Fushigi Yuugi: The Next Generation - Part 24

Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. Sniffle. Sob. But, I do own all the new characters. Don't steal them or I'll have to hunt you down. Have a nice day! ^_^

Author's Note: We're still in the South. The Suzaku groups encounter some problems. Actually, it's one big problem. Zai Rei. She's really bitter. The Suzaku group has to keep on its toes. They are head for Tamahome's home village, Hakko in Juso. For this part, the seishi are going to have some fun around the campfire. They are still missing two seishi and the summoning scrolls. As always there are more spoilers from the TV series. Now that I've had a chance to view the first part of the series.

"I'll start the fire," said Hono'o as she took out the tessen. The seishi and their miko had been traveling for the past couple of hours. They had left Kawa's village earlier in the morning. They were trying to get to Hakko.

"I'll go and get the firewood," offered Kawa.

"I'll go with you," said Shitsu.

"Me, too," said Sei.

When Kawa woke up yesterday evening, she was very happy to hear that no one in the crumbled building was killed or injured. She was also amazed that she was the fifth seishi for Suzaku. Shi Meirong thought that she was condemned to a life of being just a wife and mother. She didn't know that there were other possibilities. Kawa noticed that most of the seishi were women. Her powers were mostly defensive. She could create shields using her chi. Her shields were more powerful than anything that Odayaka could generate. Which was a good thing considering Hono'o and her powers. Kawa, Shitsu, and Sei came back with some firewood.

"All right," said Hono'o as she took out the tessen. "LEKKA SHINEN!" There came a large flame. It would have burned the girls, but Kawa activated a shield that protected her, Shitsu, and Mariko. The guys weren't so lucky. Odayaka and Sei were burnt to a crisp. They were superdeformed.

"I guess it was too strong," said Hono'o who was now superdeformed and speaking in a high-pitched voice.

"YOU GUESSED IT WAS TOO STRONG?!" shouted Shitsu.

"Hee. Hee," laughed Hono'o nervously.

"You could have burned, Mariko," remarked Kawa, "It's a good thing I had that shield up."

Odayaka and Sei had recovered nicely. They were just talking amongst themselves.

"I say we take away that fan from her," said Sei thoughtfully.

"I concur. It's for our safety. You get it away from her. You're faster than me," whispered Odayaka.

"I'll toss it to you before she has a chance to do anything. You hide it," instructed Sei.

They were on the same wavelength. They both nodded. Sei and Odayaka got up. Sei walked close to where Hono'o was. Odayaka walked so that he was across from Sei. They looked at each other again and nodded. Sei grabbed the fan away from Hono'o.

"Hey! Give that back, Sei!" exclaimed Hono'o.

"I don't think so. You keep flaming us," said Sei calmly. He was taller than her, so he was able to keep the tessen just out of her reach.

"I promise that I'll stop. Just give it back," insisted Hono'o.

"No. You can't be trusted. You have enough power. Keep away! Keep away!" declared Sei as he tossed the tessen to Odayaka who caught it.

"Odayaka, you're reasonable give it back," pleaded Hono'o as she ran over to him. Odayaka held the tessen above his head.

"Now you see it…now you don't," said Odayaka with a flick of his wrist. The tessen disappeared. Odayaka was superdeformed with a very satisfied smile on his face.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" laughed Sei hysterically.

"GIVE IT BACK! I MEAN IT, ODAYAKA! I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE THE RULER OF THE WHOLE FREAKIN' WORLD! GIVE ME BACK THE TESSEN!" exploded Hono'o.

"No way," answered Odayaka in his superdeformed mode.

The girls were sweatdropped. Sei was still laughing hysterically.

"I never thought I would ever say this, but you two are worse than my older brothers," said Hono'o with her hands on her hips. She was going to step on Sei who was rolling and laughing on the ground. He was too fast and got up.

Zhenyou was observing this scene. He shook his head. 'I can't believe they are some of the most powerful seishi. I guess that's what Suzaku gets for leaving the fate of the world in the hands of children,' thought Zhenyou. He had earned the trust of the miko of the group. It didn't matter what the others thought of him. It didn't matter if they were suspicious of his behavior. Mariko was a very foolish girl as far as Zhenyou was concerned. She was too trusting. Zhenyou thought that she was nothing like her mother, but he was wrong. She was gullible. Zhenyou knew that she was vulnerable. He decided that all he needed to do was to take her down. Zhenyou had plans for the seishi. Yes…he had plans for them.

"Mariko-san," called Zhenyou. She came to him with a concerned look on her face.

"What's wrong, Zhenyou? Are you all right?" asked Mariko.

"Yes. I'm fine. I just wanted to tell you something," said Zhenyou.

"What?" asked Mariko.

"You should hear the stories of the last miko. I grew up hearing them myself. She was really something. She and her seishi. I wonder if it was anything like this. I am not a seishi, but to just be here is something. They say that the last Suzaku no Miko was very powerful. Her name was Miaka. I don't recall what her last name was, but her name was Miaka. I heard that she and her seishi defeated a demon that was stealing people's essences. It was because of her that peace finally came to this Empire. I also heard stories of her going to Kutou and surviving. She was well loved and respected by her seishi. Their loyalty was absolute," said Zhenyou. He watched as Mariko looked down. She was quiet. She looked at her hands. The rest of the group wasn't paying attention to the conversation that Mariko and Zhenyou were having.

Mariko didn't say anything. Zhenyou smiled. Because the things he was saying was bring down her confidence in herself. It was making her weaker. He decided to continue.

"They say that the Suzaku no Miko stood up to Nakago himself. She and her seishi were the ones who gathered up both of the shinzahou from the first Byakko and Genbu groups. It is also believed that Suzaku himself chose her. She was strong and brave. Her faith was never ending. She believed that her best friend, the Seiryuu no Miko, could be saved. We don't really know what became of the Seiryuu no Miko, but I would like to think that Miaka saved her. Her determination was something that we never forgot as a people," said Zhenyou. Zhenyou wanted to pull the string inside her until it was up to the breaking point. He knew when to stop. He didn't want the seishi to say anything that would help her.

Mariko bit her lip. She wanted to tell him to stop, but that would draw attention to them. It was hard enough trying to do something her mother had done before her. 'It's like I'm doom to be something I can't possible live up to. I can't do this. My mother was the true miko. I'm nothing more, but a hopeless substitute. I won't ever be good enough,' thought Mariko as she grabbed her hand over her heart. What was the feeling? Was it her heart aching for something that she had never missed before? All along this journey, her heart ached for home and family. Now it was longing for something that could never be. She was now longing for her parents. Being in the Universe of the Four Gods was doing that. It was as if she was standing close enough to them, but they were still out of reach. She could feel her eyes stinging with unshed tears. Mariko swallowed a sob. Her hair obscured her face. Her breathing was getting deeper. "Why don't we all get some sleep?" suggested Mariko. She was willing to say anything to get Zhenyou to stop talking. He didn't look the slightest surprised by her suggestion. In fact, he almost planned it that way.

Everyone froze in his or her positions. Odayaka had brought back the tessen and all of them were playing keep away with it. Hono'o was trying to grab it from Shitsu who had just passed it to Kawa. She was now holding it. Everyone looked funny. They all fell over. Sei got up.

"Yeah! We should get some sleep. We'll be in Hakko tomorrow," yawned Sei. Hono'o had grabbed the tessen out of Kawa's hands. Hono'o stuck out her tongue at all of them.

"Humph! You people don't play fair," said Hono'o as she went to sleep holding the precious tessen in her arms.

"'Night everyone!" said Sei as he went to sleep.

"Goodnight, everyone," said Odayaka.

"Sweet dreams, everyone," said Kawa.

"'Night," said Shitsu.

Mariko went to sleep without saying goodnight to anyone.

'Dreams,' thought Zhenyou, 'That's some place where she can't run." He smiled and got up. He cast a sleeping spell on all of them to make sure that they stayed asleep. Zhenyou walked up to the miko. He pulled some of the hair out of her face. Zhenyou gave her a kiss on her lips and changed back to Zai Rei. For this kind of magic, Zai Rei couldn't worry about keeping the illusion of Zhenyou up. She moved away from the group knowing that even in the deepest of slumber Odayaka could probably sense her presence.

Zai Rei walked to a still pond. She focused her chi. Mariko started to fret in her sleep. This was strange. How could a normal girl like her sense Zai Rei's intrusion? 'Never mind. Time to get to work,' thought Zai Rei. Thus, began Zai Rei's deep attack in Mariko's dreams.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mariko was walking along an empty field in Konan. She had no idea where she was. There was a chill in the air. She saw her mother standing near her. Her mother looked about her age. They stood face to face with each other.

"Do you really think you will succeed?" asked Miaka.

"I-I…" Mariko didn't know what to say.

"You don't know do you?" laughed Miaka.

Mariko felt like her heart had been torn apart. Her eyes filled with tears. Mariko let out a heart-wrenching sob and fell on her knees. Miaka continued laughing at this. Mariko was sobbing. She felt a strong grip on her shoulder. She turned and looked. It was Tamahome. He looked at her with his gray eyes.

"Your brother wouldn't have cried. Why can't you be more like him?" asked Tamahome. Mariko's jaw dropped. Tamahome and Miaka were laughing at their daughter. Mariko grabbed her ears to stop the sound.

"STOP IT! STOP IT! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHA!" screamed Mariko. There were hot tears streaming down her cheeks. Her parents vanished. She felt utterly alone.

The sky began to glow a red light. The sound of a bird came. Mariko looked up. It was her mother again. This time she was dressed in red. There was a red aura that surrounded her. Miaka gave her daughter a protective hug.

"Shh. It's all right. I'm here," hushed Miaka. Mariko took comfort in her mother's arms. There was warmth. A feeling of comfort that only a mother could provide that surround Mariko. Mariko didn't want her mother to leave her. Not again. Not now.

"Everything will be all right. You must have faith in yourself and your seishi. You will succeed. I am with you always," reassured Miaka, "It's time for me to go back to where I belong."

Miaka let Mariko go. Miaka touched her cheek. She wiped the tears off her daughter's cheeks. Miaka gave her a kiss on her cheek. She gave Mariko one last hug. Miaka stood up. She helped Mariko to her feet. Miaka gave her smile. She stepped back away from Mariko. Mariko tried to grab her hand, but she just passed through it. Miaka began to fade away.

"MAMA! MAMA! DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! MAMA!" screamed Mariko in a heart-rending sob. She fell back on her knees.

"Mama. Don't leave me. I need you," sobbed Mariko in whisper.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Zai Rei saw the dream herself. She didn't expect another Miaka to show up in the dream. That was not what she had planned all along. There was definitely something strange going on. The Miaka with the red aura was a spirit. Her mother's spirit had protected Mariko from the attack. Zai Rei had to move on down the line in her continuance plan. Tomorrow was another day. Zai Rei took down the sleep barrier, and decided she needed some rest.

Mariko woke up from the dream. There were tears running down her cheeks. She sat up from her sleep position. Zhenyou was back on the sleeping roll, so Mariko didn't notice anything amiss. Sei woke up. He must have sensed something was wrong.

"Mariko?" whispered Sei when he saw the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Mama. Mama, don't go. Please don't leave me," whispered Mariko over and over again. Sei got up from his place and walked over to Mariko. Sei held her. Mariko sobbing continued. Sei let her cry. There was nothing he could do, but hold her until the pain stop.

Seijitsu and Mariko were actually best friends. Just like their mothers. They grew up together. They took care of each other's hurts. They would take on Hoshi together. They were closer than best friends because Yui acted as a mother to Mariko as well. They were brother and sister. They didn't need the blood ties to feel otherwise. Sei could never fully understand how much Mariko had lost in her life. His life was always perfect. He had a complete family. The one thing that he had lost was his best friend. Something happened when they started to go to Jonan High School. In the process of growing up, they lost each other. They stopped being best friends. The chasm between them grew to the point where they were strangers. This journey helped Sei and Mariko renew their friendship. Sei never realized how much he had missed his best friend. He hated to see her in pain. 'Maybe, we should have made sure that she wanted to this in the first place. What's going to happen when we reach Hakko tomorrow?' thought Sei.

Odayaka had opened his eyes slightly when he heard Mariko's crying. He saw Sei holding her until she stopped crying. Odayaka wanted to offer some comfort as well, but he knew that they were particularly close. It wasn't anything romantic. Odayaka could see that. They acted like best friends, partners in crime, and siblings. It was best to leave them alone. Odayaka went back to sleep.

* * *

It was early in the morning when everyone got ready to start leaving for Hakko. Sei and Odayaka kept a watchful eye on Mariko. Mariko was feeling much better. At least, that's what it looked like on the outside. She really wasn't feeling any better, but she didn't want Sei to worry about her. Hono'o started the morning fire without burning anyone.

"How long have you had that fan, Hono'o?" asked Kawa.

"Oh. Just a few weeks," said Hono'o.

"So, your father was a seishi?" asked Kawa.

"Yes. He's kanji name is Tasuki. He was the fifth seishi found just like you," said Hono'o. She started to remember something about the tessen. It was when she was about five years old.

~*~Flashback~*~

Little Lei had taken her father's tessen out to play with it. She put it back when a flame suddenly appeared from the fan out of nowhere. In reality, it was the first indication that Lei would eventually become a seishi. She dropped the fan and put it back somewhere.

Tasuki had come down for breakfast and was getting ready to go to work in the palace. The boys were waiting for their sensei to arrive for their lessons. Ling greeted her husband with a morning kiss. Tasuki gave his wife a morning kiss back. The boys were feigning disgust at the display of affection.

Tasuki went out to get his tessen and other things to go to the palace. He looked and the tessen was gone. It was missing. Tasuki began to look around frantically for it. He was cursing under his breath. He made it a point not to swear within earshot of the children. Lei was standing behind him. She was tugging at his outer coat.

"Papa, you should be saying things like that," said Lei.

"Lei. Not right now. Shit. Where is it?" said Tasuki not bothering to turn around. Lei was looking at him with her amber eyes. They were just like her father's.

"What are you looking for, Papa?" asked Lei.

"The tessen," answered Tasuki.

"I saw a little while ago, Papa," said Lei. She didn't think much of it.

"WHERE?" shouted Tasuki. Tasuki got turned around. He got down to eye level with her.

"Papa…don't yell at me. Promise you won't yell," said Lei looking down.

"I promise I won't yell," said Tasuki as he lifted her chin up to look her in the eye.

"I was playing with it," confessed Lei.

"All right. I told you not to play with other people's things without their permission. Now, you know that I don't want people playing with my tessen. I'm not going to get mad. Just tell me where the tessen is," said Tasuki as he clutched his jaw in an effort not to yell at her. He couldn't stand to make any female cry. Especially, his little girl.

"I don't know," answered Lei.

"All right. Now, now. Please think hard," said Tasuki. He was about to yell out in anger.

"I don't know," answered Lei again after much silence.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?!!" exploded Tasuki.

Lei looked at her father. Tasuki watched as her bottom lip started to tremble. Her amber eyes filled up with tears. Tasuki realized what was going to happen next. "Please, please, please. Don't cry, Lei. Don't cry. I'm sorry. Don't cry!" pleaded Tasuki.

"MAMA! PAPA'S YELLING AT ME!" wailed Lei at the top of her lungs. She promptly burst out in tears. She rubbed her fist into her eyes. Tasuki's jaw dropped. Lei was now crying. 'This is exactly one of the reasons why I hated girls for so long,' thought Tasuki. He let out a groan. He picked up Lei who was fighting him. She was kicking and waving her arms around.

"Shh. I'm sorry. Stop that. OW!" shouted Tasuki. Lei kicked him somewhere that was quite sensitive.

"What's going on here?" asked Ling. She looked at her husband and daughter. Tasuki put down Lei who ran for shelter in her mother's arms. Ling picked her up. Lei was pouting at Tasuki. Tasuki threw up his arms in frustration. There were far too many females in the house. Even though there were only two of them. The two he couldn't live without.

"MAMA! Papa yelled at me," whined Lei as she buried her head into Ling's shoulder.

"Why did you do that, Tasuki?" asked Ling. She was very fair woman.

"BECAUSE SHE TOOK THE TESSEN!!! SHE PLAYED WITH IT!! SHE PUT IT SOME PLACE THAT SHE CAN'T REMEMBER!" shouted Tasuki. Lei covered her ears.

"Lei! You shouldn't have done that!" exclaimed her mother as she put Lei down.

"But…Mama…" started Lei.

"No, buts, Lei. You know better. You shouldn't be playing with something that dangerous. Your father protects the Emperor using that tessen. Your father also protects this family using it," scolded Ling. Lei looked rather ashamed of herself. Tasuki had a happy look on his face. His wife sided with him. "As for you, you shouldn't be yelling at her. If you keep doing that she won't remember even more. Just be patient. I'm sure that Lei will remember where it is," added his wife.

"I can't remember, Mama," said Lei softly.

Tasuki shook his head. He didn't say anything more. He stormed out of the room to go to work. Tasuki had to admire the spirit that his baby girl had. Tasuki went to work without the tessen for that day.

"Oh yeah. I put it back on the table in your room," said Lei all of a sudden. Her mother nearly fell over.

~*~End of Flashback~*~

They arrived at the village of Hakko. It was much prosperous than it was twenty years ago. The farmers were still a happy group. The village was a lot more lively than it was twenty years ago. The seishi looked around. Odayaka and Kawa would be looking for a place for them to lodge for the evening. Sei, Hono'o, Shitsu, and Mariko decided to go around and ask questions. Zhenyou decided that he needed some healing herbs.

Mariko looked around her. Sei was watching her carefully. "It must be strange for you. This is your father's home village after all," commented Sei softly so that Shitsu and Hono'o wouldn't hear him. Mariko gave him a solemn look. Sei let out a sigh.

"I don't know what to make of this. I don't know if I belong here or in our world, Sei. It's like being stuck. Do I exist here or there?" asked Mariko out loud in a soft voice.

"Do any of us know where we belong, Mariko?" asked Sei thoughtfully.

Mariko gave him a smile for his efforts. They heard a sudden crash behind them. There was a small child trapped underneath an up turned cart. It was made of wood. Mariko and her seishi turned around when they heard the crash. They all ran for the cart.

"We have to do something. Let's lift it," said Mariko. Sei and Mariko took one side of the cart. Hono'o and Shitsu took the other side of the cart.

"Let's lift on the count of three. One. Two. Three," ordered Sei. They all tried to lift the cart without success. The child inside was crying for her mother and father. The couple came running out. Another man came from the fields. He was of average height. He had short black and brown eyes that were almost black.

"It's all right. I'll lift the cart," said the young man. Looked about Shitsu and Odayaka's age. Mariko, Sei, Hono'o, and Shitsu moved out his way. He rolled up his sleeves.

"Are you all right in there?" called the man to the child.

"No. I think I hurt something," answered the child.

"I'll have you out in a moment," said the man. He lifted the cart one handed and threw it aside. It landed wheels down. Mariko, Sei, Hono'o and Shitsu looked at him with their jaws wide open. The man lifted the child and handed her back to her parents.

"Thank you so much, Lin Weilun," said the mother. Her child was taken to the town healer. Weilun just dusted off his hands. He was middle in built, yet he was able to lift that cart when Sei, Mariko, Shitsu, and Hono'o couldn't. His sleeves were still rolled up. There was something glowing in his upper right bicep. It was the character for cascade. Taki. Mariko noticed it and ran to the man. She grabbed his right arm. Lin Weilun looked at her in surprise.

"What's going on with you? Who are you?" asked Weilun.

"Can I see your arm?" asked Mariko. Her seishi caught up with her.

"What's going on, Mariko?" asked Shitsu.

"Yeah," in toned Hono'o.

"He has a kanji on his right bicep," said Mariko. She was still holding on to his arm. Weilun let out a sigh. He glowed his kanji. It was bright red.

"You're a Suzaku seishi like us," said Sei. As if on cue, Sei, Hono'o, and Shitsu glowed their kanji.

"It would appear so. My name is Lin Weilun. You must be the Suzaku no Miko. I'm not going anywhere. You can let go," said Weilun. She was still holding on to his arm. Mariko let go of him.

"My name is Seijitsu. You can call me Sei for short," said Sei with a smile.

"I'm Shitsu," said Shitsu.

"My name is Hono'o," she greeted with a smile.

"My name is Sukunami Mariko. I'm the Suzaku no Miko," said Mariko.

"You're the sixth seishi found," said Sei proudly.

"Wow. Sixth. That means I'm late for the party. Well, it could be worse I could be the last one found," said Taki with a smile.

"Hey! We couldn't find anything for the evening," said Odayaka as he and Kawa ran back to the others.

"Yes. They say everything is full because of the earthquakes people can't find anything else to stay in other than the inn for the time being," added Kawa.

"Kawa. Odayaka. This is Lin Weilun. His kanji is Taki," introduced Mariko, "This is the second seishi, Odayaka, and the fifth seishi, Kawa."

"Hello," greeted Taki.

"Hi, I'm so glad to meet you," said Odayaka.

"Likewise," agreed Kawa.

"You said that there's no place to stay for the evening. Why don't you stay at my place? I live right here in the village," said Taki.

They all followed him to his farm. There was a pretty woman with a small boy waiting for him.

"Hello, how was your day Weilun?" asked the woman.

"Everything is fine," said Taki as he picked up the small boy, "Let me introduce you all. This is my wife Aya and my three-year-old son, Cane. This is the Suzaku no Miko, Lady Mariko. These are the seishi: Seijitsu, Odayaka, Hono'o, Shitsu, and Kawa."

"It's an honor to meet you, Suzaku no Miko. We knew that one day you would be coming," said Aya as she bowed to Mariko. Mariko held her hands in front of her. She shook her head.

"You don't have to do that. We should thank you for letting us stay in your home," said Mariko.

Aya smiled at her. Cane looked at all the people. He latched on to Hono'o because it was obvious that she was the youngest seishi there. Hono'o didn't mind it too much because she was used to be being the youngest one there. They all sat down for dinner around the table. Odayaka found that he didn't mind common food all that much. In fact, he found it more filling. Perhaps, it was because common food was prepared with more feeling than food at the palace. He smiled smugly at himself because no one knew that he was the Emperor.

"This is the home village of the first seishi of the last Suzaku group, Tamahome. I grew up hearing stories about him. My father and the other children of the village use to tease him because of his kanji. They called him Little Ghost," said Taki.

"Is that so?" was all that Mariko commented. She was playing with her food again. Sei was sort of worried about Mariko. She wasn't eating that well. Mariko was losing weight.

"Um. Do you know any holy shrines in the area?" asked Sei. He wanted to shift the conversation.

"Well…there is the temple near the pond. It was built where Tamahome's family home was. There was a heinous crime committed there over twenty years ago," said Taki. His eyes darken slightly. Mariko looked up. She heard the story from the book about her father's family.

"What crime was that?" asked Shitsu.

"One of the Seiryuu seven killed his family. He had four younger brothers and sisters. His father was always ill. One of the other seishi, Mitsukake, healed him. Tamahome's father had regained his health only to be killed shortly thereafter. I wasn't even born when it happened," said Taki in a soft voice. Everyone around the table was very solemn.

"We should get some rest. Tomorrow we should go to the temple," said Odayaka.

"If it's all right with everyone…I would like to go there alone. I want to see it by myself," spoke up Mariko in a soft voice.

Before the other seishi could protest, Sei said, "That's fine. We'll wait for you outside. We'll be nearby."

Since Sei was the first seishi, no one questioned him.

* * *

The temple that was built on the land used to belong to Sou Family. It was a glorious temple that had white walls made of marble. There were marble statues of Suzaku outside the doorway.

"Are you going inside yet?" asked Sei. He knew that Mariko might have needed an extra push.

"I'm going. I just want to look at it. It's beautiful," said Mariko in a voice of awe.

"How is it possible for a temple like this to be built in such a plain looking place?" asked Kawa.

"The Emperor gives extra funding to this village. The last Emperor did, so does the current one. I had no idea how much money was going over here," said Odayaka in disbelief. Sei gave him a strange look. Kawa, Hono'o, Taki, and Shitsu moved away from him. Sei decided to talk to Odayaka when everyone was out of earshot.

"You mean to tell me that you don't know how much money goes here?" asked Sei.

"Yes," answered Odayaka as he nodded, "I just stamp my seal of approval and that's it. I really don't read what I stamp."

"Where I come from people don't do that. People are suppose to read everything before they sign it," Sei informed Odayaka.

"You try doing my job for a day. There's no way I'll read everything. I skim. Besides, my father instigated the funding twenty years ago," said Odayaka with a shrug.

Sei fell over superdeformed.

Mariko went into the temple. The doors shut behind her. There was a chill in the air. Mariko rubbed her upper arms with her hands. She looked at the doors. Her first impulse was to go back outside and come back in with her seishi. She shook her head.

'I have to get the scrolls on my own. I think they might be here,' thought Mariko. Something caught her eye. There was someone watching her from a corner. She was a little girl. Her hair was up in two buns on the side of her head. She looked about five years old. She looked up at Mariko with a smile.

"What are you doing in here, little girl?" asked Mariko. The little girl was like a faded image.

"You're my brother's little girl," said the little girl. Mariko's eyes widened. The little girl she was talking to was a ghost. She was her father's youngest sister, Yuiren. Yuiren beckoned Mariko to follow her. Yuiren pointed to a large stone altar in front of a statue of Suzaku.

There was a young boy sitting on top of it. He looked just like Mariko's brother when he was younger. He smiled at Mariko. He jumped off the stone altar.

"Come on, Yuiren. It's time to go. The scrolls are inside the stone altar. Only you can open it, Mariko," said the young boy.

"Are you Chuei or Gyokuran?" asked Mariko.

"I'm your Uncle Chuei," answered the boy with a smile. The little girl ran up to him. They held each other's hands as they faded away. Mariko turned back to the altar. She walked up to it.

It was made of solid marble. How was she suppose to open it? Mariko placed her hands on the cold marble. She pushed the marble. It was no use. It was impossible. Mariko tried with all her might until sweat beaded off her forehead. 'Maybe, I should get Taki in here. With his strength he should be able to open it,' thought Mariko. She ran back to the doors. Mariko pushed on them. The doors wouldn't open. Mariko pounded on them.

"SEI! ODAYAKA! TAKI! ANYONE! OPEN THE DOOR!" called out Mariko. Her voice echoed inside the temple it was no use. Mariko pounded on the door one last time. The doors wouldn't open and no one could hear her.

Mariko walked back to the altar. Chuei said that only she could open it. Mariko pushed against the marble again. She focused on the statue of Suzaku in front of her.

"Come on! Please, Suzaku!" pleaded Mariko. The bracelets on her wrist turned into gauntlets. Mariko smiled and with one last push the large slab of marble in on top fell to the floor.

BANG!

Mariko peered inside. There was a pair scrolls inside. She picked them up with her hands. Mariko turned around. Her seishi had managed to get inside.

"Mariko! Are you all right?" asked Hono'o.

They could see that she was clearly exhausted. They came in when they heard the marble slab hit the floor. There were now cracks on the marble in front of the statue. She had sweat coming down her forehead. She held the scrolls over her head.

"The scrolls," said Odayaka.

Taki walked over to the marble slab. He picked it up and put it back gently on the altar.

Mariko opened one of the scrolls it listed where to find the last seishi.

"The last Seishi is known as Shiro. The castle," read Mariko out loud.

~*ClareBear's Omake*~

Tamahome: HAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Nuriko: Why are you laughing?

Tamahome: I just realized that there are more women on this team than the last one.

Miaka: I don't think that's funny, Tamahome.

Tamahome: That's not what I think is funny. I think it's funny that there's real woman who's the third seishi.

Nuriko: Tasuki's daughter? Hey! Did you just insult me?

Hotohori: I wonder what Tasuki will think when he finds out that the fifth seishi this time is a woman, Kawa.

Chiriko: I thought that most of the seishi would be women.

Mitsukake: I wonder who the last seishi is.

Tamahome: They better be careful.

Nuriko: They better make sure that the seventh seishi isn't an imposter. Look they have Zai Rei to deal with.

Tamahome: At least, the third seishi is a real woman.

Nuriko slams Tamahome to the nearest wall. He dusts off his hands. Everyone else is sweatdropped.