Ack! Head… swelling…Ego… getting too big! Too much…praise! *falls over backwards in her chair with swirls for eyes* I had no idea when I started this that I'd get sooo many good reviews. I'm like in shock, but I'm lovin' it! Thank you everyone!

            I think this is probably the last regular sized chapter I will write before summer is over. Maybe just maybe, if I have the time/energy too, I can do one more after this. I really should be resting instead of writing. I currently have tendonitis or something like that in my foot and I can't walk very well. I don't even know what I did! L I hop or hobble everywhere. The doctors told me to rest, but I'm not. Oops. I feel more of an urge to write and when I feel like doing something, nothing stops me.

            A week or so ago, my friend and fellow authoress ZeroDaiKunTakatoP88 (I have no idea where she got that name) gave me a link to a very strange flash movie: http://www.geocities.co.jp/Milkyway-Lynx/9043/c-song.htm. If you're looking for something to laugh or cry at, you should watch this. It is so bizarre… ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kei's POV

It's so weird having the guys in our house. I suppose what's even weirder is Nuriko being a girl. Tasuki told me that Nuriko wanted to be a girl, I guess he got him wish. I'm still wondering who that guy was that saved Miaka. Even though he wore sunglasses, I could still tell he stared at Lily funny.

Tasuki and I are upstairs, fixing up the extra rooms for everyone. It's taking forever, we keep stopping and making out. I didn't think he'd look so damn good in jeans and a t-shirt.

I have no idea where Chichiri and Lily went, I think they're outside, Nuriko's out for a walk, and Hotohori and Taki are in the kitchen trying to figure out what we're going to eat tonight. Some how I doubt they're faring any better in their task than Tasuki and I are in ours.

I keep thinking about what Tasuki tried to say to me back in Konan before I stopped him. Whatever it was, I didn't want to hear it at the time but now I'm curious. I guess Tasuki noticed my preoccupied state. His hand on my shoulder made me jump.

"Kei?"

"Huh? Wha?" I just stared at him.

"Somethin' wrong?"

"Umm…no. I was just wondering… What did you try to say to me before we left Konan? You began to say something, but I stopped you."

"Ah… Forget it. It's not really important. I really don't even remember…" I had a feeling he was lying. He didn't sound to sure of himself.

"Okay…whatever." I turned my attention back to the bed I was making. He stared out the window. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah…fine." He turned back and helped me finish the bed. After we were done he looked up at me and smirked. "Want another round?"

"Okay." I giggled and crawled over the bed into his arms. Every time we finished a room, we'd make out. It took us over an hour and a half to do like two rooms. Not that I mind though. I'm so head over heals in love with him. I really just want him to feel the same, though I doubt he does. Though if he didn't, why are we always kissing? Dammit. I'm confused.

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

Narrator's POV

Nuriko was walking down the streets of downtown. She found it very difficult not to say or do something to many of the men that gave her catcalls while she was walking. 'Shoot…I wish I knew whether or not I had my super strength here. I never checked before I went out. I would go and fight with them but if I don't, I'd have more problems than I could deal with.'

Nuriko eventually sat down at an outdoor café. She took out a wallet she fond in a pocket. Surprisingly, there was money in it. 'Hmm…wonder where this came from… I guess I'll just order something.'

A waitress came over and asked for her order. She just got some tea. Nuriko looked around. There were a lot of couples in the café and some single men and woman. They must have been trying to meet people. She really didn't think anything of it until a couple of guys sat at her table.

"Hey baby."

"What's a pretty girl like you doin' here alone?"

Nuriko folded her hands on the table. "Waiting for her order, I think."

The taller of the two men moved the chair he was in closer to Nuriko. "Why not forget about this little place and come back to our place? We got better stuff than this." He smirked.

"I'm perfectly fine here. Please leave me alone." Nuriko moved her chair away from him.

The other man grabbed her arm. "You'll be in a lot of trouble if you don't come with us. He doesn't like no for an answer."

"Leave me alone!" As she stood up, the tall man shoved her to the ground.

"Stay down!"

"Ya know, if a woman says 'Leave me alone' that's what you should do." A young man stood up from another table. "Especially if that woman is my girlfriend."

Nuriko scooted away from the three men. She didn't know the 3rd one, but she wasn't about to argue about it.

"You're girl, huh? Too bad, she's ours now." The two men stepped between Nuriko and the other man. "You want her, go through us."

"Fine. If that's the way you want to play." The young man smiled smugly and crossed his arms over his chest. "Come and get me."

The two men ran and lunged at the third. Everyone had cleared the area, for fear of getting caught in the fight. Nuriko watched in awe as the young man who called her his girlfriend gave both men one swift kick to the chest and knocked the wind out of both of them. He stepped over their bodies and over to Nuriko, who was still on the ground.

"Are you all right, Miss?" He offered a hand to her.

She took it. "Yes. Thank you." She looked up at him. He was over 6 ft. tall. Sunglasses hid his eyes, but she could see his short sandy blonde hair.

"Ah…sorry 'bout that girlfriend comment." He scratched the back of his head. "I didn't know how else to get their attention…"

"It's alright." Nuriko suddenly realized something. "You're the same guy that saved Miaka, aren't you?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Depends on who Miaka is. I don't think I know anyone by that name."

"The girl who ran into the street earlier today. You were the man on the motorcycle that saved her, right?" He was still wearing all the same clothes from earlier.

"Oh, yeah. That crazy one. Now I remember. You were with that group of people that came for her, right?"

"Yes. I'm Nuriko. You are?"

"Jason."

"Well, tell me Jason. Do you make a habit out of saving girls?"

"Not usually." He chuckled. "Today was just one of those days." They both left the café.

"Well, thank you again. I think I should head back to the house I'm staying at."

"Visiting friends?"

"I suppose you could say that." 'That's the least confusing way to say it any way.' "I hope I'll see you again soon, Jason."

"Same here." Nuriko turned around and began to walk away. Almost as soon as she started walking, a couple of guys began yelling to her. "Hey, Nuriko..."

"Yes?" She turned around again.

"You want a ride back to where you're going?"

Nuriko looked around at the guys on the street. She sighed. "Only if it's not too much trouble."

"Not trouble. Come on." He led her to his motorcycle. "Climb on and hold on tight. Just tell me which way to go."

Nuriko carefully got behind him. She felt a bit nervous. 'It's just like riding behind someone on a horse…sorta.' She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. 'Wow…he works out. He's cute too, even if I didn't see his eyes. I bet they're cute too.'

Nuriko hung on for dear life as they sped down the crowded downtown streets. After getting a little lost, they finally got to the house. Nuriko got off the back.

"Thank you again, Jason."

He took Nuriko's hand and kissed it. "No trouble at all. I don't mind helping the cute ones." He smiled when Nuriko blushed. "Until next time, Nuriko."

"Bye!" Nuriko waved as Jason started his bike again and drove down the street. He turned around one time to wave before he turned a corner.

Nuriko smiled as she headed back into the house. Taki was the first one to greet her.

"Hey Nuriko. How was your walk?"

"Very interesting. I met that man who saved Miaka. He helped me as well."

"Really? What happened?"

"I went to a café and these two men came from somewhere and asked me to go to their place with them. I said no and then they were going to drag me there I suppose, but that guy was in café as well and he stopped them. He was so nice, cute too."

"Did he give you his name?"

"Jason. He has this gorgeous sandy blonde hair too. Very tall and strong, though I didn't see his eyes. He gave me a ride back here too."

Taki smiled. "Sounds like you have a crush on him."

"Maybe a little." Nuriko smiled and blushed.

Taki smirked. "Not even here for half a day and you already like someone. Oh well. We'll be eating later." She walked back into the kitchen. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jason paced around in his small apartment. "Dammit. I am so in over my head. I shouldn't even be here." He ran a hand quickly through his hair. "But what else am I supposed to do? If I don't get to Ala…Lily first, her stupid family will… That's the last thing she needs…"

He grabbed a sheet of paper off a desk. It was a letter of confirmation for a martial arts tournament that was a few days away. There was also a list of competitors. He quickly scanned it. Lily was listed, as well as Taka. "Maybe I'm insane for doing this." He put the paper back. "She's my best friend… How can I tell her…"

A phone rang. He picked it up. "What?…No I haven't…Yes, I'm trying…No, I don't know where…Quit yelling, would you?…Shut up!…No, don't…Yes, I will call if I do…Bye." He set down the phone. "Oh jeez…Now I have to get to her before they do. But she's gonna hate me when I tell her what I have to tell her."

He sat on his bed and rubbed his temples. He found himself thinking about Nuriko. Almost as soon as he started, he shook his head. 'What am I doing? Why am I thinking about her? I need a nap…' He kicked off his boots and brought his legs up onto the bed.  He laid back and closed his eyes. 'I don't like what I have to do, but I have to do it.' He fell asleep quickly. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chichiri and Lily were sitting in a garden in the backyard. Lily ran her hand through her hair. She bit her lower lip. "Chichiri, what do you think happened? I mean why are you guys with us? Not that I'm complaining, but it's weird."

"Yeah, it is. I wonder if it had something to do with Kei's grandmother. She did look a little upset when she was beginning the spell."

"Maybe." Lily cuddled in Chichiri's arms.

He smiled and stroked her hair. "I suppose it doesn't matter though, does it?"

"No, it doesn't." She kissed him on the cheek. "Ya know, ever since I started making wishes with you, they come true."

"Really?"

"Yes." She smiled and cuddled closer.

"What was the 2nd one?"

"I wanted you to come back home with me."

Chichiri kissed her on the lips. "Good to know wishes can come true, no da."

Lily giggled. She really loved him. He made her laugh, comforted her, and was someone she truly trusted. It was wonderful being able to talk to someone about her problems. She didn't have any other people she could talk to like she could to Chichiri. She wasn't sure Chichiri would ever love her, after what had happened to him, but she didn't care. She'd always be there for him. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hotohori stood in the kitchen with Taki. She was loading the dishwasher. She finished up and turned it on. Hotohori slipped his arms around her waist from behind.

"You done yet?"

"Yes. It didn't take that long. Don't act like it did."

He kissed her behind the ears. "Fine."

Taki leaned back into him. "You know, you should wear short sleeve shirts more often. They look better than those robes you used to have."

"You think?"

She rested her hands on his arms. "I know."

Their conversation was interrupted by Taki's phone. She muttered something and picked up the phone. Hotohori sighed. It was the 2nd time his time with her had been interrupted by a phone.

"Hello? … Oh yeah, hi … Wait, wait, slow down I didn't understand that … Well, what am I supposed to do? … Why me? … You know I can't … Fine. Hang on." Taki grabbed a notebook and a pen and sat at the kitchen table. "Okay, go on … Where am I supposed to find a guy like that? … I should hurt you for that … Don't bitch at me about it! … Tomorrow!?!? … You're kidding … You're not … Great. I'll do my best. No guarantees." Taki hung up and stared at what she wrote. She sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm doomed."

"Excuse me?"

"I was supposed to do a photo shoot tomorrow with some guy and now he pulled out. There is no one to fill in for him and my manager wants me to find a guy to replace him. I have less than a day to find some one his height and size." She ripped the sheet of paper out of the notebook. "I'm never gonna find someone…" She let her head fall back and stared at him upside down. "Unless…" She raised an eyebrow.

"Unless what?" She stared at her.

She looked at the paper again. "Unless you'd do it. You're actually the same size as the guy who's dropped it." She stood up.

"Ah… I don't know. What would I have to do?"

"Put on some clothes the people give you and sit around for a while."

"Is that what you do?"

"Yep. And I get paid a whole hell of a lot for it." She looked at him with big, pleading eyes. "Please? I'm gonna be in so much trouble if I don't have someone to do it."

"All right. I don't think I can argue with that." He sighed.

"Thank you so much!" She kissed him and smiled.

"Taki, are you dragging Hotohori into modeling?" Kei was standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the dinning room. Tasuki was behind her.

"I asked him and he said yes. What do you want me to do?"

"Tell me what we're having for dinner. I'm hungry" Kei grabbed a granola bar out of a box in a cabinet.

"I still don't know. We don't have much around. Didn't go shopping yet."

"Just order a bunch o' pizzas. It's the quickest thing I can think of."

"I guess. Might as well. I'll order them later. Where're Chichiri and Lily?"

Tasuki looked out the kitchen window. "Out there." Chichiri and Lily were still sitting outside, kissing passionately. "They look like they're having fun." He smirked.

Kei elbowed him in the ribs and gave him a 'Stop that' look. Tasuki rolled his eyes and chuckled. Kei glared at him. "I'm gonna take a walk. Tasuki, I think you should come with me. Huan-Lang, come." She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out the front door. The large black dog followed, wagging his tail.

Taki giggled as she watched Kei drag Tasuki outside. 'Some people are just made for each other.' She then sighed and hopped up onto the kitchen counter. Her legs dangled over the side like a little kid's.

Hotohori watched her. "What are you doing?"

"Sitting." She picked up and apple from a fruit basket and bit into it. "Eating too."

He rolled his eyes. "You never cease to confuse me sometimes, Taki."

"What? All I'm doing is sitting on a counter eating." She leaned forward. "Do you have a problem with what I do in my house?"

"No, it just confuses me. You wouldn't be able to do something like that in the palace."

"Well, this isn't the palace. It's big, but it's no palace." She chewed thoughtfully for a while. 'The palace…Hotohori's home. I really can't deny that he's real anymore. He isn't just a really hot guy in a story in my dreams…'

Hotohori cocked his head to one side. "What are you thinking about?"

"The palace."

"What about it?"

She lowered her eyes to the ground. "I didn't really think it was real, I didn't think Konan was real, I didn't think anything of it was real until now. Now that all of you are here, I know I'm not dreaming. I know that your world really is real. And it scares me." Taki tossed the finished apple into the garbage can.

"You didn't think I was real?" He looked a bit hurt.

She buried her face in her hands. Hotohori saw that she was on the verge of tears. "No, I didn't. And I'm sorry I didn't. But I didn't want to believe the truth about Kei or that the man that I may be falling in love with lives in a whole other world!" As soon as the last words escaped her lips, she wished she could pull them back. She covered her mouth with a trembling hand. "Shit…" She muttered and tried to run from the kitchen

Hotohori blocked her path. "What did you say?" He grabbed her wrists so she couldn't get away.

She made a feeble attempt to pull away, but ended up letting Hotohori pull her into his arms. "You heard what I said. I think…I know I'm falling in love with you, but it scares me so much."

He led her into the den. They sat on the sofa. "What scares you?" He brushed back her hair.

"What scares me is that when I came to Konan, I never, ever would have imagined that I'd meet a person, an emperor no less, that could break down every wall I ever put up around myself so soon! I don't understand how you did it." She let out a few choked sobs. "Damn… I don't even know why I'm crying."

Hotohori took a deep breath and pulled her closer. He gently stroked her hair and let her cry in his arms. "Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected places…" He hadn't meant to say that out loud, but he did.

Taki felt herself blush at the mention of love. Luckily he couldn't see since her hair had fallen around her face and prevented him from seeing her. 'Love… Do I even know the meaning of it anymore? I'm just not sure. It used to seem like something that's for everyone but me, but now… Now it doesn't seem so impossible.'

Hotohori gently pushed her onto her back on the sofa. Taki opened her arms to him. His body hovered over hers and he slowly closed the gap between them. After a long kiss, she broke their kiss and gasped softly when Hotohori's hands slipped under her shirt and brushed against her skin. He began to kiss at her neck and ear.

"You're too sensitive…" His voice was soft and husky.

"No… you're just too good…" She moaned and rolled her head back and forth on the cushions of the sofa while he nipped at her neck and shoulders. "Damn, why did I have to be wearing a spaghetti strap top?'

He once again covered her mouth with his. She twisted her fingers into his hair while his hands continued to roam under her shirt.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Lily and Chichiri had come in from the backyard and accidentally watched them kiss. Lily glanced over at Chichiri.

"They're really into it." She smirked.

"Lily, leave them alone."

"Can't I embarrass them?"

"No. It isn't nice."

Lily began to clear her throat, quite loudly. Chichiri glared at her. Neither one of the people on the sofa noticed. Lily was surprised and tried again, even louder. Nothing happened. She and Chichiri stared wide-eyed at each other. Then they tried at the same time. Still nothing, the couple continued.

"Let's go, Lily."

"Yeah." Lily and Chichiri quickly went upstairs, both shocked at what they had just seen.

In the den, Hotohori finally got off Taki. She was blushing furiously. "Oh my God… How embarrassing."

"I think they were a little more embarrassed than us." Hotohori helped her up.

"Maybe." Taki smoothed down her hair. She smiled. "Thank you, Hotohori."

"Any time. If you ever need me you know I'll be there." He hugged her.

"I know." She wiped away a few final tears. "And I couldn't be more thankful." Taki walked back into the kitchen to unload the dishwasher. 'I'll never understand him. Sometimes he's so quiet and reserved, other times he's so passionate.' She smiled to herself. 'Some day I'll thank Miaka for not falling in love with him. After all since she didn't, he's there for me.'

Hotohori watched her walk away. He smiled. 'Looking back on things, I think it's a good thing Miaka didn't love me. If Miaka had liked me, I wouldn't be able to have Taki. She's the one I love, the one I was really waiting for.' ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tasuki and Kei walked around town for a while. Kei was holding a cup of  coffee. She sighed. It felt good to be home. They walked back into the park where they arrived. Kei found an empty space near a pond and they sat down.

"So Tasuki, what do you think of my world?"

"It's interesting and it confuses me."

"I think it confuses everyone. No matter how long you live here, there will always be something that's confusing." Kei smiled as she watched Huan-Lang play with some of the small kids in the park. He could carry two at a time on his back.

"Kei?"

"Hmm?" She took another sip from her coffee.

"If you had a choice to live in this world or my world, where would you go?"

"Where would you go?" She looked up at him.

"I asked you first. Now, which one?"

'Speak your mind, Kei. You always have before…' "I'd go where ever you are." She stared into her coffee and blushed.

"Why?" He stared at her, trying not to be visibly affected by her words. His heart began to race. 'What's she saying?'

"Because… Because I don't want to be somewhere you aren't. Tasuki, I lo…"

Suddenly a high-pitched squeal interrupted her. Kei and Tasuki looked up. Kei groaned. Chizuru and her boyfriend Takeru (Those two from the first chapter, remember? I barely did.) were walking towards them.

"KEI! Hey! Who's this? Your boyfriend?" Chizuru smiled at Tasuki. "He's cute."

"Shut up Chizuru." 'Boyfriend or not? Technically not, but then again how do I explain the truth?' "Yes, he is my boyfriend. Tasuki this is Chizuru and her boyfriend Takeru. Guys, this is Tasuki." Kei was surprised at how Tasuki kept such a straight face.

"Hi." Tasuki nodded his head in their general direction. He was a bit perturbed at the moment. He had already begun to dislike them.

"Wow Kei, you always find such cute guys. Did you meet him on vacation?"

"Vacation?" Now Kei had gone from annoyed to confused. 'When did I go on vacation? I was in Konan for months, but that was no vacation…'

Takeru muttered something. "Don't play dumb, Kei. You and your friends have been in China for two weeks. You just got back yesterday."

Kei cast a quick glance at Tasuki. He shrugged slightly. "Right, right. Sorry. I'm tired. I wasn't thinking straight."

"It's alright." Chizuru smiled.

Kei shoved a hand onto her pocket. After feeling around a bit, she set off the ringer on her phone. She began talking like she really did have a call. "Hello? … Oh hey … Already? … Okay, we'll be there soon … All right bye." Kei pushed the phone back into her pocket. "Tasuki we have to go." She whistled for Huan-Lang. "Chizuru, Takeru, sorry. Gotta go, bye."

Kei and Tasuki hurried out of the park. Tasuki shook his head. "You know some really annoying people, ya know?"

"Yeah. And I'm sorry I do."

"You didn't really have a call, did you?"

"No, I've learned to fake it really well though. It gets me out of bad situations."

"You certainly are an interesting on Kei. Jeez."

Kei giggled. "How sweet of you to say that."

Tasuki rolled his eyes. "What ever."

Huan-Lang trotted in between the two. He seemed to be the only one who, if he could talk, would say how the two people felt about each other. His tail swished back and forth as the three of them went back into the house. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Another chance to say 'I love you' gone! Will they ever say those three little words? It would make for a strange romance story if they didn't, wouldn't it? What is Jason's role in this mess? Have you guessed who Nuriko is going to be with yet? Why am I asking so many questions? I'm the one who knows the answers, right? Ack!

I believe this is most definitely the last chapter I do before I go back to school on Tuesday. FF.net is going to be down for a few days so even if I had another one, I wouldn't be able to get it up.

~*~Shadow Hawk~*~