Author's Note:

Ok, so I understand if you started to read this story then just gave up on it. I did what I never wanted to do; I started the story and let it hang for way to long. I left you all without a new chapter for way to long. So here is the next one, and I am thinking that this story will get completed within the next few chapters or so. I am sorry for leaving you all hanging for that long without an update, but it will not happen again. I finally have the story ending; I just need to get it in words. So I apologize again for not updating for a very long time. Even though I am back at school, I am trying to find time to get this story done, and I have also been revising this as well. More than likely a revised edition of this story will be coming out in the next year or so. I want to get this done before I even start to revise it. I have left you all hanging long enough. With that said I understand if you flame me... but if you don't then here is the next chapter...

-JediMadchen86

Hearing the click of the door shutting, Tasuki walked over to the rail, and looked out over the small garden that was before him. He looked into the now star filled sky, even though he had asked the rest of the warriors to accept Aleixsa's fate, he would not. There had to be another way through all this, it just would not be far, to place a girl here, and then have her die after everything. All the friends she made, how she changed everyone that she knew, and how they all felt about her. Tasuki knew there had to be a way to save her life, and he was going to find it. No matter what, hell he would even go see the old hag, and beg for an answer if he had to, but he swore to himself that she would not die. Not while he was still breathing. He looked away from to sky, and slowly walked back to his room.

The sun broke over the horizon bringing a new day to the Suzaku warriors. Each warrior meet the new day different, some buried deeper into the warmth of their beds, others were busy searching through old scrolls, hoping a clue would lead them to the next adventure that awaited them. In between the piles, and stacks of scrolls, and books, sat two of the Suzaku warriors.

"I don't think we will ever anything to help us," replied Aleixsa as she flopped down onto a closed book, only to have a cloud of dust join the air.

"Don't give up hope so easily Alexisa, we have barely begun to search, we still have a lot of information to sort through," replied Chiriko as he rolled up the scroll he was reading and set it aside.

"What I would not give to have the Internet."

"Internet? What is that?" replied a curious Chiriko

"A world wide source of information. Makes searching for things like this so much easier."

"That does sound most interesting, but seeing that we do not have that, we should continue to look."

"I don't even have a clue what we are looking for though. I mean I know there should be another way to summon Suzaku, but I really haven't the faintest clue," she replied grabbing yet another stack of papers and flipping through them.

"You know, we have been searching through these scrolls forever. I need to take a breather, you keep on looking and I will be back," she replied as she pushed her chair out from under her and got to her feet. As she reached her the handle of the door, it opened and ran into Alexisa.

"Oh, I am sorry Alexisa," replied Miaka as she peaked around the door.

"That is ok," she replied as she was rubbing her face.

"What are you doing here Miaka?" asked Alexisa as she looked at her.

"I was wondering how the search was going. I had not seen either one of you all morning, even at breakfast," she replied walking into the room and closing the door.

"I got up early and grabbed some food out of the kitchen, and been here ever since."

"So how is it going?"

"Well seeing as that we do not have the slightest clue, or hint as to what we are even looking for, not to great," replied Alexisa motioning to the stack of scrolls, that were piled onto the table.

"You been through all of those already?" asked Miaka as her eyes got wide in disbelief.

"Sad enough no, all those are the ones that we still need to go through. This is what we have been through," Alexisa replied as she pointed to the smaller stack on the opposite side of the table.

"Oh ok."

"So you can join us if you wish, I was about to clear my head before I started searching more," Alexisa replied as she turned around to look at Miaka.

"Well I will come with you, and then we can begin the search together when we get back. Ok?"

The two girls walked out of the records hall, and walked to the nearest courtyard. "I am surprised you wanted to help at all Miaka," began Aleixsa once they had reached a courtyard.

"What do you mean?"

"Well with that information that I told you all last night, I did not expect many of you all to be open to talking to me. Thought you all would still be upset with me."

"To tell you the truth, I was going to come and talk to you this morning about that. After dinner last night, I returned to my room, and was sulking a little, and then Tamahome came by and he told me something."

"What was that?"

"He said that when he talked to you, he respected you. He has always respected you, since the day he came back from Kuto, when you were able to change him back into the Tamahome that we all know, and you were able to return him to us. From that day he has had nothing but admiration for you, and he will follow you in what ever you do. We all know how you are by now; and I don't think anyone is mad at you. We just don't want to lose such a great friend, but we know what you are going to do. Tasuki asked us to accept this as you have," Miaka replied as she walked around the courtyard to the edge of a pond.

"Wait. Did you say Tasuki asked you do accept this?" Alexisa asked as she looked up at her friend.

"He cares for you Alexisa, more than I think either of you want to admit. We all see how you both look at each other, always missing each other glances. How when you see each other, both of you smile. We all know how you two feel," replied Miaka as she looked down into the water. "I also do not want to lose any more friends, I have lost Yui already," she continued as she crossed her arms in front of her.

"Yui. Seiryu. Miaka, I think you just gave me an idea," said Alexisa as she sprinted away from the courtyard and back towards the records hall.

Once she reached the hall she paused to catch her breath. "Chiriko, when I found you in the dessert you said you were going to get the second shinzaho right?" she asked walking into the room and over to him.

"That is correct, but then you told us to return to Konan."

"So more than likely Seiryu has gotten the second shinzaho by now right?"

"We could only assume."

"Assume what?" asked Miaka as she once again walked in the room

"We can assume that we have one shinzaho that Seiryu has already gotten a hold of the second," replied Alexisa looking over at Alexisa "We have been looking in the records in hopes of finding an answer there, but we already know the answer."

"We do?" asked Miaka

"Miaka when you cam to this world you were not alone were you?"

"Now, Yui and I came here together."

"Having returned home, Yui believed that you had left her and forgotten her. Right?"

"Yes, that is why she became the Priestess of Seiryu, she wanted to take Tamahome away form me," Miaka replied looking up at her.

"I knew it. Chiriko do you think you could gather the other warriors and tell the to meet me in the throne room. I don't want to keep on repeating this," replied Alexisa as she looked over at the young scholar.

"Sure thing," he replied walking out of the door.

"Alexisa, I still don't know what Yui has to do with this," said Miaka as she walked closer to her friend.

"I think I just figured out a way to summon Suzaku," came Alexisa's reply as she walked out the door, and down the hall to her room. Once there she searched her room for the mirror that Taitsukun had given her, she searched the bag that she had carried for most of her journey and found it buried at the very bottom under other clothes, her small weapons and other small items she picked up during her traveling. With the mirror in hand she made her way to the throne room. She arrived in the throne room to see Miaka, Tamahome, Tasuki, and Chichiri.

"Alexisa. What is going on?" asked Tasuki once he saw her walk through the door.

"Nice to see you to fang-boy, but you will have to wait till everyone gets here," she replied smiling up at him. "Now where is everyone else?" she asked

"I believe Mits is out replenishing his herbs, Hotohori is meeting with his advisors, as far as Nuriko, I don't know. Chiriko I believe went to go search out Mits, you know," replied Chichiri looking over at her. "Why don't you try communicating with them you know."

"Actually I have been trying, but I can't seem to get the hang of it. All I seem to be able to do is to show them images," she replied looking over at him. "Guess it could not hurt to give it a try," she finished as she sat down on the floor, and concentrated in the warriors that had yet to gather. She easily felt Hotohori, and Nuriko, meaning that they were somewhere in the palace, but Mits, and Chiriko were father away, outside the palace in the woods. She sent a mental image of the throne room, and tried to convey a feeling of urgency as well. After a few moments she opened her eyes.

"Well. Did it work?" asked Tasuki

"No clue, I guess we will find out within the next few minutes," she replied getting up off the floor, and sure enough with the next few minutes both Hotohori and Nuriko were walking into the throne room. Hotohori had several of his advisors following, and Nuriko was bringing up the rear.

"Oh, was that you Alexisa?" asked Hotohori as he stepped into the room.

"Yes, it was. I am glad that you understood that message."

"Well I really did not, not until I saw Nuriko heading in this direction with a confused look on his face," Hotohori replied smiling a little. "Is there something that you wish to discuss with me?"

"Yes, and hopefully Mits and Chiriko will be joining us soon," she replied

After Alexisa spoke, Mits, and Chiriko appeared in the doorway as well. Both a little out of breath, and Mits with a few small dirt markings on his pants and hands.

"Sorry for the quick meeting, but I believe I have found a way to summon Suzaku," started Alexisa once everyone was settled in.

"How?" came several responses at once.

"Well Suzaku and Seiryu are the only two gods that have yet to be summoned, and when Miaka first came here, she was supposed to be the next Priestess in the cycle. But as Miaka pointed out when she came here Yui was with her, thus upsetting the balance of this world."

"The balance?" asked Tasuki

"I don't believe that there has ever been two Priestess summoned to this world at once, so in having Yui and Miaka here, forced Suzaku to summon me."

"I still don't see how this helps us with summoning Suzaku," replied Tamahome looking up at Alexisa.

"I am getting to that, I just have to explain some things first," began Alexisa looking back down at her friends. "Now Miaka has obtained one of the two shinzahos, and we can assume that Yui has gotten the second one. But since both Priestesses have only one part of the puzzle, neither nation can summon their god," finished Alexisa looking around. "Everyone follow so far?" she asked as she scanned the faces of her friends, and receiving a few nods in return. "Ok, so all we need to do in order to summon Suzaku is to obtain the other shinzaho that Yui has in possession, and then convince Yui that she was used by Nakago, and perform the summoning with Miaka. " finished Alexisa

"Wait? What?" chorused a few voices.

"Why do we need Yui?" asked Tamahome

"Wasn't her that made Tamahome go berserk and tried to kill Miaka?" replied Tasuki

"Yes it was, but her mind has been twisted from the beginning. Nakago has made her believe that Miaka is her enemy, and forced her to become the Priestess of Seiryu."

"Then how will she listen?" asked Mits

"Taitsukun gave me a mirror that will show her the truth," replied Aleixsa holding up the mirror in her hands.

"What is that?" asked Miaka walking up towards her friend.

"You know that mirror that Taitsukun showed you when you wanted to return to your world Miaka? Well she gave me a smaller version of it, all I need to do is to show Yui what really happened that day when she first appeared in Kuto."

"Definitely easier said than done," replied Nuriko

"Once Yui has seen that Nakago has been lying to her this whole time, we will be able to summon Suzaku," replied Alexisa with a huge smile on her face, she looked down at her friends to see that confusion, concern, and delight were showing on their faces. "Some still don't get it huh?" asked Alexisa as she rested her hands on her hips.

"Aleixsa? How will having Yui here help?" asked Miaka

"It is fairly simple once you think about it. We all know that it takes two shinzaho 's to summon a beast god, when either the scroll, or when a warrior has passed, and since we no longer have the scroll we left in search of the shinzahos. The Prietess of Seiryu having lost some of her warriors also went in search of them as well. Alexisa is saying that since each Priestess has one shinzaho when we combine them we will be able to summon Suzaku. That is correct right Alexisa?"

"Indeed you are Chiriko."

"Then when we will head to Kuto?" asked Miaka

"That is what I wanted to discuss with Hotohori after this," she replied looking up and meeting his eyes.

"Yui has never listened to me before, I know with the mirror she might listen, I am just not to sure about this Alexisa," replied Miaka.

"I know that there is a slight risk of Yui not listening to me, that first time I spoke with her, I could see the confusion in her eyes and with the mirror I hope that she will see the truth," explained Alexisa as she looked at Miaka. "Miaka if I am able to bring Yui back then you will finally have your best friend back. I know that you have missed her. Yui will need you more than ever after I bring her back."

"I agree with Miaka. Nakago has twisted Yui's mind so much, that I don't know if anything will reach her," replied Tamahome walking up to stand next to Miaka.

"I know that this is a stretch," explained Alexisa looking around at her friend's faces. "But if this is the only way to summon Suzaku, and save Konan, then this is what needs to get done. I can understand the hesitations that you are have, but this is the only other way of summoning Suzaku. I am not asking for any of you to come along."

"We can't expect you to do this alone. Do you remember the last time you went to Kuto?" asked Tasuki with concern filling his eyes.

"No, of course not. But this is something that I need to do alone."

"Why alone?"

"There is no guarantee that Yui will listen, and how long it will take. If any of you come then it will be right into Nakago's hands, and there is not telling what he will do. And while I am there you all can continue to look for another way of summoning Suzaku."

"But who knows what Nakago will do to you this time. Have you forgotten the last time?" asked Tasuki

"No I have not, Tasuki, just..."

"I am going and that is final," said Tasuki as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Alexisa looked over at him, she wanted to say something but she knew whatever she said it would not get through to him. "Fine," said Alexisa as she glared back at him. "I am assuming that you want to come as well Chichiri?" she asked looking over at the monk.

"Tasuki does have a point, you know. It would be wiser for a group to go, in case something goes wrong we can help out, you know."

"But that could also prove to be dangerous, who knows what Nakago will do," said Alexisa looking at Tasuki and Chichiri.

"Do you even have a plan?" asked Miaka

"Not really, I was just thinking of sneaking in during the night and see where that would get me," she replied

"That was your plan?" asked Tasuki looking at her with his hands now on his hips.

"Well, yeah."

"Alexisa, you need a better plan," said Chiriko making his presence known.

"I know that Chiriko, I just came up with that at the moment, but I was going to have a better plan before I left," she replied looking at the child genius.

"When are you going to leave?" asked Hotohori from behind her.

"I was not to sure, the sooner the better I would imagine. Since the sooner I get Yui we can summon Suzaku."

"Alexisa, I agree with both Tasuki and Chichiri, going alone would mean certain death. I would advise that a small group goes," replied Hotohori looking at her.

"Your Highness…" started Alexisa

"This is not open for debate, two warriors will accompany you," he finished with a royal tone to his voice.

"Yes, Your Highness," stated Alexisa admitting defeat, as she cast her eyes downward.

"With that decided I suggest that we all make the proper arraignments. If you will excuse me I have matters of state to attend to," finished Hotohori as he left the throne room, leaving all the other warriors.

"If you will excuse me I still have herbs to collect," said Mits as he left the room followed by Chiriko.

"Chiriko?" Where are you off to ask Nuriko.

"Back to the library, if Alexisa is not able to retrieve Yui from Kuto we will need another plan," said the young solar as he followed Mits out of the door.

"So what is the plan?" asked Tasuki as he looked around at the remaining warriors.

"I have no clue, I still think it is best to go alone," replied Alexisa

"Did you not hear what His Highness, he wants two other warriors to accompany you," replied Nuriko

"I know what he said Nuriko, but what if things go wrong?"

"Then I will be there to watch your back," said Tasuki walking up beside her. "As will I," said Chichiri walking up on her other side. Alexisa looked over her shoulders and looked at the two warriors behind her.

"Guys… thanks," said Alexisa

"We should leave tonight, you know."

"Tonight?" asked Miaka

"But we just got back here?" asked Nuriko

"I agree with Chichiri, the faster we get Yui then the faster we can summon Suzaku," replied Aleixsa. "So if you all will excuse me then, I am going to go check my supplies," she finished walking out of the room.

The remaining warriors watched Aleixsa leave the room, and they slowly left the room as well, each going about their day, and wishing their friends good luck.