Note: None of these characters belong to me. I'm going to continue using English CCS names in this fic, but if one of you reviewers would give me a list of the Japanese names, I'll use them from now on. Shounen ai between Tasuki/Chichiri and Yue/Tori.

Bittersweet Harmony

Part 3

A.J. Matthews

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Sakura's Room

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"What do you mean, my brother and Julian vanished into a book!" Sakura shouted.

Miaka, Tamahome, and Li sweatdropped.

"I saw it myself, Sakura," Li said.

"Amazing," Kero said.

Miaka and Tamahome stared at what they thought was a talking stuffed bear.

"It's so cute!" Miaka cooed.

"Back off," Kero said warningly, as Miaka tried to grab him.

"Li, it's impossible for Tori and Julian to be stuck in a book," Sakura protested. "Are you trying to play a joke on me or something?"

Li sighed. "Show her the book, Miaka."

Miaka handed Sakura the book 'The Universe of the Four Gods'. Sakura took it and stared at it blankly.

"What's it supposed to do?" she asked.

"Open it- carefully," Tamahome said. "Read it."

Sakura opened it, shrugging, and began to read. "Oh my god! Here's a picture of Yue and Tori!" She continued reading. "Oh, no. Kero, how do we bring them out of this book?"

"What's it say, Sakura?" Kero asked curiously. He flew over and began to read. And he burst into laughter.

"The two strangers, now known to the six Suzaku Seishi as Tori and Yue/Julian, were led up Mount Taikyo to meet up with the Creator of the World, Taiitskun, who had summoned them," Sakura read aloud.

**************

Inside the Book

**************

Tori kept the pace up easily, as they climbed the mountain. "This isn't so bad," he said.

Yue hovered above him carefully, to make sure Tori didn't fall. "Indeed," he said.

"Hey, angel-boy, not all of us have wings, you know," Tasuki grumbled.

"Cheer up, Tasuki, no da. It could be raining, no da," Chichiri told him, with his smiling mask on.

Tasuki sighed. "I don't like this, Chichiri," he muttered. "I'd rather be at the palace in Konan, with you."

Chichiri blushed. "We will be there soon, no da, Tasuki. As soon as Yue and Tori speak with Taiitskun, no da."

Hotohori also kept up with the group. Tasuki grinned at him wickedly.

"Tired?" he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"No, Tasuki," Hotohori said.

"Damn. How 'bout you, Nuriko?"

The lavender-haired boy/girl cocked an eyebrow at Tasuki. "Me? Tired? No way."

Tori watched Nuriko. He still couldn't tell if Nuriko was a boy or girl. "Hey, Yue, do you think Nuriko is a boy or girl?" he quietly asked.

Tasuki heard Tori's question and grinned.

Yue shrugged. "I could try to use magic to find out." He seemed energetic to Tori, which was a good sign. He knew Julian wouldn't keep up as well as Yue could.

Yue floated down next to him and made his wings vanish. He then started walking alongside his lover.

Tori smiled at him, his eyes full of promise.

Tasuki sweatdropped when he saw Yue's wings vanish. "Is there anything you can't do, angel-boy?"

"Tasuki, call him by his name," Hotohori said sternly. "His name is Yue, not angel-boy." Hotohori still thought Yue and Julian were both cute.

Yue looked at Tasuki and thought. "I couldn't turn you into a girl," he said finally.

The other Seishi started to laugh.

"I hate girls," Tasuki snapped. Chichiri walked over and placed his hand on Tasuki's shoulder.

"Tasuki, I think he was joking, no da. Please try to be more friendly," Chichiri said softly. "They are lost in our world, much as Tamahome is lost in theirs, with Miaka. Tamahome has Miaka to look after him, while Yue and Tori only have us."

"For you, 'Chiri, I'll try," Tasuki agreed. "They just better stay away from you."

Nuriko was busy talking with Hotohori.

"They still don't know," he said, amused.

Hotohori smiled at Nuriko. "You hide it very well, Nuriko."

When they took a break, Tasuki saw Tori talking to Chichiri. Part of him burned with jealousy, even though he knew that Chichiri loved him.

"Why does Tasuki act like that, Chichiri?" Tori asked. He saw Tasuki watching them, and ignored it.

"Tasuki is very possessive, Tori, no da." Chichiri blushed.

"Yue's like that too, sometimes," Tori admitted. "But it makes me feel special when he does that."

"Me, too," Chichiri said. He and Tori both smiled, thinking of their loved ones.

Yue had rematerialized his wings, and floated above everyone else, looking to see how much further they had to travel.

Tasuki watched Yue. The angel was graceful, but he liked his Chichiri better. He continued watching Chichiri and Tori.

Yue watched Tori talk to Chichiri for a while. He gently flew down and placed his arms around Tori's neck as he landed and made his wings disappear again.

"It looks like we have a lot more ground to cover, Tori," he said. "Hello, Chichiri."

"Hello, Yue. How was the view from up there?" Chichiri asked, slightly wistful.

Yue looked at him and smiled gently. "Want to see it for yourself?"

"Yes, no da, if Tori doesn't mind," Chichiri said. He looked over at Tasuki. "And Tasuki."

"It's cool with me," Tori said easily.

Tasuki walked over. "What is it, 'Chiri?"

"Would it be all right if Yue lifted me up high enough to see the view, Tasuki?" Chichiri asked quietly.

Tasuki could see that Chichiri really wanted to do it. "Sure, 'Chiri." He bent down and whispered in Chichiri's ear, "But remember that you're mine."

"Of course, Tasuki, no da," Chichiri answered. He added in a lower voice, "They haven't even seen me without my mask, Tasuki." That made Tasuki feel a lot better.

"Ready?" Yue asked Chichiri. His wings reappeared.

"Hai." Yue grasped Chichiri gently by the waist and flew straight up in the air.

Nuriko and Hotohori walked over, standing with Tori and Tasuki. All of them watched Yue fly above the treetops and hover.

"Breathtaking, no da," Chichiri said, as he gazed at the clear blue sky.

"Yes," Yue said. "Tori and I do this when the sun rises in our world."

"Sounds nice, no da." Chichiri gazed around, looking around the sky. "Thank you, Yue," he said quietly.

"You're welcome, Chichiri." Yue gently flew down. He looped the others, and set Chichiri lightly on his feet in front of Tasuki. Yue then landed next to Tori. His wings faded once more, and he looked slightly tired. Well, Yue had been in this form for almost seventy-two hours straight, Tori realized. Soon, he would have to change back to Julian.

Yue leaned slightly against Tori for support. Tori looked at the others.

"Is it time to start walking again, Hotohori?" he asked.

Hotohori nodded. "If we want to reach Taiitskun within the next three days."

Chichiri was busy telling Tasuki about what all he'd seen from way up there.

They started walking again.

Yue walked, trailing a little behind Chichiri and Tasuki. Tori walked next to him silently.

The sun beat hot down on them. Yue's long hair made it worse for him, until Nuriko decided it should be redone, at least while they were in this world. Of course, he didn't tell Yue his decision. They walked for over six hours, stopping to rest in the night.

Yue fell asleep, sitting against a rock. Tori was busy explaining Yue and Julian's relationship to Hotohori. Tasuki and Chichiri were cuddled together by the fire.

Nuriko snuck up behind Yue, who was so exhausted that he didn't notice. Nuriko silently undid Yue's long, silvery hair, and began to experiment with it. He finally pulled it up in a high ponytail, which didn't work because Yue's hair was too long. So Nuriko took out his knife.

"So Julian is not aware that he is Yue?" Hotohori asked. "Fascinating."

"Yep," Tori said. "It is inconvenient a lot, especially in times like right now." He sighed.

"Help!" they heard Nuriko scream, as he ran by. Yue flew after him, throwing his crystals at Nuriko.

"Nuriko, what did you do?" Hotohori called, as he stood.

Tori stood as well. And gaped at Yue's hair. "Yue-" Tori looked directly at his lover. "What did you do to your hair?!"

"I didn't do it," Yue yelled. He swooped down at Nuriko, who quickly dropped to the ground.

"Gomen, Yue," Nuriko said, as he dodged more crystals.

Chichiri and Tasuki looked over as Nuriko ducked again and nearly fell on them.

"What's going on, no da," Chichiri said, as he rested his head against Tasuki's chest.

"Yue's trying to kill me!" Nuriko yelled. He ran and dove behind Chichiri.

**************

Sakura's Room

**************

All of them started laughing when they read how Nuriko had cut Yue's hair. There was an image of Yue chasing Nuriko, who ran.

Sakura finally stopped laughing and looked at Kero. "Why does Yue wear his hair so long, Kero?"

"I dunno. It was that way for as long as I can remember, Sakura. Man, is he mad!" Kero looked at the close-up of Yue.

Even Li cracked up. "I can't wait to tease Yue about that, when he returns," Li cried.

Sakura looked at Miaka and Tamahome.

"Will Tori and Yue be able to return?" she asked.

"They should be able to, as soon as you finish the book, Sakura," Miaka told her gently.

"We hope so, anyway," Tamahome said.

Tori, you have to come home, Sakura thought, tears in her eyes. I know we fight a lot, but I love you. I couldn't bear it if you- and Julian, of course- got stuck in this book forever.

**************

Inside the Book

**************

Yue barely missed Chichiri as he swooped by.

"Yue, stop!" Tori called. "You'll use up your magical energy- and until I get some sleep, I won't be able to give you any of mine."

Yue reluctantly landed. He glared at Nuriko.

"Nuriko," Hotohori said disapprovingly. "It serves you right."

Nuriko bowed his head. "The sun had to be making Yue hot, especially with all that hair." He looked miserable. "Maybe Taiitskun can fix it."

"I hope so," Yue said. He rubbed his temples. Tori looked at him in concern.

"Are you ok, Yue?" Chichiri asked.

"Hai. It takes a lot of energy to do what I just did," Yue said, trying to hide a yawn. "I'm going back to bed, Tori. And if Nuriko gets near my hair again, I won't be responsible for the consequences."

"Good night, Yue," Tori said. He gently pressed his lips to Yue's, who responded before flying up, and landing in a tall tree.

"I'm getting some sleep as well," Tori announced. He walked over to the tree where Yue was sitting, and lay down next to it.

"Us, too," Chichiri and Tasuki said. They curled up by the fire again.

Hotohori frowned at Nuriko. "You have first watch," he said, before finding a comfortable spot where he lay down flat.

Nuriko nodded, and walked over to the campfire. He sat down and kept watch.

All of the others drifted to sleep, one by one.

During the night, Yue awoke and flew down to cuddle next to Tori, who was shivering slightly in the cold wind. His wings wrapped around them both, as he fell asleep again.

Chichiri and Tasuki kept each other warm, as well. Nuriko fells asleep, after Hotohori took his turn standing guard.

To be continued