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Across the palace complex, Shigure stood
erect against the high stone walls of the archaic training ground,
sword drawn as he eyed his opponant's moves. His eyes narrowed as he
darted and parried, thrusting his light-sword forward as he sought to
disarm the man who shifted neatly out of his way, swinging his own
weapon around and bringing it hard and fast across the Prince's hand,
causing him to let out a cry of surprise and pain. The hilt of the
sword clattered noisily to the floor, the blade sputtering out as it
did so, and Shigure found himself backed against the sandstone wall, a
hot white blade pointing at his throat.
"Your mind is not on your training today, Prince Shigure."
The blade flickered out, as the other man stepped away from him, and
Shigure snorted in exasperation, crouching to scoop up his discarded
weapon. As the blade surged back into life he yelled out, charging
towards his companion, but at the last minute the man turned, meeting
blade with blade as he held the Prince's gaze with his own. There was
faint, flickering amusement in the malachite eyes, and Shigure sighed,
pulling his weapon back and watching as the light slowly faded to
nothing.
"There's been a lot on my mind." He said slowly. "I haven't lost my
edge. I just don't think I should be training with this thing, that's
all. Seiryo-sensei, if I'm meant to wield Jurai's power, shouldn't I at
least have a weapon to match?"
"You mean, I suppose, a weapon of the same nature as Lord Tenchi."
Seiryo asked thoughtfully, sheathing his own weapon as he gazed at his
student keenly. "And what use would that be in a battle, Shigure-sama?
When you encounter the enemy, do you suppose that suddenly it will all
just click together and they'll magically fade away with one blow of
some divine blade? I credited you with more sense than that. When you
are able to display Jurai's power, I'm sure that the Empress will make
sure you have a sword that befits a Prince of this planet. Until then,
you need to hone your skills. And to not be distracted by idle affairs
in your every day life. You are a much better fighter than this,
Shigure-sama. And I'm disappointed not to see it."
Shigure was silent for a moment, digesting this. The criticism stung,
but, if he was honest with himself, he knew that it was also deserved.
Seiryo had always been a hard task-master, but then he had also always
been fair in his judgement, and the young Prince found himself
carefully thinking over what his companion had said.
He sank down on a loose stone, returning his sword to his belt as he
gazed up at his mentor.
"The more I try to find my magic, the less luck I have." He admitted.
"I wish I didn't need it. I know what it means to be a Prince of Jurai.
I understand life on this planet and I understand what social protocols
I have to follow. Seiryo-sensei, I'm a good swordsman. You've said it
before, even if I haven't been on my form today. And I'm mother's only
son - I'm the true heir of this planet! I can't believe that they'll
bring some upstart girl here from...well, from Heaven knows where and
that they might actually consider her a better candidate for the crown
than me. It's crazy!"
"Ah, so that is the root of all this distraction." Seiryo's eyes
twinkled with humour once more and he leant up against the wall,
folding his arms across his chest as he considered his reply.
"Nozomi-hime."
"She's no Princess. She's just a girl from the Earth, that's all."
Shigure muttered.
"Lord Tenchi is her father. That makes her a Princess of Jurai in your
Mother's eyes, and therefore the eyes of the Council." Seiryo said
lightly. Shigure snorted.
"Not in my eyes." He snapped. "Maybe she is descended from Great Uncle
Azusa, but I don't care. Her mother was an illegitimate space pirate
who spent time in prison. For Tsunami's sake, what are they thinking? A
space pirate's daughter and they want her to be Queen of Jurai? Even if
Lord Tenchi is her father, she's just an ordinary girl from a backwater
planet and she's just trying to grasp hold of power and influence that
she was never born with, that's all!"
Seiryo's eyes flickered thoughtfully, but he said nothing, and Shigure
bit his lip, suddenly realising the unguardedness of his words.
"Lord Tennan..."
"You speak your mind a little too much, sometimes." Seiryo cut across
him, his tones even. "But you of all people should understand that
there is more to being a Prince or a Princess of this planet than just
being born and raised here. I don't claim any magic for my family, and
I don't pretend I understand how such things work. But I do know that
Lord Tenchi's reputation has become legend among the people of this
planet, and his wife scarcely less so. I don't think you can judge
Nozomi-hime on that account. Lady Ryoko and Lord Tenchi have both given
a lot for Jurai, in the past. And broken as her line may be, Ryoko-hime
is a descendant of your family line too. Your Great Aunt Aiko was her
grandmother. You are blood."
"I know." Shigure admitted. "Seiryo-sensei, I'm sorry. When I said...I
mean...what I meant...I just..."
He trailed off, and a slight smile twitched at Seiryo's lips.
"You believe anyone not of noble birth to be beneath you." He said
matter-of-factly. "And that any who seek to raise their standing must
only wish to appropriate the power and influence of their well-born
neighbours when they do."
Shigure reddened, inwardly wishing that he'd kept his mouth shut, and
Seiryo laughed at his expression, pulling his sword once more from his
scabbard as he gazed pensively at the flickering blade.
"It's a dangerous mindset, closing yourself to the people around you."
He said reflectively. "You might choose to ignore them. Pretend they're
not there. But they are there, Shigure-sama. And as Emperor, one day
you'll have to recognise that fact. More than that, you'll have to
understand and reach out to them and listen to their needs. Being a
noble born son of Jurai has its benefits, I will agree. And once I
shared the opinion you have. But I've come to see, as time has passed,
that it isn't always those born of pure, well-bred noble backgrounds
who make the differences in our lives. Perhaps you will come to learn
it too, in time. Maybe then you'll understand how to use this Juraian
magic of yours. After all, I have never seen Lady Ayeka shy away from
helping someone in need, whether they be of noble class or the lowest
born in the land."
Shigure dropped his head, cheeks blazing, and for a moment he dared not
speak. Then, at length, he held up his hands, raising a penitent gaze
to his companion.
"Lord Tennan, I meant no offence to...to Lady Kiyone."
"I'm glad about that." Seiryo said quietly, and in a flash all humour
was gone from his face. "I've never permitted slights towards my family
from anyone, not even Princes of Jurai. One day I will no doubt swear
allegiance to you as Crown Prince, Shigure-sama. But as your teacher, I
won't tolerate any more of this class-orientated elitism. You can think
as you please, even act on it, if you choose. But in my company, when
we are together, you will think before you speak. Is that understood?"
"Sensei..."
"I am fond of you." Seiryo cut across him, and despite himself, Shigure
faltered, recognising the steely look in his companion's eye and
realising that now was not the time to interrupt. "But I see a lot of
things in you which I once saw in myself. If you want to avoid the rude
awakenings I had to life, Shigure-sama, you'll do well to take them in
hand now. You are a fine fighter, brave and strong and you work hard.
You have always been diligent and focused and you have the natural
lithe skill of a Juraian warrior. But sometimes your attitude disturbs
me. I've heard some of the things you've said to Kamidake. And now
you're shifting your ideas onto Princess Nozomi, too. You should tread
more carefully. Just as I won't tolerate slights against my wife
because she wasn't born into a noble family, I doubt Lady Ryoko will
tolerate much on the subject of her daughter's questionable pedigree."
"I just don't like her. Thats all." Shigure's eyes became sullen and he
kicked at the ground. "And I don't like Kamidake, either. Lady Kiyone
is...different, Seiryo-sensei. She...you and she didn't marry...she
didn't try to, well, it wasn't like that. I mean, I...I respect Lady
Kiyone. She's a friend of Mother's, and so, well, she seems like a Lady
to me. But Kamidake is another matter. He's trying to gain power and
status by marrying my Aunt and I hate it. Aunt Sasami is Tsunami, so
she shouldn't be getting married at all. She belongs to the Royal House
of Jurai - she shouldn't be slipping off to wed a man who was just a
Knight before Tsunami blessed him. And now Nozomi...Mother and Aunt
Sasami seem to think she's important, but I don't. She's rude and rough
and I don't like her at all. I don't want her to be here and I don't
want her to be Queen of Jurai!"
Seiryo shook his head slowly.
"Till you understand, I won't try and explain further." He said
resignedly. "We have work to do, and I'm getting bored of this
conversation. I don't wish to spend my time with a jealous, sulky boy,
after all. I'd rather cross swords with a strong, determined young
Prince, if it's all the same to you."
"I'm not jealous or sulky!" Shigure flared up at this, raising his
weapon, and Seiryo parried it neatly, pushing him aside.
"And you're not focused, either." he said calmly. "Put your grievances
aside, else this session will be a waste of everyone's time. I have
other business to attend to today, you know. Business for your Aunt,
for your Mother, and for my own family as well. You are only a small
part of my day, Prince Shigure, and unless you give me your full
attention, you'll be an even smaller one."
Shigure bristled, but then he sighed, shaking his head.
"I'm focused." He said decidedly. "And ready, Lord Tennan. But it
doesn't mean I've forgotten, or that I'm going to stand back and let
that Nozomi girl intervene with my life here. The sooner she goes home
the better - and if I have to fight her for the Crown of Jurai, so be
it. I'll soon show her what kind of a fighter I really am, and then
she'll be sorry she ever came to Jurai!"