Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Bedlam and Vertigo ❯ Bedlam ( Chapter 9 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Sorceress Elcyion Bonedancer 
When all the world turns against you...
Anime/Manga: Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Suspense | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.31.2010 | Pages: 6 | Words: 8.2K | Visits: 237 | Status: Completed
When all the world turns against you...
Anime/Manga: Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Suspense | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.31.2010 | Pages: 6 | Words: 8.2K | Visits: 237 | Status: Completed
Author's Notes: Sorry about that long break! I had so much more to life than writing and being a nerd. :P
Anyway, I finally present the latest (and second to last) chapter of this loooooong-term story. I've been going back and forth with where I wanted to go, and continuously brainstorming for the end. I've never actually finished a chaptered story, you see, so conclusions and endings aren't my strong point. I'm trying, though!
I've been thinking of revamping the story chapters the same way I've been doing with my FFVIII story, but it really depends on how much time I have. This story has been going on for way too long, and as much as I loved writing it, it's time to move on. However, I'd never leave my readers hanging (because I hate it when other writers do), so I'm working on the last chapter as much as I can.
I don't know whether or not I'll write another TasukiMiaka story, but it'd be nice to see our favorite alternative pair in another setting that's... perhaps not as depressing. We'll see.
DISCLAIMER: Fushigi Yuugi and its characters are the property of Yuu Watase and other respective owners.
Miaka nodded solemnly. "Hai, Houki-sama. He is."
The mother of the emperor sighed. The terrible event at the marketplace was starting to make sense. The guards, courtiers, messengers, and whoever else worked at the palace had given her vague descriptions of what happened. Even with the many various points of view from all of them, Houki still had trouble understanding what went on. That is, until now.
The violet-haired noble frowned at her son. She thought he was really too young to be hearing all of this, even if the child was as precocious as they came. However, he was the emperor, and she understood that like Hotohori had when he was younger, Boushin needed to be strong, mature, and wise at his young age, especially in times of turmoil.
There was a deafening pause. Even the guards in the room seemed completely mute.
Boushin cleared his throat. "Ano... Miko-sama. Is there something you propose we do about this?"
Miaka bowed her head, considering the options. "He is... very dangerous..." Her voice trailed off unsurely.
"He is only one man out of this strong, populous place."
"One man with the ability to... scare all of the town square with just the sound of a gunshot," Miaka countered in a logical tone.
"Considering that, I don't know if I could describe Konan as strong," Houki added gently.
"Your Majesties!"
The shout and the scurry of urgent footsteps made Houki, Boushin, and Miaka quickly turn toward the direction of the noises. Three messengers were rushing into the room. When they were but a few feet away from where Miaka was standing, which was at the foot of the throne, the messengers quickly bowed before their nobles.
"What is it?" Boushin asked with confused eyes.
The first messenger, a mustached man wearing red, was the first to speak up. "More have been killed."
"Not too far from the palace," the second one, a man with a graying beard bowing next to the first one, added breathlessly. "Three have died."
"We have a feeling he is coming closer," the third one, a man without facial hair who appeared to be the same age as the first messenger, piped up timidly.
"How can you be sure?" Houki questioned.
"There is a trail of blood leading this way," the second messenger answered. "It is something we have discovered upon arrival. Fearing Your Majesties' safety, we thought it was of utmost importance to bring you this news before anything else."
"Are there guards out there?" asked Boushin. "Wouldn't they see someone of that nature before anything could happen?"
"The trail, and whoever caused it, could not be found by the guards outside," explained the first messenger. "The trail seemed to stop."
Miaka stared at the messengers carefully, registering every word. There was no question about it; the man from her world was close by. Her heartbeat was suddenly loud in her head as she thought of all the possible upcoming events.
Boushin looked up at his mother, for guidance on what to do next. "Okaa-san?"
She nodded at her son, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Hai." She turned toward the messengers. "Tell the guard captains to tighten the security at every building of the palace. Send a squad to patrol the perimeter as well."
A collective "hai" resounded throughout the room. The three men stood up quickly and rushed to deliver the command.
Miaka had to admire the firmness of who she thought was a gentle, but timid woman. It must have taken a lot of growing on Houki's part to be able to rule without the aid of her husband. She also had to do growing for the sake of her son, who seemed to look up to her as a strong individual.
Growing. It was something Miaka never thought about in extent. When she was younger, when she had first stumbled upon the realm of the Four Gods, she was always used to being saved, being protected. She always had support of people like Taiitsukun and her celestial warriors. As she grew older, she learned to be more independent, but in the back of her mind, she knew that the support of her friends, family, and the man she loved would always be there rooting for her. Now that they were taken away...
She forced the rest of the thought out of her head. The pain of losing so many loved ones was still unbearable, and she would completely lose herself if she thought about it too much. Yet, she knew she would have to face reality eventually.
Like Houki and Boushin, she needed to learn to depend on herself. She needed to become stronger after facing the tragedy of losing the ones who have made her strong. She wanted to learn to survive on her own... even without--
A familiar man with fanged teeth and fiery orange hair fleeted across her mind for a second. Her chest suddenly felt heavy.
"Ne, Boushin," she heard Houki speak up. Her thoughts interrupted, the miko watched the exchange between the family members. "Please go back to your quarters and stay there, okay? Please lock your door."
"Is this all really necessary, Okaa-san?" He was starting to frown, as if not liking the idea of being babied around more than he already was.
"Better to be safe than sorry," she assured him, giving him a kiss on top of his head. "If this man is actually on the premises, then we have to make sure you don't get hurt." Getting hurt was definitely an understatement of what the man was capable of, but Miaka reasoned that Houki didn't want to scare her son even more.
The empress motioned for two guards to escort the boy back to his room. As they left, Houki turned back to Miaka, nodding her solemnly. "I will allow you to stay in a spare bedroom until the threat passes. You need to be guarded as well, being his main target."
"I'm sorry for the trouble..." Miaka said softly, bowing. "But I must face him myself--"
"With who? And what?" Houki interrupted. "You don't have a way of protecting yourself yet without weaponry, combat skills, nor your seishi."
Miaka hated to admit it, but she was right. "What... what can I do, then? He's my responsibility..."
Houki sat upon the throne again and smiled at the brunette. "Just pray to Suzaku for safety and hope everything will be all right."
Miaka was reluctant to take a backseat to this predicament, but there was nothing she could do to convince Houki otherwise. "Sou desu... Thank you, Houki-sama." She bowed again.
The violet-haired noble called for two more guards to escort her to a spare room in the building. But before the priestess could leave, Houki called her name once more. Miaka craned her neck to look back at her.
Houki wasn't looking at her, but at her hands in her lap. "Do you... personally, think we will be all right?"
Miaka wished she could completely reassure the empress, but she wasn't sure herself, and she certainly didn't want to lie. She fished for the right thing to say, casting her eyes to the ground. "Like you said... if we pray to Suzaku for safety and... hope... then yes."
Houki didn't look relieved at all, but she still flashed Miaka a smile. "Right... of course."
Miaka notice she hadn't budged from the throne. She thought Houki would retreat back to her own room like Boushin and herself were doing. "Ano... Houki-sama. Are you not going to--"
"Messages from the guards and couriers would be received faster if I was here," she explained. My quarters are much too far and in too much of an inconvenient location."
"But if he--"
"I'll be all right. Please get some rest, Miko-sama."
Miaka had a feeling she wasn't going to convince Houki to get out of the room, so she reluctantly turned and began to follow the guards to her room. Before she left, though, she caught a glimpse of Houki's hands, which were trembling slightly and clasped together tightly.
Houki wasn't feeling all right at all.
The aching in his arm came back to him with a vengeance. Tasuki growled underneath his breath, taking the pain in.
"Awake, I see, no da."
Tasuki sat up and faced his fellow seishi, his face set in a scowl. "How long was I out, Chichiri?"
Chichiri was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room facing Tasuki's bed. He had been monitoring the bandit. "A few hours, at most, no da. You passed out from the pain while we were dressing your wound."
How unmanly, he thought to himself. But this was no time to be joking around, really.
"Da, that wound," the monk continued, "Neither Kouji nor I knew how to fix it. But from my basic knowledge of first aid, I thought to remove whatever got lodged in your arm, so I did, no da. I think you'll be fine, no da."
"So I can go find her?" Tasuki questioned, uncharacteristically hopeful.
"You need rest, Tasuki, no da. You'll re-open the stitching. And you must still be tired from fighting that man from Miaka's world."
"No! Fuck that!" the bandit yelled lividly. "I've fought harder than that before, goddammit! How the hell can ya sit there while Miaka might be injured?!"
"I was about to leave for town before you woke up, no da." At these words, the monk stood up from the chair, grabbing his staff in the process. He started for the door.
"Why did you wait?"
"I wanted to talk to you before you would wake up and leave, no da," was the answer. "You have no windows in here, and since I took your fan, you wouldn't be able to leave if I locked you in, no da."
"Bullshit..." Tasuki fumed silently for a second. Then something occurred to him. "Oi, where the hell is Kouji?"
Something about that was worrisome for Chichiri. He turned toward the other seishi slightly, thinking. "Da... come to think of it, I haven't seen him since we tended to you. After we were finished, and after I told him what I was going to do, he disappeared, no da. He was mumbling something, but I couldn't understand what it was, no da."
Tasuki shook his head. "Doesn't sound like him at all."
"Sou yo..."
The bandit flung his blanket off of him and proceeded to stand up from the bed. However, Chichiri, with quick reflexes, promptly bonked him on the head with the top of his staff, enough to keep his companion's rear on the bed.
Tasuki protested loudly, rubbing the top of his head delicately. "As if I'm not injured enough already, dammit."
"Stay here, no da," ordered the monk.
Tasuki gritted his teeth and glared at his friend. "Hell. No." He shot up off the bed to reach for the door.
But persistently, Chichiri shot his staff in front of the door, blocking the orange-haired man. "Kouji might come back," the older seishi explained firmly and quickly. "You need to stay and question him about his motives. Tactfully."
Tasuki rolled his eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake!" He threw his uninjured arm up in the air in annoyance. "This is Kouji yer talkin' about! He's my best friend! You think he'd actually do something stupid? Like... I don't know, hurt Miaka?"
Chichiri paused for a while. And then... "He might."
"... What?"
Chichiri sighed. "You should have noticed how quickly and drastically his attitude changed ever since Kiku died, no da. Remember how he tried to strangle Miaka?"
Tasuki grew angrier at the thought of that. He had to admit that Chichiri had a point. "And?"
"He's still shocked and mad over what happened, no da. Kiku's death is still new and fresh in his mind. He completely let himself go and is possibly going to do something--"
"Then all the more reason for me to go!" Tasuki shouted, his fingers wrapping around Chichiri's staff. He swiftly shoved it out of his way. Chichiri's balance teetered slightly, but he regained it quickly.
"What if Kouji--"
"Then you fucking stay here!" the bandit raged, glaring threateningly at the other seishi. He pointed angrily at the door. "As long as Miaka is out there and not by my side, I'm gonna risk everything to fucking save her!"
Chichiri simply stared at him through his smiling mask, his expression unknown to Tasuki.
"Fuckin' hell!" the amber-eyed seishi continued heatedly. "I can't sit here without seeing with my own two eyes that she's okay! Got it?!" After exhaling slowly to calm himself down, he averted his eyes, his heart hurting. "I..." He chuckled uncomfortably. "I love her."
So he finally admitted it in the open. Chichiri sighed softly. He was impressed at his friend's openness, but it wasn't going to buy him a ticket out of the mountain, much less this room. "I know how you feel, no da. But I still want you to stay here, Tasuki."
In the weakest tone the monk had ever heard, Tasuki murmured, "I can't."
A little taken aback by the delivery of his words, the monk simply gave up trying to keep Tasuki from coming with him. He knew more than well about heartbreak and fighting for someone he loved. There was no use arguing. "Daa... you're so difficult, Tasuki, no da..."
The orange-haired man only snorted.
"But fine... we'll look for our miko together, no da. Just don't be too brash with your actions."
Tasuki's heavy scowl lightened a bit, relieved that he would be able to go after his beloved brunette. "Now that's more like it." He held his hand out. "Tessen."
Sighing, Chichiri reached into his cloak and fished out the diamond fan and its holster. He handed it over reluctantly, still unsure about his companion's condition, but he knew that in the end, the fanged bandit would be too stubborn to back down.
As soon as Tasuki strapped his fan on, Chichiri tapped his staff lightly against the floor, catching the younger man's attention. "Let's go, no da," he announced.
However, a frantic knocking woke her out of her dreamless sleep. Orienting herself back to reality, she furrowed a brow at the door as she shot out of the guest bed, rushing to open it.
She slid it open slowly. She knew there should be two guards outside of her room, but she could never be too sure.
Waiting outside was one of the messengers, the one without facial hair. He looked panicked and breathless, and it made the miko blanche. This couldn't mean anything good.
"It's Her Majesty," he said urgently.
Kurai crouched by the door, staring at the little swinging door on the cell door where a hand and food usually came through. It was a mini locked door, like he expected it to be, so the only opportunities he had were at breakfast, lunch, and dinner times.
He didn't have a clock or a watch, but it wasn't needed. It became almost a muscle memory, a gut instinct to know when it was time to eat.
The jingle of keys could be heard down the hall. It was dinnertime.
After a few minutes, he heard someone stop outside his door. There was a fiddle with the keyring, and seconds later, Kurai watched the door slowly open.
Chance.
Just as the hand slid in with a tray of disgusting-looking prison food, the mental patient swiftly reached out and grabbed the food distributing security officer by the wrist. Kurai made a hard pulling motion, satisfied by the sickening crunch the man's skull made against the door. When the body dropped to the floor, Kurai laid himself chest-down on the floor, reaching his arm through the door. It wasn't big enough for him to have a good view of what he was looking for, but it wasn't necessary. He was able to frisk the officer until he felt a belt.
Nightstick.
Walkie talkie.
Ah, keys. Kurai grabbed for them immediately. Now his only task was to be able to reach the damn keyhole. A difficult task, it was. Luckily for him, however, he heard another set of feet briskly click toward him. A psychiatrist? He kept listening as the footsteps came closer.
She seemed to have found the security guard's body, for he heard a surprised yelp. "Help!" he heard her cry anguishly.
He mustn't let her run away. Kurai shot his hand out, grabbing her ankle steadfastly with his calloused hand. There was a frightened squeak from her, but he had no time to reprimand such a weak human for making a noise like that.
"Unlock it," he snarled. "Unlock this door or I will twist your foot off." At those words, he gripped harder at her ankle, proving he was not one to mess around with. With his free hand, he held out the keyring in an angry fist, shoving it through the door opening.
"D-D-D-Don't..." came a trembling whisper.
Kurai squeezed harder, twisting his wrist ever so slightly to bend the joint of the woman's foot. To his satisfaction, the mysterious woman above let out a groan of fearful discomfort.
None shall underestimate this strength or the fear he can instill.
To his satisfaction, the woman obeyed with a desperate yelp of an agreement. A well-manicured hand reached down to take the keys. Kurai's grin only spread wider as he heard the click of the lock turning.
The jingling of keys indicated that they were set loose, left in the lock as footsteps scurried away. Oh, no, she wasn't going to get away and snitch. Kurai swung the door open with one swift movement and stepped out quickly. Keeping one eye on his impending victim, the plump little psychiatrist woman who helped him escape, he briefly squatted down next to the guard's body and immediately spotted the familiar shape of a gun. Without a moment's hesitation, he took aim at the woman's back and fired. She fell forward into a clump. The bullet must've lodged into her spine, instantly paralyzing her.
But there was no time to think of the details. Kurai had to leave. He had to find her. And he will do whatever it takes to make sure he got his revenge.
"Miko-sama..." the messenger went on quietly. "She got caught in a scuffle with him. He must have stabbed her numerous times before she fell. Her Highness is in grave condition. Unfortunately, that man you mentioned to her has vanished."
Miaka's entire body trembled, a mosaic of terrible memories concerning him rushing into her mind like a bullet. She could only assume the worst.
Gomen, Boushin-sama.... she thought with a heavy heart, squeezing her eyes shut.
Gomen, Hotohori...
There was a pause from the messenger before he continued. "Miko-sama... Boushin-sama would like to see you. He awaits in Her Majesty's chambers. The guards assigned to you will lead you there." Miaka finally looked up at him as he turned to leave, catching the strangely sorrowful expression on his face. She should have expected that it was because he was fond of his ruler, but there was something unnerving about it at the same time. Something secretive.
No... I'm just getting paranoid... she thought to herself, regaining her composure as she stepped up to her doorway.
The two guards regarded her coollyled her out of her own quarters to Houki's. The silence was awkward and heavy, but the miko didn't expect any less. They've been that way ever since she showed up to the palace. She didn't remember the last time she was (overly) worshipped by the people of Konan. Had it really been that long since she was first announced as the priestess of Suzaku?
Miaka found the three of them stopping in front of a familiar set of double doors. She remembered them as once being Hotohori's chambers, at a more heartbreakingly innocent time.
The two guards opened either door, allowing the miko to enter. Immediately, she spotted Houki's ill, unconscious form lying in bed with two concerned medics at her bedside. Standing across from them was Boushin himself, his face displaying a mixture of negative feelings Miaka wished he never had to experience.
"H-Highness?" she called after a moment's hesitation. "How is she?"
Slowly, the young heir looked up, his glassy eyes quickly falling on her. Miaka could feel the feelings of betrayal stabbing into her, causing her to only feel worse.
"Miko-sama," he spoke, his voice shaking. He ignored her question. "Is it true that... that man came from the same world you came from? That he followed you here?"
Miaka had no idea where he was going with these questions. "Y-yes," she answered promptly. "He... did."
He looked contemplative for a few seconds and opened his mouth to continue. "He wants to kill you. Correct?"
"... Yes, Your Highness. Ano... how is your mother?"
Boushin paused again, still not answering her question. "Miko-sama, come with me. I cannot let my mother hear us talk. To the courtyard."
It was then Miaka started to feel suspicious, but she had to constantly remind herself that it was just Boushin. He and his family have always been kind to her. "As you wish," she replied in a small voice.
Boushin nodded at the two guards who had accompanied the brunette. He then kissed his mother gently on the cheek and stepped away, leading Miaka and the guards, who followed behind, out of the room.
After crossing various palace pathways outdoors, and weaving through numerous buildings in the compound, Miaka found the four of them in a random corner of the palace grounds, in a large, bricked courtyard surrounded by tall exotic plants indigenous to Konan, barricading them in secrecy.
The guards stood stiffly on either side of the heir, as always, waiting patiently for their next orders. Boushin stepped forward, toward her.
She still wasn't sure why they were here, out of all places, but Miaka suspected it wouldn't be good. With her heart racing and her breaths trembling with nerves, she asked him, "What did you need to talk about?"
"Miko-sama," Boushin said, his voice eerily calm, "if you died, then this monster would stop terrorizing my kingdom, isn't that correct?" He took another step forward.
Involuntarily, she took a step back, furrowing her brows at him. "I... I think that's what his plan is," she replied hesitantly. "His ultimate goal is to get to me..."
"In addition to the victims outside the palace, he killed four guards," he went on, sounding much more mature than his chronological age suggested. "And a messenger. I don't know how no one's strong enough to stop him."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, not knowing what else seemed appropriate to say.
"My father," he went on more quietly, "would've been disappointed in his miko."
Miaka closed her eyes briefly, as if taking in pain. The comment hit her hard. She had loved the former emperor dearly, as a friend and seishi. Hearing such words coming out of the his son's mouth only left her heart sore.
"I don't know where that man is," said Boushin. "No one does. No one saw my mother fall. Not until we heard her scream of pain." He choked back a sob.
Seeing his distress caused Miaka to tear up with him. Her chin quivered as she spoke up. "I'm so sorry, Boushin-sama. I'm trying my best--"
"You haven't done anything!" he suddenly screamed at her, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. His voice grew shrill as he continued. "All you've done is run to us, expecting us to solve it! And we couldn't stop him! And now... Okaa-san..."
Miaka winced. The guilt of involving the empress and the young emperor with her problems was racking her entire body. She felt numb all over; numb and helpless. She should have been stricter about handling problems on her own. She should have thought her plans through instead of running to the next set of people she knew. She should have just taken care of the murderer by herself, even if it meant risking her own life. If only she had known that she would have emotionally scared others with something that she was ultimately beginning to believe was her fault.
"Gomen nasai..." was all she had to say, although she knew it wasn't enough for Boushin, nor for his mother, nor for poor young Kiku. And yet it was all she could think of to respond with, even if she felt like a broken record.
"I just want him to stop," Boushin told her quietly. "To leave my country alone..."
As he took a step backward, Miaka couldn't help but stare suspiciously. Something to her was obviously off, but she had no way of predicting his next course of action.
"But?" she prompted carefully, furrowing her brows.
"... But?" Boushin repeated, confused. "There wasn't a but in there." He scowled. "I was going to say that I'll do whatever it takes, Miko-sama. Whatever it takes to make him go away."
She furrowed her brows curiously. What did he mean?
Boushin raised a hand next to his head, as if signaling to someone. "Gomen nasai, Miko-sama," he apologized, although she didn't know why he would, or why it didn't seem very sincere. She then observed, in heartsinking realization, the two guards accompanying them start to move.
"Boushin-sama?" she warily asked in a soft voice, her eyes traveling from one guard to the other. They were closing in on her. Miaka was never the claustrophobic type, but now the lack of space was suffocating her; drowning her.
I don't want to die! she suddenly thought, now aware of her situation. However, her feet refused to move. She was like a deer caught in a car's headlights.
"Please," she whispered instead, pleading with the two guards. "No..." But judging from the identical stone-cold looks from their faces, she knew they wouldn't listen. She shot a look at Boushin, who was now backing away, watching the scene before him from a distance. "Boushin-sama! What are you--!"
"His Highness's orders," the first guard cut in, pointing his halberd at her chest. The second followed suit.
Miaka sucked in a breath, involuntarily shrinking back. Slowly, she turned her gaze down to the blades. She tried not to shudder at the lack of distance between her heart and the blades.
Why won't my feet move?!
She shifted her eyes upward from the blades, through the crack of space between the guards, and to Boushin still watching at a distance. Even as she moved her lips to speak up again, to plead with the young, precocious emperor, the miko got no more than his back to her and the sound of his fading footfalls.
Miaka was alone.
A tear slid down her cheek, helpless as her hands shook at her sides. She wasn't ready to join her family, Yui, Tetsuya, and Taka yet, wherever they were. She wanted to live for them. She wanted them to watch her grow and to show them she wouldn't live in vain. None of them, especially Taka, would have wanted her to give up.
But what could she do now?
"Gomen nasai, miko-sama," one of the guards muttered monotonously. Miaka didn't know which one spoke up, but it didn't matter. Whoever it was didn't even mean it.
Her vacant green eyes stayed on the points of both halberds as the two guards simultaneously drew them back. And, as if in slow motion, they thrust the weapons forward with expertise, like they've done this exact same thing before.
Is this what it was like, Okaa-san? She wondered sadly. Onii-chan? Yui-chan? Tetsuya-kun? ... Taka? She choked on a sob. Is this how it felt? Suddenly, she was shivering with trauma, the memories of their bodies briefly appearing in her mind like flashes on a camera.
She couldn't shut her eyes, nor could she turn away. There was nowhere for her to go, and no way she could erase what was in front of her.
Not until someone did it for her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a fast-moving blur that cause a breeze of air to gently ruffle her bangs. Miaka dared herself to turn her eyes in its direction, but within nanoseconds she found herself being hauled over a broad, muscular shoulder, and then lifted up. Her savior then jumped into the trees, out of the royal property.
This scene felt familiar. Very familiar. Tasuki? She wondered to herself silently, her heart racing and her eyes tearing up again without her realizing. The conflicting mixture of feelings she had before came rushing back with a vengeance, churning painfully in her systerm. This, on top of the array of emotions from actually being saved from the guards.
She tried to lift her head to face him, anticipating a mop of wild orange hair, but instead, it was a head of royal blue. It wasn't who she was hoping for, but he was her hero all the same. "Kouji..." she whispered, her voice barely coming out. She should have known. He didn't smell the same; he didn't hold her the same. Something about his grip felt colder and more distant, but that wasn't important. The most important thing the miko felt was relief. She wasn't going to be killed by Boushin's guards. Thank you, Suzaku-sama... she prayed gratefully, briefly closing her eyes.
After carrying her for about two miles, Kouji, unusually silent and serious, stopped for a rest by a lake. It was the same one Miaka remembered when she first dropped in from her world, as a heavy-hearted wreck.
The bandit dropped her unceremoniously to the ground, her head dangerously close to hitting a nearby rock. Miaka scooted away from it hastily, pulling herself to a sitting position. To her surprise, Kouji turned his back to her to stare at his reflection in the water.
Obviously still upset about Kiku-chan, Miaka reasoned. "Th-thank you," she stammered."I don't know how you knew I was there, but I-I'm really glad you got me just in time. You saved my life."
She heard him mutter something in reply, which she didn't catch because she actually didn't expect him to respond, given his mood. "What?" she asked.
"He loved you," he said louder, more impatiently.
Miaka wasn't getting him. What was Kouji saying? And why? "... Who?"
"Genrou, obviously," he said, finally craning his neck to narrow his eyes at her. "Head over fuckin' heels. Made him a lovesick little shit ever since you came back."
The brunette bowed her head sheepishly. "I know..."
"You changed a lotta things," Kouji went on, taking a couple of steps toward her. He pointed at her accusingly. "Including one big-ass thing that killed what little family I had left. You're the stupid bitch who brought him here. And lookin' from what the guards were doing, the imperial family's after your ass, too."
Another familiar sensation. This time, however, it was accompanied by a feeling of dread. Miaka didn't expect him to turn on her like Boushin had.
His eyes lit up with bitter revelation. "Aa! And there's something I thought you should know." He stepped in closer. "Genrou had a little standoff with 'im."
She paled. Oh, Tasuki... "H-He's okay, right?" she asked urgently. "He was able to use his tessen and--"
"He got hit by yer world's weapon," Kouji interrupted. "When we found him, he was losin' a lot of blood." He shook his head. "Look what you've done to my best friend. Is this how ya repay a man after he gives his life to ya? To the priestess?"
"But he's alive..." she spoke up, her voice dying in her throat. Her eyes welled with fresh tears.
"Barely."
There was a pang in her heart upon that solitary word. "I have to see him," were the words that flew out of her mouth before she could control herself. "Let's get back to the mountains!" I can't... I can't lose him, too...
All of a sudden, Kouji reached out and grabbed her by the arm. Miaka gasped in surprise, instinctively twisting her arm around to get out of his grasp. Her struggles only made his grip on her tighter.
"Kouji, what are you doing?!" she cried, terrified. "We have to get to Tasuki!"
He threw her on the ground. She let out a yelp of surprise and turned face up, whimpering at the impact against her body. However, before the miko could move, she saw something loom over her, casting a shadow over the already darkened day. "Kouji?" she whispered uncertainly.
"Leave Konan," he rasped angrily. "Bait that piece of shit of a man and take him with you back to your fuckin' world. Hell... let him kill you for all I care."
Miaka stared at him with wide eyes for a few seconds and then laughed nervously. "K-Kouji, that's not something to joke about. This isn't like you--"
"Not anymore."
"You're a gentle person!" she insisted, her voice rising. "You're friendly and you were a great uncle to Kiku-ch--"
"Don't EVER say her name!" Kouji suddenly roared, causing her to jump. He reached down to his belt, as if to grab the hilt of the dagger at his side, but squeezed his fist together before laying a finger on it. It was like he was forcing himself not to unholster it. "You have no fucking right, Miaka!" he told her harshly. "Yeah, that ass might'a killed her, but you triggered the damn thing! So get the hell back to where you came from!"
She shook her head sadly as she cast her eyes to the ground. "My world...? There's nothing left for me there..."
"Tch, yeah?" he responded sourly. "Well, there's nothing here, either."
She paused. "What are you going to do to me?"
"Nothing. You're better off living with this guilt for the rest of your life." He motioned toward the skies. "Get back to the advanced comforts of yer home and beat yerself up over all this shit."
Immediately, Miaka's thoughts went to Tasuki and Chichiri, her remaining living seishi. Surely they would never turn on her. However, it made her wonder. If Tasuki was injured badly, would he blame her, too? Her skin crawled at the thought of it. He probably had a low opinion of her for shooing him out of her room that one night, and then sneaking out of the bandit headquarters like that. But to be actually hated by him would shatter her already broken heart.
No, she reassured herself. Tasuki was the same person who told me the killer's presence wasn't my fault. I have to believe him. And I have to believe in myself.
Miaka was always an emotional person. But she was alone now. She had to grow up and act logically, even in the face of betrayal. "I'm going to the mountains," she told Kouji, her hands forming determined fists at her sides. "Whether or not you want to come with me. And I will meet that man, too..." she closed her eyes, knowing she didn't have a real plan for that. "...I'll be able to handle it."
Kouji shook his head. "You won't make it to Genrou."
She stared at him, her brows furrowed curiously. "... You're lying."
Kouji gave her a peeved look, as if miffed about her confident outlook; pissed that he strengthened her rather than weakened her. "You're delusional if ya think I'm lyin', but suit yourself, miko."
After a moment of contemplation, she let out a long breath. "Kouji," she spoke up again. She held out her hand. "Give me your dagger."
He arched an eyebrow. "'Scuse you?"
She stretched her hand further to him. "Dagger, please," she repeated, giving him a firm look. "You said I had to take care of this." She offered a forced smile of truce. "I'm taking responsibility for everything, okay? And I can't go empty-handed."
His current opinion of her still didn't seem to waver, but he begrudgingly complied, fishing out the dagger from his belt. "Only 'cause ya hafta get rid of him," he grumbled.
Miaka gratefully took the weapon from him, even though she couldn't help but feel irritated by his attitude. Was he really going to act that way? Miaka pursed her lips together to keep from letting out an emotional outburst. She shouldn't reinforce his bitterness. Wordlessly, she turned and ran off, racing to the mountain she had previously run away from.
As she expected, Kouji didn't follow her nor call out to her. It wouldn't have mattered. He refused to have anything to do with her anymore. But someday, Miaka hoped that he would look at her again, this time, with a smile instead of a hateful scowl.
What am I doing? She asked herself mid-sprint. She should be running after the killer, not Tasuki. Was her heart's resolve really this strong? To go to her orange-haired seishi instead of sticking to her plans. Taka, she prayed, as if the reincarnated version of Tamahome could hear her from the other side, you knew me better than anyone. What am I doing? And why? Without realizing it, she burst into tears right as his face painfully fleeted across her mind.
What if that man killed more people? What if he killed Boushin? Miaka paused in her steps. I have to think rationally, remember? She admonished herself. One man against several villagers with lives and families.
"But I can't leave him," she thought out loud, her words barely audible.
She wanted to be selfish. After so much had been taken away from her, she wanted something to take for herself.
Suddenly, she heard footfalls behind her, steady and deliberate. She was then surrounded by an aura of cold hatred, fearsome and sinister. It was as if a nightmare come-to-life was stalking her. Miaka realized that she hasn't been paying attention to her surroundings. Now aware, she discovered that she was now in the middle of town, unusually empty and desolate. No merchants, no buyers, nothing. Of course, she was alone.
"Can't leave whom?" drawled a low, brassy, but familiar voice that sent chills up her spine. A voice that made her want to cover her ears and crawl into a corner to drive away the entire world.
She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Miaka's heart raced in a mixture of anxiety and determination. Her encounter with this man came a lot sooner than she expected. She was unprepared. What was she going to do? But there was no turning back. She could only pray to Suzaku that she would still be able to see Tasuki afterward.
The miko cautiously spun on her heel, bracing herself for the one person who was worse than anything else she and her seishi have ever fought. Her eyes landed on his, the green orbs of hers wide with terrified awe.
This is it. Miaka could only hope for a miracle at this point, but she was determined to find a way to stall his otherwise easy kill. She narrowed her eyes and observed him carefully. He looked exactly the same as she remembered the last time she saw him. Only now he seemed dirtier and more frazzled. He never stopped to rest from his obsessive search for her; she could tell.
He grinned, looking every bit psychotic as she thought he was. It disturbed her greatly, but she refused to grant him any more satisfaction from seeing her fear.
"The lovely Tani," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. He unsheathed a knife from somewhere within his filthy jumpsuit. He held it up playfully, tracing the tip over Miaka's body as if searching for the perfect target. He stepped in closer, taking a nonchalant step.
She uttered his name, finally remembering it after avoiding him for such a long while. "Zannen." No suffixes; he didn't deserve that respect. Miaka didn't budge. She wasn't going to go down easily.
With the word being both his name and a Japanese word with meaning, Miaka could tell that he took it the wrong way. "Shame?" he said, repeating the word with disgust. Horrified, she gaped as he took two more shakily angry steps forward, as if ready to pounce like an enraged, but contained beast. The knife in his hand shook, with the knuckles of the hand gripping it turning white. "SHAME?!" he yelled.
Miaka swallowed her fear and spoke up. She needed answers. "Who is Tani?" she asked him sharply.
To her chagrin, Kurai began going off on his own tangent, ignoring her questions. He began staring off past her shoulder, mumbling to himself odd conversations. Miaka stared at him warily, catching on his lips words of vengeance, murder, and hatred. He chanted them like a mantra. He believed in them. They were justifiable. He wasn't going to listen to logic, and Miaka didn't have the patience nor the compassion to reason with him in a therapeutic way.
She dared to come a few steps closer, not believing the state of the man before him. Miaka held her own dagger, the one she took from Kouji, up toward him, although she knew that she nor her weapon appeared very threatening. "WHO IS SHE?!" she screeched wildly. As the words came out of her, ill feelings began to flood her as she remembered the worst night of her life. "You ruined my life!" she cried at him. "I didn't even deserve it, dammit! What is wrong with you?!"
For a second, she lost herself in her emotions. She didn't care that he was mentally ill. She didn't give a damn about the trauma in his life that led him to this road of psychopathy. Miaka didn't want to blame the mental hospital, his therapist, or anyone else for that matter. He was the one who took away the people she loved the most and can never get them back.
"Fuck you, cunt!!" he roared, not one to let anyone else overcome him. "I'll kill you, Tani!" He gripped his knife even harder. "I'LL KILL YOU AND LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT! NO ONE NEEDS YOU!!" Again, his voice lowered as he began his mad chanting again, this time muttering, "I'll kill you... I'll kill you..." over and over again. The pupils of his eyes turned small and beady with bloodlust. He smiled madly, enthralled by the idea of killing her in cold blood.
Miaka pursed her lips together. This man has gone completely mad. It was frightening how animalistic and dangerous a human could become.
But hell, for the sake of her beloved family, friends, and lover, she had to brave up and fight for them. Miaka brought the dagger up to chest level, getting a comfortable and secure grip on it. Besides, she thought rationally, he might not have any bullets left. Otherwise, he would've easily gotten me with his gun.
"Come get me," she challenged in a hollow voice. "I'm all yours." She stared at him square in the eye.
As he held a brief pause of confusion, Miaka took off running in the opposite direction. She knew she wouldn't be able to fight with her strength alone. Physically, she was at a major disadvantage, but if she could use her surroundings as obstacles, then she would stand a better chance. She would have to learn to think at the spur of the moment.
All or nothing.
Anyway, I finally present the latest (and second to last) chapter of this loooooong-term story. I've been going back and forth with where I wanted to go, and continuously brainstorming for the end. I've never actually finished a chaptered story, you see, so conclusions and endings aren't my strong point. I'm trying, though!
I've been thinking of revamping the story chapters the same way I've been doing with my FFVIII story, but it really depends on how much time I have. This story has been going on for way too long, and as much as I loved writing it, it's time to move on. However, I'd never leave my readers hanging (because I hate it when other writers do), so I'm working on the last chapter as much as I can.
I don't know whether or not I'll write another TasukiMiaka story, but it'd be nice to see our favorite alternative pair in another setting that's... perhaps not as depressing. We'll see.
DISCLAIMER: Fushigi Yuugi and its characters are the property of Yuu Watase and other respective owners.
Bedlam and Vertigo: Bedlam
by Elcyion Pitye
Houki furrowed her brows, hiding her mouth behind the long sleeves of her beautifully adorned robe. "That man... is from your world?"by Elcyion Pitye
Miaka nodded solemnly. "Hai, Houki-sama. He is."
The mother of the emperor sighed. The terrible event at the marketplace was starting to make sense. The guards, courtiers, messengers, and whoever else worked at the palace had given her vague descriptions of what happened. Even with the many various points of view from all of them, Houki still had trouble understanding what went on. That is, until now.
The violet-haired noble frowned at her son. She thought he was really too young to be hearing all of this, even if the child was as precocious as they came. However, he was the emperor, and she understood that like Hotohori had when he was younger, Boushin needed to be strong, mature, and wise at his young age, especially in times of turmoil.
There was a deafening pause. Even the guards in the room seemed completely mute.
Boushin cleared his throat. "Ano... Miko-sama. Is there something you propose we do about this?"
Miaka bowed her head, considering the options. "He is... very dangerous..." Her voice trailed off unsurely.
"He is only one man out of this strong, populous place."
"One man with the ability to... scare all of the town square with just the sound of a gunshot," Miaka countered in a logical tone.
"Considering that, I don't know if I could describe Konan as strong," Houki added gently.
"Your Majesties!"
The shout and the scurry of urgent footsteps made Houki, Boushin, and Miaka quickly turn toward the direction of the noises. Three messengers were rushing into the room. When they were but a few feet away from where Miaka was standing, which was at the foot of the throne, the messengers quickly bowed before their nobles.
"What is it?" Boushin asked with confused eyes.
The first messenger, a mustached man wearing red, was the first to speak up. "More have been killed."
"Not too far from the palace," the second one, a man with a graying beard bowing next to the first one, added breathlessly. "Three have died."
"We have a feeling he is coming closer," the third one, a man without facial hair who appeared to be the same age as the first messenger, piped up timidly.
"How can you be sure?" Houki questioned.
"There is a trail of blood leading this way," the second messenger answered. "It is something we have discovered upon arrival. Fearing Your Majesties' safety, we thought it was of utmost importance to bring you this news before anything else."
"Are there guards out there?" asked Boushin. "Wouldn't they see someone of that nature before anything could happen?"
"The trail, and whoever caused it, could not be found by the guards outside," explained the first messenger. "The trail seemed to stop."
Miaka stared at the messengers carefully, registering every word. There was no question about it; the man from her world was close by. Her heartbeat was suddenly loud in her head as she thought of all the possible upcoming events.
Boushin looked up at his mother, for guidance on what to do next. "Okaa-san?"
She nodded at her son, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Hai." She turned toward the messengers. "Tell the guard captains to tighten the security at every building of the palace. Send a squad to patrol the perimeter as well."
A collective "hai" resounded throughout the room. The three men stood up quickly and rushed to deliver the command.
Miaka had to admire the firmness of who she thought was a gentle, but timid woman. It must have taken a lot of growing on Houki's part to be able to rule without the aid of her husband. She also had to do growing for the sake of her son, who seemed to look up to her as a strong individual.
Growing. It was something Miaka never thought about in extent. When she was younger, when she had first stumbled upon the realm of the Four Gods, she was always used to being saved, being protected. She always had support of people like Taiitsukun and her celestial warriors. As she grew older, she learned to be more independent, but in the back of her mind, she knew that the support of her friends, family, and the man she loved would always be there rooting for her. Now that they were taken away...
She forced the rest of the thought out of her head. The pain of losing so many loved ones was still unbearable, and she would completely lose herself if she thought about it too much. Yet, she knew she would have to face reality eventually.
Like Houki and Boushin, she needed to learn to depend on herself. She needed to become stronger after facing the tragedy of losing the ones who have made her strong. She wanted to learn to survive on her own... even without--
A familiar man with fanged teeth and fiery orange hair fleeted across her mind for a second. Her chest suddenly felt heavy.
"Ne, Boushin," she heard Houki speak up. Her thoughts interrupted, the miko watched the exchange between the family members. "Please go back to your quarters and stay there, okay? Please lock your door."
"Is this all really necessary, Okaa-san?" He was starting to frown, as if not liking the idea of being babied around more than he already was.
"Better to be safe than sorry," she assured him, giving him a kiss on top of his head. "If this man is actually on the premises, then we have to make sure you don't get hurt." Getting hurt was definitely an understatement of what the man was capable of, but Miaka reasoned that Houki didn't want to scare her son even more.
The empress motioned for two guards to escort the boy back to his room. As they left, Houki turned back to Miaka, nodding her solemnly. "I will allow you to stay in a spare bedroom until the threat passes. You need to be guarded as well, being his main target."
"I'm sorry for the trouble..." Miaka said softly, bowing. "But I must face him myself--"
"With who? And what?" Houki interrupted. "You don't have a way of protecting yourself yet without weaponry, combat skills, nor your seishi."
Miaka hated to admit it, but she was right. "What... what can I do, then? He's my responsibility..."
Houki sat upon the throne again and smiled at the brunette. "Just pray to Suzaku for safety and hope everything will be all right."
Miaka was reluctant to take a backseat to this predicament, but there was nothing she could do to convince Houki otherwise. "Sou desu... Thank you, Houki-sama." She bowed again.
The violet-haired noble called for two more guards to escort her to a spare room in the building. But before the priestess could leave, Houki called her name once more. Miaka craned her neck to look back at her.
Houki wasn't looking at her, but at her hands in her lap. "Do you... personally, think we will be all right?"
Miaka wished she could completely reassure the empress, but she wasn't sure herself, and she certainly didn't want to lie. She fished for the right thing to say, casting her eyes to the ground. "Like you said... if we pray to Suzaku for safety and... hope... then yes."
Houki didn't look relieved at all, but she still flashed Miaka a smile. "Right... of course."
Miaka notice she hadn't budged from the throne. She thought Houki would retreat back to her own room like Boushin and herself were doing. "Ano... Houki-sama. Are you not going to--"
"Messages from the guards and couriers would be received faster if I was here," she explained. My quarters are much too far and in too much of an inconvenient location."
"But if he--"
"I'll be all right. Please get some rest, Miko-sama."
Miaka had a feeling she wasn't going to convince Houki to get out of the room, so she reluctantly turned and began to follow the guards to her room. Before she left, though, she caught a glimpse of Houki's hands, which were trembling slightly and clasped together tightly.
Houki wasn't feeling all right at all.
---
Tasuki found himself rousing from sleep, blinking up at his ceiling. Since when did he fall asleep?The aching in his arm came back to him with a vengeance. Tasuki growled underneath his breath, taking the pain in.
"Awake, I see, no da."
Tasuki sat up and faced his fellow seishi, his face set in a scowl. "How long was I out, Chichiri?"
Chichiri was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room facing Tasuki's bed. He had been monitoring the bandit. "A few hours, at most, no da. You passed out from the pain while we were dressing your wound."
How unmanly, he thought to himself. But this was no time to be joking around, really.
"Da, that wound," the monk continued, "Neither Kouji nor I knew how to fix it. But from my basic knowledge of first aid, I thought to remove whatever got lodged in your arm, so I did, no da. I think you'll be fine, no da."
"So I can go find her?" Tasuki questioned, uncharacteristically hopeful.
"You need rest, Tasuki, no da. You'll re-open the stitching. And you must still be tired from fighting that man from Miaka's world."
"No! Fuck that!" the bandit yelled lividly. "I've fought harder than that before, goddammit! How the hell can ya sit there while Miaka might be injured?!"
"I was about to leave for town before you woke up, no da." At these words, the monk stood up from the chair, grabbing his staff in the process. He started for the door.
"Why did you wait?"
"I wanted to talk to you before you would wake up and leave, no da," was the answer. "You have no windows in here, and since I took your fan, you wouldn't be able to leave if I locked you in, no da."
"Bullshit..." Tasuki fumed silently for a second. Then something occurred to him. "Oi, where the hell is Kouji?"
Something about that was worrisome for Chichiri. He turned toward the other seishi slightly, thinking. "Da... come to think of it, I haven't seen him since we tended to you. After we were finished, and after I told him what I was going to do, he disappeared, no da. He was mumbling something, but I couldn't understand what it was, no da."
Tasuki shook his head. "Doesn't sound like him at all."
"Sou yo..."
The bandit flung his blanket off of him and proceeded to stand up from the bed. However, Chichiri, with quick reflexes, promptly bonked him on the head with the top of his staff, enough to keep his companion's rear on the bed.
Tasuki protested loudly, rubbing the top of his head delicately. "As if I'm not injured enough already, dammit."
"Stay here, no da," ordered the monk.
Tasuki gritted his teeth and glared at his friend. "Hell. No." He shot up off the bed to reach for the door.
But persistently, Chichiri shot his staff in front of the door, blocking the orange-haired man. "Kouji might come back," the older seishi explained firmly and quickly. "You need to stay and question him about his motives. Tactfully."
Tasuki rolled his eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake!" He threw his uninjured arm up in the air in annoyance. "This is Kouji yer talkin' about! He's my best friend! You think he'd actually do something stupid? Like... I don't know, hurt Miaka?"
Chichiri paused for a while. And then... "He might."
"... What?"
Chichiri sighed. "You should have noticed how quickly and drastically his attitude changed ever since Kiku died, no da. Remember how he tried to strangle Miaka?"
Tasuki grew angrier at the thought of that. He had to admit that Chichiri had a point. "And?"
"He's still shocked and mad over what happened, no da. Kiku's death is still new and fresh in his mind. He completely let himself go and is possibly going to do something--"
"Then all the more reason for me to go!" Tasuki shouted, his fingers wrapping around Chichiri's staff. He swiftly shoved it out of his way. Chichiri's balance teetered slightly, but he regained it quickly.
"What if Kouji--"
"Then you fucking stay here!" the bandit raged, glaring threateningly at the other seishi. He pointed angrily at the door. "As long as Miaka is out there and not by my side, I'm gonna risk everything to fucking save her!"
Chichiri simply stared at him through his smiling mask, his expression unknown to Tasuki.
"Fuckin' hell!" the amber-eyed seishi continued heatedly. "I can't sit here without seeing with my own two eyes that she's okay! Got it?!" After exhaling slowly to calm himself down, he averted his eyes, his heart hurting. "I..." He chuckled uncomfortably. "I love her."
So he finally admitted it in the open. Chichiri sighed softly. He was impressed at his friend's openness, but it wasn't going to buy him a ticket out of the mountain, much less this room. "I know how you feel, no da. But I still want you to stay here, Tasuki."
In the weakest tone the monk had ever heard, Tasuki murmured, "I can't."
A little taken aback by the delivery of his words, the monk simply gave up trying to keep Tasuki from coming with him. He knew more than well about heartbreak and fighting for someone he loved. There was no use arguing. "Daa... you're so difficult, Tasuki, no da..."
The orange-haired man only snorted.
"But fine... we'll look for our miko together, no da. Just don't be too brash with your actions."
Tasuki's heavy scowl lightened a bit, relieved that he would be able to go after his beloved brunette. "Now that's more like it." He held his hand out. "Tessen."
Sighing, Chichiri reached into his cloak and fished out the diamond fan and its holster. He handed it over reluctantly, still unsure about his companion's condition, but he knew that in the end, the fanged bandit would be too stubborn to back down.
As soon as Tasuki strapped his fan on, Chichiri tapped his staff lightly against the floor, catching the younger man's attention. "Let's go, no da," he announced.
---
Miaka didn't mean to fall asleep, but that was what she had done. It felt like forever had gone by, but really, it has only been a couple of days. That time alone brought about so much stress and heartbreak. This was the only time she had to really sleep her intense feelings away.However, a frantic knocking woke her out of her dreamless sleep. Orienting herself back to reality, she furrowed a brow at the door as she shot out of the guest bed, rushing to open it.
She slid it open slowly. She knew there should be two guards outside of her room, but she could never be too sure.
Waiting outside was one of the messengers, the one without facial hair. He looked panicked and breathless, and it made the miko blanche. This couldn't mean anything good.
"It's Her Majesty," he said urgently.
---
It would be difficult getting past the guards, but in order to be one step ahead of Tani, it was a necessary action.Kurai crouched by the door, staring at the little swinging door on the cell door where a hand and food usually came through. It was a mini locked door, like he expected it to be, so the only opportunities he had were at breakfast, lunch, and dinner times.
He didn't have a clock or a watch, but it wasn't needed. It became almost a muscle memory, a gut instinct to know when it was time to eat.
The jingle of keys could be heard down the hall. It was dinnertime.
After a few minutes, he heard someone stop outside his door. There was a fiddle with the keyring, and seconds later, Kurai watched the door slowly open.
Chance.
Just as the hand slid in with a tray of disgusting-looking prison food, the mental patient swiftly reached out and grabbed the food distributing security officer by the wrist. Kurai made a hard pulling motion, satisfied by the sickening crunch the man's skull made against the door. When the body dropped to the floor, Kurai laid himself chest-down on the floor, reaching his arm through the door. It wasn't big enough for him to have a good view of what he was looking for, but it wasn't necessary. He was able to frisk the officer until he felt a belt.
Nightstick.
Walkie talkie.
Ah, keys. Kurai grabbed for them immediately. Now his only task was to be able to reach the damn keyhole. A difficult task, it was. Luckily for him, however, he heard another set of feet briskly click toward him. A psychiatrist? He kept listening as the footsteps came closer.
She seemed to have found the security guard's body, for he heard a surprised yelp. "Help!" he heard her cry anguishly.
He mustn't let her run away. Kurai shot his hand out, grabbing her ankle steadfastly with his calloused hand. There was a frightened squeak from her, but he had no time to reprimand such a weak human for making a noise like that.
"Unlock it," he snarled. "Unlock this door or I will twist your foot off." At those words, he gripped harder at her ankle, proving he was not one to mess around with. With his free hand, he held out the keyring in an angry fist, shoving it through the door opening.
"D-D-D-Don't..." came a trembling whisper.
Kurai squeezed harder, twisting his wrist ever so slightly to bend the joint of the woman's foot. To his satisfaction, the mysterious woman above let out a groan of fearful discomfort.
None shall underestimate this strength or the fear he can instill.
To his satisfaction, the woman obeyed with a desperate yelp of an agreement. A well-manicured hand reached down to take the keys. Kurai's grin only spread wider as he heard the click of the lock turning.
The jingling of keys indicated that they were set loose, left in the lock as footsteps scurried away. Oh, no, she wasn't going to get away and snitch. Kurai swung the door open with one swift movement and stepped out quickly. Keeping one eye on his impending victim, the plump little psychiatrist woman who helped him escape, he briefly squatted down next to the guard's body and immediately spotted the familiar shape of a gun. Without a moment's hesitation, he took aim at the woman's back and fired. She fell forward into a clump. The bullet must've lodged into her spine, instantly paralyzing her.
But there was no time to think of the details. Kurai had to leave. He had to find her. And he will do whatever it takes to make sure he got his revenge.
---
"No..." Miaka uttered shakily, putting her hands to her head and shaking it vigorously. "He couldn't have--!""Miko-sama..." the messenger went on quietly. "She got caught in a scuffle with him. He must have stabbed her numerous times before she fell. Her Highness is in grave condition. Unfortunately, that man you mentioned to her has vanished."
Miaka's entire body trembled, a mosaic of terrible memories concerning him rushing into her mind like a bullet. She could only assume the worst.
Gomen, Boushin-sama.... she thought with a heavy heart, squeezing her eyes shut.
Gomen, Hotohori...
There was a pause from the messenger before he continued. "Miko-sama... Boushin-sama would like to see you. He awaits in Her Majesty's chambers. The guards assigned to you will lead you there." Miaka finally looked up at him as he turned to leave, catching the strangely sorrowful expression on his face. She should have expected that it was because he was fond of his ruler, but there was something unnerving about it at the same time. Something secretive.
No... I'm just getting paranoid... she thought to herself, regaining her composure as she stepped up to her doorway.
The two guards regarded her coollyled her out of her own quarters to Houki's. The silence was awkward and heavy, but the miko didn't expect any less. They've been that way ever since she showed up to the palace. She didn't remember the last time she was (overly) worshipped by the people of Konan. Had it really been that long since she was first announced as the priestess of Suzaku?
Miaka found the three of them stopping in front of a familiar set of double doors. She remembered them as once being Hotohori's chambers, at a more heartbreakingly innocent time.
The two guards opened either door, allowing the miko to enter. Immediately, she spotted Houki's ill, unconscious form lying in bed with two concerned medics at her bedside. Standing across from them was Boushin himself, his face displaying a mixture of negative feelings Miaka wished he never had to experience.
"H-Highness?" she called after a moment's hesitation. "How is she?"
Slowly, the young heir looked up, his glassy eyes quickly falling on her. Miaka could feel the feelings of betrayal stabbing into her, causing her to only feel worse.
"Miko-sama," he spoke, his voice shaking. He ignored her question. "Is it true that... that man came from the same world you came from? That he followed you here?"
Miaka had no idea where he was going with these questions. "Y-yes," she answered promptly. "He... did."
He looked contemplative for a few seconds and opened his mouth to continue. "He wants to kill you. Correct?"
"... Yes, Your Highness. Ano... how is your mother?"
Boushin paused again, still not answering her question. "Miko-sama, come with me. I cannot let my mother hear us talk. To the courtyard."
It was then Miaka started to feel suspicious, but she had to constantly remind herself that it was just Boushin. He and his family have always been kind to her. "As you wish," she replied in a small voice.
Boushin nodded at the two guards who had accompanied the brunette. He then kissed his mother gently on the cheek and stepped away, leading Miaka and the guards, who followed behind, out of the room.
After crossing various palace pathways outdoors, and weaving through numerous buildings in the compound, Miaka found the four of them in a random corner of the palace grounds, in a large, bricked courtyard surrounded by tall exotic plants indigenous to Konan, barricading them in secrecy.
The guards stood stiffly on either side of the heir, as always, waiting patiently for their next orders. Boushin stepped forward, toward her.
She still wasn't sure why they were here, out of all places, but Miaka suspected it wouldn't be good. With her heart racing and her breaths trembling with nerves, she asked him, "What did you need to talk about?"
"Miko-sama," Boushin said, his voice eerily calm, "if you died, then this monster would stop terrorizing my kingdom, isn't that correct?" He took another step forward.
Involuntarily, she took a step back, furrowing her brows at him. "I... I think that's what his plan is," she replied hesitantly. "His ultimate goal is to get to me..."
"In addition to the victims outside the palace, he killed four guards," he went on, sounding much more mature than his chronological age suggested. "And a messenger. I don't know how no one's strong enough to stop him."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, not knowing what else seemed appropriate to say.
"My father," he went on more quietly, "would've been disappointed in his miko."
Miaka closed her eyes briefly, as if taking in pain. The comment hit her hard. She had loved the former emperor dearly, as a friend and seishi. Hearing such words coming out of the his son's mouth only left her heart sore.
"I don't know where that man is," said Boushin. "No one does. No one saw my mother fall. Not until we heard her scream of pain." He choked back a sob.
Seeing his distress caused Miaka to tear up with him. Her chin quivered as she spoke up. "I'm so sorry, Boushin-sama. I'm trying my best--"
"You haven't done anything!" he suddenly screamed at her, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. His voice grew shrill as he continued. "All you've done is run to us, expecting us to solve it! And we couldn't stop him! And now... Okaa-san..."
Miaka winced. The guilt of involving the empress and the young emperor with her problems was racking her entire body. She felt numb all over; numb and helpless. She should have been stricter about handling problems on her own. She should have thought her plans through instead of running to the next set of people she knew. She should have just taken care of the murderer by herself, even if it meant risking her own life. If only she had known that she would have emotionally scared others with something that she was ultimately beginning to believe was her fault.
"Gomen nasai..." was all she had to say, although she knew it wasn't enough for Boushin, nor for his mother, nor for poor young Kiku. And yet it was all she could think of to respond with, even if she felt like a broken record.
"I just want him to stop," Boushin told her quietly. "To leave my country alone..."
As he took a step backward, Miaka couldn't help but stare suspiciously. Something to her was obviously off, but she had no way of predicting his next course of action.
"But?" she prompted carefully, furrowing her brows.
"... But?" Boushin repeated, confused. "There wasn't a but in there." He scowled. "I was going to say that I'll do whatever it takes, Miko-sama. Whatever it takes to make him go away."
She furrowed her brows curiously. What did he mean?
Boushin raised a hand next to his head, as if signaling to someone. "Gomen nasai, Miko-sama," he apologized, although she didn't know why he would, or why it didn't seem very sincere. She then observed, in heartsinking realization, the two guards accompanying them start to move.
"Boushin-sama?" she warily asked in a soft voice, her eyes traveling from one guard to the other. They were closing in on her. Miaka was never the claustrophobic type, but now the lack of space was suffocating her; drowning her.
I don't want to die! she suddenly thought, now aware of her situation. However, her feet refused to move. She was like a deer caught in a car's headlights.
"Please," she whispered instead, pleading with the two guards. "No..." But judging from the identical stone-cold looks from their faces, she knew they wouldn't listen. She shot a look at Boushin, who was now backing away, watching the scene before him from a distance. "Boushin-sama! What are you--!"
"His Highness's orders," the first guard cut in, pointing his halberd at her chest. The second followed suit.
Miaka sucked in a breath, involuntarily shrinking back. Slowly, she turned her gaze down to the blades. She tried not to shudder at the lack of distance between her heart and the blades.
Why won't my feet move?!
She shifted her eyes upward from the blades, through the crack of space between the guards, and to Boushin still watching at a distance. Even as she moved her lips to speak up again, to plead with the young, precocious emperor, the miko got no more than his back to her and the sound of his fading footfalls.
Miaka was alone.
A tear slid down her cheek, helpless as her hands shook at her sides. She wasn't ready to join her family, Yui, Tetsuya, and Taka yet, wherever they were. She wanted to live for them. She wanted them to watch her grow and to show them she wouldn't live in vain. None of them, especially Taka, would have wanted her to give up.
But what could she do now?
"Gomen nasai, miko-sama," one of the guards muttered monotonously. Miaka didn't know which one spoke up, but it didn't matter. Whoever it was didn't even mean it.
Her vacant green eyes stayed on the points of both halberds as the two guards simultaneously drew them back. And, as if in slow motion, they thrust the weapons forward with expertise, like they've done this exact same thing before.
Is this what it was like, Okaa-san? She wondered sadly. Onii-chan? Yui-chan? Tetsuya-kun? ... Taka? She choked on a sob. Is this how it felt? Suddenly, she was shivering with trauma, the memories of their bodies briefly appearing in her mind like flashes on a camera.
She couldn't shut her eyes, nor could she turn away. There was nowhere for her to go, and no way she could erase what was in front of her.
Not until someone did it for her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a fast-moving blur that cause a breeze of air to gently ruffle her bangs. Miaka dared herself to turn her eyes in its direction, but within nanoseconds she found herself being hauled over a broad, muscular shoulder, and then lifted up. Her savior then jumped into the trees, out of the royal property.
This scene felt familiar. Very familiar. Tasuki? She wondered to herself silently, her heart racing and her eyes tearing up again without her realizing. The conflicting mixture of feelings she had before came rushing back with a vengeance, churning painfully in her systerm. This, on top of the array of emotions from actually being saved from the guards.
She tried to lift her head to face him, anticipating a mop of wild orange hair, but instead, it was a head of royal blue. It wasn't who she was hoping for, but he was her hero all the same. "Kouji..." she whispered, her voice barely coming out. She should have known. He didn't smell the same; he didn't hold her the same. Something about his grip felt colder and more distant, but that wasn't important. The most important thing the miko felt was relief. She wasn't going to be killed by Boushin's guards. Thank you, Suzaku-sama... she prayed gratefully, briefly closing her eyes.
After carrying her for about two miles, Kouji, unusually silent and serious, stopped for a rest by a lake. It was the same one Miaka remembered when she first dropped in from her world, as a heavy-hearted wreck.
The bandit dropped her unceremoniously to the ground, her head dangerously close to hitting a nearby rock. Miaka scooted away from it hastily, pulling herself to a sitting position. To her surprise, Kouji turned his back to her to stare at his reflection in the water.
Obviously still upset about Kiku-chan, Miaka reasoned. "Th-thank you," she stammered."I don't know how you knew I was there, but I-I'm really glad you got me just in time. You saved my life."
She heard him mutter something in reply, which she didn't catch because she actually didn't expect him to respond, given his mood. "What?" she asked.
"He loved you," he said louder, more impatiently.
Miaka wasn't getting him. What was Kouji saying? And why? "... Who?"
"Genrou, obviously," he said, finally craning his neck to narrow his eyes at her. "Head over fuckin' heels. Made him a lovesick little shit ever since you came back."
The brunette bowed her head sheepishly. "I know..."
"You changed a lotta things," Kouji went on, taking a couple of steps toward her. He pointed at her accusingly. "Including one big-ass thing that killed what little family I had left. You're the stupid bitch who brought him here. And lookin' from what the guards were doing, the imperial family's after your ass, too."
Another familiar sensation. This time, however, it was accompanied by a feeling of dread. Miaka didn't expect him to turn on her like Boushin had.
His eyes lit up with bitter revelation. "Aa! And there's something I thought you should know." He stepped in closer. "Genrou had a little standoff with 'im."
She paled. Oh, Tasuki... "H-He's okay, right?" she asked urgently. "He was able to use his tessen and--"
"He got hit by yer world's weapon," Kouji interrupted. "When we found him, he was losin' a lot of blood." He shook his head. "Look what you've done to my best friend. Is this how ya repay a man after he gives his life to ya? To the priestess?"
"But he's alive..." she spoke up, her voice dying in her throat. Her eyes welled with fresh tears.
"Barely."
There was a pang in her heart upon that solitary word. "I have to see him," were the words that flew out of her mouth before she could control herself. "Let's get back to the mountains!" I can't... I can't lose him, too...
All of a sudden, Kouji reached out and grabbed her by the arm. Miaka gasped in surprise, instinctively twisting her arm around to get out of his grasp. Her struggles only made his grip on her tighter.
"Kouji, what are you doing?!" she cried, terrified. "We have to get to Tasuki!"
He threw her on the ground. She let out a yelp of surprise and turned face up, whimpering at the impact against her body. However, before the miko could move, she saw something loom over her, casting a shadow over the already darkened day. "Kouji?" she whispered uncertainly.
"Leave Konan," he rasped angrily. "Bait that piece of shit of a man and take him with you back to your fuckin' world. Hell... let him kill you for all I care."
Miaka stared at him with wide eyes for a few seconds and then laughed nervously. "K-Kouji, that's not something to joke about. This isn't like you--"
"Not anymore."
"You're a gentle person!" she insisted, her voice rising. "You're friendly and you were a great uncle to Kiku-ch--"
"Don't EVER say her name!" Kouji suddenly roared, causing her to jump. He reached down to his belt, as if to grab the hilt of the dagger at his side, but squeezed his fist together before laying a finger on it. It was like he was forcing himself not to unholster it. "You have no fucking right, Miaka!" he told her harshly. "Yeah, that ass might'a killed her, but you triggered the damn thing! So get the hell back to where you came from!"
She shook her head sadly as she cast her eyes to the ground. "My world...? There's nothing left for me there..."
"Tch, yeah?" he responded sourly. "Well, there's nothing here, either."
She paused. "What are you going to do to me?"
"Nothing. You're better off living with this guilt for the rest of your life." He motioned toward the skies. "Get back to the advanced comforts of yer home and beat yerself up over all this shit."
Immediately, Miaka's thoughts went to Tasuki and Chichiri, her remaining living seishi. Surely they would never turn on her. However, it made her wonder. If Tasuki was injured badly, would he blame her, too? Her skin crawled at the thought of it. He probably had a low opinion of her for shooing him out of her room that one night, and then sneaking out of the bandit headquarters like that. But to be actually hated by him would shatter her already broken heart.
No, she reassured herself. Tasuki was the same person who told me the killer's presence wasn't my fault. I have to believe him. And I have to believe in myself.
Miaka was always an emotional person. But she was alone now. She had to grow up and act logically, even in the face of betrayal. "I'm going to the mountains," she told Kouji, her hands forming determined fists at her sides. "Whether or not you want to come with me. And I will meet that man, too..." she closed her eyes, knowing she didn't have a real plan for that. "...I'll be able to handle it."
Kouji shook his head. "You won't make it to Genrou."
She stared at him, her brows furrowed curiously. "... You're lying."
Kouji gave her a peeved look, as if miffed about her confident outlook; pissed that he strengthened her rather than weakened her. "You're delusional if ya think I'm lyin', but suit yourself, miko."
After a moment of contemplation, she let out a long breath. "Kouji," she spoke up again. She held out her hand. "Give me your dagger."
He arched an eyebrow. "'Scuse you?"
She stretched her hand further to him. "Dagger, please," she repeated, giving him a firm look. "You said I had to take care of this." She offered a forced smile of truce. "I'm taking responsibility for everything, okay? And I can't go empty-handed."
His current opinion of her still didn't seem to waver, but he begrudgingly complied, fishing out the dagger from his belt. "Only 'cause ya hafta get rid of him," he grumbled.
Miaka gratefully took the weapon from him, even though she couldn't help but feel irritated by his attitude. Was he really going to act that way? Miaka pursed her lips together to keep from letting out an emotional outburst. She shouldn't reinforce his bitterness. Wordlessly, she turned and ran off, racing to the mountain she had previously run away from.
As she expected, Kouji didn't follow her nor call out to her. It wouldn't have mattered. He refused to have anything to do with her anymore. But someday, Miaka hoped that he would look at her again, this time, with a smile instead of a hateful scowl.
What am I doing? She asked herself mid-sprint. She should be running after the killer, not Tasuki. Was her heart's resolve really this strong? To go to her orange-haired seishi instead of sticking to her plans. Taka, she prayed, as if the reincarnated version of Tamahome could hear her from the other side, you knew me better than anyone. What am I doing? And why? Without realizing it, she burst into tears right as his face painfully fleeted across her mind.
What if that man killed more people? What if he killed Boushin? Miaka paused in her steps. I have to think rationally, remember? She admonished herself. One man against several villagers with lives and families.
"But I can't leave him," she thought out loud, her words barely audible.
She wanted to be selfish. After so much had been taken away from her, she wanted something to take for herself.
Suddenly, she heard footfalls behind her, steady and deliberate. She was then surrounded by an aura of cold hatred, fearsome and sinister. It was as if a nightmare come-to-life was stalking her. Miaka realized that she hasn't been paying attention to her surroundings. Now aware, she discovered that she was now in the middle of town, unusually empty and desolate. No merchants, no buyers, nothing. Of course, she was alone.
"Can't leave whom?" drawled a low, brassy, but familiar voice that sent chills up her spine. A voice that made her want to cover her ears and crawl into a corner to drive away the entire world.
She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Miaka's heart raced in a mixture of anxiety and determination. Her encounter with this man came a lot sooner than she expected. She was unprepared. What was she going to do? But there was no turning back. She could only pray to Suzaku that she would still be able to see Tasuki afterward.
The miko cautiously spun on her heel, bracing herself for the one person who was worse than anything else she and her seishi have ever fought. Her eyes landed on his, the green orbs of hers wide with terrified awe.
This is it. Miaka could only hope for a miracle at this point, but she was determined to find a way to stall his otherwise easy kill. She narrowed her eyes and observed him carefully. He looked exactly the same as she remembered the last time she saw him. Only now he seemed dirtier and more frazzled. He never stopped to rest from his obsessive search for her; she could tell.
He grinned, looking every bit psychotic as she thought he was. It disturbed her greatly, but she refused to grant him any more satisfaction from seeing her fear.
"The lovely Tani," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. He unsheathed a knife from somewhere within his filthy jumpsuit. He held it up playfully, tracing the tip over Miaka's body as if searching for the perfect target. He stepped in closer, taking a nonchalant step.
She uttered his name, finally remembering it after avoiding him for such a long while. "Zannen." No suffixes; he didn't deserve that respect. Miaka didn't budge. She wasn't going to go down easily.
With the word being both his name and a Japanese word with meaning, Miaka could tell that he took it the wrong way. "Shame?" he said, repeating the word with disgust. Horrified, she gaped as he took two more shakily angry steps forward, as if ready to pounce like an enraged, but contained beast. The knife in his hand shook, with the knuckles of the hand gripping it turning white. "SHAME?!" he yelled.
Miaka swallowed her fear and spoke up. She needed answers. "Who is Tani?" she asked him sharply.
To her chagrin, Kurai began going off on his own tangent, ignoring her questions. He began staring off past her shoulder, mumbling to himself odd conversations. Miaka stared at him warily, catching on his lips words of vengeance, murder, and hatred. He chanted them like a mantra. He believed in them. They were justifiable. He wasn't going to listen to logic, and Miaka didn't have the patience nor the compassion to reason with him in a therapeutic way.
She dared to come a few steps closer, not believing the state of the man before him. Miaka held her own dagger, the one she took from Kouji, up toward him, although she knew that she nor her weapon appeared very threatening. "WHO IS SHE?!" she screeched wildly. As the words came out of her, ill feelings began to flood her as she remembered the worst night of her life. "You ruined my life!" she cried at him. "I didn't even deserve it, dammit! What is wrong with you?!"
For a second, she lost herself in her emotions. She didn't care that he was mentally ill. She didn't give a damn about the trauma in his life that led him to this road of psychopathy. Miaka didn't want to blame the mental hospital, his therapist, or anyone else for that matter. He was the one who took away the people she loved the most and can never get them back.
"Fuck you, cunt!!" he roared, not one to let anyone else overcome him. "I'll kill you, Tani!" He gripped his knife even harder. "I'LL KILL YOU AND LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT! NO ONE NEEDS YOU!!" Again, his voice lowered as he began his mad chanting again, this time muttering, "I'll kill you... I'll kill you..." over and over again. The pupils of his eyes turned small and beady with bloodlust. He smiled madly, enthralled by the idea of killing her in cold blood.
Miaka pursed her lips together. This man has gone completely mad. It was frightening how animalistic and dangerous a human could become.
But hell, for the sake of her beloved family, friends, and lover, she had to brave up and fight for them. Miaka brought the dagger up to chest level, getting a comfortable and secure grip on it. Besides, she thought rationally, he might not have any bullets left. Otherwise, he would've easily gotten me with his gun.
"Come get me," she challenged in a hollow voice. "I'm all yours." She stared at him square in the eye.
As he held a brief pause of confusion, Miaka took off running in the opposite direction. She knew she wouldn't be able to fight with her strength alone. Physically, she was at a major disadvantage, but if she could use her surroundings as obstacles, then she would stand a better chance. She would have to learn to think at the spur of the moment.
All or nothing.
---
Hope that was decent. Not particularly proud of it, but I did my best. I'm a little worried about continuity, but it shouldn't be too bad. See you guys in the next chapter!