She had been walking a terribly long time. Two days to be exactly. She would have gotten if she had not been distracted so often with all the spectacular things in all the villages she passed by. She cursed herself under her breath at her over powering curiosity. [i]'If only they taught me more before sending me here... Maybe this stuff wouldn't look so strange...'[/i] she grumbled to herself in a pout as she folded her arms over her chest. As if karma were to slap her for complaining she noticed something fluttering in the distance and it disappeared behind a tree. Perking up like a curious puppy she immediately diverts her trajectory and begins to chase down the fluttering creature. With a hurry in her steps she came upon the small creature. She gasped a little loudly from the beautiful of the little critter. It was a beautiful mixture of orange and black with intricate lines of white, a small butterfly. Far more beautiful than she could have ever imagined when told of the insect. 

Her spirit giving off her true and kind nature as she held out her palm to the butterfly it did not feel threatened and easily landed on the tip of her middle finger. She smiled brightly, her freckled nose faintly crinkling cutely with the gesture. She brought it closer to get a better look. She was mystified with the beauty of something so small and delicate. Suddenly the realization that she had gotten distracted for the one millionth time dawned on her. She sighed in defeat, this was hopeless. She let the butterfly flutter away. 

"Damn my distractions..." She complained once more as she began her march towards her direction.

In all honesty Akiko had no real direction nor destination. She simply had this sort of pull on her, metaphorically of course. It was her instincts that she was created with. It was a sort of GPS to lead her towards the girl she was created to protect so she would never lose the girl. 

Several hours had passed before she entered a village that was eerily absent of villagers, as if they were hiding from something. The further she went the stronger she felt the pull on her spirit to the girl. She looked around and began to notice more and more debris and destruction. There had been a battle here recently. Then her heart sank, what if the girl was hurt. Akiko started into a powerful sprint through the streets and around corners as she followed her instincts towards the girl. As she rounded the last corner her eyes fell upon the girl. She had never seen the girl, she didn't even know her name. Yet she knew it was her, something in the very fiber of her creation told her so. And she was standing in the company of good friends she knew well back in the spirit world.

She smiled brightly as she saw her two friends Tachigami and Ikegami. She ran too the two nearly at full speed, she moved at an incredible pace that she were nearly a blur before slamming into the Ox's strong neck and hugging his large form as tight as she could. "Ikegami! It's me! Though I have been named Daiki, Akiko in this world!" She chimed sweetly in a muffled voice against his form. She released the Ox only to grasp and hold tight onto the Rat spirit for a few moments. 

The large Ox laughed low and deep, a warm and kind sound. "What are you doing here? Why have you been sent?"

"I was summoned here to protect that girl." She stated rather matter of factly as she pointed towards Mizuki as if it were common knowledge.

"Ah, I see. I also see you were blessed with one of the eight Kagu-tsuchi pieces. A mighty gift young spirit." 

She smiled proudly as if given a great compliment. "So, what happened here Ikegami?"

The great Ox sighed, a touch of disappointment to the sound. "It is a long story Young one. But everything in fine here thanks to this group of warriors." With that Akiko looked around at all in attendance and their wounds. She frowned visibly, She was saddened that she had not arrived sooner and maybe have prevented most of these injuries. She turned around to face the group of female warriors and bowed her upper torso low in respect. "Thank you for protecting my friends."