Miaka/Yui
| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Yuuki Miaka/Hongo Yui |
| Alternative name(s): | None |
| Gender category: | yuri |
| Fandom: | Fushigi Yuugi |
| Canonical?: | no |
| Prevalence: | The dominant yuri ship in Fushigi Yuugi fandom, but less common in the grand scheme of shipping. |
| Archives: | |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Miaka/Yui is an uncommon but still well-loved pairing in the Fushigi Yuugi fandom.
Canon
Miaka and Yui are best friends in their final year of junior high who have promised to get into the same high school together. During a trip to the library one day, they're pulled into a book called the Universe of the Four Gods, where they meet male lead Tamahome after he saves them from slave traders. Yui is pulled back into the real world, but Miaka remains in the book; later, the opposite happens. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding and the manipulative machinations of main antagonist Nakago tears their friendship apart, with Yui becoming the enemy Priestess of Seiryuu to Miaka's Priestess of Suzaku. Miaka's goal throughout the rest of the series is to free Yui from Nakago's control and bring her back, never once giving up on her no matter how cruelly Yui treats her.
Early in the story, Yui makes passionate overtures towards Tamahome, who is in love with Miaka, and would seem to be pining for him throughout the story. However, late in the narrative, it's revealed that her temporary desire to possess Tamahome was an excuse to cover her true feelings: anger and hurt at thinking Miaka had abandoned her. Nakago even questions whether it's Tamahome she loves or Miaka after listening to her rant her heart out about the latter.
At the end of the TV series/volume 13 of the manga, Yui realizes the gravity of the mistakes she's made and uses her third wish upon the beast god Seiryuu to allow Miaka to summon Suzaku, allowing herself to be devoured by the beast in the process. In turn, Miaka's very first wish is to free Yui and bring her back.
In the OAVs/the second part of the manga's story, Yui is once again a supportive best friend to Miaka, even beating a classmate with a bat for spreading rumors and trying to kill Miaka thanks to a villain's machinations.
Fandom
The pairing enjoyed status as the sole yuri ship, with very little fanfiction written for it in the late 90s/early 2000s. However, in the late aughties, a popular fan interpretation placed Yui's true romantic obsession with Miaka, whom fans believed she secretly had a crush on but didn't know how to express in a healthy way.[1] Many debated the true nature of her feelings for Tamahome; some suggested she only felt like that due to Miaka's feelings, as Yui felt everything Miaka did in the book upon realizing their school uniforms connected them body and soul.
In contrast to the usual trend of bashing or killing the canon male love interest, Miaka/Yui fans were usually fair to Tamahome. Some stories would ignore the anime's epilogue or OAVs via having Tamahome stay in the book's world so Miaka and Yui could be together. Yui's eventual boyfriend Tetsuya was mostly brushed aside or forgotten, due to the relationship being minor and in the background.
There are very few post-story fics involving the couple, however. Many stories involve the one-sided angst and pain each girl goes through while the two are enemies, or focus on Yui's resentful jealousy of Tamahome for having captured Miaka's heart so quickly.