The royal family of Seyruun’s pretty weird, but the power they wield is formidable.  Not only is Seyruun one of the strongest kingdoms in the world, but the entire city is a fortress of white magic.  The streets are even arranged to form a giant seal to protect against magical attack!  Well, like I said, there’s a plot to assassinate Prince Okina, and somehow a mazoku is mixed up in it.

“Open the gates!” the prince roared.  “Okina el de Seyruun has returned!”

The two guards appeared above the gate.  “Highness!  It’s his highness!” yelled Kuro.

“His highness is alive!” echoed Shiro.

The gates swung open and Okina rode in, to the cheers of his adoring subjects – though perhaps with a little less enthusiasm on the part of the more attractive women.  “My friends!” he announced.  “You’ve all been worrying unnecessarily!  As you can see, I have returned unharmed!  And I shall use all the power at my command to restore peace to the city and end this crisis.  No matter what they may try, I promise to find the people behind this plot and bring them to justice!”

The people cheered.  But Kaoru didn’t echo their enthusiasm.  She had a very bad feeling indeed…

“We’ve got to clear this situation up as soon as we can,” Kaoru told the others.

“Fine,” agreed Okina.  “For now, I’ve made arrangements for you all to stay in the palace to act as my bodyguards.”

“But once this mess is cleared up you’ll give us rewards, right?” asked Yahiko.

“I figured you’d ask that,” Okina grinned.  “Don’t worry, I’ll give you all whatever you want.  Oi, who’s there?” he called, in response to a knock on the door.

The door opened, revealing Prince Anji and his handsome, smiling son Soujirou.  “Ani-ue,” the priest began.  “Ani-ue, I am gladdened to the bottom of my heart that you’ve returned unharmed!”

“I hid myself to protect the people around me from getting hurt by this assassination plot,” Okina replied.

“You could at least have told me, your own brother, what the truth was!  After all, if you die before Misao comes of age, it is I who must bear the burden of regency!”

“Forgive me.”  Okina bowed his head in acknowledgment.  “The situation made that impossible.”

“Still,” Anji continued, “There has never been any reason for secrets between the two of us.”

Kaoru, watching the brothers, had her own thoughts in the matter.  Despite what anyone else might say, the most suspicious person in this whole business is Okina’s brother Anji…

“But you don’t need to worry any more!” Okina beamed.  “Kaoru-san and her friends are strong-hearted allies!”

“That’s right!”  Anji clasped Kaoru’s hands.  “Thank you for saving my brother’s life!  Please protect him from now on!”

Kaoru managed an embarrassed laugh.  “Of course we’ll do everything we can to help!”

“Seyruun is the capital of white magic and there are many here who practice that art,” added Soujirou, “but white magic can’t really help us in this situation.”

“But if Seyruun begins using violence and black magic, we’d become a threat to the neighboring kingdoms,” Okina pointed out.

“And we don’t have to use it, because we have Kaoru-san!” Misao piped up.

Kaoru sweatdropped.

“That great power is something I would very much like to see.”

Everybody turned to see who had spoken.  The newcomer was a tall man whose hairless head looked like a skull thinly covered with tight-stretched skin.  The high, pointed collar of his mantle made his cadaverous face appear to be the center of a five-pointed star.  That mantle, the color of dried blood, hung straight down from wide shoulder-pieces, completely concealing the man’s body.  Accompanying him was an androgynous beauty who might have been a strong-featured woman or a very effeminate man.  Her glossy hair was divided into three tails, two hanging down her back and one nearly concealing her left eye, and her robe was ornamented with an odd arrangement of ribbons that looked like the legs of a spider.

“A blessing of blood to all creatures with a will for life,” the newcomer bowed.  I am Kaiou, senior among the priest-mahoutsukai.  Forgive my rudeness.”

“And I am Hyoko, court mahoutsukai to lord Anji,” his companion cooed.  “It is an honor to meet the famous Kaoru Kamiya – and her companion Kenshin Himura.”

“You two work for Anji?” asked Kaoru.

“Your skill is well known among mahoutsukai,” Hyoko stated.  “I hope to see you demonstrate it.”

Right – on you.  I don’t trust either one of you!  “Don’t worry, you’ll have a chance.  Fairly soon, I imagine.”

“Sou de gozaru yo,” murmured Kenshin.

Soujirou smiled his impenetrable smile.

“What’s up with that Kaiou guy?” exploded Misao.  “I thought he was going to challenge Kaoru-san right then and there!  And that blessing’s nothing I’d expect to hear from one of Cephied’s priests!”

“It sure seemed like he didn’t like us much,” Yahiko agreed.

“Of course he didn’t – we probably got in the way of his first plot, after all,” Kaoru replied.  “After all, if it’s Anji who’s after Okina – and he is the one with the most to gain from Okina’s death – we should suspect the mahoutsukai who work for him, right?  And besides, they might not even be human.”

“That’s right,” Aoshi pointed out.  “Kaiou is probably either a mazoku or has made a contract with one.”

“Now that we know this much we should hit them with the iron fists of Justice!” cried Misao.

Kenshin held up a restraining hand.  “This is all speculation de gozaru yo.”

“I guess you’re right…” the princess faltered.

“Or should we just go after them anyway?” Kaoru asked.  “It doesn’t really matter to me what we do, but whatever it is, we need to consider Okina’s position.”

“I understand why you’re anxious to close this matter, Misao…” Aoshi began.

“It’s okay!”  Kaoru stood up and shoved her bokken through her hakama ties.  “We’ve got the plotter dead to rights!  All we need is the proof, and then we can do anything we want!”

“Right!”  Misao sprang to her feet.  “In that case, let’s find the proof as fast as we can!”

“We also need to guard Okina-dono,” Kenshin pointed out.  “Though they may not move again so soon de gozaru yo.”

“It is troublesome to have to fight yet another mazoku,” Aoshi sighed.  “Still, Seyruun seems prone to such disturbances.  In addition to this plot, I have heard of the loss of your older sister, Crown Princess Omime.  And there was also the attempted treason by Prince Kamatari…”

“Aoshi!” Kaoru snapped.  Misao’s fingers dug into the table with enough force to leave dents in the wood.  “Misao…”

“That’s why…” the younger girl murmured, “that’s why we need absolute justice!  A burning justice no evil scheme can withstand!  A blazing justice!  The mightiest justice!”

“Misao…”

Aoshi had the grace to look ashamed.

For the first time, they all realized what a terrible burden Misao would have to carry when she did succeed to the throne of Seyruun – a burden she would have to bear without the support of a family she could not trust.  Anji wasn’t the first brother who had turned against Okina – Kaoru knew perfectly well how Kamatari had fallen victim to his own twisted ambitions.  She didn’t know much about Princess Omime; there were several wild rumors about her, the silliest being that she had become a mercenary sorceress calling herself Okon the White Serpent.  Really!

“Excuse me…” one of the palace waiting-women interrupted.  “Kaoru Kamiya-sama?   Please take his.”  She held out an envelope.  “I was told to give this to Kaoru Kamiya-sama.”

Misao peered at it.  “Good paper, nice shade of blue… maybe it’s a love letter!  Hmm… the handwriting’s pretty good too.”

“Aw, who’d send Busu a love letter?” scoffed Yahiko, earning a whack across the head from Kaoru’s bokken.

“Sessha does not…” Kenshin began.

Kaoru tossed the missive aside.  “I don’t want a love letter from somebody who doesn’t do anything but practice calligraphy!”

“But if you don’t open and read it, you won’t know what it says,” Aoshi pointed out.

“I guess you’re right.”  Kaoru picked up the envelope and tore it open.  “Okay… it says he has information on who’s behind the assassination, and wants us to meet him at a certain place.  And the sender is… what’s he up to?”

Misao gazed at the signature and cried out in shock.

“You’re really going, Kaoru-san?” asked Misao.

“Naturally!”

“But the one who sent the letter… I can’t believe it!  Someone has to be using his name to lure us into a trap!”

“Well, then we’re going in expecting one!”  Kaoru gave her friend a thumbs-up.  “Nothing to worry about!  And while we’re gone, Aoshi and Kenshin can protect Okina!  All we need to do is verify what he has to say…”  She opened a door.  “Anybody home?  Hello?”

Only silence greeted them.

“Hey, you shouldn’t invite people over and then leave!” Kaoru called.

“That’s why I don’t think he’s the one who invited us!” Misao retorted.

But a slender figure emerged from the shadows – Misao’s smiling cousin Soujirou.  “Welcome.  I’m glad you came, Kaoru Kamiya-san.”

Kaoru held out the letter.  “Just what’s this all about?”

“It’s just as I wrote.  I want to give you information about this matter.  But please, come inside.  We shouldn’t stand out here talking.”  He led them down a long corridor lined with portraits of royal ancestors.

“What’s going on?” Misao wondered.

Kaoru also wondered just what game the cheerful-seeming young man was playing.

“Go ahead,” Soujirou handed Kaoru a cup of tea.  “It isn’t poisoned.”

She sipped.  It was very good tea.  “All right, what’s this information you mentioned in your letter?”

“Before I tell you, I have a condition.”  He stared at his teacup, the very picture of confusion.  “In exchange for my giving you this information, I want to ask a favor of you.”

Kaoru paused.  “Well, if you just want to ask a favor…”  I don’t want to commit to granting him anything!

“The truth is, I don’t know what I should do.  The entire matter is my father’s fault.”

Misao jumped to her feet.  “You mean Uncle Anji is behind the assassination plot?”

“That’s right,” Soujirou smiled.  “Kaoru-san may have already guessed this, but my father is definitely the main plotter!”

Kaoru sweatdropped.  “Um, should you be so happy about telling us this?”

“I’m sorry.  Smiling is… my habit.  But it’s still the truth!”

“It can’t be,” Misao whispered in shock.  “Not Uncle Anji!”

“But why are you telling us this?” Kaoru demanded.

“That brings us to the favor I was going to ask,” Soujirou went on.  “I want time to persuade my father to give up his plot.  Our chief vassals are split between Prince Okina’s followers and those who would rather see my father on the throne.  Civil war is certain to follow!  And when that happens I’ll be forced to choose between supporting my father and doing what is best for Seyruun.  I don’t want to have to do that, so I want you to wait.  I know if I keep talking to my father, he’ll see reason!”

“Sadly, I can’t let you do that!”  A disembodied, androgynous voice echoed in the room.

“Hiding is the act of a coward!” Misao cried.   “Come out and show yourself!”

“As you wish.”  One of the portraits on the wall began to glow.  Claw-tipped hands emerged, followed by a cruelly beautiful face, like a woman’s except for a spider’s multifaceted eyes.  The rest of the form emerged; an upper body swathed in weblike veils, and a bulbous lower body like the abdomen of a monstrous spider.

“A mazoku!” Misao wailed.

“And not the same one as before!” Kaoru added.  “One mazoku was bad enough, but two of them!?”

“You people have overstayed your welcome here!” exclaimed the spider-like mazoku.  It threw a sphere of glowing energy straight at Soujirou.  Kaoru sprang to protect the young prince – but he jumped out of the way with unbelievable speed.

Even if Soujirou was giving us information, I can’t believe it would attack its master’s son too! thought Kaoru.  “Misao, this is no place to fight!  Run for it!

Damu Bras!

Misao blasted a hole in the wall and they ran for it.  But as they raced through the corridors, their surroundings warped.  Reality twisted around them, until suddenly they were in a strange, surreal landscape, a barren plain dotted with acid green rocks, under a “sky” of eye-searing swirls of green, pink and blue.

“What is this place?” Misao wailed.

The androgynous voice laughed.  “The holy barrier around Seyruun causes trouble for mazoku, so I’ve opted for a new arena.

“It looks like we’ve been pulled into a pocket universe,” Kaoru frowned.

“Poké?” asked Misao.

“And we’re inside it?” Soujirou added.

Kaoru leveled her bokken at the spider-mazoku, hanging in midair. 

“I won’t be the one you fight in here,” the creature purred.  “He’ll do just fine.”  It waved one claw and a huge creature appeared, like an enormous orange lizard.  It reared back on its hind legs and roared.

Fireball!

Misao’s attack was accurate – but ineffectual.

“We can’t get distracted fighting that!” yelled Kaoru.  She pointed her bokken at the swirling dome overhead.

Stars which pass through heaven’s night skies,
Heed the ancient contract with the earth!
I pledge my life that he may be called forth!

“That’s a summoning!” gasped Soujirou.

“She must be trying to summon a creature to kill that beast!”

Ferious Breed!

A white beam shot from the tip of Kaoru’s bokken and passed through the pocket universe’s sky.  For a brief instant, nothing happened. Then cracks appeared in the dizzying blue and green swirls.  A large piece of the sky fell to the sandy ground, revealing stars beyond, and a white bird flew in through the opening.

“A dove?”  Misao blinked.  “This is no time for cheap tricks!”

“Come on, let’s get out of here!”  Kaoru sped skyward on a Ray Wing.

“Right!”  Misao grabbed her cousin and followed.  The three of them popped out of a rift in the air and landed in front of a large, imposing building.

Kaoru looked around.  “Where are we?”

“The High Temple?” Soujirou wondered.  “What’s going on here?”

“Keeping control over a pocket dimension is hard even for a mazoku,” Kaoru explained.  “So when I summoned the dove, it disrupted the balance between the pocket dimension and the outer world, and her control collapsed.”

Behind them, a circle opened in the paving stones.  The spider-like mazoku rose from it.  “You’re starting to become really annoying, Kaoru Kamiya.”

“Breaking our barrier was quite impressive,” added the insectoid mazoku who had attacked them earlier.  “You may be too much for Hyoko to handle.”

Damu Bras!

Kaoru blasted a hole in the temple door and bolted inside, Misao at her heels. 

“No matter where you run, the results will be the same!” Hyoko screeched, and followed them inside.  She stared up at the great statue of the god.  “Cepheid… are mere humans really such fools?  Nothing can come of praying to this thing!”

“That’s not quite true!” Kaoru retorted.  “It was enough to distract you!”

“Running into a place with no exit?” the mazoku sneered.  “What are you planning?”

“To defeat you, of course.”  Kaoru drew her bokken.

“You say the most amusing things!”  The mazoku hurled black energy at Kaoru.

Kaoru leaped out of the way.  “Misao, now!”

Flow Break!

Lines of white energy formed a pentagram around the mazoku, trapping her inside a magical barrier.

The spider-creature laughed.  “Do you think this weak spell can hold me?”  She gestured, then struggled harder.  The barrier held.  “Impossible!  I can’t be imprisoned by a mere human’s magic!”

“That’s not quite true either,” Kaoru smirked.  “You said it yourself – Seyruun stands inside a holy barrier.  And the center of that barrier is right here, the High Temple!  That weakens your powers as a mazoku, and strengthens white magic!  So now, how about answering our question?”

“Don’t underestimate the power of a mazoku!”  The barrier – and most of the sanctuary – exploded in flames.  The mazoku was free – though she had obviously sustained a great deal of damage.

“Do you really think you can beat us in your condition?” Kaoru scoffed.

“I’ll admit I don’t have that much power left.  But I have enough to give you a parting gift!”  The spider-monster’s eyes flared red.  She extended her hand.  And suddenly it was Kaoru standing inside a pentagram that glowed the dull red of evil sorcery.

“What’s that?” Kaoru squawked.

“What indeed?”  Hyoko soared through the ruined roof into the night.

“You won’t get away!” screeched Kaoru.

Ray Wing!

Nothing happened.

Ray Wing!

Ray Wing!

Kaoru’s feet remained obstinately attached to the ground.

“What are you doing, Kaoru-san?” Misao cried.  “The mazoku’s getting away!”

Kaoru stared at the crimson pentagram, in shock.  “It can’t be,” she whispered.  “My techniques don’t work!  What am I going to do?”

NOTES, EXPLANATIONS ETC.

And so things get serious again.  Kaiou is the evil-looking henchman of Amakusa from the Shimabara arc – there’s a reason for using him, but that will come later.  That “blessing of blood” line is from one of the Shimabara episodes; I thought it was too perfect for a mazoku.  And for those of you who only know the Kenshin anime, Hyoko is from the Jinchuu manga arc.  (Yes, I know Hyoko is supposed to be male; Mazenda isn’t so I’m going to have more fun with bent genders.  More on this in a later chapter.)

Omime turned up as another name for Okon, and as this is the only reference to Gracia/Naga in TV series canon, I threw it in here.  I don’t like Naga and am not going anywhere near the OAVs, so this is probably the only reference you’ll see to her – unless I can work in a joke about chasing gold dragons, but that’s also for a later chapter. 

I sort of meant to do some kind of play between pocket universe and poké ball, but it didn’t really work.