Chapter Six: Miaka's Encounter with Ren

"Keisuke I am going to kill you!" Tetsuya's voice rang throughout the apartment.

He was chasing him around the room, because he had just found out what Keisuke had been hiding from him.

"Calm down Tetsuya" Keisuke held up a pillow, "I did it for you own good."

"You jerk! This is why you have been acting so strange huh?"

"C'mon Tetsuya I was going to tell you, like you told me that last time. You didn't tell me until much later what was going on with Miaka. Right?"

Tetsuya sighed and slumped back into his chair.

"I guess you got a point."

"I didn't exactly chase you around the train either."

"You're right" Tetsuya frowned.

"Hey look on the bright side, she didn't go through with it. And Nakago turned out to be a pretty standup guy."

"Yea" Tetsuya admitted but was still frowning, "I still don't trust him though."

"How about I read for awhile huh?"

"Sure" Tetsuya handed over the book.

"Okay" Keisuke turned the page, "After a rather extensive meal the Priestess of Suzaku wandered about the house by herself to do some thinking. She walked out into the courtyard, and felt that someone was watching her. And they were very close by."

(Next Scene)

Miaka gazed around the courtyard and felt her spine tighten. She knew this presence. She knew it like the back of her own hand, and she also knew where it was coming from.

"The garden" she said to herself, "That's where he is."

She sprinted towards the garden that was completely empty. She saw smoke circling in the air. But the weirdest part was the smell of it. There was no mistake. It was smoke from a cigarette.

"Show yourself!" she ordered, "Show yourself you coward!"

Ren's figure appeared from behind a large pillar in the garden. He had a cigarette in his hand and was smoking it. When she saw him he turned his head slightly.

"There's no need for name calling Miaka" he grinned walking completely in front of her, "I'm right here."

"You have a lot of nerve showing up here" she replied, "A lot of nerve."

Ren ignored her completely, and kept puffing on the cigarette.

"You know I rather like this little invention from your world. They are quite addictive but also quite satisfying" he pulled the cigarette from out of his mouth, flicked it to the ground, and stamped on it with his foot, "Now Priestess you were saying?"

"Why are you here Ren?" she asked completely furious.

"I just stopped by to see if you and Tamahome are doing any better" he said sarcastically, "I was worried," he added even more sarcastically.

"Yea right" Miaka scoffed, "You're just here to cause more trouble."

"Oh no Miaka, you've got me all wrong" he began to walk around her, "I had no intention on leaving you ill forever. That was just punishment for your friend since she didn't comply with my Master's wishes."

"That was still a very evil thing for you to ask her to do. Just to have Nakago Tenkou would go through all that trouble."

"I admit it was a bit overboard, and would have worked if she had went through it. Nakago would be on Tenkou's side if she had."

"What does Tenkou want with him anyway?"

"You got me. But I wouldn't object. Not even now, even though he has gone against me in many ways as well."

"You wouldn't object because he is your brother right?"

"I see that Yui told you about that" Ren smiled, "Yes it is true that he is my brother, hence the only reason I don't want to go to battle with him. But if it comes to protecting my Master I will fight him."

Miaka looked at him suspiciously.

"Why do you work for Tenkou? What's in it for you?"

"Why" he laughed, "That's a good question why. I get to be a demon lord by his side. What's not to like about that?"

Miaka looked at him as if she didn't believe him. She crossed her arms and stared angrily.

"I suppose" Ren brushed a hand through his hair, "That I joined Tenkou for the same reason that Nakago joined him."

"But Nakago joined him for Takiko Okuda. Because he was infatuated with her. He did it for the sake of a woman."

"Right" Ren looked at her directly in the eye.

Miaka stared at him horrified and took one step back.

"What? You can't be serious?"

"There is no mistake that I have been enchanted by you since I laid eyes on you. Your passion for life, your ability to never give up, is your true attraction."

"No" Miaka shook her head, "Never you hear me! Never! Not in a million years."

"I have not worked as hard as I have to get nothing in the end."

"I don't care what you say! The Suzaku seven and I will not back down. We will fight you to the end and we will defeat Tenkou. I promise you that. Mark my words."

Ren turned around and began to walk away.

"You can say what you want Priestess" he looked behind him at her, "But I know the outcome of this. In the end I will make sure to win. You and Tamahome will never be together. In this world or any other. I will see to that personally. I shall never give up. In the end, you will be mine" he turned back around, "Mark my words," he said before he disappeared.

Miaka stood in the garden a few moments as the wind blew around her face. She had a frown on her face and she looked quite determined.

"No Ren" she thought, "That will never happen. Because I will never give up. Never. You just watch."

(Till next Time)

Authors Note: Okay that's it for now! I hope you enjoyed the update!

Next Chapter: The Ceremony Fails

The stones have been found and it is time to go to the temple to save the gods. Find out what happens next time!