She should be scared. She wasn't though. Here they were, in the dead of night, escaping the city like some convicts. Oki said that the place they were going was only a few hours away. They should be there before sunrise if they didn't run into any trouble. If.

They took two cars, the elder two women riding together with their shineihei and Miaka and Yui riding in Ryu's car along with Tetsuya. It had taken a lot of discussion in order to convince Keisuke that he'd be more trouble than help if he came along. Well, talking and a decent illusion from Yui. Miaka felt a little bad about leaving her brother like that, knowing he had only her safety in mind. But he had no powers and there really wasn't anything he could do at the moment. Miaka hoped when he came to, he would understand that.

The flood of Taka-filled memories had subsided for now. Earlier, when they had left to go and get her things, she seemed to see him everywhere. The street where they would so often have ice cream after school. The path they would take on their way to school. The car parked in the place he would stand as he searched her window for her smiling face and waved before going home himself. She refused to let her cry anymore about it, so she shoved it away. She had to be strong for the others. She had to be.

But I'm so tired, she thought. I'm tired of being strong.

I'm here.

The voice was so strong and clear, it sounded as if it was spoken. She knew it wasn't though, since no one asked "where" in response to the vague comment. It was meant only for her to hear.

Instead of answering, she reached out and found where Ryu's hand rested on the gear shift between them. His fingers widened, allowing hers to fill in the gaps, not saying a word out loud. Yui and Tetsuya talked in hushed murmurs, too quiet for her to hear. For now, this was all the communication with Ryu she needed. A simple reassurance that he was here to help her be strong.

"To be strong for you," he said softly, leaning over so the words only reached her ears.

She looked up at him, and he spared her a brief glance before placing his eyes back on the road.

"I won't let you carry this alone, anata. Not this time, not if I can do something about it."

In the pitch black darkness that enveloped them as they left the city, Miaka blushed, the warmth spreading through her body. Anata he had called her. His darling. Had Taka ever called her that?

The bright red brake lights of the car in front of them and the blinking turn light made them come to a halt at the side of the road. All eight of them emerged from the cars. Miaka, one of Yuki's swords at her side, was glad to see that Takara was her usual bubbly self. Her movements were a little slower, a little more deliberate. It was a necessary change, she thought.

"What is it?" Tetsuya asked, his voice loud in the silence of the country side.

"Winter's Bite said to stop," Oki responded, the trident giving off an eerie light. If an object could give off a negative light, this trident was doing so.

The group waited a moment and realized that was all Genbu no Miko was saying at the moment.

"I'll scout ahead first," Yui said. "These eyes are good for something, after all."

"I'll follow behind you," Oki said. "Miaka, you bring up the rear."

They fell into a column of sorts, the unspoken words leading to protecting Takara as well as themselves. They walked up the road a ways, picking carefully with their feet as the ground started to slant into the beginning of a hill.

"I think there's a shrine over here in the forest. Just off the side of the road."

They followed the faint outline of Yui, the stars only providing so much light and the moon a sliver in the sky. Miaka looked up at the sky, shivering a little. It would be a new moon soon. For some reason, this knowledge seems significant, but she was not sure why.

The crunch of gravel gave way to the rustle of leaves as they went off road and halted shortly thereafter.

"So this is what he saw," Oki's voice said softly.

A small shrine to some Shinto deity sat in front of them, covered with moss and worn by time. It was hard to avoid the soft blue light radiating from the rod in the ground, as overgrown with vines as it was.

"What's that?" Ryu asked, an arm going protectively around Miaka's waist.

"It's Yui's boon from the Goddess. Her staff," she answered, watching with a little envy as her friend walked forth to claim her gift."

There was a slight smile on Yui's face as her fingers touched the top of the staff, the light getting brighter although the vines tried their best to cover it up. Everyone was so focused on Yui's moment. Otherwise, they may have heard the soft rustle in the trees nearby. They may have been able to stop the demon from firing an arrow straight into Yui's heart.

But they didn't hear, so they couldn't stop it, and Miaka watched with horrified eyes as the impact carried her friend back several feet. The light from the staff died just as Yui's motionless body hit the ground with a dull thud.

"Yui!"

The cry came from Miaka and Tetsuya's voice, who both ran to the fallen woman, leaving the others to worry about the increasing rustles in the trees overhead.

The feeling that something was missing couldn't escape him. It's the same feeling one gets when they're packing for an important trip and just can't shake the notion that something was forgotten.

Oh well. He ignored it and continued down the street and past the apartment complex he passed everyday on his walk to school. One of his classmates, Yuuki-san, lived there. She seemed nice enough, a complete clutz though.

He felt the first tug then. It wasn't in any particular direction. Just a tug, something trying to get his attention. He found his eyes searching the windows for something.

"What am I doing?" he asked, running a hand through his dark blue hair.

Taking a deep breath, he continued on his way, a little confused, but that too passed soon enough.

"These last few constellations are fighting hard."

Chichiri looked at the celestial map and focused on the remaining constellations in each quadrant. They no longer flickered as stars, but seemed to be doing what they could to hold off the darkness that had engulfed their brethren.

"I wonder how long they can hold."

Chichiri looked over at Nakago, who stood there, studying the chart along with the monk.

"If there's one thing I've learned in my past life, it is that no matter how weak a thing may be, it becomes stronger if it has something to fight for. Terribly strong."

Nakago raised a hand to his chest, a reaction of sorts to the way his life was ended.

"Indeed," Chichiri replied. "The others fell in a matter of days."

"Perhaps something has happened to the Miko's to make the stars and gods struggle more for all of our sakes."

"I am curious to know what developments have been made in the world of the Mikos, but I would rather wait until we had some information to take to them as well. There is no telling how much longer we will be able to travel between worlds. Or worse, what will happen once the final constellations disappear."

"Chichiri-sensei, I think we've found something!"

The monk turned his good eye in the direction of his pupil's voice, a wave of adrenaline building as he saw a scroll in his hand.

"If you'll excuse me, Nakago-san."

The warrior nodded and watched as first the star map, then Chichiri disappeared.

"Indeed. What will happen once the last constellation vanishes?"

After one last glance at the wall that was a map, Nakago walked off to find Soi, who he seemed to be finding more and more solace in each day.

It seemed like Miaka sat there for an eternity. Her and Tetsuya were both too afraid to touch the arrow that pierced Yui's chest.

"Miaka!"

She looked up, her vision slightly blurry from the tears forming in her eyes. It was hard to see anything as it was in the darkness of both trees and night. But she heard the sounds of struggling, and there was nothing they could do for Yui now. If she was still alive, they would not be able to heal her until their foe was defeated. And if she wasn't…

"Damn it!" she screamed, leaving Tetsuya at the side of his Miko.

She let her fury fuel her, soft light emanating from her knee, neck, arm, foot…

"How dare you!" she cried, following her ears to the fray. "How dare you take Yui away from me!"

Pulse after pulse of red energy flowed from her body, lighting the area enough for her to see the bloodied faces of her friends and for her anger to reach new heights.

"You're a coward! A complete coward! Why else would you attack us with such devious ways. You can't face us in the daylight, or even on equal terms. I have no use for the likes of you. None whatsoever."

In one fluid motion, she unsheathed her sword and charged at the shadowy figure. It turned in her direction and unsheathed wings before taking to the skies. No. It wasn't going to get away. But her wings weren't developed yet…

"Kaijin!" she screamed, praying desperately that the god would answer her call yet again.

What is it you desire, Suzaku no Miko?

Your wings.

You are not strong enough yet to take that much of my presence…

I don't care, Suzaku-sama. I have to destroy this demon.

You're letting your emotions get the better of you.

There was silence as she watched the demon fly into the night sky, going farther and farther away.

It shot Yui…I can't just…I hate feeling helpless.

You are too stubborn for your own good, Yuuki Miaka. I will release my wings to you, but I warn you as well. Your body as is will not take it. I will allow the darkness to take Mitsukake's star so that you may use the powers to heal yourself the best you can. This will be a lot of celestial power. It will be painful. Are you sure that you want to do this?

"Yes," she said, her fingers gripping the sword in her hand tightly.

So be it.

Mitsukake tried to pay attention to what was being said, but the wave of weakness he had heard so much about finally consumed him. It felt like a part of his was being ripped and Shouka looked over with concerned loving eyes.

"It seems it is my turn," he said with a faint smile.

For a moment he saw Miaka and the tears running down her face as she bent over.

"Gods help her," was the last thing he said before he passed out from the pain.

Under normal circumstances, she would be screaming. Her back was on fire. It itched, burned and she swore that she could feel blood dripping down her back. But none of this mattered. The rage that filled her consumed all.

You have five minutes, Suzaku no Miko. Five before you collapse and your body will need to rest. Use them wisely.

Five minutes. It would be more than enough.

With a cry of frustration, she spread her newly formed wings and took to the black sky.

Ryu watched her from where he knelt on the ground, a hand on the scratch in his arm. Something wet hit his face and his fingers flying up to wipe it away. Even in the darkness he knew it wasn't water.

"Oh, Miaka…What have you done?"

The dark liquid on his fingers made him get up, despite the slight limp he had, and chase after the winged figures that faded into the starless night sky.