A/N: Welcome to the revision of Kindling Dawn! This has been in the making for several years, but I've been dealing with a writer's block that has kept me from basically writing anything at all. This is my first project after a few years. For those of you new to the story of Tasuki and Atsuna, welcome! This is the first story in a trilogy that takes place during the duration of the series. The two sequels, Illumination and Step Into the Light, have been completed and can be found from my profile. However, I strongly recommend reading this story until its end before taking up Illumination and Step Into the Light. And for those of you who are veterans of Tasuki and Atsuna, welcome back! I hope you enjoy the retelling of the story that brings Atsuna into the fold. The prologue here is just to help establish where we are in the course of the series, but I've also posted Chapter 1. I will be on a weekly update schedule, likely every Sunday. You can also visit my profile for story updates and any other important information I'll need to share. There's also a little poll to partake in. It feels good to be back! Happy reading!

Prologue

Flames crackled and danced in the celestial Konan palace chamber. The seven Suzaku warriors, as well as their priestess, stood encircling it, all wearing expressions of disappointment.

But none felt the sting of disappointment more than Miaka, who had failed in the ceremony of summoning Suzaku due to Chiriko, or Amiboshi's, betrayal. The young man had since fallen into the raging river that zigzagged through the city, and the true Chiriko, Ou Doukun, had appeared before them.

But it was too late. The holy scroll of the "Universe of the Four Gods" had been thrown into the fire, and now Miaka stared down the rigid frown of Taiitsukun, who now floated among the celestial flames and had since informed them that this method of summoning their beast god would no longer work.

"Priestess of Suzaku! Things will no longer be as easy for you as they have been! It will become difficult. Are you willing to accept that?" Taiitsukun's voice boomed.

Miaka's face contorted into a hard look of determination. "Yes, I am."

"You have to firmly unite, and the bond between you and the Suzaku Seven must grow even stronger if you are to succeed. You must prepare yourselves for the worst!" Taiitsukun continued. Her eyes bore into Miaka's. "Can you handle it? Do you still wish to proceed?"

Miaka nodded resolutely. "I'll do it." She curled her hands into fists at her side. "For all the people who have been hurt and for all those who have encouraged us. It is my sworn duty as Priestess of Suzaku!"

Taiitsukun studied her, pleased at her wishes to continue. "Very well. First you must travel north to the Hokkan Empire, which is protected by Genbu. Once there, you must gain possession of a holy relic known as the Shinzaho."

Nodding once in understanding, Miaka turned to her friends, her protectors. "The land of Genbu." She turned back to Taiitsukun. "Will we be able to summon Suzaku if we do that?"

Taiitsukun nodded. "Yes, you will."

Tamahome joined Miaka's side, placing his hands on his waist. "So, what is this Shinzaho thing, anyway?"

Taiitsukun looked away. "That's all I'm able to tell you at this time."

Grumbling curses under his breath, Tamahome scowled.

"All right, then! I'll go to Hokkan and I'll find this Chinzy-Mold no matter what it takes!"

Eyes widening slightly, Taiitsukun turned to face the overzealous priestess. "Shinzaho. Are you sure you can handle this?"

Miaka peered down at her feet. "Now that I've ruined the ceremony, I have to summon Suzaku any way I can."

"Well, then…" Taiitsukun crossed her arms in an "X" shape over her body. "If you have made your decision…" She chanted something under her breath before opening a palm, a ball of light appearing there. The spheres of light appeared before each Suzaku warrior, save for Tamahome, and burst into special weapons and treasures designed for each of their individual abilities.

"I'm giving you all a small reward for the work you've done so far. I've increased your special abilities far beyond what they were."

Tasuki flashed a toothy grin, flexing his arms with his tessen, now made of diamond, above his head. "Now that ya mention it, I do feel like there's a lot more power in my body."

Tamahome turned to Taiitsukun excitedly. "That sounds great! What about me? What about me?"

Taiitsukun turned her nose up in the air. "Nothing. I'm not giving you anything special. You don't need some old hag giving you gifts when all you really want is money, now, do you?" She released a hearty chortle, no doubt enjoying herself.

Tamahome's face paled, defeated, as he saw all of his comrades admiring their special gifts while he got nothing.

"Oh, yes. Miaka." Taiitsukun turned to the priestess, ignoring Tamahome's pouting that he should get a gift, as well. "I nearly forgot something very important. Close your eyes."

"Okay," Miaka nodded.

Taiitsukun lifted her enclosed hand above Miaka. As she opened it, a dust of sparkles fell upon her. "These ashes are significant because they are the remains of the "Universe of the Four Gods." If you have any special powers of your own, they will most certainly help to draw them out."

Miaka watched as the sparkles dissipated around her. Smiling, she turned up to Taiitsukun. "Thank you for this honor, Taiitsukun. I promise I will do my best."

The Suzaku warriors gathered behind her, all smiling at their priestess's cheery demeanor.

"About that journey…" Tasuki started with a knowing grin.

"We're happy to coming with you," Chiriko continued.

Nuriko nodded. "That's right. We can't have Miaka getting into trouble al alone, can we?"

Exchanging grateful glances to each of her warriors, Miaka chuckled softly. "Thanks, you guys."

Tamahome walked up behind her, resting his head on the top of her head. "You won't forget about me, too, will you?"

Miaka felt a warming blush swim over her cheeks. "Tamahome." Flashing a toothy smile, she picked up the skirts of her priestess garb and began to rush out of the room. "Okay, team! Let's get going! I'll go pack!"

"Hold on a minute!" Taiitsukun's voice thundered, forcing Miaka into a confused halt. "I haven't finished my business yet. Would you all step aside? I need to speak to Miaka alone for a moment."

Although they were confused, the Suzaku Seven acquiesced and walked from the room. Tamahome was the last to leave, flashing one last smile to Miaka, before joining his friends outside. The guards shut the door after him.

"Well, it looks like we'll be taking a little trip," Nuriko said, cracking his knuckles. "This should be a cinch."

"Hold on, you know," Chichiri spoke up. Everyone turned to face him. "Now that Amiboshi has died, the Priestess of Seiryu will also likely be seeking the Shinzaho of Genbu, as well, you know. We must be cautious and prepare for any confrontations from the Seiryu Seven."

Tasuki scoffed. "Whatever. We can take 'em. Now that Taiitsukun has boosted our powers, there's no one to stand in our way. We'll be able to summon Suzaku and take 'em all down."

"Well, I wouldn't say it exactly like Tasuki, but I would have to agree," Nuriko replied. "We haven't heard reports that the Seiryu Seven have all been located and gathered, but we all are. Right now we have the advantage against them."

"We still shouldn't be too cocky," Chiriko advised. "Caution is the best thing we could exercise right now. Even from my home in Jozen City, I could sense the chaos coming from Kutou."

"Jozen City, huh? That's just a stone's throw away from here, isn't it?" Nuriko asked.

"Well, I was always busy studying for my kakyo exam, so I never had the chance to get over here to meet with all of you," Chiriko replied with a grin.

Nuriko peered over the other side of the young Suzaku warrior at the orange-haired bandit. "Hey, Tasuki, why don't you quit that boring bandit business and follow this kid's scholarly example?"

Tasuki scoffed at the thought. "Whatever. Once this is all over, I'm going back to Mt. Reikaku, and I'll be an even better boss than our last one. Then I won't have to worry about dealin' with any crazy girls. The ones in this city are damn nuts. And now that my tessen is all powered up, there's no one to get in my way fer nothin'."

Nuriko grinned slyly at the bandit. "You know, you say you hate girls a lot. Haven't you ever heard that if someone talks about something excessively, it means they actually like it?" He elbowed him in the ribs. "I think you like girls but just don't want to admit it."

Tasuki opened his mouth to rebuke, but the double doors to the holy chamber opened, and Miaka walked out quietly, her hands folded together in front of herself.

"Miaka, are you finished?" Hotohori asked.

Quickly flashing a smile, Miaka nodded. "Let's go back to the palace rooms. I think I need to rest a bit."

The emperor nodded. "All right. That sounds like a good idea for all of us. Then we can reconvene later and discuss our travel preparations."

Without looking at anyone, Miaka walked off, escorted away by Hotohori and Mitsukake. Chichiri and Chiriko followed them. Tamahome watched them go, a forlorn expression marring his face, before he forced himself forward, wondering what had caused Miaka's normally bubbly demeanor to change.

Tasuki shoved his finger at the obviously depressed warrior. "Ya see that?" he hissed, causing Nuriko to gaze at him inquisitively. "That right there is 'cause of a woman. Why the hell would I want to do that to myself? Miaka didn't even say anythin' to him an' he's all sad! Hell no!"

Nuriko shook his head. "You are over-analyzing this, Tasuki." Under his breath, he added, "If that's even possible."

Grumbling, Tasuki folded his arms over his puffed chest. "Women are evil. They're sneaky an' tricky an' can mesmerize ya to do what they want ya to do. I want nothin' to do with that."

"Somehow I don't believe you," Nuriko replied with a shrug. "It's easy to be jealous of the love between Tamahome and Miaka. They've been through a lot. You've seen it yourself. And they always come out loving each other more. You mean to tell me that you don't want that? You don't want a woman to look at you like Miaka looks at Tamahome? To have a woman devoted to you like she is to him?"

Scoffing, Tasuki shook his head definitively. "Nope. That'll never happen to me. Once this is all over, I'll be goin' back to Mt. Reikaku, an' it's not like there are a buncha women comin' up there."

Nuriko wagged his brows at him. "So that means you do want to fall in love someday."

Tasuki sputtered as Nuriko laughed. "Hey! That's not what I meant! Yer as bad as a woman!"

Patting his hand on Tasuki's shoulder, Nuriko composed himself and flashed his friend a smile. "I don't know, Tasuki. I wouldn't count it out. I'm sure Tamahome never expected to fall in love with his priestess. I think love doesn't give you a choice. It hits when you least expect it. Even a manly bandit like yourself doesn't stand a chance."

With that, Nuriko walked off, whistling a happy tune to himself. Tasuki scoffed and grumbled to himself how ridiculous a notion it was that he, the leader of the Mt. Reikaku bandits, would fall prey to such a thing as a woman's love.