FINALLY! It's chapter 15! And they're FINALLY in the book! (throws a party) YAY!

Reader's response:

Mint Drop: Yeah, I was actually planning that, and it's for sure now since you want it. Yep; you guessed right. You get to have some Seer (Sugar and Beer mixed together…don't ask…me…ask Shizuka; I was too hyper to even remember how that happened…)

SAGA123: Glad you like it…hope you're at this chapter by now.

Chichiri's Wanderer: (looks worried) O…kay…(gives Wanderer a bunch of plushies) have fun. Yep; basketball!

Yusagi: It was Hilary Duff. Yep; pretty damn convenient, but whatever, it's a story. It's always convenient when the author wishes it to be so…but if not…(cackles evilly)

Mtgranola: Wow; fifteen minutes? Yep; it's a tas-fish-icle. That works, right? Of course not; but I get in enough trouble at school all on my own already, so it doesn't really matter. YES! School's finally out for me…well, actually, it's been out for a week, but…y'know…took a long time for me to update…LOL; you did…I'm saying the same thing as you…and I say…let the challenge begin, Fate! Mhahaha!

Xo Kurai oX: Yep; Sai's the special one with the father that owns the gun shop, but that's not her real dad, of course, if you remember. She doesn't know her real dad yet, but it's vital to the story…if you wanna find out…(looks around furtively) you can email me and I might tell you.

Aderine no miko: Okay; they don't go. It WOULD complicate matters; I can always torture them later…(laughs evilly) and I hate Miaka so, yeah…

Saturnsaturn: Glad you liked it. And…one day, I'll get good at drawing and I'll draw a picture of it:) wouldn't you like that? Or I'll get my friend who's much better at drawing than I am to draw it for me…and sorry; but they won't be going into the book…maybe later….it'll complicate things too much if they do…

Chapter 15! ENJOY!


They were in a pile when all of them finally opened their eyes again. There were shouts and arguments as they struggled to get free.

"Get OFF my back!" Yukari shouted.

"YOU get off MY back!" Sai countered.

"EVERYONE GET OFF ME!" Tasuki shouted from the very bottom.

"Get your elbow out of my face, Nuriko!" Suboshi protested through gritted teeth.

"I will once Tokaki gets off my shoulders" Nuriko said.

Before anyone else could say anything, they heard a loud SMACK. They sweatdropped and turned to Subaru who had just slapped Tokaki. Apparently, Tokaki had taken the opportunity to be a pervert. Wife or not, Subaru was extremely pissed and had left a bright red hand print on his face.

"Ow…sorry"

"Okay, this is dumb!" Nuriko shouted, jumping up and launching anyone who was on him into the air, leaving them to fall on the ground, painfully. Meanwhile, Hikitsu had escaped this pile long ago and was watching with amusement at their antics. Next to him was Chichiri who had smartly teleported himself out of the pile.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Tokaki asked.

"'Cause you were so busy being perverted" his wife snapped.

"Good point" Tokaki said.

"You actually agreed?" Hikitsu raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, does anybody know where the hell we are?" Sai asked.

"Yeah; where are we?" Yukari added.

"I think we're in Kutou" Amiboshi and Suboshi said at once, looking around, "Yep"

"How can you tell?" Sai asked.

"Well, if Tatara was here, he'd say that the plants in each country are different and stuff" Tokaki offered.

"That's true, but well, it's hard not to figure it out when that temple over there is blue" Amiboshi said, pointing into the distance where they saw a small temple with a blue roof.

"Oh yeah…there's that too" Tokaki said.

Tasuki rolled his eyes, "Y'know…I really don't want to be in this country. We'll attract attention…"

"I'm wondering, no da…" Chichiri said.

"Wondering what?"

"If we're all in our own, young and alive, bodies, doesn't it mean that all the other seishi received the same fate also no da?"

"Hey…yeah…"

"So wouldn't that mean that Nakago is alive?"

"Yeah…" the twins immediately began to send furtive glances around, looking for that familiar head of blonde hair.

"We may as well continue on and find out where we are in Kutou and head off to…wherever"

"Let's try that village near the temple" Yukari suggested, squinting into the distance.

So they did. After a twenty minute walk and being delayed by Tokaki being annoying and teleporting everywhere. Of course, none of the forest creatures appreciated being scared out of their wits by a silver haired boy popping up out of nowhere. That was where the rabid squirrels came in…

"I hope you learned your lesson" Subaru said, standing over her husband, right eye twitching with annoyance. One of the rabid squirrels suddenly made a squirrel noise, as if agreeing with Subaru. Sai blinked, "Y'know…this really shouldn't be possible, but…"

"I think that squirrel just agreed with you Subaru" Hikitsu said, laughter hidden in his voice.

"Shut up you two" Tokaki grumbled.

They finally got to the village and were greeted with stares. No wonder, though; they were dressed in their modern world clothes and it was definitely stranger than anything these villagers had ever seen.

"I think we need to get some clothes" Nuriko suggested, "We're attracting way too much attention"

After a few moments, they located the clothing store and went in, startling the owner very much with how many people walked into her store at once. Then was started the next commotion. Thankfully, this time, it wasn't caused by Tokaki or Subaru would literally have killed him. No, it was caused by Sai, Yukari and somewhat, Tasuki.

Tasuki refused to wear the 'normal' men's clothing that the store had to provide, insisting that bandits do not wear those kinds of clothes. That was when Chichiri lost his temper and hit him over the head with Sai's CD player.

The other commotion caused by Sai and Yukari were that they refused to wear the women's clothing. Their argument was that they could barely move in them, much less walk around the four countries, which was a valid point, and the other thing was that both of them refused to wear dresses.

"C'mon you two…" Amiboshi tried to reason with them, "You can't go around wearing tank tops and shorts like that; you may have brought your own clothes with you, but you'll attract attention"

"So?"

"We don't want to attract attention"

"So?"

"Please?" he began to plead. Soon, Nuriko stepped in and 'convinced' them to get the dresses on. Fortunately for them, the shopkeeper had a few dresses that were not as frilly as the others she had. Yukari got one that was blue and white with gold trimming. Sai got one in her favorite colors: black and red. Subaru had some money with her that had been with her before she had arrived in the other world and paid. The two girls were sulking as they left the shop, still complaining that they could barely move. Finally, Nuriko sighed and took out a dagger, making a slit up both sides of their legs so that they could move freely.

"Thanks!" they chorused like little girls who had gotten their way. So, modern world clothes put away and blending in, they went around and asked questions about recent happenings. What they found out was not very reassuring.

"The countries are in chaos" a farmer told them, "Kutou is attacking Konan because the Emperor heard rumors that Konan was attacking Kutou and apparently, Sairo and Hokkan are all against each other also. No one is an ally in this war"

"Konan is attacking Kutou?" Chichiri asked. It didn't sound right. If their theory about the dead seishi given bodies again was correct, then Hotohori would be on the throne, and he wouldn't attack any country, given the choice. Even if it wasn't Hotohori, it would have been Houki or Boushin and neither would do that.

"It's just a rumor; but nevertheless, Kutou is attacking Konan" the farmer said.

"I see…thank you, sir" they walked off and looked at one another. Chichiri brought up the fact that Hotohori would never attack Kutou and the Byakko and Genbu seishi also added that Sairo and Hokkan had never had a major disagreement that would even come close to resulting in war.

"What I think we need to do…" Hikitsu said, "…is split up now. I know it's not a good idea" he said, recognizing the looks on everyone's faces, "But I think it's best. The Seiryuu seishi go to the capital and question this; you're seishi after all, you'll be let in. I will do the same in Hokkan, the Byakko seishi go to Sairo and the Suzaku seishi will go to Konan; we'll get more things covered this way"

"Good idea no da" Chichiri nodded, agreeing, "And we'll attract less attention this way as we travel" he took out many small mirrors, one for each of them, and as he muttered a spell, the mirrors glowed red, "Use these to communicate. Just say the name of the person you wish to talk to. We'll decide where to meet up later. Keep in touch"

"Wait a minute!" Yukari interrupted them, "Where are Sai and I going then?"

"Yukari; you come with us no da" Chichiri said. He knew this was the best choice; after all, they were the group with the most seishi and Yukari, as far as he knew, was just some unlucky daughter of the enemy, while Sai, well, the gods had to have brought them into her apartment for a reason. Yukari would be better protected that way.

"How 'bout me?" Sai asked, arms crossed.

Hikitsu considered this question. It was a tough one; he knew that Chichiri knew that Sai could be important, but the question was who to put her with. Finally, he came up with a decision, "The twins; Kutou has always been the more unstable country and they might need help later on, while Subaru and Tokaki, and I, will probably have nothing to disrupt our journey except minor things"

"Good choice, no da" Chichiri said, nodding, "Okay; it's all decided. Remember to use your mirrors" he said, as a way of parting.

There was a "Not so fast!" that made them all turn around. Tasuki gave a horrified shout when he saw Taiitsu-kun's face appear in front of him, "Boo" she said. He gave another scream.

"What're you doing here, Taiitsu-kun?" Hikitsu asked.

"I listened to your conversation and you know…you can't just send these two girls off with no protection" she pointed to Sai and Yukari and turned to the seishi, "You may be able to protect yourselves but these two…"

"Hey; are you calling me weak?" Yukari protested.

"Shut up" Taiitsu-kun snapped and snapped her fingers. A sword appeared in front of Yukari, its blade sharp and very deadly looking. Yukari grabbed it, staring at it. In front of Sai was what she recognized from history classes as a pirate's cutlass. She grabbed it, admiring the intricate design that made the cutlass unique and different from a regular sword.

"There; that is all. I wish you luck" and with that, she disappeared.

"Hey wait! No explanation or anything?" Tasuki grumbled, "Damn; that old hag usually never shuts up…"

"Well, see you all soon" Subaru said as she and Tokaki went off. Hikitsu took off also without a word and only giving a wave of his hand as a farewell. The other two groups bid each other goodbye and then they separated into opposite directions.