A dark figure darted along an erratic path through the suburbs, hopping fences and bounding over roofs with ease. A dim red glow burned upon its brow, the light blurred and misted by the heavy rain falling from the sky in torrents.

Suddenly a flash of bright lightning added its bael-fire to the tableau, striking the ground at the fleet figure's heels.

"K'so!" the figure cursed, picking up his speed. "I'm gonna kill her, I swear!"

Lightning cracked again and again, missing the figure by mere inches, then ended abruptly as he finally reached the last block before his house.

"Hmph." The figure was NOT in a good mood.

***

Tamahome squelched up the steps, drenched and miserable. He glared up at the tall red-haired woman who was standing on the porch, her hands on her hips, glaring back at him.

"You're late!" she snapped.

"You created this storm on purpose!" Tamahome accused.

The woman shrugged. "I knew it was the best way to get you home."

Tamahome scowled bitterly. He was exhausted after a long day of chasing after the Suzaku no Miko, and the last thing he needed was another run-in with his step-mother. What had his father been thinking when he married Soi?!

"Well, come on, get inside!" Soi frowned. "And don't drip on the carpet!"

"Oh, yeah, like I can help that," Tamahome muttered.

"What?!"

"Nan demo nai."

Tamahome stormed past his stepmother and levered off his shoes. His father came down the stairs, smiling placidly. "Ah, Tamahome, you're home."

"Yeah, I know I'm late!" Tamahome went on the defensive.

His father blinked, startled. "Ah. You are? Well at any rate, you shouldn't have any trouble tonight. Chuei is staying over with a friend, Gyokuran and Shunkei are still with their aunt, and Yuiren is sound asleep."

"Think you can handle it?" Soi asked snidely from behind Tamahome. "Or is one little girl too much for you?"

Tamahome shot her a dirty look, but didn't dare to utter the words hovering on the tip of his tongue. Not in front of his father, anyway. "Hai." It still *sounded* like a curse, but at least he'd managed to keep it clean.

Soi smirked. "Too bad you don't have a date tonight, Tamahome. You could get out of babysitting. Let me see." She struck a thoughtful pose, finger to her chin. "Which one of you broke up with which this time? Did Miaka dump you? Or did you dump her?"

Tamahome snarled silently.

"Ah! I remember!" Soi laughed obnoxiously. "I do believe it was Miaka's turn! No wonder you look so green."

Tamahome clenched his fists, using all of his will to keep the ogre sign on his forehead from flaring up. "My love life is none of your business!" he yelled, then crashed up the stairs past his father, who looked after him, a shocked expression on his face.

"Tamahome," he protested mildly, but Tamahome's bedroom door had already slammed shut so hard it shook the whole house.

Soi hid a smile and shrugged. "Come on, darling, let's go."

"Maybe I should go talk to him...."

"We're going to be late to our dinner reservations as it is," Soi whined, tugging on his arm. "Come on, let's GO!"

Reluctantly, Tamahome's father allowed himself to be dragged out the front door. The evening was now clear and sweet scented, not a hint of a cloud in the sky.

"Wasn't it just pouring down rain?" asked Tamahome's father in confusion.

Soi smiled sweetly.

***

"Damn, damn, damn, damn!!" Tamahome pulverized a poor, innocent pillow, pretending it was Soi's face. He knew that wasn't very respectful, but then, Soi didn't deserve a lot of respect. The only reason he even tolerated her was for his father's sake. Not even Yuiren liked her, and Yuiren liked everybody!

"Niichan!"

He stopped abusing the pillow. "Go back to bed, Yuiren!"

"But, Niichan, Yuiren-chan had a bad dream." The little voice outside his door sounded impossibly cute and pitiful, but Tamahome was still in a foul mood.

"Well, what do you want ME to do about it?"

"Niichan...." There was reproach in the sweet voice. Tamahome sighed heavily and threw the door open. Yuiren, looking tiny and waif-like in her pink pajamas, gazed up at him with huge eyes.

Tamahome melted. He just couldn't resist his youngest sister. "Come on, Yuiren-chan." He bent and picked her up, then carried her back to her room. "What did you dream about?"

She snuggled against his shoulder. "A nasty-bad man with goldy hair and blue-blue eyes came and stole Yuiren-chan away!" she said solemnly, her tiny fists clutching at his shirt. "And Yuiren-chan called and called for Niichan, but Niichan didn't come." She sniffled. "It was a scary dream!"

"Sounds like," Tamahome said earnestly, tucking Yuiren into her crib. He was nearly throttled, trying to get her to turn loose of his collar. "Yuiren, please, let go."

"But, Niichan..." she wailed.

Tamahome sighed. "Don't worry, Yuiren-chan. I'll always come for you, you know that. I would never let any 'nasty-bad' man take you."

Yuiren sniffled some more, looking only half convinced. "Where's Neechan?" she suddenly asked, releasing Tamahome's shirt and grabbing the stuffed bunny Miaka had given her. "Yuiren-chan wanna see Neechan!"

Tamahome winced. "Yuiren, it's night-time," he hedged. "Miko-sama is probably eating dinner or doing her homework." He had to admit to himself that the former was far more likely.

Yuiren pouted adorably. "Want Neechan!"

"Yeah, me too," Tamahome said under his breath.

"Nanii?"

He plastered a false smile on his face. "Maybe tomorrow, Yuiren."

The tiny girl pouted some more, but Tamahome was fed up. "Now go back to sleep," he commanded, crossing to switch off the light. "And no more nightmares."

"But niiiiiiichaaaaannn!" Yuiren wailed.

Tamahome sighed and closed the door, more softly this time, stalking down the hall, followed by Yuiren's little voice. Was it just him, or was she being a lot less tractable tonight than usual?

"Niiii--"

Tamahome stiffened as Yuiren's calls cut abruptly off. He felt a strange chi, one that most definitely did NOT belong in this house!

"YUIREN!" he bellowed, racing back to her room and slamming the door open. There was nothing but darkness and cold air to reply to his call. The light was out and the window was hanging wide open. "YUIREN!"

He ran to the crib, but of course it was empty. "What the hell?!"

He hid his face as a sudden blast of frigid wind crashed through the open window and pounded against him. There was a strong chi behind this wind, one that was somehow familiar, and yet not. Without his willing it to, the ogre sign on his brow lit up, throwing the room into red and black relief, adding to the sense of unreality.

Tamahome slowly lowered his arms, his smarting eyes squinted. He blinked at the tall figure standing in the window, his flowing golden hair backlit by the streetlight outside, his indigo cloak whipped by the dying wind about his tall lean form like a shield.

"D-dare da?!" asked Tamahome harshly, falling automatically into a defensive position, fists raised in threat.

The tall figure smirked, folding his arms over his broad chest, his glowing blue eyes cold, and yet warm at once.

"Take a wild guess," he suggested, his voice deep and amused.

Part 2 - Challenge

"Nakago!" snarled Tamahome, clenching his fists more tightly.

The tall blonde smirked. "Actually, I'm the Goblin King. So, really, you ought to address me as 'Your Majesty'."

Tamahome indicated his opinion on *that* suggestion, silently and also rather coarsely.

Nakago chuckled, flipping back a fold of his cloak to reveal an oddly sensual outfit made of black leather that bared most of his broad chest while clinging to the rest of his muscular body.

"What the HELL are you wearing?!" blurted Tamahome, torn between laughter and horror.

Nakago's smirk disappeared and he scowled. "Well you didn't expect me to be wearing that godawful armor, did you? Look at what *you're* wearing!"

Tamahome glanced down at his tight jeans, white teeshirt, and short-sleeve denim jacket. "What's wrong with it?" He looked back up, then flushed as he noticed Nakago was taking his own advice, and was giving Tamahome a long, slow going out. "Oi, oi! Stop that!" he commanded, clutching his arms about himself and glaring. "Hentai!" He straightened, scowling. "Matte yo! You say you're the Goblin King? Dontcha have some rules about stealing little kids? Like, they gotta be wished away first or something?"

Nakago's smirk had returned, and he shrugged, his eyes half-lidded. "What's the good of being a king if you can't make up your own rules?" His smirk widened. "Though you're still entitled to a fun little 'quest' to try to win your baby sister back from me. You'll never succeed, of course, but it'll be amusing to watch you try."

Tamahome growled. "Give her back NOW!" He leapt forward, swinging a fist, but Nakago just stepped neatly aside. Tamahome tripped over a black leather-booted foot and fell to the ground at Nakago's feet.

Ground? Shouldn't that have been the floor?

He sneezed as tall, dry grasses tickled at his nose.

"What the hell--?" He shot up and looked around in confusion. He wasn't in Yuiren-chan's dark bedroom any longer, but standing on a hill overlooking a huge.... "What is THAT?!"

"My Labyrinth."

He spun and glared at Nakago, who was standing silently behind him, leaning against a dead, twisted tree and looking insufferably smug. "Your WHAT?!"

"My Labyrinth. Where I live. Where I'm safe from life's pain."

Tamahome flinched, but thought of his baby sister and rallied. "Give me Yuiren back!"

"No."

The two men faced off for a moment.

"Hmph." Tamahome turned to glare at the Labyrinth. "Let me guess; I have to find my way to the castle at the center of the Labyrinth if I want to save Yuiren," he said sarcastically.

"Exactly."

"Trite."

"But still amusing."

"Hmph." Tamahome folded his arms, still glaring. "It doesn't look that hard."

"That's what you think," Nakago whispered in his ear, his silken hair falling to tickle the side of Tamahome's neck.

"Ack!" He jumped away. "Ecchi! Why don't you leave me alone?"

"Because it's more fun to torment you like this," Nakago answered candidly.

Tamahome glowered, folding his arms and scuffing at the dust with a sneaker-clad toe. Wait, where had his shoes come from?! He distinctly remembered taking them off before he went to his room, as usual. They weren't even damp!

Oh well, he had more pressing concerns. "How can I be sure you'll play fair?" he asked, looking cautiously at Nakago.

Nakago shook back his long bangs, his cold, lovely face completely serious for a change. "You can't. And I won't. But I'll give you enough of a chance that you have the hope of winning through. After all, if it's over with too quickly..." he shrugged eloquently. "It's more fun to play with you. I won't end the game too soon."

Tamahome glared horribly, but he knew that was the best offer he was going to get. And he was sure Nakago was under-estimating him. Besides, he HAD to rescue Yuiren! He'd told her he would always come for her. He'd also told her he wouldn't let the 'nasty-bad man' steal her away. He'd failed her once; he wouldn't fail her again!

"Yoshi!"

Nakago nodded, his smirk returning. He waved a hand, and a clock appeared, hovering in thin air over his left shoulder. "You have thirteen hours in which to solve the Labyrinth before...."

"Before?"

"Before I win by default and your baby sister, and your delightful young self, both become mine, forever."

"NANI?!" Tamahome screamed. "I never agreed to that!!" He started forward, planning to pound Nakago a good one, but the Goblin King just smirked and stepped backwards, both he and the clock fading from view.

"K'so...."

Tamahome ground his teeth, but he didn't really have that much choice. He turned to stare at the Labyrinth, stretched out before him for miles and miles. The tiny white castle at the center gleamed in the golden light that filled the air almost like a liquid. It looked a little like sunlight, but there wasn't any sun in the sky. Tamahome shrugged.

"The Labyrinth, huh? Well, it can't be any worse than some of the stuff Miaka's put me through." Drawing a deep breath, he squared his shoulders. "I'm coming, Yuiren-chan!"

He bounded down the hill, headed toward the outer wall.

Part 3 - Where's the #*$*(@$# DOOR?!

"Damn! Stupid jerk coulda at least dropped me off closer to the wall!" Tamahome cursed to himself as he dashed the finally few yards toward the area surrounding the Labyrinth. "Or, better yet, inside! But noooo, he has to make it as hard on me as he can!"

*You haven't seen anything yet...* a ghostly voice seemed to whisper past Tamahome's ear, and he froze, looking around frantically. But there was nothing.

"Shit!" Tamahome slammed his fist into his palm and began stalking toward the wall.

Suddenly he heard the sound of water tinkling. Maybe there was a fountain. He was really dry and thirsty after his trip down the hill. A drink would be nice....

He followed the sound to its source, then suddenly felt sick.

"Ack!"

The lean red-head who had been relieving himself into a pool of water started and fastened his pants quickly, spinning and crouching in a defensive stance. "What the *%#&?!"

Tamahome stared at the 'weapon' the youth wielded. "A fan? Whatcha gonna do - whack me over the head?"

The red-head snorted, straightening and folding his arms. "Oh, it's you," he sneered, showing a pair of prominent fangs.

Tamahome cocked a brow. "It is?"

"What the #^*%@ do you want?" the red-head queried.

"What do you care?" countered Tamahome. Then he yelped and ducked as something small and brightly colored whizzed by his ear.

"Ah, I'll get you, you little #^%$er!" the red-head yelled, bounding after the flying creature, snapping his fan open. "LEKKA SHIEN!"

A gout of flames burst from the fan's shiny surface and the little whatever-it-was was incinerated with a tiny squeak. Tamahome's eyes widened.

"That was actually pretty cool," he commented reluctantly.

"Pretty %#^@in' cool, you mean," the red-head preened. "I'm Hoggle. But call me Tasuki or ya die, you got me?!" He leveled the fan menacingly at Tamahome.

"Hai, hai! Tasuki it is!" Tamahome hastened to agree, lifting his hands in a gesture of peace.

The red-head gave him a final glare, then turned and fried another little flying thing.

"AIEEE!"

"What the hell are those?" asked Tamahome, noticing that they were all over the place. He peered more closely at one. "Euw!" It was a nasty looking little critter, human shaped, but only about three or four inches tall. It had a brightly painted face to match its wings, all in garish tones of red, black, white, and indigo, and it was wearing some ridiculous headdress and an ornate coat. Two long, feathery antenna sprouted from its head.

"Bishonen no kawaii!" the little creature suddenly squealed, and attached itself to his thigh, clinging to his jeans with tiny hands, sharp red-painted nails digging into the thick material.

"AUGH! GETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFF!!!" Tamahome screamed, dancing around, wildly shaking his leg.

"LEKKA SHIEN!"

"NO! NOT LIKE THA--"

--VWHOOSH!--

Too late. Tamahome was extra-crispy. But at least the little beast was gone. Exhaling a puff of smoke, Tamahome gathered his strength then leapt at Tasuki.

"WHAT did you do THAT for?!?"

Tasuki shrugged, ignoring the fact that Tamahome was nearly throttling him with the collar of his own jacket. "You #$%@*in' asked me to."

Tamahome snarled, then let go and brushed himself off. "Jerk."

"So what's yer #%*@$in' point?" The red-head stalked off after another tiny pixie.

"Oi! Help me out here!"

"Why?"

"You $%*#@ing fried me! You owe me!"

Tasuki turned and gave Tamahome an incredulous look, but just said, "Well, whadda ya want?"

"I want to know how to get into this place."

"What place?"

"The Labyrinth, baka!" Tamahome waved a hand toward the wall.

"Oh. LEKKA SHIEN!"

--VWHOOSH!--

"Eeeaah!"

"Oi!"

"What?!"

"How do I get in?"

"Get in where?"

Tamahome nearly strangled. "You're so stupid! It's useless asking you anything!"

"Not if you ask the right @!*%#in' question."

"WHERE'S THE $%@*#&ING DOOR?!?!" Tamahome screamed, his face turning purple.

"Aaaah!" Tamahome blinked as Tasuki grinned toothily at him. "Now that's more like it. You $%*!@#in' get in through there."

He waved his fan and Tamahome flinched, but Tasuki was merely indicating a section of the wall he hadn't noticed earlier, where there was a huge double door.

The doors slowly swung open inward with a heavy creaking sound. Tamahome advanced cautiously and peered inside. Not seeing anything approaching an ambush, he ventured to step inside. His every muscle was tense, his senses alert. Nothing was going to take him by surprise....

"#$^@!*ing cozy, ain't it?"

"Augh!" Tamahome jumped up and clung to the wall as a harsh voice suddenly spoke behind him. Tasuki grinned madly, his orange eyes glinting with amusement. Tamahome glared, trying to catch his breath. "A little jumpy, Monster-chan?"

"Don't call me that!" Tamahome scowled, letting loose of the wall and trying to regain his composure. "You'd be jumpy too if the damn 'Goblin King' was after your body!"

Tasuki snickered. "So, which @!#$#in' way you gonna go?" he queried, scratching his head with the tip of his fan. "Left or right?"

Tamahome glanced back and forth. "I dunno. They both look the same."

Tasuki laughed madly. "Well, you ain't gonna get very @#$%in' far!"

"Which way would you go?" Tamahome snapped, feeling very peeved at the red-head.

"Hn. Me? I wouldn't set foot near that hentai!" Tasuki spun on his heel and trotted quickly out the door. "Good luck. Yer gonna %#@!&*in' need it!"

Tamahome started to snarl a reply, but Tasuki slammed the doors closed behind him with a heavy boom.

Tamahome drew a deep breath. "Well, that was a waste of a good fifteen minutes," he growled unhappily to himself. "How that jerk expects me to make it through this place in thirteen hours...."

But it was no good grumbling to himself. He randomly turned to his right and began trotting down the long corridor. There were fallen branches littered all over in his way, even though there wasn't a sign of a tree about, and the bricks forming the walls and floor glittered as though damp, even though they weren't. The area overhead was open to the sky, which was a relief. Tamahome already felt trapped as it was; at least there was a glimpse of something that promised freedom.

Not that he could escape. He had to make his way through this damn Labyrinth and find Yuiren. And if he managed to beat Nakago senseless sometime during that venture... well, he wouldn't complain!

Tamahome was so involved in grumbling to himself, that he'd been going for several minutes before he noticed that he was just moving in a straight line. There hadn't been any openings on his left -- he would have noticed that much -- and if he just kept going the way he was, it was conceivable that he might make his way all the way around the outside of the Labyrinth without ever getting any closer to the castle at the center! Was this another trick by Nakago to slow him down?

"Now, let's not jump to conclusions..." he advised himself, though there was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "After all, where's the fun in running me ragged before I even get started?"

Now there was an unpleasant thought. Tamahome sighed heavily, then took off running, bounding easily over broken limbs and keeping an eye to the left wall. Nothing. Not a single break. No sign that there was ANY way into the Labyrinth proper.

Finally Tamahome stopped for breath, leaning against the right side of the wall and gasping, his head lowered, his hair falling in his eyes.

"K'so!" he swore, slamming his fist into the bricks behind him. There was a wet squelch, and Tamahome decided instantly that he was NOT going to look and see what he'd just squished. There were strange, disgusting looking growths all over the bricks, and he really felt he was better off not knowing. He straightened and wiped his hand on his jeans, eyes carefully fixed on the sunless sky.

"I'm going to kill him," he said softly to himself, in a manner even he recognized as being too calm, too collected. "But first I'm going to beat him senseless. Then I'm going to make him eat that damn cloak of his. Then I'm going to feed him to those little fairies outside! Then I'm going to feed him to SOI! THEN I'M GOING TO HAVE TASUKI FLAME HIM! THEN--"

"Oi! Oi! Could you keep it down, please?"

Tamahome blinked, stopped in mid-rant by a small, squeaky voice. He looked around, but didn't see anyone. "Dare da?"

"Down here!"

"Nani?" He looked down.

There, sitting cheerfully on a little outcropping of brick was a tiny boy. Tamahome jumped backwards, memories of that little pixie outside still fresh in his mind. But at a second glance, this one looked fairly harmless. He had no wings, just a neat blue suit, and his head was bare except for a matching blue headband under his gold-brown hair. He didn't seem at all related to the creature that had glomped Tamahome's leg, except in the matter of size.

"Who are you?" he asked curiously, squatting down to better speak to the miniature youth, though still warily keeping his distance.

"Ore wa Amiboshi desu. Yorishiku," the boy intoned pleasantly, rising and bowing slightly.

"Ah." Tamahome blinked. "Er, you wouldn't happen to know the way through this Labyrinth, would you?"

Amiboshi laughed, reseating himself and swinging his legs. "Are you kidding? I'm so small I'd never make it! I stay out here, where it's safe! Besides," his tone darkened, "The Goblin King's a little pissed at me right now anyway, so it's best I stay out of his way."

"Oh." Tamahome tried not to sound too disappointed.

"Shall I play you a tune?" queried Amiboshi, pulling a long thin flute from his belt.

"No thank you," said Tamahome absently, glancing over his shoulder. With no sun in the sky, he couldn't judge how much time had passed, and he wasn't wearing a watch. "I have to get through this Labyrinth. But there aren't any turns or any openings or anything! It just goes on and on...."

Amiboshi was laughing again. "Well, that's because you're not seeing it right, Tamahome-kun."

"Nanda?"

"It's full of openings! You're just not seeing them."

Tamahome scowled. "No it's not! What are you talking about?!"

Amiboshi shook his tiny head. "Let me play you something," he offered again, lifting the flute to his lips.

"Where's an opening?!" Tamahome demanded.

Amiboshi sighed and lowered the flute. "They're all over the place. There's one just across from us." He pointed a tiny finger.

Tamahome turned to look. "That's just wall! And, besides, even if there was an opening over there, it'd lead back outside!"

Amiboshi played a short tune, then spoke seriously. "Things aren't always what they seem around here, Tamahome-kun. So you can't take anything for granted." He began playing again.

"Obviously," Tamahome growled, but the sweet music Amiboshi was producing was beginning to soothe his frayed temper a bit. He rose and moved to look at the bricks. "There's no way through here."

Amiboshi left off playing. "Just try walking through it; you'll see."

Tamahome shot him an incredulous look, but Amiboshi was immersed in his music once more. "Hmph."

Raising his hands before him, Tamahome walked toward the wall, fully expecting to slam into the bricks, but somehow unable to stop himself. It was as though Amiboshi's music was compelling him, sending him forward.

He took a step. And another one. And another one. And suddenly two new passages opened up to either side of him. "What the hell--?!"

"I told you!" Amiboshi chirped cheerfully.

"Er... arigatou gozaimasu," Tamahome said, turning and grinning sheepishly.

"No problem," Amiboshi shrugged. "Good luck. You'll need it."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

Amiboshi smiled and waved 'til Tamahome had turned to his left and darted out of sight. Then his smile faded. "I hope I did the right thing," he murmured to himself, a small frown on his tiny face. With a heavy sigh, he raised his flute back to his lips and began playing himself a cheery tune.

Well, he was now in the actual Labyrinth. But Tamahome had NO idea what he was doing. So he just cut a random path through the new maze he found himself in, trying to move roughly in the direction of the castle, which was a gleaming white beacon far in the distance.

He had a feeling he wasn't doing too hot, but currently the walls around him were too high to jump, and he didn't have enough chi-power to blast his way through the stone. At least he hadn't run into any further annoyances, like Tasuki or that Goblin King!

***

"Niichan," Yuiren sniffled, rubbing her nose on the sleeve of her pajamas and pouting cutely. She wasn't scared, really. She had to be a brave girl for her brother. 'Cause she didn't want him to be ashamed of her when he came to get her. And she knew he would come -- he'd promised he would! She knew he'd also promised not to let the nasty-bad man take her, but that wasn't his fault. Niichan was stronger, but the nasty-bad man was sneakier, and he'd taken Yuiren-chan away before Niichan knew what was going on. Yuiren-chan knew that wasn't Niichan's fault. And she *knew* Niichan was coming for her!

She looked around, still sniffling a little. She was in a big stone room, bigger than any room she'd ever seen before. It was even more messy than Niichan's room, even more messy than the kitchen after Neechan tried to cook. And it smelled funny.

Of course, that might be all the strange creatures surrounding her. They were all almost as short as her, but they looked grown-up. Yuiren thought they were funny.

"What are you?" she asked one, gazing with wide innocent eyes.

The little goblin puffed up his chest, straightening to look down at his master's captive. True, he was only looking down about half an inch, but he was still a little taller than the tiny girl, and proud of that fact. "We're the Goblin Guard!" he declared self-importantly, clashing his armored fist against his armored chest. "We serve the King and obey his every whim!"

"Honto..." Yuiren breathed in awe. Then she frowned. "Why are you so ugly?"

The goblin sputtered. Then he harumphed and lifted his sausage-shaped nose in the air. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," he intoned, then turned and hurried away.

Yuiren sighed. All these goblin-men were in a hurry, and they were loud. It made her head swim just to try to watch them. But none of them were paying any attention to her. Maybe she ought to go find Niichan herself.

Mind made up, Yuiren clutched her stuffed bunny closer and trotted toward the doorway she could see through the bustling bodies. None of the goblins paid her any heed, all of them being too busy with their own pursuits, whatever the heck those were. Mostly they seemed to consist of eating, drinking, or arguing. Sometimes all three at once.

Yuiren made it to doorway, and was just peering anxiously at the scary darkness beyond it, when a sudden blast of cold air swept through, making her squint and clutch the bunny closer in fear. The room full of goblins fell immediately silent as a tall figure appeared in the doorway.

"What is this?!" asked a deep voice, sounding dangerous even though the tone was soft.

Yuiren squeaked as the nasty-bad man stepped into the room and swept her up into his arms.

"Let me go! Let me go! Niichannnn!"

"Quiet, child."

Yuiren buried her face in the bunny's fuzzy blue fur. She wasn't scared of the goblin-men, and she wasn't afraid of being in this strange place, but this nasty-bad man *frightened* her!

"Er, your Majesty! Eh-heh-heh-heh...." The Head of the Goblin Guard sweatdropped as he hurried forward and bowed deeply, holding a half-eaten sandwich across his chest. The Goblin King raised a brow. "Eep!" The goblin soldier blushed and tossed the sandwich quickly away to hit a chicken.

"Do you realize you almost let the child escape?" The Goblin King asked calmly.

The Head of the Goblin Guard gulped and paled. "G-g-g-gomen nasai, your Majesty! It won't happen again!"

"No, it won't." The Goblin King stretched out the hand not cradling Yuiren, and a flash of blue light flared. When everyone's eyes had cleared they could see that all that remained of the unfortunate goblin was a pile of dust.

"Well, carry on about your business," the Goblin King said into the utter silence filling the room. Sudden merriment erupted. It was rather forced, but no one dared disobey their ruler.

Nakago strode easily through the chaos, still carrying Yuiren.

"Put me down!" she demanded, still scared but trying not to show it. "Wanna go find Niichan!"

Nakago smirked as he settled himself on a huge stone throne and plopped Yuiren down in his lap. "Now why would you want to do that?" he asked calmly, cocking a brow at the tiny child. "If you wait here, Niichan will come and get you. It's cold and scary outside."

"It's cold and scary in here too!" Yuiren dared to say, pointing a finger at Nakago's chest.

The glowing blue eyes widened, then narrowed. "Watch what you say, brat. I don't *have* to be nice to you, you know!"

"NIICHANNNNN!!" Yuiren wailed, clinging to her stuffed bunny as she started to cry.

Nakago winced and quickly placed the tiny girl on the floor in front of his throne. But she continued to weep and call for her older brother. Nakago sighed. It was going to be a long twelve hours.

***

Tamahome paused in his erratic path, looking toward the castle. He could hear Yuiren calling to him, could literally hear her voice, tiny and faint, carried along on a puff of wind. It shouldn't be possible, as far away as the castle was, but he heard it, and it made him furious. She sounded lonely and afraid.

"Niiiichannnn!"

"Damn!"

Tamahome shook his head. Enough aimless wandering! From now on he marked his path!

Turning to the wall next to him, he punched a deep hole in the stone. That ought to be enough to keep him from going in circles.

Darting a few feet forward and around a corner, he punched another hole, then moved on.

Behind him, at the first hole, there were several popping noises, and three cute little blue-haired girls suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They tsked over the hole in the wall, and waved small hands.

"Naosu! Naosu!"

The hole sealed up and the stone was smooth and unblemished once more. Giggling at their work, the little girls popped away to the next hole and repeated the process.

And Tamahome slowly made his way deeper into the Labyrinth.

--CRASH!--

Tamahome darted around a corner.

"Naosu! Naosu!"

--CRASH!--

Another corner.

Tamahome hauled back his fist once more, then realized he was facing a dead end. "Oops." He turned around and moved to where he'd entered.

"Naosu! Naosu!"

"OI! What are you little menaces doing?!" Tamahome demanded furiously.

"We fix!"

"We fix good!"

"We fix aaaaall the holes!" the little girls chirped in voices so cute even Yuiren might have gagged.

"Nanda?!" Tamahome yelled. "You mean you've been going along behind me, filling in all the holes?!"

"Naosu!" They wanted to fix the glowing ogre sign on his forehead.

"You little BRATS!!"

"AIYAH!"

As he watched the three little girls sail away into the sky above the Labyrinth, Tamahome felt a little better. "Rotten twerps," he grumbled to himself.

"Boy, you sure aren't kidding!" a voice grumbled behind him.

Tamahome turned quickly, then gave vent to a scream Miaka might have been proud of.

"What the hell's your problem?" the gravelly voice inquired. Tamahome pressed back against the wall behind him, shivering and trying to get his heartrate back under control.

Before him was his worst nightmare, multiplied by four. "T-T-Taiitsu-kun?!" he stuttered incredulously, his eyes huge.

"Yeah, it's a bit part, I know, but whatcha gonna do. No one has any respect for the Creator anymore."

Tamahome gulped. "B-b-but... what *happened* to you?" he asked, his voice pitched just a little too high.

Facing him was not one, but four versions of the dreadful old woman who ran the world of the "Shijin Ten Shou". Each Taiitsu-kun was hidden from the neck down by a pair of huge shields, and two of the Taiitsu-kuns were upside down, peering from underneath the shields. Surprisingly, being suspended upside down didn't seem to affect Taiitsu-kun's looks, in either case. There were two shields, before two doors, and two Taiitsu-kuns to a shield. So far it had been the upper right one speaking. Now the upper left one opened her mouth.

"Best not to ask."

The lower left one spoke. "Well, are you going to stand there all day gaping?"

The lower right. "Or are you gonna do something about getting your sister back?"

Tamahome glared. "I don't need your help!" he snapped, then turned and slammed into the wall behind him.

All four Taiitsu-kuns chuckled throatily.

"Hey! Where'd this wall come from?!" Tamahome rubbed his sore nose and turned to look suspiciously at the multiple Creator.

"Don't glare at us like that, you impudent boy," one of them grumbled.

"Around here it's the Goblin King in charge," continued another.

"When something goes wrong, blame him!"

Tamahome sighed and rolled his eyes heavenward. "Well, now what?!"

"Well, to get out of here, you have to go through one of these doors."

"Uh-huh." Tamahome wasn't that stupid. "And what's the catch?"

Taiitsu-kun smirked -- four times -- seemingly amused by Tamahome's troubles. "One door leads further into the Labyrinth, and the other leads to..."

"Certain death!"

"That's never bothered me before."

Taiitsu-kun glared.

Tamahome sighed. "So, which one's which?"

"We can't tell you," said the lower right Taiitsu-kun smugly.

"Nani? Why not?"

"We don't know."

"But they do," said the lower left Taiitsu-kun, nodding toward the two upright Creators.

Tamahome eyed them suspiciously, not daring to ask.

Taiitsu-kuns four all snickered. "I have to warn you, one of us always lies, and one of us always tells the truth," the upper right one said.

"You been playing around with your mirror?" Tamahome inquired.

"No! Now shut up and listen!"

Tamahome sighed. "Hayaku! My time is running away while you babble!"

Taiitsu-kun grumbled. "Like I said, one of us lies, and one tells the truth. And you only get one question."

Tamahome frowned in thought. "Matte, matte. If one of you always lies, then you're either the one who tells the truth, or you're lying and I can't believe a word you say! But if you're lying, then that whole story is a fake, and you're not lying, so--"

"Be quiet!"

"You're giving all of us a headache!"

"Naosu! Naosu!"

"Get out of here!"

"Aiyah!"

Tamahome slumped to sit against the wall. "This is hopeless."

"Listen up, boy!"

Tamahome groaned.

"We can all tell the truth while telling you the rules! After that, it's up to you!"

Tamahome sighed and dragged himself to his feet. "All right, all right." He thought for a long moment. "Hm...." He turned to the upper right Taiitsu-kun. "Would THIS ugly old bat," he pointed to the upper left Taiitsu-kun, "Tell me your door leads to the rest of the Labyrinth?"

"Why you...."

"Just answer the question!"

The Taiitsu-kun fumed and growled, then finally snarled, "Hai!"

Tamahome gave that a moment's thought. "Then I should take her door."

"But what if I was lying?" asked the upper right Taiitsu-kun snidely.

"Look, I don't have time to explain it!" Tamahome yelled. "Just let me through!"

The four Taiitsu-kuns all grumbled as the two behind the left-hand shield skittered out of the way, and the door opened by itself.

"Thanks for nothing," Tamahome said, striding through the door. "What a pain in the-- AAIIeeeeeeEEEE!"

The four Taiitsu-kuns peered through the doorway, where a dark hole had opened in the ground and swallowed Tamahome whole.

"He asked for that."

"Yes, he certainly did."