Capítulo 50: Chapter 49
A new sun rises as an old one sets.
No sooner was Murayama helping me up off the ground than Tobio and the other heirs pulled Suzaku away to discuss tomorrow's plan. Akeno, Issari, Murayama, and I took the unspoken order and left the courtyard, heading for our quarters. As I was taking off my power armor and locking it in the courtyard of our building, I was deep in planning mode. I made or threw away plans for my grandmother, adjusting and readjusting them. That mode was so deep that I was shocked when a finger flicked my forehead. That sting made me blink rapidly. When I looked around, I was no longer in the courtyard. Instead, I was in our quarters on the bed with a bento in my lap. I looked to my left to see a very amused Murayama sitting on the bed, holding chopsticks with an open bento.
"Welcome back, Greg."
Her grin promised trouble, but my stomach rumbling made me set aside that for a bit as I started eating the bento. We ate in silence, and that grin grew bigger and bigger. I finally snarked at her as I finished the last of my bento.
"Apologies for trying to ensure a nasty tick is removed from the world."
That snark made my knight grin wider as she set down her food.
"Oh, poor you, Greg."
I set down my chopsticks and bento to get ready to snark again, only for Murayama to move at knight speed and quickly take my lap. Seeing my shock, she grinned wider and looped her arms around my neck. My body betrayed me, making Murayama giggle pervertedly before she drew me in quickly for a deep, heated kiss that I quickly returned. When we broke apart, huffing for air, Murayama drew herself closer before she whispered in my ear.
"Forget the tick for now. Tonight, my Red King, you and I will have some fun~"
The lustful look in her eyes was very sexy, and Murayama got ready for something. Just as she was about to kiss me again, there was a knock on our door. We were silent for a second before Murayama got off my lap, sitting to my left with a grouchy face. I shared the feeling and face before saying it aloud.
"Come in."
The door opened to show Suzaku in her shrine maiden outfit. She glanced at the two of us, and I could see from her apologetic face that she guessed why we were like this.
"Sorry for interrupting Alex. Would you be able to make more equipment for our people tonight? We especially need ammo packs, armor, and weapons."
It seems I was going to have another late night. I kissed Murayama as my knight sighed in disappointment before getting up from the bed and giving Suzaku a nod.
"I can, Zaku."
Suzaku let me fall into step with her as we moved away down the hall and out of the building. The evening sun shone on the compound as we stepped out from underneath the red archway outside our building and into the central courtyard. The courtyard was jam-packed with clansmen, trainees, and a massive horde of happy children being held by equally happy breeders. The crowd was watching as many of the trainees sparred with each other. The contests of strength had turned from training into a sort of game for the kids, cheering on each trainee as they dueled. Ohashi let that happen while giving advice to the duelists, along with several other older clansmen watching nearby. They were nervous, as were many of the clansmen out in the courtyard. They were watching the kids's big smiles wistfully while shifting around.
I broke from that sight and asked my cousin.
"Did you get the final count of people from today?"
Suzaku had also been looking at the scene, and my question had broken her thoughts. She nodded as we turned and started moving towards the armory.
"We just finished counting and it was sixty people today. Of those, only thirty will join us for the attack tomorrow. The others will fortify here with the rest of our forces if we are driven back from the shrine."
I mentally calculated how much energy it would take for the one hundred and twenty people there now. Suzaku and I continued moving towards the armory past several nervous clansmen who respectfully bowed to us. As we moved, I asked Suzaku while still calculating.
"Where is this shrine?"
Suzaku answered me as we passed a group of breeders watching another horde of children playing with broad smiles.
"The shrine we use for this is on the peak of Mt. Mitake."
Oh, fun, a likely uphill mountain battle. The look on my face was plain to see for Suzaku.
"It will be hard, but with the extra help and your stuff, we stand a vastly better chance than before."
Despite the reassurances, I was still worried about this as we arrived at the armory. I took a seat as the anvil appeared between us. Suzaku looked at it again in silence before her red eyes hit mine.
"The shrine on Mt Mitake is encompassed by a ward scheme powered by a special ward stone. The stone is hidden in a statue outside a building called the Treasure Hall. I believe you can do it, Alex, just like we can win tomorrow."
That made me smile slightly before I got ready to do the routine. I was expecting Suzaku to leave but was surprised when she stayed.
"Can you tell me more about your Longinus and what you have done this year, Alex?"
A smile crept across my face and set off Suzaku's own before she sat next to me on a wooden bench. The next three hours were a back-and-forth discussion of getting to know each other again. Suzaku was amused by some of the stories I shared about my peerage or the queens. In turn, I heard several funny stories from Suzaku about the other heirs. The five were extremely close friends, and by the looks Suzaku had when telling the stories, she practically regarded the others as her unofficial brothers and sister. Suzaku and I soon fell into a rhythm of exchanging stories as I worked. Only when the moon started rising over the courtyard, peeking into the room, did our bonding start winding down. Suzaku saw the time and gave me a good night hug before she walked away and closed the armory door. The new silence was soon broken as I resumed swinging. With each swing, I make or refine plans for my grandmother. The mindlessness of this quickly set in, and I was soon lost in the pattern.
The moon grew bigger through the window as grenades, power packs, melee weapons, armor and las guns came off the anvil like a waterfall. Soon, multiple piles of everything that needed to be put away surrounded me. It was only after the very last carapace set was made and put away that I stopped worrying. Then, several harsh gasps for air came before my shaking hand caught a wall. I breathed heavily for a minute before slowly walking back to my room.
It took ten minutes of slow walking to return to our room. I quietly opened the door and saw an already out-cold Murayama sprawled across our bed, snoring cutely. I slowly entered the bed and was almost immediately sleep-grabbed by Murayama. She pulled me close to her, and soon, I was a teddy bear for the sleeping chestnut. Her snores formed a lulling sleep aid that helped me fall asleep in less than two minutes.
The city of Kuoh was burning again, and the cries of its denizens were echoing for me as that and something else made tears fill my eyes. In front of me were all of the queens with blank faces and dead eyes staring at me. Behind them, standing on the steps of what had been our manor home, was a massive Xeno cyborg that was easily the size of a custodian. It was smirking wide as its green cybernetic eyes bore into mine. The smirk grew wider as it lifted two fingers. Then it snapped it, and at that moment, I heard the psychic screams of everyone on our planet echoing into the sky as the Cacodominus, in but a second, broke their minds and enslaved them to its will. Their screams stopped, and the Cacodominus smirked, showing sharp, pointed teeth, seeing my despair. It then pointed a finger at me. That action sent the blank-faced queens forward, getting weapons and spells out. All the while, their dead eyes burrowed into my own, and soon, there was the echoing sound of a series of extremely loud knocks as their feet moved.
I bolted upright in a silent scream, with sweat flowing down my body. The dark smile from that thing and the blank eyes of the queens flashed vividly for me multiple times as bile rose up my throat. I barely kept it down and fearfully looked to my right, expecting to see a face with dead eyes again. Instead, I saw Murayama snoring away in our dimly lit room. She wore a perverted sleep smile as she mumbled Kuroka's name. Hearing that made my dream fear fade away, and I wanted to laugh as that was my Mura and not the dream one.
I watched her continue snoring with that happy face as the terror from that dream seeped out of me. I only stopped watching her sleep when footsteps were heard outside our door before I started getting ready.
When I came out of the bathroom dressed, I found a drowsy Murayama rubbing her eyes on our bed. She stumbled past me into the bathroom and, five minutes later, came out dressed in a T-shirt and pants. I opened our door to find two breakfast bentos, which I picked up before setting them on the bed. As Murayama sat with me, she was surprised when I pulled her close.
"I love you, Mura."
Murayama beamed and then pulled me into a kiss that banished the last of my fears away. She and I stayed like that for a few moments before we broke apart to finish eating to pack up our stuff, just in case everything went well before we left our room to armor up. We were finishing the last of the process in our building courtyard, and just as I attached two specific pieces of gear to our mechadendrites, there was a loud and echoing clang of a gong. That sound drew us around the wall and under the red archway to see the source of the noise.
Before us, kneeling in the central courtyard in multiple rows facing a platform set in front of the slowly rising sun, were eighty clansmen dressed in white robes. The first row consisted of thirty trainees, while the other two consisted of seasoned clansmen and women. At the front of the group on the platform were the Heirs, also kneeling, this time in carapace armor. To their right were all the members of Slash Dog save Lavinia doing the same. The blonde magician was watching this in interest alongside Taira, Ichihara, Satoshi, and another group of clansmen close by. The gong rang again before the triplets in their shrine maiden outfits began walking down each row and saying a prayer for the man or woman before them. The gong chimes again as the Heirs, Slash Dog, and clansmen say as one.
"Today, I give myself wholly to the home islands. We honor you, guardians of our lines, and fight in the names of the sun and storms. To you on high and here shall we swear this oath."
The gong chimes twice more after the heirs, Slash Dog, and the clansmen repeat that oath. Then the gong rang one more as the rows rose to their feet. The heirs and Slash Dog did the same with bowed heads before all, as one bowed to the sun and the gong rang one final time. When the sound dissipated, there was silence for a second before the clansmen began moving row by row to the armory.
As the crowd slowly dispersed, Murayama and I strolled toward the platform where the heirs were talking to Slash Dog. When we were close enough, we saw Ouryuu bowing his head to the member of Slash Dog with heterochromatic eyes after she asked him something.
"I would be honored to have you join the Nakari Shingune-chan."
That brought a big smile to the young woman, who bowed in return. Genbu smiled at the other female member of Slash Dog.
"I would be honored to have you join the Doumon Natsume-chan, though I'm surprised by your choice. You and Seriyuu-kun get along so well."
The young woman blushed red before she replied with a smile.
"I have always been interested in the art and history of seals, Genbu-sama. Who better to learn that skill from than the masters of it."
That made Genbu blush equally red while getting chuckles from everyone else. Byakko and the other guy from Slash Dog eyed each other. Then, without warning, the two men grinned and jumped into the air, bumping chests and making a loud clanging sound. Byakko slapped a hand on the other guy's shoulder when they landed.
"Fuck yeah, dude, I would love to have you in the Shinra. Take that, Seriyuu!"
The glasses-wearing man shook his head, amused.
"I am quite alright being the odd one out here, Byakko. You two were practically made for each other."
That got laughs from Byakko and the other guy before Suzaku stepped in front of Tobio. She smiled, and the two intertwined hands.
"I welcome you at last into the clan, Tobio-kun. As my future husband when that day comes."
The look Suzaku sent Tobio made him blush red before it grew again when Suzaku kissed his cheek. The heirs and Slash Dog continued to talk on the platform as Tobio and Suzaku shared a smile that promised more later. The two stared at each other before they were attracted our way by the sound of clunking armored boots. I looked over my shoulder to see Issari and Akeno holding armored hands, coming across the courtyard from the red archway. The two were wearing shit-eating grins before the two came close to the left side of the platform. Suzaku saw us, as did Tobio before the two came our way with hands held tightly. As they descended the stairs, Jin emerged from the platform's shadow as a medium-sized dog walking between Tobio and Suzaku.
When the three of them reached us, Suzaku looked apologetic. She seemed to deflate as sadness overtook her.
"I would have gotten you both for the ceremony, but…"
Akeno and I smiled gently at our cousin as I put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's alright, Zaku. I'm not offended."
Akeno's violet eyes hit Suzaku's red ones.
"I'm not either. I am simply happy to have the three of us together again."
That made Suzaku smile wide before she hugged the two of us. We were like that for a few seconds before I got an idea, and my smirk appeared. When the hug broke, I held my right hand out, getting confused looks from everyone as my smirk grew.
"I'll share something that your people reminded me of. Put your right hand on mine."
Issari was the first to do so, followed by Murayama and Akeno. Suzaku looked at the display and then put her hand on ours. Tobio and Jin eyed this in confusion before Tobio did so, too. The six of us were silent before I explained.
"The thing you reminded me of is called an Oath of Moment. In this moment we share together embrace everything you feel then release it."
Suzaku and Tobio looked at the rest of us in confusion before they did as I said. There was a moment of silence before I heard a loud gasp from Suzaku and Tobio while the others let out smaller ones. The Shinto watched this in amazement as they got a power boost, and the Machine God took his share from us.
The silence continued for a moment before my eyes opened. I saw tears in Suzaku's eyes, and Tobio looked at the sky with awe.
I kept my smirk for her when Suzaku looked at our still-together hands in amazement.
"The Clans have used the Kosuke ritual for over three hundred years, yet this gave them more power in one use."
I turned a red eye to her.
"Rituals are well and good, but they can become stagnant if they only aim for one or two emotions. Add the Oath to the end of the ritual. This is my gift for they who had doubts about me for good reasons but gave me and my deity a chance. This way, they can do things a bit more easily for the people they have shown they truly care for."
Suzaku's eyes seemed to be racing as she thought over that idea before I was told by Amaterasu and the rest of the Shinto to thank you for this gift. As one, they tell me that I will always have a friend in them now. I took their thanks as Tobio looked at me in deep curiosity.
"What is the origin of this Oath? I have never heard of anything like it during my time in Grigori."
Suzaku broke from thinking as that question now echoed on everyone's faces. The sight of this display finally made Koriel grunt to me she do it after the first pull. That made my smile smirk grow.
"That is a very long story. A story that I will start telling when I make my DevilTube channel. It will be a while before the first episode and don't expect a regular upload schedule for it."
My answer made Murayama fist-pump in victory as Tobio, Issari, and Akeno looked eager for that episode. Suzaku meanwhile lit up like a Christmas tree hearing this, and she looked ready to beg me to start explaining there and then. That sight made Tobio grin wide before he glanced across the courtyard, making us look that way.
The trainees led by Ohashi were coming out of the armory. Suzaku sighed and then looked at our group.
"I'll start getting them ready. Please have our portal ready to go soon."
Tobio's eyes looked at Suzaku with love, which she quickly matched before she stepped away from us and began moving to the growing crowd of people, including Genbu, Seiryuu, Ouryuu, and Byakko. Tobio watched Suzaku go wishfully before Jin headbutted Tobio's right leg, and he sighed, too.
"I'll get my team ready and tell Taira-san she and Reni are in charge while we are away."
With that, Tobio, followed by Jin, went over to Lavinia and Taira. We were silent for a second before Akeno pulled out her phone and showed us a photo. It showed a deep green forest surrounding an uphill pathway with a single building next to it. A large clearing was close to the building, and with that picture in mind, the four of us started making the portal. It snapped open with a hiss, showing the other side as the strike force started moving through it, led by the Heirs and Slash Dog. The four of us were the last through as the portal snapped shut.
As the Heirs and Clansmen were doing final checks on equipment in the clearing, Tsuda's servo skull rose to the top of the tree line until she saw the shrine. My HUD lit up as in the small cluster of buildings up the hill, the Treasure Hall, and the Shrine, where there were multiple heat signatures. Tsuda began recording the numbers here, and it was soon apparent that we were outnumbered by over a hundred foes. There were two hundred and sixty-five people here against our ninety-three. The largest concentration of our foes was in a small cluster of hotels that were before the shrine and Treasure Hall. They were patrolling the pathway up and down inside the hamlet. The Shrine scans showed that there were three youkai inside the shrine courtyard. One was a kitsune, while the other two were unknowns standing next to them. The trio were off to one side of the temple courtyard while ten human signatures stood in a circle in the center of it.
I threw the reading onto the strike forces HUDS as Tobio and Seriyuu began laying out a plan in their vox channel. As this was happening Issari was asking me in our vox channel.
"Why didn't you teach the Oath to our people before the battle with Kokabiel?"
The strike force was divided into their respective clans, led by their heir and new Slash Dog clan member. The Heirs, as had each clansman, had painted their sacred beast onto the chest and back pieces of their armor. As they continued laying out their plan, I sighed while half-listening.
"Most of our people were still getting used to and understanding the ideas of the Cult Mechcanicum, so they wouldn't have given him the same power the Shinto got. Think of it like a hundred half-filled batteries to a hundred full ones in terms of power."
Issari humphed.
"When we get back, I will teach this to the Vanguard."
I was about to say something about that when Murayama cut me off.
"I can't wait to tell the others you and she said yes! They all promised to give me something special if I convinced you while we were away!"
The enthusiasm and lust in Murayama's voice made Akeno begin an unholy storm of fufufuing. Akeno was about to start teasing the other when Seriyuu's voice chimed over the vox.
"We will start moving into position. Ouryuu, be ready to move soon."
The four of us turned to see most of the force begin to move out of the clearing and into the forest. Meanwhile, the Nakari clansmen began moving toward the path as Ouryuu gestured for us to follow him. The four of us fell in step with him and Shingune. The group took up position at the bottom of the ramp near a red archway. As we waited for the others, I asked a question that bothered me.
"Where are all the hotel staff and tourists?"
Ouryuu's helm looked at his people trying to release their nerves then me.
"The Japanese government closes down the hotels and announces that the shrine is undergoing renovation over the weekend. A favor they have done for the clans for over eighty years. Are you sure you can break the wardstone in the Treasure House?"
I give Ouryuu a nod.
"I am sure."
Ouryuu took the nod as he gripped his naginata hard. Ten minutes later, we heard Seriyuu's voice.
"Begin."
Ouryuu slammed his spear butt on the ground twice before lowering the spearhead.
"Death to the Old Ways! For them on High and the Home Islands!"
The clansmen and Shingune took up the war cry.
"Death to the Old Ways! For them on high and the Home Islands!"
Ouryuu, with Shingune at his side, then quickly led the Nakari clansmen up the pathway, and we followed behind them. The sound of armored boots started echoing as we continued up the path. Las guns were brought up while several Nakari drew and activated their power katanas. Murayama and I drew power swords while Issari got her chainsword ready and Akeno prepared her staff. That was done just as we turned the bend in the pathway to face the hamlet. The echoing of our boots finally drew attention to us. At the top crest of the hill where the hamlet started, a group of ten clansmen led by a captain with long horns appeared and looked down the pathway at us. The group of ten froze briefly before the captain quickly drew his katana shouting.
"It's the tainted! Kill them in the name of the Home Islands!"
Guns came up, and several katanas were drawn as a volley of bullets flew down the pathway toward us. Rounds ping off armor, falling to the ground uselessly, and seeing that, the captain shouted Banzai before charging down the hill towards us with four of his men while the others were holstering their guns. One of my mechadendrites extends before I throw a knock-out grenade. The grenade lands and then explodes just as the five foes go over it. All five of them drop to the ground from the darts unconscious, and at that moment, Ouryuu gives the command to fire.
Six red lights fly up the path as five of them slam into the enemy at the top of the hill, screaming before going unconscious. The final shot went into the captain's stomach, getting a groan before he died. Shingune's hands formed a spell circle before shooting out rope that restrained the four foes on the path.
We continued past the downed foes as the group prepared to spread out. When we were about to reach the top of the pathway, Ouryuu sprinted ahead quickly and slammed his naginata butt on the ground. The sound of earth shooting up into the air is heard as we come over the crest of the hill. On the hamlet pathway, we see ten more clansmen trapped in earth cages desperately trying to break free.
The Nakari clansmen spread out across the broader pathway before las fire claimed the nine regular clansmen in the cages. They slumped to the backside of the cage, screaming while Ouryuu drove his spear through the captain's gut. The man dies before Ouryuu flexes his right thumb, and the cages fall away. Shingune does her spellwork again while Ouryuu charges forward with his people deeper into the hamlet. We followed after them, stopping at a wall close to a U-turn while Ouryuu and his people went downhill. The four of us were getting ready to move up the hill into the main part of the hamlet when Tsuda, now floating above the village, made a new scan showing me Seiryuu's and Tobio's plan.
Pushing from midway up the main pathway to the shrine in the lower part of Mitake Yama was the majority of the True Clans. They had begun their push at the same time we did and had drawn the foes in the lower part of the hamlet toward them. Ouryuu and his people were gathering behind a building halfway between the upper and lower parts of the village. I get why they did that, as the lower village fight drew foes from the upper part of the village downward, mostly along that path. However, some were taking an alternate route and heading our way.
That broke me from the view of the battlefield as I drew the plasma gun and ready my two special weapons on my mechadendrites. Issari activated her chainsword before the four of us pushed around the corner and began making our way up into the center part of the hamlet.
We were halfway up the street when the foes appeared at the top of it. The twenty men looked down on us for a second before the two captains snarled to their men to kill us. The sound of their voices made Akeno still for a second before she made lighting flow up her staff in a rage. The lightning bolt from it flew and barely missed one of the captains's heads as he dodged the bolt with it, breaking a flowerpot on one of the buildings. Akeno prepared a second bolt just as the twenty enemies returned fire with their guns. Bullets ping off us harmlessly before Murayama took point, raising her shield as we fell into a pincer formation. Two of my mechadendrites extend over the shield as the las pistols begin to fire at the foes.
My first shot hit a man in his stomach, sending him to the ground screaming before going silent. My second shot missed, making the remaining foes dive for cover in a hotel alleyway. They kept shooting at us in well-timed bursts that slowed our advance. Then Issari extended her dragon wings and kicked on her jetpack. The jets roared to life as she flew up and over the buildings and into the far side of the alley. The sound of the chainsword echoing and the shout of boost made the clansmen run back into the street, terrified, as the captain was separated from their men. Then, Akeno threw two lightning bolts while Murayama and I threw grenades into the path of the foes. The grenades drop the regular clansmen while the bolts fly into the two captains. One bolt takes off a head, with the other leaving a hole in the man's gut. The two bodies dropped with a thud as the fight ended. When we got to the top of the street, Akeno got ready to bring her staff head down on the dead captain's head in a fury just as Issari stepped out of the alleyway. Her dragon wings returned into her power armor, and she had a spell circle in her free hand.
"Senpai, remember what we talked about?"
Akeno froze upon hearing this. The staff wobbled in her arms before she brought the staff up and set its butt on the street.
"I do, Isa. I will try to control it better. These two helped him that day."
Issari nodded understandingly before finishing her spell and shot rope at the unconscious clansmen. She placed them against the building wall before she moved to Akneo's side, and the two fell back into our arrowhead formation as we continued up the street. At the top of it, the four of us soon turned right onto a small side street and then onto another longer street in the village's center. As we continued up we began to hear the sounds of gun and las fire coming from below us in the valley.
The noise grew louder before I looked at Tsuda's newest scans as she approached the peak. It showed that the True Clans were clearing the last parts of the bottom part of the village. However, they seemed to be having trouble dealing with six mini strongholds there. Despite that problem, most of their forces were moving to reinforce Ouryuu's people, who were pinned down by the reinforcements.
As we approached the top of the main street, the sounds from that fight below us got louder before Murayama and Akeno suddenly flinched in pain. The two quickly moved to the other side of the street, putting Issari and me between them. I was confused for only a second before I saw a Shinto shrine to our left. Its holy energy was leaking onto almost half of the street before I relayed to them sorry from the Shinto. That got grumbles from the two over the vox and as we turned onto the street leading up to the main shrine. We began moving up the road about halfway up when a loud, new sound came. Two things turned the top corner around the road and came barreling down towards us.
Once they saw us, the two large white vans sped up again, getting ready to ram us. As we backed up, Akeno and Issari quickly summoned two thick earth walls in front of their path. That promoted the sound of multiple tires screeching to a sudden halt, followed by a loud crashing sound as the vans hit the stone walls. There was silence for a few seconds before Tsuda did another scan, showing on the other side of the walls twenty slightly dazed Pure Clansmen led by two men from the Shingen. Issari and the others saw it, too, and got ready to fight. I looked at the twenty for a second before I told Issari and Murayama.
"Drop the walls just before we hit them. Mura, kick your servo motors into overdrive, and we will bulldoze the cars. Issari, get behind them."
Issari nodded.
"Yes, Alpha."
Then, the hint of a grin entered her voice.
"Senpai want to fly with me?"
That got a stream of fufus from Akeno.
"You know how to make a girl feel special, my Red Dragon Empress~"
That got perverted giggles from Issari before she grabbed Akeno, making her dragon wings extend and her jet pack roar. Issari lifted off into the sky before there was a deafening thud on the other side of the wall. The sound of multiple gasps and then an order to charge was heard as my servo motors and Murayama's whined for a second before the two of us charged the wall. Just as we were about to hit it, the earth walls dropped just in time for Murayama and me to slam into the vans.
The sound of metal denting was heard as we quickly pushed the vans to the sides of the road. We continued our path up the hill and began to charge towards the group of foes. The Shingen were at the back of the formation of foes going for Issari and Akeno before they turned to face us, hearing the sudden noise. My grenade arm extended along with two sword arms that hummed to life.
More clansmen turned to face us before I threw a grenade towards the group. Akeno conjured a lightning spell that she threw at the same time. The eighteen regular clansmen shrieked as they jerked from the electricity before the grenade went off. They dropped to the ground suddenly just as Murayama and I engaged the Shingen duo.
My foe screamed bring his katana down on my head.
"For the Pure!"
The blade clanged off my helmet and gave me an opening to swipe with my axe. The man dodged the swipe and tried again to decapitate me. This time a power sword moved into his path before one of my las pistols moved to the side and its power-setting hit from knock out to hot shot. I threw the man backward into the path of the pistol before I fired.
The shot went straight through his helm and exited the other side, hitting a stone wall and sending shrapnel out. His body froze before it fell forward boneless to the ground. That noise was followed a second later by a groan as Murayama's foe dropped, missing his arms. The two of us catch our breath before turning to Issari and Akeno.
While we had been fighting, the two tied up the unconscious clansmen. We levitated the clansmen to the side of the road and burned the two bodies before we moved. When we reached the incline, we turned the corner into the shade of multiple trees. It was then that a voice rang over our vox.
"Gregor-kun, Issari-chan, how far away are you from the Treasure House?"
It was Tobio, and I replied as we moved.
"Extremely close. Why?"
The vox cracked for a few seconds before Tobio's voice returned.
"When you finish that, we need Issari-chan down here in the main part of the village. The Pure Clansmen strong points here are bogging down our people."
Issari replied less than a second later.
"I'll be there to help when possible."
Tobio's voice returned.
"Rodger that. The Heirs are moving from their fights and are heading your way."
That made us pick up the pace as we moved, dodging around the Shinto shrines close to the path. Tsuda made another scan that showed sixteen figures had started moving from the inner part of the shrine toward the Treasure House, leaving only the three youkai and seven figures inside.
Our fast pace soon brought us to the top of the incline, where a large set of stairs stood. Murayama, Issari, and I took point with Akeno behind us, gathering lighting on her cog head. We continue climbing the steps toward the Treasure House before we spot the very top part of our objective. The closer we got, the clearer the statue became. It was of a man in samurai armor on a galloping horse with a katana drawn. The statue was on the left side of a two-story white building with a black rooftop.
The four of us quickly moved up the remaining stairs and over the small courtyard to the statue. To the left of us, we felt an extremely powerful ward scheme surrounding where the temple truly began. I lifted my helm visor and began to search the statue for a ward stone, stretching out my sense for it, and found the stone at the butt of the drawn sword. Just as I was gathering magic and was about to crack it, the sound of boots made us turn around. Then, we see fifteen members of the Shingen rushing down a flight of stairs to the open area in front of the Treasure House. At the back of their formation was my grandmother with her naginata drawn and her resting bitch face on full display.
The sixteen turned to face us, drawing katanas before my grandmother glared at us. There was silence before I raised my free hand and turned to face her.
"We meet again, Oba-bachan."
The sound of my voice and face made my grandmother freeze in fear. This gave me the opportunity to close my fist, breaking the stone with a loud crack. The ward scheme began to fade away, and my grandmother pointed her naginata our way, screaming.
"Kill the Yūrei and protect the home islands from its taint!"
The Shingen charged towards us with swords drawn, screaming in fury as my helm visor slammed down. Issari made her gauntlet appear before shouting boost flying towards the enemy. Murayama was just a second behind her, making her storm shield crack along with her power sword. The two began directing the Shingen away from our grandmother, who was preparing to charge me personally.
Akeno let loose her gathered lighting and shot it towards our grandmother. She dodged the bolt and it punched through a Shingen's stomach. The man toppled over just as he was about to swing against Issari's back as she dueled multiple Shingen. My plasma gun wound up as I made a shot at my grandmother with it.
The white ball missed but interpreted a kata my grandmother was about to start as she dodged. Her eyes narrowed before she started a short new kata with only three steps. Her amethyst lit up as a fireball was thrown from her naginata at me. I dodged the fireball and prepared my servo motors for a charge. My las pistols extend, and I take two shots at her. The red lights again failed to hit as another quick kata sent two potted plants into their paths, raining shrapnel around us. Akeno tried a lighting spell that threw four small-sized bolts at her in a quick session.
Each bolt missed as our foe dodged them. Then our grandmother snarled at two of the Shingen.
"Kill the Yūrei and the devil and you will forever be remembered as heroes of Japan!"
The Shingen duo turned their katanas towards us and ran screaming for the pure while my grandmother prepared to do an advanced kata. I was done with her shit and fired the plasma gun at the two. The white ball flew and hit the two men head on. They shrieked before melting into goo and the sight of that halted my grandmother's kata as she froze in fear. Despite that fear she quickly returned to moving and thus my las pistol shot missed her again.
She got ready to do another kata and it was then I struck. I kicked the motors on overdrive and ran at her with power sword arms extending. She hadn't expected that and got ready to dodge my charge. Just as she began the move I fired a las pistol shot and hit my actual target.
The shot hit the top half of the naginata and blasted off the spearhead sending wood into her armor. The spearhead fell to the ground with a clang and my charge crushed the amethyst beneath my boot. Akeno at the same time threw a wind spell that threw our grandmother to the side where she hit the bottom half of the stairway leading to the shrine. She was quickly back on her feet in a rage while drawing a katana with another amethyst near the hilt. Akeno and I faced her as I flicked the switch for my special setting on the plasma gun and was surprised when two more spirits entered it. It was Nomie and she told me she wanted to be here for this.
We faced each other and a glance toward Issari and Murayama showed they were down to five Shingen. Akeno prepared a spell before our grandmother spat at her.
"If you have any humanity left in you girl you would turn that spell on the Yūrei who threatens everyone!"
Akeno continued gathering lighting.
"I have plenty of that left in me while you have none. Alex isn't a Yūrei as I know what they feel like."
It was then I snarled at her.
"You talk of heroes yet condone sending people to kill innocent children and mothers with something that eats their organs. That is not the work of a hero."
That sent her off on a rant.
"What would an evil possessed corpse spirit know of heroes!"
She seemed ready to charge at that moment before I spat at her.
"Again hardly a corpse and the only spirit here is my own but I know it by being the one who got justice for ten thousand souls human and not. Before you stands the Chikatetsu no eiyū. The hero of the subways who despite my hybrid nature and everything you did to me still followed the idea that the Clans are supposed to represent."
My grandmother clearly didn't believe that charged towards me screaming.
"You lie! I will cleanse you Yūrei for the good of the home islands and in the name of the daughter I loved!"
She fell into a kata and it seems she had learned lessons too. It was a three step one as the amethyst lit up and holy fire ran up the blade. I got ready to take a shot with the gun and moved a power sword arm to block her attack. The blades clang and my grandmother tried two more swipes as I snarled at her that I blocked.
"The daughter you loved! You killed her! How is that love!"
Akeno shot a bolt of lightning and the strike was dodged as we pushed her towards the steps. Another kata was done this time in three steps before four holy fireballs were thrown two at me and two at Akeno. The balls were dodged and Akeno was forced down a few steps while my grandmother snarled as she swiped toward my guts.
"I loved her with all my heart as I did all my children! I saved her soul from entering the abyss all devils go to! She died being able to go to the Shinto where she would be pure again free from their taint!"
Three more swipes and two more fireballs flew towards me. Each was dodged and or blocked as I got the gun ready.
"That isn't love but rather delusion! Love is what my mother did! Despite what you did to her and me she still loved you enough to keep one of the top ten most powerful beings in reality from squashing you like a bug! She should have let them crush you a million times over! Now she and I will do that deed and remove the tumor you are from this world!"
That really pissed off my grandmother as she abandoned her katas completely now and instead was going for brute force. Her katana moved ultra fast as she made dozens of swipes at me. The clanging of blade against metal echoed loudly and she got ready to slam the blade on top of my head only for my gun to spit a ball that went for her right arm. She dodged again this time doing a back flip over my head to attack me from the rear. It was then that Akeno threw a water spell at the ground before she did an ice spell. My grandmother hit the ice and started slipping just as I again powered up the gun. I tell Nomie and Alex to get the gun ready turning to fire as the ball flew. She dodged but fucked up as the ball hit her right foot.
My grandmother screamed as the ball landed before she toppled to the ground and slid down the steps back to the open area before the Treasure House. Akeno and I turned and looked down at her.
Moving from her foot up was a white line that was eating away her body leaving behind goop. The line kept moving and she kept screaming as Akeno and I came down the steps. The pain was intense and the screams she made pleased Alex and to a lesser extent Nomie. The line started going faster as we approached, and I pulled up my visor to show my face glaring down at her. Her eyes looked up at mine in pain and a very deep fear as more of her body disappeared.
"Suffer for what you did to her, Akeno, and me you bitch."
I look up at the sky and say to the Shinto.
"I'm calling in a boon. I want her to not enter your afterlife."
Hearing that my grandmother got ready go spit at my face despite her pain and screaming only for her to scream louder when she heard them agree.
"You can't do this to me! I am a loyal servant of yours! He is a Yūrei!"
The Shinto reaffirmed my request and called me by my title making my grandmother scream even louder in fear and horror. Akeno flipped her visor up and spat down at her.
"Mom was a loyal servant of theirs. You never were you hag. Machine God and they take scum like you."
The screaming increased in volume as the line sped up again and our grandmother begged.
"Nomie, Shuri, Sakane help me! I loved you you know that! Please get me mercy!"
Nomie came out of the gun with her spirit behind me where she was joined by Shuri and Sakane. The three sisters eyed each other before they as one looked down on their mother.
"No. For our children you ruined shall you get what you finally deserve. You will not have our mercy."
The three sisters disappeared from behind me and their words to her finally broke out grandmother. She began begging for pity from the Shinto and I turned away from her as the green line was about to hit her mid chest. I walked over to where Issari was next to the statue while Murayama was finishing the burning of bodies. Akeno kneeled down and got ready to curse out our grandmother further as I approached Issari who taking out the old wardstone before she placed the new one. Once it was in she stood up and turned to face me.
"It just needs a bit of magic and then it should reconnect to the rest of the ward stones."
I give her a thankful nod before Tsuda pings and shows me that the strongholds in the village were only down by two and that five figures were moving up the hill towards us. Issari saw the strongholds too and she got ready to move to help there as she moved past me. I give Murayama a look.
"Go help them. I'll power the stone."
My knight saluted and followed after Issari. I turned back to my grandmother to see that she was almost gone. Akeno was knelt next to her and the white line was almost to our grandmother's heart before she let out one final and ultra-loud scream as the line passed her heart before she went silent. Then she dissolved into goop fully. Akeno looked at the puddle again for a second before Issari tapped her on the shoulder making look at her dragon. Akeno gave the puddle one last look before she, Issari, and Murayama began moving down the stairs.
Once they were gone I threw a water spell at the goop and cleared it away. That was not a moment too soon as less than a minute later the Heirs came up the steps with their armor covered in scratches. Their helms were off and and as the five reached the open area I powered up the ward stone. The scheme came back online and that put a wide grin on the five's faces before Ouryuu got his normal frown and turned serious.
"Follow us to the temple."
I tilted my head in confusion at the order before Suzaku answered it.
"We need you to reassure the youkai representative that this coup changes nothing and we will finish the holiday as expected of us by the Compact of Kyoto."
That got a sigh from me before I snapped my visor down and fell into step behind them. The six of us started moving up the stairs to the shrine. As we climbed the steps our footsteps echoed until we reached the doors to the shrine's outer entrance. Then Ouryuu along with Byakko pushed open the doors as the six of us entered. We continued down an ornate hallway of red and black before we reached another set of doors that were open showing us who was inside.
Inside the inner shrine courtyard standing around a big sakura tree in the shape of a star were five individuals all praying. My grandfather was dressed in a purple yukata with a katana on his hip. He was also the youngest of the clan heads as the other two men and two women all had white hair and were in their late sixties in different colored yukatas. To the left side of the five inside a half arch hallway were the youkai. Two were massive oni dressed in spiked red samurai armor carrying naginatas. The kitsune in the middle of the two made me want to do a double-take. She looked almost exactly like Yasaka almost to a t with the only difference being that their hair had some red in the gold. She was in a shrine maiden outfit of yellow- gold with nine tails behind her looking at the humans with a bored expression.
Her gold yellow eyes however caught sight of us as did the two oni. They tightened their grip on their spears while the kitsune grew curious. The gesture got the attention of the one of the clan heads. The old woman turned her head towards the temple entrance and flinched seeing us. That made the others turn to us and my grandfather growled as he rose from the ground and put a hand on his katana. The other clan heads did the same a bit slower.
The Heirs moved towards the clan heads while I moved towards the youkai. I hear katanas being drawn behind me but my face was dead set on the kitsune. The two oni got ready to spring into action before I stopped a respectful distance from the three with my helm visor looking directly at the kitsune.
"Representative as you can probably guess by now there is going to be very soon a change of leadership for the Principal Clans. The new clan heads will finish the holiday as expected of them by the Compact of Kyoto."
The kitsune's eyes locked in on my helm's visor. The sound of katanas clanging was heard and one of the oni put themselves between the kitsune and the new fight. The other lowered his spear in my direction. I glanced to the fight to see Ouryuu and Byakko fighting the old women while Seriyuu and Genbu fought the old men. Suzaku had holy flames mixing with her power katana as she fought our grandfather. The kitsune also glanced that way before she returned her gaze to me and away from the growing fight. Her tails started to uncurl and she raised a red-yellow eyebrow.
"Will they? I have been told by Himejima-sama that the Heirs have broken ranks with the Shinto and now serve a dark god."
She even sounded like Yasaka though the way she said our grandfather's title held a hint of disdain. The fighting sounds grew louder as I shrug.
"They have not broken ranks with the Shinto. I personally witnessed a Kosuke ritual dedicated to them performed early this morning."
That put a small frown on the kitsune's face while the oni facing me growled.
"He lies my lady he has the presence of an unknown deity on him and is clearly its champion. My lady step back."
The oni got ready to charge me before all of a sudden a gentle wind gust flowed over the courtyard. The kitsune's ears flicked feeling the breeze before her gold yellow eyes widened upon hearing something in the gust and pushed three of her gold tails into the path of the oni quickly. The oni blinked at the move before the kitsune again looked at me now with an unknown look.
"The Chikatetsu no eiyū speaks the truth. So says Susanoo on behalf of Amaterasu."
The oni froze and the second one turned from the battle to stare at me too. My visor never left the kitsune's face before I heard a groan from the left. We turned to see that Ouryuu had impaled the old woman he had been fighting. As he glared at her with hate as he dragon growled in fury.
"This is for what you did to Momoji hag."
The woman gurgled up blood before she went limp and Ouryuu kicked her off his naginata. The body landed with a thud before Ouryuu knelt and took the ring on her right-hand finger. Less than a second later Genbu sliced off the head of the old man she had been fighting before it hit the ground and she did the same move as Ouryuu. The next fight to end was Byakko's as he punched the woman to the ground before he activated his power fists and punched her in half. The sight of his death made the last old man left to try to run only for a wood cage to form around as Seriyuu moved to finish him. That left Suzaku and my grandfather to dual. Our grandfather was a master swordsman but his age was showing and Suzaku was fighting with a fury.
Suzaku continued her fight and seeing his allies now gone made our grandfather snarl at her.
"You're destroying almost a century of holy tradition Suzaku!"
Suzaku swiped with her katana as she replied.
"I'm destroying a century of abuse. I honor the hallowed traditions of our ancestors that didn't do that. I am bringing hope and light back to us who have been covered in the darkness you all made!"
Our grandfather caught the blade before he tried to decapitate Suzaku. That failed as she blocked the blade. The fighting between them grew faster and faster with blow after blow blocked dodged or parried. The two kept fighting as the rest of the courtyard watched on for a few more minutes before a mistake was made by our grandfather as he dodged a blow that would have taken his left leg. It was then that Suzaku made the killing blow. She made her power katana crack before she drove it at an ultra fast speed straight into his chest. Our grandfather froze before his katana dropped to the floor with a clang. He stood for only a second before he dropped to his knees and looked up at Suzaku's face. Then Suzaku said something to him before she pulled the blade out. Our grandfather was upright for five more seconds before his body dropped to the ground with a thud. Suzaku huffed for a few seconds before she knelt and took the ring on his right hand.
Suzaku then sheathed her sword and moved to her fellows. The five were silent for a few moments before they showed the sky the ring emblems. Another breeze came and the sun seemed to shine a little brighter for a moment before Ouryuu moved his hand and the five bodies were sucked up into the ground. Suzaku and the others moved into that same star shape knelt and started to pray. The kitsune, oni, and I watched that before over the vox I heard Murayama's voice.
"We are almost done down here Greg with two holdout points. The defenders of the points are being led by a member or two of the Shingen. Did the Heirs win?"
I continued watching them pray as I replied.
"Yes they did. Pass that along to Tobio and the others."
I hear a whoop of joy from Murayama before the vox falls silent and I get ready to leave. As I left the courtyard I felt the eyes of the kitsune boring into my back.
The next seven hours passed in almost a blur for me as I helped with clean up. The last stronghold in the village fell in the third hour and I learned that this one's defenders had almost entirely consisted of the Shingen before we started cleaning up and repairing any damage to the village. The casualties from the battle were only ten True Clansmen killed and twenty injured. Five of the dead were trainees and most of the injured were also them. The injured were along with the unconscious clansmen were being brought up to the front of the shrine by more True Clansmen who had arrived after the battle. The unconscious clansmen were being sorted by clan into groups to be healed by a now here Ichihara and triplets.
Soon most of the injured were back on their feet and I was helping Ichihara pop a bone back into place with the last injured trainee. I was holding the injured young man down asked my future father-in-law near the entrance to the shrine.
"Did you and Taira sell your home in Kuoh?"
Ichihara popped the bone back into place getting a yelp before he helped the man to his feet and gave the other a few pain meds.
"We did why do you ask?"
My smile smirk grew.
"I can get you both and perhaps Satoshi a free place to live in my personal city in the underworld if you want. I did tell Seriyuu that it would eventually open to humans and others."
Ichihara fell silent before he nods as he sighed.
"Taira and I burned almost all of our money and sold all of our furniture helping buy food and medicine for the True Clans. We are pretty much broke. What sort of place…."
His question was stopped when a gong rang out from inside the shrine that echoed. Then three minutes later the kitsune and her oni guards came out of the shrine and passed us. The kitsune saw me and once again her eyes bore into me before she and the oni continued past us. One of the kitsune's tails wagged and a magic portal opened before she and her guards stepped through it.
Ichihara got ready to restart his question, but I answered.
"The place is in my massive manor home I am having built there. I have an entire floor of it set aside for future in-laws to stay if they want. It is almost done."
Ichihara looked shocked before he let a small smile on his face appear.
"I see. This city of yours wouldn't need a doctor perchance, would it?"
I shrug.
"We will need many of them eventually as I have a future hospital being built there. You are welcome to be head doctor there, but it would require you to learn devil biology. We only have a single battlefield healer acting as our doctor, but I will need her help with something big soon."
Ichihara it seems also has lust for learning.
"I'll take that offer. I am a quick study, and Taira will need something to do now that this is over. She asked Genbu-sama to let her retire from active duty and it was approved. We will probably arrive sometime next week as Satoshi wants to begin his training soon thanks to you and Mura. Where would we go to get there?"
We ironed out the finer details for another minute or so before a call from one of the triplets was heard and Ichihara detached from the conversation. As he walked away his footsteps were soon replaced with others as Tobio came towards me with Jin. More footsteps this time coming from the shrine came before Suzaku and the others came out this time not in carapace but rather in their normal clothes. Tobio got his good grin for Suzaku as he moved toward her with Jin doggy grinning. Suzaku, Genbu and he began talking as Ouryuu and Seiryuu continued past us towards where the first of the defeated clansmen were starting to wake up. Byakko came towards me with his trademark happy face before he stopped close by. He then slapped me on the back with his right hand.
"If you ever need anything from the Shinra you will get it Gregor-kun with no questions asked. The same also goes for the Nakari and Kushihashi as Ouryuu and Seriyuu told me to tell you. Thanks to you we have brought a new rising sun and I nor the others will forget that."
I was about to tell him that was unnecessary before he pulled something out of his monk robes.
"When you see Tsubaki again please give her this. I want to hear and see my cousin again."
It was a letter and I took it gladly as Tsubaki had an awesome cousin.
"I'll give this to her king for her next time I see them."
Byakko kept that grin before he too went to deal with his now-waking clansmen. No sooner was he gone than Genbu approached me eagerly before she pulled a letter from her jacket pocket.
"Like what Byakko said if you ever need anything from the Doumon then its yours. Please give Vai-kun this and tell him it's from Gen. Please tell him I am eager to see him again soon."
I take the letter despite the fact that I want to stay as far away from Vali as possible.
"I'll give him this next time I see him."
I say this with the reluctance well hidden. This made Genbu ultra happy, and she practically skipped over to her group of waking clansmen. I held the two letters for a few seconds before I place them in a pocket spell. No sooner was that done than Suzaku and Tobio came my way holding each other's hands with Jin under them. When they stopped in front of me, I flip my helm visor up and Suzaku got her smile.
"We can never thank you enough for your help, Alex. I know you are an Astaroth first and foremost but as of this moment I reinstate you as a Himejima along with Akeno. Should you ever need the Himejima's help you will have us by your side."
I shrug at this.
"I appreciate it Zaku but what I really want is an invitation to the wedding when it happens."
That got blushes from the two before Suzaku nodded. Tobio continued grinning before it diminished a little.
"I know that this might be a big favor to ask but may we keep some of your equipment? Especially the guns."
The question made me sigh.
"You can keep the katanas, naginatas and armor but I need the guns back for my own people. Why are you asking for them?"
Suzaku and Tobio looked both relieved and disappointed. I catch their eyes going to where Ohashi is being talked to by Genbu in front of her waking up clansmen who are seeing her ring. The man has a shocked face, and Suzaku had her eyes return to mine.
"The Shingen has been completely wiped-out Alex. The last of them were here today. We were hoping and planning to use your equipment to help in rebuilding them. The guns especially would help cut down some of the time needed for their training."
That news made me think quickly before I said with a sigh.
"You can keep a hundred guns and all the power packs you have now. The rest I need back. When my forges are made, we can sit down and talk about a deal to make sure that you get more gear."
That got two sighs of relief from the two before Suzaku smiled.
"We appreciate it, Alex."
Tobio nodded too as he squeezed Suzaku's hand hard.
"I will be the one overseeing Ohashi who will be the new commander of the Shingen, and I will personally make sure the guns are kept track of."
Knowing that settled down some of my doubts about the guns. Suzaku then got a hopeful look.
"When I have free time Alex, I would like to visit you in Kuoh. I want to meet the rest of your peerage and get to know your two betrothed."
Her saying that made my mind go to the queens. The last four days of missing them hit all at once before a smile crossed my face.
"We would love to have you over. Just contact me through the Noosphere as our place is under heavy wards for obvious reasons."
Suzaku grinned seeing something on my face.
"I will Alex. We will try not to keep you here much longer as I can see you eager to go home. Tobio-kun please start getting the guns."
I gave Tobio a digital holder and after asking what it was and how to use it, he went off with Jin following him. Suzaku looked ready to stay with me longer, but a glance showed her clansmen were starting to wake up. She and I slowly began moving that way and I stopped at the entrance to the treasure house. My gaze from the scene when the clambering of footsteps was heard and Issari along with Murayama were coming my way with a grinning Lavinia. When the three reached me Issari shouted in her knucklehead way in joy.
"Gregor-kun guess what!"
Lavinia was wearing a wide smile, and I think I know what my best friend had done by the twinkle in Lavinia's icy blue eyes. I played dumb letting Issari pout for a second before she then fist-pumped.
"I convinced Lavinia-chan to join Ravel-chan's new guild!"
Lavinia let out a laugh of mirth.
"Since Slash Dog is all but officially disbanded now I need something new to do. Your bishop's goal is an admirable one and I would be happy to help get the guild off the ground and if she will have me stay with the guild. I can also help it get some contacts with the other major guilds and the suppliers they use."
I let a massive smile appear on my face.
"She would appreciate this beyond words Lavinia-san and would be overjoyed to have you in her future guild. She and my other bishop are using an old library inside our main base and have been collecting magic books for it slowly. Are you going to be coming with us or arriving later?"
Lavinia smiled her twinkling smile. Her blue eyes hit where the rest of Slash Dog save Tobio was gathered talking near the treasure house statue excitedly.
"Just Lavinia Heir Astaroth. As for your question I'll be arriving sometime Thursday next week. I want to say goodbye to the others and Tobi."
I smiled and shrugged.
"There is no rush. She is a very hard admirer of yours so don't be put off if she fangirls over you."
Lavinia smiled wider than ever before.
"That will be a very refreshing change of pace. Usually, I am told that I am breaking established procedures and the only way of doing something. Having somewhere that is like that should be interesting."
Lavinia had a deep look of frustration across her face about to say more when someone from Slash Dog called out to her. She gave me a hint of an apology before she went off to join them. Issari who had been bouncing up and down in excitement during this.
"Thank you, Issari-chan Ravel will very much appreciate this. Tell me what you want for this and I'll get it for you. Where is your senpai?"
Issari grinned wide and shrugged.
"What I want is us to get back home as quickly as possible. I told my folks me and senpai were going to enjoy ourselves in Tokyo but be back by Sunday afternoon. As for senpai she's helping Tobio-kun with something. We were going up the hill when he met us and pulled her away."
Murayama who had snaked her arm around my right one chimes in with a lustful smile.
"I want to tell the others you said yes and get my reward! Did you give Mom and Dad the offer?"
I tighten my grip on her arm.
"I did and they said yes. I'm eager to see the others too. I have missed them."
Murayama nodded agreeing with that and the three of us settled into talking excitedly ad the sun started setting. We waited for almost an hour for Tobio and during that time I saw firsthand how right Suzaku had been about the conditioning to the rings. The defeated clansmen once they were all awake and saw them had accepted Suzaku and the others orders without hesitation. They did glance at the now very clear seconds of their new clan heads in Shinguen, Natsume and the dude from Slash Dog but it was never hostile. The groups had started departing and soon it was just Suzaku with four of her clansmen, Issari, Murayama and I outside the treasure house. The hour was almost over when Akeno, Tobio and Jin came climbing up the stairs with the digital holder. Tobio handed it to me with a big smile. I take them and smiled back before putting the keychain in my pocket as the five of us moved to where Suzaku was with her people.
Two of the clansmen were from the defeated and flinched when Tobio and Jin moved to Suzaku's side before their eyes fell on the ring. That made them relax slightly along with the look the other two clansmen wearing carapace sent them. Suzaku stepped forward to us and then pulled Akeno and I into one last deep hug which we returned. Its in that hug that she whispered to us.
"I will miss you both. Please stay in contact with me."
Akeno with her teasing self out in full force replied.
"We will and we most definitely have to schedule a time for us to have a few rocket ship sessions. They are long overdue after all."
Suzaku started giggling and my snark creeps in.
"Oh most definitely. I'll try not to crush your back given I have put on a hundred pounds or so Keno."
That got Suzaku laughing a belly laugh with Akeno and me joining her. The three of us stayed together for a few more moments before we broke apart. Suzaku returned to her people and intertwined her hand with the ring on it with Tobio's before the six of them began to leave. We watched them disappear into the growing darkness before Issari opened a portal for us to home.
We landed on the grounds of our main base and the four of us quickly got out of armor before storing it away and entering the building. As we walked through the halls passing a few Skitarii who waved or greeted me which I returned as my excitement to see the others increased. When we passed the gym there was a loud squeal as out came a happy Katase who pulled her friend into a hug. The two began talking quickly pulling in Issari and Akeno and I was told by Murayama that she would meet me at the armory in five minutes. That allowed me to slip away for to pickup E-1 for transfer to the manor tomorrow. E-1 glared at me with his good eye, and I cheekily waved at him before I stuffed him in a pocket spell.
True to her word Murayama was at the armory still talking with Katase, Akeno and Issari. I interrupted the conversation for a second to tell Issari I would like to speak to Asia tomorrow. That got a shrug before my best friend broke off from the conversation dragging Akeno to the teleporter. Katase gave Murayama quick hug before she too left. Then Murayama and I went to work placing the hundred or so las guns away in the armory. It was just as we were leaving the armory that we were met by Paula who was waiting outside.
"I see the others were right. Your back."
I rolled my eyes amused, but I could feel exhaustion starting to creep in.
"I am. As much as I would like to chat Paula, I am tired and have been missing people."
Paula wasn't offended and even let out a small chuckle.
"I can hear it I'll drop by tomorrow morning and bug you then. Have a good night, sir."
She stepped aside letting us go and I tell her while looking over my shoulder.
"You too Paula."
I turned my eyes back to Murayama who was starting to lean on me and saw she was also excited yet tired. The two of us continued to the teleporter before the two of us hit the pad and entered the wine room.
The excitement I felt grew as I gripped the doorknob and turned it. The door opens and just as I hoped on the other side of it was the queens who were waiting anxiously. They were shifting around nervously and only stopped when the door was completely opened showing Murayama and myself. There was silence for only a moment before the six of them charged me screaming in joy.
"Greg!"
The six of them slammed into me sending me to the floor in a dog pile of happy people. I land on my ass with an oof before their arms came around me in a deep hug as a stream of kisses came. I take them all feeling their worry and excitement. I returned the kisses with each of them while Kuroka and Shirone were purring extremely loudly. Murayama who was standing let out a tired chuckle before she joined us by taking a seat on the floor to join the cuddle.
Their hugs and stream of questions were returned eagerly as I was helped up off the floor. I was beyond happy and as I looked at their extremely happy faces though something ruined that moment. It was a flash of the dream of that smile from the bastard Cacodominus as he stood above us now. His smile lingered in my mind's eye and grew even brighter as I remembered it. The dream replayed for me and his smile made me begin making a new plan. I would prevent that future or the dozens of others I have dreamed of from happening. I began making Plan MD.
As she lay with the others that night the words that the bitch had said to her as she was disappearing echoed again. She had been considering them since and was filled with doubts before she remembered the taunts she had received ten years ago from her grandfather. The fact that they had been extremely wrong, and the words of her cousin again flashed making her curl up a fist and then throw the doubts away. The bitch was wrong. She had to be. He was exactly the same and had that which she claimed he didn't. She put the words out of her mind then curled up with her dragon and others extremely happy to be home. Yet despite this all an extremely small seed was planted.
That night under a moonlight sky a person sat under a tree next to a koi pond under a sakura tree. They were in deep contemplation of what they had learned today. As they thought harder and harder on this revelation the moon suddenly grew brighter and brighter making the person perk their ears. She looked up at it. They continued perking them for another few hours as the moon gazed down on them.
A figure stopped in the shade of a rocky outcropping in a desert as the crossroads drew closer as a choice was made. The sun was setting over the desert and a cold night was approaching. The traveler looked again. The junction splits were now almost completely visible to her. The person she sought was walking in the middle of a line of fate.
At the junction one line led to eternal darkness overlooked by a pitch black and cruelly jagged crown. There he would be the first one come again and then horrifyingly worse. He would never stop growing in power there till he reached the long-feared goal.
That second line the traveler saw was one of eternal light overlooked by a cog of pure red. It would be everything that she and the others fought for finally made real after so long of trying. Yet something there made them freeze and then grow angry.
It would change her destiny forever. She got ready to abandon this trek consequences be damned then shame hit her hard. The One Left had also made a decision that had shaped their destiny forever. How could she and the rest not follow Them Gone and the One Left in making sacrifices like they did? How could she ever live with herself if she ran back denying what they stood for? That shame was worse than her possible fate. Thus the traveler moved to a cave that would be her temporary home for a while to meditate.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder