Hey all! *waves* Nice to know people came back after a month of me being gone.

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"Married? Your mom's gettin' married again?" Kei gaped at Taki.

"Yep." Taki was sitting cross-legged on her bed. "Mr. Davenport's really nice. He seems okay to me."

Kei blinked. "You don't have a problem with it?"

"Why would I?"

"I dunno." Kei realized she didn't have any sort of argument against it, it was just weird to her. "How long has she known him?"

"A few months. It does seem kinda soon, but he really does seem to love her. I'm not gonna stand in her way."

Kei cocked her head to one side. "Ummm…I don't wanna sound, like, intrusive or anything but does your mom know about you knowing about your dad? I mean…if she's getting married…"

"Well, she admitted it to my face for the first time when I was over there, but I did have to tell her I knew." Taki sighed. "That was the hardest thing I ever had to do…"

"Harder than telling Hotohori how you felt?" Kei smirked.

"Ah…umm…" Taki glared at her. "Why must you bring up stuff like that?"

"'Cause it's fun." She stuck her tongue out at Taki.

"You wanna talk about fun? Don't make me bring up the bandit!" Taki smirked.

Kei froze. "That's below the belt!"

"All's fair in love and war."

Kei silently fumed as she left Taki's room in a huff. 'If she wasn't my best friend, I'd be hurting her right now…' Kei sighed and sat on her bed. She stared into the mirror on the dresser. "Hoshi-sama, can I talk to you?" Her image faded from the mirror and was replaced with the older women.

"What's wrong?"

"Why can't I tell Tasuki how I feel?" Kei felt her eyes tearing.

The Guardian sighed. "Because you're scared. Kei, we are one and the same technically. I feel everything you do…"

"Then you know how badly I want to tell him…" She pulled her knees to her chest.

Hoshi-sama felt an incredible urge to hold Kei and comfort her. 'Damn these human emotions…perhaps I've become too much a part of the girl…' "Yes…"

"Hoshi-sama?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Is there anyway to save their world and both of us? I really don't want to die…"

"I don't know Kei… If I knew, I'd tell you. I've lived for thousands of years, but even I can't answer everything."

"You look good considering your age." Kei smiled.

"I am immortal, my dear, I don't age…" She smiled.

"You've changed…you aren't the same entity who was trying to break out in Kutou…"

The Guardian sighed again. "That's your fault."

"M…me?!?! What did I do?"

"Your emotions concerning your friends, family, and Tasuki are so strong that I've begun to take them on as well…"

"I thought you'd never have emotions…"

"Well, I never thought you would either. You used to close yourself off to everyone."

"True…I'm so different now…"

"Kei, I'm sorry your life worked out like this…you don't deserve this…"

"So am I…I wish…I wish I had more time…I know it'll be over soon though…"

Hoshi-sama turned her head so Kei couldn't see her cry. "I'll do what I can to give you time…with him…" She murmured the last two words so softly Kei didn't hear. The image of the Guardian faded and Kei faced herself in the mirror again.

"I just want time to be with him…that's all…" Kei buried her face in her knees and cried.

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Tasuki's POV

I pressed my ear to the wall between my room and Kei's. I could have sworn her heard Kei talking to someone, someone I didn't recognize. Maybe I imagined it? I didn't hear much, just a bit.

"…Your emotions…Tasuki…"

"…Never have emotions…"

"…Closed yourself off…"

"…I'm sorry…"

"…More time…

"…I'll do what I can…"

"…To be with him…"

I know I heard my name, but is it good or bad? I also know I heard two different voices. It was feminine, but it wasn't Nuriko, Taki or Lily. But who was the 'him' I heard Kei mention? Is it me? Am I getting my hopes up? I have no idea anymore…

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Lily glanced over a few papers in her hand. More deeds and titles, balances and bank notes…that was all she was given after the reading. She sighed. "Hard to believe a few pieces of paper mean I'm, like, a millionaire now…too bad I don't give a damn…"

She pulled a box closer to herself and opened it. Pictures and other little personal things filled the box to the top. She found her birth certificate and her parents. A necklace laid at the bottom. On the bottom of the silver chain lay a Celtic knot with an emerald set in the center. Her mother had gotten it for her when she was young but wasn't going to give it to her until she was old enough.

"I wonder if I'm old enough yet…" She set it back down and closed the box again. "Save all that for later."

She picked up a pair of reading glasses and went back to the paper work. She found the deeds for every single building her parents had owned. She took out one. The deed for a ranch she had loved since she was little. Aside from the personal items, it was all she wanted. She began signing all the papers. She was letting her aunt and uncle take everything. After all she'd put them through, it was the least she could do.

A stack of signed papers soon formed in front of her. The ranch would stay in the care of her relatives, but it was hers. Her hands trembled as she put all the paper work in the large envelope she was given. "It will all be over soon…soon I can go home…home…finally…" She put the envelope down and went to sleep.

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The next morning, Chichiri took Lily down to her relatives' house so she could give them everything. Carol tried to convince Lily to stay, but there was no changing her mind. Jeff didn't have much to say. He never did. Lily stood in front of her uncle.

"Uncle Jeff, please don't hate me for this…" She felt so small compared to him. Jeff towered over Jason and Jason was 6' 5" or taller, she wasn't sure.

"Ala…Lily…I'd never hate you…I just don't like your decision. It probably is for the best, but I still don't like it…"

"I know…but I am a big girl now. I know what I'm doing…"

"Well then…good luck and take care of yourself. Tell Jason too." Jeff quickly hugged his niece one last time.

"I will. Promise." She smiled, left the house and ran back to the car without looking back. Chichiri drove back to the hotel as quickly as the legal limits allowed him.

At home, Lily stared out the window of her room, holding the necklace. She turned it over a few times in her hand. 'Do I have the strength to keep this?' She slid it onto her neck. The cool metal felt nice on her burning skin. Her finger brushed the stone in the center. She smiled. 'Of course I do…'

Taki popped into Lily's room. "Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah…I'm finally okay." She couldn't keep her hands off the necklace.

"Hey, that's pretty. Where'd you get it?"

"From my parents…"

"Oh, um…okay. Any who, I came in here to tell you I got tickets for us to go back home for the day after tomorrow. It was the best I could do."

"That's cool." Lily went back to window staring.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. It's just so massive, ya know?"

"I'm not sure I know what you mean…but yeah, okay, I guess." Taki stared at Lily.

"Never mind. I'm sorry. I know I'm acting really weird…"

"I know." Taki smiled. "But I can forgive you this time."

Lily smirked at Taki. "Mou! Get outta here!" Lily grabbed a pillow and flung it at her.

Taki dodged it and ran out the door. "Later!"

Lily smiled and turned to the window again. "I'm leaving it all. I'm leaving the past where it belongs. This chapter of my life ends…I wonder what's coming now…" She shook her head and sat back on her bed. "But until that chapter really begins…I need to find Kei a birthday present…maybe we could all just tie Tasuki up and put a big red bow on him or something…" She laughed at the thought of Tasuki with a red bow on his head. It provided a very funny mental image. "She'd be happy with it at least…"

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Kei was the first to hop off the plane back home. "Ah! Home again! So good to be back!" She stretched her legs out.

Jason and Tasuki came stumbling off the plane together. "Damn water…" They both mumbled.

The others smiled. Taki smirked. She had a wicked idea. "Too bad we didn't have an emergency water landing…"

Jason and Tasuki gave her death glares.

"Eep!! Sorry!" She waved her hands at them. "I surrender!"

The group headed back to the house. Kei found Hikari and Huan-Lang in the living room.

"Hi, Grandma! How was it while we were gone?"

"Peaceful, quiet, quite enjoyable." Hikari smiled. "Maybe you all should take longer trips more often."

"Gram! Don't be so mean!" Kei huffed. "You know you missed us!"

"Of course, dear." Hikari stood up. "I should go now. Got some shopping to do."

"For what?" Kei began to brush Huan-Lang.

"I have to find something for your birthday Kei. Or did you forget?"

"Oh yeah…I did." She sighed. "Come on, don't get me anything…I never want anything any more. It doesn't make sense to do anything for me now."

"Maybe I'll just get you some sake. Since you'll be able to drink it legally after all. Then again, you've always had it anyway."

"Grandma! That's so mean!"

"Sorry, dear. I have to get you something though. It wouldn't be a birthday without something."

"Grandma, do I get my stubbornness from you? 'Cause I know it doesn't come from Mom…"

"Probably dear. You're more like me than your mother."

"Thank goodness. I don't want to be like her."

"Kei, go easy on you mother. I didn't do a good enough job on my own raising her. It isn't her fault. It's mine…"

"Go easy on yourself, Gram. The fact that Mom is kind of a wussy, bubbled-headed person isn't your fault. You did do better with me. I'm strong and I'm stubborn, just like you!" Kei smiled widely at her grandmother.

Hikari smiled. "Thank you, Kei. That means…something. I'll see you in two weeks."

"Okay. Bye, Grandma." Kei waved and Hikari left. "Come on boy, let's go upstairs." Kei and Huan-Lang ran upstairs past Tasuki. He was about to follow her when Taki grabbed him.

"Hang on just a minute. You can go up there and make out with her after we talk."

"What? What's I do?"

"Nothing. We just need to talk about some stuff." Taki dragged him into the kitchen. "We need to make plans for Kei."

"For Kei? Why?" Tasuki looked around at everyone in the kitchen.

Lily was sitting at the table. "It's her 20th birthday in 2 weeks. We have to make up some mindless task for her to do tomorrow while we go shopping."

"Mindless task, no da?"

"Yeah. Every year we give Kei something stupid to do that will take all day so we can go shopping for her. She knows why we do it and she's always annoyed with us, but she does it anyway." Lily shrugged.

"I think we should make her do something fun this year since she's been through so much when we were in Konan." Taki sat on the kitchen counter.

Jason raised an eyebrow at the mention of Konan. He still didn't think it was real, but he didn't say anything. Lily cast a glace at her skeptical cousin. He quickly averted his glace and looked back at Nuriko. 'Konan…sheesh…I'll believe it when I see it… How could a different world possibly exist in a book?'

Kei sat near a vent in her room. She could hear everything coming from the kitchen. 'Good thing my room in above the kitchen…' She sighed. 'My 20th birthday…probably my last one…I don't know why they still bother…' She got up on her bed and stared at the ceiling. ''Cause they don't know what's gonna happen to me that's why…' She held her head in her hands. She was ready to cry.

"Kei, don't cry. It doesn't help…" Hoshi-sama appeared in her mirror.

"I know…but it makes me feel a little better." She hid her face.

"Be that as it may, it upsets everyone else, including me, to see you sad." She sighed. "Even if this really could be your last birthday, don't let them know. Try and be happy…"

"'If it's really my last'? What do you mean 'if'? I thought it was certain I'd die when you took over…" Kei faced the Guardian.

"The rules are changing. It isn't certain anymore. There's a chance that as soon as I'm finished with my work, you'll be able to come back but I'll have to leave you."

"Rules? What rules?"

"There are powers above even me that are playing with us. Neither one of us is in control of anything anymore."

"We're part of a game?"

"Yes. The seishi, your friends, even your parents are just pieces in a larger game the powers are playing with…"

"That's not fair!"

"Who said life was fair? We never were in total control of our lives. You took control for a fleeting moment when you met Tasuki. That was the moment things changed in your favor…"

Kei fell silent. She was at a loss for words. 'The rules changed? There's a chance I'll stay alive, that I could be with Tasuki? Could it really be possible?' She wiped away the tears that threatened to fall and smiled. "Hoshi-sama?"

"Yes, dear?"

"We're both going to come out of this. They won't be able to get rid of both of us."

Hoshi-sama looked shocked. "What do you mean?"

"Those powers you were talking about…I don't care how strong they are, they aren't getting rid of either one of us." She stood up. "You've been with me from the moment I was born. I was never alone. We've had our problems, but things have changed now. We'll both come back home after we finish in Konan."

Hoshi-sama smiled. "That's the 1st time I've ever heard you so confident in the future."

"I have a reason to be hopeful now. If things are changing, I'll make them change even more." She began brushing her hair and smiled smugly. "If I can make Tasuki change his opinion about women to the point where he makes out with me, I can change anything."

Hoshi-sama laughed lightly and faded back into her own world. She found herself in a palace in Kei's mind. When Kei was young she had envisioned the Guardian living in a palace so now she did live in one. Hoshi walked through the long halls of the palace. She entered the garden at the center.

Four giant beasts roamed the grounds: a blue dragon, white tiger, green turtle and a great phoenix. Hoshi called them to her. They obeyed and walked towards her. She was the Beast-Keeper. All the animal gods followed her as if they were her pets. Hoshi noticed a wound on the phoenix's wing.

"Suzaku, you've been fighting with Seiryuu again, haven't you?" She shook her head as Suzaku and Seiryuu lowered their heads. "I wish you two weren't always fighting. Though I suppose it isn't your fault. You only take on the attitudes of the people who serve you…"

She healed the scratches on Suzaku's wing. "Maybe I should separate you two. Can't have you fighting in Kei's head. No wonder she always has headaches." She sighed. "Poor child. She has so much to bear. Me and the psyches of 4 other gods. This isn't fair to her. Maybe it would be for the best if I left her mind and stayed in the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho with the gods…"

The next morning, Kei found herself forced to spend the day at a spa. She protested with her friends but they wouldn't let her get out of it. She found when she got there that the staff was going to try everything to keep her there. She figured, if she had a whole day to relax, she might as well. She couldn't help but wonder about what mindless things her friends were getting for her. She had a wicked thought: all she wanted was Tasuki in his birthday suit and a big red bow. That would make the day perfect. She laughed to herself, not like that would happen, no matter how hard she wished when she blew out the candles.

She plunged her head under the water of the hot tub she was in and opened her eyes. She couldn't hear anything or see clearly but it didn't matter. Under the water, it was so peaceful…her one escape from all the people pestering her above the surface. She looked up. She could see people walking around with books, towels and food. Her hair floated by her face. She pushed it away and came back up for air. An attendant seemed to be magnetically drawn to her as soon as she came up.

"Is everything satisfactory, Miss Kei?"

"Yeah, it's fine." She pushed her hair back and readjusted her bikini.

"Would you like to get your hair or nails done?"

"Hmm…what can you do?"

"Whatever you like."

"I want a trim and highlights."

"What color?"

"Can you do purple? I like that color."

"Of course we can. I'll get a room ready then come and get you."

"'Kay." She waited till the attendant left then went back under the water. Her mind wandered to her shopping friends. 'Wonder what I'll get…clothes? Jewelry? CDs? Video games? Then again, do I care? It's just another '

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Tasuki sighed as he shoved a bottle of perfume away that a store employee offered as a suggestion. He wanted to get her something that would last, considering he figured their time together would be over soon. "She wouldn't like it."

"What kind of girl are you shopping for?"

"…What kind?"

"Girl fall into categories. There's punk, pop, prep, geek, Goth, and a few others. What kind is the girl your shopping for?" The employee leaned on the counter and blew a bubble with her gum.

'She isn't whatever you are…' "Kei doesn't fit into any of those. She's different."

"She can't be that different. Just pick something and she'll like it."

"You don't know her. Just forget it." Tasuki left the shop. He grumbled. There was nothing different that Kei'd actually like. Jason caught up with Tasuki.

"Find anything?"

"Nah…everything here is so…so…"

"Stupid? Tell me about it." Jason ran his hand through his hair. "Kei'd kill me if I got her any of the stuff I've been suggested."

"What are the others doin'?"

"The girls are off in some clothing shop and I dunno where Hotohori and Chichiri went. They might be with the girls."

Tasuki sighed. "Ya ever wonder if it's worth it?"

"All the time. I'm not sure I see the point to celebrating being alive for another year. I don't get it. You get gifts for not dying?"

Tasuki smirked. "That's about it."

They walked into a jewelry shop. The only person in the shop was an elderly lady. "Can I help you young men?"

"Maybe. We're shopping for gifts for a friend of ours." Jason glanced through the cases. "Her birthday is in two weeks."

"How old?"

"20."

"Try these cases. She'd probably prefer these." The lady gestured to some cases on the wall.

Jason looked through the cases. It was certainly better than anything they'd seen yet. "What do ya think, Tasuki?"

"I dunno…I mean, it's better than anything so far, but I'm still not so sure…"

Jason rolled his eyes and he continued searching. "Maybe you should just tell Kei you love her. She'd probably like that the most."

"Shut up!"

The lady turned to Tasuki. "You love this girl?"

"He's hopelessly in love with her." Jason muttered. "And to scared to tell her…"

"I said 'shut up'!!" Tasuki was getting pissed off.

"Calm down, dear. Maybe I can help." The lady smiled and went into a back room.

Jason and Tasuki looked at each other, confused. What could this lady have that would help Tasuki's situation? She came back with a black velvet box. "Take a look at this, dear." She gave it to Tasuki.

His eyes widened as he opened it. "Whoa…"

Jason peered over Tasuki's shoulder and smiled when he saw the contents. "Tasuki, if you pass that up, you're an idiot."

The old woman smiled. "Is it to your liking?"

"It…it's perfect."

"I thought so." She took the box and set it on the counter. "If you like you can get an engraving on it."

"Uh…okay."

She handed him some paper. "Write down what you want."

Tasuki thought for a moment then wrote something down. "Here."

She glanced over it. "I'll have this done in a minute." She took the box into a back room with the paper.

Jason looked back at Tasuki. "What'd you write?"

"Nothing…"

"Right…" He looked through more of the cases. "Which one you think I should get for her?"

"Something purple or black. Isn't that like all she wears anyway?"

"Mostly. Sometimes red, but your probably right."

The lady came back in with the box. "Here you are, dear." She looked at Jason. "Have you decided on something for the young lady?"

"Can I see these two?" He pointed to two of the boxes.

"Of course." She took them out and handed them to Jason.

He sat at the counter and looked at them both. On the right, he had an amethyst pendant and earrings and on the left, he had an onyx ring and bracelet set. He contemplated his options. "What do you think, Tasuki?"

Tasuki looked up from his box to check. "I'd say the onyx stuff. Kei likes black better."

Jason thought. "You're right." He picked up the box containing the onyx jewelry. "I'll get this then."

"Good choice, dear." She rang up both boxes for them. Jason headed out the door after paying while Tasuki hung back. "Something wrong, dear?"

"How'd you know?"

"Know what?"

"That this would be like perfect…"

"Oh that…Tasuki, my dear, I've been in this business since before you were born. I know how to help people work through problems. If I make a sale, it's all the more better." She smiled.

"Thanks, lady."

"Your welcome, dear. Just promise me you'll take care of this girl of yours, okay?"

"Sure. Thanks again." Tasuki smiled and left the shop. He joined Jason outside a clothing shop.

Jason glanced over at Tasuki. "What took you?"

"I needed to ask the lady something."

Jason shrugged. "Okay…oh man…" He smacked his forehead when he saw Nuriko, Taki, Lily, and a walking pile of bags coming out of the store. "What did you 3 buy?"

Taki smiled. "Nothing much. Just a few necessities."

Tasuki rolled his eyes. "Where are Hotohori and Chichiri?"

The bags dropped to the ground. "Back here, no da…" An exhausted Chichiri and Hotohori appeared from behind the mountain.

"What the hell did you all buy?" Jason stared at them. "This isn't all for Kei I hope…"

"Only about half. The other half is our stuff." Nuriko smiled.

"Only half? There are at least 20 bag there!!" Tasuki shook his head.

"That many? Really?" Lily cast a glance over the bags. "Hmm…guess so…oh well, what did you two get for her or didn't you find anything?"

"We found stuff." Jason showed them his box.

"Ooo…pretty!" Nuriko cooed. "She'll like it. What'd Tasuki get?"

He flipped open the black velvet box. Everyone smiled. It was perfect. The lady had been right, this would help him.

"So are we ready to go? I think we have everything we need." Taki looked at everyone.

They nodded. The guys picked up the bags and walked behind the girls. Tasuki managed to get closer to Nuriko. "Ya know, this might be the perfect time to see if your seishi strength still works…" He muttered.

"No, not in front of Jason. Besides, you could stand a little weight lifting…"

"That's why there are gyms in this world, Nuriko. Lifting bags for women doesn't count." He glared at her.

"Don't be a wuss and just do it." Nuriko smiled and dragged him along back to the cars. "Let's just go."

Two hours later, everything was safely put away and Kei was pulling up to the house. She walked into the foyer. "Hey guys! Tadaima!" She put her bag and jacket in the closet and went into the kitchen. Taki and Hotohori were talking at the table.

"Hi!" Kei went into the fridge for a soda. "So what mindless things did you buy this year? I bet you spent too much…"

"You don't even know what we bought." Taki rolled her eyes.

"She's probably right…" Hotohori murmured.

Taki glared at him. "Shut up!"

Kei smiled. "In my opinion, if you bought anything you spent too much. I told you not to…"

"Kei, quit being an unspoiled brat."

"Unspoiled? Isn't it supposed to be 'a spoiled brat'?" She opened the Ramune.

"Not this time. You're acting all humble, like you don't deserve this."

"I could say something about that…" She took a sip.

"But I won't let you, so shut up." Taki muttered. "By the way, what did you do to your hair? It looks cute."

"Oh yeah, I got a trim and purple highlights." She held up her nails. "I got my nails done, too. I figured, if I'm forced to stay somewhere all day, might as well make the best of it."

"That's the spirit, I think." Taki smiled and Kei left to go upstairs.

Kei jumped up the stairs and went into Tasuki's room. He was sleeping on the bed. 'He looks so cute…' She set her soda down and sat next to him on the bed. She brushed his messy hair from his face. 'Jeez, I love his hair…'

Tasuki slowly opened his eyes and was surprised to find Kei hovering over him.

"Morning, sleepy." Kei smiled.

"I haven't been sleeping that long." He sat up.

"Damn…I was hoping I could fool you." She moved closer.

"I'm a bandit, not stupid." He pulled her onto his lap.

"I know…" She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Nice hair. Didn't know you could do that." He began to run his fingers through her hair.

"Anything and everything's possible." She purred slightly at his touch. 'Even us being together…' She smiled to herself.

Tasuki studied her face as she closed her eyes and leaned in closer to him. She was the image of perfection in his mind.

"Hey Tasuki?"

"Huh?"

"Can you come with me to my parents house the day before my birthday? I do it by myself every year, but I'd feel better if you came with me…"

Tasuki thought for a moment. He didn't like the idea of Kei being near her stepfather alone. "You think I'd let you go alone?"

"I dunno…" She sighed.

"You're not going anywhere near that bastard without me." He pulled her tighter for emphasis.

Kei said nothing. She was somewhat surprised at his sudden defensiveness. 'Then again, it isn't that sudden…he did knock out Derek in one hit when he was going after me…' She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thanks."

"You know I'd do anything for you, Kei." He brought her face to met his. 'I love you…'

Kei stared deep into his intense amber eyes. It was actually the first time she noticed how easily she could be trapped by them. 'Intense…'

Tasuki stared into her eyes. 'Kei…the amethyst-eyed descendant of Hikaru Kazama, the most powerful miko of Suzaku…the girl of legend…the one who was meant to save our world…in my arms…' He suddenly realized how strange it was. '…What the hell?'

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            Happy Holidays, everyone! I'm so happy I got this done before X-mas. Won't be too much longer till that confession moment, I swear! It might be out before winter break ends which is the 6th of Jan. I figure, today's the 24th so I will most definitely have it done by then. I gotta go work on my other fic now, see y'all later! Once again, Happy Holidays!

~*~Shadow Hawk~*~

         12/24/02