"Are the horses set?" Hotohori asked Tasuki as he walked out of the main palace doors. Tasuki glanced back at Hotohori from atop of his white stallion.

"Yep, we're all set. Ready to hit the city Your Majesty?" Again Tasuki stressed on his last words, causing Hotohori to roll his eyes.

"Tasuki, your jokes are getting old. Now lets get going." Hotohori climbed atop of his horse and started to head towards the tall gates that led to the large city, Eiyo, the capital of the Konan kingdom. The visit outside of the city was an important one. Tasuki came to the conclusion that if the mirror is not in the palace, then it must have been outside somewhere. Someone might have taken it, he said, so Hotohori and Tasuki ventured out to the city of Eiyo.

Hotohori was in casual wear, with his trusty sword at his side. He did not want to attract attention by wearing his elegant clothes and to be assisted by guards, so he went into the city, trying to look like one of the many inhabitants. Tasuki, who was already in his normal wear, rode right beside Hotohori. His weapon that he always carried, was a tessen, a large metal fan that emitted fire at his will. It hung in a sling on his back, shining in the sun's golden rays. Silence stayed between then through the ride through the city. Tasuki glanced sideways at Hotohori, seeing his new kind of wear. It wasn't the first time Tasuki saw his dress that way, so it wasn't new to him. Hotohori never really wore those clothes inside the palace, only when he traveled outside of the palace walls, which wasn't too often, since his kingdom needed him greatly. After some riding into the city, Hotohori turned to Tasuki, breaking the silence between them.

"Where is our first stop in our search?" Hotohori questioned.

"We will stay at an inn for now, to think of our plan in retrieving the mirror. Then, the real search begins tomorrow." Tasuki smiled. Hotohori nodded in agreement at the decision Tasuki made. Soon, they stopped at an inn and they tied their horses up and entered through the doors. They walked to the registration counter, which was apparently absent of people to help them. Hotohori looked around the counter, looking left and right. No one was there.

"Well, I guess no one is…" But before Hotohori could finish his sentence, Tasuki pulled out his metal tessen and began to slam it down constantly on the countertop, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"HEY! WE WANT SOME SERVICE HERE!!!" Tasuki's tessen made loud, unbearable noises. Hotohori's eyes widened and he covered his ears. He then yelled loudly at him.

"Tasuki! Stop that! Its unbearable!" Hotohori's eyes were now shut tightly from the loud noise that Tasuki's metal fan was making. Suddenly, a short, pudgy man appeared with his ears covered as well. Tasuki stopped hitting his tessen on the counter and smiled brightly.

"We would like two rooms please, give us the best you got."

Tasuki pulled out a bag from under his large trench-like coat. He opened it and many gold coins poured out onto the counter. The pudgy man's eyes lit up like fireworks. Hotohori, who was now recovering from the undelightful display of how loud Tasuki's tessen could be, looked at Tasuki in surprise. "Now where did you get that?" Hotohori looked at him suspiciously. Tasuki, who still had a smile on his face, looked back at Hotohori.

"From your saddle bag of course, who else is gonna pay?"

Hotohori then sighed again. The pudgy man took the money and led them to their rooms. Tasuki was given a room at the end of a long hallway, and Hotohori's room was at the top of the staircase, which was located at the end of the hallway. After being led in, Hotohori went to the window and looked out. He saw what seemed to be all of the city's inhabitants were on the streets, talking amongst each other, selling their goods, everyone doing something.

He smiled to see that the citizens of Eiyo worked so hard to maintain their lives so effectively. In the distance, he could see the large walls that blocked the entrance to the palace. He could see the roofs of his home and saw the many buildings that stood. After looking out his window, he turned to his bed and sat on it. He took off his shoes and laid down on it, his stomach facing the ceiling. The bed wasn't as comfortable as the one he had in his room, but it was decent enough for him to sleep in. A few minutes passed by and he soon closed his eyes, suddenly becoming very tired. He then began into a deep sleep.

Hotohori's eyes fluttered open from some unknown sound. Was it in his room?

No, it was too faint to be in his room, but it was loud enough for him to hear it.

What was it?

He asked himself. Hotohori listened again for another sound. He heard some murmuring coming from behind a wall. The room was dark and stars glittered the sky that shown through the window and he knew that he had slept for quiet some time during the day. He got up slowly and pressed his ear against it. He could hear a few voices, but he couldn't make out what they were saying.

Quietly, he left his room, closing the door carefully. The hallway was dark and lonesome. No moon shown through the windows that were scattered all over the upstairs hallway. Through the darkness he led himself, he went to the door that led to the room right next to his. Hotohori then presses his ear against the door, listening carefully. The voices he heard before were now understandable and he could make out a few words. His eyes narrowed as he heard them say something about a mirror and about where it came from.

"They have my mirror!" Hotohori told himself quietly. "I've got to get Tasuki." He removed his ear from the door. He then heard another sound from behind him. The talking in the room stopped. Hotohori looked behind him and he saw a dark figure towering over him and a dark object coming at his face, and then, darkness.