title: The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 3
author: Sai Yukino
description: Sai Yukino was born on January 26. She is author of both the manga and YA novels for The Story of Saiunkoku. She received an honorable mention and the Readers
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  Water
  
  
  
  
  
  Buryoku
  
  
  Book Three
  
  
  
  
  
  Aaron Oster
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  For my sister. I hope you will continue enjoying books forever.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #  Prologue
  
  
  
  
  
  Itachi Hakai, or Kai, as everyone in their small village called him, let out a
  long sigh.
  
  
  “What’s wrong?”
  
  
  The young girl who asked him this was his younger sister, Ikari. She was small
  and had long black hair. Her large eyes shone with the innocence of an eight-
  year-old girl. Despite her innocence and young age, she was already a Yellow-
  Belt. Kai had yet to develop a Core, and seeing as he was already ten years
  old, the chances were growing slimmer by the day. This led their parents to
  expect great things of Ikari and not so much from him.
  
  
  Kai debated making up some lie, but they never kept secrets from one another.
  Besides, it wasn’t like she didn’t already know that he didn’t have a Core.
  
  
  “I don’t understand why you wanted me to come in here with you,” he grumbled.
  “You know I c