Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ A Story Retold ❯ Chapter 20

[ 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 20
By Katrina Kadabra

Miaka took her friend in her arms and held her tight. Yui was still
sobbing, her shoulders heaved with each breath she took.

"It's okay," Miaka assured her. "Yui, it's okay. We haven't lost yet,
have we? We can still pull through. Right Yui?" Yui looked up at her
friend with tear-filled eyes. Optimistic as always, that was Miaka.
That cheerful face was filled with the confidence that they could not
lose, no matter how much the odds seemed against them. Within Miaka,
hope was always strong. But Yui had no more hope in her. Nakago had
completely dominated her so easily and just as a celestial warrior.
What now that he had gained the powers of a god? He could probably
destroy everything with just a thought if he wanted. The
possibilities terrified Yui to even consider. But Miaka was not
beaten so easily. She rose to her feet, helping her friend up as
well. Hotohori, Tamahome, Chichiri, Tasuki, Mitsukake, and Chiriko
quickly formed a semicircle in front of the two girls, ready to
protect them at any cost. Nuriko walked over to Yui, placing her
young daughter back in her arms. Yuiren was fast asleep.

"Kaijin!" Miaka called out loudly. The symbol of Suzaku blared on her
forehead. "Take Nakago's power away from him!" she commanded. A
stream of red light in the form of an elegant phoenix shot through
the air directly towards Nakago. But the warrior of Seiryu seemed
completely unconcerned. To Miaka's horror, he merely held out his
hand, forming a protective barrier that reflected her attack. The red
light faded into nothingness, and as it did, another wave of pain
surged through Miaka's body. She was ready to cry out in despair. A
waste. A complete waste. Her wish had failed.

"You still don't get it, do you?" Nakago asked. "I have been granted
the same powers as the beast god Seiryu. And you of all people should
know that Seiryu is the beast god of war. In battle, the dragon is
always stronger than Suzaku. Any wishes you try to make will be
futile." Miaka sunk down to her knees. Maybe... maybe Yui was right.
Maybe there really was no hope. Even though she had successfully
summoned Suzaku, Nakago still had the power to destroy everything
Miaka held dear. And she could do nothing to stop it. Miaka glanced
down at her legs. They were filled with pain, and what looked like
feathers were starting to form on her skin. Another wish and Suzaku
might very well devour her completely. Her spirit broken, Miaka did
not think she had the strength to resist it.

"You've gotten a little full of yourself since the last time we met,"
said a voice in front of her. Miaka looked up. Tamahome was still
standing between her and Nakago, strong as ever and willing to defend
his love at any cost. A quick turn of his head, and he passed her a
confident smile.

"Don't worry, Miaka," he said. "We'll beat this guy together."

"That's right!" Tasuki chimed in. "Ain't no way we're goin' down
without a fight."

"Priestess," said Nuriko. "We are here to protect you." Miaka nodded.
Her friends. Even though the situation seemed hopeless, they never
ceased to come through for her.

"Fools!" shouted Nakago. "You've lost already! Do I have to prove it
to you again?" Nakago formed in his hands another blast of blue
energy. Like lightning, Chichiri pulled out his staff, plunging it
into the ground. While Nuriko protected the priestesses, the other
six Suzaku warriors gathered around, concentrating their life force.
A bright red barrier formed from Chichiri's staff, protecting them
from Nakago's attacks for the, but only for the time being.

It wasn't long before the battle raging against Nakago became
obviously one-sided. The Suzaku poured out all the energy, every drop
of life force they could summon from their bodies into the barrier
surrounding them. It was exhausting, both mentally and physically.
Yet Nakago continued on with his assault, not a bit of fatigue
showing in him. With this much of an advantage, Yui thought, how long
would it be before Nakago destroyed them? She held her daughter ever
closer to her chest, while Nuriko continued to stand strong in front
of her and Miaka. It would only be through his body that Nakago's
power touched the two girls.

Yuiren began shaking in Yui's arms. Yui stroked her hair to try and
calm her down, but inside she herself was breaking apart.

"It's all my fault," she whispered. "I'm so sorry, everyone. It's all
my fault."

"Stop saying that, Yui!" Miaka scolded. "It was not your fault! You
were under the effects of the koudoku and Tomo's spell. No one could
have overcome that."

"You could have," said Yui. "You and Tamahome." Miaka didn't know
what to say. She wanted to tell Yui that everything would be okay.
That the Suzaku warriors would overcome Nakago's power. But as it
was, that did not seem possible. It was taking all the energy the
warriors had just to hold their barrier. How long could they stand
it?

Just then, Yuiren started pushing her face away from Yui's chest. She
wanted to speak, but couldn't get the words out with Yui holding her
so tightly.

"Mama," she said. Yui looked down at her young daughter. "Mama, there
is a way to win against Nakago. You can use your wish on Seiryu."

"And do what?" Yui questioned. "Nakago will only deflect the power
from my wish like he did Miaka's."

"Not this wish he won't," Yuiren assured her. "You must wish for
Seiryu and Suzaku to emerge from you and Miaka."

"What?!" Miaka exclaimed. "But Yuiren, that's just what we're trying
to avoid!"

"It's the only way," said Yuiren. "We must bring out Suzaku and
Seiryu's full power." She held out her little hands, one towards Yui
and one towards Miaka.

"Hold onto to me," she said. "Even if the beast gods dominate your
bodies, I will make sure they do not take your minds... or your
hearts." Yui nodded and took Yuiren's hand. Miaka did the same. Yui
took a deep breath. She didn't know what would happen, but any chance
no matter had small had to be taken. The three sat up on their knees
in a triangle, concentrating their life force. The symbol of Seiryu
flashed on Yui's forehead.

"Kaijin!" she called out. "Listen! Seiryu who dwells within me and
Suzaku in my friend Miaka! Take over us now and show your true form!"

A white light blasted from the group. Nakago could not believe his
ears. Yui's wish seemed suicide. Tamahome immediately dropped his
position in line and ran over towards the white light, calling for
his love.

"Miaka!" But as soon as Tamahome come close, he was immediately
thrown backwards by an unseen force and had to be caught by Chichiri
to avoid colliding with the wall.

"What's going on, no da?!" Chichiri exclaimed.

"I don't know! Something happened in there! But I can't get to
Miaka!" Tamahome fell his knees and tried to crawl back towards the
light. The power emanating from that place was enormous; it kept
pushing him back. But he would not give up. If it took all his
strength, he had to save Miaka. But as Tamahome drew closer, he saw a
figure emerging from the white light. A figure that appeared human,
but from whose body spread a pair of large red wings, and a flowing
tail of red feathers that sparkled with each step.

"Su-suzaku?" asked Tamahome weakly. As the figure approached,
Tamahome saw that it was not Suzaku. This was a young woman. She wore
a yellow top with ruffled collar, covered by a metal chest plate of
red and gold. A flowing red skirt came down to her knees, and her
brown hair done up in two buns, accented by pink beads.

"Miaka!" Tamahome exclaimed. And it was Miaka. Only she bore the
appearance of Suzaku. The same red and gold armor, the same beautiful
wings, the same amazing power.

"Tamahome..." she whispered. She knelt down to her love and kissed
him on the cheek. As she did, Tamahome felt his strength grow
stronger inside him. Just then, another figure stepped forward, this
one with shorter light brown hair. She wore an armor of blue, green,
and purple. Her ears were those of a dragon, and a long blue-scaled
tail whipped behind her.

"Yui!" Tamahome exclaimed. The young woman nodded. Behind her, the
white light began to fade. There was Yuiren, again in adult form,
kneeling down and concentrating all her life force on the two
priestesses. She was surrounded by an aura of purple light.

"What's going on?" Nakago demanded. Yui stepped forward.

"It's really very simple. Miaka and I have become one with Suzaku and
Seiryu. In effect, we ARE the two beast gods, because my wish was for
them to take over our bodies and show their true form." She looked
over at her daughter. "Normally, this would mean that Miaka and I
would have to be completely devoured. But Yuiren was able to use her
powers to hold down Suzaku and Seiryu and keep our minds from being
taken from us. That is what she is concentrating her energy so hard
on. So now we can use the beast gods' full power at our own will."
Yui turned to face her adversary. She thrust out her hand, and a blue
light shot forward towards Nakago. The blonde general laughed at the
attempt and held out his hand; the attack hit him on the palm. To
everyone's shock, Nakago recoiled his arm where the blow had struck.
A few red specks appeared on the floor.

"Blood?" Tamahome gasped in disbelief. "But how can he bleed? I
thought you wished to make him a god."

"I did," said Yui. "But the fact is that even Seiryu is not
completely immortal. He can still be injured, just like we can. And
the beast gods cannot grant power greater than their own." Yui's lips
formed a defiant smile.
"In other words, Nakago, you and I are even now."