Chapter Four
~The Paths Taken~
After instructing Zastin to keep their troops on guard outside the castle walls, Rito waited backstage dressed in his sleek black military uniform and white mask that covered only half his face. Taking a peek behind the thick red curtain, he saw a crowd of huge birds, villagers and soldiers alike, watching the stage performers whilst carrying banners, flags and mugs of beer. They all looked jubilant and tipsy, while the little Ebon children were jumping around, laughing. It was hard to imagine that just a few hours ago, they were caught in the battle between the tyrannical reptilian invaders and the Devilukean Peace Corps. Tonight, they were the perfect picture of free and happy people.
He dropped his hold on the curtain as the blaring lights made his eyes water. If possible, he wanted to take a rest in his bunk today, especially after his rigorous fight with the reptilian soldiers. But when the Chieftain, a great crested grebe, asked him to appear before his people as the guest of honor in this victory party, he couldn't refuse.
As Rito stretched his arms to ward off his sleepiness, a soft patter of footsteps caught his attention. "Rito-san! Rito-san!" an Ebon child resembling a yellow canary, came running towards him. It was the Chieftain's only daughter, Fia, wearing her usual red riding hood.
"Oh, hey, Fia-chan!" Rito greeted with his arms outstretched. Seeing this welcoming gesture, Fia excitedly jumped into his arms. "I'm so happy you're safe, Rito-san!" She murmured, wrapping her feathered arms around his neck in affection.
"Well, you did pray for me, right?" Rito winked as he held the child more securely.
"Of course!" the child pulled away a little to stare at him. "I asked the Great Owl to keep you safe and help you win!" she declared, raising her wings animatedly.
"As expected of Ebon's next chief, your great ancestor favors you." Rito smiled at the girl, remembering how much she helped convince her father to trust him and cooperate with them in driving out the tyrannical conquerors from their land.
His praise made her puff her chest up proudly. "Do you really think I can rule when I'm all grown up like you?" she asked, her eyes twinkling eagerly.
"Of course you can." Rito grinned. "Don't you agree, Chief?" he asked, looking over the child's shoulder.
The child turned her head in surprise and saw her father standing a few feet behind them with a proud smile on his face. "Well, of course. She has the same strong spirit as her mother, after all." The Chieftain answered.
Fia's eyes filled with tears. It meant so much to her to be regarded in the same light as her departed mother. After Rito put her down, she immediately ran towards her father and hugged him. "I love you, Papa! I missed you so much!" she said tearfully. The Chief's eyes glistened then he returned his daughter's embrace. It has been six months since the reptilian leader took his daughter as a hostage to force his obedience. If it weren't for Rito, his daughter would have remained separated from her forever.
Meanwhile, the ground rumbled with the rhythmic stomping on the ground. Rito heard the crowd behind the curtain chant his alias in unison. He smiled reminiscently. This day marked the third year he took on that moniker and went on a journey to prove his worth. Now, he had built a reputation as the fierce leader of the Devilukean Peace Corps and had earned the respect of the political leaders, citizens and soldiers he encountered along the way. Everything was for the sake of fulfilling his promise to Lala and earning the right to make his return.
"Good luck, Rito-san!" Fia said, waving her hand in encouragement. Beside her, the Chieftain cast him a thankful glance and Rito responded to them with a smile and a bow of respect. Then, with a thumping heart, he turned on his heels and swept the curtain aside to answer their thunderous call as the masked protector, The Beast.
Inside a brightly lit research laboratory, a sharp buzz of metal welding sounded and bright sparks of light flew in the air as Lala made the last adjustments to her latest invention, Body Body Repair-kun. Once satisfied, Lala put the portable rod away, closed the machine's side panel and removed the protective goggles from her eyes.
Taking a few steps back, the First Princess regarded the silver egg-shaped machine with a proud smile. After six months of planning with Haruna (now an intergalactic doctor-in-training) and hard work, she finally finished its construction.
With a tired sigh, Lala slumped in the nearby chair and closed her eyes. Once the Body Body Repair-kun passes its test runs, it would be the 5th invention that she and Haruna collaborated to make. The other four included Cancer Cell Eliminator-kun, DNA Tracer-kun, 1Stop Health Checker-kun and AlcoAway-kun. And now, with the Body Body Repair-kun, they hoped to help the physically disabled have a normal life by repairing their body tissues and restoring its functions.
As the thought of helping save lives crossed her mind, a familiar sense of fulfillment filled her heart. In the past, she used to make things just to satisfy her own whim, but now, she strove to make projects that would benefit a lot of people. As someone gifted with a high aptitude for invention, she came to the realization of using her skills for a good cause. Now that she thought about it, it was the first major decision she made as her journey to become a worthy future queen started.
The door to her laboratory slid open and Peke flew into the room whilst calling her name in a loud voice. As the two hugged each other in greeting, the princess saw Haruna enter the room in her usual white lab coat, carrying a clothed-wrapped bento in her hand.
"Lala-san, it's time to take a break!" Haruna said, lifting the package for Lala to see.
The princess grinned. "Good timing! I'm feeling hungry right now."
"Don't worry, Lala-sama! We prepared your favorite dishes from Earth today." Peke said proudly before she scrambled to prepare a table for three.
"Really?" Lala immediately perked up at the mention of Earth dishes. Like an excited child, she took a seat and watched as Haruna unwraps the three-layered bento with ease.
Before her, the familiar dishes she enjoyed on Earth were set daintily like tamagoyaki, wiener tako, curry rice, onigiri, miso soup, deep fried tempura and a whole lot more. Her mouth watered and her stomach growled in response. It has been a long time since she tasted such delicacies since it usually took a long time to have Earth ingredients delivered to the castle.
"Itadakimasu!" they said together in respect before digging in the food. Lala nearly moaned at the first bite of tempura.
"This is so delicious!" the princess said, eating with much gusto.
Haruna chuckled. "I'm glad you think so. Mikan-chan, Peke and I worked hard to cook these for you once the shipment from Earth arrived today."
"I see. I see. Thank you so much! I really missed all of these foods!" She said in delight. "By the way, what's the latest news on Earth?" she asked before sipping the miso soup noisily.
"Ah. Wait." Haruna put down her chopsticks and pushed a button on her wristwatch to make a hologram to appear. "As promised, the Tenjouin Group used your inventions to help in the field of medicine and forensics. They also gave free medical treatment to the poor." Haruna started reporting while showing pictures and figures on the hologram screen. "For the past years, their company's assets have risen and their field of operations has expanded to all the continents. Now, they're aiming to reach those living in remote areas for them to experience healing for free."
Lala nodded her head in approval. "I'm happy Saki-chan's company is doing well. I thought she'd have a hard time since she agreed to our condition of using our inventions to give free medical services to the poor."
"Well, Tenjouin-san said she would still gain profit, didn't she? Now, she has proven to be a formidable conglomerate president." She commented with a trace of awe in her voice.
"But she's still not as great as my Lala-sama!" Peke interjected, remembering how much Saki wanted to best her mistress in the past. "Moreover, her use of Lala-sama's inventions didn't come cheap. Her company gained the exclusive right to trade with our planet and she even became the Earth's ambassadress. If anything, she should feel thankful because Lala-sama trusts her."
The girls exchanged glances and laughed. "Ah, Peke, you're still as loyal as ever. That's why I love you!" Lala said, patting Peke's head affectionately. The robot blushed and murmured her thanks. As Lala's attention turned back to the food, she noticed the spotted, round onigiri.
"Oh! This is so cute!" Lala exclaimed, picking up the unusual onigiri. "Who made this?"
"I did, Lala-sama!" Peke said, raising her hand readily. "I saw some black beans among the ingredients and thought it would taste good with the rice. But I'm sorry the shape is weird. I'll try better next time, Lala-sama."
Lala giggled. "It's all right, Peke. I really like it and besides-", she said as she lifted it up before her eyes. "It almost looks like a soccer ball, don't you think?"
"Yes, it does." Haruna smiled in agreement.
"Rito used to play soccer when he was little, right?" Lala commented in a reminiscent tone of voice. "I remember Mikan-chan showing me his pictures when he played soccer with his friends."
"Yes, he did play soccer before." Haruna smiled gently at the thought of Rito. "I think he was pretty good at it, too." She added before she sipped her tea.
"Hey, Haruna. Have you heard any news about Rito?" Lala asked nonchalantly, popping the onigiri in her mouth. Her face and tone was casual but Haruna sensed the worry that belied her words.
Putting down her cup carefully, she faced Lala with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, Lala-san. Like you, I haven't heard any news until now."
"I see. It's all right, Haruna-chan! I kind of expected that anyway." Lala forced a laugh then continued stuffing her face with food. Feeling guilty for letting her friend down, Haruna joined the princess in eating the food and steered the conversation into safer, livelier topics.
As Peke watched the girls' attempt to cover up their sadness, she felt a twinge of pain in her chest. Though she wanted to tell Lala and Haruna the truth, she couldn't do it. The King forbade her and everyone else from telling the girls any details about Rito since they might follow him wherever he was, especially her mistress.
"Just wait for a bit more, Lala-sama. Haruna-sama. It'll all be over soon." She thought as her gloved hands clenched into fists.
"Is something wrong, Peke?" Lala asked, noticing her attendant's silence.
"No, nothing at all!" Peke shook her head in denial. "Would you like another cup of tea, Lala-sama?" she offered.
"Oh, yes, please." Lala said in her usual bright self. Peke smiled and poured her another cup, relieved that she wasn't questioned any further.
"Ah! By the way Lala-san, are you free today? It's Yui-san and Mikan-chan's graduation ceremony later." Haruna asked excitedly.
"Wha-Ehh?! Is it today?!" Lala sputtered. At Haruna's surprised nod, the princess flipped her phone open and activated it. As soon as it was on, a call got through and the angry face of her younger sister Nana appeared on the hologram screen.
"Ane-ue…" Nana said in a low and angry voice.
Lala chuckled awkwardly. "Yahoo, Nana~!" she greeted.
"Do you have any idea how long I've been trying to call you?!" Nana finally exploded.
Lala put her phone away a little and let her sister vent out her anger. "I'm sorry, Nana. I lost track of the time. Tee hee~" she said once her sister calmed down a little.
Nana looked at her sister and then, heaved a deep sigh. Well, her big sister tends to get carried away when she's working on an invention. So, she'll let it slide for now. "Anyway, be here in my room in 30 minutes. Mou, you're the guest of honor in today's graduation ceremony so don't be late, okay?"
"Hai~!" Lala answered enthusiastically with a little salute. Nana shrugged as if to say, "It can't be helped."
"See ya, Ane-ue." She said with a smile and then, she ended the call.
"Guu~ Nana got angry with me again." Lala pouted cutely.
Haruna chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm sure she didn't mean it." She said consolingly. "Well then, let's pack up." she smiled, rising from her seat.
"I'm sorry, Haruna~"
The two of them exchanged a look and then, laughed for no reason at all. Soon, the three of them cleared away the dirty dishes and went their separate ways to finish their tasks of the day.
Mikan fiddled with the taiyaki strap absently as she watched the alarm clock flash on her mobile screen repeatedly. She didn't make a move to stop it just to remind herself how important today was. There were two reasons why today was special. First, it was exact day her brother had left to shape his destiny. It has been three years and yet she hadn't received any news about her brother's return. She bit her lower lip anxiously. She hoped that she would hear from him soon or from Yami-chan again.
In truth, she received an unexpected call from Yami-chan after they met the King of Deviluke. They were gathered in Lala's room then, wondering what to do next. She put it in loudspeaker and they all heard that Yami-chan had found Rito and he was all right. But as a condition of traveling with him, she was not allowed to disclose their destination. They asked if they could talk to Rito or if she could update them about his condition but Yami-chan sadly declined. Instead, she made a promise that she'll protect Rito for them but before she could say anything else, her line was disconnected. They tried to contact her number again but it couldn't be reached anymore. That was the last time she heard from Yami-chan but still, she kept her phone with her just in case.
For what it's worth, that phone call had somewhat put their minds at ease and they all had the chance to think about their future seriously. After much thought, Kotegawa-san decided to pursue learning about Intergalactic Laws in Deviluke itself. Haruna-san, on the other hand, went to become Mikado-sensei's assistant to know more about healing aliens of different races. Lastly, Lala-san took her father's advice to become more involved in matters of the state in preparation of becoming the future queen. They all did a good job so far.
As for her, since she had skills in cooking and wanted to support her brother in the future as well, she told the King that she wanted to study Devilukean cuisine. Thus, she was enrolled in the Royal Academy of Deviluke to have a chance to become a chef in the Royal Kitchen. Combining her knowledge of Japanese cuisine and with the help of the kitchen staff in the Royal Palace, she was able to cope up with her lessons and even created recipes of her own.
"Mikan-chan?" A voice from the doorway broke her out of her reverie. By the doorway, a Devilukean girl with short wavy red hair and purple eyes poked her head inside the classroom. "Ah, found ya! Come on! The ceremony is about to start!" she said cheerfully.
Mikan smiled in return. "All right. All right. I'm coming, Aerin." she answered then she turned off the alarm on her phone and put on the velvet red and black toga and its matching hat.
Now, the second reason why today was special was because it's their graduation day. The results of their exams would be tallied and the top five students in each course would be announced. Those who make the cut are the only ones who would have the right to work in the Royal Palace of Deviluke for a lifetime.
She took a deep breath before she left the room with Aerin. Together, they went towards the academy's amphitheater where the top students would be recognized before the student body.
The King of Deviluke specifically asked her to try her best to make it so as to prevent any complications in the future. Back then, she had no idea what those complications were. But after her first week in the Royal Academy, she understood his concern.
Her classmates, especially those belonging to the nobility, were displeased with her presence. They had a low regard for the human race and though they didn't say it outright, they were against the King's decision to name an Earthling as his successor. They also envied her connection to the Devilukean Royal family and so, she had to prove herself every step of the way. Only Aerin Mirumur, her seat mate and daughter of a Devilukean count, accepted her from the very start.
For the past three years, she had struggled to learn as much as she can about the Devilukean culture and cuisine to make it to the top. She had to prove that she had earned her place with her brother and that humans were a force to be reckoned with. It was a rough journey and in just a few moments, the result of all her hard work will be revealed.
"Are you ready, Mikan-chan?" Aerin asked as they stood before the double doors of the amphitheater.
"Yeah. I'm ready." Mikan smiled despite her nervousness.
"Could both of you please not block the door?" someone said from behind them.
The girls turned to see the academy's heartthrob, Zeric Sycliffe, standing there with the usual arrogant look on his face and flanked by his male friends and female admirers. He has side swept raven hair and striking green eyes. He's tall for his age and has a lean and slightly muscular build. More importantly, he's also the sole heir of the richest counselor in the royal court of Deviluke, Melcohm Sycliffe. He belongs to the college of law (the same as Kotegawa-san) because he was determined to follow in his father's footsteps as a royal counselor.
He would've have been the perfect guy if it weren't for his bad attitude. It was a major flaw in his seemingly perfect qualities. Unfortunately, Mikan had to bear the brunt of his brash attitude because she bloodied his nose with a punch in front of everyone two years ago. He was the one at fault because he insulted her origin and her brother but he never lived it down. He tried his best to make her school life difficult and it only made her hate his guts.
The two of them faced each other squarely. "You know, a polite "Excuse me" would be enough." Mikan said with forced calmness.
Zeric blinked. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm only polite to the same species as me. Tell me, is she one of us?" he said, looking at his posse to answer. His friends snickered and answered negatively like "Hell no.", "No way.", "In her dreams.", etc.
"There you have it." Zeric said smugly, clearly enjoying the fact that he has the upper hand. "So, step aside, human. You won't make the cut anyway."
Aerin stepped in front of Mikan protectively. "Stop picking on her, Zeric. It's been two years already. Grow up!" Aerin said.
"Was I talking to you?" he answered, his eyes flashing with anger. Evidently, the incident was still a sour point for him.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense between the two. Aerin was about to insult him from head to toe when suddenly a phone rang behind her. She turned and was surprised to see Mikan staring at her ringing phone, her eyes bright and looking visibly shaken.
"Mikan, are you all right?" her friend asked in concern while Zeric and his group stood there, confused.
"Let's go." Mikan croaked, as she clutched the ringing phone next to her heart and walked away in a daze.
"Wait! What about the ceremony?" Aerin called out. She gave one last glare at Zeric before chasing after her friend.
"Well, that was weird, huh, Zeric? As expected of a human, eh?" one of Zeric's friends joked and the others laughed in agreement.
"Now let's get inside, Zeric? We don't want to miss the party, do we?" Tayla crooned, clinging onto Zeric's chest invitingly.
Zeric smiled. "Yeah, come on." He said and his group cheered. He spared a quick glance towards the place where the two girls disappeared into before he strode inside the amphitheater with his friends in tow.
The sound of cheers and clapping resounded inside the huge amphitheater as the First Princess, Lala Satalin Deviluke, came up on stage as the guest speaker of that commemoration exercise of the Royal Academy of Deviluke. She looked absolutely stunning in her cobalt blue tube dress with matching lace glove and a white flower made of lace and crystal embellishments accent at the waist. Her soft pink hair was tied in a sophisticated chignon and her crown glittered beautifully with her every move. With bated breath, the audience listened to her deliver an inspiring message about hardship and success, hopes and dreams and the importance of family and friends. After that, the roaring of the crowd came again in appreciation for their princess' heartfelt message.
Yui watched it all as one of the graduates. She can't help but be moved and be proud of her friend. Lala had changed so much and became this magnificent crown princess before her eyes. Now, it's her turn to see whether or not, she had what it takes to be a part of Rito's future in Deviluke.
The first college to be called was the College of Engineering. After the top five students for that course was named, they all went onstage and Lala had the honor to place upon their necks the symbol of the department they're going to be a part of in the Royal Palace.
After a while, the College of Law was addressed. Kotegawa closed her eyes and clamped her hands together as of in prayer. The 5th placer was called, then the 4th and 3rd still, she hadn't heard her name. Next, Zeric Sycliffe was named the 2nd placer.
Tears gathered beneath her eyelids. "Ah, maybe I didn't make it after all." She thought sadly.
"The top student for the College of Law is… Yui Kotegawa." the emcee announced.
Yui opened her eyes and quickly looked at the hologram screen onstage as if to confirm what she just heard. There she saw her picture displayed and her rank as the top student. "It's me. It's really me…" she said breathlessly. Soon, tears fell from her eyes out of relief and gratitude.
"Congratulations, Yui! You did it!" her friends and classmates said, while tapping her shoulder or shaking her hand in congratulations.
"All top five students of the College of Law, please come up on stage. Thank you."
As her name was called once again, she made her way towards Lala and they smiled at each other. Once she came close, she curtsied before the princess in respect.
"Congratulations, Yui-chan. I knew you could do it!" Lala said enthusiastically.
"Thank you, Lala-san." Yui said, tearfully.
Then, with a flourish, Yui stripped off her toga and knelt down before the princess to receive her reward. The gilded gold chain with a crystal medallion was placed around her neck and as if by magic, it changed into a beautiful fur-lined emerald green cloak with matching feathered cap. It's the uniform of the future royal counselors of the land.
Yui stood up with pride. She had worked hard just for that moment.
"Together, let's fulfill our vow of becoming this nation's strength." The first princess said, in a regal tone of voice.
Yui smiled. "Yes, you're highness." She answered, bobbing a curtsy in return.
Then, she joined the other four students and congratulated each other warmly, all except for one- Zeric. He simply ignored her, clearly miffed that he's in 2nd place. But Yui chose not to mind. His boorish behavior was the least of her concern now. And despite his attempt to avoid contact, Yui took hold of his hand and the five of them bowed before the student body in unison.
After they got off the stage, the College of Arts was called next and then, the College of Culinary Arts. Yui immediately remembered Mikan. She hoped she made it, too. And just like earlier, she clasped her hands in prayers and hoped for the best. The 5th and 4th placer was named. Zeric's rumored girlfriend, Tayla, was named 3rd place.
"In second place is…. Mikan Yuuki-sama."
Yui cried for joy. "We made it! We both made it!" she shouted in her head. Flicking out her phone, she snapped a photo of the hologram screen with Mikan's face on it. She knows Rito would love to see his sister's glorious moment. She also took a selfie with her flashing a V-sign.
"Congratulations! I'm so proud of you!- Yui" She wrote on the selfie she took before sending it to Mikan.
"Now, everything's ready." She said then she stared at her phone's wallpaper lovingly. It's a picture of Rito's sleeping face which she took while no one was looking. "What's taking you so long, idiot?" She whispered. "Come back already."
"All top five students of the College of Culinary Arts, please come up on stage. Thank you." The emcee announced.
Yui quickly flicked her phone to camera mode, ready to take a picture of Mikan-chan, just like a proud mom.
The sound of wooden swords clashing resounded in the empty arena as one of the new generals of Planet Memorze and his apprentice faced off in a practice fight. The fully-armored general stood inside a poorly drawn circle on the ground while the apprentice launched attacks from outside the circle. The student tried to force his opponent towards the edge of the circle by using his alien strength and speed to his advantage but despite his efforts, the general remained unfazed and easily parried his attacks with minimal movement.
After a while, the student stopped and paused for breath. "Saruyama-sensei, let's have a break. We've been at it for two hours already." He complained, before sitting on the ground and wiping off the sweat on his face with his sleeve.
The general smirked. His student's way of complaining reminded him of the time he first came to Ren's planet and trained as a soldier. He was one whiny brat back then. Luckily, he changed with time. "You should get used to it, Dylan, because real fights take much longer than two hours." he cautioned, resting his wooden sword over his shoulder.
"I know, sensei." The youth answered, looking up to his mentor. "But you should go easy on me since this isn't a real fight." He countered.
Saruyama laughed in amusement. "If I do that then there's no point in training, is there?" he said before assuming a fighting stance again. "Now, come at me, Dylan. You won't learn how to break someone's defenses like that."
"Ugh. Already?" the lanky apprentice whined but he stood up nevertheless. Before they could resume their training, however, a small green dragon swooped down from the air and let out a shrill scream. The two guys looked up and watched as the creature circled above them before it descended to perch on the general's outstretched arm.
"Welcome back, Dracona." Saruyama crooned while scratching its chin with his finger. The little dragon let out a small hiss before giving its master a peck on his right cheek. Dylan watched the exchange with a wistful expression. In their planet, not everyone can have a dragon as a familiar. Dragons are very picky about who they want to be their masters because they are proud and unpredictable creatures. Hence, it's considered a great feat to be able to tame a dragon.
Unable to hold back his curiosity any longer, Dylan cleared his throat. "Uhm, Saruyama-sensei. How did you manage to tame a dragon?"
"Oh, that. Hmm…" Saruyama said distractedly as he plucked out a small parchment from his dragon's pouch. Upon seeing the royal seal, his face turned serious as he unrolled the parchment and read the message within. Dylan watched his teacher anxiously. Usually, the messages Dracona delivers are about serious threats that his teacher had to deal with personally. But to his surprise, his teacher's face visibly brightened up.
"Sensei?" Dylan called as his teacher stood there, smiling broadly.
"Oh. Yeah." Saruyama cleared his throat, remembering where he was. "Sorry, Dylan. Let's continue with our training next time, okay?" he said, ruffling his student's spiky blue hair. His happy demeanor confused the young one even more. Based on experience, there was only one reason his trainer would look that jubilant.
Dylan put his hand on his hip. "Saruyama-sensei, I hope you're not going to the brothel again. Your womanizing skills need a lot of wo- ow!" a sharp hit behind his head cut off the rest of his sentence.
"Idiot! Who said anything about brothels?!" Saruyama scolded, his cheeks looking a bit flushed.
"What? You only look like that when you're meeting a woman!" Dylan said accusingly, while nursing the bump on his head.
Saruyama laughed aloud. "Do I? Well, sorry to disappoint you kid but I'm going to meet a man soon."
Dylan gasped. "A man? Don't tell me you're a-" his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Don't make me hit you again." Saruyama warned, raising his palm in emphasis. The student immediately covered his head protectively. "Anyway, go have some rest. I'll have a talk with Ren first."
"Ah! That's Prince Ren to you!" Dylan protested but the general simply shrugged off his protest and started to leave.
"Wait! So, who's the man you're going to meet soon?" Dylan asked aloud.
Saruyama looked over his shoulder. "My best friend." He said with a huge grin before he continued to walk away with a spring in his step and while whistling a happy tune. He can't wait to tell Ren, Mio and Risa that the three sages had finally arrived in Deviluke to give the verdict on Rito's return, thanks to his reliable information source in Deviluke itself.
On the other hand, Dylan stared at his teacher's back dumbstruck. It was the first time he heard of his teacher having a best friend. True, the general got along well with everyone but he never lets anyone that close. He heard from others that he's the type to take dangerous missions alone and leave his comrades behind, making them worry about him constantly. This best friend of his must be very special to make his teacher smile like that.
"I wonder what kind of person he is." he thought. Suddenly, his stomach grumbled noisily. "All right, enough of this. I'll go get some food first." he said, before running off to the opposite direction to enjoy his unexpected day off.
Inside the royal conference room, the King of Deviluke watched from his chair the latest news coverage of his future son-in-law's victory in Planet Ebon. According to the three-eyed parakeet reporter, the reptilian army invaded their planet and established a tyrannical government two years ago. Rebellions were launched however, when their Chieftain's daughter, Fia, was taken hostage in the castle, no further attempt to antagonize the conquerors was done- until today.
Soon, the reporter gave a blow-by-blow account on how "The Beast" saved the Chieftain's daughter and overthrew the oppressive reptilian government to restore peace in their planet. As he spoke, they flashed video clips of the actual battle scenes with the masked protector as its highlight and it seamlessly captured his bravery and fierceness in the battlefield. The King saw no semblance of the weak and fragile looking boy of three years ago to the man in the video.
"Earthlings are such interesting creatures," The King thought, his lips quirked in amusement.
Afterwards, the camera shifted its focus to the event's host, Terry the Parrot. When Terry asked who they wanted to see, the crowd immediately shouted Rito's well-known alias while stomping their feet. Their reverence for him was apparent in their faces and as soon as he stepped on stage, their deafening shouts of glee were heard. There was certainty in every step he took and he waved his hand in greeting like a true politician. After shaking hands with the host, he stood before the podium and once the cheers died down, he delivered a simple thank you speech that seemed to resonate in the hearts of his audience.
Deeming that he had seen and heard enough, the King flicked his hand and the screen was turned off and disappeared from their sight. Silence permeated the room as the counselors and the royal tutors waited for the King's comments.
"So… what do you think of our boy, your majesty? He has become a fine prince, right?" Samhain asked, unable to bear the silence. After he spoke, Behemoth quickly slapped him behind his head and warned him to be quiet. Before the two could start arguing, the King rose from his seat and walked towards the door.
"Your majesty." Alistair called calmly, without rising from his seat.
"You know, the moment the three of you came back here, it was already decided." The King paused in his tracks and looked over his shoulder. "So hurry up and bring him home." He said with a smirk before leaving the room.
The moment the King left, the counselors were in an uproar. They were divided as to the King's decision to recognize the earthling as a successor. In the midst of these debates, the three royal tutors simply looked relieved.
"Let's go?" Samhain asked, as he rose from his seat and stretched his arms. Behemoth and Alistair smiled slightly and headed towards the door.
Their obvious nonchalance rubbed the discontented counselors the wrong way and they warned the three not to rest on their laurels since they don't hold any political power like them. But when they began to insult Rito as an earthling, Samhain's left hand was suddenly engulfed in flames.
"What were you all saying about our beloved student?" Samhain drawled, his eyes twinkling maniacally. The counselors were taken aback and they mouthed different provisions in the Constitution prohibiting his act of violence inside the royal conference room.
Before Samhain could lose control, Alistair took hold of his shoulder and said, "That's enough, Samhain. Rito is waiting for our message."
Upon hearing his reminder, Samhain's flame disappeared and he returned to his usual bright self.
"Oh yeah, that's right! We wouldn't want to keep him waiting now, huh?" he chirped.
The three of them soon left the room, leaving the counselors to wallow in their baseless threats and hypocrisy.
High up in the castle in Planet Memorze, Prince Ren was in his balcony, looking at the setting sun with a huge grin on his face. He had just received the most wonderful news from Saruyama. According to his trusted contacts in Planet Deviluke, the three royal tutors of the prince consort have arrived in the castle and considering Rito's recent success as the "Beast" in Planet Ebon, it's highly possible that he would arrive in two week's time to claim his right to the throne. His heart pounded excitedly at the thought that they would meet again. He would definitely show off how manly he had become and make Rito admit defeat.
Of course, the ordinary Devilukean citizens had no idea that the famous "Beast" of the Deviluke's Peace Corps they've been hearing about for the past three years was none other than their future King. The beast's identity has remained a mystery to everyone because he always hid his face behind a scary half mask but one look at his profile, he and Saruyama knew that it was Rito. So, they have followed his pursuits closely and Ren knew he had to step up his game in order to match his strongest rival.
He became more active in fighting battles in the name of his planet and became widely known as a peacekeeper and the greatest protector of their realm. Even his parents were so proud of what he had become. In the past, he was only obsessed in getting Lala's hand in marriage but now, he used his ability to take care of his territories as the future King of Planet Memorze.
"Ah~ I have grown into such an amazing man." Ren said dramatically with tears in his eyes.
"Stop being narcissistic brother. I also played a part in the battles you won, you know." Run said from inside his head.
"Yeah, well. I did all the fighting though." He argued.
"And I infiltrated the enemy base so that you could get your army inside it." She countered.
Ren grumbled. "Fine. You're amazing as well. But I'm still better than you."
His twin sister sighed in his head. "Anyway, it's time for us to change places. My concert in Planet Ettalia will start in 3 hours." She said.
He groaned. "Not another one. What if we switched again right in the middle of it?" he complained, remembering that awful concert where he made a fool of himself.
"What? You have long hair now so, there's no problem even if we accidentally switched places." Run said with a pout.
"D-don't misunderstand! I didn't grow my hair out for that! It's the proof of my manliness, get it? Just like the Spartans of Greece!" he explained frantically. He wanted to make his sister understand that growing out his hair had a deeper meaning and it's more than just a precaution of protecting his identity.
"Yeah. Yeah." Run said dismissively. "Anyway, don't forget the steps I taught you, okay?"
"Ugh. Damn it! I really hate dancing!" Ren groaned, remembering how hard it is for his pride to accept dancing in a dress and acting all girly against his will.
His twin chuckled. "Too bad, brother. We're still connected so you have to put up with it." she said with a shrug.
Ren massaged his forehead in frustration. "Did the elders tell you when we're going to have separate bodies? We've already reached the age of adulthood!"
She sighed tiredly. They've had this conversation before and no matter how much they wished to be separated, it hasn't come true yet. "Look, brother. They're also baffled that we're still like this, okay? Besides, there's nothing they could do about it so let's just be patient, Ren."
Ren took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry, Run."
"That's all right." Run smiled. "Now, let's switch."
Without another word, Ren took out a snuff box from his pocket and sniffed it. Once the itchy powder reached his nostrils, he sneezed and from the puff of smoke that engulfed his whole body, Run emerged.
"Thank you, brother." She said, placing the snuff box back to his pocket. Then, she took out her brother's phone to make a call. Once a familiar voice answered after the second ring, she smiled.
"Hello, Risa! It's me, Run. Is Mio with you? Good. Yeah, it's time for rehearsals. Meet me in my spaceship in 15 minutes, okay? Huh? What's that noise?" After a few seconds of listening, her cheeks blushed furiously as she recognized the sound. "What the hell, Risa?! Why is it that every time I call you're in the middle of doing that?" Laughter rang from the other line. "Stop it! It's not funny. Don't bring that man along, got it? Okay, bye."
"Mou! Seriously, that girl." Run said in exasperation, her face still burning.
"Was it too stimulating for you, sister?" Ren teased inside her head.
"You're one to talk. You're still a virgin, too."
"Wha- I-I can get any girl that I want- anytime, anywhere!" Ren said defensively.
Run giggled. "Yeah, says the boy who thought kissing a girl was nasty."
"I-I didn't say that!" he said, aghast.
"Technically, you didn't. But I heard your thoughts after kissing a girl two years ago, Ren." Run said teasingly. "And I also know who you compared that kiss to."
It was Ren's turn to flush in embarrassment. He hated the fact his sister can hear his thoughts as clear as day. "Damn it! Not another word, Sis. I'm warning you." He threatened.
Run blinked her eyes innocently. "What? You started it." She said reasonably. When her brother remained silent, she knew he was sulking. "Ah~ I can't wait to see, Rito!" she sighed, as the sun disappeared in the horizon.
"Sis, you're really pushing it." Ren said through gritted teeth. His twin grinned. "You're not the only one missing him, brother. So, be quiet. You're making me more suspicious of you."
Ren grumbled and finally, the inside of her head became quiet. Run looked towards the horizon again with a reminiscent smile on her face. She looked forward to that moment of running into his arms just like before and to tell him how much she had missed him and loved him after all these years. She had worked hard to become one of the well-known artists in the universe. She has become a lady worthy of his attention. She had imagined their fated meeting and had repeated that scene over and over inside her head. At first, it was just a wish but now that he's almost here, she will make it into a reality.
She lifted her arms and stretched. "All right. It's time to get ready." she walked back towards the room she shares with her brother to change into one of her dresses. The night is young and since she's in a good mood, she'll give her concert a bit more bang into it. She hummed the tune of her latest song as her head became full with new ideas for her concert.
After the victory party, the village in Planet Ebon had settled into a peaceful quiet for the first time in two years. The villagers went back to their homes and slept soundly while Zastin and some guards of the Deviluke Peace Corps kept watch.
The night was so serene but the commander felt restless. It wasn't because there's still an imminent threat. Actually, before they launched the attack to overthrow the reptilian government, the royal tutors have left Rito in charge of the whole operation and headed back towards Planet Deviluke. They said that depending on his performance, they would decide whether he could return to Planet Deviluke as a successor or not.
It has been hours since their victory was announced but still, he hadn't heard any news from them. Luckily, Rito was too preoccupied with the village chief and his daughter Fia to even remember the deal.
More than anyone else, he knew that Rito is worthy to be the next King of Deviluke. These past three years had been full of hardship and perils and yet, Rito persevered. Despite the deaths and betrayals he had witnessed along the way, his will remained as strong as ever. He's still kind and gentle towards the weak. He never gave up on anything or anyone. He kept pushing forward and became a source of inspiration to his men and to those he encountered along the journey. Indeed, Rito has grown so much and surely, the royal tutors had seen that, too. It's about time he was rewarded for his efforts.
Zastin stood up from his seat and looked at the midnight sky. But that's not the only reason he wanted Rito to come home. Since they left Planet Deviluke and started his intensive training, he hadn't heard Rito mention Lala or anyone he holds dear in his heart. He only focused on the task ahead. He went on to fight battles and then, he gave solemn words to honor their dead comrades afterwards. He thought he was strong because of that and admired him for it, too.
But once when he walked into Rito's office, he heard a strangled voice. Frightened that Rito was being attacked, he immediately entered his quarters and there he saw him struggling in Momo's arms, crying out Lala's name over and over in his sleep. Momo looked helpless as he held Rito. She was crying alongside him in that little bunk bed. Suddenly, Yami arrived and assessed the situation. As gently as she could, she wrapped her blonde hair around the struggling boy and lifted him in the air.
"I'll take it from here." She said simply. Taking that as a cue, Momo and Zastin went out of the room and left Rito into Yami's care.
"Has it always been like this?" Zastin asked, his voice rough with emotion.
Momo bit her lip. "I had no idea. He always asked for Yami after each battle, never me." She touched the door gently, hearing Rito's muffled cries. "Now, I know why."
Zastin took a step back and then another, in his mind's eye, he could still see Rito's struggling form and hear his screams. Soon, he was out of the door, fleeing as fast as he could.
"What have we done?" These words floated in his head as he walked as far away from their camp as possible.
It was then that he realized that all the fighting and deaths are breaking his gentle soul little by little. And yet, when he emerges from his quarters, he has that usual bright smile on that he forgot how much this young boy has to bear alone in silence. That's why they have to allow him to come home before he breaks down. He needs to be healed and they can't do that for him. Only Lala, his light and soul, has that ability.
The beeping sound from his computer brought him back to the present. Zastin quickly went to his seat to answer the incoming transmission from Alistair's ship. After a few minutes, his face cracked into a smile and he immediately set off to bring the good news to his charge, Rito.
The clanking of armor resonated in the empty corridor as Zastin ran towards Rito's quarters excitedly. "Muko-dono!" he shouted, as he barged into the room without knocking. He was immediately greeted by a dozen swords. He stopped in his tracks and looked at Yami in alarm. She was standing in a fighting stance in the middle room, dressed in her usual battle gear.
"You're too loud. I thought we're under attack." Yami whispered then, she slowly withdrew her swords and turned it back into hair.
"I'm sorry." Zastin apologized. "I-I was too excited to bring him the good news." He whispered in a rush.
"What news?" she asked, her crimson eyes looking at him curiously.
"Home." He said, unable to hold back his grin. "We can finally go home."
Yami blinked and then, her gaze softened. "I see. That's good to hear." She said calmly. "But that will have to wait. For now, let him rest."
Together, they looked at Rito lying spread-eagled on his huge bed in his usual t-shirt and boxers and with Celine sleeping on top of his chest and Momo curled beside him on his right side.
"Okay. I'll see you all tomorrow then." Zastin bowed and took his leave. Without making a sound, Yami closed the door using her hair and changed back into wearing her comfy buttercup nightgown. Then, she walked back towards the bed, placed the soft comforter over their sleeping figures gently and slid back under the covers right next to Rito.
"We're going home, huh?" she whispered while looking blankly at the ceiling. Then, she turned to her side and gazed at Rito's sleeping face. "I guess this will be the last time we'll be like this." Slowly, she traced a finger along the side of his face. She would only dare touch him like that when he's asleep. The light touch made Rito grunt a little but he just continued sleeping peacefully. She smiled, happy that no bad dreams would haunt him in his sleep tonight. She snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes, letting his scent envelop her in its loving warmth. She would surely miss this warmth. Tomorrow, he would go back to his rightful place beside the princess and they'll go back to how they were before. Her hold on his shirt tightened. "Too bad, just when I had gotten used to sleeping beside him like this", she thought.
"Yuuki Rito." She whispered softly before she drifted off to sleep.
A/N: Now that's the end of the fourth chapter! Haha! So, how was it this time? Come on~ how about giving me a little review? I'd love to hear your thoughts, you know. (smiles)
Oh and if you're shouting, "Where is it?! Where's the fluffiness?! The full-blown H-scenes!" while flipping tables and roaring with discontent. Okay, calm down. Haha!
Like you, I want to write it down and get it out of my system but no~ we have to practice self-control here. Once you see a warning before the start of a chapter then the scenes you've been waiting for have finally arrived. Fufufu~
So for now, hold back a little. We'll get to that point eventually, don't worry. (pats your back soothingly)
Anyway, look forward to the next chapter of this series! Take care everyone and thank you for your patience and continued support, my comrades! (salutes)
P.S.
"Mukodono" means son-in-law, or more specifically, a man who marries into a woman's family, taking the woman's family name.