Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your reviews and views for last chapter - I wasn't expecting that after being away so long and it was super duper sweet! THANK YOU!

So, this chapter is not as long as I wanted it to be, and some of the events that I wanted to happen this chapter didn't happen at all. So, some really important events are happening next chapter and I hope that you're all ready for it BECAUSE I AM!

We're also so close to the end it's going to be fantastic!

do not own, do not make money from writing this


Another Side

Chapter 50

Falling Off a Long Cliff

The food was warm, steam rising from bowls of rice and soup, fish accenting the entirety of the meal. Though it was pretty, there was nothing that Igneous wanted to touch until she had some answers.

Yui felt the same way.

It was silent in the room, the cooks having left some time ago and Yui had dismissed the other warriors for this conversation. Igneous was thankful, her body having been tense with fear the entire time the blonde warrior was in the room.

"It's good to see you…" Yui said, finally scooping some food onto her plate. She ignored Igneous' look of surprise, didn't want to look at her. "Has Miaka been treating you well?"

The redhead narrowed her eyes, trying to think about why it was so strange that Yui said that. "I have been well, thank you." Igneous didn't want to give Yui full answers, despite the fact that she simply wanted her friend back. Frowning, Igneous reached forward for her tea, feeling some comfort from the familiar warmth in her hands. "I see that you are okay too."

The conversation was stilted, awkward. Igneous reflected that talking with Yui was never like this, never like almost strangers. She missed the laughter and jokes between them and Miaka, how they could hold onto each other as support through the good and bad times.

"Oh, it's been good." Yui glanced at Igneous, seeing her frown gracing her face. The blonde could tell that Igneous wasn't so… sad and angry now, here in this weird world. She could understand why – Igneous didn't have to deal with her father. "I've been studying for when we return home, and also the scripture to summon Seiryu."

Igneous stared at her tea, running the words through her head. Why was Yui telling her this, since she already knew this? Was Yui hoping to throw her off, because that was definitely not happening, not today.

"Did you know, Igneous, that each priestess gets a Xiang, someone that is trained to sacrifice their life so the priestess can gain the power of the wishes?" Yui ate some rice, unfeeling at the way Igneous froze at the questions. She continued with, "So, I do not have my own Xiang, and lo and behold Miaka has one – and it's you!" Her laughter sounded slightly manic.

"It's not like I have a choice," Igneous said. "The role was given to me, though I know you know that I'm not actually a Xiang." Igneous reached over and grabbed a bowl of soup, sipping at it delicately. It was delicious and aromatic, warming her even further.

"Hm, true." Yui sighed. This was… This was painful, this entire dance they were doing. "So, you're a goddess?"

Igneous literally thought she wouldn't be having this conversation with Yui of all people. She was more prepared with the Suzaku gang, since they were also looking for a way to keep her alive after the ceremony. "I don't think so – it's been explained to me that I'm just the daughter of a god. It doesn't automatically make me a goddess." Which was the truth, Igneous thought to herself. Suzaku had explained that she wasn't a goddess, just had a few powers that she shouldn't really have.

This was the hand she was dealt with, however, and Igneous was going to do the best she could with it.

"Hm…" There wasn't many more questions that Yui had after that, the clinking of dishes the only noise in the room. Igneous squirmed, finding the food delicious but cautious of her company.

Even though they were supposed to be enemies, Igneous did want her friend back. Maybe if she explained more, maybe if she…

"Yui, I'm sorry about this, I - "

"Sorry? SORRY?!" Yui stood up, her face scowling angrily. "What can you POSSIBLY be sorry for?! You lied to me, you lied to all of us!"

"I never lied, Yui!" Igneous set her cup back on the table, shaking slightly. The fear running through her veins, the pounding in her heart – it was all familiar in a way that Igneous didn't want it to be. "I only found out about being the daughter of a god when we were dropped here a while ago. I didn't even tell Miaka until like a week ago."

A bowl shattered against a wall, the wind whizzing past Igneous' ear. She didn't even look, the echo of vases shattering against walls and curses echoing in her head. She didn't see Yui in front of her, screaming about how Igneous kept lying, how they weren't friends any more and how dare she try and apologize for all of this!

Igneous could only see her stepfather, his lips in a sneer as he reached for another dish, or maybe a belt, or…

Yui scoffed, brushing down her skirt. She opened the door, motioning to Nakago and Amiboshi. "Take her back to her room, please." Amiboshi nodded, letting Nakago trail after the priestess as he walked in the room. The young warrior sighed, seeing as how he was going to have to get somebody to clean up that damn mess.

"Hey, get up." Amiboshi frowned, Igneous' eyes blank and unseeing. When he grabbed her arm, forcing her out of the chair, she flinched, gaze riveted to his hand. He scowled, dragging her along, noting her trembling form and how meekly she held herself. "Stay here…"

This, the Seiryuu Seishi thought to himself, was a complete change from how the redhead acted before. He wanted to know what exactly it was that Yui said to him, but that wasn't his place.

His place was to serve his priestess.


The place was basically a little oasis, the trees and water a welcome change from the endless sand that the Suzaku clan was walking through. They were currently crowding around the bottom of a large oak, Chichiri holding onto a mirror. Chanting, the mirror lit up until it faded away to reveal a person on the other side.

A very familiar and surprised emperor.

"Hotohori! It's good to see you." Miaka smiled, glad to see that at least one of her faraway friends was safe.

"Sorry for the late check-in," Chichiri muttered, giving a covert glance to Nuriko, who seemed to be distant, but at least he was present for the conversation. "A lot of things happened."

"That's fine, I'm glad to see you two are safe. Where is everyone else?"

Tamahome popped up behind Miaka, grinning at the yelp that echoed from the mirror. "We're here!" Chichiri spun the mirror around, showing everyone there.

"Wait, where's Igneous?" There was silence for a moment, everyone looking at each other. Eventually, Miaka put on a smile and said, "she's resting for the moment, she's been… struggling with the journey. And, well…"

"Oh, I do hope she's okay. Also," Hotohori pointed at Nuriko, looking suspicious. "Who is this beautiful man?!"

"Your majesty," Nuriko was nervous – he almost forgot about his hair, how it was no longer long or in a tight braid. Moving with short hair was something he knew was going to take a bit of getting used to. "It's me, Nuriko."

There was a moment where Hotohori simply stared at Nuriko, and then the emperor blushed a bright red, which had Nuriko turning red. The rest of the warriors looked at each other, slightly amused at the obvious crush on both ends here.

"I-I see… Well, um…" Tamahome couldn't help but snort at Hotohori's stutter. He had it bad for Nuriko if Hotohori didn't before. It was kind of cute.

But they had other things to talk about in the meanwhile.

"Your majesty, we do have some bad news…" Chichiri proceeded to explain the situation, leaving out the entire thing with Igneous being kidnapped, though he did say that the Shentso-Pao they were able to get was stolen from them.

They all collectively decided that none of them were going to say anything about Igneous being the daughter of Suzaku or Nuriko being dead for a good few minutes. That was a conversation better saved for a face-to-face conversation. Besides that, no one knew how to explain it to Hotohori without Igneous actually being there – that would have put a damper on the whole thing itself.

Hotohori nodded, taking in the information. He leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment before saying, "well, we must place our faith in the second Shentso-Pao then. Miaka, we have faith in you and Igneous."

Miaka grew nervous, hearing that phrase of faith again. She didn't know if she would be able to do what everyone kept asking of her.

She had to try though.


Yui sat with her head in her hands, a headache pounding away at her. There was something in her that screamed and cried and begged, but it all sounded muffled, the words garbled and warped beyond recognition. "Priestess?" She looked up at Nakago, her eyes tearing up and hand shaking with stress. He turned to the guards, making them leave with a wave of his hand.

Nakago knelt before Yui, frowning in concern. "What is wrong, your eminence?"

Wincing, Yui replied with, "it's like the world is moving without my knowledge, and I have no way to hold on." She took in a deep breath, valiantly trying to hold back her tears. "It's like I'm losing all the people I care about…"

"Don't worry, everything will be fine, so long as you do as I say." Nakago brushed some hair away from her face, leaning his forehead against hers. "Soon, you will summon Seiryuu, and I will always be by your side, so you'll have nothing to fear."

Yui smiled, feeling comforted by the words. "Really?"

"Of course," Nakago kissed Yui, gentle and sweet, a simple connection of lips that contained more than just false words – it also contained magic, some that allayed Yui's headache. She felt sleep all of a sudden, even as he continued with, "because I love you."

Smiling, Yui wrapped herself around Nakago, wondering why she felt so tired and sleepy. "Thank you, Nakago…"


Huffing, an old woman kicked at a man's leg, making him grunt at her. "I wouldn't say anything if I were you." She scowled down at him. "They have suffered too much from what the priestess has told me of her friend."

"Even knowing of their fate, I should say nothing?" He sat up, rubbing dust from his hair.

"You're not wrong, but…" Tokaki sighed, her hands wringing each other. "I can't see another love suffer through that again – I would rather they know happiness than be unhappy for the rest of their lives."

Subaru groaned. "Why do you always speak logic?"

She smirked. "Because we're fellow Warriors, you and I. This is what I've always done, even more than ninety years ago." Her face softened. "Besides, Tatara is…"

"Doing what a warrior is supposed to do – be strong and faithful to his priestess." Subaru felt a little guilty, but it was their duty as Warriors of Byakko, their only duty.

Sometimes, he cursed love and all the ways it had written their history. He cursed it all.


I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter because I really enjoyed writing it! So a quick headsup - I took out quite a bit from the manga and wrote in my own things because the whole thing with Tamahome and Miaka annoyed me just a bit so I was like 'yeah that's not happening' and voila, half of the drama was taken out :D I love drama, don't get me wrong, but come on man, there's only so many times you can break a girl's heart before it becomes tiring and you become an asshole.

Just some personal thoughts there.

Reviews:

PurpleDeathDragon: Aw, thank you! I hope that was a happy yes :) Enjoy this chapter!

Dragonmaster 789: Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed!

Thank you all for your reviews and everything! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and let me know what you think!

Ciao!

Tiryn