"Okay now that we have that settled with, lets try to figure out how you got here..." suggested Chichiri.
I nodded, "and fast"
"Chichiri, for how long were you missing the beads before she showed up?" asked Mitsukake.
"For about a week no da."
"Where did you loose them?" I asked
"I woke up one morning and they were gone, that's all that I can remember."
"Hmmmm.... then how could she have gotten them....?" sighed Mitsukake
Then all the sudden there was a white flash of light, and an ugly, shriveled old women appeared floating in mid air in front of us.
"Tai-itsu-kun...?" asked Chichiri
Tai-itsu-kun? I knew her from the universe of the four gods. She was the overseer of the world.
"Chichiri, all of this is just a big mistake." she explained.
"What?" asked Chichiri
"You were in sever danger of having your beads stolen from you so I took them from you and sent then into another world." she told him
"What?" Chichiri asked, "How was I in danger of loosing them? "
"Well," said Tai-istu-kun , " At the time that you were in Hokkan about a half year ago, a monastery there got word of a monk who had extreme power held in his prayer beads. That's you Chichiri. And they heard nothing of the monk being a Suzaku Seishi and of the beads being a gift from Suzaku."
"What does that have to do with me being in danger of loosing my beads?" Chichiri asked
"That's what I'm getting to. You see, upon hearing that one of the monks at the monastery decided that he was going to go look for the monk who held these sacred beads and steal them from him."
Chichiri sighed, "The thirst for power does strange things, to even to monks..."
Tai-itsu-kun nodded, "That's right Chichiri."
"Wait a minute," said Mitsukake coming into the conversation, "Then how does that explain how Tenmei got a hold of them?"
"Well, I guess that when I sent them to away, I didn't consider the consequences..."
"You know, when you took them you really should have told me you're plans, I thought that I was the one who lost them no da"
"I'm sorry, Chichiri I didn't mean to cause any confusion." she apologized
I came into the conversation at this point, "Then how come I can't take them off?"
"That is all a mix up too." she explained, " When I sent the beads down, I wanted to make sure that they didn't fall onto the wrong hands so, so I put a curse on them so that they would never move from they're placed once they reached your earth. I drooped them into the forest in you're world to make sure that they were never found, but guess they were, and they ended up being sold you. But I don't know how the beads went through so many hands and my spell didn't work until it reached you... I guess that what you get when you trust Nyan-Nyans to do your work..."
I began to aggravated at this point, "Wait a minute!! If you're supposed to be so 'all high and mighty', then why do you screw up so much!!??"
Chichiri and Mitsukake kind of stepped back, and looked a little shocked. Tai-isu-kun cocked her head to the side and looked at me oddly
"I mean what the f----mmmmfff!!" Chichiri stopped me before I could finish by putting his hand over my mouth.
"Please forgive her, Tai-itsu-kun, she's very confused, she doesn't mean any harm..."
I was about two seconds away from biting his had off, when he pushed me back toward Mitsukake and began to question her again.
"So who is this monk who wants my beads?"
" He not only wants you're beads, Chichiri, he's ready to take your life. He's from a monastery in Hokkan, that's all I know. But he knows that you are from Konan. And he's hot on your trail."
"Is he in Konan now?" asked Chichiri
"He's making his way down through Kutou." she explained,
"Why should I fear him?" asked Chichiri
"While in Kutou, he made a pact with Seiryuu, and has now obtained Seiryuus power to help him against the forces of Suzaku. The best bet would be for you and that girl to go to the palace for a while, until he shows himself, at least. That way you'll have the help of the other Seishi."
Chichiri nodded, "Okay."
"And another thing..."
"What's that no da?"
"Don't let that girl out of your site. Remain with her at all times, she and your beads are in danger. If the monk gets hold of allot of followers, they'll certainly go after such an easy target as her." with that she disappeared.
"Hey wait!" I shouted, "How am I supposed to get....... home...." but it was too late she was already gone.
"GRRR!!" I growled, "I DON'T WANNA BE HERE!!!!!!!!!"
Mitsukake put his hand o my shoulder, "Calm down, we'll find a way to get you home,"
Sure ya will.." I thought sarcastically
I sat down on the bench next to the table, and for the first time since I had been in this world , I broke down, and began to sob uncontrollably.
"I can't be here!! I have to get home!!" I cried
Both of the men looked at me sympathetically. " I'm sorry that my beads got you sent here..." Chichiri apologized
"No...." I said with a sniff, "It's not you're fault....It's Tai-itsu-kuns! If it wasn't for her I stupid mistake, I wouldn't be here!!"
"She has a point there..." said Mitsukake
"But she was just trying to help me...." sighed Chichiri
"Hey, listen Tenmei, Both of us know what it's like to be alone, no family, no friends, we've been through that to..."
"You couldn't possibly know how I feel..."I said wiping the tears from my eyes.
"When I was eighteen, I lost all my family, my fiancee and my best friend because of a flood..." explained Chichiri
"I also lost my family to that flood, when I was sixteen..."
I looked up at both of them, They really did understand how I was feeling.
"Really?" I asked
Chichiri nodded , "I wouldn't lie about something like that no da"
"Being alone sucks!" I commented
"You sed it." the two sighed
"Now what do I do..." I asked, "If I can't get home what am I supposed to do here?"
"Well.." started Chichiri, "I think that in the morning the two of us better go to the palace for a while and, then, maybe we can find a way to return you after all this, but be patient, Tenmei, and stay brave, we'll all try our hardest to make you feel at home na no da"
I took great relief in his comforting words, he really sounded sincere. It warmed my heart to know that these two were being so kind to some one that they had just met. I mean, how many people would do that in my time.
"Tonight you can sleep In my room, Tenmei. The two of us will sleep out here." offered Mitsukake.
"OK thanks!" I said, "Can I go to bed now? I'm really tired"
He nodded, "I can imagine that you are. Sure, go ahead." he stood up and opened the door to his room
"Good night, Tenmei." they both said
"Good night," I said with a yawn.
I walked into the bedroom and flopped down on the bed, which was decorated with silk sheets and silk bed curtains. The room was very dark, as it was night and there were no candles lit. But the fire was still going in the main room, where the two men were, so I had enough light from the crack in the door, to at least see where I was going.
I felt around the bed side table for a candle and something that I could light it with. I found one and two pieces of flint. So I lit it. I then sat down on the bed and looked around me.
'So...' I though, examining the carvings along the bedpost, 'This place really is ancient China...' I remembered back to all those times that things weren't going right in my world, and I used to wish that I could just go somewhere where I could just get away from it all, like the Miko, in Shijintenchishou. But now, I was there, this should have made me so happy! I didn't have to deal with, school, parents, friends, or the all around cruelty of life, all of which had been proven to no good to me. My parents were never around, friends always end up stabbing you in the back, and school just adds alot more stress in my life as it is. I didn't know it yet, but I was beginning to grow fond of this world, but just a little.
After about five minute of thinking things over, I blew out the candle, beside the bed, crawled under the covers and fell into a deep sleep.
