Part fifteen:

Ceremony of Suzaku

A/N: Almost done! This is the second to the last chapter. don't give up on me yet.

"Hinako!" the young emperor ran to his beloved and caught her in a huge hug. Jielain snickered when she noticed the tears in his eyes.

"What's the matter, Boshy, thought we would leave your lover girl to die?" Boshin's face turned red.

"YOU! Don't call me that!" Jielain smiled evilly.

"Why, remind ya of your pathetic childhood?"

"Yours was more pathetic!"

"What the?! Shrimp!"

"Tomboy!"

"Wimp!"

"Queer!"

"You're the queer one, prissy-pants!"

"I'm engaged!"

"I could be!"

"Could not!"

"Could too!"

"Enough!!!!" Chichiri pulled the two apart, his patience with them was just as thin as when they were kids. "We need to get Chiriko and the others medical attention right away. Chiharu, Boshin, get the captive properly restrained." The warriors hurried to do the old monk's bidding, Mitsukake helping the wounded to the medical wing of the palace. Jielain glared at the emperor, but followed Mitsukake anyway.

"You are gravely wounded miss!" the attendant helping Jielain looked pale seeing the wounds to the bandit's chest. "I must call a doctor immediately." She rushed off and returned with a young woman. She was very pretty, with long pastel green hair tied in a practical braid. She was dressed in white, and carried a bag of herbs and things.

"Oh, Lady Jielain." The woman stared at the bandit respectfully.

"You the doctor?" Jielain asked. The woman nodded.

"I am the lady Shoka, a doctor at the palace. Is it true you are a celestial warrior of Suzaku?" Jielain nodded. This lady was somehow familiar. "I have longed to meet you."

She bowed, causing Jielain to blush profusely. "Ya' don't have to do that. I'm just a bandit." The girl rushed to her.

"I know, but I feel I owe all the celestial warriors respect. When I was an infant, a magical healer, a warrior of Suzaku, saved my life."

She took some herbs from her bag and spread them on the table beside the bed. Jielain was sitting up, her clothes peeled back to reveal several long slashes. They were painfully sore, and still bleeding a bit. Shoka called a servant in and ordered a bath be brought to the room for Jielain.

Moments later, a tub of warm water was brought in, and Jielain stripped down to her underwear and submerged. Shoka rubbed herbs into the wounds, a painful process, then the bandit was dried, bandaged, and clothed.

"You should stay in bed for a few days or until a healer can use his magic on you. The celestial healer has used his power on Hinako and Chiriko today, so that is why I was sent here to you."

"So I get the second string medical care huh?" Jielain grumbled, pulling the blanket up and leaning against her pillows. Shoka blushed.

"I have spent all my life training in the medicines, just in case that the celestial warriors should need me." Jielain grinned.

"And I spent all my life training in the fighting arts in case the celestial warriors needed me. Looks like we have something in common after all." Shoka smiled at Jielain for being friendly.

"Thank you for being so kind. Many people turn away from me because I am a woman. They do not believe that I have any healing gifts at all."

"Well," Jielain said solemnly. "Then we have another thing in common. Many people underestimate my fighting abilities because I am a girl. A man is dead because of that." Jielain thought about the man she had killed reasonably. Her father had killed many people in his life as a celestial warrior, and it was only a matter of time before she did. She reasoned that Tasuki definitely would have been proud of her for it.

But if that was the case, then why was she feeling so wretched? Shoka dismissed herself, and soon after, Chuei entered.

"Hello Jielain." He said. It looked like he had had a bath too, and changed his clothes. His honey blonde hair was shiny and still slightly wet. Jielain motioned for him to sit in a chair next to her bed.

"I had no idea that you were so wounded. I wouldn't have put so much strain on you."

"I don't mind. I can take it." He shook his head, piercing her uneasy gaze with his own clear gray one.

"I don't want you to have to take it. I love you Jielain." Jielain blushed, and then looked away. Wet orange curls tumbled over her eyes.

"So that's why you're leaving me here." Her voice was steady, but her heart wasn't. Chuei looked hurt.

"I never said that."

"Chiharu said that you couldn't stay. When were you planning on telling me?" She looked into his eyes with detest.

"I- I wanted you to come back with me. To my world." His gaze never broke. Jielain was shocked. Go back with him? Could she even?

"No. I can't. I'm sorry Chuei, but can't you see? I have a life here, duties. My father's dying wish was that I become bandit leader." Her eyes were filled with tears, but she didn't care if he saw them this time. At least he would know she was sincere.

"I really do love you Chuei." She leaned out and put her head on his shoulder, crying quietly. Chuei felt unsure of himself for a moment. Jielain had literally thrown herself into his arms, vulnerable and trusting. He sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around her. She pulled him down until he was laying next to her.

"Stay Chuei, stay and marry me. We can be bandits, the leaders of the mountain. I know Kouji would welcome you. Please." She knew his answer already. It was the same reason the priestess of Suzaku had to return to her world, and the same reason Tamahome had to return to his. She kissed his mouth, to delay the answer she knew would come.

"I would give up my life to stay, you know that." He said, looking into her clear blue eyes, wet with tears. He touched her cheek, soft and pale. Her bright hair, smooth but softly curly. He kissed her again, deeper, then stopped, sighing.

"We can't Jielain, you're too hurt." She sighed also, in agreement, and then grinned at him mischievously.

"I'll be better tomorrow." She said. Chuei smiled.

"You'd better be."
Then next morning, Chiharu barged into Jielain's room, and face- faulted when she caught sight of Jielain and Chuei, cuddled up together in her bed, fast asleep.

"Chuei! Jielain! Just what has been going on!?" Chiharu was dressed and ready for anything, but not what she had just seen. Not in a million years. Chuei sat up groggily and glanced at his sister, then at Jielain, still asleep on the bed.

"Oh, no, Chiharu it isn't what you think!" he rushed over to her. "We fell asleep talking, really." His twin grinned.

"Sure you did little brother. That's what they all say. I don't blame you for not wanting to tell me, but I know what happened between you two." She winked and twirled out the door, closing it behind her. Jielain sat up, looking at Chuei curiously.

"What was that all about?" she asked. Chuei smiled.

"Oh, nothing. See you later Jielain." He left quickly, going to his room to dress and clean up.

"Huh," Jielain said, wondering at his sudden wish to leave. She tried to get up but found herself sore all over, probably an effect of the herbal medicines. Nevertheless, she managed to crawl out of bed and get dressed, tying her hair into a ponytail painfully (because her shoulders were sore) and even looping her dagger to her waist. She paused in front of the mirror, taking out her picture of her parents. Her reflection could have been mistaken for her father's except for her eyes. Her dad always said they were nicer looking that his, giving her a fuller face. She sighed. What would Tasuki have thought if he saw her now, torn between two worlds? Probably he would have clocked Chuei for kissing his daughter, then taken her and given her a lecture for not being a proper bandit.

Was it worth losing Chuei though? Was anything worth that? Putting her thoughts aside, she went to the dining hall for some food.

"Jielain!" Hinako nearly knocked the bandit over with her enthusiastic greeting. "I'm so glad you're here! Did you get healed yet? Do you need to? Can I do anything? Here eat this!" The empress-to-be piled a plate full of food and handed it to the bandit, pushing her into her seat and practically feeding her.

"Err.thanks Hinako, but I'm not that hungry. A roll would have been enough." Boshin pulled Hinako to him impatiently.

"Let Jielain eat her own food," he said, smiling. Hinako's attention turned to her fiancé and she practically forgot about the bandit.

Besides them, Chiriko, Kourin, Mitsukake, and Chiharu sat eating their own breakfasts. Jielain scooted her chair over to them.

"How do you feel?" Mitsukake asked.

"Alright, some girl named Shoka put some herbs on me." He nodded, but agreed to check up on her after they finished eating. Kourin and Chiriko were absorbed in conversation, and Jielain listened in.

"It's impossible!" Chiriko said. Kourin looked desperate.

"No, that can't be. It happened before and it can happen again." She glanced at Chiharu, who shook her head gravely. Chiriko took her hand sympathetically.

"You don't understand what really happened. It took thousands of years, a coincidence like that is one in a hundred million." He hugged her, meeting Jielain's worried gaze.

"What are you talking about?" she asked. What ever it was, it must be pretty bad. Chiharu smiled weakly.

"Nothing.Hey, we need to get ready for the big ceremony today, since we have our captive. Jielain, why don't you come with me and we'll get ready."

To Jielain 'getting ready' meant putting on clean clothes, to Chiharu, it meant doing ones hair, makeup, clothes, etc, while gossiping about everything under the sun.

"So really, how far did you get with Chuei?" she asked, braiding her honey colored locks. Jielain frowned, slightly confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, you know," Chiharu smiled at the bandit's clueless expression.

"No I don't." Chiharu stopped braiding her hair to stare, annoyed that she had to spell it out.

"Did you and Chuei sleep together last night?"

"We fell asleep talking in my bed. I was still too hurt to do anything else." Jielain said it like it was no big deal, totally unfamiliar with Chiharu's view of things like that.

"Why do you ask?" the bandit narrowed her eyes in distrust, but the blonde only smiled sadly.

"Because it's important. After tonight, you'll probably never see him again. That's what Chiriko and Kourin were arguing about this morning. The chance that what happened with my parents is phenomenal. I'm so sorry Jielain, I know how you must feel."

Jielain almost laughed, but caught herself. So it was possible to be reborn in that other world with Chuei. Phenomenal, but possible. Even though they had both chosen to stay in their respective worlds, they would never see each other again.

"I know." And she did.

"Jielain, I'm glad I had the chance to be friends with you." Chiharu actually looked sincere in this confession. Jielain was silent. It wasn't like she and Chiharu were anything alike, or very close friends. The bandit hid her feelings behind the ceremonial robe she would wear, pretending she hadn't heard Chiharu. First her mother, then her father, now her friends. What was left? Just her, alone.

The rest of the morning was quiet and uneventful. Everyone in the palace was preparing for the ceremony, until finally, it was time. The warriors gathered about the temple, along with Chichiri, Hinako, and Mako. Some guards dragged the sedated captive.

"This girl, a warrior of Seriyuu, will be sacrificed to Suzaku in order for the nation of Hong-Nan and its warriors to triumph over Seriyuu and all other enemies." Boshin announced. The other warriors looked over the girl, who was clothed in a plain brown servant's garb.

"Uh, is that.?" Jielain nodded at Mitsukake and Chiriko, disgusted as they were.

"Ashitare, the werewolf warrior." She answered.

"This ceremony will be short and ugly. All the warriors will repeat the Oath of Loyalty to Suzaku and pray, then the sacred fire will be lit and the maiden burned in it." Chiharu felt her stomach turn and reached for her brother.

"We-we're gonna. k-kill her?" she asked meekly. He nodded.

"Chiharu, it's part of the ceremony. It has to be done." His gray eyes looked tired, for once, and Chiharu felt alone. She couldn't remember a time when his eyes hadn't been full of comfort and support, calm, soothing. For the first time, he was giving up.

"Chuei." She said, tears in her eyes. "Don't worry little brother, everything will be okay." Chuei glanced down at his sister, surprised, and smiled. The tired look was gone, replaced by the normal Chuei.

"I thought you were the one getting queasy," he said. She lifted her chin.

"Not me, I've seen plenty of blood. I play fast pitch remember?"

The warriors lined up in front of the altar, bowing their heads in prayer. It was decorated in the colors of Suzaku, ready for the ceremony. Guards strapped the captive to the top of it, and stood back out of the way.

"Now warriors, repeat this prayer after me." Chichiri said. The warriors nodded, attention focused on the monk.

"Honored God of the South, whose fiery rein has been a blessing to this country." (Etc.)

The warriors repeated the prayer in strange unison, the marks on their bodies glowing brighter than ever before. Jielain felt the power of Suzaku in her very soul.
At the end of the warrior's prayer, there was a red flash of light and a girl appeared.

"Suzaku?" Jielain asked. The girl blinked. She was very pretty, and dressed in red, with her short brown hair in strange braids on her head. She stood before the warriors, looking a bit blank.

"What??? Oh yah!" she cheered up suddenly, and looked at the warriors. "I am the priestess of Suzaku. I've been training in my world so that I would be worthy of these warriors!"

"I thought Suzaku was a bird."

"I thought we didn't have a priestess."

"I thought so too."

"Yeah!"

They all looked at Chichiri, who shrugged. "It seems that the balance has been thrown off by the presence of the warriors in worlds other than their own ya know."

The girl looked around, and saw the altar. She quieted in reverence.

"Oh.the altar. I remember now. I have to grant your wishes. I have to restore the balance."

"Who the hell are you?" Jielain asked. Her dagger was out, menacing. Chuei grabbed her sleeve, pulling her back.

The girl remained clam, regal.

"I am the priestess of Suzaku. As the monk said, the balance has been thrown off in the universes, and Suzaku chose me to restore that balance. I apologize for the intrusion. You seem like nice people."

She smiled at them, and a Jielain, who was still flashing her dagger, but not as much. Jielain was unsure of this newcomer. Perhaps she was an enemy.
Just then, Ashitare screamed, waking from a sedated stupor. Guards restrained her, but then there appeared more people around them, the warriors of Seriyuu.

The guards backed away from Masami's sword.

"You." Jielain spat. She had seen enough of HER.

"Guards!" Boshin called. But they didn't come.

A large man accompanied Masami. A very large man indeed. In his arms was a small girl, small as he was large, and she looked asleep. The large man dropped the little figure to the ground, and everyone saw that it was a girl of about 5 years.

"My barrier will keep your guards out. And my spell will keep anyone from interfering."

Hinako and the guards fainted from the poison magic in the air, Kourin fell to her knees.

"Hinako!" Boshin rushed to her, and found her sleeping, but not dead. Jielain felt a shiver of evil magic, and forced herself to remain standing. Kourin and Chuei fell to their knees, quickly followed by Chiharu, and Chiriko.

"I should have killed you." Jielain muttered, approaching slowly. The magic was hurting her lungs and eyes, she felt like falling, but didn't.

"Jielain, Boshin, you have the training, get that evil one under control." He seemed to be having trouble standing.

"Chichiri, get to the floor. I'll take care of it."

"I'll help." The New Girl who had just appeared piped up. She looked like the magic wasn't affecting her at all. Her face was a bit pale, but not sickly.

"You, young bandit, seem to have found your priestess. You see I have a priestess also, she lies there on the floor."

"That little girl? What the hell did you do to her? And who's the fat guy? New lover?" the 'fat guy' laughed, a deep rumbling laugh of total arrogance.

"I am Okin, a warrior of Seriyuu. The seventh warrior." Jielain cursed mentally. Even with Boshin, there was no way she could defeat both of them, and especially if they managed to release the wolf girl. She glanced back to see that the only one left standing was Mako, in fact, he seemed perfectly fine.

"Mako." Jielain muttered. "You're one of them." He looked down at Chiharu sadly.

"No, I'm not. I'll fight with you Jielain."

"Fine then. Grab a sword from one of the fainted guards. I'll take Masami, Priestess chick and Boshin, you take the fat guy. Mako, get that little girl and defend her, then subdue Ashitare."

The warriors snapped into action at Jielain's word, moving strategically towards their enemies and preparing to attack. Jielain and Masami took their battle quite personally, blocking out the others voices and actions.

"So we meet yet again, it seems for the final battle. Now I will kill you Tasuki."

"This battle will be the last, but not for me, for you."

They observed each other and drew weapons. Odds were on Masami, since the poison wasn't affecting her at all. Chichiri was working on that.

Jielain made the first move, slashing at Masami, who blocked elegantly. The dagger didn't slow, and neither did the sword, but while they were preoccupied with that, Jielain was swinging her tessen around to meet Masami's head from the back.

"Ugh!" Masami backed away from the bandit, rubbing her skull. "One point to you." Then they resumed fighting.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the shrine, Boshin and the priestess were attacking the seventh warrior, Okin. He was strong, but slow. Boshin was strong, and fast. The priestess was skilled with her fists, but not enough to take down such a huge target. They dodged him and slashed him, but the strikes seemed to be useless.

"Prince boy, defend me and I will use a spell." The strange girl said.

"What?! No spell can take down an enemy completely." Boshin was outraged.

"Trust me! I've trained under Suzaku himself!" Boshin was wary, but nodded. He drew the opponent's attention to himself and placed himself between the enemy and the priestess. The girl smiled reassuringly and began a chant.

"Hey, wake up," Mako crouched beside the little girl and shook her gently. She looked about four or five years old, with wispy blond curls and a white dress. Her eyes opened slowly, revealing great pale blue orbs, tear filled.

"Mommy?" she said. Mako shook his head.

"No, but I want to help you." He said.

"Mommy is fighting?" she asked. She looked around wildly, clinging to Mako, and spotted Masami.

"MOMMY!" she screamed. Masami paused in her fight with Jielain just long enough to spot her daughter. That was long enough for Jielain to stab her with the dagger, right in the chest. It plunged deep, and Masami fell to her knees. The bandit stopped at the shriek that filled the shrine. She looked up into the eyes of the little girl, who from her place in Mako's arms, was screaming and crying.

With Masami down, the poison began to let up. Jielain breathed easier. There was a flash, and Okin was gone. The priestess lay on the floor, unconscious. Boshin rushed to her, but Jielain was like stone, staring at the little girl.

"What have I done?" she asked Mako. The boy was too stunned to speak.

"She's okay!" Boshin called from beside the fallen priestess.

"What have I done?" Jielain asked. She shook her head to clear it, but it didn't work. "What have I done."

Author: Well, I lied; there is a part 15 and a half, then another chapter, then and epilogue to go. What thinks you readers? Thanks a ton for the reviews!