A Futile Feudal Dream
Part 1: Sleep Therapy

     Mi yawned, leaning her elbow against the desk, peering into the Arch-Lanthum between half-closed lashes. She looked back over at her homework; sheets of math lay strewn over the algebra books, reading back to her mockingly. She felt guilty for not finishing her homework, but not for trying to sleep... she'd already been up until midnight four days this week. So what if she didn't pass the exam tomorrow? She hadn't understood the chapter on equation-graphing since the teacher began. What does x^2 have to do with singing? ... or my future? ... or magic ...
     She set her head against the book, the pages suddenly seeming very comfortable, even compared to the textbooks. "How odd..." she thought as she felt her consciousness falling downward. "Too bad I can't just stay dreaming... anything's better than Friday-morning exams....”

* * *

     Mi tossed over in her sleep, startled awake by the same sensation as if she'd just fallen in her dreams. She sucked the air in heavily, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead, looking up at the familiar rafters above her.
     Above? She sat up from the futon where she lay, pulling at the sleeves of the kimono that mysteriously wrapped around her. She peered down slowly at the warm body that snuggled next to her. She pulled back the cover slowly and tried to take in the sight of the young brunette boy that slept quietly beside her, a hand clutching the edge of her robe. He snuggled closer to her as she moved to remove herself.
     "Ohne-sama... you-kai..." He opened one eye and looked at her. "Monsters were chasing me, ohne-sama..." he sat up slowly and covered his mouth as he coughed violently.
     "Corqren?" She muttered, by now VERY awake. "What happened to your hair?" She ruffled it slowly, still not convinced that she wasn't still dreaming. "What-what monsters?"
     He blinked at her. "The scary monsters that eat little kids who misbehave..." he hugged her. "Ohne-sama, you said I could sleep with you if I was scared." He smiled as he hugged her. "Papa said he was going to get Samurai and that I won't have to worry about scary monsters. I don't have to worry about monsters like Kappas!" He smiled.
     "Oh, Corqren..."She tugged him to her, brushing his hair back with hr hands. "You won't be eaten... besides..." She pushed him away a little so he could see her eyes. "You're a good boy- the monsters can't eat good children- they taste horrible to them. So you'll be safe." Why does he seem sick? What's it matter ... I'm dreaming, after all... wait... "When were Pa-pa's-" She said the word oddly. "Sa-samurai expected?"
     "Papa was going to see them today at noon... but they are here already. I saw them when I came into your room... they look strong!" He looked guilty. "But... I'm not suppose' to be walking around at night..."
     "Samurai..." A-hmm...
     "Well I'm sure he'll forgive you... since you were only wanting to see the Samurai and me, Corqren..." She smiled in spite of herself. Well- brother-in-law WAS close to a real brother, wasn' it?
     "We should sleep... it's not morning yet..." Corqren snuggled down again, shivering as he coughed once more.
     "Sleep?" She thought to herself as he tugged her back down to the futon once more. "But how can I sleep in a dream?" She closed her eyes, trying to think, to no avail. The door slid open as a young woman peeked in. "Mi-hime? Sorry to disturb you, but do you know where... ouji-sama... is..." she stopped as she saw Corqren curled up next to Mi, only his feet peeking out from under the covers. "Gomenesai. Kotaishi's personal nurse is out on an errand... I did not know he was here." The woman bowed low.
     Mi looked up at the woman slowly. "It's alright. He was afraid of the monsters... he had a bad dream..." She whispered so Corqren wouldn't be woke up. "Oh... and... could you tell me, have the Samurai father requested arrived? Corqren was wondering, you see..." I have a bad feeling about them...
     The woman looked up and whispered, sitting at the edge of the futon. "Yes, one has arrived. The other hasn't seen the lord yet. He has until noon. The lord did not expect them to arrive until late in the morning." She covered up Corqren's feet as he squirmed in his sleep. She smiled. "The Samurai that is here is meditating in the garden right now, though."
     Meditating? "Will you look over him while I-?"
     "Of course, Hime." She bowed as she scooted off the mattress just enough to sit down. Mi got up quickly, tucking her robe in enough to feel covered.
     "HIME!"
     "AH!"
     "You can't go out in that!"
     "Oh?..." Mi turned around as she had just opened the door slightly.
     "My lady... you'd think I'd not dressed you each day since you were smaller than your brother... you know very well you must wear the kimono to leave your room, not just your sleeping robe..."
     "Eh?" Mi looked at her in confusion.
     "You look like some silly love-sick child, racing out of here in that..." The maid walked over with a different robe in hand. Mi snatched it from her as she left the doorway ajar. "Please just watch Corqren!"
     "HIME!" She yelled down the hall as Mi threw it over her, running outside.

* * *

     The samurai sat in the quiet of the inner garden. He could feel the eyes of the manor's occupants looking at him as the morning sun beamed down over his studies. He set his sword in front of him as he took a deep breath, feeling the light wind blow his black hair around his white kimono as he began his patience practices.
     Mi nearly slammed against the banister of the second story, looking down at the “Samurai” that had arrived for the tournament to be held. She was certain, even from behind, exactly who he was.
     "MI SHEN!" She yelled, waving to him, leaning against the banister as far as she could. She placed her hands onto the banister, the momentum bringing her up and over the elegantly carved wooden planks. It was just like every time else-except... she was falling now. Her heart lifted up into her throat as she realized for the first time since that day, years ago, she was powerless.
     He jumped up from his sitting position, catching her in his arms as she almost landed on the ground. "Hime..." he practically whispered. "baka..." He whispered into her ear as he set her down and went back to his place of meditation.
     She blinked slowly, before breaking out into a yell of constrained fury, "That's not funny, Mi Shen! Not funny at all! You don't remember me? ..."
     He glanced passively towards her as she shouted his name. "Hime... I'm trying to prepare for the fight... please, be quiet..." he spoke just loud enough for her to hear him, as if mocking her excessive volume.
     She scowled in return, tears welling in her eyes a little, before she finally jumped at him, her hands reaching for his collar, her legs straddling him as they fell down into a heap of cloth and metal.
     "LISTEN HERE, YOU!" She yelled as quietly as she could, feeling the words hiss between her teeth. "This may be a dream-or it may not be-but you're NOT going to simply tell me you're taking this so calmly- ..." She stopped as the look of annoyance she recognized in his eyes finally dawned on her. "You don't even remember me? ..."
     "Hime... I have not met you before this day. I would appreciate it if you get off of me... before I am killed by the lord of this manor for this shame." He raised an eyebrow at her.
     A little sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes, submitting to a moment of thought. "... What are you expecting... expecting out of a dream of him?" She opened her eyes again, her grip already gone from his collar. "I'm sorry, I must have been mistaken..." She told him quietly.
     He rolled and got to his feet. He stood and in turn, helped her up. "All is forgiven, Hime..." He sighed. "You must have mistaken me for someone else... My name is very common..." He retrieved his sword and sat it down, sitting behind it and breathing deeply.
     "Yes... I must have..." She looked down at her kimono, which was already completely jostled and out of place from the encounter. "What kind of cruel joke IS this?" She looked away a moment in thought, touching her hand to her own collar as the moment became awkward. She shuffled her feet a little, remembering that everything she had done in the last five minutes was uncouth, and deciding against running as fast as possible. "Please... do not think wrongly of me... good day, lord Shen..." She bowed slightly as began to walk back to her 'room'.

     "Find nurse Yu! Haiyaku!" One nurse shouted to the other as she ran out of Mi's room. "Hime! Your brother is having one of his fits! Do you know where his nurse might be?" She asked frantically as the other nurse ran out and down the hall.
     "Nurse? ... No..." She replied, startled as she had just arrived into the hallway leading to Corqren's room. "I ... haven't seen her since yesterday..." She bent the truth a little.
     The nurse shook her head as she ran back into the room as Corqren's hacking coughs increased in volume. "Oh my-! Ouji-sama! Hold on... your nurse will be here shortly..." Corqren hacked blood onto a sleeve over his mouth as he curled into a little ball on the floor.
     "You..." She asked as she began to kneel down, watching Corqren through her shock.
     "Yes... we should send for her!" The nurse shook her head sadly.
     "I .. who?"
     "Yes ...Hime... please ask a messenger to get Yu..."
     "I'm here..."
     "I don't have times for games; your brother's life is at stake, Hime!"
     "I ... I'm sorry..."
     Mi stood up, as she had just about been crouching, not yet knelt by his side. Before she even called, a messenger at the door simply nodded softly before hurrying off down the corridor.
     "Uh ... thank you!" She yelled down the corridor, more thoroughly confused then before.

* * *

     Yu sighed, adjusting the paper sack once more, her wrist beginning to feel numb from carrying her groceries for so long. "I take care of that child, and they still have me cooking on my own? ... It's so much work by myself ..." She sighed again, closing her eyes beneath the cool shade of the trees that lines the carefully landscaped path of the shogun's private gardens.
     "ANO!" She squeaked as an orange dropped from the top of the sack to the ground, and rolled towards the edge of the path. "Oh no ... now it's going to go bad quicker...!" She huffed in aggravation, stepping lightly towards it.
     A hand reached for the orange just as Yu's hand reached it. "Oh... Heh... gomenesai." A blond man dressed in a blood red kimono picked up the orange and handed it to her, fangs showing within the cheesy grin he gave her. "You are employed here?" He turned his head in question like a child would.
     She stared at him a moment, feeling the orange drop into her palm as she stared into his eyes. "He has ... the eyes of an animal..." She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Oh... yes... oh!" She blushed suddenly. "You must have heard me... please don't tell the shogun what I've said! He'd SURELY be UNHAPPY!" She bowed low, stumbling as she forgot she had the bag, and adjusting her balance to keep it upright.
     He chuckled. "I won't tell anyone anything." He grinned again, this time with a bit of madness to his eyes. "I'd ask where are you're heading, but I must be going, though... I must meet the shogun before high noon...." He chuckled to himself as he walked off, just barely stroking the sword at his side, like a child would a favorite toy.
     She looked up, propping the bag against her shoulder. "Oh..." She smiled, still feeling her face warm up. She ran to catch up with him, putting her arm through his. "Why... that's wonderful then! I can show you to him!" She smiled, looking up at him happily. "The garden paths are like a maze... I can show you the best route!"
     "A-actually... I know the way..." He stuttered as he looked at her arm. "I thought you'd have duties to do..." He lost his smile as he looked ahead, seeing someone running towards them. "I must go... I'll... see you later..." He glowered towards the person running as he removed her arm from his own and jumped on top of a wall of the garden ready to disappear over it.
     "Oh..." She said simply, adjusting her balance again as she lost his support. "Well I was going to the palace... as well..." She mumbled, watching him run off, a little confused. "Could he be?" The gears slowly ground together in her head.
     "He could be the Samurai the shogun was to test today... No other would wield a sword without a master... except a ninja. And a ninja couldn't possibly be so cute!" She finished befitting her hair color.
     "Yu-san!" A girl ran up to her. Yu didn't notice her until the last moment from behind her grocery sack. She stopped to catch her breath before announcing, "O....ouji-sama... he's having one of his fits... it's even worse then before! So much blood..." The girl looked up at Yu, near tears for the prince.
     "Ren-chan?!" Yu gasped, fumbling with her bag, before finally deciding to simply flop it into the arms of the young girl. "Take these... to my ROOM! ER... Don't wait up for me, I'll go to help him!" She hiked up the trail of her kimono to her knees as she ran towards the palace.

* * *

     "Hand me the sage-and the witchbane..." Yu said softly to her assistant while she ground the herbs they had already handed her before. She fretted, looking down at Corqren occasionally, who's breath rasped in and out softly.
     "Just having you here helps, Lady Yu... his coughing stopped as soon as he saw you..."
     "His throat is what I'm worried about... KEEP HIM ELEVATED!" She said harshly to one of the younger servants who were about to lay Corqren back down again.
     "If he lays back down, it will be harder to breathe... and also, if he coughs again... we don't want the young prince to inhale the blood... he could catch pneumonia..."
     She sighed, stirring the tea kettle silently, wiping her forehead of the slight sweat she was breaking. "I cannot even take a stroll from this child... it is not that I do not wish to serve the lord... simply that... I fear one day I will not be here in time to help the child... but I cannot stand to stay within these walls so long as they would have me..." The temperature of the room was suffocating; so many people doting over her, doting over the prince. Outside the door, she looked up to her highness, and nodded her head, trying to smile slightly for the sake of his sister. "Do not worry your head, Hime-Mi-chan, this is no worse than before... As soon as I can get the syrup ready... it should soothe his throat... for a time... he will be... as good as possible soon..." She sighed, lowering her eyes from the princess, who seemed different than usual today. "She normally has such a refined air... today, she seems ... almost, confused... so odd."
     "But I must confess to you, though I cannot tell your father so openly... the boy SHALL die... I don't know when..." She shook her head, and looked up as Mi spoke suddenly.
     "I know... I can feel it..."
     "Hime-cha-"
     "I can feel the aura about him... though I don't know why my powers have left me..." She looked down at Yu, and Yu stared back in shock. "I can do nothing for him, but somewhow... I feel you are already doing something for him..." She smiled back at Yu, and the nurse gulped.
     "You are not Hime-Sama..."
     "I am ... and not..." She pressed a finger to her lips, and shushed down towards Yu playfully.
     Yu nodded oddly, returning to the medicine.
     "You may go now..." She said to the rest of the servants.
     ... you're wrong... I'm only delaying this...

* * *

     Mi stepped up to her balcony spot beside the throne, looking back as the maids made little hand movements for her to step up some more. She stepped forward, and they waived again that she was wrong. She grimaced, stepping back. They waved downward, and she finally realized they meant, "sit". She kneeled down to the pillow that was there, trying her best to be formal. They had already been at her for hours ... she'd never worn so much make-up in her life... ugh... I feel like a cake... or something...
     She looked over at her 'father', and further still to where there was a chair obviously MEANT for Corqren, but which was currently vacant.
     The suddenly Shogun waived the two samurais forward, declaring, "State your names, honorable servants..."
     "My lord, my name is Mi Shen..." The first bowed low to the shogun, giving Mi a quick glance before narrowing his eyes to where the vacant seat for Corqren was. "My only wish is to serve you, my lord." He straightened himself, appearing as if nothing had been unusual.
     "Narharax is my name, great lord..." The second smirked to himself inwardly as he bowed, glancing quickly to Mi Shen with slightly wild eyes before standing straight. "To serve is my life."
     "You are here today to prove your worth, if there is any, to this household... it is a battle to first blood. There is no dishonor in loss today... except if honor is not kept during this duel... if I am completely clear..." He eyed Ax suspiciously a moment before moving his gaze to Mi Shen. "You will begin as my servants strike the gong... prepare yourselves!"
     They both turned to each other, hands on the hilts of their swords, in sync.
     "This is barbaric..." a voice in Mi's head spoke softly, and responded to itself, "You're only saying that because he looks like Mi Shen..." which responded in turn, "HE IS! DAMNIT!"
     She shook her head slightly, and straightened her posture once more, trying desperately to keep her toes crosses properly, her hands laid on he right spot of the dress's pattern, her eyes lev-
     The gong player stepped up to the small podium of carved wood made especially for it, and struck it hard, the sound resonating through the room, whose occupants could almost hear it through their very bones.
     They unsheathed their swords and leapt for each other, the loud clanging of the swords meeting sounding almost as loud as the gong itself. Ax pushed Mi Shen back, seeming slightly off balance with his sword, using only one hand to Mi Shen's two. He slipped out a shorter sword from his kimono sleeve and defended with it as Mi Shen attacked.
     "Stop defending, COWARD! ATTACK!" Mi Shen whispered harshly to Ax as he pushed on Ax's short sword and sword in the “X” they made. Ax sweeped Mi Shen's feet from under him and lightly danced away. As Mi Shen recovered, Ax jumped at him with his sword lowered. Mi Shen angled his sword and cut Ax on his right side, just enough to draw blood and cut a clean line trough the side of Ax's kimono.
     Ax looked shocked as he missed Mi Shen and felt the pain along his side. The gong sounded and Mi Shen smiled as ax fell to the ground. He smile opened into a gasp as he realized he had cut him more severely then he had thought.
     Mi sucked in her breath as she heard each word they said... though her powers were gone, her hearing seemed to remain as good as the bat had ever made her... She cringed almost unnoticeably as Mi Shen fell, and felt almost relieved as she saw his sword Cut into Ax... if only Ax were not a friend as well... but the way his eyes looked... she couldn't tell if he still was within the dream...
     Mi Shen felt a slight relief as some young men (he assumed the shogun's servants) lifted Ax up and carried him away. He secretly hoped he would be alright... but he had a nagging feeling he should hope he died. Something about him... makes me uneasy... Mi Shen bowed to the shogun as he sheathed his sword, his clothes dusty from the battle. "My lord, my life is yours."
     "And I accept it graciously, SAMURAI..." whispers went up through the room: this was a title of the shogun's highest protector, ”You shall be the head of my guard... your skills were quite amazing... never before have I seen such a quick victory in a first blood match. If he is willing, the man you faced will be your second in command..."
     Mi stared back at where he had left, slightly flushed by the way he would always look to her just after he looked to the shogun. "I know he only does that as a sign of respect, but-."
     "Hime-san, your father stands, please stand as well..." one of the ladies whispered softly to her.
     "Oh, yes... arigato..." She nodded as she stood up, trying not to fall over from the loss of circulation and the blood that rushed to her head.

     Mi exhaled happily, holding the two over-robes of her kimono in her arms as she sat on the banister of the outer walkway that overlooked the tea gardens. The breeze flowed gently through her silk slip as she enjoyed the later afternoon. "Those robes are so stuffy... everything is so formal... all the preparations take forever... " She yawned, kicking her legs slightly to air out the bottom of the robe, being careful not to loose her sandals.
     She sighed, reaching down to take her sandals off instead, "I miss you so much, Mi Shen..."
     "I'm right here, Hime-san..."
     She squeaked, trying to turn, but loosing her balance on the railing instead. He was quick to rush forward, grabbing her securely, his arms around her shoulder and waist before she even thought of stopping herself from falling. She looked up at him, flushed. "... why are you here, Kenshin-san?"
     He pulled her up and set her on the floor of the awning before turning. "I was exploring the grounds... Hime-san... where was the prince this afternoon...? I had thought he would want to see the match. He had seemed so eager last night to see me." He cleared his throat as he finished.
     "He is ill... the symptoms worsened today... he was not even conscious by the time the match had begun..."
     "Sad news indeed... Where is he? I would like to tell him about the match if he is well enough." He sighed. "What has made the prince ill?"
     She sighed, considering the answer a moment. "I would tell you the name of the illness, but that is simply a cover... both the Shogun and his head nurse already realize that it is not a sickness he suffers from, but a curse... which keeps him weak enough that the illness may cover the curse... so that no one suspects foul play... as to his whereabouts, he is either in my room or his own, he was resting with me... he had had a nightmare, and come to me in the night... they may not have moved him since I saw him last..." She looked towards the ground, thinking to herself, "Your brother lies dying in my dreams, Mish... you're gonna LOVE me when I tell you come morning."
     He lowered his head and began to walk off. "I am sorry, Hime... I hope the curse is destroyed..." He glowered as he walked off. Something's not right here... but how did this come about?

     He walked into the prince's room. The child was sleeping peacefully, with sweat beading on his forehead. Mi Shen sat next to the prince and looked at his face, he felt a twinge in his chest and the prince coughed softly. "I have not met you before this day young prince... but I feel I should protect you... even if it costs me my life, the feeling is so strong..." He mumbled down to the sleeping prince.
     Mi treaded softly towards her room, glancing at Mi Shen, who had not yet noticed her. She was glad then that she had taken of her sandals to walk to halls. At least now she had one of her robes covering her. The very thought made her cheeks flush again.
     She walked softly into the room from the side entrance, leaning over Mi Shen's shoulder as she crouched beside him, "You look as if you are dreaming, Kenshin-san..." She whispered past his ear.
     She brushed the back of her Kimono to give it a little slack as she knelt down next to him to watch Corqren as well. "You recognize him, don't you?" She asked him softly, looking towards him. "And this palace... does it not ... unnerve you?"
     He sighed deeply. "I feel as if I've seen him... but I know I have not... this place does not unnerve me though, Hime... I actually feel like I belong in this place for a reason...." He shook his head a he released a small smile that vanished quickly. "It's strange... I feel as if I belong... yet at the same time I don't... it must be because I have not had a home for a while and I am not used to this place..."
     She frowned as she turned away from him again. "Yes, that must be it..."
     He stood quietly. "Gomen... I am not supposed to be here... I am to be with the other soldiers... I must go-with your permission, Hime..." he bowed to her, his sleeves swirled slightly in this quick motion.
     "Of course." She couldn't help a bit of a smirk at having the least bit of control over Mi Shen. "I'm sure you will-" She stopped as she looked at the red along the edge of his sleeve. She stood up to examine it. "Have you been hurt?" She looked at his face, amazed that she had not even notice the red line that went clearly down the side of his cheek. "You WERE cut during that battle..." She touched a hand to his face, tracing the path of the sword's slash lightly with her ring finger.
     He flinched as she ran he finger over the mark. "Hime..." He looked at her in surprise. "I... did not shed the first blood... I assure you..."
     "No... I was watching carefully... but still... you should make sure it heals quickly... there are many people in the palace... some may wish to undermine your position..." She held her hand slightly away from his cheek, whishing to linger a moment there; better judgment stopping her.
     Why is Hime looking at me like that...? She has given me identical looks before... do I really look so much like her Mi Shen...? "I am sorry for making you worry, Hime..." he took a step back. Gods... why do I have this rush of feelings all of a sudden? He walked out quickly, a hand covering the line on his face.
     She wrung her hands a moment with a bit of pent anxiety before simply placing a hand to her own cheek. "This is a horrible dream..." She said as she sat down to watch over her “brother”.

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