All Fushigi Yugi and all characters thereof belong to Watase Yu; none of them belong to me, and I gain NOTHING from this fanfic but some mental satisfaction and perhaps a good review or two.

AUTHOR”S NOTES:

This is my first fanfic here ever…reviews are incredibly welcome, even flames, so long as they’re honest and well thought-out. Honesty, please!

and mean that the character is thinking.

Houki stretched, slowly coming awake. Beside her, Boushin slept yet, his tiny hands curled around the blanket, his infant mouth curved in a smile.

Dreaming of his father, perhaps? Houki I miss him. At least she knew that Hotohori had not gone to some hell, or been trapped as an Angry Ghost—When the Priestess of Suzaku and her remaining Seishi had visited a few months ago, he had been there…invisible to her, but some part of her could tell. At first, she’d been so immersed in her anguish that she refused to believe it…but when he saved their baby, when the warrior Tamahome allowed the fallen Emperor to use his body so that he could embrace Boushin for the first time, she knew for certain that he watched over them.

Watching only. He will never be able to hold Boushin again…or me. She shook her head, wondering at the serenity that she had finally been able to summon. But in heaven…in heaven, one day, we will all be together again.

She rose, smiling at her baby. Soon enough, courtiers would be fighting for her regard; soon enough, the beggars and the liars and the desperate would be throwing themselves at her feet for attention; for now, she had peace. Gently humming a lullaby, she dressed. Her servants would be scandalized at her actions—Let them be! She thought rebelliously. This does not reflect poorly on me, for no one will know, and neither does it harm my child or the Kingdom. I have yet some freedom, even as Royal Mother.

She tied the obi over the final layer of her clothing and glanced at her reflection in the mirror, smiling wryly at her reflection. She looked efficient, noble, graceful, nothing at all like she felt.. As I should appear, for the health of the Kingdom. She surpressed a frission of shame. For how long had she been so deep in her misery that she had paid no attention to anything, not her kingdom or her child? Too long. Even as a woman, she was a leader, and leaders must appear infallible. But when she was alone, she was allowed what weakness and what strength she wanted. She did not hold back the sharp pain beneath her breastbone at the thought. Alone…I have Boushin, for now, and I should take heart in that. The mirror reflected twin tears, rolling gracefully down her pale cheeks.

“Why are you crying, my lady?”

She whirled in outrage. Who dared come to the only sanctuary she had? What guard or courtier dared brave the heavy sentence for spying on royalty? But even as the thought flew through her mind, she recognized the voice.

As her eyes settled on the intruder, all the strength left her and she fell. Strong, slender arms caught her, careful hands smoothed the tears away, golden eyes gazed into hers. “Emperor!” Houki cried, weeping openly now, shuddering with joy. “Oh, Hotohori!” He was sobbing too, as he held her tighter than he ever had before he died. “My beautiful wife…I’m home. Never again will you need to bear all of these burdens alone.” His echo of her earlier thought caught her short. “How?” She asked incredulously. “Have I died as I slept?”

“Miaka and Tamahome defeated a demon.” Hotohori said softly. “Tenkou had been keeping my spirit from moving on to be born again, and when Tenkou was destroyed, Taiitsikun gave me a choice; be born again, or resume my place here, with you and our son.” As he spoke, his eyes fell on Boushin. “He is so beautiful…” Boushin stirred, woken by the noise of his mother’s weeping. The baby looked at his father and sat up, his own eyes wide. “Father…” Hotohori bounded across the room and lifted his child, hugging him tight. “Yes, my son. I’m home.”

He looked out the open shutters at his kingdom, itself slowly waking. “I’m home to stay.”