Sorry for taking so long to update!

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Miaka looked at Nuriko in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

Nuriko glared at her for a moment before snapping, "Dreams of Suzaku? Talking to him? Not letting us know?! I don't really know. Maybe something like that would make *some* of us worried!"

Miaka swore in her mind and blushed. She looked at her feet as Nuriko stood to pace the room. Thoughts of Suzaku raced through her mind as her face became a deeper crimson shade. 'Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!'

"Tell one of us at least. Just let one of us know what's going on!" Nuriko gave up on his silence and shouted. "We're too damn worried about you no matter what you say! I know you're still hurting over Tama! Don't even start with the 'I'm over him. No, really, I'm fines!' I, at least, know that you are the farthest thing from "fine" right now!"

Miaka hung her head in shame. "Demo sa, I can't really talk about it. Yes, what Tamahome did to me still hurts, but I have to get over it on my own."

"We all understand that! We just want to help you where we can! You weren't meant to be a person who carries all of her burdens on her own!" Nuriko stopped pacing and stared hard into her chocolate eyes.

She nodded, the gesture almost imperceptive, but Nuriko saw it and nodded. He sighed quietly in relief as she got up to walk to the window.

"I really don't know what he wants with me." She never had to say who "he" was. Nuriko knew as well as she did. "I've been dreaming of him for a few weeks now. Until a few nights ago, it was always the same thing. I felt heat at the base of my spine. I could never see his face. He called me his 'lovely miko.' I was scared at first. I had no idea who he was. But after a while, I got used to his voice. Then, a few nights ago, the dreams changed. He would hold me in his arms and kiss me. That was when I could see his face."

Miaka stared at the ground for a while before biting her lip. "That's really all that I can remember."

Nuriko embraced her, "I'll take care of you, imouto, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you."

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"You told him. About us, about everything." Suzaku's voice caressed her body as she shivered under his touch. "Why?"

"They've been so worried about me." She struggled to find the words as he kissed her jaw line.

"I won't harm you, surely they can see that." His hand made its way to her waist.

She whimpered at the touch. "I know that. But how can they?"

He shook his head. "They are my warriors. Surely they know that I would not harm my own."

'There was a time when that was different.' The thought slipped her mind as Suzaku's hands traveled over her body. She stiffened then relaxed when he kissed her slowly.

"I can't harm you. I would never harm what truly belongs to me."

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Miaka woke up to a sunny cloudless morning. School. Damn the place. What was the point? After she had taken the Yotsubodai exams, she found herself longing to be somewhere else. It wasn't even the question of what high school she was in. She wanted to be free again. She shook her head again.

Suzaku had returned last night, just like he had for the past few months. What was a girl expected to do? She was confused. Why would a *god* of all beings be interested in her? Why? The question circled inside her mind until she felt faint from the dizzying turns her mind went through. He would tell her in time; of that, she was certain. Something in his voice promised an explanation. And she would get it.

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Nuriko, Chichiri, Hotohori, Tasuki, and Mitsukake sat around a table in the center of a downtown café. Each wore identical worried expression on their faces.

"What do we do about him?" Nuriko was blunt. He had already filled in the others about everything that Miaka had told him.

"Nothing." The soft, commanding voice still carried its undertone of authority.

"What do you mean by nothing, Hori?" Chiriko looked up at Hotohori and frowned.

"We are his warriors. I admit, I am suspicious as well, but if he wants his miko, surely he would tell us at least." Hotohori's eyes shone in the dim light from the windows.

"How are we supposed to know that?" Tasuki slammed his fist on his knee. "He's a god, for crying out loud. Like the man in red is really gonna give a damn about what we think about the whole thing?"

Nuriko nodded in agreement. Tasuki and he had finally found common ground and ceased the old bickering that once flew between them. "If he wanted to let us know, why would he wait until now? It doesn't make sense."

Chichiri looked at Mitsukake. "What do you think, old friend?"

"I don't like this. I don't like the fact that Suzaku has said nothing to us of this."

Chiriko nodded. "I agree too, but there's little we can do about it. The stars agree in too many arrangements. The center star focuses on none of her warriors. She focuses on the star that leads them all. Right now, there is little we can do to change the situation. As much as you and Tasuki hate it, Nuriko, the two of you, and the rest of us, will have to wait and see what happens."

Chichiri and Hotohori nodded. Mitsukake looked passively at the setting sun and sighed. She would have to be careful. Sooner or later Suzaku would manifest himself in flesh to fall to the world to search for her. Doubtless he already knew where his miko was, and being wary would do nothing for the rest of the warriors.

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Nuriko stared into the flames. Stupid gods. They always had to meddle in business that wasn't theirs. The flames flickered, almost mirroring his annoyance.

"…calm yourself. I would not be so cold as to hurt one of my own…" Suzaku swam into his view.

"Shit!" Nuriko jumped back in surprise. Suzaku stared at him from his place in the flames. "What do you want from her?"

"…you know my answer to that…I can't hurt someone such as my miko. I called her for a reason. Would you truly go so far as to deny me my own?" Suzaku's face broke into a bemused smile.

"If you hurt her, you will regret it. Even if the others will not fight you, I will make you suffer. I vow that on your name and my blood." Nuriko sat on the reclining sofa and glared at the face before him.

"…does she mean that much to you? Has she replaced Korin?"

"No, you know that. I think of Miaka as another younger sister, but no one can replace Korin." Nuriko threw his hands in the air.

"…don't be angry. I was only curious."

"Even when you already know the answer?" Nuriko snarled. "Why do you keep us here even when the Universe of the Four Gods has been over? Why keep us here when she is no longer in danger?"

"…I keep you here for her only. So long as she remains, so shall you. You must take care of her and watch over her as you did in the past. It will not be as difficult. I will watch over her as you do. I keep you here to save her from any more heartache." Suzaku faded from the flames as Nuriko stood.

"BASTARD! I am NOT a plaything!"

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"Miaka."

She looked up to see a young man walk towards her. Thick, rich auburn hair hung down his back in a single braid.

"Suzaku."