They made it back to the palace in a little over three hours. Tamahome had watched irritably as Miaka held tightly to Hotohori as the trip had worn on. She had not even glanced at him once during the whole trip back because her attention was so transfixed with Hotohori.

Tamahome was now in his chambers moodily slouching on his bed. It was his fault that Miaka was now ignoring him. He never should have lied and told her that he felt nothing for her. That was far from the truth. He felt a great deal for her and knew that he was falling in love with her. He had lost his chance and there was nothing he could do about it. Miaka was now officially Hotohori's.

Nuriko stormed into his room.

"Oh the nerve of that girl! The way she flings herself at my Hotohori!"

"Yeah so." Tamahome said with a total lack of emotion.

Nuriko stared at him with a mixture of amusement and vexation.

"Is this how we are going to play it now? Are you just going to pretend that you don't care?"

"Care about what?" He said this with the same tone.

"Miaka you idiot!"

"Miaka can do whatever she wants. It doesn't bother me."

"Liar," Nuriko said in a unusually calm voice. "You care more than you even know. You will have to admit your true feelings to her soon if you ever want a chance."

"If I did care," said Tamahome with his voice rising in anger. " I would have no chance at all anymore. It is Hotohori she loves. Not me."

" Yes. isn't that strange that it was only a few days ago that she was professing her love for you. Now she is all over my Hotorhori. Something very strange is going on here," Nuriko said almost to herself.

" Nothing strange at all is going on here. It is just the fickle nature of a woman's heart is all. I am glad I don't care." Tamahome said softly.

"No. there IS something strange going on," Nuriko said once again. " There is something very strange going on with Miaka and I intend to find out exactly what it is."

With that Nuriko stormed out of Tamahome's room and headed for Miaka's. Tamahome continued to pout in silence now that he was alone once more.