Chapter 3,Sweet Surrender

I am REALLY sorry if I let you hang in there on my last chapter. It wasn't really funny; considering it's a drama… oh well, bear with me. Here it is, where my story takes on a little twist. Hope you enjoy!!!

Disclaimer: Oh gosh… its this part again…

Suzuno: Oh, c'mon! Just spit it out!!

Disclaimer: Well, why don't you do it then?

Suzuno: No offense, but your part sucks, and its short…DUHHH

Disclaimer: Hey, I am creating a story about you! So, don't you DUHHH me!

Suzuno: (rolls eyes) Do you have to be so hesitant?

Disclaimer: Well, EXCUUUUSE MEEEEEE! If you are so 'hesitant' you do it then.

Suzuno: Nuh-uh!

Disclaimer: Sheesh. You're so stubborn.

Suzuno: So are you!

Disclaimer: Am not, Suzuno! And if I were, you're worst!

Suzuno: (gasps) Take that back!

Disclaimer: Yeah…as if…(finally gives up and sighs): I do not own Fushigi Yuugi. I am just using it to create a little story for this little 'bitch'.

Suzuno: Heard that!!

A light as bright as a newborn star dawned on Suzuno's face as she tried to configure where she was after she was hit. The place was too bright and she can only see silhouettes of what looked a lot like furniture. But then again, she squinted hard and found out that these shadows aren't actually furnitures but just one piece of furniture. Who could guess with all this light around? She asked herself as she struggled to get up from the sprawled position she was in before. Getting hit by a soccer ball really makes things a lot worse…especially when you are in Rei's team. "Ugghhh…why does she have to be SOO arrogant??"

The last thing she saw was Kenshin trying hard to intimidate her-which is so unfortunate since she's already scared to death- and end up getting her hit right at the head. Then, people started flocking around her like a left-out lunch on the field for seagulls to eat. Then out of nowhere, a radiant light pierced through her eyes and making her close them while she was drifted here in this place. But then again, she's lucky not getting amnesia at all that she'd forget every passing memory…and the loneliness that covered it.

"Oh, Tatara." She whispered to herself, as tears started forming under her lashes. " If you were here, I wouldn't be in the state I am in now." If she weren't thinking so hard, she wouldn't end up getting smacked in the face by a sure born-loser plus a know-it-all captain. Somehow, Suzuno learned that life is unfair, through the hard way.

As she got up, a swift draft of air swept swirled around her that carried the scent of lily blossoms mingled with breeze. In the same moment, lily petals drifted with that wind and surrounded her being. One delicate one managed to carefully lodge herself above Suzuno's right ear making her look like a wood nymph. Puzzled, Suzuno raised her left hand up to the flower to carefully pick it out of her hair, when her fingertips strayed farther from the spot and discovered…

"Byakko. My hair is not in pigtail braids anymore."

She expected herself in the same way as before, not like this!! Different, strange, and somewhat mysterious. It would have been okay if her hair ended up messy and in a frizz, but it was curled up the top of her head and slightly fixed in a stylish bun, adorned with a gold circlet. Suzuno also realized that with her hair, her clothes have changed too!! She wasn't wearing her baggy gym clothes anymore, but some sort of silky garment draped around her in a style that emphasized her slim and petite stature. In gym clothes, she looked more like a balloon; different to the way she is presented now in both lovely and heavenly. In this "dress", she looked a lot more like a person people would come from far and wide to see her. A person the Gods would choose to be a messenger to their people. A person an emperor would love and win to have as his wife. A person fit to summon warriors from their posts and into her kingdom. A person fit to be a…priestess.

"A priestess???" she gasped and she twirled herself around and heard the swish of loose fabrics around her. The ribbons, edged with lace in an intricate design, looped themselves around her graceful arms and came to rest at her wrists, where they were knotted in a ribbon. The sleeves of her "dress" began at the curve of her shoulders, and were also edged with a thread of spun gold. Her bodice was V-shaped that exposed most of her bosom. But was simple however. When it came to the lower part of the "dress", varying shades of white and yellow covered transparently her legs, now exposed by the half-slits at the side. Seeing the look she is in, Suzuno actually wondered if the Gods had summon her once again to finish what she started, and begin what she had forged. Namely the love her and Tatara felt for each other. Her eyes sparkled hopefully as her hopes for that moment instantly plummeted as that light that once surrounded her came from one source: Her. Thinking the wish had been granted, she steeple her fingers on the center of her chest and smiled to herself. "I'm here, Tatara," she whispered breathlessly, placing her hands as the same gesture she once did when she had called on the tiger-god. "I'm finally here…to stay."

" Where is she? Suzuno! Suzuno! You saved it. You saved the ball."

But Suzuno wasn't there. Try as they might, they just can't find her. A ray of sunlight had dappled on the place, making Kenshin's penalty kick go awry. But, Suzuno's voice of pain echoed throughout, leaving them with a conclusion that Kenshin had actually hit a girl. The sunlight had beamed on for a good 20 seconds before it lightened up a bit and showed a lone soccer ball. Then, she had gone. Like that. Rei was furious, as her only net minder had gone. She scoffed "Probably ran away or something." Then she added, "She'll be back. I just know it." Several moments passed as people tried not to yawn or shuffle beneath their feet. Rei, as usual, stood with her arms crossed and her foot tapping impatiently on the field as she scowled at anyone who looks her way and tries to persuade her to give up. Out of the students playing, one girl in a ponytail yelled out across the field. "I gotta go, Rei. Mom's waiting. See ya!!" As she left, Rei cursed between breaths "Sure…not a good excuse." After the player left, several others followed suit, even Kenshin. Now, Rei spat out her boiling anger that was preparing to burst a while ago. "Don't you dare walk away from me too, Kenshin!! Our bet isn't over still!! Just because I lost a goalie doesn't mean you go parading yourself as the champion!" Kenshin stopped in his tracks and whipped his head around to look her from his shoulder. "I have to go now, Rei. Give it a damn break. We'll continue tomorrow."

Rei bit back a harsh retort and wheeled herself in front of him, just a few feet away. "Break? What break?? God knows what you'll do after this, but I'm pretty sure you're going to tell all of your coward friends how I lost a player so you won. Read the rulebook, Kenshin. There's no such thing as a 'break' when you're in the middle of a freaking bet! Cowards do that, and I don't think you would be one." Rei actually expected another retort from Kenshin, but was mistaken when he raised his eyebrows and smiled smugly. "You're meaning to say, I'm not a coward as you think?" Oh god…so that's what she said to make him turn softie on her now. She shook her head. "Don't even try changing the subject, Kenshin. There is NO break in between bets. Nothing! Nada! Nothing! So what do you mean 'break'? As in lunch break, or 'break the bet' break? What?!" she argued insistently. Of course, as the part of being Rei, stubbornness is one of her strengths. If there were one quote dedicated to Rei, it would be to: "Never give up."

Again, Rei's assumptions took a wrong turn as Kenshin stepped himself forward, closing the distance between them, and placed his lips gently across hers. When he finally lifted his head, he replied to her question that was answered by his gesture. "I meant, this kind of break." He smiled at her surprised expression and turned to leave while giving her a mock salute. Rei, still dumbfounded, found herself smiling in spite of her own, and lifted her fingertips to her mouth.

As Suzuno smiled to herself, her eyes once more wandered around the place, and this time the bright light had diminished a bit as she tried to discern once again the place she was brought in. The draft and the scent were still here, though without the lily petals. But amidst the dancing light, she saw two orbs as big as snow globes stood in the middle in their tall bejeweled stands. The first orb that had a diamond on its stand had gold and white swirls inside looking like a true winter on a snow globe. The other one was slightly different. Instead of a diamond placed on its stand, there were 4 jewels: a ruby, sapphire, emerald and a diamond. The orb too was swirling with color, 4 of them actually. A red swirl symbolizing Suzaku, Blue depths as Seiryuu, A green light as Genbu, and at last yellowish-white streaks as Byakko: all in all, The Four Gods Orb.

Suzuno was actually astonished as she stepped up to the orbs and carefully inspected them. "Wow…" was all she could mutter as she stared in awe. The orbs, as legendary as the story behind it, were created by the Gods to watch for themselves the balance that existed between the book world, and the world where the chosen priestesses (or mikos) dwell within. As in Suzuno's case, creating the balance between these two different worlds is important as maintaining the relationship between them. If the worlds are unbalanced or if one was destroyed, it would create war and the book world would cease to exist.

Still, it wasn't enough reasoning that she and Tatara be separated…forever. The balance may be important, but doesn't true love always prevail? At this moment though, Suzuno hoped that she was seeing the right things that are now happening to her. Which, wouldn't have happened if she wasn't…

"Kicked right at the head. Ouch…" she mused, gently massaging the aching bump in her head with fingers now draped with white silk.

But her musings stopped as she began to realize that all that blinding light had gone, leaving it with a sufficiently-lit room that actually had marble steps in it that led right to a desk full of scrolls and ink bottles.

"I've been waiting for you, priestess."

An eloquently clad figure watched amusingly as the priestess made herself adjust to the room she was brought in. However empty it is, it doesn't lessen the fact that he has the most important job in all of universe. With a flick of his wrist, he can send her from a "playfield battle" to his domain at once. He could also write her destiny and change it within a blink of an eye, as he sees fit. He could make a thousand excuses for her whenever she forgot something important. He could alter circumstances she seems to always find herself in. How? He is Fate, the only remaining thing in the universe that is ever so constant. The only-and remaining thing- that could alter changes in life upon the traces of the stars above and his choosing, besides the Gods. It is not so often that he would grant a living thing, especially a mere priestess, a different course in life. And he doesn't usually do it without a repayment from the receiver. Dealing is what he does best, like business: You give; I give back, simple as that.

Watching her float around the room, made Fate think twice upon the decision he just made. Beautiful and elegantly clad, she was a priestess any being would give up his life for. Fate smirked. Even he could do that, for he is only human. But he didn't send her here to entice her to what he wants. Or could he?

Author's Note: Okay. (ahem) I really wasn't writing a Rei-Kenshin romance fic here- even thoughI just made them up- but I have to show you what happened during that 'time-travel' Suzuno did in the real world.

Thanks guys for the reviews. Really kept my spirits up and encouraged me to write something much longer interesting, and.....it doesn't really matter. I was holding you guys a BITTTT longer than I expected. I have midterms this week and I have to sTuDy, StUdY, Study! That is not including the projects I have to do.....(sniff) poor me...