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Nuriko's POV

I slowly opened my eyes. The sun poured into my room casting a golden glow over everything. I began to move when I felt something holding me back.

I was scared. Me. Scared. What was there? I turned over. Jason was lying next to me, still sleeping. I sat up quickly. What was he doing here? Didn't he know?

I stopped. He did know. He told me last night. He didn't care either way. I smiled. Jason began to stir. His dark hazel eyes opened and he stared at me.

"Morning." He smiled at me.

I smiled. "Morning."

He sat up and pulled me into his arms. I sighed happily. Things were okay for once. He gently nudged at my neck. "We should go get some breakfast."

"Yeah." He pulled me up. "Let's go."

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Kei's POV

I woke up in Tasuki's arms. He held me tightly. I was happy. I nuzzled his neck. "Tasuki…get up…the sun's up…"

"So?" He opened one eye. "Why do we have to get up?"

"'Cause we're naked and if we don't get up soon, the maids will come in and drag us out." I began to try and pry his arms off me.

He muttered something about the maids and loosened his grip on me. "Oh fine…" He pushed the blankets off and got up to get his clothes. "You always have to be right, don't you?"

"Uh-huh!" I smiled and went for my clothes. I got dressed and waited for him.

We left his room and began to head for the dining hall. We stopped in the gardens first. We stood in the gardens in the gazebo. I leaned on him and smiled.

"Remember when you first kissed me?"

He slid his arms around my waist. "Uh-huh. You cried after I did."

"I know…" I preferred not to think about that. That was when I was still worried about dying here.

I guess he realized thinking about that made me upset. "Sorry…I didn't mean to…"

"I know." I kissed him so he wouldn't talk anymore. We stood embraced and kissing for a long time.

Neither one of us heard the footsteps that would have been obvious had we not been preoccupied. "Genrou! What are you doin'?!?!"

A deep, familiar, annoying voice caused both of us to jerk away from each other. It was Kouji. I though he was gone. Tasuki turned to meet his fellow bandit. I felt like running away. Now this was embarrassing.

"Are you gonna answer me?" The older bandit looked shocked.

"What do you mean?" Tasuki raised an eyebrow.

"Yer…yer kissing a girl…her of all people." Me of all people? What did he mean by that? Is he still convinced I'm a total bitch? Hmm…guess so…

"What's that mean?" Tasuki snarled.

"You never liked women before and she…she…she's the last person I ever would have seen changing you."

Tasuki frowned. "Things change." He grabbed my hand. "Deal with it."

"Guess we'll have to. Yer stayin' here then?"

"O' course. I got a lot o' seishi work to do, too."

Kouji shook his head. "Sometimes I wish the boss never told ya who ya are."

Tasuki shrugged. "Woulda happened anyway…"

"I guess." Kouji lightened up. "Good luck then. We're gonna head back."

"Okay then." I watched Tasuki and Kouji say their good byes and the blue-haired bandit left our area.

I felt funny. I'd never been so quiet. I didn't say a word during that whole thing. I sighed with relief. I was kinda expecting a more violent confrontation or something.

"You okay?" Tasuki nudged me.

"Yeah. Fine." I sled my hand into his. "I guess I was just expecting something worse."

"Understandable." We left the garden and once again headed towards the dining hall.

While we were walking I saw Jason walking with a considerably shorter person next to him. As we got closer I saw it was Nuriko. So were they still together? I saw Jason and Nuriko holding hands. I guess that's a yes. I smiled. Of course I was happy for them, I wanted them to stay together.

We began to walk next to them and talk about stuff. Nothing important, just stuff. This was what life is supposed to be, being happy and comfortable with people you care about and who care about you. So why is it here? How come I didn't ever find this in my world? Why did I need to fall through a book to find someone who loves me? Then again, is it worth it to think about? I mean, wondering why things happen in life is like wondering why birds fly and fish swim. It just happens. There's no real explanation for it. It happens and you just go on.

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Five weeks passed with no sign of movement from Kutou. Every day I watched the seishi train with the soldiers. Training was very intense here. It kinda reminded me of boot camp or something.

A bottle of sake suddenly was waved in my face. "Drink, Kei?"

I looked up. Taki was holding a bottle of her own. "Thanks." I took the bottle and began to drink.

Taki leaned against a post and sighed.

"You okay?"

"I…I was just thinking…Nuriko told me last week that last time Konan and Kutou went to war…that…that…" She choked on her words.

"What?" I stared at her. What could have been so upsetting?

"That Hotohori was killed…" She looked out across the training field.

"K…killed?" I was more than a little shocked. "But then how is he?"

"I don't know why he's alive now. Maybe the entrance of the Guardian had something to do with it too. Nuriko said he died too."

"Weird…" Taki still looked pale. "Is something else wrong?"

"…Yes…no…I dunno…"

"I'll take that as a yes…"

"Well it's just…if I've learned anything in school, it's that history repeats itself. I'm just afraid it will happen again and I'll lose him…"

I saw the fear in her eyes. History does repeat itself, but these are much different situations now. "But it's different now…"

"How? They're still going to war. People die in war. There's no way around it…"

"But the Guardian was never here before."

"I dunno how much that'll help…"

"It'll do something. Things are different from the last time the countries went to war. He'll survive. They all will." I smiled at her.

Taki stared at me. "Thanks. You know…in the 15 or so years we've been friends, you've been the only one who could make me stop worrying about stuff like I do."

I shrugged. "That's what friends are for." I finished off the bottle. She finished hers.

"Guess so. See ya later." She smiled and left me alone to watch the training.

See ya later? Would she? It wasn't certain I wouldn't die from this. Once the war starts, I'll have to go, but for how long?

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Two weeks later, we got word from the border patrol that the Kutou forces we advancing…and taking no prisoners. They were already deep in the country and would be at the palace soon. They left no town standing and most likely they had the same plans for the capital. People were getting out in time though. Civilian casualties are at a minimum at the moment. As I watched the soldiers running around the palace and town, preparing for the worst, I realized something.

This was all my fault.

How? I am the vessel of the Guardian, that's how.

Nakago wants her power, what for I don't know. She has the power to contain the Gods, not use their power for destruction, which is what I imagine he's looking for.

Tasuki caught me standing in the doorway of my room. "What's wrong?"

I didn't move. "The war…it's my fault…"

He looked shocked and pushed me into the room, closing the door behind him. "What are you talking about?"

"It's all my fault…"

"How?"

"Nakago's after me…"

"He'll get you over my dead body."

"NO! Don't say that!" I covered my ears. "Please don't get yourself killed over me. That's what I mean. People, innocent people, will die because I'm here!" I felt my eyes tearing up.

"It's not because of you!" He grabbed me by the shoulders. "It's because he's war horny. As soon as he hears about a person from another world coming here, he decides to declare war. It could have been anyone from your world. It isn't because of you." He wiped away my fallen tears.

Tasuki's words didn't help. I still felt like this was because of me. Maybe Nakago is war horny, but I was the one to cross over this time. Technically I am the one to trigger this war.

"Kei, I know what you're thinking and I'm telling you this isn't because of you."

I stared up at him. "Fine…I'll believe you…for now…" I murmured.

He let his hands drop to my waist. "Please, don't blame this on yourself…"

"I'll try…"

"Kei…" He looked upset.

"Tasuki…this is hard for me…gimme time…please…"

"All right…" He let go of me. "I gotta go and finish helping out."

"Okay…" He quickly brushed his lips against mine, then I watched him leave my room and join the soldiers. I know he means well, but all the good intentions in the world couldn't stop me from feeling like this. I sat on my be and went to sleep.

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

So how much time passed? A month? A week? A few days? I dunno, all I know is the Kutou army is here. I saw them lined up in the town and palace grounds from my window. Two guards were standing at my door keeping me in and the Kutou soldiers out. I begged them to let me out, but they said it was under Tasuki's orders that I shouldn't be let out. He wants to keep me safe, I know, but this would not help.

I began to cry. People were dying because of me. I never accepted protection from anyone, now look at me. There are two armies, my friends and my lover out there fighting over me.

"Kei! What are you doing in here?" A rather distraught Hoshi-sama came to me in the mirror.

"Tasuki locked me in here. He's trying to keep me from Nakago."

"No…no…Kei, you have to get out there! He'll be killed!"

"What?!?!" Killed? Tasuki? NO! I couldn't let that happen! "How?!?! Tell me!!!!"

"He won't see it coming. I can see the battle before it happens and I saw him get shot by one of Kutou's archers."

"But what can I do? I'm stuck here!" I began to feel panicked.

"Kei, you're me, I'm you. You can blow down the door and get out of here. Hurry!" She looked as panicked as I felt.

I stared at the door and pointed my palm at the door. "Blow it down, huh?" I concentrated for a moment and a ball of black ki flew from my palm and destroyed the door. Black? Why black? Maybe it's just because I've got powers from all the Gods, not just one.

I ran out of my room. The guards were too scared to stop me from leaving. Oh well, I have work to do.

Get shot by an archer? I have to find Tasuki, now. He can't die! I won't let him…

I began running faster, looking everywhere for him. If I don't find him soon, it'll be too late…

My legs began to hurt. The palace was far too big. A hand suddenly grabbed me.

"Kei! What are you doing out here?!?!" Jason had a death grip on my arm.

"Let me go! I have to find Tasuki!" I wretched my arm from his grip.

"Why?" He sheathed his bloody sword. He'd been doing his job.

"He's gonna get killed! Please, tell me where he is!" I begged him. Normally I don't beg, but this was different.

Jason looked worried and grabbed my hand again. "Let's go." He took off running, so I hand no choice but to follow him, or be dragged along as the case may be.

We ran through the halls, ignoring everything. Somewhere along the line, Taki began to follow I really wasn't sure, as I was just trying not to fall while running.

We ended up in the courtyard, where the seishi and Lily were at a stand off with Nakago and his soldiers. Jason stopped to let me go and catch his breath.

"Out there…" He pointed.

Taki grabbed me. "What are you doing?"

"I have to save Tasuki." I saw an archer poised to shoot in a shadowed corner of the court yard. Nakago was demanding that I be brought out. Tasuki held his ground firmly and argued with him.

I was frozen in my place. I wished that I could just kill Nakago, I had the power after all, but that would just make the archer fire.

Nakago's voice echoed through the air. "If she isn't brought to me now, you won't be able to deal with the consequences…"

"Consequences my ass! Kei won't be coming any where near you, bastard!" Tasuki…you noble fool…if only you knew…

"Fine." Nakago raised his hand as if he was going to fire at them.

Hoshi-sama's voice rang in my head. "Kei, go now! The archer is about to fire!" I ran towards Tasuki. Pain shot through my calves with every step. Jason and Taki ran two seconds after me.

Tasuki was shocked when he saw me running towards him. Couldn't blame him though. He thinks I'm in the room.

I saw the archer fire.

It was now or never.

There was no time to blow away the arrow, so I had to do the only other thing I could.

I would make sure it would hit me instead.

Time slowed down as I saw the arrow approach him. I shoved Tasuki into Chichiri and Lily so he'd be out of the way.

I heard Taki scream, saw Tasuki cast me a pain filled glance and felt nothing but pure pain as the arrow hit me square in the chest.

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Tasuki's POV

I don't know why Kei was there, but she was. I felt her shove me and I fell into Chichiri and Lily. What happened?

Taki's scream ran in my ears as I watched the arrow, from where I don't know, embed itself in her chest.

I realized the painful truth. Kei was going to die protecting me. Somehow she had seen this coming and prevented it the only way that was left to her, self-sacrifice.

Everyone, even the Kutou soldiers and Nakago, froze, except for me. I ran to Kei as she fell. Blood had already seeped through the purple shirt she had on. No one could survive a wound like this.

I knelt with her, dying, in my arms. "Wh…what the hell did you do that for?" The words tumbled from my mouth as I began to cry.

"I couldn't let anything happen to you…" Her voice was weak already. She winced in pain and clutched at the wound. "It doesn't matter what happens to me…"

"Wh…what do you mean by that?" How could she say that?

"I knew I was gonna die here…I wasn't sure how though. Things changed for a while…but fate never changes, it only detours." Pain and sorrow filled her eyes as she began to cry.

"No…no…you can't die…you can't…you can't leave me…" I held her bloody hand in mine. I didn't care.

"I'm sorry, Tasuki…" Her other hand weakly brushed my tears away. "I didn't want to…but it just happened this way."

Her voice was fading even more. "Please…don't talk anymore…" The other came out of their frozen state and circled us. "Save your strength…"

"There's no point. I won't survive this…" She turned her head to the side and coughed. Blood came up as well. "It's getting hard to breathe, so I have to hurry up and say this…"

"No…don't say anything…"

"Please, let me." She covered my mouth with her hand and I stopped. "Tasuki…l want to thank you. The past few months have been the happiest time of my life, albeit my last few…" She coughed again. "And it's been because of you. I never cared much for life, I never cared that I'd die here…" I felt my throat tighten up. "But being with you made me want to keep living. I had a reason to…" I saw Taki and Lily drop to their knees next to me. They were starting to cry. Jason was standing with his fists clenched, trying not to cry, though not succeeding. "I had a reason to live, but I have a reason to die too…this war was started because of me and now it's going to end. There will be no more fighting here…" Her eyes began to close.

"No! Kei, please! Don't die on me!"

She softly kissed me. I could taste blood and tears. That didn't matter either though. I was about to lose her. "It can't be helped…Will you promise me something, Tasuki?"

"Anything, Kei…Anything…"

"Don't forget me…"

"I could never forget you, I love you Kei…"

"I love you, Tasuki…" Her hand fell out of mine. "Good bye, everyone…good bye, Tasuki…" She closed her eyes and died in my arms.

I cried in front of everyone, Konan and Kutou citizen alike. Hell…why should I care? Kei was gone. They killed her. That was the only thing that mattered now. The one person I ever loved was gone.

I gently lifted her off my lap and let her rest with Taki and Lily. They were both sobbing over their dead friend. Taki was hurt by all this more so than Lily and Jason. It didn't surprise me though, Taki and Kei hand been friends longer. I stood up slowly, still crying and covered in Kei's blood. It was my turn now…I was going to kill Nakago for this…

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Kei's POV

Is that it?

Am I dead?

Yep, I'm done…

But is it over? Not by a long shot.

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The Guardian's POV

They killed her…she's gone. Now I'm supposed to take over, but I don't want to. I just want to bring Kei back. Even Nakago could see how much they were all hurt by this.

Kei stood before me in my world. "Aren't you gonna take over?"

I noticed there was no wound in her. Which does make sense, this is a spirit world after all. It doesn't matter what happens to you physically, your spirit will generally stay intact. "I should…"

"You have to…"

"I know…I feel like it's wrong though…"

"Do it. Otherwise the Universe of the Four Gods will be destroyed."

"You're right. I suppose I have to."

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Narrator's POV

Rage was building inside Tasuki while the others cried over Kei. Tasuki was planning on killing Nakago and the other soldiers around. A red glow encircled Tasuki and his symbol glowed brightly.

"You'll pay for this, Nakago…you'll be lucky is anyone recognizes you after I'm through with you…" He pulled out the tessen, which was glowing as brightly as him.

"We'll just see about that…" A blue glow encircled Nakago and he drew his sword.

"There will have to be a delay in that…" A new voice rang in the courtyard.

Everyone turned to see Taki back away from Kei's body.

"I…I thought she was dead…"

Suddenly, Kei's eyes opened, but they weren't their normal amethyst. They now glowed red. "Not completely, my dear…" The new voice had come from Kei, but it obviously wasn't her.

"Who are you?" Nakago demanded to know.

"My, my…so impatient." 'Kei' stood up and examined the arrow. "You have good archers, dear. Too bad you can't kill a goddess." She pulled the arrow from her chest and the wound closed immediately.

The Suzaku seishi began to back away. 'Kei' smiled. "My dears, there's no need for you all to be afraid. I'm not here to hurt you." She turned to the Seiryuu soldiers. "I'm here to wipe them out."

With a flick of her wrist, literally, she killed all the soldiers except for Nakago. "You'll be last for everything you've done. But first, I need a little a little changed of clothing." She looked at the blood stained shirt. "Shame…I liked this one."

'Kei' held her hands out in front of her and made them glow black. Her body was soon surrounded by a black aura that forced everyone to shield their eyes. When it faded, it became obvious who they were now dealing with, the Guardian herself.

In place of Kei stood a slightly taller woman with jet black hair that fell to the floor. The blood stained clothes were replaced with a simple, long, black gown. A pair of magnificent red wings grew from her back, a thin, blue tiara rested in her hair, a green bracelet adorned her left arm and a white one on her right, but the amethyst pendant from Tasuki still rested on her neck.

Tasuki was the first one to get his nerve back. "You…you're the Guardian…"

"Of course." She nodded.

"So what are we supposed to call you?"

"My real name, Nozomi, will do." The feathers on her wings ruffled as she stretched then for the first time in hundreds of years. "That feels good."

"Where's Kei?" Tasuki's eyes met with Nozomi's. The glowing had died down and they had returned to amethyst.

Nozomi lowered her eyes. "I do not know. She's probably in my castle with the Gods…"

"Liar! You know exactly where she is! Tell me!" Tasuki's eyes filled with hate.

Nozomi was taken aback. "You certainly are brave to talk to me like that. I can see why she loves you. But I can truly say I don't know where she is."

"Tasuki, don't anger the goddess, no da…" Chichiri pulled his friends back.

"It's quite alright. It's been along time since anyone has ever spoken to me like that." She turned to Nakago. "Tasuki, you wish to kill him for killing Kei, am I right?"

"Yes…"

"Then do it. I was planning on offering you power, but you don't need it. You can do it one your own." She stepped out of the area between Tasuki and Nakago. "I suggest you hurry."

Tasuki stared at her, confused, then stared back at Nakago, feeling the rage build again.

"Prepare yourself, Nakago. This ends now…"

Nozomi flew up to a higher ledge to give herself a better view. She sat on the arches at the entrance of the court yard and frowned. Tasuki definitely had the power to take down Nakago, it was just a matter of him correctly utilizing it. Also, it was a matter of stopping him before Nakago's soul, or what was left of it, was gone. She had to some how get a hold of it and do what she could for him. She closed her eyes.

'Kei…can you still hear me?'

'Not very well…I'm tired…can I sleep now?'

'No…you can't…I'm sorry…you have to stay awake, so to speak, for as long as possible.'

'It's hard though…I just wanna sleep…'

'Please don't…Kei…please, watch Tasuki…'

'Tasuki? What's he doing?'

'He's about to fight to fight with Nakago…'

'Really? I guess I will watch…' When Nozomi opened her eyes, Tasuki had just thrown a large stream of fire at the blue-caped enemy seishi.

'You should…it will be very interesting…'

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Is Kei gone forever?

Will Tasuki win?

What are Nozomi's plans for Nakago?

Was it angst-y enough?

The story is finally winding down. I don't think it will be much longer. I'd give it 2-4 more chapters…

Remember, more reviews means more story, faster.

~*~Shadow Hawk~*~

1/11/03