*This is the last chapter...I am really bad at endings, so don't be too harsh. If there's something you don't understand, just let me know and I'll try to explain. Ciao!*


They arrived late in the night, but a guard was waiting for them. "Kado!"
"What?" The boy had been in a foul mood, but now he was frantic.
Mao opened her eyes and stopped sucking her thumb. "What..."
"It's Lady Yui-"
"YUI!?!" everyone but Kado yelled.
"What is it? Where is she?"
"She's locked herself either in the shrine or your room. It's-" Kado was gone before he could say another word.

He gently pushed open their bedroom door. She wasn't there, but she had been recently. *The shrine then, * he thought. Kado smoothed out the bed sheets and folded back the comforter. Then he went into the shrine.
Softly, in a teary voice, he heard her sing, "Goodnight to you, goodnight to you..."
"Yui?"
"Kado?" Yui turned, holding the baby against her chest. "Oh, Kado!"
He held her lightly for a moment so as not to hurt their baby and picked her up. "We'll be all right."
"Oh..." She laid her head on his chest. "We have a girl."
"Yes, all right."
"Kado..." He took her back to their room, laying her on the bed. She looked at him with tired, watery eyes.
"I'll take care of her now. Just rest." Kado took the baby and kissed Yui's forehead. "Please?"
"All right." She closed her eyes.

They waited. Miaka had fallen asleep on the futon while Taka watched her. Genro sat with his daughter on his lap. Mao's face was pressed against his chest and she tried not to cry too hard. Then he walked in.
"Kado?"
"Kado?" Miaka sat up blearily. "Where's Yui? Is she-"
"She's asleep now."
"Oh." Taka took her hand.
Mao got up and went over to him. He handed over the baby without a word. She walked away. "I knew it...I knew it had to be you. Oh, Amisumi," Mao whispered as she nuzzled the baby. Tears rolled down onto the infant's cheek.
"Amisumi?" Taka asked.
"I didn't realize it until the last time she touched me, but it started before then."
"I don't-"
"Ryuchai," she cut off her father, "the girl who claimed to be the priestess, was killed by her guardians. She was dead before any of us met her. When Kado found her, she was Ryuchai and Amisumi."
"But we were with her before that," Miaka stated.
"We had Amisumi's *body* with us. Yui was the one in it."
"My...Yui?" Kado looked a little wounded and confused.
"She looked like Nakago," Tasuki said, smacking his forehead.
"That's right, daddy. They protected her before she could die, hoping that we'd figure it out. Kado and Mi...Miyu helped with that."
She turned to the former. "You never fully fell under the spell of the kodocu."
"But I..."
Mao gave Kado his daughter. "That wasn't you. I was Miyu when it happened, I almost died, but *you* helped me. I lived long enough to see my brother one more time, I lived long enough to save Yui and Amisumi."
"I..." He hugged his baby. Amisumi gave a small squeak. "Ami..."
"I think we should get some rest. We'll be busy for the rest of our time here." The orange-haired girl went over to her father.
"I'll show you the spare rooms." Mao and Genro went into the first bedroom they came to. When Taka went inside the next one, Kado took her arm. "Yui will want to see you in the morning...alone."
"Sure." He released her. "Oh, and Kado?"
"Yes?"
"Good luck." With that, she shut the door.

Kado woke in the darkness, afraid that Yui and Amisumi would be gone. But he saw her sitting up beside him, nursing their young daughter. "I'm right here. I won't leave you."
"Ah?" The baby girl squirmed and reached for her father. "Ah, ah, ah."
He sat up and took the girl. "Now what was that about, Ami?"
"Aaah..." She giggled and touched his face. "Ah, da..."
Yui closed her shirt and ran a hand up his back. "She missed you. So did I."
"I missed you too." He cradled Amisumi in one arm and kissed Yui. "What's the matter?"
"I...Kado, you remember don't you?"
"You mean about being Suboshi?"
"Yes."
"I do." She turned away. "I can't go back with you. Neither of us can."
"No, I've already asked. Miaka, Taka, and I will go back as soon as I...I'm ready." He touched her shoulder gently. "I can't stay here either."
Amisumi began to cry. Yui took the girl and rocked her to sleep. She set Amisumi down between them, lying down herself. When her eyes finally closed Kado laid down, running a finger down her cheek. He watched his wife and daughter for a long time.

The first thing she noticed about Yui was the paleness in her face. "Yui..."
"Hi Miaka."
"Hi!" Amisumi squeaked from her mother's lap. She waved one of her little hands.
"Yes, hello Ami." She touched her friend's cheek. "How are you?"
"I'm...I'm fine." She hugged the baby closer.
"He has to stay," Miaka said flatly. "They both have to..."
"Yes."
"Is that what you want to stay a little longer?"
"The book will be sealed once we return. I'll never see them again," she whispered.
"Oh, Yui..." She cupped her friend's face in her hands. Amisumi stopped her cheerful chattering.
"I just...oh, Miaka!" She began to cry and her baby joined in. "I don't want to go back without them. I just..."
"Sh, don't cry. We'll find someway...we will..." She took the girl child. "Yui, we can give it a few weeks, to see what we can do."
"Ma...ma...ma..." Amisumi cried desperately as she reached out for her mother.
"All right, Ami." Yui took her. "Is that what you need?"
She kissed the baby's head. "That's all I can ask for."

Mao and Genro took Amisumi for a few nights. The girl loved the chance to protect the little girl, loved the baby herself. She also knew, with her animal-like instincts, that Kado and Yui needed to be alone. Her father decided to help for several reasons, which included Mao getting tired, his love for the baby, and knowing deep in the back of his mind what Yui was trying to do.

"Ow," Yui said softly.
Kado stopped. "Are you all right?"
"Don't stop."
"But you're..."
"I'm fine." She kissed him and ran her hand down his back.
"Are you sure?" he breathed against her neck.
"Yes."
Kado began again, slowly and gently. "Oh, oh Yui."
Afterwards, they lie quietly in each other's arms. He stroked her hair restlessly and she broke the silence first. "What's wrong?" Their eyes locked in the darkness.
"Why are you doing this to yourself?" He took her hand and their fingers entwined. "Do you really want this so much? You're still..."
"I can't take you and Ami with me, but maybe I can..." She stopped to kiss his face several times. "Maybe I can take a part of you with me." she whispered against his ear.
He wrapped his arms around her, giving her a little squeeze. "So you're using me." He smiled a little.
"No." She positioned herself over him and looked down at him with wide blue-green eyes. "I'm not using you if you want it too."
"I know." Kado pulled her down on top of him. "I love you."
"I love you too." Her face was in his hair, his scent suddenly becoming more than just a scent. She didn't want to go without him. "Oh, my Seiryuu."
"Sh. I won't let you go for now." He gently pushed her under him and they began to make love again.

They had to go, Yui knew this for certain. Miaka had confiscated a camera and film that Taka had brought along and presented them to Kado when they were alone. The time had finally come. They were gathered outside the palace, Amisumi asleep in Tasuki's arms, oblivious to the confusion around her. Mao stood next to her father stroking the tiny girl's blonde hair. The baby sighed and snuggled closer to his chest.
"Yui, it's time." Miaka touched her shoulder.
"All right."
She went over to Kado and kissed him chastely on the mouth. He pulled her closer, kissing her more deeply and touching her stomach gingerly. "Do you think it worked?"
"Sh." She put her lips to his ear and said in a cracked, wavery voice, "Kai-jin." They stepped away from each other. The priestesses and Taka were surrounded by light. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye..."

*Three months later*

Koichi came out of the room and took off the mask. Miaka ran over to him. "How is she? Did she-"
"She's asleep right now; they gave her sedatives." He paused and couldn't meet her eyes. "They couldn't save the baby."
Miaka was crestfallen. "It's come to this...I don't think Yui will be able to survive this, not after-"
"We'll just have to see." The phone in the empty waiting room behind them rang. They both jumped and after two rings the girl answered it.
"Hello? Taka? Taka, what is it?" She listened. "No, no, she's not. What are you-"
"Miaka?" Koichi muttered.
"No...don't make-" Her eyes brightened even as the tears fell down her cheeks. "Really? Yes, do it! Yes, at three. Hurry. I love you, too."
"Miaka?" he asked again as she hung up. "What is it?"
"You'll see."

She opened her eyes and moved her hand. There was an IV in it. Yui wiped her other arm across her face as she gave a watery sigh. *All of it...all of it means nothing.* With a great deal of effort, she sat up so she could watch the hallway. After a little while a tiny girl walked by crying with a small book clutched to her chest. "Oh." She got up and went to the girl. "What's the matter, honey?"
"I...I can't find my daddy."
Yui bent down to her. "What's your name?"
"Mimi..." She immediately latched onto the older girl and began to wail.
"It's all right, Mimi." She lifted the toddler up. No more than three, the girl was small and easy to pick up, but Yui's stomach burned against the slight weight of her.
"I...I..."
"Sh." She held her and rocked her until she fell asleep. Yui laid her down on the empty bed, covered her up, and kissed one tear-streaked cheek. As she took a step back, her foot hit the book the girl dropped. She picked it up. 'Memories' was written on the cover in blue script, surrounded by matching stars. She went to her bed and opened it.

*The pictures*

The girl, Mimi, was by a lake poking at something with the toe of her foot. It was pinkish and brown.
In the second picture, she had lifted up a naked little boy with a colorful necklace and three dark scars on each of his sides.
*Miyu? No...*
Then them together again, the boy dressed, Mimi dipping and kissing him.
Mimi, the boy...and Mao, holding them, kissing the little boy and hugging them both.
*Oh Seiryuu, oh no, this can't...*
The last two pictures were almost identical.
Tasuki was lying on his back and stroking the hair of the brown-haired little boy on his stomach. They were both looking at the camera, the boy smiling slightly in an awkward way.
A small blonde-haired girl, Mimi, was lying on Kado's stomach, having her fine hair stroked.

"Ami..." Yui gasped, looking at the little girl as she dropped the book.
"Excuse me, I've seemed to have lost my daughter...and my wife."
She jerked suddenly and saw Kado standing in the doorway. "Kado? Kado!" He went over to her and lifted her up. "Oh Seiryuu, oh god, I thought-"
"Sh." Kado kissed her, softly at first, then more passionately as Yui pressed against him.
"How did...how did you get back?" she moaned, her chest hitching.
"You needed us. You called us back." Kado set her back down. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, his hand hovering an inch above her stomach. "I'm so sorry it had to be like this."
"Mama? Daddy?" Amisumi was looking at them with wide eyes. Kado left Yui momentarily to get the girl and brought her to her mother. They hugged each other fiercely.
"Oh, Ami, my little girl..."
"Mama."
"You were so tiny...oh, you..." She stroked the baby's hair until Ami fell asleep.
Kado touched his daughter's cheek and then Yui's. She leaned into his hand like a kitten. "Oh, Yui, I missed you so much."
"God, you don't know how much..."
He kissed her softly. "I do. Ami was one way I knew." She smiled. "I just have one thing to ask you."
"What is it?" Yui asked tentatively.
"I was just wondering what you wished for, other than returning here. We all know that one."
She looked at Ami and began stroking her cheek. "The first was to return everyone back to their bodies. Ami, Ryuchai, and me..."
"What about the second one?"
"I think you know already."
Kado blinked and looked at her blankly. She handed him the photo album, opened to the page with Tasuki and the boy child. "Miyu? That was really him?"
"Yes. He knew I needed Mao to recall Seiryuu. It's possible he could have survived if he had waited a day or two, but Miyu knew we didn't have the time. He did it because he loved Mao so much and he couldn't watch her suffer. Seiryuu brought him back as Mao and Tasuki needed him."
"That was sweet." Yui's medication began to kick in again. Kado laid her down, carefully arranging Ami in her arms as they slept. He watched them serenely.

*Two weeks later*

Koichi was babysitting his little niece, watching her play in the park. She giggled continuously as she scampered about. Amisumi found something of interest and began to work in deep concentration. He saw the little girl push up her short sleeves, a small flash of blue light emanating from her right shoulder. "Amisumi! Come here."
She turned, ran over, and smiled. "Yes?" Her eyes sparkled.
He ran his hand along her shoulder, but saw nothing. "Okay, go play."
"Okay." Amisumi went back. She knew what he had saw, but kept it to herself. She had been watching and helping since her twin had almost died when he was eleven. The little girl stopped thinking so deeply. It was a beautiful day and she was happy with her new life.