Chapter Five

Miaka's mouth had fallen open and Yui's eyes had gone wide. "She . . . but how? The book was supposed to be closed! There are no more stories to be told!"

Yui rushed forward to pick up the book. It had a strange new glowing symbol on the cover. It gave Yui a bad feeling…

She handed the book to Miaka. When Miaka's eyes widened, she knew the symbol was new to Miaka too. "She went in…" Yui's voice was incredulous. "Rika somehow went into the Universe of the Four Gods." She abruptly turned to Ryo.

"Yes, she went in." The man who had been nearly incoherent moments before had gathered himself together. "I-I couldn't stop her..." Ryo looked up at the two girls who were staring at him curiously. He stared right back, "You were in there too. Bad things are going
to happen all because of me... Rika's gone..."

Ryo's eyes remained on where she had just been, but they were blank, emotionless. He was still in shock. "I saw her. I saw this, last night, in a dream. I saw her, but I couldn't stop her."

"Let me get this straight." Yui needed to figure this out. She approached Ryo, crouching down to look in his eyes. "You saw this. Did you see anything else?"

"Yes." Ryo's eyes turned to hers and they were filled with fear. "I saw her inside. I saw her in pain. I saw her with a woman with cold eyes, evil eyes." Thinking of this seemed to snap him out of his funk. He abruptly stood, accepting his failure. "You must go in after her. You and Miaka. I thought I could change fate and I failed... so you must follow."

"What?!" Miaka had still been trying to figure out how Rika had gotten in. "We have to go inside again?! No way! "

"Yes, you do." The authority in Ryo's voice was what did it.

Yui snatched the book up and approached Miaka. "Let's go."

"B-but what about Taka?!" Miaka sputtered this. An answer sounded in her mind.

"I will get him to follow you." He then added verbally at Miaka's surprised look, "I get visions and I'm psychic okay." He held up a hand to ward off Yui's questions. "And no, I don't know how I got these powers, I've had them since birth. For the past few months, I've been seeing things about this book. I saw what happened to you guys before and I've been seeing what will happen to Courtney. It was so strange that I didn't believe it would actually happen. I was wrong. I've always been able to read minds, I accepted that as a kid, but the dreams… I never knew they were coming true."

"And the strangeness ensues," Yui muttered.

"How cool! You can see things and talk with your mind!" Miaka was her usual joyful oblivious self in the face of danger.

"Not now Miaka…" Yui paused and took a breath, knowing what they had to do. "We have to go into the book now."

Miaka's nervous eyes shifted to Ryo, "Will you tell Taka what happened?"
"Yes, get going. I'll do the best I can getting help." He reached out to touch Miaka's arm for a moment first. "Everything will be okay. I'll do all in my power to make it that way. Go."

Miaka and Yui both nodded and then held the book together. Opening it, they looked at the first page. Then, with flashes of red and blue light, they were gone. Unsurprised now, Ryo grabbed the book and closed his eyes, searching for Taka's mind. Finding it, he sent a message. That was all he could do for the moment.

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Across town, Taka and Liam were sitting on a bench, wondering where on Earth the girls were. "What's taking them so long?!" Liam was getting very impatient.

"I'm sure they'll be here soon." Taka was always the voice of reason. "Miaka probably just got hungry." When Liam laughed, Taka's own fears eased. He hated not knowing where Miaka was. She always seemed to get into trouble without him. And he had been having a strange feeling all day. He felt… like something bad was going to happen. And his body felt tingly, like it had when he had last had his powers.

Suddenly a strange voice entered his mind. "Taka?"

Taka jumped up from the bench, exclaiming, "What the hell?!"

"Calm down, Taka. It's Ryo. I'm psychic, I'll explain later. Miaka and Yui just went into the Universe of the Four Gods after Rika who was sucked in. They need your help! Hurry!"

This message finished, Taka turned and started off without a word to the bewildered Liam.

"Woah! What's your hurry?" Liam had to race to keep up with his taller friend. "Where are we going?"

"Liam." Where to start, Taka thought, keeping up his pace. "There are some things you don't know about Miaka, Yui and I." How to explain!

"I figured that one out fairly quickly. You guys, Keisuke and Tetsuya are always huddling together." Liam grinned and punched his arm slightly. "What is it? And why are you walking so fast?"

"Miaka, Yui and Rika are in trouble. I have to go save them. They are in trouble as a result of our past, of our experience with a certain book in the National Library." Taka hung a left at the previously mentioned library, running up the steps. At the top he paused, turning to Liam who almost tripped trying to stop. "Your friend Ryo appears to be mixed up in it this time." He then continued his pace through the library, to the back room, without saying another word.

Liam kept pace, holding back his questions. When they entered a tiny dusty room, he was surprised to see Ryo there, holding a book. "Ryo?"

Surprising Liam, Taka marched right up to Ryo and grabbed him by his shirt. "What exactly are you?"

Ryo spoke calmly, in control now. "I'm just a simple human. I just have a little extra. I was born with the ability to use telekinesis and telepathy and I also get visions. I have seen what you went through the last time in this book. I also saw some of what Rika would be going through." The scene flashed into his mind again, making him shut his eyes and pain crossed his face. When he next spoke his voice was tinged with pain, "I tried to stop her, but it didn't work." He let out a sigh as Taka dropped him, as a result of the reminder of his failure. "So I sent Yui and Miaka in after her and promised I'd send you too." He held out the book. Then he looked up into Taka's eyes. "They need you, Taka or should I say, Susaku warrior Tamahome. Your power has reawakened and could put you in danger here anyways."

Taka took the book, studying Ryo. Then he said, "You'll need to contact Keisuke and Tetsuya." Ryo nodded and Taka opened the book.

A confused Liam had to shield his eyes as a blinding red light filled the room. A moment later it was gone and the book fell to the floor. Liam looked around. Taka was gone. "Where did he go?"

Ryo slowly picked up the book. "He went in here." He held up the book. At Liam's confused look, he sighed. "Here, I'll get Tets and Keisuke and they can help explain."

He was silent for a moment, his eyes closed. Then he opened his eyes and a faint smile played over his lips. "They're more skeptical than Taka." He gestured to a chair. "Have a seat. It won't be long."

Liam sat, sending distrustful looks toward Ryo. What the hell was going on here?