When Misara opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by flowers. They were all so beautiful, so many colors...Misara breathed in the sweet scent they gave off. They smelled so much like her mother's flowers. Her mother kept a flower garden every year, planting new kinds with many beautiful colors. However, every year, as long as Misara could remember, her mother had planted red roses. Misara loved those roses more than any other flowers in the garden. Every year, she could look out her bedroom window and see those red blossoms. It was comforting in a way, to know that no matter what, those roses would always be there. Whenever she was sad, she'd go out to the garden and pick a rose, and keep it with her when she fell asleep. She could smell the roses in her dreams. Her mother always smelled of those roses too, even in the winter, when all the flowers had died. The scent these flowers gave off reminded her too much of home, of her mother, and Misara felt her eyes fill with tears. She shook her head violently, determined not to cry. Through her tears, she could see a single bush, filled with red roses. She stood slowly, and walked over to it. Silently picking a rose, she pressed it to her heart and prayed for her mother not to worry about her. Just then, she heard a voice calling her name. She turned around and saw Tamahome walking toward her, a look of concern on his face that reminded her so much of Taylor that she just had to laugh. When he saw her laughing, confusion overtook concern.

"Why are you laughing?" He asked curiously.

"You just...remind me of someone I know, that's all." Misara shook herself. "It's nothing, really. Why were you looking so concerned?"

"You looked really sad, standing there...I just wondered if you were homesick."

Misara nodded slowly, looking at the ground. "I'm okay now, though. Um...Tamahome?"

"Yeah?" He answered, looking at the flowers.

"Could you take me to Suzaku? I have to talk to him about something."

Tamahome looked shocked for a moment, then shook his head. "I can't take you to Suzaku-I don't have a single idea as to where to start looking!" Misara looked distraught, so he stumbled on. "I can take you to the shrine, here in the palace."

"Huh? Palace?" Misara looked around and noticed for the first time that she was standing in a large square, surrounded by buildings with red roofs and an ancient Chinese look about them.

"Oh...well, sure..." She said to Tamahome, still looking around bewilderedly. He took her arm and led her out of the square.

As they walked through the maze of buildings, Nuriko caught up to them. "Oh, Tamahome! You found her!" She smiled at Misara. "We were looking all over for you, even his Highness, but he had to stop because his council had to discuss some official business or something. Anyway, I'm glad Tamahome found you!" She fell into step beside Tamahome. "Where are you two kids headed?"

"You're not that much older than me, Nuriko, to be calling me a kid! We're going to the Temple of Suzaku." He looked disdainfully at Nuriko. "She has to talk to Suzaku. Right?" He asked, looking down at Misara, but she wasn't paying attention. Her eyes had gotten all hazy and dreamy, and she was off in her own little world. Tamahome shook her arm. "Misara?"

"Huh? What? Did you say something?" She looked up quickly, then blushed as if she had been caught doing something wrong.

"What's on your mind?" Nuriko asked cautiously.

"Oh...no one...I mean, nothing, never mind!" She said quickly. Tamahome and Nuriko shared a quick glance. Just then, they reached the door to the temple.

"Do you want to go in alone?" Tamahome asked her. She shook her head forcefully. He shrugged, and the three of them opened the door.

"Tamahome, Nuriko, wait!" A voice called from behind. They all turned to see Hotohori walking quickly up the steps, followed by his council members. He turned around and said something to them, and they left. He hurried up the stairs and greeted them cordially. Then the four walked into the temple of Suzaku together.

As Misara entered the gigantic temple, she gazed around in awe. Then she noticed a giant statue of a phoenix in the middle of the temple.

Oh...right...that's Suzaku. He called me here...but why? Misara wondered.

As she neared the statue, the three seishi respectfully stayed behind, but watched carefully from afar. With hesitating steps, she approached Suzaku. Although the entire statue appeared to be made out of gold, something unusual glittered on it. Misara peered closer, then gave a frightened gasp. In one of the statue's talons, a silver ring with a blue stone gleamed at her. It was the one she lost at the restaurant! She remembered what Taitskun said, that there was one thing that tied her to this world. This ring MUST be it, she thought. She hurried up to the statue, relieved to have found it so quickly. But before she could grab it, the statue closed its talon around the ring, making it impossible to get. Before she could stop herself, Misara screamed and flung herself at the statue, trying desperately to wrench the ring out, but with no success. Tamahome had hurried up behind her after she gasped the first time, and he grabbed her waist and tried to pull her away from the statue. She clung to it, crying, and wouldn't let go. All of a sudden, the metal under her hands felt red hot, and burned her hands. She screamed again as she was flung, along with Tamahome, across the room. Tamahome hit the floor, but Nuriko caught Misara in mid air.

"Misara!" Hotohori cried, but Misara had fainted, and she hung limply in Nuriko's arms.


Misara slowly opened her eyes, and resisted the urge to scream. She sat up quickly and looked around, and all of a sudden, her mind remembered. She wasn't at home, where she belonged. She was in a strange world, with a job that she couldn't possibly handle. Then she noticed Hotohori, sitting next to her bed, watching her intently. Misara's cheeks turned a brilliant shade of red, and she stared at her hands. When she did, she noticed the bandages around them, and suddenly felt pain.

"Your hands were terribly burned and blistered." Hotohori said quietly. "My physician did all he could, but they will hurt for a while. Other than that, how are you feeling?" He looked at her with genuine concern in his eyes, with eyes that really cared, and she couldn't bear to meet them.

"I'm alright." She whispered.

A moment of silence passed between them, before Misara remembered something else.

"How's Tamahome? Is he alright?"

"Tamahome is fine. Apart from a few broken ribs, he is unharmed. He is not allowed to leave his bed, but he asked if you would come and see him as soon as you felt better."

Misara nodded. "I'll go now. Will you show me where he is?"

Hotohori offered her his arm, and led her to Tamahome's room, where Nuriko was feeding him some vile substance. He grimaced as he choked it down, but as soon as he saw Misara, he brightened. Nuriko smiled, ran over, and hugged Misara gently.

"How are you feeling, kiddo? We were all so worried about you." He said, taking her hands in his and looking at the bandages. He grimaced also, but smiled warmly. "You'll get better soon, I'm sure." Hotohori nodded in agreement.

Misara walked over to Tamahome's bed and sat down.

"I'm sor-" she began, but Tamahome touched her arm softly and shook his head.

"It wasn't your fault, so don't worry about it." He said.

She sighed and tried to smile at him. "I was wondering, maybe, when you feel better...if you could teach me how to fight?"

He grinned enthusiastically. "Are you sure?"

Misara heard a snort and glanced over at Nuriko, who was rolling his eyes. She snickered, and answered, "Absolutely."

"Well, we'll start tomorrow, then, if you're ready."

"But you're injured! We can wait until you feel better, really!" Misara cried.

Tamahome shook his head. "I'm fine now, just wait until tomorrow. You'll see."