Misaki

Misaki

 

Thirteen days after the Emperor of Jurai became critically ill, Azusa landed on planet Jurai with Funaho. A few days later, the Emperor quietly passed away without ever regaining consciousness. With his death, the current Jurai government of several thousand years came to an end. A state funeral was held on a later date, and a plan was drawn up to hold Azusa’s coronation ceremony after a period of mourning, with an announcement of the new Emperor’s marriage after that. However, a controversy arose over the details of that announcement.

There would not have been a problem if the First Empress was Misaki, and the Second Empress was Funaho, but Azusa was adamant that Funaho be the First Empress. This meant a confrontation between him and Kamiki Utsutsumi, Misaki’s father.

At first, Utsutsumi expressed concern and offered advice, but after many conversations failed to reach an agreement, their relationship came to a breaking point. Part of the problem was Azusa’s failure to get permission to have Funaho be the First Empress from the Emperor of Jurai while he was alive. Today, the negotiations between Utsutsumi and Azusa began and ended with a quarrel once again.

 

“Hmph. It’s like talking to a brick wall, that idiot!” Utsutsumi, Misaki’s father, complained loudly as he walked down the peripheral passageway of the Jurai Palace. He was so loud that the ladies-in-waiting and guards in the vicinity turned around to stare, but he kept on stomping around. In contrast, Seto, his wife, followed a little ways behind, staying cool as a cucumber. “All he says is ‘no,’ what an obstinate fool. Don’t you agree, Seto?!” Utsutsumi turned around to look at her, but she ignored him and looked outside. “Hey! Seto, are you even listening?!”

Using her pause to kill his momentum, Seto gave him an expressionless stare and answered, “Oh, was that you? And here I thought a gogo had wandered into the palace. Ho ho ho!” A gogo was an animal similar to a gorilla on Earth; the ladies-in-waiting and guards, who knew they were noisy creatures, tried to stifle their laughter.

“Hmph! We’re leaving.” Utsutsumi walked off quickly, embarrassed, finally taking a hint.

Seto put on an affected laugh to add insult to injury, “Ho ho ho and a ho.”

“Did you have something to say?”

“Nothing.” Despite having said that, she was worried about the relationship between Azusa and her husband breaking down any further. She also knew that saying something would have the opposite effect and that one of them eventually had to give. Making things worse, she actually enjoyed seeing her future son-in-law challenging her husband. Seto was fond of how similar they were in their absurdity. That was why she loved both of them so much.

“Why, Utsutsumi-dono, Seto-dono.” Amaki Shuzan and Tatsuki Kotono greeted them in the passage. Seto knew that Shuzan was possessed with a lust for power, and had been the mastermind behind multiple undesirable situations in the past. Seto hated him.

The Juraian Imperial Family was composed of House Masaki, House Kamiki, House Amaki, and House Tatsuki. The Emperor was generally chosen from among these four houses, and although they had different names, they were one big family. The candidates to the throne were selected during the Emperor’s lifetime, one from each house, and they were: Utsutsumi Kamiki, Amaki Shuzan, Tatsuki Kotono, and Masaki Azusa, in that order. Shuzan was especially zealous about being the next Emperor, and though he was the second candidate, he had a fair shot.

First of all, the primary candidate, Kamiki Utsutsumi, only had a Third Generation Tree, and above all, did not much care for the throne. The one Shuzan feared the most was his wife, Seto. She was originally the matriarch of House Kamiki, whose reputation of bravery and heroism reached far and wide, and could have been the next Emperor if she so desired. But she married Utsutsumi, gave him the position, and rejected a future as Empress. At the time, the Juraian Emperor’s disappointment was palpable.

The third candidate, Kotono, had a Second Generation Tree, but was faint of heart, and was actually fearful of becoming Emperor. Shuzan reckoned that if some kind of deal could be made, the man would iron out the differences of opinions within House Tatsuki and personally withdraw from consideration for the throne.

The fourth candidate was Azusa of House Masaki, the weakest politically.

The next Emperor of Jurai was designated by the current Emperor. Azusa may have been the Emperor’s favorite, but the House Masaki was politically weak, and Shuzan knew that he could not nominate him without powerful political support.

Shuzan himself could only obtain a Third Generation Tree. On the other hand, his son was able to partner with a Second Generation Tree, so Shuzan forcibly nominated him in his stead. Even if Azusa should similarly partner with a Second Generation Tree, the next Emperor would automatically be his son, and thus Shuzan considered his power to ultimately be his own. However, Azusa ended up partnered with a First Generation Tree, of which only three past examples existed in Jurai’s long history. Then Utsutsumi, who had long favored Azusa to begin with, approved of his ascension to the throne, and Shuzan’s scheme crumbled.

This was the process through which Azusa was decided to be the next Emperor, but Shuzan was enjoying the fact that Azusa bringing back Funaho was causing discord between House Kamiki and House Masaki.

Shuzan, in charge of the gates to the Room of Royal Trees, claimed that Funaho could not be acknowledged as a member of the Imperial Family, since her ranking as Empress had not been settled. He denied her the Rite of Tree Selection. If he were to get careless and allow it to happen, and a First or Second Generation Tree accepted her, it would give her status as Imperial Family even without a title as First or Second Empress. But without a Tree, guaranteeing her status became Azusa’s responsibility. Since he had already openly declared that he would make her First Empress, it would hurt his reputation if he did not keep his word. Even if his reputation did not suffer outright, this would compromise his political position with a lasting feud with House Kamiki. In that case, it would increase criticism of Funaho and make it more difficult to protect her, thus putting a lot of psychological pressure on Azusa… That was Shuzan’s plan.

The Emperor was the star and the charismatic center of Jurai. Keeping his promise with a young woman he brought from an alien planet and making her First Empress without succumbing to social pressure—it was all the people, and not just the Imperial Family, would talk about. It might have been their temperament as a pirate nation, but if he were to cave and make her Second Empress, he would lose his people’s trust, which would not be easy to recover. If nothing else, his reign as Emperor would be prematurely shortened. Azusa and Funaho met on a frontier planet through a twist of fate and fell in love, but this caused repercussions they had not anticipated among the Imperial Family.

 

Feigning disinterest, Shuzan casually probed Utsutsumi. “So how are the talks going with the next Emperor?”

“It’s a disaster. That idiot is always…”

“We’re getting on our way, Shuzan-dono; excuse us.” Seto hurried Utsutsumi along. She did not turn around, but imagining Shuzan grinning behind her, she felt unspeakable anger. Now Seto was in a huff over her husband, who so gullibly took Shuzan’s bait (yet, that was also what she loved about him).

“What’s wrong, Seto?”

“Hmph.” Their conversation continued thusly until they opened the door to the antechamber where their daughter Misaki awaited, and found her lady-in-waiting bound and gagged on the floor.

“Not again…” Utsutsumi slapped his forehead. Misaki often outwitted her ladies-in-waiting and ran off to play. The ladies themselves were all skilled experts under orders to protect her, but Misaki had the terrifying powers to catch even them off guard and pull these pranks. She had just turned four years old.

Misaki was a witch from birth… a spontaneous mutation that arose through the strain of Jurai’s long history of bio-augmentation and life-prolonging treatment through the Royal Trees. When she was an infant, her powers injured many ladies-in-waiting. It was merely a form of instinctual defense, an over-sensitive reaction against the fear the ladies felt. Fortunately for her, Utsutsumi was a stout-hearted love-blind father, and Seto an easygoing mother, and by the time she was old enough to understand, her power no longer went out of control. And it was also because of one lady-in-waiting who did not fear her. That was Mama, the one currently bound and gagged.

“Looks like she escaped through the window.”

“What if something happens to her? We must summon the guards…”

“Oh please, she’s not one who would let herself get caught.”

“How can you say that? Oh, my dear Misaki…” Seto laughed merrily and Utsutsumi paced in a fluster. This, at a glance, summed up how they were as a couple.

 

By the way, Misaki’s true terror would become known to the entire galaxy several thousands of years later. Only Masaki Tenchi would be able to stop her, but that was another story.

 

Funaho tried to stifle her sobs. Ever since she came to Jurai, the culture shock had taken a toll on her, as well as the fact that she was kept so busy with briefings in the ways of the Imperial Family, bio-augmentation, and other preparations for her to become Empress, that she had not been able to see Azusa much. No matter how comparatively easygoing they were, they were still the Imperial Family, after all… Now that she was a candidate for Empress of the next Emperor, the criticism aimed at Funaho, even if Azusa was protecting her, was harsh. To be honest, Funaho was extremely homesick. Further, the animosity with House Kamiki was spurring on those who had been against Azusa to begin with, and criticism of Funaho grew louder every day. For Funaho, who had bravely endured it all for Azusa, her bed in her room was her only place of solace. And now she was making fresh stains on the pillow again as tears flowed freely down her face.

I want to go home… She missed everything: the view from the Asumi residence, her father and little sister; they all never felt so dear to her as they did now.

“Hi, hello.”

“Huh…?” She raised her head and saw a little girl peering into her face.

“Why are you crying?” The girl with her blue hair in a ponytail reminded Funaho of the little sister she had left behind.

“Who are you…?”

“So, sniff…why are you crying? Does your tummy hurt?” Misaki’s eyes started to brim with tears, empathetically experiencing Funaho’s feelings. Seeing this, Funaho let the kindness return to her smile. This was how Funaho and Misaki, later said to be on friendlier terms than real sisters, first met.

“I’m going to be Azusa-chan’s First Empress.” Misaki smiled, sitting on the bed next to Funaho.

“Then you must be Misaki-chan.”

“Yeah.”

“My name is Funaho. Nice to meet you.”

“I know. You’re going to be First Empress, too, right? Just like me.” First and Second… That was the source of all the problems, but to Misaki, apparently all Empresses were First Empress. Her simple way of thinking lightened Funaho’s heavy heart.

“By the way, Misaki…how did you get in here? I didn’t hear the door open.”

“Over here.” Misaki hopped off the bed and toddled to the window, and got up to stand on the windowsill.

“W-wait. Misaki?”

“Tah!” She disappeared.

“Nooo! Misaki!!” Funaho screamed and ran to the window. Funaho’s room, as Azusa’s candidate for Empress, was located close to the top of the palace. Funaho felt faint looking at the sight below.

“Over here.”

Funaho raised her face at the voice and saw Misaki poking her head out from the window above, waving. “Misaki, that’s dangerous. Don’t move, I’ll get help.”

“I’m fine,” she said as she disappeared again, appearing in front of her. “See?”

“You’re like a little monkey…”

“I’m not a monkey. Ha ha ha!” Misaki laughed innocently, and Funaho could not help but laugh as well.

A few minutes later, tipped off by the maid who heard laughing in the room, Seto showed up. “Excuse me, Funaho-dono.”

“Oh, Mother!” Misaki turned to her with joy, which Seto returned with a stern look. The stern glare was actually her resting scowl, but Funaho stiffened, thinking that she had done something wrong.

“I’m sorry, Funaho-dono, that my daughter has disturbed you.”

“Oh, it’s all right…” Not knowing how to answer, Funaho answered vaguely.

Seto turned to Misaki and said, “You came in from the window again, didn’t you?!”

“Yeah, she said I was like a monkey.”

“Monkey…?” Seto looked at Funaho, who blushed and cast her eyes downward. Seto did not know what monkeys were, but she realized what it meant and burst out laughing. “Hahahaha!”

Funaho, seeing her laugh exuberantly with a face that looked just like Misaki’s, felt that she must be the “old bat” Azusa referred to, and felt oddly at ease.

The laugh was infectious, and Misaki was soon laughing the same way. “Hahahaha!”

“Hahaha…yeah right!” Seto suddenly turned serious and swatted Misaki on the behind. “You bound and gagged Mama, and burst into someone’s room through the window, when you had never even met before!”

“Owww that hurts, Mother.”

“U-um, Seto-sama, please don’t be so mad at her. Thanks to her, I was…”

Seto looked at Funaho, and realized the mental state she must have been in, and inferred what she wanted to say. She softly chuckled and put Misaki down. “Since Funaho-dono said so, I’ll going to let you off the hook this time.” She ignored Misaki frowning and tearing up, and spoke to Funaho. “I think this is the first time we’ve spoken to each other like this.”

“Y-yes, but I had heard about you from Azusa-sama, Seto-sama.”

“Old bat…”

“Huh…?”

“Isn’t that what Azusa-chan called me?”

“Oh, no… he may say so, but he looked so happy when he was talking about you… Oh!” She had basically admitted that Azusa had been calling her “old bat.”

“Ha ha ha! I like your honesty!!” Seto laughed and hugged Funaho.

“I-I’m so sorry.”

“Ha ha ha ha!!” Seto laughed even louder on seeing that Funaho was so compelled to apologize.

“Mother, not fair! Me too!” Misaki thought she had been left out, and squeezed herself between Seto and Funaho.

For Funaho, it was the first time she felt at ease since coming to Jurai, outside of Azusa’s presence. Since then, Misaki came to visit Funaho often. The Empresses were becoming friends, but Azusa and Utsutsumi’s negotiations made only slow progress, with their relationship continuing to be awkward.

Then one day, there was an assassination attempt on Funaho. Her food was poisoned with a nano-robot that destroyed the body at the cellular level. The fact that it circumvented the Jurai security system showed vividly that it was an inside job, and someone high-ranking at that. Fortunately, Funaho’s bio-augmentation was more advanced than scheduled, so it did not become life-threatening. However, this incident deeply upset Funaho, increasing her desire to go back home to Earth. Maybe I should not be here at all…

Seto was concerned about Funaho worrying so much. She made arrangements for Misaki to come live with her under the pretense of a combined education to be Empress. Since Funaho would receive House Kamiki protection under the pretense of protecting Misaki, this completely assured Misaki’s safety.

“I’m so glad I get to stay with you, Funaho-oneechan. What should we play with today?” Misaki’s innocent smile let Funaho forget about such bitter incidents. Perhaps that, too, was Seto’s intent.

When Azusa found out about the incident, he worried whether Misaki should be given the title of First Empress in order to protect Funaho from further danger. Further concessions might be necessary, but if Funaho were Second Empress, they would have the blessing of House Kamiki, and she would be allowed to go through with the Rite of Tree Selection. Then she would be given at least a Third Generation Tree, and she would be accepted as a member of the Imperial Family. The period of mourning for the previous Emperor was about to expire. There was not much time left for Azusa to make his decision.

 

 

“…Misaki, did you say something?” Funaho, studying as usual with Misaki, spoke to her because she suddenly thought she heard something calling her.

“No, I didn’t say anything. Did you say anything to me?”

“No, I didn’t either…”

Come… Please, come here… It was not so much a message in words, but something with that nuance came into Funaho and Misaki’s minds. It was nothing unpleasant or coercive, but it naturally flowed into their hearts.

“Funaho-oneechan, someone’s calling me…”

“Who could it be…?” The two of them left the room in search of the mysterious sensation they shared.

“It’s coming from this way.”

“Yes…” The two of them walked toward where the mysterious feeling grew stronger and found themselves standing before the entrance to the Room of Royal Trees. Before them appeared Shuzan, who had received a report from the security guard.

“What are you doing here? Misaki-dono and…you are the girl Azusa-dono brought, I think your name was Funaho…” Shuzan said in a contrived manner, fully knowing Funaho’s circumstances. He had no reason to add the “-dono” honorific to Funaho, who was not yet accepted as Imperial Family, nor did he want to. “Beyond this point is the sacred room of Royal Trees. Misaki-dono aside, it is not a place where someone not in the Imperial Family can enter without permission. Even attempting to enter like this is a capital offense worthy of death.”

“But someone called us here. Right, Misaki-chan?”

“Yeah.”

Shuzan turned a malicious smile on her as Funaho desperately tried to explain. “Do you really think such an excuse is going to fly?”

“Being summoned to the Royal Trees outside of a ceremony… I seem to recall a few cases of that happening; am I wrong, Azusa-dono?”

“No, there have been five cases in the past.” Seto and Azusa were suddenly standing next to Shuzan.

“Azusa-sama.”

“Azusa-chan!” Funaho and Misaki exclaimed at the same time.

Shuzan ground his teeth with internal vexation about why they always had to appear like this at inopportune times, but he looked at them with complete composure, “Why, Azusa-dono and Seto-dono. Thank you for your opinions, they were very helpful. But if that were the case, the door leading to the Royal Trees should…” He turned around to see the door opening by itself.

“H-how could that be…? B-but I’m responsible for security here! No matter who ordered it, I cannot bend our laws that have continued since days of antiquity!” Shuzan persisted in consternation.

Seto’s eyebrow shot up. “Silence, you cretin! The Royal Trees rule this place and the entire planet of Jurai. One cannot deny guests approved by their masters just because of a gatekeeper’s selfish opinions! Such hubris!!”

“E-excuse me, but only Misaki-dono was summoned…it’s possible that Funaho-dono is only copying her.” Though intimidated by Seto, Shuzan refused to back down.

“Only those accepted by the Trees can enter, and you know this, Shuzan-dono.” Seto dripped with sarcasm. She was alluding to the fact that the doors did not open for Shuzan during his Rite of Tree Selection.

Shuzan’s shoulders shuddered slightly, and he uttered the final words left to him, “Fine. Please pass through. But if she is rejected by the Trees, the death penalty will be inevitable. Is that all right, Funaho-dono?”

“Funa…” Azusa tried to step towards her, and Seto stopped him.

Funaho gripped Misaki’s hand tightly and said, “I’m going.”

 

It may have been an unexpected incident, but since there had been precedent, Funaho and Misaki’s Rite of Tree Selection was suddenly under way. Since three or more witnesses were necessary for the ceremony, Azusa, Seto—Shuzan nominated himself, but the Trees denied him—and Kotono from House Tatsuki accompanied them instead. Although witnesses were necessary, it was not absolute, because the witnesses could only enter up to the area they were able to enter during their own ceremony. If the person for whom the ceremony was for entered the area of First Generation Trees, most witnesses could not enter any further. In that case, the official witness was the partnered Tree itself.

“Let’s go, Funaho-oneechan.”

“Yes.” The moment Funaho and Misaki entered, holding hands, they disappeared. Azusa felt relief that they had been safely transported, and followed with Seto and Kotono.

Left behind by the door was Shuzan, denied entry, and shocked by the fact that Funaho had been selected by the Trees.

Once transported from the door to the Room of Royal Trees, they were inside Tenju. Many Second Generation Trees were floating there, and the passageway to the transport pad was like a labyrinth. Funaho and Misaki opened their eyes with wonder at the sight.

“So these are the Royal Trees…”

“Wow!”

The Trees emitted light as if to welcome them, and their dance played a melody. Azusa felt like he had been reunited with Mitsuki, but seeing Seto grinning beside him and seeing right through him, he hurriedly turned his attention back to Funaho and Misaki.

Misaki frolicked about, tugging on Funaho’s hand. They passed through all the transporters among the Second Generation Trees, but none had selected them.

“That’s the end of the Second Generation Trees. Does that mean a First Generation Tree is calling them?” Nobody could answer Kotono’s question. Everything was according to the will of the Trees. The group went to the back, the same door Azusa went through to the First Generation Trees, and the entrance opened by itself.

Azusa, transported with them, looked around quizzically.

“Is this the area for First Generation Trees?”

“No…where are we?” Azusa mumbled to answer Kotono, but mostly to himself.

Seto said, “This can’t be the area for First Generation Trees. If it were, Kotono-dono and I would not have been able to enter.”

“Then where are we…?” Kotono, timid to begin with, looked around uneasily, but his fears were needless, as the Trees here also emitted welcoming lights for Funaho and Misaki.

“They smell like Royal Trees, but they look different from the others.” As Azusa said, First Generation and Second Generation Trees may have had some differences in shape and size, but they looked similar. However, these Trees were clearly different. One had jeweled flowers of amber, one was completely submerged in water, and one was crystallized. No two were the same.

“It’s calling me…”

“Yeah, I can hear it.”

Funaho and Misaki, hearing the voices, walked towards a Tree.

Funaho stopped in front of it, and said, “You’re the one who’s been calling us.”

“Heaven’s wonder…” Azusa, Seto, and Kotono were shocked at the sight of the Tree in front of them. There were two Trees growing closely next to each other, looking like a bird with spread wings.

“Two of the same Tree… Twins…!”

The Trees that chose Funaho and Misaki were themselves Second Generation Trees. But being twins, they were completely synchronized, and their combined power was equal to that of a First Generation Tree. Each could individually form three Light Hawk Wings. It was no exaggeration that they were more powerful than a First Generation Tree.

At any rate, Funaho’s and Misaki’s Rite of Tree Selection was a resounding success. Funaho’s position took a turn for the better by gaining a Second Generation Tree, and she was accepted as the First Empress. Only those ranking high in the Imperial Family were told, but during the genetic testing that Funaho received for her bio-augmentation, it was discovered that she was directly descended from Masaki, the younger sister to the first leader of Jurai. That probably had something to do with her quick acceptance.

The dissatisfaction of a segment of the Imperial Family did not wholly disappear, but the outright slander was no more. But then again, in some cases, discontent from various sources had taken the form of slander towards Funaho. The optimistic nature of the people of Jurai worked in their favor.

However, Utsutsumi and Azusa’s relationship remained awkward, and House Kamiki, the most powerful of the Imperial Family, declared complete neutrality. It meant the biggest power in the Supreme Council transferred to House Amaki, where Shuzan resided.

In any case, when the period of mourning was over, the coronation was held, and Azusa officially made his name in the galaxy as the new Emperor of Jurai. Though his power was not truly rock solid yet, the new Emperor took his first historic step.

 

Six years later—the Emperor of Jurai and Funaho, at twenty years old, were wedded in a marriage ceremony.

A provisional ceremony was held with ten-year old Misaki, so the celebrations were luxurious ones unparalleled in recent years.

Misaki’s incomparable talent in martial arts helped her sweep all sorts of championships, and with effusiveness that did not allow anyone to praise her noble birth and position, she became a national idol. All the television networks wanted to interview her, and she took every chance to say how she looked up to Funaho as a sister, so the bias of the populace was gradually removed. That bias was spun by Shuzan to begin with.

At first, there were many mean questions about Funaho, but once a reporter from a station with Shuzan’s backing asked a particularly vicious question, Misaki finally broke down in tears. That TV station instantly became the villain, and her ardent fans drove the station close to shutdown. Since then, nobody asked such questions. The biggest organization among Misaki’s fan clubs was run by Utsutsumi, her own father. His feats as doting parent were pretty impressive by this point.

 

Four years later, Funaho gave birth to the First Prince, Yosho. Producing an heir, Funaho’s popularity with the people was cemented, and her status became unshakeable. Their contrasting personalities and appearances increased Funaho and Misaki’s allure, and Funaho’s popularity increased proportionally to Misaki’s.

Five years later, Misaki married the Jurai Emperor at nineteen years old. Because of the party-loving populace, the festivities were even more spectacular than last time.

 

Three years later, Yosho’s Rite of Selection was conducted when he was eight years old. Just like his mother, Yosho was summoned by the Royal Tree, and gained a First Generation Tree which he named Funaho. Around the same time, Misaki’s first child, First Princess Ayeka was born.

 

Four years later, twelve-year-old Yosho and four-year-old Ayeka became engaged in a ceremony. The Emperor had agreed to Funaho and Misaki’s wish to have their children marry each other, and the official engagement was held. It was a selfish action on the parent’s behalf, without regard to their children’s wishes, though the young Ayeka was ecstatic that she would get to marry her beloved half-brother.

 

Seven years later, Misaki’s second child, Second Princess Sasami was born. The time of destiny was near.

 

And three years later, something happened to change history.

 

Ryoko the space pirate, the Demon of Destruction, attacked the planet Jurai along with Ryo-Ohki.

 

It was seven hundred years before Masaki Tenchi was born.

 

THE END