Youko bit her lip. It had been three weeks since the last storm. Hankyo had located several people that had ended up on the shores of Japan. They were currently in hospitals and a few in psychiatric facilities. They too could not speak the language of Japan any more than a kikyaku could speak the language over there. The fact that no one could understand them, then were institutionalized.

"They must be terrified," She muttered to herself, "Hankyo."

"Yes?"

"Can Keiki make multiple trips to gather our worlds citizens together?"

"That would be unwise," Hankyo replied, "thought he could do it."

"Mmmm," Youko thought some more, "maybe if I could somehow get everyone in one place?"

"Youko!" Her mother called from the bottom of the stairs.

"Coming!" She called and got up, "Hankyo, tell Keiki that everything will be alright. He's probably worried, and rightly so, but worrying is not going to help matters."

"I will relay the message."

Youko stepped out of the room to see her mother coming up the stairs. Her mother was smiling. Being home was still strange. She was still required to wear a skirt, but they both had stopped bugging her about her hair.

"Youko, the school called and wanted to know if you had completed the make up work for this semester."

"Yes, I just finished it right now," Youko smiled back, "It took a long time, but I'm finally all caught up."

"Good," she sighed, "You let them know tomorrow at school, all right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Youko entered her room again and shut the door. She waited for her mother to walk away before walking back to her desk.

()

Suzu practically danced on her tiptoes, "Can I really?"

"It is for the best," Sighed Keiki, "The queen needs aid."

"But is it alright for me to go too?"

"I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you!"

"I don't think a lot of us should be going…"

"It will only be us two, so it should be fine," Suzu beamed, "I get to go home!"

()

Youko and Yuka were eating lunch together one afternoon. They sat in the courtyard and didn't mind if people stared as they walked by.

"Wow," Yuka shook her head as Youko finished telling her about Wa province and the rebellion there, "that must've been terrible."

"It was, but many good things came of it."

"Youko."

"Yes?"

"Do you want to go back?"

Youko smiled and nodded, "Its nice to see my parents again, but I miss it. I'm terrified that while I'm gone I'll be usurped again. Or something has happened and I'm not there to deal with it. What if part of the coast fell into the sea? What if there's a civil war? What if-"

"Calm down!" Yuka waved her hands, "I'm sorry, but you're here and that's all there is to it. You asked Keiki to come get you, so why hasn't he?"

"I didn't ask keiki to come get me. There's something wrong and I'm not sure I can figure that out while on the throne."

Yuka nodded and finished her food, "So why do you think your coast is being attacked by these storms? They said the other half of the kingdoms were just fine, right?"

"Yeah, just our coast. But En has been prosperous for over 500 years and I've just started. I don't think I've done anything wrong…have i? I mean, Kou doesn't have a ruler yet, but its unheard of for calamity from one kingdom to effect another…so I've been told."

"So what are we going to do?"

Youko thought for a moment then then shrugged. Laughing she said, "try and be friends with Takasato until his servants get tired of us and kill us?"

Yuka didn't laugh which sobered Youko up fast.

"What are you two talking about?"

Turning they found three of their class mates standing there. For how long, they had no idea.

"Its none of your concern," Youko said, guarded.

"I'm sure we heard you mention someone killing someone else!"

"Yeah, then you laughed like a lunatic."

"It's a story," Yuka said, standing up, "we were discussing a story we both read."

"Right, because that makes sense," the girl in the middle said, almost kindly, "no one would possibly believe you were actually plotting to kill someone, except that you already have-"

"That is enough!"

Youko was now on her feet. Her eyes blazed as her full authority bore down on the other girls.

"Do not speak about what you do not understand!"

"Wha- What are you yelling for?"

"I'm trying to get it through your thick skulls that we never killed anybody!" Youko snapped, "now just leave us alone!"

They ran off and Youko sat back down with a huff. Yuka laughed.

"Oh so now you find something funny."

()

Youko closed her eyes.

"Are you listening to what we are saying Nakajima?"

Opening them, Youko bit back a sigh, "I did not threaten anyone, Sir."

"Three of your classmates say you yelled at them and threatened to injure them, that is a serious accusation."

"Yes, it is," Youko agreed, "but it is baseless and Sugimoto can tell you that was not what happened at all. She was there too."

The teacher sat at his desk as he looked over at her. It was the same teacher that had gotten injured the day she had met Keiki. Seems he still held a bit of a grudge.

"Well, just be careful about how you phrase your words from now on. Next time I'll be calling your parents. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir."

As Youko left the classroom she turned, spotting Takasato down the hall. She called out to him while running to catch up.

"What now," He sighed.

"I wanted to ask you if you would like to hang out with me and Sugimoto later today? We're going to go for a walk down by the sea wall."

"Why?"

"Because we like your company?"

"No, why do you keep bothering me?"

Youko stopped walking and so did he. She wanted to just spill everything, but knew how crazy it would sound.

"Do you miss being spirited away?"

Takasato blinked in surprise, "what?"

"Do you miss it?"

He didn't answer. Instead he gave her a weird look before turning and walking away.

She followed.

"Stop following me."

"I'm sorry, but I can't until you give me an answer…at least to my first question."

"What first question?"

"Do you want to go out with Sugimoto and I?"

"No, I don't!"

Youko stopped and let Takasato walk away from her.

()

Yuka was waiting for her by the entrance.

"How bad?"

"Said he'd call my parents next time."

"Those girls…do they bother you when I'm not around?"

"Not really," Youko smiled. She knew Yuka was bullied and used to it, and she appreciated the sentiment.

They walked in silence until they reached Youkos house. There, in front, was a boy with his hair hidden by a head wrap. He had his head down, but Youko recognized him immediately.

"Enki!"

She ran up to him, Yuka close behind. When she reached him she gave a bow and Enki practically glared at her.

"You know, I'm not your kirin, I don't have to answer to you."

"I am sorry."

"Why couldn't you call on Keiki?"

Youko smiled, "because I think you will enjoy the news I have. I think we've found Taiki."

His scowl disappeared instantly, "Really?"

Yuka nodded, "He goes to our school. He was gone for a year before coming back, but he doesn't remember anything."

Enki scowled again, "amnesia?"

"Something bad must've happened," Youko sighed, "you said there was a civil war, right? Well, take a look at this guy, and see if it really is Taiki. I'm sure he'll talk to you. You can probably get through to him a lot easier than we can."

"How so?"

"His youma protect him," Yuka said, "people have actually died around him."

"That's concerning," Enki nodded, "introduce me to him."

"Now?"

"Why not?"

"I don't know where he lives…" Youko looked over at Yuka.

"Yeah…if I show my face there again it's going to get really messy," she said, "I can give you the address, but be warned. It won't turn out very well, no matter what."

"Then maybe its best to not go today," Youko said, "I upset him earlier when I asked him to join us for a walk."

"Why would that upset him?" Enkis scowl was back, "He loves walks."

"He probably doesn't even remember that," Yuka muttered, and Youko gave her a look.

"The fact is I upset him today, so we should wait a while. There's one other thing I would like to ask you, Enki, if I may?"

"Sure thing."

"…how is Keiki?"

Enki raised an eyebrow, "how do you mean?"

Youko looked sick just asking, "is he…sick?"

Enki laughed, "Of course not! You've done nothing wrong, Youko, neither has my mater. You both are fine. These are just freak occurrences. They'll go away soon enough."

Youko shook her head, "I don't know about that. The heavens are upset about something and we're all suffering for it until we can figure out what."

"Or, this is a fluke and all we have to do is damage control,"

"And how are we going to do that?" Yuka asked, breaking into the conversation, "Its not like we have magic over here…or any authority for that matter."

"Yeah," Enki said, rather smugly, "how do you plan on doing all that from here instead of back home?"

Youko look back and forth between her two friends, "I'm working on it!"