Note: I do not intend to dishonor Rumiko Takahashi. On the contrary, it is with respect that I write this story in honor of her literary genius.

YOUKAI SENSO

CHAPTER 2

JIYUU

"For the crime of treason. You are hereby sentenced to banishment. Your title and privileges stripped and given to your heir or in this case your next of kin. He standeth thus." The magistrate gestured with his gavel and eyes turned and focused on someone off the podium. "The length of banishment depends on your decision, shinobi. You still have time to change your mind. What sayeth you?" The chief magistrate and the court leveled their attention on their accused.

The trial hall had lost its luster and glory centuries ago but the acoustics had remained the same. As the magistrate's deep voice faded the tinkling of metal could now be heard echoing within the cavernous walls. As the accused I stood in the middle of the mandala flanked by four guards.

"What sayeth I?" I gritted between words, the rage shaking my body, making the chains sing. If not for the shackles binding me with power (and they hurt), I would have snapped them off, leaped at the magistrate's bench and loped off that pompous ass' head even before his words faded. But the guards pulled the chains back and I felt myself staggering to keep my footing. "I…curse you all."

"This court is not heartless, shinobi. Your family was respected…"

"Was?" I shouted and then my laughter rang the halls. "Oh. Spare me." I dragged one the guards down in my struggle. The other guard lifted a weapon and he and I glared at each other. I wanted to dare that asshole into striking me but he backed away.

"Your family used to preside in these august halls, shinobi. It pains this court to pass judgment on one of their descendants." The staying hand lowered and swept to the right dismissing the guards and I was left alone on the mandala. "The court is willing…" the magistrate glared at me at my reaction. "…to grant you clemency."

I did not miss the movement beyond the podium where blood relatives could witness the proceedings behind glass but I could see the eyes that entreat me to change my mind. He's but one the few relatives in this world right now but our relationship was troubled and filled with envy and jealousy ever since I remembered. But he's not the reason why I came thus to this proceedings and he is not the reason why I could lose everything.

"Are you also in a generous mood right now to grant clemency to others who defied your will, magistrate?" I could feel heated eyes bore through me. "No. I do not think so. This court is a sham!"

"Cease your words, shinobi!" one of the lesser magistrates censured me. I knew that bastard.

"Let him speak!" The chief magistrate turned to his colleagues. The podium quieted.

"You dare offer this generosity only because of my family's influence and vast fortune to help you in this war. You wanted to turn my heart back to get your hands on that resource." I grit my teeth when I saw their reaction and my brother's reaction. "I was correct in that assumption." I straightened and there was a collective wave of anticipation that came from the spectators. "I do not need your pity." My brother turned away, shoulders slumped knowing my decision before the words left my mouth.

It took the solons a whole minute to react to my words. They looked dumbly at each other but the chief magistrate and I continued to glare at each other.

I was still smirking when the guards dragged me away into the twisting labyrinth of the prison and I was almost shoved back into my cell. They pulled the chains taut around my neck as another guard stepped behind me with a key to open the "collar." The pain receded.

When I was freed and remained standing in front of the cell door the guards tensed up, weapons ready to cut me down; afraid that I might give a fight. They tensed the more when the prisoners began chanting.

"Shut up all of you!" but the prisoners shouted all the more. The guards looked at each other when the prisoners began shaking their cell doors, the noise rising into unbearable levels.

I looked hard at each and every one of them. I wanted to remember their faces. They will be the first to die. But I just shrugged before I languidly began walking. They sighed in relief and relaxed.

The guard on my right pitched forward as my hand dug inside his sternum, crushed the bone and liberated his still beating heart. I threw the bloody organ on another guard's face. As he reared back his jugular was bared to be slit, my hand slashed forth. A happy splash of color decorated the gray paint. The neck was still gushing like a spring when I turned to the last two guards. I grimaced when one of them lost bladder control and the pluckier one bared his fangs and claws at me in challenge.

"Jiyuu! Jiyuu! Jiyuu!"

The third guard prepared to leap but I was not where I was standing. I allowed him to see me standing behind him as I twisted his head 360 degrees. He looked amazed to see me not knowing he's already dead. I cracked his spinal cord with a wet sound and his dislocated head bounced on the floor when I let go of him.

The fourth guard screamed shrilly when I began stalking him. I found him cringing at the far end of the cellblock. I picked up the chain with the collar. The collar seemed to be magnetized as it attached itself to his neck. I pulled him to me as soon as the collar clicked shut. I saved him last because he was the cruelest of the three. A quick death was my way of being merciful to the other guards. I dispatched the three in about three seconds.

But this one I will save for last.

"Jiyuu! Jiyuu! Jiyuu!"

I shushed him as he began another shriek, attaching the chains on his hands and feet at my cell. "Pl-ple…please…hah-hah…please spare me….please…." he blabbered as spittle flew from his quivering mouth. I look at him without emotion as I finished my task.

The suspense must be killing him when I turned away. I went to the end of the cellblock and smashed the wall open. Beyond it is the lush green promise of the mountains. The wind flapped my robe around me and my hair danced about like pale snakes. The last guard's eyes were as big as saucers when I came back.

"I will free you now." I told him and he nodded with a shaky sigh, totally relieved to hear my words. "Your three friends will be meeting you in the afterlife." People must really become dumb when they serve bureaucracy for like the solons (what a misnomer!) it took him almost the same amount of time to register the implications. Idiots.

I grew tired of his stupidity and presence. His eyes were still as big as a full moon as light flashed around his torso. One by one his decapitated limbs fell wetly on the floor. The wind met me again as I stepped on the gap on the wall. I paused to take a deep refreshing breath of the cool clean air. The sky, the forest, the chasm below my feet looked wonderful.

"Jiyuu! Jiyuu! Jiyuu!"

The chanting penetrated the haze of the post kill. The prisoners suddenly fell quiet when I turned back. They all looked like prey caught on a predator's sights.

Before the flashing lights faded I was already out of that hellhole and into freedom.

~000~