A/N: Wow, that took a while to write. Though, I guess writing several fanfics at once can delay the production a bit, can't it?

I'm sorry if people were hoping for this chapter sooner. I just found myself in the mood to write a different genre. I particularly wanted to write for another fandom for a couple of weeks. I didn't have the inspiration I needed to keep this chapter rolling, so I decided to channel my energies elsewhere until I could finish this the way I wanted it to be done.

This chapter may not as good as others, but I need it as a bridge to the next chapter. I haven't decided yet on certain things. But, if you're lucky, I may find what I need, when that happens, I will be able to close the gap between what I have in chronological sequence and what I have for later chapters.

So, without further ado, here's chapter 44. I'm going to try and get 45 started ASAP.


Chapter 44

Ergo, oceanus, maritimus
Ergo, opacare, matutinus
Ergo, septentrio, meridies
Ergo, occidens et orientis

(Tempus Vernum, A Day Without Rain, Enya)

It was swift yet graceful. The teeth broke the tender flesh on his neck yet no pain surged forth. The sharp pointed fangs broke through the tender flesh of his neck, into the large artery. He could feel his heart stop; his pulse instantly stopped. He could feel his blood trickling out; slowly, methodically. A tongue lashed over the open wound on his neck. It licked up the blood without seeming gluttonous.

His eyes were wide open; his pupils dilated. The world around him seemed to stop. He couldn't breathe nor move. He was paralysed from the shock of the oddly seductive bit. His body had surrendered itself to the other's touch; he was completely at the other's mercy. He saw nothing; all his senses had been shut down. He was simply a shell of a human.

The fangs were slowly withdrawn from the large artery in his throat. Blood continued to trickle out of the two puncture marks on his neck. A single, long slender finger touched the spot; he flinched inwardly yet showed no signs of being alive. He was alive but yet was dead. He was between life and death. His mind was swimming; he didn't know where he was. He couldn't see the long tunnel with the light but he couldn't see the world around him.

The hot breath of the other kin present brushed against his throat. That hot, sultry breath brushing against the open wound on his neck. It tickled oddly enough. Each breath was slow. Each breath was a breath of life against the tender, broken flesh of his neck; the pale flesh of his neck.

Slowly his vision returned to him.

The fangs were withdrawn slow, sensually.

His eyes came into focus. He blinked.

A tongue touched the open wound on his neck, gently cleaning up the blood.

They were on the ground; one held the other.

Blood still trickled out of the wound. The blood pulsed around the opening; throbbed. The body worked to clot the wound.

A minute passed and a wrist was held out in front of him.

A gentle, soothing voice instructed him, "just drink."

Drink blood; how strange. A weak albeit amused smirked crossed his lips. The suggestion was odd. He had never orally taken in blood before. This would seal his fate. He knew it would be the determining point in his life. This was the first coherent thought to cross his mind since he regained control of his senses and mind.

Warm, salty blood crossed his lips. The smooth life giving fluid soothed his sore throat. The tender flesh on his neck stopped throbbing. The blood flow stopped. The voices in his head stopped; the voices that followed him for over half his life. The voices that he heard in his nightmares. The voices that wouldn't let him do anything without distrusting all those involved.

It was surreal. The voices; the haunting memories of the voices seemed to disappear. Had the encounter with his sister all those years ago forced him to relive those bitter memories? To hear the voices. To be trapped in his own mind unable to cry for help.

He was released from the other's grasp.

On his own feet he stood.

His mind was lucid. He could see and think free of the voices. He could hear no voices. Except his own inner voice. The voice of his nagging conscience. 'No escaping it...'

He felt terribly light-headed for a moment as he stood a step forward.

Turning to Shen, he blinked.

"Are you all right, comrade?"

"I... I think so. Am I supposed to feel like this?"

"Explain."

"It's as though my senses are heightened. I'm light-headed. I feel delirious."

"The latter will pass. The prior are permanent."

"Oh."

There was a brief moment of silence.

"I need a moment to myself... I'm going to go for a walk..."

Shen nodded and watched as the other first teleported to the fringe of the forest that surrounded the ruins of the village then walked into the brush, eventually disappearing.

The cool rural air feels nice.

The sun is showing the signs of rising and yet it's still cool out.

Dew lines the ground; some dripping from the leaves.

Approaching an opening in the thicket, Shannon stopped suddenly hearing not one but two voices. Two voices in the middle of nowhere.

Deciding to get closer, he stood on the edge of the thicket, watching what appeared to be one person. He blinked but he swore he heard a second voice. Yet there was only one person here, Yui. She was alone. Talking to nothing? That's strange, he thought.

Leaning against a tree, he watched her for a minute, wondering why he heard two voices.

"...but... I mean, I don't know why. I... I guess I just panicked..." Yui said, her shouldered hitched. She was unaware that anyone else was listening in. When she fled from the scene after attacking Jonathan, she had ran into the forest eventually coming upon a river and sitting on a rock. She had been approached by the spirit of Suboshi who had witnessed the whole chain of events unfold. At first she had been sceptical but he talked her down to a calm level.

Unfortunately he had reduced her to tears. He hadn't meant to. This was as calm as he could get her. He hadn't meant for her to cry. He only wanted to find out why she was here. That much became apparent quickly. She had no control over her actions and now she was paying for it.

"Ah... uh...uhm..."

She choked back a sob. "I don't understand any of this. I hate this! I don't want to live like this anymore! Why can't I get him to say anything to me? I... I just want... you... him..."

"But you attacked him?"

"I don't know why! I couldn't stop my hand. Now... how can I face him? I'm responsible for hurting him. I never wanted it to be like this yet I can't get those thoughts out of my head. He's not you! It's you I want but I... I can't have you!"

"But... Yui-sama, if I was..."

"Taka was reincarnated and nothing changed! You were and...everything changed! I... I regret everything! I wish I could turn back time and stop you from going into battle! I would have never let you attack Miaka if I had known you would have died!"

A ghostly hand touched her face. It brushed over her face. It felt like a cool breeze against her tear stained cheeks. "Fate is something we cannot change."

"It could have been different if I had done the right thing and you and your brother wouldn't have suffered and he wouldn't hate me now." Yui cried. She had her legs pulled up tightly against her chest. "But I can't ignore the fact that he's not the same..."

"Maybe... maybe something happened so he's suppressing his other side?"

Yui glanced up. "What do you mean?"

"Here's what I'm thinking... something like... trauma?" He floated upside down, his eyes fixed on Yui.

"Trauma?"

"There's not much else that could explain it."

"Well, he never told me anything... and I've asked..."

"Try not asking."

"But."

There was a pause. "But what?"

"If I don't ask, he won't say anything! I want to help but how can I help him if he refuses to tell me what's wrong? It's not like I'm going to do anything to him if he tells me. I... I just think... I don't know. I... I just thought I could help him even if I don't understand. You know... be someone who can listen even if they can't offer up anything useful."

"Uhm...?"

"I just want him to open up to me... why won't he?"

"Uhm..."

"Yes?"

"You're not his brother. He probably only told the one person he was closest too and you're not the one he feels that spiritual closeness to. You're just a girl to him."

Her eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?" She bit out the words. "Just a girl?"

He shrugged. 'At least she can't hurt me...' he thought. He knew that tone and look. She was pissed at that comment and was going to let him have it. If he had been living, he would have thought twice about it. However, he knew he was safe. He was dead. She couldn't do anything to him.

"Well... you're not Seiryuu no Miko in your world, right? That and well, it has been a hundred years since then..."

"Even still. I did serve..."

"About that. Not that I don't care about you; I mean, I love you, Yui-sama... and, well, I think you're the hottest thing on two legs, it's just well... you kind of blew those three wishes and Kutou is still a smouldering pile of crap."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You saw the ruins beyond this forest, right?"

"Uh... it's the burn-out ruins that are overgrown, right?"

"That's my village. Or what remains of it."

Her stomach sank. She paled; all colour draining from her face. She felt ill. She couldn't remember ever being told anything about the country she had served. She had only seen the palace and the sheltered side. She had never ventured out to see the devastation or heard about any of the doings of the Kutou army.

"I... I..."

"No one ever told you, did they?"

"No."

"You could have asked."

Tears welled up in her eyes and fell freely. "I... I'm sorry!"

He shrugged. "I probably shouldn't have said all of that..." he mused.

She wiped away her tears, though they wouldn't stop. "No, I deserved to hear that. I messed up. You're just confirming what I already knew. I just didn't think it was that bad." She paused and glanced over at him. "Do you think that that resentment over my actions may have carried over?"

"It's quite possible. If it did, it could explain the lack of trust and why he won't tell you anything. Though..."

"Though what?"

Suboshi floated cross-legged in front of her. "I have another idea. Beyond the trust bit... I'm remembering something Seiryuu told me. When it came time for all of us to accept reincarnation, each of us were given an option. We could remain the same at the cost of our memories. We could eventually regain the memories but it would be a long road. But at the end of the day, we would be the same. Or we could choose to retain the memories. It included the powers, but if we did, we would no longer be the same. I know that Tamahome picked to remain the same for Suzaku no Miko..."

"What about you? The others?"

Yui stared intently at Suboshi. She wanted to know the truth. If she could understand him, maybe she could finally understand what she needed to do to break the protective barrier Shannon put around his soul. She was slowly putting the pieces together.

"Me? I... well, when I was given the chance... I opted to keep my memories..."

"Why?"

There was a moment of silence as Suboshi looked away then finally back at her. "I thought maybe if I was different, you'd actually like me and maybe give me a chance..."

"I love you the way you are!" Yui cried out, wanted to touch him. She reached out a hand. She knew it would pass through him. But she reached out anyway. "I was stupid! I never wanted you to change! I...love you."

"Yui-sama..." he breathed out. It had been the last thing he had thought he would ever hear.

"I... I was wrong! To think I could change Shannon. All because I was stupid enough to think you really came back..." tears continued to freely fall from her eyes. "All I wanted was just to say I'm sorry."

"If that were true, you'd have stop worrying about him a long time ago. Stop assuming we're two different people. I was reincarnated as him. Life just made him different because of a choice I made. Fate dictated the rest."

He then pointed to the long, winding river. "I now take my leave... someone's just come to visit me after a hundred years. It's time for an eternity to begin." He then leaned in. "You know... don't forget that even if he doesn't talk to you about what's bothering him, you should tell him if something is bothering you. Lead by example."

The spirit then floated out onto the river where another appeared.

The two reunited briefly before both vanishing into the mist.

Yui watched the two. It was strange. The one who attacked her earlier had died but that made no sense.

Nothing made much sense to her these days.

She sighed and pulled her legs into her chest.

Behind her a burst of light flashed. It was blue. As quickly as the light appeared, it dissipated and in its spot lay a small dragon-like creature. She had caught the flash of light out of the corner of her eye.

Elsewhere; Aoisora...

The first bit had gone smoothly. With the package under arm, Katsui had been able to slip past the guards who were currently on duty in the dungeon due to Ariboshi's 'distraction'. He had let her go first. Once she had their attention, she waved him past. He didn't need to get the key from any of the guards. He had the lock picks he had acquired earlier.

He placed the bundle on the cobble stone floor of the dark prison. From the folds of his tunic he removed the pick. He had decided against calling out to Meike at this time. He didn't want to draw any attention to them. He wanted to operate quietly. He made a decision to speak to her after he got into the cell.

Once in, he called out to her.

She had walked over and embraced him; crying.

He couldn't do much except return the embrace. He then put distance between them and explain to her that there wasn't much time. He and Ariboshi were going to spring her. She wept happily and he sighed. Why did girls cry all the time?

When he was sure she was done with the water works, he instructed her to strip while he kept his back to her.

Misconstruing his intentions, Meike slapped him across the face.

That set the plan back a few minutes as he struggled to recover from the shock. Though, that was the least of their problems. As when he did manage to explain to her why she needed to strip, and was topless, she began to spontaneously bleed everywhere.

Katsui found himself rushing to calm her down.

But he found it difficult under the current circumstances. They could be discovered at any minute especially if Ariboshi got overwhelmed from environmental stimuli. He had little choice but to move Meike to the back of the cell. Luckily it was deep enough that they could conceal themselves in the partial darkness as he calmed her before stopping the blood.

He touched a hand to her side. It was strange. The cut had just appeared out of nowhere.

He wondered if his healing touch could even do anything.

He hovered his fingers over the wound. A golden light surrounded his fingers.

The blood stopped then the wound closed. There was no scar. He touched the smooth skin where the wound had been. He watched her expression.

"Are you all right?"

"I... I think so."

Katsui trusted her. Her eyes betrayed no pain. The eyes were the trusted source. If they showed pain, he'd have known if she was lying to him.

He took the clothing she handed to him and placed it neatly while handing her the local costume. He handed her the leggings and tunic first, noting it was practical, similar to what many of the merchant daughter's wore.

She handed him the shirt she had been wearing and donned the pants followed by the tunic. It came down past her knees. The sleeves were long and flared. She shifted the fabric around her shoulder while Katsui folded her shirt then handed her the sash.

After shifting her tunic, Meike took the sash and wrapped it around her slender waist before tying it off on the left hip. It was easier for her being left-handed and all. Pulling on the fabric, she adjusted it so it felt right. She then fixed the bra strap on her right shoulder that kept slipping down.

She slipped her feet into the shoes but scowled, "merde!"

Her feet were much too large for the shoes that had been supplied to her by the merchant and instead opted to wear the sandals she had been wearing when she had arrived in this world.

She turned to Katsui who finished putting her clothing into the cloth sack he had brought with him. She nodded at him and nodding at her, he stood up and went over to the door for the cell and glanced out, checking both ways. He could see Ariboshi keeping the two guards busy. A glance in the other direction, though not needed, revealed a dead end. There was no one worth noting in that direction.

He stepped over to her and whispered, "you need to stay right behind me. Act very casual. Just follow me. I have a plan."

"So, keep it low and stealthy? Can do." Meike gave a mock salute, to which Katsui felt a twinge of irritation.

"Please, I'm asking you nicely, Meike-sama." Katsui snivelled in a hushed voice. "I need you to not—"

"Geez, don't get your knickers in a bunch. I won't do anything retarded. Lay off."

He sighed. He wanted to retort but now was not the time for a petty squabble. He ignored the tone of her last remark and stepped back to the door, once more scrutinising the vicinity.

'It's clear.' He noted.

Glancing back over his shoulder, Katsui made a quick motioning gesture, indication for Meike to follow him. He intended to lead her out to a small, well hidden exit he and Ariboshi had set up earlier. He trusted Ariboshi to find her own way. He would escort Meike to the rendezvous point.

His reasoning behind it was, he thought the sight of what would appear to be two average looking local citizens would protect them while they walked through the main thoroughfare. Essentially allowing them to walk in public without raising scepticism. Long enough for them to make contact with their escape route out of town. Under cover of night would allow him to move the fastest with her.

He wouldn't feel so confident with his plan if he didn't feel she would hold back. She was rather masculine and had the strength and grit of a warrior. It would make their escape easier.

Setting foot out the cell, he motioned forward without glancing back and led Meike out of the cell. She moved quickly upon seeing the gesture. She remained on his heels as they smoothly and deliberately ambled nonchalantly passed the two oblivious guards.

Ariboshi didn't look up as the two walked past, though her eyes moved to the corners. She caught the faintest of silhouettes in her vision. She heard them approaching, so she knew where to 'look'. A certain delightful glee danced across her face. As if to say, "I am the master of your mind. I am the puppet master; dance for me my pretty."

Katsui noted that expression immediately. She held her audience's mind captive. Literally. She was the definition of enthrallment. He couldn't begin to imagine what she was projecting into their minds. He had been at her mercy once. He could remember the experience vividly. He didn't get hurt but the thought alone of losing his free will like that and so easily to another sent shivers of dread through his body when he saw that expression.

He made a point of picking up his pace. He didn't want to lurk around while she played puppet master to some poor victim who had no ability to counter her attack.

He led Meike to the exit for the dungeon.

Stopping, he pressed his back against the wall and found her doing the same. He felt a sigh of relief escape him. She knew how to follow instructions. This would make it just that much easier.

He skulked, keeping his back pressed to the wall. He stole a glance around the corner. Noting that the path was clear, he nodded at Meike and they pressed forward. He had made a point in learning his escape route and studying the movement of the guards beforehand. He would have winged it except for the fact that Ariboshi made him do it her way.

He had briefly lost his mental will to her then. He had decided that he would rather listen to her than be manipulated into following her instructions.

He stopped as Meike stepped beside him.

"Ok, from this point, I need you to walk next to me." He told her. He didn't know if it was a good idea for her to follow him from behind. He wanted to make it look natural.

"Got you." She replied as they walked forward. She didn't know where they were going but she wasn't going to complain. She trusted Katsui and knew that he was on her side. She wasn't going to bite the hand that freed her from her unjust imprisonment.

Reaching over, Katsui took her hand in his. It was the easiest way to stay together. He couldn't afford to lose her, and having his hand hold hers would make it easier if they had to run. He would be able to run without having to worry about her falling too far behind.

He gulped as a shadow crossed his path.

'Oh shit! This is it! I should have listened to Ariboshi!' Katsui thought, sweating profusely.

He then heard what sounded like several giggles.

He sighed in relief. It was just the emperor's harem heading in the direction of the emperor's secondary chamber. These girls were the top of the line. The finest looking women in Kousei. That was about it. He considered them to be ill-bred amoral girls he would never touch or want to father his children. It was strange. He heard other men talk about their desire and lust to father a child by the emperor's concubine; to sire an heir that was the finest looking in the land, yet the girls were vapid airheads.

At least the ones the emperor didn't cast aside like some soiled, used and very broken toy. These girls wound up jaded and bitter. They were some of the most notoriously vicious women in the land. They wound up joining a society of outcasts that lived in the country side. They had come from the first emperor's harem.

To sustain themselves, the women banded together. They gain notoriety by being an only-female tribe. They patrolled the road less travelled by merchants. The only merchants brave enough to venture there were women who went on behalf of their husband. Commerce was done like this. Life was done like this.

The women ran a true matriarch society, where no man had any power.

The men that were gutless enough to think they could go in and come out alive found themselves subject to the women's fury. A hatred fuelled by hundreds of years of a simple tale that got spun intricately with each generation.

Katsui only knew of this because of Ariboshi, his dearest friend. A woman he had met several years ago.

While Ariboshi was a girl, she possessed male characteristics, making her androgynous. She had been shunned from her society after many years. Her blindness was seen as a hindrance. Though it had been hidden for a number of years by her mother.

She had been cast out on the eve of her eleventh birthday. She had been told to run and if she made it, she would be free but if she ever step foot back in the tribal region, she would be drawn and quartered. Her life would be snuffed out in an instant.

He wondered, as he watched the gaggle of vapid girls stream by – there were five of them – what the consequences for this escape would be. If it would be as gruesome as the fate that awaited Ariboshi should she ever return to her tribal region.

The emperor must be feeling exceptionally lustful tonight, Katsui reasoned. Especially since the dowager empress was considered to be 'unclean' for three weeks following the birth of the heir.

Once the last of the girls, one he noted to appear less attractive than the others, 'obviously she's not going to last long.' He thought, as she wandered past, he gave a short tug on Meike's, indicating for her to follow him. They were almost at the exit at this point.

He didn't know how many more surprises he could take tonight. Maybe if she hadn't begin to spontaneously bleed earlier, his frazzled nerves wouldn't be on edge. Then again, trying to escape with the emperor's army on duty was enough to fry even the most steel of nerves.

Each time they got to a corner, Katsui felt his pulse pick up. He could hear the beat of his heart in his ears. His breath grew short; his chest tense. He was taking great risks and without the best of weapons at his disposal. All he had was his healing touch. He knew he wasn't the best of fighters. Sure he could handle a staff with amazing grace but it was all smoke and mirrors.

After turning another corner because he kept seeing shadows, Katsui sighed, immensely relieved. He couldn't believe it. It was the exit. They made it. They had arrived at the exit for the palace. The hardest part was nearly over...

Back in the other world...

The remains of the history room had been left in their wake. The group had decided against lurking around. They had an unconscious girl with them, a cat who insisted on riding on someone's shoulders and a "special" book that was now starting to glow, much to their dismay. It hadn't glowed before, but this time around, it was.

Trying to conceal the glowing book during a traffic stop was not an easy feat. It was easier for Keisuke to explain to the nice police officer who had pulled Tetsuya over for 'breaking the sound barrier' that it was just his younger sister taking a nap in the back seat. She had fainted during school due to a slight fever and they were bringing her home.

Tetsuya secretly thanked his lucky stars the officer didn't question him about the cat, though was asking many questions about the glowing item that was on the floor by Keisuke's feet.

The officer leaned against the window. "Kajiwara, I'm not going to repeat myself, what is that damn thing on the floor?"

"A glowing book?" Tetsuya replied stupidly. What else was he supposed to say? He shrugged and sank sheepishly into the driver's seat.

The officer raised an eyebrow, muttered something then hastily scribbled a ticket and handed it to Tetsuya before returning the young man's driver's license and registration.

Meekly accepting it, Tetsuya kept it face down and slipped it over to Keisuke.

"What's the damage?"

"Five hundred and thirty Yen."

Tetsuya took it back.

In nearly illegible writing was the fine. He could see that clear as day.

"Damnit."

"I told you not to drive so fast." Michiko remarked smoothly. She was sitting in the back seat holding an unconscious Miaka.

"Don't nag me!" Tetsuya retorted. It was bad enough he had this fine to pay without some woman nagging him on his driving skills.

"I wouldn't nag you if you didn't deserve it."

"I don't! And I could just leave you to walk!"

Michiko pulled out a dagger. She drove it with force into the upholstery of the driver's see. "Watch it. You're one step away from crossing the line. Now, drive like a nice boy and no one gets hurt."

"Crazy Yakuza bitch..." Tetsuya muttered under his breath as he rolled up the window and put the car into drive.

Lightening nipped at the back of his neck. "Be nice or I'll crispy fry you." She sang sweetly, though there was a certain undertone of malice.

If he didn't need her help, he wouldn't have allowed her to come along...