He was floating...yet, he was on the ground. He could feel his body, yet he was weightless. All he could see was the unending light that didn't hurt his eyes.

You're here.

He gave a smile. You.

A figure coming towards him. The figure holding out his hands...the soft floating...

I'm dead, huh?

Don't worry, we're with you now.

I'm not worried. He looked around. Where's Chiriko? Mitsukake? The silence. Miaka...?

The figure stopped short immediately. His eyes lost some of its smile. Miaka...she is with Tamahome...

A relieved smile, and momentarily closed his eyes. Thank God.

Hotohori...

The man who died, the emperor of Kounan Country, nineteen year old Hotohori. He looked up to the figure who looked at him with a pained expression.

The figure, who was beautiful. The person with the soft hair, braided at the back, floating towards him, although away... The person he wanted to reach out to.

Nuriko.

Miaka...she survived, Nuriko repeated, this time, closing his eyes.

Hotohori reached out and took his shoulders. How...how are you?

Still Nuriko.

Nuriko...

Hotohori-sama...

He shook his head. No "sama" here...we are the same here. We are both humans who are dead, trying to protect Kounan Country.

...Trying to protect the ones we love...

Hotohori suddenly wrapped his arms around the surprised Nuriko. I missed you.

A gasp from the smaller seishi came. Everything was real...yet unreal... You can't say that!

Why not?

Miaka is...she's...

She's alive. And we're here...

You have a wife, Nuriko reminded him. Yet, he laid quietly in Hotohori's arms. You have a wife ... and a son. I can give you none...

But your love.

You don't mean it.

Hotohori looked down at him now, puzzled. You who chased me back then...why do you push me away now?

You lie, Nuriko told him. You tell me beautiful lies...but your love for Miaka or you wife will never disappear.

Hotohori shook his head, desperately willing him to listen. Miaka was different...I didn't love Miaka...I loved Suzaku no Miko!

You have a wife, Hotohori, Nuriko reminded him again. A wife that you claimed was beautiful. I heard...from Mitsukake...

Desperate...even in death, he was losing him! No! he cried out. You got it all wrong...all wrong!

I'm sorry, Hotohori-sama... A breathe, a whisper...going. I guess I didn't love you enough...

NO!

A hand reached out, touching. This time, with pleading gestures. Hotohori could feel the tears in his eyes. Death...was nothing new. His eyes were wet. Come back...come with me...for a while. To Kounan Country.

Nuriko's laughter was cold and hollow. To visit your family, you need me to accompany you? Colder...the chills ran through Hotohori's bones. How cruel can you be, Hotohori!

The need was there. The love. And the tears. I need you, Nuriko. Come with me.

Nuriko sighed sadly. I should learn when to say "no" to you. I was wrong. I loved you more.

And then, they were floating back to the strange passageways, back to their old lives, to the recent time in Kounan Country.

You married...when?

He was silent. The day you died.

Oh. But Hotohori knew it hurt. And he hurt, too. He was hurting Nuriko, the one he...he had...

Kounan.

We're here, Hotohori replied.

They were spirits, of course, standing in the mansion where Hotohori lives, where he used to live. A child was crawling through the hall, laughing. A few strands of golden hair came from his head.

Nuriko knelt in front of the baby, and the child laughed and waved at him as if he can see the ghost. Your son...is beautiful...

He comes after me.

The other seishi gives him a quick glance and smirks. You haven't changed.

Hotohori went towards him. No, Nuriko, he says quietly, I've changed. Ever since...

"My son!"

A woman rushed past them towards the child and picked him up.

Nuriko gasped. Hoto--Hotohori!

The woman cradled the child, rocking him gently and giving soothing words. "There now, don't run off again like that. A good thing your father, Hotohori, must be watching over you."

Hotohori gave a small smile. That woman...my wife.

Hotohori... A small, surprised voice. Nuriko's.

Her name is Houki.

Nuriko stepped nearer to the empress, beheld. Hotohori, he whispered, reaching out a transparent hand. She looks...looks like me...

Indeed, the woman could easily be Nuriko's identical twin sister. They had the same hair, same style, everything except that she had no mark as Nuriko under her left eye.

"My son...come with me now..."

She left with the baby.

Nuriko.

Nuriko burst out crying, tears of the ghost falling gently to the ground, disappearing with a small shiny drop of light. I...never...you...married me...

Hotohori wrapped his arms around him. I love you, he whispered. And when I learned you died, I realized I had lost everything...including myself! When I saw Houki, I thought you came back...and I will have another chance with you...but I was wrong.

I'm not Houki, Nuriko replied, burying his face in Hotohori's chest. I'm not Houki, and I'm not Korin. I'm Nuriko...just Nuriko.

Nuriko...the one I fell in love with.

Nuriko looked up. His face was streaked with tears, but there was a smile on his face. You don't know how long I waited for you to say those words.

In response, Hotohori hugged him tighter. I have an idea, Nuriko. He bent down and kissed Nuriko softly.

I love you, Hotohori.

I love you, Nuriko.

~ * ~

He wakes up from that strange dream, the same dream he always has every year at a certain date. The date...

He looks out of the window. Sometimes, he dreams of things he knows never happens to him...like a crazy story out of a fairy-tale book. But...another man.

Still, he can't help feeling. Can't help remembering.

Miaka Yuuki.

Wasn't that a high school student nearby?

He shakes his head, his long brown hair falling on his eyes. Again, he goes back to sleep, but envisions the lovely man...whom he was cradling.

It seemed so real...

He closes his eyes.

What if it really happened...will we meet again? Will we be together...because of our love?

He begins to drift off to sleep once more. And once more, in his dreams, he isn't himself, but the man in his dreams.

Hotohori.

Nuriko, I'll love you forever.