(2) As the white light fades, Yui finds herself just outside the temple of Byakko. She decides to confront Subaru and Tokaki, the Byakko seishi 100+ years old. Remembering Tatara's hostility the last time she was here, she was prepared for possible rejection. But she knows she must have a duty to tell them about the 3 "illusion" people she had overheard. What else could she do?

Miaka explains to Yui's secretary over the phone. "Yui-san won't be going back to work today. I invited her over...all right then, ja."

Subaru and Tokaki glare at Yui in the temple. They have an unforgiving look. With a splitting pain, she finds she cannot even bring herself to speak. How will she explain anything? She was the direct reason for what had befallen Tatara, wasn't she?

Seeing Yui so silent and...perhaps penitent, Subaru wonders the reason for the unannounced arrival of Seiryuu no Miko. It can't be for evil purposes, by the look on that young face. But she could not think of any good reasons that Yui would come. She decides to wait. Her husband, Tokaki, on the other hand, is not so calm. He jumps at the foreigner, intending to kill her for Tatara's sake. Seeing her reminds him of many painful memories of Tatara.

Before Tokaki could even get close, however, a blue aura permeates Yui, and a lucent swirl of white gently carries Tokaki away from the maiden. Undoubtedly the protection of Byakko. Both guardians are simply amazed at this unexpected turn of events. Dazedly, Subaru offers a stool to Yui, Chosen by both Seiryuu and Byakko?

Yui lies on the luxurious bed, staring up at the ceiling. It had taken time. It had taken time to relate what she had witnessed in the tree, time to express how lost she felt, time to beg, sinking to her knees as she pleaded for forgiveness. And now, resting in their guest room, Yui could hope for no more. Tokaki and Subaru had been quite willing to listen to her confession, her own voice choked with expiate tears, for some reason unbeknownst to her. The two Byakko seishi almost seemed to have forgiven her and calmed her down, showed her all around the serene, beautiful temple grounds, and gave her this nice room to temporarily stay in. This room had actually been Xifang's room. Xifang, as the couple informed her, married to a good-hearted courtier in the imperial court. The young man had been quite good-looking, at least when they married her, almost twenty years ago. Yes, that it how long had passed since she last came. Twenty years. What has become of Kutou in these long
twenty years? Twenty years. The thought echoed through her. What has become of Seiryuu's other seishi?

At dinner that night, all three of them had discussed the plan. Tokaki and Subaru should remain at the Byakko shrine, while Yui should go on to find the rest of the Byakko seishi, except for Tatara. Sairou Empire will probably be protected under the powers of Byakko. Nevertheless, they should still be prepared for Hokkan trouble. However, the two experienced seishi could still make no headway as to Yui's real role in the enfolding situation. Yui is to set off tomorrow finding the seishi.

She blinks, and now admires the artwork carved into that gilded ceiling. Everything is calm. A whole new day awaits her tomorrow. So why can't she sleep?

She sighs. Then pushes herself up, and lights a lamp. She sits down by the mirror, combing her long golden hair. The businesswoman in the ivory suit looks back at Yui, as she contemplates her appearance. Blonde hair and blue eyes. So unusual for an Asian. An extremely rare combination of eye genes and hair alleles, the doctor explained. Her silky hair falls to her waist. Yes, except for the color and the clothing, she could be taken as a wealthy court lady from an ancient scroll painting, with elegant hair that long. Yet she has also a rare, considerably deep cultural tie to China, for a citizen of Japan.

I suppose I was born this way.

She sighs again as she remembers last time in the book. That time I was truly a figure to be painted on beautiful scrolls. The priestess robe is just so beautiful.

She returns to the richly draped bed. Placing her lamp down, she then walks to open one of the windows. Silver beams shine through tree branches. So peaceful. She would love to live in such a place. For a hundred years, even. Looking through the branches, a waterlily pond is separated by a stone bridge, and the shores are lined with other flowers and trees. Almost every one is a symbol of either strength or wealth. Are these the plants that Tatara had spent his entire life cultivating, to pass the time to wait ninety years for Oosugi Suzuno? Above all I love the winter plum and the weeping tree.

Would anyone be even willing to wait that long for me? No. I don't deserve that. I wonder if Genbu no Miko fell in love with seishi?

Finally she goes back to lie down on the bed, and falls asleep..._Men pushing and shoving me, trying to grab at my breasts...I kick at the horrid beasts and scream for help, to no avail...Nakago rescues me...He is cruel to everyone...Death...Everywhere...Because of me._

"Yui-sama, it's all right...I'm here." His voice, as clear as it was ten years ago...so comforting at that time, so comforting now. His voice is so affectionate and warm...from a person I had so neglected. But after losing his only relative in the world, he only thought about pleasing me, and about protecting me. Strong and suffering...that had been his fate. "Aniki! They took away my Aniki!" He had so precious little to start with, yet he lost it all...his seishi powers were never fully developed before he died...at 15. Shunkaku.

How I remember those pain-shot eyes most of all. I was the one who killed you, wasn't I? Otherwise, you'd never have gone to harm Miaka, and Tamahome wouldn't have confronted you. Or was that Nakago's orders, too? There's too much I don't know...But I'm responsible for your death. As always, I'm sorry. But what good would that do, anyway?

Yui is awake because of the nightmare, a collection of scenes that had haunted her shortly before her breakup with Tetsuya and is re-haunting her. Tears roll from her eyes. Crying? Again? Still? If only you knew how much I hurt when you died. You would understand...you always listened, though I didn't want to tell you...you always accepted...you were the only one truly there for me.

I'm sorry I couldn't love you, Suboshi. I was too consumed by my anger that I refused to acknowledge I wanted anything but vengeance.

And all those times you were there with me, I am very grateful now, though at the time I pushed you away...I'm sorry, Suboshi. Perhaps...perhaps...if I had not been blinded by Nakago and the circumstances...we could have been more.

Yui shakes off the haunting scenes of the nightmares--all so real. After all, she is back in the Shi Jin Tenchi Sho again. Anything could happen now, right? Anything...she knows nothing, can predict nothing. But my one hope--please, Seiryuu, let my seishi be well. They just deserve so much more. At least excluding Nakago, Miboshi, and Tomo. But, O Seiryuu, I hope for nothing myself, but please, be kind to Ashitare, Soi, and the twins.

Choking with tears again, she relights the lamp and walks over to the silverplated windowsills. So this is it, isn't it? Only now, after ten years, do I give my seishi any real thought. Why is that? They went through even more than me.

So this was the reason...Subconscious guilt, fanciful daydreams about someone who was...right, but turning away date after date.

But all this time, did I ever pray for my seishi? Except for in nightmares, did I even think about their existence? O, Seiryuu, was this the unutterable cause of my emotional misery? Neglecting my seishi...escaping from my past, I plunged myself ever deeper into career. Now I understand...to feel complete, I must care for my seishi. They swore to protect me. And what they got back all these years was...not even a single moment of empathy or affection? I care for them now. I care for them so deeply now. Does that even matter? Isn't this the guilt, that has nagged me for so long? Isn't this welling of subconscious hope for my seishi that had kept me awake on those nights without sleep as I worked through projects and masterpieces? No, I don't hate them. Not even Nakago, the cold-hearted jerk who kept directing his past pain onto others, long after he stopped to suffer the pain for himself. Nakago, who made me suffer.

I just hope that every single one of the present Seiryuu seishi is happy with a good life, with all the luck that they wish for in this world.

At just that instant, as Yui berates herself for her general failure, a miracle occurs. A strong gust of wind blows by, snapping off an entire half of the tree, in order for the branches to stop obstructing the bright moonlight and starlight in the sky from Yui, the Seiryuu no Miko. Yui looks up, and the constellations are shining more scintillatingly than she had ever seen. Thank you, Seiryuu.

Suddenly Yui makes a decision. She drags a bamboo mat and a sheet onto the centre of the spacious room, where the light of the dark night sky and the tranquil sounds of ripples in the pond pass through the tall windows, lulling Yui to rest.

Her first night returning to the Shi Jin Tenchi Sho.

Far away, Miaka sheds tears as her best friend finds peace within herself. She is sitting in her own home. 14:00. So there's still time. Three hours until her son needs to be picked up from elementary school. Eagerly she unrolls more of the scroll, hoping for the best. Her heart is warmed at discovering that her best friend wakes up feeling thoroughly rested. So...Yui is watching the dawn. How picturesque. She almost wishes she is there in place of Yui now.

The faint aurora glows with glorious shades of orange-pink, rosy-lavender, and warm blends of maroon and yellow invading the space of the clear blue sky streamed with white clouds, resembling the faintest images of dragons and phoenixes; Yui, exhaling all her apprehension of the coming day and its tidings, now breathes in a fresh concoction of mountain air, mixed with garden scents.

She feels ready for anything. She knows that now, she is strong. Strong with the force of determination of her seishi.

Yui rolls up the bamboo mat and all the while cannot stop herself from thinking that to live in such a room with these resplendent furnishings is like reliving the miko life again. This room has elegant views like that of an aristocratic mansion. Well...almost living the miko life again, considering the fact that now I don't receive nearly as much respect provided from the people as I used to. Am I still a miko? Possibly a miko?