Chapter Two-

Joumei's vision slowly returned, paired with the taste of dirt lacing her mouth.

"Kitsune?" she managed to sputter as she pushed herself to her knees. A few feet from her lay her unconscious friend. Joumei squinted as the breeze blew sand into her eyes.

Kitsune slowly began to stir.

"Wake up Sune!" Joumei coughed. 'it's true! We're actually in the book!"

"Maybe we were just drugged, raped and somehow abandoned in the Sahara desert." Kitsune responded with her usual optimistic sarcasm.

"Who's there?" an unfamiliar voice called through the wind. A young man slowly appeared, then broke into a run when he noticed the two girls.

Fear rose in Joumei's throat, was this one of the men Miaka had mentioned?

"Who're you?" Kitsune muttered to the man.

'My name is Hotohori. I am the emperor of Konan. You two seem to have been deposited in my front lawn." He explained. His hair was long and dark brown, accenting his golden eyes.

"Please don't hurt us," Joumei pouted.

"Hurt you? Why should I do such a wretched thing?' Hotohori laughed.

"You mean... you're not going to force us to stay here, in a world where we obviously don't belong?" Kitsune asked.

"Are you by any chance from the same world as Miaka?"

The girls nodded.

'No one is forcing her to stay here. I think there has been a confusion. No one here in Konan would force anyone to stay here against their own will." Hotohori kneeled. 'Are either of you injured?"

They shook their heads.

'Well then why don't we go inside for some tea, and I'll explain the current situation regarding Lady Miaka." He smiled, extending his palms as an offer for help standing.

Kitsune took it, and Joumei stood on her own. Together, they followed Hotohori over the horizon and inside the large ancient Chinese style palace.

'I apologize for Konan's current weather. We've been suffering from somewhat of a drout." He sighed and slid open the door to a nicely furnished living area. Tea and cups were already set out on the table.

Kitsune sat first, grateful for something to drink.

"I assure you that I am not of ill intent. Just here me out and if you still believe otherwise, you can hear it from Miaka when she returns tomorrow afternoon.' He smiled softly. 'Please sit down."

Joumei looked to Kitsune who nodded in approval.

'I am sorry for my rudeness, my name is Joumei Taitsku." She bowed politely and took a seat.

'And I am Kitsune Nao." Sune grinned.

'The pleasure is all mi9ne. Now, of Miaka..." Hotohori sat and took a long sip from his tea. 'Let me see... yes, I do suppose we should start from the beginning. Miaka appeared a good while ago, matching all of the characteristics of the priestess we had been so long searching for. The title of Priestess of Suzaku was bestowed upon her, along with the task of locating and uniting the seven guardian warriors of Suzaku. By the time she had gathered Nuriko, Tamahome, and myself, she fell ill with exhaustion. We implored her to return home to rest, so long as she promised to return to us. But when she reentered this world, the lady Yui was brought with her as well. Konan's warring enemy, Kuto, raised Yui as their own Priestess, of the dragon god Seiryu. Miaka, who had by this time, fallen very much in love with Tamahome, found the other four guardians, only to have the Scroll of Suzaku ruined in a very lengthy ceremony that entails an equally tiring story. Yui had also fallen in love with Tamahome, and believing that her hardships were of Miaka's doing, began to plot her downfall and loss of Tama-kins. author humor Currently, Lady Miaka is once again trying to right things with Yui, along with Tamahome, and Chichiri, in Kuto. Once again complicating the matter, Suzaku's divine power can only be summoned with the scroll, which will begin a new complication, probably involving you two as well, considering that without Taiiskun or Suzaku's aid, you are stuck here. Follow?"

Once again, the girls just nodded.

Kitsune seemed to be enjoying her tea as well as the emperor, who's gaze was quite fixed on her.

'Um, sire..." She sighed. "If you don't min me saying so, you are very beautiful."

Hotohori blushed. "Thank you,"

Kitsune turned to meet Joumei's mocking gaze, spurring a few childish giggles.

"The both of you are welcome to stay here as long as you desire. I believe you would find everything you need in the guest room, including many changes of clothes to accommodate weather, and your own personal preferences." He swept a few strand of hair from his face, making Kitsune flush red in her own.

"We have no where else to go." Joumei laughed, mentally comparing the beautiful palace to her suburban apartment.

'Are you two hungry?" Hotohori asked politely.

Joumei though for a moment before nodding along with Kitsune.

"Well dinner will be served in an hour, which will also be a wonderful opportunity for you to meet the rest of the Suzaku seven." He smiled again.

"Thank you," Kitsune smiled and stood.

She and Joumei crossed the hall to the large guestroom, finding two elegant dresses draped over the fittingly large canopy bed.

"I suppose they want us to wear these." Kitsune laughed.

"Yea."

The one that Joumei chose was black with gold detail and sleeveless. Long slits ran from where the hem dusted the floor, almost to her hip, and accented the Chinese style turtleneck.

Kitsune's was of opposite colors, and had long belled sleeves.

As Kitsune fixed her dusty hair, Joumei was over whelmed with confusion, and slipped out the door, just in time to be knocked to the ground.

"Hey!" she yelled in protest.

"Oh sorry."

The young man laughed and helped her up.

"Who're you? I haven't seen you around here before." The man's accent sounded somewhat strange but Joumei couldn't put her finger on it.

"I am a friend of Miaka's." He answered as she dusted herself off. "You?"

"My name is Tasuki." He bowed comically.