Miaka and Chichiri had been traveling straight to Sairou, and Chichiri couldn't help but comment on how good Miaka's stamina was. "It's like the good old days, I guess! Haha!"

"If that's what you want to call it, you know."

"Yui's close," she said, then paused, and moved her head around slowly.

"What is it? Do you sense her?"

She put a hand up in the air to quiet him. "I recognize this. It's…" Much to Chichiri's surprise, she started to sniff the air, and then melted into a happy face. "It's Sairou cuisine!"

Chichiri could have fallen off his horse. "I shouldn't be surprised, you know."

"Wait," she looked more carefully. "I do recognize this place. This village… I've been here!"

"You have?"

"It's Amiboshi's village! Remember how I told you that he was alive?"

"That's right! I saw him too, just as Suboshi ran away with him. I wonder if he'd recognize us?"

"He had to drink that juice and forget everything, remember? I wonder if Yui would be with him!"

"That sounds like a good enough reason for her to be in Sairou!" he answered her. "Quick! Do you remember which house was his?"

"There," she pointed definitively.

"That was fast, you know."

"That's where the familiar smell is coming from, and I'm pretty sure it's Amiboshi's house, too. Or Kaika, I should say. Don't worry, his folks are pretty nice. I'm sure they'd invite us in for dinner."

"I'm happy to see that's where your priorities lie."

"I'm kidding, Chichiri. Half," she answered and dismounted her horse, and approached the door with her warrior right behind her. With a deep breath, she knocked.

Xi Fang answered cautiously, wondering who else could have shown up. "Yes?"

"Hello! Sorry to bother you during your dinner. I'm looking for a girl named Yui."

"Miaka!" she exclaimed.

"Ah… Xi Fang, is that you?"

"Where have you been all this time? We had no idea what happened to you!" she moved forward to take her hands.

Miaka moved held hers just as tightly, forgetting any animosity they might have had between each other in the past. "It is you! No wonder it smelled so good!"

It didn't take long for others to notice the commotion at the front door, including Yui. "Miaka?"

The priestesses instantly fixed their eyes on one another, and the others at the table fumbled to get out of Yui's way as she, aghast, edged from the table and to the door. Once they stood face to face, Miaka melted into a smile. "Yui."

"You were alive?"

She nodded.

Yui began to cry, and slapped her. "How could you have let me believe you died?" she screamed. "Nothing hurt me more than that! I missed you so much. I missed you so much, Miaka! How could you have done that to me?"

"I'm sorry, Yui. I had to…" Miaka felt like she would cry too. "I thought that was the only way I could end everything. I did it for you."

Yui was full of a rush of different emotions, and switched to acting on others. "You dummy. Only you could think doing something like that would help anything. But you did, and I did go back after that… you… it's been ten years for you, hasn't it?" she reached out and touched Miaka's cheek. "Look at you…"

"I know," she smiled sheepishly. "I'm so old."

"No," she shook her head as another rush of tears came on. "You're beautiful. Look at you, all grown up."

"Oh, Yui," she placed her hand over hers. "You grew up too. How old are you now? You're amazing."

"I'm only nineteen," Yui wanted to laugh at the absurdity of how much their lives had diverged, and finally moved forward to embrace her tightly. She had not expected Miaka to wince in pain when she held her, and moved back a bit. "…Miaka?"

"Gently, okay?" she smiled back weakly, but then rested against her with a calm and content look on her face.

"…The Priestesses joined the others at the table to finish the meal, and chatted on about old acquaintances. The kind old couple was sure they had met the Priestess of Suzaku before, but was not aware of her identity.' …Tetsuya?"

"I'm fine. Keep reading," he wiped a tear away from underneath his sunglasses.

"Are you happy now?"

"Relieved."

"You're an easy book to read," he smiled, and turned back to find his place. "Still, it looks like everyone else in the Universe of the Four Gods thought she was dead, too. I wonder if Yui would have come back when she did before if she knew Miaka was alright?"

"I don't know," Tetsuya shrugged. "She watched Nakago attack her, and that was enough. But if she knew Miaka was alive somewhere, that might have been enough to keep her there."

"We didn't keep reading much after we got Yui back, did we? We saw that Hotohori died and that the Kutou troops went home, but that was about it. If we had kept reading, maybe we would have gotten Miaka back, too…"

"It's too late to think about that now, but we might still have a chance. Keep reading."

Though the little house was cramped, Miaka and Chichiri were invited to stay a few days. Xi Fang had explained to Kaika who they were, and no one wanted to impede on her reunion with Yui. The twins, however, had turned quiet, suspiciously watching Chichiri the entire time. No one particularly minded the extra quiet, especially while the priestesses had so much to catch up on.

"Miaka, earlier, you… you were in pain."

"It only happens sometimes. It's usually fine if I don't touch it much."

"Do you mean the injury Nakago gave you?"

She nodded, and Yui shivered as the scene flashed back through her mind. "How did you survive that?"

"Barely. Chichiri took me away to hide and recover, but I already told everyone else to pretend I had died so that they wouldn't look for me. I'm much better now, though!"

"And now you're married to Chichiri? Congratulations."

"Well, for the most part, yes," she laughed. "It's just easier to say that, and no one asks us any questions about who we once were. And how about you? You're such a looker, I'm sure you've got boys beating down your door!"

"I'm dating Tetsuya," she smiled, but Miaka gave her a blank look. "You know, Keisuke's friend?"

"Oh, my brother's friend? I don't really know who he is. Are you sure he's not too old for you?"

"He's younger than you are, Miaka."

"You got me there."

"He and Keisuke have been my best friends since you've been gone. They read the book while we were both here last time, so they know about everything."

"Oh my. Everything?" she looked embarrassed. "I had some idea that Keisuke was reading, but… wow, how much did it say about my personal life?"

"How much was there to hide?"

"Well, I'm sure you know about Tamahome and I…"

"No. What?"

"We… uh… we slept together!"

Yui only looked back plainly as Miaka tried to laugh it off. "No, you didn't."

"Come again?"

"They told me that the book said you both refrained that last night you spent together. Tamahome died the next day. That is, unless he's hiding around here somewhere too."

Miaka's expression sank. "No. He did die. That was after we told everyone we were husband and wife after that night."

"Even though nothing happened?"

"Please don't let Chichiri hear you!"

"Why? He's your husband, and he doesn't know?"

"He's never touched me. It's not like that."

"Then you're still a virgin!"

"Yes, I'm an old maid," she looked embarrassed. "And what about you and Tetsuya? You've known him four years now, so I'm sure…"

"No, we haven't crossed that line! He doesn't put much pressure on me."

"Then you, too?"

"Yes," she sat back and blinked as she thought for a moment. "How strange. We just had an embarrassing moment admitting to each other that there's nothing embarrassing to admit. I suppose we're both still fully qualified priestesses with jobs to finish."

"Finish? Didn't you use your last wish to go home?"

"I think Seiryuu took it easy on me—that last wish probably didn't count. I still have one left."

Miaka looked concerned. "Then that means…"

"And you, too! Suzaku's been unsealed! You'll need to hurry up and summon him!"

She began to shake her head unconsciously. "No, I can't! Everyone will start fighting again! I don't want anyone else to get hurt, Yui!"

"That's all the more reason why you have to meet Mayo Sakaki."

Days had passed.

Chiriko stood at the veranda as sleet rain made a curtain in front of him. "Even this downpour is pleasant," Houki came from behind him. "It must be a sign that Suzaku has graced us with his presence."

"We can at least be sure of that much," he replied.

"Has it been nice having your character back?"

"I'm still waiting for it to reappear."

"Oh, dear," she covered a giggle with her sleeve. "You're not the only warrior who lacks one."

"Boushin," he sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid telling him everything was fodder for his own fantasies."

"It can't be helped that he idolizes his father. He's grown up hearing nothing but good things about him. If that helps inspire him to become a good leader to his country, then I can tolerate these fantasies while's he still a child."

"We can only hope they'll remain fantasy."

"You feel responsible for him, don't you?" she asked. "In His Majesty's stead?"

He smiled, caught. "I don't know if I can phrase it in exactly that way, but I do consider it my mission now to support him."

"I very clearly remember the first time you met him. You were the only one of the Suzaku warriors remaining at the palace at the time, and you barely looked big enough to hold him securely. But you did, and you stared at him and cried for a very long time. It was an emotional moment for me as well, as I knew you and the others would watch over my son."

"That was when I decided I was going to keep studying, even without my character. It took a while, but I'm here now."

"We're grateful. It's good to have one of you here what with these recent happenings. What do you think about Lady Mayo?"

"I think she's important, but I don't think she's right when she says Suzaku's been summoned. I don't think he has. I think… I think he's still building up his strength, preparing to be summoned."

"Hmm. Then perhaps I was right, in some sense."

Mayo did not take well to Chiriko's suggestion when he and Houki presented it to her. Me? Pregnant with Suzaku? "That's even more ridiculous than just being pregnant in the first place," she said aloud.

"I don't think it's so ridiculous," a voice responded.

"Houki?" she looked around, but didn't see her there.

"Take care of yourself," it said again, and this time she was sure she heard it right next to her. With a gasp, she looked over and saw a faint figure. The face there smiled. "Oh, can you see me now? It must be because Suzaku's getting stronger."

"You… who are you?"

"Celestial warrior Nuriko, at your service," the faint figure smiled. "I had to stay and keep an eye on you once I felt Suzaku arrive."

"Then you know I'm the priestess."

"No, you're not," he glared back.

"And you're a ghost," she ignored his comment. "You must have been the one messing with me when no one was looking! Why would you do that?"

"You were being annoying," he rolled his eyes. "I couldn't stand you treating Houki like that. She's very important to me, I'll have you know. Do you know how patient she's been with you? I know your hormones must be going crazy right now, but that's still unacceptable."

"Sorry," she automatically apologized, a bit surprised to be lectured, and perhaps more surprised at herself for listening to it.

"Anyway, make sure you tell her I'm proud of her," he flashed a smile before he started to fade again.

"Wait! Where are you going?"

"I'm still here. Suzaku still has to get stronger. Wait for Miaka…"

With each passing day, Tasuki could feel his own powers getting stronger, and with that, his ability to sense his priestess. Come on, Miaka. Where are you? He'd meditate and focus as best he knew how, and see where it led him. He was confident that he was on her trail, but was becoming more and more doubtful about how aware Miaka was of the situation. At the border to Sairou, he had to wonder what she could have been thinking.

Seriously, Miaka? Not a great time for a desert vacation. Nevertheless, he sighed, and set foot into the next country.

Maybe Miaka was running away when she sensed Suzaku, he thought. He was sure he could send Chichiri to the palace right away, but was Mayo worth enough to blow Miaka's cover?

Mayo was quite sure her mind had not been playing tricks on her when she met Nuriko, though it didn't seem that anyone else was aware of his presence. She decided to keep it a secret, since it wasn't as if anyone was willing to consider her thoughts anyway.

Anyone, that was, except the ten-year-old emperor.

"I wonder if the other warriors are out there," she mused openly, waiting for his response. "Weren't they saying something before about… Mitsukake, was it?"

Boushin only then noticed that he had been absentmindedly fingering the pouch around his neck that Juan had made for him. "Oh, that's Juan. Mitsukake was reborn."

"But didn't they say he was possessed?"

With a deep frown, he nodded back to her. "He's my best friend."

"Best friends, huh?" she gave him a quizzical look. "What do you mean by that?"

"We played together… and talked about being celestial warriors…"

Mayo laughed. "And that makes you best friends. That's a hollow phrase, you know. Friends are just people you pass the time with—they come and go. Any relationship based on feelings isn't going to last forever."

"But if you don't have feelings, what kind of relationship is that?"

"People can have relationships out of necessity or simply because they have to—like how a parent is forced to take care of their child. Even you—you're only here because there needed to be an heir to the throne."

Boushin paused before responding in a low voice. "What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean," she rolled her eyes, "Is that your mother and father weren't together because of a feeling. After all, your father was in love with the last Priestess of Suzaku."

"No, he wasn't!" he automatically retorted.

"I'm sure you'll understand more about it in time. 'Husband' and 'wife' and 'best friend' are just labels. There's not that much to them. Sure, you played together for a while, but what makes him your best friend? Is it just because he was a Suzaku warrior?"

Boushin stood to leave, but still had the decency to answer her before setting foot out of her room. "Juan is my best friend because he's my only friend."

Maybe he meant that, maybe he didn't. Boushin wasn't even sure he had experienced a normal friendship before meeting Juan, so perhaps he was wrong about it in the first place. At least love was something he heard about more often—although not regarding his father and the Priestess of Suzaku. Didn't everyone know that Miaka was in love with Tamahome?

With his mind a blur, Boushin found himself wandering the nighttime halls and drawn towards Chiriko's room when he saw the light was still on. Without much purpose, he knocked, and Chiriko invited him in and asked what was wrong.

"Nothing," he lied. "I can't sleep. What are you working on?"

"I'm trying to find out more about Mayo's role here," he looked back to the stack on books and scrolls on his table, many of which were left open to whatever snippets of information he had found so far. "Not to say that she's not a priestess, but just to see if there's something else."

"Hmm," he didn't seem to care either way at the moment. "Could I stay here while you study?"

"Of course."

"Chiriko?"

"Yes?"

"You'll save Juan, right?"

There was a pause.

"I haven't stopped thinking about how."

"I see."

Nothing more was said.