Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Suzaku no Saiai ❯ Chapter 6

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

Suzaku no Saiai





Part VI







Standard disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi is copyrighted by Watase Yuu, Shogakukan, TV Tokyo,
Movic, and Studio Pierrot, and maybe some other people, if I forgot anyone.^^; Anyway,
please don't sue, me. I'm just a poor college student. Kourin and Jin Feng were created by
me, but I'm not responsible for their actions in this fanfic. I can't control them
anymore! If you think you might be more successful controlling them, feel free to borrow
them. Just drop me a line at jscaife@austin.rr.com to let me know.



"It's the big one there with the darkest red roof," Nuriko said leaning over
Kourin's shoulder to point. "We're heading straight there."

The girl smiled brightly, and the young man thought he saw Jin Feng laughing at him in
her dark eyes. "Do you want to see Hotohori that much?" he asked sadly.

"Well, I've seen him every night in my dreams," she said shyly, "but
I've never actually met him. What if he doesn't know who I am? Maybe he doesn't
remember his dreams."

"I'm sure things will be just fine," Nuriko said dryly. "The Emperor
doesn't have so many lovers around that he'd forget the woman of his dreams."

"Bad pun, Ryuuen-chan!" Kourin objected elbowing him in the stomach.

A few hours later the pair had managed to make their way through the throngs of people
and all the imperial red tape to Hotohori's audience chamber.

"Nuriko-sama," one councilor bowed. "The Emperor awaits you...and your
charming guest."

The young man had to bite back a grin. Kourin's well placed flattery and smiles had
gotten them into the palace faster than all his personal prestige ever could have.

"Kourin-sama, please come this way," he said formally, offering her his arm.
She appeared to be praying, and judging for the yellow glow at the edge of her collar, the
sign had appeared. She clutched at his arm timidly as they entered.

Nuriko let Kourin remain behind in the shadows as he went forward to kneel before the
throne. "Hotohori-sama, I have returned."

"I am glad you are still with us," the young emperor smiled graciously.
"Chichiri informed me that you died, but a mysterious young woman from another world
brought you back to us."

"That is correct, Hotohori-sama," the kneeling seishi said ritually. "I
have brought that young woman with me for our aid in returning her to her home. I present
to you Kourin-sama."

The girl took a few hesitant steps until Nuriko took her arm and almost pulled her
forward into the light. She looked up and gazed directly into Hotohori's beautiful, dark
eyes. They stood frozen for a moment, and Nuriko felt very out of place in this tableau.

"It's you!" Hotohori cried out in a strange mixture of pain and passion.
"The beautiful girl who keeps visiting me in my dreams!" He eyes swept over her
frantically. The short golden-brown hair, the full figure, the brown eyes with just a hint
of golden fire, they were all there. "I've been searching for you since I saw you the
very first time, and now you're here!" He rushed down the throne steps as quickly as
his ceremonial clothing would allow. The young emperor abandoned any pretense of dignity
and held out his hands. "Kourin!"

The girl unfroze, and tears began pouring down her cheeks as she threw herself into his
arms. "Hotohori! I was so afraid that you wouldn't remember me," she sobbed.

Hotohori held her face in his hands and gently brushed the tears away. "Dearest
one, I could never forget the one thing that has brought sunshine to my dreary life these
past three weeks. You are entertwined with my soul." He held Kourin close to his
chest and rested his chin on her hair.

Nuriko cleared his throat. "Anou...Hotohori-sama, this is probably a bad time to
mention this, but what about Miaka?"

The young emperor looked up startled. "What about Miaka, Nuriko?" he said
icily.

Nuriko looked down at his feet, not able to face the accusation in Hotohori's eyes. He
fiddled his hands nervously and tried to pretend that the floor tiles were the most
exciting thing he'd ever seen. "You said that she was the only one you'd ever loved,
the only woman you could ever love," he finally muttered softly.

Hotohori possesively tightened his hold on Kourin before answering. "You know as
well as I that Miaka deeply loves Tamahome. When I said those words I believed that I
still had a chance at winning her heart, but now..." He shook his head fiercely as if
dispelling painful memories. "One night about two and a half weeks ago I was in my
study alone with my melancholy thoughts. At the exact moment when I reached the lowest
depths of despair a girl appeared, a girl from another world. She comforted me and assured
me that my beloved was safe. However, her next words surprised me..."

"I am the yin to your yang," the girl in his arms began softly.

Hotohori added his voice to the final sentence. "You may call me Kourin." He
smiled down at her before continuing. "She caressed my cheek, and my soul filled with
an overwhelming longing. I bent my head to taste her soft lips, and, suddenly, she was
gone. I was frantic. Who was she, and where did she come from? I asked everyone at court,
but no one had seen a foreign woman with golden-brown hair anywhere. The next night though
we met again, this time in the world of dreams, but I was pulled away too soon. I could
hear her voice calling out to me in fear, but all of my strength was not enough to return.
Once again I despaired of ever seeing her again, but the next night..."

Nuriko groaned. "I think I already know what happened on the third and fourth
nights, Hotohori-sama."

Kourin sweatdropped and blushed. "How would you know what happened on the fourth
night, Nuriko?" she asked dangerously. "You were supposed to be on the other
side of the fire."

The young man waved his hands in a frantic calming gesture. "It wasn't anything
like that, hontou, Kourin," he said nervously. "I saw you together in the
dreamworld. Something guided me to where you were.

Hotohori nodded with a slightly embarrassed look. "Then you already knew that I
found this?" He carefully pulled down Kourin's collar to reveal "hoshi"
glowing on her neck. "She is marked as mine, and I will seal that by making Kourin my
empress."

A cloud passed over the girl's face, and she pushed away from Hotohori's chest to
examine his face. "Empress? Me the empress of Konan?"

Hotohori smiled indulgently down at her. "You are the one I love, Kourin, and I
never want to separate from you again. Marry me, and rule Konan at my side!" His
intense dark eyes burned into her soul.

Kourin looked down at her feet and blushed. She knew that she had strong feelings for
the young emperor, but were they really love? She shuddered when she looked back on the
disastrous experience with James. "Gomen, Hotohori...but I just don't know," she
said softly. "My heart says yes, but my mind..."

He pressed her hands tenderly. "Daijoubu desu, Kourin. You can take as much time
as you need. I anxiously await your answer." Hotohori turned and regally glided out
the door.

Kourin fell to her knees and cradled her head in her hands. Hotohori's kindness was
overwhelming, and it frightened her. "He cares for me so much," she thought,
"but no matter what decision I make, someone will be hurt. I don't want to
make anyone feel sad on my account." Tears began to roll unbidden down her cheeks,
and her shoulders started shaking.

Nuriko looked up at the girl's crying and scowled. "What the hell is wrong with
you, Kourin?!" he growled angrily. "Hotohori just proposed to you, he
loves you more than anything. Isn't that what you wanted?!"

"How would you know what I want?" Kourin demanded through her tears.
"You've been avoiding me for the past two weeks."

"I've seen into your dreams!" Nuriko threw back. "You always meet up
with him, and you two go off together...alone."

"Ryuuen, you have no right to be looking into my dreams and visions!" the
girl accused. Her face was flushed, and there was a dangerous flicker of golden fire in
her eyes. At any second she might lose her control and threaten to lob a chi ball in the
Konan palace throne room.

"I understand," Nuriko said acidly. "If you want to whore around with
the emperor of Konan, it's absolutely none of my fucking business! Is that it?! I'm only
your protector after all!"

"I never asked for your blasted protection!" she retorted.

"Very well then. I wash my hands of you!" Nuriko said hotly. He spun on his
heel and began to stalk out of the room when he felt a painful, tight feeling in his
chest. He took another step towards the door, and the tightness doubled. He could barely
breathe. Nuriko looked back towards Kourin to see her face pale. "Kuso, I can't
leave," he thought sourly.

"You can't got until I let you," spoke a voice in his head.

"Who's there?" Nuriko thought nervously. "What do you want?"

"You've forgotten about me already, Ryuu-chan," the voice teased. "I'm
someone very close to your beloved Kourin. I'm surprised you don't remember."

Nuriko's eyebrows raised, and an image of the stunning phoenix woman flashed through
his head. "Is it you, Jin Feng?" he thought in surprise.

"How many people do you know who would speak directly to your mind?" the
golden phoenix laughed lightly. "You haven't kept up your end of the bargain,
Ryuu-chan. Kourin still hadn't spoken to me."

"I know," Nuriko apologized with embarrassment. "We haven't been on
speaking terms recently."

"To expedite matters, I've created a bond between you two that is even stronger
than the protection bond," Jin Feng pointed out. "If you try to separate from
her the pain will become so great that it will eventually kill you."

"So, that's what we just experienced!" Nuriko exclaimed. "Is
there any way you can increase the range? Kourin and I will kill each other if we always
have to be connected at the hip."

"That was just an example of what will happen if you cross me," the phoenix
woman smiled maliciously. "You two had best not kill each other fighting. She's
feisty, ne? Ja!"

"I can't go anywhere without having Kourin with me?" Nuriko thought in
dismay. He turned back to the motionless girl. "Kourin, daijoubu ka?" He flushed
a little and swallowed his pride. "About what I said, hontou ni gomen. I wasn't kind.
Let's find you a room so you can rest.

Kourin's body began to shake as she attempted to control her anger. "Do you think
that you can blow it off that easily?" she hissed. "You called me a whore, and
that I will never forgive!" She stalked past him coldly without looking back.

Nuriko's heart froze in his chest. She had been so angry that she hadn't yelled or
physically attacked him. Instead she wounded him far more deeply with her disdain. Mindful
of Jin Feng's warning Nuriko carefully moved toward the door. He peered around the
doorframe just in time to see Kourin sway slightly before ungraciously slumping to the
floor.

Nuriko rushed to the fallen girl's side and shook her gently. "Kourin? Kourin,
daijoubu ka?" She didn't even stir. He tenderly brushed the hair off her forehead and
stopped in shock. "Kamisama! She's burning up with fever! It's a pity Mitsukake isn't
here to fix her up." The young man hefted Kourin in his arms. "I guess I'll take
her to my room for the time being," he murmured. "Hotohori probably won't be
happy though."

Once again Kourin was in the dreamworld, that mysterious place lying between this world
and the next. Cold, white mists swirled about her, obscuring her vision. The girl
shivered; the dreamworld did not welcome her now. Another figure strode purposefully
toward her throught the mist. As it approached Kourin could make out a faint golden glow,
and she sighed, wondering what her new mission would be.

The figure stopped a few feet from her, allowing a careful appraisal. The woman, for it
was female, wore a shimmering golden ball gown with matching shoes. On her back the
strange woman sported a pair of shining golden wings and an elegant bird's tail. Her long
golden hair framed her face, and her eyes appeared to be golden flames. However, the face
caused Kourin to draw back and cover her mouth in horror.

"Who are you," the girl demanded,"that you wear my face?!"

The strange woman smiled Kourin's smile. "So at long last we meet, daughter of the
golden phoenix. I have been waiting for you, you know."

"Why are you waiting for me?" the nervous girl snapped. "I'm not even
from this world."

"Kourin-chan, why do you fight your destiny?" asked the golden woman sadly.
"You were born in your 'other world' for this moment." She stepped forward and
caressed the frightened girl's cheek softly. "Such a strong, healthy girl," the
woman murmured. "It is a pity you won't need your physical body anymore where we're
going."

Kourin leaped back and snarled,"I don't know what's going on here, but you'd damn
well better tell me why the hell you have my face!"

The woman smiled sardonically. "Haven't you realized it yet, child? I'm Jin Feng,
the golden phoenix. I'm the part of yourself you've tried to repress all your life, the
part that loves and hates equally passionately. In short, my dear, I AM you."

"You're not me!" the girl protested frantically. "I don't have any
problems accepting my emotions and the power within myself."

"Sure, keep on telling yourself that," Jin Feng smirked. "I have waited
thousands of years for you, and I know you better than you know yourself. I need you to
merge with me so I can ascend to the heavens and take my place as Suzaku's heavenly
consort."

"Suzaku? You're the destined consort of Hotohori and Nuriko's god?" Kourin
asked curiously.

"Not just me, daughter of the golden phoenix," Jin Feng countered, "you
and me, together.

"Stop there!" commanded a third voice from the mist. An older woman floated
towards the pair with a decidedly sour expression on her wrinkled, old face. "Jin
Feng, I warned you against speaking to the girl too soon!"

"Taiitsukun, creator," the phoenix woman said reverently and knelt. "I
humbly apologize. I have overstepped my bounds."

"You should leave, Jin Feng," Taiitsukun said pointedly. "I have
something important to discuss with the girl."

Jin Feng nodded silently and faded back into the swirling mist.

The creator turned back to the startled girl. "Kourin-chan, I'm sure you are very
confused, but we must talk."

The girl nodded and asked, "Why did Jin Feng keep calling me 'daughter of the
golden phoenix'and say we were the same person?"

Taiitsukun sighed heavily. "That girl is just too headstrong for her own good; I
knew she would say too much." She pulled out a small mirror and extended it to her
young companion. "This will be a constant reminder of what I am about to tell you,
but listen carefully..."

"Long ago the four gods: Genbu, Byakko, Seiryuu, and Suzaku, could descend to the
earth whenever they wanted without waiting to be summoned by a miko. Each fell in love
with a mortal woman, and they married. Each had a child with their mortal wives, a child
that was half immortal and half human. However, the mothers were not strong enough for
such a birth, and all four died. The four gods grieved the loss of their beloveds, but the
four children provided a recourse. Those children grew up and had families and passed
along the immortal blood generation after generation. Every few generations a daughter was
born in the image of the ancestor god's beloved who had the potential to become immortal
herself. If she accepted the immortal part of herself, the girl would rise to the heavens
as a goddess and take her place at her ancestor's side. At this point Byakko, Genbu, and
Seiryuu have all regained their brides, but for many years the Golden Phoenix clan, as
your ancestor's family was known, has been missing from the universe of the four gods.
Your unexpected arrival showed that they somehow had crossed between the worlds, and the
patriarch had prevented any girl from returning here."






Glossary
chan, sama -- honourifics, chan implies a close relationship or something cute or
younger than you, sama is sort of like lord or lady
yin and yang -- the female and male "essences" or "entities"
in Chinese/Asian philosophies. They each have part of the other, and they are
interconnected; they cannot exist alone.
hontou, hontou ni -- honestly, truthfully
hoshi -- star, this is Hotohori's seishi symbol
kuso -- shit^^;
daijoubu -- okay, alright









Questions? Comments?

Kourika's being evil
again...take me back!

Ooo, look part 7's
finally up!

© 1997 jscaife@austin.rr.com