Chapter Fifteen… that seems likea lot, and yet two chapters didn't even make 2000 words last time… hm… Miss Watase, you need more dialogue. But here it is, The Final Embrace… really cheezy title… but not mine, so I'm gonna keep my mouth shut…

No disclaimer, you know it… now for the thing that's become my tradition…

On with the story…

Chapter Fifteen: The Final Embrace

"Tamahome's back!"

"Boy, she just danced right in here, didn't she?" Kori mumbled. She still wasn't a morning person.

"Let's all have breakfast together!" Miaka offered, seating herself and waving down Tamahome, who had just entered. She paused for a moment. "Hey! We have all the Celestial Warriors together... It's time to summon Suzaku!" She plopped herself down at the table. "I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!"

Tamahome sweat-dropped. Miaka dug into her food (it was already her second helping, but nobody had seen the first disappear) and got a very thoughtful expression on her face If soon turned very, very goofy,

"Miaka, your face is out of alignment," Nuriko noted. Tasuki sighed heavily and looked away from Miaka's... er, inhaling?

"What's the matter Tasuki? You had better eat before Miaka gets everything!" Kori laughed, pointing to where Miaka had already gotten hold of some of Tamahome's food.

"Feh!" He turned further away. "Just the sight of her makes me nauseous!"

What is with you?" Tamahome asked. "I meet you for the first time, and you don't even say hi." Kori glanced at Tasuki, who was losing it quickly.

"The first time!?!" Tasuki asked, standing up and towering over Tamahome. "The first time!?! Lookit these bandages! Whodaya think's responsible!?" Tamahome pushed him away lightly, just barely touching one of the many, many bandges. Tasuki howled in pain. "I'll git ya fer that, ya punk!" he cried, diving at Tamahome.

"Come and get me!" Tamahome countered, putting up his fists. Kori stood and took hold of Tasuki's good arm.

"C'mon, guys, grow up!" Kori shouted over the many insullts thrown back and forth. She sighed and pulled harder.

"Look at them!" Miaka sighed. "Best friends already!"

"Do best friends fight like that??" Chiriko asked.

"No! Tasuki! Tamahome! You're both wrong!" Kori bellowed finally. Both men shut up and looked at her curiously. "Tamahome didn't mean it and Tasuki's just sore! Leave each other alone!" The guys obliged quickly.

***

S"o you're saying… The Seiryu Celestial Warriors are… all gathered in Kuto?" Kori leaned her ear further in. She was currently eavesdropping on a conversation between Chichiri and Hotohori.

"I believe so. I was powerless against the wards I encountered in Kuto. It could not have been Nakago's powers alone. No da.

"It wasn't just Nakago in Kuto?"

"We can't even guess at what the others are capable of. No da. It is only an assumption, but we can't let our guards down now. I'll keep feelers out until the ceremony. No da."

"Do that! But don't inform the others about the Seiryu Celestial Warriors… Especially Miaka. She's happy now that Tamahome's returned… Let's not—"

"What are you doing?" Kori lept up quickly and turned around.

"Miaka! I… uh… I was…"

"Spying? I thought Americans were noble or something."

"We are. We're just very, very curious. Have a listen."

Miaka obliged and stuck her ear up against the door. She gasped at something they said, but apparently wasn't very good at spying and promptly fell as the huge royal doors flew open. Kori quickly hid herself.

"I think I should get going though… since you have another visitor," Kori could hear Chichiri state. She leaned against the wall next to the door as best as she could as he began towards the door. "Miaka!" he shouted one last time before walking out and closing the doors.

"Don't tell any of what you heard to anybody." He stated seriously, taking off his chibi mask and looking directly at Kori.

"H-How did you know I was there?"

"You're life force is huge, Kori. No wonder the Kuto army found us."

"Um… sorry?" She smiled helplessly as he put his mask back on.

"No problem. No da. And please don't listen in on His Highness and Miaka's conversation. No da."

"Aww… all right, Chichiri!"

***

*breaks into James Bond music as she listens in on Miaka and Hotohori:*

Hotohori: I'm not in love with you anymore.

Miaka: Good! Now Tamahome and I can go on in peace!

H: Well, technically you can't, since… he's dead, Miaka.

M: WHAT!? Liar!

H: Does the emperor lie? Taryn Eithne killed him.

M: WHY!?

H: He refused to… no, wait… Tasuki's dead. Nevermind. Have fun with Tamahome tonight!

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Stupid, I know, but I just failed a test in Analysis… A test! On the second day of school… what's wrong with the world!!!

Well, at least there's sanity in the story Secrets Best Left Alone! Check tomorrow for the next sane edition of it: Chapter Sixteen: The Treacherous Tune!!!

O.o…

~Taryn Eithne

Teaser here now… don't ya love these?

"'Of course. Why the hell else does everybody like me?'"

More cursing. Good thing this is PG-13.