The trip to the capitol was fairly uneventful. Tasuki kept the women entertained by regaling them with the antics of the Suzaku Seishi and their Miko. Keiko loved to hear about the way everyone had met and Tasuki's colorful descriptions of each of the seishi. She always felt a twinge of jealousy when Tasuki talked about Tamahome and Miaka though. She did her best to squash the green eyed monster, but it kept cropping up.

"Then Nuriko told me to exercise more delicacy and proceeded to send me flying into the nearest wall, which happened to be about 20 yards away."

Keiko laughed.

"Oh, my poor dear," Aiko said. "It's a wonder you ever survived."

Tasuki grinned showing fang. "I'm made of tougher stuff than that."

The two lovers stared into each other's eyes and drifted off into their own world. Keiko shifted in her saddle and looked at the scenery. The affection that the two showed for each other didn't bother her so badly after six days, but she still wanted to give them a semblance of privacy.

Keiko felt rather good about her self, actually. She'd never ridden before, and had assumed that she'd fall off the horse and be trampled. She'd actually had ridden behind Aiko for the first day and a half before trying it on her own. When she hadn't been thrown from her saddle by the time they made camp that night, she decided that maybe she could ride the rest of the way on her own.

"Oh, Tasuki!" Aiko suddenly exclaimed, drawing Keiko's attention.

They had stopped at the top of a hill that sloped down into the valley where the city of Eiyou, capitol of the Konan Empire, lay. The city was vast and stretched from the base of the hill to a glittering harbor at the far end of the valley.

"It's beautiful," Aiko breathed.

Tasuki reached out and clasped her hand. "I should have brought you here a long time ago."

The three companions sat for a moment, taking in the city from a distance before descending the hill and coming into the outskirts of the city. At first their passing was hardly noticed. They moved among the houses and shops with Tasuki steadily guiding them toward the center of the great city.

The smells rising from the food carts that seemed to be on every corner tantalized Keiko's nose and made her mouth water. Her eyes and ears were dazzled by the myriad street performers, from musicians to acrobats to animal handlers. She said a silent thank you to Taiitsu-kun for the chance to experience this wonderful world.

They turned a corner and found themselves on a broad avenue that lead to the gates of the Imperial Palace. Keiko noted that many people were staring at them and pointing. A young boy standing with a group of his friends suddenly called out.

"Tasuki-sama!"

Tasuki turned in his saddle and gave the boy a grin and a wave. Suddenly the crowd seemed to come alive. There were calls of greeting from all sides. People moved forward to try and get a look at the Suzaku warrior. Aiko moved closer to Keiko and put a hand on her arm.

"Don't worry. This happens all the time."

"I'm not worried about him," Keiko said. "I'm more worried about us getting lost."

A definite gap was forming between Tasuki and the two women as the throng surrounded the fire-haired man. Just when Keiko was afraid that they'd be cut off completely from Tasuki, a contingent of mounted men, all in red armor, surrounded Tasuki and began to push the crowd back. Tasuki turned and motioned to Aiko and Keiko and the two women moved into the circle of guards.

"Our honorary escorts," Tasuki said with a grin.

"The Empress Dowager has asked that we escort Suzaku Seishi Tasuki and his companions to the Imperial Palace," a husky guard said.

Tasuki gave the man a nod. "Lead the way captain."

The guards escorted them to the main gate of the imperial compound and through the massive red painted gate. They were met by the Imperial delegation consisting of the Empress Dowager, the young Emperor, and various courtiers. Tasuki slid from his saddle and walked briskly to where the delegation stood waiting.

"Houki-sama," he said with a bow.

The only warning he gave was a grin and then he had the Empress Dowager wrapped in a brotherly hug.

"Long time no see," he said.

He quickly moved to the young Emperor.

"Boushin, you've grown. You're, what, seventeen now?"

The young man grinned. "You know very well that I'm only fourteen Tasuki-san. You send me a present every year on my birthday."

Tasuki nodded thoughtfully and looked beyond Boushin to smirk at the couriers stood in shock.

"Yo! You guys look stuffy, as usual."

The courtiers traded shock for outrage, but Tasuki didn't seem to mind. He winked at Houki who was hiding a smile, and Boushin who was openly grinning. He walked to Aiko's horse and helped her to the ground, then did the same for Keiko. He grabbed Aiko's hand and dragged her over to Houki and Boushin.

"Your Highnesses, I'd like to introduce my wife, Aiko."

Aiko bowed a bit clumsily, and smiled at the royal pair.

"It is so good to see that you've found a wife, Tasuki-san," Houki said.

"'An this," he pointed to Keiko, "is Keiko. She's from the world that Miaka came from."

A gasp ran through the assembled courtiers. Keiko tried not to blush as she bowed. Houki smiled.

"It is a great honor to have you with us."

"How's Miaka doing?" Boushin blurted. "Have you seen her and Taka?"

"I'm sorry Your Majesty," Keiko said. "My world is a large place and I'm afraid I've never met Miaka."

The Emperor looked a little crestfallen. "I understand."

"I have room ready for you," Houki said. "When you've bathed and refreshed yourselves, we can talk together."

A servant moved to stand next to Keiko and bowed.

"Please follow me Keiko-sama," the girl said.

Keiko blushed to her roots. She'd never been called -sama before. She followed the girl into the palace and through a maze of corridors. The girl showed her to the bath, where Keiko hurried to clean herself. The girl stayed and helped Keiko into a formal dress and coiffed her hair. Then the girl led her to a small chamber where Houki and Boushin were waiting.

"You're the first one here," Houki said.

"I guess I did hurry a bit," Keiko admitted.

Houki smiled. "It's alright. Please have a seat. Would you care for tea?"

Keiko nodded as she took a seat at the table where the Empress Dowager and Emperor were sitting.

"Shall we wait for Tasuki and Aiko, or would you like to tell us your story now?" Houki asked as she passed Keiko a cup of tea.

"I've already told the others, so I guess I can tell you now. I'm here to see a man named Chichiri. I met Taiitsu-kun and she said I had something I needed to give him."

"So there is no immanent danger to my country?" Boushin asked.

"Not that I'm aware of, Your Highness."

"That's a relief," Houki said with a smile.

Tasuki and Aiko came in then. The bandit leader was resplendent in a deep green tunic with white pants. His tessen was holstered over his shoulder. Aiko was wearing a gown of complimentary colors and her hair was pulled up into two buns on the sides of her head. Tasuki eyed Keiko's dress of pale pink and white and nodded.

"That suits you better than the other clothes did."

Aiko beamed up at her husband. "And I didn't have to prod you to give her a compliment."

"I'm not totally dumb, woman," he said with an affectionate smile.

Tasuki and Aiko took their seats and Houki passed them each a cup of tea.

"Keiko-san tells me that she's here to see Chichiri," Houki said.

Tasuki nodded. The Empress sighed.

"I have some bad news. Chichiri is ill."