KRC: Just need to remind the readers that this Romance in the Shoku Kingdom takes place between the time Nagata recovered and the Harvest Festival. That is where it fits. How, without further ado, let's begin Nagata's romantic journey. Let's hope he doesn't screw this up.

Sangokuden AWG Saga Side Story: Romance in the Shoku Kingdom

Co-Written By: Kamen Rider Chrome and Ten-Faced Paladin

Beta Reader/Editor: Busterleader92

Heart 1: The Harem Bomb Drops

Nagata was still resting in bed with his health steadily improving, according to Kada. With his friends handling things while he was recovering, he was able to enjoy his R&R peacefully. There was also the added bonus of the girls tending to his every need while dressed as maids. He secretly had a thing for maids and seeing the girls dressed like maids while looking after him was a secret fantasy of his.

It was also a guilty pleasure.

Still, Nagata had a lot of questions about his experience while in his coma. He still remembered his dream, of his secret desire for a happy and peaceful life. Being able to see his birth parents again was nice even if it had been a dream. However, he felt like he was forgetting something important, but trying to force himself to remember just made his head hurt.

He was also trying to wrap his head around the idea that he had been on the battlefield and here in bed at the same time. Astral projection, perhaps? The question was how? Had he just responded to their desires and his spirit came to their aid? That just sounded ridiculous, or perhaps it had been a miracle. Whatever he might call it, he was glad to be able to save his friends. He just wished he had been there sooner to save everyone else.

And then there was this thing, the Ryujin Key. He examined the mystical item which he had acquired. It was unlike anything he had seen before. It wasn't a Lockseed but it did allow him to summon his Celestial Armor, aka his Ryujin Arms. Perhaps this key was a forged from his strong desire and the Seal of Heaven's power helped make it possible.

Speaking of the Seal of Heaven, Nagata was gravely concerned. It was now in the hands of the RinJyuKen, and there was no telling what they would use it for. After seeing what it could do, and experiencing its power for himself, the most likely conclusion was that they would use it to enhance themselves. But what next? What would they do with all that amplified power?

'Something evil, no doubt,' he thought. The RinJyuKen Akugata needed the Seal of Heaven for something. Whatever it was, he didn't know, but it could not be anything good if past experience had taught him anything. He would need to be prepared for anything, and he would use the Ryujin Key's power to save everyone.

The door opened and Kanu came in, carrying a tray. On the tray were a cup of tea and a bowl with some steam wafting off the top. Nagata could smell it from where he was. It was porridge.

"Nagata-sama, I've brought you some rice porridge," she said as she approached the bed.

"Thank you, Aisha," Nagata replied. He admired her in the maid uniform. He had seen her dressed like that while working as a waitress, and she still looked good dressed like that.

Kanu placed the tray down on the bedside table and then sat down on the bed with Nagata.

"How are you feeling, Nagata-sama?" she asked.

"Good, Aisha. With all of you looking after me, I should be back to 100 percent in no time," Nagata answered.

"I'm glad to hear that," Kanu smiled. Nagata's fingers clenched the sheet. He really couldn't resist his urges, not when Kanu was dressed like that. He put an arm around her and pulled her in for a kiss. Kanu, while startled, did not resist as she returned the kiss. They savored the moment as their mouths opened and they continued to kiss.

Nagata couldn't resist his urges any further and pulled Kanu into bed with him. She gasped as he rolled over and pinned her down, gazing deeply into her eyes.

"Nagata-sama!?" Kanu cried.

"I'm sorry, Aisha, but that outfit looks really good on you," he said, smiling lustfully. Kanu blushed as he leaned in close to kiss her neck, causing her to gasp.

"Na-Na-Nagata-sama!" she cried, but she didn't push him away or stop him. Nagata stopped to look up at her. "I didn't ask you to stop."

Nagata smiled before kissing her deeply while pulling her top open to reveal her bra. He then bunched up her skirt so he could run his hands up and down her legs. His officers had such lovely legs and their short skirts let him enjoy the sight.

"Aisha, is it okay if we...you know?" Nagata asked.

"Currently, my duties include helping you feel better. If doing this helps you to feel better, then I must do my duty," she told him, smiling, as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Trust me. This is going to make us both feel really good," he smiled back.

Two hours later, Kanu left Nagata's bedroom. She adjusted her uniform and fixed her hair before closing the door. There was a fresh flush on her cheeks as she went on to perform her duties. Still, she lingered at the door.

Some time ago, she and her sisters-in-arms discussed the possibility of sharing Nagata. Part of Kanu, a selfish side, was reluctant. She really wanted Nagata all to herself. However, that just wasn't fair for the other girls who had developed feelings for him. So, they agreed to share him, only Nagata had yet to learn about this arrangement and Kanu wasn't sure how she would break the news to him.

They couldn't put this off any longer. He was going to have to know sooner or later. They would have to wait once he had fully recovered.

Once Nagata was all better and could resume his duties, he assembled everyone in the Round Table room.

Nagata started, "Alright, now that I'm all better, time for me to get back to work. There's a lot of preparation that needs to be done for the Harvest Festival and we need to work hard so everyone can enjoy it."

"Actually, Nagata-sama, there's something we need to speak to you about," Kanu requested.

"Oh, what did you want to talk about?" Nagata asked, giving Kanu her undivided attention. He noticed how close she was sitting with Ryuubi, Chou'un, Bacho and Ryofu.

"We actually need to confess something," admitted Touka. She took in a deep breath. "Wo ai ni, Nagata-sama."

Nagata was taken aback by the confession. "Touka...?"

"I love you too," Chou'un admitted without shame. "I know I tease you a lot, but that's only because I like you."

"M-me too!" Bacho confessed, blushing bright red as she fidgeted under his gaze.

Nagata's gaze met Ryofu's and he asked, "You too, Ren?"

Ryofu nodded, giving him a small smile with a bit of blush on her cheeks. "I love you too."

"And we've decided that instead of fighting over you, we should share you," Kanu answered.

Nagata felt emotionally overwhelmed by this. He was prepared for anything, anything at all, but not this. He could handle paperwork, he could handle a battle, hell he could even handle babysitting. But this...this was just...too much for him right now.

He started to feel dizzy and lightheaded. The room was spinning and his vision was getting blurry. And then finally, he fainted.

THUD!

The room immediately erupted into chaos as soon as Nagata passed out and fell right off his chair.

"Ah, Nagata-sama!"

"What happened!?"

"He just fainted!"

"Quick, get Kada-sensei! Ren, what are you doing!?"

"He needs a lap pillow."

"No fair! I was gonna do it!"

"Aneue, now's not the time to be fighting over something so silly!"

As the girls panicked while Nagata lay unconscious, Iori and Kochu just watched in amusement while Chouhi and Riri poked at Nagata's cheeks to wake him up.

Karasu, however, was not amused.

'He's mine! He's mine! He's mine! He's mine! Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine! MINEMINEMINEMINEMINEMINEMINEMINE!'

Eventually, Nagata regained consciousness. He thought the confessions he got were all part of a dream. But it turned out they weren't. It wasn't a dream. It was all real.

The girls sat him back down and calmly explained what was going on. They didn't want him to freak out again. They explained how they had developed feelings for him and decided that there was only one solution.

"So, after some deliberating, we all decided to share you," Kanu concluded.

Nagata's reaction was very loud and not wholly unexpected.

"WHAT!?" Nagata yelled from his seat.

"We all agreed to share you," Kanu repeated. She was referring to herself, Ryuubi, Chou'un, Bacho and Ryofu.

"Wait, what? How did this-when did this-where was I when this decision was made?" Nagata stammered, unable to string together a coherent sentence.

"We were going to tell you, Nagata-sama, but then Braco put you in a coma and we were so busy with the Harvest Festival preparation that we couldn't tell you until now," Ryuubi answered.

"But if you're worried about whom you'll sleep with each night, don't worry. We prepared a schedule," said Chou'un.

Bacho added, "I just want to say that this wasn't my idea..."

"But you still agreed," Chou'un reminded.

"...Yes."

"Ren?" Nagata asked hopefully.

"I want to share with my friends," was her simple reply.

Nagata sat silently in his chair. This was huge, very huge. Harems were just a fantasy, right? But then again, he was in an age where emperors had harems of wives, mistresses, and concubines. He just never thought it would happen to him of all people.

"Girls, excuse me," he said as he stood up. "I just...I just need time to process this..."

As Karasu watched him go, she continued to scream in her head, 'He's mine! He's mine! He's mine! He's mine! Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine! MINEMINEMINEMINEMINEMINEMINEMINE!'

She was already plotting their imminent demise.

"This has never happened to me before..." Nagata sighed as he sat in his office. He needed privacy, he needed to be alone, but he also needed to confide in someone.

He heard a knock at the door.

"I'm busy!" Nagata yelled.

The door opened anyway and Iori walked in. "Hey, Nagata."

Nagata glared. "I told you I was busy."

"No, you're not," Iori countered.

"You're...you're right..." Nagata conceded with a sigh. "I'm just trying to wrap my head around all this."

"It was quite unexpected," Iori agreed.

"They all love me," Nagata realized. "Aisha, Touka, Sei, Sui, and Ren are all in love with me and they agreed to share. How did this happen without me realizing it?"

"I don't know, but it looks to me that you just unlocked your harem route," Iori joked.

"But how!? It wasn't like I was looking to build a harem!" Nagata exclaimed. "This...this is just...Ugh, I don't know what to think!"

"To be honest, it's kind of expected," Iori remarked.

"How can you say that?" the Blue King stared at the Demon Dragon in shock.

"Well, you've got pretty good qualities that they find attractive, and they actually like you and it's not because you're an Armored War God. Unlike those gold diggers who want to marry you for your fame and fortune, these girls have truly fallen in love with you," Iori explained.

"Sounds like a plot from a cheesy harem anime," Nagata groaned.

"Are you really so against it?" Iori asked.

"Well...I'm not completely against it..." Nagata admitted. "Not really. It's just that...It's just that I don't know if I can accept their feelings when I have Aisha as my girlfriend."

"But isn't Aisha supporting this?" Iori reminded.

"Yeah, but that doesn't stop this from being weird. I never thought about having more than one girlfriend before," Nagata admitted.

"Weren't you ever interested in other girls?" Iori asked curiously.

"Sure I was. I mean, ever since I started noticing girls, as in really noticed them. I've had crushes and I've had girls interested in me," Nagata replied. "But they never really worked out."

"How come?"

"I don't know. I just keep getting rejected or the girls always looked so terrified, like dating me would be the worst thing ever," Nagata sighed.

"Must be rough to be rejected like that," Iori sympathized.

"Yes, but thankfully Kara-chan was always there for me to offer some comfort," Nagata smiled.

Iori blinked. "So every time you got rejected, she was always there to offer you a shoulder to cry on?"

"Yeah, she's always been there when I needed her."

"I see..." Iori frowned thoughtfully.

"I guess I'm just scared. I'm afraid I might mess up somehow and break their hearts," concluded Nagata. "So what should I do about this?"

"Honestly, you should just accept their feelings," Iori advised.

"Just like that?" Nagata blinked.

"It's obvious that they've been thinking hard about this. Aisha already agreed she would share you with them, and it looks like they are all in agreement, so I don't see much of a problem. Besides, as the 'Seiryuoh', you're expected to have a harem." Iori grinned.

"Ugh, not this again..." Nagata groaned.

"It's a common practice in this day and age for nobles to have mistresses and concubines, even having multiple wives, my friend. Besides, you can't say that you don't have any feelings for the others, can you?"

"...No,' Nagata admitted with great reluctance.

"Aisha seems to be open to the idea so it won't be like you're cheating on her. Besides, we've all adapted. Look at this idea as just being another step. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have something to attend to."

"Wait, how am I supposed to do this?" Nagata asked before Iori could leave.

"Why not take each of them on a date?" Iori suggested.

"Dates...with all five of them...?" Nagata groaned as he sank deeper into his chair. "When did my life turn into a romantic harem comedy?"

"It probably started when you first kissed Aisha," quipped Iori. "Thank Heavens I'm married. I don't have to deal with this kind of thing."

"You sound like an old man, Iori," Nagata commented.

"That just makes me sound wise and mature. Oh, and word of advice: don't try and schedule your dates at the same time. I saw it on TV once and it ended in disaster."

"Right, that means I gotta plan out the activities carefully. Good thing we're having the Harvest Festival soon. We've got a ton of things to do."

"Just don't overdo it. There's such a thing as being too prepared," Iori warned. "And, if all else fails, just have an orgy."

"...An orgy?" Nagata questioned. "Iori, sometimes I can't tell if you're joking or being serious."

"Who says I'm joking? Orgies can be a great bonding experience. Nothing shows closeness like some intense intimacy and skinship. Just don't dive straight into them if you're not ready. Maybe start with a threesome and work your way up from there. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's something I need to check out."

As Iori was leaving the office, Nagata called out to him, "Well, I'm not going to have an orgy! No, nope, not me! I wouldn't know where to begin! Positively, definitely, not trying to start an orgy...no way..."

Nagata didn't know where he was. It was a tunnel with colorful sheer curtains hanging down around him. Under his feet was a soft and beautifully patterned carpet. He didn't have a choice but to follow the only path he had laid out for him.

At the very end of the tunnel, he pushed past the final curtain and stopped to gaze in amazement. He was in a huge chamber that was decorated in an alluring and sensual manner. It was dimly lit with lanterns and a strange yet comforting aroma filled the space. His eyes, of course, were more focused on what laid before him in the center of the room.

It was a nest of colorful pillows that were arranged together to form a makeshift bed. On the pillows lay his vassals but they were not dressed for business.

They were dressed for pleasure.

They wore matching harem girl outfits consisting of bikinis and sheer harem pants with veils covering the lower half of their faces. Kanu wore green while her sworn sister Ryuubi wore pink. Chou'un was dressed in white as Bacho was clad in blue. Finally, Ryofu was dressed in black and white. The girls wore accessories with their outfits. They wore earrings and necklaces, with gold bracelets around their wrists. They weren't wearing shoes. They had no need for them here.

The girls were looking at him expectantly with half-lidded eyes. Chou'un was beckoning him over with her finger and he could see Ryofu licking her lips under her see-through veil. It was like she was looking at him like he was some kind of tasty treat.

In the blink of an eye, Kanu and Ryuubi flanked him and helped him out of his coat before taking his arms, urging him over to the nest of pillows while whispering sweet nothings into his ear. They were promising him endless pleasure and he couldn't refuse nor resist, not when they were dressed like that. They just looked so enticing.

The two sworn sisters pushed him onto the pillows and the girls crawled all over him. They rubbed their hands over his body and rained kisses all over him. Ryuubi crawled on top of him and straddled him.

"Hope you like your surprise," she seductively spoke. She slowly undid his shirt and tossed it aside, rubbing her hands on his shoulders before leaning down and brushing up her covered lips over his.

He didn't protest and obliged them...repeatedly.

Bow-Chicka-Bow-Wow~

Nagata woke up from the dream, feeling flushed. He was drenched in sweat and he was pitching a tent.

"Seriously...again?"

He had been having similar dreams for several nights now with only subtle differences. The outfits and settings would always be different: school swimsuits in a locker room, playboy bunnies at his birthday, and catgirls in his bedroom. The girls would be dressed in different sexy costumes each time and each dream would involve vivid sexual acts.

It was getting hard for him to wake up and look them in the face without remembering his sexy dreams.

"OK, so I've got five girls to ask out on dates and they each need to be special." He blinked. "Wait, I also promised I'd spend time with Kara-chan and Rinrin." He scratched his head in frustration. "Ugh, this is giving me a headache! They never taught you how to date more than one girl at a time! Why didn't I play those dating sims when I had the chance? What am I gonna do? I need advice!" A lightbulb lit up in his head. "I got it!"

This whole harem arrangement was confusing him. He needed advice.

He decided to go speak with someone who knew how to handle this sort of thing.

He needed to go to Sou Gi.

"Bonjour, mon ami! When told I had a visitor, I had not expected it to be you, Monsieur Oda!" Marcus smiled jubilantly.

"Hey, Marcus. How have you been?" Nagata greeted politely. He had come over for a visit and was sitting with the flamboyant young man at a table. If there was anyone who could help him with his dilemma, it was Marcus Date, aka Bravo the Armored War God of Passionate Fury.

Marcus was an artist and the manager of the Chou Sisters, working hard to promote them. Members of the Chou Sisters' fan club also worked hard by selling merchandise. Part of the money they earned went towards funding the Chou Sisters. The rest went to Sousou's treasury. Fortunately, their fans were very generous with their copper pieces. Marcus' own paintings, which depicted the Chou Sisters gloriously, were also a popular item. They weren't exactly cheap, but plenty of fans were willing to pay a lot just to own an original piece by Marcus.

"Well, if you must know, the girls and I are doing fine. C'est magnifique in fact. So, what brings you here seeking moi?"

"Actually, I was hoping if I could talk to you and maybe ask for some advice."

"Pardon? Advice from moi? What seems to be troubling you, mon ami?"

"Well, you're kinda like the only guy who can help me since you're the only one who's experienced with something like this," explained Nagata. He was a bit embarrassed to share something private like this, but he needed advice and needed it badly.

"Pardon?"

"I just found out I had a harem," Nagata confessed.

"Really now? A harem? And how could you just find out about this?" Marcus questioned, interested.

"The girls just confessed to me without warning. What's even more shocking is that they're willing to share me," Nagata answered. "And then Aisha just tells me she's OK with it. I couldn't believe she was alright with me having an actual harem."

"Truly, women are mysterious creatures. But from what I sense from you, this is quite the dilemma, is it not? Tell me, Monsieur Oda, How do you feel about these girls?"

"Well, I care about them all very much. They've always been there for me, even when I'm at my lowest." The girls had looked after him while he was in a coma, and he was touched by their loyalty.

"So why is it so difficult to return the affection they so freely give you?" Marcus inquired.

"It's just that...I'm already in a relationship. I mean...Aisha's been my girlfriend since we confessed to each other, and I thought it would just be the two of us. Then the girls decided to drop this bomb on me, and I don't know how to handle it. If I accept, it feels like I'm cheating on her," Nagata admitted.

"Ah, now I understand," Marcus nodded.

"Yeah, so how do you handle having four girlfriends at once, Marcus? I'm sure it must be a challenge."

"Oui, it is, but the five of us manage to work something out. Truly, it is hard work. I need to consider the emotional needs of four distinct women, but if you have a heart big enough to love them and embrace their love in return, then everything just falls right into place," Marcus answered.

"Is that really it?" Nagata asked.

"Oui, did you expect it to be complicated?"

"And what if this is actually some kind of test for my fidelity? What then?"

"Monsieur Oda, you need to stop overthinking this. These magnifique girls have given you their hearts. The least you can do is to give them yours in return," Marcus strongly urged him.

"But-!"

"Non!" Marcus interrupted. "You need to stop thinking with this," Marcus said as he pointed to his temple, "And start thinking with this." He put a hand on his heart.

"Can it really be that simple?" Nagata asked with some doubt.

"Non, non, non. It may sound simple, mon ami, but any romantic endeavor takes effort, especially one that is polyamorous in nature. Anything worth doing is worth doing right," Marcus winked.

"That's true," Nagata agreed with a nod.

"Oui, and so rewarding! I mean the sex is tres magnifique! Have you ever made love to four women at once? Truly, it is a heavenly experience! It will blow your mind! And a few other things too." Marcus punctuated with two winks.

"A bit too much information there, buddy," Nagata grimaced awkwardly. "But I see your point."

"Oui, I only speak from the heart. Anyway, it is fortunate you came. I was hoping I could speak to you as well. I've heard that you will be holding a Harvest Festival soon," Marcus stated.

"Yeah, it's just around the corner," Nagata replied.

"Would it be too much for me to ask if the Chou Sisters could perform at your Harvest Festival?" Marcus inquired.

"I'm sure they can. In fact, I bet Touka would love to have them there," Nagata answered.

"Excellent! Excellent! My lovely songbirds will be happy to perform at your festival! Merci beaucoup."

"You're welcome."

"Anyway, while you're here, could I also interest you in some merchandise?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"You're sure? I have some new paintings that would look lovely in your abode."

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Then how about if I have merchandise sold at the festival then?"

"That can be arranged."

"Merci."

"You're welcome. This was a good talk."

"Always happy to help a friend, mon ami. But before you go, let me give you a word of advice."

"Go ahead."

"Take care of them like they take care of you. Embrace their love with all of yours. After all, it is love that makes the world go round and it is what truly makes life so worth living."

"Thanks, Marcus. That's really beautiful."

"Oui, I know. Now go and make them happy! Go! Go!" Marcus politely shooed Nagata away.

Later, Marcus informed the Chou Sisters that they would be performing at Shoku's Harvest Festival in Touka Village. So happy, the sisters each showered him with kisses, which he happily accepted.

After informing the Chou Sisters, he assembled the Yellow Turbans to give them the same news. While they were soldiers under his command, they were also fans of the Chou Sisters first and foremost. He told them that they were going to have a show in Touka Village, so they would need to prepare the props and materials to build the stage once they arrived there. They also needed to prepare the merchandise that they would sell. And as fans, the Yellow Turbans feared to disappoint their idols. So, without any argument, they set to work with preparing everything. Marcus wanted everything to be perfect.

Before his arrival, the Chou Sisters had to schedule their own shows and prepare their own props. Now, with him and the Yellow Turbans helping them, the girls could focus on their practice. They still wrote their own songs and did their own choreography, but Marcus would still help them.

He also told Chouryou Bun'en that they would be going to Touka Village. The female warrior was so happy that she hugged him. The visit gave her a chance to meet her idol Kanu once more, maybe even get herself a sparring match or two with the legendary Black-Haired Warrior Goddess.

Truly, Marcus had a really busy day and he would have more busy days ahead of him as he helped the Chou Sisters prepare for their next show.

As he entered his personal bedroom to rest after a hard day's work, he was surprised to see that he wasn't alone. Lying on the bed in provocative poses and scantily dressed were Chouryou Bun'en, Chokaku, Choho, and Choryo. Chouryou even had her hair down, making her look even more alluring.

"Good evening, Marcus-kun," Chokaku purred, giving him a sultry look with bedroom eyes.

"Well, well, well. What's the occasion, ladies?" Marcus asked.

"Oh, you know. Just happy that you got us another gig," said Choho with a sweet smile.

"We wanted to reward you," added Choryo in her usual monotone.

"Yeah, so get your sexy ass over here!" Chouryou demanded roughly. The Chou Sisters could be subtle, but Chouryou was a straightforward type of girl. That was an attractive quality in Marcus' book.

Marcus smiled as he walked over to the bed and removed his shirt. Once he was within reach, the girls grabbed him and pulled him onto the bed. He lay on his back, looking up at the girls. He was at their mercy as they leered at him like a delicious piece of meat. He was utterly helpless as the girls began to touch him.

"Alright, so who wants to go first?" he challenged as he surrendered himself to them.

It was going to be a long night, but it would be a really, really good night for all of them. It was a good thing he had some stamina-increasing tea ready on hand.

He was going to need it.

"TRES BI~EN~!"

KRC: And so begins this little sweet side story arc I'd like to call "Romance in the Shoku Kingdom". I actually never thought to write a romance side story. I thought I could fit it into the main story, but then there was so much happening there. Anyway, this side story serves as a way to explore Nagata's new relationship with the girls. Of course, from what you can see, Karasu is not happy. Not happy at all.

TFP: And now we see that the Harem Route has begun. See? That wasn't just some comedic relief which got dropped into the story for fun. Nagata has truly begun taking in the rewards as part of his kingship, rather than just the responsibility. He's reluctant, if only because of what he considers proper. Still, for the ladies he loves, he's going to give it his best.