AN: Sorry for taking so long to update! ^-^;; Got carried away on updating my KxK story ::coughcoughgoreadcoughcough:: Anyway, more reviews compel me to write more ::smiles::

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"Miaka! Stop!"

Miaka's sword was just about to come in contact with Tasuki's head when she felt someone holding her back. She struggled, her eyes focused solely on Tasuki.

"Stop it!"

It was Nuriko who was holding her back; she vaguely realized. A few memories came flooding back. When she first met Nuriko, when Nuriko saved both her and Tamahome from Soi, when Nuriko opened Miaka's eyes to Tasuki's love.

'Tasuki!'

Miaka stopped struggling and fell limp in Nuriko's arms. Her eyes flickered, from black to brown.

"Miaka?"

Tasuki whispered uncertainly. The rest of the seishi watched in anticipation. Miaka blinked and a few tears escaped.

"I…I…"

She could only stutter. What had happened? She felt an unfamiliar pressure in her hands and she glanced down. She let out a strangled cry as she flung the sword to the side. Her breathing became ragged as she sank to the floor. Nuriko let go, sensing his miko was back.

"Fool! You will listen to me when I tell you to do something!"

Hitoshi closed his eyes, similar to what he had done before. This time neither disappeared. And this time, he went inside Miaka's head.

"No! Stop!"

Miaka wailed and grabbed her head. An intense thumping echoed all around her. Hitoshi, he was inside her now. He was controlling her.

"Stop! Please!"

"Miaka!"

Tasuki scrambled over to the withering girl and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her tightly to his chest, trying to ease her pain.

"Don't…Please…Kill me…"

"Miaka! What are you saying?"

Hotohori kneeled in front of her. The other seishi looked around worriedly. With effort, Miaka pulled away from Tasuki and scramble to her feet. She grabbed a pillar for support as she forced herself to say focused.

"You need…to kill me. H-he's inside…of me…"

She struggled, each word a task. Everyone looked at her in disbelief.

"Miaka…"

"No!"

Her gaze traveled to Tasuki, who had objected. Her eyes softened and she smiled. Her smile quickly turned to a wince as she felt an immense ki tried to force itself on her. She fell to her knees.

"Miaka-chan!"

"…I'm fine. Please….I'm not asking you…I'm telling you. As your miko."

She forced a pained smile up at her seishi. All were at a loss. What could they possibly do?

"…I…Can't…Stay…Please…Tasuki…"

She whispered before she slumped forward. Tasuki stared at her in shock. She was asking him to kill her? Impossible!

Miaka stirred, and Tasuki looked up with renewed hope. Maybe she had beat Hitoshi. Maybe she was fine now. He knew, that all this was just his imagination running wild. She sat up and smirked. An empty look was in her eyes.

"Hitoshi…"

Tasuki growled and tightened his hold on his tessen. Miaka chuckled; a deep, hollow sound.

"So, you figured it out, Tasuki. Very good."

She stood, no longer needing the support of the pillar to stand. Grinning, she made her way to her discarded sword and picked it up. She spun around and pointed it towards the group.

"You should have done what she asked, you know? Then I would be dead."

"Bastard! Leave her alone!"

Tasuki clenched his fists and stood. Miaka looked towards him, unfazed. Tasuki took one step forward, then another. He raised his tessen above his head.

"Tasuki!"

The seishi stared at his in shock. What was he trying to do? Hitoshi (aka Miaka at this point in time) stared at him in shock. Was he really going to attack his precious miko? Tasuki snarled and abruptly aimed his tessen at Hitoshi's soul-less body. Miaka's eyes widened.

"Don't! No!"

Tasuki smirked.

"Rekka Shinen!"

Flames shot out towards Hitoshi's vulnerable body; and engulfed him. Tasuki shortly after, realized his mistake. A scream filled the air and Tasuki spun around. To his horror, it was Miaka who was screaming. She was hunched over on the ground, her nails tearing frantically at the tile floor. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Tasuki! Hitoshi is connected to Miaka-chan! She's feeling it too, no da!"

Tasuki couldn't breath. He fell to his knees in shock. His tessen fell with an empty clang. He was vaguely aware that Nuriko had run out and came back with a large vase full of water. He dumped it over Hitoshi's head. Miaka's screams stopped and she lay panting on the floor. Her eyes were glazed over.

"Damn you."

Hitoshi sputtered. He was no longer in Miaka's body, but in his own. The fire, Tasuki realized, was only enough to give him second degree burns. Nuriko restrained Hitoshi, keeping him from doing any other damage. Tasuki slowly crawled over to Miaka.

"Mi-chan…?"

Her breathing was rapid, and if she heard him, she made no move to answer. The only sound in the room was her heavy breathing. He carefully picked her up and cradled her in his arms.

"Fool."

Hitoshi snickered, despite his current position. Tasuki didn't even look at him. His attention was fully on Miaka.

"I used her as my lightning rod. That's why I'm still here."

He began to chuckle slightly. Then, his chuckled grew until it was full blown laughter. Now Tasuki was glaring at him.

"What the hell did you say?"

His question was never answered, however, as Miaka's breathing slowed. His eyes widened as he glanced down at her. Her eyes were closed and her breaths came out less often then they should.

"Ta…su…ki…."

She whispered with her last breath. Tasuki's eyes widened in horror as her chest stopped moving.

"M-Miaka? Come on…stop it. This isn't funny…"

He laughed nervously and shook her shoulders. She didn't move. Tears crept into his eyes as he continued to shake her.

"M-Mitsukake! Come over her! Y-you need to help her!"

Tasuki's voice was raw and panicked. Mitsukake shook his head sadly, looking away.

"I can't heal something internal like that."

"Oh god….what have I done?"

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AN: ::sniffles:: Poor Tasuki! Wanna know what happens? Too bad! You gotta wait! ^-^ Read and Review and the next chapter will come faster!