Chapter 2 - Ame Furite...
Originally Published in GanGan Powered #4, December 2006
Our travelers have stopped to rest in a small riverside town, and Taitou tries to practice focusing his energy, but feels it is a waste of time when he needs to be retrieving the Kenkaranpu. Laila surprises him with a snack, which he ends up ruining. An attractive man painting the faces of ladies nearby complains about their volume.
In the Imperial City a beautiful girl is moving through the palace, when Shimei approaches her asking the whereabouts of her father. She doesn't answer him, but seems to recognize the sword in his possession, and appears flustered.
Back in the small town, an old woman sits high above the canal where Ryuukou climbs to reach her to chat about the rain. Taitou finds him there and their conversation finds its way to the story of Hagun and the stars involved. Ryuukou explains that seven heroes hide the seven stars of karma inside their bodies and that when the world has become corrupt they will appear to save the empire (much to Taitou's chagrin.) As Taitou and Ryuukou return to their lodgings, Ryuukou forbids Taitou from channeling Hagun until he is willing to train the way he must in order to learn how to control it.
As they reach their room they are shocked to find a strange woman waiting for them. They are even more shocked to learn it is Laila who they did not recognize because she has had her makeup done. While they are eating dinner, Koyou, the makeup artist who transformed Laila earlier appears to join them. He knows of their journey from talking with Laila and advises them to travel to the city by land as he doesn't believe the rain is going to let up any time soon. He explains that his profession as a sailor has taught him how to gauge the weather and that makeup is simply a hobby of his. He even invites Taitou to join him on the sea, but when he hears who their grandfather is, he immediately changes his mind and leaves the table, but not before warning them not to mention him to anyone when they return home.
Following Koyou's advice, the trio decide to make their way to the city by foot, but because of all the rain, the canal has risen to such a great height that it has washed out the bridge, making passage impossible. In order to protect themselves, the nobles have shut the floodgates, virtually dooming the refugee town outside the walls of the city. As the water begins to rush into the village, taking out houses in its path, Ryuukou, Taitou and Laila head for the gates. Ryuukou reaches it first and repels down, using his staff he forces the doors open, knocking them clean off their hinges, and saving the village from being complety covered with water. Relief is delayed, however, as a rush of water and debris makes its way straight for Ryuukou. Taitou tries to save him, but only falls into the water himself and needs to be saved by Ryuukou as a result. As the swim upward through the current, Taitou notices a mark on Ryuukou's chest similar to his Hagun mark. They reach the surface of the water and are rescued by Laila and Koyou (who also has a similar mark at the back of his neck!).
When they are finally safe, Taitou confronts Ryuukou about his mark, chiding him for not mentioning it sooner, and discovers he is the star 'Bukyoku'. Laila and Koyou reach them and they say their goodbyes to Koyou, as his massive ship has reached the harbor, and it is time for him to go. The three friends start making their way to Rakushou on foot.
Meanwhile, in Rakushou itself a menacing man with a large scar on his face has an audience with Shimei who presents him with the Kenkaranpu, much to his delight.
