A/N: Whoo hoo! Chapter 6 is up! does a dance I'm cooking now! WARNINGMild sap warning…may cause tears. Anyway my story is developing just nicely, but it may take a while to set up, so I hope I don't loose any loyal readers that I've obtained.

Disclaimer: sighs wistfully at Tasuki nope…

Chapter Six: Rebirth

Since both Ryuen and Nina had been sucked into the Universe of the Four Gods, Lia hadn't left the library. She saw with her back leaning against the desk that took up most of the room, the tattered book proper up on her knees. Her crystalline blue eyes wide as she read of the rift that began to grow between Nina and Ryuen. "Not again." She whispered as she began to remember her own experiences in the book. Her face flushed with shame as she thought of what she had done.

Lia felt the power of Seiryuu flow through her veins, as she would achieve her ultimate revenge. "Seiryuu-sekun, I wish to make my second wish, KAI-JIN." A blue light cascaded down and enveloped Lia. "I wish that the Suzaku Seishi Tamahome was dead!"

Lia and Nakago watched with silent satisfaction how Tamahome crumpled to the ground, how Miaka pleaded with him to come back and Miaka pleaded with her to bring him back.

Nakago towered over her, "Foolish girl, he's not coming back." he sneered giving her a bruise that encompassed her cheek.

Lia smirked as the awesome power of Seiryuu coursed through her body and brought her to her knees. Lia looked up helplessly to find her former best friend looking at her and not by her deceased lover. "What…are…you…doing…here? Why…aren't…you…with…Tamahome?" Lia gasped out.

Miaka smiled sadly, "There's nothing I can do for him, I would at least try to help you."

"After all the times…I hurt you?"

"Hai."

Lia looked down and saw scales growing up her body. Lia used Miaka's body to stand up to make her last stand, she looked sorrowfully at Nakago, she knew what he wanted her to do, "I'm sorry Nakago. KAI-JIN! I wish Miaka had the power to summon Suzaku!" Lia collapsed as the scales completely covered her body and rose up as Seiryuu.

The other Suzaku Seishi looked on in amazement and fear as Seiryuu began to destroy buildings of Lia and Miaka's world. They turned their heads as they heard: "From the four palaces of the heavens, the four corners of the Earth. In the name of the sacred law, belief and goodness."

Tasuki turned when he heard those words, "How…can…this…be…possible?"

Miaka's green eyes blazed from a hidden source of power: "I summon thee, Suzaku, lord of the South, I now say these words to thee."

The Suzaku Seishi closed their eyes as they felt their powers return:

"Appear on Earth from the seven palaces from heaven for the sake of those here who adore you. Come to us here. With thy holy power, smash the evil, which threaten us. Save us! And hear our wishes to thee! Descend to us now from the heavens above!"

"Oh god, Miaka, it's happening again, please lend your daughter your wisdom and strength." The former Seiryuu no Miko whispered as she held her face in her hands.

Tamahome had his mouth open as he touched Nina's cheek softly; "My daughter…" was all he was able to get out.

"NANI!" both Hotohori and Nuriko cried. Nina nodded, Hotohori and Nuriko lapsed into their private memories of Miaka.

"How…is…she?" Tamahome asked Nina softly, but not softly enough because Hotohori and Nuriko were both listening intently.

Nina wasn't sure how to respond. After a pause Nina said, "She is well."

Nuriko noticed her hesitation and thought she was holding back something. "So she's still in your world?" he asked.

Nina looked up at Nuriko, eyes wide with fright, "No," She said quietly.

Hotohori's head snapped up, "What?"

"Where is she?"

Nuriko thought he knew but was going to wait until Nina said it.

"She passed on a few years ago due to cancer. It first attacked her stomach, then her lungs and finally stopped her heart. I personally think she died of a broken heart-"

"What's cancer, Ni-chan?"

Nina sighed softly, "It's a disease that kills from the inside, there are many types of cancer. The doctors from me and Mom's world don't know what causes it or how to cure it."

"Oh," came the hollow reply.

Nina looked up expectantly at Tamahome, her new found father, "Mom never did get a chance to tell me about what went on here…"

Nina's voice faded to the background as Tamahome lapsed into his thoughts, Why, Miaka?'

"...Although there was this one time she told me a bedtime story about a girl...fifteen or so..."

'Why didn't you tell me Miaka?

"...She traveled into this book where the girl met a handsome man named Tamahome..."

'Why...'

"...I'm guessing now that the girl was mom and you were that 'handsome man' ne?"

Tamahome had been so lost in his thoughts while Nina was talking he couldn't even save face, "Huh what?"

Nina sighed with impatience, "Could you tell me the story of how you and mom met?"

He sighed and began to tell her the story of her mother, the stories of Nuriko, Chiriko, Mitsukake, Hotohori-sama, Chichiri Tasuki, and last of all himself. "...We were told we could never be together, it would upset the balance of the two worlds, but our love surpassed any god and at last we traveled together into your world. Disaster soon struck again and your mother, Lia and myself were sucked back into the book to fight Tenkou. Lia became the new Genbu no Miko and was granted three wishes. Her final wish by the request of Taitskun was to forever sever the connections between the two worlds. I pleaded with Taitskun and she allowed me to be reborn into your world as Taka Sukanami. Once again we were forced into the book so I could collect my memory jewels. Love doesn't always conquer all, musume," it felt weird saying that, "and I had to stay here for once and for all."

Nina sat there trying to take it all in and stifled a sob. Nuriko saw his priestess crumble and held her close. Hotohori stood in the doorframe, feeling strangely removed, but felt the familiar pang in his heart. He had thought that he could never love anybody but Miaka until Houki came along. Love doesn't always last forever, she died giving birth to his son, Boushin. Word had reached him just before Nakago killed him in battle. He couldn't look at him for fear he be seized by terrible grief. He felt that familiar wistfulness when he looked into Nina's eyes. 'Oh, Suzaku, please help me. Not again. Please don't let me be tormented again.'

Now that you saw them together you could see the similarities, the same nose, same color hair, same mannerisms; except with a softer side. That was Miaka's doing. He mused. Suddenly through the feeling of calm he sensed something amiss. He hurried over to the group, but he was sure Nuriko and Tamahome sensed it by the way they moved in front of her. Not 10 seconds after he moved an arrow shot through the doorway and landed on the wall above them. Nina gasped when she saw what was attached. It was on a thin chain. The charm matched hers, it was a little fire-breathing dragon. She burst into tears when she saw it. In all the years of their friendship, Ryuen had never given it back to her, their friendship was over for sure. "Not quite" a voice softly said within her.

"Dad," she said in a steady voice, "we need to look for the other seishi." A weak smile coming through her tears.

Lia smiled as she read the latest passage in the book, 'Yup, that was Miaka alright.'