A Matter of Life and death

Darkness filled the country roads out of Sairou, the desert kingdom. It was called that in Hokkan because of the fact that it was surrounded on three sides by desert. On its other side were mountains and rich forests. But on this side of Sairou...the soil was no so lucky. Sand blanketed this region and the sun beat down hour after hour...tirelessly working to bake all that set foot in its path. But by the time this particularly dangerous situation was coming into being, it was getting just cool enough for marauders to try to raid the caravans. In fact scores of caravans had been raided in the past few weeks. To further the danger, the Emperor of Sairou's caravan was traveling back from Hokkan that night.

Hokkan had just had a battle with an adjoining kingdom in its quest to expand. The Emperor Ukiyo had traveled there to ensure that Hokkan would not attack them. Though Ukiyo had full faith that the Emperor of Hokkan, a friend of his for many years, would keep his kingdom the way it was for a very long time. That done, the Emperor had traveled back in early morning because in the depths of his heart, he knew he could not escape the trials at the palace for one more day.

His soldiers captured thief after thief every day. He was the one that determined their fate. They all deserved death for stealing but some of them got jobs. He realized some of them had families. But for the marauders, there was no mercy. And for those there was only imprisonment then a swift and painful death.

Hearing a rustling from the desert bush he threw his gaze out of his window. He squinted and, for a split second, thought he saw a pair of eyes in between the dry thick branches of the brush. He looked away and sat back hard against his cushions.

"Emperor are you all right?" a guard asked as he walked alongside the carriage. Ukiyo looked at him and nodded regally, trying to remain strong even though he was afraid. He knew what he was carrying in the caravan. He carried it everywhere with him. It had become an omen of good luck to him. Byakko's Universe of the Four Gods sat at his side in a gold casing. His hand went to it for comfort.

'I shouldn't worry. Any man would have to be a fool to attack such a heavily guarded caravan.' he told himself.

He took a massive breath into his chest and let it out. He felt more confident now. But when he heard the rustling again, there was no pause. A man lunged soundlessly from the bushes and covered the Emperor's mouth.

"Pleased to meet you Emperor." A voice said from beside him as a knife went to his throat. A shadow slipped into the carriage in front of the Emperor, another agent of the marauders Ukiyo supposed. He made no immediate attempt to alert the guard. He didn't want needless death. And if these men were from the mountain clan he thought they were from, then there would be much death involved.

"Hello Emperor Ukiyo." The Emperor's eyes widened in realization and his mouth moved behind the man's hand. "Oh…is there something you wish to say?" He moved his hand for a moment.

"You vile traitorous-" His hand clasped over the Emperor's mouth again and the rest of the sentence was muffled. He struggled only to have the blade pressed against his throat further. But the cut felt like nothing compared to his rage. Blood trickled over his adam's apple.

"I wouldn't use such words here Emperor." His other hand reached over and took the casing from the Emperor's side. Ukiyo struggled again, this time more furiously. His throat took more of the dagger's blade. The traitor looked into his eyes. "If you move or speak, I'll shred the scroll into dust." Ukiyo was still as the traitor moved his hand from his mouth.

He took out the scroll and looked over the markings on it. His yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness and then he smiled an evil smile the Emperor had never seen. Before the Emperor could say or do anything, the two were gone in a blink. He alerted the guards the moment he could and most of them went off into the bushes. Ukiyo's royal robes weighed him down and he cursed the day he became Emperor. He sat, scantily guarded in his carriage. The guards returned with nothing and the journey was made to the palace.

As he sat in his room, sleepless, Ukiyo vowed to get back the scroll no matter what. If the scroll were used for evil, surely the kingdom of Sairou would diminish in the desert sands. For the sake of everyone in his kingdom, he had to get that scroll back.

Suzuno sat back from the light book and smiled at her work. Everything was perfectly graphed and planned. Now all she had to do was be there for the show tomorrow. The afternoon was fading quickly, she noticed as she stretched behind her desk. The window showed the world winding down for sleep. She smiled as two birds chased each other through the trees. How it resembled a dance to her. If only she could dance like that she could…

'Don't think about it Suzuno.' she thought to herself. She sighed and drew the blinds closed. She looked down at the light-book and to her bottom desk drawer where she kept all of her writing books. The house was silent and she was alone. Her father had had to work late. She opened the drawer and lifted a notebook out of it.

She flipped through the pages and stopped to read a few. Aloud she read the last one she'd written:

The Crystal Forrest gleams

In its immortal silver seams

Sealed away from human eyes

Therein is where the Elven palace lies

Far from the eyes of the ones before

Away from the treacherous hands of war

Through which the silent rivers flow

Where blooming silver roses grow

There the Elven princess glides

At the edge of the rivers' gentle tides

There is where her prince will ride

Across the quiet countryside

In the strength of their love, he quickens his stride

So he can make her his Elven bride

She flipped a page but to her surprise she wasn't faced with another blank page. It was the end of the book. She frowned and went looking for another in the drawer but there were none to be found. Perhaps her father had one he wasn't using. She laid the book in the drawer and went into her father's study. Clicking on the light she saw her father's desk and computer. On the wall were several bookshelves filled with all sorts of books. She loved the feeling of her father's study. It was a nice place to read. He had a fireplace at one corner of the room where she could read in the winter.

It would pleasant to do so. But after a while, she'd not get to indulge in the delights of home any longer. She would be going off to college. She didn't want to go in all truth. She didn't want to leave her friends and her home. But it would become so. It was her father's expectation after all and she wouldn't dare disappoint him. She sighed at the fireplace and walked over to trace he father's desk with her fingers. She'd have to leave all of this.

She came to the right side of the L-shaped desk. There she spotted a package. Curiosity filled her as she eyed the brown paper package. On top of the book sat a funeral program. Her curiosity was abandoned for sadness. One of her father's friends had gone crazy and committed murder and then suicide. She had always looked to that close friend as an uncle. She saw his daughter as a sister and close friend. But she was gone too. That's who had been murdered. She shuddered at the thought. She wondered what her uncle had left her father. She pulled the funeral program away and examined top of the brown paper package.

'It seems ordinary to me,' she thought. She turned it over to see in a dark foreign handwriting "Do not open". Her curiosity returned and the package seemed brighter, filled with light. She pulled at the packaging and it fell away from the book. It was a tattered book with several scuffs and scratches. She looked at it, noticing the writing on the cover.

"The Universe of the Four Gods." she said aloud to herself. She opened the book and examined the pages. Perhaps it was a book just made to look old like those journals in the bookstores. She smiled. It must be a journal she was going to get for Christmas. She giggled and clutched the book to her chest as she left the study.

She sat down at the desk and opened it. She smiled at the pages. They were yellow and coarse in material. 'Must be recycled.' she thought. She took a pen out of her desk drawer and began thinking of what to write. For at least an hour she tapped her pen against her chin. She folded her arms over the book and laid her chin on them, laying her pen down. Evening became night outside her window.

Within minutes she found herself napping. And even though she was sleeping lightly she began dreaming. Again there was the darkness where all her dreams originated. Then there was the same eye she had seen on the path to school. Her dreamself shielded her eyes and she saw a figure in the eye-shape. It was a handsome man with long dark hair and soft eyes. He was bent over a potted plant. But he was dressed strangely, as if he were in a play about ancient Japan. For a moment she didn't understand. Who was this man that she was dreaming about?

Was he the cause of all of the strange occurrences that day? She tried to call out to him but she didn't know his name so her mouth remained half open. "He is handsome isn't he?" She said to herself in the dream as if watching from a window to the inside of a room where he couldn't hear her. But then he looked up into her eyes. She was awe struck. There was more to this man than the vision she was having. Suddenly she filled with understanding of something deeper and yet the meaning behind this feeling was still a mystery. Who was he and why did she dream about him?

Her head shot up from the desk at the sound of a closing door. She whirled around. Her book! She dropped it into her drawer and ran across the hall into the office.

"Suzuno?" She heard her father from the living room. "Suzuno I'm home!" She quickly cleaned up the mess she'd made and then stood rigidly when her father saw her from the door of the study.

"I cleaned your study for you father." She said with a nervous smile. Her father didn't detect the plasticity of her expression.

"Thank you darling. What did you do with the package and the program?" He said with a smile, hanging his coat on a hanger in the coat closet. She had followed him out into the hallway.

"I put them away in the bookshelf." She said as she clutched the brown paper behind her back. "Anyway, I've got to finish my homework and be off to bed, goodnight!" She slipped into her room, chiding herself quietly for stumbling over her words. Her father lifted an eyebrow but shook it off. She sat back down at her desk and stuffed the paper in the top drawer. She opened the book again and began to write. She had her inspiration now.

When she sat back from her poem she marveled at the words, the artful way she'd formed the words. She'd never written such a good poem before. She was extremely proud of it and for a moment, she could see herself reading it on the stage in front of a crowd of people. She smiled. It felt right. It felt right for some reason. She knew it deep inside. It was meant to be. Now the only question was…how could she face Junya telling her "I told you so"?

The desert burned with its usual passion, sand heated like an oven there in the desolate wasteland surrounding Sairou. The man stumbled through, complaining in his head about how hot it was. There was no point in verbalizing his complaints. It would only waste valuable moisture in his mouth. He looked towards the sun and squinted angrily. Returning his attention towards his goal, he thought about his quest.

The Emperor of Sairou had put out an edict proclaiming that anyone who could find the band of thieves who'd stolen Byakko's Universe of the Four Gods and retrieve it safely would be a very rich man and advisor to the Emperor. He wanted this and some water. Water would have been nice. But he'd been robbed of most everything he'd been carrying. Thieves were all that was plentiful in the desert hills and mountains. All he had now was the one thing no one could take from him while he was alive. He clutched the chain of seeds around his neck.

Each seed contained a plant that he could control. He knew that with his skills as a fighter and his powers, he could find the scroll and bring it back to the Emperor. He had faith in the stars and faith in himself and that usually got him by. He was destitute though, he could admit that quickly. He had no money and hardly anyone was hiring anymore now that the men were coming back from war. Before there had been plenty of positions for women who needed chores done that normally their husbands or sons would do.

But the city of Sairou was only a few hours away and he wouldn't stop. He couldn't stop. If he did he knew he might die. There was no water in the desert, not even an oasis that he'd seen. Only death and heat…and the occasional desert plant that had no water to offer. When the city walls began to loom into sight, he heaved a sigh of relief. Finally he could rest.

Walking through the city of Sairou was a chore. The city itself was miles and miles in diameter. The palace loomed on a hill in the distance. The markets were bustling and full to the brim. 'That's the big city for you.' He thought to himself. But how he was going to get to the palace and afford staying in an inn before setting out was the question. What he needed now was water. Spotting a well, he stopped and drew up the bucket. He dipped his hand in and took a refreshing sip. He felt a second wind coming on when he heard a voice from behind him.

"Are you going to pay for that?" He turned to see several large men surrounding a slightly smaller one, the one possessing the annoying voice that had just addressed the question. The two thugs looked as if they didn't possess a brain cell to save their life. Their thick arms rose out of their garments and their height brought them at least a foot over the foreigner's head. But he showed no fear...as he had none. He didn't worry about taking care of these men. First he would try to outwit them.

"Pay for water?" He lifted an eyebrow. "Where I come from, water is the most abundant resource." He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the well.

"Here water is a precious commodity. It's taxed here and judging from your clothing it shows you're foreign. So there's an extra tax for outsiders." He outstretched his hand. "So pay up." A tax ay? Who would tax water in the middle of a desert? Did poor people die of thirst then?

"Where I come from, it's lush and green and we get rain frequently. There, sand is something you hardly see. If you lived there would you pay for sand?" He remained unmoving; the stranger and his thugs looked confused for a moment.

"No more games boy. Pay up or you'll die." The villain smiled crookedly.

"I have no money." He stood straight and put distance between his legs, observing his fighting stance. He cracked his neck, tossing his head from side to side. "So I guess you're just going to have to try to kill me."

The first thug lunged at him in an attempt to take out his left side. He failed miserably, crashing into a pole that supported the roof of the well. He fell unconscious to the ground. The second grinned, feeling obviously a lot more confident. But his maneuver towards the foreigner's legs was avoided by a jump that landed him on the roof of the well. He looked down at the remaining smaller man.

He stood there with his mouth open. "I'll get you yet you thief." He began climbing the bricks of the well and just before he could reach the top and the foreigner, vines seized him on all sides. He wiggled helplessly inside the hold of the rope-like vines. In the palm of the foreigner's hand was a small seed. From it had sprung the vines that held the thug in place. "How did you…but…" He looked angrier and spit flew from his mouth as he hissed. "What are you?" His thugs sputtered and regained consciousness behind him.

"A foreigner…here to do the bidding of the Emperor." He said, his arms crossed and another jump sent him out of view, leaving the thugs struggling at the well. He landed a few stalls away and filtered through the crowds. If the thieves who'd stolen the scroll were as weak as those ruffians back there then he'd have no problems defeating them. He stopped at the front gate of the palace where a group of men were gathered and a line to the door of the palace was forming.

The foreigner stopped in front of a guard. "Excuse me is this the palace?" He indicated the large house behind the guard, towering so high that its shadow spread over the courtyard. The guard raised an eyebrow and looked at the foreigner as if he were an idiot.

"If you a see a palace anywhere else in the city, I'll eat my helmet. Of course this is the palace foreigner!" He shook his head.

"Thank you." The foreigner bowed and began walking towards the gate when a man outstretched his hand and stopped him from progressing forward.

"Hey there's a line here. Get to the end if you want to see the Emperor." There were a good fifteen men in front of the man who'd halted the foreigner. He stepped back away from the disgruntled warrior and took his place at the back of the line.

'There has to be a faster way to get into the palace.' he thought. He could try climbing the walls but decided against it. The warriors at the front of the line would send him back. He could try sneaking around to the back of the palace but that would be fruitless. He pursed his lips in thought and then he noticed to the disgruntled warrior he'd spoken to before. He walked up to the man and bowed to him when he had his attention.

"I apologize in advance." He said gallantly.

"Wha... ?" The foreigner's fist met with the warrior's face. He fell to the ground and shook his head.

"Why you little…" He shot to his feet and began sparring with the foreigner. The guards restrained both men.

"Both of you are going to prison for disturbing the peace. Then the Emperor will have you both hung for causing a public brawl!" The first guard said.

'This is more like it.' The foreigner thought. Now that he had a ticket into the palace, he could see the Emperor with no problem. 'Then I can be sent out on this quest and finally start my life.' he thought. The guard tightened his grip on the foreigner's arms. 'But perhaps it won't be that easy.' he reconsidered. When they were put into their holding cells it became apparent that his worries were confirmed. Getting out of the stone-walled cell would be no easy feat. Looking around the cell he thought about the methods he'd used to get out of a locked room before. He spied a crack in one of the walls and had an idea in no time. With help from one of his seeds, the crack could become a door. He lifted a seed in his palm towards the crack and bid the vines to part the wall. The wall crumbled at the fingers of the vine's leaves. When the guard had passed over during his rounds he slipped out.

"Now to find the throne room", he told himself. He searched the hallways for a door, any clue that would lead him to the throne room. But scarcely had he taken a few steps, he heard shuffling footsteps coming down the hall.

"So I told the wife to go ahead and buy the vase and then the baby broke it last week." He heard guards chatting as they walked down the hall. "All that money spent on nothing." He ducked into a doorway. There was dim light behind him but it was quiet, perfect for hiding from guards.

"State your name man." He heard from behind him. He turned to see a full slew of guards surrounding the throne of the Emperor. He'd stumbled into the throne room. He stuttered for a few moments, settling from the start he'd suffered from so many soldiers. He dropped to one knee.

"Your majesty." He stuttered for a moment and then regained his senses. "I am a foreign warrior who has come to answer your edict. My name is Tatara" He looked up at the Emperor and waited. The Emperor looked back, stroking his chin with his hand as he scrutinized the boy in front of him.

"There have been 5 men before you have taken on this quest. I have given them all leave to try." He sat silently for a moment. "What makes you think you are better than these men?" He waited for an answer. His hand lowered and he looked down his nose at the foreigner.

"I have certain powers and my fighting skills are exceptional." He said as he breathed deeply. He needed the chance to do this. 'Please' he begged Byakko 'Please let him see that I'm worthy of the quest.' But just as he thought the Emperor would laugh in his face and turn him away, his highness spoke up.

"Show us your powers." The Emperor remained silent as Tatara removed a seed from his necklace. He licked his lips and pressed the seed to them. He held it out in his hands and a vine shot from the tiny seed towards a guard. On the back of his right hand a Japanese character glowed white. The vines lifted the guard 20 feet into the air. Manipulating the vines, he swung the guard around several times and then set him down gently where he once stood. No answer came for a while. Nervously Tatara kneeled once more.

"Please give me a chance highness." He looked up with a degree of desperation that the Emperor had never felt in any man.

"That character on the back of your hand. Where does it come from? Who gave you such a clever tattoo?" He stood and ascended the steps leading to his throne.

"I was born with it highness. It's the source of my power. But I've never known where it came from or why I have it." He blinked, not understanding why he was asked such a question.

"Stand, Tatara of the Byakko Seven." He walked the remaining space between them. "Your coming here was not in vein. You are one of the Byakko Seven, a group of celestial warriors meant to protect the Priestess of Byakko at all costs." He stopped speaking as if waiting for Tatara to say something. Tatara only blinked. 'A celestial warrior?'

"I don't understand highness." He said quietly. "What do you mean?" He rubbed the top of his right hand where the character always appeared.

"Leave us!" The Emperor commanded his troops. They were taken aback but left as soon as they'd gathered their wits. Once the room was empty, he walked back to his throne.

"Sairou is in danger. Months ago I took on an advisor to help us defeat the bandits that were ransacking caravans and businesses all over the kingdom. We did well for a while, too well now that I look back. Sairou was virtually crime-free." He rubbed his forehead. "But this advisor disappeared and a few days ago he stole Byakko's Universe of the Four Gods." He paused, his words not seeming so strong any more. "I was a fool to accept his help. He only became my advisor to gain my trust so that he could find out all the secrets of Sairou."

"This traitor, who does he work for?" Tatara already didn't like the sound of where the situation was going.

"The Shikyo mountain clan." He almost sounded afraid, Tatara noted. And who wouldn't be afraid? The Shikyo Mountain Clan was really a kingdom that dominated the mountains. Their population of bandits contained twice as many soldiers as the armies of Sairou.

"It won't be soon before they find the priestess of Byakko and force her to summon Byakko. Sairou will be destroyed…"

"…By its own protector." Tatara finished the Emperor's sentence. The Emperor nodded and heaved a deep sigh. His fingers traced the ridges of worry in his forehead.

"Which is why it is imperative that we find the scroll. It is of the utmost importance that you don't falter in this quest. I already know the others will not return." Sadness clouded his eyes.

"I shall not fail." Tatara said quietly.

"No. You will not go to the Mountain kingdom alone." the Emperor protested. He held out his hand. "You will seek out the Priestess of Byakko and then she will find the six other members of the Byakko Seven." He closed his eyes, lowering his hand. "If you fail…very soon this land will be gone."

"Will you do this Tatara? Do you accept the mission?" A silence fell between them as Tatara thought of the consequences.

"I accept."