However, that is not the end of their struggles to be together, more
like the beginning. Hotohori also loves Miaka with a passion, (see my
fanfic, Kuusou for more about that ^_^) and this causes some problems
with their love; when Tamahome is drugged by Nakago and loses his
mind, Miaka even decides she could love Hotohori back; at that point
she had said sayonara to Tamahome ("sayonara" is a way of saying
goodbye; rather than something like "ja ne", or "see you", it
encompasses feelings of regret and sadness at parting and never meeting
again. Much like "adieu" (sp?) in french. When Miaka tells Tamahome
sayonara, she is letting go of her love for him, with the
knowledge that it may well be forever.) However, Tamahome is sent to
kill her and Hotohori, and after Hotohori, his chi totally focused
with the rage at Tamahome's intentions and the need to protect Miaka,
defeats Tamahome with a lethal stab wound, he finally manages to
overcome the drug and recover. Later he returns to Kutou for Suzaku's
Universe of the Four Gods, and confronts Nakago, who demands to know
how Tamahome managed to overcome the drug which supposedly cannot
be broken by anything. Tamahome replies that Nakago would never
understand. Chichiri tells the Suzaku Seishi that perhaps when Tamahome's
lifeforce weakened, the drug's power over him weakened also, and then
his love for Miaka was enough to break down the barriers and recover
his former self.
Later, when Miaka and Tamahome have some time alone, she tells
Tamahome she needs nothing for his behaviour while under the drug's
control; all she wants is him.
More problems arise after the first summoning ceremony goes wrong,
thanks to Amiboshi's infiltration and interference. Taitsokun tells
Miaka that to summon Suzaku, they must now find the Shinzaho in Genbuu
territory. However, there is another condition; for the summoning to
work, Miaka must also be pure of body, a virgin. The barrier between
Seishi and Miko must not be overstepped. (Initially this site was
called "Densetsu no Shojou", because it's hard to tell what they call
Miaka; "shojo" (meaning "young girl") or "shojou" (meaning "virgin"
or "maiden"). I finally decided on "shojo" though, for various reasons.
^_^)
At first, Miaka lies to Tamahome; she tells him that he is taking
their relationship too seriously and he should lighten up. Later
though, he confronts her and demands to know the truth; he knows she
doesn't really feel that way. Miaka tells him, and at first he is as
mortified as she; they cannot express their feelings for each other
in case they go too far. However, he then decides that until the
summoning, he will protect her with his life as her seishi, then after
they have summoned Suzaku he will marry her and make her the happiest
bride ever. This is the kind of desparate optimism common to love;
despite barriers of circumstance and time, the heart goes on, love will
endure for as long as it takes.
Comments? Criticisms? Want to make puking noises at me? Please, feel
free to email me here! ^_^ hoshirei@mailcity.com