Disclaimer. FY belongs to Watase-sama, Tokyo Television, Bandai, Flower Comics, Viz Comics, Pioneer, and who's know what all. No infringment was intended.

After she had cried herself out, she got out of bed to look around the room. She never saw such a huge and decorated room. Everything was ornate from the furniture, to the draperies, to the blanket on the bed. Carefully laid over the back of one of the chairs, was her school uniform, cleaned and pressed.

She dressed and brushed her hair, with a lovely silver hair brush. She, then, braided her hair into two long braids. She found that a breakfast of fruit, biscuits with fruit preserves, and juice was waiting for her in the main room of her chambers.

She was still eating when a knock came. "Who is it?"

"Toroki."

"Oh, please come in."

Toroki came into the room. He was dressed in a simple tunic and breeches that were tucked into the tops of his boots. "I came to see how you are doing. Did you sleep well?" He sat in a chair across the little table from where Suzuno sat. She lowered her eyes and nodded, shyly. "Well, that's good. When you've finished eating the Emperor would like to see you."

As they walked from Suzuno's room to the main hall, she asked, "Toroki, could you tell me about Byakko?"

He looked at her with his bright, green eyes, before he answered. "Well, Byakko is one of four animal gods. There are also Genbu, Suzaku, and Seiryuu. Genbu is a green turtle/snake. Suzaku is a red pheonix. Seiryuu is a blue dragon. And Byakko is a white tiger. Each is a god of a country. Byakko is the god of Sairo. Together, they are the four gods of earth and sky."
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"'Byakko no Miko was surprised as that was the name of the book she was reading, when the white light had enveloped her. She was now certain that she was the chosen miko'." The mother looked at the cover of the book. "'Four Gods of Earth and Sky'. This was the book Suzuno was looking at. She is this Byakko no Miko. But how did she get there???"

"Keep reading!"
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They arrived at the main hall and were sent in. The Emperor smiled at them, as they both knelt before him. "I hope you find your accomedations comfortable." Suzuno nodded as she rose to her feet. "Good. I want to explain to you what you must do. As Byakko no Miko, you need to gather the seven seishi in order to summon the god. Each seishi will be known by a symbol that appears somewhere on their body. Each will also have a power granted by Byakko. This scroll contains the names and symbols of the seven Byakko seishi. With it you will be able to find them." He opened the scroll. "These are the seishi's name. Amifure, Tatara, Ekie, Subaru, Tokaki, Kagasuki, Toroki."

Suzuno looked over at the young captain. "You're one of the Byakko no Seishi??"

He nodded, his green eyes twinkling. He lifted his bangs to reveal a white glow on his right temple. It was the symbol of "Turtle snout". "Toroki isn't my real name, but it's a name I've gone by for years."

"And that strange white light that you threw at the wild cat. Is that your power?"

Again, he nodded. He held of his right hand to reveal a ball of white light. As she moved closer to get a better look at it, she noticed it looked like fire. It also had a tremendous heat, but didn't seem to burn his hand. "I simply call them 'white fire balls'. Be careful! These things can burn you." The ball of white fire vanished. As he puts his hands on her shoulders, she noticed that his hand wasn't any warmer than body temperature. He looked into her eyes. "I swear before Byakko, that I will protect you, no matter what the cost."

Suzuno felt her heart pounding, and her cheeks begin to grow warm. She lowered her eyes. Toroki gazed at her. It wasn't until the Emperor cleared his throat the he seemed to notice what he was doing. He immediately dropped his hands and cleared his own throat.

"How much time do you think you will need before you can leave to search for the seishi?"

"I think two days would be enough to gather the supplies we need and prepare ourselves for the long journey, Your Majesty."

"Good. Then see that it is done." He handed the scroll to Suzuno. "You will need this to identify your seishi. You may leave, Byakko no Miko. Toroki, I want you to stay here."

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"'As the two men talked of plans, Byakko no Miko returned to her chambers to study the names and symbols of the seishi.' Look how low the sun is! I need to get dinner made." She handed the book to the girl. "Come, Ayako. Read while I fix dinner."

They went into the kitchen. While the mother cooked dinner, Ayako read. Whenever she came across kanji that she wasn't familiar with, she showed it to her mother. That way, they were still able to read what was happening.

"'It was early afternoon when a man dressed as a scholar arrived at the palace and asked to see the Emperor.'"
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The man entered the main hall. From the lines on his face, he looked to be somewhere in his 40's. He had dark hair and eyes that were the color of a stormy sky. His face was expressionless. His hands were tucked into the sleeves of his long, forest-green robe. He knelt before the Emperor.

"You wished an audience with me?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the man said, his voice as flat as his expressions. "I have heard that Byakko no Miko has appeared."

"That is true." The Emperor motioned the man to rise.

"Good. Then I have come to render my services." He pulled back the collar of his robe, and the white shirt beneath, to show his collarbone. There, the Emperor and Toroki saw the symbol "stomach" glowing. "I am Byakko no Seishi, Ekie."

The Emperor ordered a chamber to be readied for the second seishi. "Toroki will show you around the Palace grounds."

The two men bowed to the Emperor and left. "So what do you want to see first," Toroki asked.

"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather be shown to my chambers."

"Uh....sure. Sooooo...do you live near here?"

"Yes. I live in the city."

This guy certainly wasn't one for conversation. Toroki had had more lively discussions with his horse! But still he went on. "So what are you powers? These are mine." He held up his hand, a white fire ball dancing on his palm. "What power were you granted?

"I'd rather not talk about it."

The fire ball vanished as Toroki looked at the man. He wondered if the power was something bad. But would Byakko grant powers that were not good? An uncomfortable silence fell over them till they reached the chambers. "Well, here's where you'll be staying. My chambers and those of Suzuno, she's our miko, are also along this passage, as are the chambers for the other seishi."

"Other seishi? Have you found any others?"

"No, but the Emperor had these chambers put aside for all of us. You and I are the only ones so far." The older man nodded and without a word, went into his chambers.

"What is it with that guy??"

He met up with Suzuno and the two went to dinner. Afterwards they walked along the raised walkway to the garden area. Suzuno caught a glimpse of someone in the courtyard. A man who looked like her father. "Ottosan?" She ran down the steps, leaving Toroki staring after her, into the courtyard and towards the man. "Ottosan!!"

She reached him and grabbed the sleeve of his robe. "Ottosan!" She gasped as the man turned towards her. It wasn't her father. She should have known it wasn't. It was impossible that he could be there. She saw surprise in the man's eyes, then another emotion that was gone before she could identify it. She quickly bowed. "Please forgive me. I thought you were someone else."

"Byakko no Miko?" Suzuno looked up and gave a quick nod. The man bowed to her. "I am Ekie, one of your seishi. I have come to serve and protect you. We'll see more of each other in the near future. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have some scrolls I wish to look through."

Suzuno watched him walk off. "That man has the worst manners I've ever seen!" Suzuno looked over at Toroki, who had just joined her.

"Well", Suzuno said, "he looks to be a man of learning. Maybe he spends so much time reading through scrolls that he doesn't know how to act or talk to other people."

"Hrmph. Maybe, but I still think he's rude."
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"'Byakko no Miko and Seishi, Toroki, left the courtyard. After spending some time in the Palace Gardens, Toroki took Byakko no Miko to a more secluded place on the west side of the Palace'"

"Secluded! What's Suzuno doing in a secluded area with a man she only just met?? Shameful!"

"I think it's romantic!"

"Ayako!"
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"This is the best place to watch the sun set. I come here quite often." Toroki put his hands on Suzuno's shoulders. "You're the first person I ever brought here." Suzuno lowered her eyes, blushing.

When she looked up again, she saw that Toroki was a little closer. "To...Toroki?" He learned closer to her, his grip on her shoulders tightening just a little. Suzuno could feel her heart pounding. His breath tickled her face, as his lips came close to hers.

"No!" She pushed against him, turning her face away. "Toroki, please don't!" He stopped. She brought her hands to her face. "I'm sorry."

She gasped as he pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her. "No," he said, resting his chin on her head, "it's me who should apologize. I shouldn't have tried so soon." He kissed her on top of the head and whispered into her hair, "I'll wait until you know me better."

Suzuno's hands came up and lightly gripped the front of his tunic. She rested her cheek against his chest, listening to his heart beat. "Thank you, Toroki." They stood that way for a few moments, before breaking apart. Suzuno walked to the railing and looked down. From the west side of the Palace, it was an almost shear drop to the valley below.

Toroki stood beside her, leaning on the rail. "The west end of the Palace is the most secure place. This cliff is a great advantage to us. It prevents the enemy from ever surrounding us. And it does offer a spectatular view." He looked over at Suzuno. "But the view is nothing compar...."

A loud crack and the sensation of moving, stopped Toroki in mid-sentance. The railing underneath him gave way and he felt himself falling forward. "Toroki!!" Suzuno rushed to him and pushed him sideways, causing him to fall over onto the walkway. But doing so, she lost her balance. With a scream, she fell over the side of the cliff.

"Suzuno!!" Toroki looked over the edge to see that Suzuno had managed to grab onto something protruding from the side of the cliff. "Hang on Suzuno! I'll get you!" He reached over the edge of the cliff, but her hand was just beyond his reach. He heard the sound of running feet. Others had heard her scream. "More people are coming, Suzuno! Just hold on tight!"

But what she was holding onto, couldn't support her weight. Again she began to fall. "TOROKIIIII!!"

"SUZUNOOOOOO!!"