Hello everyone and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I haven't updated this story for months and now that it's vacation I have all the time to write more. I'm so happy to be back!!! However, the first time I opened my account and read my reviews I got some pretty angry, nasty stuff written about me being a flamer. I was pretty much confused at first. I didn't know what the hell they were talking about since I was not and still am not guilty of what they accused me of, which is flaming one of their writers. Heck! I never flamed anybody in this entire fanfiction.net! Anyways, I wrote the author, whom everyone thought I flamed, and he/she is so cool about it and everything's cleared - - my name's cleared that I'M NOT THE ONE WHO FLAMED THE WRITER(S)!!!!!! Whoever you are who wrote those accusation against me, you got the wrong person.
Sorry dear readers. I just really need to clarify that. Now I'm just happy to be on vacation and back in front of my computer and easing my college stress just by continuing my fic.
TO MY REVIEWERS:
To the new people who reviewed me: Michelle Ann, DemonicCatGirl, babeof01and05+trunks, Tengokunou Arashi, and shigromia, really thanks for the encouragements. I need them after the months of college torture.
Joanna: First of all I have to say SORRY!!!!!!!!! I totally misunderstood you, but I'm so happy you defended me. I'm so glad.really glad. Oh do you still have that Rei/Tasuki pic that you could send to me? (email: whoocup99@aol.com) THANKS again Joanna for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Priscilla: god! We need more understanding people in this world! Thanks Priscilla! I was really under pressure in college. Now I can continue with my fic thanks to you and the other's encouraging words. Phew! Again, you really know what the characters are trying to get at.I'm still thinking about Taka's "crush?" with our heroine.Speaking of Tasuki's (ahem) "success"...we'll see sooner or later.LOL I envy your Rei plushie.she gets all the bishies!
RubyRedDragon05: Hehe you don't have to give me a long review, actually even just a "hi" is fine with me. I simply treat my reviews as regular emails and I love writing back. Hehe I wonder too.what will Jedite do.hmmm. And Minako?
Faith: Hey don't be sorry, like I said to RubyRed, a simple "hi" would suffice.
huffpuff: Curious are we? Hehe I don't blame you. I'm curious myself too. I'm still contemplating what to do with Taka.
I DO NOT OWN EVERYTING HERE!
Chapter 8
"Tenkou, you seemed to be loosing your minions. I thought you, a god, would do a better performance than this."
Tenkou had just felt the water spirit of Hikou died. And now he's suffering the insults from the general lord of the negaverse. He didn't want to show him any more failures. He must send his best puppet to dispose of the Suzaku's warriors, but he would not tell Jedite that he would also eliminate the new comer.
Tenkou's only access to Jedite's weakness is through the girl. It seems pathetic to him that the powerful general of the negaverse would fall over a mere girl. He wanted to laugh at the thought, but he wouldn't want to risk insulting the man .yet.
So the fake god pretended to listen to the general's mockeries and put downs, while he devised a plan on how to finally get rid of his enemies.
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"That was weird no da. I thought I sensed a bad omen, but it was gone before I could fully trace it." The monk was still stunned by the feeling, and the déjà vu that he could not erase was really annoying him.
"Hey Chichiri, do you think we should start looking for Rei and Tasuki? The sun is about to come down soon" Nuriko didn't bother to wait for his reply and started walking towards the direction of where he thought the couple must have been thrown to.
"Ah, Nuriko, I think we should go this way." Little Chiriko interrupted. "According to my educated guess, when the sudden earth quake managed to separate us, the force would have thrown Rei and Tasuki towards the direction of the lake."
"How do you know there was a lake beyond that forest, Chiriko?" Taka asked, amused by the little guy's knowledge.
"Well my teacher used to teach me biology around the area. We're only in the outskirts of Konan, but it is hard to find your way through that forest, even the most experience woodsman can't always find his way in one day. Usually people have to stay a night or two in the forest before they find their way home."
"In other words, we might be stuck looking for them in that forest. Then come on guys we better not waste any more time." Nuriko led the way, smiling smugly to himself and thinking that Rei and Tasuki would need a night or two to be in talking level once again.
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Tasuki had never felt a lost for word in his entire life. It took him awhile to find some place to stay for the night and when he got back to the spot where he dumped Rei on the ground gently, he found her sprawled on her back and giving him a good view of her wonderful long legs.
"I, ahem, found a shelter just beyond that tree."
Poor Tasuki was trying to sound casual while keeping his eyes to her face. He saw her heavy eyes opened slowly and he felt rather like a selfish jerk for trying to wake her.
"Uhg, why not." The red head felt sympathy for his woman's dilemma.
Rei, on the other hand, didn't even get to reply when Tasuki carried her again to who knows where. She felt really groggy and her bones ached. All the anguish and heart sickness she felt finally took their toll on her and not to mention the physical agony she had endured while under Hikou's spell really dampen her already fatigued body and spirit. She felt as if she couldn't even call for her powers to aid her anymore. Now, Tasuki was carrying her again and she didn't sprout a single protest..she couldn't and she wouldn't bother. The red head, her soul mate, will take care of her, though it's still hard to comprehend her situation with him. She just let him take care of her, only for tonight.
When she opened her eyes, two roasted rabbits were sizzling on top of the fire. She saw that she was in some kind of a shelter, a dilapidated one, with only two solid walls and a patched ceiling. Tasuki was nowhere to be found.
The food was making her hungry. Rei didn't know how long she fell asleep and she couldn't believe she actually fell asleep in front of the creep, well her creep. Still.it is very hard to accept him as her soul mate after all that had happened between them. However.
"Finally, sleeping beauty has awakened. I brought some fruits you might like."
"What time is it? Where are we? Have you found the others?" Rei sat up, trying to wipe her sleepiness away. She scooted towards the fire to warm herself. She was relieved he didn't touch her. Her clothes were still in tacked and dry. Her head still felt a bit groggy though.
"Here, ya eat first. Ya look like hell." Tasuki just couldn't help himself but add the little insult to invoke a yell from his woman.his woman. He really liked the sound of that, but he knew he had to earn her trust again however hard it's going to take.
Rei glared at him and snatched the morsel he offered. She had to admit though, it really tasted yummy and she felt better already.
Minutes have passed and the couple hadn't talked since. Rei was infuriated he still didn't answer her questions. She didn't want to ask him again. Tasuki too was infuriated, but for some other reason. Whenever he looked her way, he only met the hatred burning in her eyes.well at least that's what he thought.
"Tasuki." "Rei."
They both said at the same time. Then everything was quiet once again. Again, minutes have passed and the couple finished their meals, still no one bothered talking.
"I'll sleep over there. Here." Tasuki tossed his outer garment for Rei to use as a mat, then he turned around and settled on his spot, hearing a thanks from Rei before drifting into oblivion.
The night wasn't as peaceful as he thought it would be. Tasuki was awakened by a tortured scream. Knowing the source where it came from made Tasuki weary of approaching the woman tossing and turning across from him. He just couldn't bear to look at her pained form. The sobs that escaped her mouth after the scream broke his soul in two. He just didn't know how to mend his situation anymore. But he had to try at least, for it wasn't like him to give up so easily.
"Rei, wake up." He tried again to shake Rei's heaving form. He could still see she was deep into her nightmare and the knowledge that he's the cause of it made him want to pull his heart out.
"Rei."
Rei could hear someone was calling her. She wanted to reach for that person and yet she didn't want to, afraid of waking to reality again. The nightmare was still consuming her, as if it wanted to claim her as Tasuki claimed her against her will. She was torn between running away from the pain and accepting her destiny.
Tasuki.Tasuki I'm afraid.I can't.I don't know anymore.
Rei wasn't sure if she uttered those words out loud or not, but when she finally opened her eyes Tasuki was holding her and looking at her like he had never looked at her before. It was as if he could understand what she was going through.confuse, furious, and lost.
She could have pushed him away, but deep in her heart she already knew that he would never ever again hurt her.
Still.
"Tasuki, let go of me." Rei rather demanded he released her.
Tasuki didn't want to show her how much those words hurt him. He let go of her.
"Go back to sleep." With that he walked towards his spot again.
The next day, Rei woke up groggily with the insistent budging of someone familiar.
"Hey sleepy head wake up. It's time to go." Nuriko tried again.
"Hey Rei, I thought after a night of rest you'd be ready to spring into action. It's a wonderful day to search for Miaka."
"Nuriko if you keep shaking me I'll throttle you." Rei couldn't help but smile at the quirky I-don't-think-so look Nuriko was giving her.
She got up and yawned when she felt someone was staring at her. She didn't have to turn her head to know who it was.
Tasuki felt like a fool for thinking that Rei was warming up to him. The emptiness he felt when she spoke those words last night was a blow to his already battered heart. He's telling himself that she needed space and time to heal. He just didn't know how long he could handle the separation that tore at him.
Everyone noticed the way he stared at Rei, and everyone except Hotohori wondered what triggered the sudden deep emotion that's dancing in their comrade's eyes.
The group of heroes traveled throughout the day and spent a night at an in some isolated country side. They finally found the tracks of Miaka and her companion, which according to the witnesses they questioned told them that their priestess was with some handsome young man with mesmerizing eyes. It seemed that they are very close to finding Miaka.
The inn was not as bad as everyone would think. They were surprised that the inhabitants of this tiny village were very hospitable to strangers.well after knowing that one of them was their emperor. The empire of Konan was actually pretty huge.
They ate in silence with a tension in the air between Rei and Tasuki. Nuriko was still baffled at the intensity of their indifference and he didn't know what to do about it, which really bothered him.
The emperor Hotohori noticed how Rei was ignorance of everything in her surroundings. Though Rei felt compelled to break the tension that's brewing ever since the forest scene, she still kept her mouth shut, which was really unlike her.
Tasuki really changed me that much didn't he.
Tasuki didn't miss the sigh that escaped Rei's mouth. He wondered what she was thinking.
"Hey, can I have some sake here?" Tasuki yelled at the waiter.
"I'm going to my chamber." Rei was shaken by the reminiscence of the consequences of drinking sake. She just had to get away from the table.from Tasuki.
"Hey girl, what's wrong?" Nuriko didn't like the sudden fear that crossed the girl's face.
Struggling to get a smile out, Rei assuaged that she's just simply tired from traveling all day and needed a good night's rest.
Nuriko was about to comment when Hotohori raised his hand to stop him. The worried frown from his emperor further confused him.
What the hell was going on? Was all the willow seishi could think.
Tasuki, on the other hand, finally realized what made Rei react that way. He was too stupid to even consider her feelings. Sake was a just a normal beverage for him that he totally forgot what the simple beverage did to her. As soon as the waiter brought him the drink he threw it to the wall with a huge crash. Everyone, obviously, looked at him with more confusion.
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They were getting closer and closer to the path. Chichiri wasn't surprise to sense an evil foreboding in the air.
They didn't have to wait long for the enemy to come out of hiding. A black surge of pure evil energy approached them.
Rei didn't have to wait another second to tell herself to transform and she did. Sailor Mars always managed to leave anyone befuddled by the beauty of her transformation. She wasn't even conscious that she was actually showing too much skin while transforming to her senshi form. Everyone, especially Tasuki, pretended not to notice.
Chichiri was the first one to deflect the unknown's blast. He could sense that it was pretty strong, but he managed to go against it. The entity laughed. Taka felt as if he knew this guy.
"What's the matter Taka? Are you afraid to face the real you?"
"Who are you?!"
Gasps could be heard from everyone. The entity looked exactly like Taka, yet there's an air of power surrounding him. Chichiri didn't like the feeling one single bit.
"I am called Yosui, the former Tamahome. And I have Miaka safely in my lair where she belongs."
Taka was at a lost for words. He saw himself reflected in the man, but when he mentioned the whereabouts of Miaka, he became furious.
"Miaka doesn't belong to you. She has a choice."
Yosui laughed that gave goose bumps to Taka. "Yes, I gave her a choice and she chose Tamahome over you Taka. She chose me!"
"You're lying!" Taka was about to punch the guy, but Chichiri held him at bay.
"Yosui, take us to Miaka and let's hear what she has to say."
Yosui smirked at Chichiri, knowing what Miaka's answer would be.
The gang followed Yosui, whom they already dubbed as the fake Tamahome. They just couldn't accept that this guy, who was undoubtedly one of Tenkou's players, was their old pal and fellow Suzaku warrior.
Taka was beginning to doubt himself and he questioned why Miaka did what she did. He looked at Yosui once again and noticed that the man's attention was directed at Rei, who in return glared at his obvious perusal.
Tasuki beat him in defending Rei for the red head also noticed the glances the fake Tamahome was giving his woman.
Yosui just laughed.
Once they got to the lair, they saw Miaka standing and waiting. She didn't look at Taka, but smiled forcefully at whom she thought was Tamahome.
"Miaka." Taka was stunned, but he had to know. "Do you love him?"
Miaka finally looked at him, looked at his eyes. She remembered the love she bore with Taka, her Tamahome and protector. She was very confused. She was hurt by the attention the other girl received from her seishi and even from her love. She wanted to block everything out and accept what Tamahome had said.
"Miaka."
She really wanted to deny everything, but Taka.She just knew somehow that the one she belonged to was.
"Miaka, ignore him. You belong to me." Yosui made a grave mistake. Miaka's head snapped and she pushed him away and ran towards Taka.
"I don't belong to anybody, Tamahome. NO! You're not Tamahome. I have known what my heart is saying and that I only belong to whom I chose. And I've chosen to be with Taka all along."
Yosui was outraged and he aimed a blast at the priestess, but Taka pushed her behind him. While this was happening, the others understood that this fight was between Taka and the fake Tamahome. Taka must face this by himself.
"I am Tamahome, his reincarnation. You're simply a memory, memory that's already been inside of me. My love for Miaka, my loyalty to my friends.they are part of me, part of Tamahome, my own memory. Don't try that bull shit with me again and leave Miaka alone!"
Everyone was surprised to see the ogre mark of Tamahome on Taka's forehead. Their pal was back and beating the heck out Yosui. Finally, the last of the memory orb was in their hands. The quest to defeat Tenkou was getting closer.
Miaka ran towards Taka and hugged him as if her life depended on it. All the while she was murmuring sorry.
They thought the fight was over, but Rei could sense something or someone else was coming. It felt so familiar that she wanted to puke.
"Hello Rei, I've been waiting for you."
"Jedite."
"I'm happy you still remember me." The general smirked, looking her up and down in a manner that really pissed her off. "I could never forget you Rei."
His insinuation was not lost to Tasuki and the rest of the gang. Tasuki didn't bother to introduce himself and blasted the guy with his fire.
"Fool! You think you can even touch me with that puny power of yours? Get out of my way!" Jedite barked back with his mental power, which threw Tasuki away.
Rei was seething. She could feel the tug of pain from her soul mate. Jedite was a fool to ever get in her way. She wanted to run to her fallen half, but she didn't want to show the general her weakness.
"Leave them alone Jedite. If it's me you want then your fight is with me!" Fire surrounded her and she had never bore this raw power outside herself before. The pain she had suffered under his betrayal ever since the negaverse poured into her soul, increasing the surge she could feel within her. The fire wanted out.
Jedite merely quirked a smile at her. "If I've known any better, I think you like that weakling."
It's no use hiding the truth from him now. She must have shown some outward emotion when she saw Tasuki hurt. Rei just kept her eyes at the general, her former trusted friend. She warned him again to leave the fight between the two of them, but Jedite countered with a blast at her friends that threw them away as he did with Tasuki.
Rei didn't hesitate to blast him with her "burning mandala". The surge of power was like a balm to her. The anger and betrayal she felt for so long with the general was so intense that her fire intensified in return. Jedite was so surprise she had this power.
"I see you've grown my love." Jedite breathed deeply and gritted his teeth from pain.
"You hurt me. I can't believe you would actually hurt me!" Cold anger reflected in his eyes. He could feel the intense burn all over his body. He didn't have to look at his almost non-existent uniform and his cindered surroundings. He had fallen from her attack and it wasn't only a blow to his ego, but also a blow to his domination over Rei whom he thought was still under his power.
She had almost killed him, if not for the last minute shield he managed to conjure. Still her attack went through.
Rei has become more powerful than I thought.
"I'll be back Rei.I'll be back for you and your lover boy.I will kill him!" He glared one last time at the struggling Tasuki and then to Rei with that cold stare in his eyes.
Rei didn't hesitate to go check if her friends are all right, but when she reached for Tasuki.
"There's no need. I'm fine." Tasuki knew why she paused. He then lied to her that he's all right. His head was still ringing from the unexpected blast.
Rei wasn't deterred, however. Somehow she knew that she was the one who drew Jedite to appear in their world. At least, that's what she thought. She surprised Tasuki by offering her hand for him to stand up.
Tasuki looked at her hand, then at her eyes that did not speak any emotions. He brushed her hands off and stood up by himself. A flicker of hurt appeared in Rei's eyes and Tasuki had judged her wrongly, again.
He ruffled his hair and murmured a "sorry" to Rei who was about to turn away.
She didn't say anything, just walked away from him.
"Rei, Princess of Mars, it's time."
That voice definitely stopped Rei in her tracks.
Sailor Pluto.
A bright hole appeared out of nowhere above the still transformed Sailor Mars and was pulling her into it. Rei couldn't budge except surrender to the pull.to the pull of the voice she's familiar with.to the pull of the world where her life, her best friends were.but.
Tasuki was awestruck, the light from the hole was increasing and it's pulling his life away from him. He had to get to her.
"REI!" Tasuki had never felt so desperate in his life. He couldn't reach her. The light deflected his attempts to get to her.
The others' attempts were useless as well. They could only watch as their new comrade from another world slowly vanished into the light.
"REI! DAMN IT DON'T GO!"
Rei wanted to reach for him, her soul mate. Her heart was torn in two and she didn't know where to go, which world to embrace. She held her hand towards Tasuki.
With one last attempt to reach for her, Tasuki took hold of her extended hand. He wasn't about to let go of her, ever. But fate had other games to play, or was it the Guardian of Time?
The light broke their contact and Rei closed her eyes, fearing the anguish she would see in Tasuki's. She gave up. She just didn't want to face anything anymore.
Tasuki was falling, away from her.
"Rei.REI! I LOVE YOU DAMN IT!"
Rei opened her eyes and said "I'm sorry."
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Another girl appeared and she was wearing the same outfit as Sailor Mars, except that hers was orange.
"You've hurt Rei." Mina, the Princess of Venus, also known as Sailor Venus, spoke directly at Tasuki.
Tasuki should have been shocked by the appearance of this new girl, but his thoughts were all centered to the one his soul was forever bound.
The anguish and heart break were very apparent to Mina and she pitied the man. Rei had found the other half of her soul in this man, yet her best friend didn't want to face the bond that was undoubtedly more potent than the most intense fire in Mars, and even the sun. Rei was simply afraid and yet.
"You love my best friend yet you caused her pain. It always happens with soul mates." Mina sighed, reminiscing the situation with Serenity and Endymion. Looking back at the red head's pained eyes, Mina decided to give him a little hope. "Give her time, I know she will."
"Sailor Venus, do not waste any time." The silhouette of Pluto could be seen just outside the door-shaped portal, beckoning for Mina to heed her warning.
"Wait, who are you people?" Nuriko was just too stunned by this new turn of events.
"We are both from Rei's world. You don't have to know the specifics. We just came here to get her back and away from danger." Sailor Pluto answered.
Tasuki couldn't stay quiet anymore. His other half was taken, away from danger, away from him. How dare they manipulate his heart and take it away!
"So she was sent here just to take her away again?! What kind of games are ya playing?!"
"Tasuki's right, no da. Why was she sent here in the first place?"
"We didn't send her. She was taken from us by some powerful magic."
"Who's this Jedite?" Taka broke through the haze that's been building around his teammates. Everyone was confused.
"He's the one who sent Rei here." Sailor Pluto finally stepped out of the portal and showed herself. "Your Highness, Emperor of Konan, Hotohori, she was not sent here to protect your world, rather, Rei was taken by Jedite so he could make her his queen."
"You could see us?"
"Yes, Chiriko. We can see you." Mina giggled at the little guy's cute puzzlement and tapped the ghost's head.
"Jedite will never give up until he claims her.ever since the great battle. Rei will never give up. So rest assured everyone, I'll stay and fight the negaverse until they no longer exist in your world."
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Though the imposter Tamahome has been defeated and that they rescued Miaka back, the team didn't feel as if they made a great achievement and got closer to Tenkou's lair. The agony they could see on Tasuki's face was too much to bear.
Miaka definitely understood what Tasuki was going through. It was the same feeling when her love was under the influence of the kodoku and when she thought she had lost him to Yue and the Seiryuu warriors. She was supposed to feel glad that Rei had been sucked into that hole, but all the Priestess of Suzaku felt was lost. She had acted badly and selfishly around Rei and she would do anything in her power to bring her back .somehow. not only for the sake of asking for her forgiveness but also for the sake of her loyal fire seishi's broken heart.
The scene kept playing over and over again in Tasuki's mind. Rei's disappearance was a blow to his heart, to his soul. He felt like a walking zombie. He wanted to return to Mt. Reikaku, but he kept hoping that Rei would actually return to Konan. They had exchanged bad words and he wasn't so sure if she would go back to him.ever.
Tasuki looked up at the heavens and prayed for the first time in his adult life to a higher being other than Suzaku.
Well guys that's it for chapter 8. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I'll see you in the next chapter!!!
~~~fleur~~~
I haven't updated this story for months and now that it's vacation I have all the time to write more. I'm so happy to be back!!! However, the first time I opened my account and read my reviews I got some pretty angry, nasty stuff written about me being a flamer. I was pretty much confused at first. I didn't know what the hell they were talking about since I was not and still am not guilty of what they accused me of, which is flaming one of their writers. Heck! I never flamed anybody in this entire fanfiction.net! Anyways, I wrote the author, whom everyone thought I flamed, and he/she is so cool about it and everything's cleared - - my name's cleared that I'M NOT THE ONE WHO FLAMED THE WRITER(S)!!!!!! Whoever you are who wrote those accusation against me, you got the wrong person.
Sorry dear readers. I just really need to clarify that. Now I'm just happy to be on vacation and back in front of my computer and easing my college stress just by continuing my fic.
TO MY REVIEWERS:
To the new people who reviewed me: Michelle Ann, DemonicCatGirl, babeof01and05+trunks, Tengokunou Arashi, and shigromia, really thanks for the encouragements. I need them after the months of college torture.
Joanna: First of all I have to say SORRY!!!!!!!!! I totally misunderstood you, but I'm so happy you defended me. I'm so glad.really glad. Oh do you still have that Rei/Tasuki pic that you could send to me? (email: whoocup99@aol.com) THANKS again Joanna for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Priscilla: god! We need more understanding people in this world! Thanks Priscilla! I was really under pressure in college. Now I can continue with my fic thanks to you and the other's encouraging words. Phew! Again, you really know what the characters are trying to get at.I'm still thinking about Taka's "crush?" with our heroine.Speaking of Tasuki's (ahem) "success"...we'll see sooner or later.LOL I envy your Rei plushie.she gets all the bishies!
RubyRedDragon05: Hehe you don't have to give me a long review, actually even just a "hi" is fine with me. I simply treat my reviews as regular emails and I love writing back. Hehe I wonder too.what will Jedite do.hmmm. And Minako?
Faith: Hey don't be sorry, like I said to RubyRed, a simple "hi" would suffice.
huffpuff: Curious are we? Hehe I don't blame you. I'm curious myself too. I'm still contemplating what to do with Taka.
I DO NOT OWN EVERYTING HERE!
Chapter 8
"Tenkou, you seemed to be loosing your minions. I thought you, a god, would do a better performance than this."
Tenkou had just felt the water spirit of Hikou died. And now he's suffering the insults from the general lord of the negaverse. He didn't want to show him any more failures. He must send his best puppet to dispose of the Suzaku's warriors, but he would not tell Jedite that he would also eliminate the new comer.
Tenkou's only access to Jedite's weakness is through the girl. It seems pathetic to him that the powerful general of the negaverse would fall over a mere girl. He wanted to laugh at the thought, but he wouldn't want to risk insulting the man .yet.
So the fake god pretended to listen to the general's mockeries and put downs, while he devised a plan on how to finally get rid of his enemies.
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"That was weird no da. I thought I sensed a bad omen, but it was gone before I could fully trace it." The monk was still stunned by the feeling, and the déjà vu that he could not erase was really annoying him.
"Hey Chichiri, do you think we should start looking for Rei and Tasuki? The sun is about to come down soon" Nuriko didn't bother to wait for his reply and started walking towards the direction of where he thought the couple must have been thrown to.
"Ah, Nuriko, I think we should go this way." Little Chiriko interrupted. "According to my educated guess, when the sudden earth quake managed to separate us, the force would have thrown Rei and Tasuki towards the direction of the lake."
"How do you know there was a lake beyond that forest, Chiriko?" Taka asked, amused by the little guy's knowledge.
"Well my teacher used to teach me biology around the area. We're only in the outskirts of Konan, but it is hard to find your way through that forest, even the most experience woodsman can't always find his way in one day. Usually people have to stay a night or two in the forest before they find their way home."
"In other words, we might be stuck looking for them in that forest. Then come on guys we better not waste any more time." Nuriko led the way, smiling smugly to himself and thinking that Rei and Tasuki would need a night or two to be in talking level once again.
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Tasuki had never felt a lost for word in his entire life. It took him awhile to find some place to stay for the night and when he got back to the spot where he dumped Rei on the ground gently, he found her sprawled on her back and giving him a good view of her wonderful long legs.
"I, ahem, found a shelter just beyond that tree."
Poor Tasuki was trying to sound casual while keeping his eyes to her face. He saw her heavy eyes opened slowly and he felt rather like a selfish jerk for trying to wake her.
"Uhg, why not." The red head felt sympathy for his woman's dilemma.
Rei, on the other hand, didn't even get to reply when Tasuki carried her again to who knows where. She felt really groggy and her bones ached. All the anguish and heart sickness she felt finally took their toll on her and not to mention the physical agony she had endured while under Hikou's spell really dampen her already fatigued body and spirit. She felt as if she couldn't even call for her powers to aid her anymore. Now, Tasuki was carrying her again and she didn't sprout a single protest..she couldn't and she wouldn't bother. The red head, her soul mate, will take care of her, though it's still hard to comprehend her situation with him. She just let him take care of her, only for tonight.
When she opened her eyes, two roasted rabbits were sizzling on top of the fire. She saw that she was in some kind of a shelter, a dilapidated one, with only two solid walls and a patched ceiling. Tasuki was nowhere to be found.
The food was making her hungry. Rei didn't know how long she fell asleep and she couldn't believe she actually fell asleep in front of the creep, well her creep. Still.it is very hard to accept him as her soul mate after all that had happened between them. However.
"Finally, sleeping beauty has awakened. I brought some fruits you might like."
"What time is it? Where are we? Have you found the others?" Rei sat up, trying to wipe her sleepiness away. She scooted towards the fire to warm herself. She was relieved he didn't touch her. Her clothes were still in tacked and dry. Her head still felt a bit groggy though.
"Here, ya eat first. Ya look like hell." Tasuki just couldn't help himself but add the little insult to invoke a yell from his woman.his woman. He really liked the sound of that, but he knew he had to earn her trust again however hard it's going to take.
Rei glared at him and snatched the morsel he offered. She had to admit though, it really tasted yummy and she felt better already.
Minutes have passed and the couple hadn't talked since. Rei was infuriated he still didn't answer her questions. She didn't want to ask him again. Tasuki too was infuriated, but for some other reason. Whenever he looked her way, he only met the hatred burning in her eyes.well at least that's what he thought.
"Tasuki." "Rei."
They both said at the same time. Then everything was quiet once again. Again, minutes have passed and the couple finished their meals, still no one bothered talking.
"I'll sleep over there. Here." Tasuki tossed his outer garment for Rei to use as a mat, then he turned around and settled on his spot, hearing a thanks from Rei before drifting into oblivion.
The night wasn't as peaceful as he thought it would be. Tasuki was awakened by a tortured scream. Knowing the source where it came from made Tasuki weary of approaching the woman tossing and turning across from him. He just couldn't bear to look at her pained form. The sobs that escaped her mouth after the scream broke his soul in two. He just didn't know how to mend his situation anymore. But he had to try at least, for it wasn't like him to give up so easily.
"Rei, wake up." He tried again to shake Rei's heaving form. He could still see she was deep into her nightmare and the knowledge that he's the cause of it made him want to pull his heart out.
"Rei."
Rei could hear someone was calling her. She wanted to reach for that person and yet she didn't want to, afraid of waking to reality again. The nightmare was still consuming her, as if it wanted to claim her as Tasuki claimed her against her will. She was torn between running away from the pain and accepting her destiny.
Tasuki.Tasuki I'm afraid.I can't.I don't know anymore.
Rei wasn't sure if she uttered those words out loud or not, but when she finally opened her eyes Tasuki was holding her and looking at her like he had never looked at her before. It was as if he could understand what she was going through.confuse, furious, and lost.
She could have pushed him away, but deep in her heart she already knew that he would never ever again hurt her.
Still.
"Tasuki, let go of me." Rei rather demanded he released her.
Tasuki didn't want to show her how much those words hurt him. He let go of her.
"Go back to sleep." With that he walked towards his spot again.
The next day, Rei woke up groggily with the insistent budging of someone familiar.
"Hey sleepy head wake up. It's time to go." Nuriko tried again.
"Hey Rei, I thought after a night of rest you'd be ready to spring into action. It's a wonderful day to search for Miaka."
"Nuriko if you keep shaking me I'll throttle you." Rei couldn't help but smile at the quirky I-don't-think-so look Nuriko was giving her.
She got up and yawned when she felt someone was staring at her. She didn't have to turn her head to know who it was.
Tasuki felt like a fool for thinking that Rei was warming up to him. The emptiness he felt when she spoke those words last night was a blow to his already battered heart. He's telling himself that she needed space and time to heal. He just didn't know how long he could handle the separation that tore at him.
Everyone noticed the way he stared at Rei, and everyone except Hotohori wondered what triggered the sudden deep emotion that's dancing in their comrade's eyes.
The group of heroes traveled throughout the day and spent a night at an in some isolated country side. They finally found the tracks of Miaka and her companion, which according to the witnesses they questioned told them that their priestess was with some handsome young man with mesmerizing eyes. It seemed that they are very close to finding Miaka.
The inn was not as bad as everyone would think. They were surprised that the inhabitants of this tiny village were very hospitable to strangers.well after knowing that one of them was their emperor. The empire of Konan was actually pretty huge.
They ate in silence with a tension in the air between Rei and Tasuki. Nuriko was still baffled at the intensity of their indifference and he didn't know what to do about it, which really bothered him.
The emperor Hotohori noticed how Rei was ignorance of everything in her surroundings. Though Rei felt compelled to break the tension that's brewing ever since the forest scene, she still kept her mouth shut, which was really unlike her.
Tasuki really changed me that much didn't he.
Tasuki didn't miss the sigh that escaped Rei's mouth. He wondered what she was thinking.
"Hey, can I have some sake here?" Tasuki yelled at the waiter.
"I'm going to my chamber." Rei was shaken by the reminiscence of the consequences of drinking sake. She just had to get away from the table.from Tasuki.
"Hey girl, what's wrong?" Nuriko didn't like the sudden fear that crossed the girl's face.
Struggling to get a smile out, Rei assuaged that she's just simply tired from traveling all day and needed a good night's rest.
Nuriko was about to comment when Hotohori raised his hand to stop him. The worried frown from his emperor further confused him.
What the hell was going on? Was all the willow seishi could think.
Tasuki, on the other hand, finally realized what made Rei react that way. He was too stupid to even consider her feelings. Sake was a just a normal beverage for him that he totally forgot what the simple beverage did to her. As soon as the waiter brought him the drink he threw it to the wall with a huge crash. Everyone, obviously, looked at him with more confusion.
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They were getting closer and closer to the path. Chichiri wasn't surprise to sense an evil foreboding in the air.
They didn't have to wait long for the enemy to come out of hiding. A black surge of pure evil energy approached them.
Rei didn't have to wait another second to tell herself to transform and she did. Sailor Mars always managed to leave anyone befuddled by the beauty of her transformation. She wasn't even conscious that she was actually showing too much skin while transforming to her senshi form. Everyone, especially Tasuki, pretended not to notice.
Chichiri was the first one to deflect the unknown's blast. He could sense that it was pretty strong, but he managed to go against it. The entity laughed. Taka felt as if he knew this guy.
"What's the matter Taka? Are you afraid to face the real you?"
"Who are you?!"
Gasps could be heard from everyone. The entity looked exactly like Taka, yet there's an air of power surrounding him. Chichiri didn't like the feeling one single bit.
"I am called Yosui, the former Tamahome. And I have Miaka safely in my lair where she belongs."
Taka was at a lost for words. He saw himself reflected in the man, but when he mentioned the whereabouts of Miaka, he became furious.
"Miaka doesn't belong to you. She has a choice."
Yosui laughed that gave goose bumps to Taka. "Yes, I gave her a choice and she chose Tamahome over you Taka. She chose me!"
"You're lying!" Taka was about to punch the guy, but Chichiri held him at bay.
"Yosui, take us to Miaka and let's hear what she has to say."
Yosui smirked at Chichiri, knowing what Miaka's answer would be.
The gang followed Yosui, whom they already dubbed as the fake Tamahome. They just couldn't accept that this guy, who was undoubtedly one of Tenkou's players, was their old pal and fellow Suzaku warrior.
Taka was beginning to doubt himself and he questioned why Miaka did what she did. He looked at Yosui once again and noticed that the man's attention was directed at Rei, who in return glared at his obvious perusal.
Tasuki beat him in defending Rei for the red head also noticed the glances the fake Tamahome was giving his woman.
Yosui just laughed.
Once they got to the lair, they saw Miaka standing and waiting. She didn't look at Taka, but smiled forcefully at whom she thought was Tamahome.
"Miaka." Taka was stunned, but he had to know. "Do you love him?"
Miaka finally looked at him, looked at his eyes. She remembered the love she bore with Taka, her Tamahome and protector. She was very confused. She was hurt by the attention the other girl received from her seishi and even from her love. She wanted to block everything out and accept what Tamahome had said.
"Miaka."
She really wanted to deny everything, but Taka.She just knew somehow that the one she belonged to was.
"Miaka, ignore him. You belong to me." Yosui made a grave mistake. Miaka's head snapped and she pushed him away and ran towards Taka.
"I don't belong to anybody, Tamahome. NO! You're not Tamahome. I have known what my heart is saying and that I only belong to whom I chose. And I've chosen to be with Taka all along."
Yosui was outraged and he aimed a blast at the priestess, but Taka pushed her behind him. While this was happening, the others understood that this fight was between Taka and the fake Tamahome. Taka must face this by himself.
"I am Tamahome, his reincarnation. You're simply a memory, memory that's already been inside of me. My love for Miaka, my loyalty to my friends.they are part of me, part of Tamahome, my own memory. Don't try that bull shit with me again and leave Miaka alone!"
Everyone was surprised to see the ogre mark of Tamahome on Taka's forehead. Their pal was back and beating the heck out Yosui. Finally, the last of the memory orb was in their hands. The quest to defeat Tenkou was getting closer.
Miaka ran towards Taka and hugged him as if her life depended on it. All the while she was murmuring sorry.
They thought the fight was over, but Rei could sense something or someone else was coming. It felt so familiar that she wanted to puke.
"Hello Rei, I've been waiting for you."
"Jedite."
"I'm happy you still remember me." The general smirked, looking her up and down in a manner that really pissed her off. "I could never forget you Rei."
His insinuation was not lost to Tasuki and the rest of the gang. Tasuki didn't bother to introduce himself and blasted the guy with his fire.
"Fool! You think you can even touch me with that puny power of yours? Get out of my way!" Jedite barked back with his mental power, which threw Tasuki away.
Rei was seething. She could feel the tug of pain from her soul mate. Jedite was a fool to ever get in her way. She wanted to run to her fallen half, but she didn't want to show the general her weakness.
"Leave them alone Jedite. If it's me you want then your fight is with me!" Fire surrounded her and she had never bore this raw power outside herself before. The pain she had suffered under his betrayal ever since the negaverse poured into her soul, increasing the surge she could feel within her. The fire wanted out.
Jedite merely quirked a smile at her. "If I've known any better, I think you like that weakling."
It's no use hiding the truth from him now. She must have shown some outward emotion when she saw Tasuki hurt. Rei just kept her eyes at the general, her former trusted friend. She warned him again to leave the fight between the two of them, but Jedite countered with a blast at her friends that threw them away as he did with Tasuki.
Rei didn't hesitate to blast him with her "burning mandala". The surge of power was like a balm to her. The anger and betrayal she felt for so long with the general was so intense that her fire intensified in return. Jedite was so surprise she had this power.
"I see you've grown my love." Jedite breathed deeply and gritted his teeth from pain.
"You hurt me. I can't believe you would actually hurt me!" Cold anger reflected in his eyes. He could feel the intense burn all over his body. He didn't have to look at his almost non-existent uniform and his cindered surroundings. He had fallen from her attack and it wasn't only a blow to his ego, but also a blow to his domination over Rei whom he thought was still under his power.
She had almost killed him, if not for the last minute shield he managed to conjure. Still her attack went through.
Rei has become more powerful than I thought.
"I'll be back Rei.I'll be back for you and your lover boy.I will kill him!" He glared one last time at the struggling Tasuki and then to Rei with that cold stare in his eyes.
Rei didn't hesitate to go check if her friends are all right, but when she reached for Tasuki.
"There's no need. I'm fine." Tasuki knew why she paused. He then lied to her that he's all right. His head was still ringing from the unexpected blast.
Rei wasn't deterred, however. Somehow she knew that she was the one who drew Jedite to appear in their world. At least, that's what she thought. She surprised Tasuki by offering her hand for him to stand up.
Tasuki looked at her hand, then at her eyes that did not speak any emotions. He brushed her hands off and stood up by himself. A flicker of hurt appeared in Rei's eyes and Tasuki had judged her wrongly, again.
He ruffled his hair and murmured a "sorry" to Rei who was about to turn away.
She didn't say anything, just walked away from him.
"Rei, Princess of Mars, it's time."
That voice definitely stopped Rei in her tracks.
Sailor Pluto.
A bright hole appeared out of nowhere above the still transformed Sailor Mars and was pulling her into it. Rei couldn't budge except surrender to the pull.to the pull of the voice she's familiar with.to the pull of the world where her life, her best friends were.but.
Tasuki was awestruck, the light from the hole was increasing and it's pulling his life away from him. He had to get to her.
"REI!" Tasuki had never felt so desperate in his life. He couldn't reach her. The light deflected his attempts to get to her.
The others' attempts were useless as well. They could only watch as their new comrade from another world slowly vanished into the light.
"REI! DAMN IT DON'T GO!"
Rei wanted to reach for him, her soul mate. Her heart was torn in two and she didn't know where to go, which world to embrace. She held her hand towards Tasuki.
With one last attempt to reach for her, Tasuki took hold of her extended hand. He wasn't about to let go of her, ever. But fate had other games to play, or was it the Guardian of Time?
The light broke their contact and Rei closed her eyes, fearing the anguish she would see in Tasuki's. She gave up. She just didn't want to face anything anymore.
Tasuki was falling, away from her.
"Rei.REI! I LOVE YOU DAMN IT!"
Rei opened her eyes and said "I'm sorry."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another girl appeared and she was wearing the same outfit as Sailor Mars, except that hers was orange.
"You've hurt Rei." Mina, the Princess of Venus, also known as Sailor Venus, spoke directly at Tasuki.
Tasuki should have been shocked by the appearance of this new girl, but his thoughts were all centered to the one his soul was forever bound.
The anguish and heart break were very apparent to Mina and she pitied the man. Rei had found the other half of her soul in this man, yet her best friend didn't want to face the bond that was undoubtedly more potent than the most intense fire in Mars, and even the sun. Rei was simply afraid and yet.
"You love my best friend yet you caused her pain. It always happens with soul mates." Mina sighed, reminiscing the situation with Serenity and Endymion. Looking back at the red head's pained eyes, Mina decided to give him a little hope. "Give her time, I know she will."
"Sailor Venus, do not waste any time." The silhouette of Pluto could be seen just outside the door-shaped portal, beckoning for Mina to heed her warning.
"Wait, who are you people?" Nuriko was just too stunned by this new turn of events.
"We are both from Rei's world. You don't have to know the specifics. We just came here to get her back and away from danger." Sailor Pluto answered.
Tasuki couldn't stay quiet anymore. His other half was taken, away from danger, away from him. How dare they manipulate his heart and take it away!
"So she was sent here just to take her away again?! What kind of games are ya playing?!"
"Tasuki's right, no da. Why was she sent here in the first place?"
"We didn't send her. She was taken from us by some powerful magic."
"Who's this Jedite?" Taka broke through the haze that's been building around his teammates. Everyone was confused.
"He's the one who sent Rei here." Sailor Pluto finally stepped out of the portal and showed herself. "Your Highness, Emperor of Konan, Hotohori, she was not sent here to protect your world, rather, Rei was taken by Jedite so he could make her his queen."
"You could see us?"
"Yes, Chiriko. We can see you." Mina giggled at the little guy's cute puzzlement and tapped the ghost's head.
"Jedite will never give up until he claims her.ever since the great battle. Rei will never give up. So rest assured everyone, I'll stay and fight the negaverse until they no longer exist in your world."
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Though the imposter Tamahome has been defeated and that they rescued Miaka back, the team didn't feel as if they made a great achievement and got closer to Tenkou's lair. The agony they could see on Tasuki's face was too much to bear.
Miaka definitely understood what Tasuki was going through. It was the same feeling when her love was under the influence of the kodoku and when she thought she had lost him to Yue and the Seiryuu warriors. She was supposed to feel glad that Rei had been sucked into that hole, but all the Priestess of Suzaku felt was lost. She had acted badly and selfishly around Rei and she would do anything in her power to bring her back .somehow. not only for the sake of asking for her forgiveness but also for the sake of her loyal fire seishi's broken heart.
The scene kept playing over and over again in Tasuki's mind. Rei's disappearance was a blow to his heart, to his soul. He felt like a walking zombie. He wanted to return to Mt. Reikaku, but he kept hoping that Rei would actually return to Konan. They had exchanged bad words and he wasn't so sure if she would go back to him.ever.
Tasuki looked up at the heavens and prayed for the first time in his adult life to a higher being other than Suzaku.
Well guys that's it for chapter 8. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I'll see you in the next chapter!!!
~~~fleur~~~