Taka opened his eyes and gazed around the room. It was his apartment. He had landed, lying on the floor next to his couch. He slowly stood up and scratched the back of his head. As he stood there he heard someone knocking on his front door. A bit confused he walked over to answer it and was surprised by who he saw.
"Keisuke?" he replied slowly, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to give you something," Keisuke said angrily punching him in the jaw.
Taka flew back and hit the floor while Keisuke stood over him fuming.
"How could you do this Taka? How could you abandon Miaka like that?"
"Keisuke" Taka stood up slowly, "It's not like that."
"Oh it's not huh? You can't fool me. I have been reading the book. My mom, Tetsuya even Yui's mom. We all know about you leaving Miaka."
"Well then you understand why?" Taka said sitting down on his couch.
"No Taka I don't" Keisuke shook his head, "I don't know why you did this at all" he sat next to him, "You know I used to think that love was a silly emotion until I saw for myself how love can surpass time itself. You and Miaka taught me that there was that kind of love in the world. You gave me something to believe in. If you give up now, you'll make me a non-believer again."
"Keisuke" Taka said slowly, "It's Tamahome. Tamahome is the man she is in love with, not me" Taka stood up, "I cannot compete with him. I cannot put Miaka through that. She has been through enough."
"So you're just going to give up? Just like that?"
"I have to" Taka replied, "I have to for her. Don't you see Keisuke with me out of the way, they can fight Tenkou without my problems ruining everything."
Keisuke nodded.
"I understand a little where you are coming from. But don't you think Miaka should have at least had the opportunity to say goodbye."
"I don't know" Taka said sadly.
Keisuke rose to leave.
"Look I have to get back to find out what is going on with Miaka, but I would seriously think about what your next move is going to be my friend" he replied as he headed for the door, "Because that's my little sister and I love her very much. And for a while I thought you felt the same way that I did. But now I am not so sure" he opened the door and exited the apartment.
Taka sighed and flopped back onto the couch and felt his chin.
"Ow" he thought as he moved it a little, "That really hurt. But I probably deserved it" he thought sadly, "Oh Miaka."
(Next Scene)
"What?" Miaka replied the next morning in the shrine, "What do you mean he is gone?"
Yui and the Suzaku seven, minus Tamahome were sitting around with her. Yui handed her the ring.
"Taka said that he didn't feel like he belonged here anymore Miaka" Yui replied.
"Yea" Tasuki nodded sadly, "He said in the long run that we would all be better off if he left."
"Well why didn't you two try to stop him?" Hotohori demanded angrily.
"We did sire" Nuriko explained, "But he wouldn't listen. He just slowly faded away and then completely disappeared."
"I guess this is why the stones faded too you know" Chichiri replied, "Because we didn't have the real Tamahome the ceremony failed."
"Miaka I'm sorry" Yui said as she stood up caressing the ring.
"Don't be" Miaka tried to smile, "I'm all right. And now that Tamahome is here, we will be able to defeat Tenkou no problem."
"Did someone mention my name?" Tamahome appeared.
"Tamahome" Miaka said surprised.
"Miaka" he smiled, "Would you like to go for a walk with me?"
"Sure" she nodded, "I'll see you guys later" she waved as they exited.
Yui too departed while the warriors remained behind.
"I don't know about this Tamahome" Tasuki replied with his arms crossed, "I mean he seems like the genuine article and yet I still feel very uneasy about this."
"I feel exactly the same way," Nuriko agreed.
"As do I" Hotohori added, "Chichiri do you sense anything?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary. However, I can't be to sure either you know."
"I really miss the other Tamahome" Chiriko said sadly, "This one just doesn't feel right."
"Yes" Hotohori nodded, "We should keep our guard up just to be safe."
They all nodded in agreement.
(Next Scene)
Taka stood on the roof of his apartment building and watched as the skies changed from bright colors to an inky blackness. He closed his eyes and whispered her name into the wind.
"Miaka."
(Next Scene)
Back in Sairou Miaka and Tamahome were sitting in a room and discussing old times. Tamahome could remember everything. Everything they had been through, all they had encountered. It was quite surprising to Miaka, who had been trying to trip him up all day. She sat in silence for a minute as he watched her lovingly.
"Miaka is something bothering you?" he asked.
"No" she shook her head, "I just can't believe that you are here that's all. It's been so long since I've seen you."
"Well believe it" he grinned, "I'm not going anywhere" he leaned in down to kiss her but she pulled away, "What's the matter?"
"I don't know" she replied slowly, "I just. I need some air" she walked over to the window as he stood up.
"Miaka. Come here. You don't have to be afraid of me."
"I know that Tamahome I just don't feel right, right now."
"Okay."
(Next Scene)
As Taka stared at the night sky he saw the stars begin to move. They moved in a semicircle and then they stopped completely. He saw in the center that it was glowing red and suddenly the light encompassed him. Taka reopened his eyes and discovered that he was surrounded by fluffy white clouds.
"Tamahome!" a voice called, "Tamahome!"
"Who's there?" he asked, "Who are you?"
"I am Suzaku! Guardian of the South!"
"Suzaku? But how come I can't see you?" he looked around him.
"My powers have become weak as well as the other gods. Tenkou has gotten stronger since your departure. Tamahome why have you abandoned the Priestess of Suzaku and the Suzaku seven?"
"Why do you keep calling me Tamahome? Tamahome is with them right now!"
"That is quite impossible. How can he be with them when you are here right now?"
"I don't understand. How can I be Tamahome?"
"Have you forgotten the gift that I granted you? By using Taitskuyn I had your memories erased and allowed you to be reborn in Miaka's time as Taka Suknami. In reality you are Sou Kishuku, Tamahome of the Suzaku seven."
"I am" Taka looked at him, "But if I am really Tamahome, then the other one is" he stopped himself, "I have to go back. I have to return to her."
"Very well" Suzaku replied, "I shall give you the power to return to her only if she calls you back."
"Thank you Suzaku" Taka bowed his head.
"Now go" Suzaku once again flooded him with the red light.
Once more he found himself on his roof. He closed his eyes and called out.
"Miaka! Miaka can you hear me?"
(Next Scene)
Miaka looked outside at the sky.
"What was that I just felt?" she said out loud.
"Miaka" Tamahome said, "What is it?"
"I don't know. It just sounded like someone calling my name."
"I don't hear anything" he replied coming closer, "Come here. There is nothing to be afraid of."
He once more pulled her into his embrace. She closed her eyes.
"Miaka! Miaka can you hear me?"
"There it is again" she pulled away once more.
"What are you talking about Miaka?" Tamahome asked.
"I can hear him. I can hear him."
"Hear who?"
"Miaka! Find me!" Taka replied.
"It's Taka" she said excitedly, "I can hear Taka. This is wrong" she suddenly said, "I have to go to him."
"Miaka" Tamahome grabbed her hand, "Don't go. I have to protect you."
"No" she insisted, "No you don't. You're not the one. You're not the one."
"What are you saying? Miaka look at me."
"No" she shook her head, "I know this is wrong. You're not Tamahome. You can't be. You can't be Tamahome" she dashed out of the room.
"Miaka!" Tamahome called as he chased after her.
"Taka!" Miaka shouted as she ran out of the house startling everyone she ran past, "Taka! I'm here! I'm here!"
"Miaka! Come back!" Tamahome yelled, "Come back!"
As Miaka ran farther and farther she stopped in the middle of the street when she saw the red light.
"TAKA!" she ran forward just as Tamahome appeared.
Taka could see her through the light and opened up his arms as if ready to embrace her, his eyes still closed. She ran into the light and held onto him tight. As the light faded away he opened his eyes and embraced her back.
"Miaka" he replied slowly, "I'm here. Tamahome is here."
He looked up and could see an angry Tamahome staring at him and frowned. It was time to find out who this imposter was.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Four more to go!
Next Chapter: Yotsui
The Last Demon ruler makes his appearance to his old enemies the Byakko seven!
