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Flight of Sou-oh
An unease silence had settled over Karura-oh's palace. Couriers and servants meandered in the hallways and talked in hushed whispers, while casting worried glances at the direction of Karyoubinga's room. Their queen, karura-oh, had returned a few days ago. Since then, she had shut herself in Karyoubinga's room, refusing food and water. For three days she has been there, not sleeping, and not saying a word. No one dared to interrupt her in her grief.
But at zenmi-jou life continued as always. Ten-oh's birthday came, and Empress Sashi held a great celebration for him. Again guests filled the halls, and again Kendappa performed on her harp and accompanied a singer. This time the singer is Tamara, the only, and therefore beloved daughter of Koumuko-ten. Unfortunately for her the ethereal voice of Karyoubinga has not yet faded from the ears of the audience. Zouchou-ten, made careless by wine, air his opinions to everyone. Tamara's voice would have been nothing out of ordinary without Kendappa-ou's accompaniment. Ten-oh, by now thoroughly smitten by the lovely musician, could not agree more.
In spite of Kisshou-ten's efforts, the whereabout of Karyoubinga's body remained unknown. But Kendappa did not intend to wait for more information before she visited Karura-oh. Ten-oh had offered to take her to the castle of Karura clan on his winged horse, in exchange Kendappa agreed to play for him sometimes soon.
Servant at the castle lead Kendappa to her friend. For a moment she almost could not recognize karura-oh in the pitiful figure on the bed. Her sister's last wish had been for karura-oh to live and to live free. But Karura-oh, sealed in the cocoon of her grief, had forgotten.
It had been said that kendappa-oh's music could lead the sould of the departed into heaven. But perhaps it could also call back the sould of those at the threshold of death. The music that flowed from her harp is the same melody that Karyoubinga sang to her sister with her heart's blood. It called Karura-oh back. She had wished to kill, and filing that, seek the comfort of that oblivion herself. But kendappa-oh reminded her of her sister's last wish. The little princess did not wish for revenge or death, and least of all her dearest sister's death. Her song said to live, to be free. Karura-oh could do no less for her sister than to follow her desire.
Yasha had lead his little band of fugitive back to the destroyed Yasha village. Under the north night sky they made camp. Ashura, snuggling up to Sohma, asked about Sohma's life. A legend is told about the Sohma clan: once in a Sohma's lifetime, he could offer his blood to another, and this other person will life forever. Fearing that someone will receive the gif of immortality, Taishakuten ordered the entire clan destroyed.
On that day Sohma lost everything that was precious to her. Her parents, thinking to preserve one member of the Sohma clan, had ordered her to stay in hiding. Taishakuten's soldiers did not find her, but they found all others, and from her hidden vintage point Sohma witnessed her parent's bloody death. She swore to herself that she will live, and return one day for revenge. How, she had no idea, lost and desperate as she was. She should not have survived, but in the morning light Kendappa found her, and nursed her back to health. Had it not been for Kendappa's smiles and music, she would not have.
Sohma, thinking of Kendappa-oh, did not realize how much her story affected Ashura, until she felt drops of moisture on her. Gathering Ashura close, she told him not to cry. After all, both Yasha and Ashura himself have similiar stories to tell. It is much better to remember the people who are important to you, and live only for them. Ashura thought of Yasha, how he had protected him and cared for him, even when no one else wonted him. Ashura knows what Sohma meant. He resolved to live for Yasha. For Yasha he'll become stronger, so that one day he could protect Yasha just as Yasha protected him. Sohma, holding the trembling child in her arms, make the same promise. One day they will be strong enought to defeat Taishakuten, and Ashura will have no need to cry.
Ryo-oh had followed Yasha into the ruins of his village. Even through he knew that it brought back hurtful memories to Ashura, he still had to come back. It was the least he could do, as a king, to give he people decent burial.
Karura-oh is back at her pot again. She took her sister's wish and kendappa's words to heart. Fighting the mazuka, doing something she does well, had improved her spirit. Her people could almost think that their queen is back to her old self again. But Taishakuten is not done with her yet. Returning, she found a summon from Zenmi-jou waiting for her. Controling her instinctive anger, she set out for Zenmi-jou, determined to give no cause for offense.
At Zenmi-jou, Kendappa is playing for Taisahkuten again. He had always praised her playing, and this time he told her that her music had surpassed her mother's skills. But like all his compliments it concealed a sting. Taishakuten had killed Kendappa's father, Jikoku-ten. Doesn't she hate him, even a little bit, Taishakuten asked. Kendappa's composure remained unruffled. Her reply was clear and even. Three hundred years ago she had decided to serve Taishakuten, even is he is the killer of her father. She has not change her mind. But there is a reason for this. Kendappa-oh's mother had been in love with young Yasha. Being weak, she covered her face in tears everyday tell her death. Kendappa despises weak people like that. She only liked the strong, and certainly Taishakuten is the strongest of all. Did he not defeat Ashura-oh? For that he had Kendappa's loyalty.
Taishakuten smiled, amused by her audacity in mentioning Ashura-oh's name before him, which everyone knew was a taboo. Ten-oh's entrance put an end to their conversation. Ostentiously he carried a message from Bishamon-ten to his father. Karura-oh awaited him in the banquet hall. But clearly it was really to see Kendappa that he came. Blushing and stammering, he reminded her of her promise to play her harp for him. Before he could find another word, Tamara entered and dragged him away on some flimsy pretext, to Kendappa's great amusement.
Karura-oh waited in the banquet hall. With rising anger she noticed that she is not been received in the usual audience hall, but in the banquet hall where karabinga died. But Taishakuten seems to have forgotten about that incident. He told Karura-oh that he only wanted to reward her for her loyal service. What does she want for a reward? He stroke the strange beasts at his feet pointedly. These creatures are called samala. Ferocious predetors, they could swallow several soldiers in one gulp.
But Karura did not take the hint. Bowing low, she asked for the body of her sister to be returned to her. For a moment it seems that Taishakuten did not understand what she was talking about, then Bishamonten reminded him. "Oh yes, that thing," Taishakuten sneered, "It's gone." He had fed it to the Samalas.
Karura could no longer contain her fury. Crying out her sister's name, she let lose a bolt of power aimed at Taishakuten.
"Foolish creature," Zouchou-ten cried, and stepped between her and Taishakuten. With one stroke he throw her down. He knew the fate that awaite those who dare to strike out at the emperor, and he could not stand by and watch her die. Turning toward the emperor, he begged for mercy. Would Taishakuten think of Zouchou-ten, and let his lieutant live? Suprisingly, Taishakuten agreed. Befor he could change his mind, Zouchou-ten carried Karura-oh out of the banquet hall and returned her to her men.
He knew he could not tell them the truth. How could he tell them what Taishakuten had done to their queen and expect them to be loyal to the emperor. Instead, he told them to leave as quickly as possible. Their queen has done something terrible, and they would do well to stay quietly and peacefully in their city. Kendappa added her voice to his, and she seems to have convinced them. The soldiers took their lord away without further protest.
But both Zouchou-ten and Kendappa-oh wondered whether karura-oh would really accept her exile and not seek revenge. They were quite right to do so. Karura-oh's grief has transmuted itself. She no longer wanted to die, nor was she in that hysterical state where she desire only unthinking violence. She knew that she could not defeat Taishakuten alone. But with Yasha, and young Prince Ashura she could. She will join them, but she does not intend her clan to suffer them clans' fate first. Her castle is very high above the ground. If she leaped down to commite suicide, no one would think it strange that a body can not be found. After the funeral is held, no further blame for the rebelious deeds of a dead person could fall to her clan.
On a clear day, Karura-oh's funeral was held. The clan's grief was genuine. They had not even been able to find the body of the two sisters for burial. Stepping out from the cool shade of the hall, Kendappa and Zouchou-ten were temperarily blinded by the bright light. A long-tailed shadow glided throught the sunlight. Could it be Karura-oh's bond bird? Kendappa wondered. "What a perfect day for Karura-oh's funeral!" Zouchou-ten remarked, "not even a bird in the sky." An understanding passed between the two, and they turned away to speak lightly of other thing.
A beam of light formed from Ashura's hand. In Shurato's crystal blade, appeared a slender woman in silver and white.