The girl named Sakura had just finished tying the last red ribbon in her black hair when a knock came at her doorframe. The room was little more than a partitioned off area off a larger hall. It showed her position that she was even allowed that privacy. She turned to the pink curtain hid her from the other women.

"Come in." Nuriko poked his head through. Sakura smiled at him. "It has been such a long time, my friend." Her tone became teasing. "You big manly man you, I hear that you're a warrior now."

"And I look damn good doing it" he retorted, hands on hips. "I need you to come with me right now, it's urgent. I can explain as we walk."

"I don't have time for fun and games right now" Sakura frowned. "One of the girls is ill, I need to take over a tea ceremony for her. We'll both be flogged, otherwise." Nuriko resisted the urge to stamp his foot at her.

"You come, or I'll take you. Is there really a guard here who can argue with me?" Sakura shook her head reluctantly. She turned and picked up a deep red shawl from her sleeping mat. Wrapping it around her shoulders, she left her room ahead of Nuriko.

"Come on then, you were the one who said it was urgent." She grumbled. "Explain away."

***

"Taiitsukun?!" she exclaimed. "I have to go and see Taiitsukun?" Nuriko nodded and guided her around a corner. Her blue eyes were wide with shock.

"Just be polite, Sakura. I'm pretty sure the old witch does everything for a reason." Sakura looked highly doubtful. But she didn't have much time to argue. They had just come to the shrine doors. Nuriko opened one for her, and motioned her inside.

"You aren't coming with me?"

"I can't. But I'll be right here once you come out." Sakura pouted.

"If I come out."

"Just go!" Nuriko snapped. The girl turned and walked into the dimness. Nuriko relaxed back against the rail. He hadn't known Sakura long, only since she had appeared one year before. He assumed she had been picked up from some poor town hoping to pay off its debts by providing the politicians with a pretty girl. There were some odd things about her however. She had those pale blue eyes, to start. And he'd noticed she always kept her self covered with shawls, even in the warm Konan weather.

"YOU, YOU SNEAKY OLD HAG!! IT WAS YOU ALL ALONG!"

And her accent, he noted, as he heard her shriek. I really have had enough excitement for one day.

***

Sakura stood in front of the fire, yelling incoherently at the figure that still rested there. Taiitsukun was quickly becoming annoyed.

"You're the ruler of the universe, and you couldn't even fix the fireplace!! I sat in icicles to eat my breakfast for two months you old witch! TWO months! I think you even stunted my growth! You-"

"Nevermind all the magic I taught you, you little INGRATE. I've always thought I should have tattooed the word "warning" across your forehead and thrown you back out into the blizzard." Both of them huffed and glared daggers. Then Sakura began to laugh.

"It's good to see you, teacher." Taiitsukun tried very hard to look haughty instead of pleased. It was a struggle she often found with Miaka, too.

"You really are still as scrawny as ever." She replied. "But you have obviously grown, in other ways. You've grown into your powers. They call you the Ink Witch." Sakura blushed, abashed, but nodded. A light of realisation came into her eyes.

"It's time isn't it? To repay you?" She fell to her knees as Taiitsukun nodded.

"You have wasted enough time," Sakura tried to argue that she hadn't done all the talking but failed, "so I will tell you right away. You are to travel with the Priestess of Suzaku and her warriors to Hokkan, in the place of Hotohori. Miaka must succeed, at any cost." The younger witch looked pale. She looked as though she wanted to run. But instead she nodded, for the millionth time.

"Come closer, child." Taiitsukun held out a hand. In it were eight stands of hair, in varying shades of red, blue, brown and black. "I trust you remember this spell?" the oracle asked. Sakura reached out her hand and murmured a few words, and each strand of hair became solid silver. The delicate chains arranged themselves around her throat, each slightly longer than the last, and with a silver charm. None of the chains had a beginning or end and each charm held the name of a warrior.

"I'll do as you ask, teacher" Sakura told her. None of her former confidence remained. She looked terrified.

"There's one more thing," Taiitsukun said. "They need to learn to trust you quickly. I suggest you tell them your real name. It is always a good place to start." Taiitsukun inclined her head in farewell and began to fade. Sakura was silent. Then she jumped to her feet and called after her teacher.

"You'll make sure I get into heaven when I die, won't you grandma?" A laugh crackled back, and a muffled reply. Call me grandma one more time. And then the oracle was gone. The girl sank back to her knees.

"Oh, Genbu help me..." she whispered.