Author's note: That's right! I'm updating! Please notice the grand use of vocabulary in bother this chapter and the next chapter's titles.

(Do to the extension of reviews which I appreciate! I'm only replying to ones with questions or major comments to save on space.)

To Metajoker: Too much action? Well, that's good, since I'm changing the genre to Drama/Action/Adventure. And yes, the Gods are interested in girls. That's why Kazuki isn't a priestess. ;

To Kim: If you catch up to this chapter, thanks again for the detailed review and criticism. I really appreciate you taking the time.

To Chibi Angels: I'm sure my next chapter or two will clear things up about Suboshi for you, but I can say that time has worn down on his past feelings for Yui.

To Amaya: Thanks for going into detail on what you liked, it helps me to write for the future!

To Quackabott: You'll soon see if Suboshi likes Saori or not. I'm honored to meet a Chiriko fan! And as for Nuriko seeing the symbols… he just happens to be in the right place at the right time. Anyone can see 'em.

Thank you SO MUCH for everyone who reviewed! Enjoy the chapter!

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Chapter 6: Lovers Amalgamated; Another Step Forward

"Taka?" Miaka took a step forward on the palace grounds. A huge smile lit up her face and she squealed, running to him and throwing herself into his arms. "TAKA!" She cried.

Taka swung Miaka around and embraced her tightly, burying his face into her hair.

"We found him two miles from the southeast border, Sire." One of the two guards who had brought Taka to the palace informed Hotohori. "His strange clothing and knowledge of the priestess were all we needed to know to ensure his identity was correct."

Hotohori nodded as he watched the two lovers reunite after being separated three days. The night sky shadowed the city before them.

"Miaka..." Taka pulled back from his wife. "I've been so worried about you."

Miaka hugged Taka again. "I missed you. How did you get here?"

"Miaka," Taka pulled back again, "I... I really don't know..."

xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

"Should we call Taka?"

"No, when I left his house he was pretty stressed out, not to mention ready to turn in for the night. I don't want to wake him. Besides..." Yui glanced over her shoulder to the man sitting quietly in the living room, "Tamahome and Suboshi never got along well... we'll tell him in the morning."

Yui had found Suboshi on the street, in the rain, with an unconscious Saori not half and hour previous to this conversation with Tetsuya. So much explaining had been done, but Suboshi's story was quite similar to what happened with Miaka. Saori, who still hadn't woken up, was resting in the bedroom.

"Why would Suboshi come here?" Tetsuya kept his voice down.

"I have no idea," Yui confessed, "I can't see why Suzaku would want him here..."

"Or Seiryu," Tetsuya finished.

Yui shook her head. "No, he said 'universe' was written in red..."

"Yui-san..."

Both Yui and Tetsuya turned around to face the large living room where Suboshi was sitting, the light a bit dim with only two lamps lit. Suboshi still sat on the low couch, his eyes hesitating to leave his arm before looking at Yui.

"Kotoku, he's not responding..." He said seriously.

"Kotoku?" Tetsuya repeated.

"My brother, Amiboshi." Suboshi corrected, dropping his arm. "I'm worried."

Yui took the two steps that lead into the kitchen area and trotted over to Suboshi, kneeling in front of him. "Daijoubu, Suboshi. It will be fine. Miaka is in your world... you're not the only one who's confused by all this."

"We should call Keisuke," Tetsuya suggested, "He's asleep, no doubt, but I'll call him."

Yui nodded, and turned back to her old warrior. "Suboshi, are you tired? Do you want something to eat?"

Suboshi shook his head. "No, thank you." He glanced at the closed door to the bedroom. "Saori... does she have a fever?"

"No, she's just... out of it. I want to hear the whole story when she wakes up." Yui sighed and stood up again, "I don't understand any of this... what does it mean?"

Suboshi stood up too, his height exceeding Yui's by several inches. "It can't be... summoning, again?" He thought out loud, "No, it couldn't be. Kotoku and I are the only Seiryu warriors left."

Yui shook her head. "I doubt it's that... Mayo, she's still here, and so am I... Taka too. Only you and Miaka have been... misplaced."

"Mayo-sama is well?"

Yui nodded.

"Hey Yui, we gotta head over to Keisuke's." Tetsuya called from the kitchen again.

Yui nodded. "Alright, but we can't just leave Suboshi here…"

Suboshi rubbed his head, his hair still a bit damp from the rain. One minute he was on a farm, the next he was on the strange roads of Yui's world. None of it made sense...

"I... I can't believe... it's really you..."

All three of them turned around at the voice, seeing Saori in the doorway to the bedroom, fully awake and staring at Suboshi.

"Saori..." Suboshi said her name, seeing her now in the light.

"Saori-chan!" Yui sprinted to the girl. "Are you okay? I heard what happened."

Saori gave her attention to Yui. "H-hai, I'm fine... I just..." She looked past Yui's shoulder to see Suboshi coming closer. "I... I can't believe it's really you!" She stepped forward, forgetting her injury and toppling forward.

Suboshi quickly caught her and smiled. "Careful..." He said.

Yui turned to Tetsuya. "We need to get Keisuke, then. Did he say anything about his library search?"

Tetsuya shook his head. "Guess we'll find out."

"Saori, I think you twisted your ankle..." Yui pointed out the obvious. "Do you want us to take you home, or do you want to come get Keisuke?"

Saori, blushing, lifted herself off Suboshi and put her weight on her right foot. Her left ankle was throbbing, but she tried not to show any pain. "I'll... I can stay here, with Suboshi. Bring Keisuke and Mayo here."

"That works," Tetsuya said, grabbing his car keys, "Suboshi shouldn't be out and about, not right now, anyway."

"Tetsuya!" Saori caught her boss's attention. "Could you pick up my car too, while you're out?"

"Won't they be closed?" He asked.

Saori shook her head. "It's a 24-hour place, my keys are in my purse. Please?"

Tetsuya smiled and nodded. "Sure thing. Come on, Yui."

Both Yui and Tetsuya got what they needed and hurried out of the apartment, wanting to get to Keisuke's as soon as possible. They shut and locked the door for security.

Saori looked up to Suboshi. "I... I never thought... I'd see you again, Suboshi." She put her hand on the doorframe to keep herself up.

Suboshi was at a loss for words. "...Here, you need to take care of that..." He pointed to her ankle. "Yui-san… where are her bandages?"

Saori's cheeks felt a bit warm. "Uh... there's a medicine cabinet, in the hallway..."

Suboshi lightly grasped Saori's wrist and pulled her away from the doorframe, apologizing before putting and arm under her knees and picking her up, carrying her to the sofa.

zzzz zzzz zzzz zzzz zzzz

"Who... was that man?" Suboshi asked seriously, his attention devoted to the wrapping of Saori's ankle.

"I don't know." Saori admitted, blinking the slight nag for sleep away as she calmly watched Suboshi expertly tend to her. "He followed me home from the train, I had never seen him before that."

Suboshi didn't know what a train was, he imagined it was like the "car" he had ridden in an hour before, but he didn't say anything, it didn't really matter.

"...Arigatou, Suboshi." Saori smiled weakly. "I guess you saved me again."

The faintest streak of pink trailed across Suboshi's nose as he finished up his work, the bandages he had to work with a bit different from what he was used to. "I was lucky, I guess. Whatever brought me here must have wanted me to find you."

Suboshi released Saori's foot. Saori lifted it and tried to move it, but winced at the pain that was still there.

"You... won't be able to walk on it... for a little while." Suboshi explained.

"If it doesn't feel better in the morning, I'll go to the doctor." Saori said. "Arigatou."

zzzz

"So you've lived in Kutou all this time with Amiboshi?" Saori asked, Suboshi sitting on the couch beside her.

Suboshi nodded. "We live very close to the Konan border, about seven miles from it."

Saori nodded slowly. "Do you like living there?"

"Very much." Suboshi answered. "It's peaceful, there hasn't been any war since you left. We have good land and a lot of friends who live by us."

"It must be nice..." Saori thought. "My apartment... it's a lot smaller than this one... it's further away that Mayo's is... I live by myself, well, with Mame too."

The name struck up Suboshi's interest. "Mame? Is he..."

Saori laughed lightly. "Mame is my dog. He's a Papillon."

"Oh, I see."

A bit of silence followed.

"What... have you done... since you left?" Suboshi finally asked, curious.

"Oh, me?" Saori thought. "Um, I graduated from high school, and I got a job working with Tetsuya, it's a company that... well, it's complicated to explain. I'm a secretary."

"Secretary?"

"I type... write and stuff. Not the most exciting career."

Suboshi paused before he asked the important question. "Are... are you married?"

"M-married?" Saori repeated. "N-no... I'm only 20... and..."

"I'm sorry..." Suboshi apologized for his question. "...But 20 is a little old."

"Not where I come from." Saori pointed out. She sighed. "I'm not too lucky in that category, I guess..." She felt her cheeks go red. "Why is this so embarrassing?"

"I..." Suboshi seemed to fluster on what he was going to say. "I can't understand that."

Saori didn't say anything, just looked mildly confused.

"Saori..." Suboshi met her eyes for a moment, "I've thought of you... almost every day since you left. I never thought I'd see you again, but I always imagined what I'd say if our paths ever crossed again."

"Suboshi..." Saori's voice was almost inaudible. She thought back to her adventure in the book world three years ago, to the time she had bumped into Suboshi in the desert until the time she had left... the last conversation she had had with him in the garden...

"You're as beautiful as you were the day you left." Suboshi said.

--"Would you mind if I kissed you...?"--

Saori expected her face to go beet red, but it didn't. She filled with almost a calm feeling, but one that still danced in her stomach like butterflies.

--"Would you mind if I kissed you...?"--

"Suboshi," Saori finally spoke, "Before I left, I had made up my mind that I wouldn't stay, and that I would never go back..." She tried to find the words that she had recited to herself so many times while in Konan. "I didn't... I couldn't... have regrets when I left; I couldn't attach myself..." A few tears bordered on Saori's dark eyelashes and she smiled warmly, gazing at the two pure blue orbs that watched her. "Demo... I can't believe..." Her voice broke down to a whisper, "you're really here..."

Suboshi lifted his hand and gently placed his fingers on Saori's cheek, leaning closer and closer to her until his lips barely brushed against hers, carefully moving in to make a fuller contact. Saori placed her hand over the hand that cradled her face and met with Suboshi willingly, parting her lips and pressing into Suboshi with the rekindled vigor she hadn't used for so long. Both savored the taste of the other, dreading the idea that the connection would have to stop.

The two both pulled away simultaneously, taking a needed breath for fresh air. Saori licked her bottom lip, feeling the lingering warmness that Suboshi had left there.

"Saori..." Suboshi whispered, lowering the hand that Saori still held onto.

Saori intertwined her fingers with Suboshi's and kissed him again, the feelings she had suppressed for him three years ago eagerly resurfacing at his touch. The throbbing in her ankle matched the pulsing of her heartbeat—she worried that it would leap right out of her chest.

She found herself at a loss with reality as Suboshi kissed her again. It was amazing… so amazing that she could see him again, touch him again. Only this time, she didn't have to hold back.

zzzz zzzz zzzz zzzz

"I couldn't find it anywhere…" Keisuke said as he poured a glass of coffee, hoping the caffeine would keep him awake. "I did find something, though."

"Really? What?" Yui asked hopefully.

Keisuke sipped the mug of coffee before answering. "The National Library, here in Tokyo, had a book sale about a week ago. They do it every few years to get rid of the books that no one reads so they can get budget money to pre-order some new titles." He paused to swallow, and his tired face got a bit more serious. "They cleared the reference room."

"They sold the Universe of the Four Gods?" Tetsuya rephrased.

Keisuke nodded. "I got them to check the computer for me after some persuasion… the book's gone."

"Do you know who purchased it?" Yui asked with hope.

Keisuke shook his head. "The thing's organized like a junk sale… you pay for it and go, no receipt or anything. So in a way we're one step closer, but it's like we fell into a hole."

"A really big hole…" Tetsuya muttered. "That means that the book could be anywhere, Keisuke. It's no longer a search of libraries, but…" He paused to get his head clear. "Okay, let's think…" He paced a few steps and headed over to the window, picking apart the blinds and looking at the lights of Tokyo through his shadowed glasses. "I'd put my money on the chance that it's still here in Japan, probably still in Tokyo… unless someone was touring or decided to take it back to China, which is unlikely…"

"There's no way to know…" Keisuke pointed out.

"Damnit, I know, but just work with me here," Tetsuya turned his back from the city. "So, our next question is, who would want to buy an old, worn down, Chinese book? That thing was in really poor condition last time I saw it, who would want it now?"

It seemed that the end of Tetsuya's sentence struck something in Yui. A nerve, and idea… but her face plastered over with distress, something that caught her husband's eye.

"Some one… who would want the book…" She whispered. "Don't… don't you get it?" She took a deep breath before trying to continue her thoughts, "Miaka's disappearance… Suboshi… the only person who would want that book is someone who knows what it is…"

The drop of a pin in that room would have echoed for years. Silence fell in the atmosphere when Yui's realization became evident. It was an eternity before someone spoke again.

"So someone took the book…" Tetsuya began.

"…And knows how to use it." Keisuke finished.

zzzz zzzz zzzz zzzz

"Are you sure you want to go home?" Yui asked Saori, handing her back the car keys.

Saori nodded with a smile. "I can limp alright, and I only need my right foot to drive, ne? Besides, I shouldn't stay here and bother you, and I can take care of Suboshi until we figure things out."

Yui and Tetsuya had driven to the car shop and picked up Saori's car like she had asked, but did so solemnly. The new piece of the puzzle that had been discovered was nerve racking, and took Tetsuya a good while to explain to Saori, who could later explain it to Suboshi in simpler terms. It was nearly 3:00 a.m., and everyone was tired, mentally and physically. Even Saori, through her smile, was exhausted. The only one not exhibiting any signs of weariness was Suboshi, who was quietly standing in the far corner, busying himself with watching cars pass up and down the street. Saori had offered to take Suboshi home with her until they could figure out what to do, but Yui worried about Saori's safety and well-being, especially after hearing the full story of her earlier accident.

After Tetsuya helped Saori and Suboshi down to ground level, Saori opened the door for Suboshi and got in on the driver's side, carefully placing her tender foot down to rest and sliding the key into the ignition.

"You should wear your seatbelt." Saori said as she started up the engine.

Suboshi saw the belt Saori was wearing and looked over to see a similar one, figuring out how it worked and managed to strap himself in with little difficulty. Saori put the car into drive and made her way out of the parking lot and onto the road.

"Saori," Suboshi spoke up, "what… happens next?"

Saori smiled faintly. "Daijoubu, Suboshi. We'll just get some rest tonight… and I'll tell you what's going on. At least, what I know." She yawned. "…And in the morning, maybe you'll be able to contact your brother again…"

Suboshi nodded and glanced out his window, watching the scenes pass him by faster than a carriage view ever could. Even in the morning he'd have no contact with Amiboshi… something about this world, this plane of existence, separated even the bond between brothers and fellow seishi. He could only hope that his Aniki was alright, and wasn't panicking over his disappearance.

zzzz zzzz zzzz zzzz

Keisuke stared up at his off-white ceiling, thinking about the newest developments in the mystery of his disappearing sister.

Anyone could have the book now, whether they were a junior high student or an old man who wanted some literature to pass the time. Somehow the effect of the book having a new owner was the key to finding out where Miaka was.

Keisuke propped an arm behind his bed as he kept staring. He'd have to call Taka today too, if Yui or Tetsuya hadn't already. He'd certainly be interested in these new findings… but who knows what would go down when he found out about Suboshi.

Which reminded him to call Saori too, to make sure everything went okay during the night. He questioned whether or not having Suboshi stay with her was a good idea, but Saori and Yui were the only two who really got along with Suboshi… or even knew him, and Saori could use some company in that apartment of hers… people need more than just a dog for comfort.

"Are you thinking about Miaka?" A soft voice asked from beside him.

Keisuke tilted his head over to meet the pair of violet eyes beside him. He gave a weak smile before gazing at the ceiling again. "Yeah…"

Mayo lifted her head and placed it on Keisuke's shoulder. "The closer we get to solving the puzzle, the more confusing it is."

Keisuke wrapped an arm around Mayo. "If we don't find that book, we may never get Miaka back. We have nothing solid to go on, Ma-chan."

She looked at him sadly, pushing herself off the mattress and resettling herself on his chest. She ran a few of her delicate fingers through his bangs. "Miaka will come back… even if it takes a long time, we both know that everyone in the book world will take care of her. I'm sure that at least one of Suzaku's warriors has found her by now."

Keisuke smiled, lifting his head just enough to briefly kiss Mayo. "At least one of us is staying optimistic."

Mayo rested her forehead on Keisuke's. "You need to go call Taka, he needs to know what's going on. I'll call Saori on my cell, kay?"

Keisuke nodded and Mayo rolled off of him, stretching her arms out as her boyfriend got out of bed and headed into the kitchen to use the phone.

"It's gonna be another long day…" Keisuke mumbled, ruffling his messy hair. It was a Sunday, at least, so maybe he and Mayo could find something to do to at least get their minds off of everything for a while.

Keisuke picked up the phone and held it to his ear, but didn't hear a dial tone. Instead, he heard a "Hello?"

"Hello?" Keisuke returned the gesture. "Who is this?"

"Oh Keisuke, good, it's you." The voice was now recognized as Yui's, but she sounded panicked.

"Yui? What's wrong?" Keisuke asked.

"It's Taka." Yui sounded like she was near tears. "I called him, and he didn't answer… I called again and the phone fell off the hook, but no one picked up… All I could hear was Hikari crying. Taka won't answer his cell either!"

Keisuke cursed. "Are you at home?"

"Yes, but…"

"I'll go find him." Keisuke didn't let Yui reply before he hung up the phone and ran back to the bedroom.

"Mayo!" He alerted the redhead. "Get dressed, we gotta go to Taka's now!"

zzzz zzzz zzzz zzzz

Hachiro Oushige folded his guitar strap up into his case and snapped the lid shut, a granola bar in his mouth as he grabbed both his guitar and an amp and headed out of the apartment, not bothering to lock the door as he went. He was taking a break from playing God to play his guitar for his band "Luminance." Today's practice was at an auto-body shop a few blocks away that their drummer worked at. Since it was Sunday, the place didn't open for a few more hours, giving them lots of space to practice, and an opportunity to win some fans by passersby.

Kazuki, too, was taking a break from the book, but not the same way Hachiro was. Kazuki could keep the story going for a little while himself, but couldn't get anything grand to happen without Hachiro's help. Securing the Universe of the Four Gods into his black backpack, Kazuki left out to walk the streets himself… maybe pick up a crepe from a vendor and look over some novels for research in a bookstore.

xxx xxx xxx xxx xx

"T-Taka? Doushite no?" Miaka asked, startled at the sudden serious expression on Taka's face as they were about to leave their room at the palace.

"Hikari…" Taka whispered. "If I was transported into the book, Hikari's alone…"

Miaka gasped. Hikari wasn't even four yet, how would she take care of herself?

"Oh no…" Miaka began to cry. "Hikari…"

Taka shook his head and hugged Miaka tightly. "They'll figure out I'm gone eventually, Miaka." He forced a smile. "They probably already did."

Miaka nodded, wiping her eyes. "I hope so Taka, I hope so…"

zzzz

Tasuki knelt in severe concentration, hovering over his prey like a hawk, amber eyes glancing from piece to piece as he studied every aspect of the board in front of him.

"For heaven's sake, Tasuki, just GO." Nuriko complained, arms folded and face looking positively bored.

Tasuki picked up a dragon piece and moved it over two spaces, hesitant to let it go. After looking over his move one more time, he released the object.

Almost as soon as he did, Nuriko moved his own dragon forward and bluntly knocked Tasuki's off the board and onto the floor.

"I win." He stated, getting off the floor.

Tasuki's jaw dropped as he retraced Nuriko's move on the board. "W-what the hell? Ya cheated!"

"I did not." Nuriko gave Tasuki a smirk. "It's a game of risk, Tasuki, but putting out your entire set in offensive position at the start of the game is just stupid."

Tasuki groaned and knocked off a few remaining pieces from the Nisuya board. "I hate this game."

Nuriko yawned and stretched his back. "I'm gonna head home today, I think. I don't want to include Rokou in the worry party for me."

"I need to go back t'my bandits too… for a while." Tasuki admitted. "But I don't wanna go anywhere with Taka just getting' here and all, and besides, we shouldn't go until Chichiri shows up."

Nuriko frowned slightly. "Oh yeah… it wouldn't be too good of an idea to just leave the palace defenseless, ne?"

Tasuki stood up, not bothering to pick up the scattered Nisuya pieces. "You c'n go home, Nuriko, I'll stay here. You got that family of yers t'take care of. Besides, if we need ya, you won't be too far away."

Nuriko smiled. "Thanks for the offer, Tasuki, but we'll see what happens today first. Maybe if everything goes by smoothly, we can both take a break." He winked. "Even his Highness can get too impatient with us."

"Nuriko?"

The two warriors turned to see Houki walking in, her hands clutched together in front of her. Tasuki casually slid the Nisuya pieces under the table with his foot.

"Is something wrong, Houki?" Nuriko asked.

Houki shook her head. "No… not really, I just can't seem to find Shouei anywhere…" Despite Houki's calm words, her eyes still look a bit worried.

"He's probably goofin' off somewhere." Tasuki suggested.

Houki nodded. "He usually comes when I call… perhaps Boushin has found him."

Nuriko stepped up to the empress and offered his arm. "Well, Houki-sama, I shall escort you on a search."

Houki took Nuriko's arm gladly and walked with him out of the room. Tasuki followed, sticking his hands in his pockets and his mind on the next game of Nisuya he would play. He had only one once since he was taught the game by Chiriko, and that was dumb luck. Surprising, considering who he had been playing against.

xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

"You're sure your foot is alright?" Suboshi asked once again as he and Saori walked down a wide sidewalk in Tokyo's noonday sun.

"Mmhm." Saori hummed with a smile. She did have a little limp in her step, but it wasn't very noticeable. She really hadn't twisted her ankle as bad as she had thought, and the wrapping on it kept it from doing anything weird. She didn't even notice though, she was just happy to have Suboshi with her on such a beautiful day. The rain from the night before had left the air fragrant, and the sun warmed up the streets nicely.

Suboshi looked down at his attire again. It was comfortable, but strange. Buttons ran down the front of his shirt in a perfect line, and the material his pants were made of was something he'd never seen before. He glanced up to watch a taxi drive by. He had been in a car twice since he got here the night before, but they still confused him.

"Saori… how do those work?" He pointed to the yellow cab.

"Um…" Saori thought. "Well, there's a motor under the hood, and that…"

"A motor?"

Well, it was a good topic for conversation, she supposed. "Alright, Suboshi, let's start from the top. Do you know what electricity is?"

"…No. Is that part of a 'motor'?"

"Well… sort of. You see, motors generate electricity. Electricity is just energy that is made by… well, in this case, motion. We could probably make electricity by hooking up one of those spinning things of yours to a motor."

Suboshi understood, barely, but didn't press into it. He just gave a nod.

"Anyway, the motors in cars spin around… or something… and the electricity spins the wheels. You also need gas… but I don't get that system." Saori stopped Suboshi from crossing a sidewalk while the red hand was up. "Electricity is what makes those lights too." She pointed.

"So electricity is important to your world, isn't it?" Suboshi questioned.

"Yep."

Saori and Suboshi crossed the street and continued their walk, ducking under an out-of-place tree and crossing a smaller street that didn't have a crosswalk.

Suboshi stared at his surroundings curiously. There was barely any forestry at all, and zero wildlife. Was Saori's entire world coated with this hard gray material and buildings that nearly scraped the sky, or was there an oasis of free land outside the city borders? He was about to ask, but didn't even get a sound out before Saori started talking again.

"Do you want some icecream?"

Suboshi blinked in confusion. "Ice cream? It's not cold enough for ice…"

Saori laughed and gently clasped Suboshi's hand, pulling him over to a street vendor who was serving a mother and her two children.

"Let's see…" Saori read the label. "They have strawberry, chocolate, cookie dough, vanilla, orange sherbet, lime sherbet, chocolate chip, and mint chocolate chip. What do you want?"

"Sherbet?" Suboshi thought. That was a weird word for food. This was food, right? He spotted the woman ahead of them handing a cone with pink topping on it to her daughter.

"Do you like chocolate or fruit?" Saori asked.

"Uh…" Suboshi trailed off.

Saori smiled patiently. "I'll get you… chocolate chip? That's my favorite." The customers in front of them moved away And Saori stepped up to the vendor. "May I have two chocolate chip single-scoops please?"

The man nodded and opened up a metal bin on his cart, pulling out two cones and a fresh spoon. He worked skillfully, and had both cones ready in about a minute. Saori handed him some money and took the cones, handing one to Suboshi.

"Well, tell me what you think." She said as they started walking down the street again.

Suboshi tasted his cone. "It's sweet."

"It is icecream." Saori pointed out.

Suboshi smiled. "I like it, thank you."

It was so amazing, having Suboshi around like this. Walking down the street in Tokyo, no less… sharing her life with him one small step at a time. She hoped he'd never leave, though she was sure he already missed his brother.

Saori was only halfway through her cone when she heard some music playing nearby; one that had a rather catchy beat to it. She saw a small group outside an old car shop, staring into one of the garages. There must be a band playing down there. She glanced at Suboshi to see if he thought anything about the "strange music", but he seemed just fine.

The couple reached the edge of the group just as the song ended, and the bystanders clapped for the band's performance. Saori stepped away from Suboshi for a moment to get a better look.

A quick, sinking feeling hit Saori's heart. "Hachiro?"

The guitarist must have heard her, because he looked around as soon as she said his name. He spotted her at the edge of the group. "Oh, Saori!" He said, walking to the end of the makeshift stage. "How've you been?"

Saori gave a weak smile. "Good. You?"

"Couldn't be better, doll."

"Hey Oushige! Get your tail over here!" The drummer of Luminance shouted.

Hachiro glanced at his band-mate. "Well, I gotta play another song. See ya later."

Saori barely waved a hand as Hachiro moved back to center stage to converse with his drummer. Not wasting time, Saori lead Suboshi through the crowd and past the car shop.

"Saori?" Suboshi asked, seeing the strange look on the girl's face. "Who was he?"

"Oh, him?" Saori replied, perfectly cheerful once again. "Hachiro… is just an old friend of mine."

He didn't seem too "friendly", but Suboshi didn't push the matter. For a split second, Saori's demeanor held an almost sad and anxious appearance.

Saori took a deep breath and continued her walk with Suboshi. She was glad to feel his hand in hers. In fact, it didn't take her too long to forget about her encounter with Hachiro with him near her.

xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

"Oi! Miaka! Tama!" Nuriko called out from the outdoor railing of the castle. He saw the couple walking on similar railing on an adjacent portion of the palace.

Miaka smiled. "Konnichi wa Minna." She waved to the three, still walking with Taka to meet up with them.

"Get a good night's sleep?" Nuriko asked once the two groups joined.

"As good as one could expect, I suppose…" Taka said with a weak enthusiasm. He bowed quickly to Houki. "Thank you, highness."

Houki smiled. "It is no trouble at all, Tamahome." She paused, "is that name appropriate?"

"It's fine." Taka assured her. "I'm used to it, and it was my first name."

"So Tama…" Tasuki piped up from behind Nuriko. "You up for a little game later?"

"Huh?" Taka asked, seeming a bit out of reality.

"You remember Nisuya, don'tcha?" Tasuki prodded. He knew if Tamahome even remembered the game, he'd be a crappy player.

"Oh, Miaka…" Houki began before Taka could answer Tasuki's offer. "You haven't by chance seen Shouei, have you?"

"Shouei?" Taka asked.

Miaka lit up. "Oh, you haven't met yet! Shouei is Hotohori's son!"

Taka looked surprised. "Really? So you two had a boy?"

Houki nodded. "Yes, and I can't find him anywhere… I'm starting to get worried."

"Highness." A guard trotted up behind Miaka and bowed to the Empress. "Prince Boushin has requested your presence in the throne room."

"Boushin? What for?" Houki asked.

"I believe it is over the land divisions in the west, Highness."

Houki thanked the messenger and apologized to her company, though they all followed her down the walk and back into the palace. The throne room was a ways away, so Tasuki has plenty of time to infuse the idea of Nisuya into Taka's head… and the first of a new set of the duo's pointless arguments sprang up for entertainment.

Houki reached the throne room where a table was set up next to the throne, where Boushin and Buru, a magistrate, were going over several papers.

"Ah, Hahaue." Boushin greeted his mother. "I wanted your approval for the sectioning of the Agu Lands west. I decided with the two-thirds agricultural, like you recommended."

Houki smiled. "You seem to have everything in order, Boushin." She glanced at the papers. "May I ask something off this topic?"

Boushin seemed curious. "Hai, Hahaue."

"Have you seen Shouei?"

"He's right here, na no da."

Miaka jumped and spun around, face lighting up like a firework. "Chichiri!" She exclaimed.

Chichiri stood at the front of the throne room, little Shouei at his right side. Both were soaking wet, and Shouei looked rather upset… and cold.

"Chichiri! Shouei!" Houki quickly moved from the table and knelt before her drenched son.

"Ya finally made it!" Tasuki sprinted up and patted the monk on the shoulder. "Sure took ya long enough."

Chichiri gave his familiar mask-covered smiled. "Sorry, no da. It takes a while to get here from across an ocean, no da."

"You… didn't swim, did you?" Taka asked, referring to Chichiri's current situation.

"Tamahome no da!" Chichiri burst out. "I didn't know you were here too!"

"Chichiri, what happened?" Houki asked, wiping her son's face with her sleeve.

Chichiri shook his head, his wet bangs drying enough to hover in the air the way they always did. "I got here to the palace and found our dear prince out by the north pond, no da. We just took a little swim, no da."

Houki gasped. "Shouei! You know you shouldn't go out to the ponds by yourself!"

Shouei started crying. "I didn't mean!" He threw his small arms around his mother's neck and bawled.

"Oh Shouei…" Boushin trailed off, having joined the reunion party with Buru.

"Arigtou Gozaimasu, Chichiri." Houki stood up, the collar of her dress damp. "Buru, would you mind terribly taking Shouei to his room and finding one of his caretakers to dress him?"

"Not at all, my Lady." Buru reached out a hand. "This way, Prince Shouei."

Shouei sniffed and took Buru's hand, being lead out of the throne room through the left exit.

"Chichiri, I can get you new clothes too." Houki offered.

"That would be nice, no da." Chichiri said. "Just until these ones dry, no da."

xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

The lock clicked the door to the apartment burst open, Mayo darting in while Keisuke got his spare key out. They could hear Hikari crying as soon as they stepped in.

"Hikari!" Mayo called out. It only took a second to find her, she was sitting on the floor of the living room, bawling. Mayo knelt down and embraced her tightly.

"It's okay… it's okay…" She reassured. Hikari did calm down quite a bit, she was only crying because she had woken up alone.

"Taka!" Keisuke's voice sounded angry as he checked the bedroom. "Taka!"

"Do you know where your dad is?" Mayo asked the child.

"N-no…" Hikari hiccupped.

Mayo bit her lip. "Hikari-chan, when was the last time you saw him?"

Hikari breathed sharply. "He t-tucked m-me in l-last night…"

"He's not here, nothing." Keisuke came back into the living room, kneeling down and scooping his niece into his arms. "You're gonna come stay with Uncle Keisuke today, okay?"

"O-okay…"

"Keisuke," Mayo whispered, "Could Taka have… could he have gone into the book too?"

"I'm counting on it." Keisuke said, standing. "He wouldn't run off without Hikari. Nothing's been disturbed, like he was just sucked out of his apartment during his sleep."

Something clicked in Mayo's head. "Maybe… it has something to do with Suboshi."

Keisuke nodded. "We should find Saori, then."

"But Suboshi has no idea what's going on either." Mayo said as the three of them left the apartment.

"Let's find them anyway, Mayo." Keisuke said almost bitterly.

Mayo sighed, taking the stairs back to the parking lot. "I can go get Yui and Tetsuya."

"No, stay with me."

"But Keisuke…"

"I'm not going to argue with you, Mayo." Keisuke, Hikari, and Mayo reached the parking lot and walked to Keisuke's car. Keisuke was quick to dish his keys out and unlock the back door for Hikari.

Mayo got into the car with Keisuke, putting on her seatbelt as Keisuke pulled out of the parking space and turned back onto the street.

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Author's note: This has been the fluffiest chapter of the entire story. Hoped you enjoyed that. Also, ffnet has been giving me grief with the page dividers, so I apologize for the… creativity.