Meanwhile...

[bloodsong1]

Rei sat up, ears pricked and psychic senses tingling. Someone...was here. She slid out of bed, grabbed her transformation pen and a flashlight, and tiptoed to her door. Sliding it open just enough to peek out, she gasped when Sarah-chan walked slowly by.

"Sar..." The words caught in her throat. Sarah-chan's posture was one of exhaustion, her feet dragging, her head bowed. Rei squeezed through the gap and followed her. Sarah-chan paused at the door of her room to drop her suitcase and two cloth bags, both brimming with energy and making Rei flinch back. Sarah-chan sighed and dragged herself to the Sacred Fire. Rei skulked behind her, giving her room a wide berth. She would need to ask about those bags.

When Sarah-chan entered the Fire Room, Rei barely held in a gasp. She was wearing very nice clothes!

"Hail Guardian of the South, Sacred Flame," Sarah-chan said, sinking to her knees. "I have been successful, but it cost me." She paused. Rei got the impression she was listening to the Fire. "Water is very good for healing the body, but I am a creature of fire and air. May I please rest with you tonight?" The Fire crackled and spat.

"Thank you." Sarah-chan curled up on Rei's meditation cushion. Rei gasped loudly when the Fire reached out, surrounding the exhausted widow in a circle of red-orange light. She darted into the room when the Fire lifted Sarah-chan.

"NO! You'll hurt her!" Rei cried. The Fire whooshed and she fell back a step.

Fear not, my Princess. No harm shall come to Reiki within my embrace. Her soul is battered and bruised. I will soothe it with gentle caresses and undo the damage done at Miyajima. Go back to bed. Reiki will be here when the Great Sun rises.

Rei's knees gave out and she fell to the floor, gaping. Sarah-chan was very carefully raised over the edge of the brazier and laid directly on the coals. Her clothes and hair did not catch fire, nor did she scream in agony. She simply sighed and curled up a little tighter.

"H...how..." Rei stammered.

You still have much to learn, my Princess. Reiki's aura and soul sing in tune with all the elements. We cannot harm her unless there is a specific need or we have been corrupted. Take this as another sign of her Blessedness. Please, go back to your bed. You need your rest too. The enemy grows stronger.

"Al...all right. But I'm coming back for her first thing in the morning!"

She will be ready for you.

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The next morning, Yuuchiro was very surprised to find Sarah-san sleeping in the Fire Room. Rei bullied him into carrying her to her own futon. He escaped before Rei could ask him to help her undress the widow.