The Phoenix Generation

Title:The Phoenix Generation
Series: Fushigi Yuugi
Rating: PG
Pairing: Tas/Nuri

--------
Here's the end of my tale. Thanks a lot for everyone's comments and emails and stuff. It really motivated me to write more stories and post them.

Enjoy!
--------

The Phoenix Generation

Epilogue

Cherry blossom branches swayed slightly in the light breeze. The grass was soft
and welcoming as Tasuki folded his hands behind his head and lay down upon it. It was
the perfect day to be at the park.

He turned to the left and saw his lover Nuriko and his sister Kourin sitting nearby,
singing together to a tune he was playing on his guitar. Suzaku came through; Kourin
woke from her coma a week after Ryoji's "disappearance", fully recovered. It was a
medical miracle, the newspapers declared. Nuriko happily welcomed her back,
showering her with all the new clothing and other things he had acquired while being her.
She was surprised and touched by what he had done, and they were infinitely closer as a
result, even to the point of going into the fashion designing business together. Nuriko
also cut his hair back to the style he wore just before his death. Tasuki had to swallow a
lump in his throat the first few times he saw the new style, but after a few months, he was
happily running his fingers through the shortened locks.

Hotohori joined the two on the grass. Kourin beamed at him as she turned her
cheek for a welcoming kiss. It amused Nuriko to no end that the former emperor he
relentlessly pursued so long ago (and who had relentlessly pursed him just half a year
ago) was courting his little sister. He gave his blessing to the two, but not without
occasionally teasing Hotohori about his prior "dalliance" with a certain gray-haired
Seiryuu Senshi. Hotohori and Tomo spoke privately before everyone parted ways; the
only thing he revealed of that conversation was that the two came to amicable terms.
When he was not showering Kourin with affection and attention, Hotohori resumed his
prior career as a model, this time for Nuriko and Kourin's company, WillowWing, a
fitting profession for someone of his great beauty (according to him, or course).

Tasuki's peaceful reverie was broken with a crash at his immediate right.
Chichiri was picking himself up off the ground, a football tucked into his side.

"It's Chiriko's fault. He doesn't know his strength, no da," he said sheepishly, a
smile glinting in both eyes, the most obvious proof of Suzaku's promise.

Chichiri woke up the morning after Suzaku's summoning no longer needing his
eye patch, for his scarred eye was fully healed. What was more, the guilt behind his
injury was gone. His smiles were now more genuinely happier than what any mask could
emulate.

Chiriko hit a growth spurt and within two months he finally looked 16. He stood
almost as tall as Tasuki and could easily compete with any of the older bishonen in the
looks department. Still a genius, he focused more on his studies than on his many
admirers, and there were many of both genders. It took a lot of persuading to even get
him to put down his books and play.

Chichiri returned the ball to the game they were playing against Koji and
Tamahome. Miaka sat nearby, cheering them on as much as a 5-month pregnant women
could. Tasuki's comment on how they did not wait long for children earned him a thump
on his head from Tamahome, but it was worth the blush on Miaka's proud face. The two
successfully searched for her parents, who happily accepted Tamahome into their family.
They were married shortly after, with Yui as Miaka's maid of honor.

Koji lived quite well on the "hush money" given to all the Children by Tombiki
Clinic's investors. Hotohori convinced his parents to hire the ex-bandit as a security
consultant and his personal bodyguard whenever he did shoots out of the country. When
he was not jetting all over the place with a famous model, Koji took classes with Tasuki
at a local college. The two remained close friends and roommates.

The only missing face in the park was Mitsukake's. He was in America for his
residency and could not take the time off to join them in Japan. Though the others were
saddened by his absence, they were all proud of the fact that soon he would be "Dr. Juan"
for real. Still the quiet type, regaining his memories softened his gruff manner.

"Gen-chan, are you going to lay here all afternoon?" Nuriko asked, leaning his
guitar on the tree trunk and resting his head on Tasuki's chest. "I thought you would be
out there playing with the guys."

Hearing Nuriko say his nickname still made his knees weak, and he was glad he
was lying down. He curled an arm around his love, holding him close. "If you stay right
here with me, I'll lay here all day long." Nuriko snuggled in close, sighing contently.
"Besides, I gave up my spot so Chiriko could play. He's having a blast."

Tasuki took his second chance with Nuriko very seriously. He never let a day go
by without saying how much he loved him, and Nuriko returned the sentiment in kind.
Sometimes he would see Nuriko's bloody body lying in the snow in his dreams, waking
him up screaming and leaving him shaken until he could make doubly sure that Nuriko
was indeed safe and alive. These moments were lessening as time passed, and those were
the only remnants of the Phoenix Dreams he had. The other Senshi complained of an
occasional dream now and again, but nothing to the extreme of before they had their
memories back. Tasuki looked forward to the day that he could move out of his dorm
room and to a place just for him and Nuriko. Or maybe they would just travel. They
were not sure exactly how they would spend their future, but Tasuki was certain that they
would spend it together, never to be parted again.

--Fin--


------------------------
Thanks a lot for taking the time to read my story! I've kinda switched animes for my next one, given my sudden Yami no Matsuei obession. The next story I have to post isn't quite hardcore enough for AFF.net, so I'm posting it to my MediaMiner account under the same name (JailaHeyn) this weekend.

But the tale I just finished is quite the smut, if I should say so myself ;). Soon as I finish typing it up and editing it, I'll bring it here.

Thanks again?
What do you think?
jailaheyn@gmail.com