"Hai, Moshi-moshi?"
"Miaka…?" A weak voice said.
"Yui? Yui-chan?" Miaka’s mom asked.
"Ee.. Yui desu. Miaka wa?" Yui managed to ask.
"Hold on I’ll get her." Mrs. Yuuki said. She covered the receiver with her hand and called out.
"MIAKA~~ Yui-chan is on the phone!" Miaka ran out of her room and snatched the phone from her mom. She smiled in gratitude to her mom and shooed her out of the room. Just then her brother came out of his room and stood by Miaka. He obviously wanted to know what was going on with Yui.
"Yui-chan?" Miaka called into the receiver, yet there was no answer from Yui.
"Ne, Yui-chan?" Miaka called again this time a bit louder than she did earlier.
"Miaka.." Yui’s voice was so shaky. It was obvious she’s been crying. "Miaka, ha-have you guys he-heard from Tetsuya?" She managed to ask between light sniffles.
"Tetsuya?" Miaka looked at her brother hoping that Keisuke would say that he heard from Tetsuya and that Tetsuya was on his way to make up with Yui. He shook his head sadly.
"Gomen ne, Yui-chan. He hasn’t called my brother yet. We haven’t seen or heard from him since he left… I mean since earlier tonight."
"Sokka… Jya arigatou Miaka."
"Yui-chan, don’t worry. He probably just needs some time alone and he’ll be back to his good ‘ol self tomorrow!." Miaka said trying hard to reassure her friend.
"Unn.. Jya." Yui said weakly and hung up the phone.
Miaka placed the phone gently back on the receiver and let out a soft sigh.
"Poor Yui-chan." She commented. "It must be hard on her…"
Keisuke, placed a comforting hand on Miaka’s shoulder. "Don’t worry sis,. I’m sure Tetsuya just needed to blow off steam. He’ll turn out."
She nodded. Miaka didn’t really know what to say. She felt bad about what had just happened between Yui and Tetsuya but she was more worried about Taka than anything else. She didn’t mean to be so selfish but she loved him so much that she just couldn’t stand being separated from him again after all that they’ve been through. And now it seems like they have to go through the same ordeal again. Miaka didn’t know how much longer she can keep playing this "tag" like game. "I miss you Taka." She thought to herself.
As though reading her mind, Keisuke spoke up and suggested that they should go take a peep at the book to see what was going on in Konan country. Miaka agreed and they both headed towards Keisuke’s room where the book lay on the bed, surrounded by red energy, and waiting to be read. Miaka knelt next to the bed, opened the book and began to read.
"In Suzaku’s hall gathered the four Suzaku Shichi-sei, The emperor’s wife Houki-sama, and A few of the emperors advisors and Guards. They were waiting for Suzaku Shichi-sei Nuriko to step into the Hall of Suzaku to have his powers fully restored again…"
**********************************************************
"Oi, Nuriko! Hayaku ne!!" Tasuki ordered as he scratched his head irritably. "You are taking so damn long to get in there! Why don’t you just hurry the hell up so we can all go to sleep!!"
Nuriko stuck his tongue out at Tasuki, "Baka yaro!! You don’t have to stay here, go to sleep if you want!."
"Yea well since I’m already here there’s no point of me going back to my room so just hurry up!!" Tasuki yelled and everybody present laughed. Nuriko just simply stuck his tongue out again at Tasuki.
Nuriko was about to go in when something jumped at Tasuki and started licking his face. Tasuki being how he is, of course started yelling obscene language.
"What the f*ck?? Get it off me damn it!" His eyes were shut tight as he yelled.
"Meeeoow!"
Tasuki finally opened his eyes and was shocked at what he saw.
"Ta…Tama??!!"
"Meow."
"At least you didn’t scare him of Tasuki-san." A small boyish voice spoke out.
Tasuki looked up and was even more shocked to see Chiriko.
"Chiriko!!!! Hissashiburi na!!" He said as he ran up to his small buddy and gave him a hug. For some reason Tasuki was very attached to Chiriko and treated him like he was his own brother.
"Tasuki-san, you’re cutting off my circulation." Chiriko gasped.
"Ah… gomen ne!" Tasuki let go.
"Arigatou!" Chiriko said grateful for having his circulation back… and not to mention being able to breath again after that huge bear hug he received from Tasuki. "O Hissashiburi desu!" He finally said after he got his composure back.
"Mitsukake!!!" Chichiri exclaimed and Mitsukake bowed.
"Hissashiburi desu Minna-san!"
"I’m so happy to see everyone’s faces again." Hotohori beamed at the group. In return Chiriko and Mitsukake bowed to show respect for Konan’s prestigious emperor.
"Sorry to be so abrupt," Hotohori started. "But I think it is time for Nuriko, Chiriko, and Mitsukake to go into Suzaku’s Hall and have all their Seishi powers restored again."
The group agreed and proceeded into the screen of Suzaku. A red light surrounded the three seishi and they received their old weapons back. Nuriko got his bracelets, Mitsukake obtained his pouch of holy water back, and Chiriko obtained his scroll back.
Just after the light of Suzaku that surrounded them, another huge red light appeared and momentarily blinded everyone present. The light was warm and familiar, and there was a familiar presence in the air.
"ARGHH!! SUNAKAKE BABA!!!" screamed a half awake Taka who almost fainted.
Everybody was startled and finally looked up to see what on earth Taka was screaming about. And everyone understood why Taka had screamed and either screamed themselves or fainted in shock.
"IT’S A F*CKEN MONSTER!!" Tasuki yelped.
"Baka yaro!!" A raspy old woman’s voice said just as a mallet made contact with Tasuki’s head. "Tasuki you still haven’t learned to show some respect have you?" The old woman asked.
Tasuki was busy rubbing his head. "How the hell do you suppose I react when you just pop out of nowhere and show your ugly ass face??" he said irritably.
The old woman glared at him. "Well I can always take your tessen’s powers away." She grinned mischievously. Tasuki cradled his tessen protectively.
"Taiitsu-kun forgive Tasuki’s lack of tact, but I’m afraid you did scare us a bit." Chichiri said.
"Yea especially with a face like that." Taka mumbled.
"Tamahome, I thought you were asleep." Tasuki asked.
"I was but I woke up, I thought I felt something wake me up." He gazed suspiciously at Taiitsu-kun, she who governs all in the world. (Or at least in Konan).
"Well it’s been awhile since we all have seen each other and EVERYONE needed to be here…" She shrugged.
"Chee.. glad I didn’t have to wake up to your face or I would’ve had a heart attack!" Taka said dead pan. A few seconds later Taiitsu-kun clobbered him with a mallet.
"You know you and Tasuki could be brothers?" Taiitsu-kun said, still annoyed that everyone was knocking her appearance.
"Looks like we’re all here now no da!" Chichiri said rather enthused. He was obviously trying to change the subject before Taka or Tasuki get seriously hurt.
"Yep! All except for Mia…ah…" Tasuki quickly stopped himself from saying Miaka’s name when he saw Taka’s expression grow sad as he uttered the first two syllables of Miaka’s name.
"Yes well, Taiitsu-kun, I assume we were all brought back together for a purpose…" Mitsukake said trying to stir away from the ‘Miaka’ subject.
Taiitsu-kun nodded. "Indeed, but I ONLY wish to speak to the Suzaku Shichi-sei, everyone else must leave."
Hotohori signaled for his guards and advisors to leave them be. His men were more than happy to oblige. After all they were being excused from looking at the most hideous face that they have seen. One of the men mumbled something about having nightmares. Taiitsu-kun glared and made a mental note to herself to make sure he got one.
When all of Hotohori’s advisors and guards cleared the area, only the seven Shichi-sei remained along with Hotohori’s wife Houki.
"Houki san, I’m afraid you have to leave as well." Taiitsu-kun quietly said.
"Ahh… souka…" Houki mumbled, bowed to the group and quietly excused herself.
"Now, will all of you please enter the hall and close the door behind you." Taiitsu-kun’s gruff voice ordered and the men did as they were told.
"Taiitsu-kun no da… What’s this all about?"
"Yea how were we brought back to life?" Asked Nuriko. "Not that I’m complaining or anything…"
"I assume it is for an important reason no doubt. Nee? Taittsu-kun-san?" Added Chiriko.
Taiitsu-kun simply nodded in response to their inquiry.
"Taiitsu-kun, no disrespect intended, but ‘silent and mysterious’ isn’t really your area. You fit more in the ‘loud and scaring the living shit out of people’ area, so cut the crap and tell us what the hell is going on why the hell are the dead coming back to life?" Tasuki asked in his regular brash manner.
"Well Tasuki, it’s actually quite simple you see. Nyan-nyan found these cute little orange balls with different numbers of stars in them…" Taiitsu-kun began, a serious look on her face.
"Interesting!" Mitsukake commented. And the others agreed prodding Taiitsu-kun to continue her story. They were obviously intrigued by this.
"There are seven of these balls," she continued. " and when all seven are collected, they glow and you can then summon this dragon who grants you a wish and after you make a wish they spread out again and you have to wait one year before you can find them again. But Nyan-nyan and I were smart and just wished Nuriko, Mitsukake, and Chiriko back to life all at the same time, and that’s why you guys are all here." She finished.
"SUGOI!!! I can’t believe those balls exist!" Tasuki marveled. The others agreed with him.
"Yea now all I have to do is find them and wish to be back with Miaka." Taka exclaimed happily.
"MWAHAHAHAHHHAA~!" A low, somewhat asthmatic sounding cackle was heard all about Suzaku’s Hall.
"You guys are really all idiots! IDIOTS!" Taiitsu-kun managed to say between her hysterical cackle.
"Daaa??"
"Don’t you get it? Stupid fools! You actually believed my story about the seven balls that you can wish on? (Bwahahahah…heh heh..)" She managed to calm herself to a rather loud chuckle.
"So they aren’t true?" Nuriko asked.
"Of course not BAKA!!" Taiitsu-kun bellowed. "What kind of world do you think this is? You swear this is some world where aliens from some planet where they turn monkey when the moon is full have crashed in this planet. And I suppose u think they can fly and when they die and get wished back they get REALLY stronger!! Sorry but that’s a different series!!" Taiitsu-kun said and burst back into her asthmatic cackle.
Taka tapped his foot impatiently. "Yea yea, whatever! Now are you just going to continue torturing us with that laugh of yours which is almost as hideous as your face or are you going to tell us what the HELL is going on here??"
"Watch it Tamahome!" Taiitsu-kun warned.
"It’s Taka damnit!" He said irritably.
"Whatever!" was Taiitsu-kun’s reply.
Hotohori sighed loudly. "Taiitsu-kun, no disrespect or anything but Tamahome has a point, we really do want to know what’s going on…"
"It’s Taka…. Taka!" Taka mumbled.
"Unn…. The truth to the matter is you have all been brought back here by Suzaku for a sole purpose. As a Seishi all of you are bound to your Miko no matter what, and this strong bond that each of you share with your Miko cannot be demolished." Taiitsu-kun paused to clear her throat. "As Suzaku Shichi-sei, you are all destined to protect your Miko and when she is in need or in trouble, you, as Seishi, have a psychic connection to her and each other and know that you must come to her."
"Miaka-chan is in trouble no da! I’ve had bad feelings about that for a few days now!" Chichiri exclaimed.
"Yea, I had the same gut feeling that something was wrong with her ever since I got back." Nuriko admitted. The others agreed and commented on the feeling they had about Miaka’s safety. Only Taka kept silent. His arms hung limp by his sides and his fists clenched tight.
Taiitsu-kun nodded. "Suzaku no Miko is in grave danger. A strong force of evil from this world and her world have combined. Suzaku no Miko and her world is in danger… our world is as well."
"So?? If that’s the case then let’s go kick some bad guy ass!!" Tasuki said, obviously not impressed by what Taiitsu-kun just said.
"Baka yaro!! How the hell do you expect we kick some ass if we’re here and Miaka is in her world?" Taka said angrily. He felt so powerless, useless, he can’t stand the fact that he can’t be there for the one he loves, he needs to be there with her to protect her.
"Taka-kun no da…" Chichiri put a hand on Taka’s shoulder to try to comfort him. Taka fixed his gaze on the floor.
"Tamahome is right." Hotohori said. "How can we protect Miaka if we’re here and she’s out there somewhere?"
"Tamahome’s ring…" Taiitsu-kun said.
Suddenly Taka’s mood totally shifted from grumpy and sad to hopeful and ecstatic. "I see, with the 7 of us here, its easy to think of a place and it will transport us, just as long that we have some object connecting to strong wills together we can get there. Right?"
Taiitsu-kun nodded.
"GOOD!!!" Tasuki exclaimed. "Then we can go now!!" He said eagerly.
Nuriko eyed him suspiciously. He wondered why he was so eager to go to Miaka’s world.
"Not so fast Tasuki!" Taiitsu-kun interjected. "Aside from Chichiri, Tamahome, and yourself, the other Shichi-seishi were all dead and they need a day or two to be fully prepared."
"Kuso!" Tasuki cursed quietly. No one really heard him except for Nuriko who was greatly intrigued by Tasuki’s actions.
"Chiriko! Open your scroll!" Taiitsu-kun suddenly ordered.
"Eh?? Doushite? Seiryuu is in here you know. If I open it I’ll release him."
"Just do what I say kid, unless you want me to get ugley!" Taiitsu-kun retorted. She was obviously looking patience.
"Too late for that…" Taka started to say.
"Yea, she’s already ugly as hell!" Tasuki finished Taka’s sentence and the both burst out into a fit of laughter.
A loud bang was suddenly heard and everyone was surprised to see Taka and Tasuki on the floor seemingly knocked temporarily unconscious and when they got up their faces were the mirror of pain. "I already warned you two…" Taiitsu-kun said with a wide grin on her face. "now Chiriko, the scroll if you please."
The boy nodded and opened the scroll. Everybody waited to see what was going to happen next.
"Nan da?? Nothing happened no da!!!"
"Precisely!" Taiitsu-kun nodded.
"Wha---? But--- He was in here so how…?? I mean why isn’t he in here?" Chiriko said in a panicked voice.
"I see, this must be the result of the seal being broken." Hotohori thought out loud. "And since Seiryuu no Miko is also in danger, Seiryuu, being that our seal over him was broken as well, is out there finding a way to protect Seiryuu’s Miko…"
"Which means Seiryuu’s Shichi-sei could be flesh and blood again." Mitsukake finished Hotohori’s sentence. "But maybe they won’t be after us since both Suzaku and Seiryuu no Miko is in the same predicament."
"Absolutely right!" Taiitsu-kun beamed. Although she doesn’t say it or show it, she’s very proud of the Suzaku Shichi-seishi. Even from the very beginning she saw how attached they are to each other and their Miko. She saw how they worked together and would sacrifice themselves for each other without even giving it a second thought.
"I don’t get it!" Chiriko proclaimed out loud. He was starring at Taiitsu-kun, a puzzled look on his face.
"You don’t get how Seiryuu’s seal was broken? Or how the Seishi of Seiryuu might come back?" Taiitsu-kun asked him.
"Oh no, I get that part! ….I just remembered all of a sudden that you were supposed to be dead because Tenko killed you … But your here now, and that’s what I don’t get. I mean aren’t you supposed to be dead?"
"Well, let’s just say that I wasn’t really totally dead…."
"Huh?"
"Daa??"
"Oh nevermind that! It’s not important we have other more important things to talk about." She retorted.
Tasuki moved closer to Nuriko and whispered, "Heh.. I betcha the only reason she’s even back here is because she was even too ugly for hell or any after life to take her so they kicked her back to the living."
Nuriko tried to stop himself from bursting out in laughter by biting his lip. But he still couldn’t help and snicker as Tasuki made hideous faces in the attempts of impersonating Taiitsu-kun.
"Taiitsu-kun no da! What exactly are we up against?"
"Well I don’t know for sure exactly, but it’s nothing like you’ve ever faced. And I’ll tell you this, they’re after the Shinzaho of each quadrant."
"How do you know this?" Taka asked.
"Well I do KNOW just about EVERYTHING!" Taiitsu-kun said indignantly. "Not to mention someone stole Genbu’s Shinzaho from the ruins."
"Hmmm… Genbu is first on the list, but if it or they came from Miaka’s world no da, then that means that they have Byakko’s Shinzaho next on the list no da!!" Chichiri exclaimed.
"Tokaki and Subaru-san!" Taka said. Anger filling his eyes. He will not tolerate anyone who would do harm to his sensei, Tokaki and Tokaki's wife Subaru.
"That is exactly why you guys can’t go to Miaka’s world right away. You have to warn Byakko Shichi-sei, about what could happen to their Shinzaho."
"Unn." Nuriko agreed. "Nee, Taiitsu-kun, Suzaku and Seiryuu don’t have their Shinzaho… that means… Miaka and Yui…"
"Yes, they are in grave danger." Taiitsu-kun confirmed what Nuriko thought.
"Miaka.." Taka said out loud.
"Miaka…" Tasuki whispered.
"She who governs all continued to tell the 7 Seishi of Suzaku about the upcoming danger and what they might encounter. They found out all about the Power of the Shinzaho when they were all brought together and summoned to the Miko’s world. The Shichi-sei listened intensely to what ‘she who governs all’ said. That night was one of those sleepless nights for all in Konan Country, for they felt an evil ki watching over them. As though it was just waiting for the right time to strike for the kill."
Miaka closed the book. She was so exhausted. It was like reading it drained out all her energy and was sucking the life out of her.
"Miaka? You aright?" Keisuke asked.
"Uh-huh. Now that I know that Taka is coming back and I’ll get to see everyone too." She smiled.
"Yea ok, so how come you look like that?" He asked.
"I guess reading that book just wore me out."
"Ok.. Are you sure that’s all that’s bothering you?"
"I’m kinda worried about Tetsuya." She said looking at the clock indicated that it was already 2am. "Shouldn’t he be home by now?"
Keisuke sighed in frustration. He didn’t know where his friend was. Tetsuya didn’t even bother to call to say he was alright. Keisuke just shook his head and figured it would be no good to have Miaka stress over this too.
"Miaka, go to sleep ok? I’ll stay up a bit longer to see if he’s going to call so don’t worry."
Miaka smiled gratefully at her brother. "Arigatou Nii-chan." She hugged him briefly and started off to her room. "Oyasumi!" She called out before closing her bedroom door behind her.
"Oyasumi…" Keisuke whispered and sat by the phone hoping that Tetsuya would call and confirm that he was indeed alright.
********************************************************