Mwahahaha! Be proud of me! Why? Because I have updated again in so short a time :beams: Yes! So…Um…I can't really think of anything to say…Except that this will be the last Mieri installment for awhile. Next! On to Yuko :grins: This is where things start to get fun! Meh…that's about it…so…RR's!

Silver: lol Can you blame him? He's not supposed to like girls! And then along comes…:evil grin: Have I filled your requests adequately? o.O I've been online…I've sent you chapter 6…I've given you a whole DUMPTRUCK load of seer…oh! And I've updated at last! Hee!

Mint: Hee! - Thank you! Ugh…allergies? My dad and little sister have those…their supposedly allergic to dogs, cats, horses…If it has fur they're allergic to it. But I'm a big time animal fan and I made them deal with it. It helps that mom saw this starving adorable little kitten and told dad to shove it up his ass….she can get mean when she has to!I know! The only person who owns a charie is the OWNER…and they're allowed to obsess as much as they want. :evil gleam: And YES! I adore Fruits Basket! I have the whole series of the anime and up to like number 9 in the manga….ten has come out and I've yet to get it…T-T And my fav? I don't know! They're all so awesome! But if I have to pick, it's Yuki. He rocks :does a rabid fangirl dance: Hee! I like the pretty ones too :nods: Yeah…it's a curse…:shrugs: YES! I just bought it like the other day :does another rabid fangirl dance: And you've got to be kidding me…Limbo…? o.O Oh well, have fun!

Star: Hee! Glad you liked it! And that cliff hanger wasn't that bad! This one is worse…Well, I'll try to read your stories today…I have had like NO time! T-T Ciao!

ET: Ha! I own like the first 3 volumes of Shaman King…I really like them. And you're right. Ren is sexy! Little too young for my tastes however so he's all yours!And who doesn't ramble on about sexy bishies? o.O No one normal I'm sure…Well, I hope you like this one too!

DE8: This chapter's a little longer than usual, so maybe it'll make up for last time! And yes…I enjoy making Tasuki squirm...:evil grin: It's just so much fun! And don't worry…your pen name isn't too long…I'm just too lazy…see:points upward: I shorten everyone's…And don't worry…no review is too long! I like reading them so make it as long as you dare! Mwahahahahaha! Ahem! Sorry…Have fun!

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Mieri turned restlessly in her sleep. A dream had seized her and would not let go. Finally, with a sigh, she gave in to it and let it take her where it would.

She was in an empty meadow. There was no indication that anyone had ever been here. In fact, there was no indication that she had been here. The grass was unbent. The birds and other small animals were unconcerned with her presence. She shook her head as she sat down in the tall grass to wait for whatever it was to come.

A great fiery bird suddenly appeared in the sky. After making a few lazy circles over her head, it landed directly in front of her. Moments after that, a blue dragon landed next to it. Appearing from between the trees, a white tiger calmly padded over to lay next to the other two beasts. Lastly, a turtle ― moving faster than a turtle should ― made its way over to where Mieri and the other three beasts waited patiently. She noticed as she sat there that a snake was intertwined in the shell of the turtle, making it seem as if there were two beasts instead of one.

The bird flapped its wings once, acknowledging the assembly. Then it opened its mouth. "Priestess. Do you know who we are?"

Mieri nodded her head. And indeed she did know who these creatures were. The four gods: Suzaku, Seiryu, Byakko, and Genbu.

"Do you know why you and your friends were called to our world?" This time the tiger ― Byakko ― spoke.

Mieri shook her head.

"It is because our world is being threatened once again." Genbu ― the turtle.

"Your world, too, is being threatened." Seiryu ― the dragon.

"Our worlds are intertwined, Mieri. What happens in one, affects the other." Suzaku, the bird. Her god. "Once again evil is trying to seal us away."

"And once again it is succeeding," Byakko growled low in his throat.

"I don't have the power to send you back," Suzaku revealed, looking her straight in the eye.

"But why!" Mieri asked, speaking for the first time. "Why can't you fight back? Why do we have to fight for you?"

"The Priestesses have ever been our best weapons!" hissed Seiryu. "They have the ability to call forth our powers! Without them our power is minimal at best. We can suggest but not command. We can observe but not change."

"And now, with the coming of old enemies, we are even weaker," nodded Genbu. "We have all gathered together to warn you. The evil is coming. And it will not be satisfied with the destruction of our world alone."

"How am I to get back then?" Mieri flung her hands up, "You just said you don't have the power!"

"You have something greater than our power," Suzaku stepped closer. "You have bonds. Use those bonds to their utmost. Call upon them when you wish to return. The bonds will echo through the links, and they will pull you to them."

"Bonds? I don't understand."

Seiryu pulled himself up, "Well, you had better think quickly, Priestess of Suzaku. We no longer have the time to explain."

A sort of black cloud bubbled up from the ground around the four beast gods. It crept towards their feet. And then their chests. Finally, only their heads remained free of the taint.

Suzaku stared at his chosen Priestess. "The evil has reached us, Priestess. We can no longer help you. Remember to use your bonds! They will save you! And find the Lost Ones! Only they will be able to mend the tears!"

With that, the black fog consumed every bit of the gods. When it dissipated, nothing remained. Mieri shook her head in confusion. What did they mean? Movement near her feet threw her out of her contemplation. The black fog was slowly making its way up her! She shivered. The fog was cold. It was as if a malevolent hand had seized hold of her.

Mieri shook off the fog clinging to her legs and ran. When she reached the edge of the clearing, she noticed that there were no openings in between the trees. Regardless, she raced full tilt towards the forest. The feeling of violence and hatred was close upon her heels. She was sure that if she looked back, the black fog would be right there behind her. Screwing her eyes closed, she leapt into the trees, hoping that she was right.

Mieri bolted upright in her bed, only just stifling the urge to scream. Tearing back the covers, she slapped at her legs, trying to erase the feeling of the fog rolling up them. When she had calmed down, Mieri took stock of her situation. "That must have been the land of the gods," she finally decided. "It was way too serene and all that crap. At least till that fog came in." She shuddered.

"But what did they mean?" She slapped herself on the head, "Well, duh! They meant that the evil thing was already wherever we were. So that's not good." She frowned. "What about that bonds stuff? What bonds?" With a sudden flash of insight, she stared at the broken necklace on the nightstand. "That must be the link they were talking about!" She carefully picked it up. "And that means…" Her thoughts flashed to the identical necklaces that Aya, Rika, and Yuko all wore. "The bonds of friendship!" Mieri smiled happily, quite pleased with herself for figuring it all out.

Her smile faded as she remembered the gods disappearing in the cloud of black. "We've got to get back!" She scrambled out of bed and headed for the computer room. "Tasuki! Nuriko! Wake up!"

Tasuki turned over in his sleep. "Go away, Koji. It's not even midday."

Nuriko blinked sleepily at her as she slid into the room. "What's wrong? I really have to get more sleep than this!"

Mieri panted a bit from excitement. "We have to get back! I can get us back!"

"What in the world are you talking about?" Nuriko asked yawning. Tasuki mumbled something probably best left unheard.

She marched over to the sleeping bandit. "Get up! I mean it!"

He didn't twitch.

Mieri grinned wickedly and leaned over in his ear. "Tasuki…Aya's here."

"Ah!" Tasuki bolted upright, almost hitting Mieri in the face. As it was, she was thrown back onto her butt. "I swear! It was Tamahome! He's the one who kissed her!"

Nuriko raised a brow. "Kissed? And what were you dreaming about, Tasuki-dearest?"

Tasuki's face turned blood red. "Nothing! Now what's so damned important that you have to wake me up like that!"

"Come on!" Mieri's eyes shone excitedly. "I can get us back! We have to go get the necklace fixed! Pronto!"

The two seishi reluctantly followed their Priestess as she all but ran out of the room. They were going down the stairs when they heard a strange voice. "Mieri? Aya? Is that you two?"

Mieri froze. "Oh, no! It's Aunt Sanyo!" she whispered, horrified.

"Who?" Tasuki hissed.

"Shut up!" Mieri gestured. "Yes, Aunt Sanyo! It's us!"

"Oh," the voice was coming from the bedroom on the other side of the kitchen. "I wasn't sure, dear. I thought I heard a man's voice."

"Oh, no!" Mieri laughed nervously. "That was just Aya joking around."

"Where is Aya, dear?"

Mieri looked back at Tasuki and Nuriko with wide eyes, "Um…she's "

"I'm right here, Aunt Sanyo!" Nuriko called in an impressively girly voice.

"Is that you, Aya? You're voice sounds different…"

"It always sounds this way when I first wake up," Nuriko giggled, playing his role to the hilt. "It'll get back to normal in a few hours."

"Does your breath smell bad, too?"

"Aunt Sanyo!" Mieri gasped, forgetting for a moment that Aya wasn't really there.

"I've got something for that, you know."

"I'm fine!" Nuriko smothered another giggle. "Thank you!"

"We're going out, Aunt Sanyo!" Mieri shook her head. "We'll be back in a while, okay?"

"That's fine, dear. Where are you going?"

"Um…the mall?" Mieri winced.

"Okay. Be back in time for dinner."

"We will!" Mieri motioned for the boys to follow her out the front door. "God!" Mieri gasped when they were safely outside. "I thought we were in trouble for sure!"

"No need to thank my illustrious acting abilities!" Nuriko bowed. "It's all in a day's work!"

"Good grief!" Mieri rolled her eyes. "Let's get going."

"Do you know where you're going?" Nuriko asked hesitantly.

"Nope," Mieri slowed at a traffic light and carefully made her way through the intersection along with about seventy other people. "But I know the general area. Dad and me went to this jewelry store for Mother's Day."

Tasuki stared at the surrounding buildings and vast crowds with awe. "Damn! I've never seen so many people in my entire life!"

"I know!" Mieri grinned. "Isn't it great?"

A man came up and tugged on Nuriko's arm. "Ma'am! Look! You wanna buy something? I have store just around the corner! Very good merchandise!" He spoke a tattered sort of English.

Mieri reached back and propelled Nuriko forward. "We're not some dumb tourists," Mieri scolded in perfect Japanese. "Go find someone else to rob." The man scowled and hurried away before tapping on the arm of an American woman.

"He called me a woman," Nuriko pressed a hand to his cheek. "I thought cutting my hair would send the message!"

"Not in this town!" Mieri snickered. "You're too pretty to be taken for a man."

"Too ugly, I'd say," Tasuki retorted.

Nuriko frowned and hit him lightly ― which meant he staggered ― on the shoulder. "You hush! You're one to talk! I heard what Aya called you! Carrot-top!"

Tasuki brandished his fan. "Shut up! That wench will get hers!" He glanced belatedly at Mieri, but she wasn't paying him any attention.

"I think this is it," Mieri muttered to herself. She stood staring at a shop with no sign. "I can't quite remember…"

"Well, I'm going in!" Tasuki barged through the door.

"Idiot!" Mieri growled as she quickly followed him in.

Nuriko laughed and joined them. The shop was indeed the jeweler's. A tiny old man sat behind the counter and peered at the three of them over his spectacles. "Can I help you?"

Mieri bowed and elbowed Tasuki when he didn't do the same. "I'm afraid I've broken my necklace. It's very important that I get it fixed as soon as possible."

The old man shifted a bit in his chair and held out a hand. "Very well, then. Let's see what you've done to it."

Mieri reached inside her pocket and drew out her necklace. With a withering glare at Tasuki, she handed it over.

The man shook his head. "This isn't a very expensive necklace if you don't mind my saying so. It'd be cheaper to just buy a new one."

"No, no!" Mieri almost cried. "I have to fix this one! It's important to me!"

The man nodded. "Sentiment, eh? Well, I don't think it will take long. Wait here a moment," he turned and walked into the back of his shop.

"Alright!" Tasuki face Mieri. "Now tell us what's going on! I'm not used to being up this early!"

"Tasuki, it's already ten forty five! How late do you sleep!"

Tasuki scowled. "As late as the caravan that we're scheduled to rob! Now stop changing the subject!"

Nuriko nodded in agreement. "What got you so excited?"

Mieri sighed and explained her dream to the two seishi. "So the bonds must be talking about our friendship! And the link has to be the necklace! It's the only thing that all four of us have!"

Nuriko frowned seriously, "I'm more worried about that black fog. It swallowed up all the gods?"

Mieri nodded.

"We'll just find whatever it is and kick its ass!" Tasuki whipped his fan around.

"Idiot," Nuriko admonished softly. "Suzaku said we must find the Lost Ones. Who are they? Was he talking about the other gods' seishi? Or something else entirely?"

"Well, this Taitsukun should know something, right?" Mieri asked. "We'll just ask her."

"That old hag? She never gives straight answers!" Tasuki shuddered. "And I don't want to see her again."

"Well, it can't be helped," Mieri decided firmly. "We'll have to find the others and then go to her."

"Here you are!" the old man popped back out holding Mieri's necklace. "Good as new!"

Mieri seized it with a cry of delight. "Oh, thank you! How much do I owe you?"

The old man waved a hand. "It took nothing but a little time and effort. You don't owe me a thing. I can see it meant quite a lot to you."

Mieri thought of the day they'd all gotten it. Aya had complained that it wouldn't go with anything she wore. Rika had been positively delighted, as usual. Of course, Yuko had been the one to purchase them. It was her threats that had finally convinced Aya to wear it. "Yes..." Mieri agreed softly. "Yes, it does."

"Off with you!" the old man shooed them away. "I'm sure you young people have things to do. And I have other customers to see to!"

Mieri flashed him a brilliant smile. "Thank you, sir!" she bowed once more.

Tasuki and Nuriko bowed also before following Mieri out the door. They all three raced back to Aunt Sanyo's house; Tasuki almost getting hit by a car. Mieri and Nuriko just stopped him before he flamed the poor man shouting furiously out his window.

"You idiot!" Mieri hissed as she pushed Tasuki in the front door. "Cars have gasoline!"

"What's that?" Tasuki asked belligerently as he was forced up the stairs.

"It's something that explodes with flames!"

"Oh."

Mieri sighed and shook her head. "Forget it. Just grab on." Nuriko and Tasuki obediently grabbed an elbow. "Alright," she took a deep breath, "Here it goes."

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