Tasuki, Nuriko, and Hotohori reached the village to see plenty of people but something was wrong with them, they seem to have no will of their own.
"What are these things?" asked Tasuki as he watched them come closer to him.
"They must be the villagers that Shoka revived," said Nuriko as he pushed several out of the way with a cart.
"If that is the case then, I will toast them with my flames."
"Tasuki, you can't harm the villagers we have to destroy Shoka and then they might return to normal," said Hotohori as he dodged between the villagers. "We must reach her house. Nuriko."
Nuriko grabbed a large cart, and pushed aside all the villagers to make room for Tasuki and Hotohori to run behind him. Nuriko kept pushes the villagers out of the way until they came across the house that Tasuki said Shoka was in. Hotohori busted through the door with Nuriko and Tasuki right on his heels. Inside the home there was only the quiet sobbing heard from the bedchamber, they proceed to the room to see the woman Tasuki described as Shoka crying in the corner.
"Please make the pain stop," cried Shoka "Please someone help me and set me free," she cried as her back busted open to reveal the Shakonki monster that had been living inside of her for the past year. The monster only had one eye and its purple skin stretched over the body and its several arms that sprang from the body.
"REKKA SHIN'EN," cried Tasuki as flames shot forth from his fan towards the creature. Once the flames subsided there was no damage done to the creature from the flames. Hotohori the lunged at it with his sword but the creature knocked him down before he could get anywhere near it.
"What can we do, none of our attacks are working," said Tasuki as he tried his flames again, but the still had no effect.
"No you are just not doing it right," said Alexisa as she came running into the room.
"Alexisa what are you doing here?" asked Tasuki as he looked back towards her.
"Watch out you idiot!" yelled Alexisa as an arm came out and tried to grab Tasuki but Alexisa knocked him out of the way only to be grab herself.
"Great now look what you done you idiot!" yelled Alexisa as she hung from the creature.
"MY fault, you're the one that came charging in here," said Tasuki as he looked at her.
"Alexisa," called Miaka as she also ran into the room only to be caught by Nuriko.
"Don't get to near to it, it might grab you to," said Nuriko as he held on to Miaka.
'Guardian use your power to heal, you must do this now before it is to late,' Alexisa heard someone say in her mind, as everyone else was grabbed by the monster. 'Power to heal, what?' 'Yes, please act quickly or all will be in vain,' said the voice again. Alexisa looked around she saw her friends were in trouble.
"Evil Shakonki monster be gone and return to the world from which you came!" yelled Alexisa as a sudden surge of red light leaped out of Alexisa and surrounded the house.
"What happened?" asked Nuriko as he woke to find the house gone and the villagers returned too normal.
"I don't know, I remember being grabbed by the demon then a bright came from Alexisa, then this," said Hotohori getting up and looking around him and seeing Tasuki stand up as well.
"Where is Alexisa?" asked Tasuki as he looked around the ruins of the house. "Alexisa, where are you!" yelled Tasuki as he walked around.
"Tasuki over here," yelled Nuriko bending down to remove rubble. Tasuki ran over to help Nuriko uncover the still form of Alexisa.
"Is she hurt?" asked Hotohori as he approached the two.
"No I don't think so just knocked out," said Tasuki as he gathered her in his arms.
"Where's Miaka?" asked Nuriko as he stood.
"Over here Nuriko, and come look," said Miaka waving and pointing to the horizon.
Nuriko and Hotohori, and Tasuki holding Alexisa made their way over to Miaka to see Myojuan holding Shoka in his arms.
"Shoka, I'm sorry that I could not return fast enough to heal you, I loved you and I tried so hard to return but I was to late, and you had already died. I failed the one that I love. I am sorry," said Myojuan holding onto Shoka and saying his last goodbyes.
"What happened anyway?" asked Miaka as she turned to look at her friends.
"I think Alexisa healed Shoka but I don't know," said Tasuki looking down at Alexisa as her eyes began to open.
"Alexisa, your awake."
"Hey guys, what happened?" asked Alexisa softly
"We were hoping you could tell us," said Hotohori
"All I remember is this voice telling me to use the healing power and that I needed to act quickly or everything would be in vain. The voice called me the Guardian of Suzaku," said Alexisa looking up at everyone.
"Guardian of Suzaku?" asked Tasuki looking down at her.
"Um hum," murmured Alexisa as she began to close her eyes.
"You ok?" asked Nuriko
"Yea, just really tired, I think that light took all my energy from me," said Alexisa as her eyes closed.
"Here, let me see her," said Myojuan walking towards Tasuki.
"Myojuan," said Miaka
Myojuan walked to Alexisa and placed his left hand over her face, a bright green light surrounded Alexisa and she woke up.
"Wait, you're the next warrior," said Nuriko looking at him.
"Yes, I am my name is Mitsukake."
"Well Mitsukake welcome," said Miaka looking at him.
Alexisa woke up and stood from Tasuki's arms. "Hey you ok?" asked Tasuki.
"Yea, I am better than ok, I am perfect, even my leg is healed. Thanks Mitsukake," said Alexisa as she looked at the doctor.
"It was a pleasure since you help Shoka find peace," he said standing up next to her.
"Well I think that we should get out of this town. No offense but it gives me the creeps and I am sure that we are all tired and hungry, I know that I am," said Miaka walking off towards the edge of the village with everyone following her. They all returned to Mitsukake's house to gather their supplies and then they all headed on to the next village. They mounted their horses Miaka rode with Hotohori and everyone else had their own horses. They all talked among themselves, Alexisa tried to talk with Mits (ok I am going to call Mitsukake by Mits form now on, it's a lot easier to type) but found him to be a non-talkative person, and she soon was lost in her own thoughts. 'What did that voice mean by Guardian of Suzaku, is that why I was bought to this world, here I thought that it was just a mistake, but now I found out that I was supposed to be here. But what am I supposed to do?' thought Alexisa as he rode. 'Maybe Hotohori will know,' she thought as she rode up along side of Hotohori.
"Hey Hotohori. Can I ask you a question?"
"You were wondering about the Guardian of Suzaku. Were you not?"
"Yea, How did you know?"
"Ever since you mentioned it I have been thinking about it. Of all the times I have heard the legend of the Priestess of Suzaku, I have never heard of the Guardian of Suzaku before."
"Never?"
"Nor have I," said Nuriko falling onto the other side of Hotohori.
"But don't worry Alexisa I am sure that this will all be explained soon," said Hotohori looking at her.
"Yea, I hope so," said Alexisa as she hung her head low.
Tasuki watched Alexisa ride up towards Hotohori and talk with him. He did not know why but he felt a strong urge to protect her. Ever since they had meet, he just wanted to make sure she was safe, almost like how he felt with Miaka, but with Alexisa it was a much stronger feeling. Ever since she had told them about the voice calling her the Guardian of Suzaku he worried about her even more. He knew that she could take care of herself but he still worried. The group traveled until nightfall and then made camp in a small clearing. Nuriko and Miaka went off and caught fish for dinner while the others made camp.
"Genrou, why don't you start a fire with your fan?" asked Alexisa
"You know this is not a toy," said Tasuki looking at her.
"Yea, I know, but I have been trying to start a fire for the past 20 minutes can't you just help me out here?" asked Alexisa looking up at him.
"Fine, but this is the only time," said Tasuki as he walked towards her.
"Thanks Genrou," said Alexisa as she laughed.
"Stop callin me Genrou will ya? Names Tasuki now," he said as he banged her over the head with his fan. "Hey that hurt GENROU!" yelled Alexisa as she stood up.
"Well you deserved it you keep callin me Genrou,"
"Genrou, Genrou Genrou, I'll say it as much has I want to," yelled Alexisa
"Fine, then. You can forget me starting that fire then," said Tasuki as he turned his back towards her.
"Fine, I'll go see if Nuriko needs help then," she said storming off into the trees. 'I can't believe him, he gets so touchy when I call him Genrou, but why I am just kidding. Can't the man take a joke geez…' thought Alexisa as he walked through the woods clearing her thoughts.
"Guardian you must help them."
"Huh, that voice again. What do you want?" asked Alexisa to the trees.
"You must help them"
"I helped them already I saved them from the monster Now what do you want me to do?"
'Protect them with your life.'
"Show yourself, I am tired of this," yelled Alexisa to the trees again as a red light appeared in front of her. An outline of a man appeared before her, she could not see his face since the red light around him made it hard for her to see.
"Who are you?"
"That is not important, you are Guardian of Suzaku you must protect them, there is an evil approaching, and you must protect them. Always trust your heart and never stray from the path."
"What are you talking about?"
"You must go to Mt. Taikyoku and receive training from Taitsukun. She will help you," said the man as he disappeared.
"Taitsukun, Mt. Taikyoku. Where in the world is that?" asked Alexisa to herself
'Go now, go towards the red light in the distance, it will take you to Taitsukun,' said the voice once more, as Alexisa looked around the forest and saw a faint red light burning off in the distance. 'That is the opposite way of the camp though, should I at least tell them where I am going,' thought Alexisa as she stood looking both ways trying to decide what to do. She knew that the voice was right even though she did not know what it was telling her, deep down she knew that she had to go to Mt. Taikyoku, but what about her friends. She wanted to let them know where she was going but she did not know if she had time. "I'm sorry guys, I will see you soon," said Alexisa as she ran off towards the red light that was calling to her.
Tasuki heard Alexisa run off into the woods, he turned around and said the spell to start the fire. 'I guess I should have not hit her, but she will get over it,' thought Tasuki as he sat down by the fire. Hotohori and Mits saw that a fire had been started and made his way over.
"Tasuki, where is Alexisa?"
"She went to help Nuriko, and Miaka," said Mits as he sat down.
"I hope they return soon, I am getting hungry," said Hotohori sitting down next to Tasuki.
"So what do you make of this Guardian of Suzaku?" asked Tasuki
"I do not know, Alexisa asked me about it as well, but in all of the stories that I have heard of the Priestess there has never been anything about a Guardian."
"Yea, ever since she told us I have been thinking about it to," said Tasuki looking into the flames.
"Hey all, look what we caught," said Nuriko coming into the clearing with Miaka behind him carrying some fish.
"Where's Alexisa?" asked Tasuki
"I don't know, she's not here?" asked Nuriko
"No she went to help you two," said Tasuki standing up.
"Well she never came to the river," said Nuriko handing some fish to Mits so he could begin to clean them.
"Don't worry about her Tasuki, I'm sure she's fine. Probably just wanted a little space," said Miaka
"Yea, I guess you right," he said sitting back down in front of the fire.
They cooked the fish and then ate them, and Alexisa still had no returned, by this time everyone was a little worried about her.
"I'm going to go look for her," said Tasuki getting up, he was about to leave when they heard a voice.
"Do not worry about your friend, she had to leave to understand her destiny, she will return to you in a few months."
"What?" asked Tasuki "What do you mean she will return in a few months?"
"She has gone to Mt. Taikyoku to train with Taitsukun, she will return so do not worry,' said the voice.
"You have got to be kidding me, are we really going to believe that?" asked Tasuki as he turned around and looked at them.
"I don't know, if she has gone to Taitsukun then I don't see why not believe," said Hotohori.
"So what are we supposed to do in the meantime then?" asked Nuriko.
"I assume resume our search for the last warrior," said Mits
"Yea, I guess you're right. Well I think we should all get some sleep," said Nuriko getting up and walking towards a tree.
The others eventually followed suit and turned in for the night all except for Tasuki. He sat up staring into the fire the fire the whole night. Nuriko had tried to force him to get some sleep but the bandit would simply not move, so Nuriko stayed up with him and they stood watch together until morning.