Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi belongs to Yu Watase and not me.

Chapter 11

"So you're telling us that you found out where the Shinzaho is?" Chiriko asked.

Miaka nodded as they all got ready to climb their horses. She and Tamahome had no problem finding the other four Suzaku seishis. Miaka had remembered about the flare Chiriko gave them and suggested that they use that. The two did not have to wait long before the others rushed to their spot.

"Nuriko and Mei went ahead to Mt. Kouku. Maybe they even have …" Miaka froze as a feeling of lost suddenly overwhelmed her.

"What was that?" Tamahome asked.

The priestess looked at all her seishis as they too seemed to sense something. Then as if a screen of fog slowly lifted from around her, Miaka instantly knew that something had happened to Nuriko.

"Nuriko," she whispered. "Tamahome, quick! Something has happened to Nuriko!"

'Mei,' Tasuki thought fearfully.

Without wasting time, everybody rode off in a full gallop towards Mt. Kouku.

******

Mei watched as Ashitare's prone body lay unmoving several yards from them.

"So, were you gonna tell us this little secret anytime soon?" Nuriko asked, his voice barely audible.

The young demi-goddess again knelt beside the seishi. "Don't worry Nuriko, just hang on. I'll have you completely healed in just a minute."

"Meiling, what have a told you!" boomed a voice above them.

"Taiitsukun!" cried out Mei and Nuriko at the same time.

"What happened to you just being an observer?" the controller asked her sister. "Aside from what occurred here recently, I know for a fact that you've been very busy not interfering."

Mei had the decency to look guilty at Taiitsukun's sarcastic remark.

"I chose to overlook those minor incidents," she continued. "But you killing a Seiryuu seishi is not a simple matter."

"I'm sorry Taiitsukun, but I had to do it. Ashitare was about to finish us off." Mei briefly looked down at Nuriko before focusing her pleading eyes to the controller. "Come on Sis, please let me save him. It's my fault he got hurt in the first place."

"Sis?" the purple-haired seishi repeated. He looked from Mei to Taiitsukun them back again. "You mean, you're Taiitsukun's sister, the demi-goddess Meiling?"

The green-haired girl smiled gently and gave the boy a small nod.

"But I don't see any resemblance." Nuriko added. " I thought Meiling would be an old hag just like Taiitsukun."

A vein popped out from the controller's temple as she gave the seishi a look that would have finished him off. "You're about to die and you're still making jokes about how I look!"

"Sorry, It's just that … ha ha … Oh man, when Tasuki finds out, is he ever gonna flip." Nuriko chuckled some more, but quickly grimaced in pain. His body became slack and the look in his eyes became distant.

"Taiitsukun please!" Mei pleaded.

The controller looked sadly at his sister. "I'm sorry Meiling. I'm afraid we have to let destiny play out its course. Even if you had not been here with Nuriko, he still would have fought Ashitare to the death. We are bound by ancient rules to never interfere and change one's destiny. As much as I want to help, we still cannot do anything."

Mei opened her mouth to protest some more, but was thwarted by Nuriko's soft voice.

"It's alright Mei. It's a privilege to die for the priestess and for you as well, goddess." With the last of his strength, Nuriko removed his bracelets and handed them over to Mei. "Give these to Miaka and tell her to be strong … always …"

Taiitsukun sadly closed her eyes and slowly faded away. Death was always difficult to handle, but she knew that Meling will have to learn to deal with such lost sooner or later.

"Nuriko? No, please don't go." Mei shook the seishi's still body. With one last wail, the young woman buried her face in her hands and cried for her friend.

That was how Miaka and the other seishis found her.

"Nuriko! No!" the priestess yelled out. She rushed towards the fallen seishi and repeatedly ordered him to wake up.

Tasuki was relieved to see that Mei was alright, but grief soon replaced that feeling when his eyes fell on the bloodied and still form of his friend.

Mei had stood up when the others arrived. She saw their grief-stricken faces but focused her attention on the redhead. It pained her to see Tasuki vehemently deny Nuriko's death before he too broke down and silently cried. 'I wish I could spare you this suffering,' she mutely told him.

Mei snapped out her thoughts when she saw Miaka run away. She told the others that she would go after that priestess herself and talk to her. It took a while to find the other girl, but when she did Mei, took her in her arms and consoled the grieving priestess. She told Miaka what happened, except for the part about her using powers, and what Nuriko had said.

Miaka brushed her tears away. "Nuriko … I promise I won't let you down," she said softly as she placed the bracelets on her wrists.

"Ready to go back?" asked Mei.

"Mm-huh." The brunette nodded then blankly looked around. "Um … do you remember which way it was?"

Mei shook her head and sighed. She discretely reached out for the seishis chis and told Miaka that they should head east. However, as she turned to look at the priestess, Mei found her frowning at something.

"What's wrong Miaka?"

"That huge rock over there. Do you see it?" At the other girl's nod, Miaka began walking towards the landmark. "I think there's a chained door behind it. Let's check it out."

Mei followed her friend and soon the two girls found themselves in front of the Genbu cavern.

"We found it!" Miaka cried out excitedly.

"Yeah, but how do we get in?" asked Mei.

"We could really use Nuriko right now," Miaka said gloomily. "I wish I have his strength to lift this boulder out of the way."

A glint from Miaka's wrist caught Mei's eyes and an inspiration came to her mind.

"Nuriko's bracelets! Miaka, maybe you can activate it the same way Nuriko does and be strong enough to move the boulder."

"Hey, you're right! How do I do it though?"

"I don't know. Concentrate and see what happens."

Miaka closed her eyes and filled her mind with the memories of Nuriko. She also sent out a little prayer to her dear friend to help her out. The demi-goddess watched as a faint red glow engulf Miaka. Then both girls let out a triumphant cry as the bracelets turned into gauntlets.

"Alright!" Miaka approached the rock and pushed it over to the side without breaking a sweat.

"Let's go tell the others," Mei informed the priestess.

"Wait. Why don't we just grab the Shinzaho ourselves real quick while we're here? Besides, I want to do this on my own. For Nuriko."

Mei saw Miaka's determined expression and understood why the other girl wanted to do this. With a gentle smile, the demi-goddess nodded and walked inside the cavern with Miaka.

Author's notes: This chapter was originally part of chapter 10, but was obviously too long so I decided to turn it into a chapter on its own. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Please don't forget to review.