AN: I'm back! Lol…here's the next chap…

..:..:..:-:..:..:..

"MIAKA!" Yui's screams pierced the smoke-filled air as Keisuke and Tetsuya pulled up.

"Where is she? Miaka…is she okay?" Keisuke gripped Yui's shoulders and shook her.

"We don't know," Chichiri gripped his shoulder in comfort, "We can only pray."

"Damn it! You stupid glutton! If you don't make it out of there-!" Nuriko slumped to the ground, tears pouring down his face. Miaka had always been the one the accept him. She never gave questions to his past, never whys and why nots. She just understood and stayed by his side. He couldn't lose her now. Not after everything he'd gone through to make sure that she stayed alive.

Hotohori was staring at the flames. Would they claim her as their victim? Would Suzaku allow it? 'She is one of your own, Suzaku. Save her, I beseech you.'

Chichiri was comforting a weeping Keisuke. 'She has to be all right. She has to be. After all she's been through, for her to die like this? It seems like repaying her with nothing. She gave us everything. Suzaku, you must help her.'

..:..:..:-:..:..:..

Inside the burning building was nothing but flames; a building inferno that promised nothing but death to those trapped inside. Yet, in the center of the dining area was a circle clear of flames and smoke. Miaka lay inside of the circle unconscious.

Red light filled her dreaming vision again. "You must wake my priestess. Your destiny has not been fulfilled. Wake, loved one, for me. Open your eyes."

Miaka's eyes opened and she found a familiar figure of a man in flowing white and red robes standing in front of her. "Suzaku."

"Yes. Now, go. Those flames cannot harm you, for you are mine," Suzaku whispered.

"Doshite?"

Suzaku offered her no answer. He instead pulled her to her feet and drew her to his body. He kissed her hair, smelling the delicate fragrance of jasmine and orange blossom. He moved his lips to kiss her eyes, nose, then cheeks, stopping to rest on her lips last. "You will find me again, loved one. Go."

A path opened up for her in the flames and she walked slowly out of the burning building.

..:..:..:-:..:..:..

"There's someone coming out!" An excited bystander called out.

Yui and Nuriko leapt to their feet and ran towards the doors.

"Miaka!" Both yelled and lunged at the girl, "You're ok!"

"Stupid glutton. I should have known you'd be all right," Nuriko cradled her close to his body. "I'm not losing another sister. Never again."

Hotohori, Keisuke, Chichiri, and Tetsuya joined the three and paramedics came to check on Miaka.

"She seems to be fine. She has inhaled a small amount of smoke and she sprained her left wrist. That's about the extent of her injuries," the paramedic patted her on the head, "She'll be fine in a few hours and her wrist will heal in about a week or so. Take her home. She needs to rest above all else."

The group nodded thankfully and Keisuke held onto his sister for the ride home. Hotohori, Chichiri, and Nuriko stayed with her the first night and she told them what happened.

"That means that Suzaku started the fire so he could speak to her. What did he say to you?" Hotohori and Chichiri looked up, alarmed, at Nuriko's hostile tone.

"I don't remember," her reply was shaking with fear. 'What did he mean "you will find me again"? Damn it, brain! Make sense!"

"We can't do anything, Nuriko! The sooner you accept that, the easier it will be for us to figure out why he wants her!" Chichiri snapped.

"What do you want me to do then? Let him take her from us to put her through gods-knows-what just because he wants her? Do you honestly think that I would let him? God or not, she is my friend and sister! I REFUSE to let him take her from any of us, especially not ME!" Nuriko slammed the door to his guest room and sat on the bed. "She's my little sister. I won't lose another one."

Miaka followed him and sat by him on the bed. "Nuriko, don't worry about me, ne? Haeki yo, haeki. It'll work itself out, just wait. I'll be fine then, you'll see."

"How can you be so damn calm?"

Miaka embraced him, "Because, I have you and the others to depend on. I know you won't let anything harm me. And I don't think he wants to anyway. I am his miko. He will not harm one of his own."

"Gods, Miaka, I hope that you're right. Is there anything else that's happened that you haven't mentioned yet?"

She shook her head, 'not that I could tell you anyway, Nuriko, you wouldn't be able to understand. I don't even understand and I only have to worry about what I want.' She smiled at him, "I will be fine. Stop worrying and learn to accept, that for now, there is little that you can do to alleviate my situation."

"Miaka, are you all right? I wasn't even aware that alleviate was in your vocabulary!" Nuriko grinned at her half-heartedly and chuckled as he saw her indignant face.

Miaka screeched I outrage and swatted at Nuriko's laughing form. "NOT FAIR!"

"Yes, it is! That's payback for all of the remarks you made about my getting in touch with my 'feminine side.'" Nuriko poked her in the side and she giggled. (AN-::shudder:: gods I hate that word…)

"Thanks, Nuriko," Miaka fell to the bed, comforted that her friend and senshi was there for her.

..:..:..:-:..:..:..

"Miaka," Suzaku's voice filled her mind.

"What do you want of me?" Miaka stood in the center of a lonely scarlet field.

"You are mine, dear one. And it will remain that way," Suzaku appeared in front of her clad in a pair of crimson breeches. White silk embroidery edged the phoenix that rested on his left pant leg.

"Why do you want me? What could I possible mean to you?"

Miaka found herself in Suzaku's arms, resting against a broad, well-muscled chest. "Need there be a reason for me to want you? You belong to me and that's the only explanation that I have for you." He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her gently. "Do you understand now?"

"Yes. But why these dreams? Why not come to me instead?" Miaka leaned into his embrace.

"I will soon. It is almost time." Suzaku kissed her again, pulling her tight against his body. She stood still until his lips and hands drew her attentions. He nibbled on her lower lip and licked the corner of her mouth, begging for her to allow him to deepen the kiss. She gasped at the sensations he drew from her and he quickly slipped his tongue inside. She moaned into his mouth as his hands began to search every inch of her body.

He kissed his way down to her neck, softly biting on the sensitive skin below her jaw. He made his way to the junction of her neck and shoulder and applied a gentle suction there. She moaned again and looked at him.

"Suzaku…"

"Loved one, wait for me."

..:..:..:-:..:..:..

"Miaka! Wake up!" Nuriko shook her awake.

"What?" she tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.

"What the hell is going on?"

..:..:..:-:..:..:..

AN: don't you love the random cliffies I leave you at? I've already got the next chap planned out…so it should be out in about two or three days…heh…I could do it by tomorrow…but I don't feel like it….'sides, I gots to study!