Episode Nine

Atsuna forced herself to blink once, twice, three times before she realized that it was no illusion that Tamahome, her twin brother, was standing before her with a pulsing red aura that waved warmth into her very being. Her heart skipped hard against her ribcage, proof that she was living and not at all within some kind of dream.

He was really there. Tamahome was alive.

"This is impossible," Nuriko finally stammered. "I can't believe it."

Atsuna swallowed the growing lump in her throat and turned her gaze to Miaka, who stood as still as the night around them. The young woman was much in the same state as she: blinking back tears, holding her breath, and in utter disbelief.

The priestess slowly shifted her head, staring into the lavender eyes of the light bearer. Both women looked past the other for an answer, for support, for anything to help them make sense of the situation. But nothing came.

Atsuna was the first to break their eye contact in favor of looking upon her brother once more. His eyes moved from Miaka to her, and his lips curled into a smile that made her heart flutter back to an even pace. "It's really him," Atsuna whispered, taking two cautious steps forward. "My brother is here."

It took a short moment for Taka to shake off the warm haze of his slumber. He attempted to shift from his position but found a heavy Tasuki draped halfway over him. Taka groaned and forcibly nudged him away, rousing a loud snore from the bandit's throat.

"Tub of lard," Taka mumbled to himself as he pushed himself up on his palms. He blinked lazily and chuckled as he turned away from the slumbering bandit, his eyes settling on the full-length mirror on the other side of the room.

Breath escaped him, his eyes widening as he came to grips with the fact that he was still not sleeping, that what he saw was not a dream. Or a nightmare.

Tasuki shuffled behind him, thrusting himself into a seated position with a long yawn. "Man, I can't believe how good I slept," he said with a chuckle. "Are ya hungry, Tama?" Tasuki watched his friend from behind, waiting for an answer that didn't come. He pushed himself from the bed and walked up behind him, slapping his broad hand on Taka's shoulder. "Hey, buddy, what's wrong?"

Tasuki felt Taka's shoulder twitch under his fingers, and he turned his head forward to catch his friend's expression.

Only Taka wasn't reflecting in the mirror.

The bandit stared in horror as his hand gripped air, despite the fact he felt the fabric of Taka's shirt under his hold, clutched the taut muscles of his shoulder. He watched as Taka staggered forward, his fingers gripping over the age-bitten wood of the mirror.

"I'm standing right here. You're a mirror, right? Reflect me," Taka begged. "Why won't you reflect me?" The dark-haired man faltered to his knees, sobs wrenching from his throat as he snapped his eyes shut. He hoped that when he opened them again, his reflection would be staring back at him, but he felt far too fearful to open his eyes to find that out.

Tasuki released a long, low sigh and walked up behind his friend, his hand finding his shoulder again. "Tama."

Taka jerked to his feet, spinning around and clasping his fingers over the bandit's shoulders. "Don't tell anyone about this, especially not Miaka or Atsuna. Please don't, Tasuki."

Tasuki watched his friend's emotional dam crack further, and his rested his hand comfortingly on his friend's. "Tama."

The door latch clicked behind them, snapping them both from their conversation. Taka and Tasuki jerked from one another and found Chichiri and Chiriko at the doorway.

"You two have to come quick! There's trouble!" Chichiri announced. His brows furrowed into his eyes. "Tamahome has arrived."

Atsuna couldn't stop blinking. As many times as she'd laid eyes on her brother, it just didn't seem possible. Her eyes continued to shift between Tamahome and Taka as they sat across from one another at the table. They both looked remarkably alike and in some ways acted alike, but as soon as Taka came to their world, Atsuna could spot the differences.

But she still considered him her brother.

"Two days ago, Suzaku Seikun appeared to me," Tamahome started, his eyes connecting with those of his sister's. "He asked me to awaken and lend him my strength. He said that my phantom replacement wouldn't survive the coming assault. He thought him and I would be able to merge if all the stones were gathered, but he told me that I needed to return to Miaka and be with her. I guess I was sleeping all this time, protected by Suzaku's holy power. He said it was to keep someone named Tenkou from sensing my life force."

Hotohori folded his arms over his chest. "If Suzaku anticipated Tenkou's arrival, then it's entirely feasible."

"Yes, it's certainly possible," Mitsukake agreed with a firm nod.

Nuriko's face furrowed. "I understand what you're saying, but still…" His eyes fell over Taka, who continued to sit silently, his head lowered towards his lap.

Chiriko turned to the monk standing next to him, casting him a questioning glance. "Chichiri?"

The blue-haired monk said nothing, however. He had nothing to say. He was just as baffled as the rest of his comrades.

"I…I can't believe this," Taka finally mumbled, causing everyone to turn their attention towards him. "I can't believe that I'm…just a phantom. We've been praying to Suzaku for me to be reborn, and now he does this?" His hands curled over his knees, pushing himself from his bench, and he fled from the room, unable to stand the sensation of his lungs being crushed by the newfound information.

Miaka stood from her chair, taking several steps towards the front door. "Taka!"

"Miaka."

The priestess turned around upon hearing her name from the lips of the man she first met in the book all those years ago. Her eyes fell upon his, his smile as gentle as the air she breathed.

"You believe that it's me, don't you?" Tamahome asked. His smile faded into a serious frown. "No, you know that it's me."

Miaka whimpered and slowly shook her head. "I…I don't know." Her fingers found their way into her hair, cupping her forehead as the room began to spin. Her head took off from her, and she staggered, blackness welcoming her as her friends' called out to her worriedly. But it was the last thing she remembered before her body hit the cold floor.

Atsuna stood outside against a tree trunk, uncaring of the cool bark biting against her back. She stared up into the night sky, seeking respite that just didn't want to come. She sought answers, as well, and hoped that Hikari would answer her, comfort her fleeting heart.

But nothing came. She remained stuck in a black hole with no escape, no light to help guide her way.

A twig snapped behind her, and Atsuna turned over her shoulder, finding Tasuki walking towards her. "Hey, ya doin' okay?"

Atsuna sighed deeply and shook her head. "No. I don't know," she answered. She folded her arms under her breasts and leaned her head against the tree. "I feel like I could pass out myself. I know exactly how Miaka must be feeling right now. And poor Taka. I just -"

"I know. It's weird to see 'em both standin' next to each other," Tasuki interrupted with a nod. He placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. "I'm sure Suzaku has a good reason fer doin' all o' this. Ya shouldn't worry too much about it. I'm sure both of 'em will be okay. Miaka will be, too. She just needs some time to process all this. I think we all kinda do."

Atsuna choked back a whimper and leaned into his side. She buried her face into the crook of his shoulder. "Something isn't right," she whispered.

Tasuki pulled his head back, looking down at her as she continued to hide her face against his arm. "What?"

After a short moment of hesitation, Atsuna peered up at him, her usually calm eyes somewhat dark and aggravated. "I don't know what Suzaku has planned or how any of this is happening, but something just isn't right. At first, I thought it could be possible. But I know my brother, and that man…that man that calls himself Tamahome is not him."

Taka felt as if he was wrenching his own heart from his chest. He felt defeated, cold, alone as he walked from the room where Miaka slept, where the real Tamahome stood watch over her. He'd surrendered the wedding ring to the real man Miaka loved. He stepped back for her, to make things easier for her. Now all that was left for him was to return to his own world and remain there until he eventually disappeared, or whatever would happen to him now. He didn't know. He didn't want to know. He wanted to remain as numb as he felt.

"Tama!"

Taka stopped slowly in his tracks and turned over his shoulder to find Tasuki and Atsuna both coming out of the trees. The other Suzaku warriors followed suit, all of them emerging from the trees in different directions, as if they planned to bar him from leaving the grounds.

"Where do ya think yer goin' at a critical time like this?" Tasuki demanded, a slender brow raised above impatient amber eyes.

Taka flashed him a small smile before averting his gaze from the bandit's. "I'm going back home."

"Even though we haven't confronted Tenkou and taken care of him yet?" Chiriko asked, his eyes saddened.

Taka shook his head. "You have the real celestial warrior now, so you don't need me," Taka pointed out softly.

Nuriko smiled sardonically before scoffing loud. "So you're running. You can't compete with the original, so you're giving up and leaving Miaka." Nuriko's eyes shifted over to Atsuna, who stood with her hands folded and pressed against her stomach. "You're leaving Atsuna, too. Is that it? I never thought you were that kind of guy."

Taka turned towards Atsuna, the woman he thought was his sister - until the real Tamahome showed himself. "This is hurting you with me being around, Atsuna. Don't lie. It's hurting Miaka, too. She'll be torn between the two of us if I stay." His eyes settled on the silent bandit who stood next to Atsuna with his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You saw it, Tasuki. You saw that I didn't have a reflection in the mirror. I'm just a shadow. This…this is for the best. Miaka and Tamahome are together again. Atsuna has her brother back. And now Suzaku's holy power can be reawakened."

"You could be wrong!" Chiriko exclaimed, tears beading in the corners of his eyes. "I was so sure that you were Tamahome! I'm still sure! You're him!"

"But I'm not," Taka interrupted with a slow shake of his head. "I don't have the character mark or that kind of power. I can't protect Miaka as well as the real Tamahome could." He lifted his hands, noticing a faint, familiar, red glimmer surrounding his body. "See? Suzaku's telling me to go, too." A sad smile crawled upon his face.

Hotorhori took a step forward. "It was you who allowed me to embrace my son. You remember that, don't you?"

Nuriko nodded quickly. "That's right! You've dealt with excruciating pain, and you even resisted my ability to hold you down!"

Taka only closed his eyes, the somber smile remaining on his face. He stayed silent as every one of his friends gave their own testimonial.

Chichiri was not deterred by his friend's stillness. He slipped off his mask, revealing his serious but sad expression. "It was you. You were the one who risked your life to save Hikou and me, to give us the chance to make amends after so many hurtful years had passed. You did that, you know."

Chiriko balled his small hands into fists, knuckles bleeding white. "We don't need powers or a mirror or a character mark to know your worth!" he sobbed. "Who cares about all that?"

"Chiriko," Taka interrupted, finally opening his eyes to peer over at the young warrior. "Forgive me, but I still don't remember how you died in battle. I don't know you."

The boy bit back another sob, slamming his eyes shut to make way for more tears to trickle down his reddened cheeks.

Mitsukake couldn't offer anything other than a solemn "Tamahome" as Tasuki walked towards his friend slowly.

"From the very beginning, you believed in me," the bandit started, his brows furrowing deep into amber pools. "And you kept believing in me. Tell me ya already forgot that! You swore to me that your feelings for Miaka would never change! Do you really just wanna disappear an' forget ya ever said anythin' like that?"

Taka stared over at him, his smile never wavering, as Tasuki's face softened, eyes widening at his friend's silence. "Don't go yet."

The bandit watched as the red light brightened, engulfing Taka in a scarlet brilliance fit for the power of a god. "Don't go!" he shouted.

"Thank you. All of you. Take care of yourselves," Taka replied simply.

And then Suzaku's light swallowed him, leaving Tasuki barreling forward, screaming his name, and falling to his knees where his friend stood not 10 seconds earlier. He bit back a curse, grumbling under his breath as his fingers dug into the soft, cool earth below. Gritting his teeth, he turned over his shoulder, staring straight into the lavender eyes of Atsuna. They were filled with tears.

They all stood in the clearing in silence, none offering any words of wisdom or comfort for the other.

About an hour later, Miaka ran about the grounds in her bathrobe in a panic. She shouted out Taka's name over and over. When she had awoken to Taka gone and no one offering an explanation, she hurriedly had jumped from her bed in a frantic search. That was 20 minutes ago.

Tasuki stood leaning against a window with his arms crossed tight over his chest, watching Miaka fail miserably at her investigation for Taka. Tamahome sat on the other side of the window, peering slowly to Tasuki.

"Well, someone's gonna have to tell her," Tasuki said. Deep down, he hoped it wouldn't be him. He didn't like seeing her cry or upset.

"I'll do it," Tamahome offered.

Without turning his head, Tasuki's eyes slid over Tamahome's face, nodding once in confirmation. "Good idea." Hesitating for just a moment to take in Tamahome's visage, he turned and walked away, silently praying that Miaka would come out of the truth unscathed. But he knew that was just wishful thinking on his part.

Tamahome stood up from his chair and walked over to the mirror, staring at his reflection. He lifted his hand, shifting his hand under the overhead light as he watched the small gem on his ring glimmer, the ring Taka had returned to him. "Yes, it's time. It's time that I told her everything."

Miaka fidgeted in her chair, wringing her hands together in her lap as Tamahome explained Taka's absence to her. "He decided to leave because he felt that he would be tying you down and that he had no reason to stay here anymore." Tamahome shook his head. "I'm sorry that I didn't try to stop him, but I didn't think that I could."

Tamahome leaned over her, their noses nearly touching. He watched Miaka's cheeks warm up in a pink blush. "I know it's going to be hard for you, but I want you to forget about him and let me back into your life." He flashed a smile that reminded Miaka so much about her time in the book before when she first met Tamahome, the boyish charm he seemed to exude from the very moment she laid eyes on him. "I'm the one who loves you and will always love you."

He inched towards her until the tips of their noses grazed together. Miaka's eyes weighed down, the corners of her mouth curling up into a small smile. "Do you remember my promise, Miaka, to make you the happiest bride in the world? I haven't forgotten. I love you so much."

"Tamahome…"

He closed in on her, his lips pressing against hers hotly.

That was all it took. Miaka felt her stomach turn. Something wasn't right. She couldn't do this. It was wrong.

She jerked away quickly, grasping her bathrobe closer to her chest.

Tamahome's eyes widened slightly, his face faltering. "Miaka?"

"I…I'm so confused," Miaka murmured. "When that boy was around, it took me over a month to call him 'Taka' and not 'Tamahome.'" She lifted her eyes, eyes watering with tears as she looked upon her past love. "I know that he's a little different from Tamahome, but -"

"Stop it," Tamahome interrupted, his tone biting and almost venomous. "He doesn't matter now."

Miaka ignored him. "He always had a smile on his face! Always! That big, wide smile he always wore, and he only had eyes for me!"

Tamahome stomped forward as Miaka raised her arms to her face, covering her eyes as if she were afraid to face him. "What can he do for you now?" he demanded. "Miaka, I'm right here in front of you! Look at me!"

Miaka lowered her hands, balling them into fists at her cheeks, her body tense. "There's something wrong with you! You're Tamahome, but you're not Tamahome! I don't understand! I'm drawn to him when he isn't around! He's hurting and he needs me! He's calling me! I know he is! Taka is calling me!"

As if on cue, Suzaku's heavenly red light burst above her, and she closed her eyes tight, feeling her body being lifted up. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Taka before her, arms wide, his voice echoing her name in her ears.

"Taka!"

Tamahome never closed his eyes, despite how bright the light was as it carried Miaka away to her world and back into the arms of his shadow, Taka Sukanami.

Tamahome clenched his hands at his sides as his friends rushed in behind him, obviously having heard Miaka shout Taka's name.

Everyone exchanged worried and curious glances at one another, and while they all stayed silent in the room, Tasuki decided to bite and step forward, preparing to discover for himself what had just happened. But as he took a step forward, Atsuna's hand clasped around his arm. He turned to face her, and all she did was give a swift shake of the head.

Heeding her silent advice, Tasuki halted his advance but still asked the pressing question on everyone's minds. "Tama, what's going on? Where's Miaka?"

Tamahome was silent for a moment, his head lowered to his feet. The continued tightening of his fists did not go unnoticed. "She's gone. She left me." He paused for a moment. He could feel the cautious eyes on him from behind.

"Wait a sec. She what?" Tasuki asked.

"Apparently she decided to go back to him."

He slowly spun around, and as he did, a figure appeared behind him. Long, white hair framed a thin, pale-as-snow face, one carrying a very pleased smirk. Tenkou.

Everyone gasped simultaneously. Despite their shock, it made perfect sense. It had all been a trap from Tenkou.

"I knew you weren't my brother!" Atsuna exclaiming, jabbing an incriminating finger in his direction. Her free hand balled into a tight fist. "Which means…"

"Yes, indeed," Tenkou interjected with a smirk. "Taka Sukanami truly is the reincarnation of Tamahome. But my deceit played out long enough to carry out the plan I wanted. The jewels of memory you scattered so that he could be reborn, the trembling of your hearts as you searched for each of them - what a pleasure."

"You double-crosser!" Tasuki reached behind his shoulder, fully prepared to attack with his tessen, but Chichiri lay his hand over his friend's, stopping the bandit before he could unleash his anger full force upon their adversary.

"Tasuki, stop!" the monk shouted. "This is not the time, you know!"

"I know you all care for your friend far too much to kill Tamahome. Even though now you know this form as Yousui, all of Tamahome's jewels are inside of him now, including those of Chiriko's and Mitsukake's, as well," Tenkou explained. "All of his memories belong to Yousui." He closed his eyes momentarily, almost as if he were basking in his victory. Chuckling, he reopened his eyes, his smirk curling wider. "And now I sense your need for revenge."

Tenkou's golden-amber eyes traveled to Yousui, whose ogre symbol, just like the one Tamahome bore, glowed to life on his forehead. "All of you will die," he said, a cruel, uncharacteristic smirk spreading across his lips.

"If you deem it acceptable, try to beat Tamahome - and destroy his memories right along with him," Tenkou spoke up.

Both men's bodies phased away slowly, their dark chuckling echoing throughout the room until the Suzaku warriors were left in the room alone and silent, left to ponder what their next move would be.

After a moment, Chichiri turned to Tasuki, whose eyes were closed and his head lowered in thought. "What do we do, Tasuki?"

Tasuki opened his eyes and scoffed. "Don't ask question you know the answers to. My life already belongs to them, and I'll do whatever it takes to help them. Whatever it takes."

Tenkou stood in the darkness with a knowing smiling on his face. "They're all coming for me. They're coming to fight me." He turned his head slightly, Tamahome's form appearing next to him. His garb had changed to battle gear, dressed in dark blue and green. "Yousui, or rather, Tamahome, go."

Yousui lifted his hand, Tamahome's wedding ring still perched on his ring finger. He clenched his hand into a fist and nodded once. "Yes, sir."

Miaka and Taka held one another, still basking in the glow of their reunification in their world, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. The famililar red glow of Suzaku dissipated from around them, and when they looked around, neither of them could tell where the God of Love had dropped them.

"Where are we?" Taka asked, peering down at Miaka.

She opened her mouth, prepared to offer a response, but prickles of pain shot through every inch of her body in the blink of an eye. She let out a bloodcurdling cry, and Taka jerked at her side, confused and taken off guard as he watched small strings of energy shooting through Miaka's body, suspending her in air.

"Miaka!"

He felt something barrage at him, knocking him off his feet and onto his back several feet away from where Miaka's body so painfully remained hovering in the air. It happened so quickly that he wasn't able to see exactly what it was.

But when Taka lifted his head, he knew exactly what it had been.

Tamahome.

"It's between you and me now," Tamahome said to him. His body glowed purple, causing Taka's stomach to roil with sickness. There was something very eerie and evil about him. He lifted his palm, a pulsating, red sphere beginning to form at the center of his hand. "You want to save Miaka, don't you?"

He launched the energy sphere at Taka, thrusting right into his chin and knocking him back another foot. Tamahome took another step forward and turned his head to face Miaka. Blood started to seep from her many wounds, and her eyes lowered in pain as she fought to keep hold of her consciousness.

"This is all your fault, Miaka," Tamahome said sternly. He peered down at his ring, moving his hand back and forth to watch the small jewel glimmer in the light. "Even after how much I have loved you, you still chose this weakling over me."

Taka lifted himself to one knee, his eyes burning. "Leave her alone," he stammered, fighting against his better judgment at all the pain shooting through him. "Be a man and let her go."

Tamahome's eyes flared, and the violet glowing around his body changed to scarlet. The ogre symbol pulsed on his forehead. "Miaka belongs to me!" He shouted, shooting a volley of energy blasts in Taka's direction.

Taka stood on both of his feet, preparing to stand his ground - and stand for Miaka.

Atsuna's head jerked up, releasing a small gasp from the middle of her throat, and she turned to look at Chichiri. He felt it, too.

"Tasuki!" Chichiri called for his friend, prompting him and the rest of the Suzaku warriors to avert their attention towards the clearing leading into the forest before them.

A familiar deep-throated chuckle resounded around them as a murky purple haze appeared before them. "Yes, you two are very perceptive, Chichiri and Atsuna. Taka and the priestess are here. Now then, aren't you going to come join them?"

Nuriko cracked his knuckles, smirking playfully. "Well, thanks. That's awfully kind of you."

Tasuki nodded in agreement, matching Nuriko's grin with one of his own. "We finally get to meet you face to face."

"Oh, I look forward to it," Tenkou's voice rang around them. And with another deep laugh, his presence dissipated.

"So," Nuriko started, turning to face his comrades, "should we go pick them up?"

"Yes," Hotohori replied with an affirmative nod. "It will be the final battle. Our quest ends here."

Chichiri removed his mask, showcasing his serious demeanor. He was ready.

"This is going to be so exciting!" Chiriko gushed with a smile.

"But we can't get careless," Mitsukake added.

Atsuna released a heavy sigh, unclenching her hands and loosening her fingers. "I agree. But this should be the end of his terror. I say we end this now."

Tasuki snickered and reached for his trusty tessen, pulling the diamond weapon from his back. "So, Chichiri, how should we announce ourselves when we go in? Can I open the show?"

"Leave that part to me!"

Responding to the high-pitched female voice, everyone turned around, finding Nyan-Nyan floating before them with a giddy smile.

"Where the hell have you been?" Tasuki demanded.

"You really do show up at the most dramatic moment, don't you?" Nuriko asked.

Nyan-Nyan flashed her usual peace sign, releasing a giggle. "Nyan!"

Atsuna couldn't hide her smile. "So, shall we retrieve Miaka and my brother?" She sighed. "My real brother."

Punch after punch landed on Taka's thin body, slamming against his jaw, his cheek, his chest, his side, any exposed body part Tamahome could find to take down the one man who threatened him.

Taka shook off the pain and pulled his fist back, throwing it straight for Tamahome. But before it could land on his face, Tamahome phased out of the way, reappearing quickly behind him and lifting his elbow high.

"Too slow!" Tamahome shouted, slamming his elbow down on the top of Taka's head.

"Stop it!" Miaka cried out, sobs wracking her chest. A tear trickled down her cheek. "Stop it…"

Tamahome ignored her pleas, instead opting to look down at the motionless body of his opponent. "No way am I letting you take Miaka from me." He bent down to one knee, grasping a fistful of Taka's hair until he was lifted to eye level. "Now, why don't you just disappear already?"

Biting through the pain, Taka cracked a smile and opened his eyes, staring back up at Tamahome. "What are you so afraid of?" he asked. "Only kids get crazy with jealousy. Do you really have so little confidence in yourself?"

Tamahome's eyes widened at his bravado, but before he could accost him in return, Taka's fist slammed right against his jaw, sending him flying backwards several feet. Taka stood from his vulnerable position, spitting out a mouthful of blood from his loosened teeth. "I'm not going to lose this battle. And I won't lose against myself, either."

"Damn you!" Tamahome shouted, yanking himself to his feet. "Damn you!" He summoned energy into his palms, preparing for a final attack that would end this battle once and for all. "Die!"

Taka heard Miaka scream his name in the background, but he didn't move. Eyes wide, he only watched the large blast of red energy speed towards him. Not knowing what to do, he crossed his arms in front of his face, his only thought of defense, and prepared as much as he knew how to for the impact.

But after several long seconds, no impact came. Instead, the dust surrounding him began to settle down and the noise from the careening blast quieting to nothing. Taka hadn't realized that he shut his eyes until he was already slowly opening them again.

As the dust gave way, Taka heard Tamahome's victorious laughter. "I told you that I could not be defeated, but you did not want to -" A gasp ripped through the warrior's throat, prompting Taka to open his eyes all the way and lower his arms.

What he found made his heart plummet to the bottom of his stomach.