After a hot meal of fish, rice, and green tea the two newest Defenders of Toyotama headed out into the city. The Temple Elders had given the two teenage girls a small pouch each. Inside was a letter, a Temple signet ring, and thirty pieces of silver. The letter was for the authorities explaining who the girls were, and that they represented the Temple. The signet ring was their proof of affiliation with the Temple. The silver was to cover what experiences they should incur during their time away from the Temple.

The two very young samurai would be returning to the Temple later that night. For now, they had a mission to take care of before the sunset. It was one that Akane didn’t want to undertake just yet. If ever in her mind. But Chiyoko wouldn’t let her newest sister wiggle her way out of doing her duty.

“Come on Akane. Which way to your home? We’ve screwed around enough.” Chiyoko grumbled for the fourth time sense leaving the temple compound. Akane had taken every chance to derail, side track, or outright mislead Chiyoko. “Look I know that you’re afraid of facing your mother. But it’ll be better this way. Just think about how she’ll feel if you never came home?”

“Why are you so dead set on me going home tonight, Chiyoko? I mean I can take care of this tomorrow or maybe even next week.” Akane whine then barely above her breath. “Or never.”

“Look, Akane. I want you to tell me right now. Why are you so afraid of facing your mother? She already knows that you wanted to be a girl. What’s the problem now?” Chiyoko also growled.

“She was supposed to meet with someone today. She was there to talk about arranging my marriage. If she was successful, she’ll be in a lot of trouble. Especially if the groom’s parents have already agreed to, or paid, the bridle price.” As Akane finally explained the situation for Chiyoko a sadness fell over the younger teenage girl.

“Okay. Now that I know what the situation is, you just let me do all the talking. When we reach your home you just stay outside until I call for you. If we have to, we’ll escort your mother back to the Temple, and hide her there. Trust me. there is no way that I’m going to let anyone hurt your mother. Even if I have to take out a bunch of assholes to protect her.” Chiyoko then grinned savagely. “If I have to, I’ll call on your patron God.”

The thought of the Dragon God Jiro being called in to handle a marriage dispute made Akane giggle. That was until she saw the insolent look in Chiyoko’s eyes. “Oh god! You would do it to. What are you moon sick?”

“Okay that is the second time today that someone has called me that. Just what does being ‘moon sick’ mean?” Chiyoko demanded.

Shaking her head Akane sighed. “My sister is truly not of this world. They must all be insane where she comes from.”

“Hey! I’ll have you know that I’m not insane.” Chiyoko huffed then snarked. “I’m just delightfully demented.”

“Oh, I agree with you whole heartily dear sister.” Akane put on the most innocent face she could. “You’re just slightly more demented than what most people would consider safe for the general public.”

“Oh, bite me. I’m not that bad. Just because I would use the God of Evil Neutrality to solve a marriage dispute is not that bad.” Chiyoko countered.

There was a chuckle from behind them and the aforementioned God appeared between them. “Did I hear someone taking my name in vain?”

Akane squeaked and Chiyoko yelped, while Prince Jiro just chuckled. “Ah, it’s so nice to be loved. Now what is this I hear about a possible arranged marriage for my samurai?”

“My Lord, it seems that Akane’s mother has been in the process of arranging a marriage for her. We don’t know if her mother was successful or not.” Chiyoko quickly explained to the Dragon God. This exchange also let Chiyoko know that the Gods weren’t ‘all-knowing’. Powerful in unimaginable ways, but still very far from perfect.

“I see. Well, I’m sorry Akane, but I will not allow this to happen.” Jiro started off politely then snarled. “You BELONG to me. Unlike your sister, YOU are MY samurai. I WILL be the one who decides your FATE and NO one else.”

“Yes, my Lord and Master.” Akane trembled. “I understand.”

“Be sure to remember that my samurai. I will not permit anyone or anything stand in the way of your mission. Nor will I allow you to walk away from your devotion and service to me.” With that the Dragon Prince was gone.

Once the two girls were alone again Akane shivered. “Does that happen often?”

“What?” Chiyoko asked her.

“Gods and Goddesses just popping up out of nowhere like that?” Akane shakily asked as she looked around.

“Oh that!” Chiyoko chuckled trying to cover up her own nervousness. “Honestly. They’ve only just started, doing that to me, today. Well this morning really. Ever since I made the stupid mistake of reading a curse out load.”

Akane’s head snapped up so fast that Chiyoko thought it would cause her whiplash. “You read a curse warning out load?! You’re not demented. You’re fucking insane to the point that you should be the next Goddess of Chaos.”

“Oh, hell you don’t.” Chiyoko hissed. “Don’t even think of cursing me that way. I want no part of that world of nutso.”

Akane took a second to figure out what Chiyoko was talking about before giggling. Then she asked in the most innocent and childlike voice she could muster. “Why not? You’d make such a good Goddess of Chaos. After all you’re crazy enough and you have the attitude down pat.”

Chiyoko gave Akane a seething glare then busted out laughing. “Thank you, but no thank you. I’d be happy just being a normal teenager. No way do I want all that responsibility. Besides, I love going to the local comic bookstore and playing a round or two of AD-n-D too much to start acting like some God.”

“What’s AD-n-D?” Akane asked as she cocked her head.

“Yup, I’m no longer in Kansas.” Chiyoko grumbled. Taking a deep breath Chiyoko waved down the street. “Come on, Akane. No use putting it off any longer.”

Akane pouted but took the lead. Twenty minutes later the girls were standing in front of Akane’s house. Chiyoko turned to a very frightened Akane. “Okay, Akane. Remember what I told you. Just let me do all the talking.”

Akane just nodded her head. The poor girl didn’t trust her voice just then, but she did trust Chiyoko. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to her home. Not being able to remove the soles of her suit she wiped her feet as best she could. Chiyoko seeing this did the same.

“Is that you Akane?” A woman called out from further in the house.

“Yes mamma. I have someone with me.” Akane called back. “Someone that I would like for you to meet.”

“Well bring them in dear.” Her mother called back. As they walked towards the living room area her mother called out excitedly. “Oh, I have good news, dear. I’ve secured an agreement for your hand in marriage. Isn’t that wonderful news dear?”

As they entered the living room area Akane’s mother, who was kneeling at the kotatsu, looked up and got her first look at her new and improved daughter. “Who are you? Where’s Akane?”

“Um… mother it’s me. I’m Akane.” Akane explained as she turned in place. “The Gods have finally granted my greatest desire.”

Akane’s mother fell off her knees onto her butt. “HOW?! The Gods no longer answer the prayers of mortals.”

Chiyoko decided it was time to step in on behalf of her newest sister and fellow Dragon samurai. Chiyoko knew that she should be as honest as possible with Akane’s mother. “They normally don’t ma’am. The Dragon God Jiro made an exception for your daughter. Just as the Goddess Toyotama and God Wolong did for me. The Dragon Gods are returning ma’am.”

“But I have secured her a husband. One who does not want a real girl, but a Redībōizu.” The woman almost wailed. “Akane how could you be so foolishly irresponsible? Do you have any idea of what this will do to our family?”

“They already agreed to the bridle price didn’t they mother?” Akane sighed. “How much or what did they agree pay?”

The woman looked down at her hands. “Twenty pounds of gold, over the next ten years. With the promise of you receiving a full education at Aichi Medical University. They wanted a doctor for their son’s wife.”

“Then we have a real problem. If Akane’s future in-laws can afford that kind of bridle price. Then they have connections to the Shogun.” Chiyoko grumbled.

“Um… they are members of the Shogun’s extended family.” Akane’s mother answered honestly. “Their son had seen Akane at the Temple of the Dragons more than once. He was taken by her beauty. They came to me three weeks ago and began negotiations for her hand.”

A clarity of thought came to Chiyoko the second she heard that it was the Shogun’s family that wanted Akane. “Time for a face-to-face talk with the Shogun’s family. Let’s go Akane.”

Akane didn’t even think twice. She hugged her mother, gave her a kiss on the cheek and followed Chiyoko to the door. Akane’s mother was quick to follow this strange girl and her daughter. She knew that whoever this strange girl was she was headed for the Shogun’s palace. “Wait! Don’t go! The guards will kill you if you go charging in unannounced.”

“Let them try!” Chiyoko snarled. “Besides, who said we were going through the front door?”

Standing in the middle of the front yard Chiyoko began to chant in a langue not heard by human ears for more than three-thousand years and wave her hands in a truly intricate motion. “Spirits of Time and Space! I call upon thee! Throw wide your portals! Relocate!”

When she finished Chiyoko threw her arms wide. There was a rush of swirling wind, a crash of thunder, a flash of lightning. The next thing Akane and her mother knew they were standing in the central throne room of the Shogun. It took the Shogun’s guards more than twenty seconds to react to the sudden appearance of the three women out of thin air.

Akane’s mother was the first to react or say anything. “MAGIC! You used the forbidden language of the mages.”

“KILL THE MAGE!” The shogun yelled.

Even before the guards could move or draw their weapons. Akane clapped her hands and slapped the floor. Two long walls rose up out of the floor reaching the celling cutting off the guards and trapping them in place along the outer edges of the throne room. Akane’s actions did not go unnoticed by the shogun or the young girl kneeling at his feet. The chain and steel collar let all three woman know that the girl wasn’t there by choice. Akane snarled and clapped her hands once more. This time the offending collar and chain crumbled to dust and steel bands snapped around the shogun’s feet, wrists, and waist locking him in place.

“Release me! Do you know who you dare to attack?! I am the Shogun for this Prefecture! I’ll have you drawn and quartered in the city square!” The man roared. “I’ll have your naked bodies defiled by every sodomite in the city.”

“Oh, shut the fuck up already!” Chiyoko snapped. “If I wanted to, I could have killed your sorry ass from Yokohama.”

“Sister, please calm down. This is not the way to hold proper negotiations.” Akane said with an evil smile. Akane could tell that Chiyoko was being influenced by the more Chaotic and Evil sides of her nature. “There is no need to shrink the Shogun’s penis to the size of a peanut.”

“Akane! You will show respect for the Shogun! Release him from his chair this instance!” Akane’s mother snapped at her daughter. As Akane did as her mother ordered she rounded on Chiyoko. “As for you! You may be my daughter’s friend then you will at least attempt to act like a young lady or better, a Samurai of the Dragon Princess. Don’t try to tell me that you are not the Kyamo no Sa. Not with that mark upon your chest. I’ve studied the Teachings of the Dragon God King Watatsumi from the time I was twelve.”

“Silence!” The Shogun roared. He slowly stood up and walked over to stand before the three women. He looked first to round symbol on Chiyoko’s chest then over to the one on Akane’s. For one of the few times in his life the Shogun dropped to knee bowing from the waist to a woman. “Forgive my arrogance, Mistress Kyamo no Sa. I had not realized that I was in your presence. How may I or my household be of service?”

His sudden change in attitude threw Chiyoko, Akane, and Akane’s mother for a loop. They had all expect a far more different reception. In many ways Chiyoko, Akane, and Akane’s mother were expecting guns, sword, arrows, and spears for their greeting. They sure as hell weren’t expecting a Shogun humbling himself before them.

“Please stand sir. We have much to discuss.” Akane’s mother requested.

Shogun Ito Toyota struggled to stand up before Chiyoko waved her hands chanting once more. “Spirits of Time and Space! Heal!”

Unlike with the transportation spell there was no flash of light, crash of sound, or rush of wind. Only the Shogun being wrapped in a warm glowing light. With each inch he raised up off the floor the old Shogun felt the years fall away. The pain his left knee, from an accident when riding a horse as teenage, disappeared. The dueling scar under his left eye faded. His gray hair turned black. In a matter of seconds, a young man in his thirties now stood where the old Shogun once kneeled. When the spell had run its course Chiyoko staggered back a little.

“Damn. I put too much into that one. I think I need to learn a little more control over my magic.” Chiyoko groaned.

“You THINK?! Crap! I felt the power you dumped into that spell Chiyoko. And I’m a freaking alchemist for Pete’s sack.” Akane bitched.

The Shogun stood stock still in total amazement. Here before him stood two of the Dragon Samurais. He could not believe that he was standing before the Samurai of Void and the Flaming Blade. When he looked over at the woman with the two Dragon Samurai something clicked in his mind.

“Aren’t you Yuki Kita?” He asked of Akane’s mother.

“I am, sir. Please forgive our unexpected arrival.” Yuki answered smiling.

“Unexpected she says.” Akane sighed. “Way to go with the understatement of the year mom. Maybe next time we should try the door, Chiyoko?”

“I thought about that, but I doubt that your Shogun’s guards would allow an unexpected audience at such a late hour.” Chiyoko shrugged her shoulders. “My way got his attention at least.”

The Shogun stood there for a few seconds before busting out laughing. “True, Kyamo no Sa. I rarely accept visitors this late. May I know what has brought you to my court in such an exciting manner?”

Yuki raised her hand to keep the two teenagers in check as she answered. “It seems that we have a problem, my Lord.”

“Oh. I was not aware of any problems with your family Mrs. Kita. What could be so pressing that you would come here in the company of the Dragon Samurai.”

“As you are aware my Lord. I had just concluded negotiations with your sister for my daughter’s hand in marriage. It seems that those negotiations are now in jeopardy.” Yuki explained then at Chiyoko’s questioning look she corrected herself. “No. I’m afraid that they are no longer applicable.”

“This is not good news. My sister has been looking for a suitable wife for my nephew for some time now. You do understand that there are consequences for breaking a marriage contract. Especially one so newly inked.” The Shogun pointed out as he looked over at Akane. “Unless there’s something you need to inform me about. Say a change in status for your daughter?”

“Please allow me to introduce you to my daughter Akane, my Lord.” Yuki said as she bowed with a slight smile.

“Oh my! This does changes things greatly.” The Shogun had to return to his throne and sit down. “How, no, when did your daughter become the Flaming Blade? Have you always known she was destined for such a Holy Position?”

“I think that I need to explain a few things Lord Shogun.” Chiyoko said stepping forward. “If I may?”

“If you can then please do Kyamo no Sa. As it is, I must inform my sister that her search must begin again.” The Shogun grunted. “I would at least like to be able to give her a reasonable explanation.”

“There is nothing reasonable when dealing with the Gods, my Lord.” Chiyoko wise cracked much to Akane’s disdain.

The Shogun though had a different reaction. He just chuckled and nodded his head. “That is very true, Kyamo no Sa.”

“Please, sir, just call me Chiyoko. I may be the Kyamo no Sa, but I’m still just an ordinary teenage girl at heart. No matter what the Dragon King and Queen want. I won’t change the way I look at the world.” Chiyoko smiled and held out her hand to one of the most powerful men in the country.

“Oh God! She just did not do that. Please tell me she didn’t treat the Shogun as some guy off the street mamma.” Akane begged of her mother.

“I don’t know what to say, Akane. I’m at a total loss for words.” Yuko stood there in total shock. Not believing what she had just seen. Sighing she looked at Chiyoko. “Didn’t your mother teach you any manners of the court child?”

“Nope. Not that they would have done me any good where I come from.” Chiyoko answered with a sly smile and total honesty. “Where I come from courtly manners mean absolutely jack shit. It’s what you do that counts. Not a bunch of prissy manners or knowing which fork to use with the salad.”

When Chiyoko turned back to the Shogun he was chuckling. But he was not the one that drew Chiyoko’s attention. Using her Sight, she focused on the girl that had been chained at the foot of his throne. What Chiyoko saw was not something she expected to find in the throne room of a Shogun. Stepping back slowly, Chiyoko kept eyes on the girl.

“Is there something wrong Chiyoko?” Akane asked quickly when she saw the change in Chiyoko demeaner. “What do you see?”

“Is there something wrong with my granddaughter?” The Shogun snapped. “I would know what you see Kyamo no Sa!”

“A great wind blows within this child’s soul.” Spinning around Chiyoko walked to the middle of the room where she held up her arms spread wide. “By the Four Winds I call upon you! Goddess Jun, Mistress of the Winds, Princess of the Grand Court! I have found your Wind Blade!”

Chiyoko didn’t know where the knowledge for the summoning spell came from. Only that she knew what to say and how to act. Once again there was a crash of thunder and flash of lightning. This time a woman of around twenty stood in the center of the room. Unlike the others in the room she exuded an air of power. Every inch of the woman screamed Dragon Princess and Godlike power.

“WHO CALLS UPON THE GODDESS OF THE WINDS?” While everyone else had their heads on the floor Chiyoko stood straight and tall. Unlike the others Chiyoko showed no fear of the Dragon Goddess. The Goddess took one look at Chiyoko and smirked. “Ah yes, I should have known it would be you Chiyoko Hakuryū. You look just like Toyotama described. I wonder if you’re as arrogant as Wolong told me. Or as disrespectful as Jiro complained. I think I’ll have to wait to find out. For now. Why have you called for me samurai?”

“I have found a candidate for your Wind Blade, Princess. Nothing more than that. What you wish to do with her is up to you.” Chiyoko smirked. “Personally, I would take what others say about me with a grain of salt.”

“You don’t need the salt, it’s all true.” Akane grumbled from where she kneeled. “She is just as crazy and disrespectful as your brothers have said, Princess. Only they have most likely toned down their description of Chiyoko. I would say she doesn’t know what respect means and is far too arrogant for her own good at the best of times.”

The Dragon Goddess laughed at Akane’s comment. “Very good Flaming Blade. Chiyoko chose well with you. My brother Jiro must be over the moon.”

A second flash lightning, followed the crash of thunder, announce the arrival of the aforementioned Dragon God. “Did I hear someone taking my name in vain?”

“Oh please, like you weren’t already snooping around like a dog in heat, brother.” Jun huffed. “You have already met your samurai. Now go away.”

The Dragon Prince just chuckled and kissed his sister on the cheek. “Have fun sister. I look forward to meeting your newest Wind Blade.”

With that the Prince disappeared. “Well that was annoying. Now where is my candidate, Kyamo no Sa?”

“The child kneeling next to the Shogun, Princess.” Chiyoko answered not even disturbed by the appearance of the God Jiro. “She already bares your mark.”

What Chiyoko said was true. When she had first used her Sight to see if the Shogun was going to cause trouble over Akane she spotted the girl’s aura. When she backed up and got a good look at the girl’s aura. She had to call for the Goddess of Neutral Good. Her aura was a swirling mass of deepest pinks and brilliant silver. It was as if the girl was surrounded by a tornado of color and power. Power that was only equaled by hers and Akane’s.

“The prophecy has come to pass. ‘The Kyamo no Sa shall come for last daughter of the Nishimura Shogunate during the Great Calamity’.” The Shogun spoke as if reciting a passage of poetry. Reaching down to the girl he took her by the hand. “Go to your patron Goddess, Kasumi. You have been chosen to fulfill a great destiny. Do not dishonor our Clan.”

The girl stood up and bowed to the Shogun. “Thank you, grandfather. I will not bring dishonor to our family or Clan. But what of mother.”

“I shall explain all to your mother. Go. Your patron Goddess awaits.” With that the Shogun gave Kasumi a gentle push towards the Dragon Goddess Jun. he looked over at Chiyoko and ordered. “Take care of my granddaughter Kyamo no Sa. Maybe now she will gain control over her power.”

Chiyoko smiled at the man finally understanding why he had chained her up. It wasn’t to keep the girl from running or to keep her as a slave. He had seen the power that the girl held. Only her power wasn’t magic, but alchemy. For the uneducated it was easy to confuse the two arts. With magic being a forbidden art to those not of the Temple. It was considered the work of mages who twisted the spirits, demons, and elementals breaking the laws of nature. Where alchemy was the work of science and followed the laws of nature.

Akane had explained to Chiyoko the way people looked at magic and alchemy during their walk to home. She also told Chiyoko about the greatest fear for people in this world. An untrained and out of control mage. The laws of this world had been written with this fear mind. And if any child showed the tiniest amount of power they were kept chained up with special shackles. The shackles negated any and all mystical power the child may possess. It was done more for the protection of the child than anything else.

As Kasumi stepped lightly before the Dragon Goddess, she swallowed hard. “Goddess will I finally be able to control my power as my grandfather wishes?”

Jun smiled and placed her hand on Kasumi’s cheek. “Oh, you poor child, to be afraid of your own Goddess given power is such a terrible thing.”

Then before the unbelieving, yet care worn, eyes of the Shogun and Yuki, Kasumi was transformed. The first thing that happened was a soft glow covered Kasumi from head to toe. A small smile of contentment crossed the girl’s face. Unlike the painfilled transformations that the other girls experienced Kasumi was in a state of euphoria. As the kimono she was wearing crumbled to dust Chiyoko noticed that Kasumi was a real girl and not transgendered like Akane. Even as the girl’s armor flowed down her neck and over her body Chiyoko spotted the biggest difference in her armor.

Unlike Chiyoko and Akane’s armor Kasumi’s was an elegant swirling of bright blues, and icy whites. Even the mask that covered the area around the girl’s eyes was half white and half blue. Even as the ice-blue sash appeared around her waist a set of swords materialized at her left hip. One scabbard was white as snow the other bluer than the deepest ocean. As the last of Kasumi’s armor spread down her legs and over her feet Kasumi threw her head back, with her eyes shut tightly and loudly moaned with pure sexual ecstasy.

“Damn! Why couldn’t my transformation have been that enjoyable?” Akane bitched. Only to receive an elbow to the left breast from her mother. “Damn mamma! Why did you do that? It hurt.”

Yuki sighed then slapped her daughter’s right hand as Akane rubbed her left breast. “A woman does not fondle herself in public Akane.”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s just that I want to know why her transformation was so pleasurable. While mine was an exercise in torture.” Akane whined.

“That is because you are the Flaming Blade of Prince Jiro, child.” The Goddess Jun quickly explained. “You are his samurai. None of my brother’s gifts come without pain or his curse.”

“Then why was my transformation so painful, Princess? The last time I checked your brother Jiro had nothing to do with mine. It was all on your brother Wolong and sister Toyotama. Care to explain that?” Chiyoko grunted.

The Shogun and Yuki both stared at Chiyoko as if she lost her mind. Akane just groaned and shook her head side to side. Akane was already getting used to Chiyoko scandalous and disrespectful attitude towards the Gods and Goddesses. For some reason this no longer worried the girl as much as it did earlier in the day. In many ways Akane was coming to expect this type of behavior from her friend and sister samurai.

Jun’s laughter was light, airy, and full. “Even though my sister warned me about her newest samurai. She failed measurably in her description of your attitude. I wonder if I could change it?”

“You’re free to try Goddess Jun.” Chiyoko smirked. “But I think you’ll fail. After all, if my own parents could get me to behave it’s doubtful that even a Goddess of your power can change me.”

The Goddess gave Chiyoko a thoughtful look before laughing. “You know something, you might just be right.”

The Facepalms came fast and hard. Only Chiyoko grinned. “See I told you, Akane. Gods and Goddesses are decent people. You just got to get past that whole divinity bullshit first.”

“Jesse-o-Pete Chiyoko, can you get anymore disrespectful? I swear you have to actually be trying to be so flippant.” Akane complained.

“Who said I was trying? It comes naturally for me.” Chiyoko told her friend with a mile wide grin. Chiyoko then turned serious and looked to her newest sister, Kasumi. “Come sister, it is time to let your patron Goddess leave.”

“Yes of course. To business. As my time is short.” Jun said with a smile. “Kasumi, I have given you two gifts this night.”

“Gifts? You have already given me so much Goddess.” Kasumi answered in bewilderment. “More than I could ever have hoped for.”

“Oh, child you are too good for this world. Allowing you control over your power is no gift. It is my duty. No, my gifts are twofold.” Jun explained. “The first of my gifts is the ability to See the Truth. From this day forward no man or woman shall ever be able to tell you a lie. The price for this gift is simple. You can never lie. Not even to yourself. My second gift is the two swords at your waist. The Twin Sisters of Divine Winds. They are two of the Ten Fangs of the Dragon Gods. There are eight other swords that stand with them in power.”

“Who would dare to carry such deadly weapons?” the Shogun whispered with far too much greed for his own good. He was already eyeing the two swords that Kasumi held. “With such weapons my clan could rule the world.”

“Think twice, oh foolish mortal. The ones who wield the Dragon’s Fangs do not walk alone. Just as my samurai does not walk alone. They are sisters in more than just words, mortal man. They are bound by the curse placed upon the First of the Dragon Fangs.” The Princess Jun looked over at Chiyoko and Akane. “Your daughter’s sister samurai, Chiyoko Hakuryū and Akane Kita, carry four of the Fangs. The Samurai of the Void carries the First of the Fangs.”

Chiyoko looked down at her swords. “Excuse me, Princess. But do my Fangs even have a name? I wasn’t told by either your parents or brother and sister.”

Princess Jun chuckled. “If my brother or sister did not give you their name. Then it is not my place to give it. It seems that they want you to find their name on your own. Just as all of the First Defenders have throughout history.”

Princess Jun then turned and faced the Shogun as she placed her right hand on Kasumi’s shoulder smiling almost evilly. “Remember this finale warning would be Emperor. If you are truly lucky. Before you could even grasp one of your daughter’s Fangs. Your flesh would be ripped from your bones by the Heavenly Tempest Gales. Even as the thunderous Divine Winds scatter your bones to the four points of the world.”

With her left hand now on Akane’s shoulder her grin turn truly malevolent. “Should you be so foolish as to try your luck with the Flaming Blade. You would pray for the death of a traitor. For your skin would boil before the Hell Fires of Avīci. While your bones would crack and crumble under the eternally Frozen Winds of Mahāpadma. You would suffer ten thousand deaths every year for ten thousand years.”

Finally, the Dragon Goddess Jun placed both of her hands in Chiyoko’s shoulders. “Of all the Fangs though, the Kyamo no Sa wields the deadliest and most unforgiving. Your soul will be ripped from your body and cast into the eternal Void. As the very atoms of your body are shattered with Heaven Fire and Hell’s Icy Winds. And your foolishness would bring down destruction upon the city itself.”

The Shogun could not believe what he was hearing. Chiyoko, Akane, and Kasumi stood transfixed by the words of the Goddess. Jun looked back down at the Shogun, and Yuki. “This is why only most truly Spiritual are chosen to become a Samurai for the Dragon Gods. The power these samurai wield is that of their Dragon God or Goddess themselves.”

The Goddess’ final words were spoken as she faded away into nothing. “You have been given fair warning mortals. Do not try to control the Dragon Samurai. It will only lead to your doom.”

“Does that happen often?” Kasumi asked with a trembling voice.

“What?” Akane asked then smiled. Then placing her arm over Akane’s shoulders. “Oh, you mean our sister calling down the Dragon Gods. Trust me little sister that was nothing. Wait until YOU send out the call.”

“Forget that, Akane. Wait until she uses her power to get rid of the walls you put up.” Chiyoko giggled as the sounds of pounding could be heard. “It seems that the Shogun’s guards have finally gotten their act in order. They must be using one of the columns as a battering ram.”

“Wa… wa… What do mean? I can’t do what you have done. I don’t have that kind of control. I would destroy the castle if I tried to use magic.” Kasumi whined. “Please don’t make me?”

Chiyoko sighed. Then glared down at the Shogun. “See what your fear and ignorance has done? You are lucky that I cannot punish you for your ignorance and fear, Shogun. Sadly, I know why you acted the way you did. If it was not for your need to protect your granddaughter, I would leave you deaf and blind to the world to match your ignorance of alchemy.”

Turning to Kasumi with a kind smile. “Kasumi just think about what you want to do. All of the alchemic knowledge you’ll ever need is just below the surface. You just have to think about what you want to transmute.”

“You’re just like me sister. Only you’ll find that you can work Air alchemy without thinking about it. All the others will take a little work.” Akane told Kasumi as she hugged the younger girl. “Just do it.”

Kasumi looked at the two older teenagers that had become her new sisters. She saw the looks of love and confidence in their eyes. Kasumi closed her eyes and thought about working alchemy. It came as a rushing winter whirl wind that settled down to a gentle summer breeze. With a smile she stepped over to stand in front of her grandfather. With a snap of her fingers twin arcs of electricity leaped from her hands to the walls that surrounded the inner courtroom. Within seconds the courtroom returned to normal and the improvised battering ram crashed through the door.

As the guards rushed into the room Kasumi looked down at her grandfather with a confidence that she had never felt before. With an almost contemptuous snap of fingers of her left hand she turned the battering ram into a giant pepperoni. “I am no longer yours to command or own grandfather. Your time of ruling through force and fear is over.”

Before the Shogun could order his guards to stand down one of them moved to attack Chiyoko. Her wakizashi, leaped from its scabbard of its own accord. A blinding light cutting through the attacking guard and his four comrades. Every guard dropped their weapon at seeing this demonstration of raw power and fell to their knees surrendering. Chiyoko reached out slowly to tentatively grasp the floating wakizashi, by the hilt with her left hand. As she did so the blade took on an unearthly glow of the brightest white light.

“Guard Shielding Moon!” Chiyoko exclaimed as her geek flag flew high. Reaching down she grasped the katana’s hilt and drew it from the scabbard. “Shine Bright Serving Moon!”

With those two commands the katana and wakizashi took on an unearthly glow. Chiyoko started to laugh as she called out. “They’re Sourusureiyāzu.”

“A what?” Kasumi questioned before turning to Akane. “Do you know what she’s talking about? What’s the hell is a Sourusureiyāzu?”

“They are the weapons of the Doragonsamurai, the Dragon’s Samurai, my granddaughter.” The Shogun answered as he visibly shivered. He stood up slowly as to not spook the sword wielding teenagers. “Weapons of extreme power not meant for the hands of mortals.”

Chiyoko smiled as she returned her wakizashi and katana to their scabbards. “They are more than that Kasumi. They are a part of our very souls. They are the embodiments of our power. Sourusureiyāzu or Soul Slayers are forged from the very fangs of our patron God or Goddess. Draw your swords and let them speak to you Kasumi. Feel their power.”

Taking a deep breath Kasumi did as Chiyoko requested. As the two swords cleared their scabbards the words came flooding into her mind. “Reap in angry glory Summer Squall! Rage against the shores, Heavenly Typhoon!”

A massive rush of wind swirled around the young teenage girl. Tearing the armor from the guards kneeling a few feet from her. Leaving behind bloody gashes on their bodies. It was as if they were slashed by a thousand tiny knives. Seeing what her actions had done Kasumi quickly returned her swords to their scabbards. “Chiyoko, can you please heal these men? They do not deserve to be punished in this manner.”

Chiyoko just smiled and waved her hands chanting. “Spirits of Time and Space I call upon thy! Heal!”

Once again Chiyoko’s power was felt by all those in the room. The guards scrambled to move further away from the terrifyingly powerful teenage girl in the red and black armor. Even as the injured guards moved away their wounds healed at an unexpected rate. In seconds those men were as healthy as when they woke in the morning.

“DAMN! Now that’s Power.” Kasumi whispered.

“Akane draw your blades.” Chiyoko ordered.

Akane didn’t even think twice as she drew swords. She just let the knowledge come to her. Unlike Kasumi and Chiyoko, Akane wielded pair of twin katanas. “Reduce them to Ash, Hell’s Fire! Bring your frozen embrace, Ice Wind!”

Though they were twins their powers were as different as the sun and moon. Hell’s Fire literally blazed with the Fires of Hell. While Ice Wind was coated with a layer of ice that radiated the very frozen winds of Hell’s frozen waste lands. No two blades could be more alike and yet different.

“Very nice Akane. But I think you need to sheath them for now.” Chiyoko smirked as she looked around the room. “You’re freezing one half and melting or burning the other half.”

Akane blushed and quickly returned her two katana’s to their scabbards. “Sorry about that. I wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction.”

“By the all the Gods in Heaven and Hell!” The Shogun whispered. “And these girls are their wielders? Have the Gods gone mad?!”

“They’re not mad, Lord Nishimura. They just do not care about the petty wishes of greedy men. Care for some free advice, Lord Nishimura?” Chiyoko questioned before giving the advice anyway. “Do as your granddaughter commanded. Remember you place and your duty to the people. You serve the people more than they serve you. Rein in your soldiers, or you will find their heads in your koi fishpond. Compassion and restraint are the signs of a true Leader of men.”

“I will remember your warning Kyamo no Sa. And your advice.” The Shogun grumbled. “Take my granddaughter and go in peace.”

“We’ll be leaving once our business is completed, Lord Nishimura. You have yet to release Akane from her marriage contract.” Chiyoko reminded him.

“Mrs. Kita, do you wish for me to release your daughter from her marriage?” He asked of her already knowing the answer.

“As much as I wish we could continue with the agreement my Lord. I believe that circumstances force us to abandon the agreement. Where shall I return the bridle price?” Yuki asked politely. All the while hoping her did not impose a penalty tax of some kind.

“Seeing as how the Gods have interfered with the arrangement. I believe that you should be compensated for your troubles. Keep the whole of the already paid bridle price.” Nishimura suggested with a smile. Happy that he would rid himself of this problem without paying one ounce of gold.

“Excuse me, Lord Nishimura. But the Kita family have yet to receive any of the bridle price. It seems that your family have been lacking in their payment.” Chiyoko had spotted the deception in Nishimura’s aura. “I do believe that they are due a reasonable compensation for all of their trouble. Let’s say, forty state approved bars of gold. We’ll call it even and you get to keep your honor.”

“If I refuse to pay? What will you do about, girl?” Nishimura snarled.

“Think about what you have seen this night? Do you really think that you or your army could stand against just one Dragon Samurai? Let alone the three of us in a united cause.” Chiyoko grinned. “Why I believe that your own granddaughter would happily tear down the walls of this castle all while she whistled Marching through Dixie.”

“I don’t know this ‘Marching through Dixie’, sister. But would ‘Get Happy’ work?” Kasumi giggled as she thought about the sheer power that she now controlled. After seven years she was finally free of her grandfather and his minions. Not since her seventh summer had she known freedom and she was not about to surrender that newfound freedom without a blood drenched fight.

“Chamberlin, go to my vault and secure the gold! Take as many guards as you need to bring it here.” Nishimura growled. “We have an accord, Kyamo no Sa. Take the Kita’s gold and begone. Our business is concluded.”

Nishimura stood and walked towards the rear of the throne room. He stopped just before the exit and called back over his shoulder. “Live honorably my granddaughter. Do not worry I shall make sure that your mother never knows hunger or want for anything. This I promise.”

Once they were alone in the throne room Kasumi turned to Chiyoko, and the others. “I know that this is going to sound a little off topic.”

“What’s on your mind Kasumi?” Chiyoko asked when the girl hesitated.

“Well, how do you go to the bathroom in one of these things?” Asked a blushing Kasumi. “I really have got to go pee.”

-----tbc-----

Remember Kudos and Comments feed the muse! They be ravenous creatures.