Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Suzaku no Saiai ❯ Chapter 9

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

Suzaku no Saiai





Part IX







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.



"I can't believe you!" she exploded, her delicate physical state forgotten.
"How could you try to trick me like that?! Did you really think I was so stupid I
wouldn't notice?!"

Kourin hauled her captive back to Nuriko's room and plopped him down on a chair.
"Don't you dare move!" she threatened, turning to dig through a trunk. She
pulled out one of Nuriko's travelling outfits and shook it with a triumphant flourish.
"Here, put this on."

The person on the chair stared back silently, and Kourin groaned. "I have to dress
you now?" She shrugged and began pulling down her captive's top agressively.
Suddenly, the fair haired girl blushed and backed away in embarrassment. "You're
not...Nuriko..." she trailed off. "You're a woman!"

The purple haired girl looked at Kourin's surprised expression and burst into peals of
sweet laughter. "Gomen nasai, for not saying anything sooner," she apologized as
soon as she could breath, "but you just assumed I was Nuriko-sama, and the joke was
too good to pass up. I hope you're not angry?"

Kourin grinned and shook her head. "Not at all, but who are you, and why
were you following me?"

"I am Houki, one of the girls in the Emperor's harem," the other girl
replied, "or rather one of the potential brides for the Emperor before Miko-sama, and
then you, arrived, Kourin-sama. As to why I was following you, I merely wanted to see what
sort of girl had captured Hotohori-sama's heart this time."

Kourin smiled sadly. "Houki-san, I'm not going to marry Hotohori...I can't
marry him..."

Houki squeezed her hand sympathetically. "You don't feel that you could handle
being Empress or is there someone else, if I'm not imposing? Perhaps Kourin-sama loves
Nuriko-sama?"

"In love with Nuriko?"the other girl laughed, but it seemed strained.
"No, it's something else entirely."

The purple haired girl looked at her strangely. "Whatever you say,
Kourin-sama," she said doubtfully.

"What in Suzaku's name is going on in here?" Nuriko asked weakly from the
doorway. He didn't know who the new girl was or why she was sitting in his room half
undressed, but Kourin had a real smile on her face for the first time in weeks...

Both girls looked at him and burst out with more laughter. "This is
Houki-san," Kourin finally got out. "I met her today. You will come back and
visit with me," she pressed. "I don't get much female companionship confined to
my rooms like this."

"I don't know..." Houki vacillated. "I'm not really supposed to leave
the women's quarters..." She looked at Kourin's pleading eyes and sighed. "I
wish I could, but I don't know..."

"Why does Kourin want to see her so much?" Nuriko asked himself. "She
can't know that Houki looks the way my imouto would if she had lived...but she seems to
make Kourin happy." He gently put a hand on Houki's shoulder. "If you would like
I'll arrange things for you," he offered shyly. "Kourin does need some
friends besides Hotohori-sama and myself."

"Doomo arigatou gozaimasu, Nuriko-sama!" the girl said, her eyes shining like
stars. She gathered her long skirts and stood, delicately rearranging her bodice. "I
need to return before I'm missed. Hopefully, we will get a chance to talk again,
Kourin-sama."

"Why do you want to talk to her so badly?" Nuriko asked suspiciously after
Houki disappeared from view. "You didn't seem starved for female companionship,
Kourin."

The blond girl smiled sadly. "Houki loves Hotohori..."she sighed quietly.
"If I can't be with him I want his wife to be someone who will love him at least.
Besides Houki has a good sense of humour, and she's sweet tempered as well. If I keep her
close to me, maybe Hotohori will notice her..."

Nuriko put a hand on Kourin's shoulder and rubbed her back with the other. "I
admired your strength in sacrificing yourself and your true feelings for the good of
Konan," he said, trying to reanimate his companion. "In the space of a day
you've lost the man you love and found him a replacement for you. Not many women could do
it."

"Do you think I want to be told all this?!" the blond demanded. "I don't
need to be reminded how great a sacrifice I made you know!" Her face began to
crumple, then forcefully cleared of all emotion. "I can't afford to cry about it; I
have to be strong and prepare for when Suzaku comes for me."

"So you're definitely going with him?" Nuriko gasped.

Kourin hung her head. "I don't really want to leave this world behind, but it
seems that if I don't Suzaku will punish you all in my stead. Am I being selfish in not
being able to make a decision?"

The Suzaku seishi pulled away from her and sighed. "I think you're just being
human, but you can't afford to be that weak, can you? You have some idea that you can't
let yourself feel emotions since you've been chosen by Suzaku...if you're frightened or
depressed about making a final decision it's all right if you let us know. You lied to
Hotohori didn't you? Don't you think he has a right to know the real reason you
won't marry him?"

"That's not your affair, Nuriko," the blond said, rising. "If you'll
excuse me I have to ask Hotohori to allow Houki-san to visit me."

Nuriko watched Kourin until she disappeared around the corner. "What was I
doing?" he scolded himself. "I almost told her to go make up with
Hotohori!" Kourin's enthralling golden smile floated in his mind, and his heart
clenched painfully. "Something tells me I love her more than my own life, but
despite my jealousy towards the other men around, her I just want to see Kourin happy and
smiling forever..."

"Hotohori?" Kourin asked hesitantly, pausing at the doorway to the emperor's
study. "May I come in?" She trembled slightly as he looked up from the desk.
Surprise clouded the young emperor's features, but he smiled amiably and gestured for the
girl to enter.

"Kourin, you're the last person I expected to see here," Hotohori said gently
as she approached his desk. "What may I do for you?"

"I have a rather large favour..." the blond girl began nervously. "Would
you grant permission for one of the princesses to come visit me on a regular basis? I
understand if it's too much to ask..."

Hotohori stepped out from behind his desk and cut her off. "Kourin, all I need is
her name, and it will be done. It is not such a big thing."

"Her name is Houki," the girl began shyly, looking down, "and she looks
a lot like Nuriko...I'd like you to meet her someday."

Hotohori was glad his companion was staring at the floor so she didn't see the pain on
his face. "Perhaps I could escort Houki-san to dinner with you and Nuriko
tonight?" he offered hesitantly.

"That would be wonderful, Hotohori!" Kourin said quickly and darted out the
door.

"Kourin, wait!" the emperor called after her. "Please be happy..."
he whispered softly, but she was already gone.

The young woman hummed softly as her hands fluttered over the mound of dresses on her
bed. She didn't know where they had all come from, but all of them were so pretty!
"The green one is nice, but the burgandy one will bring out the gold in my
eyes," she mused. "What am I saying?" She drew away from the bed, one hand
pressed to her lips in shock. "It's not like me to get excited over clothing like
this...that's more Jin Feng's sort of thing..." Kourin shook her head fiercely.
"No! We are not merging! I haven't given my consent!"

"There are some things in life that occur without our approval," an elderly
voice resonated slightly. "You cannot deny your destiny, daughter of the golden
phoenix."

The girl looked around startled. "Who's there? Where are you?"

"I'm at Mt. Taikyoku where I'm supposed to be," the voice said with asperity,
"but I'm talking through that mirror I gave you. Have you forgotten me already,
girl?"

"T...taiitsukun!" Kourin stammered, picking up the small, circular mirror.
"Did you need me for something?"

The creator laughed mockingly. "My dear child, what could you do for me right now?
You are having enough trouble helping yourself." The wrinkled face softened a little
before adding, "Your strength in breaking away from Hotohori impressed me; I did not
believe you were capable of it."

The girl's eyes filled with tears, and she sank down onto the bed.. "It hurts so
much inside though," she sobbed, covering her face with her hands. "Despite what
everyone says I think that I really do love him..."

"Perhaps," Taiitsukun said gently, "but you also could be affected by
his obvious attraction to you. When you have the time analyze your feelings and try to see
who you hurt most for: Hotohori or yourself."

The image in the mirror flickered out, and Kourin stared at her own reflection for
several seconds before drying her tears and standing. "She's right...I don't have
time to feel sorry for myself right now. Dinner will be here soon, and I've got to come up
with a plan to get Hotohori to notice that Houki would be an excellent empress."

About an hour later Nuriko's quarters had been transformed into a magnificent dining
room and parlour due to the strategic placement of several folding screens and extra
furniture. Kourin smiled with pleasure as the last servant discreetly nodded and left.
"This will be perfect!" she babbled to herself. "I'm still terrible
at mah jong, but Houki might be a good player, and if she isn't, I'll get Hotohori to help
her!"

Nuriko's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he wandered in a few minutes later.
"What in Suzaku's name do you have planned?!" he asked in shock.

The girl stopped rearranging the table settings and looked up innocently. "Didn't
I tell you, Nuriko? Hotohori and Houki-san are coming to dinner tonight...oh no! We've got
to get dressed before they arrive!"

Nuriko stared back blankly. "No, somehow you forgot to mention it, but I'm not
surprised that you have something new up your sleeve," he grinned wickedly.
"Your life would be incomplete without some sort of 'purpose' to work towards."

Kourin laughed lightly and stuck out her tongue. "If you're trying to make me
angry it won't work tonight, Ryuuen. I have too many important things to concern
myself with." She shoved a formal outfit at him and curtsied mockingly. "An' it
please you, sir, the burgandy suit would be perfect for this evening."

The young man pretended to think over the girl's offer before teasing, "And how
will Kourin-sama be attired? I simply could not bear to have my ensemble clash wiht
hers."

"Why her burgandy evening gown, of course!" the blond continued, fighting
back triumphant laughter. "It does bring out the gold in her eyes so well."

Houki and Hotohori arrived promptly at seven, and, miraculously, everything was ready.
Kourin smiled blindingly and gestured towards the chairs circled near the windows.
"Why don't we talk a little before we eat?" she bubbled.

Houki paled slightly and cast a nervous look at the emperor from under her eyelashes.
"Maybe we should just eat, Kourin-sama," she suggested softly "I don't want
to waste heika-sama's time"

"Ack! How can she be so dense?!" the blond girl asked herself in frustration.
"I don't think a little chat will take too long," she protested sweetly,
"and Hotohori doesn't really have anything more important to do besides be with us,
does he?"

The young emperor caught the subtle hint/threat and shook his head. "Iie, I am
completely free. I believe that Kourin has missed having someone other than Nuriko around
for company, so I cleared my schedule."

Houki cast another uneasy glance at her companion and nodded shyly. "Ii desu yo. I
enjoyed our last talk, Kourin-sama. You were like a breath of fresh air after the
meaningless drivel of the other princesses."

The blond girl flashed another golden smile and gently looped her arm through Nuriko's.
"Ryuuen, you're not joining us," she pouted prettily.

The young seishi blinked and almost stepped back in surprise. Kourin had voluntarily
touched him with tenderness, and now she was pouting because of his inattention? "Two
can play at this game," he mentally smirked. "My dear, you were doing splendidly
without me. Besides social engagements bore me."

A thundercloud crossed Kourin's brow, and her grip on Nuriko's arm tightened painfully.
"Would you excuse us for just a moment?" she asked her guests, slightly
flustered.

"What the hell to you think you're doing?" she hissed furiously once
they were out of earshot. "If you couldn't tell, I'm trying to get Hotohori to notice
Houki-san!"

"All you've managed to do so far is convince him that I'm the reason you
broke off your relationship!" the purple-haired seishi retorted, stung.

"Don't you dare mess this up!" Kourin threatened, advancing on him
menacingly. "Houki sincerely loves Hotohori, and I think she can make him
happy."

Nuriko gripped her wrists and rotated so the girl's back faced the wall. "I
understand what you want, but what do I get for going along with your little
scheme?" Slowly, he forced Kourin to retreat until her back hit the wall. Her faint
look of panic made it clear that she knew she was trapped, and Nuriko let her worry for a
few minutes before speaking again. "Give me a good reason to help you, Kourin."

Lids flipped down over brown eyes and then back up, revealing a disconcertingly steady
gaze. "I am removing your most dangerous rival," she said softly. A triumphant
light blossomed in her eyes, and the young seishi knew that once again Kourin had managed
to trap him instead of the other way around.

"And what of Suzakuseikun?" he breathed, dropping his hands to the girl's
waist and leaning in closer. "What is he to you?"

A gentle golden fire began to glow in Kourin's glorious brown eyes. "Suzaku is
only an obstacle to my happiness...how can I be expected to love someone so distant just
because of who my family is?"

Tempted by the girl's candid words the young man raised a hand and carefully swept her
hair back from her face. "I'm right here, and I only wish for your happiness,"
he whispered passionately.

Kourin lifted her face towards his, and her eyes clouded. "Nuri...Ryuuen, I know,
but...

Nuriko cut off her sentence with a soft, warm kiss. He tasted faintly of tea and wine
and something undeniably his own, and her treacherous body melted under the simple
assault. "Somehow when he touches me Nuriko becomes the center of my world...I'm not
in love; it's completely impossible!"

Meanwhile Houki and Hotohori desperately attempted idle small talk, but as both were
naturally reserved, shy people their efforts were strained. "I wonder why Kourin-sama
ran off so suddenly," the young woman blurted suddenly, blushing in embarrassment.

The young emperor sighed heavily. "Kourin had a gleam in her eye that makes me
think that her companion may be in for an earful. I think they got off on the wrong foot
from the start."

Houki stood with a worried look on her pretty face. "I don't hear any
yelling," she explained. "I'm going to make sure nothing serious has happened.
Heika-sama, would you care to join me?"

Hotohori watched the delicate movements of the young woman's hands as she spoke.
"Hm...she is rather pretty, and she cares about others..." he mused
silently. He entertained no illusions about Kourin's dinner invitation. She had chosen
this Houki to be Konan's empress, but he wasn't yet sure...

"Heika-sama?" Houki asked anxiously. "Are you coming?"

"Hai! Ikou yo!"

It didn't take long to find the missing couple. Houki turned around the edge of a
screen and stopped short. "Back up a little!"

From behind the large screen Kourin's guests watched as Nuriko bent his head to cover
Kourin's lips. A strange magnetism throbbed through the intertwined pair, and mysterious
waves of emotions exuded from them.

"I knew it," Houki said quietly. "Kourin-sama tried to deny it, but the
attraction is there." She loosely took Hotohori's sleeve and pulled him away from the
tableau. "Let's give them some privacy, ne?"

Nuriko separated from Kourin reluctantly and caressed her face. "Tell me now that
you aren't mine," he demanded huskily. "Can you tell me now that you don't feel
anything for me?"

The girl's eyes flashed. "I don't belong to anyone but myself! Whoever I choose to
love will learn to accept that. Besides one kiss doesn't mean a thing." She tossed
her head scornfully, but inside she trembled in fear. Her reaction to the seishi's touch
had been so strong it almost overwhelmed her. "I can't let myself love him!"
Kourin cried silently. "I'm afraid of losing myself..."

Houki smiled at her approach. "I hope things are all right with you and
Nuriko-sama. Won't he be back to join us?"

Kourin smiled wanly and briefly glanced at the shell-shocked Hotohori before lying
glibly, "He'll be along shortly. We needn't wait though. Dinner will get cold."

Nuriko sighed as Kourin stalked off, head high and back rigid. "How can I always
say exactly the wrong thing?" He closed his eyes and leaned wearily against the wall.
Her scent lingered in the air, and his fingertips tingled from feeling her soft curves
beneath them. She had been molten gold, flowing perfectly into his embrace...and now
things had soured between them again.

"Are you certain we shouldn't wait for Nuriko-sama?" Houki's nervous
voice floated across the screen.

"He'll join us shortly," Kourin said sweetly, but Nuriko's trained ear
detected the hard, angr y edge in her voice.

Reluctantly, he straightened and splashed some cool water on his face. "She made
an important point…" he murmured to himself. "If Hotohori eventually
marries Houki, I don't have to fear Kourin trying to return to him despite all of
Taiitsukun's warnings. I saw her eyes when he arrived, and the feelings she held for him
have not...B>will not fade until she knows he has found happiness with
another." Nuriko lightly combed his hair and readjusted his suit. "I become a
better actor every day that I spend with her..." Forcing a bright smile he stepped
from behind the screen to rejoin the company.

"I hope you didn't wait on my account," the young man stated jovially

and froze in the charged atmosphere.

Houki turned very pale and looked down at her hands, trembling like a frightened doe.
Hotohori glared at his fellow seishi with eyes like dark bullets, but the blond girl's
response was worst of all. Kourin's eyes were hard and icy, her face haughty. "I'm so
glad you were able to join us, Nuriko," she stated coldly.

" D..doushite?" the young man stuttered in confusion. "Why is everyone
so upset?"

Hotohori stood stiffly and gave his companion a curt nod. "I don't appreciate
being lied to, Kourin," he breathed painfully. "If you loved someone else you
should have just told me instead of inventing pretexts."

"Chotto matte kudasai!" Nuriko protested, even more flustered. "I still
don't understand..."

"This is not your affair," Kourin stated regally. A deep golden aura glowed
around her, and she clearly had tapped into an outer power source. "Perhaps I did not
mention the whole truth, Hotohori, but my reasons are not what you think..." Her head
dropped in defeat. "I...I am destined to become Suzaku's consort, and unless I can
find a way to break his hold on me, I can never belong to any mortal man. I brought Houki
here tonight, Hotohori, to offer her as your empress. She loves you, and in time you will
come to love her more deeply than either Miaka or me." A pair of glowing wings gently
snapped open, and Kourin raised her head sadly. "I, Jin Feng, have seen this and know
it to be true."

The other three stood awestruck at the young woman's strange transformation. This
imposing creature was not their beloved Kourin nor was she the mischievous
trickster Jin Feng.

"Is this what they become when they finally merge?" Nuriko mused silently.

The golden glow began to fade, and Kourin sunk into an armchair, perspiration beading
her brow. "What happened?" she gasped. "We were arguing, and then I blacked
out...why are you staring at me like that?"

Houki regained her composure first and smiled sweetly. "We were just worried
because you hadn't awakened. Perhaps some food will make you feel better, ne?"

After Hotohori and Houki left Kourin wandered out onto the porch and stared sulkily at
the evening sky. The seishi's constellations twinkled brightly at her, and she sighed
heavily. "I have only to look at the night sky, and I'll have all of you with
me...Chiriko, Tamahome, Chichiri, Hotohori, Nuriko, Tasuki, Mitsukake..." The girl's
eyes turned towards her own constellation, and she sighed again. "That's not really
me up there; it's just the memory of the woman Suzaku loved. Why couldn't he be like the
Greek gods and leave her in the stars?!"

A wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over her, and Kourin reluctantly entered the rooms
she shared with Nuriko and prepared for bed. "I got tired so quickly, that I know
someone is just waiting to get into my head," she muttered darkly.

Her suspicions were confirmed when she began to dream just as her eyes fluttered close,
and a familiar red-winged man came towards across the misty gate to the dreamworld.

"Hanashi ga arun da, little one," Suzaku said brusquely. He grasped the
girl's upper arms and forcefully pulled her into his embrace. "You asked why, little
one, and I shall tell you!"

Kourin turned red and tried to break away from the encircling arms. "Can't I just
be an ordinary girl?" she begged piteously. "Can't I go back to the way things
were?"

Suzaku shook his head sadly and brushed Kourin's hair from her eyes. "They can't
because I loved your ancestress with my entire being, little one, and in my selfishness I
am not willing to let you go!"

"But I'm not her!" the girl protested desperately. "I will never become
who Jin Feng originally was because my life has been too different! Wouldn't another girl
from my line, a descendent, work just as well?"

"You are Jin Feng in ways that you could never understand," the god
whispered. "You have her power...her fire...not just her face."

"What about your seishi? There are two who love me...does their suffering please
you?" Kourin demanded hotly, letting her panic take control.

"If I do not claim you as my own my seishi will be destroyed," Suzaku stated
simply. "My miko nearly drove them apart once. I will not have my destined bride
succeed." He stared down at the girl in his arms firmly. "I can make you
happy, little one, watakushi no saiai," he whispered, bending to kiss her.

Kourin turned her head away in consternation and the god's kiss caught her right cheek
rather than her lips. "Dame desu yo..." and her eyes filled with tears.

The phoenix god sighed and pressed his face to Kourin's hair. "You will come to
love me, little one. Your ancestress finally did after a lengthy courtship."

The tears in Kourin's heart finally overflowed. "But she didn't have people she
cared about that you were asking her to leave behind!"

A worried look passed over the god's face. "So you do love him. I was afraid that
you were becoming too close..." Suzaku pressed one hand to Kourin's forehead.
"Go find the deep, peaceful sleep where there are no dreams...I must have time alone
to analyze this new development."

Kourin awoke in the early hours just before dawn and returned to the porch. An uneasy
feeling had settled in her stomach, and her cheek burned where Suzaku had kissed her. To
her surprise the young emperor waited outside, pensively staring at the early morning sky.


"I asked Houki to marry me last night," he said without preamble.
"Despite everything, or perhaps because of it, I wanted you to be the first to
know."

The girl stared at Hotohori speechless. "I...I hadn't thought of you as the
impulsive type!" she finally blurted out.

The young man shook his head. "I was following the...advice someone very close to
me offered, and I think that Jin Feng, or should I say you, selected an excellent empress
for me."

"B...but I never said a thing!" Kourin protested weakly. "I meant to,
but...Jin Feng? You saw Jin Feng?" Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. "When I catch
that meddling phoenix woman...!"

Hotohori embraced her from behind and buried his face in the curve of her neck.
"Kourin, you became someone more than yourself last night," he murmured huskily,
"and while I trust that I will come to love Houki in time, now you're the only
one I can think of..." His arms tightened around her, and his warm lips lightly
grazed her skin.

The feelings of uneasiness grew, and Kourin tried to pull away. "Hotohori,
yamete!" she ordered softly. The imperial seishi's behaviour was extremely peculiar,
and she wished he would just return to his rooms and leave her alone with her thoughts.

To her horror the unwelcome embrace tightened just as the door to her rooms swung open.
"Kourin, are you out here?" Nuriko called, straining his eyes in the darkness.

"Please don't look this way!" Kourin silently pleaded, but Nuriko turned his
head towards her, and the blood drained from his face.


Glossary

Gomen nasai -- I'm sorry

-sama -- Formal honourific suffix used with one's superior, a good equivalent in
English would be "lord" or "lady"

Miko -- Shinto priestess. In Fushigi Yuugi the miko are the intercessors between
humans and the 4 animal gods.

-san -- Most frequently used honourific suffix, used with one's equals. A good
English equivalent would be "Mr.", "Mrs.", or "Miss".

Imouto -- younger sister

Arigatou -- Thank you

Heika -- emperor

Hai -- yes

Ii desu yo -- It's fine.

Ikou yo -- Let's go!

Doushite -- why

Chotto matte kudasai -- Wait a minute

Hanashi ga arun da -- We need to talk.

Watakushi no saiai -- my beloved, "watakushi" is a more formal form of
"watashi"(I)

Dame desu yo -- It's no good.

Yamete -- Stop it!







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