Angel opened her eyes slowly to find herself in a secluded street corner. No trace of Cindy could be found.
Where did she go? Angel thought. I could not even find the computer, and I guess I am not even in the building's room.
She got up and slowly walked along the street. She was surprised at what she saw.
How did these streets get here? I know these strange houses could not fit in that office. This place looks like a neighborhood from ancient China, and everything seems to be drawn and colored.
While walking along the deserted street, she planned to ask the first person she will meet about this whole thing. Still pondering on her plans, Angel encountered three men who were obviously drunk; one of them is even holding a bottle of liquor of some kind. She never felt comfortable seeing those three.
But maybe they could give an answer to my questions. Anyway, I don't have any choice, Angel insisted to herself.
"Oh look," the first man said. "There is a girl all alone. What brings you here miss?"
"Uh...I just want to ask someone regarding my whereabouts right now and what had happened to the office," Angel replied rather uncomfortably.
"Office? Never heard of it. This place is one of the districtsof Eiyou," another drunk said with a slurred speech. "Say...a stranger 'ere? Have you come to have fun with us?"
The third man laughed. "Yeah...you know miss, we like fresh meat. Are you?"
Angel turned pale upon hearing the last man's words. Looking back to the street where she came from, she saw a stout piece of wood which gave her a glimmer of hope.
"I got to go now," Angel said trying to be brave. "My parents will be looking for me."
"Won't you play with us for a while?"
"She's getting away. After her!"
The drunk men ran after Angel, but when they were able to catch up with her, she had her intended weapon in her hands.
"Try to do something and you'll surely break a few bones!" Angel screamed.
"Oh...we do like women with a little fire. They heat us up," the third man sneered and approached her menacingly.
"Take that!" Angel struck, hitting him on the stomach. The man doubled over in pain.
The girl tried to repeat the trick, but she was no match for the other two men who wrestled her only means of defense out of her hands. Then, Angel was knocked to the ground.
"Now you're going to pay dearly for what you've done," one of the men taunted as he attempted to strip the girl of her clothing.
"Leave that girl alone if you know what is really good for you," a voice warned sternly.
All eyes turned to where the voice came from. It belonged to a young man about 15 or 16 years old. The three men stood up. Angel crawled away.
"Oh, he's telling us to stop. Who are you boy? One of Empress Houki's soldiers?"
The three men chuckled at this.
"I guess I have to give what you deserve. I hope you will like my gift," the young man gave the three troublemakers a sly grin as he took out a flute.
To Angel he said, "Cover your ears tightly. You should not hear the music which I will play in a little while."
She pressed her hands tightly over her ears until she felt she was pressuring her eardums. The young man placed his lips on the flute's mouthpice and started playing. Even though she could not hear a thing, Angel saw the men who assaulted her covering their own ears as if there is a rockeship being launched a few meters away.
This scene seems familiar to me, she recalled.
Suddenly the bottle of liquor which one of the men brought with him shattered. Upon seeing this, the three drunks fled. The young man stopped playing, approached Angel and held out his hand. Meanwhile, she uncovered her ears.
"It's okay, miss. You can get up now," he offered as he helped Angel to stand up.
"Thank you very much for saving me," she replied with a grateful smile.
"It's the least I could do for someone in trouble. By the way, I'm called Kaika...uh, at least that is what my foster parents call me. Otherwise, I am known as Amiboshi," he stated.
Angel gasped. "Amiboshi...you're a Seriyuu no Shichiseishi, right? But you're also a cartoon character, how could you exist?"
"I'm indeed a Seriyuu seishi, but I have no idea what a cartoon character is," Amiboshi answered. "Listen, why don't you go with me to the palace? It seems that you are a stranger here in Konan, judging from the clothes you wear. Perhaps some friends of mine can help you."
"Okay...but before that, have you seen a girl who wears clothes exactly like mine?" Angel inquired.
"Sorry, I haven't seen her. We will find her soon. I will help you."
"Thanks. We can go to the palace now."
***********************************************************************************************************
Meanwhile, when Cindy came to her senses, she was situated in a small corner of a marketplace. She was also surprised to find several people who seem to be drawn by a pencil and colored skillfully. They were staring at her.
Strange, Cindy thought. They seem to be animated.
Cindy's presence caused a commotion. Whispers could be heard among the crowd.
"What is that girl doing on that corner?"
"She seems to be a foreigner to me."
"Is there a chance that there is a fifth god and she came from another dimension to be his miko?"
"Impossible!"
Amidst the noise and flurry of the crowd, a dark haired girl approached Cindy and said," My name is Si Fan. Are you okay?"
"To tell the truth, I don't know where I am. All I remember is I was sitting at the font of a computer with mt friend, Angel. We were websurfing when there was this weird bright light. That's all I can recall," Cindy replied tearfully.
Si Fan nodded. "Alright, you can explain everything later. But perhaps I should take you home with me. It seems that you are really lost and you've no other place to go."
"Thank you very much," Cindy sighed with relief. "You're so good to me even though I am a stranger."
It is okay. In case you did not know, you are now in Sairou."
"You mean the empire uarded by Byakko? I though this is not real. Maybe I should ask your parentsabout all of these."
Si Fan smiled. "That's a good idea."
