"You're in the Republic of Hanshin, which is a very nice country, if I do say so myself. It's surrounded by sea, and sometimes we get typhoons, but not earthquakes. We have nice relationships with foreign countries, and the economy is awesome!" Sorata's puppet boasted as it explained the country's information through colorful posters. "We have four seasons. Right now, it's autumn, so the rice is good. Mostly, we use flour for food, along with sauce. For our laws, we have the Constitution of Hanshin. There are no wars. For transportation: cars, bicycles, motorcycles, ships, trains, airplanes, and maybe a baby carriage also? Honey?" The Sorata puppet hinted to the Arashi puppet, who remained silent. "The island looks like a tiger, so many call us the country of the tiger. So, Hanshin has a lot of tiger stuff. Our currency is the 'koko,' like one koko or one hundred thousand koko. By the way, our national flag also has a tiger mark, and so does our baseball team. They have some great prospects this year; we've got some of the best players in the world!"
"May I ask a question?" Fai raised her hand.
"Yes, Fai-chan?" Sorata used his puppet to point at the blonde.
"Does everybody in this country have an accent like you, Sorata-san?" Fai asked, Mokona perched on her shoulder.
"Aw, don't be so formal. You can call me Sora-chan," the man grinned. "The way I speak is unique, though. It's an older version of our language."
Xiaolian perked up, eyes gaining a curious and excited glimmer to them. "It was used in the old days?" she asked.
"Yeah, but nobody uses it nowadays. But I, as a history teacher, want to keep traditions." Sorata explained patiently.
Xiaolian was practically brimming with a thousand unanswered questions. "You're a history teacher?" she prompted. Mokona plopped from Fai's shoulder onto her head, but she didn't mind.
"Ah! Xiaolian-chan, you have an interest in history?" Sorata asked in excitement.
"Yes, before leaving my country, I participated in archeological digs." Xiaolian explained.
"Then, I'd say we have something in common." Sorata said happily.
"One more question," Fai raised her hand with a smile, and Mokona mirrored her. "Uh, where are we and whose room is this?" she asked.
"Good question!" Sorata laughed. "This is an available room in a hotel run by honey and I," he said lovingly as he patted Arashi's shoulders. "Ain't it great? A beautiful manager who's also a great cook!" He said before suddenly pointing at Kurogane, who'd been dozing by the wall. "Pay attention!" he ordered.
Kurogane jolted forward from an invisible force. Xiaolian immediately covered Saku's body with her own and Kurogane jumped up.
"What? I didn't sense anything!" Kurogane looked around for the source of the blow. "Did you throw something?" she demanded Sorata.
"If he did, the angle of shock would be different. It was from the top," Fai pointed out.
"What? I just used kudan." Sorata said, surprised that the travelers didn't realize.
"Kudan?" Fai, Kurogane, and Xiaolian all questioned at once.
"Oh, yeah!" Sorata exclaimed. "You ladies are from a different dimension, so you don't know about it." He wrote the word down on his board. "Everything in this world is haunted by a kudan. This is how you write it."
"Oh, I see." Kurogane said, understanding right away.
Fai laughed. "I can't read it."
"Mokona can read it!" Mokona giggled.
"My country doesn't use those symbols," Fai patted Mokona's head.
"Can you read it, Xiaolian?" Mokona asked.
"Yes, I can," Xiaolian confirmed.
"Kuro-chan's and Xiaolian-chan's countries use kanji, but not Fai-chan's, but the spoken language is the same." Sorata noted.
"What is a kudan? You said it 'haunts?'" Kurogane questioned. She was ticked at the nickname, but her curiosity tamped annoyance down for the moment.
"Even if you are from another dimension, you will still have a kudan." Arashi explained, getting the three's attention. She sat next to Saku's bed, turning to Xiaolian. "Do you mind if I call him Saku-san?" she asked the girl.
"That's fine," Xiaolian nodded.
"You don't know where the fragments of Saku-san's memories could be. In that case, they could get into anybody's hands. You don't know if conflicts could arise from this," Arashi pointed out and Xiaolian gasped. She hadn't considered that. "Before arriving here, you lost your powers to fight, correct?" Arashi questioned.
"How did you know?" Fai asked, smiling pleasantly while Kurogane stared at Arashi in suspicion. Both were wary, but Kurogane just wore hers more openly.
"She used to be a priestess, so she has a sixth sense." Sorata explained, and Xiaolian looked at Arashi in a new light. Maybe she had the same powers that Yukiko did. "But she retired because she married me." He smirked. "She looked so beautiful when she was a priestess~" he sighed and Arashi ignored him.
"I gave the Space-Time Witch my powers," Fai admitted sheepishly.
Kurogane looked away, growling. "That bitch took my sword!"
Arashi stared at Xiaolian, who answered the unspoken question.
"I didn't hand over any powers to her. I don't have any magical powers or weapons to begin with," Xiaolian explained.
"Maybe you're lucky," Arashi smiled kindly at Xiaolian.
"Eh?" the girl tilted her head.
"A kudan can be of help in times of trouble." Arashi explained.
"Kudans are used for battles?" Xiaolian asked in surprise.
"What a kudan is, and how to use one, that's something you have to see for yourself." Sorata smiled knowingly at them. "Now, I've pretty much explained everything to know about the Hanshin Republic."
"Did you really?" Kurogane was skeptical.
"So, is Saku-kun's feather in this country?" Sorata asked Mokona, who was cupped in Xiaolian's palms.
Mokona had to close its eyes and attempt to feel for the feather. "…yes," the creature answered. "It's far away, but it's here."
"Let's look for the feather." Sorata nodded, smiling determinedly.
"Please," Xiaolian nodded seriously.
Sorata looked up at Fai and Kurogane from where he was knelt next to Xiaolian. "Will you ladies join?" he asked.
"For now," Fai assented with a smile.
"If I said that I wanted to leave, would the white thing do it?" Kurogane grumped.
"Nope. Mokona will stay in this country until the feather is found." Mokona answered immediately, looking resolute.
Kurogane didn't say anything further, grumpily turning her head, but they knew that they had her participation.
Xiaolian smiled at Mokona, flushed with gratitude. "Thank you, Mokona." She said.
"Okay, I'll take care of you ladies until you depart." Sorata decided as he rose and walked over to Arashi, taking her by the hand and causing the normally cool woman to blush faintly. "We are in Yuuko-san's debt. Therefore, since you're in our hotel, you can stay here until you go to another world." He assured the group.
"Thank you very much," Xiaolian said gratefully.
"It's already after midnight. Let's sleep. I'll show you the rooms. Fai-chan and Kurogane, you don't mind sharing, do you?" Sorata tacked on at the end.
"Not at all~" Fai grinned, Mokona on her shoulder.
"What?" Kurogane exclaimed hotly.
Arashi smiled at Xiaolian. "You can use this room," she offered.
"Thank you," Xiaolian nodded.
"What about Saku-san?" Arashi asked.
"I want to stay by his side," Xiaolian requested.
"Very well, but you must at least get some sleep for yourself. You have no idea what could await you in this country, so get some rest." Arashi advised.
Sorata turned, looking utterly dependable. "Honey and I will protect you here, so relax and get some sleep." He suggested.
Mokona hopped off over to Xiaolian. "Mokona will sleep with Xiaolian~"
"…okay." Xiaolian accepted, flushing a little.
Xiaolian found herself standing in a vast expanse of stars and blackness that seemed to have no end; she wouldn't even have been able to tell she was on a floor save for the reflection of herself.
Where is this place? she wondered. Not even a moment later, she sensed a presence forming nearby. What's coming? She squinted before a roaring ball of fire appeared in front of her. Flames? she thought in confusion.
The flames formed a large fiery wolf that had a long horn protruding from its head.
I am the master of those who govern fire, Xiaolian heard it speak inside her head. I was waiting for a suitable subject for a very long time. Do you desire power? it asked.
I do. Xiaolian thought.
You may take me if you wish for power, but what will you do with it, girl? The wolf asked.
Xiaolian shut her eyes, conveying as much sincerity as she could. I want to protect someone precious, she answered.
The wolf approached her, and before she knew it, its claws were ripping through her chest. It didn't hurt, surprisingly, but only felt hot. I see a strong heart that wants to protect its beloved ones, the wolf murmured approvingly. You are the one I have searched for.
Xiaolian gasped as she came to, gripping Saku's hand in her own. She was in a cold sweat, but her chest was inexplicably throbbing. "It's…hot?" she gasped in confusion.