kurama sighed a bit with a small smile.
"Finally, that's over with," he mused.
"Tamahome," Aika whispered into his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Tamahome held her close, one of his hands on the back of her head to keep her there.
"Aika," he said before grunting in pain making Aika pull back.
"Mitsukake," Hotohori smiled.
"Highness," Mitsukake smiled as well with the others. He walked over and knelt down next to the two. He brought his hand by Tamahome's wound and it glowed green.
"Mitsukake?" Aika asked hoping Tamahome would be okay.
"It'll be all right, I can heal him," Mitsukake replied. Tamahome groaned a bit as his wound healed. His blue earring then fell out and fell to the ground.
"Hotohori, your Highness," Tamahome frowned guiltily.
"Tamahome, I am glad to see you back with us," Hotohori smiled.
"Tamahome!" Nuriko smiled.
"Tamahome!" Chichiri smiled before the two ran over to them with Chiriko and Tasuki.
"Heya, Kit!" Kurama grinned as he made it over. He jumped and landed on Tamahome's head making the blue haired boy chuckle. "Every scare me like that again and I'll hurt you so bad your grandkids will feel it! Ya hear me, Ogre boy?!" Kurama growled.
"Got it," Tamahome chuckled. Aika giggled and took Kurama off Tamahome's head.
"Now you, missy…" Kurama said to Aika. He slapped her upside the head with one of his tails. "NEXT TIME YOU WANNA DIE JUST ASK ME! I'LL DO IT MYSELF, YA RECKLESS IDIOT!" He growled. Aika just laughed and kissed his nose.
"I'm sorry, Kurama. Forgive me?" She asked. Kurama blushed and looked away stubbornly.
"…Just this one time," he muttered before the others laughed, the sun finally shining through as the rain stopped. They got Tamahome to his room before they all went to change into something dry. Aika went to Tamahome's room.
"You know…how would you feel about a little revenge on Nakago?" She asked with a devious smirk. Tamahome stared at her for a moment before smirking as well.
"What did you have in mind?" He asked her.
~0~
In Kutou, the rain had stopped, but it was still lightning and thundering out.
"What? Tamahome is back from Konan?" Yui asked surprised as she looked at the courtier who was kneeling across from her.
"Yes, ma'am. He said to tell that he would visit your chambers soon," he replied.
"He's all right, thank goodness," Yui said relief as Nakago stood beside her. "I didn't think he was ever coming back here," she smiled.
~0~
Tamahome walked through the halls, wearing his cloak. He then saw Nakago and stopped.
"That was quick. Very quick," Nakago mused as he walked over to the younger man. "Of course you got rid of the Priestess of Suzaku, didn't you?"
"Yes, sir," Tamahome replied as he walked passed him. Nakago saw his earring was missing and his eyes widened.
"Tamahome," he called. He then turned and used his whip. Tamahome saw it coming and flipped before grabbing the end of the whip. "You have returned to your normal state!" Tamahome's Ogre symbol glowed on his forehead. Yui then ran up and her eyes widened when she saw Tamahome.
"Yes, I certainly have," Tamahome glared while Yui looked away. "You seem used to playing with people as if they were toys, Nakago. It would appear this device right here was allowing you to manipulate and control me," he held up the blue earring. "You can have it back!" He snapped as he threw it at Nakago. Nakago caught it.
"But how? How did you manage to break the spell? There's no method known in the world for curing Kodoku poisoning once it's entered a person's body and infected them," Nakago said to him.
"You'll spend your whole life trying to figure that out," Tamahome snapped.
"We weren't exactly wild about seeing you again, but we had to get Suzaku's Universe of the Four Gods back," Aika's voice rang from beside Yui. Yui's eyes widened with Nakago's as they turned to see Aura dressed in her mother's outfit, holding the red scroll and glaring at the two. "You'll be just amazed at the things Genjutsu can do," she said as she walked over to Tamahome. Nakago glared as he glowed blue.
"How dare you?" He growled.
"No, Nakago! Don't hurt him!" Yui called before running up and hugging Nakago's arm.
"That whip of yours has no power of me today. Chichiri is…he's transmitting a protective barrier around us from back in Konan," Tamahome stated as he took Aika's hand and brought her behind him to keep her safe. "Mark my words, Nakago," Tamahome glared as he glowed red. "I know that I'm no match for you now as I am today, but I'm going to work to make myself stronger and then I swear I'll kill you with my own bear hands!" Tamahome promised. Aika gave his hand a gentle squeeze and they turned to leave.
"Tamahome!" Yui called as she stepped up. The Warrior and Priestess of Suzaku stopped.
"Yui, I can sympathize with what happened to you, but I can't forgive what you did. I only hope the wounds in your heart heal quickly," Tamahome said as he kept his back to her.
"And Nakago, if you ever hurt those I care about like this again, then I won't hesitate to kill you. I have a stronger jutsu and I don't care if it kills me in the process," Aika said glaring over her shoulder. The two then left, leaving a stunned Warrior and Priestess of Seiryuu behind.
"Lady Yui, are we just going to let them walk away?" Nakago asked.
"Yes, let them go," Yui said as she softly cried. 'There's nothing we can do to stop Tamahome now. I drove him away. I drove away the one I love. Tamahome…'
~0~
Back in Konan, the skies were clearing to reveal the starry sky. In the dining hall, Chichiri grinned as he opened a container. He suddenly looked around
"Where is Aika?"
"Don't ask dumb questions. What do you think? She's with Tamahome of course," Nuriko smiled.
"I'm really glad he brought back the scroll the Universe of the Four Gods," Chiriko smiled.
"I don't get it. I mean, how was he able to break free of something as powerful as Kodoku?" Tasuki asked.
"This is what I think: When he was defeated, his life force was weakened. The Kodoku's influence over him weakened as well, ya know!" Chichiri said to him.
"Oh yeah. And then Aika's profound feelings for him where finally enough to break the spell, right?" Tasuki asked.
"Your Highness," Mitsukake said.
"And Tamahome's love for Aika helped," Hotohori said from the patio. Nuriko and Chichiri started beating up Tasuki, scolding him.
"You're an idiot! Can't you keep your mouth shut?!" The shouted.
"Your Highness?" Chiriko asked getting the Emperor's attention. "Shall I play something for you, Sire?"
"Yes, please. That would be nice," Hotohori replied. Chiriko began playing as Kurama walked over to Hotohori.
"I know it sucks, Kit, but things will get better. Maybe you and Aika aren't meant to be," he said jumping up next to him.
"How do you know?" Hotohori asked.
"I don't. I only know from experience. Aika's friend Naruto was in love with a girl named Sakura. A girl named Hinata loved Naruto while Sakura loved Sasuke. Sometimes you don't get the love you want, but in the end, you end up finding someone better. Naruto is married to Hinata and Sakura is married to Sasuke. If you truly love Aika, then you either keep fighting for her or you let her go. The latter would be best because Aika and Tamahome love each other. If Aika's not meant to be with you, then there's a girl out there that you are meant to be with. Sometimes, it just takes time," Kurama said to him. Hotohori thought about what Kurama said…it made sense.
~0~
Aika was dressed in the outfit she wore when she talked with Tamahome through the screen. She wanted to look nice for Tamahome seeing as this is his real first night back home. She heard the flute and smiled.
"That's Chiriko's flute. It's sounds beautiful, doesn't it?" She asked looking at Tamahome. She then frowned when she saw Tamahome crouching down, hugging his knees like he was in a fatal position. She got down from the railing she was sitting on and walked over. "Tamahome? Hey," she said softly as she knelt beside him. "Tamahome…what happened wasn't your fault. Nakago did that to you. You weren't in control. Actually, it wasn't even you. Please, Tamahome, there was nothing you could do," she said softly to him.
"I know there was nothing I could do about being under his control, but I shouldn't have hurt you, no matter what," Tamahome said to her. He sighed a bit. "The worst part is that I don't remember any of it, what I've done. Kurama had to tell me all that happened," he said to her as he remembered Kurama talking to him. "Kurama…what all did I do while I was under that curse?"
"You don't remember?" Kurama blinked. Tamahome shook his head and the fox sighed. "You're not gonna like it, Kit. First, you broke Aika's arm with a pair of nun-chucks. Her arms bleed horribly too," he started as Tamahome's eyes widened. "Then you went to find the Suzaku Warriors only to meet at the tree you had promised to meet Aika at. She was there and tried to snap you out of it by showing the letter you wrote her. You ripped the letter up which broke Aika's heart. She told me it was like her heart was being ripped up as well. Then you fought Tasuki and nearly killed him until Aika and Chichiri managed to stop you and Nakago. After a little bit, you came here, fought Hotohori, and you know how that ended." Tamahome was sitting there stunned. "Hey, Aika and the others don't blame you. Don't punish yourself for something you had no control over."
"How can I make this up to you?" Tamahome asked Aika with pleading eyes. "I'm ashamed to even be around you now," he said to her. Aika frowned deeply before sighing.
"Before all of this, I would said 'hell yeah, you should be'. But that's because you ended up leaving after you promised you wouldn't. I was so angry with you and I worried constantly before you safety there. Before I knew you were under the curse, I thought you had really changed and hated me. When I came back to Konan after leaving Kutou, I almost became unfaithful," she admitted making Tamahome stand.
"What?!" He asked shocked as Aika stood.
"But I didn't…I couldn't," Aika said with a slight blushed. She rested her head on his chest. "Just please, don't think you have to make it up to me. Just having you back here with me is enough. But this time stay with me, don't leave like that again. Just keep holding me like you're doing now," Aika murmured with her eyes closed, Tamahome's arms wrapped around her tightly.
"I promise with all my heart, I will never leave you alone again," he vowed. Aika smiled against his chest as she hugged him. They pulled back, earthly brown meeting lavender. Aika wrapped her arms around his neck before they leaned in and kissed. 'No matter what happens, I will hold you in my arms forever.'
~0~
Yui was in her room, sobbing her heart out from the fact that Tamahome wasn't here anymore. She didn't even hear Nakago walked into her room.
"Lady Yui, please forgive me," he said to her as he sat on her bed. "Instead of offering happiness, I've caused you more pain than you've already felt," he said gently placing his hand on her head.
"Tamahome must despise me now after all that I've done to him," Yui said shakily. Nakago wrapped his arm around her as if to comfort her. "Aika will be able to summon Suzaku with him." Nakago smirked.
"Lady Yui, do you really believe things are that simple?" He asked. Yui gasped with wide eyes before she sat up and looked at him.
"What in the world do you mean by that, Nakago?! What are you planning to do to them now?!"
"Didn't I tell you it would all work out? There's nothing to worry about, Priestess. Soon the trap I've set for them will spring," Nakago stated.
"The trap you set for them?" Yui asked confused.
"It was set up long ago," Nakago smirked.
~0~
Chiriko was still playing his flute, but it sounded like it did when he killed the bats and the assassin.
~0~
"And they've already fallen into it," Nakago added.
~0~
"The Priestess of Suzaku, intoxicated with happiness in the court of Konan, clung to her beloved Tamahome," Naruto read with a small smile.
"Finally, things are as they should be. Aika will be able to summon Suzaku and come home," Hinata smiled.
~0~
Chiriko kept playing the tune as Tamahome smiled while holding his beloved Aika in his arms. Aika smiled softly as she listened to his heart beat. His warmth, she's missed it so much.
Kida: There is a traitor in our midst.
Tamahome: Eh? Who?
Kida: Wow, you were so into your time with Aika you didn't notice?
Hotohori: What are you talking about, Kida?
Kida: Kami! Am I the only one who knows anything?!
Naruto: At the moment, yeah.
Kida: Hey! I know many things you don't, pal! Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the chapters! Please favorite and comment!