"How long will it be until the 5th constellation is overthrown?"

"At this rate, you will have three days. Three days to decide."

"And what will happen to the one I do not choose, Suzaku-sama?"

"I am afraid that he. . ."


"Miaka?"

She looked around at those that sat at the table. Apparently she was the last to awaken form this most recent trance. Although she had been back in her body for a few moments now, her mind replayed the last few words that Suzaku Seikun had told her. Yui immediately saw that something was wrong and placed a hand on her friend's own, looking into her eyes.

"Daijoubu?" she asked softly.

"No," Miaka replied. "It will be a long time before I am okay again."

With that, Miaka sighed deeply and decided to throw the attention onto someone else.

"Yui, did Seiryuu Seikun tell you who Suboshi is?"

"No," the blonde replied. "He said that he can sense the spirit energy, but not the form that it was taken."

"Perhaps Miaka can use Chichiri's powers to find him," Hotohori suggested.

Everyone looked up at the spirit who had be quiet for most of the time, before and after the trance. It seemed that it took a large amount of effort for him to speak. Miaka felt herself getting teary-eyed.

"Hotohori, return back to your world," she said. "You are too weak to stay here without straining your spirit. I don't know what I would do if something was to happen to you. Please?"

He looked sad, but nodded.

"I will go, but promise me that you will take care of yourself. I would like to visit you again once this is all over."

Miaka smiled, grateful that Hotohori was understanding, especially in this situation. Slowly, he started to fade into the air around him until there was no sign that he was there at all. Miaka thought about his suggestion.

"Maybe I should give it a try," she said aloud.

"We've certainly got nothing to lose," Yui said. "The sooner we find him the better."

"Did we all receive the same message then?" Takara asked. "That we will fuse with out god and harbor the power of most of the constellations."

Yui nodded, but Miaka highly doubted that anyone else received the message that she did. For that, she was glad. She did not wish this kind of pain on anyone.

"Miaka, are you ready to try?"

Once again brought out of her musings, she nodded and closed her eyes. Clearly, she felt the psychic powers of Chichiri coming to her command. She imagined the stars, the quadrants, and then focused on the constellation of Suboshi. It was as if the power within her knew what she wanted, and hurried to comply. A faint blue line shot out from the stars and she watched as the line descended to earth and moved along the streets of Japan. She watched as the stars sought to identify the body connected with them and gasped when they finally landed on that person. Her eyes flitted open and she looked at Yui.

"I know who Suboshi is," she told her.

"Who is he?" Yui asked, getting excited.

"I am Suboshi."

And everyone turned to look at the body that was the reincarnation of Suboshi.


Oki sighed deeply and saw that Yuki had fallen asleep on the couch. The fear was completely gone now. She and Genbu talked for a long time, and he expressed nothing but the deepest regret that she had suffered the way she had. He even granted her with a present. She stroked the fabric, which would look black one moment and then white with the light it reflected. He had woven for her a cloak of diamonds, the thread fine and delicate. It could easily have been mistaken for silk. It would protect her. When she had asked what she needed to be protected from, he had laughed.

"You don't honestly think that these powers will leave you alone once they realize the plan we have set into action, do you?" he asked.

It made sense. Eventually, these demons would realize that she and the other Mikos were a threat. She only hoped that they would wait for a little while longer. A soft smile played on her lips. However, it had been a long time since she had a reason to practice her archery. With that thought in mind, she got up and grabbed her dusty bow out of her closet and looked for a fresh string.

"This means a lot to me, Shizuru."


"Oh, anything for you, Ryu," the older woman smiled.

He looked at the medical notice that he held in his hands. It was rather believable, and if he pulled it off right, he might have her to himself for a few hours.

"What are you grinning about?" Kourin asked, carrying a bag of dresses she'd just bought.

"Nothing you need to worry about, my dear. This is something that doesn't concern little ones such as yourself."

"Nani?! I'm only 5 years younger than you. I'm not that little."

He smiled and patted her head as he had done so many times with Miaka in another lifetime.


"You're Suboshi?" Yui cried.

Miaka saw the look of betrayal on her face, a look that for many months had been directed towards her.

"Why did you never tell me? Why keep something like that a secret from me?"

He was walking away from them. After Miaka had found him, he had promptly stood up and left the library. Of course, they had all followed him, but only after a block or so of walking did he stop. Turning around, it was clear that he was crying from behind his shades.

"Did you think I wanted to remember the things that I had done? Did you think I wanted you to remember me as that immature, passion-driven boy? How do you think Miaka and Tamahome would have felt if they knew who I was?"

"I would've forgiven you, Tetsuya," Miaka said softly. "Everything you did was out of your love for Yui."

"That's not the point, Miaka!" he said. "You know what I did. Why I did it doesn't make it any better. Do you think Tamahome would have forgiven me so easily. Hate like that does not simply go away. I killed his entire family, enjoyed it, savored it."

At that, he fell to his knees and refused to look at any of them.

"How could I expect Yui to love me when she knew I was capable of such violence and rash actions. I never told any of you because I was afraid that acknowledging it would bring it all back. And I don't want it to come back. I don't."

Miaka watched as Yui walked towards her boyfriend and knelt on the ground in front of him. Gently, she removed the sunglasses from his face and wiped away his tears.

"Look at me, Suboshi," she told him softly.

There was silence as he refused to acknowledge the name.

"Tetsuya. I love you. I do not care about your past any more than you care about mine. You know the evils I wished upon Miaka and Tamahome. You read them all in this body. If you can forgive me for being blind and selfish, then I can do the same for you. The past is the past."

"I forgave Tamahome for injuring me and treating me the way that he did," Miaka said.

"He was under the influence of a drug," he reminded her.

"I'd say love is a very powerful drug, wouldn't you?" Yui smiled.

She stared into his eyes and saw what she had always seen, but never recognized. Yui saw a familiar spirit, someone she was comfortable with, could trust and love.

"I need you, as both Suboshi and Tetsuya. Suboshi must help me to conquer this evil. But Tetsuya is the one that I love."

As the two of them embraced, Miaka found herself thinking about something. Yui did not love Suboshi, but she could love his reincarnated form. Oki did not love Hikitsu, but fell in love with Yuki. Takara never knew Tatara, but loved Kado dearly. Was it possible for her to love both the former and the reincarnation. Could she truly love Tamahome and Taka?

Slamming the last book closed, she sighed and stood up to stretch. That was the last of her homework. Taka had not called her or stopped to visit all day. She thought back earlier to the last time she had seen him. Slowly, it seemed that she was noticing things about him that didn't seem like him. It had never occurred to her before that things like Taka's sudden abruptness at times was part of his personality. Miaka knew now, after seeing the other Mikos interact with their shineihei, that the reincarnation was not the original. Taka was Taka, although he held Tamahome's powers and imprint.


She looked out the window and saw that there was still an hour of daylight left. After grabbing her jacket, Miaka started walking, not really paying any attention to where her feet were leading her. When she looked at her surroundings almost twenty minutes later, she found that her feet had taken her to Seibu's. Walking in the store she looked around to see if Ryu was working. Her eyes spotted some purple hair at the back of the store.

"Ryu, is that you?" she called.

The person turned around and looked over her shoulder.

"No, my brother is off today. I'm his sister Kourin."

Miaka walked over and stuck out her hand.

"I'm Yuuki Miaka. Pleased to meet you."

"Are you a friend of his?"

Miaka nodded and sat down next to her. Kourin was maybe a year or two older than she was. In her hands was a cuisine magazine. Immediately her eyes lit up.

"You can cook?"

"Yeah, I plan on going to culinary school once I save enough money. I do odd jobs here and there."

"Oh, that's wonderful. You know, I've always wondered something. Is it best to mix sweet items with a sweet dessert, or should you vary with the tastes?"

"Well, I've actually been reading up on that, Yuuki-san. You see, it entirely depends on the kind of entrée you serve. . ."

Ryu watched as Miaka and his sister walked past his apartment. Kourin went into the doors and Miaka continued on her way. It was getting dark, but she would be fine. And if she wasn't, he would know immediately. Almost as if she knew he was thinking about her, she looked up towards his window and found him standing there. Even from that high, he could see her cheeks color as she hurriedly walked away. It was okay, she could walk away for now. Tomorrow, however, was another day completely.


AN: Yes, it's short, I know. However, I promise the next will be rather large. You get to find out what Ryu is planning, Taka and Miaka finally have that talk and a few other surprises. Ja na!