Tsuki: Ohayo minna-san! This is my second story, and hopefully it will start out on a better foot then my last one. The title of this story, is, Anseiji Ningyou. This means resting doll. this story will be KeikoxYusuke. Not subject to change. Tsuki will more then likely be placed with Hiei-kun XD we'll see how it rolls?

This is set, after the Yuu Yuu hakusho series had ended, and the only thing that's changed, is Yusuke came back a little late. (Are you interested yet? promise it'll be good.) So it's been a total of eight years, and Keiko has gone to college, and become an archeologist/History major. I'll try my best to pull this off! A bit of math, before we start, Keiko was 15, when Yusuke left for Makai. (in my world...) So 3 years he said, but another five were added with his unpunctuality. The dictionary and reference is at the bottom of the page.

'...' Thoughts.
"..." speach
'Hell.' Youko/ Telepathy (Hiei.)

Ages:
Keiko: 23

Kuwabara: 24
Yusuke: 24 (but is beginning to become more Mazoku, as such his aging is slowing.)
Kurama: 25
Youko: 1,374, roughly 27-ish but has stopped aging.
Hiei: 998, roughly going on 20 but has stopped aging.
Tsuki: 868, roughly 17.36

(other's to be added later)


Anseiji Ningyou
By: Tsuki Jaganshi


Keiko had just returned home after a long day of work, when she found a rather peculiar package sitting outside her door. It was wrapped in brown paper and tied with string, yellow from age. There was no return address, or indication of where it had come from, but she brought it inside and opened it regardless. Thinking back on it, much like Pandora, her curiosity won over her commonsense. What Keiko found inside, startled her at first.. When she'd opened it up, the first thing Keiko had noticed, was that the text inside didn't match anything she was used too. The reason for that was because it was written in three sets of different characters. Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, mixed in their usage with no rhyme or reason. That made it rather difficult to read, but Keiko was stubborn and persisted.

With a lot of begging, and help from numerous colleagues at the museum she was working at Keiko had managed to get a halfway decent translation out of the scroll. Keiko took the scroll with her almost everywhere, it was an unhealthy fascination that she could shake, slowly over the course of a few weeks, and she'd made the decision to follow the scrolls direction. 'It could be the find of a life time…' If the scroll was legit, it would mean a number of things. Solidifying the history Japan had with its ancient neighbors, but not only that, who knew what the map led to. It was something most people only dreamed of as children. To be able to find something, old and priceless, like someone out of a movie, even Keiko couldn't shake the rush she felt at imagining it.

"You should put this silly thing out of your head. It's just a sham…and anyone with adequate qualification would know it. " Tokugawa Sadao was frowning down at her through his square glasses. "That artifact is probably a fake, and you're wasting valuable time and resources on it..." Sadao pushed his glasses up fruitlessly, only to have them slide back down his slim nose. Ever the cynic the man always seemed to spread negativity where ever he went. Keiko on the other hand was not to be deterred. "I appreciate your opinion; however what I do with my own property, is my own business." She smiled politely. "If however, you have a problem, please speak with our supervisor." With that, she turned tail and walked away calmly.

After her incident with Tokugawa, Keiko put in for vacation time. Everything in her life was put on hold; She was busy making preparations for her trip. Keiko didn't even bother making calls to the people who would worry most about her. Since moving away from Tokyo, she'd kept in contact with them, although she was pretty sure the only reason Kurama bothered keeping in touch with her, was for Yusuke's behalf. Not that it mattered anymore.

As if triggered by the thought of Kurama and the others, Yusuke came into her mind. Keiko tended to push thinking about the boy as far from her mind as possible, it only led to pain, and anger…'Mostly anger.' Keiko acknowledged when her fists clenched reflexively.

When those three years came, the promised day had come and gone, Keiko paid no mind. One day was nothing, Yusuke was never punctual, and three years wouldn't change that. When a day became a year later, and Kurama had long since returned before him, she'd been upset, maybe a bit angry, but mostly she had worried. Had Yusuke forgotten about her? Had he been injured or worse? Keiko knew it couldn't be the latter, because of puu's continuing existence. It didn't keep her from worrying however.

She moved to continue her education, but often visited and kept tabs on the friends she had made, all the while keeping an eye out for Yusuke. When that year became two, and two became three, she became bitter. Finally, Keiko just gave up waiting. Five years late, was enough to do that to a girl. 'Who would wait eight years?' She felt more than justified. If Yusuke had sent a letter, had done something, anything to let her know what was going on, Things would have…could have been different.

'I Loved Yusuke, but just because you love someone, doesn't mean everything is going to work out all perfect. With butterflies and rainbows...' Keiko mused, as she glanced up from the magazine she was reading. Keiko was waiting on a friend to find some maps. It briefly crossed her mind, that Kurama would probably have been a valuable resource on her little expedition. 'But its best to stay as far away from anything Yusuke related…' Keiko was a fast learner, and knew better then to play with fire. That was the whole reason she didn't except the position back in Tokyo.

"Alright…" A woman with thick black hair walked out, holding a few maps. Her face was rather triumphant. "I managed to scrounge up what you were looking for." Keiko smiled appreciatively as she stood up; shoulder her purse in the process. "I owe you big time, Miyu." The brunette admitted sheepishly. "You certainly do…You can start by telling me what you're planning to do." Keiko raised a brow at the older woman in amusement. "What makes you think I'm up to something?"

Kyuusui Miyu smiled slowly. "You're trying to tell me, you've gone through all this trouble, just to look at a piece of paper? If that's the case you wouldn't have asked for these maps." She pointed out. Miyu worked in the department of natural resources. She had majored in Geology, not to mention she had attended the same college as Keiko. Miyu was probably the closest person Keiko had in Shibuya.

"You got me there." Keiko smiled sheepishly, as the older woman motioned for her to follow her back into the office. "If you're going, don't you think you should take someone with you?" Miyu frowned at her slightly. "It's a long trip from the mainland to these islands; it'll be hard to stay up that long…Besides you don't know how to work a boat." Keiko sighed at this, it was all true. "Your right…I suppose I wasn't thinking.' She sunk into the chair opposite of the desk.

Miyu smirked at the shorter girl. "Demo, I on the other hand, am a very proficient sailor, not to mention the fact I can read a map far better then you." She pointed out. Keiko raised a brow. "Is that an offer?" She grinned when Miyu nodded her head ecstatically. "I think it will be interesting." Miyu explained, as reason for her desire to go aboard. "And if you went alone, I would worry." She smiled sheepishly. "You're a good friend." Keiko stood up. "If it's okay, will you be ready to leave at the end of the week?"

"Of course." Miyu nodded her head. "I already called out." She smirked. "Ah, you're so sly, planning to stowaway if I had said now?" Keiko giggled when Miyu looked to the side guiltily. "You should act your age." She pointed out before leaving the room with her things. "Ah, but that's never any fun." Miyu pouted to herself.

At the end of the week, they had used the subways to go from Shizouka, to Nagoya where there at the edge of the coast they found a port and entered a large rental shop. Keiko looked around the building absently, while Miyu handled the boat issue. She became slightly startled by the old woodblock print showcased on one of the walls. It was reminiscent of the great wave of Kanagawa by Hokusai Katsushika. The difference was, the sky was pitch black, and the moon hung high over the water as its pale blue waters crested over. There were no boats in the water, but Keiko could see a island in the distance.

"Rather captivating isn't it?" an old withered voice spoke from behind her. "Ah!" Keiko jumped slightly, placing a hand over her heart as it pounded against her rib cage "You scared me…" She stated sheepishly upon turning around. "I apologize; you just seemed rather interested in it." The grandfatherly looking man from behind her spoke.

"I've never soon this one before." Keiko admitted, glancing back to it briefly. "It's an original…It's been passed down from to the oldest male in the family long before I was born." He admitted. "I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself, my name is Nagataki Isao." The old man bowed, seemingly with little trouble. "Yukimura keiko." She smiled politely, before bowing herself. "I've never heard of the Nagataki's before." She admitted sheepishly. "Ah, we don't venture out of this area." Isao explained. "Where is it that you and your friend are headed?" He asked curiously.

Keiko shook her head slightly. "You've probably never heard of it, but it's a small island in the Sea of Japan called Kagashima." Isao's once smiling face had quickly faded. "You should be careful, that place is said to be haunted or something like that. No one really goes their either, although that's likely because not many people know of its existence." He admitted on afterthought. "But you do." Keiko pointed out, she'd never heard of the island herself until recently. "My family has always dealt with the sea." Isao motioned around the shop for example. "The islands around Japan, whether well known or not, we have at one time or another been there…Looks like your friend is waiting for you." He pointed out with a brief smile. "Please remember to be careful, and honor the island, lest it become angry."

"Of course." Keiko trailed off, watching him walk away. 'It's not surprising that he's so superstitious about the island, that's common.' But she couldn't shake off the feeling creeping over her. Keiko turned to Miyu and grinned slowly. "We ready?" she pushed the incident out of her mind, and Miyu nodded and led her out to the port.

The next three days were spent sailing over the waters, every now and then Miyu would pass the helm off to Keiko, usually in the day, while she slept and took up at night allowing Keiko to sleep. The first day had been spent slowly teaching her the basics of how a boat worked. They made a brief stop to refuel at a large port on the island of Oshima. Keiko was just lucky she hadn't gotten sea sick, considering the rocking never stopped. The trip was rather slow and filled with anticipation on both girls.

"We're about an hour away." Miyu stated as she looked through pair of binoculars, seeing a distant island. "I can see why they named it Kagashima." She mused, handing the device over to the other girl. "Oh?" Keiko raised a brow curiously, before looking at the island. It was filled with beautiful shades and hues of red, yellow, white and green from the trees and flowers blooming everywhere. Even at the distance they were at, if the breeze blew just right she was able to smell the flowers. "You should pack the stuff we'll need." Miyu directed her, suddenly feeling more energetic then she had in days.

"Why don't you rest, for an hour and let me take the helm." Keiko suggested. "Are you sure?" Miyu frowned in concern. "I'm positive, you haven't slept yet." The brunette pointed out, only to be waved off. "Who needs sleep?" Miyu flashed her a tired smile, but went below deck regardless. Keiko laughed at this, before shrugging it off, and taking the helm.

The next hour passed silently, before Miyu came up from below deck, after packing the flashlights, and other survival gear. She'd pulled on a pair of hiker boots, and tied them snugly. Miyu adjusted shouldered her own pack, before grabbing handing Keiko her already packed bag. "Ready?" she asked, before handing Keiko's boots with her free hand."Ah, thanks." Keiko stated appreciatively as she tugged them on, and tied them tightly. She pulled the scroll out of the cylindrical tube it was placed inside.

Miyu leaned over her shoulder, looking at the map that had been sketched on the old worn paper. From the distance she was at, she could see the rocky outcrop. "That's it." She stated, as she pointed out the stone. "It's a rather simple map if you ask me, considering that's where it ends." There were no more drawings on the map, other than the picture of the island, with a small red dot overtop of the outcropping. "Well, I guess we better get going." Keiko grinned, before climbing ashore. It was good that soon after she went away for college, Keiko had decided to take survival lessons, because the outcropping was not as easy to get to as it looked.

From the shore, to the landmark she was making her way to, the island was covered in dense forest, but the outcrop was large, so as long as you went straight you could reach it easily. "How pretty…" Keiko trailed off, when her eyes caught site of a red, white and yellow bird. When the sun shined through the trees just right she could have sworn that yellow really was gold. It was so well camouflaged in the red flowered tree.

"I think that's called a bird of paradise." Miyu pointed out, upon seeing the bird. 'But I didn't know there were any around this area…' she mused, before turning her attention to climbing over a fallen tree.

Keiko glanced away from the bird to look at the compass in her hand. 'We're headed easy.' She noted, before scaling the log as well. It took a lot longer to reach their intended destination then originally thought. What seemed like only a mile or two turned out to be three or four.

It was mid afternoon when they finally reached the outcrop which turned out to be the upper attachment to a waterfall. "Let's see…" Miyu tilted her head to the side, before making her way into the water. At its deepest point, which was the middle, it only came up to her waist. In the mean time Keiko placed her bag, and the scroll on the edge of the water side, for a quick break. Miyu tested her theory as she waded into the clear water. "I think there's a cavern behind here." She pointed at the waterfall, with a free hand. The other was groping for the flashlight at her side.

"That would make sense." Keiko admitted, as she glanced down at the scroll, remember a translation of one of the bottom phrases. 'Through the water…' She supplied, before shouldering her bag once more. Miyu had stuck a hand through the curtain of water, motioning for the other girl to follow her in. Keiko shivered slightly as she waded into the cool water, glad it was just the beginning of fall.

Keiko stuck her hands out blindly, when following after Miyu, her eyes closed to protect them from the rushing waters. Her hands met Miyu's who guided her in. Keiko wiped her eyes as they adjusted to the darkness; the only point of light in the cavern was Miyu's flashlight.

'It definitely goes further back.' She turned away to retrieve a flashlight out of her bag, before shouldering it once more. 'The scroll is coated in wax, so it should be fine…' Keiko flicked the light on, and pointed it down the cavern. "There's a tunnel." She pointed out, moving in front of Miyu to walk along the wall, using it to help keep her footing in the dark. There was a shallow layer of water underneath her feet. Keiko blinked when she came across a pair of steps leading down. "There are steps, so be careful." She forewarned Miyu.

"Right…" Miyu affirmed, as she followed behind her slowly, looking at the floor with concentration.

The width of the tunnel was thick enough to hold at least three people side by side, and still have enough space not to touch. Keiko took notice that the reflection of the water behind her, left rippling lines of light along the ceiling. "This place is beautiful…" Keiko trailed off, hardly believing it was deserted. 'Oshima had been uninhabited as well, but they utilized it for mining and ports…' She remembered the old withered man for a moment, and what he'd said. Kagashima would have been a perfect vacation area. The only thing that apparently kept people way was superstition.

"Yea, but you know how it is; I mean even these days you still see signs warning people about Kappa's." Miyu chuckled. "If people still believe in those, they'll believe in anything, even curses and ghosts." Keiko smiled slowly at this. "I take it you don't?" There was no question about if Keiko believed in them or not, considering she'd seen things like that first hand.

"Of course not, I believe in science, and the earth, not monsters and myths." Miyu elaborated. "But I take it you do?" She watched Keiko shrug gingerly. "I don't think the world can be explained by science alone. Something more must exist." Miyu tilted her head thoughtfully at the comment. "I suppose so." She admitted. Keiko stepped off the stairs, and walked through a large door way leading into a circular room. "Wow…" she numbly heard Miyu speak from behind her.

The room unlike the passageway they had come through was brightly lit by beams of sunlight, sinking into the room by holes in the rock ceiling.

Everything was in such good condition, it almost seemed like Sadao had been right. Like someone had set everything up. The water pooled just outside the slightly raised door way, creating a small water fall effect on the last step. The room was filled with silks of red, gold and silver, There were holes in the top of the cavern, allowing sun light to drift in. "That's strange." Miyu admitted, upon stepping into the room, and touching some of the fine embroidered cloth. "If there are holes, Combined with the moisture outside the room, these things shouldn't be in such great condition.' She sniffed the silk. "But it smells clean, and dry…like it was just washed recently." They smelled like flowers, Miyu noted briefly, unable to determine what the exact flower was.

"Hmm…" Keiko murmured, as she fingered one of the expensive Kimono's, before turning her attention to a chest pushed up against a wall. "Your right…" She stated. 'Wood that's had prolonged exposure to water over a long period of time rots.' She thought, before bending down to open the large chest. It took her a few moments to find the buttons on either side. 'That's interesting.' Keiko mused, becoming engrossed in the moment as she pressed them, causing the top of the box to spring up, revealing beautiful circular white pearls strung together with rubies. "These are real." Keiko stated, pulling a strand out, it was a necklace, strung like lace.

"I'm pretty sure this is too." Miyu stated, after opening another chest as well. She held up a single flawless diamond. The whole chest was filled with loose gems. "Whoever these things belong to, they must have been rather rich…" She left the sentence hanging, walking around the treasure filled room. "Do you think it's a burial site?" she raised a brow, really having no knowledge on the subject besides what she'd read or heard. Keiko shook her head slightly, a frown settling into place. "It might be…but if it is, then we should turn it in right away."

"Shouldn't we turn it in, either way?" Miyu tilted her head, walking around the room slowly her eyes caught site of an armoire. "It could be the soil, or other deposits." She supplied for a moment, pulling the armoire open to reveal extravagant western clothing. "Look at this." She pulled a pale blue and gold dress out; it was made for the size of a small child. "Do you think maybe we came across some sort of black market storage?" Keiko glanced over at the dress in amusement. "We should." Keiko admitted wistfully, before continuing. "I don't know…There isn't any real way to date this stuff until we get back to a lab." She explained, climbing to her feet after closing the chest.

"Yea…" Miyu murmured, after noticing a inconsistency in the cavern wall. "I think there is something else here." She pointed at it, feeling around the area with her hands. Slowly, with the pressure she was applying to the wall it fell away creating a bridge leading over a small moat of water. Keiko jumped slightly at the loud thud it made. "Nice eye." She mused, knowing that if it had been her alone, she'd never have noticed. "Thanks to years of studying rocks, dirt, and more rocks. Rather useful I suppose." Miyu snickered, before walking along the plank, after flicking her flashlight on once more. The thick stone led across to a small circular pad, onto of which rested a narrow stone box.

"Is that…?" Miyu trailed off letting the question hang, as Keiko walked in front of her cautiously.

"I don't know." She admitted, running her fingers over the lid. There where carvings on the top, once more using interchangeable Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. There were two Kanji She was able to read without trouble. 'Tsukiko, which is a first name…and Hoshino, is probably a surname." Keiko mused, the clothes they had seen moments ago made a bit of sense now. "Help me open this." She motioned towards the box, barely hesitating.

If she had stopped to think of it, once more Keiko would have noted the similarities in her situation to that of Pandora's. Both girls were presented with a box, with the option to open it, or to walk away. One would change the world; the other would leave it rest. The issue in Keiko's case was this; what would opening the box present? Would it bring plague and pestilence to the world or something more? It didn't seem to matter, considering the thought never crossed her mind.

"Okay." Miyu moved to the opposite side of the box hesitantly. She was not a history expert, nor an archeologist. Keiko smiled at her comfortingly, her curiosity fueling adrenaline. Both girls now stood on either side of the box, their hands gripping the lids edges tightly, before prying it off. Keiko and Miyu shuffled to the side, setting the heavy slab of stone off to the side. There was no stench of death that wafted out of the box, but the sweet scent of flowers once more.

Keiko straightened up, shinning her own flashlight into the box now. Her eyes went wide, Eye brows arching up in shock at what she saw. Nestled inside, against heavily embroidered red and black silks was a small girl with long flowing locks of silver. Her thick charcoal colored lashes pressed against her pale skin in sleep. The paleness of her skin was in contrast to the dark red of her lips, and the markings of similar coloring just above her eye lashes. 'How pretty…' Keiko noted absently, still numb from the discovery. She was dressed in a black ceremonial kimono embroidered with Pale white, red and yellow lotus like flowers. The obi was white and printed with gold and red spirals. In her hair someone had lovingly twined pearls and rubies, half way covering the small furry ears that tipped her head. Keiko was instantly reminded of what Youko Kurama had looked like during the first and only time she'd seen him.

"It must be a doll…" Miyu looked into the box with shock. There was no way it could be a real person. "But I've never seen anyone make one of a Kitsune like that." She noted. Keiko nodded numbly, reaching out to touch the skin, expecting to feel cold porcelain. Instead it met with warm skin. She swallowed heavily. "Anno…It's not." She looked into Miyu's wide eyes. "That's impossible!" Miyu placed a hand in front of the girls slightly parted lips, only to feel warm air. "Your right…" she murmured in shock.

Keiko had known things like this existed, but she never thought she would come across a situation like this. "We should go." Miyu stated, standing up shakily. She hadn't believed in things like Youkai since she was a child. 'If something like this exists, then I suppose Kappa may too…' That made her feel a little squeamish, especially considering the fact they would be back on the water soon. She was perfectly prepared to leave this place and try to forget all about it.

Keiko on the other hand, shook her head wildly. "We can't leave her here!" Miyu looked at the other girl like she'd grown another head; She couldn't understand why Keiko would want to take a Youkai with her, much less a Kitsune. Many of them were notoriously vicious. Although on the other hand, many of them were rather helpful such as the messengers of Inari. That unfortunately did not cross her mind. "Well we can't take her with us, she's a monster!" Keiko frowned at the older girl. "You don't know that; it's so quick to judge what you don't understand." She stated, looking back at the girl for a moment. Miyu's eyes softened, as she looked back to the sleeping creature as well. "I don't." she admitted. "Not for sure at least….but she's been sleeping since she was placed here apparently. Who's to say she'll wake up?" Miyu pointed out.

"And who's to say she won't?" Keiko rebuked. It didn't sit right with her to leave someone behind, whether Youkai or Ningen. Those were probably her own abandonment issues talking. Miyu sighed. "Alright but your responsible for her, and anything she does, not Me." She stated firmly "Got it?" She felt a bit like a mother, telling her daughter to take care of her new pet. Keiko smiled at her slowly. "I understand." She reached in, and gripped the girl's upper body, pulling her limp form out of the casket like box.

"She's connected to something." Miyu interrupted, pointing out the thin I.V like cord attached to the Silver haired girls wrist. "Could you get it for me?" Keiko requested, shifting the girl. 'I assume it was your name on the box." The girl whimpered slightly when Miyu tugged the cord from her wrist. The sound instantly reminded the two conscious women of a wounded puppy. "Aw…" Miyu pouted. It was hard to dislike something so cute, even when it was thought to be dangerous. "Let's head out…" Keiko trailed off, there was definitely not going to be any reporting of this place to the authorities.

"Do you think we should take some of these things with us?" Miyu motioned around the room, figuring they belonged to the girl. "It's probably not a bad idea." Keiko admitted. "Grab some clothes, and I'll pack away some of the other things. She was thankful the pale girl was only the size of an adolescent. It made her much easier to carry and set down. Keiko pulled her bag off, and set a few things from each of the chests in the room into it, as Miyu picked through the clothing, selecting about five different pieces.

'I think she's grown since the last time she wore some of this.' The geologist noted, glancing at the sleeping girl before zipping the bag closed. "Ready?" she looked at Keiko for approval.

"Hai." Keiko nodded her head, and shouldered the bag once more, before lifting the girl up once more, said girl cuddled up to the brunette sleepily. 'I really couldn't imagine something like her causing trouble.' Keiko smiled down at the angelic face once more. 'But then I suppose some people used to look at Hiei the same way.' She mused, following after Miyu and her flash light.

For a while, the stood just outside the exit of the channel. Keiko worried about startling the girl with the cool water. "If she wakes up, she wakes up." Miyu pointed out. "There's nothing we can do about that." Keiko nodded her head at this, before closing her eyes and walking under the rushing water. The girl clung to Keiko instinctively, but did not wake. Her face had scrunched up into a childlike expression of displeasure. Keiko couldn't grasp who, or why they had put her away like that. 'Something like that should only be done to the dead.' A frown marred her face; something didn't sit right with her about this at all.

Miyu trailed behind the other two at a slower pace, her attention was on the birds that had collected in the trees lining the path back to the boat. "Anno…Keiko…" She trailed off, leaving the girl to look at her curiously. "What is it?" Miyu pointed at the birds, who sat high up in the trees, looking down at them with cocked head. There was a strange intelligence inside their eyes. It left both girls feeling unsettled. There was not a rustle of feathers, a squawk or a chirp. The birds just stared.

Keiko shuddered at the blank stares, her heart moving a little quicker, along with her legs. Their trip back to the boat went much quicker this time. Miyu climbed up first, and took the girl from Keiko's arms, easily hoisting the small form up. "I have a bad feeling." The woman murmured, as Keiko bobbed her head in agreement. "Yea, but I don't think it has anything to do with her." She motioned towards the girl. "Maybe, maybe not." Miyu affirmed. "But there's no way to know just yet." She set the resting girl on one of the bench seats, noticing for the first time she wore no shoes, and in fact had a furry tail to match the ears.

As soon as Keiko had climbed aboard the boat, the once silent island seemed to come alive again. The loud chirping and peeping of the birds was almost heaven sent. Miyu didn't bother asking who would take the night shift; something in her eyes already seemed to affirm both the girls' thoughts. There was no way they could sleep after what had just happened. Their hearts finally slowed down when they were hours out to sea.

"So who do you think she is?" Miyu yawned quietly, as she glanced over to Keiko, who was covering the shivering form with a blanket. "I have no idea." The brunette admitted. "But she was obviously well off." That at least was certainly true. "And well loved…Which doesn't make much sense why anyone would box her away like that." Keiko had not intended to make a pun. "I'm more concerned about what's going to happen when she wakes up…Everything will be different." If judging by the scrolls dating was anything to go on.

Miyu nodded her head slowly. "I suppose so…" She yawned, only to have Keiko look up at her. "Why don't you get some sleep…I'll take the helm for a while." The brunette suggested, ushering the older woman below deck. "Alright, just be careful." Miyu murmured, sparing a glance to their newest companion, before disappearing below deck.

They were a day away from the main Island of Japan, when their newest companion finally awoke, frightened and quaking. With good reason, both Miyu and Keiko had been hovering over her as she stirred. She looked up at Keiko with large Blue green eyes, filled with un-spilled tears. "Ah, You don't have to be scared." Keiko reached out to brush a few strands of fine silver hair from the girl's face, only to be shied away from.

Miyu pulled back, giving her a bit of space. Her prior fears having been dispelled after seeing the girls face, along with hearing the stories of Keiko's experiences. 'Poor thing is probably scared out of her mind.' She noted mentally.

"Your name, It is Hoshino-san right?" Keiko tilted her head to side, watching the girls reactions. The small girl shook her head timidly. "That is Papa, and Haha." She stated as if it was a well known fact, looking at the woman in front of her curiously. The waves the boat was sailing over made her feel ill. "Then what is your name?" Keiko smiled, amused.

"It's Tsukiko, Demo…I only get called that when I'm in trouble." Tsuki's ears twitched slightly as glanced up from the pillow she'd tried to hide her face with. "I usually just get called Tsuki." She explained. 'Where are Haha, and papa…?' She looked around the unfamiliar surroundings awkwardly, becoming increasingly upset when her parents were nowhere in sight. Everything looked and smelled so strange. The only familiar smell was that of the sea.

Miyu smiled sadly as she deciphered the look. "We found you." She paused. "And there wasn't anyone else with you." Tsuki cocked her head to the side slowly. "I was all alone?" Keiko nodded her head, but placed a hand on the now bolder girls head. "I'm sure your family is fine and looking for you however." Sometimes lying was the best thing you could do.

Tsuki leaned her head back against one of the rails, feeling sicker all of a sudden, her pallor had become rather grey, signifying her poor disposition. "You should sleep." Miyu pulled the covers over her. "We'll hit a port soon, and be on dry land."

Tsuki's eyes slid closed slowly, against her will. 'Everything is different…' She could feel tears stinging her closed eyes before drifting off the sleep. Tsuki had no idea just how different things really were just yet.

"Lets go." Miyu whispered quietly, as she walked towards the steps. Keiko nodded her head, wondering how they would hide the girl's strange looks. They could always call her a cosplayer or something like that, Miyu suggested upon re-emerging from the deck. "That might work, for a time." Keiko bit her lip, her mind turning circles over its self, She already knew where to take the girl. To say the least she was dreading it. "We've got plenty of time." Miyu stated as she patted the younger girls back.

Keiko nodded numbly, knowing Miyu had no idea what the real look of dread was for. They'd been gone a total of one week so far, and she had yet to call anyone.

It spelled trouble, with a capital "T."


Are there going to be a lot of terms or things you don't know? Maybe, but I will do my best to explain them, this story is going to delve really deep into other cultures, Asian mostly. I am not an expert, but I do try to research, and if you're interested, I will try to show you all my findings, just give me a shout. I'm also trying to cut back on my use of Japanese. It's better for us all. This chapter did not have a lot of talking ^.^ sorries…but there will be more in the next chapter. (This was a lot of research needed, Island wise. I had to make Kagashima up . so yeh. )

When you think of these brids, think of Goldie's bird of paradise more suspefically.

Anno: Umm, Uh.
-san: Mr./Mrs.
Youkai: Demon/spirit/apparition
Ningen: Human

Kaga-flower bud.
-Shima: island.