Author Fangirling: Surprise! I have access after all, so you get this week's update a little early instead! Please leave a review, and see you next week! ~Appa

After Boushin had received a more thorough tour of the village, Juan had taken to giving him a detailed introduction to a few other things. "This is a plant you can use when your nose is stuffy," he placed it in the pile in Boushin's hands. "This is a plant that you can use when you're having trouble sleeping. This is a plant that you can use when you have a fever. This is a plant you can use when your head hurts."

Shouka had her arms folded as she stood behind him. "It might help if you tell him their names." Juan was quiet and still. "…You forgot them, didn't you?"

"That's alright, I don't think I'd remember all the names anyway," Boushin smiled, unsure what to do with the mass of twigs and leaves Juan had given him. At that moment, Tama the cat came to see what they were up to, and as he passed by, Boushin sneezed and dropped the entire pile.

"I've got a better idea," Shouka rolled her eyes at the mess. "Let's go to the other side of the stream."

"Outside the village?" asked Boushin. There's nothing out there…

"Let's go!" she said and headed off, and without question, Juan was right behind her. Boushin dusted the rest of the plants off his lap, and followed as well.

"What are we going to do there?"

Shouka turned back with an impish grin. "A test of courage!"

"Test of courage? I… I can do that!" he said, though he wasn't entirely sure of what she meant. He knew he could handle himself well enough should anything happen—although he had left his sword back inside the house. Surely there would be no need for it.

The afternoon dragged on as Shouka presented challenges to the boys (all of which she said she had already done before). From pointing up to the fruit at the very top of a high tree and telling them to climb up and get it, and telling them to cross old unkempt bridges, she thought of whatever way she could to get the best of them. Juan was easily bested and cried when he felt he had no choice but to meet her challenges, but Boushin was having more fun than he thought he should. For everything Shouka said, his first thought was This could be dangerous or My mother would not want me to do this, but he was quicker and quicker to push those thoughts aside.

It was exciting—and he would never be able to do anything like this once he returned to the palace. Juan's courage finally gave out when they faced a cave with a small opening. "Alright, you two," Shouka growled, doing her best to get the best of Boushin. "You need to go to the back of the cave, pick some of the mushrooms that grow in there, and then come back with them."

"You're not going to make us eat the mushrooms, are you?" Juan protested. "We don't know what they are, or what they do!"

"Don't worry, we'll save them for Uncle Tasuki."

"Oh, okay."

"Let's go, Juan," Boushin began walking towards the cave, but Juan pulled back on his wrist, shaking his head.

"I… I don't… it's…"

"Let's take a look, Juan," he smiled, and took his hand. "Come on, we won't get lost this way. I'll stay with you."

Juan looked down at his hands, and then back to Shouka. "Is that going to be against the rules?"

She rolled her eyes and nudged them inside. The ground was wet, and the air inside had a musky smell. Boushin couldn't see much as he waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but he could hear Juan's whimpering bouncing off the narrow walls.

"Come on, Juan, let's think of this as an adventure!"

"An adventure? Not a test?"

"Yeah! We're like… we're Suzaku warriors, off to go unseal Suzaku at the back of this cave!"

Juan smiled. "Okay…"

"We've come across trials and enemies all day to get here, and this is the last test left!"

"I hope so!"

"Once we get these mushrooms, we'll give them to Taiitsukun and she'll give Suzaku back!"

He giggled. "Her name's Shouka…"

"She's a witch now! And you and I are warriors!" Boushin said enthusiastically, and Juan's giggles encouraged him to continue. "My name's Hotohori, and you're Mitsukake."

"Okay, Hotohori!"

Boushin got swept up in describing enemies that came to face them and how they ward them off, and was completely taken by surprise when he felt something soft against his ankle.

"W-Why did you scream?" asked Juan.

"There—something touched me."

Juan bent down toward his ankles and felt around, then grew a big smile. "Mushrooms!"

"Really!? Then Shouka really has been in here!"

"Shouka has been everywhere. Wow, these mushrooms are so soft. So soft and feathery."

"Then all that's left is to get out of here. I sure am hungry, I'll bet we've missed dinner being out here so long."

"Just don't eat the mushrooms!"

"I won't!"

A little surer of their steps, they moved a little faster out of the cave, using whatever daylight was left to guide them. Hand in hand with their other hands full of mushrooms, they continued pretending to be warriors, ready to go summon Suzaku.

Chiriko finally noticed it had gotten dark outside. Once he got swept up in a project, he could usually go the entire day without doing much else, as had been the case today. Satisfied with the work he had done, he put his brush away and went to see if Boushin was waiting.

"They're not here?" he looked around, and asked Shouka's parents.

They didn't seem very concerned. "They're probably at Juan's house. I'm preparing dinner right now, so they should be back soon."

Chiriko felt he should find out for sure-after all, he was charged with the care of the emperor. He borrowed a lamp, discovered that the chiildren were not at Juan's house, and in his gut, he felt he should locate him right away.

Shouka had wrapped the mushrooms in a cloth, and tied them around her shoulder. "I guess you passed the test," she affirmed them, somewhat disappointed. Boushin and Juan both looked very proud of themselves. "We should hurry up and get back. My mommy will be really mad if we miss dinner. Your mommy has already tossed yours out by now, Juan!"

"What? Oh no! I'm so hungry!"

"Why were we out so late, then?" Boushin made a face at her. "We only had fruit for lunch, after all!"

"What's wrong with that?"

"Well, it's… it's light. A proper lunch should…"

Boushin was cut off by the sound of a growl—a growl that did not belong to their stomachs. Very cautiously, the young emperor looked over his shoulder, and saw a beast staring directly at him.

"Wolves," Shouka whispered, and he took Juan's hand tightly. "D… don't run, or they'll chase you," her voice quivered. "Back… up… slowly…"

Feeling around his person for his sword, Boushin's hands were empty. As his breathing became heavier, he could only listen to Shouka's instructions, but with not even two steps backward, he fell to the ground, barely able to move as fear seized him. The wolf, accompanied by a couple others, stepped closer.

He was no Suzaku warrior. Without everything his father had handed down to him, he was nothing. His body shook from head to toe as he stared back at the beast.

To everyone's surprise, there was a shout. Chiriko came running towards them, waving a branch he had lit up from the lamp, and brandishing it towards the wolves. Once he was between the children the wolves, continued to yell and advance. The wolves backed up a few steps before turning to run. Once he was sure they were gone, Chiriko tossed the flaming branch into the stream and sank to his knees with a sigh of relief; his hands shaking all the way to his elbows. Still, he regained enough composure to glare back at Boushin for having gone so far.

Boushin didn't notice, and once he regained some ability to move, he sprang towards Chiriko and hugged him tightly, starting to cry and hiccup. "I was… I was so scared…"

Chiriko's anger faded, and stroked his head.

Once the young group had recovered enough to walk and talk again, Chiriko took the opportunity to lecture them. Juan was bawling, and even Shouka looked like she was about to wail at any time, whereas Boushin only quietly sniffled and stared at this feet. Going on with a lecture only made him feel guilty at that point, the adult sighed. "As long as you all learned your lesson and you're all alright, then everything is fine. I'm sure you'll hear more from your parents, so we'll do everyone a favor and keep the part about the wolf secret."

"Thank you… sniffle… Uncle Chiriko… sniffle…"

"We won't… hic… we won't… hic… do it again…"

Sure enough, there was more lecture to be had once they were home, and after an awkward dinner, Boushin and Chiriko were alone back in their room, the boy still staring at the floor. "Are you alright, Boushin?"

"Thank you for saving me."

"I'm just glad I got there in time, and that… oh, I should I add other warriors to this," he turned to his stack of papers on the desk.

"What's that?"

"Your homework. For now, please get some rest."

For the first night in several, Boushin feel asleep quickly.

"You sure you want to go to class today?"

"I'm sure. Thank you for driving me. Isn't this going to make you late?"

"It's okay, I'm happy to. I don't want you to be alone. I'll make sure to come by for lunch, too. What time will you get out of class?"

"Thank you, Tetsuya." Her voice sounded tired and vacant, and she snuggled into the front seat with her eyes closed.

"Has the book…" he started, "has it been calling you stronger?"

"I don't know. It's probably nothing. This girl's just getting to me, that's all."

"I'm going to make sure that she doesn't get to you! She's crazy!"

"Hm," she acknowledged.

Once they reached her campus, Tetsuya stepped out of the car with her, and they embraced. Yui felt like she could melt into him and be protected from everything troubling her, and she relaxed. "I'm so happy you're here."

"No matter what happens, I'm going to take care of you. Plan on meeting me at the place on the corner for lunch, okay? I'll be there."

She couldn't help but smile. "You're so worried. What's going to happen out here in broad daylight, anyway?"

"Nothing's going to happen, because I'll be there!"

"You're so gallant," she smiled and pushed away, forcing herself to face reality and distract herself from her imagination. "I'll need to talk with my classmates about a group project, so I might be a little late. Don't let that worry you, alright?"

He held her arms and looked down into her face, and smiled and nodded.

Hope is a breaking point. Even a little of it will push someone far enough to forget everything that had held them back. "Lord Nakago," Suboshi knelt in front of the emperor. "The troops are well in order. They have daily training exercises to follow, and they obey my subordinates' orders as well as they do my own."

"Good work."

"I would like to request a leave of absence."

"To go to Sairou to see Amiboshi, I take it," he replied.

"You're correct, My Lord," he smiled to the floor as he kept his head bowed, startled but pleased that he would not need to come up with an explanation for himself. "Please be assured that I will be returning to my duties as soon as I can see my brother's condition."

"Since he's forgotten about you, your connection has been cut off," Nakago looked towards the western window. "Do you intend to speak with him, and take him back here with you?"

"No. I would merely like to set my mind at ease."

"You certainly have been troubled as of late," he smiled directly back at him. This made Suboshi fearful, but he could only acknowledge that Nakago was correct. The emperor continued, "I have no use for a distracted general. You should go and take care of this matter."

"Thank you!" he smiled up at him. "I will return as soon as I'm finished."

"Make sure to accomplish everything you set out to do."