Nakago was dead. As his spirit ascended into the heavens, lightning seared the sky, a final tribute from one of Seiryuu's warriors to her lover as he joined her in death. Thunder crashed and sheets of rain poured down, soaking the crowd that had gathered to witness the final battle.

Miaka raised her face to the weeping clouds. They had won. She should have been elated. But as the rain washed away her doubt, her anxiety, there was no happiness. Only a knowing dread in her heart. An anguish that intensified when she caught a glimpse of the lone figure before her.

There he was. Her warrior. Her protector. Her lover. Standing before them, his arm still upraised, frozen in shock, while rain dripped down his broad back.

~ I knew that this moment would come in time
That I'd have to let go and watch you fly
I know you're coming back so why am I dying inside ~

"Tamahome!" she cried out.

He turned and caught her in his arms. Miaka buried her head in his shoulder, tears streaming down her pretty face. A few feet away, another Suzaku warrior was cheering their victory.

"Yeah, we did it!"

Miaka looked up to see a very exuberant Tasuki latch on to Mitsukake's elbow and attempt to dance around him. Smiling softly, she leaned into Tamahome's embrace as the rest of the seishi laughed at the bandit's antics.

"We're goin' ho-ome!" he sang.

Miaka's eyes re-filled with tears. Home. Konan. Where she couldn't follow. She gazed up at Tamahome and found little comfort at the sorrow mirrored in his eyes.

~ Are you searching for words that you can't find
Trying to hide your emotions but eyes don't lie
Guess there's no easy way to say goodbye ~

Noticing her reaction, Nuriko acted immediately and Tasuki went flying across the street into a puddle.

"Pay no attention to him, Miaka," he said as the wet, soggy, slightly pissed off, but mostly repentant bandit made his way back towards them, cursing softly under his breath.

"It's okay, Nuriko," she whispered softly.

Hotohori's warmth appeared at her side. "You still have one wish left, Miaka."

She looked up and in his eyes, saw wisdom, compassion, and understanding. And she knew, right then, what she wanted to wish for.

~ I'll be standing at the edge of the earth
Hoping that someday you'll come back again
I'll be standing at the edge of the earth hoping for someday ~

The rest of the seishi gathered around them.

"Wish for strength!"

"Wish for wisdom!"

"Wish for peace!"

"Fix Taitsuu-kun's face!"

As Tasuki crashed into an ice cream cart across the street, Hotohori gently took Miaka's hand and met Tamahome's mournful gaze.

"You two belong together," he said seriously and turned back to Miaka. "Wish for happiness. You deserve it. Both of you have already done so much..."

Miaka looked up at Tamahome, eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I...I can't..." she whispered hoarsely.

~ Don't misunderstand what I'm trying to say
I don't want to let you leave this way
I want you to know that I stand right by your side ~

Five warriors and one bedraggled, chocolate chip ice cream-covered bandit gasped in surprise. "What?"

Tamahome nodded in understanding. "It wouldn't be right," he said softly, his eyes never leaving Miaka's face. He brushed a tear from her cheek and turned to face the seishi. "Look around. Her world's been torn apart. It would be selfish of us to use the wish for ourselves..."

Nuriko gazed at them sadly. "But what about you two?"

"I...I guess we'll...just have to..."

But he was unable to continue as tears welled up in his eyes. Miaka held him gently as he buried his face in her silky hair.

~ And I know this may be
The very last time that we see each other cry
But whatever happens know that I'll... ~

"Tamahome," she whispered. "I want to be with you but..."

He raised his head and met her eyes bravely. "No. You have to do what is right."

She nodded sadly and faced their friends. Drawing strength from them, and from the man holding her, Miaka took a deep breath and spread her arms to the sky. She knew what she had to do. And it nearly shattered her heart.

~ I'll be standing at the edge of the earth
Hoping that one day you'll come back again
I'll be standing at the edge of the earth hoping that someday
You'll come back to me ~

"From all four corners of the Earth, I call upon the god of the South, Suzaku!"

A cold, bitter wind came out of nowhere, surrounding them. The sky reddened as more lightning streaked across the roiling clouds. The very air surrounding them crackled and the seishi stepped back in awe and fear.

Miaka squeezed her eyes shut and raised her clear voice to the heavens. "Restore this world!"

~ I'll be praying for whatever it's worth
Believing that one day you'll come back to me
I'll be standing at the edge of the earth
Hoping for someday ~

The earth shook and the winds picked up, creating a swirling vortex in the sky. Chichiri studied it a moment, then turned to them, a world of sorrow in his eyes.

"It's time."

One by one, they approached her, Chiriko, Mitsukake, Chichiri, Tasuki, Nuriko, Hotohori. Her seishi. Her dearest friends. Each bade their final farewells with warm hugs, encouraging words, and even a few tears.

And finally it was his turn.

~ And I know this may be
The very last time that we see each other cry
But whatever happens know that I'll... ~

Tamahome enveloped her in a fierce embrace, holding her tightly, as if she were the only one who could save him from drowning. Oceans of tears flowed freely down both their faces, mingling with the bitter rain.

Miaka wept in anguish. "I changed my mind. I want us to be together. You CAN'T LEAVE ME!" she screamed through tears.

"It's too late..." he whispered.

~ I'll be standing at the edge of the earth
Hoping that one day you'll come back again ~

One by one, the seishi rose from the ground and disappeared into the maelstrom. Fierce winds picked up Miaka and Tamahome, pulling them towards the opening.

~ I'll be standing at the edge of the earth
Hoping that someday you'll come back to me ~

"Tamahome...get a good grip on me. Don't let go!"

Their souls merged into one as the winds flung away the last layer of clothing separating their bodies. Tamahome closed his arms around her in a bone-crushing embrace but she knew it wasn't going to be enough.

~ I'll be praying for whatever it's worth
Believing that one day you'll come back to me ~

"Tighter. TIGHTER! Tamahome!" Her lungs screamed for air but she refused to let go of him. Moments before she thought she was going to faint, she felt his body fading into nothingness. Her arms which had been wrapped tight around his body started closing around her own.

~ I'll be standing at the edge of the earth
Hoping for someday ~

"TAMAHOME!!" She cried out as he slowly vanished into a red mist that filled her eyes. She blinked and shook her head violently, refusing to believe. "You said you'd never leave me..."

~ Waiting for someday
Believing in someday
Praying for someday, I'll be... ~

"Until Suzaku is called, I'll protect you as a seishi. But after that, I'll make you the happiest bride in the world."

~ Longing for someday
Clinging to someday
Cherishing someday, I'll be... ~

"Do you know what this character on my forehead means? It means protecting you, living for you... My life, everything and I, all belong to you."

~ Thinking of someday
Dreaming of someday
Wishing for someday, I'll be... ~

"If I had one wish, it would be one above all else. To be with you. To never be separated from you my whole life."

~ Living for someday
Counting on someday
Knowing that one day ~

"I love you..."

Miaka collapsed to the ground, her body shaking with racking sobs. The book, "The Four Gods: Sky, Earth," landed beside her and she picked it up with trembling hands. A small piece of folded paper fluttered out from its pages. Her heart racing, she unfolded the note and read the familiar scrawl.

Dear Miaka,

By the time you have read this, we'll probably be separated. But even if we are separated somehow, I believe that someday we'll meet no, that I'll find you someday. I promise. Even if my appearance changes, even if thousands and tens of thousands of years pass, no matter what world that may be, I'll come to see you. I'll conquer them all. Then I'll say this again in front of you... wo ai ni.