Sorata sighed, leaning against a lamppost, contemplating how he was going to tell Kamui. ‘Not like you can just walk up to the guy and say, "Hey, you’re a Dragon of Heaven. Congratulations! Now, why don’t we go celebrate?" No, he’d probably kill me for being so…’ He paused in mid-thought, something catching his eyes. Abruptly an image flashed before his eyes, a memory of the temple he had grown up in, the only world he’d ever known. He knew it, absolutely, positively knew it – he had just seen the woman he would give his life for, but all he had seen was the back of her head. Folding his arms, Sorata began to debate whether he should follow her, investigate this feeling he had, when his eyes caught something move in the shadows, something that made a move to where Kamui was lying. ‘Well, no time for girl watching, but she was the one, I’m almost positive. She’s the one I’ll give my life for someday.’

Baby, I,

Want to know the truth,

Is it really you,

The one give it to?

The rain was pouring in sheets, almost as if the Earth was mourning the passing of the priest. Quietly Sorata watched, finally able to catch a moment with Kamui again, but then the girl he was considering as a candidate for his protection the day the Earth fell stepped in his way. Smiling, he invited them to a nearby Korean restaurant where he had always vowed to eat at before the day he gave his life. There he explained to Kamui some of the puzzle that surrounded him, some of what was placed upon him at birth. Then, smiling, he leaned across the table, commenting, "Yep, you’re the one. I’ve decided that you are the one, sis."

"Excuse me?" the girl looked somewhat annoyed, perturbed at Sorata’s enthusiasm.

"Yep, I’ve decided that you are the one, sis. I’m destined to give my life for you, when the final battle arrives, I’m going to give my life for you."

Weeks later, as they were paused by a residential area, Arashi, the girl whom Sorata would give his life, pursed her lips, commenting, "She’s going to be targeted. She’ll be bait for anyone who wants Kamui, that girl will lose her life."

Sorata blinked, watching, "She is very cute, but you’re right. She’s too close, her and that other boy will be the way to get to Kamui." He took in the air about them, then exhaled, as they walked towards the marketing district of town. "Hey, when we get to the phone I have to call someone. If I don’t check base they cut off the cash flow, and then I’ll have to get a job…I don’t feel like holding a job and trying to convince Kamui that he has to join our side."

After the phone call, Sorata hung up, leaning against the booth, "Geez, Arashi, I don’t have the slightest clue what to do now. I’ve touched base, we’ve checked up on Kamui," swiftly he pulled two pieces of paper out of his pocket. "How about a movie? I got two tickets for something…" he looked at them closely, then noted she was walking away. Hurriedly he walked through the sidewalk, passing people, finally catching up to her just outside of the cinema. Quickly he grasped her arm, heading inside where she eventually gave up and saw Forrest Gump with him.

Baby, I,

Want to hear your rhyme,

Say it all the time,

That it’s always mine,

I have to know the truth.

Sorata sat cross-legged on the bed, watching Arashi move about her apartment, gathering her first aid supplies. Handing him gauze, cotton balls, ointment, and other supplies to clean the gouge on his forehead above his left eye, she instructed him to clean the wound. Rising, Sorata made for the vanity on the wall facing the bed, but quickly sat down, "Owww…dizzy," he groaned, holding the handkerchief that was stained pinkish. Quietly Arashi filled a small bowl with water, bringing a handkerchief over, prying the dirty one from his head. Gently she pressed the soaked, cold cloth to the spot, causing him to wince, whining, "Geez, that cold…Owwwww…" he shut his eyes, whimpering occasionally, almost screaming when she applied the peroxide.

"How are you going to protect me when you can’t sit still enough to be tended to," Arashi scolded, stripping the bandage of its backing. She pressed it to the wound, watching some of the blood stain it. "Can you stand?" Sorata rose, then feel back down, holding his head.

"No," he groaned, impulsively lying down, "Kami this hurts." Coming back into a sitting position, he smiled warily, "But, I have to get home somehow. You know, this is a pretty cool place, Arashi." He rose, stumbling across the room, finally falling flat on his face! Taking charge, Arashi ordered him to lie back down on the bed, he would spend the night, but not to get any funny ideas. She would take the cushioned chair in the corner, and would be listening for any funny moves. Laughing at the last part, Sorata pulled the covers around him, bidding the miko goodnight.

In the middle of the night, Sorata’s eyes blinked open. Confused, he tried to remember where he was, but nothing was coming to him until he twisted around, catching the light from the full moon. Following the moonbeams, Sorata took in Arashi’s sleeping form, the light accentuating her natural beauty. Getting up, he felt the throbbing begin again, so he sat, watching her sleep, long into the wee hours of the morning. He watched until his eyes could stay open no more.

But, Baby I,

Didn’t hear the song,

Although it plagued me all night long,

Telling me your mine,

That it’s close to the time,

When we stand,

Together hand in hand,

Yet, I know it’s a lie,

Told you every time.

The next day, Sorata spent in the doctor’s office, being poked and prodded, scanned and x-rayed. Groggily he exited the examination room, feeling somewhat violated and sleepy. He grumbled at the prescription in his palm, then looked up, taking in the waiting room. Feeling more confused than ever, he wandered over to where Arashi was sitting as she flipped through a magazine. Silently he walked over, strategically placing himself directly behind Arashi, ready to close in when she commented, "What ever you’re thinking, don’t do it." Sighing, he slumped into a dejected position as she rose, placing the magazine back with the others.

They walked down the streets, when abruptly she grasped his hand, giving it a squeeze. "Hey, you want to get ice cream, right?" she inquired. "If you say no, I’ll turn you over to Hinoto as a Sora imposter."

"Arashi?" Sorata blinked, "Are you feeling okay?"

"I just want you to feel better, because it’s my fault you got blasted by that dragon of earth. I just need to ease my conscience." She swung their hands back and forth, continuing, "Something, deep inside tells me to be nice to you."

"That’s because I’m gonna save your bacon in the end," Sorata replied, smiling at her as he pulled her into the cinema. "Hey, let’s catch the new Star Wars flick, I’ve got to live this up before I die, you know." Arashi sweatdropped as he dragged her inside, his laughter ringing into the afternoon.

Baby I,

Want to know the truth,

Place my bets on you,

Telling me your mine,

You love me all time.

Sorata and Arashi stepped out of the theater, holding hands, although if she had been conscious of it, Arashi wouldn’t have stood for it. Her conscience was fully healed, and soon she would be asking him to leave her alone for a bit. Something deep inside her mind was plaguing her, something was screaming to let him go, let him run away as fast as he could, both of them had to leave right now. Abruptly she wrapped both her hands around his right sleeve of his jacket, whispering, "Sora, we have to part, something bad is about to happen. I want you to run in the opposite direction of me now." Then her hands left his arms as she ran down the sidewalk towards the Tokyo Tower. Waiting one second, Sorata’s eyes suddenly widened as a vision of Arashi dying met his eyes. Quickly he followed her, knowing this was the moment, she was the one, and the Mt. Koya priest was once again never wrong.

But, Baby, I lost in the end,

My love’s shattered again,

Now I’ve lost a friend,

Someone who was perfect in the end.

Arashi felt the feeling of doom engulfing her the closer she got to the Tokyo Tower. Pursing her lips, she veered towards a park where she hoped enough people would be, she hoped it wasn’t what her mind was screaming at her. Then it dropped in front of her, Nataku, brandishing the first sacred sword. Her breath catching in her throat, Arashi stepped back a step, materializing her own sword, but it didn’t come. Somehow, for reasons she couldn’t fathom, her sword wasn’t coming. Then, another Harbinger, Kakyou, appeared, followed by Satsuki, Kusanagi, Fuma, and Seishirou, all dragons of Earth, all after Kamui, but now after her as well. Kamui had decided to become a Dragon of Heaven, a Seal, and so the Harbingers now were after not only Kamui, but all of the Seals as well. Maybe, they cogitated, if they destroyed the Seals, maybe they could win in the end, so their best choice was to divide and conquer, and Arashi seemed to be the first victim.

They simultaneously began devising their attacks as Arashi watched, trying to summon her powers to at least create a protective shield around the area, but then, if she died, would it even matter? Trying with all her might, she closed her eyes, feeling her power ebbing away as their attacks were felt, boiling, churning, aimed for her, definitely going to hit her no matter what she did at this point. Almost to tears of frustration, Arashi screamed as her power surged for a second, allowing her the comfort of knowing a barrier had been placed around the area, right in time to feel the presence of the Seals coming towards her and the attacks firing, the Harbingers smiling at the fact no Seal was in enough distance to make a difference. Closing her eyes, Arashi waited for the blows that were to come. Time elapsed and she felt the Seals in her vicinity, heard sounds of battle, so she cracked one eye open, knowing she should be a wandering soul as they fought. She felt something heavy lying across her, her legs bleeding, and heavy, forced breathing in her ear. Twisting as best she could, Arashi’s eyes turned to horror as she beheld the sight of Sorata, bruised, bleeding, and on his last breaths, smiling down at her.

"You know," he choked, smiling, "I always wanted to get you in this position." Arashi stared up at him, as he smiled again, looking as though he expected her to yell or frown, or acknowledge the fact he just told her, he wished they had become intimate. He coughed violently as she gently pushed him to a laying position on his side, so he wouldn’t choke on the blood he was coughing up. "Hey, I made another profecy come true, Arashi. Did I ever tell you that the priest on Mt. Koya’s never even had a false… *hack* a fal… *hack, hack, hack* Owwwwwwwwww… Did you know that dying sucks?" he smiled through his coughing fit.

"Sorata, you shouldn’t be talking," Arashi scolded. "Just wait, the paramedics will come, and you will be fine, just keep up your will to live. You can give your life away another time, like when we’re older."

"No, no, it’s my fate, but I do plan to fight it," he decided, wiping the blood from his face, the coughing subsided out of pure will. She was close, so close he couldn’t resist. He had a frame of time to do it in, and he didn’t want to die without knowing. Abruptly he leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers, finding it a pleasant surprise when she kissed back, the sounds of the fracas around them dying away, replaced with a silence, the silence of people waiting for death to take its toll. He put some tongue into the kiss, getting slapped in return, but it was a gentle slap, not one of her usual ones that left a red impression on his cheek. "Guess that’s not your style, huh, sis?" he inquired, his breathing becoming more forced, the smeared lipstick on his mouth blending in with the blood that was starting to trickle from it. Utilizing the last of his strength, he embraced her, then laid down on the sidewalk, smiling up at her, "You know, *cough* sis, I love you, and hope *hack* we wind up in the same place when we meet again, and *wheeze* I hope… I hope…" his eyes were dropping and the words came out in a whisper, "I hope we get to live together forever in reincarnation, Arashi, my…" his eyes closed, his face and hands instantaneously zapped of their warm glow, replaced by the paleness of preliminary death.

But, Baby; don’t cry now I’m gone,

You should carry on,

Telling folks your mine,

I’ll see you in due time, ‘cause…

Arashi pulled her legs up, feeling her heart ripping itself to pieces. In her mind, she watched every known memory of Sorata flash before her eyes. Feeling a tear traverse her cheek, she felt a hand gently touch her shoulder. Looking up, her heart hoped for Sorata, although she would never have admitted it. Abruptly, she back up, her eyes widening as she took in the girl who sat beside her. "Are you all right?" Kotori inquired, having sat by Arashi on the park bench. "You were crying, and speaking someone’s name repetitively, so I want you to know that I think it will be all right."

"All right?" Arashi stared at her wondering how, in the name of Kami, Kotori was sitting beside her, concern in her eyes.

"Yes, aren’t you one of Kamui’s friends? Something drew me to you, I guess," Kotori smiled, extending her hand, "I’m Kotori Monou, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope your not crying because of something Kamui did. He doses things on whims, but deep down inside, if you can look past his impulses, he is a wonderful, caring person."

"You talk as though you’re in love," Arashi murmured, casting a sideways glance at the light haired girl.

"So do you."

Baby, I,

Now know the truth,

It was really you,

Then one I gave it to,

Tell me that you’re mine,

Carry on your rhyme.

Years centuries, eons later, when Earth was finally reconstructed and the dance of death was now to be played out again, a young, fourteen year old priest in training was wondering down the crowded Tokyo streets. Taking in all the sights, he grumbles at the fact he has no money, wondering why he didn’t take some before losing himself from the group. Sighing he looks down at his shoes, abruptly noticing a shadow one second before toppling into a young girl. Looking down at her, he sucks in a breath, his heart stopping with recognition. Smiling, he helps her up as the monks who he is with close in on him, before he can say it, before he can tell the young girl in the priestess robes for the ceremony that will be held in a half an hour that she is the one – she’s the one he will give his life for in the fulfillment of a profecy.

Because, Baby, I,

Can’t be there for you,

My life will start anew,

Please fell free to cry,

I wish I could dry your eye,

But now, I’m dead and gone,

Yet, the magic still lives on,

Telling me your mine,

A treasure for all time.

The End