I don't own FY

Thank you for reviewing D.D.Z.Chichiri's WandererEverqueen, Crimson Firefox, MaeleanaOkonomiyakeUcchanFFchick, Bishiglomper andunsafety pin.

I would write out reply's to them but I'm so exhausted I think I'd write things that incomprehensible. Ug, big words for tired mind with massive headache are not good. But I will say this: 'No da' mean 'ya know', but that get really annoying when said over and over in English, where as 'no da' is cute and isn't so… blahish… bad term to use in describingit but that's alright.

Chapter 9

Chichiri, Mitsukake, Chiriko and Tasuki were all heading towards the mountain as quickly as they could. Something deeply troubled them, as if they felt a fellow seshi in danger.

"I hope Nuriko is alright," Chiriko said panted as he did his best to keep up with the others. Being that he was several feet shorter that proved to be a difficult task.

No one responded, but it was known that the feeling was they same for all. None of them knew that Keara was atop the mountain and in as much danger as the seshi, but they could not be to blame for that as they had not seen Tamahome or Miaka since they had split up. They had simply felt a fellow seshi in danger and had set off in the direction of the feeling as quickly as humanly possible.

Anxiety grew within them as time passed and the feeling of their friends' danger became stronger and stronger. It was not long before the feeling reached it peak and caused them to stop dead in their tracks.

"Nuriko…" Chiriko seemed on the verge of tears, fearing that the feeling might mean that their friend was now gone.

"Let's hurry and give what aid we can," Chichiri said quickly and moved forward at a running pace, staff rattling with each step. The horrid feeling for Nuriko's safety was powerful and felt as if a knife had been jabbed into his very soul, but it was not powerful enough to block out a second pain. He did not comprehend what it meant for several moments until it became stronger, nearly as much so as Nuriko's, that he realized that someone one else was in grave danger.

He rattled off the names of the only other people left to cause the pain in his head as he continued his pace. He knew it was not Hotohori as he was back at the capital and Kutou (Seiryuu being their god) was too busy chasing after the shinzaho's to bother with an attack. It could not be either of the three beside him as they were all in top condition, nor could it be his miko as the feeling would she much sharper, which took Tamahome out as well since they would, undoubtedly, be in the same place. That left only one other person.

Chichiri suddenly froze in horror, "Keara…"

vvvv

Miaka sat cradling Keara's head in her lap. She had originally planned to run off and cry, but when she had head Tamahome cry the girl's name in shock and fear she came running back faster than she had left.

Keara's face was deathly pale, yet amazingly she looked peaceful. This fact both appalled and frightened the miko as Nuriko looked the same way and he had left them. Miaka did not think she could stand losing yet another friend, especially not within the same hour as the first.

The wound Ashitare had inflicted upon her leg had been re-bandaged by Tamahome in an attempt to slow the bleeding. The idea had worked thus far, but the amount of blood she had already lost would prove fatale unless Mitsukake arrived soon.

Tamahome placed his ear next to Keara's mouth for a moment before rising away. He sighed and shook his head, "Her breathing keeps getting shallower."

"There's got to be some way we can help her," Miaka cried, the tears she had been holding back raining down her cheeks, streaking them with their moisture.

With a sigh Tamahome bowed his head, "There is nothing we can do." His fists balled up in anger and helplessness before he continuing with a barely steady voice, "All we can do it wait."

And wait they did, waited and watched as Keara's life slowly slipped away. Panic was quickly arising in Miaka and even Tamahome had a difficult time concealing his immense worry as Keara's breathing began staggering.

"Please hang on Keara," Miaka sniffed, a tear falling off her chin to slide down the dying teen's cheek and became lost within her ruffled hair.

It seemed like an eternity before the rhythmic clinging of Chichiri's staff reached their ears. Tamahome looked up, "Chichiri!"

The monk quickly came into view with the other three seshi's. They all looked breathless and deeply worried, but that understandable. One look at Keara sent both Mitsukake and Chichir running faster than they had been traveling before towards her, the latter dropping his staff and mask half way there.

"Keara," Chichiri breathed in worry and quickly took in the fact that she was outrageously pale and nearly at the point of not breathing.

"Is her leg the only injury?" Mitsukake asked quickly and breathlessly.

"Yes," Tamahome answered. It wasn't completely true, but the only other injuries she had were scrapes and they were of no risk to her health.

With a quick nod Mitsukake held out his hand over the bandage and summoned his power. There was a bit of yellow light and then nothing. He pulled his hand away and looked up to his patients still pale face.

"Will she be alright?" Miaka asked before either of the others could.

"Check her breathing," Mitsukake ordered to no on in particular.

Chichiri placed his ear next to Keara's mouth and stayed in the position for several moments. With a sigh of relief he pulled away and smiled faintly, "It's returning to a healthy pattern."

"Thank Suzaku," Tamahome said with a sigh.

Soft sobbing could be heard from behind them and the reason for it was Chiriko. He had walked up to Nuriko while the others were helping Keara and had taken in the full results of the battle his two friends had been involved in. While the sight was not as gruesome as it could have been the fact still remained that they had lost a friend and a fellow seshi, something that pulled at each and everyone of their hearts.

The atmosphere of the group had quickly changed from relief at Keara's rising health to sadness at the loss of Nuriko. Tamahome tried his best to explain what had happened based on what he had been told, but he felt he was down casting the heroics of both friends, a fact of which he made very clear.

"Let us not put both their sacrifices in vain," Chichiri softly said as he glanced down at Keara. Her breath was nearly back to normal and her face had gained several shades more color than it had been moments ago, but it was still unknown how long she would be unconscious.

"What do ya mean both sacrifices? Keara's still 'er," Tasuki said in confusion.

"Not all sacrifices are made by death," Chichiri responded.

With a nod Tasuki, Mitsukake and Tamahome all aided in giving their deceased friend as proper a burial as they could. Miaka stayed in her place supporting Keara's head as she watched her friend be laid to rest with great sadness. Chiriko ran off to where the monk had dropped his belongings and picked them up.

Once Chichiri had placed his mask back on and had asked Chiriko to hold his staff he wrapped his kesa around the unconscious teen. Satisfied with the position of the cloak he gingerly placed his arms behind her shoulders and knees and picking her up carefully so as not to wake her should her slumber be shallow.

"She'll be alright no da," Chichiri told Miaka upon catching her worried glance.

The miko nodded, "I know, but I can't help but worry." She looked down at her feet, "I've already lost one friend. I don't want to lose another."

"Nuriko will never be gone so long as you hold him in your heart," Chichiri said softly as he looked to his three friends, who were patting down the last of the snow on Nuriko's grave.

Miaka gave a small nod before running over to Tamahome and wrapping him in the hug she had needed from the beginning of the ordeal. Tasuki did not stop walking until he was at the monks side and gazed down upon the girl in his arms, "Ta think that she went up against tha' Seriyuu warrior and was nearly killed is unbelievable. I would have never guessed she'd be so brave and willin' to protect Nuriko despite her bad injury. She is just a girl after all."

"No, she is a brave young woman," Chichiri corrected.

By then Miaka and Tamahome were at their sides as well. "Lets go get the shinzaho before any more Seriyuu creeps show up," Tamahome said with a small forced smile.

Everyone agreed to his words and made for the door Nuriko had unblocked for them with the last of his strength.

At least Keara is alright. How long will she be out for? What will happen during the time that she is out?

Find out next update.

Please review.

Thanks!