Chapter 11 Part II: Calm Before the Storm
Will breathed a sigh of relief as the bell rang for lunch. The last of her mid-term exams were over, and she could look forward to the rest of the school hours, which will be relaxed in comparison.
But she couldn't relax just yet.
As soon as her stepdad dismissed the class and wished everyone a good holiday, Will made a beeline for the hallway like a lightning bolt. Freed from the confinement of the classroom's no-mobile-phones policy, she speed-dialed Matt's number and waited.
"Hey, you've reached Matt Olsen. I cannot come to the phone right now. I'm either busy studying, band practicing, helping my grandpa at the pet shop, shooting some hoops with the guys, or just hanging out with my girlfriend. Please leave a message. BEEP!"
Will sighed with exasperation but left another message anyway. "Hey, Matt! It's Will! You haven't been answering my calls or my text lately. I was just worried. I know things has been kinda tense lately, but it's almost Christmas and I would still like you to come to the party. Maybe we could, you know, hang out like we used to? It would be just us two. I don't mind a stroll in the park or helping you changing the litter box at the pet shop or—"
BEEP! "The voice mailbox is full. Press one to continue. To re-listen to your message, press two. To re-record your message, press thr—"
Will turned off the phone. Damn it, Matt! Why won't you answer? Where are you? I missed you!
"Trouble in paradise?"
Will turned and saw Cornelia coming up behind her. The Earth Guardian gave her a sympathetic look as she swung her bookbag over her shoulder. Slipping her phone back into her pocket, the two of them made their way towards the cafeteria.
"Matt's still not answering his phone. I feel like he's avoiding me," Will said.
Cornelia nodded; her brows furrowed in genuine concern. "Did you try calling his grandfather? What about his mom?"
"Yeah, I did, but they told me that he's been moody lately and asked if we had a fight."
"And?"
"And when I said yes, they both reassured me that he's just avoiding everyone to clear his head and will be back to his usual self soon. Most likely before Christmas Eve."
"Uh-huh. But that still didn't sit well with you, so you pressed them further."
Will nodded. "Yeah, when I asked them when was the last time they heard from Matt, Mr. Olsen said three days ago when he apologized for not being able to help out in the pet shop because of exams. And his mom told me she saw him coming home late last night, gave her an impassive greeting, and immediately flopped onto bed dead-tired."
Cornelia sighed with relief. "At least we know he's okay and hasn't done anything crazy."
"I know, it's just—I just wished he would stop giving me the cold shoulder! Especially when I'm trying to invite him to our Christmas party!"
Cornelia opened her mouth, intending on reassuring Will that Matt, being as stubborn and insecure as she is, will eventually cave into guilt and come around, but she was cut off by a familiar shout.
"STOP IT, URIAH! DON'T YOU DARE!"
"That sounded like Hay Lin," Cornelia said.
"C'mon, we better go see what Uriah and his buddies are up to now."
The two of them picked up the pace and followed the commotion. They rounded a corner and went straight into the ceramic classroom. They saw Uriah and his two friends, Kurt and Laurent, laughing and mocking at a furious Hay Lin. The four of them were exchanging heated words in front of a shelf full of students' ceramic projects. Each boy was brandishing a hammer in a clumsy manner, no doubt pilfered from Mr. Rodriguez's workshop class next door, but the sight was enough to suggest what the three bullies were up to.
"What do you think you're doing, Uriah?" Cornelia demanded.
"Yeah, what's going on?" said a familiar voice. Will turned to see Irma and Taranee coming up behind them, apparently having heard the commotion, too.
"Trouble," Will replied.
Irma rolled her eyes while Taranee shot the boys an annoyed look. "A bit early for a Yuletide prank, boys?" Irma asked cynically.
"Prank? I'd say vandalism is more accurate," Taranee said.
Kurt and Laurent exchanged nervous looks at the calvary, but Uriah held his ground with a sneer. "Ladies, what's with all the hostility and accusation? We just wanted to fix and test the student projects here, that's all. Be a shame that the school had to sell a couple of duds during the Winter Festival. Think of the bad reputation we'll get! We're just trying to help, honest!"
"That's rubbish!" Hay Lin spat, her fury blazing like a whirlwind. Her passion for the art was fierce, and her friends knew her well enough to be cautious around her when she gets like this. "I overheard them talking and just caught them right before they could smash any of my classmates' projects!"
"Woah, watch your tongue, Lin. Now you're just speaking out of context. We just wanna to improve these boring projects by giving them those awesome cracking texture. You know? Kinda like the ones in those Ming dynasty vases your folks have."
Hay Lin rolled her eyes. "Those are called crazing effects on the glaze, and I doubt you three lug-head know the difference between it and cracking!"
"Get lost, Uriah!" Will said and she strode closer. Placing both her hands on her hip, she tried to exude an imposing figure. "Everybody knows that you and your friends are just getting back at the art teachers because they didn't want to sell your projects with the rest of ours at the festival."
"And a good thing, too. Seriously, I've never seen a piece so ugly," Irma giggled.
Uriah's grip on his hammer tightened. "Everybody's a critique! As if your watercolors are any better than my sculpture!"
Irma stifled a laughter as she thought of Uriah's metal contraption in shop class. In her opinion, that thing shouldn't be anywhere near an art gallery, let alone a festival. And from the look of the Mr. Rodriguez's pained expression when he tried to turn it down gently, everybody agreed.
"Shut it, Lair! Or do you want to be like these potteries?"
Ignoring his threat, Cornelia glanced at Laurent, the big and burly blonde of the three. "And why are you agreeing to his plan? Didn't your painting got accepted?"
Laurent blinked, confused, and lowered his hammer. "I…um…yeah…but…"
Turning on his friend, Uriah grabbed his shirt. "What the hell, man? We said we were gonna do this! Don't tell me you're chickening out?!"
Laurent paused to think, if that was even possible, but then shook his head, gripping his hammer more firmly. Uriah smiled and gave him a light punch. "Atta, boy. Now, let's show these girls how we contribute to the arts, huh?"
What do we do, Will? I can make them slip and fall, Irma suggested, her fingers itching to pull some magic.
Hay Lin looked alarmed. No! The projects will be broken!
Will held out an arm to stop Irma. Hay Lin's right. Plus, they have hammers! They're idiots, yeah, but we don't want them to get hurt either. Sorry, but we can't use magic in such a dangerous classroom like this.
Irma and Cornelia knew Will was right. Glancing around, the classroom was filled with pottery wheels, pencil holders topped with sharp needle tools and wire cutters, kilns lining the outside section of the class, and shelves full of bottles of glaze and fragile ceramic projects. The thought of these bullies bumping into anything and getting hurt wasn't appealing.
Mistaking their hesitation for cowardice, Uriah smirked even wider. "See, boys? These girls are all talk and no spine—"
"There you all are. I was wondering where you have gotten off to," said a newcomer. Everyone turned to see Kimi striding in casually. She turned her icy blue eyes on the boys, and they bristled under her gaze. "Is there a problem?"
Uriah gave an indignant grunt. "Mind your own business, Watsuki!" He pointed his hammer at her. "We were just having a discussion here, so butt out!"
"He means smashing all of our hard work for fun!" Hay Lin retorted. "Just because his project got rejected, he's trying to ruin the Winter Festival for all of us!"
"I see," Kimi mused as she strolled closer to the three boys, unfazed by their weapons. This seemed to scare Kurt and Laurent a little as they lowered their hammers. To his credit, Uriah was putting on a brave face. Casually, Kimi picked up one of the ceramic potteries from the shelf to admire the smooth glazed surface. "Think of the consequences of your action, boys," Kimi said coolly. "If things do not turn out well, you'll have no one to blame but yourselves." She put the vase back in its place and gazed down at her clean and unpainted nails nonchalantly, flexing her fingers before curling them together into a close.
Kurt and Laurent gulped in unison, not liking the passive aggression in her tone. They, like everyone else at school, had heard of her silver medal win during the Winter Tournament. Unlike everyone else at school, they had known what it was like to be on the receiving end of her strength and skill. Once was more than enough to know that she had gone easy on them. If she didn't have to put in much effort to begin with, they'd hate to think what it was like if she actually does.
Uriah, on the other hand, was determined not to be intimidated by this girl. "Who asked for your opinion, Watsuki? You don't scare me, so why don't you go and practice your karate or whatever with your little club geeks. From what I've heard, you could use the practice after losing to that college pretty boy!"
Will and her friends cringed, knowing full well how Kimi was still moody over losing to Koji, Kimi seemed unimpressed with his taunt. Instead, she gave him and Kurt and Laurent a look that suggested they were a waste of her time.
"My, aren't you arrogant and stupid," Kimi said, danger flashing in her eyes.
Kurt and Laurent yelped in unison, the former tugging at Uriah's sleeve. "C'mon, Uriah. Let's just go. You really don't want to tick her off."
"Are you frigging kidding me?! I'm surrounded by wusses!" Uriah snarled. Turning on Laurent, he added, "And you're bigger than her! Don't tell me you're going to let a girl boss you around!"
"B-b-but—"
"Don't you see? She can't hit any of us! It's against school rules, remember?" Turning his attention back on Kimi, he gave her a smug grin as if he had just discovered her weakness. "Well? What are you going to do? Punch us? Kick us? We'll just tell the teachers that you were physically attacking us."
Kimi paused as if to think, then she smiled. "I don't have to hit you to get results."
Uriah blinked in confusion, but before he could respond, Kimi rammed her fist into a plain wall to their right, startling everyone. Kimi continued to smile playfully as she pulled her fist from the wall. Sounds of rushing footsteps quickly approached, and everyone turned their heads to see five teachers bursting through. Amongst them was the principal, her face flushing red and furious like a firecracker. After taking in the scene, Principal Knickerbocker was livid.
"What is the meaning of this?!" she demanded. "You all shouldn't be in here without a supervisor!"
"We heard a loud sound in here," Ms. Warton explained, eyeing them all suspiciously. "Would anyone care to tell us what is going on?"
The girls said nothing but glanced toward Uriah and his friends, hoping the teachers would follow their gazes and put the pieces together. Uriah, Laurent, and Kurt gulped and quickly tried to hide their hammers behind their backs, but their action caught the shop teacher's attention.
"What are you boys trying to hide?" Mr. Rodriguez demanded. "C'mon, let's see them." He strode closer and paused when he noticed the damaged wall. Immediately, he drew a conclusion and turned his eyes on the boys.
"It's not what it looks like!" Kurt blurted out, pointing at Kimi. "It was Watsuki! She did it to the wall!"
"Yeah! It was all her fault!" added Laurent.
"She's super strong! She punched through it like Supergirl!" said Kurt.
"You idiots!" Uriah hissed, but it was too late. Kurt and Laurent looked down, only to realized that they also drew out their hammers in their attempts to point at Kimi.
"Oh?" Mr. Rodriguez raised an eyebrow in utter disbelief. "And I supposed she broke into my shop, stole my hammers, and damaged school property?"
Uriah shot Kimi a venomous look, but Mr. Rodriguez quickly confiscated the tools and with the other teachers' aid, pulled him and his friends by their ears and dragged them off to the principal's office.
"I'll get you for this, Watsuki!" Uriah hissed under his breath.
"Have a nice day," Kimi replied sweetly as she watched them go before rejoining the others for lunch.
"Orube, you should have seen how Kimi handled those bullies!" Irma said, stuffing herself with cookies. "It was brilliant! The look on Uriah's face was priceless!"
Orube managed a small, tired smile as she gratefully accepted a cup of green tea offered by Kimi. The others exchanged amused looks as Irma tried to reenact the confrontation. School was finally over, and everyone was looking forward to two long weeks of winter vacation. But for the Guardians, this also meant a little extra time to focus on their mission. After school, they immediately went to their headquarters to relax and do a little bit of briefing.
"Kimi really saved my classmates a lot of time," Hay Lin smiled. She popped a matcha-flavored cookie into her mouth. "I don't know what we would do if Uriah and his friends had smashed all of our hard works."
Kimi shrugged, taking a seat next to Taranee. "You needed help, so I provided it."
"Well, thanks you to, Uriah, Kurt, and Laurent are spending one week of helping our school set up the stalls and sell our projects during the Winter Festival—under strict supervision from Mr. Rodriguez, of course."
"Can't say the same thing for the wall, though," Will said absentmindedly, still glancing down at her phone as if waiting for a call.
Kimi gave Hay Lin an apologetic look before turning her attention back on Orube. "How was your search? Any sign of our mentor?" she asked.
Orube shook her head sadly. Immediately, the mood turned sullen as if someone had switched a light. "No, I've been searching for the Jade Dragon in Annam for days. I asked her siblings, but none of them have seen her since our battle with Zhu Que."
Irma wanted to ask Orube how she was able to dive to the bottom of the ocean to speak to the dragon and nymphs, but then thought better of it. "What about the Annamite royal family?"
"I spoke with Chung, but he hasn't seen nor heard of Ngọc Long since we've last met. Now that the emperor promoted him to unit commander, he's been busy planning a war with Champa." A small smile curled on her lips. "As well as marrying the princess," she added.
The Guardians smiled at this. During their last great battle in Annam, they got to attend a royal wedding between an Annamite princess and a Champa king. The nuptial wasn't much to celebrate, though. No thanks to Kenji's devious plot, the bridegroom was killed, and his successor wanted revenge and war against Annam. While Kenji's machination had done little to help Zhu Que's siege to befall the southern hemisphere, it left a lasting impact, causing an international war between Annam and Champa for who knows how long. Orube confirmed that any help they would need from their Annamite allies wouldn't come anytime soon. The only good news was knowing that from this tragedy, sprung new hope for their ally. Trần Khắc Chung, now a commander, can marry the love of his life, Princess Huyền Trân. For now, the Guardians hoped that the commander will survive the war with Champa and return to his bride.
"Recently, I have tried to search for our mentor in Nihon," Orube continued. "With our next battle looming so close, I thought she might be taking refuge somewhere there."
"And?" Irma asked.
"Still nothing, I'm afraid," Orube shook her head. "Wherever she is right now, she doesn't want to be found."
"And Kandrakar's can't be bothered with her either, even though Ngọc Long is one of their own," Taranee said dejectedly. Everyone glanced at her and Taranee cursed herself for drawing their attention. This was not how she wanted to start telling them about her encounter with the Prince of Darkness. "I'm going to get us more tea and hot chocolate. I'll be back." Quickly, she grabbed the tray of empty cups and made way for the kitchen. She could practically hear her friends blinking in confusion.
"What was that about?" Irma asked in a hushed tone.
"I thought she'd gotten over her funk by now," said Hay Lin.
Turning to Kimi, Orube asked, "Has something happened while I was gone? Taranee seemed troubled lately."
Kimi said nothing but shrugged.
"Maybe you should say something to her, Will," Cornelia suggested.
Will blinked. "Huh?"
Cornelia sighed in exasperation. "Honestly, could you put that phone away for a moment? I know you're still worried about Matt, but right now you should be more concerned with Taranee! You're her best friend! It's obvious she hasn't been herself lately so why don't you just talk to her—"
Taranee closed her eyes, blocking out their conversation. She didn't feel like talking to Will or any of them right now. Instead, she busied herself preparing the hot beverages and snacks. While waiting for the tea kettle to boil, she spooned the cups with cocoa powder.
What's wrong with me? she thought. I need to tell them what happened. What will Kimi say?
Not for the first time, Taranee wished their lives were a little more normal. It's Friday afternoon! The start of our winter break! She thought bitterly. She should be thrilled to be planning parties, discussing last minute holiday shopping trips, and gossiping about boys with her friends. Instead, she's driving herself crazy thinking about telling about her dream. She had been procrastinating for days, telling herself that she doesn't want her friends to be worrying about this while they have exams. What's your excuse this time? Taranee thought bitterly.
"Need some help?"
Taranee jumped and spun around to face Kimi. The Lusterian gave her a small smile and pointed at one of the cups she'd been preparing. Taranee looked down and saw she had added too much cocoa powder to the point it had overflowed.
"You seemed distracted," Kimi said. "Why don't I handle the beverages while you get the snacks. Lady Ngọc Long keeps the good ones in that cupboard over there." She pointed to Taranee's left.
Silently, the two of them worked swiftly to clean up the mess and prepared a new tray of snacks and beverages. As Kimi arranged the cookies artfully on a plate, Taranee used her magic to quickly heat up more hot water. Stealing a nervous glance at the Light Guardian, Taranee felt a pang of guilt from what she was about to do.
How am I going to break it to her? Taranee thought miserably. How am I going to tell her that her only connection to Kyochi had been Yami all this time?
"You seemed troubled," Kimi said, her tone was stoic as usual.
Taranee held her breath. "What makes you say that?"
Kimi didn't look up from her arrangement. "Taranee, if you're hiding something out of concern for me, then please don't," she said sternly. "I've come to respect you and everyone enough to tell you the truth when needed, no matter how painful."
Taranee winced but knew Kimi was right. This girl did reveal to them the grim truth of Seiji's death. Not to mention Taranee had been privileged enough to hear more of Kimi's relationship with Lexamus.
"Your aura told me that something happened to you since our last talk," Kimi continued. "It's been on your mind these last few days, but you've been keeping it to yourself, wondering how you're going to tell me and everyone." Placing the last cookie onto the plate, she turned and gave her a hard look. Taranee swore those blue eyes could pierce your soul. "Whatever you have to say, just say it. I promise I won't judge you harshly for withholding it for this long." Taranee was surprised. Kimi softened her tone and tried to put on what she hoped was a small, encouraging smile. "I owe you this much for allowing me the same treatment the other day, right?"
Taranee wanted to hug the girl right then and there, but then refrained herself. The last thing she wanted was to splash Kimi with hot water and have her renege on her promise.
"You're right, Kimi. I need to tell you something. In fact, I need to tell everyone. It's just that…it has something to do with your brother and you won't like it," Taranee said.
"Alright," Kimi nodded thoughtfully. "Let's go rejoin the others then." Lifting the snack tray, she headed towards the living room.
When they rejoined the others, Taranee glanced around and took a deep breath. "Girls, I need to tell you all something important." They turned to look at her expectantly. "A few nights ago, I had an encounter with our mysterious friend Yami."
The calm atmosphere turned serious. "Why didn't you tell us this sooner?" Orube asked.
Kimi and Taranee placed the trays on the table and sat down. "I didn't want to stress any of you more than you were, especially in the midst of mid-term exams."
"Okay, we get that, but you still seemed nervous," said Hay Lin.
"Was it because of your conversation with our friend?" Will asked.
"Not just that, girls. I found out something about him you'll find it unbelievable," Taranee said. "Girls, our friend is the Prince of Darkness."
Everyone blinked then gaped in bewilderment once it sunk in.
That didn't take long, Taranee thought.
"It cannot be…" Orube whispered.
"No…way…" Will mumbled under her breath.
"Are you sure?" Hay Lin asked.
"You're kidding, right?" said Cornelia.
"Wait…you're saying that…" Irma began, but the rest of her words were lost on her lips.
"Yeah, he confirmed it himself," Taranee said. She glanced at Kimi who frowned at this revelation. "His real title is Yami-no-Oji…which translates to…"
"The Prince of Darkness," Kimi answered, her voice so still and quiet like water in a pond. "All this time, he had been right in front of us…"
"Yeah, and there's more," Taranee said and began to tell them everything. She explained why the Prince of Darkness hadn't been able to help them deal with the problems at hand, and how his connection to Kyochi went deeper than they realized. She told them about the culprit at the Gate of Oblivion being the mastermind behind all their recent troubles; from the corrupting the Celestial Warriors with the Deadly Sins to Kyochi's kidnapping. She told them of the Prince splitting his soul from his body, about being cursed and trapped in the Dream World, and if they want his help, they'll have to free Kyochi first.
Kimi's face grew paler by the minute, and when Taranee finished her story, her hands were trembling.
"My brother…Kyochi-niisan…my poor twin…" her voice quivered.
Regaining her sense and composure, Orube went to her side to comfort her.
"Why?" she whispered. "After all this time, why hasn't Yami-no-Oji appeared in my dreams?" Slowly, she looked up at her friends. "Instead…he came to the four of you…"
Will, Irma, and Cornelia looked down, unable to bear the pained looked in Kimi's eyes.
"I think I can guess," Taranee offered. "When I talked to Yami, it felt like he was burdened with remorse and shame. He probably felt guilty for Kyochi's kidnapping. I don't think he could bear to face you—at least not for the time being."
Kimi said nothing. They all sat there in silence, taking in this new revelation as quietly and as best they could. Will felt petty for worrying about her argument with Matt. Irma sighed, glancing down at her half-bitten cookie, having lost her appetite. Cornelia silently cursing herself for not realizing Yami was the Prince of Darkness sooner. She wouldn't have been so forgiving as Taranee had she found out. Hay Lin glanced around nervously, being the only Guardian other than Kimi to not have met the Prince in a dream. She twiddled with her teaspoon, twirling the white foam of her hot chocolate. She glanced at Orube, who looked more tired now than she was several minutes ago.
Finally, Irma glanced up and asked, "So now what?" No one answered her at first. "From what Taranee said, it feels like we're out of our league. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that three of us have new powers. And the things we've accomplished so far are nothing short of amazing! But let's face it, girls!" She gestured to everything around them, "All of this is kinda a lot to ask of us right now. I don't know about you, but I feel overwhelmed! Like I'm drowning in a sea—sinking into a depth that I can't see, and it's scary."
"We're Guardians, Irma," Will said as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. "We're supposed to handle difficult missions. Expectations are higher for us."
"We've been doing hard missions since the start! Look, we may be Guardians, but we're also just teenage girls! Sometimes, I think the universe tends to forget that!"
Taranee turned to the Guardian of Light, "Kimi, what do you think we should do?"
Kimi blinked, confused at first, but then lowered her gaze to contemplate. After what felt like minutes, she finally stood, her eyes flashing a dangerous glint.
"Irma's right, this is all very overwhelming," Kimi said. "From what you told us; the remaining four Deadly Sins, the Prince's Heart of Darkness, and this mysterious mastermind—it's all enough to make our heads spin."
"It's like a web," Hay Lin said, shaking her head in bewilderment. "A web full of plotting by design! And the weaver is whoever was at the Gate of Oblivion!"
"Worse, we're the pawns, Hay Lin," Will glowered. "I'll bet whoever this culprit is, he's probably having a laugh watching us running around with no clear direction."
"And my brother is more deeply connected to this mastermind's machination, against his will and knowledge," said Kimi, her knuckles turning white. The way she says 'mastermind' was full of spite and contempt. In a controlled and even tone, she added, "Whoever this culprit is—the evil, manipulative bastard who tried to coerce Kyochi for the Heart of Darkness—should considered himself fortunate for now. No doubt he thinks himself clever to have unraveled Yami-no-Oji's identity. But make no mistake—he crossed the line. He crossed me and all of us. He manipulated my brother. He corrupted the Celestial Warriors and hurt our mentor. He is the one who caused the unbalance in the universe. He took Nii-san away from me."
The last phrase was so full of controlled anger, her friends didn't realize they were holding their breaths, waiting for the worse of her ire. But Kimi just stood there, still as a statue that it was nerve wracking. Swift as the wind, Kimi brought down her hand, shattering the glass coffee table in front of them. The snacks and the tea spilled and crashed to the floor, adding to the mess. Everyone yelped, jumping back to avoid the broken shards glasses. Only Orube remained unfazed.
"I will find whoever's responsible for Kyochi's kidnapping—for all of our woes," said Kimi, her eyes still on the shattered furniture. "When I do, his fate is going to be worse than this table."
Hay Lin leaned towards the others and whispered, "I haven't seen her this scary and crazed since she ran off to face Xuan Wu."
Having heard her, Kimi straightened herself and glanced at them. Hay Lin gulped and duck behind Taranee nervously.
Irma rubbed the back of her head nervously. "Um…Kimi? You're not going to go crazy on us and run off back home to try and find the mastermind blindly, are you? Because it wasn't fun chasing you through a frozen terrain last time. Did I mention that we fell into a hot spring full of talking monkeys back then? Okay, it was kinda funny seeing Cornelia freaked out like that, but—OW."
Cornelia shot her a poisonous look and kicked her foot.
Strangely enough, Irma's rambling made Kimi paused long enough for her ire to subside. Taking in a deep breath, she shook her head. "No, I've learned that such reckless behavior is counterproductive."
"Well, that's a relief!" Irma breathed.
"Glad to see you really have learned from your past mistakes," said Cornelia.
"Speaking of which, how about fixing the coffee table and cleaning up this mess?" Orube chided sternly. "Ngọc Long may not be here, but I am."
Will and her friends cringed while Kimi had the decency to look sheepish. Quickly, they converge their energies into the broken object before them, melding all the cracks and glass shards together seamlessly. Even the snacks and drinks were restored.
Satisfied, they sank back down into their respected chairs. Having regain her appetite, Irma made a quick grab for one of the restored biscuits.
"Well, now that we've allowed ourselves to vent, I have to ask the question again: What do we do now?"
"We continue with our plan, Irma," Kimi replied.
"From what Taranee has told us, we'll have four Deadly Sins to overcome rather than just two," Orube said.
"And like it is with us five, you and Kyochi will be paired up against Envy or Pride," Will noted. "You'll have your own ordeals to overcome if you want to discover your Hearts and Virtues to counter them."
"But none of that matters so long as Kyochi remains incapacitated!" Kimi retorted.
Orube placed a hand gently on Kimi's shoulder, silently urging her to be at ease. "We'll find him, Kimi, I promise," Orube said. "We may have lost our big lead when Zhu Que died, but it doesn't mean we're giving up."
"Orube's right. We'll keep our eyes open, especially during the upcoming sieges," said Cornelia. "If the opportunity to go into the depth of their lair comes, we will seize it."
Will huffed and crossed her arms. "Look, I'm still miffed at you for mistreating Matt the other day, but that doesn't mean I won't help. Kyochi's one of us. We'll find him."
Kimi starred at her and for a moment, the Keeper of the Heart and the Keeper of the Jewel held one another's gaze in a silent and mutual respect. Kimi wondered how she could have thought so little of her friends when they first met. Five months ago, her old self would never have considered working with the Earthlings. When members of the Gemini Council ordered her to stay on Earth and get to know her new teammates, Kimi hated the idea. These Guardians are just little girls to her; immature and not as experienced. They only slowed her down in her mission to find her brother. She wanted nothing to do with them and their planet. And the humans here are so ignorant of magic, having sacrificed their spiritual connection to nature and the world they live in, and all for what? Over the centuries, they have become so obsessed with their own self-interests that it was sickening.
In the end, coming here had been exactly what Kimi needed. Earth wasn't that much different from Lusteria. While it has its many flaws, there were still charm and beauty to everything else. The people here may have lost their sight and connection to magic, but they retained and developed their connections for one another. The aristocratic world Kimi grew up in was cold and aloof. Here, she made friends and they encouraged her to express herself more. While the things she says or do may seemed cold and tactless, she appreciates her friends for at least reprimanding her honestly for it. At home, her elders would demean her with their flowery words, making her feel unworthy of anything no matter how hard she tried. Here, people encouraged the best of herself.
Kimi had to smile at the thought. It was ironic. Who would have thought that a backwatered planet such as Earth could do such wonders for her?
When I find Kyochi, I want to bring him here, she thought. Perhaps then, I could finally make him smile more. This made her paused. Her father had wanted to come to Earth with her before his untimely death at Xuan Wu's hands. Had he survived, would life here change Kohaku? Would living here as a family been better for them? Away from the strife and heartache and the poisonous atmosphere back home? Mentally, she chided herself, reminding her that her father was gone. But Kyochi is still alive and she was determined to bring him to Heatherfield with her. To achieve this, she knew she'll need her friends' help.
"All this time, we thought we needed help from Yami-no-Oji to restore balance, but it's been the other way around," Kimi said. "His fate hangs in the balance. His Heart sleeps in dreams, the realm between worlds; between the light and the darkness. So does my brother, for he sleeps in a place where I cannot reach him." She paused, then glanced at Orube seriously. "If we're going to put a stop to whoever's been pulling the string, we'll need the Prince's help. And the only way to do that is to find Kyochi-niisan as soon as we're able."
Orube nodded approvingly. She turned to face everyone. "So, we are all in agreement? Once Kandrakar sends us the summon, we'll go straight to Nihon to put a stop to Seiryuu's siege."
They didn't have to be told twice. Will and everyone agreed without further hesitation. "A sound idea," Will said, smiling.
As if someone had turned a switch, the tensed atmosphere softened to a coziness none of them realized they missed.
Irma shifted in her seat, grabbing a throw pillow and hugged it close to her chest. "Well, if we're really done with the mission briefing, how about we start getting back to some serious business?"
Kimi and Orube glanced at one another, confused. "Serious business?" Orube asked.
"Yeah, like having our own Christmas party right here with just us and our boyfriends!" Irma grinned.
Orube seemed perplexed at the idea, but not entirely against it.
"We've been talking, and we think it would be a good idea for us to show you two the holiday spirits," said Hay Lin.
"The last time you were here, you didn't exactly stay long enough to celebrate Christmas with us Orube," Will said. "We thought after everything that's been happening, we could all use some cheers. And what better way to do that than to spend the holidays with each other and a few extra friends?"
"You're not against it, are you?" Taranee asked cautiously. "This would be a good chance for you and Kimi to experience our cultural customs. We don't mind if you invite some of your old friends."
Orube looked at them all thoughtfully. "Well, after commuting back and forth between worlds, I think a little get-together-party sounds like a very good idea. And besides," she paused, musing herself at the thought. "It would be interesting to see some old friends again."
Kimi didn't miss the tone in how said 'friends'. "Who are they?" She turned to the others for answers, but they burst into a gift of collected giggles. "Am I misunderstanding something?" Kimi glanced at Orube and tried to get a reading on her aura, but all she felt was a faint sense of amusement and joy at…two men?
"Joshua and Ray are Orube's boyfriends!" Irma teased, puckering her lips to imitate kissing sounds. The others stifled their giggles and turned away.
Kimi blinked and looked at Orube for an explanation.
Orube crossed her arms and shot Irma an annoyed look. "Irma's exaggerating, as usual." Kimi looked as if she didn't quite believe her. Orube exhaled exasperatedly. "Ray is a pianist and a previous neighbor. As for Joshua, he's an old friend of mine at the university here in Heatherfield. I still pay him and my other college friends a visit on campus while you were at school, Kimi."
Kimi nodded and said nothing more.
Cornelia finished sipping her tea and smiled. "Well, wouldn't it be nice if you could invite both of them over?"
Orube shrugged. "Joshua maybe, but as for Ray, I'm not certain since we're not exactly neighbors anymore now that I'm living here in Ngọc Long's house."
"You can't let that stop you from trying to reach out to him," said Cornelia. "Who knows? Maybe he still lives in that old neighborhood, wondering where you've gone."
Orube frowned, the idea had never occurred to her, and thinking about it sent a twinge of guilt inside. I left without a word, she thought. And when I came back, I didn't even bother to explain why. A part of her didn't want to reach out to the musician out of fear. She wasn't just afraid of explaining her absence to him, but she also wasn't sure if she wanted to get to know him better. It felt a little too soon after Cedric died, and Orube wasn't sure how long she'll be staying this time to help Kimi. Would she leave Earth again once they rescued Kyochi and restore balance? What would be the point in reaching out again if she was just going to say goodbye in a few months? As for Joshua, she considered her relationship with him more casual, like a friend. Yet at times, she wondered if the feelings he harbored for her wasn't as simple as that. "I don't know…It's been a while…" Orube said hesitantly.
"It's only been a little more than a year. Where's the harm in trying?" Cornelia urged.
"Cornelia is right, Orube-neechan," Kimi said.
Orube blinked at her, surprised.
"You've all encouraged me to open myself to others here on Earth, so why not practice what you preached? And besides," Kimi gave Orube a small smirk. "This would give me a good chance to meet these boyfriends of yours."
You little brat, Orube thought, but then laughed quietly to herself. Shaking her head, she turned to face them all. "Very well, since I'm obviously outnumbered, but on one condition." She turned back on Kimi and tried to match her smirk. "You'll have to invite the Kishimoto siblings, too."
The smirk on Kimi's face disappeared as she remembered that Koji has siblings, including Kohane, the little girl who seemed gifted in intuition. She opened her mouth to protest, but the others cut her off before she could object to the idea.
"Alrighty then! We need to plan for our Christmas party, and you—" Irma glanced at Kimi, giving her a huge and mischievous grin that could rival the Cheshire Cat, "—need to get ready for your boy!"
"Pardon?"
Cornelia shook her head and laughed. "Don't tell me you've forgotten about your date with Koji tomorrow?"
With an excited glee, Hay Lin grabbed Kimi's hands and pulled her to her feet. "C'mon. Where are the clothes you've bought the other day? You gotta show Orube what you're wearing for your first date!"
Kimi turned her face away, feeling a little uncomfortable. "I don't think Orube would be interested. And I don't want to wrinkle them before tomor—"
"Actually, I would love to see what you'll be wearing on your first date," Orube said, giving her a sly look. "I did miss the shopping trip, so don't you think you owe me something, Kimi?"
Kimi sighed in defeat, allowing Hay Lin to drag her to her room to change.
This is going to be a long winter break, Kimi thought.
On the outskirts of Edo, a cluster of mountains floated serenely, tethered together by intertwining vines and overgrown tree roots. Varying in sizes, they are some of Lusteria's most iconic natural features. Often untouched by mankind, saved for the most adventurous of hearts, these floating mountains are often topped with forests and small lakes, their water flowing into streams and cascading into the earth below. Very few Lusterians built anything on these mountaintops, but those who do resulted the occasional shrines, temples, and homes.
On the edge of one large floating mountain, sat a manor. Its features were modest in comparison to the more luxuriant ones in the city below. Who lives here? Well, no one for the last several months. With its owners gone and no servants to attend to its need, the tiny manor have seen better days. Its grounds were overgrown by vegetation and the paint was starting to fade. Its rooms turned cold and quiet and the echo of the soft wind filtered through its pillared halls eerily.
In the center of the courtyard, the temperature dropped. Swirls of ice and frost coalesced until they revealed a young man. Kinomoto Kenji casually brushed the specks of ice off his shoulders and looked about. No soul came to greet him, which suits him fine. This place was perfect. No one, especially not his foster father, would think to look for him here. This estate belongs to his two least favorite cousins and therefore, the last place anyone would think he would go.
Kenji strode through the halls as if he owned the place. He walked pass an empty stall big enough to house a dragon. Thankfully, it was empty. The last thing Kenji needed was to have his cousin's infamous metal dragon sniffing around. Kenji hated that beast.
He kept walking until he made his way into Kyochi's study. The room was as modest at the rest of the building; occupied with a desk and a table at the window. Most of the walls were lined up with bookcases filled to the brims with scrolls and medical textbooks. One wall displayed a chart depicting all the pressure points in the human body, another showed a map of Lusteria.
Kenji came to the desk and ran one finger off its surface. Sure enough, there was a thin layer of dust, a clear indication of months of absence. The desk was strewn with research papers and notes. Several books were left opened, some showed ghastly photos of magical diseases. One look was enough to make the light-hearted retch in horror. But not for someone like Watsuki Kyochi.
Kenji noticed something amongst the stacks of paper. Leaning closer, he realized it was the opening title page to a research paper. Curiously, he picked it up and read it aloud, "'Dark Diseases and Disorder: A Study of How Deadly Viruses Affect Shadow-wielders in Low-Income Communities'."
Kenji's lips curled into a bemused smile. He had just found Kyochi's master thesis for medical school, and from the looks of it, it was clear the Shadow Guardian had worked tirelessly on it for months. The handwriting was beautiful, the research extensive, and the illustrations were surprisingly detailed to the point that he could see the texture of the inside of a human stomach. All of this was done lovingly by hand and would no doubt enchant any lover of art and science. Had Kyochi not been taken by the Celestial Warriors, he would have presented this to an assembly of doctors and earned his first doctorate at the tender age of nineteen! He would have graduated at the same time with Kenji before moving on to train as a junior doctor at the general hospital.
Kenji scoffed. As much as he detested Kimi, a part of him hated her twin even more. It's not that Kyochi was ever cruel to him. On the contrary, Kyochi had always been kind and respectful, but no amount of generosity could heal Kenji's black heart; a heart tainted by jealousy and anger. As if he would ever share the success of earning a university degree with him!
Kenji noticed a gas lamp sitting on the edge of the table and quickly turned it on. Turning the knob higher, the tiny ember grew into a large, slender flame, its tip flickering greedily for air over the rim of the glass container. Without a second thought, he grabbed the rest of Kyochi's dissertation and fed it to the fire. The blaze ate the dry paper hungrily, spitting flecks of sparks everywhere. Nothing but ashes now, he quickly lowered the heat, allowing the fire to dance innocently inside its glass container. Satisfied, Kenji sank into Kyochi's chair, his fingers pressed together. A pity he didn't get to see Kyochi's shocked expression after reducing his hard work to cinder.
Shifting his weight, he leaned back against the chair and gazed out of the window. In the distance, the city of Edo glittered, lanterns illuminating the night as dusk came. The view was truly magnificent. For a moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the peace and quiet before thinking back on what he had just seen in Isamu's tent. Kenji had just returned from spying on the Kinomoto elders during their private conversation.
Unbeknownst to Isamu and his colleagues, it was Kenji who discreetly planted the ideas into their heads. He needed to help Seiryuu capture Kimi and take her Jewel and forced Kyochi's Mirror to reveal itself. He also needed to place the shogun in power long enough for Seiryuu to take it all from him. Conveniently enough, the Emperor is dying, and his heir will be on the operating table for a heart surgery. Aware of his elders' hatred for Kimi and their deep hunger for power, it was easy for Kenji to spell them into conceiving such plans as their own during the summit. Under the guise of protecting Nihon, he wanted Isamu to suggest sending the Guardians into the Dark Forest. He also wanted them to convince as many as they could to back the shogun for the throne.
What Kenji hadn't expected was discovering the dark truth from three years ago.
The elders were responsible for the death of Minamoto Seiji as well as the people of Shinrinkage, Kenji thought.
He drummed his fingers together as he thought how best to use this for his own benefit. He most certainly wasn't going to tell Kazumi the truth about her husband. His future sister-in-law still hates Kimi and that may still have some use for him. Somehow, she seemed more reluctant and critical since their last encounter with Kimi in Annam. Could that Jewel have done something to Kazumi? If so, he'll have to play his card more closely to the chest. Kazumi could be a handful. For now, he'll keep this knowledge to himself.
A small voice echoed in his mind, asking whether all this was worth it and if he would be able to live with the consequences of his actions. He would be alone. His home would be gone, most likely ruled by a puppet king under the thumb of Seiryuu, and his family, those who adopted him as their own would either be dead or brainwashed like mindless slaves.
Kenji's eyes snapped opened, and his fists clenched. "Family," he hissed. "To hell with family!"
No matter how his foster father pontificate this, the Kinomoto clan was not his family. His adoption was greeted with much hesitation and disgust from the elders. He could take on their last name, but they made it clear how worthless and unloved he was.
"What was Komei-san thinking? Adopting a filthy street rat?!"
"He may carry the name Kinomoto, but it will do nothing to erase his origin in the slums."
"I won't have any of my daughters marry a worthless scum like him! I don't care if he's Komei's son now! I want someone with real pedigree to take over my legacy!"
A street rat. A filthy dog from the slums. That was where he had come from.
Kenji could not recall who his parents were or what they looked like. His earliest memory was of living in a small and filthy one-room apartment in the slums of a city far to the west of Edo.
There had been a girl named Nene who cared for him. Whether she was his mother, an older sister, or a stranger who took pity on the infant, he never knew. She died a few years later when he was still a toddler. She had called him Inoko-chan, and she struggled to support them both by selling mussels she harvested from the dangerous sea cliffs. Kenji remembered her taking him along sometimes. She would carry him by tying him in a knapsack close to her breasts, protecting him from the spraying water and the chilly air. As he grew, his water magic manifested, and the toddler unconsciously held the crashing wave back enough for her to climb down the slippery rocks to collect her prizes. Thrilled, Nene called him a blessing for them both. Determined to give themselves a chance at a better life, she worked hard to collect and sell the mussels at the wharf and fish market, hoping to save enough money so they could escape somewhere peaceful. Little Inoko didn't understand any of this at the time. All he knew what that they were happy together.
It didn't last. When he was around four years of age, a great storm blew in with the coming winter. Nene and Inoko grew sick from the cold. Kenji remembered being bedridden for days, his consciousness flickering in and out like a candle in the wind. He wanted to die, but at the same time was too afraid to. Nene was forced to use the money they saved for food and medicine. She had recovered slightly herself, but Inoko seemed to be suffering. She spent the last of her money buying him the more expensive and effective healing medicine. With no money left for even food, she knew she had to leave the child here alone while she ventured out to the dangerous cliffs to hunt for some mussels. She fed him the last remaining drop of the medicine and a small pork bun, kissed him good-bye and promised to return with bowls of delicious congee.
She never came back.
Without Inoko to protect her from the relentless waves, Nene had slipped and fell, cracking her skull wide open on the slippery rocks. Local fishermen from the wharf found her broken body when they noticed flocks of gulls flying overhead in one spot. She had died alone in this cold and unforgiving world, leaving behind a sickly boy they weren't even sure was her own.
She had died because of him. She had died because she loved him. Love killed her, Kenji thought bitterly years later.
The fishermen couldn't take Inoko in. They were already struggling to feed the hungry mouths in their own family. Instead, they brought him to an orphanage on the other side of town. At first, the matron and the caretakers gave Inoko space while he mourned for the loss of the only person who cared for him. He cried at nights and refused to eat during the day. He demanded to see her. He wanted to go home. It may had been a dump, but at least he had Nene and they were happy.
Tired of his sniveling, a caretaker dragged him to a temple where the monks showed him Nene's ash urn. They had already cremated her body and even performed a purification ritual, hoping to appease her lost and wandering soul. The monks told him her spirit had moved on and so should he. Live the rest of his life for her memory, they urged him.
"There, you see?" his caretaker hissed as she dragged him back to the orphanage. "The dead is dead. Be happy that you have a roof over your head and food in your belly!"
And he did move on, but more out of necessity and survival, for there is little love and understanding in his new home. Life at the orphanage was lonely and miserable. He hated his caretakers who believed strict punishment builds characters. They enforced their draconian rules on the children, expecting them all to wake at the crack of dawn to do their chores before heading off to classes. Anyone too slow or made too many mistakes were scolded and given double duties. The misbehaved were punished by the whipping rod or denied dinner. When visiting parents came, they were to be on their best behavior, forced to put on a theater and playing the sweet and obedient child any parents desired.
The other children were no better than the adults. There had been many those like Inoko who came from the slums, but they sensed something odd about him, and avoided him as best they could. Ostracized, Inoko made the perfect target for bullies like Saito, a stupid and violent boy two years his senior. The older boy takes pleasure in strutting around the place with his goons like a peacock and tormenting those weaker than him.
Life here taught Inoko to harden his heart and steel his emotions. Love was for the weak. Love can kill him like it did to Nene. It makes him vulnerable and by the gods, he was not going to be weak here, so he thought as he endures five years in this hell hole.
Surprisingly enough for him, he managed to keep his water magic a secret from everyone during the duration of his stay. There weren't a lot of elemental wielders in this town and none so far to his knowledge at this orphanage. He didn't want to give anyone another reason to be weary of him. He was already strange enough as it was, preferring to keep to his books in the library than to join in one of their little games. His other reason was it makes him feel powerful and unique. Water-wielding was his own secret, and he doesn't want anyone to take it from him. There were little moments for rest and play for the children, but whenever they were allowed a breather, Inoko found himself in the library, buried in books and scrolls on some of the great water-wielders in history. He'd hope the tomes would be his guides and teachers. If he could, he would sneak away to a small river in the woods located behind the orphanage to practice.
Five years flew by and slowly but surely, Inoko's water-wielding improved. He could bend and shape them into elongated limbs and mold them into tools and shields. Freezing it, boiling it, or controlling the water he couldn't see like those in the pipes were a bit of a challenge. But he was getting there. He was now nine years of age, and during those time had watched other children come and go. Some were lucky and were adopted by wealthy families or lonely parents looking for those to care for them in their old age and to inherit their small legacy. Adolescents who grew too old eventually left on their own to make a living. Inoko didn't think anyone would ever adopt him, but he didn't care. If he was lucky and wait it out until he was at least fourteen years, he could ask the matron to let him leave to carve his own path in life. With his mater magic, surely, he could find a respectable career, one that would allow him to escape this sad and pathetic place. That had been his plan. All he had to do was endure a few more years and secretly improve his skills while he was at it. Unfortunately, that plan was derailed by his old tormentor a few weeks later.
Saito, the mean-spirited boy who had bullied Inoko and many other children for years, was now in his eleventh year. He had been here longer than Inoko himself and in all those times, wasn't even considered good enough to be adopted. Visiting parents saw how boorish he was and didn't want him. Every rejection twisted him, turning him into a sadistic and vile person. At one point, the matron discovered him beating one of her dogs until it was dead simply because it refused to obey him when it was his duty to train it. How Saito was still allowed to stay was beyond Inoko's comprehension.
That late winter, there had been another visit from a couple, but they adopted a little seven-year-old girl. Resigned, Inoko snuck off to find a moment of peace to practice. Meanwhile, the latest rejection had put Saito in an especially foul mood. He needed someone to take out his anger on and decided to follow Inoko into the woods, curious to see where this twerp was going all these times.
Inoko had been so absorbed in trying to turn his floating water spheres into vapors that he didn't notice he was being followed. Shocked turned to anger and Saito ordered his friends on him. The bullies outnumbered Inoko. No matter how well practiced he was, even he couldn't get away as they surrounded him.
In the present, Kenji sighed at this part of his memory. He should have taken pleasure in remembering it. It was here where he'd gotten revenge on his tormentor and eventually it led him to where he is now. For some reason, the detail was mostly a blur. Kenji furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to remember. He knew he had been physically attacked by Saito and his friends. He wasn't able to summon the water to his aid. Whether it was from his lack of experience or because the children had made certain to leave him little room to reach out of it, the memory was still distorted. Inoko probably said something to Saito during the scuffle. Something that rattled the older boy to the core and led him to do the unthinkable.
To everyone's disbelief, Saito dragged Inoko towards the river and shoved his head down, refusing to let him up for air. The others starred in horror, too stunned to even put a stop to this. Petrified, all they did was looked on as their leader tried to drown this boy. Inoko could feel Saito leering down at him with sadistic pleasure. He wanted to teach him a lesson and to see if he could breathe underwater like other water-wielders, and he didn't care if he had to resort to killing him to find out.
Inoko flailed his arms, scratching and clawing at his attacker desperately, but Saito was too strong. He couldn't breathe. His lungs were screaming for air while his mind begged for mercy. Was he going to die here? No. Water is his element. His ally. His closely kept secret until now. It was a part of him, and he was powerful because of it. No one, not even this heartless bully was going to take it from him! If anything, he should be the one to drown! To feel helpless and at the mercy of someone more powerful. Let Saito feels what it was like to be a victim of torment and violence! With a cold desire for revenge and the willpower to live, Inoko reached out his hands and the water rose at his command.
He didn't fully understand how he'd done it, but somehow, the water jumped and reached out like tentacles, grabbed Saito and pulled him under. The next Inoko knew, their roles reversed. He was now the one standing above Saito, watching him being held down by living water. He turned his head slightly and the water forced Saito's to face upward so he could see the darkness in Inoko's eyes before he dies. Saito tried to scream and flail, but the water held him tight. Fear took over as he pleaded to Inoko with his eyes for mercy. He screamed again but all that came out were gurgles of air bubbling towards the surface. Even if his words had been heard, Inoko was too dazed. Too numbed. Too cold to hear it, much less heed it.
Minutes passed and soon the thrashing stopped. There was no more screaming. No more fighting. Just the sound of the babbling brook and the wind whistling through the tree to accompany the chilled air of late winter.
Tiredly, Inoko turned his head to look at the others. Their expressions were of pure terror. A moment of silence passed and when Inoko turned his body to step out of the river, the other children quickly backed away and screamed. Stumbling over one another, they broke into sprints, running back to the orphanage for help. Their screamed echoed in the wind, calling him a murderer. A demon. A monster.
Inoko gazed down at his trembling hands, but they weren't shaking from fear, but satisfaction. He had fought against his tormentor with his own power, even if it meant killing the older boy. Perhaps that's what he had become and a part of him didn't exactly minded.
His caretakers, on the other hand, were horrified. They called in the local officers, one of them was a seasoned water-wielder to apprehend him. Inoko tried to run but he didn't get far. He was almost at the edge of the town, trying to escape by hoping onto a nobleman's carriage. The young nobleman was surprised to see a child trying to fight off his own guards with such a crude way of water-wielding. Nevertheless, the boy was quickly caught, chained, and sent to a local prison. There, the magistrate of justice would determine his fate. His options were not pretty: he was either going to be sent into hard labor by working in the boiling factory or transferred to another detention center to be locked up and forgotten.
Before the decision could be announced, an elegant and dignified aristocrat appeared. The man strode in calmly and gracefully, drawing in surprised and curious eyes. Inoko frowned as the man walked pass him only to pause and study the boy. To Inoko's surprise, it was the young nobleman from the carriage he tried to overtake earlier! He'd known the occupant was someone important, but he'd never thought it would be the Chancellor of Nihon himself! After scrutinizing him, Komei gave Inoko a genuine smile. Flushing with fear and embarrassment, Inoko lowered his head in shame. The Chancellor gently lifted his chin so their eyes would meet. "How interesting. So young and so raw in talent. It would do you no good to waste away here," he said.
Calmly, Komei strode forward and appealed to the magistrate and Inoko's former caretakers, asking them to allow him to adopt the boy as his own. Naturally, this shocked everyone, including Inoko. His caretakers stepped forward and begged the Chancellor to reconsider. Inoko couldn't understand why this man would want someone like him as a son. No visiting parents ever bothered to pay him a passing glance, so what reason does the Chancellor have with him?
Curiously, he watched as Komei listened to their reasons patiently. He didn't even blink when his caretaker pointed out Saito's death. Despite everyone's protests, Komei didn't budge from his position. True, the boy had killed another, but in his defense, the other one tried to kill him first out of malice, and therefore Inoko panicked and his survival instinct kicked in, causing the water to bend to his will and drowned his attacker. Komei asked the other children who witnessed the scene for their testimonies, and based on their words, Komei beguiled his opponents with logic and reasons. After an hour of debating, the magistrate and the caretakers agreed to let Komei had his way. Wanting to wash their hands clean from such a scandal, they realized it was best to let the Chancellor take him and mold him into a better person.
Inoko couldn't believe his luck. He was finally free from this horrible place, rescued by none other than the Chancellor himself!
During the entire journey to Edo, Inoko didn't speak for fear his words would shatter the dream in front of him. He couldn't believe the fine clothes he was allowed to wear, fine silk and embroidered with the crest of the Kinomoto clan.
The Chancellor watched him thoughtfully before replying, "You are not dreaming, child. I see something within you, more than just your raw talent for wielding the water." The boy said nothing. "I cannot overlook the hardship you've endured, but I will warn you now that being a Kinomoto has its own burden. There's no denying that many others within this clan, especially the daimyo and the elders, will not take kindly to you. Veiled threats and cruelty beneath silken words is common, make no mistake. They do not believe someone such as yourself could ever be worth anything, but I intend to prove them wrong and I know you will as well." Komei leaned in closer and pointed his feathered fan at him. "I see the potential for greatness, one born not of privilege and entitlement, but from the depths of this," the Chancellor pressed the tip of his feathered fan against the boy's heart. "You can change the world, my child, and whether it be for better or worse, I am willing to become your father and give you the opportunity to find that greatness."
Inoko looked at him in surprised. All his life, no one thought him worthy of anything. He thought his water magic was at least something that made him special. But this man said there was something more in him, something that Inoko couldn't understand or see.
Komei smiled. "I believe it is time for you to shed your old name. My wife and I are partial to the name Kenjiro, but our last child was born prematurely. Perhaps it would suit you better?" Inoko frowned. He didn't want the name of Komei's dead son as if it was a hand-me-down. Then again, it sounded a lot better than Inoko and bore no reminder of his past. A past he was eager to forget. As if sensing his thought, Komei chuckled softly. "Perhaps we can shorten it to Kenji, then?"
The boy lowered his head before nodding.
"Very well, then. From hence for, you will be called Kinomoto Kenji. You are my son now and I would advise you to wear such a mantle with pride as well as humility."
Kishimoto Kenji smiled as their carriage finally arrived in Edo, taking him to the Kinomoto clan's district where he would start his new life.
True to his father's words, his life as a Kinomoto wasn't easy. Lord Isamu and his inner circle made it clear how little they valued him. In their eyes, he was already damaged, filled with faults not of his choosing, born from a lowly background and as a single child. From what Kenji learned, the only reason this clan values twins were to enjoy the power and prestige that comes with the Guardians' legacy. There is a sense of awe and respect for the Guardians from all nations of Lusteria and beyond. The Kinomoto would be fools to not maintain it through manipulation, pressure, and control over their own kinsmen. Hence why so many of their women suffered from miscarriages, amongst them was his father's sister, Kinomoto Kotone; the mother of Kimi and Kyochi. Those born as a single child weren't of much value other than to be married off to someone financially successful or remotely powerful so the clan could reap the benefits from such alliances. Then again, twins weren't better off by much in this twisted and power-hungry family. Twins who were not chosen as Guardians, such as Kazumi and Kiyomi, were then pawned off to potential suitors.
Kenji wasn't deterred. He was determined to prove his worth despite his lack of a pedigree. People like his foster father is living proof of that, having risen to the rank of Chancellor of Nihon within the last decades based on his own merits! Kenji devoted his entire self to succeed like his father. In a few short years, he masted the etiquette of the gentry class. He studied under some of the best water-wielding masters in the land, sharpening his magic to a terrifying degree. Even his academics weren't overlooked as he sharpened his raw wits, his scheming mind became more discreet, refined his diplomacy, giving anyone a good tongue-lashing when provoked.
Kenji felt proud of his achievements, but it wasn't enough. It's never enough. Lord Isamu and the elders disregarded his accomplishments. It was only by their grace and generosity that he could afford such aid and accommodation to succeed in all his endeavors thus far, they had said. Kenji seethed darkly, knowing that he'll have to break barriers to make them acknowledge his own worth. He thought about becoming a Guardian. Why shouldn't he be eligible? Just because he's a single child? Or that his element is water? He was just as ambitious, talented, and skilled as any Guardians before him! If anything, a Guardian should be chosen based on character and heart, not their prestigious pedigree. His character is strong, he knew it in his heart! Hadn't he been strong to endure such pain and misery all his life? Hadn't he been strong when he killed Saito?
Determined, Kenji went before the aging Guardians of Light and Darkness and made his case. He appealed to them and asked them to appeal to Kandrakar. He would be their warrior, their representative to all worlds. He would surrender his element for either light or darkness if he had to. The old and frail Guardians looked up at him and he saw how lifeless they are now. Then, a small glimmer. Perhaps they can see beyond him. Had the Sacred Talismans within their masters' hearts heard his plea?
When Akihiro and Takao, the previous Guardians of Light and Darkness died, all Kinomoto twins were summoned before the representatives of Kandrakar and the Sacred Talismans in a ceremony. A part of Kenji knew there was little hope in him being chosen, but he had to go. He had to see if his words made any impact. To see if the Sacred Talismans heard him and choose him as one of their next bearers. Surely it was time to break barriers and make a leap of faith for changes?
It didn't happen. The Sacred Talismans flew out of the hands of the Kandrakar Elders and straight into the hearts of Kyochi and Kimi Watsuki. The son and daughter of a traitor who killed his wife and turned to the darkness was chosen over everyone else, including Kiyomi and Kazumi.
Lady Kazue saw him fuming in the dark corner and smiled wickedly. "There is a difference in dreaming and fulfilling those dreams," she warned him frostily. "Do not fool yourself into believe that you have any right to becoming a Guardian."
As Kenji watched his cousins ascended and spread their wings, hatred and jealousy grew more prominent in his heart. Something in Kenji died more that day. He'd never gotten the chance, or any chances his cousins were given. Kimi and Kyochi didn't even want to be Guardians! They were content to just wallow in their tragic lives of mourning and resenting over the parents who abandoned them for Death! Ken was the one who tried to achieve. To show his worth to the world. But the world still denied him. There is a line between the successors and the failures. The blessed and the cursed. This he had learned.
Allowing the memories to fade away, Kenji turned and noticed a frame on the corner of the table. Picking it up, he saw it's a black and white photo of Kimi and Kyochi sitting together on the edge of their floating home. It must have been taken last year in private. They were smiling, albeit a gentle one. It was a rare glimpse of them so happy together here and alone in their world with only each other. Kenji's fury flared as he slammed a fist onto Kyochi's table. The furniture was subjected to absolute zero temperature in a flash and it shattered into blocks at his feet. The photo itself disintegrated into diamond dust.
"Not anymore, cousins!" Kenji whispered. "I'm taking what's mine! What's owed to me!"
All his life he had been denied of everything close to his heart and desire; denied of parents, denied of Nene, denied of a safe childhood, of peace, of acknowledgement, of respect, and of love. He was done playing obedient son to Komei and his family. Done playing puppet for the Kinomoto. He wasn't going to hold back anymore. Now it's time for him to rise to greatness beyond the scopes of everyone's expectations, even if it means working with the corrupted Celestial Warriors to destroy this pathetic world!
Crossing to the middle of the room, Kenji waved a hand. Two ice crystal pillars formed before him, and after muttering an incantation, images of Seiryuu and Hwang-Ryong appeared within the pillars.
"Well, well, well," Seiryuu smiled, coyly playing with her hair. "Looks like someone's making himself right at home."
Hwang-Ryong wasn't as amused as he sat on a golden throne surrounded by luxury and decadence. Kenji suppressed the urge to smirk at the charade. Hwang-Ryong may be the Lord of Greed, but what he truly desire is to consolidate all his remaining siblings' territories for his own. "Do not get comfortable, boy. I grow tired of losing to a bunch of girls. And to make it worse, they are now certain to know of your treachery."
"I wouldn't concern myself with them, my lord," Kenji replied. "With my new dark powers, not even my cousin and her little friends are a match. I've been running circles around them since Joseon."
"I fear you may have underestimated the Guardians, boy," Hwang-Ryong said contemptibly. "With every battle, each one discovers her new power, and a Celestial Warrior is defeated. I grow tired with every loss of my three siblings."
Didn't you ordered Zhu Que to kill Xuan Wu? Kenji thought, but chose not to utter it.
"You needn't worry, my lord and lady," Kenji smiled. "Everything is under control. Soon, Nihon will fall, and you will have everything in your hands, including all three Sacred Talismans."
"I hope so for your sake," Seiryuu replied coolly. "If your plan succeeds, on my vow, you will become our Sole Guardian, wielding all seven elements. Everything you want will be yours." Kenji smiled. "But if everything fails, I will kill you on the spot. You are a talented and conniving water-wielder, little Lord Kenji, but also as replaceable as any mortal. Don't forget that."
Kenji nodded in understanding and bowed. "Understood, my lady."
"Good," she said. "Now, are things almost ready?"
"Yes. Everything is in place. All we need is for them to unfold."
"Then let the wheels of fortune turn and watch Nihon falls."
To be continued…
Author's note: Wow, this has got to be my longest chapter yet, but I hope you all like it, especially Kenji's tragic backstory and his reason for turning traitor. Note, I used to take ceramic classes in high school and college, so I thought it would be fun to add in the scene at the beginning with the bullies. Next chapter, we will finally touch upon Kimi's first date with Koji, and get a glimpse of how Matt's survival…oh, dear.