The Twelve Signs
written by Len-chan
The 12 Signs are based on the Asian Yearly Zodiac (year of
the dog, tiger, rooster, etc.) and the 10 Stems are 
based on the Asian elements (wood, fire, water, etc.). The
characters of this story are property of me.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The large ship docked at the port of a small sea side 
village.  The pirates had changed from their sea
clothing to regular citizen clothing as they 
left the ship for a day or two's shore leave.  

Mitsu was in her room, which she shared with
Shiho and Chi, quietly packing some things in her
bag.  

Chi was on the deck with Toshio, going over
plans on how to get around.  After they
were taken from their original ship, they
realized that they horses they rode on 
were also in the ship, providing a 
transportation problem.  

Shiho was already on the port, getting
used to her land legs once more.  Due to
the room left on the pirate ship, Captain
Akemi could only lend out two rooms.  One
of which was a closet.  

Toshio had slept in the closet while the
three girls slept in the only remaining
room.  Akemi took Taro into his own
room and let him sleep in the bassinet by
his bed side. 

For the rest of the trip on the ship, Mitsu
and Akemi were at each other's throats, 
always pointing out the other's mistakes.
When Taro was the subject, they were 
particularly fierce.  

                 ~~~~~~~~~

"You're changing his diaper wrong." Mitsu
had stated.

"I would be fine, if you'd let me do it 
without looking over my shoulder." Akemi
answered.

"But you're doing it wrong." Mitsu insisted.

"Shut up!" Akemi yelled.

"If I do, you'll NEVER change him correctly."

                ~~~~~~~~~~~

But most of the time, Akemi tried to be 
nice to Mitsu, for the sake of Taro.  But
Mitsu was a stubborn girl, as indicated
by Chi.  Mitsu was always angry at him
for 'hogging' the baby. 

Shiho, on occasion had tried to seduce him
by playing innocent and vulnerable.  Akemi
was too intent on Taro to pay attention
to her, so her affections were met with
a cold shoulder.  

"Mitsu," a deep voice ordered.  Mitsu
turned around from packing her things
into her bag.  Akemi stood by the door,
in his left arm was Taro, who was 
happily playing with his hair.  "Have
you seen Taro's bottles?" 

"Uh..." Mitsu quickly ran her eyes across 
the room in a search.  She caught the sight 
of a bag under her bed and she pulled it out.
"Here they are." Mitsu took out one bottle
and walked over to Taro.  She scooped him
out of Akemi's arms and into hers.

"Ah...mi-su!" Taro mumbled.  

"Yes...Mitsu..." Mitsu said.  She rocked
him gently and smiled.  Silently she 
wished that she could have a child like
Taro one day.  

"He's a wonderful child..." Akemi mumbled.
"He never cries."

"I know," Mitsu said cheerfully. "He never
cries when I'm around or any of the other
guardians." 

Akemi was taken a back by the sudden joy 
in Mitsu's voice.  "Why are he and his
sister parentless?"

Mitsu gave a heavy sigh.  "Toshio told
Chi and Chi told me that his parents' were
murdered...and..." she held Taro closer
to her as she closed her eyes as if
shutting out what she was about to say next.
"he was going to be killed as well..."

Akemi narrowed his eyes.  "Who would be 
animal enough to kill such an innocent
child?" 

Mitsu shook her head no.  "I don't know."
She sat down on her bed and watched Taro
as he was falling asleep in her arms. 

Akemi knelt down next to her and cupped
Taro's red haired head in his hand. "I 
always wanted to take care of a baby.  I
don't know why, but I always have." 

"So have I..." Mitsu said.  Taro's eyes 
were closed as she removed the bottle
from his mouth.  "I always loved babies..."

"Toshio, don't they look like a cute family?"
a voice said from the door way.  

"Yes, and Taro does look like their child." 
Toshio added.  Akemi stood up and instinc-
tively stood in front of Mitsu and Taro.  

"Toshio, Chi, I thought you two were about
to go get horses or something." Akemi said.

"We were, but we needed Mitsu first," Chi said.
"Akemi, you and Mitsu make such a cute 
couple.  And Taro looks like your baby!"

"You have to agree, Akemi.  Taro has red hair
like yours and purple eyes like Mitsu's." 
Toshio told them.

"I would NEVER have a child with that 
thing." Akemi said, pointing to Mitsu.

"I would rather drown myself a thousand
times before actually even thinking about
it!" Mitsu added.  

"Hmmm...didn't we just see you two in an
intimate moment?  You two were awfully close
for two people that hate each other." Chi
replied.

"We were looking at Taro." Akemi answered.

"Right." Toshio smiled.  Over the week they
had spent a sea with the pirates, Akemi
and Toshio had become close friends.  

"One SHOULD think that Taro is YOUR child,
since you two are so lovey-dovey." Mitsu
remarked as she handed Akemi Taro.  She
finished packing her things and slung her 
backpack on her shoulders.

"Very funny, Mitsu...come on, we have to
get buy some horses since when Akemi's 
crew took us on board, they ever took 
our horses." Toshio said.

"Oh, yes," Akemi said aloud.  He gave
Mitsu Taro as he took out a small velvet
red bag from his pocket.  It had a
gold draw string.  He threw it at 
Toshio.  "Catch."

Toshio caught it in surprise and opened
it.  "What is it?" His eyes grew
large.

"The amount of money the horses you had
might have cost.  Once again, I'm sorry
for taking you all as prisoners." Akemi
said. 

"Akemi, this is very kind of you, thank
you!" Chi answered.  Akemi nodded.  


"I'll be up on deck to see you off." Akemi
told them.  He left the room.  

"Well, let's go!" Mitsu said, happily.

Chi and Toshio stood aside as she walked 
out the door with Taro in her arms.  They
followed her up the stairs to the deck.

Akemi was looking out toward the sea, his
hair in a wind blown pony tail as he leaned
against the railing of the ship.  

"Akemi-kun," Toshio said.  "We're leaving 
now.  Thank you for your hospitality."

"You're welcome, Toshio-kun," he shook 
Toshio's hand then gave his friend a hug.
He gave Chi a small hug as he said good
bye to her. "It was nice meeting you,
Chi."

"Taro...are you awake?" Mitsu whispered
as she set her foot on the pier.  She
waited for Toshio and Chi to come down.

Taro looked around and a look of 
distress crossed his face.  "A-mi! A-mi!"
he cried.  Then he burst out crying 
as he looked around.  

"Taro, calm down!  It's me!  Taro!?" 
Mitsu gasped.  She tried to soothe him, 
but he continued to cry.  

On board, Akemi watched Toshio and Chi
walk down to the pier.  His head 
jerked up and he ran down to the pier.
On the way down, Toshio grabbed his 
shoulder, pulling the top button of
his shirt off, revealing the base of his
neck.

"Akemi-kun? Where are you going?" Toshio
asked.  His eyes landed on the mark 
at the base of Akemi's neck.  

"Not right now, Taro's crying!" Akemi said.
He pulled away and ran the rest of the way.

Taro stopped crying and pointed to Akemi
when the man finally reached the pier.  
"A mi!  Misu...A mi!" Taro giggled
happily.  

Mitsu turned around and saw Akemi run up
to her and take Taro into his arms.  Mitsu
looked taken a back as Taro began to 
laugh again.

"So that's it..." Mitsu mumbled.  As
Akemi lifted Taro into the air, Mitsu
saw the mark at the base of his neck.
Unconsciously, she reached out and touched
it.

"What are you doing?" Akemi asked as her
warm fingers touched the sign. 

"Oh, God..." she looked at him. "You're
one of us.  Toshio!"

"Akemi!" Toshio said.  He looked at 
Akemi straight in the eye.  "You are one 
of us!"

"What?  What are you talking about?" 
Akemi asked.  

"Akemi, remember I told you about the 
Twelve Signs?" Toshio rushed. He 
pointed to Chi, Mitsu, and himself
as he explained.  "And that...that
Chi, Mitsu, and myself are all guardians
and Taro is who we have to guard?"

"Yes...but...me?" Akemi asked.  He laughed
out loud.  "That's laughable, Toshio-kun!"

"Akemi, we're serious," Chi told him.  
"We all have a sign." She tugged the
collar of her shirt down a bit to show
her sign. 

Toshio repeated this as Mitsu turned
around, mumbling angrily to herself. 
"He can't be one of us...why?  WHY!?"

"Mitsu!" Chi said.  Mitsu turned
around.  "Show Akemi your sign." 

"Wha?" Mitsu mumbled.  She tugged
her shirt down and Akemi stared at the
sigh of the dragon that glowed purple
at the base of her neck.

Akemi let out a deep breath of air
as he gave Taro back to Mitsu.  He
turned around and began to slowly
walk back to his ship.

"Akemi! Where are you going?!" Toshio
asked.  

"Back to my ship." Akemi answered.

"What? Wait!" Toshio said.  Chi held
him back from running and getting 
Akemi.

"He has to decide to be a guardian
on his own...otherwise it's just
worthless for him to be a guardian
if he doesn't want to." Chi told him

Toshio nodded.  "You're right, let's
go get something to eat first...the ship
won't be leaving for days." 

"Right." Toshio put his arm around
Chi's shoulder and they began to walk
towards one of the sea side diners.

Mitsu looked at Taro and then at the ship.
Taro looked a little sad as she began
to walk away from the ship, towards
the diner.  

~~~~~~~ Sun Set ~~~~~~~~

Akemi's ship was empty except for him and 
a few pirates that stayed behind.  The sun
was setting over the horizon.  

The ocean turned beautiful shades of blue
and green while the sky changed from red
to orange to purple and back.  A calm 
sea breeze caressed his skin as he 
leaned against the railing of the ship,
watching the sunset.  

He couldn't get it out of his mind that he
HAD to follow and protect Taro.  He mentally
shook himself.  *Whatever happens, Akemi
stay with your ship.  Nothing can tear a 
sea captain away from his ship...nothing.*

Akemi let out a heavy sigh and looked
down at his reflection on the water
far below.  Slowly, his face's reflection
was joined by another one.  A femine
face framed by a mass of straight purple
hair.

He looked to his right at Mitsu.  She avoided
his face as stared quietly at the sunset. 
Akemi waited for her to say something, but 
ended up saying the first words.

"What are you doing back here?" he asked,
his voice void of all emotion.

"I came back here to talk to you." Mitsu
answered.  Her voice as cold and hard
as his.

"If it's about Taro and me being one of
his guardians, I don't want to hear it.  
So save your breath." Akemi said.  

"You know what," Mitsu mumbled.  She was
speaking quietly, as if to herself, and
Akemi had to strain himself to hear what
she was saying. "When you said you always
liked taking care of babies and children,
I was a bit shocked that a pirate with a
ruthless reputation could be like that.  Then
when we found out that you were one of the
guardians, I wasn't the least bit surprised.
If really cared about Taro, and I know you do,
you'll be at the valley clearing, ready to
go with us tomorrow morning."

"What makes you think that I'll be there?"
Akemi asked.  She turned around and leaned
her back against the railing. 

"I don't." She pushed herself from the railing
and began to head to the pier.

"Is that all?  You don't have some big 
lecture to talk me into joining you guys?" 
Akemi asked.

"I have nothing else to say to you." Mitsu's
head disappeared from the boat and Akemi
felt the last warmth of the sun leave.

~~~~~~~~ Sun Rise the Next Day ~~~~~~~~~

"I guess he isn't coming," Toshio said.
"Perhaps one of us should have gone back
and talked to him."

"If he's not coming, we might as well
go.  There are six other signs we have to find."
Mitsu told the group.

"Don't be so harsh, Mitsu.  We'll give him a
few more minutes." Chi said.  She sat on her
tanned colored horse next to Mitsu's
brown horse.  Both that black tails and manes.

Toshio sat on his black one with a white mane
and tail and Shiho had a white horse with a
white mane and tail. They waited by the
valley clearing.  

A fast paced beating of hoofs could be heard
thundering from the valley.  Slowly, a figure
from the distance began to catch up with them.
The figure rode on the darkest black stallion
with something slung over his back.

"Akemi!" Toshio said happily.  "You made it!"

"I couldn't let Taro down." Akemi said.  He 
rode up next to Mitsu and took the baby she
gently handed to him.  Taro giggled 
happily and hugged Akemi's neck.

"I KNEW he couldn't resists joining us!" 
Shiho said, referring to herself.  

Chi and Mitsu shot glances at each other.
"Right..." they mumbled.

"By the way, darling," Shiho said, 
tapping Akemi's shoulder. "What
sign are you?"

"I'm Tora...the Tiger." 

~~~~~~~~ Lotus ~~~~~~~~~

"Has the prophet said anything yet?" Raku
asked.  She reached the end of the darkened
hall to where her brother paced the 
width of the hall, waiting patiently for
the prophet to give report of where Taro
was.

"Not yet.  He better be done soon, or else
his head is mine." Saburo growled.

Just as he said that the door swung open and
an old man in a dirty robe stepped out.
He had moles and warts all over his face as
he looked at the sibling pair.

"Horrid news, Master Saburo!" the old
man said.  "The Princess, Toshio, and
the rest have found another of the 
Twelve Signs.  They have found one
of the more powerful ones, Tora."

"The tiger?" Saburo asked.  "We better end
them now before they find any more.  Raku!"

"Yes?" Raku asked.

"Call the Ten Stems.  Send them to find
the Shiho and her little friends before
they find any more of the Twelve Signs!"
Saburo ordered. 

"Yes." Raku said.  She turned around and
walked down the hall.

"Thank you old man, your life will be
spared for this!" Saburo told the
prophet.  

"Thank you, Master Saburo!"

~~~~ Back wherever the group is... ~~~~~

"A fork in the road..." Toshio mumbled.
"Where do you think we should go?" 

"Just follow the river!" Chi answered. 
"We might need it for drinking and cooking
food."

"Right, let's go!" Toshio led the group
down the left path, following the river.

Toshio and Chi rode next to each other 
in front of Shiho.  Behind Shiho were
Akemi and Mitsu, who were arguing over
whose turn it was to hold Taro.

"It's MY turn!" Mitsu told him.  "You
held him long enough!"

"My turn isn't over yet, Mitsu," Akemi
argued.  "I have at least ten more 
minutes."

"That's what you said the LAST time!" 
Mitsu growled.  

"Fine," Akemi sighed.  He moved his horse 
closer to Mitsu's and gently handed her
the child. His arms brushed against
hers as he put Taro in her arms.  "You
happy now?"

"VERY." Mitsu smiled.  She made a clicking
noise at the back of her mouth, signaling
the horse to move ahead.  She maneuvered 
her way towards the front with Toshio and 
Chi.  

"Hey!" Akemi yelled as Mitsu stuck her
tongue at him.  

"PSSSSTT!" Mitsu raspberries.  She laughed
with Taro as her horse moved
away from Akemi.  

"You little!" Akemi shouted.  He moved his
horse past Shiho and past Toshio and Chi. 
He easily caught up with Mitsu's horse and 
grabbed her free hand tightly.

"OW!  God, Akemi! That hurt!" Mitsu yelled.
Akemi let her arm go and she snatched it
back as if burned.  Taro looked at her arm
and touched it.  

"Misu...owwie?" Taro asked.  Mitsu nodded.
"Taro owwie?" 

"No..." Mitsu said.  "Taro never owwie...
Mitsu love Taro and never let Taro get hurt!"
Mitsu held Taro against her tightly and
shot an ice cold glare at Akemi.  

"Sorry," Akemi replied.  "I didn't mean to 
grab you so hard.  You started it you
know."

"You don't have to take it so seriously." 
Mitsu stated.  She turned her face away from
him and fell back in step.  

Akemi slowed down next to her and looked
straight ahead.  "I said I was sorry."

"I don't accept your apology, so 
save your breath." Mitsu answered.  She 
slowed down even more so that Toshio
and Chi passed her. 

Akemi also slowed down and moved his 
horse closer to Mitsu's.  Suddenly,
Shiho grabbed his arm from his left
side, where as Mitsu was on his right.

"Akemi!" Shiho exclaimed.  "Haven't
talked to you in a while, why don't 
we have a little chat while Mitsu's
baby sitting?" 

She managed to pull Akemi away from 
Mitsu and Taro.  "Humph." Mitsu
mumbled.  *The NERVE of him!  He's
such a jerk!*

"Misu?" Taro mumbled.  He was only a
year old and he was just starting
to talk.

"Can you believe him, Taro?" she asked
the baby as she glared at the two figures
in front of her.  Akemi was talking
happily to Shiho. "He is SUCH a jerk.
He can't even take a joke."

"I lob Ak-mi!" Taro remarked.  

"Wha?  You love Akemi?" Mitsu asked in
shock.  "Oh...sweetie, you don't know
what love is right now..."

"I lob Misu." Taro stated happily.  He
clapped his hands.

"You are too innocent," Mitsu said. She
began to ride her horse faster until
she reached stride with Akemi 
and Shiho.  "Taro...you hungry?"

"Uh-huh!" Taro nodded.  Mitsu stopped her
horse and turned her body towards the back
to get one of Taro's bottles out of her
saddle bag.  She couldn't quite reach it.

Two larger hands slipped into the
saddle bag and took out one of Taro's 
milk bottles.  "Here you go..." Akemi 
told Taro, his voice gentle and babyish.

Taro grabbed hold of his bottle and began
to drink furiously.  "I was going to get
it you know." Mitsu told Akemi.

"Well, it looked like you needed some
help.  Excuse me for not wanting Taro
to starve." Akemi said smugly.  His
mouth curved in a smile as Mitsu grabbed
the reins of her horse and sped up it's
stride.

*Arrogant, self righteous, JERK!!!* Mitsu
thought to herself.  "Toshio, Chi, when
do you think we'll stop for the night?  It
might get dark soon!" 

"I see your point, Mitsu," Chi said.  She
tugged on Toshio's shirt.  "Why don't 
we all camp out by the river, Toshio?"

"Okay.  It will get dark soon and we still
have to get dinner.  Let's see if we can catch 
some fish," Toshio stopped his horse and turned
to the rest of the group. "Okay, everyone! 
We'll be camping by the river tonight."

"What will we be dining on?" Shiho asked, her
arm still holding Akemi's.

"Fish...now, I've never fished before, but 
how hard can it be?" Toshio asked.

"Oh God...we're all going to STARVE!" Mitsu
shouted.  Chi began to laugh.  

"Ha ha, very funny, Mitsu." Toshio told her.

"Yeah, I know..." Mitsu remarked.  She was
still giggling when they found a nice 
clearing between the river and the trail.

It was shielded from the trail by a thick
row of trees and large stones.  It looked
like it was once an old camp ground.  

"Okay," Akemi said, "The horses are all
tied up and...where is everyone?" 

Mitsu sat on a rock burping Taro over 
her shoulder.  "Shiho and Chi when to take 
a bath over there," she pointed to a
small pool shielded from pervert eyes by 
large stones and trees. "And Toshio is 
attempting to fish." 

"Ow! It bit me!" they heard a voice yelled.

"We really are going to starve..." Akemi
murmured as he walked towards Toshio's
voice.  "I'm going to see if I can help."

"Go ahead," Mitsu answered.  Taro burped and
she looked at him. "That was pretty loud.  
Come one, let's go watch Akemi and Toshio
make fools of themselves while trying 
to fish." 

She stood up and carried Taro on her waist.  
She watched her steps as she went down the 
steep rocky slope.  She saw Akemi and 
Toshio knee deep in the river reaching
in the water and pulling out nothing.

"There are so many fish and we can't 
even catch one!" Toshio sighed. "Akemi,
I thought you knew how to fish.  You
are a Pirate Captain!" 

"I was the captain!" Akemi lunged into
the water and came out empty handed and 
soaking wet.  "Not the cook!" 

Mitsu tried to hold back her laughter 
as she sat on a rock with Taro. "You
guys SUCK!" Mitsu exclaimed.  

"Do you think you can do any better?"
Akemi asked.  "I don't see you with
any fish!"

"That's because I haven't tried, 
you jerk," Mitsu told him.  "Come
here and hold Taro for me."

Akemi dragged is soaked body out
of the water and held Taro.  Mitsu
took off her boots and socks to 
reveal her feet.

"Why are your toe nails purple?" 
Akemi asked.  

"I painted them," Mitsu said.  
She pulled up her pant legs to her knees
and hopped in the water.  She looked at
Akemi.  "Take off your shirt." 

"What!?" Akemi asked.  "What does
that have to do with catching fish?"

"Don't be so flattered.  Just give me
your shirt.  I won't look if you want." 
She turned around and waited.  Akemi 
put his shirt in her hands.  She wadded
out farther into the river.  

Mitsu carefully tied the ends of Akemi's 
shirt sleeves up.  She took the tips of
the collars and the ends of the shirts
and then dunked the whole shirt into the 
river.  

A few minutes later Mitsu tugged the 
shirt up and tied it quickly. She ran to 
shore and slammed the shirt against the
rocks over and over.  "Catch anything?" 
Toshio asked.  He walked over and Mitsu
un did the knots on Akemi's shirt.  

"Yup..." Mitsu revealed five medium 
sized fish.  Three were stuck in one 
shirt sleeve and two in the other. "That,"
she told Akemi, "Is how you catch 
fish." 

"I'll go clean them, you catch some
more!" Toshio said.  He took the five
fish and left Akemi's shirt with Mitsu.

"Misu get fish!" Taro told Akemi.  Akemi 
nodded.  

"SHOW OFF!!" Akemi yelled.  Mitsu 
stuck her tongue at him and began
to fish again.  

"Hey, guys, get anything?" Chi asked.
She slid down the slope and saw Mitsu
gathering fish. "Oh, good, you guys
got Mitsu to fish.  Did you know
that she goes on all these fishing
trips with her family.  She's great at
catching fish, crabs, and even at 
cooking them." 

"Gee, she's just full of surprises
isn't she?" Akemi asked sarcastically.

Chi rolled her eyes.  Mitsu came back
on shore with six fish.  "Do you guys 
think this is enough?" 

"Yeah, I think so." Chi said.  "I'll
go take this up to Toshio." Mitsu handed
her the shirt with the fish inside and
she began to climb up the slope.  

"Oh, yuck, you're getting Taro all wet!"
Mitsu said.  She took Taro into her arms.
"He'll get sick..."  

"Hey! I'm the one that's shirtless and 
you're worried about Taro getting sick?" 
Akemi asked.  "You stole my shirt!"

"Bite me." Mitsu murmured.  She went up
the river bank. 

~~~~ Later that Night ~~~~

"That was great food, Toshio," Chi told him.
She leaned up and kissed his cheek.  "Good
job."

"I couldn't have cooked it if Mitsu didn't 
catch it." Toshio told her.  

"Well, I couldn't have caught them if Akemi
didn't lend me his shirt...actually...I 
bet I could've." Mitsu replied.  Chi and
Toshio smiled.  

They sat around a camp fire.  Chi sat next to 
Toshio on her left side with Mitsu on her 
right side.  Next to Mitsu was Taro, then
Akemi, then Shiho, then Toshio.  

"I just can't wait until I get my shirt dried."
Akemi said.  The group laughed.

"I don't, I like you shirtless..." Shiho told
him, putting her hands on his chest. 

Mitsu looked at Chi and made a gagging sigh
with her finger in her mouth.  Chi giggled
quietly with Mitsu. 

"We better get to sleep, tomorrow, we have 
to wake up early and continue." Toshio
told them. 

Akemi put out the fire and the group began to 
fall asleep.

The crescent moon shone down the campers.  
Taro's continuous kicking jabbed Akemi's 
bare stomach.  He gave a grunt and sat up.  
He looked at the innocently sleeping child
and smiled.  

He gently touched the child's head, happy
he came along.  He bent down and kissed Taro's
head.  His right arm came down to where 
Mitsu was sleeping, only she wasn't there.  

He sat up straighter and looked around.  The 
horses were asleep and Mitsu's horse was 
still there.  Cautiously, he stood up and 
snuck away from the camp.  

"Mitsu!" he whispered.  "Where the hell are 
you? Mitsu!" 

He walked down river by the shore, thinking
she might have gone for a swim.  There were 
no marks of clothes by the river bank and
he was beginning to get concerned.  

Toshio had told him that Mitsu was the 
dragon and one of the strongest.  Also, 
how would Taro take the sudden disappearance
of his beloved guardian. 

Akemi continued down the river when he heard 
splashing.  As his eyes adjusted to the 
light he realized he was around the area
where Mitsu had pointed out that Chi and
Shiho were bathing earlier.  

He peeked through the rocks and saw dark
purple hair plastered to the back of a girl.
Mitsu leaned against the rocks that separated
the pool from the river.  She looked up at
the moon sank deeper into the water from 
waist deep to neck deep.

She was glad to be able to sneak out 
unnoticed to take a quick bath before 
sunrise.  She had to admit that a bath
was very relaxing and made her feel
much cleaner.  

She turned around and sat down on the 
rocks so her shoulders up were exposed.
Mitsu let out a deep sigh pulled her hair
out of the water.  

Akemi pulled himself away from watching
his fellow guardian.  *Akemi! You
pervert! Get away from there! If she 
finds out you saw her, you'd never hear
the end of it!* 

He ran back to the camp.  A few minutes 
later, Mitsu returned, brushing her hair
with a comb.  She sat down and kissed
Taro on the head.  Then went to sleep. 

~~~~ The Next Morning ~~~~

"Taro...come on...I'm sorry, but milk
is the only thing you have!" Mitsu told
the child.  

Taro had gotten sick of milk.  "He won't
drink?" Akemi asked as he pulled his 
horse next to hers.  

"No...he's sick of milk.  Perhaps we
can get him some juice in the next 
town.  Toshio!" Mitsu yelled.  
"When's the next town?" 

"Just a few more minutes, Mitsu," 
Toshio yelled back.  "I think it's
just around this hill."

"Oh..." Mitsu looked at Taro's hungry
face then set her own face in a determined
frown.  "Hyah!" Mitsu whipped the
reins of her horse and clutched Taro
closer to her as the horse began 
to gallop faster and faster around the hill.

"Mitsu!" Chi yelled.  "Mitsu come back!"

"No time!" Mitsu shouted back.  She heard 
horse hoofs catching up to her and then
a voice.

"Wait a second!" Akemi yelled.  He pulled up 
next to her and they rode down the hill.
"You don't know what's there." 

"Obviously!" Mitsu shouted.  She 
followed Akemi down the hill.

~~~~~ Docks ~~~~~

"OhmiGod! Look at that!" people on the docks
pointed at the huge ship that had just 
docked at their harbor.  

"It must have been attacked!" another person
whispered.

"Call the priests!  That ship is evil!" cried
another.  

The ship had human bodies laying over board.  
Stiff human corpses littered the deck of the 
huge ship.  

The people fell back as the door to the 
ship slowly creaked open.  A bang
sounded as it hit the wooden pier.  The
crowd held it's breath while ten shadows
slowly stepped from the ship.

The one with the black hair in the skimpy
blue clothing looked around.  "HISSS!" She
hissed at the people and they screamed,
running away in fear as the black haired girl
growled at them animalisticly.

"Mizunoto!" another voice hissed.  A young man 
with short black hair yelled.  "Stop it!"

"We already let you kill the crew, Mizunoto,
why do you have to cause trouble here?" asked
a blonde girl in purple.  

"Don't fret, Tsuchinoto, metal-head," the
black haired girl laughed.  "It's just
fun."

"You have a sick way of having fun, sister,"
the man said again.  "We have to remain
cautious until we find the Signs and the
child."

"Mizunoe," the girl laughed.  "I am the
stem of the water, if I want to drown
some people, I will."

She saw the look of annoyance on her
brothers eyes and quieted down.  She
bowed her head and the man moved in
front of her and the other 10 Stems.

~~~~~ Restaurant ~~~~~

"Hello, mam," the waitress greeted
Mitsu at the door.  "Will you and
your husband be sitting in the non
smoking section?" 

"Husband?" Mitsu asked.  The waitress
nodded and pointed to Akemi, who was
tying the horses outside. "I've
never seen that man before in my life!
please make sure he doesn't sit with
me and my group." 

"Yes, mam, and how many in your group?"
the waitress asked.

"Let's see...four adults and a baby...
and whatever that man," she pointed
to Akemi who was about to come through
the door. "Says to you is just a 
filthy lie.  Restrain him if you must."

"Yes, mam, please follow me," the 
waitress requested.  Mitsu waved for
Chi, Toshio, and Shiho to follow her.
The waitress walked over to the 
bouncer and whispered in his ear.  The
buff man nodded.  "Okay, this way."

Akemi caught the fleeing image of
his group turning the corner into another
room in the restaurant.  He took one step
and a two huge men confronted him.

"Excuse me," he said, and tried to 
get through the two men. "That's my
group."

"I'm sorry, sir, but you are not
permitted to follow them." the first
man growled.

"What?  You don't understand-" Akemi 
tried to explain.

"No, sir," the second man stated, "We
don't think YOU understand." He grabbed
Akemi's left arm and the other bouncer
grabbed Akemi's right arm and began to 
drag him out the door.

~~~

"Mitsu, where's Akemi?" Toshio asked.

"Akemi?" Mitsu asked back.  She had a 
confused look on her face.  Chi went
pale and took her arm.

"Mit-chan...you didn't..." Chi mumbled.

"Hehehe..." Mitsu had a look on her face
at Chi knew meant she had done
something to Akemi.

"Mitsu!" Chi gasped.  

"Don't worry, he'll be here.  I just...
delayed him for a while." Mitsu smiled.

Outside, Akemi was fighting off the 
bouncers while trying to explain
that he was there with Mitsu.

"She said that anything you say is
a lie.  You must be one drugs?  Are you
sniffing LOTUS?" the first guard asked.

"WHAT?" Akemi yelled.

~~~

"I'll have the...Toshio what's this...?"
Chi whispered in Toshio's ear.  He 
gently put his right arm around her 
shoulders and showed her the menu.

"That, Chi-chan," Toshio answered, 
blushing as he said her name.  Mitsu
rolled her eyes as she bottle fed
Taro.  "Is rice balls and crab legs."

"Ohhh...I want that!" Mitsu said.  

"Me too." Chi agreed.  

"Okay then, two number five's, a number
seven, and a number four...what about
Akemi?" Toshio asked.  Chi looked
at Mitsu, who innocently fed Taro.

"Mitsu..." Chi growled.  

"Okay, okay," she looked at the menu,
"Get him the steak." 

"Okay, WAITRESS!" Toshio raised his
hand and the waitress came.  He
repeated the orders and the waitress
left. 

"YOU!" Akemi growled.  He stamped around
the corner, pointing at Mitsu.  "YOU 
LITTLE B-"

"Akemi...there are children here," 
Mitsu told him sternly as she covered
Taro's ears. "Don't swear."

Akemi stood angrily in front of their 
table.  His hair was disarranged, 
his clothes torn in some place and 
matted with dirt.  His eye patch was 
torn off, revealing his beautiful
red eyes, hidden behind his disarray of
red hair.

"Mitsu..." Akemi whispered coldly.  "If
you were not Taro's guardian, I would
tear you apart!"

Mitsu turned her head away from Akemi
and continued to feed Taro.  "Personally,
Akemi, after what you did the other night,
I shouldn't tear YOU apart."

Akemi managed a seat at the edge
of the 'U' shaped booth next to Shiho and 
looked at Mitsu.  "What the hell are you 
talking about?"

"I'm sorry," Mitsu apologized sarcasti-
cally.  She put her left hand on her
chest and pretended to be shocked.  "That
moon light last night must have given
you quite a view, but also erased your
memory."

Akemi froze in the process of putting
a napkin on his lap.  He turned
pale then flushed.  He looked down, not
able to face Mitsu.  

Toshio, Shiho, and Chi looked from
Akemi's face to Mitsu's face.  "Mitsu,
what are you two talking about?"
Shiho asked.  

"Oh, it's nothing." Mitsu answered. 

"I have your orders-" the waitress
stopped as she looked at Akemi in
disgust.  "I'm sorry, miss, did you
want him thrown out?"

"No," Mitsu told the waitress, "That's 
okay."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's the end of this one! I'll write
up chapter 4 next when they take on the
10 stems for the first time.  And Mitsu & 
Akemi?  WILL THEY EVER GET ALONG?!? 
Probably not since Mitsu is based on me
and I hate guys like Akemi. (Or so you 
think...~_^)