Hey, I only own Solei and Amber, (and Jaime, but I don't really want to



MidnightShade: Anybody want Jaime?

Jaime: What? I heard my name.

MidnightShade: Nothing, Jamie...*innocent look* On with the story!



In their room, Nakago wondered what the jolt he had felt when he met Solei had been. He had met many strange people, but no one that had changed personalities and demeanors so unthinkingly and so rapidly. Cold and demanding one minute, and then happy and carefree the next. He had felt little chi flickers before he had encountered her in the woods, now it was evidently the Suzaku warriors who had caused it. He reflected on Seiryu's words.

"The Goddess Protector and the Daughter of the God." Who are they? What are they like? How will we know them? Nakago, for once had un-answered questions, and did not like the feeling. Amiboshi was tossing and turning in his sleep, making it impossible for him to concentrate. He rose silently and slipped out the door, unnoticed by his restless companion.



"What the hell do you think you are doing here Jaime?! We're through!" Solei's voice was hushed, yet Jaime heard every word. When he spoke his voice was slurred and he pawed at her ungracefully.

"When did that happen, baby?" his speech was slow and his eyes unfocused.

"Get away from me." She hissed, not happy that Jaime was here. Especially since she knew the warriors were light sleepers. She slammed him into a tree with strength unnatural for a woman her size, but Jaime did not notice. He was too drunk to notice. He kept trying to undo the zip down the front of her vest, but she would have none of it.

"Go home Jaime," she said, her voice like ice, "Run back to your lover, Christine." She spat out the girl's name with contempt. Jaime fled. Solei crumpled into a heap on the nearby bench and sobbed.



Nuriko heard quiet sobs and followed them to their source: a black lump on a bench overlooking a moonlit pond. He sat down next to the curled up figure and lifted her chin so he could see her face. She turned away so he could not see.

"Go away, Nuriko." Her voice was lower and cracking because of her tears, but he easily recognized it as Solei's.

"What's wrong?" he asked quietly. "What happened?" Solei simply turned into him and sobbed into his shoulder. He put his arms around her, awkward at first, but then she burrowed closer to him and it felt right. He rocked her gently back and forth, until he realized she was asleep. Carefully he moved out from under her and unlaced his arms from around her back before kissing her forehead. He laid her down softly on the bench and walked back to his room, assured that she was okay.



After slipping across the immaculately trimmed lawn, Nakago found a perfect hollow in which he could meditate. Alas, such was not to be the case. He heard voices in through the trees, and became curious, recognizing one of them as Solei's. He shifted forward to see what was happening. He saw a strange guy try to fondle her and his eyes narrowed before he could stop them.

'Why do I feel so possessive?' he asked himself. 'I don't even know her. She is nothing more than a useful weakling' He shook his head to clear it. The boy ran, and as Solei turned, he caught a glimpse of her tear-streaked face in the moonlight. He settled down to watch over her, and was surprised when Nuriko walked over to her. Nakago watched with a rare surge of jealousy as Solei flung her arms around Nuriko. He watched Nuriko leave, not bothering to cover her, or watch over her in the night and shook his head. Even at his most aloof, he would never leave a girl, let alone a beautiful one, alone on a bench at night. He moved over to her and removed his cloak, placing it over her shoulders as he might a blanket. He had multiple thoughts of what he should be doing with her, and where they should be at this time of night, but quickly shut them away behind the solid barrier behind which he kept all of his emotions. Then he settled down to observe her as she slept, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, and the peaceful expression on her angelic face capturing his gaze till sunrise.



Amber also had had trouble sleeping, Tasuki's snoring echoing loudly through the empty temple. With an almost unquenchable urge to smash Solei for putting her in that room, she left the main building. She saw a bench nearby a shimmering lake, glistening in the moonlight. She sat. She heard voices and was surprised to hear Jaime's when he spoke.

"When did that happen, baby?" Amber's eyes widened as she realized he was drunk, her fingers itching to grab a weapon. Kamai's next words were too soft for even HER sharp ears to catch, but she did hear a satisfying *SMACK* as Solei slammed Jaime up against a tree. He suddenly went running through the forest, not noticing his bruises from low-hanging branches. She heard Solei try to stifle her sobs, and moved forward to see what her friend would do. Chi was amazed when she saw that Solei was curled up on a bench with Nuriko's arms around her. Her eyes widened and she left, deciding to leave her friend alone.



The next morning, Kamai woke at the crack of dawn as she usually did; however she was slightly stiff. Her eyes snapped open and she remembered the previous night, and Jaime's pathetic attempt to return, she nearly spat in disgust, but felt a blanket fall from her shoulders as she sat up. She frowned, trying to think, then looked at her covering more closely. Her eyes widened slightly when she realized it was Nakago's.

"Nakago's?" she asked herself softly. A deep voice responded.

"Yes?" she looked to her right slowly, afraid of what she would see. Nakago was sitting next to her on the bench, a slight smirk on his face. She noted that he did not have his cloak on.

"Here," she said, handing his cloak back to him with a slight blush. "Thank you." His hand brushed hers and she again felt the jolt of electricity run up her spine, but it was gone too fast to catch. He quickly accepted his cloak, laying it across his arm.

"What are you doing up so early, Nakago?" He looked out at the rising sun, an astonishingly serene look on his face.

"I like to watch the sun rise." He said simply. She accepted his answer without comment and they both watched the sun as it rose, resplendent in its fiery colours. A content smile spread across Solei's face as she watched the sun, she had forgotten how calming it was. Nakago glanced at Solei and was astounded at just how tranquil she looked. The angelic expression that had been on her face as she slept was nothing compared to this. He looked quickly forward, and his stare was replaced by hers. She mentally traced the set of his jaw, unaware that just a moment ago he had been gazing at her. The sun finished the colourful part of its ascent and she rose silently.

"Thank you," she whispered, "for reminding me of pause." She began to walk away, but Nakago's voice stopped her.

"Just who are you, Girl?" he asked, his voice indifferent and emotionless, his usual self taking over. She spun slowly, a confused look on her face.

"What do you mean, Nakago?"

"You..." paused for a moment, unable to describe it properly.

"Change?" she asked a half-smile on her face.

"Yes." Her smile faded.

"I have no idea what you mean." Her voice equally as uncaring as his was. "I'm going to go start breakfast." Then she spun on her heel and left, wondering what it was about him that made her heart race. He came up behind her and caught her wrist. Once again her reflexes took over and she flipped him onto the dirt, his face was flat on the ground, his hand still holding her wrist. She slid out of his grip like it was made of live wires.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting that." Nakago stood gracefully, not acknowledging his lack of expectance for such a response to his grasp.

"Like I said, Girl, you change." She shook her head, not wanting him to know just how much she changed.

"Truly Nakago," she said softly her voice barely above a whisper, "I don't change." Solei stared at the ground, aware of his scrutinizing stare upon her. She wished again that she was wearing something more. The tight vest and pants weren't helping the situation. He lifted her chin with two fingers, his eyes boring into hers with frightening intensity. Then he spoke, his voice strangely hushed and reverent, the intensity of his gaze never wavering.

"Liar."

She smirked. "Perhaps."

He blinked in surprise. "Perhaps?"

"Perhaps." She spun around again, leaving to make the other's breakfast. "Nakago," she said, looking back, his eyebrow arched. "I suggest you come in, otherwise I'll have to whistle for you." A teasing smile was on her face, and her eyes glittered with mirth as she flipped her hair into his face, ignorant to him as he inhaled the fresh lavender scent of her hair.



An ear-splitting whistle woke him up, just as he was about to see the beautiful princess in his dream.

"Damn it!" he yelled. He was suddenly assaulted by a flying pillow.

"Shut up, Tasuki." Nuriko's groggy voice said from the other side of the room.

"What the hell was that whistle?" Nuriko was already up and heading out the door. He turned in the doorway.

"Breakfast." He said simply.

"Oh, right. Breakfast. Where are we again?" he asked as he hopped into his pants.

"A temple, you idiot."

"I knew that."

"Right." Another whistle broke off their conversation, though not as loud as the first, followed by a loud cry of,

"BREAKFAST!!" from Amber. Tasuki and Nuriko exchanged glances before heading out the door.



"PANCAKES!!" came the cry as they walked into the kitchen. They had just enough time to grab a plate and sit down before three pancakes flew through the air onto each of their plates. Solei's voice came from the other side of the room as they began to eat.

"Sorry about the little warning, I expected you a little bit earlier." She sent them an apologetic look as she poured batter onto the griddle.

"Dath OK" Tasuki said, his food half chewed and rolling around in his mouth as he spoke. Amber sent him a death glare. He swallowed his mouthful. "Sorry." Amber nodded, a smug look on her face. Idly picking at his food across the table, Amiboshi smiled a little, but it was ruined by a yawn. Amber turned to him.

"Why are you so tired, Amiboshi?" he turned to her and began to speak, only to be interrupted by another yawn.

"I dreamt that something awful was going to happen to the temple." Solei paused before flipping the pancakes.

"Really?" she asked, "Do tell." He ate some of the pancakes then spoke.

"It was hit by lightning and went down in flames." His eyes got a misty look as if he was going to cry. Solei and Amber exchanged glances.

'Lightning,' Amber thought to Solei, 'and fire. Okay, what happens to me?' Solei shook her head sadly at Amber's thoughts, but did not completely rule out Amiboshi's dream. Kamai noted her pancakes were ready and called it out.

"Pancakes are up! Whoever wants some hold out your plates." Tasuki, Nuriko and Amber held their plates out and Solei, without looking, flipped the pancakes onto their plates perfectly. Nuriko's eyes went wide, but then he and Tasuki began fighting over who got to use the maple syrup first, while Amber neatly swiped it from under their noses. Solei sat down with them, the griddle unplugged, and began to eat. Sixteen pancakes later, she set down her fork. As she looked around the table she thought their eyes would pop out of their heads.

"What!?"

"How can you eat that much?" Nuriko asked.

"Practice." She retorted, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Lots of practice." Amber rolled her eyes, exasperated with her friend.

"I'm leaving." She said, pushing back her chair. Solei caught the back of her shirt, effectively stopping her.

"Not a chance. It's your turn for dishes."

"WHAT!?!"

"You heard me. Dishes. NOW!" Solei pointed to the sink full of sudsy water. "GO!" Amber sulked over to the sink, muttering about annoying angels under her breath. Solei rounded on her. "I heard that Amber." Amber spun, an innocent smile on her face.

"Heard what?" Solei gave her a look. "Fine. I'll do them PROPERLY. Nya." She stuck her tongue out at Solei, but turned to the dishes. "Tasuki?" she asked, coating her voice in honey. "Would you help me? Please?" Solei shook her head at him, but he was already responding.

"No way! Ya think that YOU can get me to do chores!? Uh-uh. NOOO WAY!" Solei grinned.

"So there." She spun on her heal, and left, following the others out the door and leaving Amber all alone with the dishes.



After finishing the dishes, Amber made her way to the training field, expecting to find only Solei. She was surprised to see Tasuki and Nuriko working as well. Solei acknowledged her, but grabbed her kon from a nearby rack, her lips moving as she asked Nakago something. He nodded, and she tossed him one as well. Amber walked over, intent on stopping the kon fight before it started. She got there to late, Solei and Nakago were already fighting, the kon work intricate and swift. Amber stepped between the fighters.

"STOP!!" she yelled. They simply fought around her. She drew her swords and cringed as their kons hit the metal and the shock waves from the power of their strikes shivered down her arms. "DESIST!!" she repeated. Solei paid no heed to her, but flipped her kon around and an instant later Nakago was on the ground, his kon to far to reach without chi, and her kon able to kill him with one swipe. She removed her kon and stood back, effortlessly moving Amber out of her way. Nakago stood up gracefully, picking up his kon in the process, and they bowed, concluding the fight. Solei turned to ask Amber what she wanted, but Amber wasn't there. In her place was a blazing strip of white fire, lightning had struck out of a completely clear sky. Everyone's eyes grew wide as Amber screamed in pain.



MidnightShade: He he he. A cliffy. I'll probably update later, but 4 now, a cliffy. Please, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK



Solei: She's getting pissed, that means that nothing good is gonna happen to us, the characters. MAKE HER HAPPY, PEOPLE!! PLEASE!

Amber: Hit da review button, and she'll be happy. Then she won't slaughter us characters.

MidnightShade: I need u guys. I won't slaughter u, I might make a lemon or two, but I wouldn't kill you.

Amber & Solei: *Wide eyes* HELP US!! PLEASE!! REVIEW!!