Prologue

Donghai, the Zen master of the Thousand-Peace Temple, knelt on his mat, his hands folded in his lap. His face was a sea of serenity, and his eyes were closed. He swayed slightly from time to time in his meditation, his silver beard flowing in the wind. His skin was leathery with old age, and the top of his shaved head gleamed under the candle-light.

 

Outside, the wind whistled through the trees, the leaves rustling gently in rhythm to the symphony of little critters moving through the bushes. The moon hung high in the sky like a silver mirror, glowing faintly in the night. Stars were sprinkled here and there, and the whole world seemed to be enveloped in a blanket of calm.

 

Master Donghai took a deep breath and then exhaled. “Daisuke,” He said, his voice barely above a whisper, not even opening his eyes, “I know you are there.”

 

“Master,” the monk shuffled into the room, fidgeting with his tunic. Excitement was evident in his gray eyes.

 

“What is it?” Master Donghai asked.

 

“There are people at the door, Master,” Daisuke bowed respectfully, “They need help. A woman has been seriously hurt.”

 

“Let them in, Daisuke,” the Master said. He still had his back to Daisuke, and his voice was still perfectly even, not one trace of emotion to be heard. “We give our help to all those who need it. And alert Hideaki. He’ll want to see the patient.”

 

“Yes master,” Daisuke bowed and turned, running"no, sprinting"out the door and down the hall. He could barely contain the excitement and anxiousness bubbling inside him. This was the first time in a long time"a very long time, mind you"that anyone had visited the Thousand-Peace Temple. And this odd group of people sparked his curiosity. What were two grown women, one injured and unconscious and the other exhausted and wan, with two girls and a boy, each at least five years younger than himself, doing out here in the wilderness? Whatever it was, Daisuke decided, it would be interesting to find out.

 

Back in the hall, Master Donghai sighed. “That boy has yet to see through the shallow world of mortals,” he mused to himself, “Perhaps it is better, then, to let him go? And yet he stubbornly believes that he is detached.” He drew in a deep breath and exhaled, returning to his meditating, leaving all the troubles of his mind behind him.

 

 

 

*    *    *    *    *

 

 

“Where is she, Dae Eun?” the boat rocked gently in the sea as Hsia struggled to keep his voice down. Anger was boiling over in him. He needed to know where his daughter was.

 

His wife, Dae Eun, sat stiff in a red-cushioned chair, her dark, wispy hair a storm about her face, her head down. Her eyes were rimmed with red and the trails that marked her tears, still wet, swam across her cheeks. The bruise that ran along her jaw and neck was becoming clearer, a deep, dark purple against her pale, smooth skin.

 

“I will ask you one last time,” Hsia’s voice was dangerously low as he loomed over his wife, his fingers closing around her throat. “Where is she?”

 

 

*    *    *    *    *

 

 

Rain poured from the sky above. Shoji returned the umbrella to Mei’s parents, thanking the family profoundly as he waved them good-bye. He had asked whether they wanted to stay for tea, but of course, they had refused.

 

He closed the round, red door behind him and locked it, turning.

 

“Master Nakamura?” the housekeeper’s voice trembled. Shoji could tell from her face that something was wrong, and the tingling sense in his gut that something bad had happened was not making things any easier.

 

“Minyi?” Shoji asked urgently, “Where is she?” All he wanted to know right now is if his little daughter was safe. If only his little daughter was safe, everything in the world would be fine.

 

“She’s gone missing.” the housekeeper’s face was white as a sheet, and Shoji was sure his own face mirrored her horrified expression.

 

 

*    *    *    *    *

 

“When can we go searching for butterflies?” the little girl tugged at Rin’s sleeve impatiently, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

 

“Just a little while, Minyi, as soon as it's morning. Get under here. We don’t want you to catch a cold.” he told her gently, nudging her.

 

“Ok,” Minyi climbed into the tent and was soon fast a sleep.

Author's Note

Yes. That was a sucky cliffhanger, for both beginning and ending, although I hope the middle was good enough (I'm so glad I rated this teen...I hinted subtly at violence...). But here's my AHHHHH for this chapter. RIN HAS A SOFT SIDE!!! OHHHHH MYYYYY GOSSSSSHHHHH!!! I don't believe it!

Reviews

[rae52]

it was not a bad cliffhanger in fact i loved it as usual cannot wait for more and just so you know i am working on my first book in ages i almost have a chapter so be ready to beta

100/100

[Rose of Gondor]

yayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayaya!!! *tackle hug* BOOK!!! :D