Disclaimer: I don't own FY, it and all characters therein belong to Yu Watase.

Chapter Five: Fireworks In The Cave of Seven Souls

A memory is what is left when something happens and does not completely unhappen.

- Edward de Bono

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Miaka was dreaming.

She was quite surprised to find herself in a dream, seeing as she had been rushing through a strange wood at break neck speed not moments before. It was the warmth of Tasuki's arms and body as he pressed her close that soothed her, and soon she was lulled into an exhausted sleep.

Her dream had begun as a nightmare; that strange mustached man she'd seen at the airport was chasing her down a deserted corridor, the light of thousands of torches lighting her way. Then suddenly, arms which seemed to spring out from the shadows pulled her head long into a memory.

It was eight years ago.

Miaka was in a chamber within Konan palace, soft light filtering in through the slatted windows and the songs of birds floating in on a jasmine scented breeze. Surrounded by beauty, Miaka lay on her bed and wept. She wept because she could think of nothing else to do; Tamahome was gone. The urge to brave the unknown and find him swelled up inside her, but was quickly quashed by the notion that it would be far too dangerous. Her Seishi would follow, and she already felt guilty enough for all the trouble she'd caused them. Fresh tears overtook her sight as she gazed numbly at the patches of clear, crystal blue sky that she could see out the window.

She hadn't left her room for hours, partly because she wanted to be alone but also partly because she didn't want to run into one particularly loud, abrasive Seishi. A Seishi whom until very recently denied being one all together. Miaka's stomach gave a flip as she remembered the way in which his amber eyes had gazed piercingly into hers.

'I am Tasuki. I didn't tell you because until now, I had no intention of bein' your servant.'

He had then drawn back his sleeve, and she had gasped as she saw the bright red character 'wing' burning on his forearm, branding him a Seishi, a guardian of the Priestess of Suzaku.

She later found out that Genrou-- no, Tasuki didn't even worship Suzaku as his fellow Seishi did. His brash and sometimes uncontrollable temper did not endear him to them either, and Miaka often caught him gazing in a rare moment of silence in the direction of the mountains. She'd felt pity for him, but dared not express it too openly-- Tasuki was above all other things proud. It made her feel distinctly uncomfortable around him, never knowing what might happen, and feeling as though she always said the wrong things.

And they had still not spoken about the incident when he had almost...

Miaka wiped her eyes, her cheeks feeling hot all of a sudden.

Had he tried to kiss her?

Looking back, now she wasn't sure. It had all happened so quickly...

She closed her eyes, conjuring up the memory of when she had been sprawled on the cabin floor. She remembered his eyes more than his mouth. She had seen his kiss within his gaze. Then, like a bolt of lightening suddenly illuminating a black sky she felt it...

The way his lips had given hers the slightest brush of warm contact.

Knock, knock.

Miaka jumped, startled out of her reverie and toppling off the bed as she managed to call out "C-come in!"

The door opened a crack.

Miaka sat bolt upright on the floor, her expression showing first confusion and then amusement as a large bowl of peaches seemed to hover mid-air in the doorway by themselves.

A deep, official sounding voice echoed in the room.

"We, the Royal peaches of the Third Saihitei of Konan, keepers of the juicy middles, do humbly request an audience with the most auspicious Priestess of Soo-zah-koo."

Miaka giggled, wiping her wet eyes.

Apparently encouraged, the peaches drifted a little further into the room, allowing Miaka to see the hand supporting the bowl.

"We peaches have heard from a most brave and clever warrior of Mt. Reikaku that the Priestess is partial to us--"

Miaka giggled louder, nodding her head and saying with delight "She is, she is! Please do come in, Oh worthy peaches!"

Tasuki, grinning from ear to ear pushed the door open and strode into the room. He stopped just before her, the peach bowl between his hands and gazed down at her. There was an awkward pause, and then he spoke with a husky edge to his voice.

"We were all just thinkin'... 'bout how we were going to get you out of your room sometime this dynasty-- when I thought perhaps you'd enjoy somethin' that can't run away."

Miaka caught a flicker of concern flash across his face as he realized the insensitiveness of his joke, for she knew he was referring to Tamahome.

"He never thinks before he makes an ass of himself!" she remembered Nuriko complaining.

Yet she was not angry at his clumsy attempt at conversation. Quite the opposite, she was feeling better than she had in days. The thought that perhaps he did not hold any grudge against her made her beam. Miaka looked up into his face, admiring not for the first time the way his features were so expressive.

Right now he was looking distinctly shy the way he swayed the peach bowl from side to side in his palms, and shifted his feet. Miaka immediately felt a barrier drop between them. 'Perhaps all his teasing and grumpiness is just because he's nervous too...' she thought, the realization causing a genuine smile to reach her lips for the first time in days.

"I'd love one. Why don't you join me?"

The words were out of her mouth before she'd had time to consider them. 'I don't want to seem too pushy!'

Tasuki however looked immensely pleased, the tension breaking instantly. To her surprise he plopped himself down on the floor next to her, placing the peach bowl in front of them. His eyes twinkled as he picked one from the bowl and then held it up before her, as if offering her a prized jewel.

"Where did you get these...?" Miaka asked, touched that he'd remembered her saying how much she liked them.

Tasuki arched an eyebrow and squinted into the distance, as if contemplating whether or not to tell her. Then, a slow deliberate grin formed on his lips.

"The Royal Orchards." he stated casually, catching Miaka's hand and closing her fingers around the peach before she could protest. Miaka felt her cheeks flush, and laughed as he gave her a conspiratorial look.

"Ooh, but are we allowed to just take--" she began.

"Shhpt!" Tasuki silenced, bringing his other hand to her lips.

"If you don't say it, its not a sin!'

Miaka tried to give him a wry look, but had some difficulty due to the fact that his fingers were still pressed to her lips.

"I fink--" she started, then began to speak normally as Tasuki dropped his finger from her lips "...I think you've been misinterpreting Chichiri-san's proverbs."

Tasuki scoffed.

"What's there to interpret? Sit on a log, think some. Sit on a bigger log, think some more. That's why I'm glad I'm not a monk. What do you do when you're done thinkin'?"

Miaka felt herself smile, holding up her peach so as to hide her giggle.

"And what about a bandit? Steal some gold, drink sake. Steal some more gold, drink lots of sake!" she said half-laughing at the scandalized look on Tasuki's face.

"You forgot the singing," he said with dignity, waiting until she had taken a large mouthful of peach before tasting his own.

"But you can't just drink sake and sing forever," she said conversationally, not wanting to sound as if she were prying, but too curious at his unexpected easiness.

"There must be something you want to do when you grow up!"

Tasuki, chewing on his peach looked at her bemusedly.

"I am grown up!" he said proudly although Miaka knew him to be her age exactly; fifteen.

"Besides, I don't want to plan anythin'. Makes life more fun!"

Miaka chewed thoughtfully.

"But don't you want to plan some things? Like, having job and a family someday?"

Tasuki seemed to consider her words, frowning slightly.

"I've never been much to anyone. All I have is Mt. Reikaku. But if I did want all those things someday-- and I don't-- I'd do 'em right, not like my ol' man."

He spoke these last words quietly with his gaze trained on the floor, his long jade earrings chiming together as they swayed. Miaka was silent, wanting to tell him that she understood what it was like to want to be better than a father she barely knew. Instead, she reached up and caught his jade earring gently between her fingers.

It had been an unstoppable impulse, and to make matters worse she couldn't help but think out loud: "These are so beautiful. They remind me of the jade earrings my granma used to wear..." Miaka blanched. Had she just said that?

"Not that they look like that on you-- I mean, your not my granma..." she backtracked hopelessly.

Tasuki's face went very red.

Miaka hardly had time to realize that the bright red blotches appearing on Tasuki's cheeks were not from anger, but laughter. His laugh was easy and roaring, and exploded into the lazy quietness of the chamber. Birds that had been twittering and fluttering about outside the window flew in a panic from their branches.

"Your granma had good taste! Don't suppose she'd consider a trade, ne?"

Miaka laughed, shaking her head.

"Not her favorite earrings, but she might loan you her matching lipstick!" she teased.

Tasuki gave her a puzzled look.

"Lip-stick...? What's that, some kind of weapon? My sisters used to whack me with sticks all the time, but the sticks never matched their earrings."

Miaka only laughed harder at his innocent question, her mouthful of peach too juicy to contain as a little dribbled onto her lip.

Without warning, Tasuki leaned in close to her and wiped it away with his fingertip.

She stared, transfixed and too embarrassed to move as Tasuki's gaze flickered from her eyes, to her lips.

'Just like before... in the cabin...' Miaka thought, her stomach tossing and flipping as his warm breath fanned her cheeks...

"Miaka..."

A voice was calling to her now, a voice that seemed displaced. It was rough, hoarse and extremely anxious sounding.

"Miaka...!"

She was waking up, the memory slipping into the dark recesses of her mind again where it could be protected from the glaring light of reality. Suddenly, her eye lids were opening and a blurry face swam above her.

"You stole Hotohori-sama's peaches..." Miaka said weakly, her throat dry and parched. Tasuki arched his eyebrow, but unlike his younger self he did not look roguish as much as utterly confused.

"I-- what...?"

"It was a sin, but I love you for it. Thank you..."

Tasuki felt his jaw hit the floor with a deafening clang.

Had she bumped her head during their escape?

Her eyes drifted shut and opened reflexively, and as Tasuki lifted her gently and brought her closer to the fire he'd created without benefit of his tessen, he realized she was still half asleep.

'Must be a baby thing...' he thought with a doubtful glance at her tummy, trying with all his might to dispel the euphoric feeling that had spread throughout his body when she'd said 'I love you'. But his musings were cut short. After assuming that she was still in the throws of sleep, it was quite a surprise to find himself almost knocked onto his back as soft arms and legs collided with him. Miaka buried her head in his chest, and felt his arms wrap around her hesitantly. Within the tangle of arms and legs Tasuki managed to surface, but was immediately met with blazing green eyes and a torrent of questions.

"Tasuki! What's going on? Who were those soldiers, and why were they wearing the Imperial crest of Konan? Where's Chichiri-san? Suzaku must have brought me back to find out what's going on! Ooh, Tasuki I did it! I was so worried that I'd never see--Ooopmh!" she cried out in surprise as she was lifted into the air. Flailing, Miaka looked up into the face of her Seishi. What she saw made her thoughts grind to a halt, and her heart thump heavily within her chest.

This Tasuki was very different from the young Tasuki in her memories.

This Tasuki's face was much darker from being out in the harsh sun. Even darker stubble covered his cheeks and chin. She could barely make out the subtle but familiar cleft of his chin now. His face looked harder, as if a sculptor had chiseled all his recognizable features into sharper, more severe ones. Her heart skipped nervously, as if she were in the presence of man she'd never met before. A man who was cradling her in his arms protectively.

"Sit." he commanded as he set her down carefully in front of the fire. Something fuzzy to the touch was placed in her hand.

It was a peach.

"Eat." he said sternly, watching her with a piercing gaze that made eating the last thing Miaka wished to do. Her heart in her throat Miaka swallowed heavily, feeling distinctly uncomfortable with being stared at so openly. Surely, this dirt stained man was not Genrou, not Tasuki! But even as the thought popped into her mind, it was broken like a soap bubble.

His eyes...

They were the eyes of the boy she'd known. They looked sadder, and a little less cocky but they were his.

The firelight flickered across his face, casting shadows that made him seem even more tired. With a start, Miaka realized that he looked like he was in his late thirties. 'That much time has passed since I was last here?' she thought shocked and afraid that even though it had been a matter of months since the book had been taken from her, in the book years had passed. Perhaps she was too late to help anyone. "We have to get to Konan palace!" Miaka said suddenly, standing and brandishing the peach in her hand as if it were a mighty sword.

Tasuki continued to gaze at her, his expression unfathomable. Then, he stood and strode towards her. Miaka felt the urge to back up quickly, but stood rooted to the spot. He had always been a little taller than she was, but now he towered over her five foot four inches. Miaka stared up at him defiantly as he placed his large hands on her shoulders and pressed down ever so slightly. His finger tips pressed into her muscles in not an unpleasant way, but she gasped as her body folded back down instantly. It was as if he had swiped her legs out from under her, and Miaka found her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Not understanding what he'd just done to her, but knowing it had been completely unfair, Miaka watched with growing frustration as he calmly returned to his place by the fire.

"We have to--" she began, but was cut off by his gruff voice. It was much deeper than she remembered it being.

"The only place you're goin' is home to your family." he said sternly, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Home? I can't go home! Suzaku brought me here for a purpose, I know he did--"

"This is not a choice, Mi-chan. You're going home. Why the hell anyone would call you back here while you're in your condition..." he trailed off, his face darkening with anger. Miaka blinked. My condition...? Since when did Tasuki give her orders? And why did he keep staring at her like that...!

"I'm glad I got to see you though." he said into the fire, his face softening.

"I've heard women talk 'bout how they're all supposed to glow or somethin'. I never believed it.. until I saw you again." his voice was gentler, and his eyes looked up from the fire to roam over her face... and fall on her mouth. Immediately, he seemed to come back to himself and in a manner that suggested he was embarrassed, he added gruffly "Where the hell is Taka? He shouldn't be lettin' you out of his sight--"

Miaka's hands suddenly flew to her stomach. She had completely forgotten about the pillow taped to her back! Mortified, she watched as Tasuki focused an expectant gaze on her. "Tasuki, there's been a mistake, I'm not--"

"Staying here, you're damned right!' Tasuki shot back, suddenly angry again. Miaka felt her own temper flare. He hasn't changed a bit! He's still as hot-blooded as ever!

Standing, Miaka ignored Tasuki's words of protest. With her head held high, she began to un-button the now stained mauve suit jacket. She was too angry to see Tasuki's eyes grow wide, or note the way his mouth opened but no sound came. Tossing the jacket onto the floor, she pulled up her camisole just enough to pull out the pillow, the remnants of the tape that held it tearing away from her skin. It stung, but she didn't care.

Tasuki stared at her, not comprehending what he'd just witnessed due to the fact that he was still getting over the shock of her sudden removal of clothing. The blood was pounding in his veins, as Miaka dropped her 'belly' onto the floor.

"See?" she said gently, hoping he would not begin to ask questions, such as why she had had a pillow stuffed under her shirt. To her surprise, he seemed at a rare loss for words. It was then Miaka realized she was standing with her sheer camisole pulled up around her midriff, exposing her extremely un-pregnant belly. She lowered the camisole slowly, her cheeks burning and tried to look non-plussed.

"I'm not pregnant, Tasuki. I never have been...I mean, I haven't..."

'She's not carrying Taka's baby...' Tasuki didn't know whether to feel disappointed or immensely relieved. Either way, he felt ashamed and guilty for wishing that Taka and Miaka would not have children. Taka was his friend after all and Miaka was...

Tasuki gave a sudden wince as he felt the wound on his chest burn white hot with pain. His vision became blurred. Trying to focus, he felt his limbs growing weak from loss of blood. Suddenly, he felt warm, soft hands grabbing his shoulders.

"Tasuki..?" Miaka exclaimed, her eyes wide with panic.

Tasuki couldn't speak. With a grunt, he felt his strength give way and his vision slip into blackness.

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"Oh no!" Yui gasped as she read the last line, the words a red blur as tears sprang to her eyes. Tetsuya was by her side in an instant.

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he took the book from her lap.

"What is it?" Keisuke asked wildly, cradling the phone to his ear as he came out of the kitchen.

Tetsuya raised his other hand to calm his friend.

"Mi-chan's okay. Its Tasuki. He was wounded in the battle before and..."

"Is he okay?" Keisuke asked, concern written on his face as he hung up the phone and came to sit beside Tetsuya. He took the book and lay it across his lap, scanning the lines.

"We don't know," Yui said hoarsely, her head resting on Tetsuya's chest. She had been fighting tears ever since they had arrived back at Keisuke's apartment. Yui knew that if only she had held onto Miaka, perhaps they might have gone back together. Even though the thought terrified her, it was still better than sitting around helplessly waiting to discover what would happen next. Rain pounded against the windows of the apartment, and Yui wondered if perhaps the same storm that had raged in Hong-Kong had followed her home.

"The Celestial warrior's wound was severe, and as the Priestess tended it there unfolded a great energy which swelled within the cave's ancient walls..." Keisuke read quietly, his brow furrowed.

"Great energy? What does that mean?"

Yui shook her head.

"Knowing this book, nothing cute and fuzzy."

Tetsuya wiped Yui's tears from her cheeks gently. "We all forget that Miaka is a strong warrior too. And what about that stranger who's supposed to appear, the one who's full of virtue?"

"But who's in disguise," Keisuke added, staring at the pages and wondering when the next lines would appear. He hated having to wait like this!

"Wait..." Yui said, her wet eyes bright with sudden understanding. "What if the book is giving us clues?"

"You mean, like a code?" Tetsuya asked.

"Kind of..." Yui said, rising from Tetsuya's comforting arms.

"The book almost reads like a riddle sometimes," she said, holding out her hands for Keisuke to give it back to her.

"All we have to do is figure out the riddle, and we should be able to guess what's going to happen next."

"So.. how do we know what's a riddle, and what's ye olde ancient Chinese-speak?" Tetsuya asked, intrigued by Yui's idea. He was also mesmerized by the way she glowed when she was onto a lead.

At first, Yui didn't answer. She just read the lines she'd already seen over and over again.

'A man of virtue ...in disguise...disguise...a costume? A costume ...a mask-!'

"I know who it is!" Yui said, startling both Keisuke and Tetsuya. But before she could explain, her face blazed with the reflected red light that signaled more of the story was about to be written.

"What does it say?" asked Tetsuya cautiously, when Yui still hadn't looked up.

...As the Priestess tended her warriors wounds, her family read on with increasing unease...

"Wait-- 'family'? We're in the book too?" Keisuke said in disbelief. Yui didn't answer, but continued, her voice shaking slightly.

...for as they read on, they were unaware of the dangerous shadow that was moving ever closer to reclaim what his master would stop at nothing to control. The tree of fortune was set against them, and within three chimes, their enemy would be upon them...

They were all silent as Yui looked up at Tetsuya, her gaze fearful.

Then, a loud sharp chiming cut through the silence that hung in the apartment.

Keisuke looked at the portable phone as if it were a volatile creature, and slowly picking it up on the third ring, managed to say "...Yes?"

"Mr. Yuuki, I presume." a soft, polite voice asked.

Keisuke rose somewhat shakily, avoiding Tetsuya and Yui's worried gazes.

"Who is this..?" Keisuke asked, his mind racing. There was a pause, in which Keisuke could have sworn he heard a soft chuckle.

"Come come now, Mr. Yuuki. Do not tell me you thought you and your friends could steal my property without facing the consequences of your actions."

Keisuke felt his heart skip.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" Keisuke asked, his voice laced with anger. He had a very good idea that this was the business man who had first threatened to call the police if Miaka didn't give up the book. The voice on the other end of the phone was calm, and silky.

"My name is H'tes. I would have thought by now that would be obvious. What is not so obvious to you perhaps is how you intend to get your sister out of the Universe of the Four Gods...alive."

Wordlessly, Tetsuya opened up his laptop and began to tap on the keys.

"There is no need to run a trace on this call, Mr. Yuuki. I am not far from you. In fact, I was about to pay you a visit. I trust you will have the book ready for me when I arrive? I would hate for there to be any..." the voice paused, as if perusing an inventory of words so as to pick the just right one. "...un-pleasantness."

Keisuke's grip on the phone was turning his knuckles white.

"I won't give it to you. And if you try and take it I'll--"

"Mr. Yuuki, please understand my position." the voice interrupted swiftly.

"I am the only who possesses the fore knowledge to help your sister. You see, I know what force threatens the world your sister is so intent on protecting. If you should decide to cooperate, I could ..assist you."

Keisuke glanced at Yui and Tetsuya.

"Thanks, but I'll figure that out for myself. You're not getting the book, and if you ever call this number again..."

"Your sister has no concept of what she has begun," the voice said darkly, a hint of anger breaking its polite surface for the first time. "And if you have any concern for her well being, you will give me the book ...now."

Keisuke hung up the phone, but had no time to explain to Yui and Tetsuya what had just occurred because something interrupted him.

It was a loud knock on the door.

TBC...!

A/N: Thanks so much for reviewing! To be honest, I'm just happy to be writing again-- and the way you all have been so nice I couldn't ask for more! Holds out her arms for Kristall, vegetas-mate2 and KittyLynne Group Hug! Thank you all so much for being so sweet and reviewing each chapter. I finished writing this chapter today, so the next few chapters will be coming soon!

PS: Regarding the random Bono quote I used at the beginning of the chapter, I thought it tied in with the fact that in Miaka and Tasuki's past when they were still teenagers, they seemed to be 'almost' in love, or almost kissing. I thought it said something about how cosmically Miaka and Tasuki would seem to be always missing each other. Its a perpetual 'what if' situation...I think that's why I always liked exploring them as a couple!