Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Hell's Mirage ❯ Part H: Finding Yourself ( Chapter 8 )

Hell's Mirage

 

By: V.M.

 

A/N: I am so sorry about taking so long to update this. My muse took a lunch break and forgot to come back, but I've captured it and tied it to my back. That way it's close to my head and I can hear all of the delightful things muse-chan has planned. Also, note that the mention of “congee” in this chapter is due to Miss MoonRaven's quite wonderful description in her world famous “A Fine Line; FY” <hugs her> I borrowed that one tiny thing, sweetie. <grins sheepishly>

 

Thank you so much my lovely readers and reviewers; your wonderful reviews and the pretty sight of my hit counter going ever higher has gotten me motivated. <bows> Arigato gozaimasu!

 

Additional thanks to Miss KittyLynne who has inspired me, coached me through hard chapters, been a wonderful friend, a top notch beta who puts up with my goofy-ness and constant e-mails, and an all around fantastic person. Thanks Miss Lynne, I couldn't have made it as good of a read without you. <hugs her>

 

Rating: 16+

 

 

Warnings this chapter: Kisses, a touch of angst, bandit silliness, embarrassment and cute little `no da' ing to cheer everyone and because I feel I have left my sweet monk out too much.

 

 

Part H: Finding Yourself

 

 

Mitsukake came to the tent early this morning, waking me and asking Tasuki to wait outside for a few minutes. I knew why he was there, but that didn't mean I was completely fine with it.

 

I blushed as he sat at my feet, waiting for me to remove my panties and lay back as he had instructed. “But Mitsukake… are you certain there isn't there a different way to do this? Couldn't you knock me out or something?”

 

He smiled gently at me. “I know that this is difficult for you, Miaka, but knocking you unconscious wouldn't make things better… or endear me to your palace lion-dog.”

 

His laugh calmed my fears; a soft yet deep rumble that I had rarely heard, yet always instilled feelings of peace and security in me.

 

I quirked a brow at him, “Palace lion-dog?”

 

His smile widened as he motioned with a jerk of his head to the shadow pacing back and forth at the front of my tent.

 

“Oh.” I felt the heat of a blush creeping into my cheeks and turned my face away. “A-all r-right, let's just get this over with.”

 

Reaching beneath the blanket, I pulled my panties off and then reclined with a hand over my face.

A breeze moved over my lower half when Mitsukake moved the covering up to examine me. I flinched at his touch, but it was over quickly; a brief pressure inside before the blanket came back down over my legs. I peeked at him between my fingers and found him washing his hands in a bowl of water that had been left over from the night before. “You're done?”

 

He turned his attention back to me while drying his hands and getting to his feet. “Be at peace Miaka, you are untouched.”

 

My expression must have shown every bit of my joy at the news. Mitsukake was openly grinning as he bid me farewell and stepped out of the tent. I heard him talking to Tasuki for a moment and barely had time to pull my panties back on before I was bowled over by an ecstatic bandit.

 

“I knew it, Mi-chan! I knew it!”

 

His laugh held all of the exuberance that it had had before we came on this trip, as did his embrace. He hugged me and rolled me over the floor of the tent several times, kissing my cheek and laughing and loudly proclaiming that he had known all along that things would be fine.

 

I giggled, slipped my arms around his neck and hugged him back; his elation heightening my own as we rolled and kissed each other's cheeks.

 

“Thank you Tasuki. For being there when I needed you.” I said, as we finally came to a stop at the wall of the tent. I was lying upon his chest, gazing happily down at him when something flickered in my heart. On impulse, I leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to his mouth.

 

His eyes widened and a blush covered his cheeks. The sight was unexpected and quite adorable, so I kissed him again- longer this time, but with a closed mouth. When I pulled back to look at him, I saw that the blush had deepened and his eyes had darkened to the color of warm honey.

 

No. It was still too soon. Even as his arms tightened around my hips, I could feel a pressure in my chest and knew that I had to back away before the fear took me over again.

 

I smiled down at him and gently pushed myself away from his chest, then got to my feet and pulled on a pair of pants I'd borrowed from Chichiri. “Let's go get some breakfast, Gen-chan.”

 

Oooooooooooooo

 

 

Mitsukake was sitting by the small campfire cooking up something for breakfast when I came back from my meditations. I could feel joy and elation pulsing from Miaka-chan's aura as well as a spark of something more base. I wasn't going to worry over it though; Miaka always came to me when she was confused about something. Eventually I knew I would hear about it from her.

 

Besides, I had a good idea what that spark meant. I also wasn't surprised to feel that Tasuki's ki was akin to hers. She wanted him, but after her recent experiences with men she was afraid.

 

Frowning at the thought, I sat down next to the tall healer, peering over his shoulder to see just what was on this morning's menu. Congee, Chinese porridge, my favorite breakfast food.

 

“Mitsukake, no da, you must be in a good mood this morning. You don't usually make congee, no da.”

 

He grinned at me, seasoning the mixture in the small pot with wild herbs. “I have good reason to be cheerful this fine day; Miaka is untouched. She and Tasuki were laughing like idiots a few minutes ago. I'm relieved that I could give her good news.” His smile dropped slightly, “I'd hate to think what she would have done had my news not been what we hoped for.”

 

I placed a hand on his shoulder as I removed my mask with the other. “We don't have to worry about that anymore; you said she was untouched, na no da. Let's not borrow trouble, no da.”

 

He looked at me for a moment before he went back to stirring the congee, a small smile on his face. “Now our only problem is how to get Tamahome back and tell him the good news.” Once again Mitsukake's expression darkened, this time with anger and hurt. “He owes her an apology, a damn good one if he knows what is good for him.”

 

I was shocked. Mitsukake had never sworn in my presence before, nor had he ever openly displayed this fierce protectiveness of Miaka's feelings. The blazing anger in his expression was a great surprise as well.

 

“Anou, Mitsukake-kun… “ I stopped, unsure of how to proceed, slightly amused by my uncharacteristic hesitancy. “You are right. He will have to apologize to Miaka-chan before we allow him near her.”

 

The healer lifted his brows at me, his expression now one of frowning concern. “Before we let him near her? Do you think he would try to harm her?”

 

“Yes. I was able to read his ki this morning during my meditation. Tamahome is walking with darkness and revenge in his heart.”

 

It was so hard to say those words; Tamahome had been with Miaka since she first came to Konan, protected her against everything, save for his stint with kodoku. He had given everything for her, but I could not lie about what I felt flowing off of him in waves.

 

Rage, hurt and betrayal were oozing from his aura. Until that changed, I would make sure he would not get close enough to vent his anger upon Miaka.

 

Ooooooooooooooooo

 

 

We'd been riding for a week in the direction of Sairou when we met Tamahome at the northern most border of the city. His smile and greeting were stiff yet seemingly genuine, though his eyes stayed pointedly away from my direction.

 

I was riding with Tasuki again- our shared kisses having brought us closer together but not close enough to bring the fear back. Tamahome seemed to sense the change because he wouldn't look at Tasuki either.

 

He told us, being sure to keep his gaze away from me, that his old mentor had a house not too far from the second shinzaho shrine, and that we had been invited to stay in his home while we searched. I was relieved at the thought of a proper bath and a comfortable bed, though I did wonder if Tasuki would still come and keep my nightmares away as he had done every night since we had gotten back together with the other seishi.

 

Tasuki sat rigid in the saddle behind me all the while Tamahome talked, I could feel the anger he was trying to keep in check in the tightening of his hand on my hip. I was certain there would be a fight if he opened his mouth, and so I gripped his free hand in mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze, praying that he would take the hint.

 

Looking around, I happened catch the angry glances from Chichiri and Mitsukake directed at Tamahome and wondered about them until it occurred to me that Tasuki had probably told them of Tamahome's explosive reaction when the truth had come out.

 

I felt terrible. Because of me there was dissension in the ranks of my seishi, men whose purpose was to protect and care for me during my search for the shinzaho. I would talk to Tamahome once he calmed down enough to hear me but until then I would keep my distance.

 

As a group, we rode towards the heart of Sairou City with Tamahome leading, Chichiri, Chiriko and Mitsukake right behind, and myself and Tasuki bringing up the rear. It wasn't until I felt Tasuki relax behind me that I noticed the others had ridden ahead and we were relatively alone on the dirt path.

 

His hand tightened on my hip. I glanced back to see what the problem was, but he only grinned and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, “Everythin'll work out like it should, Miaka. Don't worry `bout it..” His smile was soft and encouraging, but the darkness in his eyes made my heart clench.

 

He thought I was going to go back to Tamahome.

 

I turned in the saddle and grabbed a handful of his hair, pulling him down for another kiss. A soft sound escaped him and he pressed harder, his tongue moving along the seam of my lips, asking for entrance. I sighed into the kiss and parted my lips, shyly moving my tongue forward to touch his as he slowly invaded my mouth. This was nothing like the brutal devouring Nakago had subjected me to; this was tender and sweet, and filled with such love and passion that it left me breathless and aching for something I couldn't name.

 

When the kiss ended I looked up into his eyes, willingly losing myself in their golden depths. How could I have pushed him away when I first found him? He meant more to me than I had thought anyone could, including Tamahome.

 

What about Tamahome? Before this mess started, I couldn't have seen myself living without him, but now I could. I had been living without him, and I was realizing I could continue to do so.

 

And Tasuki…what is it that I feel for you? You've made me feel more alive, more myself, more… just more. More than I felt for Tamahome. You made these last days worth living; you've joked with me, laughed at my jokes, held me when I cried, fed me when I wouldn't feed myself, clothed me when I had nothing, protected me at all costs, gave me back a joy I thought I had lost forever…

 

I love Tasuki.

 

Oh Suzaku, what am I going to do now?

 

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooo

 

PS: Everyone should be happy to note that “Altered Realities” is getting closer to its conclusion and that means two things; One that I'll be having more time to work on this fic (which is getting close to it's end as well), and Two I'll be posting “Adventuresome Hearts” the prequle to “Altered Realities”. Once those two fics are completed (AH is almost done) and posted I will return to this story line and post its sequel… once I dream it up. <grins>

 

Love you guys and hope you enjoyed this installment of “Hell's Mirage”.

 

LOVE!

 

V.M.