1 Chapter One: The Priestess of Genbu

Tomite sat on his bed quietly trying to imagine what the Genbu No Miko would look like. All of the warriors were carefully located and were brought back to the temple in Hokkan, thanks to Tomite and Hikitsu. They knew that it was almost time for them to meet their priestess fore this was a time of poverty in Hokkan. Just then someone knocked on Tomite's door.

"Who is it?" Tomite asked without averting his gaze.

"It's Inami, can I come in?" a voice said from the other side of Tomite's door.

"Sure," Tomite muttered and Inami came in. Her long blackish-red hair was tied back into a bun. She carried a tray of food and set it down next to Tomite's bed. She watched Tomite closely noticing that his gaze didn't change since she walked in.

"What are you thinking about?" Inami asked. "The priestess, again?"

Tomite nodded. "I can't stop thinking about her. What she will be like," Tomite said as if he was in a daze.

"Well I'm sure she'll be here soon. Uruki and Hatsui are in town, right now, looking for any mysterious looking girls," Inami said.

Tomite nodded. "What if she never comes?" Tomite asked.

"Then maybe she won't. Maybe the next Genbu Warriors will be more successful," Inami said sweetly. "But you can't think like that, Tomite. It's not good for your health."

Tomite smirked. "Well…I'll leave you to your food," Inami said as she walked out quietly.

Tomite turned and saw his food. (I'm not hungry. Not while I'm thinking about her. I think I need a nice walk.) Tomite grabbed his shoes, slipped them on, and then left for town.

Sakura found herself in the weirdest place ever. (Where am I? In a movie?!? This place isn't in Tokyo! I don't think I'm even close to home! This place looks like Ancient China!) Sakura roamed the busy streets in her school uniform asking everyone where she was, but no one answered. They just stared at her with disgust and walked away. Then she ran into a young man. "Excuse me," Sakura apologized.

"Are you lost?" The young man asked as he dusted himself off.

"Yes! Yes I am," Sakura said. "Could you tell me where I am?"

"You're in Hokkan," the young man said. "Listen, there's a nice corner over there where I can answer any of your questions, that is, if you'd like to."

"Yes, thank you," Sakura said following him to the corner. The corner was dark and gloomy. "Umm…I was wondering where I could get some food?"

The young man snickered as he grabbed Sakura's arm, his eyes were filled with evil. Sakura raised her hand and slapped him. "Let go of me! I didn't say you could touch me!" Sakura snapped, but the man didn't let go. He pushed Sakura against the wall and lifted her chin to meet his eyes.

"Don't touch you? Don't touch you? I'll touch you as much as I want!" The young man snickered.

"Let me go!" Sakura screamed as she tried to struggle free. "Help! Someone!"

"Help! Someone! Please!" Tomite heard someone scream from the dark corner at the West End of the town.

(That's not a safe place to be for a girl. Better go check it out.) Tomite hurried over and saw an oddly dressed, young woman struggling with a dirty young man. The girl had dark black hair, the same color as Inami's, and she wore a very odd outfit, one that was definitely not of his time. (What a beautiful girl. My heart…it's racing. Why? Is it because of that girl? But she doesn't seem to be like the other girls in Hokkan. This girl…she must be the Priestess of Genbu.)

Tomite pulled out his bow and arrow and shot one at the man's arm. The arrow changed into an ice snake, which bit into the man's arm. The man screamed in pain as he shook the snake free from his arm. He held his arm tightly and tried to stop the bleeding. Tomite jumped down from the roof and jumped in front of the girl. "I suggest you leave now or I will surely kill you," Tomite said sternly as he pointed another arrow at the man's head.

The man ran off screaming in pain, and left Tomite with the strange, young woman. Tomite put away his bow and arrow, and turned toward her. "Are you alright? You're not hurt are you?" Tomite asked.

The girl stared at Tomite in fear. "I'm not going to hurt you. Come I'll take you to the Temple of Genbu. You can rest there," Tomite said. The girl looked cold and she held her arms tightly to her body. "You must be cold. Hokkan is the country in the north and so it's the country with the most snow. Here take my jacket, it'll keep you warm."

Tomite took off his jacket and put it around the girl. "Thank you," the girl said. "So you'll take me to a temple?"

Tomite nodded. "If you'd like to go that is," Tomite said with a smile.

"I think I can trust you," the girl said as she began to walk away with Tomite. "My name is Sakura. Who are you?"

"My name is Chamka," Tomite said only telling her his birth name.

"Chamka, huh? I don't think I know anyone by that name," Sakura giggled.

"Really? It's a popular name from amongst my tribe. You're not from around here, are you?" Tomite asked.

"Of course not," Sakura said. "I'm not dressed like you, am I? I really don't know how I got here."

Tomite laughed. "Yeah, you're definitely not dressed to be in Hokkan," Tomite laughed as they finally reached the temple. "You can stay in my room and warm up if you'd like."

"If that's alright with you," Sakura said with a smile.

"Of course," Tomite said. "Do you need anything?"

"Do you have a warmer pair of clothes I could possibly wear?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah, I'll go get you some," Tomite said as he walked out. "I'll be right back."

Tomite walked out of his room and down the hall. He stopped at Inami's room and knocked on her door. "Who is it?" Inami asked from inside.

"It's me," Tomite said. "Listen I need some clothes. Can I borrow some of yours?"

Inami ran to the door and flung it open. Her face was filled with curiosity. "What!?! You wouldn't be able to fit in my clothes!" Inami asked curiously. "Why do you really need them?"

"There's a girl in my room that needs warmer clothes," Tomite said. (I can't tell her that this girl might be the Genbu No Miko. She'll freak.)

"Let me see her so I can see what size she is," Inami said walking toward Tomite's room. "What? No! That's alright, I'll go ask her," Tomite said frantically.

"Tomite, what's wrong? Are you hiding something from me?" Inami asked.

Tomite pressed his back against the door trying to keep Inami out of his room. "Listen, you have to keep a secret for right now," Tomite said. "Please?"

Inami sighed. "Fine," Inami muttered, "but this better be good."

"Ok. Well you know how I was thinking about what the Genbu No Miko would be like?" Tomite asked.

"Yeah?" Inami asked.

"Well…she's in my bedroom," Tomite said.

"What!?!" Inami exclaimed. "Tomite, you have to tell Hikitsu and the others. They've been waiting just as long as you have."

"Inami, I'm trying to get her to stay," Tomite said. "So please. Just let me try and talk to her. Just give her some clothes."

"Fine," Inami sighed.

"Yes! Thanks, Inami," Tomite said letting her in.

Inami walked in and saw Sakura sitting quietly on Tomite's bed. She saw her long, blackish-red hair, and her dark, brown eyes. Then she saw her clothes, she looked very cold in her short skirt. "Hi. My name is Tanne," Inami greeted. "What's yours?"

"Umm…I'm Sakura," Sakura greeted. "Nice to meet you."

"So, Chamka tells me you need some clothes," Inami said with a smile. "Well…you look like my size so if you'll follow me, we'll get you something of your liking."

Inami took Sakura's hand and led her back to her room. "Chamka, you have to wait here," Inami said as she slammed the door in his face.

Sakura found herself in a room that was the same size as Tomite's. Inami smiled and pointed to her closet filled with clothes. "Go ahead and pick something out," Inami said.

Sakura looked through Inami's clothes and found a black-hooded cloak, a pink shirt with transparent sleeves, and black pants that were wavy. "What do you think?" Sakura asked.

Inami looked at her and took the black cloak away. "This looks better," Inami said showing Sakura her look in the mirror.

Sakura smiled and turned toward Inami. "Thanks so much," Sakura said. "I feel so much warmer."

"Good," Inami said. "Now, let's go show Chamka."

Inami opened the door and let Tomite in her room. Tomite saw Sakura and his jaw dropped. He couldn't believe how much better Inami's clothes looked on Sakura than Inami. (She looks so beautiful. I never thought that the Genbu No Miko would look this beautiful. This just makes me not want to tell anyone else. I'm so glad I found her and Uruki and Hatsui didn't. I don't know if I'm going to be able to resist her much longer.)

"So? What do you think?" Inami asked.

"You look great," Tomite said.

"Thanks," Sakura said blushing.

"Hey, Sakura. I'm going to talk to Chamka really quick, why don't you pull your hair up alright. I think it'll look better than leaving it down," Inami said.

"Alright," Sakura said as she sat in front of the mirror. Inami pulled Tomite out of her room and closed the door behind her.

"What?" Tomite asked.

"You have to tell the others. We can't just keep being nice to her without telling them," Inami said. "You have to tell them now."

"But…" Tomite began.

"Tomite, she's supposed to help our people. They're suffering and she can be the one to save them," Inami said. "Think of the people, Tomite."

Tomite lowered his head. "Fine," Tomite muttered.

"Go now," Inami said. "I'll keep an eye on Sakura."

Tomite nodded and hurried to gather everyone in the shrine.

Sakura sat in front of the mirror and tried to pull her hair up into something a little different than usual. (I wonder if Chamka was surprised. He seemed to be satisfied with the outfit. I wonder if he has a girlfriend. Maybe Tanne is his girlfriend. Sakura sat on the floor puzzled. What am I thinking? I just met him earlier today. He saved my life…like a true warrior. I bet I'm being a burden to them both…that's why they haven't come back in yet. What was I doing before I got here anyway? Oh yeah, I was looking for Aki…again. Oh, Aki. I hope you're alright.)

Just then Iname came back into the room. "Where's Chamka?" Sakura asked.

"He told us to meet him in the shrine," Inami said.

"The shrine!? Where's the shrine?" Sakura asked.

"Just follow me," Inami said as she led her away.

Tomite was already in the shrine when Sakura got there. With him were 4 other men and 1 young woman. He didn't look to happy, but he seemed to force a smile. "Hey. What's going on?" Sakura asked.

"Is this her, Inami?" a low voice asked.

"Yes, Hikitsu," Inami said.

"You lied to me, didn't you, Chamka?" Sakura asked.

"No, I didn't," Tomite said. "We're not going to hurt you, Sakura. I promise. It's just that you're not from this world. A young woman from another world is supposed to come to us when our country is in need to summon Genbu. We think that this young woman…is you."

"Me?" Sakura asked. "You're joking. Listen, I think you've got the wrong idea, so I'll just let myself out."

"Umiyame, stop her," the low voice ordered.

"You got it," Umiyame said as a whirlwind of ice surrounded Sakura.

"Stop! No! Umiyame! Stop it! You're going to kill her!" Tomite shouted.

"Uruki, restrain Tomite," the low voice ordered and the young woman held Tomite back from helping Sakura.

"Sakura!" Tomite exclaimed.

Sakura felt the ice slicing her body. (Aki. Aki…where are you? You promised me that you'd be there for me and you're not here.) "Aki! Where are you!" Sakura exclaimed.

Suddenly a huge bolt of lightning came through the doors and into the whirlwind of ice. Sakura opened her eyes and saw herself in a young man's arms, protecting her body from anymore wounds. Then she noticed that the young man was her twin brother…Aki.

"Aki…" Sakura gasped.

"Sakura, we can do this. You know we can," Aki told her.

Sakura nodded and closed her eyes. Suddenly, Urumiya flew backwards and landed on his butt. The whirlwind dissipated and dust filled the room.

"What happened?" the low voice asked.

Uruki let go of Tomite and Tomite ran down the shrine steps. "Sakura? If you hurt her…" Tomite growled.

"Look!" Inami gasped. "Tomite…"

The dust cleared up and the 7 warriors saw a young man and woman standing where the whirlwind was. The young woman was Sakura. "Sakura!" Tomite cried.

"Don't you come any closer," the young man next to Sakura said.

"Who are you? The low voice asked.

"My name is Aki, the son of the goddess, Ceres, and if you touch my sister again, I will surely kill you," Aki said.

"Aki…" Sakura gasped.

"You're the daughter of a goddess, that's very interesting," the low voice said. "Then you must truly be the Priestess of Genbu, Sakura."

"Priestess of Genbu?" Sakura asked.

"Don't listen to them, Sakura," Aki interrupted.

"The Priestess of Genbu is the one that will save our country. She will be granted 3 wishes by Genbu, any wishes that she desires," Tomite said.

"Sakura!" Aki snapped.

"Aki, I've got to do things for myself too, you know?" Sakura said. "Maybe this is what mother sent me here to do?"

"Good choice," the low voice said as he emerged from the darkness. "We are the Genbu Seven, the protectors of the Priestess of Genbu. I am Hikitsu."

A tall, well built, black haired man stepped forward. "I am Hatsui," he said.

The woman that held onto Tomite stepped forward too. "I am Uruki," she greeted.

"I am Umiyame," the man that put Sakura into the whirlwind.

"I am Naname," a medium-sized man said, but he seemed to be blind.

"And the other two?" Sakura asked.

"Sakura, I am Inami," Inami said.

"And I am Tomite," Tomite told her.

"You? You two are Genbu Warriors?" Sakura asked.

"We didn't want to tell you, Sakura. I'm sorry," Inami said.

Sakura stared angrily at Tomite and he knew it. "I accept this quest and will succeed," Sakura said.

"Good, you should get some rest. We will wait one week to do the ceremony and have it set up," Hikitsu said. "Inami, escort Sakura and her brother to a room."

"Yes, Hikitsu," Inami said. "Please, follow me, Sakura. Aki."

Iname walked out of the shrine and Sakura and Aki followed her to their new rooms. When they got there, Aki immediately walked inside. When Sakura was going to follow, Inami grabbed her arm and turned her around.

"I'm sorry, Sakura. We didn't know what Hikitsu was planning to do if you refused. Tomite and I would've stopped him, but the others tied us up. Please forgive us," Inami pleaded.

"Don't worry about it," Sakura muttered and she walked into her room. Sakura slammed the door in Inami's face and Inami walked away sadly.