Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ I'll Be There ❯ Chapter 3

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

Chapter Three

Yui sat there on the cement walkway a while longer, holding Miaka and
rocking her in her arms as she cried. Once Yuuki's tears subsided a
bit, Yui brushed a strand of the girl's hair behind her ear.

"Here... let's go inside and grab our things and I'll call Tetsuya to
come and get us. We can go out and eat somewhere then go to the
precinct when you're feeling more up to it, okay?" Yui offered with a
soft smile as she wiped tears from Miaka's cheeks. Miaka simply
nodded. "Okay. You just hang onto me and everything will be fine. Take
it one step at a time," Yui said softly in a soothing voice. Miaka
nodded again and Yui stood up, helping her friend to her feet.

Miaka's eyes stared ahead emptily as Yui walked back into the school
building with one arm around Miaka's waist and the other holding
Miaka's arm around her waist. Slowly they made their way down the
hallways and back to Miaka's first period class. Mrs. Yamimoto was
nearing the end of her lecture when the two girls walked in.

"Get your stuff Miaka. Take your time. We're in no rush," Yui said,
trying her best to keep her friend calm. Miaka nodded and went about
picking her stuff up at her seat, oblivious to the stares she was
getting and the deathglare that Mrs. Yamimoto shot at her.

"I'm really sorry about this Yamimoto-san. But Miaka's just gotten
some terrible news and is in need of some time to cope. I promise I'll
make her study up extra hard when she gets better," Yui said smoothly
and politely to the teacher. Mrs. Yamimoto looked at her a moment then
sighed as she nodded her head.

"You make sure and do that, Hongo-chan. She has a test coming up that
she simply must pass if she wants to pass this class," Mrs. Yamimoto
answered.

"Of course, sensei. You can count on me," Yui replied with a smile as
Miaka returned with her stuff. With that, the two girls left the room,
leaving the teacher and the rest of the class in suspense.

Next, the two girls trekked through the halls back to Yui's class.
There Miaka stood at the door staring at the floor as Yui apologized
to the teacher for interrupting and leaving then grabbed her things
and walked back out again. Once Yui rejoined with her friend, she
guided the girl along as they walked to a pay phone where Yui gave
Tetsuya a ring on his cell phone. She simply said hi then told him to
pick up Keisuke and meet her at the school's front entrance. That
said, she hung up without further explanation and walked with Miaka
out to the front steps to wait.

Fifteen minutes later, Tetsuya arrived in his blue convertible Mustang
GT. Yui thanked the two boys for coming as quickly as they did then
helped Miaka into the backseat. As soon as she was settled, Yui
climbed in and Tetsuya put the driver's seat back and climbed back in.
After everyone was situated and buckled in, Tetsuya drove away.

"So... where to?" Tetsuya asked as he drove down the street.

"Yeah, and would someone mind letting us in on what's up?" Keisuke
said as he punched the roof button and the top folded down.

"Let's go find a place to eat, then we'll tell you," Yui said calmly.
Miaka just sat there staring out the window. Keisuke looked back at
his sister with worry then nodded to Yui and turned back around, the
concern not leaving his face.

The group found a small eatery with few people inside and went in,
finding a booth in the corner. The waitress came and they ordered
their food. Yui frowned at the quiet Miaka then ordered cheeseburger
and fries for her. Once she had all the orders, the waitress left to
fill them.

Tetsuya tapped the table with his palm as he turned to face Yui and
Miaka once more. "Okay girls... spill it. What's this all about?
What's wrong?" he said with a serious face of concerned inquiry.
Keisuke nodded in agreement. Yui looked at Miaka and rubbed her
shoulders but the girl said nothing as she simply sat staring at the
table. Yui frowned then sighed, deciding to speak in Miaka's stead.

"It's Taka. A police officer pulled Miaka out of class this morning to
tell her. Taka was on his way to class this morning when a drunk man
driving a semi sped through a red light and broadsided Taka's car."
Yui heaved another sigh with a frown and tears in her eyes then spat
out the rest, "Taka didn't make it."

Tetsuya and Keisuke gasped in unison. "Oh my GOD!"

"I.. I... don't know what to say," Tetsuya said in shock.

"Oh my god, Sis! I'm SO sorry!" Keisuke said as he got up and walked
around the table to kneel and hug her tight. The only response that
came from her was a soft whimper.

"This is just.. AWEFUL!! Why the hell did... Have they charged the
asshole that did it?" Tetsuya asked.

"I'm not sure. The officer said to meet him at the 111^th precinct
when we got the chance to get over there," Yui answered. Tetsuya
nodded.

"Okay, so we'll eat, give Miaka a chance to recharge a bit then head
over there, right?" Keisuke said still holding onto his sister.

"That's the plan," Yui nodded. "Unless Miaka has any other ideas.
Miaka?" Yui said as she gently squeezed the girl's shoulder.

"That's... fine," Miaka said softly. Everyone nodded and Keisuke sat
back down in his seat as the waitress arrived with the food.

After Miaka managed to gulp down half of her meal, she pushed the rest
away. "Let's go, " she said simply as she slowly stood up. Everyone
else gobbled down the rest of their food then the boys cleaned up as
Yui walked Miaka back out to the car.

A little while later they arrived at the precinct. The officer that
had met Miaka previously came out to meet them.

"Now, I know this will be hard, but we need you to walk across the
street to the morgue and identify the body. Procedure," the officer
said. Miaka gasped a bit then nodded. Yui, Keisuke, and Tetsuya nodded
after her.

"Okay. Well then, follow me if you will please," the officer said as
he escorted them out the door and across the street to the morgue that
was on the backside of the hospital.

Inside the morgue, the officer weaved his way through the halls then
came upon the room he was looking for and entered. Inside, two whole
walls were covered in stainless steel with dozens of large drawers
embedded in them. A female technician walked in and the officer asked
for Taka's body for identification. The technician nodded and walked
over to the back wall and pulled out a drawer slab in the middle of
the third row up. She then unzipped the bag.

"You ready?" the officer asked Miaka. She took a deep breath then
nodded. The technician then nodded back and peeled back the plastic
lid to the body bag.

The moment Miaka saw Taka's pale face, she gasped then collapsed with
her arms around his neck. "Taka! Why the hell did you have to go and
do this to me! After all we've been through! We fought with our lives
to be together!" sobbed as she pressed her head into his neck and
hugged his cold lifeless body. The technician wiped a tear away from
her eye as she watched Miaka grieve over the loss of her beloved. The
officer simply sighed and bowed his head in sorrow.

Unbeknownst to Miaka, nor anyone else in the room, Taka's spirit was
in the room, watching Miaka as she cried. Though he knew neither of
them would feel it, he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "I'm sorry
Miaka. I truly am. I never expected this to happen. But then again
life is always unpredictable no matter who nor where you are. Don't
cry, Miaka. Please don't cry. Be happy and know that I am safe and
will always be here to watch over you," he said softly then kissed her
cheek again.

Miaka tensed as she felt a soft coldness on her cheek. She gritted her
teeth and wiped at the spot with her hand then growled hoarsely as she
stood up and bolted from the room as fast as her legs could carry her.

Yui, Keisuke, and Tetsuya screamed out at her in unison and Yui took
off after her. Keisuke started to go too, but Tetsuya stopped him.
"Yui will bring her back," he said coolly, his sunglasses hiding the
worry in his eyes. Keisuke sighed and nodded and the two boys turned
the help the officer.

Outside, Miaka bolted down the sidewalk, running as fast as she could
go. She knew Yui was running behind her screaming for her to stop, but
she didn't care. She just managed to run faster. Finally she reached a
park and rocketed across the grass, weaving amongst the trees. It was
all Yui could do to keep sight of her as she ran.

Finally, Miaka reached a deserted area of the park amongst a cluster
of trees. Once there, she skidded to a halt and screamed up at the
heavens, "For the love of life, Suzaku help me!" She panted twice more
then wobbled and collapsed to the ground unconscious from exhaustion.

As Yui neared the group of trees, a bright red light suddenly erupted
from the ground and engulfed the Suzaku no Miko. A second later, the
light disappeared and Miaka was no longer there.

Yui screamed in frustration, "Dammit Miaka!" She squeeze her eyes shut
and gritted her teeth, then let out her held breath and panted as she
slowly relaxed. "Suzaku, you damn well better make sure she's safe
else I'll find Seiryuu again and seriously kick your ass!" she said
roughly then turned and started back to the precinct.