Land!

We've Finally Made it to Hokkankoku!

Episode 21

Everyone was in high spirits as the smudge of land on the horizon readily grew larger with each passing swell.

"Look at that," gasped Mitsukake. "All those mountains... and there's snow on them! Even at this time of the year."

Chiriko nodded. "Hokkankoku is a lot colder than the other countries because it's so far north."

Nuriko shivered slightly. "I thought it was a little chilly, but I assumed it was the ocean. Ne, Tasuki-chaaan..."

The bandit eyed him warily. "Nani?"

"Let me use your fan to keep me warm!"

Tasuki got a large sweatdrop. "Oi, this is a halisen! It's not to be used for trivial things like that!"

Lina eyed the dock that was now visible. "Hmm... where in this place is the Shinzahou, anyways? It's not like we can look it up in the Shijintenchiso any more, you know."

Everyone stopped and looked at her, including Tasuki, who was sullenly fanning Nuriko with his halisen. "What do you mean?" asked the bandit.

Lina scratched her head. "Well, we've been told by Taiitsukun to go find the Genbu no Shinzahou so we came here, to Hokkankoku, that's supposed to be guarded by Genbu, right? But she never told us where it was or even where to start looking!"

Tamahome shrugged. "Well just have to find out as we go along. This wouldn't be a quest otherwise, would it?" He grinned at the others. "I suppose that the first order of business would be to find out more about the Genbu no Shinzahou, ne?"

"What's wrong, Chiriko, no da?"

Chiriko was looking at the floor with his brow furrowed. "Hokkankoku is three times as large as Konankoku." He didn't notice the face faults of the other Shichi Seishi, because he continued, "It's not going to be an easy time. However..."

"However?" prompted Tasuki, who had stopped fanning Nuriko upon hearing the shock over Hokkankoku's size.

"Once, when I was a little boy, a friend told me about a story he had heard about somebody called Genbu no Miko. I don't remember all the details, but he said something about the summoning being in a holy cave in one of the mountains."

"More mountains, ne?" commented Nuriko, shooting Tasuki a dirty look. "Well, that's a bit of a help at least. Still, I think the best thing to do is ask around in the city. It's got to be a famous legend."

"Hai!" the others agreed.

There was little left for them to do but wait until they docked.

Lina smiled and stretched her arms out. "We've finally made it to Hokkankoku!" she proclaimed, throwing her arms wide and missing Mitsukake by centimeters. He unobtrusively moved out of t he way as she clenched her fist and slapped it into her palm. "Now, our task, if we choose to accept it, is to find the Genbu no Shinzahou. Where it is I have no idea. Well, okay, so we think it's in some holy mountain somewhere. Anyways, our first order of business is..."

The others waited expectantly.

"...To find a good place to eat and chow down!"

They all got sweatdrops.

"Oi!" growled Tasuki. "You're the one who's all hell-bent on finding the Shinzahou and saying we have to find more information and you want to go find some %#&*@ place to eat?!"

Nuriko tapped him gently on the shoulder (or at least, gently in Nuriko-terms, it felt to Tasuki like a very hard prod) and whispered in the bandit's ear, "She's always like this. Trust me, once she gets something to eat, she'll be much easier to manage."

So it was that the Shichi Seishi found themselves scouring the streets not for the Genbu no Shinzahou or even information regarding its location, but scouring the streets for a cheap restaurant.

"This is embarrassing," mumbled Mitsukake.

"You'd be amazed at how fast you get used to it," shrugged Tamahome.

Chichiri's eyebrows rose an inch. "What's that, na no da?" He pointed to a stone block set in the middle of the city square. Writing was carved on its sides, but it was of no language anyone knew.

"Who cares?" Lina patted her stomach. "We'll operate better on full stomachs, so let everything else go until we find a restaurant. Ahh, that looks like a likely place."

"You mean she'll operate better," whispered Tasuki to Mitsukake, who merely sighed.

They entered the small establishment. Lina instantly plopped down in a chair and ordered the entire menu's contents without bothering to look at it. "While we're here, let's get some plans worked out," she said.

"We're going to have to spread out and ask people if they know more information," commented Chiriko. "We should go in pairs, that way it's safer."

There were nods of agreement. Lina took control of the conversation. "Right, so let's divvy up the groups. Mitsukake, Chiriko, you two should see if you can't find any town guardsmen or officials and ask them. Tasuki, Chichiri, try asking the people on the street who look like they might know more information. Nuriko, Tamahome, um... you'll be with me, and we're going to ask about that pillar. I noticed it had some sort of turtle painted on the top, so it may have to deal with Genbu no Miko and the Shinzahou and all that hoopla.

"We'll meet back at the pillar, since it seems like a good landmark, at sunset by the latest. Come back instantly when you find more information. We'll regroup there, discuss what we've found out, and hopefully find out where to find the Genbu no Shinzahou. Are we clear?"

Nods of agreement.

The food arrived.

"Good! So let's eat! Itadakimasu!"

The others watched aghast as Lina dove into the food, literally. Tamahome, Nuriko, and Chichiri just shrugged it off and snuck off a few pieces of dinner, leaving Tasuki, Mitsukake, and Chiriko to fend for themselves. Predictably, a fight broke out, this time between Lina and Tasuki. After much fang baring, obscenity shouting, and a lot plate breaking had occurred, everything was worked out, mainly because there was no food left.

They left the restaurant with the owner looking a bit shell-shocked and split up into groups. They were about to set off when Chiriko stopped them.

"Ne, what is it, Chiriko-chan?" Tasuki ruffled a hand through his red hair.

"Minna..." He looked nervous. "Ganbatte, minna. Good luck!"

"Awww," smiled Tasuki. "How cute." He ruffled Chiriko's hair. "Good luck to you too, kid. Don't worry, everything's going to work out fine."

Chiriko smiled, his nervousness gone. He waved to them, and then they all went their separate ways.

Lina, Nuriko, and Tamahome looked at the pillar curiously. Tamahome scratched his head. "It's no language I know," he remarked, peering at the wiggly lines.

"Me neither," admitted Lina. "But that's definitely Genbu up there." She gestured to the carving at the top of each side, of a strange black tortoise and snake combination. A bee perched there, buzzing its little wings. "Hey, ma'am," she called to a passerby. "What do you know about this pillar?"

"Ne? Oh, this? This is a memorial to Genbu no Miko. She summoned Genbu over 200 years ago. Sadly, no one can read the writing on this pillar now." The old woman shook her head sadly.

"Oh, thanks anyway," said Lina.

"I know someone who can read it," said a voice from behind them.

They turned. Tamahome gasped. "Amiboshi?"

The young boy looked at them critically. "What are you doing here?" he asked, with an unusually hard edge to his voice.

"We're looking for the Genbu no Shinzahou, so we can summon Suzaku," answered Tamahome. "But... how can this be? How can you be here?"

Amiboshi shook his head. "Never mind that. It's not important now. What's important is that you're here. Searching for the Shinzahou."

"A...Amiboshi..." Tamahome took out a small wooden flute. "When you fell... when you let go of this... I kept it... I suppose I should give this back to you..."

The younger boy took the flute with tears pooling in his eyes. "An...my flute," he stumbled, holding it as if it was made of glass. "I see," he said, with the same hard edge.

Lina frowned. Something wasn't right here...

"Like I said, I heard of some people who know what it says. I was going to go meet with them right now, so if you want to come with me..."

"Don't forget about us," snorted Lina, arms folded across her chest.

"Yeah. We're a team, you know," Nuriko added, winking.

Amiboshi shook his head. "No!" he said quickly. "I mean, they won't like it if a big group comes up to them, they might not tell if it's like that..."

"I understand," interrupted Tamahome. "People who sell information don't like big groups attracting attention to them. Amiboshi, you and I will go there. Lina-chan, Nuriko-chan, wait here for us. We shouldn't be long."

"But -" started Lina.

Tamahome smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Amiboshi shifted his feet nervously. "Let's get going."

"Yosh. I'll be back soon, okay?" He followed the younger boy, and the two disappeared down a side street.

"Nuriko..."

"Ne?"

"Something doesn't feel right. That wasn't the Amiboshi I remembered. He seemed so much... colder, and more distant."

"Hmm," mused Nuriko. "You're right... something was wrong. But I don't know what."

"Oi, how far is it?" asked Tamahome.

"We're almost there."

Tamahome nodded, but frowned internally. Amiboshi was so much colder to him. Did he blame him for... what could Amiboshi blame him for? He even returned his flute... but maybe it had to do with them chasing him towards the river? He couldn't figure it out. He was overjoyed to see that the younger boy was still alive, but as for Amiboshi... He certainly didn't seem to be glad. Surprised, yes, even a bit shocked...

"In here," said the young boy, pulling Tamahome out of his thoughts. "In this tavern."

Tamahome raised a skeptical eyebrow as they stepped inside. It was a cheap tavern by the looks of it. The stench of beer and other alcohol was strong in the air, and the lighting was dim. It was full of a bunch of street roughs who looked like they did nothing but pick fights, pick pockets, and get roaring drunk.

Amiboshi walked up to one of the toughs and said to him, "I hear this bar has a good reputation for special drinks."

He looked up and nodded. "The beer from the east is good," he commented.

A password, thought Tamahome, tensing as he felt the stares of the occupants. He hoped things would be wrapped up quickly.

"A friend recommended the 'dragon's breath'," nodded Amiboshi.

"It packs a hard punch." The man glanced at Tamahome.

A long password, Tamahome groaned to himself, wondering why every person with the slightest secret had to cloak it in about two hundred and seventy-three sayings.

A couple of the other men started getting up and moving towards them. The man Amiboshi was talking to nodded and motioned him outside.

"Wait here," said Amiboshi, following him out.

Tamahome rolled his eyes and sighed, folding his arms across his chest. "This better not take long," he grumbled. "I hope Lina-chan and the others are okay."

As soon as the door closed behind Amiboshi, all the men stood up. Tamahome looked around. "What, is it closing time already?"

"Shaddup!" yelled one. "Charge!"

They surrounded Tamahome with intent of great bodily damage.

"Are we ready?" asked a harsh voice from beside Amiboshi.

He turned and nodded. "Hai, Ashitare. Let's go back to the pillar. Suzaku no Miko and one of the Suzaku no Shichi Seishi should be there."

"Blood..." The strange bestial man who looked to be part wolf, licked his lips expectantly. "This will be a good fight."

The boy clenched his fist, gripping the wooden flute tightly. His eyes were like ice as he said, "Let's go and kill Suzaku no Miko."

Continue: Episode 22: Attack! The Truth Behind Amiboshi - and the Genbu no Shinzahou!