Alatáriël: Hey peeps! After getting counsel from BOTH Mrs. Holt-sama and Mrs. Muerel-sama (The goddess of all English) I've found out the answer to all our strife! Readers set bets with each other... and... as it turns out... dramatic pause... BOTH are correct! Either fish or fishes can be used as the plural to fish... Readers look confused as they eye their bets

Kate: --;; Now that the "Fish War" has ended can we all move on to the reason for which we stand here?

Alatáriël: Pauses... Well, I suppose... but first! A word from our sponsor! A light appears on stage where Chichiri is reading off a piece of paper, looking stressed

Chichiri: Are you sick and tired of your hair always obeying the laws of gravity? Well, fret no more, no da! (Alatáriël: Chichiri! No da is NOT in the script!) For I have a solution to all your hair blues! TA DA!
Holds out a bottle of glue With this miracle serum, and only five payments of $99.99 you too can have gravity defying hair, na no da!... Please call 555-STICK, yes, no da... 555-STICK... looks up from paper Alatáriël-san, you have horrible handwriting, no da...

Kate: Raises an eyebrow in question What was THAT about?

Alatáriël: Ignores Kate and Chichiri Now, I'd like to say something about the story... Kate has indeed messed up the story so no flames telling me "Hey! This wasn't in the anime/manga!"... Cause I know... --;; I just hope the story doesn't go down hill from here...

Chichiri: Well, if it does you can always start one of those Soujiro fics you're so obsessive over, no da.

Alatáriël: Cries and latches onto Chichiri I could never leave you! (Though I may write Soujiro fics on the side when I am having writer's block here.--)

Kate: Glares daggers at Alatáriël... Can we get on with it?!

Alatáriël: Ok, ok... I don't own the sexy monk nor any other people we fangirls obsess over.... Unless one of you has a crush on Josh... I own him... and Kate also... Other than that.... I live in a cardboard box off of 5th and 6th, so no sue!

Everyone runs off stage

Chapter 23: Of Past and Present

Amiboshi stared at the girl in front of him, whom he had officially declared insane, "You need my help?
For what...?" "... Let some chi out of your mouth like... you did when Suboshi came down with a fever and you restored his health, or whatever!". Amiboshi turned beat red and stared at her, wide eyed and mouth hanging open, "How did you--... When--- HOW?!... Are you a stalker, or something?"

Kate smacked her own forehead, "NO!... Look, it's a long story and one I'm NOT going to tell the enemy! If Nakago ever gets wind of what I know I'll screw up the story until it's called Alice in Wonderland!". Amiboshi wasn't sure what this "A lice in one deer land" was, but he figured it must be bad, " So... You want me to use my powers?"

Kate nodded. "To aid the Suzaku no Miko?", he asked. Again Kate nodded, smiling broadly. "And ... What effect will this have on my brother?", he asked yet again. Kate's smile faded. Mentally she counted off the enemy: Nakago, Soi, Amiboshi, Suboshi, Ashitare, Miboshi, and Tomo. 'Nakago ... Soi... Suboshi.... Ashitare... Miboshi... Tomo... Should I tell him, or should I lie in order to get him to help me correct the story-line?'.

Kate bit her lip. It could mean her friend's lives if she told the truth, but... If she told Amiboshi a lie.
She'd be making him sacrifice the only family he ever had. She'd be, knowing their fates, killing them off... and for what?... So Miaka, after all her warriors had died excluding Chichiri and Tasuki, would return to Modern Japan, get into a good school, and marry Taka?

Kate's stomach turned. At that moment she hated Miaka... but she hated herself even more... She had known the story line, unlike Miaka... She could've saved Nuriko.... She should save anyone she possibly could...

Sure, she saved Tamahome's family... but.... but... She couldn't deny... Some of Nuriko's blood was on her hands. With those thoughts she felt pressure beginning to build behind her eyes. Tears soon her vision and she had to sit down to stop herself from collapsing. She'd messed up the story line... but even worse than that... She may have just won Nakago a war.

For the last week all she had cared about was the direction her relationship with Chichiri was going, while she should have been focusing on the story line! Stupid! 'It's too late for that now, girl... Do what you can', a small inner voice said. She decided to listen to it.

Amiboshi, taken back by her actions, knelt down, "What's wrong?!". She managed two words, "He dies". Amiboshi's eyes widened, "What?!". "I said he dies...", Kate said, but then her mind thought of something. When killed, he was held down by Tamahome's brother's and sister's souls. She gripped her hair tightly and knelt to the floor. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't take much more of this.
"It's not just a book", she said , her voice shaking slightly.

Amiboshi couldn't possibly understand what those words meant, so he tried another tactic, "Stay here!
I'll go get you some water!". Amiboshi rushed over to the dresser blocking his path, and moved it without difficulty. His foster mother was standing on the other end, looking worried, "Kaika, what's wrong?". His mother looked inside the room and was surprised to see the girl who had abducted her son on the floor, looking horror stricken. "Mother, where is the oblivion herb?", he asked in a hurried yet quite voice.

Outside the window Chichiri and Josh, whom had returned to Chichiri's window, listened intently. Of course neither one of them knew what was going on. Chichiri hadn't read the mangas, and since Josh was a male from modern America it was just as unlikely that he had read them. It didn't take a genius, however, to hear that something had gone wrong...

"What do we do?", Josh asked. "I'm not sure, no da... You go to another window. I'll stay here.
Maybe I can get Kate's attention, and see what's wrong, no da", Chichiri instructed. Josh nodded and took off to his previous window.

Looking in, Josh saw Amiboshi and his mother working over, what Josh though was, a cup of tea.
"Are you sure about this, dear?...", his mother asked. Amiboshi nodded, "I'm sure....". Josh rose an eyebrow. What were they talking about?

Back at the other window Chichiri popped his head out of hiding. What he saw made his heart sink. Kate was crying on the floor, rubbing her eyes franticly. "It'll be ok, Kate-chan... Just stay strong a little longer...", he whispered before ducking down again as Amiboshi entered the room.

Kate looked up, shocked. Had she just heard Chichiri's voice? "Are you alright?", Amiboshi asked softly as he handed her a cup of tampered tea.

"I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me...", Kate said, and after wiping her nose, took the cup.
She sniffled slightly as she took a sip of the concoction Amiboshi had given her. "It's no problem. You are just under a lot of stress... You're welcome to stay here for the night if you want...", Amiboshi offered.(AN: RUN KATE! LOL) Suddenly Kate bolted up, "Oh no! Chichiri! I completely forgot... ARG! Stupid!... I gotta go. Thanks for the tea! See you later!". With those words Kate chugged the tea down and bolted out the door. Amiboshi was left there, looking stricken, the empty cup in his hands.

"She just... ran out of the house after taking the oblivion herb... She's going to lose her memory in the city! I got to go after her!", Amiboshi thought allowed and quickly made to follow her... but it was too late. She was already gone.

Chichiri and Josh exchanged shocked looks before rushing into the house, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S GOING TO LOSE HER MEMORY (, NO DA!)?". Amiboshi looked at them like they had two heads, "What the--?". Amiboshi's mom entered the room just then, "Well, we sure are popular today, aren't we dear? Should I make some more tea?"

Kate ran as far as her legs could take her, which happened to be pretty far. Now she stood outside a small restaurant, trying to catch her breath. "Oh! Where could he be?", she worried. Suddenly she realized exactly how much energy she had spent running. She decided to take a rest. There was an unoccupied bench outside the restaurant she decided to sit on.

It was a few seconds later that her mind began to slowly process some information. Her mind had somewhat of a fog around it. She couldn't think clearly. 'Was I given alcohol?', she thought, slightly panicked. Knowing Fushigi Yuugi, Amiboshi might not be as good as a boy as she thought. Her fears from earlier that day resurfaced, but now it was worse. She was sure something was horribly wrong.

Her vision blurred in front of her and she bent over. 'Suzaku! What the hell is wrong with me?!', she thought in a last struggle of desperation before her mind went totally blank. She did not, however, pass out, as one might think she had. In fact if anyone where to look at her at that moment all they would have seen was a young woman staring blankly at the ground before her.

"We got to go after her, no da! Who knows what could happen if she's left by herself!", Chichiri exclaimed. Josh was nodding frantically beside him, backpack set and ready to go. "I'll help you all. I know this city better than anyone here!", Amiboshi said. Chichiri looked skeptical, "Ok, no da.
Then, after a polite declination of "Kalika"'s mother's tea, the three males set off in search of Kate.

After three dead ends and one extremely un-classy street later they found her. She was sitting outside the very restaurant she had sat down at almost an hour ago, and was staring into space in an almost depressed sort of manner. "Kate-chan! Are you ok, no da?", Chichiri asked and rushed over to her side.

When she finally did look up she wore a look of pure confusion and surprise. "CHICHIRI!?", she practically screamed. Chichiri bent down so he was eye level with her, placing a hand on her knee to steady himself in the process. "Kate? Is everything alright?", he asked. She blinked at him as a look of pure confusion crossed her face, "Yeah... I think so?". She than began to pinch her own arm.

"Ow!", she whimpered before looking at her arm, worried, "I take it back... I believe I may have gone mentally insane". Meanwhile, behind Chichiri, Josh and Amiboshi exchanged glances. "I think your tea failed", Josh said. "That's not possible! I made it myself... Maybe she's immune?", Amiboshi wondered.

"So... Chichiri... How do you know my name... and what's Josh doing here with you?... and Amiboshi ... and WHERE THE HELL AM I?!", Kate stated quite calmly for someone under her circumstances.
Josh blinked at his friend, "Kate?...". Josh then suddenly turned, as one fanfiction writer would say, into an extreamly pissed chipmunk and practically jumped down the elder of the twin's throat, "YOU DID THIS TO HER, YOU BASTARD!". Amiboshi, overcome by the recent events just gawked at his accuser. Chichiri, meanwhile, sighed, "It's going to be one of those days, no da".

Seven minutes later the group had ordered some food from the shop, whom's bench Kate had been occupying. They had been violently ushered in soon after Josh and Kate's outbursts by the angry owner, because they had apparently scared off some customers... or so he had said.

Kate's grip on Josh's arm was proving quite painful to the young ex- college student. Said student was trying to (with help of the group, excluding Amiboshi) tell her what had happened. "You mean... It's not Christmas anymore?", she asked, looking like she was physically stricken. Josh sighed, "No, it's not. In our world it is March. It's been assumed you're dead for quite a while. You even have missing person posters at Wal-mart." As everyone knew... that was pretty much the end of the line.

"Oh dear...", was all Kate managed to say. "Oh! And you're also head over heals for HIM!", Josh exclaimed cheerfully to Kate. The girl's mouth dropped open, in shock and horror... after all, she had no memory of ever meeting the hunky man in front of her. Chichiri's reaction perfectly mimicked Kate's,
"Excuse me, no da?!". Amiboshi looked interested, but didn't say anything.

"Oh yeah! Totally... Don't deny it, EX-MONK. You know it's true", Josh stated, obviously loving the looks he was getting. Kate's eyes slowly locked with Chichiri's, expression not changing. "N-no,
Kate-chan! It's not true (that I know of), no da, honestly. We kissed once, that's all!", Chichiri tried to explain. If one could see under his mask they'd see his face was a nice rosy color.

It seemed that Chichiri's words made matters worse as Kate's face heated and she buried it into her hands. She couldn't quite grasp this. If what they were saying was true than her memory had been lost, she was in one of her favorite mangas, her best male friend was here, and it seemed she was getting it on with a monk... Oh, what her mother would say if she saw her now!

She could see it now... She'd be standing in her living room... Her stomach as big as a blimp.
"Mother... You're going to be a granny". Oh, the horror of it all! She groaned into the table in all the misery and confusion she could muster... even though the thought of bearing Chichiri's children wasn't an unpleasant one she couldn't quite grasp that the monk (or ex-monk if she were to believe Josh) was sitting in front of her in the flesh. Plus, if she was going to giggle with her fangirl side, he was even cuter in person... who thought it possible that a simpleton like her could score THAT big?!

(AN: heh... Sorry. Fan girl mode taking over hypothalamus)

Amiboshi looked confused, "But... You're a MONK!". Chichiri, now ever beat red threw his mask replied, "Actually technically I'm only a disciple...". Apparently in his years of training as a self-proclaimed disciple hadn't taught him that some things were best left unsaid at certain times... This being one of those things during one of those times.

Kate just stared. Josh grinned and tried, failing by the way, to contain his laughter. Amiboshi rose an eyebrow. "Well, this is a peculiar turn of events", Josh cackled in a Tomo like fashion. Kate twitched and smacked him, "OK! OK!... Next topic!... Before I decide to jump off a bridge". Josh, not missing Kate's extreme embarrassment, moved on.

"Well, one week ago you showed up at my doorstep in a state of disarray. We spent a fun filled week together", at this Josh rose his eyebrows suggestively. Kate blinked repeatedly, "Er?".

After a detailed explanation from Josh (some of which Chichiri swore on his honor as a Suzaku Warrior did NOT happen) Kate was very much so ready for an Advil. Yes, Advil and a nice, hot, and relaxing bath sounded so good at the moment... but due to the fate's hatred of her she was left with a bowl of gruel, a headache, and one hell of an urge to take up drinking sake.

By late afternoon Chichiri had decided it would be best to find an inn for the night. He was concerned about the effects of the oblivion herb on his companion. That, and he plain out refused Amiboshi's offer to let them stay the night at his place, though he did agree to meet up with the warrior the next day... or more like Josh threatened to track him down to the ends of the earth if he wasn't helpful in curing his confused friend (whom he wasn't very helpful with himself).

Right now said confused friend was latched onto Josh's arm. She kept glancing over to Chichiri's direction, but would look away as soon as he turned to look back at her. He had to admit, he found the closeness of the two very... what was the word?... objectionable?

He quickly shoved these thoughts from his mind. Objectionable? What was objectionable about Josh leading Kate threw the city? 'Because you want to do it, no da', a chibi and childish voice said, irritably , from inside the depths of his mind. 'Are you calling me jealous, no da?', Chichiri asked the voice. 'Yes', it answered simply. Chichiri couldn't believe he was having this conversation with his chibi-self. Being stubborn, he refused to comment on the voice, and tried to ignore Kate's glance as she stared at him.

'I know him...', Kate thought, feeling irritated. She knew this much. There was something like a wall preventing her from going any farther than that, though. 'You don't know him. You've watched the anime. You just recognize him... You're probably passed out in the kitchen floor again because of the flu', she thought. 'But since when have I had these kind of dreams? Sure there was that one with Piccolo from DBZ... but come on! When was the last time I was in control of a dream this good?', she thought.

She didn't have to think far. When she was smaller, first or second grade or so, she had lived with a rather dysfunctional family when she and her parents needed somewhere to stay when they were still together. She really couldn't remember the details, but she did remember the few times she had gotten on the husband and wife's bad sides... She sighed to herself, pushing the thoughts from her head. She did like the dream she had so long ago, however, how she had of her own free will cussed them out like a sailor. She couldn't but smile to herself.

Before Kate had met Chichiri (AN: Like... twenty-two chapters ago OO;;) she had practically lived in the past, a fact that Josh noticed had changed when she unexpectedly showed up at her door step a week ago. Josh had guessed it had to do with her parents separation. Kate had always blamed herself for what had happened, and to make things worse no one had told her it wasn't. Josh, her main confident, had proceeded to tell her time and time again, however, that it was time to move on. Kate had admitted to him once or twice when she'd showed up at his house in tears that sometimes she still felt like she was fourteen, the age when she had first began to worry over her family's stability.

Now, looking at the girl next to him, he recognized she seemed back in that state, and it worried him.
Had two weeks in this monks company done what he couldn't in over two years? He would never say it allowed, but it did make him feel irritated. Kate was HIS friend. He should be the one to help her not some blue-haired mystery boy from some freaky world!

If one where to pass the group at this time their would be a noticeable amount of tension and uneasiness in the air, not at all unlike the feeling one got when they see three children all staring at the one cookie still left on the table with a gleam in their eyes... and then noticed the forks their hands were reaching for ever so slowly.

When the group of three reached the inn all three were quite ready to just sit back and take a break.
Due to the lack of money they all had to share a room, but luckily there were three beds available. The inn itself was very homey, for the lack of a better term for it. Since it was so close to the desert the doors and windows were always open, creating a light breeze to flow threw the inn's tavern, where a few travelers were sitting around talking to each other.

"Since this is a boarder town lots of people drop by this inn, no da", Chichiri informed them as they walked up a stair case to the second floor, where their room was located. "So, how long are staying here for?", Kate asked, totally oblivious (AN:... Bad joke, I know --;;). "Until you get your memory back, no da. You're the only one here who knows what's going on, no da... Or should I say used to know what's going on?", Chichiri replied.

Kate looked at the floor, "I'm sorry". Chichiri looked at her, "About what?". "I'm such a burden", Kate said in a whisper. Josh looked distressed. He knew this side of Kate better than anyone else. Chichiri smiled at her comfortingly, "It's no burden, Kate-chan. It's not like you meant it to happen, no da".

Kate blushed, "... If you say so...". Josh looked over at his female friend uncertainly before speaking,
"Chichiri, may I please have a minute alone with Kate?", Josh asked. Chichiri, ignoring his chibi voice voice as it threw a tantrum, just smiled, "Sure, no da. I'll go pick up something for us to eat from the kitchens".

When Chichiri was gone from the room Josh turned to at Kate, an angry glint in his eye, "Kate, we gotta talk". Kate looked up at him, slightly nervous. He motioned for her to sit on one of the beds and sat on the one next to it. "Look, Kate.... I know you don't remember anything, but... Listen, when I saw you in my house so carefree and happy I thought it was too good to be true... I expected every night to hear you crying, but I didn't. I barely recognized you".

Kate looked into his eyes, trying to see what he was remembering. "I've never seen you that happy,
Kate. I couldn't believe my eyes! I had thought you might have eloped with some weird circus freak,
Josh continued. Kate frowned and opened her mouth to tell Josh off for calling Chichiri a freak. "No,
Don't interrupt!", Josh commanded before she said anything.

"Kate... I know you. I know how you are, and how you were before today. Kate, you got better.
You got past any fears you had of the past. You've matured so much", he said and stroked her cheek in brother like affection, "I want you to get that back... So... Stick in there, ok? I know we'll get your memory back!", Josh said cheerfully.

"But, my mom-", Kate began. "Is re-married", interrupted Josh. Kate's eyes widened in amazement.
"She and your dad's divorce... then your disappearance. A man at your mom's work was there for her. She's ok, Kate. She's got her life... You're going to be seventeen soon. It's time you live your life as well... We'll be happy here, Kate. Trust me, ok?", Josh said.

Kate nodded, tears in her eyes, "Hai. It is time I live my life". "Finally", Josh finished. Kate laughed and nodded, "Finally!". Josh laughed also at his friend's happiness. He knew all she went threw. A passing thought wondered if Chichiri did.

Chichiri came back then with a tray of food and some tea, "I'm back, no da. Everything alright?" Kate nodded happily to Chichiri, who met her eyes for a brief second before she looked away, blushing.
(AN: If you recall... When Kate first met Chichiri she kept blushing out of her infatuation with him due to her fangirlishness ;;) Chichiri sat the tray on a table that occupied a corner of the room. "Dinner is served, no da! Careful, though, it's still hot", Chichiri said before unpacking the tray onto the table.

Josh and Kate got up from the beds and made their way over to the table, Kate being quite shy. They all ate mostly in silence, each of them left to their own thoughts. Kate was wondering where they were in the story line. She was sure it was around the time Amiboshi's village got attacked, but she found it very strange she and Chichiri were here instead of Miaka.

"Say, Chichiri... Where's Miaka?", Kate asked after swallowing a lump of rice she had managed to pick up with chopsticks. "Miaka, no da? She's with Tamahome. You told them to head for Sario,
where the others are at the moment, no da", Chichiri informed her. Her left eye twitched slightly, " I did what?". "Uh... Instructed Miaka and Tamahome to go to Sario, no da?", Chichiri repeated.

Kate looked confused for a moment, "But...", she was about to say something before she decided against it and smiled at Chichiri, "Never mind... I suppose I'll find out soon enough", she concluded and took another attempt at attacking the rice with chopsticks.

Chichiri looked at her questionably, but decided to let it slide.

After eating Chichiri informed his traveling companions he was going to go buy some items for the trip.
Hearing this, Kate's expression perked up slightly, "Can I come too?". Chichiri, mildly surprised by her eagerness, just nodded.

"Yay!", Kate cheered. Josh informed them he'd rather stay behind.Without further comment Chichiri and Kate made their way into the city before the stalls closed for the night. They weaved in and out of the crowd, Kate following Chichiri absent-mindedly as she eyed all the items for sell.

Chichiri stopped at a strand or two before asking the price of an object, and either rejecting it or moving on to the next stall. Kate paid little attention to the world around her. No matter how hard she tried to focus on the monk in front of her she found her mind somewhere else. It was really beginning to aggravate her.

"Kate-chan? Are you feeling ok?", Kate hadn't even noticed Chichiri had fallen into step beside her.
"Yeah... Hey, Chichiri? Do you think it would be ok if we went for a little walk before heading back to the inn?", Kate asked. Chichiri smiled at her, "Sure, no da"

A few stands later Chichiri and Kate found themselves walking down the town's streets. The wasn't going to set for at least another hour so they had plenty of time to go wherever they wished. The city was remarkably pleasant in the evening with it's desert breezes and warm night air. They walked in silence until Kate spoke up, "Chichiri... Do I...um... What I mean to say is... uh".

Chichiri looked at her curiously. "Well, I was wondering.... Are we... I mean do I... actually have feelings for you?", she finally asked, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. Chichiri looked at her,
surprised. This was the first time she had actually said anything about this to him. It was kind of ironic that she was suffering from memory loss. It made him slightly uncomfortable.

"I'm not sure, Kate-chan. It's kind of complicated...", he began. "Oh", was all Kate said. "But... I do think something might be there", he finished. Kate looked at him curiously, "Really?". Chichiri looked down at the girl next to him. She looked uncertain, and was blushing slightly. "Yeah", was all he said before smiling, "But I wouldn't worry about that just yet if I were you. Right now we need to work on getting your memory back, no da". Kate smiled up at him, "I'd like that... I'd like that very much".

The walk back to the inn was pleasant. They hadn't stayed out too long so they were greeted with a desert sunset as they headed for their destination, both more comfortable with the day's events than they had been before hand.

Alatáriël: Throws around confetti It's been exactly one year since I began this fanfiction!

Chichiri: laughs You should have seen her, no da. She's been working on this two days non-stop because she wanted to celebrate the "play"'s one year anniversery with an extra long chapter.

Kate: is in tears It's been a whole year already! (But it was only a little over two weeks or so story wise OO;;)

Alatáriël: Ehh. Sorry this chapter was a little... dramatic... I have to admit that drama is what I'm best at. grins slightly. I hope you all didn't mind.... I'm getting kind of anxious to get to Tomo and Soi.
LOL... Speaking of them... Would you all like a part in the next chapter as to what is happing to Yui and the others, along with Miaka, Tamahome, Tasuki, and the others? If so I'll go ahead and start! So remember to leave a review before you go so I know what you want.

Kate: imagines Nakago playing go fish with Yui.....

Alatáriël: Anyhow, onto reviews!

The Otaku Duo: Yes, Green Rider does rock! LOL. I need to get a move on and read the sequal
Thank you for reading! I hope you get farther than chapter 9. Heh. Though, I admit the Amiboshi chapters aren't too great. --

Jedi of Oro:grins slyly Yeah, you really need to up-date your Inu-Yasha story! Has a sudden earge to read it.... Grins I'm glad you liked Jesus. LOL. He was really fun to write. XD Hope I didn't confuse you too bad here... Oo Have you read the mangas yet? Heh. Hope you review soon!
Ja ne!

Erailea Evenstar: Aw shuck! Thanks for the compliment. ;; The help I need is basically what I'm going to have Kate & Chichiri do after they leave the villiage and after Kate gets her memory back.
Ya know, with Tomo and Soi and the cliff thing? sighs... Ah well... Heh... Your review is so long!
I really apresiate your advice, and thanks for revewing! Hope you review again soon. Ja!

Queen of the Fairys: Smiles Thank you. Things have been looking up this month, so no worries!
sighs I wish I could bake cookies... I can barely boil water. grumbles Unlucky enough for me my mom can't cook either so I'm stuck with horrible tasting food. Makes a face What I wouldn't give for a Miaka clone as a sister. LOL. Grins Sorry about the cliffie! (Not really). Heh.
Hmmm. I wish I could go to a Brodway play! That sounds fun... though I'm not too sure about the Mary-Sue. X(

chiri26: Ha ha ha! We should get together sometime to burn down a kitchen. XD LOL. Yeah, sounds like we have the same cooking luck. ;; I always end up adding too much of something though... I made my self sick once with an over buttered grilled cheese sandwich by adding too much butter.
gags at the memory

Oniryu: Why thank you! I hope you'll review again soon! eats pixie stick happly with Kate and Chichiri munching on theirs happily in the background

Morgan: laughs nerviously Big head? Me? Now... surely you jest! Looks left and right before hiding behing a house fern eh heh heh....

The Fire Youkai Paige: blsuhes and waves her hands in front of her, embarrased Aw! You're too nice! I'm really glad you liked the last chapter (and hope you like this one too ). Thanks for the ideas... If you get anymore, please tell me. ;;

Songwind: --;; Yeah, I know how ya feel. I have to re-read the books before almost every chapter.
Gets kind of annoying, but I guess it's worth it to have an ok story. Thank for the support, by the way. Grins I'm glad you liked Jesus. ;; He was fun to write. Yes, Kate did mess up the story line... or more like I did. coughs... Yeah... Hey! That's a good idea! Ha ha ha. Maybe after the group is reunited again I'll have Tasuki find one of the mangas. XDD I really want more Tasuki in my fic. ;; He's just so cool! Heh heh. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. It was kind of hard to write.
;; I kept trying to make if funny, but.... Kate and company had other ideas. heh heh.

Mistress Manga: grins sheepishly Heh... Sorry about being evil. It runs in my blood. LOL. As for Josh... It's kind of complicated. I tried to put a bit of their pasts in this chapter that I hope might have helped you out a bit? I'm so happy you like my story, and I hope you like this chapter too.
Holly: Doesn't pneumonia suck?! I was sick for about a month, but I wasn't as sick as you it doesn't sound like... ;; I hope you liked this chapter. Ideas are still coming short, but I gave it my best.
Did you like the turn of events? I hope I didn't confuse you any. Makes a face Me Amiboshi normally confusion. --

RenaeAurora: laughs nerviously At least your honest, eh? Sorry you didn't like chapter four... I went back and re-read it... I just think that Tamahome's father, as a poor farmer, knew that not only could Kate not help his family, but also that if anyone was going to help his family it would be him.
Shrugs Sorry if you don't like my story, but I'd prefer if you read a little further to judge it. Maybe then you'd see that it DOES get happier, at least a little. I hope you'll continue to read and give me advice, however! Suzaku knows I need it. ;;

Neko-ane: ;; Heh. I forgive you! Ha ha ha. After all it took my a while to up-date... As for Kate and Chichiri's next kiss... You'll just have to wait and see! Giggles Though, I do have some idea.
Can you guess when?

Chichiri: Gosh, Alatáriël, no da. You should get some sleep. You look horrible, no da.

Alatáriël: has bags under her eyes Must... Write... More... But... Ideas.. For... Next... Chapter.
Are... Not... Coming!

Chichiri: has an idea You can always make it into one of those li-mon-s you and Kate were giggling about the other day, no da... What is a li-mon, anyhow?

Kate & Alatáriël: blush............................. um................ well................ You see................

Kate and Alatáriël run off stage as fast as their feet can take them

Alatáriël & Kate (hiding in the closet): Don't forget to review and give us your ideas as asked for before the reviews!

Chichiri's voice is heard from somewhere in the house: Kate?....Alatáriël, no da?....

Alatáriël: We'll see you later!

Kate: Shhh! He'll find us!

Alatáriël & Kate: whisper Bye all!

Ps: I'm sorry if this chapter looks a little screwy... is acting weird. bows