Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ A Story Retold ❯ Chapter 19

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yugi. The original story and
characters belong to Yu Watase. Any characters that did not appear in
the original story are my own creation.

Warnings: The story picks up shortly after the episode 52 of the
Fushigi Yugi series. If you haven't seen all of the series not only
will the story probably leave you confused, but it contains some
major spoilers as well. This story has nothing to do with the OVA.

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A Story Retold: Chapter 19
By Katrina Kadabra

Nakago paced up and down the inside his tent of the Seiryu camp. In
the next room, Tomo was supposed to be using his powers of illusion
to influence Yui's next wish on Seiryu. But almost an hour had gone
by without a word from him, and Nakago's patience was beginning to
thin.

"What's taking so long?" he asked aloud. As if on cue, Tomo appeared
before Nakago and bowed apologetically.

"Please forgive me, Nakago," he said. "But the process is taking
longer than I thought. Lady Yui's will is quite strong, so..." Nakago
promptly slapped Tomo across the face before he had a chance to
finish.

"Idiot! She's hardly more than a child! You should be able to
overcome her easily!" Nakago scoffed. His minions seemed to be
nothing less than completely incompetent.

"Let me see her," said Nakago. "I will get her to obey me."

Nakago walked into the tent with Tomo where he found Yui laying on
the floor, arms and legs sprawled out. Sweat was pouring from her
skin, yet her body was shaking violently as if she could not stand
the cold in the room. Every few moments, her body would twitch and
change position; her breathing came rapidly in short, hard breaths.
Nakago approached her like a lion looking over its meal.

"Tell me what I need to do," he said. Tomo sighed and reluctantly
placed his precious Shin in Nakago's palm.

"You speak to her through this. This is what's keeping her in a world
of illusion, intensified by the koudoku she consumed earlier."

"That so?" Nakago asked. "We'll she how long she lasts."

Yui's mind was racing. Her thoughts jumped so rapidly, she couldn't
even tell where one left and another began. And her memories. Her
memories came flying at her violently, like blows dealt to her from
an unseen enemy. She saw herself running though the streets of Kutou,
crying out for her friend. Was this the first time she entered the
book? Or was it the second? Yui didn't even have time to think about
it before another image came to her. She was sitting on a bed in the
Kutou palace, crying. She looked over and saw a knife. She took the
blade up in her hand and aimed carefully at her wrist.

"No!" Yui screamed out loud. Tomo was shocked, but Nakago only
smiled. He knew it was the perfect time to attack.

"Lady Yui," he said calmly into the clamshell.

"Nakago," she whispered. Her eyes were tightly closed, locked in an
illusory world, but she still managed to turn her head towards the
sound of Nakago's voice. "Where are you? This place is dark and
frightening. Please help me."

"I am here, Lady Yui. I can help you get out of that world, if you
let me."

"Tell me," said Yui.

"It's simple," Nakago answered. "Make a wish on Seiryu. Ask him to
make me a god." There was a long pause. Nakago was surprised that Yui
did not answer his request in an instant. But he was even more
shocked at what she finally did respond.

"I can't," Yui answered. "Miaka told me before. I can't do that."
Nakago growled in frustration, but quickly regained himself.

"Miaka?" he questioned. "Your friend? What did she ever do for you?"

"She... she is..." Yui struggled to remember, but all that kept
coming back to her was the sound of a music box playing. She saw her
best friend in the arms of the man she had loved. But even that would
not have been so painful except for Miaka's words:

"Tamahome, you're the only reason I came back to this world." Yui
recalled how much her body had ached with betrayal and sadness. She
had sworn revenge on Miaka and Tamahome. But for some reason, she had
never followed through. Why? What had happened? Yui struggled to
think, but the memories were not there.

"I am your only friend," said Nakago. "The only ally you will ever
need. I'm only asking you to give me this power so that I can protect
you better. Don't you want me to protect you?"

"I... I..." Yui tried to answer. Her will was quickly failing her.
Nakago reached out and gripped Yui's hand. Tears began to form in
Yui's glazed eyes. Everything around her was dark, but she could feel
Nakago holding her, ready to pull her out at her order. Why should
she not say it? Nothing made sense to her anymore; she had completely
lost herself to the darkness of her own thoughts and memories. The
only thing she heard was Nakago's voice: "Just say the word kaijin
and make your wish. That's all."

Meanwhile, the Suzaku Seven raced towards the Seiryu camp. They knew
that every second counted. Nakago would not waste any time in trying
to force Yui to grant him his wish. That was one thing Miaka could
never permit to happen. As the horses rushed forward, Miaka tightened
her grip around Tamahome's waist. The Suzaku warrior looked over his
shoulder and smiled down at his love.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine," he assured her. "Just you
wait and see. I won't let Nakago hurt you or Yui or anyone."

Miaka managed to return Tamahome's smile. She would try her best to
have faith in him and in herself. That was all that could be done
right now. Satisfied, Tamahome gave Miaka a light kiss on the
forehead and turned his attention back to the road ahead of him. The
Seiryu encampment was just coming into view.

Nakago turned his head towards the door. A rush of footsteps could be
heard approaching the room.

"The Suzaku warriors have arrived," he said. "Tomo, why don't you go
greet them?" Tomo looked up in shock, but nevertheless obeyed
Nakago's command without question and hurried to oppose Miaka and her
friends.

Hotohori was first to call his horse to a halt. Nakago's tent was
there in front of them, easily recognized not only because it was the
largest, but also because it was the only one that had a guard posted
at the entrance. A guard that was all too familiar to Miaka.

"Tomo!" she gasped. The illusionist smiled and let out a hideous
cackle.

"Nice to meet you, priestess of Suzaku," he said. "But I'm afraid I
can't let you go any farther from here."

"Let me handle this guy," said Nuriko, stepping down.

Nakago listened with some interest to the battle going out outside.
He pondered for a few moments that the opponents might very well be
evenly matched. But Tomo's powers of illusion soon proved to be no
match for Nuriko's strength. A few short blasts, and the tent door
flew open. Tomo was out cold on the ground and in front of him stood
Nuriko, fist forward and a confident smile. Yuiren was asleep in his
arms.

Seeing the door was open, Miaka hurriedly pushed her way past her
warriors and ran into the room. Her friends followed behind her. When
the group entered, they found Nakago standing confidently as if he
had been waiting for them. Behind him lay Yui. There was an
expression on his face that Miaka had never seen before. A smile, a
look of maniacal control; a soul obsessed with power and domination
that it frightened Miaka to look at. She gathered all her courage to
step forward and speak to him. Only Nakago spoke first.

"Welcome, priestess of Suzaku," he said in a frighteningly cheerful
tone. "Tell me, what has inspired you to come visit me here?"

"You know perfectly well what I'm here for!" yelled Miaka as she
stepped forward. "Give us back Yui right now!" It was probably not
the wisest choice to be so demanding, but Miaka emotions usually
dominated her actions. And to her surprise, Nakago offered no
objections to her command.

"Do what you like," he said nonchalantly. "I have no further use for
her anyway." He lifted his hand and Miaka watched in horror as Yui
rose into the air, held up by an unseen force. With a flick of his
wrist, Nakago sent her falling to the ground near Miaka's feet.
Though she was ready to kill Nakago for mistreating her friend, Miaka
first she wanted make sure Yui was all right. She hurried to her
friend's side and started to help Yui up. To her surprise, she found
Yui was awake; her face was red and streaming with tears.

"Miaka," she cried hysterically. "Miaka, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!"

"Calm down!" said Miaka, shaking Yui and trying to help her regain
herself. "Yui, everything's fine. Just calm down." Yui shook her
head.

"You don't understand, Miaka. I-I did it. I granted Nakago's wish. I
asked Seiryu to make him a god."