Disclaimer: Skip it.
Author's Notes: For those of you reading this, please oh please don't hurt me. I've been totally stumped on this one for a long time. I apologize and, trust me, more will come! I've decided that instead of long chapters spaced out you'll now get shorter chapters more often…any complaints? *wince*
"I thank you for freeing my land, and protecting my people in my absence."
The Empress of Sairou stood before Kira and the assembled group of Seishi, and addressed them. She was regal, she was graceful, but she wasn't what they'd expected the ruler to look like. In fact, she was a year or so younger then Kira and looked rather fragile because of her small size and lack of mass. The fact that her long black hair reached the floor and her garments all had trails only accentuated her child-like appearance.
"You have done quite a service to my people, is there any way I can repay you?" The Empress asked them all, but directed her vision on Kira.
The group was seated in the royal chambers on the second story of the palace. Kira, in her reclaimed Kurare costume, sat next to Yuki and Kage. Tokaki sat off to the side with Kagasuki and Amefuri, and Tatara was nowhere to be seen. The empress sat in her throne with Umiyame and Toroki at her sides. In all, the scene was rather regal.
"I haven't discussed this with the others, but I'm sure they'd agree." Kira began and everyone in the room tensed for that phrase rarely ended well. "All we can ask is help in finding Tatara."
"I would gladly help you. Umiyame." The Empress began and directed Umiyame to take a description of the boy and begin a search. Kira was prepared to give a description, but Toroki spoke up instead.
"It's alright, I remember what the kid looks like." He said calmly, both he and Umiyame bowed, and left the room.
"While they are off, is there anything else you require from me?" The Empress smiled benevolently at Kira and Kira nodded.
"Actually, I was hoping you could—."
"Follow me." The Empress interrupted Kira and led her off to speak in private.
The two walked through the doors and down the hall before they came to the room the Empress wanted to speak with Kira in. She opened the door and the two walked in. The room was an aviary—it held hundreds of exotic birds all singing songs and perched on jungle plants.
"You wish to know about the legend." The empress stood and watched the birds alongside Kira.
"How did you know?"
"I can see it in your eyes." The Empress glanced up at Kira and smiled. "Never matter though, the tale is simple enough.
"It was said for ages that once the last of the Priestess' had come and left there would be strife. The four countries, divided under the four gods, would learn to hate one another rather than love each other even though as brothers they are.
"One day a great Hero would come from the west, over the sand and be borne to us. This hero will take under them the Seishiku reborn and they will travel all across these lands. They should perform deeds of great valor and good because they are the messengers of Justice. But the Son of Destiny, the Hero sent from the west, will have another quest.
"The Son of Destiny will go to the holiest of each god's shrine and there they will find each of the four weapons. The Fury of Byakko. The Fang of Seiryu. The Wings of Suzaku. The Strength of Genbu. With these four weapons the Son of Destiny is to travel down to the gates of the dead and pull forth a spirit—the spirit that will unite all of China." The Empress finished her tale and Kira stood there aghast—this was what they wanted her to be.
"I ask you, are you the Son of Destiny?" The empress looked back at the birds and Kira looked down at her.
"I don't know." Kira shook her head and the Empress looked up at her in a most sagely way.
"Then come with me and find out." The Empress locked eyes with Kira and Kira nodded.
The two left the noise of the aviary and walked down to the first level. They passed through innumerable twisted corridors and walked out behind the castle. There was a shrine there, the walls were gold and the roof was carved and painted in white and green. They walked into the shrine and Kira could almost feel the air around her crackle and become heavier.
She took in a sharp breath and stared up at the figure before her. It was a great white tiger that looked to have been carved out of ice. Kira stepped towards it and was shocked as a bolt of energy flashed and snapped across the room.
"You cannot be the Priestess," The Empress began and watched Kira intently, "But if you can touch the statue than you are, surely, the Hero we spoke of."
Kira glanced back at her warily and then looked up at the carving of Byakko. She stretched out her hand and watched the eyes of the statue. Kira was unsure of whether or not to touch the ethereal thing, but she did anyways. She stretched out her fingers and laid them on the cold surface of the statue.
Normally when a person would touch a statue so close to a god they would feel a warm, benevolent feeling across their being. Kira felt nothing—just stone.
"Then is shall be." The Empress said softly and chanted something in Chinese.
As she spoke the statue began to light from the inside and the outside became incredibly cold. Kira jerked her hand back and watched in awe as something emerged from the cold stone of the tiger.
A weapon.
Kira didn't know the name for it, but it was a claw. Something like a gauntlet with blades that extended outward and, it looked could easily shred through walls.
"The Fury of Byakko." The Empress said as she stopped chanting. "I am its guardian and I give it to you—use this to unite all of China, for you are the Son of Destiny."
Kira watched the glowing black, pearl, and silver weapon float in the air but she would not take it.
"I warn you now, these four weapons will do more good in the hands of those who love you."
Kira looked back at the Empress. The Empress bowed her head slightly and Kira looked back at the glowing weapon. She held out her hand and, as she touched it, the glow faded. The weapon fell into her hand and she marveled at how light it was.
"I will give you horses, and anything else you need." The Empress interrupted Kira's thoughts and Kira turned to face her. "You must go and gain the other weapons."
"What about Sairou?" Kira looked at her and she paused. "I shall ask Tokaki to keep her men here as guards and an army."
"We would be more than grateful." The Empress bowed and they both walked back into the Palace.
Author's Notes (Part 2): Well yall' I need ideas for what and how they should storm both the palaces in Seiryu and Genbu. Feel free to e-mail me and make all the suggestions you want! Gambit_gurl_isis@hotmail.com .