Disclaimer. FY was created by and belongs to Watase Yuu. It is also the property of Bandai, Tokyo Television, Pioneer, Flower Comic, Viz Comics, and others. No infringement was intended.

"'Byakko no Miko landed on a small ledge that jutted out from the side of the cliff.'" Both breathed a sigh of relief. "But the ledge was too small and Byakko no Miko had been rendered unconcious. Toroki knew she would not stay there for long'"
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Toroki stood and turned to the others who had arrived. A rope had to be made immediately. "Everyone! Take your belts off. We'll tie them together and use them as a rope. I'll be lowered down to that edge and get her."

"I wouldn't advise it." Toroki turned to see Ekie, who had arrived, unnoticed. "It's too risky. You could get killed. Byakko no Miko needs all seven seishi in order to summon the god."

"And without Suzuno, there will be no miko!! And miko or no, I'm not letting her die."

"She won't die."

"She will unless we do something. How can you stand there and not be concerned?? Don't you care?? Doesn't it matter to you that she may fall and die???"

Any further words were stopped, when Ekie's fist shot out and struck Toroki in the face, knocking the younger man to the ground. "I said she won't die," the older man said, a slight edge to his usually flat voice. Toroki rubbed his bruised cheek as he looked up at the man, anger in his eyes. The anger changed to confusion as he watch Ekie untie his belt.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm taking off my robe."

"I CAN SEE THAT!! Why?"

"It'd be too much weight." Ekie took off the dark green robe. Underneath he had on a white shirt which was tucked into a pair of dark breeches. Without the robe, the man's physique was more noticable. His face looked old, but his body was that of a man in his prime. He dropped the robe and belt into Toroki's lap. "Hold onto these."

"Don't tell me you're going down after her!"

"I am."

"But you just told me it's too risky!"

"It is. For you. But it shouldn't be for me, provided that the weight isn't too much. She looks light, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem." Through the fabric of his shirt, a slight glow could be seen. A moment later the man began to rise off the ground.

Toroki stared at him for a moment, in disbelief. Then his mind snapped back to Suzuno. Moving to the edge of the walkway, he looked down the side of the cliff. "Hurry!!" He called up to Ekie, as the man floated over him. "She's about to fall off!"

Ekie nodded once then dropped over the edge. He got down to her, just as she slipped off the ledge. But his quick decent and her fall, proved to be too much for him. He couldn't stop! Holding her tightly to him with one arm, Ekie grabbed onto the ledge with his free hand. That stopped their fall and gave him enough time to focus his chi again.

Then he let go of the ledge and hovered there for a few moments. He shifted Suzuno so that he held her a little better. One arm under her knees, the other under her back, with her head against his chest. He looked down at her and a frown crinkled his brow. He concentrated on his chi and slowly began to rise up the side of the cliff. He floated onto the walkway and landed, with his feet tucked under him. He gently laid Suzuno on the walkway.

Toroki handed the robe back to Ekie, staring at him. "So that's your power? Levitation? There's nothing wrong with that."

Not commenting on what Toroki said, Ekie stated, "She's injured." He stood, putting the robe back on.

"What??" Toroki looked down at Suzuno. Her bangs were stuck to her forehead. Looking closer, he noticed that it was blood that clung to her hair. He looked over his shoulder and began snapping orders to the other. He looked back. "Ekie, thank...Where did he go?" He looked around, but the older man had left, without anyone noticing.
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"'Byakko no Miko was examined by the Royal Doctor. She would get well, but she needed rest. Toroki stayed with her as she slept.'" The two hugged each other, happy that Suzuno would be okay.

The mother lit a lantern, so they could continue reading. Neither one wanted to sleep. They took the book and lantern to the main bedroom. They each took turns reading aloud. One read while the other got dressed for bed. When they were both in their bedclothes, they laid down on the futon and continued reading.
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Suzuno lay in her bed, a bandage wrapped around her head. Toroki sat by the bed, holding her hand. He had faced the huge armies of Kutou and fought against the fiercest soldiers. But to see her fall was the more terrifying that anything he'd ever faced. He kissed the back of her hand and looked at her face. A face he almost lost. A face that was saved, not by him, but by someone he thought didn't care. Someone he didn't even get the chance to thank.

He jumped a little when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see the very man he was thinking about standing over him. He didn't even hear Ekie come in. "You look tired, Toroki. You should rest."

"I don't want to leave her. I can't leave her."

"But she'll feel bad if she sees that you became sick because of her. Now go get some sleep. I'll stay with her."

Toroki regarded Ekie for a moment. He saw something in the man's eyes, but couldn't figure out what it was. He nodded and slowly rose out of the chair. He started for the door, but stopped and turned around. Ekie had already taken possesion of the chair. "Ekie?" The man turned his head and looked at him. "Thank you." The man nodded his head in acknowledgement and turned his attention to Suzuno.

Ekie sat by the bed for quite some time after Toroki left. Eventually, he took hold of her hand. He looked down at her face. So young. So like... Her face reminded him of... She would have been about this girl age. He held her hand against his face as voices from the past invaded his mind.

"Look at me, Papa!"

"Michiko! What are you doing up there?? Come down here! You'll get hurt!"

"But look, Papa! I'm going to fly like you!"

"Michiko!! NO!!!"

"Look at me fly, Papa!"

"MICHIKOOO!!"

A tear slid down Ekie's cheek as his hold of Suzuno's hand tightened. "Michiko," he said in a harsh whisper.

"Ottosan?" Ekie's head jerked up, his chest feeling painfully tight. Suzuno's eyes were open and looking at him. She smiled at him, weakly, and loosely clasped his hand in return. He looked at her hand, so tiny in his, and gently ran his thumb over the back of her hand. "Ottosan." She apparently mistakened him for her father. Like she had before. "Ottosan, please forgive me."

Ekie took a few breaths to calm himself down, before replying. "For what?"

"For going into your private room. I didn't mean to, but I saw a white light. I thought it was strange since I knew you were out of town. But I went in, when I knew I shouldn't be in there."

"That's okay, Suzuno," he said, his voice gentle. "Just don't do it again. All right?"

"Yes, Ottosan." She brought her other hand to her head. "My head hurts."

Ekie's face softened to the point that a small smile appeared and warmth flickered in his eyes. "I'm sure it does. You fell and hit your head. The doctor said you should be fine, but you need to rest for a day or two." He reached his free hand over and gently caressed her cheek. "Now go to sleep."

"Yes, Ottosan." She began to close her eyes, but opened them again. "Ottosan?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Ekie froze for a moment. Blinking back the tears that threatened, he took a deep breath and whispered, "I...love you, too, Suzuno."

She smiled at him, gave his hand a loving squeeze and fell asleep again.
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The mother wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. She looked down to see that Ayako had fallen asleep, with her head resting on the woman's lap. She reached down and stroked the girl's hair. "Oyasumi, Ayako." She stiffled a yawn and returned to the book.

"'Byakko no Miko rested for two days. When she was well enough, plans were set in motion for the journey to find the other seishi. Everyone in the Palace and many people of the town gathered to wish Byakko no Miko and her two seishi well.'"
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Suzuno watched the flurry of activity around her with awe. So many people when the only people who were going were her, Toroki, Ekie, a couple of guards, and the coachman. The Emperor thought it best to have Byakko no Miko ride in a carriage. Ekie, likewise, would ride with her. Toroki and the two guards would ride horses along side the coach.

Suzuno and Ekie sat in the coach, across from each other, waiting for the last minute details. She figured this was the best time to say something to her second seishi. "Ekie?"

"Yes?"

"Toroki told me that you saved me when I fell." Ekie nodded. Suzuno lowered her eyes and whispered, "thank you." A brief, warm smile passed across his face, then returned to normal.

"You ready," Toroki asked, through the window. Ekie and Suzuno nodded. Toroki yelled up to the coachman. The coach lerched a little as it was set into motion. The small group moved out the Palace gates and on their way to find the remaining five seishi.