Holy cow peoples I am so incredibly sorry that I haven't updated since Lord only knows when… I got grounded for a month from the computer and I just couldn't get anything written…

That and school has got me panicked. I mean, I'm sharing the role of validictorian for my class (straight A's thru high and middle school ^^) and yet I've got D's in two classes this semester, so studying has taken all my time. But here's chapter 19, finally! And look, there's even a disclaimer:

Chiriko shyly walks out and looks around. He takes a deep sigh before opening his mouth, as if to speak. Suddenly, he turns on his heels and disappears back behind the curtain.

Well… maybe ther is no disclaimer after all… ah, you guys know it, anyway, right?

So anyway, on with the story…

Chapter Nineteen: Mirrored Face Unrecognized

Kori grinned as she finished packing her clothes. She had been able to return to her world (at the expense of poor Taiitsukun and her magic) and had packed a suitcase full of the things she was sure she would need… which included all her hair supplies and at least ten sets of clothes.

Ugh, it's been so long… Kori realized as she looked longingly at a blue tank top and pair of khaki capris (you don't think she only owned ten outfits, do you!?). Sitting next to the outfit was a pair of pretty brown sandals. Kori glanced at the makeshift-bandit costume she had put back on before returning and then stole another glance at the capris. Her decision seemed to have been made before she had even thought about it. Without a word, Kori quickly threw off every one of the layers in about two seconds and dawned her former favorite attire. As a finishing touch, she threw off her other shoes effortlessly and strapped on her sandals. She looked at herself in the full view mirror that hung from her door and grinned.

"I finally look like a gir—" she began, but the door swung open suddenly and her mom's face appeared.

"Hey honey! Didn't know you were home…" Patricia McCaelen stated, a heavy mid-west accent altering her speech (Yay midwestern peoples!). Kori jumped about a mile high and grinned nervously.

"Hey mom," Kori replied quickly, trying to hide the quiver in her voice as she noticed that her ugly, ancient-looking clothes were right in the floor.

"You hungry, sweetie?" the older woman asked, but Kori shook her head vigorously and nonchalantly shoved the old clothes under her bed. Patricia nodded, then disappeared through the doorway. Kori began to let out a sigh, but sucked it back in when her mother poked her head back in. "Were you wearing that this morning…? Ah, nevermind."

When her mother was gone, and for good this time, Kori finally let out her sigh.

Finally! Kori thought to herself, grabbing her suitcase. Now, how do I return?

***

"How much longer so we have to wait?" Miaka asked impatiently, leaning leisurely against the railing.

"It has been a day and already dusk approaches," Hotohori noted, also looking around impatienly. Nuriko let out a small chuckle at the Emperor's obvious anxiety.

"Kori'll come back! She wouldn't let us down!" Miaka stated, completely forgetting her previous statement.

"Yeah! We know Kori's better than that!" Nuriko chirped.

"Yeah, whatever…" Tasuki muttered, crossing his arms. Miaka ignored him and continued.

"She'll proably be here by nightfall… I hope she brings some food with her…" She looked off into the nearby horizon dreamilly.

"Miaka, if you're hungry, say so!" Tamahome laughed.

"When isn't she hungry?" Chiriko asked: he had seen, over the past day, Miaka's eating habits and was quite amused with them.

"When she's asleep!" Nuriko chimed with a finger in the air pointedly.

"Nah… she's hungry then, too!" Tamahome laughed at Miaka's irritated face. "We're just teasing you, dum—"

A dull thud interrupted Tamahome and the others glanced to see what it could have been. Tamahome lay on the ground, a sour expression on his face.

On top of him sat Kori.

"Oh. That's how!" she stated, not noticing the seishis staring at her curiously. She then looked down and noticed Tamahome beneath her. "Hi Tama!" she stated, her chipper voice ringing in the moutnain. Tamahome gave a small wave and drummed his fingers against the ground.

"That's how you what, no da?" Chichiri piped suddenly, helping the new Priestess to stand. She dusted herself off and shook her head, hinting to not worry about it.

"So, what's the news? And what day is it?" she asked, glancing around the platform.

"It has been one month since the incident," Hotohori replied quickly, taking Kori's elbow and leading her in the direction of a large doorframe. "Taiitsukun wishes to see you."

"Thanks, Your Majesty," Kori replied quickly, pulling her elbow back and following the Emperor. The other seishis and Miaka quickly followed.

When they had paused in the giant chamber that Taiitsukun resided in, everybody took the chance to actually study Kori. She had definitely changed, since she no longer looked like a boy.

It was actually hard to picture her as a boy, now that she was dressed the way she was. It suddenly seemed impossible for her long, wavy brown hair to have ever belonged to a male, and even the curves of her body prohibited her from even resembling a boy.

"Kori," Taisitsukun stated as the group of nine entered, "You have returned. And you look much better now that you have freshened up."

"Yeah, though I feel kinda weird in my girlie clothes," Kori replied quietly, pulling on the collar of her tank top. "What's up?"

"I'm glad you asked," Taiitsukun stated, disappearing and reappearing suddenly behind Kori. She jumped and flew backwards, landing again on her butt.

"The hardships you face will be beyond anything you've yet faced.

"The bond between the Celestial Warriors and the Priestess must be unbreakable. Otherwise you will fail again! You must have absolute determination! Do you have such strength of will?"

Kori sighed and looked up determinedly. "I do!! I will fulfill my obligation… for all the people hurt and all those who supported Miaka!" She turend to the Celestial Warriors, "And for you guys, who have supported Miaka! And for Miaka, who got me this far, at least!" She smiled and flashed a victory sign. "I am, after all, the true Priestess of Suzaku!"

"And do your Warriors feel the same?" Tai asked, turning to to Celestial Warrios. All except Tasuki nodded immediately.

"Please, Tasuki," Kori pleaded, letting out a deep sigh. "We have to summon Suzaku before Yui summons Seiryu. If not for me, then do it for that and to help and the Reikazukan bandits!"

Tasuki glanced at Kori and humpfed.

"Please, Tasuki," she asked again.

He finally hesitated for a moment, then nodded reluctantly.

"But only ta stop those Seiryu bastards and fer my guys!" he added quickly Kori smiled in thanks and turned to Taiitsukun.

"Very well then. I shall tell you. First, go to the country of Hokkan, the Northern kingdom. Genbu's country. You must first obtain the sacred treasure Shinzaho kept there."

Kori gasped. "To Genbu's country!?"

***

And we're finished!! Yucky, yucky chapter, and I'm so sorry you guys waited that long for this piece of shit. But I hope to get the others up within a week, at least… though I'm not really sure how I'm going to do that…

Just believe in me! And hurry summer along, 'cause then I'm FREE!!! Ahh, freedom…

Anyway, keep a not-too-expectant eye out for the next chapter of Secrets Best left Alone, Chapter Twenty: Newcomer's Preparations!!!!!!

Whoo-hoo!

~Tayrn Eithne

Oh, and here's the teaser line:

"'Should I feel guilty about having second thoughts about this whole Priestess thing?'"

Whoops… looks like Kori's just not ready, does it?

You'll have to wait and see, won't you?

Can I ever quit writing these questions?

WAIT!!!!! I forgot to thank my loyal reviewers!!! Holy cow!!! Though they probably all died…

To… err… ah! Draco!!! Thanks for finally reviewing!!! You're the inpiration that tells me that there are others out there (like me, unfortunately) who don't ever review anything! But thanks for your really long review! Do it again, though, because I love that!!

To Goku-chan (I love DB & DBZ, btw): yay! I finally did and I sure hope that you're still out there!!!! ^^;

To The Seasyngr: Yay! I love hearing from you!!! I think I need to make you a #1 reviewer patch, okay? Not that you're still there or anything… mebbe I'll e-mail you or something… hmm…

To… who's next?… Aha… to Wanderlily: Thanx for the advice!! I'm still really struggling, but my moods are so… swingy and I've been hyper 24/7 for a long time, so thanx!!!

Tara_Potter_Malfoy: *backs away slowly* Well, I FINALLY did.. I'm sorry it took so long! That yo uso much for the entusiasm, tho try to keep it minimal next time, kay? *prepares tranquilizer* nah, j/k… I'm like that, too. Actually, I threaten, so thanx!… ew, I ended 2 the same way…

Tayna: thanx thanx thanx!!!! I feel special now… well, I did and I still do! I got chapter 19 up, see? And I'm thinking of posting Ch. Twenty very very soon!! Be proud!!!

Whoo… oh, and a last note, not that any of you are reading anymore!!!!

Please, please, do not leave anonymous things… I like to see a name to give credit, and there's, like, two that I can't give credit to! So leave your name, even if you aren't signed in!!! Otherwise, Tasuki takes them… he can be mean sometimes…