Edge 7: A Hidden Message Revealed

Miaka was rushed to a nearby room when she fainted. Probably, due to the sudden shock as she learned that she lost her eyesight. The royal lady doctors and nurses hurriedly went in and diagnosed her. Several minutes have passed, yet everyone outside patiently waits for the latest results.

"This is really alarming. I hope everything will go smoothly." Reiteizei told everyone. He's now a fully grown man, exhibiting his father's looks and personal traits that he inherited.

"Who would do such a terrible thing to Miaka-san?" Youtaikou anxiously added. You can see how worried she is in her eyes.

Chichiri leaned on a pillar, with arms folded. "Yeah no da, I was just wondering… when Miaka was rushed and I was the last one to leave, I suddenly felt an evil aura. As I turned back, I see a shadow behind one of the pillars. I tried to check it out, but when I'm on the spot, it disappeared without a trace… the bad thing is, I didn't found any clues, no da."

Taka sighed and noticed that Tasuki isn't with them. "Where's Tasuki, Chichiri?"

"He went back to the shrine to check if he could find some. He isn't satisfied on what I've said that I haven't found any traces of the culprit." The monk just tapped his friend's shoulder. "I don't think Suzaku would harm his own miko. He won't do such a thing. Everything will be alright." He assured his old friend.

The worried husband replied in a desperate tone, "I would really wish, but my heart says…" before he could finish, the main royal lady doctor comes out and give respects. Youtaikou and Reiteizei approached her first.

"What's the condition of the priestess?" Youtaikou calmly asked.

"Is she… alright?" His Highness added but the royal lady doctor remains silent and expressionless. Her head suddenly turns to Taka and finally speaks,

"I need to speak with Tamahome-sama first about this matter… privately…" The two make way as Taka comes near to her. Youtaikou calls his attention.

"Taka-san, be strong for Miaka whatever the result may be… All of us are always here…" He slowly nods and follows the doctor as they left the palace hall. Ironically, Tasuki arrives and joins the three. "Where's Taka heading?"

"The royal lady doctor wants to talk with him privately regarding the Suzaku no Miko's condition. Aside from that, have you found anything, Tasuki-sama?" Reiteizei asked the bandit.

He bowed his head and shakes his head, "I didn't find anything, your Highness but…" Chichiri desperately sighed and butted in. "I told you already… don't be so persistent." The bandit made an instant, comical annoyed reply.

"CAN YA JUST LEMME FINISH?! I WAS ABOUT TO ADD THAT THE RED EYE JEWELS IN SUZAKU'S STATUE ARE MISSING!"

The three went in shock, "WHAT?!"

Hikarou is happily walking along the path going to the main garden of the palace. She learned from the maids that it's already fall in the country. As she arrives, she displays a delighted expression. She watches the leaves fall down from the trees, which she considers her most favored part. Back in her world, winter is already approaching and everyone is busy preparing for the entrance exams. Of all the seasons, she most preferred this season. She loves to see a sunlight orange ambience up high. She deeply breathes and closes her eyes. As she opens, a single sunlight yellow leaf falls slowly in front of her eyes. She gently catches it with her palm. She looks at it carefully, and then a breeze passed by, blowing the leaf away from her. As it goes farther away, she gazes at it and mumbled,

"Who should be blamed when a leaf falls from a tree? ...Is it the wind that blew it away?...or the tree that let it go? Or is … itself which never held tight?" A snap of a finger called her attention. She sees a hand in front of her.

Gradually, a navy blue-haired girl dressed in green clothing, with violet-blue eyes appeared in front of her. "That line's kinda… deep and weird… Are ya loser to love?" Min You said, with one hand on her back and directly looking at Hikarou. She immediately tossed her head and denies it.

"It's one of my favorite quotes in life. Do I look like I'm hopeless?" She opens one of her eyes and both of them giggled.

After awhile, they started walking around the garden while happily exchanging topics anything under the sun. Later, they settled down below the largest tree in the garden. They both watched the sunshine orange leaves block the harmful sun rays together. They closed their eyes and leaned behind the trunk.

"I feel so relaxed…" Hikarou sighs in relief. She sees Min You digging something. "What are you digging?" The maid finally gets finished digging and brings out a small chest, about a size of a regular cake box. She blew off and taps away the excess soil. The wondered shrine priestess raises a brow. Min You opens the box and both see…

"Books on a chest?" Hikarou commented. Min You nods back.

"It's my parent's memento to me. They died when I was eight. I came from a rich family, but when they passed away, I suffered in grave poverty. Even if I'm poor I didn't let myself enter a brothel."

Rou proudly nods as she raises her fist. "That's the way! Protect your dignity and your greatest treasure!" Min You splutters. "Stop acting like that. A priestess should be with grace and poise. You're acting like a low-class barbaric damsel." Hikarou gets a little shameful of her actions and gets more onto her feminine side. She lets her continue.

"Then I learned that the palace needs some extra maids and artisans, so I didn't think twice to join. Gladly I passed the exams, entered inside and trained here for almost six years. But I need to follow the strict rules of the palace… But it's alright, since I've always dreamed of learning magic since I was a kid."

"Woah… So if you're being confined here at the age of eight…" She starts to count on her fingers. "You're already fourteen… so young!" The maid instantly nods.

"I wanted to call you with courtesy but you insisted to be called by your first name."

Hikarou replied, "I see. You could call me Rou-xiao jie if you want. I remember once, I always call my brother 'geezer' if he tries to mess me up." She chuckles. Min You sincerely looks at her.

"You really do miss your family back at your homeland, ne?" Hikarou replied with a single, determined nod.

"They're very important to me. I would even risk my life if they get harmed or protect them if they were mistreated. Haha… Girls at my age are busy searching for boyfriends, but I'm different from them. I enjoyed myself being always with my family and not gazing on those freaky, obnoxious and moronic boys. Besides, I love being single." Min You hissed and nudged her.

"Aiyou… Men aren't always like that. You're views are so pessimistic! They're wonderful people you know! It's my first time to encounter a person who dislikes men."

"It's not that I totally despise them. It's just boys back at my world are… well." She releases a weak laugh. "I have only three things to give focus: family, duties, and… MONEY!!!" she grinned and laughs. Min You sighed. "You're so hopeless." She takes out the books and sees a candle inside the chest. She takes it out too.

"I never expected my mom placed her trusty candle here." Hikarou instantly notices it. "What's that?"

"A candle." Min You hands it to her. "You might need this before you go to sleep."

"But I haven't…" The maid quickly pulls her hand and places it there. She covered it with the other hand on top.

"Just take it. It's a gift from me." Hikarou tries to return it. "But this is too much. I can't take it! You already helped me yesterday night…" The maid pushes it back and annoyingly said,

"Yesterday's not material, but this is material! Besides mom's last wish is give this to the person I trusted most… it might be a big help too you know. Fate can be tricky." Hikarou sighs and accepts it. She puts it on a small pouch tied on her sash. "Thanks." Min You grinned and started reading the poetry book. Hikarou shakes her head and thought, "Kids…"

She remembered then something she placed inside her sleeve. She takes it out and opens the scroll that Empress Ying gave to her yesterday night.

"What're you reading?" The blue-haired maid asked as her eyes remained concentrated on the book.

"Just some scroll to ponder on and analyze." As she starts to untie and unfolds it, her eyes widen with surprise as she learns that nothing is written.

Back in the real world, Iyosuke and Natsumi came back from their coffee break. Iyosuke stretches his arms up. "Man… that break was a long one, Natsumi. We should finish fixing these scrolls in place before boss Yuuki comes back from China." He notices his partner is gazing blankly.

"Hey, Nat-san, you okay?" He pats his partner's shoulder. She quickly sets her mind back to reality. "Oh, Iyo-kun. Say, did you lock the door and placed the sign "Under Construction: Do Not Enter" before we took our break?"

He blinked his eyes and tries to remember, "Yeah… I think so… but I think I forgot it."

Natsumi quickly pounds him on the head using her fist, while he instantly protects himself using his hands.

"GRR…! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU TO BE ALERT OF YOUR ACTIONS! WHAT IF SOME THIEF CAME IN AND STOLE THESE MILLION-YEN ARTIFACTS?! WE'RE GONNA BE KILLED BY BOSS YUUKI IF SOMETHING HAPPENS!"

"GOMEN! GOMEN! I DIDN'T MEAN TO! I'LL BE ALERT NEXT TIME. JUST STOP POUNDING ME! IT HURTS YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY ON THE HEAD!" Natsumi stops it and sighs desperately.

"Just mean it next time… or else. I'm gonna request for a new partner." She resumes to work, while Iyosuke slowly follows her and does the same. While working, Natsumi noticed the golden scroll lying on the ground. She picks it up and looks at it.

"Iyosuke, this is the scroll you've been observing a while ago, right?" Her partner nods. "Yeah. You said while we're working that the scroll doesn't have a title, so I didn't place it inside the glass case together with the other scrolls for the exhibit. Besides, you told me that this has a link to the book that Einosuke Okuda translated, right?"

"That's what the other archaeologists say, but it wasn't confirmed. They say, it came from people's whereabouts, you know… stories passed mouth to mouth and it gets either lose or add some details from the original version. It's therefore the claims are false and plain fiction that this could be the first half of what he translated years ago." She sighed. "I wonder if we're gonna include this…" Then, a hand phone message alert tone echoed the whole room.

"It's mine." Iyosuke says. He quickly picks up his flip-flop phone from his pocket and reads the message. "Looks like boss Yuuki is going back tonight. He wants to check the artifacts if it's ready and finished."

"Well we better finish fast and hand this odd scroll to him to decide if we include this in the exhibit or not." Natsumi placed the golden scroll on a side and both of them hurriedly made the final preparations as they resumed working.

"Man… why won't they pick up the phone?" Keisuke irritatingly said as he holds the wireless phone and had been walking to and fro on the condominium living room for several minutes. Mayo, helping her husband pack his things, stopped for a while.

"How long have you been calling them?"

"About five times. This is the sixth, and they still don't pick up." He sighs, places the phone back and relaxingly sits on the sofa. Mayo went to their room to do the last packing and zips Keisuke's luggage. She puts her hands on her waist. "There, finished." She mumbled and slightly raises her voice to let him hear her.

"By this time, maybe your dearest nephew is still talking to his girlfriend on the phone for hours. You know Hikari, he talks too much just like Miaka-sempai while your niece…" she finally goes out and seated beside him. "Well, she's study-holic for the quiz bee. I heard the prize is quite big." Keisuke nods.

"Yeah, a scholarship to study abroad, right? I also heard the tuition and lodging will be answered by the contest, and she'll get a monthly allowance for four years. Miaka and Taka will be extremely happy if she wins. They won't have any financial problems since both kids are smart…" Keisuke smiled as he remembers how he witnessed Taka's hardwork to support his family, as being a full-time basketball coach while Miaka assisted him by running a small food business aside from being a housewife. The siblings strived hard to study not to give any burden to their parents, due to their situation, the money their parents earn is enough for them and for the bills they pay.

He remembers, while he was still living in Tokyo, they always help their parents on chores and do part-time jobs. The two are very good on their academics, resulting that their parents are required to attend the recognition and graduation ceremonies every year. Taka would tease them that he and their mom are tired going up and down the stage. But deep in their hearts, they're proud to have them as their children. "Taka is one lucky guy having them as kids." He smiles while Mayo nods.

"True." She looks at him. "I've talked to sempai two days ago. She shared to me that she's a bit worried about Hikarou. The girl has been studying all day and doesn't even look at herself. She notices that Hikarou grew skinny on the past three years. All she did is study, study and study. If not, she would do household chores and stay at home, finding things that will make her busy. I wonder when that girl became like that… she's abusing herself already." Keisuke holds Mayo's hand.

"Don't worry, I'll put some sense in her… that sometimes over diligence could kill." He winks. Suddenly his phone rings. "Just a moment, Mayo…" He turns his head away and answers it.

"Oh Natsumi-san… I'll be there tonight. You want me to check something?... There's a scroll not listed?...Alright… I got it." He shuts the phone. "One of the museum assistants told me there's one odd scroll not listed in the exhibit's master list, yet it's included on the display."

"Really? I heard that the team carefully checked what artifacts would be included on the list or not."

"I don't know what happened while I was away. I better go back to Tokyo and check on it. And thanks for fixing my things, dear." He gives Mayo a quick peck on the lips went back to the room, with some little thing bugging his mind.

"But why is there a golden blank titled scroll included there? I have a very unnatural feeling about this… and it's starting… now"

Taka walks on the palace hallway, heading to where Miaka is lying. He was told that his wife has been sleeping soundly, and she might be awake by the time he goes back. While walking, he displays an expressionless reaction as he recalls what the lady doctor told him at the pavilion.

-FLASHBACK-

"Tamahome-sama, the Suzaku no Miko luckily doesn't have wounds nor bruises. But we observed that the vital points of her eyes are severely damaged." Disbelief is shown on his face. The royal doctor continued.

"From what we asked from her, she saw an intense, luminous red light after she closely looked upon the statue's eyes. On my speculation, this might be the cause. If the eyes are exposed to intense light, the optic nerves shall burst and causing the patient to be blind. We already did what we can do, but even our acupuncture methods won't work to it." She slightly bows her head.

"It's alright, at least you did your best and I thank you for that. I would ask the help of my comrades to help me find Mitsukake. He might cure Miaka with his healing powers." He tries to turn away and moves a few steps; however, the doctor added something which makes him look again at her.

"The only solution to this is to find the culprit who threw the horrible spell to the priestess. I'm sorry to tell you this, Tamahome-sama, but even the most powerful healer of the Suzaku seven won't even cure her blindness. Forgive me if I underestimated your comrade's power, but you can't compare the past from the present." The royal lady doctor gives her final bow and leaves the startled Taka.

-END FLASHBACK-

Taka already arrives in front of the door and sadness is clearly seen on his face. He thought as he touched the knob, "I was known to be the strongest of all of us, but I haven't done anything to save her… How can I be strong now if I see her suffering like that?"

Heopens the door and sees Miaka sleeping. He walks forward and sits beside her. He lovingly gazes at her as he strokes her hair. She slowly opens her eyes and stops. He puts his hand on hers, which is lying in bed.

"Go back to sleep dear. You're still tired." She clasps her husband's hand, feeling that he's beside her. Miaka now realized she's completely blind and stares directly at the ceiling.

"I'm already fine. Don't worry too much about me or you'll lose your handsome face too soon." She smiled as Taka languidly smiled back, hiding and repressing his sadden emotions as he listens carefully while tightly clasping her hand.

"I'm sorry if I made everyone, including you, worry too much. I shouldn't have alarmed them about my welfare." She weakly sighed and continued, "Taka, I dreamt about Hikarou. Do you remember the time there's a massive blackout at Saitama, where I rushed and stayed there overnight worrying about her condition, leaving you and Hikari back at Tokyo?" Taka nods and listens carefully.

"I love both of them, but it seems I always wanted a daughter, that why I'm so close to her as how just Hikari has a tight bond with you." She closes her eyes and recollects a touching scene way back.

"I was giving a final check using a lighted candle to guide my path. Your parents are sleeping soundly back then, but when I passed by on her room, I hear someone's mumbling. I tried to check it out and found Hikarou studying under a dim candlelight, and by any minute, it would lose its flicker. I knocked on the door to get her attention, telling her to go to sleep and resume studying tomorrow. She quickly quivers her lip and pleaded to me not to send her to sleep as she desperately wants to memorize all the notes, so that she'll get a high score for their test. 'Mom, I'm sorry if I'm stubborn, but I wouldn't let myself be beaten by a blackout just to let me stop from studying.

'If there's a strong will, there's a way, and there're endless excuses if we refuse', she bravely reasons out. She added she can't follow my instruction and she'll accept to be caned after she arrived from school. She shows a bit frightened and scared at that time, but I thought to myself, 'I can't argue with her since I can see she's determined'. I just went to her desk and put my lighted candle there. I told her that it would stand just for an hour and a half. If she feels sleepy, let herself go to sleep and don't pressure herself too much.' As I was leaving, she chased me and hands me a small flashlight. She told me to use this, and even the flashlight's flare is dim, it would be enough to guide me back to my room. I smiled and thanked back. I took a glimpse at her, resuming herself back to studying, aided by a bright candlelight flare and leave her room completely." Miaka closes her eyes and opens it again.

"Right now, I realized that what happened to me is a form of punishment and at the same time, a form of challenge. Punishment, for I depended too much to my warriors back and being so naïve, and challenge, to know if I still possess the strong will I showed when I called Suzaku. Taka, I'm thankful Hikarou indirectly taught me that lesson. I shouldn't lose hope even if I lost my sight, for it is only temporary. I should be strong and believe that everything will be fine." Miaka looks at the direction where Taka is and tightly clasps his hand.

"Even though I couldn't see you, I know you're there because of your voice." Miaka tries to rise up and her husband immediately helps her. She tries to grope and she finally feels his cheek.

"Would you, therefore, be my light when I'm still in the darkness?" Taka chuckled as he nearly gets teary eyed, and carefully looks at her, realizing how she had matured a lot.

"Silly woman… Of course. I'm your husband, aren't I? I promised to make you happy and be at your side through sickness and health and through good times and bad times, right? Remember, I would never grow tired taking care of you, just like of your caring towards me and to the kids." The couple shared a very tight embrace after saying those words to each other.

Meanwhile at the enemy's lair, Fu kneeled down in front of her Master Seimitsu.

"Master, I'm gratefully sorry that I didn't do my part. I haven't killed Empress Ying of Liu Guo and the Houseiki no Miko just as you wanted." The mighty evil wizard stands up, with hands behind, showing disappointment and moves forward. He sighed and seriously replied,

"It's alright. I know that old witch has gone more powerful than I expected. But I'm delighted that you've injured her. That would mean a big thing. You say… the girl indeed agreed to be the miko?"

"Yes, Master. At first, she refused but I don't know what made her change her mind. But there is no doubt that she is the miko. She showed great courage, wisdom and power. Speaking of her power, it's really frightening. She could summon the earth spirits and let the ground eat anything that places on its spot!" Suddenly a young man with a leaf shows up. He's playing it by looking and turning it.

"If that's the case, she's a big threat to our glory." He was followed by a beautiful, but sinister-looking woman. She admires herself looking at her mirror. "If she successfully finds the other gem keepers, we'll be dead sire… What shall we do then?" Seimitsu smirks as he turns on his throne.

"Patience and fear not, my comrades. We shall have our laughs soon. Triumph isn't easy as what you think as like picking flowers on a garden, but picking a single grain of rice from a mountainous pile." Then, a voice echoed into the whole place and gets their attention.

"Lord Xiang Qi has arrived." The handsome spy announced the arrival of Xiang Qi, the evil guardian of smoke and incense. The old man in a dark, long cloak kneeled down before Seimitsu to give respect and said,

"But for every failure, Master, there is success." He shows him two red-eye shaped gems placed on his palm and hides it away on his pocket.

"What's that?"

"I came from Suzaku's guarding country, Konan to check if everything goes well. I learned that the fabled Priestess of Suzaku had arrived, so I dropped by to check it out by myself… and played some tricks on her. The gem that I presented holds her eyesight." Seimitsu evilly smiles.

"Well done." he praised the guardian of incense and it quickly bowed back.

"Master Sei is so gracious. I bet this youngster needs to pay more attention on her tactical skill so she won't fail again." He looks at Fu with a sneer which the young snake guardian annoyingly tosses her head away. Seimitsu starts to command as slowly the Eight Dark Immortals gets completed before his eyes.

"I want all of you to be divided into pairs and spread yourselves on the Four Kingdoms of the Four Gods. Fan She and Shu Ye, go north. Gui Chong and Wu Chang, south. Gu Huan and Dian Xian on the east and lastly, since one of you possess the Suzaku no Miko's eyesight, you'll be in charge in the southern empire… Xiang Qi and Xue Fu". They all simultaneously bowed down and disappeared without a trace.

"The game had just began. I'll be sincerely waiting for your participation, Houseiki no Miko." He lets out a sinister smile.

Empress Ying and Emperor Yang are seated at the imperial throne room. They are talking about the latest issues happening within Liu Guo and also about the Four Kingdoms. They received news that Seimitsu's forces have already spread throughout the four countries. Empress Ying finally stands up from her throne, clutching her fist.

"That madman is testing my patience." She closes her eyes and opens it. "I've decided to let the miko's search for the gem warriors begin tomorrow morning." Emperor Yang went surprised.

"Your Grace, you know that Lady Hikarou is still adjusting to our environment. She's been here in the country for only a few days and you'd given her the mystical scroll, which hasn't been opened for a long time. I think you're rushing things very fast." She gets a bit irritated but she controls it.

"I'm not rushing things, and if not, when are we going to start? When turmoil already emerges?" Emperor Yang went silent. The strict empress continued, "Besides, I've witnessed her power. She proved to us her intellect, capability, and bravery. I know she can do it, because I trust her. Do you, too, your highness?" She gave him a strict, sharp look. The emperor only sighed and nods. Afterwards, she walks away from the throne, heading straight outside, accompanied by the maids. "Where are you going?"

Empress Ying looks back. "I'm going to look for Lady Hikarou. I have something to discuss with her. Please excuse me, your Highness." She bows down and finally went out of the throne room, followed by her maids. Emperor Yang watches her go as he thought,

"Though she looks strict and serious, I know she has her soft side. I've never seen her delighted like this ever since our daughter had her misfortune. Now, Lady Hikarou unconsciously made her believe in hope once more, and I'm happy for that. Priestess, I thank you for making her smile again… a smile that she never shown in front of me for a very long time." At that thought the Emperor's lips curved and showed a smile.

Hikarou and Min You already parted their ways since her trusted maid already needs to go back to her duties. She went to a nearby pond and seated at the large rocks near the beautiful scenery. The blue color of the water brings a calming effect on her. She still couldn't believe that there's nothing written on the mythical scroll. She takes it out and playfully spins, at the same time, simultaneously looking at it.

Her mind is now in blank while thinking deeply,

"Is this really the scroll… Or really a fraud at all?" She suddenly heard a serious voice behind her that caught her attention.

"Playing with a certain important treasure is not what I expect from you, Houseki no Miko. You must handle that thing with care… or I prefer, with your life." Hikarou quickly gets flabbergasted and accidentally looses hold of the scroll. She comically tries to catch it, avoiding it to fall on the water. Seconds later, she successfully gets it and sighs with relief. She looks back and quivers her lips as she saw Empress Ying, sternly looking at her.

She stands up and tightly grips the scroll by both of her hands and repeatedly bows down. "Forgive me, your Grace. I didn't know you were there."

Empress Ying sighs. "You need to have a strong sense of observation, my lady. If not, you'll be easily defeated or outwitted by your enemies." Hikarou shyly nods and nervously asks,

"Your Grace, why… are your maids… not with you?"

"I sent them back to the palace. I want to speak with you in private. Would you like to accompany me for a walk?" Hikarou got perplexed but she nodded right away. They started walking, with Empress Ying on the lead followed by her, heading towards the imperial pavilion. They viewed together the magnificent sunset.

"This is where usually me and Yue Lan spend our time together. We always watch the sunset, then after, watching the moonlight also." Hikarou looks at her. "I see… do you… miss her…?"

She sighed. "I do… but I need to be strong for the sake of our country. Since that tragedy came, I never believed in hope… not until you came and be here with us. I'm grateful for that."

Hikarou smiled. "Thank you, your Grace." Suddenly she lowers her head, biting her lower lip and sighs.

Empress Ying gazes at her. "Is there something bothering you?"

"When I tried to open the scroll, I discovered nothing is written on it. How can I find the eight gems if there are no clues? This proves that I'm not yet qualified to be your country's miko though I've already agreed. Do the gods have something against me?" She sighs desperately again while the empress bursts out laughing.

"What's so funny, your Grace?" She gets a bit annoyed but she restrains her feeling. She replied back in a polite way, with a serious expression. "This is an omen, your Grace. Why are you laughing like that? You should be at least worried about me."

Empress Ying stops laughing and looks at her.

"I can't imagine Her Eminence would be tricky to her own priestess. Well, you see, little damsel, Nu Kwa is very fond of making riddles. She loves to challenge the intellect of her subordinates. There's something written on the scroll, Lady Hikarou, believe me. The key is just to use your head."

"From what you have said, I can say she's quite unfair… how she told you the hints to find me, while myself, can't even decode the message of the scroll?"

"She has her own reasons. Like what I've said, she wants to test you. When I was still one of her subordinates, she loves to make riddles and challenges anyone who could guess it right. But only few could get it. It takes deep comprehension and common sense to answer her so-called brainteasers." Empress Ying takes a deep breath and starts telling a story to the priestess.

"One time, I saw her busy writing something on some scrolls. The first one shows character prints while the other is plain blank. Even she's pre-occupied; she could sense I am there. She said, that she's writing on the last scroll the qualities of the guardians who will possess the gems to awaken her. By that time, she already knew her fate… that someone who'd plot to kill her." Hikarou listens very carefully.

"Seimitsu started an uprising and turmoil conquered the Heavens. Unfortunately, that traitor and his forces were defeated and sealed by Her Eminence on a mountain… but for every triumph, there is an end. Nu Kwa already sensed she's very weak. Therefore, she created the four gods and Taiitsukun, to control over the world and the four kingdoms. She entrusted also to Taiitsukun the four copies of the Universe of the Four Gods to give it to the first four emperors of the said empires."

"Then…?"

"Her Eminence entrusted me the last scroll, and that's the thing you're now holding. You see, a deity who would step on an earthen soil for the first shall become a demigod. I was ordered to be sent on earth. There, I met Emperor Yang and we created an empire… that no one would ever imagine that it has existed at the time when the four kingdoms have lived too. Our empire… remained a hermit monarch for several years." Hikarou quivered her lips with amazement.

"But what happened to the goddess?"

"After she had given her last wishes to us, she locked herself up in a cave and puts herself in deep slumber, waiting for the people who will awaken her. Sadly, we don't know the exact location where she's hidden." Hikarou slightly sits on the pavilion's railings and sighs.

"This is gonna be harder and tougher than I expect but I can't back out." She looks at the empress. "I'll do my best to fulfill my duty, Empress. I won't let you and the people of Liu Guo down…"

Suddenly, something popped up on Empress Ying's head. "I remember, she did mention one riddle how to unlock the message of the last scroll."

Hikarou's expression unexpectedly lights up. Empress Ying hurriedly tells her and she immediately memorizes it by repeating it several times. She has this kind of wit that she simultaneously analyzes the contents while memorizing a certain quote. Hikarou also asked the hints that Nu Kwa told her about the Houseiki no Miko. After hearing that, the sassy miko quickly bows down and hurriedly runs away. Empress Ying went confused and asks her where she's headed. Hikarou stops and turns back,

"I think I already know the answer, Empress! I'll be back!" She picks up her skirt and heads back to the palace. Empress Ying smiled as she watches her.

"Someday… that girl shall be admired and honored by the gods, mikos and celestial warriors through her perseverance."

Hikarou arrived on her room and hurriedly unfolds the scroll. She lights up her candle and carefully holds the scroll with both of her hands and fronts it a few inches away from the candle… but nothing showed up. She stands in disbelief and sits on her chair, still holding the scroll on her hands. She nearly bursts into tears, but she holds back.

"I am failure…" She sighs desperately but she remembers something that Min You told her this afternoon.

"My mom's last wish is give this to the person I trusted most… it might be a big help too you know. Fate can be tricky."

She raises her head and takes out the candle that Min You gave her from her pouch. She thought, "I wish this attempt would be successful. It's worth a try though." She recalls that she didn't recite the riddle on the first place. She playfully smacked her head. "How could you be so… careless, Hikarou… you dumb idiot!" She repeats the process again, but this time, using Min You's candle and she recites the riddle.

To disclose the message that's hidden within,
Enable thy mind to unleash its righteous keen,
For the answers that this paper conceal,
Lies on a truthful flare that would make it reveal

Suddenly, the candle's flame glows brightly and unexpectedly, black Chinese ideographs started to appear slowly in front of her, from top to bottom and left to right. She smiles and waits until the message on the scroll has been completely decoded.

Keisuke arrives at the hotel around ten in the evening. One of the museum assistants came to his hotel room to give the talked-about mysterious scroll.

"Good thing, boss, you arrived safely. I thought your flight would be cancelled."

"Why, Natsumi-san?"

"A rainstorm occurred few hours ago here in Tokyo, but it only lasted for two hours. It's freaky to have a rainstorm occurring for only a few hours, but at least it didn't cause any damage. It just rained." She hands him the scroll and Keisuke placed it on his desk and gazes at it.

"So this is the thing you're talking about."

Natsumi nods back. "Yes. Well, try to examine the contents of this. We'll wait for your decision if we're going to include that in the exhibit or not. I'm going back to the Library. We have to finish it soon."

Soon, she left. Keisuke takes a sit on his desk and resumes finishing the remaining unfinished papers.

Hikarou tries to study the contents of the scroll and sees the hints that Empress Ying mentioned. She gets a piece of paper and dabs the brush on the ink tripod, then, writes the three characters: good, stone shrine, and brilliance.

"How can these characters exactly refer on me? It doesn't make sense." She thought. She thinks deeply and gets another piece of paper. She writes down the characters one by one. She writes the character of "good" (hao) and separates it to two: 'woman' (nu) and 'child' (zhi). She remembers that it pertains to a woman, which means to herself.

She writes down next the second character, 'stone shrine' (shi) and repeats the same process. Then it results to 'spirit'(shi) and 'right'(you). She realized that it describes when she goes to the shrine's catacomb and when she used her right hand to create a quake.

Lastly, she finally wrote 'brilliance' (huang), which results to 'fire' (huo) and 'yellow'(huang). She thought, that the final character means her passion to bring the flame of hope to others and yellow, as the color of her favored element, earth. She leaned back on her chair and sighs. She looks up at the ceiling and thought,

"So this is how she weaves the hints… unusual, yet cool… difficult, yet challenging… I should discover more clues from this scroll."

She starts to stay up working late to learn more about the mysterious, yet magnificent scroll she'd ever hold on her entire life.

Keisuke finally finishes the final papers. He sees again the scroll lying on his desk and gets it. He leisurely unfolds the scroll with care and starts to read. Surprisingly, his eyes widen and read aloud…

"The legendary maiden of the crimson phoenix, once again, came back to Konan-kou and have been now enveloped herself in darkness. Meanwhile… from a far away place, a girl, possessing admirable brilliance and a heart of gold shall start her quest to awaken a powerful legend that had been laid to slumber for hundreds of years…" Keisuke pondered the said quote. His lips suddenly trembled, wishing that his gut feeling isn't true.

"Maiden of the Crimson phoenix…? This scroll can't be… could she and Taka… got absorbed too?!"

Author Free talks:

Haha… hoped you enjoyed reading chap 7. Haha.. I loved also Hikarou's determination to decode the message hidden in the scroll! Told ya, this kid is really a genius! Anyway, I've used pictophonetic and associative compounds for this chapter. It's the category represents the largest group of characters in modern Chinese. Characters of this sort are composed of two parts: a pictograph, which suggests the general meaning of the character, and a phonetic part, which is derived from a character pronounced in the same way as the word the new character represents, while the latter describes the characters of this sort combine pictograms to symbolize an abstract concept.

Example: - good (hao)when separated: - woman (nu) - child (zhi)

(If you are familiar about Jewel in the Palace/Dae Jang Geum's 1st episode, a hermit there used pictophonetic compounds to predict the fortune to Jang Geum's father). Particullary, Nu Kwa uses this technique to make hints on the location of the gems… so Hikarou must use her analyzing skills to decode the meaning of each character.

Hope that clear things up -

Some Guidelines and Facts:

Saitama Prefecture – this is where Taka's hometown is (Trivia: Hikarou's most favored place too because she loves hiking).

Youtaikou – formal name of Houki, Hotohori's wife. I think "Yoh" is her surname and "taikou" means Empress Dowager in Japanese. She first appeared in Episode 45 of FY Original Series.

Reiteizei – formal name of Boushin, Hotohori's only son. He appeared first in FY OAV 2 as a 2 yr old prince and OAV 3 as a young emperor of Konan at the age of 12.

Xiao-jie – mandarin for "Miss"

Words in () – Chinese pinyin equivalent characters.