((Ho ho ho! The time has come to say: If only I could own Fushigi Yugi today! But I don't- what's that you say? Yes, arigato, I own the other stuff anyway! But today- this day- I would surely like to say, thank you for the reviews by-the-way! It really speaks to me, in a non-flickering sun ray. O-kay, o-kay! Ta-da!

Oh, and Suzu-ACK...(gets disconnected):

Well, please enjoy the sho-o-ow! ))

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"Calm down Suzuno! I'll be...Yes...I swear- I can't believe it happened again! I'll be straight over...No, Miaka will understand; she isn't here anyway. Don't worry; hang tight until I get there...Okay. Bye."

Yui gently nestled her home phone into the reciever, something banging in her chest. Even the cool night breeze, gliding over her skin, couldn't stop the drops of sweat carressing down her forehead. She dabbed them away with her sweater sleeve, mind whirling with thoughts.

Suzunos father is a demon, she thought savagely. He carries on at her and...I just don't understand him. Suzuno deserves someone like Mitsukake- he'd be a much better father...Oh, what am I saying? I need to leave! She glanced around her. Miaka...where are you?

As soon as Yui had dashed through her apartment doors she had assumed she would recieve a cheery, "Hi Yui-chan!" or "Yay! Yui-chan, you're a little late, but dinners waiting for you warm an' ready! Let's eat!" from Miaka.

However, the only sound Yui was greeted with when she came home was silence. Pure silence, sheer in form that crashed into her. Miaka hadn't said anything at all about coming home late. Of course, they didn't have cell phones yet but...when Yui had shut the door, and checked the surface of the living room table, she couldn't even find a note to say where Miaka had gone; explaining her absence. It made her nervous; not knowing where her friend was, and she had sat on the couch, waiting for Miaka until the phone had rang thinking anguished thoughts.

I wonder, she had thought, if it has something to do with Tamahome? Could he...have called her? God, if that's the case...She sighed with reliefe just thinking about it. I understand why she isn't telling me now- probably upset...but still, I wish I knew for sure! Miaka could at least give me a call...I can't help feeling like this; she's been so unstable these past months- I have no idea what she might do...Although, if I think hard about it, she's been a bit cheery this past month...

Their apartment; one kitchen, one bathroom, two bedrooms and a living room you entered as soon as you opened the door...it all felt strangely cold without Miaka, or someone with a good heart and great company to heat it up.

For some odd reason Chichiri formed in Yuis head. She blushed. She hadn't...she hadn't meant a man to heat the...It wasn't...She touched her cheeks; they felt hot. "Mn!" She shook her head. She shouldn't be thinking like this- especially since Miaka was nowhere to be found and Suzuno needed her...but, it wasn't as if such things didn't cross her mind now and again. She was in college; it was about time she seriously considered dating someone...High time actu-

No; her exams- her family would kill her, hate her harder if they knew she were goofing off with some... man, while still in school. No matter her age or educational level, if she were still in school, there would be no making merry. With a wave of her hand Yui shook away the thought of Chichiri(although it proved much more difficult than it should be !). Then again, they probably wouldn't approve of her brushing her studies aside so easily just because she didn't know the whereabouts of a friend either...

Actually, if she were honest, she would admit that she was partially glad that Miaka wasn't here; she wouldn't have to worry about her tongue slipping out the information about Tamahomes unexpected arrival.

Dollar Head, Yui thought with a sigh. Keep it together; you can make it Tamahome. I'm sure you can. Hurry back...

Even as Yui bundled herself in her puffed brown jacket and left her home, she still felt anxious; about Miaka, about Tamahome, Suzuno...but she noticed, a bit sadly, that she didn't feel too concerned with herself.

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"Eh?"

"Yui-chan..."

"Suzuno-chan..?"

Celestial Night, a rusty, yet quite popular resturant buzzed with chit-chat, the sounds of dishes mixng together with it. It was a well-lit place, rectangular in size; with wood tables, chairs- glasses and silverware everywhere dipping into food. It bustled steadily, even at 9 at night.

"Suzuno-chan..." Yui sat down, across from her friend near the back. It had been a bit hard, but after a spotting a few meek waves she was able to see Suzuno. "What's...? Suzuno-chan, I thought you were upset...? You were crying so hard on the phone..." Yui stared, puzzled at her friend, who seemed normal enough; no tears or anything in sight. In fact, she looked quite content.

"Mn." Suzuno, dressed in a casual yet unwrinkled dress, blushed. Her blonde hair was similiar to Yuis, yet much longer, twisted into two low ponytails. Her soft, yet sad eyes definetly weren't the same as Yuis though. In Yuis opinion, they were what made Suzunos atmosphere, besides her good nature, so calm and gentle...

Suzuno fiddled with the straw of her rosy-colored drink before her on the table. "Yui-chan...I'm sorry..."

"About what?"

"N-Nuriko-kun has been talking to me. I...feel somewhat better, but I want to apologize...for sounding so chaotic on the phone. You have Miaka to worry about all ready...I'm sorry for adding stress onto you..." Suzuno raised her face to Yui. "You must all ready be busy studying, and then I called like that..."

"No, no- come on Suzuno-chan. We're good friends; childhood friends; there's nothing to apologize for. I wanted to get out any- Wait. Did...did you say Nuriko?" Yuis eyes widened at the thought. "The goof who used to crossdress when we were little kids, our Nuri-KOO! Oh that's cold!"

"And who's the goof ,who's being called a goof ,by a goof, eh?" A familiar young man, cloaked as one of the Celestial Night waitors asked, an eyebrow raised. He held an ice-cold beverage to Yuis cheek, startling her.

"Nur...Nuriko! It really is you!" Yui cried. She touched her cheek, glanced at Nuriko then smiled. "You're out the hospital already? I had no idea...you didn't say a peep when I went to visit last week!"

"I wanted to suprise you- you goof!" Nuriko set the glass down before her with a laugh. "There you go; on the house."

"Thanks, but are you really okay? Should you be working just yet?"

"Yup; good as new. I can't stay in bed forever you know- you can't get rid of me so easily yet! I'm nearly as strong as Tama-baby now." Grinned Nuriko. Luckily, he had turned to Suzuno for a moment, and couldn't see the flicker of sadness Yui felt spark across her face. "See? I told you she would come; no true friend can resist another friends hysteria."

Suzuno blushed and nodded, but Yui frowned at them both.

"Wait..." she said slowly. "You didn't think I would come? Why not?"

Did Miaka stop by here, she thought anxiously, and tell them something that would have kept me home...?

"Yui-chan, you've been so busy with Miaka this year..." Suzuno said softly, as if she were cautiously sinking her voice into a murky conversation. "It's...been hard finding time to see you...but I understand completely! You're such a good friend, and you're busy-"

"No." Yui shook her head. "No, I'm not a good friend if I could make you think... I wouldn't come when you need me. I'm sorry Suzuno- and you too Nuriko-kun," she turned to him, "if I made you feel that way. I...I do...I think I've been a bit obsessive with Miaka these past few months...Actually, she's doing bit better but, well, she has her good months, bad months, bad weeks, good weeks- and it keeps me on edge. I can't help but worry rentlessly for some reason...But we aren't in high school." Yui blew at her bangs, suddenly feeling odd. "Not anymore. I need to worry about myself too; learning how to manage Miakas mood, myself and my friends-"

"Yui-chan, your forehead..." Suzuno pointed at her own. Yui stopped. Was it Seiryu again...? "Your foreheads...getting so much bigger with all your worrying-"

"Ah! Suzuno-chan!" Yui gaped, as Nuriko and Suzuno laughed in unison. "I was being serious here!"

"We know Baka-chan." Nuriko playfully rustled her hair. "I know you can't help it; it's probably your nature, but it's just as important to be concerned with yourself as well as your friends Yui. You've got to get some sleep too; you look so tired... and you must have exams to worry about right?"

Yui began, "Yes, but-"

"You've got to rest Yui." Nuriko smiled gently. "It'll take awhile, but he'll come back. Miaka will be able to manage a few months more without Tama-baby. She has us after all, right? You have us too Suzuno." Nuriko turned to her. "With your father, your family...despite it all, we're still here if you need anything."

"Mm." Suzuno smiled.

"Well now." Yui curled her hands together, placing her chin atop them smirking. "Crossdresser-kun can say some wise things sometimes..."

Nurikos smiling lips twitched.

"And," he started, ignoring Suzunos giggle, " yo-UU!"

"Keep it moving boy!" A stout man in a Chefs aapron barked, as a pan smacked Nuriko square in the face from across the resturant counter in the front. "I'm not paying you to yak it up!"

"Riiight..." Nuriko stuck a finger in his ear carelessly, sticking out his tongue. "You barely pay me at all-"

POW!

"Ouch! Remember what my DOCTOR told you; I can't overexert myself Boss- so cut it out dammit!"

"I'll cut your paycheck out, all right, if you don't...!"

"Okay!" gruffed Nuriko. He tossed a can-you-believe-this? expression to Suzuno and Yui, making them giggle before heading over to some customers who had just walked in.

Once their laughter subsided, Yui faced Suzuno, her brow a bit furrowed as she asked, "Are you sure you're okay..?"

"Mn. I'm sure; I have good friends." Suzuno gave such a sweet smile as she answered, Yui couldn't help but let out a grateful sigh. At least- at least- one of her best friends would be okay. Yui made a mental note to contact Takiko, and see if she was okay as well. "I haven't seen you for so long...let's talk about something nice. How's schoolwork?"

"Ah!" laughed Yui, raising an eyebrow. "You call that nice?"

"Hee! Yes!" Suzuno beamed; raising one of her own eyebrows in a challenging manner. "Tell me about it; let's see if your grades bet mine. Don't forget the gossip either- I'll know if you do!"

Yui took a sip of her drink, feeling blissfully careless as she began to speak.

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"I'll be fine. I'll see you both later. Ah! Remember though; we have to meet up with Takiko this week to greet that new tutor; Tatara, Suzuno! Bye...!"

Yui took a deep breath; streching beneath the light of the city streetlamps. It was deep into the night now, probably around 12. The pavement wasn't too crowded, but it wasn't exactly empty either. Yui gave one small wave at Suzuno and Nuriko, just before they disappeared around a corner and she turned forward, beginning to walk back home beneath the glowing, starry sky with a smile. It had cheered her spirits talking with Suzuno and Nuriko...it nearly always did.

Even now, she thought, passing by a homeless man with a blaring radio, Miaka and Tamahome don't seem as-

"-and we aren't too sure about the exact name of the condition Shion, but we have our top people filing in, one after the other, trying to get in on this case. Mikage Inc. is even-"

Mikage? Tamahome was saying something about that...Yui stopped, her carelessness fleeing. For some reason her forehead burned terribly, but she was able to still hear the radio.

"The illness is somehow making people throw up blood, have the runs, get unexpected heat waves- you name it Shion- all over the world!But with fabulous Mikage, the leading, richest company backing up the research to find out this strange condition we will surely find a cure. It-"

Yuis forehead burned harder. She rubbed it, beginning to pant, breathing in ones and twos in order to cool down.

"- there's been intensive talk about what could be causing this too Shion, and we believe it to be contact with-"

"Hey!" Yui moaned at the homeless man. He snapped off his radio; glaring at her. "Wait...I'd like to hear... a little more...please-"

"BAH!" The man waved a hand at her, twitching as he layed on the grimy sidewalk.

"Wait... Ow-Ouch!" Yui banged a fist to her forehead- and suddenly- a flood of blue light sprayed into her vision! Her eyes closed, as a warm, warm embrace of something...something good, wrapped her deeply.

It felt calming...very calming. She could barely feel her body anymore. Something about this light... and the sound of water? Smooth...very smooth...It felt like a cool breeze-

Just like Chichiri.

Why...?