To Watch Over You...

Disclaimer: Hear me and hear me well, I do not own Fushigi Yuugi or any of its awesome characters- Yuu Watase does DAKARA please don't sue me...Arigatou!!

          The night sky was filled with stars. It reminded Nuriko of the days he used to look at them with his sister. The crickets sang and the wind blew softly making his skirts move with it. He leaned further on the balcony, straining his eyes to see the young Emperor gracefully practising his technique of swordsmanship under the moonlight. He blushed instantly as Hotohori looked up and met his eyes.
           The young king regarded the crossdresser with a curious look. "Why Lady Kourin...are you ill? Or can you simply not get any rest?" Nuriko, surprised at the name the young king had called him, jumped. Hotohori pushed back a long lock of dark brown hair away from his face making Nuriko want to melt. 
          The court maiden smiled sadly. "Yes you are correct on the second point. I cannot get any sleep. I was thinking about earlier today that's all." The Emperor frowned, his golden eyes seeming to cloud over. Nuriko bit his lip. Damn he just reminded the king...
          They had just returned from a cumbersome journey from Mt.Taikyokou minus one person: Miaka. All of them were miserable and even though it had only been a few hours, it felt like an eternity. Although Nuriko was supposed to feel happy, he felt empty. Even if the Suzaku No Miko was gone, the King never turned to look at him at all. Just seeing Hotohori unhappy made him unhappy, but then again, Hotohori hadn't said much about him being a man. Somehow he knew that the subject was not yet closed.
         Realizing he was just staring, Nuriko blushed and straightened his clothes. They seemed to hang off him more than usual. Perhaps he had gotten thinner because of the journey. He pulled at the sash around his waist some more to tighten it up. Forcing a smile, he once again leaned against the balcony. "Your Majesty, she'll come back." He hated himself for saying that, but he got his reward: a faint smile crossed the Emperor's lips and he nodded. Turning to leave, Nuriko heard him call out, "Good night Nuriko." His heart beating, it was all that Nuriko could do not to jump with joy. As best he could, Nuriko managed a soft response. "You as well Your Majesty."
         In his room, Nuriko picked up his pillow and hugged it tight trying to surpress the happiness he felt. The king had noticed him! Well, maybe not like that, but still...he looked around his room. Full of every luxury that one could ever think of. What was it that was making him feel unhappy?
       His heart beat had slowed and suddenly he felt really tired.  He stretched out and was soon asleep.

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        The next morning dawned clear and bright. No sign of Miaka though. Nuriko wondered vaguely what they would do in the time she was gone. But why worry about her? He suddenly stopped and realized that he missed her laughter terribly.
       There was a crash. Snapping into reality, he looked to his side. There was Tamahome eating plates as though he thrived to live off them. Blinking, he numbly reached over and plucked a half-eaten chinaware out of the bewildered younger man.
      "Tama-chan...what are you doing?" He asked.
      "...Miaka..." Came the answer. Nuriko, seeing there was no way he could leave an insane man such as this alone, took up Tamahome's sleeve. Without a word, Tamahome followed him into the dining room. They sat next to each other, Tama sitting cross-legged and Nuriko sitting on his heels. Tama looked straight ahead, not really seeing anything.
     Embarrassed by this, Nuriko nudged him making him drop his chopsticks on the floor. Maids and court maidens giggled. He felt his face color. Picking up the chopsticks, he hissed in Tamahome's ear, "Don't you dare embarass me." Violet eyes suddenly pierced his hazel ones. Pain. And intense look of pain. Wanting to sheild himself from it, Nuriko looked away. Weird feelings surged through him. In his mind, he cursed...no one in particular. He didn't hate anyone with a vengeance. He  couldn't.
    Feeling out of place, he stood up, tugging Tamahome gently along with him. "Come on Tama-chan." He said in a low voice. Both of them had no mood to eat. Tamahome sat on the ledge of a balcony over-looking a rose garden. It was quiet other than an occasional bird or a sudden rush of wind.
     "I miss her too..." His cheeks went red.
     Tamahome turned around, a look of surprise on his face. "Y..you? But I thought you hated her...?"  Nuriko smiled sadly and shook his head. It wasn't true. He wanted to see her again very badly just then. He wanted her there so that he could see a smile on both the emperor's and Tama's face.  He had no idea how happy she made him feel sometimes.
    Before Nuriko could say more, an attendant stepped forward and bowed. "My Lady, " He said, "The Emperor requests for your presence right now." After a brief nod, the attendant turned and walked away. "Don't go getting yourself in any trouble." Nuriko warned Tamahome as he strode off toward the court room, wondering what the emperor could possibly want.
     Tamahome turned and stared at the garden with dull eyes.

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     The heavy oak door creeked. A purple headed  person shyly poked their head in, surveying the room. Every single forehead in the room was touching the floor in front of a very elegant and authoritative form. The emperor. Feeling a bit akward,  Nuriko pushed open the door fully and slipped in just as everyone sat up. Hotohori looked right at him and smiled. Nuriko didn't.
     "Court is dismissed." Came the announcement. There was a mad rush as papers were gathered and people hurriedly bowed and wished their king a happy, long and prosperous life. No one paid attention to the lone Seishi in the corner.
    Being beckoned forward, Nuriko dropped to one knee. "My Lord King, may you live a long and prosperous life." He said with his head bowed and his eyes cast downward. He couldn't keep the misery out of his voice and hoped against hope that Hotohori couldn't hear it.
    "Rise."
   Nuriko stood, with his eyes still cast downward. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He gave a slight jump. Without meaning to, his eyes shot up  He trembled slightly with fear from this older and powerful man. "G-gomenasai!" He cried, pulling away.
    "Please don't be." Hotohori said in his deep voice. "I would appreciate it if you would look me in the eyes when I speak to you. I don't say this as an Emperor. I ask it as a friend." Reluctantly, Nuriko found himself staring in the golden eyes of the one he loved. In them he saw long-suffering. A look that was both fed up and tired of people treating him differently. A pleading stare of hope for friendship.
   Realizing he had stared for too long, he straightened his back. "You summoned me here?" He asked timidly. The King nodded.
     "Yes. Because I have a duty for you. Since I have found out that you are...are not, well, a woman, " He  said uncertainly, "and seeing that I have let you off your court maiden's duties, I want you to...well, I would like if you could watch out for Tamahome. I see that he's been giving himself and others a hard time."
    "And what about His Majesty? Is there nothing hindering him?" Nuriko finally asked. Hotohori looked away for a moment before returning his eyes to Nuriko's. "I will be fine. I am concerned for others." Nuriko took this in disbelievingly. The Emperor should take lessons to learn where he could learn how to lie properly.  Even so, he nodded respectfully and turned to leave.
  "Ano...Nuriko??"
    "Hnn?"
   "Ah...nandemo nai...arigatou..." The king said before returning to his throne.
   "Dou..itashimasta. Good day to you Sire." Nuriko took one last look at him and bowed before exiting the room. It looked like he would have to support everyone untill she returned.
 
                                                                     * * *

     "Ahh!! Tamahome! Watch out!"  Nuriko cried. Too late, Tamahome went down a whole flight of stairs head first. He wasn't doing his job as well as he would have hoped. Already, Tamahome had nearly killed himself more than enough times. Like the time where he walked into a river without looking where he was going. And the time when he was almost run over by horse drawn carriages. A blast of cold fear had ripped through the small Seishi. He had already lost someone in this way before and wasn't going to let it happen  again.
    There were times where Tamahome was Tamahome. He ate normally, talked normally, walked normally. When he was like this, he would tell Nuriko all his problems. And Nuriko listened and offered any advice he could.
     Now he ran down and helped him up. "What would Miaka think of you if she saw you now?" He demanded through grit teeth as he held the younger man up. Tamahome staggered.
     "Ano...why don't you get some fresh air?" Nuriko suggested. So Tamahome sat on the ledge facing the rose garden again.
      In the distance, Hotohori watched was Nuriko waved away birds that came close to Tama's still figure. He smiled. If....
      Nuriko stopped. The emperor was watching him. Feeling uncomfortable, Nuriko gave a small bow, to which Hotohori nodded his acknowledgement. The man in regal robes moved forward, his trusted men at his sides.
     "Nuriko. Konnichiwa."
    "Heika-sama...Konnichiwa gozaimasu." Came the weak answer. Hotohori suddenly dismissed his men and turned back to Nuriko.  "How are you? I trust you are trying to do your best here?" Nuriko shot him a watery smile as both turned to see Tamahome staring at nothing with a bunch of birds who had begun making a nest of his hair.
    "I try, I really do." Nuriko sighed. He was surprised to hear the Emperor laugh. That was the first time he had heard him do so. It made him feel proud. He laughed too and waved the birds away with his hand. After chatting a while, the Emperor stood straight and thanked him for making him forget his troubles.
   "No Hotohori-sama...you made me forget mine." He whispered to himself as he saw the King walk away accompanied once again by his trusted men.
      Maybe he should just give up...

                                                                     * * *

      Word reached his ears that Miaka had returned. Feeling a burden fall from his shoulders, he hurried down the steps to meet her again. He froze when he saw her tightly embraced by Hotohori.
      "I'm glad you're back, " He heard him saying. She nodded and apologized for the unexpected return. Nuriko suddenly didn't care. He wanted her to see Tamahome so that Tamahome could be happy again.
      He stepped forward. An unexpected hug was given to him . "Nuriko!! I missed you!" He found himself hugging her back just as fierce. Relief washed over him. "Where's Tamahome?"  Not a surprising question.
       "He left to get a job and see his family." Came the answer.
       "Left?" Miaka asked. Her voice had a tint of disappointment in it.
       Nuriko turned eagerly to the King. "With your approval, please let me escort Miaka into finding him." He begged. The Emperor looked doubtful at first, because she had just returned, but after she too started coaxing him, he agreed. They would leave the next morning.
      That night, a knock came on his door. Wondering who it could have been that late into the night, Nuriko answered instead of getting his maid to do it for him. He nearly fell over when he saw the King.
     "Y-your Majesty! What...I mean..." In bewilerment, he bowed, his long braid falling over his shoulder. Once again, the king put his hand on his shoulder. A smile was hovering on the corners of his lips.
      "You want me to..to do something for you?" Nuriko asked.
     "No.."
     "Then...?"
    "I wanted to thank you for everything." Hotohori said. He suddenly pushed Nuriko's hair out of his eyes for him.      "Oyasumi."
   "H..Hai. Oyasumi." Nuriko answered, closing the door.
    He was right: He would have to look out for all of them. For the rest of his life...