Chapter 80

The council chamber was a wood retreat built into the cliff and was at least ten stories up. Genji climbed up the stepladder, eager to meet the Emishi wise woman.

I wonder what she's like…Murasaki said she was very kind and understanding…and Udine said she's a powerful exorcist…I'm getting the impression she is very old and looks weak, but she has a strong spirit and everyone respects her…

Soon, he reached the doorway and walked inside. The floor and left hand wall was made of wood while the ceiling and other two walls were rocks from the cliff. The chamber was built inside of a cave! It was lit by a single torch by an altar that held many Emishi artifacts, including the sword Genji returned to Murasaki.

Only one person was in the chamber.

She was dressed in very old yukata robes of red, white, and yellow patterns. Her pants were long, covering her bare feet; and her sleeves were just as long, hiding her hands. Her hair was spectacularly designed into a curling bow of braids behind her head. Not one black strand was out of place.

It was the Emishi wise woman…

…and she looked no older than Genji.

He bowed respectfully, and she bowed back.

**Greetings, San…uh… Heh, all this time, I never learned your name…**

"Madrid." The wise woman bowed. "My, my, Genji-chan! You certainly did change over the week! Your muscles are much more toned, and you even have a tan. It makes you look very handsome."

Genji blinked as the wise woman chuckled. He looked at her more closely. Her eyes and the shape of her face was familiar…

Then, it hit him and it hit him hard!

**MURASAKI?!**

She nodded.

"Hi, Genji-chan!"

**You're the wise woman?! But…you…never… Why didn't you say anything?!**

"You wouldn't have believed me." She explained. "Besides, it wasn't anybody's business who I really was. You just needed to know that I was a princess."

**Can you really be a princess and a wise woman?**

"Sure." Murasaki nodded. "Being a princess only means I will be a high priestess one day. And I was trained to be a wise woman since I was two. I've been foreseeing futures and practicing old magicks for at least ten years, so I'm very experienced…" She put her hands behind her back and leaned foreword with a smile. "…and, I'm going to do all I can to cure you, Genji-chan."

Genji smiled graciously.

**Thanks a bunch, Murasaki…**

Murasaki stood up straight and chuckled.

"You can call me Saki-chan…"

/|\

Genji and his friends gathered in one of the straw huts where a big group of Emishi was staying. They were offered food and clean clothes, so everyone accepted rice and cooked fish from a nearby river. Piccolo sat meditating in a corner of the hut, refusing all food and clean clothes. Everyone else sat around the middle of the hut. They were chatting over their lunch after Genji came back from his meeting with Murasaki, the Emishi wise woman.

"I couldn't believe it either…" Ryu admitted. "We had picked up Arangami, and he asked us for our names. Saki-kun called herself 'Madrid Murasaki' and he flipped."

Arangami smiled behind his mask.

"I had thought she looked familiar." He admitted. "When I learned her name, I couldn't believe I was traveling with the Emishi oracle herself."

"Heey tuld us they and then whu shey reely waas." Momiji finished, playfully pushing Arangami's shoulder. "Neerly gave us'll heart attaaks…"

**How long did it take you all to get here?**

"Trunks?" Yume turned to the purple-haired teen. "When did we get here?"

"It took us four days." Trunks explained. "So, we haven't been here long…"

"This place is awesome!" Goten suddenly exclaimed. "It's like something out of a history book!"

"How would you know?" Trunks clipped his friend in the back of his head. "You haven't even opened your book…"

"Ow!" Goten whined, rubbing his head. "Neither have you!"

Genji smiled at them. They reminded him of the StormGod brothers.

Without warning, Momiji pounced on Genji and pushed him to the ground.

"Genji!" she cried. "Oh, howe I missed yu! Me heart culdn't staand yu bein gone! I'm so hoppy ta seey yu again! I culda…"

Genji pushed her off with a glare as Ryu laughed at them.

**I missed you too, Momiji. But I think you hurt my shoulder.**

"You hurt him." Yume growled.

"Sorrey…" Momiji turned her nose into her shoulder. "Nuut like yu didn't du thaat to 'im neitha."

"I didn't hurt him." Yume barked suddenly.

"Easy, girl…" Ryu calmed.

Genji turned to Arangami, and looked into the ninja's eyes.

**So, why did you decide to come here? Are you going to finish me off?**

Arangami shook his head.

"I will not harm you unless you give me a reason to. I am a temporary ally for now. As soon as you are cured, I want to take you to my master. He is very anxious to meet you."

Genji blinked as Piccolo opened his eyes and looked at them.

**Eh? A guy who wanted to see me sent you? Who is he?**

"I cannot tell you his name." The ninja regretted. "But, I warn you… He wants to kill you himself."

Everyone looked at him.

"The guy who hired you?" Trunks asked. "He wants Genji dead now?"

**Strange. Something like that happened when I was at Muten Roshi's…**

Genji talked about his adventure on Grim Reaper's while Arangami relayed his story to everyone. The ninja nodded after the story was finished.

"That sounds like my master alright. He's growing impatient if he hired the likes of StormGod's brats to come fetch you."

"Why does he want Genji dead?" Goten asked. "What did he do to make someone wanna kill him?"

**I did what I always do to make someone wanna kill me: nuthin!**

He went unheard.

"I never question my master." Arangami explained. "One wrong word or too many questions will mean my death. However, the sooner you are cured of your demon, the better." He changed the subject. "So, can the oracle help you?"

Genji smiled with an assuring nod.

**Saki-chan wants to start as soon as tonight. She's waiting for the high priests and village elders to gather together. Then, the cleansing of my demon will begin.**

Piccolo stared at Arangami, not able to take his suspicious eyes off him.

Who was the ninja's master? And what were the intentions of his master?

I have a strange feeling I know who this mysterious master is, but I'm not sure…