Finally, an update! O.O Please read my profile for more info. I didn't stop! I just was kicked off . . . T.T And there'll be another hiatus after this! Sorree!

quillian91- Thank you so much! –hugs- Hope you feel better now:D Actually, Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden was just licensed and will be released in the US in June. Look forward to it, it's awsome! XD

Kaeru Soyokaze- I know, seriously! I'm gonna have to buy a Japanese PS2 for this one. XD But then again, they released Katamari in english so maybe they'll release FYGK in english too! Thank you so much!

Chibi Angels- Thank you! Ame-chan is probbaly my favorite character too, or one of my faves. :P Let's see . . . I was told that 'Amefuri' stood for 'Candy' and 'Rain'. XD His real name, Echi, just comes from Ecchi which is like a mild pervert. XD Which he isn't! I just thought of it off the top of my head. Lol!

Suzuno Oosugi- Bingo:D But that moment will be a little while off . . . Or at least, I hope it is too far off! I really want to write the scene . . . thanks so much for reviewing, as always! –hugs- I always love your reviews. :D

Care-, No, don't apologize! I should apologize for not updating in so long. XD I'm just so glad you have the patience! It makes me very happy. Nope, Suzuno and Ame-chan haven't really talked quite yet. –hugs- Thanks so much!

RabidMantisGirl- Thank you very, very much:D I'm happy you like this. And I'm happy you like Ame-chan too! He's definitely a fan favorite, which makes me happy. XD I hope to be able to update consistently after my hiatus!

Chapter Thirty-Five

"Alone and passion," Suzuno whispered to herself, reading over the scroll again. She smiled meekly, speaking only a little louder knowing that Tatara was right behind her. "It might fit you."

The Emperor dismissed them from the room once Taiituskun had gone, and with the last swig of his wine, making the once red glass a shiny clear he was off to his room to service. He requested that they along with Lanva and Subaru be at dinner, and when Suzuno asked why Amefuri and the Princess couldn't come as well her replied, "Tonight is their night." He smiled with joy at the thought, but she was a little down.

Now the two, she and Tatara were outside together, walking along the riverside strip in between the castle and flowing water. They were mostly silent because she was so engrossed in reading the key words over and over again, but at the same time it wasn't awkward. The sound of the stream was nothing more than a backdrop, but it was enough to keep them free of need to always talk.

Tatara took only a few larger strides to be next to the Priestess, looking down at her after she spoke. "Might?"

"I don't know . . . I . . ." Truthfully she was a little anxious of saying what she wanted to say. She wanted to hide that fear and suddenly change the subject to maybe one of the other warriors' clues, but he read her like a book. Suddenly she tensed and stopped her movement as she felt his whole hand covering her tiny shoudler and instinctively she turned to look up to him.

"Don't be afraid," he told her, his eyes bold.

"But-" she prostested, then she stopped when she heard the childish whine in her tone. It shocked her a little; she never did such a thing, even with her father back at home. With someone so stoic as the man before her, she especially didn't want to sound like an infant. She thought for a second, than changed her words to become more repsectful. "What if I offend someone?"

"Suzuno . . ."

She felt the grasp on her shoulder tighten in only the slightest, then he let go and turned away. He began to walk again and she followed, waiting for an answer.

'Would he say anything more?' she thought, tightly hold the scroll in both of her hands. Thinking of what amazing thing he was going to say next made her strangely impatient, and she tightened the roll of paper in her hands. It was twisting and even crinkling a little. 'Was he dissapointed in me?'

She held her breath for a moment and her heart sunk, and she prayed that he wasn't upset that she made the wrong decision on something and wouldn't tell her what it was. But at last she found relief in his voice again as he spoke.

"There will . . ." he paused as she stopped again for a moment; they had walked quite far by the river; it was beginning to thin into the not so far woods, beginning to surround the palace in a ring at a new turn before them. He looked out as far as he could, noticing something long and silver slithering in the water. "There will always be people who agree with you, just as there are people who disagree. It doesn't make what you say wrong."

Suzuno didn't quite understand what he meant, though she wished she had. "I really don't want to hurt anyone though . . ."

"But it will happen. You will hurt a few people with what you believe. But isn't it better to feel alive about something? To have your own thoughts? To have others know you?"

'Of course!' Suzuno thought, an instant smile on her face. She felt stupid for not understanding before. This was what she couldn't do in her home in Tokyo, but she was free to do here; no one would put her down for her beliefs. It became so obvious she wondered why she didn't get it before. 'To speak up . . .'

"It's who you are," she said quietly, and even thought she was looking down at the grassy ground while contemplating the realization, she could almost see Tatara's pleasant smile. A source of memories passed through her, all of him with her. She couldn't help but look up at him and into his dark lavender eyes as she remembered them. He looked down at her questingly, but she was already in her own mind. 'Tatara . . . you've said so many things that have made me feel better. You have no idea what it means to me! Thank you . . .'

"Suzuno?"

'We haven't know each other for long, but it's like with Subaru and Lanva and Amefuri. I know that you care. But then again . . .'

"Priestess? Are you alright?"

Hearing his voice snapped her out of her almost zoned manner and she realized that she had unconciously leaned her body against him, her head lying steadily on his chest. She began to panic, her face turning red from embarrassment at how strange it must have seem that she was invading his space like that. But she waited and, oddly enough, he hadn't pushed her away.

Underneath the thick russet blouse he wore she could feel the faint rise and fall of his chest, and she started to count the rythym of his heartbeat. As she did, she started to feel something strange; her own heartbeat slowed and her body calmed, but her cheeks were still tinged with pink. She couldn't explain it, even in her own mind, but somehow she felt even lighter than before. It was as if she had to be near him because if she didn't, the wind would take her away.

It didn't even shock her when she felt his arms wrap around her, lightly at first then holding tighter. As she relaxed against Tatara, feeling more comfortable with another person than she had for as long as she could remember she could almost recognize something familiar about this warmth from before . . .

"Daddy!" Suzuno said excitedly as she opened the door to her house, running over to the handsome young man standing in the hallway. He glanced down at a short, bundled figure, putting down the book he was reading onto the shelf in front of him to kneel down and give her a tight hug. Little white, wet fuzzies that clung to her jacket stung his cheeks they were so cold, but he didn't mind at all. He smiled at the cheerful figure in his arms. "It's snowing!"

"Oh, is it?" Takao said curiously, though it was more than obvious. He let go of her a little, brushing some of the snow off of his black suit, hoping it wouldn't get to wet. His thumb pressed against her red baby fat cheeks and she giggled, taking both of her her gloved hands to hold his.

"Would you like to play with me in the snow?" she asked. She didn't seem bothered at all by the fact that she had already been playing for hours. She was chilled to the bone, but there was still plenty of white to have fun in. "We can build a snowman!"

Suzuno unconciously nuzzled against Tatara, as if she were still cold from the snow that day. She could remember that time so well; it was the time when her life was happiest. Feeling her fathers' warm body against her, holding her and protecting her small self, she knew she was safer than any other girl.

'This feeling,' she thought, knowing that Tatara was the one holding her this time, 'It's almost the same. So familiar . . .'

"Hey, you guys!"

She felt Tatara's strong arms tear apart from her and even push her away when the flamboyantly loud voice approached the two of them. They both looked in the direction to see their friend Lanva, who was waving at them with a wide smile. "What's up?"

"Is . . . Is something wrong?" Suzuno asked quickly, though it was sort of hard to speak. For how comfortable she was just a moment ago, she was back to being nervous now. She was almost caught doing . . . doing something like that! 'Being so affectionate . . .It's embarrassing!'

"But isn't it better to feel alive about something? To have your own thoughts? To have others know you?"

That would be working if it wasn't Lanva you had to speak up to. He was a very easy-going, sweet big brother sort of guy, but at the same time Suzuno couldn't even imagine the teasing she would get. 'And if Subaru knew. . .' She would be all over Tatara about it!

She fought hard to keep her face looking as calm as possible, and forced a smile without the blush as she approached her friend. In her hand still was the scroll from the shrine room and she opened it for him. "Look! We have clues to all the Warriors of Byakko now!"

"Seriously!" Lanva grabbed it and read it up and down feverishly, then he raised an eyebrow. "This is confusing as hell . . . Toroki's is 'Byakko and Bravery'? Well if they were so brave they'd come out and stop whatever the hell they were doing . . . But what's with theirs being Byakko? What kind of clue is that?"

"Is is strange," Suzuno agreed, nodding. She turned for a moment, not wanting to completely ignore Tatara. It would be rude if she did, and she smiled sweetly when asking. "What do you think of it?"

She was surprised to see him quite a bit flustered when she looked to him, and he turned his head sharply away again to try and find some interest in the river. His eyes gave a fleeting look in her direction for only a moment, then he answered, "I think we should go back to Midoru to find Toroki."

"Yeah!" Lanva said excitedly, throwing the scroll in Suzuno's hands then jumping over to ring his arm around Tatara's neck. It came so unexpectedly that it nearly threw the two of them off balance. "Let's go back! Once Amefuri's taken care of his little business with the Princess Nashie, it's back to look for the warriors!"

He pulled the warrior with him and brought Suzuno close with his other arm, squeezing the two as if giving them a great group hug. "And with that scroll there, we can find 'em easy!"He paused. "Well, not easy; those are some pretty hard clues . . . but it'll make sense when we find the guys!"

Once again, in the company of people she cared for with no urge to hide anything, Suzuno felt comfortable. It was different than when she was with Tatara alone, but she relished the emotion. She grinned a little, giving Lanva a little sister hug back. "Yes! I can't wait until we start our journey again!"

It was finally beginning to get dark around the palace in Daini Toshi; a chill rose through the streets, but as families together ran out to hurriedly light little lamps outside of their homes something about the second capital of Sairou seemed much warmer. Fellow neighbors greeted each other and wished a pleasant night, all gazing up at the clear, star-fulled night sky. There weren't any clouds tonight.

In the citadel, however, everything was warmer than it could ever be. Not just one lamp, but hundreds upon hundreds were list around the castle and in, lighting up the hallways and rooms and giving a toasty presence wherever one went.

Subaru had adorned herself in a brand new gown that day, one so extravagant and expensive she never thought she would even see one so beautiful. It was a pure white, satin and shimmery with a low, yet comfortable square top and a tight waist, making her feel very skinny and attractive. Lined with a glossy silver in the middle, it bloomed into a thick, layered colorless garb that covered all the way past her feet. The layers were fanciful and twisted into appropriate half circles as they slipped towards the floor, making an intircate design.

She smiled as she held her hands out and looked into the mirror in front of her, spinning a few times for good measure to see what she looked like from behind. Although her hair was long, she could tell that the dressed stopped at both her shoulder blades at the sides, exposing much skin all the way down her back. Subaru giggled. "Oh, it's beautiful!"

"You want it?" Nashie, who was in the dressing room as well, said with a bored expression. The two were in a large room specifically for the Princess' garments, and it was obvious the moment one would walk in; the entire room, head to toe, was lined with dresses, shoes and jewelery. She had grown bored of playing dress-up, having to do it all her life, but she was rather entertained by someone near her age that stilled enjoyed it.

"Really?" Subaru turned around and pulled Nashie into a girlish hug, her arms around the royals' neck. She squeezed tightly, being unusually overexcited about something she normally wouldn't care about. "Thank you!"

Nashie pushed her away slowly, a little annoyed. "It's fine . . . really . . ."

"Oh, that's right." Subaru held up the sides of her dress, lifting it up to her ankles as she walked over to a small set of steps in the corner that was used to either stand and admire or, in her case, sit as she changed. As she pulled off the sleeves of her dress and constricted her hips through the waist-hole that was now looking much tinier than she preffered instead of perfect, she spoke to Nashie. She didn't mind that she was in the room; she was a woman, after all. What was there to hide? "We have to choose something for you, right? I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Nashie muttered back, leaning against one of the columns that seperated her types of clothing. Now she was in between silk clothing and dresses that glittered. She was a little annoyed with Subaru since she seemed to like to take care of things and be the one in charge, but once she came into this room she was the one acting like a child. People were so propper around that she didn't mind an excited girl.

Next to Subaru on the steps were the normal clothes she had worn everyday since the day she left on her journey with the Priestess; they had been washed on several occasions, but they were very worn. She didn't mind putting them on however, as worn meant comfortable, and comfortable meant easy to fit in. She loved clothing that clung to her, almost like snug covers. When she was finished she put the dress she wore up even though Nashie said she could keep it, then fished around for something else, glancing back at the Princess while doing so.

Having that motherly intention, and the way she kept looking back every few seconds like she had already forgotten what she looked like got on her nerves. "What?"

Subaru, unlike most people who heard her harsh tone, seemed unaffected. "Well, seeing you makes it easier to help me choose a nice dress. Plus, it is for a certain occasion, right?"

"You want me to lose my virginity?" Nashie snapped, but she also stood up to fish through her own clothes. She was going to have to do it anyway, so she might as well look impressive and right before it was taken off. She waited for Subaru's answer, wondering what she had to say, but then she thought of another question. "You know what Amefuri is, right? A whore?"

Subaru seemed uncomfortable with the word as she tried to spit it out. "Yes, he's a wh. . . a prostitute. I remember hating him for it too, when I found out."

"How long have you known him?" Nashie asked, actually interested in sparking up a conversation. This would help her in the end, anyway. "Only since the Priestess of Byakko started finding the warriors?"

Fishing out a thin silk dress that stopped at the thighs, Subaru held it up to the Princess and shook her head, putting it back in its' place. "No, a little longer. Before he delivered our water weekly for a couple of years when Lanva and I moved into out house. We didn't really talk much then, but he was sweet; he always called me 'Mrs.' And Lanva 'Mr.'."

Nashie snorted when she heard the last part. Amefuri to her had been very truthful; but being truthful meant anything but respectful. "How polite," she said sarcastically.

For a second time Subaru held up an even more revealing sheer outfit, one that came to the knees of the average woman but showed her breasts more. She gave a dissaproving face and put it back. "I always knew he was popular with girls from the way he would chat with Lanva, but I never really knew he was a prostitute till we journied with Suzuno. I hated him for it; I thought he was just another sex-crazed man. Then he told me something and it changed my mind."

"Told you something?" Nashie was curious. While she had come to be fond of Amefuri as well, this sort of woman gave her the impression of safety first, or the thought that she only found certain things important. "What was it?"

"He told me not to judge him, that he was living life like everyone else. I remember the exact words: 'No one said it's easy; you think it's always fun when everyone looks down on you before getting to know you?'"

Something about that seemed to surprise Nashie, and yet at the same time it sounded exactly like something Amefuri would say. It made her feel like she finally understood why he always acted like he could connect to her, why he was so different from those other men she imagined. It was hard to explain, but something about that seemed to say it all at the same time.

"Ah!" Subaru held up a third night gown outfit, a diaphanous red dress that would lace around Nashie's breasts and just below the hips. It was even more revealing than the other two, but it seemed to fit the Princess perfectly. "You have such a beautiful figure, Your Highness. This would work perfectly."

Nashie raised an eyebrow at the outfit, snatching it from the warriors' hands rudely and balling it up in her hand. However, she still smiled weakly. "Well, I don't really want to do it, but I might as well look nice for it if I have to."

X x x x x

:D I hope you liked this chapter and that it was worth the wait! I'm especially happy with the scene between Suzuno and Tatara at the beginning. They're consistently comfortable about each other, but they're both kind people and they worry about how the other feels sometimes. And Tatara has more advice! Yeay! Suzuno is definitely learning. :P And yeay for Lanva! Lol!

I like the scene between Nashie and Subaru too. They're very different, but they're also a good match in a way! Nashie's actually older thsn Subaru though! Subaru is 17 and Nashie is 19. Weird, huh? Then again Suzuno is older than Amefuri! He's actually just 16, meaning not too long before the jounrey began he was 15. O.o lol!

And guess what? I had my own sweet 16 this week! I got a tabley for my birthday! –Dances- I'm so happy. 16 . . . It's so strange! I know it'll take me a long time to adjust. Lol!