Night 8- Aladdin and the Kouga Clan

Magi © Shinobu Ohtaka

Shahra © Me

It was a dark and stormy night, not fit for neither man nor beast. The denizens of Utan had locked themselves inside their houses, taking shelter for the night. However…one woman was brave enough to venture out into the streets alone in spite of the weather.

Sheba glanced around worriedly, her vision slightly impaired from the rain, but she still went onward. Why? The look on her face was obvious: she was looking for her lost child.

"Aladdin!" she called out. "Aladdin, where are you?!"

No answer came, causing Sheba's hair to droop slightly. Aladdin had gone out to play in town for a while, promising to return by sunset, but when the storm came, he did not return. Knowing the storm must've frightened her son into hiding, Sheba left the house to search for him. So far, she was unsuccessful.

"Aladdin!" she called out, again…but she still didn't get an answer. "…Oh, Aladdin, where are you? My poor little boy…!"

Suddenly, the magenta-haired woman spotted something flitter by from behind her. They looked like tiny birds, made of a pure white light.

'The rukh…!' she thought before she went to follow them. As she did, she heard the sound of soft sobbing coming from somewhere nearby. She gasped quietly, for she recognized the sound, and soon, she began to sprint faster, following the rukh into an alley. Once there, she didn't see anything but a few barrels and crates…but she could still hear sobbing coming from somewhere in the alley.

"…Aladdin?" she called, causing the sobs to cease, and not long after, a familiar blue-haired boy came out from under a crate, his big, bright, blue doe eyes brimming with tears.

"Mother!" Aladdin cried as he ran into his mother's arms.

"Oh, Aladdin," Sheba soothed as she held her crying son. "There, there…it'll be all right. I'm here, now."

Aladdin sniffled as his mother held him.

"I'm sorry, Mother," he hiccupped. "It's just…I tried to get home before the storm hit, but then it got all dark, and I couldn't find my way back, and then there was thunder and lightning and…oh, Mother, I'm so glad you found me!"

"The rukh led me to you," Sheba said with a smile. "It's thanks to them that I found you. Now come on. Let's go home and get nice and dry and warm."

Aladdin smiled and nodded his head while Sheba carried him back to their house, and as they left, the rukh followed, one of them landing on Aladdin's wrist. The boy blinked curiously at them before he glanced up at Sheba, who held him tightly so as not to let him slip and fall into the muddy ground. Soon, Aladdin's head started to become filled with questions.

What were these rukh, anyway? And how come only Aladdin and Sheba could see them while others could not?

"…Mother?" Aladdin asked.

"Hmm?" Sheba hummed. "What is it, Aladdin?"

"…What exactly am I, anyway?" Aladdin asked. "I can see these little birds while no one else can…so what am I?"

Sheba paused for a moment before she smiled.

"You're always asking me that question," she said as she pet him. "…And I keep giving you the same answer. You're just one of a kind, Aladdin…that's all I can tell you."

Hearing that seemed to satisfy Aladdin for now, for he smiled as he rested his chest against his mother's bosom, and soon after, he fell into a deep sleep.

Dream end

Aladdin blinked his eyes slowly, his vision slightly blurred, but as it cleared, he found himself, staring up at a cloth ceiling, which let the sun's rays shine through. As he sat up, he found himself lying in a warm bed, tucked underneath a blanket, and surrounded by various furniture. It was then that the boy realized that he was not in old shack in Utan, but in someone else's residence.

'…It was only a dream,' he thought before he looked down and held his flute and frowned, sadly. 'Mother…'

"Oh! You're awake!"

Aladdin looked up to see Toya walking in with a bucket of water and a cloth.

"Err…hello," he murmured. "Who are you? Where am I?"

"I'm Toya," the young woman said. "You're in my hut. You were lost in the valley and you had a terrible fever, so I took care of you."

"Oh," Aladdin said. "Thank you, Miss Toya!"

Toya smiled before she went over to Aladdin and placed her palm on his forehead.

"Well, it looks like your fever broke," she noted. "You've been asleep for about two days, you know-"

Grrrrgle…

Toya gasped quietly while Aladdin blushed, his hands over his growling tummy.

"Oh, of course!" Toya exclaimed. "You must be starving! You wait right here. I'll get you some food."

"Thank you," Aladdin said.

Before long, Toya returned, carrying a tray with a bowl of soup and some slices of bread.

"Here you go!" she said as she set the tray down on Aladdin's lap. "Eat up!"

Aladdin smiled broadly before he began to shovel the bread in his mouth and slurp up the soup.

"Goodness, I've never seen someone with such an appetite!" Toya exclaimed in surprise.

Soon, Aladdin had finished his meal and sighed in content as he lied on the bed.

"That was yummy," he said. "So were you the one who found me, Miss Toya?"

"Oh, no, not me," said Toya. "My friend, Doruji, found you."

"Is our little guest awake?"

Toya turned to see Baba enter.

"Oh! Hi, Grandma!" she greeted. "Yes, he's awake."

Baba chuckled as she walked over to Aladdin, who blinked at her.

"Let's have a look at you, boy," she said before she opened one eye at Aladdin, who froze for a moment in surprise. Then, she chuckled again.

"W-what's so funny?" Aladdin asked before he wiped his mouth. "Do I have something on my face?"

"It seems you're feeling better, now," Baba said. "The rukh are joyful."

"Oh, boy, here we go again," Toya muttered. "Grandma goes on about this little fairy tale about these rukh things."

"The rukh are no tale, young lady," Baba rebuked. "They are shining and flying around the boy as we speak."

"See?" Toya asked Aladdin, who blinked at Baba in surprise. "What'd I tell you?"

"…Miss," Aladdin said. "Can you see the rukh, too?"

"Huh?!" Toya muttered in shock.

"Hmm?" Baba hummed, inquisitively. "Yes, I can see them very much…and I suppose you can, too? Can you see them, now? The flow of life that looks like an endless stream of glowing white birds?"

As she spoke, the rukh began to swarm around her and Aladdin with great vigor.

"Wow!" Aladdin exclaimed as he hopped up and down, excitedly. "I thought my Mother and I were the only ones who could see them!"

"Is that so?" Baba chuckled. "It isn't anything special, to be honest. My Great-Grandmother could see them, too, and she told me all about them when I was your age. She told me that the rukh are the home of souls. Every living thing on this earth are individuals, but when they die, they all return to one place, and that is the rukh. They are both the beginning and the end of life. When people die, their bodies return to the earth, but their souls return to the rukh."

"The home…of souls…" Aladdin whispered in awe while Toya just tilted her head.

"I just don't get it," she muttered.

"Mother never told me that," Aladdin said. "I just know that they help me, sometimes."

"Oh?" Baba inquired. "Is that right?"

"Yeah," Aladdin said. "You see…whenever I share the strength in my stomach with them, all these little bits of light gather, and they give me their strength to help me out of trouble!"

"What was that?!" Baba questioned, her left eye going wide. "But that could only mean…"

Suddenly, another woman entered the hut.

"Baba!" she called. "Doruji and the patrol have returned!"

"I see," Baba said before she and Toya went out. "Very well, then."

"Come on, Aladdin," Toya beckoned. "You come, too."

Aladdin nodded before he followed Baba and Toya outside. He shielded his eyes from the light of the sun, having not been outside for a while, before he let them adjust. Once outside, he saw a group of men riding on horses. Some of the women and children surrounded them, asking many questions.

"How'd it go?"

"Just fine. No sign of the enemy."

"We even brought back a deer! Just remember to share it with everyone!"

Doruji jumped off his steed as Toya approached with Aladdin behind her.

"Welcome home, Doruji," she greeted.

"Hey, Toya!" Doruji greeted back before he noticed Aladdin. "Oh! You're awake!"

"Aladdin, this is Doruji," said Toya. "He's the one who found you."

"Are you feeling okay, now?" Doruji asked.

"Yep!" Aladdin answered. "Thanks a lot, mister!"

"You're lucky I came along when I did," Doruji said. "If I left you alone, the wolves would've come and eaten you."

"Hey, Toya!"

Suddenly, two young men dressed in the same garb as Doruji appeared, holding a large buck.

"Check it out!" one of them said. "Doruji killed this deer for you!"

"Moron," Doruji said as he lightly smacked him in the head. "It's not just for her."

"Go ahead and tell him how cool he is, Toya!" added another one of his friends.

Hearing that caused Doruji to blush while Toya stared at him, awkwardly.

"I-I hope you weren't scared out there, Doruji," she said. "I remember that when we were little, you used to be afraid of rabbits."

"You were?!" Aladdin asked before he burst into laughter.

"I-it's not funny!" Doruji shouted, blushing even more. "Besides, that was a long time ago! I'm a man, now! I'm a true warrior of the Kouga Clan, and I'll fight anyone and anything to protect my brothers and sisters!"

Hearing that caused Toya and Aladdin to smile.

"You're really cool, Mister Doruji," the latter spoke.

"Err…th-thanks," Doruji said with a proud smile. "I do what I can, sometimes."

Toya just giggled…and yet, at the same time, there was a slight tinge of worry in her stomach.

"Oh, yeah!" Aladdin exclaimed as he held up his flute. "Ugo should say thanks, too!"

"So," Baba began as she walked towards the other members of the patrol, "what of rumors from the east?"

"About that," said a man that was about half her age, "the Kou Empire in the east is expanding its influence. It has already consolidated the far eastern plains and will surely advance west to our village. I'm worried about the strange monsters they use in battle."

"I see…" Baba muttered.

"Hey, don't worry about it, Baba!" Doruji exclaimed. "We are the proud Kouga Clan! We've kept other nations at bay for centuries! Our people will unite and drive them back! FOR THE HONOR OF THE KOUGA CLAN!"

"YEAAAAAAHH!" the Kouga Clan men cheered as they raised up their fists…among them being a giant blue one, emerging from Aladdin's flute, and not long after, the air was filled with the screams of startled men, women, children, and the whinnying of frightened horses.

XXX

"All right, you!" Doruji shouted as he slammed a fist on a table. "Talk! What the hell are you, anyway?! Are you a spy from the Kou Empire?!"

"Doruji, please calm down!" Toya urged as Aladdin hid behind her. "You're frightening the boy! Besides, a child like this couldn't possibly be a spy!"

"You…have a point," Doruji said.

"Who are you?" asked one of Doruji's friends. "What's your name?"

"I'm Aladdin," Aladdin said. "I'm a traveler."

"Traveler or not, it's still strange you were passed out in the middle of nowhere like that," Doruji noted. "How'd you get here?"

"I wish I knew," Aladdin answered. "Do you people know of a place called Qishan? That's where I was before."

"Qishan?" Doruji repeated. "Never heard of it."

"Hold up!" said an older man. "I have a friend in a caravan who knows that place! He told me that if you crossed the mountains and many, many more, there is a far off land of sand rather than grass, and my ancestor, the first to make that journey, said that walking there would take about 5 years."

"5 YEARS?!" Aladdin questioned. "IT'S THAT FAR AWAY?!"

He then drooped in a comically depressed manner.

"Ho-ho!" Baba chuckled. "Don't worry, child. The Spring Market is in two weeks. A caravan will be here by then and you can get yourself a ride. That way, you can get to Qishan faster. Until, you can stay here with us."

"Yay!" Aladdin cheered. "Thanks, ma'am!"

"Are you in that much of a hurry to get back?" Toya asked.

"Yes, I am," Aladdin replied. "You see…I made a promise to a dear friend of mine."

Toya smiled and gently pet the boy on the head.

"I see," she said. "I hope your friend will be waiting for you."

Aladdin smiled as he thought about the promise that he and Alibaba made, together.

'…I'll be back soon, Alibaba,' he thought. 'Then, we can go on even more adventures, together…just like we promised.'

XXX

That night, the Kouga Clan had gathered around a bonfire, celebrating a successful hunt. There was music and dancing, people drinking, talking, and laughing with each other…just enjoying each other's company. Aladdin smiled as he sat in between Baba and Toya, who sat next to Doruji.

"Everyone's so lively, here," Aladdin said.

"Of course," Baba answered. "That's because all we're one big happy family."

"Is everyone here a part of your family?" Aladdin asked.

"That's right," Toya said. "The Kouga Clan has lived, died, been born, and loved together."

"The same blood runs through our veins," Doruji added. "That's why we're one big family, here."

"I see," Aladdin said as he looked around. "Must be nice."

Just then, he spotted a woman that looked about two years older than Sheba…feeding some dumplings to a young boy that is about Aladdin's age. The boy laughed happily before he and his mother embraced…and seeing that caused Aladdin's heart to start aching.

"Some fun, huh, Aladdin?" Doruji asked…but there was no answer. "Uh…Aladdin?"

He and Toya looked around, but they saw that the boy in question was heading inside the latter's hut.

"Aladdin?" Toya called in concern before she, Baba, and Doruji stood up and followed him. Upon entering the hut, they found him, sitting on a bed, hugging his knees with a solemn expression on his face.

"Aladdin?" Doruji asked. "You okay?"

"Why did you leave?" Toya asked. "Did you not like the party?"

"Huh?" Aladdin muttered. "Oh! No! I-it's not that! The party's great, really…it's just…"

Baba sighed before she went over and sat down next to him.

"What's wrong, child?" she asked as she gently patted his back. "Do you want to tell Baba all about it?"

A pause…but then Aladdin sighed.

"…Whenever I see people like that together," he started, "all happy and smiling…it reminds me of the times I used to spend with my Mother."

"Your mother?" Toya repeated.

"Mm," Aladdin nodded. "We used to do everything together…we'd eat, we'd laugh, we'd play, we'd take baths…there were even times when we'd bicker, but we always made up in the end…but now…I can't do any of those things with her anymore, because…because she's…!"

Before he could finish his sentence, the blue-haired boy soon broke down in tears.

"…I see," Baba murmured sadly as she rubbed small circles on Aladdin's back. "Your mother is no longer of this earth, is that it?"

Aladdin sniffled and nodded his head while Toya and Doruji looked on in sympathy.

"Poor child," said Baba. "I can see it in your heart: the sadness and loss you carry. You must've loved your mother very much."

"She was…very sick…!" Aladdin said between hiccups. "I…I did everything I could to help her get better…but when I finally found a way to save her…it was too late!"

"Oh, Aladdin, I'm so sorry," Toya said. "I lost my Mother, too…she passed a couple of years ago…and I still miss her to this day."

"And my parents died when slave traders invaded our village," Doruji added. "I was only 7 when it happened."

"The pain we carry when loved ones pass on before we do runs very deep," Baba said. "It's something we may never get over. However…at least you know now that your mother is not suffering anymore."

Aladdin looked at Baba, his eyes bloodshot.

"Remember what I said about the rukh?" Baba asked as she looked up, prompting Aladdin to do the same, and soon, they saw the small fluttering birds of lighting, swarming about them. "Somewhere in this endless flow of life, your mother's spirit is up there, among many other souls…in a way, it's like she's still watching over you."

As the old woman said this, one of the rukh fluttered down towards Aladdin and landed on his nose. He blinked at it for a second before he smiled warmly.

"…Thank you, Baba," Aladdin said. "That…makes me feel a little better…but I still feel like I'm all alone, now."

"What are you talking about, dear?" Baba asked as she gently pet Aladdin's head. "The people of the plains become one when they live together like this, and as long as you're here, you are a part of our family, too."

Aladdin's eyes went wide while Baba chortled.

"You're Baba's child, now!" she exclaimed.

"You hear that, Aladdin?" Doruji asked. "You're one of us, now!"

"Isn't that great?" Toya asked.

Hearing that caused Aladdin to gasp happily.

"I love you, Baba!" he exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around her neck. The elderly woman chuckled…but then grunted in slight pain when she heard a small popping sound.

"Ooh…! My back!"

"Grandma!"

"A-Aladdin, stop! Let go! You're hurting her!"

"Oops! Sorry, Baba! Are you okay?!"

XXX

Meanwhile, far from the east…the footsteps of an invading empire, holding large, red flags with the kanji for "Kou" and wearing suits of armor, drew near the Kouga Village.

XXX

The following morning, in a camp quite far from the village, one of the armored men from last night kneeled before a shadowy figure.

"Reporting, General!" he exclaimed. "The village of a foreign people lies 50 ri to the west. It's about 100 une, with a population of over 100. It lies directly in our path. What are your orders?"

The figure smiled and said, "I shall go to them."

The figure stood, revealing herself to be a woman of average height with long, navy blue hair and blue eyes. She has thin, split-ended eyebrow and a small mole near her bottom lip. She wore traditional feminine robes of light pink and white, and she carries a fan of white feathers with a golden handle.

Behind her stood a young man with long, light blue hair tied up in a ponytail, and the top of his hair was style in the same manner as Alibaba, garbed in blue robes and carries two swords, which is held in a dark blue sash and an older man with a split goatee, wearing purple robes with a golden ring in the middle, and a red sash around his shoulders.

"Let's go, Seishun, Ryosai," the woman said.

"Yes, Princess Hakuei," they both said.

XXX

Back at the Kouga Village, Toya is seen outside, milking a mare.

"Wow! That's yummy~!"

Toya turned and saw Aladdin…suckling right from a mother mare.

"W-wait!" she cried. "Aladdin, you're not supposed to drink it from the teat like that!"

"Will you cut that out?" Doruji asked as he pulled Aladdin away from the horse's udder.

"Hey!" Aladdin complained. "That was really mean!"

"Weird kid," Doruji muttered before he looked to Toya. "So, Toya, how are you this morning?"

"I'm fine," Toya answered before she spotted a sword, strapped to Doruji's back. "Um…why are you carrying that around?"

"Well, you never know," said Doruji. "I might have to go out and fight off an enemy, one day."

"…I see," Toya said, looking down worriedly.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Doruji asked.

"…Doruji," Toya began, "I know you've gotten a lot stronger over the years I've known you…but…that doesn't mean I can't be worried, you know. I hope the day never comes…when you do have to go into battle."

"…Toya…" Doruji murmured in concern.

"To me," Toya said with a smile, "it'd be a blessing…if we all continued living together, peacefully, like this."

"Hey, don't you worry," Doruji reassured. "I promise, I'll protect you, Baba, and everyone else in the village! No doubt about it!"

Toya smiled and blushed a bit.

"Thank you, Doruji…you always seem to know what to say, don't you?"

Doruji just chuckled and rubbed the back of his head.

"Hey! Doruji!"

The young man turned to see two of his friends approach.

"Doruji! We got a problem!" said one. "A couple of lambs have gotten lose and are in the valley!"

"A tiger's chasing them!" said the other.

"A tiger?!" Doruji questioned.

"Yeah, but…it's not like any tiger I've ever seen! It looks like it's a golden collar around its neck!"

Hearing that caused Aladdin to gasp silently.

"Gold collar…?!" he whispered.

"It doesn't matter what it's wearing!" Doruji argued. "We need to drive that thing out of the valley! Let's go!"

With that, the three young men mounted their horses and rode off. Aladdin tried to go after them, but they were all too fast.

"Wait!" he called. "Come back!"

When that didn't seem to work, the boy pulled off his turban and sat on it.

"Fly, Magic Turban!"

Soon after, he took flight after the boys.

XXX

In the valley, two little lambs are seen running away from Shahra, who was in hot pursuit. The tigress had actually appeared in a location not too far from Aladdin, but it took her a few days to get here. Now, she was hungry, and the first thing she laid her eyes on were the young lambs.

Just when she was about to pounce on one, she was suddenly intercepted by a pair of large, powerful hooves, which stomped the ground just inches away from her face. Shahra looked up and saw Doruji and his friends, all of them wielding their swords.

"Get back!" Doruji shouted as he swung his sword at Shahra, who jumped back roared at him. "Go on! Get outta here!"

"Beat it! Go on! Get!"

"Get outta here you damn pussycat! Go on!"

Shahra just roared viciously as the men swung their weapons and yelled incoherently at her. She attempted to swipe at one of the horses, but they back out of her reach before she could hook her claws onto one.

"Stop!"

"Huh?" Doruji muttered as he looked up. "Aladdin?"

Aladdin jumped down from his Magic Turban, which quickly wrapped around his head as he ran to Shahra, his arms outstretched protectively.

"Please, leave her alone!" he cried. "Don't hurt Shahra!"

XXX

Later, back in the village, Shahra is lying on the grass, eating a freshly killed chicken while Aladdin explained everything to the Kouga Clan.

"I see," Toya said. "So she's a friend of yours."

"That's right," Aladdin said as he pet Shahra. "Sorry that she caused a commotion, but she couldn't help herself. After all, she was probably lost for a while and got very hungry. Lots of people don't think rationally when they're hungry, right?"

"That's true," Doruji said. "Sorry about that, Aladdin…and sorry to you, too, Shahra."

Shahra just lied there, eating her meal.

"I think that's her way of saying she forgives you," Aladdin mused, causing everyone to laugh, but then, a middle-aged woman approached Baba and uttered something to her, causing the old woman's face to sag into of inquiry.

"Is that right?" Baba asked, causing the woman to nod.

"What's wrong, Grandma?" asked Toya.

"It seems we have visitors," said Baba, "from the Kou Empire."

Hearing that caused everyone to gasp and murmur amongst themselves while Aladdin just blinked curiously.

'The Kou Empire?' he thought. 'Who are they?'

XXX

Later, the Kouga Clan stood outside, where Hakuei, Seishun, and Ryosai stood, putting their fists into their palms.

"I am the 3rd child of the 1st Emperor of the Kou Empire, Ren Hakuei," said Hakuei. "I have come to engage in diplomatic talks."

"The first emperor's daughter?" asked one of the Kouga men.

"Welcome to our village, princess," said Baba. "I am the granddaughter of the 155th King of the Kouga Clan. I am known as the Shaman Chagan."

"I know that name well," said Hakuei. "Your legend had spread to my country, as well. The Kouga Clan were once the greatest horse-riding people. The first king, Chagan Han, gained power like that of a demon and built the greatest empire in history. The name of his domain, which nearly united the entire world, was the great Kouga Empire."

As Hakuei spoke, the Kouga members glared at her and murmured amongst each other while Aladdin and Shahra watched, confused but intrigued.

"However," Hakuei continued, "the empire had gradually weaken, and in recent years, your people have fallen prey to the likes of human traffickers."

Hearing that caused the Kouga Clan members to seethe in anger while others looked down sadly.

"Your suffering ends today," said Hakuei. "People of the Kouga Clan…I invite you to join under the allegiance of the Kou Empire!"

"Join you?!" Doruji questioned.

"Yes," Hakuei answered. "The Kou Empire has recently united the far eastern plains. Next, we will united the Reim Empire in the west and the Parthevian Empire in the southwest. Our goal is to unify the whole world: a dream once held by your ancestors in the past. Please, come under our patronage."

"Our ancestors?"

"Same dream?"

Suddenly, Aladdin's flute began to glow.

"Huh?" the boy muttered. "What's the matter, Ugo?"

"Hmph!" Ryosai scoffed. "Such a lofty speech. Maybe they didn't understand."

"I doubt that, highly," Hakuei said.

"Enough of your fancy talk!" Doruji barked. "When you say 'join', you mean you will invade this village, don't you!?"

Soon, the Kouga Clan members started clamoring.

"Yeah! That's right!"

"You bunch of liars!"

"We'll never join up with the likes of you!"

"Enough!" Baba shouted. "Quiet down! All of you!" She then turned to face Hakuei. "Dear Princess Hakuei, please give us some time to consider your offer. We cannot really accept on such short notice. We have preserved our way of life for generations, you see."

"…I understand," Hakuei answered with a reassuring smile. "I will give you as much time as you need."

"Um…pardon me, Your Highness?"

Hakuei turned to see Toya approached her with a tray of horse milk and dumplings.

"I poured you come kumis," she said. "Why don't we go inside and chat for a bit?"

"Oh!" Hakuei exclaimed. "Why, thank you!"

Just when she was about to take it, Ryosai stepped in between the woman and shoved Toya to the ground, spilling the horse milk and food on her!

"Toya!" Doruji and Baba cried.

"Ryosai!" Hakuei snapped. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"I cannot allow our princess to drink such swill," Ryosai with a smug grin. "Where we come from, horse's milk is for dogs."

"Ryosai!" Hakuei barked.

Shahra growled viciously at Ryosai, but Aladdin held his hand out to her and shook his head.

"Watch and learn," said Ryosai. "This is how you truly negotiate." He then turned to the Kouga Clan. "Listen up, you Kouga filth! From here on out, this village belongs to the Kou Empire, and you will submit, immediately, if you know what's good for you! After all, we're saving your asses for this muddy, horse shit-encrusted, smelly, dirty excuse of an existence!"

During his outburst, he pointed at Toya, who looked down and clutched at her chest, trying to hold back her tears while Doruji watched, seething.

"If you wanna live happily as befit human beings," Ryosai continued, "then submit to our rule!"

"YOU BASTARD!"

"DORUJI, NO!"

Ryosai turned to see Doruji jump at him with his sword drawn, but then, Seishun jumped in the way and blocked his blade with his own.

"Striking him would be a declaration of war!" the young man shouted.

"Doruji!" Baba shouted. "Stand down, at once!"

"How dare you," Doruji hissed. "How dare you stand there and insult my family?!"

Aladdin went over and helped Toya to her feet.

"I know that if my people were to submit to the likes of you," Doruji started, "people who look down on our way of life, you'd oppress us all! I won't allow you to invade our land! THE KOUGA CLAN WILL OPPOSE YOU WITH ALL OUR MIGHT!"

Hearing that caused the rest of the Kouga Clan to shout, angrily before they started throwing rocks and sticks at Hakuei, Seishun, and Ryosai.

"Get outta here, you heathen dogs!"

"Leave our village and never come back!"

"Go away, or else!"

"Princess! I don't think it would be wise to stay much longer!" Seishun advised. "Let's retreat back to the camp, for now!"

"This is all your fault, Ryosai," Hakuei hissed while Ryosai just sneered at her.

Aladdin stood back with Shahra and the rest of the Kouga Clan, staring after them while clutching his flute.

XXX

Later that night, in the Kou Empire camp…

"Those savages mustn't get away with this!" Ryosai barked. "Princess, we've prepared an all-out attack! Just give the order and we'll-"

"No," Hakuei said as she sat at her desk. "Please, remain calm. They are the future citizens of the Kou Empire. Let us find a way for them to live together with us and create a peaceful, respectful world."

"As you wish, Princess Hakuei!" Seishun and the rest of the Kou Soldiers exclaimed while Ryosai just seethed.

"I will decide our next move, tomorrow," said Hakuei as she left. "Have the troops eat and rest. Goodnight, everyone."

Ryosai sighed angrily as he turned away.

"That insolent brat doesn't know the meaning of war," he grumbled.

"Watch your tongue, Lord Ryosai!" barked one of the soldiers.

XXX

Outside, Hakuei sighed as she slumped against her tent, frustrated by Ryosai's earlier actions.

'…I'm failing,' she thought. 'As General of the Eastern Subjugation Army, I must bring everyone together!'

"Good evening!"

Hakuei gasped before she looked up and saw Aladdin, sitting upon his Magic Turban with a smile on his face.

"Lovely night, isn't it, Princess Hakuei?" the boy asked as he jumped down, the flying cloth wrapping around his head as he did.

"W-who are you?!" Hakuei questioned as she drew a blade.

"My name is Aladdin," Aladdin spoke. "I'm a traveler. I came because I wanted to chat with you…is that all right?"

'That cloth,' the princess thought as she eyed Aladdin's turban. She smiled as she withdrew her weapon.

"Very well," said Hakuei. "I'd like to chat with you, too."

Until Next Night…

Sorry for ending it here, but I think it just adds to the suspense.

For those of you waiting for the part 2 of chapter 5 of Unlimited World Red, please be patient. I'll be uploading that by Thursday, and THAT is a promise.

Review, please!