Author Fangirling: Well. That turned into quite a crack pairing, didn't it? You know what they say, if it exists, there's fanfiction of it.

Miaka listened as Chiriko was briefed by the generals and they discussed information gathered by spies (though the generals had no way of knowing that some of Chiriko's sources were the ghosts of deceased warriors). "Nakago will probably aim at this stronghold in the coming days—for now, they're waiting on a shipment of materials," he pointed to the stronghold—their own location—on the map, then switched over to a group of small hills near the border. "We believe they'll be delivering the materials and more soldiers from this western border route."

The Priestess's eye grew wide. "Are you sure?"

"We can't be entirely sure, but I'm afraid it's in the path of destruction," he answered as placidly as he could. Miaka didn't stand around to hear the bad news for long, and dashed out of the strategist's hut towards her horse.

"Miaka, wait!"

At the sound of her deceased lover, she stopped. "It's your village, Tamahome. Your home and your graves are still there."

"That was my home ten years ago, and we're not there anymore. We're all gone, Miaka. My family has all moved on, and I'm home wherever you are."

"It's become my home, too."

"You have other places to return to," he would have put a kiss against her forehead, had he had lips. With only words she could perceive, he continued to use them to comfort her. "When the war is over you can move back to the palace—or you can finally go home to your world."

She said nothing in response. He half grimaced and half smiled, changing his tone. "Have Nakago's words gotten to you?"

"I can't help that they have. I don't want to do anything that would threaten this world."

"I thought that's what it was, you know."

They both turned to face the speaker who joined them, and Chichiri removed his mask before speaking again. "I could tell something was up, so Chiriko clued me in."

Her glance fell. "I'm sorry for not telling you anything."

"It's okay. I probably would have preferred not to know, but it's come to this and now I'm glad I do."

"Does anyone else know?"

"We didn't think it would benefit them to know—I only do because I asked. I've still got to take care of you, you know?"

"Thanks, Chichiri," she smiled. "For all these years."

"I hope you don't mind that I've borrowed her as a housewife for all these years, Tamahome."

"You're the one who had to put up with that, not me."

"What's that supposed to mean, Tamahome?"

"Nothing at all," he smiled playfully at her before turning back to Chichiri. "I should be thanking you for doing everything I couldn't."

"It was my pleasure, you know?"

"Chichiri," she felt a twinge of loss. "Does this mean we're breaking up?"

"It's about time, I suppose. That's not our home anymore, though I enjoyed all those years we spent together. You've been the best companion of my life."

"Aw, great. I'm a divorcee now," she tried to force a joke, but she choked on the words and settled for embracing Chichiri instead. It was just as comforting and familiar as always. He held her, and they stayed silent for some time until he pulled back.

"It's about time to use those wishes. Chiriko wants to do some experimentation put you at ease about it, so whenever you're ready, you know?"

When they rejoined Chiriko later that night, all the people associated with war strategies had cleared out, and they set aside the maps and replaced them with a teddy bear. "Can you hear me, Keisuke?"

Loud and clear. Based on the last page or so it sounds like you've had your hands full.

"The war so far has just been one page?"

Time skips and summaries are handy plot devices.

She tried to laugh at the joke, but the faces of her three present warriors looked grim. "Have you found any way to contact Yui?"

No, its pages are still only following you. It hasn't been as long here for us, so Tetsuya is only now starting to freak out.

"I can't say anything comforting in response to that," she was now looking fairly grim herself. "Is there anything you wanted to try, Chiriko?"

"Yes. I want to determine whether our actions are based on predetermination or if the events of our world are the causative elements."

"Come again?"

"Which causes which, you know? Do we determine what shows up on the book's pages, or do the pages determine what happens here?" Chichiri helped explain. "We talked about it and thought we could test it with a little help on the other side. Can you hear me, Keisuke?"

Not sure whether I'm reading or listening at the moment, but one way or another, yes.

"Can you turn the page and tell us what it says there?"

…'said the warrior.'

"Those are its words?" gasped Chiriko.

It's our very conversation—word for word! Even my words are getting recorded in here!

"That's very interesting," he put his hand to his lips thoughtfully. "I hadn't expected that."

"What about on the opposite page? Can you give us any indication what it says there?"

The last phrase is 'Then it corresponded'.

"We'll just try to avoid that and see if we can change the contents of the page," Chichiri nodded to Chiriko, going forward with the experiment they had discussed earlier.

"You said that all of the events of the war so far had fit into one page?" the younger warrior asked. "We've been fighting for several weeks. Yet this conversation merits at least a few pages?"

If it's giving me more details, it's only natural that it would take up more space, right?

"That must mean our interaction with your world has a direct influence on the slowing down of time here. That could delay the inevitable, but constantly expecting an active conversation with a reader would be unfeasible. Conversely, your reading a truncated summary speeds up time here. Then again, if it is not actually time here but a physical number of pages remaining before the end of the story, we would be using up more of our remaining time by having detailed conversations at a parallel rate of time passage."

I think I got all that, but the pages themselves aren't the issue here. I'm sure I've read from this part of the book before, but back then Miaka had barely gotten to Hokkan. We know that it followed the Priestesses of Genbu and Byakko before, but their stories weren't recorded at the beginning by the time we found it.

"Then it corresponded to the reader's moment in time relative to our moment in time."

"You blew it, Chiriko," frowned Miaka.

"I what?"

"'Then it corresponded.'"

That's right. It was like we naturally followed what was on the page before I read it.

"Oh," he frowned. "That might be evidence of causality, then."

"I don't know about that, you know?" offered Chichiri. "You might have just had those words on your mind because we were conscious of them. And as characters in this story, our individual willpower probably doesn't get taken in to account."

"That's a depressing way of looking at it," the priestess had a wry smile. "You always were a pessimist at heart, weren't you?"

"But not you, Miaka—you're the main character. More than that, you started as a reader." She stared, looking for more clarification, so he went on. "I'm no expert in literature, but stories exist for their readers, you know?"

"Now that you mention it," she thought back, "I think I recall something at the beginning of the book when Yui and I first found it. Something about it being magic, and the reader's wishes coming true."

"Readers, or priestesses?"

"Readers, I think…"

"If your brother's words were being recorded among our own and they wrote messages to us before, then it's safe to say that readers have some influence on the content of this world," mused Chiriko. "But if the readers could have enough influence on this world to affect its plot…"

Like Mayo!

They were joined by another voice—Tetsuya's. Mayo Sakaki read the book and her desire to see it in motion again was what freed Suzaku and woke up Seiryuu.

The others reacted in mixtures of gasps and smiles. "That's right! None of this would be possible now if she hadn't gotten a hold of the book!"

Chiriko's was making connections faster and faster. "I just have to wonder whether it was her will that influenced the book, or if it was this world itself reaching out to her as a tool."

It wasn't any holy power that gave her the book. It was just this idiot here named Keisuke.

I'm sorry, alright! Whatever it was, she took to the book with more enthusiasm than any of the rest of us had for the past four years. Get her and let's ask her more about that.

"Uh, Big Brother, are you forgetting we're on the battlefield right now? Sure, we're not that far from the capital now, but…"

"Nothing I can't fix with my powers, you know?"

You didn't take Mayo with you? What makes you so sure she'd still be at the palace? She's even more likely to act out on her own than you are, Miaka.

"You think she'd leave the palace? But where would she go?"

I don't like this. I really don't like this. I want to know where she is right now.

Mayo had her chance. Though she didn't have any easy access to poison, she had easy access to kitchen knives. "I'll take that to Na—His Highness," she cheerfully offered to another servant preparing the emperor's wine.

"It's alright, Mi… er, Ma… what was your name?"

"That's not important. What's important is that you take care of yourself! You look so overworked these past few days!"

"Well, if you insist…"

Haha, pouring alcohol for some guy who thinks he's a hot shot. I feel like I've rebelled and gotten a job as a hostess, she mentally cackled, then invited herself into Nakago's private tent. "Your Highness, something to help you relax." He shot her a glance with only his cold eyes, then turned back to the illusion of Tokyo in Tomo's shell. It was his habit to spend long periods of time watching the streams of movement inside of it. Mayo pretended not to notice the images floating in the air as she calmly set the tray down on the table next to him and began pouring. Offering a cup in both hands, she smiled. "I wish you good fortune in the upcoming battle for the stronghold."

"Such commentary is unfitting for a servant."

"Forgive my lack of manners, Your Highness."

"You've been sent from the capital?"

"Yes, the palace is quite lonely with no one ruling from it."

"You speak more like a consort than a servant."

"Perhaps you're the one who is lonely, to be bringing consorts up."

"Perhaps you're the one being suggestive."

This isn't what I originally intended, but oh well, let's go with it! she thought. Miaka was willing to do this at one point to control his life force, right? It's not as if I have anything important to lose. "I only wish to serve, Your Highness."

"Your speech is self-serving if you only wish to receive attention from an emperor."

"And are you that unwilling to give it?" she retorted, stroking his arm. "Everyone is nervous about the lack of an heir, you know."

"There is no rush on performing such a duty, and in any case, no one would accept an heir produced with a servant."

"I wouldn't be so presumptuous, Your Highness," she giggled. "I'm merely concerned that you're stressed."

"I have coping methods," he flatly replied as he snapped the clam shell shut, causing the images of Tokyo to disappear. The sudden change got her attention enough for her eyes to glance to where they had been, but images of the place she grew up didn't otherwise startle her into any other response. "Nonetheless, I will accept your wine."

She smiled and eagerly picked it back up in both hands to pour for him. He took it in one and tilted his head back to down it, and as soon as he held it level again she filled it again. "My, it doesn't even seem to phase you," she laughed lightly. "I've never even tasted it."

"Then have some."

"With pleasure, Your High—"

He pulled her chin forward with his open hand and parted her lips with a kiss. Startled though she was, Mayo did not resist. She moved her tongue around his, trying to make it seem as know she had some idea what she was doing, but he was obviously the more experienced of the two. When he released, she pulled back for a breath of air. "It tastes quite warm, Your Highness."

"Wait on the bed," he motioned, and she happily obeyed as he stood to remove the last of his armor. With his back to her, he continued. "You've caught my attention, but don't get carried away thinking this will raise your status. Rather, you'll find yourself hated."

"They'll just be jealous," she smiled as she waited, mentally reassessing the situation and how to perform her deed the swiftest. She could take the chance that she could weaken him with sex first before striking, but hiding the knife currently hidden in her robes would be difficult. Depending on their positions she could hide it under the pillow to strike during the act, but she had no way to predict how the process would go and how well that would work.

"How did you even get here?" he asked. "Even in war, inexperienced servants are never put before an emperor."

"I'm assertive."

"I can't place your accent. It's not from Kutou—or Konan, for that matter."

"I'm from a backwater place—we don't have much contact with the rest of the country," she said and slipped off her outer skirt, making it easier to grab the knife noiselessly.

"It sounds familiar. I'm sure I've heard your manner of speaking before."

"What a surprise," she continued, taking silent footsteps towards him.

"It reminds me of a couple of girls I used to know."

Right behind him now, she did not dare to give reply as she raised the knife, and then lunged forward.

"Yeah, man, and I want to know where Yui is—but our guess is as good as Miaka's now that we're linked."

"I'm not just worried, Tetsuya," Keisuke said, not looking up from the book. "I've got a gut feeling that something is wrong. I need to know where Mayo is right away."

"Well, you're some teacher, I'll hand that to you."

"I need to… ah!"

Before his eyes, the scene on the page seamlessly morphed to reveal Mayo's location and actions:

The Vessel's wrist was caught, as the celestial warrior had turned too quickly for her to overcome. "What impudence," he shook her, then turned and forced her against a post of his tent. The knife fell out of her hand, and his icy glare drew closer so she could feel his hot breath. "What fool had you attempt this?"

Intimidated but determined, she spit in his face. "I don't need to tell you anything."

"Nothing you could say could save you now anyway," he leaned his chest against hers and whispered in her ear. "Would you prefer to be punished now or later?"

"Do your worst, you—"

He stopped her words with another kiss, then drew back and continued. "I do recall someone who spoke like you do. The Priestess of Suzaku."

"Ha! I am no Priestess. My role is my own, and that is to finish you off."

"Did they not have a new Priestess I heard rumor of?" he moved his lips down against her neck and breathed her scent. While not terribly unlike a common girl of his world, he could sense that she was doused with a celestial fragrance, left behind by some encounter with a god. With a lower tone, he spoke again. "You're not of this world, are you?"

Her muscles froze as she tried to recoil, but with no place to go. She couldn't tell for what reason, but she sensed that he had darker purposes in mind than harming her immediately. Realizing her mistake in delivering herself, she tried to bite her tongue, but the warrior was fast enough to jab his fingers in her mouth to force her jaw to stay uncomfortably open. "Rejoice, you've at least delayed the inevitable for Konan. Such trivial battles are no longer my concern." So saying, he punched her stomach and she collapsed into his arms.

Keisuke was so startled he dropped the book. Hands shaking, he fumbled back through the pages and started shouting to it.

It—It's Mayo! You have to go save her right away!

Miaka and her three warriors were startled by his sudden change in tone after his having gone temporarily silent. "You found Mayo?"

Nakago has her! He's taking her back to the Shrine of Seiryuu right now to use her in the Hin ritual to come to our world!