Nishi stumbled over a rock and dropped his bag.  As he lifted it from the snow he paused to catch his breath.  "The trees are so beautiful," he mused.  Nishi watched a few dry needles fall to the ground. "If I had time I would stay and sketch them."  He clumsily shouldered his pack and crunched across the snow.  "Meow!" A tiny calico cat popped its head out of his bag. 
	"So you decided to come with me, eh Miri?"  "Mew!"  He heard the slosh of hooves in the snow followed by a booming voice, "Get back here you scrawny brat!"
	-It was his father.  "Toko Nishi!! I thought I banished you from Yuki Hana Manor a month ago!!!"
	"But Father! I was only visiting my mother, Lira!"
	"Don't you 'Father' me you worthless brat!  That's no excuse. I never want to see you again!  You're my concubine's son, you're worthless!"
	"Yes, sir."  Toko Hiro, Lord of Yuki Hana Manor, gave his son a last angry glare before mounting his horse and riding homeward.
	"Shoot, he caught me again."  Nishi sighed.  He wouldn't get off so lightly if he was ever caught there agian, that meant he wouldn't be able to see his mother. Disappointedly, Nishi lay down on the snow and pine needles and watched a tortoise shaped cloud float slowly across the pale sky.


	"Meow"
	"Huh? Miri?"  Nishi sat up abruptly and looked around, "How long have I been asleep?!"  Miri scuttled off into some trees, "Miri! Come here, we need to go home."  The kitten made no move towards him, but merely licked her paw.  It's times like this I wish I had a dog, he thought. Brushing some snow off his head, Nishi walked slowly up to the clump of trees and looked down at Miri for a second and pounced.  His attempt to grab his pet was pitiful.  Miri stood about a yard away on a rock jutting out of the snow.  "Alright! That's it! I'm going home now, even if I go by myself!"  
	It was fairly dark and Nishi was in no mood to spend the night fooling around with his silly cat.  He stomped angrily through the snowdrifts glancing over his shoulder occasionally back at that annoying puff of spotted fur.  It took him about fifteen frustrating minutes to reach his home.  Nishi was worried about living Miri out alone all night, but he knew if was worthless trying to catch a cat when it was in that playful mood.  He took off his heavy boots at the door and looking towards his bed felt his blood boil.
	-Miri had climbed through an open back window and was already asleep on his pillow.  That's the problem with cats, Nishi sighed, you hate to love them.




	Rising late as usual Nishi sat up and with a long drawn out yawn looked around his rather untidy room.  Paintings were propped up against all the walls, some dripping colorful spots on the floor.  A stack of miscellaneous papers sat on a table, most likely never to be sorted, paintbrushes and palettes were left everywhere in no particular order, and to top it all off, the whole place was filled with the strong scent of catnip.
	Miri scuttled across the floor and leaped onto Nishi's bed. "Meow!" The little cat stared up with round, pleading eyes.  "Yes, I know you're hungry, just hang on a minute, my hair is a mess."  Hauling himself up, Nishi ran across the cold floor, he had owned a pair of slippers, but they were lost somewhere in the mess.  After successfully finding some clean clothes, Nishi began to search for a comb to fix his thin, tangled hair.  "I left it right here! I'm sure of it!" Miri swatted at him with a marmalade paw, "Just a minute, just a minute!"  Getting down on his knees, he slid aside an antique-looking mirror that leaned awkwardly against the wall behind it lay some feathers, a couple of stray ribbons, and a wooden comb.  
	"Just what I was looking for."  As he slid the mirror back Nishi wrinkled his nose in disgust, it smelled like dust and catnip.  He glared at Miri and began to fix his tangled hair, "You might as well just kick me out, you take all my stuff anyways."  
	He felt his hand across the counter until it touched a slim black ribbon, he picked it up and tied his hair back in a ponytail.
	"Meow!" "Alright, alright, I'll feed you now!"  Stomping into the kitchen, 
	Nishi opened a cupboard and took out some bread and slightly old cheese.  Sighing at the stack of unwashed dishes, he took Miri's bowl out of the pile.  He broke the bread into pieces and sliced up the cheese.  Putting the bowl down on the floor for Miri, who ate ravenously, he made a mental note to himself, 'I need to either sell some art, or find someone to borrow money from.  I need to go buy groceries.'  He nibbled at some of the bread, he hadn't realized how stale it was before.
	"Curse these Seishi powers! I wish I didn't have to take care of myself!  It's not like a Miko is ever going to come anyways!"


	Nishi spent the remainder of the morning standing near a fruit stand trying to sell his paintings.  Most people ignored him, but a fat, bearded merchant bought a couple for a good price.  Hot, tired, and hungry, Nishi dragged his remaining paintings and aching feet to the soba shop.  The woman standing behind the counter frowned as he entered. Nishi smiled at her, well she can't throw me out, he thought, I pay for my food just like anyone else.  He ordered tsukimi soba and green tea and then sat down at an empty table.
	Nibbling the noodles, Nishi leaned back in his chair and tried to hear the people talking over the sound of his chewing. "I was talking to a traveler who came from the north yesterday, he said he saw a girl dressed in funny clothes. Rather like that Miko from long ago he thought.  What do you think about that?" "You expect me to believe that?! I haven't lived in Hokkan long, but how could there be a Miko? It's not like there are any Genbu Seishi!"  Unable to contain himself, Nishi slammed down his chopsticks and jumped out of his chair. Looking down at the rather startled doubting young man and his older friend Nishi felt his symbol glowing.
	"What do you mean no Genbu Seishi?!! I'm Hatsui and I'm sure there are other Seishi like me out there!"
	"Who's that freak?" the young man whispered to his friend, "Toko Nishi, an artist. ...and apparently a Genbu Seishi."
	Nishi had his sleeves rolled up and they could both see the green glowing symbol, 'ki'.
	"Hey! What's going on there?" The manager of the resteraunt had heard the noise and come to investigate. "It's alright Ma'm, it's nothing." 
	"Nishi! You better not be starting any fights in here, lucky your friend there says it's nothing." The large woman stomped back into the kitchen.  
	Nishi looked around to see who had come to his defence until his eyes settled on the young man's friend.  An old fellow with brown eyes and wispy gray hair. 
	"Thank you." "It was nothing. My nephew here doesn't believe the old legends about Seishi and Mikos, but I'm sure after your outburst he does now."  
	Nishi felt rather stupid, he had drawn the attention of everyone there to himself.  He sat down and quietly inquired, "Do you have any idea where the Miko might be headed?" "...I'm not to sure, best place to start looking would probably be Tolan, the capital."
	"Thanks again, I need to go now." 
	Nishi ran home to get himself together.  He knew what to do now, he would go to Tolan and look for the Miko himself.  ...Now if only he could find someone to look after the house while he was gone...




	Nishi dragged his feet in the snow.  All too late he had realized he didn't know the way to Tolan, although it was the capital he had spent very little time in school and the time had spent hadn't left him with much knowledge of geography.  The road had disappeared during a storm yesterday and Nishi hadn't seen any  other travelers since.  The wind and snow kept them inside, but it didn't bother him.  The last sign he had seen pointed this way, whatever way this was, so he trudged on, Miri following behind him.  Snow was starting to fall again, in little crystal-like flakes.  Nishi tilted his head upward, and let them gently onto his face.  He sat down on a outcrop of rock not yet covered by the snow and watched the scene around him.  He caught a whiff of salt on the wind, the storm was blowing in from the ocean, it might be a fierce one, he thought.  Miri climbed into his lap, not liking the dampness.  Turning back in the direction, he'd been traveling, Nishi strained his eyes in a vain attempt to see some sign of habitation on the horizon.  The sun was nearly hidden behind the mountains.  Watching it vanish made him wish someone had taught him how to navigate using the stars.  Thinking of the stars he looked up once more, the sky was darkening, and a few constellations were coming into view, although clouds kept blowing across the sky to hide them.  "I hope I'm the only one out in this storm tonight."

	Suddenly startled Nishi looked up, he could hear someone crying.  At first he thought he was just imagining it, but looking at Miri's ears, standing up straight to catch the sound, he changed his mind.  Nishi brushed some snow off his head and stood up abruptly.  It sounded like a child.  "Miri, come on!" He scanned the dark horizon and the snowdrifts, not a sign of anyone.
	"Mrow!" 
	Nishi turned around, what on earth had caught his cat's attention?  Stomping blindly through the ice he tripped on what appeared to be an umbrella, and it was! Nishi quizzically lifted the umbrella from the snow and examined it.  It didn't look like the kind of umbrella you would carry during a storm.  It was more like a parasol.  Good craftsmanship he thought, the umbrella was fairly sturdy with peach blossoms painted on it.	Looking up through the drifting snowflakes Nishi searched for the owner of this parasol only to hear the crying again. Rather unsure of what to do he called out loudly, "Hey! Is anyone out there!"
	Standing nervously in the silence he strained his ears for any sound of a reply.  
	"Hello!  Where are you?"
	It definitely was a voice!  It sounded like it was coming from the way he had come, "Just stay where you are! I'll find you! ...I hope."  Struggling against the turbulent wind Nishi found he could take the snow in his face no longer.  Raising his arms high in the air he yelled to the snow, "Stop Now!"  and to the suprise of the child standing only two yards from Nishi, it did.  "That's much better," he decided, "Now my only foe is the dark."  The little girl stared open mouthed at this.  Nishi approached her slowly and holding out the parasol asked, "Is this yours?"
	The girl watched him nervously, she seemed unsure if this strange man could be trusted, but it was dark and she knew her grandmother would be worried.  
	Hoping he wasn't dangerous she murmured, "Hai."  Nishi watched the dark haired girl as she took the parasol, smiled her thanks, and ran off towards some faint lights.  "Hey! Wait!" Startled she turned around and looked at him. 
	"Do you live there?" Nishi asked quietly. She nodded her head.  "May 
 I come with you?" At this statement she took a few steps back.  The scrawny green haired man and his cat seemed like they were lost, but it was not her business she thought.  Nishi waited hopefully for an answer. "Alright," she replied rather reluctantly.  Nishi followed her to her home village.  A rather elderly man ran up to the girl and picked her up.
	"Ojii-chan!" she yelled happily.  "Where in Genbu's name have you been?!" her grandfather demanded. As the girl opened her mouth to explain Nishi cut in, "I think your grandaughter lost her parasol.  I found it and gave it back to her."  Suprised by the young man's interuption he cleared his throat before he answered, "Arigatou.  You are very lucky that storm cleared up."  "But Ojii-san! He stopped the snow himself!" the girl said. 
	"Oh Ailin! Stop making up such strange tales!" "But it's true Ojii-san!" she insisted.  Feeling the weight she placed on the words he grew grave and addressed Nishi, "Is this true?"
	Nishi felt hot with shame, why did he give himself away like that? Now these people would never let him have any peace until he was over the horizon with no intention of coming back.  ...but the truth was the truth, "Yes, I did stop the snowfall sir."  The older man smiled, "There's no need to call me sir, young man.  My name is Yung Hanwei.  My grandaughter is Ailin.  What is your name?"
	Nishi was relieved, he had been practically preparing for a public flogging! "I'm Toko Nishi, pleased to meet you."  
	"Well Nishi, my wife and I'd be delighted if you would spend the night as our humble home. Seeing that you're one of this country's protectors, it's the least we can do."  As Nishi quietly followed the old man to his home Ailin curiously began to talk to Nishi, "I've never met a seishi before, which one are you?" Trying to be polite, Nishi answered her succinctly, 
	"Hatsui."  Seeing Nishi's awkward responses Hanwei cut in, "Ailin, run ahead and tell Obaa-chan that we have a visitor."


	Nishi sat in the dim room with his new friends, "Thank you so much for your hospitality."  Saying things like this felt strange, he was unfamiliar with gratitude.	"It's nothing, it's nothing!" Hanwei assured him.  As Hanwei's wife Mika went to tuck Ailin in bed Hanwei motioned to an empty bookcase.  
	"I would like to show you something.  It is very old, but it might interest a Genbu Seishi."  Nishi rubbed sleep from his eyes and followed the old man to the bookcase.  Hanwei leaned down and pushed against one of the lower shelves, the bookcase shifted!  Nishi was astounded, it appeared to be a hidden passageway!  "Don't stand there staring Yume, come on."  
	As Nishi tread carefully down the badly lit pathway something came to his mind, "Why do you call me 'Yume'?"  Hanwei turned to face him and smiled, 
	"Because the way you talk and act, you seem like you're in a dream.  I get the impression the people of your home don't like dreamers, but it's different here.  Otogeimachi is a town of artisans, you fit right in, Yume."  Nishi felt rather embarrassed now, he hung his head and responded quietly, "Oh, I see." 
	At the end of the passage was a small room containing some open boxes of dusty glassware and a chest with an jade emblem representing Genbu decorating the old cedar wood.  Hanwei leaned over and carefully lifted the lid, "Now come examine these, all this leaning over isn't good for my back." 
	Nishi cautiously stepped up to the chest and pulled out a piece of deteriating paper.  After turning it around twice Nishi was still puzzled, "What does it say?  This isn't any language I know." Hanwei grinned, "I'm not surprised, it's an archaeic language. ...And those are the signatures of seven Genbu Seishi who lived an unestimitable amount of time ago."  Nishi dug through the other objects:	a quiver that contained no arrows, a patched cape, some assorted dirks and daggers, and a ratty looking hat.  "So what is all this stuff?" Nishi asked.
	"My grandfather told me that belonged to those Seishi I just spoke of.  One of them is ancestor of mine, quite possibly by hundreds of generations of course!"  
	"Wow!" Nishi was suprised once again, " I didn't even know that Genbu had had Seishi before me and the others. ...I don't actually know any others, but I know they're out there...somewhere."  "It's nice to see such an enthusiastic young person, none of them ever seem interested in the old stories and such."  Nishi smiled broadly, was this what it was like to have friends?
	"Now, you need some rest if you're going to be on your way tomorrow morning, so you go get some sleep, I'm going to find you a map."  Nishi yawned and nodded his agreement.  After taking a few steps up the path though, Hanwei called to him to slow down.  "Yume, here, keep this, it suits you well."
	Nishi took the hat from Hanwei's calloused hands, "Thank you, I'll treasure it always."