Author Fangirling: Hey, Readers! Did you all like Split Loyalties? Good! Then you'll like this one. It is not a sequel to SL, but it does take up the characters and situations I did not touch on in SL. Also, you do not need to have read SL to read this one, as they are unrelated in plot. They just take a similar approach, although this one brings back my switching 1st-person stream-of-consciousness style.

There are just a few assumptions:

1. I assume you've seen the OVAs. Therefore, many of the specific character scenes are kept the same and simply summarized, so as to save reading time for you and to preserve your favorite scenes from the OVA (or at least my favorite scenes). Also, it's good for you to have a little background on Tenkou and his little underlings, which I did some explanation of but otherwise will trust you to know what I'm talking about.

2. We assume this takes place a few months after the original ends. Taka is living in Tokyo and is Miaka's boyfriend but has no memory of being Tamahome (hence, the memory jewels), although the others have informed him of it. In Konan, however, we assume that less time has passed (five months or so).

3. The first two chapters and the final chapter are in 3rd person POV, the middle chapters will switch between Keisuke and Tetsuya's POVs. I will note which one starts each chapter for clarity's sake. There will be 18 installments in this fic, and I should be updating on a weekly basis. Should I miss an update, you're welcome to pester.

Happy reading!

Class. Club. Homework. Date. Drink. Sleep. Wake up. Repeat.

College life was simple, but satisfying for Keisuke and Tetsuya. It was during the part of the cycle called "club" that they found themselves in that conversation one day. It started with an accusation: "You're too obsessed."

"Obsessed?" Tetsuya looked over the rim of his sunglasses.

"With the book," clarified Keisuke. "It's over. I don't see why you keep reading into it."

"That is what this club is about," he smiled defensively. "The three of us look up ancient legends and study them. Why shouldn't we try to understand more about the Universe of the Four Gods?"

"Three," Keisuke rolled his eyes at the mention of their rare third member. "Yeah, but what more can you get out of it? You already got a girlfriend from it. Come to think of it, Miaka got someone, too. And what did I get, huh? Is there a girl in there for me that you're looking for?"

"Don't act like Yui and I are just dating because of the book. And I'm reading because it's interesting to me," he replied. "You know why I stuck around back when you found this in the library instead of leaving you and thinking it was crazy? 'Cause I've always had an interest in this."

"No, I'm sure you're just a Universe of the Four Gods fanboy," he gestured to the other books about legends which had barely been opened. "I'll bet you have fantasies about going there yourself."

"My name is written in there anyway. So's yours! Anyway, if the story ever does continue, I just want to be prepared," he looked down to it fondly, "So I can protect Yui."

Keisuke thought it was sweet how unrealistic he was. "You know, you keep such good records of what happened and other stuff about the book, so have you ever thought of being an archaeologist instead? Seriously, being an accounting major has gotta bore the heck out of you."

"Yeah, well," he frowned, "I don't think Yui would like that much. I'm also in the club just to satisfy my own interest for a while."

"Then wouldn't you be protecting her more by leaving it alone?"

"Like I said, it's my own interest right now. We bonded with those characters as much as Yui and Miaka did, even if we didn't have quite the same adventures. It's kind of my own healing process, I guess."

"Compared to them, we really don't need one. It's still amazing, though," the friend relaxed in the chair to stare out the window at nothing in particular. "My sister and your girlfriend have gone to an entirely different world- completely disappeared! They gained their own powers and survived all kinds of things, and then summoned gods! Even those characters came here. How can we even compare? All we did was read and play detectives. We're so normal compared to those two that it makes us look silly for hanging onto the book like this!"

He had chuckled warmly at their foolishness, but Tetsuya didn't share the laugh. "They probably do need more healing, huh?"

Keisuke quieted, and then eyed him. "Say... you're not just dating Yui because you pity her, are you?"

"No!" he was quick to correct him. "Yui's a smart, sensitive girl with a great whit. Plus, she's beautiful. If only she hadn't have gone through all of that. If only Nakago hadn't used her like that," he clenched his fists to his mouth thoughtfully, and lowered his eyebrows behind the sunglasses where Keisuke could only imagine the look he might have had. "She didn't know who to trust. I'm sure that if she had just had some kind of warning about Nakago, she would have been able to see what to do and what not to do."

"Sometimes even smart kids get used, Tetsuya. No one can blame her."

"No, but I can blame her circumstances and I can blame Nakago. How dare he."

"Well," Keisuke smiled awkwardly, "who could dare him not to? He was pretty powerful and he knew it. We saw how powerful he was. Still, you have Yui now and can take care of her. I'll bet Suboshi would be jealous!"

Once again, Keisuke's laugh was not returned. Instead Tetsuya said, "I'd have kind of liked to meet Suboshi. I could relate."

"Tetsuya, the guy was crazy. He murdered little children, remember?"

"Not like that. I can just understand how much he must have been taken with Yui," Tetsuya finally smiled. "I'll bet he was grateful to be a warrior to be able to protect her. But I can also understand how hard it must have been for him to deal with her while she was healing. She doesn't even like to talk to me about the book much. More than anything else, she seems embarrassed."

"You don't think... well, don't take this the wrong way, you're a great guy, Tetsuya, but... do you wonder if she's dating you just because you're normal?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I didn't mean it like--"

"No, tell me what you meant, and then I'll answer."

He took a deep breath. "Just that you're not going to drag her into any more dangerous stuff like that. Like you're helping her readjust to a normal life."

"Because I'm normal?" he smiled weakly. "Maybe. She might only have accepted a date with me because I already understood those things about her. Still, you can't say we're completely normal. We still have ties to that book, not because we have celestial destinies or anything, but because we read it. So what if we'll never be anything like Miaka and Yui, and even Taka?"

"Well said," nodded Keisuke. "It's funny how books have a way of making you feel like you did things you never did or had friendships with people you never even knew. The Universe of the Four Gods is special because it feels like so much more than that. Heck, we did see some of these characters! I did see Suboshi, you know."

"Aw, why didn't you introduce me?"

"He was a little busy trying to kill my sister."

They laughed, but it quickly subsided. "I do miss them. I wish the story would go on so we could see how Chichiri and Tasuki are doing."

"Well, that's what happens when you reach the end of really good book. It just ends, and that's it. How about I go get us some beer?"

"Sure."

As Keisuke left the room, Tetsuya shot a disapproving glance in his direction. It doesn't just end if it goes on affecting you. Even Yui is still affected by someone who is dead. Still hurt, but still wearing his earring.

If I could just give Nakago a piece of my mind, that'd be satisfying.

Keisuke's probably right. Yui shouldn't have to hear anymore about this book. I can still do what I want with it, but as long as it just doesn't do anything else to her.

This book... he opened the pages fondly, recognizing the words he had already read and reread before. Even for a normal person such as himself, it was the greatest adventure he had ever had. Even he still had some issues to work through associated with it.

"Like Nakago?"

He jumped, but didn't even look to see if Keisuke had made it back. That was not a voice he recognized.

"When you meet Nakago, what will you do?"

"I'll make him regret everything he ever did to Yui!"

"Interesting. What would you think if I told you that he used to worship me?"

"Who... who is this?"

"I am Tenkou. I have read your heart, Tetsuya, and know your attachment to this place. I have work for you here in the Universe of the Four Gods."