Trials of the Heart

by Seshiri

Part 1 of Ch8 is up! I intend to finish this fic! This is the SEQUEL to Broken Promises! Seiryuu AND Suzaku seishi are reincarnated and have to go on a suicide mission fight a demon bent on taking over the world! Not like OVA R&R Please

7. Trials of the Heart Chapter 7

Chapter 7

A/N: wow. I guess I look really stupid for saying 'it's not as lengthy as I'd like' for the last chapter XD But I didn't realize how long it was! The page count said it was only like 30 pages an I was just: "woah" XD So please excuse that stupid comment. Hmm..  This chapter (I wanna say episode XD)  is a bit more o.O R ish than the others. More like PG14 XD but be my guest and read it, just don't flame me saying "your fic is rated pg13 and this was blablablabla" XD

Finally it was time for them to start the long trek onward. Seshiri dreaded the thought of visiting the monastery again, seeing as the last time she had ended up dead.

Seshiri hugged Nuriko sadly saying. "Hey it's ok, no worries you'll see her soon." "I can only hope." He answered glumly. Seshiri walked over to Amiboshi with a sigh. "Poor guy." Amiboshi nodded and hugged Seshiri. "Don't worry, we'll get out of here alive." Seshiri smiled slightly and hugged him back. "Yeah."

Seshiri and Amiboshi walked over to Kaeli and Chichiri. "So we're heading out?" Kaeli nodded after a moment. "Yeah... Now we begin our death march." Seshiri shuddered. "Ugh don't say that! It's making everything WORSE!" Kaeli grinned. "Well it's TRUE no da! We're NOT going to make it out alive no da. As much as it hurts to say it no da." Seshiri snorted. "Well at least you guys got a few nights in..."

Kaeli nodded, looking off into the distance for a moment. "Yeah....." Then realization hit her. "HEY!" Seshiri ducked away from Kaeli's fist giggling. Tasuki rolled his eyes and said "Are we ever gonna leave? I mean yeah it's fuckin' SAD but come ON! The sooner we get there, the sooner it's over..."

Seshiri stuck her tongue out at Tasuki's back after he turned around. "Yeah, AANYWAY." Amiboshi said. "He's right, let's get going." The group headed out to the stables after paying for their stay.

Gurase and Hotohori grabbed one of the large saddles and looked over at Seshiri and Amiboshi, saddling up their separate horses. Gurase got an evil glint in her eye and said very loudly. "Hey Seshi! Why aren't you and Ami just SHARING a horse?" Seshiri turned red when everyone looked over at them. "Er... I dunno..." Gurase grinned and continued. "I mean if we ARE gonna die you might as well!" Hotohori chuckled and agreed.

Amiboshi turned bright pink and looked over at Seshiri. "Well.. We.. Could.. I guess.. If you wanted.. To.." SD Gurase snorted and fell over laughing. Seshiri turned redder and became Chibi. "We can... but.. only if YOU want to..." "Well.... It's up to YOU..." "No no no it's YOUR choice!" SD Gurase stood up to watch, grabbing a bag of popcorn that appeared from nowhere. Seshiri shot Gurase a look. "What???? This is funny!" "Grrr..." "Hey it's just payback for the whole DANCE thing..." Seshiri rolled her eyes and grumbled.

"Come on Guuraaseeee...." Hotohori said hugging her from behind. "Stop tormenting them..." Gurase whined. "But it's so FUN!" "I know but still, they don't deserve it. well. Amiboshi doesn't anyway." Seshiri crossed her arms and grumbled. Amiboshi sweat dropped and said, "Well Seshi and I can share a horse...."

Seshiri nodded. "Yeah! It's no big deal!" She stuck her tongue out at Gurase. "Nyah...." Gurase rolled her eyes and jumped onto her horse. "Well.. Whatever..." She mumbled. Hotohori jumped on after her. "We might wanna hurry up guys. I think everyone's sorta waiting on us...." Seshiri looked up and saw everyone ready and set to go. SD Seshiri sweat dropped. "Gomen nasai minna!"

Amiboshi grabbed one of the big saddles and lifted it onto the horse. "Er..." They stared at the big saddle. "You first..." "No you first!" Amiboshi answered. "No you!" "Ladies first!" "Well... I say YOU first!" "No YOU-" "Oh come ON already! We haven't got all DAY!" Tasuki snorted. Amiboshi rolled his eyes and walked over to Seshiri. "Come on I'll help you up." Seshiri shrugged and nodded. "Oki!" Amiboshi put his hands around her waist and helped to lift her up.

Seshiri blushed and settled onto the horse. "Oki your turn!" Amiboshi grinned and jumped onto the horse. "Can we GO now? PLEASE?" Gurase said loudly. Seshiri nodded. "Finally..." Gurase said with a grin.

Kaeli took her position at the front of the group and led the way through Sairou. Amiboshi kicked their horse up next to Hotohori and Gurase. "Why in the HELL did you do that?" Seshiri asked Gurase. Gurase grinned. "Well you brought the whole dance thingy to everyone's attention! And besides.. it all worked out for the best anyway. You and Ami are actually riding together."

Amiboshi and Seshiri turned red. "Well...." Seshiri stuttered. "Yeah... But..." Suboshi interrupted them, riding up. "Amiboshi!" Amiboshi sighed and looked over. "Nani?" "Why are you guys sharing a saddle!??!?!?!?!?" "Because we're all gonna die anyway!" He answered. Suboshi blinked and got a glazed look. "If Yui-sama were here I would share a saddle with her...." Seshiri snorted thinking, Yeah but would SHE share a saddle with YOU?

Amiboshi seemed to know what was running through her head and laughed. Suboshi frowned and walked his horse away grumbling.

Seshiri frowned. "There IS something bad about this." Amiboshi blinked. "Nani?" "You can't play your beautiful flute!" Amiboshi grinned and leaned next to her ear, whispering. "Yeah but there are plenty of good things too..." SD Gurase leaned out of her saddle trying to listen in. "Nani? Talk louder!" Chibi-Amiboshi leaned away from Gurase. "... No..." Seshiri giggled.

SD Gurase grumbled and leaned back onto Hotohori. "Well... Who cares what you guys are saying ANYway..." Hotohori hugged Gurase. "Yeah..." He agreed with a grin.

Seshiri sighed and turned her eyes back to the road. Amiboshi hesitated before hugging her tightly. "Hey-something wrong?" He asked quietly. Seshiri sighed again and shrugged. "I dunno. Just. I'm kinda scared." Amiboshi nodded. "Hey it's ok to be scared. I'm scared too." Seshiri smiled.

Tasuki's such a fricking JERK... Yokoshima changed him somehow. I just know it. But. I guess it's good that he changed him. Because I got to know Amiboshi... And now Amiboshi and I-….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaeli turned around and faced her horse to the group. "Oki guys, I can hear you moaning and groaning about me driving you too hard." She grinned. "So we can take a rest." "Finallyyyyy!" Seshiri moaned. "And now for me to gracefully fall off my horse.." She commented to herself and slid out of the saddle. Amiboshi giggled. "Baka Seshiri! You're going to hurt yourself if you get off a horse like THAT..." Seshiri stuck her tongue out at him.

Gurase jumped off her horse and glanced over at the two. "Seshiri, keep your tongue either in your mouth or Ami's cuz the REST of us do NOT wanna see it." Amiboshi fell off the horse. "NANI?" Gurase giggled at Seshiri's wide eyes. Gurase looked up to see Miaka coming. "Bitch alert." She muttered so only they could hear.

Seshiri rolled her eyes and looked over to Miaka. "What do you want?" She asked dully. Miaka's eyes teared up and she fell to her knees. "Gomen nasai Seshi-chan!" Seshiri stared at Miaka. "Nani?" "I-I feel horrible for taking Tasuki from you!" Seshiri sighed and lay down on the ground and watched the sky.

Miaka was discouraged by the silence. "I know that you must hate me right now! I hate MYSELF right now! But... you know how it is..." Seshiri sighed. What does she think she's trying to do? Get my sympathy?

"I mean.. I'm not a bad PERSON or anything! I mean I know I make mistakes a lot, I probably made a mistake by kissing Tasuki back-but.. you know!"

Seshiri sat up and glared at Miaka. Amiboshi sighed and sat down next to Seshiri. "Miaka why don't you just go." He said quietly. Miaka got up and stood there. "I really am sorry Seshiri... I really am... REALLY REALLY sorry." Seshiri watched her blankly. Miaka sighed before turning around and going back to Tasuki.

Kaeli walked over at sat down. "I see that you and Miaka got to talk." Seshiri shrugged. "She's sorry." Seshiri nodded. Amiboshi put his arm around her shoulder. She rested her head on Amiboshi's shoulder and sighed. "She's been talking to me a lot. Since you guys wont talk to her. She's really depressed. An she really hates being out of 'the group'. You know what I mean?" "Hai." Seshiri answered. Kaeli scrunched up her face.

"Now I KNOW it's hard to forgive her. But couldn't you even try?" Seshiri shook her head. "Why not?" "Because. You don't know what she put me through." Kaeli looked down at the ground. "Yeah I guess you're right. Well. It's time to be the evil leader again." She grinned. "Talk to you later."

Seshiri looked up at Amiboshi. "Do YOU think I'm being to hard on Miaka?" Amiboshi frowned. "Well.. I don't know. I think.. She put you through a lot. and you have every right to treat her how you want to because of that. But I mean. you have to forgive her SOMEtime." Seshiri sighed. "Yeah." "OK EVERYONE! BREAK IS OVER!" Kaeli shouted back. Seshiri stood up and brushed herself off.

Amiboshi stood up and walked over to their horse. "Ok. Um. Do you want me to..." Seshiri giggled. "Only if you want to." "Well I only will if you want me to!" "It's up to you-" Gurase rolled her eyes and said loudly. "Here they go again." Seshiri grinned. "Fine. Amiboshi I WOULD like you to help me up!" Amiboshi grinned and blushed a little as he put his hands on her waist and lifted her up.

"And now we head out." Gurase said as she looked up at Kaeli.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seshiri shivered as she looked at the familiar scenery. "Bad memories?" Amiboshi asked. Seshiri snorted. "Yeah... I died here." Amiboshi froze up. "Well yeah that WOULD be a bad memory.

Seshiri looked around them and spotted rows of graves. One of them caught her eye and she screamed. "NANI!?" She jumped off the horse and raced over to the grave. She brushed off the dirt and stared. "Oh... My... God..." Amiboshi stopped and looked over as the rest of the group was forced to stop.

"Guys..." She growled. "I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU BROUGHT MY BODY BACK TO KONAN!!!!!!!!" Nuriko paled. "Well. Uh. Seshi-chan. You have to realize. Uh. We couldn't carry your body with us cuz I was wounded, and we were busy trying to stop Yui from summoning Seiryuu. We WOULDA have it sent later-I swear! But… we were VERY low on money.... and well.. you know." Amiboshi shuddered. "Oh dang that's creepy. Seeing your own grave."

"Come on no da. I don't want to stay here longer than we have to no da... I have a horrible feeling na no da." Hotohori nodded. "If you search you can feel a dark presence." Tasuki rolled his eyes. "Of course. Yokoshima kinda lives here." Seshiri grumbled before climbing back onto her horse.

Amiboshi frowned. "They're right." Seshiri sighed and leaned back into Amiboshi. "I don't like this.." She said quietly, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. "I don't like this at all." Miboshi looked down guiltily. "Gomen nasai Seshiri." Seshiri grinned. "Oh well."

Tasuki began to shudder violently. Miaka shrieked. "Tasuki!!! What's wrong?" Tasuki regained his composure and gave her a fangy grin. "N-Nothin. Don't worry about it Miaka." Miaka nodded.

Seshiri gulped and tried to ignore the pang of jealousy that rang through her at that grin. He used to grin at me like that. before. before...

"There's the monastery." Amiboshi said, interrupting her thoughts. Seshiri looked up and smiled at him but frowned at the missing scenery. "Where?" "Well it should be here, according to Chiriko and Kaeli's directions…." She frowned and sighed, "Well don't look at me." Kaeli blushed slightly and said "I'm sorry guys, maybe we took a wrong turn or-?" "No." Miboshi shook his head. "This is it. I remember perfectly. As does Nakago I assume." Nakago nodded silently, his eyes piercing the air.

Tasuki rolled his eyes and swore, "Well duh. It's not as if he'd just leave it here in tha OPEN." "Nani no da?" Chichiri asked, cocking his head to the side. "It's invisible." Seshiri's eyes flashed at Tasuki's answer, nodding to herself.  That's right. When Tasuki came to me in my vision he said it was invisible… "It's an illusion." Was what Tomo said with a snort, "I can't believe you can't see right through it." "Not ALL of us have a fifth sense like you do."

Kaeli replied. He frowned. "That would make six, not five." "It would?" He gave her a suspicious look, wondering if it was a bad joke. "Anyway, I merely have to crack the spell surrounding it with the Shin." He smiled and reached into his cloak, pulling out his hand in a fist. "Tah dah." He uncurled his long fingers, the red nail polish on the nails glimmered and in the palm of his hand rested a small shell.

 "What's that?" "My illusion shell." Was the answer her gave. Tomo closed his eyes tightly, mumbling some words to himself. Nuriko leaned in to catch a few words "Unveil………… make…….." His eyes looked back at the empty spot in the scenery nervously. With one last stressed word: "BREAK" and a glowing green light pierced through the sky, and a giant dome appeared out of nowhere. A crack began, starting slowly, and then finishing up with a splendid crack, weaving it's way around in a giant circle. The shattered pieces disappeared into what looked like little green bubbles, finally evaporating into the air.

Kaeli stared, jaw on the floor. "Holy SHIT Tomo that was AMAZING." He smirked and fondled one of the feathers hanging from his hat. "I know." Soi snorted and rolled her eyes. "Now that we're done making his ego inflated, can we move on?" Chichiri smiled at Kaeli and nodded in answer to Soi. "Good idea no da." Nakago's eyes flickered, "I believe he knows we're here." Tasuki raised an eyebrow. "No shit. You think he wouldn't know us from a mile away?" Miaka closed her eyes tightly and nestled back into the fire haired bishie, "I'm scared Tasuki." Tamahome glared at them from behind with jealousy.

Instead of saying anything he only gritted his teeth, tearing his eyes away. Seshiri bit her lip. She could see Tama's heart breaking. Her eyes wandered back to the monastery and she whispered,

"Yeah. Scary isn't it?" Amiboshi nodded. "Yeah."

"I think we should leave our horses here no da!" Chichiri commented. "NANI?" Gurase asked. "But.. but.. but.." "Yeah Gurase, we all know that you like sitting between Hotohori's legs but-" SD Gurase jumped off of the horse and began to beat Seshiri with her fist. "BAKA!!!!!!" SD Seshiri screamed and jumped off the horse and raced away. "YOU COME BACK HERE YOU COWAAARD!!!!!!!" SD Gurase yelled, shaking her fist at Seshiri. SD Seshiri hid behind Nuriko. "... No..." she said suspiciously. SD Hotohori walked over and hugged Gurase. "It's ok koi. We'll get her back later."

SD Gurase grumbled. "Yeah yeah yeah.."

Amiboshi got off his horse. "What do we do with them?" Kaeli blinked. "I dunno.... let them go? it's not like we're gonna live anyway." Amiboshi frowned. "Good point." He pet the horse. "Ok. You can go!" He turned around and walked over to Seshiri.

"Come on." He said with a smile. Seshiri grinned. "Thanks for being my shield Nuriko." Nuriko grinned back. "No problem." Seshiri hugged Amiboshi and began to follow Kaeli up the mountain. Nuriko and I haven't talked much since… Too long, since he met Nanuri really. I remember us being great friends before. But then we both got too busy. I wonder what would have happened if I had fallen for Nuriko instead of Tasuki….. NO Seshiri what are you CRAZY!? You can't think THAT! Why WOULD you?! God damn it. This whole Tasuki Miaka thing has totally got me going crazy. Damn it. Now I feel horrible for even thinking of that. I should apologize to Nanuri later…… But for what? It's not like I really care or. AGH…

Chewing her lip until it bled Seshiri looked back up at the monastery, frowning at the cold stone walls.

She shuddered and shot Miboshi another look. Miboshi winced. "Hey don't blame me! I was under NAKAGOS orders..." Nakago started; "And I was just... trying to have revenge by taking over the world.." Seshiri rolled her eyes. "Anyway." Nuriko turned off the path. "If we want to go in without announcing to the whole world that we're there you better not go through the front door." Kaeli blinked. "Oh.. smart.. heehee... oki guys follow Nuriko! He seems to know his way!" Tasuki grumbled something that sounded like: "but he knows we're here"

Gurase held Hotohori's hand tightly. "Hori-kun!" He hugged her. "I'm scared! I mean... we're almost there..." Hotohori nodded. "Hai. I Have to admit, I'm getting really nervous too!" Seshiri snorted as Gurase cuddled Hotohori. "Baka Gurase." "Shutup!" She whispered back. "You'll blow my act..."

Hotohori hugged her protectively. "Don't worry, koibito, I wont let anything hurt you." Gurase grinned. "Arigatou Hori-koi!"

Seshiri rolled her eyes with a grin. "So Ami. You scared?" She asked, poking him. His eyes darted around nervously. "N-no..." "Tooo bad." "Why?" "Cuz. I coulda taken after Gurase and 'cuddled' you!" Amiboshi turned red. Gurase rolled her eyes. "Hey! It's MYYYYYYYYY act! Not yours! MINA!" Seshiri grinned. "SoOOOOOoo?" Gurase grumbled and hugged Hotohori's arm. "Whatsa matter? wanted to fit in one last dance?" SD Seshiri asked with an evil grin.

"SHADDUP!" SD Gurase yelled, turning around to charge her. "SHHHHHH no da!" Chichiri said, bringing a finger to his lips. SD Gurase froze. "Er.... Gomen nasai Chiri-sama." He grinned and turned back around. Gurase shuddered. "Anyway. NO dance remarks..." Seshiri stuck her tongue out at Gurase. "Fine..."

Seshiri looked up at the monastery. "There it is...." She said quietly. Gurase nodded. "Hai.. It's scarier than they said it was!" Miboshi frowned. "Yokoshima's made a few adjustments I see..." "Like what?" Amiboshi asked. "Like that tower." He pointed to a giant stone tower, which's shadow was cast across the rest of the monastery. Did I just see someone in that tower? Seshiri asked herself. After squinting for a few moments, and no movement she blinked. "OOOoookay" "Something wrong?" Amiboshi asked concerned. "No.." Seshiri shook her head, looking back at the path in front of her.

Miboshi grumbled and floated next to Ashitare's head.

Nuriko turned around. "Here we are guys-" "Now be veewwy veewwy qwiet cuz we's huntin DEMONS!" Gurase said in Elmer Fudd style. Seshiri bit back a fit of laughter.

Nuriko rolled his eyes but grinned. "Ok. She's right. everyone just SHUTTUP!" He led them in through a small door. Seshiri stepped in and shivered. It's so cold.....

Nuriko stepped forward into the hall quietly. "Ok guys. Our cover hasn't been blown I don't thi-"

Nuriko froze as a huge spot light blasted onto them. "CRAP!" Nuriko yelled, ducking away. Yokoshima towered above them smirking. He sneered. "And you thought you'd get in here without me noticing...." "I didn't." Tasuki mumbled in his defense.

He raised his arms. "Nuriko. You decided to come back! I thought you would..." He snorted and green light began to gather around his hands, crackling with electricity. Soi glared at him. "Electricity is MY thing!.. Bitch.." Yokoshima raised an eyebrow. "GUYS what do you think you're DOING!? Spread out!" Nuriko yelled frantically.

They all nodded and spread out. Yokoshima frowned. "Dammit stop moving around.. pesky humans..."

He sent his electricity towards Miaka, who barely managed to dodge, meanwhile shrieking at the top of her lungs. Tasuki glared, covering Miaka. "SOMEONE TRY TO FUCKIN ATTACK HIM!" Seshiri yelled.

Amiboshi shrugged, doing his best to dodge the electricity that Yokoshima began to spray at them. "That would help if I had time to stop and BREATHE."

He grabbed his flute from his side and stepped out of range, raising the flute to his lips. He stood still and his fingers began to work their magic as he blew, sending out chi with the rapid notes echoing from the reed instrument. The chi blasted at Yokoshima, trying to confuse him long enough for someone to attack. Suboshi jumped up, ryuuseisui whirling around him. "Ryuuseisui-ATTACK!" He roared, one of them whirling at the demon. Meanwhile Amiboshi's notes became faster, and faster, causing Seshiri to cover her ears when the pain began to affect her.

A frown came across his face and his eyes flew open, flicking over to Tasuki's direction.

Suddenly Tasuki doubled over, shouting in pain. "TASUKI!" Miaka screamed. "what's wrong!? TASUKI!" "FUCK..." He hissed, clutching his head. Amiboshi jumped away from him. "What the fuck!?" Seshiri stared as Tasuki's form melted away and Yokoshima stood in his place.

"WHAT THE-" Seshiri yelled, her jaw dropping. Yokoshima turned to Amiboshi. "You..." Amiboshi stared at Yokoshima in horror, dropping his flute. Yokoshima advanced on him as everyone else stood, in awe.

Yokoshima raised his fist, purple light glowing around it. "And now. You die." He sent the purple light at Amiboshi, sending him flying back into the wall. Yokoshima turned around as Suboshi screamed. "YOU BASTARD!" He growled, advancing on Yokoshima. "Oh? You really believe your "Yo-Yos" can hurt ME?"

Suboshi ducked away from a blast of power, rolling forward. Seshiri came to her senses and raced over to Amiboshi's battered body. "Amiboshi!" She cried, holding him up. Amiboshi gulped, closing his eyes. "I'm still.. here.. but not for long.." He coughed. Seshiri's eyes teared. "Ami...." He smiled at her, the cuts covering his once pale cheeks  burned into the skin and he coughed, "Ai Shiteru Seshiri..." Seshiri tried not to sob. "Ami..  I-I-I-" She cried. He smiled. "It's ok." He wheezed, "You don't have to-" "Ai shiteru.." She whispered down to him. His eyes jumped and he forced a small smile. "Arigatou." He leaned up and kissed her, before leaning back. "It means a lot that you said that." Seshiri smiled shakily, smoothing the hair out of his face. Amiboshi's eyes glazed slightly and he stared off into space as his breath quickened. Seshiri closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest, just as the life left his body. I'm sorry Amiboshi. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry I couldn't love you…

Meanwhile Suboshi was trying to tear Yokoshima apart, taking off one of the meteor balls "Don't stop until he is in shreds." He growled dangerously.

A/N: You have to keep in mind that the following events all happen within minutes of each other…

Gurase's eyes watered at the scene of Amiboshi and Seshiri.. "Yokoshima was really Tasuki!!!!" She said quietly. Hotohori nodded. "We were tricked.." "Oh yeah sob sob boo hoo." Yokoshima sneered. He raised his hands. "You can take your Seshiri with you.." Green light began to glow around them. "Say goodbye Seshiri." Seshiri closed her eyes tightly and clung to Amiboshi's torn body.

"REKKA SHINEN!!!!!" A familiar voice shouted, and flames engulfed Yokoshima. Seshiri turned around quickly, her heart jumping into her throat. "TASUKI!?" "SESHIRI!"

He turned around. "CRAP! THEY FOUND ME!" He ran through the door, a huge group of demons following him. A blue shield had come up around Yokoshima just in time. "BAKA DEMONS! I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO FINISH HIM OFF!"

One of the demons whimpered. "Gomen nasai Yokoshima-sama!"

Yokoshima glared at it. "No matter. Finish them all off. Now." Miaka ran over to Tasuki, hugging him. "TASUKI-KOI!" Seshiri's face fell.

Tasuki raised an eyebrow at Miaka. "Er.. Good ta see you too Miaka.." He pushed her off of him. "But Tamahome's over THERE..." Miaka blinked. "Nani?" Tasuki…? Pain seared through Seshiri's heart as a glimmer of hope leapt into her eyes.

Tamahome blinked too. "Eh?" Tasuki shuddered and walked over to Seshiri. "Are you ok Seshi-chan?" Seshiri stared up at him. "Um. Yeah what are you do-" "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!? OPRAH!?" Yokoshima growled, trying to get their attention.

Gurase frowned. "Oh shut the fu-." Yokoshima whirled on her. "Oh crap.. Not the best thing to say to a blood thirsty demon..." Hotohori stepped in front of her, wielding his sword. "One more step and I'll slice you in half." Yokoshima's eyes narrowed. "Hakuujin Raihou!" Soi shouted, raising her hand. Lightening broke through the ceiling, striking Yokoshima.

Yokoshima shrunk in size as he fell to his knees. "BITCH!" He growled. He turned on her, sending arrows of golden light in her direction. "Oh no- not again!" Nakago hissed, stepping in front of Soi, taking all of the arrows.

Soi stared at Nakago. "Nakago-sama?" Nakago smiled up at her as he fell to the ground. "I didn't want to see you die again." He said quietly.

Soi's eyes teared up. "Nakago..." He smiled again before wincing in pain. Soi looked up at Yokoshima with flaming eyes. "Hakuujin Raihou!" She yelled again, the lightening coming through the ceiling now, causing a gaping hole. Dark clouds gathered, rain pouring down from them, the lightening struck the demons around Yokoshima.

Yokoshima looked around in disbelief as the Demons screamed in pain before they disappeared into the ground.

His eyes narrowed and the atmosphere around him darkened. "He's getting ready to attack no da! His most powerful attack no daaa!!!!"

Seshiri ran over to Chichiri saying only: "Shield?" He nodded, calling Kaeli over. They all raised their hands together, and a red wall came up in front of them, shielding them from the attack.

Black light flared from Yokoshima. Seshiri stared. Wait… This is… There's two right now! The minion Yokoshima, and the Tasuki impersonator!... Which is which?! Both of the Yokoshima's shot the black light in a crackling sword at the seishi.

The red wall reflected the black light back at him glancing off of the shield and flaring out, covering all of the ground in front of them, killing the fake Yokoshima, and bringing the real one down to it's hands and knees. "You are going to pay for that.." He growled menacingly.


Seshiri panted. Sweat ran down from her forehead into her eyes. She cursed and shook her head, trying to keep her purple eyes clear. "Chiri.. We can't keep this wall up much longer! And he knows it!" Chichiri nodded, sweating. "Ok. It looks like we'll have to drop the shield." Kaeli brought her hands down, turning the shield to a lighter shade of blue. Seshiri was next, making it almost transparent. Chichiri was last, falling to his knees as he let go, giving a moan of pain. Seshiri caught her breath, wiping her eyes, and looked back up at Yokoshima.

He grinned down at them evilly, holding up a fist.

Miaka whimpered and took a step back. Suboshi glared at Yokoshima. "You bastard.. I'm gonna kill you!" Suboshi's Ryuusesui flew at Yokoshima once more, this time slicing him in random spots, careful not to be hit by his fists as he tried to smash them away.

Yokoshima glared at Suboshi. "Pest.." He hissed. He raised his arms, red light glowing from them. "You are quite mistaken. I am going to kill YOU." He turned to Nuriko. "After I kill him!" He sent the bolts of red light towards Nuriko.

Nuriko froze, only having enough time to bring his hands up to shield his face.

Ashitare jumped in front of Nuriko just it time, taking the blast himself. His limp burnt body was knocked back into the purple haired seishi, sending them both against the wall.

Ashitare quickly stood up, in wolf form, jumping off of Nuriko. Nuriko stared at Ashitare in disbelief. "Nani?" Seshiri stared at Ashitare. Well I guess Nanuri can't hate him now.. He just saved the love of her life! But I can't forgive him even if he saved Nuriko…

Miboshi floated above the rest until he was Yokoshima's height. Blue light glowed around him as a huge demon rose from the ground above him.

"HOLY-" Kaeli cried, knocked back as the ground rose around her, falling into Chichiri. "Chiri-koibito-gomen-" "It's fine." He smiled, helping her back to stand up right.

Seshiri stared at Miboshi. Chichiri looked over at her. "This demon is familiar!" He commented. "It's the same one he used in our last visit to the monastery!" Seshiri shook her head. "Dear Suzaku! It's fucking HUGE!" Miboshi smirked. "Thank you." Was his wicked reply.

Tasuki raised his tessen. "REKKA SHINEN!" He sent flames spewing at Yokoshima, enveloping his arm in flames. Yokoshima howled in pain, holding his burnt arm closely. Taking advantage of the distraction, Miboshi ordered the demon to punch Yokoshima, sending him flying through the wall. Again Tasuki held up the tessen. "Rekka…" He growled dangerously, a thin fire wall enclosing him. "SHINEN!" He roared, swinging the tessen out, and sending a dozen flaming fireballs towards the whole Yokoshima had just fallen through. A cry from Yokoshima rang out, and the walls rumbled with his pain.

"Sweet!" Seshiri said with a grin. Miboshi and the demon stood towering over Yokoshima, kicking him in the side before grabbing his wounded arm and wrenching it back, forcing it to snap.

Yokoshima growled, his eyes glowing red, and threw his hand up through the demon before hitting it back.

Miboshi held his prayer wheel with an evil grin on his face. The demon brought it's hands together, forming one fist, swinging it straight at Yokoshima's head. Yokoshima was knocked down to the ground, gasping for breath. His eyes bled, and the blood ran down his cheeks like tears. "You're going to pay for that." He said with a smirk.

He kicked Miboshi and the demon over his head, sending them down to the floor bellow.

The others ran through the gaping hole in the wall just in time to see Miboshi thrown over. "MIBOSHI!" Miaka shrieked, leaning over the railing that he had toppled over, Yokoshima following him. "Damn it." Tasuki cursed, looking around for anything that could help them. "Seshiri." Chichiri's mask was gone, discarded. He gave her a stony look and she couldn't help but nod under that stare. "Hai." Was her reply. Chichiri gave Kaeli a smile before grabbing onto Seshiri's hand. "Do you remember the spell?" He asked. Seshiri shook her head slightly. "I don't know. It's been a few lifetimes since I used it last."

He grinned coldly. "Oh well. No time to practice." She nodded silently, closing her eyes. A red light appeared, recognized as the light of Suzaku. "Seshiri?" Gurase asked, her eyes flickering from Seshiri and the fighting Yokoshima and Miboshi a floor down. "You realize it could kill us?" Chichiri asked. Seshiri only nodded solemnly. "If you don't want to-" "No. If it will kill that bastard then I'm ready." Chichiri nodded.

His voice began at a whisper, growing louder until it became a roar, what sounded like nonsense words to the others were clear to Seshiri, Chichiri, and Kaeli watching. Seshiri joined in behind him, chanting uncertainly before growing more confident. Without Chichiri's seishi powers, the spell alone could have ripped the world in two, but his chi kept a harness on the power that was growing inside the two of them.

Seshiri could vaguely feel herself lifting off of the ground, Chichiri beginning to ascend as she was. Gods I'm nervous about this. What if I die? A sickening hole seemed to burn through her stomach, and she could feel her heart beating heavily, as if it were in her throat. "Powers of the earth, wind, fire, sky, water, stars, sun, moon, clouds, thunder, give us the strength to defeat this evil." Was the cold disembodied voice floating from the two. I wonder… if this will rip me apart… Seshiri knew that this spell could steal away half of her chi, bringing her defenses down. But if it got Yokoshima….

Meanwhile as the chant continued, they hovered higher. Seshiri could feel the concentration the spell took giving her a headache. "Gods of the north, south, east, and west, we implore you to give us the strength" Chichiri recited, sweat making it's way down his forehead.

Miboshi howled in pain as he was blasted with Yokoshima's life force, being sent back into a wall. The demon he had summoned around him broke into small bits of dust, floating around. Yokoshima smirked. "Given up already?" He sneered. Miboshi smiled, a thin trail of blood coming from his mouth. "Of course not." His prayer wheel in hand, Miboshi righted himself, and the wheel began to turn. Demons of his own sprung up out of nowhere, but Yokoshima only laughed. "Pitiful."

Yokoshima froze for an instant as he felt something gash deep into his back. He bit back a yell of pain and spun around to meet his attacker, but there was nothing. Hotohori, his holy sword buried into the demon's back kept him there, fighting to hang on. "Bastard." Yokoshima growled, wincing in pain as he moved. "Try to kill me will you?" He asked, beginning to back up against a wall. Hotohori gasped at this, already feeling the cold stone pressing up against him. In seconds he had dropped his hold on the blade and fell to the floor, the holy sword still rammed into Yokoshima's back.

"HOTOHORI!" Gurase yelled from above, trying to spot her lover. "Chiriko…." Tasuki asked, "What are they..?" He gestured slightly to Chichiri and Seshiri above them. "…" The genius boy didn't dare tell Tasuki, though he recognized the spell. Tasuki knew something was wrong, he turned to Kaeli. "Kaeli.. What's wrong? What are they doing?" Kaeli turned her face away from Chichiri, closing her eyes tightly. Tears began to prick at the corners of her eyes. "Why wont anyone tell me what's going ON!? Obake-chan! Do you?" Tamahome had jumped from the floor, almost hovering in the air for a moment before he began to fall, heading straight for Yokoshima. "HAAAAAAH" He roared, using great force to pull his hands together and blast out his chi.

Yokoshima yelled in pain and doubled over, clutching at himself as he felt the protective clothing he had been wearing melt away. Meanwhile Miboshi's demons were busying themselves with the ones Yokoshima was frantically trying to summon.

"Genbu…. Byakko…. Help us." Seshiri and Chichiri whispered, holding their hands up as blue light mingled with the red, before being joint by green and silver. Seshiri's closed eyes flew open as a pain coming from within her grew, as if it was tearing her apart. She broke the connection with a yell, pulling her hands together to clutch at her stomach. Power crackled through the broken connection, causing Chichiri to yell in pain as a dark cloud enveloped him.

"Do you need help with that?" A voice asked Hotohori. The Emperor kneeled on the floor clutching his ankle. "Help with what?" "Your sword." A man laughed. "Let me get it for you." The man almost seemed to giggle as he pulled a seed from his necklace. "Don't worry." The seed split open slowly, and a green vine grew from it, winding up to the sword lodged in Yokoshima's back. "Be more careful next time." He suggested as the vine wrapped around the sword, pulling it out. The blood spurted and Yokoshima almost hissed in pain. Tears of blood ran down his cheeks as again, he shrank.

"Who? Are you-" Hotohori croaked. "Byakko Shichi Seishi, Tatara." He smiled down at the emperor and helped him up, handing him the sword.

The demon ruler was almost normal height now, just a little under 8 feet. "SESHIRI!?" Miaka called up to the two still floating in the air. "SESHIRI!!! CHICHIRI!!!!" Gurase could only stare down at Yokoshima. "GUYS! LOOK! WE HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE!" The wolf that was Ashitare jumped down towards Yokoshima. Sensing the wolf, Yokoshima smirked, spinning around in time to raise a fist and smack him away, sending the seishi through a wall to his death.

"Ashitare!" Miboshi called, trying to keep the stress from his voice. Gurase jumped as a person appeared next to her. "Who are you?!" "Tomite… Who are you?" "Tokaki." Was another growl. She jumped at the other bishie next to her. "What? Who are you?" "Genbu Shichi Seishi." Was Tomite's reply. "Byakko Shichi Seishi." Came from the other one.

Seshiri's eyes were tightly closed. Am I being eaten alive from the inside?... So is this how Miaka felt?... How did she survive this? I hate to admit it.. but I'm not as strong as her… Seshiri gave up to the pain, allowing herself to plummet towards the ground. "NO!!" Tasuki shouted, trying to jump up at her to keep her from falling, but he was too late. The girl hit the ground with a crack, the stone floor crumbling and denting under her, causing her to sink a few inches down. "Seshiri.." Tasuki whispered almost unwillingly as he stared at her unmoving form.

Yokoshima was overwhelmed at the appearance of the new Seishi. Chichiri too fell to the ground, but caught just in time as Kaeli formed a protective barrier around him. "Chichiri." She whispered as he slowly floated down next to her. "Chichiri?" She called out his name, waiting for an answer that wasn't to come.

Tomite smirked at Yokoshima. "Looks like we have a demon god on our hands." Tokaki nodded, resting his foot on the railing. "Should we help?" "Considering they called us all the way from the other world, yes." "Tokaki!" A melodic voice called from bellow. "You better get down here!" "Subaru! Baby!" Tokaki jumped down, teleporting to the sorceress's side. "Hello Hello." She giggled. "What do you say we help these poor seishi with their problem?"

"Wise." A deep voice called out. "Namame!" Tomite called, "Let's help them!" The blue haired bishie looked up at his friend and grinned. "Long time Tomite!" "Too long! What do you say we blast this bastard back to hell?"

Yokoshima only laughed, shaking his head. "None of you seishi can defeat me. "Hikitsu, this one sounds arrogant, can we teach him a lesson?" giggled a girl with silver hair held in buns. "No Uruki, we are supposed to kill him, not teach him a lesson." She laughed at the cold reply and hugged his arm. "Inami wont be pleased at that." She winked.

"No, I'm not." Called another bishie, appearing out of nowhere with speckles of green around him. "Can't we teach this bastard not to mess with seishi?" As each of the warriors appeared Yokoshima paled. "Kokie! Do we HAVE to help them?" Asked a bishie with brown hair. "I'm afraid so Amefuri." Replied a green haired one, almost laughing. His eyes twinkled. "Tokaki, Subaru, long time no see."

"Eh? Where did you all come from?" Tasuki asked dumbfounded. "Seshiri and Chichiri gave their life force to summon the other seishi." Was Chiriko's pert reply. Tasuki turned reluctantly back to Seshiri's unmoving form. "No…" Miaka was sitting beside Seshiri, crying. "I never got to say I was sorry." "I'm not dead yet." Seshiri croaked, blood staining her mouth. "Don't write my obituary yet.." In seconds Tasuki was by her side. "Seshiri?" Seshiri raised her eyebrows and forced a smile. "How ironic is this." She coughed, unable to finish. Tasuki turned away, biting his lip as the blood seemed to seep out of her body from nowhere.

Tasuki did his best to hide the tears that came, but that didn't stop them. "You can't die Seshiri." He almost whimpered. "You can't. I finally get to see you again-and I don't even have a chance to hold you in my arms......" "Payback's a bitch." She wheezed. Tasuki only shook his head. "What the hell are you talking about. How can you joke at a time like this?" She smirked. "Joking helps me keep my mind off the fact I'm being ripped open from inside, happy?" I finally get to see Tasuki again and I'm being a bitch. Perfect…..

Suboshi jumped down to where Yokoshima, ordering his meteor balls to attack when Yokoshima held his hand up, shouting one word of power. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAGH" Suboshi roared in pain, his voice echoing through the monastery as the black light ate away at him, first demolishing his skin, and then causing the rest of him to disappear.

Gurase sat, huddled on the floor and covering her ears trying to drown out the cry of pain. "Suboshi." Seshiri gasped, choking. "What happened to him?" She tried to lean up from her laying position, but Tasuki stopped her, "Don't.. Baka.. You'll only-" "Die quicker?" Tears poured from Tasuki's eyes as she fell back, taking short quick breaths. "Damn it." She hissed through her clenched teeth.

Kaeli kneeled over Chichiri, resting her head on his chest. "It's kind of hard to breathe with you like that no da." He gasped. She started, staring down at him. "Chichiri!" "Kaeli." He smiled as she clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I thought you were dead." "Not yet."

"Guys. Yokoshima is up to something." Soi called as she balanced on the banister. And it was true, A dark light, blacker than black, had surrounded him. Seshiri's eyes went blank. "He's going to blast us all. Including him. I can't do anything to make a barrier." Subaru appeared next to her. "You might not right now, but I can." She smiled and winked. "Don't worry."

The Genbu and Byakko Seishi made a circle around Yokoshima. The demon god was unaware of the happenings around him, the black light blinded him from everything but himself.

The Shichi seishi held up their hands and closed their eyes. "Well aren't you going to help? We need all the life force we can get." Uruki giggled, beckoning the Suzaku and Seiryuu seishi over. Tamahome joined them, followed by Hotohori, Soi, Tomo, and Miboshi. Nuriko was busy bashing Yokoshima's demons. "Damn it!" He yelled in pain as he was slashed by another, and another. "I can't fight them all!" Kaeli jumped up, tears still lingering in her eyes. "Don't worry." She threw her hands together and blasted her chi in Nuriko's direction. "DUCK!" She shouted, and he did as she ordered.

The almost pink light surrounded the demons in a mist, ignoring Nuriko. Suddenly they called out in pain for help before imploding in a spectacular blast of golden light. Kaeli dropped to her knees and gasped, trying to regain her energy.

Miaka solemnly stood up from Seshiri's side. "I'm sorry Seshi-chan." Seshiri only forced a smile in reply as the Suzaku no miko turned her back and jumped down to join the circle. Seshiri sighed and her eyes slid closed. "SESHIRI!" Tasuki howled, his eyes pouring tears. "I'm not dead. Just resting. Waiting for my life to leave me." Tasuki leaned closer to her, grabbing her hand in two of his. "No, you aren't going anywhere." He said, grabbing onto her other hand and joining it with his. "You can't die. Not now." "Can't I? I'm tired. I just want to go to sleep-" "NO!" He cried. "You can't. I love you Seshiri-what happened to make you change?!" "I tried to give my heart to Amiboshi." Tasuki drew back quickly, paling. His heart falling into his stomach. "Nani?" "I tried to give my heart to Amiboshi." She coughed, trying to rid her mouth of the taste of blood.

"You came back and gave yourself to Miaka. Amiboshi was the only one there for me." She said almost coldly, forcing back tears. Damn it. I'm not going to last much longer…"Seshiri, that doesn't matter. That wasn't me." Tasuki leaned forward until their lips were centimeters away. "All that matters is us." Having said that Tasuki pressed his lips forcefully against hers, ignoring the blood that was seeping around her lips.

"He's ready." Tatara warned eyeing the others. "I want you all to save your chi, bottle it up until I give the word." Subaru called out. Nuriko nodded, joining them below. The dark cloud of mist around Yokoshima began to disappear, leaving behind a few wisps of darkness. "GIVE ME YUI BACK NOW!" Miaka shouted at Yokoshima, joining hands with the others. He smirked darkly and began to mutter something, holding both of his hands up. During this the seishi all joined their hands and began muttering a strong counter spell that would hopefully deflect the blast.

Tasuki reluctantly tore himself from Seshiri, propping her up in his lap and clutching onto her tightly. "You can't die… No you CANT.." She forced a laugh, "Now you know how I felt." She coughed again, blood falling from her mouth and staining her already bloodied clothes. "No… No…" Tasuki clutched her tighter. "You're the only thing that kept me alive while I was here… Only…-Only the thought of you kept me going. I wanted to see your smiling face again. Tears pricked at Seshiri's eyes. I'm so sorry Amiboshi… I'm so sorry Tasuki… I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I guess I really am stupid…. "Tasuki." She whimpered, burying her face in his chest. "I can't even think about living without you…" He pulled her tighter into his arms and wept as he began to feel her go limp in his arms. "Seshiri." He whispered, shaking his head. "No-you can't go, I'm not letting you go anywhere..!"

The monastery shook as a blast of energy from Yokoshima poured out of his hands, the wind wiping around the seishi like needles, cutting at their skin turning it raw. "NOW!" A golden light sprung up from their hands, creating a dome around Yokoshima which seemed to be reversing the spell, pulling it back in. Gurase's had joined the circle minutes before, clasping Hotohori's. "Ai shiteru…" She whispered up to him, hoping this would work. He gave her a weak smile and squeezed her hand. "I love you too." With another burst of light, the power was completely sucked back. "NO!" Yokoshima roared, banging his hands against the electrifying wall. He paled, and his eyes went blank as he saw the dark energy coming back at him.

"How.. Is this.. possible..?" He asked. "HOW!?" Tears of pain and hate spurted from his eyes, mixed with blood as the darkness consumed him, tearing him apart with one heart wrenching: "WHY!!?"

The force of the blast being sucked in threw the seishi back. They all gasped weakly on the floor, trying to find their strength. "We have to get out of here." Subaru hissed as the building shook, already it was beginning to crumble. "That last blast must have really taken a toll on this thing!" Gurase shouted, looking nervously up at the ceiling. "NO!" Tasuki shouted, "We can't leave Seshiri and Chichiri here!" "Who said anything about leaving them?" A deep voice asked. "Mitsukake?" Tasuki asked. Chichiri stood behind him, already healed. "Hai no da! Let's get out of here, quick!" "WHERE'S YUI!? WE CANT LEAVE WITHOUT YUI!!!" Miaka shouted frantically. "That's no problem."  Tokaki said with a wink, "I'll focus on her life force and teleport. It shouldn't be too hard to find the Seiryuu no miko, just get out of here! All of you before you're ALL killed!" Uruki nodded, trying to usher the others out. "Hurry!" She implored, the giant stones falling down around them.

"NO!" Tasuki growled, "We have to heal Seshiri first! If I move her she's gonna DIE!" Subaru raced to his side, "For gods SAKE.." She growled, "Ignorant punk." She hissed below her breath, putting her hand to Seshiri's bloody forehead. With a single word of healing, she stood up. "Now come ON!" She barked, calling Namame for help. He nodded and grabbed onto Seshiri, enclosing her into his arms. "Now MOVE!" He ordered as Uruki pulled Tasuki to his feet. "But-" "COME ON ALREADY!" They roared in unison, before bolting from the building.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Nuriko stood outside the building, gasping for air. "Mitsukake…" He rasped, hands on his knees. "Is-" "She's fine." He grinned, patting Nuriko on the back lightly. "And you're the father of a beautiful baby boy." Nuriko's tired face lit up. "I'm a father…" He whispered, his voice a mix of disbelief and awe. "I'm a father.." He repeated, looking up. Tatara smiled at him calmly, "Are you ok?" He asked. Nuriko nodded, "I'm fine…" He laughed out loud, straightening up, "Everything's fine!"

"Tokaki!?" Miaka raced around the seishi, searching for the silver haired wonder. "Right here." He grunted, an unconscious Yui in his arms. "YUI!" Miaka cried, racing over to him. "She's lucky to be alive." He added, setting her on the ground gently. Chiriko smiled from his position on the ground. "I don't believe it.." He gasped, "We made it." Soi looked at him almost coldly, her hair flowing around her shoulders. "Not all of us." She choked. "Nakago.. Suboshi.. Amiboshi… Ashitare…." Chiriko lowered his eyes sadly. "Gomen nasai.." She sent him a cold glare before turning back to the smoking rubble.

"Where's Miboshi?" Tomo asked nervously, looking around. "I-…" Tamahome paled. "He must have gotten…" Kaeli closed her eyes tightly. "Poor Miboshi… He's the one that really saved us." Uruki sighed, sadly resting a hand on Kaeli's shoulder. "It's ok. The Seiryuu Shichi Seishi have tried to make amends for their past lives by sacrificing themselves for you." Tamahome nodded, watching the ground. "Just by befriending us, they did." Chichiri nodded, his mask discarded on the ground. Kaeli reached back and put her arms around him, "I thought we weren't gonna make it…" "Me too.." Chichiri answered truthfully. "But we did.."

Subaru sat on a rock, a faint smile upon her lips. "Yokoshima's gone." Nuriko nodded triumphantly. "That bastard's dead. It cost lives-but he's gone." "Thank gods." Tomite muttered, "I just knew him for a second and I didn't like him." Tatara grinned. "We figured that out." Tomite shrugged. "I just felt like voicing my opinion!" "Yeah well pity those who had to deal with that bastard the whole time." Gurase grumbled.

"Seshiri… Seshiri?" Tasuki whimpered, leaning over Seshiri's body. "Subaru! You didn't say the right spell! COME BACK HERE AND SAY THE RIGHT SPELL!" Subaru whirled around, staring at the two. "What? She hasn't woken up yet?" "Obviously NOT!" Tasuki growled darkly, sending Subaru a death glare. Subaru sent him an equally dangerous look. "Learn some manners kid." "BITCH! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!? NOW GET BACK HERE AND SAY THE RIGHT DAMNED SPELL!" He exploded, his eyes flashing red. "I SAID the right spell!" Subaru explained, kneeling down next to the two. Gurase crept forward, going to her hands and knees. "Seshi?" She asked quietly. "She should have woken up by now-"

"Then say a DIFFERENT spell you bitch-just wake her up!" Tasuki ordered frantically, holding Seshiri's unmoving body close to him. "Oi! Shut the hell up kid!" Tokaki growled, "She's doing her best! I don't see you doing anything but smothering the poor girl!" "I'M NOT FUCKIN' SMOTHERIN' HER!" "Yes you ARE!" Tokaki retorted, disliking the orange haired teen. Subaru rolled her eyes, "Move out of the way so I can try something else. Seshiri groaned, rubbing her head. "Stop fucking shouting." She slurred, "I feel like I've got a bloody hang over.." "Eh?" Tasuki jumped, staring down at her. "See? Baka yarou.." Subaru grunted, "She was fine the whole time. Just a lot of drama over nothing." She straightened up, brushing her hands off.

"'Course I'm fine.." She grumbled, "Now let me slee-" "SESHI!" Tasuki gasped, "You're alive!" SD Seshiri gave him the evil eye. "Yeah. What did you expect? I'm impossible to kill.. Like a cockroach." Tasuki choked back tears-which wasn't proving very affective when tears began to race down his cheeks- "Baka.." He whispered affectionately. "I missed you so much, and you try to die." He added, gently tapping her nose with his. She laughed reaching up to rub her forehead. "Yeah well… I was just repaying you for our last life."

Tasuki smiled, "I guess I deserved it." Gurase waited impatiently for a point where she could interrupt. "Damn straight you did." She straightened up slightly, grunting with the effort. "I feel like I could sleep for a week…" "Or two." Chichiri added with sickening happiness. Seshiri nodded in agreement. "Remind me never to do that again." Tasuki chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll never let you do THAT again." "Seshiri?" "Mm?" "Were you serious about Amiboshi?" She sent him a suspicious look. "Yeah. He's a sweetheart, and you were being an asshole. You slept with Miaka. More than once." Tasuki paled. "I WHAT?" "Shagged Miaka." Chichiri supplied, smiling. Tasuki sent him a look which clearly said shut up.

Amefuri grinned, leaning down towards them. "Guys, I think it's time for us to say goodbye." "Nani?" Miaka jumped as she looked up, standing up from Yui. "We're already disappearing… Incredible.." Inami whispered below his breath. Subaru nodded, looking at her transparent hand. "We're not supposed to be here anyway." Tokaki grinned and held Subaru from around the waist. "I'll be happy to be back home." He grumbled, shaking his head. "Don't call us back-please, I liked lazing around." Uruki giggled, waving goodbye to the remaining Suzaku and Seiryuu seishi.

Hotohori stared with a look of disbelief on his face. "They just.." "Disappeared." Chiriko finished as the last of the Byakko and Genbu seishi seemed to evaporate into clear air. "That was a powerful spell." He observed quietly. Chichiri nodded. "You're telling ME.." "Tasuki?" "Yeh?" "You ever gonna let me stand up?" She asked. He thought for a moment on his seat on the ground, still with her in his arms. "Not yet." He supplied. "I need to make up for lost time." Seshiri smiled sadly. Amiboshi… Now, in Tasuki's arms, all she could think about was the deceased flutist. I wish I… Damn it.. I hate myself.. I shouldn't be doing this.. Amiboshi was there for me when Tasuki wasn't.. This can't be the right way to honor his passing. But- Tasuki pulled Seshiri's face closer to his, softly pressing his lips against hers. -this feels so good… It feels so right… Seshiri smiled into Tasuki's slips slightly, I wont forget you Amiboshi.. I can't.. You were a brother, a lover, you were so much more than just a Seiryuu seishi.  Seshiri couldn't help but feel dirty as she returned Tasuki's kiss. Forgive me…

A memory of Amiboshi rang in her head. 'I want you to be happy. If being with Tasuki made you happy, I was fine with it.' Seshiri pulled back from the kiss, ending it abruptly. Thank you Amiboshi… "Eh? Seshi-koi? What's wrong?" Tasuki froze, paled, and stared, as his eyes got wider. "SE-SE-SE-SESHI!" Chibi Tasuki choked, dropping her and jumping up. "OW! SHIT!" SD Seshiri hissed. "WHAT?" "YOU…" His nose bled. "YOU'RE IN A… A…" "A..?" Chibi-Seshi asked, raising an eyebrow. "SKIRT!"

The others listening in fell over. "BAKA!" SD Seshiri howled, jumping to her feet. "WHAT'S UP WITH THE DAMNED SKIRT!?" She tackled the SD Tasuki and hit him repeatedly. Kaeli choked back laughter, her eyes turning a dancing emerald shade. "Things seem back to normal." She stated, a wide grin on her lips.

"Yeah.. But what are we going to do about getting back home?" Tamahome asked, coughing slightly as a single column collapsed amongst the rubble that used to be the monastery. Nuriko shrugged. "I wanna get back to Nanuri.. I bet she's waiting for me.." Mitsukake nodded. "She said she'd wait as patiently as she could until you returned." Gurase laughed, "We should get back before she burns down the town."

 Yui sat up, wide eyed. "I'm.. So sorry everyone.." She whispered. "I'm so stupid.." Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. "This is all my fault…." "No Yui! We don't blame you!" Miaka reasoned, hugging her best friend tightly. "We'd never blame you." Yui crumpled, "Y-you don't know what they did to me…." Miaka's eyes narrowed. "Did they-" "Just.. Tortured… So much torturing.." She whimpered, "And hardly any food." Chiriko sighed heavily, trying to ignore the bruises across Yui's arms and legs. "It is all fine Yui-sama." He said, trying to be happy. "You are safe now, and Yokoshima has been done away with."

Yui nodded, her eyes dark. "That bastard deserves what he got." Nuriko nodded enthusiastically. "It's ok Yui… Do you think you can walk by yourself?" He kneeled down next to her and Miaka, Yui shook her head slowly. "I… I don't think so.. I can't move my legs." Mitsukake smiled. "Well that's what I'm here for." He quickly crossed the distance between him and Yui before kneeling down as Nuriko stepped out of the way. His hand hovered in front of her eyes, the familiar green light beginning to envelope her. In instants, her battered body had fully healed, and she stared down at her arms in disbelief. "Arigatou gozaimasu." She whispered in a hushed voice. Mitsukake only grinned and stood up. "It's no trouble. It's my job." Yui smiled slightly, looking up at Miaka. "I'm so glad you guys came to get me.."

"Well it's not like we could just leave you here!" Kaeli piped up happily. "You're the whole reason we came out here!... Well.. You and Yokoshima that is. But now that he's gone, you're the only reason. Yui grinned up at Kaeli saying, "But… Who are you?" Kaeli laughed, "I'm a friend. Taiitsukun sent me to help you guys out. She knew these guys could do it alone." She winked and gestured to the seishi, a wide grin on her face. Yui smiled, laughing a little. "Well.. Thank you anyway… It means a lot to know people care…" Miaka hugged her friend tightly. "Yui! Baka.. Of course we care-You are my best friend! I'll always be here to help you!" Yui smiled, "Yeah, but for a while there I thought I was all alone here. Doomed to rot here in misery." Tamahome held out his hand to pull Yui to her feet.

"What are you thinking Yui? We were here for you last time we were in the book, and we're here for you this time too." Yui accepted the outstretched hand and stood up, brushing herself off. "I'm just glad it's over." Soi turned to Yui, slightly indifferent. "I hope you realize how much we had to pay to get you free." Yui started at her seishi for a moment and then turned her gaze to the ground. "I understand." "I don't think you do." Soi retorted angrily. "Nakago-sama, Suboshi, Miboshi, Amiboshi, Ashitare, ALL your faithful seishi were killed for your sake." "Soi." Tomo began, perched in a tree. "We are her seishi. The only reason we're alive is because of her. Without her we wouldn't even exist. Those seishi fulfilled their destiny." Soi snorted. "Destiny? So us, as seishi, are destined to die for some blond bitch? What's so different between us and them?!" Her voice rose steadily, "I mean, why should WE die to protect THEM? How come I'm not a miko? Why is SHE the chosen girl, why do I have to be a Seiryuu Seishi?"

Seshiri bit her lip silently as no one answered Soi, unsure of what to say. "Well? What makes me so different than HER?? I'm not supposed to be a seishi! Not anymore, I'm just.. A gifted person! I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A SEISHI IN MY NEW LIFE! But here I am again, watching my friends keel over and die around me, JUST FOR YOUR SAKE WHEN WE'RE EXACTLY THE SAME! Can't anybody answer me?" She paused for a second, "Doesn't ANYone know the answer!? Just because I remembered my past life, I have to die for her? I have no other fate? No other destiny…?"

Gurase interrupted her angry friend, "Soi! Calm down." "I WILL NOT CALM DOWN!" She raged, taking short quick breaths. "My life was doing ok! I was actually living NORMALLY, and Nakago was starting to give a DAMN about what happened to me, and then he DIED. For HER." Soi pointed an accusing finger at Yui, and Miaka hugged her blond haired friend. "It's HER fault he died! If she hadn't-.. If she.." Soi lost her voice, breaking down into tears. Miaka was about to step forward to talk to Soi, but Yui held her back. The Seiryuu no miko stepped forward in front of Soi. Without a word she lowered herself to her knees before bowing down, face to the ground.

"You're right. There is no difference between us." Soi rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand slightly as she stared at her miko. "You and I are both regular people, from a completely different world than this one." Soi did her best to control her tears as Yui continued. "Both of us were snatched up from our safe homes by Seiryuu, for one reason or another. I understand that Nakago meant a lot to you, and that I know nothing I say can help the healing that you need. But please don't hate me. You, as a seishi, and me as a miko have a stronger bond than could possibly be imagined. I exist for you, and you exist for me." Yui paused to turn her face up to Soi. "You and I are more than friends, more than family, our souls bonded in the past, and that bond can surpass time, universe, and life."

Seshiri stood by in awe at Yui's words, wondering where the hell this was coming from. "You, and me, and all the seishi that died are one soul in pieces, Soul mates, if you will. You are destined to play a role in my life, no matter what it is, and I am destined to play a role in yours." Tomo nodded from his position in the tree, knowing Yui's words were for him just as much as they were for Soi. "We can only hope that our next lives will be full of more happiness." Raising herself to her knees, Yui brushed herself off. Soi nodded slowly, her tears disappeared. "Arigatou Yui-sama." She whispered quietly, with unspoken shame in her voice.

SD Soi sighed heavily before she helped up her Chibi miko. "Yui-chan! When did you get so smart?" SD Miaka asked, swirly eyed. Yui grinned and laughed, "I've always been a genius, baka." Chiriko's eyes brightened for a second before he realized she was just joking around. SD Chichiri sighed. "Damn it no da, why couldn't we get the philosophical miko no da?" He asked, cocking his head to the side. "CHICHIRI!!!!" SD Miaka yelled, tackling the monk. "Itaaiiii!" He cried, racing around in circles with SD Miaka clinging to him.

Nuriko rolled his eyes, "Can we PLEASE get on our way now?" He asked, anxious to return to town. Hotohori nodded. "Hai.. I think we all need a long rest." Seshiri agreed, struggling to get up. "No." SD Tasuki ordered childishly. "No what?" She asked. "I'm not letting you go." "But Tasuki, we have to go back to town-" "No…" "Why?" "Because I'm afraid you'll run away." He answered, just as childishly. "Eh?" "I don't know if you still love me." SD Nuriko rolled his eyes at Tasuki and turned around on his heel, starting back down the path to town.

Seshiri refused to meet his eyes. "Well do you?" "I…" "You?" "I.." Seshiri tried to find the words to express what she felt, but there weren't any. Damn it Tasuki… I forced myself to stop loving you and now… Tasuki sighed at her silence and pushed her away from him. "Ok then." The serious bandit walked off, following Nuriko's footsteps.

Wait… Seshiri bit her lip until it bled, watching as his figure disappeared around a corner. "Come on Seshi." Kaeli said, pulling the blue haired girl to her feet. "Don't worry about him. He's just moody." "How do you know?" Seshiri asked with distaste. "You barely know him." Kaeli shrugged off her comment and said, "I don't know, I can just tell when someone's suffering from strange moods. He took your news about Amiboshi pretty hard." Seshiri nodded as they started off together at the end of the group. "Yeah but… I don't KNOW how I feel.. I loved Tasuki, but after so much… I don't know if I can still love him… Besides. I'd feel like I was backstabbing Amiboshi." Kaeli shook her head and smiled. "Seshiri, are you kidding? Amiboshi wanted you to be happy, he didn't care who you loved as long as you were happy. He'd die all over again if he knew you were having this much trouble." Seshiri narrowed her eyes. "Yeah but.. I can't help it, I forced myself to stop loving Tasuki and-" "You didn't stop loving him." "What?" Kaeli crossed her arms as they walked down the rugged dirt path. "You didn't stop loving him… Tasuki that is."

"How do you know." She grumbled. "Because. You just made yourself think you liked Amiboshi to get over Tasuki." Seshiri felt a sickening thud in her stomach. "What did you say?" "Must I repeat everything I say to you?! You just made yourself think you liked Amiboshi to get over Tasuki."

"What are you talking about!? How do you know?!? You must have smoked one too many joints because I loved Amiboshi!" Kaeli paused before she replied, wondering what a joint was before saying, "No you didn't. I know because of the way you looked at him, compared to the way you looked at Tasuki before he disappeared was different…." She paused, waiting for Seshiri to interrupt, but Seshiri stayed silent. "You looked at Tasuki with nothing but love reflecting in your eyes. Nothing other than an unbreakable love. Amiboshi.. You looked at him cautiously. He was more of a best friend, a brother even. It wasn't the same type of love. Tasuki was true love, Amiboshi was sibling love."

"Are you saying that I'd fall in love with my brother!?" Seshiri asked, trying to find fault in whatever she said. "No. Baka." Kaeli's eyes seemed to turn a dark navy. "Amiboshi was a brother. You and him as lovers? No. You confused your love of friendship with the love of partners." "Gods.." Seshiri whispered. "You're right…" Her step slowed as they walked, her feet almost dragging on the ground. "I was just.. USING him.. Like a thing, he wasn't really a person I loved…" "Yes he was." "Get your mind straight! Did I love him or not?!" SD Seshiri commanded, waving her arms around in the air.

Kaeli laughed saying, "You loved him, but not the way you thought you did. When Yokoshima disguised himself as Tasuki, and he was with Miaka, you STILL looked at him with the look of love on your face." Seshiri sighed. "I can't believe this… I'm so damn STUPID…" "Nah." Kaeli patted Seshiri's shoulder. "You just have to stop focusing on things that are far off and focus on what's right in front of you." "I feel like a fucking whore." Seshiri muttered. "I hate myself." Kaeli sighed and shook her head. "You shouldn't. Amiboshi knew you would only have eyes for Tasuki." "Kaeli…" "Hm?" "How do you know all this?"

"Come on, let's speed it up, we're lagging behind." Kaeli ignored Seshiri's question and grabbed her arm, practically towing her along. "… I don't give a damn. I don't want to go back." "Nani?" "I just want to stay here." Kaeli raised an eyebrow. "What the hell are you talking about?" "I shouldn't go back home." "What about Nanuri?" "Would you tell her I'm sorry?"

"…" Kaeli kept silent, not knowing what to say. Seshiri stopped walking, crossing her arms. "I don't think I could face any of them again…" "Seshiri.. 'They'? 'They' are your friends." "I know but… I can't. Not anymore." "Seshiri stop acting stupid, come on. They'll kill you if you don't come!" Kaeli stopped walking and turned to face Seshiri.

"I just want to stay here for a while." She replied. "I want to think." Kaeli narrowed her eyes. "Hm?" "I need time to think. I just want to stay here a while." Kaeli sighed heavily. "Ok. Will you catch up with us?" She turned to see the others getting farther and farther away. Seshiri nodded. "I'll head to the city." "You better. We'll be waiting for you." Seshiri nodded, and Kaeli started forward quickly, leaving Seshiri to her thoughts.

Sighing, Seshiri turned around, hiking back the way they had come.

Upon reaching the pile of rubble that had once been the monastery she sighed, rubbing her hands together. What's wrong with me? I wish I could be like everyone else. It seems like I can't ever be happy. Like I'm doomed to have a fucking soap opera for a life. She smiled slightly. I guess this is what I get for falling in love. She stepped onto a large stone, putting a hand up to shade her eyes from the sun as it began to set. Without a word she hopped down from the stone onto the sunken debree. I wish none of this had happened. Soi was right. For once I wish I had been normal… I never minded before, it was a fun secret.. But now it's becoming a curse…

After what seemed like hours of walking around, searching, Seshiri got down to her knees and began to dig through the rocks, ignoring the gashes that she was getting on her arms. She dug frantically, almost desperately, searching for something buried beneath.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The stars twinkled in the dark sky, but Seshiri refused to look at them. The stars seemed to be laughing at her, mocking her efforts. Sweaty and dirty Seshiri gave up, sobbing with frustration. Damn it! This is useless.. I can't get at it… I can't… She rocked back and forth on her knees, her face buried in her dirty bleeding hands. I don't even know what I'm looking for… A scrap of my sanity maybe? I'm just a.. Damn it. I'm horrible. I used Amiboshi, and I abused Tasuki… All I have left are a few friends…

What am I even doing here? I should just give up and head after them…  Quitter… Seshiri thought bitterly to herself, hating how she was just giving up. But how could she go on when there was no hope? Seshiri almost couldn't feel the hand that rested on her shoulder. But she did, and she turned around slightly to get a look at the person behind her.

"Tasuki…" She gasped, quickly turning around to hide her face from him. Without a word he sat down next to her, crossing his arms. After silence reigned for a few minutes Seshiri asked, "What are you doing here?" "Kaeli told us you stayed behind." He answered. "I took one look at her and I figured out why…" "Am I that easy to predict?" "No." "Then how did you know?" He shrugged, staring at the ground. "I just knew." "Then why did you come?" "I thought you'd get lonely." "Well I'm not, I just need some time to think." "Why do you need to be alone to think?" "Because.. It just helps to be in silence." "What if I'm really quiet?"

Seshiri sighed. "Never mind… Please… I'm just-" "Looking for Amiboshi's flute?" Seshiri didn't answer, looking down at the hole she had dug. He nodded slowly, "I figured…" He voiced. More silence. "I had a lot of time to think when I was locked up here." The bandit said, "When I wasn't running for my life that is… You know what I thought about?" "I thought you said you were going to be quiet." Seshiri replied harshly. He ignored her statement. "You know what I thought about?" Her repeated, undaunted. "No. What." She asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"Everyone." "Oh?" "You mostly." "…" "I just kept thinking: 'Damn.. I better get out of this ok, or Seshiri's going to kill me… I wonder if she's found someone else? Has she stayed true to me? She needs someone else. I don't deserve her. She needs someone who wont throw her through the loop hole, someone firm and stable.'"

"You're not helping." "I'm not trying to. I'm just telling you the truth. You and I both know I'm not a good person." "Well I'm not so good either. I never loved Amiboshi. But I made him think I did…. He was one of my best friends but…" "Seshiri. It doesn't matter." "Yes it does!"

"You cared for him. And that was enough." "How the bloody hell do you know? You didn't know him." "Because that was enough for me." "…." "And if he loved you as much as he said he did, then he knows exactly how I felt the first time you noticed I was around." Seshiri closed her eyes tightly, fighting back tears. "When did you become so…" "Well I had a lot of time to think." He said, giving her a fangy grin.

"Please cheer up Seshi-chan." He added, "I don't know about Amiboshi, but I hate to see you so sad." Seshiri bit back a sob, burying her face in her hands. "I'm so sorry.." She choked, "I'm such a-" "No you're not." He reasoned, putting his arm gently around her. "I want you to stop calling yourself things." "But I-" "No buts…. And here.." He reached into his cloak. Pulling his hand back out, Seshiri's eyes widened at the reed flute he was holding in his outstretched hand. "I picked it up on the way out… I figured you'd want it later." "…." Seshiri opened and closed her mouth several times, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I believe the right response is thank you." He supplied with a grin.

"Thank you.." She whispered, taking the flute in her hands. "This means a lot to me." Tasuki only smiled and hugged her. "I know." SD Seshiri frowned. "Tasuki, how come you're so mature?" The SD bandit grinned. "Eeheehee, I just became more.. more… um…" His brow furrowed in thought. "Well.. I TOLD ya I had a long time ta myself! SO I just thought and thought and thought until the stupid demons set me free when they tried to transport me to a different room! Then I was running for my life, 'n was too busy to think."

Seshiri laughed through her tears, welcoming his hug. "Baka." "Hey! Dun' call me stuff Seshi-chan." He winked, "I brought ya the flute, remember? You gotta be nice." Seshiri nodded and he said, "Come on, let's get off of this damn monastery. Feels like we're on a tomb." Seshiri nodded as he stood up, pulling her to her feet. "Seshi, what did you do to your hands?" He shook his head at her, "Baka." "What? It's your own fault! If you had brought the flute sooner.." "If I had interrupted you before you gave up, do you think you would have listened to me?"

SD Seshiri froze as they were nearing the end of the rubble. "How long were you there?" "Hours." He replied, smirking. "Tasuki!" She exclaimed, "How long???" "Since… half an hour after you started digging." She smacked her forehead as they got back onto solid ground. "Ack! All that digging for nothing!" She whapped him, "And it's all your fault!" "Heeeeey!" He laughed, grabbing her hands so she couldn't whap him anymore.

"YOU kept digging, it's your own fault that ya didn't even notice me." She sighed at his response and grumbled indignantly. "Yeah well.." SD Tasuki laugh at her, slinging his arm around her waist. "Now!" He got serious again. "Just answer me this question an I'll get back to being my normal insensitive self." He winked as she nodded. "Do you love me?" She paused, staring at her hands that were still in his. "I…" "Please Seshiri… I need to know…" He sighed, "Do I at least have a fighting chance of getting you back?"

She bit her lip, searching her mind for an answer. How can he ask me this? Amiboshi just died earlier today, and he's… No he's right. He deserves an answer. She thought about everything Kaeli had said, everything Tasuki had said, and all that Amiboshi had done. Finally Seshiri raised her face to look at his, watching as the moon lit up his worried face, the reflections of stars in his eyes. He looks so anxious… "Baka." She muttered, shaking her head. Tasuki watched her silently, feeling his heart fall. "Do you have a fighting chance of getting me back?" She repeated, raising an eyebrow. "…" He didn't say anything, not daring to hope.

"Baka. Of course you can't get me back." He stared at her in disbelief and hurt. "N-nani?" He hadn't wanted to hope, but he had been so sure that… "I can't?" "It's impossible." Tasuki opened and closed his mouth, fighting to find his voice. Seshiri only laughed, "Oh ye of little faith." She giggled, "How can you 'get me back' when I never left?" SD Tasuki sighed heavily, letting out all his pent up stress. "Seshi! Don't do that!" He gasped. "You scared me to hell and back again." She grinned, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "No, I refuse to be lovey, you don't deserve it!" the SD bandit said in a huff, turning his nose up. "Not after tricking me!" SD Seshiri giggled at him. "Oh come on now, can't we just have a moment together?" SD Tasuki chewed his lip. "Well… Ok… But then I'm gonna give you the silent treatment."

Seshiri laughed at him, looking up when she felt his arms around her. "Fine with me." Tasuki shushed her, putting a finger to her lips. "Shh.. weren't you the one who wanted the moment? Let's just enjoy it for a minute." She smiled up at him, tightening her hold. Tasuki smiled, kissing the top of her head. "Damn. This is better than I dreamed it would be." He voiced happily. Seshiri turned her face up towards him and nodded, "Yeah. I agree." Tasuki brought his hand up and placed it on the side of her face, brushing her cheek with his thumb to get rid of the tear streaks. "I actually forgot what you looked like." He said sadly, looking down into her eyes.

"It was such a long time since I saw you last, and I couldn't remember.. it drove me crazy not being able to hear your voice, not being able to see you." He smiled slightly, "It was even worse when Yokoshima disappeared. Sure there was the fake, but the feelings around him were different. And I knew the other one was up to something after he bled me for a few hours." Seshiri bit her lip in silence. "… I was ready to rip his throat out if he touched you. But I guess he decided Miaka would help his plan better 'eh?" "Yeah.." Seshiri responded sadly, "….. I missed you." "Aw, I'm touched.." He joked, kissing her cheek. She laughed at him. "Hey. Shut up, I just felt like stating the obvious." He winked at her. "Ok, I'll play this game. Now it's my turn. I love you."

Seshiri could feel her heart bursting with happiness, and she nestled closer to him. "I love you too." Tasuki smiled, leaning down so his face was inches from hers. "That's reassuring." He teased before finally kissing her.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Much to Tasuki's disappointment, the night was uneventful. "Aw PLEASE Seshi! As a sorta.. 'Welcome back I missed you' thing!" SD Seshiri sweat dropped. "No." "PLEASE? I'll get you a ring later! I SWEAR! Scout's honor!" The chibi held up three fingers in Boy scout sign. "…." She watched him suspiciously. "Since when are you a boy scout?" "…Since… Now?" The SD made to tackle her, but instead fell short and landed at her feet, so he latched onto her ankles. "Seshi.." He was teary eyed. "I haven't been able to show ANY affection for you for MONTHS over half a YEAR!.. I need to make up for lost time.." SD Seshiri laughed at him, struggling to get him off of her. "So to show your appreciation for me you wanna get me pregnant? Hell no, I've seen Nanuri pregnant and it's not pretty." He debated this argument in his head for a minute before frowning. "Ok we wait until we get back home and THEN we can-" "… You don't give up do you?"

"Nope!" He said proudly. SD Seshiri sighed heavily. They were halfway back to town, from marching all night and all morning. Now it was mid-afternoon, and Tasuki still hadn't let up. "Ok.. When we get back home.. We'll see what we can do. But it would be WEIRD… I feel too young for that." "Ok ok ok. We don't HAVE to do THAT.. I just wanna get married." Chibi-Tasuki jumped to his feet and glomped onto her. "And maybe AFTER we get married-" Seshiri rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah yeah yeah… Don't worry. I want to marry you too… And get it over with." "Hey!" "Kidding!"

He grinned at her, "Seshi-koi." "Mm?" "Ai shiteru." She smiled to herself quietly kept walking. "My mom will get pissed you know. She's scared of you." "She doesn't have to know! Besides… We could get our own apartment! Away from them!" He unlatched himself and walked next to her, "But I'm serious you know." He said quietly. "About what?" She asked, trying to sound innocent. Her turned to her, "About getting married. I love you more than anything, and I always will. We made a mistake. Two mistakes. And I'm not going to let it happen again. I want to marry you… Will you marry me?" She stopped walking, and smiled, her heart picking up speed. "Of course I will." Tasuki smiled and put his arm around  her shoulders, beginning to walk again. "I'm sorry that I don't have anything to give you… No engagement.." He clenched his fist. "I know you'd like one but-" "It's not important." She smiled, reaching up to hold the hand that was resting on her shoulder.

"I don't care about an engagement ring." Tasuki sighed with relief. "That's good. I don't wanna be disappointing! I'll be a good man of the house from now on!" He turned chibi and puffed up his chest. Seshiri choked back a fit of laughter, "Are you KIDDING? No-please-I like you better being a disgruntled bandit." "Oh good." He unpuffed his chest with a sigh. "I didn't want to have to put on an act 24/7."

Seshiri only laughed and shook her head at him. Thank you, Suzaku, for returning him to me. … I missed him more than I knew. But I guess you knew right? Being the god of love you probably understand all of my feelings for him.

"Hah! Just wait 'til Kouji hears about THIS!" There was a spring in Tasuki's step, "I need some sake…" He mumbled, "Do you have any?" "No baka!" "Oh well.. But Just wait til we get home! I'll save up ALL my money 'n buy us an apartment to live in! I'll get a job so we can keep it! Hell, TWO jobs!" Seshiri laughed, "Tasuki, I'll work so we can keep the apartment TOO ya know." He grinned, "I don't want you to worry about anything anymore." "What about SCHOOL? I'll worry about that." Tasuki nodded. "Yeah.. School..  Maybe I should drop out.." "No! Tas-koi, you're SMART." "Yea but if we're gonna make a commitment-" "Shush, we'll both stay in school. And have jobs. It's not too hard!" He shrugged. "Whatever you say Seshi-chan."

As long as my parents don't disown me… She added, hoping that they'd understand.

But then again they're parents.

And since when do parents understand anything?

~*~*~*~*~*~

Seshiri dragged the Chibi Tasuki. "Come on Tas-koi.. Just a little further.." "Nooo…" He struggled against her. "I want to sleep!" "You're not being very manly." She prodded, knowing it would give her the desired affect. Instantly he jumped to his feet. "What the hell are you talkin' 'bout woman? What do you know about being manly?" "I know that manly guys can walk for themselves." She said, tugging him along. Tasuki nodded. "Damn straight! Aren't I walking by myself?" Seshiri grinned, chuckling  at her own genius.

"There's the town." She said, pointing at a collection of buildings. Another night had gone by before the city had come into view, and both were starving. "So the sooner we get back the sooner we eat." Tasuki nodded at her. "Well come on? What are we waiting for?" He picked up the pace, starting to trot. Seshiri muttered something about damned testosterone before she quickened her steps to keep up with him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gasping, and wheezing, Tasuki and Seshiri dragged themselves into town on their hands and knees. "Water…" Seshiri gasped. "Screw water, we want sake." Tasuki retorted. "Who cares..! We're here!" SD Seshiri lost her hold and fell on her stomach, coughing. "I'm so tired…" She mumbled. "I wanna sleep." She ignored the strange glances she was getting from citizens that were walking by. "Can I sleep?" She asked, half conscious. SD Tasuki nodded, collapsing by her side with his arm slung across her back. "Yeah. Let's just sleep for a bit…" "Yeah.." She mumbled, letting her eyes slide closed. "'Night Tasuki…" She mumbled, but he was already asleep.

"SESHI-CHAAAAAN!!!!" Came a sickeningly loud voice. "Huh!? What? Where's the fire department?" Tasuki slurred, half awake. He jolted up his head, dust on one side of his face. "SESHI-CHAN!" The voice repeated. SD Seshiri looked up to see Chibi-Nanuri stampeding their direction. Fully awake Seshiri stared at her friend. Knowing very well that if Nanuri got any closer at that speed, she wouldn't be able to stop. She got closer. Still at an absurd speed. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" SD Seshiri jumped to her feet and ran in the other direction, not wanting  to get clobbered (like she knew she would)

"SESHI-CHAN DON'T YOU DARE RUN AWAY FROM ME! GET BACK HERE FOR YOU'RE BEATING! HOW COME YOU DIDN'T COME BACK WITH THE REST OF THEM, I WAS WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU, I THOUGHT YOU HAD DIED, WHERE WERE YOU!" SD Nanuri pounded her Chibi friend with questions. Seshiri was running as fast as she could, hoping Nanuri wouldn't catch up, knowing that she would. SD Nanuri froze suddenly, nearly falling over. "Baby calls!" She said, starting back the way she had come. "Come on Seshi! You have a lot of explaining to do?"

Seshiri stared at Nanuri's retreating form and gave Tasuki a look, who gave her an equally confused look. Seshiri, blankly, disbelief in her eyes, mouthed 'What the fuck?' to her orange haired bishie. He only shrugged and pushed himself up. "Might as well follow." She nodded, and walked after Nanuri.

As they neared her, Nanuri turned around, grinning. "Seshi-chan, you better not pull that stunt again." Seshiri raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry, I wont." "I was thinking that they had just told me you two were back at the monastery to disguise that you were dead!" Seshiri smiled sheepishly. "Gomen. Unfinished business." "Ah." Nanuri nodded, thinking that over. Seshiri smiled slightly but frowned at the rings under Nanuri's eyes. "Sleep much?" "No." The new mother grunted. "Damn baby always needs me. It doesn't bloody sleep." She perked up, "But he's worth it. You should have seen the look on Nuriko's face when he stepped into the room and saw his son." She sighed slightly, remembering. "That made it all worthwhile."

"Er…" Tasuki rubbed the back of his head. "I'm thinking this is the sort of thing only women would understand." Nanuri nodded. "Yeah… Seshi, what happened to him? He seems to have grown up a little!" Seshiri laughed as that went right over Tasuki's head. He had turned out after he decided this was a woman conversation. "But only just."

They reached the inn in no time, and Nanuri quickly opened the door, wincing as she was bombarded with a loud obnoxious cry. "That'll be him." Seshiri cringed and covered her ears, "Well at least we know he's got strong lungs" Seshiri hoped Nanuri wouldn't sense the distaste in her voice. Nanuri nodded, scrunching up her nose. "You guys might not want to follow. Breast feeding time." Seshiri shuddered violently. "Ok, don't worry, I wont." "SESHI-CHAN!" Seshiri turned to Gurase, who was shouting above the cry. Gurase bounded over and glomped her friend. "So how's my clone?" Seshiri grinned, "I'm great! 'Got a few things worked out." Tasuki was too busy swearing at the noise to hear them. "Like???" Seshiri rolled her eyes. "Just got a few things straightened!" "Amiboshi?" Seshiri nodded. "Got his flute." "Ah.." Gurase bit her lip. "I decided to bury it." "Huh?" "We buried it. A few nights ago. In the monastery grade yard." Gurase smiled slightly. "Next to yours?" Seshiri nodded, smiling.

Her ears popped as the sound abruptly stopped. "Thank GODS!" Gurase mumbled, rubbing her ears. "That kid wont shut up unless it's constantly feeding." Seshiri laughed, "Reminds me of Miaka." Tasuki mumbled. "Seshi. You were right. Let's not have one of those. Let's get.. A dog instead." Seshiri grinned. "Eventually."

Gurase raised an eyebrow. "What's this?" She asked curiously. "'Let's'? You were discussing babies then?... Which means you're gonna-" She gasped, highly exaggerated, and pointed her finger at the two. "YOU GUYS ARE GETTING MARRIED!?" Tasuki put his hands at his waist and jutted his chin out proudly. "Damn straight!" Gurase squealed with happiness, and Kaeli, Soi, and Tomo immediately bounded over. "Married? What?" Kaeli asked, wide eyed. "Yup!" Seshiri said, leeching onto Tasuki. "We decided to get married!" "HOW COME YOU DIDN'T WAIT FOR ALL OF US TO BE THERE?" Tomo asked indignantly, hands on his hips. "That hurts Seshi! After being your room mate you don't even wait for us all to be here!" SD Tasuki frowned at Tomo. "Nani? Room mate?" He watched him suspiciously. "Don't worry Tasuki." Soi snorted, "He's gay." "OH! I FORGOT! HAH! That's ok then!" SD Tasuki nodded happily.

Seshiri rolled her eyes at him. "Baka Tasuki-koi." She mumbled affectionately. "Ah ya know you love it." He said, patting her head. "KAWAIIIII" Gurase squealed, heart eyed. "Shaddup." Seshiri muttered. Nuriko wandered down the stairs, yawning. "Mm? Tasuki! Seshiri! Hi!" He greeted, half asleep. Kaeli sweat dropped. "Poor Nuriko. He always gets up for that baby… Even though he can't breast feed, he wakes up to try and rock it to sleep." Nuriko grunted something and flopped down in a chair, where he promptly fell asleep. "Come on, let's go outside." Soi said, pulling them out to the dusty streets.

"Which reminds me. What's the baby's name?" Seshiri asked. "Hoshi." Kaeli answered, "Star?" Tasuki asked. Gurase nodded with a quiet smile on her lips. "To remember the people that we lost." Seshiri nodded. "It's perfect." Soi sighed, but mumbled an agreeing "Hai." "So how's everyone? They make it back ok?" Kaeli nodded. "But I think Chichiri is jealous of Nanuri and Nuriko… He's always wanted a kid." She gave an involuntary shudder. "And he KNOWS I'd do anything for him but… I'd rather have him to myself for a while." Gurase laughed, "Yeah well, Hotohori doesn't want a kid. I'm afraid his past life has begun to REALLY affect this one. He sees how run down Nuri-chan and Nuriko look and he doesn't want that."

Tasuki sighed slightly. "As much as I love gossiping about guys, can I leave?" "For where?" Kaeli asked. "A bar." He replied, "I haven't had anything good to drink for practically a YEAR." Without another word he trotted off to investigate the town. Seshiri sighed as she watched him leave, keeping her eyes on him 'til he disappeared into the crow. Soi, Tomo, Gurase, and Kaeli shared a look. "Seshi-chaan." Tomo cooed, "You are SMITTEN!" "Hmm?" Seshiri asked, turning back to them. They shared the look again. "Smitten." Gurase repeated, pointing her finger at her friend. "Smiiitten! Smitten!" She chanted, teasing.

"What are you talking about." Seshiri grumbled. "You love him more than you did before! That's so ADORABLE!" Gurase teased in a cooing voice. "SHADDUP!" SD Seshiri shouted, tackling her friend. Chichiri bounded outside, turning Chibi and clinging to Kaeli. "Konnichiwaaa na no da!" He exclaimed happily. Seshiri smiled. "Hey Chiri!" "Seshi! You're back no da! Are you gonna go visit Nanuri-chan no da? I bet you wanna see the baby no da" "… Stop saying no da." Seshiri mumbled. "It's driving me nuts." He stuck his tongue out at her. "Is he drunk?" Seshiri asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well… Sorta.." Kaeli coughed, "I was hoping if he drank a bit then he'd forget about wanting a kid."

"How much did he have!?!?" "One glass." Gurase answered, snorting back laughter. Seshiri stared. "You're joking right?" "Nope…" "I see he's a rather sober kind of guy." Seshiri blinked. "Come no da! Let's go see Nanuri no da! She's wondering where you are na no da!" SD Chichiri grabbed onto Seshiri's arm and dragged her inside.

Seshiri sighed, but allowed herself to be pulled. She wanted to have a chat with Nanuri anyway. The chibi monk pulled her past the inn doors, by Nuriko and Mitsukake, and up the stairs to where Nanuri's room was. Without knocking he opened the door, Nanuri jumped to her feet, finger to her lips. "He's asleep. Shh." She motioned that they should get out of the room. SD Chichiri nodded. "Hai no da!" He whispered in a loud hiss, poofing away. "Drunk Chichiri." Seshiri muttered, shaking her head as they went into a different room. "That scares me." Nanuri chuckled and nodded in agreement.

"So. How's life?" Nanuri asked, throwing open the door and closing it after Seshiri had stepped through before flopping down in a chair. Seshiri yawned, settling down on the floor with her back resting against the bed. "Great. Amazing. Wonderful." Nanuri smiled. "Glad you're happy." Seshiri nodded, "Extremely happy." She replied, with a hint of amazement in her voice. "I never knew I could be this happy." Nanuri grinned, "Oh. This is familiar. I had the same look on my face when Nuriko proposed… Is that it?" Seshiri nodded happily, "Yeah. Tasuki asked. And he was serious! He even talked about buying an apartment back home." Nanuri grinned. "Well damn. It's about time! I guess we were right to order you guys this room to share." Seshiri turned beet red. "N-n-n-n-n-" "No need to thank me." SD Nanuri winked and gave a V for victory sign. "It was all Nuriko's idea actually."

Seshiri cursed under her breath. "And I had just gotten Tasuki to decide not to have…" Nanuri giggled, "So you guys didn't get it on when you were alone last night?" She couldn't refuse winking. SD Seshiri sweat dropped. "No.. We didn't 'get it on'… We just SLEPT." "Oh is that what people call it nowadays?" "SHADDUP NURI-BAKA! We just SLEPT!" Nanuri raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Yeah.. Hah. Right. You're telling me you said no to fang boy when you were alone together. In the wilderness. With NO ONE around?" "How'd you know he asked?" "…" "Ok stupid question… But yes!" Nanuri leaned back and whistled. "Wow. You have more resistance than I would have. If It was Nuriko and me I woulda-" Seshiri shrieked, "No details! NO DETAILS!" Nanuri only laughed at Seshiri's response.

"Yeah well……. Nuriko and I are gonna have a tough time." Seshiri nodded silently. "I don't know what I'm gonna do.. I can't leave school, but I have a KID now. He comes first." Seshiri sighed, not sure what she should say. "I've been worried about this for a while now.. I didn't have the heart to talk to Nuriko about it… But how are we gonna pay for the baby?" Seshiri could tell this had been nagging at her friend. Poor Nanuri… She looks… Hollowed out… Poor thing. She really needs more sleep. She shouldn't stress so much.

"You poor thing." Seshiri sighed, casting her gaze down to the hardwood floor. "Ah don't pity me.. I'm happy, but I have a nagging feeling things won't work out back home." "…." "I have to grow up pretty fast I guess." Nanuri joked, sighing slightly. "Hey, I'm gonna go back and keep an eye on the baby." Nanuri said, standing up. "I must admit, you look pretty good for just having had a baby!" SD Seshiri said, trying to brighten her friend's spirits. "Hah! Yeah I do don't I?" Seshiri snorted. "Yeah at least you're MODEST about it!" "Aren't I though." She winked.

Seshiri chuckled and shook her head as Nanuri left, closing the door behind her. She sighed, hefting herself onto the bed. "I'm so tired.." She announced to the empty room. "Heh.. Look. Our bags are even in here…" Yawning, she threw herself back onto the bed, stretching out. I think I'll sleep a while… Haven't slept in a while… She rolled over on her side and settled down, pulling the sheets over her.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Mm…" Seshiri yawned and stretched. Eh? Oh. Yeah. How long did I sleep? I hope I didn't miss dinner. Seshiri yawned and stretched again, before sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Wow. I think I'd pay to see you do that every day! Kawaii!" Seshiri jumped at the sound of Tasuki's voice. "Aie! Don't scare me like that!" She gasped, smiling at him. Tasuki grinned, "Come on Seshi-chan, dinner time downstairs!" "Really?" She asked, "Yup!... Well actually that was an hour ago. They sent me up to wake you up an' I didn't wanna cause you looked so happy." Seshiri grinned, "Aww.. Tasukiiii, that's so sweet!" He jumped, "It IS!? Shit!" He snapped his fingers. "Damn. Gods forbid I be sweet, right?" Seshiri laughed at him, reaching over and bopping his head.

"Well come on," She said, throwing off the covers and stepping out of bed. "If you came up here an hour ago they're probably wondering where we are!" Tasuki snickered. "Actually they probably have an idea in their heads." "HENTAI!" Chibi-Seshiri gasped, whapping him repeatedly. "I can't believe I'm sharing a room with you.." She mumbled, watching him suspiciously out of the corner of her eye. "Ehehe…" "Don't laugh like that!" She ordered, shuddering. "Now come on!" The Chibi grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room. "Where did they go, and Tasuki stop looking at my ass."

He turned red. "Some restaurant. I can lead us back.. And I was not looking at your ass…" He mumbled indignantly. "I've just never seen you in a skirt before……." "Oh shush." I wish I'd never bought this damned skirt. It's caused nothing but trouble. "Oh please.. Now where is it?" She asked as they left the inn.

"West." He said, pointing down the street. "Did Nanuri choose it?" "Yup." "Why am I not surprised.." Tasuki and Seshiri pushed through the crowd, making their way to where the others were eating. "This is sorta a celebration, they said, to party fer killing off Yokoshima, and us all… well most of us getting back unharmed." Seshiri nodded. "That makes sense."

Minutes later they reached it, stepping in. Tasuki brushed past the people inside, taking Seshiri to a table surrounded by their friends. "Seshi!! Tasuki!!! Newlyweds!" They cheered. Seshiri and Tasuki paled and stopped in their tracks. "Tasuki-baka." She muttered, elbowing him. "Itai..! Watch it, you elbowed me." She did it again. "You're doing that on purpose aren't you?" "Damn straight." She replied. "Guys!... GUYS!.." Seshiri tried to get the other's attention before they finished their: Tasuki and Seshiri sitting in a tree f-u-c-k-i-n-g song. "OI!" She shouted, waving her arms around. "GUYS! We weren't doing anything!"

Tomo and Soi sent each other a look that clearly said 'Yeah right'. Nanuri rolled her eyes. "Oh well who cares, that's their business." She winked at the two. "Besides, I don't want Hoshi to start crying because of your god-awful singing!" Miaka rolled her eyes at Nanuri. "Fiiine…" They went back to their seats around the table, talking loudly over drinks. Seshiri breathed a sigh of relief, giving Tasuki a look. "Whaat? I know I shoulda woken you up but.." "Yeah yeah yeah." She winked at him, before shaking her head. "As much as I'd like to take this opportunity and get drunk, ONE of us has to stay sober."

Tasuki nodded and sighed. "I can stay sober! Even if I drink a lot!" Seshiri grinned as they took their seats next to Soi and Chiriko. "Yeah right, well how about neither of us get drunk?" "But that's no fun!" She laughed at him as a waitress came over. "What'll ya have?" "Mmmm… I think just.. Hmm… I'll just have a chicken breast. Seshiri listened for what Tasuki would order, but turned her attention elsewhere after he was halfway through ordering everything on the menu he had grabbed. "A bit hungry is he?" Soi mused next to Seshiri, looking at Tasuki. "Yeah. I guess so. He hasn't had anything decent for a long time." Soi nodded, "Good point. You should have SEEN what Yui ordered!" She laughed, "I mistook her for Miaka!" "So, how are things with you and Yui? Still mad at her?" Soi shook her head. "Nah. I can't be, she's a really nice girl. Besides, other than Tomo she's all that's left." "And you." "And me." Soi chuckled, "And this is all left of Nakago." She reached up to her ear, pulling off a small blue thing which looked to Seshiri to be a bead. "Whazzat?"

"An earring, baka. Nakago's." "Ah. I knew that…" Soi smirked. "I bet you did." "Don't mock me.." SD Seshiri said, sulking. Seshiri's eyes focused on a tiny bundle in Nanuri's arms as Soi began to talk. And talk. And talk. Seshiri KNEW that this story had to end sometime, so that she could go and ask Nanuri what it was. "Nuri-chan." Seshiri interrupted, frowning. "What's that?" She pointed at the thing in the blanket. "….." Silence. "Seshi-chan.." Nuriko said, exasperated. "That's Hoshi!" "It IS!?" She exclaimed, gasping.

"Yeah." Gurase snickered at Seshiri, "Baka-chan." "CAN I SEE IT!?" "IT!?" Nanuri asked. "HE.. HIM.. not it." "Can I hold him? Wait no never mind.. It'll probably get all nasty and stuff." Nanuri sweat dropped. "I'm glad we asked Gurase to be the godmother." Nuriko mumbled. Gurase chuckled. "Of course, I'm great with kids!... But I don't want one." Hotohori tried to hide a sigh of relief. She whapped him as payment. "Itai.." He mumbled indignantly.

SD Seshiri crept over to Nanuri, eyes fixated on the brown blanket. "Woah." She gasped as two little pudgy hands reached up to grab at Nanuri's hair. She slunk closer to it, peeking over Nanuri's arm. "Woah." She repeated as two little purple eyes looked back at her. "Ggrlphth." It gurgled, reaching up at Seshiri. "ACK! What's it saying?!" SD Nanuri sweat dropped. "How the hell am I supposed to know?" "You're it's MOTHER aren't you?" "First off: HE.. Second off: Yeah but I don't understand baby talk!" SD Seshiri frowned. "It looks possessed." She looked back down at the purple eyes. "Chuuu!" He giggled, reaching up for Nanuri again. Nanuri awed, bringing her baby up so he could pat her nose, before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Seshiri shuddered. "You kissed him!" Nanuri rolled her eyes. "No, really, I hadn't noticed." Nuriko grinned at his baby, smoothing back the thin reddish auburnish hair on it's head. Seshiri squinted at Hoshi for a second. "That scares me." "What?" "Birthmark." She pointed to the beauty mark on Hoshi's face, without touching him, which seemed identical to Nuriko's. "That is NOT a birthmark! THAT is a BEAUTY mark!" Nuriko replied in a huff. "Ok, a BEAUTY mark." Nanuri grinned, "Why don't you pay attention to Tasuki before he forgets what you look like." Nuriko nodded, slipping his arm around Nanuri, chuckling, "I can't believe she's afraid of babies."

Shrugging, Seshiri turned back to Tasuki. Their food had arrived, Tasuki's taking up most of the table. "Tasuki, you gonna eat all of that?" Miaka asked, eyeing the plates. "Mine dammit!" He said, trying to bring the plates closer to himself. Seshiri laughed at him, rolling her eyes. "Tasuki, sometimes you scare me." He gave her a fangy grin. "Rawr." She sweat dropped at him, but laughed. "Baka." She mumbled affectionately, patting his head in a condescending way.

"Don't do that!" He sulked, "Ya make me feel like a lil' kid again.." She grinned at him, but didn't agree. Instead she decided to eat her food, maybe even sneak some of his.

Once she finished eating Seshiri sighed and yawned, stretching and laying  her arms and head on the table. "What are we supposed to do now?" She asked boredly. Tasuki was still eating, so he didn't hear. "I mean. How are we supposed to get back home?" Kaeli and Chichiri shot each other a look. "Well to tell the truth, we have no idea no da." Good. It looks like Chichiri sobered up a bit. "We were kind of hoping that Taiitsukun would come and get us when it finished, but she figured we were all dead." "But shouldn't she sense our life forces?" Seshiri asked, confused. Kaeli nodded slowly. "Yes but…" "And shouldn't she have felt us summoning all the other seishi?"

Kaeli nodded again. "Yes but. What she DIDN'T tell you guys was just how weak she was. Yokoshima was sucking up all of the life energies, and Taiitsukun was hardly able to poof from one spot to the next." Seshiri stared in disbelief. "… Part of me is glad that she didn't tell us exactly how strong Yokoshima was… I wouldn't have had the courage to go up against him." Yui smiled slightly. "Yes, but that just shows how powerful you guys are, you all killed the most powerful guy here, and lived." Miaka nodded. "Hai!.. But still… Seshiri is right, I don't think I would have made it this far…" Nanuri sighed slightly. "So what does that mean for us? Are we doomed to stay here forever?"

"Iie no da! Taiitsukun knows we are alive no da… And I know that once she regains her energy, she'll come and get us no da!" "So we have to stay HERE forever!?" Nanuri asked, outraged. "I'm SICK Of this place, I want to go HOME damn it, I don't care if Taiitsukun doesn't have all of her energy back to send us. Shouldn't we be able to just focus and get out of here?!" Nuriko nodded. "Miaka did that when she sent herself back the first time, and Yui got sucked in by mistake… Why can't we do that?"

Chichiri shrugged. "It's not the same thing no da. Taiitsukun still was the one sending Miaka back, and since we've all been here for such a long time, it would be impossible to just wish ourselves back home…." Silence fell over the table.

Seshiri didn't dare ask the question that was nagging at all of them.

How long will it take Taiitsukun to regain her power?