Wow, it has been such a long time since I updated. No, my computer did not break down again. I planned for this chapter to appear around New Year, but a family member died, and since then, I've been depressed. Time does heal new wounds, so I'm back on my feet. Hopefully I can get another chapter out during my Spring Break, but be warned, I'm preparing for college so I'm going to be busy. BlueNovaBunny

BNb: Aw man, my computer is slowing down again! Wah!

Ken: Well, it could be all the downloading you have been doing or the kicks you give to the computer.

BNB: I am not an abusive person! The computer just acts up a bit and needs a little lesson now and then…

Phoenix: Psycho…

BNB: X-(

Disclaimer: In the year 3065, Clamp will give the rights to BNB if she stops smacking her PC…that will never happen.

Chapter 19: Akkei

Fang-Sho growled at the old fortune teller bowing beside his feet. "So my," he grimaced, "daughter will no longer become the Wolf's wife."

The fortuneteller glanced hesitantly out of the corner of his eye. "No, My Lord, I'm sor—

"Worthless peasant!" He kicked the seer out of his way and ordered the guards to remove the peasant's sickening hide. One of the guards withdrew from the rest.

"A man waits at the door, My Lord. He goes by the name of Matsumoto; a Japanese man, I know, but I feared to turn him away in case you did want to see him."

Fang-Sho made the signal for a dismissal, but ordered for the guest to be let in.

Koiji entered with a flustered demeanor. "Being man-handled is not a pleasant time for me, Li. I'd appreciate it if you had me on the guest list next time."

"Don't be so daft," Fang-Sho smirked, "it would leave evidence I was consorting with an Island person. Now sit, we have much to discuss."

"What is there to discuss? Our business ended eighteen years ago."

"Yes, it seems that way, but time is a foul guardian of long thought schemes." Fang-Sho gazed thoughtfully at the wall before sneering at Koiji. "We have been partners in crime and tense friends," Koiji frowned at Fang-Sho's term of friend, "but now we must unite without weaknesses."

"I don't see why this involves me. The agreement between you and my father has long been completed. It is not my fault your schemes are so weak that they unravel. You gained your brother's death and my family gained the upper hand against a rival family."

"But your goals weren't completely won," Fang-Sho spat bitterly. "Fujitaka is not, in fact, dead as we thought. And if he is ever revived, he will surely know who plotted his family destruction and his wife's death. Yelan didn't marry me after her husband's demise and her lover's supposed death. Things are not settled as you think they are." Koiji paled.

"Lord Amamiya will surely use his influence in court to destroy me if he found out I was involved in the death of his granddaughter."

"Yes," mused Fang-Sho, "and the emperor will surely imprison me for killing one of his favorite generals while Yelan cursed me with her strongest spell. We have to be rid of the evidence. The only way I see to solve this is to get rid of all the evidence. We must destroy our enemies before they destroy us. Do you recall a certain little servant that belonged to Lady Akira, and that you also wished to possess?"

"Yes."

"Well, it turns out she the long lost sister of the present Lord Kinomoto." Koiji barked out a terse laugh. The idea of such a concept was written all over his face.

"How could you know that? You are ridiculous, and I don't appreciate being told such nonsense!" Fang-Sho gave his own growl of a laugh.

"Do you think I don't have the magical and non-magical resources to know? My magicians have predicted what is to come and what already has happened! And I can tell you now, that both of our futures are indeed dire unless we can change them ourselves." Koiji sighed and have a half-hearted bow to Fang-Sho.

"What do you suggest?"

"We must eliminate the Kinomotos once and for all," Fang-Sho paused and continued with a pained expression, "and I must kill Yelan and my nephew if he doesn't surrender."

"I will contact a certain friend of ours from before, but you, Koiji, must done your part with the Kinomotos."

"Agreed." Koiji bowed and left Fang-Sho Li to his thoughts.

'Ah, Yelan, we wouldn't be at this state if you had married me. Now you must die…'

B-R-E-A-K

Yelan woke up with a start. She shivered in her night gown and quickly slid her overcoat on. 'What are these malicious thoughts that poison my dream?' Her feet barely made a sound as she pattered to her magic room. The glorious magic water bowl was still cracked from its previous job.

Yelan and tried every spell that she could think of, but the bowl just would not repair. And right now, guidance was essential. She held her temple as thought of upcoming disasters. She knew Fang-Sho was plotting something because he was always plotting something, and he had been quiet recently. It was one of the reasons she refused his proposal after her dear husband's death. There was something about that man that turn her blood cold.

Sometimes she felt the guilt inside of herself become such a burden that it couldn't be held anymore. The guilt of her husband's death and even Fujitaka…Tears sprung to her eyes. She quickly wiped them away and tried not to weep, but it was hard. By day she would have a mask, for a lady never showed her pain, but by night, her pillow would be damp. And to think, it all started when she was young…

B-R-E-A-K (past)

"Lady Yelan, I must protest! This is not how a lady—

"Oh, shove it, Wei Wang! You're not my boss and I need to be let outdoors now and then." The incorrigible young Lady Yelan continued to flutter here and there to the exasperation her guard, Wei. Wei did feel the young Lady needed freedom from her studies in magic, but she still needed to act with a lady's conduct.

Yelan was certainly running about with the exuberance of a filly. She even ran into someone and knocked them down, bringing the stranger down with herself. Wei clumsily drew his sword.

"Who are you?" Wei demanded, sounding neither intimidating nor frightening. Meanwhile, Yelan's robes were still spread over the young man she toppled.

"Hello." Yelan winced at such an unexpected greeting. Sometimes she couldn't control what went out of her mouth. But the warmness in the stranger's eyes told her she didn't offend anyone. The stranger gave a soothing smile enough to calm Wei's nerves and gently lifted the noble to her feet. The warrior-clad young man gave a low bow.

"Sumimasen. I did not mean to be in the Lady's intended path." Yelan blushed.

"That is certainly nice of not to take offense. I must then allow you to take me to the conference room since by your apparel; you are the Japanese diplomat due today." With a flutter of her robes, Yelan held the samurai's hand firmly and pulled him to greeting room.

To be continued…

akkei (n) plot; trickevil scheme

sumimasen (n) sorry; excuse me

BNB: Sorry it's so short, but hey, it speeds up the plot.

Ken: Ooohh, I wonder what happened between Yelan and--

BNB: Shoosh, it's a secret...until next chapter. Thanks to those who review and the readers who are still reading!

Phoenix: REviEw!