Seijyu
~Zoi no miko

~Chp 2~

Surprisingly, things seemed to get better after that, as if Emerald-hime was
making more of an effort to pray for Cephiro. Maybe it was to try and assure
Zagato that she was all right, that what she said was what she truly believed. But I
didn't buy that. And I'm sure Zagato didn't, either. He spent the next while silent
for most of his days, seeing next to no-one, speaking of nothing. Surprisingly, he
did not send me from his presence, even when I offered to leave him. He asked me
to stay with him, through long, silent hours, his eyes filled with thoughts and ideas
as if he couldn't express them.

Finally, he spoke to me, letting me glimpse again the mind between those
warm, beautiful eyes. "Innova. I am going to take Emerald-hime away from the
castle."

I looked up at him, shocked. ('Geika - is that wise? Everyone in Cephiro
will hunt for her....')

"Which is why I intend to kidnap her." He let out a long sigh. "Innova, I
want to put an end to it. I want the Pillar to be free. And I will free Emerald." He
turned to face the room, leaning back against the window frame. "I believe in
something." he said, finally. "I believe that I can make this happen, with the power
of my will, if Emerald-hime wishes what I do. I believe that Cephiro doesn't need
the Pillar to constantly pray for it, if the people care enough for Cephiro and the
Pillar. The people can keep Cephiro safe."

I went to reply, but was stopped by a voice beyond the archway into the
next room.

"Do you really think so, Onii-san?"

Zagato looked up towards the source of the voice, the boy that walked into
the room. "Lantis? I didn't know you were here."

Lantis gave a slight smile. "Obviously. I'm sorry. I came to find you, but I
thought you weren't here. I started to leave you a note, but then I heard you
talking..." He shrugged, slightly guilty.

Zagato gave a slight smile, reaching out and ruffling his brother's hair for
the sole purpose of annoying him. "So you know my scheme, then. Do you think
it's possible?"

Lantis paused, looking out of the window and over the city, the green hills
and forests beyond. "Yes. But it will mean great hardship for the people of
Cephiro. If you fail, Zagato, and Cephiro is destroyed... can you accept that?"

"If Cephiro is destroyed, I die with it, and the sadness ends. But
Emerald-hime would not let Cephiro be destroyed. I know that. She loves it too
much."

Lantis nodded silently, thinking. "If Emerald was removed from the castle...
the people would become very afraid. Their fear would create monsters here, with
Emerald's will divided. You'd have to have a force, a council of people who are
strong fighters who would be able to protect and calm the people. And the palace
staff would most likely be trying to kill you as opposed to help you. Is there
anyone you can ask?"

Zagato paused. "Guru Clef will disown me. Alcyone will stay with me,
though. She is loyal, even though she is stiff-necked. There are people in Cephiro
who will work for me if I offer them enough of what they want. Or I could hire out
from other countries. Whatever it takes." He moved past Lantis, robes trailing out
behind him, and settled in a chair, resting his chin on one hand. "Will you help me,
Lantis?"

Lantis nodded almost immediately. "Of course. To keep Cephiro stable is
too much for you to handle alone. You need a second in command, someone who
can organise and command the forces you gather, be your eyes and ears -"

"I need you to go to leave Cephiro."

Lantis paused mid-sentence, eyes widening slightly. "You're kidding,
right?"

"No."

Lantis watched his older brother carefully. "I know what you're trying to
do. I won't stand for it. I won't be shipped off somewhere to stay safe. I'm staying
here, I'm fighting with you."

Zagato gave a long sigh. "Lantis..."

"Don't 'Lantis' me. I'm not leaving."

"Please. Listen to what I have to say. Then you can argue. All right?"
Lantis paused, then nodded reluctantly.

"Thank-you." Zagato sat back, folding his slender fingers on his lap,
looking down at his hands. "I need you for several things. I need you to learn from
the other countries, from Autozam, Chitza, Fahran. How they take care of the
country and the people. Maybe recruit people to work for me, to help me. And,
more importantly...." He looked up, forcing Lantis to meet his gaze. "If I fail, if I
die, I want you to watch over Emerald. Because I want to know that she will be
kept safe, no matter what. Please, Lantis. You don't know how much I love her.
Please do this for me."

Lantis was quiet for a long moment. "You need someone to work with you,
though. Someone who knows your true intentions. Alcyone won't. She's in love
with you. She won't work for you if she knows what you're working for. Who else
is there who would side with you, who you know and trust enough to do it?"

"Innova will do it."

I froze. I... I would? He had that kind of faith, of trust... in me?

Lantis' face was blank. "Who?"

Zagato looked over at me, where I still stood, patiently, by the window.
"Innova? Haven't you met my brother yet?"

Lantis looked over as well, expression changing to one that was almost
patronising. "Oh. Innova, is it? What a pretty name for you!"

I took a step towards Zagato, trying very hard not to feel apprehensive. I
was a Seijyu, not an animal, though very few people knew the difference.
('Thank-you. Emerald-hime gave it to me when she called me into being. I have
been her advisor and confidante ever since, and closest bodyguard.')

Lantis's jaw dropped almost visibly. "I - of course..." he half-stammered.
"My apologies...." He looked back at Zagato. "I... I'll leave Cephiro, Zagato-san,
like you wish. I'll send as much help as I can, to help you. I'll leave tomorrow."

Zagato stood, smiling, a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Thank-you."

Lantis stood, hugging his brother despite the armour they both wore. "I
believe in you, Zagato-san." He pulled back with a smile and left.

Zagato's eyes followed him to the door, staying there long after it had shut.

('Geika?') I finally chanced to ask.

He turned back to me. "Yes?"

('Did you mean what you said? About me being the one to help you?')

Zagato sat down with a slight sigh. "I wish you could be, if you would be. I
trust you, Innova. You're the only other person who knows everything. But... my
own brother thought you little more than a pet. I'm afraid that people wouldn't
listen to you."

I gave a slight nod, then paused, Emerald's words coming back to me. ('I... I
could be human.')

Zagato's eyes widened slightly. "Human? That's possible?"

('Emerald-hime said so. Because I am the strongest of Seijyu, I could have a
permanent human form it I wanted. I don't know how, though....')

"Really...." Zagato seemed rather interested, beckoning me forward. Then
he reached out and touched the smooth, purple stone on my forehead that served as
my life and power source, fingers cool and gentle. His eyes widened slightly.
"How powerful are you, Innova?"

('Enough to protect Emerald-hime. That is all I know.')

He nodded slightly, absently, thinking. "I could turn you human," he told
me, finally. "If you want me to."

When Emerald-hime had offered, I hadn't had enough reasons to want to be
human. Now I did. Being able to work for Zagato-sama, to organise the fight to
make his wish come true.... ('I do! Please, Geika. I want to help you free
Emerald-hime. I want to be human so that people will listen to me, and not scoff
because I'm a Seijyu....')

"How can anyone be so blind as to do that?" Zagato murmured, running a
hand through my fur. He sighed, and shook his head slightly. "What will
Emerald-hime think of this?"

('When Emerald-hime sees me next, I will be fighting at your side.')

Zagato gave a slight nod, a smile. "All right, Innova. Follow me. I'll grant
your wish."

Zagato's magic room was bare, carefully prepared and warded. I stood in
the middle of the magic circle as he bade, looking up at him, trusting as he began
to murmur the words of the spell.

Gall, it hurt! Like my flesh was tearing apart and being forcibly moulded
back together. A sound very much like a human cry reached my ears, tortured, and
after a moment I realised it was mine, the sounds escaping my throat as if the pain
could leave with it. It was so cold - frozen stone beneath my paws - hands now,
and knees, body shaking, collapsing into a heap in the circle. Tinges of pain hung
around me with the fading magic, muscles and bones aching, and the intense cold
tearing through me.

And then - warmth. Thick cloth being draped over my bare back, wrapped
around my body as strong arms pulled me to sit up, cradling me against a bare,
warm human chest. Zagato's robes, I suddenly realised, minus the armour.

I turned my head to look up, forcing eyes to focus through pain, locking the
gaze of familiar, clear purple eyes. "Geika -"

"Shhh." He pulled the cloth more securely around me, then stood, holding
my trembling human body as easily as if I weighed nothing. I was aware of a
movement, teleportation, I thought, and walking down a long hallway. I was so
tired... I let my head rest against Zagato's shoulder, eyes closed. Zagato laid me
down carefully, making no attempt to regain his robe, pulling heavy quilts over
me. Warm quilts. I opened my eyes, making an slight effort to sit up, only to be
firmly pushed back down. "Zagato-sama -"

Fingertips ran over the side of my face, warm, calming. "Rest, Innova."



Waking again, the sun streaming through the windows in the bedroom I was
in, it took me a panicked a moment for me to realise, to remember what had
happened. I sat up finally, a little awkwardly, pushing my body up on thin, pale
hairless arms. A Human body. I swung my legs off the bed and stood, finding it
surprisingly easy to balance on two slender legs instead of four well-muscled ones.
Taking a few steps forward, I caught sight of myself in a full length mirror
mounted on the wall, and stared. It was so odd, so different to see this body,
human hands and features that moved when I did, large golden eyes, white hair,
and the ever-present purple life-stone on my forehead. Human....

The door to the room pushed open, Zagato stopping at the doorway,
startled, staring. I looked back, awkwardly folding my body to kneel respectfully
in front of him.

Zagato chuckled, kneeling in front of me. "I trust you slept well? I brought
you some clothes. They might fit a little badly, but we can order ones to be made
to fit you immediately.

My eyes widened slightly. Of course - clothes! Being naked when you were
human was a big deal, not to mention cold. I took them from him quickly, my face
heating up in what must have been a blush, placing them on my lap. "I'm sorry -"

Zagato chuckled again. "Don't worry about it. Do you need help getting
dressed?"

I shook my head. "No, thank-you, Geika."

"All right. I've taken you to my castle. We're far in the sky of Cephiro,
where very few people can reach us. Please meet me in the room at the end of the
hallway when you're dressed," he told me, and left.

The clothes he'd given me were a warm, thick deep blue material, and not
hard to figure out how to dress in. I put them on and hurried down the hall to
where Zagato waited, in a sombre coloured sitting room. The whole castle, I later
realised, was very dark in its colour scheme... I often wondered why Zagato had
created it as such, but never really came up with a suitable answer.

The room he met me in was a large dining room, the end of the table
farthest from me laid out with two place settings and a large breakfast. I wondered
briefly who the other seat was for, until Zagato motioned for me to take it. I hadn't
thought about eating - as a Seijyu, I didn't need food or really any kind of
nourishment to live, simply magical energy. Sitting carefully and helping myself
after Zagato began to eat, I took a bite of a large, fluffy pastry and realised what I'd
missed. It was filled with a fluffy white cream-type filling that oozed out the sides
when I bit into it, dripping down my chin and onto the plate. So new, so wondrous
being human....

I licked the filling off my fingers, looking up to where Zagato was watching
me, a slight amused look still on his face. "Do you like it?"

I nodded quickly, grateful. "Thank-you, Geika, for this body and the
breakfast... and...." I held out my hands with a smile, then helped myself to some
fruit.

"Good," he murmured softly, leaning back in his chair and watching me eat.
"Lantis has safely left the country. Tomorrow we liberate Emerald-hime. Will you
be ready?"

I nodded. "Yes."



The plan was a simple enough one. I went into the city, near the castle gate,
and made a disturbance. Zagato was convinced that I could take out the castle with
my power if I wished, but, of course, that was not our object. Distracting most of
the Palace guard was, so that Zagato could sneak in to kidnap the princess.

It was odd, fighting against the princess's guards I'd known for so long, who
fought with no knowledge or recognition of me. But it was for Zagato, so it wasn't
hard for me to do.

Using a wave of my power to knock out another wave of palace guards, I
was about to advance to the next one when a familiar voice reached my ears.
"Cresta!"

I teleported out of the spot I was in instinctually, re-appearing several feet
away and turning to meet my captor as the spell smashed into the wall behind
where I had been standing. My eyes widened slightly. "Guru Clef-sama!"

The sorcerer turned at my utterance of his name. "Who are you to attack
Cephiro's castle? What do you want?" Around us, the circle of guards backed off,
letting Clef talk to me.
I smiled slightly. "Only to help a friend, Clef-sama. And if you care for
Emerald-hime, you will help her, too."

"Emerald-hime?! How do you know her? What do you want with her?"

"Don't you recognise me, Clef-sama? I forgot, you never gave me a second
look before. No-one did. You call yourself Emerald-hime's advisor? I am her
closest advisor!"

His eyes flicked to the stone on my forehead, then back to my eyes. "... A
Seijyu? Innova??"

"Bravo, Clef-sama. I warn you now, if you fight against us, you will be
sorry you ever underestimated me." I took a step backwards, receiving the mental
signal from Zagato to let me know he had Emerald-hime.

"What are you fighting for?" Clef reached out towards me, as if he could
catch me and make me stay. "Innova -"

"Wait and see," I told him, and teleported back to the castle.

Zagato and Emerald were in the center court of Zagato's castle, Emerald
staring, wide-eyed, at the waterfalls that cascaded over the walls to crash in the
pool below. She turned back to Zagato. "Zagato-sama... I don't know what to
think...."

"Then don't," he murmured, catching her, holding her to him. "Aishteru.
Stay with me. Love me."

"Aishteru wa," she whispered, holding him back, clinging to him like there
was nothing in the world. She looked different, somehow... taller. Older.

I took a step forward, catching Zagato's gaze. He gave me a slight smile,
looking so utterly content....

I smiled back, then turned and left. I had been a Seijyu, but I still knew
about people in love... giving them time together was only fair. I could see
Emerald-hime tomorrow. Still, leaving them, knowing that they were together and
what they were probably doing left a curious empty feeling inside, something I
hadn't felt before. Like... sadness, only different. I wanted to be there, to talk to
Emerald-hime, to be with Zagato-sama. And I realised that there hadn't been a
moment of my days that hadn't been spent with Emerald-hime or Zagato, ever....

But it didn't matter. Not if they were happy, right? Trying to push the odd
sadness away, I went back to the room I had slept in the night before, to try and
rest, to read about magic. I didn't doubt that Clef and the people at the palace
would try and get Emerald back. They wouldn't see things our way. And I needed
to be able to organise the people, to try and keep Cephiro stable. There was much I
needed to learn.



Waking the next morning, I walked through the silent halls of Zagato's
castle, not quite sure what to do. I wanted to see Emerald-hime... would they be
awake? Would they want to be disturbed? I walked into the court and froze, seeing
Emerald standing in the center, alone. She whirled as I entered, staring at me with
wide eyes. "Who are you?"

I dropped to one knee, immediately, almost sad that she didn't recognise
me. "Emerald-hime... please forgive me. I fought against your guards so Zagato
could kidnap you -"

"...Innova?" She walked forwards, kneeling in front of me, lifting my face
with one hand to look at her. It hadn't been my imagination - she was much older,
adult, as opposed to the innocent girl I was used to seeing her as. "You're
beautiful," she murmured, almost in awe.

I felt my cheeks burn. "A- arigatou, Emerald-hime... Where is
Zagato-sama?"

She looked down, eyes mournful again. "I have to leave here, Innova."

"Leave? Emerald-hime, why? Zagato loves you -"

She gave a wistful sad smile. "I know. But... Cephiro cannot survive if I
don't pray for it. I... I can't think of Zagato-sama, as much as I'd like to. Even my
being here last night..." she flushed slightly at that, but continued, "Even in that,
dozens of Monsters must have appeared in Cephiro...."

"Why can't the people keep Cephiro stable? Everyone doing his own little
piece. Why does it have to be you? Emerald-hime -"

"Gomen," she whispered, standing, moving back to the center of the court.
She was young again, now, even younger than before. A child, fragile, helpless.
"Tell Zagato-sama for me, too... I'm sorry. Please, tell him to forget me...." her
eyes were pleading, as spell energy formed around her.

"Emerald-hime! Please, don't leave - "

"Gomen," she whispered again, and disappeared inside the energy.

"Emerald-hime!!" I cried.

"Emerald?!" Zagato entered the court from behind me, half-dressed in pants
and an open robe. Seeing the energy fading, his eyes widened. "Emerald-hime?!"

I turned to face him. "Gomen nasei, Geika! I tried to stop her, but she said
she had to leave, had to pray for Cephiro... she wanted me to tell you that she's
sorry...."

"Emerald...." All the control, all the self-assurance I was so used to seeing
in him was gone. He caught me into his arms without warning, holding me tightly
to him, burying his face in my hair. "Why... Emerald...."

I held him back, awkwardly, not knowing what to do, to stop him from
trembling. I'd never thought Emerald would choose to leave... never thought she
would choose to reject Zagato-sama....

He was so warm, so real. And even though I didn't want for him to be in
pain, I selfishly enjoyed being able to hold him. My heart was pounding... why? A
feeling that left me almost breathless, just as unplaceable as the strange sadness I'd
felt when left alone last night. These new emotions, human emotions, I wasn't used
to.... I closed my eyes and stroked Zagato's long, dark hair, not knowing what else
to do.



~~~~
Cont...
~ zoi_no_miko@kuronue.zzn.com