The World on the other Side

Ali looked up at her for a long moment before smiling and nodding "Together forever"he said closing his eyes "Yes, Venus, could you show yourself please"he said as she scrubbed his head

There was a slight jingling before the dagger floated into the room and a seal, similar to the one Alibaba uses when he uses his magic flashed on the handle before from the seal a silver haired woman appeared dressed in loose fitting thin silk robes "Yes Master?"she asked as Alibaba pointed at her "Hanako, this is Venus, the Metal Djinn, one of 7, the only one who didn't break her contract with the Barcyl."

She would smile as she sat there and continued to scrub his head and making sure that his hair was clean before she would soon hear him speak. She blinked slightly and then turned when she heard him speak, "Venus?" she asked a bit confused till her head turned to look over at the dagger that floated into the room and the women appeared.

"Wait...my dagger is a women?" she asked confused.

"Your dagger is a djinn"Alibaba repeated as Venus bowed her head "Indeed, I am the Metal Djinn who serves as a weapon for Master Barcyl and Master Alibaba"she said

"Each of the 7 Djinn are master's of a particular element. Wood, Earth, Fire, Metal, Water, Yin and Yang"Alibaba said "With metal, that is how she can take the form of any weapon of her users soul."he commented

She was still startled by this, "yes I...remember you saying that but still...its kinda strange." she stated simply with a small laugh as she sat there, "Well Mrs Venus its a pleasure to meet you, though...I have to ask...do you know the reason why a scythe was the first weapon for me to use?"

"Someone close to you died recently. Your soul reflects the pain of that loss. You wish to reap their souls back to the land of the living and restore what cannot be undone"Venus said in her same flat tone "Though I must admit, it is one of my stronger forms that I can manage. Not very many people can wield the incredible power that scythe wields. As you will learn, each form I take has it's own significant and unique properties that adapt to any situation. I am a living weapon to be used at the pleasure of my Master and whoever he entrusts me to use to protect him."

"That's Venus for you. My mother gave her to me as a birthing present and my old hand maiden carried her around so she was by me at all times."Alibaba said "Traditionally...the legend has it that Barcyl, in his humbleness and as a demonstration of good will and to empower the kingdom, gave each of the Djinn to those who guarded the gems. But since no one has been around to seal them since their last contract, I don't know how I feel about giving my siblings djinns....Jango definitely and maaaaaaaaaaaaybe Sheera because she was nice enough to help me find you..and I know she loves me even though her love is overbearing and disciplined..but the others...I don't like my other siblings...and they don't like each other either."he sighed

Hanako would start to work water into Ali's air to remove the soap as Venus brought up why a scythe even appeared for her, she took a deep breath and would speak. "I wish it was possible to bring them back...at least my brother just so I can say i'm sorry for letting him down..." she stated softly but would soon shake her head as she took a deep breath. "Though Thank you for explaining, it does make more sense now" she chuckled trying to hide her pain.

Though she would listen to Ali explain the other Dijinns and she nodded, "well if we can't trust your other siblings, perhaps as the disciples quest we find some? Its not a bad idea to find others you can trust that are outside your family"

"The djinns are supposed to go to the Guardians though. In order to enhance their power in protecting their gems"Alibaba said sighing "I'm just going to have to get over it and actally give them all something"he said frowning "It's not that I don't trust them...I just don't like who they are as people."

"well do they have to be the guardians? can't you choose new ones? Just because they are your siblings and the guardians now you have the choice as the disciple to make those choices don't you?" she asked as she would finish washing his hair. "alright arms out so i can wash your arms." she said with a smile.

"Not while Mom is still the Queen" Alibaba said as he held his arms out "She is the one who appointed them all, including Jango and Sheera, who don't take their duties lightly"he said giggling as he was washed "If I was to remove them it wouldn't be until I was king, but the djinn threat must be addressed post haste" shaking his long hair out of his face

She held one of the sponges in her hands as she began to scrub his arms and would smile hearing him laugh, though she just listened before moving to scrub at his back. "I see...well then lets deal with the issue as we can" she stated simply "alright turn around, time to wash your front"

Alibaba swivled around now looking up at her with his bright blue eyes "Yeah....I have a feeling my mother is going to get involved with a lot of our decision making very soon anyway so just be ready for that. She is the Queen above all else."he said closing his eyes as he was washed "I also have to travel back to Japan soon as well. The Japanese government has set up a militarized zone around the gate and while talks of peace and what to do are being negotiated, they are supposed to be appointing ambassadors to appear at the palace. I also am our nation's ambassador as well so naturally we will be intermingling."

She sat there and began to scrub his chest and shoulders, making sure that she got his skin soapy but would not do anything further than she had to figuring he could handle the rest. Though as he explained about his mother she would chuckle, "sounds like a typical parent to constantly be involved in the child's life." she said.

Though when he brought up going to Japan she paused, "well...if you have to go I'll help out, You'd look good in some of the traditional clothing we have, I can even take you too some of the shrines and such that I told you about. There's the museums, the libraries, all variety of different things."

"Oh no, my trip to Japan is purely for business"he said as he was all soaped up "I am merely going to receive the ambassadors and escort them to this palace. Remember this is all under military action. It'll be nice having you here because I use up a large amount of magic translating because I do not know Japanese at all without my magic yet. You will be able to translate and speak for me as my Maiden. And you can translate on the regular basis while the Ambassadors are staying here so I'm not expending large amounts of magic. I've entered the point where I need to start building my magic reserves if I'm going to tame any djinn."

"And business can't be switched to a little pleasure Ali? I mean how often will you get to come to Japan, plus this gives you a chance to explore my culture. As for translating that works fine as well but don't you use your magic as is to translate to me?"

"My job comes first Hanako"Alibaba said seriously as he turned to her "I represent not just myself, but an entire kingdom. Every decision I make, every action affects more lives than just myself. Many people lost husbands, brothers, sons in our conflict with Japan. Many families lost a lot more than that. It is my job to engage in these negotiations and deliver swift settlement and justice for those families much like I assume your government is doing the same."he said still in his serious tone. It was clear the little prince truly was far more mature than his little body first assumed. "If these peace talks go well, then one day we will be able to traverse between both lands freely and trade between one another as allies, but there are steps that must come first. As for the magic to talk to you, no. I already told you, the link you wear around your neck does all the translating for you, giving you time to learn it at your own pace naturally the way you first learned how to speak in your native tongue as a baby. The link is a magical artifact so it is fueled from it's own mana, much like a djinn's artifact or your robes."

She listened to him and would sigh some as she sat there, she knew he was right but at the same time she missed her own home. Plus she wanted to properly see her own family off and let her other family members know...it was the only thing she could do to make sure they found peace. "alright..." she stated simply, before she would soon pick up a small bucket scooping water and then dumping it over her head as her blonde hair fell around her once free from its twisted up do.

"Why don't you finish up the rest of your bathing Ali...don't think you want me to scrub below your waste" she stated before moving to the side as well and letting the topic end for now. She worked for him now, he had a say over everything and she wasn't going to push it.

"Yeah, I can do that"he said as he began washing "I'm starting to get really hungry are you?"he asked curiously before soon rinsing off and jumping out grabbing a towel to dry off

Hanako would run the water against her arms as she scrubbed at herself then glanced over at him, "I could eat, let me finish up here and I'll go ask the servants to bring us a meal" she said warmly. "why don't you relax a bit more, the water is nice and warm and its perfect on young bodies like yours."

"No, we both have magical lessons to do after we eat. ANd you don't have to get the servants, they already know to bring my food directly to my practice room. I usually go there straight after my bath and practice with Jango and am there for most of the rest of the night."he commented drying himself off

She shook her head some chuckling, "you have quiet the routine Ali, then again I suppose for a child its necessary" she was of course teasing him, since he was far older than her. Standing up once she was done with her own bath, she moved over to where she had seen the towels and grabbed one as she began to dry off humming softly as she did.

He glared at her "You sound like my mother"he grumbled as he shook his long hair out as it fell down past his butt "Will you braid it for me?"he asked curiously "My arms aren't long enough to do it, and usually Jango does it and he sucks."

Hanako had just finished sliding on her clothing when he asked and she chuckled, "alright, do you want it loss or tight?" she asked moving up to him as she also grabbed a brush and started to work out the knots and kinks. "I used to practice braiding on my dolls as a child, since I didn't have any siblings with hair as long as yours." she explain.

Her hands would work quickly as he felt strand after strand being pulled back as she brushed it out, till soon she had it tied and she then smiled. "alright all done"

"Thanks a lot"Alibaba smiled as he looked in the mirror "Ahh this is so nice! Can you always do my hair? I will relieve Jango of his duties, of which I'm sure he'll be relieved....it's actually weird he's not here...but I guess since you are with me and Venus is active again I'm safe enough for him to conduct the business he usually waits until he thinks I'm asleep and leaves for...usually drinking"he commented as he pulled on a lose fitting robe with the same symbol that flashed on his forehead when he first met Hanako "Time for me to tutor you in the ways of magic while we eat."he grinned with a slightly wicked glint in his eye of childish manifestation

She chuckled "if you want that's fine, though before you go to bed we should unbraid it other wise it wont dry correctly and you could risk getting mold in your hair. Plus its good to brush your hair before and after bed" she said smiling and finished getting her hair ready herself twisted it into a bun humming softly.

Though when she saw that mark on his forehead, and then how he grinned she chuckled "careful Ali, your face will get twisted like that and it wont return to normal" she said reaching down tweaking his nose. "now lets go eat and study"

"Oh yes"he said as he lead her out of the room and down the halls to a room with that same crest on it that opned as he approached it on its own as they stepped inside and she could see all the different objects and books had scattered throughout the room