Chapter Five: The Illness

Yui dashed back out of the room and toward the kitchen where she was sure she would find somebody who could help. She found Nuriko in the kitchen talking with Subaru. There was sweat coming down her brow and she was breathing very heavily.

"What's wrong?" Nuriko stood up in concern.

"Miaka" Yui replied scared.

Nuriko didn't even ask what was wrong but ran out of the room behind Yui, stopping to get Mitsukake in the process. They all rushed to the room and Mitsukake examined her. Hotohori and Subaru arrived afterwards along with Suboshi to see what was going on. Mitsukake felt her head and listened to her shallow breathing.

"Tamahome" she managed to whisper in her fever.

"This is serious" Mitsukake said, "I am not even sure why she is being affected by this. She's so weak."

"Well she hasn't been eating a whole lot lately" Nuriko replied.

"Yes" Hotohori added, "I noticed that she has had a major decrease of appetite."

A servant came to the door and informed Subaru that the other warriors had returned and that Master Tamahome was now awake. Subaru nodded and Nuriko and Hotohori went to meet them. Once told what was going on a few of the Suzaku warriors along with Amiboshi also crowded near the door of the room. Nuriko found Taka walking around the halls with his hands in his pockets.

"Tama!" he called running over.

"Nuriko" Taka smiled, "Where is everyone? Where is Miaka?"

"I've been looking for you. I'm glad that you're feeling better, but you have to come with me" he took his hand gently, "Miaka is ill."

Taka didn't have to be told twice. He followed Nuriko to Miaka's room at a run, and pushed past everyone to get to the bed. Yui watched his reaction the whole time as he knelt before the sick girl.

"Miaka" he said softly but loud enough to hear, "Miaka, I'm here."

Suddenly Yui once more dashed out of the room, tearing past Suboshi who called out to her as she ran past Nakago and everyone.

"Lady Yui!"

(Next Scene)

She ran to the small temple that was in the house and collapsed at the feet of a statue, sobbing uncontrollably. Suboshi and Amiboshi appeared at the door and Suboshi walked over.

"Lady Yui" he placed his arms on her shoulders, "It's okay. Miaka's going to be okay."

"No you don't understand" she said through tears, "This is all my fault. Miaka is suffering because I didn't follow through. I didn't do as I was asked."

"What do you mean Lady Yui?" Amiboshi walked over and knelt beside her, "What are you talking about?"

Yui couldn't speak anymore. The tears were completely overflowing.

"Lady Yui" another voice spoke up from behind.

Yui and the two boys looked up and saw Nakago staring back at them with a bit of a frown on his face. Yui stood up and walked over to him.

"Nakago" she whispered.

"Don't worry Lady Yui" Nakago replied, "It is a powerful spell that he has placed, but fortunately for you I know how to fix it."

"You do?" she clasped her hands together, "How?"

"Come with me" he took her hand leading her back to Miaka's room.

(Next Scene)

As Nakago approached the room and entered there was quite an outburst from some of the warriors. He pushed past Tasuki and Hotohori who frowned at him. Mitsukake was talking to Taka and Chichiri.

"I can't figure out why she is in this state" he was saying, "I've never seen anything like it."

"I have" Nakago spoke up.

They all looked at him surprised.

"You have?" Chichiri replied.

"That's right" Nakago nodded his head, "And if you want to save the Priestess before it is too late, you have to listen to me."

Many of them started to protest while Nakago moved closer to the bed. Taka stood up with an angry look on his face.

"What makes you think I should trust you?" he replied with a frown, "I may not have Tamahome's memories any more, but I still know what you are all about."

"I can understand that Tamahome" Nakago, "Being that I am not so fond of you either. But I can cure her. You have to trust me."

"Don't do it Tama!" Tasuki shouted.

"Tasuki" Nuriko said, "Shut up."

"Taka" Yui looked at him, "I think you can trust Nakago, for Miaka's sake."

Taka sighed heavily and looked into Yui's determined face. Then he turned back to his hated enemy.

"All right" he gave in, "How can we help her?"

"You can't. None of you can't. But I can."

"How?"

"It's very tricky to explain. I will say this though, I have to be completely alone with the girl in order for it to be done right."

"What! No way!" they all began to protest all together.

"Tamakins?" Nuriko looked at him for his answer quieting everyone down.

Taka looked at Miaka and then turned back to the group.

"All right Nakago. We will leave you with Miaka. But I swear if you hurt her in any way" he said dangerously, "I will kill you."

"Fair enough" Nakago nodded, "Now leave all of you."

Despite Tasuki's protesting he was dragged away from the room. Yui, Taka, and Mitsukake were the last one to leave. Taka took one last look at Miaka and then closed the door. On the other side Namame stood with the other Genbu warriors wondering if he had seen this kind of thing before.

(Next Scene)

Nakago removed his shirt and armor. Then he stood over Miaka and took her hand. He closed his eyes and blew into the air. From out of his mouth was a blue puff of smoke that encircled Miaka. Then a blue light illuminated the room. Nakago was glowing and so was Miaka.

"I will not let Ren do as he pleases" he thought, "I'll save this girl despite my feelings about her."

(Next Scene)

From outside they could see the light coming from underneath the crack of the door. Namame uncrossed his arms and stared. He had seen this before. It was life force. And not just anyone's life force, Nakago's. A few moments later the light disappeared and the door was open. Nakago was leaning on the post looking extremely exhausted. Tomo and Soi ran over to him.

"Nakago are you all right?" Soi replied looking at him in concern.

"Soi" he said slowly, "Come with me. My life force has been completely exhausted. I need my strength back."

"Of course" she replied as she shouldered him and they walked away from the room and down the hall.

Taka watched for a second and then ran into the room, followed closely by Yui and the Suzaku seven.

"Miaka!" he called, "Miaka!"

Miaka slowly opened her eyes and looked up.

"Taka" she smiled, "You're awake?"

"So are you Miaka" he was on the edge of tears.

"Huh?"

"What he means Miaka" Mitsukake replied interrupting, "You have been asleep for a long time. You must have been tired."

"Uh huh. I must have been. But now I'm ready to eat. Where's the food?"

"Oh" Nuriko wiped a tear from his eye, "Now that's what I like to hear."

They all nodded happily.

"What's going on?"

"Oh it's nothing Miaka. We're just glad to see that you got your appetite back is all" Hotohori said.

"Oh. Yui."

"Hi there Miaka. Nice nap huh?"

"Mhm. Chichiri you're here too. Oh were you successful?"

"Oh yes Miaka we found the temple. It's not far from here you know" he answered.

"That's good now all we have to do is find the stones."

"Let's worry about that later Miaka" Nuriko stood up, "I am going to fix you something to eat" he walked out of the room.

"I suppose we should go talk with the other warriors about where to find the stones, now that we found the temple" Hotohori suggested.

"Good idea your majesty" Chichiri replied.

"Yea Tama" Tasuki tapped him on his shoulder, "You should come too."

"Huh?" he looked at him confused.

"I want to come too" Miaka began to sit up.

"Wait Miaka" Yui held up a hand, "Would you stay here? I want to talk to you about something."

"Sure Yui" she nodded.

"You guys go ahead, we'll be there soon," Yui said.

"Okay" Taka nodded getting up and kissing Miaka on the forehead, "I'll see you later."

"All right" Miaka nodded with a confused look on her face as they all left, "All right Yui" she looked at her friend, "Give it to me straight. What's going on?"

(Next Scene)

Namame walked along the corridors looking for Nakago. It had been troubling him all evening. He knew he had seen that power before, from Nakago. He finally found him outside on one of the verandas.

"Nakago" he replied as he approached.

"Namame. What do you want?"

"I wanted to say thank you for saving Miaka."

Nakago nodded.

"But this doesn't mean I have forgiven you for the past. Despite Miaka's words in Hokkan I still despise you. I can't forgive you for what you did to me."

"I'm not asking you to" Nakago began to walk away.

"Wait!" Namame called, "Don't walk away from me!" he stood in front of him, "Who do you think you are anyway?"

"What do you want Namame?"

"I need to know" Namame sighed, "That thing you did in the room with Miaka, it was the same as what you did for Takiko isn't it?"

"Yes" Nakago nodded, "It was the same. I had to tap into some old powers but it was the very same spell I used to save her. And it was also the same person who put the spell on her, that placed it on the Priestess of Suzaku. Ren Shigyou, my brother."

"Your brother?" Namame said surprised, "How is that possible?"

"Yes it's true. Of course I didn't know it until I joined Tenkou that I even had siblings. Ren and Miru were of the same tribe. Miru is the one who attacked Tamahome and Ren is the one who has been causing trouble for everyone. I saved Takiko back then from Ren's spell, that is how I died the first time for real."

"That time is blurry to me. It all happened so fast, I can't remember."

"I remember. Ren had placed the spell on Takiko for Master Tenkou, despite how I felt about her. I had gotten so deep with Tenkou I didn't feel like myself anymore. I wanted to break free. So when they did that, I became angry and found a reason. During that battle is when he attacked her.

"That's right. And I couldn't help her, but you came over and offered, even though I and the other Genbu warriors protested greatly. You used your life force that you didn't even know you had to save her."

"And in doing so I sacrificed my life. Tenkou found out I had turned against him. So in the final battle before you summoned Genbu, the arrow flew from Hikitsu's bow aimed for Ren, but Tenkou directed that arrow to strike me instead."

"Yes" Namame nodded, "I remember now. Even then I didn't want to forgive you, but I will say this Nakago. I cried more for you that time then I did when I first thought you died. I'm not sure why, because I hated you. I hated what you did to Takiko and to me. For a long time I blamed you for her death, when I knew that wasn't the case. You tried to save her and you tried to save me."

"The truth is Namame I could never let Tenkou destroy you or Takiko. But especially not you" Nakago sighed, "That's when I decided, to never rejoin Tenkou ever again. And I will keep the promise to myself. I won't rejoin, despite his tactics. He will never entangle me in his web again."

Namame nodded and the two men stood there in silence, not quite sure what to think about each other.

(Next Scene)

"So you see Miaka" Yui replied, "It was my fault that you were ill. I should have never accepted his threat, but I did it for you. I hope you can forgive me."

"Yui chan" Miaka looked at her sympathetically, "I am so sorry you had to go through all this by yourself. What a nasty little thing for that creep to do" she spat.

"Then you don't mind?"

"Yui. We've all been there. Sacrificing ourselves for those we care about. Believe me. I had my own share, when I first came inside the book. Nothing I will get into now. But trust me I know what you went through and it's a terrible feeling. By the way, how did I get better?"

"That's the strangest part. Nakago cured you."

"Nakago?"

"Yes. You see he knows Ren's tactics because Ren is his brother."

"Ren Shigyou is Nakago's brother? Miaka gasped with a hand to her mouth.

"Mhm. He told me himself when he had you suspended in midair. Miaka he's a lot more dangerous then Nakago ever was."

"I'll give you that" Miaka frowned, "But I don't care for his tactics at all. And the next time I see him I will tell him so. The next time I see him, I will let him know how angry I really am."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey Guys! One more today! The next one will be shorter than all the other chapters I have done this weekend!

Next Chapter: Miaka's Encounter with Ren

Miaka does get her say with Ren Shigyou, but discovers something else in the process!