It has been two nights since the attack. I continue to be scared of the fact that it might happen again. I lay in bed awake wondering if it could happen again. I refuse to get out even though it is morning, but something inside me forces me out of bed. In the mirror my golden eyes looked back at me. My long red hair reflecting the suns light. My silly priestess outfit was hanging next to the mirror. I walked to my closet and put my old kimono on; this one matched me much better. A small flame came out from the palm of my hand. It's nice to know I can do a little still.

There was a knock on my door followed by a servants voice, "Priestess, Eisen has returned from his pilgrimage and wishes to speak to you." The servant left and was to report back to him saying that I would be there shortly. I walked down the halls like any other day. I followed the sound of the flute to where Eisen was. I quietly listened behind the door; he was a very skilled player. Quietly, I opened the door while he was finishing the song. When he knew that I came in the room he stopped playing.

"You stopped before my favorite part." I said joking disappointment.

"I'm sorry; maybe next time you will be stealthier," he said to me with a happy face. I asked him how his pilgrimage was. He told me about the people he had meet and the land he had seen. "I heard there was an attack yesterday."

"There was."

"Are you scared?"

"No, annoyed."

"What will you do?"

"I will find what they want."

"You make it sound like it will be easy."

"Don't you worry your pretty face off Eisen; I can take care of this matter. I am the priestess after all." He opened his mouth as to add in protest. "No, I don't want to hear it. I was assigned the Priestess of the Dragon God so I will hold out my duty in regards for the safety of others." I got up and proceeded to leave the room not allowing him to say anything else.

I demanded that a horse be ready for me to travel into town. Servants were trying to talk me out of it and telling me to send a guardian instead. I ignored them until it became annoying to me. I had exclaimed that I have decided and nothing they could say would convince me otherwise. Upon grabbing the reins of the horse I was to ride, Minamoto and Tenma rushed up and tired to stop me. I mounted the horse before they could reach me. "Are you crazy?" Tenma asked me, "What are you thinking? Were you seriously thinking about leaving by yourself?"

"I was thinking that because I will leave bymyself." I stated putting and emphasis on the last word.

"Please priestess, no Michelle-sama. If you insist on going allow one of us to escort you in case something happens."

"No." I said flatly and immediately. "I am the Priestess of the Dragon God. Meaning I must show courage and compassion for my people, isn't time that I starting act like it? This is something I must do by myself." There was no reply, they stood in shock for I was so out of character. I took it upon myself to speak again, "I may be gone for a while. If I need your help you will know." With that I rode out the palace doors.

"Wh-who was that?" Tenma managed to say after standing there awestruck.

"Such a drastic change of character," Tomomasa said coming out from the entrance to the palace. Then gave out a sigh and said, "That just makes her more interesting."

"Don't joke around!" Tenma shouted. "It is all her fault that Akane disappeared. As soon as Akane saw her she left and we haven't heard a word from her. I mean she doesn't even have any power! How can she come in and just take her place like that." Tenma stormed off into the palace. Tenma jumped over the wall the continued to go forward. He was going to a place where he could be alone. When he arrived there was a small stream with some trees.

He thought of Akane. All this time he had missed her and was worried about her. It was so unlike her to just leave like that, why would she do that? She wouldn't have gone home without him, and Akuram didn't take her. He wondered what things would be like if she was here now. He certainly would not have to put up with that fake priestess Michelle. He knew that it wasn't Michelle's fault that Akane had left, but he couldn't help but blame her. There was something about Michelle that made him want to spill all of his secrets. Everything he had ever kept hidden wanted to come pouring out like a rushing waterfall. But why?

*In a small village on the outskirts of the palace*

"Oh mom! I need your help. I don't know what to do anymore. First, I starting have the same dream over and over again. Then, I get attacked by several demons at once. Please, give me some advice. I mean there is no way I can tell anyone at the palace about this…" My mother gently put her finger on my mouth to silence me.

"My first bit of advice would be to calm down. And how did you get out of the palace? Surely they would not have let you go being the nervous wreck you are now." I held my hand up as a motion that I did not want to talk about it. She shrugged her shoulders and went along with it. "How about that dream, maybe you should look into that. You are a priestess so it has to have meaning of some sort, especially since you have had it more than once."

I told her about my dream and her guess of it was as good as mine, nothing.

-If you would like a picture of what Michelle looks like, just message.

"Breathe" Michelle Branch