Author's Notes: Namaste everyone. I cannot stress how much I appreciate the reviews, and I thank everyone who has submitted a review, especially KittyLynne. :) In the long run, all of this writing and improving on it will also help me in my future career as a Clinical Psychologist.

The goal concerning "a chapter a day" is not completely set in stone, but I thought that I would do my best to try keeping to the goal as much as possible, so that I do not stray and totally forget about this story (I have done it with past stories, ;). I also want you to know that the whole "bracelet deal" with Tasuki will be revealed in this chapter. No, the whole deal itself is not in the manga or anime, but in one of those out-of-scene cases that I made up…for the sake of a twist. J

Enjoy Chapter 3!

Blessings,

Saraswati

Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi, even though it is on my wishful thinking list. ;)

Chapter Three

The Miracle

The emergency crew rushed through the hallways of the Downtown Tokyo Hospital, making swift turns and stops, yet being conscientous of their patient, Miaka. Finally, they reached an empty emergency room, setting her on the white hospital bed. Nurses began to do testings on the girl.

Yui waited in the ER visitor room, covering her mouth to prevent sickness on her behalf. Tasuki, Chichiri, and Moukou sat down right behind her, Moukou impatiently wiggling his feet. Keisuke walked in, stopping in front of the group. He looked to Yui, Chichiri, and Tasuki, saying, "I need to speak to you three. Moukou, please stay here - I cancelled school for you."

Chichiri nodded, standing up while Tasuki did the same. Keisuke walked out of the ER visitor room through some auotmatic doors, heading outside. Yui followed him, as did Chichiri and Tasuki. After being some distance from the building (say, 10 feet from the entrance), he stopped, waiting for the others. When the trio caught up, Chichiri spoke, "You have some interesting magic items in this world. Your lanterns automatically turn off and on."

Keisuke sighed, then nodded, recalling that Tasuki and Chichiri's world did not have the technology to have automatic lights. He paced around for a few seconds before coming up with a way to bring the news. "Well, they said they will do what they can do. Her wounds are really bad and she lost some blood. With further examination, they were able to find forced penetration."

"What do you mean by, 'forced penetration'?" Tasuki said, his patience with everything wearing thin...as usual. His golden eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms.

Keisuke sighed, seeing his attempt to use vague and tactful language backfiring on him. He decided to be more blunt, saying, "...She was brutally raped."

"What!?" Yui yalped, her eyes widened and filling with tears. Her hand slapped onto her mouth. Tasuki's eyes were fueled with intense rage.

"I hated to bring the news, but they have also located damage in her reproductive system, as well," Keisuke said while releasing a sigh. "That is some serious damage. Even if she was able to recover, it will take a long time for her reproductive system to heal. It may even be scarred, if not ruined to the point where she can no longer have more children."

Tasuki's eyes twitched in anger until he let out a scream, "SHE BETTER RECOVER! #$$#$#$#..." The bandit kept cursing about the situation, swearing to severely "mess up" Miaka's assaulters left and right, then giving every unspeakable detail about how he plans to do it. Chichiri hit Tasuki's head with his staff, causing Tasuki to shout, "OUCH! WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR!?"

"Calm down, Tasuki. You are making the locals nervous, no da," Chichiri advised his companion-at-arms. Tasuki released a sigh, panting heavily after his rant was interrupted.

"Either way, we must keep quiet about the situation around Moukou, he is not to know about Miaka until we get further information. We do not need to worry the kid to death," Keisuke said. "Is it clear? No speaking of this to Moukou."

The trio nodded and headed back into the E.R. waiting room, Keisuke followed. When all four arrived, a nurse was waiting for them. She asked, "Which one of you is Yuuki Keisuke?"

Keisuke raised his hand, saying, "That is I. What is up?"

"I want you to fill this form out," answered the nurse as she gave a set of paperwork and a pen to Keisuke. "You may give it to the lady behind the desk. Thank you."

Keisuke looked over the paper work, looking at the nurse, who was exiting the room. He sighed, filling out the paper work while the others waited. Yui pulled her cell phone out of her pockets, dialing a number and placing the cell phone to her ear.

"Yes? Is this Professor Kyoni? Right. This is Hongo Yui, I will not be able to attend class today," Yui began.

"What is she doing, talking to an object?" Tasuki said in confusion.

"No," Keisuke said, while putting his hands behind him, "That is a cell phone. Look at it as the mirror that Chichiri carries around, without seeing the person. You still talk to them."

"Ohhhh! So it is a magical communicating device!" Tasuki exclaimed in glee. He leaned over to Yui's cell phone and said, "Hi Yui's friend!"

Yui widened her eyes and backed away from Tasuki, removing the phone from her ear and leaning toward him, whispering, "Shhh! I am talking to my sensei."

Tasuki kept quiet while Yui finished her conversation. Yui nodded and gave her goodbye to "Mr. Kyoni." She then dialed another number, saying, "Secretary Gina? Oh, hi. This is Hongo Yui. I want you to inform my instructors in that district, Professor Ryuu, Professor Einu, Professor Benjin, and Professor Tika that I will not make it to class today due to a 'family emergency', okay? I am sorry for the inconvenience and I will make up the hours during our next break. Just be sure to let all of those instructors know, okay? Arigatou!"

Yui clicked off her cell phone and placed it in her pocket. She released a sigh. The nurse from before came in, releasing a sigh and approaching the group. "Excuse me, you five. Miaka has been transferred to a room in the second tower, room 201. Do you need any directions, minna-san?"

"That would be nice," Keisuke said with a worried look in his eyes. "Arigatou."

The woman nodded and said, "Fortunately for you all, it is only the building across from the Emergency Room. Just head out from the way you entered and enter the building right before you! The signs in the building should help you find where Miaka is. However, you are going to require visitor passes. I also warn you: Saint Jin is in the first tower and he will be visiting the second tower next. Be conscientious of his presence, please. We are trying really hard to give a good impression for him as well as the Catholic Church."

Yui turned around and rolled her eyes, just to face the nurse again. Keisuke gave the nurse a nod in understanding. Tasuki asked, "What is the Catholic Church?"

The nurse raised an eyebrow, wondering why a man is not only dressing so strangely, as if from Medieval Asia, but also is shocked to find that someone does not know any of the world politics, not to mention Japanese politics. Yui noticed this and stepped in front, laughing, "Do not mind him! He has long-term memory problems!"

"Oh! I am sorry," the nurse said with a blush. "Well, I must get back to work. I hope your sister will be okay!"

Keisuke frowned and gave a nod, watching the nurse run off once more. Not wasting any time, he stepped away from the group, heading out the exit of the Emergency Room and motioning for them to come along. Yui, Tasuki, Chichiri, and Moukou followed without hesitation.

"Aunt Yui? Will mammy be alright?" Moukou asked as a worried look entered his eyes. "She looked very, very hurt."

Yui did not know what to say. She did not want to lie to the child, but at the same time, did not want to break his hopes of his mother being okay. With a sigh, she replied in all honesty, "I do not know, Moukou. I do not know."

As he walked, Tasuki looked down at the bracelet he was wearing, beginning to remember the time he found it. He found it in Miaka's room before the battle against Kotou. Back then, the bracelet was merely a collection of exotic jewelry. However, despite his woman-hating nature, he was concerned for Miaka even back then. After she left Konan last time, he did not stop thinking about her. Eventually, the excessive thinking of Miaka led to Tasuki wearing the bracelet in memory of her. Whenever a friend or associate asked about the bracelet, he would claim that it was a nice piece of treasure that he found – it was partially true, but the treasure he found did not take the form of gold, but the form of memories. Tasuki recalled everything whenever he looked at the bracelet. He recalled good times, he recalled bad times; to Tasuki, all of the times meant something, for all the times brought himself close to Miaka and the Seishi…especially Miaka.

Before too long, a voice snapped Tasuki out of his trance. "Sir? Who are you seeing?"

Tasuki found himself inside the second tower of the hospital, at the mercy of a security guard. He said, "Err, I wanted to see Miaka? Am I allowed to?"

"You may, good sir," said the security guard as he gave Tasuki a pen and a sheet of paper on a clipboard. The guard pointed to the spot that he wanted Tasuki to sign, "Please sign your name on that blank spot and let me get a sticker for you."

Tasuki hesitated for a minute, wondering why he needed a piece of a thorny plant, then wrote his name down in Ancient Chinese. The guard raised an eyebrow, then figured that some signatures are just weird. He dug out a sticker, signing under the label "patient": Yuuki Miaka. Then the guard placed it on Tasuki's vest. Tasuki jumped. "AH! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?"

The security guard said, "You cannot pass beyond here without that sticker, sir."

Tasuki rubbed his head, looking like an idiot once more. "Ohhh, he-he. Gomen."

"You may proceed," said the security guard. Tasuki ran pass the guard, trying to catch up to the others, who were almost out of sight. The guard simply stared at the man, wondering about his clothes as well as his attitude.

"What took you so long, Tasuki?" Chichiri questioned. "Did you get in trouble again, no da?"

"Iie," answered the bandit. "Just thinking"

Chichiri and Tasuki stopped for a bit, Chichiri yelling out, "We will catch up, no da! We will not let you leave our sight, we promise!"

"What is up?" Tasuki asked, rubbing his head again.

"You have been acting strange, no da," Chichiri insisted. "Is there anything you wish to talk about? It might make things better, no da."

"Is there a purpose to…Taka's death?" Tasuki asked. "You know more about the way fate works than I do."

"That is a silly question," the monk suggested. "Yet it may be a possible explanation to why things are going the way they are."

"It just befuddles me," said Tasuki. "I thought that Taka was meant to accompany Miaka in this strange world."

"Well," said the monk as he leaned toward Tasuki, "let me clue you in on something about the way of things: not everything is set in stone."

Tasuki nodded, saying, "That would explain it."

"We can talk later," said Chichiri. "For now, we must catch up to the others."

The bandit and the monk walked quickly through the hall, dodging the nurses and the patients in the hall.

The group surrounded Miaka in room two hundred and one. Miaka stirred a bit, looking up at everyone. She spoke in a broken voice, "H..hi, ever..r..yone."

Tasuki knelt before the girl, placing one hand in hers. Miaka recognized the bracelet on his hand, cracking a slight smile before turning to her son, Moukou, who was in tears.

"Mammy, mammy, are you okay?" Moukou sadly asked laying his head on the bed that his mom slept in.

"Well, I cancelled my classes, and will continue to do so until you recover," Yui said, kneeling before Miaka on the opposite side of Tasuki and Moukou. "I will be sure to take care of Moukou."

"Arigatou, Yui," Miaka said, her voice a tad more clear. She spoke again, this time her voice broken, "It hurts…it hurts so bad. It hurts as if I was in Hell itself."

"Hang in there, sis," Keisuke softly said.

"I will try," said the dark auburn-haired woman. "But in this pain, I…almost…want…to…d—"

Before Miaka could say the word, Tasuki interrupted her, "You will NOT die. You will live!"

Tasuki hesitated for a moment, grasping the girl's hand and rubbing it against his cheek, letting Miaka feel the wet tears on his face. She sighed, looking up.

"We are going to save you," said the bandit. "I swear to Suzaku himself, I will save you!"

"You, already…have," Miaka said with a smile.

The whole room was shocked to see Tasuki's reaction to the woman. Sure, he was a seishi, but he also had bitterness toward women! Yui placed a hand on her mouth; Chichiri tilted his head in interest. Moukou simply sobbed on the bed.

Miaka sighed, seeing her crying child before closing her eyes, not opening them. Everyone's eyes watered, especially Yui's and Moukou's. Keisuke glared at the sight, quickly kneeling before the "sleeping" Miaka. "Sis! Wake up! WAKE UP!"

Chichiri leaned over, pressing his finger on her neck, and checking for a pulse. Miaka's pulse was very, very weak. Sighing, the monk said, "She is breathing, barely. I do not think she is going to make it, as much as I hate to admit, no da…"

Tasuki's eyes continued to pour tears. He sighed, sniffling a bit before turning Miaka's hand over and kissing her soft knuckles. After he stood up, he placed a hand on her tear-covered and swollen cheek, caressing her face a bit before maintaining a respective distance from the girl. Everyone watched in both awe and sadness.

Though it was obvious that Yui was grieving, Moukou cried the most. His cries echoed through the room and in some ways, through part of the hall. A short and stout nurse walked in, her eyes on the sight before her. Remorsefully, she walked out to go inform the doctor about what she saw.

However, the nurse walked back in shortly, saying, "Saint Jin of Kyoto wishes to see Miaka, to my surprise. Is he allowed?"

Yui wondered why a saint would want to see commoners such as Miaka and herself. She closed her eyes for a minute, and then nodded to Keisuke. Keisuke gave the nod to the nurse. The nurse bowed respectfully and walked out. Shortly, the nurse came in with Saint Jin right next to her. Chichiri and Tasuki's eyes widened. Both thought in their head, Mitsukake?!

The saint lowered his head before everyone, before making his introduction. "Greetings, children of God. I overheard the sobbing and I asked this young miss about it, then she informed me about the information. Perhaps, I could be of assistance?"

Despite the fact that Yui did not put much faith in the Catholic Church, she reluctantly said, "…If, you can. Please."

Jin walked over to the bed, closing his eyes and placing his palms on Miaka's stomach. "Good, she still has some life in her."

Everyone watched an aura surround the saint and Miaka. Miaka's face quickly filled with life, her bruises disappearing. The blood on her sheets disappeared, as did the cuts on her hand. Yui's eyes widened, as did everyone else's. Moukou's sobs quieted down, his eyes on the Miracle before him. After the wounds healed, Miaka's eyes widened, her green orbs glowing and shining, as if emeralds replaced her irises. She turned to Jin, then to Yui.

"Yui," Miaka croaked as tears of joy streamed down from her eyes. "What…what happened? I saw the universe before me, then Suzaku embraced me…then he told me, 'you have nothing to worry about'…then…then……"

Tasuki pressed a finger on her lips, whispering to her, "Shhh. Calm down, we are here for you."

Miaka widened her eyes, recognizing the voice, then turning to its source. "Tasuki…?"

"Hai, Miaka," said the bandit. "I…we are here."

Moukou pounced on Miaka, tears of joy swelling in his eyes. "Mammy! You live!"

Miaka laughed a bit, wrapping an arm around her son. Chichiri scratched his forhead, realizing that he was wrong about Miaka not making it, but at the same time, was glad. Jin smiled, accomplishing yet another miracle. Miaka stopped laughing, turning to Jin, "Mitsukake?"

Jin shook his head. "I am Saint Jin of Kyoto."

"Oh! I must not be watching the news," Miaka said. "Well, arigatou Mitsuk..err, Jin."

"In the mean time, though, I must visit the other patients here, in means to comfort them," Saint Jin said. "May the Lord bless your lives."

Tasuki and Chichiri raised their eyebrows as the saint left. Yui noticed their confusion, saying, "He means his God."

"Ohhh, they have Gods here too?" asked Chichiri.

"Something like that – his kind believes that Suzaku is a false God," Yui said. "as well as anyone apart from their 'God.'"

"That is absurd!" Tasuki said. "How…how, arrogant!"

"Well, it is part of the Catholic Church's doctrine," said Keisuke. "They have theirs, just as Shintos, Buddhists, and other religions have theirs."

"Interesting, no da," said Chichiri. "Either way, he prevented the death of our Miko, thank Suzaku."

A nurse walked in, checking on Miaka, who was completely healed. She was shocked, wondering what brought this on. She said, "Last I saw her, she was beaten to a pulp, her body mutilated to the point where psychopaths were more merciful. What happened?"

"Saint Jin," Moukou said with a giggle, snuggling against his mother. "Saved mammy."

"A miracle indeed!" said the nurse. "Well, I will report the news to the doctor. He may say, though, that Miaka is to stay for at least today, so that he is sure that she can go home safe."

Keisuke nodded, before looking to everyone else – mainly Tasuki and Chichiri. "Well, everyone, let Miaka have some rest. I have many things to show you two."

"Keisuke, are you tired?" Yui asked in concern. "Why don't you let me show the two around. I am sure that you need some rest."

"It is fine, Yui," Keisuke said, releasing a sigh and looking to Miaka. "Hey, take the cell phone. Give us a call whenever it is not interfering with the machinery."

Keisuke pulled Miaka's cell phone out of his pockets, handing it to her. Miaka nodded, turning it off and putting it on the table next to her. Then she said, "Well, have fun while I am forced to run up my hospital bill."

Keisuke and Yui laughed a bit. Miaka smiled – she was glad to see everyone again. After a long minute of silence, Keisuke suggested, "Let us get going now."

Everyone followed him. Tasuki followed behind, turning to Miaka, who decided to go to sleep. He looked around to make sure no one was looking, then leaned over to Miaka, brushing his lips against hers – as if kissing her – then turning away, catching up to the others.