The Promise: A Tasuki and Miaka Love Story

By: KittyLynne

(Fushigi Yûgi does not belong to me! It is the exclusive property and domain of Watase Yû, and a host of mass media companies. (Any original plots and characters belong to me, however, and may not be used without my permission.) I receive no compensation from this fic, save for the joy of writing and pleasing my readers. )

Author's notes: Chapter rating: 14+ for language and sexual innuendo. Spoiler warning for TV and OAV series. Italics within the chapter denote a character's unspoken thoughts.

Chapter 22-Between the Lines

"No! This isn't right!" Miaka exclaimed.

Tasuki looked up from the characters he'd been trying to decipher. "What's not right?" He asked irritably.

"How can I call myself an adult if I keep allowing other people to shoulder the consequences of my decisions? Here, let me have it!"

She made a grab for the note, but her seishi tightened his grip on it, forcing her to let it go or risk tearing the paper in half. "Nothin' doin', Green Eyes!"

"Why? Just a moment ago you didn't want to read it!"

Tasuki's expression was set in uncompromising lines. "Because there's been too many fuckin' times where I've watched him sweet talk and kissy-kissy himself outta trouble with ya!" He snapped. "You're with me now, and that means I ain't gonna let it happen again!"

She blinked at his vehemence. "Do you honestly think I'm that weak-willed?"

There was an unflattering pause as her seishi considered the question. Miaka put her hands on her hips and glared.

"Well, do you?" She demanded.

His gaze fell from hers to the hand that clutched the letter. "If I give it back, will ya swear to me that ya won't cry over it?"

"You know I can't promise that!"

He raised his eyes to hers once again, his own sparking with resentment and frustration. "Why the hell not? Ya love me and I make ya happy, right? Ain't that why ya chose to be with me?"

There was a moment of intense quiet, then Miaka's expression softened.

"Tasuki, if I cry over what Taka wrote in this letter, that doesn't mean that I regret being with you." She said gently. "When girls feel badly about having hurt someone, they cry. It's just how we are."

"Ya also once told me that girls cry for th' ones they love most!" He retorted, unconvinced.

"I did, and it's true!" She acknowledged. "But if you will recall, I cried buckets over you after Tamahome hurt you so badly in Kutou! I also cried when you weren't going to say goodbye to me in Tokyo, and when I thought you'd killed yourself, and when Mitsukake brought you out of the burning inn and when I finally knew you'd be all right…" she swallowed hard, then added in a choked voice, "...do I need to go on, Tasuki?"

"No." He mumbled. "I guess I never really thought about why else you were cryin'. I figured it it was always about Tama."

"Well it wasn't!" She said roughly, swiping the back of a hand across her eyes. "I also cried over you after I had returned to my world!"

Tasuki stared at her, poleaxed by the revelation and floundering for a response until something Yui had said to him suddenly popped into mind.

'I foresee lots of good times ahead for you two. Just keep believing in her…and everything will work out.'

For those good times to happen, he had to believe in Miaka. Loving someone meant trusting them too; if that trust didn't run both ways, they would be doomed before they had started.

With a look of contrition and a renewed determination not to let jealousy get the best of him, he held out the letter. "Take it."

"Tasuki-"

"It's okay, Mi-chan. Read it, cry all you want, an' I swear I won't say another word about it."

To his surprise, she reached out and grabbed hold of his hand instead of the paper it held.

"Would you to know why I won't mind if I cry in front of you, Tasuki?" She asked, looking straight at him.

Despite his determination to see it through, he eyed her with trepidation. "Yeah."

"It's because I know you'll make me happy again," she told him earnestly. "No one will ever cheer me up as well as you!"

It took a moment for her meaning to register. When it did, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Is that so?"

"Yes." She took the proffered note. "And after I finish reading this letter, I'd also really like it if you would kiss me. I guarantee that's something that will always make me feel better, even if I'm bawling my eyes out!" She lifted her eyebrows in inquiry. "Okay with you?"

"Yeah, sounds fine."

The words were uttered with masculine nonchalance, but the passion-filled look he was giving her said plenty. Tingles of excitement zipped through her body, but Miaka forced them aside. For now, she had to stay focused on the subject at hand. "I'd like to read it out loud. Are you all right with that?"

He hesitated only a moment before giving a curt nod of approval.

She smiled at him, then smoothed out the crumpled message and began to read, in a subdued but steady voice.

'Miaka my love,

Thank you for reading this and giving me a chance to apologize.

I'm so very sorry for the way I acted towards you during our phone call. Everything I said about you and Tasuki being together was driven by anger and jealousy. I was wrong to say the things I said. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I already figured he was in love with you, but I didn't want to believe the feelings you have for Tasuki ran as deep. I'm still not convinced that they do, and it's not just a crush you're feeling. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but after all you went through to keep us together, it's inconceivable to think that you'd leave me for another guy, especially one that I thought was a great friend!

Yeah, I do think I have the right to feel bitter about that-but on the other hand, I realize I shouldn't. After all, Tasuki's not really the main issue here, is he? I mean, if you were happy, and our relationship was actually as strong as I thought it was, you wouldn't have given him a second look, right?

I'm sorry I tried to impose my choices on you without asking your opinion. I think I went ahead and accepted this assignment without consulting you because knowing how dedicated you are to your family and friends (which is also one of the qualities that I've admired and loved most about you) I was afraid you'd say no, which would have had led me to turn it down. In reminding myself of that, I could really understand why you couldn't turn down Suzaku. I can see that you going to Konan for a month might be the best thing for us in the long run, if you're having serious doubts. Taking a retreat without the usual distractions will give you the chance to reflect on everything good that's happened between us, as well as the not so good.

I hope that you will think hard about the decision you are about to make and don't let yourself get caught up in the magic of being in a fantasy world. I'm sure being the Priestess of Suzaku sounds a lot more exciting than being a soldier's wife, but thirty days from now I will be waiting here for you with a hopeful heart and open arms.

You're probably wondering why I am letting you go back there alone. There 's no one answer to that, but part of it is because I will never forget that I owe my very existence to you. Your love enabled me to live in this world, in spite of all the rules against it, and everything else we had to overcome. After surmounting so many obstacles, how could we not be destined for one another? That's why I don't find it to be such an unreachable hope that we can overcome this trial as well.

If you do decide to stay in that world, I promise I will do all I can to ensure that the book of the Four Gods and the world within it remains intact and untouched by evil of any kind. Even if you've chosen Tasuki, I will protect you and see to it that you stay safe. You are the reason and purpose for my life, and that won't ever change. Even if I chose not to embrace everything about my past, that doesn't include my duties to you. I will never forsake you in this life, or any lives to come.

If you do return to me… I promise I'll be more attentive to your needs and opinions. I'll do everything in my power to make you the happiest bride on the face of the Earth.

Either way, I'll have no regrets about having had feelings for you.

Wo ai ni, Miaka.

Yours,

Taka'

Miaka read the final words through a haze of tears. Taka's message was just like him; full of conviction and love. His reasons for thinking she would return to stay with him were faultless and correct in their insight...but had served to underscore her own reasons for finding out what life in Konan with Tasuki could be like, rather than changing her mind.

The letter had also brought up another problematic and very serious dilemma. She could feel Tasuki's gaze boring into her, but avoided meeting his eyes as she tried to assess how much and what kind of impact Taka's comments about the book might have had.

"I guess that's it." She finally murmured, when the silence between them had grown awkward. "It sounds like he's accepted my decision to go back. I think he's going to be all right."

"An' what about you?"

The abrupt question brought a faint smile to her lips. He was trying so hard not to sound jealous. "I'm fine."

But that wasn't entirely true. The aching sorrow that had filled her at the knowledge that she'd deeply hurt Taka had now been joined by fear; the fear of what she had just unwittingly revealed to Tasuki. Had he picked up on the implications of what Taka had written about his world? Would he react the same way that Tamahome had when he'd first found out about the book? But this situation was different, wasn't it? Unlike she and Tamahome, she and Tasuki had the option of remaining together if she stayed in the book. And besides, the fact that they were in madly in love with each other was all that should matter, right?

'It's not that simple, and neither is he.' She told herself grimly. 'I can't take anything for granted! If I do, I'll lose him.'

Tasuki had started to pace. Miaka carefully folded the letter, tucked it into the front pocket of her shorts and watched him with apprehension. As if he felt her eyes upon him, he came to a sudden halt and swung around to face her, wearing an expression that dashed any hope that he hadn't been paying attention to the letter's finer details.

"What was all that bullshit about my world bein' in some kinda book?" His eyes narrowed as she flinched at the blunt question. "Why would he say somethin' like that?"

'I just cleared a huge hurdle. I can't deal with another one, I'm not ready yet!' Even as her mind shrieked a protest, it raced to think of a plausible explanation. Only one emerged, and it sounded forced and weak as she uttered it. "I don't think he meant that. He was referring to the Universe of the Four Gods scroll that Taiits-kun wrote."

Tasuki's gaze was unwavering. "That's all it was?"

"Yeah." She fibbed, looking away. She hated taking the easy way out, but at the moment she lacked the emotional balance and fortitude to confront such a serious issue head on.

"Dammit Miaka, you're not okay, are ya? Ya just turned white as a ghost!"

The fervid concern in his voice helped her pull herself together. "I'm okay! It's been a long and exciting day, and I'm a little bit tired, that's all. " She summoned a smile. "Please continue with what you were saying."

"Later." Her seishi replied firmly. "It's time t'rest an' eat- you haven't had anythin' substantial in your belly since breakfast." A small chuckle escaped him. "I think that's gotta be some kinda record for ya!"

She grinned and grabbed at the excuse as if it was a life preserver in a stormy sea. "You're right, I am really hungry. Let's go get some pizza!"

As she started to move past him, Tasuki took hold of her arm. "Hold up there, Green Eyes. Aren't ya forgettin' somethin'?"

She faced him. "What's that?" She asked warily.

"It's time for me t'make ya feel better."

In one smooth motion, his arms came around her as he brought his mouth to hers. Despite her emotional exhaustion, Miaka felt as if she were coming back to life. Her arms crept up to twine about his neck and her lips parted eagerly, asking him to deepen the kiss, and her toes curled with desire as she felt his tongue sweep into her mouth.

Tasuki tasted heavenly, and felt even better. She molded herself against him, wholeheartedly returning his kiss, seeking seconds, and thirds, and fourths…

"Hey, the food's getting cold, you know!"

With a mutual gasp, they quickly broke apart to see that Chichiri had appeared in the doorway- as usual, without warning. "Sorry to intrude, but the others are waiting." He added, calmly regarding his friends' blushing faces through the barrier of his mask.

"A big ass door bolt." The ex-bandit muttered. "That's what I'm gonna get."

"What was that Tasuki?"

"Never mind, Chichiri." Miaka broke in quickly. "We'll be coming."

"Not unless we got a room with a buncha locks." Tasuki murmured wickedly.

Miaka turned to give him a quelling look. Unfortunately, her doing so completely exposed the darkening mark that stood out on the pale skin of her throat. Tasuki's pointed stare and elevated eyebrows warned her of her mistake, and her hand shot up to cover the telltale hickey. How in the world could she have forgotten it was there?

Of course, her attempt at a cover up had been too late. The monk's sharply indrawn breath was audible as he spotted the brand. "Miaka! What happened to your neck?"

"Huh? Oh that..." She dropped her hand with a laugh that she hoped sounded unconcerned. "It's nothing. I accidentally...uh, pinched myself earlier. It doesn't hurt or anything."

Chichiri turned an unblinking stare on Tasuki, who merely shrugged as if he didn't have a clue as to what could have happened. "That's an unusual spot to pinch yourself." The monk said, turning back to Miaka.

"I know!" She fibbed brightly. "Silly of me, but you know what a klutz I can be sometimes!" She began to sidle towards the door. "Um...could you both please excuse me? I need to use the bathroom."

Chichiri politely stepped aside and watched as Miaka walked out of the room. Once he was sure she was out of earshot, he quickly rounded on Tasuki.

"Are you deliberately trying to cause trouble, or are you just that stupid?"

Amber eyes widened, then narrowed with annoyance. "What's that supposed t'mean?"

"It means that giving Miaka a hellacious love bite doesn't make her your property, no matter what the Reikaku Bandits' Code says!"

Tasuki's glare turned to gape of astonishment. "How th' hell did ya find out about th' code? It's supposed t'be a secret between the guys an' the leader!"

"It's amazing what you can learn by listening to other people's conversations, you know." Chichiri replied with a shrug. "Especially when they're deep in their cups."

Tasuki's scowl deepened. 'Dammit! Those guys gotta start layin' off the drink or they're going to end up blabbin' our secrets to everyone!' "So what else did ya hear?"

"That's the least of your concerns!" Chichiri responded impatiently. "I mean, you do realize that giving his sister a love bite isn't going to endear you to Keisuke, don't you? What the heck were you thinking?"

"I wasn't thinkin'..." A faraway expression appeared on the ex-bandit's face. "Couldn't stop myself. I was like… I dunno…actin' on instinct, or somethin'."

"For it being 'instinct', you made a very thorough job of it, you know! It won't be very easy to hide, and it isn't going to go away any time soon!"

'That was th' general idea.' Tasuki smirked. "So? Ya should know by now that when I do somethin', I go all out!"

Chichiri sighed. "Look, what you consent to do together when you're alone is your own business...but speaking as your friend, I think you should think about toning it down a little for Miaka's sake, you know. She's going to be going through a lot, and you being at odds with her family won't be a help."

The bandit seishi considered the point. "I guess you're right." He said grudgingly. "I'll be more careful in th' future."

A brief silence fell, and then Chichiri spoke once more. "So everything's settled between you and Miaka?"

"Yeah. We talked." Tasuki said simply. Given the monk's fit over a little love bite, he wasn't about to reveal what else had transpired. "She just got done reading this note Taka wrote to her, but she didn't change her mind about goin' back- or about wantin' to be with me." He added, with unconcealed satisfaction.

Chichiri smiled, but said nothing.

"Taka spilled his guts, though, an' I felt like th' lowest kind of scum listenin' in." The redhead continued. "But I gotta tell ya, as bad it was to listen to him talkin' about lovin' her forever, there was stuff he said about our world that almost bothered me worse!"

The unusual seriousness in his friend's expression stated that something truly disturbing had occurred. "What was worse?" He prompted.

"Finding out that Taka thinks we live in some kinda book."

The monk blinked. "Could you repeat that?"

"Taka said our world is in a book."

"Hm," Chichiri pondered this. "Like a story book?"

"I guess." Tasuki's smile was small and tight. "Pretty weird thing t'think about, huh?"

Chichiri nodded. 'Shocking is more like it! But it would definitely explain a few things I've been wondering about…' "What else did Taka say about it?"

"Not much more, just some stuff about him keeping it safe if Miaka decides to stay with us in Konan." Tasuki shook his head. "That book thing can't be what it sounds like, can it? I mean...a whole world inside a book? It's just a fuckin' crazy idea!"

The monk looked pensive. "Maybe…and maybe not. Only time will tell."

"I ain't in th' mood for any of that cryptic shit. Just say what ya mean!" Tasuki ordered.

"All I mean is that there's probably a reasonable explanation for this, but I never discount anything I hear about Taiits-kun's machinations, you know. She works in some very mysterious ways." Chichiri shook his head. "Still, I honestly don't think this is something that you or Miaka need to be worried about."

"It made her upset, so I think I should be!" Tasuki retorted. "She tried blowin' it off by sayin' Taka was only makin' reference to Taiits-kun's scroll, but I think she knows more than she's lettin' on." His voice softened. "Didn't want to push it. She's had a rough time of it with Taka."

"Well, if it's involves Taiits-kun, I think I should be the one to delve into it." The monk stated firmly. "You need to concentrate on helping Miaka stay healthy and happy in the next month."

At the reminder, the redhead's expression instantly lightened. "I will."He blinked innocently. "Too bad Yui isn't goin' along- I'd pay good money to see her play out that kiss again!"

Twin spots of color appeared on the cheeks of the monk's mask. "It was a joke! It didn't mean anything, you know!"

"Maybe…and maybe not. Only time will tell." Tasuki intoned, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Don't be an ass about it, you know! I was just playing along!"

"Sure ya were."

"Are you delusional? I'm a monk, not a hentai!"

"Maybe, maybe not. Only time will- "

"Shut up already!" Chichiri waved his hand, and in a twinkling, his shakajou appeared out of nowhere. Rings clanked as he emphasized the order with a menacing wave of his staff. "Get this through your thick skull! There is nothing, I repeat, nothing going on between the Priestess of Seiryu and me! Am I making myself clear?"

"Sheesh!" Tasuki gasped, barely ducking a second swing. "And people say I'm touchy about women!"

Yui, Keisuke and Tetsuya were already at the dining table when Tasuki and Chichiri joined them, and it wasn't long before a rosy-cheeked Miaka made an appearance as well. Tasuki noted at once (and with a prickling of irritation) that she had taken out her pony tail and allowed her hair to hang loose to hide the love bite he'd given to her. Part of him wanted the mark to be seen by everyone- after all, the reason he'd given it to her was to dispel all doubts as to what type of bond he had forged with his priestess! He held his tongue, however, with the understanding that she'd probably only done it to avoid another confrontation with her brother.

Yui served them all two huge slices of pizza, along with some salad greens and dressing that she had tossed together. Despite her earlier emotional upset, Miaka ate heartily. After tentative bites, Chichiri and Tasuki proclaimed the strange food to be delicious, and both ate their full share of it.

Conversation ebbed and flowed over the dinner table, but through it all, Keisuke silently planned how he would break the news of his decision to the others. He had decided to do it right after they had eaten, when everyone would be feeling satiated and mellow. He knew full well Miaka would be angry when she heard at what he had to say, so it was important that he gain acceptance from her protectors. Waiting until they had eaten seemed the best bet in achieving that goal.

After the last piece of pizza had been consumed, he knew his moment had arrived. When Chichiri innocently inquired about their destination for the evening, Keisuke told him about the karaoke bar he had chosen, then added, "before we go out, there are some things I need to discuss with the three of you."

Chichiri smiled amiably. "There's no time like the present."

Tasuki threw his napkin down, stretched, and casually crossed his arms behind his head. "Sure, go ahead." Despite his calm demeanor, his eyes held wariness, as well as an unmistakable spark of challenge. If Keisuke thought he could lay down rules regarding Miaka's conduct with her seishi, the man had better think again.

Miaka looked up, instantly attuned to the tension in her brother's voice. Almost unconsciously, her hand lifted to check that the tell tale hickey was still covered. If Keisuke was about to speak his mind regarding how he felt about her relationship with Tasuki, she didn't intend to add any more fuel to the fire.

Yui glanced at Tetsuya, who instantly noticed the unspoken hint. "Yui and I will take care of the clean up." He said quickly, earning himself an appreciative smile from the blonde.

"Thanks a lot, guys." Keisuke said, as the couple rose from their chairs and began to clear the dishes away.

"So what do you need to talk to us about?" Miaka asked in a cool tone, while steeling herself for the shout down she was sure was coming.

"Well for starters, I've thought of the perfect excuse for you to give Mom so she won't worry about you while you're gone." Keisuke couldn't help smirking as he watched his sister's jaw drop. Obviously, she hadn't been expecting any concessions from him. By the looks of Tasuki, he hadn't either. The seishi's arms had uncrossed and he was sitting bolt upright.

"Y-You did? What is it?"

"I'll call and tell her that I've just gotten you a spot in the student summer interim to China. The timing is perfect, because they leave three days from now, and they're scheduled to be gone for a month and a half."

"That's a brilliant idea!" Miaka literally bounced in her chair with excitement, drawing amused glances from her seishi. "Thank you so much! What a great big brother!"

"It's no biggie." Keisuke replied, with a modest shrug. "It seemed like the most logical solution."

Miaka nodded enthusiastically, then suddenly stopped as a thought occurred to her. "Wait a minute- I just remembered something! The China program isn't open to undergrads! What if Mom finds that out?"

"Already thought of that." Her sibling stated, somewhat smugly. "You see, I'm going to be going on the trip too, and I'm allowed to bring a guest…which would be you, of course."

"That's good thinkin'!" Tasuki interjected with hearty approval. "There ya go, Miaka…you can finally quit worryin' about your cover!"

Chichiri spoke up. "Yes, but what about you, Keisuke? How are you going to stay out of your mother's line of sight for an entire month?"

Miaka leaned forward, her gaze sharply questioning. "Yes, that's right! How are you going to do that?"

Keisuke's gaze skittered from his sister to the two seishi, and then dropped to the table. "Well, here's the thing… I'm actually going to be gone, because I'll be with you in Konan." He looked up at them with a cocky grin. "Good plan, huh?"

A significant hush followed his announcement. As the silence lengthened, he sighed dramatically. "Well I think it's a good idea!"

"I don't believe it!" Miaka exclaimed, looking aghast. "Why would you even think of doing something like this? What's the point of it?"

Ignoring her hostile questions, Keisuke turned to the two Suzaku warriors, who were both regarding him with varying degrees of shock.

"Before you start objecting, I'd like you two to know that you aren't the only ones who have taken a vow to protect Miaka." He said, determination gleaming in his eyes. "Ever since the day our dad left our mom, I swore to myself that I'd look out for her, and I also think it's important that she have someone there who can point out both sides of the coin before she makes her choice."

There was another long pause.

"I understand and appreciate your reasons for going along," Chichiri finally said. "But even if I agree to take you there, there's no guarantee that Taiits-kun will allow you to stay, you know."

"Yes, Taiits-kun won't like it!" Miaka said quickly. "Trust me, you don't want to get on her bad side!"

"If she can't understand that I have the right to look out for my sister's best interests, then she's not the kind of Oracle I thought she was!" Her brother told her with a mutinous glare.

"Keisuke-" She broke off, and turned her gaze to her fifth seishi, who had maintained an unusual silence. Surely he would back her up on this? "Tasuki? What do you think?"

"If he wants to go, then we gotta let him." He declared, much to her chagrin.

Chichiri was the first to recover. "Why is that?" He asked sharply.

Tasuki shot him an annoyed look. "If Keisuke's worried about Miaka living in Konan, then it's only right for him to see what Konan is all about!" A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "And anyway, Chiri, I don't remember Grandma ever objectin' to ya droppin' in on her on her unannounced before!"

The mage shook his head. "Only because those situations were life or death! You know as well as I do that there are specific rules about who can cross over between worlds and who can't. Even now, we're only allowed to be here because it's our duty to protect the Priestess!"

"And that's just what Keisuke would be doin' in fullfillin' his duties as her brother." Tasuki pointed out shrewdly. "If findin' out more about us will give th' guy some peace of mind, then I'm all for it. I got nothin' to hide."

Miaka stared down at her clasped hands as she listened, feeling resentment bubbling up inside her. How could her big brother, who'd always been so supportive and encouraging of her efforts at independence, think so little of her abilities now? What about the pep talk he'd given her about being true to herself? She'd never thought of him as a hypocrite, but now...

And Tasuki too! Why would he accept this bird brained scheme of her brother's so easily? How could he?

Oblivious to his sister's growing ire, Keisuke addressed the wing seishi. "Thanks, Tasuki. Hearing you say that means a lot to me."

The redhead shrugged. "It's not a problem. I can relate to you wantin' to protect her."

Chichiri removed his mask and contemplated it for a moment before he spoke. "Everything tells me it's the wrong thing to do…but I can't argue with you doing it given your reason, Keisuke." He looked up at the Japanese man with his good eye, his expression deadly serious. "You're going to have to hold your own with Taiits-kun, you know. She isn't going to like this, and she might even send you back. You're on your own in figuring out how to deal with that."

"It's a risk I'm willing to take!" Keisuke replied, his own gaze unwavering as it met the monk's. "I'm not afraid of her or her magic!"

Chichiri regarded him with grudging approval. "You can say that now, but we'll see, you know." He said. "You better pack light. I don't know how much more I'll be able transport back without needing a major chi boost."

Keisuke grinned. "No problem. You can count on me!"

Miaka abruptly stood up. "Since no one cares to know my opinion on this matter, I'm going to run along like a good little girl." She announced icily.

Chichiri looked at her, his expression both apologetic and worried. "Miaka, please, it's not-"

Tasuki interrupted. "What do ya mean? Where are ya goin'?"

"I mean that I'll find something else to do while you three go out to the bar. It'll give you more time to make plans without me."

Tasuki shot to his feet as she strode away from the table and down the hall to the guest bedroom. "Dammit, Miaka! Come back here!"

The sound of a door slamming shut was her reply.

The wing seishi fell back into his chair and put his head in his hands. "Shit! I don't know how t'deal with this!"

"I was afraid she'd get mad," Keisuke sighed in exasperation. "She's taking it all wrong."

"Oh, is she now?"

The three men turned to look at Yui, who had just emerged from the kitchen, then shifted uncomfortably in their seat as she glowered at each of them in turn. Tetsuya had appeared right behind her, but after taking one look at his beloved's and the others' faces, he promptly turned around and scuttled back into the kitchen.

"All three of you have just succeeded in making Miaka feel like a helpless nobody!" The blonde declared in disgust. "Making the changes she has is far from an easy thing for her, but she's willing to face up to the consequences. After all she's been through and considering the sacrifices she's thinking of making, don't you think her feelings deserve some credit and consideration? Doesn't she deserve the common courtesy of being consulted in any matter that concerns her instead of being shunted to the side?" Cool blue eyes skewered each man to his chair. "It really pisses me off how dense men can be! You're behaving exactly like Taka would, and look where it got him with Miaka!"

Dead silence reigned as Yui turned her back and headed for the bedroom where her best friend had taken refuge. No one dared move, speak or even blink until they heard the door open and slam shut once again.

"Yui's right. I've bungled this whole thing," Keisuke muttered, after a few weighty seconds had passed. "I should have talked it over with Miaka first, instead of springing it on her."

"You had the best of intentions." Chichiri told him consolingly. "I'm sure she will forgive all of us if we apologize, you know. She isn't the kind of person to hold a grudge."

"I'm not goin' to Croakers!" Tasuki growled suddenly.

The other two men stared at him in surprise.

"Hey, don't let this get you down," Keisuke objected. "You heard Chichiri- she'll get over it."

"Maybe so, but if Miaka isn't goin', I don't have any business bein' there either!" Tasuki told him shortly. He stood up. "Are my clothes and tessen still in your room?"

Looking chastened, Keisuke nodded. "They're hanging up in the right side of the closet."

"Thanks."

As Tasuki left the table, Keisuke murmured, "Maybe it's better we don't go out. I've got some arrangements to make and some packing to do."

Chichiri simply nodded, thinking that it suited him just fine that they weren't going anywhere. Maintaining the appearance of Tetsuya, though very entertaining, had also been mentally exhausting. Some restorative meditation would be most welcome before he attempted the strenuous journey home.

Behind the closed door, Miaka was fuming. "I can't believe that Tasuki stuck up for him!"

Yui watched her friend pace the small room from her perch at the end of the bed. "It's frustrating, I know." She commiserated. "Although…I think Tasuki only did it because he wants to show Keisuke that he can take care of you just as well as Taka could. And as for Keisuke…he's just doing his best to protect you, that's all."

Miaka stopped pacing and gave her friend a hurt look. "Why are you defending them, Yui? Do you think I was out of line?"

"Of course not!" Yui said hotly, blue eyes flashing. "How can you say that when I just chewed them all out?"

Miaka walked over and slumped down next to her on the bed. "I'm sorry," she said dully. "I don't know what I'm saying…I'm upset and I can't think straight." She buried her face in her hands. "So many complications…so much hurt…"

The blonde slipped an arm around her friend's hunched shoulders. "Taka's letter didn't help matters, did it? I was really mad to hear Keisuke gave it to you right in front of Tasuki! That was so insensitive!"

Miaka sighed. "I'm no better. I actually read it to him."

Yui stared at her, dumbfounded, and then shook her head. "Not a wise thing to do." She agreed.

"In hindsight, no, but not for the reason you might think!" Miaka sighed. "Taka happened to mention that the other world is in a spell book. It was a brief comment, but Tasuki picked up on it right away and started asking questions."

The blonde groaned loudly. "Oh, Mi-chan! That's not good, not good at all!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I really am a baka sometimes!"

"Only sometimes?"

"Oh you...shut up!" Miaka's pout turned to a laugh when Yui crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue. "Oh ho ho! Now who's the baka? Better not let Tetsuya see that face!"

"He's seen a lot funnier faces on me than this!"

"Oh really? And when was that?" Miaka gave her a smirk.

"I'm not telling!" Yui retorted, turning red. "Back to the subject- how did you deal with Tasuki's questions?"

"I didn't have to come up with a straight answer, thank goodness. I was feeling kind of peaky at that point, and I must have looked like it, because he backed off and said we could talk about it later," Miaka said ruefully. "He's far too good to me when I don't deserve it."

Yui smiled knowingly at the tender expression that crossed the brunette's face. "Then are you going to tell him the truth next time he asks?"

Miaka's laugh held bitterness. "What truth would I tell him? That he's part of a role playing game? That he's just a character who's part of a spell that we've activated? That his beloved Mount Reikaku, the Stronghold, and everything that happens with all of his friends there, are really just words written on sheets of parchment that have been animated by some sort of magic?" She clasped her hands and then twisted them back and forth. "Why should I tell him anything when I believe that there is so much more to that world, anyway? Tasuki and Chichiri are as real as anyone or anything here, I'm certain of it- otherwise, how could they have crossed over more than once? How could they have aged, and how could the others have died? How could Tasuki's reflection have shown up in the store window today if he wasn't real?" Her voice rose. "I saw his reflection, Yui, and I was so happy!"

"I totally believe that he's as real as you or me!" Her friend replied soothingly. "But you're going to have to tell him about the book eventually. Tasuki's not the kind of guy who's going to let you give him the run around for long- he deals in definites."

Miaka set her jaw. "I'm not going to tell him anything until I've gotten some more answers about it myself." She declared. "If I end up having to use getting some explanations as a bargaining chip with the gods, then that's what I'll do."

Yui nodded approvingly, feeling her admiration for her friend growing by the second. "That's the way to do it! Let 'em know who's boss!"

Miaka's eyes twinkled with affection and mischief. "Thanks, Yui-chan. That's quite a compliment from the queen of all schemers!"

"What?" Yui pretended to be outraged as she grabbed a pillow. "Is that how I'm thanked for being a supportive friend? Well then… take that, Miaka Yuuki!"

She swung the pillow, thumping her friend soundly in the back and laughing uproariously as Miaka promptly fell off the bed. Grinning and unfazed, Miaka simply tossed her hair out of her face and sprang to her feet.

"You're a devious sneak, Yui Hongo! But I thank you for your support!"

But Yui wasn't listening; her gaze was riveted on the side of her companion's neck. "Wow! Check out that massive hickey!" She giggled. "I was right about the vampire thing, huh? I can even see his fang marks!"

Miaka gaped at her friend, then turned and lunged for the thrown pillow. Yui grabbed the other off the bed and the fight was on, pitting Seiryu against Suzaku once again.

Just outside the bedroom door, Tasuki, clad once again in his own garments and with his tessen strapped securely to his back, paused to listen. To his astonishment, he could hear soft thumps, followed by shrieks of laughter and teasing challenges instead of the sniffling and tearful rants he had been expecting.

"Take that, you hussy! No one can escape my special 'Suzaku Sparkle Attack'!"

"Oh yeah? Well check this one out! Cosmic…Dragon…REVENGE!"

A flurry of solid sounding whaps could be heard, followed by a screech and a muffled thump.

"Women!" Tasuki muttered, shaking his head as loud bursts of hysterical giggling reached his ears. "I'll never be able to figure 'em out."

Yui and Miaka ended their tussle (which was a draw) by collapsing back to back upon the bed. Both were breathless with laughter, and it was a long time before they could talk.

"Thanks Yui-chan, I needed to blow off some steam!"

"Me too, Mi-chan." The blonde gasped. "It's amazing what expending a few extra endorphins can do for one's spirit."

Miaka's brow wrinkled in thought. "So that's why I feel better. It's the endorfies…uh…enyorphs…um, what was that name again?"

"Never mind." Yui giggled. Some things about Miaka would never change, and she was glad of it.

A comfortable silence fell.

"Yui-chan?"

"Yes?"

"I'm really going to miss you." The brunette's normally chipper voice was now laden with sadness and regret.

Yui swallowed. "I'm going to miss you too." She blinked rapidly, determined not to cry. The last thing Miaka needed right now was a weepy, self-involved guilt trip from her best friend.

"If there's a way for you to come and visit me, or me to visit you, I'm going to find it." Miaka vowed.

"I know you will." Yui replied stoically. "And I'll do the same."

The two girls remained facing in opposite directions, but each automatically reached a hand back to intertwine their fingers. It was a ritual they had practiced in childhood, and would remember for the rest of their lives.

"I love Tasuki so much, Yui. Being with him has made me happier than I'd ever thought it was possible to be."

"I know. I can hear it when you say his name."

"You can?"

"Oh, yes." Yui smiled. "Your voice comes alive, somehow. It's hard to explain."

"Kind of like the way you say Tetsuya's name?" Miaka asked teasingly.

Yui blushed. "I guess."

Another pause.

"We didn't go all the way." Miaka confessed in a small voice. "It was close, though."

"Yeah, Keisuke told me he walked in on you at a...um...crucial moment."

Miaka grimaced at the memory. "Part of me just wanted to disappear, and the other wanted to throw him out!" She declared. "If I had had my yukata and Tasuki's tessen within reach, his bossy, interfering butt would have been toast!"

Despite their mutual embarrassment, the two young women laughed at that notion, and again, felt better for it.

"I know that Keisuke's being a pain, but it's only because he loves you so much." Yui said, when their giggles had subsided. "He's afraid of you getting hurt...and he feels terrible about the prospect of never seeing you again."

"I feel the same way about him." Miaka's voice shook with suppressed emotion. "But really, it would have been almost the same situation if I had decided to move to America to be with Taka, wouldn't it? Coming home for a visit wouldn't have been possible for a long time, if ever."

"True. But you have to remember that America isn't as unknown a quantity for Keisuke. He can visit it or send letters and emails to you there." Yui pointed out. "He has no idea where the Universe of the Four Gods is or what it's like, other than by reading what happened to us there, which wouldn't exactly be reassuring to him. I think it makes him feel helpless and insecure not to have any first hand knowledge of it."

Yui paused as unwanted memories of her time as the Priestess assailed her, grimaced, and then forced them back into the recesses of her mind where they belonged. "From what I've seen, men both fear and hate feeling powerless, and will tend to act badly when they do."

Miaka pondered the point. "You're right, Yui-chan. I guess I should give him a break, huh?"

"Well, he is the only brother you have…"

"All right! But do I have to be nice to him right away?"

Sitting up, Yui grinned down at her friend's profile. "Well...considering you're going to have to be seeing him every day for the next month, I suppose it might make things easier if you made peace with him right now-" She hesitated, remembering her recent lecture to the three men, then qualified the statement. "I don't mean that you should let him step all over you, though. You need to stick up for yourself and what you feel is right!"

Miaka sat up.

"There's no need to worry!" She declared, her eyes glinting with resolve as they met Yui's. "I'm not going to be a doormat for anyone! Not even a god!"

When Yui and Miaka finally emerged from the bedroom, they found three of the four men in their company sitting in the living room.

Miaka was puzzled to see Tasuki had changed into his own clothes, but was too still too irritated with him for defending Keisuke to ask why he had changed. She joined him on the sectional, but deliberately left about two feet of space between them as she sat down. Tasuki, who had been hoping that Yui had put his beloved in a better mood, scowled at the obvious slight but remained silent and still, not wanting to make things any worse for himself.

Yui walked over and sat on the opposite end of the sectional next to Tetsuya, who was having a sulk over the fact that his romantic evening alone with her had been canceled.

Upon his sister's cool inquiry, Keisuke informed Miaka that they had decided not to go out, and that Chichiri had gone into Tetsuya's bedroom to meditate He cast several anxious, apologetic glances at her as he gave her the information. She, in turn, accepted his words with an air of calmness and dignity that made Keisuke feel about two inches high.

"I also called Mom, and there's nothing to worry about." He assured her, eager to get back into his sister's good graces. "She was pretty surprised, but gave us her blessing."

Miaka's smile said his transgression was forgiven. "Thank you, I was dreading that call. It's awfully sudden...are you sure she didn't suspect anything?"

"Not a thing." Keisuke replied confidently. "She totally bought it."

Miaka's sigh was audible. "That's good."

Tasuki shifted uncomfortably, but kept silent on the matter. He didn't like the thought of lying to Mrs. Yuuki, not only because it went against his sense of fair play, but because he was sure she was the kind of woman who'd immediately sense when something was amiss with her children. She deserved to know the truth, but it wasn't up to him. He wasn't part of her family.

At least, not yet.

Mrs. Yuuki sneezed, then resumed pacing the length and breadth of her apartment's living room as she tried to decide on a course of action.

She hated questioning her son's story, but whenever she replayed their conversation in her mind, something about it didn't ring true. First off, the whole thing had come up so suddenly. Secondly, why would Keisuke the bachelor take his sister along on a graduate trip when it was certain that single, female graduate students would be going along? And why would Miaka even want to go along when she had shown no interest in taking Ancient Chinese history and had just found a new boyfriend? It certainly wasn't like her daughter to put academics before love…unless…

"Shun'u is from China!" She exclaimed aloud, and then ran for Miaka's bedroom.

One look into the closet and into empty drawers confirmed her worst suspicion, as did the fact that Taka's picture had been left on the nightstand. 'Student trip, my ass! More likely they're going to elope to China, and Keisuke's in on it!' She thought furiously. 'How could they do this? What about school? I've got to stop them! Yes, I'll go over to Keisuke's place- they can't have left yet , because they were all going out tonight. I'll head them off, catch them before they have a chance to leave!'

Without a second thought, Mrs. Yuuki turned on her heel and strode from her daughter's bedroom and down to her own room, where she grabbed her purse and a small overnight bag she kept packed for emergencies. One never knew when one might have to take a quick trip to the train station…or the airport. Then she picked up her bedside phone and called a cab.

That's when she saw the sparkling red bird hovering outside her bedroom window, looking like something straight out of a Chinese mythology book. Setting the phone back in its cradle, she moved at a snail's pace toward the window, hardly daring to breathe lest she scare the creature away. Closer and closer she crept, until her nose was practically pressed against the window pane.

'It can't be…a phoenix…' She thought dazedly.

But it was.

Strangely enough, she felt no fear- quite the contrary, actually. A sense of warmth and peace had enveloped her as soon as she met the gaze of the living myth, a feeling that all was good and right with her world. Then the bird was gone, taking that delicious feeling of well-being with it, leaving her forlorn at the thought that the feeling could only be her imagination.

Nevertheless, she pondered the apparition, until the recollection of her fifteen year old daughter talking excitedly about a phoenix 'calling' her to a special room in the National Library where Miaka and Yui had discovered and entered some magical book, suddenly popped into her mind. At the time, it had seemed like a far fetched excuse for Miaka's avoidance of her studies and for her playing hooky from cram school. But now…

'Was she really telling me the truth all along? Was this bird what she saw too? But how could we both have seen a phoenix, especially when it's only a legend? It's impossible!'

With an impatient exclamation, Mrs. Yuuki brought herself back to the urgent matter at hand. 'I can't get distracted by that right now! First, I have to stop Miaka and Shun'u from doing something they'll regret!

Prodded to action, she gathered up her things and hurried out of the room, wondering wryly if hormone deficiencies and starting the change of life could cause hallucinations.

A soft buzzing from the intercom told her that her ride had already arrived. She answered the summons and then left the apartment, pausing only to lock the door. With overnight bag and purse in hand, she hurried down to the lobby, where the driver was waiting. She thanked him as he took her bag, and they quickly walked out of ther building to the taxi parked out front.

However, once they reached the cab and the door was opened for her, Mrs. Yuuki hesitated before getting into the vehicle. For several moments she scanned the skies overhead in the hopes that she'd catch a glimpse of something that could explain the presence of the beautiful bird that had hovered outside her window.

The driver's patient inquiry as to her destination finally snapped her out of her muse. Blushing at her inattentiveness, she gave the address for her son's apartment complex and then quickly climbed into the car, now determined not to let the very odd flight of fancy sidetrack her from the important mission at hand.

To be continued!

Author's notes:

I want to thank my readers for your support of my writing and this story, and for your continued patience with my infrequent updates. I will try very hard to step up my posting schedule whenever real life permits me to do so.

There's a lot of exciting (and hopefully unexpected) things to come in this story. I hope you will enjoy them.

Hugs and good wishes,

KittyLynne