Chapter 3 - Homecoming
- Big Edo Castle -
Edo City's general was enjoying his tea while he looked out upon his city. Kazushi, his daughter, approached with a kettle.
"More tea, Father?" she asked with the pot already in her hands.
The general smiled and held up his cup. "Today is a good day. No chaos or trouble, just peace and tea."
Kazushi nodded then poured her own cup. "If only Kazuma was here to enjoy it too. It's been a while since he departed. I wonder when he will-"
The room's door suddenly burst open behind them. "General Nobunaga! It's an emergency!" a soldier said while getting down on his knee.
The general continued sipping when he asked "What is it?"
"In the city, there's this enormous animal, a tiger, prowling about!"
Kazushi had a concerned look in her eye. "Has anyone been hurt?"
"Uh... amazingly, no, Princess. The creature seems to be behaving itself."
Nobunaga stirred the tea in his cup. "So remind me what the emergency was, again?"
"Well, it appears that Prince Kazuma has arrived with the animal, sir. He's also brought along a band of friends."
Nobunaga looked back with a cocked brow. "Friends, was it? ...are there any women among this circle of friends?"
"Yes, general: two. Three if you count the little girl."
Nobunaga laughed. "Well, it seems Kazuma might have brought back a lover. Great! I was worried about if I'd ever live to see my grandchildren or not!"
"What would you have us do, sir?"
"Isn't it obvious? Escort Kazuma and his friends to the castle. We'll throw a welcoming party for them!"
The soldier nodded then left the room, making sure to shut the doors behind him. Kazushi giggled seeing the excitement on her father's face.
"You really think Kazuma brought back a girlfriend?"
"I'm certain. I'll just have to figure out which one it is at the party." Nobunaga finished his tea and stood. "Come, Kazushi. We have a celebration to prepare for. I'll have a dress meant especially for the occasion made just for you."
Kazushi smiled. She set the tea cups next to the pot and followed her enthusiastic father out of the room to prepare.
-Streets of Edo City-
"Woah~ Everything's so huuuge!" Otoka exclaimed while he and the others marched through the city.
"Otoka! Watch, where you're going!" Yuki said while tugging his wild, white hair back. "You're going to knock someone over."
Kurohime, who was walking directly behind them picked up on a scent. "Hey... What is that?!" she asked while pointing at source of the smell.
"Ah. That's a dango stand," Kazuma answered. "Dango is common snack here on Yamato." He saw the hungry look in Hime's eyes. "If you'd like, I could buy you some..."
Kurohime looked at him, eyes twinkling. "Really?!"
He nodded and she took off. Kazuma was happy to see her eat. His happiness dulled somewhat when the snow gods sat on either side of her and started ordering dango themselves.
Kazuma scratched his cheek. 'I wonder how much this will cost me...'
Not too far behind them was Zero, Onimaru who was riding his head, Ashura and Byakku. The latter of the four stuck out like vulture among pigeons. Everyone gawked at the Spirit King as he prowled his way though the city. He didn't pay any attention to the alarmed looks on people's faces, but Zero did.
"Um... Excuse me, Byakku, but don't you think you're standing out a little too much?" he asked. "You're scaring everyone we walk past."
"Good. They won't get in our way."
Zero laughed nervously. "That's... not the point I was trying to make. I heard from Hime that the Spirit King of Water infused himself with her Senryu. Shouldn't you do the same? It would mean you wouldn't have to walk around anymore, wouldn't it?"
"...what reason is there for me to do that now?"
"Huh?" Zero blubbered whilst cocking his head.
Byakku stopped and looked down at Zero intently. "Do you know why Kurohime made it her duty to find the Spirit Kings and save Princess Yamato in the first place? It was to save you. She wanted to rescue your soul from Hell. Now that that's been done, she no longer has a reason to save Yamato or find that coward Seiryu. Giving her my power now would be pointless."
Zero's looked alarmed. "I'm sure Hime will continue her journey! She won't just stop because I've been resurrected."
"That's not true, Zero," Ashura said from the other side of Byakku. "When Kurohime first obtained the Blade of Destruction, she said directly to Lady Yamato 'The only person I'll fight for is Zero.' Now that she's found you, she no longer has a reason to fight. ...her journey has reached it's end."
Byakku and Ashura continued walking. Zero stayed behind. He saw Kurohime eating dango with Yuki and Otoka ahead. The sight of them so happy made him smile, but the expression was short lived.
Onimaru hung down in front of Zero's face and gave him a supportive tap on the face. Zero laughed softly at the gesture and started moving again; but just as he took a step forward, two men with their faces hidden suddenly appeared on either side of him.
'W-wha?!'
Zero didn't even had time to think before they wrapped a rope around him and bound his mouth shut. They even caught Onimaru. They then disappeared with the two in the blink of an eye; not giving any possible eye-witnesses the chance to catch so much as a glimpse.
After they vanished, a group of men donning the same outfits appeared in front of Kazuma. "Prince Kazuma! We've come to welcome you!" they announced.
Hime and kids looked their way, their mouths still stuffed with foods. "Whuts gowin ohn?" Hime asked while still chewing.
Kazuma smiled. "These men are the Tokugawa family's Ninja Army. They're fateful servants. Father must have sent them."
"Yes, sir! We've been sent to escort you and your company to Big Edo Castle for your glorious homecoming celebration!" one of the ninjas announced.
"Celebration? You mean like a party?" Ashura asked while she and Byakku approached.
"Yes, miss! And you can even bring your pet monster with you! He may even be allowed to eat inside!"
Byakku gave a growl deep enough to make water in a nearby puddle ripple. "Did you just call the Spirit King of Earth, the Great Byakku, a pet?!"
"No, Lord Byakku! You must have misheard me!" the ninja explained while he and others bowed in front of the Spirit King
Kurohime thrust her half-eaten dango into the air. "Yeah! We're going to a party! Did you hear that Zero? …Zero?" Kurohime swung her head around. "...where did Zero go?"
"Master Zero headed to the castle ahead of everyone else, miss! He said he'd meet you all there!" the ninja said.
Kurohime cocked a brow. "Huh? But why would he-"
"The party will be held this evening! We need to get you all to the castle so that you may prepare!"
The ninja all put up two fingers. "Ha!" With blinding speed, they split up and jumped behind Kurohime, Ashura and the snow children; scooped them up, and carried them off toward Big Edo Castle.
"Hey! Watch where you're touching!" Hime Exclaimed. "You ninjas are a buncha pervs!"
"H-hey! I can get there myself!" Ashura snapped while struggling in two ninja's grasp.
"No~ We're not done eating yet!" Yuki cried.
"Just eight more servings and we'll go!" Otoka declared.
Despite the complaints, the ninja flickered away with Big Edo Castle's soon-to-be guests in their arms.
One ninja bowed before Byakku again. "You can get there yourself, Lord Byakku, sir!" he said before vanishing.
The Spirit King looked at Kazuma. "You have odd servants, human prince."
"Yes, well... I assure you that they mean well." Kazuma made face. "I do wonder if they were telling the truth about Master Zero, though..."
'Though... If Master Zero isn't around, Father may be lead to believe that I am Kurohime's lover instead of him. That sounds like a mistake he would make. …maybe it's not a completely bad one, either-'
"Hey! Human prince, stopped daydreaming. I don't know my way through this accursed city, so hurry up and guide me."
"O-oh, yes! Follow me, Lord Byakku."
-?-
When Zero regained consciousness, the first thing he noticed was Onimaru worriedly standing over him.
"Did you have a nice nap?" a feminine voice asked.
Zero's eyes creaked open as he sat up from what he now knew was a cold, wet floor. A beautiful woman wearing a gorgeous kimono was looking down at him the same way farmer looks down at a resilient weed. Behind her were two stone-faced soldiers, and behind them were tall steel bars.
"...where is this?" Zero asked, rubbing his head.
"Edo City Prison," the woman replied. "It will also be where you will be sleeping tonight."
Zero's eyes shot up. "What? Why?! What have I been charged with?! I haven't been in Edo City long enough to commit a crime!"
"It's not about what you did. Your presence is the crime here." The woman began walking circles around Zero. "Tonight, General Nobunaga will be holding a homecoming party for Prince Kazuma and his friends. While seeing his son again is reason enough for the general to hold such a celebration, he also has another motive: finding a new daughter-in-law."
Zero looked up. "Daughter-in-law?"
The woman pushed his head back down with her fan. "That's right, boy. A fiance for the prince. Obviously, it can't be that little girl, so it has to be either the silver-haired one or the brunette with the scary face. Either way, you are the only loose end."
"How am I the only problem in all of this?"
"Simple." The woman walked toward the cell's window while fanning herself. "Out of everyone in the prince's group, you are the only one capable of being his rival-in-love. Obviously, the prince's charms far outshine yours, but I still cannot simply ignore you. It is my job as the Tokugawa family's chief adviser to eliminate small problems before they grow into big ones." She shut her fan. "Now, do you understand why you're here?"
"...honestly, no."
The woman scowled. "Well, perhaps a night in this cell will enlighten you, then. You'll be released tomorrow morning." As the woman walked out of the cell, one of the soldiers shut it back. "I hope you enjoy your stay."
Zero sat helplessly as the adviser left with her escorts. He looked down at Onimaru who was looking back with a sympathetic look in his eye. This was not how he expected to spend his first day of resurrection.
-Big Edo Castle: Kurohime's Dressing Room-
Kurohime never thought she would have to yell "Alright, enough! Enough!" to people trying to give her extravagant dresses.
She had changed clothes at least nineteen times in the past hour, but the aides just couldn't stop recommending her outfits. Perhaps it because Kurohime was beautiful enough to make them want to play dress up. Or maybe they were just busy-bodies.
"Are you sure, Lady Kurohime?" one of the aides asked.
Kurohime was breathing heavy. "Yes... I'm fine with what I have on, okay?"
What she wore was a black outfit that was white over the chest area. It came with a black mini-skirt, a sash, and gloves that looked like the ones she wore when she was adult-sized.
"I really like this one. I'll keep it," she said. Then she looked around the dressing room. "Hey, where's that kimono I was wearing at?"
"You mean that old raggy thing you came to the castle in?"
She glared. "Hey, my grandma gave me that outfit!"
The women in the dressing room gave each other nervous looks. "Uhh... We'll get it patched up and ready to be given back to you by the time you leave," one of them said. It was obvious to Hime that she was just coming up with stuff on the spot, but she just shrugged and headed for the door.
"I heading to the party now. Thanks, girls," she said while shutting the door.
She was feeling anxious as she walked through Big Edo Castle's spacious halls. She hadn't seen Zero since earlier that day. It was already night, and he was still nowhere to be found.
'Did he really head to the castle ahead of us?'
Kurohime's thoughts were scrambled by the sound of a large drum being banged. She quickly rounded the corner, and found that the party had already started. Balloons that held confetti, burst and let the shredded paper inside shower over the party's attendants.
"Welcome home, Prince Kazuma!" everyone shouted.
Kazuma was standing in the forefront of the room beside his father and sister bowed to the crowd. "Thank you for attending, everyone. I hope you all have a great time!"
Another cheer was heard. Yuki was clapping for Kazuma with the others while Otoka was already digging into a luscious-looking plate of food. The two snow gods were wearing actual clothes for once, and dressed almost identically. You would have been forgiven for mistaking them as twins.
Kurohime walked into the hall, still looking for where Zero was. She ended up finding Ashura instead. She too had changed clothes. A white dress that stopped above the knees and had a large black cross over it.
"Ashura, hey. Uh... Where's the grumpy tiger?"
"You mean Byakku? He said he hated human gatherings and went outside for a walk?
"A walk?! ...won't he freak people out?!"
Ashura put up her hands as though to say "Who cares?"
"...whatever. Hey, have you seen Zero? I've been looking all over for him."
Ashura hummed. "It's true that we haven't seen him since we arrived at the castle. Maybe you should ask one of the soldiers if they've seen him."
"Seen who?" a new voice asked.
The two girls looked and saw a beautiful walking walking their way.
"Wow~ So gorgeous!" Kurohime blurted. "Are you the general's wife?"
The woman chuckled. "Far from it. I'm his chief adviser,Yorin. Now, what is this I heard about you looking for someone? A Zero, I believe it was."
Hime shook her fists feverishly like a child. "Yeah, yeah! Have you seen him anywhere?"
"Why yes, I have. He came to the castle before rest of you did, and immediately asked for a place to rest."
The Silver Witch and demon god both cocked their heads. "Rest?"
"Yes. For some reason, he felt extremely exhausted. I'm still wondering why."
Kurohime eyes beamed down. 'Is it because he was just resurrected? Now that I think about it, that probably took a lot out of him...'
"Also, Zero wanted me to tell you not to worry about him. He'll be fine by tomorrow morning," Yorin lied. "You two should just enjoy your evening. In fact..." She looked toward Kazuma who was chatting with his family. "Maybe you should go introduce yourself to Edo City's general. You're the one who helped save Princess Kazushi, aren't you."
Hime looked at them. She thought about Zero a while longer, before looking back at Yorin and nodding.
"Yeah, I will. Thank you, Yorin!" she exclaimed before running over to where Kazuma and his family were.
Yorin smiled as Kurohime headed off. Ashura watched the adviser carefully. 'There's something off about her story...'
Meanwhile, over where the Tokugawa family was, Nobunaga was shaking his son's shoulders affectionately. "I was worried when you didn't come right back home after rescuing your sister, Kazuma. It's good to see you back again."
"Thank you, Father. Though..." Kazuma smiled. "In truth... I wouldn't have been able to do it without-"
"Hey, Kazuma!"
Kazuma jolted and looked back. He was blushing when Kurohime came running up to him and his family.
"Kurohime, it's been too long," Kazushi said as Hime hugged her.
"Yeah, it has... Hey, Kazuma. Is this your dad?"
Standing before Kurohime was a tall, unshaven man with his dark hair in a pony tail, much like his son's.
Kazuma nodded. "This is Nobunaga Tokugawa. My father, as well as the general of Edo City."
"Wow... You've got a good-looking future ahead of you, huh Kazuma~" Kurohime said while bumping Kazuma's shoulder.
"H-hey?!" Kazuma flushed pink. "I look a lot like my father, but I doesn't mean-"
"Kazuma. Is this the Kurohime you wouldn't stop talking about?" Nobunaga suddenly asked.
"F-father! You make it sound like she's all I told you about!"
"Well, wasn't she?" Kazuma fell in a awkward silence. "Come on. How about telling me what she is to you, first?"
The prince looked up at the city's general. Then he looked at Kurohime. "To me... To me, Kurohime is-"
Suddenly, the entire castle shook. The lights flickered off for a moment before coming back on.
"What was that...!" Kazushi asked, standing close to her father.
Without another moment to spare, Kurohime ran to the closest window. General Nobunaga was not too far behind her. The two both gaped at what they saw was flying outside – a giant purple sky ship with its cannons pointed directly at the castle.
Nobunaga eyes formed a glare once he recognized the crest on the ship's side: two fans acting like crossbones without a skull.
"The Toritomi clan's insignia..." he hissed. He looked back inside. "Everyone, take cover! Edo City is being attacked!"
The ship's cannon's lit up again, and barrage of firepower showered over Big Edo Castle. The unbreakable Edo City had just lost its legend.