Years passed. Jyo and her sister became well known courtesans of the capital. Kaa seemed to meld into the job, accepting her fate, and even enjoying it. Jyo suffered even though the smile was upon her face, she could not forget that very night Kai forsook her. Every night, the man who she pleasured, she would think of green eyes and that wonderful smile, that old Kai who loved her. But that Kai will never return, unlike the men who returned for her every night, they who loved her frail white body, and none ever wondered beyond that smile, was that vast pain that broke her heart.

'Fifteen disciples.'

'Fifteen?'

Tai Jyou Rou Kun looked at the white bearded man. 'That many?' He yawned and covered his mouth with his sleeve. 'I am so sleepy. And disciples are so tiresome. They disturb my sleep….'

Yawning, the green-haired immortal dozed off.

'Where are you going to look for them?' Tsuu Ten Kyo Shu asked.

Genshitenson looked at his fellow immortals and chuckled.

'There'

He pointed down towards the mortal realm.

Jyo woke up to birdcalls. It was winter, she remembered. There cannot be any bird around. Pushing aside the curtain, she stared out at the snowy garden. It was still dark, the sun had not rose yet.

Five years she had stayed in Ginyuuka. Five years since the night Kai left her and fled. Five years given to entertaining beasts and animals. Jyo looked down at her hands. They were no longer rough and callused from peasant work. Life in Ginyuuka had made them soft and supple. She pressed her hands to her face slowly, feeling the coldness of her fingertips move into her cheeks.

Something amidst the snow moved. Jyo blinked and leaned out of the window. The cold air bit her flesh. Something rose upwards and moved towards her.

It was an old man sitting atop a white creature.

'You are Jyo?'

The old man looked at her, his white beard and hair floating in the wind. The white creature looked at her with round luminous green eyes.

Jyo nodded mutely. She wondered what was this strange scene before her.

'Do you want to become an immortal?'

Jyo's thoughts froze. What was this old man talking about?

'Do you want to become my disciple, Jyo?'

'What are you talking about, old one?' Jyo exclaimed, clutching at the window sill. 'Please go away, the guards will capture you. Madam does not like intruders!' 'My name is Genshitenson.' The old man said solemnly. 'I am from the Konron Mountains, to the north. I am seeking disciples. You are one of the fifteen I seek, Jyo.'

Konron. She heard stories about there. About immortals with strange powers and things they call pao-pei, which could do wonders and great destruction.

But why her? A lowly courtesan…..

'Why do you seek me?' She asked, her voice soft, for fear of the guards.

'Because Fate decrees so, and because you are born to become an immortal, Jyo. Will you become my disciple?'

Powers.

The thought erupted in Jyo's mind. Powers to find Kai, powers to save her sister, powers to stop Ginyuu from harming more innocent maidens.

'I will.' Jyo agreed, her voice trembling.

'Very well.' The old man replied. His wizened hand rose and touched her upon her forehead.

A soothing feeling trickled down Jyo's body. She felt something changing, her body felt lighter, her mind expanded like in a burst of golden nimbus. Her hair no longer tickled her calfs. She felt it tickle her neck softly.

'You shall be known as Fugen. The bringer of Universal Compassion.'

Jyo looked at herself.

Herself….no more.

She was changed.

She became a man.