Kida: This chapter is just so sweet.
Kido: Why is that?
Kida: You have to read and find out!
Tamahome: Come on, tell us!
Kida: No! I don't wanna!
Naruto: Kida Tenshi doesn't own the animes Naruto and Fushigi Yuugi! She only owns Aika Hitsubasa and other OCs. Believe it!
Suboshi of the Seiryuu Seven appeared in the real world to defend Lady Yui. Although deprived of Suzaku's power, Tamahome was able to defeat Suboshi with the help of Lady Aika, but the battle took its toll on him. While she paused to catch her breath, the Lady Aika learned of Mitsukake's death and then….
"Aika…we will all meet again…beyond worlds and beyond time….Beyond life…we will surely all meet again. Be happy…Aika…." Hotohori whispered. She heard the Emperor Hotohori's final words.
~0~
"It's not fair. Why is everyone dying? If I could…if I could only summon Suzaku," Aika said with tears in her eyes as she knelt on the floor.
"No," Shikamaru said making her look up at him. "It may work out for the best that you didn't. That you couldn't summon Suzaku."
"What do you mean?" Aika asked with slightly narrowed eyes.
"Listen to me. Being the Priestess and then summoning the Beast God may mean sacrificing your life. As soon as he finishes granting her wishes, Yui may be devoured by Seiryuu!" Shikamaru explained while Aika looked at him with a horror stricken face.
"Yui will be devoured by the Beast God Seiryuu?" She breathed.
"Aika! You have a phone call, it's Yui!" Kurama called from the living room. Aika and Shikamaru looked at the door before glancing at each other. Aika went down and took the phone from the fox.
"Hi, Aika. So you're all right then? How's Suboshi?" Yui asked. Aika frowned deeply as she looked down.
"He's…dead," she whispered knowing that was going to be a shock to the blonde girl. "Yui, please, we have to end all this. We need to talk to each other. Please," Aika pleaded.
"I'll be going to work tomorrow. I assume you will be too," Yui said before hanging up.
"Yui," Aika said before sighing and hanging up the phone. 'Yui, will you really talk to me?'
~0~
The next morning, Aika had gotten ready to leave for work. She was getting her shoes on as Kurama came over.
"Aika, you almost forgot your lunch," he muttered giving her the lunch box with his tail.
"Oh, thanks, Kurama," Aika smiled a bit. She pat his head as she took the lunch box. "I'll see you later!" She said before running off to work. Naruto went to the guest room after she had left. He then saw Tamahome as he sat on the ground by the bed.
"Tamahome, about what I asked you yesterday, since Aika can't go back into the book now when you decide to go back, it will mean you will never be able to see her again. So it really is difficult for me to ask this of you, but your immergence from the book has already disturbed the precarious equilibrium of our world and the book world. Suboshi has managed to appear in the village and if we don't do something, things may happen that are even more dangerous. Things that will eventually end up hurting Aika as well and a lot of other people too. Do you honestly think you can protect Aika from everything bad thing that may come her way? I understand how deep and devoted your feelings are for her and I know how much she cares about you too, but before she was the Priestess of Suzaku she was an ordinary Leaf Village civilian who was working to open her own shop. Now she has all the money she needs to finally open the shop she's been dreaming of since she was a kid. This is a very critical time for her, she can't concentrate, but if you go back the world might return to normal," Naruto said seriously to him. He then bowed his head. "I don't blame you if you hate me for asking you this, but please, if you care about her, go back into the book."
"A letter…for Aika?" Tamahome asked smiling a bit. "I can at least write her a letter to say goodbye, can't I?"
"Then you'll do it? Oh thank you," Naruto said with relief.
~0~
Aika made it to the Academy for one of the jobs she had. She sometimes taught some classes there. Teach students about the history of the village and clans with Yui. Aika was on the rooftop with Yui.
"Can we sit down and talk? I'm feeling a little tired," Yui said, her voice showing her exhaustion. Aika nodded and they took a seat on the steps. Aika took out the engraved kunai Suboshi had used to get to their world.
"Here. I found this near him when Suboshi died," Aika said giving it to her. Yui took it and looked at it.
"I guess Nakago is the only ally I have now," she said.
"Yui, listen to me. Nakago is not your ally. When you first came back into the book, those men in Kutou never raped you," Aika stated with a serious and urgent tone. Yui's eyes widened slightly and she remembered what happened. "You were saved before they could do anything, but Nakago lied to you and convinced you it was my fault in order to make me your enemy. As soon as I got back to this world, I took off my weapons pouch that had my kunai in it and now I know that's the reason I couldn't feel you calling for help while you were in the book. Because of that, he could intensify the doubt you already had about me." Yui stood with a glare.
"It's lies! You're lying!" She told her.
"I'm not lying! Nakago only wants the power of Seiryuu for himself! But there's more, Yui," Aika said taking a letter out. She then handed it to the other Priestess. "Read this. It's an old letter written by Einosuke Okuta, the original owner of the Universe of the Four Gods to his friend, Mr. Osugi." Yui took it and opened it before reading the letter. She then started reading.
"Osugi, you're the only one I can count on now. There's no time left…."
"I discovered and extraordinary work. A narrative known as the Universe of the Four Gods. Somehow, the book pulled my daughter Takiko into its pages, seeming to possess some sort of encrypting magical power. My daughter became the heroin of the story, summoned Genbu, then returned. However, her body was wracked with pain. As her wishes were granted, she was being devoured by the Beast God Genbu. If my daughter was to be laid to waste, I decided I'd rather take her life by my own hand and then kill myself. My decision made, I wanted to destroy the book. I tried to set it on fire, but it would not burn. I believe the book is waiting for the remaining Priestesses to follow. The Priestesses of Byakko, Suzaku, and Seiryuu," Okuta had wrote.
"My friend, I beg you to seal this book away for me. This is my final request. Please," Yui finished, her hands shaking.
"But he wasn't able to seal the book away and Mr. Osugi's daughter Suzuno was taken into it next and became the Priestess of Byakko. Except she wasn't devoured. Her will was strong. Yui, if your heart is strong and true, you won't be ravaged by the Beast God. Y-you have to believe me, Yui!" Aika pleaded.
"It's not true…"
"I know it's true!"
"I don't believe you!" Yui shouted. She threw the letter down and ran away from Aika.
"Yui, wait…" Aika tried to call out, but sighed. Yui kept running and soon made it to the hall. She leaned against it, panting.
"A lie. It's a lie because if everything Aika told me is true then all this fighting has been for nothing. And there has never been any reason for me to hate her like I did," she murmured. She started feeling worse, sweating like she was sick. She moved her sleeve and saw blue scales on her forearm. Her eyes widened with fear. "Oh no! What is this?! Nakago…did you know about this? Did you know about this, Nakago?!"
~0~
The Kutou Soldiers fought and the Emperor of Kutou ran down the halls with two of his councilors. He then stopped with a gasp when he saw Nakago who had taken down his guards.
"Na…Nakago," he said. His two councilors screamed and ran away in fear.
"Huh, so it finally ends, your Majesty," Nakago mused.
"Nakago, have you really betrayed me?" The Emperor asked.
"While the Kutou forces I command are in numeral, they are mostly made of foreign mercenaries. Our acts are fully equipped with foreign legiance and foreign soldiers like myself. As for betrayal, I don't recall ever swearing my loyalty to you," Nakago stated walking up to him.
"Please let me live! It's all I ask! What is it you want?! Sums of gold? Or to be Emperor in my place?! I have favored you since you first got here! I took you in and made you my General! Have you forgotten that, Nakago?!" The Emperor exclaimed. It's then Nakago thrusted his hand into the Emperor's stomach, going through his back.
"Now you know the humiliation that I and my people had to suffer under your reign," Nakago sneered. "It's over!" He said before using his power to make the Emperor turn to nothing but ash. He then calmed himself as he heard footsteps.
"General!"
"The Emperor has been taken care of. Kill his family, ministers, and all noblemen," Nakago ordered as he went up to Soi and picked her up into his arms.
"How's the shoulder, sir?" One soldier asked.
"Don't concern yourself with it. I have to leave you for a while and attend to another debt that I'm owed. It will be the finishing touch."
~0~
'I told Yui everything I had to tell her. I have to believe in her now and keep the faith. There's nothing else I can do. Nothing else any of us can do,' Aika thought as she taught class. She smiled at the students who seemed to finish their work. They soon left and Aika thought about Tamahome. Her eyes widened a bit and she packed her things quickly before running home.
"I think he eventually has to go back into the Universe of the Four Gods and I think he already knows that he has to too," Naruto had told her the other day.
'Tamahome…'
~0~
Tamahome had changed back into his armor and wrote Aika the letter. He then set it on Aika's desk with a heavy heart. Aika's door then burst open.
"Tamahome!" Aika said making him look over.
"Aika…" Tamahome murmured. She then saw him dressed in his armor.
"You were planning to go back into the book, weren't you? And you weren't going to tell me," Aika said with hurt in her eyes.
"Naruto told me that Mitsukake and his Majesty Hotohori are dead. I think I have to go back. I belong there. I'm a character in the book after all," Tamahome said before looking out the window. "But for you, it's different. You belong here. I'm glad I came back with you because I understand now that your life is here. You have to live in this world."
"But you promised! You said we'd never be apart from each other again!" Aika stated. Tamahome placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Selfish words I uttered when I didn't know anything, but now I know what Tatara was trying to explain to us before he passed away," he said to her.
"And so, even if she lived in a different world than mine, we really were together always," Tatara had told them. Aika looked down, shaking from fighting tears back.
"Besides, I've been thinking about this myself. If our love for each other is truly destiny, then maybe there's another me in this world somewhere and fate will bring us together again. Not a made up me, but a real me or something," Tamahome said with a small smile. He let out a small chuckle, scratching his cheek. "I'm not make much sense, am I?"
"But why? Why are you even saying all this?" Aika asked. Tamahome's eyes widened a bit when he saw the pain and hurt in her eyes. "There's no way I can ever be happy without you, don't you know that by now? You told me you loved me and I believed you every time you said it!" She stated. She rested her head on his chest and lighting pounded her fist against it. "You promised we'd always be together. That we'd live our lives together. You're not just some character, Tamahome. To me, you're someone that can never be replaced. Never. So please, don't leave me. Don't even say you're leaving me. I'll do anything you ask me to. That first time I told you I loved you, I meant it. All those other times, I meant it then! Oh please, Tamahome," Aika said with soft sobs. Tamahome looked up, feeling his heart pound at her words. He felt guilty about the thought of leaving her. He felt hurt himself. He squeezed his eyes shut as he felt them start to sting. He then held her tightly in his arms making Aika's eyes widen slightly. What he said next made her eyes widen more and made her heart race.
"A wedding ceremony. We'll celebrate. Just the two of us. How is it done in this world? Can you show me?" He asked her.
~0~
Yui walked through the streets of the village after she finished teaching her own class that had been separate from Aika's.
'Nakago….Answer me, Nakago. Did you know all along I would be devoured by Seiryuu?' Yui thought to herself.
"Lady Yui," she heard Nakago's voice before seeing a glow.
~0~
Aika showed Tamahome two rings after he had taken his armor off. One was silver with a ruby in it and the other was gold with a ruby and amethyst.
"The rings I bought at the stand yesterday. We each put on our left ring finger and then in our hearts, pledge our eternal love," she said as she smiled, putting the silver ring on Tamahome's finger. Tamahome smiled and put the gold ring on her left ring finger. They both then laced their fingers together.
"And now the two of us are husband and wife forever. After all that's happened, nothing can come between us or our love ever again. We are joined and now we are one. I love you," Tamahome said softly to her as tears pricked her eyes.
"I love you, always," Aika smiled as he cupped her cheek and they kissed. 'Always, I love only you.'
~0~
'And the Priestess prayed. Oh time. Oh time, please stop,' Naruto read the Universe of the Four Gods to himself in the living room. 'I'll let them have a few more minutes.'
~0~
Yui stared in shock as she saw Nakago appear before her, blue lightning flickering off him as he smirked a bit.
"I heard you call to me, Lady Yui," he said to her.
'Nakago…'
~0~
Tamahome held his wife in his arms, smiling happily. He then gasped with wide eyes.
'His life force!' He thought.
"Aika! We've got trouble! Believe it!" Naruto shouted making Aika turn quickly with panic. "It's him! Nakago is here!" He said as Aika appeared in the living room.
"Naruto!"
"Nakago is with Yui right now," Naruto told her.
"With Yui?" Aika's eyes widened.
"The last thing we need is those two together," Naruto stated. Tamahome's eyes narrowed and he looked out the window.
~0~
"Lady Yui, come here. Aren't you glad to see me?" Nakago asked as Yui just stood there. He then started walking up to her. "You did call for me to come to you, didn't you? Well, I'm here to help you," he said before Yui's eyes narrowed a bit. "Lady Yui," he said before going to pull her into his arms.
"Nakago," Yui said as her bangs covered her eyes making him stop. "It's time for you to tell me the truth. Was I raped by those men in the alley when I first arrived back there?" She asked making Nakago smirk. "Aika told me I wasn't. She said you lied to me about that. In the book, in the other world, day after day I told you how hurt I was that Aika had abandoned me and you blamed her too and you comforted me. You were always at my side. That's why I believed you. But Aika said that you twisted my doubt and anger so that I would become the Priestess and you could get the power of Seiryuu! You made us become enemies just to serve your own purpose! Is that true?! Is it?!" Yui demanded. Nakago was silent for a moment before smirking.
"What you say hurts me. Especially since it was you who decided to make that girl your enemy," he said making Yui's eyes widen. "Friendship, jealousy, and resentment, the problems you have with those emotions lie within yourself. The only thing I did was help release them. And when you summoned Seiryuu, I had given you the chance to voluntarily choose between me and your so called friend. You should grateful to me for saving you from those men before it was too late. Now, you promised me the final wish you have from Seiryuu and I have come to collect the debt you owe."
"When you told me you loved me, it was a lie, wasn't it? You knew all along that you wanted was Seiryuu's power for yourself!" Yui said before running away from him.
"You think you can run away from me?" Nakago called.
"Please no! Somebody! Please help me!" Yui cried.
~0~
Aika and Naruto walked back into the bedroom and saw that Tamahome was gone and the window was open.
"Tamahome…" She whispered with wide eyes.
"He can't win. Not like this. Nakago will kill him," Naruto said worried for the younger male. Aika then ran out of the room, grabbing her weapons pouch. "Aika, where are you goin?! Aika!"
~0~
Yui kept running, wanting to get away from Nakago before he could do anything. She then remember what Aika told her.
"If your heart is strong, you won't be beaten by the Beast God. You have to believe me, Yui!" Aika had told her.
'I didn't believe her!' Yui thought before she accidentally tripped and landed on the ground. She sat up and her eyes widened when she saw blue scales on her leg. "The scales…they're on…they're on my legs! No! It's here! NO!" She cried.
"Yui!" Tamahome shouted. He grabbed her wrist making her scream as she thought it was Nakago.
"No! No! Don't!" She struggled until Tamahome turned her and rest his hands on her shoulders.
"Calm down. It's just me," he assured her.
"T-Tamahome…Nakago, Aika was right. He only wants Seiryuu's power," Yui whispered through thick tears. Tamahome's eyes widened a bit before narrowing. He ducked with her as a blue energy was thrown at them. Yui fell limp against Tamahome who looked over and saw Nakago.
"Nakago!" Tamahome growled.
"Will you please hand over Lady Yui, Tamahome?" Nakago asked nonchalantly.
"Why did you come to this world, you monster?! Why don't you leave Yui alone?!" Tamahome snarled.
"I came to collect on a debt from Lady Yui. The last of Seiryuu's powers was promised to me. I have waited so long for this moment. I shall become a god and rule over all creation and then I alone shall decide what is allowed to exist and what is destined to be destroyed in the world. In this world as well as our own. I, who was born to a hated tribe and forced to live a miserable existence, shall decide the fate of all reality. Amusing, don't you think?" Nakago smirked.
"So you want to conquer unknown lands? For power, fame, and fortune?" Tamahome glared.
"Fortune? Ha, not at all. This is vengeance," Nakago stated. Tamahome stood after laying Yui down.
"Become the ruler of reality? That isn't going to happen because you and I weren't created to exorcise those kinds of rights. You and I both are characters in a book. We were created by the people of this world and without them, we would cease to exist. That's right, you and I can only draw breath if someone animates us on paper. Do you think something fictional can ever control the real world? Give it up!" Tamahome glared at him.
"Who cares about that?"
"Who cares?" Tamahome demanded.
"Even if everything you say is true, you can't deny that we still exist so what difference does it make? Besides, if someone in this world created me, it means they are my creator, my personal God and every man and every culture has a God. When I become a God myself, I will control the fate of others and I will be able to destroy my creator's world," Nakago told him.
"No you won't!" Tamahome said getting ready to fight. "You'll have to do it over my dead body! This world is where Aika and Yui are going to live and I won't allow you to devastate it!" He shouted. Nakago smirked as the symbol on his forehead appeared.
"Do you really believe that you can stop me? You're just a normal human being now, not a Warrior since you lost the power of Suzaku. By all means, try," he said as a blue light appeared around him. There were explosions and fires through the village making the civilians panic. Tamahome went to punch him. Nakago appeared behind him. "Am I moving too fast for you?" Tamahome then did a tornado kick, but Nakago moved again. Nakago appeared behind him again and used an energy ball of his life force on Tamahome, getting him in the back. Tamahome let out a shout of pain and landed on the ground, the back of his armor gone with his shirt. "Don't ever underestimate me, boy," he said before turning and seeing Yui on the ground. "Lady Yui, it won't take long to finish off this little brat. Please wait for me there until I'm ready," he smirked before looking at Tamahome who was getting up. Tamahome was ready to fight again and suddenly saw a shimmer on his hand. He then smiled a bit when he saw his ring.
"Aika, joined forever. I'm glad I could tell you I love you one more time. I may never see you again, please forgive me for that. So that you have a future, I will fight. I will gladly die if I have to!" Tamahome said determination in his eyes as he looked at Nakago.
~0~
Aika ran through the streets in hope of getting to Tamahome and Yui fast. If she had to fight, she would and she was ready.
'Tamahome. Tamahome, no. Don't leave me, please. Don't go!' She prayed as she made her way to wear she saw the smoke.
~0~
Nakago smirked at Tamahome.
"Something wrong? Come and get me if you can," he provoked. Tamahome glared and ran forward to attack, letting out a battle cry.
Kido:...Tamahome and Aika are married?!
Kida: *Grins* Yup! Now...if only I could get rid of Nakago.
Kido: Simple, just take him out.
Kida: What kind of story is that? That means no flippin' action!
Kido: Not true. What about that one time...oh, that was because of Nakago. What about that other...nope, Nakago too...Oi...
Kida: Exactly. We hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please favorite and comment!