(Note: Everything is as it was in the tv series, due to the fact that I have not seen the OVAs yet *sob* So if you see some differences from the OVAs, please do not kill me to death... heh... because the OVA's have nothing to do with this fic). Also, there might be other changes that have nothing to do with the OVAs.)
(VERY important note: In order to simplify things, I discarded the time difference between the book and the real world. If I had included the time difference, the story wouldn't turn out the way I want it ^.^)
Tamahome and Miaka floated through the black space with all those weird red circles and ovals, still tightly holding onto each other. Miaka made sure she held onto her purse; it had a lot of things in it that she would need in the book world.
-SPLASH-
-COUGH COUGH-
Tamahome: Miaka!?
They had ended up in the pool where Miaka had purified herself in order to summon Suzaku.
Miaka: This is... that pool...
Tamahome: Let's get out of here O.o...
Miaka: Yeah...
A servant has spotted them.
Servant: P-priestess of Suzaku?
Miaka (nodding happily): Yes! May you please take us to Hotohori?
Tamahome looked at Miaka strangely.
Miaka (whispering): It might have been him who called us here...
They followed the servant through the halls of the Konan palace, and they both realized that the palace had not change one bit at all since they left.
After walking through the halls for about a minute, the servant stopped to knock on a door.
Servant: Hotohori-sama, you have visitors!
Hotohori: Oh, bring them in.
As Miaka and Tamahome appeared at the doorway, Hotohori was amazed and couldn't speak. His eyebrows lifted and his eyes and mouth widened. Hotohori's first instinct was to hug Miaka, but remembering how jealous and angry Tamahome was about this once, he embraced both of them.
Hotohori (calmly smiling with eyes closed): It's been so long. I've missed you... both... so much.
He let go and stared at Miaka as tears filled his eyes and his face got a little closer to her's. Tamahome placed his hand on Miaka's shoulder and stared blankly at Hotohori, making Hotohori nervously move away. ( :( sad, ne?)
Hotohori: Well, I'm glad you came to visit. It's been eight years.
Hotohori didn't say, but for the past eight years, he had been thinking about Miaka non stop. It had been a VERRRRRY LONG eight years for him as you can imagine. Now, with Miaka and Tamahome, he felt like the last eight years had not even taken place and everything took off from where they had left off.
Miaka: Well, we thought you had called us here.
Hotohori: Oh?
Tamahome: The Universe of Four Gods was in our livingroom.
Hotohori: I see. Well, I don't know what it could be. Do you plan on staying here?
Miaka (smiling): Oh, yes...
Hotohori: I left both of your rooms exactly how they were eight years ago, you may use those.
Miaka: Really? Cool!
Tamahome: Wow... just like old times (but he really would rather share a room with Miaka ^.-).
***
Later that evening, Hotohori had ordered a servant to bring Miaka and Tamahome to his chambers. Upon entering, Miaka face lit up with excitement. Miaka ran to her beloved seishi, Tamahome following.
Miaka: Tasuki, Mitsukake, ... .... CHIRIKO?! You're all grown up!!!
Tamahome: That's Chiriko?!!!
Chriko: Yes ^.^ It has been eight years, you know.
Hotohori smiled as he watched everyone reunite.
Tamahome (giving his fellow seishi hugs with Miaka): Wow, it's been awhile ^-^
Miaka: -_- Wait... Chichiri... N-Nuriko..... where are they?? O.O
Tasuki: We haven't heard from them in awhile.
Hotohori: They both left together about three years ago.
Tamahome: Nuriko and Chichiri? I didn't know they were that good of friends...
Hotohori: Oh they became a lot closer since you've last seen them.
Mitsukake: They left on such short notice and we haven't heard from them at all.
Miaka: It's... just not the same without us all together! (Miaka thought about Nuriko especially)
Miaka looked down sadly. Tamahome noticed Miaka's sadness and wanted to make her happy.
Tamahome: Well, I say we look for them!
Miaka: Oh, Tamahome! :D Great idea.
Chiriko: How about we start tomorrow morning?
Everyone agreed. The group dispersed and went to their rooms to sleep, for they had a big day of searching ahead of them.