Night Ten: A Tomorrow for Tomorrow

"...Judal-chan! You're back!"

"...Huh?" from up on the low rise of deep scarlet roofs over Kou's expansive palace, which had for a long time been a familiar perch of the Magi, he looked down. And then he scowled slightly. Judal took time to finishing the apple he was eating, tossing the core aside where it pooled behind him like so many before. It was then he eyed over the lavishly tiled courtyard below him which lay just outside of his rooms. He was safe, for now; it was just Kougyoku Ren and he had decided long ago he didn't mind her all that much.

The small princess was usually said to be quiet, but Judal had never personally found that. A vision of vivid pink and quiet elegance was peering expectantly up at him. He rolled his eyes, both at the nickname and at how bright and energetic she looked. He had gotten back to Kou yesterday, slept and had just woken up; how dare she be so happy. "...Just keep calling me that, you old hag and I swear..."

"D-don't call me a hag!" Kougyoku shouted up to him, her whole petite body shaking with the volume of her raised voice as she did.

"Eh? Then what? You're just old?"

"...Don't call me old either!"

"Whatever. Then quit calling me 'Judal-chan'..." to him, it seemed a fairly simple concept – what did she think anyway, that he was five years old? He drew out a light gold and red peach, rolling it between his palms and a thought occurred to him. A thought of how it was just so completely – boring – it was here now he had slept and eaten and wasn't sure what to do next. He glared heatedly, chewing at his peach and knowing that the sweet tang flooding over his tongue slowly and deliciously was at least one enjoyment in this dull place.

"My aunt is looking for you."

Judal almost choked, a hand clapping to his ivory throat as he did and his bright eyes widened. "Eh? Why? I can't stand that weirdo witch."

"I don't know; where were you anyway?" she peered up curiously at him. "...You're glowing a bit."

"No, I'm not, it's the sun," he rubbed over his still warm face; aware he was both in the shade and the day was rapidly darkening into a light and thoroughly pleasant evening. "And I was in Sindria, where else?"

Kougyoku gave him a look, and clearly didn't believe him. That was annoying; why ask something if she was just going to think he was lying anyway. "With Sinbad?" he nodded silently; and despite she was the one to mention his name it was her flushing and covering her small face with her long sleeve. But then his face was hot too – what a strange reaction from the both of them. "D-did you hear about what happened with him?"

"You mean your pervert attendant putting you in his bed?" she nodded, and it seemed Koubun Ka was nowhere to be seen; a shame. "So...what do did you think of him?" Kougyoku seemed perplexed by such a question. Judal no longer was. "Ha? Wait – so you spent a whole night in that idiot's king bed. And yet you didn't even look under the sheet?" she shook her head adamantly; as if a princess would never do such a thing. He was, of course, not going to admit he was too shy to that such a thing either; although he, obviously, was no princess. However, the very thought of the man's body still made him blush. "Hm, how the heck are you going to get married like that anyway?"

"I-it's different for women, you know!"

"Eh? How?"

"I-it just is," she insisted whilst turning as pink as her hair.

"Yeah, right, you just don't know either," he declared. He stretched, yawning widely, before jumping down from the roof and landing lightly in front of her before drawing up. "You know though, kissing is pretty easy. Once you get to practise it anyway. But someone needs to find you cute first."

"What are you talk...you k-kissed him?" the young girl's eyes widened, and her fingers reaching up to cover her face.

"Huh? Well, yeah, a fair bit. He kissed me first. Thinking about it, we did a lot more than that you know..." he paused as Kougyoku uttered a small and strange sound. Her eyes were filled with shock, surprise and...something else he didn't recognise. A silken and lime sleeve reached up to cover her nose as she whipped away from him. In the next minute she had retreated in a fluffy of light green and soft rose skirts, a trail of soft magenta hair streaming softly through the evening air. Judal just paused – was her nose bleeding? Just what had he said now? Women were...so, so weird...

His confusion was however short lived, but then it usually was lately. A moment later a quiet and deceptively sweet and kind voice spoke after its owner cleared her throat. "I take it you were in Sindria then, Lord Priest?"

Oh shi-

Speaking of weird women...well, that's what he got for being distracted. Judal turned to see a familiar – too familiar, and not in a good way – figure and two guards in black approach. The Empress, Gyokuen Ren, watched him quietly with that perfect and eternally etched smile on her small and pretty face. He just stared, watching as feathery-light cherry blossom petals drifted and settled on her shoulders and hair like delicate summer snow. The dark Magi could almost feel the cool, somewhat pleasant air chill around him.

In truth, Judal knew he had been watched since he had set foot in Kou. It couldn't be helped, and by now he was used to it; he was who he was, after all. That said, it was very annoying seeing as he liked to wander off...a lot. He had no idea what Ithnan would have told her, he just figured being captured, and being found like...that was something that wouldn't be all that easy to explain. He still had no idea what he was going to say but it couldn't be helped.

"The Emperor isn't too happy you keep leaving for so long," she informed him softly.

"Well, your husband is a boring pig," the odds were that she fully agreed with that. "I didn't know he could be happy..."

The chances were the wife of the Emperor had never asked her husband such a thing. Gyokuen fixed him with her falsely gentle, light blue eyes. "Concerning Ithnan..." ah, here it was... "I'm suspecting he found you in Sindria and told you to return," Judal nodded, it was true after all; he saw no reason to lie about that. "He disappeared soon after that." The dark Magi paused, suddenly interested. Disappeared? That was...oddly lucky, considering everything. Again, he nodded silently. "I think you were the last person to have seen him. Father feels that he was destroyed or at least lost, and after you were found over there."

Judal went to nod, and paused. This was all extremely fortunate..."Huh? Just how can you lose a weirdo like him anyway?"

Gyokuen paused, as if she wasn't sure about that. "Indeed – it would have taken a lot to destroy someone like him..." she seemed suspicious, and even on a mask-like face such as hers it was noticeable. It had certainly peeked Judal's interest; a thought occurred to him but...no, that couldn't be right. There was a – certain – someone he had been with not that long ago, who had got him into that somewhat difficult, complicated situation to start with. Someone perhaps powerful enough to destroy someone like Ithnan, even if he hadn't thought that could happen. Someone residing in Sindria and that would be...rather remarkable, impressive even if Sinbad had done such a thing.

"What were you doing in Sindria, Judal?" she demanded even if she did so in her usual gentle tone. The question seemed remarkably easy to answer after that revelation. "You're needed here. It seems you're always pursuing that...king."

"Yeah, well – what can I say? He makes things interesting for me. What did you think I wouldn't come back once I got bored?"

"Don't wander off carelessly."

" Why not? Do you think I'd betray you?" from the expression on her face, or therefore lack of expression, he figured 'betray' wasn't a good word for him to use right now. He quickly added, "here I get power, war, peaches; what else could I need?"

Realistically, Judal knew better than to think he could actually betray them; Al-Thamen would lose too much in losing him. Judging from what he knew of Gyokuen, he hadn't given her an answer she liked either, regarding Ithnan's fate. How annoying – just what was it with every Ren asking him a question and then not accepting his answer? Conversely, he felt as though she had only been giving him good news. "...If Sinbad said or promised you anyway; more than likely he was just trying to confuse you."

"Ha? I think I confuse him more than anything."

"Perhaps..." he doubted Gyokuen entirely trusted him and Judal didn't blame her – he wouldn't trust him either. They both, however, knew she could control him one way or another. She looked back to her entourage, those two guards, who stepped forward. "Please ensure our precious oracle here doesn't leave the palace unless I say otherwise." They gave their Empress a low bow in response. Even if Judal knew better than to fight the dangerous woman, this seemed a bit ridiculous. What did she think, really? That he was going to be killed or captured...ah, right, that's exactly what she thought. Never mind, then.

He sighed. "...You're forcing me to stay here? Why?"

"If Ithnan was lost in Sindria, you could have been killed yourself. It's for your own protection," like that witch would care, anyway, if he wasn't so useful. And for his own protection? Did they think the Sindrian king was going to magically fall out of the sky? He...would almost not mind seeing that. "This isn't the time for you to do as you like. The organisation can afford to lose Ithnan, but not you."

"Ah – I don't get this. I left and I came back. What's the problem? If he gets himself lost or destroyed that's his problem. Come on –I'll be bored senseless if I'm stuck here."

"We need you here whilst Father plans our next move."

"...We're going to war then? Finally?" Gyokuen nodded. Well, that at least sounded exciting. "Then just keep anyone else from killing that idiot king. He's mine..." ah, now, his voice was raised when he said that, wasn't it? Given everything...he was best off not saying things like that to that venomous witch. She arched a slim, perfect eyebrow at him curiously and seemed curious by his outburst. What had gotten into him? "Come on...I'm the most powerful person here, you know that. And you promised me that I could kill him."

More than likely, she didn't want Judal thinking he was the most powerful person in Kou. He was just sure he was and wouldn't be persuaded otherwise. "Alright, if you want to kill Sinbad, then do as you're told. You're vital to our success."

"Ah fine; at long as I get to fight finally I don't care much. Can I go and bathe now- I can still smell Balbadd in my hair," Gyokuen looked over him once again before nodding and turning to leave.

Those two guards however, remained behind and kept watching him. Judal knew he had not been guarded like that since he had been a small child. Back then, it had been amusing when they claimed it was to keep him safe. After all, for a long time he had been able to- and was willing to – encase someone in ice if they looked at him the wrong way. If anything the world was weak and needed guarding from him. Even so, it was embarrassing really, being watched like that; not to mention this would be a nuisance if it would last a while.

It was perhaps better not to complicate things further. Judal entered his rooms behind them, deciding to at least pretending to behave - until it was safe to go back to misbehaving at least. His guards stood outside, obediently; as he slid shut the painted and garishly coloured crimson doors. For a moment he eyed over the scarlet and gold twisted serpents decorating and drew back. The heavy and floral perfume of incense met with him, welcoming and warming as always, as he picked his way carefully over to his bed. He was careful not to catch his bare feet on the various glittering and priceless dungeon objects littering the floor of his darkened rooms. They were the trophies he had carefully collected over the years he had been naming kings, and he valued them all, despite how they were haphazardly scattered.

Once reaching the clear section around his bed, he began pacing, deep in thought. It was almost laughable to think Ithnan could be destroyed so easily, not to mention so quickly. For a while, even if it seemed a foolish thought, he had wondered if anyone was strong enough to destroy a member of Al-Thamen. Of course there were many of them, but then it was just foolish thoughts. If they could ever be destroyed he had an offer of where else he could be, after all. And more importantly a – firm – idea of where he might want to be.

He ceased pacing back and forth, an idea coming to him. He was missing Sinbad already, more than he had thought, and all this pondering if Al-Thamen could be destroyed just hurt his head. He was, however, wondering; what if he could have his king there with him, at least in some form. A slightly disturbing thought came to mind, so disturbing he flushed once again and blamed that irresponsible man for it. It was naturally that perverted man's fault for making Judal think such things; before him such thoughts never would have occurred to him after all. But...he couldn't do that, could he? Well, why not; he had to entertain himself somehow...

A single and straightforward enough set of commands later, both magoi and sceptre had it so two icy, glimmering beings appeared from thin air just in front of him. Judal looked back over appraisingly at the something – well, twin somethings to be accurate – he had just created. He eyed over their finely exotic and handsome features he carved from his memories, his imaginings of how Sinbad should be. If there had been two of him, of course. He wanted them to be perfect, after all, even if something didn't seem quite right to him. They blinked, and looked back serenely, as he tried to gauge how closely the two ice-created clones resembled his king.

Not even close, it seemed. For one thing they were cold and carved from ice – whilst Sinbad, obviously, wasn't. Their amber eyes proved too vacant, and lacked any of that passionate fire his king's gaze forever held for him. Also, their hair was all wrong. Even more disappointingly they just seemed so...so..obedient, he thought it was. It seemed as though they really would do whatever Judal asked. Since when had Sinbad been smart enough to just do as Judal told him? Would that even be fun? No, he didn't think so. Again he cursed that man for having such a weird and perverse thought to start with, but he wondered if their touch was at least the same...

"You don't remember me saying no one apart from me gets to touch you? That includes you..."

"...Damned pervert idiot king..."

...What the – hell – was he doing anyway? This was beyond...weird and a little creepy. He sighed loudly, and with a single swipe of that black sceptre he sent his ill-fated creations flying backwards and far away from him. They flew over the shining ebony wooden floor, and collided with the scattered and valuable possessions over it – that was unfortunate – before meeting with the wall. It was there that the twin statues of ice were crushed against the deep-scarlet hued wall opposite to him. He had to admire such a thing, the beautiful – and satisfying – way in which the products of his magic splintered and shattered. It was as though they were comprised of a downward cascade of frosted fallen stars – and this is why ice magic was his specialty. It was so amazing and destructive, yet beyond beautiful. Such a sight bathed the shadowy rooms in bright radiance before quickly fading.

Well Gyokuen knew he could be destructive when bored anyway. So much for not misbehaving however, as he looked at the small dents and blemishes made on the walls and floor from the impact. He made a mental note to check his dungeon items for scratches later too, but for now that seemed too much work. It would, however, seem to be the case that neither clones nor ice proved to be the best substitute for an absent lover. On the other hand, things would prove far too boring and easy –and not to mention highly disturbing – if they were.

Typically his outburst received no reaction at all from his guards outside. But then he thought no one really paid attention to his somewhat unique sporadic outbursts of destruction anymore. Sooner or later his floor and walls would be repaired, and he would be reminded they preferred such things unmarked and ice-free. He sighed – bored already – and flopped down on his soft bed against the fragrant pillows, to stare at the dark ceiling as if it had deeply offended him. He really wondered just when he would see Sinbad again; he just knew how hard it was to settle without watching that idiot sleep.

It really had been around ten years since he had met that man, and even now that man continued to fascinate him. Surprisingly, his thoughts wandered over and entertained the insane idea of Sinbad being right. Was there really a chance he could win and beat Al-Thamen? No, that seemed laughable, but then he thought Ithnan would never be destroyed. But then that was just one person. Logically if Sindria ever became more powerful than Kou, it seemed a good idea to go there. But that would never happen. Even if it did, Judal knew it would take a very long time. And he was bored enough already. He rubbed at his forehead, irritated.

He was, right now, essentially imprisoned here anyway. All Judal could do was wait, and hope all these silly thoughts didn't make him scream. He really wanted something interesting to happen again, something enjoyable. And, more than anything, he knew if he didn't see Sinbad's face again he would make that idiot – his idiot - regret it.