Edge 9: A Forgotten Memory's Return
Min You is busy packing her things at her room. She can't believe that the Houseiki no Miko picked her to be the one who'll accompany her on her journey in search of the missing gems and their keepers. While packing the last of thestuff, she recalls her conversation with Hikarou yesterday.
"Me? Accompany you?" Min You shockingly pointed to herself. "Are you nuts? How could you let an artisan-to-be like me be your companion on your journey? Lady General Leisu is far more deserving than me!"
Hikarou replied in a straight face, "If you don't want to, then I won't do it at all." She sways her head away, but suddenly keeps one of her eyes open, peeking at her friend's worried face.
"Besides, I heard you're good at aiming on darts aside from an artisan's skills." She pretends to feel devastated, acting as a hopeless human being.
"But you wouldn't use it for the sake of mankind's future...How could be fate so cruel to me? Why can't you let my maid accompany me? Am I destined to be alone at all?"
Min You sweatdropped and sighs. She sarcastically claps, "Wow... I'm so touched... and where did you get that gossip?" Hikarou comically sniffs and secretly pointed at Fen Fen and Lun Lun. Min You annoyingly looks at them as grumbles to herself.
"Those obnoxious, talkative brats..." She pulls her sleeves up to her arms and clenches her fists. "I'm gonna teach them how to use their mouths PROPERLY." As she tries to approach the two, whom are now preparing to run for their lives to escape the gates of hell, she felt someone crashed on the floor and clings on one of her lounged legs. She turns her head and her eyes bulged out.
Fenfen sweatdropped. "She has gone crazy," while Lun Lun folded her arms, "Oh my...God..."
"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?!"
Hikarou is tightly clinging on Min You's leg and acted like a total desperate beggar. She looked at her with puppy dog eyes, "I beg of thee! Come with me" Min You comically tries to push her away.
"My lady... stop... ACTING LIKE A TOTAL LUNATIC!" But Hikarou hesitated and clings tighter.
"I DON'T CARE! EVEN NOBLES NEED TO SWALLOW THEIR PRIDE AT TIMES LIKE THIS! PLEASE!! I WILL NOT LET GO OF YOUR LEG UNLESS YOU WOULD SAY YES! IF YOU'RE STILL STUBBORN, I'LL CLING TIGHTER, MAKING YOUR BONE CRUSHED! IS IT HARD FOR YOU TO SAY THAT SINGLE SYLLABLE WORD?!" she threateningly replied.
Min You looked at her, Hikarou stared at her with pleading, nearly-teary eyes. This time, the maid felt that she's determined to accompany her, so she thought that arguing with her wouldn't solve anything. At last, she said yes to the sassy priestess. Suddenly, Hikarou stood up with an expressionless face dabbing her shoulders like nothing happened.
"Nobody can resist me, keep that in mind. Try to pack your things ne?" She playfully taps Min You's cheeks and goes back to her chamber, happily swaying her arms in the air. Min You just desperately sighs.
She shakes her head as she puts her last clothes inside her bag and ties its final knot. "I never knew people from another world are sometimes... crazy." She carries her bag on her shoulder, not until an unexpected visitor greets her on her way out. The stranger is wearing a long, pale brown cape and a kasa, clearly not showing its face.
Min You stops for a while. Her heart beats faster, as if something is going to happen. She slowly gets scared not until...
The stranger rose up its head, showing its reddish-brown bangs and almond-shaped violet eyes. She greeted, "How's pac..." Hikarou suddenly gets a pillow bash straight in her face. She closes her eyes as she endures the sudden pain and scowls,
"WHY THE HECK DID YOU DO THAT?!" Min You grabs the pillow on the floor and places it back to her bed. She takes a deep breath and rebukes back,
"At least you should knock first! You nearly gave me a heart attack, at the same time; you'd bring me earlier to my grave!" Min You pouts and turns away from her.
The priestess scratched her nape, realizing that she's still angry at her, for persuading to come with her. She decides to apologize. She bit her lip and sighed,
"Okay... I'm sorry if I acted eccentric yesterday and persuaded you forcefully. But I really wanted you to come because you're my sole trusted friend. Besides, I think this voyage is my way of repaying you for all the help you gave. So... Peace already?" She makes a V-sign using her hands, swaying it and giving off her ever-killer-smile. Min You bursts giggling while folding her arms in front of her chest.
"Is that how you people from the other world make peace?" The maid asked. Hikarou nodded,
"But I'm doing a cute version of it. There's a lot of ways in our world." She gives off again a bright smile. Min You slowly raises her hands and imitates the priestess' peace-making style. Hikarou sighs in relief. "Yokatta..."
Min You arches a brow and looks at her from top to toe, still arms folded, "What's with the cape and kasa? You look some kind of an assassin."
"Well Fenfen and Lunlun gave this to me as a good disguise... even I don't like it... but, it is bad if I wouldn't accept it." She turns around. "So what do you think?"
"Nice... those brats have some taste anyway." Min You sees Hikarou already packed her stuff and they both went outside. Her trusty maid sees her sword tied on her waist.
"Isn't that heavy?"
"No. I've been a member of our Wushu club since 4th grade so I don't have any problems carrying it..." She smiles and they continued their chitchat along the palace hallway.
Sadness fills the entire Konan palace, as the devastating news broke that Lady Miaka is now permanently blind, not unless they would arrest the culprit behind this. Emperor Reiteizei orders the immediate search all through out the country, even if they don't have any clues on how the mastermind looks like. At the throne room, the Emperor of Konan hopelessly sits on his throne and touches his forehead, worrying about his next decision.
"First, famine... and now, Lady Miaka's devastating condition… How can we seek Suzaku's help now?" His Empress touched his hand to comfort him.
"Majesty, calm down. Don't pressure yourself too much, everything will be alright."
Reiteizei looks at his wife. "How can I be alright? Konan is going through two... No… three problems. Konan and Kutou are exchanging help for the past several decades since the previous war broke. Lately, there has been uneasiness between the two. Before, we helped them from drought and in return, they'll aid us from famine. Now, I just can't understand why the Emperor of Kutou had a sudden change of heart!" he silently pauses for a while,
"Not for long, the famine will get severe day by day. Soon, the food supply will only be enough for the people in the city. People living in the far provinces and prefectures will suffer hunger and die. An uprising may follow if we don't do something. Now, how can I make myself calm down in this grave crisis we're facing?" the Empress suddenly clasps his hand tightly.
Then, the attendant announced the arrival of Tasuki and Chichiri. The two Suzaku warriors came in and gave their respects. Emperor Reiteizei approaches them, followed by his wife.
"How's the preliminary investigation so far?"
Tasuki responds first. "Going well, Your Highness... other than the missing jewels, Chichiri found somethin' fishy back at the shrine." Chichiri showed him a small, silver incense tripod, in a lamp formed shape (A/N: Aladdin's lamp, anyone to give you a vivid description).
"Does this tripod belong to the shrine, Highness?"
Reiteizei's wife examines it. "No, this tripod doesn't belong to the shrine. I only knew there's only one incense holder in the shrine, and that's made of gold and not so small compared to this."
The emperor adds, "I agree with her, Chichiri-sama. It's my first time seeing a strange thing like this."
Chichiri glances again at the tripod.
"Why would the culprit snatch the eye jewels and leave a strange, mysterious silver tripod inside the shrine?"
Min You widens her eyes in shock as an enormous ship just arrived. Several men are coming in and out from it to deliver the goods inside. It has been a long time since she saw a ship docked on the imperial wharf.
"This thing is superb!" She exclaims putting her hands together in excitement. "I've never been to a large ship before!" She grips her bag and proudly climbs up. But before she could do that, Hikarou suddenly pulls her collar from behind.
"And where do you think you're going?!" Hikarou turns her around and lets her collar go. Min You coughs and catches her breath.
"You don't have to do that harshly. What's the matter with ya?! We're going to board on that ship right?" Her friend just rolled her eyes and points a Chinese junk behind using her thumb.
"We're gonna take this SHIP and not THAT one." Min You's lower jaw suddenly drops in shock.
"W...We're gonna go in to that ship, right?" She points frantically at the grand ship. The priestess shakes her head. "That ship is too big for us… Besides that ship is headed north."
Min You pouts, stammering. As she nears the junk, she suddenly gets a glimpse on the waves and stops for a while. Her face suddenly turns green. Hikarou gets curious and takes a peek.
"Are you afraid getting seasick?"
Min You sees her and hurriedly shakes her head, ignoring her phobia.
"Ahaha, my lady, do you think this maiden is afraid to travel by sea? I'm as experienced as a sailor you know?" She weakly laughs, "I'm not afraid of the water." Min You gulps.
Hikarou sighs. She tells the other sailors to accompany Min You first in to the junk first. She looks back and sees Empress Ying coming. She pays respects to the Empress and in return, her Highness slightly bowed her head. "Leaving soon?"
Hikarou nodded back. "Yes, Your Grace. We need to leave early before the sun rises. "Thank you for all you've done for us. We'll be back as soon as we completed the quest."
She turns back, ready to climb the ship, but Empress Ying gently stops her as she holds Hikarou's wrist.
"Yes, Highness?" The priestess turns her head. Empress Ying gives her a gentle smile and hands her a trinket and a blank book.
"This trinket is owned by my daughter. It's an ink holder together with a small brush in it. It'll be inconvenient for you to bring along a big brush and an ink holder during travels. I want you to use this for a while. It might give you some help in the future."
Hikarou hesitates. "But, Majesty, this thing is sentimental to you. I can't..." Empress Ying clasps her hands. "I see my daughter through you. Will you not hesitate this time?"
The priestess went silent and nods. "Thank you, Majesty. I'll take good care of this." She finally turns back and goes off into the junk. Empress Ying watches as Hikarou waves goodbye at them as the junk sails away from the wharf.
When the boat is about several inches away, the priestess thought about one thing. She takes off something on her neck and throws it directly to Empress Ying, shouting.
"Your Grace… CATCH!"
The Empress of Liu Guo successfully catches it with both of her hands. She looks and sees it's a necklace with a yellow rose pendant. Then, she hears another shout. Hikarou yelled with all her might as the boat quickly sails away,
"That necklace is my mom's gift when I turned 16! Please take good care of it as I take care of your daughter's trinket! Till we meet again, Your Grace!" Empress Ying takes a final look at the junk, which is now several meters away. One of her maids spoke,
"That girl is really something, Your Grace."
Empress Ying takes a glimpse on the necklace as the rays of sunlight struck on it, giving a gentle glow. "Yes..." she said it in soft, yet firm voice.
Meanwhile, Miaka felt something strange while standing in front of her quarter's veranda, where she can't see the beautiful scenery of Lake Taichi. She tries to sense where did it come from but she failed. Taka comes noticing that his wife is looking for something.
"Are you looking for me?" She turns her head in the direction of her husband's voice and shakes her head.
"I just felt something weird, but never mind." She smiles back.
"Someone wants to talk to you, Miaka." Taka gives way while Miaka wonders what does he meant. She heard footsteps coming towards her.
"Miaka-sama..." The Queen Dowager of Konan, Houki, arrives, nearly crying as she sees Miaka's pitiful condition. The Suzaku no Miko notices her presence in front of her and gently cups her cheek as her other hand holds a wooden cane so that she won't lose her balance. "Don't cry, Houki-san. I'm fine even I lost my sight. I know someday, my sight would come back soon. I'll wait for that day to come."
Konan's Queen Dowager restrains herself and smiled at her. "Miaka-san, that would really come true. It will..."
Suddenly, one of the palace ministers approaches Houki.
"The Emperor wants to see you, Queen Dowager." Taka is shocked to see the face of the brown-haired palace minister, as if he's familiar to him.
"Chi...chi...riko?"
While the boat is quietly sailing, Hikarou is peacefully sleeping while holding her sword beside her leaning her head at the junk's pillar.
"Where am I?" She looks around, suddenly seeing a female silhouette in it. As she gets closer, she widens her eyes vividly sees her, in miko-regalia attire. She has dark brown hair and fair, white skin. She turns her head, looking at Hikarou with her calm green eyes.
"Ma..ma...?" She quickly hugs Miaka tightly, sobbingly faces her as she puts Miaka's hands on her cheeks.
"Mama! It's really you! Don't worry about me… I'm still in one piece and alive. I got stuck in this weird world, plus I got separated from brother and endowed with a heavy task but I'll soon be back, FOR SURE." She wipes her tears confusingly looking at her mom from head to toe. "Why are you wearing such a silly Chinese costume?"
"Silly? Can you vividly describe it?" Miaka languidly replies with a smile. She comically looks again at her pouting her lips and folding her arms on her chest.
Lightly tapping her right foot repeatedly on the floor, she comments in a mocking tone, "You mainly wear a red coat, tied by a yellow sash, matching red shoes and gold bracelets. You have a weird necklace with yellow, blue and red beads. Your hair is tied up with that large-gold-pin thing… oh there're also pink ribbons in it. You also have some decorative white flowers shaped like snowflakes placed on the sides of your temples. But… what I really hated…" she annoyingly sighs,
"is… THAT SEE-THROUGH CLOTH COVERING YOUR BODY, LOOK! YOUR FLESH IS BARELY SEEN! LOOK! Your cleavage is showing!" She quickly takes off her coat and wears it on her mom.
"If I were you, I rather not wear that! It'll definitely cost my life if they would want me to be dressed in that kind of clothing!" She tries to peek but tosses her head away with her eyes closed, matching with comical hand movements.
"OH LORD… I can't bear looking at you that way… How could a Chinese seamstress invent such a malicious, lecherous clothing crap!" She smacks her head. As Miaka hears Hikarou in her comical and sarcastic talking, she giggles.
"You still haven't changed, Hikarou. Your tongue is still as sharp as ever. No wonder Hikari always wants to cover your mouth… Besides from that blemish, you're still kind at to people."
Hikarou turns back and happily replies, "It's because I inherited Mom and Dad's kind traits. Also I couldn't forget I got also some of onii-chan's! I really owe and love you guys a lot! You're all special to me!" She pauses, "Say… back to the topic. Why are you wearing that, mama? You should be wearing modern clothes after all."
Miaka approaches herholding both of Hikarou's hands, "There are still some things I can't explain. But, Hikarou, bear in mind, that what you're going through now is much harder and tougher than we've all experienced. Your heart, mind and soul must be prepared for all these hardships as you begin your journey. I know you could overcome it."
Suddenly, Miaka slowly vanishes in front of Hikarou. The golden myna couldn't believe what she's seeing. "Mama! Don't go! What do you mean? Did… Did you come into this world before I arrived here? Ma, I still have more questions to ask!"
Miaka keeps her mouth sealed and finally vanishes, with her voice echoing.
"Remember… your father, your brother and me… are always watching you… even when we're far away. Hikarou, you can surely save this world…"
Hikarou shouts as she stretches her hand to reach her fading mother, "MAMA!!"
She suddenly feels someone is shaking her shoulder and later, hears the words "WAKE UP! HIKAROU!" She slowly opens her eyes and sees Min You in front of her, touching her shoulder.
"You're dreaming, xiao jie." She said, "You also mentioned the word 'Mama'. You're having a dream about your mother, ne?"
"Dream huh? Maybe I'm really thinking of too many things. Mom and Dad can't really be a part of this world… but why she is wearing a luxurious dress like that?"
A snap of a finger suddenly getting her attention. "Stop wandering in a daze, lady." Min You stands up and gently pats her skirt. "By the way, the captain wants to speak to you." The miko stands up as she sees the captain. He gives respects to both of them.
"Why do you want to speak with me, sir?" Hikarou asks.
"We'll be arriving in Sairou Empire's port soon, my lady. We will only drop you and then go back to Liu Guo as soon as possible." Hikarou turns her head beside, noticing Min You's face goes barfing. She makes a disgusted face and quickly points behind the boat's edge. Min You looks behind, rushes at the edge boat's railing and pukes. The captain and the priestess watches her in dismay.
"It looks like your lady-in-waiting isn't used to the seas, priestess." The old captain cheerfully tells her while Hikarou slightly smiles.
A young boy's silhouette sits on a cliff swinging its legs. He sees a Chinese junk nearly approaching Sairou's main port. He stands up and gazes at the boat and says,
"I sense a powerful chi coming… I need to keep my eyes open, so that my expectations wouldn't be hindered by this mysterious force."
Later, Min You looks for Hikarou after feeling better. She sees her, leaning behind on the junk's railing while studying the xiang jing to get some whereabouts for the first gem warrior. She approaches her, and sits beside. The priestess noticed her and asks if she's alright, which Min You replied with a slow nod.
"Rou xiao jie, how did you know that the location of the first gem is in Sairou?" Hikarou bit her lip and ties up the scroll.
"Simple. According here…" She shows the scroll at Min You, "the clues for the first gem are zhi, zhuang, and sui." Min You wonders on what she meant. Hikarou gets a blank paper and the trinket that Empress Ying gave her from her knapsack. She straightens the paper on the ship's floor, takes out the small brush in the trinket and dips it in the ink holder. She writes the characters one by one, horizontally and in order. She points the end tip of the brush on the 'zhuang' character.
"Since we're talking about the location, this is the clue." Then, she writes the same character on the next line, but she separated the complex character into two.
"Zhuang literally means 'a large mansion', or a manor to be exact. So I asked the captain of the ship, which empire can old manors be found, and he said they are mostly seen in Sairou, where also barren lands are found and the country is located near the desert." Min You is fascinated with her explanation.
"What's with these two characters?" Her maid-friend points the two characters below. Hikarou smiles,
"I separated it into two. The first ideograph means 'cliff' and the last is 'earth', which really fits Sairou's description as an Earth empire where Byakko is their guardian god. That's what I heard from all the hearsays…"
"And also during our history class, if I could remember it well, tigers are considered as lords of the mountains by the ancient Chinese so I ―" Min You suddenly puts her hands on the priestess' shoulders and moves it to see Hikarou face to face. The startled priestess blinked her popping eyes twice.
"Err… what?"
The navy-blue haired maid grins and claps both Hikarou's hands. Her eyes get teary with admiration and enticement.
"OH I LOVE YOU SOO MUCH XIAO JIE!! YOU'RE AWESOME!" She throws her arms around Hikarou and tightly hugs her, getting both of them crashed on the floor. Little Min You knows, the startled miko accidentally knocks her head on the ship's floor, enduring the pain by biting her lower lip instead of shouting. The junk crew stares at the very scandalous scene… with wonder.
"Good… grief…." Hikarou said frustratingly while gritting her teeth.
"Chi… chiriko?" Taka utters in awe, approaching the noble man, who is now a government official. "You are Chiriko, aren't you?"
"Perhaps you are mistaken, sir. My name is Gakurei Cho, one of the palace officials here in Konan." The young noble man said politely. Taka pauses for a while thinking that he has already seen his comrade. It has been several years since he last saw the reincarnations of Chiriko, Nuriko, Hotohori and Mitsukake, and that's during their battle with the fake Suzaku. True, several years had already passed in the book world and they sure had forgotten about their memories of being one of the Suzaku seishi.
"Gomen ne..." He apologizes. The palace minister smiles, as he was saying that he'd already accepted the apology and slowly turns away from them, until…
"Wait…sir…"
The pale-brown haired palace minister stops and turns around. He sees Miaka, holding onto the railings, walking a few steps forward approaching him.
"May I ask for your permission to touch your face, sir? Forgive me if it is the only thing I could do, for I am now completely blind." The stunned palace minister couldn't believe that he's seeing the Suzaku no Miko. He looks at her in pity, for her beauty is nothing without her sight. Everyone is devastated when the whole palace learns that Miaka is blind. He comes closer and gives respects to her.
Miaka stretches her hand that's on the railing and gently cupped his cheeks. She returns her hand on the railing and sighs.
"It's been a while since we've last seen him. During my miko days, I remember, he's only 13 that time and wanted to be a government official someday. He died protecting me and got reincarnated later to continue his dream. I'm sure he'll succeed because of his determination to be one. If I could only see him wearing a palace minister's uniform, I would surely give him a hug and congratulate him…" she paused for a while.
"Unfortunately, I wasn't given a chance because I'm now blind. But I'll definitely see him and I'll do it if I can be able to see… soon." a single tear streak fell on her cheek and she quickly wipes it off. Houki and Taka watches them in grief, especially Miaka.
"I'm sorry I cried in front of you, sir. I really don't know how to restrain my emotions. Again, please forgive us for mistaking you as Chiriko." Miaka slightly bows her head for the last time and turns away from the palace minister, who's now stunned and nearly teary-eyed when he heard Miaka's words. Taka approached and lends a hand for his blind wife.
"You want me to take you back to our room?" He asks. Miaka replies with a single nod, trying to hide her depression. "I'm a bit tired… Taka." As both of them turn away and make a few steps forward, however, a voice calls them.
"Miaka…san… Ta…ka…san." The palace minister slowly calls their attention, hinting that he already knew them for a very long time. Upon hearing it, both of them turned around, Miaka first and followed by Taka, and see him with two simultaneous tear streaks falling on his cheeks. She wondered on the sudden change of emotions of the palace minister. He, then moves a few steps forward and said,
"I… can… remember… now… I… am really Chiriko… one of the Suzaku seven…" He slowly smiles. Miaka suddenly smiles and he runs to her and clasps both of her hands, saying in a sobbing voice,
"I've become a successful palace minister, Miaka-san. I've got what I've really wanted for…" He slowly starts to cry. "I'm wearing a red palace minister uniform with a black hat on top of my head… I'm so busy helping the Emperor that I completely forgot about you and Tamahome-san…I'm sorry if it took so long for me to recall… I'm really sorry," Chiriko can't control his emotions but Miaka comforts him by hugging him.
Taka smiled, as well as Queen Dowager Youtaikou. They were delighted that he finally remembers all. Then, Tasuki and Chichiri entered the scene as they see both of them watching Miaka comforting a palace minister. The bandit, with no clues on what's going on, frantically bellows and also pointing his fingers,
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOIN' ON?! TAKA, HOW CUD YA BE SO NAÏVE?! MIAKA IS COMMITING ADULTERY AT YA FACE-TO-FACE!! STOP HER!! STOP HER!!" But Taka shuts him up by giving him a direct, massive elbow whack to the bandit's head. Tasuki's eyes went swirling while Houki and Chichiri sweatdrops,
"You really can't remember Chiriko, do you, Tasuki?" The monk observes with an arched brow and folded arms.
"He's still as stupid as ever." Taka comments. Meanwhile, Miaka and Chiriko didn't seem to notice the wacky scene that just occurred. The Priestess of Suzaku just smiles while tapping the back of the youngest of the Suzaku seven warriors.
"You've grown a lot… Chiriko…" she thought.
Meanwhile, Min You and Hikarou have finally stepped on the land of Sairou. After landing on the country's main port, they directly went to the heart of the country's capital: the marketplace. As they arrived, it's full of people, with different shops in every corner, selling different kinds of products.The priestess and her maid walk together through the busy streets.
"Man… it's still hurts…" Hikarou grumbles while gently rubbing the back of her head that got knocked down on the ship's floor. She gives Min You a grumpy glance and resumes walking, and still rubbing her head.
"Rou xiao jie, I'm really sorry. I just got carried away with my feelings." Her eyes sparkled as she describes it with actions, "You explained those characters clearly and with precision. You acted like a scholar and… You're the most intelligent person I've met in my entire life!" A comical waterfall of tears flows on the maid's cheeks. Hikarou splutters by giving a gentle tap on her forehead.
"Teenagers…"
"Please don't make another scandalous act. What happened on the junk is enough." Hikarou said to her, gritting her teeth.
"Besides, you're such one good bluffer … much better than my suitors back at home." She added when she realized the pain has already faded, putting her hands on her back.
"You have suitors?" Min You's eyes bulged with wonder, "So you already have a lover?". The spunky miko stops for a while, faces her and sarcastically smiles.
"None." She directly replies. The navy-haired girl's lower jaw dropped and they resumed walking.
"I don't believe you, xiao jie. With those gorgeous looks, that ideal height and everything…. Any man would fall for—"
"But I'm a certain… I mean a rare girl type who doesn't participate in the matters of the hearts. I want to fulfill FIRST my dream of being a screen writer, a novelist, and GETTING RICH SOMEDAY!" She proudly says to herself. "So boys and heart matters, set aside…. MONEY AND FAME, here I come!"
She walks happily first, leaving Min You dumbfounded on what she hears.
"She must be kidding me… how could there be such a WOMAN created to dislike MEN?!" Min You wonders.
Later, when they reach the middle of the marketplace, they see where the food stalls are located. Hikarou blows off the wisp of her hair while she puts her hands on her waist.
"Man, we've already reached the middle yet we still haven't found an inn to stay for the night." Her friendly maid catches up with her panting.
"It's because Sairou seems to suffer from a plague recently." The two looked around, seeing an aged, but young-looking woman approach them. She has blackish-blue hair tied in buns with braids, is wearing a black Chinese dress, covered with a pale brown cape and carrying an empty brown basket.
"Pests have already attacked the field crops all over nearby provinces and sandstorms take place too. The townsfolk cannot do anything about it, so they decided to move to the capital because it's the only place where the mysterious plagues didn't attack. At this rate, I doubt if you could find any vacant rooms."
"Oh… thanks for the info, Ma'am." Hikarou bows down, so as Min You too. The priestess adds, "Say, are there any inns around?"
"If you walked through here and pass by over the next eight food stalls, you'll be able to see another four inns. I'm sure they still have vacant rooms there." Hikarou was about to thank the lady, until Min You suddenly pulls her away from the lady and whispers something.
"Should we follow that lady's advice?" Min You doubts. Hikarou proudly places her arm around the maid's shoulder, whispering her reply at her ear,
"Of course! First, she's a permanent resident of this country; second, we're naive-foreigners-in-distress-needing-of-instant-help; and lastly, she looks pretty trusting. Old ladies don't con kind, innocent looking, and cute girls like us." She winks back. Min You seems to be unconvinced, however.
Hikarou turns her attention back to the old lady.
"Thanks for helping us travelers, Ma'am". Just as they were about to part ways, they hear a boy's scream from nowhere.
"OKASAN!!"
Hikarou looks around for where the voice is coming from…
Vocab & Additional info:
Yokatta – thank god (in jap.)
Wushu – refers literally to Chinese Martial arts in various forms (in the fic, Hikarou's wushu expertise lies in handing swords, specifically on a double edge one. Swords featured in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon anyone?)
Lake Taichi – it's the lake where Miaka was saved by Tasuki from drowning (OVAs), and where Miaka committed suicide in the series for losing Tamahome
Kasa – a hat (clue: anyone seen Chichiri's hat in the FY Series?)
Xiao Jie – Mandarin for "Miss" or "Lady". It's typical for the Chinese to call ladies with higher ranks with these. Much same to Korea's "agasshi" and Japanese's "name then –sama"
Gakurei Cho – Chiriko's real name after he was reincarnated (refer to Eikouden)