"Star Lovers" by Ai Yuukan Chapter 6 Nakago teleported to the ground below and examined her, shocked. He immediately felt for her pulse. She was still alive. He gently touched her face, hesitantly. For the first time in many years, his eyes betrayed him by allowing his emotions to show. He was in shock. Why would she do such a thing? He brushed her silky silver hair from her face and stared at her closed eyes. He saw her tear-stained cheeks and felt guilt. She needed a bed. And healing. He gently picked her up and was actually startled when his guards came running to him. "What's going on?" He demanded. The guards stared at the unconscious form of the Seiryuu seishi in his arms before blustering. "Shogun. is she.?" Nakago's eyes narrowed. "She's fine. Answer my question." "H-Hai, shogun! Shogun. the Emperor would like to know what you plan to do with the Suzaku no Miko." Nakago's eyes narrowed. "What I.? What are you saying?" The guards looked confused. "Shogun. you took the Suzaku no Miko a few minutes ago." Nakago's eyes flashed. "I what?" "You." "You're saying I took the Suzaku no Miko?" "H-Hai." Nakago frowned. All of a sudden, the guards stared behind him, flabbergasted. Nakago felt the chi of a Suzaku seishi behind him and slowly turned around to see a mirror image of himself staring at him. Chichiri sweatdropped. "Ahhh. Bye-bye, na no da!" Popping into his chibi form, Chichiri scampered away down the hall. Nakago's eyes narrowed angrily. "Follow him."
"Hai!" Both guards hurried away.
Nakago looked down at Lilian in his arms. She was more important. He frowned. Since when? He gently laid her down on the wooden floor, leaning her against the railing. He touched the corner of her lip and the cut disappeared. He felt her limbs and found her left ankle at an odd angle. He lifted her skirts so he could look at her knees and frowned when he saw her right knee at an even more severe angle. She wouldn't be able to walk for some time. How inconvenient. His eyes wandered to her long, pale legs and smiled when he saw her black boots upon her feet.
He touched her forehead and with a small flicker in his blue eyes, pumped some of his life energy into her. He watched her eyes flicker open. For a few moments, she just stared at him. and smiled. Then to his surprise, she leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips.

The first thing Lilian saw was Nakago's blue eyes. She smiled sadly, and her heart sighed happily. Nakago. She was in heaven. She knew the blue eyes staring back at her couldn't be Nakago's. they were too full of blue concern. Nakago's eyes were cold. Her eyes sparkled happily. She was in heaven. Suzaku had sent an angel in his likeness to comfort her. Sighing, she leaned forward and gently kissed the blue-eyed angel on the lips.

Nakago's eyes were wide open. Lilian's were closed. She was kissing him. One question shouted in his mind: Why? Was it really Lilian? He almost smiled. She must think she was in heaven. Lilian's hand moved to his cheek as she kissed him. He smiled and slowly, he responded, and moved a hand to cup her own cheek.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps. Lilian abruptly broke off from their kiss, confused. Footsteps? How could anyone make footsteps in the clouds? She leaned back to look at Nakago and saw him smirk when he saw her confused expression. Her eyes widened. Her angel would never smirk. Realization broke upon her mind like a crashing wave. She wasn't dead! He really was Nakago! She looked down at herself and saw her skirts lifted up to her knees, revealing a good deal of leg. Her face flushed red. She wanted the earth to swallow her up and digest her. She was alive! And she had just kissed Nakago! She groaned.
"I'm not dead?"
Nakago smiled. "No, you're not."
Lilian suddenly realized something. "I'm still alive? I'm still alive!" She suddenly looked furious. Why am I still alive?! What did you do?"
Nakago sighed and stood, looking down at her. Lilian tried to get up to look him square in the face when her ankle gave way and she finally felt the pain. She gave a small cry of pain and surprise and sank back down to the floor. Her eyes widened when she saw her right leg and her left ankle both at an entirely wrong angle. Good grief.
"You were still alive after you jumped. I'm afraid the balcony wasn't high enough."
Lilian suddenly remembered why she had jumped. "I wish it had been." She whispered.
Nakago's eyes narrowed. "Nakago? Lily! What happened?" Yui appeared in the hallway with Tamahome. the new and evil Tamahome. The Seiryuu no Miko rushed to her friend and knelt beside her. She stared at her bent ankle and leg. "Lily! What happened?"
Nakago turned away. "Right now. that's not important. Tamahome. where is the Suzaku no Miko?"
Tamahome looked to Nakago, his new master. "She escaped. I'm sorry, master."
Lilian closed her eyes in pain at hearing that. The pain in her ankle and knee dully throbbed. Nakago slowly smiled. "I know where she's going. Tamahome, I want you to meet her there."
Yui jerked her head around. "No, Nakago."
The battle. was about to begin. Lilian was suddenly overcome with intense anger. To everyone's surprise, she gripped the railing and jerked it down. Everyone stared. Lily stared at the long piece of railing she held in her hand. Where had the strength come from? Shrugging it off, she took the railing in her hand and broke it in two. She broke off the shorter pieces, leaving two at the top. When she was done, she had a pair of adequate crutches in her hands. With the help of Yui, she managed to get up and adjusted her crutches. Then she was ready. She scowled at the rest of her party. "Well, what are you all staring at? Let's go and get this over with!" With Yui worriedly staying by her side, Lilian hobbled to the balcony to wait for the battle she knew was about to commence.
Nakago dispatched Tamahome and went to join Lilian and Yui. Lilian was angry. She had just demonstrated a new power. Lilian hadn't been very accurate before when she had proclaimed that her power had been as great as his. her power had been slightly less. Her powers were advancing. She now had superhuman strength, which had been activated by, no doubt, her anger. It wouldn't be long before her power was truly equal to his own.

"Miaka." Vivien had finally found her. She had been incredibly annoyed when Miaka had treacherously tied Tasuki and herself to the post earlier, mostly because she should have seen that coming. But all her annoyance had disappeared when she saw Miaka and Tamahome together. Chichiri and Tasuki were a little way behind, but she knew they would be here soon. A night breeze brushed past the confronting couple, and Vivien wanted to close her eyes, knowing what would happen next, but she couldn't help but watch.
Miaka stared at Tamahome. Fear and love knotted in her chest, making it difficult to breath. "Tamahome." She rushed into his arms. "Tamahome!"
Tamahome soothed her, holding her close. "It hurt. having to treat you that way. At that time. I had to pretend to be on their side."
Miaka felt the first flicker of hope but something prevented it from bursting in her heart. "Hontou? Is that true, Tamahome?" She held Tamahome close to her, wanting to believe him. "You didn't forget me, did you?" Tears sprung to her eyes.
"I remembered. that's why I cam here."
"Tamahome!" Miaka held Tamahome close, and started to cry happily into his shoulder.
Tamahome smiled over her head. He let a few seconds pass. "By the way, Miaka. Chichiri and Tasuki are with you, aren't they? Where are they?"
Vivien closed her eyes. Lily. where are you?

Tasuki grabbed Miaka out of harm's way and glared at Vivien. "Kyoku! Why were you just standing there?!"
Tamahome cursed. "Shit."
"Tasuki! Daijobu?!" Chichiri asked, appearing beside the bandit.
Tasuki stared at Vivien a long moment before shaking his head. "I'm fine. but Miaka's not."
"Miaka! Hang in there!"
"She's fainted."

Lilian gripped the railing tightly. Vivien. Vivien stood beside Chichiri, motionless, stricken. She knew exactly how she felt. helpless. Like her, Vivien was not allowed to interfere with what she knew was meant to happen. Tasuki and Tamahome exchanged angry words below and she closed her eyes as the battle began. Nakago smirked. "They've finally getting around to fighting. What idiots. The pill we forced on Tamahome was no ordinary drug. It was made from the deadly kodoku." Yui paled. "Kodoku?" "Curse magic." Lilian knew Nakago and Yui were staring at her. "Using kodoku, Nakago can control the memories of the Suzaku seishi. to make him despise Miaka. His personality is changed. The Suzaku seishi, Mitsukake, cannot cure it." Her eyes flashed. "The mark 'ogre' will never appear on Tamahome's forehead again." She remembered almost exactly what Yui had told her of Nakago telling her of the drug. She was deathly pale. Nakago slowly nodded, wondering how much Lilian really knew. She was as pale as a sheet, and her magnificent blue eyes glowed in the moonlight. He stared at her, wondering. Why had she kissed him? It was very possible she had thought she was dead and was in heaven. But why had she kissed him? When she had thought herself dead? He looked at Lilian strangely. She intrigued him.

Tasuki cursed. "Chikusho." Tamahome smirked. "Now what?" Tasuki glared at the former Suzaku seishi. "I don't need a weapon to beat you!"

Viven paled. "Tasuki! No!" Tasuki turned to stare at Vivien, at her stricken expression, and for a moment, his eyes softened. He smiled at his fellow seishi. "Daijobu. don't worry, Kyoku. I really don't need a weapon to beat his ass." Tears stung Vivien's eyes. "Tasuki. no." Tamahome's smirk grew deeper. "She knows I'm going to kill you, Suzaku seishi. You may choose not to use your weapon. But I will." Vivien struggled to free herself from Chichiri holding herself back. "No! Tasuki!" Tasuki turned to look at her but Tamahome slammed his nunchaku across his face. "Tasuki!!" Chichiri held her back. "Kyoku! You know you can't interfere! Think of your sisters!" He said severely. Miaka started to cry. "But Chichiri. Tasuki's going to die. Tamahome's going to kill him. Chichiri. can't you stop them?" Chichiri sadly shook his head no.

Lilian had had enough. "That's it!" Nakago was just about to teleport below. She grabbed his shoulder just as he disappeared. Yui was stunned. "Nakago! Lily!" Nakago smirked and looked to Tamahome. "Was my help unnecessary, Tamahome?" Tamahome smirked. Lilian finally managed to get to Chichiri and Miaka hiding in the bushes. Chichiri and Miaka stared. "Lily-chan?!" Lilian cursed when she realized she couldn't use her hand to block Nakago's chi blast she knew was coming without letting go of her crutches. Drat! Chichiri stared. He guessed this was the infamous Lilian temper Vivien had told them about. Lilian's eyes were like blue flame. Lilian glared at him. "Hurry up! Did you call them yet?!" Chichiri nodded. "Hai!" Lilian threw down her crutches and crumpled to the ground. "Lily-sama!" Lilian smiled sadly at the note of concern she heard in Chichiri's voice. Some of her anger faded away. Vivien was lucky. to have such good fellow seishis. who cared. A tear trickled down her cheek. "Vivi." She watched as Vivien helped Tasuki over to them. A red light began to gather around the Suzaku seishi and their miko. Vivien stared at Lilian. Lilian smiled encouragingly at her. "Vivi. go." She tried to assure her sister by smiling cheerfully. "I'll see you later.ne?" Vivien smiled shakingly. "Yeah. I'll see you later." Her eyes widened. "Lily!"

Lilian turned just in time and held up her hand. A shield of water was immediately erected before her. Nakago's chi blasted against her shield and Lilian shook. She heard Vivien's voice before they disappeared. "Lily. take care." Lilian smiled. She heard Miaka's voice and her heart cried for her. "Tamahome. Sayonara. Sayonara." They were gone. Nakago's chi blast finally overcame her shield and she was blasted against a tree. She closed her eyes wearily. She heard Yui whisper in disbelief. "Tamahome." And knew that she had seen Tamahome's tears. She smiled. Nakago went to her. "What do you think you were doing?" He demanded angrily. Lilian chuckled weakly. "Feelings stronger than kodoku. This is only the beginning, Nakago. Only the beginning." For the second time in this world, she gave in to the darkness.

Lilian passed through the darkness and light, unsure of which to choose. The darkness was so peaceful. so comforting. but the light. It was so bright with the promise of challenge. and destiny. She wanted to enter the light, but the darkness held her back. Sighing, she retreated to the darkness, to gather her thoughts. She had helped the Suzaku seishi escape. What did Seiryuu think of her now? And Nakago? She sighed. Why had Seiryuu spoken to her again.? Hadn't he said he would not speak to her again until her duty had either been fulfilled or failed? In the darkness, she suddenly felt a cool presence. "You were not acting appropriately as a Seiryuu seishi. You needed to be reminded of your duty." Lilian's eyes were shadowed. "You threated the lives of my sisters." "That was the only thing that would move you. You tried to kill yourself." "Better that than being forced to betray my sisters." Lilian retorted coldly. The voice was quiet for a moment. "What will it take to have you cease supporting the Suzaku seishi?" Lilian smiled without mirth. "Even I don't know that. And why can't I support the Suzaku seishi? They're trying to prevent Yui from summoning you. Isn't that what I'm supposed to do, too? Besides, it's not like I'm escatic, being forced to serve a snake like you." Lilian felt the voice smile. "You don't need to necessarily stop the summoning." Lilian frowned. "Excuse me?" "You just need to prevent Seiryuu no Miko from making her third wish. which was to." "Grant Suzaku no Miko the power to summon Suzaku." Lilian finished for Seiryuu. "But helping the Suzaku seishi is not your business. I do what I please when it concerns them. if you still want me to fulfill my duty, that is." The voice stilled. "You're proposing a deal?" "Like it or not, I refuse to be the one ordered about like this. I'll fulfill my duty if you allow me to act as I please." The voice was silent for a moment. "Very well. I concede. on two conditions." Lilian snorted. "Typical." "One: You will continue to provide information to Nakago that you have earned yourself, that you did not gain by listening to Seiryuu no Miko. Two: You will not blatantly support the Suzaku seishi. and you will not betray Nakago by giving them any useful information." Lilian frowned. "If you must have your conditions, then I must have one too." "Absolutely not." "It is only one." "I will hear it out." Lilian drew in a breath. "You will not threaten the lives of my sisters ever again." ". Very well." Lilian sighed. "Will you keep on interfering with everything I do?" She asked the god. "Only if you do not hold true to your word." Lilian growled. "Of course I will!"

"Then go." Lilian stared at the light, hesitant. "Will Nakago give me a lecture when I wake up? Then maybe I'll just wake up later." The voice smiled. "He will have a long talk with you, yes. The first attempt to summon Suzaku has already been performed. You have been unconscious for quite some time. Nakago very well near killed you, if it hadn't been for my interference. I have had to save your life twice now." "You kept me alive after I had jumped?" "Yes." "I hate you." There was a silence. "I know. Tamahome's family has already been killed. The Suzaku seishi and the Suzaku no Miko are already on their way to Hokkan. You will arrive there before them, however, for I will guide your ship. You may act as you wish, but stay true to your word." Lilian scowled. "Of course I will!" Her chin raised in defiance, she marched into the light.