"Suzaku, or Seiryuu?"

Tara's eyes fluttered open as the sun's rays reached her eyes. She tried to sit up only to feel pain.

"Ouch!" She quietly cursed under her breath as her arm throbbed.

"Oh! You're awake, we should get that fixed." A young boy said as he walked into the room.

"Um, may I know where I am?" She asked, a little dumbfounded.

"Oh, you're in the palace of Hong Nan, and just so you know, I'm Chiriko." The boy replied with a little smile.

"Ok, well, how long have I been out of it?"

"Hmmm, about 2 days." Chiriko replied.

'Oh man, 2 days, that's longer than I thought it had been...' Her head throbbed as she tried to remember what had happened. Chiriko's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Oh yes, that's right, the emperor wanted to have a word with you when you woke up, so I'll lead you there."

"Um, ok, thank you Chiriko." She replied as she still faught to remember the event that had caused her 2 day slumber. Chiriko led her down the long hallways, basically giving her a tour as they continued on.

"All right, we're here, you can go on in and talk to the emperor." Chiriko said cheerfully. Tara nodded and thanked him again. When she walked into the room, the emperor looked up from the chair he was sitting in.

"Ah, you must be the girl, Tara, that Chichiri told me about."

"Um, yes that's me, so what did you need, your highness?" Tara asked, bowing to him.

"No need for the formalities, you can call me Hotohori. And I wanted to talk to you about your Seiryuu mark and Suzaku mark."

"Oh,um, okay." Tara was not at all used to talking to royalty, so she was nervous, and it showed.

"It has been told that there is one warrior who was born on the borders between Hong-Nan and Kuto and had both a mark of the Suzaku and of the Seiryuu, they would be called the "wildcard", and could choose the path they wished to walk, but it would also endanger them if the other priestess was to be searching for her warriors at the same time as the priestess the "wildcard" wished to protect. It appears that you are that "wildcard" of the legends, and our priestess of Suzaku, Miaka wanted you to be on her side. Do you accept?"

This was a lot for her to take in as she noticed what was the other Suzaku warriors and Miaka walk in.

"I accept, I will help the priestess to summon Suzaku." Tara had finally stopped being nervous as the information sunk in, they wanted her help, and if they wanted it, she would accept.

"That's great! I'm Miaka, the priestess, I'm so happy you're going to help summon Suzaku!" Miaka said as she ran towards Tara.

All the other warriors started to walk over towards her too as a soldier ran into the room.

"Your highness! It appears that the Seiryuu warriors are attacking! They've already broken through the first defense."

"All right, thank you." Hotohori answered.

"This is my fault, I'll go stop them, it's the least I can do to repay you for looking after me." Tara said as she started to run towards the door.

Then firey-haired Tasuki yelled at her, "You think you can beat them alone?"

"I can try! But if you're going to help, you'd better hurry." She replied as she ran faster down the hallway.

"Well, let's go help out you guys, we'll show those Seiryuu warriors what we're made of!" Tamahome's voice called to the remaining warriors in the room. Nuriko was next to go, followed by Chichiri.

"Miaka, you stay here so you don't get hurt, we'll take care of this." Hotohori said as he too headed towards the battle ahead.

"Okay, but tell everyone to be careful and make sure they don't die!" Her cheerful voice said as she headed to a spot that she could watch safely.

Tara ran fast and swiftly towards the front gates, followed by the other Suzaku warriors. She could hear the battle cries of the palace's guards followed by the sounds of falling armor. She could only imagine the pain that they were going through to protect the people of the palace, adn she would help to defend them, even if she were to die.

Okay, that's chapter 2, i hope you all liked it, and i should have a new chapter up in the next few days or so, pleae review if you have the time!