New Life Old Bonds

By Babbling Brook42

Rating: R – for language

Disclaimer: See Prologue

Japanese words uses:

Hai – Yes

Kuso – Swear word similar to "shit" or "bloody hell"

Baka – idiot

Thanks to Moonlady for beta-reading for me.

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Chapter 8 – Family Additions (Tasuki's POV)

Meru bursts into my room without knocking.  One of these days I want her to come in on something that would leave her speechless.  I just have not come up with what yet.  She already walked in on Kouji naked.  She was stunned but not speechless, and she recovered way too quickly.

 "Gen-chan!" she screeches as she marches up to my desk.

I drop my head down at the noise.

"When the hell are ya going to learn ta knock?" I demand.

She ignores the question as always.

"One of these days y'll see something ya don't want ta see," I warn.

She laughs the comment off.

Miaka, unnoticed as of yet by me sister, is in her normal spot on my bed.  Her forgotten book sits in her lap as she watches the drama unfold before her.

"You will not believe who is giving a show!" she squeals and drops the magazine before me.

I blink at the article totally missing what relevance it holds for my sister.

"What the fuck is this?" I demand.

"An article, baka," she growls and hits me upside the head.

"Ouch," I yell and rub the abused location.  "What's this have ta do with me?  Why do I care?"

"Only one of the brightest stars of designer fashion is moving to town, giving a fashion show, and is looking for possible models," she says.

"Fucking so what," I spit out tired of her bothering me.

"So," she continues calmly, "Chou Ryuuen wants models with natural red or blue hair and preferably male."

"Chou Ryuuen?" Miaka says suddenly standing by Meru.

"Who are you?  Where'd you come from?" Meru demands of Miaka who has picked up the magazine and is flipping through it.

"She has been in the room the entire time you dumb ass.  Y'r just not very observant," I dig into her.

Her eyes widen, as she looks Miaka over.

"Wait till I tell Mom you screwed some girl and got her pregnant," she excitedly announces.

I come up out of my chair radiating anger.

"I have never done such a thing with Miaka-san!" I cry.  When I was under another's influence, I did try, but that does not count.  "She is a close friend and occasionally hangs out here till her husband gets off work."

My sister takes a step back at my fury but does not look like she fully believes me.  I glance at Miaka for confirmation, but she is studying the article intently.

"Tasuki, it's him, it's him," she says excitedly as she tugs at my arm and hops up and down.  "It's Nuriko."

She waves the magazine before me and points to one of the pictures.  I grab the waving paper so I can see.  There in colour print is a photo of Nuriko in all his effeminate glory.

"Nuriko is his line of clothing," my sister says still bewildered at our actions.

Miaka and I immediately look at each other.

"He remembers," we say together hopefully.

"We have to go," Miaka says, and I agree.

"If you're going, I am coming too," Meru states.  "I want to meet Chou-san."

I refuse to let her come.

"If you don't, I'll tell Mom about your girl friend," Meru says so assured that she has me backed into a corner.

"What girlfriend?" asks a new voice to the room.

My sister turns to face Tamahome standing in my doorway.  She is immediately drooling over him.  

 "Taka, we found Nuriko," Miaka happily announces hugging Taka.

"That's her husband and father of her child," I snidely tell Meru.  "Proof that she is not my girlfriend.  Your threat is meaningless."

 "Oh, let her come, Tasuki.  She did give us our lead," Miaka says.

I grumbled about it but agreed.  So in three weeks we will see Nuriko again.

~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~

I finally have the three items gathered that will hopefully remind Chichiri of his past life.  Miaka helped me make the kesa.  We found a blue fabric with swirls.  Using her sewing machine, I hemmed the edges to keep it from raveling.  What I do for my love.  I easily found a kasa in a local shop.  The shakujou was the hardest item to find.  With a suggestion from Hakurou-sensei, Miaka and I located a replica of Chichiri's staff. 

I walk in the dark.  The kesa sets on my head, and the kasa draped over my shoulders.  The shakujou jingles as I walk.  I feel like the wandering hero from an old movie.  I stop before the building that houses his office.  My eyes run up to the floor it is on and glide over to his window.  It is dark.  I smirk.

I remove the kasa and wrap it around the shakujou to muffle it.  I move forward.

"Tasuki-chan!" Miaka says grabbing onto me.

Tamahome emerges out of the shadows to join us.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"I want to help deliver our gifts," she answers.

There is no way I can send her away.

To anyone who might see us, I am sure we were quite a site.  A pregnant woman trying to stealthfully navigate through the hallway as she follows an orange-red haired boy carrying an odd stick and has a kesa dangling from his neck.  Follow it up with a tall sulking boy, and I am sure we looked odd.

I stop before his door and hand the shakujou to Miaka.  I then proceed to pick the lock.  It was a talent I had picked up as a kid, not in my life as a bandit but this one.  My sisters were always locking me out of places and at the most inappropriate times.  The house, the car, my room… they thought it was fun to do.  So to spite them, I leaned how to pick locks – any type of lock.  Diary locks were the easiest, but I finally mastered the more complicated door lock.  As long as I had the right tools on me or stashed someplace, I could get in when they locked me out.

I turn the knob and enter the office turning on the light.  I shut the door after Miaka and Tamahome enter.  I examine the room for where we will put the items.

Miaka removes the kasa.  The rings of the shakujou rattle free now.  She whirls his chair around and positions the staff over one chair arm and under the other.  She wedges the staff end against the desk to keep it from slipping out.  She folds the kasa in half and drapes it over the back and the shakujou.  She then asks for the kesa.  I hand it over.  At first she hangs it from the staff but does not like that.  She tries several variations combinations for the kasa and kesa.

"There," she announces stepping back.

She refolded the kasa into a triangle and laid it diagonally across the chair opposite of the shakujou.  The kesa was propped up in the center just under where the two crossed.

"No way he can miss these," she says satisfied.

~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~

Miaka is wonderful.  I could just kiss her when I see whom she managed to bring with her.  Chichiri is standing in my dorm room.  Miaka is informing me that he has agreed to go with us to the exhibit.  Any complaint I had is now non-existent.  I don't care where we go as long as I get to spend time with my love.

Miaka strolls ahead of us leading the way to the local museum and making sure Chichiri or Houjun and I walk together.  I have to fucking remember to think of him as Ri Houjun.  I glance over at him racking my mind for some topic of conversation.  I can tell Miaka is antsy for me to make a move.

"Enjoying your first year of teaching," finds its way out of my mouth.

His beautiful mahogany eyes look at me with disorientation telling me I just pulled him from deep thoughts.

"It's going well.  There is a lot to get use to and problems to solve.  It has been challenging, and I enjoy challenges," he answers. 

His eyes shifted away from me halfway through.  He places a hand on Miaka's shoulder to keep her from moving forward as a cyclist zooms out of the side ally.  She gives a squeak of surprise at the passing blur.  I shout a few choice words at him, but he quickly is lost in the street traffic.  I am still mumbling about it as we continue.

"I couldn't be a teacher.  The fucking kids and their damn problems would irritate me.  Then I would get pissed off and be fired, but my temper is not as bad as it once was," I babble.

Miaka snorts but does not turn around.

"Come on, Miaka, it is.  I do a lot better except with that baka of a husband of yours.  He knows the right buttons to push and does so."

"You do the same thing to him," she comments over her shoulder.

Houjun's eyes twinkle at our exchange.  He has an expression of contentment – all is right in the world.  Maybe he is remembering.  I cross my fingers and pray to Suzaku he is.

"This is your first year as well?" he asks a few paces later.

"Yeah."

"What's your major?" he continues to prob.

"Business," I answer.  "Not sure what area specifically yet."

He hums understandingly.  I glance his way once more.  So far I have only seen his serious caring side – which is a part of him that I loved to see, but I do miss the occasional genki moments of the roaming monk.  I wonder if he would have been more like this then if he was not scared by such tragic events. 

That brings my thoughts to Hikou and Kouran.  I wonder if they are here too.  Did they grow up with Houjun?  If so, what happened?  I can't ask now as we are at the museum, but I will see if I can later.

We start at one end and work our way through the displays.  Houjun, the scholar, spent much more time at each exhibit than I do.  I am soon ahead of them, but do try to keep him in sight.  I round the temporary wall to examine the offerings of the next section.  Four pictures prominently located catch my attention - one for each of the four beast gods.  I hesitantly move to examine the text. 

The Universe of the Four Gods

There is a legend of an ancient land or another world ruled by four gods…

It continues to describe each god and the area of land that they held dominion over.

I look around to see what else they have to say about my past.  It turns out they don't know much.  They have some fancy drawings, several statues and a few trinkets dealing with the "myth."  I glance over one of the display cases when what I see nearly makes me shit my pants.  At the front of the case rests my tessen.  My palms coat with sweat and my fingers itch to hold that precious weapon in my hand again.

The card calls it a metal fan and this "replica" is believed to be a weapon of a warrior in the legend.

"Replica, not fucking likely," I whisper.

I know it is the real item.  I feel the familiar power it holds and the connection I had with it. 

Miaka rounds the corner into this section.

"Miaka," I hiss, "come here."

She walks over.

"Look!" I say thrusting my finger at the case.

"Oh… is it… actually…?" she fumbles.

"It's really it," I confirm.

"How'd it get here?" she asks wide eyed.

"I don't have a fucking clue," I answer.  "I want it back."

"Don't you dare do what I think you are planning on doing," she scolds.  "Promise me you won't steal it.  If you got caught, you would be in so much trouble."

Her eyes lock onto me.  I begin to squirm under her gaze.  Finally I give in and agree.

"You have no need for it in this world," she tries to comfort me.

"I know.  But, it is like a part of me that I would like back."

She squeezes my hand and pulls me away.  By this time Houjun has entered and is examining the pictures of the gods.  Suzaku has caught his attention.  His hand reaches up to touch the picture.  He looks lost in memories as his fingers caress the phoenix.  A gentle tug frees me from Miaka's hold, and I walk up behind what I want back above anything else.

I stand close to his left side with our shoulders overlapping.  His eyes are latched onto the picture but they are seeing something different.  My guess is a scene from a different time and different place.  I wonder what is he remembering.  Something about Suzaku probably.

"Suzaku, god of fire and love," I say moving even closer to him.

That pulls him from the past.  He turns his head to look at me, and I realize how intimately close we are.  How many times have we stood like this through our lives?  I miss him.  I miss his presence in my life.  I miss him calmly letting me rant and offering advice once I finish.  I miss waking up with him beside me.  I miss his touch, his kiss, and his love.  Oh Suzaku, how I love him and need him. 

His eyes are locked onto mine.  A small gasp – I can only guess what desire he must see in them at the moment, but he does not back away.  I take the opportunity given me.  My eyes roam his face drinking in each curve and rest on his tempting lips.  He catches his lower lip between his teeth – a sure sign of his indecision on some matter. 

Does he want me to kiss him?  He hasn't pulled away.  Hell, just kiss him already!

I look back to his eyes to see what he wants.  I don't want to rush him or scare him off.  He stares back for a few seconds before focusing on my lips.  That is all the encouragement I need.  My hand traces his jaw and rests on his chin.  I don't want this messed up by him turning away.  I caress his lips with my thumb.  I feel the quick intake of air at my touch, and his eyes deliriously drift halfway down.  I could not be more pleased with his reaction.  I lean forward to taste those cherished lips but am caught up short.

 "Chiriko!" Miaka exclaims from someplace on the other side of the exhibit wall.

"Kuso," I hiss quickly glancing at the wall.  I'm going ta kill her.  I'm going ta fucking kill her.

I know I need to check it out.  If Chiriko doesn't remember then ... Hell, I don't want to think about it.  I just know I have to be there for damage control, but I am not passing up this opportunity to kiss my love.

Swiftly I lean in the rest of the way and gently press my lips to his.  It is like a drop of honey.  I long for more but let the quick taste tide me over.  I pull away rapidly and stalk around the wall to where muffled struggles can be heard.  I have to save an unwary student from an exuberant and affectionate crazy pregnant woman.

~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~

"Moshi, moshi, Kou Genrou speaking," I say answering the phone.

"Tasuki?" hesitant voice asks.

"To some," I consciously growl.

There is laughter, bordering on insane, on the other end.  I recognize the person on the other end.

"Chiriko?  Do you remember?" I ask.

"So it is real…. Hai, I do remember," he affirms sounding relieved.  He pauses a moment and continues hesitating through his sentences.  "It's all jumbled and confusing."  He pauses.  "Can we meet?  –   I thought talking with someone would help, but I was unsure who."

"Sure, Sure," I say.  "Where ya want to meet?"

"How about the library?" he offers.

I can't help but laugh.

"Not the library.  How about someplace where we can grab a bit to eat?"

"That will be satisfactory," he says sounding calmer.

~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~

Chiriko is waiting at one of the tables in the back when I enter the coffee shop.  I wave and get in line to order a beverage.  Five minutes later I am through the line and slide into the seat across from him with my coffee and an unplanned muffin.  I smile.

The kid looks frazzled.  Probably not sure which end is up.

"I'm here," I say not knowing where else to begin.  Oh, how I wish it were Chichiri or Nuriko here to console our youngest brother.  They are so much better at these kinds of things.

I tear my muffin in half and offer him part. 

"Thanks," he says as he accepts the treat.

"It all transpired, did it not," he starts.

"Well, it depends on what you are referring to," I answer bordering on cheeky.  "If ya mean Suzaku, Miaka being the Miko, and us being seishi, then yeah, it happened."

"Is your memory complete?" he asks picking at the muffin.

"Yeah," I say leaning back in my chair.  "Except for the sake induced holes."

He gives an understanding smirk and a nod at my statement.

"You always did like your sake," he agrees with amusement in his voice.

"What the hell do ya remember?" I ask gently.

"Most of being a seishi and my life before going to the palace, I think," he answers and gestures with his hands.  "But things are out of sequence.  Would you tell me what happened to us?"

Understanding how confusing this whole thing is for him and admiring him for taking it all so well, I give him the rundown of our past.  He nods as I talk.  I see questions form in his eyes, but he waits till I finish to ask them.

"If I died as a teen, why do I remember advising a group of people when in my forties?" Chiriko asks with brow wrinkled in confusion.

"Another life," I answer.  "I remember ya were some kind of government official in one of my other lives."

He nods assimilating the fact.

"Therefore, any memory that does not integrate with my life as a seishi is from another life."

I nod.

He rubs his temple and closes his eyes.

"This is all perplexing and it makes my head hurt.  Did you have such complications from remembering?"

"I was in and out of a coma when I remembered.  One day I get hit by a fucking car and when I wake up days later I have my memories of my past lives fully restored.  Although my head hurt like hell.  What's it been like for ya?  What started it?"

"Miaka," he answers.  "After meeting her, memories of interacting with her would pop into my head at the oddest moment.  They were very perplexing.  She was younger.  Those around her wore antique clothing, and did odd things."

I nod encouragingly at the description.

"They were so vivid and laced with facts.  I started researching those.  I started with Suzaku.  That process ignited new memories.  I started to associate names with faces.  At times, I thought I was surly going mad.  I concluded I needed definite proof one way or another.  I called you because you seemed to know what Miaka was talking about the day at the museum, and here I am."

"Glad ya are.  And Miaka will be so thrilled to know ya remember.  She is so happy to have us back, but it saddens her when we don't remember.  She has the hardest time not slipping around Chichiri."

"He does not remember then.  I surmised as much," Chiriko says resting his elbows on the table.

"No, he does not," I answer looking into the swirling dregs in my mug.

"But he suspects," Chiriko says cheerfully.  "He told me he was doing research on body markings because one of his past students wore the symbol for wing." 

He giggles at the end.  The action makes him seem like a child again.  I cannot help but smile with memories of his boyish innocents. 

"So he can see the symbols," I say rolling up my sleeve to display the wing mark on my arm.

Chiriko reaches out a hand and traces the lines.

"Mine returned too," he says, "after I remembered."

"That's when mine appeared.  But, only Miaka, Tamahome and you can see it.  Well, I guess Chiri can.  I wonder why?" I ask scratching my head.  "Mits does not remember and did not see it."

"Maybe because Chichiri is close to remembering," Chiriko offers.  "Or it could be because of his powers.  He could sense things the rest of us could not.  Where's Mitsukake?"

I tell Chiriko of my hospital stay and finding Mitsukake.

"We have located Nuriko and think he remembers.  Ya should come with us when we see him," I say leaning back in my chair.

"I would love that," Chiriko says beaming.  "That only leaves Hotohori unaccounted for."

"Hai," I agree.

"I wonder where he is."

"Don't know, but we'll find him," I vow.

Chiriko looks at me with eyes full of wonder and hope.

 "Why don't ya come back ta my room, and ya can see Kouji."  I pause momentarily and slap my forehead.  "Ya never met Kouji, did ya?"

Chiriko shakes his head no.

"But you talked about him a lot," Chiriko says.

"Well, come an' meet him, and we can call Miaka and Tamahome with the news."

~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~

I trudge up the stairs to Miaka and Tamahome's apartment sure Chiriko is already there.  I knock and Miaka answers fidgeting more than normal.

"What's up?" I ask.

"You'll see," she says barely giving me enough time to toe off my shoes before pulling me into the living room.

Tamahome and Chiriko are sitting in the room already with teacups in their hands.

"Sit!" she says.

I sink into one of the chairs in the room.

Miaka is still bouncing with excitement.

"We got something for you," she tells me.

I look at her puzzled.  What would have her so excited?  I hope it is nothing stupid, but I trust her.

"Actually, Chiriko got it for you.  He is a wonder," she continues.

Now the other two are grinning as well.

"What is it?" I hesitantly ask.

Chiriko pulls a long narrow package from under his seat and hands it to me.

"Here," he simply says.

I accept the weighty box.  A sudden rush of anticipation pounds in my chest.  I slowly open the lid and fold back the tissue paper.  There in all its glory is my tessen.

"How?" I breathe.

Miaka giggles happily.

"But you are not allowed to use it in my house," she warns dropping the giggles.

"Understood," I respond way to happy to have my tessen back.

I open and close it a few times and examine it to make sure it is in good working order.

"How did you get it?" I ask once more and look at Chiriko.

He grins smugly, which does not suit him well.

"You have to know what people to talk to," he answers.

"Did they just give it to ya?"

"Sort of.  I have a friend who worked on the exhibit, so I did a bit of inquiring about the exhibit before they took it down," he says.  "Seems no one knows where the fan came from or why it was there.  In what little they know there is no mention of a metal fan.  They figured that it was someone's idea of a joke when it was set up, and had no problem with giving it to me when they took the exhibit down."

"Thanks," I choke out and pull him into a hug.  "This really means a lot."

~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~

Meru and I enter the upscale shopping center.  I sulked the entire trip while my sister was the poster child for elation.  I don't want to be a model.  I don't even want to go through the process of pretending to be one.  The things I do for my friends. 

Miaka waves to us enthusiastically.  Tamahome and Chiriko stand by her.

"Let's get this the hell over with," I grumble.  "Were do we go?"

I look around at the dense sea of people.

"Over here," my sister says dragging me to the red and blue-headed section of the sea.

We locate the end of the line.  Tamahome and Chiriko made sure Miaka makes it safely to us.  A tall slender woman walks beside the line handing out a stack of paperwork to each want-to-be model.  She barely looks over her glasses at the hopefuls as she recites her monolog.  Her high heels click as she steps before me and hands me the papers.

"Fill these out and give them to the man at the desk."

She moves on and hands Chiriko one who tries explain to deaf ears he was not here to model.  She moves on to Miaka and halts.  She looks Miaka up and down critically clucking in disapproval.

"We are not looking for models for pregnancy clothing," she drones in a nasally tone.

"Oh, no," Miaka says smiling.  "I am not here to be a model.  I'm here with him."  She points to me.  The old bat looks at me as if I barely meet her acceptance criteria.

"You can stay till you get to the table, then it's applicants only."

She moves down the growing line.

I have the paperwork filled out long before we make it to the table and spend the rest of the time bored.  We chat some, but can't talk much about our true reason for being here with my sister hovering around.

Two men sit behind the table.  I hand my paperwork to one and Chiriko the other.

"Your name is Kou Genrou?" the man asks in a serious tone.

"That's what I put down.  Think I'd put down a name not my own," I retort irritably.

The man pulls out a hidden clipboard and scans through a list of names.  The man beside him whispers something, and he looks through the names again.

"Are their others with you?" the man asks.

"Yeah," I answer taken back.

"Will you and your party please follow me," he says standing and leading us through the roped off area.

We all exchange inquisitive looks but follow regardless.

"If Nuriko is using this to locate us, then it is only logical he would pull people with our names out of the normal process," Chiriko points out to us while my sister is goggle-eyed at our surroundings.

The man opens a door and motions for us to enter.  We file into a small waiting room.  There are several chairs set around the edges and a table with magazines. 

Miaka struggles to lower herself into the chair.  Tamahome is quickly by her side to assist her.  If I didn't know better, I would think Tamahome was the one gifted with speed.  I plop down as far from my sister as I can get.

"Why do you think they pulled us aside?" she asks.

"I am sure there is a good reason," Chiriko assures as he wanders over to the mirror.

Meru continues to vocalize her ideas for this oddity.  Before she is done, she will have Nuriko seeing her from a distance and falling madly in love with her.  I choke back my snort of laughter at that idea.  We all know there is only one person Nuriko's heart belongs to.  I would be willing to bet that is in any life.

Chiriko seems very intent on the mirror so I opt to join him.

"What's up, Chiriko?" I ask softly.

"Two-way mirror," he answers tapping the surface.  "Nuriko is probably on the other side examining us."

"Makes a hell of a lot of sense.  Don't want to enter a room fucking blind," I comment. 

I try to peer past the sliver coating unsuccessfully.  I grin showing both fangs before abandoning my efforts.  Impatient, I start pacing the room.

The door opens and in steps graceful Nuriko.  All eyes are on him.  Soft, silk against silk swishes as he enters.

"Welcome," he smiles holding his arms wide. 

Miaka is suddenly standing before Nuriko clasping his hands.  The rest of us seishi are sighing because we can't keep her from acting till we know the situation.

"Hey, Nuriko!  Looking good as usual, and your not even in drag," she giggles.

Nuriko's face shows the joy he was hiding earlier.

"Hey, Miaka!  You're looking…" Nuriko leans back taking Miaka in. "Wow, you're looking very pregnant."

Miaka giggles at the comment.     

"Miaka, now is not the time," Tamahome whispers to her and Nuriko.  "There is Meru to consider, remember?"

He eases her away.

My sister chooses that minute to come out of her idol worship and latches onto Nuriko.

"Chou-san, you are such an inspiration to me.  Your work is why I am going into fashion design," Meru babbles.

That was a new one on me.  Last I knew she was studying interior design.

Nuriko looks warily at the girl clinging to his hand as she spouts about his achievements.

"You know, I love complements, but this is a bit overboard," Nuriko says to us holding his free hand up to one side of his face to block Meru's view.  "Miaka, who is this girl anyway?" he asks leaning toward Miaka and Tamahome.

"She's Tasuki's sister.  She is the one who gave us our lead to you, so we had to bring her along."

"Hell no, we didn't," I growl crossing my arms.  "It was your idea to let her come," I direct at Miaka.

Nuriko turns his attention to my wide-eyed sister.

"If you are so interested in the fashion industry, I am sure you would like a behind the scenes look of the fashion show," Nuriko offers with a tone like silk.

I have to admit Nuriko can be very smooth when he has to be.

"Really?" my sister exclaims and just about kills the hearing of all in the room.

"Let me toast her," I mutter and my hand moving to my tessen under my coat.

"I believe the consequences of such an action would outweigh the momentary gratification," Chiriko cautions.

He's right.  I know it, but that doesn't mean I am happy about it.

"Nan, would you come here please," Nuriko calls down the hallway.

"Yes, sir," the woman appears in the doorway.

"Please show this young lady around.  She is interested in how a fashion show is put together, so be sure to show her everything," Nuriko says.  "And provide her with tickets for the show."

My sister squeals with excitement at this news.

"Yes, sir.  Please follow me," Nan says.

They disappear out the door, and our group is free to rejoice in our reunion.

"Nuriko, it is great to see you again," Miaka says fighting sniffles and whipping back tears.

Damn hormones.  She has been crying over the silliest of things the last few weeks.  She assures me she is fine and the hormones are causing her to cry.  It is normal.  I hate it.

Nuriko sweeps Miaka up from Tamahome's side and wraps her in a sisterly embrace.

"I am glad to see you as well," Nuriko says sounding a bit teary.

"Just… don't (sniffle) leave (sniffle) like you did (sniffle, sniffle) last time," Miaka cries into Nuriko's shoulder.

Nuriko pulls away slightly so he can see her face.  He dabs the moisture from her cheeks with his long silken sleeve.

"There, there," he clucks.  "Dry those eyes.  I am not going to leave you."

She smiles up at him.  Her eyes glisten with her tears.

"I will have to take you shopping.  We can get you the cutest maternity outfits.  It will be so much fun!" Nuriko declares.

I snort at their exchange.

"Oh… that would be so wonderful," Miaka exclaims.  "Just like sisters."

Nuriko's eyes immediately lock onto me.

"You have a problem, fang-boy?" he asks me.

I expose the items that got me the nickname.

"Maybe," I answer asking for a fight.

Nuriko bursts out laughing.

"Suzaku, how I have missed all of you," Nuriko exclaims and bounces around the room hugging each of us.  Tamahome squirms in Nuriko's grasp and crumbles in a pile on the floor when released.  Miaka pokes at him with her foot to see if he is all right while Nuriko comes at me.

"Not so fucking tight, Nuriko!" I gasp from his strong hold on me.

He releases me.  I stagger back gulping air. 

"Chiriko!" Nuriko says turning to the teen beside me.

Chiriko tries to act proper but soon gives up.  Laughter tumbles from his lips as Nuriko twirls the boy around.  He sets the happy Chiriko on his feet.

"You have grown," Nuriko says stepping back with finger resting on his chin in a thoughtful pose.  "How old are you?"

"Sixteen," Chiriko answers.

"And already in his second year of college," Miaka quickly inserts proudly.

"Would not expect anything else from our little Chiriko," Nuriko chuckles.

Chiriko brightens with Nuriko's approval.

"I have missed all of you," Nuriko says looking at all of us.  "Do you know where the others are?" he asks.

"Some," Tamahome answers.  "Tasuki came across Mits at the local hospital.  He is a doctor there, but does not yet remember."

"Chichiri is a teacher at our university," Chiriko pipes in, "but he too has not regained the memories of the past."

"Although Tasuki is working very hard at helping him remember," Miaka adds giggling.

Nuriko looks at me curiously.  I know my face is competing with my hair for brightest colour, and Nuriko smiles and winks.

"We definitely have to talk later," he promises.

I groan. 

"We have not found Hotohori," Miaka reports.

"I can help with that," Nuriko smiles contently.

He makes a gesture to the mirror.

"We grew up together," he says sauntering to the door.  "After I remembered, I eventually told him all about it.  I hopped he would remember too.  So far he has not, but he believes my memories and you are real.  Tread lightly," he requests as he turns the knob.

The door swings open revealing Hotohori as regale as ever.  He tentatively smiles at us as he enters with hands stuck in his pockets.  Nuriko closes the door.

"Ho..to..hori!" Miaka slowly says. 

Tears once more well up in her eyes.  She is soon hugging the surprised man who uncertainly pats her back.  Tamahome and I pry Miaka off of him.

Chiriko walks up to Hotohori.

"Hello, my name is Ou Doukun, also known as Chiriko," he says bowing to the ex-emperor.  "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Count on that kid to stick to formalities.

Hotohori smiles lightly and looks down on Chiriko with soft eyes before returning the bow.

"The young genius - it is nice to meet you, Chiriko.  Ryuuen has told me much about you." Hotohori says.

Chiriko looks to the floor blushing.  Low rich laughter comes from Hotohori. 

"I did not mean to embarrass you," Hotohori says.

"It's all right," Chiriko assures.

Hotohori looks at us and tentatively smiles.  Nuriko makes introductions.

"Do you remember any of them?" Nuriko hopefully asks.

He looks regretfully at Nuriko.

"I am sorry, dearest, but I do not, thought they do seem familiar," he answers.

"It's alright," Nuriko assures slipping an arm around his waist and giving a light squeeze.

The rest of us watch on flabbergasted as they make lovey-dovey eyes at each other.

Miaka breaks our trance with a girlish cry of joy.

"I'm so happy for you!"

Nuriko blushes and chuckles.

"So am I," he says.  "And what about you and Tamahome?" he asks Miaka.

Miaka launches into details of their life.

I scan the occupants of the room and realize we have found them all.  Almost half of them don't remember, but we have found them.  I get a goofy grin on my face that attracts Nuriko's attention.

"What's up with you?" he demands.

"We have found everyone," I respond.

Everyone but Hotohori knows what I mean.  Before more can be said, Nuriko's phone sounds.  He pulls it from his pocket.

"Talk to me," he answers.  "I see.  Thank you.

"Our little reunion must be cut short.  Tasuki's sister is on her way back," he informs us.

"Are you free tonight?" Miaka asks.  "We could all meet at our place to swap stories."

"We don't have anything after the show, do we?" Nuriko asks Hotohori.

"Nothing that cannot be changed," he answers.  

~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~

We gather that evening in Miaka and Tamahome's apartment after dumping my sister off at her dorm. 

"You brought food!" Miaka exclaims bouncing up and down.

"Yes, we did," Nuriko laughs handing Miaka one bag but is sure to hand the other two to Tamahome.  "And we even brought a bottle of sake for Tasuki," he adds holding up the item.

We settle around the table to enjoy the provided feast.  One by one we tell of our past in this life.

Hotohori for the most part sits quietly by Nuriko's side.  His dark eyes study each of us.  He focuses on Miaka a lot.  I guess that is natural.  He was in love with her in his previous life, but I am happy to see that he loves Nuriko in this one.  It is so evident in his actions and his eyes.  Each gaze at the purple haired man is soft and adoring.  His hand occasionally captures Nuriko's or brushes a stray strand away from his face.  He does all to please his effervescent love.

"Nuriko said you grew up together," Miaka says to Hotohori.

Hotohori nods, "Yes, we did."

"Have you always known each other?  How did you meet?" she asks.

Hotohori smiles at her.

"No, we did not always know each other," he answers leaning forward to rest an elbow on the table.  "We meet when I was seven.  His father was – is my father's tailor.  My father and I needed appropriate attire for a formal gathering.  He took me to Ryuuen's family shop.  Ryuuen was playing in the shop and introduced himself to me.  After I was fitted, he hauled me outside to play much to my embarrassment."

"You enjoyed it," Nuriko knowingly points out.

Hotohori chuckled.

"I did not know what to think of it.  No one had ever treated my so casually before.  I felt like I was being steamrollered over."

We all chuckle at the apt description of Nuriko when he set his mind to something.

"But it was good for you," Nuriko pouts.

Hotohori pulls Nuriko's chair closer to him and wraps an arm around the fashion designer's waist.

"You are always good for me," he says in the other's ear.

Nuriko giggles as he wraps arms affectionately around the former emperor.

"True.  Without me you would still be living in your glass cage," Nuriko happily points out.

"Huh.." several of us voice our confusion.

"Nuriko was the one to show me what life was like outside my family's estate and business.  He showed me what it is like to have a true friend – someone who stands by your side because they like you for yourself and not the prestige of your family," Hotohori explains.  "He is one of the few I can say that about."

"I would sneak him out of his house and make him do things with me," Nuriko says proudly.  "He had never been to a fast food restaurant till I took him."

"I lead a sheltered life," Hotohori says defensively.

"But you are much better now," Nuriko says and kisses his nose.

Hotohori shakes his head in defeat. 

"So when did you remember the past?" Tamahome asks Nuriko.

"When I was fifteen," he answers.

He moves closer to his love practically sitting in Hotohori's lap.

"Remember the big earthquake about seven years ago?"

We acknowledge the event.

"Hotohori and I were at the epicenter.  It was horrible."  Nuriko snuggles closer to Hotohori.  Terror at the memory haunts his features.  "It started suddenly and violently.  We were separated, and I lost him in the haze.  I was almost squashed then when a section of wall fell toward me.  With one blow, I turned it to rubble.  As the dust settled, I went searching for Hotohori.  I found him pinned under another section of the wall.  I was so scared for his life then.  I had to find the power to save him.  I threw everything I had into moving the wall and getting him free.  In that moment I tapped into my full seishi power. 

"I pulled him free and held him close.  He assured me he was all right.  My adrenalin rush started to ebb then the memories returned.  I was an incoherent mess for several hours afterwards."

I open my mouth to say something, but Chiriko places a hand over it.

"Once I figured out what was going on in my head, I decided not to tell anyone.  Hotohori knew me too well and saw something was bothering me.  I finally told him the basics – ancient China, Suzaku no Miko, the seishi, but I did not tell him of my past feelings for him.  I couldn't because I had them this time around too and he did not know of them."

"We worked that out," Hotohori says stroking the back of Nuriko's hand.

"We did," Nuriko smiles up at Hotohori.  "He was very supportive of my odd claims," Nuriko says to us returning to his narrative.  "He believed me even though he remembered none of it.  I loved him even more for it.  Since then, I have been on the lookout for the rest of you."

"The red or blue haired models," Chiriko points out.

"Two of the most distinctive features among the missing," Nuriko says.  "It was a long shot, but it paid off."

"You can thank Tasuki's sister for that one," Miaka says.        

We move to the living room to continue reminiscing.  We talk of both recent past and old past, late into the night. 

"Any of this sounds familiar?" Miaka hopefully asks Hotohori.

Nuriko sits on Hotohori's lap with arm looped around his neck.

"No," he answers.  "Nuriko, had hoped that I would remember when I meet you," Hotohori says indicating Miaka, "like Chiriko did."

Nuriko makes a sound of protest.

"Yes, darling, you did," Hotohori says and places a simple kiss on Nuriko's cheek.  "Our meeting has done nothing other than produce a sense of familiarity and friendship," he says scanning the group.  "Even if I do not remember you, you have made me feel like one of you.  Thank you."

~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~

I am sitting in Tamahome's business class when the student assistant interrupts class.  She hands him a note and leaves.  Tamahome reads the note.  His eyes widen.

"Class is dismissed early," he tells us.

The students are surprised but take it in stride by bounding out the door.

"What's the matter?" I ask slightly worried.

"Miaka is in labor and at the hospital," he says.

I snatch up my things.

"Let's go!" I say.

Tamahome gathers up his few things, and we dash out to the hospital.

~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~  ~=88=~

We find Miaka's room after asking at the desk.  She is sitting in the bed with a nurse at one side.

"Taka, Tasuki!" she smiles at us when we enter.  "I'm in labor," she announces and giggles.

"It's the pain killer taking effect," the nurse tells us.

She takes her leave.

"I'm having a baby," she sings.  "Isn't it great, Tasuki.  But, I want all seven of my seishi to share my joy," she pouts.

"We will be," I tell her.

Tamahome takes her hand and brushes back her bangs.

"How are you feeling?" he asks.

"Little uncomfortable, but all right," she answers.

The doctor comes in and explains where Miaka is in her labor and the length of time she could be in labor.  The entire thing sounds very unpleasant to me.  When the baby gets down to business about being born, I am shuffled out to a waiting room.  I find the wait unnerving.  I have been here for hours.  I pace, read the magazines, and finally end up at the nurses' station asking if Mits was working tonight.  One of the nurses is kind enough to check for me.  He is, and I am tempted to find him for the fun of it but choose to wander back to the waiting room.  Something inside me suddenly is pulling me that way.  Fear tightens around my gut and I jog back.

Tamahome emerges looking worried and white.  My heart is in my throat.

"What's wrong?" I ask.  "Is it the baby?"

"No, she is fine," he says.  "It's Miaka.  Something is wrong.  They made me leave."  He clings to my shirt as his world possibly crumbles around him.  "Tasuki, what am I to do?  I can't loose her!" he softly wails.

"Mits is on duty tonight," I say trying to sound reassuring.  "He has at least limited use of his powers.  I'll make him fucking come and help her."

Tamahome takes some comfort in that. 

"I'll return as quickly as I can," I tell him before dashing through the hospital looking for the healer.

Surprisingly, I find him on the maternity floor looking confused.

"Kou-kun," he greets.  "What are you doing here?"

"A friend of mine had a baby," I say.

I launch into my campaign to gain aid for Miaka and promptly mess it all up as fear for Miaka's safety directs my actions. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's notes and review responses:

Awful place to end a chapter, ne.  : D  Don't fret, I'm not killing anyone off in this story.  Miaka will be fine, and see, Nuriko and Hotohori have finally entered the story.  Yeah!  We have found them all.

Once more thank you for reviewing.  Whoo hoo!  I'm up to 82 reviews.  Thank you for making it happen.  wipes tear off cheek.

Babbling Brook

Kouryou Sanomi: Not only did they kiss, they kissed twice no da.  ~_^  Hope you enjoyed the replay of the first kiss from Tasuki's POV.

Rath: There is a reason Chiri is still left in the dark while those around him remember, but it's a secret.  Hee, hee, hee… 

Riina: Hope your jaw reattached without any problem.  ^_^  If Chiri remembered, their first kiss would not have been so fun.  They would fall into each others arms and it would be all over.  We can't have that now, can we?

L.G. Lena: There is more to come.  Glad you like it.

Arsronus Liadon: Thanks for the two thumbs up.

Unofficial Schwarz: There is a special reason poor Chiri can not remember more then glimpses into his past na no da.  However, I can not tell else I'll give part of the plot away.  Plus it makes the story longer this way no da.  ^_^

Moonlady: They do add a bit to it don't they.  ^_~

Silentlylaughing: Your first three questions have been answered in this chapter.  Yui will make a brief appearance but none of her seishi will.  Thanks.  It is all right to ramble.  ^_^

Riverwood: Thank you.  Yeah, they did finally kiss.  blush   Sorry, we have a few more chapters before he will remember, but we are moving closer to it.

Bonnie Lass: Thanks for the encouragement.