The Nyosen started cheering when they saw the Nyokai of Sou jump up onto the platform where

the Shashinboku was rooted. Although the older Nyosen arched an eyebrow each, the Nyokai looked

strangly human, much more human then she should have.

Seeing The Old Woman From Beaneth the Earth, was a rare occurance, and the Nyosen unsure with what

to do, bowed.

"No need girls," Looking up at Tanjun, she frowned, "just here to tell you about this one. As I'm sure

you can see, she's not a usual Nyokai. Her name is Haku Tanjun, and I believe you will need to keep

an eye on this new ranka, whom Tanjun called 'Souki'."

Teiei looked worried, and chewed a little bit on the sleeve of her Nyosen kimono. A habit she had

picked up caring for the Tai Taiho, Taiki, when he had lived on Mt. Ren. "I take it Tanjun will not

be a good Nyokai?"

The Old Woman laughed bitterly, "I believe that she will not be like the Nyokai of Tai."

The Nyokai of Tai was Haku Sanshi, whom was a milky white color, and had the upper body of

a human, the neck of fish, the lower body and legs of a leporad and the tail of a lizard. Thus, because

of all the animals that were mixed to make up her form, she was a very good Nyokai.

"I see," Teiei shook her head, as the oldest Nyosen on Mt. Ren it was her job to make sure

everything, that was within her power to do so, went smoothly. "Then I will have at least one

Nyosen watch Souki every minute of everyday. It looks like we cannot trust Tanjun with this task."

Bowing at the waist as the Old Woman went back down the path, Teiei looked back up at the

Shashinboku, and sighed as Tanjun stared up at the ranka.

The afternoon soon turned into evening, as the Nyosen gathered in Renrou palace to eat dinner. Despite

not needing the food to survive, it was not only out of habit that they still ate, but because their bodies

looked healthier and they had more energy.

"Which palace should we begin to fix up for Souki?" Youka, whom was one of the youngest

Nyosen, but was closest to Teiei asked.

"Perhaps Shiren Palace, as it has not been used since Keiki," Teiei smiled, "I have always liked that

palace."

The other Nyosen either nodded or voiced their praises of the palace. They all soon ate quietly,

thinking of the joy that was to come to them in ten months time.

Yayoi, the Nyosen who had cared for the Heina of Hou, Hourin, sat on a rock by the Shashinboku,

it was her turn to look after the ranka.

"That lazy Nyokai," Yayoi muttered to herself, as she watched the now spralled out chimera look up at the

clear night sky.

Tanjun sat up, and arched her back sleepily. She stood, and stepped closer to the ranka, and comensed

staring at it.

Yayoi smiled, perhaps this Nyokai wasn't as bad as the other's thought she was. Stepping off the rock, Yayoi

began walking up to Tanjun. Who looked thrilled to see another living being, she even hopped away from

Souki to greet the Nyosen, but stopped when she saw the frown that the Hisen wore.

"You must protect Souki," Yayoi gently lead her back up to ranka, "for he is the reason why you were

born, he is your master."

"Souki," Tanjun looked up at the tree, her echoing voice sounded sweet to Yayoi's ears. "Souki."

"You only job in life is to serve him," Yayoi continued, as she too looked up at the ranka. "And

hopefully without fail."

The Nyosen petted Tanjun's face and hair, before decending down the steep slope toward the main palace

to tell the next Nyosen that it was her turn to watch over Souki.

This same cycle went on without flaw for several weeks, then weeks became months, and at about three

months of life. Tanjun suddenly sensed that something was a miss, the wind began to pick up, and what was

occuring hit the Nyokai, making her dash off from the Poppy gardens toward the holy tree.

By the time that Tanjun had reached the Shashinboku, the Shoku was in full swing. Looking desperatly

for the ranka, the Nyokai leaped toward it the now detached egg, grabbing the large mass before it fell off the ledge. Holding it to her chest, Tanjun was picked up by the winds, and making a desperate effort to

fly back down,the ranka was ripped from her grip.

Watching as her master was carried away from her, Tanjun tried to grab it again, but by that time,

it was already out of site.

Souki was now a taika.