Second Chances -a work of FY fan fiction Part 1 ---------------------------------------- He was falling through the eternal darkness, face twisted in a grimace of fear and pain, until a pair of strong arms caught and held him tight.He sighed, silently revelling in the soothing warmth surrounding him. The numbing cold had been banished, the shrieking agony of his body silenced, as he settled deeper into Suzaku's comforting embrace. He smiled, lips quirking in an involuntary grin. The way to the Shinzaho had been cleared now; their troubles would soon be over. His death would not be in vain. His miko would cry for him he knew, but it could not be helped. She would get over it soon enough; Tama-chan would see to that. His lips trembled, his smile slowly disappearing. _He_ would never know now, would he? He'd feared telling him so much - the fear of rejection had stilled his tongue whenever he'd started to try. And now...it was too late. His love for his liege would forever remain unspoken. Tears slid noiselessly down his cheeks, the salty taste mingling with the sweet taste of blood where he'd bitten his lip to keep it still. As wrenching sobs shook his shoulders, Suzaku's arms tightened about him. The animal god watched with sad eyes as his beautiful, beloved seishi cried in his embrace. Drawing him closer, he rested his cheek against Nuriko's silky hair. Suzaku's crimson eyes hardened. No, Nuriko did not deserve this pain. He sent his gaze further out and watched as his other child reacted to the news of Nuriko's death. Within the palace, Hotohori paled, but outwardly remained composed. Inside however...the seishi's mind was screaming denial and loss, emptiness and utter despair. Suzaku gave a slight smile. Sou ka, so that was how it was, was it? With a sudden uplifting of his heart, he held Nuriko tighter and vanished. There were certain favors that had to be asked and certain strings of Fate that he had to reweave.