The girl looked up at the sky, it was as pure a periwinkle shade as her eyes.  A soft breeze stirred the grasses of the field she was casually sprawled in.  "Maiya! Maiya!" she looked up in suprise, "Yutaka?" she murmured.  
	Maiya shook herself to brush off the grass seeds sticking to her clothes.  Yutaka was nowhere to be seen.  Maiya knew that he was gone, but the memories could be haunting at times.  She picked up her bundle and feeling ready to face the world again headed back toward her village.
	Maiya strode purposefully down the alleyway, she wasn't afraid in the least, the local thugs knew her powers and would keep their distance.  Walking out into the open-air market she breathed in deeply taking in all the smells, ginger, cinnamon, saffron, and fresh flowers.  It was a colorful place full of people who milled about everywhere.  Maiya tossed her head, she was independent and needed no one.  ..Still, it was amusing to watch these people.  Maiya continued on her way home, confident with her ability to look after herself.

	Maiya walked down the dusty trail to her house, it was only a little way out of Halogen City.  She leaned over the white picket fence and flipped the latch, closing the gate carefully behind her.
	The garden was filled with vibrant wildflowers and wisteria vines wrapped themselves around the small, pale yellow house.  Maiya shoved open the unlocked door and stepped into the dim room.  Fearful of what might be hidden in the dark shadows Maiya scurried quickly to a large stained glass window and pulled back the heavy drapery allowing the bright afternoon sunshine to stream in.
	She took a deep breath feeling relieved.  It was nerve-racking to always be finding people hiding in this creaky old house.  At different times there had been waifs, vagabonds, beggars, thieves, a group of Romani, and even a man who claimed to be a merchant.  She had spent much of her time at home screaming that her home was neither a homeless shelter, inn, or a thieve's hideout.  She spent much of her time away from home, camping in the fields and orange groves around the city.
	Taking strenght from the light and warmth filling the room she spun around enjoying the quiet and then fell to the floor and sighed.
	"Silence is golden."  She smiled, with Yutaka gone she could finally get the peace she craved.  Maiya opened her bag and began to take out the things she had collected on her latest excursion.  Some fragments of blue glass, an empty snail shell, a dry thistle flower, and two clay beads.  Maiya then went on to find places for all the objects.
	Finishing up she felt puffed up with pride.  Her collection was huge.  She had been picking things up around the village for about a year now.  Yutaka had called her a packrat, at the time Maiya had scoffed at him, but she knew he was right.  The whole house was full of boxes, drawers, and shelves stuffed with all sorts of plants, rocks, and other debris.
	...And to Maiya, every single piece was treasure.


	Maiya sat on the floor deep in thought, facing out the window.  She didn't even glance over her shoulder at the sound of approaching footsteps.  She didn't need to worry about this person, he was almost a nonentity to her.
	Keiru approached his mother uncertainly, she had been gone for two days and he was not sure of her present mood.
	With a sigh Maiya broke out of her revery and turned to face her son.  Keiru was only about three years old, with large brown eyes and thin dark blond hair.  "The only reason I miss Yutaka," she thought, "Is because he would watch this kid for me."
	Keiru smiled vaguely.
	"Do you want to come with me?" she asked.  Keiru nodded with excitement.  "Then go get your sandals, we'll leave now."
	Maiya watched him scurry off, "At least one of us is happy," she murmured to herself.  Searching around the room she found a rather heavy bag of ginger root.  "I can sell this fast, use the money to buy some food and I'll be ready," she thought.
	Keiru came scuttling back, his large sandals flapping.  Maiya had felt some strange things lately, large amounts of energy from the northwest, mainly in the Tolan area.  She felt it was her duty to investigate, being a Seishi herself.  Maiya could care less if she ever met Genbu no Miko or any of the other Seishi, but she was still curious.
	She slung the bag of ginger root over her shoulder and took Keiru's hand.


	Maiya and Keiru sat on a haystack watching the wind sift through the fields.  Suddenly Maiya sat up very rigidly and turned to face north, "Something is going on there, " she thought.  "But why should that concern me?" She let the odd feeling slip away and turned back to see Keiru looking intently at her.  "What's wrong with you kid?! Can't I turn my head for a second?"
	Keiru did not have the courage to answer his mother, so he simply gazed across the sea of grass as Maiya regained her composure.