Megumi wanted to find Amiboshi, but she also wanted to enjoy her trip outside the palace. She knew she would have to return once she found him. Suboshi seems to think he's doing okay, and I know he can take care of himself. At least… when he's away from Nakago. She took in the scenery around her. Konan really was much more beautiful than Kutou. Yumi always gets the best of everything… Megumi caught herself. But at least I get Amiboshi… Wait! What do I mean, "I get Amiboshi?" Yes, he's MY warrior. Megumi had to console herself with the fact that Amiboshi answered to her. Yumi's warriors are… odd. Nuriko, Chichiri, and Hotohori. She had met all of those and wondered how many more Yumi had found. I have Soi, Suboshi, Amiboshi, and… him. Megumi looked around her and realized that she had left Soi and Suboshi behind. She looked back. They sat in their saddles, alert, as though they were trying to listen for something. Then, she too felt a slight feeling of loss. Like a piece of her suddenly died. She directed Sango back to her warriors.

"Suboshi?" She asked, "What was that? I felt something; like I lost something." Soi looked up at her in surprise. Her eyes seemed to be more accepting of her now than when she first met Soi.

"We just felt a Seiryu warrior die." She said softly. Megumi gasped.

"Suboshi?" She asked him again. Suboshi looked at her, a little confused.

"That was definitely a Seiryu warrior, but it wasn't Amiboshi. It wasn't Nakago, either. I don't know who it could have been. Soi, did you meet any of the others?" Soi looked at the ground and didn't answer. Megumi realized that it could have been one of her friends that died, and didn't push the subject. Okay… next subject… Megumi smiled. She was happy to see Soi wearing more presentable clothing. She knew it was a mean trick to take Soi's clothes and replace them with some of her own, but… She had it coming. Megumi's next goal was to get Soi to ditch that creep Nakago, and go for someone else. Maybe we'll meet someone on this journey. That gives me another reason to delay. It was still midday, but Megumi felt like stopping. She looked ahead and saw a cozy little village.

"I think we should stop when we reach that village." Megumi stated. Suboshi started to protest, but surprisingly, Soi supported Megumi.

"Yes, we can stop there." Megumi felt she would be able to become friends with the woman, if she could only forget the circumstances under which they had first met. Eeew…

"In my world, I never had to ride a horse when I wanted to get somewhere." Megumi said, hoping she wouldn't annoy her companions with her reminiscing.

"Then how did you ever get anywhere?" Soi asked. Megumi realized it must have sounded like she always walked.

"We have things called cars. They are like horses, kind of, but they are more comfortable. And they can be much faster, and they don't need to eat. Well, not grass, anyway." Soi and Suboshi's faces showed that they did not believe a word she said.

"They weren't actually alive." Megumi tried to fully explain. "They are like automatic carts, and you put fuel inside them, and they go when you want them to. But they aren't always good. When cars run into one another, people die."

Megumi realized that she was just confusing her warriors even more and stopped. Let them make what they want of that. Suddenly Suboshi spoke up.

"Do you think there is a way for me to get to your world? I'd like to see these things you have been describing." Megumi thought about it, but she couldn't really say.

"I don't know, really. I don't know how I got here, and the only way it seems I can get back is if I summon Seiryu. Somehow, Yumi went back to our world before you found me… but I don't really understand how that happened. I don't think she does either, to tell the truth."

"Yumi? Is she the priestess of Suzaku?" Soi asked. Megumi nodded, ignoring the ice in Soi's tone.

"You are going to meet her soon. I think you'll like her. Just forget that she's the priestess of Suzaku when you see her, okay? Her warriors were very kind to me when I was with them. I would be ashamed if the Seiryu seven were any less polite." They didn't talk for a while after that. Megumi kept thinking about the warrior that died. Don't I need all seven warriors to summon Seiryu? Now what do I do?

-------

I only need to find one more warrior, and then I will have gathered all the stars of Suzaku to me, just like the legend said. Yumi was lost in thought as she stared ahead, absently watching Mt. Reikaku come nearer. Then I have to deviate from the legend. Megumi comes first. I wonder if I can stay here after I summon Suzaku? I love Tasuki. I know he'll take care of me, and I don't want to leave him. I don't think he can exist in my world… but I exist here. Maybe it is the only way for us to stay together. She closed her eyes. It was becoming too dark to see much anyway.

"Tasuki, after I summon Suzaku, what do you plan on doing?" She asked. She had to know what his plans were.

"Hmmm… I gotta keep up with the gang, right?" Yumi felt a little sad. Of course, the gang is like his family…

"But," he continued, "there's always a chance I'll came clean with the law and get married. But my future wife has to stay in my world for that to happen, right?" Yumi smiled, happiness welling up inside her. Did he just propose to me? It was hard to tell. Yumi looked up, wishing she could see more than Tasuki's silhouette. In the background, Yumi could hear the wind rustling through the tall grass, almost covering the snatches of conversation she could hear between Hotohori and Nuriko. Yumi didn't know what they were saying, and didn't try to listen. Their voices served to provide a comforting backdrop where Yumi felt safe. She was dozing off again when she felt Kohaku's movement come to a stop. She came fully awake when Tasuki tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hey, Yumi, we're gonna camp now." Yumi looked around, but everything was dark. Even so, she suddenly felt fully awake. Tasuki climbed off Kohaku and a second later, Yumi felt him lift her from the saddle and set her on the ground. Yumi blinked, trying to get her eyes to adjust to the night. She looked at the sky.

"Look at all the stars…" She murmured. She could never see so many stars back in her world; there was too much pollution in the air. When Yumi looked down again, she could see Hotohori and Nuriko's outlines making a fire, and Mitsukake was tethering the horses. Tasuki was setting out blankets for the camp. Yumi suddenly wanted to help out, but everything looked like it had been taken care of. So she came over to the fire and sat down on one of the blankets. A moment later, Tasuki came and sat next to her.

"Tasuki, can you show me which stars are yours?" Yumi asked, looking up at the sky again. He pointed to a section of the sky.

"Those are the Suzaku constellations over there. That group right there," he grabbed her hand and pointed with it, his grip gentle as he guided her, "that's Tasuki. Out of all Suzaku's constellations, it has the most stars."

"Oh! I know that constellation, part of it anyway. In my world, though, we usually call it Crater. I never knew it was Tasuki…" She put her hands behind her head and lay back so she could see the sky better. So many stars… it's so beautiful… She closed her eyes, trying to engrave the night sky into her memory. She felt a gentle pressure on her lips and knew Tasuki was kissing her. Why is this world so much better than mine? She heard a slight rustling sound beside her. Yumi opened her eyes again, and saw the stars. She looked to her right. Tasuki was looking at her, leaning on his elbow. She could see the firelight reflected in his earrings and necklaces. She wondered about his adornments, but supposed that it was just a "bandit" thing. He leaned closer to her.

"I think I should get going, or the windbag will boil over," he whispered, nodding slightly in Hotohori's direction. "Gotta do what I came for, right?" He grinned and Yumi couldn't help but smile. Hotohori was so protective, like how her father was whenever she brought a new guy friend to the house. But none of them were… well…

"Wait just a moment…" She whispered back to him. Hotohori tried to look inconspicuous in his spying, but failed. Yumi looked at Tasuki, trying to put a name to his appeal, but couldn't. It was a combination of many things. She couldn't believe that such an awesome man was even looking at her. It blew her mind to remember that he loved her… and would die for her… But I don't want him to do THAT… Tasuki reached a hand over to touch Yumi's face, but the emperor finally interfered.

"Get away from Her Eminence, rascal!" Hotohori's voice said sternly, and she heard the sound of a sword being drawn. Yumi looked over in time to see Hotohori's blade flash before her eyes and press against Tasuki's arm. Yumi glared at the emperor. She could only see his silhouette, but she could tell he was angry. With the blade, he pushed Tasuki back from her, and Yumi sat up and looked at him, suddenly angry. I know where the boundaries are, and Tasuki was NOT crossing them, but you are, Hotohori.

"Hotohori," she said, "I'm sorry if you don't like it, but I love him! I love Tasuki! And I won't let you keep putting him down." Yumi grabbed Hotohori's blade, daring him to hurt her. After a moment Hotohori pulled his sword back carefully so he didn't slice Yumi's hands.

"I know." Hotohori said. "But you are the priestess, and he is supposed to be your protector, as am I. We are the chosen of Suzaku. And he has other duties he needs to attend to right now." He turned his attention back to Tasuki and looked at him sternly.

"You should go talk to your… people." Yumi was proud that Tasuki hadn't yelled at Hotohori this whole time. Tasuki stood up and turned to face Yumi.

"I promise I'll be back soon." Yumi grabbed his sleeve as he turned to leave.

"You'd better, or else…" Yumi said warningly, looking over at Hotohori for a moment, hoping Tasuki would get the message. Yumi took off the jewel Taiitsukun gave to her.

"Take this." She pressed the necklace into his hand. "I need that, so you'd better come back soon and give it to me, you hear?" He smiled at her and pulled the necklace over his head, allowing the pink jewel to nestle among his other adornments, reflecting the flames in bright flashes.

"Of course I'll be back. When you wake up, I'll be right here." He looked over at Hotohori.
"Don't have too much fun while I'm away! And if pretty-boy puts his hands on you…" He trailed off threateningly. And with that, he disappeared into the darkness.

Without Tasuki there to stand between her and Hotohori, Yumi felt odd, so she attached herself to Nuriko. Once she could no longer hear Tasuki's retreating footsteps, she made her way to the other side of the fire and sat next to Nuriko. Nuriko won't do anything to me; I'm a girl, after all. Yumi fell asleep staring into the fire.

-------

Tomo laughed with delight. Tasuki had finally left the priestess' sight. Now it's time for a little fun… He waited for the warrior to get too far away from the Suzaku camp for them to hear him, in case things got a little rough. He cast his illusion, watching happily as Tasuki walked right into the trap. Kodoku is a very powerful drug, and it will be unbeatable in combination with my illusion. Tomo watched the Suzaku warrior stumble through the darkness, imagining what he must be seeing at that very moment. People are so easy to manipulate.

-------

Nuriko looked at the sleeping priestess. He decided that it was his job to protect her while her love was away. I do feel a little sad for Hotohori, though. I know I've lost, and at the same time, so has he. Remembering that they were camping under Mt. Reikaku, Nuriko decided he would stay awake and keep watch. He stared into the fire, staying awake long after all his companions had gone to sleep. The fire was warm, but he felt a chill that had nothing to do with the weather. He hadn't realized how much time had passed until he saw that the sky was getting lighter and the fire had died down to a few glowing embers. He wrapped his blanket tighter around his shoulders. I thought Tasuki would be back by now…? He hoped the warrior would return. Despite his foul attitude, Nuriko had taken a liking to the ornery bandit. And Yumi would not be happy when she woke to see that he hadn't returned yet.

Mitsukake was the first to wake of the three sleeping companions. Nuriko looked over at the man. We don't really know anything about him yet. But at least he's a Suzaku warrior. Mitsukake came over to the fire and poked at it with a stick, trying to bring the embers back to life.

"Mitsukake." Nuriko said, trying to think of something to say. He didn't like silence very much. He remembered what Mitsukake had said the other day about not caring about people.

"Why don't you like people?" Nuriko asked. "Personally, I think everyone needs someone else." Mitsukake didn't answer at first.

"I know that every person needs someone else." He finally replied. Okay, we're getting somewhere. "But the one I loved… she died. She died because I wasn't with her. I was taking care of someone else." Nuriko suddenly wished he hadn't asked. I didn't want to bring back sad memories…

"But at least she loved you back in the time you had together, right?" Nuriko said, trying to think of a way to change the subject. Mitsukake nodded slightly.

"I know it will sound a little childish, but I blamed others for taking her away from me. And then I blamed myself." Mitsukake looked at Yumi for a moment.

"I didn't want her to be put through the same pain. No person should be separated from the one they love the most." He smiled slightly. Nuriko saw a huge change in his appearance when he smiled. He looked much younger, happier.

Nuriko was about to say something when Yumi grabbed his ankle in her sleep.

"You better… get back here…" She murmured without waking up. Sorry, honey, but I'm Nuriko… Nuriko smiled and shook her off. He shook the priestess awake.

"Yumi, it's time to wake up." He said. Yumi's eyes opened slowly. She blinked sleepily, and then sat up abruptly, looking around.

"Nuriko? Where is Tasuki?" Her eyes rested on each member of their camp for a moment, but she didn't see her favored warrior.

"He'll be back soon." Hotohori said. "He promised he would come back, right?" Yumi nodded, surprised at how kind his voice was, even though he was speaking about his rival.

"As long as we're awake, we can try to find the last warrior of Suzaku, right?" Yumi said cheerfully. She walked confidently over to where the horses had been tethered. She studied them for a moment and managed to get her bag off of her favorite horse, Kohaku. Nuriko decided she must have given up trying to wrest the sleek black mare from the emperor. She opened the bag and pulled out some clothes when she saw the three men watching her.

"I need to change." She said matter-of-factly. Nuriko shook his head. Sometimes she was worse than him. While she was changing, hidden from view, Nuriko got the horses ready for a day's ride. I hope Yumi has gotten better at riding… She's going to be on her own again today, unless Tasuki shows up in the next ten minutes.