Chapter 4

A Buddhists Blessing

After leaving Cleopatra's palace, Ritsuka and her servants, Mash, Jeanne, Astolfo and D'eon make their way toward the desert, followed by Nitocris and Scheherazade. Ritsuka needs to acquire the items to awaken the scarab's power and help Artoria break the spell.

Ritsuka stops for a moment to take a look at the paper Cleopatra gave her. Nitocris extends her hand.

"Let me have a look at that," she says.

Taking the paper in hand, she begins translating the hieroglyphs for everyone to read

"Basically, the first item we need is from a Buddhist temple." Nitocris explains. "Meaning we need a blessing or scriptures."

"But how are we supposed to get to a temple all the way from here if there are any?" Jeanne asks.

"Good question," Ritsuka says, rubbing her chin. "We have no rides left so all we have to do is rely on walking."

"It's going to take forever!" Nitocris groans.

"Then, how about I will take you to my temple, which is not too far from here?" A voice says just about 10 feet away from them.

The group turns toward a beautiful young woman with long black hair with a large purple and gold hat on her head, wearing skimpy gold and white bikini with a white coat, matching stockings, and gold sandals. In her hands was a golden staff that jingled with a melodic chime.

"Who are you?" Ritsuka-chan asks.

The beautiful woman gestures toward herself. "My name is Xuangzang Sanzang. A traveling monk. Nice to meet you all~"

Ritsuka and the others stare at the beautiful woman who is smiling and then winking at the cute red-head.

"Alright, everyone~" Xuangzang cheerfully says. "What is it that you need?"

"Um…my name is Ritsuka Fujimaru and…we kind of need a favor from you," Ritsuka says, approaching the monk. "We need an item from your temple. Maybe a blessing or a scripture."

"Hmmm….I do seem to have one specific scripture. It appeared in my bag when I arrived here." Xuangzang says. She digs in her small bag and pulls out a scroll. "Perhaps this this what you're looking for?"

Everyone turns to Nitocris to check to see if it's the right item. The Egyptian girl double checks.

"The scroll with the sun on it, right?" Nitocris asks.

Xuangzang checks the scroll and sees the picture of the sun printed on it. "Yup. That's it. However…~" she tucks the scroll in between her cleavage and looks at Ritsuka-chan with a sly grin. "You have to earn it~"

"By doing what exactly?" Mash asks.

Xuangzang leans forward, putting a finger to her lips while winking. "Give me a kiss, Fujimaru~"

"Ohhhhh~" Astolfo giggles as he grins cheekily. "This will be interesting~"

"I don't like where this is going!" Mash says. "Senpai! There's gotta be another way!"

"Uhhhhh…." The cute redhead looks back and forth from Mash to Xuangzang. "Do I have a choice to say no...?"

"Nope~" The monk leans closer.

"Okay…." Ritsuka leaned forward a bit and Xuangzang leans the rest of the way to kiss her on the lips.

"EEP!" Mash squeaks, cupping both hands to her mouth.

"She's totally a flirt…" D'eon comments.

"Ooh La la~" Astolfo replies

Xuangzang and Ritsuka soon pull away and the monk licks her lips.

"Tasty~" she says.

"Oh stop!" Mash stomps her foot in anger. "Now can you give us the scroll so we can be on our way?!"

"Ok, ok." The cheery monk answers as she pulls the scroll from her clevage and hands it to the angry kouhai, who huffily takes it. "Where are you headed next?" Xuangzang asks.

"We need a….Mask of Destiny…" Nitocris reads.

"That's in the next town…" Scheherazade says. "I hear some Assassins are there."

"Assassins?" Xuangzang says. "Come to think of it, I was on my way over there too. Things…have gone downhill since a kidnapping incident happened."

"There was a kidnapping!? How?" Ritsuka asks

"One of the female assassin servants was captured." Xuangzang says. "Held prisoner in a cell. I was going to the town to give everyone my blessing before I learned of this."

Ristuka puts on a serious expression. "We must know more. Xuangzang, will you lead us there and help us out for a while?"

"I don't trust her…" Mash replied quietly with an adorable pout.

"She can be a big help," Jeanne assures her. "At least she knows where the town is."

"And if we get the right information, we will help rescue that servant," D'eon says.

Xuangzang smiles. "It would be my honor, young ones. I shall help you rescue the poor girl."

"You have our gratitude." Ritsuka says, smiling back.

Xuangzang giggles and turns around to lead the rest of the group. However, before they leave, they hear footsteps coming toward them. Jalter and Jalter Lily trot toward the group.

"Wait for us!" Jalter Lily hollers out before tripping in the sand. Jalter grumbled as she picked up her younger self as she coughed up sand.

"You two!" Jeanne gasps. "I thought you were staying at Cleopatra's!"

"Well we would but Lily insisted on coming with you." Jalter says with a huff. "She wouldn't shut up about it."

Jalter Lily clings onto her original adult self. "Please let me come with you! What if you get into really big trouble?"

"I'll be fine, Lily," Jeanne gives a gentle smile. "No need to worry about me."

"But I wanna worry!" Jalter Lily whines.

"Just let her go with you," Jalter says. "Otherwise, I'll be dealing with a damn whiny child all the time."

"Alright, alright." Jeanne nods and Jalter Lily cheers while hugging her original self and getting her hair ruffled.

"Yaaaay!" She exclaims.

"Fufu! Now that everyone is here, shall we go?" Xuangzang says.

"Certainly~" Jeanne says.

The group take the long way through the desert. Despite their feet hurting and being exhausted most of the way, the group manages to reach their destination. The large town just beyond desert. Ritsuka-chan catches a glimpse of a large man with a scary, skull like mask on his face, a long dark skinned arm and a dark cloak around his body. The other villagers are gathered around him, seeing the group approach them.

Xuangzang holds her hand out to stop the group for a second and approaches the dark cloaked man.

"I have arrived…with some help of course," she gestures her staff toward the rest of the group.

"I am grateful that you are here, Monk Xuanzang." the Assassin greeted politely. "Please, give us your blessing. I still cannot…get over the disappearance of Serenity."

"Will do." Xuangzang approaches the villagers and the large Assassin. "Lord Buddha, I pray to you for the girl's safety and survival. Give her the strength to stay positive and strong…."

The villagers and the Assassin bow their heads. Ritsuka-chan and the others hear the rest of Xuangzang's prayers before she finishes and turns to the group, signaling them to come forward.

"And who might you be?" The Assassin asks.

"Ritsuka Fujimaru," the cute redhead says. "We want to help rescue your um….Serenity, was it? Do you remember where the kidnappers took her?"

The Assassin sighs. "There were a couple of big knights that attacked the village not too long ago. I do not know who, but there were too many to fight. They managed to capture Serenity, hoping we'd follow and tell them what we know about the Holy City. We do know a substantial bit of information, but I will not tell a soul."

"We will rescue her for you." Ritsuka-chan says. "We came here to protect the Holy City, so it will be a good opportunity to fight those who captured your girl."

The Assassin nods. "If you can manage, then I trust that you will bring her back safely."

Xuangzang smiles. "I will stay here to keep everyone company. To wash their worries away as best I can."

Ritsuka nodded. "It's okay. You've been a great help. We will manage on our own."

"That's right~" Astolfo hugs his master. "We will crush the knights that captured your girl! Don't you worry~"

"We will bring her back safely," D'eon assures the large assassin. "We promise you."

"Where do you think the knights took her anyways?" Mash asks.

"Wait a minute…" Astolfo pulls away and rubs his chin. "If the knights happen to be Knights of the Round Table, then, I know exactly where they took her!"

"Do you remember which knight took her?" D'eon asks.

"I…do remember one. One that goes by the name of…Lancelot.." The big Assassin says.

"Damn!" Astolfo hisses. "Then, we have no choice but to go back to the palace, which we don't want to do."

"I hope Artoria will be alright!" Jeanne says. "Her safety is just as important as Serenity's!"

"Let's go!" Ritsuka-chan says as she bows to the big assassin. "Thanks for the information, Assassin."

The big man nods. And so, the group turn around and are on their way toward the palace. Even though they really didn't want to since they need some more materials, they need to complete this rescue mission first. As for Jeanne, she is praying really hard for her beloved's safety.

A/N: I had Hong Cong help me a little with this. It was kinda difficult to come up with everything and piece them together, but now I managed with his help. Thanks so much Hong Cong. Hehe.

Now that I got through this, I can finally try and apply the ideas that have been in my head for a very long time. XD

Have a nice day!