This Time Around

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Watase Yuu. I'm just borrowing them for a while and will return them as soon as I finish torturing them.

Chapter 1: Destiny Calls

"KAIJIN!" The symbol of Suzaku, the protector god of the South, flared brilliantly into existence onto Miaka's forehead. Her eyes shone with the fierce light of determination.

She could not afford to lose. She made her second wish. The wish that would enable them to win this battle. I will not lose! she vowed silently.

"Seal Seiryuu in this scroll!" she commanded the red phoenix god, flinging Chiriko's scroll into the sky.

Seiryuu, the dragon god of the East, vanished…as did the Kokoro symbol on Nakago's forehead.

The blonde shogun looked surprised for an instant as he felt Seiryuu's power fade from his body. He watched as Tamahome barrelled towards him, arm drawn back ready to punch right through his chest. The red character of "oni" blazed on Tamahome's forehead, and for some reason, Nakago found it oddly mesmerising.

Well done, Suzaku no Miko… he thought almost sincerely. Well done. She had made the only wish that would end this battle once and for all.

Tamahome's fist sped towards him, but Nakago didn't move or make any attempt to block it. His fate was sealed, and it would all finally end here and now.

Nakago smiled.

Tamahome felt the change in his opponent's chi even as the blue character faded away into nothingness. Miaka had made a wish to seal Seiryuu, he realised, and Nakago was powerless.

It would be so easy to kill the Seiryuu bastard now…the same way he killed Hotohori-sama. An eye for an eye, a life for a life. Honour demanded it. Tamahome closed the distance between them rapidly, ready to exact revenge for the deaths of his friends and comrades…and for his family. Nuriko, Hotohori-sama, Yuiren, Chuei…Everyone…this is for you…

Nakago felt the rush of air and waited for the pain of the impact that was sure to follow.

It never came.

He opened his eyes and was met with the sight of Tamahome's fist poised an inch over his heart. The Suzaku seishi's arm was trembling from tension and exertion.

Neither man moved. They stood there, for what seemed like an eternity. Tamahome lifted his head to meet Nakago's eyes, the symbol on his forehead still glowing a fierce crimson. Then slowly, he lowered his fist to his side, even as his adversary's eyes became shards of blue arctic ice.

Tamahome tensed, when Nakago's hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of his shirt and drawing him up until they were practically nose to nose.

"Why did you stop?" The outraged hiss was a far cry from Nakago's usual cool, confident taunts. He was angry…extremely angry. Once again he had been deprived of oblivion…once again, he'd been cheated out of the death which by all rights should have claimed his life years ago.

Tamahome stared at him for a moment, as though stunned, then wrenched himself out of the shogun's grasp. He glared at the erstwhile leader of the Seiryuu shichi seishi, his eyes narrowing.

"If I had done it, then I would be no better than you…A monster of the worst kind," Tamahome said slowly, "Besides, death is too good for an asshole like you." He grinned maliciously, feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction.

He hadn't been lying when he had said that Nakago didn't deserve the release that came with death. He had truly wanted to kill the other man, but something made him change his mind at the last second. He had seen an odd expression in Nakago's eyes the moment Miaka made her wish to seal Seiryuu…Had seen the strange, almost peaceful smile that had appeared for a split second across the blonde shogun's handsome face.

It was then that Tamahome had realised with stunning clarity that Nakago would not have tried to evade his most-likely fatal punch. The man had been prepared to die…had probably welcomed the possibility. I wonder why…?

No. Letting him live will be a punishment worse than death. Besides, I don't need to deal with any more guilt, especially over the Seiryuu bastard. He swept a coolly assessing glance over Nakago and felt his grin becoming impossibly wider. The blonde man had both his fists clenched and was almost visibly trembling with rage.

How does it feel, Nakago? How does it feel to be on the losing end for once? To be weaker than another?

His train of thought was interrupted by the simultaneous yells of "TAMAHOME!!" and "REKKA SHI--" which was abruptly cut off by the sound of Chichiri's staff making contact with a certain flame-haired bandit's head. The next instant he found his arms full of Miaka as she flung herself at him, tears streaming down her face.

"Tamahome," she gave him a watery smile, "I never stopped believing in you. That prevented me from being eaten by the sacred beast." She embraced him, as hard as she could. He held her close, savouring the feel of her. Up to about a few moments ago, he thought that he would never see her again…

The sound of Tasuki's cussing reminded them that they weren't alone. "What about Blondie?" Tasuki gave a bloodthirsty fanged grin as he eyed their enemy. He looked ready to fry Nakago with his tessen if the shogun so much as blinked.

He wasn't the only one. Hotohori and Nuriko were also looking at Nakago with glares that could only be described as murderous.

"Daaaaa…" Chichiri was about to say something to defuse the situation and calm everyone down. Unfortunately, whatever it was never made it out of his mouth.

The building beside them began to crumble, as its weakened supports, damaged from the earlier chi-blasts, gave out. The building's shadow loomed over them, blotting out the sun as it toppled sideways…There was nowhere to run and even Nuriko's superhuman strength would not be enough to hold up the sixty-four storey skyscraper.

Tamahome squeezed Miaka's hand, a silent understanding passing between them. Wordlessly, they agreed to do what they both knew was the right thing.

"KAIJIN! RESTORE THIS WORLD!"

There was a blinding red flash, and the next moment, everyone found themselves standing in the middle of an undamaged street. All around them were buildings in their pristine state, including the skyscraper that had nearly flattened them a heartbeat ago. There was no sign of a battle having ever taken place.

Tasuki was the first to break the silence, "Why the heck did ya do that for? You were gonna use that wish to be together with Tamahome!!" he yelled in righteous fury.

"Tasuki—" Miaka was cut off by the laughter which seem to erupt from everywhere at once. Before anyone had a chance to react, a black vortex formed directly under their feet, sending them all spiralling helplessly out of control into a whirlpool of oblivion.

Notes:

Yay! First chapter done! I decided to start this story in the middle of Tamahome's and Nakago's fight. Everything which has transpired before this point remains the same.