Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Okay, I got enough reviews. I'll update. (grin) Again, I tried to be as original as I could, so please give me some credit! It was hard writing this segment without accidently using other people's stuff...(cries) Anyway, I did my best. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I anticipate at least two more. Ah, more Tasuki fluff and some drama.

Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism welcome.

"For whatever reason, I'm not dead," Kae sighed, staggering to her feet despite her body's screaming protests of agony. Taking in her surroundings at a glance, she nodded to herself, confirming her suspicions. "This is the core – I have to be here," she told herself firmly, taking a deep breath and almost gagging. The stench of foulness and evil energy filled the air, and blackness was all she was able to distinguish with her eyes.

Frowning in determination, she made her way forward with effort, the child's image stuck in the foremost part of her mind, urging her on. She stumbled back when a wave of energy hit her, and shook her head to clear her senses.

"That was it," she realized, glaring at the darkness in front of her. "That's where whatever it is – is inside me. That's what I have to destroy." Keeping her mind firmly fixed on the task ahead – and not daring to imagine what could happen if she failed – Kae approached the growing power, only able to walk through sheer stubbornness and anger. Those thoughts fled her mind in the next instant, however, giving rise to a reluctant sense of awe at the sight before her.

A huge sphere hovered several feet off the ground in front of her, and looked as if it could easily hold Kae, along with the four Warriors, with room to spare. It was a swirling mass of black and dark-lavender lights, with small pale-blue, almost white, bolts shooting out from it every so often. At its core was a blackness Kae had never seen before – so black it seemed to glow white, and pulsed with an energy that threatened to draw her in to her death.

"That…what is it?" she wondered, whispering to herself to reassure herself that she was still alive. She tried to approach it, but was flung onto her back by another wave of energy, this one much stronger than the previous one. Grunting with pain, Kae pushed herself upright and stared at it, when a voice suddenly entered her head.

"That…you must destroy it, Kae. My time is drawing to a close…hurry…"

"Damn," she moaned, wavering as she got to her feet, the child's plea echoing in her mind. "Chichiri said…I need to use my untainted chi to destroy it. But how can anything be untainted with this thing near?" she wondered, a sudden feeling of disgust rising in her throat as she gazed at it. Taking a step back, she closed her eyes in an effort to block the thing from her mind, and tried to draw her power in on herself, wrapping it around her as she did the mist.

She knew, even without her eyes open, that her power was moving around her, shielding her from the tainted chi that threatened to destroy her. Opening her eyes, she pulled more chi to her, and didn't realized that as she did, the tainted chi was also drawn to her, becoming pure as it drew closer. Soon, whirling threads of chi surrounded Kae, interweaving in an intricate pattern. Suddenly, a symbol appeared on the core of the sphere. It glowed briefly, and Kae suddenly was thrown even farther back, almost knocking her unconscious.

"Fuck this…" she muttered, crawling to her knees and hanging her head. "I need…I need to be stronger. I can't do it like this!" she cried, tears falling from her eyes onto the blackness before her. "I need help…" she whispered, as images of her companions filled her mind. Thoughts of the four gods also came into her chi, strengthening it beyond her belief. Feeling the power grow and threaten to explode, Kae realized that she finally was strong enough to combat the evil before her.

Lifting her head, she went to rise to her feet – and realized she was hovering in the air, high above the sphere. Her eyes widened in shock, and something caught the corner of her. Focusing on it, Kae saw with shock that large wings had sprouted from her shoulder blades – narrower than any she had seen, but glowing with a binding white, her chi having created them somehow.

"All right, then…please, give me strength," she prayed, not even sure who she was addressing. Focusing her pure chi inside her, she outstretched her hands and created a circle with her two thumbs and index fingers, centering the now-violently pulsing sphere in her sights. Not even sure what she was doing, Kae released her chi with a burst of energy, and stared in surprise when the feathers of her wings shot toward the sphere, like glowing daggers from her fingertips.

She dropped to the ground as the wings disappeared, and landed heavily, drained of power. She could barely manage to keep her eyes open long enough to see the chi expand and surround the blackness. A blinding light suddenly shot from them, and in the next instant Kae found herself in another forest – this one seeming more pure than before.

"Thank you," the child said, before she registered that it was standing before her. It was once more clean and healthy, but something seemed even more bright about its chi. "You saved me – and yourself, you know."

"I didn't…you're…" she tried to thank the child, or say 'you're welcome', but her head landed on the soft grass before the words could pass her lips. The child observed her for a moment before crouching beside her and pressing a finger to her forehead. A thin stream of chi seemed to pass between him, and Kae gasped as if ice water had suddenly been poured onto her, sitting up with a start.

"Now you can return to your friend," the child said with a smile. "He's still waiting for you."

"Chichiri!" Kae remembered, and thoughts of the two Warriors suddenly flooded into her mind. "And Tasuki…"

"Go, now. Your work here has been completed," the child urged, pulling her to her feet. "You'll see me again, don't worry. And I'll see you again."

"What?" she pressed, but all questions disappeared from her mind when she caught a glimpse of Chichiri, standing far away. The child disappeared without notice as Kae rushed toward the monk, feeling as if new life had been poured into her. "Chichiri!" she yelled, and the Warrior lifted his head in surprise. He barely had time to realize Kae was back before she rushed into his embrace, clinging to him as tears blinded her view. "Chichiri…" she managed, gripping him tightly.

"You're all right, no da," he sighed in relief, more weakened than he showed. Kae sensed the change, however, and leaned back to inspect him.

"Chichiri! You're almost drained!" she realized in despair, but he grinned weakly at her.

"I'm fine, no da."

"No – and it's because of me," she realized, and brought her hand to her cheek. "You've been so good to me, Chichiri – let me help you." Before the monk could protest, he felt chi flowing once more from Kae into him, but sensed a stronger presence in the chi this time. He quickly felt better, and took her hand firmly.

"We have to get back, no da," he told her with a smile. "Everyone's sure to be worried, no da."

"Of course," Kae nodded, following him towards another vortex. Chichiri eyed her covertly, however, sensing a new strength in her, but something else – a resolve that seemed to flow through her, but the cause was unknown to him.

"You're all right!" Subaru said thankfully, as the pair opened their eyes, Kae with a gasp and Chichiri as if he had just been asleep for a bit. "You are all right, aren't you?" she checked, as Tokaki helped Chichiri to his feet and move to a more comfortable seat. Tasuki remained next to Kae, seemingly in shock, as she blinked a few times to adjust her eyes to natural light and looked around.

"Tasuki?" she began, but gasped again when he suddenly pulled her into a tight hug, one arm firmly clamped around her waist as the other stroked the back of her head.

"Ya had me worried fer a while," he said roughly, cheek pressed against her hair. "I almost had a heart attack!"

"I'm fine – so's Chichiri," she offered, slipping her arm around his neck comfortingly, aware of a bit embarrassment as the other three observed them from the corner of their eyes. "Honestly, Tasuki, I'm fine!" she added, as if she was comforting him.

"Well, I'm glad," Tasuki said gruffly, suddenly turning red and releasing her from his grip – for the most part, keeping a snug arm around her.

"Looks like whatever was in there is gone now, from what Chichiri says," Tokaki said to break the awkward silence, and clapped the monk on his back. "Good going, monk!"

"Kae was the one who did it all," he protested, but Kae shook her head with a grin.

"Too modest, Chichiri," she teased him, and they were aware of a change in her. "You're the one who told me what to do, remember?"

"Yeah, but…no da," he sighed, deciding it wasn't worth the effort to argue with the group.

"Let's have a feast to celebrate!" Tokaki suggested, and Subaru clapped her hands in excitement.

"Yes – I haven't cooked for so many in a long time!" she nodded eagerly, and just as quickly left the room to make the preparations.

"What do I do?" Kae asked, and Tokaki burst out laughing. The other three got the feeling that it was his way of releasing the stress he had been under, and shrugged it off.

"Do?" he repeated with a chuckle. "You've done enough! All you do now, Kae, is take it easy and wait for Subaru to finish the feast I'm sure she's busy on already. Why don't you go for a walk to see the village? Take Tasuki with you," he suggested with a smirk, and Chichiri nodded with a grin of his own.

"That's a good idea, no da," he agreed, and turned to his friend. "Well, Tasuki? Be a gentleman, no da!"

"Ah, shut up," he grumbled, but took Kae's arm suddenly and stalked out of the house, as a surprised Kae tried to protest.

"It's pretty big," Kae commented, as Tasuki kept a firm grasp on her hand, looking around while they strolled around the streets. "Is this the capital of Xi-Lang?"

"Yep," he nodded. "I've been here once before – when we were searchin' fer the Shentso-Pao with Miaka."

"Chichiri told me some about that," she said. "It sounds like it was a hard journey to make."

"Yeah, well…ya seem different," Tasuki said abruptly, catching her off-guard.

"Huh?" she stammered, looking up at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I dunno," he managed, suddenly tongue-tied. "It's just…yer actin' different, that's all. Yer attitude seems…I dunno, damn it!"

"Calm down and stop making a scene," Kae said smoothly, patting his arm with a grin. "Start acting like an adult."

"Like that!" Tasuki yelped, apparently quite disturbed and pulling his arm away from her. A hurt crossed over her face before it settled into a calm expression, and she gazed at him coolly.

"Like what?" she pressed, still not sure what the bandit was talking about. "I thought I was still the same!"

"Yer actin'…different!" he protested stubbornly. "Like yer older or somethin' – not like the Kae who yelled at me all the time!"

"Oh, so you want me to be a lethargic, cranky young woman?" she retorted, her temper flaring. "I'll go ask Keung Xi-Wang if he can put that…that…thing back inside me, then!" she spat out, and Tasuki seemed to panic when he realized she was really angry at him. "How's that?" she demanded, glaring at the Suzaku Warrior. "And then you can go back to sulking, and I'll just spend the rest of my life in a coma until he decides to finish me off! Would that make you happy, Tasuki?"

"N-no!" he stammered, but Kae was already too angry to listen and whirled around. "Kae – damn it, get back here!" he yelled, stalking after the retreating young woman.

"I don't take orders from you!" she shouted back, attempting to disappear into the crowd. Unfortunately for her, the confused people in the crowd weren't about to get in her way, and parted to let her stomp through. And Tasuki was a bandit, after all, and wasn't about to let her get away so easily. Using his real Suzaku Warrior power, his speed, he moved quicker than Kae was able to realize and scooped her up, disappearing past the crowd and leaving the poor people very curious and confused.

"Put me down!" she spluttered, trying to push herself out of his grasp. Tasuki didn't reply, and only tightened his grip around her. Kae decided to quiet down in an attempt to pacify the obviously pissed-off Warrior, and lay limp in his arms while she waited for him to finally stop – or at least slow down.

"There ya go," he grunted, and she yelped as he unceremoniously dumped her onto the ground. Her bottom hitting the ground with a 'thud', she got to her feet with several grumbles and rubbing her sore spot, glaring at the Warrior.

"Where the hell are we?" she demanded, realizing that Xi-Lang was no where in sight, and sand dunes rose around them.

"Where you can cool off," he replied stiffly, crossing his arms stubbornly. "Ya were causin' a scene back there."

"You started it!" she shot back angrily. "Tasuki, take me back! Right now!"

"Nope."

"What?" she demanded, her voice going very calm and quiet.

"I'm keepin' ya here until ya figure out what the hell's wrong with ya," Tasuki argued. "I liked the old Kae better – the one who kept yellin' at me and not actin' like a friggin' empress."

"You have some against royalty?" she asked stiffly, and the bandit only eyed her. Kae considered trying to get back on her own, and decided that it wasn't going to be worth her effort just to get lost in the desert. She flopped down onto the sand with a sigh, and Tasuki gazed at her suspiciously, curious why she wasn't trying to beat him to a pulp.

"Ya feelin' alright?" he asked hesitantly several hours later. The moon was high in the sky above them, but he was surprised Chichiri wasn't already there to get them. Kae didn't look at, playing with the sand in front of her, and he muttered something under his breath before he dropped to a crouch in front of her and examined her. "I said, do ya feel – ow!"

"That's for dragging me out here," she said firmly, as the bandit yelped and staggered away from her, holding the cheek she had just punched.

"Yer a damn violent woman!" he accused, and she only eyed him.

"Take me back."

"No!"

"Tasuki!"

"No!"

"Tasuki…I'm fine," Kae sighed, finally tired and hungry enough to admit defeat. "I really am. I…I just realized what I have to do, that's all."

"Do? Do what?" he demanded, striding back up to her as she rose to her feet stiffly. "Kae! Do what?" he pressed, as she stared at the ground before her and didn't answer him. Growling, he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him, forcing her to look up at him. "Do what, damn it?" he repeated, but she only shrugged.

"It's nothing, honest," she replied calmly, but he sensed something else in her tone.

"Kae…"

"Honest, Tasuki!" she protested, her eyes finally meeting his. He saw with shock that her eyes were glistening in the dim moonlight with unshed tears, and immediately felt guilty while he blamed himself for her tears. "Tasuki, please…take me back," she asked quietly, staring back at the sand.

"What do ya have ta do?" he forced out calmly, unconsciously tightening his grip on her arm in preparation for her answer.

"I…please, Tasuki…" Kae whispered, and something inside Tasuki dropped into his stomach.

"Kae, what do ya have ta do?" he demanded firmly, dreading the answer.

"I can't…I can't tell you," she admitted finally. "But, Tasuki…please, just promise you won't leave me."

"Leave ya?" he repeated in surprise, staring down at her in wonderment. Seeing her form beside him at night, the thought occurred to him how much smaller she was than him, and seemed almost fragile and delicate in her robes. "Why the hell would I do that?"

"Just promise!" she said, her voice suddenly risen to a shout, as if she was panicking. "Tasuki, please! I'm begging you…"

"Ya don't have ta beg me ta do that," he replied roughly, pulling her to him once more. "But I promise, then. I won't leave ya ever, Kae – really."

"Thank you…" she managed, pressed against his torso. She blinked in surprise when he suddenly pulled back and looked down at her, and blinked at him. "Tasuki…what…"

"Last time was a mistake," he told her briefly, before leaning down and pressing his lips against hers firmly. She stiffened at first, but when he persisted she relaxed against him and gently returned the caress. When he pulled back, he saw in amazement tears trailing down her face, and groaned. "Kae…I'm sorry, I didn't…"

"It's not you," she replied quickly, wiping them away with her sleeve. "Really, it's just…can we go now? I'm hungry," she admitted with a weak laugh, and grasped his neck when he swung her up bridal-style.

"All right – they're prob'ly wonderin' where the hell we are anyway," he agreed, and she gasped as he sped off again, this time back toward the city.

Ha! I'm not telling what she has to do, so there! Please review and let me know what you think.