Author Notes: This is a work of fiction, written by Appaku and Alicia (alithealligator). Fushigi Yuugi belongs to Yuu Watase.

Several months passed in Tokyo. Yui had been growing out her hair, and it was slightly symbolic of other changes she was allowing to happen in her life. The chance encounter with Keisuke made him recognize her sometime later when she was being hassled by some rowdy men on a train. He tried to step in and help, but ultimately it was his friend Tetsuya who had been the hero. He wanted to make sure she was alright afterwards and walked her home, then checked up on her a few days later, and it wasn’t long until they started dating.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you,” he said one afternoon over a parfait. “What’s the deal with the earring? Are you missing the other one?”

“It’s a long story,” she smiled. “Maybe I’ll tell you sometime.”

“Why not now?”

“Because it’s long.”

“I’d listen,” he smiled and peered over his sunglasses at her. “Or do you have a lot of homework to get to?”

“I do. Jonan is a lot of work.”

“What did you expect from the best high school in the area? I’m proud of you for doing so well, especially while being the secretary for the student council when you’re only a freshman!”

“And I’d be a little prouder of you if you only studied a little harder at the university!” she teased.

“Hey, books are expensive!” he jokingly defended himself, “and so are cars!”

She chuckled and bit and planted her forehead in her palm. “You’re no Tamahome, that’s for sure.”

“Tama-what?”

“Nothing.“

“At least I’m doing better than Keisuke. He flunked, but thinks he found his ‘new calling‘,” he emphasized sarcastically. “He’s training for a job teaching basketball to high school girls over at Yotsubadai.”

“At least he has a plan. How about you?”

“Ahh… well… uh… there’s always corporate jobs for business majors, right?”

She rolled her eyes playfully and then excused herself to do homework soon after. Back in her room, she pulled out the book and glanced over the pages again. Three years had already passed there since she left, but there hadn’t been much that was eventful to read (she had skipped over the long description of the Priestess of Suzaku’s wedding night).

“The priestess of Suzaku was making a visit to her old friend, the doctor,” she read, “whose son Koutuku was a headstrong, bustling child. The priestess laughed as he argued and had a tantrum, then casually mentioned the news she heard about Sairou some time before.

“’Hotohori and Houki had a son, too, didn’t they?’ the doctor replied. ‘Yes, his name is Boushin,’ was her answer. Both also discussed that it was a relief the emperor of Konan had also finally taken one of the harem members to be his wife, but there was no word about heirs as of yet. ‘While we’re on this topic, how are you fairing?’

“’Just fine! Everyone has been making bets- the bandits are all divided about it- but Tamahome and I think it’s a girl.’”

Since when is Miaka pregnant? Yui flipped back a few pages to see if she had missed anything, but then decided that perhaps it was something else she meant to miss. Flipping forward in the book never did her any good, as it could just provide real-time details of whatever Miaka was doing, as they must have been bound to some kind of sense of time. It was nice to have the book and be able to get updates on her, and sometimes Yui would be mentioned in the main character’s thoughts. It was a comfort to know that she wasn’t forgotten, but Miaka was growing up, and thinking of her childhood friend less and less. Yui periodically wondered about her own warriors, too, but so long as Miaka was the focus of the writings, it would not tell her much.

After putting the book away, she leaned back at her desk and sighed. Seiryuu… this book has changed my life so much. I’d like to think I’ve changed for the better. I feel capable of so much more in my life now… but…

It was lonely.

She usually felt happy for Miaka, but there were still many times when she resented that she ever went into the book in the first place. And to be completely honest, hearing about who was having however many children didn’t interest her much. Doing well in school and hearing about who was dating which boy was more interesting to a high schooler.

Poor Doukun. He’d never have the chance to find any interest in any of that, or do well. And Suboshi… well, it was a good thing that he didn’t attend a high school in her world, because he’d probably get in too much trouble for his temper.

Oh, no. She hadn’t meant to start getting sentimental; she’d have to wash her skirt now before school tomorrow to get the tear stains off.

Lady Yui…

She gasped quickly, then quickly removed the earring and held it in her palm. “Nakago?”

Yes?

She smiled happily. “It is you!”

It sounded like you were crying, but it didn’t sound like there was any reason for it.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” she wiped away her tears, even though he couldn’t see them anyway. “How are you? What is Kutou like now?”

…Fruitful.

“You, or Kutou?”

Kutou.

Oh, good. Not everyone was popping out babies, then. “How is Soi? Is she still happy?”

Almost sickeningly so. She found where the royal treasures were kept, and has been dressing more decadently than necessary all this time. And then whenever I have a quiet moment, she’s all over me.

“Quiet moments? But there should be plenty… after all, Kutou is still peaceful, right? Isn’t it?”

Yes. It’s very quiet.

“Oh,” she smiled, “that’s good then. You almost sound bored.”

I haven’t been aging. I am not be able to use my powers any more, but I am still a god. I might turn out to be an immortal emperor after all.

“But isn’t that good? It’ll be mean more stability for the rest of the country. Just think of what a great economy you’ll have.”

I’ll be here to see everything. I don’t have to think of it.

His tone sounded just a little sad. If he was immortal, then he really would see everything. Even if Yui were to outlive Miaka by many years, and just read as her life flashes by and she grows old, Nakago will outlive her even longer. That would be terrible… at least Nakago would only watch over her through an earring, but he’d have to watch as the difference between him and Soi would be become obvious.

Perhaps if I had more foresight…

Did he mean to say that he was wrong?

No. I wouldn’t have done anything differently.

Another sigh. The immortal Nakago would probably need many, many years to change.

“Well, I’m doing just fine,” she changed the subject. “Could you please tell Soi that I’m dating a nice young man? I’m sure she’s curious.”

Courting, Lady Yui?

“No, just dating.”

Perhaps it was hard to tell if there was a difference. “Never mind. Given how times moves slower here, it’ll probably be many more years before you can tell her anything like that. Anyway, I should start studying now.”

That’s what you usually do.

“Then I’m no different after all, am I?” she smiled. “Thank you, Nakago. Good bye.”

Author Notes: It's been quite a ride, as I thought of this fic about two or three years ago, and now it's finished. Wow. So much for my 'epic'.

A huge thank you to Alicia, I never would have written any of it without you!

For those of you who have been reading since the beginning, your patience with me is amazing. For those of you who came in along the way and gave me reviews so often, I love you for it! And those of you who read but never said a thing... well, you're cool, too. I do have some more FY writings in the works, and of course, I'd be flattered if you read some of my other- SHORTER!- FY fics. Enough of my self-plugging, thank you all so much for reading this far! You're awesomeAppa