Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ A Story Retold ❯ Chapter 21

[ 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 21
By Katrina Kadabra

The stage was set. The ultimate battle would now begin. The warriors
of Suzaku stepped aside. Their powers did not even begin to compare
to those of the opponents battling each other. It would only be a
waste of energy to interfere.
Nakago began the battle by trying to attack Miaka and Yui with a
blast of his life force. But Miaka quickly jumped up and spread her
dazzling red wings. As she did, she grabbed Yui by the shoulders,
pulling her into the air and out of harm's way. The blast hit the
ground below them, leaving a gaping hole in the ground.

"Cute trick," Nakago mumbled. At that he jumped up and vanished into
the air. Miaka looked desperately around to try and find where he
might reappear.

"Watch it!" Yui warned her friend. "He's going to teleport right
behind us!" Miaka whirled around. As Yui predicted, there was Nakago.
His feet stood on the air as if it were solid ground. He prepared
himself to attack, but Yui quickly countered him by crossing her arms
across her chest and forming a barrier around her and her friend. For
the moment, they were protected. Nakago scowled and back away a bit.
Now it was Yui's turn to fight.

"Seiryu, show me your power!" she yelled out. Her hands began to let
off a soft blue glow. She thrust her arms forward aiming a beam of
energy directly at Nakago. But the skilled general only smiled at her
attempt and easily sidestepped the assault.

Meanwhile, the celestial warriors watched the deadly battle with both
anticipation and fear.

"Chichiri," said Tamahome. "Miaka and Yui... they can win this,
right?" Chichiri shook his head.

"I dunno, it's hard to tell, no da," he answered. "They may have the
powers of Suzaku and Seiryu, but Nakago is a skilled opponent, no
da."

"I'm worried about Yui's daughter," said Nuriko. "It can't be easy
for her to hold the beast gods down like that. I hope she can take
it."

As the warriors conversed, blows continued to be thrown viciously
from one side to the other. It seemed neither one could claim an
advantage. While Miaka worked the defensive, frantically trying to
dodge Nakago's assaults, Yui continued on the offensive focusing all
of her life force into each attack. It was only together that they
stood a chance. But Nakago seemed perfectly adept at both types of
moves. He could use them interchangeably and seemingly without any
thought. Yet he still couldn't seem to do any damage to the two
priestesses.

It was only after several moments of exchanging blows that the tables
were finally turned. First, Nakago prepared to strike, aiming his
hands towards the left. Miaka saw the maneuver and quickly pulled
herself and Yui over in the opposite direction to avoid being hit.
But like lightning, Nakago switched his position and turned his
attack to the right, releasing it before either girl had a chance to
react. The blast made an almost direct hit to Miaka, tearing her
wings apart. Miaka screamed in pain as she and Yui both fell to the
ground, red feathers scattered about them. Nakago smiled confidently.
The gullible priestess had taken his bait, and now he had the upper
hand. Tamahome ran towards his love.

"Miaka!"

Miaka struggled to get back to her feet, her whole body shaking.

"That was cheap, Nakago!" yelled Chiriko.

"You keep out of this," Nakago ordered. He closed his eyes, and a
blast of power sent Chiriko flying backwards into Mitsukake. Both of
them collided with the ground and were knocked unconscious. Nakago
scoffed at the pathetic strength of the Suzaku warriors and glanced
back at the two priestesses. Yui had put Miaka's arm over her
shoulder and was trying to help her stand up.

"Miaka!" she said firmly. "Miaka, hang in there! You'll be fine."

"I don't understand," said Miaka weakly. "After we've come so far,
how is it that we're still losing to him?" Behind her, Nakago
laughed.

"Fools! Our powers may be equal but the fact still remains that I
have been training to fight since I was a small child. Do you really
think two immature girls can defeat a skilled general in battle?"
Nakago again laughed at the very thought. "Think again!"

Miaka made no response to Nakago's ridicules. She allowed Yui to help
her to stand, and then let go of her friend's support. Her wings hurt
her terribly, but for now, she had to ignore the pain.

"I won't give in to you, Nakago!" she announced. "For the sake of my
world and the sake of my friends, I will defeat you!" She raised her
hand. The remains of her beautiful red wings vanished from her
shoulders, and the pain stopped. She charged at Nakago one more time,
but he only threw her back towards the ground.

"I took it easy on you that time," he informed her. "Now give it up!"

Yui watched the scene fearfully, not knowing what to do. Nakago...
his power seemed impenetrable. Even without Yui granting his wish the
first time they went through the book, Nakago was still almost able
to defeat Miaka and Tamahome and take over their world. The only
reason he had lost was because... because Miaka had sealed the power
of Seiryu away from him. Seiryu, Yui thought to herself. He was the
source of Nakago's power. The blue dragon was the one who had
bestowed upon him all the strength he was now displaying, fueling him
in battle. So if Seiryu were to disappear, so too would Nakago's
powers. Their world and this world would both be saved. But first...
first Seiryu had to be destroyed. And there was only one way to do
that.

A tear formed in Yui's eye. It was not something she wanted to do.
She wanted to raise Yuiren properly, to return home and attend high
school with Miaka, to see her family one last time. But it couldn't
be. Yui was the one was had released this monster of Nakago's power,
and she had to be the one to seal it away. Yui lowered her head, her
light brown hair shadowing her eyes.

"Yuiren," she whispered. "No matter what happens, I need you stay
strong. Keep Suzaku from taking over Miaka, okay?"

"Mama?" Yuiren asked fearfully. Her mother turned around and gave her
daughter one last look of good-bye. Though her eyes welled up with
tears, her lips formed a smile. Her solemn face showed Yuiren how
grateful she was, and how proud. For everything Yuiren had taught her
about life and about herself, she would never forget.

"I love you," she said softly. At that, Yui began to remove the
silver-blue armor protecting her chest. She then held out her hands
in front of her. Miaka turned around.

"Yui?" she asked. Yui did not respond. A blue light formed in her
hands. When it faded, Yui held a long dagger in her palms. The blade
was smooth and sharp, and the handle was metallic blue, shaped as the
dragon's head. Yui grasped it tightly in both hands, raising the
blade and aiming it directly at her chest.

"Yui!" Miaka screamed in horror. "Yui, stop it! What are you doing!"

"Good-bye, Miaka," said Yui. At that, she closed her eyes tightly and
pushed the dagger forward with all her strength. The metal blade
instantly pierced her flesh, plunging deep into her heart. Yui
staggered for a few moments, and then collapsed.

Yuiren started to cry out, but then stopped herself, remembering her
mother's last words to her: "I need you to stay strong." Yuiren
nodded and continued with her concentration on Suzaku and Seiryu.

"No!" Miaka screamed, running to her friend's side. She knelt down
beside her and held her neck in one hand. Yui weakly opened her eyes
and smiled.

"Hi Miaka," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her hands
were still gripping the dagger's handle.

"Yui!" Miaka cried. "Yui, why?! Why would you do something like
that!" Yui struggled for a moment; it was hard to draw the breath she
needed to speak. A drop of blood fell from her mouth.

"Miaka, look at Nakago," she said. Miaka took a moment and brought
herself to glance over her shoulder. There Nakago stood, his face in
complete shock. The blue aura around him was beginning to fade; his
power was leaving him.

"Nakago's power comes from Seiryu," Yui explained. "And Seiryu and I
are one now. So this way..."

"Yui!" Miaka interrupted. "Yui, that's the STUPIDEST thing I've ever
heard. How could you even THINK of doing that?" Miaka started to
sob. "We'll beat him together, I promise. Only please don't go and
leave me now, okay?"

Yui smiled and reached up her hand. The dark blood ran from her palm
down her arm. Lightly, she touched Miaka's cheek, trying to wipe away
her tears.

"Come on Miaka," she said. "We don't have a lot of time here. And I'm
in a lot of pain. So let me see Nakago defeated before I go, okay?"

"Don't talk like that!" Miaka yelled. "I won't let you die!" She
threw her arms around Yui's neck. "I won't leave you! Ever! Don't ask
me to, because I won't!" Yui cringed. She hated it, to hurt her
friend this much. But there was no other choice. It was too late now.

"Go," she whispered. "If you don't, Nakago will still defeat you."
Yui gathered the strength she had remaining and lifted her head, her
lips next to Miaka's ear. "Thank you... for being my friend." At
this, Yui could say no more. She closed her eyes; her body fell limp
in Miaka's arms.

Miaka screamed and held onto Yui's body with all her strength. The
blood began to seep into the sleeves of her priestess' garb, but
Miaka didn't care. She didn't care about anything. Only that Yui had
to come back to her. She could not die. How could she leave her
friend and her daughter and all those who loved her behind? For what
in the end? That was when Miaka remembered. Why it was Yui had
committed this act. For her. So she could grant Yui's wish to defeat
Nakago and see a safe world. Just like she gave herself up the first
time. So... the story had come full circle.

Miaka stood up, drying her tears. She turned to face Nakago; there
was a blaze within her that Nakago had never seen before, or even
anticipated. Her heart was filled with anger. She had no forgiveness.
Miaka thrust out her hand. A large sword adorned with the symbol of
Suzaku appeared in her grip.

"You've gone too far, Nakago!" she yelled out. "I will never forget
this!" She pointed the sword forward, its blade glistened, catching
even the smallest beams of light. Miaka closed her eyes.

"Tamahome," she whispered. "Everyone, please give me the power I
need. Here. Now." She opened her eyes once more. Tears still stained
her face, and Yui's blood her clothes. For the sake of everyone,
Miaka knew what she had to do. Her goal was before her. There would
be no turning back now.

Miaka started to run, fast as she could. She had never known herself
to run like this before. It was as if the wings of Suzaku were on her
feet as she charged forward. Nakago tried to use what was left of his
power to form a protective shield around himself. The attempt failed.
Miaka's blade pierced through the barrier as if it were air. And it
continued on, directly through Nakago's body.