Wow, guys. I'm really sorry. It's been waayyy too long since I've updated. And to make matters worse, I haven't done anything really important to make a good excuse…Although, I do have a bit of writer's block, unfortunately…

Well, I'll stop blabbing and get on with the chapter…..I really like how this one turned out.

Disclaimer: I only own Tai and Skye. If I owned anything else, it'd be lost inside the labyrinth of my drawers and shelves. (I have too many to keep track of. XD)

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-Chapter Forty-Nine-

Shigure walked into the kitchen to find Tai drinking a cup of coffee. He blinked sleepily as he poured himself one.

"Morning," Tai said brightly.

Shigure yawned. "Good morning. You're up early."

Tai shrugged. "I'm a morning person."

Shigure grinned into his coffee mug. "You two really are like night and day."

"Who?"

He looked at her. "You and Skye."

Tai blinked, then smiled softly. "Yeah, I know. But you know what they say. 'Opposites attract'."

Shigure nodded. After a moment, he looked up, glancing around. "Where's Kisuke?"

"He went home."

Shigure stared at her. "Wait. You mean, like, through a portal?"

Tai nodded. "Yup. Just this morning. You missed him by about a half hour."

"Oh. Then I guess you really are done training, hm?"

Tai glanced at him. "I thought we already made that clear."

"Oh. Right."

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Soon, everyone was awake, and the house was lively again. Ayame had returned to his shop, but Rin, Haru, Kisa, and Hiro were still there. Soon, Kyo and Tohru came, and even Momiji and Kiri.

"My house is so popular!" Shigure cried happily. "And it's not being destroyed!"

"We should go on a picnic!" Tohru shouted.

A chorus of agreement replied back.

"Wait a second." Rin spoke. She looked at Tai. "Didn't you want to go find Skye?"

Everyone became silent. They looked at Tai, waiting for her answer.

Finally, she spoke. "Yes. I am going to find Skye. In fact, I'm working on it right now. As we speak, my senses are searching for her energy in the other worlds. I think a picnic would be a great way to enjoy the time that I'm still here."

Kisa tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Tai smiled. "Well, when I find Skye, I'm going to leave here to get her, right? I'm probably not going to be coming back for a while."

Everyone was quiet as they thought about this. Tai looked around.

"Oh, come on! Don't look so depressed. You're making me feel terrible…What are we bringing for the picnic?"

"Um…we could bring onigiri…" Kisa suggested.

"And watermelons for smashing!" Momiji and Kiri exclaimed.

"And leeks," Haru added with a completely straight face.

Kyo spasmed and glared at him. "Damn you."

They all set to work packing food and blankets and such. Soon, they were ready.

"Um. Where exactly are we going?" Tai asked as they stepped out into the sunlight.

"Oh, I know a place!" Momiji cried. "It's really good! Come on!"

He led them through the woods in a long, confusing pattern.

"You better know where you're going, Momiji," Hiro said.

"Don't worry! We're here!"

Momiji parted some bushes to reveal a beautiful clearing almost the length of a football field. The ground was completely covered with different types of flowers. It seemed as if a rainbow had fallen out of the sky.

"Whoa," Kyo said.

"It's so pretty!" Tohru ran out and spun among the flowers, causing the loose petals to circle around her. Kisa joined in, and soon everyone was among the flowers.

As they ate their food, they laughed and played and just basically had fun. Tai looked around, smiling. She would remember these moments. She frowned as the wind swirled a cluster of petals through the air, seeing Skye's deep eyes glittering among them. Tai set her jaw. Next time they had a picnic…next time, Skye would definately be there. Then she would share in the memories, too.

'And,' Tai thought, glancing over at some of the others who were busy shattering watermelons, 'I'll smash a watermelon over that dumb head of hers.'

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A couple hours later, they were all resting quietly, relaxing in the sea of blossoms, enjoying nature and each other's company. Suddenly, Tai sat up, eyes wide.

"Em…I mean, Tai-chan?" Tohru asked. "What's wrong?"

"I found her," Tai whispered.

"What?!" The others all crowded around her.

"Skye," Tai said louder. "I found her." She stood up. "I know where she is!"

Everyone cheered.

"Then…ano…Does that mean you're leaving?" Kisa asked.

"Yeah," Tai answered. "But don't worry. I'll be back. With Skye!"

She concentrated for a moment, and a portal opened up before them. She looked back at everyone.

Tohru ran forward and hugged her, and soon they were in a massive group hug. When they finally disentangled themselves, Tai smiled at them all.

"Well…Later." She waved, then stepped into the void.

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There was a flash of light, then Tai was through. She landed hard on the ground.

"Oww." She rubbed her backside. "Okay. Where am I?" She looked around.

She was in a forest. It looked pretty ordinary. She could hear voices. Standing and turning around, she glanced over toward the sounds and froze.

And awkward scene was before her. Three men stood, completely immobilized by milllions of centipedes. A pointy-eared dude with an evil grin was jeering at them. All in all: pretty damn weird.

Then, to make matters worse, they all stopped, turned, and stared at her.

Tai sighed. "Ah, shit."

-End-

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--Enter Saiyuki!! I'm really excited…and I love how this chapter ended. Haha…

By the way, for those who have yet to completely understand how I type, "this" is speaking, and 'this' is thinking. Just thought I should clear that up…

I'll try my best to update next week…Poka.("Later" in Russian.)