Chapter 9: It Doesn't Get Any Easier
Time passed on, days and then weeks. Chichiri's hopefulness about Mitsukake lead to nothing. They'd come to that village a week ago and had now turned south. He had apologized for his magic not being able to help them. They had tried traveling through his hat a few times but it wasn't helpful. It just cut out so much of the area they were meant to search. The only way to do this was the long, hard way, it seemed.
They'd even been to Mt. Taikyoku. Chichiri had told Kari of how he'd trained there many many years ago. But Taitsukun offered no help other than the fact that Tamahome was still alive in Kari's world. They'd determined that in the 103 years that had passed in The Universe of the Four Gods, only 20 had passed in Kari's world. Tamahome would be 45 by now. Since Taka Sukunami still lived in the real world, Tamahome had not been reincarnated into this one. Taitsukun said that once all of the other warriors were gathered Kari would have to go back to her world and find Taka and convince him to come back. None of these things, she was warned, would be easy.
And the travel didn't get any easier either. She was sore and covered in bruises from a few falls. She was constantly hungry as there was never quite enough food to go around in the drought stricken Kounan. Even the Emperor's money could only buy so much outside of the capital. Her clothes hadn't stayed new and shiny for long either. And then there was that ever present sadness in her heart over the loss of Tasuki. Taitsukun had been vague but told her that if any of her Celestial Warriors died she would need to find the holy relics of the other recent Priestesses in order to call upon the power of Genbu and Byakko to help her summon Suzaku. Just another thing to add to her ever growing list of problems to solve.
Chichiri and Kari had fallen mostly into silence as they continued their search. They had stopped making small talk around the first week. Comfortable around each other by now they found words weren't necessary most of the time. Chichiri didn't push her to talk if she didn't want to. She was already doing enough.
A week ago they'd been followed by men Chichiri couldn't place. They still weren't sure if they were spies or thieves. They'd managed to lose them a few days ago. Before that they had ended up near the war again and had to ride fast and far to get away from the clashing swords and whizzing arrows.
But today the trouble was the heat. Kari sat dizzily on her horse, not sure how much longer she could go. Her stomach was tearing itself apart and she felt hotter than she should. She managed to stay atop her hose much longer than she thought she could, but finally mid way through the day she fell off, and couldn't get up. Chichiri reigned in and jumped down to help her. "I'm sorry, it's just so hot. I'm a little dizzy. I'm sorry," she said as she tried to stand up on shaky legs.
Chichiri placed one arm around her to help her stand and then placed his other hand on her forehead. "You have a fever," he stated. "We have to get you inside somewhere to rest."
Chichiri helped her along until an inn. He paid the inn-keep and asked for cold water to be brought up. The innkeeper protested that they didn't have water to spare for bathing. Chichiri helped Kari up the stairs, into the room and into the bed. He opened the shutters and let light in. He disappeared and then came back with cold water. He helped her drink some and then placed a cold, wet, rag on her forehead.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"I'll be back, Priestess," Chichiri said and then he disappeared through his hat. Kari was left alone and ill. She tossed and turned unable to sleep. She threw twice. It was a night of heat, misery, chills and hunger. And loneliness. She tossed and turned and through her fever she whimpered, "Chichiri...Chichiri...anyone. Please...Tasuki..." and lost consciousness.
