She dreamed of them often, dreamed of their voices and faces. Tasuki's jokes, Nuriko's smile, Hotohori's kindness, Chichiri's wisdom, Mitsukake's serenity, Chiriko's innocence and Tamahome's love. She dreamed of spirits still guiding her in a fight against some odd new threat named Tenkou, of Yui and Tetsuya and Keisuke along for the ride.
But when Miaka awoke in her own bed, back at her mother's house, she was alone. None of that happened, she reminded herself. Your adventures in the book ended after you defeated Nakago. She would only ever see Tamahome again in her memories.
"And in my dreams," she muttered as a few tears ran down her cheeks.
"Miaka..."
Her eyes fluttered open, and he was lying beside her. His hand on her cheek was warm and soft and most of all real, and she smiled.
"Good morning," she murmured.
"Are you all right? You were crying in your sleep," Taka asked, brushing away her tears. Miaka thought of the girl in her bed, back at her mother's house, alone and dreaming of things that never happened and people she'd never see again.
"I was just dreaming of something said," she said, "but I'm okay now." And I always will be, she added to herself. She wasn't that girl, and she never would be again.