ATTENTION READERS: This is the Beta version of LH5W, if you want to read the official, updated version of the story, you'll have to go over to DeviantArt. com and head on over to my page. My username is Aloubell. You can also get there by going to my fanfiction. net profile which provides a link over there.
In any case, this Beta version is basically the rough draft of LH5W, my first attempt at it. Much of the plot points from this version will be the same in the official version, but there are significant and consistent characterization changes, a few (but very important) plot differences, expansion of past ideas, and overall better quality in storytelling.

All of this will be done over on DeviantArt. I no longer will write the story in traditional prose nor submit/update it here to fanfiction. net. The Beta version will remain here, just know that it isn't the 100% official story.
The official version will be written in a lazy prose mixed with play-writing elements (you'll get what I mean when you see it).
This is the new format for the story from now on.
So please head on over there if you're interested in updates to the story! Thank you for stopping by =D

-Aloe

PLEASE NOTE: The official version is being written somewhat out of order. The official version will start on chapter 46, the place where the Beta version left off. The official version will go on to complete the last chapters of Season 2. Once those are done, I will redo the story over again from Chapter 1 which will be the official version.

Having said that, if you choose to continue on reading, I hope you enjoy the Beta version and look forward to the official!

*On the last (legit) chapter of Love Hurts 5 Ways, Aki sank deeper into depression as the curse began to overwhelm her—bringing back to full light the hurtful moments of her past. Without her positive emotions, there's nothing to distract or block the flow of negative energy.

In a surprising twist, Shokyoku, the human-shunning entity living within Aki's Darkness, managed to manifest outside of the ring, much to Aki's inconvenience. Expressing her concern for Aki, Shokyoku tries to convince her that she wants to help Aki and get revenge on Stella and Nakago, but Aki is unable to remember that Shokyoku practically idolized her. Aki could only remember the bad memories of her experiences with people—so she's baffled as to why the small girl would want to help.

Chichiri comes in and offers Aki comfort, unaware of Shokyoku's sneering towards him, proving that no one could see Shokyoku except Aki. He offered a means that could help Aki move again, an enchanted silver ring that she could wear around her head that would allow mobility, but take away her emotions. Stella showed up unexpectedly and trying to prevent herself from seeming weak any longer, Aki, not caring about what happens to her, resolves to have Shokyoku put the ring on her head.

The story continues to unfold…*

"Release her!" Hotohori shouted at the pig-tailed Shadow Maiden that stood before him—his hand at his side as it held onto the hilt of his sheathed sword. Her almond-shaped, yellow-glowing eyes curved a bit as her unnatural Cheshire-cat smile widened—she completely content with the hostage she had in her arms. Miaka, who was wearing somewhat skimpy yellow with red polka-dot pajamas, had her olive eyes widened with fear with the blackened, cold arm hooked around her neck, the other morphed into a blade that was held near her head. The girl couldn't help but shake feverishly, seeing as how any slight movement could result in the ending of her life.

The Warriors of Suzaku had each come charging in the moment they knew something was wrong. However now, there were forced to watch helplessly (at least until they thought of something) as their priestess remained in the possession of the enemy—the same enemy that had caused so much problems for Aki.

The Shadow Maiden known as Stella…

She was a peculiar being whose humanoid body was made of a blackened substance—her only distinguishing features being her long, cheery pigtails, the creepy, sharp-toothed smile, and glowing yellow eyes. There was no doubting the fact that she was unlike the other Shadow beings that they had encountered—and the fact that she couldn't be underestimated was nothing less than an understatement. No one had even sensed her presence until she mysteriously popped out of nowhere. Had they had some prior warning, they would have raced to Miaka's room in a heartbeat. But the question still remained:

Why was she there?

Speaking a little over a whisper, Miaka said, "Please…help me…Tamahome…"

Tightening her grip around her, Stella sneered while responding to Hotohori. "No, I don't think I will hun. But thank you ever so much for the suggestion!" For some reason, her seemingly, and somewhat ironic pleasant Southern Belle accent added insult to injury. "Ya see, if I let her go, then ya'll wouldn't listen to what I have to say. This way, I have your attention!" Never once did her mouth even open as she talked. "Don't worry though, I won't kill her…unless someone does somethin' unnecessary that'll make my hand accidentally slip and slice her cute little head off. And I'm pretty sure ya'll want a non-decapitated priestess, right?"

Nuriko took a careful step forward in high hopes of trying to strike fear into the Shadow Maiden. "You let her go right now!" He wasn't completely sure of what she was capable of, but if she was able to take Aki out, then Miaka didn't stand a chance—and he was already pissed off at Stella from screwing up his friendship with Aki. Thanks to her, all Aki was capable of remembering was the hatred they used to display towards each other. And now she was threatening Miaka? Hell no. "Don't you dare think that you're going to get away with whatever it is you're trying to do! You'd be insane to think that we'd just sit around and do nothing."

"Yeah, what he said!" Chichiri tightened his grip around his golden staff, mentally going through every possible option of getting his priestess out of this situation. He was still mildly shocked at the fact that not even he could sense Stella until she was too close for comfort. Her agenda completely baffled him, knowing who she was and what she was capable of, one would think that she'd try and get Aki while she was wounded—but instead, she completely threw a curveball at them. What was her game?

"W-Why are you doing this?" Miaka tried to reason with her, despite the terror that was shooting through each and every fiber of her being. "Did we do anything to upset you? Is there something you want?"

"Oh no, nothin' like that cuz," Stella said, "I just decided to mozy on over here and relay a message to ya folks—however, if I had my way," Her eyes narrowed slightly as they scanned her unwilling audience. "I'd be wringing all of your human throats right about now—soakin' in every second of your agony." Moaning as if feeling some sadistic pleasure, she rubbed her face along Miaka's. "It would be fantastic seein' all you squirm like the pathetic worms you are." Seeing everyone in the room glaring something fierce, especially Tamahome who wanted nothing more than to destroy Stella, shown by the bearing of his clenched teeth like some sort of wild animal, Stella cocked her head to the side and snickered. "Oh, and I do wonder, how does the beau feel about all of this? Must be tough seein' your lover so close to death, right? Talk about strippin' away some of your masculinity~" His purple eyes flashed in an intense rage, the Chinese character on his forehead shining a bright crimson as he stood in a fighting pose—the only thing keeping him from launching himself at her was the lone fact that Miaka could be stabbed. Stella laughed. "You humans are so funny thinkin' that ya'll could be scary! Look at you tryin' to be all fierce lookin'. Tell me, what are ya gonna do about it?"

Clenching his fists almost to a point that drew blood, Tamahome growled, "Damn you f%$king bitch. You let Miaka go or I'll—"

"You'll what?" Stella interrupted. Using her hand that had been shaped into a sharp blade, applying some pressure, she ran it down Miaka's cheek, drawing a thin line of warm blood against her pale skin. Miaka squirmed in her custody as everyone else's body tensed at the inescapable.

"Miaka!" Hotohori and Tamahome shouted.

Abruptly bringing the blade down, it transformed back into a hand as she rested it on her popped out hip. "Ya'll should just stop foolin' yourselves already—it's just getting' embarrassin'. We all know that the only chance you stand against me is with your tool Aki. But…oops…I forgot" She let out a small, mocking chuckle, "…I sort of broke her didn't I?"

That particular comment seemed to have struck a nerve in everyone, seeing as they all boldly advanced towards the Shadow Maiden—Hotohori drawing his sword and grasping onto it tightly with both hands, while Tamahome and Nuriko held up their fists in fury as Chichiri lifted his hand to prep for a spell—temporarily forgetting what was at stake. It didn't take long before Stella reminded them by changing her hand back into a weapon held directly under Miaka's throat. That, of course, froze them in their places, making them look at Stella with intense feelings of vendetta.

"How quickly you boys forget—luckily you train easily…like the little pets you were meant to be." Her amusement in their reaction to what she let slip from her lips showed quite evidently from the particular glimmer in her shiny yellow eyes. "Besides, don't blame little ol' me for what happened." She extended her bladed arm out towards Chichiri. "Blame Fox-Face McBlue Hair over there for interruptin' the Turnin' process." It was Chichiri who had barged into Seiryuu's shrine to save Aki from the menacing Stella's advances. Her hand had been buried deep into Aki's chest as it tried to contaminate her soul. Chichiri had no choice but to do something about it before Stella became the least of their worries.

"You expected me to just stand around and watch you turn my friend into one of you?!" Chichiri exclaimed, close to throwing caution to the wind and casting a daring spell. A part of him, a guilty part that lied deep inside, couldn't shake the haunting thought that it really was his fault that Aki was in the condition she was in. However, which was better: Her turning into a Shadow Maiden? Or her losing her positive emotions—delaying the inevitable? Definitely the latter…at least in that scenario, she could be saved…even if they weren't sure how.

Stella shot him a look. "No, I expected you to act like a good little monk and keep your nose in your own business." She shrugged and regained her twisted cheerfulness. "But you know, teach his own, I guess~! Anyhoo~" Tightening her arm around Miaka's throat, Stella acted nonchalantly, as if everything that was going on was routine. "Since my red-eyed cousin won't be joinin' us today…which is a shame, I might add, I'll move this party along so that I can leave ya'll to your petty efforts at defeatin' us. 'kay?" She cleared her throat as if she were about to make a big announcement. "This is a message from Kutou: the Suzaku Warrior Tamahome must appear at the palace, by himself, or else Kutou's army, which is, I might add, outrageously bigger that yours," the emphasis was directed at Hotohori, who's glare seemed to be as sharp as his sword. Stella continued, "will march on over here and beat the stuffin' out of Konan and conquer it. End message."

Miaka's eyes widened as her body momentarily stopped struggling. "What? Tamahome? W-Why? Is it…" She paused in mild disbelief and astonishment. "Is it because of Yui?" Before they were able to escape, Miaka discovered that Yui had feelings for Tamahome as well as extreme hatred towards her former best friend. One of the things Yui had said was that she'd take him away from Miaka because she didn't "deserve" him. Maybe she was making her move earlier than they thought.

"I'm not at liberty to say cuz," Stella told her, "But the answer should be obvious—" In the middle of her sentence, she froze as her head turned slightly to face a figure at the door. Everyone else carefully followed her gaze, making sure that she wasn't just trying to psych them out and strike while they were distracted, and gasped.

Stella was the first to speak up with an amused tone. "Welcome to the party, dear."

Nuriko and Chichiri took a step back and to their respective sides to allow the person some room, and to allow everyone the full view of her. Nuriko stuttered through his words. "It-It's you! But…But how?"

Miaka jumped a little from a short burst of excitement. "Onee-chan!"

"Aki!"

Shokyoku had told me to blast through the wall and make an entrance. But that wouldn't have been an efficient use of energy, so I simply walked towards the open door occupied with six beings—five supposed allies, or neutrals, and an enemy—the threat. Our element of surprise would have been broken if I had listened to Shokyoku, my way seemed to have caught everyone off guard. They had stopped whatever they had been doing before to stare at me with peculiar expressions. Regardless of that, the Shadow Maiden Stella didn't appear frightened, she looked quite calm actually, and she had a hostage. I didn't expect that. But it didn't matter—as long as the outcome of her defeat came out the same.

The emperor gradually lowered his sword. "Akimoto…you're standing on your own!" Chichiri obviously hadn't informed him or anyone else about the ring around my head, so his surprise was justified.

Having not actually stepped into the room yet myself, Shokyoku took the opportunity to walk in front of me and actually into the crowded room—her arms crossed as she looked up and around at the taller people as well as the situation. "Wow, a room full of people I absolutely cannot stand…how quaint." No one even acknowledged that she was there, confirming the theory of no one being able to see or even hear her except for me. That made things a bit easier and Shokyoku didn't really seem to mind it since she could talk freely.

Tamahome's eyes consistently switched back and forth from me to Miaka and Stella. "Aki, you shouldn't be here—it's too dangerous. We don't want that thing getting to you too…or…again…" It was impossible to think that he had forgotten that I was a sorceress. Not that this situation should have been handled lightly, but the notion that this whole thing was dangerous in any way was absurd seeing as how I wasn't defenseless.

Stella's bladed arm that threatened Miaka changed into a normal-enough human hand. She waved to me while making sure that her other arm kept Miaka in place. "Hey cousin! Glad you could make it. Nice ring on your head, though I personally wouldn't wear it." She didn't need to wear it—I did in order to function well enough to perform my duties. "But I have to ask…" Her index finger pointed and a negative slope, directly at the long-haired little girl. "How the heck is the Insurance out here? Shouldn't the brat be in her cage where she belongs?" So I was wrong. Apparently Stella could see her. There were a few reasons as why that could be, but pointing them out at that particular moment wouldn't have been an efficient usage of time.

Shokyoku scoffed. "You'd like that wouldn't you? Of course, as much as I hate you, it was your hillbilly ways that slipped up and unlocked the door to my 'cage'." She flipped her hair. "So maybe I should thank you before ending your existence. What do you think?"

The Shadow Maiden gave a short, mocking laugh. "I think that a little girl shouldn't be speakin' words bigger than she is. But that's just me~"

While this conversation persisted, I noticed the similar reactions of the spectators watching the entire thing. All of them were whispering amongst each other and giving bewildered looks.

Tamahome blinked a few times. "What's going on?"

"Who's she talking to? I'm lost here…" Nuriko had a grimace on his face as he tried to figure out the exchange that was happening. So…Stella really was the only other one who could see Shokyoku. The rest of them must have been incapable as humans supposedly tended to be—which wasn't their fault. That was just the way things worked.

Even Miaka tried to take advantage of the fact that Stella's attention was on Shokyoku and I. But naturally, Stella was a step ahead, still having a firm grip on her. Still the girl tried, while giggling uneasily, "Since you're talking to your imaginary friend, can you please let me go? I'd really appreciate it."

For a few seconds, Stella put her focus back onto her desperate hostage. That mistake was going to cost her. "'Imaginary friend'? Hardly. But of course I wouldn't expect lowly humans to—"

Shokyoku snapped her head to the side and shot a knowing look towards me out of the corner of her turquoise eye. "Aki, now!"

Small room, the enemy is straight ahead. An attack that goes down the middle should prove beneficial. "Hell Blast." Shokyoku's body developed a crackling black halo as she brought her arm back, hand curved into an "O" shape. In an instant, the dark energy crawled its way into her palm, depriving the rest of her being from the awesome power. A long spear constructed of pure Darkness, blacker than the blackest night, then appeared, even longer than her small body. Miaka's eyes grew wide as she squealed and trembled from the attack destined to go right towards her and her captor—her body seemed to freeze on impulse, even if she were free, I knew that she wouldn't have been able to dodge. Without hesitancy, Shokyoku threw her conjured weapon with ease down the middle towards Stella.

Taken aback from the spontaneous spell, Stella's reaction time proved to not fail her as she jumped to the side and phased through the wall, leaving her victim there to take the attack.

In the blink of an eye, there was a flash, and then a booming explosion as the room shook from the impact. Wreckage from the ceiling and other bits of furniture rained down on the spot of the attack, creating an unstable reaction that threatened to take the whole room out with it if abused any more.

I remained in my place while knowing I was safe, watching as the bushels of smoke and debris cleared out. Shokyoku was fine as well since her unstable form didn't really allow her to make much contact with physical objects. She actually had to try in order to even pick up anything, as with the example of the vase back in my room. And past experiences taught that most of the humans in the room had the abilities to somehow avoid getting killed. However, Miaka lacked any such ability, so there was a chance that she was dead.

From the depths of the wreckage, I could hear coughing and fidgeting, signaling signs of survival. Some of the slabs of roof moved a little, then a lot as some of them abruptly launched from the ground and into the night sky, almost as if they had been loaded into a canon and shot out. Back at the place where they once were stood a panting and roughed-up Nuriko, who's scrunched up face and blazing eyes made me speculate that he was feeling what I suspected was anger towards me. That was my guess anyway.

"What the hell Aki?! You could have killed us! Are you out of your mind?!" He shouted out with a clenched fist held out towards me. Behind him, Hotohori reached up to put a hand on Nuriko's shoulder, allowing him the aid to stand and balance himself. Tamahome was there too, struggling to get up on shaky knees, as he stared at the blast site in disbelief. Nuriko looked back at them. "Y-Your Highness…Tamahome…" Hotohori gave me a brief glance before Tamahome turned his head to the damaged epicenter.

"Miaka!" His voice projected as he jumped up, full of adrenaline as the weight of what happened seemed to splash onto his face like bucket of ice-water. He ran towards a tall mound of rubble with Hotohori and Nuriko not far behind.

"Please Miaka…please…you have to be safe…" Hotohori prayed as he and Tamahome began clawing at the debris and moving what they could out of the way in desperation. Nuriko's hand reached out, ready to pull what he had to, but with a particular hesitancy that baffled me. His expression looked pained as he closed his eyes and bit his lip, as if trying to hold something back.

Putting her hands on her hips, Shokyoku turned to her side, lifted her chin up and said, "Hmph—it's not our fault she wasn't strong enough to save herself. If she knew how to do anything, this wouldn't have been a problem." She chuckled under her breath. "I guess it's time to start putting up the signs asking around for a new Priestess~ Requirements: must be naïve, hopeless, homely, and just plain stupid." Putting her finger under her lip, she added, "That'll be a tough search since I just described the majority of human women. Ha!"

I stood there and watched at their futile efforts. There was only a small percent chance that she survived…

"How come you guys are going through all that trouble? I'm sure Miaka could just stay in another room." Chichiri appeared beside me, his mask displaying that usual carefree smile. His arm was wrapped around a shaky, yet unarmed Miaka.

He was the small percentage. Somehow he must have gotten to her and protected her before mortality occurred.

Hearing his voice made Nuriko turn to face him and begin to lecture, "Chichiri! Stop making unnecessary observations and help—" His pink eyes finally caught site of Miaka and he instantly brightened up as tears began welling in his eyes. "Miaka! You're okay!" Not needing any more permission or reason to do so, he leaped up and out of his spot over to his priestess, embracing her the moment he made his way there. "Oh, I am soooo happy to see you! Don't you ever scare me like that again you little knucklehead you!" He repeatedly rubbed his face against hers—a peculiar notion that I didn't quite understand, and figured was too insignificant to try to.

Miaka hugged him back. "Nuriko, I'm fine!"

Her voice served as an automatic switch that seemed to have completely turned around Hotohori and Tamahome's frantic motioning's. "Miaka?"

"Miaka!" Tamahome ran to her as she released herself from Nuriko and into the arms of the next man. "Miaka…thank Suzaku you're alright." As he said that, he was stroking the back of her reddish-brown hair. My head tilted a bit from the scene, though my focus didn't falter.

"Tamahome, I was so scared…"

Didn't take long for him to change tones as he switched his attention to me. "What the hell Aki?! How could you put us—especially Miaka—in danger like that?!"

Shokyoku rolled her eyes. "Why're these monkeys always so damn sensitive? She's alive isn't she?" She swirled her finger in the air and said sarcastically, "Whoopie."

Of course, no one except me heard her. "I have every reason to blow you into next century—I don't even care that you're a woman. Having the heart of one gives me that advantage." Nuriko threatened. His anger was without reason—my actions were justified and called for. The liabilities were unavoidable. Well…seemingly unavoidable since Chichiri intercepted the possibility of the loss of their priestess. They were fortunate for the presence of another magic user. But if Nuriko insisted on fighting me, then I would have no choice but to do what it took to defend myself.

In any case, that would have to wait.

My eyes never left the spot of my/Shokyoku's attack. My vision began to flash purplish strikes of lightning as my head mildly spun. After closing my eyes to settle the warning sense, I opened them and narrowed my eyes, scanning the ruins of the room. "We aren't done here…" I said.

"Weasel-like little hillbilly of a Shadow Maiden used the cowards way out and she's still alive," Shokyoku faced the direction of my glare and sighed. "I didn't think it would be that easy to defeat her. But it would have at least been satisfying to know that it had hit her."

Materializing out of the bowels of the ruins, Stella stepped through and revealed herself, cackling sadistically as she did so. In front of all that wreckage and under the light rays of the full moon, she looked like just like the shadow of some pig-tailed woman whose shadow was being casted behind her. Only…she was darker than that. Much, much darker…the depth of the black that made up her form could have been compared to that of a black hole—the one thing that no light source could shine through. And for all we knew, she was just as dangerous. She and the rest of her kind…

"I hope that ya'll didn't think that that was gonna do me in." The sharp white teeth of her smile seemed to almost glow like her eyes in that moonlight. ""Cause if ya did, Sugah, believe me when I say that you're in huge doodoo right about now."

Shokyoku stomped her foot and huffed. "Puh-leez—you know damn well that we're stronger than that. And don't expect to be so lucky next time." She lowered her head and glared at the Shadow Maiden. "I want your head on a platter and I won't stop until I get what I want."

"Oooo I'm soooo scared~" Before we knew it, Stella appeared before Shokyoku, bent over to almost reach the little girls' height while a trail of wispy Darkness followed. "Look at the spoiled brat tryin' to be all scary lookin' with those freaky eyes of yours. Grow up and smell the stew, hun. You wouldn't be nothin' if it weren't for Aki and you know it." Her head leaned forward enough to make it seem as if hers and Shokyoku's were touching—which may or may not have been happening. "So, little Miss Life Support, stop actin' like you're all high and mighty and hush up like the good little Insurance you were created to be. And let the real Fragments talk."

Shokyoku shook her head slowly, speaking words as cool as ice. "I'm going to enjoy seeing you die."

Lifting up, the Shadow Maiden gave an high-pitched laughter. "Oh dear, I do believe that I hear an annoyin' buzzin' at my ear but I just cannot place what it is. Must be some insignificant bug whose mama gave her a life to begin with so she better behave herself." At that, Shokyoku didn't retort, but hung her head as she clenched her fists. I was pretty sure that she was giving a low growl at that moment.

Behind me, I heard multiple footsteps, perhaps grouped together, coming our way as well as the clanging of metallic objects. Before long, our audience seemed to have grown, probably attracted by the explosion within the palace. Having my back to the outside, I wasn't sure about who was there, but it could have been any of the tenants of the palace—the maids, the harem, the guards, the advisors. Chances were they'd all flock there at some point or another.

"Sire! What happened here?" Demanded a deep male voice—most likely one of the guards.

Hotohori addressed them. "A spy from Kutou has infiltrated the palace."

I could hear them unsheathe swords as well as assembling other weapons at the ready. All of this above the sounds of the talking amongst other spectators who's curiosities had brought them here. "Should we proceed with an attack? An arrest? What are your orders, sire?" They inched closer as the same man spoke up. "Who is this intruder?"

"Stay back!" Hotohori commanded and they all froze in their places. "This enemy is unlike any you've ever faced before—do not make a move unless I give the order." More and more people were gathering, increasing the chances of a mass burial should a battle break out. Their curiosities wouldn't do them any favors here.

They weren't what I was supposed to be focusing on. Stella was the enemy—she was my target. That was what Shokyoku said the moment I stood up again. The reason for the ring on my head, the immediate reason as to why I apparently chose this path was to kill her. Honestly, I didn't know what I would gain from doing that—there was nothing that would benefit me in doing so. But Shokyoku told me to, she gave me a direction to go in. Where else would I go? What else would I do? There was nothing…

"Hey Aki," Stella put everyone else's attention back onto her as she smugly said, "I heard ya don't like crowds. This must be makin' you feel really uncomfortable right now."

I responded to her. "Perhaps that was the case before, but no longer."

"Huh…" She slowly sank into the ground, phasing past the floor as if it were nothing, only to emerge up from it further away from where Shokyoku and I were standing. Without even looking behind her, she sat down, either on a pile of rubble or in mid-air, and crossed her legs while her yellow eyes observed me. "I'm impressed—you've actually managed to surprise me more than once today. I mean, I didn't expect you of all people to attack me while I was in possession of your friend. It definitely threw me for a loop."

This talking is pointless. I have to attack. This is the opportunity to attack. Why isn't Shokyoku telling me to do anything? Her eyes were on me, expecting an answer. Having no other direction at the moment, I complied. "What I had done was not wrong. My purpose is to defeat you and at that moment, Miaka was in the way. In order to perform my duties, I was forced to initiate an attack knowing that she would provide enough of a distraction to you—having you think that you were safe just because you had a hostage gave me the advantage simply because you weren't expecting me to do something. And that was your mistake." But of course, I didn't take into account that she, like other Shadow Maidens, possesses the ability to phase through solid objects at will. That error caused unnecessary damage with no satisfactory results. Next time… "I am at liberty to use any means possible to defeat you and use every opportunity given to me—even if that means risking the lives of innocent bystanders."

Off to the side, I heard Miaka gasp lightly. "A…Aki-nee-chan…"

Stella purred as her mouth opened for the first time, her long tongue swirling along the edges of her "lips". As it retreated back into her mouth, her wide, sharp-toothed-Cheshire smile returned. "How incredibly dark of you Aki—I like it." She threw an arm across her chest as she pulled on it with the other in a stretch. "Well since things are progessin' nicely here, I think I'll be on my way." She literally backed up into the wall, leaving her head to be the last visible part of her. She's trying to escape! "Besides the fact that the stench of humans is gettin' on my nerves, I've been fightin' the urge to kill ya'll the whole time I was here and seein' as how I've been ordered not to attack you, it's like I've been sufferin' withdrawals. So…toodaloo!—"

"Blast Ash." Shokyoku extended her hand, palm open, as I casted. And just as Stella ducked her head out, a deep, circular black void appeared in the same area. She closed her hand into a fist, causing the black circle to close in on itself as it disappeared completely.

Shokyoku cursed under her breath as she lowered her arm. "Damn…she got away…that hillbilly bitch." If that spell had managed to catch Stella in it, then she would have been reduced to a pile of ash. The spell didn't work on inanimate objects, that was why it looked as if nothing happened. Shokyoku jumped and stomped on the ground several times in a huff. "I can't believe she'd just run away like that—it's not fair! It's not fair! It's not fair! Argh!"

During that time, Hotohori swiftly faced his subordinates once more. "Search every inch of the palace for that creature. Should she still be lurking about, I will not allow her the chance to harm anyone else. If confronted by her, surround her but do not engage unless it is for defensive purposes. You are to inform me immediately should this occur." None of them said anything. Shokyoku was still pouting so I was unsure if she even heard what was going on. Realizing that no one was mobilizing, the emperor raised his voice, "What're you all waiting for, go now!"

They clanked their armored legs together in attention. "Yes sir!" And then they were off, marching in every direction and down each hall to fail at finding a being that had absolutely no remorse in killing them should she get the opportunity.

Hotohori suddenly addressed me in a stern tone. "Akimoto…" I waited for the rest of his statement, but nothing came from him. There was a silence as even the others stood idly by to hear what he had to say—stifling any comments they had for when he was finished. What was it that he was waiting for? He tried again. "Akimoto, look at me." Sliding my foot back only slightly, I shifted my body's direction to face him. His sharp hazel orbs stared me down almost as if they were attempting intimidation. "How is it that you could do all of this?"

"Be more specific," I told him.

Swinging his arm out, he gestured to the destruction of the room. "This! And your walking—and the recklessness of putting Miaka in danger! If she had died…" Holding back a bit, his voice kept the seriousness but the volume diminished. "It's just not like you…"

That last thing he said didn't make much sense to me. Either way, I responded to him on regards of his accusations. "We did not take into account that there was a hostage." Which was true. Past experience had taught that Stella was more interested in me. I blinked. "Nevertheless, the attack had to be made." Mini gasps could be heard from the rest of the group as they watched and listened to my explanation. Still addressing Hotohori's unreasonable arousal, I said, "Your anger is misguided. It wasn't I who released the attack that put your priestess in danger."

"What?" Nuriko spoke up—still irked at my strategy. "We not only heard you saw a spell—sorry, two spells," he corrected, "but we also saw the attacks coming from you! Honestly…" he sighed then hung his head low. "I can't believe that you'd just lie to us like that. Is this…" He hesitated with the next words that came out. "Is this because…of what she did to you?"

Because of what she did to me? Was he talking about Stella? I knew perfectly well what she had done to me, but I wondered what it was he was referring to. "Yes, I said the spell. No, I did not release it."

"Listen to me missy," Striding over to where I was, Nuriko extended his arms and yanked at my collar as he forcefully brought me close. "We're a little confused as to how you're even walking again. But ignoring that for the moment, if you're going to put Miaka's life in danger so stupidly, the least you can do is have the common decency to tell us the truth." During this time, I noticed that Chichiri hadn't said much of anything. While everyone else seemed to have been reacting loudly and negatively to my actions, he had stuck around in the background probably because he already knew the secret to my mobility. The others, except Miaka, who looked on as she stood in Tamahome's arms, showed signs of fear and shock, and Shokyoku who seemed somewhat passive on the affairs of the humans, displayed signs of anger, while Chichiri's calmness and facial expression led me to believe that he was distraught about something.

Tamahome kept his hold on Miaka as he said, "Just talk to us Aki. We don't want to start thinking that we can't trust you…" Their trust wasn't necessary—I didn't need it to survive. Besides, they insisted on believing that I was deceiving them and yet there was no reason to. The result of their paranoia was their own doing, I wasn't to blame.

Before I could say anything else, a gold staff cut its way between Nuriko and I, its wielder then firmly pressed it up against Nuriko's chest to push him a few steps away to widen the space. Chichiri's gesture shifted the spotlight onto him, finally giving him the opportunity to speak. "Okay everyone, we should just calm down, ya know? I can explain what's going on." This obviously peaked everyone's curiosity, as none of them said anything in response. Scratching the back of his head, the monk asked, "Haven't any of you even wondered about the ring around her head? I know that Shadow Maiden got all of you worked up, but details like that are kind of important, ya know?"

Hotohori closed his eyes and frowned. "Chichiri, could you please get to the point?"

Chichiri chuckled uneasily. "Yes…well…" He cleared his throat as the atmosphere around him became more serious. "Lady Taiitsukun knew that Aki wouldn't accept being confined to a bed, especially in the state she was involuntarily put into." Turning his head to face me, he continued, "I know we initially agreed that time and rest was what she needed to return back to normal, but as we all know, life can be unpredictable, especially in times like this. So my teacher formed a way to more or less help Aki back into the game, so to speak." Motioning up to the ring that rested around my cranium, he told them, "Without boring you with the details of how, this object has, as you've noticed, given Aki the ability to move around again. And that's…the good news part of it, ya know?"

"'The good news part of it?'" Miaka asked, finally working past her dilemma before and contributing to the conversation. "Does that mean that there's a bad part too?"

Chichiri nodded to her, and said yes, then tilted his head to the side a bit as he ran through his thoughts. "Well…perhaps just plain 'bad' isn't the right way to put it…I'd say that it's more of an unfortunate side-effect ya know? Or it might depend on how you look at it…"

"Again Chichiri, get to the point," Tamahome impatiently demanded. "What did that ring do to her?"

Chichiri looked down and away as if trying to avoid everyone's gazes. "Aki knew what would happen to her if she put it on…it was her decision." Why does he stall in telling them? It was better for them to know than to have them going around the rest of their lives ignorant to what was in front of them. We could have been pass this whole process if he hadn't kept dragging it on like he was. Feeling their eyes on him as if he were the prey of a circling group of hungry wolves, he hurried through the inevitable, "She doesn't have her emotions anymore."

The other Warriors of Suzaku and their priestess all widened their eyes from the reveal—their silence speaking of their surprise as we all just stood there without a word, allowing them to process the new information. The weight of it must have affected Shokyoku as well, seeing as how her body suddenly tensed. Her lips moved as she mumbles something under her breath, but it was at such a low volume that I couldn't understand.

Trying to grasp fully onto the new concept of my present condition, Nuriko stumbled a bit with his words. "Wait…so when you say no emotions, you mean that she has absolutely none? Like…at all?" I personally couldn't understand how this was such a difficult thing to accept. It was what it was. Standing there asking questions wouldn't have changed anything.

"That can't be true! Onee-chan without her emotions?" Miaka looked from me to Chichiri and back while her eyes began to glaze over with tears. "It's impossible…" No, it wasn't actually. I was living proof that such a thing could be done.

Tamahome's mindset focused more on the hostage incident. "So the reason why she did what she did earlier—when she attacked that Shadow Maiden who had Miaka…was because…"

Hotohori finished his train of thought. "She didn't feel any guilt about it at all—she couldn't have. There was no anger, no fear or remorse, no second thoughts…just aim and shoot, because that's where the threat was." Without ones emotions, it was impossible to be distracted by such things that clouded your sense of judgment and prevented you from doing what needed to be done. In a sense, I was elated from the shackles known as emotions that were holding me down and would have made me stop before initiating my spells simply because Miaka was there. The fact that Stella could have been obliterated by me in that moment wouldn't even have mattered since I would have been worrying about Miaka. It was different now…worrying was a thing of my past. My memory was not affected by the ring on my head. Therefore I could recall the decisions I made, or didn't make, throughout my life and how a lot of them were induced by my feelings. And now, there was nothing. No matter how far they seemed to me now, the fact was they still happened and I couldn't help but wonder how drastic a difference my life would have been had I been released from my emotions beforehand. Hotohori's remained distressed as he pleaded, "Chichiri, tell me that there's a way to undo this—it isn't right. This can't possibly be permanent, can it?" He glanced at me, looking as if he were actually holding back on what he wanted to say and do. "To trade her emotions, her personality for the sake of being able to move again…I would never trade my ideals or my precious feelings for my loved ones for that. You no longer even have an identity…"

"She should have discussed this with us," Tamahome shook his head and shot me a softer look while still keeping an arm around Miaka's waist. "I know that we couldn't go near her, but we still could have at least talked about this option instead of you going around our backs Chichiri."

Chichiri automatically took a step back and help up a hand in diplomacy. "Look you guys, you're blowing all of this out of proportion, ya know? First, you need to realize that she wasn't quite herself when she decided to use Lady Taiitsukun's gift. She had something taken away from her, remember?" For some reason, he emphasized the "something", though I was never able to catch onto why. The next part he addressed to Hotohori. "So she didn't have those precious feelings in her heart like you or I would Your Majesty." Now he was talking to the group in general. "And second, no this isn't something that will last forever. In fact, all you have to do is take the ring off of her head and she'll return to her present state, ya know?"

Putting his hands on his hips, Nuriko said, "I don't like this version of Aki—I say we just take the ring off and help her cope through this difficult time in her life. We're her friends after all." As memory served, I didn't see why he'd be so concerned of my well-being. I was certain that I wasn't exactly his favorite person—him going so far as to almost physically threatening me. However, his actions and standing here would prove to be the opposite of what I initially thought. Unless, of course, he was being insincere. "Isn't that kind of our job?"

Chichiri just shook his head and crossed his arms. "We can't just do that Nuriko. Not only will she still only have half of her emotions as a result from what happened in Kutou, but she once again won't be able to walk, evade, or defend herself, ya know? At least this way, she's less vulnerable. In fact…" He tilted his head a bit more before shooting it back into its upright position as an epiphany struck him. "I'm actually a little surprised that she was able to pull-off the spells she was able to perform just a little while ago. Not only is she not supposed to be using any magic, but it shouldn't have been that controlled since her system was kind of screwed with, ya know?"

Tamahome had a similar realization. "And I also noticed how you made a big deal about her Darkness affecting us…but I'm not really getting anything here…"

"He's right! I don't either," Miaka agreed.

"That's because," The moment I spoke up, everyone's heads swiftly snapped in my direction. "Without my negative emotions fueling it, the dark ring's energy diminishes almost to nonexistence."

"Which is why I did the smart thing and sucked up enough of her Darkness that I could before that cursed ring came into the picture and closed me off from my space." Punching the air a bit more enthusiastically than I expected, Shokyoku exclaimed, "But I'm still here! There was no way I'd fall asleep and leave Aki to do this alone." Then she narrowed her eyes at the others. "Nor would I leave her alone to you monkeys."

Nuriko, who had never really walked that far from me, approached me once again, but this time bent down more to my height as his eyes went up to the ring resting around my head. He cupped his chin with his hand while trying to ponder something. "Okay, I guess that part makes sense, but we still don't know how you were able to use your magic the way you did—I don't remember Chichiri saying that that ring gave her back the ability to cast."

"Like I said before," He blinked his pink eyes at me as I talked again, "I wasn't the one who released those spells. It was Shokyoku."

"…"

"…"

After saying that, everyone sort of just stared at me blankly, almost as if they were waiting for something else. Only, that was really all I had to say about it.

"Umm…Shokyo-who?"

Didn't take them long to realize that they weren't going to find what they wanted in that moment from me. So they turned to Chichiri with puzzled looks on their faces—almost as if he were the go-to guy for answers. In some way, it made sense since he did seem to be the only other one in there with a clue—other than Shokyoku anyway.

Jumping a bit from the surprise of everyone except me staring at him, he meekly scratched his cheek and said, "Don't look at me! I don't know everything, ya know." He faced me. "Aki, could you help me out here?" From what the monk displayed back in my room, it was clear that Chichiri was supernaturally aware enough to know that Shokyoku was present, but it was probably safe to say that he still had no idea who or what she was. In fact, the original four people I had been with prior to meeting Chichiri and Tasuki did, even if they weren't aware of it.

"As much as I hate the idea of talking to them, it's annoying being referred to in the third person. And," Shokyoku passed up the majority of the others and approached Miaka and Tamahome. The two of them, of course, didn't even see her there. Glancing up at them, she smirked menacingly, her conflicting eye colors shining over the rest of her grey-scaled appearance. "It would be better for me to properly introduce myself to these inferior prime apes. After all, it's best they know who they're dealing with. And what's a better time than the present?" What is she going to..?

"Aki?" Chichiri tried again. His head tilted to the side as he, as well as the others, did the best to fathom what I could see but they could not.

Shokyoku moved a little more, ending up at Miaka's side as she turned around to face the rest of us. It still baffled me as to what she was trying to do, but figured it wouldn't be long for my curiosities to be put at ease, as well as the others'.

Miaka noticed my gaze at her general direction. She began to ask, "Onee-chan? What's wro—" That was when Shokyoku extended her hand out to Miaka's arm which, in turn, sent a surge of dark energy to overwhelm the young priestess, forcing her to cut her sentence short and gasp as her eyes went wide from the sudden intrusion. Her head numbly hung down after the wave fizzled away.

"What the?!" Chichiri instantaneously gripped onto his staff with all his might while taking a cautious step forward towards the possessed girl. He seemed to have been the first to take notice of Shokyoku's unforeseen ability. And he obviously took it as a threat.

Not catching on quite as fast as his comrade, Tamahome nonetheless felt that the atmosphere around his significant other had shifted. "M-Miaka?—"

"Everyone get away from Miaka!" Chichiri shouted and demanded. "Her body's been taken over by a malevolent force—it's not safe!"

Almost immediately, following Chichiri's warning, the reality of what was happening dawned on the other Suzaku Warriors. Nuriko and Hotohori's battle instincts kicked in as they stood their ground and looked warily at their priestess with the aura shrouded in Darkness due to the unseen, smirking child at her side. Nuriko didn't quite know how to respond to the phenomenon. Of course he was concerned for Miaka's well-being, a requirement of his sacred duties, but the expression on his face read more troubled and perplexed than angry and determined.

"Miaka?!" Hotohori shouted, hoping to get past her trance. Her head still tilted forward with her eyes hidden and no response.

"I've felt this presence before…but why is it around Miaka?" Nuriko tore his attention away from Miaka long enough to face me. "Aki, what's going on? Are you doing this?" So his instinct is to blame me…The others probably think that as well, given the circumstances. I didn't see the need to repeat myself again when it came to Shokyoku's actions.

Tamahome still held onto Miaka, almost like a part of him hadn't quite caught onto the message. "Mi-Miaka?" He tried. Shokyoku faced him, her orange and turquoise cat-like eyes blazed as she shot daggers at him. And has her gesture was made, Miaka finally stirred, her head snapping in a mirrored fashion to her controller. Her eyes narrowed and changed from their original olive green color to match the discolored ones of Shokyoku's.

The sudden mutation made Tamahome gasp and attempt to maneuver away. But before he even had a chance, Shokyoku, who kept her hand practically glued to Miaka's arm, manipulated her into side-stepping away and out of his hold.

Miaka sneered and said, "Get your hand off of me!" Shokyoku spoke the exact same words simultaneously with her. Disregarding the pained look on his face, she/they completely shoved him aside without even any remorse. Then, almost as swift as one could comprehend, Shokyoku and Miaka dashed forward and past the Suzaku Warriors. It wasn't until they ceased in their actions that the sound of harsh, multiple slaps came rushing like a delayed reaction. The men, once reality caught up with them, each winced and held their now reddened cheeks as they looked to their priestess in dismay.

Miaka/Shokyoku clenched their fists and bared their teeth in an effort to look intimidating. The two of them spoke in sync once more, though the only voice they heard was Miaka's. "You miscreants are lucky that I didn't do much, much worse to you—and insignificant slap would be the least of your worries!" So Shokyoku has the ability to possess people, or simply use them as her puppets. In this case, she was really only doing it for the sake of communication. Based on her technique and her constantly following Miaka, it seemed as if Shokyoku had to be in physical contact with her victim in order for it to even work—or at the very least have part of her essence inside of them. If she were visible to others than myself, this method would have probably been rather simple to avoid. Her invisibility to most eyes gave her the advantage. The only questions remaining was what were the complete characteristics of this ability? And why only use this power on Miaka instead of me? At least the latter would have gotten less of a negative reaction from the Suzaku warriors.

"Whatever you are, release Miaka at once!" Hotohori yelled out, gripping onto the handle of his sword while the sharp end pointed at the one he was supposed to protect. Shokyoku wasn't dumb, she knew that he—actually, none of them, would attack her…not while Miaka played dummy. "I demand that you expel yourself before you force us to—"

"Force you to what?" Miaka/Shokyoku baited. "You and I both know that you're not going to do anything. All talk, no effective action. As expected from a human." She/they flipped her/their hair. "And did I hear you try to order me around? You monkeys better recognize when a superior being is in the room and hush up if you know what's good for you."

"What do you want with Miaka?" Nuriko asked.

Miaka/Shokyoku shot him a look. "Excuse me, but you apparently didn't hear me before. When I'm talking, I expect you to hush up." She scoffed. "And as amazing it must be to talk to someone with more class than you'll ever see, this isn't a 'leisurely chat' between buddies. Because in case you haven't noticed, I don't like any of you." She/they quickly changed her/their stance. "Well…" They closed their eyes and stood on their tip-toes as they faced me, shot an arm towards the sky and waved to me erratically. A big smile uncharacteristically shone on their face complimented with a faint blush. "Except Aki! I can never not like her!" Little pink hearts curiously floated and buzzed like flies around her head as she addressed me. I couldn't quite understand that little add-on of hers at the end. Her small display of elation was a bit misplaced. And the hearts? Those just didn't make any sense at all.

The warriors' attention switched over to me for only a few seconds before returning to the situation at hand.

"Tell us why you're here then and who you are!" Chichiri demanded. "You're that same entity that was in Aki's room earlier aren't you? In fact…" His sentence trailed off as he searched his memory for something particular. "That wasn't the first time was it? You were around before, maybe even more often than that!"

Miaka/Shokyoku smiled and then smirked. "Very good monk, looks like you're the smartest moron here. Congratulations." Judging by the lack of input from the others, I inferred that they had similar inquiries. "Though my name had already been mentioned, I don't see why I shouldn't mention it again. My name is Shokyoku." She/they squealed as a giddy grin ran across their feminine faces. "Isn't it the most brilliant and wonderful name you ever heard? Aki gave it to me not too long ago." The puppet and its master winked at me. "Love you Aki~!" I don't know why, but I have the incredibly urge to roll my eyes.

"Wait…" Tamahome looked from me to Miaka/Shokyoku, which had been the first time he finally took his eyes away from his possessed priestess, while trying to put one and one together. "If Aki named you, then wouldn't that have to mean that she knows about you—?" Stopping is sentence midway, an aggrieved expression struck him before correcting himself. "Or…knew about you?"

"She knew and still knows. You monkeys aren't exactly foreign with yours truly either." Miaka/Shokyoku pointed at Nuriko and Tamahome. "You two should be the most familiar of my work." The two Suzaku Warriors dropped their guards at the peculiar statement, tossing each other bewildered glances. "Let me rattle your puny brains a little more. Remember that dark ring Aki told you about a few months ago?" She/they smiled—a maniacal twinkle in their eyes. "Simply put, that was me." Gasps and eye widening spread across the room following the big reveal. "I'm basically in charge of Akimoto Tsubaki's Darkness—that's one of my primary duties anyway." The smile on their faces progressively faltered as the more serious façade crept back.

Tamahome's body began to tremble. "In charge…"

"Of Aki's Darkness?" Nuriko's body was reacting to a similar chill that his comrade was experiencing. "Th-Then that time…back when I told Aki off…"

I remembered that day clearly…

"You have no special abilities and would only end up getting in the way with whatever you do. So why don't you do us all a favor and beat it!"

Throwing me back onto the ground, I just sat there, boiling in my own fury. My face was completely flushed as my body shook in anger.

All of a sudden, a mysterious female voice entered into my head.

She doesn't know all the things that you have been through. She doesn't know the hurt you have endured. Who is she to tell you what you are worth?

I blinked. Huh?

The voice spoke again. She tells you that you're useless when you've done so much. She says that you're pointless when you are an obvious favorite of the universe. She says that you're powerless when you've gone through emotional and physical Hell to become a Master Sorceress. She says that you're selfish when you're just trying to do the right thing.

Processing her words, everything she was saying had made a bunch of sense.

You don't have a choice in which world you are sent to, yet you are willing to go through so much just to find your place. Who is she to tell you that you don't matter?

My mind came to the realization that she was absolutely right.

This woman just met you and is already making false assumptions—just like those awful kids from back in your world. What will you do if her way of thinking affects the others? Then you will be all alone in this world—in a dangerous, foreign world full of mystery. They will all shun you and think that you do not matter. Will you allow her to speak to you like this? Will you allow her to influence the people around you? Or will you give into your guiltless desires and make her suffer?

I was convinced. "You're right…"

Nuriko cocked an eyebrow as Tamahome looked at me in confusion. "What did you say?"

Feeling a sudden wave of despair and rage, an odd sensation consumed my body—it was both chilling and frightening, but it felt soright. Standing up slowly, the ring of darkness around me came into view, and I was the only one who could see it. Its power had been enhanced—as opposed to how it had been for a while: dim and barely noticeable. But now, after what had just happened, the ring's power multiplied, bringing it back to its negative influence it had when I was younger.

Tamahome and Nuriko seemed to have noticed a sudden change in atmosphere as their bodies shivered unpleasantly. "What's happening?"

"What's this horrible feeling that I'm getting?" Nuriko wrapped her arms around her body.

As my anger persisted, the dark ring pulsated, shooting an invisible wave of negative energy out throughout the area. Both of the people standing in front of me fell to the ground, shaking vigorously now.

Nuriko seemed to be the most affected—she was completely on the ground with tears in her eyes mumbling things like "Please don't leave me" and "I didn't do anything wrong." Insisting that she suffered more, I walked up to her, feeling some invisible hand grab my hand and reach out for her.

She needs to suffer.

Miaka and I had only been in the Universe of the Four Gods for a few days and Nuriko was already on my case. Back then, we didn't know he was a guy and I didn't know who the woman's voice in my head was. It was Shokyoku disgusting her voice to make herself sound more mature…and alluring. Once Nuriko had my anger going, Shokyoku only had to convince me a little bit to convince me that lashing out was justified. Tamahome got caught in the crossfire, making him suffer through the terrible sensation as well. I sort of just…lost my temper then. There was something curious about that whole situation though…the torture stopped. And I just couldn't remember why I pulled back.

The purple-haired Suzaku Warrior clenched his teeth as he closed his eyes shut, only to shoot them open and hold up a tight fist that shook with anticipation towards Miaka/Shokyoku. "How could you do such a thing like that? Aki's life must have been miserable because of you!"

"It's literally a ring of dark energy that is constantly surrounding me. You guys can't see it, but it's there—it's always been there…as long as I can remember anyway." I faced the two people that it happened to affect. "Both Nuriko and Tamahome have suffered from the power of the ring. Remember earlier when you guys suddenly felt cold and miserable? Well, that's what it does to people—it brings out the dark, horrible emotions that everyone has buried deep inside of them…and amplifies them."

…

"It doesn't matter how it happened. The point is that right now, being around me may be a bit unbearable—you may have random bits of rage or depression and I won't be able to control it. So…if you don't want me to be around for a while, I completely understand. The last thing you guys need is someone who has the ability to really mess your emotions up." Miserable…huh? I had forgotten what it was even like to experience that emotion. I knew of Shokyoku's contribution in my life. In the long run, she kept potential threats away from me—like an internal security system. My reactions then were less than thankful. In fact, I've shed unnecessary tears and displayed fits of unneeded rage, letting myself become vulnerable.

So what if people were turned away from me? They weren't necessary for my survival. Besides, what's done is done. People with emotions had the flaw of hanging onto the past for too long, which was an avoidable hindrance that I personally chose to not involve myself with. Or rather, I no longer felt the need to.

I felt nothing at all.

"You say that you love her, but that's complete bull!" Tamahome accused her. Finally he was beginning to see past his affections for Miaka, allowing him to talk at Shokyoku. About time.

Hotohori shared in their mutual disgust. "You're nothing less than heartless if this is the way you choose to go throughout life—ruining others' for your sick amusement—" Shokyoku growled and dug her fingernails into Miaka's skin, only to have her hand unexpectedly phase past Miaka's arm, causing her to lose her balance and almost topple over. Placing a quick foot ahead of herself, the little girl was able to avoid falling completely to the ground. But she lost her hold on Miaka.

The priestess blinked a few times as her green eyes came flickering in and out, dissolving Shokyoku's colors. "Huh?" She shook her head. "Ta…Tamahome?"

Anger replacing itself with what looked like relief, Tamahome's shoulders relaxed. "Miaka? Is that you?"

Shokyoku shot her head back and growled again, "Crap."

Producing a weak smile, Miaka began to say, "Tamaho—" Shokyoku spun around and grabbed Miaka's arm again, this time with more force. Like before, Miaka was overcome by a flash of Darkness, except this time around, she actually seemed more aware of what was happening to her while she struggled to free her arm from the one attempting to play puppet with her. "P-P-Please l-let go of me…Sho-Shokyoku…" Shokyoku kept her grip, but she was straining. As memory served right, she mentioned to me that it's difficult for her to maintain a physical form. It must have been taking a considerable amount of energy to hold onto Miaka as long as she was. Even so, her determination kept her going. What was the motive fueling her actions? It didn't make any sense to exhaust herself like that. Not only was she panting like a dog, but bullets of sweat were forming and racing down her premature face.

I just didn't understand it.

Miaka struggled to look to me as Shokyoku's eye colors began to dominate over her own once again, confirming the complete control she had over the priestess. She pleaded, "Onee-chan—" Blinking hard, her eyes then calmly opened, releasing an invisible shockwave that forced everyone to brace themselves to avoid being knocked back.

Sighing, Miaka/Shokyoku held up their palms and looked down at it. "Stupid girl…" She clenched their fists and exclaimed, "No! I won't let you go. Not now…I haven't said all I needed to say." Quickly bringing their hands back down to their sides, Miaka/Shokyoku threw a deadly glare towards those who were accusing her before. "And how dare you lower life forms lecture me about my methods of protecting Aki. Regardless of what you do and do not approve, I actually keep her safe—which is much more than what I can say about the rest of you."

"That's absurd," Hotohori said, "We do take care of Akimoto."

Miaka/Shokyoku scoffed in response. "Yeah…" Then they sighed, calming down a bit as they put a hand on their waist. "Tell me, how is it possible that, as a whole, you monkeys are more powerful than that of the others Aki had befriended in the worlds prior to this one, yet you all are completely incompetent?" The members of the Suzaku Seven couldn't come up with an answer fast enough to stop the simultaneous speech from going on. "I warned her against it, but she trusted you people. You might not think she did—she might not have believed she did—but she did." I trusted them? That part I didn't remember, therefore, it couldn't have happened. My memory was still intact and I couldn't recall a day when I trusted my life to those who seemed unfit. I was the only one worth of taking care of me—why would I trust others with something as important as my life? Given my personal circumstances, no one would have remained with me anyway. That was a simple fact. Shokyoku was only around because she had to be. If her mother hadn't assigned her and attached us, the whole situation would have been completely different. Having been born of my Darkness, if her mother hadn't intervened at all, Shokyoku might have not even have existed. "And for what?" She/they continued, "To have her so screwed up that we—I mean you—had to resort to taking away all of her emotions?"

Chichiri tried to intervene. "That's not—" But Miaka/Shokyoku held up a finger at him to hush him up.

"Superior being speaking—don't interrupt me." They returned to their point once she found that he had allowed her the floor. "You know, if I didn't hate you people so much, I'd give you a nice, big, shiny trophy made out to the 'Biggest Failures in Existence'." Saying this made Miaka/Shokyoku snicker, making them the only ones who found it clever. "Now, care to hear the reality of things?" No response. Miaka's caretakers were each trying to make sense of what the in sync girls were saying. "Okay, if Aki hadn't met you all, none of this would have happened. Her and I would have just gone about our own business and flew straight over this god-forsaken country without a care in the world, completely avoiding this pleasant interaction between us." This revelation prompted the others to straighten up and lower their fists and respected weapons, each of them looking down and away as they stewed in their separate thoughts. "Yes, I will not deny that the vast majority of this is Stella's doing, but as far as I'm concerned, you all are the ones who led the sheep to the slaughter. All of this Suzaku business…Aki never should have gotten involved." That last part was said a bit quitter than the rest, as if Shokyoku was saying t more to herself than the others. But was what she was saying true? Was my involvement with them was what got me into trouble? In a way, it made sense, I just hadn't thought about it that thoroughly.

"Now hold on second!" Nuriko spoke out. "We didn't force Aki to be with us, she chose to!"

Miaka/Shokyoku faced him. "Yes and in response to that, you all abused her kindness and became careless. Exactly how hard did you all try to save her?"

"We wanted to but…" Tamahome's sentence did decrescendo when it seemed as if his train of thought wouldn't have been an acceptable answer. The others seemed to have been having similar issues as they hesitated to speak as well.

"We didn't think that…anything like that would happen, ya know?" Chichiri said meekly.

"Typical, weak humans. Using any means you can to make your lives easier." Miaka/Shokyoku shook their heads and turned them away out of spite. "Expecting Aki to fix your problems and fight for you as if she was a bodyguard or a genie. People take advantage of her elusive good nature and willingness to make living in a world of suffering not so horrible. But when it comes to returning the favor, they leave her behind." Even with their heads turned away, the girls peeked at the Suzaku Warriors out of the corner of their eyes, indicating that her last comment was directed at them.

Back in Kutou, or even since then, I didn't think that I actually blamed them for what had happened—at least, not in the way that Shokyoku meant. I was the only one capable of fighting Stella, so it was my strength that was being tested. Something had been off with me that day, and I lost. If I were to blame them, or Miaka for anything, it would have been for getting in the way and distracting me.

I wouldn't make that mistake again. My current condition made sure of that.

"And where were you guys? Oh yeah! You were with your good-for-nothing Priestess!" Before the others even had a chance to rebut, Miaka/Shokyoku went on, pretending to have an epiphany. "Now I'm remembering, Miaka Yuki met you people, who brought her into this screwy prophecy. Aki knows Yuki who knows Yui Hongo, who knows Nakago, who knows Stella." Her last words held a bitter essence to them. "Funny how things add up, isn't it?"

"You can't base what happened on those points!" Hotohori told her. "There's no possible way we could have known something would happen to Akimoto. If you were as superior and all-knowing as you claim, then you should be well aware that we would have done everything we could to save her had we been more aware of the circumstances." He gave me a look then, but his expression was unreadable to me. It wasn't anger or joy, it sort of seemed like sadness, but it was different somehow… "If I knew that she was in trouble…I would have done anything in my power to assist her—perhaps even switch places with her." How foolish, to sacrifice your own life for someone else's? What a ridiculous notion. What was the benefit? Besides, as if anything he or any of them could have done would have made a difference. Had it been any of them against Stella, they would have been dead. Shadow Maidens were my territory, they shouldn't interfere—not if they knew what was good for them.

"Aki may not be part of the Suzaku Seven," Nuriko smiled as he tilted his head towards me—his pink eyes meeting mine, "but she is one of us ." My eyes reflexively widened as my ears caught onto his words. Oddly enough, my whole body—no, my chest—seemed to have pulsated and I…felt it? That shouldn't have been possible. The sensation lasted for only a split second, and then I was hollow once again. However, the surprise of what he said lingered on. She is one of us. He'd actually say that? …one of them?

No.

That wasn't true. It'd never be that way. Nuriko had told me that before and despite my protests then, those were the facts. For me to have gotten angry over what he said was nothing less than weak.

As I settled through my thoughts, Nuriko finished his point. "We already feel horrible enough about standing around and doing nothing while Stella got to Aki. But could you possibly kill the guilt trip and stop rubbing it in our faces already?"

"Tch. You all deserve to feel guilty." Miaka/Shokyoku's frown never lifted up. In fact, I didn't think it was possible for that frown to get any grimmer. "What you don't deserve is Aki. When I get the chance, I'm taking her away from you monkeys since you're obviously not responsible enough to have her."

"Who exactly do you think you are to decide that for her?" Nuriko asked in a somewhat calm tone with his arms crossed. "I know Aki, and she wouldn't take too kindly to a spoiled brat like you telling her what to do." His head hung down for a mere second, eyes averting the puppet. But then he came back in and added, "Well…on any other day she would have at least…" He chuckled. "I actually have no doubt that that cheeky sarcasm of hers would have told you off by now."

"Of course, that would have been after she tried to hide her temper and ended up having Wind blow us all away, ya know!" Chichiri's perked up reminiscent comment arouse a small fit laughter from the Suzaku Warriors, mostly muffled since it was supposed to be a serious moment. Why were they laughing anyway? The placement of that reaction seemed highly inappropriate.

Miaka/Shokyoku stared wide-eyed at them in disbelief as they joked around. Her/ their face reddened gradually as she/they started gritting down on their teeth so hard that I thought that would shatter.

Finally, they exploded. "DON'T YOU DARE IGNORE ME!" Miaka's voice projected and spread to where it rung in everyone's ears, almost instantly making them duck down and wipe away their grins. "How on earth are you monkeys so indecent that you'd laugh at a time like this?! Is this a joke to you?!" Shokyoku clung to Miaka's arm with all her might, being careful that her sudden outrage wouldn't make her lose her concentration.

Nuriko was the first to recover and deliver an answer. "You're not exactly making things easy for us. We already had enough stresses in our lives without you making things worse for us Shokyoku."

"We kind of just wanted to laugh, ya know? It's healthy."

Miaka/Shokyoku violently stomped their feet. "Unbelievable! If it weren't for the fact that Aki would be furious with me, I sooo would have destroyed you all by now." She/they spoke under their breath in a sneaky manner, turning their heads down and away. "Of course, I don't actually think she'd care much about it now…In fact, she wouldn't until she's come back to her senses…and you all could be gone by then…hmm…"

"Actually, most of my senses are functional," I corrected, even if it wasn't necessarily meant in that way. But I also figured that at some point, they'd ask about the characteristics of my condition. "Except touch—which would also mean that I can't perceive temperature either." Basically, I was just a consciousness floating around in a body that served no greater purpose than that of a container. "The ring that Taiitsukun gave to me to put around my head allows my mind to send messages to my arms, my legs, my head, and everything else that would usually move by normal standards, allowing me access to mobility unlike my previous state where I was confined to a bed." Miaka, in a sense, wasn't the only puppet in the room. In a way, I was both the marionette, as well as the puppet master. I was hollow on the inside, the ring served at the piece that connected the strings to the doll, and it was I controlling the different motions. Life had no meaning for me, I simply participated in the act, fulfilling the role I was given to perform.

"Chichiri told us that this was your decision," Tamahome said as more of a statement than a question.

"It was."

"Are you okay with all of this? With this new way to live?"

My eyes traced to his without turning my head. "I am neither okay with it, nor not okay with it. It's simply what is. Having an input based on anger, sadness, or happiness would be a waste of energy and completely in vain."

"See how messed up she is?!" Miaka/Shokyoku landed back into the conversation. "You all broke her! Even if you guys were to take that ring from her head, she still wouldn't be the same Aki that we came to know." She/they shook their head. "I would take her away from all this, but…too much of this is riding on the monk and the mystic old hag…because of that damn ring." Their voice became soft and mellow, as if she wasn't even trying to be confrontational any more. "I didn't want her to wear it—I hate it on her…but I had to put it on her. Aki…Aki begged me to. She couldn't just lie there in that bed the whole time. She was too vulnerable. They would have gotten her eventually if she just stayed there." "They" meaning the Shadow Maidens. I was a sitting duck just laying down to where they could get me in that pitiful state. Stella left us with no choice but to use Taiitsukun's ring.

A silence befell the demolished room after Shokyoku explained the stuck between a rock and a hard place situation that confined me to where I was currently at. Ever since Shokyoku possessed Miaka, all everyone was doing was confronting her and trying to make sense of everything. So now it was quiet, as if there was an unspoken stalemate going on.

After a few seconds of uneasy gazes, Hotohori spoke up in a calm, yet stern tone. "It's about time that you've left Miaka's body Shokyoku." She/they have him her/their attention. "You've got your point across to us. Now we'd like our priestess back, if you may." Shokyoku didn't answer him. It was looking like she no longer wanted to acknowledge any of them anymore. Taking a step forward and extending the arm holding his sword, Hotohori pointed the weapon directly at Miaka's face. "I will not ask again."

Miaka/Shokyoku smirked smugly. "Oh, you humans just don't know when you're outmatched. If it's anything other than moronic, it's slightly laughable." I was beginning to wish that people didn't beat around the bush so much—wonder where that came from… "You all couldn't defeat me if you tried. Besides, even if you were able to pull of that miracle, there's no way that you'd harm your priestess. Not only that, but knowing full well that I am a part of Aki would also give you a reason to think more intelligently about your next move." The emperor wavered, his arm trembling as he tried to figure out what to do. "You should also know that, without me, she has no other way to defend herself." She/they shot a knowing eye over to Chichiri.

At first, he didn't get the picture. But the light eventually clicked on. "Oh! Yeah…if I've gathered all the info here correctly, then Shokyoku is more of a benefit to Aki while she's in this state, ya know?" The monk's speech sounded strained—it was more than obvious that he didn't enjoy admitting that Shokyoku was correct. "Lady Taiitsukun still says that it's too dangerous for Aki to use her powers—"

"That's right monkeys, so you're stuck with me!" There really wasn't any more reason for Shokyoku to keep hold on Miaka. At this, I was sure that she was just playing with them, trying to bait their reactions. "Of course I won't make it a habit of talking to you all since Aki is really the only one I care about. But I will be around." She/they closed her eyes and smiled in victory.

Realizing that his intimidation method wouldn't be effective at this point, Hotohori returned his sword to its sheath. Shokyoku really was holding all the cards here. She possessed the one person they were responsible for. If Shokyoku were an enemy, they would have been backed into a corner—absolutely nothing they could have done. Well…except maybe kill Miaka. But their feelings would most likely stop them from even conceiving such an idea. Even if Shokyoku's persistence was unnecessary, it was effective. However, Hotohori did quickly come up with a plan that might chase her off.

"Very well then, if you insist on this travesty, then we have no choice but to continue forward." One of Miaka/Shokyoku's eyes popped open and their faces fell with discontent. Forcing the subject to change, he said, "We cannot be distracted any longer, I have a country to run, and as Suzaku Warriors, our priority is to turn our attention to the war—starting with the Shadow Maiden Stella set before us." He threw a curveball.

When my eyes were curious to see Shokyoku's reaction, I saw that both of her/Miaka's eyes were now open and their mouths dropped. "How dare you talk about your stupid Suzaku affairs when Aki is in distress!" I'm not in distress. "You don't care about her at all!" The little girl seemed so smart before, yet she was falling for such an obvious trap.

If my eyes were deceiving me, which I'm sure they weren't, there was a hint of a triumphant smile on Hotohori's lips before he wiped it off, returning to his authoritarian role. "That isn't true—I'm sure we've made it clear regarding our affections towards her. But time is of the essence."

Miaka/Shokyoku puffed their cheeks, steam practically shooting from their ears while muttering, "Honestly…why do I deal with you people?! I am done here!" The moment Shokyoku took her hand away, her knees bent inwards and her shoulders slumped from the exhaustion of maintaining the kind of concentration needed to keep her hand solid. Judging by her weakened state, it was looking like any minute longer on her feet and she would have slid to the floor. But apparently, she had more endurance than I was giving her credit for. She continued to stand on weak legs, glancing up with exhaustion towards the others. "So not worth it…" Now that Miaka was released, I returned to being the only one who could see or hear her.

Miaka's eyes blinked repeatedly, similarly to how one would do when dealing with a screwy contact lens. Her iris' colors were gradually matching again, returning to their olive green origin. She grabbed her head as her body bobbed sickly from side to side until she finally gave in a fell to her knees, not even trying to keep herself up anymore.

"Miaka!" Tamahome and the others came to her aid without even a second thought. Dropping down to her level, Tamahome gently grabbed the arm of hers that was holding her head so that he could better inspect her condition. "Miaka…Miaka, are you okay?"

"Are you…you again?" Nuriko asked.

"Yeah…yes…" She continuously tried to refocus back into the world she returned to. "I think so…"

Taking a deep breath, Shokyoku stood up straight, crossed her arms, and snapped her head away in a huff. "Good riddance!" She walked toward the gigantic opening that used to be a wall, stepping away from the reuniting bunch. "Let's go Aki—we're leaving." Taking in the scene in the room for only a few more moment, I complied with her whim. I took the same route around the warriors and their priestess as she did. Only unlike Shokyoku, I was visible to every eye in there.

Miaka poked her head past her protectors and spoke out. "Wait! Onee-chan!" My legs froze at her request, although I didn't turn to face her. Shokyoku stopped as well, peering back to see what the hold-up was. Her eyes instantly narrowed at the owner of the pleading voice. "Please stay…I need you, we all do." Her voice trembled lightly. "I know that Shokyoku's heart is in the right place. She cares about you—I could feel those intense feelings from her when she used me to talk to everyone. But…you shouldn't let her take you away. She might not agree, but you belong with us." I heard something similar to that before…when Nuriko said it. No matter how many times people said it, there was no possible way for that to happen. In all the other worlds, Taiitsukun told me that my role was only temporary. The particular piece of information that stuck was how I was invading in on people's lives. Whether they did or did not meet me mad absolutely no difference once I left. They all still went on with their lives and did fine on their own. The same thing was proving true for the Universe of the Four Gods. I wasn't a Suzaku Warrior, or any celestial warrior for that matter, I wasn't a priestess…it wasn't my world. My only mission was to look for the Shadow Maidens and deal with them…

And…

And…

Was there something else? How did I even begin this journey? A wish? A wish to find my true love and where I really belonged. That wasn't even a logical request—okay, maybe it was logical, just not probable. Wishes were unrealistic hopes. And was there any such thing as "true love"? How would I possibly identify something that seemed as fictional as any fairy tale? And to find a place where I really belonged? I really thought that it was impossible for there to be one specific location for a person to be destined to dwell for all eternity. It was just too unlikely. I didn't understand the appeal of working towards such an unrealistic goal.

So to answer the previous question of me belonging with the Priestess of Suzaku and her warriors: No, I do not.

However…

"Aki," Shokyoku tugged on my sleeve, "Their issues don't concern us."

I thought about that for a second and about what was mulling itself over in my mind from only moments before. "Actually, it does concern me."

She blinked at me in shock. "What?"

"You've pointed it out earlier. Miaka knows Yui, who knows Nakago, who knows Stella. Stella is our target, is she not?"

Cheeks becoming flushed, she looked away sheepishly. "I only said that before to make a point…"

"Maybe so, but they will ultimately end up encountering her again. And when they do, I need to be there." Which means that you have to be there. Perhaps my role in that world didn't belong with any of the Four Gods, but as long as Shadow Maidens were around, so would I be. Where ever Stella was, I needed to be there. This was the meaning of my existence. Besides, she was a threat to my survival, so she needed to be dealt with before the problem had a chance to elevate any higher.

When it appeared clear to the others that I was sticking around, I turned my body partly so that it would look more like I was contributing.

Lowering her arm and puffing her cheeks again, Shokyoku turned her back completely to the others and let out a loud, "Hmph!"

Miaka smiled at my decision. "Thanks Onee-chan." I don't know why she's thanking me—I'm not doing this for her.

"Well, now that it's more or less certain that Aki is still on our side, what do we do about what Stella said regarding Tamahome?" Nuriko asked. "They don't actually think that we'll hand him over, do they?" From what I gathered before making my official appearance, Shokyoku and I hear the gist of Kutou's ultimatum. It was either we handed over Tamahome without any resistance, or their army would crush Konan. I knew not why out of everyone, it was Tamahome they wanted, but nonetheless, this was quite the dilemma they put Konan's emperor and his Suzaku consorts into.

"Tamahome, you can't go—we have to stay together!" Miaka nestled her head under Tamahome's neck. "I don't want to lose Onee-chan and I definitely don't want you to leave either!" He wrapped his arms around her, bringing her closer for comfort. "What is with all these threats trying so hard to separate all of us?" I would have said that this was a case of "divide and conquer", but Stella did make it sound like if Tamahome went over to them, then they'd leave Konan alone. Tactically speaking though, nothing would get done in that case. They wouldn't be conquering their enemies and we'd lose a celestial warrior (making it impossible to summon Suzaku) while they'd recruit Seiryuu's other warriors (which in a sense would be a waste of time since they didn't plan on attacking).

Hmm…

While Tamahome didn't respond to Miaka's distress, as he was working through his thoughts, Nuriko added his input. "I understand your feelings in this Miaka, we all do, but I'm more concerned with how long do we have to be discussing things like this? I mean…after all…" He faced Hotohori who nodded in agreement at him.

"Yes, the Shadow Maiden's warning…" He held his chin in his hand while thinking. "Either Tamahome, or my country. We'd be submitting to them whichever path we chose, and they must know that they have caught us off guard. While he paced back and forth, I figured he was trying to think of something that wasn't in clear sight. And judging from the silence from the others, they were stumped as well.

Clenching a fist, Tamahome gently nudged Miaka out of the way and shot up from his spot. "Look, I don't want to be the reason why so many people will suffer or even die. If my going over there will lighten the load off of Konan, and keep Miaka safe, then I'll do it."

"We can't just rush into a decision like this Tamahome," Hotohori said, "it requires thought—some kind of an elaborate plan. I don't want to place Konan in danger and at the same time, I don't want Kutou to think they've won." Tamahome shot him an intense look, and, for a brief moment, it was as if they were telepathically debating as the rest of the world watched in wonder. Hotohori sighed. "I know where you're coming from and I share in your concern—perhaps even more so, but we have to be smart about this." As the emperor of Konan, Hotohori had no choice but stress about something like this. He had the burden of the entire country on his shoulders, and whichever way he decided to go about this, the consequences would have been his and his alone. So for his sake, and for the lives of thousands, maybe even millions of people, he better go through every scenario possible in his head and choose wisely. What will you do emperor?

Miaka's tearing eyes went from Tamahome and then to Hotohori, almost ready to display unnecessary waterworks. "There must be something we can do but…we can't give them Tamahome! I want him to stay her with me—with everyone! Having him go is not even an option."

Hotohori's expression softened at her. "Miaka…" He cleared his throat. "Nothing is finalized at the moment. Until we've all come up with a solution that we can agree to, actions will be taken." He spoke over to Tamahome. "Don't worry about things too much, we'll find a way past this."

"You're not doing anyone any favors by sugarcoating things," I told him.

Chichiri cocked an eyebrow. "What'dya mean?"

"Well this isn't the time to be saying not to worry when in fact, there is a reason for alarm when it comes to the state of this country. I've been in Kutou, seen their soldiers, and met their general. Though I can't say this in certainty, it may be safe to think that they have a ruthless and experienced army—perhaps even bigger than Konan's. I wouldn't think that it would be smaller. No, they wouldn't make that kind of threat unless they knew you knew the severity of the situation." Apparently, I managed to tug on a point that either no one thought of, or one that they were too intimidated to say out loud, thus admitting that Konan really was in trouble. In that case, they were trying to block out the bad news and were stuck in the habit as seeing the glass half-full. Sometimes people had the habit of ignoring the negative parts of their lives just to make themselves feel better. But being ignorant was the cowards way out, not to mention a waste of time. If there was a problem that needed to be done away with, then the most awful details could be the most helpful when trying to alleviate it. If these guys wanted to get out of this mess with the least casualties as possible, them they needed to hear what they didn't want to hear. Good plans have the facts.

Face displaying what seemed like intense pressure, Hotohori confirmed my argument. "I didn't wish to alarm you all, but Akimoto has brought up a valid point." He sighed. "Yes, Kutou's army is roughly three times bigger than ours, which would be putting us in a difficult position."

Nuriko gasped. "You're not serious…they're that huge?!"

"Umm…" Chichiri raised his hand as if this was a classroom and he was asking permission to speak. The only difference being that he didn't wait to be called on. "Not to be the bearer of worse news, but there's another issue, ya know? If Kutou's army does end up invading us, there's a particular area they're most likely to come through…" It didn't take too long for Tamahome to figure out what the monk was getting at. Stricken with complete, terrible shock, all of the blood in his face drained almost to a point where it looked like he would vomit at any moment. Chichiri noticed his friend's distress and hesitated a bit to drive further into his point. "Judging by your reaction, I guess you already know…"

Tamahome held up a fist and scanned around him for something—something to punch it seemed. But when he found that there was nothing in close range of his arms-length, he violently threw the fist down to his side and tossed his head over as if he were in pain.

Standing completely out of the loop, Miaka asked, "What? What's going on? Who would they attack first?"

Nuriko answered her. "Tamahome's home village." His…home?

The priestess's eyes widened as she gasped and brought her palm over her mouth and whispered, "No!"

"That village is right near the border," Chichiri told Miaka, "otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy for you to run off to Kutou when you did." Tamahome's family would have been the first innocent victims in the attack should they decide not to let him go over there. I didn't even know about his family. How did Nuriko, Chichiri, and Miaka? The only time I let them out of my site was when…

Still maintaining a couple feet off of the ground, I crossed my arms in expectance as Chichiri spoke. "So you really are planning on going off?"

Nodding my head, I told him, "Yup—what's got to be done has got to be done. If I don't get Miaka's best friend back, it could mean real trouble that I don't exactly have the patience to deal with at the moment."Or like ever."Tomorrow, you four will have to head back to Konan's capital. I'll need you to do me a favor and tell the emperor that I'm off on business and will return as soon as I am able to."

When I went to Kutou to try and get Yui back. Well, that would explain it. They must have visited his family or something in my absence. That village must not have been far away from the area I left them at since it didn't exactly take me that long to get to Kutou—flying or not. That theory alone was proven when Miaka managed to get there in practically no time at all the next day.

Continuing on with a shaking body filling to the rim with distress and what was probably a form of anger, Tamahome didn't know what to do with himself. If he continued to clench his fists any harder, there was no doubt that he'd draw blood soon. Now that the rules of the game had shifted a bit, it was becoming clearer that this decision couldn't be made with everyone else. It was personal thing and he had to work through it on his own. While Hotohori would be responsible on a general and reflective sense, the fate of Tamahome's family and potentially the country partially rested on him as well. What would he choose? Of course, I had my take on the whole thing, but this wasn't enough of my issue for me to give a more educated opinion. If they asked, then I'd throw my two cents in. Until then, I'd just reveal the facts and nothing more. The factor that grabbed my attention the best was which decision led me to Stella faster. That was my issue.

Everyone's concerns were clear. Having that said, all eyes looked to the emperor as I asked him, "You still want to take your time with this?"

Trying to rise above the atmosphere lathered in negativity, Hotohori switched the spotlight back onto him in order to keep everyone calm. "Nothing good will come from rushing into the storm. Our emotions are high and many of us may be potentially undergoing irrational ideas. But I assure you that if we at least sleep on it, our minds will be fresh from tonight's events and we can all come up with a concrete plan." He tossed a look in Tamahome's direction. "We will do something about this, I promise you. I'd never willingly let my subjects suffer, nor would I give our enemies that satisfaction."

Shokyoku scoffed at that. "Stella's going to get her satisfaction one way or another despite what these humans try. Whatever her agenda is, it's nothing they can handle without Aki's help." Kutou had Stella and potentially other Shadow Maidens on their side. If at any point they're going to fight in the war, then the humans were in trouble. And I'd be no use to them or myself if I couldn't figure out how to use Light. Taiitsukun informed me that Light was really the only thing capable of taking them down…and I hadn't discovered it yet, nor did I know how to even get there. And yet, I'd defeated them before…or at least, driven them off with something, but my mind wouldn't allow me to recall what. There was some type of barrier keeping the secret from me. If I could only rediscover whatever it was, then I'd be continuously victorious.

In the end, though, I'd still be able to at least defend myself or hold my own against them. Humans didn't have a clue. Celestial Warriors may have been better off than the average human, but everyone's luck runs out eventually. And the simple fact was that humans probably weren't created to knock back our kind.

"I still can't figure out why Stella's even helping out the humans over there," Shokyoku said. "Any humans really. Shadow Maidens aren't exactly the biggest fan of that species."

"Who's to say?" I didn't really care about the answer. My job was to take Stella out, not research her motives and life's story.

"Did you say something Aki?" I nodded at the curious Chichiri while Shokyoku gave him a "back-off" expression.

His face fell. "Shokyoku, right?" I nodded again, hearing the disapproval in his rhetorical question. Shokyoku's name popping up again pulled the group's attention back onto me once more.

Groaning in an exhausted manner, Nuriko complained, "Shokyoku again? As if we don't have enough problems." A vein on the little girl's temple convulsed. You could tell that she was sincerely trying not to claw the Suzaku Warrior's pink eyes out. "It's like the universe really hates us today."

"You think I'm a problem?" Shokyoku spoke with a low, eerie tone before completely exploding. "You don't even know how bad I can be—"

"Shokyoku is haunting an emotionless and unstable Akimoto while my country is being targeted by a lethal army." Hotohori walked up to me while casually holding his sheathed sword in his hand, unaware that he interrupted Shokyoku. An indistinguishable expression covered his facial features. "Suzaku must be testing my worthiness as an emperor." He then smiled while looking down at me. "I know this might not mean much to you right now, but as far as I'm concerned, you and Miaka are not only very dear to me, but I consider you citizens of this country." He was right, that didn't mean much to me. "Therefore, I will do everything to protect your well-being. And I believe that your well-being in in jeopardy as long as a bad influence such as Shokyoku is around you in your vulnerable state." I'm not vulnerable. Distracting himself with the issues of a single person was a bad move for an emperor to make.

"He thinks I'm a bad influence? Please!" Shokyoku pouted while visually shooting daggers at him. "I'm not the one responsible for putting her in this predicament." Her venting was to no avail, unfortunately for her, considering I was the only one around who could hear it. "Maybe he should swing the comment back around to himself." Then she uttered in a low volume, "Stupid human…"

"Perhaps you should be supervised until we can alleviate this problem—"

"No, it's not necessary," I told him. He blinked at me in mild astonishment. "Stop wasting your concern on someone who doesn't need it. I don't need you all to fight for me, I don't need you to fix my problems, I don't need your sympathy, and I don't need your protection." My expression was blank as I spoke, my voice in a slight monotone. "If you want to do what's best for your kingdom, then you need to lose the delusion that I'm somehow a part of the Suzaku equation. Your people will suffer as long as this displaced concern persists." Hotohori had to stay focused. He was emperor and there was no room for errors, not in the middle of war.

Lowering her head, Shokyoku's body shook vigorously. But before I could pin it as something serious, stifled cackling could be heard originating from her. Then she threw her head back and erupted in full-blown laughter. I blinked at her curiously. I said something funny? She was laughing so hard that she involuntarily wrapped her arms around her stomach and bent over.

"That…That was amazing Aki!" More laughter. "Way to tell him to back off!"

His hazel eyes becoming even more sorrowful, something softened even more on Hotohori's face as he examined me, not saying a word. Nuriko, however, averted my eyes as he killed the conversational pause. "She doesn't even get it…does she?" He asked to no one in particular. Shokyoku's laughing was still going on in the background, thought it was sounding like she was beginning to become tired of it. Even so, I was still the only one who could hear it.

Chichiri shook his head. "No, she doesn't…she can't, even if she wanted to, ya know?"

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Shokyoku got a grip on herself and cleared her throat. I still didn't understand how what I said even made her laugh like that—I wasn't trying to add any humorous elements into my statement. Well, whatever it was, it was over. She flipped her hair again as she stood on the border of the room and the outside. The remains of a huge smile still lathered on her lips. Snapping once with her fingers, she said, "Let's go Aki—I'm sure this meeting is over." As far as things went, the discussion was over, at least for us. Everything that concerned me had passed, therefore, I could leave.

I turned my back to the still growing Suzaku Seven and their priestess, tuning out anything else that they happened to utter that had absolutely nothing to do with me.

"Don't waste our time." A black, crackling surge of energy covered Shokyoku's small hand like a glove, and she immediately shot herself at the pair of guards positioned in front of my room. Being at such a close proximity to the child, they didn't stand a chance. The moment the attack made contact, their coloring momentarily flashed through a darker shade. A spontaneous and aggressive shockwave blossomed at the epicenter of her palm, sending the armored guards flying straight to the wall—the intense impact and effects of the spell had no problems knocking them out cold as their bodies peeled off the wall and onto the ground.

It had only been a few hours since the confrontation in Miaka's room. Shokyoku and I had only returned back to my room to rest and distance ourselves from the others. But now it was late in the night and there wasn't any doubt that they had relocated Miaka to a new, non-destroyed quarters, and everyone eventually separated, returning to their respected spaces.

No one had bothered to follow after me when I left, so Shokyoku and I were given peace for a little while. Nothing worth mentioning really occurred during the duration of time in between. But at some point, Shokyoku had told me that she had to do something important. Her form was beginning to fade in and out, without warning, adding to the urgency of her request. She didn't feel the need to tell me what was happening or where we were going, so I was kept in the dark. The thing we didn't expect was to discover two of the palace guards standing in front of my door—right on it really, as if they were there to keep us blocked in.

In fact, that was exactly what they were put there to do.

I tried to open the door, but the insisted on keeping us in until after sunrise, telling me that Hotohori wanted them to keep an eye on my actions and whereabouts now that I was mobile again. To him, staying trapped in my room meant less damage to the outside world and its inhabitants. While I wouldn't doubt that theory, it certainly wasn't their place to stop me.

Shokyoku slipped from my room without detection by the two guards, making it quite clear that she wasn't happy about the emperor's unnecessary interference. After a few shoves on the door, I was able to poke my head out and observe the little girl's tactics for alleviating the problem. The obstacle ultimately resolved with her knocking them out without hesitation. Upon opening my door completely, the unconscious bodies spilled over partly into my room. Hearing their faint breaths confirmed that they were indeed still alive, which was fortunate for them, I supposed, since I had no clue what Shokyoku's true intentions for them were.

Anyhow, there was no way to guess when they'd come to, so we had to take advantage of them being out if commission. On Shokyoku's orders, I grabbed the two guards by the back of their collars and dragged them off the porch, hiding them in some thick bushes directly across from my room. No one was likely to look there, and it would probably keep the other guards off our backs until we were through with our venture. The two of us quickly made haste as we traveled throughout the vast royal palace.

The activity in the palace was buzzing more than it would have on an ordinary night. Though things had died down since the initial pursuit of Stella, there were still more guards on patrol than usual. Hotohori was clearly taking caution to anything else that could possibly occur. Or perhaps it was more security to keep me at bay? It didn't matter. Shokyoku and I didn't plan on any more confrontations than were necessary. And after her attack on the soldiers, her form was not only flickering in and out, but lines of what looked like static interference crackled horizontally across her, similarly to those TV stations that were receiving bad signals. Her condition got worse after her attack on those two, and she couldn't risk wasting more energy on peons. All of this was helping to make things clear for me—Shokyoku was losing her connection to the outside world. Maybe she wasn't meant to stay out her for that long.

Just as we were about to round a corner, her tiny, sluggish body halted as mini gasps escaped past her lips. She weakly looked forward, and then around the corner. "Damn…I didn't think this whole thing through…" Just trying to make any part of her solid and physical took a bunch of effort from her, so who other than herself could possibly gauge how much she was giving when she was controlling Miaka? "I just remembered that she's probably not even there anymore…"

"She who?"

"Yuki." Shokyoku couldn't stand 99.99% of everyone she ever met or encountered, and Miaka was a part of that percentage. So why go looking for her? "It's really important that I find her, but it didn't occur to me until now that they'd put her somewhere else." She giggled feebly. "If I knew I'd be whacking my brain over this, I would have thought twice about demolishing her room." Instead of walking off with her nose high in the air, perhaps she should have done what she wanted with Miaka while she was still in our sights. Rounding back to the initial fact, I still had no idea why we were tracking her down. "Aki, sorry to ask, but could you please use your Aura Vision to see if you could spot her anywhere?"

I nodded once and closed my eyes. In the midst of the pitch blackness, silhouettes outlined with brightly illuminated halos emerged, some farther away than others. Each faceless form had specific color to their auras, some even changed in response , to different emotions or purposes. Some were clustered together, some were alone, and some, very few, were even walking around. But most of them stayed in their own areas and many were laying horizontally as they slept in their beds.

After a certain distance, it was difficult to trace the detailed outline of a certain person—in fact, it would be impossible at if I were expected to search too far away.

"So? Do you see her?" Shokyoku's aura was a non-surprising purplish-black, and while being at such a close proximity noticed the little details of it—how its energy was not at all still, but seemed to dance and flow unevenly, kind of like how the sun appeared on those close-up video feeds of it. However, it was peculiar to find how it was slowly dissipating. The flares were weak and not at all lively like the others I had seen. Her aura was like steam off a hot skillet in that it rose up and quickly disappeared. Which ultimately meant that it was true.

Shokyoku was getting weaker.

"Aki?" She tried again. "Do you?"

Opening my eyes to the more meticulous world, I saw her peering back at me with her eyelids drooping from weariness. "No. She's not in this immediate area. After about twenty yards, it's hard to tell who anybody is anymore." And it was a huge palace, Miaka could have been anywhere.

Shokyoku's shoulders suddenly dropped as she sighed. "That's just wonderful. Don't tell me that we're gonna have to search this entire place for her." A small roughness in her voice indicated that she was on the verge of tears. On the more positive note of that plan, we were to run into her at some point.

But I had thought of a better way.

"Nuriko, Tamahome, Hotohori, or Chichiri would most likely know of her whereabouts."

Her expression then turned sour, like she had just eaten something foul. "The last thing I want to do is bring more people into our business." You're already involving Miaka. She sighed again in defeat. "You know where their rooms are at?"

"Yeah, I think so." I at least thought I knew for a fact where Hotohori was. After that night he proposed to Miaka, some things just stick with you.

Attempting to straighten herself up, she struggled to show me a wide smile that caught me off guard. Huh? "Well then Miss Aki," she said with a bit of whimsy in her voice, holding out her hand as if presenting me. "Lead and I shall follow~!" Umm…okay? The abrupt shift in her tone was certainly unexpected, but that didn't change our objective. I'd lead her to Hotohori so that we may learn of Miaka's location…so that Shokyoku could do whatever it was she needed to do.

We resumed our walk, with me leading the way this time, down several of the many paths that made up Konan's royal palace. I didn't care for spotting the little details of the scenery or of the structures' columns or designs and such. The sounds were few, being mostly void of the hustle and bustle of the tenants and servants performing their daily routines. Every now and then, we had to avoid a few patrolling guards, but it wasn't anything major and we were always successful in not grabbing their attention.

My attention floated back to the guards we stashed away. It was evident that they hadn't been discovered since no other soldiers were in a frenzy looking for us. Still, it was best to not be seen and just stay under the radar as best as we could. Starting a riot would not have been an efficient usage of our time and energy. The only convenient encounter would have been if we ran into one of the Suzaku Warriors, or better yet, their priestess. But the probability of that specific event was pretty low considering it was still the middle of the night.

At some point, Shokyoku broke the silence and said, "Hey Aki…something's been bothering me for a while…and I'm not completely sure about this but…are you able to tell what other people are feeling?"

Without visually addressing her, I told her, "No, of course not."

"What I meant was…Oh, how do I put this…" She thought about how to phrase her next words carefully, but there was no need for her to elaborate.

"In my current state, it's impossible for me to fathom the complexity of the emotions that intelligent beings possess. I'm pretty sure that I'll never understand the affairs of the heart." I ceased walking and then heard Shokyoku stop as well in response. "Besides, it's not like I did a great job of that before…"

"Aki…"

"However," I continued, "I was born as someone who could feel emotions—I've seen them and have been taught at a young age the relation to facial expressions, gestures, and the kind of speech that equates to specific ones. Keeping all those factors in mind, I can, at the very least, point out the three basic emotions." My memory took me back to the instances of the night's encounters. "When someone cries and their cheeks become red and puffy from tears, and if there's a hiccup or unstableness in their voice, it usually means they're sad." A picture of Shokyoku from earlier came to mind when she was telling me how she never wanted any of this to happen to me. Her eyes were glazed over with tears as she spoke to me. "When someone smiles and laughs and their eyebrows are arched high and symmetrically, it usually means that they're happy." When I first appeared in Miaka's room as she was held hostage by Stella, not only did she seem relieved, she had a wide grin when calling out to me using that pet-name "Onee-chan". "And when someone begins yelling a lot, nostrils flared, eyebrows having a negative inward slope, fists clenched, eyes narrowed, and gritting or bared teeth, they're usually angry." Nuriko and Tamahome were good examples of that with their reaction to my spell that was aimed at Stella and was dangerously close to Miaka. "The point is, it's a basic need of survival to be able to anticipate your enemies' next move. They're less likely to be benign and much more of a threat in anger, and that's when I need to start preparing for tactics of defense and offense, preparing for anything. Had I not been born with emotions in the first place or acquired the knowledge of identifying them, then I'd be no better off in the world that that of a helpless and naïve child."

Shokyoku just stared at me for a few more seconds before softly saying, "Oh, that makes sense I suppose…"

Off to the side, my peripheral vision caught hold onto a flash of movement under the moonlight. My head snapped in that direction, but I was too slow in spotting the unanticipated guest. Was there even anyone there? I knew there had to have been. Were we being stalked? Or was it just someone passing by? If so, then why move so quickly? Like…they were hiding something, trying to avoid getting caught.

Seeing that my senses had caught onto something, Shokyoku curiously followed the line of my sight. She tilted her head. "What is it?"

"There was someone over there…"

"Are you sure?" Quitting her attempts to see what I saw, she just shrugged and crossed her arms. "Even if there was someone, who cares? Weren't we going somewhere? I'm kind of on the clock here." Despite what she was saying, my attention stayed oddly fixated at the anomaly. I had to check out who it was. If it was a threat, at least I'd be able to confront them before they had even knew that I had caught on.

The mysterious and elusive man leaped and sprinted through the sleeping palace, positive that one would detect his absence until the daylight hours. All he had to do was go over the wall and he was home-free. As he ran, he couldn't help but have his mind wander back to the maiden he left behind, sleeping blissfully in her room, thinking that he'd be the first person she saw when she woke up. It pained him to leave her, any minute he wasn't at her side felt like a thousand eternities. He wanted nothing more than to serve his duties as a Suzaku Warrior and protect the one he loved, feeding off of her warm smiles and the purity of her voice when she said his name…

"Tamahome."

He'd see her smile in his thoughts and his heart ached. When she woke up and discovered that he wasn't there, no doubt she'd be devastated and frantic to find him—she'd be scared for him, but she'd be strong. He knew Miaka and her heart was set on summoning Suzaku and saving Konan. But until then, he'd have to take it upon himself to save Konan—his family, his friends, Miaka—by giving himself up to the enemy.

It was the only way…

There, off in the near distance Tamahome could spot the perfect side of the wall he needed to jump in order in order to make his way to Kutou. But before he could make plans to scale over it, a lone figure leaned against the structure, her blank crimson eyes staring him down, almost as if she could see right through him. He gasped at her presence there, knowing fully well that it was too late to try avoiding her. Slowing down his momentum, the teal-haired Suzaku Warrior approached his emotionless friend, curious of how she was able to predict his actions and meet him before he could go through with his decision.

"Aki? What're you doing here?"

"If your goal was to avoid detection, then you failed," I told him. I wasn't completely sure it was him when I saw someone running out of the corner of my eye so I took a detour , strictly against Shokyoku's wishes, so that I might be able to cut him off, just to prove my unspoken hypothesis.

And I was correct.

Chuckling, he scratched the back of his head nervously while a slight blush appeared on his cheeks. "Well, I thought I was doing a pretty good job, but you singe-handedly proved me wrong. I'll make sure to improve on that." Once his laugh settled down, he dropped his arm and looked at me somewhat seriously, a small smile still hung on his lips. "So, I guess you're gonna turn me in or try to stop me now, huh?"

"Tch." Shokyoku sat cross-legged on the ground next to me, leaning her head in a palm supported by her elbow on her knee as she glared up with spite at Tamahome, her grey-scaled body increasingly flickering in and out. "What she should do is punish you for taking a part in ruining our night."

Ignoring her statement, I shook my head lightly. "Why should I? This choice of yours is, after all, the most logical means of action." His body relaxed upon finding that I wouldn't retaliate. "Leaving here to keep Kutou's army at bay while we remain here to search for the remaining three warriors is a good plan…that is, as long as you stay alive—otherwise, it would all be for nothing."

There was a slight pause before Tamahome busted out with a choppy, uneasy laugh while robotically patting my shoulder. "It's definitely gonna take time to get used to the new Aki's somewhat macabre sense of humor! Gotta love how you stay on the positive side!"

I frowned, trying to contemplate his reaction to my words. I was being funny again? Maybe people are catching onto a punch line that's going over my head… How can these people take me seriously if they laugh at what I say?

Once his laughter died down, I permitted myself to speak again. "At least this path you've decided to take is an effective one—unlike the hesitance that that weak emperor displayed."

"Hey!" All joking was completely out of his system now as his patriotic urgency kicked in. "His Highness is a great emperor and leader. He only hesitates because he wants to make sure that he makes the best plan possible—for his country and his people. I can't even imagine the kind of pressure he's under all the time, especially now. Man, talk about a life of stress…"

I raised an eyebrow at his outburst. "You defend the man who is your rival for Miaka's affections?"

Closing his eyes, he squeezed his fists closed before releasing the tension and exhaling. "Yes I do. I'm not threatened by his advances anymore. I know that Miaka loves me and that he'd be wasting his time with that—but don't change the subject!"

"Okay then," I didn't know what the big deal was—there wasn't much of a reason for him to get worked up like that. "Back on topic. If Hotohori wanted to do what was best, he would have taken the obvious choice by letting you go instead of trying to look for the easy way out by thinking of something childishly creative. Had the situation not involved a large army having the power to strike at any time, then sure, he could pace himself. But since this is not the case, better safe than sorry."

He opened his mouth to say something, but resisted, which was visually noticeable with the obvious strain on his features. Grabbing the back of his neck with a hand, he rolled his head to loosen some tight muscles. "Well, I can see there really isn't a point in arguing with you. Just promise me that you won't tell Miaka until morning. Or…let her find out whenever she wakes up. I'd rather she still sleep peacefully and without a worry while she can."

"Alright."

Normally, I would have said that the likeliness of me randomly walking up to her saying that Tamahome was gone was extremely low, but since Shokyoku and I were planning on seeing her, I figured his request seemed valid. It wouldn't have really made a difference to me either way if she knew. But he was right, she'd know soon enough.

"Aki," Putting both hands on my shoulders he stared straight into me with his violet eyes complete focused settled in its shine. "While I'm there, I'll do everything I can to get Stella to reverse what she did to you."

Shokyoku chuckled mockingly without giving him her full attention. "Hate to break it to you, but that's not going to do you much good. But by all means, confront her. Having you killed would certainly brighten my day."

He, of course, couldn't hear her death sentence for him. "We all want the old Aki back—we want you to be you again, with all your pleasant sarcasm, stubbornness, and all."

Without faltering, I said, "But I'm right here."

Then, the most peculiar thing, his eyes softened in almost the exact same way that Hotohori's did when he was talking to me earlier that night. The look was just so different than anything I was used to. It definitely wasn't anger, didn't exactly seem like happiness, there was a similarity between sadness, but it was different somehow. I just…didn't understand…

Out of nowhere, he placed his hand on top of my head rubbed it a bit as a more melancholic smile blossomed on his face—that odd look never leaving. "I should have went back to help youthe moment I was sure that Miaka was okay. I am so sorry Aki." Why apologize? It's unneeded and it doesn't change the past. It was just like a "what if" sort of thing. None of us could change what was. Besides, his interference with Stella and I would have ended up in his own demise.

He shouldn't be a fool.

His rubbing ceased, but his hand remained. "This whole patting your head thing probably would have been much more awkward if you had your emotions." His grin started to shed the sadness. "I have a feeling that you wouldn't like it much, so I might as well take advantage of your current mellow state!" I just stared at him, not knowing what the right response would be. Then he laughed softly. "Just kidding."

As he released me, Tamahome began to turn his back to us and facing the wall, leaving a small portion of the front of his body to be visible to me. "You, Miaka and the others stay safe, alright?" His head spun around while his eyes scanned for something. "Shokyoku, or whatever your name is," The little girl's cat-like eyes sharply shot to the corner as her addressed her, "please don't take Aki away. Miaka would be really upset to see someone as close as an older sister be absent in her life. She…can't lose the both of us."

Shokyoku gave her signature scoff while taking her eyes off him. "Stupid human…pretending like I give a damn…"

"Let's part ways on a more positive note," he said, no longer talking to her. "I'd like to see everyone together and in one piece when I come back." Crouching down for a split second, he launched his body into the air and landed flawlessly, like a feline, on the edge of the wall. He took one last look at the grand palace behind him and whispered something to himself with a far-off gaze. With his final glance at me delivered with a smile, I heard, "See ya," and then he was gone.

"Finally." Shokyoku picked herself up and fussed with her Lolita dress, trying to straighten out any wrinkles that might have formed. She took a few steps back towards the palace and our initial destination while her small, unstable body continued its steady deterioration. "Now that he's finished with throwing himself into the lion's den, we can proceed with what we were doing before—looking for Yuki."

And just like that, I resumed following the little girl on our search, almost as if we hadn't even stopped to confront Tamahome.

So now, the growing Suzaku members temporarily lost a member. They were being given time to search for the final three, one of which I already knew about, leaving two faceless identities. If no one screwed up, or as long as Kutou didn't go back on their word, which was a possibility (so they needed to act fast in order to ensure that Tamahome stayed alive), then Konan had a good enough chance at summoning their god and winning the war. That was fortunate and all for them, but my only focus was if all this assisting led me to Stella—otherwise, why stick around? It actually didn't make any difference to me who won or not. War was war, so someone had to lose—which meant that someone, probably a whole bunch of someones, had to die.

Suddenly, something in my brain sort of…clicked, causing me to halt prematurely on our search.

Shokyoku took notice and stopped again. "If someone else is attempting to break out of this palace, just ignore them."

"It's not that."

"Then what?"

I didn't know why, but I closed my eyes and activated my power to see auras. The many color-bordered silhouettes emerged in my sight of blackness once more, seeing past the concrete walls and other lifeless, inanimate objects. This time around, my scanning wasn't in vain. Right next to me, only a few yards away was the bright-green outline of a sleeping girl. To anyone else with the ability, the picture would have been nothing, but I'd known that particular shape long enough to think otherwise.

I opened my eyes and saw the solid, closed door to the occupied room beside me—the one I was just peering through. "Miaka is in there—"

"Thank you!" The tiny girl shouted and ran right through the door onto the other side before I could even blink.

For a few seconds, I was left alone standing conspicuously in a suspiciously quiet corridor. Shokyoku and I may have gotten lucky in the final stretch, not having to hide from any guards. But odds were that one of them would turn the corner at any minute, and Shokyoku said that we needed to avoid any more confrontations. So I grabbed the door knob and twisted it, gently pushing the door open to not wake the slumbering priestess.

I closed the door behind me, then lifted my head to find Shokyoku standing beside Miaka's bed with her arms extended and palms fanned open towards her. A black, almost smoky-like veil of energy covered the small girl's body as well as Miaka's, causing the sleeping one to stir relentlessly and whimper softly but without waking. The energy seemed almost alive the way it escaped Miaka's being and continuously migrated to join with Shokyoku's person, increasing her own power. Shokyoku was sucking—no, absorbing a part of Miaka into her, the result bringing back the healthier appearance she was meant to possess. Her breathing was steady once more and she no longer looked like her form was receiving bad reception.

The black energy of Miaka's thinned progressively, along with the link connecting hers to Shokyoku's. The dark purple-haired girl struggled to carefully sever the connection, lowering her arms slowly, allowing the transfer to safely complete itself. And then, it was complete. Miaka became suddenly calmed as she rubbed her cheek against her pillow, bringing a subtle smile to her peaceful face as she carried on with her undisturbed slumber.

Shokyoku rose up her arm and wrapped it with the other as she stretched her refreshed muscles. After dropping them to her sides, she faced me with a wide grin. "You have no idea how much I needed that, but I'm all better now!" I would have said something back, but I wasn't the invisible-to-the-rest-of-the-world Shokyoku. My voice might've work Miaka up. Shokyoku must have sensed my curiosity because she said, "I would've done it earlier while Yuki was in her original room with the others, but," She turned her head away and pouted her lips bitterly, "I really didn't want to listen to all those humans bitch about it. 'It' being taking her Darkness to refuel my own." So my hunch was pretty close. Her face returned back to normal as she faced me again. "Now that I'm not in my space since it's…uninhabitable at the moment, I have to find another valid source of Darkness in order to stay in this form that you see here on the outside world…or rather…I need it to stay alive." Her space…the Dark Ring. I had actually been inside it when we officially met for the first time a little while ago. I was at the center of that ring my whole life. For the longest time, she had led me to believe that she actually was the ring—that this, what was standing before me with the Lolita dress, long hair, and orange and turquoise cat eyes, was just her humanoid form . But from what I was hearing, the ring was actually her space—her home.

My lack of emotions drained the Darkness in me to almost nothing, so she wasn't being sustained the way she needed anymore. But…

"Why Miaka?" I heard myself quietly ask. Shokyoku lived in the ring made of my Darkness, so why take someone else's?

She giggled and playfully spun around on light toes. "Things are kind of…complicated with your system right now…as you can imagine. And…Yuki was the only other option." I cracked my lips open to ask again, but she interrupted and answered with a vague, "Don't ask me why cause it's a S-E-C-R-E-T!" Huh. There's that small urge at the back of my mind again…telling me to hit Shokyoku with something hard. I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow in self puzzlement. Where is that coming from? Shokyoku's hype managed to die down a notch. "The only downside to this whole thing is that Yuki's lack of all the Darkness I took from her will end up giving her good dreams while she's sleeping tonight. But~," She brought both arms to the back of her head and intertwined her fingers as a smug expression crossed her eyes and lips. "The moment her Darkness replenishes and she hears the news that her lover-boy is gone, she'll be sad in no time. So…everyone wins!"

"…"

Once morning came, the next chapter of the Suzaku Warriors and their Priestess's lives would begin. Depending on their strength and decision making, we'd see just how far they could actually go. With Tamahome setting the ball in motion, tomorrow could place the foundations for their victory, or utter destruction.

However way it played out, I'd complete my mission.

I will get my prey.

ATTENTION READERS: This is the Beta version of LH5W, if you want to read the official, updated version of the story, you'll have to go over to DeviantArt. com and head on over to my page. My username is Aloubell. You can also get there by going to my fanfiction. net profile which provides a link over there.
In any case, this Beta version is basically the rough draft of LH5W, my first attempt at it. Much of the plot points from this version will be the same in the official version, but there are significant and consistent characterization changes, a few (but very important) plot differences, expansion of past ideas, and overall better quality in storytelling.

All of this will be done over on DeviantArt. I no longer will write the story in traditional prose nor submit/update it here to fanfiction. net. The Beta version will remain here, just know that it isn't the 100% official story.
The official version will be written in a lazy prose mixed with play-writing elements (you'll get what I mean when you see it).
This is the new format for the story from now on.
So please head on over there if you're interested in updates to the story! Thank you for stopping by =D

-Aloe

PLEASE NOTE: The official version is being written somewhat out of order. The official version will start on chapter 46, the place where the Beta version left off. The official version will go on to complete the last chapters of Season 2. Once those are done, I will redo the story over again from Chapter 1 which will be the official version.

Having said that, if you choose to continue on reading, I hope you enjoy the Beta version and look forward to the official!