"Don’t forget dear, be respectful… try not to give them too much attitude… I know how you get."
"Yes mom."
"If you ever feel like coming back…because I know you will… Just call and We’ll set it up so you can come home right away."
"Okay Daddy…"
"Tasuketan da! Miko-sama-tachi da…"
"What? Why are you speaking to me in Japanese? Who are you?"
"Tasuketan da…! It is your destiny!"
"Who are YOU?"
"We are…" (The image of four men appears)
"You’re not human…"
"It is your turn, to fulfill your destiny… You must help."
"Aghh! Monster… get away!!!!!!!"
"Shijin Ten Shisho… Miko san-tachi, Kimi no Sekai… Your destiny!"
"No… Its a dream! I have to wake up. WAKE UP!!"
"Ugh…." The girl said as she rubbed her head.
"Hey, Miss are you alright?"
"Yeah… I just had a bad dream, thanks." Dream… just a dream… nothing to worry about… The girl reassured herself, just then, an announcement over the speakers interrupted her thoughts.
"The plane has landed in Tokyo Airport… Please make sure you have all your belongs before you leave the airplane. We hope you had a nice flight. To those visiting, have a nice stay, to those coming home, Okaeri-nasai."
Visiting? …am I just visiting…? Or will here be my home?
******************************************************************
"Are we there yet?" Tasuki asked rubbing his head. All he remembered was a warm flash of red light and a sudden feeling of nausea.
"DAMMNIT!! GET OFF ME!!" Screamed Taka. He was faced down on the floor. Tasuki and Chiriko managed to somehow smooth out their landing by landing on Taka’s back.
"Tamahome-san, thanks for breaking our fall." Chiriko said with a smile.
"ARGHHHH!! Get off, get off, GET OFF MEEEE!!" Taka screamed again while Tasuki, Chiriko and the others were laughing hysterically.
"Minna….." A soft voice called out.
The room became deathly quiet as the seven Seishi of Suzaku, and Tokaki looked up. They were astonished with the sight of Miaka and Yui, and the foreign looking surroundings.
"Miaka!!" Taka gasped. He shook of the still bewildered Tasuki and Chiriko off his back and ran to Miaka. The two engulfed each other in a loving embrace and for a moment, time was at a standstill.
"Okay, Okay! Break it up!!!" Nuriko said in the most ‘manly’ voice he could muster. "It’s my turn to hug her."
"Nuriko…" Miaka started to say something, but tears of joy choked out her voice.
"Awww, what’s this? Miaka don’t cry. We’re all together again. You’re supposed to be happy." Nuriko smiled and hugged the sobbing Miko.
"I am happy." Miaka managed to say. "It’s just that…. I missed you guys so much…. And now everyone’s here…. And….."
"Nothing has changed ne? You’re still the same girl I…. The same girl I remember… still the girl that cries easily over things." Nuriko said as he affectionately looked at Miaka.
"I think Miaka is just overwhelmed." Hotohori said with a warm smile. He patted Miaka’s hand lovingly. Despite the fact that he loves his beautiful wife Houki, he was never in love with her. Miaka is his first love—or should he say second, since he is his own first love. Miaka is the only girl that he was actually in love with and because of this, Miaka will be forever etched in his heart.
Everyone took turns giving Miaka a hug and exchanging hellos with Yui, Tetsuya and Keisuke. Everyone was busy giggling, laughing, and exclaiming in awe at the wonders of the spacey condo. Everyone Except Tasuki.
**************************************************
At first, no one seemed to notice the fiery seishi standing in front of the window sill staring blankly at the busy city streets. Tasuki was lost in his thoughts. He didn’t notice anything around him. He didn’t notice the colorful cars, the tall buildings, the dogs barking outside, he didn’t even notice the pretty girls in their short skirts walking by looking up at him with curious eyes. Tasuki didn’t notice any of these things because his thoughts were concentrated on one person and only one person…. His thoughts were on Miaka.
Tasuki knew that he didn’t stand a chance at winning Miaka’s heart. He only wanted Miaka to be happy, and he knew that she was happiest when she was with Tamahome. However he couldn’t ignore the feeling that Miaka gave him. The warmth, innocence, and kindness that she gave out, and brought out in others. He didn’t know if he was really in love with her, but he did know that he loved her, and he would do anything, and give up everything for her.
"What the hell are you thinking Tasuki? Remember what happened last time you acted on your feelings? You almost killed Tama." Tasuki said to himself, recalling what had happened when Hikou had possessed Tasuki with his "weird water". Tasuki almost raped Miaka and killed Taka, all because of his little "crush" on her.
"You just have to forget about it Tasuki." He told himself as he glanced quickly at Miaka.
"C’mon, you hate women remember?" He said trying to convince himself to forget about her, but all Tasuki’s efforts were lost because he couldn’t forget about her, no matter how hard he tried.
"Yo Tasuki! What the hell is with you?" Taka asked, looking at his friend with genuine concern.
"Huh??" was Tasuki’s answer as finally snapped out of his thoughts.
Miaka walked over to Tasuki and gave him a huge hug. "You okay Tasuki?" she asked.
"Uhm, yeah…" Tasuki stammered. Great as if this isn’t hard enough. Tasuki sighed to himself.
"Great place no da!! Don’t you agree Tasuki-kun?" Chichiri asked.
"Yeah, it’s amazing."
"Tasuki-san, you’re really out of it." Chiriko said, looking at Tasuki with eyes that were full of curiosity and concern.
"Nah, he’s just probably thinking of some girl." Nuriko said with a malicious grin.
Tasuki scowled at Nuriko but he couldn’t say anything.
"He’s just probably looking for a nice girl from here." Keisuke grinned.
"Don’t worry man, there are a lot of pretty girls here! I’m sure you’ve seen some while you were looking out the window." Tetsuya said with a wild grin.
"Uhm, yeah…" Tasuki scratched his head and looked out the window, finally being able to see for the first time, all the amazing things in Miaka’s world. "What are those things?" Tasuki asked pointing to the cars.
"Oh they’re cars… It’s a mode of transportation." Tetsuya answered. "Wow…" Tasuki mumbled in awe.
"Hey don’t worry Tasuki," Yui smiled. "We’ll take all of you guys on a tour."
"Yeah, but first you guys have to change." Taka said with a wry grin.
"Why?" Tokaki asked?
"Oh…. Well….. because people would really look at you guys weird with those garbs." Keisuke answered.
"Well where are we going to get clothes?" Hotohori asked.
"Uhm, you could borrow some of Tetsuya’s and Oniichan’s clothes until we can go shopping for you guys." Miaka smiled.
"Yeah that shouldn’t be any problem." Yui added.
"Can’t we have them made? I’m an Emperor for crying out loud." Miaka, Yuik, and the rest chuckled at Hotohori’s comment. Tokaki shook his head laughed.
"Figures he would say something like that. Hey Miaka, you think I can find something nice here for Subaru? You know something nice and….. sexy to wear?" Tokaki said in an embarrassed voice.
"Oh don’t worry, I know exactly where you can get some really nice outfits for Subaru-san… I got some for Yui at this……." Tetsuya started to say when Yui interrupted him by chucking a pillow at his face. "ITAI!!!" Tetsuya laughed, then he whispered, "Don’t worry Tokaki-san, I’ll take you to that place later."
Taka shook his head and smiled. "Tasuki can borrow some of my clothes, we’re just about the exact same size anyway." Taka answered.
"CHEEE! I still say nothing is wrong with what I’m wearing!" Tasuki exclaimed.
"Maa Maa, while we are here, we have to fit in no da!"
"Yeah, besides, it would be fun to dress up in this world’s clothes." Nuriko gushed.
"Dakara…" Tasuki started to complain when he was interrupted by a strange sound.
"EEEEHHH? NANI SORE??" Nuriko exclaimed.
"Calm down everyone, its just the phone." Yui said patiently.
"Phone? What is a ‘phone’?" a baffled Chiriko asked.
"Chotto." Yui smiled. "Hai, moshi moshi? ….Ahh Yuuki-san, Hai, Miaka to Keisuke ga irrashairu…. Hai, chotto matte kudasai." Yui handed Keisuke the phone. "Here its your mom."
"Ok, so Yui, what is a phone?" Mitsukake asked.
"Well a phone is….."
While Yui explained the mechanics of the telephone, Keisuke spoke to his mother:
"Okaasan? Nan ka atta no? …ahh sou ne, demo… hai …eetoo… dakara.…hai, hai, Wakatta. Jya, Ite Kaerimasu." Keisuke hung up the phone and slammed his fist against the wall. "Chikusho!"
"Oniichan, doshita no?" Miaka asked concerned. Everyone quieted down as well.
"That was mom, it turns out our cousin from the United States has just arrived… I totally forgot about her. I guess we have to go there now and greet her Miaka."
"Cousin from the US?" Yui asked.
"Yeah, remember, I told you last month that she was coming… I must have forgotten about it because of all the….." Miaka failed to finish her sentence. "At any case, she came here and visited once when we were still little remember?"
"Oh yeah, Michiko desu ne?" Yui asked and Miaka nodded in response.
"What is the United States?" Hotohori asked.
"Oh its a different country." Tetsuya answered.
"Ah, sokka."
"Well, Miaka, we better go and entertain her before Okaasan gets suspicious and…"
"No way… I’m not leaving everyone… I just got to see them and I don’t want to go!"
"Miaka don’t be difficult."
"Tell ya what Niichan," Miaka grinned sheepishly. "You go get her, and bring her back here along with some clothes that the others can borrow…."
"But…" Keisuke started to protest.
"Shinpai shinai de… I’ll take care of everything. Just bring her back here." Miaka said with mischief gleaming in her eyes.
"Oii, Miaka, What are you planning?"
"Oh nothing…" Miaka started to push her brother towards the door. "Now hurry and don’t forget the clothes…. Also, get your credit card… and my wallet… my wallet is in my dresser drawer… don’t forget!" Miaka said as she pushed her brother out of the door and in to the hall way. "Later!" Miaka said as she closed the door.
"That girl, I could kill her sometimes. Who does she think she is… I’m the older one… that’s why I’m the ‘Oniichan’… so why is she making all the decisions?" Keisuke mumbled as he walked along outside Yui’s Apartment complex.
"Where are my car keys… CHEEE! As if things weren’t bad enough…" Keisuke complained as he fished for his keys. "ARE?? LUCKY!! Heh heh, I took Tetsuya’s keys accidentally… This will be so much fun! HIS CAR IS WAAAAY COOLER THAN MINE! MWAHAHAHAHAH!"
********************************************************************** "CHIKUSHOOOO!!" Aku cursed as he punched a hole right through the wall.
Arisu ran out of the bathroom when she heard her lover’s scream. "Aku! What’s wrong?"
"He fucking failed! Damn Fuck failed!" Aku cursed some more.
"The one you sent to get the Byakko Shinzaho? But we have it don’t we? It’s right there." Arisu motioned to the Shinzaho laying on the side table.
"Not that… he was supposed to kill those old coots!" Aku exclaimed. "Now they could be on their way here along with the Suzaku Shichi-seishi. In his furstration, Aku let out an energy ball, his rage blinded him and he didn’t realize that he aimed it right at Arisu. Luckily, she managed to move out of the way, but not before the Energy ball grazed and burned her shoulder.
"…..itai…." Arisu yelped and colapsed on the carpeted floor.
"Arisu!" Aku exclaimed as he ran to her. "Gomen nasai, I…. I didn’t mean to…. I just…" Tears of fear and frustration filled his eyes.
"I’m fine… just fine… it doesn’t hurt that much." Arisu said as she smiled faintly.
"Forgive me, Arisu…Forgive me." Aku said in a faint voice. "I just…"
"I know, I know…" Arisu managed to get her hand to stroke his hair. "Don’t worry… It’ll be fine. Even if they come here, they can’t win…. So don’t worry my love…. We’ll take care of them together."
Aku helped Arisu up and he sat her down on a chair. "You’re right. We just need a different plan. And I know just who we can call on for help." Aku’s eyes were cold and malicious as he started to formulate a new plan.
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"Suzaku no Miko to Seiryuu no Miko, to Suzaku Shichi-seishi, Byakko seishi mo, could not exactly pin point the evil Ki that was so close to them because HE placed a barrier around his nesting place… the only consolation they had is that because of that barrier, HE could not sense their ki either. Meanwhile, the heroes continue to read the enchanted book… and Suzaku no Miko’s brother is on the way to see the new player in the new game of this story…"
The blue glow faded away as the Shijin Ten Shishou closed and Yui sunk into the arms of Tetsuya. The others looked at Yui, then at each other. All of them were bewildered by what had just happened. All at once, different questions were circulating in everyone’s minds.
"Yui, are you okay?" Tetsuya asked.
"Un. …It just takes a lot out of me… but I’ll be fine, so don’t worry."
"Evil Ki… evil Ki that we can’t pin point?" Tokaki commented. The comment was meant for himself, but he said it loud enough that everyone heard.
"Hmm… no da! I thought a felt something earlier… but I wasn’t sure where… It feels near by no da."
"I agree with Chichiri san." Chiriko nodded.
All the Seishi agreed… There was something evil in the air. However, not knowing where the ki was generating from left them feeling powerless, almost vulnerable.
"Shinpai shinai de, minna san…. With everyone here… like this… we’ll be able to stop whatever it is. For sure we will!" Miaka said cheerily.
"Yea, Miaka is right." Taka said, putting his hand on her head.
"Miaka, your brother… in the book, it said that your brother was going to ‘see a new player in the game’…. What could that possibly mean?" Hotohori asked.
"New player…?" Miaka scratched her head.
"Miaka… the book could not have mean…" Yui started to say.
"My cousin?!?!"
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