AN; This chapter is mostly in Crin's point of view for a very important reason. DO NOT SKIP! You'll seriously be extremely confused if you do. And if you didn't read Crin's past in the second book of this trilogy, then you're going to be even more confused no matter what, and I suggest you go back and look it over. No, the rest of the story will not be in Crin's point of view. There may be times, but not really. It's still going to be Takiko's cuz…Takiko equals EPIC! XD jk.

REVIEW!

Love, Alice

(Crin's point of view)

The battle raged around me. I looked desperately for some sign of him, any sign of him. All I could see though were bodies fighting and stabbing. There was blood, lots of blood.

"Tian!" I shouted searching for him among the soldiers around me. There, I saw him standing

on a small rise in the battle field. I couldn't understand what he was doing there in the open, he was smarter than that. I ran up to where he was, calling at him to move or get away from such an exposed area. I was a few feet next to him before he even noticed me.

"Crin?" His face was puzzled when he saw me, as if he was unsure where he was.

"Tian, get down from there, you'll be shot!" His face was still confused. I tried to reach for him but my feet were stuck. I looked down and saw nothing holding them, but it was like invisible hands were keeping me back. "Tian! Tian!!" As I watched the arrow shot him, going straight into his chest. I could smell the tangy scent of blood fill the air, hear the thud as his body hit the ground. I struggled and struggled to try to get to him, to help in any way possible. I could see that he was still breathing, even though his eyes were closed. There was crimson blood pooling around the shaft of the arrow, far too much blood than should be coming out of an arrow wound, but it was still flowing which meant he was alive. There was no way to get to him though, not when I was being restrained by some invisible force. It wasn't until he was dead on the ground that my feet were released. I ran to him holding his dead body in my arms, the blood soaking my clothes and staining them a deep scarlet. I started to sob, then the familiar surge of power came over me, the anger that swamped my body and made me go insane with rage.

I woke with a start. My eyes were streaming with tears, my body coated in a cold sweat. It was the same dream that I had been having for the past few nights. The dreams had come before of course, the haunting memory of Tian's death would be something that I would never be able to forget. They had never come so frequently for such a long time though and it was unsettling. And that rage, that sweeping uncontrollable urge to kill, anything and everything. It scared me, shook me to my core.

I opened the door that led out onto the small porch outside my room. The cool night breeze brushed up against my face, turning the sweat into little beads of icy coolness. The cold helped me clear my mind and try to block the memories. I have Tomite now, I told myself, I can finally move on. I am moving on.

Reminded of my engagement I looked down at the ring that sparkled on my finger. The diamonds twinkled in the light from the full moon, casting sparkles on everything around me. I smiled to myself, soon it would be time. Takiko and Limdo had already had their wedding, that left Tomite and me (besides Hikitsu and Takara, though they had already told us that their wedding would be after ours) to tie the knot. It was something that I had been looking forward to ever since I saw Takiko walk down that aisle with her face so full of ultimate happiness. I knew that I too would feel that happiness when I walk down the aisle to meet Tomite.

Out to the east the barest hints of pink could be seen. It was too late to go to sleep now. I sat on a chair that I had set out for this purpose and watched the sunrise.

Later that day I stood in a recording studio. I could see the producer and my manager through the glass that separated the soundproof room from the room where they controlled all the audio. I nodded, letting them know that I was ready to start. The music swept me up and I started to sing.

Lucy

Suddenly,
It all seems like a blurry dream
But I was there, wide awake
I lived it all

Come, come back to me
I'm longing for you
And my dreams to be true
Where the fields bloom bright,
Mountains glow
I see him

We were there
We were kings and queens
Close to you
Wide awake
I know where I belong
But memories are strong

Come, come back to me
I'm longing for you
And my dreams to be true
Where the fields bloom bright,
Mountains glow
I see him

Where the fields bloom bright,
Mountains glow
I see him

I'll be back
When I hear his voice
Hear him call

I smiled to myself as the music faded. It was a bit ironic, what I had just sung. That is, ironic compared to what I was about to sing. That was the old me, time for the new.

"I've something new that I want to sing today." The producer and my manager looked at me through the glass that separated to sound booth from the actual recording area. They were used to this, my spontaneous fits of writing.

"Ok Crin, go ahead and give out the music." I handed the various band embers the sheets of scoring that I had used my extra time in the morning to work on. They seemed slightly annoyed that they would have to learn new music but I brushed it aside. They were professionals, they could handle it. I shifted my weight from foot to foot impatiently, my skirts rustling around my legs.

"Ready?" I nodded. "Let's hear it." The waves of music I spent the early morning hours pouring my soul into started to drift into hearing. I let myself sink into them, embracing the music.

You tell me that I need to remember

I tell you that I'll never forget

When you haunt me I cry and cry and cry

Sometimes it's hard to let go when there is so much regret

It's hard to say that last goodbye

But just when you think everything's dark

There's a new sunrise in the sky

a light that signals a brand new start.

I've come a long way

I know it's been awhile

But how much have I changed

And how much have you?

But with the start of each new day

I put on a bright new smile

And though some new things are strange

I have to remember that things that are good are often new

Sometimes it's hard to say that last goodbye

But just when you think everything's dark

There's a new sunrise in the sky

a light that signals a brand new start.

Things are better now

Though I know that I'll never be the same

And even though I'm missing you

I have people who help me through

And now I've finally finished my waiting game

I'm ready to say that final vow

Sometimes it's hard to say that last goodbye

But just when you think everything's dark

There's a new sunrise in the sky

a light that signals a brand new start.

So here it is

But I hope you know

There will always be a part of me to love you

So

Goodbye

This is Home

I've got my memories
Always
Inside of me
But I can't go back
Back to how it was
I believe you now
I've come too far
No I can't go back
Back to how it was
Created for a place
I've never known

Chorus:
This is home
Now I'm finally
Where I belong
Where I belong
Yeah, this is home
I've been searching
For a place of my own
Now I've found it
Maybe this is home
Yeah, this is home

Belief over misery
I've seen the enemy
And I won't go back

Back to how it was
And I got my heart
Set on
What happens next
I got my eyes wide
It's not over yet
We are miracles
And we're not alone

(Chorus)

And now after all
My searching
After all my questions
I'm gonna call it home
I got a brand new mindset
I can finally see
The sunset
I'm gonna call it home

(Chorus)

Now I know
Yeah, this is home

I've come too far
And I won't go back
Yeah, this is home

About an hour later I stood outside the recording studio. It annoyed me that I couldn't just drive my Lotus but Tomite said he didn't trust me with the fast car. I couldn't understand what he meant, cop cars couldn't go nearly as fast as my Lotus so there was no reason to worry. I'd be gone before they even had a chance to turn on their siren.

Thinking of Tomite my mind shifted once again toward my wedding. I wasn't sure if I was excited as much as I was just ready to get it over with. I loved Tomite, that much I was sure of. Enough that I wanted to stay with him the rest of my life. What I wanted to know is why couldn't I just say, "Okay let's be together forever."

No, that wasn't it, I wanted a wedding. I just wanted to celebrate with…everyone. Sure Takiko would be there, but the crowd that was at her wedding, all the friends and people that loved her, was so much larger than anything I could ever expect. I felt insecure, that somehow the insignificant number of friends I had, of people that loved me compared to Takiko, made me less of someone. It was a completely irrational thought and I quickly shooed it out of my mind, but it was always there tugging at me. Saying, "you're nothing, you don't even deserve to be loved."

That too was the heart of my problems. The feeling that I didn't deserve any of this, that I should not be allowed to move on. But hadn't I just silenced that in the song I wrote that morning? I said goodbye, goodbye to Tian forever. I winced as I thought the name, it still caused me hurt to think of him. Whenever I thought those feelings and my insecurities and depression began to overwhelm me, I thought of Tomite. Then everything would get better. Oh, and a lollipop never hurt when I needed cheering up either.

The bag at my side began to vibrate. I looked into the small Coach purse that hung from its shoulder strap. Purses aren't supposed to vibrate. Then I remembered that since my dress had no pockets to stuff it in I had put my phone in my purse earlier that morning. Checking the collar id I answered with a grin.

"Hello dear Takiko. Have you brought me back lovely Hawaiian candy?" My voice was back to its sweet disposition. I found that speaking in such tones was much more fun than being serious, plus it was funny to see everyone's faces when I catch them off guard by talking seriously every once in a while.

"Hey." Was her only reply. She sounded happy, the tone making me relieved. I still was worried she might go back to emo Takiko, even though Limdo was around. Then I'd have to throw candy, or maybe even a flaming pillow, at her and I knew how much she hated that.

"Having fun with Limdo?" I asked casually. Everyone knew what honeymoons meant, and it sure was fun to tease Takiko about. What are best friends for?

"Anyway," She always tried to brush aside my comments. It was so disheartening that since we were talking on the phone I couldn't see the rolled eyes with a hint of blush when I said stuff like that. If I didn't get such interesting, and often funny, reactions I wouldn't say the things I say. "The flight attendant-No I don't want a premium package for the fifth time!- told me that we should be getting back late tonight." It sounded like Takiko had her hands full flying first class. I told her that we should have just gotten our own private jet but she wouldn't listen.

"So since we'll be getting in so late," She continued on, "Limdo and I were wondering if you wanted to round everyone up and through a late night party? It'll be a pool party…" My ears had pricked up as soon as she said the word party. There was only one small thing that I would have to clear up.

"Are you cooking?" I asked.

"No, why?" She replied, her voice a little suspicious.

"Because I don't trust your cooking. I actually feel sorry for your husband." I could hear her offended noises from the other end. Limdo was asking her what was wrong in the background. An evil grin spread over my face as I held in laughter.

"Shut up Crin, do you want to throw a party or not?" That was a stupid question, of course I wanted to throw a party.

"Duh…Genbu's been taking forever with his." I remembered too late that it wasn't a good idea to mention Genbu in front of Takiko. Ever since the whole Limdo fiasco she didn't take to him too kindly.

"…Yeah…" I winced, was she going to get all depressed again? There was a silence that stretched far too long for my comfort, then finally; "I called Miaka."

"I thought I told you no celestial business!" It was true, as I had shoved them into the line for security at the airport I had repeated over and over that this trip was for them to relax and have fun. Not be all worried about the mission. I had also sent several text messages as reminders, but was forced to stop when Takiko said that she wouldn't bring me back any candy if I continued to pester her.

"I called them before I called you, my honeymoon is over now." That was at least reasonable. "There's good news, and there's bad news."

"Good news first" That was my automatic reply. Because no matter what bad news would just make you feel bad and if you got it first or last that wouldn't change the fact that's it's bad.

"Ok then…Yui has all of her warriors." That was good news. Though knowing her warriors, as I had learned from watching them, it wasn't necessarily a good thing. Especially that beast guy, he was smelly. I would have to douse him in perfume before I let him anywhere near me. "I'll be booking a flight for her tomorrow morning."

"To Hawaii?" That seemed like a silly idea. How would she be able to help if she was all the way over there?

"No, to California silly." Takiko giggled at my response.

"Oh…so what's the bad news?" I remembered that there was bad news.

"…The priestess of Byakko is dead." The line went silent. Dead, I thought. That wasn't good. People don't come back from that to help with missions.

"So what do we do?" I asked.

"I don't know. We'll have to figure it out as time goes on I guess." She sounded disheartened. After so much work to get everyone together and for everything to work we had to hit this snag. You would think having gods on your side would help things.

"Sounds good to me." There wasn't much else to say on the subject.

"Well I have to go, see you tonight." The light mood was now completely crushed. I let out an inner sigh. Must everything always be so serious when it comes to these matters? "And Crin?" I had started to click my phone off but now I put it back my ear. "You can bring whatever food you want."

"Woot!" I shrieked in delight. The line went dead and I was left to plan for the party as I waited for Tomite.

I stood there lost in thought when I sensed someone watching me. I casually took out a compact from my purse and pretended to powder my nose with it. I looked through the mirror all around behind me but saw no one. With the enemy on the prowl you could never be too careful. I put the compact away as Tomite pulled up to the curb. I could still feel those eyes on me, my nerves fizzing in readiness for an attack.

"Hey good lookin', wan'a ride? " I giggled at Tomite's silliness. He always made me laugh or feel better. I brushed off the strange feeling and got in the car.

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"Candy! Come here Candy!" the yellow labrador puppy jumped around me trying to get at the treats I held in my hands over his head. He was a small fluff ball after having been dunked in the pool and his hair drying every which way. He had been a little too excited about seeing Takiko after such a long absence and had jumped into the pool after her even when he knew he couldn't swim.

"Crin, his name is not candy, it's Gunnar. And I thought I told you before, candy isn't for dogs." Takiko snatched away the candy from my hands. I looked mournfully as she threw it at Kay who instantly consumed my candy.

"But candy is good for everything…" My voice drifted off as we both stood and watched everyone. The guys were playing that chicken game in the pool. I had tried it but I couldn't hold anyone on my shoulders because my face was under the water most of the time, being so short, and then when I had attacked Limdo they told me that it wasn't in the rules to punch him in the face. Kay was watching the whole thing through the lens of her camera. She was video taping it for "The future Takiko clones" which is what she was calling the children that Takiko and Limdo were going to have.

"Do you have any names picked out?" I asked her. She seemed startled by my question. She thought before she answered.

"I'm not really sure. I mean, I want to have children but with all that's going on now I can't afford to be pregnant. Not to mention I don't want to drag my kids into this mess." I nodded, that seemed logical enough. A battlefield was no place for a child. "What about you?"

The question caught me off guard. "Me? Have kids?" It had never crossed my mind. I had learned to live so much in the present that even planning a wedding had been a leap for me. Thinking so far into the future that children would be involved was just something that I didn't do. Maybe it was time to start thinking.

"Sure, unless you and Tomite decide you don't want any. Somehow I think that you two would be very good parents, despite the android baby incident." I smiled when she said it, thinking back to the weird electronic thing that the teacher had made me carry around. I figured that the best thing to with it was feed it candy, how was I to know that it was supposed to be a baby? Babies aren't made of plastic.

"I hope you're right…" I muttered to myself. Voices drifted over to us. Takara and Inami were talking on the other side of the pool. Takiko noticed the direction of my gaze.

"I think she's a little nervous about the wedding, she's not used to being in the spotlight. What about you, are you nervous?" I could tell there was something more that she meant more than my being nervous about the wedding.

"I love him. Love him more than anyone else. I realized that now that I've allowed myself to move on I can truly be capable of love. I know that I will always love…Tian." The name was a painful one to say." But Tomite is my soul mate and I've realized that. I'm not nervous about marrying him, not at all. What I'm nervous about is that the cake won't have enough sugar and icing. " Takiko smiled at me.

"That would be something you would worry about." We giggled at the thought of a giant cake covered in layer upon layer of sugary icing. For me it was giggles of how delicious it would be, for her it was how ridiculous it would be.

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(Takiko's point of view)

I was awake, and yet I wasn't. My mind was alert to everything that was going on around me, but my eyes were still closed. I wanted to sleep more; I judged the time to be around seven thirty in the morning. I snuggled closer to the warm body beside me, my arms tightening around his chest.

For a moment we both lay there, breathing deeply with one another, his arm limply around my waist as he slept beside me, but after a moment he too stirred, his arm tightening around me and pulling me closer to him as though I were his teddy bear. I could feel him waking up, but I did not wish to wake up just yet. I kept my eyes closed, knowing that he knew that I was awake. He could wake me up officially when he wanted to, I decided.

I listened to him sigh, and then the room plunged into silence once more. I listened to the silence for a moment, wondering what was taking him so long. Finally his hand slid up to my chin, where he cupped it gently and leaned in, kissing me gently on the lips. "Wake up, sleeping beauty." He mumbled, brushing some of my hair out of my face.

I sighed and opened my eyes to find Limdo's amazing silver eyes boring into mine, a soft smile on his face as he stroked my hair. Although I particularly didn't wish to be woken up, I found myself not minding that he'd been the one to wake me up so wonderfully. "I could get used to this," I whispered, pecking his lips.

"I already have," He chuckled, kissing me back longer and fuller. When he pulled away, both of us merely lay there, holding each other and listening to the birds that sang outside, announcing the arrival of a new morning. "It's nice to be home," Limdo finally sighed, sitting up.

I didn't budge, although I was disappointed that he'd let me go. "Where are you going in such a hurry?" I teased, "Are you and the guys doing something today?" Limdo looked back at me. He hadn't put his hair into his pony tail, so I could see the knots that were beginning to form in his hair; he wasn't going to be happy to brush that out. Guys hair, I'd realized quickly, wasn't as soft as a woman's hair; maybe it was the way they washed it.

"Not really," Limdo answered after a moment, "Hikitsu," He said the name through clenched teeth—he still wasn't too happy that his sister was getting married, even if it was someone whom he'd trusted for years, "Wanted to go paintballing. Said it was a 'manly' sport. I don't get his deal with 'manly' stuff, but okay."

"I think he's been reading too many guy magazines and is just excited about it. He'll faze out of it." I shrugged, "But I bet you don't mind."

"I mind that my dog seems to have a thing for my wife," Limdo laughed, rolling over to lean over me. I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down to me so that I could kiss him.

"You're the only man for me," I told him when he pulled away. Limdo grinned triumphantly and then started to kiss my neck.

"I think I'm going to stay home today," Limdo pronounced between kisses. I closed my eyes, a smile on my face.

"Oh, why would that be?" I asked.

"Because I want you to myself today," He rolled over, pulling me so that I was above him. "I'm going to lock everyone out and I'm going to keep you to myself today; I might even lock the dog outside too."

"You know Crin will find a way in," I told him, "She always does."

"I don't care; I'm still going to lock her out." Limdo grumbled before a smile plastered back onto his face. "No one will interfere with us today…"

Right on cue, the doorbell downstairs rang.

Limdo sighed. "Did you invite anyone over?" He asked, a little annoyed that our 'day' together had been put on hold momentarily.

"No," I told him, "but it's probably just a package or something. I'll go take care of it since I'm the only one dressed in something other than boxers." I touched the tip of his nose with my index finger before sliding off the bed, pushing my hair back into a pony tail and glanced at myself in the mirror. A white tank top and black mini shorts was decent enough for a UPS guy.

I went to the bedroom door and opened it, but just before stepping out, I stopped and looked back at Limdo who still lay in bed. "Stay there, I'll be back in a moment." I ordered.

"As you wish," Limdo grinned, putting his arms behind his head to make himself comfortable.

I smiled and left the room, closing the door behind me and jogged down the stairs and into the entry way. I reached the front door, and got ready to endure the stare of a UPS guy; hey, he was stupid enough to come at seven thirty in the morning, he got to live with the consequences. I opened the door and stopped.

Who in the world?

A man that looked to be in his twenties stood before her. He had black hair with a goatee, with his hair spiked. He wore cargo pants and a Volcom t-shirt. He stood there with a laid back appearance, and yet I could see anxiety reflected in his almost black eyes as he stared down at me.

We stared at one another for a long moment. This guy definitely wasn't a UPS guy; UPS guys have uniforms. So I was standing there with my hair in a mess and in a white tank top and black mini shorts. Great.

He said nothing, only stared at me with a blank expression. Oh gosh, I thought in despair; this wasn't one of those crazy, stalker-ish fans, was it? Those never ended well. Finally, after deciding on either slamming the door on his face or calling the cops, I forced myself to smile awkwardly. "Hi," I slowly greeted, "May I help you with something?"

He just stood there staring at me. This was getting REALLY creepy; I was seriously about to slam the door in his face and then run back to Limdo's side. Limdo of course would hunt the guy down and probably kill him, but at least it would take care of my stalker problem…for now.

Just as I was about to slam the door in his face, he finally said in a purely shocked tone, "You're not her."

I blinked at him once. I blinked at him twice. "I'm…sorry," I slowly started, not sure what to think of this. Was he a creepy stalker or not? "Maybe you have the wrong house…"

"No I have the right house," he assured me confidently.

I stared at him with wide eyes. This was getting REALLY weird. "I'm sure that I'd know who lived in my own house." I slowly stated.

"Well I know she's here." He insisted, starting to look a little impatient with me. Hey, he was the one who wasn't giving me the answers I wanted and needed.

"Who's here?" I asked hesitantly.

"Crin," he impatiently answered his voice anxious. "I need to see Crin right away." What did I look like, his messenger?

"Crin lives in an apartment downtown," I told him, "she no longer lives here." Then I paused. "At least she shouldn't be here," I mumbled. I started to turn around, ready to hunt down Crin wherever she was and drag her downstairs to confront the creepy guy at the door. But as soon as I remembered the creepy guy, I hesitantly turned to look at him. "Um…come in." I stepped aside and allowed him to come in. Slowly he stepped through, his eyes darting around the entry way, observing everything around him.

"Nice place you have here," He grumbled as an attempt to be polite.

I had started to head up the stairs but stopped to reply, "Uh…thanks…hold on, I'm going to go see if she's here." I turned without waiting for a reply, running up the stairs towards Crin's old bedroom.

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Crin's point of view

Gentle hands shook me awake. I looked up to see Takiko staring down at me. I glanced at the clock, 7:35, far too early for her to be waking me up. For her to wake me up this early meant something was wrong. I searched her face for some sign of distress, instead there was only annoyance, confusion, and intrigue.

"There's some guy here who says he knows you." She said as I pulled the covers away. I was a little cold in my camisole and short pajama shorts but I ignored it. Takiko had had the same rude awakening it seemed because she was wearing her pajamas as well.

"Takiko, common sense would say that I do not know him since I come from a different era entirely. If you let him in the house I am seriously going to kick you in the face." She looked a little sheepish. But letting strange men in the house was not a good idea, not when the strange man could turn out to be an enemy and trying to kill us all. Though a good fight was fun every once in a while…

"Crin, I really think you should come and see him though. I'm pretty sure you've met him before." I shrugged my indifference, either way I would have to go down there and shove this person out of the house. I followed her downstairs and to the door. No one else was up this early, no one sensible that is. I was distracted by my thoughts about what I was going to have to do to this weirdo who was probably a stalker when I stopped in my tracks.

"Tian…?" Standing in front of the door, looking at some pictures on the wall was the man that I had been dreaming of the past few weeks. Dreaming of his death.

"Hey there Crin. Did you miss me?"

I looked this man over. The man that had died in my arms. He certainly looked like Tian, his hair was even cut the way I had cut it with a dagger so many years ago.

"You're dead." I said accusingly. How could he do this to me? I just get over him and he suddenly shows up. I mean, I was happy to see him, don't get me wrong, but really. People don't just come back to life after over four hundred years.

"If I was dead I wouldn't be standing here." He looked a little sad; his eyes were full of so much longing. I remembered all that time we had spent together. "This really isn't the welcome I was expecting you know."

"When people die you really don't expect to be welcoming them at all." I glanced over at Takiko who was standing off to the side, her face full of confusion. Oh fun, something else I would have to explain…

"I'm not dead. See?" He took my hand and placed it on his chest. I could feel the beating of his heart. Either this was a really good illusion or he was right, he wasn't dead. I stood there with my hand on his chest, his hand still on my wrist. I looked up into his eyes and he took the opportunity to fiercely and passionately kiss me.

I struggled for a second, then slipped into the easiness of the kiss. His kisses were so familiar, and I was still way too stunned to really react.

"Oh, hey Crin. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!" I pulled away as the familiar voice drifted into hearing. My face was one giant blush. How was I supposed to explain this to Tomite?

"What are you doing in my house Tomite?!" Takiko seemed just as shocked to see Tomite here as I was. He wasn't allowed to sleep in Limdo's and Takiko's house, then again neither was I.

"I slept here after the party, it was too late to drive home." He explained. Tian was standing protectively next to me. I looked up to see his face was set in a grim line.

"Crin, who is this?" He asked. I looked to Tomite whose face was also grim. This wasn't good.

"Tian, this is Tomite. Tomite this is Tian." I pointed at each respectively, hoping that might break the frosty atmosphere that was now spilling through the room. Instead the atmosphere got even chillier as they glared at each other. Finally they broke their eye contact to look at me.

"Isn't there something else you need to tell him Crin?" They both said it at the same time. They two men looked at each other accusingly.

"I'm her lover!" "I'm here fiancé!" Their words overlapped, and I knew that I had a long road ahead of me from here on out. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?" They said, once again is perfect unison.

"Tomite, this is Tian. I'm sure you remember him from the little trip you took into my past. He's one of my warriors." Tomite looked from me to the man standing next to me, the realization finally dawning on his face. I looked into his eyes, pleading for him to understand what I was going to say next. "Could you go cook some breakfast? I need to talk to Tian. Alone."

Tomite looked at me, and I felt like my heart was going to rip in two. His eyes held so much confusion and pain, but at the same time he seemed like he placed absolute trust in me. I wasn't about to let him down. Hadn't I just told Takiko last night that I was prepared to be with Tomite forever? Now I knew the kind of tricks the gods were willing to play, they were going to have me test my love against the man who I hadn't given up for over four hundred years and the man that I had known for a little over one.

I led Tian to the back patio where the pool was. He walked the same way I remembered, hands stuffed in his pockets, a casual and long gait that said he hadn't a care in the world. There was so much about him that seemed so familiar as if it hadn't been so long, only a day or two. The twinkle in his eyes, the scar along his cheek, his arms, his legs. Everything about him screamed the Tian I remembered, but it was still hard to believe that it was him. Not with his death still do vivid in my mind.

"He's not right is he?" I looked up at him. We had stopped by the far end of the pool, there were some chairs set out there so I sat, he noticed and followed suit. It was much easier to talk this way, it didn't hurt my neck to look at him when he was seated.

"He is right. Tomite's my fiancé, he has been for a while now." The hurt I saw in Tian's eyes was something that I couldn't bear, I had to look away at the water in the pool.

"But, I don't see how you could have forgotten me so quickly. I thought you loved me." I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. This was too much, I couldn't bear it.

"It's been over four hundred years Tian, I had to move on." I looked at him. Despite the overwhelming sadness that I felt when I looked at him, I was confused. Why did he think that it had only been a little while that he was dead?

"Four hundred years? I died just over a year ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. You were the last thing I saw, then nothing. Until Suzaku appeared and told me that I had to help you with this mission. He sent me to your world and I've been here for just over a year now." I stared at him, unsure what he meant. A little over a year?

"Tian, when you died something…happened. And because of it the gods wouldn't let me go back to my world. I was stuck in your world for over four hundred years and by some twist of fate I didn't age at all. I do love you Tian but you have to understand, you were dead, I had to move on. I only started to move on a few months ago." This must be why he was the same, like nothing had changed. He looked at me, cupping my cheek in one of his hands.

"Does this have to do with your eyes?" I jumped back a bit, startled.

"How do you know about that?" I asked him. He reached out with the hand that had held my cheek and now took my hand.

"When Suzaku sent me into your world he took me to Beijing. It was a little frightening at first, I will admit, for someone from a different world entirely to see so much modern stuff. But almost immediately upon coming there I noticed the billboards, the posters in shop windows, and the magazines with pictures of you on them. You were different, you had never really like dresses of the sort that you wore before, and your eyes were green in most of them, but I could recognize you even if you dyed your hair blonde and dressed in a bunny suit. I do have to say, I will miss that lovely shade of gold they always had." I blushed a bit at this, remembering for the first time in so many years the eye color I was born with. So that was it then, that's how he knew where I was. He had heard about my career and must have read about my connection to America and Takiko.

"My eyes change color with my mood, it's easy enough to suppress when I want to, then they go back to green as a neutral color. But that's not the only thing about me that has changed, Tian." I lifted my free hand and placed it between us. Rising from my palm came streams of water and fire, one of each. They twined around each other, never touching and keeping a respectable distance away from both of us.

Tian reached out a hand to touch the elements that danced on my palm. Before he could touch them I closed my fingers up into a fist, letting the fire and water disappear back into nothingness. I looked at his face, unsure of what his reaction would be. His features were lit by a bright smile and wonderment in his eyes.

"Well?" I asked, not sure what to make of this strange reaction.

"I always knew you were special, this only makes you more special than before." I was startled, usually my abilities caught people off guard, and frightened them. Leave it to Tian to be the one person who sees this as making me 'special'.

He snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me to him. I got lost for a second, enjoying the feeling of being cradled against his chest like I had so long ago. This is what I had wanted for so long wasn't it? What I had been waiting for all those years. And now here he is, and here I am, and I have no idea what to do with myself. That annoyed me a bit, being unsure and lost. I was always certain of what action to take, and now I was presented with a dilemma.

I looked at Tian. The absolute love in his eyes frightened me. Even more so since I could never accept it, there was someone else now in my life.

"Tian," I said while gently, but still firmly, pushing away from his encircling arms, "I'm engaged. You can't go doing things like kissing me and hugging me. You just don't do that to someone who's taken."

He grinned at me, "You're not taken, not yet anyway. As long as you're not married I still have time to get you back. All this means is that I can prove how much I love you. It's a challenge, and you know how much I'm always up for a good challenge." Was he stupid? I let out a sigh. I should have known this was going to happen. Knowing Tian he'd probably have some excuse to kidnap me by the next day.

"Look Tian. I'm happy here, I like it here. Just please, let me be. You can prove how macho and superior you are to Tomite but that won't change my feelings about him." I looked at him, pleading in my eyes, hoping he would understand. His face had gone from joking to serious, and almost sad.

"You loved me once too, and that changed." I wanted to cry, I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I couldn't let him see me like this, already I knew that my eyes were giving me away, going to a cloudy blue grey that they usually did when I cry. I got up to go but a hand on my arm stopped me.

"Crin, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. You know I don't ever mean to hurt you." He paused and I stayed where I was, not facing him but not making an attempt to move either. "There's something else. The reason I was brought back." I turned to face him and was guided back into the chair by his hand on my arm. I noticed how he never let go, even as he continued to speak

"Suzaku told me, before he sent me into your world, that there was a great imbalance. I trust you know all about it." I nodded. "Yes, that's what I thought. Well, you didn't think that just the priestesses of the four gods would have to gather their warriors did you?"

My eyes widened in shock and surprise as I realized what he was saying. "You mean…?"

"Yes Crin, as the priestess of the four gods you need to assemble your warriors as well. And since I'm one of them I was brought back to life and into your world to fulfill this duty. Of course, everyone else is here too. They've all contacted me and will be arriving shortly from China."

Joy bubbled up inside me. To see all my friends again!

"Let's just hope that Mei isn't back to behaving like a spoiled brat. I have even less tolerance for that than I did back then." I said, reminiscing. Tian grimaced at the memory of how the princess of Xi Lang had acted when we had first met her. What he didn't know is that after her palace and home had been destroyed she had acted quite differently, and turned into a ruler who served her people well.

"Well, we better go tell everyone. They'll be happy to know that another batch of celestial warriors is accounted for." I stood and this time Tian didn't hold me back. He too stood and walked behind me.

Before I opened the door inside I heard him say softly; "I meant everything I said, I won't let you go easily. That man had better be ready to fight for you."

Great, another complication I needed in my already way too complicated life. Couldn't a girl just not be involved in a battle to save the universe and a love triangle? Obviously the gods couldn't be fair and limit the angst causing incidences to once a year.

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Hajimemashite mina! This is Ari once again! It's been a while hasn't it? I think the last time I wrote this much for this story was when I did the chapters of Crin's past. By the way, if you didn't read all that you're probably completely confused right now. You might want to go back and brush up on her past because if you don't you're going to be really really confused.

So yeah, I wrote all of this except for the part from Takiko's point of view. I also wrote the one song there that's without a title. I cried as I wrote when she was telling Tian that she couldn't be with him. Since he's a character of my creation it's really sad to have to hurt him like that. Poor Tian, he's such a good guy but he just gets the short end of the stick here. Another thing: Basically I feel like people don't understand Crin, which is a shame! I hope you all get a better understanding of her by reading this chapter and I hope you all see that she isn't just a candy loving airhead. Though I'm probably the only one who will ever understand all her complexities that doesn't mean you shouldn't like her!

Enough of my babbling, I really do write too much for author's notes…

Please read my Genbu Kaiden story, Reborn.

Ari, Out!