This chapter seems long, but it's not as long as it seems

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Chapter 7: The Suzaku Seishi
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I tried painting, I wasn't that great, I tried scuplting, I wasn't too great at that either. But what I found that I could do was bead, either, making necklaces, making pictures with tiny beads, (I don't know if that's done in china, but I like it, since I've done it once, it's hard but oh well, it's fun.....^^) all sorts of jewelry with just beads. I made sure to make them give off a glow so they can catch a ladies eye and possibly buy, and it worked. They also saw Namame's work and bought that too, but business was starting to go really well. I brought Tamahome's family some money, and apparently, he hadn't been by since we both left.

I worked today so Namame can rest, I sat back and got a thick peice of string out and I decided to make prayer beads for when I saw Houjun again, I had found the beads to make it. Several weeks had past, I had constant constumers come back to see what new things there were, occasionally, they would buy it, some of them seemed to have started a collection.

"Hi Kibou." said a woman, who was 18 and I had known as Kourin. She was in the herum of the emperor's palace, she would talk to me for hours about the emperor and how much she loved him. I'm surprised the emperor hasn't noticed her, she was pretty, long nice purple hair, and many other features. Kourin loved my jewelry and didn't mind buying it, she even brought others from the herum, the people from the palace didn't really want the herum girls to leave the palace, but they never got in trouble.

"What ca' workin on there?" she asked.

"It's something for a friend."

"They look like prayer beads,"

I nodded. "He's a buddhist mon-"

"He? Now that's a different story! You never told me you had a boyfriend!" She teased.

I smiled. "He's a really good friend, he took care of me when I lost my memory."

"So your in love with him?"

I blushed. "No, Kourin, it's nothing like that! He's like a brother to me."

"Oh, come on, you can tell me! You can trust me!"

"Kourin! stop it!" I yelled.

"Your turning red!"

I blushed harder and I couldn't stop. "Kourin!"

She laughed. "I'm kidding. Ok, you don't have to admit to me that you like him."

I frowned. "So what's his name?"

"Ri Houjun...Oh and I made a necklace that I thought you would like!"

I brought out a beaded necklace that had red beads that looked like pearls on it. "Oh wow! I know those aren't real, but they look like it! How much is it?"

"It's for you! You told me your birthday was coming up! So happy birthday!"

She took it from my hands. "Oh my gosh, Kibou, thank you!"

"Not at all."

"Have you heard about the Preistess of Suzaku being here?"

I nodded. "I heard a bit about it. Is she in the palace?"

She nodded. "She's such a brat! She's hanging all over the emperor! I hate her! But she's going to be going back so I don't have to worry about her."

"Really?"

"Well, I wasn't suppose to say, but she fell ill, because of all the stress so we're sending her home and then I hope she stays there!"

I smiled. "Well, happy birthday anyway, Kourin."

"Thanks Kibou, I may not see you for a while, we're going to escort her."

I nodded. "Good luck then, I'll be here."

She waved good bye and I returned to my work. The Preistess of Suzaku is a brat, how nice, hopefully that's just Kourin's agitation of her trying to take the emperor. Namame came out. "The preistess of Suzaku has come?"

I nodded. "It seems the rumors are true, "

"Kibou dear, you've helped me quite enough.."

"But, this is the only way I can seem to think of to repay Toroki for training me."

She nodded. "I'm sure she's happy now, but go out for a bit."

"How long?"

"A few months, just spend some time to yourself. I have more than enough to survive untill you come back. You could also try to find the other seishi, since they call out to each other."

"Are you sure Namame?"

She nodded. "Now go on."

She pushed me out of her shop and led me out the city gates, she really wanted me to do this. She gave me my sword and turned away without saying good bye. I looked at my sword. "Ok.....I guess I'll try to moutains...But I have to walk, dammit!...I'll get a horse!"

I went back into the city into an Inn where I knew the owner and the owner let me use a horse as long as I returned it. It was my favorite one, his name was Van, because I named him and it sounded familiar. (heh, a horse named after Van....^^) I rode the horse out and went to many cities. I went back to Shouryuu Memorial Lake, all the crusifixes were still there. Now it was completely clear, on top of the water....I hadn't been here for 6 years...I walked around, I couldn't find anything that was left over. I looked to the lake, I wasn't sure how deep it was, I could tell no one ever swam in it, but I wasn't sure where the city would be. I took my sword off along with my shoes and socks, I wanted to see if there was anything of mine stuck there.

I dove into the water and saw the city closer than I thought. I saw the broken up house, that I somehow still remembered of Houjuns'.

I went into the house and saw a small bag inside, but I was running out of air, but I could barely see and I don't know if I could find it again. So I grabbed it as fast as I could through the window and swam as fast as I could up to the surface. I gasped for air when I got to the surface. I got out of the water and tried to catch my breath, I head throbbed now and so did my eyes. I heard rustling so I looked up expecting it to be my horse, but he was laying down sleeping, like I left him. I looked around more and saw a robber trying to take my stuff. I got up. "Hey!"

He looked at me, he had greenish eyes, flaring red hair and he wore a black coat. "What do you think your doing."

I picked up my sword and drew it. "How bout you get away from my stuff."

"Heh, what do you think your going to do?"

"Oh you'll see."

I sneezed. "Dammit."

I charged towards him and slashed my sword and he jumped away. He yelled something so when I looked up wolves were attacking me...An illusion. I cut them all up to shreds and quickly got to the robber. I put my sword to his neck. "Give anything you took back!"

"I didn't take anything!"

"Good." I pushed him away. "If you want money, just ask, I don't have too much, but if you need some I'll give you some,"I paused and kneeled down to my horse. "So do you need money?" I asked getting my money bag out.

"I tried to rob you..Why are you still trying to help me?"

"Because, your helpless."

He frowned. "I'm not helpless!"

"Stealing from me?"

"Shut up! What about you, jumping into the water like that, you should have more respect for the people who died!"

"Like your in the place to talk about respect. Besides, I was in the flood this town was in. I made most of these crusifixes!"

He crossed his arms. "Do you want me to buy you lunch?" I asked.

He snorted. "Hmm...ok, change your mind, go ahead and come along." I said walking away, I sneezed.

"Aren't you cold?"

I sneezed again. "No."

A coat was put over me. "Your stubburn aren't you?"

I turned to him. "Your a dumb ass, so we're even.. Do you want lunch?"

"Are you asking me out?"

I smirked. "I don't think so I'm 24 years old, little boy...What's your name?"

"Genrou...."

"I'm Kibou. Come on, What are you doing around here anyway?" I asked as we started to walk towards the town near by.

"I'm just traveling, I'm going to return to the mountains soon."

"Ah, a mountain bandit, your a bit young."

"17." He snorted.

I took him to a small restraunt and he ordered what he wanted and I ordered mine. I hung the bag to dry, so the things inside it could probably dry too. After eating, I went out to see the things in the bag. I opened it, I pulled out a small sqare shaped..thing...I opened it, there was a picture in it, that looked very faded, there was my face. I looked to the side at the lettering. I could read it. The first letters were too faded to see ,but I could make out "Kibou", the in thicker lettering.. "Driver's..." I couldn't make out the rest, I could read this..These letters..

There was another hole that I opened, I pulled out a wet peice of paper. It was a green color and much faded. Then there was a picture, I picked up the faded picture, most of it was gone, execpt the faded picture of me, and that girl Miaka.

"Ohne-chan! Please don't leave!" the little girl, Miaka said holding on to my leg. I was holding a large bag and I was at... an airport...was that what it was called?"

"Miaka.."

"Ohne-chan, I don't want you to leave! I'll be stuck here alone!"

I kneeled down to her. "You still have your older brother,"

Tears filled the little girls' eyes. I wiped them away. "Don't cry, then I'll cry."

"But I don't want you to leave."

I hugged her and tears started to fill my eyes, "I'll be back to see you."

"Ohne-chan.."

"Kibou! let's get going!" I looked up and saw the person I had once seen as my father, but he looked a bit younger. I continued to hug her.

"Kibou!"

I snapped back to reality. "You ok? Your spacing out there."

"Oh, I'm ok..." That little girl...must be my little sister...Otherwise, she wouldn't be crying so much...

I got on my horse. "Where you heading Genrou?"

"I'm just going around, you?"

I shrugged. "I'm just going around too....But if your busy, I guess, I'll see you again someday."

He nodded. "Probably.."

"It was nice to meet you Genrou."

I hoped on Van. "Bye Genrou." I started to ride off up north, not quite sure where I was going. But my instincts told me something like a Suzaku seishi was in that direction. But I almost thought that Genrou was a Suzaku seishi, since Toroki told me the Suzaku seishi are destined friends. I got along with him just fine. I came to a small town, it seemed about the same size that Shouryuu was. It was a quiet town, I didn't see many people out in the streets. I heard a meow at my feet. I looked down and saw a white cat with brown on it's back. I picked it up, "Hey there, kitty. Where'd you come from?"

It started to meow again. "Are you hungry? I'll get you a fish if you like."

It meowed as if happy. I walked around the town to see if anything was there, I soon found a place with fish and they got me a couple and I payed for it. "Here, we can eat together, since I'm sure you can't finish two fish, I'll cook mine and give you one after mine's done, ok?"

It started to purr. It jumped out of my arms and started to run, it looked back to me as if to follow. So I did, I followed him to a house just outside the city. He lead me to the door and I knocked while he meowed. A man who looked like he needed to badly shave and get a hair cut answered the door. "What do you want?" he asked sharply.

"Is this your cat sir?"

He nodded. "Yes it is."

I handed him a bag with both fish in it. "Well, this is for him. I bought it, I didn't know he was yours."

"...Thank you."

I looked over, herbs....medicinal herbs... "Sir..I was wondering, my friend's father...He is diseased with an illness that I'm not sure of, I was wondering if you can tell me how to help him, if I tell you the symtoms. I'll get everything and mix it myself, but I just need to know the mix."

"I don't deal with humans..." He said coldly.

"But...The herbs."

"I don't deal with them." he repeated just as cold.

The kitty jumped into my arms. "Come Tama."

He hissed. "Please sir..."

He sighed. "What are his symtoms."

I told him everything that was wrong. He went in and brought a bottle out. "There isn't a cure, but this should make things better for him."

I took the bottle and Tama jumped into his arms. "Thank you..."

Tama jumped down again and pulled on my sock. "Hey, come on, I have to get going. Oh...come on now."

I looked to the man. "I'm sorry sir..."

"Would you like to come in?"

"Um..I guess so, I have alot of time on my hands..I'll cook the fish, if you want."

I came in and he closed the door. "Thank you...I'm Kibou."

"Myo Juan."

I started to cook the food. "You seem so lonely out here. Why is it you live out here?"

He was silent. I continued to cook, he must have a personal reason. "Your not much of a talker are you, Juan."

He still remained silent, Tama nuzzled up to my leg and I soon finished making the fish. "Where are you from?" he asked.

"I-I'm actually not sure. I lost my memory 6 years ago. I don't know anything about myself, I think I have a little sister named Miaka, but that's all that I can remember, nothing else seems to be too clear. The places I was at, the people around me...They're all still a blur."

"I see, 6 years, aren't you lonely?"

I shook my head. "Not at all, I have hella connections with people so I don't need to worry. It seems that now, I'm just wandering around. Besides, I spent 3 years training and 3 years training under some one else with a person helped me when I lost my memory..I haven't seen him over a month, but you know, we'll see each other some day. Maybe soon, under certain circumstances... Did.." I paused for a moment and thought about if I wanted to say this. He looked at me to continue. "Did...something happen to make you live out here by yourself."

"I had a fiance` a year ago," he started.

Fiance`? Just like Houjun. "I was the doctor for the town then, and in return for healing him, that family gave me Shouka..What was her name, they gave me her hand in marrage. Unfortnatly, I was away when Shouka had caught a plague spreading around..I came as fast as I could, but..."

His voice shoulded a bit cracked, he seemed like he was going to cry, but didn't , he lost his fiance` in a disease he wasn't here to cure...Houjun lost his finace` in a flood and to his best friend... Both of them lost their loves, terribly. Houjun became a wreck from what I saw after the flood, but gradually got better over the years, but Juan, he hasn't gotten over it, it's only been a year..And he is also blaming himself for the death of a love that he really had no control over.

"I'll stop by this city another time, Juan, thanks for letting me eat with you, it took some time that could've been wasting..Now, I'll have to get this medicine to my friend's father."

He stayed silent, I came to the door, "Thanks again, it was great meeting you, Juan."

There was a small meow, I smiled. "You too Tama, I hope to see you both again."

I went out the door and left to Tamahome's house, he should be back by now..

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Not much to say, it got out earlier than I thought it would! I don't know how long it'll take for it the next chapter out but I'll try to get it out in three days time, but I'm busy because of my grades, and my band's going on tour sooner or later, but I have to get my grades up by a certain time so I can go because my grades aren't doing too well, so it might be a bit, sorry.

~*CosmicMoon.