Huge, huge thanks to everyone reviewing, favouriting and following and otherwise reading thus far! it's very much appreciated.

SmileRen -Hm, good question. More than likely I'll go for Alibaba being the dominant one as that makes more sense. I just couldn't resist Aladdin sass'ing him a little. Perpetual Dreams - ahh my apologies /hangs head/ right now Alibaba's just working through some issues. Akumarayne - eh, you know me and that I'd not be able to resist the Issac thing. And yep, I adore writing Judal

Anywho...enjoy~


Chapter 9

By the time Alibaba had woken, night had already set in. Wiping a lazy hand over his face, he looked outside of the balcony opposite him in the disbelief that a whole day had been and gone. Already, the skies of evening had blotted out the light in a splashing of inky blue and scattered stars. He frowned. But then, in this island nation and so far away from any semblance of danger, time seemed to pass far too quickly.

He knew that the day passed was meant to see him commence his training. After all, even if the thought quietly terrified him he would need to take up arms and take back Balbadd. This was supposedly his first tentative step towards that. Instead, for the first time in so long he had slept so well. Those nightmarish dreams just hadn't come to him. It felt almost as if his mind had been cauterised of a gaping, excruciating wound and the agony of its seeping memories. Puzzled, he tried in the moments he woke to truly make sense of that.

He rose from his bed, stepping onto the cold stone of the small balcony and breathed deeply at the fresh, oceanic breeze. It was then that he remembered, exactly, why his mind felt so clear. That past night, he had seen Aladdin, hadn't he? He had confronted him, had questions answered and...then almost kissed him. And then lied about that he thought about it. he had looked into those wide, azure eyes and lied to him.

Just what was he thinking? His hands rose to cover his face and he groaned loudly. So much had happened from that festival, to talking and learning so much. Was that why his mind felt so clear now; was that the true power of a Magi? To relieve his troubled mind of all its terrors? Aladdin had even agreed to help him, and chose him. One way or another, a nagging notion told him so many worries had been settled in him for new ones to take their place.

Looking out, he caught sight of the flashes of fire and water seeping across the darkened gardens. Surprisingly, it seemed Aladdin and his shapely teacher was there. And Yamaraiha seemed more than content to give her new student all the practise he needed. Alibaba had to wonder if he had slept at all. And indeed, if the Magi had managed to study, attend his meeting with her and continue trespassing to the libraries to read of black rukh.

For some reason, he found that thought annoying him. The thought that he, irresponsibly, had slept the day away lazily. And this quiet, unassuming person was there, as if nothing had happened. Part of his mind nagged him on that. Despite his somewhat frail, unassuming appearance he knew from that festival the Magi was powerful. That somehow that strange, somewhat unpredictable person with his warm smile and weird words was stronger than him. It wasn't a thought he liked. Looking down, and noticing his knuckles whiten as they gripped almost painfully to the balcony railing, he knew that was it.

He didn't want Aladdin to be stronger than him. It annoyed him. As a prince, and one day king, he should be stronger than him. That little thief had no right being so...powerful and impressive.

He had been so distracted by watching the flooding of bright magic's covering the grounds below he had barely noticed the door opening and closing softly behind him. He sighed, and knew this wouldn't be that enjoyable. Explaining to Hakuryuu why he had slept through their training.

Hakuryuu however had already taken the silent steps to join him on that balcony. Unravelling the white cloth he bound over his knuckles to protect his hands whilst training, he looked over his fellow prince curiously. His mis-toned cerulean eyes gave him an accusing look. "So you're finally awake, then."

"...I'm actually awake quite often," Alibaba admitted, focusing in the swirling of Aladdin's defensive fire below which had circled the Magi to protect him. The gentle melody of his flute reached Alibaba's ears, as the figure seemed to give a somewhat elaborate set of commands to his rukh. Remembering that Aladdin being a Magi, and being strong, irked him Alibaba broke back to look at Hakuryuu.

"Well, I took back my kamishimo," his fellow prince told him. Guiltily, Alibaba remembered the regal, impressive clothes of rippling silk had been somewhat dirtied by the smudging of dust and grime of the library and nodded. "Really, what were you up to last night? I know you were back late."

"I met someone in the library tower," Alibaba told him, and was given a look of disbelief at that. "...What? I'm still a prince, you know. You don't need to look at me like it's so strange."

"It's not strange. Unexpected I guess," even if the two were, perhaps the same thing. Hakuryuu let the bandaging fall from his stretched hands. "And...met someone."

"Met with whom?"

"I...almost kissed someone," Alibaba uttered without really thinking. Hakuryuu looked away at that. "Well...I didn't kiss them. But they said a...lot of nice things, and I thought about it a fair bit."

Hakuryuu's eyes were more than unreadable when he finally leaned forth on the railing, as if that was disappointing as a reply. "So...instead of coming to train me you were off sleeping through the day and failing to kiss people? Honestly, how are we going to take back our homes like this?"

"I didn't fail at anything!" Alibaba told him. "I said I nearly did it. "I just...I think I need to practise."

"Yes, Alibaba-san. That's why we're fighting together."

"Ah..no I meant I mean I need to practise kissing," he mumbled. After all, for some reason he wished to not get this wrong, as if to prove to that little thieving Magi he was better at something. The heat rose in his face as he realised he still planned to do it.

A thought occurred to him, and Alibaba took a deep breath. He leaned in, and Hakuryuu seemed a little too preoccupied pretending he wasn't doing such a thing to move out of the way. As he did, he watched that magically brightened eye cast him an approaching look and shut his eyes. Much as with Aladdin, and picturing Aladdin, he reached to curl his finger under his fellow prince's chin. And then –

"A-Alibaba-san, stop this!" Hakuryuu explained and backed away quickly from the attempted practise kiss, red tingeing the scarred and un-scarred parts of his face in equal measures. "Y-you aren't allowed to practising kissing someone on me! So please stop trying to do such perverted things!"

"...Don't say it like that! It's just a kiss and...we're friends. Friends help each other."

"I think I'd rather stick with lending you clothes...even if you're so careless with them," Hakuryuu looked beyond flustered. "There will be no practising such a thing on me."

Alibaba sighed. "Really, it's not a big deal. It's just a kiss, you've kissed people before." Hakuryuu shifted and went very quiet. "Wait, you have kissed someone before, haven't you?"

"I-in case you have forgotten, I have been busy."

"So busy you can't even kiss someone? It doesn't take that long, you know."

Hakuryuu stomped his foot lightly, covering his face in his hands. "I-I wouldn't know you pointy haired idiot. Of course it's easy for you, you run off to the library to kiss people! And un-chaperoned I'd assume! It's unseemly! N-now...that's private so could you please stop talking about it and give me a moment."

Alibaba nodded. "That's sort of a polite way of telling me to shut up and leave you alone, I guess."

"Perhaps so.." Hakuryuu sighed, as if dealing with something which was beyond improper and embarrassing for him. Alibaba had to wonder if it was proper for him, too, to act such a way. "Look, Sharrkan-sensei wasn't too annoyed, as I told him you haven't slept well. But...you shouldn't get distracted so easily, it's not healthy. So...instead of saying such indecent things or trying to do indecent things to me just...just..." he took a deep breath, as if he was about to say something truly dreadful. "Just go there and finish the job, will you!"

"...'Finish the job'? You make it sound like I tried to assassinate Aladdin or something."

"I said nothing about that person. Why-" he stopped, and looked him in the eye as the realisation set in. Hakuryuu looked all the more concerned. "A-are you telling me that despite my warnings, you're still speaking with him? That he's why you were out so late and missed training?"

"Yes...look he's not dangerous. Really."

Hakuryuu retreated back into the room, setting about picking his spear back up. He gave it a slight, energetic twirl within his palm, as if hearing such a thing gave him enough motivation to also not be done fighting for the day. "I don't wish to find out."

Alibaba hurried back in after him. After a moment's pause he crossed over to his bed, and sat down. From out of the topmost drawer he produced that decorated short sword he had neglected for so long. With a deep breath he unwrapped it from the cloth he used to hide it from his sight. He didn't feel a chill from even looking at the weapon, however. Those feelings of inadequacy from failing to protect his friends...weren't gone. But again it seemed a numbing wound he could at least deal with now.

"Look," Alibaba said, and watched Hakuryuu's eyes flick to the weapon as if understanding the significance of him actually picking it up again. "Aladdin is amazing. He managed to calm so much in my mind last night. I think I slept so much because I felt at ease."

Hakuryuu's expression softened and he calmed a little and spoke quietly. "Yes, Alibaba-san. I know that he and his brother are amazing all too well. Since those strange men in our country brought them to Kou as infants, Father said they were capable of so much. Even so, I think Kou herself pays heavily for such power."

"If you can say that after meeting him, alright," Alibaba told him. Hakuryuu retrieved two coils of white cloth from a nearby table, throwing one to him lightly as if anticipation he'd need it. he caught it, and followed the Kou prince from the room. "How can he be a bad person, when he told me that the people I failed to protect in Balbadd still supported and didn't hate me? That the reason I see his rukh, is so they can give me that message. Aladdin even said he would help me. And said he thought I'd make a good king."

Hakuryuu stopped abruptly as the two reached the tall white arches leading out onto a small, secluded paved courtyard. "So...he named you as a king-candidate?"

"Yes. His first," Alibaba nodded. He noticed a flicker of black in Hakuryuu's eyes, and felt a chill run through him. Even so, his fellow prince seemed to know, too, it was there. He rubbed at his face apologetically before continuing. "We are going to find a Magi's help useful though, if we're to enter dungeons. He...could come and help us."

Saying that seemed to be something which Hakuryuu really didn't want. Even so he nodded dejectedly, as if it was a thought which had occurred to him. he stepped away, spinning that large weapon deftly between his fingers as if its weight was nothing for his slender frame. It seemed, more than anything, he wished to train. And to Alibaba's surprise, he did as well. "Then I'll give it some thought."

Grinning, as if satisfied he had at least bested someone on something, Alibaba readied his short sword. He gave a short bow, and watched his opponent do the same. Then, as if such a thing was still so natural after all this time, he rushed towards Hakuryuu to strike at him..


Following his training, Aladdin had successfully stolen away for another night in the library tower. He had done as such for three days now, but with no success. Just as he thought, the books there contained no mention of those black rukh, even in passing. Even if he wasn't keen on giving up his pursuit, he was running out of ideas.

He could barely stay awake. After this long, Yamaraiha was beginning to comment on his dishevelled appearance and how pale he looked. The Magi feared he was, in fact, getting a little obsessed over this. He wished to save that prince and what happened if Alibaba had a second person's rukh resided within him too long. As it was, the two hadn't had a chance to speak since then. He just knew Alibaba tended to watch him train, but was now training himself.

He ran a hand through his long, tangled hair which grew ever looser from its neglected braid. He yawned, and knew he was watching the etched words blur in front of him from the countless, somewhat useless tome he had skinned through.

"...it shall be tonight. The night where my beloved husband shall draw his last breath..."

A familiar voice swept over him, sweet as honey yet something about its tone stung within his mind. Quickly Aladdin whipped round, but he sensed no one. As it was, that voice belonged to Gyokuen, the demure, beautiful wife of his Emperor who of course was far away. And she definitely wouldn't be announcing Ren Koutoku's death with such glee in her voice.

He was tired, that was all, especially to imagine that. He tried to concentrate, but felt that book and the candlelight becoming little more than a fading blur within his heavily fatigued mind.

"Aladdin..."

His ears pricked at the second voice, the calm voice of a man he'd not heard outside of Ugo's Room of Fortitude. The djinn, someone who had protected the Magi his whole life, seemed to urgently be calling him. It was hearing that which prompted Aladdin to close his eyes, and allow that forgotten magic of Solomon's Wisdom wash over him...

The moment Aladdin knew he was dreaming, he felt a powerful arm encircle his waist and a hand gently clasp in his mouth. For a moment he struggled, before noticing it was the tall, muscular body of Ugo standing behind him. A Ugo with, as rude as it seemed to notice, a head. And with a concerned, urgent look spread over his handsome features.

As if showing he intended to be still, and quiet, Aladdin relaxed in the djinn's arms. Looking around, he noticed his dream had taken him back to the deep, blood red halls of the royal rooms of Kou. The perfumed air struck him, and were enough to make him dizzy. It felt so real.

"Erm...I don't think we're meant to be here," Aladdin informed him quietly, as Ugo removed his hand from the Magi's mouth almost apologetically. "These are the emperor's private rooms, Ugo-kun. If we're caught here..."

For a moment, the towering blue, not so headless giant simply peered over him in awe. As if so long, Ugo was still trying to believe the two were actually here. "I know, but this is too important..."

A strong hand fully encircled Aladdin's upper arm, to coax him forward. Resisting slightly, he felt himself being led deeper into the richly toned rooms occupied by the Emperor and his young, beautiful wide. Whatever it was, Ugo was adamant to show him. and in his curiosity, Aladdin acquiesced to this much. "...What's important?"

He paused, as if not wishing to be asked that. "...It's been so long since I've spoken to you properly."

Aladdin gave him a beaming smile. "Yes. I can't remember seeing you properly, Ugo-kun."

"And you never have, in almost twenty years outside of the Room of Fortitude, have you? Do you want to know why that is?" pausing, and realising that was correct, Aladdin nodded slowly. "I was sealed in that Room, I could see you but strong magic prevented me from meeting you outside it, or even speaking properly with you. But...maybe that magic has waned after all this time. Especially now you're so far from Kou."

"...What has Kou got to do with it?" Aladdin asked him.

"Because..." Ugo started. "...I really wish I was talking to you under nicer circumstances, Magi, I'm sorry. It's because you've been deceived. And since we left our world, you've been controlled by Gyokuen's magic for almost twenty years. One that affected your very memories. Of me, of Alma-Toran, and your memories themselves..."

Aladdin looked at him, confused. At that point in time, there were certain things he believed. He believed he had been born, had become one of the twin oracles of the Kou Empire and that was who he was. That in Judal, he had a loving brother, in Kou he had a home. And in Gyokuen, he had a patient, amazing woman who treated him as well as any of her beloved children. So much of that, unfortunately, wasn't quite correct.

He watched the gardens rush past their respective windows as Ugo urgently pulled him forward. As they reached a room more forbidden than most, the bedroom of the Emperor, Aladdin froze. He took a light gulp of breath as the djinn soundlessly opened the door, and tried unsuccessfully to stop him. "...None of that makes sense. And we definitely can't just walk into the Emperor's bedroom, you know."

"Yet we're doing just that."

"I know. But we're not meant to, Ugo-kun."

"Aladdin..." Ugo stooped down to meet his eyes, which given his height was somewhat impressive. "You know, deep down, I'm telling the truth. You know we've met countless times before, when I was King Solomon's djinn. You know those dreams you can't remember mean something. Gyokuen really has you under her control and you need to fight that. As from now on, things might get dangerous for those you care for and love the most."

Aladdin paused, and tried to make sense of all that. He couldn't, and shook his head. "This really is a strange dream. Why would Gyokuen-sama steal my memories?"

He cringed, as though from hearing her name used in such respect. "To control you in this world. Both her magic and Al-Thamen's destroyed our home, and we fled here ahead of them."

Aladdin felt pain tingle in his forehead and his eyes clouded in confusion. Dream or not, as it was Ugo he wanted this to make sense. But it didn't. Gyokuen wouldn't do such a thing, he knew that much.

However, Ugo gestured to the room they had entered, as if it held the truth to his insane claims. Keeping a tight grip on his shoulders, Aladdin noticed he was being shown the figure on the bed, mostly concealed by a crown of deep scarlet curtains blowing in a night-time wind. Even so, the figure was Koutoku Ren, Emperor of the Kou Empire, and second husband of Ren Gyokuen.

Aladdin gasped silently at his appearance. He knew his Emperor's health had been failing for a long time, but he had imagined nothing like this. As he drew his wheezed, rattling breaths he was inclined towards his wife. Gyokuen was, on first appearance, a loyal wife overseeing her husband's final, laboured breaths. Only a smile was still present on her perfect, doll-like face, and she was not alone.

One of those strange men often seen by Aladdin and Judal in Kou stood close by. As Gyokuen's fingers caressed the near skeletal, withered hand in her grasp she was looking at him. Both cast an eye to the pale figure with his waxen skin as he coughed against the dark sheets of his bed. After a while, the choking fit subsided and he fell back, his breath once again gushing forth in a shallow, almost desperate rattling.

"Is this from my cute Kouen?" Gyokuen inquired, taking a sealed letter which was offered her. The man, his face obscured by a white veil, nodded. After she took the letter, the tall and strange man leaned back against his long, scythe like staff to watch her sharp fingers tear open the letter's wax seal effortlessly to examine the contents, allowing her husband's hand to fall exhausted to the bed as she did.

"Of course. You wanted him to have enough time to return from Balbadd for his father's funeral," the man said, in relation to a man not dead yet. "I imagine you telling us to announce to the people you had a vision foreseeing his death."

She nodded, before sitting back with a smile. "Yes. And so I told him I had a troubling vision and to return immediately. It is a shame though...I really thought Kouen would do what his father and uncle didn't. That we had finally found our one, black king..."

"...Black king?" Aladdin asked Ugo in a whisper, as the two intruders continued to watch the disturbing scene. When he didn't receive an answer the Magi started forward, only for a strong arm to circle his waist to keep him back. As if to keep him safe from her, and that strange man.

"You thought both of your husbands was the black king we needed, it's why you married them," that man chuckled lightly. "Kouen is ruthless, though, he's a conqueror. But I'm not sure of Father's influence will truly darken his heart. Not yet."

"We have to move quickly though, before Reim or that first class singularity does," Gyokuen pondered. Her husband coughed, and reached for her, and she allowed him to grip her hand once again. "Kou has enough for our Organisation to set its plans in motions, but there is much to be done. Kouen isn't ready, so we need a better choice for the next emperor. I'll tell Kouen that for now, I'll be Empress."

Aladdin shuddered, in spite of himself. Never had that perfectly obedient woman seemed capable of such ambition. Now, she almost seemed to crave such a thing."

"If that's your wish..." he replied.

"Kouen still has much to do with Reim and the West, so I'll tell him I'll rule temporarily until he's ready. Then, if he embraces us, he'll have that empire he wishes for. If not...he can remain my cute Kouen."

"Imagine saying such a thing to a twenty-eight year old man," he laughed, before drawing a small vial out of his robes and handed it to her. Gyokuen looked over it, as if admiring the copious amounts of pitch-toned smoke contained within, before uncorking it. The substance spilled like oil over the wooden floor, before forming into tendrils. They shifted up onto the bed, before curling round the dying man. There, from the sight of his rukh flickering like a dying candle, it seemed those shadows were set to devour the very last of the life from the Emperor of Kou.

"This seems a little much," that man told her. "But then, I guess if you're looking to kill an Emperor, it's only respectful to use strong, black magoi to do the deed. And you did want him dead before Kouen arrives."

As she nodded, Aladdin strained in Ugo's arms. This definitely was no mere dream, and every thought came to prevent such a thing happening. Perhaps this was a vision, one he needed to see and one like the many Ugo claimed he had forgotten. Ugo circled him with his other arm and held him more tightly. "Let me go..."

"Aladdin, I'm sorry. It's too late. Perhaps if I'd been able to speak to you sooner...but this really is happening as we speak," Ugo told him. "I know how tough this is, but you need to remember this. I just hope being in Sindria and far away from Gyokuen is enough to loosen her hold on your mind..."

Deciding struggling was useless, Aladdin unwillingly stopped. Instead, his eyes were fixed on that woman he had trusted and loved dearly. Certainly, there seemed something wrong. Everything about those black rukh he had once been blinded to insisted she was powerful. More powerful than he was, and someone to fear. If this was true, and she could alter his mind...how could he even hope to fight that?

"But...no, this is wrong," Aladdin told him desperately. "I was born in this world, with my brother. Gyokuen-sama and those strange men saved us when our family were killed. She saved us, and gave us a home here."

"I wish that was all true. Really..."

Shivering, Aladdin felt cold tears stream down his face and fell back into the djinn's arms. Gyokuen was currently leaning into her husband, in some twisted semblance of a farewell. He was even stroking a bony finger over her cheek, admiring her as if his murderess was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. She leaned in, and with a final, somewhat passionate kiss and embrace she left Ren Koutoku to be prey her Organisation's black magic. And Aladdin could do nothing to stop it.

"I don't think any will question I'm mourning my husband's passing," Gyokuen told him. "That in my grief, I acted quickly before our enemies' sensed weakness, and didn't wait for Kouen's return. The throne is mind, and will be unless he comes to us."

"Then we'll have to persuade him," the man said, and readied his staff. "I won't attend the funeral, however. It's time to leave for Balbadd with our precious Magi, and have him continue his lessons with me there.

She smoothed over her kimono of rose and gold silk, and nodded. She cast her husband a reproaching look, as if waiting for the very moment he surrendered his illusion of life and his breathing stilled.

"The rukh still make him sick," he continued. "It's somewhat problematic if he falls unconscious whenever he uses them properly."

"But Judal can use them?" she asked, and received a curt nod in response. "That's what matters. Do as you think best, Father will be pleased either way."

Finally Aladdin broke free from Ugo's grasp. He stumbled, and tried in vain to block from his mind all he had heard and seen. Then he gripped Ugo's hands frantically. "Please...tell me this is just a dream. That this didn't happen, That Koutoku-sama is alive. That...they're not doing anything to Judal like this..."

Ugo shook his head. "I can't, I wish I could. Alma-Toran fell apart because of that woman. You made the tough decision to come to this world, and I swore to protect you since then. But when you were reborn here, she found you. And the new Magi of this world you wanted to protect from them. and she captured you both."

Aladdin shook his head. "I don't understand. Why not just kill me if I opposed her?"

"Because right now she's stronger, and knows more than you do. Because she could make you forget, and bind you to her for your power. You need to remember all this, this time, Aladdin..."

He went to reply, but instead his eyes widened as he knew they were being watched. A chill ran through him as he turned, and looked into Gyokuen's soft blue eyes. "I must stop you there, Ugo I'm afraid. A mere djinn needs to know his place..."

A sphere of black flames and ice enveloped her, and before Aladdin could even think. Ugo darted forward, as if to protect the Magi as he always had done. Before he was even close, she simply raised a hand, and wafted it through the air. in a showering of rukh which looked like a crowd of silent raven's, he was pushed away and sent hurtling against the wall and the far side of the room.

Aladdin called out, but felt himself fall to his knees. So many of those black rukh made him feel so sick. So weak..."Aw, my poor Aladdin," she simpered to him gently. "Don't worry, child; my magic won't lose potency just because you're far away – you're still mine. Soon, this will just be a bad dream for you to forget."

He retched, his fingers clenching to the ground before glaring up at her defiantly. He couldn't see Ugo, and knew all he could hope for was for the djinn to have returned to that Room. As it was, he felt powerless to do anything. "...Why are you doing this?"

"Oh, Aladdin," she laughed softly at him. "That makes me nostalgic. So many years ago, standing at opposite sides of the gates of Alma-Toran, you asked me that. You declared you'd stop me, and save our world. You failed. You escaped, and were reborn in this next world. With your cute brother, too. Such a prize...I decided to keep you both. I thought it was fitting for you to serve me..."

"No...I won't serve you."

"You have no choice," she told him simply. "Now, go. Find out any information we don't have from that Magnostadt woman. When you do, I'll ensure you return here safely to my side..."

"Aladdin!"

He had felt himself pushed violently away from the palace in Kou. the nauseating black rukh faded, and he felt himself falling for someone to catch him. Against the strong arms and urgent calling of the king who held him, he tried to do as Ugo said. He tried to remember. He tried to remember what he had seen before it fell like sand running through his fingers but...what was he remembering, exactly?

"Aladdin?" Sinbad's rich voice came to him. Aladdin paused, drawing breath as he felt fingers rest at the back of his neck to support him. He shivered, aware of how his whole, pale body was trembling and coated in a thin veil of cold sweat. Looking up and meeting the amber eyes of the man holding him, he remembered he was trespassing. That he had never asked permission to me here. Right now, the man holding him looked very far from angry. More curious and concerned.

"S-Sinbad-sama..." he croaked somewhat weakly, and reached to rub at his eyes. He had been crying, and decided he must have had one of those dreams again. He pushed back his chair and went to stand, but felt him knees give away and Sinbad catch him. "Sorry...I should have asked to be here. I just..."

"You had a bad dream, that's all it is," he told the Magi gently, wrapping an arm round him to support him and lead him from the tower. "An interesting dream...I overheard a lot. But Aladdin, don't worry. As long as I keep you in Sindria, Gyokuen won't have you back..."