Book Six: Tamahome or Taka?
Chapter One: The Last Chance
Miaka woke with a start to find Taka with his arms wrapped around her. She felt his warmth and sank into his chest.
"Taka" she replied, "What's going on? What are you doing here?"
"I just came to see if you are all right" he said, "You fell asleep as soon as we arrived back in Sairou."
"Sairou huh? Are we back in Tokaki's house?"
"No" Taka shook his head, "We are in Mohkan village."
"Mohkan village?" Miaka looked at him surprised, "Isn't that the village where Amiboshi lives?"
"Yes Miaka. Don't you remember? He suggested it last night because it was closer to the border."
"Oh yes. Now I remember" she replied crawling out from the covers, "We arrived back and we had the stones. Taka where are the stones now?"
"They are back at the temple. Chichiri, Iname, Miboshi, and Ameturi stayed to guard them. The rest of us came here. Amiboshi's folks have been more then generous."
"Taka" Miaka replied as she replaced her hair tie, "We have to go back to the temple."
"What for Miaka?" he asked confused.
"We may still have a chance. A chance to save Suzaku. Let's gather with the others and return to the temple, to try the ceremony once more."
(Next Scene)
Within moments Miaka along with Yui, Takako, and Suzuna had gathered their warriors and were departing the village. Amiboshi said a quick goodbye to his parents, promising to return and then they rode once more to the temple. As they arrived, Miaka slowed down the horse that she and Taka were on and jumped off. She ran inside the caves.
"Miaka!" Taka called as Yui and the other girls followed her.
Miaka ran into the temple and stood before the statue of Suzaku. She placed her fingers together and began to pray. Yui came to a halt and saw what her best friend was doing. She too placed her fingers together and began to pray. Takako and Suzuna nodded to each other and followed suit, just as all the warriors arrived, including the stunned monks who had remained behind to guard the stones.
"Chichiri" Miaka replied, "Place the stones in their proper statues and we will once more try to save the beast gods."
"Uh Miaka" Chichiri said with a frown, "There might be a little problem with that you know."
"What? What do you mean?" she asked.
"The stones disappeared last night, when you all left" Ameturi explained to the stunned crowd.
"That can't be true" Yui replied angrily.
"I'm sorry Lady Yui" Miboshi spoke up, "But it is absolutely true. As we placed them back in here they just faded away."
"Really Iname?" Namame said as Taka approached the stunned Miaka.
"Yes" Iname nodded slowly.
"Miaka" Taka replied, "It's okay."
"No" Miaka said slowly, "No this can't be it. Not after everything that we have been through. Not after all the fights. I refuse to believe this is it. I won't believe it. Not after everything. You Taka, you regained Tamahome's memories and then you lost them, for what? So in the end we would fail. No I won't believe it! I won't" she dashed out of the room.
"Miaka!" Yui and he exclaimed at the same time.
(Next Scene)
Yui ran out of the temple and followed the stairs till she came to the entrance of the cave. Outside she saw Miaka staring angrily at the sky.
"Miaka" she said slowly.
"It's not fair Yui" Miaka replied, "This is not fair at all."
"I know Miaka, it really stinks, but there is nothing we can" Yui started to say but noticed from the corner of her eye a blast of life force, "Look out Miaka!" she shouted as she grabbed her around the waist and rolled out of the way.
Miaka and Yui looked up just as Nuriko and the other warriors came charging out of the cave. Suzuna gasped when she saw the assailant.
"Yotsui" she whispered.
But before anyone could make a move, he was engulfed by another life force, red in color, and as his assailant appeared, they all gasped at the sight of him.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! Last Book and only seven chapters! Here's the first. I'm going to try to finish this book by the end of the week!
Next Chapter: Tamahome Reappears
What do you do when the man you love comes back?
