Disclaimer: I want FY to continue…but I don't own it…sighs…don't you dislike the way Watase Sensei left Ryuuen dead on the mountain without his loved ones? Unless you count Miaka and Taka…sighs…he was always getting involved in different triangles…

"You know, maybe I can find my soul-mate through this venture, Miaka-dear. Did I tell you I once loved you as a man? Now that love was more sister-like than in the last life. I feel relieved!" Nuriko grinned as she stretched, looking at the familiar mountain in which they had found their fifth warrior together with Hotohori.

"Your mother won't be worried about you? I think she would, no da."

Nuriko sighed. "I doubt so. The last time I left for days, I came back with enough money to last my family a lifetime. And it's Houki's fault. Now they treat me as though I am a lucky star or something. Oh, and they actually thought I was going to be Boushin's wife, or at least his concubine! I know I won't be missed."

"Why, did your parents not care about you?" Miaka asked curiously. Nuriko nodded, tying up her silky purple-violet hair into a complicated hairstyle.

"They do, but they try not to be too close to me. I would get married off anyway. They would force me to chose either Prince Boushin or Nakago's reincarnation…" Nuriko shuddered when she remembered the two people fawning over the blue-eyed son of a high-ranking general. "Gods, Tomo and Soi are still by his side, even in this lifetime. You might think Nakago would throw away his cold attitude this time and accept either one as his wife!"

"They do not remember no da," Chichiri smiled behind his mask. He had decided to get over his best friend and fiancé already, therefore becoming happier day by day.

"I wish they would, you know. I have nightmares about being his wife," Nuriko muttered darkly. Miaka laughed and they started climbing the mountain. "I hope Tasuki did not REALLY die this time. Because the last time he did it, we went to find Shouka for nothing!"

"We found Mitsukake!" Miaka retorted.

"That gave that bandit no excuse to feign death! Chichiri, could you just teleport us to the entrance? I want to meet that Tasuki immediately and give him a hug! He needs one, especially after all that crying when I died."

"I've never been in the bandit's place before, no da. And Miaka cried too, no da."

"I've already hugged her. Well, I expect us to reach his place by nightfall at this rate. Then after getting Tasuki, we can get Hotohori-sama!" she squealed, going glazy all of a sudden. "I think he would be really happy to see Miaka too!"

"Are you not sad that Hotohori had married Houki instead?" Miaka asked curiously, totally bewildered with Nuriko's behaviour, considering how she had plotted to get back at her when she knew that Hotohori loved her.

"No, actually, I am totally pleased that Houki had managed to hook up Hotohori! I told her to, before I died! And that Boushin, I trust that he had grown to a striking man now. Maybe I will actually consider marrying him…"

"Nuriko, you sound scary!" Miaka giggled. Grabbing her hand, Nuriko raced up Mount Reikaku, leaving poor Chichiri behind.

"Wait up, no da! You cannot leave me behind, no da!" he yelled, trying to catch up. Nuriko winked at Miaka.

"Boys, men, they are all the same. And I know because I have been both! And they love the same women all the time! Except for the weird ones…" she glanced back at Chichiri. "He will always be weird…"

"That's not a nice thing to say, no da! I'll be weird, you'll be gay!"

"Hey, I'm not a gay anymore! I always had the heart of a woman! Except that I got into the wrong reincarnation wheel at the time I think, to be reincarnated into a man…"

"But…you look like a man now, no da!"

Crash! Chichiri was smashed into a nearby wall of the mountain.

"I am wearing woman's clothing, excuse me! Miaka, don't do this at home. It would be hazardous to everyone's health."

Chichiri pulled himself from the wall.

"I agree, no da! With Nuriko here it is even more dangerous, no…"

Crash! "I find that you are no different than Tamahome sometimes!"

"I…"

Crash!

"I did not say anything, no da!"

Miaka, on the other hand, was thinking about Taka…

"Coach Sukenami! Is Miaka alright?" Mayo asked, coming up with Saori. Taka did not look at her. "Taka, did she go into the book again?"

"Yes, now back to playing basketball, Mayo!" Mayo looked hurt for a moment, before whispering to Saori softly. Taka caught the last words.

"…and find a connection."

"I'm sorry, Taka, I really am…"

"What's wrong Miaka?" Nuriko asked, looking away from Chichiri. "Ah, I know! Chichiri's the problem right? I'll get rid of him for you!"

"No, Nuriko, I am innocent, no da! You are acting scary, no da! I want the real Nuriko back, no da!" Chichiri protested tearfully. Nuriko softened.

"Aww, you are cute, you know that?" she cooed, pinching his cheeks perhaps a little too hard.

"Ouch, no da!"

"Nuriko, Chichiri, how are we going to get Taka back? He is in my world. If all the Suzaku seven can't gather, then…" Miaka tried to keep tears from rolling down her eyes. Nuriko let go of Chichiri and Chichiri seemed to recover just as quickly too.

"Miaka, if you could come here, Taka could too. Don't worry. There would always be a way out."

"Yeah, Taka had the determination to persevere, all the time, no da. And we should be continuing our journey, no da."

They slowly trudged up the mountain under the hot sun. The Seishi would never forget this mountain. The mountain wouldn't forget them either, not with a few Chichiri shaped grooves etched permanently in its rock.

"Nuriko and Chichiri, with the Priestess of Suzaku, camped just in front of the mountain…" Tetsuya read. Yui was closely following the story too.

"You know, sometimes I wish I had Nuriko instead of you. He is so loyal, only death could undo his loyalty! Unlike you…" Yui teased. Tetsuya blushed deep red.

"I wish I had Nuriko too! Imagine having a woman falling head over heels for me and doing all I want! She could cook, sew and everything! Adding to that, there's her strength! She could give birth easily!" Tetsuya dodged the pillow thrown at him.

"Argh, all we do is sit around and do nothing. What's the report on the travellers down there?" a teenage boy, eighteen, with flame coloured hair, asked impatiently. "I want some action, Kouji!"

"There were two women, one man."

"Right, let's rob them! Leave the women untouched, as always. Do they look wealthy?" Seeing Kouji nod, he continued, "Then let's set someone on fire!"