Suddenly, a resounding yell echoed in the distance and a horde of bandits swarmed over the southwestern hill. The merchants scrambled for any weapon as the women gathered the energetic children into the rainproof tents at the center of the circle.

Sora jerked up, her brown locks clinging to her damp forehead. Not again... Tears welled up as she clutched her quilt angrilly. What the hell is happening to me? She stood off the bed and stomped to the kitchen.

Five minutes later, as she sipped her coffee, she gazed out of her window looking out at the city lights. Setting the mug on a table adorned with blue roses, more tears fell as she remembered the sad feeling that accompanied the dream. Pulling her robes closer to her, she walked over to the blue and gray plaid couch. Minutes later, she fell into a peaceful, dreamless slumber.

The next morning, Yotsuba High School students piled into their classes for the day's lesson. Before the last bell rang Miaka and Yui rushed to their seats. After the students settled down, their teacher, Miss Musumeno, called attendance and began teaching. Halfway through the class, she decided to check over last night's assignment.

"Yuuki-san, from last night's assignment, tell me the names of the four gods and their regions of rule."

"Hai, Musumeno-sensei," Miaka smiled knowingly, tucking a stray lock of hair that had fallen from her ponytail behind her ear. Well, that's easy! "They are Genbu-sama of the North, Seiryuu-sama of the East, Suzaku-sama of the South, and Byakko-sama of the West."

"Very good. Now, as you read, each god had animal forms. Hongo-san, can you tell me what they were?"

"Hai. Genbu the black turtle, Seiryuu the blue dragon," Yui smiled slightly, her fingers fondling the tail-end of her braid. "Suzaku the red Phoenix, and Byakko the white tiger."

"Hai," she nodded. "Your assignment was to read through the factual section of the Four Kami chapter and list them and all the stars in each of their section. As an eazy grade, I want you to study Genbu's list. Monday you will be given a quiz over him, the star names, and other mythological facts..."

"That was pretty easy," Miaka whispered to Yui. "I think I'll make higher grades in this chapter."

"Hai, I know," Yui smiled, then frowned thoughtfully. "Musumeno-sensei's sure being nice, giving us such an easy quiz. Usually, she so strict and her tests are so hard."

"Oh, well. I'm not complaining. I'm actually..."

"Yuuki-san! Hongo-san! Quiet back there!" Miss Musumeno yelled as she hit the bell sitting on her desk. "If you don't pay attention, you'll be spending your afternoon in detention!"

"Hai, sensei." Both girl chimed as their cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Now, as I was saying," she continued. "I'm taking a leave of absence starting Monday. I don't know when I'm going to be back, but I've left plenty of work for you for at least a month." Several students groaned and she laughed, causing them to stop and stare at her unusual behavior. Musumeno-sensei didn't have a sense of humor, much less ever laughed. "Oh, it's not that bad."

The bell rang and Miss Musumeno gathered her papers and books. Most students exited the room for break. As Miaka and Yui stood to leave, Miaka decided to talk to her teacher.

"Sensei, is everything alright? It's not like you to leave in the middle of the school year."

"Everything's fine, Yuuki-san," she smiled sadly. "I'm just stressed. Thanks for asking."

As soon as her hand touched Miaka's shoulder in mid-pat, images of Suzaku, Miaka in Miko attire, and the Seishi flashed through her mind. She gasped, stumbling, as waves of dizziness washed over her.

"Sensei!" Yui caught her teacher before she fell. She led her over to a desk chair. "Are you okay?"

The startled teacher looked at her quizzically for a few minutes before answering. "Hai, Yuuki-san, I'm fine. Like I said, I'm just stressed," she stood up and, suddenly, her eyes glazed over. "You're break is almost over, so you'd better enjoy what little time you have left." Shaking her head, their sensei gathered her belongings, bowed politely, and exited the classroom.

Yui and Miaka looked at each other, both shuddering as a feeling of foreboding at Miss Musumeno's last statement cascaded over them. Something was going to happen soon. They felt it.

"That is what you call "Divine Intervention," the wolf, previously gazing into the fountain, glanced over at his dragon son, who just rolled his eyes and continued flipping through his Atlanta Cutlery catalogue. "Now let's see what will happen next."

Immediately after school, Miaka and Yui walked to the National Library, the place where their adventures in the book started so long ago. As they entered the door, Miaka, busy talking to Yui, bumped into someone, knocking their books all over the floor.

"Gomen nasai... Musumeno-sensei!?" Miaka double-taked, noticing the teacher's jogging suit and pony-tail. Her teacher chuckled.

"It's all right, Yuuki-san. I was at fault, too. Had my nose stuck in my new mythology book," she smiled as she, Miaka, and Yui picked up the fallen books.

As her and Miaka chatted about this week's lesson, Yui glanced at the top book in Miss Musumeno's arms. Chinese writing etched onto the blue cover read GoJinTenChiJiSho. Strange, she couldn't read Chinese, unless...

"Excuse me, Musumeno-sensei. I hate to talk and run, but we have a Math exam to study for," she grabbed Miaka by the arm before she could expose her lie and bowed. "It was nice seeing you."

"See you in class." Musumeno nodded. She knew that Watanbe hadn't scheduled an exam until next week, but she let the lie slide. Bowing in return, she left the girls.

"Why'd you lie to her, Yui-chan?" Miaka frowned. "She probably knows the exam isn't until next Tuesday."

"Miaka-chan, did you notice the book on top?" Miaka shook her head. "It was in Chinese and I could read it." When all she got was a blank look, Yui sighed in frustration. Some things never changed. "When was the last time we could read Chinese?"

Realization dawned in the brunette's mind. "You mean she had the ShiJinTenChiSho?"

"I don't think it was the original one. It read GoJinTenChiJiSho," she paused as a thought popped in her head. "I think ji as in jigoku."

"Jigoku?" Miaka shuddered. "I don't like the sound of that."

"Me either, Miaka-chan," she wrapped her arms around herself. "Me either."