A Ray of Hope

As soon as Yui left, the rest of the Suzaku Seven entered the Tatsu Forest. Mitsukake healed both Miaka's and Rurii's wounds, but as much as he wanted to, Mitsukake couldn't heal Rurii's broken heart. A very uncomfortable silence passed through them. Finally, Miaka walked over to Rurii.

"Rurii, I'm really sorry," she said. "I never should've lied to you about your brother. It's just that I didn't want to see you looking the way you do now. You came to me with such a hopeful smile. I didn't want to break your heart by telling you your brother had died."

"Rurii means hopeful one in my language," Rurii said. "I guess that's why I'm always filled with hope. Hope that's always dashed into little pieces."

"Now I know that I never shold have given you false hope. Now, you're hurting more than if you had just been told truth from the start." Miaka wrung her hands and looked at Rurii. "You have to believe me, Rurii. I never wanted to hurt you. I just didn't really know how to deal with this situation."

Rurii stared at the ground. Finally, she said, "Everyone, place your hands over your hearts."

Confused, everyone did.

"Now remember the day Chiriko died."

Rurii could see the sadness in their faces as their hearts gave a jolt and then settled back into slow, subdued thumping.

"It hurts, right?" Rurii asked. "It makes you wonder if the heart is really only an organ that pumps blood." Rurii clutched her own heart. "It hurts so much," she whispered.

Everyone remained quiet for a very one time, uncomfortable with the situation.

"Miaka-sama." Rurii turned around and faced the rest of the Suzaku Seven. "Please, answer me one thing. Do you really care for me or are you only putting up with me because Ode asked you to?"

"To be perfectly honest, when we first met you, it hurt us just to look at you because you reminded us so much of your brother," Miaka said.

"Way to hurt the kid's feelings," Tasuki mumbled.

"But now, you help us remember the better times we had with Chiriko."

"You bring us joy and laughter," Mitsukake said.

"You are very sweet," Chichiri said.

"You make me laugh," Nuriko said.

"You know what my favorite brand of sake is," Tasuki said.

"You soothe my worries with your angelic voice," Hotohori said.

"You help when we need it," Tamahome said.

"And you make the best chocolate cakes!" Miaka said with a smile. Her face and tone became serious again. "Seriously, though, we really do care about you. It's not because of some promise we made to your brother. You really are part of the Suzaku Seven now."

"Wait, if she's part of the Suzaku Seven, then we can still summon Suzaku," Nuriko said with a smile. "And that means-"

"We can bring Chiriko back!" Tasuki exclaimed.

Rurii blinked. "Would you really do that?"

Miaka nodded. "Of course."

Rurii's eyes filled with tears. For the first time in her life, she actually sobbed. Rurii ran to Miaka and gave her a hard hug. "Miaka, thank you!"

Miaka hugged her back. "Come on, everybody," she said. "Group hug."

So they did.