Note: I will only write a sequel to this story if I get at least five reviews requesting it. Julian/Yue and Tori will not find their way home in this story, but they will in the sequel. None of these characters belong to me! Takes place the following morning after the last chapter.

Resignation

Part 5

Yue awoke when he heard a muffled cry of pain from Tori.

"Tori, are you ok?" he whispered to his lover.

"I'm fine," Tori said, even as he cringed. Chichiri had let him borrow a shirt on the hike up to Mount Taikyo, but Tori's back was hurting worse than ever.

The long walk and carrying Julian had not helped.

Yue touched Tori's shoulder and gasped when he felt liquid on his hand. He lifted it and looked at it. Crimson blood now covered Yue's soft, pale hand.

"Sit up, Tori. You're bleeding badly!" Yue said sternly. He was right, for blood was seeping through the blue shirt Tori wore.

Tori reluctantly did so. "I'd forgotten about my back," he admitted. "I was more worried about you."

Yue stood. "Come on, Tori. We're going to find a doctor or something." He helped Tori stand.

That was when they both realized that Yue's head only came to Tori's chin. They stared at each other for a few moments.

"You've shrunk," Tori whispered.

Yue ignored that minor detail for now, as he assisted Tori in walking to the door. Yue opened it, and the two carefully made their way down the hall, with Tori leaning on Yue.

The only person whose room they knew in this place was Chichiri's, so they went there.

Yue knocked on the door.

Tasuki grumbled in his sleep as he heard someone knocking on the door.

He and Chichiri lay together on the bed, with the blue-haired Seishi in Tasuki's arms.

"Go 'way," Tasuki muttered loudly.

"Who is it, no da?" Chichiri asked sleepily as he stirred and opened his eye.

"It's Yue," the muffled voice said.

"What do you want, angel boy?" the red-haired bandit growled.

Yue said loudly, "Tori needs help."

Chichiri sat up reluctantly. "Hold on, no da," he called out. He quickly slipped his pants and mask on, before standing.

The monk walked over to the door and opened it.

Yue stood there in only his pants, with Tori leaning against him. The difference in height was obvious.

"Yue-chan, you are shorter, no da," Chichiri said. Then he saw that Tori was slightly pale. "What is wrong, Tori-chan?"

In response, Yue turned Tori gently, so Chichiri could see the blood flowing down the youth's shirt.

"That looks really bad, no da," Chichiri exclaimed. "We need Mitsukake. Bring Tori in here, Yue-chan."

Tasuki had put his pants on as well, and walked over to the door. "What's going on, 'Chiri?"

"Tori is hurt, Tasuki-chan. I'm going to fetch Mitsukake." Chichiri walked down the hallway towards Mitsukake's room.

Yue helped Tori inside, with Tasuki following them.

Tori hated being so weak, as he sat on the corner of the bed. Yue surprised him by tugging at his shirt.

"What are you doing?" Tori mumbled.

"Mitsukake will need to see your wounds, Tori," Yue reminded him.

Tori removed his shirt reluctantly.

Even Tasuki let out a slight whistle at the sight of the lashes on Tori's back. "Who did those?"

"Nakago," Tori said. "He was trying to force Julian to change into Yue."

Yue carefully placed an arm around Tori. "Gomen, Tori. You would not have been hurt if I had not resisted changing."

"You were hurt, too," Tori reminded 'his' angel. "How is your wing?"

"A little sore, but ok. You were hurt worse, my kare." Tori rested his head on Yue's shoulder.

Tasuki found this kind of cute. These two reminded him of himself and Chichiri. Of course, 'Chiri was not entirely as defenseless as Tori was, for he did have his Seishi powers. Tori was just a normal human with magic.

Nuriko stumbled into the room half asleep. "What's going on? Chichiri just all but blasted down Mitsukake's door." His eyes focused on Tori and Yue, who appeared to be in their own little world, as they whispered to each other.

"You two are so kawaii!" Nuriko exclaimed.

Tori and Yue blushed when they heard that.

"Tori is hurt," Tasuki told the cross-dresser. "Nakago whipped him pretty badly."

"Oh…" Nuriko walked over and gazed at Tori's back and nearly fainted at the sight. "How could you keep this a secret, Tori!" he half shouted.

"Some of us are trying to sleep," Hotohori's voice said from the doorway.

"Indeed," Chiriko said.

The two walked into the room, with Chiriko yawning widely.

"Hey, 'Chiri and I are not having a party in here," Tasuki protested, as they sat on the bed as well.

Nobody was listening to the bandit.

Chiriko fell asleep, leaning against Yue.

The angel laughed quietly, as he and Tori exchanged an amused look. They were talking together quietly.

Nuriko was busy fawning over a yawning Hotohori.

Tasuki sweatdropped, as he sat down on the bed next to Tori.

Chichiri reentered the room dragging a half asleep Mitsukake. The monk sweatdropped when he saw all of the people in his and Tasuki's room.

He shook his head and led Mitsukake over to where Tori and Yue sat.

"Tori needs you to heal him, Mitsukake, no da," Chichiri told the sleepy healer.

"All right," Mitsukake muttered. "But next time don't blast my door down." He inspected Tori's back. "How long have you had this, Tori?" he asked, as he placed his hands above the lashes.

Green, sparkly bubbles glowed as the lashes began to heal.

"Since Nakago took Yue and myself prisoner," Tori told the healer. "What are you doing?"

"Mitsukake's Seishi power is healing, no da, Tori," Chichiri said.

The bubbles faded when Tori's back was healed.

"Thank you, Mitsukake," Tori told the healer. He turned to Yue. "What about your wing, Yue?"

"It's ok, Tori. It'll fix itself, and I think everyone would like to get back to bed," Yue said quietly.

Tori frowned. "Yue…"

"Very well," the Guardian sighed. "But someone needs to move Chiriko so he does not wake up."

Tasuki and Chichiri moved the sleeping boy carefully.

Chiriko stirred slightly, but didn't wake as they held him.

Yue focused and his wings materialized. One of them faltered a bit as he curled them close to him.

Mitsukake gently touched Yue's wing, inspecting it.

To his surprise, Yue jerked slightly. "Gomen, but my wings are sensitive."

"I see…" Mitsukake concentrated his Ki and healed the small injury. The area where the wing had been damaged healed over.

"Thank you," Yue said gratefully.

"It was no problem," Mitsukake said, as he yawned again.

Yue made his wings fade away again and snuggled next to Tori.

Hotohori and Nuriko were arguing with each other.

Tasuki smiled at his 'Chiri.

Chichiri smiled back. "Breakfast will be ready soon, no da?"

"Hai," Tasuki said. "It's a good thing, too."

Taiitskun's voice was suddenly heard. "Chichiri!"

"Hai, Taiitskun, no da?" Chichiri asked.

"There is a problem with getting Tori and Yue back to their own world," Taiitskun said. "The priestess of Seiryuu has made it impossible for anyone to travel between worlds right now. I'm afraid they are going to be stuck here indefinitely."

Tori and Yue were visibly upset at this.

"I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do right now," Taiitskun told them, before her voice faded.

"Everyone at home is going to freak out when they realize that Julian and I are missing!" Tori protested.

Yue flinched a little. "Only Sakura will miss me," he said flatly.

"Kero will miss you as well," Tori told the Guardian.

"But no one else, for they do not know that I exist," Yue said, sounding… sad.

Tori took Yue in his arms, as the Suzaku warriors watching, feeling pity and compassion.

"I promise you, Yue. We will find a way home together," Tori vowed. He added silently, don't worry, squirt. We'll find a way to come back. I love you.

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

Sakura's Room

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

"How could Yui wish for no one to be able to travel between the worlds!" Miaka cried. She had been reading the book, and thrust it at Sakura. "She knows that Julian and Tori are stuck there."

Sakura read the latest chapters, her face pale. "Tori's right. People are going to notice when he and Julian are missing. I can only duplicate one of them with the Mirror Card."

"Sakura, did you read this last part?" Li asked.

Sakura read it slowly. "The human boy known as Tori reassured his lover that they would find a way home, as he embraced the angel hard. But his thoughts were of his little sister. He was trying to tell her not to worry, for they would find a way home, and that he loved her." She looked at Li, tears beginning to run down her face. "He really does love me," Sakura sniffled.

Li nodded, as did Kero.

Miaka and Tamahome watched the three of them.

"I know they'll make it back," Sakura said, her green eyes shining. "Because Tori promised. Somehow, someday, they'll come back. And until they do, Yue and Tori will take care of each other."

The End