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            Kei blinked a few times. She found herself just waking up, but she didn't know where. She was lying in a bed covered by red silk sheets and blankets. 'Where am I?' She stood up. Everything in the room she was in was red and decorated with pictures of Suzaku. There was no one around. She was completely alone. "Hello? Is anyone here?" She began to walk around. "Hello? Guys? This isn't funny! Where are you guys?!?!"

"Your friends aren't around, Kei…" A voice came from behind her.

She whipped her head around. "Who said that?"

Hoshi-sama appeared in the room. "It's just me."

Kei's eyes widened. She'd never seen the Guardian outside of when she appeared in her mirrors. "How did you? When did? What are? Where are we?"

"My world."

"Your world…? What?" She looked confused.

"Well, I don't live in your world or the Universe of the Four Gods. I'm somewhere in between."

"Why am I here then? Am I asleep?"

"Yes, you are. I needed to tell you something."

"What? You sound sad."

"You have to go back into the book."

"Huh? Why?"

"There's something I have to explain. I am the Beast Keeper, Beast God Keeper if you want to be more accurate. I watch over and command the four beast gods. Recently they've been fighting more and more."

"So what does that have to do with me? And you for that matter?"

"Tension is increasing between Konan and Kutou again. War is brewing between the 2 countries again. They will invoke the powers of their gods and I can't let that happen. The purpose of the gods is not to fight. If either country succeeds in summoning their god to fight, they won't be able to control it. Their whole world will be destroyed."

Kei stared into space. "Destroyed?"

"Yes."

"Tell me something…"

"Yes?"

"What was your original purpose? My grandmother couldn't have known this would happen…"

"I was originally called forth to seal the book permanently."

"Why?"

"Because…every time people cross over from your world, war seems to break out. It happened when Hikari was there, it happened before her and after her. Hikari decided it would be better if no one ever crossed over again and she was right. The more times people cross over, the more people die. It isn't right…"

"So it's time for me to die then…" Kei sighed and touched the pendant on her neck. "Just as I was starting to enjoy life."

"That's another problem…"

"What?"

"You said you'd fight to stay alive and stay with Tasuki. Now you've given yourself to him. You can't be killed now."

"I…I can't?"

"You could be killed by natural causes, like old age and such, but not supernatural things like me. If you survive until I take over, you'll still live…" Her voice trailed off.

"There's something else though, isn't there?"

"I'll be forced to leave you. Once you have your life back, I'll be gone."

Kei froze. 'Life without her? I'll have my life…but I'll be alone in my mind…' "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Can't we just not go back into the book?"

"Not unless you want their world to be destroyed. The people of Kutou have no idea what they could do if they bring on Seiryuu. The people of Konan will answer the threat with Suzaku."

"But don't they need their seishi and a miko?"

"Not this time. Things changed when I…we entered that universe."

"Everything changes…"

"It can't be helped. Change is imminent. So is waking up."

"What?"

Everything went black. Kei sat up with a gasp. 'What the hell?' She squinted in the dark. She was in her living room along with all her friends. They'd all gone to sleep, or perhaps passed out, in the room when they'd been drinking too much during Kei's party. 'Damn…my head…I shouldn't drink so much…' She saw Chichiri and Lily on the couch, Taki lying in Hotohori's lap on a big, plushie chair, Nuriko lying on Jason's chest on another couch, and found herself lying across Tasuki on a 2nd chair plush chair. She carefully, so as not to wake anyone, got up and walked outside onto the porch. "I don't wanna go back…not yet…"

"Go back where?" Tasuki stood in the doorway between the porch and the foyer.

"Did I wake you?" Kei watched him approach her in the darkness.

"No. Don't think so anyway." He wrapped his arms around her waist. "What's wrong? You sound upset…"

Kei rested her head on his good shoulder. "N…nothing…"

"Kei…"

"We…we have to go back to Konan…"

"Why?"

"Kutou is gonna attack. And they're going to try and summon Seiryuu…"

"What? How do you know?"

"The Guardian told me…she tells me a lot."

"The Guardian?"

"The entity that lives in me…the reason I went to Konan in the first place. The one that makes me different."

Tasuki was confused. He knew Kei was the girl promised to his people decades ago by her grandmother, but he didn't know what she was supposed to do. "There's someone else in you?"

"Exactly. I've lived with her all my life and probably why I didn't die when Shigeru beat me to a bloody pulp."

"So that's what you were mumbling about…"

"When?"

"When you 1st ran from me."

"Ran from you? When?"

Tasuki smiled and shook his head. "You've got a bad memory, ya know that?"

"Then refresh it for me." She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"When you were really pissed at me an' the other guys for treatin' you badly, you ran. I ran after you. I found you by the river, muttering something I couldn't understand, something about a guardian. You never did tell me."

"Oh yeah…that…" She and Tasuki stood on the porch for a while longer. "Tasuki?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you…"

Tasuki pulled her closer. "I love you, too." He kissed her passionately. 'I wonder what brought that on…' After a little while, Tasuki let her go. "Let's go back in."

"Alright." She slid her hand into Tasuki's and they went back inside.

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

The next morning, everyone was slow to get up. It had been a hell of a night. Taki couldn't count how many times Kei had begged to just go home, but they had all insisted on partying all night.

Kei sat in her room, staring at the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho. 'I really have to go back…I don't want to go back…going back means leaving…maybe not permanently, but still…' She picked up the book and traced the characters on the cover. 'Talk about a book that changed my life…' She carried the book to a desk. She stared at the hand that was burned when she first touched the book. She wondered about the birds she saw. Red and black, the colors of Tasuki's hair and hers. 'Did it mean anything? Did any of it mean anything?'

"Kei, what are you doing?" Jason stared at her from the doorway.

Kei yelped and flung the book into the air. "Damn it, Jason! Don't do that!"

She was about to pick up the book when Jason grabbed it. "Do what? All I did was ask you a question. What's this?"

Kei took the book from him. "It's the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho."

"The what?"

"The book we told you about…" She held it tightly.

"Oh…that…"

"You still don't believe, do you?"

"Not completely. How exactly am I supposed to believe a book can send you to ancient China?"

"You'll see soon enough."

"Excuse me?"

"We have to go back…"

"We do? What for?"

"I…I have some unfinished business there…" Her hands began to tremble. "Important business…"

Jason saw her hands shaking. "When do we have to go?"

"As soon as possible…"

Jason scratched his head. "Should I pack?"

"Couldn't hurt. You wouldn't like the clothes they have there." Kei gave him a weak smile.

"Okay then…" Jason left her doorway to go to his room.

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

Kei had a hard time explaining herself to the others and why they had to go back, but eventually they understood and agreed.

While everyone was packing, Nuriko sat in her room. She stared at her reflection. There was no point in her packing anything. All the clothes she's gotten here were women's clothes after all. She put her face in her hands and began to sob. 'It's all over…once we go back to Konan, I'll have to say goodbye to Jason…he won't want me once he finds out the truth…he's not interested in a feminine guy…I enjoyed it while I could…now…now I go back to what I was before.' She sighed and tried to stop herself from crying. It was no use though. She tossed some odds and ends into a shoulder bag just so she had something to take to Konan.

Nuriko went into the bathroom and began to wash her face. Her eyes were red from crying. 'Great…' She leaned over the sink and watched the water run and go down the drain. Her remaining tears mixed with the water from the faucet. Nuriko held her hands under the cold water and splashed her face. She shivered as the water dripped from her hands and face. She sighed one more time and grabbed a towel. She dried up and stared at her reflection.

Lily stood outside the bathroom door. She could hear Nuriko crying. 'Damn…she's heart broken already…and Jason doesn't even know yet…' "Nuriko?"

"What?" Her shaky voice came from the other side of the door.

"We…We're just about ready to go…"

"I'll be down soon…"

"Nuriko?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah…" She cracked the door open.

Lily stepped in and closed the door. "Are you gonna be alright?"

"No…" She frowned. "I love Jason…you know that…but once he finds out I'm a guy, he won't want me anymore."

"What makes you think so?"

"Lily, your cousin is not gay. He loves me as a woman, he won't once we're back in Konan…I'm not a woman…"

Lily sighed. She didn't know what to say. There wasn't much arguing her logic. Jason wasn't gay and Lily had no idea how Jason would react to the truth. "…You act like there's no chance what so ever for him to care anymore…"

"That's because there isn't! How many times do I have to say it? It's over!" She stormed out of the bathroom back to the bedroom.

Lily lowered her head. She hated to admit it, but Nuriko was probably right. Lily walked out of the bathroom and went downstairs. She saw Taki in the kitchen.

"What's the matter, Lily?"

"Nuriko…"

"Oh…she's really upset, I take it…"

"Yeah…she's convinced it's over…though it probably is…"

"There's always a chance, isn't there?"

"Maybe…I'd rather not say anything though…"

"Do you think we should tell Miaka and Taka we're going back?" Lily gave Taki a dirty look. "Right…of course not…silly me…" Taki rolled her eyes.

The 8 and Huan-Lang gathered in the living room with Kei holding the book. Nuriko stood away from Jason, not wanting to land near him should they end up in a pile like they did when they went from the book to the real world.

Kei put the book on a table. "Are we ready?" The others nodded. "Here we go then." Kei opened the book. As she started to read, it began to glow red.

Jason's eyes widened as the red light engulfed the 8 of them and the dog. 'They were telling the truth…guess I've got a lot to learn then…'

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

The 8 landed with a crash in the gardens of the palace. Kei groaned in pain as she tried to push Jason's foot out of her side. Huan-Lang sat and watched the pile of people in the grass. He wagged his tail. Somewhere in his canine mind, he found it funny.

"Jason! Move your foot!"

"Sorry! Someone's on top of me!"

"I'd move I wasn't under Tasuki!" Lily whined.

"Then Chichiri will have to move!" Tasuki was struggling.

"Will you all just shut up?" Taki pulled her leg out of the pile and rolled away from it. "Yelling doesn't help!" She grabbed Hotohori's hand and helped him up. She scanned the pile for Nuriko. It wasn't until she looked up that she saw him running for the palace bedrooms.

It took about 5 minutes to get everyone totally untangled. Jason looked around for Nuriko.

"Where'd Nuriko go?" He looked confused.

Everyone stared at each other. Taki smiled nervously. "Nuriko? Umm…Nuriko probably went to change into some other clothes… You know women's clothes, not really that comfortable…speaking of changing, why don't all of you guys go change? I'm sure you'd rather be in your own clothes than the ones you have now."

They guys quickly took the hint and rushed off to their own rooms for other clothes. Jason stared at them funny. "Riiiight…"

Kei thought for a moment. "Why don't we find you a room, Jason?" She grabbed his arm and began to drag him to the hall of bedrooms. Lily and Taki followed in an attempt to make it take as long as possible.

Not much was said amongst the 8 of them until dinner. The seishi were busy, especially Hotohori, with the matters of Kutou. Jason was floored when he learned Hotohori was the emperor. Taki smiled and dismissed it as something Jason wouldn't have believed if they told him earlier.

Jason wandered around the palace. He was still in awe of the whole thing. He wished he had believed the girls before. His self guided tour was interrupted by a group of men led by a blue-haired man with a scar on his face.

"Hey you!" The man yelled. "Where's Genrou?"

"Who?" Jason stared at the scarred man. "I don't know anyone by that name."

"He's supposed to be here."

"Don't look at me. I just got here."

"Are you sure?" The scarred man narrowed his eye.

"Yeah." Jason turned his back to the men and began to walk down the hall.

"Don't turn away from me!" The group began to follow him when Kei came around a corner.

"Hey Jason, have you seen…" She saw the group. "…You…"

The scarred man raised him eyebrow. "You again?"

"Nice to see you too, Kouji." Kei rolled her eyes.

"You know him?"

"Sorta." Kei grabbed Jason's arm and began to drag him away. "Not important though."

Kouji glared at her. "What did you say?"

"You heard me. Don't act stupid, though I know it's hard."

Kouji drew a dagger on her. "You need to learn some manners girl!"

Jason grabbed Kouji's arm. "Why don't you put that away?"

Kouji stared at Jason. "Who's this? Your man?"

Jason's grip tightened. "Older brother. Drop the dagger or you'll be sorry."

Kouji reluctantly let go. Kei stared up at Jason. "Thanks."

"Sure." Jason let go of Kouji's arm.

"What are you doing here?" Kei crossed her arms.

"Where's Genrou?" Kouji frowned. "He's been away for a while."

"He's with Hotohori, Chichiri and Nuriko. They're talking about the Kutou problem. Try later."

"Kutou problem?" Kouji raised his eyebrow.

"They're ready to wage war again. Haven't you heard?"

"Guess the news hasn't gotten to us yet."

"Too bad. You should try to get news faster."

"Shut up."

"Fine. Bu-bye then." Kei left the hall. Jason followed her.

"What a bitch." Kouji shook his head.

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

Later that evening, Jason was getting annoyed with the fact that Nuriko was no where around. It was like he disappeared off the face of the planet. Little did he know he'd soon get his answer. He finally got a chance to ask Kei and the others.

"I've had it now. Where's Nuriko? She's been gone since we got here."

Every on began casting nervous glances at each other. Kei pushed Lily forward. "You tell him."

"Me? You do it!" Lily pushed Kei.

"I'm not gonna tell him! Taki, you do it!"

"Me?" She squeaked. "Hotohori, you tell him."

"No. Chichiri, tell him."

"I think Tasuki should say it, no da."

"Forget it." They all starting getting in a fight over who would explain the problem.

Jason was getting more pissed by the minute. "Tell me what?" He crossed his arms and glared at the 6.

They all froze. Kei scratched her head. "Well…the, um…the reason Nuriko hasn't been around is that…um…"

"Go on…" He tapped his foot impatiently.

"She'sahe" Kei spoke too fast to understand.

"Come again?"

"Nuriko's not really a girl. She's a guy. When we came out of the book the first time, Nuriko was a girl. Now that we're back here, Nuriko's a guy again…" Kei covered her head with her hands. "Don't hurt me…"

Jason didn't move. He was trying to comprehend what Kei just said. "…You've got to be fuckin' kidding me…"

"That's what you said when we told you about Konan…we weren't lying then, were we?" Lily cringed.

"No…no…I guess not…excuse me…" Jason slowly turned and walked back to his room.

Everyone looked at each other. Kei buried her face in her hands. "I don't believe this…"

Jason laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling. 'A guy? Nuriko's a guy?  I'm in love with a guy?' He rolled over onto his stomach. 'Do I still love her…him? Or is it over?' He groaned. 'That's why he hasn't been around…he was trying to hide from me…I suppose I can't blame him… Why didn't he say anything before?' He smacked himself in the head. 'Because you can't walk up to a person and say something like that without having them think you're a lunatic, that's why. Damn it, I'm stupid…'

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

Midnight came. Neither Nuriko nor Jason was seen for the rest of the day.

Nuriko sat, shirtless, on his bed, unable to sleep. He stared at himself in the mirror. '100% man, lovely…'

A sudden knock on the door startled him. "Who is it?"

"It's me…" Jason's voice came to Nuriko's ears. "Can I come in?"

"Um…hang on…" Nuriko scrambled to put his shirt back on and opened the door. "…Hi…" He stared at Jason, who was just standing there in his pajamas.

"Hi…" Jason stared at Nuriko. They entered the center of the room. "Can't sleep?"

"N…no…guess. You couldn't either…"

"No… Nice place…" His eyes wandered around the room.

"Yeah…it's okay…" He began to ring his hands together. "Um…so what brings you here now? It's kinda late…"

"I know…I'm sorry…I could go if you want…"

"No! No…that's okay…it's fine. What's on your mind?" 'As if I didn't know…'

"The others told me…"

"Told you what?" He heard his own voice crack as his eyes began to tear.

"You know…" They both sat on the bed.

"I figured they would soon…" Nuriko couldn't face him anymore.

"There's just some things I want to know…"

"Like what? Why I lied?"

"No. I wouldn't have believed you even if you did tell me. I'm a skeptical person, you know that…I wanted to know if you're still the same person I met in the café…"

"The same person? I think it's a little obvious that I'm not!" Nuriko began to cry.

"That wasn't what I meant…" He rested a hand over Nuriko's heart. "I mean…has anything changed here?" With his other hand, he forced Nuriko's face to meet his. "Well?"

Nuriko was silent. The tears stopped. 'Am I really the same? I don't think I changed my personality…' "I…I think so…"

"Then that's what really matters." Jason kissed Nuriko. "Nuriko?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you still want me?" He stared deep into Nuriko's eyes.

"Of course I do…I just thought that…"

"That once I found out the truth it would be over?" He pulled Nuriko closer.

"Yeah…I mean…I didn't think you'd be interested in a guy…"

"Nuriko, as long as you still want me to, I'll still love you…I was thinking about it all day and I realized it didn't matter…"

"Are…are you sure you don't mind the fact that I'm a guy?"

"Guy, girl, what difference does it make?" He leaned closer to Nuriko. "True love transcends everything, even gender. Don't you think?"

Nuriko smiled through his tears. "Yes…" He wrapped his arms around Jason's neck.

"Nuriko?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you." He gently kissed the smaller man.

"I love you, too." Nuriko rested his head on Jason's shoulder. "You really are the sweetest guy ever."

"That has yet to be confirmed…"

"It's confirmed by me."

"Good enough. Hey uh, can I stay here tonight? I forgot where my room is…" He grinned like an idiot.

Nuriko laughed. "Sure…" Nuriko snuggled up with Jason under the covers and happily fell asleep with him. Today hadn't been as bad as he originally thought it would. He was still with Jason.

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Umm…I dunno if any of you people have problems with gay relationships, but I don't. One of my best friends in the whole world is gay and I don't care. I wouldn't survive high school without him. To me, it doesn't matter if you're straight, gay or bi, as long as you're a good person it doesn't matter what kind of people you like. Okay, so that's my moral/social tidbit for today. Enough of me being on my moral high horse, I'm generally not all opinionated like this. There are very few things in this world I take a strong stance on but this happens to be one of them. Sorry for the quick rant.

Also, if you like Fushigi Yuugi and/or Nuriko, I think you should have seen this coming. You didn't think I'd split them up, did you? I created Jason for Nuriko in the first place at you guys' request, remember? I left that poll up for couple of weeks and you all told me you wanted to see Nuriko with someone. After all, I'm not that cruel either. I may leave cliffhangers, but I wouldn't crush 2 of my characters. That's just plain evil.

Bye for now!

~*~Shadow Hawk~*~

            1/3/03