Alatáriël: looks at reviews A LOT of you think it's fish instead of fishes. Bites her lower lip... I'll tell you what. I'll ask Mrs. Holt-sama (the lord of all English) and see what she says. I'd bet my life on fishes, but.... you never know. We shall see!

Chichiri: I bet on your life it's fish, no da!

Alatáriël: Glares

Kate: Yum... Fish....es

Alatáriël: This is pointless! Get to the disclaimers!

Kate: She owns me.... sorta... I don't really like being called property, though...

Chichiri: But she doesn't own me... or anyone else you've seen a shrine to on-line, no da!

Alatáriël: Sighs Sad but true... Anyhow, let's get to work, ok? This is going to be an interesting chapter.

Chichiri and Kate: Look at each other, slightly scared

Everyone runs off stage

Chapter 22: Good-Byes and One Mistake

Josh, Kate, Alatáriël, and Chichiri looked out the window in shock. "Did you just see what I saw?", Josh asked. Kate was rubbing her eyes, "I think I'm having seizures". "If you are we all are", Alatáriël said, blinking back the black spots in her vision. "Maybe we should go check it out, no da", Chichiri said.

The said monk got up and walked out the door to the porch, where he promptly jumped off and landed gracefully at the bottom before taking off running. Josh, Kate, and Alatáriël soon followed, but lagged behind slightly due to the fact they didn't have the ability to jump off of a twenty foot porch and land safely on the ground via magically abilities. They had to take the stairs.

"Chichiri, wait a moment!", Kate called after him. Chichiri turned his head around slightly to look at her and gave a small smile, "How about this, no da... RACE YOU!". Suddenly the blue haired monk turned chibi and ran off toward the hut as fast as his little legs could take him. Kate sweatdropped, suddenly feeling abandoned.

When Josh, Kate, and Alatáriël caught up with Chichiri the monk was staring into the hut looking slightly perturbed. "What's in there?", Alatáriël asked between breaths of air as she leaned on her knees.

"I'm not sure, no da", Chichiri said, "but I feel alot of chi... Think we should go in?". Kate nodded and opened the door without a second thought. The four friends slowly tiptoed inside and were astonished by the sight before them.

(AN: I mean no disrespect to ANYONE in the following paragraphs. It was just a cute idea I had, ok? So no offenses meant. bows)

Before the four people stood a huge half- elephant half- man, a hippie looking dude in a dress, a huge black cat, and a beautiful Chinese woman. All of these "people" were surrounding Suzaku, who seemed quite happy to be the center of attention, and was passing out playing cards. Where he got them... we'll never know.

"Suzaku, no da?", Chichiri asked. The bird god turned at his follower and ushered them in, a grin on his face. "Hey everyone! I'd like you to meet some friends of mine from work. I'd like to introduce: Baast", he motioned to the huge cat, "Genesha, this is his shrine", he pointed to the elephant man, "Jesus, he's kind of well known around here", he pointed to the hippie dude, "And last, but not least, Kuan Yin", he nodded toward the woman.

The mortals tried to memorize names with faces as fast as they could. "Uhhh... I am Kate, this is Josh, and she's Alatáriël", Kate said as she pointed out each of her friends. Kami this was weird! She really didn't know what to do in this situation, but it made her feel better that Josh and Alatáriël were giving all the newcomers blank stares too. Since Chichiri was wearing his mask only he knows what his reaction was.

"Hello, mortals. I take it you are the ones our friend here speaks of?", Baast asked. Everyone nodded dumbly, even Josh and Alatáriël, who were so baffled at the moment they'd agree that pigs could fly if you asked them. "I see... Well, we are here to discuss your safe travel back to Chichiri's world", Baast said. Saying this Kate noticed something. Baast wasn't speaking English. She was speaking a language had never heard before, that she knew of, but understood perfectly. It was Egyptian?

"Yes, we felt an strong magical pull and decided to look into it", Kuan Yin added. "Well, don't just stand there! Sit down", Suzaku commanded impatiently. Everyone sat right where they stood. "Now, since this is my shrine I should get first honors", Genesha said in a loud booming voice that shocked everyone back to their senses.

"Yes, of course. I wouldn't have it any other way", Suzaku agreed. The four mortals, having no clue what was going on, just listened. "Don't worry. It doesn't hurt at all", Jesus said, who was sitting in between Kuan Yin and Genesha. Kate paled, "W-what do you mean by THAT....er... sir". Jesus just smiled and gave her a thumbs up, though it didn't make her feel any better.

"Well, since we are all here and enough power is gathered... we might at well as start.... Alatáriël and Josh, do you wish to stay and watch?", Suzaku asked. They both nodded eagerly when suddenly Kate spoke up, "Oh no! I left my backpack at the house... Can one of you get it for me, please?". Alatáriël readily agreed and left, her foot steps sounding after her as she ran back to the house.

"Ok then... First of all... Genesha, you first", Suzaku said. "Yes... Well now. As the God of good fortune, and as the remover of obstacles I wish you safe travel thew the worlds", Genesha's booming voice said. The Elephant man, who also wasn't speaking English Kate noted (All of them aren't, actually), said happily and winked at his visitors. The baffled friends blinked innocently in return. "They are blessing us?", Kate asked allowed. The others hadn't seemed to hear her as they looked at the Gods.

"As the Goddess of protection I grant you protection from the ones that want you as prey", Baast said with a hint of a purr to her voice. Kuan Yin followed after with, "As the Goddess of love, mercy, and compassion I wish you all luck and good fortune in love. May you live your lives with compassion, and show mercy to your foes".

"As The Lord of... everything", at this Jesus grinned heartily at his counter parts, "I grant you nothing but your own hearts. May you always follow your hearts. They shall show you to your true path".

As Jesus finished Kate noticed a movement from the corner of her eye and turned to watch Suzaku pull a shiny object from the alter near him. (Kate is like a crow. Shiny things attract her. coughChichiri's staffcough) So captivated by it she barely heard Chichiri and Josh's assorted thank you's and quickly joined them in going so.

"Step forward now", Suzaku said in a voice that the dog catcher gives to the stray. Kate and Josh exchanged a frightened glance before he pushed her forward a little. She and Chichiri inched forward to the front. When they reached the front Suzaku revealed the shiny object. It was a dagger. A very sharp and pointy dagger. Kate put on the emergency brakes.

"What are you going to do with THAT?", she asked. Suzaku was still giving her his dog catcher's smile, "Just put out your hands. It wont hurt a bit". Kate showed her teeth and hissed like the feral animal she was beginning to feel like, a very out numbered animal, she noted when she noticed all the Gods had gathered around them in a semi-circle.

Chichiri also stared at the knife doubtfully. After a few minutes it was clear no one was going to make the first move, so Kuan Yin stepped forward. She bent down next to Kate (seeing as, as a Goddess, she was about twice Kate's size and twice as big in her smallest form). The Goddess placed a hand on Kate's shoulder and smiled at the girl. Said teenager turned to goo on the spot. One doesn't get touched by a Goddess of such overwhelming love and NOT feel something.

The gooie feeling was pleasant and overtook all negative emotions coursing threw her veins. She barely felt the blade slide across her palm as she stared into the Goddess's eyes, but it all came to an end when the Goddess took her hand away. Kate yelped at the sudden unexpected pain and looked down at her bleeding hand.

Chichiri looked at her worriedly and put a hand on her shoulder. Suddenly that warm gooie feeling returned and Kate blushed. "Are you ok, no da?", he asked. She was bleeding pretty bad, but he was sure it wasn't fatal. Kate had tears forming, but nodded, holding them back. She shot Suzaku a glare before examining her throbbing hand, "Burn in hell, KFC reject". Jesus rose his eyebrows in surprise.

Suzaku looked at Chichiri expectedly, ignoring Kate, and stretched out his palm, face up. Chichiri let him have his hand, a little unsure of how he's feel by being touched by the Goddess. He'd have to ask Kate later. The cold feeling of metal touching his skin was fast replaced with a sharp sting. Chichiri made a face as his cut was now resembling Kate's. (Note: Don't try this at home kiddies! Playing with sharp objects can be fun, but only when covered with soft, friendly, cushions, and near a phone with working 9-1-1 buttons nearby )

By now a small red pool was forming at each of their feet. "Now... One final thing before you are ready to go", Suzaku said as he brought the dagger and seemed to cut thew the air in front of him. A sudden line formed in the daggers wake. It glew red and was a little creepy looking as it hung there in the air. Kate shivered and held her injured hand closer to herself.

Suddenly the red line widened and stretched. Now before them stood a swirling red mass. "Step threw when you are ready. The portal will last only till your bleeding stops. Then the connection will be severed. Say your goodbyes now", Suzaku said. Kate swallowed. She had been dreading this.

Slowly she turned and caught Josh's eye. He looked worried. His eyes kept darting from her hand to her face to the portal and back again. Kate began to feel tears grow and she ran over to him, throwing her hands around his neck and holding him tight. He slowly returned the hug, but only weakly. "Kate, I'll see you around...", Josh said sadly.

Kate nodded into his shoulder, tears suddenly becoming unfightable. She let out a sob. "I-I'm going to miss you, man", she said with a shaky laugh. Josh shook his head, "Yeah, same here... But hey, you'll be happy right?". Kate looked up at him. At the moment she wasn't sure she could be happy without him there. She couldn't say anything so she just stepped back.

"You will. I am sure of it. Just... don't forget where you came from, ok?", he asked. She nodded and wiped a tear off her cheek, "Yeah... You take care of yourself too, ok?". He nodded and smiled at her, "No problem". He didn't feel like worrying her over the cops just now.

Suddenly they were interrupted by a loud, "I HAVE RETURNED!", from outside. In a matter of seconds Alatáriël appeared. She was loaded down with two backpacks, that made her look like a pack animal. When she caught sight of Kate and Josh her happy demeanor faded and she sighed.

"This is it, huh?... Well, It's been nice knowing ya, but this isn't a funeral", she said before slowly regaining a grin, "Write me a postcard?". Kate smiled weakly at her. "So that's what took you so long, no da", Chichiri commented. He pointed to the bags. "Oh! Yes, I thought you might need some stuff on the road soooo... but you can't open it till you get back, ok? It's a surprise!", Alatáriël commented with a wink.

Kate smiled slightly, "Ok...". Alatáriël was going to question the condition of her new friend's hands, but decided not to as she noticed Kate and Josh's expressions. It wasn't important at the moment. "So, are you all ready to go?", Suzaku asked, "No offense, but we Gods are busy... Lots of mortals out there...".

Kate nodded and accepted the backpack from Alatáriël, giving the other girl a hug while doing so. Alatáriël smiled and patted her on the back, "Make us proud!". Kate laughed slightly. Then after another quick hug from Josh and thanking all the deities in the room Chichiri and Kate stood in front of the portal. "On the count of three jump into the vortex, ok?", Suzaku asked. They nodded. By now Alatáriël was patting a crying Josh on the shoulder comfortingly. Was it just her, or were they getting closer to the portal?, Kate wondered.

She didn't have time to think on it much though as Suzaku began, "One... Two", suddenly Kate noticed Alatáriël shove something into Josh's pocket, "Three!", She jumped in reflex and saw the vortex move closer. She almost yelped in surprise, but not before she felt something ram into her and she feel into the dark abyss.

Kate awoke to as a strong feeling registered itself in her mind. That feeling was a strong pulsation coming from her hand. Her senses also told her it must be early morning because birds were chirping. Opening her eyes, Kate look at her surroundings. Well, she was definitely in a forest. Chances were she was either back in the Universe of the Four Gods, or she had been hurled from one of the Hindu shack's many windows. She doubted the second, but one never knew.

Sitting up, she inspected her hand gently. It had some dirt in it from the fall. She knew she'd have to wash out if she didn't want it to get infected or scar. The bleeding had stopped, but it still hurt. Satisfied that she was going to survive, at least, she looked around her for a sight of the familiar blue haired monk she had grown accustomed to having within a fifteen foot radius.

Seeing no monk she felt a jolt of panic run threw her. Was he ok? Had he landed somewhere else? Had something gone wrong in the transportation?

Quickly pushing these negative thoughts from her mind, Kate got up and looked around for any clues to what had happened. All that she was able to find was the backpack Alatáriël had packed for her, which happened to be hanging about ten feet in the air above her, hanging from a tree... Oh the Gods must be out for her today...

Frowning at her discovery, hands on hips, and tapping her foot like an impatient mother who just caught her grounded youngster sticking halfway threw his room's three story window, she grumbled to herself. After a few minutes she realized that staring at the object of her distaste wasn't going to make it fall to her feet she looked around for plan B: A really big rock or stick.

Since she was in a forest it didn't take her too long to find a good sized stick. She then proceeded to swat at the backpack as if it was a pinata. In less that a minute the bag landed safely in her arms.

Now with her only earthly possessions in hand she set her thought process on her next course of action. Logic told her to sit down and stay where she was, and wait for someone to find her. Compassion told her to look for Chichiri, whom was hopefully not passed out cold somewhere, and finally Curiosity wondered what was in THAT direction.

Eventually all three made a compromise. She would walk on because A:) If she just sat there like a lump on a log it was unlikely anyone would find her anytime soon, especially if Chichiri WAS off in la la land. B:) While she was satisfying her curiosity by walking around she could also C:) look for her favorite monk, Chichiri... whom could be bleeding in a twenty foot tree...somewhere...

Decided, she quickly threw her backpack over her shoulder, dusted off her clothes, and set off. After walking for about twenty minutes Kate was beginning to think negatively again, 'What if you lost him? What are you going to do?... What if he's hurt and needs help?'. Suddenly a tiny light bulb went off somewhere in Kate's brain. "That's it!", she shouted and quickly took off her backpack and rummaged threw it, after what felt like forever she felt her hand touch cold metal.

With a cheer of accomplishment she pulled the object out. In her uninjured hand was her mirror. "Show me Chichiri!", she said and once again the glass wavered like ripples on water, and an image began to form. Chichiri's image soon showed itself. He was walking in a forest, the same forest she was in, Kate hoped. She watched as the mirror rippled slightly. Chichiri was talking, but no sounds could be heard threw the glass (AN: No speakers. ;;).

She wondered if he was talking to himself, but in the end decided she wasn't doing any good just standing there looking at him (AN: Though a little eye candy never hurt ). With a small sigh, she put the mirror back and carried on. 'At least he's ok', she thought and trudged on.

Walking along, Kate's mind wasn't very optimistic. Sure, now she didn't have a horrible image of a certain blue haired monk being in mortal danger, but now she worried about getting out of the woods, and if she was going in the right direction.

"You take the high road, and I'll take the low road, and I'll get to Scotland before ye", Kate sang in a horribly inaccurate Scottish accent as she marched down hill and made her way to a small creek. Deciding the water looked clean enough, she began to clean out the cut on her hand.

It stung, that was for sure, and she didn't like the fact the cut was on her hand. She used her hand quite often! "Why couldn't he have cut my arm instead?", she grumbled to herself as she checked the cut for any dirt the stream hadn't washed out. Not finding any, she searched her backpack with her good hand for something to wrap it in or, if she was lucky, some antibiotic something-or-another.

One thing was for sure, Alatáriël had thought of EVERYTHING when she packed. Anything a boy scout might take with him onto the set of Survivor seemed to be in the bag: A flash light, matches, bandages, gum, and assorted other items Kate was happy to have with her for the time being.

She couldn't help but smile to herself when she managed to find some antibiotic ointment. She quickly applied it and wrapped her hand up in a strip of gauze before repacking anything that may have fallen out during her search and moving on again, but not after a quick bathroom break.

Chichiri was starting to worry, he'd admit. He and his unexpected company had been walking for a good thirty minutes or more and they had yet found a trace of Kate. Josh, whom was walking a few feet behind Chichiri, was in a state of shell shock as he followed the monk. Everything he had every learned totally defied what had just happened.

Josh had seen multiple Gods, traveled worlds, been a fugitive, lost his best friend (in more ways than one), AND had seen a human being shrink from 5"8' to 3"1' in the blink of an eye... all in four days. He had gone from a logical, sane, well off college student, whom though his best female friend had died four months ago. Now he was a homeless, misplaced, confused, and terribly uncertain young man... Life can make unexpected U-turns, can't it?

Right now the most Josh could do to stop himself from running off madly into the forest screaming like a chicken with it's head cut off (AN: How this is possible, I wouldn't know), was to follow Chichiri, a young man he barely knew that his best female friend seemed to be infatuated with. Josh didn't like this arrangement very much, and truth be told, he felt a little cheated.

After putting himself threw hell for one girl he now found himself lost in a forest with some weird fox guy. "I am starting to really hate girls...", he mumbled. Chichiri smiled at him over his shoulder before chuckling to himself as he thought of a certain red haired bandit. "What?!", Josh snapped irritably. Chichiri just shook his head, "Nothing , no da. I think we'll be reaching the next town soon. Maybe Kate-chan will be there waiting for us, no da". Josh sighed.

Meanwhile, Kate was still singing to keep herself company. Every once in a while she'd switch off randomly to a new song, but right now she was kept between "I know a song that gets on everybody nerves" and "You take the high road and I'll take the low road". The out come was a weird mix of the two, but she was happy just the same.

She no longer was worried about where she was going because she had managed to come across a well traveled road. Muohan, according to sign Kate had recently passed (which she couldn't read) was only a mile away. Kate, of course, didn't know this either, but she found herself happy as she took in her surroundings. She figured the sign had to be a good omen... Unless it said something like, "Beware of Dragons"... but Kate found that unlikely.

She worried over her friends and assorted people in both worlds, but for now she was happy to just go her own way and live for the moment. In the middle of a new verse she was coming up with that involved "and you can't catch me, because I am the gingerbread man" she suddenly stopped walking.

There were indentations in the path. They looked like they were made with a precisely cut walking stick... or staff. Where those tennis shoe marks? Kate gasped and quickened her pace. As she hurried at a steady pace her mind began thinking on its own. First she thought of the manga and where the story might be at now. Then she wondered where Chichiri got tennis shoes.

She knew she had changed the story line when she sent Tamahome and Miaka into the desert after the others after she and the miko were given a hand by Chichiri and Tamahome. Soon after she and Chichiri had planed to go help Amiboshi's village, Muohan, after Kate had told him what was going to take place, but things don't always go according to plan, most people know, and they had found themselves in her world for four very nice days.

Kate found herself blushing as she thought of the kiss she and Chichiri had shared by the river/ lake just... yesterday, was it? It seemed like such a long time ago. Kate couldn't help but smile to herself. She had never been that bold in her life, but she definitely didn't regret it. Thinking back, she wasn't sure if it was such a good idea to just kiss him like that, however. She almost felt like she used him in some way... After they shared their first kiss they hadn't said anything at all, and had, instead just picked up the fish and walked back to the barn they has stayed in.

She hoped he would say something to her soon, however, because even though he did kiss her she still felt a little bit of doubt well up in her stomach. Well, before any of that took place she'd have to find the monk first.

Eying the path before her she mentally cringed, 'I wonder if monks of Suzaku, even non- religious ones, were expected to say "no" to relationships'. She couldn't help but laugh at her thoughts, which if she wasn't careful would turn less than innocent if she kept this up.

Eventually Kate made it to the entrance of Huohan, a village near the Sairo border. (AN: At this point I refer back to manga numbers 9 and 10. I am not EXACTLY sure how the world inside the Universe of the four Gods is set up, but if I am not mistaken right now Tasuki and the others are trapped inside the fake desert city in Sario, right? And so right now Kate and Chichiri would have just passed threw.... blinks Actually... I am not to sure... ARG! They really WERE lost!)

She was happy to see the village looked peaceful and pretty busy too. Of all the mangas she loved the detailed work in this one the best. She couldn't help but admire all the lovely outfits while she in turn was look at a little weirdly, not that she blamed them. She was pretty sure a lone girl traveling by herself wasn't normal, not to mention it wasn't the safest course of action one could take in the Universe of the four Gods.

Suddenly Kate paused and cringed slightly. She felt like a cat that had just realized, in mid air, that the fish it was after was under water. 'Damn, why did I have to think of those perverts that always seem to show up when Miaka is alone?', Kate lectured herself. She had a sudden urge to knock on some wood or something to counter the bad luck she feared she had placed on herself.

After knocking on a nearby tree, one could never be too careful, and receiving a few odd glaces by some curious locals as she made a huge bee line out of her way to the tree and back to her original path as if nothing were out of the ordinary, and for her nothing was. Feeling a little overwhelmed by all the people, Kate decided to find somewhere to sit and think. 'If I was Chichiri.... Where would I go?', she pondered.

If Chichiri had been a normal monk she would have thought something like 'monastery' or 'shrine', but since this wasn't your average world, and because Chichiri wasn't your average monk, these thoughts didn't help her too much. (AN: Though technically he's just a disciple...)

Had she not have had the thoughts of the creepy men in the Universe of the four Gods she might have considered finding somewhere secluded to check the mirror to find him or to pull out her Fushigi Yuugi volumes to consult them for guidance, but now that she had kind of make herself paranoid she thought against it.

Instead, she watched people pass by her as they walked along the main road threw the city. Little brick buildings covered the town. People traveled in and out of them with goods or whatever it was they needed. All in all it seemed like a very happy place. She couldn't help feeling she was forgetting something vital, though.

Sighing, she looked around herself once again. She knew one thing though, all she was going to accomplish by sitting here was get herself bored. Just when she was about to get up and walk off she noticed someone. It was an elderly woman. The woman's hair was up in a pun, showing her earrings. She wore a simple dress, and looked worried about something.

'That's Amiboshi's foster mom', Kate thought as she stared at the woman. (AN: I'm having issues with Amiboshi's new name, so I am just going to go by the anime when his foster parents use his name, ok?) Amiboshi's mom hurried along in the crowd. The woman was fairly small, by Kate's standards, so she was surprised she had spotted her at all.

Smiling faintly, Kate took chase. She only hoped the woman didn't notice she was being followed. She just wanted to find Amiboshi, not give a good meaning mother a heart attack. Her attention was so intently directed at the woman that she didn't even notice when she passed right by Chichiri and Josh, whom were arguing about where they should start looking for the "missing" girl. Luckily, though, Chichiri managed to spot her over Josh's shoulder.

"Kate-chan, no da?", Chichiri said as he tried to get a better look around Josh to see if his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. Once he confirmed his suspicions he quickly directed Josh to follow him and took off after the teenager. Since Kate wasn't wearing one of the traditional hats of the village she was easily pointed out among the crowd.

Kate proceeded to follow the woman threw town. Despite her self, and her need to keep undetected, she began humming the Mission Impossible theme song under her breath. She followed the middle aged woman out of the main section of the town and into, what looked like, living quarters. Her suspicions were soon proven true as she watched the woman enter a house, and without a second thought... followed her inside.

Chichiri and Josh exchanged puzzled looks before hesitantly following. Unlike her, however, they didn't follow her inside the house they gathered outside the door and listened.

"What's she up to?", Josh asked. Chichiri didn't respond. Instead he pressed his ear against the covered entrance and listened. His eyebrows knitted together as all he heard was a loud scraping sound of wood grinding against stone.

Looking toward another window on the other side of the house, Josh noticed the middle aged woman Kate had been following. The woman had her ear pressed against the back of a dresser and was listening intently to whatever was happening on the other side of it.

Kate, after rushing into the house, taking Amiboshi captive in his own room, and shoving an extremely heavy wooden dresser against the room's entrance. (AN: The door inside his house have cloth doors) Dusting her hands off and smiling, Kate walked up to the older of the two twins. "And so we meet again, Amiboshi... Remember me?", She asked sweetly.

Amiboshi blinked. He knew this girl? THIS girl whom had barged into HIS house so rudely, and taken him captive in his own room? Surely she must be insane... He let his eyes wander over her slightly (AN: RUN, KATE! WHILE YOU STILL HAVE THE CHANCE! snickers). 'Blonde-red hair... Hazel eyes... Strange eye jewelery (AN: Glasses, Amiboshi... Glasses --;;), clothes from Konan... It's that girl!', Amiboshi thought.

"You're that girl that was traveling with the Suzaku no Miko!", Amiboshi exclaimed. Kate nodded happily, "Bingo! In case you've forgotten... My name's Kate".

"Kate, what are you doing here?", Amiboshi asked. "Oh That! Right, I wanted to talk to you about your younger brother and Nakago", she answered. He frowned at her as his eyes narrowed, "You're a spy?" Kate's eyebrows shot up in alarm, "No, no, no, no! I'm a friend of a friend... sort of... Look, just trust me!"

Kate took off her back pack and rummaged threw it. "If I am not mistaken Nakago and the others are close by...", Kate mumbled more to herself than him as she continued to dig threw her bag until she came across an object of her interest. It was volume ten of Fushigi Yuugi!

"Ah, here we go...", she flipped threw it. She fell silent and slowly her smile faded. She felt her blood run cold. Her eyes widened and she found she was having trouble breathing. "I've... I've... Made a horrible mistake", she said in an whisper. Amiboshi, noticing the change, looked at her worriedly. "Are you ok? What's the matter?", he asked.

His questions met on deaf ears, however, as Kate read over the manga carefully. 'How could have I been so dumb?', she thought before throwing the manga angrily into her backpack and standing up quite abruptly. "Amiboshi, I need to ask you for a favor", she said.

Alatáriël: Cliffie! Laughs evilly... First off, I'd like to apologize for the late delay. I can't believe it took me THIS long to up-date. --;; So much has been going on! Looks at her story on October tenth was the last time I up-dated! ARG!

Kate: Stop beating yourself up, Alatáriël! For Suzaku's sake! You had pneumonia, two school projects in one week, tests, you fell behind in Spanish, lost a friend, your great grand mother died, your computer caught a virus.. WAS fixed... now makes weird buzzing sounds, AND you're having family issues... I think they'll understand.

Alatáriël: has tears in her eyes You think so?

Kate: Nods

Chichiri: Or they'll cut out your tongue and watch you bleed to death! One of the two, no da.

Alatáriël: OO...

Kate: --;;

Chichiri: Onto reviews, no da!

Erailea Evenstar: Wow! You read my story in two days! Well, you must have liked it if you got this far, huh? Smiles happily I hope you like this chapter also... It was really hard to write. heh... Yeah, Chichiri isn't gay here! Cheers... I also have noting against yaoi, but I have to admit... Chichiri x Tasuki drives me up the wall... Not because I don't like them... Just because it's too over done (not that girls falling into the book isn't... but.... yeah). ;; I know I have a bunch of errors, but I don't have Microsoft word soooo... I spell check in hotmail, where a few things are overlooked. ;;... Anyhow, I'm glad you like Chibi Chiri here! I like him too. So cute! Speaking of writers block.... I have no clue where this story is going. LOL. Thank you for reviewing! Review again if you get the chance, ok?

Oniryu: Smiles I'm glad you liked my fic! Here's that "more" you were hoping for.

Jedi of Oro: As you say, "Better late than never" right? LOL. Yup! My house is/was old! I miss it. ;; Thanks for reviewing, M! They always make me smile. heh. Sorry it took me so long to up-date... Hopefully it wont happen again. ;;

Morgan: Blushes Ah shucks! It's not all THAT great. Kicks ground shyly... but I will up-date! Grins happily "(P.S. If you look in a dictionary you will see fishes is indeed a word, just not commonly used. Also, fish is indeed singular AND plural and is so commonly used many have thought fishes improper grammar however, it is not.)"... I thought so. ;; It's kind of funny, really... That this "debate" (if you can call it that) is even happening. laughs

Neko-ane: Smiles It nice to hear my story can be inspirational! Ego flares threw the roof... I'm going to need a really bad flame soon if I don't want to think of myself too high and mighty. laughs

The Fire Youkai Paige: Thanks for the idea! Have any ideas for the next chapter? Heh, yeah. Writer's Block sucks, ne?... It also sucks when you mess up a story line... Glares at Kate Anyhow, thanks for the great review! I'm really happy you like this fic! I hope you liked this chapter too!

Opaaru Tsuki: Heh heh heh. I hope this was soon enough? Sweatdrops... I just really hope most of my classes don't have finals this semester (15 days to go till Spring classes! EEK!) or it'll be heck to write! Sighs Wish me luck, ne?... Hopefully Chichiri can find it in his hunky heart to forgive this lowly fangirl. Tears up I don't deserve such praise!... Till next time, ja ne! PS. I love the faces! Sqeee!

Holly: WOW! Long review! LOL. Nope, I'm still up-dating! Laughs nervously If you thought last time was long you must think I'm six feet under now, huh? Heh heh heh. Yeah, I'm going to miss Kate and Chichiri being in our world, but... the show must go on, no da. Sighs sadly.... Maybe after I'm done with this one I'll start another where he comes and meets Kate in an AU and they stay in her world, like in one of my favorite fics Oh Dear! Grins... Heh, Don't feel bad about not reviewing. The important thing is you reviewed now! Peace sign... Yeah, I know I want Kate's memory to be erased, but I gotta do it fast and think of something! Arg... I love the Amiboshi chapters in the manga, but right now they are just FRUSTRATING! Rants I need some ideas...

flyairth: Heh. I hate being wrong too. ;;... As you can tell, I'm sure... Oo "on the plus side i was right about carrots and orange skin - yells over her shoulder - TAKE THAT YOU OVERGROWN LAMP SHADE", do I want to know...?

Queen of the Fairys: Heh heh heh. Poor Chichiri. The guy never gets a break, does he? LOL. I'm glad you liked the scrambled chicken. Laughs I'm not a very good cook, but when I lived there I cooked chicken fingers night and day. ;; Now-a-days I can't even cook eggs right... What's Les Miserables about?

Black Cherrie: Thank you very much for the review! Bows I shall do my best to keep you entertained! Hope you liked this chapter too!

chiri26: Hi there!... I suddenly got an random urge to read some of your Chichiri fics. LOL. Must...resist... temptation... to... not up-date... in order to... read fanfiction!... You're quite welcome to visit the house if you want to travel all the way to little Jones Cove TN to see it! LOL. It's such a cool house. I miss it. ;;... Yeah, poor Josh. All the guy wanted to do was see his friend and he ends up a fugitive and homeless! LOL. Grins Actually the chicken thing was a joke. Sweatdrops I also can't cook... I live off of instant ramen and sandwiches. ;;

Dragid: Eyes light up Really? You put me on your favorites? Aw! Hugs I'm so happy! LOL... "(P.S. Fish is used to express a singular fish, and many fish. In other words, the word fish IS both singular and plural, the word 'fishes' does not exist. XD)".... But I've SEEN the word fishes used on a school book! Arg... This is insane (though strangely amusing). --;;.... but.... I love you anyway since you put me on your favorites! Hugs again

Kate: Holds up clip board with reviews on it I think that's all of them!

Alatáriël: Whew! Glad to hear it!... Anyhow, everyone, I was wondering if you have any ideas for the next chapter.... The one thing I KNOW is that I want Kate to end up drinking the oblivion herb and forgetting everything. ;;... Other than that... I'm open to all ideas. LOL.

Kate: You know all you want is more reviews...

Alatáriël: That's not true!... Though I am worried if any of my reviewers wont read the story anymore because I've been gone so long or something. ;;

Chichiri: Don't worry, Alatáriël! I'm sure they'll be fine if you hurry up and send this in, no da!

Alatáriël: Right! Come on, people! It's time to up-date! Spell checks

Kate: And don't forget to review!

Chichiri: Until next time, stay chibi, no da!

Kate & Chichiri: JA NE!