Disclaimer! FY belongs to Watase Yuu, as well as Bandai, Tokyo Television, Flower Comics, Pioneer, and others. This is only for entertainment and not meant to be an infringement.

Chuin hurried off to the theatre, praying to Seiryuu that Bada was still there. The theatre was dark, but he went in anyways. He had to be sure. If nothing else, he could just sleep in Bada's dressing room for the night. But when he got to the room, the man was sitting at the dressing table looking through a scroll. He had already taken his costume and makeup off.

Bada looked up and smiled at the boy. "Ah, so you did come back, Chuin. I was hoping you would."

Chuin's was confused and overjoyed at the same time. *He was hoping I'd come back! Does he really mean it?* He walked into the room and went to stand by Bada. *Does that mean he likes me,* he wondered. *No one has ever been glad to see me, except for Byuki-san. And even then, it's because he wants something.* Chuin felt a little wary. *Does he want something?*

"Have you ever heard the legend of the Miko", Bada asked, pointing to the scroll.

The question brought Chuin out of his thoughts. He looked at the down at the scroll and saw that it looked like some kind of chart. "Hai," Chuin answered, "everybody's heard of it. Some girl from another world is suppose to come, gather seven seishi and summon Seiryuu. The seishi will be known by a character that appears somewhere on their body and they have some kind of power given to them by Seiryuu. It's a story told by old men to amuse children."

"No it isn't," Bada replied. "The stories are true. Two mikos have already come. Genbu no Miko came 200 years ago. Byakko no Miko came about 100 years ago. If this hundred-year cycle continues, soon the next miko, either Suzaku or Seiryuu will be appearing soon."

"How do you know this? And if it is true, then how will everyone know which one is coming next?"

Bada laughed. "I come from a small villiage in the country of Sailo, which is in the west. My father told me about how Byakko no Miko came and protected our country in its time of need. His best friend was the one who became Byakko no Seishi, Amefuri. His symbol of 'net' appeared on his left calf and his powers were that of the wind." He thought for a moment. "I suppose it'll be known that the next miko is coming, when the seishi are born into this world."

Chuin looked at the characters on the scroll with interest. If the stories were true, then there may be hope for Kutou. "Which ones are the characters for the Seiryuu Seishi? I want to know what they look like, so I can look for them."

"Look for them? There's no telling if they are in the area. Besides, you don't see the character unless the person's chi is focused. But these here are the symbols of the Seiryuu Seishi." Bada pointed to each one as he said the name. "Miboshi, Ashitare, Nakago, Soi, Tomo, Amiboshi, and Suboshi." He went onto explain what each symbol meant.

Chuin studied each one. He found the names intriguing for some reason, but didn't really care about the legend. Bada was interested, so he was interested. Bada went on to say what the other Seishi's names were. Chuin listened and studied all of them, but he kept going back to the Seiryuu ones. He felt drawn to them. *It's only because they're the ones for this country,* he told himself.

"So", Bada said. "The Seishi for your country might already have been born."

Chuin looked away and shuffled his feet a little. "I don't even know if this is my country. Byuki-san found me abandoned near here," he said quietly.

Bada looked at the boy. The light that had shone in his hazel eyes was gone. *This poor boy has been though so much and I had to go and remind him of his past.* "Would you like to learn about Opera makeup, Chuin?"

Chuin nodded and Bada quickly sat him down at the small table. He explained the colors as he applied them to Chuin's face. Bada's touch made it hard for Chuin to concentrate on what the man was saying. His throat felt dry and he had a hard time breathing. Why did the man's touch make Chuin feel like he was on fire?? When Bada had finished, he held up a hand mirror to show Chuin the makeup.

*I don't even look like me!* Chuin turned his face from side to side. *I look so fierce!* He felt fierce. He was amazed at how having his face painted made his feel so different. He wished he could keep it on, but Bada was soon wiping it off.

"I'm sorry, Chuin. But it's getting late and I must get back to my lodgings. Will I see you again soon?"

*He wants me to come back?? Does he like me?* Chuin, overcome with feelings he couldn't understand, nodded. "We'll still be here tomarrow. I'll come as soon as I can get away."
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As Chuin made his way to the theatre, he looked at the tiny clam shell he held in his hand. *What on earth possess me to buy this thing,* he wondered, for the 20th time. When he saw it at a small market stand, he felt the urge to buy it. It didn't really cost him much. *Ah, well. It's pretty. Maybe I can make it into some kind of decoration.* He tucked it into his shirt.

This night he was able to see some of the Opera. Afterwards, he headed back to Bada's dressing room. As before, Bada smiled at him as Chuin walked into the room. Bada allowed Chuin to put the makeup on himself. When he finally finished, he turned to Bada. The man held Chuin's face and leaned in close, examining the boy's work. Chuin felt light-headed. *His face is so close. I wonder what it'd be like to be kissed by him?* Chuin was glad to have the makeup on as he could feel his cheeks grow warm. *What is wrong with me? I've never thought such things before.*

"Not bad," Bada said. "There's some uneveness, but for your first time, it's well done." Bada let Chuin try a couple more times at applying the makeup, before he left to return to Byuki-san.

"Where have you been, boy", Byuki-san demanded, when Chuin returned.

"I just went out for a walk," was all Chuin said. He started loading what little stuff was left onto the cart. The ride home was a quiet one. Chuin felt strange. He couldn't keep his mind off of Bada. *Is this what it feels like to be in love*, he wondered. Chuin had no idea, since he had never known love. He loathed Byuki-san and was revolted by the man's touch. But Bada's touch made him feel alive! He longed for the man's touch. *This must be love then.* Chuin supressed a sigh. It was all so confusing.

In his room, Chuin undid the bun and shook his hair loose. He brushed his hair out, imagining it was Bada running his fingers through his hair. He picked up a small hand mirror and looked at himself. *I wonder if Jisuno-san thinks I'm attractive.* He blushed and put the mirror down. He went over to his sleeping mat, and sat down. Reaching into his shirt, he took out the tiny shell and opened it. He ran his finger along the smooth interior. He set it down next to the bed and laid down, staring at the ceiling.

A shadow appeared in the door. "You still awake, boy?" Byuki-san walked into the room, already naked. Chuin turned his head away and closed his eyes, as the man got on top of him. He fervently wished it was Bada instead and was surprised when he felt hair brush along his face. Byuki-san always kept his hair short. Chuin opened his eyes and saw Bada above him!

*How can this be? How did Jisuno-san get here?* Bada brought his face to Chuin's and kissed him. All thought left Chuin's head, as he returned the kiss. *What does it matter how he got here. He's here.*

Chuin laid on his stomach with his eyes closed. His heart-rate and breathing were returning to normal. That was the first time he'd ever enjoyed it. He felt warm inside. He rolled onto his back and sat up to look at Bada, only Bada wasn't there. Instead, he saw Byuki-san leaving the room. Chuin wrapped his arms around his stomach, feeling ill all of a sudden. He didn't understand how it was Bada he saw.

Turning away from the door, he saw his clam. There was something strange about it. He picked it up and looked at it. Inside the clam he saw an image of him and Bada. *Nani?* Black wisps of smoke came from the clam and Chuin found himself in Bada's dressing room. *How did I get here?* Bada walked in through the door. "Chuin, I love you." *Jisuno-san.* Bada and the room faded into black. *What's happening??*

Chuin's head was spinning. He looked down at the clam and noticed a blue glow. He dropped the clam and looked down at himself, The glow seemed to come from his abdomen, but he couldn't see it well. Keeping his concentration on the glow, he made his way to where his hand mirror was. Holding it up to the glow he saw that it was a symbol. "Root." Wasn't that one of the symbols of the Seiryuu Seishi?? His heart was pounding in his ears as he tried to remember what name went with that symbol.

"Tomo!" He felt some kind of excitement run through him. *I'm a Seiryuu Seishi!! Then that means I have powers granted by Seiryuu.* The glow began to fade as he lost focus. He thought about the last two weeks. The ground that seemed to explode, the feather that obeyed his thought, and now the illusion that seemed to come from his clam. A new feeling began to go through him. To think of all the power that he could have with the aid of these things. He looked down at the clam. *Just you wait, Byuki-san. Someday I'll be the master. Once I learn to use this clam, then I'll be the one in control.* He laughed quietly. "KaKakakaka."