Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yugi,or the characters. They all belong to Yuu Watase Sensei. Lol
Description: After Nuriko nearly dies from the wound he recieved from Ashitare,he realizes that it was his love for Miaka that gave him the strength to live. His love for her grows stronger by the day. But what about the promise he made to Tamahome?
"Nuriko..." she whispered. Her eyes full of tears. Holding her beloved Warrior in her arms. A tear fell from her eye and on to his cheek causing his eyes to flutter open. Miaka sobbed as Tamahome walked over and knelt down by his side.
"Nuriko..." he said. His voice barely above a whisper. "I made a smoke signal...so Mitsukake and the others should be here any minute now. So just hang in there,okay?" Tamahome was trying so hard to hold back the tears building up inside him.
Nuriko closed his eyes and smiled. "Heh...it's alright...it ain't like this is gonna...kill me. You can't get rid of me...that easily." He felt the warm blood pouring from his wound. He knew he was dying. 'Miaka...',Nuriko thought as he opened his eyes to look at the face of the girl he had grown to love. Seeing her face stained with tears caused his heart to ache. "Miaka...why are you...crying?" he asked lifting his index finger to whipe her tears away. "Geez...you're such a crybaby. You're stubborn...silly...hot headed...a total glutton." he chuckled.
"Please don't talk,Nuriko. You have to stay still until Mitsukake gets here."Miaka pleaded. "H-He will heal you...and everything will be okay!"Miaka was trying so hard to smile for him. But seeing him like this just made her cry even more.
"No...it's alright." Nuriko said putting his hand on her cheek and stroked it gently. "There is...so much...I wanted to tell you...Miaka." he closed his eyes. "Heh...but it looks like I won't get the chance to."
Miaka held him closer. "Wh-What are you talking about? You sound like...like I'll never see you again. And you know that's not true!" she smiled softly with tears streaming down her face. "You will always be there to protect me...defend me...comfort me..." her voice started to choke. Please,Nuriko...don't leave me!!" she sobbed.
"Miaka..."he said looking at her. 'This is my chance.'he thought. 'I have to tell her.' Before Nuriko could say anything he was interrupted by Tamahome's voice.
"They're taking too long!" Tamahome said standing up. "I'll go find them. Miaka,stay here with Nuriko!" and with that he rushed off into the distance to find Mitsukake and the others.
Miaka looked down at Nuriko,who's eyes were closed. "Nuriko?" she asked wiping the strand of hair from his eyes. "What is it you wanted to tell me?" he didn't answer. "Nuriko?" she nudged him gently. "Why won't you say anything?" she touched his face and realized how cold it was. "No." Her face went pale as she started to scream. "No! Answer me,Nuriko!! Please!! Nurikooooo!!" her voice echoed through the mountains.
It hurt to speak,and it hurt even worse to move. He started to feel the darkness closing in around him. Slowly his life was fading away into the abyss. 'No.'he thought. 'Not yet.' he felt death pulling him in further but he resisted. 'I have to tell her...I have to tell,Miaka!!' the persistent darkness wouldn't led up. Pulling him further and further into the abyss. Nuriko fought through the darkness,trying desperately to find his way out.'This is my only chance! Let me tell her...please!!' his voice echoed through the darkness until a small red light appeared in front of him.
"Tell her what,Warrior of Suzaku?" a voice said.
Nuriko stared at the red light until he finally anwered. "That I love her. And I will do anything to make sure she's happy."
"Even die for her?" the voice asked.
"Yes."Nuriko said quickly.
"I see. You prove great loyalty to your Priestess."the voice said as the red light began to form into a figure. "You want to protect the girl you love even if it means sacrificing your own chance at happiness?"
"Yes. I don't care. Just as long as Miaka is happy. That's all that matters to me." Nuriko said boldly.
The red light faded away leaving Nuriko alone in the darkness. He gazed around himself. Everything was black. Nuriko closed his eyes and smiled. "So guess this is it then. My role in this story has come to an end."
Suddenly,a warm red glow began to wrap itself around Nuriko. Covering his entire body. 'What is this? Nuriko thought as he felt himself being dragged up from the blackened depths,felt himself rising swiftly to the surface. At that moment,the light flared around him,the breath surged back into his lungs,the life splashed back into his body.
Tamahome finally returned with Mitsukake along with the others. Miaka was sitting in the snow staring blankly at Nuriko's face. Tamahome took a slow step forward. "Miaka...I'm back. And I brought Mitsukake with me! Nuriko will be fine now!"
Miaka didn't say anything but continued staring at Nuriko.
"Miaka? What's wrong?" Tamahome asked taking another step forward. "I told you everything will be fine now! I brought Mitsukake,so there' nothing to worry about!" Tamahome's face bacame angry. He turned to Mitsukake. "What are you waiting for? Go over there and heal him!"
"No..." Miaka finally spoke. "You can't heal him...not now." Tears fell from her eyes. "We're too late...Nuriko is...is..." Her voice broke and she began to sob.
"What? What are you saying?!"Tamahome yelled. "You're such an idiot! Nuriko would never let himself die like that!" he walked over and grabbed Miaka by her arm and yanked her up. He squeezed her arm causing her to wince in pain.
"T-Tama,take it easy. You're hurting her." Tasuki said taking a step forward.
"Mind your own bussiness,Tasuki! This is between me and her!" Tamahome barked at Tasuki then turned his attention back to Miaka. "So you're saying Nuriko is dead,huh? And I bet you're blaming me for it aren't you? Saying that it's my fault." His eyes became fierce with anger. "Well it's not!! This is not my fault!!"His grip on Miaka's arm tightened causing her to scream.
"Tamahome! That's enough!!" Chichiri yelled grabbing Tamahome's shoulder pulling him off of Miaka.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Tasuki flared up.
Tamahome stood there staring at Miaka,then turned to Nuriko. "Hmph...actually it's his fault." Tamahome glared at Nuriko's face. "He wanted to go get the shinzaoho. He should've known he was no match for a Warrior of Seiriyuu. Tamahome turned and began to walk away.
"T-Tamahome?"Miaka spoke. "Where are you going?"
Tamahome stopped and stood still for a moment. "Don't you get it,Miaka?" He turned around to face her. "This all happend because of you!! Because you came to this world! Because you became the Priestess of Suzaku!!" he sreamed in such a rage. "It's all your fault!! Your fault!! My father...my brothers and sisters and now Nuriko!! All dead because of you!!"and with that Tamhome turned and walked off.
Miaka felt her heart ache. Why is he saying all this? Why? Tamahome has always been her one true love,the one she could depend on most. The one she can count on to defend and protect her. But now...it's like she hardly knows him anymore.
"Tamahome..." she whispered. Miaka turned around to look at Nuriko. "It is my fault isn't it?" All of this did happen because of me..." she leaned in and layed her head on Nuriko's chest. "Forgive me,Nuriko..." she began to cry.
The other Suzaku Warriors stood in silence while watching they're beloved Priestess weep. Neither one of them knew what to say to her. Truly,they cared for Miaka,but they didn't know how to comfort her...let her know that everything was going to be all right. No. Only one of the Suzaku Seven knew how to do and say things like that. Nuriko...the only one who was able to make Miaka smile. The one who always saw the bright side of things. The very one who sacrificed himself for the sake of Miaka's happiness.
"Nuriko..." her voice sank. "Can you forgive me,Nuriko?"
At that moment,a warm breeze began to blow. It was so warm,like spring air. Miaka looked up to see leaves blowing around above her. The warm wind blew around the other Warriors,who were looking around curiously. The wind finally setteled and rested on Nuriko's body.
"Wh-What happend?!" Tasuki asked checking himself for any damage.
"I don't know,no da?"Chichiri said inspecting himelf.
Miaka looked down at Nuriko,who was still laying there. She looked at him curiously,and realized that his face wasn't as pale like it was a moment ago. Color was starting to return to his face. She examined him once again and saw that the bleeding from his wound had stopped. Miaka's eyes widened.
"N-Nuriko?" she nudged him but he still didn't move. Miaka layed her head down on his chest where his heart was. Hoping to hear a heart beat. There was nothing at first. But then she started to hear thumping. It was slow and out of rythem,but as a few moments passed it started to grow faster. Miaka rose up and placed her hand over Nuriko's mouth. She could feel breath coming in and out. 'Could it be?' she thought.
"Nuriko? Can you hear me?" she placed her hand over the spot where his Willow symbol appears on his chest.
When Miaka couldn't hear his response. She looked away. Suddenly,she felt a hand cover hers where it rested on his chest. She turned back in shock. The hand was so warm. It was Nuriko's hand! He slowly opened his eyes to gaze into the emerald eyes of the girl he loved. The girl that him the strength to live.
"I...can always hear you...Miaka." Nuriko smiled softly at Miaka.
She was almost too stunned to move until at last she gave in to her excitement. "NURIKO!!"she lunged forward to hug him. "You're alive!! Oh,Nuriko!!",she hugged him tightly.
"What? Nuriko?!" Tasuki turned his attention to Miaka and Nuriko. "Y-You're alive!!" Tasuki yelled with excitement.
"How is that possible?" Chiriko smiled with tears running down his face. He was so happy Nuriko was alive.
"I don't know know,no da." Chichiri said putting his mask back on. "A slight possiblity lies with Suzaku."
"Suzaku?" Chiriko asked looking up at Chichiri.
"Let's not worry about it right now,no da." Chichiri smiled down at Chiriko.
Nuriko sat up with Miaka still hugging him. He wrapped one arm around her while holding himself up with the other. He looked up to see Tasuki and Mitsukake standing above him. He smiled. "Heh...hey,guys."
"Dontcha "hey,guys" us,fag boy!!"Tasuki crossed his arms. "Ya nearly got yourself killed!!" Tasuki yelled nudging Nuriko in the side with his foot.
"Well,actually...urm...I DID die. I guess I just...um." Nuriko couldn't figure it out. Did he die? Or maybe he...
"That's enough,Tasuki. Let's help him up." Mitsukake said putting his hand on Tasuki's shoulder.
Miaka leaned back to look at Nuriko in the eyes. "I'm so happy you're still here,Nuriko. I'm so happy..."she hugged him once again. Nuriko took in a long breath of air.
"Yeah,me too,Miaka. Me too."he exhaled the air.
Mitsukake and Tasuki leaned down to help Nuriko to his feet. Miaka stood up and turned to the direction where Tamahome had went. "Tamahome..."she whispered. "I'm going to find Tamahome! And tell him what happend! Miaka said running off in the direction to find Tamahome.
A/N: My first FY fan fic...please go easy on me!! sigh As you can tell...I'm a Nuriko/Miaka supporter,so no hating please!! I will be updating as much as possible. I really hope you like it. Please review!!