Somewhere in the rank and deepest bowels of the Mt. Taikyoku, below the beautiful palace and its splendid courtyards, scarred by the tree roots and lower than even the rats of the underworld, darkness reigned over the silence that was the Caves of Shiniku. Although the air was as cold as the bitter mountains, the heat of hell radiated through the enclosures, tearing at the walls, wailing in the air. The moans and anguished cries of so many were heard for miles around, piercing the metal which trapped them below the earth near the core of existence. Eyes, so wide with terror, were unable to cry, throats, raw with screams that they were no longer able to speak, all were lost in those fearful and threatening dungeons. Wit and reason disappeared and danger ran hot on the coals that made the ground red with blood and poison, a crimson that laughed maliciously at every lance of pain that shot up the prisoners' backs. For none could ever die in the Caves of Shiniku; they had been sentenced to pain for eternity by the creator of the world and there they would remain, calling to those who could not hear, bleeding on those who were no longer able to bleed.

Behind the steel bars that held in their prisoner a single tear fell to the ground, sizzling contemptuously on the coals as though the ground asked who would dare cry in their hell. Chains, not broken nor marred in any way, glimmered ginger in the reflection of the fires, casting strange shadows on the face of the one who now had no more to live for. Eyes, sunken from loss of light, from starvation and depravation of love, stared hollowly at the walls of their prison. A trickle of blood seeped from the deep gouges on the wrists of the wretched captive, falling forlornly only to stain the hot coals; no blood would ever burn on those floors. Their lips, so parched and welted from the days of nothing but the ravings of a mad man and the tears he had shed in the lap of his beloved, were not parted, but tight with the agony that the soul of the prisoner reflected so perfectly. Sentenced for a crime he did not commit, punished with the murder of his children, then with the death of his only Sora...

Crouched, shivering and convulsing in the corner, the hostage's long and strangely silver tendrils spilled over their shoulders, the only beautiful thing remaining in the dismal cell. The prisoner, however, saw no beauty in them now but could only remember his love, the only light in the darkness that had held his torn life together like a pillar of justice. Now, he thought, she would no longer get to laugh or cry in this world ever again, would never get to hug their daughter and son, would never hold him...

More tears escaped his eyes, bitter tears they were, spilling down his hollow cheeks and disrupting the blood that lay there, falling like crystals to be broken, landing in the pools of blood that he wished would now become his grave. He recalled the way she would stare into his once cerulean blue eyes, laughing like a bubbling spring, burying her head in his chest and telling him how happy she was, the mother of two and the wife to the most perfect man in the world, the one whom she would love forever and onwards, whom she would stay with no matter the sacrifice nor the pain she would endure to keep her promise.

Now she lay so near him, covered in her blood and his, her eyes wide with pain and surprise, glittering brilliantly with the tears that still flowed from her delicate eyes however unalive they were. Her cherry red lips, normally smiling at the world she knew and loved, now lay bitterly shut and pale, their color drained by the devil's call. The wretched man began to crawl slowly, unsteadily towards her body, tears rolling down his face as though they could not stop. The burns on his legs throbbed, his eyes burned with the heat and his sobs, his chest so tight with emotion and pain it was as though he could not breathe. He was close, so close...he could not bring himself to touch her cold cheek, to feel the way her hands were clenched into fists so unlike her gentle spirit. Such a touch would confirm his fears, that she was gone, departed from him, forever. Her promise had been made in vain.

He would kill the ones that had done this to him, to her, would murder them in cold blood, would relish in their screams, would love the pain that masked their face; he wished nothing more in the world than the death of the one killer that had destroyed his life, had destroyed his soul. More tears fell, but this time they stained not the ground but the cold, porcelain cheek of Sora's dead body. The man's hands, tied so mercilessly behind his back by the chains that now held him to the ground, clenched until the knuckles where white like the fire that encroached upon his mind, like the burning pain he felt so continuously. It rose in his throat, a gut wrenching cry, deriving from the bowels of hell and framed by his tears and the death he knew was inevitable. He screamed and for one moment, all of the Shiniku was silent, as though relishing in the terrible things he felt as the yell echoed around the cavernous underground. At that moment his eyes changed; they were no longer hollow nor ill; they were ruthless and conniving, just like the ones who had put him here. His soul transformed and became hard and heated, like the fiery ground he knelt upon and in that one moment, he made a solemn vow that he would avenge his wife and in turn, murder her murderer. No; another idea crept into his mind and he almost smiled maliciously at the thought of it, consumed by hatred and a sick joy. He would destroy the murdered one hope and make them suffer like he suffered, like Sora had suffered.

His eyes, cold and unforgiving, reflected something like a twisted pleasure at the terror he would bring when he took his revenge.

Imagine how the heavens would weep when the priestess of Taikon was sentenced to the Caves of Shiniku and the balance was gone forever.

*~*~*~*~* "El mio signore," came the voice from the parlor, patient and like a thousand wind chimes creating music on the wind. A much smaller voice imitated the first, concentrated on the task at hand.

"El mio sign...signor..e," it finished triumphantly.

The warm summer wand caressed the two figure as they sat peacefully by the window. A small child, barely five, sat in her mother's lap, smiling obliviously as the tears fell freely down her mother's cheeks. Her mother, young and lithe like a beautiful goddess, radiated kindness and a warped happiness that seemed to flee from her body with every word. Both figures were slowly going over the words of the lord's prayer in Italian, reading the spindly letters of the large book that sat in the young child's lap. The mother, her eyes alight with a longing to tell her child the truth, watched attentively over the girl's shoulder as she studied the next line with the utmost diligence. The mother knew that the time had come even before the child spoke the next line and she closed her eyes in a heavenly mantra. More tears escaped her brilliant green eyes which now glazed over in final moments. The small child pronounced the next words perfectly with barely a stutter: "Che arte in cielo," she paused and then her face lit up with happiness, "Mommy! I did it! I...mommy? Mommy, what's the matter? Mommy?!"

Her mother was leaning forward as though she had no control over her movement yet she was smiling gently, her tears framing the beauty of her sun-kissed cheeks. As the two figures clattered to the floor, the small child began to cry and shook her mother's shoulders, so confused and hurt by what she understood was happening. Only five, yet she understood death.

"Mommy, wake up! Mommy...m....m....mommy!"

She continued to scream and weep so bitterly with such intense fear, her small body racked with the heart-wrenching sobs that she let out so painfully. She knew that all her efforts were in vain; her mother was already gone. The small girl collapsed on her mother's body and lay there for so long it felt as though it were an eternity; her father would not come, nor would an ambulance. There was no point; one cannot change the past...

~End Dream Sequence~

Saiko jerked awake and sat up so quickly that Yasha turned his head snappishly from his place next to the fire. The priestess was breathing so unevenly, beads of sweat appearing rapidly on her forehead. She placed one shaking hand over her heart and realized that those tears that she feared so deeply were leaking from her own eyes. Scrubbing her face with the back of her hand, she tried to calm herself but swallowed wrong in her haste. Coughing bitterly, she crawled unsteadily towards the flames as they waned in the very early morning light. A movement behind her alerted Saiko and she turned to see Kang setting a bowl of water next to her. The general of the Makesian army began to massage the priestess's shoulders and speak soothing words, urging the priestess to drink the water slowly. She did as she was bid and began to gradually calm down. When her breathing had been restored to normal, Saiko turned to Kang and dared not meet her eyes.

"Thanks," she mumbled, wishing that her pride would allow her a more fulfilling thank you.

The other girl did not seem to mind and only eyed her friend sternly with the motherly eye that she so quickly called upon. "You didn't mention any problems sleeping."

Saiko immediately felt the unintentional and quick to come anger rising in her stomach and she turned so viciously upon her friend that the victim took a step backwards as her priestess began to scream. Her emerald eyes telling more than their fair share about her inner torment, Saiko let the hell within her break loose on the Taikon seishi, standing up as the water fell from her lap and the bowl fell, clattering on the rocks.

"I don't have any goddamn problems sleeping, alright? Besides, even if I did, I'd never tell you! Jesus, you're not my mother! Damn you, Kang!"

In her blind rage, Saiko took a sort of aimless swing in Kang's direction which the more experienced fighter dodged with ease. In her half hearted attempts to tear her best friend apart, the priestess felt more tears falling from her eyes and a terrible guilt looming in her troubled mind. With the stress of saving an entire country, she had to remember that in another two weeks, the anniversary of her mother's death would be upon her. She wasn't sure that in her current state she could handle this, but she wouldn't let herself reveal such a tender weakness to even her closest companions. Kang, while dodging the attacks, realized that this wasn't the real Saiko; something was wrong and as a friend, she couldn't stand by and watch it tear her leader apart. In a quick yet deft movement, Kang moved in Saiko's direction, arms wide open, and embraced the thief in a hug, subduing any further movement. For Saiko it was if time stopped, she was so stunned. Besides her mother, no one had ever hugged her before and the feeling was so brand new but yet so familiar, she stopped struggling. Kang spoke quietly into her ear.

"A very wise friend once told me friends no one ever accomplished something truly incredible alone and that without friends she would be nothing. I had never felt so glorified by anyone before then and I never forgot it. She was talking about me. I was the reason she felt the need to keep on living. She had no parents, she had no husband, she had lost her only child to a terrible disease, but she had me and I her. Saiko, you have me, too. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking that you are alone in this world." Kang pulled out of the embrace, her eyes a muddy color with the emotion she was revealing and said even more sadly still, "I made that mistake once; and I will regret it every day from now until forever."

Saiko looked over to where Karami was lying, peacefully sleeping or so she thought. She could never quite tell what Karami was doing or saying, but she somehow always knew it was right. This knowing, Saiko believed, was friendship, the fact that if your friend gave you vague instructions that no one else could interpret, she could decipher them quickly and solve the problem. This all-powerful wonder that friends made her feel was new and warm, like a winter coat that fit perfectly around her like it was made and sewn just for her. In retrospect, thought Saiko, that's what friend are, predestined and pre-sewn to fit me and only me. That's a wonderful feeling.

By seven in the morning the trio was on the road to Genkrai, Kang in front as though trying to protect the other two from any on coming danger and Karami simply staring off into the distance as though she were in another world entirely. Yasha was trotting slowly besides her, not straying off the path to play in the grass nor chasing after the dragon flies. Saiko was back to her normal self since the morning's events and was leisurely strolling down the path with her arms braced behind her head. She looked haughty and bored with her hair falling in strands about her face and her green eyes half hooded. She finally voiced aloud her thoughts.

"How much longer? I'm so sick of this damn heat. Doesn't it ever get cold here?" Saiko whined in annoyance, wiping sweat from her brow.

Karami examined the position of the sun and just looked ahead to continue walking; time was not an obstacle for a wandering mind such as hers. Kang was becoming slightly bored and irritated as well but she dared not show such a thing to her companions; one thing she had learned in the army was that weakness must never be shown. Trying to remember the map, she shrugged her shoulders forlornly. "Well, I believe that we have about one more hours' worth of walking to take care of. It shouldn't be too long. Just hang in there."

Saiko glanced to her right and stared loathingly at Karami, wondering why her fellow traveler didn't feel the pains of the heat or the searing boredom of such a long walk. The priestess rudely snapped her fingers in front of the girl's face, earning herself a gratified look. Karami glanced expectantly back at her tormentor who quickly thought of a question to ask. "How much do you really know about Taikon? You never asked any questions about him. Isn't there at least something you'd like to know?"

Karami looked thoughtfully off into the distance at the one tree that the trio had seen for the past three miles and she just stared intently at its top most branches, seeming to ignore the question. Finally she offered the answer, "In truth, friend, I perhaps know more about thine destiny than thou dost, but there tis only one question that I have not been able to answer."

Saiko raised one eyebrow as if to ask the inaudible query and the seishi continued. "What I am truly curious about is the object hanging from yonder yew. Tis a mortal, per chance, looking quite betangled. Afar see!" She shielded her eyes from the now blinding morning light and pointed with her right hand at the spindly tree which climbed like a spider's web before the sun on the horizon. In its upper branches, a curled up object which resembled a human body was hanging forlornly, caught by strips of cloth.

Kang motioned them ahead and they began to jog towards the figure, wondering what such a spectacle was doing in the middle of the desert. As they neared the tree, Karami's assumption became fact and they found that it was indeed a yew tree, but much larger in both height and width of the trunk than most trees of its kind. The bundled up form at the top was indeed a human and Saiko made it out to be a girl hanging face down, chest rising and falling slowly and shallowly, but nevertheless the fact was withstanding. The seemingly dead body was alive.

Kang walked slowly to the foot of the tree, hand on her sword hilt and ready for any attack that may greet her although the weak girl seemed to be in no shape to put up a fight. Her dark hair fell forlornly before her face in separated strands to the point that it resembled rope and the only part of her face visible was the pale and thin little mouth that rested in an unreadable arch. Realizing that no threat would come to her, the general of the Makesian Army began to climb the yew tree, finding hand and foot holds wherever possible, coming ever closer to her goal. Her two friends watched on from the foot of the trunk, squinting against the brightness and trying to distinguish their comrade and the mysterious girl against the spindly boughs. At last Kang was in a position where she could reach out to touch the captive. To the touch, she was warm, thus confirming her survival, and by the looks of this contraption of rags and cloth, this capture had been spur of the moment and complete fortune.

Torn on separate branches, she was wrapped completely along the torso and down her legs, two more strips supporting her legs and one supporting her head. Kang, having never seen such a device, had to study it for several moments before she determined the safest way to cut down the girl. Withdrawing her sword from the sheath, she held it aloft, blade gleaming in the light, bringing it down in a swooshing arc. The point drew neatly along the sides of the girls encasement and soon, she was dangling by only the leg support and the head cloth. Reaching out one arm, Kang was able to pull the girl into a sort of embrace in which she began to carefully make her way down the tree limbs with only one hand. Saiko, arms outstretched, waited at the base of the trunk and relieved the swordswoman of her cumbersome load, allowing her free passage to the ground.

By laying the girl flat upon her back, the three were able to get a closer look of the peculiar girl, taking in her slightly freckled face and strong looking figure. She was not a slave, judging by her healthy appearance, but she was pale most likely due to her prolonged sentence in the branches of the yew. Karami removed the supports and the head cloth which revealed that she wore only a plain grey dress which flowed to her ankles, no waist nor sleeves, the dress of a poor family. After a light inspection, the archer decided that no physical harm had been done, but she was slightly undernourished, owing to the circumstances in which she had been found. Saiko made a questioning face. "Well? What's wrong with her?"

Karami began to pull the map from a nearby knapsack while she spoke in response, undoing the string which was tied around the scroll. "Well, tis naught but a spell of unconsciousness. Didst thou notice the underfed belly of the poor creature?" She unrolled the map and looked briefly at it, drawing a line from the current position to the nearest town. "Genkrai is but a half mile's walking distance. Shall we?"

Saiko looked from one girl to the next, finally down at their new found traveler. Sighing impatiently, she leaned down and reached back with her arms until she could hook arms with the unconscious girl. She was incredibly light and the priestess easily hefted the girl onto her back, readjusting her cargo until it had been transformed into a demented kind of piggy-back arrangement. Jerking her head in the direction of the town, she began to walk, motioning for her friends to follow. They did so with great haste and soon they were back on a straight bee line for the government fixed base operation, Genkrai.

Although at first the short journey was slow going, the town's walls soon came into view and persuaded the group to move at a more hurried pace. Soon Saiko, who was becoming thirsty with the great burden of the girl on her back, began to jog at a reasonable speed, as did Kang and Karami. From far away, the only thing visible above the grey stone brick walls was the tallest tower any of the girls had ever seen. Stretching to what seemed miles above the highest cloud, it was made of a cold looking stone, a curling black roof peaking about ten feet above the actual stone top. There were only four visible widows, all of which looked thoroughly inaccessible from the inside, and a dark red flag baring the emblem of Taikon waved rigidly in the wind. Everything about the town from a passing glance seemed grave and uninviting, but this did not deter Saiko. She marched boldly up to the wooden gates, which looked very much like those of Makesai, and kicked the door several times. A loud and hollow thump echoed around the gatehouse and within seconds, a shout rang out from the top of the wall. It was a legionary, soldier, his cumbersome gear and helmet provoking sweat upon his brow. He spoke through his thick black mustache to the girls below, "Who goes there? Travelers? State your business in the Grand High Town of Genkrai."

Eyeing his spear, Kang marched up to the gates and looked appraisingly up at the man, seeming as though she was racking her brains for a name or an army. A look of recognition passed over her face and she squinted up at the guard, eyebrows cocked and hands placed saucily on her hips. "Is that any way to treat your General Shinkei? Speak up man!"

The soldier looked down upon her for a moment and then his craggy face broke into a heart warming smile. He thumped his spear butt against the wall and let out a raucous laugh, slapping his knee heartily. "General Kang! Is that really you? Its been quite a while! How are you ma'am?"

Kang chuckled darkly and motioned for him to open the gates. "Its been quite an adventure, let me tell you Shinkei. Now open the gates, would ya?"

Shinkei jumped at the realization that he was leaving his task unmanned and he disappeared behind the wall. Footsteps could be hear walking down the steps to the gatehouse and soon, a great moan erupted from the age old hinges as the magnificent doors swung inward. The soldier emerged from the gate house and he rushed out to greet his General, hurriedly snapping his heels to a salute with his spear. Kang did likewise and dismissed him, beckoning her friends inside. As soon as the four girls were safely inside, Shinkei let out a yell to the other seven guards who, with great difficulty, used the cranking wheel to pull the doors back into place.

Kang and Shinkei were about to begin a long winded discussion about their lives since the wars of two years past when Saiko grunted loudly beneath the weight of the mystery girl as though to alert the others to her presence. She turned around so the dark haired girl was in plain view to the guard and she barked out from her position, "Hey, man, do you recognize this girl?"

Shinkei looked thoughtfully at the unconscious figure for a minute and then nodded, pointing to the far side of the city down the main road. "Yes, her name is Mayho; she belongs to the Violet Colony in sector twelve." He stopped to think a moment and looked questioningly at Kang, saying, "General, where did you find her? The villagers of Violet presumed her dead!"

Kang sighed and patted the man on the back. "Well, it's a long story, one that I can't tell you right now. Right now, we have to take this Mayho to sector twelve or whatever so point us the way Shinkei. She's looking worse by the minute."

Shinkei snapped to attention and began a quick march down the street, the three girls following suite in his wake. Saiko hefted the girl into a higher position on her back and trudged doggedly on, eyes set forward in a confident stare and lip pouching slightly; this wasn't her idea of a brilliant trip at all. The town's so called "sectors" began to blur together as the group continued, the only dividing points being small and differently colored signs stating, "Now Entering Sector 11, Red Colony," or so on. Apparently Shinkei was well known throughout Genkrai for villagers smiled and waved as he passed, and although his features remained set in stone, a wink here and there showed his air of frigidness was simply for show. The roads were more of a copy of the capital if anything so Saiko found it simpler to concentrate on her load rather than her surroundings. Every time she mistepped, Kang or Karami was right beside her to brace her fall and eventually, the general gave up offering to take the wounded girl from the priestess's back; it was clear that it would be of no use. Karami broke their silence and pointed ahead, causing Yasha to jerk to a halt and bare his teeth at the unknown entrance way.

"There."

All eyes turned to the archway before them, the normally plain sand stone dyed a vibrant violet with mountain flowers. The sign was slightly more grand than its forerunners and screamed, "Now Entering Sector 12, Violet Colony," in widely painted letters. The change in scenery as they stooped beneath the arch way was incredible and even Saiko glanced upwards and around, hoping to catch even a glimpse of the magnificent scenery. The buildings resembled not that of Ancient China, but more of a terra cotta Spanish Village. The walls were obviously made from the quick drying mountain mud, a warm and subtle auburn, their surfaces rough but inviting at the same time. The doorways were circular and more traditional according to the Chinese culture, appearing regularly in strategically placed areas along the walls and giving way to running and laughing children, dressed in eccentric and jingling clothing. Women hurried to and fro carrying heavy laden baskets filled to the brim with multicolored laundry while men rolled carts filled with ever kind of shining trinket imaginable through the walkways. Where the houses stood, instead of the cruel and ever present dust that Saiko had come to expect from the land, grass and brightly colored flowers were growing, petals springing forth from the centers extravagantly with streaks of dark color highlighting their already awesome beauty. Large and overhanging trees spread gracefully across the ground, shading the pathways and creating a lazy and calm air to the Violet Colony.

Their breath caught in their throats, Saiko, Kang and Karami looked around the area, open mouthed and wondering where such a beautiful place could have come from in this city of governmental uniformity. Shinkei, who had seen the sight countless times before, was still smiling and seemed to lose his rigid stance, giving way to a more normal and laid back posture. Soon a little girl turned their way, her dark hair passing before her eyes delicately before a look of recognition passed over her features. She dropped the basket she had been balancing on her hip and shouted, "Mayho!"

The women looked up from their washing and the children stopped scampering in the yard, their delighted squeals held fast in their throats. One by one they rushed over the where Saiko stood, crowding around the newcomers and beginning to whisper amongst themselves. All at once the lazy summer morning appeared to be giving way to a tense and serious afternoon and within a time span of five minutes, a humongous crowd had gathered and was pressing closer and closer around the Taikon warriors. Saiko held tighter still to the girl on her back, not sure whether or not to trust the people around her; she would hand Mayho over to one person and one person only, not a mindless and raving mad riot. Shinkei tried hopelessly to calm the masses but was soon drowned out by the ever growing hum of talk and furtive whispering. One of the men shouted, "Mayho! We must give her to the infirmary! Hurry!"

Saiko drew back shortly, glaring, trustless, around the circle. "Don't touch her, "she barked, looking to Kang and Karami who quickly flanked her to provide all around coverage. "You need to think of something better than that. The chances are if all of you take her, you'll just bang her up more. Be intelligent, you monkeys!"

This brought an outraged roar from the front lines of men and some looked ready to attack and steal back their fellow villager from the clutches of what they took to be intruders. One man raised a cane venomously and pointed it in Saiko's direction, "Give us back that girl, or we'll be forced to take her by means of physical force."

Kang drew her sword and raised it in a protective position in front of Saiko and Karami. "Stand back," she said through gritted teeth. The other two did not argue but took a few tenetive steps backwards towards Shinkei who seemed only slightly exasperated by the thoughtless threats of the Violet Colony villagers. Just as the already angered crowd was about to step up and take on the three girls, a shout broke through the air.

"STOP RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE! NOBODY MOVE!"

The commanding tone halted all motion within the stretch of the entrance way and every pair of eyes within the vicinity whirled towards the speaker. The crowds parted like the red sea and each Taikon warrior looked on at the approaching villager. She stood tall at a little under six feet, her dark eyes looking appraisingly down at the situation but seeming iced over with calm and a sagely well being. Her robes were a pacifying black with a blood red sash adorning her waist and a grim look of confidence stretched across her features as she noticed the wary stares that the new found strangers were giving her multiple weaponry. Tucked into her sash were several rope darts, small and often poisonous dart attached to a long twirling rope with which one could stick their enemies. The quarter staff she held was carved of very fine wood and Kang could barely make out a small and separating line half way down the base woodwork, possibly housing a concealed weapon. Unbeknownst to those watching, another knife laid in her spacious sleeve, invisible to the naked eye, its partner slipped up a sheath in her back. The air of confidence around this girl could not be denied and Saiko narrowed her eyes. There was something about this girl that was trustworthy and calling to her, but she never trusted emotions like that. They only led to trouble.

At that moment, Mayho's now totally limp body was causing Saiko's knees to buckle and she fell to the ground, keeping her balance enough to stay upright. Squinting one eye under the strain, she glared up at the girl who had just appeared, ignoring the fact that she appeared to be a few years her senior. With none of the due respect, Saiko screamed, "Blasted bitch, are yaw gonna help us or stand there acting' all high and mighty!"

Many onlookers gasped at the injustice; how dare anyone, nevertheless an outsider, speak to this girl that way? Saiko had no previous knowledge of who she was and only saw her as a lazy good for nothing who was standing before her trying to condescend to her level. The mysterious and commanding wayfarer smirked wickedly and bent down until she was eye level with Saiko, who now appeared to be bearing the weight of a veritable safety deposit box. The girl's silver eyes gleamed as she spoke. "No need for such vile language. I believe I have everything under control."

Standing to her full height, she raised her staff in an honorable pose and gestured to the multitude of onlookers, flicking her wrists as though to motion the rubberneckers on. "Be reasonable, friends. We need only two to assist. Manako," she motioned for a woman, obviously a healer to come forth, "And Taki," a man with a cart resting beside him. "The rest of you may continue with your work."

As the girl shooed the villagers away, Kang and Karami snapped out of their daze and helped roll Mayho's body off of Saiko's back. Saiko sighed irritatedly and glared up at what appeared to be the matriarch of the society she had entered, one eyebrow twitching and one fist clenched. "Rotten bitch, makin' a spectacle like that."

The girl smiled amiably and in her calm and collected voice spoke in a fluid fashion, withdrawing one hand from her beautiful robes and holding it outstretched in a kind gesture. "Ah yes, Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ryu. I do believe you are responsible for the safe return of Mayho, him? We are all most grateful."

Her laid back manner seemed to only anger Saiko more but, all at once, the wretched feelings of malice subsided and a strangely pleasant look came over her features. "Hey, you said Ryu, right? I had a friend named Ryu once, Ryu Kanin." She took this moment to shake Ryu's hand, "I'm Saiko. I'm kind of on a mission so maybe we should go somewhere to talk things over. I wouldn't want to disturb this..." Saiko searched for the right word to describe her surroundings, "Veritable Haven."

Ryu lowered her eyebrows and looked directly into the priestess's eyes, as though searching for a deeper meaning she believed could not be found. Saiko stared fearlessly back into the face of the town's leader and finally the older of the two gave a faint smile and gestured to the surrounding houses in all their multicolored splendor.

"Welcome to Violet Colony."

*~*~*~*~*

Saiko and Ryu sat together in one of the smaller huts, decked in the simplest furnitures and what not, while each sipped reflectively on green tea that one of the village women had prepared. Saiko glanced out the window, hoping that Ryu had believed the story that Saiko had relayed to her. The whole tale sounded unbelievable and it was difficult for the priestess to believe herself. No doubt Ryu, being so wise and sensible, would scoff at her any moment and send her and the others packing. Ryu began to chuckle and ran her finger delicately along the rim of her cup, savoring the steamy aroma. Saiko glared angrily in her direction. "What's so funny?"

Ryu calmed her secretive laughter and shook her head, her dark hair falling in gentle strands before her eyes. She set down the glass and smoothed her sable robes before addressing her guest with an experienced smile. "Well, priestess," Saiko's breath caught in her throat for the tone sounded almost accepting, "I do believe that when someone comes to me with a doubtful proposal, I should dare not take it on. Perhaps, "she suggested," you should think before you speak."

"Look, I'm only asking you if you know anyone who has a glowing symbol on their body, it ain't like I'm asking if you can please take the world off my shoulders," Saiko said irritatedly back. "Trust me; I've had a long ass journey to choose my words carefully."

Ryu quirked one eyebrow strangely and glared at Saiko with her ice cold black eyes and seemed almost annoyed as she said," That's all well and good but I'm curious to know: why me?"

Saiko struggled to find the words, her hands outstretched as gesturing tools and she continued to fail over and over until she growled in exhaustion. "Look, you seem like you'd know, alright? I just need some information, that's all I'm asking. Do you know anyone incredibly powerful, almost inhumanly so? Any glowing and strangely shaped birth marks? Come on. You've got to have some idea!"

Ryu shook her head slowly and took another lazy sip of tea, propping her elbow on the table and resting her chin tiredly in her hand. She gazed out the window, appearing to be lost in thought and soon she began to twiddle with a loose thread on the hem of her over robe. Saiko drummed her fingers impatiently on the table, trying to bring the girl's focus back to the matter at hand but failing miserably. Finally she resorted to snapping her fingers rudely in front of the dreamers face, bringing her back into reality with an unceremonious jolt. Ryu wrinkled her nose as though she had just discovered a particularly large worm in her tea and looked coldly at her tormentor. "Well, I thought I had been giving off the appearance of someone who didn't know anything and wanted you to leave. Either I didn't pull it off or your incredibly dense. Now listen you..."

Ryu was unable to finish her sentence for somewhere off in the distance, the distinct screaming of a terrified child was ringing through the colony. Terror masked itself over Ryu's face like a chill of ice water and immediately she rose to her feet and took off in a mad dash across the street. Saiko growled in exasperation and sprinted after her, screaming, "I ain't finished!"

Ryu was about fifty feet away from a group of small children who, dressed in their brightly colored smocks, were a strikingly contrasting pale in the face. They were moving slowly backwards in a huddled group, the oldest boy in front and bracing his arms across them in a wide protective shield. The grass was high and barely moving in the light breeze but a strange movement on the top of the reeds alerted Saiko's eyes, a path she had seen so many times before when hiding in the park outside of the international library. There was a snake in the rye.

Saiko sped up until she was about twenty feet behind Ryu, marveling at how fast the other girl was, and looking for the best thing she could do at the moment. The first thing that came to mind was to grab the children, who were now almost completely frozen in fear. They were backed up against a house, staring at the sleek and sinister head which was poking through the wall of grass. Its cold eyes were not unlike Ryu's but they were different in a way; Ryu's were wise but the snake's gave off the air of a hungry and wild beast. Saiko saw the slender muscles in the snake's back tensing and twitching ominously as it prepared to strike, opening its mouth wide and barring its small but terrifying fangs. They dripped with either saliva or poison, Saiko did not know, but her eyes flew in an instant from the open jawed snake to Ryu, who had suddenly put on an extra burst of speed.

The scene seemed to be in slow motion, every single move accentuated with a terrible twist of shadow. Ryu, when her speed could not be accelerated any further, pushed off the ground with all her might, propelling herself towards the children. She was using her body as a shield, it became obvious to Saiko now, but still it was as terrible as if she had been sacrificing herself for a life. Her outstretched body flew right between the children and the snake and in that moment, the confused viper struck. It flew forward with great force, launching itself at Ryu's abdomen with its great fangs forward. The screams of the children and the screams in Saiko's mind sounded as the fang struck the cloth of her robes and it was thought that all was lost, the lives of both Ryu and the helpless children. The children realized, as Ryu's body clattered against the earth, that there was nothing to save them now. They continued to stand there wide eyed at the serpent's mercy when suddenly a black form placed itself between the children and the snake once more.

Saiko breathed a sigh of relief as she witnessed Ryu's rise from the earth. Ryu turned her attention and focus to the snake, glaring at it directly in the eyes as though trying to bore holes into its skull with her piercing black pupils. That moment was engraved in Saiko's mind as she witnessed Ryu's awesome power. The girl's eyes dilated and to everyone's surprise, the normally ice cold midnight eyes became a radiant and shimmering silver. At that moment, a great energy passed between Ryu and the serpent and in that very same span of time, the snake's body went stiff and lay rigid on the ground. The children squealed in horror, not understanding what had just happened, but Ryu rounded on them in a second, knelt and embraced them. Every child huddled against her, sobbing with fear. She smiled wearily, her eyes their normal black once more.

"It's all right now. It's all right."

Saiko rushed over to them and surveyed the scene, the dead snake, the crying children, the tired but heroic rescuer. She pulled back on Ryu's shoulder, helping her to her feet and spinning her around. There was indeed a tear in the fabric of her robe where the snake had lashed out with its claws, but no blood and no obvious injury on the girl's stomach. Saiko raised an eyebrow in wonder but then felt her eyes getting wide and her mouth dropping over like a draw bridge. Where the snake had broken through, in the large tear that had been created, a shining silver symbol was glowing, the symbol for repentance, buddh.

Saiko gasped and looked at the symbol in both surprise and happiness, but she eventually gained control over her intense joy. Smiling confidently, she put on hand on Ryu's shoulder and raised her eyebrows. "Who would have thought I would find the third Taikon warrior right in the Violet Colony."

*~*~*~*~*

Saiko and Ryu had returned to the hut where their last conversation had been taking place and, needless to say, were on friendlier terms than before. Saiko was showing quite a deal of respect after having witnessed the other girl's valiant and selfless protection of the children. She sipped on the remainder of her tea and looked discreetly at Ryu. "That was some rescue just now. Your pretty strong."

Ryu chuckled slightly, wondering if the almost clueless girl had figured it out by now. "I do my best to keep in shape."

Saiko nodded as though this were an everyday conversation she was carrying on and she continued. "Seriously, it was incredible how you risked everything for those children. I don't think I could ever understand how that feels, wanting to risk everything for someone else." Her eyes had an almost distant quality and she trailed off with a sad smile lingering on her features.

"Well, how about you, going out of your way just to save Mayho. From what I hear, you found her in the top most branches of the big yew about a mile or two outside of town. Most travelers would just let her be," responded Ryu with an equally flattering tone.

Saiko just scoffed. "Naw, anyone would have done that. Common sense."

"Really," said Ryu with a rarely seen smile, "The villagers and I are very grateful."

Saiko was rather embarrassed by the way things were playing out and she decided to change the subject to a less dangerous topic. She made a rather bumpy transition back into the conversation they had been carrying on when they had first heard the scream and she put on her most persuasive debate face. "Alright, back to the matter at hand. Now that I know that you're the third warrior, I'm naturally asking you to continue with us on our journey. We still have four more to find and then I will summon Taikon and we'll wish to restore the balance to this world. So I guess," she summed up, "I'm asking you to join us on the journey."

Ryu looked quietly into her cup as this request hung heavily on the air before her and she ran her finger along the mug's edge in a perpetual circle. Her eyes were downcast, her attitude sullen. Everything in her wanted to take up and leave with this girl, but she had her responsibilities. She was an adult, a leader; she couldn't uproot herself logically at this time. These reasons, however, somehow didn't seem good enough to satisfy her troubled mind and Ryu desperately thought up another reason, a far reach, but a passable answer. "I commend your efforts, priestess. But something about this journey rubs me the wrong way. You don't seem sure of it yourself. In fact, you seem doubtful," she said with a sneer. "Could it be you would ask me along on a fool's errand? Because if that were the case, I would have to say a resolute no. Of course I'm going to say no anyway. I don't have time to waste on pointless journeys with doubtful leaders."

Saiko felt the blood rising to her cheeks and she stood up with great speed, knocking over her glass of green tea and pointing one finger accusingly at the girl. "YOU! Do you understand what is going on here? It's a matter of saving an entire world! This world isn't supposed to end because of some damned spiritual balance. It could at least end with a war or something. You are going to sacrifice everyone's life because you think that I'm doubtful?! What kind of shit head are you?!"

Ryu's tone was flat and she spoke as though she had neglected to notice the green liquid quickly spreading over the counter top and she simply set her own cup down in the growing puddle. "Saiko, wasn't it?" She braced her hands against the table. "I have a life here. I have people who depend on me here. It's not like I don't understand the importance of what you're doing. But this is a kid's journey. It probably isn't going to succeed. People who act aggressively on their good intentions always end up sinking in the mud of someone else's bad planning. That's the way the world works, kid. That's the way it has always been, is now, and always will be. You've got to learn to accept that."

The stood to her full height, looking disdainfully down on Saiko as she picked up her staff which was leaning precariously against the wall behind her. As she examined the split where the shaft broke into halves, she said, "Now if you'll excuse me, I think our business is finished. You're welcome to stay as long as you like and wherever you can find a place to reside. But I will not be taking part in your quest. Good day." With these words she walked swiftly out of the room and disappeared behind the corner, leaving Saiko with cherry red cheeks and a screaming mad conscious. Shutting her eyes tightly, the priestess took a deep breath trying to come her relentless rage and, her arms stiff at her sides and fingers clenched tightly into fists, she nutcracker marched out of the hut where she was greeted by an eagerly awaiting Kang.

"Well?" asked the general, searching her friend's face for any signs of happiness or sorrow. Saiko just twitched slightly and shook her head as though trembling. Kang sighed, and looked up at the heavens, arms akimbo. "Damn! Can you give us a break here?" She whined a bit and let her arms drop limply to her sides, kicking at the loose gravel under her feet. Saiko collapsed on the ground, looking hopelessly up at the sky as though she could drown herself in its spotless blue. Possibly that would bring an end to this terrible suffering she was forced to endure. Why couldn't that girl just cooperate?

Kang had finished her tirade on the gravel and finally plopped down mechanically next to Saiko. She leaned back on her hands and stretched her legs out in front of her so that she could feel the smooth earth under her legs. Saiko spoke, still looking up at the beautiful summer sky, using her arms as a pillow beneath her head. "Kang, do you think that this journey is...pointless?"

Kang followed her friend's gaze to the endless heavens and almost smiled. "You could ask that question about everything. Is it pointless?" Her eyelids dropped slightly, giving her an air of thoughtfulness. "The answer is always no. Nothing is pointless. Everything has a purpose and I believe that." She turned to look down at Saiko. "Really."

Saiko grunted as though to show her skepticism. Kang lay down so that they each had the same view of the sky and its many shaped clouds, beautiful hues and dazzling shadow. "Look at it this way. There's a purpose for this journey. Whether or not it's to teach us something, show us how pointless it was so we'll never make the same mistake, or to restore the spiritual balance of the land. For all we know, its all of those. Or maybe," she said with a smirk, "it was so that all of us who have felt alone for all this time could finally find friends."

Saiko closed her eyes and smiled, feeling the radiant warmth of the sun on her skin and making a choice that would affect her entire outlook on the road she was walking. She voiced her thoughts aloud. "Yeah, well, I think that the real purpose of the journey will change as things progress in some aspects. Like finishing it. That's a goal for me right now. So why don't we see if we can complete that one."

She rose and offered a hand to Kang, who grinned and took the offered assistance. Kang thought back to her lonely days at the palace. She had an entire army of men who respected her greatly. She had an admiring prince who loved her with all his heart and prayed that someday she would fulfill his unrequited love. She had servants who waited humbly on her day and night even though she never asked for anything. Sometimes, the only thing she wanted to ask those servants for was a friend, served up on a platter and placed before her to give her advice and someone to see her more as a mistress, a general, or their one true romance. No one had ever been there to offer her a casual hand as Saiko was doing now. And something about it felt so right.

Saiko stretched rhythmically and yawned, scratching her back with one dirt covered hand. "Where's Karami? I'm gonna try that Ryu again, this time with both of you to back me up."

Kang peered around the various buildings, squinting under the bright sun beams which floated through the leaves and branches of the overhanging trees. She finally pointed to an area to their left a little in front of them, outside of a red walled hut. "There's the devil. Entertaining kids I see." With a lopsided smile she pointed to Karami who was perched atop a rather large rock and surrounded by a semi circle of little boys and girls. The children were petting Yasha, who looked rather perturbed but content to keep his self control. One of the little girls looked up at her, dark hair falling before her cherubic face adorably. "Where are you from Ms. Karami?"

Karami pointed back to the direction from whence they had come and said, "Thither and yon, across th' hills and to the land of Makesai. Thou dost live in a fair city child." She was smiling brightly so whether or not the children fully understood her speech and accent was insignificant. They all just laughed and nodded. Saiko and Kang walked up to the group and were about to address Karami when Saiko felt a tug at her pant leg. It was the youngest child of them all, whether boy or girl Saiko was unable to tell, but she was sure that is was a very cute...child. With its wide blue eyes and heartbreaking baby voice, the kid spoke with a speech different from the others. Saiko was able to distinguish it as an ancient Chinese dialect that was no longer in use, although her mother and father had spent a great deal of their time trying to decipher it. The child said, "Are you going to help my sissy?"

Saiko quirked an eyebrow and bent down to level with the speaker, which she had since identified as a girl. Resting her hands on her knees, she replied in the same tongue. "Your sister? Who might she be?"

The little girl grabbed Saiko's thumb and began to drag her along as best she could into the hut around which the group was congregating. Pushing open the thatch door, the child retreated into the darkness inside, calling out to Saiko. "Sissy is here."

She jumped up on a piece of furniture and threw open a set of curtains, allowing a small shaft of light to float in through the window. It settled on the young but battered face of a girl close to Saiko's age, one that she knew all to well. She bent beside Mayho's bed and shook her head slowly, wishing she had some other answer. There was nothing she could do, no way she could help. She had no medical training and no doubt there was nothing else to be done anyway. The village women had already taken care of all that. The priestess turned to the little girl and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry. I...can't do anything for her."

The girl sighed. "You can't? I thought you were magic." She pouted and her eyes began to brim with tears. Saiko herself felt like bursting into sobs. This was the world she was fighting to protect, but she had no magic with which to do so. She wanted to ease the suffering of the troubled masses, bring fighting soldiers back home from wars that this terrible unbalance was creating, but there was nothing she could do until the remaining warriors went with her to summon Taikon. This increased her already impending rage towards Ryu. She was standing in the way of the world's progression into better days! One person was blocking the gateway to happiness! Saiko turned to the small child.

"I am not magic, I wish I was, but I'm not. All I know is as soon as I do what I'm setting out to do, the entire world is going to change. Everyone will be happy again, the wars will stop, so will hunger and famine. Finally things will be better, as they were. Do you remember happy days?"

The small girl just shook her head and a few tears spilled innocently down her cheeks. Wait, no, realized Saiko, they were not innocent. For this girl and so many others had been denied their innocence while living in a world full of such hatred and other factors that forced them to grow up so fast. She stood there now, wiping away tears that flowed so freely and so often, never knowing what kind of happy life she could be leading. Saiko crossed the room wearily, taking the girl's tiny finger and hands in her own and smiling down upon her. "Don't worry. I'm going to...make it right."

At that moment there was a knock on the door frame. Saiko looked up and saw the familiar face of Ryu, looking more the worse for wear but happy in her tiredness. She had changed into another pair of the same colored robes and was smiling, leaning heavily upon the door frame. She crossed her arms over her chest, glanced down at the little girl, then up at Saiko. She quirked her eyebrow then grinned broadly. "When do we leave priestess?"

At the realization of what Ryu had just said, Saiko stood up so quickly she almost fell. Her face broke into a smile unlike the pitiful one she had given Mayho's sister. This one was a smile of happiness, relief and pure exhilarated joy. Rushing to where Ryu stood, she searched her face for signs of mocking or cruel joking, but found none. She had just seriously agreed to continue on their journey with them. Saiko suddenly had a strange and pinging feeling in her gut and she turned to the third warrior. "What...changed your mind?"

Ryu took a step outside so that her back was to Saiko and she looked up at the sky just as Saiko and Kang had done ten minutes ago. She smiled an empty smile, as though looking back on the past ten minutes, ten months, ten years. A gust of wind blew from behind her and her hair flew in a protective curtain about her face, her eyes half hooded and shining bitterly as she answered. "You. You and a town full of suffering friends."

Saiko felt herself blushing slightly. "You were in the doorway the whole time then?"

Ryu made a soft sound of irony. "Who knew that you really had no doubt, Only...fear."

The priestess immediately moved to object the very idea of her fearing anything but Ryu held up a hand to object. She turned slightly so Saiko was able to see the weary bitterness and longing in her face, in her eyes, as she replied. The sweet smell of fading cherry blossoms drifted by with another breeze and small, opaque pink petals flew in a gentle shower upon the two girls. "It's a fear that everyone has, priestess. The fear that if they don't succeed, they'll let someone down, whether it be themselves or their friends or anyone who might be counting on them. That's the way things work. Fear is our greatest enemy and at the same time our greatest friend. It motivates us to keep going because not only do we fear going back, but we fear not finishing by going forward. That is why I'm going. Because I fear this journey. Because of this fear, I know that I must go. It is my duty as a warrior. My duty to myself, to you and my fellow warriors, and to that little girl behind you. I dedicate myself to fulfilling my duty. That is the way that I am."

She spoke with such conviction, such feeling and anger combined with hatred and a sense of responsibility, that Saiko was silent for several minutes after. They were content to just stand there and relish in these wise but haunting words. Saiko now realized that she did fear the perils that lay in wait along their road to soon be traveled. But now she had three friends instead of just two. She smiled to herself. She was getting more popular by the minute. She looked up at Ryu and put a friendly hand on her shoulder. Ryu seemed startled by such a display of affection and just seemed unable to think of what to do. Saiko, however, grinned at her and then looked out to the distant horizon on which the dusty paths and roads disappeared. "Welcome to the service of Taikon."

With that the priestess and the new found warrior rejoined their steadily growing group and they continued on the path, not knowing what to expect, but knowing that with friends and fear on their side, they would always persevere.