Chapter Four: Changing Hearts

There was little conversation as the three horses came to a halt in the dense forest. The road had begun to incline at the beginning of the day and now it resembled hills at the park that the twins had once rolled down when much younger. Nyoko slid off the horse, falling gracefully onto the land seemingly unaffected by the uneven ground. Naoko on the other hand had stumbled, slipped, and cursed loudly. Nyoko didn't bother to scold her sister this time. It was almost an unwelcomed ritual that the group had fallen into.

The last few days were all the same and in Nyoko's opinion they were beginning to blend together. She realized now why in the stories she read that traveling time was usually something the author skipped. Nothing of true relevance seemed to happen during those days and repeating the same sentence that they rode on and on seemed rather petty no matter how true it might be. Sure, there had been a few good conversations and small talk but everyone seemed to be weary of traveling…and more importantly they were beginning to tire of Naoko—as much as she hated to admit it.

Naoko, like most situations, realized quite early on whether or not she liked something. Traveling by horseback and sleeping outdoors had apparently fallen under the dislike category. She had made sure everyone knew it. Nyoko idly mused whether or not Naoko realized just how like their mother that made her. She seemed to understand quite clearly now why her parent's patience with Naoko was wearing thin over the move. Naoko enjoyed complaining…just a tad bit too much. The sooner they reached the top of this blasted mountain the better.

Nyoko shook her head. Usually her thoughts weren't so narrowed and under normal circumstances she could handle whatever her sister dished out. After all, it was usually her job to take care of her. Plus, she had been doing this for seventeen years! What was the difference now? The sleepless nights and taxing days were apparently finally beginning to take their toll. The revelation made Nyoko feel uneasy.

"Nyoko?" A calmer, concerned voice asked from behind her.

With a start Nyoko realized that her feelings must have been evident on her face. Shaking her head to focus back on the present Nyoko turned to face the man who had addressed her. Kano was glancing at her with genuine concern. He seemed to do that a lot lately—more so than she would like to admit. When he thought she wasn't watching he would study her, as if watching someone who was trying to recover and at any moment they were going to relapse.

Despite that though, Kano, unlike Naoko, had been a marvelous traveling companion. He was light hearted and seemed to enjoy finding trivial things for the two of them to talk about. There was also this odd way that he seemed to find topics that all of them could discuss when they were camped. It was when he started conversations that everyone else joined in and seemed to lighten up a little. It was nice having him around—he kept her mind busy on other tasks which she was more grateful for than he would probably ever know.

Realizing she had still yet to answer Nyoko flashed him a perfectly practiced smile, "Yes?" She asked as if she thought he was requesting something of her. In the meantime she was beginning to untie the blankets she had previously purchased along with a sleeping mat. It had become habit, this ritual of assignments they were all in charge of.

Kano's eyes studied her for a minute obviously he wasn't completely convinced with her nonchalant demeanor. He came to stand by her, untying his own utensils and grabbing the empty water canteens. One of his particular jobs was to refill the water—which could sometimes take quite some time if the river wasn't close. The fact that the water wasn't filtered made Nyoko uneasy and she was grateful that the canteens weren't see through to see just how clear the water might really be. "Are you alright?" Kano asked this softly, more for her hearing than the others.

There was a tug at her heart. Nyoko hated to lie to him, especially when he was so genuinely worried. "Of course." She said this with a soft smile; yet immediately afterwards she returned her attention to someone else. She just couldn't stand to feel the things he made her feel. So she turned to her sister for help, she needed a distraction. "Nai. Come help me with the beds please."

Naoko shot her sister a pointed glare. "Are you kidding me? I have to gather firewood remember? I have my own job." Naoko huffed tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Most of her hair had fallen loose from the ponytail she had tried to put it in that morning so most of her dark red hair framed her face loosely. Naoko walked the distance between them just as Kano moved on and headed deeper into the woods in the direction of the sound of running water. Naoko barely caught it, but she thought she had seen the young man glaring at her.

Her sister gave her a pleading look turning her attention elsewhere, "Okay…how about this. I'll trade you jobs tonight. I'll get the firewood if you set up the beds and make the ring for the fire pit." Naoko looked doubtful, "Please Nai."

"Why do you want to change jobs anyways?" Naoko asked clearly not about to give in. She once again stubbornly tried to brush a strand of fallen hair behind her ear. It was usually amusing to Nyoko—it just showed how stubborn her sister could be. No matter how many times Nyoko told Naoko that her hair wasn't long enough to tuck behind her ear Naoko would repeatedly try to force it to anyway. Yet, even this small habit didn't seem to lighten her mood.

For a moment Naoko thought a look of impatience crossed her sister's face but just like every other emotion Nyoko swallowed it. It was hard to even tell for sure if Naoko had seen it or not now. "I just need some space to breathe…and you know how they are about us going off alone. Please I just need some quiet time…"

Rolling her eyes Naoko gave her twin a sidelong glance. It was odd for her sister to want to shake up a routine—Nyoko may have been better with accepting change but she had never really been one to instigate it; although Nyoko's reason for wanting this change did seem rather logical. Naoko knew all too well how introverted her sister was. Nyoko never was one for group projects or anything that required her to remain with lots of people for a long time—she preferred solitary activities. Surely her sister was going insane being cooped up with this many people for so long—and she didn't even have a book to read!

"Nai?" Nyoko repeated again in a pleading manner.

With a sigh Naoko nodded her head indicating her answer before she spoke it, "Just today okay? But you're gonna have to tell me what I'm supposed to do again."

Nyoko grinned but Naoko pretended not to notice, "Just pick the flattest part of the land you can find. Move the rocks and lay the bedding out—mat first then blankets. The rocks you moved can also be used to make the fire pit ring, you know like the ones we used to make when we went camping?"

"We only went real camping once." Naoko scoffed, "But, ya, I'm pretty sure I can handle it." She then eyed her sister warily, "Make sure you bring enough wood to last all night—otherwise we'll freeze and I'm sure fang boy will be quick to blame me for it."

"You mean Tasuki?" Nyoko asked with an amused smirk as she glanced over at the fiery haired companion.

Again Naoko's answer was a scoff, "How someone as stubborn and idiotic as him saved the world is still impossible for me to grasp." Nyoko shot her sister a glare but decided that not speaking was perhaps the best course of action. Especially, after all, if she really wanted time to spend alone in silence she wasn't going to give Naoko a reason to change her mind. Naoko, apparently unaware of or ignoring the glare, then hauled the bedding off the horse and began to march off in search of a flat piece of land, committing Nyoko to her resigned decision of remaining silent.

Naoko kicked a few rocks absent mindedly, fascinated yet annoyed with how her shoes were beginning to dirty. Annoyed, because she knew they were her only pair, and yet fascinated because despite how simple they looked they handled the elements rather well. "W'at is yer problem?" Came the accustomed accented remark.

"I don't have one." Was Naoko's brilliant reply, she then turned to face the man and placed one hand on her hip in a challenging manner. "I'm sure you're going to enlighten me though."

Tasuki scowled at her, obviously only realizing that the comment was an insult and not completely aware of how yet. "Ya sure do talk funny." Tasuki said shaking his head as if giving up. He assisted her in her troubles by kicking another rock out of the area she was clearing, "You've been scowlin' ever since we left—I'm beginn' to think yer face is stuck that way."

At this comment he received another glare, not that he noticed because he wasn't looking at her. Naoko dropped her cargo unceremoniously to the ground in a heap. "I just want to go home." It was an honest statement. She wanted to go back to jeans, to music, a comfy bed, air conditioning, and a place where things like this remained in fairy tale books. Naoko quite frankly had had enough of the supernatural.

A little bit more than startled Tasuki glanced back at her with narrowed eyes. If it wasn't for Chichiri he never would have signed up for this insane mission. The two girls that apparently came from Miaka's world were beginning to be quite a pain. One was so quiet he wondered if she had gone mute, and the way she seemed to always be thinking made his head hurt. Then there was this one: the feisty, hot headed, stubborn, swearing girl that seemed to find no respect in anything. Not his country, not his religion, surely not the Suzaku no Miko or her seishi's…hell what did she respect?

Naoko seemed to have caught his aggravated expression and it wasn't hard to guess at why he was looking at her that way. Yet Naoko made no move to apologize. They were in a book for crying out loud. He was a fictional character. Why should she care if he was angry? Glancing at the things she had carried she roughly tugged on the rolled up sleeping mat freeing it from the pile. Kneeling down she began to fumble with the knots that tied it in its rolled up position. Naoko was conscious of the feeling that she was being watched so she glanced up at Tasuki in irritation, "Fang boy are you just going to sit there? Don't you have a job to do?"

Tasuki scoffed, the same answer she had been giving Nyoko not even ten minutes ago. "I am."

"Oh really?"

"Ya."

Naoko growled her irritation with the man in front of her coming to a peak along with her frustration with being unable to untie the damn knots on the mat. "And what might that be? Disturbing the peace?" Her tone was dripping with sarcasm and she had taken no precautions to hide the anger in her words.

"I think yer doin' that all on yer own." Was the bitter reply.

"What?!"

"We didn't ask for ya to come here ya know!" Tasuki barked throwing his arms up in the air.

"Well I didn't want to come either!"

"But ya did! Do ya know what yer presence here means?! It means yer ruinin' all the peace we worked so hard ta get! Some of us died for t'at! And wit' yer attitude I ain't so keen on protectin' ya!"

"Protecting me?!"

"Stop." Came the formal velvet voice of a third intruder. Both red heads glanced up to see the cerulean haired Suzaku Seishi. "There is no need to argue, no da." The casual ending seemed to come back to his speech now that both of them had stopped screaming at one another. "Tasuki we don't know why these girls are here…don't blame them for anything no da." Tasuki glared but didn't make any reproach to comment.

Naoko was expecting to receive a chastising too yet Chichiri said nothing to her. Perplexed Naoko looked at him hesitantly—surely he wasn't just saying that to make them stop fighting. She raised an eyebrow inquisitively yet his mask gave nothing away. It was perhaps his silence that unnerved her more than anything. Maybe he planned it that way? Instead she turned her attention back to the knots that were being just as stubborn as she was.

After a few moments of odd silence another hand brushed hers away. Having it so close for inspection Naoko could see the rich sun kissed skin pulled tight over calloused fingers—hands of a hard worker. With ease that made her blood boil the hot headed man undid the knot she was struggling with. "I didn't want ya to waste any more time." Tasuki answered in his still growling tone as he sat back folding his arms. His scowl revealed one of the two fang like teeth she had nicknamed him for. "I'd like a bed ta sleep on t'night."

Glaring at him Naoko shook her head, "Saves me the trouble of thanking you then." She said pushing on the mat so that it rolled out easily on its own across the incline of the land. She busied herself with this task of unrolling blankets while Tasuki leaned against a tree messing with that fan of his. The way his eyes seemed to be looking past it hinted that he was reflecting on older memories. So, she interrupted his thoughts, "You never did say what your job was."

Amber eyes glanced from the fan up to her and suddenly even though he was only about a year older than her it looked as if he could have been ages older. It was as if he could pierce right through her. "My job hasn't changed much since you women started fallin' from different worlds."

"That's a vague answer." Naoko replied with a huff fixing the edge of a blanket.

Rolling his eyes Tasuki replied, "I protect ya. It is part a my job as a Seishi."

Intrigued Naoko rose an eyebrow, "Well, I'm not some Miko and I don't plan to be one. I don't think you're Seishi abilities cover me if you don't want them to."

"Yer in Konan—Konan is my country and I protect the people in it." Tasuki answered unenthusiastically, "No matter how dimwitted and annoyin' certain visitors within it may be."

"Hey!" Naoko bantered with him making sure he was looking at her this time when she met him with a level glare. Yet she lost her train of thought when she realized the blue haired Seishi that had stopped them before had disappeared again already. Instead she mimicked Nyoko and tilted her head to the side in confusion, "Where did he go off to?"

"Oh ya, ya probably never notice he ain't around much when we make camp." Tasuki said nonchalantly and apparently not too concerned with his disappearance. To save her from asking more questions he answered, "He sets up barriers, ya know? To keep us safe at night an' all."

"Barriers?" Naoko asked incredulously.

Tasuki sighed with impatience, "It's like my fan an' ta fire. I can't explain it to ya. It's just how it is."

"That's how everything in this world is." Naoko said with another aggravated sigh. "Things are the way they are just because. Doesn't anyone ever ask why?" She cast her eyes up to the sky beginning to note how dark it was already beginning to get. If Nyoko didn't hurry up they were going to be scrambling around in the dark. Then she turned to Tasuki and rolled a rock towards him smacking him in the foot, "Make yourself useful and help me." She said with an un-lady like scoff as she began to assemble the rocks in a circle.

"I don't wanna help you." Tasuki growled glaring at her and then eyeing the rock against his boot as if it too had conspired against him.

"It wasn't a request." Naoko countered.

"Is t'at so? What makes ya think I'll listen to ya anyways?"

"Just help me make the damn fire pit or when Nyoko gets back with that wood she won't have anywhere to put it and we'll be stuck in the dark."

"Well if she don't hurry up we're gonna be in the dark an'ways."

"Naoko-san?" A new voice asked perplexed. Glancing away from the fire haired man she had been bantering with she looked up to see Kano accompanied by the water flasks that were still dripping with a few droplets of water from recently filling them. He glanced from her to the beds and then to the half assembled ring of a fire pit. "I thought you gathered wood?"

"Is that your way of asking me where Nyoko is?" Naoko asked impatiently. "Geeze and you men say we aren't direct." With this comment Naoko gave what had to be now her trademarked eye roll. "She asked me to change jobs for the night. I know you don't know her like I do but Nyoko doesn't do well with groups and people always hovering over her shoulder."

If her words had affected Kano the reaction was missed by the ascending darkness. "Well, either way…shouldn't she be back by now? Liking groups or not she can't want to be out in the woods in the dark by herself."

With a snicker Naoko replied, "Women don't really have personnel space in your world do they? Actually she does stuff like this a lot. In our world she hardly talks to anyone but me. Silence is her constant companion if you know what I mean." Yet she shook her head, "I see what you mean though. Don't worry. If there's anything I know Nyoko definitely knows how to handle herself and she'll come back on her own. She isn't as frail and weak as you think she is."

At this point Chichiri returned to the small campground. "Why isn't the fire lit no da?" He glanced around the circle in confusion.

"Cause fire girl ain't back yet." Tasuki replied teasingly.

Chichiri's eyes flickered over to Naoko. Naoko absently wondered how she knew these things about Chichiri considering he wore a mask but she brushed the thought aside, "Okay. I'm only saying this one more time because I hate repeating myself." Naoko grumbled. "For the final time…Nyoko asked to trade jobs with me. She likes her alone time and you've all been crowding us lately. I think it got to her. She'll be back soon."

Chichiri seemed troubled, "But I did a perimeter check, no da. She wasn't out there."

"God forbid someone walks outside the perimeter." Naoko said clearly not concerned by his announcement.

Tasuki didn't join her in their normal teasing or fiery banter but instead said rather seriously, "I don't think she could've gotten that far Nao-chan." Before anyone else could comment on the topic a chilling scream pierced the night air…just as the sun finally slipped behind the mountain leaving them cast in darkness with only eerie moonlight as a companion.

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

Nyoko methodically picked up another piece of wood adding it to her already growing stack. She had tried to go as slow as possible, making up excuses for herself about how certain branches would burn longer and how some would be able to ignite faster. Yet, no matter what she told herself there was still a limit on how much she could carry and she was beginning to meet the quota.

Sighing she closed her eyes to enjoy the serenity of the mountain. It probably didn't look like much, it resembled the ones she had once camped in, yet to her it was beautiful and it relaxed her. The smell of the fresh thin air tinted with the hint of trees and the music the wind seemed to make as it crossed through the upper most branches was incredibly relaxing. The wind played with the free strands of her hair causing more strands to free themselves from her loose side braid that had been flung over one shoulder habitually.

Her chestnut eyes flickered up to the darkening sky. Nervously she bit her lip—she had been gone a rather long time. Longer than she intended and while she was not afraid of the dark she wasn't foolish enough to believe that navigating through the shrubbery would be an easy task when she couldn't see her own feet in front of her. Resolved to head back Nyoko turned to go towards the camp, thankful that she knew her directions or she probably would have been completely lost in the mirrored landscape about her.

Only, she didn't get as far as she had planned before something caused her footsteps to pause again. There was an audibly loud crack of a branch breaking and something in the pit of her stomach told her it had been done purposefully. Despite the uneasiness that was rising in her she tried to quell it with logic. Could it be Kano? He was out and about…but then again he was going for water. The sound of the river had died away awhile ago. She knew it wasn't Tasuki—he always stayed to watch camp with her while she made the beds. Chichiri though, well he was always out securing the perimeter whatever that meant.

With this in mind she convinced herself to glance over her shoulder looking for Chichiri. Of course, much to her relief and anxiety, no one was there in the failing light. "Chichiri?" Nyoko asked tentatively. Her eyes darted around the scenery where more and more shadows were being created by the failing sun. Again Nyoko bit her bottom lip and decided to move on.

Once again, she didn't get far. Another loud audible and intentional twig snapping brought her to a standstill. Growing frustrated and un-amused by whoever was trying to play tricks on her she turned around to be confronted by the empty trees. "Stop it Nai." She said admonishingly realizing now it was probably her and Tasuki who were trying to have a good laugh. "This isn't funny anymore. If you really followed me all the way out here the least you could do is help carry some of this wood back."

"If you insist." Came a bubbly laughter of a female Nyoko didn't recognize. Before Nyoko even had time to contemplate what the woman, from some concealed spot, had said the wood in her arms lifted all on its own and floated in front of her. An irrepressible shiver raced all through Nyoko's veins and before she could stop herself she screamed stumbling backwards and tripping over a tree root which caused her to fall harshly onto the ground behind her. "Oh come on now." Cooed the women's voice, "You aren't really afraid of a little wood are you?"

The source of the voice revealed themselves ironically from before her instead of from behind like Nyoko had originally thought she heard the voice. The women that stood before her was a height of at least five seven, by far the tallest woman Nyoko had yet to see in this world. The woman could only be around nineteen but her body was highly curvy in a perfect desirable hour glass shape and the clothes she wore left nothing to the imagination. Long, silky black hair fell in large curls half way down her back and her complexion was flawless in a milky white color. The women took a few steps closer and bent down balancing herself on the balls of her feet. Now that she was closer Nyoko could see the milky green irises that she had never seen before on another person.

"You're the person causing so much fuss?" The women asked. Clearly it was a rhetorical question. From her expression it was quite apparent that she was disappointed. She shook her head though causing the ringlets to bounce slightly from the motion. "No matter." She said nonchalantly. "Orders are orders." She mused aloud.

Nyoko went to speak but before she could the women waved a finger in her face. "Nu-uh-uh, not yet." An impish grin spread across her face that showed she was quite enjoying the younger girl's predicament. "We don't want to ruin the game this quickly." Her giggle was much too bright and bubbly to match her surroundings and it left Nyoko feeling unnerved.

Despite the girl's words Nyoko went to speak but when she tried to no sound came out. Her tiny and frail hand flittered to her throat in shock. Her chestnut eyes wide with bewilderment.

The elder girl grinned just as another figure stepped out to reveal themselves. He was tall, taller than Tasuki even, at a height that had to be over six feet. Unlike the pale maiden before her this man was dark, like he had spent too much time in the sun. His hair though was the most peculiar thing. It was silver, not white, but a shimmering metallic that was pin straight and tied at the nape of his neck and flung over one shoulder. Nyoko would have to say that the two had the same length of hair. Comparing the two Nyoko could tell that even though the man was gorgeous, and had rather feminine qualities, he was indeed older than his companion. Even just standing there Nyoko could feel the cold detachment that his presence presented.

Nyoko's eyes snapped back to the girl as she spoke again in that happy tone, "Alright, now you just wait here and hopefully someone will find you eventually." Nyoko's eyes widened in alarm but before she could say anything the tree root she had tripped over raised off the ground, wrapped itself around her ankle and pulled her into the soft earth up to her shoulders. "Now you stay put." The girl grinned as if she actually found the joke amusing. She rose to her feet, nodded to her companion…and then they left her there with the previously floating wood dropping all around her as the girl disappeared.

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

Naoko was scrambling to her feet. Her eyes were wide with worry and shock. It seemed as if she were about to bound off in the direction of the scream but a heavy and reassuring hand fell on her shoulder, holding her back. Naoko in her haste glared at its owner but this time the anger wasn't as apparent, "I thought you said you were protecting us!" She turned to Chichiri next with a pleading gaze, "You even said you did a perimeter check and set up barriers so nothing could happen to us!"

"Nao-chan you need to calm down." Tasuki said in an uncharacteristically serious voice. "You don't know that anythin' has happened to t'at sister of yers. She coulda just tripped for all we know. So don't panic till we find out more."

Chichiri looked as if he were about to say something but whatever words he was going to say died on his lips as something else spoke. It was Nyoko, she was pleading—screaming as if she were being brutally tortured; only it was impossible. Her voice was coming from everywhere all at once. Naoko had to cover her ears, the sound so terrifying and surreal that it was going to drive her insane. She felt Tasuki's hand tighten on her shoulder and she visibly saw the other two men stiffen.

"Someone as important as her shouldn't have been so neglected." A bubbly voice said. "Being Seishi I really expected more from you—I mean do you even know how important that girl is?" Suddenly laughter interrupted the sentence before she finished, "Oops…maybe I should be saying was."

"Show yerself and we'll show ya why we're Seishi." Tasuki growled loudly in almost a predatory way.

Nyoko's screams ended and turned into low sobs. Her cries were echoing off the trees. Naoko watched Chichiri grip the staff he carried so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. "Where is she?" His voice was calm and even though he had asked it wasn't much of a question but a demand.

"Let's make it a game shall we?" The bubbly voice asked once again. Her cheerfulness was almost eerie. She didn't wait for a response, "If you can find her…you can have her—whatever is left of her anyway."

"Tasuki you take Naoko and go east. I'll go west. Kano you try and look north." Chichiri ordered briskly, "Be careful." With that Chichiri didn't wait around to see if anyone was listening to his orders. Instead he dashed off in his direction.

"Let's go Nao-chan." Tasuki said leading the way. Nyoko's sobs turned into words again and they echoed around them.

"I'm here! Help me! God Naoko where are you?!" Nyoko's pleading was heart wrenching but the fact that it came from everywhere was sending chills down Naoko's spine.

"Nie! Just…talk to me!" Naoko pleaded tears prickling at her own eyes. There was a cacophony of Nyoko's voice in response to Naoko's outburst and Tasuki shook his head at her.

"Sorry Nao-chan but talking to her, or whatever it is, isn't helping. Ignore it." Tasuki said this calmly his amber eyes flickering across the poorly lit mountain for the other red head.

"How can I ignore her?!" Naoko asked appalled the color draining from her face. "She's my sister!" Her chestnut eyes glanced around anxiously, "Nie! Where are you?!"

"Nao-chan all those voices aren't yer sister. T'at's just not possible. 'Sides…yer sister doesn't take to talkin' much. Ya really think she gonna make this much noise?"

Naoko looked at him anxiously and doubtful. She wanted to believe his words but it was so hard…her sister was calling for her. How could she ignore something like that? At length she finally shook her head, determination in her eyes, "You're right."

"I usually am." Tasuki grinned, a fang tooth poking out.

Ignoring his playful comment Naoko changed directions, "My sister doesn't scream like this…not even when she broke her arm. Her tears were silent." Naoko mused aloud. "So we go the direction that the voices aren't in."

"Shit. Ain't that sort of backwards?"

"You're the one that gave me the idea!"

"Okay. Okay, follow ta silence—sheesh." They didn't get far. Not much farther in the direction they were heading tree branches began to sway and come at them. "Well I guess we're goin' ta right way." Tasuki chuckled using the steel fan to block an onslaught of the tree coming at them.

"What?!" Naoko asked alarmed now suddenly hiding behind him. "God, you're world is so messed up! Why are the trees attacking us!?"

"If we weren't goin' ta right way everythin' woulda left us alone. It gets harder when ya get closer to yer goals." Tasuki said rather philosophically as he pushed their way farther in their intended direction.

Suddenly they came across more of an open clearing. Naoko let out a small scream of surprise as she saw Nyoko's body lodged deep in the earth. What was even more alarming was the fact that her eyes were closed. "Oh my god. Nyoko?!" She said dashing away from Tasuki's protection and towards her sister.

"What do you plan on doing little one?" The bubbly voice asked now emerging into the clearing. Her eyes were narrow as she looked at the new twin. "Your sister suffers in silence and you do nothing." This black haired girl said in a more level tone.

They were interrupted as Tasuki lunged for the new intruder. With a flick of her hand the fan Tasuki was holding was yanked from his grip and floated just out of his reach. Her eyes glared at him. "You're interrupting. Stop now and I might leave you be." She threatened. Her attention turned back to the girl as if she hadn't been interupted, "When she cried out for you it was the first time you seemed to think of someone other than yourself. Why should she have to say it to get your attention?"

Again Tasuki lunged at them this time the fan was dropped but the girl held her hand out freezing Tasuki in his mid-step. "I'm not finished Suzaku Seishi Tasuki. You should know it's rude to interrupt people."

"And what is it that yer doin' that's so damn proper?!" Tasuki yelled clearly struggling to move.

"You speak to me as if I'm the villain. Yet I have more right to this girl than you do. She is not yours." The girl said briskly and in a level tone. Tasuki seemed to pale at this but the girl took no heed to it. "Naoko Okayame you have ignored your sister's pain for quite long enough. You're paying the price of it now."

"You killed her?!" Naoko let out a choked sob as she collapsed by her sister. She began desperately trying to dig Nyoko out of the ground. "No, no, no, no! Nyoko come on wake up!"

"She is not dead you fool." The girl glared. "Do you really think I would kill the person I am in charge of?" This was a rhetorical question and she gave no further explanation to her words. "She merely passed out from lack of breath. The earth is quite crushing." With that the model like women turned to look at Tasuki. "If you behave yourself I'll free her. I can only do one at a time so if you're thinking of doing something stupid I highly suggest you reconsider. I have no problem waiting all night and letting her remain in the cold earth permanently if you can't control yourself."

Naoko's eyes beseeched the other red head, "Tasuki please!"

"Alright!" Tasuki yelled. "Just get her the hell out of the ground!" With that he was released and discarded easily to the ground like a forgotten toy. The girl's power now pulled the young girl out of the ground laying her gently on the fast cooling earth.

Unexpectedly there was a sudden clanging of swords from behind her. Kano, who had followed the voices of the conversation, had come up to slash the woman from behind. Yet another blade met his and it wasn't from the women. Instead it was from a man with glistening silver hair and his golden eyes were narrowed threateningly.

As if there wasn't enough tension in the air it was at this moment that Chichiri stumbled upon the group too his gaze shifting frantically to all the occupants. Before he could ask what was going on a loud booming voice echoed, "That is quite enough." Then, their gaze was overpowered by a flash of white light.

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

When the white light faded they were no longer surrounded in darkness and woods but inside what appeared to be an extravagant palace. The band of people all looked a little unnerved by the sudden transportation but no one seemed to voice their opinion. The only sound was the swishing of blades as the golden eyed warrior shoved Kano away putting quite some distance between his companion and her would be attacker.

"It took you long enough to get here." Came the voice they heard before disappearing. Naoko glanced up now able to put a face with the voice. She visibly blanched at the floating, aged woman before her. Such people had usually been lain to rest before they had ever reached such a decomposed state. It was almost as eerie as seeing a floating corpse. The only difference was thankfully this woman still had color. "Get a grip on yourself Okayame-san." The elder woman chastised.

"Tai Yi Jun, I thought so…" Chichiri trailed off as Tasuki interrupted them.

"You?! W'at are ya makin' small talk for?! Look at t'ose two! T'ey nearly killed a girl and yer just floatin' t'ere like everythin' is fine an' dandy!" Tasuki's glower was hard to miss as he changed his gaze over to the other two less welcome occupants.

The old oracle snorted returning the glower to the red flamed man, "You should have left him behind Chichiri." She said this absentmindedly and the man in question shook with fury. She then answered the round about question Tasuki had presented, "They are not enemies to you."

Kano looked uncertain of this fact and looked to the two wearily, "Then why did you attack us?"

The girl he was gazing at flipped her hair over her shoulder and then folded her arms nonchalantly, "We were only following orders."

"And you did well." Tai Yi Jun acknowledged causing the girl to grin.

"I don't understand no da." Chichiri said shaking his head. "You sent people to attack us?"

Again the oracle snorted, "You should know I was testing the girl's heart. You yourself said you wouldn't teleport them straight here because that is not how things are done."

"Tested her heart?! You damn near well stopped it from beating!" Naoko yelled tears bristling on the edge of her eyes.

"Your sister was not the one whose heart needed testing." Tai Yi Jun answered harshly. This caused Naoko to falter over her words as she glanced at the overly aged woman in complete confusion.

"But…I…You said…"

"You're selfish Naoko Okayame." Tai Yi Jun said bitterly. "You hold nothing in this world of value. Not one's feelings or even their lives. To you this is no more than a drawn out nuisance." Her gaze was fixed angrily on the younger woman and her harsh words didn't end there, "Even after you heard the tale of the Suzaku no Miko you have no respect for her or the people who died and served their country. This is why you were tested."

"But it's…not real…it's all a book…" Naoko whispered meekly and obviously no longer as sure in that belief as she had once been.

"Does it look real to you Okayame-san? Putting your sister in danger does it seem real now?" Tai Yi Jun barked.

Naoko's eyes flitted to her sister's form, which she was holding, in despair. "You hurt her because of me?" Naoko asked choking on a sob.

"She is the only thing you value in this world or the other—and even her you ignore as much as you can." Tai Yi Jun explained. "I didn't want to but it was necessary for you to come to this realization."

Chichiri looked hesitant at this and seemed to speak up, distracting Tai Yi Jun's wrath from the smaller girl. "So there is a reason they are here, no da." He asked this cautiously and he sighed as if his heart was heavy.

"Yes Chichiri-sama, It is as you feared." Tai Yi Jun answered the calm demeanor returning to her crippled form. "Though not as hopeless as your thoughts have turned." She offered as if it would lighten her student's spirit.

Amber eyes had flickered to the two red headed girls in concern but soon afterwards Tasuki pulled his unwilling eyes back to Tai Yi Jun, "I'm not followin' ya."

"Of course you're not." Tai Yi Jun scoffed. Though after her jibe she continued on freely to answer him anyway, "They are meant to be here. They are not however, Mikos and they will not be summoning any of the four gods."

"What…are they here for then?" Chichiri asked though by his tone it seemed he was afraid of the answer.

"What other world girl's are usually here for," Tai Yi Jun paused, "to bring peace."

"T'ere's already peace." Tasuki scowled. "So send 'em home. T'is is obviously some sort a mistake."

Tai Yi Jun glared at the man but this time didn't answer him, "I will explain everything later. As for now though Nyoko could use a bed to lay in instead of the tiled floor."

Naoko nodded her head and she looked down at her sister anxiously. It was clear on where to take her sister was a mystery to her—let alone how she was going to move her was another question within itself. Before she had to ask though, someone stepped in to save her from any more humiliation. Kano's chocolate eyes looked at the first twin as if she was close to snapping, which was probably true.

"I can carry her." Kano whispered reassuringly kneeling down next to the twins. Naoko's bright chestnut eyes flashed back and forth between the man offering to help and the girl who she was holding as if she might vanish from her very arms. With extreme hesitation Naoko finally nodded her head relinquishing her tight hold. Kano nodded his head too, in assurance before his arms slipped under Nyoko's frail form and gently lifted her from the floor.

Chichiri's gaze flickered to the scene and more importantly what was lacking from it. He looked at Tai Yi Jun quizzically but she made no gesture or facial expression to indicate that she saw his concern. So instead Chichiri sighed and stepped up. "I can take you to where the rooms are located no da. She would probably be most comfortable in a bed. We haven't slept in one in awhile after all, no da."

The girl with the milky green eyes watched from a distance in quiet observation, "I can lead them. I'm sure you have a lot to catch up on with Tai Yi Jun, Suzaku Seishi Chichiri."

The cerulean haired man flashed his attention over to the girl who spoke. When he answered there was mistrust in his voice even though his expression couldn't be discerned from the mask, "Thank you for the offer no da." He shook his head, "But I am not so keen on entrusting you with the safety of my friends after our encounter—even if you were only following orders."

The girl sent him a rueful smile, "Sorry." She then shrugged, "You can't keep them away from us forever though Suzaku Seishi."

"Hold your tongue Nami." Tai Yi Jun ordered.

The ebony haired girl, Nami, shrugged once again as if it didn't mean much. "As you wish. Come on." She gestured with her head towards the man who was standing beside her. He didn't answer her yet when she made to leave the room he silently followed after her.

Tasuki looked at the elder oracle questioningly, "You gonna explain that?"

"I've already answered that question." She bit back.

Shaking his head Chichiri walked towards the twins and Kano. "We should all rest for the night. Tai Yi Jun has already said that tomorrow she will explain everything no da. Come on Tasuki." Tasuki flashed the oracle another grimace before giving in and following his Seishi brother to the rooms.

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

When Nyoko stirred to consciousness her heavy chestnut eyes fluttered open to look at the palace room she was in. Confusion flickered across her face for a moment as she tried to remember ever being in such a place. She dragged her hand across the silk sheets to rub at her tired eyes but instead gazed at her bruised wrist.

"I fell." Nyoko whispered to herself as the images came back to her slowly. Now her eyes looked at the room in more interest than before. She distinctly remembered being outside, in the woods. There had been that girl, the model like one, who had made the tree drag her into the earth. Her last thoughts were ones of confusion, it had been so very hard to breathe…and she couldn't speak. At that realization she remembered the man with the golden eyes and shivered.

Being delicate of her wrist and aching muscles she sat up in bed. As she pulled the sheets someone murmured in protest and Nyoko finally realized that she wasn't alone. Startled her gaze flashed over to the other occupant laying in the large bed beside her. Naoko, seeming disturbed by the lack of blankets, hadn't seemed to care enough to wake up.

"So Naoko and I are here…but where is that exactly?" Nyoko mused quietly, secretly relieved that her sister was safe and not still out in the woods alone. Resolved to find the answer Nyoko pulled herself out of bed and looked down at her clothes with a grimace. She was filthy, she had no idea what her hair must have looked like as well. Undoing what was left of her braid she pulled the wavy hair back into a ponytail as she walked across the room to the door.

As she stepped outside Nyoko couldn't help but gasp quietly at what greeted her eyes. It was magnificently beautiful and Nyoko was distinctly aware of the fact that it was cooler than it had been in the Konan palace. Her mind remembered the mountains from before and she discerned that they must have been at the top now—which would explain the cold air and altitude.

"One of you finally emerges." A familiar voice chuckled. A chill raced through Nyoko's veins as she turned to face the speaker. There stood the model woman from before her curls framing her face prettily and contrasting sharply with her new outfit a deep shade of red. The girl laughed, "You look stricken. You're perfectly safe with me." She giggled moving to sit on the railing. Her feet dangled childishly as she waited for Nyoko to reply.

Nyoko clearly looked uncertain, "I don't think I understand."

"That I can believe." The girl grinned with a wink. She then continued on, "Don't worry though it will all be explained today. I'm sure you'd like to change though. Those clothes look shot." She then gave a lopsided smile, "That's my fault I suppose. My apologies."

Warily Nyoko looked the girl over, "You said I'm safe with you…you pulled me into the ground." Then shaking her head Nyoko asked, "How did you do that?"

The girl's green eyes twinkled mischievously, "That's my talent."

"Controlling plants?" Nyoko asked in disbelief.

At this her companion laughed that cheerful tone that Nyoko remembered hearing in the woods, "No. Not plants."

"Then how did you do that?"

"My power is telekinesis."

"Really? People can do stuff like that in this world?"

"Only the chosen ones. You should know this by now though—you do know the legend of Suzaku after all."

"So you're a Suzaku Seishi too? That's not possible. Chichiri said--"

"That the others are dead?" The girl cut in flatly. "He's right. I am not a Suzaku Seishi." By the girl's confused expression she finished. "It will be explained later. By the way I think we got off to the wrong start." Again she laughed, "My name is Nami Himura."

Nyoko tried to relax. The girl had said she was trustworthy…and people in this world were pretty big on honor it seemed. When she glanced at the girl, who was only a few years older than her, Nyoko realized that Nami was much more than just a pretty face. The happiness that was expressed through her unnatural colored eyes was completely genuine. That had to count for something, right? Either way, Nami had introduced herself and Nyoko reluctantly admitted it would be rude to ignore her.

"I'm Nyoko Okayame."

"I know very well who you are Ny-chan." Nami smiled with a twinkle in her eye.

"So you say. Though I suppose you don't just attack random strangers traveling through the woods do you?"

"How very perceptive Ny-chan. I think I was wrong in my first observation of you."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, your sister on the other hand…is she always so emotional?" At this Nami seemed to scrunch her nose as if looking upset at the idea.

"Naoko has always been rather forward about her feelings." Nyoko answered evasively.

Again Nami laughed, it seemed to be a habit of hers, "So I see. And you're the opposite. Much like my oni-chan. Perhaps that's why I like you better." Nami seemed to be peculiarly speaking to Nyoko and musing aloud to herself at the same time.

Nyoko, feeling confused on whether or not she was being addressed, looked even more confused on what the girl had meant. She then stumbled over the foreign word as she tried to repeat it, "Oni-chan?"

"Ah, you're Chinese is a little off I see." Nami giggled. "Oni-chan, it's another way of saying brother."

Just as Nyoko was nodding her head in understanding the door from the room she had emerged opened again and Naoko stumbled out, "You have a terrible habit of waking me up lately." Naoko growled. Despite her foul morning mood Naoko couldn't help but grin at her sister anyway, "I'm glad you're here to do it though."

Nyoko's eyebrows knitted together as she tried to understand what her sister had meant. Nami spoke up instead though, "Ah so the emotional one is not a morning person. Doesn't surprise me." She laughed again before saying, "I'm glad my little show finally taught you something."

As if now just noticing that they weren't alone Naoko bristled at the other girl's words and glared, "You?! How dare you show your miserable face around here! If you're here to hurt my sister again I'll—"

"You'll?" Nami politely interjected with a hint of amusement. "I'm not so sure you'll do anything Naoko-san." Nami shrugged then nonchalantly. "You hold no interest of mine. You're far too predictable. Ny-chan here however is excellent company—and if it makes you feel better nothing will hurt your sister whilst in my company."

"How can I trust you?!" Naoko spluttered rage shaking her frail frame.

"Because these are my orders Naoko-san." Nami said in a much more serious voice. She spread her hands in front of her as if surrendering, "To protect the two of you and my orders rank first and foremost in my priorities."

Nyoko was watching in quiet amusement at the two of them bicker. Yet she couldn't help but notice that the girl didn't use an affectionate nickname for her sister like she had her. Before she could ask such a question however Nami addressed the both of them.

"I'm sure you have much more important questions that need answering however and I'm more than happy to oblige." Nami said with a smirk, "However I don't think you want to present yourself in front of Tai Yi Jun like this." Her eyes flickered to their bedraggled clothing causing both girls to flush. "Follow me and I'll take you somewhere to become more decent. Then you shall have all your answers." And it was with that their new found guardian led them off deeper into the heavenly palace.

Hello everyone! I'm sorry that the updating is rather sporadic. These last two weeks were hectic with final projects and then of course the finals themselves. Not to mention I'm graduating next week. (Yay!) So I've sort of been writing off and on. Hopefully with summer here I'll get more of a routine down. =D

So what did you think? Lot's more action in this chapter! Wohoo! And, all of your questions will be addressed next chapter with Tai Yi Jun! Yay! Haha, okay so perhaps not all, I mean where would the fun be in that? Although you will find out why they're here. Not to mention you're going to learn more about Nami and her strange golden eyed companion. Are they trust worthy? Hehe.

There wasn't too much romance in this chapter. Though Naoko and Tasuki had an interesting fight. Haha, there will be more of those, as I'm sure you've guessed. Now about Naoko being the only one whose heart needed testing. I don't mean to make it seem like I'm playing favorites. I like Naoko and Nyoko both equally but Nyoko's personality and nature just subjects her to accept change much more easily then her sister who would pout and deny it for as long as she could. Naoko needed this, as I'm sure you could tell by her foul temper this chapter. They're opposites (wink) and so I had them each react differently. It makes them feel more real in this sense. Besides, does it really seem likely that everyone the book selects is just happy go lucky and willing to take on the world? I'm sure there are at least a few people out there who would have pouted about it like Naoko did.

Alright well that's all for now I suppose. =D I hope you guys enjoyed reading it! Please review! I really enjoy getting feedback. Also let me know if you would be interested in having character profiles. I was thinking of putting some on my profile page but I wasnt going to bother if no one wants them. Haha. Until next time!

Thanks for reading!

-Miracle