Chapter 16: Emperor's light and Traitor's Shadow

The bells sounded and Sakaki sat up and quickly moved, Karasuma had already been taken to a safe place. He was dressed in armor, hair was pulled back, his blades ready to fight. He walked down and the army assembled in quick time, his new captain stood before the army.

" Tonight we fight, for the Emperor!" the captain shouted

" Hail Emperor Taiyou!" the hundreds of soldiers chanted

" Izo, will be coming around from the right, I will take some men to the north gate. You and your second take yours to the south gate. Kyoushu take the others to the east gate. Don't let a single soul live, if they are oppressed then, this will be a reprieve from Izo and his ideas," Sakaki said

Karasuma and Rinako, as well as the other courtesans stayed close.

" Taiyou," Karasuma thought, " He specifically called himself that."

" Do worry Empress," Miyako said, " The emperor will not let anything happen."

" I know," Karasuma said

She closed her eyes and prayed for help to protect all the men.

" Sakaki," she thought, " You will always be him too."

Sakaki rode through the men slashing at them and looked for Izo with in the crowd.

" Highness!" his guard said

Sakaki turned and the guard pointed in the far west on a hill past the palace's protection.

" Izo," he thought

He nudged his horse and took off after him. Izo smiled with the devil in his smile, then rode into the hills. Sakaki followed behind him and finally came face to face with him.

" Are the Ranpu?" Izo asked

" He's playing games," Sakaki thought

" Answer me Damn it!" Izo shouted

" I am," Sakaki shouted

Izo laughed and said, " Then the 7 layers of hell will be pleased to see your blood spill upon their lands."

" I won't let you taunt me, you and no other will become emperor…dear uncle," Sakaki said

Sakaki charged at him and Izo came at him, both clashed blades and it was as if the battle against the gods and demons began. Sakaki's blade followed Izo's counter attack and he struck Izo off his horse.

" In the name of the gods you have failed," Sakaki said

He made a sweep, but Izo stabbed Sakaki's horse. The horse reared and Sakaki fell back. His blade fell out of his hand.

" Long live the Emperor, today my dear nephew you have failed," Izo said, " I would keep you alive, but you would revolt."

Sakaki looked at Izo and narrowed his eyes.

" You have only desired one thing and that was to seek out revenge," Sakaki whispered

Izo looked at him and knelt down, he grabbed him by his hair.

" I desired the throne and was denied it," he said, " My half brother was given the thrown. Now his leech of a son has it."

" It's not my fault," Sakaki said

" Of course it isn't, but you will pay for your father's sin," Izo said

He raised a dagger and thrust it towards Sakaki. Sakaki grabbed his uncle's hand and fought his force.

" You will not survive!" Izo shouted

The blade hit Sakaki in the chest inches from his heart. Sakaki cringed to the pain as it pierced through his flesh

" Die," he said

Suddenly arrows flew at Izo and Izo looked up and saw 10 guards.

" Looks like we have an audience to witness your death," Izo said

" They're here to kick your ass," Sakaki said

Izo looked at Sakaki and his eyes glowed for a second. He backed off and Sakaki stood, blood dripping to the ground. Sakaki drew the dagger and threw it at Izo, it hit him in the leg.

" I have more where that came from," Sakaki whispered

" You won't live long enough to throw them all," Izo said

Sakaki knelt down and grabbed his blade and looked up at Izo. His eye flashed with hate, but his heart was pure.

" I was hurled through time, to the a century you would never ever be able to live. I've been able to adjust to about anything especially death," Sakaki said

Izo shook his head and pulled the knife out his leg. He threw it down and pulled his other blade out.

" Allow me to teach you how to bow," Sakaki said, " With no legs."

Sakaki came at Izo and slashed at him, but Izo retaliated with a slash.

" I have the upper hand Taiyou, your injured to a point of death, I only have an injured leg," Izo said

" On the contrary Uncle, your already dead," Sakaki said

Izo narrowed his eyes and both swung their blades adding an injury. Sakaki could feel the power within him, building up. His hands began to glow and slowly his body was engulfed by the light. Izo was shivering deep inside, but still his darker side would not turn down a fight….he was stubborn to understand he would lose.

" Surrender now," Sakaki said, " Or you will be killed."

" Why should I?" Izo questioned

" You will only suffer if I take you back," Sakaki said

Izo smiled and said, " I will not surrender."

Izo attacked Sakaki with full force and Sakaki struck back. The light around Sakaki began to grow larger.

" I will survive!" he shouted in his mind

The light around Sakaki engulfed him and Izo, the others were blinded by it's magnificent beauty.

Both soldiers and men stopped when they saw the light. They gawked in awe and watched it come for them. The enemy ran in fear and the soldiers just stood there as everything was engulfed by it.

" Its quiet, it's over," Karasuma said

" No, don't go out," Rinako said

Karasuma opened the door and the light came in, they all covered their eyes. Karasuma knelt down and turned away from it.

" That light," she thought, " Sakaki."

The light, dimmed and the soldiers looked up from where they were. Izo looked at Sakaki and Sakaki looked at him.

" You are finished," Izo said

He pushed his blade deeper into Sakaki. Sakaki shouted in pain and in the process pushed his blade into Izo.

" I will die with honor, but you will die with shame," Sakaki whispered

" Highness," the men said

They jumped down and one drew his blade and cut Izo's hands from his blade. Sakaki fell to his knees and a soldier knelt down beside him.

" Highness, hang on," the soldier said

" The light," he whispered, " It's so beautiful…the purist of light is right here before me."

Sakaki undid the crest of the emperor and handed to the soldier.

" Take this to her, tell her to remember me that way," he whispered, " Tell her that Miyako will take her back to the time that we met. She'll know what that means."

" Highness?" the soldier questioned

Sakaki pulled the blade out and threw it down. He stared down at Izo and shook his head.

" Death claimed you first," he whispered

He then fell back and closed his eyes. The soldiers came to their knees and bowed to Sakaki.

" Highness, may you go to the next world in peace," the soldier, who had the crest, said

Karasuma and Rinako walked out and looked over the damage. She saw the soldiers cleaning up the dead men and others taking care of the wounded.

" I don't see him anywhere," Karasuma said

The sounds of horns came and Karasuma and Rinako walked down to hopefully greet the emperor. The palace gates opened and there were several horses without riders, then they saw the riders. The four riders were carrying a stretcher and Karasuma felt her heart beat several times over. One soldier knelt down before her and took her hand.

" He fought bravely Empress," he said

Karasuma felt tears fall down her face as the solider presented her with the crest.

" No," she cried

She pushed her way through and looked at Sakaki's dead body laying there.

" Haruto!" she cried

Karasuma knelt down lifted Sakaki into her arms.

" Why?" she whispered

" Lady Miho," one said

" Let her have this moment to be with him," Rinako said

The soldiers around them got to their knees and bowed. There was several tears and anger that they couldn't protect him.

" I'm going to be a great emperor, you at my side Miho,"

" Of course Taiyou, you are a great emperor," she whispered, " And so will our child."

" His last request is that you were to return to the time you met him," the soldier said

" Of course," she whispered

She looked at the crest and slipped it around her neck. She kissed Sakaki on his pale lips and then they lifted him.

" Hail to the Emperor," she whispered, " For he is mighty even in death."

" Hail Emperor!" the captain shouted

Then there came several chants of "hail to the Emperor."

" Don't forget Ranpu, that I am with you too," Karasuma said

4 months later

Karasuma looked at Miyako and hugged her.

" When the kingdom is in need of you Empress, I will come for you, until then please keep the heir safe," Miyako said

" Of course," Karasuma said

Karasuma looked at Rinako and hugged her tight. Rinako stroked Karasuma's head hearing her sob a little.

" Please take care Miho, the kingdom needs you," Rinako said

" I will," Karasuma said

Karasuma walked through the arch and Rinako looked at Kyoushu and he walked through the arch following Karasuma to always watch her. Miyako explained that he would only be a shadow, because his spirit had already been reborn in that time.

4 months later

Karasuma fed her baby and looked at the rain. She looked at the crest around her neck and smiled.

" I live my life as I have, he would want it that way," Karasuma said

She kissed her daughter's head and looked in the shadows.

" Let's get you to bed," she said, " Tomorrows another day for my little princess."