Yumi opened the door and slipped inside the room, closing the door behind her. She looked around the room before turning to look at her friend.

Megumi was sitting up in bed, wearing what looked like the basis of her outfit that she had been wearing before. Her usually pale face was flushed and her eyes were rimmed with red from crying.

"Megumi? I wanted to apologize for Tasuki. He didn't mean it, and I certainly don't feel that way, I promise." Yumi said, trying to get Megumi to talk openly. The older girl nodded in acknowledgement, but didn't really say anything. "Megumi" At least, I don't think I feel that way. No, I'm sure of it.

"Oh, yeah Yumi, it's fine. I know he didn't mean it, and I know you'd never think that about me." Megumi said softly, mustering a small smile that was obviously strained. Yumi sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to think of something to say.

"So, how are you? Is Kutou treating you well? We didn't have much time to talk last night." Yumi asked. Megumi looked confused for a moment.

"Um, Kutou? Oh, well, yeah, they treat me fine. Amiboshi is missing, so I came here to try and find him, plus to… visit you, too." She said, her voice warming a little, but still distant and reserved.

"Megumi" Yumi said sharply, touching her friend's shoulder. She could see the wall and the pillows propping Megumi up through her. She came back into focus abruptly and looked down.

"Sorry about that. I do that sometimes…" She offered, looking at her own hand as it stabilized and became opaque once again. Yumi was always a little unnerved by that.

"So, do you know where Amiboshi is" Yumi recalled the young man in her mind. He was probably her or Megumi's age. She remembered only a little about him though, other than the fact that Suboshi was his twin.

"No… I don't. He's in Konan somewhere." Megumi said softly, then her voice became very guarded and reserved. "Yumi… what does Tasuki mean to you? What did you mean when you said he was your favorite"

Yumi blinked. That's what she had said, wasn't it? That Tasuki was her favorite warrior? Yeah, she had, and he was. Yumi smiled at the thought and looked at Megumi, wanting to see her reaction. Megumi had always been happy for her when she had been dating in the real world even though she herself had never had a boyfriend.

"Tasuki is… he means more to me than life. I love him so much." She said confidently. It made her feel much better, just to say that and know that he still loved her after… that. Megumi smiled immediately, a bright, cheery smile. She had tears in her eyes as well. Tears of joy I guess, she looks happy for me.

"Wow, Yumi. That is really great to have someone love you like that. He loves you too, right? I can't imagine him not; everybody in school likes you a lot, too." She said, seeming genuinely happy. Yumi was glad to see a smile on her friend's face. Suddenly Megumi groaned.

"Oh great…" Yumi arched a slender eyebrow, curious. Megumi smiled apologetically. "I think I have a virus or something, because I think I'm gonna be sick again, you might want to go, because I know you don't want to see this." She said. Yumi got up slowly, nodding. She was glad everything between Megumi and her was still fine. Or so she hoped.

"Megumi, before I go I need to tell you something. I'm going with Tasuki to visit his friend Koji, do you remember him" Megumi shook her head. "Well, I'll be gone a few days, but I'll be back and we'll talk some more. Get better and you can search around for Amiboshi while I'm gone. Please, make yourself comfortable here, okay? And tell me if anyone mistreats you." Megumi nodded slowly, her face flushing and her eyes growing wetter. Throwing up must be painful. Megumi certainly looked as though she would be sick.

-

Kirisuto blanched as she read each word in the book that was propped up on her lap. Yumi, one of her best friends had been… raped? It certainly seemed like that, but she didn't know, because it stopped talking about the priestess of Suzaku as soon as she lost consciousness. Kirisuto felt like she was reading somebody's diary, peeking and prying where she shouldn't. But there was always hope. She was glad that Tasuki guy thought that too.

Kirisuto was in her home, her room to be exact. It felt good to examine the book in the comfort of a familiar setting. The Universe of the Four Gods talked about three women now: Yumi, Megumi, and that Kirin woman, though Kirin's appearances were few and far between. That woman hadn't been very nice before, when she was talking to Megumi. The book had said that she was lying, and that she was jealous and protective when she thought Megumi was a rival in the Inner Seraglio who might possibly try to win the favors of the emperor. She seemed kind of familiar.

Kirisuto read as more characters began to form on the page as things happened in the book world. She was very glad that the book went into underlying emotions, otherwise she would think the same things Yumi thought, that Megumi had forgiven everything and was just about to be sick. As soon as Yumi closed the door she started crying again, burying her face in her hands. She was depressed, even though she was taking her medication.

Yumi was going to get Tasuki so they could pack and leave. Content with the fact that Megumi had forgiven her, she was ready to get away from the palace for a while before Hotohori found out she planned on leaving and stopped her. She thought she would bring Nuriko too. Kirisuto read on as Soi listened at Megumi's door and wondered what to do.

Kirisuto almost cried out when she read the next part. It was written not about any of the three women, but it centered on that guy, Tamahome, or Amiboshi. She didn't know what to think about him. Megumi was looking for him, but he was wearing an illusion. And he wasn't in control of his own body? That was weird. But she read the paragraph over.

'The Seiryu warrior knew that the time had come to act. He did not know how, but he received the impulse from the general that was controlling him. Nakago yet lived, and he was still in control of Amiboshi's actions. He knew that eventually his mistake would be revealed, and he would force his slave into action. It mattered not to him whether Amiboshi lost his life, as long as he killed the priestess of Suzaku or her warriors.'

Kirisuto didn't know what to do, but she knew she could try to contact Yumi, just as she had done earlier.

-

Tasuki shut his eyes and tried to look away from the mirror, but that didn't stop him from hearing. Taiitsukun was replaying the scene between Nakago and Yumi and forcing him to watch. When he had seen that powerful hulk of a man force Yumi onto his bed and climb on top of her, he knew he couldn't watch anymore. Tasuki's hands were shaking with jealousy and anger. She's mine, ya bastard! Get away from her! Every time he heard Yumi's frantic voice cry out his name in terror, he thought he would die. I wasn't there for her! I wasn't there! He could feel his whole shaking with the rage he felt, but there was nothing he could do.

"Stop bitch" Tasuki screamed at Taiitsukun. "I know I wasn't there to help her, I know that! Why are you torturing me like this" He tried to drown out Yumi's terrified sobs, but he knew he would never forget. And I never came to help… Eventually, Yumi's protests became more and more feeble as she realized that Tasuki wasn't coming for her.

"Fool! Watch" Reluctantly, Tasuki looked up in time to see Nakago jab his thumb into the side of Yumi's throat, knocking her out. He knew what had to come next. Tasuki could feel hot tears of rage welling in his eyes, but he didn't look away this time. If Yumi had to live through it, I can at least watch it… He stiffened angrily as Nakago moved in, but suddenly, there was a flash of red, originating from Yumi's heart. It spread into a transparent dome, encompassing her body and forcing Nakago away from her. The blond general looked perplexed and tried to break the protective barrier, but to no avail. Tasuki could hear the man cursing softly, staring at the barrier.

"Wh-what the hell is that?" Tasuki asked in amazement. He certainly hadn't been expecting anything like… THAT. It's Yumi's chi. She's projecting her chi into a barrier to protect her body from being defiled.

"Wow. I didn't know she could do stuff like that." Tasuki thought about Yumi. She really is strong. But… she doesn't know she can do that either. I need to tell her…

"Yumi trusts you." Taiitsukun's voice broke into Tasuki's thoughts. "That is why you need to be the one to tell her." Taiitsukun seemed to read what was going on in his head. Before he could respond, everything had faded and he was again sitting in Yumi's room. He would have thought the whole thing had been a strange dream, except that his eyes still stung with the pent-up tears of rage.

The door to Yumi's room creaked as it opened and he composed himself in an instant. Yumi slipped inside and smiled wanly at him.

"That was a quick talk." He said, standing up and making his way towards Yumi. I could tell her right now… right now. Yumi nodded and shrugged, beginning to walk around the room and gather some of her things.

"Well, Megumi was getting sick again, so I'll talk with her after we visit Koji." Tasuki watched her as she packed her things into a large bag. Right now… I could tell her, real quickly. Yumi, that man didn't take you, you can still… summon Suzaku. You are a virgin. He didn't say anything until Yumi shouldered her bag.

"Hey, Tasuki? Do you mind if Nuriko comes with us?" She said, smiling up at him. Tasuki cocked his head a little.

"Nuriko? Ya want him ta come, too?" She nodded. Tell her. He berated himself silently. Yumi, you can still summon Suzaku and then you can go back to your world… without me. "Well I don't see why not, if'n ya want him to come." Yumi smiled at him and they turned to go.

It took Nuriko forever to pack, but he seemed pleased that Yumi wanted him to come too. They were finally going to get out of here, and that stuffy Hotohori hadn't tried to stop them at all. That was when he heard something.

"Stop right there, servants of Suzaku…" They were almost to the northern gate that ran along the river. A shadowed figure stepped into view, standing on the top wall of the gate. The dark hair and violet eyes were unmistakable. It was Tamahome. Tamahome?

"You will go no further, because now you die…"

-

Megumi stared blankly at the wall, not noticing as her hand turned semi-transparent and back again. She had said it again. He's my favorite. That's what she had said. He was… replacing her. Yumi was replacing her, and she had said it, from her own mouth. He's my favorite. She didn't know what she would do. She could summon Seiryu and go back to the world she loathed or she would stay here in the book. Who would she stay with if that happened: Suboshi or Soi? She didn't think Soi liked her very much, and Suboshi was worried about Amiboshi. There was no place for her.

Yumi will be staying too, because if Nakago raped her, then she can't summon Suzaku. Megumi was surprised at how easily she could think that. But it didn't matter what happened to Yumi, she had that man now. He'll probably just stay with her for a while and leave once he gets what he wants from her. He seemed like a shady, uncouth bastard. It had been so hard to pretend to be happy for her, knowing what would likely happen.

"Your Eminence, get up! NOW!" Suboshi careened into her room, clutching his ryusuisei in one hand. She jumped at the sudden sound and stared at her warrior.

"Why?" She said leadenly. There was no reason to get up and do anything. She should just stay here. It was just like at her house in the real world. What was the point of getting up every morning? It was so hard to face the world day after day. Or… she could always take the easy way out.

"Damn, Megumi! It's Amiboshi! He's here! MOVE!" He yelled forcefully. Megumi blinked. Amiboshi is here? Why is he here? Does… does Yumi know he's here? Apparently she wasn't moving fast enough for Suboshi's liking because he stormed forward and grabbed her arm just above the elbow and pulled her up. "He's using his power, which means he must be in trouble!"

"Huh?" What Suboshi was saying finally sank into her troubled thoughts. Amiboshi was in trouble. She needed to move faster, because if she didn't Amiboshi might die and she had promised after Nakago had whipped him that she wouldn't let him be hurt again, however lame a promise that was. Like I can do anything.

Megumi pulled on the outer robe of her dress and tied it quickly. Soi was already waiting outside the door, looking pensive. Suboshi still had a firm grip on her elbow and he pulled her forward faster than she could normally run. Please, stomach. Don't get sick. It took only a matter of seconds it seemed, to get out of the palace. At one point Soi actually collided with a maid, but she didn't pause. Soi must not trust Yumi's warriors… but then again, do I anymore?

The marketplace and the streets outside the palace were packed. It took forever just to walk two feet. The ground was still muddy from all the rain but it was nice out for now. That was the problem. Soi paused.

"Give me a minute, Suboshi. We need to clear the streets." She said icily. Megumi looked up, knowing what to expect. A small rain cloud, dark and ominous began to form overhead. No one seemed to notice until a small bolt of lightning arched from the sky to strike the pole of one of the merchant stalls, setting it ablaze. At least it wasn't raining.

People began to scream as a few more bolts of lightning sizzled with heat and set a clothing stall on fire. Apparently Soi had the right idea, because people were definitely clearing the streets. Hopefully no one would be hurt. Suboshi began to move again, dragging her, Soi on her other side. Then she saw somebody standing on the northern gate wall. It was Tamahome.

Suboshi stopped abruptly, puzzled. Megumi didn't seem Amiboshi anywhere. Shouldn't she be able to sense her warriors? Yumi seemed to be able to do that, but Yumi had always been able to do things Megumi hadn't. Suddenly a familiar sound pierced the silence. It was the sound of a wooden flute.

She could see Yumi now. She was on her knees, clutching her head. The man she recognized as Nuriko from the night before was bent over at the waist, wincing and covering his ears. The man who was replacing her was shouting obscenities. That Nuriko person seems nice enough. Why couldn't Yumi love a nice person like that?

"Damn you, Tamahome! What the hell do ya think yer doin!" Tasuki yelled, reaching for his harisen. Megumi looked up at Tamahome. He was playing a wooden flute. His fingers danced along the instrument, sending out a song that seemed only to affect Yumi and the two Suzaku warriors. It sounded… evil.