The one day of rest gradually turned into a week of rest. I spent most of my time with Amefuri. Kokie didn't stay around the palace much, choosing to be alone, and Toroki was always taking off somewhere to pull some pranks. Suzuno and Tatara tried to be discreet about their romance, but it was becoming obvious when they started to be seen everywhere together.

On the third day, Kutou armies attacked a few border outposts. Even though it was expected, the Sairou armies suffered great casualties. The Emperor finally relented and news of war and the coming of Byakko no Miko spread through the country. All of a sudden, thousands of people were making pilgrimages to the capital in order to see the Miko.

Although the Emperor advised that it wouldn't be wise to meet with any of the peasants, Suzuno spend every waking hour mingling among them. By day's end, she was exhausted. All of us, especially Tatara, told her that she had to stop and get some rest for the journey ahead, but she wouldn't listen. Finally, we decided that the only way to get her to recover would be to leave on the search for the two missing seishi. So, after a week of relative relaxation, we set out on another journey.

The second day into our search, I woke up with a headache and cramps. Amefuri gave me some herbs to ease the pain, but I was still grumpy and uncomfortable all day. After Toroki tried one of his new 'ideas' on me and I practically bit his head off, everyone steered clear of me.

I rode a little bit away from the group, not really feeling like talking and perfectly content in my own moodiness. Kokie surprised me by joining me.

"You never told me… What was it you did to me?"

"What? Oh, healing you." Even though it was only a week, it seemed so long ago. My life before being a seishi seemed like an eternity away. "I aged your body back a day."

"Time control?" She nodded. "That will be very useful."

"Un. It doesn't always work, though. Not for all injuries." We rode in silence for a few moments, then I spoke. "What do you—"

"Mind things. Telekinesis. Telepathy." I stared at her for a moment, a little worried about the telepathy, but she glanced at me sideways. "Don't worry. I don't go prying into other people's business."

It occurred to me that I didn't know what Amefuri's and Toroki's powers were, either. "What do they—"

"Toroki has invisibility and intangibility. Not surprising that he already knows how to use them well," she smirked, "Amefuri, I'm not entirely sure. I haven't seen her do anything yet."

"Oh." Both of us were silent again. I was quite unsure of why Kokie, a woman who'd been rather cool to everyone the last few days, had suddenly decided to talk to me, but I wasn't about to tell her to go away, even in my irritable state.

"Are you wondering about the rebel seishi?" She surprised me again by breaking the silence. I nodded. "So am I."

"How did you find out about their intentions?"

"A few days after Suzuno first arrived, she was alone in her room. Somehow, he got in there, and managed to threaten her somehow. She was pale as a ghost when we found her, but wasn't hurt. She didn't tell us what he said, only that he made sure she knew that he wasn't about to fight for her and that he was siding with Kutou."

"I still don't understand," I murmured. "How can a seishi be disloyal? After all, she's the reason we exist…"

"Who knows?" Kokie shrugged. "But we have to find him and get him to change his mind in order to summon Byakko."

The others were waiting ahead of us at the entrance to a medium-sized town. When we caught up, Toroki took off, and a disgruntled Amefuri reluctantly followed, promising to keep an eye on him. Suzuno and Tatara headed off in another direction towards a tavern to get something to eat, leaving Kokie and I alone again.

I glanced at her to see if she knew anything about the two lovers, but if she did, she didn't say anything. With not many options left open, we followed them into the tavern. It wasn't hard to find them - with her other-worldly clothes, everyone was staring at Suzuno. I idly wondered why she hadn't chose to go in disguise today, especially with the dangers around.

When Kokie and I joined them, Tatara looked slightly disappointed at being interrupted, but Suzuno just smiled brightly. "I have a good feeling. I think something good's going to happen today."

Perky people tend to get annoying when one's in a bad mood, so I was more than happy to volunteer to go and place everyone's orders. At the moment I arrived at the bar, however, a fight broke out. After narrowly avoiding getting hit by a flying chair, my mood was not improved.

After placing the orders with a grumpy barkeep, I headed around the fight back to the others, only to get knocked into by one of the men. I stumbled and fell backwards, unwittingly grabbing onto his arm for support, but instead I fell on my rear.

I hit my head on something, but I know I didn't get knocked unconscious. God knows what he would've done to me had I been. I stared up at the ceiling for a moment, unmoving, a little stunned. When my senses returned, I looked down to see the guy on top of me, his hand on my chest. When he didn't move immediately, my gaze drifted over to his face, expecting to see the same stunned, embarrassed expression I wore, but instead I found a stupid grin.

"Get… Off… OF ME!" I couldn't help it, I screamed. I hadn't meant to, but I was just not in the mood for it.

"Okay, okay!" He jumped off, kneeling next to me, his hands up in surrender. "I'm sorry! It was an accident!" But instead of looking apologetic, he was still staring at my breasts.

I sat up, glaring. By now, the rest of the restaurant was silent and staring at us. I glanced over at my companions. Tatara looked concerned, Suzuno alarmed, and Kokie amused. I stood up quickly, brushing the dust off of my skirt, and started back over to them. The pervert wasn't about to give up so easily, however - he grabbed onto my arm.

I stopped walking and stared straight ahead at the wall, seething silently, but not reacting immediately. "I'm sorry, okay? Do I have to apologize any more? Let me make it up to you… Can I buy you a drink?"

"NO!" I took a deep breath, not wanting the restaurant's attention on me anymore, and tried to calm down. "No," I repeated in a harsh whisper. "You cannot. Excuse me." I pulled away roughly and went back over to Suzuno and the others, sitting down as if nothing had happened.

Suzuno and Tatara shared a worried look, but said nothing, understanding that I didn't want to talk about what had happened. Kokie, on the other hand, almost laughed. "You should've hit him."

The three of us stared at her. I got up and headed towards the door. As I left, I heard her remark, "Suit yourself. I would've hit him."

Once outside, I headed towards the outskirts of the town. My head was beginning to throb again, and I wanted to find a quiet place. Near the town gates, I found a small stream and followed it down a bit into the forest, finally finding a peaceful spot where the stream joined a larger river. After a few moments, I was already beginning to feel better.

All of a sudden, hands grabbed me from behind. I tried to scream, but he clamped one onto my mouth. "Shh!" Keeping the hand on my mouth, my attacker turned me around. My eyes widened as I saw it was the pervert from the restaurant. Remembering Kokie's suggestions, I nearly bit his hand. "Don't scream. I won't hurt you."

I gave something of a nod, and he removed his hand. I yelled at him anyway. "Won't hurt me?! Attacking a girl alone in the forest is not a good way to get her to think you won't hurt her!!"

"Aw, c'mon, be quiet! Can't you trust me?"

"I don't even know you! And why'd you follow me? And how'd you catch up to be so quick!?" I stepped back away from him, crossing my arms.

"I didn't want you to be mad at me! It was a bad first impression, I'll admit to that. I just didn't want you to hate me before you even know me."

He had a point, but I wasn't about to forgive him that easily. "Bad first impression? That's the understatement of the year. You practically molested me!"

"I said I was sorry! What more do you want, my soul?!"

I allowed myself to calm down some, actually really looking at him for the first time. He did look somewhat apologetic, and at least this time his eyes weren't on my cleavage. He wasn't bad-looking, either, not that that mattered - I'd had too many encounters with guys like this. I sighed, dropping my arms. "Fine. I forgive you."

He grinned - he was cute when he smiled, and I almost smiled back. "Good. Then let's try this again, okay? And your name would be…?"

"Yi Doulin-- Ahh, Subaru."

"Two names?"

I nodded curtly, trying to remind myself that I was supposed to be mad.

"All right. Doulin, Subaru, whoever you are, it's a pleasure to meet you." And he actually took my hand and kissed it. I stared at him, rather amazed. Pervert one minute, gentleman the next.

"And you would be—" I started, but he cut me off.

"Shh. Your friends are calling."

I listened, hearing Amefuri's voice calling my name. I started back up the trail towards town, but he grabbed me around the waist, pulling me close. I panicked, starting to push him away.

I had no idea what happened next. It was as if I blinked, and suddenly we were out of the forest and back at the town entrance. Suzuno and the other seishi were all there, staring at us in wonder.

Amefuri broke the silence. "Teleportation?"

I looked up at my companion, only now noticing the fading white symbol on his cheek. He was a seishi?! With this revelation, my heart started to pound in my chest - or maybe it was just being so close to him.

He let go of me and walked over to Suzuno, dropping to one knee in front of her. "Byakko no Shichiseishi Tokaki, reporting for duty."