Kido: Time for the bastard to die!
Tamahome: So Nuriko wins?
Kido: Of course he does, you idiot! But...with a cost...
Naruto: Huh? What do you mean?
Kido: You'll see. My twin Kida Tenshi, who's still hiding, does not own Naruto or Fushigi Yuugi. She only owns Aika Hitsubasa and possible future OCs. Enjoy!
Nuriko uncovers long buried feelings and recognition of his manhood. He realizes that he is in love with Lady Aika.
"Wanna know why?" Nuriko asked making Aika nod. Nuriko leaned closer until their foreheads were touching.
"That I won't say. Forget it, you don't really need to know any of the details," he smiled at her.
"Nuriko…" Aika pouted slightly.
"I said forget it," Nuriko told her before Aika pulled away. Allowing Tamahome and Lady Aika sometime along together to strengthen their relationship, Nuriko left for Mount Koku by himself in search of the Shinzahou. "Is this it?" He asked looking at the metal door. He went over to try and open it until he sensed something and looked behind him. And within reach of the door leading to the Shinzahou, Seiryuu's Ashitare rose to attack.
~0~
"Nuriko of the Suzaku Seven battled for his life. He fought to vanquish, to destroy this force that threatened his Priestess and his friends," Shikamaru read, upset with the thought of a death match like this.
'We're counting on you, Nuriko,' Naruto thought. Sasuke sighed a bit, agitated.
"Too bad we weren't there to help them."
~0~
"I won't let you anywhere near Aika or my friends!" Nuriko said as his bracelets turned into armbands. "I'm taking you down! Come on!" He said ready to fight. Ashitare growled and leaped forward, grabbing Nuriko by the shoulders and pinning him to the ground. Nuriko grunted from the impact and gripped his wrists. "Y-you're a…strong galoot, but in a test of strength, you can't win!" Nuriko glared as he gritted the words out. His armband glowed red before he went to punch Ashitare who jumped back, landing on a cliff not too far from Nuriko. "You're a lot more nimble than you look," Nuriko mused as Ashitare growled. The beast man then remembered Nakago and the whip.
"Is that clear? You won't fail me again," Nakago said firmly. Ashitare roared before leaping and going to attack Nuriko. He went to punch the purple haired Warrior only to punch the ground when Nuriko jumped away. He thrusted his hand to stab Nuriko who dodged making Ashitare hit the rock behind him. Nuriko then jumped out of the way as the snow avalanched down on the beast man. Ashitare burst out of the snow and landed a punch on Nuriko. Ashitare punched him again. Nuriko's coat was ripped off with a part of his shirt, revealing his chest and Suzaku symbol of the Willow that glowed.
'He's fast. I can't keep up with him. It's like fighting…a wild wolf,' Nuriko thought. Ashitare growled and went to attack again. Nuriko threw his coat at Ashitare to blind him for a moment before he jumped up and onto Ashitare's head, using that to jump behind him. Ashitare's eyes glowed red and Nuriko turned, his forehead bleeding. Nuriko turned his head and saw Ashitare's sharp fangs. Suddenly…blood was drawn.
~0~
Aika's, Tamahome's, Kurama's, Tasuki's, Mitsukake's, Chichiri's, and Chiriko's snapped up as they felt something. Something horrible.
~0~
Hotohori's head snapped up as well as he felt what they did, standing quickly.
"W-what's the matter, your Majesty?" His councilor asked concerned. Hotohori didn't reply, he just stood there with a look of horror.
~0~
"What in the world did I just feel?" Tasuki asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"I don't know…but I've felt this once…..It didn't end well," Kurama said looking up.
~0~
"Chichiri, d-did you feel that? Just now?" Chiriko asked, a horrified look on his face.
"Something's wrong with one of our Warriors, ya know," Chichiri replied.
~0~
Aika looked up at Mount Koku with Tamahome, both with wide eyes.
'Nuriko….We have to go. We have to go now!' Aika thought with anxiety and worry. "Tamahome, hurry. Hurry!" She said knowing they had to hurry to Nuriko.
~0~
Nuriko looked up at the sky with wide eyes, blood running out of the corner of his mouth. He suddenly coughed up blood that stained the snow below him. Ashitare growled with enjoyment as he saw the blood that stained his hand, his claws having stabbed Nuriko in the back. But that didn't stop the Suzaku Warrior as his eyes narrowed. He grabbed Ashitare by the face and pulled himself of the claws before flipping backward. He then wrapped his arms around Ashitare's neck, tightly. Ashitare growled and roared as he tried to get the other Warrior off. Nuriko tightened his hold before his hand started pushing Ashitare's head to the side. He used all his strength before screaming until there was the snapping of bone. Ashitare then collapsed to the ground, his neck had been snapped. Nuriko stood there, breathing hard and wheezing.
"Never ever underestimate Nuriko," Nuriko snarled. He then started making his way away from Ashitare, blood staining the snow as he did so. Once far enough away, he stopped and collapsed to his knees, holding his bleeding wound. He looked up at the sun. "That was pretty stupid of me….I'll never be able to make fun of Aika for the things she does after this," he mused with a small smile. He looked over at the door. "Gotta move that rock," he stated before getting up with a grunt. He walked over then and got ready to move the rock. "Please….give me the strength," he prayed. He then started trying to move the boulder as his armbands glowed a bright red. He suddenly saw himself in Aika's world. He was dressed in ninja apparel and walking with Aika through the village. He met with her friends, seeing her laugh and having a good time. He was then noogied by Naruto until Nuriko punched him in the head making the blonde fall to the ground with swirls in his eyes. Aika and the others were laughing. He then found himself eating at Ichiraku's Ramen with Aika, enjoying a nice bowl of ramen and some tea. Then they were walking down a path that had sakura trees, the sakura petals falling. He would talk with her and soon they were at the Hokage Summit. They looked at the village in the night, the lights lighting the area. Nuriko looked at Aika and smiled as he took in her beauty. Nuriko cried out as he lifted the large boulder. His eyes widened as he threw the boulder away and looked up at the sky.
"Nuriko!" He heard Tamahome and Aika shouted. He then slowly smiled as tears gathered in his eyes, looking at the bright light.
'Kourin, it's you. How long have you been here?' He asked. Tamahome and Aika ran over.
"Nuriko!" They both shouted as Nuriko turned his head to look at them. "NURIKO!" They screamed as Nuriko fell back into the ground. Aika ran over to Nuriko, kneeling beside him. Tamahome gathered a couple things and tried to make a fire.
"Tamahome," Aika said with worry for Nuriko.
"Just hang on," Tamahome said to her, his teeth gritting. "I have to get this signal fire lit to call Mitsukake," he said to her. Aika shook her head.
"Let me do it," she said standing up.
"And bring another Seiryuu Warrior?" He asked with narrowed eyes. She glared at him which was shocking.
"Right now, I'm pissed off enough to kill Nakago," she stated. She then did her hand seals. "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" She shouted before the fire came out of her and she shot it to the sky. It was definitely noticeable, at least to the view of those in Turan. Aika panted a bit.
"Are you all right?" Tamahome asked before Aika nodded in reply.
"Yeah. They should be here soon," she said seeing that there was smoke. Some fire had dropped onto the paper Tamahome had brought out for a signal fire. She went back over to Nuriko. "We have to do something. He won't stop bleeding," she said getting bandages out, putting pressure on the wounds. "You were an idiot to fight that animal all by yourself," Aika scolded Nuriko with tears streaming down her face. Nuriko winced and let out a slight chuckle.
"Don't cry, Aika. This isn't…gonna kill me….you can't get rid of me…that easily…" Nuriko said with a small smile as Tamahome gently propped him up. Nuriko lifted a hand up to wipe Aika's tears away. "Sheesh…you're such a…cry baby…you're stubborn and clumsy…and silly and hot headed…a reckless dummy…" he said as Aika grabbed his hand.
"Nuriko…" Aika whispered through her tears.
"I…I got to see your world….It's beautiful there…and your friends….especially that blonde knucklehead…Naruto was just as you…described. I have to…make sure I watch…over you two…"
"Nuriko, don't talk so much. You have to stay still until Mitsukake gets here," Tamahome told him. Aika was trying to heal Nuriko, using medical Ninjutsu. "Well?" He asked her.
"I-it's a vital point. Those are impossible to heal with the medical Ninjutsu I've learned. Dammit!" Aika hissed, angered at herself for not being able to heal him.
"No, it's all right. There are…a lot of good things…waiting for you at the end of this. I know it. So please…for me…don't lose to them…no matter what happens…" Nuriko said to Aika.
"What are you talking about? You sound like…like I'll never see you again. And I know that's not true. You're gonna be around to protect and defend me until we're old and grey. Just hang on. I know Mitsukake and the others are coming. They must be almost here. Tamahome, I'm gonna go look for him," Aika said standing up. She wasn't going to believe that Nuriko was dying. She couldn't.
"All right," Tamahome agreed. Aika started walking through the snow. Tamahome's eyes widened as he felt Nuriko go limp in his arms. "Nuriko," he said shakily making Aika stop with wide eyes. "Nuriko," Tamahome choked as Aika turned. She saw that Nuriko wasn't moving at all, not even his chest to show he was breathing. His eyes were closed too. She smiled, hoping it was a joke.
"What are you doing? Tamahome? Come on, what are you doing?" She asked not wanting to believe this. Aika fell to her knees when he didn't answer. "Answer me," she said before she stared making her way over there. "Why don't you say something? I don't like this. Come on, Tamahome!" She said before collapsing in the snow. She pushed up a little with a small chuckle. "I am clumsy, aren't I?" She mused. She made it over and saw the tear run down Tamahome's cheek. "What's wrong, Tamahome?"
"Nuriko's…" he shakily said until Aika grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
"No! He is not! Don't say it!" She told him. She then smiled. "Come on. It's not true. He was just talking to us. He was smiling. Right? You saw him. Didn't you?" She asked shaking him a little. "Tamahome, didn't you seem him smile?" She asked him while tears ran down his face. "I'm not going to fight you!" She said letting him as he fell back a little, his hands being used as support. Aika looked at Nuriko with a smile, tears pricking her eyes. "Nuriko, come on. T-this has to be some kind of cruel joke. Open your eyes," she murmured as she cupped his cheek. "Nuriko? For me? Come on. Can't you please?" She asked as her tears being streaming down her face. She cupped his other cheek as well. "Nuriko? Please! Open them! Open your eyes! NURIKO!" She cried before she started sobbing. 'No…please no…not him…not Nuriko….' She thought pained. It wasn't long until footsteps were heard. The other four Warriors and Kurama appeared and saw them.
"We're here. Tamahome!" Tasuki trying to make it sound normal. Tamahome stood and turned. "What's wrong with Nuriko? Tell us!" He demanded. Tamahome walked over, his face still wet with tears. Tamahome made it over to him.
"He challenged one of the Seiryuu Seven….just before we got here," he murmured thickly.
"T-that's….that's nuts," Tasuki gritted his teeth as he gripped Tamahome's shoulder. "Idiot! Why did you do it?!" He shouted at Nuriko. He tried to get over but Tamahome held him back. "Oh what's the point of you getting yourself killed?! For what?!" He shouted. Chichiri had removed his mask while Chiriko was standing next to Mitsukake. Kurama had his ears flat against his head as he looked at Aika and Nuriko. "You coward! Get up! You get up there right now! Get up I said! Get up! Wait a minute," Tasuki smirked and placed his elbow on Mitsukake's shoulder. "Mitsukake, we need you. Use your power to help this sissy out and put him back together again," he said obviously in denial. He chuckled a bit. "What a phony. He may have Tamahome fooled, but he doesn't fool me one bit," he said as tears pricked his eyes. He grabbed Mitsukake by the collar. "What are you waiting for?! Hurry up and heal him! Well, you can do it, can't you?! Mitsukake? You can't help him, can't you?" He asked as he shook. Mitsukake just kept his eyes closed and his head turned. "You can't help?" Tasuki asked as his tears started falling. "You can't…h-heal him?" He asked before he started crying. "It doesn't make sense. H-he was just here. Yesterday. He was so strong and full of life."
"He's not dead," Aika said making everyone look over. She was silently crying into Nuriko's shoulder.
"K-Kit…h-he is…" Kurama said fighting back tears.
"He isn't. Nuriko isn't dead," she said before looking at them with a glare. "He's not dead! He can't be! Nuriko can't be dead! He can't!" She shouted before she stood and started running away.
"Aika!" Tamahome shouted. Aika ignored him and kept running, her grief taking her over.
'Nuriko…Nuriko! It's not true!' She thought as she cried. "It's not true! I won't believe it! I don't believe it! I just won't believe it! He's not dead! Not like mama! Or papa! Or Neji! Or Asuma-Sensei! He's not!" She cried as she finally collapsed into the snow. Kurama walked over to Nuriko and nuzzled his head gently.
"Why, Kit? You were so strong…why? Y-you were stronger than many people. You're stronger than most of us. A-and you let that asshole kill you? Are you an idiot?! You were supposed to see this through till the end! You…you reminded me of that drunk gambling Fifth Hokage Tsunade…a-and that bubble gum haired brat Sakura. They would have liked to meet you, ya know," he said as he laid down and rested his hand on Nuriko's shoulder. "Y-you three were the only ones I knew that could make a crater with one punch. You could all break someone's bones with just a flick of a finger. Come on…Aika needs you, Kit. Tasuki needs you. So do Tamahome, Chichiri, Mitsukake, Hotohori, and Chiriko. I…I need you too, Kit…." Kurama said as he fought back tears. Mitsukake walked over and gently picked up the fox, holding him. 'Why? Why must we all lose someone just because of some damn gem?'
~0~
"What do you mean there's nothing to be done?!" Suboshi exclaimed.
"Suboshi, mind your manners and keep your voice down in Lady Yui's presence," Nakago said to him.
"It's gone. Ashitare's life force has disappeared! Can't you feel it?!" Suboshi asked with narrowed eyes.
"The Suzaku Seven have probably killed him," Nakago said simply. Suboshi growled.
"I don't see how you can say that so calmly! As if it doesn't matter! They're in reach of the Shinzahou! You're just gonna let them walk away with it?!" Suboshi asked. Yui was frowning.
"Hn," Nakago smirked. "Don't worry. It's all part of my plan."
~0~
"Nuriko…" Chiriko sobbed as he now held Kurama who was letting out his animal like whimpers of mourn. The two, Chichiri, and Mitsukake were by Nuriko while Tasuki leaned up against the rock, silent tears running down his cheeks.
"All I can do is erase his wounds and make him as beautiful as he always was," Mitsukake said as he took out the red jar Taiitsukun gave him. He got his hand wet by the holy water and splashed it onto Nuriko's wounds as his symbol appeared. It's then the wounds were healed and Nuriko's clothes looked like they hadn't been touched. His hands were folded over his stomach.
"It even…fixed his clothes," Chiriko said as he sobbed.
"He…he just looks like he's sleeping," Kurama said looking at Nuriko.
"Find Aika. Let's get everyone together," Mitsukake said before Tasuki closed his eyes in pain.
'Tamahome,' Chichiri thought hoping the man could help their Priestess.
~0~
Aika was sitting against a tree, holding a snowball. She was softly singing a lullaby her mother used to sing her when she was alive.
I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said 'I'd never let you go',
When all those shadows almost killed your light,
I remember you said 'don't leave me here alone',
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight.
Juts close your eyes,
The sun is going down,
You'll be all right,
No one can hurt you now,
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and…sound…
Don't you dare look out your window,
Darling, everything's on fire,
The war outside or door keeps raging on…
Hold on to this lullaby,
Even when the music's gone…
Gone….
Juts close your eyes,
The sun is going down,
You'll be all right,
No one can hurt you now,
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and…sound…
Ooh….ooh…lala…lala…
Ooh…ooh…lala…lala…
Juts close your eyes,
You'll be all right,
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and…sound…
Ooh…ooh…ooh…ooh…ooh…ooh…
Ooh…ooh…ooh…ooh…ooh…ooh…
Ooh…ooh…ooh…
Tamahome had listened to the song. It was sad and beautiful at the same time. He saw her cheeks still glistened with tears.
"Aika, let's go back. Aika…let's go back," he said a second time when she didn't move. "And we'll say goodbye to our friend Nuriko. Besides, we have to get moving. The Shinzahou's close at hand. We have to retrieve it as soon as we can," he said calmly.
"No!" She shouted before looking at him. "Who cares about getting the Shinzahou?! How can you bring that up at a time like this when Nuriko is-?!" She stopped with a sobbed. "I-it didn't make sense…It doesn't make any sense! In order to summon Suzaku, people have to die?! I can't do it! I just can't do anymore!" Aika cried. She didn't want anyone else to get killed. Tamahome grabbed her by her arm and forced her up before making her come back with him. "Tamahome, no! Tamahome! You're hurting me!" She shouted as they made it back. The others looked over to see Tamahome bring Aika back. "Let go of me, Tamahome! Let go!" She told him before he finally let her go. She knew where they were and kept her eyes down.
"Look at Nuriko, Aika," Tamahome said to her.
"No," Aika said with a hint a snarl.
"Look at him. Are you gonna let his death amount to nothing?! What do you think Nuriko sacrificed his life for anyway?! You! You more than anyone should understand what he succeeded in doing for us!" Tamahome shouted with tears. Kurama jumped in front of Aika and growled dangerously at Tamahome.
"I'm going to give you the best advice I can, Tamahome. Shut up…unless you want to regret it," he growled. He was grieving as well and a fox demon that's grieving is never a good thing to mess with. Mitsukake placed a hand on Tamahome's shoulder. The healer then went over to Aika.
"Aika," he said kneeling down beside her. He then spoke gently to her. "I've given Nuriko his beauty back. Won't you come and look at him? I know how sad you are and how terribly lonely you feel. We don't expect you to feel better any time soon. No one does because we all feel the same. There's nothing to be done about the grief. I wish we had the time, the time it takes to heal, but right now we don't. You don't have that time. I know it will be hard. Grieve as much as you need to, but keep moving forward. I want Nuriko to rest in peace now," he said with a hand on her head, Niko licking her tears away. "Everyone has a purpose in life. Everyone is born to do something only they can do." Aika then remembered all those moments with Nuriko.
"I'm so proud to have been born one of the Suzaku Seven," Nuriko said.
"To the end, Nuriko lived to fulfill his role as a Warrior of the Suzaku Seven," Mitsukake finished.
"He does look satisfied, ya know," Chichiri said softly.
"He passed on with a smile on his face…he's still with you, Aika. He promised he'd never leave and he's keeping that promise. He's right here, Kit," Kurama said placing a paw over her heart.
"I am happy to have met you all. I am happy I met you, Aika," Nuriko's voice rang through her head.
"Nuriko…." Aika whispered. She patted Kurama's head and stood up with Mitsukake before Kurama jumped into her arms.
"It's time to say goodbye to him, ya know," Chichiri said softly to Aika.
"I know," Aika murmured. She was then given Nuriko's bracelets by Tamahome.
"You should take his bracelets, Aika. I think Nuriko would have wanted you to," he told her. Tasuki then held up the pink parcel.
"Look, this is the parcel with his hair inside of it. We should bury it with him. Was he a woman? Was he a man? I couldn't figure the guy out. No matter what he was, he was cool," Tasuki said as Aika took the bag.
"Yeah, he was," she agreed. "He wasn't defined as a man or a woman. Nuriko was…Nuriko," she smiled a bit as she wiped her tears away. She took a few pieces of Nuriko's hair out. She then braided it with some of her own making it look like she had a purple highlight now. 'Now…she's with me no matter what.'
~0~
Naruto looked down as tears flooded down his cheeks. Sasuke placed a hand on his shoulder, a stray tear fall down his own cheek.
~0~
'Nuriko, we're going now and I promise you. We won't lose. You just watch and see,' Aika thought as she looked over at the stick that showed where Nuriko was buried. She gently touched the purple hair that was braided with her raven locks. 'Rest well, my friend, my Warrior…my brother.'
Kida: *Sniffles* I'm not freakin' lying when I said I was crying as I wrote this.
Kido: I cried when I read it.
Kida: Nuriko...WHY THE HELL DID YOU HAVE TO DIE, YA JERK?!
Kido: I like what you had Aika do with the hair...
Kida: Me too. Goodbye, Nuriko-Ryuuen Cho-R.I.P.
Kido: Please favorite and comment.