Author: Chibi_Koji_no_da
Pairing: Hotohori x Nuriko
Rating: PG-13
Warning: AU,OOC, mild angst, some fluff
Disclaimer: FY isn't mine - wish it was!
TOGETHER.
His advisors were boring him to death he was sure of it. All that they were speaking of and debating amongst themselves had been documented and awaited his perusal; he didn't need to sit on a hard throne like an oversized doll and fall slowly into a dreamless slumber.
Standing he interrupted one of his advisors with a curt gesture, he opened his mouth to speak and fell to his knees his face contorted in a silent scream as wave after wave of pure agony ripped across his sides and through his chest.
Dimly he could hear his advisors worried squawking but overlaying the vision of the courtroom was a field of white marred crimson. He felt a dying warmth over his heart and was stunned and terrified to see the yangai flickering in and out of view; his own symbol throbbed on his neck in sympathy with the dying power.
"No, no NO!" he thought to himself, "There's no way I can let this happen, I can't let him go - he promised,
he promised he would return to me." With the pain dulling and the yangai nearly transparent, he gathered his chi and pushed out desperately searching for the chi that made the other half of his soul.
The overlaid vision of snowfield and courtroom dimmed and twisted until in his mind he could see a night sky, a small red trail caught his eye and he saw the small kanji flying upward toward the constellation which bore the name of the senshi approaching it. With speed more associated with the fifth of the Suzaku Senshi he moved his chi toward the kanji and engulfed it within himself.
The stars swooped together and melded into a silver platform on which he found himself and his beloved Senshi standing.
Shortened violet and rose whirled round to face him, anguish and love, hope and despair warring with one another for dominance on those perfect features, "What are you doing here? You have to go back!" the light voice was pained and he couldn't stand to hear it like that. Wordlessly he stepped forward and wrapped his precious one into a tight embrace, "I don't care - I won't let you go."
Desperate lips locked onto desperate lips, deep and tearful, endless and the last. Neither noticed the presence of another until the warmth of their senshi symbols grew too hot to ignore. Reluctantly parting they turned and dropped to their knees paying homage to their God.
"My chosen ones there is no need for such, we must rectify this current situation. Nuriko my beloved willow, my strength you cannot return to your body - my brother's servant has made sure of that. Do not weep my precious one, there is a way for you to return, but it must be a decision made by you both. Hotohori, it was your love for Nuriko that bought you here and prevented Nuriko from leaving beyond my grasp and for that I am eternally grateful." Their God smiled down on them, deep red feathers drifting and swirling around him despite the lack of wind, "There is a woman in your harem Hotohori, she goes by the name of Houki - do you know her?"
"Yes Suzaku-sama, she fell ill two months ago and has not since awoken. We did not turn her away from us for she has no family - no where else to go." He replied after a moment, wondering what the still laying woman could have to do with his beloved's fate.
" Houki, her heart is still beating, but her mind and soul have moved on and ascended into our realm. She is but a shell without a host. You, Nuriko could become Houki - fill the void that her soul has left. I would bestow your strength upon her as it is a part of you my dear one and you would live and breathe again. If Nuriko is to go back though my beautiful senshi, you must marry her and your heir shall be conceived from this celestial union, can you do this? For it is different to love a man than to love a woman."
" Suzaku-sama, I love Nuriko, be he man or woman he is the other half of my soul and I shall not loose him, but if he chooses to go to the realm of spirits then I shall release my chi and let him fly free." His voice was impassioned and he could not help but turn his eyes away from the figure of his God and declare it to the eyes of his heart and soul.
With a low cry and a tight embrace, Nuriko turned to his God, "Please Suzaku-sama send me to this shell."
"Very well. Hotohori you must release your chi now and return to your body. When you return I will send Nuriko's soul to you. Farewell my beautiful warrior."
"Thank you Suzaku-sama." Hotohori bowed his head, then capturing perfect lips kissed his beloved and let his chi go.
Silver faded to black and black gave way to light. He found himself staring at the floor, his advisors worried chatter filling his ears once more but this concerned him not.
Rising to his feet he ignored their cries and demands for an explanation that he had no desire to give. He moved and they parted like the sea in his wake, he had to find the room that held his heart and soul.
The familiar warmth and strength of their bond was once again restored and his feet moved him swiftly ever closer. Upon reaching her room he slipped inside and watched as an ethereal white light infused the skin of the sleeping woman.
Brighter the light grew and it seemed to remove and change the colour from the sleeping figure's hair, no longer deepest brown but the colour of violets, and sleepy blue eyes opened before flickering to rose.
The light fled and for a moment he found spots flickering before his eyes. Rubbing at them gently he focused on the smiling woman.
"My love," he said softly trying to keep the tears in his eyes from spilling over onto his cheeks and in his words, "I nearly lost you."
Silently she stood and was gathered into strong arms. There she would remain until time its self ceased to exist, be it in this lifetime or the next they would never be separated again.
