Yui has become the Suzaku no Miko, and found three of her Seishi as her friend Miaka reads her tale. Though as the Miko, she has a special bond with her Seishi, Yui believes that she and Tamahome's feelings for each other are deeper still. He obviously cares for her greatly, but has thus far said nothing of love.

Episode Four:

Yui leaned against the wall to take her weight off her injured leg. A night's rest had made it feel much better, but she still didn't like walking so far on it. However, she had told Tamahome she would talk with Hotohori, and apparently the Emperor was a morning person. The servants at his quarters said he was at court, those at the Great Hall said the garden... She could understand that. Konan was having fine spring weather, sunny with cool breezes. It was the sort of day when students begged teachers to give the lesson outdoors; why would Hotohori feel any different?

She straightened up, leaning a little on the walking stick Nuriko had made, and continued down the walkway that skirted the palace. Around the next corner, she could see the gardens, just like the day she had come here. The imperially-dressed Hotohori was in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, standing with his back to her and surrounded by advisors. As Yui got closer, she could hear their voices...

"Your Majesty, please be reasonable," one of them begged. "You're eighteen years old, well into marriageable age, and with no heir, you leave Konan in a precarious position. Won't you please take an Empress?"

"We assembled ladies from all over the empire at court," another added. "Why do you continue to ignore them?"

"Because..." Hotohori started.

"Yes...?"

"I'm more beautiful than they are."

As the advisors groaned, Yui stifled a giggle; she didn't want to call attention to herself.

"Don't worry, I'm joking," Hotohori assured them.

"I see..." a courtier said, with a subdued note of skepticism.

"My first duty must be to think of the people," Hotohori said. "I can't make finding an Empress my priority."

"We could always arrange..." Yui passed behind a tree just as Hotohori turned his head and so didn't see his expression, but the minister making the suggestion let it trail off.

"The truth is," Hotohori said, looking at the water, "since I was a boy, I have imagined the woman I would marry. I've always known she was the only one I would ever love."

"Your majesty, you can't ignore reality for a daydream."

"No, this woman I've waited for is quite real."

That's so romantic, like a fairytale, Yui thought. I wonder... Maybe he's being faithful to some childhood sweetheart. I wonder if she knows how lucky she is.

Hotohori looked up and noticed her standing by the bridge to the pavilion. "Yui! Good morning. Is there something I can do for you?"

Everyone turned to look at her, and suddenly, Yui was intensely self-conscious. The thought of just leaving crossed her mind, but that would look even more foolish, since she'd already been noticed. "I'm sorry to be interrupting at a time like this..." she apologized, looking around at the Imperial ministers and advisors. Their faces gave no hint of disapproval, but she knew what they must think, her walking in on government proceedings as if she had every right to...

"Not at all," Hotohori said. "I'm here for you anytime you need me."

Ironically, the Emperor himself was the only person there who didn't intimidate her. Talking to him, that was nothing, but the thought of doing it under his retinue's scrutiny... "Could I speak with you privately? Just for a little bit, if it isn't too much trouble."

"Of course." He excused himself from his court and walked a little away from them beside Yui. "What is on your mind?"

"It's about Tamahome," she started. "He's still upset that he didn't get a reward for protecting me."

"And I greatly appreciate that he did," Hotohori said. "However, he also acted irresponsibly and put you in danger, and I cannot overlook that."

"I know that, and I understand your decision. It's just... I'd like to say it's not about the money, but I think it is. Still, he acts like the money would mean so much to him..."

"Is that it? He's a fellow Sei of Suzaku. If he truly needs money, all he has to do is ask me."

"Thank you, I'll tell him that," Yui said, smiling. Maybe when Tamahome heard that, he wouldn't have to worry about money anymore, and he could think about something else once in awhile... "And one other thing. I was wondering if I could borrow the Universe of the Four Gods to study. I'd feel irresponsible if I wasn't doing something to perform my duty as Suzaku no Miko."

"Certainly," Hotohori said. "I'll have it brought to you. Is there anything else? Any troubles you're having at all?"

"Well, other than that Tamahome and Nuriko seem to hate each other..." she said with an awkward chuckle.

"Are they upsetting you?"

"Well, I just wish they'd get along."

"I could order them to if you like," Hotohori suggested.

A moment passed before Yui realized with a shock that he was serious. "I wouldn't want to do that," she said quickly. "I want them to like each other, not just stop fighting, and you can't tell someone how to feel... even if you are an Emperor."

"Of course," he conceded. "How is your leg feeling?"

"Better, thank you." There was a slight pause, and she glanced back at the courtiers waiting under the pavilion. "I should go..." She hated to just leave so quickly, but didn't want to interfere with his duties more than necessary. Having the Emperor as a Sei was a mixed blessing; he had so much to give materially, but he seemed so inaccessible. She had been with Tamahome and Nuriko much of the time since she met them, but had only seen Hotohori on a few occasions. "But, I was wondering..." she heard herself say.

"What is it?"

"If perhaps you might have some free time later, when we could just visit?" she asked. "I don't think I've ever had time to really get to know you..."

Hotohori smiled brightly. "I have some time to myself in the evenings. I would love the chance for the two of us to become better acquainted. You know where my quarters are, I assume?"

Yui nodded. "When should I come?"

"About sundown would be best."

"Then I'll see you then," Yui said, turning to go.

"I look forward to it," he answered. "And I'll see that the Universe of the Four Gods is sent to you."

"Thank you!" she called back to him.

*

Yui spread Suzaku's Universe of the Four Gods across the dresser in her room, handling it with care and respect, and began to look over it. The clues to finding the Seishi were scattered through it, and even for her, reading ancient Chinese wasn't easy; it would be best to take notes, to keep the clues in one easily readable place. She hated that her school bag had been left behind when she came to this world, but in the pockets of her uniform, she at least had a small memo pad and a couple of pens.

She thought for a moment about how to organize her notes, then opened the pad and clicked out the ball-point of the pen. She checked the scroll for the list of the constellations, half afraid that when she started to read it, she would be pulled away into yet a different world. Finally she found the list and read it without mishap, and drew a small sigh of relief. On the first page of the memo pad, she jotted down the names of all Seven Seishi:

Chichiri
Tamahome
Nuriko
Hotohori
Chiriko
Tasuki
Mitsukake

Her plan was to cross off the names of the Sei she had already found, but as she looked down the list, the pen paused above Tamahome's name. She knew it was stupid, but just to cross it out seemed like the sort of thing she would do if she were angry at him, or had lost him, not found him. It seemed wrong to hurt even the name of someone she had such strong feelings for. Perhaps a checkmark beside them would be better. Or a star. That was good. She drew a star after three of the names:

Chichiri
Tamahome
Nuriko
Hotohori
Chiriko
Tasuki
Mitsukake

Each Sei should have their own page, she thought, where she could write down all the clues about them she found. Of course, with the three she already knew it would be pointless, so across the tops of the next four pages, she wrote "Chichiri," "Chiriko," "Tasuki," and "Mitsukake."

"All right," she said to herself, leaning back in her chair and stretching her arms before she settled down to searching the manuscript. "Now comes the hard part."

There was a knock on the door. "Yui," came Tamahome's voice, "Lunch!" He shouldered the sliding door aside and stepped in with a tray of steaming food.

"Thank you!" Yui said, getting to her feet and moving over to the bed. To eat soup leaning over the Universe of the Four Gods would be inviting disaster. "You know, I can get around by myself today. You don't have to wait on me."

"Aah, it's no trouble," he said with a shrug, sitting down on the bed and setting the tray between them. "So, how was your conference with His Imperial Majesty this morning?"

"Don't make so much of it," Yui said. "I just took him aside for a minute to talk."

"Man, you really are bold," he said, with a laugh in his eyes. "So, what did he say about my reward, hm?"

It always comes back to that, eh? "Well, he didn't give in on the reward, but I thought you'd be happy. He said that if you need money, all you have to do is ask him."

Tamahome's face fell. "I don't need charity."

Yui stayed quiet for a minute, ashamed and disappointed in herself. She had hoped he would be pleased with her. Still, she really should have known. "I'm sorry... I guess I didn't think..."

"Guess not."

He didn't have to say that, anyway... "I was trying to help, really. I could ask again."

"Nah, forget it," Tamahome said with a sigh. "Even if you delivered the message, it'd seem like I was griping. So, you got the Universe of the Four Gods, too, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Find anything yet?"

"Not yet."

The two ate in silence for several minutes. Surely he could say something, Yui thought. It's cruel of him to just leave me wondering like this. Surely he's noticed by now. Even Nuriko did. The longer she mulled it over, the more irritated she got. An idea struck her. "Oh, and you probably shouldn't worry about bringing me dinner. I have a date tonight."

"Oh? Good for you."

That's it? That's all he can say!? Is he angry at me? She supposed under the circumstances, he was entitled... If only there was some way she could make it up to him...

Yui smiled at the memory as she finished the last of her lunch. "Since the Emperor's made up his mind, maybe I could give you a reward," she said, moving back to her chair at the dresser and picking up her notebook. She wouldn't study while she was talking to him, but she doodled in it a bit, like a nervous habit.

"What are you think..." Tamahome started suspiciously, then paused. "How does that thing write? There's no ink."

It took Yui a moment to recover from the sudden change of subject. Here I am trying to talk about something serious... She had trouble being angry at him, though. "The ink is stored inside of it."

"Doesn't seem like it'd hold much."

"Well, it comes out very slowly through this point," Yui said, clicking the point in and out to demonstrate.

"Aah! That's amazing!" he said in awe.

"It's just a pen..." Yui said. Of course, this was ancient China. She supposed a ball-point pen would seem pretty amazing to him.

"I don't suppose... could I..."

"What?"

"Could I... have that? I mean if it's just a... whatever it is..."

"A pen," she said, with an amused smile. "And I did say I'd give you a reward." She handed it to him.

"Thank you! It's a great reward!" he said, beaming. "Are you sure it's okay to give me something like this?"

"Absolutely!" If all it cost to be on good terms with him again was a ball-point pen, it was more than worth it.

*

"‘The Suzaku no Miko remained in her room all that day, and as she rested it, her leg felt stronger and stronger'," Miaka read. Indeed, she was relieved to find that the pain in her own leg was almost gone. "‘All that afternoon she studied Suzaku's Universe of the Four Gods.'" Geez, how dull. Well, it is still Yui. She never changes...

"‘At last the sun began to set, and the Suzaku no Miko did not forget her word to the Emperor.'"

*

"So, what would you like to talk about?" Hotohori asked.

This is awkward... Yui thought, sitting beside him on the edge of the bed. "I don't suppose I had anything in mind particularly..."

"Then, do you mind if I ask you some things?"

"No, not at all."

"What sort of world is it that you come from? What is it like to live there?"

Yui didn't know where to begin. "Well, it's... a lot more crowded there. And, we have a lot of things to make life easier and do work for us, but they're so complicated almost no one knows how they work..." She could tell by the blank look in his eyes that he wasn't really understanding any of this. Not that she blamed him. She lived there and she didn't always understand it.

"You miss it, don't you?"

Yui shrugged. "I miss the friends and family I have there, but the world itself... Not too much, I guess."

"Yui..." he started. A shadow of nervousness slipped into his voice.

"What is it?"

"Yui, do you have someone you love?"

That was a personal enough question. He must mean Tamahome... She didn't want to say that, though. Somehow, it just felt like the wrong thing. Besides, Tamahome should be the first to know. She should get his answer before spreading it around... But what to say? She couldn't lie... "Well, I'm still just fifteen... Normally I'm too busy with my studies to worry about that kind of thing. What about you?"

"Me...?" he said slowly. "I do love someone. I've loved her for a very long time."

Yui remembered that morning, hearing him in the garden. "The truth is," Hotohori said, looking at the water, "since I was a boy, I have imagined the woman I would marry. I've always known she was the only one I would ever love." Suddenly, she felt guilty, as if she had eavesdropped. Still, to know who that person was... "Who is she? What is she like?"

He paused. "I hope you will tell me."

"What...?" Slowly, Yui realized what he must mean. That's impossible! He can't mean...

He moved a bit closer to her and took her hand. She could feel a few calluses, but mostly his skin was fine and soft. "Yui, when I was only a boy, I heard the legend of the Suzaku no Miko, the girl who would come from another world, whom I was destined to protect and live for. I tried to imagine what she would be like."

Hotohori took her shoulders and lay her down on the pillows at the head of the bed. Yui was too dumbfounded to protest, and the push was too gentle to snap her out of it. "Yui, it was you I envisioned. Ever since that time, I have dreamed of you and waited for you. I would never love anyone else," he said. "I'm only interested in you, to be close to you and know everything about you."

Yui still lay there, speechless. After another moment, Hotohori leaned down, closer to her face. To kiss me...? Yui knew she shouldn't let that happen. It was Tamahome she loved, but she didn't know if she wanted to push Hotohori away... Stupid Yui. What a wretched girl you are, thinking like that... Still, she didn't know what to do...

There was a tiny sound, and Hotohori sat straight up. Yui was relieved for only a moment before she realized with a shock that he was picking up a sword.

He padded silently to the door, then threw it open, sword ready.

Yui almost broke up laughing. Nuriko was standing in the hall, holding Tamahome by the collar with one hand with her other fist drawn back as if to punch him, and now both of them were looking at Hotohori in surprise. She didn't want to laugh at Tamahome being hit, but seeing them caught in that position was so ridiculous, and after the tension of the minutes before...

"What are you doing here?" Hotohori asked sternly.

"It was getting late, so I thought I'd take Yui back," Tamahome said.

"I was just telling him what a stupid idea that was," Nuriko added.

Hotohori glared at Tamahome. "When I gave you permission to enter my quarters, this is not what I intended."

"Of course. A thousand pardons," Tamahome apologized.

Yui started to get up. "Perhaps I should just be getting back to my room..." She was afraid of being alone with him again...

"Yui, please. I was serious," Hotohori said, as if that would make it better, not worse.

"Look, I know how much satisfaction waiting on Yui gives you, but this is really unnecessary," Nuriko growled, dragging Tamahome off down the hall. Yui felt as if her one ray of hope was being snatched away.

"When all of this is over," Hotohori continued,"I will make you my Empress, and you will make this world your home. I will see that you fall in love with me." He waited a few moments for a reply, but Yui was still speechless. Finally, he turned to leave. "You can sleep there if you like."

"Wait!" Yui snapped. Now that he didn't have her at a disadvantage, her pride was flaring again, and she wasn't going to let him say something like that and just walk away. Even if he was the Emperor, he was still human. Plus, as her Sei, he was supposed to protect her. Why should she be intimidated by him? She almost choked on her words, and the more things she thought of saying, the more affronted she felt. "How dare you!?"

"What?" he asked, turning around. She had never heard his voice sound quite like that, and the look in his eyes was hurt, almost innocent, but this was no time to feel guilty.

"You can't just take me for granted like that," she said. "And you can't force me to love you, no matter who you are."

"Yui, that isn't what I meant at all! When I said I would see that you fall in love with me, I only meant that I would do anything necessary, anything you might want."

The thought of saying ‘then why didn't you say that?' crossed her mind, but she didn't like it. Now she had him against the wall, but although something inside her was saying she should find that satisfying, she didn't truly feel good about it at all. "I'm going back to my room," she said. "You can punish me if you want to."

"I would never do that." He reached for her hand, and despite herself, she let him hold it again. "It isn't that I want you to stay here or to marry me. I want to be loved by you, and I can't tell you how to feel, even if I am an emperor. Isn't that right?"

"Yes it is," she said, rising and starting for the door.

Hotohori held her hand for one more moment before letting go. "Good night, Yui. Please consider what I said."

By the time she thought of something more to say to him, she was already out the door.

*

Nuriko had barely finished with Tamahome when he saw Yui coming down the hall toward her room, gazing absently at the floor. Apparently what he'd heard had been pretty much the final word on it. After a thing like that... The guard knew it was probably overstepping himself, but Hotohori had said that as a fellow Sei of Suzaku, Nuriko should talk to him anytime he felt a need to.

He went back to Hotohori's room and raised his hand to rap on the door, then paused. Slowly, he leaned closer to the door and listened closely. Inside, he heard it, soft sobbing. After a short pause, he softly padded back to his own quarters...

*

Yui went back to her room and lay in her bed, but she couldn't sleep. The scene in Hotohori's room kept playing over and over in her mind, but no matter how many times she went through it, she still didn't know what to think. She had to admit, it was tempting. The Emperor had proposed to her! She could become an empress... But that wouldn't be fair to anyone; not her, not Tamahome, not even Hotohori, for Tamahome was already in sole posession of what he truly wanted. She remembered thinking, when she first heard him talking in the garden about the love he had waited all his life for, how romantic that was, how lucky a girl would be to have someone so handsome and noble doing that for her. She still thought so, in a certain detached way, but at the same time, she was indignant that he would take her for granted, not even considering what other plans she might have for herself.

And she was ashamed. It was Tamahome she loved; pushing Hotohori away should have been as natural as breathing, and yet she had hesitated.

Tamahome... How much of that did he hear? How would he feel about her now? Even if he did love her, it wasn't unreasonable to think he might just defer to Hotohori because of his station, which was simply enfuriating.

Even if he does love me... She might be making a fuss over nothing at all, really. She never knew exactly where she stood with him... She smiled wryly, thinking that for all the vexation Hotohori had given her that evening, she knew just how he felt about her. Tamahome could take a few lessons from him.

So could I, she realized. It was silly of her to keep dancing around the issue, never telling Tamahome how she felt, and expect him to open up to her. The thought of just saying it was so frightening... But Hotohori had done it. To think what a risk he had taken, to come right out and say ‘I love you and I want to be loved by you!' Thinking of it that way, she had to respect him, and felt a bit guilty for how she had repaid his candidness.

I'll tell Tamahome. I'll do it tomorrow morning, one way or another. That was that, she told herself. And although she didn't quite believe it, she took enough comfort from having made sense of something that she finally managed to drift off to sleep.

*

Yui paid for her lost sleep the next morning, and when she awoke, the sunlight was already slanting sharply downward through the window. This is it, she told herself as she put on her uniform. I'm going to do it. I won't let anything stop me.

The door of her room almost did it.

What could she say to Tamahome about last night? To anyone for that matter? Well, I'll let Tamahome know it's him I love. That's the important thing. The rest will work itself out. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

"Good Morning, Yui," Nuriko greeted. "I wondered if you were ever going to wake up."

"Nuriko, why are you out here?" Yui said.

"Well, as a Sei, it's my duty to protect you. Guarding is sort of my area of expertise, you know."

"Thank you. Do you know where Tamahome is?"

"He went into town this morning. Said he'd come here to make some money, and hadn't ended up doing anything. Why?"

"Oh, no reason," Yui said. "I just wonder... Do you think...? Did he say anything? About last night?"

"Nothing."

"Oh. Thank you." Yui went back into her room. That's it, Yui? You're just giving up? What happened to "I won't let anything stop me"? She'd have to find Tamahome in town. Somehow they always seemed to run into each other at times like that, anyway. She knew it could be dangerous, but he would probably head for the marketplace, and the paths from there to the palace were too busy for anyone to make a scene. Of course, she couldn't go out dressed like this. News of the Suzaku no Miko was everywhere; like this she would be easily recognized, and there was no telling what would happen then. She looked through the clothes in the closet, picked out a nice kimono and scarf that didn't look too imperial, and put the kimono on over her uniform, then started out the door again. She was also thankful for the longer robe; it seemed an uncommonly cold day.

"I'm going down for breakfast," she told Nuriko, hurriedly, as if she were some escaping criminal trying to talk her way past a guard.

"I already ate, but I'll come if you want," Nuriko said.

"Oh, no, I'll be fine," Yui insisted. "Thanks, anyway!" She walked down the hall as swiftly as she thought she could without arousing suspicion. I really ought to go for breakfast, she thought, just so I won't have lied to Nuriko. No! I won't procrastinate! I'll find Tamahome and tell him. If I go to breakfast after that, it still won't be lying... She threw the scarf over her head, trying to arrange it as she'd seen some local ladies wear one and hoping to hide her distinctive short hair. She walked out into the palace courtyard, then out the gate into the city, straight and determined, although every person she passed made her heart beat a bit faster...

Once she got into the crowd, it was better. In the palace, she half-expected every person she met to stop her, but here she could just blend in. She made her way to the marketplace, and was met by the bustle and colors and scents of food familar from her first day here. The smell of the food sharpened her hunger, but she refused to be distracted.

"Hey, hey! Everybody listen up!" Yui heard a familiar voice behind her, and turned to see Tamahome standing on the raised porch of a large building, high enough for everyone to see. She began to make her way through the crowd toward him, but as people gathered around him, it became difficult. "You've all heard of the Suzaku no Miko, haven't you?" he called.

What do I have to do with this? Yui thought as the crowd mumbled in affirmation.

"Well, you know the Suzaku no Miko isn't from around here," Tamahome continued. "But let me tell you, she isn't just from one of the other empires or a faraway land. She's from a totally different world!"

Yui gasped. Was it really a good idea to spread a thing like that around so? What could he be thinking of?

"Because of that, her belongings are totally different from ours, like nothing you've ever seen! And I have one of these incredible items--straight from the Miko's own hand--to sell at an incredible discount!" With that, he pulled something like a very small stick out of his coat and held it up.

What the... That's my pen!! Yui realized. Asking for the pen, giving away her otherworldly origins... was this all some business venture to him!?

"For this incredible, magical item, ten silver ryou!" he announced.

"What!?" someone cried. "That's ridiculous! You call that a discount!?"

"But not only is this object blessed by the Miko's touch--" There Yui blushed and tried to push through the crowd faster-- "It's also very functional! It writes magically, with no ink!"

"Impossible!" came a shout. "You're lying to take our money!" "Why would you have the Suzaku no Miko's things, anyway?" "Liar!" "Thief!"

Tamahome took a step back from the unhappy crowd. "It really does write magically," he maintained, clicking out the point and doodling on his hand to demonstrate. Yui was by that time climbing the steps up to him, and heard him mutter "This is not good..."

What the heck, Yui thought. It would be worth the trouble to help Tamahome... Running to his side, she threw off the scarf and kimono to reveal her school uniform. "He's telling the truth," she called. "I'm the Suzaku no Miko, and I gave that to him."

There was a momentary hush, then people began to talk it over. "That's really her!" "Come to think of it, I saw him with her the other day..."

"Yui, what are you doing here?" Tamahome asked.

"I... um..." She suddenly regretted her impulsive behavior. But what else could she have done?

"That's right everyone!" Tamahome said, quickly snapping back into his salesman role. "This is the genuine Suzaku no Miko! If you want her autograph, signed with the magic pen--still yours for 10 silver ryou--talk to me! One gold ryou to shake her hand!"

"What are you getting me into!?" Yui protested, then suddenly gave a short scream at the approaching human wall.

"I'll pay it!" "I'll pay two ryou!" "I'll take the pen!"

Yui suddenly had people pressing against her, shaking her hand over and over, until she thought she would be crushed. She saw just enough to realize it was Tamahome taking her around the shoulders, pulling her down low, and they somehow managed to get out undetected and escape to a nearby empty sidestreet. Taking some time to catch her breath, Yui noticed the darkening sky, and could feel a mist of rain on her cheeks. The air had the damp smell of coming rain, as well.

"Yui!" Tamahome hissed. "What are you doing out here by yourself!?"

"Well, I wanted to find you. I... I have something to--"

"Sorry to bother you," a rough voice cut her off, and she turned to see a few street thugs converging on them. "But you're in our neighborhood. If you wanna do business here, you'll have to pay us for the privelege."

Tamahome put one arm in front of Yui, pushing her back protectively. "I don't have any money for that."

"Well, then, we'll have to beat our fee out of you," a particularly burly man, bald with a mustache, said. "I'll ruin your business here if you don't pay up one way or another."

"Yui!!!" Tamahome shouted, whipping around as he felt her snatched from behind his arm. One of the thugs pulled her away and held her fast.

"Stop it!" Yui cried. "I'm the Suzaku no Miko! You can't--" The man clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Ooh, that's even better," the mustached man said, then turned to Tamahome. "Sell her to us, and we'll let you go. Thirty ryou oughtta be about fair.

"No way!" Tamahome insisted. "She's worth forty at least."

Tamahome, you jerk!!! Yui thought, and struggled harder.

"Thirty-five!" the mustached boss snapped.

"I said forty!"

Why you....!!!!!! Yui brought her heel down on her captor's foot with all her strength. With a cry of pain, he stepped back. His grip loosened, but she couldn't quite get free...

The boss whipped around. "What's with you!?" he demanded. Suddenly the cheek he turned toward Tamahome was on the recieving end of a bone-smashing punch. In his shock, the man holding Yui moved to help his leader, forgetting her for the moment. Seizing the opportunity, she delivered an elbow smash to his belly and kicked away from him, scrambling away from the battle. Thankfully, the thugs ignored her to attack Tamahome, who handled the attack with all the agility and finesse she had come to expect from him. The thunder beginning to rumble across the sky seemed the most natural of additions to the scene. It wasn't long before the thugs decided a few less punches thrown and a few less walls smashed into covered their fee, and fled.

"Well, that's that," Tamahome said, watching them run down the alley with ironic nonchalance, then turned back to Yui. Rain was beginning to fall, quickly gaining in pace. "Let's get back to the palace. The emperor will worry if he finds out you're out here in the rain."

"No," Yui said, stepping back from him. She had come out here for a reason, and so help her she was going to see it through. "Why did you have to say that to them? That hurt!"

"Come on, you know I wouldn't actually sell you. You're way too important for that."

Is that enough? Could I just settle for that as an answer? No. "It was still a cruel thing to say, especially coming from you."

"From me?" he asked. "C'mon, it all worked out. It doesn't matter, does it?"

"It matters to me!" she shouted.

"Yui, what's this about!?" he asked, taking her arm. "What's got you so worked up about something like this?"

"Don't you have any idea!?" she demanded. "Do I just have to spell it out for you!?!?"

"Wouldn't hurt."

"It matters to me because I love you!!!"

Tamahome just froze, staring at her as his arm fell limply away from hers. After a moment, Yui had to lower her eyes, unable to look at him anymore. There it was. She'd said it. It was his decision now. Her heart pounded. Why am I so frightened? I know he cares about me. Surely... Surely...

"I'm sorry," he said. She looked up and found him a few steps away, with his back to her. "I don't feel the same way."

Yui reeled as if from a physical blow. She seemed to feel a million things at once, every painful emotion she had ever felt in her life, all in one moment: she was ashamed of herself; she was angry at him; she was afraid of facing him, or anyone else for that matter. A wave of giddy weakness swept over her. At first she thought it was nerves, then her legs collapsed beneath her, and she fell to the damp street.

"Yui!" Tamahome cried, darting to her and propping her head in the crook of his elbow. He could feel her shivering "Yui, are you all right?"

"Mm... Tamahome..." she muttered, forcing herself to look up at him, even though it was becoming difficult. In another moment, she let her eyes fall shut and relaxed into his arms, letting the world around her slip away...

*

Miaka shivered. I don't know why it's so cold, she thought, I know they have a thermostat here... It's like I had a fever, but it's so sudden... She looked back down at the book. "‘In the rain, the Suzaku no Miko fell with a terrible fever,'" she read. Oh, geez, not this again... Why does everything in this book have to happen to me!? She began to feel the aches of illness through her body. I'd better read fast so we both get better quick...

To Be Continued...

*

PREVIEW

So that Yui will recover from her illness, her Seishi decide to help her return to her own world. Yui grows ever closer to her Seishi, learning more about them with each day, and finds herself torn between her longing for home and her devotion to them.

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