Prelude

    "I always appreciate being alive whenever I see General Niou's performance."

    "I know, isn't he just the most charming thing on earth?"

Eyes of admiration and appreciation landed on one gentleman, whose long beautiful fingers stroked skilfully along the strings of the biwa^[2]. However, at the same time, there were also eyes of jealousy and envy coming from other gentlemen in the party.

Noticing the two distinctive kinds of focuses on him, Niou Masaharu turned to the ladies, and with a most charming smile, responded to their eyes of love. Immediately, all the ladies blushed and giggled in joy and ecstasy. This one act caused hatred to rise even more from the gentlemen; they had known that Niou was always the centre of every event he attended. His extremely handsome and appealing appearance combined with his forever charming and sensual smile, General Niou, the personal bodyguard of the emperor, wins every time.

    "Niou, I am really asking you to do us a favour. Settle down with someone for once so we all could at least get a chance too." One of Niou's colleagues pleaded as Niou has finally finished his performance and sat down at his seat.

Niou chuckled at his colleague's words. "Indeed I do wish to settle down with someone...my moon of utopia."

    "Moon of utopia? What are you on about?"

Niou continued to smile, but did not reply; indeed life was a game for him. He knew his charm could attract any lady in the room, it was fortunate and unfortunate at the same time with such advantages, and with that, Niou Masaharu was not ready to settle down. The game is on, so why should he leave?

    "Maybe you should learn from him." Niou's friend pointed to an imperial guard standing beside Governor Udagawa. "Like you he has the charm and a most handsome appearance; however he took no interest in anything other than his job."

Niou agreed when he took a closer look at the guard. Indeed he has the most attractive countenance and yet there was no sign of interest in the wine, food or even the numerous fine ladies here. Niou smiled to himself, knowing playing cold and mysterious sometimes worked as another method to attract ladies. Looking up at the imperial guard again, Niou realised he has found himself a new competitor.

When at this time the crowd cheered when the next performer came. Niou noticed the cheers and excitement all came from the men and there were looks of displease and envy on the ladies. Niou's beautiful golden hazel eyes narrowed a little with pleasure when he saw a female dancer performing on stage. Her face was unbelievably fine and delicate and most of all, the icy cold look on her face made her mysterious, yet fatally attractive.

    "It is the famous dancer Yukimura Keno, she is the best in the country!" Niou's friend whispered with excitement obviously also a fan of Keno.

Niou watched Keno danced and with a leap she came before Governor Udagawa. Stretching forth her pearl white arms, she caressed Governor Udagawa cheeks in a seductive way. Like all men, Governor Udagawa laughed in excitement as his eyes looked to her with greed.

Suddenly, a lady screamed, which was soon followed by other screams. Niou turned to the outbursts and saw roughly four or five black and red snakes crawling towards the centre. Although Niou was always relaxed and playful, he did take the situation seriously, after all he was the military general and personal guard of the emperor. Immediately Nioh picked up the bow and arrows from beside him, and with careful aim, the arrows he sent successfully nailed the crawling snakes to the ground.

While everyone were all relieved with Niou's rescue, Keno took out a dagger from inside her garment and cried out, "Governor Udagawa, prepare to die!"

That was an absolutely unexpected move as everyone’s focus was still on the poisonous snakes. Governor Udagawa moved back in fear to dodge Keno's dagger, when in time a katana sword came striking at Keno.

Keno leaned aside to dodge the attack and with the support of her arms she leaped onto the tree. However the attacker did not give her a break, bounding towards the tree also. Keno frowned, realising that her pursuer was the handsome guard who usually stood beside Governor Udagawa. His attacks came from all directions, and with only the little dagger Keno had in her possession of weaponry, she knew she had to abort the assassination.

A whistle was heard, and dozens of birds flew instantaneously towards the handsome guard. With a turn of his sword, the birds fell to the ground. Keno used this break and like a wind fled from the scene.

    "General Niou!" Governor Udagawa called in fear after Keno's disappearance, "I want that woman arrested and executed!"

Niou gave a sigh secretly inside him, with the unexpected incident that just happened, obviously his plan of replying to one of the ladies' invitations was ruined. Looking over to the handsome guard, as if nothing had happened he returned to his position, and once again showed no interest to what was happening around him.

---

    "Why don't you come out and show yourself?" Keno asked calmly as she sat relaxed in the woods caressing the lion that sat beside her like a little cat.

    "You seem to be able to befriend the animals?" Niou walked out from behind the woods and smiled not forgetting to send his charm at her. Following the tracks Niou managed to follow Keno to this place, but seeing the calm on her face with his entrance, Niou's suspicions aroused over whether this was a trap.

The lion beside Keno growled in a protective manner the moment he saw Niou. "Calm, darling. It's okay. Just a friendly visitor..." Looking back up at Niou she smiled somehow testing. "Right?"

    "I believe you meant if I dared to arrest you, your lion friend might have me for supper?" Knowing he was not going to reveal his true intentions before Keno revealed hers, Niou smiled mildly as a reply.

Unexpectedly, both Keno and Niou suddenly heard a humming sound echoing in their ears. At the same time, Niou frowned a little when he felt a slight stabbing pain on his fore chest, and unbeknownst to him, Keno sensed the same pain on her left wrist.

    "The time has come...Hakkenshi^[3]..."

Out of nowhere, Niou heard a voice echoing in his mind, with surprise he instinctively looked to Keno, and found the same puzzled expression on her face. Have they both heard the same voice...?

---

    "The time has come, Renji." An elder said to the young man standing before him. "The Hime has appeared to save the nation. Go to her now and support her in our fight against the Oni^[4]."

The young man, Yanagi Renji, held his head low and bowed before the elder, replying without any emotions or expressions. "Yes master, for this reason I am alive. I shall not fail you."

The old man gave a sigh as he looked at Yanagi's delicate calm face. Although there was a faint shade of white across Yanagi's face, his face still looked beautiful, like a doll, a masterpiece. "Remember, Renji, once the seal I set on you is broken, you will lose all your power."

    "That will not happen, teacher." Still with the same monotone, Yanagi replied. "Never."

Upon Yanagi's determined response the old master let out a sigh. "Do not be so sure, Renji. I do not know if it is such a bad thing once the seal breaks." Gently stretching forth his hand he caressed the younger boy's head gently like a loving father. "After all, you will have learned to love."

Finally raising his head, Yanagi replied once again with the same fortitude as before. "I will not love, and do not need love..." Yanagi paused, "Teacher, you know that I am unable to do so."

Yanagi's teacher smiled as he looked to Yanagi with understanding. "I do not know, Renji, love is a strange thing." Taking out a bead necklace, he placed it over Yanagi, "Here, this necklace will also intensify your power. Now go to the rest of the Hakkenshi and support the Hime."

Yanagi gave the old man another bow and with pride turned and walked out of the room.

Proceed to [ Chapter One ]
 

+ + + + + + + + + +
Iori
13.September.2006

Notes:

[4] Oni is the Japanese word for Demons