Chapter Three: Bonds
"I don't see why you are so opposed to this, Father!"
"Ares, stop shouting. It's unseemly for a Princess."
"I don't care, Father! I want to know why you are being so stubborn! You know that such an alliance would strengthen our position in the Federation, and possibly even help reverse some of the setbacks the solar system worlds have had in the Council! Our marriage would provide you numerous advantages politically!"
"Ares, you are asking me to approve your marriage to the Empress! Despite her position as ruler of the largest nation on Earth, she is hardly the most favored by the Council or the High King! Her court is a scandal! And now you are asking me to allow the Princess of Mars to add herself to her harem!
"Father! I will not tolerate you maligning Lin-Tzu! I have spent a year in her court observing her, and there is not a single ruler left on earth who is as just or as noble as she is! Even the High King has fallen under Beryl's sway!" Ares flounced into a chair. "I know people are constantly spreading rumors about her, and that Imperial Court fashion raises eyebrows out here in the colonies, but she is nothing but the kindest, most caring ruler I have ever met!"
"Ares, your father and I are merely concerned for your wellbeing and happiness."
"Really Mother? Then why are you standing in the way of that happiness?" Ares shook her head, her long black hair lashing. "Don't you get it? For the first time in my life, I am happy! I've found someone and someplace where I can follow both my duty and my heart! Lin-Tzu has given me a reason to be a princess as well as a warrior, a woman as well as a sword." She hung her head and sighed. "Mom, we're facing a very probable war with the Earth if things stay as they are. And we don't stand a chance. The Kingdom of the Moon simply doesn't have the forces needed to combat the High King and the rest of the Federation! We're being painted as arrogant and wealthy colonies ignoring the needs of the homeworld. Even worse, as the other Earth nations grow increasingly intolerant of non-humans, the fact that we have a majority of them as our populace is being used against us." She rubbed her eyes. "My marriage to Lin-Tzu will give us an unrestricted access point to Earth, and will let us help save the thousands of youkai refugees fleeing from the other nations. And those numbers could possibly help save us. "
Her father leaned back in his chair and propped his head on his arm. "I can see you've given this some uncharacteristic thought, Ares. I hardly expected you to be the one looking at the political side of things."
"Father, I know you objected to Serenity assigning me to The Court of the Dragon, but you've always trusted her wisdom. Why can't you trust in mine? Lin can be whimsical, and I know she seems erratic at times, but believe me, a lot of it is simply a show. She has so many enemies she has to constantly keep them off balance and unlike Queen Serenity, she doesn't have a gulf of space between her and them. She's doing everything she can to try and prevent this war, and save as many lives as she can, and she has to put up with stupid shit like your disapproval of her lifestyle. Half the rulers of the Federation have multiple wives, and just because she's a women, you condemn her for having a harem as well. It's idiotic! We're all facing the same enemy! Why do you even care? Why do you have to be against her and our love?"
Her father sighed as he rubbed his temples. "Ares, I understand the situation far better than you give me credit for. Forgive me. I had to be certain that you weren't following Princess Serenity's flighty romance with Endymion and acting on pure emotion. I know all too well how Lin-Tzu wins hearts. She can't control herself, it's just how she is. It's both her greatest strength and her greatest weakness." He rubbed his eyes. "And I do care about your happiness. That's why I haven't told Lin-Tzu's envoy that I accept your dowry yet. I had to make sure you weren't going to be trapped into a marriage out of misguided loyalty to me or because the Empress had bedazzled you. I know firsthand how hard it is to deny Lin-Tzu anything she desires when she asks for it in person. That aura of hers is just impossible to fight."
Ares blinked. "Are–are you saying you already knew about this?"
Duke Mars nodded. "Her envoy came almost a month ago, along with your dowry. And she has refused to return with any answer other than a yes. That's why I recalled you to Mars. I will not allow you to be bullied into this just for the sake of political convenience. You are my daughter before you are my heir or my princess, Ares. I won't use you as a political pawn. There are other ways for Lin and I to make arrangements to shuttle the youkai away from harm without making it look like Lin is going against the High King."
"I–I see." A tentative smile came to her lips. "Does–does that mean you don't really object?"
"I wouldn't go that far, Ares. I would, of course, have preferred to have seen your children and spoiled them rotten. But I am certain your sisters will be all too happy to ensure the continuity of the Mars line. It's all I can do to keep boys out of their beds as it is. Phobos and Deimos are on the verge of driving me to drink. I had hoped you would set a good example for them, but alas, you've got far too much of me in you. I had a hard time becoming monogamous myself."
"Dear, you haven't been anything but a perfect gentleman in all the years we've been married." Lady Mars smiled. "Fortunately for you. I would have hated to have had to remove portions of your anatomy otherwise."
Ares stared at them wide eyed. "Mom!"
Her mother blinked at her calmly. "Yes dear?" she gave her a small smile. "It's just the promise I made him on our wedding day. After all, I did have to win him away from half the Solar Federations eligible young princesses."
The Duke cleared his throat. "Ah, anyway, if you truly desire this Ares, I will give my consent."
Ares nodded. "Yes father. It truly is what I desire, with all my heart."
He nodded. "I can't really object merely over the fact that you are both women, with both Ouranos and Poseidon already engaged to be wed. It would reflect poorly on our belief in acceptance of all." He covered his eyes. "I just really had hoped you'd end up being a bit more reserved. You were always the serious one of my offspring. I would have expected something like this from your sisters first. I shudder to think of what your Regalia is going to look like once Orihime get's you in her clutches. That woman's lack of modesty makes High Court fashion look positively tame."
Ares smiled fondly. "I am quite looking forward to seeing it myself. I've grown rather fond of my future wife's sense of style."
Her mother sighed as she gently shook her head. "If it makes you happy dear. Just please take pity on your poor mother's nerves and be a bit more properly dressed when you come visit. Your Senshi uniform is bad enough."
Ares chuckled. "Of course mother. I will always be Princess Mars when I am here. But please understand that I am just as much, and always will be, Lady Phoenix as well."
Her father stood and held out his arms for a hug. As he wrapped his arms around her, he said softly. "Just please never forget that to us, first, last and always, you are our beloved daughter Ares."
"I will never forget, Father."
She bowed as she left the royal quarters to return to her own, musing as she entered the garden between her parent's wing and the wing opposite that housed her and her sister's rooms. She went to the gardens edge where a balcony afforded a stunning view of the capital, looking down the long slope of Olympus Mons wistfully. As beautiful as her home world was, with its rosey deserts and twin moons, she had grown accustomed to the rugged mountains that surrounded the Imperial Palace. She truly loved Mars, and it's people, and always would, but her heart could no longer let her stay bound to a single world.
A sparkle from the side caught her eyes and she looked over to the Royal docks to see a beautiful ship hovering at anchor. It was long and slender, it's prow shaped in the form of a dragon's head, and it's solar sails crafted to resemble wings. She smiled. Lin-Tzu must have sent it as her "dowry", the design and luxurious fittings a dead giveaway as to who had commissioned it's construction. She hoped her parents would enjoy the luxurious looking yacht. Lin had obviously been thinking they could use it to visit her on Earth.
She thought back over the last year, and how comfortable she had become with Lin-Tzu and the others since the night Orihime had come to her to apologize for the Empress. It was almost like a dream of happiness. While it was rare that all of them were at the Palace at the same time, since most of them were off acting as one of Lin's proxies somewhere, there had almost always been one or more of her fiancées around when she desired company. At the very least, Ying-Ying was always in residence, even when Lin-Tzu and Orihime were out of the Palace. Coming to Mars was one of the rare times she had felt lonely since then. She wondered which envoy Lin had sent to her father.
She nodded to the guards outside her quarters as she entered, surprised that Xianghua wasn't waiting for her. She called for her and heard a muffled noise coming from her bedchamber in response. She entered and was greeted by a sight that made her bury her face in her hand and shake her head.
"Well, at least I know who she sent as envoy."
She stepped up to the bed, and the naked cat-girl tied up spread eagled on it, her arms and legs tied to the four corner posts with a red ribbon, and another red ribbon serving as a gag, tied with a large bow, and smiled down at her handmaiden.
"I see you lost again."
Xianghua blushed as she tried to avoid Ares' eyes. Her ears drooped in embarrassment.
"Seriously. I'm starting to suspect you rather enjoy being tied up and played with. She does this to you every time you try to ambush her. I'm really starting to question that you are actually 'training' as a kunoichi."
Xianghua's blush grew deeper. She batted her eyes at Ares pleadingly, her ears perking up hopefully.
"It's no good asking me to untie you. You know she's left you as a present for me. It would be terribly rude of me to unwrap you before she gets back. I assume she had to answer Father's summons?"
The nude cat-girl sighed resignedly and nodded.
Ares bounced down on the bed beside her. "She'll be very happy when she gets back then. He gave his consent. I am now officially betrothed."
What could have been a cheer came from behind the other girl's gag. Ares smiled happily. "I know, I am so happy, I don't have to hide anything anymore." She gave the cat-girl tied up on the bed a lascivious grin. "Which of course means I'm in a mood to celebrate, so having a present is a nice touch. But seriously, why don't you just come out and accept a concubinage? You certainly spend more than enough time in our beds."
Xianghua blushed again as she rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Are you still going on about how you're a servant of the house of Mars and only wish to serve me as my handmaiden?"
The other girl nodded.
Ares sighed. "Oh Xianghua, you've been my closest friend since childhood. You know I don't and never will think of you as just a servant."
Xianghua shrugged as well as she could considering she was tied spread eagled.
Ares giggled. Finally she reached over and grabbed the end of the ribbon sticking out of the bow. "Ye-Ying will just have to forgive me," she said as she tugged it, unraveling the gag.
"Thank you, Mistress."
"I'm still not going to untie the rest of you."
"As you will, Mistress. I live to serve."
"So tell me, are you really trying to improve your combat skills by attacking Ye-Ying so often?"
"Of course." She bit her lip. "But I will at least admit that losing is a lot of fun too."
"Silly kitty."
"I am happy that your father consented. I was worried he would not. I know how dearly my mistress wishes to become one of the Empresses' wives. Seeing you so happy has filled my heart with joy."
"I was worried too. And he was resistant at first. We argued for a bit before he finally claimed he was simply trying to make sure this was what I wanted and not me being flighty or because Lin had enamored me. He had to bring up Serenity and Endymion, like I am anywhere near as brain-dead as the Moon princess." She tapped her head. "I love Serenity to death, but seriously, I sometimes think she has just air up here."
"Love can make fools of anyone, My Lady."
"I know. I just wish she had a little more common sense. I worry every time she sneaks down to Earth that she'll provide just the wrong excuse for the High King to assault the colonies."
She felt as Xianghua's tail gently patted her hand. "I believe in Queen Serenity and The Empress, My Lady. Surely they will be able to prevent war."
Ares nodded. "I hope so. I wish I shared your confidence."
"It is a servants job to have faith in her masters, as well as to be faithful."
A sultry voice singing a bawdy tune announced the return of the Royal Assassin from her parent's quarters, and Ares smiled as she heard Ye-Ying twirl the pair of Guards around for a few steps before she swept into the chambers. She was carrying a bottle of her father's best wine in one hand and three glasses in the other, while grinning manically.
"My wonderful Phoenix! Isn't it glorious! He agreed!"
"Yes!"
The bottle and glasses were deposited on a side table as Ye-ying drew off her cloak, then turned to see the amused look Ares was giving her. She stopped and blinked, blushing. "Um... you aren't mad at me for tying up your kitty-cat again are you?"
Ares giggled. "She's not upset, so why would I be? I was just smiling at the look of happiness on your face."
Ye-Ying blushed harder. "Of course I'm happy. I was really looking forward to seeing you again after so long, and having this happen on top of it just made it better!"
"Silly. Pour us a drink and come over here and kiss me. I've missed you too. I'm so glad you turned out to be Lin's Envoy."
Ye-Ying nodded. "I asked Lin if she'd let me. I was already on tour to the outer planets, so coming to Mars was on my way home anyway. I never expected your father to be so stubborn as to call you back to Mars before answering."
Ares took the proffered cup and her kiss as she curled up against the head board, letting Ye-Ying have a seat on the bed too. "He said he wanted to make sure this was my desire and not just because Lin had seduced me." She sipped her wine then propped Xianghua's head up on her leg to let her take a drink too. "But I finally convinced him, so he has consented. Mom's apparently more worried that I dress properly when I visit."
Ye-Ying giggled. "They love you, my darling. They are simply showing that love the best they know how."
"I know."
"So will you be returning to Earth with me? I will be leaving in the morning to deliver the joyous news to Lin."
Ares sighed. "Sadly I have to report to Queen Serenity before I can return to the palace. She has called the Senshi together to try and talk some caution into the Princess. But we can travel to the Moon together." She smiled. "At least I will have a chance to tell Zeus, Hermes and Aphrodite before the rumor mill begins talking about my engagement."
Ye-Ying bounced on the bed in excitement. "So we get a whole month to spend together!"
"Yes. It will certainly be much less boring than the trip here was."
"I'm sorry, Mistress. I was striving to keep you entertained to the best of my abilities."
Ares scratched the cat-girl's ears. "You did a lovely job, Xianghua. But being cooped up on a ship for a month with just the two of us was still wearing. I've missed my Nightingale's songs and stories."
Ye-Ying giggled. "And I've missed being pounced by my lovely firebird and a certain kitty who likes to chase songbirds." She stretched languorously and gave Ares a grin. "Speaking of which, I think it's time to unwrap your present, yes no?"
Ares shook her head and smiled mischievously. "Nope. That can wait till I've had my way with you first."
Xianghua chuckled. "Ayah, such a cruel mistress," she purred without the slightest hint of sincerity.
Laughter was her only answer, followed not long after by soft moans...
Rei awoke from her dreams to find herself being gently shaken. She opened to eyes to look into Ye-Ying's lovely brown ones, and blinked at the worry she saw there.
"Huh, Ye-Ying, what's wrong?" she asked sleepily, then blinked. "Why is your hair white, it was black just a second ago."
"Rei-chan, Zhu-Shu is missing!" Konatsu said, paying no attention to Rei's question.
Awareness returned in a rush, and she looked around the room, remembering she was in Crystal Tokyo, and not her rooms in the Palace of Mars. "What happened?"
Ying-Ying was wringing her hands. "I was an idiot. I was so happy to be reunited with all of you I didn't think about what Zhu-chan's been through lately. She woke up while we were sleeping, and Kanna brought her to the room."
"She's awake! That's wonderful! But why is she missing?"
Ying-Ying looked shame faced. "She doesn't know about all that's happened, Rei-chan. She doesn't know about me being able to leave the spirit realms, or about Clove and Konatsu! When she came in, she must have been shocked to see me in physical form, and in bed with all of you and Clove! As far as she knows, Clove is still trying to kill her! It must have seemed like a horrible nightmare!"
"Oh gods."
"Kanna saw her vanish and woke me. Ukyo is waking the others, we've got to find her!"
Rei closed her eyes, the mandala halo behind her head flaring back into existence as she tried to follow along her link to Zhu-Shu, but it was strange. It wasn't blocked anymore, but it became diffuse and indistinct. Other than knowing she was alive, she couldn't tell anything else about the dragon girl.
"I already tried that, Rei-chan." Clove's voice said next to her. "And all my spells have been disrupted. Something just wiped them out of existence without a trace."
Ukyo came in. "The Palace AI was apparently unable to sense her once she awoke, but it has recorded a blur leaving the premises about ten minutes ago. She's out in the city somewhere. Holo Ami is summoning several squads of troops to search. Me, Tao-Ching, Ranma, and Tatewaki are going with them. The rest of you stay here in case we run into trouble. We'll need you to be available in a hurry and not scattered all over."
Rei stood in protest. "But I want to come with you!"
Ukyo nodded. "I know, love. But please stay here. Your pheonix powers make you look too much like a youkai, and the Senshi are too well known. The four of us are each accompanying a squad, and we'll keep you informed. We'll find her, I promise."
Clove was sitting on the bed, tears falling from her eyes. "This is all my fault. I knew I was going to cause nothing but problems!"
Ukyo shook her head. "It's all our faults, Clove-chan. We were so overjoyed at being reunited none of us thought about the possibility that Zhu-chan would wake up without us being able to explain things to her beforehand. None of us mind that you're riding along in Konatsu. Zhu-Shu has just been through a very bad experience, and doesn't know what is what right now. I'll find her, and fill her in. Everything will be alright."
"How can you know that! All she knows is I was revived to kill her! She doesn't know I won't hurt her!"
Ying-Ying patted her on her head. "No, Clove-chan, but we do. And once Zhu-Shu has had a chance to find out what all has happened, I know she will be overjoyed to meet you and Konatsu. She's always been wistful that she never had a sibling. She'll be so happy to have an onee-chan."
Clove sobbed. "A-a-and I want to be a good onee-chan! I never meant to hurt her!"
Konatsu's arms wrapped around herself as she tried to give Clove a hug. "You are a good onee-chan, Clove-chan. You're the best onee-chan I've ever had!"
"That doesn't count Ko-chan! Your step-sisters were awful! I'm hardly any better!"
Ukyo's hand reached out to cup Clove's jaw and she lifted the crying mage's face to look into her emerald green eyes. "If you can't have faith in yourself, Clove, have faith in me. I am her Guardian. I will find her, and keep her safe, both from her enemies and herself. I'll explain everything to her. It will be alright."
Clove sniffled. "H-h-ow can all of you not h-h-hate me! I'm such an awful person!"
Ukyo tapped her head. "There's a little butterfly fluttering in the back of my mind that proves otherwise." She leaned forward to kiss Clove on the forehead. "Now be patient and let me go get her. It won't do for her onee-chan to be sad the first time she gets to see her awake."
Clove sniffled some more and nodded her head. "I-I-I'll try."
"It'll work out. You'll see." Rei said quietly. "She's just lost and hurting. I know we can bring her back, no matter what." She put her arm around Clove. "Your being here, your circumstances, they aren't the cause of this. She has been Naraku's prisoner since we arrived in the Sengoku. He made her do some horrible things. Even though she is not ultimately responsible for what she was forced to do, she still has to cope with it. She needs us. Even you."
"I'm a spoiled brat and a vile tempered monster with more blood on her hands than I can bear! How can she need me! I was brought back to life precisely because I have been responsible for so much bloodshed and violence. Whether I've done any of that since my revival doesn't matter! All I do is hurt people, and now I've hurt her, and you, and ruined everything. I've turned what should have been a happy reunion into a utter disaster."
"I will not allow you to accept responsibility for that alone, Clove." Ying-Ying said firmly. "I know how her mind works better than anyone. This is far more my fault than yours. I should have let the three of you get to know each other while I stayed by her side just in case this happened. I let myself get caught up in the joy of the moment and–"
"Stop that, Ying-Ying." Ukyo said softly. "It's no-one's exclusive fault. We just have to deal with it. I will find her, and we will fix this."
Ying-Ying nodded. Ukyo looked over the three morose girls sitting on the bed and sighed. "Come on guys. She's going to need us when I bring her back. She's going to need love and laughter, not more tears. Try to cheer up, please?"
They nodded in unison. Ukyo assayed a smile as she reached behind her back and grabbed a yin-yang emblem from her armor and tossed it to Rei. "That's a communicator. I'll stay in touch and let you know when I find her. I've given one to the others too, so it's linked to all the search groups. I know you all can contact me without it, but this way you can know what's going on with everyone. If we run into trouble, we're going to need backup ASAP. I'm not impressed with the odds if these soldiers are forced to fight someone like that Rubeus guy you told me about, that's why I've put one of our strongest general purpose fighters with each group. Shan-Pu is in charge of you guys if you're called in as backup, okay?"
Rei gave her a small smile. "In 'general' mode I see." She gave her a salute. "Yes, commander."
Ukyo smiled and put her hands behind her back as she assumed a stance. "Alright then troops. Fall in to receive your kisses!"
The three naked girls stood before the bed in mock poses of attention, Konatsu still sniffling a little even though Clove had retreated to let her get her kiss. After Ukyo had made her way down the line, she stepped back in front of the ninja girl. "Uh-uh soldier. Front and center for yours too."
Konatsu blinked back to green eyes. "But–but–"
Ukyo's lips stopped her. "Get over it, Clove. You're part of our group. And considering the feelings for you I get from both Ying-Ying and Konatsu, that's going to be true even after you've got your own body back. I'm not about to deny any of my wives their happiness."
"But–but I'm a monster."
"Did you forget I'm a student of Furinkan too? I'm sorry I missed Ai's little speech, but it doesn't change the truth, sugar. We're all monsters here. I was a general for the largest nation on Earth during the Silver Millennium. Your body count can't even begin to rival mine. I've killed over a hundred humans in just the last week, by my own hands. I have more blood on my hands than you can ever know, including that of my own soulmates. I am a monster, Clove. I accept that. I'm a far worse monster than you can ever be. Compared to me, you're almost an innocent. I know you've killed. In anger, by accident, even in cold blood. But I condemned millions to death, Clove, including myself. I let the Silver Millennium fall, knowing I could have done something to save it, to stave off its ruin for a few years, possibly even a few centuries. I died knowing I had condemned everyone I loved to death, all to prevent a new age of Chaos from beginning. It's not a question of how I can accept you as a monster, Clove. Konatsu loves you. Ying-Ying does too. That's all I need to know to love you too. All you have to do is accept that fact."
Emerald green eyes blinked in wonder. "How–how–"
Ukyo's finger on her lips silenced her again. "I am the Dragon's Guardian. The warrior forged in the heat of his flames to protect his Daughter's Heart. That is both my duty, and my greatest joy, but it is also my heaviest sin. I am a monster created to slay other monsters, the bearer of the Dragon's Wrath. But I do not work for free, Clove. For all things there is a price."
"A price?" Clove blinked in confusion. "I– I– don't understand."
"Don't you?" Ukyo smiled as she turned and walked to the door. She stopped at the threshold and her armor shimmered into her black silks. "Then I'll let you think about that for a bit while I go find Zhu-Shu, my dear Daughter of the Dragon."
The door slid shut with a whoosh as Clove staggered back to sit on the bed with a thump. "Wh–what did she mean? A price?"
Konatsu giggled, an odd sound coming from the distraught girl. The green eyed mage looked up in confusion at the smiles she was getting from both Rei and Ying-Ying.
"And that is why I love my dear warrior so very much." Ying-Ying said softly.
Rei sat on the bed and lay back, her arms stretched out above her. "Gods, how can she burn so ferociously?" she asked no-one in particular. "I'm supposed to be the firebird here."
Ying-Ying giggled as she sat down next to Clove and took her hand. "Congratulations, dear. You've just received the official stamp of approval."
Clove blinked. "Huh?"
"Didn't you hear her?"
Clove blinked repeatedly. "I am utterly confused here, Ying-Ying."
"All things for a price, my love. All things for a price."
Clove rubbed the remaining tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. "I don't understand," she said sadly.
"There's only one price the Dragon's Guardian has for defending the Daughter's Heart, Clove-chan. Only one payment she will accept, and she will not allow you to pay her anything less."
"Why am I getting the feeling that this is an inside joke that I am not sharing in?" Clove asked in a small voice.
Ying-Ying and Rei both giggled.
"Clove-chan is being silly." Konatsu giggled too. "She's overthinking things too much!"
"Even you Ko-chan?"
Ying-Ying cupped her face and kissed her. "A heart for a heart, my love. You are the Dragon's daughter too. She's demanding your heart. For now and forever. A heart in exchange for hers."
Clove blinked.
Ying-Ying sighed happily. "In other words, my dear mage, you've just been asked to join the harem permanently. Lin-Tzu might have been the Empress, but Orihime was the final word on who became an official wife once she became the Guardian." She looked up thoughtfully. "Actually, 'asked' might be the wrong word. I think it's more along the lines of a royal edict. After all, it's not like we're going to let you refuse."
"Wai!" Konatsu cheered.
"But– but–" Clove protested.
Ying-Ying fluttered her eyelashes at her. "But what, dear? You're getting exactly what you wanted most. Me. I just come with a lot of extra benefits."
"But what about Zhu-Shu?"
Ying-Ying sighed as she looked at the floor. "She will be happy about it eventually, Clove. I know she will. She's just unaware of everything that's happened, and from what I've been told about what Naraku did to her... well, she's going to need us. All of us, including you. I need your experience as a mage, and as a specialist in compulsions and geases. I don't know what Naraku did to control her, or what might still remain in her head. I know even less about what the Shikon Jewel might be doing to her. That thing is pure raw youki only barely held in check. I sensed countless souls inside of it, all of them hungry. Her own natural energies are beyond my ability to measure as she is now, and that thing could easily be used to take her over again. I am going to need your help to construct shields against that if we can't find a way to remove it and restore her heart."
Clove's hand tightened in hers. "I swear I will do everything in my power to do so, Ying-Ying. I will do anything to make up for what I tried to do, what Hild almost made me do. My life is yours to do with as you will."
"Oh no, my dear. I'm afraid your life is simply not going to be sufficient. I want you body and soul."
Clove gave her a small smile. "My soul is yours. I am afraid I have no body to give you though."
"You will. Once Ko-Chan gets the other half of hers back, I will drag you kicking and screaming back into the mortal plane."
"Even that is borrowed. I'm just a soul inhabiting a not quite dead shell."
"And I'm a ghost. Your point?"
"You're losing this one, Clove-chan!" Konatsu called.
Clove threw up her hands in defeat. "Aya aya, alright alright, I surrender." She looked over at Rei. "So what do you have to say about this?"
Rei's golden eyes smiled at her. "Me?" She got dreamy eyed as she stared at nothing. "You woke me from a dream of the day I got my father's consent to become Lin-Tzu's bride myself. I don't remember anywhere near as much of the past as Ying-Ying and Ukyo do, but I know what it is to share Zhu-Shu's love. It took a lot for me to understand what it meant to share though. I was jealous. I had doubts. I had fears. Those are all gone now. I am who I am. Rei Hino, Princess Ares, Sailor Mars, and Lady Phoenix. But before all of those, I am a heart that is shared between us all." She reached out to take Clove's hand. "We are different parts, and different people, but we are one heart. You are welcome to our family."
"Like Legend himself, we are Unity." Ying-Ying said softly in Clove's ear as her arms wrapped around her. "Accept us, and realize you are loved."
Rei's arms wrapped around her from the other side as the tears began to fall again in a flood, this time for a far different reason...
Several hours later, a very frustrated Ukyo listened to the troop commander reporting that yet another section of the city had been searched. They had cleared the entire inhabited district and were now combing the ruins at the outskirts. The longer the search had continued, the more depressed she had gotten over the whole situation.
It had become obvious over the course of the search. There was almost nothing that they would be able to do to that could turn the tide here. There were fewer than a five thousand humans left on the entire planet, a planet which had become as lifeless and dry as Mars had after the Silencing. There were no oceans, no plants, no animals. Even the soldiers held no hope. They knew they were merely waiting for the end. She had heard it in their voices, seen it in their eyes. Not even Chibi-Usa's return had changed that. It had already circulated around that the princess's "help" was some of the worst villains from the past that had lead to the current reality. Ukyo could see the fear in their eyes when they spoke to her, the distrust, and wondering when she was going to shed her human guise and feed on them.
"Squad five-one, we've sighted movement in a playground in zone A. Moving to investigate."
Ukyo's eyes turned to the commander as he acknowledged the call. "What's in that region?"
He consulted his holomap. "Looks like an old school district. The playground would be here, behind the elementary school. This Zone has been abandoned since the first assault. It's outside our defense perimeter."
Her HUD ran syncs until it linked up to the commander's display. She blinked when it gave her the coordinates. "That's Furinkan!"
The commander nodded. "Yes, the Furinkan educational district. It was one of the hardest hit zones during the first assault. Blackmoon seemed to want to erase it from existence even though it wasn't of any strategic value. All that was there was the school and the memorial to the defeat of the Bunny Queen."
Ukyo smacked her forehead with her palm. "God's I can be an idiot. That has to be her. With the dojo gone, where else would she head?" She looked up at the commander. "Tell your men to confirm her presence but under no circumstances move in. She doesn't know you, and she could slaughter the lot of you in a heartbeat if she's scared enough."
The commander blanched as he hurried to transmit her orders. Ukyo climbed into the aircar next to him. "Let's go." she told the driver. He looked to the commander, who waved him forward as he was issuing the command. Then the commander looked up with a grimace. "Squad five-one is not answering."
"Shit!" She opened her armor's comm link. "Everyone, we have a possible sighting in the Furinkan educational district. We've lost contact with the squad in the area. I'm heading in to investigate. I will try to contain her if she's still out of it."
"Roger," Tao-Ching's voice came back in her ear. "All squads converge on Furinkan. Ranma, Tatewaki, have your groups form a perimeter a thousand yards out. Make sure they know no-one is to cross that line but one of us. If Zhu-chan is under the Shikon's influence, they'll die."
"I have a lock on your location, Ukyo, and a teleportal gate constructed. I can send everyone to you the moment you give the word." Clove's voice came over the com.
"I'll keep you advised. Stay on standby."
"Yes. Bring my sister back."
The car skewed around a corner into a straight road in front of the ruined school, and Ukyo felt her heart sink. The bodies of the missing squad were scattered in pieces around the road, and a black shadow with wings became visible just at the edge of the lights as the driver slammed the aircar to a halt. Ukyo launched herself out of the car and into the illuminated space.
"Zhu-Shu, it's me, Ukyo. Don't be alarmed. I know you have to be confused right now, but please, I'm here to help," she said soothingly
"Awww, how sweet. If I were your dear Daughter of the Dragon, I no doubt would be overjoyed to hear those words. Pity for you, I'm not."
The blood spattered woman who stepped into the light made Ukyo's eyes widen in surprise before they hardened. Like Zhu-Shu, she was a dragon-half, but that was the only similarity between them. She was naked but for blood and three large emerald plaques that hung around her neck, suspended on gold chains affixed to a spiked collar. Long green horns poked through the wild mass of emerald hair that hung down her back to her scaled tail. She stood boldly, inviting Ukyo to look at her nakedness as she licked blood from her long talons.
"I assume you are with these pitiful wretches? They interrupted me before I could finish securing my prize. No matter. I'll just kill you as well before I deliver her to Wiseman."
Wrathseeker formed in her hand as Ukyo went on guard. "What have you done to her?"
"Done?" mocking laughter filled the night. "Nothing as yet. My master commanded be she be delivered unharmed. He said nothing whatsoever about harming any of the rest of you."
She blurred as Ukyo raised Wrathseeker, but she had misjudged the dragon-woman's target. The car crumpled from her impact as her hand shattered the windshield to penetrate the commander's chest. She gave Ukyo a wicked smile as she crouched on the destroyed wreck and pulled out his heart. "There, now. It's just the two of us." She leaned forwards onto all fours to reveal her tail, and the drivers head impaled upon it. "You look like you will put up more of a fight than that girl did. At least I certainly hope so. It was such a boring capture." She flicked her tail, the head flying off into the night.
Blue neon lit the night as Ukyo's armor flared back into its true form. "You are going to pay for that."
They met in a clash in the middle of the carnage, Ukyo's staff whirling as she blocked the claws striking at her throat, her ribbons extending as they blocked the dragon-woman's tail. She was fast, far beyond the speed most humans would have been able to cope with, but she was nowhere near fast enough to penetrate Ukyo's guard. She realized it quickly as Ukyo's blade left cuts all over her that she barely managed to dodge enough to keep them from becoming fatal. She snarled as she withdrew out of Ukyo's effective range.
"You're better than I was told you would be." she snarled.
"Your intelligence is outdated. It's going to prove fatal." Ukyo smiled grimly.
The dragon-woman snarled. "Much as I would like to wipe that smile off your face and drink your blood, my master would be displeased were I to allow you to kill me, nor do I relish the thought of suffering a resurrection spell." She spat, her saliva sizzling against the ground as it ate its way into it. "You win this time, bitch. Next time I will kill you, when I am allowed to use my full strength."
Ukyo launched herself at the other woman, but she was too late, Wrathseeker cutting through nothing but air as she faded in teleport. She screamed in frustration as her armor flared brilliantly, illuminating the darkness for yards in all directions...
...and revealed a black haired figure wrapped in chains just beyond where the dragon woman had first appeared.
In a flash she was kneeling beside the unconscious girl, blinking in surprise to see she had apparently reverted to her normal human form. Gone were the black scales, the dragonish features, even the golden earrings that had been attached to her ears. She looked as utterly human as she ever had in her uncursed form. The only differences Ukyo could see was the heavy collar around her throat, which was affixed to the chains that she had been secured in.
And she had a heart. All traces of the Shikon Jewel were gone. Her armor could detect no traces of it within her, or of any sort of the strange energies it had read within her before. Only the chain and the collar bore any magical energies, and her armor could not identify it. She tried to wake the sleeping girl, calling her name softly to no avail. By the time Tao-Ching, Ranma and Tatewaki arrived, she had unwrapped the chains from around the naked girl, but had found no way to remove it or the collar.
"Is she okay?" Ranma asked as she came running up.
Ukyo shook her head. "I don't know. Nothing here makes any sense. It's definitely her, right down to the DNA, but she's fully human again and I can't find any traces of all the power she had just a few hours ago. She's not even healing like she was, these cuts and scratches should have healed already!"
The air nearby shimmered as a portal opened and Ying-Ying stepped out. "I know you told us to stay put till you called, but it felt like you needed me."
Ukyo nodded. "Does that go both ways?"
"Yes."
She picked the unconscious Zhu-Shu up and carried her into the portal as Ying-Ying followed her, the ghost girl's hand going to Zhu-Shu's forehead as she extended her senses into her. Her expression grew just as puzzled.
"What's wrong?" Rei and Konatsu asked simultaneously as Ranma swept the chairs in front of the table to the side to let Ukyo put Zhu-Shu down.
Ying-Ying shook her head. "Nothing's wrong, she just sleeping deeply. I've broken the spell keeping her asleep. It's just, she's fully human, and her mind feels... wrong."
"Wrong?" Konatsu's eyes shifted to green as a faintly glowing circle of symbols formed around her hand and she placed her fingers on Zhu-Shu's forhead. The Chinese girl moaned softly. Clove frowned. "You are right. It's been externally shielded to prevent a deep probe, but I am certain this is not quite the same mind I touched earlier, and yet at the same time, it is. What the hell is going on? "
Zhu-Shu's eyes snapped open, and as they focused on the girls standing over her, terror filled them. She tried to sit up and scoot back simultaneously, only to fall off the table. Ukyo caught her before she hit the floor and Zhu-Shu's eyes looked up into hers...
...without the slightest hint of recognition in them.
"Are-are you m-m-m-m-y m-m-m-m-master?" she asked in a scared voice, and in Mandarin.
The silence that answered her was deafening.
