To Metajoker: I hadn't updated in three months… so I can see how one could get lost. Gomen ne! I didn't notice the misspelling, that's an embarrassing one too…
To Amaya-san: Yes, I hope we can all take Uruki's kind words to heart… oO;; I feel slightly bad for Tasuki's emotional pain, but eh. I enjoy these things. I can tell you're not a Nakago fan too! Chichiri has sustained a pretty gruesome injury… I guess we'll have to see how it goes.
To Silver Pain: Ouch, what a pen name. Yes, there are more chapters coming for the sequel.
To Dawning Twilight: Chichiri did have a nice hand… oh well. Suboshi rocks my socks.
-------------------
Chapter 82 : Ending the Fifth Legend
The sun rose bright and early on the ninth day after the Suzaku seishi's victory over Seiryu, and the sixth day after Konan's complete victory over Kutou. The small southern country, with the help of the Suzaku no Miko's wishes to so quickly bring on the end of the war and restore Konan, had proven once again its strength of heart. A treaty between the two constantly warring countries was being made, and it would bring rationale to the lives of the people for years to come.
Shortly after the bruised and battered warriors had returned to the palace, Miaka had told Yui, the priestess of Genbu, about Suzaku and Seiryu's appearance in the war. After wishing Mayo's safety, only one wish was left from the nine that could be made in the book--a safe return home. However, with the peace that everyone had strived so hard to gain, Yui was in no rush to leave loose ends untied... nor was anyone else.
"Ohayo!" The fully recovered and beaming Saori pushed open the door to a small room, letting in more of Konan's pure sunlight. She held a tray in her hand that bestowed several dishes and foods, their smell wafting instantly to the room.
"Saori?" Suboshi looked up from his bed, where he was putting his shoes on.
Saori, still with a wide grin on her face, placed the tray on the corner table. "I made you breakfast! I thought you'd be hungry." She looked around the room. "Where's Amiboshi?"
"I think he went to the gardens..." Suboshi was still getting used to being at the palace where his past enemies flourished. "You made that for me?"
"Hai!" Saori gave a quick nod. "I... wasn't sure what you liked, so I had to guess with a little of everything."
Suboshi's arrival at the palace preceded Miaka and her warriors' by a little over an hour. The palace hands, Boushin, and Empress Houki were all hysteric at the disappearance of Saori, the appearance of Suzaku, and the massive explosion that had happened in the north wing of the estate. Amiboshi had alerted Emperor Boushin about Suboshi as soon as his brother's message had appeared on his forearm, and Boushin allowed the twin to come in with Saori still in his arms. With the watchful eye of his Aniki, Suboshi was treated by doctors for his wounds and fatigue, more of which he had acquired on his treacherous journey to Eiyo. (A horse that he stole also had to be returned.) It was hard for Suboshi to stay in Konan, even if Saori, Yui, and Amiboshi had his favor. By this time, he had convinced most of the Suzaku shichi seishi that he wished no harm, for the most part... but Tamahome would forever be skeptical of him.
"Have you seen the gardens yet?" Saori asked when Suboshi sat down to his meal.
Suboshi shook his head. "I haven't seen much of the palace..."
Saori tucked a short lock of hair behind her ear. "Well, then I'll give you the tour! After you're done eating, of course..." Saori didn't give Suboshi any time to object before speaking again. "Oh, that's right!" She lightly hit her fist into her palm. "I need to go see how Mayo's doing! Ja na, Suboshi, I'll be back!" And with that Saori half-skipped out the door. She had been ridiculously gleeful like that ever since she had recovered to find Mayo and all the seishi alive and well.
--- --- --- --- ---
"Mayo-chan, you should eat something." Yui gently nagged, sitting on the edge of the former Miko's bed.
Mayo shook her head. "I... I can't. I'm so sorry, Yui-sempai... I knew I was wrong, I..."
Yui stood up and put her hands on her hips. "For the last time, Mayo, get over it!" She sounded slightly irritated. Mayo had barely left the comfort of her mattress since arriving at the palace after being consumed by Seiryu, and all she did was mope on the ideas of how cruel she was and how she didn't deserve kindness.
The blonde's face softened, and she kneeled beside the bed. "Mayo, I of all people understand what you're going through." She confessed. "I was just like you, remember? Of course you do, you read the book..."
Mayo managed a faint smile. "Hai... demo..."
"Like I keep telling you, it's not your fault. Everything will be fine again when we return to Tokyo, and you can start over."
Mayo solemnly nodded. What made her situation worse is that this wasn't the first time... she had gone through all of this before when she had tried to become Suzaku's priestess a year ago. This time she would finally recover, after having the full taste of war, hatred, and regret that every priestess of Seiryu went through.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in." Yui said, standing.
Saori poked her head in. "Ohayo!"
Mayo turned her face away.
Yui went to the door and patted Saori on the shoulder. "You're turn." She whispered.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What's your problem?" Keisuke inquired, holding the Universe of the Four Gods in his arms as Tetsuya ran back and forward over the living room carpet with a vacuum.
"They'll be home soon! I have to make sure this place is clean!" Tetsuya shouted over the hum of the cleaner.
Keisuke rolled his eyes and slumped down on the couch. "Thank goodness it's over." Keisuke opened the book and thumbed over the last eight pages of the book. "Miaka and Taka... all of them will come back safely and in one piece, and everything can go back to normal. You know, I think that once you open this book, you're forever sucked into its story. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if every one of us got dragged into another plot line again."
Tetsuya shut off the vacuum. "Back to normal, huh?" He pondered. "You know... Mayo isn't doing too well. Even if she does forgive herself in the book, who knows if she'll be able to here."
"Oh, she's not getting off easy." Keisuke reckoned, shutting the book with his finger still in it. "I'm going to have a word with her... no, MORE than a word, I'm getting ready for a whole lecture on how irresponsible she is, and..."
"Does she need that right now?" Tetsuya interjected.
"Yes." Keisuke replied without missing a beat. "I'm setting that girl straight once and for all, not sympathy nor tears will stop me." He smirked. "Then I'll take her out to ice cream or something."
Tetsuya chuckled. "That'll teach her. But don't kill her, got it?"
"Inches from death, maybe." Keisuke stated, opening the book again and reading. "Wanna get me a beer?"
"No." Tetsuya rolled up the cord to the vacuum. "Fine, let me put this thing away, but then I got to dust everything... make sure to tell me when Yui's making her wish, got it?"
"Yeah yeah..." Keisuke scanned the page, waiting for the black kanji to appear. "It's pretty much going over the warriors right now." Keisuke spoke, Tetsuya out of sight. "Tasuki didn't break his back or anything, they're all pretty much up and running..."
"What about Chichiri?" Tetsuya shouted from his bedroom.
"He's bandaged. Too bad Mitsukake had to go get killed again, he could heal everyone back to new." Keisuke casually read the pages, no tense anymore about what may or may not happen. Besides, what could go wrong in the last eight pages?
He turned the page, reading the next few lines.
"Ah crap, and I thought the deal with that old bat was over..."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Taiisukun?" Miaka asked, once again in the throne room, the area of the palace that seemed get the most action nowadays.
"One moment, Miaka." Taiisukun waved. "I don't wish to repeat myself to a bunch of blundering fools, so I'll wait." Taiisukun wasn't angry, but she did seem upset; probably due to the destruction of more nyan-nyans and her own impatience.
Tamahome had come in with Miaka, the worse of his injuries having been healed by Mitsukake on the battlefield, and the rest healing well on their own. Hotohori and the healer were present with Taiisukun, both in spirit form. Nuriko was next to come in, and though he seemed fairly well on the outside, underneath his robes bandages wrapped around his waist and shoulder. Tasuki didn't suffer so much from open wounds, but was just now being able to tolerate sitting down without pain. Yui came in with Chiriko, nodding to Boushin as they entered.
Chichiri was last to come in. He had suffered the worst injuries of all from his one-on-one fight with Seiryu's best. He did seem to handle it fairly well, but no one could ever tell with that smiling mask of his. His kesa was draped over his left shoulder, concealing the bandaged arm that had lost its hand. Saori, Mayo, and the Seiryu twins were not in attendance, which Taiisukun didn't mind, since her business had nothing to do with them.
"I am here on one last errand." Taiisukun finally announced after waiting. "Though Yui is the only one with any wishes left, a certain request of Miaka's needs to be dealt with."
"Me?" Miaka pointed to herself.
Taiisukun nodded. "If I don't recall, before entering the battle, your wish had been to grant reincarnation to your warriors, yes?"
"H-Hai."
"This kind of wish can be straining to your limits, but you only lost two warriors in that fight, and happened to be the two already dead." Taiisukun turned to Hotohori and Mitsukake, who were invisible to Boushin and Yui.
"If you so desire, you two may be reborn in the forms you possessed before your present deaths. You may also choose to reincarnate into a child, or to simply remain in spirit. What is your choice?"
"Is she speaking to my father right now?" Boushin whispered to Yui.
Yui smiled. "Yes, I believe she is."
Hotohori was the first to reply. "If it may be so, I would like to return to the side of my wife and son, and be as I was previous to this war."
Taiisukun nodded. "And you?"
Mitsukake pondered. "I will wish the same as his Highness."
Tears welled in Miaka's eyes. "Daijoubu!" She said, holding Tamahome's arm happily.
"One more thing, Miaka." Taiisukun looked back to the Suzaku no Miko. "Do you remember how you worded your wish?"
The question confused Miaka a little. She thought back to the morning her third wish had taken place. "Not... really."
"Well, I am quite aware of it." Taiisukun added. "Because of how your wording was, there is one more who will benefit from your wish."
"One more?" Tamahome asked.
Taiisukun snapped her fingers, and in a quick bubble of light, a third spirit stood in the room.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Taiisukun practically snapped.
Inami's spirit flashed mildly, still experiencing the repercussions from her small fight with Miboshi.
"Well, I imagine you heard all of that, so I will give you your options." Taiisukun didn't bother letting Inami ask questions. "You may also be reborn as a child, or you may retake the place of Yukini Cheinun."
"Cheinun?" Inami repeated, stunned. She looked over at the others. Miaka's wish had been to reincarnate all those who had helped her along the way, and the Genbu seishi fell into that category.
"You mean... she can be reborn to?" Tasuki took the words right from Miaka's mouth.
Taiisukun paid no heed to the others. "Your last option, seeing your circumstances, is that you may also be reborn in another realm beside the other warriors of your god."
Inami's green eyes widened. "Reborn in another realm?"
"What is your choice?" Taiisukun asked.
Inami glanced over all the Suzaku warriors who stood in the throne room, all the friends she had made over the time span that she lived as the Hokkan ambassador. Her eyes locked on Tasuki.
"Gomen nasai, Taiisukun." Inami spoke, refocusing on the old woman. "I... I don't know. I can't decide yet."
Taiisukun rolled her eyes. "Then hurry up with it, I don't have another century to wait because can't make up your mind." She glanced to Miaka and her warriors. "I will return. Be expecting me."
Taiisukun's personage faded into nothing, and she was gone.
Miaka was the first to break the silence. "You can't... decide?"
Inami kept her eyes on the floor, her image blinking again. "Miaka... it's a hard decision." She looked over, not to the priestess, but to Tasuki. "Gomen... I just need to think about it." Inami lightly jumped off the floor and floated up to the ceiling, easily passing through it and out of sight.
"On another matter..." Boushin called the attention of everyone remaining in the room. "Your battles have been fought, you are no longer required to be here." He smiled. "I will more than willing to allow you to remain in the palace, especially if you wish to fully recover before travel, but you are free to return to your homes."
Nuriko smiled. "I wonder what that brother of mine has been up to? Probably wasting away at the temple, no doubt, praying for his otouto's soul..."
"The bandits have probably destroyed the place..." Tasuki managed to say. The thought of his old chums did bring a smile to his face. He looked over at the spot where Inami had just been. "Damn, every time I think I might get over it, you keep sucking me back in." He thought. Akue could easily return to her position under Emperor Sanoii, things could be back to how they were... maybe she would even come back to Reikaku with him.
"Relax, Tasuki." He told himself. "It ain't like choosin' a meal plan or somethin'..."
--- --- --- --- ---
"Are the gardens in Kutou a lot like these ones?"
"...Yeah, but... we don't have as many lakes."
Saori laughed, walking along the bank line of one of the artificial rivers that ran over the palace grounds. She sighed. "After everyone leaves, are you going back to Kutou?"
"Probably." Suboshi's eyes followed the bright leaves above his head. "My brother and I lived in a small town in the Katawei prefecture over there before this whole mess happened, we had a small farm and friends there. I suppose we'd go back there, if it still exists."
"Gomen."
Suboshi smiled. "There's nothing you need to be sorry for."
Saori and Suboshi walked across a arched, white bridge, Saori stopping on it to look over the railing. "Sometimes you see fish in there." She said, though the comment really didn't matter. She sighed for a moment. "Arigatou, Suboshi."
Suboshi raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
Saori smiled, watching the slow movement of the water beneath her. "I don't think I've properly thanked you, for saving me, again."
Suboshi blushed. "H-How did you know about that?"
Saori pushed off the rail and turned around. "Well, why else would you be in your enemies' palace? And anyway, I'm the one who gave your robe to Amiboshi to give to you."
Suboshi felt his cheeks grow a bit redder. "That probably means she knows I... saw her..."
Saori's grin grew a bit at the boy's bashfulness. "Come on, you haven't seen the other side yet!" She grabbed Suboshi's hand and pulled him to the end of the bridge, to the half of the imperial garden that boasted decorative trees and saplings.
Saori lead Suboshi, still hand in hand, to one of the larger trees. The sun's location in the sky made the shade beneath it near perfect, and the two sat down for a rest. Suboshi leaned his back against the large trunk.
"Is that your brother?" Saori asked, hearing the faintest noise of flute music on the breeze.
Suboshi listened. "Yeah, he's out here somewhere."
Saori knelt on her knees, a new idea popping into her head. "Can you make one of those... things?" She requested.
"Things?" Suboshi laughed.
"Those little balls that spin." Saori corrected.
"The Ryuseisui?"
"Ryuseisui..." Saori repeated the name. "Yes, that."
Suboshi held out his hand, the whistling sound coming first, then the outline of the spinning, then the olive and blue ball itself. It just spun around in one place on Suboshi's palm, the small feather on its base clocking its turns.
"Wow..." Saori leaned in to get a better look at it. "That's so neat." She lifted a finger to touch the top of it. "Itai!" She yelped.
"Careful!" Suboshi said, closing his hand and making the meteor bell disappear. He lightly took Saori's hand to look at it.
"It didn't break the skin..." She admitted. "I guess it just kinda scared me."
Saori glanced up at Suboshi's, her eyes locking with his. "His eyes are so pretty..." she thought.
"Would you mind if I kissed you right now?" Suboshi asked quietly.
Instantaneous embarrassment rushed to Saori's face, the feeling of heat across her cheeks only making her blush more. "N-Nani?" She watched Suboshi carelessly smile at her. She glanced away, her hand still in his. "I-If you did... it.... would be my first...."
That fact actually surprised him. Saori was about his age, possibly older, and he didn't think that a girl like her could go unnoticed for that long.
"Well, it would be my honor." He added.
Saori's blush faded a bit, but still bore on her cheeks. "Even though I'm leaving?"
Suboshi laughed silently. "An honor is an honor, Saori."
Well, Saori knew it. The boys here were definitely different from the ones back in Japan. She rested back down on her knees and smiled gently. She brought two fingers up to her lips, kissed them, then pressed them to Suboshi's. "There." She compromised with a whisper, her smile never fading.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
"So, what do you think you'll do?" Nuriko asked, trying to seem sympathetic and cheerful at the same time.
Chichiri had a plain tan parcel on his bed, one that he was loading a few things in for when he left the next morning. "I don't know, no da." He responded truthfully. "I guess in a way, I was fortunate, no da. I didn't lose the dominant hand, no da." Chichiri's white-patterned kesa was still hung over his left shoulder, still keeping the wrapped wound from sight.
Nuriko made a lopsided frown, but Chichiri didn't see it. "I think that mask of yours is getting to your head."
Chichiri smiled. "I'm traveling now, no da. Are you going back to Rokou?"
Nuriko laughed. "You make him sound like my wife. And yeah, I'll send him a letter. I'm not going home right away. Houki's apparently dilated, and I want to be there for the birth of Hotohori-sama's son."
"Son, no da?"
Nuriko shrugged. "I don't see a daughter. I have intuition on these things." He joked. "Besides, why would I want to be in a hurry to leave if his Majesty is returning so soon?" Nuriko sighed. "Hey Chichiri, I'll catch you again before you leave. I'm gonna go find Miaka and Tamakins before they leave." Nuriko passed under the doorway and started down the outdoor hall. "My little Miaka is growing up so fast..."
--- --- --- ---
"I don't think I could even go ta Reikaku right now..." Tasuki confessed, busying himself and talking to Chiriko later that afternoon, "I have a feelin' that riding some horse ain't gonna be too pleasurable." Tasuki winced at the idea of riding on a bumpy saddle with his injury for two days.
Chiriko laughed. "I'm sure Koji and the others can wait. I myself am going to Jinko."
"Jinko?" Tasuki repeated. "Ain't that the place where all those rich snooty people live?"
Chiriko hesitated, but nodded all the same. "I passed my final exams, remember?"
Tasuki lit up, showing a single fang. "That's right, you're gonna be one of those fancy officials now, huh?" Tasuki remembered seeing what the government buildings looked like on that side of Konan, they were huge. A person could make a nice living in one of those.
Chiriko smiled. "I'd better go find Miaka and the others before they leave."
"They won't go anywhere without tellin' us." Tasuki pointed out.
All the same, Chiriko waved goodbye and left, leaving Tasuki to fold and pack his clothes by himself.
Now with the little runt gone, Tasuki ended up alone with his thoughts again, and with all the pent-up emotions he had had to knock aside so many times. He was pathetic, really, being the leader of the largest bandit gang of Konan and still worrying like a girl over this and that. Despite all the stresses, things would smooth out again, and the thing he wanted more than anything right now was to go home to his mountain. The low altitudes here made him sick anyway. He did of maybe tagging along with Chichiri again for a while, but in the end chose to stick with his responsibilities as a gang leader.
A knock came from the open door.
"Tasuki?"
The redhead looked over to see Inami standing there at the other side of the room, fully decked out in her nyan-nyan attire. Tasuki noticed at that point how much distance had been forced between them… normally Akue would just let herself in.
"Done hidin'?" Was all he could manage.
Inami barely smiled, and scanned around the room, as if it were all new to her. "I... I came to talk to you..." She sighed. "Obviously..."
"Wanna sit down?"
Inami shook her head, hand clutching onto her upper arm. "No... I just wanted to tell you... that I made my choice." She seemed to have trouble making eye contact with the older man. "I... I'm going back, with the others."
Those words formed the sledgehammer that Tasuki didn't think would come. It knocked away at the emotional barriers he had worked so hard to put up.
"I know it's selfish..." Inami went on when Tasuki didn't respond. "I can't really make any excuse for it, but..."
"Just leave." Tasuki interrupted quietly, hands going back to the clothes in his drawers.
Inami looked a little hurt. "Shun'u..."
"I said GO!" Tasuki shouted, flinging his eyes at the doorway.
Inami stepped back and creased her eyebrows, quickly turning away from the bandit's room and disappearing out of sight.
--- --- --- --- ---
"All packed, Mayo?" Saori asked, taking the sack she had filled and putting it over her shoulders. It was near evening now, the whole day had been spent packing and saying long goodbyes to everyone.
"Hai..."
"Ne, Mayo, cheer up!" Saori urged. "We're going home!"
Mayo nodded. "I know, and I'm glad for that. I don't think I should be in this world any longer than I have to be."
"Keisuke will be there..."
"Baka, shut up!" Mayo snapped, though she actually smiled.
"You know you're excited!" Saori giggled and jumped.
Mayo grabbed the pillow off her bed and instantly began beating her friend with it. "Why, of all times, do you tease me with that?!" She laughed, tackling Saori to the ground.
"Yamette! Yamette!" Saori protected herself from the soft blows with her arms. "It's not my fault you love our coach!" Saori exaggerated.
"I do NOT!!" Mayo objected. "What if this conversation is on the pages on that book, and he's reading it right now?" Mayo saved Saori from any further beatings.
Saori sat upright on the floor and fixed her hair. "Tetsuya's probably doing all the reading anyway."
(Meanwhile in the other world, Keisuke sweat-dropped slightly.)
Mayo caught her breath and flopped back onto the bed. "Domo, Saori, you can always cheer me up."
Saori beamed.
-Knock Knock!-
"Hai!" The girls said together.
Yui poked her head into the room. "Are you guys ready? We're all meeting out by the east pond. Taiisukun's here."
"Taiisukun?!" Saori rose to her feet. "She'll be mad! Hayaku, Mayo!"
"Hai hai..." Mayo grabbed her own bag, which was ridiculously less full than Saori's.
Yui opened the door more and lead the way to the pond.
-
By the time the three got there, most everyone else had been assembled, even the spirits of the Genbu warriors were there, though they all took solid form. Saori, Yui, and Mayo all hurried down the stairs to meet up with everyone.
"Are you quite ready?" Taiisukun asked, irritated. She rubbed her forehead. "Let's hope that after this you no longer require me to baby sit all of you..."
"Cranky old hag..." Tamahome muttered.
"I may be old," Taiisukun rotated towards him, "but my hearing is excellent. Nuriko?"
THWAK!
"Ow!" Tamahome rubbed the back of his head.
Taiisukun looked to her ex-apprentice. "Chichiri, if you wish, you may return to my mountain to see if I can't do something with that hand of yours." She looked to Mitsukake and Hotohori, both transparent. "Your full reincarnation will take a while to configure, which means you'll have to wait at Taikyoku until then." Taiisukun clapped her hands and muttered something, the air behind her swirling and morphing into a silvery portal. "The seven of you, on the other hand, I can get rid of easily, as I've already tried several times before."
Hatsui and Tomite exchanged mischievous looks.
"Come on, Taiisukun-sama, you don't really tire of us that easily, do you?" Urumiya asked.
"Off you go." Taiisukun declared. Hatsui and Urumiya were the most obedient, entering into the portal one after the other and disappearing, now permanently, and finally, from the present group. Namame was next up.
"Bye again!" Miaka waved. "Arigatou!"
"She's gettin' rid of us for good this time." Tomite remarked as though insulted. "Psh, whatever." He smacked Inami on the back and dove into the portal.
"Where's Tasuki?" Saori whispered to Mayo, who could only shrug.
In fact, the bandit had just barely arrived, spending the last few hours contemplating whether or not he'd show up or not. He slowly walked down a distant hill towards the spot.
Inami was the first to catch sight of him, a few tears welling up in her eyes when she saw no anger on his face. Making the rash decision, she ran past the others and towards him, meeting him before he arrived at the group. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"Arigatou, Tasuki." She said into the valley of his neck. She squeezed him tighter. "Thank you so much..."
Tasuki hugged her back, truly letting her go this time. "You're a pain, ya know that?" He said quietly back. He pulled away from her and looked at her face, wiping one of her tears off with his thumb. "Take care of yourself."
Inami smiled sadly and kissed the corner of his mouth before releasing him. "Sayonara, Tasuki."
"Akue," Hikitsu said from Taiisukun's side. "It's time."
Inami looked thoughtfully at Tasuki one last time, then turned and headed rather quickly to the portal. "Sayonara, Minna!" She called out, disappearing into the silvery light. Hikitsu followed right on her heel.
"That leaves you." Taiisukun said to the shortest member of the northern seishi.
"Ja, Uruki!" Saori shouted.
"Bye!" Miaka followed.
Uruki grinned widely, clasping her hands behind her back. "Ne... Actually, you'll be seeing me again real soon."
"Huh?" Half the Suzaku warriors said, confused looks on their faces.
Uruki jumped with excitement. "Well, with Inami-chan going back with the others, someone has to look over Hokkan, ne?" She flashed a peace sign. "I volunteered, no da!"
Several sweat drops followed the announcement.
Taiisukun shook her head, seeming to have a headache. "Go, Uruki!"
Uruki smiled and stood at the edge of the portal. "Bai bai." Were her last words before she toppled into the light, the portal closing after her.
-
"Kai Jin!" Yui shouted, the looped green symbol of Genbu appearing on her forehead. "Take us back to our world, back to Japan the way we left it!"
A large pillar of green light surrounded the five, each waving goodbye as the wind beneath their feet blew up wildly.
"Bye!" Miaka called out, tearing up e to the people she loved so much. "Bye Nuriko!"
"Stay out of trouble, Miaka! You too, Tamakins!"
"Bye Hotohori, Mitsukake!"
"Take care, Miaka. I will surely miss you." Hotohori said back.
"Our memories will keep you in our hearts." The healer added.
"Bye Tasuki!"
"Yeah yeah, don't go mushy on me." Tasuki cracked a smile.
"Bye Chichiri, Chiriko!"
"See ya no da!"
"We'll miss you!"
Saori turned her head and caught sight of the two Seiryu twins further off, waving identically.
"Sayonara Suboshi! Amiboshi!" She called out.
And with that, the five people from the other world lifted off the ground and up into the sky, disappearing from the land of Konan, and returning from their long journey from "The Universe of the Four Gods."
But hey, let's not end there. What happens next?
xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx
Yui blinked a few times and sleepily opened her eyes, feeling a soft bed beneath her. She glanced around the dim room, seeing a familiar pair of blinds shut and a well-known lamp lit on the dresser. She looked to the second window, where Tetsuya leaned against the wall, watching the lights on the freeway with his sunglasses on.
Yui felt a warmness flow over her. "Tetsuya..." She whispered.
At the sound of her voice, Tetsuya immediately sprang from his position against the wall.
Yui slowly sat up. "Tetsuya, I missed you so..."
But she didn't finish her sentence. Tetsuya had crossed the small space between the window and the bed and locked his lips with Yui's without hesitation. It surprised Yui for a second, but she quickly responded to the action, hungry for the sensation she had gone so long without. She ran her fingers through the short hair on the back of Tetsuya's head, pulling him in closer. Tetsuya's palm ran down the blonde's side, resting on her hip.
Eventually they had to stop, both pulling away in attempt to get some air. Yui smiled at Tetsuya and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Oh Tetsuya... I missed you so much..."
"It's okay, Yui." Tetsuya sat on the bed without releasing her. "You're home now, you're home."
-
"Yes mom. Yes mom. No mom! Yes, oh you have her?!" Miaka realized she sounded more excited that she should have. She turned happily to Tamahome, still holding the phone to her ear. "Yes, we'll stop by tonight and pick her up. Yes yes..."
"Do I even remember how to drive a car?" Taka wondered.
"I'd worry about getting your job back, buddy." Keisuke said.
Saori yawned on the couch beside her basket ball coach. "Say... is Mayo up yet?"
Keisuke shook his head. "No, but I think Yui is..." He leaned forward to try and peer into Tetsuya's room. "Well, the door's open, so let's hope things don't get too hot and heavy... Don't worry, Kawai, I'll take Mayo home."
Saori yawned again. "I think I'll wait... a little longer..."
Miaka hung up the phone and gave her brother yet another bear hug. "We're going to go home now, Oniichan, but I'll call first thing in the morning. We're going to stop by Mom's too and get Hikari. I can't wait to see her again."
"Good, the babysitting is over…" Keisuke sighed in relief.
"Hey Keisuke..." Taka inquired, "Where... Where's the book?"
Keisuke turned and looked beside him, then stood up and scanned the room. "Huh, that's weird..." He scratched his head. "I could have sworn I left it right there..."
Miaka stepped beside her husband and rested her head on his shoulder. "I guess the book went home too, hm?"
Saori perked up. "I think Mayo's up."
Keisuke shook his hands. "I'll go check."
"I'll come with you." Saori stood.
"Ah Kawai, you'll ruin my speech..."
And the characters of The Universe of the Four Gods, both on page and off, were finally at peace, picking up their lives where they had left them and continuing in happy existence.
--- --- --
But… What if the book were to fall into the wrong hands?
--- --- ---
Author's note: All done! I have three chapters of the sequel done already, but I may wait to post them for the suspense factor, ya know? (Unless I get a lot of reviews… hint hint) Please tell me what you think. I'm also taking suggestions for the sequel, if there are any scenes you want to see but never did! Arigatou to all those dedicated readers, I'm very glad that so many stayed with me through so many chapters!
The Sequel will be attached to this story, not on another link.