*Pokaku's Palace, Sailo Country*
Kerry: Bye, Pokaku! I'll miss you!
Amefuri: Is everybody ready?
Toroki: You're going to miss that?
Pokaku: "I'm going to kick your ASS!" Shut up! Bye, Kerry-san!
Kokie: Haha…Toroki! She just beat you down! Toroki goes down in flames…
Toroki: Shut up, Kokie…
Subaru: We'll see you again soon!
Amefuri: Bye, Sensei! Ready?
Everyone: Ready!
Amefuri: Here we go! 5…4…3…ahhh! *everyone disappears in a sort of a Star Trek beaming up thingi*
*A dirt road, Sailo Country*
Nuriko: We should be almost there…it should be just over that hill…
Tasuki: Finally! We must have been riding for DAYS!
Nuriko: Well…it shouldn't be that much farth… *stops*
Tasuki: *stops* No…
Nuriko: What the…?
Tasuki: Not now…not when we were almost there!
Nuriko: No way…
Tasuki: Suzaku-fucking-damnit!
*The Palace, Kutou Country, the Throne Room*
Nakago: Well, Nina-sama, it seems that you are lost?
Nina: Yes, O-sama.
Nakago: Where are you from, exactly?
Nina: I'm from New York, O-sama.
Nakago: *to servant* Look that up in Yui-sama's books… *to Nina* Well, we might be able to help you in a few minutes to find your home.
Nina: Thank you, O-sama. You are too kind.
Nakago: Those are awfully strange clothes that you are wearing, Nina-sama. Are those men's pants you're wearing?
Nina: *looking down at her oversized jeans* No, O-sama. These are women's pants.
Nakago: Women's pants? I've only ever known ONE woman to EVER wear WOMEN'S pants…
Servant: O-sama, we have found "New York" in the books of the miko.
Nakago: Good. Good. *to Nina* Well, Nina-sama, it seems that you are too far from home to get back right now, so why don't you stay a while?
Nina: Are you sure I wouldn't be imposing, O-sama?
Nakago: Yes, Nina-sama, I am positive.
*A road, Hokkan Country*
Vanessa: Where are you taking me?
Namame: Vanessa, I'm taking you to meet someone! How many times do I have to… *realizing that he's yelling at the miko* Oh, forgive me, Vanessa. I did not mean to lose my temper.
Vanessa: That's okay. But you still won't tell me WHERE or WHO we're going to meet!
Namame: It's…ano…a SURPRISE!
Vanessa: Well…whatever…I don't like surprises.
Namame: I'm terribly sorry, Vanessa, but you must meet this person.
Vanessa: Okay! Give me a clue…is it a woman?
Namame: I don't want to play this little game of yours.
Vanessa: Oh! You're no fun!
Namame: *jokingly* What's "FUN"?
*Vanessa and Namame laugh as they ride off down the road*
*The Palace, Konan Country, Hotohori's room*
Hotohori: 498, 499, 500. *Hotohori puts down his hairbrush after the 500th stroke, and sits down on his bed*
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Hotohori: I'm telling you, Chiriko…I don't think that Tatara girl wants to kill you…
Miaka: *popping her head in the door*
Hotohori: OH! Miaka! Come right in!
Miaka: *coming in and closing the door behind her* Can I talk to you, Hotohori?
Hotohori: Sure, come, sit down. *offers her a seat and stands up, like a TRUE gentleman*
Miaka: *sitting* Thank you, Hotohori.
Hotohori: Of course. What was it you wanted to talk to me about, Miaka?
Miaka: It's Chiriko.
Hotohori: *rolling his eyes* Yes, I know. He's been in here about sixteen times in the past hour asking if I thought that Tatara wanted to kill him…
Miaka: *shaking her head* No. That's not it. I think that…ano…
Hotohori: What? Is something wrong?! What should we do?
Miaka: Calm down. It's not life-threatening…damo…
Hotohori: Well, what then?
Miaka: *looking at the floor* I think he has a crush on Tatara-san.
Hotohori: *stunned* Nani? Nani? *bursts into laughter* You're joking! Oh, that's so great! It's really funny! He has a…on…hahaha!
Miaka: *standing up* You're no better than Tamahome…I expected more from you…*starting to walk away*
Hotohori: *suddenly sobering* Nani? What's wrong?
Miaka: This is really serious. Chiriko's first crush is on a girl that he's supposed to be enemies with. He can't date her like normal fifteen-year-old boys. It could hurt his feelings so much that he might never have a serious relationship with anyone. What if he tries to help her escape? What then?
Hotohori: Oh. I see. This IS serious. What do you think we should do?
Miaka: *wide-eyed* Well…I was wondering…
Hotohori: *rolling his eyes* Oh no…what is it?
Miaka: You needn't get so worried every time I come up with an idea! I find it rather insulting!
Hotohori: Gomen. What is it?
Miaka: Could we let her have freedom within the Palace?
Hotohori: NANI!?!?!
Miaka: I mean so that they could go on dates and stuff, and she doesn't feel like a prisoner?
Hotohori: NANI!?!?!
Miaka: *upset* Fine! We'll let her stay in that cold, dark room until, during one of Chiriko's tutoring sessions, she escapes…
Hotohori: Fine fine fine. We'll let her have freedom WITHIN the Palace walls. If I even hear rumors about you asking for her to go outside of them, she goes right back in the dungeon.
Miaka: *schlomping Hotohori* OH! ARIGATOU! HOTOHORI-SAMA! *she skips out of the room*
Hotohori: *wiping the saliva off his face, with a loving look in his eyes* Oh…Miaka…
