Keiko sat on a cushion with a steaming cup of tea in her hands. Across from her hovered Taiitsu-kun, Creator of the world.
"Do you understand what I've told you?" Taiitsu-kun asked Keiko.
Keiko didn't move for a moment and then she slowly nodded her head.
"I have to go to the palace in Eiyou and somehow get them to let me meet with a man named Chichiri. Right?"
The Creator nodded. Keiko set her tea down.
"How on earth am I going to convince them to let me into the palace. How am I going to get to the palace? I'm net even sure where I am."
"I've told you-"
"Yes, but it doesn't make sense. How can I be in a book? I have nothing to do with these mikos you've talked about. Unless you brought me here to be another miko."
"No," Taiitsu-kun said. "The mikos have all fulfilled their destinies and called the Beast Gods."
"Then why am I here? I don't understand."
Keiko knew she sounded like a whiny child, but she was scared. Things were happening fast and she felt alone and lost.
"You do not need to understand at this time," Taiitsu-kun said patiently. "I am asking you to do this on faith, with no knowledge of what is going to happen. I can say that I will send you to someone who can help you make your way around Konan and get into the palace."
Keiko picked up the tea again and let the aromatic steam drift up to her nose. It was jasmine, her favorite. She took a sip and felt calmer.
"Alright. I will go on faith. I trust you won't send me to my death and that you'll get me home eventually."
"You will be able to go home as soon as you have completed your task," the Creator said. "And you will not die."
Keiko nodded. "I guess I'm ready then."
The Creator nodded and clasped her hands in front of her. "It will be morning soon, so I will send you on your way now."
"Is there anything you can tell me that will help me?"
"Look for a man named Tasuki."
Keiko nodded. Taiitsu-kun began to chant and Keiko felt her body become light and airy. She closed her eyes as she felt the world spin around her and then there was a soft thump. When she opened her eyes again, Keiko found herself on a deserted mountain side. A wind picked up and breezed through her silk pajamas making her shiver.
"I should have asked for warmer clothing," Keiko said to herself.
She hugged her arms around her body to preserve warmth and looked around. In the distance, at the base of the mountain was a town. She decided that she would hike down and see if she couldn't get some idea of where this Tasuki character lived. Keiko hoped that Taiitsu-kun had been kind enough to put her down somewhere close to the man.
She started down the mountain. After only a few steps her feet were sore and she was shivering violently. Keiko gritted her teeth and kept going. The wind kept up its brisk pace and a few moment's later snow began to fall. Keiko stubbed her toes for the umpteenth time and sat down with a cry on the cold ground.
"Taiitsu-kun," she cried, "how am I supposed to find anyone when I'm freezing?"
She wished she'd kept her voice down, when a moment later she heard horses coming toward her.
"Over this way," a man's voice said. "I heard something."
"You're just jumpy Chen," another voice said. "Patrolling these days is such a bore."
"I am not jumpy, Li. I just wish we'd see some action again."
Two men on horseback came up over a rise and stopped when they spotted Keiko. She rose to her feet and started backing away.
"Well, what do we have here?" asked the big man with short black hair.
"Looks like we just found some entertainment," the thin man said.
"I'm looking for someone," Keiko said, still backing away.
"I'd say you found someone, wouldn't you?" the thin one said.
"Shall we take her back to the Stronghold, Chen?" the big man asked.
"Might as well."
The two men spurred their horses forward and Keiko turned and ran. She was now going up hill and knew that the men would catch her in no time, but she couldn't think of anything else to do. She had no way to defend herself. The sound of hoof beats drew closer and a strong arm went around Keiko's waist. She screamed.
"None of that now," the man who held her said.
"Let me go!" Keiko screamed.
A bag came down over her head and was synched at her waist, effectively blinding her and binding her arms. She gave another scream as she was laid on her stomach across a saddle.
"Hurry," one of the men said. "Her screaming might bring someone."
The horse under her lunged forward and Keiko felt herself falling off the horse. She cried out again and flailed her legs. A hand came down on her bottom and held her steady.
"Her clothing is strange, but it feels like silk."
"A rich man's daughter then?"
The hand on her rear stroked over the material and Keiko felt anger well up in her.
"Stop fondling me you jerk!" she yelled.
The men laughed, but the hand on her bottom moved up to her back and stayed there. Keiko's mind began to race. Her anger had jolted her out of her blind panic. The man who carried her seemed to have some kind of morals, or he wouldn't have moved his hand. Maybe she could reason with them. She gritted her teeth and tried to remember the name that Taiitsu-kun had given her. She thought it started with a 't' but she wasn't sure. The horse she was hanging over slowed and stopped.
"Open the gate," one of her captors called.
"Who's there?"
"It's Chen and Li. We found something we thought he Boss might want to see."
There was the sound of metal scraping against stone and the horses moved again. Their hooves clattered on stone and then stopped again. The man holding Keiko dismounted and then pulled her down, slinging her over his shoulder. Panic began to set in again. Oh, what was the name of that guy?
"Hey, Boss! Look what we found out on the mountain," Li yelled.
Chen, who was carrying Keiko began to walk.
Tasuki!
That was the name. Now if only he were near by.
"Tasuki!" Keiko yelled. "I need to find Tasuki. Help me please!"
The man carrying her stopped and set her on her feet. The bag was loosened and lifted over her head. She found herself looking into a pair of amber eyes framed by dark lashes.
"What do you want with Tasuki?"
"I need his help," Keiko said. There was no time to be subtle. "I need him to get me to the palace in Eiyou and get me in to see someone named Chichiri."
The men gathered around Keiko and the amber-eyed man murmured to themselves.
"S'up Genrou?" a blue-haired man with a scar on his cheek asked.
He moved to stand next to the golden-eyed man.
"This woman says she needs to see Tasuki. Have you seen him around?"
The blue-haired man shot Genrou a look and then shrugged. "He's been about, but I don't know if he's here now."
Genrou shot Keiko a cocky grin. "How 'bout you stick 'round for a bit an' tell me why you need to get to the palace."
Keiko's eyes stung with tears. She had hoped to find Tasuki quickly and get away from all these men who seemed to enjoy staring at her. She tried to quell the quiver in her voice, but didn't manage too well.
"Taiitsu-kun said that Tasuki would help me. If you'll be so kind as to let me have a room until Tasuki returns, then I'll wait for him. Otherwise I'll go to the village I saw at the bottom of the mountain and wait for him there."
"Oh for heaven's sake!" a woman's voice yelled. "Shun'u, stop pestering the poor girl."
The crowd parted before a small woman with auburn hair. She stopped in front of Genrou and glared up at him.
"Look at the poor dear. She's near tears."
Genrou looked at Keiko sheepishly.
The woman poked Genrou in the chest. "Apologize this instant!"
"Hai, Aiko-san."
Genrou moved closer to Keiko and offered a bow. "Gomen, ne. I'm Tasuki. I usually go by Genrou to keep the fangirls away."
Keiko blinked. "Fangirls?"
Aiko moved next to Tasuki. "He's a hero here abouts. He and his celestial brothers saved Konan with the Suzaku no Miko. Sometimes girls come here to pester him."
"Why do you need to go see Chichiri?" Tasuki asked.
"Not now Shun'u," Aiko said. "The poor girl needs some food and a hot bath. Tell your thugs they'd better behave while we have a lady guest with us."
"Hai, hai, Aiko-san," Tasuki said, with a roll of his eyes.
