Stuffed backpack clenched tightly in her hands, Miaka stealthily tiptoed into the kitchen, her socked feet silent on the tile floor. She kept a watchful eye upon her mother in the den, who was absorbed in a family drama on the TV. Miaka quietly opened the refrigerator and snatched up packaged food, while her mother laughed and continued watching the glowing screen. She slunk to the pantry and pilfered more goods, stuffing as much as she could into her bag. Her mother completely unaware, the girl escaped with her heavy load, her uniform’s skirt making a near-silent swish as she escaped into the night.

Backpack slung into place, Miaka ran through their apartment building and between the iron columns of the courtyard’s front entrance. She had made it.

*******

"Why don’t you turn on the defogger? The window’s steamed up," a male voice complained through the humid air. The digital clock in the car’s dashboard glowed 8:10 pm.

"It wastes gas!" The other man quickly punched the air conditioner button back off.

"Aren’t we miserly?!" the first voice observed with annoyance, arms crossed.

"You asked for a lift. Urusai!"

Chastised, the car’s passenger, Keisuke, sat quietly for a moment before a familiar figure caught his eye. He gasped as it darted down a dim alley.

"Huh?" He turned for a better look. His voice heavy, all he could manage was a soft, "Miaka!"

Her onii-chan turned to the driver. "Chotto--stop for a minute!"

"Huh? What for? You’re nearly home."

He gave in and let the car continue, worry creasing his face, inwardly hoping the form with its heavy pack had not been his little sister. A few minutes later, he pounded up their apartment’s stairs and stood, framed in the doorway of Miaka’s bedroom, horror on his face. Her room was in shambles, dresser drawers half-empty of clothing, and the outfit she had worn while telling him of her impossible adventure lay strewn upon her bed.

Eyes wide in fear, he could only stare at her traumatized, empty room. "Masaka...she wouldn’t!"

*******

Miaka determinedly walked up the flight of stairs that led to the door of the Important Documents Reference Room. Her hands clenched tightly around the straps of her backpack, she approached without fear, her jaw set and eyes narrowed. The door to the library had been unlocked when she cautiously tried it on her way inside, and no alarms had sounded as she passed through the immense lobby. It had been too easy. Something wants me here, wants me back.

Small red lights led the way down the hall, and the door to the Forbidden Documents Reference Room opened in front of her under its own power, turning upon its hinges with a soft moan. Within the dark, Shijintenchisho waited. It rested once again upon the cold tile, backlit with a deep, red glow.

She stepped inside the room.

"Miaka!" a familiar voice yelled from behind.

The girl froze, not wanting to turn around and confront him.

Her brother leaned against the doorframe, panting heavily from the hard run. "Where do you think you are going?!" he demanded through his deep breaths.

"To save Yui-chan." She stared down at the book, her mind set and unwilling to stop her course of action. "Yui-chan has probably replaced me inside Shijintenchisho. I’m sure of it. The first time, I wasn’t the only one absorbed. I have to hurry and help her!"

"You’re still talking about that book! I told you to stay away from it!"

"Onii-chan, this isn’t just for Yui-chan. I feel I cannot escape until the last page of the book. Since I opened Shijintenchisho, from the moment I met Tamahome--" The girl quickly bent down and snatched the glowing book from the floor, before her brother had a chance to stop her. She hugged it tightly to her chest and turned to face him, her eyes pleading for him to understand.

"Onii-chan, please tell Okaa-san I’m sorry!"

Within her arms, the book’s light intensified.

Her breath quickened, and she felt the same undeniable pull that had coursed through her twice before. Her eyes upon her brother, she called out, "Ja! Iku ne!"

The light instantly spread from the book to surround her. It blazed within the dark room, blinding and bathing everything in the color of blood. Her brother flinched away, squinted, and held up a hand to block the light. "Miaka!" he gasped out.

Eyes clenched shut, her grip on the book tightened. "I’m coming, Yui-chan-- Tamahome!"

The red light intensified and climaxed with a painful, bright flash. The sound of space tearing filled the room, and with a roar, Miaka snapped out of existence. The red light faded, and Shijintenchisho fell to land upon the tile with a cold, final thud.

Her brother could only stare, eyes wide with disbelief, at the empty place where his sister had once stood.

"Uso da yo..." he whispered.

*******

Birdsong was the only cheerful noise heard near the royal palace of Konan. Within the palace's great stateroom, counselors and advisors sat, stiff-backed, in their appointed chairs on either side of the long table. One sighed, voice resigned. "Oh, my goodness."

"It’s come to this," a second agreed.

"Heika, something extraordinary must have happened, to bring this about."

The Emperor sat at the head of the long table, eyes closed with concentration, and chin resting on his folded hands.

"It’s been quiet for years in Konan Country. Maybe too peaceful," another counselor stated.

Hotohori touched his creased forehead with one hand, not liking where the conversation seemed to be headed. "But—" A strange, low vibration cut him off.  It intensified from above, and the room became flooded with blood-red light. The counselors gaped, mouths open, as a form solidified with the light’s epicenter, directly above the head of the Emperor.

Screaming, Miaka fell the instant she fully materialized. She gracefully landed, back-end first, upon the Emperor’s head. Stray, tiny bolts of lightning crackled around her.

"Heika!" the counselor’s cried out in shock, each with his own sweatdrop.

Miaka sheepishly laughed from where she had slid to the floor, hanging onto the Emperor’s shoulder with one fist. She was glowing with her success. "Hotohori, gomen!"

He blinked once. "Mi--Miaka!"

Expressions changing from shock to delight, the counselors all smiled with relief. "Suzaku no Miko! She’s back!"

Miaka grinned and waved hello. "Yuuki Miaka, reporting for--"Miaka could only gasp as Hotohori snatched her off the ground and pressed her close against his chest.

"I missed you terribly," he whispered in her ear, one hand cradling the back of her head.

"Hotohori!" Miaka’s eyes trembled. I didn’t expect him to be this pleased to see me. She softly blushed, and closed her eyes.

*******

"Eh?! Three months have passed since I went home?!"

"Time flies rapidly," Hotohori’s serious voice answered.

Miaka silently processed his revelation. "I lived here for a time, but when I returned home..." The events with her friends Mori and Fu-chan replayed in her mind. She could think of only one answer, "Time moves differently, here and there."

The Emperor did not seem to hear her. "While you were gone, we developed a little problem."

"Problem?"

Hotohori turned to face her. "Miaka, I have a request of you as Suzaku no Miko."

"Nani?" Miaka asked with quiet surprise.

"As quickly as possible, the remainder of Suzaku’s Shichiseishi need to be found."

The gravity of his request was lost when the weight of Miaka’s backpack finally overcame her, pulling her flat onto her back on the floor. With a dismayed cry, she helplessly kicked her legs in the air.

Hotohori closed his eyes, his voice turned slightly exasperated. "Miaka, put down your pack and listen."

"Hai."

"Soldiers of Kutou Country are assembling at our borders."

"War?" Miaka asked with dread.

"Since long ago, Kutou has wanted Konan."

"Ehhhhh?" Miaka’s mind took a painful leap. Yui-chan, Yui-chan! What will happen to her?! If a war begins, and Yui-chan gets caught in the middle of it, what will happen to her?!  Miaka took a step towards the Emperor and placed a beseeching hand upon his arm. "Hotohori, can you do something for Yui-chan?!" she pleaded.

"Yui-chan?"

"Her clothes are the same as mine, and she has short hair. Do you know her?"

"No, I don’t."

"S--sonna!" But if Yui-chan didn’t land in Konan Country... "Then, where did she go?!" she finished out loud, horrified.

Hotohori called Miaka back to the world with a hand placed on either of the girl’s shoulders. "Miaka, we must assemble all seven Shichiseishi to invoke the power of Suzaku and protect Konan, " his voice echoed the urgency in his face.

Miaka gazed up at Hotohori, his words finally sinking in. Suzaku no chikara... She imagined the beautiful gold statue of the bird. With a snap, she realized the potential it held. Sou da!  If the Shichiseishi are assembled, and Suzaku’s power appears, what we wish for will come true! Then, Suzaku can find Yui-chan!!

*******

Miaka ran down the length of one of the palace’s exterior walkways, expression serious. Finding the remaining four Shichiseishi was much easier said than done. First, I need to find Tamahome and we’ll look for them together.

Attracted by the unusual sound of running shoes pounding the palace floor, a lithe, beautifully dressed form stepped out from a room and stared after the girl.

"Miaka?!"

Miaka skidded to a stop and turned. "Nuriko?"

"Yappari!" he cried.

They ran to each other and clasped their hands, happily jumping up and down, both shouting out, "Waiiii! Waiiii!" with joy at their reunion.

Miaka suddenly dropped Nuriko’s hands. "By the way--"

Nuriko fell the floor in shock. He quickly leaped back up, sweatdrop prominent. "Don’t get serious on me so suddenly!"

"Tamahome wa doko ni iru no?"

"Tamahome isn’t here anymore."

"Eh?"

"He said he was going to earn some money and go back home. He left several days ago."

Miaka’s energy vanished. "What? He didn’t wait for me?" Her heart painfully jerked with realization. She had been left again.

*******

Hotohori sounded surprised. "Nani? You want to see Tamahome?"

"Un!"

"By yourself?"

Miaka cheerfully turned around to direct Hotohori’s gaze beyond her. She smiled. "Nuriko will go with me!"

The Emperor looked out to see a young, slender man standing before him, dressed in a pink tunic, with a long, lavender braid slung over one shoulder. "Nuriko?" he asked with disbelief.

"See? He’s wearing men’s clothes!" Miaka ran to the third Shichiseishi and grabbed his arm for a close hug. "He’s pretty gorgeous!!!" She grinned happily at her discovery.

Nuriko eyed the girl. "Well, it’s a bit difficult to protect you in women’s clothing," he pointed out.

Hotohori’s face reflected his dislike of Miaka’s wishes, but he finally closed his eyes and sighed with resignation. "Kutou spies are everywhere. Kiyotsukete da yo." He held up a red scroll, tied around the center with a brown ribbon.

"S--sore wa?" Miaka asked him at the unexpected gift.

"Suzaku no Shijintenchisho da. The only clues to finding the remainder of the Shichiseishi are within this."

Miaka stared down at the innocuous roll of paper.

"Taiitsu-kun will forgive me for giving it to you. Please, take it with you."

With unsure hands, the girl accepted the scroll, her mind wary and the tiniest bit frightened. Suzaku no Shijintenchisho.

*******

Their horse galloped down the dirt road, leaving Konan behind in a cloud of dust. Miaka’s arms were wrapped tightly around Nuriko’s waist; she leaned forward against him. As before on their quest to Mount Taikyoku, the girl was disguised in a loose, beige cloak.

This is a fine time for Tamahome to go off to earn money, Miaka sourly reflected. Her thoughts turned, and uncertainty raked her heart. Or is it just that he’s forgotten me? She closed her eyes to try and sort out her fear. It HAS been three months.

Unaware of his passenger’s thoughts, Nuriko cheerfully commented, "You’re a welcome sight! Tama-chan will be ecstatic!"

Miaka looked up at him, hope creeping back into her face.

"After you left, Tamahome lost his focus and became absent-minded." Nuriko inwardly grinned at the memory of Tamahome perched on the guard-rails of one of the palace walk-ways, a dazed, lifeless expression on his face, and a bird’s nest sitting on top of his head. Then, the time he kept trying to eat a place, his dumplings forgotten on the table in front of him as his teeth continually chomped down on the porcelain. "That’s a plate," Nuriko had informed Tamahome with a sweatdrop. But his words had fallen on deaf ears.

Their horse’s steady pace had finally left the bleak countryside surrounding the city behind, and the road now wound its way through a brightly lit forest. As if encouraged by their much more cheerful surroundings, Nuriko laughed and continued, "I wish you could have seen it!"

"Hontou?" Miaka doubtfully asked. Will Tamahome really be glad to see me?

"So don’t worry!"

"Wh--why should I worry?!" Miaka bluffed.

Nuriko teased, "You’re Tamahome’s love."

"Uso!" she challenged. "Tamahome told me I wasn’t!"

Nuriko offered his explanation with a humoring grin. "At the time, he didn’t realize it." He turned his attention back to their road and gasped. The bright green trees and shrubs that had surrounded them had turned dark and gray. The cheerful sunlight seemed to shrink back into the sky, hiding behind thick, low clouds. The peaceful forest, so full of life and energy, had inexplicably vanished into something dark and twisted.

"What’s with the weird dimness?" Nuriko asked, voice heavy with suspicion.

"Iya! It’s getting darker!" Miaka cried with dismay.

Without warning, the blackness thickened. "Makura!" Nuriko agreed.

"Nuriko, are you going the right way??" Miaka demanded.

Their mount skidded to a stop and reared, screaming in fright. With a cry, Miaka tumbled over the horse’s rump, landing in a crumpled heap upon the ground. Nuriko quieted the horse as quickly as he could.

"Anata daijoubu?!"

Miaka gritted her teeth against he pain and tried to sit up. Her cloak had been cast off by the fall and laid behind her upon the dank, gray grass. She looked up to answer Nuriko and gasped.

A dark, sinister figure loomed over her, faceless in the dim light. His hand grasped the handle of a razor-sharp scythe.

"What—what are you doing?" Miaka demanded, too annoyed at the interruption to be afraid.

"Who are you?" he demanded, voice sharp.

Miaka gasped. "Ima no koe…" she whispered.

Other men appeared out of the darkness behind the speaker, their torches casting warm orange light upon both of their faces.

The speaker’s eyes widened. "Miaka…" His voice was soft, and shock reflected in his eyes.

She stared back. "Tamahome…"

The two did not move, stiffly standing face-to-face in the torchlight. Their eyes held each other still. Tamahome finally broke from the trance and took one step forward. He raised his hands to cup the girl’s face. "Miaka…hontou ni omae ka?" He spoke softly, as if afraid his words might scare the mirage away.

Miaka stood, riveted by the warmth of his skin against her own.

"It was only three months, but it felt like one thousand years." His eyes softened.

A blush spread across her cheeks, and Miaka’s trembling eyes filled with tears. The only sound she could manage was a small sigh of agreement before her hands reached up to cover his. "Tamahome." She could not keep the sound of tears from her voice. Miaka threw herself into his arms, pressing her tear-stained cheeks into the warmth of his tunic. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her soft hair. They held each other, completely separated from their surroundings and the passage of time.

"I missed you," she whispered, then lost the energy to speak. Atatakai. I can hear your heart beating. I don’t care if he really is from another world. I want to stay like this!

They slowly released their embrace and watched each other, Miaka standing close against him, his hands resting on her shoulders. Her eyes trembled up at his face, the face she had returned to Shijintenchisho to see.

I love him so much.

He smiled. "You look like you are feeling better," his voice was warm. He reached up with his right hand and gently wiped the tears from Miaka’s left eye.

She returned his smile. "Un!"

The sound of Nuriko clearing his throat reverberated through the clearing. The couple jumped, suddenly realizing that they were at the center of a very curious circle of male onlookers. The pair leaped apart, large sweatdrops on both of them.

One of the men spoke, "Tamahome-san, sono hito-tachi wa?"

The girl and Nuriko walked up to either side of him. He raised his left hand to pat the top of Miaka’s head. "This is Miaka, also known as Suzaku no Miko."

The men gasped.

Tamahome pointed at Nuriko over his shoulder with his right thumb. "This guy’s gay."

Nuriko barely stifled an indignant comeback and settled for smacking the back of Tamahome’s head.

He quickly recovered. "But seriously, he’s one of Suzaku’s Shichiseishi, Nuriko.

Nuriko held one hand to his cheek and smiled most fetchingly. "Desu!"

Tamahome looked down at Miaka. "You know about Kutou Country, right? Because of that situation, there are suspicious men about. For a fee, I work for these people as a bodyguard."

Miaka’s eyes shone up at him, so relieved to hear his warm voice that she almost did not hear what he was saying.

"Having me around makes them feel relatively safe," he cheerfully concluded.

Tamahome hasn’t changed. I am glad.

The men’s torches sputtered out, sending the clearing and surrounding woods back into the gloom.

"Doushita?!" Tamahome shouted.

One of the men cried, "There’s no wind, but the fire blew out!"

Tamahome’s voice grew more urgent. "Hayaku! Relight it!"

Unsure what she could do to help, Miaka stood still, not understanding the urgency of the men. From the darkness behind her, a pair of large hands slowly emerged, fingers spread. They soundlessly moved up on either side of her and quickly clamped together over her mouth.

The girl gasped at their strong grip, shock ripping through her.

*******

Keisuke no koe tripped over the last few words, read with disbelief and fear from the dusty pages of Shijintenchishou.  The chill air of the Important Documents Reference Room slowly steeped through his clothes, but his hands where they clutched the book were slick with nervous sweat, and his heart pounded inside his chest.   Suzaku no Miko might be more than just a some fictional character in a forgotten book--if Miaka was right....Suzaku no Miko could be his little sister.

*******

Trying to scream around the hands, Miaka was yanked backwards off her feet, and she vanished into the dark forest.

Tamahome whirled at the muffled sound of her cry, eyes flaming. "Miaka!"