Disclaimer: You know, if we have a quarter for every time we put up a disclaimer, we'll be rich right now LOL…. But since we don't therefore….. (sigh) …. We, Twin Girls do not own Fushigi Yuugi or its wonderful characters, only Kayla (whom we're very proud of ^.^)

Gemini: (Walks in once again reading her "How To Read Horoscopes For Dummies" manual book) Wow! I've got to tell Cancer about this!! HEY CANCER!!

(Cancer, who had currently just recovered from her past injuries from chapter 16, turns around to see Gemini running towards her)

Cancer: (starts to panic when she sees Gemini holding her horoscope book) AHHHH!!!! Get that book away from meeeee!!!!!

Gemini: But Cancer!! I had important news about your future that I should warned you about (gives an sneaky grin)

Cancer: NONONONONO…. I don't want to know!!

Gemini: But according to this it's really bad!! You should know about it!!

Cancer: NOOOOOOOO!!!!! Last time I had a reading from that stupid book, I ended up with a terrible, terrible fate!!

(Please refer to chapter 16 if you don't know what Cancer is talking about)

Gemini: I thought you said that it was a bunch of crap?

Cancer: Not after what had happen to me!!

(To be continued)

What could be Cancer's terrible fate this time? Stay tune till next time… Or you could just scroll down and read the Author's Notes LOL. Anyway on with the story. Enjoy!

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Chapter 17: A Vow of Loyalty

Amiboshi had died on that fateful day. Even though he had turned out to be a Seiryuu Seishi in the end…. even though he had been lying to us in the beginning about who he had been… I still forgave him. It was because in many ways, he had been like me. Both of us had to hide who we truly are since the beginning for our own reasons. Both of our parents that we had loved so much had been taken away from us when we had been too young. And most importantly, both of us had regretted our actions.

I knew in my heart that Amiboshi had never been truly evil. I believed that he had a good heart and had honestly regretted in his own actions of deceit. Even though his sudden death had been nobody's fault, I still felt that in some way or another that if I could do everything over again, there could have been something I could have done to prevent all this from happening and that Amiboshi would still be alive right now. Another burden of guilt to carry on my already growing pile of other things to feel guilty about. Wonderful. Nobody had ever asked what had happened between those brief moments between Amiboshi and me that time when he had 'kidnapped' me. I was glad because it would have been pointless and would have changed nothing.

On the same day that Amiboshi had died, the REAL Chiriko was found. I had been kind of in a surreal daze during the whole time when I had returned to the palace after Amiboshi had fallen in the river. I didn't remember much of what had happened. However the moment the real Chiriko had appeared into my life, it had hit me on full impact just how 'real' everything had been. Amiboshi's death and deception had all been real and not a dream. And that the little boy standing before me was the genuine Suzaku Seishi, Chiriko.

Everyone else had dealt with Amiboshi's death in their own ways. I had never questioned them about it just like they had never questioned me. I had dealt with it by withdrawing myself from everyone and staying in my room for the next two days and nights. During those times of solitude, I had been in mourning, yet at the same time I had given myself some time to think as well.

It wasn't until the second night of my 'withdrawal' that Nuriko and Tasuki had charged into my room demanding that I should stop my foolishness and come back out to face the world again. I could still remember their exact words.

"Kayla! We're f*cking tired of seeing you locking yourself in this room. We're ordering you that you listen to us and quit your stupid moping! YOU are going to come to the Star-Watching Festival with Miaka and us tonight. If not, you're going to come out and EAT something! I don't f*cking care if you refuse because we would just tie you up and drag you out if we have to!"

It was obvious who had been the one who had said that.

It was then I had realized how much they had all cared and worried for me in return. Therefore I had walked up to Nuriko and Tasuki and spoke just two little words. "You're right" and with that, I had walked out of the room, intending to go to the festival. I think I had shocked them beyond belief in coming out so willingly. They had probably expected that they would have to drag me kicking and screaming murder or something.

To tell the truth, I had truly thought things over. Amiboshi's incident had made me realized just how close I had let myself get involved with Miaka and the Suzaku Seishi. I had once told myself in the past that when I have the chance, I would leave and start a new life on my own. Now, I had realized just how naïve I had been. I could NEVER leave my friends like that, never by choice anyway. Unless I died or…. if they no longer wanted me, I would follow them to the end. Because they had given me so much, they had given me hope, friendship and a new family. They had given me life.

I had wanted make the best out of the precious time of peace before all of us, (excluding Emperor Hotohori) takes the trip to our next journey: to retrieve the Shinzaho from the country of Hokkan up in the far North. Since Miaka had already burned the Suzaku scroll (a crucial item needed for the summoning) during the ceremony. She was no longer able to summoned Suzaku anymore even though she had collected all of her Seishi. When all hope had seemed to be lost, Taiitsukun had appeared and had told us that in order to summon Suzaku, we would now need to use the power of the Shinzaho. Therefore given without much choice, we had decided to set out in this new mission in the next few days.

We had also been given the knowledge that our enemies on the Seiryuu side would be after the Shinzaho as well since they were no longer able to summon their god, Seiryuu without Amiboshi. You could decide whether this was good news or bad news. Good news that Seiryuu cannot be summoned or bad news that now we have a crucial race against the Seiryuu Seishi and their Miko, Yui to reach the Shinzaho.   

Another tragedy had struck before we had set out for Hokkan. One that had shattered all of us to the very depths of our hearts. Tamahome's family had been brutally murdered by Amiboshi's twin brother, Suboshi. I had been shocked beyond belief. I remembered how Amiboshi had once told me he had a brother, but he had never told me his brother was actually his TWIN brother and most certainly did not told me that he was also the Seiryuu Seishi, Suboshi. Poor Tamahome, I had cried for the broken man. His family had been totally innocent and Tamahome, himself had never been directly involved with Amiboshi's death. I had been the one who had been involved, even though the whole thing had been an accident. Why did Suboshi go after Tamahome's family and not me instead? Life was cruel. Will the pain ever end?

As we had set sail towards Hokkan on that fated day, we had each made a vow to ourselves that we would do whatever we can to summon Suzaku, win this war and bring peace once again to these lands. I had made a secret vow to myself that I would do whatever I can to protect my friends. I, Kayla had been an orphan ever since I was 11. But I had found a new family now and they are now standing by my side. Tasuki, Nuriko, Miaka, Hotohori, Tamahome, Chichiri, Chiriko and Mitsukake. May Suzaku and my own strength protect them all.

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"I'm sorry, Taiitsukun for being a bit rude" Kayla said nervously as she faced the guardian floating before her in the lonely Suzaku shrine. "But I don't understand why you would want to speak with me alone. Don't you have anything important to tell the rest of the Suzaku Seishi and Miaka herself?"

The old guardian gazed at her sternly, her expression revealing nothing causing Kayla to fidget with her end of her sleeves nervously. She wished that at least Tasuki or Nuriko or even Miaka was with her right now. At least, she wouldn't have to feel so insignificant and small with them in the room with her. Why did Taiitsukun requested to speak to her alone? It wasn't like she was a Suzaku Seishi or anything related.

"Your name is Kayla, am I correct?"

Kayla head snapped back up as the old guardian finally spoken. She nodded slowly in response to her question.

"Can I ask you some questions Kayla?"

Again she nodded in response.

"Why are you here?"

Kayla stared in confusion at the old tiny guardian floating above her. "Because you ask me to be here?" she answered slowly.

Taiitsukun snorted. "That is not what I meant. I meant why are you with the Suzaku Seishi and their Miko? They are about to take a dangerous journey where you don't have be involve, yet I can sense your determination to follow them. Why is that?"

Kayla stood dumbfounded. Why was she asking her that? "Because they are my friends, I can't just leave them at a time like this" she answered matter-of-factly.

"But you had wanted to leave them in the past?"

Kayla gasped. "How did you know_" but Taiitsukun interrupted her. "I am the guardian of this world. I know many things. I also know for a fact that your appearance is not really who you are. You continue to hide yourself even though you no longer wanted to, yet you're too afraid."

Kayla glared at the guardian before her annoyingly. "What did you just do? Did you read my mind?" she accused, feeling a familiar surge of panic within her of having her secret once again revealed.

Taiitsukun just smirked. "That is not important in how I knew, but you do not have to worry. This is not my concern therefore I will not reveal your secret to anyone". Kayla sighed inwardly in relief.

"Next question"

Kayla mentally groaned but she listened nevertheless in what the guardian had wanted to ask her.

"Do you want a normal life child?"

Kayla once again stared at her in confusion. She did want a normal life, but what does this have to do with everything?

Taiitsukun sighed. "Once you chose this path, there is no turning back. You will have to face whatever consequences that may come in the future for you."

Kayla was puzzled. It seems as though Taiitsukun doesn't want her to go on this journey to retrieve the Shinzaho with the Suzaku Seishi and Miaka. Was there something the guardian was not telling her? Something important? "Is there something you are not telling me?" she asked bluntly, finally voicing her thoughts.

Taiitsukun studied her for a moment in silence. "There is" she finally answered.

Kayla waited for the guardian to reveal to her what was the thing that she was not telling her.

"But it is not the time for me to tell you" Taiitsukun finished.

Kayla almost fell over in disappointment. She groaned in frustration as she glared at Taiitsukun. "You know, you could be a little more straightforward with your questions" she said with unconcealed annoyance towards the old guardian. "You're obviously hiding something important from me and yet you refuse to tell me!!"

"All will be revealed in a due time" Taiitsukun answered patiently, yet her voice held a stern tone that leaves no room for argument. "I want to ask you one question and I want you to think carefully before you answer me"

Kayla sighed again in frustration. What was the point of all these questions? And just what was Taiitsukun hiding from her. Does it relate to this upcoming journey or the Suzaku Seishi or just herself personally since she was asked to speak to Taiitsukun alone? She, herself has many unanswered questions, but Taiitsukun wouldn't answer any of them while she has to answer her questions instead. NO FAIR!! She took in deep breath before she looked back up to the guardian reluctantly. "Fine" she muttered, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible.

"It is clear that you have already decided to choose this difficult path before you. You may have a clear mind now, yet the challenges you may face will leave you in doubt and confused. It is important that you know where you stand in this war. Now I ask you, do you know where your loyalties lie?"

Kayla hesitated in her answer. She knew without a doubt that her loyalties lie with the Suzaku Seishi and Miaka. But what about Amiboshi? The pain of his sudden death still remains fresh within her and she knew that even though he had been a Seiyruu Seishi it had changed nothing about the friendship between them. She had just finished meeting the real Chiriko when she had came back. He was a boy who was only 13 years old, and so different from Amiboshi. Suddenly she just felt like hiding in her room and never come out again. This day had turned out so wrong and she just wanted to escape. However….

She looked back up at Taiitsukun, who was still waiting for her answer. She will still have to answer her question before she could leave. Just one more question she thought tiredly. "My…" Kayla started slowly. "My loyalties lie with my friends regardless of which side they're on" she finished honestly.

Taiitsukun became silent once more and studied Kayla with a fierce intensity. Then her wrinkled face softens considerably as if seemingly satisfied with her answer. "This journey will be difficult however if you stay true to your words, then perhaps there is still hope"

"Hope? Hope for what?" Kayla asked confused by the guardian's choice for words.

However Taiitsukun continued on as if she didn't hear her question. "You may go now Kayla"

"What? Wait! I'm not finished_" Kayla protested as she found Taiitsukun starting to disappear before her leaving her alone within the dark Suzaku shine. To her surprise, everything started to fade around her. A voice was calling her name and yet she could see nothing as everything was disappearing, leaving her in the dark.

"Kayla"

What was happening?

"Kayla?!"

It wasn't long before she woke up.

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Kayla bolted from her bed. "What? Where?..." she uttered in between her panting breath.

"Are you okay Kayla? I was beginning to worry when you didn't wake when I had called you a few times" a familiar voice said from beside her.

Kayla turned in surprise to see a boy with light brown hair tied in a high ponytail and innocent light green eyes, standing beside her bedside. "Chiriko? What are you doing here?" she asked.

Chiriko looked worriedly back at her. "Mitsukake wanted me to check on you to see if you're feeling better from your seasickness. Are you feeling alright? You look a bit paled"

Kayla placed a hand tiredly on her forehead as if she was trying to ward off a headache. Her thoughts constantly returning back to her current dream. Why did she have that dream about Taiitsukun? It was a rare occurrence for her. Her dream had been a flashback based on the time when she had been called to speak to Taiitsukun alone shortly after Miaka's second failed attempt in the summoning ceremony. Everyone had been worried with her ever since she had came out of the shrine with a troubled expression on her tired face even though she had assured them that the discussion hadn't been about anything too important. She hadn't let the others know just how much that meeting with Taiitsukun had troubled her. That meeting had left her confused and frustrated. However, she didn't want her friends to find out about it, knowing that it will only worry them further. She didn't even know what it was that she should be worry about since Taiitsukun hadn't really revealed anything to her yet. Just what was Taiitsukun not telling her?

"Kayla?"

Startled she turned back to the 13 year-old boy. "It's nothing to be worried about. I'm feeling much better now. Remind me to thank Mitsukake later. His medicine worked like a charm on my seasickness"

Chiriko smiled genuinely causing Kayla to smile back in return. She really couldn't help it. At first she had been rather ignorant of the young Seishi due to her mourning for Amiboshi. However as time slowly passed, she had grew warmer to Chiriko. He was one who possessed the strength of great intelligence, something that Kayla had admired and respected. Because he was the youngest member of their group, she and the others had grown to be somewhat protective of the young boy. Even though Chiriko had a great mind, he still possessed the innocence and heart of a child in which Kayla had found endearing.

She had been sailing on this large ship with her friends towards Hokkan to find the Shinzaho for what seems like an eternity. All she knew was that ever since she had started on this journey, she had discovered that she really doesn't like sailing all that much. It had taken her awhile to get use to the endless sickening motion of the boat. That was why she had decided previously to take a nap to past the time away. She had been lucky that Mitsukake had been able to give her some medicine to help her a bit with her seasickness. Too bad there was nothing Mitsukake could do about the fact of Tasuki great fear of the water during the entire trip. She grinned at the memory at the horrified expression Tasuki had when he discovered that they will be travelling by boat.

"I think I should go up and see how everything is doing" Kayla said as she slowly stood up from her bed. She walked out of her room followed closely by Chiriko. In truth, she really didn't need see how everyone doing because everyone would be doing the same thing as before. When you spent almost about a period of two weeks in the same boat, there is only a limit in how many things you can do. Tasuki was probably still holding on to that sail pole for dear life since he is deathly afraid of water. Miaka, who loves to eat, was probably down at the kitchen or spending time with Tamahome. Tamahome was either spending time with Miaka or keeping track of their money they'll be spending on this trip. Chichiri would be fishing. Mitsukake would be stocking up on healing supplies. Nuriko would be pestering everyone else and Chiriko…. well…. currently he is with her, but could usually be found reading his scholarly scrolls he had brought along with him.

However, despite how uneventful things had become on this ship, she had been given a chance have some peace before the real journey begins. As Taiitsukun had warned her, the path ahead of her will be difficult. Although Taiitsukun had refused to reveal to her what was ahead of her, she'll need all the support and strength she could gather to face it.

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"Well this place should be it" Tamahome announced when they had arrived to the entrance of a fairly large city.

"Wow this is Tohran? It's so big!" Miaka exclaimed excitedly as she looked at the busy streets of the city.

"It has to be, since this is the only village we can find from to the directions the leader of the Tohzoku tribe had given us" Chiriko confirmed matter-of-factly

Kayla shivered a bit due to the cold weather in Hokkan. She looked around the village in amazement. The place was filled with people, all busy with their daily routines to notice the newcomers that had entered their village. It had been a few days now since they had reached to Hokkan by ship. They had been fortunate to reach find a friendly tribe called the Tohzoku tribe and had they had provided her and her friends with great hospitality for the night. Their tribe leader had also been helpful in giving the directions to Tohran, the central city of Hokkan where they could find out more information about in where the Shinzaho may be hidden. And after for traveling for almost two days, they had finally arrived to the city.

"Finally! I wasn't sure how much walking I could handle! The weather is just too cold for my liking" Nuriko said with relief before a sneaky grinned appeared on his face. "Hey Tasuki, why don't you use that handy little fan of yours and warm me up again"

"Sure, if you want me to fry your ass at the same time" Tasuki replied with a smirk, brandishing his Tessen tauntingly.

Nuriko pouted. "That's mean Tasuki" he said pretending to be hurt by his words. "I mean if 'Kayla' would have asked, you would have done it within a second"

"Just what is THAT suppose to mean?!" Tasuki asked suspiciously.

"Nuriko! What are you talking about?" Kayla spoke, not liking the suggestive tone the violet-haired Seishi was taking.

"Oh nothing" Nuriko answered nonchalantly even though there was a mischievous glint in his violet eyes.

"Oh no, you're not getting off that easily" Tasuki half demanded, half amused. "What are you saying Nuriko?"

"He meant nothing, he was only joking" Kayla answered quickly, giving Nuriko a warning look (who returned to her a smirk much to her annoyance). Nuriko, what do you think you're doing saying something stupid like that. You are so dead when you and I have a little 'talk' afterwards she mentally growled.

Tasuki raised an eyebrow at her abrupt interruption. "I think Nuriko can answer his own question, he doesn't need you butting in"

Kayla gave him a glare. "I'm not butting in! I don't see why you have to be so persistent in something that was only a joke" she half argued and half defended herself.

"Why are you being so worked up for?" Tasuki argued back amusedly.

"I'm not worked up!"

"Are too!"

"Are NOT!"

"Why are you always arguing with me?!"

"I'm not arguing with you!"

Tasuki snorted, "Could've fooled me!" he said with a smirk.

"I…. Oh shut up!" Kayla snapped, knowing that she had lost that argument.

"Make me!"

"I will!!" Kayla would have succeeded in launching herself towards Tasuki in an attempt to strangle him if it hadn't been for Nuriko holding her back. "Kayla you have to calm down! And Tasuki, you know better then to bait Kayla like that" Nuriko scolded at the both of them, yet the amusement was easily seen in his eyes.

"You know, call me crazy but I swear that those two argues like an old married couple" Tamahome mused out loud. He was also enjoying the verbal spar between Kayla and Tasuki.

Miaka giggled. It wasn't the first time she had heard that comment.

Tasuki and Kayla both turned to glare at the green-blue haired man with annoyance. "We do not!!" they both said at the same time. A look of surprise appeared both on their faces before they turned back to each other, both challenging each other in a glaring contest.

Everyone just burst into laughter after that. It was just too funny.

"You know Tama-chan! I will just have to agree with you on that one" Nuriko said in between his laughing.

"You know this is your entire fault" Kayla hissed at the violet-haired seishi, finally turning away from Tasuki in annoyance. He in return, turned away from her as well.

"I know" Nuriko replied back with a smirk, not feeling guilty at all. "And you love me all the same"

Kayla rolled her eyes in exasperation. It was then she noticed something in the sky that immediately made her forget her frustration.

"Hey guys! It's snowing!" Kayla exclaimed with delight.

Everyone calmed down in their laughing and looked up. True to her words, soft white snowflakes were falling everywhere, slowly covering the city around them.

"It's just snow, nothing to get overexcited about" Tasuki said dryly, not understanding Kayla's excitement.

Kayla gave him a look of aggravation, "I haven't seen snow since I was only 5, you can't blame me if I'm a bit excited right now" she said as if she needed to justify herself.

"Well, you have to admit, it rarely snows in Konan" Nuriko said as he admired the softly falling snow as well.

"Yeah that's true, the weather is often too warm for it to snow in the south" Tamahome agreed.

"We should go find an inn to stay for the night since we had been travelling for most of the day no da. Once we had settled in, we can go search for more information concerning the whereabouts of the Shinzaho no da" Chichiri suggested. Everyone agreed and they all set out to find a place to stay for the night.

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'GRRRRR.....'

Miaka groaned as she unconsciously held her stomach due to familiar sensation she was feeling at the moment as she followed her friends through the city of Tohran. Why does my stomach have to do this to me at the worst possible time?! She mentally wailed. She hadn't eaten anything since yesterday and all the travelling had really tired her out.

She hadn't said anything for fear that it will only slow everyone down. The last thing she wanted to do was to be a burden to her friends. However…..

'GRRRRRR…..'

Dear Suzaku!! What was she going to do?!

It was then her ever keen nose caught a tantalizing aroma in the air. Something so appealing that it was making her mouth water. Normally, she would have followed her common senses and not drift far away from her Seishi in unfamiliar territory. However, when it comes to a life and death situation relating to her stomach and food, she tended to follow her sense of smell instead.

Therefore drifting away unnoticed by her friends in the crowded streets of Tohran, she found herself in the alleyway. She was very close now, so close that she could almost taste it. She found that the smell was coming from a large building. Although it had seemed strange that a large building like this would be hidden from the public view, she took no care in it and snuck in.

It wasn't long when until she had reached a kitchen-like room. To her delight, she found a table filled with tantalizing and delicious gourmet food. Finding that no one else was there at the moment, she instantly helped herself with the food. Almost inhaling it at record speed. She knew that it was wrong to eat people's food without permission, but maybe afterwards she will repay the kind people of this large household for their great hospitality.

"Hey girl! What are you think you are doing?!" a harsh voice demanded.

Startled, Miaka dropped the plate she had been holding and it fell to the ground in loud crash. Oops…

She didn't like that sound of that voice. It sounded… mean. She hesitantly turned towards the sound and almost shrieked. She instantly covered her mouth in fear. There, standing by the door of the room was a couple of rough looking men glaring at her. Some looked rather shocked, while some leered at her. She didn't like any of those looks they were giving her. Suddenly, she didn't feel so hungry anymore.

One the men who had been leering at her, nudged at the man beside him. "I think you scared her with your voice there, Amar" the man said with a smirk.

The man, whose name was Amar, glared back at the man. "Do you expect me to nice to her after she ate practically half of our dinner here?!" he growled back.

"Well…" the man replied back with a pause. "I guess then she'll have to pay us back then" he finished with an evil smirk as he eyed the Miaka's body. His intentions were obvious even to someone who was as dense as Miaka.

Miaka gulped. "I'm so sorry everyone!" she said quickly, slowly backing away from the men, who were now looking at her with unhidden desire in their eyes. "I will pay for the meal I had just eaten. I'll just leave the money here and I'll leave…" her voice trailed off when the men surrounded her.

"Money? Who ever said we wanted money as payment" one of the men asked with amusement.

Before Miaka could screamed, two of the men grabbed her roughly by the arms and gagging her with a cloth. Miaka panicked and began to struggle. Unfortunately she was outnumbered. They were just too strong for her. There had to be four of them and only one of her.

They were going to hurt her and she had no one to blame but herself for her stupidity. She regretted immensely for wandering away from her friends. They were probably worried sick for her now. Tears sprang to her eyes.

"Dear, dear don't cry little girl" taunted one of men as he lifted her chin so she would look at him. His eyes were filled with cruel enjoyment. "We don't want to spoil that pretty face of yours or else you won't look pleasing enough for your customers."

Cus…. Customers?.... What does he mean by that? Miaka thought in fear.

"Take her up to one of the rooms and lock her inside. We don't want her to get away. Its not often we fresh pretty girls to just show up in our doorsteps without us having to pay for them" the man, Amar said with amusement, his anger had subsided now that he had something better in return of the stolen food.

The men carried Miaka away despite her struggling and the muffling of her screaming.

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"I've already checked all the nearby restaurants, I can't find Miaka anywhere! Did you guys have any luck?!" Tamahome asked Mitsukake and Chiriko frantically. To his disappointment, they both shook their heads gravely. Damn! Where is she? I should have kept a better watch at her he thought frustratingly and worriedly. If anything happens to her….

Everyone had split up in the city to search for Miaka and was to meet back at the entrance of the city after two hours. Two hours had passed already and there was still no sign of her anywhere.

"Don't worry Tamahome, I'm sure we'll Miaka. She must still be in the city. There is nowhere else she could have gone" Chiriko stated logically, trying to soothe the worried man's nerves.

Tamahome ran a hand frustratingly through his hair before a more disturbing thought occurred to him causing him to pale even more then before. "What if the Seiryuu Seishi has her?!"

Chichiri had mentioned earlier that despite the distance between them and their enemies, the Seiryuu Seishi were slowly gaining up on them. So close in fact that Chichiri was able to sense them with his magic. If that had been true, then Miaka could be in more danger then he had initially thought!

"No, we can't be sure about that. We should wait until everyone is back first before we make any rash conclusions" Mitsukake said comfortingly, placing a hand on Tamahome's shoulder.

As if on cue, Kayla and Tasuki had appeared, joining their group. "Can you find her?" Tamahome asked, repeating the question he had only asked moments ago. Again no results.

"How could this happen? She was just right behind us" Kayla said worriedly. She and Tasuki had searched local inns and had asked many people nearby, but none had seen a girl that had fit Miaka's descriptions.

"This is my fault" Tamahome said regretfully but he was stopped by Kayla.

"No Tamahome, this is OUR fault, not just yours" Kayla said forcefully. "We all should have paid more attention to her"

"Yes, but_" Tamahome objected, but Kayla put up her hand in finalization. "No buts Tamahome" her voice stated leaving no more room for arguments.

"Besides, she's a GIRL. Girls always have to be so troublesome. OW! Kayla!" Tasuki protested when he was interrupted by a hit across the head courtesy of Kayla. Kayla only responded back to him with a glare.

Before Tasuki could return the hit, the remaining two Seishi returned. Surprisingly, Nuriko was holding a unknown man by the arms forcefully while he and Chichiri walked back towards them. "Any luck?" Kayla asked before she looked at the stranger who was currently under the mercy of Nuriko's strong grip. The man has a rough looking exterior to him with messy hair and a pair of slit eyes. She instantly didn't like the man even though usually she was not really one to judge a person by the outside. However the man reminded her too much of the men who would usually work for her uncle. She mentally shuddered. "Who is this guy?"

"Everyone, meet Raijin, this man is the key in how we're going to find Miaka" Nuriko answered calmly before he let go of the man, causing him to stumble forward on the ground. The man named Raijin stared up at the men before him in fear. Everyone looked back at him curiously before they gave Nuriko and Chichiri a surprised look.

"What do you mean he is the key to us finding Miaka?" Tamahome demanded impatiently as he looked back and forth at Raijin then to Nuriko and Chichiri.

"We had overheard him talking with his friends about capturing a girl that had fit Miaka's description no da" Chichiri answered calmly. "Nuriko and I decided that we should bring him here before we should decide what we're going to do no da"

Nuriko nodded in agreement. He turned to Raijin with a stern expression. "Tell them what you had told us" he ordered, his face leaving no room for argument.

Raijun swallowed nervously as he gazed back at everyone while they currently waited impatiently for his explanation. He knew that these strangers meant business and since he was outnumbered, he knew he better do as that violet-haired man says if he was to save his own skin. "Y… you see…. I'm from the Kaiori gang and we had just recently captured this girl only a few hours ago. She just sort of walked into our secret hideout and began stealing our food. Our leader, Amar was furious and decided to capture her for our business trade" he stammered out.

"You have Miaka?! Where is she?!" Tamahome demanded furiously as he grabbed hold of the man's collar threateningly.

"Tamahome you have to calm down" Nuriko said as he placed a hand on the man's shoulders.

"How could you expect me to calm down?! This guy had kidnapped Miaka!!" Tamahome said angrily. Unexpectedly it was Tasuki who took the Raijun from Tamahome's hands. However Tasuki held Raijun by his collar very much like what Tamahome had done. "Which group did you say you were from again?" he asked calmly yet fiercely.

"The… the Kaiori bandits" the man stammered nervously under the fierce glare from the fiery Seishi.

Tasuki immediately let go of the man, causing Raijun to fall back on the ground cowardly. "Kuso!" Tasuki muttered under his breath, his large frame emitting an aura of anger, and his eyes blazing intensely with great resentment of the title 'Kaiori bandits'.

Seeing the obvious contempt Tasuki was displaying, Kayla asked the question that had been playing in everyone's mind. "You've heard of the Kaiori bandits Tasuki?"

Tasuki turned to her and then to everyone else. He was silent for a few moments as if deciding whether he should tell them what he had known or not. He decided on the first option and spoke in a low yet resentful tone. "The Kaiori bandits used to be rivals of the Leikaku bandits" he explained slowly. "However we, Leikaku bandits had driven them out of Konan many years ago and they must have travelled to here in Tohran as their new stronghold." Tasuki paused momentarily as if he was deciding if he should continue or not.

"And what?" Kayla pursued, catching his hesitation. She knew that he must be holding something important if he was acting so serious. Something that all of them should know about.

Tasuki took a deep breath before he continued. "Unlike us, Leikaku bandits who only stole from the rich, the Kaiori bandits stole from everyone whether they're rich or poor, strong or weak. It didn't matter to them. Another fact that they were so despised by us and many other people was the fact was that they worked in the trade for slavery"

"Slavery?" Nuriko repeated slowly. He didn't like where this topic was heading.

Tasuki nodded. "The last news I had heard from the Kaiori bandits after we had driven them out of Konan was that they were currently kidnapping and taking people especially young girls from their homes or from the streets and selling them out for slavery. It didn't matter to them if they're selling them to rich families or to a whorehouse as long as they're rewarded with huge sums of money"

"WHAT?!" everyone shouted after he had revealed that last fact.

"You mean to tell me that Miaka could be sold off as a slave?!" Tamahome demanded furiously, his face was filled with distress and worry.

"Then what are we waiting here for?! We have to save her right now!" Kayla cried urgently, as she grabbed Raijun by the arm, hauling him to his feet. "Take us to her right now!" she ordered angrily. "We're going over there to save our friend and we'll burn down that stronghold of yours if we have to!"

"Now you're speaking my language" Tasuki said with a smirk as he took out his Tessen readily.

However before anyone could go anywhere, they were all stopped by Chichiri. "We can't act rash no da!" he said holding out his hand to block their way.

"What do you mean?!" Tamahome asked impatiently. Chichiri gave him a stern look before he faced the rest of the group. "I mean we need a plan to save Miaka, we can't just barge in there and just fight our way through. For what Tasuki had said, it seems that there will be many bandits there and it won't be easy for us to get her back"

"What do you mean we can't just barge in there and save Miaka? We're the Suzaku Seishi! We could easily defeat them with no problem" Tasuki stated confidently.

Chichiri sighed. "That's the point Tasuki. Did you forget that we still have the Seiryuu Seishi close on our trails? I could even sense their powers from here right now and I'm not even sure if they could do the same. However, if we all barge into the Kaiori bandits' stronghold right now and fight our way through with our powers, there will be no doubt it will alert the Seiryuu Seishi of our location"

Everyone stopped, as Chichiri's words sunk into their minds. "Chichiri is right. We will need a more discreet way of saving Miaka without using any of our powers" Chiriko said breaking the silence that had fallen between them.

"Then what are we going to do?" Tamahome asked frustratingly. He knew that Chichiri and Chiriko were both right, but he didn't want to wait here and waste anymore time while Miaka was in danger of being sold off into slavery or even worst, to a… he didn't even want to think of that terrible possibility.

"Well we need a way to get in there first without causing too much havoc, if we can do that then I'm sure we can find Miaka in there somehow" Chiriko stated matter-of-factly.

"But how are we going to do that? The only people that probably enters and exit there are if you're a bandit yourself or you're a slave or a prisoner" Tasuki said, pointing out another problem.

"That's it Tasuki! You're a genius!!" Nuriko exclaimed excitedly surprising everyone.

"Of course I am…. Why is that?" Tasuki asked confusedly.

However Nuriko just smirked with a knowing expression as he was struck with sudden inspiration. "I have a perfect plan in rescuing Miaka from these thieves discreetly and without alerting the Seiryuu Seishi of our presence"

Kayla looked at Nuriko curiously. She had no idea what Nuriko could be thinking. The tricky Seishi was known in coming up with some of the weirdest ideas anyone could think of. However she will have to put her faith in him. Miaka's life depends on it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's Notes:

Cancer: No!! Get away from me!!! I don't want to listen to this (puts her hands on her ears)

Gemini: Now you're just being childish…. Anyway according to this book, it says that you should be careful with water and insects for the next few days.

Cancer: (starts to panic) OH MY GOD!!! I'M GONNA DROWN AND I'M GOING TO BE ATTACK BY BEES AND SPIDERS!!!!!!

Gemini: It doesn't say that exactly….

Cancer: Of course that is what it meant!! OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, I'M GONNA DIE!!!!

Gemini: Well let's just see her (reads her manual book again) Well according to this…. (suddenly frowns) hmmmm….. this can't be right….

Cancer: WHAT? WHAT IS IT? IS THERE MORE?? AM I GONNA TO BE BURNED WITH FIRE AND STRUCK BY LIGHTNING TOO?!?! TELL MEEEEE!!!!

Gemini: Well according to this, I had accidentally read your horoscope wrong…

Cancer: WHAT?!

Gemini: Well according to this book, all those readings had not been for you Cancer but their for….

Cancer: WHO?!

Gemini: (looks very confused and reads the book again)…. ME?

(Silence with crickets chirping)

Cancer: (starts to laugh maniacally) MUHAHAHAHA!!!!! So YOU'RE gonna drown and get attack by bees and spiders!!!!! HAHAHA

Gemini: (Sweatdrops)……

Cancer: (suddenly grows sympathetic) Don't worry Gemini, I'll take goooooood care of you if anything drastic or fatal happens to you.

Gemini: (Swallows nervously) I'm gonna die!!!!

Sorry if this chapter had seemed a little confusing in the beginning with the jumping in time sequence and the changes in perception. The beginning was sort of based on Kayla's thoughts, summarization and revelations during the events that had happened after Amiboshi's death. Basically the story had started again when everyone was on the search for the Shinzaho. And what is the purpose of her dream of Taiitsukun? Well, more will be explain further.

Just what is Nuriko planning? Well you'll have to find out in next chapter. Don't forget to review. We love them very much!!

Much Love,

*~Twin Girls~*