en closed. And after that, Tenpou didn't remember much, except for the snow and the fact that the room was getting colder and colder.

***

Did they return yet?"

"Yes, Litouten-sama. Two days ago."

The bureaucrat smiled over his papers, steepling his hands. "And?"

"Tenpou Gensui was unconscious when they arrived."

"Good. And the mirror?"

"Broken, sir. By the general."

"Excellent."

"Why so, sir?"

"A body without a soul can't live very long. He'll never wake up."

***

"Kanzeon-sama, what do you find so amusing that you laugh out of the blue?" demanded Jiroshin while quizzically looking from Kanzeon to the lily pond, from the lily pond, back to the Goddess of Mercy.

Another all-knowing malicious smile snuck its way onto her lips as she replied, "Strange times, Jiroshin. But good times."

"What in the world do you mean by that?"

Silence and a shrug. The smile faded and Kanzeon leaned boredly back into her throne. "I believe that the Marshal with have a temporary substitute standing in for him sometime soon."

"Why? Is he going somewhere?"

"Yes he is."

"And who is this substitute?"

The boddhisvata grinned again as she took a sip from her cup of tea. "A better man, I believe. A better man."

Jiroshin seemed ready to ask for a clarification, but Kanzeon immediately stuck the cup in his face and demanded, "Please change it. The drink is tepid. And boil the water well this time."

"You'll burn your tongue Kanzeon-sama!"

"But I like tea. Those who like tea shouldn't mind the heat, wouldn't you say? And those who do mind it, shouldn't drink it."

***

Life was strange. First you start hearing things while driving. Then you s