Chapter Seven: Ren Confronts Nakago

Namame led the entire group towards the back of the caves where the Genbu seven waited patiently. Miaka had called to Yui seconds later when Namame had made his appearance. Now they were all together once more. In the back of the caves they found Tomite and Hikitsu sitting around the fire in deep conversation, Hatsui and Urimiya were playing a card game that Takako had taught them, and Iname and Uruki were sharpening some of their weapons. When they arrived Iname was the first to respond by bowing.

"Welcome Priestess of Suzaku and Priestess of Seiryuu" he said with a smile, "We've been eagerly awaiting your arrival."

"Thank you" Miaka bowed her head back as she sat down

"Yes thank you" Yui repeated as she sat down next to her friend.

The other warriors gathered in while Namame and Taka walked over to a nearby wall to stand. Miaka introduced Hotohori for the first time to the Genbu seven and they greeted him cordially.

"Where's Takako?" Yui asked.

"She should be here soon" Namame answered, "She got in touch with us with this machine here" he held it up.

"A cell phone?" Taka raised an eyebrow.

"Mhm."

"Well now that you're here Priestess" Hatsui said, "Maybe you can explain what we're doing here?"

"I wish I could" Miaka replied, "But I don't even know what I am doing here."

"We do know that there is a servant of Tenkou here" Yui said, "Maybe two. So more than likely the Gods wanted us to fix what was wrong in our world and somehow send them back to yours."

"That's logical" Iname reasoned with his hand on his chin.

"Where did you all disappear to after that terrible ordeal in Hokkan?" Uruki asked.

"We went back to Konan. It was Miaka's idea" Tasuki replied.

"Yes, it was" Miaka nodded, "But for some reason, I can't figure out why I wanted to go back there."

"Don't worry about that now Miaka" Taka smiled at her when he saw her frown, "It's not important any more."

"I'm coming in!" someone called from the other sides of the rocks.

"It's Takako" Namame said sounding a bit excited as he walked over to the rocks to help her in the small cranny.

She climbed through the small hole with a plastic bag of goodies. Hatsui and Urimiya practically tripped over each other to get the bag.

"All right!" Hatsui yelled happily.

"You brought more stuff!" Urimiya shouted with glee.

"Here you go" Takako grinned as she handed it to them, "Oh they've arrived?" she looked up in surprise as she spotted the other priestesses and warriors who accompanied her own.

"Yes" Miaka smiled, "It's good to see you again Takako."

"Mhm" Takako nodded as she knelt down next to the other two girls, "We were very worried when we couldn't find you after that terrible storm."

"Oh we're all right" Yui grinned.

"Yes. Chichiri helped us."

"Now that Takako is here" Iname spoke up, "We need to discuss what we are going to do. Our plan of action. Any ideas?"

Everyone shook their heads except Yui and Miaka.

"You know Yui" Miaka replied, "I was thinking about what you said earlier."

"About what Miaka?"

"About how we can get Ren and this other woman back into the book. It's not a bad idea."

"Yea, but how do we do it Miaka?" Yui asked.

"Well, we simply got to trick them. And it's obvious that we have to go back to the city."

"What about the rest of the warriors Miaka?" Nuriko spoke up, "Like the Genbu seven?"

"This is my theory on it. We came to this world through the book right?"

"Yea?"

"So they must have inevitably followed. There is no other way to get from out of that world besides the book."

"So you're saying" Taka replied, "That when we go back the Genbu seven will go back automatically. Is that right?"

"Yes" Miaka nodded.

"It's a long shot" Yui said with a nod of her own, "But it sounds right."

"However, in the meantime what are we supposed to do?" Namame asked.

"Just lay low I guess" Taka replied.

"Lay low?"

They started to argue a bit and during this time Miaka and Yui felt a weird feeling creep up into their stomachs. It was a scary, uneasy feeling that made the two of them almost shake. Takako was the first to notice it.

"What's wrong you guys?" she asked so loud that the warriors stopped arguing and turned to the two girls in concern.

"Yui" Miaka said, "Do you feel that?"

"Yea. It's slight. But I can feel it too."

"What is it Lady Yui?" Suboshi replied kneeling down.

"I don't know. But it doesn't feel good at all."

"Yea" Miaka agreed, "Taka" she reached for his hand.

"What's wrong Miaka?" he asked as he took it gently.

"We have to go back. We have to go back now."

"Go back where?"

"Go back to the house."

"Is something wrong there Miaka?" Hotohori asked after.

"Yea what's going on?" Tasuki added.

"We just have to go back."

"Miaka's right" Yui said, "Amiboshi. Suboshi. Let's go" she replied standing up.

"All right Lady Yui" Suboshi agreed following her with his brother right behind him.

"Sorry we have to leave like this" Nuriko replied as Taka helped Miaka to her feet.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Tomite asked.

"No" Miaka shook her head violently, "No you can't help."

"Miaka?" Taka looked at her in concern.

"It must be just us."

"You heard the lady" Tasuki replied, "We got to go."

Taka nodded and the two of them walked out of the cave with her with Hotohori walking a few feet behind. Nuriko was the last one left so he turned to the Genbu seven.

"Don't you guys worry about a thing" he smiled as he exited, "We'll handle it. It's probably not that big of a deal anyway," he said not really believing it himself.

As he walked out Tomite and Hikitsu turned to the others as Namame sat down next to Iname.

"I don't think that they are going to be okay on their own" Namame said to his older friend, "What do you think?"

"No" Iname nodded, "They didn't seem so sure themselves."

"But then why can't we go help them?" Hatsui demanded.

"We are" Namame replied, "We're not going to let them handle this alone."

"Are you sure about this Namame?" Uruki said.

"They're our friends aren't they?"

"Namame" Takako who was silent up to that point spoke in a very low voice but he could still hear it, "Let's hurry."



Toki drove the car as fast as possible without getting a speeding ticket, all the way back to Tetsuya's house. Yui and Miaka were on pins and needles as they slowly approached it. From the windows they saw the reason for the uneasy feeling. Outside of the house were hundreds of demons being held off by the remaining warriors.

"They're in trouble!" Hotohori shouted.

"Let's get out there!" Nuriko yelled as he flung open the doors and they jumped out with Tasuki.

The other two warriors followed and Taka and the two girls jumped as well.

"Miaka" Taka replied the symbol on his forehead glowing now, "I have to help them."

"Mhm" she nodded.

"You and Yui try to get to the house. Toki take care of them!" he called as he went to join the others.

"Let's get you two to the house," Toki said as he urged them forward.

"Right" Yui agreed as they ran.



"Mitsukake!" Chichiri shouted, "How much longer can we hold out you know!"

"I don't know!" he shouted back.

"Let's do our best until the others come" Chiriko replied.

Suddenly a demon was upon the small boy. He shielded himself.

"Chiriko! Watch out!" Chichiri called.

"Reka Shian!"

"Tasuki!" Chiriko said in complete relief when he destroyed the demon and three more with one stroke.

"Hey there kid" he grinned, "Did you miss me?"

"Chichiri" Hotohori said as he and Nuriko ran over to help.

"Your highness" Chichiri replied, "Just in time you know."

"Glad to be of service" Nuriko grinned, "C'mon Tama. Let's kick some tail."

"You got it!" Taka shouted using his powers for the first time in decades.



Miaka and Yui managed to get to the front porch where Tetsuya and Keisuke were waiting.

"Miaka!" he called as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Keisuke" she said back.

"What's going on here?" Yui asked Tetsuya as she held him.

"We'll explain when we get inside" Tetsuya suggested, "They're after you two."

"After us?" Yui replied in surprise as they walked inside.

Both Mrs. Hongo and Mrs. Yuki were sitting on the couches, scared to death. When they saw that both of the girls were all right they were relieved once more.

"Oh Miaka. I'm so glad that you're all right. I was so worried about you" Mrs. Yuki said.

"Mom I'm all right" Miaka replied, "I do this stuff all the time."

"She's right mom, we're fine" Yui added.

"Now Keisuke" Miaka turned to him once more, "Explain to me, what's going on? How did this start?"

"Well" Keisuke said hesitantly, "I don't want to alarm Yui or anything, but it started about an hour ago. Nakago was at the door."

"Nakago?" Yui replied slowly.

"Yea. He was demanding you Yui. But you weren't here so Miboshi and Ashitare did the best they could to keep him away. That's when the demons came. Nakago disappeared after that."

"So he did come to this world then" Miaka said, "I wonder what he wanted with Yui?"



Nakago walked out onto the balcony above in the clock tower. Soi, Tomo, and him had been staying there for almost a week now, unknown to the outside world. Tomo approached him cautiously.

"Nakago" he replied.

"What is it?" Nakago asked shortly.

"You have a visitor."

"A visitor?"

"He said it's urgent."

"He?"

Nakago walked down a small flight of stairs behind Tomo. Down below there was a small temple illuminated by one light coming from the nearby window, where the sun and the moon crept through during the day. Standing by one of the small trickling fountains was a figure in a black cloak.

"Leave us" Nakago ordered which Tomo obeyed, "I had a feeling You would eventually show up" he said to the figure.

"You know me so well" the figure spoke as he turned to him and removed the hood of his cloak.

"What do you want Ren?" Nakago asked.

"It's not what I want Nakago" Ren replied, "It's what my Master wants."

"Master" Nakago sighed as he sat on the fountain, "I told him months ago that I wasn't interested in his propositions."

"But he's offering you the opportunity of a lifetime."

"You don't understand" Nakago said, "Even if I was to join you, we would never win."

"And why is that?"

"You don't know the Priestess of Suzaku like I do."

Ren laughed.

"The Priestess of Suzaku. Yes, I hear she's quite formidable."

"It's not only that. She's persistent. Her warriors are great too in power. You wouldn't stand a chance."

"Au contraire Nakago. You see. I have a plan that can't fail."

"And what's that pre-tell?"

"It's in motion as we speak. Didn't you think it odd that I suddenly sent my demons to find them?"

"And how did you find them anyway?"

"Well that part was easy. All I had to do was have them follow you. I knew you would go looking for the Priestess of Seiryuu eventually."

"You bastard."

"Calm down Nakago. The demons would have been defeated by now, they are not that strong. Soon Miaka will figure out that they were mine and come to confront me in the city, but with the help of Tomo who is still quite loyal to my Master that would be her worst move ever" he grinned evilly on the last line as Nakago stared at him quizzically.



In the Land Rover, which Taka was driving Miaka watched as the road signs passed before her eyes. Some of the warriors were asleep in the back of the car while the remaining warriors were riding with Tetsuya and Yui in his car. Keisuke had remained back at the house with the moms. Earlier, once the demons had been defeated Miaka and Yui had decided to confront Ren once and for all in the city. So, despite their mother's protests they were on their way. Taka placed his hand on top of hers and gave it a squeeze making her look at him with a somewhat reassuring smile.



"They are driving towards us unknowingly" Ren continued, "And soon the Priestess of Suzaku will seal her doom forever."



Authors Note: Hey guys! Just one more chapter after this one today! Keep reading! By the way next chapter is pretty short compared to this one and the others.

Next Chapter: An Alternate Reality

Miaka and Yui find themselves in a situation they can't seem to get out of!