A note from the Hime no Argh herself–


I'm honestly shocked that this story has gotten feedback already! ^^;; Thank you so much for those who reviewed, I really appreciate it. I know it's a bit soon but I couldn't resist putting out the second chapter. Hope you all like!


Before we get into the story, I just want to address a comment from a reviewer...


YT: Thanks for the advice, but I think you might be mistaken. I looked up the terms gi and yukata, and a gi is defined as a fighter's uniform while a yukata is a traditional summer kimono. Also, if you'll recall in episode XXIV (Jack in Wonderland) Jack calls his outfit a gi. I think the quote was: "Although these lack the durability and style of my gi, they will have to do until I can attain my proper attire." ^^; I have a scary memory.


On with the show!


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Chapter 2

Jack and the Princess


Jack thought his eyes would fall out from looking around so much. Before he'd been in the city for more than a minute he already felt very out of place. Shangri-La was noisy and crowded, the dirt underfoot stirred into clouds of dust by the many feet that passed over it. The golden buildings were decorated with brightly colored banners flapping in the wind, the women wore gaudily patterned kimono of the finest silk, and streaks of color by their legs were children dashing by, shrieking and laughing. Jack supposed these people's culture was not very Japanese after all, at least in attitude.


Chisana seemed quite at home in the golden city, striding confidently through the streets, pointing out the homes of important people they passed. "See, there is the house of Madam Keinto and her six sons...that is where Governor Takahashi lives, Father considered him as a husband for me..."


"You are married?" Jack said disbelievingly, wondering what sort of husband would let a woman like this run about unattended.


Chisana laughed. "Oh my, no! The governor is far too old, and I have begged my father to remain unmarried for now. I am still waiting for the right man." She gave Jack a look that even he could not misinterpret, which embarrassed him heartily.


Chisana explained more of the city as they walked on. Jack learned there were four dragon-mouth gates in the city's circular outer wall, each facing to the north, south, east, or west. The buildings lay in a circular grid, thus the city was like a wheel, with four main roads leading to the palace from the gates, like spokes. The nobles, Chisana told him, lived close to the palace, while the merchant and artisan homes were further back to the wall. The serfs farmed the land outside the wall, their fields hidden to outsiders like the city.


"Chisana-Hime, is it really a dragon that guards this city?" Jack asked.


The princess shook her head. "No, the dragon is merely symbolic. What hides our city from prying eyes are countless ancient magic spells, put in place long ago to ensure our safety. Our sorcerers need only strengthen the spell every now and then."


The palace had its own wall and gate, with a legion of armed soldiers standing guard. Chisana and Jack passed unhesitatingly through the gate and onto the palace grounds, where Jack had reason to stare all over again. The grounds were lush with grass and shrubbery and blossoming cherry trees, all of which could not possibly have grown in the dry, rocky soil without magical assistance. Flashes of gold and scarlet could be seen from the scales of fish, darting back and forth between shimmering ponds of rock gardens.


The inside of the palace was a maze of wooden-floored corridors, rooms laden with handmade tatami mats, and paper walls painted with birds, dragons, gardens, and all manner of scenes. The palace was as crowded as the city outside, every man, woman, and child dressed in their finest. Yet Chisana, in her simple blue silk with glittering golden butterflies, seemed particularly resplendent.


"The ground floor contains the guest quarters," Chisana explained, elbowing rather rudely through a flock of chattering women as Jack followed apologetically. The women all glared at the princess but cast Jack appreciative glances as they dispersed. "As you can imagine, we do not receive many visitors, so there is much room. You may stay as long as you wish."


She led Jack to a quiet, vacated corridor and threw open a sliding door made of thick rice paper with a wooden frame. Inside was a room laden with tatami mats and a single, woven carpet, beneath a low wooden table on which a flower arrangement rested. Chisana and Jack both removed their geta before stepping inside.


"The bath chamber is behind the screen." Chisana waved a careless hand in the direction of a paper screen painted with cherry trees. "Blankets may be found in the cubby."


Jack shook his head. "Chisana-Hime, your hospitality is appreciated, but I cannot stay in your house. These accommodations are far too good for me."


"Nonsense," Chisana protested. "You should see my chambers, they are far more luxurious than this!"


Jack shook his head again, unable to even imagine it.


"It is fine," Chisana said with a bite of impatience. "You are my guest. If I say you are good enough for this palace, then I assure you that you are!"


Jack did not dare argue. Satisfied, Chisana beckoned him out of the room. "Now, you must come and meet my father." But as the two turned down the corridor, geta donned once more, they saw their way blocked by an old woman.


Immediately Jack saw that there was something strange about this woman. She was very small, smaller even than Chisana–indeed, she was barely over the height of Jack's waist. She wore a plain red kimono of some coarse material, unpatterned and unornamented. Her silver hair was tied into a knot at the back of her head, and her eyes were a milky white. She was blind.


"K-Konnichiwa," Chisana said as she gave a quick bow, obviously caught by surprise.


Sensing that this woman was deserving of respect, Jack bowed as well. "Konnichiwa."


"Konnichiwa, Chisana-Hime," said the woman in a voice cracked with age. She turned her blind eyes to Jack's face, and a strange prickle went up his spine. "Konnichiwa, Jack-san."


Jack blinked. "How did you–"


"She is the oracle," Chisana interrupted in a low voice. "She is blind, but she seems more than you or I ever could."


"I see," Jack said, looking at the woman with increased respect.


The tiny woman walked forward until she stood beside Jack, placing a gnarled hand on the sleeve of his gi. "Samurai, he who is the mortal foe of the great and terrible Aku..." The oracle looked up to his face. "You come to us in a time of need."


"The oracle thinks that Shangri-La is in danger," Chisana explained. "She claims that there is a great evil coming." She added doubtfully, "Although, as I have assured her countless times, our city is so well-protected that even Aku cannot penetrate its hidden veil."


"Evil will find a way," the oracle warned. "There is more at stake than the samurai knows–am I not correct, Chisana-Hime?"


She gave the princess a meaningful look and walked on down the hall. Jack gazed curiously at Chisana. Was it just his imagination, or did she avoid meeting his eyes?


"Well, shall we be off?" said Chisana brightly, recovering her composure.


Jack followed her silently through the halls, thinking hard. He did not like to pry into anyone's business, yet the oracle seemed to think that Shangri-La was in real danger. If whatever secret Chisana hid was so valuable that Aku would want it, Jack was inclined to agree with the old woman–Aku would find it.


"Chisana-Hime," he began.


"Here we are," she said loudly, pointing ahead to a set of enormous double doors made of dark wood and etched with gold dragons. Two guards in full armor flanked the doors, throwing them open as Jack and Chisana approached.


"The princess!" a guard cried as the two entered the throne room.


Jack's first impression was that of space. It was a large, square room lit by torches that flickered along the walls, made even more spacious by the lack of furnishing. Tatami lay underfoot; the walls were real, polished wood. Ebony panels evenly spaced about the walls depicted cherry tree-filled gardens and women in traditional Japanese dress. One particularly large mural on the far wall depicted a gold dragon etched into the black wood. In the shade of this dragon was a gold throne studded with jewels, upon which an elderly man sat.


He seemed rather short and skinny, for his luxurious silken robes hung off his frame and gathered in folds about his feet. His head was rather knobbly, sparse hair left on his gleaming, bald crown; his face was shrunken and wrinkled, with beady black eyes, a long, thin moustache, and a rather weak chin.


"Konnichiwa, Father," Chisana greeted him, bowing.


Jack couldn't help but stare between the two, even as he bowed. The difference between the weak-looking old man and his lovely, energetic daughter was striking.


"Chisana, why did not you attend your lesson with Madam Nakamura today?" her father demanded, frowning, his voice raspy and faint.


"Madam Nakamura teaches silk-weaving," Chisana told Jack in a low, scornful tone, which amused him. She raised her voice. "I went for a walk outside the city gates–"


Her father rose angrily from his seat. "Chisana! How often must I tell you to stay within Shangri-La? It is dangerous outside!"


"You are right, of course, Father," said Chisana, the very picture of wide-eyed innocence. "I was attacked by evil beings outside, and I was saved by none other than Jack the Samurai!"


For the first time Chisana's father looked at Jack, and a flicker of interest went through his beady eyes. Chisana turned to Jack, beaming. "This is he, Father, the great Samurai Jack. Jack-san, my father, the Emperor Hajime."


Jack placed his palms together and bowed. "It is an honor, Hajime-sama."


"The honor is mine, Jack-san," the emperor replied in his raspy voice, sinking back into his seat. "Thank you for saving the life of my daughter. You are surely as virtuous as the tales tell."


Jack shook his head. "It was simply a matter of luck that I was there to help, Hajime-sama. I do not think it is wise of Chisana-Hime to wander alone outside the city."


Chisana made a "hmph!" sound, but her father nodded in agreement. "You are right, Jack-san. My daughter is far too zealous for her own good." He sighed. "Once she settles down and marries–"


"I will not, Father!" Chisana interrupted sharply.


Hajime seemed about to snap back, half-rising from his seat, but his eyes flickered to Jack. "This...is not the proper time to discuss this, Chisana," he said slowly, falling back to the throne. He nodded to Jack. "Samurai, you are welcome in Shangri-La for as long as you desire to stay. I am sure my daughter has already taken you under her wing."


"She has been a gracious and generous hostess," Jack said truthfully. Chisana beamed at him.


Hajime nodded. "Please join my daughter and I at our table tonight," he offered, rising. "We shall surely value your company." Recognizing a dismissal, Jack bowed and thanked him, then left with Chisana.

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Continued in Chapter 3.