Disclaimer: Guess what? They still aren't mine!

Basic story notes: "Talking."       'Thoughts.'      Any speaking with a star (*) in front

of it is in English. All other speech is in Japanese.

2nd half of rewrite. Sorry for those who are reading this for the 2nd time, I know it isn't really the best fit, but I tried.

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Tasuki, Kei, and Huan-Lang were walking beside the river in the forest heading for a small, nearby town. Every time Tasuki tries to get closer to Kei, Huan-Lang snaps at him.

Tasuki was very annoyed with Kei's dog. "Kei, can you please get your wolf dog to stop snapping at me?"

Kei giggled at him. "I doubt it. He doesn't like anyone except my grandmother, mother and two of my friends."

Tasuki looked at her. "What about your dad?"

That was the last thing she wanted to talk about. Kei sighed and looked at ground "Please don't ask my father. I don't want to talk about it… Not right now anyway…"

"Oh. Sorry…" He looked over at Kei "Weren't you wearing a jacket before?"

Tasuki can't help but stare at her legs. She was wearing tight black leather pants and a tight red tube top that showed off her shapely body nicely. He tried to stop but she was too hot. 'Damn, she looks good.'

"Well, I was but I…" Kei noticed where Tasuki was staring at her butt. "Hey are you staring at my ass?!"

Tasuki jerked his head up and stared at the sky. "Yes…I mean no!! No! Of course not!" 'Shit. What did I get my self into?' " Why would I be?"

She glared at him. "You pervert!" She crossed arms over chest "And here I was thinking you were different from other guys!" She began to run in front of him followed by Huan-Lang.

Tasuki mentally smacked himself and ran after her. "Damn! Kei! Come back! I'm sorry! I seriously didn't mean to!"

Kei stopped to turn and glare at him "You expect me to believe that? You really do think I'm some stupid little girl, don't you?!"

"No! I swear I don't! I just…aw shit…" He finally caught up to her and sighed. "Come on… I don't think you're stupid, really. You have to believe me." Tasuki tried to grab her hand but Huan-Lang growled and bared his sharp gleaming teeth to Tasuki and forced him to step back.

"If you take one step closer to me, I'll let him attack you…" Kei had her hand on Huan-Lang's back.

Tasuki frowned. "Oh really? Then what will you do? If he attacks me, what are you gonna do? Not like you know any one else in this world. If you lose me, you're alone again. You really wanna go there?"

"Fine. I guess you have a point. *Down boy. *No danger."

Huan-Lang growled softly and sat back. He didn't like this strange man who was getting his mistress mad.

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Back in the clearing, the seishi were trying to find Kei and Tasuki.

"So which path did she go down?" Nuriko looked at all the paths.

The three seishi stood at the four-path clearing. Chichiri noticed the jacket on the 1st path.

"Didn't that belong to her, no da?"

Hotohori got off his horse and picked up the jacket. "I believe that girl was wearing it. If that is the case, why is it here?"

"Maybe she's trying to lead us onto a false trail…" Nuriko carefully ran a finger over the leather.

Before either seishi could answer, another horse rode into the clearing. This one had two riders. When they came into view, Chichiri recognized them.

"Tamahome-san! Miaka-sama! You're back, no da!"

Miaka was full of her usual energy. "Yeah, we got called back again! Hi Hotohori-san!"

Hotohori only glanced at her. "Hello, Miaka. You look well. Tamahome." He barely nodded to the blue-haired seishi. (AN: Hotohori still isn't over his little crush. Also, I don't know what kind of personality Taka has. I haven't seen the OVAs so I'm making him up as I go along. Sorry.)

"Umm, it's Taka, Hotohori-san."

Hotohori really didn't care. "Of course…I…"

Miaka interrupted Hotohori. "Hey! Where did that jacket come from? I know that didn't come from around here! That looks like it's from Tokyo!" She grabbed it from Hotohori and put it on. "It's a little big for me… But still cool."

"We were trying to find out who the owner is." He was a bit annoyed with Miaka. "She's out in the woods somewhere with Tasuki. He was chasing after her.

"Someone else from my world is here? Cool! I wonder who it is…" Miaka began searching through the pockets and found a wallet "Hey, maybe this will tell us who she is."

"Miaka, I don't know if you should go through that girl's stuff. She was already mad when she left…" Nuriko made an attempt to take it from her.

Miaka was looking for an ID of some kind "Well, you want to know who she is, right? Wow, whoever this girl is, she's really rich. She's got lots of credit cards…"

"Well, yes we do, but that's a bit intrusive, Na no da."

"Who cares?" She found Kei's driver's license.  "Here! Let's see… Koizumi Kei… that name sounds familiar… She's 19 and lives in downtown Tokyo. Hey, there are other pictures in here too. Is that her?" She held up a picture of Kei.

"Yes. Well, we know who she is, now put that away, Miaka." Hotohori also made an attempt to grab Kei's things.

"No. I need to know why her name sounds so familiar… I'm positive I know that name…" Miaka found some more pictures. These were of Kei's family.

The picture is a fairly recent. Kei looks about 17. A large black wolf-like dog is sitting at her feet. A tall, ebony-haired woman with emerald eyes is to the right of her. An older woman is sitting to her left. She also has ebony hair, but her eyes are sapphire-colored. Further to the right is a tall, blonde businessman. He is talking on a phone, paying no attention to his family. Kei was glaring at him. The other two women were smiling at the camera.

"Found a picture of the family. Don't they look happy?" Miaka put the picture back.

Nuriko was stunned "Gods, she looked so unhappy… Not like that fiery girl who ran off before."

Miaka suddenly realized something. "No, and I just figured out why I know her name."

"And the reason is?" Taka looked at his girlfriend.

"She's the only child of one of Tokyo's most powerful and meanest businessmen. I heard she was a real rebel sometimes. I know she lives with a couple of her friends now though."

Taka thought for a minute "Anything else in there?"

Miaka held out some more pictures. "Here are some other pictures. I think these 2 are like her best friends. The blonde one is I think Lily, one of Japan's strongest fighters. The other is Taki I think. She's a super model. One of the world's most beautiful women, according to the media."

Taki was standing against a wall with a pair of sunglasses on top of her head. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail. She was smirking at the camera. Lily was sitting on a chair. Her head was resting in her gloved hand and she was flipping off the camera with her other hand.

Hotohori, Chichiri and Nuriko didn't exactly understand that, so they just nodded. Hotohori stared at Taki. He found himself hypnotized by her strange blue eyes. Suddenly, Miaka just was just a bad memory. Chichiri found the young blonde fighter absolutely beautiful, but mentally smacked himself for thinking like that. He was a monk and still hadn't forgiven himself for the past.

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Tasuki and Kei had finally reached town. Kei was very relieved. "Finally. Some civilization."

"Yeah whatever. Here, put this on." He handed Kei his jacket.

"What's this for?" She took the jacket, slipped into it and rolled up sleeves to her elbows.

"Ya got so pissed off what I accidentally checked ya out, I don't want to know what you'll do what guys do it intentionally…"

"Oh, sorry, 'bout that." Kei felt kinda stupid.

"Whatever, let's go."

The two went into town. In a small restaurant, Nakago was still trying to convince Taki and Lily that he could help them.

Lily was very annoyed. "You know, we can really do this on out own. We don't need anyone's help to do what we came here to do."

"I don't understand why you won't accept a little help, we're both on the same side after all…"

Taki slammed her glass down on table "I really don't think it's necessary. Unless you were to tell us you were a Suzaku seishi or something like that."

Nakago smirked. "Well, I suppose I forgot to mention that I am. I am one of the Suzaku seishi."

Taki remembered what little she could about the Beast Gods and saw the dragon on his armor. "That's the Dragon God, right?"

"Yes."

Lily was now pissed off. 'I can't believe this guy. He's a smooth operator and definitely not a friend.' You lair! She jumped out of seat, caught Nakago off guard, and kicked him straight across the room. "We're not that stupid!"

Everyone in the restaurant saw Nakago and started yelling for him to get out. Lily used the time to dash across the room and up to Nakago. She kicked him again, sending him straight out the door. The whole crowd cheered on Lily as she fought their enemy.

At the entrance to town, Kei and Tasuki noticed everyone was headed towards the fight scene. Tasuki grabbed a Random Guy.

"Hey, what the hell's goin' on?"

The random guy was excited. "Oh, Tasuki-san! There's this weird, hot chick beating the shit outta that Seiryuu bastard Nakago. He was in a restaurant and this girl, like just started kicking the shit outta him."

Tasuki lets go of Random Guy. "Come on, Kei. I need to check this out." He ran in the direction of the crowd.

"Right. Whatever." She ran after him.

Taki, Lily and Nakago are standing in the middle of a ring of people. Lily steps closer to Nakago. Lily had no fear. "Let's go, Blondie! Show me whatcha got!"

"Lily, will you promise to make this fast? We have work to do." Taki tapped her wrist as if she had a watch.

Lily drew her sword. "Yeah, I will. It'll only take me a few minutes." She turned around to face Taki. "Go pay for those drinks, will ya?" Then she face Nakago again.

"All right." She sighed and went back inside restaurant. "This is one weird place…"

Kei and Tasuki managed to push their way through the crowd just in time to see Lily and Nakago start to attack each other with their swords.

"Wow…" Tasuki didn't expect to see someone like Lily.

Kei pushed into the front row. "Cool. Lily kicks ass."

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Back in the forest, the small group of seishi stood looking through Kei's things. Taka couldn't help but think he'd met Lily before. "Miaka, haven't we met this Lily somewhere before?"

"Don't you remember? You must have forgotten. Remember that martial arts tournament last year? She kicked your butt really badly. Then she told you that you were inexperienced and really slow. I think she said she wanted you to come back when you could provide a decent challenge for her! I know I didn't forget!"

Taka sweat dropped. "Thank you, Miaka. Now I remember and I wish you'd forgotten."

"She's stronger than you Tamahome-san, no da?"

"Yes, and my name is Taka."

"Gomen nasai, no da…" Suddenly something didn't feel right. "Wait. Something doesn't feel right no da. Tasuki-san is in some area with a lot of trouble." He spread out his cape on the ground. "We have to go now."

Hotohori was first to get on the cape. "Right. Let's go."

Chichiri then teleported everyone to the town where Tasuki, Nakago and the girls were. They ran in and saw the large group of people watching the fight. Hotohori spotted Kei and Tasuki standing on the edge of the crowd, soon joined by a silver-haired young woman.

Taki wrapped an arm around Kei's shoulder and whispered. "*Interesting situation we have here, don't you think so Kei?" She patted Huan-Lang's head.

Kei looked at Taki and whispered. "*If that's what you want to call it, yes, it is." She noticed the other seishi through the crowd. "*And it's not about to get any duller." She poked Tasuki. "Tasuki, we are about to have a big problem, well, me more than you."

"Bigger than this?" He pointed to the fight.

"Well, possibly." She pointed to seishi.

"Oh shit."

Taki was confused. "They're just some people. What's to worry about?"

Tasuki rolled his eyes. "What is this? You have friends here too?"

"Well, not like I planned it. Why are you and Lily here anyway, Taki?"

"I'll give you two guesses at who sent us here to find you and the 1st two don't count."

"Never mind. I get it." Kei rolled her eyes.

"Great, I'm lost again. You're gonna have to explain it to me later." Tasuki watched the two girls.

"Fine. I will. It'll take awhile."

Taki grinned. "*Kei, is this you're new boyfriend? *He's cute."

Kei glared at Taki. "*Taki, shut it, will you? *He is not."

Tasuki arched an eyebrow "Will you stop doing that?"

"What?" Kei cocked her head to one side.

"Talking like that. It's weird."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Bastard." Kei stuck her tongue out at Tasuki.

"Bitch."

"Lovers' quarrel. How romantic." Taki giggled

Tasuki & Kei glared at Taki. They both started yelling about how they hated each other.

Taki giggled again. "That's what they all say…"

Tasuki & Kei screamed at her. "SHUT UP!!"

"Not on your life, people."

Kei groaned. "Great."

The others had found their way over to the three. Tasuki and Kei looked at each other and swallowed hard. Taki just flipped her hair over her shoulder and looked at the seishi. She didn't think it was any big deal. Her attention was on the fight more than anything else. Her fingers curled around the hilt of her own sword.

Chichiri watched Lily fight as intently as Taki and Kei did. "Who is that, no da?"

Miaka had to answer before anyone else. "That's Lily, right? She was the blonde one in those pictures I found."

Kei stared at her. It sounded like Miaka had gone through her stuff. "Pictures you found, huh? Or could it be you went through the pockets of my jacket?"

Miaka sweat dropped. "I didn't look through anything! They fell out! Really, they did!"

Taki rolled her eyes. "Dead girl walking…"

Kei snatched her jacket off Miaka's shoulders and gave Tasuki's back so she could put hers on. "Better watch it, Miaka. You don't wanna get on my bad side any more than you already are…" She turned back to the fight.

Taka hurried up next to Kei and put his arms around her shoulders. Tasuki suddenly felt very pissed. "Now now Kei, you don't have to get mad at her. She didn't mean any harm…"

Kei smacked him across the face. "How many times do I have to tell you not to touch me, Taka? I hate you and you know that!"

All the seishi were stunned when she smacked him. Taki laughed. She knew Kei hated Taka since they met and if Taka knew what Kei had done to his car, he wouldn't try to hit on her anymore. Miaka took offense to Kei hitting Taka.

"Kei! Don't hit my boyfriend!"

"Then keep him away from me. Not a difficult concept to understand." Kei walked around to the other side of Tasuki.

Taki sighed and rolled her eyes again. She stepped in between Taka and Kei. "Can we please take care of this later? We have a bit of a bigger problem on hand here. And if y'all don't mind, I think it would be better to take of it sooner rather than later."

Hotohori nodded. "I suppose you're right. But what should we do?"

Taka stepped forward. "I'll take care of it."

Taki laughed again. "I don't think so. Knowing you, you wouldn't stand a chance against him. There are always easier ways to take care of things like this." Taki reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a small, fully loaded handgun. She handed it to Kei. "You know what to do."

"Right." Kei took the gun and made everyone step back. "This won't take long."

"What if you miss, no da?"

"I don't miss."

Lily was still holding her own but was getting tired. When she saw Kei holding the gun, she forced Nakago to put his back to the group. As soon as he stopped for a second, Kei fired two shots. One went into each shoulder.

Nakago screamed and dropped his sword. Lily smirked.

"Did that hurt?" She backed up and lunged at him.

"Not as much as you'll get hurt later." Before he got hit, he disappeared.

"Shit!" Lily growled when her sword slashed through the smoke. When the dust settled, her sword fell out of her right hand and her arm fell lifelessly to her side. 'Damn…he got me good. He'll pay later.' She watched as blood trickled down her arm.

Kei got to her first. "Lily, are you alright?"

Taka scoffed. "I could have done it without getting hurt."

Hotohori walked past him. "I highly doubt that."

Taki chuckled as she walked past a stunned a Taka. "Oooh! Burned!"

Chichiri picked up Lily's sword and handed back to her. She slid it back into the sheath with her left hand. All the adrenaline had left her blood and she was exhausted now. Chichiri caught her just before hit the ground after she fainted from exhaustion.

Kei gasped. "Lily!"

"We should take her to the inn. She needs help, no da." Chichiri cradled the wounded fighter in his arms and everyone followed him to the inn.

No one really said anything about Kei running off, everyone was more concerned with Lily. After a few hours, Lily woke up and Taka immediately started asking her for a rematch.

"Please? Just one and I'll never ask again." He was on his knees.

Lily rubbed her sore arm. "You're kidding, right? Are you that desperate that you'd try when I'm injured? I don't want to waste the time or energy."

Hotohori smiled to himself. He liked the fact that none of the girls had any interest in Taka whatsoever. Taki noticed him smiling slightly and set down her drink.

"Do you find something funny, Hotohori?"

He looked up. "Maybe…" He watched Lily insult Taka with pleasure.

Taki smirked. "You find it funny, don't you?" She looked at Lily and Taka.

"Like I said, maybe." Hotohori smiled at her.

Taki stopped herself from blushing. 'Hotohori has a really nice smile… Wait, stupid me. I will not say that about anyone.'

Chichiri eventually got Taka to leave Lily alone and Taka rejoined Miaka in another room. Chichiri sat on a chair next to bed. "How are you feeling, no da?"

"I've been better, but okay for now." Lily took off her right glove. "These have had better days though." She tossed the ripped glove into a waste bin.

"Well, the gash isn't as deep as I thought, so it won't take long to heal, no da."

"That's good." Lily rubbed her arm. "Damn. Who was that anyway?"

"No friend of ours. He's from another rival country, no da."

"Hmm…"

Tasuki and Kei were sitting in another corner of the room.

"So you know Taka because…why?"

"I met him about a year ago when Lily kicked his ass in a martial arts tournament. You friends with him?"

"Loosely. We're teammates, not much more. I had a somewhat negative, if you will, first meeting with him. Things didn't really get much better from there."

Kei began twisting a strand of her hair between her fingers. "Am I gonna hafta apologize?"

"What for?"

"For runnin' off. That wasn't the greatest 1st impression I've made on a group of people."

"Nah. I think everyone's kinda gotten over that. Not like we treated ya very good either."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. It's obvious you don't really mean harm or nothin', so I wouldn't worry."

"If you say so."

Everyone split up into different rooms. Hotohori and Taki stayed in one, Chichiri and Lily in another, Tasuki and Kei protested staying together, and Nuriko got stuck in a room with Miaka and Taka.

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TBC

Well, that was ch. 4. What did y'all think? Any good? Should I continue? Comments? Questions? Suggestions? And yes, eventually I'll tell everyone's full stories for anyone whose wondering.

I know this rewrite doesn't fit perfectly with the rest, but it's hard to do that. So like, when I talk about Lily's shoulder, mentally replace that with arm, 'cause I'm too lazy to fix the other chapters. Be gentle when reading the rest, since it's kinda weird now.

~*~Silver Hawk~*~