Chapter Eighteen
The Jouzen academic archive was quiet that morning, and fairly empty, with only a few scholars going about their business in the serious, focused way of true academics. There was little communication or acknowledgement between those browsing the wealth of scrolls that the old stone building kept in its storage chambers, and nobody paid any attention to the small figure that sat huddled in the furthest corner of the most secluded study chamber, surrounded by parchment and ink as he struggled to fix his mind on the task in front of him.
To anyone passing, it would seem that a family had somehow managed to lose track of one of their children, for the boy was small even for his age, and with his long hair falling loose around his face, he could almost be mistaken for a young girl who might have wandered in off the street. However, a second glance would have revealed that this was no ordinary child, and the scrolls and books that littered the desk in front of him were composed of some of the most complicated Chinese characters that many adults would spend years attempting to decipher.
The young boy - for even despite his short stature he was still only thirteen years old - spread the oldest scroll out in front of him on the table, poring over it with intense concentration as he ran his gaze from top to bottom and right to left, absorbing the complex scribblings of his antecedents as he strove to fully understand. Lost in his own world, occasionally odd words would escape his lips, but noone came to disturb him, and he did not know how many hours had passed since he had come to be in the old library building.
For one such as he, ageless and timeless, with no place to go and no need to break for food or sleep, time merged into one continuous flow and he paid no attention to the rising or falling sun or the glimmering midnight moon.
"No. Not this one. Not this one after all." He murmured, biting his lip as he pushed the scroll aside. "And I was so sure it was...but that doesn't...it's not...oh, this is frustrating. It's so frustrating! Why can't I find the thing I'm looking for! It must be here...I know it must!"
As he sat back to consider his next move, something flickered and danced at the back of his mind and he tensed, clenching his small fists as he fought to bring it back under some semblance of control.
"Go away." He hissed, a mixture of determination and resolution in his green eyes as he focused his thoughts on suppressing the whispers and echoes that taunted his young senses. "You're not there. You're not really there! Leave me alone! I have to find...I have to find the right one."
The whispers grew stronger and the boy got to his feet, pacing restlessly across the small, secluded alcove as inside of his young mind, a battle raged. The hiss of another voice, dark and sinister as it sought to take hold of his senses made fear grip his young heart, but he set his teeth, his brow creasing in concentration as he forced it down into the recesses of his brain.
"You're not really there." He whispered. "I know you're not. I know you're not there, so I won't listen to you! It's all because of the stars...it's all just a delusion! You're just in my head, Miboshi - you're not there and you can't hurt me. I have work to do - and I can't waste any time!"
As he spoke, he felt a surge of strength well up inside of him, and as he glanced down, he saw the glimmer of something red peeking out beneath the heavy folds of his clothing. Relief touched his heart as he registered the faint, yet distinct red outline of a chinese character - and as he stared at it, he felt the doubts and insecurities drift away.
"I am Chiriko." He murmured. "And I'm not going to give in to this. I know the answer is here somewhere - I know I've read it before! I need to find it - I need to get to the bottom of this. Kounan - this whole world - I need to be strong. I won't let the delusions win. I won't let them!"
With this resolve fresh in his young heart, he turned his attention back to the shelf of old books, fingering each of them hesitantly until he came to one at the very furthest end. A gasp escaped his lips as he drew it from its hiding place, running his gaze over it and then nodding his head.
"Maybe..." He murmured. "It's worth a try. Either way, it's all I can do for now. I need the others if I'm going to be able to do anything else. I still don't know if I'm strong enough to reach them, not in this state, and with everything so out of sync. But if I can at least find the reason - if I can get to the bottom of it...perhaps then I'll be able to use what strength I do have to find my friends and bring this whole situation to a conclusion."
He faltered, dropping the book onto the table as the whispers started in the back of his mind once more, and he gripped the edge of the rough wooden unit, his hair falling loose and wild around his face as he did so. He closed his eyes, knowing without looking that the red 'extended net' that had adorned his upper foot had once more disappeared from view.
"But I told you, I know you're not real and you're not going to win." He muttered darkly. "You didn't win the last time, Miboshi, and you won't win this. You're not inside of me- not any more. I won't be fooled - it's all because of the stars, of the imbalance of this world. You're not really there and I have nothing that I should fear - so I'm not going to let you distract me from what I need to do! I am Chiriko of the Suzaku Shichi Seishi - and I am going to get to the bottom of this, no matter what!"
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"So the general decision is that we're not going back to Choukou? Or that we are?"
Anzu cast a glance between the three huddled Suzaku Seishi, a questioning look on her young face as she observed the seriousness of their expressions. "You all look so grim - do you think it's going to be as bad as that, trying to help this Mitsukake?"
"That's what we're trying to decide." Hotohori said heavily. "I'm not happy about the idea of Tasuki going back there, not after last night. And even Chichiri isn't at full strength, whatever he claims. Yet we can't leave him to himself...and we certainly can't take the two of you into danger again. It leaves us with an unpleasant dilemma...one we're not quite sure how to resolve."
"I think he's left Choukou." Chichiri added, crossing his legs as he leant up against the trunk of a tree. "My powers have recovered somewhat, but even so, the signal is intermittant. I'm pretty sure he's not in the same area - that he's moved, and in this rough direction. However..."
"However that means we can't leave the two o' you here while we go hunting for him." Tasuki said frankly. "In case he sleepwalks in on you or somethin' and causes a massacre."
"Anzu and I will be all right." Aidou said quietly, folding her arms across her chest. "But whatever that thing was that attacked you, Shun'u, it could be someone else's turn next. Something needs to be done about him - whatever that something is. It could be a child, an old man, anyone could fall under the byouma's spell the next time. You can't really leave him to wander aimlessly around the countryside - can you?"
"No, we can't." Chichiri admitted heavily. "And since we don't know what state he's in, nowhere is quite safe. We're probably better off not worrying about it and just trying to track his movements. With any luck I've enough of a spell inside of me to do something to at least break through his dazed state - like I did with Hotohori-sama. It's the best plan we have...as you said, Aidou, we can't just let him roam."
"Then we're leaving here." Anzu said softly, her gaze resting briefly on Tasuki as she did so. "And if you are, Aidou and I...we should come too."
"It might be risky." Hotohori warned, and Aidou spread her hands.
"We survived last night, and the byouma was right here among us." She said, her expression unusually grave as she glanced at her brother, then back at the former Emperor. "Anzu and I might be women, but we're neither of us weak, you know. And she's right - we shouldn't split up unless there's really no choice in the matter. We're safer all together...just like I said before."
"The last signal I picked up for him was in a town about two miles north of here." Chichiri got to his feet, scooping up his shakujou and glancing at it momentarily. "I may have enough to take us there the quick way, you know - if you're not worried about a bumpy landing."
"With you, that's pretty much normal." Tasuki said frankly. "And it's as good a place as any, to start with. I wanna find him, Chichiri. Even if he did sic that thing on me - he wasn't himself. And I hate that...he needs our help an' we need to find him. We're ready when you are."
"All right." Chichiri nodded. "Then let's go."
"Are you sure?" Aidou eyed the monk doubtfully. "You were fit to drop last night - Shun'u, he gave you all of his energy just to drive this demon out. Should we be putting such a strain on his magic again so soon after that?"
"I'm pretty resiliant, you know." Chichiri grinned, shaking his shakujou as if to emphasise his point. He picked his kasa up from the ground, running his hand over it, then nodding.
"It's close enough, and I know this area, so it's not so very hard to focus on." He added. "Just everyone hang on - it might be a bumpy ride but I'll do my best."
No sooner had the words left his mouth but they found themselves drawn up into the odd bamboo hat, and within moments they were standing on the outskirts of another northern city - so like Choukou in its general construction but yet so different in its bright, cheerful ambience. Despite Chichiri's anxieties about the landing, they had set down with relatively little trouble, and the monk let out a sigh of relief, slipping the kasa onto his head as they made their way into the city itself.
"It's been a while since I've been here, you know." he reflected. "It's sort of nostalgic. My Father worked as an official in this city – though we lived outside of it, because my mother preferred not to be surrounded by all the bustle. When I was a boy, my sister and I used to walk here from the village quite often."
"So this really is home country for you, then." Anzu cast him a smile, and Chichiri nodded.
"I haven't heard you talk about a sister before."
"She died when the river flooded." Chichiri said simply. "So there's not really much to say."
"I'm sorry...that was tactless of me, wasnt it?" Anzu flushed, and Chichiri shot her a playful grin.
"It's all right." He said lightly. "You've just been spending too much time with Tasuki and you're starting to adopt his bad habits, that's all. You should watch that, you know."
"Hey, what do you mean by that?" Tasuki demanded indignantly. "What kind of bad habits - Chichiri!"
"The kind which leads to you blurting out the first thing that comes into your mind, probably." Aidou said evenly. "Shut up, Shun'u...aren't we here for another reason than to talk about your character flaws?"
"You know, you could be a little nicer to me, considering I almost died last night." Tasuki glowered at his older sister, who sent him a pointed smile in return.
"And you could be nicer to Anzu, considering that she helped save your life." She admonished.
"What do you mean, nicer? What not nice thing have I done to Anzu this morning, huh?" Tasuki protested. "I haven't done anything - Anzu, tell her, will you?"
"Well, you did kiss her. I suppose that might count, depending on your perspective." Chichiri interjected absently, before the young circus performer could respond, and Tasuki bristled, his cheeks reddening as he realised the monk had probably overheard a good deal of their early morning conversation.
"I did not! She kissed me, and besides..."
He faltered, realising what he had blurted out, and he sent Aidou a wary glance, holding up his hands as if afraid she might strike him.
"No, that's not what I mean...It's just...I'm not..."
"Oh, shut up, you stupid boy." Aidou sighed, tutting under her breath as she cast him a disparaging look. "If you think I haven't noticed how you and she are, then you're really more of an idiot than I took you for."
"What do you mean, how we are?" Tasuki looked befuddled, as Anzu's cheeks flushed an embarrassed pink at Aidou's words. "Oneechan, what are you babbling about now?"
"If you don't know, then you really are a fool." Was Aidou's response, however. "But it's like I said - start acting like a man and take responsibility for it a little, all right?"
"Will someone tell me what the hell she's talking about?!" Tasuki let out an exclamation, frustration in his expression, and Hotohori laughed.
"Anzu, you have my sincerest sympathies." He said ironically, and despite herself, Anzu smiled.
"It's not like that." She said slowly. "I mean...well, it really isn't. Genrou...hasn't...and...well, it's just not. But it's all right...I...I can live with that. I mean, if it never is...it'll be okay."
"Are you even still speaking the same language as me?" Tasuki stared at her in bewilderment. "What haven't I? What isn't? What can you live with...dammit, Anzu...what's wrong with everyone today?"
Aidou shot her brother a speculative look, shaking her head.
"If it wasn't for the fact you were so sick yesterday, I'd whack you over the head till you saw some sense." She said frankly. "But if you're any kind of man, you won't just stand there an' let the girl wait for you to pull yourself together. You've got a good woman here, Shun'u - more than you deserve to have, and Suzaku only knows how you've managed it. Stop being an idiot and face up to it...it's about time you stopped being a reckless little boy and took some responsibility for yourself."
It was impossible for Tasuki to go any redder, and he stared at his sister in abject horror, struck speechless as at last he understood the meaning behind her words.
Chichiri chuckled, offering Anzu a conspiratorial smile.
"I believe you have my sympathies too, Anzu-chan." He said serenely. "Good luck, you know."
"Will everyone stop talking like they've all lost the plot!" Tasuki exploded at this. "We're here to look for Mitsukake! And Anzu might have helped save my life last night - I'm grateful, okay? But yeesh, noone ever said there was anything else involved in it than that! Anzu's my friend - that's all! And yes, maybe she's proved to me that she's stronger than I thought - that she might even be able to hack it, on Reikaku-zan. But nobody has said anything about anything other than that! One more word and I'm gettin' my tessen out - so shut your faces, all right?"
For a moment there was silence, as several of the nearby townsfolk paused in their daily routines to stare at the strange, redhaired man who had suddenly started shouting in the middle of their usually calm streets. Anzu pinkened, then shook her head, hesitating before reaching out to touch the discomfitted bandit on the arm.
"I haven't asked you for anything." She reminded him. "But I do want to be a bandit, and I do want you to accept me for that. So if you have...that's all right. Chichiri and the others are only teasing you - don't let them wind you up. I didn't help you last night because I wanted you to fall in love with me, or anything like that. I just wanted to make sure you were all right. And you saying we're friends - that's fine with me. Okay?"
"At least someone speaks some sense." Tasuki muttered, somewhat placated by the girl's gentle speech. "All right, already. So now that's settled, maybe we can look for Mitsukake already?"
And with that he stalked off ahead of them down the street, the tension in his gait giving away the fact he was still highly ruffled and indignant by his companions' innuendoes.
"He's going to be the last one to realise it, I think." Chichiri was the one who broke the silence, and Anzu shot him a troubled look.
"You shouldn't say things like that to him - any of you." She reproached. "He isn't in love with me - he's still in love with...he...he still doesn't want to make that kind of a move. And he doesn't like women, so I don't want to push him to feel for me what I feel for him. It's really all right - I can live with us just being friends, if that's all we're going to be. But you shouldn't tease him - it was me who kissed him this morning. Not the other way around."
"Tasuki's heart is a complicated place, it seems." Hotohori reflected, and Chichiri grinned.
"Well, if it is, it's the only part of him that is." He said, amused. "It's all right, Anzu. Really, I think Tasuki feels a lot more than he's letting you or anyone else believe, right at the moment. After all, you did give him your strength last night...but it was you telling him you loved him that brought him out of his coma. He's not as indifferent as he thinks he is - but being Tasuki, it'll take a while before the message sinks in."
Anzu stared at him, and Chichiri shrugged.
"I'm pretty sure, you know." He said flippantly. "Love's a difficult thing for him to get his head around - but I think it's that way. Otherwise, I'm not sure you'd have reached him...he just doesn't know it yet."
"That's because he can't eat it, burn it or fight it." Aidou said drolly. "Anzu-chan, if you really have your heart set on taming my brother, you're in for the long haul."
Anzu flushed, but her eyes sparkled as she contemplated Chichiri's words.
"If that is true, then I definitely have a reason to stick with him." She said softly. "But I want to, anyway. Whether just as a Reikaku-zan bandit or something else...I've decided and I'm not going to change my mind. But if he did love me...even a little bit...I'd be so happy. I don't know why I'm so drawn to him...I just know that I am, and that's where I want to be."
"I think you impressed all of us last night." Hotohori said evenly. "You have the inner strength to wield a sword, if you can fight a demon with your raw emotions. If you can channel that into how you hold a blade, Anzu, you'll find it comes naturally to you. It's all a matter of spirit, anyway. And you obviously have plenty of that."
"We probably shouldn't let him get too far ahead of us, you know." Chichiri glanced ahead of them, gesturing towards the figure of the bandit as he disappeared into the crowd. "Even despite his experiences last night, I'm not sure what he might do if he runs into Mitsukake. I'm hoping he'll have the sense to stay well back this time - but to tell you the truth, I think he might not. His heart rules his head where his friends are concerned - and I don't want to fight another byouma if I can possibly help it."
"I'll go bring him back." Anzu volunteered. "I won't let him get into any trouble, don't worry."
Before Chichiri or anyone could stop her, she was gone after him, her heart skipping a beat in her chest as she replayed the monk's words in her head.
"Could Genrou really...feel like that?" She wondered. "Or is he...still in love with Miaka? Was he ever in love with her? I wish I knew, but I daren't bring the subject up. After this morning's conversation - whether he did or he didn't love her, the whole episode hurt him and I hurt him too by flinging it up in his face last night. So I...I guess I'll just let it lie, for now. Still, Chichiri's smart - and perceptive. And if Aidou and Hotohori think so too..."
She trailed off as she reached the street corner, stopping dead as she caught sight of her target across the other side of the square. However, it was not Tasuki that caught her eye so much as the dark-eyed elegant young woman who had suddenly and inexplicably attached herself to his body, her arms draped around him as she spoke to him in excited, animated tones. Anzu could not hear the conversation from where she was standing, but as she watched, horror and uncertainty flared in her heart as she registered the fact that Tasuki had not pushed the female away.
"He doesn't like women, so what's her story?" She murmured, swallowing hard as she sought to keep a hold on her emotions. "Was he lying to me all the time? Is this...someone I should know about?"
A peal of laughter penetrated the city square, and Anzu's brow creased as she absorbed the woman's appearance - her fair complexion, with sparkling eyes full of life and mischief set above a cheeky, delicate nose and a well-formed mouth that was twitched into an amused, playful smile. She was dressed in fine, pastel shades that accentuated her appearance of elegance and beauty, and despite her convictions, Anzu felt a pang of envy stab through her young heart.
"Who is she?" She whispered. "And why...why is Genrou...why is he letting her hug him like that!"
"Anzu?"
Chichiri's voice from behind her startled her and she turned, casting the monk a troubled look as tears glittered on her lashes. Chichiri sent her a bemused look, and Anzu swallowed again, struggling to hold back her emotions.
"I...I found him." She said softly, her voice slightly unsteady as she took in the two figures across the square once more. "Chi...Chichiri...who is that woman? Why is she all over him? I thought he hated women, and you just said...but...who is she?"
"Woman?" Chichiri followed her gaze, and his good eye widened with first disbelief, then amusement. He grinned, cocking his head on one side as he looked at her.
"Oh, Anzu...there's no need to start crying." He said gently. "Stop it, you know? It's all right. You've nothing to worry about."
"I know...I said...I said it was all right if he didn't..." Anzu faltered. "And it sounds petty and jealous, but I didn't...I don't..."
She faltered, and Chichiri sighed, shaking his head.
"Don't you have faith in your feelings?" He asked softly. Slowly Anzu nodded.
"Yes, but..."
"Stop it." Chichiri put a finger to her lips. "It's not what you think. Come with me - you'll see what I mean."
"Come with...?" Anzu shook her head, pulling away from him. "No! I can't...that woman..."
"That's not a woman, you know." Chichiri said candidly, taking her by the arm and leading her across the square. "You're jumping to conclusions - take a deep breath and pull yourself together. I told you. It's all right."
"Not a..." Anzu gazed at the monk as if he was mad, but before she could ask any further questions, the strange female seemed to catch sight of them, letting out an exclamation as she released her grip on the bandit, hurrying acoss the cobbles towards them.
"Chichiri!" She exclaimed, her voice melodious and sweet, and Anzu stared at her miserably, not comprehending what Chichiri had been trying to tell her. The monk, however, seemed to be quite unperturbed by the sudden appearance of this willowy figure, laughing as he held out his hands to greet her.
"Well, and you're not who I expected to see here." He said lightly. "But you'll do, I suppose."
"Is that any way to greet an old friend?" The woman pouted. "I had no idea you or Tasuki were quite as close as this. We were going to set out to look for you, but I happened to see a flash of red hair and I knew who it belonged to. So my hunch was right and you are together - and more than a little bit alive, which makes me glad. Last night you were sending life signals out wide enough that I'm sure you could pick them up in Kutou...we were worried something was badly wrong."
"We?" Chichiri asked curiously, and the woman nodded.
"Mitsukake's with me. Or rather, he's not right this second, but I rather stumbled upon him yesterday." She said with a grin. "He's back at the inn helping a friend of mine to hire us horses - like I said, we were going to set out looking for you, and it seemed the easiest option."
Her eyes flitted to Chichiri's desolate companion, and her smile widened.
"Who's this?" She asked curiously. "A new friend? I don't think we've met - I'm sure I'd remember such a pretty face."
"This is Anzu." Chichiri grinned. "She's a friend of both Tasuki and mine, and she's been helping us on our search."
He patted the young girl on the arm, offering her a smile.
"Anzu, this is Nuriko - one of the other Suzaku Shichi Seishi. We've been looking for him for a while, you might remember...tracking his life force was the reason we left Reikaku-zan in the first place."
"N...N...Nuriko?" Anzu's jaw dropped, as she stared at the woman as if seeing her for the first time. "H...him?"
Nuriko chuckled, taking in her stunned appearance with an amused grin.
"Pleased to meet you, Anzu-san." he said lightly. "I guess I'm not quite what you expected to find, huh?"
Anzu merely stared at him, lost for words, and Chichiri grinned.
"I'd forgotten quite how much like a girl you can look when you put your mind to it." He admitted. "It's so normal for Tasuki and I now - knowing how you are - that I guess it doesn't have much of a shock factor for us any more. But you might want to lay off on the flirting, Nuriko-kun. Even if you're playing around, and we know that you are - you're confusing Anzu and making her a little jealous - if you know what I mean."
"Jealous?" Nuriko stared, then comprehension dawned in his clever dark eyes. "Ah...I see. So Tasuki's gone and got himself a girlfriend, has he? Well, that's brave - you must like a challenge, Anzu-chan, that's all I can say about that."
He winked, scooping up the startled Anzu's hand and offering her a conspiratorial smile.
"I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea. Tasuki and I are old friends, but there's nothing else to it than that." He said softly. "It's just been a long time since I've been able to hug anyone, so I got a little carried away. But my heart belongs to another, and besides, mountain wolves are really not my type. I'm more interested in men who are more refined and who don't blurt out the first stupid thing that comes into their heads."
"Speaking of which, Hotohori-sama is with us." Chichiri said matter-of-factly. "I came after Anzu to make sure she didn't get herself into trouble looking for Tasuki - but he and Tasuki's sister are waiting by the centre of the market. You said Mitsukake was with you - from that, am I to guess he's...all right?"
"Can't you sense him?" Nuriko looked surprised, and Chichiri frowned, shaking his head.
"No." He admitted. "My magic's a bit short this morning...it's a long story."
"The byouma." Nuriko's expression clouded, and Chichiri nodded, as the red-haired bandit saunted over to join them, after having spent the last few minutes negotiating with a tricky stall-keeper over the price of a butaman.
"Yes...how did you...?"
"When I ran into him, Mitsukake was pretty dazed and confused. He did remember seeing Tasuki, though, and he was convinced he'd hurt him." Nuriko frowned. "He was all in, basically...but he seemed to recover more and more. I think whatever happened when he and Tasuki met helped to bring his thoughts back in line - but he was so worried. And so was I, after he explained it coherently. That his magic could have got so out of control...but then everything is messed up at the moment, isn't it? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
"Well, we had a little chat with the demon, and convinced it to go away." Chichiri said lightly, sending Anzu a rueful look. "But I won't pretend it was an easy thing to do - I'd rather not have a repeat. You're right, Nuriko - things are messed up. But right now, how to fix it - I really don't know."
"Hotohori-sama burnt down my village thinking he was fighting Nakago." Tasuki swallowed his mouthful, adding his bit to the conversation. "Mitsukake gave me a fever. I was half expectin' to find you wieldin' rocks at my head - talk about getting a complex!"
"You seem all right." Chichiri added, eying Nuriko keenly. "I'm glad, if a little surprised."
"I wasn't, when I first came around and found myself in the middle of Yukigase." Nuriko admitted. "But I think everything is clear for me now. I feel...well, as good as a dead girl can feel, considering she's been buried in Hokkan snow for just about two years or more."
"But you...you're really not a...a girl?" Anzu found her tongue at this, staring up at Nuriko uncertainly, and Tasuki snorted, almost spitting food everywhere as he did so.
"Tasuki-chan, that's revolting." Nuriko scolded. "And in front of Anzu, too - you really don't have any shame, do you?"
"Don't you start with that." Tasuki glowered at his friend, then cast Anzu a grin.
"Nuriko's just weird. He likes wearing skirts - his brain's kinked that way." He said frankly. "You get used to it."
"I'll give you a kinked brain." Nuriko flexed his fingers, and Tasuki shook his head.
"Uh-uh. I jus' got over a fever, so leave me alone." He said frankly. "You save your strength for punching out real villains, and let me finish my breakfast in peace."
"Second breakfast." Chichiri remarked, and Tasuki shrugged.
"I told you I was hungry." He defended himself. "And it's my coin - unlike some monks who pinch it from unsuspecting bandits, I earned the right to spend it."
"By pinching it from unsuspecting merchants, no doubt." Amusement glimmered in Nuriko's dark eyes. "Oh, but this is good. If you're here, then we don't have to go searching for you. If you're all right, both of you, Mitsukake will stop worrying that he's about killed two of his friends. And I don't think he's any risk to anyone now. If nothing else, he's bound up his hand and he refuses to touch anyone - but if he sees you're all right, I'm sure he'll recover himself even more quickly. Seems your little encounter in Choukou was what woke him up, Tasuki-chan - last night he really was sounding much more like the Myou Juan we know and love."
"Then if Mitsukake is with you, and Hotohori is not far behind us, we've pretty much killed two birds with one stone." Chichiri reflected. "Which just leaves us with Chiriko to track down...although I think that will have to wait until my magic has fully recovered itself. It took more of my energy than I thought to transmit us from the riverside to here...I suppose last night took more out of me than I anticipated."
"Then get Hotohori-sama and whoever it was you said was with him, and come back to the inn. It's the third one, on the end of the next street." Nuriko suggested. "I'll go back, tell Tamatama and Mitsukake to hold it on the horses. And then we'll see what we can do, between us. If there's just Chiriko, we must be able to work out some way of tracking the kid down."
"And then we'll just have to hope that the six of us can do something to repair what's wrong with our world." Chichiri said frankly. "Before things become more unstable than they already are!"