We'd all gone up to the Sand Village to see Toki and visit Suzuno's grave. And Aika and Tamahome had finally gotten the chance to spend some time together. They settled into a normal, peaceful life. At least, that's what we thought. Then, in front of the grave of Tokiko Okuta, the Priestess of Genbu, Tamahome disappeared.

~0~

Kiba and Sasuke walked over with stacks of papers in their hands, bringing them over to the table that Naruto, Toki, Akamaru, and Kurama sat at.

"And there's still a ton more!" Kiba exclaimed making Naruto and Kurama groan.

"Why can't something just be simple for once?!" Kurama exclaimed. Toki looked down one of the papers and his eyes narrowed.

"Are you certain she's in there?" A man asked as he helped them.

"She was there, that's why we're looking," Sasuke stated. Kiba then took the guy by the collar and pinned him to a wall.

"What if Yui disappears next?!" Kiba asked while Akamaru growled in agreement. Naruto came up and pulled Kiba away.

"Take it easy, Kiba!" He shouted.

"Calm down, dog-brat!" Kurama growled.

"Let's go to Tokiko Okuta's grave and check it out ourselves," Toki suggested making the blonde and brunette blink. They all then left to go to the gravesite.

"You think we might find something we're at the grave?" Naruto asked Toki before they soon made it there. Toki walked up to the gravestone and started inspecting it. He looked behind it as well.

"Just as I thought. It's disappearing. No doubt about it," Toki told them. Sasuke's, Kiba's, Kurama's, and Naruto's eyes narrowed while Akamaru looked down.

"Aika," Naruto murmured, worried for the girl he thought of as a sister.

~0~

Tamahome was sitting on a rock, right outside the house, listening to the crickets that chirped in the night. He was thinking about all that's happened since he got back.

"Lord Nakago. Lord Nakago?" The girl, Kaen, asked getting Tamahome's attention. "Your evening meal is ready," the pink haired girl said. Tamahome turned away. "Not eating isn't healthy, Lord Nakago." Tamahome stood, glaring ahead.

"Don't call me Nakago," Tamahome nearly snapped. He sighed. "Please. I'll come now. Only please, don't call me by that name," he said to her as he looked up at the full moon. Kaen frowned at the request. Soon Tamahome came with her to eat dinner. A maid poured him some water while Tamahome rested his chin on his fist. The maid bowed before walking away. Tamahome looked over at the pink haired girl who sat across from him. "Kaen, that's your name, right? Tell me again, how did this character get on my forehead?" He asked. Kaen looked at him with a frown.

"Nakago…I beg your pardon. When you destroyed the Suzaku, when you defeated their Warrior, the one they call Tamahome, in the decisive battle. You were going to fulfill your wish and bring peace to this world, but you fell into a deep sleep. And now, even though you've been revived, you're not yourself. Somehow your memory has been switched and exchanged with Tamahome's," she said looking down. Her eyes then widened when Tamahome stood quickly.

"I don't believe any of that! I am-I'm Tamahome of the Suzaku Seven! My friends and I fought the Seiryuu Seven and with my own hand, I pierced his side! My hand…" Tamahome's hand turned into a fist. "I can still feel the warmth of Aika's hand. It's not an illusion! It's the truth!" He exclaimed while tears came to Kaen's eyes.

"Then kill me! You should if I'm lying to you. You can kill me the moment you know for certain I am!" Kaen cried making Tamahome's eyes widen. "It would be a simple thing for you to do! Only please, please don't give up! You have to take care of yourself. I know this must be difficult but please, eat and take care of yourself," she pleaded. Tamahome sighed a bit and ate his dinner. Once she calmed down, Kaen poured a small bowl of sake. She then added something to the drink. "I think this will ease your nerves and help your wounds," she said as she stirred it. "Me first," she said before sipping the alcohol which surprised Tamahome. "Poison testing. If you genuinely distrust me so much, then I must do it," she said before a tear of hers fell into the sake.

"Kaen," Tamahome murmured. Being the kind guy he was, he stood up and grabbed the bowl of sake then drank it. He wanted to be polite. He set the bowl down. "A lot has happened. All of a sudden, nothing made any sense to me. You're right. I'll get some rest and then start with a fresh perspective." Kaen smiled.

"Yes."

~0~

The bird chirped at the nice morning and two people were walking down the street.

"I'm worn out!" Tasuki whined after groaning as he walked with Chichiri who had Niko in his shirt. Chichiri stopped and looked at him, sighing.

"You have to walk a little faster, ya know," he said to his friend.

"No!" Tasuki groaned. "How much further before we get to the next village anyway, eh?" Tasuki asked, sulking.

"Assuming a person walks at a normal pace, they'd reach it by nightfall, ya know!" Chichiri replied giving him a pointed look before he went back to walking.

"Nightfall?!" Tasuki exclaimed before groaning. He then sat down on the ground. "Come on, Chichiri. Take your tunic off, spread it out, and just pop us over there! Then we can spend the rest of the day at an inn where we can get a few drinks with some pretty girls, huh? 'Hey, fella, you're so handsome, I think I'm in love with you!' 'Oh, I'm just a wondering traveler, ya know! If you get involved with me, I'll just break your heart, ya know!' 'Oh, you would not, you big meanie!'" Tasuki said acting as a woman then acting as Chichiri. Chichiri then threw a rock at Tasuki, getting him in the head. "Ow! What's the big idea?!"

"Quit acting like an idiot and start walking!" Chichiri shouted.

"No! I won't! And you can't make me!" Tasuki shouted, sounding like a child. He laid on his back and started throwing a temper tantrum like a child as well. "I won't! I won't walk so forget it!" Chichiri and Niko sighed until Chichiri's head snapped to look behind him.

'That's…Tamahome's aura,' he thought.

~0~

Kaen disrobed herself, leaving her in the nude. She was in Tamahome's room where Tamahome was sleeping.

"Lord Nakago," she said making Tamahome turn to look at her. His eyes then widened when he saw that she was naked. "I'm here for you. I'm not as good as Soi, but I can build up your life force. We have to bring back your old awareness and memories as soon as we possibly can," she smiled at him.

"Please get out," Tamahome said as he sat up and turned away, shocking her. "It's all right. Just leave me alone. I want you to leave, please," he said. He didn't hear her move at all. "I said leave!" He ordered, not having a choice. He heard her pick up her clothing and run out. What he didn't know was that outside, Koji and his bandits saw Kaen run out of the room.

"Well, well, barely home and already fooling around. Welcome home…Nakago," Koji smirked.

~0~

Aika lowered the picture and looked at Naruto who had finished changing and was now putting on his normal jumper jacket.

"Naruto, this is…" she trailed off.

"Yeah, Tokiko's grave," he replied.

"But when we saw it last time…."

"That's how it is now. By tomorrow it will probably be even smaller. It means someone has definitely opened the Universe of the Four Gods. That's why Tokiko's being erased from existence. It's like she never lived in this world in the first place," Naruto said as he started unpacking his bag. Aika's eyes narrowed a bit as she looked at him.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Oh, hey, look what I got here. Some Nanbu rice crackers. Eat 'em all if you want," Naruto smiled as he handed the box of crackers to her.

"Wha-? What are you talking about? Why are you acting so strange at a time like this?" Aika demanded.

"Because I have to do something," Naruto said getting up and kneeling in front of her kneeling form. "I'll find a way to get the book back no matter what and to rescue Tamahome and you, Aika. What should you be doing in a time like this? Sitting around crying? No. No matter what happens, you have to eat and to keep your strength up. Because you, the normally strong girl, are the unconquerable Priestess. No one can defeat you," Naruto said softly and confident to her. Aika felt tears in her eyes at his words.

"Oh Naruto," she murmured before hugging him. Naruto held her close to him as she softly sobbed into his jacket.

"Don't give up, you hear me?" He asked her. Aika nodded in reply. Suddenly the room started shaking. "And earthquake?"

"It's a big one."

"Yeah," Naruto agreed. Downstairs, the phone was ringing. The quaking stopped and Naruto answered it.

~0~

"Hello?" Naruto asked.

"Hello, Naruto? It's me. Is Yui over there at Aika's house?" Kiba said from the other end.

"No, she's not here."

"I can't seem to reach her. I left a message on her answering machine, but she didn't call me back. I'm worried about her. She seems so tired lately," Kiba said. Yui opened her eyes and they glowed green.

"This has all been such a strain on her. We have to cut her some slack," Naruto told him. Under her bed there was a green light.

"Yeah." The book floated up as she entered her room. The book then opened and glowed more and the hypnotized Yui stood there before she was taken into the book. The book was left lying on the floor with Yui nowhere in sight.

~0~

"Let's knock off for today. Come on, Kaika," Kaika's father said as Kaika worked in the fields. Kaika smiled at his father.

"All right. I'm starving!" Kaika said after stretching a bit.

"I sure wish I had a son like that who worked so hard. I'm jealous," one of the men said.

"Well, you should be. He's the most handsome man in the village too," Kaika's father said proudly.

"Father," Kaika groaned a bit making the men and his father laugh.

'Brother,' Kaika suddenly heard making his blue eyes widen. He soon left with his father and they made it home.

"Mother, we're home. Oh, that sure looks delicious," Kaika's father said as he walked in and over to his wife.

"Well, I hope it is. How is your day? Isn't Kaika with you?" Kaika's mother asked.

"He's in the barn," Kaika's father replied.

"What's he doing in there, dear?" She asked confused. Time passed and Kaika walked in. "Oh, hello, Kaika," she smiled as she looked at the door. Her eyes then widened when she saw the boy in his old clothing, holding his flute. "Kaika…"

"You're wearing those garments," Kaika's father frowned.

~0~

The bandits let out battle cries as they rushed to attack Tamahome who dodged. Tamahome then punched one of them in the gut before taking him down. Another guy jumped up and went to swing his sword until Tamahome jumped up and kicked him down. Two the maids were huddled in a corner, hugging each other. They both let out screams as the bandit landed on the table by them.

"Lord Nakago!" Kaen exclaimed as she ran in. Two daggers pierced the wall.

"Get back!" Tamahome shouted. He then kicked one of the bandits out the window. He ran forward with a battle cry and punched a guy out the door. He looked over to see Koji standing there, arms crossed.

"You're doing this the hard way. What about those deadly blasts you specialize in, Nakago?" Koji smirked at him.

"You there, who are you? Why are your thugs trying to kill me?!" Tamahome demanded.

"Oh, so now you're playing dumb. Now you can tell me somethin'. Who wiped out the bandits of Mount Reikaku? You have plagued us enough!" Koji shouted.

"The bandits of Mount Reikaku? Tasuki's guys?" Tamahome asked shocked. Koji drew his sword.

"Now for Genro, I'll have my revenge!" Koji shouted before going to attack.

"No! Don't do it!" Tamahome shouted at him.

"YOU MUST DIE!" Koji yelled. Tamahome brought his hand out.

"But I'm not him!" Tamahome told him before his hand started glowing blue with an energy ball which stunned him. The energy ball then went to Koji and some parts came out, going to the other bandits. The lights pierced through the bandits and they were killed. Tamahome stared at his hand with a horror stricken face. The remaining light flies to the sky and disappears.

~0~

The mother dropped the bowl of food, the bowl shattering as the mother backed up to her husband.

"Oh, mother," the father frowned in concern as he had her sit down in a chair. The boy then turned and started walking away. "Kaika," the father called. "You'll be back soon, won't you?" He asked with hope. The boy stopped and went to walk again.

"Kaika," his mother said making him stop. She gave a teary smile. "Be careful. Take care of yourself. I'll be praying for you. Don't do anything too dangerous," she said before crying into her husband's chest. The boy looked down before he darted off, running away from the house. "Kaika! KAIKA!" She cried making the boy squeeze his eyes shut as he kept running. It pained him to leave like that.

~0~

"Tama…home?" Koji asked with a pain filled voice. He then smirked a bit. "That's funny." Tamahome was kneeling beside him. Koji had been severely wounded and his blood was leaking into the lake.

"Koji, tell me, the way I look, do I look like Nakago to you?" Tamahome asked him.

"That blue life force blast…and the mark on your forehead," Koji let out a pained chuckle. "You really think you're Tamahome. There's no doubt in my mind…you are Nakago!" He said making Tamahome's eyes widen. "Chichiri…my friend, Genro…and so many other innocent people…you killed them all. Fifty years, that's nots. It happened a year ago!"

"But he…in my memory, Nakago had blonde hair. He did, didn't he?" Tamahome asked.

"Hey," Koji said making Tamahome look at him. "Give me a hand here."

"Yeah, sure," Tamahome said before helping him sit up. Koji groaned, but he expect the pain that he felt. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to do that." Koji's eyes opened.

"The one with blue eyes and straight blonde hair," he said before grabbing a fist full of Tamahome's hair. "That was Tamahome! I won't be fooled! How can he possibly be inside of you?! I'll never forgive you! I'll take you with me when I die!" He shouted as he lit a bomb and held onto Tamahome who was shocked. It's then there was a large blast that enveloped them.

"Nakago!" Kaen shouted. She then smiled when she saw a blue light that was around Tamahome, his symbol glowing. Tamahome looked down at his reflection in the lake before looking over at the house that he started walking back to.

"Kaen."

"Yes?" Kaen asked as Tamahome reached her.

"Bring me more of that wine," he ordered as he walked to his room.

"My Lord. As you wish, Lord Nakago," Kaen smirked as she bowed. She suddenly turns into Tomo who cackled. "I will bring you the wine, my Lord. With the Kodoku," he smirked before cackling.

~0~

The doorbell rang. When no one answered, the bell was wrong again. The door then opened when no one answered.

"Hello? Yui?" Aika's voice rang throughout the house. "Yui, I'm coming in," she said walking into the house. "Yui, are you alright?" She asked as she made it to Yui's room. "Yui-?" Her eyes widened. 'The book.'

~0~

Tomo cackled.

"Oh Tamahome, why are you so disconcerted? Except the cup you're offered. Although, you really shouldn't drink so much," he said before cackling again. Tamahome was sitting against a wall, holding a jug of alcohol. He was still dressed in the clothes he came in when he first came back to this world.

~0~

Chichiri jumped down and landed on the ground gracefully. Tasuki…not so much.

"OW! Cut that out! Why did you suddenly fly us out here anyway?!" Tasuki asked with a growl. Chichiri stood up. "'We'll get there by nightfall at a normal pace, ya know.' Who the hell ever said that?! Hey! Are you listenin' to me?!" Tasuki asked spazzing out.

"It has been a long time," Chichiri said, his voice completely serious. Tasuki blinked and looked over to see Amiboshi. "What do you intend to do? Can you answer that?"

"A-Amiboshi! Wait a sec! That's not right! It's, uh, Kaika, isn't it?" Tasuki asked rubbing the back of his head before going over to Chichiri. "So what's the point? His entire memory was erased, right?" He asked quietly.

"It's Suboshi," Chichiri stated.

"Okay! So he's Suboshi!" Tasuki said before his eyes widened. "SUBOSHI?!" He spazzed.

"Two of the Suzaku Seven," a male said.

"Who said that?!" Tasuki asked taking his fan out, ready for attack. They looked over and their eyes widened as they saw Yui who's eyes were glowing green.

"Lady Yui!" Suboshi exclaimed. Behind Yui was Tomo who cackled.

"You haven't changed a bit, Suboshi. Yes, it's your beloved Lady Yui…the new Priestess of Genbu," Tomo said as two Warriors appeared, kneeling in front of Yui.

~0~

"Tomo explained, 'when Seiryuu was summoned, I was reborn and was able to use Shin's power again as well'," Aika read from the Universe of the Four Gods. Aika soon went back home and went to her weapons pouch and outfit she had worn to the other world. She stripped to her underwear before changing into the outfit that had once been her mothers. She then put on the weapons pouch that held the engraved kunai. As this was going on, ancient characters were appearing in the book as the story was being told. It's then Nakago's character appeared.

~0~

"I was encapsulated inside of this the entire time," Tomo said showing his shell that had a blue bead in it.

"And you used it to take control of her," Chichiri glared at him.

"How? You mean that was his connection to the other world?" Tasuki asked.

"Lady Yui….What are you doing to Lady Yui, Tomo?!" Suboshi growled.

"Oh no, I'm so scared. Are you going to kill me again, Suboshi? I'd like to see you try," Tomo smirked. Tomo cackled. A blue light appeared behind Tomo.

"I didn't expect my sleep to be disturbed," a familiar deep voice said making Tomo and the others look over. The blue light glowed brightly as a silhouette appeared. "Especially by you. You should know better, Tomo," Nakago said with a glare as he looked at him.

~0~

Aika was all ready to go and the book glowed green. Aika looked over at the book before a green light appeared around her. Aika then narrowed her eyes with determination.

"I'm coming, Yui. Right away."