Houjun Ri: Late? YESSS. Very late, but what can I do? Anyway, I want to continue this so badly. Hm. Six/seven pages of text. I do hope it makes it up? Not to mention that I will be revising the last two chapters since … they are super crappy.

Chapter III

The "urge" of wanting to see you,

the "innocence" that made me want to cry

"...`re we `ere yet?" muttered Tasuki as he glared at the monk ahead of him. It had been one day of none stop walk without any complaints, but once the monk and him had ditched breakfast earlier this morning - he was not exactly a happy camper at the moment. Their food supply had only lasted yesterday, and the monk had told him that they would arrive at the mysterious village by night that day. Apparently they had taken the 'long' way to the village since Chichiri had decided this plan last minute. This did not make the Mt. Reikaku bandit very happy. How exactly were they going to survive the rest of the evening without eating anything? Was the monk fastening? Because sure as hell was he not going to starve himself for something he wasn't even sure he should believe in. Suzaku or no Suzaku, we was going to get food no matter what the monk would say to him. He had to eat! Amber eyes narrowed at the figure before him. "Yo `Chiri! I'll clobber ya if ya dun't respond back!"

Finally the monk stopped his tracks, and tilted his head to the side. "Hm. Strange no da."

Tasuki stood a little bit behind him as he raised an eyebrow. "Strange? What ya talkin' bout?" Tasuki decided to stand next to him, and his left eye twitched. Slowly his head turned to face his partner. "Ya dun't know where we `re do ya?"

In front of the two last surviving Suzaku senshi were two new paths to take. One was taking a northern route while the other was an eastern route. Chichiri crossed his arms together and his staff made a small jingle sound. The monk looked thoughtful while his companion was filled with annoyance. "Maybe … it's the eastern route no da!"

"Bullshit!" cried out the bandit as he pointed at his companion with an accusing finger. "Ya dun't `now where we are! Dammit it!"

Chichiri gave a sigh as he turned to face Tasuki. "The village is pretty well hidden no da. It'll take a while before I -"

"Mm? `Chiri?" questioned the orange head as he watched his friend carefully. "Whatcha st -"

Tasuki was interrupted by the blue haired monk. "Someone is coming no da." The two Suzaku no Senshi were completely quiet and stared at the northern route. Just as Chichiri had predicted someone was coming towards them. It didn't take long for that traveler to be distinguished in detail. The traveler was old, and he was a male. He wore poor commoner clothing unlike those the senshi would see in the capital city of Konan. On his back he had a cloth that would hold up some food for his journey or perhaps back from buying food at a nearby village. The old man stared at the two companions, and blinked his eyes.

"Oh...?" His dark brown eyes went from Chichiri to Tasuki and back again. The old man have a hesitant smile. "Are you two perhaps … lost?"

Amber eyes glared at the peacock haired monk who merely shrugged his shoulders. Tasuki could not help to cross his arms, look away from his companion, and mutter incoherent words.

"I guess so no da!" cried out the cheery blue haired monk.

Ran stared at the door in front of her. Her lips formed a frown as she raised her fist, and knocked on the door. "Yui are you awake? I brought breakfast for you."

"You can come in Ran-san," said a voice from the other side of the door. Ran pushed away the door, and entered the room that her new guest was occupying. Her lips formed a smile as she noticed that her guest was sitting up straight giving her a warm smile. She placed the tray of food she held on the near by table. Her attention was then on her guest again. She took note of the girls well rested facial expression. Ran could not help to grin at the sight before her. "A goodnight sleep?"

"Is it morning already?" she mumbled looking over to the window. "Huh..."

Ran nodded as she too stared at the window. She grabbed the bowl from the tray. "Yup. Morning, and ready to train with shishou who promised to train me to my hearts content."

"Training?" questioned the blond as her blue eyes gave a confused expression. "Oh right...that's how you found me right?"

Ran nodded once more as she passed the bowl of soup to her guest. "Yep. Just don't tell my sister since she's such a … worrywart."

"Mm-mm," nodded Yui as she took a sip of the soup that Ran had made for her. Yui blinked her eyes as if realizing something. "Sorry if this sounds rude, but you two look nothing a like." Yui noticed the small smile that Ran had. The high school girl could not help to bit her lower lip. Perhaps it had been rude. No not perhaps, it was rude. "S-So-"

"We're not kin," she said as she gave Yui a small piece of bread that she had gotten from the tray of breakfast she had made this morning. "Y'know blood related and all that. We're not that. She came to this village about … about as long as I could remember really. Chichi-ue took Ane-ue in when she came to this village, and after that we were sisters with a bond. Not much of a blood bond, but a bond none the less. Chichi-ue passed away about five years ago, so it's just me and Ane-ue now."

Yui nodded as she also somewhat understood the situation. "I see...I think I..." She stopped herself, did Miaka feel that Yui was similar to a sister to her? Perhaps Miaka did not feel the same way she did. After all to make a relationship to must make an effort. Sadly to her dismay she failed that close bond with Miaka about three years ago. As she though about the Suzaku no Miko, she did not notice that the girl who was next to her watched her carefully.

"Well no matter," piped up Ran as she waved her hand as she dismissed the topic. "Anyway, Ane-ue will be here soon to take over, and pamper you most likely." She took the empty bowl that once had chicken broth with noodles and meat. "Do you need anything else besides your tea?"

Yui could only smile. "No. I'm fine."

Ran shrugged. "Alright then, just yell out my sister's name if you need anything." She placed the empty bowl on the tray then handed the tea cup to Yui. "If she asks where I am, tell her I'm out training with shishou."

Yui gave a nod to the female. "I'll inform her. Don't worry."

Ran gave Yui one last nod before she was out the door. She left the guest alone in the room and the nineteen year old female went to her room to grab her sword that was leaned next to the window in her room. It really didn't take long for Ran to get everything she needed before heading out. Once she adjusted her sword to her hip, Ran left the house as she ran to her destination. Passing by village people she knew, the adult teen was able to finally step inside her shishou's house.

"Shishou! I'm here!" she cried out enthusiastically looking around the room she had entered. A small table and chairs were in front of her, and the stove was near by. Her shishou's house was just like the rest of the homes in the Shuchun - one story mud house with tiled roofs. If her shishou would be a farmer than he would probably have a two story mud house. She noticed the curtains that were donated by her sister. The light jade green curtains actually fitted her master's home since his favorite color was green.

"Oh Ran!" said an elderly voice as the woman gave the girl a bright welcome smile. Cuifeng, her shishou's wife, had grabbed her hand and dragged her to sit in one of the chairs. "Oh my you must eat! You look like you're about to eat a horse!"

Ran was hesitant to actually tell Cuifeng that she had already eaten back home and she was simply over exaggerating. "No I ate before I came here so don't worry about it..."

"You must have not eaten enough!" Cuifeng cried out. "No healthy young girl should ..."

"Enough, enough!" yelled out a male voice as the person entered the room. "If the child doesn't want to eat don't force her!"

Ran couldn't help to smile as her shishou entered the room. His brown and white strands of hair were tied into a bun and he wore his training clothes. His hazel orbs stared at her brown ones. He could only give her an apologetic expression. "Sorry Ran but you know how she is about being well nourished."

Cuifeng placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her hazel nut eyes. Her black hair tied into a braid and set to her left side. "Well excuse me for taking well care of your students!"

"Women all you do is nag at them!" protested her shishou as he crossed his arms together and he was ready for the ritual verbal fight with his wife.

Ran sighed as she stared at the older couple being in a heated discussion about the lack of shishou's student health concern. Ran pointed at another door that will lead outside. "Chin-shishou...I'm going to start my warm up," she said to almost no one in particular since the couple was still in a heated debate.

Ran finally got outside and decided to start her stretching exercises first. With in the next ten minutes her shishou finally escaped the clutches of daily matrimonial arguments. Ran gave her master a grin. "Finally able to escape shishou?"

Chin glared at the building behind him. "Hmph! That woman is as stubborn as a mule! No matter, done with your warm ups?"

"Yep!" cheered the girl in front of him. "Now will I get to train with my hearts content?" questioned the nineteen year old female.

Chin gave a sigh before he muttered the word "women" under his breath. All his student did was give a giggle before her training would start.

"...I see so that's why you two were lost."

The blue haired monk nodded his head while his companion lagged behind. Apparently the old man who Chichiri and Tasuki had met not too long ago was a resident in the Shuchun village. To the senshi's surprise the man was not hesitant or apprehensive when they had asked for directions to the Shuchun village. Apparently not every villager was xenophobic. Chichiri gave his gratitude to the older man who was showing him the way as the monk explained their situation.

"Yes, I heard from numerous sources that Shuchun village is very secretive no da!" Chichiri did not show any other emotion besides the cheery mask he wore. "I knew that it would be tough to find the village, but my friend and I must go there no da."

The elder man raised an eyebrow. "What would a holy man companioned by a..." the elderly man gave a glance back at the carrot top "suitable mercenary want to do in our village?"

Tasuki gave a scoff at the words "suitable mercenary", he was far from it. He was a bandit not a Konan warrior that retired just to become an escort with a pointy sword - in his case an ironed fan. Then again he was technically a warrior, but still a bandit at the same time. Screw it, he was the leader of the Mt. Reikaku bandits!

"We heard that there is a legend in Shuchun village no da."

There was an awkward silence in the party, and Tasuki was never good with these types of situations. It only made him feel nervous.

"Ah yes, that legend."

Chichiri who was closer to the elderly man - gave a quick glance before he asked a question for his curiosity. "Fei-san, do you know the details to this legend no da?"

Fei gave out a sigh before he responded. "I personally don't believe it, but the story goes like this... Anyone who omits a light when entering the village will be chosen to go on a journey."

"...'hat's it?" questioned the bandit who was behind Fei and Chichiri. "Ya gotta be kiddin'! Ya mean we came all tha way 'ere fer that!"

Chichiri gave the bandit a small frown. Fei merely gave a sigh before he continued. "Of course there is more to this legend my boy. Although I'm no expert at it, I could tell you this... Once that chosen person comes - there will be civil war among each nation. The only way to prevent this is by going to the scared seals that our god has placed in each country. There the chosen one must ... Ah."

"Ah?" questioned the two Suzaku senshi.

"...I guess I forgot how the whole process goes."

Tasuki almost fell to the ground while Chichiri gave out a sigh.

"Point is, is that civil war will come if that chosen person were to appear."

Tasuki gave a frustrated grunt. "That can't happen at all! Kuto is a piece of shit right 'bout now! Hokkan has been in peace fer the last two hundred years! Sairou is living the life and Konan...!"

"Konan is currently Emperor-less no da."

"See what I mean Houshi-sama?"

Tasuki gave one look to Fei and then to his companion. "What the 'ell ya two talkin 'bout?"

"Think of it as this way Tasuki," said Chichiri as he turned his head to face the bandit. "Hokkan is not always to be peaceful forever. Sairou is always lacking food during the winter time thus they trade a lot of materials in Kuto, Konan, and Hokkan. Even after two years after the Konan-Kuto war, the countries are still having economic troubles and they are emperor-less no da."

"'ey yer not givin enough credit to H-"

The bandit was cut off by the old man. "The Empress of Konan is a great leader there are no doubts about that. Still she is an Empress by marriage and the next emperor of Konan can barely even walk properly. Not everyone agrees to have an Empress and no Emperor to rule a nation."

This topic was irritating the Mt. Reikaku bandit. How dare an old man talk about Hotohori's family like that? It pissed him off to no end. The carrot-top glanced at his companion as he gave a look of desperation to hit the old man to his hearts content or yell at him because he had just insulted Hotohori's family. Chichiri, however, did not do anything.

"I can see why many people are afraid of this legend no da." Fei gave a the monk a nod in agreement. "It brings bad omen to the four nations no da."

"Yes, but we have a few travelers that still stay in our village," said Fei as he rubbed his white beard in thought. "Of course none of them gave off a white light."

"Do you have any records of the legend no da?" piped up the monk.

"I believe my friend's student has tons of records, I can tell you this though...this legend happened about one hundred years ago."

Both Tasuki and Chichiri gave the old man a puzzled look. "A hundred years ago (no da)?"

Fei nodded. "Yes something like that. I'm not sure of the details, but the last chosen failed the journey to get to the sacred seals."

"So what happen'?" asked the bandit as he became curious of the topic. "Every country had a civil war or somethin'?"

Fei looked up to the blue sky. "If I'm right, I believe the Byakko no Miko appeared."

Both Suzaku senshi gave the older man a disbelieving look. "...!"

Tasuki was the first one who spoke after the awkward silence. "Ya mean..."

Quickly Chichiri interrupted the orange head. "If that is true what do you think will happen to Kuto and Konan na no da? The Suzaku no Miko and Seiryuu no Miko already appeared before this ... Da?" Chichiri halted his words as he walked silently and pondered the theory once more.

If what Fei had said was true then that would mean a great disaster could happen. If this 'chosen' is not able to gain whatever seals they were supposed to get then each country would fall into civil war. Last time the countries were lucky to have the Byakko no Miko appear in a drastic time, but now it seemed as if the situation worsened. The "last" two remaining priestesses were summoned two years ago. Chichiri gave a frown as he continued to analyze the situation.

"Whachu tryin' ta say, 'Chiri?"

Fei stopped his tracks and pointed ahead. "There is Shuchun Village. If you would like I can take you to where my friend lives. I believe he should be training with his student, you know, the one I was talking about. I bet his student won't mind letting you see those scrolls that have plenty of information on the topic you're covering."

The monk gave the older man a nod and smile. "We would appreciate it no da."

Yui heaved out a sigh as she stared at the window. Her fever had cooled down just by resting her body for the night. Ying Fa was next to her as she talked about the village and its people. Yui had been very polite and pay attention to the details Ying Fa was giving to her. However, she had grown wary by the time Ying Fa described each villager by name, sex, hobby, and occupation. Not to mention a little story about them thrown in there. Yui once more wanted rest her eyes, but she really didn't want to be rude to Ying Fa who had a great personality in helping her out. Yui was really grateful to the older woman, but she was much more of a chatterbox than her best friend. That was saying something!

"And so...Oh my!" Ying Fa gave a sudden cry. "It's almost time for lunch! Ran is going to get irritated when she gets home! Oh no...what to make!"

Yui blinked her eyes as she stared at the women next to her with amusement. She then felt a little guilty for taking up Ying Fa's time. "If you would like, I could help out in any way."

Ying Fa stared at Yui as if she had grown another head. "How can I ask that of you - who is ill? No Yui, you should-"

The high school girl interrupted Ying Fa. "I feel much better than yesterday. Please let me help, even if its just watching the food so that it wont burn. I really feel guilty taking your time this morning."

Ying Fa shook her head as she sighed. "Very well, let me help you up though."

As Ying Fa helped Yui to stand up on her two feet, Yui took notice of very similar blue earrings that Ying Fa had on her. Unconsciously she touched her own that she was currently wearing. Noglastia hit her as she remembered her blond haired senshi.

Without taking too long, Yui was able to get to the kitchen with the help of Ying Fa. Still in bed robes that Ran and Ying Fa had lend her, she sat on the chair and awaited for her task. It wasn't long for Yui to start chopping vegetables that Ying Fa had set in front of her to do.

Yui was no cook, her chopping was slow and hesitant unlike Miaka's. Maybe if she were to drop the tennis club, and join the home-Ed club she would be a pro in chopping up vegetables or poultry. A small smile unconsciously appeared on her lips as she remembered the time Miaka begged Yui to go join the Home-Ed club with her.

Placing the cut vegetables in a near by empty bowl, Yui slowly stood up as she picked up the bowl. "Ying Fa, I'm done."

Giving the blond a smile, Ying Fa began to thank her ill guest. "Thank you Yu-"

"Ane-ue! I'm back!" cried out Ran not to far away. "I also brought some guest over."

"Oh? Guest?" questioned the older sister as she turned her head to the direction of where her sister would enter.

Ran entered the kitchen followed by her two guest. "Yeah they..."

The bowl that Yui had in her hands dropped to the floor. Of course the bowl had broken in the process. Her blue eyes widen at the sight of a blue haired monk and an orange head mountain bandit. Yui could only stare at the two new guest. In a bare whisper she said. "You two...!"

Almost immediately the bandit had pointed at her with an accusing finger. "Yer tha...!"

"Yui the bowl!" cried out Ying Fa at the same time as the orange head man had cried out as well.

Her face paled as she continued to stare at the Suzaku senshi - to be even more detailed Miaka's senshi.

Just what in the world was going to happen?