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Gathering of the Six Stars II
In sleep, Kumara-ten dreamed that his city was whole again. That flowers bloomed in profusions, while the songs of the young maidens filled the air. Then the lovely view of the city disappeared, to be replaced by devastation and death. The inconceivable has happened. Taishakuten has defeated the undefeatable Ashura-oh, and the people of Kusumabura has perished to the last man and child defending the old emperor and their city. Only Kumara-ten and his faithful advisor remained. And someone else. A lovely young woman with fair hair and dusty skin lay unconscious on the ground, beside her a blade of clear crystal is none other than the legendary Shurato, weapon of Ashura-oh. In his dream the scene shifted again. Taishakuten stood before them, holding Kara helpless in his arms. He is going to disembowl her right before Kumara's eyes, then Kumara would never dare to rebel again.
"Stop!" The scream was wrenched from his throat. With a start he realized that he was only dreaming, and Kara was right next to him, concern in her face. This time he could not push her away. Taking her into his arms, he cling to her as to his life.
Ashura too woke up from his dream. Shurato, her other self, is calling to her in a voice too insistent to be ignored. With a leap and a bound, she broke through the sphere that confined her, and rushed forth to meet her fate.
Meanwhile, Yasha has just elliminated Sui-ten Varuna and his minions with one blow, much to the delight of Ryo-oh. All those so unfortunate to be in the path of Yamato found themselves crumbling into dust. Their enemies routed, Yasha's thought returned to Ashura.
Kara had also sensed the call of Shurato, and knew that the time is near. Ashura had found the hiding place of Shurato and its seal with unerroring easy. The sword recognized its master. Now Ashura turned to face Kara, who has just arrived. Already Ashura has changed. The eyes now shone with malevalence and glee. With outstreched hand he demanded his other half. With shock Kumara-ten realized that seal is half-open. Didn't Kara tell him that only on the night of the luner eclipse, and with the offering of Ashura's blood, could the seal be opened?
Black Ashura snickered, and under his hard eyes Kara told Kumara-ten the truth. All that she told him had been a lie. Only Ashura could open the seal. No one else could wield the holy sword Shurato. Knowing Kumara-ten's burning obsession to destroy Taishakuten, she offered him the false promise to be able to stay. Even the unborn child was a fiction. Kara is not even alive by any human standard. During the holy war, Kara, seeing the betrayal of her sister and helpless to stop it, had committed suicide. But Miko is not allowed even that comfort. With his power Ashura had revived her, and set her the mission of guarding Shurato til its next owner comes for it.
Now her purpose has been reached, and her life is at an end. Kara reached up to remove the jewel embedded in her brow, the seal now returned to its rightful owner. But after all her lies there are one truth, her love for Kumara-ten had never been a lie.
Ashura had no eyes for the lifeless body in kumara-ten's arms. Finally the seal is in his hand, Shurato is his. The sword glowed and pulsated in response to its master's call. But the seal released other things too. Abrupted Ashura found memories of his birth flooding his mind, memories sealed away with Shurato: A nurse presenting to Sashi her newborn twins, Sashi picking up Ten-oh as claiming him as her only child, Sashi taking the baby Ashura with her into the forest, and finally, the picture that destroyed all Ashura's hopes and dreams: The dagger held in Sashi's hand, a hand has never wavered or hesitated as it descended toward Ashura's heart.
Around him the city is crumbling, having served its purpose as a vault for Shurato. But kumara-ten, holding Kara in his arms, no longer cared. He too has lied to her, and now he told her the truth. He had always loved her, had wanted to see her smile, to have her by his side. He had only dreamed of rebuilding the city because she is there. This time he is not going to escape death, not when all his dreams have died with her.
Yasha, several levels above, watched the destruction of the city with alarm. Ashura was still underneath, or so he thought. A pillar of fire rose into the sky. With relieve Yasha saw the golden flames that only Ashura could produce. But the Ashura, caught in the middle, could no longer control either him fire or him tears.
Careless of the leaping tongues of flame, Yasha pushed toward him. Ignoring Ashura's warnings and desperate cries, he gathered him in his arms. He reminded Ashura of their promise to each other. They will alread to together. Around them the fire has receeded. The afternoon sun caste a glow over the ruins of Kusumabura below.
Flight of Sou-ou
Zenmi-jou
Zenmi-jou is preparing for a great celebration. Three hundred
years ago Taishakuten seated himself on the throne of Tenkai. Now
all the gods are gathered together at Zenmi-jou to celebrate this
tricentennial. Among them is Karura-oh, just returned from her
campaign against the mazokas. But she has no heart for the
festivities going on all around her. The courtiers gossiping in
clusters fall quiet before her contemptuous glance.
Taishakuten wasmost gracious to her, complimenting Karura-oh on her recent success in war and praising her loyalty. But among the praise was a clear threat. Obey him implicitly, or face the fate of the Yasha clan. No warrior is so necessary to Taishakuten that he would hesitate to crash them at the slightest sign of rebellion. And family and loved ones would not be spared.
Abruptly Taishakuten changed topic. Did not karura-oh have a sister, with a voice sweet as a nightingale? Perhaps she would come to Zenmi-hou to perfore with Kendappa-oh for him? The question were couched as demands. Karura bowed and thanked Tai for his invitation, while digging her nails into the palms of her hands. Karyoubinga, her sister, had always been sickly. To come to Zenmi-jou would have been no less than a death sentence for her.
Kendappa hurried after her friend, but before she could get to Karura-oh she was stopped by Ten-oh. After the usual amount of stattering and blushing, he gave her a pair of gold earrings, a gift he had found for her on one of his trips outside of the city. But if he had expected an enthusiatic reaction he was very disappointed. Kendappa-oh took the earring with a smile and a thanks, and hurried to catch the departing Karura-oh. If Ten-oh had seen what happened next he would have been heart-broken. Kendappa immediately gave the earring to her maid. Not gift from Ten-oh could replace Sohma's gift, dangling in her ear.
Her sister was the first thing Karura-oh asked for as soon as she returned to her city. Karyoubinga had just taken ill with a high fever. In the clear light her face looked wean, and even her little bird seemed spiritless. But the sight of Karura-oh always make her brighten, even though Karyoubinga always felt that is a burden to her sister. But Karura-oh brushed aside her worries. Who else could be more precious to her than her dear sister? Then to cheer her up Karura-oh told her that Kendappa wanted to come and play with her. Holding Karyoubinga in her arms, karura thought that perhaps she understand why Yasha did what he did. She too would willingly exchange her whole clan's life for her's sister's.
Yasha, Ashura, and Ryo-oh just arrived in Zenmi-jou. To their great dismay, the city was seething with guards and people on the eve of Taishakutne's celebration. It seems that Ashura had wanted to come to Zenmi-jou, Yasha did not object, and it was a pure coincidence that they should arrive on that particular night. Ryo-oh decided that Yasha's irresponsible parenting style is that fault, and engaged in scalding him, did not notice that Ashura had wandered off in his constant pursuit of edibles. A bunch of local bullies instantly picked Ashura as easy target, and right or wrong, Ashura was in imminent danger of getting a beating.
Yasha, as always, appeared at just the right time, and proceeded to deal with the bullies in his usual, and none too subtle manner. Needless to say, this attracted no little attention. But luckily for him, Karura passed by and recognized Yasha. She called off the soldiers, and sent Yasha on his ways with a godspeed. She too returned to her palace. But something was amiss. A frantic maid told her the Taishakuten had sent his envoys to take Karyoubinga away.
Before Taishakuten's towering figure Karyoubinga looked very small. The little princess, overcome by fear, would not open her mouth to sing. But Taishakuten is not in a hurry. He placed the her in a transparent bubble, so that she would that get lost, he told her. Three days heand he will have her sing on the anniversary of his rise to power.
Karyoubinga could not see her sister, who had this moment had just arrived before Zenmi-jou's gate. Karura-oh had no other thought in her mind beside getting back her sister. She was ready to batter down the door, blast anyone in her path, even face Taishakuten himself. Even her superior, Zouchou-ten, could not bring her to her senses. Help arrived in the unexpected form of Bishamonten. His cool tone penetrated Karura's heated mind. If she fights in Zenmi-jou, her whole clan while be destroyed. And most of all, does she think that her precious sister would be allowed to live if that happened? Face with the inevitable, Karura-oh had no choice. She could only wait out the three days, and hope that it is no just a slower death sentence.
The day came, and Karyoubinga was already on her last breath. But she had not choice. Taishakuten threatend to punish karura-oh if she refuses to sing. Then at that moment Karyoubinga realized that she could make a choice, after all. There is death, and there is death where something could be gained. She will sing, but her song will only be for her sister. She had always perceived herself as a burden to her sister, a proud hawk chained to a caged bird. Now with her last song she can set her sister free. Blood stained her dress as she put her last ounce of strength into her song, hoping and praying that Karura-oh will understand her choice.
"What a bore," Taishakuten commented as life left the little princess. "Toss the body out somewhere." his words broken brought Karura-oh out of her shock. "Don't touch her," she cried and forced her way through the crowd. But already the body is gone. Cradling the stiff corpse of Karyoubinga's little bird in her hand, she swore to herself that she'll have Taishakuten's life.