Art of Love

Chapter Two

Bou Chuu Jutsu?

The silence that followed stretched on and on, as Miaka's face took on the hue of a ripened cherry. Finally, she managed to squeak, "What?"

"Wait a minute." Tamahome spoke up. "Isn't that the exact opposite of what you told us before?" Taking a protective step closer to Miaka, he folded his arms over his chest and regarded the old woman with eyes that had hardened from their usual amethyst to a steely, hostile gray.

Taiitsukun pursed her lips in irritation. "Yes. But circumstances change. Since Miaka has already summoned Suzaku once, the ability remains dormant, and it only requires the proper…stimulation to bring it forth once more."

"So I have to re-gather the Suzaku seven and and and…." Miaka's voice grew softer until it was barely even a whisper. "Have sex?"

"Yes."

"With all of them?"

"Yes."

Miaka was silent for a moment, digesting the information. Her recollection of the first and last time she'd even heard of Bou Chuu Jutsu was…

She pointed weakly at the Creator's face. "How can I be sure you aren't Tomo?"

Taiitsukun glared, the scarf at her neck suddenly billowing in a breeze that came from nowhere, and didn't affect anything else. "Such impertinence!"

"I was fooled that way once before!" Miaka retorted defensively. The Seiryuu Seishi's illusionary spells had been quite convincing when she'd been fifteen and she didn't relish the idea of a repeat. She wanted to believe that she'd grown wiser in the past five years, and after the debacle in Hokkan where she'd foolishly run off in an attempt to steal back the Shinzaho from Nakago, she was going to question such a request. Even from Taiitsukun herself.

Understanding dawned in Taiitsukun's eyes, and the scarf settled about her shoulders once more as her wrath dissipated. "Fair enough."

One fist pressed to her mouth, cheeks still burning, Miaka asked, "How am I supposed to do this? If they don't remember me I can't exactly ask them to… sleep with me. Even if they do remember me I'm not sure I can ask them that…" She trailed off, her gaze fixed on her shoes. At this rate she'd never be able to look any of her Seishi in the eye ever again. Seriously, what was Suzaku thinking?

"They've already agreed to it." Taiitsukun said matter of factly.

"WHAT?" Miaka and Tamahome's voices rang out in unison. Tamahome's shout was more of a bellow, and Miaka's hit a pitch not even dogs could hear. Miaka whipped around to see Nuriko purposely looking anywhere but at her and Tamahome, two spots of color highlighting his delicate cheekbones.

The Creator rolled her eyes, as though taking the time to explain pained her greatly. "It was part of the agreement. In order for them to be reborn into this world they all had to agree to the requirements for a second summoning." Her lips twisted in what passed for a smile. "You'll have to reawaken their memories first of course."

Despite her chagrin, Miaka's eyes widened with interest. As unorthodox as this was, Taiitsukun was promising her the very thing she'd been wishing for; to be reunited with all her Seishi once more. In light of that thought, it was easy to temporarily ignore the more intimate details of the request for the moment. "How do I do that?"

"That is one question I cannot answer for you." Taiitsukun intoned.

In disbelief, Miaka exclaimed, "But you're the Emperor of Heaven! You know everything!"

At Miaka's declaration there was a long and awkward pause.

"Ah, I see...so you really don't know, do you?" Miaka asked.

Taiitsukun was glaring again. "That mouth of yours is going to get you in a lot of trouble one day." She warned, then added in a more cordial tone, "You must think. What did you do to find Nuriko?"

Miaka turned to regard her third Seishi curiously. "Honestly, I didn't do anything! He saved me from being crushed by a billboard when I was on my way to meet everyone."

Nodding thoughtfully, Nuriko added, "Kind of like how we met the first time when I saved you from the pagoda rubble." His face lit up and he held up a finger in affirmation. "Hey maybe that jogged my memory."

"It makes sense…" Miaka murmured, slowly drifting closer to the purple haired warrior as she scrutinized him.

Nuriko watched her come closer, making no move to get away or stop her, his eyes soft and glowing with the intensity of his emotions. That intensity made Miaka feel shy, and she looked away from it to meet Tamahome's gaze instead.

Her first Sieshi frowned at her noticeable reaction to Nuriko, his posture becoming rigid and Miaka felt a hot wave of shame replace shyness. She loved Tamahome! She'd loved him since she was fifteen, how could she betray him by allowing herself to feel anything for another man? Even if it was Nuriko…

Voice trembling with rage, Tamahome demanded, "Why is Suzaku doing this to us?"

Taiitsukun stared at him. "Suzaku is not 'doing' anything to you."

"Oh really? Then why can't he just find a new priestess? Miaka's role is already done. How can he expect me to share the woman I love with six other men?"

Taiitskun's tiny frame seemed to grow ten feet tall when she roared, "Silence!" Lowering her voice she pinned Tamahome with an irate stare. "You would question the will of your patron god?"

Unfazed, Tamahome shouted, "Yes! When it comes to Miaka, I'll question anything that might hurt her!"

Miaka frowned. Tamahome was protecting her as a man as well as her Seishi...but she found she didn't particularly appreciate what he was insinuating. None of the Suzaku Seven would harm her. Ever. In fact, Miaka was more worried that her Seishi would end up being the ones who got burned after everything was said and done- Hotohori in particular came to mind. The Emperor of Konan had made no secret of his feelings for her, and it pained her to think that the new summoning ceremony might reopen those old wounds.

Could she do that? Sleep with someone who loved her for the sake of the ceremony and then just... walk away?

One of Taiitsukun's scraggly brows lifted in inquiry. "You think Suzaku would do his beloved priestess such an injustice as to ask Miaka to do something that she hasn't the strength to do?"

Tamahome's face fell. "No! I mean, I know she's strong...and capable, it's just…" He looked away, face reddened with embarrassment.

"You do not wish to share the priestess?" Taiitsukun probed.

"Hell no!"

"That is not for you to decide, Tamahome." Taiitsukun admonished. "Miaka's heart is capable of forgiveness and love of the highest caliber. I have no doubts that she has the capacity to love more than one person."

Taiitsukun's words struck Miaka with the force of an arrow, driving straight through her heart and then pinging around inside her chest cavity like a pinball.

Love… more than one? That was allowed? The idea made her ears burn.

"Who said anything about love? The ceremony just requires her to have sex, right?" Tamahome sputtered.

The Creator sighed heavily, bony fingers massaging her temple in irritation. "Tamahome, sometimes I wonder if you know your priestess at all. Do you really think Miaka would sleep with someone if she didn't love them?"

"N-No…"

"Well then. I think it's clear that the problem lies with you. Not Miaka."

Miaka was speechless. She'd grown up with the idea of a person finding their one true love and getting a happily ever after. It was all she'd ever wanted for herself and Tamahome since she'd first realized she'd fallen in love with him. She simply hadn't allowed herself to think that way about anyone but Tamahome. She'd loved the others, but it had always been a platonic love and nothing more.

But Taiitsukun was right. She'd never be able to perform the requirements for the ceremony unless she allowed those feelings to grow from friendship into something greater. Her lips twitched in wry amusement. She'd already caught herself having more than friendly thoughts regarding Nuriko. So far, she'd been brushing them off as mere excitement at having her Seishi returned to her, but what if it that's not all it was?

Could she fall in love with the others enough to be able to perform the ceremony? Suzaku's chosen were all beautiful in their own way, much like a flock of brightly colored birds. On at least a physical level, it wouldn't be that hard and… I wouldn't have to break anyone's heart again.

"Miaka?"

Taiitsukun's gravelly drawl snapped Miaka out of her thoughts. "Huh?"

"I would hear your thoughts. What do you think about all of this?"

Miaka bit her lip, glancing down. "Well. It's a lot to take in, that's for sure." She was still reeling from the idea that it might be okay to be in love with more than one person at a time. The concept was completely foreign, and went against everything she'd ever been taught growing up.

Although if she were completely honest with herself, suddenly having not only the permission, but the direct order of a god to love Tamahome and the rest of her Seishi… well… The entire thing was deliciously naughty; just the idea of it gave her goose bumps. Obviously, Tamahome wasn't happy with the arrangement, but Taiitsukun said that the others had all agreed to it before they'd been reborn. Which meant...

Her eyes widened and her hands came up to cover her mouth as a thought suddenly occurred to her.

"Does this mean that Tasuki and Chichiri are dead too?" She asked. "If they're reincarnated, I mean?"

"Of course not." Taiitsukun said, and snapped her fingers briskly.

There was a sharp popping sound as two figures suddenly appeared about twenty feet above the ground. They hovered for a couple of seconds in mid-air before realizing where they were, and as they started to fall, one of them began to scream as he began his descent.

"Yaaaaaaaah!" Tasuki wailed, his arms and legs flailing as he plummeted towards the earth.

Looking almost bored, Nuriko stuck out his arms just in time to catch the squawking bandit before he hit the ground. After one look at his savior, Tasuki threw a small fit, babbling about seeing the face of a dead man, which earned him a direct trip to the ground.

In the meantime, Chichiri, startled by the sudden inter-dimensional trip as well as Tasuki's screams, transformed into his chibi form, landing safely in Miaka's waiting arms.

"Chichiri!" Miaka gasped, her arms tightening reflexively about the monk's miniaturized body. Without a thought she pressed her face to his, rubbing their cheeks together affectionately. "I've missed you so much!"

"No da!" Chichiri responded with unabashed glee, allowing Miaka a moment to squeeze him before transforming back to his real size in a colorful puff of smoke.

Miaka yelped when the small, softly rounded body cuddled in her arms suddenly changed; she was now pressing herself against a hard muscled chest, her arms clutched tight around a man's firm waist. Arms that had been too short a moment ago came up to encircle her affectionately and lean hands held her close.

"I missed you too, Miaka," Chichiri said warmly.

Despite his leaner build in comparison to her other Seishi, Chichiri's frame still managed to completely envelop her. His chin rested atop her head, pressing her face into the hollow between his neck and shoulder. It felt good to be held by him, and Miaka felt herself instantly relaxing. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply and let the scents of his ceremonial incense wash over her.

For a moment, she was back in Konan. Everyone was alive and they were about to embark on the search for the Shinzaho. Those precious moments before Tamahome's family had been killed had been so happy. Her love for Tamahome had burned so brightly then!

With a pang of guilt, she realized that her feelings for Tamahome had changed. At least a little. She still loved him now, even after five years of waiting and loneliness. But time seemed to have transformed the intense feelings of first love into something greater—a feeling that was scarily similar to the feelings she'd begun having for the rest of her Seishi as they reappeared one by one. It was becoming abundantly clear to Miaka that her feelings were more than just happiness at seeing her friends alive again.

Why couldn't things have ended differently? Why had so many of her friends had to die? Her heart lurched and she felt the familiar prick of tears at the corners of her eyes. To her horror, a sniffle escaped her and Chichiri's grip tightened. She was grateful Chichiri hadn't given up wearing his billowing robe, because she needed the extra second or two of cover to compose herself.

Once she pulled back, Chichiri's arms fell to his sides and he removed his mask to give a respectful bow. The jagged scar across his eye was the same, as well as the wisdom shining in his one good eye. It appeared that almost no time had passed at all for her two surviving Seishi.

"What the hell? Don't I get a hug too?"

His voice was deeper, but there was no mistaking that heavy accent. Turning, feeling her heart hammering in her throat, Miaka saw that Tasuki had picked himself off the ground and was watching her intently.

Her eyes widened in blatant appreciation. Whereas time hadn't seemed to touch Chichiri, Tasuki's appearance certainly made it obvious that a few years had passed. He'd grown taller and his shoulders had broadened and filled out. He'd always had a sort of swagger and exuded a certain toughness, but that boyish scoundrel look was long gone, replaced by the more relaxed strength of a sensual rogue.

Miaka swallowed. She wanted nothing more than to hug her Seishi, but seeing the fine looking man he'd grown into, she was hesitant to approach him even as she mentally kicked herself for being that way. Tasuki had never scared her, even when he'd kidnapped her that night at Mount Reikaku. Why was she so nervous now?

Maybe because he's looking like he wants to carry me off again. And this time I don't think I'd get away without a kiss. Or more.

She was surprised by her thoughts, but the heat in Tasuki's amber eyes said that she was right. He stared at her for what seemed like forever, then blinked and the blaze was gone, tempered to a warm glow that still sent shivers of anticipation down her spine.

When she still didn't move, Tasuki frowned. Then, with a mischievous fanged growl, he charged her.

Miaka barely had time to realize what was happening before she'd been captured. His powerful arms clasped about her waist, hauling her flush against his chest and lifting her into the air. She let out a shriek as her feet left the ground, her arms flying around Tasuki's neck of their own accord. Her fifth Seishi held her there effortlessly, looking up into her face. This close, she could see the tiny flecks of orange and gold that made his eyes sparkle like the embers of a fire.

"Tasuki! What are you doing?" She admonished, giving a half-hearted kick with one foot.

He ignored the false protest and grinned up at her, fangs flashing in the sunlight. "Sorry, Mi-chan. Looks like yer my prisoner."

She laughed as her Seishi spun with her in an outrageous circle, his own laughter mixing with hers as he gently set her down.

Once her feet were on solid ground again, Miaka tightened her hold on his neck; her height forcing him to bend over to rest his chin on her shoulder. He gasped when she tightened her grip, and then responded in kind, hugging her tightly enough that a tiny squeak escaped her, before relinquishing his captive.

Still smiling, Miaka released Tasuki to turn and face Taiitsukun.

The Creator watched her solemnly, a glimmer of pride in her ancient eyes. "As you can see, even though the others have already been reincarnated, it was not necessary for your two surviving Seishi to die in order to aid you in your search. As long as they live, they will answer the call of the priestess."

As though realizing what was going on for the first time since he'd arrived, Tasuki looked around curiously. "What are we doin' here anyways, Grandma? I thought our world and Miaka's world had to remain separate now that she's summoned Suzaku."

"You're here because we need to have sex with Miaka." Tamahome answered sulkily. He'd been so quiet since Taiitskun reprimanded him that Miaka had almost forgotten he was even there.

"All of us do!" Nuriko piped up cheerily.

"Whaaaaaaaat?" Tasuki and Chichiri howled in unison.

"Of course that's the short version," Taiitsukun stated in annoyance.

Chichiri, who usually treated Taiitsukun with the utmost respect, simply shook his head and stared at his shakujou, looking as though he might enjoy throttling Taiitsukun or Suzaku himself with it.

Tasuki turned on the Creator, eyes wild. "All of us? What the Hell is Suzaku thinking? Chiriko is a child!"

Miaka paled. "Oh my, I hadn't even thought of that." There was absolutely no way she could go through with the ceremony now. That was just wrong! What kind of pervert was Suzaku anyway?

Taiitsukun sighed. "Reincarnation is a messy business. But be assured that the other Seishi may not be the same age as when you last saw them. "

"You mean one of them could be like, really, really old?" Tamahome mused aloud, his face wrinkling in distaste.

"You mean, like Taiitsukun?" Tasuki interjected. "Ow! OW!"

Taiitskun harrumphed, shifting her grip on her bamboo purse after she hit him again. "I'm sure the others managed to find appropriate times to be born. They were well aware of the new summoning ceremony and have thus taken their ages into consideration."

Tasuki sulked, rubbing his inured arm as Chichiri interjected, "They knew about this?" The monk's ears, the only thing visible behind his mask, were a deep shade of red.

"We agreed to it." Nuriko said, obviously avoiding eye contact with Miaka or any of his fellow Seishi. "Taiitsukun explained to us that the worlds were out of balance because Tamahome had followed Miaka to her world and been reborn. She said the only way to put it right was to summon Suzaku a second time." Finally he looked up, boldly locking eyes with the Monk. "Learning the exact nature of the summoning ceremony was shocking, of course. But I love Miaka and summoning ceremony or no summoning ceremony I am going to make sure she's the happiest person in the world for as long as I live!"

"So this is all your fault!" Tasuki exclaimed, throwing an accusatory look at Tamahome.

"Don't look at me like I did it on purpose! I followed her because I love her!" Tamahome defended himself.

"It's not all Tamahome's fault." Taiitsukun stated. "The priestesses left many things in the Universe of the Four Gods and several artifacts from our world have made it here. At this point, it would be impossible to track down every item to ensure complete and total separation of the worlds. All someone needs to do is find one of those items and they might be able to use it as a medium to cross over."

"So us having sex with Miaka is supposed to solve all of that?" Tamahome's expression was dubious.

"Not just any sex, Tamahome." Taiitsukun intoned. "Bou Chuu Jutsu."

"You're teaching them Bou Chuu Jutsu?" Despite the mask, the panicked look on Chichiri's face was clear. "That's dangerous!"

The Creator chuckled. "Calm yourself, Chichiri. I will not be teaching them Bou Chuu Jutsu."

The monk visibly relaxed, letting out a sigh. "Good."

"You are going to teach them."

Chichiri's painted face went agape, the skin around the edges of the mask going pale. "Daaa..." He said weakly. "I am?"

Taiitsukun nodded. "With your extensive spiritual training, you'll be able to impart the basics."

"What the hell's Bucket-jutsu?" Tasuki asked with a frown.

Matter-of-factly, Nuriko answered, "Bou Chuu Jutsu is a spiritual sort of sex that enables the participants to increase their life forces. That's why Nakago was so powerful."

At hearing this, Tasuki was incensed. "That blond bastard bolstered his powers by having sex? Shit, if I'd known, we could have done this a long time ago! Maybe things would have turned out differently!"

Tamahome rounded on the redhead. "That wouldn't have worked because Miaka had to be a virgin to summon Suzaku the first time!"

Tasuki scratched the back of his head. "Oh yeah. Right." He eyed Tamahome, who was looking doleful. "And now that rule don't apply. I suppose that's why you're still looking like a Little Ghost."

Tamahome glared at him. "And you're still looking like an idiot!"

While the two Seishi continued to bicker, Miaka let out a breath of relief. When Tamahome had brought up the fact she'd been required to be a virgin for the first ceremony, she was certain someone would ask whether or not she still was one.

She was, of course. The simple fact was that she'd never once tried to date or had even thought of another man that way since she'd fallen in love with Tamahome at fifteen. So of course she'd never had the chance to lose her virginity, which made the idea of this new summoning ceremony that much more daunting.

What if she wasn't any good? She'd be disappointing seven different people. Not just one. The idea was downright terrifying.

As her thoughts began to run away with her, Miaka felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Turning, she only saw Chichiri watching her intently, his concern evident despite the fact he was still wearing the mask. He seemed about to ask her something, but then changed his mind.

"In any case," Taiitsukun said loudly, wresting control of the conversation back, "the Four Gods have proposed a solution, but it is one that will require the cooperation of all of the Suzaku Seven and their Priestess."

"There's more?" Miaka asked. She didn't know what else Taiitsukun could possibly have to say. Nothing else would surprise her ever again after today...

"The Gods want you to use one of Suzaku's wishes to create a tangible gateway between the worlds."

Except for maybe that. "A gateway?"

"Yes. Once you wish for Suzaku to unseal Seiryuu, and make your second wish, the four of them will be able to use the Universe of the Four Gods as a catalyst to create a permanent doorway between the worlds."

"Wouldn't a tangible gate make it easier for people to cross over?" This came from Chichiri, who seemed to have recovered from his earlier shock.

"No, because it will put things under control. As I said, the way things are now, someone only needs to find an artifact that's been in the other world and they can cross over from wherever they may be. Narrowing the pathway to a single point dramatically decreases the chances of a random crossover."

"What if someone finds it by accident?" Tasuki growled.

"It will be hidden and well-guarded. A person would have to know it was there to approach it, and we will know that they know."

"Guarded by who?" Nuriko's brows knit together in curiosity.

"That's where all of you come in." Taiitsukun took a deep breath and for the first time, Miaka could see an immense tiredness in the Creator, a weariness that seemed to have settled in her bones. "I've watched over the world for longer than I care to remember. I've seen all four priestesses come and go." She raised her sunken eyes to meet Miaka's. "I'm getting too old for this. It's high time that I retire."

Miaka felt as though a sink hole had just opened up in the pit of her stomach. Taiitsukun couldn't be tired! She was the Creator for Suzaku's sake! She couldn't just up and quit! "Retire? Can you do that?"

"As long as I find a suitable replacement."

"Who in the world would be able to do what you do?" Tamahome asked.

Taiittukun's gaze did not waver from Miaka, and the dark pit in Miaka's stomach widened.

"Me?!" She gasped.

Taiitsukun gave a dry smile. "Yes, you. Your bond with your seishi is so strong, it has ripped the fabric of the universe. Power like that needs to be contained and used for the good of all, to bring balance. Should you agree to this, it would negate the need for a priestess to be selected from your world. Instead, you would be the priestess of all four gods: The Divine Protector."

"I-I…" Miaka stammered. She had no idea what to do. To even be asked something this monumental was…well, there were no words!

Taiitsukun glanced about. "If you want the job it's yours. If you accept we'll have to find an appropriate place for the ceremony to take place, because wherever you happen to be during the Ceremony is where the gate between worlds will be established." She gestured widely with her bamboo purse, nearly striking Tasuki a third time as she did so. "Once the Universe of the Four Gods has been used to create the gateway, Mount Taikyoukou will become the focal point in our world. It would become your new home and you would be required to defend it as you've defended Konan. Along with all of your Seishi."

The offer was tempting. Live on Mount Taikyoukou with all of her beloved Seishi, forever and ever? Slowly, Miaka asked, "And if I say no?"

Taiitsukun frowned, her eyes narrowing as she considered the question. After a moment she shrugged. "There is one other option- perhaps your friend Yui will serve as the Protector? If not, the final option is that our worlds will have to be separated for good, your Seishi will not be able to remain with you and the book will continue to draw new priestesses into it."

Miaka was shaking her head, aghast at the idea of having her Seishi taken from her again, especially so soon after she'd been reunited with some of them. To knowingly be the cause of their banishment would break her heart. There was no way she was going to let them go. Not again. Not after they'd made such sacrifices to find her. Her decision was made. She swallowed to dampen her suddenly dry throat, and then spoke from the heart.

"My time in the book was the best and worst time of my life. I learned so much. My experiences there have made me stronger." She lifted her head to make eye contact with each of her Seishi. "I got to meet all of you. I wouldn't change that for the world. Even after all of the bad things that happened. I can't just forget you. It might be selfish, but we have to be a part of each other's lives. And what's more, I can't just let some other unsuspecting girl be drawn into that world. What if the next girl isn't so lucky? And I won't ask Yui to do it either." As she made the declaration, Miaka shook her head again in negation. Yui didn't need to relive bad memories, especially now that she was happy with Tetsuya.

Her gaze returned to Taiitsukun, green eyes unwavering in meeting the Creator's intent regard.

"I'll do it."

To Be Continued…

AN: Just to be clear: The idea of the book continuing to pull new priestesses into the Universe of the Four Gods is kind of blatantly taken from the OAV's. I was never too happy with how the series did it, what with erasing the existence of the previous priestesses and all. The idea here is just that the book would continue a cycle of four priestesses. Basically I needed something to kind of force Miaka into feeling as though she had to agree in order to protect everyone—which is how she made a lot of decisions in the series so I think it fits.

Again thanks to Kitty Lynne for once again being an awesome beta! I also need to give her credit for the idea of Miaka being the priestess of all four gods. That idea originally came from her Tasuki and Miaka fanfic "The Promise" and she graciously gave me permission to use it here. Even if the idea has changed a little bit from what I originally intended and it kind of got taken over by Taiitsukun retiring, I still wanted to make sure I give her credit.

Please review so I know whether or not this fic is worth continuing to post! Do you all think I'm a crazy and perverted psycho?