Are those your eyes
Is that your smile
I've been lookin' at you forever
But I never saw you before

Are these your hands
Holdin' mine
Now I wonder how I could
Have been so blind

For the first time
I am looking in your eyes
For the first I'm seein' who you are
I can't believe how much I see
When you're lookin' back at me
Now I understand what love is...
Love is...
For the first time...

Can this be real?
Can this be true?
Am I the person I was this morning?
And are you the same you?

It's all so strange how can it be
All along this love was right in front of me
-Kenny Loggins, "For the First Time"

Miaka shivered. It was cold! She rubbed her arms, and gazed at Tamahome's wet, immobile face. "Tamahome!" she cried. She shook his shoulders, and tried to wake him. A fairly feminine voice interrupted her wailing. "Miaka, he's alright. He's just asleep. I'll have to give him a lecture or two when he gets up." 'He's always like this when it comes to Miaka!'

Miaka blinked at Nuriko.

Nuriko leaned near the fire to get warm, "This cave looks like it's been used by fishermen before. I guess we have no other choice but to stay here for awhile." He smiled as his face began to heat up, "Now that I've gotten this fire running, take off your clothes." He didn't mean to sound that blunt. But blunt was exactly how Miaka took it.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN TAKE OFF MY CLOTHES?" she screeched, her cheeks red with embarrassment. Nuriko was exasperated. "IF YOU DON'T YOU'LL CATCH A COLD!" Miaka crawled away from him, "I won't take my clothes off in front of you!"

Nuriko rolled his eyes, "Oh for crying out loud!" He zoomed toward her and quickly undressed her. She was appalled, and turned a deep shade of red when she was left in her underwear. She quickly covered up her upper body with her arms, and scowled at him. "You're nothing but a DIRTY PERVERT!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say…" Nuriko drifted off. And he started taking off his shirt, right then and there in front of Miaka. He didn't notice then that she was blushing, yet again, as her eyes ran down his physique. 'He could have been a man! And a cute man with a great bod too…' She shook her head out of her the clouds and blushed deeper. 'I forgot that Nuriko was a guy. It's just that he's always dressed as a woman…'

Nuriko was just taking off Tamahome's shirt when he saw Miaka's back turned to him. He smirked. He knew she was blushing. 'She is rather cute when she blushes… she's cute period!

[Oi! Bad Nuriko! You like Hotohori-sama, remember?] His conscience was reprimanding him.

'But… he never pays attention to you… Miaka does… she's the only one who likes you. But she can't… love you. She has Tamahome…' He chuckled inwardly. 'Me? And Miaka? I have Hotohori-sama… ne? Demo…'

He shuffled toward Miaka, and snickered. "You know Miaka, my feelings for Hotohori haven't been rewarded." He cupped her chin in his hand, and saw her cheeks redden, but she didn't move. He could see himself reflected in her green eyes. Beautiful green eyes. He was never this close to her. He gave her a loving look. Improvised? Or maybe… real. He didn't know. "Maybe I should start looking for women now…" He trailed off and leaned down to look like he was going to kiss her… which of course, he wouldn't do! 'Of course not! So… if not… why am I thinking about kissing her?'

Miaka gulped. She was red, and her palms were sweaty. 'Nuriko…' She often regarded him as one of her sort-of best friend. But she wasn't feeling very 'best friend'-y right now. For one thing, he was so close. Close enough to touch, to hug, to kiss… was she ever going to regret doing this…

She wrenched her eyes shut, and shoved herself forward to meet his lips.

Nuriko's eyes widened at the sudden contact of her lips on his. His hand was still on her chin. He noticed that her eyes were closed, and he, smiling faintly, shut his. He gently deepened the kiss, and held her face tenderly. He was enjoying this. Though he knew… he was cheating, he was betraying Tamahome's trust for him. What the heck was he doing anyway, kissing Miaka? It's not like he was in love with her or anything…

Was he?

'Am I? I think of her as a friend… that's it! But… if she's just a friend… why am I still kissing her… like this…? And what is this feeling inside me? It's like what I feel for Hotohori-sama except… more…intense. There's fluttering in my stomach and my heart is beating… pounding at my chest… is this love? Do I love Miaka?'

Miaka suddenly realized what she was doing and pulled back, scared and confused. She saw the guilt that flashed through Nuriko's eyes and he immediately pulled away from her, a feeling of shame overcoming him. "Gomen ne, Nuriko…" she whispered. Nuriko glanced behind him and lowered his eyes. 'I am… in love with her. I love Miaka.'

A groan interrupted his thoughts.

Miaka's head turned at the voice, relief clear in her voice. "Tamahome!" Nuriko flinched at the happiness that shone through the tone. He sighed. 'Time for Nuriko: the gay guy mode again… but it was fun… being Nuriko: the man again…'

"You IDIOT! Do you realize you could have gotten KILLED?!"

They were back on the ship again. Nuriko saved them again. And they were safe on dry, well, wood. Again. Tamahome, oblivious to the moment Miaka and Nuriko shared just a few hours ago, was arguing with Tasuki, yet again. Nuriko sighed as they spit out words of hatred to each other. He didn't notice Miaka approaching him, until she tapped his shoulder.

She was bowing her head and she whispered. "Nuriko… can I talk to you? Please?"

Wordlessly, he nodded, and followed her into the back room.

As he closed the door behind him, he found himself subject of one of Miaka's most pensive gazes. "Nuriko… I'm sorry." She was clutching her heart and gazing at the Seishi with sorrowful eyes.

"For what?"

"For… what happened."

"The kiss?"

She couldn't believe he put it so bluntly. "Yeah. The kiss."

Silence.

"Are you mad at me?"

He lifted his face, and smiled at her. A genuine smile. "I don't hate you Miaka. I was confused at that time. I didn't know what to do…" He placed his hands on her shoulders and grinned at her.

Miaka gave him a small smile, then it faded, "I'm sorry also… about Kourin."

His face became stony. "Kourin… my sister… or… me. I am her." He glanced down. "But sometimes, I don't wish to be."

"Why is that?"

He chuckled wryly, "I miss Ryuuen. And… I need to let go of her memory some time…"

Miaka nodded, "Sou desu ka…"

Nuriko turned away from her, "Do you really?"

She bit her lip. "Nuriko… something's troubling you. You have something to say. Why don't you tell me?"

"Because… I don't know how well you'll take it."

She grasped his shoulders and whirled him around to face her, a frown marring her usually cheerful features. "Try me."

He gazed at her determined face, the face of the person he was sworn to protect. [Now is the time!] his conscience urged.

"I love you."

She was taken aback by this piece of information. She thought he was going to say something like… "But if I change into a boy, what about Hotohori-sama!?" or "I'm too much of a girl to change into a boy!" But it was unexpected, for him to tell her this…

He laughed coldly. "See? I told you." He shrugged her hands from his shoulders and advanced towards the door.

"Dame, Nuriko."

He slowly swiveled around. "Naze yo?"

"Tell me why."

He whirled around. She was lowering her head, her hair like a hood, so he couldn't see her eyes. She shoulders were shaking, and her voice was wobbling a while ago. 'Miaka, don't do this to me…'

He carefully approached her and tilted her chin upwards, and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I am a Suzaku Seishi, sworn to protect the Miko with all of my power. I will die for you, Miaka. Anytime, anywhere, any day. I swear on the name Suzaku bestowed upon me," he gently lifted her hand and placed it over his chest, resting lightly on his character, "I will protect you from anything, whether for duty, for friendship, or… for love. Wo ai ni, Miaka."

Miaka looked up into his deep purple eyes, "But…" She was shushed by Nuriko as he placed a finger on her lips. "Shh… Tamahome… you and Tamahome can take care of you, and you deserve him, as he does you. I know you will take care of each other and I… I will watch over both of you. I swear." He was beginning to get tears in his eyes. He was letting go of his first love. And it was painful.

Miaka threw her arms around Nuriko and embraced him tightly. "Arigatou gozaimasu Nuriko. You're the best friend a girl could ever have." Nuriko smiled through his tears. "Miaka…"

After a few moments, he let go of her and gave her sad smile. "Let's go back. They'll be looking for us." He headed for the door, and opened it, then turned to Miaka. "After you."

Miaka stepped ahead of him and he shut the door, "You're such a gentleman Nuriko." Nuriko grinned, "Well, you know me…" Miaka sweatdroppped. "Don't get too cocky…" She glanced at her purple-haired friend and smiled. I love you too… Nuriko.

A few days later, Chou Ryuuen, or Nuriko, dies in a battle with Ashitaire, a Seiryuu Seishi. He will be missed. Rest in Peace, Nuriko.

~owari~

Author's Note: No, Cherrie, I will not steal him from you. No, everyone else, I have not converted to Nuriko-Miaka. I'm still a TasMia supporter! But… I really like Nuriko as well, and I want him to BE A GUY! So after the thing in the cave, I decided to write this story. Hope you like it!

Disclaimers: Fushigi Yuugi, Nuriko and Miaka belong to Watase Yuu-sama, and I thank her for giving us a gorgeous anime, a gorgeous guy and a gorgeous girl. We worship you. :)