FALL SEVEN TIMES
by Ulquiorra9000
A/N: Kamigawa is divided in half: utsushiyo, the mortal realm, and kakuriyo, the world of the kami. Kind of like Nyx on Theros.
Chapter 8
The good news: Lord Hiroshi Kirinji's castle was even bigger and better than Mizuki had imagined it, and he had countless horse-mounted samurai, human and kitsune, patrolling the grounds. He was certainly the man to help resist the Phyrexians!
The bad news: instead, he gave Mizuki and Azrael a less than warm welcome.
Mizuki winced as she was forced onto her knees on the floor of Lord Kirinji's throne room, Azrael on his knees next to her. They both had their cuffs on, the blue-white enchantments humming in the otherwise silent room. Mizuki's knees already protested against the hard, polished wooden floor, but she didn't dare make a sound. She just wished that her red-white sword hadn't been confiscated! She felt vulnerable without it. Well, she was, aside from Azrael's own prowess.
What a lousy evening.
Green-gold banners hung from the ceiling, all marked with the black characters of the Kirinji clan's name. Samurai stood at regular intervals in ceremonial armor, halberds in hand, faces hidden behind the stylized, demon-like masks over their faces. Some samurai had such masks in addition to their horned helmets to intimidate their foes. Mizuki wouldn't admit it, but it was sure as hell working!
Other than that, the throne room would have been quite pleasant. Huge, painted vases stood on pedestals, along with bonsai trees and clusters of royal flowers, and expensive wall scrolls were illuminated by attractive paper lanterns overhead. Several vassals stood at the ready, all wearing green-gold robes, their faces inscrutable.
Meanwhile, the daimyo himself sat on a wide, square cushion in front of a wall completely painted with a diorama featuring several of the legendary spirit dragons, noble samurai, monks, and ravenous demons. From start to finish, the scene glorified the Kirinji clan in no uncertain terms.
"My lord!" one of the four samurai who had dragged in Mizuki and Azrael saluted. "These two were found trespassing on the estate's border. They deny being hostile scouts."
Mizuki was bursting to yell her anger and frustration of this whole situation, but somehow, she kept it inside. Seeing Azrael calm next to her seemed to have an effect.
Lord Kirinji leaned forward, muttering something to an elderly advisor who sat kneeled next to him. Then he said something in reassuring tones to the attractive young woman who sat on his other side, and finally, the daimyo turned back to the captives. "My top advisor, the trusted Osamu, can sense auras with exquisite finesse," he said, his voice echoing in the decorated hall. "You two... you are not here for my estate's best interests, are you?"
Was this the time to speak up? Mizuki tested the waters. "We're not spying on you, Lord Kirinji! It's the opposite. We wanted an audience!"
"And you got it," one of the samurai commented snidely.
"Silence!" Lord Kirinji held up an open hand, a dark scowl on his face as Osamu the advisor muttered something else to him. The daimyo nodded.
"One of you is not even a Kamigawa-born man, apparently," Lord Kirinji added. He pointed. "The man with red hair... bring him closer. Restrained, of course."
Azrael's hands were still bound by the enchanted cuffs, but all the same, two samurai roughly seized his upper arms and half-dragged him closer to the sneering daimyo.
The young woman, meanwhile, watched with what looked like an expression of muted guilt.
Once again, Azrael was forced to his knees, his red hair askew across his face. He looked up when Osamu gruffly grabbed his chin and forced him to look up. "What are you, bastard?" the advisor roared. "Your aura's unlike anything I've ever seen!"
Mizuki watched helplessly from twenty paces away as Azrael inhaled sharply. "My name is Azrael," he said flatly. "I'm an artificer and practicioner of many martial arts styles."
"An artificer, are you?" Osamu released Azrael's chin and smacked the side of his head. "Why don't you try and tinker yourself a way out of this mess? Oh, you can't! That's right!"
Azrael was once again silent as Mizuki watched in despair. What was going on?! Lord Kirinji was a tough one, but he and his men were never known for this paranoia and cruelty! Was there no one on Kamigawa who would help her? Was the whole plane oblivious to the danger prowling their lands and waters?
"From where do you hail?" Lord Kirinji demanded. "Speak, Azrael!"
Azrael tossed his red hair. "I was born and raised in a city of artificers and scholars and educated at a university. I have been a wandering agent ever since."
Lord Kirinji narrowed his eyes. "And where is this home city of yours?"
"Far," Azrael said.
Osamu punched Azrael hard on the jaw. "Don't you play games with us!" he roared. "Give us a location! Where were you born? Where did you receive your education? Who are your family?"
"Even his name is strange," Lord Kirinji added thoughtfully.
"My home city... is long gone," Azrael panted. "Destroyed and sacked by the same monsters that are spreading across Kamigawa! That is why my friend and I presented ourselves to you! To prevent the same from happening here!"
Mizuki held her breath. Was this her and Azrael's big break? Azrael made his case plain and clear... the daimyo would have to bite!
"Bah." Lord Kirinji waved a dismissive hand. "Strange beings, probably from the Takenuma Swamp, have been roaming the countryside. My army will handle them. Funny that you and the girl over there arrive just as they do. To scout for my weaknesses?"
"No. Conversely, to rally you and enlighten you to the grave threat!" This time, there was a note of panic in Azrael's voice. "You must listen!"
Osamu seized Azrael's leather armor collar and shook him roughly. "Enough lies!" he barked. "Hiroshi should have your head for this!"
Lord Kirinji tilted his head. "One moment, Osamu. Have that girl over there brought to me."
Mizuki braced herself as two more samurai dragged her to Azrael's side, closer to the daimyo and his fellows. Up here, she tried to catch the eye of the seated young woman, but the girl didn't reciprocate.
Lord Kirinji's green-gold robes crinkled as he leaned forward to study Mizuki. He wore a finely-woven silver haori coat, too, embedded with emeralds. Such obvious wealth... why wasn't it being used against the Phyrexians better?!
"So, who are you?" Lord Kirinji demanded.
"M-my name's Mizuki," Mizuki said shakily. "Born and raised in a small town near the Jukai Forest. I'm just a wanderer, but I've come to realize the threat our world faces, my lord. Seriously! I'm here to humbly ask for your help."
Lord Kirinji leaned back and laughed harshly. "My castle is in no danger!" he declared. "My army will make sure of that."
Mizuki snapped. "This is about our whole world! It's more than your lands at risk! Everyone could die if something isn't done!"
Mizuki yelped in pain as Osamu smacked her hard across the face. She fell back in an awkward heap.
"Daughter, can you believe these buffoons?" Lord Kirinji turned to the young woman seated next to him. "Ayano, my darling, they insist on insulting the state of my estate's security!"
Even from down here, Mizuki could see that Ayano, probably in her mid-20s, was a girl of astonishing, regal beauty. Unlike her daimyo father, she wore blue silk robes with intricate patterns in gold weave, and a pure white under-robe. Her shiny dark hair was loose, falling over her shoulders. She sat politely, hands folded in her lap.
But Ayano didn't have her father's, or Osamu's, expression of gleeful superiority. Rather, she bowed her head and looked away, eyes shut. Two tears leaked from her lids. "I am sorry to see this, father."
Mizuki's eyes widened. Whoa. She's putting on an act! That response satisfies her dad, but I think she really means "this is horrible!"
At least someone was sensible around here...
"Mizuki," Lord Kirinji said, and at his command, Osamu helped Mizuki back to a proper kneeling position. "I can see that you're a humble but proper daughter of Kamigawa. Maybe I'll be lenient on you if you can explain Azrael's nonsense. Where is he truly from? What is he capable of? What kind of threat does he pose to my estate and noble clan?"
Mizuki licked her lips. The next few words out of her mouth could make all the difference. She had little doubt that Azrael might be beheaded by a samurai's sword on Lord Kirinji's command.
Mizuki decided that enough was enough. "He... Azrael comes from Dominaria," she said slowly. "Just as we live in utsushiyo, apart from the kami world of kakuriyo, Azrael's home is separate from ours. But don't worry; it's no danger to us. He comes from a different society, but I beg you, be lenient on him, too! He's faced the invaders before. He knows stuff we need."
There was a great deal of concerned muttering through the throne room. Ayano, for her part, snapped her eyes open and gave Mizuki an amazed look that she craftily hid from her father and Osamu.
"A third world? Dominaria?" Lord Kirinji's brow furrowed. "Is that why Osamu sensed such an alien aura about him?"
"You'd probably figure it out sooner or later. Might as well get on your good graces and explain it now," Mizuki said earnestly. "We're fighting the worst kind of enemy. They're not from the Takenuma Swamp. They're Phyrexians, and any non-Phyrexian life is only fit to be butchered or assimilated into their horde!"
Lord Kirinji shared a look with Osamu. "Phyrexians? Osamu, have you heard of such a race?"
Osamu shook his head. "No. Not at all."
"There's no real danger," Lord Kirinji added, his confidence stronger than ever in his tone. "Why, only three days ago, Osamu returned from a diplomatic mission to the neighboring Sachiken clan, and he experienced no undue interference on the way there or back. You seem to overestimate the 'Phyrexian' threat, Mizuki."
Mizuki swallowed. What? That doesn't... that can't be right! Is Lord Kirinji in denial or something? Is there even any point trying to argue?
"I recommend," Osamu declared, "that we detain these two until we can prepare for a proper interrogation. I'm sure that Higure would love to beat the truth from them."
Mizuki felt a surge of terror. She doubted that she or Azrael would get out of that alive. "N-no, that's not -!"
"Silence," Lord Kirinji demanded again. "It seems that you and Azrael are not willing to cooperate with us any further. I pride myself on the security of my jail wing. You'll get to see for yourself in just a moment. Men!"
Four samurai approached and forced Mizuki and Azrael to their feet.
He's crazy! Or scared shitless and in total denial! Mizuki glared at the daimyo as though to silently plead for her freedom. But there was no pity or compassion in Lord Kirinji's eyes, or Osamu's.
Ayano, however, drew away when her father tried to give her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"I'm... not feeling well, father," Ayano said quietly.
"I understand," Lord Kirinji said as Mizuki and Azrael were escorted to a doorway leading deeper into the castle. "This must have been distressing for you. But I insist that you see how I handle such things."
Ayano dipped her head. "I understand, father."
Ten minutes later, Mizuki was sitting on the simple bed in a square, stone-walled jail room, the cuffs still binding her wrists. She felt numb with horror. Not even the gentle moonlight pouring through the barred window could calm her.
What the hell was she supposed to do now? The wooden door was thick and enchanted; she tried calling out to Azrael, but her voice crashed uselessly on the door.
She curled up in a ball and squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back tears. Why did this have to happen? Why?!
Hours passed. Mizuki tested the door and the cracks between the stone bricks for any weaknesses or gaps, but found none. She strained to hear anything from Azrael's neighboring cell, but again, she got nothing. Might as well save the energy, so she curled up on the cot as the moon drifted across the sky.
Mizuki didn't open her eyes until a bright light glowed through her eyelids.
Hardly daring to believe it, Mizuki opened her eyes.
A katana's blade had been thrust through the thick door, melting the wood around it with its vibrant green-white enchantments. Sizzling, burning wood filled the cell with smoke.
The weakened door gave way when the katana's wielder kicked it inwards. The door slammed to the ground.
Enchanted katana in hand, Ayano Kirinji stood in the open doorway, a look of fierce determination on her face.