Taiitsukun-sama floated down a dark passage. The only light was the magic that gleamed from her mirror. Suzaku, in boy form, followed her. He looked straight ahead because there was nothing else to look at, just dark. He didn't know where she was leading them. She was still pretty mad about a few days ago… Suzaku rubbed his still aching rear in memory. He'd never been chi blasted that hard before. Although it had been rather funny to watch Genbu go smashing through the wall in boy form.

"You scared, Suzaku?" Seiryuu jeered. Suzaku ignored his older brother. Seiryuu was just mad because he got stuck with the east. There was nothing wrong with the east. It just wasn't the south. Suddenly sharp claws dug into Suzaku's side making him shriek. "Aw look. The little god is scared!"

"No I'm not, Seiryuu! That hurt!"

"Uh-huh."

"Leave him alone, Seiryuu," Byakko said. "Why don't you pick on something of your own intelligence for once?  Something like a slug?"

"Why you…" The dragon moved to attack. Byakko lifted a hand and a razor sharp claw slid out of his finger tip.

"I'll slice your face off, dragon-boy," he said mildly. Seiryuu backed down, muttering something mean under his breath. Byakko flicked a strand of hair over his shoulder and continued down the hall. Suzaku grinned at his blue haired brother.

"Looks like your scareder then I am!" he crowed, immediately launching himself in the air before Seiryuu had a chance to hit him. The dragon god snarled and lifted his hand. The chi blast caught the phoenix in the stomach and sent him slamming up into the tunnel roof.

"Itaaaai…" he groaned.

"Stop messing around!" Genbu called from up ahead. Suzaku dropped back to the floor, folding his arms over his chest. His eldest brother was in a snakey mood this morning. He was almost as grumpy as Taiitsukun-sama was. It wasn't fair. Seiryuu could just blast him whenever he wanted and no one said a damned thing. If the creator wasn't so mad on him, he'd tell on Seiryuu in a heart beat!

His thoughts trailed away as the tunnel opened into a large cave. Seven pools, filled with a funny kind of water, lit the room eerily. Suzaku perched at the edge of one pool and glanced down in it. The water was alive. Amorphous shapes floated in it, moving slowly against each other. He couldn't tell the difference between them.

"This is the cave of being. Those souls who will be born rest here," Taiitsukun-sama said.

"Everyone who will ever be born?" Byakko asked, peering down into the souls.

"Everyone with the potential to be one of the shichi seishi. Look here."

 Suzaku turned to face her. Taiitsukun-sama swung her hand out and the walls were lit by mirrors. There were twenty eight mirrors, and under each mirror was a goblet resting on a table. Seven goblets were emerald, seven crystal, seven sapphire and seven ruby.

"Choose the souls you want and put them in the goblet of your color," Taiitsukun-sama explained. "Now to make it fair you will all have to look in the same pool. But, you can only choose one from each."

 "Okay!" Suzaku said cheerfully, jumping into the pool closest to him.  Souls splashed up as he landed and fell with a plip back among the others. The souls were warm and held the electricity of life. He carefully picked up a soul and watched it throb like a heartbeat in his hands. This…was…or was going to be, a shy human, nervous and high strung, kind of mean too. He slipped it back among the others and glanced up to see what his brothers were doing.

Byakko was hunched on the edge of the pool, golden eyes flickering back and forth. Every once in a while his hand would dart out and scoop up a soul. Then he would shrug and toss it back. Genbu was slowly picking away examining each soul in his hand carefully. Seiryuu was…was no where to be found. Suzaku tensed. Uh-oh. Suddenly, the dragon jumped up in front of him, slapping him across the face with a soul.

"ACK!" Suzaku yelped, falling back and nearly being buried by the glowing blobs. When he managed to right himself, he gathered a bunch of souls in his hand and lobbed them back in his brother's direction. Seiryuu easily dodged.

"HA! You have to do better then that, bird boy!"

"I will, lizard breath!" He charged his brother, and using his wings for momentum, pushed him down into the souls. Seiryuu kicked up, caught him in the stomach, and sent him flying. Suzaku landed on his back a few feet away. Suzaku poked his head from the living mass. The first thing he noticed was Byakko looking annoyed. Souls draped all over him. Suzaku giggled.

"Sorry Byakkie-kun," he said, only half sincere. The white haired boy hissed under his breath and proceeded to peel souls off him, dropping them back into the pool.

"Can't you two just grow up? I mean-" he struggled to remove a soul that was tenaciously clinging to his hair. "It's somewhat-." He grunted. "Annoying!" he said finally managing to remove it.

"He started it!" Suzaku whined, pointing to Seiryuu.

"Did not!" the other god shot back. Byakko wasn't paying attention to either of them. Instead a thoughtful look drifted into his eyes. He stood and started to take the soul away.

"The first soul you take will be the leader of your seishi," Taiitsukun-sama said. Byakko nodded and went to the crystal glasses. Curious, Suzaku followed him. The tiger slipped the soul into the first glace and both of them sprung back as a ghost appeared.

"Huh?" Suzaku breathed.

"That is what you're seishi will look like when the miko first arrives," Taiitsukun-sama said, coming to hover beside them.

"Nice choice Byakkie-kun."

"I know."

The human was male; there was no doubt about that. Yet he was beautiful, with long soft hair that fell to the back of his legs and gentle eyes.

"What are you going to call him?" Suzaku asked.

"Umm…Chibi-Bya. Of course he's not half as beautiful as me but..."

"You can't do that, Byakko," the creator said.

"Why not, Taiitsukun-sama?"

"You have to name him after his constellation."

"What constellation?"

"Any one that's over the western sky."

"Hum…I guess…Tatara then. He looks like a Tatara."

"Woah! I found a cute girl soul!" Seiryuu cried.

"Where?!" Suzaku yelled, bolting back toward the pool. Seiryuu was holding a squirming soul in his hands. It slipped out and away in the pool. Suzaku dove after it, spreading his wings to give him a longer leap. Seiryuu grabbed at his foot.

"Hey!" Suzaku cried.

"She's mine! I saw her first!" Seiryuu snarled.

"No! She's mine! You let her go!"

"Taiitsukun-sama! Tell him to stop chasing her!"

"No! Tell him to stop chasing her! He let her go! She's fair game!"

"He already got the south!"

"That's because you weren't fast enough, lizard breath!"

"That's because you cheated, bird brain!"

"Did not! You're just too stupid to admit you're a loser!" Suzaku snapped. Seriyuu's blue eyes narrowed and his hand lifted. Yack!

"SEIRYUUSEIKUN! DON'T YOU DARE!" Taiitsukun-sama yelled. Seiryuu cowered away from the angry creator. "Suzaku is right. She is fair game! Now stop squabbling before I blast you!"

"Yeah, so thupp!" Suzaku said blowing a raspberry. Then, before the creator could threaten him too, dove after the cute girl soul. He caught one in his hands and felt it. It wasn't the girl soul. He scowled; about to throw it back, something stopped him. This soul...this soul was very loving. It had a big heart and a determination that surprised the young god. He liked it. Hopping out of the pool, he put the soul in his cup. The mirror flashed and the ghost appeared. He was a young man. His blue black hair was somewhat wild in the front and fell in a ponytail down his back. His eyes were a dark violet and his smile gentle, if somewhat arrogant. Suzaku smiled; yes...this would be it.

"Not bad," Byakko said, coming up beside him. "What's his name?"

"I don't know. He needs a nice sounding name…something that fits him."

"He looks like a Mitsukake to me." Suzaku wrinkled his nose.

"Too many syllables. I like Tamahome better."

"Suzaku...Tamahome is four syllables and Mitsukake's only three."

"I don't care. I like Tamahome better anyway."

"What a stupid name," Seiryuu scoffed, dumping a soul into his sapphire goblet, "Tamahome...humph." A tall blond man appeared in front of the dragon.

"Oh yeah? So what's his name?" Suzaku asked gesturing Seiryuu's ghost.

"Nuriko."

"That's one of my constellations, moron," Suzaku said, rolling his eyes. Seiryuu blinked.

"Oh…Subaru."

"That's mine," Byakko said "Don't you know anything about your stars?"

"They weren't going to be my stars... If someone hadn't cheated!"

"Nyah!" Suzaku stuck out his tongue. Seiryuu returned the favor.

"Honestly. You two…" Byakko muttered, shaking his head..

            "If you're so smart, bird braid, why don't you name my stars?"

"Well in the south there are, Tamahome, Hotohori, Nuriko, Chichiri, Tasuki, Mituskake and Chiriko. In the East there are Nakago, Amiboshi, Suboshi, Soi, Ashitare, Tomo and Miboshi. In the west there are Takara, Tokaki..."

"ALL RIGHT! I DIDN'T ASK FOR ALL TWENTY!"

"There are twenty eight," the redhead said with a giggle.

"Fine…this one's name is Nakago."

"Tomo's a much better name for him," Byakko said. "But of course you're not going to listen to me are you?"

"No," Seiryuu said with a grin.

"Did you say something, Byakkie-kun?" Suzaku asked, batting his eyes. The tiger shot them both with an annoyed look and smacked them upside the head.

"Hikutsu," Genbu said from the other end of the cave. They all looked to see another man in with long, light brown hair.

"I get to call the next pool!" Suzaku cried.

"Do not!" Seiryuu snapped. The phoenix launched himself at a pool, skimming above the ground. Seiryuu grabbed his foot, holding him back. Suzaku shrieked, trying to tug his foot from his brother's grip.

"TAIITSUKUN-SAMA! TELL SEIRYUU TO LET GOOO!" Suzaku wailed.

"TELL HIM I GET TO PICK THE POOL!"

"IT'S MY TURN, LIZARD BREATH!"

"IS NOT! YOU GOT THE LAST ONE!"

"If you're done fighting..."

Suzaku looked and saw Byakko waist deep in souls in the third pool. He strained his wings, trying to fly out of Seiryuu's grip. His brother suddenly let go.

---

Byakko didn't look up as his winged brother sailed over his head and slammed into the cave wall. Suzaku was sometimes too much of a brat for his own good. He brushed a red feather out of the pool and pushed delicately through the souls. The first one he'd liked because he was going to be gentle. Now the god wanted something fast and exciting. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his oldest brother casually pawing through souls..

He sighed to himself. Genbu was so slow and brutish. He also thought he knew everything, which could get slightly annoying at times. And boy was the tortoise ever a suck up. Yes, Taiitsukun-sama. No, Taiitsukun-sama. Whatever you wish, Taiitsukun-sama. He had no sense of adventure or fun or, Byakko flicked his hair over his shoulder, beauty.

Seiryuu could be vicious and had a competitive streak a mile wide. He always liked to pick on people and more then once Taiitsukun-sama had caught him with a human in his mouth. The dragon thought he owned the place and sometimes even Byakko was hard put to keep him in line.

Suzaku was immature and reckless. Sure the god was adorable at times and almost always happy…but he was a brat. He got away with a lot of things the others didn't. That wasn't so strange considering he was the youngest…and blissfully unaware of his freedoms.

Byakko was glad that there was a god such as himself. A benevolent, beautiful, gentle god who was perfect in every way there was to be perfect. If he weren't there, who knows what the heavens would be like?

"Hey, Byakkie-kun?"

"Yeah?"

"What does sexy mean?"

Byakko glanced at his fiery haired brother.

"It means really nice looking."

"Like cute?"

"Much better then cute."

"Well I don't care much about it then. Sorry sexy lady."

"SEXY LADY?!" Byakko, Genbu and Seiryuu yelled at the same time.

"Yeah," Suzaku said and put the soul gently back in the pool. The three gods shared a glance.

"MINE!" Genbu yelled, darting after it. When he was in snake mode he was lightning quick.

"NO WAY!" Byakko yelled, leaping for it with outstretched hands.

"BACK OFF!" Seiryuu snarled. Byakko frantically grasped for the soul, it kept slipping away from him. His entire concentration was aimed at catching the elusive thing. He looked up for an instant and saw Genbu plowing straight for him, also hell bent on getting the soul. Byakko went wide-eyed. Not again.

"GENBU! ST-" It was too late. The bigger god slammed into him sending both plowing into the souls. Byakko kicked his oldest brother off him and scrambled to his feet. Seiryuu had the soul and was trying to scramble out of the pool.

"SHE'S MINE!" Byakko roared. The symbol on his forehead glowed bright white.

"N...no," the dragon stammered. Byakko narrowed his eyes and brought his chi into his hand. White light glittered around his fingers. Seiryuu hesitated before dropping the soul back into the pool. As soon as Byakko reached for it, the dragon knocked him back and grabbed for the soul.  Byakko's chi blast caught him in mid-dive sending Seiryuu slamming back into the wall.

            "Byakko…," Taiitsukun-sama said in a tired voice.

            "It was mine," Byakko said, cradling the glowing thing to his chest. He padded over to his cup. Behind him, he heard Suzaku laugh.

            "Now you know how it feels, lizard breath!"

            There was the sound of flying chi and a pained squawk. Byakko sweatdropped as red feathers once again drifted through the room. For the love of heaven…

"If ANY of those souls are harmed because of your recklessness," Taiitsukun-sama snarled. "You'll never be able to sit again! That goes for you too, Byakko.

"Sorry, Taiitsukun-sama," he said, clutching the soul protectively to him.  She nodded, accepting his apology. Byakko hurried over to the goblets and slipped the soul in next to Tatara. He grinned as she appeared. White flowing hair, low cut gown. She was sexy and was perfect to compliment his good looks.

"You call that a seishi? Looks more like a wimp to me," Seiryuu said. Byakko looked over his shoulder. Seiryuu was standing next to Suzaku, looking at his choice.

"Be right back, Subaru," Byakko muttered and wandered over to his brothers. He looked up at the seishi. The man was eighteen, with short dark brown hair and dark eyes. There was a calm expression on his face.

"He doesn't look like a wimp!"

"He looks like a wimp."

"I think he's handsome," Byakko said. "Another good pick." The phoenix beamed.

"Yeah! So there, lizard breath!" Byakko touched the cup, just to see what the future held for this man. The answer surprised him. He put a hand on Suzaku's shoulder.

"You know what? He's going to be an emperor. Not so weak now, huh?" Byakko said.

"Nope!" Suzaku said, beaming.

"I've picked mine," Genbu interrupted. "You still have to pick yours, Seiryuu."

The dragon stomped to the pool, scooped one up and plopped it into the cup. A little man with long earrings and slitted eyes appeared. Byakko snickered.

"GREAT! JUST PERFECT!" the dragon snarled, throwing up his hands. "Genbu gets a cool looking man. Byakko gets a sexy chick. Suzaku gets an emperor. AND WHAT DO I GET!"

"A midget," Byakko said.

"IT'S NOT FAIR, TAIITSUKUN-SAMA! I WANT TO THROW HIM BACK!"

"You can't. It's your fault for not picking carefully."

"Ha ha!" Suzaku said and began to dance from foot to foot pointing at Seiryuu. "You got a midget! You got a midget! Whatcha gonna call him? Chibi-you?"

"SHUT UP!"

"Aww...look at the cute little midget! Could he be one of the great, terrifying Seiryuu shichi seishi?!" The redhead burst out laughing. The blue symbol grew bright on Seiryuu's forehead. Taiitsukun sent him a look of pure evil that even made Byakko shiver. The dragon deflated and kicked at the ground.

"Well he started it," Seiryuu muttered.

"Did not!"

---

Genbu rolled his eyes as the argument filled the air.

            "Did tooo!"

            "Did nooot!"

Why were younger brothers always so annoying? He pushed through the souls, trying to find one that suited his taste. No one seemed just right. He picked up one and gasped. It was…it was such a perfect soul. Sweet, nice and gentle...yet it was loyal as well and had an innocence to it that he found appealing.

"Brothers...come see this one." The three gods entered the pool and touched the soul in his hands. There was a surprised silence.

"Wow," Byakko said. "This is a rare one…."

 Seiryuu snorted. "So he's nice? So what? Doesn't mean a thing."

"I want it," Suzaku said. Genbu glared at his youngest brother. This soul was his. He was the oldest and he'd picked it.

"Not this time, Suzaku," Byakko said. "This one's mine."

"You got the sexy one! Let me have it!" Seiryuu said.

"You only want it cuz I do!" Suzaku said.

            "Dream on, bird brain!"

"I had it first!" Genbu interrupted. "And since I am the oldest I get fair claim to it!"

"Sorry, shell face. I'm taking it," Byakko said.

"No, I am!" Suzaku said.

"You all ready have an emperor, bird brain! Let me have it!"

"No!"

Genbu growled and tried to pull the soul out of the others grip. They refused to let go and instead began pulling in their own way. Genbu was determined to have this soul! His brothers wouldn't get it! He pulled back with all he had.

Suddenly Taiitsukun-sama was hovering over them, glaring down at them. She lifted her hand. Genbu winced as he saw the chi forming. Eek. The next thing he knew he was imbedded into the wall, back aching. Owwww.  He glanced up, one eye shut. The others were scattered in various other walls. Taiitsukun was holding the soul which hung limply from her hands.

"See what you're fighting did to him?" the old woman snapped.

"Aw comon', Taiitsukun-sama. It's just a human," Seiryuu said.

"Just a human, Seiryuuseikun? Someday you are going to regret underestimating them." Genbu cocked his head. The soul looked weird now. 

"It's stretched," he said when he had figured it out. Byakko wrinkled his nose.

"Ugh. It is? Well I don't want a stretched soul."

"Neither do I," Seiryuu said.

"Throw it back, Taiitsukun-sama," Genbu said. Who wanted a stretched soul?

---

Suzaku waded through the souls and tugged on the hem of Taiitsukun-sama's dress. She looked down at him.

"Can I see it?" he asked. The creator nodded it and placed the soul in his hands. It was absurdly stretched and looked different from the rest of the souls. He felt sorry for it.

"Drop it, bird brain. It's not worth a god's time," the dragon said. The redhead scowled at his brother.

"Seiryuu's right," Byakko said. "It's going to be weak no matter how much power you put into it."

"It's...it's fixable," Suzaku said. He patted and stroked the damaged soul. Trying to get it back to its original shape. It wouldn't go, just hung limp in his hands. It pulsed subtly and slowly…like it was dying. Suzaku gathered some chi into his fingertip and gently touched the soul. The pulse strengthened and quickened, but it was still weak. He started to put in back among the others. Then changed his mind and hugged it to him.

He climbed out of the pool and put it into the third cup. The image sprung to life. It was a little boy. He had light brown hair, pulled up in a tall ponytail, and smiling sea green eyes. Suzaku liked him.

"It'll be okay…" he whispered to it. "Don't worry. I'll make sure that you're special. I'll find you good friends...and...and a good miko too. I won't fail you little soul… little Chiriko." Then he looked at his other seishi. "You take good care of him, Hotohori...and you too, Tamahome."

"Good pick, Seiryuu!" Genbu said. Suzaku looked at his brother's cups. He had a woman with auburn hair.

"Me-yow that's one good lookin' female!" Byakko said and purred appreciatively. "She's got the biggest set of-"

"Eyes," Taiitsukun-sama interrupted.

"Yeah...eyes that I've ever seen," the tiger finished. Suzaku curiously walked over to her. Her eyes were purple, sort of a pretty purple too, but they didn't look that  big.

"What are you going to call her?" Suzaku asked.

"What about Ashitare?" Byakko said. "That seems to fit her."

"No! Soi."

"No. The midget looks more like a Soi."

"The midget is Miboshi. The woman is Soi. You have no sense of naming furball."

"Whatever."

---

Taiitsukun floated over to her corner. For the most part she ignored the name-calling and the occasional maiming. They were gods after all...pain wouldn't kill them. She watched Seiryuu jump into a pool and begin chasing after a soul.

She nodded and looked back at the new creation she was making. It wasn't a god. She'd finally learned her lesson after creating four. No. This one was merely a helper with special powers. She needed all the helpers she could get. She molded it carefully with her chi and wondered whether or not to give it a soul.

"AAAH! TAIITSUKUN-SAMA! SEIRYUU'S BITING ME AGAIN! TELL HIM TO STOOOP!"

"TELL HIM TO STOP MAKING FUN OF MY MIDGET!"

"TELL HIM TO STOP MAKING FUN OF MY CHIRIKO!"

"HE'S WEAK!"

"HE IS NOT!"

"YES HE IS!"

"AT LEAST HE ISN'T THREE FEET TALL!" There was a loud sound of teeth piercing flesh and Suzaku screamed. "TAIIITSUKUN-SAMAAAA!"

The oracle sweat dropped. Nope. No soul for this one. Another soul was the last thing she needed. She was tired of making boys though. Maybe she'd make this one a little girl.

---

Seiryuu poured his soul into the cup. The image misted before him and he blinked in confusion. He'd picked it because of the arrogance in the soul and also the determination to do anything to get what it wanted. He hadn't expected...this. It wasn't too bad actually. He kind of liked this one.

"Hey lizard breath, what's with the face paint and feathers? Is one of you're seishi a clown?" The dragon glared at his brother. Suzaku just had to comment on everything didn't he?

"Yeah?! Well at least my seishi aren't weak like yours!"

"THEY AREN'T WEAK!"

Seiryuu pushed aside is brother and stalked over to his seishi.

"Well look! Come on! The first two are pathetic enough! But you have a kid! And look! That one has a scar! You know he lost one fight!"

"Just because he has a scar doesn't make him weak no da! He can probably kick you're seishi's butts no da! ESPECIALLY THAT MIDGET NO DAA!" Suzaku panted for breath and his brothers stared at him wide eyed.

"No...da?" Byakko asked.

"What have you  been drinking?" Genbu asked.

"And where can I get some?" Seiryuu asked.    

            "I...I don't know where that came from," the phoenix said sheepishly.

"What are you going to name him?" Byakko asked. "He looks like a Tasuki to me."

"Chichiri," Suzaku said. The tiger threw up his hands.

"They never listen. Your poor seishi are going to be walking around with inappropriate names. Well don't come whining to me when you find their names don't suit their personalities. I bet you're going to name clown face something like Tomo aren't you?" Seiryuu cocked his head and went back over to the seishi. Tomo?

"Yes...Tomo."

"See! I knew it."

"Yes, Tomo Clownface. Seiryuu shichi seishi." The dragon's head whipped around to glare at the annoying bird.

---

Byakko wandered over to the sixth pool. They hadn't been in that yet. Again he heard Suzaku's scream.

"TAIITSUKUN-SAMA! SEIRYUU'S GONNA EAT-" his words were suddenly cut off. Curious, the tiger turned. Seiryuu was in his dragon form, with a foot sticking out of his mouth. The white haired boy laughed softly to himself.

"Spit him out, Seiryuu…" Taiitsukun-sama demanded. Seiryuu shook his head. Now that he thought of it. Taiitsukun-sama had been awfully quiet back there in her corner. He wandered over to where she had been and saw the shape of a human tingling with magic. Well Taiitsukun-sama had said she'd wanted helpers.

The tiger winced; they'd probably be as grumpy as her too. The last thing he wanted were grumpy miniature versions of the creator. One was enough. He concentrated on pleasant thoughts and gathered his chi into his finger. He started to apply happiness to the new being. There was large thud and he looked over his shoulder.

Suzaku was sitting on the ground, looking befuddled. He was covered all over with dragon slime and loose chi energy that had been in Seiryuu's mouth. Byakko wondered why the young god looked so confused. It wasn't as if he hadn't been eaten by Seiryuu many times before, once even swallowed and boy had that been interesting. He'd laughed so hard he'd nearly passed out.

Then he noticed one of his brother's wings was hanging limply to the side. The tiger shook his head. Suzaku broke one or both of his wings at least once every week. It was nothing new. Taiitsukun-sama always healed him right away anyway.

He felt something draining from him and realized he was still putting energy into the creature. He yelped and pulled his finger back. Now, besides Taiitsukun energy, white chi wreathed the small figure. Oops. That was alot of chi. He calmly walked away like he hadn't done anything and joined Genbu in his chosen pond. He hadn't done anything...oh no. Not him.

He sorted through a few souls, his other brothers joining him. Silence rang through the cave as they worked. It was strange; silence was not something he was used to. Then he found it, the perfect soul for his collection. Wild, arrogant and a pervert to the core. He  wasn't going to be stupid  and tell everyone about it though.

"Hey, Byakkie-kun, whatcha got?" Suzaku asked, cheerfully bouncing over to him.

"Uhh...er...nothing," Byakko stuttered. The phoenix poked it gently and grinned.

"Check it out! He's got a pervert!"

"Where?!" Seiryuu said. Genbu looked then shook his head and went about searching. Byakko sighed with relief. Now he'd only have his younger brothers to contend with.

"Don't even think about it! The pervert is mine!"

"But..." Suzaku started. Byakko reached in, found a soul and tossed it to his brother.

"Here. You can have this one."

"Byakkie-kun I..."

"I want the pervert Byakko!" Seiryuu growled. The tiger threw him another soul, hoping the dragon would back off. Then Byakko's eyes widened as he saw the soul he had given. It was huge!  It was going to be a very powerful soul. He didn't care about power as much as his scaled brother did however. All he needed to do was get the pervert out of the pool before Suzaku started whining about it.

"Byakkie-kun?" Suzaku said, tugging lightly at his tail, the tiger paused. "I was going to say I don't want the pervert. But thanks for the soul."

Byakko grinned down at the youngest and held out a hand to help Suzaku out of the pool.

"Let's see what you got," he said, wanting to save his pervert until last.

"I like this soul. It's like me. Fiery and wild but with a soft side." Suzaku dumped the soul into the goblet and the seishi flared to life. He had wild flame colored hair and flashing amber eyes. He was smirking revealing the tip of a fang over his lower lip.

"He looks like you too," Byakko said. " I picked well. Now this  guy looks like a Nuriko."

Suzaku giggled. "No. He's Tasuki."

"NO FAIR!" Seiryuu roared, " I GOT GYPPED! IT'S NOT A POWERFUL SOUL! IT'S TWO OF 'EM!" Byakko and Suzaku went over to their brother and looked at his seishi. Sure enough the single soul had formed two boys that looked exactly alike. They were average height with greenish-blond hair and blue-gray eyes. The first one had a gentle smile while the seconds was a bit wilder.

"Seiryuu...they're beautiful," Byakko said. "You weren't gypped."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. For once you have good looking seishi lizard breath."

"You should name that one Ashitare," he said, pointing to the first one. "And that one Amiboshi. They are twins after all."

"Will you get off the bad naming thing?" Seiryuu muttered. Byakko switched his tail. What did his brother mean...bad naming? He snorted.

"The first one is Amiboshi and the second one is Ashitare," the dragon said.

"What about Suboshi? It sounds like Amiboshi..." Suzaku said.

"That's a good idea. Amiboshi and Suboshi..."

"And Miboshi! HEY THERE'S A MIDGET IN THE FAMILY!" Suzaku said, bursting into gales of laughter. Seiryuu smacked him over the head. Byakko rolled his eyes and went to see his soul. The image flashed to life of a white haired man...with a smile that was half-arrogant...half drooling. Oh yeah, he *liked* this guy.

"NO FAIR! SEIRYUU CAN'T GET *EIGHT* SEISHI!"

"YES I CAN!"

"WHY?"

"BECAUSE I'M SPECIAL!"

"HA!"

Byakko sighed heavily. Those two needed to get along...or be gagged.

---

Genbu ignored his fighting brothers and went to a pool. He noticed out of the corner of his eye Taiitsukun-sama floating over to mediate the argument. His eyes flicked to the corner she'd been working in. He wondered over to her corner and looked at it.

She was creating something, a helper probably. Knowing Taiitsukun probably some sour helper too. Well he would make sure that wouldn't happen. He gathered green chi into his finger and put as much happiness in as he could without the chi becoming tainted. Then he snuck away and hopped into a pool.

Byakko was there, sitting on the edge and dangling his feet in the souls. Roars echoed through the cave compliments of Seiryuu and loud screams provided by Suzaku. The older brothers exchanged glances and almost as one shook their heads.

"You know, Genbu-kun. It really isn't fair."

"Hm?"

"Well. Suzaku has wings, Seiryuu has dragon ears, I have slitted eyes and  a tail...not to mention these..." he lifted a hand and slid his claws from his finger tips. " But what do you have that marks you as a beast god?"

"This," Genbu said. Then he pulled his head, legs and arms inside his skin. He didn't like doing it in boy form. It was too loud and noisy in there and to hard to sleep. He popped himself out again and glanced at the tiger. A look of disgust was on his beautiful face and one delicate hand to his stomach.

"Do me a favor, Genbu-kun."

"What?"

"Don't ever do that again."

The oldest god smiled and picked up a soul without answering. Finding that he liked it he took it to his goblet and placed it inside. He was a boy...he looked to be in his teenaged years. His hair was black and his eyes piercing.

"Tomite," Genbu said, and smiled at his seishi. "Only one more to go."

"Yay! Byakkie-kun look! I finally have woman seishi." Out of curiosity Genbu looked as well. She was cute. Not as sexy as Soi or Subaru, but nice in her own way. Her hair was purple and hung down her back in a braid; her brown eyes were twinkling and a little mole under her left eye, added to the effect.

"She's cute Suzaku," Genbu said.

"Yes...cute...but there's one problem," Byakko said.

"What? She's perfect."

"Suzaku...it's a man."

"She is not!"

"S…He is!"

"Is not!"

"Do you see any breasts?"

"Just because she's flat chested doesn't mean she's male!"

"What's the point of a flat chested female anyway?" Seiryuu asked.

"IT'S A MALE!"

"Byakko, you're pathetic," Genbu said. The tiger turned to him, golden eyes in narrow slits.
            "What?"

---

Seiryuu and Suzaku watched as older brothers fought. Byakko was normally calm, but he had an explosive temper and they never knew just where the fuse was. White and green chi flew out everywhere.

The two youngest looked at each other and went to hide in the dark corner where Taiitsukun-sama had been. They didn't want to get hit by stray chi. Seiryuu saw the little form that Taiitsukun-sama was creating.

"Hey...do you think she's making us another brother?"

"No. I think it's just a helper."

"Probably a mean helper too...knowing Taiitsukun-sama."

"Maybe we should help her out." He put some blue chi into his finger and watched his brother do the same. He put all the happiness he could into it. Then pulled away and watched as his brother continued.

---

Suzaku was determined to make this thing happy. It was probably already sour enough through Taiitsukun-sama's magic. He put all the happiness and energy he could spare into it.

"SETTLE DOWN NOW!" Taiitsukun-sama yelled. "OR I'LL TURN RIGHT AROUND AND TAKE YOU BOY'S BACK HOME! YOU BOTH ARE OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW-"

"AH SHOVE IT, YA OLD BAG!" Byakko roared. Seiryuu and Suzaku glanced at each other fearfully and hit the deck.

---

Byakko ran for all he was worth trying to avoid the chi blasts that Taiitsukun-sama was throwing at him. He hadn't meant to say that! It had just slipped out! She didn't seem too happy about it though. She cornered him and lifted her hands. Byakko winced. Ohh crap.

BOOM!!

---

Suzaku quietly waded in the soul pool along with his other brothers not daring to say a word. Taiitsukun-sama...to put it lightly...was not a very happy creator. It wasn't just what Byakko had said either. Suzaku had the feeling that things had been building up inside all day. They hadn't exactly been good. He found a quiet soul, gentle and unassuming...but lonely too. He put it in his cup and stepped back. Then he looked up...and up...and up. This guy was tall!

His hair was shaggy and unkempt, he had a scraggly mustache and his eyes were so very sad...like he had lost something dear to him. He stood, shoulders hunched, like he didn't want to be there, but he knew he had to be. He couldn't let his seishi be like that. Suzaku sat down on the ground and concentrated his chi onto the ground before him. Then he began molding it into a shape.

"What are you doing Suzaku?" Taiitsukun-sama asked, floating beside him.

"I'm making Mitsukake a companion."

"If you do it will change him."

"For better or for worse?"

"I don't know. Anything you do to your seishi will change them. That includes what power you give them."

"Well I think he needs someone to be with him, Taiitsukun-sama. He's so sad!"

"Do as you wish, Suzaku." The phoenix nodded and added more to the shape. He modeled it after Byakkie-kun...although not as fierce. Now that the shape was there it was time to add the skin and fur. He gave it white fur mostly, with a little brown smudge on his forehead and an extra poofy tail with a brown tip. Then smiled and made his eyes closed like two little crescent moons.

T          hen he frowned and gave it some hair and some clothes. He was sure this type of creature was supposed to wear clothes...weren't they?

"Is this right Byakkie-kun?" he asked his recovering brother. Byakko was in his beast form, still looking a little singed.

"Am I wearing clothes?" was all the tiger said. Suzaku shook his head, he didn't have hair either. The phoenix took of the hair and the clothes.... Well since he'd made it the neko could use them later on for something. Otherwise it would be a waste of good chi.

He then lifted the neko and set it on Mitsukake's shoulder. A change came over the human. He straightened and a light came to his eyes. His hair shortened to spikes and became wrapped in a yellow and green bandanna. The mustache disappeared and a small smile broke out on his face as he reached up to pet the neko.

Suzaku smiled and formed his chi again. Then moved to the front of the line. He stared up at his first choice. Tamahome...a fighter he decided. He flew up and placed his hand on the man's forehead.

"Tamahome. Ogre. Wake and become my shichi seishi." The sign for monster flared bright red on his forehead and he got into a fighting pose.

---

Seiryuu glanced over at his brother. Oh yeah? Well if birdbrain could make a neko for his seishi then Seiryuu could make something for his. He already had a dog, sort of. He looked over at Ashitare and wrinkled his nose. He needed something smaller like...like a clam!

He formed the clam and put it in Tomo's outstretched hand. The man looked ridiculous enough so why not add a clam? His fingernails grew long and bright red and he looked at the clam, an evil light flickered in his gold eyes. Seiryuu smiled. He wouldn't make his symbols so easily seen. He placed his hand on the man's hip.

"Tomo. I give you the power of illusions. Wake and become my shichi seishi."

---

Suzaku went on down the line. He gave Hotohori the power of kindness...it wasn't a great power. He made other adjustments to his seishi. He lengthened his hair down to his waist and lightened his eyes until they were brownish gold. Now he wasn't handsome...now he was beautiful. He looked at his little Chiriko and touched his foot.

"I'm going to give you the power of knowledge. You'll know everything there is for a mortal to know and keep on learning. Use it well Chiriko. Wo ai ni." He went to the next one.

"Konnichiwa Chichiri no da!" he said with a smile. "You look sad with that scar. So I'm going to make you happy to na no da!" He placed his hand on the seishi's knee. "You have the power of magic. Also the power to look very kawaii. I want you to be happy no da!" The man's dark clothes changed to those of a monk. His bangs grew about five inches and a smiling mask suddenly covered up his scar. Suzaku grinned. He looked silly. Still he loved him. The seishi shrunk to three feet tall and made the peace sign. Suzaku giggled. Kawaii!

"Tasuki!" he shouted at the next one. "Fiery haired tough guy! You're not all the tough...but I'll let you keep your mask too. I'm gonna give you the power of speed! Also I'm going to be nice. I can't control who your family is...but I'm going to make sure your entire family is girls! 'Cept your father of course. Cause that way you'll always have someone to cook for you." Nothing changed in his outward appearance...but deep inside him Suzaku felt a sudden phobia of...milk? Well that was strange. Shrugging he skipped to the next one.

"Nuriko! You're already a blossom, so I'm going to make you an iron blossom. I give you the power of strength!" He grinned wickedly. "In a naughty place too." He reached out and touched her chest. His eyes widened.

"AAHHH!"

"What?" Taiitsukun-sama asked.

"Byakkie-kun was right! He is a guy. He's a very beautiful man. Not as beautiful as Hotohori though. No one is as beautiful as Hotohori. He's the prettiest man in the world of the four gods..."

"And you're turning him into a peacock. You're words to them also affect them. Anything you do to them changes them."

"That's okay. I like peacocks. They're pretty."

---

"Soi. You have the power of lightning. Also the ability to seduce men...especially Suzaku's idiots," Seiryuu said. He was making his seishi as powerful as he could. He *would* win back the south.

"Amiboshi. You have the power to channel chi through your mouth and Suboshi the power of telekinesis. I will have a war for you to make you strong. To live on you're own...to depend on one another." Their eyes saddened somewhat. Sadness was a part of war as well; it would make them strong.

"Miboshi...I give you the power of possessing bodies...along with the other dark arts that I've sensed you've...you will learn."

"Ashitare...I give you the power of agility and speed. No one will stop you!"

"Nakago..."

"Hey Taiitsukun-sama?" Suzaku's voice interrupted his train of thought." What's the kanji for heart? I want to give Mitsukake the one for rare heart." Seiryuu snickered.

He ran over, scraped a kanji on his brother's hand and slapped it on Mitsukake's hand. Suzaku was so surprised he charged it with chi making the symbol permanent. Suzaku looked at the glowing red symbol on the man's hand.

"TAIITSUKUN-SAMA! SEIRYUU GAVE MITSUKAKE THE KANJI SADNESS! THAT WAS MEAN!"

Seiryuu chuckled to himself and went back over to his seishi. He stared up at the blond man. Yes...this one would be the best. He would infuse him with so much power that Suzaku's seishi would fall before him. He gathered blue chi into his palm. All he could spare.

Suddenly Suzaku ran over, scraped a kanji on his  hand and slapped it to Nakago's forehead. Seiryuu gasped, it was too late to change it. When he had finished giving the power he pulled his hand back.

"HEART?! HEART?!  HOW IS HE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY WITH A KANJI LIKE THAT PASTED TO HIS FOREHEAD?! TAIIITSUUKUNNN-SAMMMMAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

---

Taiitsukun ignored them and finished her creation. It was almost done; it just needed one more thing. She might as well put some happiness into it. Just for her boys...and some energy as well. The creature would need it just to keep up with them.

"I am about to bring this creature to life," she announced. The young gods gathered around her. "What should I call it?"

"Nyan," Byakko said.

"Nyan?" Genbu asked.

"Nyan-Nyan!" Suzaku crowed. Taiitsukun smiled.

"All right. Nyan-Nyan it is. Awaken Nyan-Nyan." There was a poof of chi and a little girl with sea green hair appeared.

"WE NYAN-NYAN! WE FIX FIX! WE CURE CURE! WE HAPPY FIX CURE PEOPLE! WE SEE TAIITSUKUN-SAMA HAS GREY HAIRS. WE FIX! WE CURE! WE NYAN-NYAN!" Taiitsukun narrowed her eyes and glared at the children. The four gods waved, smiled sheepishly, then scattered to the wind.

"GET BACK HERE! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU BOYS! I DON'T CARE IF YOU *ARE* IMMORTAL!" Taiitsukun screamed.

~~~
^^:

Standard disclaimers apply.