Hey guys! I am back. Glad you liked the last chappie! Lol. ^.~ Hope this one is good also. Well, on to the story! ((Minor cussing)) Songwind- Nope…it's not bad that you were able to read my mind…. Anywho, on with this chappie!

Chapter 6- Importance

Rae tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for the bus to come to a halt, her flip-slops making a soft patting sound on the step of the bus. As soon as the woman driver opened the door, Rae sped off towards Kia's. She didn't know why she ran. Her mind screamed that something important was happening and she was missing it.

She stopped at Kia's front door, the wind blowing a few stray black bangs into her face that had fallen out of her small pigtails.

Rae's hair was no longer than jaw length and cut in a choppy style that made it flip out every which way, at times she insisted on wearing it up in small pigtails to keep it out of her face. Her pale skin refused to tan and it contrasted deeply with the black top she wore. Rae reached out and rang the doorbell, hoping she hadn't missed Kia's mom. She put her hands into the back pockets of her blue jeans, pulling them down even farther on her hips. Her mom hated these jeans because of the lowness on her hips, but Rae didn't care.

When Rae got no answer at the door she stood on tip-toe to fish the spare key off the top of the door. Rae hated being shorter than Kia, of course, she was only 5'4 and Kia was 5'6. She gave a small cry when she grasped the key. Fishing it into the lock on the door, she swung it open and stepped inside, closing it back behind her.

"Kia?" Rae asked, her voice echoing through the quiet house. Rae chewed on her finger nail for a second then decided to head for Kia's room.

"Kia? You here?" Rae groaned at the site of Kia's room. She stepped over Kia's shoes and purse, making her way to the bed.

"Kia?" Rae noticed a book laying halfway under a pillow, she knew Kia loved to read and would carry a book anywhere.

Rae moved the pillow and picked up the book. As soon as she did, she was sorry. Rae screamed as blue lightning snaked its way over her arms then her body, sending electricity through her while pulling her into the book.

"KIA!!!!!!!"

~*~

Kia moaned as she sat down slowly in the chair. She and Tamahome had spent all day searching the palace for a man who had the mark for 'Nuriko', with no such luck. Not even the strongest guard had the mark. Kia felt hopeless right now. It had been three days since she got pulled into this world. She was beginning to wonder how long she would be here and if her mom was okay. Plus, she still hadn't got to talk with Chichiri.

'KIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

Kia glanced around quickly, thinking she heard her name. "Hello?"

Suddenly Kia's world went swirling. She reached out to grasp the table in front of her as her world went black…

~*~

Rae groaned, opening one of her pale blue eyes. She sat up on her elbows, she was in the middle of nowhere, or more like in the middle of two walls. Rae got up and walked to the end of the alley. She peered into the street, screaming when a horse sped by.

"Ah, ohmigod!! HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!" Rae screamed at the horseman, waving at him. She gathered a lot of attention form that action, which wasn't for the best.

Nearly at once five guards in blue armor surrounded her, grasping Rae by her forearms. They began to drag her off. Of course, Rae didn't go quietly. Not her nature.

"LET GO OF ME, YOU FLAMER!! HEY, THAT HURTS! BACK OFF! LET ME GO!" Rae screamed at the top of her lungs. She knew she'd be hoarse come morning, but she didn't care; she was afraid.

The guards eyed her oddly, taking in her unusual coloring and clothing. They looked at her tight, low cut trousers, her thin, open sandals and her black clingy shirt. They had never seen a woman dressed so…well…oddly. No woman in her right mind would wear this, it was humiliating to their country. They'd show her to the emperor and see what he said about her attire and her attitude towards the head general.

"You shut up," one of the guards growled smacking, Rae across the face. Since he used the back of his hand he hit her with the armor covering it. Rae was stunned into silence, but not for long.

"It's a sad fact that you have to hit a girl to make her shut up. YOU COULD HAVE ASKED NICELY AND I WOULD HAVE, BUT YA KNOW, SINCE YOU HIT ME I WON'T!!!"

The guards rolled their eyes. Did this girl ever shut up? No matter, they were nearly to the throne room anyways.

"OH…THIS PLACE IS AWESOME. WAIT, WHERE THE HELL AM I?!" Rae started to kick once again. "YOU NEVER ANSWERED MY QUESTION. TELL ME NOOOO--OOOOWWW.."

Rae rubbed her rear where they had promptly dropped her, making her bite her tongue also. She mentally cursed them to hell and back again.

"Your majesty."

Rae watched at the guards bowed, she then turned and waved at the emperor, "LISTEN. I don't know what the hell is up here, but I want to know where Kia is or…I'll never shut up!"

The emperor just grunted, "We'll see about that. NAKAGO!"

Rae let out a yelp as a very tall man stepped forward and grabbed her arm with crushing strength. Rae had to bite her lip to keep from yelling out, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing he hurt her.

"Nakago, take this…girl…and do what you like with her."

Rae shuddered at the thought of 'anything'. She wanted to see this Nakago guys face and get answers on why the hell she was here. Nakago nodded stiffly, he'd have to tell his majesty about the how this girl might be the priestess later. Rae nearly screamed as he pulled her out the doors and down a hall then another.

' This place is like a maze! Ugh, I'm going to get lost and locked in the dungeon.'

Rae rolled her eyes, looking Nakago up and down, figuring how much of a head start she could get if she kneed him in the groin. She waited until they turned the next corner before she brought her knee up and landed right on target. Nakago let go giving Rae enough time to wiggle out of his grasp and run. Rae turned down one hall then another before finally coming to the steps. She was dragged up by the guards. She raced down them, her heart pounding in her ears.

'Almost there! Just a few more steps--'

Rae lost her train of thought as she hit a large mass of armor. She looked up to find Nakago standing there, and not looking pleased.

"What…how did you--?" Rae was broke off as he grabbed her arm, dragging her roughly back to the palace.

"KIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

~*~

"Kia? Kia, wake up!"

Kia groaned as someone's voice broke through the darkness, giving her pounding head a jolt. She sat up slowly, trying to blink the blur above her into focus. She reached up to her head and gasped in pain. The blur took her hand softly into it's own and lectured her not to do that.

"Come on, let's get you into bed." The blur picked Kia up as if she was a feather and placed her lightly onto her bed. Walking away for a moment it returned with a white cloth in it's hand. Kia blinked again, finally bringing the world into focus.

"Tamahome? How long was I out? What happened?" Kia winced away from him when he lightly wiped the blood away from the gash on her forehead.

"I don't know really. I walked by your door and was going to stop by and talk to you; but then I found you as a crumpled heap on the floor with blood running down the side of your face. I have been trying to wake you for the past few minutes."

While Tamahome spoke he bandaged her head, his fingers sure yet gentle. Kia thought in silence while he bandaged her head. She needed to talk to Chichiri as soon as possible. She stared at Tamahome as he tied off the bandage and dragged a chair to the edge of her bed.

'I know I heard Rae's voice as I blacked out, but why? And why does Tamahome have to look at me that way…'

Kia finally broke the trace she and Tamahome where in by glancing away. Kia cleared her throat, "Um, Tamahome. Where is Chichiri? I need to talk to him."

Tamahome thought for a moment before answering, "He is by the lake. Why?"

Kia grinned and hugged Tamahome, kissing him lightly on the cheek, then got up and set off for the lake to talk to Chichiri, like she had wanted to do for the past two days. Tamahome watched her retreating form with his hand on his cheek where she had kissed him.

"Your very unique, Kia. You have won me over as well, I hope you know." Tamahome smiled to himself and walked back to his room in a rather big daze, running all over a certain purple haired woman.

"HEY! WATCH IT BUSTER!" the woman screamed, throwing Tamahome off her.

Tamahome blinked at the fact that the woman had just thrown him against the wall from his previous spot on the floor. He pointed at her, "You're a Suzaku warrior. Nuriko, if I am not mistaken."

The woman blinked before replying dryly, "Well, it took another warrior to do what the priestess was supposed to do."

Tamahome rolled his eyes, "We've looked all over for you! You're the one who was hiding and not doing your job as to finding Kia or coming to her!"

Nuriko grit her teeth, "So she has a name now. Well, she is not on my good side. Kia, as you call her, has the emperor around her little finger and she never talks to him! It's pathetic really!!"

"Oh, so I'm pathetic? Or are my interests pathetic?"

Nuriko froze and paled considerably upon hearing Hotohori's voice behind her.

"Do not place judgment on those you do not know, but do not worry I know that you actually are looking after Kia." Hotohori smiled lightly as he walked by, not phased by what Nuriko had said.

Tamahome smiled, walking away he noted her blush. It was the truth, ever since Kia had arrived she had looked after her and such, making sure no one bothered her, though she wouldn't exactly run and tell Kia that. Tamahome patted Nuriko's head while he walked past her.

"Don't worry about it, it just what comes naturally to us warriors. I'll tell Kia we found you after she gets done talking to Chichiri."

Nuriko sighed and began walking back to the harem. Oh, what a day it has been.

Yay! The long awaited Chappie 6! Lol. I know you guys had to wait but I couldn't decided on how Rae should be. I like her so far. ((Also, if you don't know what waving is then you'll find out in the next chapter. ^.^;;)) Um, not really much of anything to say except that I hope you like it and review it! Um, next chappie Kia's long awaited talk with Chichiri! Lol, much more funny and scary stuff to come!

-Ta-

-Eru

(Eh-roo)