Taylor opened her eyes, glanced at the beeping clock next to her bed, and yawned loudly. "It's too early…" she muttered to herself, but nonetheless, she threw off her covers and climbed slowly out of bed. She shoved her feet into her slippers, and yawning once more, left her room.
As she headed out into the kitchen in search of food, she saw Keisuke sleeping on the couch again, books and papers on the coffee table in front of him. Lying in the piles of papers was a red book, Miaka's and a red scroll, Misara's. Keisuke had been pouring over them for the past few weeks, but what he had learned from them, Taylor could only guess at. Seeing those scrolls reminded Taylor of her of what had happened, memories she was only too happy to forget. They were the reason she had stayed in Japan, moved in temporarily with Keisuke, and lied to both her parents about where she was. Her parents lived in different states, and Taylor would move from one place to the other whenever she felt like it. She stayed mostly with her father, so she could be with Misara, but she had called him and told him that she had gone to stay with her mother. And since her mother thought Taylor was with her father and her parents never talked if they could help it, she was safe for the time being.
After Misara's disappearance, the warriors of Suzaku were sent back to their own world, stunned and confused. The rest of them were just as clueless and scared, and Taylor was really starting to miss Misara. Keisuke was trying to find a way into the book world…at least, that's what he told Taylor when she asked why he hadn't left the couch and his papers. She saw Miaka and Yui almost daily, but the two friends couldn't think of anything to say to her. And for some strange reason, Tamahome had turned up in this world, but his name was Taka and he was a college student. Miaka looked so happy whenever Taylor saw her, and Yui seemed all right, and it all made Taylor wonder why she wasn't feeling fine. She did miss Misara. But that was only part of it. The other part? She didn't know.
She dug aimlessly through the refrigerator, pushing the beer aside trying to find some eggs. After she had cracked the eggs into the pan, she stuck her head out into the living room again. Keisuke was stirring. He would wake up soon. She turned back to the kitchen and took more eggs out of the fridge.
As she munched on her breakfast, Keisuke came into the kitchen, looking rumpled and tired. She pushed his omelet toward him and he ate it with his hands, then headed back to the couch. Taylor sighed inwardly, finished her omelet and set her dishes in the sink.
Later that evening, while she was reading, the phone rang. She tucked a red curl behind her ear but didn't move from her spot, thinking Keisuke would get it. After all, if it was a Japanese person, she wouldn't be able to talk to them and it would waste everyone's time. She was lucky that Keisuke spoke pretty good English. Tetsuya and Yui weren't too bad either, but Miaka was rather hopeless at it. Which was all right, since Miaka didn't really pay any attention to anyone but Taka. Taylor had picked up some of it since she arrived, although she didn't get out much. But the phone kept ringing. Annoyed, she got up and grabbed it.
"Hello?" She asked, still a little peeved. She didn't even care if the person on the other end could understand her.
"The portal opens at midnight." A voice said.
"What!?" Taylor asked. Surprised that the voice spoke in English, she hadn't really paid attention to what it said.
"At midnight, the portal will open, and you can save your friend."
"Where?" Taylor asked quickly, but as soon as she said it, she heard a 'click' and knew that they had hung up. Whoever they were.
Taylor's head was spinning. Save Misara? She ran out into the living room, but Keisuke wasn't there. On the couch was a note saying he had gone to do more research. She sat down to calm herself and think. Where would the portal be opening? It was already 8:30…and if she couldn't find Keisuke…
Well, she thought, I'll go by myself. She rushed into her room and threw some extra clothes in a bag. In the kitchen, she tossed a couple cans of pop and some apples into her bag as well. She still wasn't sure what she would need. On a whim, she tossed in some aspirin and a book. Not that I'll have time to be doing any reading…
She scribbled Keisuke a note, explaining what had happened and that she was going to try to look for the portal. Actually she was going to look for him first, because he might have an idea where it would be. She grabbed her coat from the post beside the door and locked it behind her. As she stepped off the elevator and outside, she stopped, a little apprehensive. Not only did she not know where to start looking, but she had never been out of the apartment by herself. She turned right and headed down the street, her bag thrown over her shoulder.
After almost three hours of fruitless searching, she was on the verge of tears. Where would Keisuke be? He said he was researching those scrolls, so he was probably at a library, but which one? Finally, she decided she was just going to have to ask someone. Someone who looked like they could speak English, or understand her broken Japanese.
There was a guy in a suit, walking down the street in front of her. He looked like a businessman…perhaps he knew English. She approached him.
"Excuse me, sir…" she said. He turned to look at her.
"Hai?" That was yes, Taylor knew that. She hurried on.
"Could you please tell me where the nearest library is?"
He pointed down the street she had just turned from. "About five streets that way." He said in halting English.
"Thank you sir!" Taylor said, quickly bowing and heading off in the direction he had pointed. Keisuke had taught her about bowing to people, and she was proud that she had actually remembered to do it. She hurried as fast as she could, since it was almost midnight. And suddenly, she was there. In English (under the Japanese) a large sign declared that this was the National Library. Something about it seemed familiar, but she couldn't remember what it was. The building was dark, having been closed for hours, but there was a light in one window. Keisuke couldn't possibly be there, unless he had hidden himself in a room somewhere. And suddenly, she remembered. A room…a forbidden room…where Miaka found the book?! That was it…that's where the portal is going to open!
She hurried around the building, trying every door and window. If it came to it, she'd break in, but she hoped she didn't have to. But no, chance had left a window cracked on the second floor. But could she get up there? The ledge going around the building looked wide enough to stand on from her perspective, and although she couldn't be sure, she had to try anyway. She darted to the corner of the building and checked her watch by the moonlight. 11:44…she had a little time left. She grabbed a hold of the rain gutter and hoisted herself upwards. It wasn't very sturdy, but she didn't really have a choice. After a few moments, she was up on the ledge on the second floor. It was less than a foot wide, so she'd have to inch her way across. With her back to the wall, she crept along, trying to hurry. When she reached the window, she pushed it open and climbed inside. Other than the moonlight shining in, the room was completely dark. Idiot, she thought. A flashlight would have been useful.
By another lucky break, she found the door and made her way through the library. Under another window, she checked her watch once more. 11:56. Where was this room??
She looked up again and stifled a scream. Standing in front of her was a man, glowing faintly in the moonlight. He was covered in white clothing, even his hair was white, but Taylor didn't recognize him. He turned and she followed him, everything around her blurring. He led her to a room filled with shelves of books.
This was it…it had to be, Taylor thought as she looked around the room. When she turned back to the man, she discovered he had disappeared. She checked her watch again. 11:59. One minute left…where did that guy go?
Suddenly, she heard a noise behind her and she spun around. The door she had come in had changed…it was bright red, and opened a crack. The white man had his hand on the handle, and with a final glance at Taylor, he opened the door and walked through, closing it behind him.
Well, I guess this is it…
Taylor reached for the handle. It was freezing cold, but she held on to it and pulled open the door. And suddenly, she couldn't see. A bright light was blinding her, but it was warm. She took a step forward, and walked through the door.