Yui sat in on solidity, yet nothing at all, staring into the black around her, searching
for someone, anyone. She felt unalone, and turned around.
Tetsuya stood on nothing behind her, staring at her with eyes as empty as her surroundings.
She stood up, unsteady, and looked hopefully at him.
"Tetsuya...it's me, Yui.." she started, taking a shaky step towards him. He narrowed his eyes
and disappeared. Yui felt tears welling in her eyes. "Come back!' she cried into the darkness.
Tetsuya re-appeared directly behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"You are not the one I was searching for. She has already come to me in a dream." He murmured
into her ear. Yui shut her eyes, tears traveling down her cheeks.
"Tetsuya...it's me.....Yui..." she tried again, weakly. Tetsuya's grip tightened, and Yui felt as if he
were to crush her. He grimaced and let go of her, disappearing into the darkness once more.
"Yui told me to get rid of you..." he said from the dark around her. Yui raised her head, tears flowing
freely down her cheeks. Dark blades, more of a gray color compared to the black void, suddenly
appeared and flew towards Yui. She spun to the side, some blades embedding themselves in her left
chest and arm, the rest sailing harmlessly into the dark. Paralyzed, Yui sunk to her knees and onto her
side. She felt so helpless...she felt unprotected.
Perhaps that's why you were almost devoured.
Yui raised her head weakly. "Seiryuu?" she asked the black. A small blue particle light appeared in
front of her, twinkling brightly despite its size.
You are not as weak as you would have yourself believe, Priestess Yui. Seiryuu said to her. Her face
going expressionless, Yui raised a hand and gripped one of the blades. It burned into her hand, but she
did not draw it away.
Pushing herself to her feet, she took a deep breath. "Tetsuya told me to get rid of you..." she mocked.
Tetsuya's eyes narrowed. Her face contorting into rage, Yui pulled out the blade and threw it back at
him. It hit him right between his eyes. He fell to his knees, then onto his stomach, and didn't move.
Sobbing once, Yui limped as fast as she could over to him. She fell to her knees beside him and lifted
him up to face her.
"Tetsuya...." she whimpered, brushing his bangs from his face. The blade, along with the ones embedded
within her, was slowly disappearing into mist. He opened his eyes slightly, a gleam of life shining dimly
within them, and smiled weakly.
"I.....suck...at protecting....you....don't....I?" he managed. Tears falling from her eyes, Yui said nothing, but
hugged him tightly to her chest.
"I'll let you protect me as much as you want when we get home..." she whispered, burying her head in his
hair.
-----------------------------------------
Taka has been absorbed with the rest of the seishi...a voice said, its source all around Miaka. Miaka stared
darkly into the void.
"I know." She said sullenly.
What are you going to do about it?
"Nothing." She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. "There's nothing I can do, is there?
All of the seishi are gone...Yui is gone....Rain is gone....I'm doomed now aren't I?"
Not necessarily. There is always that single light of hope. As if on cue, a single particle light of red appeared
before Miaka. She stared at it lifelessly.
"You aren't doing me much good, Suzaku." She said grimly. The light flickered, then moved up to her face.
And you, Priestess, are not doing anyone else much good. There are still others...you must find them if you wish
to leave this place.
"What good will it do? Taka's not here." She scoffed. The light grew dark for a moment.
And that is why you fell into the void. You rely too much on Tamahome as comfort...protection.....everything. You
must learn to stand on your own legs instead of being carried.
A tear slid from Miaka's eye as she stood up. "But Taka's always been there for me...I feel safe when I'm with
him! When I'm alone...there's no point in going on!" she cried, more tears coming. She almost felt as if the light
were shaking its head.
Then remember those times when he was there, to keep you strong through the times he is not.
Miaka stared into the dark as the light disappeared. Taking a breath, determination setting in on her face, she
squared her shoulders and marched off. She had no direction, the void had no visible walls or floors. She just
knew, if she continued walking, she'd find someone.
------------------------------------
"No...why...Nazo...why...?"
Nyan-Nyan turned around. She'd been walking for what felt like a long time, and hadn't found anyone yet.
Lai-Lai sat curled up in the distance, rocking back and forth. Covering the distance between them by hopping,
Nyan-Nyan clasped her arms behind her back and leaned down to look curiously into Lai-Lai's face.
"Why is Nyan-Nyan crying?" she asked. Lai-Lai looked up at her, tears streaking her face. Nyan-Nyan tilted
her head curiously. "Nyan-Nyan not supposed to be able to do that. You very special!" Nyan-Nyan grinned
happily.
Lai-Lai scowled and slapped Nyan-Nyan across the face. Nyan-Nyan's eyes widened and she looked back at
Lai-Lai, touching a hand to her cheek.
"Why did Nyan-Nyan do that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Lai-Lai glared at her for a few
more moments, before her face contorted into sadness again, fresh tears springing from her eyes.
"Lai-Lai took good care of Nazo....Lai-Lai loved Nazo with all of her heart! But Nazo do bad by Lai-Lai.....Nazo
absorb Lai-Lai and not care!" she sobbed. Nyan-Nyan sat down across from Lai-Lai and put a hand on her arm.
Lai-Lai looked up at her in surprise, and Nyan-Nyan smiled.
"Taits-kun will make Nyan-Nyan better." She said. Lai-Lai's eyes widened.
"Nyan-Nyan do not hate Lai-Lai for all that Lai-Lai has done?" she whispered. Nyan-Nyan shook her head, her
braids flying back and forth. Lai-Lai's face wavered, and she fell forward, hugging Nyan-Nyan tightly. She
pushed herself away and stood up.
"We find way out of Nazo now." She said, determined.
-------------------------------------
Rain opened her eyes weakly, and pushed herself to her knees. She put a hand to her head and glanced about
her. She was still at Mt. Tai-kyoku, and she was alone. The entire world seemed silent, as if all life had been
vanquished.
She raised her head and looked up, her eyes widening. Above her, in the distance, was Nazo...or at least...what
Nazo had become. His body was composed entirely of an oily black fog, everywhere that he had stepped was
dead and melted as if covered in acid. His body was long, and stretched up into the sky, the fog turning him into
a giant shadow. Clasping the necklace Taits-kun had given her, she fell to her knees and shut her eyes.
"Taits-kun...he's taken them all...tell me what I should do!" she pleaded. All remained silent in her head. She
clenched the pendant harder, and squeezed her eyes shut. "Taits-kun...please....tell me what to do!"
It was now that she noticed the strange, empty feeling the amulet had.
Her eyes snapped open. This can't be happening.....how could she have failed...? Setting her jaw in determination,
she stood up again and began running, following the trail of death that Nazo had left. She would not fail! There
had to still be time!
--------------------------------------
"He's destroying our world too.." Keisuke suddenly said. Hoshi looked up at him.
"What do you mean?" she asked, moving over to the window and looking out. She gasped and grabbed his shoulder.
"YOU MORON! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT THERE WAS A TORNADO OUT THERE?!" she cried, shaking him.
In the distance, on the other side of Tokyo, were three tornadoes, all swirling around each other. "We've got to get
to shelter..." she murmured, starting for the door. Keisuke grabbed her arm and halted her in her tracks.
"It's no use in trying to hide from it....our world will die as well." He said in an even voice. Hoshi turned and looked
at him, tears welling in her eyes and spilling over.
"You idiot! There's always a chance...there's always hope! I'm not just going to sit here and watch some freak of nature
come and kill us!" she cried, her voice cracking. Keisuke looked at her evenly.
"I don't want to give up hope, Hoshi...but if there is no more story left to read...then our story has stopped as well. Our
universe and theirs circle each other...we depend on each other. If one dies...then it's certain that the other will die
too." Sobbing once, Hoshi wrenched her arm out of Keisuke's grip and turned away. Keisuke turned back to the window
and looked out. His eyes widened as Hoshi turned back around and hugged him tightly.
"Then let me at least pretend that there will be a tomorrow." She murmured against his shirt. Keisuke sighed softly,
and rested his chin upon her head, hugging her back.
-----------------------------------
Rain had to stop herself from falling to her knees or sobbing mournfully as she came upon Mount Raikoku. The
entire village that had been there was gone, smoking as if it had been burned away in a fire. She hadn't been
there since she was a child...her home village...which she would never see again.
I can't do this alone....
But I'm not alone...I'm NOT!
Anger finally setting in, she stood up straight and clenched both fists, her hair blowing upwards, feeling what
was left of the power surface.
"NAZO!!!! I'M HERE!!" she shouted into the black sky. "COME GET ME NAZO!!!" Her voice echoed into the silence,
rumbles of earth quaking thunder her only response. "NAZOOOOOOO!!!!" she shouted, her voice cracking.
You're a little fool to think you can challenge me seriously.
Rain lifted her head, Nazo's shadow-figure slowly walking towards her. What he was lacked features...but was
nightmarish all within itself. A light flared at her feet, the wind from the power increasing, blowing her hair
straight up. Her clothes slowly transformed into clothes similar to that of Taits-kun, her hair done up the same as
Yin's had been, with the same ornaments.
"Release their souls!" she shouted up at him. Nazo tilted his head at her, then raised one long arm up, and brought it
down, as if to smash her.
Don't you ever jump when stuff like that comes your way?
Gritting her teeth in rage, Rain jumped into the air, and found herself staying there, hovering several feet in the air.
Nazo swung his arm out, and Rain put her hands out in a white light shield. His arm hit her shield, but knocked her
from the air and back onto the ground. She pushed herself to her feet.
"Powers of light and dark, hear me! Four beast gods of life and death, I summon thee!' Rain found herself chanting,
moving her fingers in the same hypnotic movement she had seen Taits-kun do when she were a child. Dark electricity
crackled at the center of the Nazo-shadow, and flew outward, striking Rain and knocking her backwards. She felt
herself loosing strength
NO! I CAN'T LOOSE!
Houki held Boushin protectively against her chest as she watched bits of Konan crumble away. She sank to her
knees.
"Oh please...great Suzaku...help Taits-kun...lend her your strength...." she prayed.
"You still haven't learned how to jump yet, have you?" Tasuki said into her ear. She opened her eyes quickly. Tasuki
put her on her feet and gave her a half-smile. He was dressed in a rich black coat, embroidered with reds and
oranges. A tunic wrapped over his shoulder and fastened into his belt. He looked as richly decorated as she.
"Tasuki....what...?" she asked, motioning to his clothing.
"I dunno...I woke up and I was dressed like this." He glanced above them.
Have Tasuki prove his worth, and the powers of Yang shall be bestowed upon him.
"Look out!" Grabbing Rain's arm, he pushed them out of the way as more of Nazo's electricity came down. Rain
stood up boldly and raised her arms.
"Beasts of the Four Corners, lend me your power!" she shouted into the sky. Tasuki's eyes widened.
"You can't handle that much power Rain! It's too much!" he shouted, the wind picking up around them. The glow
began to surround Rain once more, her eyes taking up the bright light.
"Then help me.....divide the power between us and help me." She said in a low voice that Tasuki heard clearly, even
above the wind. Taking a breath, he stood behind her, raising his arms against hers, standing the same as she
.
"Beasts of the Four Corners.......I summon thee!" Tasuki found himself saying in unison with Rain. There was a swirl
of light and electricity, colored in red, blue, green and white, which came swirling down from the heavens. It
struck the two directly, causing the Nazo-shadow to flinch away from them as the light surrounding Rain
surrounded Tasuki too, and increased in brightness.
Aidou stood up shakily from where she had been thrown. She felt labor pains slowly coming on, and bent over from
them, but stared at Mount Tai-kyoku. It was slowly crumbling to pieces...
Keisuke lifted Hoshi's face to his, and kissed her, just as the three tornadoes converged right on the apartment
complex...
A pillar of light burst up from Tasuki and Rain, blowing a hole in the black clouds and revealing blue sky. Nazo raised
a long arm again, and brought it down on Tasuki and Rain. The pillar changed direction, and blew a hole right through
the center of Nazo's hand. The large shadow-beast let out a howl that had never been heard before in any world.
Both Tasuki and Rain opened their eyes, which glowed with the same light that surrounded them. The light expanded
and engulfed the entire area.
Houki ducked away from the window, shielding her eyes as the light swirled towards Konan....
Hoshi and Keisuke both put hands up to their eyes as the light broke through the tornado and blinded them....
There was a cry of rage that transcended both worlds.....
....and then there was silence.
for someone, anyone. She felt unalone, and turned around.
Tetsuya stood on nothing behind her, staring at her with eyes as empty as her surroundings.
She stood up, unsteady, and looked hopefully at him.
"Tetsuya...it's me, Yui.." she started, taking a shaky step towards him. He narrowed his eyes
and disappeared. Yui felt tears welling in her eyes. "Come back!' she cried into the darkness.
Tetsuya re-appeared directly behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"You are not the one I was searching for. She has already come to me in a dream." He murmured
into her ear. Yui shut her eyes, tears traveling down her cheeks.
"Tetsuya...it's me.....Yui..." she tried again, weakly. Tetsuya's grip tightened, and Yui felt as if he
were to crush her. He grimaced and let go of her, disappearing into the darkness once more.
"Yui told me to get rid of you..." he said from the dark around her. Yui raised her head, tears flowing
freely down her cheeks. Dark blades, more of a gray color compared to the black void, suddenly
appeared and flew towards Yui. She spun to the side, some blades embedding themselves in her left
chest and arm, the rest sailing harmlessly into the dark. Paralyzed, Yui sunk to her knees and onto her
side. She felt so helpless...she felt unprotected.
Perhaps that's why you were almost devoured.
Yui raised her head weakly. "Seiryuu?" she asked the black. A small blue particle light appeared in
front of her, twinkling brightly despite its size.
You are not as weak as you would have yourself believe, Priestess Yui. Seiryuu said to her. Her face
going expressionless, Yui raised a hand and gripped one of the blades. It burned into her hand, but she
did not draw it away.
Pushing herself to her feet, she took a deep breath. "Tetsuya told me to get rid of you..." she mocked.
Tetsuya's eyes narrowed. Her face contorting into rage, Yui pulled out the blade and threw it back at
him. It hit him right between his eyes. He fell to his knees, then onto his stomach, and didn't move.
Sobbing once, Yui limped as fast as she could over to him. She fell to her knees beside him and lifted
him up to face her.
"Tetsuya...." she whimpered, brushing his bangs from his face. The blade, along with the ones embedded
within her, was slowly disappearing into mist. He opened his eyes slightly, a gleam of life shining dimly
within them, and smiled weakly.
"I.....suck...at protecting....you....don't....I?" he managed. Tears falling from her eyes, Yui said nothing, but
hugged him tightly to her chest.
"I'll let you protect me as much as you want when we get home..." she whispered, burying her head in his
hair.
-----------------------------------------
Taka has been absorbed with the rest of the seishi...a voice said, its source all around Miaka. Miaka stared
darkly into the void.
"I know." She said sullenly.
What are you going to do about it?
"Nothing." She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. "There's nothing I can do, is there?
All of the seishi are gone...Yui is gone....Rain is gone....I'm doomed now aren't I?"
Not necessarily. There is always that single light of hope. As if on cue, a single particle light of red appeared
before Miaka. She stared at it lifelessly.
"You aren't doing me much good, Suzaku." She said grimly. The light flickered, then moved up to her face.
And you, Priestess, are not doing anyone else much good. There are still others...you must find them if you wish
to leave this place.
"What good will it do? Taka's not here." She scoffed. The light grew dark for a moment.
And that is why you fell into the void. You rely too much on Tamahome as comfort...protection.....everything. You
must learn to stand on your own legs instead of being carried.
A tear slid from Miaka's eye as she stood up. "But Taka's always been there for me...I feel safe when I'm with
him! When I'm alone...there's no point in going on!" she cried, more tears coming. She almost felt as if the light
were shaking its head.
Then remember those times when he was there, to keep you strong through the times he is not.
Miaka stared into the dark as the light disappeared. Taking a breath, determination setting in on her face, she
squared her shoulders and marched off. She had no direction, the void had no visible walls or floors. She just
knew, if she continued walking, she'd find someone.
------------------------------------
"No...why...Nazo...why...?"
Nyan-Nyan turned around. She'd been walking for what felt like a long time, and hadn't found anyone yet.
Lai-Lai sat curled up in the distance, rocking back and forth. Covering the distance between them by hopping,
Nyan-Nyan clasped her arms behind her back and leaned down to look curiously into Lai-Lai's face.
"Why is Nyan-Nyan crying?" she asked. Lai-Lai looked up at her, tears streaking her face. Nyan-Nyan tilted
her head curiously. "Nyan-Nyan not supposed to be able to do that. You very special!" Nyan-Nyan grinned
happily.
Lai-Lai scowled and slapped Nyan-Nyan across the face. Nyan-Nyan's eyes widened and she looked back at
Lai-Lai, touching a hand to her cheek.
"Why did Nyan-Nyan do that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Lai-Lai glared at her for a few
more moments, before her face contorted into sadness again, fresh tears springing from her eyes.
"Lai-Lai took good care of Nazo....Lai-Lai loved Nazo with all of her heart! But Nazo do bad by Lai-Lai.....Nazo
absorb Lai-Lai and not care!" she sobbed. Nyan-Nyan sat down across from Lai-Lai and put a hand on her arm.
Lai-Lai looked up at her in surprise, and Nyan-Nyan smiled.
"Taits-kun will make Nyan-Nyan better." She said. Lai-Lai's eyes widened.
"Nyan-Nyan do not hate Lai-Lai for all that Lai-Lai has done?" she whispered. Nyan-Nyan shook her head, her
braids flying back and forth. Lai-Lai's face wavered, and she fell forward, hugging Nyan-Nyan tightly. She
pushed herself away and stood up.
"We find way out of Nazo now." She said, determined.
-------------------------------------
Rain opened her eyes weakly, and pushed herself to her knees. She put a hand to her head and glanced about
her. She was still at Mt. Tai-kyoku, and she was alone. The entire world seemed silent, as if all life had been
vanquished.
She raised her head and looked up, her eyes widening. Above her, in the distance, was Nazo...or at least...what
Nazo had become. His body was composed entirely of an oily black fog, everywhere that he had stepped was
dead and melted as if covered in acid. His body was long, and stretched up into the sky, the fog turning him into
a giant shadow. Clasping the necklace Taits-kun had given her, she fell to her knees and shut her eyes.
"Taits-kun...he's taken them all...tell me what I should do!" she pleaded. All remained silent in her head. She
clenched the pendant harder, and squeezed her eyes shut. "Taits-kun...please....tell me what to do!"
It was now that she noticed the strange, empty feeling the amulet had.
Her eyes snapped open. This can't be happening.....how could she have failed...? Setting her jaw in determination,
she stood up again and began running, following the trail of death that Nazo had left. She would not fail! There
had to still be time!
--------------------------------------
"He's destroying our world too.." Keisuke suddenly said. Hoshi looked up at him.
"What do you mean?" she asked, moving over to the window and looking out. She gasped and grabbed his shoulder.
"YOU MORON! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT THERE WAS A TORNADO OUT THERE?!" she cried, shaking him.
In the distance, on the other side of Tokyo, were three tornadoes, all swirling around each other. "We've got to get
to shelter..." she murmured, starting for the door. Keisuke grabbed her arm and halted her in her tracks.
"It's no use in trying to hide from it....our world will die as well." He said in an even voice. Hoshi turned and looked
at him, tears welling in her eyes and spilling over.
"You idiot! There's always a chance...there's always hope! I'm not just going to sit here and watch some freak of nature
come and kill us!" she cried, her voice cracking. Keisuke looked at her evenly.
"I don't want to give up hope, Hoshi...but if there is no more story left to read...then our story has stopped as well. Our
universe and theirs circle each other...we depend on each other. If one dies...then it's certain that the other will die
too." Sobbing once, Hoshi wrenched her arm out of Keisuke's grip and turned away. Keisuke turned back to the window
and looked out. His eyes widened as Hoshi turned back around and hugged him tightly.
"Then let me at least pretend that there will be a tomorrow." She murmured against his shirt. Keisuke sighed softly,
and rested his chin upon her head, hugging her back.
-----------------------------------
Rain had to stop herself from falling to her knees or sobbing mournfully as she came upon Mount Raikoku. The
entire village that had been there was gone, smoking as if it had been burned away in a fire. She hadn't been
there since she was a child...her home village...which she would never see again.
I can't do this alone....
But I'm not alone...I'm NOT!
Anger finally setting in, she stood up straight and clenched both fists, her hair blowing upwards, feeling what
was left of the power surface.
"NAZO!!!! I'M HERE!!" she shouted into the black sky. "COME GET ME NAZO!!!" Her voice echoed into the silence,
rumbles of earth quaking thunder her only response. "NAZOOOOOOO!!!!" she shouted, her voice cracking.
You're a little fool to think you can challenge me seriously.
Rain lifted her head, Nazo's shadow-figure slowly walking towards her. What he was lacked features...but was
nightmarish all within itself. A light flared at her feet, the wind from the power increasing, blowing her hair
straight up. Her clothes slowly transformed into clothes similar to that of Taits-kun, her hair done up the same as
Yin's had been, with the same ornaments.
"Release their souls!" she shouted up at him. Nazo tilted his head at her, then raised one long arm up, and brought it
down, as if to smash her.
Don't you ever jump when stuff like that comes your way?
Gritting her teeth in rage, Rain jumped into the air, and found herself staying there, hovering several feet in the air.
Nazo swung his arm out, and Rain put her hands out in a white light shield. His arm hit her shield, but knocked her
from the air and back onto the ground. She pushed herself to her feet.
"Powers of light and dark, hear me! Four beast gods of life and death, I summon thee!' Rain found herself chanting,
moving her fingers in the same hypnotic movement she had seen Taits-kun do when she were a child. Dark electricity
crackled at the center of the Nazo-shadow, and flew outward, striking Rain and knocking her backwards. She felt
herself loosing strength
NO! I CAN'T LOOSE!
Houki held Boushin protectively against her chest as she watched bits of Konan crumble away. She sank to her
knees.
"Oh please...great Suzaku...help Taits-kun...lend her your strength...." she prayed.
"You still haven't learned how to jump yet, have you?" Tasuki said into her ear. She opened her eyes quickly. Tasuki
put her on her feet and gave her a half-smile. He was dressed in a rich black coat, embroidered with reds and
oranges. A tunic wrapped over his shoulder and fastened into his belt. He looked as richly decorated as she.
"Tasuki....what...?" she asked, motioning to his clothing.
"I dunno...I woke up and I was dressed like this." He glanced above them.
Have Tasuki prove his worth, and the powers of Yang shall be bestowed upon him.
"Look out!" Grabbing Rain's arm, he pushed them out of the way as more of Nazo's electricity came down. Rain
stood up boldly and raised her arms.
"Beasts of the Four Corners, lend me your power!" she shouted into the sky. Tasuki's eyes widened.
"You can't handle that much power Rain! It's too much!" he shouted, the wind picking up around them. The glow
began to surround Rain once more, her eyes taking up the bright light.
"Then help me.....divide the power between us and help me." She said in a low voice that Tasuki heard clearly, even
above the wind. Taking a breath, he stood behind her, raising his arms against hers, standing the same as she
.
"Beasts of the Four Corners.......I summon thee!" Tasuki found himself saying in unison with Rain. There was a swirl
of light and electricity, colored in red, blue, green and white, which came swirling down from the heavens. It
struck the two directly, causing the Nazo-shadow to flinch away from them as the light surrounding Rain
surrounded Tasuki too, and increased in brightness.
Aidou stood up shakily from where she had been thrown. She felt labor pains slowly coming on, and bent over from
them, but stared at Mount Tai-kyoku. It was slowly crumbling to pieces...
Keisuke lifted Hoshi's face to his, and kissed her, just as the three tornadoes converged right on the apartment
complex...
A pillar of light burst up from Tasuki and Rain, blowing a hole in the black clouds and revealing blue sky. Nazo raised
a long arm again, and brought it down on Tasuki and Rain. The pillar changed direction, and blew a hole right through
the center of Nazo's hand. The large shadow-beast let out a howl that had never been heard before in any world.
Both Tasuki and Rain opened their eyes, which glowed with the same light that surrounded them. The light expanded
and engulfed the entire area.
Houki ducked away from the window, shielding her eyes as the light swirled towards Konan....
Hoshi and Keisuke both put hands up to their eyes as the light broke through the tornado and blinded them....
There was a cry of rage that transcended both worlds.....
....and then there was silence.