Sakura Tenshi

By Harle Quinn

~Prologue~

The screams that echoed through Buckingham and St. James were too much for 21-year-old Sydney Maxwell a.k.a. Princess Rose to bear. She looked around frantically for her fiancé. She saw the Queen run and other members of the royal family. “Henry!” she called out, weaving through the sea of people. Her gown made it nearly impossible to move about the large and crowded St. James’s halls.

“Go through here! You’ll be safe!” shouted two voices. She felt William and Henry shove her through the secret passageway that only they knew. She dropped into a car and drove through the underground tunnel. It led from Buckingham and St. James to Highgrove. Little did she know of what was happening above ground or what would happen to fiancé and the British Royal Family. The year was 2002.

Dr. Yubasen Smith cackled as he watched the fall of the Royal Family. Finally, the world was within his grasp.

7-year-old Mihari Konitowa watched in utter horror as the man in a doctor’s coat ran around, setting fire to the homes and butchering people left and right. He had called up the Undead Hunters to rip and claw apart the beings in her dimension known as Avalon. She ran all the way to her grandfather’s home. It was safe there for no one dares to disturb the Great Warrior Konitowa. Not even this new stranger that was wrecking Avalon.

She watched as he was finally banished from Avalon. Her grandfather walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “If you would like, I can teach you the samurai and ninja ways to avenge on your family’s death.” he offered. She looked up at him, giving him her answer. He nodded, understanding her. “We start training tomorrow morning.” She looked outside again then at the sword in her hands. It was a finely crafted long sword with a cherry blossom emblem on the blade, near the hilt. Mihari replaced it into its scabbard. Her vow was made.

~10 years later~

It was ten years later before Mihari would venture into our dimension. She stood in front of the waterfall of cosmic colors. This was the Dimension Portal. This was where beings of either dimension could pass through. The universal colors swirled in an endless blended rainbow, enticing Mihari towards our world. Her grandfather had passed on just a few months before. On his deathbed, he told Mihari that she was ready to go into the Hurt world, as they called it.

Now at 17, she looked at it warily. She took a deep breath before jumping in. she felt the cool colors wash over her like calm waters. It wasn’t long before she landed on Earth. She opened her dark blue eyes and let out an audible gasp. Earth was in shambles and looked like a desolate wasteland. There was barely a soul that walked along the leveled earth.

She heard a fierce cry of a tortuous bird. Mihari looked above her and saw a huge Undead spotting her and swooping down at her. She drew out her double swords and cast them upwards at a rapid speed, chanting spells to guide them. Using her knowledge of pressure points, she leaped up and punched them in their specific spots on the Undead. It howled before throwing her into the ground. It let out another cry before casting her swords back down at her.

Mihari feared her life was over when she saw a whip coming out of nowhere and snatch the swords. She felt a blast of psychokinetic energy as the Undead ran off. Someone crouched near her but due to her exhaustion in dimension travel, she could barely make out the features of her savior.

The soft cackle and glow of a fireplace woke Mihari up. “Good, you’re awake,” said a hooded, faceless and shapeless figure. “Miss Maxwell awaits for you in the study.” He waited for her to walk with him down the candle-lit hallway. Mihari looked at the portraits that decorated the walls. They looked like the characters in her History book about earth. The shadow-hand opened a door and Mihari stepped in.

A woman in her twenties stood near the fireplace in a dark green, silk gown. Her dark hair matched the shadows that were cast around the study. The fire glow enlightened her grey eyes. She looked like a woman of refinement. A woman of taste in the fine life. “That was a close call for you. Any longer and you wouldn’tve lived. Tell me: are you crazy for going against an Undead Hunter with no fighting skills?” she asked.

“My name is Mihari Konitowa and I’m from the Avalon Dimension. I was sent here to stop Dr. Yubasen Smith from killing any more people. He killed my family so it is a revenge mission as well.” Mihari explained as her eyes clouded. “And who are you?” she asked.

“Sydney Maxwell.” She sat gracefully in an armchair. “Top novelist of Cascade Magazine for 9 years.” She took a good long look at Mihari. “A ninja? Samurai? Your people ceased to exist thousands of years ago.”

“Not in my world.” Mihari replied. “My grandfather trained me since I was 7. And I’m 17 now.”

“Mihari, you sound like a sweet girl. It is very a very dangerous possible to see Dr. Smith. He is the creator and tormenter of beasts that you see on Earth. He’ll have no problem turning you into a beast as well.” Sydney explained.

“What happened to earth, if you don’t mind me asking?” asked Mihari as tea was brought into the room. Mihari sat down across from Sydney.

“Where should I start?” she sighed. “Yubasen Smith was a quiet fellow. He liked to dabble in the dark arts. He was nice but ignored very much. He was my friend until he began to call upon the Undead Hunters to help him conquer and destroy earth. War broke out. Everything you hear about earth is no more thanks to Smith’s most deadly weapon the DathVäder. What the DathVäder did was turn and torment people of earth into his slaves. He used a nuclear bomb to kill the Royal Family of Britain. My fiancé was taken in the nuclear explosion. This,” She waved around her, “was his home known as Highgrove. I miss him so much.”

Mihari’s eyes drifted over to where Sydney stared. The man that stood in the portrait stood tall and proud. His red hair that seemed a deep burgundy color and his green eyes that seemed hazel stared down at her from a face dusted with freckles. “Your fiancé? But isn’t that--”

Sydney nodded. “The third successor of the British line. I never saw him again. I had trained and trained in combat and fighting skills so I can demand answers from Smith. But I never found the right time to do it.”

“You can join me on my mission.” Mihari offered. “I could use the company and you probably know this area better than I.”

“We’ll rest a day. Tomorrow, we’ll travel.” Sydney replied. The shadow-hand returned and escorted Mihari out of the study. Sydney walked into the empty hallway and into the library. The soft silk gown moved with her as she ran her fingers over the antiquated volumes of books. She smiled at herself for she had never really worn a dress before now. She touched the soft tapestry of her fiancé. “Will I ever see you again?” she whispered. She closed her eyes and felt a chill pass over her. She lay down on the small couch. She felt the soft touch of a blanket set over her. “Henry…” she murmured sleepily.

She felt a pair of ghostly hands comb through her dark locks, freeing it from its braided confines. She began to stir awake. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you,” whispered a voice.

“Henry…” she sighed. A chaste kiss landed on her cheek.

“My darling. Never open your eyes for I will disappear gazing in your beautiful face.” it replied to her unspoken question.

“Just hold me.” Sydney quietly requested. She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her and felt as if Henry was really there.

~The Next Morning~

“Miss Maxwell, you fell asleep in the library again.” said a Spaniard shadow-hand.

“Rosa? Oh, not again.” Sydney looked around her; her wavy hair bounced on her shoulders. She tied her hair up again and rushed around the library. “Prepare a horse for Mihari and Carpet. Tell the staff not to worry if I’m gone for a while. I’m counting on you, Rosa, to keep the household together.” Sydney instructed.

“Don’t worry about it, Miss Maxwell.” Rosa replied. “Perhaps now, you can find Master Windsor.”

“Has Mihari eaten breakfast yet?” she asked, as she got dressed.

“Yes, Miss.” Rosa replied as she followed Sydney down the stairs. “Bring back Master Windsor!” Mihari climbed onto the black stallion as Sydney whistled for her flying carpet. They zoomed off into the wasteland that was once a great Empire.

They had been riding for a while through the woods in silence. “If you don’t mind answering but how did you escape the apocalypse?” asked Mihari.

Sydney stared straight ahead. “I learned a bit of sorcery in my day. During the attacks, Henry and his brother William snuck me out through the servant’s quarters. The earth was suspended in time. I broke free of the Freeze spell knowing that Smith was behind it all. Everyone was either dead, a shadow-hand, or tortured as monsters. It was too late for me to even try to reverse what he did. Earth had become the barren wasteland as you see now.”

A growling Naga stopped them in their tracks. Sydney, with her ever-present whip at her side, quickly lassoed it and held it down. “Let me go! Let me go!” it hissed and snapped.

“Whose allegiance are you with?” demanded Sydney.

“My mother! Queen Elizabeth the Second!” he replied.

“Charles?” she asked as she loosened her grip.

“Aussie? Is that really you?” he asked as he turned to take a good look at her. She nodded. “Well, now. I apologize for frightening you like that. Come have a seat. We’re safe until nightfall.” He slithered over to a bank on the river. They all sat, waiting to hear his story. “The nuclear explosion affected many of us in many ways. We either died or become the strangest creatures you ever saw. Don’t I just look dashing?” he asked ruefully.

“Do you know what happened to Henry?” asked Sydney.

“I’m sorry, Aussie. I haven’t seen Wills or Harry since the explosion.” Charles replied softly.

“The horse needs to rest. We can camp here until tomorrow morning.” Mihari suggested. She sheathed her sword as Sydney put away her whip.

“Who is this young lady in Chinese clothing?” asked Charles.

“This is Mihari. Mihari, this is Prince Charles. Formally, the Prince of Wales.” Sydney introduced.

“It’s very nice to meet you, your highness.” Mihari shook hands with Charles.

“The pleasure is mine.” Charles smiled. Night fell as they shared stories of what happened back then. “At night, there are some that roam around these woods looking for blood. I try to stay as far into the water as possible since they’re all on land.”

Hoof beats approached them. A woman about her age of 40 slid off her horse. She smiled maliciously and raised her sword. She brought it down upon Charles’ head when another sword stopped its path, instantly breaking it into two. “What’s this?!” demanded the attacker. Mihari didn’t answer and silently challenged the woman to a dual. “You dare to challenge Kodachi Toboyashi?” she demanded again. The duel as had started. Kodachi’s blue hair whipped this way and that, as her violet eyes seemed to glow in advanced victory.

Clangs were heard throughout the forest as they parried, thrust, and pulled out every trick they knew out of their sleeves. Metal flashed in the moonlight. Mihari stared at her opponent; waiting for the perfect moment. The time was right. Kodachi was slowing down. Charles and Sydney watched as Mihari’s katana cut a zigzag pattern. Kodachi scoffed before falling into pieces. Blood quickly drained from the blade. Mihari sheathed it and returned to her sleeping bag.

Sydney looked at her young friend in awe. The cherry blossom emblem on the blade seemed to glow. A family heirloom probably, she thought before going to sleep.

A shadow in the trees watched as she slept. Glowing blue eyes stared at her. “My darling.” he murmured before disappearing into the fog.

Day came as the girls packed up and continued their journey to London. “Tell me about your world, Mihari.” Sydney asked.

“We’ve stayed peaceful for we all have practices in either magic or fighting skills over a thousand years. We are very much into spiritual things. Our main religion would be Shinto. We are very much connected to your world. That’s why we can feel when your world is out of balance.” Mihari started. “So we sealed off from you. Unfortunately, Smith snuck in. He destroyed many families as he could before returning here. I followed so I could get back at him.”

“They have samurai and ninjas at your place?” asked Sydney.

“A small number.” Mihari blushed. Sydney smiled before sharply staring at the trees that had just rustled at the wind. “Why are you so suspicious of just a rustle in the trees?” asked Mihari.

“A ghost of a memory that tests my very sanity.” Sydney replied. “I don’t know if Henry is alive or dead and it drives me crazy.”

“So you’re on this journey to find answers?” asked Mihari.

“Yes, but also to find Henry.” Sydney replied. “Alive or dead. I want to know.” She stopped in midair and nodded at a palace in the distance. “There it is. Smith’s castle, once known as St. James.” She turned to Mihari. “No turning back now. Are you up to it?” she asked.

Mihari’s face was grim. “Sacrificing my life for my family? I’m ready.”

“I’m going into the north entrance, you take the west.” Sydney instructed.

“Why?”

“Well, when you barge in with the sun behind you, you have a more dramatic and powerful effect.” Sydney winked. “Now let’s rock and roll.”

Dr. Yubasen Smith strolled down a hallway of what they used to call the St. James Palace. He had created the finest weapon since the atomic bomb. He combined his knowledge of ancient and mythological sorcery to concoct the DathVäder. The DathVäder had enough power to kill or mutilate humans. He chuckled to himself as he turned towards a window that overlooked the land. “That’s what you get, scumbags. After teasing me relentlessly about my appearance!” he shouted. He looked over to the monitors and nearly dropped his cup of tea. “My American Rose? Beautiful, sweet, and caring Princess Rose, what are you doing on my property?”

He watched as she scaled the castle wall and into a room. Sunlight filtered through the large glass windows, making her dark hair glow a beautiful auburn color and her grey eyes an ethereal color.

“Princess Rose…Prince Henry’s fiancée!” he smirked. He had remembered how he himself had killed the spare with his own bare hands. Only his last words haunted him.

Blood oozed out of the corner of Harry’s mouth. It was his death and he knew it. “I love her, no matter what you say, Smith! I will protect her even in my death.” Harry vowed. A fog loomed in as Harry disappeared. Harry would be dead. Yubasen Smith smiled in triumph.

He sipped his tea again before heading into the ballroom.

Sydney checked her surroundings. This was the ballroom where she and Henry first danced. So many memories rushed towards her.

“Princess Rose.” called a voice. She stiffened at the voice. “How long has it been, dear Princess? 10 years?” She moved away from him and towards the door. “Don’t bother. All the doors are locked. It’s too bad of what happened to Prince Henry, isn’t it?”

“Where is he?” she asked coldly. She readied her whip. Before she knew what was happening, she was on the ground and he held her weapon.

He cupped her chin. “Sweet, caring Princess Rose. Forget the ghost. I’m alive, at least.”

“You killed him.” Sydney seethed. “You killed my love!” she raved as she lashed out at him. “Why?!”

“I’ll tell you why.” Yubasen replied as he fought back. “He had a rose that I wanted. A certain princess that was nice to me but turned me down when I asked her to marry me. She stole my heart but followed her own and caught a prince! He always got what he wanted. So I figured that if I proved to be more powerful than your dearest love then you would be mine but you would’ve loved him if he were the poorest man on earth.

“So who can you love when I killed your dearest love? Me, because I am more skilled.” He pulled her close. “So, Princess Rose, who do you love know?” he asked, smiling at her futile attempts to struggle out of his arms.

A fog loomed in from nowhere. Yubasen felt someone punch his face and rip Sydney from his clutching arms. A tall figure in the mist held Sydney and disappeared. Yubasen screamed in frustration at the empty room. “We’re safe now.” the soft voice whispered. Sydney still clung to him.

“Thank you, William.” Sydney sighed. “What happened to Henry?”

He gulped and held her close. “It’s not pretty, love. A nuclear explosion happened after we got you out and I got Harry out of a duel. It left him dead and me immortal for trying to save him.”

He let her sob against him. Will only soothed her hair and whispered words. She stopped and looked up. “Mihari!” she cried out. “She’s in danger!”

Mihari ran through the maze of corridors. She turned a corner and was faced with an army of undead hunters. She had managed to cut a few down with her sword but more kept appearing.

Just when she felt closed in, she heard a fierce snap of a whip and a gunshot. “Go to the drawing room! Wills and I will handle things here!” Sydney instructed. She fired off a few more rounds as Mihari continued on.

Her footsteps echoed through the hallway. She panted as she turned a corner. A few zombies popped up. She pulled out her bow and arrows and blasted them away. She threw open the doors of the drawing room. It was quiet expect for the quiet hum of the DathVäder. “So you made it here, have you? The same stubborn runt from long ago that refused to die.”

Mihari knew she didn’t need her weapons for this final battle. “You have caused suffering to this entire world and mine’s. Prepare to die.” Yubasen only laughed as he pushed a big red button on the DathVäder. It exploded and created a time/space vacuum.

Will and Sydney dove in to save their friend. They summoned all of their strength and fought through the darkness, desperately trying to find Mihari. Finally, they had reached a place if nothingness and calm. Mihari looked at them calmly. She was different this time. She wore white wings and a cherry blossom in her hair. “Your past empire has diminished, Son of England, but your new empire will be the world.” A white light consumed the earth; breaking the evil spell and restoring the world as it was 10 years ago.

A battered and immortal Queen Rose stood weakly with her husband, King William of Earth. She looked at Baby Mihari in her arms then at her husband. “A new empire, a new family, and a new life awaits us, love. Let’s not make the same mistakes as before.” he said as they headed into the new St. James.

Yubasen was gone. Order was restored to the living earth. A cherry blossom tree was in the back yard of the St. James. It was a reminder of the cherry Blossom Angel that saved Earth.

End.