AN: ::gets down on knees:: I'm begging for reviews! Please please please! ^- ^;; Can anyone say desperate? Any how, I'm going to keep writing this, despite the fact nobody loves me and doesn't want to review. ^-^ You'll finally all find out what that potion was meant to do! Yay! This chapter was too long to proofread, so be nice of criticize, it's your choice ^-^

I don't own Fushigi Yuugi, I only own Sakura.

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Everyone stared at Sakura in shock. The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Sakura just moved her gaze briefly across the room. Tamahome didn't really seem to give a damn, but she really couldn't care. Hotohori, Nuriko, Mitsukake, and Chiriko watched her, shocked at her abrupt decision. Tasuki's eyes were wide and Chichiri remained emotionless.

'Must have learned that from Taiitskun.'

Sakura thought bitterly. She rested her gaze, finally, on Miaka. Her eyes were wide and brimmed with tears, her bottom lip trembling. They held shock, anger, and most of all, hurt. She was hurt Sakura could even suggest doing such a think. Sakura fought back her own emotions, willing her face to remain calm and emotionless. Miaka teetered, and Tasuki rushed to steady her. Tamahome didn't even seem to notice. Only in his arms did she cry as he carefully brought her down on the ground and murmured in her ear.

"Sakura? You're really….?" Nuriko spoke up for the rest of the group. She nodded curtly. Taiitskun continued to watch on.

"I think I best be going now." She disappeared, leaving Sakura and the Suzaku seishi and miko alone.

"Sakura, can I have a word with you?" Nuriko, again, turned to face the girl. Sakura nodded, uncertainly, before following Nuriko out of the room. She brushed past Chichiri as she left, and bit down on her bottom lip to keep from crying out. Didn't he even care that she was going to offer her life to save his!?

"Why are you doing this?" Nuriko stopped her once a safe distance from the room. Sakura shrugged and looked at her feet.

"Sakura, you're hurting Miaka and everyone else. Especially Chichiri." He growled. Sakura's head shot up and she glared at the seishi.

"I've been nothing but a bitch to them. They have no reason to be upset."

"But they do! I do! Why, Sakura? We could find another way, if you just talk to Taiitskun I'm sure…"

"Stop it!" Sakura let a few tears slip past her barrier. Nuriko jumped in shock at her outburst.

"Do you think I want to do this? Do you!? Well, I have a choice. Save everyone and everything that means the most to me and die, or watch everyone die with me. Do you honestly think I can do that!?" She screeched angrily, her hands balled into fists at her sides. Nuriko remained silent.

"Tell me, Nuriko, what would you do?" She lowered her voice to a harsh whisper.

"N-nani?" Nuriko was obviously not prepared for the question. Sakura laughed bitterly and held up her wrist and pulled back her sleeve, exposing the large scar that only Miaka knew about.

"What would you do? Nuriko? I've already tried to end my life. What a better way to end it then to sacrifice myself for people who mean so much to me, even if they don't love me." She fought back more tears and let her arm fall limply to her side again. Nuriko was speechless. He didn't know what to say, or to do.

"Well?"

"I….I would do the same." He admitted, almost ashamed of himself. Sakura laughed slightly.

"That's what I thought." She muttered before she turned and started off to the garden in the back.

"We do love you, Sakura. More than you'll ever know."

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Sakura sighed as she sat by the pond she dubbed "The Thinking Pond". She frowned and stared at her reflection. Her face was pale and her cheeks and eyes were red and puffy from the countless tears that she had been crying for the past half hour. Her hair was dis-shelved and her nose was stuffy. She glared at her reflection. She was a monster. She slapped angrily at the image of herself in the water, splashing some droplets on her face. The picture disappeared and was replaced by ripples. She heard some rustling behind her but ignored it. Let whoever it was come and yell. She had hurt too many people.

"Sakura-chan?"

"Chichiri." She acknowledged him, not turning around to look him in the face. She heard him pause, before taking the few steps to her and sitting down. They remained in silence before Chichiri decided to break it.

"So, you're going through with this, no da?"

"Hai." Sakura didn't trust her voice enough to say anything more. She had to stay strong. Pretend she didn't care. But it was hard.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why throw it all away?"

"Why not? Am I to just sit here and watch you all die, and then die myself?" She asked bitterly, shivering as a breeze nipped at her arms. A blanket of warmth surrounded her and she looked over to see Chichiri's cape draped over her shoulders.

"Arigatou." She whispered, pulling it tightly around her. She breathed in deeply and smiled faintly. It smelt like him.

"We could find another way. We could stop this, no da."

Sakura wanted so badly to believe him. She wanted to trust him and believe everything would be okay.

"Iie, it won't be that easy." She shook her head and frowned, still gazing at the water. She heard some rustling beside her and refused to look. She sucked in a breath as Chichiri kneeled in front of her. He gently took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him. He had his mask off and was watching her intently.

"We will find a way around it, no da. I won't let you die." He closed his eye and slowly leaned in. Sakura's eye went wide as she realized what he was about to do.

'Move!'

Sakura silently tried to get herself moving, but couldn't. She closed her eyes when his lips brushed against hers, gently. A shudder went through her as she pressed her lips more firmly against his. Chichiri was shocked that she was responding, but continued the kiss. His one hand still cupped Sakura's cheek while the other arm was wrapped around her waist. One of Sakura's arms braced herself on the ground; the other was running through his hair. Slowly, Chichiri pulled back and watched her. Her chest was heaving slightly and her eyes were still closed. Her lips, which were still slightly parted, were red and swollen. Her eyes fluttered open suddenly and she stared at the man before her in shock. Neither spoke.

"Gomen, Sakura. It was a mistake, no da." Chichiri whispered, untangling himself from her and standing. This is when Chichiri learned his biggest mistake. Never ever kiss a girl and tell her it was a mistake.

"A mistake?" Sakura croaked, her eyes filling with tears of anger. She jumped up, startling Chichiri.

"So you're saying that that was a mistake? That….that…."

"Kiss?"

"That kiss we just shared mean nothing!?" Sakura was trembling now, and Chichiri's cape was on the ground, forgotten.

"Sakura, I…." He started, but she shook her head furiously.

"Iie! Just….leave me alone!" She turned and sprinted off, tears falling freely down her cheeks. Chichiri reached an arm out to her retreating figure, but didn't move. He mentally cursed himself as he bent down to pick up his cape.

1 'Sakura…'

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Sakura flung herself on her bed and sobbed. Life wasn't fair. It never was. She continued to cry until a voice interrupted her.

"Sakura?"

"Go away!" She knew it wasn't Chichiri, but she didn't care who it was, she was in no mood to talk.

"Iie."

Sakura's head shot up and she watched silently as Miaka shook her head and shut the door.

"Sakura, I am going to talk to you, right now. And I will not leave until I get some answers." Miaka locked the door and sat down next to Sakura, gently rubbing her back. Sakura turned away, still ashamed for making her cry before.

"Sakura, look at me. I'm not mad, it's okay. I shouldn't have pried so much. Please talk to me. What happened out there to make you so upset?" Miaka calmingly stroked her back, something she knew always worked for her. Sakura sniffled and looked at her.

"I….we kissed." She blurted suddenly. Miaka blinked, then a small smile crept onto her lips.

"You and Chichiri?"

Sakura nodded and then buried her head back in her hands.

"Sugoi! We were waiting for that to happen! So…." She urged her to continue. Sakura shook her head.

"He said it was a mistake." She mumbled into her arm, making it hard to hear.

"A mistake!?" Miaka pulled away and stared at her friend in shock. Chichiri would never say that. He couldn't. She saw the way he eyed Sakura from afar when he thought no one was looking.

"Iie. I'm sure he didn't mean it. Shhh." Miaka picked up some of Sakura's hair and began to braid it. Sakura sniffled and pushed herself into a sitting position.

"Do you mean it?" She wiped at her eyes. Miaka nodded and smiled.

"Uh huh. I'll go talk to him next if you want."

Sakura shook her head furiously, blushing. She didn't want to know what he thought. She was too embarrassed. Miaka nodded.

"I will."

"So, what about you and Tasuki?" Sakura smiled slyly, changing the subject. Miaka immediately stopped braiding and stared at Sakura, wide-eyed.

"I…um, he….we…."

"Miaka, I…I have to admit. The first night I was hear…I hear him talking to you, in your sleep."

"Y-you did? What did he say?"

Sakura hesitated. Was it her place to tell her what he said? She figured it was, since neither wanted to admit that they were attracted to each other.

"Well, he said he loved you." Sakura looked into Miaka's eyes, studying her carefully. She gasped and a hand flew to cover her mouth.

"He said….I can't….Tamahome…."

"Is a bastard. I'm sorry Miaka, but look at how he's been treating you. Look at how Tasuki has been treating you. Who has been there when you've been upset?"

"Tasuki." Miaka admitted, blushing and looking down. Sakura nodded, satisfied she was actually getting somewhere.

"Sakura, I can't…."

"Just think about it, Miaka. Onegai?" Sakura pouted and clasped her hands together in front of her chest. Miaka giggled and nodded as she stood.

"I'll think about it." She whispered before opening the door. She turned around suddenly and looked back at Sakura.

"And I didn't forget to talk to Chichiri!" She exclaimed, giggling. Sakura watched her in horror as she skipped out of the room, and ran straight into someone.

"Gomen, Tamahome?" Miaka blushed, recalling her previous conversation with Sakura. He watched her coolly, trying to act nonchalant.

"Hey, Miaka. I was just going to see how Sakura's doing." He smiled.

"Oh, well that's nice of you. Good luck!" She chirped before continuing her skip down the hallway.

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A knock on Sakura's door startled her out of her reverie. She stood and marched over to the door before flinging it open.

"Miaka! I swear If you say one thing I'll…Tamahome?!" She gasped at the seishi towering in her doorway. She moved aside so he could step in. She closed the door behind him and turned to face him.

"And to what do I owe the honor of this visit?" She questioned, approaching him. His eyes, which were calm a second ago, filled with rage and accusation.

"I knew you were no good, but nobody listens to me." He growled angrily, taking a few strides closer to her. She backed up nervously, and unfortunately right into a wall.

"W-what are you talking about?"

"You're trying to turn Miaka against me! Aren't you!?"

Sakura's eyes widened as she realized what this conversation was about. Her shock soon turned to anger.

"I'm just pointing out someone who's a better bet for her. Someone who would treat her like she needs." Sakura said hotly, standing up straight to glare at him. Tamahome's hands found her neck and he slammed her against the wall. She let out a strangled cry as he tightened his grip.

"This is all your fault!" He pulled her back off the wall and slammed it back in, hard. Sakura tried to scream, but nothing but little whimpers left her.

"Stop…" She begged weakly. Her vision was blurring and everything was spinning on top of that. It was becoming harder to breath and her head and back ached. She used the last of her strength to scream out once more, praying someone would hear her and come to her rescue.

"Stop!!"

Suddenly, Sakura's body was surrounded in a purple glow. Tamahome immediately let go of his hold and stumbled back in shock. Instead of falling to the ground, Sakura floated a few feet in the air. Her eyes, which had been shut, opened and Tamahome screamed. They were black. Void of emotions and anything else.

"Stop." She muttered before a powerful blast sent Tamahome flying into the wall across the room. He slumped over, unconscious. As quickly as the power had come, it disappeared. Sakura fell to the ground in a heap, like a puppet that's strings had been cut. Her eyes slowly turned back to their normal shade of green before she passed out.

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AN: ::gasp:: This is a long chappy. I'm proud. ::sniffles:: I'd be even happier if ya'll reviewed! ::hint hint:: Anyway, What does Chichiri really think about the kiss? Will Miaka admit her feelings for Tasuki? Are Sakura and Tamahome going to be okay!? I have no idea! ^-^ But you, yes you kind reader, can help me! Gimmie some ideas on what should happen now! Please!?

~*Neoshipper*~