A/N: Sorry for the long wait for this update. You know how inspiration waxes and wanes. Enjoy and I hope to hear your thoughts on this chapter.

Once Again: Chapter 5

Hotohori's eyes snapped open as his hand went to the burning sensation in his neck. He sat up and immediately his attention went to Miaka, assuring himself that she was safe. Nuriko and Tasuki were also sitting up in their beddings, all having been awakened by their symbols burning.

"Sufficient to say we all sense something ominous coming our way," Hotohori declared. He reached across the short distance from his sleeping area to Miaka and shook her shoulder. She opened her eyes blearily and looked at him with confusion evident in her features.

"Hotohori?" The concern in his golden eyes caused her to focus quickly and she also sat up, unintentionally slamming her forehead against his. They both winced and rubbed their sore heads.

Tasuki burst out laughing, only to stop when Nuriko aimed a nearby rock at his head with a warning look. Tasuki cleared his throat and took out his flaming fan. "It won't be long before we've some uninvited company," he declared.

"Who do you think it is?" Miaka asked, still rubbing her forehead and not looking at Hotohori out of embarrassment for her clumsiness.

"Most likely it is Seiryu warriors, or else our symbols of Suzaku would not have burned so harshly," Hotohori answered. He reached out for Miaka's chin and forced her to look at him directly. "The choice is up to you Priestess of Suzaku. Would you like us to fight? Or would you like to put off this confrontation until a later time?"

Miaka's emerald eyes grew wide at the question. "But what if something were to happen to one of you? I can't risk any of you getting hurt!" She exclaimed, jerking out of Hotohori's grasp. She had forgotten just how dangerous living in this universe was and the thought of any of these men dieing was unthinkable!

Tasuki groaned at her statement. "Geez, Miaka. Have a little faith in our ability, would you?"

Before Miaka could reply, Nuriko stood and rolled back his shoulders. "Tasuki just wants to get into a fight so that his blue-haired friend might decide to show up."

The red-haired bandit narrowed his eyes and took aim with his flaming fan. "Enough!" Miaka cried. Everyone turned their attention back to her and she blushed, still unsure of what her decision should be.

"We will have to face them eventually," Hotohori informed her softly, placing his hand upon her shoulder. He gave her a reassuring smile. "Perhaps it would be best to see exactly what we are up against this time."

Tasuki scoffed when it became obvious that Miaka was considering Hotohori's words. "Yeah, sure, listen to the Emperor and yet ignore what the lousy bandit has to say!"

"I didn't mean it like that!" Miaka argued, shocked to have hurt Tasuki's feelings. "I just don't want any of you to get hurt!"

Nuriko rolled up his bedding and placed it by the tree. "We don't really have much of a choice now; they are just over that hill. I can hear them now."

His words heralded the three warriors from the rival kingdom of the North. Tamahome sat upon a large horse with Soi and Amiboshi on either side of him. The look he shot Miaka was pure predatorily and she gasped at seeing such a look directed at her from the man she loved.

Tasuki had moved to stand near Hotohori during this time, as his hand flexed the flaming fan. He whispered so that only Hotohori would hear him. "So far so good, it doesn't look like Tamahome is going to be earning too many points with Miaka upon first meeting this time."

Hotohori elbowed him hard in the ribs, "Shut up." He moved to stand before Miaka, and block her from the view of the Seiryu warriors. Tasuki and Nuriko stood to either side of him, forming a protective semi-circle around the priestess. "What brings you here?" Hotohori demanded of the trio.

Tamahome knew once he saw the three men that they were warriors of Suzaku and the young woman was no doubt their priestess. He might not have liked serving Kutou and the dragon god of the north, but he was loyal. The southern god of fire reminded him of what he despised, poverty. His forehead began to burn, but he ignored the feeling and focused on the task at hand.

"You are trespassing into the land of Kutou," Tamahome answered as icily as he could. Perhaps they would leave on their own accord and he would not be forced to kill them. He couldn't ignore his conflicting emotions of rage and protectiveness he felt at seeing the four from Konan. That was where he was from after all.

"What makes you think we are trespassing?" Tasuki asked, unhappy that his reunion with Tamahome would be an unpleasant one. "Perhaps we live here and it is you that is trespassing!"

Soi began to laugh coldly at the suggestion. She then pointed towards her symbol. "Then why does my symbol burn? Is that not the Priestess of Suzaku you so foolishly are trying to hide?"

The red symbol on Hotohori's neck began to glow very bright, until he felt the soft touch of Miaka's hand upon his shoulder. Gently she eased out from behind her warriors to stand with them. "There is no need for me to hide," Miaka called out. "To want to protect someone is hardly foolish," she defended.

"Dammit Tamahome!" Tasuki shouted. "What are you doing on their side?" He pointed with his fan towards Amiboshi and Soi, earning a glare from both of them.

"How do you know my name?" Tamahome demanded, as he slid off the back of his horse and prepared his nunchukus for battle.

Tasuki flushed, unsure of how to answer that. "It hardly matters now," Tamahome answered with a vicious smirk as he came rushing towards Tasuki with his weapon prepared to do some serious damage. Tasuki parried with him, but the battle seemed to light the fire that sent Soi and Amiboshi down the hill to engage in battle as well.

Soi went for Nuriko, as he pushed Miaka behind him once again to offer protection. Amiboshi looked at Hotohori with a cruel look in his eyes and lifted his flute to his lips.

Miaka rushed around Nuriko towards Amiboshi, surprising the blond haired man. He thought she would take this opportunity to run away. "No Amiboshi! Please don't!" He recovered quickly and lifted the flute to his lips to aim his attack towards her instead, only she was gone.

Hotohori stood in front of Amiboshi, sworn drawn and at his neck. The flute clattered to the ground, neatly split in half. Tasuki managed to singe Tamahome's clothing, but no serious injuries. Soi back away from Nuriko and also turned to stare at the area where the red haired priestess had vanished from.

"Damn that blue-haired monk!" Tasuki roared, whacking Tamahome on the back of his head with his fan. The dark haired young man cried out and glared at the bandit. "This is all your fault Tamahome!"

Amiboshi lifted his fingers to the tip of Hotohori's sword and eased it away from his neck. "Perhaps you could explain how it is that you seem to know our names," he asked.

Hotohori stepped back marginally, but did not put away his sword. "Perhaps you could explain why you sought to kill us without provocation."

"You are trespassing into our land. If you leave then there is no cause for battle between us," Soi declared. She turned to walk away, dark hair swinging behind her. Tamahome and Amiboshi made no move to follow her.

"Wait, Soi," Tamahome called, having made a vain attempt to take the fan from the bandit. For some reason he felt more like laughing as he fought this man than to try and truly fight him. "I want to know how they knew our names." He also wanted to know why the mark on his forehead burned so strongly.

"I thought I heard you say that doesn't matter?" Soi asked, having reached her horse. She was ready to try and track down the priestess herself if necessary.

Tamahome turned towards Tasuki, who was currently muttering under his breath various curses directed towards some blue-haired individual that apparently was responsible for the priestess vanishing into thin air. "How do you know my name?" Tamahome hissed, grabbing hold of Tasuki's shirt.

Tasuki stepped down hard on the top of Tamahome's foot, causing him to let go. He dusted off his shirt. "What makes you think we were trespassing in the beginning?"

Amiboshi had not risen from the ground, where he had stumbled back upon coming too close to Hotohori's sword. "It's obvious that you are the warriors of Suzaku and therefore from Konan," he answered. He glanced towards his flute that was now covered in dirt and in two equal pieces. "But how did she know our names," he asked to himself as his vision drifted towards the area Miaka stood when she disappeared.

"Maybe we all knew each other in another life," Hotohori offered in a chilling voice he often reserved for scaring dignitaries. "I suggest you follow your friend before I sent you off to the next one," he warned. He backed off and allowed the young man to collect his flute, but before he reached his horse he called out. "Make sure your brother stays away from helpless sick people and children!"

Amiboshi turned towards him with a confused expression. What could he have meant by that last statement? His brother wouldn't have killed helpless sick people and children. But the man's words caused a chill up his spine, a chill of foreboding. The strange warrior from the enemy god knew about his brother too.

"Come Tamahome," Soi called, having already turned her horse away from the camp site. There was still plenty of time to do some more scouting. Even if before her were the warriors of Suzaku, she knew that she would not be allowed to destroy them. Nakago would have forbidden such an idea. No doubt, he would want to find a way to manipulate them into his own plans. The brewing war with Konan was too important for her to try and destroy the warriors here and now. It would be better if she were to capture the priestess and perhaps use her to influence Konan's emperor. It was rumored that he was to have an obsession with his priestess.

Tamahome felt torn, but reluctantly began to follow his two friends and fellow warriors. He wanted to know more about these Suzaku warriors and their priestess. Mostly he wanted to know how it was that they knew him!

"Tamahome."

He turned to see the man with the long light brown hair gesture to his forehead. "One day soon you will know the meaning behind your mark." Hotohori paused, "I just hope that you do not grow to hate yourself when you find out the truth."

Nuriko waited until the three Kurou warriors were gone. "So, that was Tamahome?" Neither of the two men answered. "So are we going to go find Miaka again?"

"Chichiri has her," Tasuki answered. "She's safe with him."

Nuriko wasn't sure about that. He turned towards Hotohori. "Your majesty?"

Hotohori didn't look at Nuriko but instead glared at Tasuki. "If I recall correctly, you kidnapped her on your first meeting."

Tasuki crossed his arms. "So? I had a good reason. It's not like the two of you didn't get her back!" He answered gesturing to both Hotohori and Nuriko.

"Woah!" Nuriko called, hands raised in defense with his palms outward. "You're both talking about that past life thing, but we're in the present now. What are we going to do about Miaka, now?"

"We will find her and acquire another Suzaku warrior at the same time," Hotohori answered.

oooooOOOOOooooo

Chichiri wasn't sure what to think. He had rescued the priestess, but the gratitude she was showing him was unexpected. She had hugged him as if he were her long-lost older brother. He wasn't really sure about how to deal with that.

Awkwardly he patted her on the shoulder and stepped out of her embrace. "I apologize for saving you so last minute. The transportation was surely uncomfortable," he said as he distanced himself from her.

Miaka waved the comment away. "It wasn't so uncomfortable once you get used to it. Besides, I ran over towards Amiboshi after I already saw your portal on the ground."

Chichiri's mind went blank for a moment, but he quickly composed himself and tried to keep up his joking façade. "I don't see how you would know about the portal before hand, you know?"

Miaka's face fell at his answer. "You don't remember do you?"

Chichiri blinked in confusion at the change in her energy. His one question seemed to make her go from joyous to miserable in the matter of a few heartbeats. "What is it that I should remember?"

"Well for one, you're one the Warriors of Suzaku," she told him. She scrutinized him closely, making him uncomfortable and glad that he was wearing his cheerful face so she wouldn't see his expression. "Look this is going to sound strange, but we've met before."

Chichiri laughed, "No I think I would remember having met."

"But we have!" Miaka's emerald eyes pleaded him to believe. "I can prove it to you, just like I proved it to Nuriko!" She declared as she took hold of his hand and pulled him over towards a stream. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Do you know who Nuriko even is?"

He shook his head causing her to sigh. Chichiri was not too happy to learn that his priestess that he was sworn to protect was mentally unbalanced. "That's fine, I didn't really expect you to remember. But, I know for one that you are wearing a mask."

Before he could react, Miaka had reached across and taken off his mask, forcing him to look down in the stream. They looked at his reflection together. "You hide the pain you feel caused by the day you gained that scar." She handed him back his mask, but he didn't put it on, intrigued by her insight.

Miaka smiled as she lifted her fingers to trace the tender scar over his ruined eye. "I know you loved her very much and he was your best friend. You do find happiness again and you won't always need to wear the mask."

Chichiri's hand closed around the mask as he gazed at his priestess. "Perhaps you should explain this to me from the beginning, that you should."

oooooOOOOOooooo

"So what do you think?" Amiboshi asked as he drew his horse alongside Tamahome's, allowing Soi to travel far in front of them.

"I'm unnerved," Tamahome answered vaguely as he unconsciously rubbed his forehead.

"Is it possible that there is a spy in our midst that might have told them about us?" Amiboshi asked suspiciously. He didn't miss the way the man that welding the fire acted so betrayed by Tamahome's presence. But he couldn't really use that man's reaction when the priestess herself had been the one to plead with him so familiarly.

"Are you saying that I'm a spy?" Tamahome demanded quietly, his eyes dark.

Amiboshi snorted at the question, "No more than you might assume I am the spy." He reached into his pocket felt the two broken pieces of his flute. "It's just odd is all."

The two friends were quiet and several minutes slipped by.

"Did you see the way they protected her?" Amiboshi asked, excitement to his voice and revealing where his thoughts had drifted. He looked at Tamahome impassioned. "And the way she ran out from behind them to fight for them as well?" He looked into the distance. "I wish I could fight for a priestess like that."

"Then why don't you?" Tamahome demanded annoyed. His forehead was killing him now. It was like the more Amiboshi discussed the Suzaku warriors and the priestess the more his symbol burned. He began to have an uncomfortable feeling of guilt swell up inside. What if his mark meant he was a Suzaku warrior? What if that was why they were so familiar with him? Could they know such a thing without he himself knowing it?

Amiboshi began to laugh bitterly and revealed his Seiryu symbol. "It would be hard to do that with this mark, don't you think?" He was quite for a few more minutes. "But perhaps we should reconsider our roles within Konan."

"What do you mean?"

"Just compare from that one encounter the difference between the warriors of Suzaku to those of Seiryu." His pale eyes met Tamahome's in early morning light. "Which side would you rather be fighting for?" He looked back down at his symbol. "I wonder sometimes just how much choice I have."

"You had best stop speaking of such treasonous things," Tamahome warned.

"Sure, but that doesn't mean I won't keep thinking them," Amiboshi agreed cheerfully. He noticed that Soi had stopped. Had she overheard his conversation? "What's wrong?"

Soi turned her horse around to face them. "I'm not ready to head back to the palace," she answered. She wanted to stay away from Nakago longer, perhaps he might even come looking for her if she were gone for a long while.

"I see," Amiboshi replied, sneaking a quick look at Tamahome, but only seeing a forlorn expression upon his best friend's face. "Let us go and visit Tamahome's family in the village then."

"What?" Tamahome asked in shock.

"Very well," Soi agreed. "It is just as likely that we run into the priestess there as anywhere else."

"Right, we're still searching for her," Amiboshi mumbled.