Kourin's last night…

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fushigi Yuugi.

When Ryuuen and Miaka arrived at the party Yui instantly was not pleased to see the violet haired man. Ryuuen walked beside Miaka, glancing around the decorated home. Yui walked over to her parents and gestured towards Miaka and Ryuuen. Ryuuen could not help but to feel slightly unwanted as Yui nodded her head at her mother and walked back to Miaka's side. "We are gathering around the tree soon so why don't you and your date join us there?"

Miaka nodded her head and turned towards Ryuuen. "Ready to sit with everyone?"

Ryuuen noded his head and the couple walked over to the tree. They sat down on a comphortable sofa and waited. Ryuuen watched as everyone gathered around the Christmas tree and they began to sing some carols. His heart ached but he decided to ignore it. They were in Yui's house for the Christmas party that Yui's family was having. Miaka sang with the others and laughed along with them.

"Oh, Miaka, I have a great surprise for you!" Yui suddenly exclaimed. "I was not expecting you to bring a date though." Yui smiled at Ryuuen. "He's really cute!"

Ryuuen suddenly felt really out of place, noticing how Yui added the complement to cover up her outburst.

Miaka smiled. "Well, I was just doing a favor for Santa. One of his friends had made an unselfish wish for Ryuuen to find a girl to date, so I'm with him for just today."

Ryuuen felt as if he was slapped in the face. He had thought that their time together so far meant a lot to both of them, but sadly it was just a one-sided thing.

Yui frowned. "Oh, that's too bad." Yui sighed. "My present for you should be arriving soon."

Miaka gave Yui a questionable look. "How?"

Yui grinned at her. "You'll see."

Within seconds the doorbell rang. Yui's face brightened. "I think your present just arrived." She quickly jumped up and rushed over to the door. Miaka rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Ryuuen. Ryuuen looked over at her and grinned a sad, forced grin. Miaka couldn't help but to feel her cheeks flush. However, a cold wind blew through the room. The singing ceased as all eyes fell upon the newest guest. Miaka turned to see the handsome man walk into the room. He smiled humbly at everyone.

"Hello, sorry I am late. I had to take care of some things at home before I came by." Kishuku offered as his apology. Hie eyes fell upon Miaka. "You…" He whispered as he gazed questionably at Miaka.

"Oi! It's the girl who owes me more money!" Kishuku blurted. "This check is useless to me! The payment is now triple!" He hollered as he stuck up three fingers into Miaka's face.

Miaka glared at him. "Why you money grubbing bast-"

"AW! Kishuku! It's so good to see you! I was worried you couldn't make it!" Yui interrupted Miaka. "You remember what I told you earlier?"

Kishuku rubbed his jaw. "Yeah, you mentioned free food if I came and sat with your friend."

Yui looked over at Miaka. "Yeah, well, lets just eat the free food for now. Sit next to Miaka."

Kishuku looked over at Miaka who instantly became horrified by the change of events. She was supposed to spend as much of Christmas with Ryuuen! She glanced over at Ryuuen who was looking at his wristwatch.

"Oh, visiting hours is almost over at the hospital…" Ryuuen mused.

Miaka's heart raced with panic. "Wait!" She shouted as she fell forward, and into Kishuku.

Ryuuen sighed. "It's been really great." He excused himself as he walked over to Yui to say his final goodbyes.

"You'll miss Santa." Yui informed him.

Ryuuen smiled softly. "My sister is waiting for me; I can't leave her alone on Christmas." He then glanced over his shoulder at Miaka before exiting the front door. Glad to get out of the uncomfortable situation, Ryuuen released a disappointed sigh. In reality, he had enjoyed his time with the pretty brunette girl. Ryuuen's cell phone buzzed. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and frowned.

Miaka tried to chase after him, but Kishuku placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Where's the food?"

The weather suddenly got worse but to one violet haired man, it didn't matter. Ryuuen rushed through the snow as his heart violently pounded. The phone call was from a nurse at Kourin's hospital. The news was too shocking. If it was true, he would never see Christmas as a happy holiday ever again. The hospital seemed so far away, but suddenly he was grabbing the cold door handles. Ryuuen rushed up the stairs as he feared the worse. He felt bad about leaving Miaka behind and so close to midnight, but Kourin's life could be in danger. Ryuuen would never forgive himself if he wasn't there for her when she needed him the most. Ryuuen burst through the doors and his eyes widened at the sight that befell on him. Tears filled his eyes as he placed his hands on his face. A doctor and nurse stood over the pale figure that laid lifeless in the bed. The doctor placed Kourin's hand back on her chest as the nurse took the pure white sheet and lifted it over Kourin's face.

Miaka sighed as Kishuku talked about his favorite thing in the entire world; money. Miaka glanced out the window to see the snow slamming against the glass. She could not help but to think of Ryuuen walking in the cold snow all alone. Miaka sighed as she excused herself from the table, interrupting how Kishuku weaseled some money from a rich man.

"Ho Ho Ho!" Santa's voice filled the room. Miaka turned to see the jolly man walking from behind the Christmas tree. A single out of place elf walk in behind Santa. Miaka could not help but to laugh at the fanged man holding Santa's oversized bag of presents. "Merry Christmas!" Santa yelled as his elf grumbled his own Christmas wishes.

"Merry Christmas, Santa!" Yui shouted.

Kishuku stood up and pointed at the jolly man. "OI! What was with the coal?"

Santa took a glance at the money hungry man. "Well, just as my note said; your Christmas spirit is very low."

Kishuku frowned. "Well, even though I got nothing… thanks for giving my siblings their presents."

Santa smiled at the dark haired man before he turned to look at Miaka. "Where is Ryuuen?"

Miaka glanced at the door. "I'm not certain…"

Santa placed his hand on Miaka's shoulder. "You better go to the hospital. Ryuuen needs you now…" Santa quickly released Miaka and held up his index finger. "Oh, but you will meet this family on the way to the hospital." He grabbed a tiny red pouch from his pocket and handed it to Miaka. "Give this to the father, he will understand." With that, Santa turned his back to Miaka and waved at the others. "Ho Ho Ho! Who has been a good boy or girl?"

Miaka stared at the tiny pouch and felt a lump form in her throat. 'Hospital?' Miaka clutched the pouch to her chest and rushed out of the front door, and right into the cold blizzard that was picking up.

Ryuuen stumbled outside of the hospital. He collapsed to his knees in the snow as his tears fell from his eyes like rain. His only wish, his only Christmas wish was denied. Kourin's lifeless body laid in the hospital, and his heart was lifeless as well. Ryuuen did not even stay to see what was going on as he saw all that he needed to see. The Nurse and Doctor were declaring Kourin's death. Why did something so horrific have to happen on the most cheerful day of the year? Ryuuen became angry with himself. How could he allow himself to even think of falling in love with anyone when his sister was inside dying? Ryuuen looked at the street that was covered with snow as he sniffled. "If we cannot be together in life…" Ryuuen stood up and whipped his tears from his cheeks as they began to freeze. "Then we will be together in death." Ryuuen stumbled towards the unknown, not caring about where he was going. Just hoping that at the end of the tunnel Kourin's smiling face would be waiting for him.

Miaka rushed down the street towards the hospital still clutching the soft pouch to her chest. She couldn't imagine seeing a family out in this wicked weather, but she would do as Santa asked her because he had helped everyone so much. Miaka continued to rush through the knee high snow when a warm hand grabbed her arm. Miaka shrieked as she turned around ready to slug whoever was grabbing her.

"OI!" Shu'nu hollered as he blocked Miaka's attack.

Kishuku walked over to their side. "Santa better give me something more then another lump of coal!"

Miaka gasped at the two men. "What are you guys doing here?"

Shu'nu shrugged his shoulders. "Sa'ta tod us ta go widh you. He even gave Kishuku a lump of coal to keep warm widh!"

Kishuku glared at Shu'nu. "Someone needs to teach you how to talk!"

Miaka smiled at the two men as they bickered but her smile was quickly broken when a man's voice reached her ears. "What are you crazy kids doing out here in the middle of a blizzard?"

Miaka turned to see a man holding some wood standing only a few feet away from the tree of them. "I'm on my way to the hospital to see a friend. Also, I am looking for a family, have you seen any?"

The man snickered. "No one is crazy enough to drag their family out in the middle of this blizzard."

Miaka smiled. "That is true."

The man shifted the wood in his arms. "Why are you looking for a family?"

Miaka held up the tiny pouch so the man could see. "I am supposed to give this to the father."

The man dropped the lumber that he held as he reached out for the pouch. "Santa?"

Miaka jerked the pouch away from the man's reach. "Do you know what is in this pouch?"

The man paused as he pulled his hand back. "Santa told me that he will be sending a girl with something to help my family survive if I helped her first." The man looked at Miaka. "You know of someone who is ill?"

Miaka gasped as she quickly thought of Kourin. "How did you know?"

Doukun walked down the warm hallway of the hospital along side of a interesting guy who he met at school. "Thank you for coming with me to help in the research of the cure for this disease."

The taller man smiled as he turned to look down at the young boy. "It is my pleasure, no da."

Doukun shook his head as he turned to see a attractive man with long shimmery brown hair sit in the hallway by the ER. He glanced sideways at them.

"Saihitei! What are you doing here, no da?" Doukun's friend called out to the attractive man.

"My mother had an accident in the kitchen and she needed a few stitches." Saihitei informed them. "What are you and that kid doing here, Ri Houjun?"

Houjun frowned. "That's not a nice way to great my friend, no da." Houjun placed his hand on Doukun's shoulder and smiled. "This is a school genius named Ou Doukun no da!" Houjun nodded his head towards Doukun.

"Excuse my behavior, I am just a little bit shaken up by my mother." Doukun nodded his head.

"I understand that. After all, she is your mother."

Suddenly the hall doors opened as four more people graced the hall. Miaka, Shu'nu, Kishuku and a strange man walked towards the closed room on the other side of the hall from Doukun, Houjun and Saihitei.

"Hi guys!" Miaka greeted the three other men.

"Hello," The older man said as he waved shyly to the younger men. "I am Myou Juan."

Doukun gasped. "You're that legendary healer!" Myou looked away, not caring about the praise. "That was many years ago. Where is the sick person?"

Miaka gestured towards Kourin's room. "She is in there." Myou opened the door to her room just to close it. He turned to look at the others. "She's already gone…"

Miaka's eyes opened as she placed her hands on her lips. "Ryuuen!"

Shu'nu grabbed Miaka's arm. "Shit! Dat fag boy is too supid to be left lone!" He quickly ran towards the doors, dragging Miaka behind him.

Ryuuen fell into the deep soft snow. His tears had frozen to his cheeks, chapping his perfect skin underneath. His eyes burned from both the cold weather and the wet tears. His heart was shattered. Kourin was everything to him. He was always with her ever since she was born. Ryuuen shifted in the snow, thinking how in his dream he was laying in the snow when he saw Miaka gazing down at him with teary eyes. Ryuuen chuckled to himself. "Maybe I was predicting my future…" Ryuuen tugged at his violet hair. He did look a lot like Kourin, so maybe he could continue her life for her? It should have been him who had died, not Kourin after all.

Ryuuen gazed up at the full moon. The night had no stars and the clouds that carried all of the snow rushed past the moon as if they were in a race. Ryuuen stared at the race, thinking of Kourin's moments before she had become what she was in the end. "It should have been me…" Slowly, Ryuuen fell into a deep sleep.

Miaka rushed through the snow, desperately searching for the violet haired man who she was developing a warm feeling for in her chest. She pushed some branches from her sight as she rushed into the darkness of a forest. Would Ryuuen really run into this area? He could be anywhere, even back at his dorm where Shu'nu took off to. Miaka shuttered as a cold breeze chilled her to her bones. She suddenly thought of the dream of looking down at him, sleeping in the white snow. Miaka felt her heart tighten with regret and fear. "Where are you, Ryuuen?"

Miaka rushed towards the darkness of the forest of hibernated trees. The forest was so creepy looking in the eerie moonlight. The only sounds of life were really the wind blowing and her shoes crushing the snow beneath her. "Ryuuen…" She sobbed. "Where are you?" She reached her left hand to her chest and collapsed her coat with her gloved hand. Miaka started to feel her heart go into despair when a light caught her eyes. Miaka turned to see the moonlight shine brightly down a open path. Miaka stared in the direction of the light and watched as it slowly faded. Miaka didn't hesitate as she took off in the direction of the moonlight. She couldn't breathe as she rushed down the cleared pathway towards an opening near a frozen pound. She quickly looked around the opening before her eyes fell upon a figure half covered in snow. He was laying under a tree. Miaka ran over to him, collapsing onto her knees before she was by his side. She grabbed his hand closest to her as she studied his beautiful face. His complexion had a hint of blue to it. His face actually had ice on it from his tears. His hands were like ice in her own. "Ryuuen!" Miaka sobbed as she felt for a pulse. He had a weak pulse, but he did have a pulse. Miaka quickly went into action. She undid his shirt and undid her own. She did not even think to blush as she was undressing infront of a man she only met almost a month ago. She quickly embraced him, hoping that her body heat would help warm up the kind man she had grown so fond of. Miaka cuddled up to him and tried to place her face close to his to get him warm in any way possible. "Please, live!" She whispered to him.

Ryuuen sat in the middle of a field of wild flowers. The warm sun was beaming down upon him, keeping his day bright and warm. Kourin laughed a short distance away from him. Ryuuen turned to look at his sister as she happily gathered some wildflowers into her basket.

"Look, Ryu! " She stood upright and held out a large flower. "Isn't it pretty?"

Ryuuen stood up and walked over to his sister's side. He took the flower from her and smiled down at it. "It's beautiful! Just like you." Ryuuen smiled down at Kourin as she quickly blushed.

"Oh Ryu! You're just saying that!" Kourin pushed away from Ryuuen and started to run away from him. "Catch me if you can, Ryu!"

Ryuuen chuckled as he quickly chased after her. "Oh no you don't!" Kourin ran towards their car that Ryuuen had parked at the bottom of the hill. Ryuuen tried to catch up to her, but something went wrong. Suddenly, Ryuuen could not breathe as he could only see a mass of colors.

"Ryu! RYU!" Kourin yelled after him. Then there was a loud honk. Ryuuen suddenly gasped as everything went dark and cold. Ryuuen tried to breathe, which was hard due to the cold weather and something heavy on his chest. Ryuuen's eyes slowly focused on the heavy person laying on his chest. "Miaka?"

Miaka looked up at him, not moving her body an inch. "Ryuuen!" Ryuuen suddenly began to realize what had happened. Miaka had found him sleeping in the snow and was trying to warm him up. He could feel her almost naked chest on his own. Ryuuen blushed slightly at the thought before he placed his arms around her to embrace her. Miaka gasped in surprise. "If you wanted me this much, you could have just told me!"

Miaka blushed violently."You were freezing to death!"

Ryuuen chuckled at her response. He then stopped, shocked that he could chuckle after Kourin lost her life. He became serious. "My sister, Kourin." Ryuuen continued to hold Miaka close to him. "She was always a very frail person. She was tiny when she was born. She was always following me around, ever since we were children. It actually never bothered me. People thought we were twins, but there was a year difference." Ryuuen gazed up at the moon as he unknowingly started to comb his fingers through Miaka's hair. Miaka didn't move. She just laid on his chest, giving him her warmth and ears.

"One day, I was being stupid. I had actually taken Kourin to a flower field that was on a hill surrounded by semi busy roads. I had slipped in a muddy spot and I was falling down the hill. Kourin threw herself ontop of me, slowling me down enough to stop myself… but she lost control of her body. Being the frail girl she was… she couldn't stop rolling down the hill. I tried to stop her but it took too long for me to get up and get to her side. The car never saw her until it was too late. They slammed on their breaks, but they sit hit her." Ryuuen squeezed Miaka tightly as new tears formed in his eyes. "I called an ambulance and they got there quickly. However, she had broken bones all throughout her body. It should have been me. I was the stronger of the two of us. Plus, I was the fool to roll down that hill."

Miaka squeezed him tighter. "She did that because she loves you. If it was the other way around, you would have stopped her." Miaka looked into his misty eyes. Ryuuen stared back, unable to stop himself.

"Even so… it should have been me." Ryuuen said as he looked away.

Miaka sat up slightly and grabbed Ryuuen's chin and jerked his face to look at hers. "What you are doing out here is not fair to Kourin!"

Ryuuen's eyes instantly looked at Miaka's cleavage. "How?"

Miaka didn't pay any attention to where he was looking. "She sacrificed herself for you! Don't throw away the life that she saved!"

Ryuuen looked at Miaka's face and frowned. "I'm not wasting it!"

"Then why are you laying in the snow half frozen to death!" Miaka yelled.

"Cause I felt like it!" Ryuuen snapped as he shifted under her. "Could you get off me? I want to get up."

Miaka moved upwards slightly before realizing that her shirt was undone and there was nothing much hiding. She blushed and fell back onto him. "NO!"

"I'm not interested in seeing your chest!" Ryuuen insisted. "I just want to get up!"

Miaka blushed more. "No!"

Ryuuen wrapped his arms around her and quickly rolled over so that he was on top of her. Miaka gasped as he grabbed her wrists and pinned her to the cold ground. He pushed up from her and stared down at her.

Miaka instantly felt cold as she lay vulnerably on the cold hard ground. She gazed up at Ryuuen as the moon glowed on his face and hair, giving him an angelic glow. Ryuuen gazed down at Miaka, unable to take his eyes off of her. The moonlight also was also giving her a angelic glow. Ryuuen found his own heart pounding violently as he leaned down and did something with out thinking. He quickly claimed her lips.

Miaka found herself responding to his kiss. She could taste his tears and his feelings actually poured into her own body. She didn't know what was going on, but she actually did not feel vulnerable or taken advantage of. She felt warm and loved from his kiss. He laid down on her and continued to kiss her for the next couple of minutes before he released her and stood up.

Miaka quickly felt cold once he released her. She did up her shirt and watched as Ryuuen adjusted his own shirt. Miaka's eyes fell upon a scar on his right side. "What happened there?"

Ryuuen paused and looked down at the scar. He frowned and quickly covered it. "I was born with it."

Miaka started to get up when Ryuuen offered his hand to help her up. "I am sorry about snapping at you, and then kissing you. I don't know what got into me."

Miaka took his hand and allowed him to pull her up. "You don't need to apologise."

Ryuuen shook his head. "I do. I know that you don't feel anything for me and I let my own feelings get carried away."

Miaka's eyes widened. "Is that why you left Yui's party early?"

Ryuuen looked away. "I really should go now. I won't try to sleep in the snow anymore. I'll handel my grief in another way."

Miaka shook her head as she jerked on Ryuuen's shirt and pulled him closer to her. She gave him a quick kiss on his lips. "I like you, Ryuuen."

Ryuuen stared at her in shock. "I thought you…"

Miaka opened her mouth but suddenly another voice interrupted her. "There you are!"

Miaka turned to see the six men along with Santa walking over to them. "Ryuuen is fine!" Miaka blurted with a overexcited voice.

"Tat's good but according to Santa, we nad ta get back to da hospital now." Shu'nu informed them.

Ryuuen nodded his head. "I need to fill out the forms about her death."

Santa shook his head. "Actually, there's another reason why we need to go to the hospital…"

A/N: Well, I wanted to end this story with this chapter, but it does not look like that will happen. However, the next chapter is the last one. I will aim for it to come out before Christmas. Please review and I'll work hard to get the next chapter out ASAP. Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was great. For me, it was very special because it marked my tenth year anniversary with my husband.

For those of you that are wondering what had happened to me these past few months, I had put all the information on my fanfic site located at fanfic. myinterests. Com A lot of stuff happened and unfortunately, all was bad. I am back for now. I just hope that the bad stuff is over.