Disclaimer: I didn't create Fushigi Yuugi, and I didn't create most of the characters in this story. I am simply a fan who loves the series enough to be inspired to write a fanfic about it.

This is a serious fanfic that contains some scenes that aren't suitable for younger readers. If it was a movie, it would be rated R. It also has spoilers from various episodes. Comments, critiques, & flames are welcome.

Miaka lifted her head slowly, sensing that someone was in the cell with her. She listened carefully, but heard nothing.

"Who's there?" she whispered fearfully.

"It's just us, Miaka. Don't be afraid."

"Chiriko." Miaka said softly, in relief.

"We're all here this time." Tasuki said reasuringly.

That startled Miaka.

"You don't usually all come at once. Am I dying?"

"Are you ready to die?" Tamahome asked quietly.

Hai. a small portion of Miaka answered silently, frightening her with its certainty.

"I.....I don't know." she whispered in a tiny voice.

"Death will release you from your pain." Mitsukake said gently.

"Yeah, and we'll be together again." Tasuki added.

"But.....I still haven't summoned Suzaku yet. I promised everyone that I would....."

"You've done your best, Miaka. No one can ask more of you than that."

"Arigato, Hotohori."

"You should listen to them, Miaka. You will have the chance to summon Suzaku in your next life."

"Taiitsu-kun!" Miaka exclaimed, suprised.

Miaka turned in the direction of Taiitsu-kun's voice. Part of her desperately wanted to give in, wanted release.

But if I die now, I won't be able to keep my promise of summoning Suzaku. How many people will have to suffer before I get another chance to fulfill my promise? And.....what about Keisuke and okaa-san? What happens if I die in this world? Will I just disappear? Keisuke's probably frantic by now.....what will happen to him if I die here?

"It's okay, Miaka. There's nothing more you can do. I'm going to miss you, but we'll see each other again. You can always come haunt me from time to time. I hear spirits can do that in this world." Keisuke said, as if in response to Miaka's thoughts.

"Keisuke.....how?" Miaka asked, unbelievingly.

"Taiitsu-kun gave us a choice, and we decided to come here. No one at home remembers us, so they won't be upset by our disappearance."

"Us?"

"Hai. Tetsuya's here too."

"What about Taka and Rei? And Amiboshi, Suboshi, Subaru, and Tokaki.....I don't even know if they're still alive.....or if Nakago has them....."

"We'll find them. If they're alive, we'll find them."

And if they're not, we'll avenge their deaths! Keisuke added silently.

"Subaru and Tokaki are dead, but the others are alive. Taka and Rei are with Amiboshi's family, and Amiboshi and Suboshi are trying to find a way to free you." Taiitsu-kun said quietly.

Everyone wants me to die.....even I want to be released from this pain.....but.....

"Is there no way I can summon Suzaku in this life?"

There was silence for several minutes while the cell itself seemed to wait for an answer. Taiitsu-kun looked uncomfortable.

"There is one way....." she said reluctantly.

Tasuki exploded.

"Che! I don't fucking believe this! If there's a way for Miaka to summon Suzaku, then why the hell didn't you say so earlier?! Che! You weren't even going to tell her that there was a way, were you? Were you?! After all we've been through.....after all Miaka's been through, and you weren't even going to fucking tell us! Che!!!" he shouted.

"Tasuki, no da." Chichiri said quietly, tapping his shoulder to get his attention.

"What?!" he demanded angrily.

"You're scaring Miaka, no da."

That stopped Tasuki's tirade. He took a good look at Miaka, and winced at how pale she had become. She curled up into a ball and trembled violently as he watched her.

"Gomen." he muttered.

"Tasuki's right, even if he did go overboard. We all want to know how Miaka can summon Suzaku.....and why you haven't mentioned this earlier." Nuriko said firmly.

The other seishi nodded and murmered their agreement. Keisuke hovered over his sister, calming her and making her as comfortable as he could. Tetsuya stood back with his arms folded across his chest, watching the situation. He was clearly waiting for an answer, and he did not look happy. Taiitsu-kun sighed, and closed her eyes for a few moments. When she finally spoke, it was only to Miaka.

"Miaka, you are no longer a virgin, so it is impossible for you to summon Suzaku in your role as Suzaku no Miko.....but there is still a way you can summon him."

"We already know that much! Tell us how she can summon him!" Tasuki demanded.

Taiitsu-kun glared at Tasuki until he fell silent.

"How?" Miaka asked simply.

"You must offer yourself to Suzaku as a potential mate."

Miaka gasped softly. Hotohori's hands clenched into tight fists, and he shivered with barely supressed emotions. Everyone else glanced at each other uneasily.

"This is how people summoned the gods in ancient times, long before the first miko appeared in our world. When the need was great enough, a woman who had proven her ability to bear children was chosen to offer herself to her god; if the god accepted her, he would grant the woman's wishes, and if he did not, the new emperor had to wait three years before he could choose another woman. The need for a god's help had to be great indeed, because if the woman was rejected, the god killed her along with everyone who had been part of the ceremony.....including the emperor. Even if the woman was accepted, she almost always died either during the ceremony itself--which meant that the ceremony was a failure and no wishes were granted--or during childbirth. Every successful mating results in a child being born."

Everyone stared at Taiitsu-kun in shocked dismay. Tasuki swore softly, breaking the silence that had fallen over the group.

"Do you see now why I was reluctant to mention any of this to Miaka?" Taiitsu-kun asked while glaring at Tasuki.

"H-hai." he whispered, staring at his feet.

"You don't have to do this, Miaka. None of us would ask it of you." Hotohori said softly.

How can I do this?! Miaka thought bleakly.

How can I allow another man to touch me after what's happened?! Especially with that drug Nakago forced on me.....I'm not even sure if I could bear Hotohori's touch now. But if I don't.....if I don't, Suzaku won't come. I won't be able to fulfill my promise and protect Konan-koku. Nakago and Yui will win.

"I.....I'll do it." Miaka whispered.

"Are you sure, Miaka?"

"H-hai. I made a promise, and I haven't fulfilled it yet. Besides.....Nakago and Yui win if I don't. I can't let that happen after everything they've done." she said as firmly as she could, and was pleased that her voice only shook a little.

"You understand that this may not work, that you may not be strong enough to summon Suzaku? Even if you summon him, he may reject you.....and even if he doesn't, you're not likely to survive in your condition."

"I have to try, Taiitsu-kun."

Taiitsu-kun thought with a mixture of pride and sorrow.

Taiitsu-kun nodded.

"I need all of you to wait on my mountain. I'm not sure what would happen to you if we fail since you're already dead, but I'm not willing to take the chance of your souls being destroyed. Take Keisuke and Tetsuya with you. I'll help Miaka summon Suzaku." she told the seishi.

When everyone was gone, Taiitsu-kun turned back to Miaka.

"We have to hurry. I've been warding the cell so that Nakago doesn't think of you, but my wards won't last much longer against him. Now, focus your chi on the Shinzahos, and think about how much you want to summon Suzaku. I'll be focusing my chi through you, giving you the strength you'll need to reach him."

Miaka nodded, and focused her chi. She could feel her strength flowing out of her rapidly despite Taiitsu-kun's help. As she grew weaker, despair threatened to overwhelm her.

It's not enough, I'm not strong enough to reach him. I'm going to fail. she thought desperately.

In sheer desperation, she focused all of her remaining strength and sent it into the Shinzahos. The two Shinzahos began glowing bright red, and were too bright to look at within seconds. A bird's cry filled the cell, and the sound of flapping wings could be heard. Miaka felt light-headed from weakness. She started to sag, but was caught by strong, gentle arms. Warmth filled her, and a small portion of her strength was returned. Miaka looked up and stared in awe at the glowing form of Suzaku that she could somehow see despite her blindness.

"You came." she whispered when she found her voice.

Suzaku smiled.

"Yes, I did. I was hoping you would summon me even after you knew you could not summon me as a miko. You are a brave girl."

"Then.....you accept me?"

"Hai."

"Ariagto."

"You are exhausted and in pain. You must rest." Suzaku said gently.

Suzaku brushed his hand across Miaka's eyes, and she fell asleep instantly.

"Even I can not counteract the drug Nakago forced on her for long, but this much, at least, I can do." he said when he saw Taiitsu-kun's hopeful glance.

"Then....."

"This will be nothing more than a dream to her, and she will feel no pain. She will also get some of the rest that she so desperately needs. Unfortunately, this is all I can do for her where the drug is concerned."

"Soka. Arigato, Suzaku-sama. We're all worried about her."

"You will have to kill her once this is over." Suzaku warned.

"Nani?"

"You must kill her. She is in too much pain to be allowed to live. Death would be a mercy to her, but she has hung on to life for so long that she can no longer let go on her own."

"I understand Suzaku-sama. I will kill her once her child is born." Taiitsu-kun said sadly.

"Good. Now please leave us, and tell Hotohori to return."

"Hotohori?" Taiitsu-kun asked as she looked down at Miaka's sleeping form.

"I don't think Miaka would want anyone watching while you....."

"My children will have to live in this world, and they have to be human so that they will be accepted in this world. Since Miaka and Hotohori love each other, Hotohori is the ideal choice. I will merge with his spirit temporarily so that the children will be both of ours. This will also give Konan-koku an heir to its throne."

"Soka. I'll get Hotohori right away, Suzaku-sama." Taiitsu-kun said as she vanished.

Miaka woke up slowly, and winced inwardly when the sounds around her told her that she was in her cell. The pain that had become such a large part of her existance hit her a few moments later, causing her to moan softly.

Oh Hotohori, I wish we could have been as happy in life as we were in my dream. I wish that I could stay in the dream forever, and never wake up. But.....how did I fall asleep? The pain and Nakago's drug make sure I can never sleep.....so what happened? The last thing I remember is.....Suzaku. I summoned him with Taiitsu-kun's help, and he came. He accepted me. He's going to.....

Miaka sat up abruptly, straining her ears to catch any sounds that would alert her to another's presence.

"Easy Miaka, you're safe."

"Hotohori? Demo.....didn't you have to leave so Taiitsu-kun and I could summon Suzaku?"

"Hai, but it's okay now. You were successful."

"I know, but....."

"It's over, Miaka. Suzaku put you to sleep so he wouldn't hurt you. The dream we had was my suggestion."

"We had?" Miaka asked, feeling herself blush as she thought about the beautiful wedding, and the night that had followed.

"Hai. Suzaku gave me the same dream he gave you. He needed a human to merge with so that his children will be human, and he included me in the dream as a reward for agreeing to help him. Not that I needed a reward, of course, but I wouldn't have missed sharing that dream with you for anything. Your children are mine as much as they are Suzaku's."

Miaka smiled.

"Good. I'm glad it was you."

"So am I. Suzaku will be back to grant your wishes tomorrow. He thought we should have some time alone, and he felt that you needed to sleep as long as you could."

Miaka nodded. She was about to say something when she heard the all too familiar sound of her cell door opening. She froze in terror.

"Nakago." she whispered fearfully.

"I felt the chi of Suzaku intensify a little while ago. Why?" he asked coldly.

Miaka said nothing. She cringed when Nakago's whip sailed through the air and bit deeply into her flesh several times, but remained silent.

"Your seishi are dead, so it can't be a rescue attempt on their part. Could it be that you have the Shinzahos with you somehow? Were you trying to summon Suzaku?"

Miaka stared sightlessly in Nakago's direction silently.

"It will be easier on you if you tell him, Miaka. You're only making it harder on yourself."

Yui. Why are you doing this, Yui? Miaka asked silently.

"Don't worry, Yui-sama. I'll get the answers we need."

Nakago grabbed Miaka's hair and yanked her to her feet. Then he dragged her out of her cell.

"Were you trying to summon Suzaku?" Nakago asked again.

Miaka had long since lost track of how many times Nakago had asked that question. She smiled grimly to herself, determined not to answer him.

"Answer me!"

"Iie."

Nakago punched her in the stomach, causing her to cry out in pain. Miaka's arms ached horribly from the strain on her arms caused by the chains that were holding her up.

"I suggest you answer my question, Suzaku no Miko. Remember when I blinded you? I will have to punish you again if you don't answer."

Miaka said nothing, fearing that if she did, Nakago would find some way to prevent her from making her wishes.

"Very well."

Without warning, pain seared through her as Nakago broke her right arm. Miaka screamed, unable to withstand the pain. She screamed again as Nakago broke her other arm and both legs in rapid succession. Then he shattered her knees.

"Are you sure you won't tell me, Suzaku no Miko?"

"There's nothing you can do to make me tell you, Nakago." she hissed between ragged sobs of pain.

Enraged at Miaka's continued defiance, Nakago punched her repeatedly in the ribs, breaking several. Then he launched a chi blast at her that blasted her through the wall she was chained to. He followed her through the hole in the wall and kicked her several times.

"Go ahead, Nakago. Kill me. I've won anyway. You'll never find the shinzahos.....never be able to summon Seiryuu.....I've won.....and there's nothing you can do about it....." Miaka whispered, remembering that Nakago had decided to do the opposite the last time she told him to kill her.

"Iie.....iie." Nakago said as he regained control of his temper.

"I don't think I'll kill you just yet, Suzaku no Miko. It will be more amusing to watch you suffer in your cell. I will enjoy seeing just how much pain you can endure before you are driven insane by it."

Miaka shivered at the chill in Nakago's voice, knowing that those words were a promise of what was to come. She only hoped that she would be able to keep her end of Suzaku's bargain, and live long enough to give birth to his children.

Miaka cried out when Nakago flung her into the far wall of her cell. She sensed him watching her for several minutes before she heard the cell door close. As soon as he was gone, Miaka could hear someone swearing softly.

"Hotohori?" she asked, hiding the fear she felt.

"I'm here, Miaka." he said softly.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Miaka. I just can't bear this! Seeing what Nakago's doing to you.....and I can't stop him! I can't protect you from him! Gomen nasai, Miaka....."

"It's okay, Hotohori." Miaka whispered, wanting to reassure him.

"Iie, it's not! Do you know what it's like for me to see that bastard throw your broken body in here, and be unable to help you or fight him?! I love you! I'm one of your seishi, and it's my honor and my duty to protect you.....but I can't.....I can't!"

"But I can."

"Suzaku-sama!" Miaka and Hotohori cried.

"I would say that you should rest before you make your wishes Miaka.....but I don't think you'll be getting any stronger. Don't worry about Nakago coming back. I've warded this cell against anyone who does not follow me. You'll be beyond his reach before he even thinks to return."

"How many wishes do I have?"

"As many as you want. It's the reward for summoning me this way instead of as a miko."

Miaka nodded, and composed her thoughts. Taiitsu-kun appeared with Keisuke, Tetsuya, and the other seishi. Keisuke ran over to his sister with a wordless cry of anguish, and eased her into a half-sitting position, making her as comfortable as possible. Tetsuya watched his friend tend to Miaka with clenched fists as he vowed to see Nakago dead; he looked sick. The seishi crowded around Hotohori, asking him about Miaka. Mitsukake's hand moved automatically to his jar of holy water as he glanced over at Miaka worriedly. When he realized what he was doing, he jerked his hand away and swore silently. Taiitsu-kun and Suzaku simply stood aside, waiting until the chaos settled.

"I'm ready." Miaka whispered hoarsely.

Suzaku walked over and knelt beside Miaka so she wouldn't have to strain herself to be heard.

"What is your first wish?"

"I wish that Konan-koku could be protected forever from anything that could harm the country; war, famine, plague, invasion.....anything."

Suzaku's aura flashed bright red as he concentrated on granting Miaka's wish. After a moment, he smiled and nodded.

"It is done. The people of Konan-koku thank you, as do I."

"My second wish is for all good people everywhere.....in every country and in both worlds.....to have what they need to be happy; not necessarily what they want, or think they need.....but what they truly need to be happy."

Suzaku felt proud as he granted his miko's wish. He considered himself lucky to have such a generous, caring girl as his miko, and he only wished that he could help her as much as she was helping him. A soft moan distracted him from his thoughts. When he looked up, everyone was looking at Miaka.

"Are you okay, Suzaku no miko?" he asked, glancing down at her.

"H-hai, daijobu."

Suzaku knew that his miko was lying, and he knew that the others knew it as well. He exchanged a grim glance with Taiitsu-kun, silently reminding her of what she had promised him earlier. Taiitsu-kun nodded sadly, but said nothing.

"What is your third wish?" he asked his miko gently.

"I wish for Yui to be sent back to her world, and that she find happiness. I want her to get into whatever high school she wants, find someone who will love her and care for her, and for her to find peace. She.....she should forget about me, and her time in this world."

"It is done." Suzaku said, sensing both the pride coming from his seishi, Taiitsu-kun, and his miko's brother and friend, and Miaka's mixed feelings for the girl who had once been her friend.

Suzaku was about to ask for Miaka's next wish when he felt someone attacking his barrier with Seiryuu's chi. Within seconds, he felt each of the seishi lend their chi to his. Taiitsu-kun readied herself and the others for a possible fight while Keisuke and Tetsuya took protective stances over Miaka. Suzaku probed the attackers for weaknesses, and was relieved when he realized who they were.

"There is no danger. It's only Amiboshi and Suboshi." he said as he lowered his barrier long enough to let the boys into the cell.

Amiboshi and Suboshi stared in awe at Suzaku, Taiitsu-kun, and the spirits of Miaka's seishi.

"It looks like Miaka doesn't need to be rescued after all." Suboshi whispered to his twin after a moment.

"You did it, Miaka! You summoned Suzaku!" he exclaimed happily.

"We can leave if you want us to." Amiboshi said, unsure of their welcome

. "They helped me find the Shinzahos. I think they should stay, if no one else minds." Miaka said softly.

"Aww, let them stay. They did help her after all. We'll just keep an eye on them to make sure nothing happens." Tasuki said while glancing at Suboshi.

Suboshi gulped nervously under Tasuki's scrutiny. He saw the predatory gleam in the red-haired seishi's eye, and decided that he most certainly did not want to find out what would happen to anyone who dared to harm Miaka. Another careful glance at Tasuki told him that the seishi knew what he had done to Miaka before rescuing her. Guilt and shame stabbed Suboshi, and he wished he could disappear.

If Tasuki knows what I did, then they all do. he thought glumly.

"Why did you attack Suzaku-sama's barrier, no da?"

Suboshi jumped, startled.

"One of the Seiryuu seishi, Miboshi, can create fake auras. I thought that he might have created this barrier as a way to torment Miaka." he said quietly.

"Soka, no da."

"Suzaku? Would it be possible for me to give everyone one wish?"

Suzaku thought for a moment.

"I can only grant wishes to people who are alive, but I don't see why Keisuke, Tetsuya, Amiboshi, and Suboshi couldn't each make a wish."

"I want Nakago to die painfully.....as painfully as Miaka is.....and I want all of the Seiryuu seishi to get what they deserve in the afterlife." Tetsuya said flatly.

Suboshi paled.

"Except for Suboshi and Amiboshi, of course. They're good kids." Tetsuya added hastily, smiling at Suboshi's obvious relief.

"Suboshi and I would both like to become Suzaku seishi, if that's possible." Amiboshi said quietly.

"So would Tetsuya and I."

"There can only be seven seishi for each god, but you can become Guardians if you'd like."

"What are Guardians?" Keisuke asked.

"They are similar to seishi, but they protect and advise the seishi as well as their miko. Guardians can not control magic, but their fighting skills surpass all others, and they have the ability to take an animal form. They are more resistant to poisons, illnesses, injuries, extreme temperatures, and illusions than other humans, and their reflexes are second to none."

"I think we'd all like to become Guardians." Suboshi said.

The others nodded. Suzaku glowed red briefly as he granted the wishes.

"Can Korin, Shoka, Hikou, Kouran, and Tamahome's family become Guardians too if they want?"

"Hai."

"Then I wish for that too."

Miaka coughed wrackingly, drawing concerned looks from all around the cell. She winced at the pain caused by her broken ribs. After a few minutes, she stopped coughing, but it was several minutes after that before she had caught her breath enough to speak.

"We can stop if you need to rest for awhile."

"Iie. I'll be all right." Miaka replied, shaking her head.

I have to make sure Konan-koku will be safe before I die.

Miaka heard Suboshi and Amiboshi talking quietly. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her remaining strength.

"My next wish is for Seiryuu to be sealed away forever in a way that he can't even be summoned the way I summoned you."

"It will be done. I will need the help of the other gods to seal Seiryuu away so completely, so I'll grant that wish last."

"I wish that I could stay in this world forever, and join my friends in the afterlife for this world when I die. I also want us to be together in all of our reincarnations, not just the next one, and if possible, could we remember our past lives? The good parts, I mean."

"You'll remember everything you need to. Your friendship will carry over into all of your reincarnations, and you will remember your roles as miko and seishi if you are ever needed again."

"I wish that the link between the worlds is broken, and that everyone in my old world forgets that I ever existed."

"Taiitsu-kun has already erased your existance from the minds of everyone in the other world, and I will sever the link between the worlds myself."

"Arigato."

Miaka focused her chi enough to allow her to find out where Suzaku was sitting. Suzaku sensed her efforts and leaned closer to her.

"What is it?"

"This wish is a secret. I want a power of my own in all of my future reincarnations so I'm not such a burden to my friends. They gave their lives for me.....and I don't want to be helpless anymore when it comes to a fight. I might not even be in this situation now if I wasn't so helpless....." she whispered.

Suzaku smiled.

"It will be done, but I don't think your friends believed you to be a burden on them."

"Arigato, Suzaku. My final wish is that my children will be happy even though I won't be there for them.....and that I die free.....anywhere except for in this cell."

Suzaku glowed brightly as he released his barrier and transported everyone away. He smiled to himself when Nakago burst into the cell just in time to see Miaka disappear completely. When he was sure that his miko and the others had arrived at the palace in Konan-koku safely, Suzaku blasted the Seiryuu seishi repeatedly with his chi. Nakago slumped to the ground as soon as Suzaku released him, and did not move.

It wasn't a slow death in reality, but it lasted an eternity from Nakago's perspective, and his death was every bit as painful as Tetsuya could wish. Suzaku thought as he looked down at Nakago's lifeless body.

Suzaku focused his chi once more, and followed the others to Konan-koku's palace.

Keisuke glanced at the room where Miaka was giving birth. Every now and then, a healer would run out to get more supplies and reassure them that everything was going as well as could be expected.

It will be over soon, and Miaka will.....Miaka will die. I know it's for the best, but that doesn't make it any easier to accept. Keisuke thought sadly.

"I'll do it."

Keisuke looked up, startled out of his thoughts.

"Do what, Amiboshi?" he asked.

"Kill Miaka. Suzaku was able to give me the ability to focus my chi into my flute as my Guardian power. I won't be strong like the rest of you, but that's okay. I'm not sure I could kill someone in non-magical combat, anyway. If I use my flute, I can stun or disable people more easily than you can using physical means.....and when I do have to kill someone, using my flute is one of the fastest and surest ways I can think of. That's why I should be the one to kill her. She'll die quicker that way, and I may even be able to kill her painlessly.....or at least without causing her any more pain." Amiboshi said quietly.

"But why would one of us have to kill her at all?! Surely her injuries and the amount of pain she's in are enough to kill her if she wills herself to die."

"Iie. Taiitsu-kun says that Miaka has clung to life for so long, that she can't let go anymore. We'll have to release her."

Keisuke nodded, but he didn't look happy. A baby's cry filled the room, causing everyone to look up. The door opened, and a young healer walked out. Keisuke thought that she looked nervous with all the attention she was attracting, but her voice was steady, and a sad smile danced in her eyes.

"The first child is a boy, Heika-sama. It won't be long now before the other two are born." she announced.

"Is Miaka okay?" Hotohori demanded anxiously.

"There are no complications?" Mitsukake asked at the same time.

"Her labor is going suprisingly smoothly with all things considered. As for being okay....."

The healer sighed wearily.

"To be honest, I'm suprised that she's lived this long, even with Suzaku's help. She must be an amazing girl."

"Hai, she is." Hotohori replied softly.