Kida: I freaking hate this chapter!

Kido: You've been a blubbering baby all day.

Kida: This chapter and the last one are why!

Kido: Please don't cry. I'm begging! DON'T CRY!

Tasuki: Kida Tenshi doesn't own Naruto or Fushigi Yuugi. Only Aika Hitsubasa and other OCs.

Within the pages of the Universe of the Four Gods, Nakago and Hotohori confronted each other on the battlefield. Mitsukake, wounded by Nakago in the attack, surrendered his life force in order the dead and dying might live.

"But they're hurt too. It's my duty as a doctor…to save as many people as I can," Mitsukake told him.

"Shoka! Shoka!" A woman shouted making Mitsukake's eyes widen slightly at the name. "Shoka, please hang on!" The woman said as she ran over to the doctor with her husband, carrying her child.

"What's wrong?" Mitsukake asked as he slowly got up and went over to the couple who had a child. Mitsukake looked at the baby wrapped in a blanket, showing her trouble with breathing. "I have no medicine for this," Mitsukake frowned.

"Doctor, please," the woman pleaded. Mitsukake took out the small jar Taiitsukun had given him.

"I'll give her this holy water," he stated as he held the baby in his arm. 'I don't have the strength to heal anymore people and this holy water may be useless….I will give her all of my life force.'

"Stop it! Don't go Mitsukake!" Chichiri shouted. The green light expanded throughout the Empire and Chichiri looked up, clenching his teeth as he cried under his mask. All the wounded soldiers and civilians of Konan were healed as Mitsukake died. A once wounded soldier opened his eyes, surprising two Kutou soldiers.

"I thought I killed you!" The soldiers shouted. The Konan soldier stood.

"Barbarian!" He shouted.

"I'll kill you again!"

"SILENCE!" Chichiri screamed, his mask gone as he glared with tears streaming down. "You will not fight here! He gave his life! Mitsukake sacrificed his life to save all of you! You should be ashamed! Leave! Leave this place! All of you! NOW!" He shouted at the soldiers as the civilians mourned Mitsukake. Mitsukake's blazed brightly and then died away. Meanwhile, in the real world, the Lady Aika and Tamahome were drawn into battle with Suboshi who had migrated out of the Universe of the Four Gods as well.

~0~

"Out of the way! Where's the fight?! Let us through!" A village ninja shouted as he and another ninja pushed through the crowd. "Who's fighting?!"

"Over here, sir! There they are!" A woman pointed. "They're killing each other!" Suboshi attacked with his weapon which Tamahome dodged, the weapon hitting the ground, breaking the rock. Suboshi jumped up as Tamahome glared at him. Suboshi went to attack again and Tamahome jumped out of the way. A street object was destroyed and rock fragments flew everywhere making people cover themselves.

"Are you going to fight me or run away, Tamahome?!" Suboshi asked as he landed.

"Tamahome! Get away! He'll kill you!" Aika shouted in worry. Naruto kept a hold on her to keep her from running out. Suboshi attacked Tamahome again and this time Tamahome blocked the hits with his forearms. Tamahome flipped over and did a round house kick on Suboshi. Suboshi landed on the ground.

"Dammit! My body won't move like it used to! I better lead him away from Aika!" Tamahome said to himself as he ran away from the group and Aika, holding his shoulder.

"You coward!" Suboshi shouted about to go after him.

"Hold it, kid!" A ninja said placing a hand on Suboshi's shoulder. "You're coming down to the station with us right now."

"Tamahome…" Aika murmured watching Tamahome's form. She then looked at the ninjas who were then attacked by Suboshi.

"Out of my way!" Suboshi shouted as the ninjas landed on the ground.

"No!" Aika gasped.

"You're not going to get away, Tamahome," Suboshi stated. He then took a ball of the wire. He smirked. "Go after him, follow him and punish him until there's not one limb left on him," he ordered. The ball then flew off after Tamahome. Tamahome saw it and ducked, the ball going through the glass of a shop. Tamahome saw the ball and started running again.

'That's a new trick. My strength won't hold out for very long. I have to think of something fast!' Tamahome thought as he ran. Suboshi then started running to.

"Suboshi!" Aika shouted. Suboshi stopped and turned to see Aika, Naruto, and Shikamaru. "Please, stop this! Think about what you're doing because brutality isn't going to help Yui!" She stated while Naruto and Shikamaru glared at the Warrior.

"Ha! It's you again. You're just asking me to kill you, aren't you, Priestess?" Suboshi smirked, ready to attack.

"Aika, you have to run for it," Naruto said as he and Shikamaru stood in front of her, kunais in hand and ready to fight.

"I'm not going to run. If anything, I'm going to help," Aika stated, kunai out and ready. Suboshi smirked and went to attack while the two ninjas and Aika were ready to do hand seals.

"Suboshi!" Tamahome shouted making Suboshi look over and smirk over his shoulder when he saw the blue haired boy running over.

"Tamahome!" Aika's eyes widened. Suboshi smirked when he saw the ball coming after Tamahome.

"Ha! Come and get it!" Suboshi shouted as he attacked Tamahome. Tamahome dodged it and went to Suboshi before jumping over him. "Trying to attack me with my own weapon? You can't fool me!" Suboshi said.

"Oh no?" Aika smirked, a hand seal in front of her with a scroll on her thumbs. "If Tamahome can't then how about me?" She asked. Suboshi's eyes widened when he suddenly saw Chuei gripping Suboshi's arm. Shunkei and Yuiren were gripping one of his legs while Gyokuran had the other arm.

"What's happening?!" Suboshi asked.

"A Ninjutsu of my clan. Ninja Art: Flaming Restraint! It allows fire to take form of anything or anyone and restrain my opponent. I chose Tamahome's siblings so you can see the faces of those you killed!" Aika glared. Suboshi's eyes widened as he saw the ball coming at him. Tamahome was surprised to see his siblings.

'Chuei…Gyokuran…Shunkei…Yuiren!' He thought surprised. The ball then went through Suboshi's chest and out his back. Aika's eyes widened seeing the ball not stop at Suboshi. She started to panic more when she thought the ball was going to hit Tamahome. The ball then stopped and Tamahome landed on the ground. The ball just fell and bounced a bit. Tamahome's siblings disappeared and Suboshi landed on his knees, holding his chest. Yui's engraved kunai fell out of his shirt, landing on the ground. Suboshi shakily picked it up, gripping it.

"Lady…Yui….Ami…bo…" Suboshi landed on the ground, dead. Aika covered her mouth and saw Suboshi fade away, the kunai laying on the ground.

"He vanished…" Aika whispered. She heard a groan from Tamahome and looked over with wide eyes. "Tamahome!"

"Tamahome!" Naruto called as he, Shikamaru, and Aika ran over to him.

~0~

The sound of a flute was playing from the house of Kaika, who was once known as Amiboshi, and his adoptive parents. Kaika suddenly stopped making his parents look over.

"What's the matter, Kaika?" Kaika's mother asked. Kaika lowered his flute and suddenly a tear spilled down his cheek.

"I…I don't know. I just…feel so sad," Kaika said wiping his eyes. "Like a great emptiness…like part of me has been torn away. No, not that, like a part that was missing rushed in and filled me up. What a strange feeling. I wonder what it was. Well, it's over now. I feel fine. I really do," he smiled.

"I hope so. Maybe you're disturbed by the fighting. Konan and Kutou armies continue to devastate the country side with their war and many lives are passing on," Kaika's father said. Kaika's mother smiled as she got an idea.

"I know, Kaika. Play a song on your flute for them and let's all pray that the war will end very soon," she said. Kaika smiled at his mother.

"Yes," he agreed before he started playing his flute again.

~0~

Koji stabbed one of the Kutou soldiers, killing him.

"Genro! You still alive?!" Koji shouted, looking at his best friend as they all fought to protect the Konan Empire.

"Damn right I am and it'll take more than a rinky dink war to kill me!" Tasuki smirked at his friend. "Eh?" He hummed looking over in another direction.

"Now what's the matter?!" Koji asked. Tasuki looked at him then back in the direction he had been looking at.

"I don't see his Highness anywhere on the battle field," he said with some concern for his fellow Warrior.

~0~

Hotohori had followed Nakago to another area, both on their horses.

"So you must be the one, the famous General from Kutou. Or perhaps I should say Nakago of the Seiryuu Seven, correct?" Hotohori asked with a glare.

"None other and I know you, sir. You are Saihitei, Fourth Emperor of the Konan Empire, is that right? Or, would you prefer that I call you Hotohori of the Suzaku Seven?" Nakago smirked as Hotohori's eyes widened slightly. "It's admirable that you, lord of this realm, have come to fight for your country, even if you did only come here to die. If you had remained in the quiet safety of your palace, you might have lived to an old age. I will retire my armies now."

"What?" Hotohori asked shocked.

"The naval and ground forces of Kutou are completely concentrated in this area. It would be an easy feat for me to squash Konan and utterly destroy it, but now my intensions have been modified. I'm not interested in Konan, it's not as compelling as it once was. In order to take control of this world, my objective was to first unite the four kingdoms of Konan, Hokan, Sairo, and Kutou. However, I've recently discovered another world that even more vital for me to control. Now that there's no advantage in allying myself with that foolish Emperor of Kutou, it's time for me to instigate my plan and make it a reality," Nakago stated.

"Your plan?"

"Why do you think I brought so many troops to fight against you even though you have lost the power of Suzaku? What do you suppose would happen if I, their leader, ordered those tens of thousands of soldiers to attack my land, Kutou?" Nakago asked making Hotohori's eyes widen. "The Emperor only has a few thousand of his imperial guards protecting him in the capital. A nation in which does not possess the hearts of its people is as precarious as a castle built on a hill of sand, it is doomed to crumble quickly away," Nakago told him. The sword shook in Hotohori's hand as he shook with anger.

"This war, you are fighting solely to distract the Kutou Emperor?! For that selfish reason alone, tens of thousands of civilians have had to die?!" Hotohori glared at him.

"Why should you care? An enemy nation will be annihilated. You should rejoice," Nakago said coldly.

"It seems to me some recent distraction has compelled you to alter your plans. This world you wish to conquer, can it be…?" Hotohori trailed off making Nakago smirk.

"I'll be sure to send your regards to your Priestess when I run into her," he said. Hotohori's eyes widened as he thought of Aika.

'Aika…Tamahome….' He thought before glaring. "You wouldn't. And as long as I live, I will not allow you to violate Aika's world or come between those two!" He shouted as he charged to attack Nakago. Nakago made an energy ball with his life force.

"Imperial fool," Nakago said before attacking. Tasuki and Koji gasped as they heard an explosion making them snap their heads over. Chichiri had heard it too and grew worried. They then saw it.

"Your Majesty! No!" Chichiri shouted. Some of Hotohori's armor broke off and his hair fell down around him. His sword absorbing a bit of the power.

"Suzaku, I serve you fore defy my will!" Hotohori shouted. It's then Hotohori stabbed a stunned Nakago. Nakago then glared and used his power on Hotohori making the young Emperor of Konan fly back. "Ai…ka….Aika…." he whispered.

~0~

Aika, Naruto, and Shikamaru got Tamahome back to Aika's home. Now Tamahome was resting in bed. Aika's breathing hitched as she snapped her head to the side.

"What? What is it, Aika?" Naruto asked concern.

"Nothing…I felt like someone was calling to me," she said to him. Naruto nodded then looked at Tamahome.

"He's badly bruised and scratched, but I don't think any bones were broken," Naruto said to her as Aika looked at Tamahome with worry.

"Tamahome…" she whispered. "We won't send him back into the book like this, will we? Naruto, will we?" She asked. Kakashi had shown up after hearing what happened.

"Sorry about that Kakashi-Sensei. My friend had a little bit too much to drink," Shikamaru lied, rubbing the back of his neck. 'Why am I the one apologizing? How troublesome,' He thought lazily.

'I can't ever go back into the Universe of the Four Gods because Yui wished it. And if we send Tamahome back, we'll never get to see each other again. I can't stand it, but inside the book, they need us. What should I do?' Aika thought desperate to help.

"Aika?" Shikamaru asked from the door way after Kakashi left. Aika looked over. "Got a minute?" He asked earning a nod. She walked out of the room and closed the door before Shikamaru showed her the book. "The Four Gods book. I've been reading about the latest events," he said handing her the book with a frown. "Mitsukake's already dead and at this very moment, Hotohori's on the verge of death," he said making Aika's eyes widen in horror. "Maybe you can reach him, your voice might be able to make it there. Here, this part," he said showing her the page. He frowned more as he saw her shaking.

"Mitsukake…Hotohori…..Hotohori," she whispered with tears in her eyes.

~0~

Chichiri, Tasuki, and Koji got Hotohori away from Nakago and were now sitting at his side. The soldiers sat around them, looking at the Emperor.

"Hotohori," Aika's voice rang in the air. Hotohori opened his eyes.

"Aika…Aika's voice…is coming from the sky…" Hotohori said making the others' eyes widen.

"Hotohori! Tasuki! Chichiri! Do you hear me? It's me!" Aika said.

"It's true! Aika, what happened to you? Where are you, huh?" Tasuki called looking at the sky with Hotohori and Chichiri.

"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry! I can't get back there! I can never go back there again!" Aika said, her voice thick with tears. "How can I help you now?"

"Aika…the Kutou army…has withdrawn…Konan is safe. We are safe now….I regret…only one thing. I tried…but I couldn't stop him…so he's still alive," Hotohori said, only able to murmur.

"Who? Who's alive?" Aika asked him.

"Tamahome…has to kill him…tell him….You're the only ones…who can do it…" Hotohori murmured.

"Your Highness, please don't talk anymore, ya know," Chichiri said with worry. Niko meowed in agreement.

"Hotohori! Please, don't die! You can't die like this! You can't! Because Houki needs you and we all need you!" Aika cried.

"Yes…that's right….Houki is waiting for me…I cannot die…before I see my son's face….He will be a Fifth Emperor of Konan…." Hotohori said thinking of his wife and son.

"Hotohori…yes, that's right. And he will look just like you. She will have a beautiful baby boy. So hang on," Aika said as a tear feel out of the sky.

"Aika…we will all meet again…beyond worlds and beyond time. Beyond life, we will surely…all meet again," Hotohori smiled a bit. Chichiri saw him taking out a piece of paper. It was the photo Aika had taken before the journey to Hokan. "Being with all of you…has given me such joy. Aika…" he whispered tracing her smiling face in the picture. "Knowing you…has taught me to live….Aika…" he whispered. 'Aika…'

~0~

Aika remembered her times with Hotohori. When they first met and she accepted the role as the Priestess of Suzaku. When she was announced as such. Then when she talked to him about how you can't force someone to change how they feel, it was a lessoned he learned and carried in his heart. Then the time he slit his wrist when she needed blood. Then the time where he and Tamahome helped send her back home. Then when they soon made it back to Hokan after Taiitsukun had rescued them from Kutou, how he hugged her. Then how he came into her room to save her when he thought Tamahome was doing something to her. Then it came to when they were in Choko, when Aika had caught the plague. Hotohori had to be willing to kill her, but in the end, he couldn't due to his love for her. Then it came to when Tamahome came back under a spell. Hotohori was ready to fight him. She then remembered the day he declared his love for her, but said he understood her love for Tamahome. He told her about the story he had heard of the Priestess of Suzaku when he was holding her in the sweet embrace.

"The Priestess of Suzaku? What is that?" Young Hotohori asked.

"According to ancient legend, the character, which appears on your Majesty's neck, marks you as one destined to be the protector of the Priestess who shall come from another world and summon the power of Suzaku," his councilor had told him.

'The Priestess of Suzaku, a girl who will appear from another world. Maybe she will be able to save me from the loneliness I feel. Maybe she will love me as a person and not just as the next Emperor, but as a man surely,' young Hotohori had thought.

"Hotohori…" Aika whispered with tears. "Hotohori…"

~0~

Everyone was bowing to the fallen Emperor, morning him.

'I loved you…be happy…'

~0~

Aika collapsed to her knees.

"You lied to me. You said you wouldn't die," Aika said before softly sobbing, the book on the ground. Her tears fell on to the pages. "You said that you wanted to live to see your son's face, didn't you?! You lied!" She cried.

~0~

Tamahome slowly woke up and blinked his eyes to get them to focus. He then saw Naruto who had a small smile.

"You awake?" Naruto asked.

"Where's Aika? Where is she?" Tamahome asked, worried for his beloved.

"Don't worry. She's fine," Naruto assured.

"She is? Thank goodness," Tamahome said with a relieved smile. Naruto smiled before he frowned.

"Tamahome, I need a favor. Don't tell Aika," Naruto told him. Tamahome looked at him curiously when he saw the serious look. "Would you please…go back into the book by yourself?" He asked. Tamahome's eyes widened and he sat up.

"Naruto…."

Kido: *Anime tears* H-Hotohori...

Kida: My favorite Emperor! *Anime cries*

Kido: Why is it that the good ones die?! Dammit Yuu Watase!

Kida: Tell me about it! I hate acting like a blubbering baby! W-we hoped you enjoy. Please favorite and comment.