"Star Lovers" by Ai Yuukan Chapter 16 Lilian felt immensely better in her new clothes. Vivien's diamond had fetched a really good price. She was dressed in a comfortable white silk skirt, fashionable black knee-high platform boots, and a white silk blouse to match. She had grown very partial to silk in her time in Kotou. and Nakago. Nakago.
She frowned, and forced herself to concentrate. She needed to go to Yui's. but she didn't know where to go. Samantha had left her at their table to go to the ladies' room. She couldn't ask Miaka or Keisuke where Yui's house was. so what was she supposed to do? Nakago.
Lilian sighed. It was no use. She couldn't help but think about Nakago. She loved him. And he loved her. She needed to get back to him. but how? Suddenly, an idea struck her. Nakago!
Nakago could somehow always sense someone's chi, and couldn't Tamahome and Chichiri sense someone's chi as well? She could give it a try! That was it! She just had to sense Yui's chi! She frowned the next moment. And how was she going to do that?
Suddenly, Lilian felt a cool breeze fan against her face, feeling oddly familiar. She sat up straighter in her seat. Seiryuu!

Follow me. Lilian scribbled down a short note for Samantha to find when she got back to their table and hurried from the café. The cool wind blew against her skin, refreshing her. Lilian started to walk. guided by Seiryuu. her father. She only hoped her father knew what he was doing this time.

Mrs. Hongou knocked on her daughter's door, worried. "Yui? Yui, daijobu?" There was no answer. "Maybe you should go to the doctor!"
"I'm fine! Leave me alone!" She returned to the blue earring she held in her hands. "Nakago. Nakago. answer me."
Nakago stared into the clam shell. "Yes. I'm here, Yui-sama."
"Nakago?" Suboshi stared at the shogun, not knowing what to think.
"It's Yui-sama." He explained curtly to his fellow Seiryuu seishi.
Suboshi looked around. "W-Wh-Whe-Where is she?!"

"Relax. She's here. Can you hear my voice, Yui-sama?"
Yui breathed with relief. "Can you see me, Nakago?"
"Yes, I can see you well."
Suboshi stared at the image of Yui with pained eyes. "Yui-sama!"

Yui stared. "Suboshi? You're there too." She closed her eyes. "Nakago. I'm sorry for returning on my own." Yui smiled weakly. "Don't worry. I'm still saving the last wish for you. It's a little rough on my body, though."
"What has happened, Yui-sama?" His eyes flashed. "I can almost guess. It's Tamahome. Am I right?"
Yui closed her eyes in pain and anger. "Nakago. I. I thought I could finally separate Miaka from Tamahome! But. Tamahome's here, too! Why? Why can't I beat them?! Why did she choose.? She was my friend. We were together since we were little.!"
Nakago looked thoughtful. "Who do you love more. the girl, or Tamahome?"
Yui's eyes widened. What game was Nakago playing? "Of course, I love Tamahome." But she grew hesitant. "But. I. I. Please hurry and come here! I can't stand being on my own! I can't stand the two of them being together!"
Suboshi looked stricken. "Yui-sama."
Nakago slowly shook his head. "I would, of course, love to come immediately." And he would. Lilian was there. ". but I have other things that must be done right now."
Yui was shocked. "Why?! You said you'd be my side at a moment's notice!"
Nakago sighed. "Instead of me, I'll send someone else to be by your side."

Lilian smiled when Mrs. Hongou opened the door for her. Suddenly. she remembered. she didn't know how to speak Japanese. She sweatdropped. "Ah. ano." Help?
Seiryuu sighed. This is really sad. Suddenly, she felt something cool and strange fill her mouth. Alarmed, she opened it to release the cold air. Mrs. Hongou stared at the breath of cold air that Lilian had just released. It was as hot as a stove today!

"What was that?" Lilian demanded. Suddenly, she clasped her hands over her mouth. She was speaking Japanese. Sugoi!! She blinked. She could even think in Japanese! This was awesome! She smiled sheepishly at the poor woman staring at her. "Um, could I please see Yui-sama. er. Yui- chan, Hongou-san?" Lilian blinked, amazed of how fluently she now spoke Japanese.
Mrs. Hongou's eyes grew sad. "I. don't think she can see anyone right now." Her eyes filled up with tears. "She told me to leave her alone."
Lilian was chagrined. Oh, Yui. "I'm sure she would want to speak with me."
Mrs. Hongou shrugged her shoulders sadly. "I'll try anything now. I'm so worried. What happened to her?"
Lilian bowed as Yui's mother let her into the house. As she bent over to remove her shoes, she felt sympathy for Yui's mother. seeing her pained face. Yui needed to learn to be more tactful at times.
Mrs. Hongou showed Lilian the door to Yui's room. "Yui?"
"I told you to leave me alone!" Yui snapped from inside her room.
Mrs. Hongou walked away with tears in her eyes. In a low voice, Lilian whispered, "Yui-sama. it's me, Lily."
"Lily?!" Yui rushed to open the door. Lilian stood outside her door, dressed in new, clean clothes, and looking very stern indeed. Lilian closed the door behind her. "Yui-sama. with all due respect. you should show more respect for your mother. She's done nothing to earn your contempt."
Yui gasped, stricken. Suddenly, Lilian heard a voice. "Lilian?"
Lilian's heart thumped. "Nakago?" She saw the earring on the bed and in a stride, scooped it up in her hands. Yui stared. "Nakago! Is it you?"
Nakago stared at Lilian in the clam shell. "Lily!"
Lilian stared. Nakago. "Nakago! What's going on?"

"I'm going back to the palace." Nakago frowned. He didn't want to tell Lilian he planned to kill the emperor.
Lilian understood immediately. "I understand." Her heart swelled at hearing Nakago's voice again. "Nakago. you're coming here, right after that, right?"
Nakago nodded. "Yes."
Lilian smiled, her heart in her eyes. "I'll. be waiting."
Nakago nodded, and regretfully realized he could not keep talking to Lilian like this. He had to kill other people before he would be free to make it to her world. He closed the clam shell.
Yui stared at Lilian, as if seeing her for the first time. "You love him."
Lilian would never deny it. ever again. "Yes. Yes, I do."
Yui shook her head. "You never cease to amaze me, Lily."
Lilian smiled shakingly. "Ne, Yui-sama. I need to talk to you about. your third wish."
Yui frowned. "Yes, that's right. Just before you came in, Nakago said I could forget about his wish. He said I should give that wish to you." Her eyes softened. "He's right. you've always been there for me as well, Lily."
Lilian shook her head. "I've been meaning to tell you, Yui."
Suddenly, there was a crackle in the air. Both of them stared at the sparks of lightning crackled in front of the door. Yui relaxed. "Oh, that's right. I should have told you; Suboshi's coming."

Lilian stood with Suboshi in the shadows as Yui confronted Miaka and Vivien. Miaka stared. "Yui."
"I finally found you, Miaka." Yui said in a cold, impersonal voice. "Where's Tamahome?"
"Yui!"
Suboshi stepped out of the shadows. "Where's Tamahome?" He repeated Yui's question. "Yui-sama asked you a question, Suzaku no Miko."
Miaka gaped at Suboshi. "Suboshi?! Why are you here?"
Miaka stared at the ribbon in Suboshi's hand. "That's. a ribbon from our school uniform!"
Yui smirked. "I gave it to him when we were still in the book world. Using it, he crossed dimensions and came here."
Miaka's eyes were pained. "Yui-chan. doushite?"
"Didn't I already tell you, Miaka? I won't allow you and Tamahome to be happy together. You can't return to the book anymore. All that remains is to make Tamahome disappear."
Miaka shook her head. "Yui, wait! Will you listen to what I have to say?" She moved towards her best friend.
Suboshi stepped forward menacingly. "Stay away from Yui-sama!" Lilian wanted to stop everything, but she knew, like always, that she couldn't. "I think I'm going to kill you before Tamahome. It's what you get for hurting Yui-sama, Suzaku no miko!"
Vivien turned. "Miaka! Run!" With one last stricken look at Yui, Miaka and Vivien ran.
Suboshi sneered. "Hold it!"
Yui turned away, wishing Nakago were here. Nakago. isn't the war in the book over by now? Why aren't you here? Are you coming here for me. or Lily?

Tasuki swore as he looked around. "What's up, man?" Kouji asked his best friend, helping him up.
Tasuki swore a blue streak. "I can't see Hotohori-sama anywhere!"
Hotohori stared at the blond-haired general with narrowed golden eyes. "You're the general. of the Kotou army. No, you're the Seiryuu seishi, Nakago, aren't you?"
Nakago assessed the emperor of Konan with shrewd eyes. "Indeed. And you are the fourth emperor of Konan, Sai Hitei." His eyes flashed. "No, I should address you as Hotohori, the Suzaku seishi." He stared at the monarch. noticing something familiar in the emperor's eyes. "I'm impressed that the monarch of this country would come out here on his own. If you had just remained in your palace, you could have avoided any mishaps." Inwardly, he felt himself admiring the Konan emperor. He had courage, showing up on the battlefield like this. so unlike the emperor of Kotou. His eyes hardened. He smirked. "Our army will now withdraw."
Hotohori's eyes widened. "What?!"
Nakago's smirk deepened. "All of Kotou's military, both on sea and land, are concentrated here. It would be too easy to crush Konan. But my goal, now, is no longer the conquest of Konan. To unite this world.; my goal was to unite the four lands, Konan, Hokkan, Sairou, and Kotou. I had discovered a separate world which I should conquer instead. Since the interests of the Kotou emperor and myself no longer share common ground. it is appropriate to apply the punishment immediately."
Hotohori stared. "Punishment.?"
"How do you think. after losing the power and protection of Suzaku. you were able to make a stand with your army? What would happen if. I, the shogun, order the hundreds of thousands of soldiers here to launch an attack on Kotou? Right now, in the capital, protecting the emperor. are a few thousand ordinary, inexperienced soldiers. A nation which does not consider its citizens. will fall apart and deteriorate like a house of cards. It'll deteriorate soon enough."
Hotohori was shocked. "This war. was to deceive the eyes of the Emperor of Kotou?!" His eyes narrowed with anger. "Just for that. how many tens of thousands of people died because of this?!"
"However temporary it may be, he'll be happy knowing that the enemy has been crushed."
Hotohori's vision was red with anger. "I'll ask one more thing! Just what is that "other world" you intend to conquer?" His eyes widened. "Could it be.?"
Nakago smirked. "I'll say 'hello' to your miko."
Hotohori stared. "Miaka. Tamahome." His eyes narrowed. "No more. I won't allow you to interfere with those two any further!" He unsheathed his sword.
Nakago could not believe the courage of the emperor. "Fool."
Chichiri stared as he saw Hotohori lunge at the Seiryuu seishi. "HOTOHORI-SAMA!!!"
"Suzaku.!" Hotohori's vision was red. "Give me power.!"

"HOTOHORI!!" Kathryn screamed, crumpling to the floor. Her hand clutched at her heart. "Hotohori."
Keisuke stared at Kathryn. "What's going on?!"
Miaka was pale. That had been Hotohori's voice she had heard. calling their names. She knelt besides Kathryn. "Shoshi. what's going on.?" She turned to look at Tamahome. Keisuke was examining him. "He's suffered major bruises and internal bleeding." He sighed. "At least none of his bones are broken."
Miaka bent over Tamahome. "Tamahome. We can't return him to the book like this, right?" She said to Keisuke. "Right? Right?!"
Miaka closed her eyes. "Because of Yui's wish. I can't go back into the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho. If Tamahome goes back in the book, we'll never see each other again." Miaka shook her head. "But. but. inside the book, right now, everyone's." She clenched her fists. "What should I do?" She stared at Kathryn, who was crying on the floor. "How can I help her? How can I help everyone?!"
"Miaka. could I have a word with you?" Tetsuya took Miaka aside and showed her the book. "It's the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho." Miaka couldn't see his eyes beyond his sunglasses. "I read it just now and. Mitsukake died."
Miaka's eyes grew shadowed. Mistukake. "Hotohori's about to die from his injuries as well."
Miaka's eyes widened. Hotohori! She glanced back at Kathryn. crying. She knows. "Maybe. just maybe. your voice can reach him."
Miaka was shaken. "Mitsu.kake. Hotohori. Hotohori." Miaka took the book from Tetsuya and went to Kathryn. "Hotohori!"
Hotohori heard. "Miaka. Miaka's voice. from the sky."
Miaka gripped the book tightly. "Hotohori, Tasuki, Chichiri! Can you hear me? It's me!
Tasuki stared. "It's for real! Oy, Miaka! What are you doin' now? Where's Vi?"
Miaka gripped the book tightly. "She's. here. I'm sorry. guys. Gomenasai. but. I can't come back anymore! I can't come back!"

Hotohori stared, smiling at the sky. "Miaka. Kotou's army withdrew. Konan's all right, now."
"What?"
"But I regret. I couldn't defeat him. I couldn't even. slow him down."
Miaka gasped. "'Him'? Who's 'Him'?"
"Please tell Tamahome. he's probably the only one. who can defeat him."
Chichiri shook his head at Hotohori. "Hotohori-sama! Don't talk! Save your strength!
Tears were shining in Miaka's eyes. "Hotohori, don't! Don't you dare die!" She closed her eyes and her tears flowed. "What. what'll happen to Houki?! To Shoshi?!"
Hotohori's eyes suddenly shone with a sad, loving light. "That's right. Houki. Kathryn. is waiting for me." He felt his life slipping away. "My child. until I see his face. I won't die."
Kathryn stared at Miaka and the book, tears streaming down her face. "Hotohori! Hotohori. please. don't leave. our son."
Miaka nodded. "That's why."
Hotohori smiled. "Miaka. Kathryn. let's all meet again someday. We'll overcome the boundaries of time and worlds. and probably meet again." He smiled. "I was very happy. to have met all of you. especially Kathryn. To have met you, Miaka. Be happy." He thought of Kathryn. and closed his eyes. "Miaka."
"Hotohori."
"I loved. Kathryn. When you chose Tamahome over me. I was heartbroken. But then she came along. and I discovered what the love meant between you and Tamahome. It was. the same love I felt for you, Kathryn. I loved you. and became happy... Kathryn. I love you."
Kathryn's tears fell on the pages of the book. "Hotohori." When her heart shattered. she knew he was gone. "Hotohori." The child within her. their child. would be without a father. and her heart was without its mate. Hotohori. "Hotohori.!!"
Miaka stared at Kathryn's heartbroken face and she cried. "Liar. you. just died." She shook her head, her tears flying. "You said you wouldn't die. Liar!"
Keisuke was beside Kathryn's side in an instant, just in time to catch her as she fell. Tears were flowing down her cheeks like rivers. "Hotohori." Kathryn closed her eyes against the killing pain. "I. love you."