Author Fangirling: This chapter continues the set up, 3rd person POV. The next chapter is when I find it starts to get more fun when I used 1st POV again. Once again referencing the OVA, the pacing in this chapter reminds me of the end of the first episode in OVA 2. Lightning speed explanations, anyone?

"Tenkou? I haven't heard of you," he tightened his grip on the book talking to him. "What do you mean, 'worshiped'?"

"Just as there are other territories in this world, there are also other deities besides the cardinal four. I am one such," the voice continued, sounding as if it came from within Tetsuya's own head. "Nakago's tribe, the Hin, worshiped me."

"But he was a Seiryuu warrior. What was he, polytheistic?"

"Nakago is dead. Why does he concern you so much?"

"Because he was evil! That man was the villain of the Universe of the Four Gods!"

"'Evil' is relative. Or was Nakago merely portrayed that way in the simple storybook you hold in your hands?"

"He… was."

"Yet the Priestess of Seiryuu cannot bring herself to hold any ill will towards him."

"She was tricked! It's different. She's just hurt and that's why she doesn't say anything."

His remark was returned by a snide laughter, causing Tetsuya to slam the book down against the table as he raised his voice at it. "Why are you telling me all this, anyway?"

"I need you. With your attachment to this world, to it's characters, you're suitable for me to use."

"For what? To become an underling like Nakago?"

"Nakago no longer serves me. Too interested in being a god himself, he lost sight of his own limits, and reverence for those superior. Should I call him, however, he will answer and appear if you so wish to speak with him."

Even though it shouldn't have excited him, he felt himself smile. "And? What is it you want from me? I'm only someone who has read the book. All I want is to protect Yui."

"Because you have read it, you know it," the voice answered, in a tone with sounded like praise. "Come. The Suzaku warriors wish to be with their priestess, and only you can help them."

"What?"

Keisuke groaned as he picked up the can of beer off the floor which he had dropped. Tetsuya's getting this one, he agreed with himself and nudged the door open with his foot. "I'm ba-"

For a moment, he could have sworn he saw some strange light, and at that moment, he was sure he did not see his friend. "Tetsuya? Where did you disappear to?"

Light. Disappearance. Could he have?

Setting the beer down, he carefully picked the book up off the table and flipped forward to the most recent page and began reading. "The priestesses' brother was alarmed, as his friend had vanished into the realm of the… Tetsuya!"

Tetsuya had found himself in a dream-like place. The ground beneath him was smooth enough for him to see a reflection, and orbs of some sort floated meaninglessly. It was a bright place, despite the deep colors in the surroundings, but a low mist still hung around him. He hadn't imagined any landscapes in the Universe of the Four Gods as looking quite like this, but he was sure that was where he was. He thought that if this day ever came, he would be shocked when he realized where he was, but instead he accepted it quickly and looked around for the one who had brought him there. "Tenkou! What do you mean, the warriors want to join their priestess? You mean that they all can incarnate into our world like Taka did?"

The very idea made his eyes sting with tears. It was clear that Tamahome had loved Miaka enough to disappear from this place and find a new place in reality. If only the others- particularly those who had died- could go to Miaka as well. If only he could have the chance to meet them! He had cried when these characters died, he cheered for them in their battles. He knew he was a big fan of the Suzaku warriors, but would that be enough to help them do something like become real?

"I sense what you're thinking, and you are correct. You can help them to reincarnate in their priestesses' reality."

The large figure appeared, clothed in an endless black cape and adorned with a crown and silver hair which he must had spent an eternity growing out. This was the deity, Tenkou. "Tamahome was able to go to your world because he gave up the memories of this world he was attached to. The other warriors do not yet know what must be done, as they cannot sever their ties themselves."

"Then what do you need me for?"

"Their jewels of memory. You will find them and give them to me."

"Tetsuya! Hey!" Keisuke shook the book, as if someone was supposed to fall out of it. "What in the… this has got to be a joke!"

"So it's reality if your sister is brought here, but a joke if anyone else is?"

"But… she's the priestess, he's just Tetsuya!" he replied, not bothering to wonder where the rough voice had come from. The rough voice grumbled for him to get in there, and no sooner than he heard that was he dragged in as well. It was like being on a roller coaster you weren't strapped in for, screaming in panic for it not to leave until you're buckled. He covered his head and waited for some kind of impact, but instead, everything felt still. The voice told him to open his eyes, and when he looked around, he was a mountain landscape. With orbs.

"It's not anything you shouldn't be familiar with."

"I shouldn't?" he still looked around, wide-eyed. "Then this is the Universe of the Four Gods? But I'm not a priestess! The only person with the power to bring me here would have to be--" he paused and placed the voice to a description he had heard before. With out turning his head, he smiled as it dawned on him. "Oh. Then I should be familiar with you, too, shouldn't I… Taiitsukun?"

"You're quick. Then I'm sure you've figured out why you're here."

He turned around to face her confidently, but quickly looked away again with a gag reflex before more slowly turning to face her again. "No, why did you bring Tetsuya here?"

"I didn't," her veins pulsed through the wrinkles in her forehead, indicating her annoyance. "I need you to get him back out of it."

"Tell me more," urged Tetsuya. "What jewels of memory? I haven't heard of these."

"Each of the remaining warriors found a gem when Tamahome departed from this world. It is somewhere close to their hearts, even if they themselves are not aware of where that may be. You know the warriors, and will be able to find out where these most precious possessions are hidden, and then you will give them to me to vanquish and set them free of their memories."

"Is that all there is to it?" asked he. How simple, he thought, and did he really know them well enough to figure out a menial task such as this? Why couldn't Tenkou tell the warriors so they could set themselves free?

"They are attached, but it is for their own good that they relinquish their possessions. You must not tell them why you need these memories from them. If they know, they will still cling to them in their minds, and their souls will not be able to reincarnate where they belong: with their priestess."

"But how do I find them? I don't even know where they are. I'm really just a normal guy."

The deity grinned, as if to suggest that that could be changed.

"Jewels of Tamahome's memories?" Keisuke clarified with Taiitsukun. "Let me get this straight. He gave up his memories of this world, and they took the form of seven jewels, which were given to the other warriors. And that Tenkou guy wants these… why?"

"They have great power. He could be capable of devastating things in this world as well as in your own if he attains them all."

"I see. So, do we have to get them to Taka instead?"

"If he wants them he may have them. If not, it's no harm done."

"Uh huh. And you say that Tenkou is going to use Tetsuya as a kind of minion to get this done himself?"

"Yes. I do not even know what kind of lies he'll tell him."

"You know," Keisuke buried his face in his palm, "this is a really stupid plot twist."

"I hate to say that I agree," she continued grumbling, as if she knew no other way to speak. "Well, hurry up and go find him and get him out of here. Dealing with Tenkou would be much easier if he didn't have any ties to your world."

"Why'd a couple of guys like us have to get dragged into this?" griped he, "Aren't Miaka and Yui supposed to be the important ones here? Why didn't you call Miaka?"

"Don't bring them into this," she snapped. "This world doesn't need to see the priestesses anymore. Likewise, those girls don't deserve to suffer anymore here."

"I don't think Miaka would suffer to see this place again."

"Perhaps, but how difficult do you think it would be to force her back out again?"

"Okay, point taken! My sister sticks like peanut butter. I still don't see why Tenkou had to use Tetsuya, though."

"He could read his heart, and it helped that he was already familiar with this world. I had to call you because you know him well, and are the only one who can get him out."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm the good friend."

"But also," she took a more serious tone, "I should think that you'd be interested in saving Taka from disappearing."

His throat sank to his knees. "What?"

"If Tenkou attains all of the jewels, Tamahome… Taka will cease to exist."

What was this feeling? A sense of energy pulsing through his hands, as if he was more alive now than he had ever been before? And yet a sense of calmness and control. What had Tenkou done to him?

"You're one of my chosen now," Tenkou breathed. "My servant to whom I have bestowed power. Use it however you wish in order to bring me the jewels."

"A servant…" he lifted his hand to his forehead, where there was a thin crown. The rest of his clothes had been changed as well, more fitting of a place with Chinese influence. "A chosen one, huh?"

"One of my chosen kings. Now go."

"He'll… no! That's not fair, not after everything he's been through to be with Miaka now!" Keisuke felt his hands shaking at the thought. "He can't!"

"Many things are not fair," Taiitsukun closed her eyes as she spoke to him like a grandmother does when disciplining an ignorant child. "But you have the chance to make sure that the other warriors protect their jewels, thereby protecting Taka's existence."

"Of course! But… how am I supposed to find them? Are you going to give me a magical compact or something? And besides, most of them are dead! I can't see ghosts!"

"I suppose a giving you a gift would be reasonable, as it was I who called you here," she returned to grumbling. She fumbled in her sleeve, reaching for something, then pulled her bony hand out as if she threw something, but he could see nothing. "There."

He was about to complain that he had nothing, but then noticed a necklace with a small white-jade pendant hanging from his neck. He was surprised, and before asking was it did, she explained that it would react when he was near the jewels of memory. "Well, if it's close to where the warriors would have something important, than it'd be close to where they are, I guess. Hey! This means I'll get to meet the other warriors!"

"Well then, get going, Keisuke. I want Tetsuya and your world's influence out of here as soon as possible."