The rest of the day was a blur. The last thought Miaka could recall going through her mind was This is it, Miaka. You're about to open the carriage door. Breathe. Smile.

What followed was nothing but a rush of greetings and tears, laughter and adoration, and the apparent news that word had gone around of Suzaku being summoned. It seemed Mayo existence was eclipsed by the reappearance of the original priestess.

"Even if we this is said to be under total secrecy, it is safe to assume that word will reach Kutou," Chiriko cautioned Boushin, who was embarrassed at having blurted out the news earlier. "We'll deal with that when it's appropriate, but it means we're in a hurry to sort out the logistics."

"Right," added Chichiri. "Even if Miaka is still qualified to be the priestess and Suzaku has been unsealed, we still don't have all of the elements necessary for the ceremony."

"Unless dead warriors count."

"Now that you mention it, Tasuki, I don't know."

"Even if it's fine with the others here in spirit, we still don't have the necessary sacrificial item," said Chiriko. "We never did find out the fate of the shinzaho after they were used to summon Seiryuu. I suppose they would still be usable, but we would need to locate them."

"At least we know exactly where they are now."

"We knew exactly where they were."

"Maybe they went back to their homes?"

"Unless Nakago collected them for safe keeping."

"Either way, this sounds like we're hittin' the road again. Damn, if only we had thought to check out Sairou a little more while we were there."

Boushin was apprehensive. "This seems like it could take an awfully long time."

"Just so it's clear, you'd be staying here, you know?" Chichiri gave him a waxy smile. "Don't worry, we've done this before. We know what we're doing."

It'd be nice if that were true. "I have the sense that looking for shinzaho now would not do us any good."

"Boushin, weren't you the one most eager to do whatever it took to summon Suzaku?"

"It seems silly to travel to foreign lands to rescue the one we all know was set aside for Suzaku. If the stars are moving such that he's already come back into our hands, doesn't it make sense that you don't need to go so far?" he smiled, though he wasn't entirely sure of himself as he rambled. "After all, Miaka, when you were first informed that you were to summon Suzaku, were you told of such journeys being necessary?"

"Well, only to locate my warriors. Three of them were already in the palace anyway, just like the shrine and the Universe of the Four Gods scroll. Back then, I thought even a trip to Mount Taikyoku was difficult, haha!"

"Mount Taikyoku!" he perked up. "Let's go there instead."

"What?" gaped Tasuki. "You wanna see Taiitsukun or something?"

"It doesn't sound like there is much risk of running into her, if you all say she's been missing this long."

"Whoa, wait, and who said anythin' about you going? Have you outgrown the palace or something?"

"No! I just… Yes. If it's Mount Taikyoku, I do intend to go. My father once traveled there as well, right?"

"Yes," replied Miaka. "He and Nuriko and Tamahome were escorting me."

"I don't intend to go as a warrior," he assured them. "Rather, as the emperor." So having said, he proudly walked out of their presence. Better to leave them confused by that than try to explain it.

Walking back through the halls with his first moment alone, Boushin thought back to the strange encounter he had at Mayo's side. Divine Ruler of Konan, obtain the scroll… the voice said to obtain the scroll.

"Boushin."

"Oh, father, there you are."

"It's convenient to be able to speak so easily with you now," Hotohori smiled. "You intend to go on a voyage as the emperor?"

"The first time I left the palace, I did so as a curious child. And the second time…"

"…was as a dutiful son," he finished for him proudly, causing the boy to blush.

"This time, I'm certain I need to go because of this role. While I can never expect to be a celestial warrior, I carry the most unique responsibility in the country."

"This is true. Even in death I am still a Suzaku warrior, but there is only one emperor."

"On behalf of the people of Konan, I must accept the item Miaka needs to summon Suzaku."

"Well said, my son. Do you mean the Universe of the Four Gods scroll?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not sure about anything. Have you ever heard voices?"

"Thousands of them. There were many voices in Konan."

"Wow," he let the awe escape his lips. "And you heard them all as you fought on their behalf?"

"No, I heard them when I held audiences!" he laughed.

Boushin sighed. "What I mean is did you ever hear a voice from the heavens… Suzaku himself, perhaps?"

"Boushin," he took a more serious tone. "What did you hear?"

"The phoenix, diving into the fire, reborn of its own ashes," he answered. "Father, I think there is a new Universe of the Four Gods scroll. The original was passed down among our forefathers, correct?"

"Correct," he nodded. "It seems there is something you have a duty to accept. Those holy items were never hidden or given directly to the priestesses. They were gifted to people of Konan, and we've kept them on their behalf. My only concern…" he trailed off as his voice sank.

"Yes? What?"

"…is that you'll have to see Taiitsukun."

"Please, Father. It can't be that gruesome, can it?"

"I… I… I don't think… I want to go…" Juan shook as Boushin presented the idea to him.

"Do you remember her face?"

"No, I just remember the feeling I got from seeing it."

"Come on, Juan. Aren't you Mitsukake again?"

"I am, but I'm still Juan!" he looked like he'd cry. "And Juan is a coward!"

"Reincarnated warrior or not, he's still only an 8-year-old child," smiled Chiriko. "He can stay and take care of Mayo."

"Fine," he sighed. "Shouka would tease you for this, you know."

"I'm fine with that."

"Let's get ready to go, Chiriko."

"I'll be staying here."

"You too? You don't have the excuse of being a child anymore!"

"No, I would love to see Taiitsukun again," he laughed. "Nuriko and I will be staying to make sure nothing happens to Mayo and the Priestess of Seiryuu while they are in our care. Furthermore, there is the matter of getting ready for the ceremony in secret while the court is still arguing over it. I've been tending to the shrine for the past three years, so it won't be difficult."

"If you insist," he sighed.

With limited fanfare, he and his party of six (though only four counted as mouths to feed) left for Mount Taikyoku. With their departure, the palace became eerily quiet, many were listless with worry.

Preparations for the ceremony barely took Chiriko half a day. Ansty, he paced around the palace, then killed time by walking over to Counselor Shu's quarters to check on the female guests. Mayo's condition hadn't changed much, and Yui seemed bored.

Chiriko found her reclining against the window. After the initial pleasantries, Chiriko offered to find some books for her to read. "Oh, pardon me," he said. "The language here might be difficult for you."

"Given all this free time, I might be able to manage," she smiled and sighed. "After all, Miaka's barely cleared the suburbs."

"You know that?"

"Yes," she replied, but lied to cover up the updates she was receiving from Tetsuya. "I'm still possessed by a god, you know."

"That's fascinating."

"I look forward to seeing which books you pick out for me."

Such became their pattern. Chiriko brought books of poetry and court drama and historical analects to see what she might not have too much trouble with, and continually asked for information from her wealth of godly knowledge. "Nothing of note," she awkwardly replied. "There's a saying that no news is good news." Right, Tetsuya? I'll bet you haven't even turned the page yet.

"I see," he nodded in all seriousness.

"Speaking of information," she asked. "Do you have any insight on what may be happening in the Kutou palace since I left?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Then if I may make a request, there is someone I would like you to find for me."

"Yes, Lady Yui?"

"Yui is fine. You had an encounter with Suboshi, didn't you?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so," his voice sank.

"And he was probably injured, wasn't he?"

"Yes…"

"I don't hold it against you. Hopefully he's still hiding somewhere in Konan nursing his wounds. Could you have someone find him and bring him here?"

"Under custody?"

"If necessary-most likely. He won't be cooperative, but I would appreciate it if he could see a doctor. Once I get a chance to talk to him, he'll share any information he has about recent happenings in the Kutou court."

"Yes, but Nakago likely already has spies everywhere to hear about Miaka's activities. If we had some way to hear inside of the palace now…"

"Suboshi would be helpful for that, if Kaika is still there—and still alive."

"Kaika? Do you mean Amiboshi?"

"Yes. He and Suboshi are able to communicate," she said and pointed to the flesh on her arm to demonstrate. "I'd also like to see if Kaika's alright. Without his help, I wouldn't have escaped."

"I understand. I'll see to it that a search party is sent out for Suboshi."

The journey to Mount Taikyoku was easier than Boushin expected it to be. "Is that it?" he pointed, and Tasuki looked flabbergasted.

"I swear it wasn't here the last time I looked."

"Taiitsukun only appears to those deemed worthy."

"Shut up, Chichiri, you haven't seen it lately, either."

"Now that you're ghosts, do you spend much time up with here with the Nyan-Nyan?" Miaka brightly asked Tamahome and Hotohori.

"Of course not! I'm always with you!" they shouted back, stopped only by Tamahome's accusing look at Hotohori. The swordsman cleared his nonexistent throat. "When I'm not watching over Houki and Boushin, that is."

"But we have seen her since we've taken these forms," continued Tamahome. "She commended us for our service in battle, and even sympathized with us when we were having trouble adjusting to the shock."

"Of death?"

"Of silence," he said. "Shout all we wanted, none of you could hear us."

"In the beginning, we spent a lot of time together, watching over your recovery and following the others to the peace treaty signing. It seems we were in such a weak state that not even Nakago noticed our presence. Once Houki entered childbirth, Nuriko and I left to be at her side, and by the time we returned, Mitsukake had already vanished. He took shape again inside of a couple's embrace some time after that, and the rest of us drifted in separate directions."

"There wasn't any sense of time while we were just watching everything. Without a body to feed and take care of, an instant feels like eternity, but it seems like only yesterday I kissed you. Don't feel bad for us—we're not in any pain, and being able to watch over the ones we love has kept the loneliness away. It's peaceful… but it's not as if I wish this on any of you. As much as I'd like to rejoin you all now in the flesh, you'd have to take care of my diapers, and I'm not comfortable with that."

"We appreciate it, Tama."

Miaka giggled. "You can't stand to have me see you that way, can you?"

"If I can help it, no. At least, not in any way you'd remember. I want you to live a long and happy life, Miaka, and once you're ready, I'll reincarnate with you."

"Careful, Tama. They say that former lovers get born again as twins!"

"You really can't let us have a moment, can you, Tasuki?"

"Hmm, what does that say about Amiboshi and Suboshi? Hahaha!"

"With a dirty mind like yours, it's a wonder you're able to enter Mount Taikyoku with the rest of us, you know."

"Apparently this ain't workin'. Hey Boushin, has anyone ever explained the birds and the bees to you bandit style?"

"No—"

"That's quite enough of that!" shouted Hotohori.

"I wanna hear! I wanna hear!" a high-pitched voice in the distance called out, but was quickly quieted. They listened, and after a few moments they heard, "Sorry! I wasn't supposed to say anything yet!"

The group smiled. "We've really made it. We're back!"

"Was that Taiitsukun's voice?"

They all seemed immediately less chipper. "We wish, Boushin. We wish."

"Have you heard anything?"

They've laid eyes on the mountain, at least.

"That's a good sign."

"What is?"

Yui stopped abruptly and turned to see Chiriko in her doorway. "Oh, Chiriko! I was just…"

"Speaking with Seiryuu, it seems."

"Um, yes… it was Seiryuu."

"Hmm."

"I'm… I'm enjoying the last book you brought."

"You priestesses never cease to amaze. Is everyone from your whole so gifted?"

"No, we're all normal people, just like everyone in this universe. In any case, I don't think it's healthy to think on it too much. There shouldn't be so much overlap of our worlds, right? I should probably let you know that it's driven Nakago crazy."

"It's driven him crazy, you said?"

"Yes. For all I know or could understand, he's gotten some fanatical ideas about my world which are completely off-base. He even wanted to use me in a Hin ritual to try to go there. You should be concerned about his mental state, and don't let any of his comments bother you."

"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind," he replied cautiously. "Though I can't imagine what he might be thinking. After all, Miaka never told me much about her world or how she got here."

"There are some things we're all best not knowing, aren't there?"

"It's quite mysterious," he smiled. "To think that you and Miaka were once the same age! If the differences in time are like that, who knows, perhaps this world was born shortly after Miaka was!"

"Would it work like that? Hmm. Which would be considered older, then?"

"I'd be older than Miaka by now had she have spent some of the past ten years back in her own world. After all, I'm already 23 now! It feels so long since she or I was 19!"

"Oh, what a coincidence! My boyfriend is also 23."

"Boy… friend…? Right. Your suitor," he laughed, then excused himself shortly after. In the hall he sighed, only to notice Juan and Nuriko watching him with highly amused grins. "What?" he asked sharply.

"It's nothing!" sing-songed Nuriko in an obvious lie. Juan tried to keep from giggling as he ran away. Chiriko was flushed red, but head his head up proudly as he marched down to Mayo's room under the pretense of being responsible for checking up on her.

"Chiriko, it's you."

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"I can't even tell if I was asleep, it's fine. What's up?"

"Just glad to see you're in a good mood. Can I do anything for you? Oh! I hear that Miaka and the others have reached Mount Taikyoku."

"Wow. Where did you hear that?"

"It seems Yui found out somehow."

"Oh. Probably Tetsuya."

"Say, Mayo," he lowered his voice. "How did you come to our world?"

"Through the Universe of the Four Gods, of course."

"The scroll?"

"No, it was a book."

"A book?"

"Magic paper shouldn't be so surprising to someone like you. It's just the portal I used to get here. I found out everything by reading it first-that sure could have helped Miaka, couldn't it? Anyway, it's in safe hands now," she yawned. "Maybe I really was asleep."

"I'm sorry to have disturbed you. I'll take my leave now."

Killing time in Counselor Shu's quarters was no longer settling his nerves.