Part Twenty-Nine:

"Son, please go get something to eat and fresh clothes," Lady Suwa begged. It had been four days since they arrived back with the mage. Fai was still in a deep sleep, not even twitching. Her son barely left Fai's side, even sleeping beside the mage on the floor.

"He may wake up," Kurogane said.

"Yes, and I'll come and get you if he does. It does him no good if you make yourself sick. So please, go or I'll have to have your father talk to you."

"I'll go," he said and stood. He left the room and went to the kitchen. After eating a bowl of miso soup, he got fresh clothes, bathed, and then dressed in his stiff, black mofuku. No, he hadn't given up hope that Fai would wake, but he wanted to let the world know he was grieving and shouldn't be bothered with mundane concerns.

He went to seek out his father. Lord Suwa was in his sitting room, drafting a letter. "Come in, Kurogane. I wanted you to read the letter I'm sending Princess Tomoyo."

Kurogane read the letter. It explained the situation with Fai. It made no mention that Ran was the culprit, because that could lead to an arrest and then Kurogane would lose his right to avenge the mage. It then requested she send for the ice king and Fai's twin as soon as possible, because the situation was bleak.

"I didn't even think of Yuui. He'll be devastated, because they're very close. I'll never forget; King Ashura was afraid if he lost one twin, the other would die, too," Kurogane said, wondering how in the world he'd face Yuui alongside King Ashura. He wouldn't blame them for hating him for not doing everything he could do to protect Fai.

He just hadn't thought Ran would go that far. And now, Ran's companions were quiet and supporting Ran, because it'd be dishonorable to not support an ally. But it was Aya-chan that was trying to do what she could to perform restitution for her brother's crime. His estimation of Aya had gone up considerably.

"We'll do what we can to alleviate their pain when they arrive," Lord Suwa said as Kurogane rolled up the parchment. Lord Suwa took it and looked torn for a moment. He then said, "Your loyalty being torn between him and us has caused you pain. If he recovers, your mother and I won't interfere with what time you have left with him."

Kurogane felt surprised, but nodded. "I'm grateful, Father."

"Really, your devotion to him is admirable. Concentrate on that. We'll worry about your future after he leaves."

"Thank you," he said.

"And now I have to deal with your cousin. What would you have me do?"

"I want to face him."

"I thought as much. Need I remind you he was in a wakashudo relationship with Shinon? Shinon is a highly skilled ninja, and Ran had most of his training before Shinon soured on him. The reason the mage beat him so handily is because Ran was overly emotional and grossly underestimated him both times. He won't underestimate you. That, and he's had some cooling off time. He'll be sharper if he faces you."

"I know, but I honor my mage too much to let this insult stand. Ran attacked Fai when his back was turned. What he did was unconscionable. It requires a response. I ask that you let me fight him, Father."

"You've learned well from me. I trust you can handle Ran. You have my permission to avenge your mage. Kentaro!"

Minutes later, his advisor showed. "Fetch our cousin Ran. His allies are not welcome."

"As you wish, Lord Suwa," Kentaro said. Moments later, Ran showed up and did the appropriate bow and greeting to Lord Suwa, ignoring Kurogane.

"As you know, this situation centering around the mage of Celes has gotten out of hand. It needs to be settled, once and for all. My son is challenging you. He wants to fight you to defend the honor of his mage. Do you accept?"

"Of course. I did nothing wrong. That slimy vixen took away my right to avenge my parents, and I had every right to take his life. Which, I see by my cousin's clothes, he's deceased."

"Not yet. Never count my mage out. He's a lot tougher than he looks. He's survived a nightmare that would drive most people insane. It's now time to fulfill my promise to the ice king, and you've called him that foul name far too many times. Time to pay for that, too."

"Fine. I'm up to facing you. It suits me to settle this."

"Good. We'll meet in the courtyard in an hour. Bring Mamoru Takatori to judge the match. He's fair minded," Lord Suwa said.

Ran's violet eyes narrowed. He nodded. Kurogane could see his cousin was now calm, cool, and collected. He wouldn't have fallen for Fai's antics during their last fight if he would have been like this. Still, Kurogane was confident he'd beat Ran; Fai's honor was resting on it.


"And why shouldn't I execute you?" Ashura asked the quivering bandit at his feet. He and the man were surrounded by a grove of pecan trees that had lost their leaves because of the autumn season in the Southlands. Frost was now covering the rich soil.

Ashura had just murdered fifteen bandits, draining them of every bit of blood to strengthen his magic. This fool had escaped the slaughter, and Ashura couldn't afford any witnesses to his blood lust being indulged.

"Because I have proof that it was the Duchess Naidra that sent us out to pester the villages in the west over the summer!"

King Ashura took in the news and gave the man a serene smile. "Really? Why would she have you do that?"

"Because that old harpy wanted a chance to give a love potion to Master Yuui and get him to marry one of her granddaughters. She wanted you gone from Luval so she could do it. She wanted the throne in her family."

"I see. I didn't know she engineered that bit. It would seem my aunt didn't manipulate a random bit of chance like I originally thought."

"No, Sire! She paid us handsomely! Look! The coins that nobles use." The man carefully reached into his pocket and retrieved a fluorite disk with the royal crest carved on it. The man's hands shook as Ashura inspected it. These coins were so valuable that, typically, only nobles had a chance to use them.

Common bandits couldn't steal them because they were enchanted; they had to be given away by the owner. "So please, Sire, let me live! I'll testify at a trial against Duchess Naidra. I'll tell everything that went on in the meeting last spring. I won't say a word about anything I saw... what you did to the rest of my crew. Just please let me live," the man groveled at Ashura's feet.

"You're begging me for mercy when you aided that woman attempting to harm one of my children? My fondest possession is those twins. How dare you even think of helping that woman ruin one of them? You are about to face an agony I have yet to dole out to any of your wretched lot."

The white hot rage of a thousand suns flared in Ashura's heart. He gave the man what appeared on the surface to be a warm smile as he lofted his magic staff. The casting tip glowed green as he traced five runes. He was only filled with one thing: pure malice. "I do appreciate you telling me about my aunt, though. Don't worry, she'll suffer more than you."

"But, Majesty! The law! Don't I get a trail? Won't you want to bring the duchess up on charges? I could be a witness."

"You see, I no longer grant trials. I do as I please and find it so liberating. Besides, you could reveal my new hobby. Blood consumption by magic has granted me power I could have never dreamed of, but it's very taboo."

"Mercy, Majesty!"

"I'll give you the same mercy you had for my dearest, little Yuui." He launched the runes at the man with a swing of his staff.

The man's skin peeled away and his body exploded with a moist pop. The blood all drifted into a hazy, crimson fog that drifted to Ashura and infused itself within him. Another jolt of energy hit, along with a little peace to his overwhelming rage.

He murmured, "Yuui, I'm so sorry for what I've done to you. I can no longer control this beast I've become, and I would only harm you. Hold on, though. I'll bring back Fai, soon. I don't deserve your cure, I only deserve a killing hex from Fai."

Ashura clutched his head as vertigo threatened to overwhelm him. He sank to the frosty ground as snow flakes started to fall. He remembered his beloved mother and a conversation they'd had when he was fourteen.

"Ashura." He looked up from the book he was studying as his mother approached him. Queen Valentine's light brown hair was loose, cascading down her shoulders. He always thought she looked so much better when she left it down. But then again, the queen was a stunning beauty no matter the way she wore her hair. "Still studying, even though I asked you to get ready for dinner?"

Ashura cringed. She did look a little vexed. "I just lost track of time," he lied.

"It's always very convenient how you lose track of time when my older sister comes to visit. Any other time, you're very conscientious."

Ashura set aside his book, trying not to get an unpleasant look on his face. He hated Naidra because of how rude she was to his mother. It baffled Ashura why his mother let her get away with it. "She's not exactly my favorite person, Mother. She's not nice to you."

His mother nodded. "She's very bitter about her lot in life. I'll tell you something you don't know. Your grandparents had arranged for your father to marry her."

"Really? What happened?"

"Your father never did get along with her. He and I had been very close growing up. He asked to be let out of the arrangement and to be married to me instead. She really wanted to be queen, but your father didn't love her."

"So she's jealous of you?"

His mother looked a little sad. "I'm afraid so. But she's always been sour towards me; this only made things worse."

"But you're so kind to her. Why?"

"Because you should never let someone else's bitterness become your own."

"Yes, Mother."

"Now will you please get ready for dinner?"

That night was dreadful. Naidra made some of the most cutting remarks, but through it all, the queen smiled at her older sister and offered her kindness and respect in return. Ashura vowed when he became king he'd pay back Naidra's unkindness toward his mother.

Ashura put aside the memory. He picked up the fluorite coin the bandit had and stood up. "I have a lot to pay you back for, Duchess. Not just the nastiness you heap on my sons, but also for all my sweet mother put up with from you."

Ashura picked up his magic staff and traveled the ley lines back to Luval Castle. He needed to sleep, and he needed to plot out what he was going to do to his aunt, now that he knew the whole truth.


Fai dreamed. And his dream was more terrifying than the pit he'd been exiled to. He dreamed he was back on Celes in deepest winter with a blizzard, and he was in the deepest night. He looked up to the huge mountain of ice in front of him. Encased inside he saw Yuui alongside some man he didn't know. They lay, side by side, arms crossed over their chests.

"Fai. I've been waiting for you to return to me."

He swirled around to see King Ashura. He was standing on a pile of bloodless corpses. His pale skin was splattered in blood, but his bearing was so serene. He stepped off the bodies and walked up to Fai; now they were only inches apart. The smell of rot was almost unbearable to Fai, his stomach clenched and he felt panicked.

"Ashura! Are you hurt?" Fai asked, concerned that the blood on the man was from some wound.

"Yes, my precious one. It's my heart that hurts. And that's why you must stop me. You must stop me before I harm the innocent people in Celes. You and Yuui pledged a long time ago to be good citizens and that you both would defend Celes against anything that would cause harm to our world."

"But what's causing Celes harm?"

"Me. It is your destiny to slay me and rescue Celes. One day, you will."

Fai shuddered in revulsion and collapsed on all fours at Ashura's feet. "No... I'd never, ever harm you. You're my father. I'd sooner lay down and die than cast a hex towards you."

Ashura crouched down beside him. "And that is your brother. Your twin. One day, if you don't stop me, I will take his eyes and destroy him. His eyes call to me now, as do yours. It's where your magic rests, and it is an awesome source of power unlike any other. Now do you see why I need to be stopped? You need to end my existence before that time, before I blind and kill Yuui. You need to find the strength in yourself to face me and kill me."

"I'd never do it!"

"It's me or Yuui!"

Fai's stomach clenched at the idea of choosing between Yuui and Ashura. He owed Ashura his very life, but Yuui... well, his twin was a part of his very essence.

Fai felt hot tears rolling down his face. "You're not my father if you're asking me to make that choice. I don't know what kind of demon stole my father's face, but Ashura would never ask me to choose between him and Yuui. And he'd never steal our magic by taking our eyes. That's something so... vulgar!"

"I am Ashura. I'm the Ashura you didn't have a chance to know, but you will soon."

Suddenly, the blizzard picked up and Fai found himself in darkness once again.


"The mage is crying!" Aya-chan pointed out. Lady Suwa stopped her prayer and opened her eyes. There was moisture around Fai's eyes. "What does it mean?"

"We keep praying. There is hope because he found something to hold onto."

And so they continued their vigil over Fai.


Kurogane stood with Ginryuu drawn. He hadn't bothered changing out of his mofuku. He faced Ran, who stood at the other side of the courtyard. His katana was drawn and ready. Yes, his cousin looked like he was ready for a serious challenge. Ran had grim determination on his face.

Mamoru and his father stood to the side. Mamoru asked, "Are both of you ready?"

"Let's get this over with," Kurogane said.

"I hope you fight more like a man than your mage."

"He handled you pretty well," Kurogane gloated with a smirk.

Ran didn't rise to the bait, unfortunately. "I'm ready to fight."

Mamoru said, "Then you may begin."

Ran, this time, stayed put. Kurogane made the first move with an underhand swing of Ginryuu. Ran dodged and struck at Kurogane's neck. He flinched back and thrust Ginryuu at Ran's stomach, but his cousin blocked with his katana.

They both stepped back from one another. Kurogane waited on Ran to make the first strike, this time. Ran launched himself into the air and brought down his blade. Kurogane blocked and shoved Ran back. He then pressed a rapid attack on Ran, driving him back. Ran then came to a stop and swung his blade at Kurogane's stomach. It almost grazed him, angering Kurogane. He certainly wasn't going to let Ran get the better of him.

Kurogane pressed an overhead attack, driving his cousin back, and then gathered the energy around him. He swung his katana, using Ran's same attack that wounded Fai. "Wind dragon attack!"

The energy lashed out. Ran was shocked, narrowly lofting his katana in time. He was knocked on his backside in stunned silence. He sneered at Kurogane. "You'd use my own technique against me?"

"I thought I'd give you a taste of what you dished out to Fai. Get up so I can finish pounding you."

Ran glared and hopped up to his feet. "I'll be the one dishing out the pounding, cousin."


"Are you serious?" Zellen asked, eyes wide as he reread the parchment that his aunt had handed him. She had called him into her study after lunch, so they could talk in private. His face drained of color as he flopped down on the chair across the desk from her.

"King Ashura has solid proof the Duchess conspired with bandits to engineer the whole thing. He has formally signed her arrest warrant. It seems the plot went deeper than you thought, and you were a victim of her scheme. He's calling for a trial. You, I'm afraid, will have to testify."

"But Drysi? How will that effect her?"

"If the duchess persist in her lies about Drysi, it could implicate her," Tanya told him in a somber tone.

"No! She did nothing untoward!"

"I know! I've gotten to know her. She's a sweet, innocent girl that's a victim of her grandmother, too. I'll ask King Ashura to keep Drysi out of it as much as I can."

"Please... she's my... I don't want to loose her."

"Why don't you go tell Drysi the news and comfort her. I'll do what I can to protect her. Spring Goddess knows her grandmother hasn't done it."

"Thank you, Auntie," Zellen said before bolting from the study and going to Drysi's bedroom. He took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in."

He opened the door and watched her knit a few stitches before she put it aside. She gave him a bashful smile. "I was knitting your aunt a scarf for Yule celebration." Her expression grew concerned. "Zellen, you look ill. Are you okay?"

"I have news. King Ashura has put out an arrest warrant for you grandmother. It seems she conspired with bandits to create a crisis to draw him from the castle."

She gasped, her hands covering her lips, as she started to quiver. "She didn't go that far?"

"Yes, she set the whole thing up so that you, or your one of your sisters, would marry Yuui."

Drysi paled and shook her head, her eyes glistening. "She's went too far."

"I have a different concern. I'm afraid you'll be implicated."

Drysi was stunned and she shook her head. "But I never..."

"I know! I have faith in you. I swear I won't let her dark deeds touch you," Zellen said.

Drysi slumped over in tears. Zellen felt fear, sorrow, and sympathy. He looked over to a settee and picked up a throw blanket. He picked it up and carefully draped it around her shoulders before drawing her into his arms. He held her, rocked her, and did what he could to assure her he would stand beside her no matter what.

To be continued.