"What's the big deal?" Aya asked annoyed. "So what if there are four of us?"
"Then you truly do not know?" Houki asked in a breathy tone. Both girls shook their heads. "Then I shall tell you. Here in this world, there are four empires. The first is Konan. We're to the south. The second is Kutou. They're to the east. They are our sworn enemies, but not much is over there now. It was all ravaged after the war; they could never agree on a leader, and civil war broke out. The third kingdom is Hokkan. They're to the north. The final kingdom in this area is Sairou. They're to the west. Now all four of these kingdoms are protected by their own gods."
"Really?" Aya asked interested despite herself. "That's awesome."
Houki nodded. "Yes. Our personal god is Suzaku. He takes the form of the phoenix. Kutou's god is Seiryu. He's a blue dragon. Sairou's god is Byakko. He's a white tiger. Then, there is Hokkan. They are ruled by the god Genbu who takes the form of a brown turtle intertwined with a snake. Each of the four gods has a personal priestess. The priestess is supposed to come from another world. Only the priestess can summon the god. When the god is summoned, three wishes are granted. Usually, at least one of the wishes is for peace for the country or something like that."
"Four gods and four of us," Rika breathed.
"Yes," Houki nodded again. "But we've already had all four priestesses come. I can't imagine what you four are for."
Aya was struck with a thought. "You don't think the whole thing has been reset, do you?!" she looked quite horrified by the thought.
"Reset?" Rika thought for a moment. "It is possible that since all four priestesses have come, the entire thing would happen again."
"Oh, no, no, no!" Houki shook her head violently. "It's not possible! There was no such thing written to us in the Book of the Four Gods!"
"The Book of the Four Gods?!" Rika and Aya both cried out.
Houki looked surprised. "It was our sacred scroll. That was how we were to summon our god. We would gather all seven of the sacred seishi and toss the scroll into the ceremonial fire. Then Suzaku would come down to his priestess and grant her three wishes."
"Seven seishi?!" Again, the girls cried out.
"The seven stars of Suzaku!" Rika gasped.
"They are often called the celestial warriors," Houki agreed. "They are the blessed seishi of Suzaku, meant to protect the priestess while she is here on this earth."
"So what does all this mean?!" Aya growled in exasperation. "What the hell is happening?!"
Houki shrugged. "I'm not sure."
Aya looked to Rika who sighed, "Well, don't look at me! How am I supposed to know?!"
Houki smiled slightly. "Well, it's obvious anyway that you're not spies. I cannot begin to apologize for this gross misunderstanding. You must stay the night with me here in the palace."
"Your Majesty!" one of the guards along the wall spoke without thinking. "You cannot!"
Houki changed suddenly from an excited teenage girl to an indifferent queen. "And why can I not? These girls are obviously no threat to our kingdom or me. In fact, I believe them to be priestesses. If that is not reason enough, then there will never be reason."
The guard flushed brightly beneath his helm and returned to his place. "Yes, Majesty."
Houki nodded firmly. "There. That's decided then. Now can I show you to your rooms?"
"No," Aya stated with a grin. "Not until I see that adorable baby!" While Aya was normally tough and unfeeling, she had a soft spot for any young thing, human or otherwise. Babies were really the only people she felt comfortable with. She'd much rather be outside in nature and far away from everybody.
Houki grinned back at her, "Of course!" She slowly traipsed down the steps until she was standing next to Rika and Aya. "Here, Boshin. Meet..." she paused embarrassed. "I'm terribly sorry. You never gave me you names."
"I'm Aya," Aya leaned forward and tickled the baby's cheek. The baby reached out for her; and with a smile, Houki surrendered the baby to Aya.
"And I'm Rika," Rika also craned forward to get a better look. "He's adorable!"
"Thank you," Houki beamed. "He looks just like his father."
"Really?" Aya asked absently. She was too busy playing with young Boshin to pay too much attention.
"Uh-huh. Hotohori was so brave and kind and definitely handsome," Houki's eyes filled with unexpected tears. "I had him for so short a time, but I miss him so."
"How long were you two married?" Rika asked gently.
"Not very long at all."
"How old is Boshin?" Aya asked distractedly.
"Almost two," Houki answered. "Hotohori would be twenty now."
"How old are you?" Aya asked.
"I'm nineteen."
"Married at our age!" Rika exclaimed. "Imagine! I couldn't marry anyone right now!"
"So what happened to him?" Aya blurted. "If it isn't too painful, of course," she added quickly.
Houki shook her head softly. "No, it's fine. My husband was one of the seven warriors of Suzaku. That's why everyone called him Hotohori. That was his celestial name. As you know," she smiled at Rika, "his real name was Saihitei. At that time, we were at the brink of war with Kutou. That's why it was so important that we summon the seven Suzaku seishi. Both Konan's and Kutou's priestesses had come at the same time. They were best friends in their world as it turned out. So Kutou invaded us, hoping their priestess would summon Seiryu to give them victory. We hoped to summon Suzaku to give us peace. In the end, there was all out war between not only the Suzaku and Seiryu seishi but Konan and Kutou as well. In the final battle, Hotohori challenged the leader of the Seiryu seishi Nakago to battle. He was killed."
"How horrible!" Aya cried out. "Nakago still lives then?"
"Oh, no!" Houki laughed. "Nakago was killed by Tamahome, our seishi's leader. We ended up killing all of the Suzaku seishi to my knowledge. There are none left now."
"Where are the rest of the Suzaku seishi then?" Rika asked looking around. "I'd like to meet them."
Houki looked saddened. "There were only three left in the end. Nuriko, Chiriko, Hotohori, and Mitsukake all died. Only Tamahome, Tasuki, and Chichiri are left now."
"Where are they?" Aya questioned.
"Let me see," Houki put a finger to her chin in thought. "Tasuki, I believe, went back to his band of bandits at the base of Mt. Reikaku."
"He's a bandit?!" Rika gaped.
Houki laughed. "Well, kind of. He only robs the dishonest merchants. Or at least his band does. Chichiri is wandering around out there somewhere. He's always been kind of a loner. Tamahome has been hiring himself out to different villages as their protector. So none of them are here right now. I really couldn't tell you where any of them are!" Houki giggled. "Tasuki's hideout is super secret. Not even the villagers that live at the base of that mountain can tell you where it is!"
Rika looked a little crestfallen. "Well, that's disappointing. I really wanted to meet them..."
"Well, I could tell you a little bit about them," Houki suggested.
"Would you?!" Rika perked up.
"Not here though," Houki stated firmly. "It's much too tiring standing here like this. I'll show you to your rooms, and we can talk in there."
"Agreed!" Aya sighed happily. As cute as little Boshin might be, he was a heavy two year old. It would be much easier on her arms to play with him sitting down.
They followed Houki down another hallway. This one was not quite as wide as the last. It was also open to the courtyard. Finally, towards the end, she paused. "This," she threw open the screen, "Will be yours, Rika."
Rika's room was truly luxurious even by modern day standards. There was a huge four post bed with gauze hanging from the top to provide a bit more privacy. There was the ancient version of a vanity and a metal tub that served for taking baths. "Wow," Rika breathed. This is really fancy!"
"Thank you," Houki grinned. "This is where the Suzaku seishi slept. This one was Tasuki's room, I believe."
"Oh, I don't want to take his room!" Rika protested.
"Don't be silly!" Houki admonished. "He hasn't come back once to reclaim his room, so I doubt he's going to now that you're here."
"All right!" Rika beamed. "This is going to be really fun! Let's see what your room is like, Aya!"
"Sure," Aya smiled. They went to the next room down and opened the door. Aya's room was an exact copy of Rika's.
"This was Tamahome's room," Houki informed them.
Aya pushed back the gauze and sank down on the bed. She laid Boshin down on a soft pillow. He cooed at her one more time and fell fast asleep.
"It's his naptime," Houki apologized.
Rika sat next to Aya, while Houki took a chair. "Come on, Houki!" Rika grinned. "Now that we're all comfortable, don't you think you should tell us about the seishi?"
Houki laughed out loud, "Well, aren't you the impatient one?!"
Rika laughed with her. "No, I'm just really anxious to hear about them. They seem so interesting!"
"This whole experience is 'interesting'!" Aya said dryly.
"Well..." Houki made as if she weren't sure.
"Houki!" Both of the girls protested. Though Aya could pretend she didn't care, she was just as interested as Rika.
