Comments: Hmm…I have nothing to say this time. Oh well. Thank you for all the reviews. I feel so special since, to be perfectly honest, I had BIG doubts about my writing period. I really never thought anyone would say my work is good. Thank you. J

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tasuki's POV

It's been three days since I woke up and Kei still hasn't gotten up. I fling my shirt onto the back of a chair. I can't sleep, I can't eat, all I can think about is her. Chichiri tells me not to worry, that she'll be fine. I wanna believe him but I'm having a hard time.

Things are so quiet without her. I'd do anything to hear her voice… Sweet Suzaku, listen to me. I'm so far gone on her. I never thought any woman could get to me, but she did. She's everything I ever could have wanted in a woman and more. I just want her back.

Night has fallen again. It will be the fourth night I've been up and she hasn't. I walk over to her bedside and sit down. Every night I sit here, crying, hoping she'll wake up. I lay her head in my lap and gently run my fingers through her hair.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Narrator's POV

Kei slowly began to stir in Tasuki's arms. "Mmm…Where am I? Tasuki?" Her eyes opened slowly and saw the bandit's tear streaked face. She slowly reached a hand up and wiped his tears away. "Why are you crying?"

Tasuki closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. "Kei… You're finally awake. I was so worried. Don't do that to me ever again." He pulled the smaller woman into his arms and hugged her.

Kei sleepily hugged back. "I feel like I've been out for a month. Where are we?"

"In Tai Itsukun's palace. You've been asleep for a week. You want anything?"

"No, I think I'm alright for now."

Tasuki let go of her. "I should go tell everyone you're up. They've all been real worried."

Kei hand shot out and grabbed his. "Don't. Not yet. I want you to hug me again."

"Come again?" He sat back down.

"I want another hug." Kei looked at him with big puppy eyes.

"Fine by me." Tasuki smiled and pulled her into another embrace. He felt Kei smile when she buried her face into his shoulder.

'Damn. He smells good…' Kei curled up in Tasuki's arms and held him as if he'd disappear if she let go. She murmured something unintelligible.

"What did you say?" His grip let up a little

"I said, 'You're hot.'" She smiled and blushed a little.

"Meaning?" He didn't understand. He had heard Miaka refer to Taka a few times like that, but he never really cared about the meaning.

"Meaning…" Kei blushed even more. "Meaning I think you're cute and sexy."

Tasuki smirked. After a bit of thought, he leaned his face to her ear. "You're hot, too."

Kei's head shot up and she felt her face go totally red. "You…you think I'm…"

"I don't think. I know you are." He gently pushed her back onto the bed and kissed her deeply. Kei whimpered when he pulled back and sat up. "I'm sorry, Kei."

"For what? Are you still talking about me getting kidnapped?" Kei sat up with him.

"Yeah…" he lowered his head, dejectedly. If I had just…"

"Stop it with that. There's nothing to be sorry for, but since you feel so strongly about it…I forgive you."

"You do?" He raised his head a little.

"Yes. Now can we kiss again?" She was blushing again.

"Anything you want." Tasuki smirked and leaned back into Kei. She smiled and pulled him to her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning, Kei woke up to the sound of birds. She looked up and saw the same black and red birds that she had seen in the library before she came to Konan. She also found Tasuki using her chest for a pillow. 'Oh jeez…I should shove him off right now, but I'm not going to. He's so cute when he sleeps.' She smiled and idly stroked his hair.

It didn't take long for Tasuki to wake up. He was a bit surprised to find himself where he was. "Sorry." He murmured and got off her.

"It's okay. No harm done. I hope." Kei rubbed her neck. "Tasuki, if I find fang marks, I'm gonna…"

"You liked it and you know it so don't even start with me." He smirked and put his shirt back on. He rubbed his neck. "Not like you didn't bite too."

Kei blushed. "I did not!"

"You wanna see the marks?" He turned around and put his hand to his shoulder, ready to pull down the shirt.

"Okay, fine. So maybe I did. Sorry."

"I never said I didn't like it." Tasuki smirked again as Kei's face and shoulders tinted red as she looked down at the bed. "I'm gonna go get the others, okay?"

"Yeah. Go ahead." Kei got up and moved to the mirror. "Wow, my hair is a mess. Tasuki sure did a number on me. Not that it was bad, mind you." She began to comb out the knots in her hair.

Taki and Lily were the first one's to get to Kei's room. Taki immediately started asking questions. "KEI! Are you all right? Did Nakago do anything to you? What happened there? Why is your neck red?"

Kei stared at her. "Umm…Yes, no and actually not a lot. The other thing is personal."

Lily smirked. "You and Tasuki were making out, weren't you?"

"Yes." Kei squeaked.

Lily giggled. Taki looked over at her. "Lily, don't go getting her embarrassed. It's not like you haven't been with Chichiri."

Lily blushed. Kei giggled. "How interesting. But come on, let's all get real here."

Lily and Taki looked at Kei. "What do you mean?"

"I mean we can't keep getting embarrassed about something every time someone else mentions one of the guys. We all need to fess up to the fact we like them, don't we?"

Lily shrugged. "Yeah. I guess there's no denying it anymore. We fell for them. Not much more to say."

Taki sighed. "Admitting it to each other is great and all, but when are we gonna tell them? And further more, what's the point? We're leaving aren't we? It'll only hurt more if we do, won't it?"

Kei set down her brush. "Yeah. Let's not think about it now though. We should be happy while we're still here. And maybe we'll see them again someday. No point in giving up hope now, right?"

Before their conversation could continue, the guys reentered the room with T.I. Plans were discussed for getting the girls home. T.I. suggested getting Nuriko to help, since they'd need the seishi to help get the girls back through the book. More seishi equals better odds. They would get Nuriko later that day, then send the girls home the next day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Next three scenes take place at the same time. W/ BGM Brandy - Come a Little Bit Closer lyrics form Lyricshut.com)

I know that it's late

And maybe I shouldn't be so into you

It's just that tonight I am so taken,

I've fallen for you

When I look in your eyes

I can see A million possibilities

And I know you'll be leaving me soon

But tonight

Come a little bit closer

Let me hold you baby

I will be good for you

And we can try

To forget tomorrow

And make it last forever tonight

Taki was lying in Hotohori's arms in his bedroom. She looked very upset. "Hotohori?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think…do you think there's a chance we'll see each other again after we leave?"

"I certainly hope so. I can't make any promises though."

"Then lie. I don't care if someone lies to me and I hear what I want to hear." She rolled over and curled up in Hotohori's arms.

He gently stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. "Then yes. We'll be together again soon."

Taki felt a tear roll down her cheek. "That's what I want to hear. Can I stay here tonight?"

"You're always welcome here." Hotohori gently kissed her as he pulled the blankets over their bodies and held her close as they fell asleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So if you must go

Know that I'll be missing you, wishing you closer

So let's make the most of these

Moments together, we'll never forget

And it's breaking my heart 'cause I know

That tomorrow you'll be miles away

And I catch myself wanting so much more

Tonight

Come a little bit closer

Let me hold you baby

I will be good for you

And we can try

To forget tomorrow

And make it last forever tonight

Chichiri and Lily stood at the window in Chichiri's room.

"So, last night huh?"

"Yes, no da." Chichiri removed his mask.

"Chichiri?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you." She looked down at the floor and then up at him.

"What for?"

"I never thought I'd tell anyone about…" She rubbed her hands together. "About you know. I don't know why I trust you so much but I do. And I'm glad I do."

Chichiri took her hands in his. "So am I." He pulled Lily into a tight embrace.

Lily buried her face into Chichiri's shoulder. "I don't want to lose you."

He felt his shoulder dampen. "You'll never lose me." He gently forced her head up and kissed her.

Lily and Chichiri eventually pulled away. "I don't want to go home yet."

"I know, I don't want you to go either. But we both know…"

"Yes. We do." Lily sighed and let Chichiri pull her back to him. "Can I sleep with you tonight? I mean, if you said no, I'd understand."

"No, no. Lily, it's all right." Chichiri took one last look out the window. A shooting star went passed. "Make a wish."

"Huh? Oh." Lily smiled and closed her eyes and wished.

Chichiri smiled as the two climbed into bed together and fell asleep in each other's arms.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So if you're leaving me now

Baby I don't know how

I will ever get over you

Because you opened my eyes

To this love that's inside

Oh baby, don't ever, ever leave me

Come a little bit closer

Let me hold you baby

I will be good for you

And we can try

To forget tomorrow

And make it last forever tonight

Kei was sitting in Tasuki's lap in the room they had shared before. She looked like she was about to cry. Tasuki pushed a few strands of hair from her face and kissed her. Kei curled tighter in his arms.

"Tasuki, I don't wanna leave yet. I was just beginning to get comfortable."

"But Kei, you have to…"

"I know, and that's the worst part. I don't want to wake up in the morning knowing you won't be there!"

"Kei, I know it's going to be hard. I want nothing more than to be with you forever. Kei…I lo…" Kei silenced him with a kiss.

"No more words Tasuki, please. I don't think I can take it." Kei looked at him with tearful eyes.

He wiped away the tears that threatened to stain her cheek and kissed her again. Without another word, Tasuki pulled Kei underneath the covers with himself. The two fell into a deep, though not totally peaceful, sleep.

(Split screen of the three couples sleeping together as the song ends.)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning, there was an overwhelming depressing feeling that hung through out T.I.'s palace. No one said much at all at breakfast or for much of the morning. Nuriko wanted to try and cheer his friends up, but there wasn't much he could do. Who could at a time when you knew your three best friends were about to lose the women they loved?

Everyone gathered in T.I.'s main room: the five seishi, the three girls, Miaka, Hikari, and T.I. Hikari looked back and forth between the seishi and the girls. 'I can't separate them, can I? Am I that cruel of a person that I'd destroy my granddaughter's and her friends' happiness?'

T.I. gave her a look that said 'I know what you're thinking, so stop it.'

Hikari glanced back at T.I. and sneered slightly. "Let's begin, shall we?"

The group grudgingly agreed and got ready. As T.I. and Hikari chanted a spell, the seishis' and the girls' minds were not as clear as they should have been. All they could think about was each other. A bright red light began to form, as the chanting seemed to get softer and softer. Pretty soon, the words of the spell could no longer be heard.

Kei felt like she was falling again. She found herself alone in a black void with a red light shining at the end of some kind of tunnel. As soon as the feeling came, it disappeared and was replaced with cold wet grass and a foot in her back.

She groaned. "Someone has their foot in my back and it feels like a combat boot!" She tried to roll over to see who it was.

"It's not me." Taki pushed herself up.

"It ain't me either." Lily rolled onto her back. "Whoa, what a rush."

"I think it's me. Sorry Kei." A masculine voice made Kei try harder to roll over.

"Tasuki?!?!" Kei found herself face to face with the fiery bandit. "What the hell?!?!"

Taki stood up. "We're in the park. And with…you guys." She looked around, shocked to find Chichiri near Lily, Tasuki and Kei staring at each other, Hotohori kneeled at her feet and Nuriko stuck in a tree.

Kei groaned as Tasuki helped her up. Everyone else stood up. Nuriko fell face first out of the tree.

"OW!!!" Nuriko slowly got up. "Holy…"

Kei looked over at Nuriko. "What the?" Everyone stared. Kei pointed at Nuriko. "You've got boobs."

"Oh my! I think I'm a woman." Nuriko stared at 'herself' in a mirror Taki handed her.

Kei finally took a good look at everyone. Tasuki was indeed wearing black combat boots, baggy jeans with the knees ripped out and a black t-shirt. 'Boy, does he look good.' Chichiri had on khaki cargo shorts with a white t-shirt. His mask was gone but there was no scar. Hotohori was in black slacks and a white dress shirt with most of the top buttons open. Nuriko was wearing a pair of denim capris and a purple halter-top. "Wow. This is different."

"That's an understatement." Lily leaned against a tree. "Where are Miaka and Taka? Did they come through with us?"

Everyone looked around. Kei climbed up into the tree. "They're across the street. I can see them over there. Let's go." She hopped back down and after looking around a little to see if anyone saw them arrive. After making sure no one was around, she beckoned to the others to follow her.

When they reached the entrance to the park, Miaka spotted them. "Over here, you guys!" Miaka began to run across the street before looking to see if anything was coming. Taka tried to grab her but was a little too slow.

Lily saw a huge semi truck coming down the street. It began honking. "Miaka! Don't, you idiot!" Time slowed down for a few seconds. Everyone on the street looked on in shock. Most people turned away for fear Miaka would get killed.

Kei looked up first. "Where's the bloody road kill?" Miaka was nowhere in sight. The truck had stopped over the point where Miaka had been, but she wasn't there.

A few meters away, a young man on a motorcycle had pulled up onto the curb and had Miaka under his arm. The man was dressed totally in black, black leather pants, black boots, a black shirt, black leather jacket, a black bandana covering his hair and a pair of black sunglasses. Taka was the first on over to him.

"Miaka! Why'd you run into the street?" The young man gave Miaka to Taka.

"I didn't mean to!"

Everyone else ran to check on Miaka. Kei scoffed. "Miaka, what were you thinking?"

"Sorry!"

The young man scratched his head and looked at Lily. "Was it a good or a bad thing that I grabbed her?"

"What? Oh, good thing. Sorry. It's just that we get annoyed with her fast when she does stupid things like that. Thank you though." He stared at Lily for a few seconds. She looked back at him. "Do I know you?"

"No, no. I don't think so. Sorry." He looked at his watch. "Oh, shit. Now I'm really late." He turned the engine back on and speed off, down the street.

Lily frowned a bit. 'His voice sounded so familiar. Now where was it? I know it was somewhere…'

"Lily, are you okay?" Chichiri's hand on her shoulder startled her.

"Yeah fine. I could have sworn I knew that guy."

"How could you tell? You couldn't see any features."

"I know. But his voice was very familiar. It was probably mistaken identity though. I doubt he was anyone I know."

Taki sighed. "Can we go home now? I'm tired. I'm also in serious need of coffee and a brush."

"Where do you live?" Taka smiled. He wanted to see their house.

Kei snorted. "Who said you could come? You two have a place to go. The guys and Nuriko can stay with us. Y'all can go home."

"Fine." Taka snorted. "Come on Miaka. Let's go."

"I'm hungry."

The others sweat dropped. Lily rolled her eyes. "Okaaay. Let's go. It's not to far to the house."

"Are you sure we can stay with you? Do you have the room?" Hotohori looked around at their group of 7.

"Don't worry Hotohori. We have an 8-bedroom house. Spare rooms are no problem." Taki smiled.

"Why so big if there's only three of you?"

"We wanted a big house. Not really sure why, but now it's a good thing we do. Now let's go."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A few blocks away, the young man that had saved Miaka had parked his motorcycle on the side of the street and was sitting on a nearby bench. He took off his sunglasses and bandana. His eyes were like a dark hazel and he had short sandy blonde hair. (Like Haruka from Sailor Moon) He had a digital camera in his hand.

'Lana…What kind of people are you hanging out with?' He played a movie. It was a spot in the park. Nothing was there for a few minutes, then a bright flash of red light, then the 7 people appeared out of thin air. 'You have a lot of explaining to do, Lana…or should I say Lily?' ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bum Bum Bum! What will happen next? Who's that guy? Why is Nuriko now a girl? Is it obvious enough that I don't like Miaka?

*Shadow Hawk begins to bang her head on her computer desk* Ow, ow, ow… To be honest, I think this chapter really sucked. Totally not my best work. In my opinion, I rushed, jumped around and didn't add enough detail. Whoops…

~*~Shadow Hawk~*~