I don't own Fushigi Yugi...but Tasuki I'll take. (I don't really have him so please keep the lawyers away).

Using my staff I blasted my way through the cave, Tasuki and Taka right behind me, until I was face to face with her, my best friend, Kouran.

"Kouran, release Miaka immediately. Otherwise…"

"Otherwise you'll do what?" her confidence didn't stop me.

"My friends who serve Suzaku mean more to me than life itself. And to keep them from being hurt by you, I will kill you first."

She seemed too calm. "Fascinating, then you'll have to do it before your lovely Priestess drowns won't you?"

Tasuki and Taka suddenly lunged forward. "Chichiri, we'll handle Kouran, you save Miaka."

I could hear them yelling as Kouran attacked them. Suddenly she began to speak ancient words, conjuring up a power that was greater than her previous attacks. In exchange I conjured up my own power, to protect my friends. "Tamahome…Tasuki!"

She attacked and I retaliated.

It hit her dead on, but she kept on attacking. I did what I thought I had to do.

"Don't worry, I swear, I'll save you Kouran."

I created a barrier using my robe and transported behind her. I grabbed her, making it impossible for her to move. Now it was time to end this.

"Tasuki, use your fire power on my robe. Concentrate everything on burning the robe. If you do that we'll break the water wall and the flames will reach inside her barrier."

Tasuki didn't speak up right away, but when he did I could hear concern in his voice. "Wait, what are you talking about? If I do that then you'll die too."

"Hurry! We don't have much time!" Just do it Tasuki, please. Kill us both right now.

I heard nothing else, just waited for the impending death.

"Your penetrating my water barrier is quite a remarkable feat Chichiri," Kouran said with a short laugh. "However, you can't use any special powers in here. Holding me is taking all of your strength. Using his flames, that amateur's trick will never work." I could feel my clothes being ripped, but I still held on despite the force of the water around me.

She laughed. "You are such a fool Chichiri."

I ignored her. "My body can't take this pressure very much longer. Do it, Tasuki. Do it, Now!"

I'm sorry to make you do this Tasuki, but there is no other way. Please kill me. Do it now.

I could feel Tasuki's life force surround us seconds before the robe burst into flames. My plan was working.

"What? The barrier's…collapsing," Kouran said in a disbelieving voice.

"Don't be afraid, Kouran, I promise you won't be alone this time," I said with tears in my eye. "I've got you. I've got your hand. This time I'm not letting go."

Tears fell down my cheek. "And now in heaven, the three of us will be reunited."

She spoke suddenly. "Let me go.

"Let me go."

Tasuki's life force got stronger as he prepared to send the final blast.

"No, Suzumi!"

A punch came through the barrier, hitting Kouran directly in the stomach. Taka's life force surrounded my mind as I registered his presence.

"No," Kouran said quietly. "It can't be. How could I be killed by these mere children?"

I watched as she groaned before completely disappearing. "Kouran…"

"Miaka's okay," Taka yelled seconds later. "We did it Tasuki."

Tasuki sat a few feet away, taking deep breaths. The attack took more out of him than he thought. "Yeah, we did, but my nerves are shot. I thought we were all gonna die for a second you jerk. I'm beat."

I stared into the water, where Kouran was now. "Why aren't you letting go of my hand?" Kouran asked quietly.

"I promised…that I wasn't going to let go this time."

"We'll all be reunited in heaven. You're still such a nice girl. That's why he loved you. He always loved you, Chichiri."

"Kouran, don't."

"Did you really believe that, that he would ever betray you?

"I never meant to take him away from you. I just…I wanted…just once…I wanted to hold him in my arms, feel the softness of his lips, the warmth of his skin.

"He valued faithfulness so much that he didn't think that he could be with you once he allowed himself to kiss another while betrothed to you. It was only once. I can't say I didn't understand his reasoning.

"Yes, I was the one who wreaked it all. I deserve to die. But, I hated you and I let a bitter demon possess me. And for a sake of a fool like me, you were hurt." Her hand gently brushed against my scar. "If he had known, if he had seen that scar, he would be hurt."

"That moment…I let you go. I should have held on…no matter what I should have held onto you," I said as the tears fell down my cheeks. "When I saw you there, lying lifeless in the water. I felt lost, I couldn't move a muscle. If I had the powers that I had now…I would have saved you. Some how?"

"Oh Chichiri," she said in a comforting voice, one I had heard before. "We were young. Could really close friends be ever so quick as to distrust each other?"

I looked at her quickly. "What are you saying? You are my dearest friend… even now. And you always will be. I love you, I've always loved you. I'm sorry…don't go."

The water hand in mine disappeared, crushed in my own. She was gone. "Kouran!!!"

I sat there staring at the water in my hands as her voice floated towards me. "To water I return, Suzumi…forgive me. Please…"

She was gone.

I sat there for a long time, just thinking, staring at the water. Kouran was my best friend and I didn't want to let her go. I loved her like a sister, like she was a part of me. She was my closest confidant and I didn't want to lose her again, but I had.

The others were nearby, just waiting on me. Taka was explaining to Miaka the truth about me. How I was really a girl and Tasuki…

He was just sitting there staring at me.

"Tasuki, why are you staring at me?"

He averted his eyes. "I'm sorry about Kouran."

I shook my head. "No, I'm the one who's sorry. Once again I could not save her from death. I had to let her die again. If you guys hadn't of jumped in like you did, I would have died. You saved me, why?"

"You're a warrior just like us, there was no way I was going to lose the only one I have left. Once this is over Taka and Miaka will return to their world and I didn't want to be alone here."

I nodded before I stood. It was time to head back.