Chapter 12 - The Finale

In another dimension, both Hoshi and Miaka faced Suzaku Seikun, the Suzaku God. As usual the priestess who couples with the God is allowed three wishes. Miaka agreed to couple with Suzaku so that she can wish for Tenkou to be sealed away forever. In the meantime, Hoshi suddenly felt a soft warm glow in her womb. Suzaku Seikun was made aware of her pregnancy and was proud that she has managed to love someone so deeply to conceive his child. Suzaku Seikun continued that it's this child of love, which regenerate the grail and replenish it's powers. However this child can not leave this world so after she has delivered the baby, she is to leave this world and leave the child to the care of the father.

Hoshi was heart broken to hear this. She fell down to her knees and beg Suzaku Seikun to not part her with her husband and child. "Without them there is no point in living," reasoned Hoshi. "What is your point in saying that the source of your power is love and just when I found the ultimate love and created a child from it, you take it away from me after all I have done in summoning you by supplying you with my power of love." However Suzaku merely shook his head said that "This is the way it's supposed to me. I just didn't expect you to get pregnant with a child but you will get over it sooner or later. It will just be more harder and painful." After saying that he proceeded to couple with the priestess and they return back to the hall with a trapped Tenkou and their costumes return to their original form.

Without wasting more time Miaka began with "Kai-Jin, seal Tenkou now away and forever and let there be no chance for him to escape from his prison." As she said this the God symbol glowed on her forehead. Tenkou was then circled by a force field which slowly shrunk into oblivion casting Tenkou away into the darkness, never to return again.

After using her first wish, Miaka dropped to her knees, in pain from the beast God consuming her. Taka came to her aid and shared her pain but she told Taka that she was alright and won't give in. Taka replied "Don't lie, you are not alright and you don't need to always be so strong by yourself. The last time you coupled with the beast God, it caused you great pain that showed up on your body as deep slashes. So you can lean on me and use my life force, depend on it and together we will get through this. With those words, Miaka somehow felt her pain lessened a lot.

Meanwhile as Chichiri approached a dazed Hoshi, he cried happy tears that she was not harmed in any way and that they could now be together. As she heard the last few words she cried and sobbed into Chichiri's neck that she don't want to be separated from him ever but she had no choice because Suzaku told her that this child belongs to this world and after I deliver it I have to go back to my own world and leave this child to the care of his father.

Hearing that information Chichiri acted as though he was shocked. But deep down he knew there was another way that they could still be together in the real world. But he couldn't dwell on that thought any longer for the women he loves is heart broken because she has to leave this world after the delivery. Chichiri comforted her by suggesting that they treasure the next eight months together. But nothing he said could stop the tears rapidly flowing from her eyes.

Exhausted from the grief and battle, Hoshi fainted in Chichiri's arms, body limp and energyless. Chichiri exclaimed "Hoshi, Hoshi !! Wake up, don't scare me, come on wake up, open your eyes ! But Hoshi didn't respond. She just laid there unconscious. Mitsukake immediately checked her pulse and concluded that her body is just exhausted. "When I have regenerated my powers I will heal her body, but her soul is badly broken because her life force is erratic.

Only the power of love can restore her chi to its balanced state thus stabilizing her life force. Chichiri immediately said, "Hoshi Hoshi, I love you, I love you very much. You do know that don't you? Then why don't you wake up?" A voice spoke, it sounded like Hoshi but her lips was not moving and she was still unconscious. "It's useless Chichiri. I love you too with all my heart and soul but what's the point when I can't live with you. I have left this body because if I continue living in it, it'll only be a matter of time before I leave everyone and I don't want that to happen so I'm not going back !!" As they turned to where the voice was coming from, they saw Hoshi's spirit.

Chichiri wanted so much to tell Hoshi what Taiitsukun told him but he couldn't break his promise to Taiitsukun to keep it a secret until Hoshi leave this world. Chichiri proceeded to try grab the spirit and force it back into Hoshi's body but his hands went straight through her like it was thin air. Chichiri realized how stupid that was and went back to cuddling his beloved's body. Everyone else was so sad with what they were seeing.

Suddenly Chichiri said "If I can't live without you in life, then let me accompany you in death" and draw Hotohori's sword attempting to thrust the sword into his heart when Hoshi's spirit dashed in front of Chichiri. Chichiri look shocked and everyone thought it was from the pain of the sword piercing his heart but it wasn't. Thinking that Hoshi's a spirit and the sword couldn't hurt her, they all gasped when they saw the spirit turned solid around the heart just to hold the sword from penetrating Chichiri's heart

Chichiri was shocked, stunned to see Hoshi's spirit receiving the blow. He was speechless. "As long as I still exist, I will not let any harm come to you," said Hoshi's spirit. Chichiri was touched and happy that Hoshi still loved him so much even in spirit form. Suddenly Hoshi's spirit was thinning and almost disappearing. That's when Hotohori said "That sword was a deity's sword, which means it can also hurt spirits.

Shocked by this piece of information, Chichiri watched helplessly as Hoshi's spirit fall softly onto the ground, thinning while a red patch of blood appeared on Hoshi's body around her heart. "I … I guess … I have not … completely left my body, that a small part of me still wanted to live with you in life no matter … how short … a time, "stammered Hoshi's spirit.

As Chichiri was watching his beloved dying, a red phoenix bird flew from out of nowhere and landed besides Chichiri. The phoenix bird was touched by this love and cried a tear which healed the spirit's wound and Hoshi's spirit slowly floated back to her body and Hoshi opened her eyes to everyone tearful for they were touched by this love especially Tasuki who was crying almost a bucket full of tears.

It was at this moment that Miaka knew what she had to do and everyone agreed with her decision. The God symbol flashed on her forehead, "Kai-Jin, please allow Hoshi to live with Chichiri and her child for as long as possible before leaving this world." Suzaku granted this wish for he too was touched by this love. Hoshi thanked Miaka for using her last wish on her and told Miaka that she is indebted to Miaka.

Suzaku then said "Hoshi, I can only grant you six months of life in this world after the delivery and remember after six months, you must return to your world. Even though I am a God, there are still some wishes I can't grant." Hoshi nodded her head in understanding. For a very brief moment, she thought sadly that she only have a year plus to spend with Chichiri but she quickly smiled happily to everyone thanking them for their support and power. She changed her reaction quickly because she didn't want Chichiri to notice her sad look but of course he did.

She reasoned that she could feel all their powers and belief in her flowing into her as she was gathering and and channeling her powers for Suzaku.

Then Mitsukake asked Hoshi how she revived Miaka when she found her sprawled on the floor earlier. He remembered that he couldn't sense Miaka's life force and believed she was dead. Hoshi answered "Miaka wasn't dead but was suffocated so I merely re-activate certain pressure points when I checked her pulse and she could breathe again.

Mitsukake and the others understood now how their priestess suddenly came back alive.

Chiriko suddenly reminded Miaka that she still has one more wish. Miaka realized this and look at the warriors and princess and realized what the third wish was. "Kai-Jin, restore this whole country to it's former state of peace, prosperity and glory." said Miaka. while the God symbol flashed on her forehead again and this time after the wish was realized, she found herself not in so much pain anymore. Soon they found themselves back at the palace grounds and the young king and empress approach them to thank them for all they have done, from the bottom of their hearts.

Since Miaka has used up her three wishes she and Taka were suddenly surrounded in a red glow of light indicating it's time for their return to the real world. This time they didn't say goodbyes for they now that they are always together and will be forever. Before Miaka completely disappear, she said to Hoshi, "Take care of yourself and Chichiri and the baby. I am sure you will have a happy ending like me and Taka. See you soon." Hoshi nodded, convinced that Chichiri ahd herself will surely live happily ever after.

As Chichiri carried Hoshi back to his room to nurse her health back, Hoshi realized that Chichiri and herself will have to treasure each other more and consider every moment they spent their last one so that their short time together will be equivalent to a lifetime.