Chapter 9 Part VI: Skeleton in the Closet
"What do you mean it's been stolen?" she demanded. "By the flames of Kandrakar, no one can just take it from you!"
"If you would please just sit back down and take a moment, I will tell you how it happened," Kimi replied calmly.
Orube looked as though she wanted to strangle Kimi. Or at least give her a good smack in the face. How could she just brush it off as if it was no big deal?
Will then noticed how Kimi's eyes darkened and realized that she was serious.
"Orube, please sit, please," she urged.
Orube glared at her but sighed exasperatedly before collapsing back into her seat.
"I'm afraid that Seiji's death isn't the only dark secret I must share with you."
"Your family has a closet full of skeletons, don't they?" Matt quirked an eyebrow.
Kimi ignored him. "It was told to me by my uncle of the Sword's disappearance nearly twenty-three years ago," Kimi began. "My predecessor, the previous Guardian of Light, and his twin were getting old. They had a little more than a decade before a new generation must replace them. Fortunately, the Guardian of Light's twin granddaughters possessed the necessary qualification: their hearts were strong, their minds and martial arts were sharp, and their magic powerful. The signs were very promising."
"What were their names?" Hay Lin asked.
Kimi shook her head sadly. "Unfortunately, I do not know the names of the sisters." Puzzlement filled Hay Lin's face and before she could question it further, Kimi added, "You will understand why soon enough. It was said that when the sisters visited the Guardians, all three talismans glowed upon the merest touch of their fingers. The Guardians were certain that they would make fine replacements.
"The Kinomoto elders, on the other hand, saw things differently. There was always a chance the Sacred Talismans would not choose them to become the next Twin Guardians. One suggested that they could become potential mothers of those that can. The elders began to search for suitable husbands for the granddaughters as they would for most of their younger kin. With arrange marriages come potential bridegrooms with advantageous benefits."
"Who wouldn't want their sons to marry a granddaughter of a Guardian?" Orube said indignantly.
"Indeed," Kimi replied. She took another sip of her tea. "Words spread like wildfire. Any daimyo and nobleman who didn't think to push a relative of theirs into the beds of these girls were considered fools. Letters poured in, each one highlighting the benefits of marrying this son or exaggerating the virtue of this nephew. It took the Kinomoto elders days to go through them all. They were searching for the best choices possible and they couldn't trust their own servants to do it right."
"Déjà vu," Taranee said. "Your elders are playing matchmakers like they did for your cousins."
"Naturally. To them, breeding potential future Guardians is as important as keeping the power within the clan."
Matt's face contorted into disgust. These Kinomoto elders were treating their own kin as if one would treat a prized animal for show!
"That is just plain revolting," Matt sneered under his breath.
Kimi glanced at him but said nothing. Matt blinked. For once, she had given him a look that wasn't venomous. Was she in agreement with him? The mere thought chilled his spine.
"What about the sisters?" Cornelia asked. "Surely you don't expect me to believe that they were as thrilled as being set up to wed like Kazumi did?"
Kimi shook her head. "My uncle said the older of the two sisters, the one who was said the be the next Guardian of Darkness, did not share her opinion on the matter. It was the younger one who showed her contempt. I've heard she was both intelligent and beautiful but was considered too…" Kimi paused, trying to grope her mind for the right word.
"Cheeky?" Irma suggested. "Stubborn? Strong-willed?"
Kimi smiled and nodded. "My uncle said she possessed a fierce personality and a sharp-tongue to match her sharp mind, much to the annoyance of her parents."
"Kinda like someone I know," Hay Lin whispered, winking at Cornelia.
Cornelia couldn't help but laughed at this. Turning to Kimi, she asked, "So what happened next?"
"The younger sister was determined to reject all of these suitors, claiming that they weren't good enough. Yet, the more prominent they were, the harder it was for her to refused. The elders grew tired of her behavior and soon, the pressure to take a husband grew unbearable. But one day, a letter came, and it bore the royal seal."
All eyes in the room widened. Someone gasped. Even Orube couldn't hide her excitement.
"Words reached the ears of the imperial court," Kimi continued. "The Emperor had recently married and now one of his siblings is searching for a bride. The Emperor's half-brother, a powerful shogun, heard whispers from the nobles and became interested in taking one of the sisters as his wife."
Kimi paused and silence followed. The only other sound was of Taranee typing furiously on her laptop. Intrigued by the story, she was just as dedicated in taking down as many notes as she could.
Recalling from Mr. Collins' history lesson on feudal Japan, she remembered that the shogun, appointed by the emperor, maintained power over his large territory. The daimyo were feudal landowners equivalent to a medieval European lord and are subordinate to the shogun and the emperor. In theory, at least. Based on what they've been hearing from Kimi, one of the Kinomoto elders must be a daimyo, one that is very controlling.
A chill flashed up Taranee's spine. Being the Guardian of Fire, this doesn't happen often. She would hate to meet this daimyo in person.
"Wow!" Irma exclaimed. "A real prince! Your elders must've been over the moon!"
Kimi blinked, confused at the idiom.
"It means excited," Hay Lin said.
Kimi nodded as she placed her teacup down on the coffee table. "Yes, I would imagine them to be very ecstatic," she replied. "Having generations of Twin Guardians within the family does make the Kinomoto prestigious within the social hierarchy. But in truth, they don't possess as much political power within the court as they would have liked."
"How much is enough? Enough to have the ears of the Emperor?" Will asked. Again, Kimi nodded. "But what about your uncle? He's the Chancellor. Isn't that like a Prime Minister?"
"Twenty-three years ago, my uncle was merely a lowly minister. Members of my mother's clan have become politicians before him, but none managed to get as close into the imperial family as the Watsuki had. Since the Emperor married a Watsuki woman and elevated her relatives standing into nobility, the Kinomoto elders have resented their distant kin all the greater."
"But now an equal opportunity has presented itself to your mother's family," Orube noted. "A marriage as important as this would have meant an equal standing in the royal court as the Watsuki clan."
"What of the two sisters? Who wouldn't be happy when royalty is interested in marrying you?" Cornelia said. The excitement in her eyes dimmed as she lowered her head. "Unless the bride doesn't love him?"
"No, the previous shogun was a despicable man, at least to the opinion of the younger sister. His wealth, power, and generous amount of a bride-price all failed to impress her. Royal or not, the younger sister made it clear that she would rather die than marry him. Yet, her rejection made her more desirable: the shogun was happy with both sisters, but he was determined to marry her the most. Her sister would be married to one of his nobles.
"The bride's words fell on deaf ears. Not even her beloved grandfather could help her. He may be a Guardian, but not the head of the family. The daimyo and the elders threatened both sisters. If they didn't comply with the marriage, they'll be sent to live out their days in a nunnery, their brother's education halted and forced into exile, and their parents would be placed under house arrests. They made it clear that the younger sister would be the cause of her family's shame and misery."
"That's cruel!" Hay Lin cried.
Will nodded, her brown eyes darkened. A few years ago, Thomas Vandom had threatened a custody battle with her mother if she didn't agree to pay off his debt. It seemed Kimi wasn't the only one with a skeleton in the closet. As rotten as her own father turned out to be, Will couldn't imagine him as duplicitous as Kimi's elders. A chill ran up Will's spine as she tried to shake off the bad memory.
"The elders were not beneath the use of extortion against dissenters to maintain their control. The Guardians could do nothing but watch their beloved granddaughters suffer in their fate like meek sheep for slaughter."
Kimi paused to see all eyes glued on her. To her delight, even Matt couldn't hide his curiosity.
"Then what happened?" Irma asked.
"The younger sister refused to be trap to a life that wasn't hers. If her closest blood wasn't going to help her, she decided to cut ties with her family and made her plans. She knew of the Sword's power: not only can it be used to kill or expel all sorts of evil beings, but its sharp blade can cut through the fabric of time and space, taking its wielder to whatever world they wish.
"Several nights before the wedding, she took whatever she could carry and went to the Guardians' house. Quietly, she broke in and made her way into the alter room where the three Sacred Talismans were kept. As she was a strong candidate to inherit the title of Guardian, she easily bypassed the seal protecting them. The Guardians sensed something amiss and tried to stop her, but they were too late. By the time they arrived, the Sword was already in her hand and with it, she opened a portal and disappeared, taking the Sword with her to whatever world beyond the stars.
"The elders were undoubtedly furious and ashamed of her betrayal, but still they attempted to salvage the marriage by offering the shogun the older twin. Unfortunately, their hopes were thwarted when the bride committed suicide on the night of her wedding. She left a letter and in it said,
'In this life, I can ascend as a Guardian, but unable to fly for my wings shall be torn by duty and honor. In death, I am free to follow my sister to whatever world she fled to.'"
"The Emperor was livid, but the Empress managed to abate his fury. The shogun, on the other hand, was not so forgiving. Rejected and scorned by both sisters, he was deeply humiliated and turned his ire towards the Kinomoto, calling upon his army to purge the them from the land. Their end would be a lesson to all clans who dare to defy him. He never got the chance, as he contracted influenza and died several nights beforehand."
Irma stifled a laugh. The others shot her looks of annoyance. Irma cleared her throat. "Sorry, but I couldn't help it. It was so anti-climactic."
"The elders tried to cover up the theft of the Sword by declaring the two sisters as traitors and punished their family for raising such disobedient girls. Their defiance was considered a great dishonor to the older generation. Many of my aunts and uncles refused to speak of the incident. Not even the sisters' names were mentioned. But Komei-sama and my predecessor refused to let their memories die. When Kyochi and I ascended as the new Guardians many years later, we were told of the sisters' fate, if not their names. To this day, I know not where the Sword is and whether or not the younger sister still lives."
Kimi leaned back against her chair, finally finishing her story. Silence fell among the group once more as they tried to take it all in.
Cornelia's heart felt a little heavier. This story was too close for comfort to her. There was a time when she had thought of abandoning her own family and her role as the Guardian of Earth. She would have followed Caleb to the stars, but a piece of her heart would have ached for home. In the end, she didn't have to make that decision because Caleb broke her heart before she could. She wondered what it would have been like had she gone through with it. As time pass, pondering on the notion faded; her broken heart mended itself and became whole again when she found Peter. With him, she knew he would love her for who she truly is. Yet, the woman from Kimi's story had a different situation, and she couldn't fathom the thought of being in her shoes.
"Um, Cornelia?" said Hay Lin.
Cornelia snapped out of her thought to see everyone staring at her. Her cheeks flushed pink.
"Did my story give you some thoughts?" Kimi asked, although not impolitely.
"In a way, yeah. It's just that a few years ago, I might have abandoned everything that I have here on Earth to follow Caleb."
Kimi frowned, trying to remember the name. "The warrior on Metamoor? I thought he's Queen Elyon's heartmate."
"He was my boyfriend before we broke up. Now his heart belongs with Elyon."
Kimi blinked. At least she didn't say bluntly that it was weird having your ex dating your best friend. For that, Cornelia was grateful.
"I might have done it for true love, but this relative of yours did it because her hands were tied."
"Perhaps love and the desire of freedom warranted enough reason," Kimi replied.
Orube stood up, catching everyone's attention. She wanted to veer the conversation back to the talismans. "So you know nothing of the thief who stole the Sword?"
"Only that she's a distant cousin of my mother and was one of her closest friends. Komei-sama said if she still lives, she would be the same age as my mother right now. Kyochi and I pressed him for more details, but he refused to surrender even her name. I realized that he had been in love with her once. Telling us her fate had been painful enough, so we bothered him no further since."
Matt turned to Will. "What about the Sword? Surely Kandrakar could find it?"
"If it had been that easy, Kandrakar would have found my brother by now, wouldn't it?" Kimi snapped. "Objects as powerful as our talismans can shield its owner from even the eyes of Kandrakar."
"Kimi's right, we've met villains before who had been powerful enough to hide from Kandrakar's prying eyes," Will said.
Matt turned to her. "Whose side are on?"
Taken aback, Will seemed hurt. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that you girls are going into this next battle blind and I don't want you to get hurt."
The level of contempt in Kimi's tone darkened. "We don't need your help," she spat.
Matt laughed. "On the contrary, you just confirmed that you don't have the Sword or the Mirror. And let's not forget that your mentor just took off, so you currently don't have her guidance or any help from Kandrakar."
"We hardly needed any of those to begin with."
Matt held out his fingers to count as if to irk her further. "Really? You're telling me that all of you are going in blind into this next war of succession against a psychopathic demigoddess who currently has your brother under a sleeping spell? On top of that, you're likely to face your homicidal cousins and whatever crap they're going to throw at you? And let's not forget that you don't have a lot of allies to help you because according to you, they're all too busy with their own problems? Forgive me for not taking your words for it."
She scowled. "Are you done prattling?"
Furiously, Matt rose to his feet, his face flushed redder than before. He looked as if he was going to hit her. "For heaven's sake, you are an arrogant sociopath!"
"And you are way in over your head if you think you could handle what we barely could on my world!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH, YOU TWO!" Orube bellowed, but they ignored her.
Fixated by their heated exchange, the two looked as if they were ready to throttle one another on the spot. Will and her friends quickly got up and intervened.
"Matt, please! Stop fighting!" Will begged.
"No, I've had it!" Matt cried. "I want to help you, but your little friend here doesn't respect me enough to accept it!"
Kimi scoffed. "Really? I'm supposed to respect someone who's only useful in getting himself captured by the enemies?"
"You're no better! I'm not the only one who got myself frozen in a block of ice!"
"I managed to escape and fight Xuan Wu!"
"And collapsed from pneumonia!" Kimi was taken aback. Matt smirked. "Hadn't thought about that as a part of your escape plan, huh? You're reckless just like this morning. Look what happened to your father. You may put yourself in danger, but don't risk someone else's life, especially my girlfriend!"
Everyone held their breaths. Suddenly, the atmosphere grew more intense. Kimi clenched her hands, and a white aura flared visibly all around her.
"Kimi?" Hay Lin whispered. The vase and the china plates behind her shattered. Hay Lin shrieked in surprised.
Matt stepped back and gulped nervously. It looked as if Kimi really was going to murder him on the spot.
Kimi pointed a finger at him and in dangerous tone that sent knives into his stomach, said, "You," she pointed into the training room across the hallway, "in there. Now."
Matt wanted to protest, but Kimi quickly got up and disappeared into the training room before he could. Rolling his eyes, he followed suit. The others exchanged worried looks. Will sighed in exacerbation. There was no denying the annoyance venting from her as she gestured for everyone to follow.
"Kimi, what are you doing?" Will demanded. Her question was ignored. "I'm getting fed up with you picking on Matt!"
Still ignoring her, Kimi punched in the command when a holographic screen appeared. A robotic female voice echoed throughout the chamber.
Training system initiated. Request for sparring approved. Please input desire level.
Kimi pressed a number before taking off her sweater and tying her hair further up in a ponytail. Glancing at Matt, she declared, "Let us see how well you can fight."
Neither impressed or amused, he folded his arms and sneered. "What are you trying to prove?"
"Not me. You," she pointed at him. "You want to help us on Lusteria? Well, see if you can hold you ground against me."
"Matt, you do realize that she kicked your butt last time, don't you?" Irma reminded him. Her barely noticed the lack of her usual jest.
Orube crossed her arms. "Kimi, this challenge is ridiculous! We have more important things to discuss and trying to humiliate someone isn't going to help!"
Kimi cocked her head as if Orube's disapproving glare was of no importance. "Believe me, I don't do things without intending a purpose."
Sparks of electricity danced around Will. She was going to put a stop to this nonsense. "Matt, you don't have to do this to prove anything!" Will interjected. Glaring at Kimi, she said, "Kimi, I am so sick of you disregarding my boyfriend's worth. I thought you were passed all of that! So stop with this—"
"Fine, I'll fight you."
Will turned towards Matt and blinked. Did he just agree? "Matt?"
"If I win, you will let me come with you on your missions to Lusteria from now on. And," he emphasized the word, "you will start calling me Matt. Not Matt-boy. Not fruitcup. No more demeaning nicknames. Got it?"
Kimi wanted to laugh as if his demands were the most childish things she ever heard. Two sword constructs appeared in her hands. "Very well, but there will be two trials for you: the first is to last against me for at least three minutes. The second will be a holographic simulation of one of our recent battles against a Celestial Warrior."
Matt fought the urge to gulp. From what Will had told him, fighting face-to-face against a Celestial Warrior was practically suicidal. He wanted to kick himself for agreeing to the deal, but he also knew that Kimi would never let him live it down. He couldn't back down. Not right now. Not when he was going to prove his worth and teach this arrogant Guardian a thing or two.
"Fine."
The others protested fierce, but he held up a hand to stop them. "Stop it. This is my decision. I want you all to stay out of it."
"Wise words." Kimi tossed him one of her swords, which he caught deftly. "Let's begin. Remember, three minutes."
The two were suddenly blurs before everyone's eyes. Kimi's attacks were fast, and she managed to knock Matt down thrice. To his credit, he improved since their last fight. He fell and turned correctly whenever she knocked him to his feet and managed to right himself back up, all the while blocking her blade. He was grateful that she had manifested weapons with dull edges, but that didn't mean she was holding back. He could feel intensive strength being put into every strike. Fighting against Kimi was like fighting against water; her movements were swift and fluid, her blows were hard and unforgiving like ice, and trying to land a blow on her was like striking vapor.
The first minute was hard, but slowly, he read a little into her movement and managed to evade and landed a few blows. She didn't go down, but he managed to touch her. Soon, he was quickly out of breath.
Kimi lowered her sword. "Had enough?" she asked.
"You kidding? I was just warming up."
"Your shallow breaths tell me otherwise, but you've lasted the entirety of three minutes. Well done, Matt-boy."
Matt blinked.
Kimi rolled her eyes as she strode towards the control. "Oh, don't looked so surprised. Yes, I just complimented you. Don't get used to it."
"You didn't go easy on me?"
Without warning, Kimi threw her sword at him and he blocked it expertly. The sword dissolved into light.
"Do I look like someone who would go easy on you?" she huffed indignantly.
Will sighed in relief, not realizing she had been holding her breath. "Matt, well done!"
"He's really good now," Cornelia whispered to Taranee.
"A lot better than when he first trained us to fight Dark Mother," Hay Lin said to Irma.
Orube nodded in agreement. She had been observing Matt's movements closely. "I supposed I can't sucker-punched you like the good old days anymore, huh?"
Matt laughed. "Watch out or I'll throw your punch right back at you."
Kimi rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Don't celebrate just yet, Matt-boy. You still have to defeat a Celestial Warrior through a simulation, remember?"
Matt's smiled disappeared. He had been training and honing his fighting skills since their last fight. Kimi's constant humiliating words were what drove him to better himself. Clearly just now it bore satisfying fruition, but he could sense that Kimi wasn't going to accept him. No matter what she just said.
No. He needed to prove to her without a doubt that he could hold his own. He could help them fight. He could help turn the tides in a battle with powerful demigods and their legions of dark spirits. He could be of use!
As he watched Kimi typed in the commands, he decided.
"It will be similar to what I did to everyone earlier when I took them to see Shinrinkage," Kimi said. "Using one of my memories, the training system can simulate a battle. To you, it will feel as if you're living in an alternative event, interacting with everyone you see with no prior knowledge of how things really turned out in the end. The point isn't to win, but to demonstrate that you truly have what it takes to fight by our sides."
"Can the system handle several memories?" Matt asked.
Kimi stared at him, perplexed. "Yes."
Matt nodded. "Good. Let me fight against all three Celestial Warriors you've faced thus far."
Everyone's mouths dropped to the floor. Even Kimi looked surprised.
"Matt, are you crazy!" Taranee said.
"We've barely survived against one! You're asking to face three?!" Irma pointed out.
"You're really putting on air!" Hay Lin agreed.
"Matt, you really don't have to do this to prove anything!" Will urged.
Matt shook his head. He was determined. He stood firm to match Kimi's disapproving eyes.
"One fight against me and suddenly you're acting like a proud peacock," Kimi said.
"I'm done with you belittling me," Matt said. "With or without magic, I am not worthless. It's time that you get that into your thick little skull. Or are you just like your kin? Always arrogant, always thinking so little of others?"
Kimi held her tongue. Reading his aura, she knew he was determined and there was a spark in his heart.
She sighed. "You are certain?"
"Without a doubt."
"Very well, then."
Will gaped. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Kimi! What are you doing?! This is insane!"
Ignoring her, Kimi gestured for Matt to come closer towards the marked area on the floor for the simulation.
"You won't fight all three Celestial Warriors at once. As I've said, it is all a simulation of what happened before with minor alteration with you being added into the scene. Instead, you'll face three different battles; one in Zhong-guo, one in Joseon, and the last in Annam."
Kimi held out her hand and the Jewel manifested with a soft glow. At her command, three tiny crystals manifested from its core, smaller versions of the ones the Guardians had seen when they visited Kimi's mind.
"Are you certain?" Kimi asked again.
"Don't try to change my mind. I'm doing it."
Kimi said nothing as she turned to let the crystals hover over his head.
Memories accepted. Loading sceneries completed. Loading opponents completed. Loading allies completed. Loading senses completed.
Initiating simulation battle one: Guardians vs Byakko. Level 92.
Pending battle two: Guardians vs Xuan Wu. Level 95.
Pending battle three: Guardians vs Zhu Que. Level 97
Matt felt Will's arms clinging desperately around his. He gazed to see her brown eyes filled with worry.
"Matt, are you sure? I don't think this is such a good idea," she said.
Matt smiled what he hoped is a convincing one. He gently prying her fingers off. "Don't worry, Will. It's just a simulation. I'm still here in this room, after all." Will didn't seem convinced. "You gotta have a little faith in me, Will."
Will nodded, still uncertain. Orube pulled her away as the light on the floor glowed.
He turned back to Kimi and nodded.
"I'm ready. Give me your best shot."
"As you wished."
Kyochi Watsuki continued to slumber peacefully, even as spirits are taking great care to maintain his body's health. As two wind spirits washed and dried his hair, giggles were exchanged about how handsome he was. Too bad he's human, they whispered. If born a spirit, he would have looked even more godly.
"Enough of your foolish chittering!" The two spirits gasped and quickly gathered up their brushes. Their mistress glared down on them. "If you're both done, leave. I have matters to discuss with our guest."
"Yes, Lady Seiryuu," said one spirit. In a flash, they disappeared down the hall.
Seiryuu turned and studied Kyochi's sleeping expression. He looked so peaceful even as she stroked his cheek playfully.
"Let's see if you're more corporative now," she whispered, a hunt of venom dripping from her sweet and melodious voice.
She placed a hand over his heart and began to whisper a spell. Sparks of light and air whirled, coaxing her objective from within his heart. There's no more reason to stay here, she reasoned. It should be joining its kinds. Surely it misses the familiar light from the Jewel and the Sword? Come to her and soon, she promised she'll reunite it with the other two.
Wisps of shadow appeared and Seiryuu recoiled from its sting.
The Mirror refused.
Seething, she furiously called forward the air, compressing it into a sharp blade and plunged it down on Kyochi's heart. She was going to rip the stubborn Mirror out of him one way or another. But a cloak of darkness appeared and her attack bounced off, dispersing into air once more.
"Damn you!" Seiryuu cursed. A metal-bladed fan appeared in her hand. With a flick, she shaped it into a spinning disc and brought it down like a saw. Still, the dark shield projected by the Mirror would not surrender. "Damn you and your Mirror!" Seiryuu screamed, continuing the onslaught. "What hope do you have left?! Your father is dead and your Emperor will soon join him! Your soon-to-be-Empress won't be strong enough to resist me! Why are you?! You're as infuriating as your sister!"
A strong hand grasped Seiryuu's wrist. She gasped and was met by her brother's cold expression.
"Enough, sister," Hwang-Ryong warned.
Seiryuu scoffed and yanked back her hand. "What are you doing here?"
Hwang-Ryong, flanked by three soldiers, paced the room calmly.
"I should be asking you that. You know well enough that we cannot simply just take the talisman, even if the boy is unconscious. And besides, we need him alive and unscathed for our…benefactor." He whispered the last word as if it were a disease.
"I know that! But we need it. I need it if I were to take down Nihon!" Seiryuu glared back at the sleeping Guardian. He looked so peaceful that a part of her was tempted to slash his pretty face. "I am so close! Nearly half the kingdom is under my control. All the major clans are in an uproar! But I need the biggest advantage to force them on their knees."
"Your usual sense of sadistic pleasure is giving way to hot temperament," Hwang-Ryong noted. "As well as your lady-liked serenity. Perhaps you should be taking lessons of equanimity from our guest here. That is, if you can refrain from trying to maim him first."
The air in the chamber grew tensed, but Hwang-Ryong did not react. He matched his sister's deadly glare.
Seiryuu managed to compose herself, but the acid in her tone remained in place. "Zhu Que is gone," she said. "Killed for and by his own foolish act of love!" She spat the last word out as if she had just swallowed poison.
Hwang-Ryong stiffened but said nothing. Seiryuu noticed.
"All these years, our brother has kept a secret from us! Married to the Jade Dragon of all gods! Was Zhu Que truly on our side when we all swore an oath to conquer Lusteria? You shared all your machination with him! I know you put your trust in him! He killed Xuan Wu when you ordered! Killed and burned thousands for us without questions! And still, he has managed to keep one this from us! Of course, I'm furious! I'm surprised that you're not!"
Sparks of electricity erupted from Hwang-Ryong's aura, and Seiryuu knew that she hit a nerve.
"Master?" said a voice.
Hwang-Ryong's hand quickly flew to the dragon-headed shoulder armor to draw out his electric whip. The demon soldier was turned into a pile of ash before he or his companions knew it.
Hwang-Ryong took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly and deeply, his face cold but cool. The electricity flickering from the coil died before retracting back into place. He snapped his fingers and the two remaining soldiers quickly followed him out of the chamber, hoping to at least survive long enough to be dismissed from duty.
"Nothing more to say, then?" Seiryuu's voice rang.
Hwang-Ryong stopped but did not turned to face her again. "Zhu Que was a fine lieutenant, that I have no doubt," he said. "If I have a heart, I mourn for his loss. Regardless, the Guardians corrupted him and he betrayed us. Good riddance to him."
"But, brother, he—"
"I hope that your campaign in Nihon would bare more fruit than his in Annam," he cut her off. Without another word, he and his retinue disappeared.
Seiryuu wanted to scream but didn't. She took one good look at Kyochi and quickly turned heels back to her palace. Leaning against her throne, she contemplated on her current situation.
The Mirror should have been in her grasp months ago, but that insufferable ancient law forbids stealing great power, whether it be ancient talismans or crowns. Still, she knew that if no such law of nature was set in place, gods could steal one another's power and that would lead to chaos.
Power must be given freely, and Seiryuu had to resort to coaxing the Mirror out of its master's heart, knowing that it was partially sentient. But it has proven resilient to her charm. Kyochi may be incapacitated, but he still found a way to resist their control. It made Seiryuu's blood boil.
She took a deep breath and exhaled. There was a way to go around this. If the Mirror also share a part of Kyochi's heart, then all Seiryuu must do was find something to make it bleed. Fortunately for her, she's aware of his weakness. If she could kidnap Kimi, she could force the Mirror to show itself. At the same time, she could coerce the Guardian of Light surrender her Jewel and Sword by threatening her twin's life. But Kimi has proven difficult to capture.
Thinking about it made her knuckles white. Zhu Que was supposed to have recapture Kimi during his siege in Anna. No thanks to that Irma's meddling, the great Lord of Wrath was purified and converted to their side, albeit briefly before his death. His unintentionally demise at the hands of Kitsune brought no joy or relief to Seiryuu's heart. When the fox spirit crawled back to her with half her face burnt from Zhu Que's fire, Seiryuu nearly killed her on the spot for her failure. Instead, she ordered the spider spirit to drag her into the dungeon below.
Seiryuu glanced down at her hand and sighed. Currently, the siege against the forces in Nihon is at least in part going smoothly. But in the end, she'll need at least two of the Sacred Talismans to conquer this kingdom and all three if she and Hwang-Ryong were to take over Lusteria and Kandrakar.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock. A beautiful woman entered and bowed gracefully. Her kimono was black with pale silvery threads embroidered in the shape of webs. Her hair was coifed intricately, held together by a golden headdress in the shape of a spider and its web.
"My lady?" said the woman. "You have a guest."
"I'm in no mood to entertain one, Jorogumo-san," Seiryuu said coldly.
To the spider-woman's credit, she did not flinch from fear. "He insisted, my lady."
One of Seiryuu's eyebrows arched. "Oh, very well. Let him in."
The jorogumo bowed before stepping to the side and opened the door further. The guest strode in with proud gait as if he had every right to be there.
"Well, I must say, love what you've done with the place," Kenji said. Sure enough, the throne room was littered with broken glasses from Seiryuu's temper tantrum against Kitsune.
Seiryuu wasn't amused. Summoning a metal fan, she aimed at Kenji's neck. "I didn't let you in here to criticize my living space, but on the assumption that you have something important to tell. So, I advise you to say your next few words carefully, or else I'll separate your head cleanly from your neck and let my spider have the rest. I hear her children are very hungry."
From the corner of Kenji's vision, he could tell that the jorogumo was smiling wickedly. But he was not afraid. Why should he? Thanks to a magical ritual and a mermaid's tear, his power has increased at least three-times fold. Combined with his clever mind and silver tongue, he had nothing to fear.
"Well?" Seiryuu demanded.
Kenji bowed. "The Emperor of Nihon's current condition has plummeted drastically since last night. He'll be dead within a few hours. Once the news break, all the clans and warriors fighting on the front line against your army will be in disarray."
Seiryuu scoffed. "But not for long since their loyalty will immediately shift to the Crown Princess."
"Princess Kazu is suffering from a heart problem since birth. Her condition has worsened to the point that her physicians have decided to order a heart transplant," he smiled wickedly. "The operation is schedule in a few hours."
Seiryuu's interested was perked. She had known the princess to be sickly, but a heart transplant so soon?
"I see that I now have your attention, my lady," Kenji said. "I've had a little chat with the princess's half-brother, Prince Katsura, and given how keen he is to become Emperor, he'll make certain that his sister dies on the operating table."
"The throne will be mine, not his," Sieryuu reminded him coldly.
"Let him enjoy his little victory for a short while, at least long enough until your army arrives at the gates. Once you arrive and declare victory with the Sacred Talismans in your hands, he and the entire kingdom will have no choice but to kowtow and beg for your mercy. And if I may be so bold as to suggest, my lady?" he paused, looking up. Seiryuu gestured for him to continue. "Let Katsura keep his head and the throne. With the Sacred Talismans in your hands, it is you who can declare who gets to be the ruler. Let him be Emperor in name only, but the true power of the monarchy is in your hand."
"Now why would I do that? I've spent months hammering away against Nihon's defenses for the throne and you suggest that I let a mere mortal keep it?" The tone in her voice grew acidic.
"If Katsura gets to keep his head and his ass on the throne, I'm certain he'll be whatever ruler you want him to be. You'll need those like him under your thumb. Once you've conquered more worlds and realms beyond the stars, you know delegating some of your powers to those who are easily manipulated or loyal only to you would be the best option."
Seiryuu smirked. She had to admit that his plan wasn't half bad. But knowing this boy, there are always strings attached.
"And what of you? Do you desire to be a ruler under my influence?"
Kenji bowed. "Make me the new Chancellor of Nihon once you've conquered our kingdom. And when you and Lord Hwang-Ryong defeat the Guardians and conquer Kandrakar, let me be your one and sole Guardian! Under your command, I can help spread your powers to any world and punish those who dare to dissent."
The ambition in his eyes was undeniable. This youth doesn't dream small. The idea of having a Guardian under their command is very enticing. Worlds would crumble faster and with Kenji policing all worlds under the commands of the Celestial Warriors, they could easily shape the entire universe in their perfect vision. Lusteria would be the center of the cosmos and the brightest jewel in the universe.
"A good plan, but I highly doubt Chancellor Komei would allow such a coup to take place under his nose."
"My foster father is already concern with maintaining order amongst the arguing daimyo and the ministers of war and defense. Thanks to your army coming closer to the capital every day, he'll be too preoccupied with the outside threat."
"I suspect Chancellor Komei is aware of your machination after what happened in Annam," Sieryuu pointed out.
"True, but I have sources telling me that he has failed to inform the Kinomoto elders and has yet to order my arrest. Either he's trying to save the family's name from grace, or he's hoping that I will redeem myself for the sake of my beloved betrothed's future." A ghost grin flickered across his face, it was cold like his heart. "His silence has worked to my advantages in the end, giving me the opportunity to discreetly whisper into the Kinomoto elders' ears."
Seiryuu couldn't help but grin. This boy was truly wicked. With a flick of her wrist, her silver metal fan disappeared. "You have proven to be very persuasive. I trust that you can sway everyone in court to work to our advantages."
"Everything will be in place, my lady," Kenji assured her. "I trust that my plan is to your liking?"
Seiryuu didn't answer at once. Instead, she leaned back and took in a deep breath. The plan to manipulate the humans to work against once another to her advantage would only work so long as she has all the key pieces in place. But thanks to Zhu Que's untimely demise, she lacks her final trump card.
"Whether or not I like your plan, I still need the Guardians' Sacred Talismans in my possession," Seiryuu said, clearly annoyed. "Your dear cousin refused to hand over his Mirror, despite his catatonic state! I had hoped to have his sister in our clutches by now to force both their hands. But both Xuan Wu has failed to keep Kimi under ice and Zhu Que would no doubt have informed her of the reason why to kidnap her in the first place! She'll be on to our game."
Kenji nodded. Not having Kimi's Jewel and Sword would pose a hindrance to their plan. But he didn't work this hard and risked this much to fail over some small hiccup. He has a contingency plan. He always does. Time to make dear cousin Kimi suffer and kill off her new friends to boot.
"If I may, my lady, I have a few plans to get Kimi within your clutches and of a way to immobilize her. Although, I think I would require the assistants of both your lieutenants."
Seiryuu turned her eyes on the jorogumo who had been standing silently in the corner. The spider-woman smiled, clearly eager for some blood.
"Jorogumo, bring Kitsune here," Seiryuu ordered. "I have a little mission for the both of you."
Matt was quickly out of breath. He couldn't take it anymore.
The scene before him was chaos. Every moment of hope shattered by moments of despair. Before he even had time to process, the battle shifted to a new opponent, one more terrifying and difficult than the last.
The first simulation was against Byakko. The ground trembled and pockets of earth rose into the sky. The Guardians tried to take down the Lord of Gluttony but Byakko proved to be too powerful. Matt tried to stop Will from going after Byakko, telling her that it was too risky, that it will exhaust her if she relies on all her energy at once. Will brushed him off and took the risk. To his horror, Byakko survived, appearing behind Will, blasting her with his terrifying gaze of petrification. Matt tried to help her, but Byakko quickly shot him down. He could feel his mind trapped in a body of stone, unable to cry in despair as Byakko threw Will down a ravine and buried her under mounds of crushing earth.
Matt's stone form dissolved away, and he could speak and move again. But the scene before him has changed. He was hiding behind a column of ice, watching Xuan Wu playing with her victims by dunking and yanking them in freezing water. Two snow women came in to present their master an illuminous crown. He seized his moment and jumped down to attack, but the Lady of Sloth was quicker. In an instant, Matt was frozen in a block of ice again he watched helpless as Kimi and Cornelia each fought against the demigod individually.
His icy prison shattered, and he was dropped into another scene, one not of the frozen castle, but a fiery palace court with a gargantuan vermillion bird raining fire over their heads. Someone shouted an order at Matt, telling him to back away as Will and Cornelia combined their Hearts and Virtues against Zue Que. Whatever hope sparked in his heart died instantly when it resulted in a fiery shockwave.
Irma was gone, swept away into the darkness. The others have devolved into their earthly forms. Matt spotted Will lying several yards in front of him and struggled to crawl towards her. Her legs were covered in severe burns from the close proximation of the explosion. He tried to steady her, but she whimpered in pain.
Please stop! Matt begged silently. No more! No more, please!
As if an answer to his prayer, Will dissolved into light in his arms, followed by the hellish scene around him. Matt frantically tried to grab hold of Will, but felt nothing but the cool surface of the ground.
He gasped and looked around to see a familiar training room, his face flooding with perspiration and his breathing heavy.
"Matt!" Will flung her arms around him. "Matt, are you okay?"
"I'm…I…" Matt looked up to see worried looks painted on the others' faces. He searched for Kimi and was only met by her cold, steely eyes.
Kimi held out a hand, summoning the memory crystals into herself.
Matt sighed in relief, but then the felling turned into anger and hatred.
Sharing his sentiment, Will turned on Kimi. "I can't believe you did that! You said you wanted to change, but this sick little stunt you pulled on Matt's psyche says otherwise!"
Kimi frowned. At least she had the decency of not showing any pleasure in their torment. That still didn't excuse her action.
"He was the one who insisted on facing three demigods. I only obliged."
Matt's blood boiled. "Who the hell do you think are!"
"I think that question should be given to you," Kimi pointed out.
"I only want to help and be more involve in my girlfriend's life, the magical and the norm!"
"No, you just hate the feeling of being useless and left behind. Despite gaining the magic and martial art skills you've so craved for, you still lost. You were captured by a powerful being without magic and by a mortal human with magic. Your pride has been wounded since, and now you're desperate to prove yourself worthy again."
Her words were like a cold knife plunging into his heart. Matt couldn't find the words to counter her. She read his aura and no matter how well he could hide it from the others, he couldn't hide it all from the Guardian of Light.
"I know how much you loathe me, but frankly I could care less," Kimi said, her tone still as cold and demeaning as ever. "I've been living with words spoken from my own kin that has more callousness all my life. Compare to their contempt for me, yours is like a soothing respite."
Suddenly, Kimi came closer to him, so close their noses nearly touch. "You've fought well, but not well enough for what awaits us on Lusteria. Stay home. Otherwise, you're more hindrance than help, Matt-boy."
With that, Kimi coolly left the training room, leaving Matt shaken.
"Matt?" Will turned back to him. "Don't listen to her, she—"
Matt didn't let her finished. Furiously, he grabbed his coat and boots and made way for the front door.
"Matt! Matt, wait!" Will barely got her boots on and forgot to put on her coat. By the time she caught up with him down the street, she was panting. At least the exercise chased away the cold. "Matt, please! Don't let Kimi get to you! I don't care if she can read your feelings. She doesn't know the real you like I do!"
Matt stopped and glanced at her. "No, she doesn't. And she's never going to accept my help or who I am! No matter how hard I try, I'm just a weak and pathetic Earthling to her!"
Will was at a loss. "Matt, I'm sorry—"
"Yeah, I'm sorry, too," he huffed indignantly.
He didn't notice that his sharp tone made Will winced as if he was mad at her and not Kimi. Will sighed. He's still sour and miffed from the challenge, she reasoned. But she wanted to say something to reassure him.
"I'm sorry that I wasn't born with magic, okay?" Matt continued, his frustration still clear. "I'm sorry that even when I finally did gain the magic and fighting skill I wanted so much, I still wasn't able to help you! I couldn't when Takeda put me on ice! I couldn't prevent Liam from kidnapping your brother! I couldn't even help you when the invaders came from the Fast World or anything! All I wanted to do was prove my worth! I still want to be useful and helpful to you and the girls! But it's clear that no matter what, I'm not good enough for your new friend. According to her, I should know my place!"
"Stop it, Matt! You're not worthless!" Will protested. "Kimi's a sociopath! Just because she endured more hardship in her life doesn't give her right to belittle you! She doesn't get to decide if you can or can't join us on Lusteria!"
"Be honest with me, Will," Matt asked, his tone even. He held her gaze immediately, something heavy fell in the pit of her stomach. "With the way I am now, do you really think I have any chance standing my ground against any Lusterian enemies?"
Will didn't answer. She wanted to say yes, but knew it was a lie. The Matt standing before her is now stronger and more reliable than the guitar-playing-good-looking-goof she crushed on since that first Halloween party. He helped the Guardians train with their new powers in preparation against Dark Mother. He advised them when they brought Liam into the group and knew something wasn't right about the white-haired boy. But the dark forces on Lusteria made all these previous villains look like playground bullies. Matt may have improved his skill, but the challenge against Kimi gave Will hesitation.
Matt saw the doubt in her eyes. Deflated and disappointed, he shook his head and turned away from her. "That's what I thought."
"Matt, no, please! I didn't mean—"
"Yes you do, even if you wished differently. I don't need to be an auraseer like Kimi to know that you doubt me, too," he said coldly. "Good luck on your next mission."
Will watched as he disappeared around a corner, leaving her alone in the freezing cold without even bothering to offer her his jacket.
To be continued…
I realized that it's been 8 years since I first start posting this story online for you to enjoy and I'm still nowhere near the end! I will try to finish it as fast as I can, but life has been rough and stressful for me lately. At times, I don't feel like writing or drawing. Luckily, this is the very last part of "Skeletons in the Closet". Next, we'll be slowly returning to Lusteria for the battle against Seiryuu.
With the crisis from the current COVID-19 pandemic, I might have more time to write more by staying home and isolating myself from society.
If you have been sticking around since the beginning just to read this story, I thank you for your devotion and promise to bring Dreams of Lusteria to a conclusion.