Disclaimer: I don't own Shakespeare .I am just borrowing his quote.

Mischief Thou art afoot, Take whichever way thou will - Shakespeare

Chapter 18:

Yang sighed .Her neck ached a bit. Cursing she massaged the offending area.

' This is what you get by pouring over a book for too long.' Frowning she yawned ' I need some coffee.'

' But can I stop reading it?'

She tried to close the book but found her hand itching to turn the next page.

' I swear..this book is like an addiction ...'

Forcing her eyes from the book she glanced at her watch. Three hours had passed. She glanced at the yellowing pages again

' But in that book..nearly two weeks have passed ...' She tried to remember as to how a connection was maintained between her grandma and grandaunt Miaka.' Yes, I remember now. Their uniform, it was their link..But Lee is now wearing ordinary clothes.'

Menesku had made Lee change into clothes that were normally worn by women in Konon .It was smart embroidered tunic with soft cotton pants and small leather pumps. Okay so it wasn't all that normal but at least it didn't scream ' Hey! I am the miko! Attack me!'

It severed her link with Lee, but Yang agreed with Menesku .She did not want her friend to travel all over a savage land decked up like a Christmas tree. Speaking of which...

Her mind came to Keeah ' That girl is strange.and powerful..I have a strong feeling that if Seiryuu was unsealed then she ..she would be ..' She shivered a little ' Nakago..Well not Nakago exactly..But his present counterpart ..at least she doesn't appear to be as evil ..But why on earth did she save Chulivey? Man this is confusing. Wait a minute.. Does this mean that I ...I will be ..I could be the Seiryuu no Miko?'

Yang's eyebrows formed a deep 'v' shape ' Well since every thing that has happened so far has given me a sense of deja vu, I just might end up in my grandma's shoes... Well that may be so, but I will be damned if I let anyone use me as a pawn..'

'..Then why the hell am I feeling like a fucking pawn on some giant chessboard..Life sucks..' Yang closed the book forcefully ' I don't feel so great about closing the book. But I must prepare myself .I must arm myself...with..Pepper spray .. I'll get some pepper spray from the store..'

Her face fell ' How the hell will I get this book out of the library?'

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Hotohori sat up straight .His knuckles white on the hilt of his sword.

' Tell me you felt that Menesku ' His voice was tense.

Menesku's white face indicated that he had indeed felt the enormous ripple of energy that passed over them like a capricious wind.' I believe it came from further up north.'

As usual, the cool one. The sky had just began to lighten indicating the coming of dawn ..It had come, as suddenly as a tidal wave and disappeared like the flickering flame of a dying lamp..But it had been enough...enough to make the hair on the nape of their neck rise..

Lee was scared "What was that?"Her face was very white.

Faraco who had transformed into a giant golden dog in order to guard Lee was growling, haunches raised, teeth bared ..

" I feel strange "Lee said slowly "I have felt like this before..When the sleeping dragon opened its eyes ...and looked at me ..."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Taiskun watched the expanding sphere of energy, a cryptic gleam in her eyes.

' So you failed old friend '

' This is just the beginning my dear Taiskun '

' I know.'

' I will have what I want.'

' Will you now? Let me remind you dear friend..You must reap what you sow.'

' No..No dear friend .You will reap what I will sow.."

Taiskun looked at the heap of rubble that used to be the inn and sighed.

' For the sake of this world..I hope I have taken the right decision.'

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Ukano tried to act brave. But as the night progressed something seemed to suck the warmth out of the air. It was a dark oppressive feeling and the temperature in the barn seemed to plummet. Yuka shivered as well and she put her arms protectively around Ukano.

Time seemed to drag along, the darkness stifling as the flickering light of the lamp did little to dispel the dense darkness .The mule and the two cows who resided at the barn were very agitated but now even they had quieted down, their large eyes filled with some mute terror. Ukano snuggled deeper into her mother's arms shivering, all kinds of thoughts running amok in her head.

Still ..Night passed idly. And Ukano could not remember when shehad fallen into a deep slumber.

It was the violent explosion that woke her .She sat up groggily feeling her mother's arm tightening around her.

"Mother?"

Yuka merely hugged her closer still and remained staring wide eyed at the violent blue light that came in through the cracks in the barn door.

Then there was silence once more...

"What happened mother?"

Yuka shuddered .She wanted to reassure Ukano..But none came..All she could hear was silence .It was impossible to determine what happened out there.

Ukano tried to move.

"Not a word child "Yuka hissed urgently "We do not know what happened out there."

Ukano gulped.' Cousin Chulivey ..I hope you are well ..And you Lady Suzano..'

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Sotisku groaned. ' I feel as if I have been trampled under the foot of wild horses.'

He sat up gingerly .The room where Chulivey had been housed was destroyed .The roof and that face of the inn was blown off...

' Holy..shit !'

Sotisku groaned limping on to his feet.' Where the hell is Princess and Suraco?'

He felt something sticky on his forehead. Grimacing he put a hand on his head. He watched the blood on his hand in a detached manner.

He looked around. Chulivey was still lying in a corner wrapped in Suraco's leather tunic .Her face was very pale but she was breathing easily .Her clothing was a little singed, but otherwise she okay.

' God..You so aren't worth the trouble.'

His bag was still lying beside her. Thankfully, all the vials in it were still intact .He took out a vial and sipped from it. He felt some strength returning to his limbs. Hastily he bandaged his wound and proceeded to search for his comrades.

He found Keeah lying on the ground .Her tunic was singed and her hair spilled like a satin veil around her .The beads of the enchanted necklace she had worn was scattered all around. The spell had broken revealing her actual form. Hastily he turned Keeah around. Her face was pale but thankfully there were no lacerations on her face or elsewhere.

' She looks exhausted.'

Sotisku worked with controlled haste when he opened and put a phial under Keeah's nose. The slightly pungent fumes made Keeah's eyes flutter open. For a while they seemed incoherent, then focused on Sotisku.

"Suraco?"

"I will attend to him presently "

Keeah sat up " I am alright .Go attend to him."

"I will " Sotisku handed Keeah a phial "Drink."

Keeah took the phial from Suraco and gulped it down "Work quickly Sotisku .We need to leave this place before the villagers gather enough courage to investigate here."

Sotisku nodded and proceeded to Suraco who still lay unconscious. Keeah hobbled up .The throbbing ache in her head had lessened somewhat .She looked around.

' Did..I do this?'

She frowned. She searched among the rubble till she found her discarded and now somewhat burnt cloak. She pulled the hood over her face, casting her features into darkness.

She walked to where Sotisku was bandaging a very pale Suraco. There was a very nasty gash across his stomach and his pale skin was lined with bruises. Like her, his enchanted necklace had snapped revealing his mussed golden hair.

" I trust you are not too badly wounded Suraco."Keeah's voice was a little anxious.

Suraco tried to smile, which was a difficult task considering his spilt and bruised lips "Heh, I have been through worse."

"I am glad "Keeah smiled and offered him her hand "But let me give you a hand."

Suraco accepted Keeah's hand gratefully " I swear Princess "He winced "Not even Menesku hits this hard."

"I know."Keeah said quietly "Come let us leave this place quickly."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

She groaned .Her head ached and her limbs felt like lead..but for once she was not afraid .She felt free . For days she had felt the dark presence haunt her footsteps ..And now it was gone ..She could almost feel the strength returning to her limbs .She felt the soft morning light on her eyelids .It was a soothing sensation .Her eyelids fluttered open of their own accord this time .Her vision was still a little blurry.

Her eyes fell on a shock of golden hair that glittered in the light of the rising sun .She could make out the outline of a man .She frowned a bit when the man pulled a dark hood over his head.

She tried to sit up. But her limbs would not obey "Whom?"Her voice was weak and even to her own ears her speech sounded disjointed and slurred.

She felt the hazy outline move towards her. Green eyes stared at her from under the hood .It was him ..The one that was sponging her forehead yesterday .Did he make the nightmare stop? She tried to raise her hand to remove his hood ..But her hand was numb.

" I think she is waking up " His voice had a soft silky feel.

She became aware of other people in the room. Shadowy forms ..Hooded .She felt something warm forced down her throat.

"Can we leave now ?"He sounded bored .

"Thank..You ..Friend." Her words came in gasps.

The green eyes turned towards her, they were mocking, "Rest assured my Lady, we are no friend of yours."

Then he was gone..They were all gone ..Her mysterious saviors ..And her green-eyed knight.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Please review!