I'm including two chapters in this chapter because I'm really getting confused with the posting. I really wish Fanfiction.net didn't post their own chapter numbers, but that's the way it is, right? So here's chapter thirteen and fourteen, except you miht even get fifteen today, too. Who knows… just depends on what kind of mood I'm in! Which right now is good, so things are lookin' up!

Well, I don't feel like a disclaimer, but you know the routine. So, on with the story…

Chapter Thirteen: To Protect You

"He refuses to come outta there, huh?" Kori asked, leaning against the wall near the door of Miaka's bedroom.

"Yeah. Won't leave Miaka's side," Nuriko replied.

"Poor Hotohori. He refuses to let Miaka's love for Tamahome get in his way. I hope all this ends well..." Kori placed her hand against the door. Nuriko sighed in agreement and headed off.

"All of it will end well," Kori stated, convincing herself so and following Nuriko down the hall.

"It's only drizzling now," Nuriko noted as the two approached the remaining seishis. He sighed and leaned against his hands.

"Man, that scared me! Miaka tryin' to drown herself like that!" Tasuki stated warily. "When it comes t'feelings, she's just a normal girl, I guess..."

"What did you expect of her!?" Kori cried, Tasuki's last statement offending her deeply. "Did you just assume that because she was from another world, she had no feelings? Did you assume Earth-girls were just heartless bitches or something? No, now what's weird is the power you seishis possess!"

"Calm down, Kori," Chichiri instructed, and Kori lowered her voice.

"What I can't believe is His Majesty's power!"

"His Majesty is so awesome..." Nuriko sighed and continued to stare out the window. He suddenly imagined something that was apparently very, very embarrassing and blushed a deep crimson. "Oh!" He cried. "It's too much!"

Everybody sweat-dropped.

"Maybe I'll try drowning," Nuriko stated suddenly. Tasuki burst into fits of laughter.

"Yeah, an' Hotohori'll comfort Miaka at yer funeral!" he laughed. Nuriko promptly bashed his injured head into the nearest wall.

"But isn't it true that Suzaku won't come without Tamahome? What'll we do?" Chiriko turned to Chichiri questioningly.

"His Majesty has stated that if Kuto attacks, Konan will fight. No da. What worries me is Miaka."

"I hope she recovers soon..." Nuriko whispered.

***

"What!? Tamahome is here!?" Chiriko took the weak guard by the shoulders. The guard nodded.

"Great!" Kori stated. "Time for some serious payback! C'mon, Chiriko! Let's get the others!" She pulled him eagerly.

"Is it true? Tamahome is--"

"Yer sure!?!"

"Yes!" Chiriko stated. "One of the guards came and told us!"

"Yeah, and he was real weak! Only one person could have done it without at least Chichiri feeling him!" Kori added, turning. She gasped. "Tamahome!"

"Where is the Priestess of Suzaku?" he asked seriously.

"T-T-Tamahome!" Nuriko shouted, shocked.

"Y'got some nerve showin' yer face--" Tasuki began taking a step towards Tamahome. However, his right leg was still incredibly weak and he collapsed painfully. Kori ran to him.

"Showing your face here after what you did to Miaka and Tasuki!" she finished for him, helping Tasuki back up.

"I'm not interested in you," Tamahome snapped, "Just tell me where the Priestess is." A small click behind the seishis caused all to turn.

"Your Majesty!?" Nuriko gasped. Hotohori was standing menacingly in front of the doors.

"The Priestess of Suzaku... Miaka is safe from you," he stated coldly. "If you must see her, you will go through me, Tamahome! Take the sword!" Hotohori tossed Tamahome a sword and unsheated his own. "I will not fight an unarmed man!" Tamahome unsheathed his sword as well.

"Not just the Priestess," he muttered, "You should kill the Emperor as well. And the bratty bandit from that night..." he smiled. "Fine..."

Thus began an extraordinary sword fight between the two seishis.

"His Majesy's incredible! Tamahome's getting whipped!!" Tasuki noted after many insults, information, and injuries had been shared. Kori, who was still supporting Tasuki, nodded in agreement.

"His Majesty's chi is overpowering Tamahome... The determination to protect Miaka has focused his whole being. No da," Chichiri explained.

"If you insist on killing Miaka..." Hotohori shouted, taking a short breather with Tamahome. "I'll have to kill you first!"

The two men then began running at each other.

"Die!!" Tamahome shouted as he began to thrust his sword towards Hotohori. Kori and the others could then just barely see Miaka in the distance.

"No!!!" Miaka shouted, running towards the swordfight. Tamahome paused mid-attack to see her and Hotohori took advantage of this moment to thrust his own sword into Tamahome's vulnerable stomach. Miaka stopped abruptly.

"Tamahome!" She cried, diving at the falling man.

*** (This just doesn't seem to be an appropriate place to and a chapter anyway!)

Chapter Fourteen: Never Leave You

"Tamahome! Please... no!! Open your eyes!" Hotohori seemed to return to normal at this point and realized what he had just done. He dropped the bloody sword quickly.

"You can't die!!" Miaka shouted as the others watched helplessly. "Tamahome!!" She thus began crying into him: er, rather, sobbing.

"The Priestess..." Tamahome whispered, "Of Suzaku?"

"Tamahome!" Miaka cried joyously. He reached for the nearby sword. "No! Don't move! You'll open you wounds more!"

"Ki... Kill!" he mumbed, still reaching for the sword. "I have to kill... you." Miaka gasped and reached for Tamahome's sword. She put it in his hands firmly.

"If you have to... then kill me! But you have to recover first. Then you can kill me if that's what you want! If it's you, I don't mind a bit!" Miaka smiled grimly. "But you can't die!... I love you, Tamahome!" She proceeded to prove so by placing a kiss square on his lips. His eyes went wide and it seemed as if his orders and old memories battled each other before his eyes. He finally looked as if he could take it no more and lifted the sword high above him.

"Miaka!!" Kori cried, beginning a dive at the Priestess. "Watch out!!"

"Stop!!" Hotohori shouted, catching Kori before she could move further. "Look at that!!" Tamahome had dropped his sword! Miaka pulled back and glanced at him. His face was revealed to everybody, and so was his Suzaku symbol. He looked at Miaka blankly.

"Mi... aka...?" he asked, looking at her tears. "Why're you crying?" he smiled. "Sorry... I know I promised to meet you at midnight... Looks like i'm late..."

"...Oh... Th-That's all right... Tamahome!"

"The clock..." Hotohori stuttered, "Is striking midnight... this very moment."

"We're finally together Tamahome..." Miaka sighed and threw herself at her lover. "Tamahome!"

"Miaka!" Tamahome cried back, hugging her just as tightly. He suddenly pulled back and groaned in pain. There was suddenly a healing hand in front of him and his wound grew smaller, soon becoming nothing.

"He'll be fine. I'll heal him now," Mitsukake stated quietly.

"Mitsukake!" Miaka cried happily as Hotohori appraoched.

"Your Majesty??" Tamahome asked, looking at Hotohori's shameful looking face. He looked up and smiled.

"Tamahome... You're finally... back among us." The others rushed over.

***

"'Eey... Where's Miaka?" Tasuki actually managed a sentence in between all his food.

"Come on, don't be so stupid! With Tamahome, of course!" Kori replied.

"We got both Tamahome and Suzaku's scroll back! Thank goodness!" Nuriko sighed and sipped her wine.

"I don' get it! How'd they break the Kodoku spell!? Wasn't it s'posed t'be powerful!?" Tasuki asked finally, finishing his... feast.

"I believe that when Tamahome was wounded, his life force weakened, and the the Kodoku feeds off his life force. No da." Chichiri replied. Tasuki scratched his head cluelessly. Kori whispered something in his ear irritantly.

"Oh! I get it! Then Miaka's love went an' destroyed th'last if its power!"

"Let us not forget..." Hotohori pouted, turning away. "Tamahome's love for Miaka..." Kori hit Tasuki on the head roughly.

"You idiot," Nuriko sighed.

"His majesty was listening!" Chichiri hissed as well.

"You're Majesty...?" Chiriko asked. "Would you like to hear a song?"

"Yes... A song would be very nice," Hotohori replied. Kori stood excitedly.

"Oh! I know the perfect one!" She leaned over and whispered something into Chiriko's ears. He grinned and put his flute to his lips. Soon, a cheery tune waifed through the palace. Kori grinned and added a few lyrics. Hotohori smiled in recognition of the song, and soon many voices had joined her.

***

Blech…

How many chapters do I end with that?? Anyway, the plot is really moving now! And we're counting down to original plot line… I know I always say that, but it's true! We're soooooooooo close, I can see the text from… well, from scrolling only a little in my whole story copy. But stick with it, because we're almost there!

Please please please please review!!! I'm not getting many reviews (I'm not giving much time, either but…) and it hurts!

Double thanks to Seasyngr, though, for reviewing so many times!! I really appreciate it!

So stick around (and review) my next addition of Secrets Best Left Alone: Chapter Fifteen: The Final Embrace!!!

~Tayrn Eithne

The Not-So-Teaser is here:

"'I thought Americans were noble or something.'"