Don't worry Chocolate, I'm not gonna change Nakago. I know better then that. Besides, he's sorta possessed by that other… dude… Tenkou or whatever his name is. So yeah, I'm not touching that puppy right now.

As… suggested (er commanded…) Tamahome will SOON appear! This one is short, I have a test tomorrow.

Not mine

MJ stared at the slow rising and falling of Mitsukake's chest. Everyone always said doctors make the worst patients.

By the time they'd all woken up it was the middle of the day, and MJ's ankle (under Mitsukake's orders,) was not yet strong enough to go out. So he'd ordered another day of rest.

Unfortunately, when they'd woken up the next morning…

Flashback

"I'll get us something to eat. If Mitsukake ties your foot again tightly, you should be able to go see Shoka-san, no da." Chichiri had his pole and was practically dying to go out fishing.

"Ugh. Fish again?" MJ looked over at the tall man and said in good humor, "Mitsukake, tell the man to get us some potato chips!"

She paused, waiting for the 'what the heck are potato chips' comeback.

Nothing.

"Mitsukake?"

Slowly the large man turned, looking at her. She could see his eyes were glazed, and he seemed to be struggling to hold himself together.

Swallowing, he looked at her.

"Priestess… I'm sorry."

End flashback

"You should go on without me." Mitsukake's voice was weaker then it had been. He looked up at MJ, a gentle smile on his face.

MJ jumped, she hadn't realized he was awake.

It was such a mess. She'd wanted to find Shoka, but now with Mitsukake sick…

In the bottom of one of her bags, MJ realized she had almost the entire collection of manga between AJ and herself. It turned out to be incredibly handy, especially in this case. Although she'd read the Mitsukake scene (AJ had practically memorized it) she found herself trying to consult what Miaka, the original priestess, had done to save them. And the truth hurt.

Miaka hadn't done a thing.

It was all Mitsukake.

He had saved Shoka's life.

Only he could defeat the demon sickness.

And now he had it, most likely she'd brought the germs here herself from town.

Well okay. Chichiri probably helped, but still…

'What am I gonna do? Mitsukake won't be able to defeat the demon and save Shoka… good grief I RUINED THE STORY! I'll never get any wishes and meet Tamahome and I'll grow up to be an old maid with twelve cats…'

"MJ-san." Chichiri spoke from the door, motioning for her to come.

She jumped to her feet. "Please rest Mitsukake, and get well. We'll figure something out."

Mitsukake was sweating lightly. Whatever the heck this stuff was, it sure made the flu look wimpy.

MJ stepped outside and Chichiri closed the door. Standing on the doorstep, he took off his mask.

"MJ-san, Mitsukake told me that only he can defeat the demon monster that he suspects Miss Shoka to be. And now he's baring the same symptoms as those who have died."

'Tell me something I don't know.' MJ thought.

"MJ-san, what are we going to do? Mitsukake could die as well. And if he does, we can't summon Suzaku."

"I know!" Said MJ miserably. "I know that… I do… I just don't know what to do about it… I mean, the demon can't be defeated by anyone but him and now he can't do it…"

It was hopeless.

Seeing her expression Chichiri replaced his mask and went, "Cheer up MJ-san! Maybe it's just some weird virus no da!"

MJ snorted. "Do you believe that?"

Chichiri sighed. "This much I know, no da. If Mitsukake dies… he won't be taken like those villagers we met. His will is too strong no da."

MJ shook her head again. "Is it possible that I can just take a walk? I need to think this over."

Chichiri nodded a little. "Stay within sight of the cabin no da."
As he crossed her path to go inside MJ stood still for a moment. After a bit she began to walk down the path.

'Whenever we watched the series we thought of how we would do it differently. We wouldn't be that stupid.

But here I am. My friend has been captured, I have no idea where she is… I've only found two people, haven't even met Tamahome, one of my warriors is going to die probably…'

She stopped at the bottom of the hill. Between the village and Mitsukake's hut. Death was all around.

And she was helpless now.

There were days when AJ was seriously glad that one of the warriors was, in fact, a woman. It made a lot of things so much easier then Miaka had it. It didn't matter how gender confused Nuriko was, he was still male and that was that.

Soi, however, was decidedly female.

And AJ was her dress up doll.

"I feel really ridiculous. Are you sure about this?" AJ asked.

Soi nodded. "Come lady Priestess. We have to go to the docks and we have no time for you to change."

AJ huffed a little, walking on her wobbly wooden shoes. Thank heaven for Soi's mini lesson or she'd fall on her face. She still might, actually.

They walked outdoors, getting into the carriage.

"So we're all going to get Genbu's shinzahoe first, right?" Asked AJ cheerfully.

"I suppose." Soi said, looking half bored and half amused by the priestess's antics. However her amusement was doubly increased as the ship came into view.

"It's so little! Ha it's adorable!"

"Little? You call the biggest boat in the empire little?"

"Er…" AJ backtracked. "I mean…"

Soi shook her head. "Come." She opened the door and leapt out. "Nakago has been here often to make sure the preparations were perfect.

AJ stepped out of the carriage. Nakago seemed to materialize the moment she did.

"Lady AJ." He said, bowing before her. "You look lovely."

She saw Soi in the background looked seriously ticked. Biting back a laugh Aj responded, "Actually that was all Soi-sans doing. Er… is everything ready to go?"

"Yes Lady AJ."

AJ was seriously thinking of hitting over the head with her shoe. It would be better suited for that anyway, since she could barely stumble, let alone walk. If he did that monotone one more time…

Suboshi and Amiboshi walked by, carrying luggage.

"Hey! Wait…" AJ hopped over. "Can you guys show me the ship?"

"Certainly lady AJ."

"STOP CALLING ME THAAAAT!"

"Er…." sweatdrop "Yes… AJ-san."

"It's pretty cool how you two always talk at the same time."

"Is it really?" They asked.

"So," Said Tomo as she walked off. "You and the priestess… quite chummy."

"What are you talking about?" Soi said lowly.

Tomo grinned. The face paint colors were the same, but the pattern was different.

"Oh, just how often you two have been hanging out these days… while the boat gets ready. Really chummy…"

Soi drew herself up. "I am a warrior. It's my duty to look after the priestess."

"Look after. Do you think you can get her to grant you one of her wishes this way?"

Soi looked upon him, fury in every beautiful line of her face. "Listen you homo-"

"That's Tomo."

She pretended she hadn't heard, "why bother me with this? You've been spying." It wasn't a question. "Then you should know that she said she saved one wish for Nakago's happiness. She said she knew it's the thing that most of us wanted. Were you listening then?!"

"Of course." Said Tomo disdainfully (too proudly, in Soi's opinion, for one who had just been caught in the act) "but I wondered… if that might sadden you."

"What do you mean?" Soi half growled.

"I mean." Said Tomo beginning to leave, "That Nakago probably knows about that wish as well. And I'm sure that his happiness does not involve you."

Mitsukake was worsening.

He could no longer see. He couldn't walk. His senses were leaving him.

Tama sat, devoted curled at his neck, every now and then letting a little meow expressing his worry.

Chichiri and MJ were equally depressed.

"What can we do, no da?" Chichiri said hoarsely. They'd gone over a million plans and none worked.

MJ didn't answer. She sat in the corner, very still, her eyes shut. Every bit of energy was focused on the problem. She couldn't let Mitsukake die, not after she had this chance to make sure every warrior lived…

"Chichiri," She said suddenly, "he just has to get well!"

"I'm afraid the chance is small." Chichiri said, looking to where his fellow warrior slept. Chichiri had almost worked himself into a coma taking care of him, and his slow sleepless movements proved it. "Unless there are two Mitsukakes the odds are not good no da."

"Two Mitsukakes." MJ said slowly. The words sounded stupid. There couldn't be two of someone. Well, there had been two Tamahomes once in the series, but that's because one-

She sat up.

"Crap Chichiri, that's it! We've got to find another Mitsukake! Or make one anyway!"

He looked at her. His mask didn't allow him to give her any skepticism, but it was still there, plain as day. Especially in the next word he spoke.

"What?"

MJ wasn't listening, she stood up and threw off her blanket.

"Gosh, Tasuki, we've gotta find Tasuki!

"But why?" Chichiri asked.

MJ paused in her mad raving and looked at him.

"Trust me in this. The only way to save Mitsukake and Miss Shoka is by Tasuki."

"But… you can't go alone." Chichiri protested.

MJ paused.

"We can't take Mitsukake either, but you have to stay and take care of him. Chichiri, transport me to Mt. Leikaku and I'll find Tasuki." Seeing him stand, statue still, she pleaded, "Please Chichiri, it's our only hope!"

It seemed like forever before he nodded slowly. "I trust you priestess." He said.

Bringing forth his staff and kesa, he laid the fabric on the ground.

"You wish to go now?"

"I have to." MJ looked over at the sleeping form. "Chichiri, watch over him!"

Chichiri nodded. MJ, not sure how the transportation worked, shut her eyes and stepped onto the fabric.

Suddenly, something plunked her in the head. She opened her eyes and saw a large red bead lying by her foot.

"Ow!" She rubbed her head and leaned down to pick it up. "What the heck…?"

"It's from my necklace. Use it to call if you need, no da." Chichiri placed his fingers to his lips. "Be on your guard, no da!"

And suddenly, she was gone.

Not as much effort went into it, I admit. But I feel good just writing something. Sorry Miaka, if it was it's normal length your Tama would have been here, but as it is, next time. (I said that last time, didn't I?)

Sorry to all my reviewers who I have not reviewed stories for... I actually do read the stories of my reivewers, I just haven't gotten around to sitting down and writing a good review, because mostof the time I'm darting between classes. It's nice to write something besides "Yay! Write more" Which... is normally what I write. Hey, at least you know I'm interested!

Later ya'll

ME