Tsuki's jaw clenched in fury.
"If you had developed your powers the way you were supposed to, Chichiri would still have his eye. Not to mention his friends and family."
Without warning, the dragon felt an even larger drain of his power. Her vision became a world of blue-white brilliance.
She lashed out at the kami with all her anger and frustration. The action itself was a blur. Seiryu's clear blue eyes widened and he instantly felt Tsuki's fist crash against his face. The moment the two collided, the energy she had collected was released, splintering her arm and braking it under the strain. A howl of wind and power ripped through the heavens as a force capable of destroying a city burst through Tsuki…
Chapter 5 - My Reasons Are My Own
For all of the bitterness and hatred you've brought
For all I have banished and for all that I've fought
For when you have taken and crushed all my tries
For all of your talking, your coaxing, your LIES
Fine! I shall do it! I shall kill! I shall fight!
If only to correct it and make everything right
And long after the last of my arrows have flown
I'll loudly proclaim: "My reasons are my own!"
Suzaku and Aisuru arrived in a flurry of smoke and wind. The kami's crimson eyes scanned the scene. Genbu and Byakko had already arrived along with their sentinels. It seemed this was not an isolated incident. The phoenix then realized they were staring at something. Pushing through the group, Suzaku was met with an incredible sight. Seiryu, his brother Seiryu, was sprawled on the ground in a most undignified posture, while Tsuki just stared off into space from about thirty feet away blue waves of power radiating off her aura.
The Seiryu sentinel laughed miserably. She had the power to strike the cocky kami. But when it came to something so simple… The girl didn't even notice her shattered arm.
Suzaku pushed through Byakko and Genbu. The kami rushed to Tsuki, crimson eyes filled with worry. Her arm lay useless at her side. Bright red blood dripped from her fingertips.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't do it," she whispered softly. "I was right there, but I…I failed…"
Suzaku looked down at the stuttering woman his brow furrowed in confusion. He gently slipped his fingers under her chin and tilted her face up. The look in the sentinel's eyes made him uneasy.Seiryu, what have you done?
"Tsuki, what happened?" he asked, his ruby eyes clouded with apprehension
Tears sprang to her eyes once more. The phoenix kami had asked her a question, but she was unable to speak. It was then that she realized her arm was useless.
"I couldn't protect him," she whispered. The agonizing throb increased.
Suzaku was coming across a dark conclusion. The Konan deity had known the dragon was trying to break Tsuki's will, but he had underestimated the kami of War's cruelty.
"Tsuki-chan, are you going to be ok?" Aisuru asked as she took a hesitant step forward. It terrified the youngest girl to see her friend in such a state and to be utterly helpless. Miru placed a hand on her little sister's shoulder and diverted her gaze.
"The kami will take care of it," the Byakko sentinel reassured the smaller girl before looking up at the tiger kami. Enjo looked grim but he purposefully walked up to his sister in an attempt to assess the damage.
"Tsuki just take it easy for a while you can explain later ok?" he told her in a quiet voice and shot Suzaku a look. The meaning was clear: Stop asking, she's in no state to answer.
The wounded girl felt her vision begin to swim as the pain in her arm overwhelmed her senses. Her companion's voices echoed around her as she felt her strength waver. Darkness enveloped her and she collapsed. Suzaku caught her before she hit the floor. His worry was surpassed only by the anger surging within him. The youngest kami gently lowered her onto the ground, but the look in his eyes was nearing murderous proportions. If Tsuki was too weak, he would get the answers he sought from Seiryu, even if he had to tear them from the Kutou deity.
"What happened here!" demanded the phoenix kami. "YOU! What did you do to her!"
Seiryu snapped awake at his brother's infuriated shout. He sat up gingerly and rubbed his jaw, a large red welt decorated his otherwise emotionless face. Genbu extended a hand, but Seiryu jerked away and got to his feet on his own. He made as if to walk away. Never in all of his life had the Dragon been caught in such a degrading position.
"I asked you a question!" boomed the redhead his eyes flaring angrily.
"What does it look like?" hissed the dragon, infuriated at having been humiliated before his brothers. "It was as I suspected all along, she was too weak to handle a proper challenge."
"Seiryu so help me, if you don't give me a straight answer right now…"
"What!" snapped Seiryu, his azure eyes frosting over with barely contained rage, "You want to know what happened! She defied me! She dared to threaten me with walking out! So she asked me to give her a reason. So little brother I took her to Shoryuu and gave her the reason she was looking for," growled the irate dragon not really bothering to see the reaction he got from the phoenix.
Suzaku's eyes widened in realization. "You took her to Shoryuu! You knew what she would see there!"
The blue dragon turned away wordlessly. His ego had been bruised enough for one day. The last thing he needed was screeching sermon from his baby brother. Genbu made as if to usher away the phoenix, but Suzaku would hear none of it.
"Don't," rumbled the phoenix. "Don't you dare turn your back on me Seiryu. Not this time."
The dragon gave him a bored look before walking away. At that moment, all the anger and loathing that Suzaku had pent up against his brother came crashing down. The phoenix's aura became visible and spurts of flame erupted all about him. The movement was a streak of crimson and for the second time that day, Seiryu was caught by surprise. The first flame hit him between the shoulder blades sending burning lashes all the way down his spine. Blue eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in anger. His own cobalt ki sprang forth blocking Suzaku's second attack. Powerful geysers surged from his forearms and hit the wall of flames. Water hissed as it evaporated into steam and extinguished all visibility. Suddenly a lash of flame cut through the whiteness and struck against the war kami's raised forearm. Suzaku's angry scarlet eyes were dulled only by the dazzling light emitted by the symbol on his forehead. In his hands, the fire kami held a lance of flames which roared with all his anger. He raised it against Seiryu ready to strike him down, but the war kami was ready. A watery barrier stopped the lance, and in Seiryu's hand, a whip crackled with electricity. Lightning mixed with flame and exploded into a blast of divine energy.
The electric attack hit its mark, cutting Suzaku's wrist and tearing apart the emerging fireball. The phoenix jerked away from the pain brought by the onslaught. The dragon readied his whip once more, charging it up until it shone with a blinding light. Suzaku's unharmed hand cupped and a fireball took form. The deadly sphere expanded with a roar of flame until it was larger than the kami. Both deities stood poised to strike. The on looking mortals and kami were deathly silent as the Kutou heavens were filled with the snapping of contained lightning and the roar of flames. Suzaku and Seiryu exchanged murderous glares and with a great burst of ki launched their attacks…right after which the blasts fizzled and died.
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF BOTH OF YOU!" an ancient voice suddenly thundered. There was a flash of white and Taiitsu-kun appeared in their midst. Her face held a fouler look than normal. She glowered at all four kami. "Just what is going on here! Can't I leave you alone for a second without you two fools trying to kill one another!"
"Taiitsu-kun," replied Suzaku, "Seiryu…"
"I KNOW WHAT SEIRYU DID!" interrupted the small but imposing goddess. "After all these millennia, you think you would learn a little self-restraint, you air-headed fowl!" she snapped acridly and turned to the dragon. "And you! Since when does the war kami fight his own battles!"
Both affronted kami tried to speak but were silenced by a weathered finger.
"Not another word from either of you or you'll be spending the rest of eternity confined in one of my mirrors. Genbu, Byakko, take the girl to Mt. Taikyoku have the Nyan-Nyans fix her up. Suzaku, be off to your own realm and take those sentinels with you," she ordered brusquely. The three teen's faces were a mixture of awe and fear after witnessing what had just occurred.
She patiently waited until all were gone and took a deep cleansing breath before addressing the dragon. "There was no need to take it this far Seiryu. Even you can't be that blind to human emotion."
Seiryu did not meet her gaze. "I did what had to be done. I will make her powerful."
Taiitsu-kun pressed her lips together and shook her head. "There was one which you gave much power, but he didn't serve you," she said softly. "The shogun Nakago was powerful indeed, and a lot of good it did you."
Seiryu remained silent so she tried a different approach.
"You never understood how Suzaku could have won. Your brother gave more than power to his seishi. He forged a bond with them, and they followed him willingly; that is why Suzaku won, and that, my son, is why you will always lose."
"I don't need sentimentality right now," he replied coldly.
"No, what you need is ice and a good burn salve," replied the creator wryly
He glared at her bitterly. Even Taiitsu-kun seemed amused by his ill fortune.
"Seiryu," her tone was grave, "I have given you many warnings these past weeks. I thought I had made it clear. These humans are not your toys. They belong to another realm; we are merely borrowing them."
"They are weak, pathetic mortals," he snapped angrily, "and unless I'm allowed to properly train her, that is all she will ever amount to."
"Seiryu," cut in Taiitsu-kun fixing him with a stern glare, "you have left me no choice. I will not stand aside while you continue to mistreat the poor mortal girl. I am returning Tsuki to Suzaku, and he shall determine who will continue her training."
"She's mine!" he all but snarled, "I am the Lord of Kutou! You, your Ladyship, are in my realm, and I am more than willing to go without your emotional outburst! You know very well that without my consent Suzaku cannot continue his little ploy! SO SPARE ME YOUR WEAK ATTEMPTS AT INTIMIDATION!"
Taiitsu-kun's anger flared. "Spoiled child! Do not for one second think you can threaten me like you do your brothers! This universe operated quite well without you before and it can do so again!"
"Really, mother is that what you think?" his voice was smooth and level, but dripped with venom. "Now who is the one launching threats?"
"Seiryu I'm warning you…" the creator never finished for in that instant a surge of electricity cut her off. The bolt was meant to strike her down, but she deflected it effortlessly. Taiitsu-kun's retribution was swift. The very same attack that was meant to harm her warped and lashed out at Seiryu forming a cage around him.
"Troublesome boy!" she exclaimed and snapped her fingers. Instantly the dragon was submitted to a taste of his own power magnified through Taiitsu-kun's manipulation. The harsh electric crackles drowned out his howls of pain. With another sharp snap of her fingers the torment ended.
"Have I made my point?" she asked him icily.
The dragon kami fell to his knees defeated and exhausted.
"He'll ruin her," he replied after a long pause, "but you can do what you like."
-O.o-
It was bright when Tsuki woke up. The first thing she noticed was how numb everything felt. She grunted as she struggled to sit up, but the lead in her body kept her down. She finally gave up and simply stared at the ceiling. There was so much going through her mind and none of it good. Failure seized her heart in a vice and she felt the pain of oncoming tears sting her eyes. I could have saved him, she thought sadly, I could have spared him all that pain.
"But I was too weak," she muttered. All that anger and rebellion against Seiryu was only harming my training. Her thoughts were cut off by the sound of a door opening. Tsuki then saw the tall crimson figure of Suzaku walking towards her.
"I told the Nyan-Nyans to heal your arm. Are you well now?" he asked, concern written in his eyes.
She nodded in response.
"I feel I should apologize to you," the kami said in a soft yet troubled voice, "I had seen the way he treated you and yet I did nothing."
"No, I'm the one who should apologize." she said and Suzaku was surprised to find her tone tinged in frustration. "I was always contradicting Seiryu, always finding fault in what he taught me. When the time came for me to actually do something… When I had the chance to really make a difference, I couldn't! I failed! Utterly and horribly!"
Suzaku's eyes softened and followed by something akin to anger deep within them. "No, you weren't meant to protect him from that. How could you? None of you can protect yourselves much less someone else. Seiryu purposely showed you something which you could never prevent. What he did was simply an attempt to break you to his will."
If anything, the news deepened her dislike of the Kutou deity, and yet it brought no relief. "It's not fair," her whisper bordered on a sob as she recalled the sheer agony on Houjun's face. "He deserved a better fate, it's not fair."
She suddenly found herself embraced by strong arms. "No, it wasn't fair," murmured the phoenix softly, "and it pains me that he had to live through that a second time. But you cannot let that stop you. The time will come where his life and all the others will depend on you. You will have to be strong then, and protect them with all your heart as you cannot now."
Tsuki looked up and was surprised to see tears welling in Suzaku's ruby eyes. It was then that Tsuki realized just how much the kami cared for his seishi.
"I will," she replied with determination, "when I am strong enough to become a proper sentinel, I will protect them. I swear to you Suzaku-sama, I won't fail you."
The fire deity smiled at her. "I know you won't. Seiryu didn't deserve to have you under his guidance; it was only right that Taiitsu-kun took you away."
Tsuki blinked confusedly. "What?"
"You are no longer under Seiryu's charge," he practically beamed at her, "Taiitsu-kun was very displeased with what he had done, so she put you under my care."
"You mean, I won't have to go back with him?" Tsuki gawked. She couldn't believe her good fortune.
"Never again, I thought that might make you happy."
"It does! Thank you Suzaku-sama!" she cried as she hugged him with all her strength. The Phoenix chuckled and patted her head as he received what was probably the first non-violent hug of his entire life.
-XD-
In the days that followed Tsuki could clearly see the difference in the kami's teaching methods. At first Suzaku began teaching the former Seiryu sentinel balance, only to later discover she had already mastered such concepts; Tsuki's speed and stamina surpassed his expectations for that of a beginner.
"It appears my brother wasn't wasting time," Suzaku had murmured to himself, a bit put off that Seiryu had managed to prove himself a competent teacher. He then turned and addressed Tsuki, "Well it seems you are quite a few lengths ahead of Aisuru. But don't worry Tsuki-chan, we'll find something suitable soon enough."
That had been three days ago. Currently she sat within the coolness of her room staring into her pond which magically reflected what Suzaku and Aisuru were doing. She silently observed and waited for the time when Suzaku would call her to join them in the Konan skies. Off on the other side of the room scrolls were littered all over her desk and the dummy had been punched so much the white marks had rubbed off. There was little else she could do to entertain herself, although Tsuki was eyeing some of the weapons mounted on her wall. She itched to touch the sleek curves of a scythe set on a sapphire handle. Then again, a set of twin swords gleamed in the light daring her to pick them up. The college girl almost did but the voice of reason stopped her. She was in no way skilled enough to handle her powers much less a weapon. With a dejected sigh she looked back down at the pool's rippling surface.
She had to hand it to him; the Phoenix was incredibly patient with his sentinel. He slowly explained each step guiding the youngest girl so as to tap into her greatest potential. Tsuki raised her fingers to push up glasses that were no longer there. The fingers then strayed to the bridge of her nose, rubbing it as if she were fighting back a migraine. Suzaku was great and all, but this way of teaching…this manner of coaxing skill into a person…it was so slow!
Tsuki suddenly froze. She was criticizing a deity! More importantly, she was proving just how ungrateful she was! The older girl mentally cursed as she got up and stalked out her door. I'm free of that sadistic bastard! So why am I sulking? She idly wandered through the corridors in search of something, anything to occupy her mind. She opened several doors none of which had anything more interesting than a flower vase behind them. Her hunt took her into a dead end with a pair of ominous double doors looming before her.
"Now things are getting interesting," she grinned and pushed opened the doors.
There was a corridor behind them made of a pale marble which took on a bluish hue in the darkness. Large oval mirrors hung on each side, glowing in a steady pulse. The doors closed silently behind her as the college girl entered. As she passed each mirror she could see different landscapes in their soft glow. A busy city, the heart of a forest, a seashore…all of them with a mirror of their own. Tsuki spared each looking glass a brief glance as she traveled deeper and deeper into the winding corridor. Suddenly, the sentinel caught a glimpse of cobalt armor in the soft light. She gasped and froze.
Seiryu had his back towards her and was staring deep into the mirror. Arching her neck, Tsuki saw the glowing image it showed. It was a city overrun by slums and crime. Even the people looked unhappy and ready to pounce. The broken buildings gave way to sturdy walls surrounding a palace whose lavish decorations seemed obscene amidst the poverty surrounding it. Tsuki knew the sorry picture she was looking at was Kutou.
"How did it get this way?" she asked softly causing Seiryu to wince in surprise.
"Does my idiot brother know you're wandering around aimlessly?" the dragon asked impassively, not once glancing her way.
"Yes…er…no…he's not an idiot!" she found herself babbling.
Seiryu grunted.
"You didn't answer my question," insisted Tsuki, "You're supposed to be the guardian beast of that country. How could you let it get so bad?"
The kami didn't spare her a glance. He didn't have to explain himself to the likes of her. What would a mere girl know about the limitations of working with the selfish. It was hardly his fault if the seishi refused to serve him and destroyed what remained of his kingdom instead of saving it. No, he would tell her nothing of the sort. She could think whatever she pleased about the situation in Kutou.
"Is that you just don't care or that the job was too much for you?" Tsuki threw out carelessly. At this Seiryu spun around and gave her the most threatening glare she had ever received. Tsuki felt her throat run dry. "Just curious…" she squeaked as the dragon kami cornered her.
"You are the last person who should be criticizing my guardian skills. If I remember correctly you weren't so capable yourself," he hissed closing the distance between them and staring into her eyes.
She forced her heart to stop imitating a hummingbird on crack and returned the stare. "That wasn't a fair test," she said almost voicelessly, "you knew I was going to fail."
"And you didn't disappoint," finished the dragon kami.
"So why did you even give it to me then?" she was quickly getting over his intimidating presence.
"My own reasons," he rumbled and pulled away.
"SEE! This is exactly what I mean!" Tsuki lost her temper at the ever-arrogant kami. "Every time I try to get a little humanity out of you…you act like a five-year old!"
Blue slitted eyes narrowed at her. "I am far above a mere human."
"BUT YOU CAN STILL FEEL!" she demanded her eyes glaring daggers into him.
"What is everyone's obsession with turning me into my brother!" he retorted with thinly veiled exasperation.
Tsuki felt like bashing her head against the nearby mirror. She wondered if all men, kami and otherwise were this obstinate and narrow minded. There was an awkward silence between them. As much as she hated to do so, the girl realized she would have to be the mature one and patch things over. It was difficult since Seiryu made her want to throw a tantrum that would put any toddler to shame.
"Ok, Seiryu you win," she told him in the tone reserved for her most asinine instructors, "I admit I hated every second I spent under your teaching, but I never would have gotten as far as I have without you."
"Which really isn't far at all," he sneered.
Tsuki bit back a retort. Humble, we're being humble, she told herself repeatedly. "Hai Seiryu-sama, I really have only started," she braced herself for what she was about to say, "but if you help me…if you give me the strength I need, I will serve you without question and I'll help restore the glory of Kutou." She finished her sentence by kneeling to him. She felt ridiculous but the sentinel knew this would be the only way to handle the war kami.
As she knelt at his feet, Seiryu was struck with a mixture of surprise and amusement. He was used to acts of groveling by the mortals of his realm, but he had never suspected that the headstrong girl would be able to swallow her pride. The dragon inwardly grinned, this was working out perfectly. He would get his sentinel back and she would be committed to his cause without him having to cajole her into it. Better yet, he could save face by claiming she had been the one who had submitted herself under his will. Tsuki had asked for his help, not the other way around.
"Very well, I shall give you a second chance," he all but purred, "however I expect unwavering loyalty and devotion from you."
The look of contempt on Seiryu's face was enough to make Tsuki's stomach churn. Still, one couldn't argue with results. Tsuki got to her feet and dusted her hands.
" 'sta bien. Now all we need to do is tell Suzaku and…" (Supposed to be: Esta bien--- Literally: "It's good"--- Meaning: "Ok then")
They were interrupted by burst of flames in the heart of which was a very ticked-off phoenix god.
"Ne…Seiryu-sama, I think I'll let you explain," squeaked Tsuki after witnessing that impressive fiery display.
"What is going on here!" Suzaku snapped at the dragon kami.
Seiryu stared at his younger as if the southern guardian were a petulant child just asking for a whipping. "Though I fail to see how it concerns you, the girl was striking a bargain with me. She receives the honor of being my servant once more and in return I train her."
Scarlet eyes glared at the dragon. "Don't test my patience Seiryu. You know very well the sentinels are off limits; you have no power over Tsuki."
"Are you this stupid naturally, Suzaku, or does some effort go into it?" snarled Seiryu, "Tsuki came to me. Your shoddy training has obviously done nothing but slow her down, so she struck a deal with me of her own free will. This is beyond your or Taiitsu-kun's restrictions. It is a legal and binding contract between the two of us."
The phoenix opened and shut his mouth as the words failed to register correctly. He turned to the girl in question in a mixture of confusion and betrayal. What his brother had spoken made no sense. Seiryu had abused her, why would she agree to return to him? "Tsuki, why would you do that?"
"Because, idiot, only pond scum have teachings skills worse than yours," replied the Kutou deity in a flat tone.
"Iie!" she exclaimed over Seiryu's comment, "Anou…Suzaku-sama, I'm flattered that you would want to prepare me but… I… I wasn't thinking about Seiryu being a bastard towards me or how hard it's going to be to live up to his expectations. I just want to keep my promise to you. I want to help and I want to be the best I can. You already have your hands full with Aisuru, I figured the original arrangement was best."
"A nice little speech to say exactly what I already clarified," mumbled the dragon giving them an icy look.
Suzaku ignored his older brother and stared at Tsuki. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I want to make a difference next time, and if it means putting up with Seiryu, then yes," nodded the college girl.
The redheaded kami clenched his fists and gave Seiryu a menacing glare. "If anything happens to her, believe me Seiryu I will personally throw you in the darkest pit of Hades. And this time, dear brother, Taiitsu-kun won't be there to save you."
The older kami yawned. "Are you done?"
The phoenix stepped back and looked at both the sentinel and kami. There was sympathy in his gaze for Tsuki as well as icy determination for Seiryu.
"I will be watching," he stated coolly before disappearing in a blanket of red haze.
A moment of silenced passed between the newly reconciled pair.
"So I'm a bastard am I? And you 'put up' with me?" asked the dragon with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
"Anou," Tsuki stammered, "I really…um…I…"
"I think you need a little reminder of just who you're dealing with," he interrupted the sentinel. Tsuki swallowed hard. Yes, things were definitely back to normal.
-XD-
From deep within Mt. Taikyoku an ancient figure chuckled as she looked into a large mirror. Taiitsu-kun had been secretly keeping tabs on the four gods for some time now. She shook her head in amusement. It seemed her dragon child would never learn to get along with others; but then that had always been his nature. He had been quite unsociable growing up, a definite change from the tiger who seemed to believe everything was a game. When she had finally gotten around to creating Suzaku, the dragon took it as an opportunity to practice his throws. A vision of Nyan-Nyans desperately running to catch an air-borne Seiryu who held a fragile phoenix egg as a football swirled within the mirror. Growing up, Seiryu had perfected the act of irritating Suzaku to the point where he burst into flames to a science.
Yes, her child was prone to tantrums and was quite the handful. She sighed, today had been the first time in a millennia that she had been forced to punish the kami. I was sure those days were behind us Seiryu. I had hoped you had matured. But his little rebellious outburst had proven otherwise. It almost made her wish she had stopped creating deities with Genbu. The tortoise had always been a quiet, dutiful boy.
"Everything a mother could want," she laughed because she knew that despite their flaws she cared for all four of her sons. Regardless of her threats, Taiitsu-kun knew that even if Seiryu destroyed half of the world, she would never take his life. The creator was fond of her bothersome dragon.
"It seems not much has really changed," the creator mused, "but perhaps a little light will break over my obstinate child."
And so the years passed. The four teenagers worked hard for soon the time would come where the fate of the seven celestial warriors would rest upon their shoulders. They cultivated their strength, valor and intelligence, for these would be the only stability once the flood gates burst open.
O.T.: Whew! This little chappie took a while! Hehehe.
Muses: (scowl)
O.T.: Uh-oh... not the glare. (hides behind Seiryu)
Seiryu: (death glare)
O.T.: (Chibi runs in circles) Why does everyone hate me! I got it out didn't I! (sigh) It got even better because I have a BETA EDITOR! (glomps Otaku no Miko) See! She loves me! Yep, she pointed out my glaring incompetence and made this chappie AWESOME! And now, to ze reviews!
Ryochan8: Nu! Don't die! It took a while but here's the chap. (nervous laugh)
Koneko03: Whew, I'm glad I didn't lose you in the chap. I was worried everyone would totally get lost and stop reading. (sweatdrop) Ah yes, poor worm, but it had pretty good medical benefits. Oh and don't worry, I'll "manage the sentinels/seishi" all right. (insane gigglez)
Maeleana: Updated! And don't worry, I know ALL about keeping up with fics.
Nytingale: Tsuki's raging point refers to the point where she loses all control because she's angry, upset etc. I SHALL REVEAL NO PAIRINGS! (stashes list) You'll just have to tune in. Hehehe!
Ou Yang Jing: Alright! I luv being original! Quite honestly, the FY section of FFnet is getting cluttered with the same bland fluffy crap. NO BLANDNESS HERE! Yesh, I luff the Gin Aki as well, I'm currently working on it. A beta is basically an editor. Someone who reads throught the fic and spellchecks it and gives me their input. OTAKU NO MIKO IZ MAH NEW BETAH! (dances) Sorry I didn't email, it's been hectic on my side. I hope this chappy makes up for it!
beccajiang: YAY! More praise! I loff the 4 kami, they just needed more screen time. I shall continue to update, even if it kills me...which it probably will. (sweatdrop)
Dark Priestess Kodachi: No, no, no don't plead! Ooh, a squeaky mallet! HA! Lucky she says. Hehe, maybe I WILL give my muses to you!
Otaku-no-miko: Aw...Seiryu isn't THAT bad is he? Well I thrashed him around a bit this chappy so maybe that makes up for it. By the by, I LOVE LONG REVIEWS! GIMME LONG REVIEWS!
Noyesgirl: Updated! Do you still love it? (laughs and sweatdrop)