Disclaimers: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi.

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Narrator's POV

Takiko's voice sounded throughout the room. There was a blinding flash of green light and Genbu stood before them. Not just before Takiko. This time, Uruki and Hatsui could see their god as well. The god looked calmly from one of the three people to the other.

First, for only a few moment, his gaze rested on Hikitsu's body, still in Uruki's arms. The humans looking on saw, for only a moment, pity and regret in his eyes.

Then, his eyes went up to Uruki's face. She saw, to her great horror, pity in his eyes. Pity for her. She hated it when people — or gods, in this case — pitied her. Do you have something to say to me? She asked. But the god only chuckled, and did not say anything. His gaze rested on her for a moment longer before moving onto Hatsui.

Hatsui did not meet his gods' eyes at first like Uruki — thinking that it would be disrespectful. But then, inside his mind, he heard a voice. Look at me... it seemed to say. So he did. The corners of the gods eyes crinkled, showing that he was laughing inside, although his mouth didn't even twitch. Hatsui ignored it, bowing. The god only shook his head and rested his piercing gaze on the last person in the room.

Takiko.

You called me, Genbu no Miko. What is your first wish? He asked in a voice that made the two seishi shiver. However, Takiko stood tall and looked him straight in the eye. She wouldn't let him scare her!

I wish for Hokkan to be protected for all time! From war, famine, blizzards, and anything else that may harm it's land or occupants without them wanting it! Takiko replied in a strong, clear voice.

Very well... was all the god said in return. And with that, a blinding green light spread throughout the palace, the fighting outside the palace, and all of Hokkan. When it finally cleared, Genbu was gone as well as all of the Kutou soldiers...

Meanwhile, Iname was just about to cut through another enemy when the bright green light that the author just described blinded him. When it cleared, the man of whom he was about to kill was gone. Just... gone.

Wh-what in the.....?

Do you mean; what just happened?' Umiyame asked. Because Wh-what in the.....?' doesn't mean what just happened?'.

Um... Yeah... Whatever... Why did Umiyame have to tease someone over everything the anyone ever said?

Well, to answer your question, I believe that Takiko just used her first wish and with it saved both Hokkan and our sorry asses.

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Hatsui's POV

As the green light faded, I managed to see Takiko falling. I ran forward and took over Tomite's unofficial job by catching her. She asked, her eyes glassy and unfocused.

No. It's me, Hatsui.

Hatsui? Oh... It hurts Hatsui-san.... It hurts so much...

What hurts, Takiko? Where does it hurt? That was Uruki. She was leaning over my shoulder, a worried look on her face.

All over.... She wrapped her arms around her body, shivering. It feels like something is devouring me from the inside..... What in the....' I thought, but my thoughts were interrupted. For at the moment, Iname and Umiyame came through the door.

You did it, Takiko! The Kutou forces are gone! Hokkan is saved! Iname cried happily. Then, both of them caught sight of Takiko.

What? Are you cheating on Tomite already? I mean, just because he's dead doesn't mean that you can cheat in him... Umiyame teased. I had to admit, it probably did look like Takiko and I were in some sort of romantic... affair, or something... but that didn't mean that she had to tease Takiko! The poor girl was going through something horrible! I mean, she was far from her family and home. She had just found out the the man that she loved and one of her dearest friends was dead. I couldn't even begin to imagine how she felt. I was about to tell Umiyame off when I realized that Takiko probably hadn't even heard the comment. The girl had fainted in my arms. Genbu, now I sound like Tomite always did. I'm turning into a sap! Oh, this is not happening to me!

It's not like that, Umiyame, I said softly as I stood and gently placed Takiko in her bed.

Of course it's not, scoffed Umiyame. Did you really think that I was being serious. I was only joking, you fool. Kids these days...

But, Hatsui, why was Takiko in your arms, anyway? Iname asked.

Takiko... made her first wish. Afterwards, she fell. Hatsui caught her. She was.... She was saying that she was hurt. That it felt like something was devouring her from the inside. I... I don't know what was happening... Uruki said quietly, worry showing in her voice. The rest of us looked at her surprised. I had never heard her speak in the sort of tone. Now that I saw her, I could see the horrible grief and sadness in her eyes that I hadn't noticed until then.

If only Hikitsu were here. He would know what to do.... She whispered, clutching his body even closer to her chest. Then she looked at Iname and Umiyame as if she had just remembered something. Iname, Umiyame, is Tomite really dead? When they were silent, she added, Please say that he isn't......

I'm sorry, Uruki, but.... he is... He is dead...... Iname finally whispered.

But where is his body?! She cried.

He... We brought him to the emperor. We thought that that was where you would bring Hikitsu's..... Iname trailed off, not able to bear the look on Uruki's face.

H-How can this be happening? She whispered. First Hikitsu, and now Tomite. We've gone through so much. We've survived so many battles. How could they die just as we finally reach the end? It's not right! A lone tear fought it's way out of her eye and fell down her cheek. It's so wrong....

Come on, Uruki. Let's go get Hikitsu's body to the emperor... Umiyame led Uruki out of the room, leaving Iname and I alone.

Iname.... How did.... Tell me how Hikitsu and Tomite died.... Tell me of their last moments.... I knew that it was asking a lot of him, but I had to know. I had to know what could possibly kill the two strongest members of the Genbu Seishi? And I wanted to know how my two dear friends had passed into the shadow realm.

So he told me. I could tell that it was hard for him, especially when he told me what Tomite's last words were. But the part that he had the most trouble telling me, was Uruki's reaction to Hikitsu's death. I couldn't believe that Uruki – the strong, unfeeling Uruki that I knew so well – would act that way. It was unthinkable. At first, I didn't believe it. But finally, I had no choice. It was true.

Once Iname had finished with his retelling of that afternoons events, I sat, dumbly. How could it be true? This wasn't how I had thought anything would happen when I me Takiko and the other seishi. That's right.... Hikitsu was the first of the Genbu Seishi that I met. I don't count Uruki, because she was unconscious. And now, he was dead... It seemed like ages ago that I had met him and he had brought me to meet the other members of the Genbu Seishi, but it was only a few months. These people had become my life, my family, and now two of them were gone, and we had no idea what was hurting Takiko. Hokkan was supposed to be safe now. What could possibly break the barrier that Genbu had set over his lands to keep them from danger to hurt the miko. Only a god could do such a thing, and there are no gods here... Or are there....? Could it be? No... But.... What else could it be....?' I thought. If it was true, we, the remaining Genbu Seishi, would turn against our god and protect our Miko with our lives. It was what the culprit had created us to do – and we would do it with all the recourses that we had. After that, only one thought ran through my mind. What is your game, Genbu?'

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~End of Chapter 39~

Okay... You now have my official permission to kill me. This took me FOREVER to write. I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for it to take me so long! It just sort of happened. XP Won't happen again! (I hope...) Also, thanks to all my reviewers. Especially to Ispreno for pointing out something in chapter 15. Apparently, Tomite said, Where's a prostitute? I want you all to know, I DID NOT WRITE THAT!! My sister, Gami-Chan, has a really sick sense of humor and sometimes she gets on my (as in, NOT HERS) computer and changes some of my files. Man, I got mad when I found out about this particular offense. After I fixed it, of course. (Yes, I'm ranting now. But this makes me really mad. She had no business on my computer!) So, if anyone finds anything else like this, please know that I didn't write it and inform me in your review. Thanks! Please review! More coming soon!