AN: I'm still kinda on writer's block, but hey, it's a Saturday night, I'm at my grandma's, and I sure as hell don't feel like studying for finals ^-^ so…here is the next chapter! Yay!

Major sappiness alert! ::sets off siren::

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The first thing Tasuki noticed when he woke up was that his arm was asleep. The second thing he noticed was the small brunette in his arms. He was about to jump and let out a string of curses when last night came back to him. Had it been a dream? He smiled as he lay there, watching Miaka. She was still sleeping peacefully, her lips slightly parted. Her breath dampened his cheek and his smile grew. He had done it. He was with Miaka now, and nothing would take her away. He looked over to the side and noticed that Chichiri was nowhere to be seen. He would have shrugged, had he been standing. Who needed the monk when he had Miaka? He turned his attention back to the Suzaku no Miko. He gently ran his thumb over her bottom lip. She stirred, but didn't wake. Slowly, he caressed her cheek in his palm. He felt his heart swell when she leaned into it. She shifted a bit, then yawned and opened her eyes. Tasuki blushed.

"Ohayo Tasu-chan." She whispered happily. She slowly rolled out of his arms and stretched.

"Morning Mi-chan." He crawled over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest. He let his chin rest on her shoulder. She giggled lightly and tried unsuccessfully to pull away,

"Tasuki! That tickles!" She whined and pouted. He turned her around and gave her a brief kiss on the lips, silencing her. This time it was her turn to blush.

"Ohayo no da!" Chichiri appeared suddenly, startling the new couple. His grin widened when he saw Tasuki's hold on Miaka. Tasuki noticed this and quickly withdrew, cursing under his breath.

"Ohayo, Chichiri. So, what are we going to do?" She asked, standing and brushing off her clothes. Tasuki stood and moved beside her. Chichiri sighed.

"There isn't much we can do, no da." He frowned.

"Well….what if we go back and ask them for the shinzaho." Miaka suggested lamely.

"I'll just pretend I didn't hear anything." Tasuki muttered, shaking his head. Miaka slapped him on the arm and pointed at him.

"I don't see you coming up with any ideas."

"That's cuz I ain't got none." He replied, folding his arms over his chest. Miaka rolled her eyes and turned back to the monk.

"The only thing we can do, is try to sneak in and get the shinzaho from him." Miaka didn't like the idea of going back, but it was the only way. Chichiri nodded.

"It may be the only way, no da."

"Miaka ain't goin'."

"Tasuki?"

"No, Miaka. There is no way in hell I'm letting you go there. You saw what happened when Yumi died. He's pissed. And he's gonna go after ya'."

"Demo, Tasuki…." Miaka's whine was cut short when Tasuki placed a finger on his lips. Chichiri watched on with interest at the unfolding scene before him.

"Mi-chan, if anything happened to you, I would blame myself." He admitted, making sure she understood his fear for her. Her eyes widened as she looked into the seishi's eyes.

"Tasuki…." She whispered, her eyes filled with tears. Tasuki saw this and panicked.

"Mi-chan, don't cry, onegai…I…I…"

"It's not something you did. I'm just…I'm so lucky to have people like you, Tasuki. And Chichiri." She smiled through her tears. Tasuki's eyes softened and he gently kissed her forehead. Miaka sniffled and pulled away.

"I think we should get going. Chichiri is getting his own private soap opera over there." She motioned to the monk.

"Soap Opera?" Tasuki looked at the monk, who shrugged.

"Tasuki, I know you don't want me to go, but I have to. I promise I'll be careful." Miaka assured him. He reluctantly nodded, knowing he couldn't very well leave her alone. She'd be in even more danger that way.

"Okay, now that's settled, let's go no da." Chichiri motioned for the two to grab onto his staff. They did and within seconds they were gone.

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Hitoshi slammed his fist down onto the table. He watched everything between the miko and her seishi. His eyes flared with anger and hatred towards the Suzaku no Miko. How could she be happy? Because of her, Yumi was dead. Because she sweet-talked Yumi, she was gone. Buried under the earth. And Hitoshi was never to hear her laugh again.

"Hitoshi-sama, the Suzaku no Miko and her seishi are here within the city. They used some sort of spell to arrive." A servant kneeled before the young boy. Hitoshi nodded curtly and sent him away.

"This is where the payback begins."

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Chichiri, Tasuki, and Miaka were hiding in a tree above the Kutou palace. Guards were everywhere, it seemed. Miaka sighed.

"This is hopeless." She whined as she watched a guard walk around the corner. Chichiri shook his head.

"If we can just create a diversion, then we could get in, no da." Chichiri looked around, looking for something, anything to distract the guards.

"Here, take this." Miaka handed Chichiri a glittering ring. He raised an eyebrow and looked down at the ring.

"It's okay, Taka gave it to me. But I don't need it anymore." She assured him. Tasuki placed a hand on her shoulder and she smiled. Chichiri nodded and chucked the ring. It landed in a far corner.

"What was that?" Sure enough, the guards began sprinting towards the noise.

"Now's our chance, no da." Chichiri whispered as he teleported them down from the tree. They quickly ran into the palace.

"That was close." Tasuki panted, his heart racing. Miaka nodded and grabbed Tasuki's hand in hers'. He soothingly stroked the back with his thumb as the trio began their walk down the dark hallway.

"Stop."

Miaka felt shudders run up her spine. The voice sounded so cold and harsh. It scared her. Her grip on Tasuki's hand tightened.

"Hitoshi." Chichiri acknowledged the young boy in the shadows. He laughed and stepped out into the small patch of light the window offered. Miaka gasped. His cheeks were red, evidence he had been crying. Crying for Yumi.

"Why are you doing this?" She whispered. Just because he was Nakago and Soi's son didn't mean he was bad. There had to be some good left within him. He glared at her.

"Silence." He raised a hand and snapped his fingers. Almost immediately, guards surrounded them. Tasuki drew in a sharp breath and eyes them carefully.

"Seize them." Hitoshi ordered. Miaka cried out when she felt herself being ripped away from Tasuki.

"Tasuki!" She reached out for him.

"Miaka! Let her go ya' bastards!" He struggled against the guards helplessly. Chichiri was also having some problems getting free. Miaka struggled meekly against the guard's tight hold. She watched in fear as he stopped in front of Hitoshi.

"So, Suzaku no Miko, we meet again?" He chuckled and lifted up her chin. Fear flashed in her eyes as he held her chin in his hands.

"Leave her alone!" Tasuki growled, still struggling against the holds. Chichiri was equally caught up and could do nothing but struggle and watch.

"Oh, but I have, plans, for Miaka." His grin was sick and twisted and Miaka's eyes widened. He turned around and went to leave.

"You're going to resurrect Yumi, aren't you?" Miaka asked softly, watching Hitoshi's retreating back.  He froze, and Miaka knew she hit a sore spot.

"Shut up."

"You love her, don't you?"

"Shut up!"

"It hurt, didn't it. For someone you love to leave you?"

"I said, shut up!!" Hitoshi marched back to Miaka and grabbed her collar. The guard released her and jumped back in fear as Hitoshi slammed Miaka against the wall.

"Miaka!" Tasuki and Chichiri watched in horror as Hitoshi attacked their miko. Miaka just winced as her back hit the wall. After a few more times, Hitoshi stopped and continued to glare at her.

"It's all your fault!" He roared angrily. Miaka just stared back at him, sympathy in her eyes. Hitoshi immediately straightened up.

"Guards, take her to the ceremony platform." He muttered.

"Hai." Two guards tightly grabbed Miaka by her arms and began to drag her away.

"Miaka!" Tasuki began to panic and his struggles became more violent. Hitoshi spun around to face the struggling seishi.

"Take them too. They can watch. See what it's like for someone they love to die." He spat. Four of the guards, two for each seishi, took the men and followed Hitoshi. Chichiri went along silently, wracking his brain for a plan to save their miko.

"Onegai, be safe, Mi-chan."

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AN: I think I'm gonna leave it there for now! ^-^ I'm still havin' some writer's block…but I'm gonna try, so please bear with me!

~*Neoshipper*~