"Hearts Aflame" by Ai Yuukan
Chapter 14
Vivien sat quietly on a rock, Samantha and her friends arguing behind her. She didn't listen to squabble, as she was too lost in her own thoughts. Things were getting just too bizarre for words. Coming to this world had changed the lives of her sisters completely. Vivien closed her eyes. They had all fallen for guys.. from a book. She realized that now. When she had revisited 'her world' in Tomo's clam shell, she had realized how much she missed her world. Tomo had dug deep into her deepest desires.. did she want to return home that much? If she truly wanted to stay with Tasuki then shouldn't the setting have been in this.. book.. world? But this place.. was just a book. Then Tasuki wasn't really.. real.
Tears stung Vivien's eyes. Tasuki wasn't real. She shook her head and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. No, he couldn't be just a figment of her imagination. When she touched him.. when he touched her.. it had all been real. But this was a book world.. and she had her own world. Would she truly be unhappy if she stayed with Tasuki in this world that only existed on the pages of some book?
But she loved Tasuki.. didn't she?
"Vi? Something wrong?" Tasuki sat beside her.
Vivien smiled weakly at Tasuki. "No.. not really.."
Tasuki sighed and put his arm around her shoulders. "Vi, how well do you know your sister?"
Vivien smiled. "Which one?"
Tasuki grinned. "Lilian. How well do you know her?"
Vivien blinked. "Very well. Lily and I are best friends. Lily is the nicest, most considerate person I know.."
Tasuki frowned. "You sure?"
Now Vivien frowned. "What are you getting at?"
Tasuki sighed. "I'm just wondering.. If she as wonderful and good as you say she is.. how could someone like her fall in love with someone like Nakago?"
Vivien shook her head wearily. "I.. don't know." She said helplessly. "Then she asked, hesitantly, "Tasuki.. do you love me?"
Tasuki's eyes darkened. "With all my heart."
Vivien's heart trembled then she smiled weakly. "Thank you." She whispered.
Tasuki grinned. "Don't. I never expected to fall for you. And quite frankly, it's a pain in the a-"
Vivien grinned and silenced him with a kiss. When they broke apart, Tasuki's eyes were twinkling. "Then again, who's complaining?"
Vivien chuckled, then her smile faded and a sad light entered her eyes. Tasuki loved her.. but did she love him.. enough to let her family go?
"Vi?"
Vivien smiled reassuringly at Tasuki. "It's nothing."
"Sammy." Vivien stepped into her sister's tent.
Samantha turned and wiped her eyes with a sleeve of her boy's tunic. "Vivi? What's up?"
Vivien sighed. "Sammy.. I want to talk to Lily."
Samantha frowned. "But how?"
Vivien shrugged. "Do you know any spell or something.. I want to talk to Kate, too. Don't you have that power.. that weird power..?"
Samantha smiled. "Vivi, I have the power of ice."
Vivien frowned. "Don't you have two other powers?"
Samantha shrugged. "Maybe. I'm not really sure.."
"What do you mean?" Vivien sat down on the soft mat spread on the dirt floor.
"Well," Samantha sat opposite of her sister. "I think there's a possibility of me having the power to enhance other powers.. I think that explains how Amiboshi's powers were enhanced, you know? And of course, there's also my last power."
"Oh? What is it?" Vivien asked curiously.
Samantha shrugged. "It's really no big. I can control light.." She paused. ".. and unseen forces?"
Vivien smiled enviously. "That's a lot cooler than changing into a parakeet, you know."
Samantha grinned. "Thanks."
Then Vivien looked thoughtful. "You know.. Kate had the powers of flight and telekinesis when we left.. there might be a chance she has the power of telepathy, right?"
Samantha shrugged. "Maybe. But you know, we could always ask Chichiri to do that thing he did so Miaka could talk to Tamahome in Kotou."
Vivien's eyes lit up. "That's it! Sammy, you're a genius!"
Samantha smiled with amusement. "But of course."
"Nani? You want to contact your sisters? Why, no da?" Chichiri asked the sisters with a frown.
Vivien sighed. "It's complicated, Chichiri. But is it possible? Four-Way Communication via telepathic powers?"
Chichiri smiled. "Of course, na no da. But if either Shoshi or Taishi have telepathy as their third power, it'll help a lot."
Samantha smiled cheerfully at the prospect of seeing her sisters again. "Then it's settled!"
They were sitting in a white, open space. Vivien looked around her with some confusion. "Where are we?" She asked her sister sitting next to her.
Samantha frowned. "I have no idea. Maybe it's because we're contacting more than one person.. Four-way projection.. Multiple send- outs.. Of course! There is no one sense of a set location."
Vivien raised a brow. "Let's pretend I can read your thoughts and know where they're going.."
Samantha smiled. "The four of us are in three separate locations. There is no one location, thus are we in a blank set for our communication with each other."
"Okay." Vivien's expression still looked blank. "So where are they?"
"Sammy? Vivi?" Kathryn's voice called out to them.
Samantha and Vivien looked around. "Kate? Where are you?"
"Right here." Kathryn appeared before them. She was dressed a little more strangely than usual.. Vivien thought her silk gown looked finer.. more.. royal. Her thick blue hair was set high upon her head and was that lipstick Kate was wearing? Vivien grinned. "Did someone have a makeover?" Kathryn blushed. Samantha smiled. "It's good to see you, Kate. Did you have any difficulty coming here?"
Kathryn shook her head. "No. My third power is telepathy." Vivien was impressed. "Coolness." Samantha looked around. "Where's Lily?" "I'm having trouble reaching her, na no da." Chichiri's voice called out to them from nowhere. "It appears she's unconscious, no da." Samantha frowned. "That could be a problem." Vivien was worried. "Is she okay?" Kathryn sighed. "Chichiri, are you there?" "Hai. How are you, Shoshi-san?"
"Peachy. Instead of trying to reach her mind, why not attack it? Telepathically, of course?" Samantha and Vivien were aghast at Kathryn's suggestion. "Kate!" Kathryn smiled. "Hey, don't worry. If she's unconscious, her mind is the most vulnerable to a telepathic attack. Aggression works best in these situations." "Hai! You're right, Shoshi-san! It worked!" Vivien was the first who saw the blue glowing shape in front of her. "Lily.. Lily!" Her sister materialized before her. Joy welled up in Vivien's heart. "Lily! Lily!"
Lilian gasped and slowly opened her eyes. "Ne.. who's there?" She asked cautiously.
Vivien smiled with happiness. "Lily!"
When Lilian realized who was sitting before her, a smile slowly lit up her face. Vivien's smile mirrored her own: joyful and relieved.
"Lily!!" Kathryn's smile broadened as her sister faced her and her eyes widened with disbelief.. and happiness. She then chuckled at Lilian's changed expression. She looked puzzled.. and why shouldn't she be? She looked a lot different from when she had last seen her sister. Her eyes sparkled with happiness. "Lily! I'm so happy to see you again.." Then an image of Hotohori rose unbidden in her mind. Well.. she was happy to see her sister.. delighted, really, but her sadness was so great at the same time..
Samantha smiled softly. "Hi Lily! I couldn't wait to see you again!"
"Sammy?!" When she saw Samantha's eyes however, Lilian grew concerned. "Sammy.. what's wrong?"
Vivien decided to take charge. They didn't have enough time. "Lily.. we came together and decided we wanted to see you.. together.. Kate helped us."
"Kate?" Lilian turned to her sister, intrigued. "How..?"
Kathryn smiled wearily. "Like you, Lily.. we have acquired all three of our powers. My powers are of flight, telekinesis.. and telepathy."
"Telepathy?" Lilian looked startled. "But that's also my.." Her eyes widened. "So that's how all of you are here! You're using our third powers to contact each other."
Kathryn nodded. "Hai. Lily.. we're here to bring you up-to-date. Sammy told us what happened earlier.. we've decided to contact you and find out what happened. We'll also tell you what happened with us."
"I.." Lilian's eyes grew masked.
Vivien sighed in frustration. She decided she had had enough. "Lily.. stop treating us like babies! You're acting as if we're not here!"
Lilian looked confused. "Huh?"
Vivien frowned. As if she didn't know! "Don't play dumb, Lily! You, of all people, should know what I'm talking about! Whenever I saw you or when Sammy saw you, you were always protecting us! And every time, you got hurt instead of us! We understand why you did it, but knock it off already!" Vivien didn't mean to sound so angry, but she couldn't help herself. Dang it, but every one of them had powers equal to Lilian's, and though she knew Lilian protected them out of love, she also knew it had to stop. Lilian was in love with a torture-loving bastard and now it was their turn to protect her, because they loved her, and because she needed protection now more than ever.
Kathryn nodded solemnly in agreement. "That's right, Lily." Her eyes were sad. "All of us know.. how strong Nakago is.. You thought you were probably the only one capable of standing up to him. Do you think our powers are really that inferior to his?" She asked gently.
Samantha nodded sadly. "Lily.. we're just as powerful as you. As the seishi's of Taittsukun, we also have powers equal to Nakago's."
Vivien saw Lilian's stricken expression and her eyes softened. "But enough of how we're royally annoyed of you, Lily.. Lily.. we want to know.. what's going on?"
Lilian looked away. "Oh..,"
"Nothing?" All of them finished for her? Vivien grew more annoyed. "You know there's not a chance in hell we'll buy that, Lily." Vivien said, irritated. "You might as well spill it."
Kathryn frowned at Vivien and said more gently, "Lily.. all of us will also tell you our stories.. but we want to listen to yours first."
Lilian slowly nodded and looked thoughtfully at Kathryn. "What do you want me to tell you? I'm just biding my time until I can think of a way to make Yui wish a different third wish."
Samantha smiled sympathetically. Vivien sighed. Finally, they were getting somewhere. "You love him, don't you?" She said gently. Lilian looked like she wanted to deny it, but decided against it. She looked down, ashamed. "Hai." Everyone was quiet. Vivien stared at her sister. Lilian had just admitted her love for Nakago. Hearing about it was one thing, but this was different. Lilian loved Nakago. Lilian was the purest person Vivien had ever known.. and she loved that.. man.. She slowly smiled. Which meant.. that Nakago couldn't be all that bad. She thought of her own dilemma and smiled. They were sisters in every way. They had all caught the disease. Kathryn heard her thought and smiled herself. When Lilian looked up, all three of her sisters were smiling. She stared.
Kathryn finally remarked, "It looks like she's caught the disease, Vivi, Sammy." Lilian frowned. "Disease?" Vivien smiled. It really was quite amusing. "Lilian.. we've all fallen in love, too." Lilian stared. She looked shocked. "Nani?!" Kathryn smiled, amused at Lilian's reaction. "It's true. Vivien's fallen in love with Tasuki, the Suzaku seishi." Lilian stared at her sister. "Vivi! Is this true?" At first, Vivien didn't know what to say. Yes, she was in love with Tasuki, but how much in love was she? Did she love him enough to leave her sisters behind? Then she saw her answer in her sisters' eyes. The truth hit her like a slap. All of them were in love with someone from this world.. and they would do anything for them. Lilian knew what kind of bastard Nakago was and she still admitted to loving him. Samantha.. she loved Amiboshi even if he was part of this world.. and without asking, Vivien knew she would stay with him until the end of time. And Kathryn.. even as Hotohori had professed his love for Miaka, she hadn't stopped loving him. She loved him with all her heart, and Vivien finally confessed that.. she did, too. She finally nodded. "Hai.. Very true." She breathed, thinking of him. Her eyes grew sad. "It hurts.. every time he fights to protect Miaka. I hate it, worrying if he'll get hurt. He knows I love him, but I don't say it that often. I think he wants me too, but I'm not saying a peep until he says it enough times until I'm sick of hearing it." She said stubbornly. Lilian smiled. Samantha chuckled softly. Lilian looked at her. "I've also fallen in love.." She confessed. "..and Lily, you.. sent him to me." Lilian's eyes widened in realization. "Amiboshi?" Samantha smiled. "Hai.. both of us loved each other.. but.." Her eyes grew pained. "I couldn't stop Suboshi from giving him that drug. I know he's not going to remember me.. when we meet again." Lilian nodded sadly and turned to Kathryn, expectantly. "How about you, Kate?" Kathryn looked away. "Hotohori." Lilian stared. "Hotohori? The Konan Emperor?" Kathryn nodded. "Hai. I love him. I'm in the palace right now. Chichiri called out to me so I could see you again. I'm with.. Hotohori. I love him with all my heart, but.." Kathryn looked at Lilian, with grief glowing in her silver eyes. "Lily.. you know how I feel. We both love someone whose death we are forbidden to prevent. I know.." There were tears in her eyes. ".. that he's going to die.. and I know.. I will return to my world.. after I've made my wish to Byakko. I only wish.." Lilian understood. "Nakago.." Everyone looked at her. Vivien grew sad. "You love him, don't you?" Lilian nodded. "Hai." Samantha smiled sadly. "None of us wanted to accept that.. but I know you felt something true for him.. when I left you." "But how could you love someone so evil..?" Vivien wanted to know. "He's the one that killed so many people." Samantha shook her head. "Vivi.. you don't understand. He's not that evil. Quite human, in fact. Like anyone.. he also has a past." Lilian was startled. "Sammy.. how do you..?" Samantha smiled. "Who do you think told me about the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho? Taka.. Tamahome.. told me. He told me what he saw when he killed.. Nakago.. and his memories." Lilian trembled, remembering. "Nakago.." Kathryn smiled, shakingly. She couldn't keep up the link much longer. Chichiri was calling them back. "I know you want to see him again.. so we'll leave you now." Lilian looked up and smiled. "Arigatou." Vivien sighed. "Lily.. I don't know what you see in the chump, but if you love him, he can't be that bad." Vivien knew she looked and sounded skeptical, but her heart was assured of the truth of Lilian's love. Samantha smiled. "Hang on there, Lily.. we're not far from the end of the book.. so just hang on."
Tasuki knew something had been wrong before Vivien and her sisters had contacted Lilian, but afterwards, her attitude had changed dramatically. Now, more than ever, she seemed to crave his touch and crave even more his words of love to her. Something had happened, and he meant to find out. After a sad farewell, Samantha had bid goodbye to Amiboshi, who wondered at the sad love shining in her eyes.. they retired to Tamahome's teacher's house to rest. Not long after that, Tamahome and Miaka separated, much to the dismay of Vivien and her sisters. Now, days afterwards, Vivien was still voicing her disbelief and bitterness. "Why is he doing this to her?! What did she ever do to deserve this?!" Vivien demanded bitterly of no one in particular. Tasuki leaned against the wall of the open balcony and simply watched her. "That's it! I'm going to pulverize that mean old lecher! Miaka and Tamahome are destined to be together and he's just mussing it all up, that horrible old jerk! Come on, Tasuki! We have some roasting to do!" Tasuki smirked. "Don't you think you're overdoing it, Vi?" Vivien stared. "Overdoing it? You can never overdo anything for the sake of love, Tasuki!" She declared. Tasuki sighed. "Then do it yourself. I'm tired. Besides, you do know the future, don't you?" Vivien paused in her tirade. "Well, yeah.. but.." "And how are they in the future?" He persisted. "Well, they're wonderful, but.." "Exactly. Don't you know, Vi? That every obstacle their love overcomes only makes it stronger." He pointed out. Vivien frowned. "Yeah, but.." She slumped. "Do you always have to win?" Tasuki grinned. "Nah, you're just a born loser." Vivien playfully punched Tasuki on the arm. "Hey! Take that back!" She jabbed him in the ribs. Tasuki chuckled. "Cut that out!" Giggling, Vivien started to tickle Tasuki until he almost fell over the railing. She shrieked with glee as he swiftly pinned down her arms. "Hey! That's not fair!" "Is that so?" Tasuki murmured as he pinned her arms down her sides. He looked deep into her eyes and finally, smiled as he kissed her nose. Vivien wrinkled said appendage, disappointed. "Is that all?" Tasuki laughed and without another word, kissed her right on her lips. Vivien smiled and gave herself into the kiss, enjoying every delicious moment of the passion that was igniting with every lick of the flame. "Am I interrupting something?" Startled, Vivien jumped and knocked her head against Tasuki's chin. "Ow!" Vivien winced. "Gomenasai." She kissed his chin. "There. All better?" Tasuki grinned wolfishly. "Almost." He leaned down for another kiss. "What does a guy have to do to get noticed around here?" Tamahome said loudly in exasperation. Vivien moved away from Tasuki and blushed. "Oh, sorry." She smiled sheepishly. "Er.. what's up?" Tamahome rolled his eyes. Tasuki growled at him. "Yeah. Hurry it up, okay? We were busy." Vivien's blush deepened to the color of a tomato. "Tasuki!!" She whined. Tasuki sighed. "Fine, fine." But his eyes were twinkling with mirth. Tamahome smiled wryly at Vivien's embarrassment. "Have you guys seen Miaka around anywhere?"
"Miaka?" Vivien's eyes hardened. "What do you want with her? Haven't you hurt her enough, you miserable two-timer?" "Vi?" Tasuki frowned. Someone was being rude. Tamahome looked away. "Never mind. Anyway, I really came here to tell you that dinner's ready." Tasuki sighed with relief. If anything could distract Vivien from this, it was the mention of food. But for once, he was wrong.. well, almost. Vivien started walking, but looked back once. She stared hard at Tamahome. "Stop being the fool, Tamahome. Despite what that old man warned you about, you know as well as I do, that rejecting Miaka isn't the answer." Tamahome's eyes grew shadowed. "It's better sooner than later. It would have hurt both of us more later." At that, Vivien's eyes flamed. She walked right up to Tamahome and jabbed him in the chest. "And you think it doesn't hurt now?! Just because you think you'll eventually be separated from her doesn't give you the right to hurt her like that! If you just let it go, and though I know it'll hurt like hell when you guys separate in the end, she'll always remember you with thoughts of love, even if it is because of a broken heart! If you reject her now, shock will turn to self-loathing, and regret will turn to bitterness. Then when you guys do separate, she'll probably hate you to pieces by then! You fix this up right now, mister, or there'll be hell to pay!" And with that, she whirled around and stomped off. Tasuki and Tamahome watched her go. Tasuki looked at Tamahome. "She's right, you know. And I agree with her. You can't do this to Miaka." Tamahome looked at Tasuki. "Since when did you become an expert on women, fangs?" Tasuki smirked without mirth. "Since Vivien became my own. Vivien is one hell of a woman, and we belong to each other.. just like you belong to Miaka. If you hurt her even more than she is now by continuing to reject her, then I'll just have to kill you for it. Hurt Miaka, and you hurt Vivien." Tamahome looked closely at Tasuki. "How do you --?" "Care for Miaka as much as I care for Vivien? Because if I didn't already love Vi, I'd probably be falling for Miaka as well. Heck, if you hadn't fallen for Miaka, Vivien would have probably learned to love you instead of me. But Vi is my life now, and I embrace her love and my love for her as well. And I am eternally grateful for that. I love Vivien with all my heart.. Miaka loves you." Tasuki stared hard at Tamahome. "Cherish it." And with that, he walked away. Tamahome looked up into the sky and thought about the couple's words. Miaka loved him. And he still.. loved her. But how could he go on living without her? Cherish it.. Was he taking the easy way out?
Chapter 14
Vivien sat quietly on a rock, Samantha and her friends arguing behind her. She didn't listen to squabble, as she was too lost in her own thoughts. Things were getting just too bizarre for words. Coming to this world had changed the lives of her sisters completely. Vivien closed her eyes. They had all fallen for guys.. from a book. She realized that now. When she had revisited 'her world' in Tomo's clam shell, she had realized how much she missed her world. Tomo had dug deep into her deepest desires.. did she want to return home that much? If she truly wanted to stay with Tasuki then shouldn't the setting have been in this.. book.. world? But this place.. was just a book. Then Tasuki wasn't really.. real.
Tears stung Vivien's eyes. Tasuki wasn't real. She shook her head and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. No, he couldn't be just a figment of her imagination. When she touched him.. when he touched her.. it had all been real. But this was a book world.. and she had her own world. Would she truly be unhappy if she stayed with Tasuki in this world that only existed on the pages of some book?
But she loved Tasuki.. didn't she?
"Vi? Something wrong?" Tasuki sat beside her.
Vivien smiled weakly at Tasuki. "No.. not really.."
Tasuki sighed and put his arm around her shoulders. "Vi, how well do you know your sister?"
Vivien smiled. "Which one?"
Tasuki grinned. "Lilian. How well do you know her?"
Vivien blinked. "Very well. Lily and I are best friends. Lily is the nicest, most considerate person I know.."
Tasuki frowned. "You sure?"
Now Vivien frowned. "What are you getting at?"
Tasuki sighed. "I'm just wondering.. If she as wonderful and good as you say she is.. how could someone like her fall in love with someone like Nakago?"
Vivien shook her head wearily. "I.. don't know." She said helplessly. "Then she asked, hesitantly, "Tasuki.. do you love me?"
Tasuki's eyes darkened. "With all my heart."
Vivien's heart trembled then she smiled weakly. "Thank you." She whispered.
Tasuki grinned. "Don't. I never expected to fall for you. And quite frankly, it's a pain in the a-"
Vivien grinned and silenced him with a kiss. When they broke apart, Tasuki's eyes were twinkling. "Then again, who's complaining?"
Vivien chuckled, then her smile faded and a sad light entered her eyes. Tasuki loved her.. but did she love him.. enough to let her family go?
"Vi?"
Vivien smiled reassuringly at Tasuki. "It's nothing."
"Sammy." Vivien stepped into her sister's tent.
Samantha turned and wiped her eyes with a sleeve of her boy's tunic. "Vivi? What's up?"
Vivien sighed. "Sammy.. I want to talk to Lily."
Samantha frowned. "But how?"
Vivien shrugged. "Do you know any spell or something.. I want to talk to Kate, too. Don't you have that power.. that weird power..?"
Samantha smiled. "Vivi, I have the power of ice."
Vivien frowned. "Don't you have two other powers?"
Samantha shrugged. "Maybe. I'm not really sure.."
"What do you mean?" Vivien sat down on the soft mat spread on the dirt floor.
"Well," Samantha sat opposite of her sister. "I think there's a possibility of me having the power to enhance other powers.. I think that explains how Amiboshi's powers were enhanced, you know? And of course, there's also my last power."
"Oh? What is it?" Vivien asked curiously.
Samantha shrugged. "It's really no big. I can control light.." She paused. ".. and unseen forces?"
Vivien smiled enviously. "That's a lot cooler than changing into a parakeet, you know."
Samantha grinned. "Thanks."
Then Vivien looked thoughtful. "You know.. Kate had the powers of flight and telekinesis when we left.. there might be a chance she has the power of telepathy, right?"
Samantha shrugged. "Maybe. But you know, we could always ask Chichiri to do that thing he did so Miaka could talk to Tamahome in Kotou."
Vivien's eyes lit up. "That's it! Sammy, you're a genius!"
Samantha smiled with amusement. "But of course."
"Nani? You want to contact your sisters? Why, no da?" Chichiri asked the sisters with a frown.
Vivien sighed. "It's complicated, Chichiri. But is it possible? Four-Way Communication via telepathic powers?"
Chichiri smiled. "Of course, na no da. But if either Shoshi or Taishi have telepathy as their third power, it'll help a lot."
Samantha smiled cheerfully at the prospect of seeing her sisters again. "Then it's settled!"
They were sitting in a white, open space. Vivien looked around her with some confusion. "Where are we?" She asked her sister sitting next to her.
Samantha frowned. "I have no idea. Maybe it's because we're contacting more than one person.. Four-way projection.. Multiple send- outs.. Of course! There is no one sense of a set location."
Vivien raised a brow. "Let's pretend I can read your thoughts and know where they're going.."
Samantha smiled. "The four of us are in three separate locations. There is no one location, thus are we in a blank set for our communication with each other."
"Okay." Vivien's expression still looked blank. "So where are they?"
"Sammy? Vivi?" Kathryn's voice called out to them.
Samantha and Vivien looked around. "Kate? Where are you?"
"Right here." Kathryn appeared before them. She was dressed a little more strangely than usual.. Vivien thought her silk gown looked finer.. more.. royal. Her thick blue hair was set high upon her head and was that lipstick Kate was wearing? Vivien grinned. "Did someone have a makeover?" Kathryn blushed. Samantha smiled. "It's good to see you, Kate. Did you have any difficulty coming here?"
Kathryn shook her head. "No. My third power is telepathy." Vivien was impressed. "Coolness." Samantha looked around. "Where's Lily?" "I'm having trouble reaching her, na no da." Chichiri's voice called out to them from nowhere. "It appears she's unconscious, no da." Samantha frowned. "That could be a problem." Vivien was worried. "Is she okay?" Kathryn sighed. "Chichiri, are you there?" "Hai. How are you, Shoshi-san?"
"Peachy. Instead of trying to reach her mind, why not attack it? Telepathically, of course?" Samantha and Vivien were aghast at Kathryn's suggestion. "Kate!" Kathryn smiled. "Hey, don't worry. If she's unconscious, her mind is the most vulnerable to a telepathic attack. Aggression works best in these situations." "Hai! You're right, Shoshi-san! It worked!" Vivien was the first who saw the blue glowing shape in front of her. "Lily.. Lily!" Her sister materialized before her. Joy welled up in Vivien's heart. "Lily! Lily!"
Lilian gasped and slowly opened her eyes. "Ne.. who's there?" She asked cautiously.
Vivien smiled with happiness. "Lily!"
When Lilian realized who was sitting before her, a smile slowly lit up her face. Vivien's smile mirrored her own: joyful and relieved.
"Lily!!" Kathryn's smile broadened as her sister faced her and her eyes widened with disbelief.. and happiness. She then chuckled at Lilian's changed expression. She looked puzzled.. and why shouldn't she be? She looked a lot different from when she had last seen her sister. Her eyes sparkled with happiness. "Lily! I'm so happy to see you again.." Then an image of Hotohori rose unbidden in her mind. Well.. she was happy to see her sister.. delighted, really, but her sadness was so great at the same time..
Samantha smiled softly. "Hi Lily! I couldn't wait to see you again!"
"Sammy?!" When she saw Samantha's eyes however, Lilian grew concerned. "Sammy.. what's wrong?"
Vivien decided to take charge. They didn't have enough time. "Lily.. we came together and decided we wanted to see you.. together.. Kate helped us."
"Kate?" Lilian turned to her sister, intrigued. "How..?"
Kathryn smiled wearily. "Like you, Lily.. we have acquired all three of our powers. My powers are of flight, telekinesis.. and telepathy."
"Telepathy?" Lilian looked startled. "But that's also my.." Her eyes widened. "So that's how all of you are here! You're using our third powers to contact each other."
Kathryn nodded. "Hai. Lily.. we're here to bring you up-to-date. Sammy told us what happened earlier.. we've decided to contact you and find out what happened. We'll also tell you what happened with us."
"I.." Lilian's eyes grew masked.
Vivien sighed in frustration. She decided she had had enough. "Lily.. stop treating us like babies! You're acting as if we're not here!"
Lilian looked confused. "Huh?"
Vivien frowned. As if she didn't know! "Don't play dumb, Lily! You, of all people, should know what I'm talking about! Whenever I saw you or when Sammy saw you, you were always protecting us! And every time, you got hurt instead of us! We understand why you did it, but knock it off already!" Vivien didn't mean to sound so angry, but she couldn't help herself. Dang it, but every one of them had powers equal to Lilian's, and though she knew Lilian protected them out of love, she also knew it had to stop. Lilian was in love with a torture-loving bastard and now it was their turn to protect her, because they loved her, and because she needed protection now more than ever.
Kathryn nodded solemnly in agreement. "That's right, Lily." Her eyes were sad. "All of us know.. how strong Nakago is.. You thought you were probably the only one capable of standing up to him. Do you think our powers are really that inferior to his?" She asked gently.
Samantha nodded sadly. "Lily.. we're just as powerful as you. As the seishi's of Taittsukun, we also have powers equal to Nakago's."
Vivien saw Lilian's stricken expression and her eyes softened. "But enough of how we're royally annoyed of you, Lily.. Lily.. we want to know.. what's going on?"
Lilian looked away. "Oh..,"
"Nothing?" All of them finished for her? Vivien grew more annoyed. "You know there's not a chance in hell we'll buy that, Lily." Vivien said, irritated. "You might as well spill it."
Kathryn frowned at Vivien and said more gently, "Lily.. all of us will also tell you our stories.. but we want to listen to yours first."
Lilian slowly nodded and looked thoughtfully at Kathryn. "What do you want me to tell you? I'm just biding my time until I can think of a way to make Yui wish a different third wish."
Samantha smiled sympathetically. Vivien sighed. Finally, they were getting somewhere. "You love him, don't you?" She said gently. Lilian looked like she wanted to deny it, but decided against it. She looked down, ashamed. "Hai." Everyone was quiet. Vivien stared at her sister. Lilian had just admitted her love for Nakago. Hearing about it was one thing, but this was different. Lilian loved Nakago. Lilian was the purest person Vivien had ever known.. and she loved that.. man.. She slowly smiled. Which meant.. that Nakago couldn't be all that bad. She thought of her own dilemma and smiled. They were sisters in every way. They had all caught the disease. Kathryn heard her thought and smiled herself. When Lilian looked up, all three of her sisters were smiling. She stared.
Kathryn finally remarked, "It looks like she's caught the disease, Vivi, Sammy." Lilian frowned. "Disease?" Vivien smiled. It really was quite amusing. "Lilian.. we've all fallen in love, too." Lilian stared. She looked shocked. "Nani?!" Kathryn smiled, amused at Lilian's reaction. "It's true. Vivien's fallen in love with Tasuki, the Suzaku seishi." Lilian stared at her sister. "Vivi! Is this true?" At first, Vivien didn't know what to say. Yes, she was in love with Tasuki, but how much in love was she? Did she love him enough to leave her sisters behind? Then she saw her answer in her sisters' eyes. The truth hit her like a slap. All of them were in love with someone from this world.. and they would do anything for them. Lilian knew what kind of bastard Nakago was and she still admitted to loving him. Samantha.. she loved Amiboshi even if he was part of this world.. and without asking, Vivien knew she would stay with him until the end of time. And Kathryn.. even as Hotohori had professed his love for Miaka, she hadn't stopped loving him. She loved him with all her heart, and Vivien finally confessed that.. she did, too. She finally nodded. "Hai.. Very true." She breathed, thinking of him. Her eyes grew sad. "It hurts.. every time he fights to protect Miaka. I hate it, worrying if he'll get hurt. He knows I love him, but I don't say it that often. I think he wants me too, but I'm not saying a peep until he says it enough times until I'm sick of hearing it." She said stubbornly. Lilian smiled. Samantha chuckled softly. Lilian looked at her. "I've also fallen in love.." She confessed. "..and Lily, you.. sent him to me." Lilian's eyes widened in realization. "Amiboshi?" Samantha smiled. "Hai.. both of us loved each other.. but.." Her eyes grew pained. "I couldn't stop Suboshi from giving him that drug. I know he's not going to remember me.. when we meet again." Lilian nodded sadly and turned to Kathryn, expectantly. "How about you, Kate?" Kathryn looked away. "Hotohori." Lilian stared. "Hotohori? The Konan Emperor?" Kathryn nodded. "Hai. I love him. I'm in the palace right now. Chichiri called out to me so I could see you again. I'm with.. Hotohori. I love him with all my heart, but.." Kathryn looked at Lilian, with grief glowing in her silver eyes. "Lily.. you know how I feel. We both love someone whose death we are forbidden to prevent. I know.." There were tears in her eyes. ".. that he's going to die.. and I know.. I will return to my world.. after I've made my wish to Byakko. I only wish.." Lilian understood. "Nakago.." Everyone looked at her. Vivien grew sad. "You love him, don't you?" Lilian nodded. "Hai." Samantha smiled sadly. "None of us wanted to accept that.. but I know you felt something true for him.. when I left you." "But how could you love someone so evil..?" Vivien wanted to know. "He's the one that killed so many people." Samantha shook her head. "Vivi.. you don't understand. He's not that evil. Quite human, in fact. Like anyone.. he also has a past." Lilian was startled. "Sammy.. how do you..?" Samantha smiled. "Who do you think told me about the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho? Taka.. Tamahome.. told me. He told me what he saw when he killed.. Nakago.. and his memories." Lilian trembled, remembering. "Nakago.." Kathryn smiled, shakingly. She couldn't keep up the link much longer. Chichiri was calling them back. "I know you want to see him again.. so we'll leave you now." Lilian looked up and smiled. "Arigatou." Vivien sighed. "Lily.. I don't know what you see in the chump, but if you love him, he can't be that bad." Vivien knew she looked and sounded skeptical, but her heart was assured of the truth of Lilian's love. Samantha smiled. "Hang on there, Lily.. we're not far from the end of the book.. so just hang on."
Tasuki knew something had been wrong before Vivien and her sisters had contacted Lilian, but afterwards, her attitude had changed dramatically. Now, more than ever, she seemed to crave his touch and crave even more his words of love to her. Something had happened, and he meant to find out. After a sad farewell, Samantha had bid goodbye to Amiboshi, who wondered at the sad love shining in her eyes.. they retired to Tamahome's teacher's house to rest. Not long after that, Tamahome and Miaka separated, much to the dismay of Vivien and her sisters. Now, days afterwards, Vivien was still voicing her disbelief and bitterness. "Why is he doing this to her?! What did she ever do to deserve this?!" Vivien demanded bitterly of no one in particular. Tasuki leaned against the wall of the open balcony and simply watched her. "That's it! I'm going to pulverize that mean old lecher! Miaka and Tamahome are destined to be together and he's just mussing it all up, that horrible old jerk! Come on, Tasuki! We have some roasting to do!" Tasuki smirked. "Don't you think you're overdoing it, Vi?" Vivien stared. "Overdoing it? You can never overdo anything for the sake of love, Tasuki!" She declared. Tasuki sighed. "Then do it yourself. I'm tired. Besides, you do know the future, don't you?" Vivien paused in her tirade. "Well, yeah.. but.." "And how are they in the future?" He persisted. "Well, they're wonderful, but.." "Exactly. Don't you know, Vi? That every obstacle their love overcomes only makes it stronger." He pointed out. Vivien frowned. "Yeah, but.." She slumped. "Do you always have to win?" Tasuki grinned. "Nah, you're just a born loser." Vivien playfully punched Tasuki on the arm. "Hey! Take that back!" She jabbed him in the ribs. Tasuki chuckled. "Cut that out!" Giggling, Vivien started to tickle Tasuki until he almost fell over the railing. She shrieked with glee as he swiftly pinned down her arms. "Hey! That's not fair!" "Is that so?" Tasuki murmured as he pinned her arms down her sides. He looked deep into her eyes and finally, smiled as he kissed her nose. Vivien wrinkled said appendage, disappointed. "Is that all?" Tasuki laughed and without another word, kissed her right on her lips. Vivien smiled and gave herself into the kiss, enjoying every delicious moment of the passion that was igniting with every lick of the flame. "Am I interrupting something?" Startled, Vivien jumped and knocked her head against Tasuki's chin. "Ow!" Vivien winced. "Gomenasai." She kissed his chin. "There. All better?" Tasuki grinned wolfishly. "Almost." He leaned down for another kiss. "What does a guy have to do to get noticed around here?" Tamahome said loudly in exasperation. Vivien moved away from Tasuki and blushed. "Oh, sorry." She smiled sheepishly. "Er.. what's up?" Tamahome rolled his eyes. Tasuki growled at him. "Yeah. Hurry it up, okay? We were busy." Vivien's blush deepened to the color of a tomato. "Tasuki!!" She whined. Tasuki sighed. "Fine, fine." But his eyes were twinkling with mirth. Tamahome smiled wryly at Vivien's embarrassment. "Have you guys seen Miaka around anywhere?"
"Miaka?" Vivien's eyes hardened. "What do you want with her? Haven't you hurt her enough, you miserable two-timer?" "Vi?" Tasuki frowned. Someone was being rude. Tamahome looked away. "Never mind. Anyway, I really came here to tell you that dinner's ready." Tasuki sighed with relief. If anything could distract Vivien from this, it was the mention of food. But for once, he was wrong.. well, almost. Vivien started walking, but looked back once. She stared hard at Tamahome. "Stop being the fool, Tamahome. Despite what that old man warned you about, you know as well as I do, that rejecting Miaka isn't the answer." Tamahome's eyes grew shadowed. "It's better sooner than later. It would have hurt both of us more later." At that, Vivien's eyes flamed. She walked right up to Tamahome and jabbed him in the chest. "And you think it doesn't hurt now?! Just because you think you'll eventually be separated from her doesn't give you the right to hurt her like that! If you just let it go, and though I know it'll hurt like hell when you guys separate in the end, she'll always remember you with thoughts of love, even if it is because of a broken heart! If you reject her now, shock will turn to self-loathing, and regret will turn to bitterness. Then when you guys do separate, she'll probably hate you to pieces by then! You fix this up right now, mister, or there'll be hell to pay!" And with that, she whirled around and stomped off. Tasuki and Tamahome watched her go. Tasuki looked at Tamahome. "She's right, you know. And I agree with her. You can't do this to Miaka." Tamahome looked at Tasuki. "Since when did you become an expert on women, fangs?" Tasuki smirked without mirth. "Since Vivien became my own. Vivien is one hell of a woman, and we belong to each other.. just like you belong to Miaka. If you hurt her even more than she is now by continuing to reject her, then I'll just have to kill you for it. Hurt Miaka, and you hurt Vivien." Tamahome looked closely at Tasuki. "How do you --?" "Care for Miaka as much as I care for Vivien? Because if I didn't already love Vi, I'd probably be falling for Miaka as well. Heck, if you hadn't fallen for Miaka, Vivien would have probably learned to love you instead of me. But Vi is my life now, and I embrace her love and my love for her as well. And I am eternally grateful for that. I love Vivien with all my heart.. Miaka loves you." Tasuki stared hard at Tamahome. "Cherish it." And with that, he walked away. Tamahome looked up into the sky and thought about the couple's words. Miaka loved him. And he still.. loved her. But how could he go on living without her? Cherish it.. Was he taking the easy way out?
