(Hmm…this time, I'm going to give out the full name of all the main characters in this fanfic, except for Hikari's. Shiki= Shiki Tsukano. Mikan= Mikan Rikomana. Mori= Mori Iwanaga.)

(I hope that you'll enjoy this. If there's anything wrong, don't hesitate to tell me, Ok?)

Ever since Shiki appeared in this world, I've always had multiple difficulties. I don't know what really caused it but I don't ever want to put the blame on Shiki. Neither did I want to place any sort of burden to anyone precious to me, whether it be my friends or my family. Even so, I do sometimes wish my life was a little more normal….

"You little brats!" I scolded. "Come back here and fight like men!"

Two similar, almost identical, looking young boys ran in opposite directions. They were laughing and shouting and dashing in such a fast speed. I ran for the younger of the two and managed to catch up. I grabbed him and tickled him furiously. "No! Ha ha ha! No! Stop it, Hikari Onee-chan! Toyo!"

The older twin pounced on me and we all were on top of each other. "Aggh! Hikari Onee-chan is squishing me!" Toyo cried in pain.

"It's not like I have a choice. Koyo, get off of me," I said, being strangely calm at that time.

Koyo said he couldn't hear what I was saying since Toyo was crying so loud. Thankfully, their mother came and helped us. Toyo was crying so much when he was 'freed' while Koyo was acting tough, even though I saw a tear in his eye. "You boys are always causing trouble for Hikari-chan. Go and apologize," the mother ordered.

I told Mrs. Yamaki to not go through such trouble, but she and even the boys insisted. It was an awkward apology. "Sorry for pulling your hair, Hikari Onee-chan."

I left the boys and their mother and continued walking to my destination. During that walk, I kept imagining Mori being in the place of those boys, apologizing to me for pulling my hair all these years. It was impossible but I still want him to do it one day. I stopped walking when I reached the local library.

I entered the library and saw dozens of people, young and old, reading books. It was more silent than my school library where kids don't even care about the rule 'be quiet'. I walked past the library's reception and scrolled through the books, searching for any topics related to the 'Universe of the Four Gods.'

When my mother explained to me further about Shiki and the Universe of the Four Gods, feelings of distrust towards Shiki began to develop. I saw him as a threat which no one could stop. But when he showed me his weakness, I began to understand that he was still my childhood friend. Only then did I realize that perfection is not something that anyone normal can obtain, as everyone and everything has a weakness.

After the incident, I began to grow curious of the book

I went from shelf to shelf, hoping to find at least a clue on the book, but could find nothing. I stopped searching when the library announced that it was about to close in fifteen minutes. I didn't want to give up but I was forced to postpone my search until another day. I began to head to the ground floor of the library when heard a mysterious voice. [What is it that you desire?]

Before I could even look around, the librarian reminded me that the library was closing. I was curious about the voice, and about the book, but time had forbid me to look any further. I walked back home. The night was silent and peaceful, perfect for a nice romantic stroll with the one you love. It was also great for thinking, which was what I did the whole time.

'What was that voice I heard? Was it that same voice I heard three years ago? What relation does it have with the book? And what mom said…,"

To be blunt, my mind was full of thoughts that wouldn't make sense three years ago. I put all in attention at thinking and didn't even care on my steps. Suddenly, the lights shut down for some reason. The path was darker and it was more difficult to see what was ahead. My thoughts were put aside as fear was starting to engulf me. "I knew I shouldn't have seen that horror movie last night," I started to regret.

The scene was exactly the same. The lights, the darkness, and the fact that I was alone. I was steadily becoming more precautious and afraid. 'Oh man! Oh man! Oh man! When will I ever learn my lessons? I know I can't handle those kinds of movies with the monsters coming out of the screen! And there's a turn next…'

In the movie, when the girl was about to turn, she saw nothing at first. But then, a slimy hand touched her on the shoulder and then… and then… she was eaten! Yes, it was idiotic of me to think that a scene from a horror movie would happen, but I always had a vivid imagination.

I walked around the corner and saw that it was as clear as the night sky. I was thankful but it was only temporary. I looked back saw not a single soul in sight. I sighed and told myself that I was foolish to think that a zombie would come. When I was about to walk back, I felt something on my shoulders. I was either too shocked or had tried to convince myself that it wasn't real. 'There's nobody there,' I repeated over and over in my thoughts.

"Hikari~…" a ghastly voice was heard behind me.

I instantly reacted at that moment with a scream. "HELP! A ZOMBIE IS TRYING TO EAT ME!" I shouted.

I collapsed to the ground at my knees and my face in my hands, crying from fear. "Hey…Hikari? You okay?"

I slowly looked back and saw Shiki in a tracksuit, crouching over to see me. Tears were over flowing, maybe from relief, maybe from happiness, maybe even fear. I hugged Shiki and cried at his shoulder. "UWAAAAAAH! I was so scared!"

After a good cry, I pushed Shiki away and turned away from him. He asked me if I was all right. I insisted that I was. It wasn't because I hated being with Shiki, but I was showing Shiki my weak side yet again. I hated that so much. The lights turned on at that moment. "Ah! Light! Finally, the world is bright again," a male familiar voice said but it wasn't Shiki. I looked back and saw Mori and Mikan and a whole bunch of familiar faces from school.

I stood up but was staggering from disbelief. What could I not believe? Well, it could be the fact that most of the people with Shiki, including Mori, were grinning very slyly. It could also be the fact that the whole Kendo, Archery and Volleyball team watched me and Shiki in a romantic moment usually seen in manga or anime or a movie. Shiki was starting to be more worried about me when my face turned pale. "Tsukano, be a bit more soft. The young lady is shaking like a leaf!" Said the person who I believe to be the team captain of the Kendo team, since he was wearing a hand band saying 'Captain' and I once saw him in the Kendo club.

Shiki looked at his captain and it seemed that the whole group was frozen and sweating. Shiki turned back at me with the same worried face that he had just before looking at the group. "You sure you're all right, Hikari?" he asked.

"Shiki, did you do something to them?" I asked, pointing at the group that was still frozen and sweating. "They look…strange."

Shiki shrugged with his 'I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about' face. Whenever he showed that face, it usually meant that he was hiding something. Once I fully convinced Shiki that I was fine, he left to continue his jog with the rest of the club. I was really surprised on the fact that Mikan was jogging. She never liked sports, except shopping…if that is a sport. The only reason she joined the volleyball club was because of its uniform. From Mikan's personality, it's not surprising that her favorite color is pink…and the female volleyball team's uniform is the same color.

I arrived back home with my mother still cooking and my father looking like it was the end of the world…all over again. I studied my father's face to see what mom was cooking that night. "Hmm…face sadder than usual, hands placed on the chin, hair is out of place. Let me guess, roast chicken with lemon and veggies!"

My father glared at me unwelcomingly. I gave a weak smile and decided that it was time for an exit to my room. Just when I was about to relax in my nice soft bed with lots and lots of pillows and with no intention of being disturbed, my phone rang. I reached for my back pocket. "Hello?"

"Hikari, are you good? I wanted to ask you just now but Shiki was enjoying himself being with his sweet little girlfriend," Mikan teased lightly. "What were you doing out so late anyway?"

"Okay, first of all, I am not his girlfriend. Sure, we had some romantic moments but I am definitely not his girlfriend," I protested.

"Oh! Come on! You like him; he likes you, what else is needed for you two to be together? Is it because you two are horribly dense? And the answer to the second question please?"

But I'm telling you, he's not…Whatever!" I was obviously tired and frustrated, but actually more tired. "Anyway, I was on my way back from the library."

Mikan sounded shock with a gasp from the phone. "Has the exam started without me knowing it? No way! My mother is going to kill me if I get another D!"

I slapped my head and assured Mikan that my reason for going to the library was not to study for the exam nor has the exam started. After Mikan Kept quoting on how relived she was, I began to explained to her that what I was looking for was a book. "A book?" she questioned me.

"I got a similar one for my birthday but I lost it a while after that before I could read it," it was a lie, of course. Actually, my father threw it away after I've been sucked into the book. But if my mother's story is true, then I can find the book almost anywhere. I even heard that a young girl found it in the trash and fought mom.

"So…why search in the library?"

"Best place to look for a book, don't you think? Maybe there's copy of it in the library," another lie. The book was a Japanese version of the original 'Universe of the Four Gods' created by someone years ago. There wasn't any copy. Whether he knew the book could suck people in and send them to an alternate universe was beyond me.

Dinner was once again unpleasant. I remembered about Mori coming over one time and wanting to taste my mom's burnt fish stew. His reason for wanting to try it was that he had never had burnt stew before. He was impressed but I knew it wasn't anything to be impressed about, unless a stomach ache is what he desired. My father and I were trying to act like the food was the best thing in the world…until my mother tasted the food and ran to the toilet with her face as green as the seaweed she prepared.

I slept pretty early that night to try and avoid the stomach ache. It was never a pleasant experience when we had dinner. This is the reason why dad usually insists on take-out. But my mother's cooking must really have done something strange to me. I saw myself in the middle of space. The stars were surrounding the moon and for a while, everything was silent. "Where am I?" I questioned myself.

[…tess…]

I looked around but saw nothing. The voice was exactly the same as the one I heard years ago and on my last birthday. "Who are you? Where are you? What do you want?"

[…ed…ice…eyes…]

Eyes…What did the voice meant by that? I had to repeat the word again and again before I could understand it. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the voice. "Who are you? Listen to me…where are you?"

[I…am…in you…]

It didn't make sense but, I somehow understood the voice. I concentrated once again on the voice and trying to communicate with the voice once again. "Tell me, who are you? Do you have a name?"

[I…am Suzaku…]

In an instant, the space I was in disappeared and around me…nothingness. I opened my eyes and saw a tall young man with wings. He was unfamiliar to me by face, but the strange aura around him made it clear. I knew the man. "Suzaku…"

"Daughter of my priestess, I am honored on the fact that you know who I am. But do you fully understand…Hikari?"

I stared at him with a confused look. "Understand what?"

"I am inside you…" he repeated the same words that he answered to me when I asked him where he was.

I put on a thoughtful look. Then it hit me. "Gasp! How dare you, you pervert!"

Suzaku didn't even twitch. I guessed that what I said was not the correct answer. I laughed weakly and began thinking. "You really do resemble the priestess," Suzaku said. "She has such a strong heart and it seems like her daughter is no different."

He had a light smile on his face and it made him look strangely calm. I felt a warm feeling from deep inside me. I placed my hands at my chest and said, "I don't really understand on what you meant by being inside me but…this warm feeling. It's from you, isn't it, Suzaku?"

A bright light surrounded Suzaku and a small bird emerged from the light. [Remember, Hikari. You are never alone, even in your trials ahead, someone shall watch over you.]

I woke up with a yawn and prepared my usual stuff for school. It wasn't very pleasant, my school day I mean. Our math's teacher surprised us with a pop quiz which I totally bombed. Mori rubbed the salt in the wound by asking me on how I did on the test. "If you dare speak of it again then I will kill you. Not might, will!" I threatened.

"Hika-chan is scary. What did I do to deserve your divine punishment?" Mori asked in his most innocent voice.

I rolled my eyes and practically ignored his drama scene. I saw Mikan slouching, very un-Mikan-like. "What's up? The test got to you?" I asked.

Mikan forced a smile and sighed. I put in more thought on why Mikan wasn't acting like herself. "Hummm…let's see. Was it about last night?" I tried.

Mikan stared at me with her warm brown eyes. It wasn't very warm when she started to stare outside the window. It was more…lonely. "Mikan…? What happened? Can I…"

The door slid opened and the volleyball captain entered the classroom. "Rikomana! Can I see you now?"

Mikan stood up and walked past me like I wasn't there. She exited the room with the captain. Shiki walked up to me and asked about Mikan. "She's been acting weird since yesterday. I don't know what had happened to her but I've got a feeling that it has something to do with Mori," he said.

"Mori's involved in this?" I asked, sounding more shocked than I felt. "Did he already say it?" I whispered to myself.

I thanked Shiki and headed back to Mori, who was still doing the dramatic scene. "Mori, can I talk to you?" I asked seriously.

"Huh? Sure, we can. I'm listening."

I told him that I wanted to talk to him in private and to meet me in the school grounds. My head was totally off from the lesson of Seimei no Abe. I wanted to feel happy, excited, and glad for Mori. But…there was an uneasy feeling in my heart that I couldn't get away from. 'Why am I feeling this way? What is this feeling anyway?'

[…ter…tess…heed…call…]

'Suzaku?!' I was shocked to hear the voice but I was sure it was Suzaku. If his words were the truth, then he was inside me. I closed my eyes and began to call for the Celestial God, Suzaku. 'Suzaku, I hear your call. What is it?'

[Open your eyes, daughter of the priestess. I am here for you.]

I slowly opened my eyes and saw the young man who had appeared before me in my dreams. "Suzaku…" I whispered.

The moment of silence was broken when I saw my classmates not move at all. I was so shocked that I couldn't even speak right. "M-M-My classmeats…um…I mean…classmeans…I mean, I don't know what I mean."

"I have merely freeze time so that we may talk to each other. I wished to warn you about the ordeal you must face. Be prepared, Hikari…" he said.

He disappeared and the room resumed back to normal. My classmates were continuing their notes while listening to the teacher's lecture about Seimei no Abe's grandson. My seatmate was sleeping and drooling on the table. I moved my notes away from the puddle of drool. 'What did he mean by ordeal? Suzaku…I wish you made more sense,' I silently thought to myself.

Lunch wasn't the greatest thing in the universe. Two of my friends weren't there and Shiki seemed to worry about me. Everything just went horribly wrong, but I wanted to make things right. "Hikari, you've been acting strange ever since I came back to this world. It's really bugging me," Shiki said.

I gave Shiki a big smile and felt my cheeks blush a little. He had a nervous look on his face and smiled softly. "I honestly have a lot on my mind, Shiki, and I'm glad that you worry about me. But…" I stopped right there and let it hang.

I cut my egg roll with my chop sticks and slowly lifted it to my mouth. Shiki was waiting patiently like a dog waiting for its master to throw a stick. I laughed at the idea. "What's so funny?" Shiki demanded.

"N-nothing…" I whistled.

Shiki had a face that spelled "I-want-to know-so-you-better-tell-me" all over. I merely whistled a tune and turned away. When I turned back, I saw Shiki chewing on something on something and my egg rolls gone. I added two and two together. "SHIKI!!!"

Time flew by and school ended. I headed to the school grounds and saw Mori leaning against the wall. He glanced at me but showed no other signs to tell me that he notices me. I smiled happily and stood in front of me. "Mori, it's great to see you here," I said cheerfully, but the cheerfulness stopped when I felt a stabbing pain in my chest.

I squeezed tightly at the spot where the stabbing pain was felt. I stepped back and collapsed to my knees. Mori had a strange aura around him, an aura which made me feel terrified. His eyes looked anything but friendly. "Mori?" I said.

[…kari…son…priestess…Seiryu.]

"Suzaku?" I called out but I couldn't focus on him. Seeing Mori's murderous eyes had installed fear in me.

I couldn't move. Mori smiled, but that didn't comfort me. It made me even more fearful. The aura around Mori began to take shape…the shape of a dragon. [Hikari! That person…]

The aura stretched up as far as the sky. There was a head, claws, fangs. I did nothing but watch as the aura had morphed into something so unbelievable. [He is the son of the priestess…]

The aura was humungous. The shape was of a thing of legends, looking majestic as it stood in the skies. It was a blue dragon. […the priestess of Seiryu.]

(I feel as if I was repeating everything. It disturbs me. =_="')

(I must be discouraging myself. I feel like stopping halfway. But at the same time, I wanna finish this thing. Sigh! I'm so indecisive. But…I will still try my best!)

(So…my dear readers, I shall bid farewell. But alas, it shall not be long before we meet again. *Acting all old English* Xp)