We do not own Koihime Musou or Kamen Rider Gaim. They belong to their respective creators. We just thought this idea would be fun and decided to give it a try. If you like it, then that's great. If you don't, then we tried. Anyway, come along and let's see what you think.
KRC: This arc will be dedicated to D-Generation XX for his helpful criticism.
Masataka went out looking for the source of the explosive Zakuro Lockseed and with some luck was able to find it. It was an abandoned mansion used to cultivate the Fruits of Helheim in order to mass produce the explosive Zakuro Lockseeds. That was not the only thing Masataka found. He managed to stumble upon the mastermind of the entire thing.
He called himself Saver the Ultimate Salvation, but Masataka would call him Saver the Red Death. Masataka did not find him alone, though. Sonken, Kannei, and Shuutai also joined the White Devil on his investigation. After they found the Helheim Fruit, Saver confronted them and locked them inside the mansion. A fight ensued and though Masataka managed to subdue Saver with the help of Sonken, Saver had a contingency plan prepared.
Saver blew up the mansion with Zakuro Lockseeds he planted, destroying the evidence, in an attempt to kill Masataka, Sonken, Shuutai and Kannei. Now the Lockseed 'greenhouse' was a pile of rubble. Fortunately, Masataka's quick thinking saved the lives of his group.
While Masataka did not have definitive proof that Saver was the source of the explosive Zakuro Lockseeds as the Red Death did not demonstrate his ability to create them, his ownership of the master copy convinced the White Devil that Saver was the culprit he was looking for.
And now here they were, surrounded by rubble while shielded by a green energy dome. Once the dust settled and the danger passed, Masataka dropped the dome and undid his transformation, reverting to his civilian form.
"Is everyone OK?" Masataka asked, concerned for his fiancé and their bodyguards. Nobody seemed injured, but it was best to make sure.
"I'm alright," Sonken answered. She was still a bit shaken but relieved to be safe and uninjured.
"Me too," Shuutai added. There was a slight ringing in her ears, but it was not so bad since the dome shielded them from the noise of the explosion. It would hopefully fade away in due time.
"Kannei?" Sonken asked when Kannei did not answer. She was oddly silent and this worried the Queen of Son Go. She soon got her answer as Kannei groaned and collapsed, causing everyone to gasp. Shuutai caught her before she fell face-down on the ground.
"Kannei!?" Sonken cried.
"What's wrong?" Shuutai asked, worried. Kannei answered with a pain-filled groan.
Masataka spotted Kannei's injury. She had been shot in her side by Saver. It must've happened when he was firing at them while teleporting around. Zangetsu thought he managed to deflect them all, but a stray arrow must've slipped through and hit Kannei. With all that adrenaline pumping through her, Kannei had not noticed it until much later. Once the adrenaline rush subsided, the injury finally caught up with her.
"We need to take her to a doctor, immediately!" Sonken shouted urgently. There was no time to waste. This was an emergency.
"Minmei, take Renfa-sama back to the palace," Masataka ordered urgently as he handed Shuutai his Sakura Hurricane Lockvehicle. He then took out his Suika Lockseed and unlocked it to summon the Suika Armor Part. "I'll take Kannei."
[SOIYA! SUIKA ARMS! ODAMA BIG BANG!]
[GYRO MODE!]
Sonken and Shuutai watched as Zangetsu took off, carrying Kannei back to the palace for emergency medical attention. Sonken prayed that Kannei would be alright.
"Come on, Sonken-sama. I'll take you back to the palace," Shuutai offered.
"Thank you, Shuutai."
Shuutai unlocked the Sakura Hurricane Lockvehicle which transformed and grew from its Lockseed form into its vehicular mode. Despite it being a strange vehicle, Shuutai had learned how to drive it from Masataka. It was like riding a horse. As she mounted and took hold of the handlebars, Sonken got on the back and wrapped her arms around the black-haired girl.
Shuutai revved the engine and kicked up the kickstand before she sped toward the palace with Sonken. All the while, the Queen of Son Go wondered how things had gone wrong.
Sangokuden Armored War Gods Saga: End of the Armored War Gods
Co-Written By: Kamen Rider Chrome & Ten-Faced Paladin
Beta Reader/Editor: Busterleader92
Chapter 28: The Hunt for Red Death
The guards of Son Go had seen everything from Armored War Gods to the numerous monsters that tried to attack the kingdom. With all the weird things that had happened so far, they should be used to it all by now.
Standing on the wall surrounding the palace were sentry guards mounted on Tulip Hoppers. There were also aerial patrols being done by guards on Dandeliners.
The Lockvehicles were truly an asset. It made Son Go a secure city and the guards could act quickly to handle any threats.
When a lone Suika Arms unit in its flying Gyro Mode was spotted heading for the palace, it was immediately noticed by the aerial sentries who approached it.
"Halt!" one of the sentries ordered, shining a light on the Suika Arms unit.
"Let me through! It's an emergency!" Zangetsu shouted.
When the aerial sentries saw that Zangetsu was carrying an injured Kannei, they allowed him through and escorted him to the palace.
Zangetsu landed in front of the palace and jumped out of the Suika Arms unit, carrying an injured Kannei in his arms.
"Help! Get the physician! She needs help, now!" Zangetsu cried urgently. He was allowed entry, carrying Kannei to the palace's medical wing, all the while whispering reassuring words to her. "Just hang on, Kannei. You're going to be alright."
He could not bear the thought of losing anyone. Not like last time.
Masataka left Kannei in the care of the royal physician and breathed a sigh of relief. Kannei was a fighter. She was going to make it. Now alone in the hallway, Masataka could entertain his thoughts and mentally go over what had happened.
It had been quite a night. They discovered the source for the explosive Zakuro Lockseeds and the mastermind behind the bombing. Unfortunately, Saver managed to get away. There was also the fact that, according to Ping, before they even found the place, the Genesis cultists had already taken a bunch of Zakuro Lockseeds with them. With that kind of explosive power at their disposal, the amount of damage Saver and the cultists could cause was unimaginable.
"Zangetsu!"
Masataka turned when his name was called and saw Shuyu approaching him. She looked upset.
No, she looked mad.
Correction, she was absolutely furious.
With each step she took, Shuyu's high heels produced a loud echo with each tap on the floor. Finally, she stopped in front of him. While Shuyu was slightly shorter than he was, she still managed to tower over him because of her high heels.
"Shuyu-dono, good evening..." Masataka greeted calmly.
"Where is Sonken-sama?" Shuyu demanded.
"She's..." Before Masataka could give her his answer, Sonken and Shuutai arrived. "Right here."
"Masataka-kun, is Kannei alright?" Sonken asked.
"Sonken-sama!" Shuyu snapped, causing Sonken to flinch at her tone. "Where have you been?"
"I went out for some fresh air," Sonken lied.
"At this hour? I don't think so," Shuyu scoffed, catching Sonken's lie. She did not become the head advisor by being so gullible. "You were all out together, weren't you?" She turned her glare on Masataka, already pinning the blame on him.
"Don't blame Masataka-kun. He had no idea I was following him," Sonken defended her fiancé.
"And where were you all exactly?" Shuyu demanded, folding her arms under her breasts. "Well?"
"Shuyu-sama, Zangetsu-sama and I were looking for clues for our investigation when we ran into Sonken-sama and Kannei-dono who asked to come along," Shuutai explained.
"You should've refused and immediately brought Sonken-sama back to the palace," Shuyu chided her. "And you, Sonken-sama, you should not have left the palace, especially now when it's so dangerous."
"I was only trying to find out the truth," Sonken argued.
"That was Zangetsu's assignment, not yours. Not even Sonsaku-sama would be so foolish," Shuyu retorted.
"No, my sister would do everything in her power to find out the truth and put a stop to her enemies."
"You can never be like your sister." Sonken seemed stricken by Shuyu's words. Shuyu let out a sigh of exasperation. "It's late. You should all get some rest." With that said, Shuyu turned and walked away.
"Renfa-sama, you should not take her words to heart," Masataka comforted Sonken once Shuyu was out of earshot.
"Shuyu's right. I'm not like my sister. I can never be like Onee-sama. Because of my foolishness, Kannei got hurt," Sonken said miserably.
"Do not blame yourself, Sonken-sama. Kannei-dono knew the risks," Shuutai reassured Sonken. "She will recover. She just needs to rest and let herself heal."
"I still feel terrible, though."
"Because you care about her. You feel like this because you nearly lost someone you care about. That's normal but you shouldn't dwell on it," said Masataka.
Sonken recomposed herself. Masataka was right. This was no time to feel sorry for herself. There was a dangerous terrorist on the loose. It was time for action.
"Do you have a plan on how to deal with Saver?" Sonken asked Masataka.
"We need to track him down first. Since he destroyed the building that supplied him with the fruits, he'll have to get them directly from Helheim Forest or start another farm someplace else. Unfortunately, we don't know where he's hiding out now or where he's storing his supply of Lockseeds. Then there's the cult he's working with. He has members walking around with those Zakuro Lockseeds, ready to blow them up once they receive their orders," Masataka explained. "We are running out of time."
"I'll send the guards to look around for anyone dressed in white robes and take them in. Masataka-kun, I want you to find Saver and stop him before anyone else gets hurt," Sonken ordered.
"I won't fail you, Renfa-sama. Saver just made this personal," Masataka complied.
"I'll assist as well," Shuutai offered.
"Thank you, both of you. Now, I think it's time we go to bed. It's been a long night for all of us," said Sonken.
Before Sonken could leave, Masataka put a hand on her shoulder as a comforting gesture. She looked up into his eyes as he gazed into hers.
"Renfa-sama, Shuyu-dono was right. You're not like Sonsaku-sama, but you shouldn't have to be. Sonsaku-sama wanted you to rule in her place because she knew you were the best person to take up the responsibility. Be true to yourself and everything will work out."
Sonken smiled as she was touched by his words and gave him a hug out of gratitude.
"Thank you, Masataka-kun."
Masataka wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug.
"You're welcome, Renfa-sama."
It was a tender moment, which they needed to cherish during these troubled time. He was here to help her, at every step of the way. None of them could do this alone and they needed each other during these dire times.
Shuutai watched them share a tender moment as her heart tightened in her chest.
The next day-which was the second day of the Tiger Festival-the guards were on patrol as usual. They had been given new orders to be on the lookout for anybody suspicious. The suspicious parties all wore white robes with hoods and could be carrying Zakuro Lockseeds. The guards were told to be careful. These cultists were volatile and might explode when provoked.
Meanwhile, Sonshoko and Sonken were having breakfast together. The princess noted Masataka's absence. He usually joined them at this time. It was odd for him to miss breakfast unless something else took up his time.
"Where's Zan-niichan?" Sonshoko asked.
"He had to work late," Sonken answered. "So he might've overslept."
"Oh..." Sonshoko frowned sadly. "Onee-chan, what happened yesterday?"
Sonshoko might be young and a little naive but she was not completely oblivious. Hiding things from her was not recommended either. She had a way of finding things out while getting herself into trouble.
"Our enemies are attacking us from within the kingdom," Sonken told her little sister.
"During the Tiger Festival?" Sonshoko asked. She had not been told the details of what happened during the Inves Games Tournament. She was only told to stay in the palace because it was not safe to go outside.
"I know you were looking forward to enjoying the Tiger Festival, Shaoren, but now's not a good time," Sonken consoled her youngest sister.
"It's not fair," Sonshoko pouted, arms crossed. Why did their enemies have to ruin the Tiger Festival for her? Now Masataka was going to be too busy to spend any time with her.
When he was really busy, it was hard for Sonshoko to pull Masataka away so she could spend time with her big brother. Also, she had to share Masataka with her big sister. As Sonken was Masataka's betrothed, she got to spend more time with him.
Sonshoko hoped her Zan-niichan would be able to solve this case before the end of the Tiger Festival. She did not want to wait another year.
Natsu, Kogai, and Fuyu headed down to Masataka's office. They heard that Masataka wanted the Tiger Festival to be canceled after what happened at the opening ceremony. They also heard that Masataka got into a fight with Shuyu.
Normally, Masataka and Shuyu were on amicable terms. They used to work for Sonsaku before her death and were now serving Sonken. However, lately, there appeared to be some sort of tension building up between them. It was natural for people in their position to argue. They were Sonken's advisors and were only trying to help her come up with a solution. But the shouting match they had was unnecessary. Only Sonken's command ceased their argument, but everyone watching could tell that Shuyu was boiling mad.
Last night, Kannei got hurt, and Shuyu got mad at Sonken for going out without a proper security detail. Even though Sonken had Kannei by her side and had joined Masataka and Shuutai, that still did not assuage Shuyu's anger.
Sonken was Queen of Son Go and she could not afford to be reckless. What if something had happened to her? Sonshoko was too young to take the throne and the kingdom would have lost another ruler shortly after the death of the previous one.
Kannei's injury and why Shuyu was mad had something to do with Masataka's investigation and the Fuma Twins felt they deserved to know what it was.
After telling Taishiji they needed to go see Masataka, Fuyu and Natsu went to the palace. They could not stay long since Taishiji needed them for a performance later. They told her they were only going to drop by and check in on Masataka.
They ran into Kogai along the way and now the three of them were going to speak with Masataka.
They stopped in front of the door to Masataka's office and found a wooden sign hanging in front of it:
DO NOT DISTURB!
I'M BUSY!
-Zangetsu
"Should we go in?" Kogai asked the twins hesitantly. Masataka hated being disturbed while he was in the middle of work, but this was important. Natsu and Fuyu shared a look.
"Rock, Paper, Scissors?" Fuyu suggested.
"Rock, Paper, Scissors," Natsu agreed.
Kogai blinked.
Rock, Paper, Scissor? Were they serious?
"Rock, Paper, Scissors, shoot!"
The Fuma Twins played Rock, Paper Scissors and threw out their hands.
Natsu chose rock while Fuyu chose paper.
"Alright, you get to knock, Natsu-niisan," Fuyu said as he stepped back.
"Yay me..." Natsu cheered sarcastically. Natsu raised his fist and knocked on the door. "Sempai, are you in there? Sempai!"
"I'm busy! Go away!" Masataka called out from the other side of the door.
"We just want to talk! We're part of the team too! Don't shut us out!"
There were a few moments of silence coming from the other side. Then the door unlocked.
"Come in!" Masataka called out roughly.
Natsu opened the door and entered the office with Fuyu and Kogai. They were taken aback by the sight of Masataka.
He had dark bags under his bloodshot eyes, his hair was disheveled, and he looked like he hadn't slept all night. He had taken off his white robe, revealing that he wore a short-sleeved green shirt under it.
Also, the twins noticed the smell.
It was Masataka's body odor.
"Sempai, have you been up all night?" Fuyu asked.
"Is it morning?" Masataka asked tiredly.
"It's past noon."
"Then I've been up all night."
Masataka was no stranger to all-nighters. As a workaholic, he was accustomed to staying up late to get his assignments and projects done on time. He did not do it to study for a test or exams, as cramming all night would not benefit him at all, causing him to suffer from sleep deprivation, but his duty as the student council secretary would sometimes keep him up all night. That habit seemed to carry over when he became an advisor to Son Go's ruler.
Right now, he looked like he was working himself to death and close to passing out. Whatever he was working on, it was not doing him any good. It might even be detrimental to his health, both mental and physical.
Fuyu checked out the stuff that was stuck onto Masataka's wall-mounted board. He managed to make out what Masataka was working on. It looked like Masataka was obsessed with this new assignment.
"Who's the 'Red Death', Sempai?" Fuyu asked curiously.
"It's what I'm calling our enemy," Masataka answered. "He calls himself 'Saver the Ultimate Salvation', but 'Red Death' seems more fitting."
Yeah, it was more fitting and hardcore.
The White Devil VS. The Red Death. It sounded like a movie that Natsu would like to watch.
"So, this Red Death turned an abandoned mansion into some kind of 'greenhouse' to grow Helheim Fruits to make explosive Lockseeds," Natsu summarized. "I'm guessing you confronted the guy."
"He got away and tried to blow us up too," Masataka added as he slumped down in his chair, exhausted. "Besides Kannei, nobody else got hurt."
"Why didn't you call us?" Fuyu asked. "We're literally just a phone call away."
"I had it handled," Masataka defended, nearly snapping at Fuyu.
"Yeah, and the guy got away," Natsu retorted. "I bet if we were with you we could've taken this guy."
Masataka had no choice but to agree with Natsu. With the inclusion of Zangetsu-Jou, Saver would find himself overwhelmed by the combined might of Zangetsu, Mars, and Kamuro. He would not have gotten away.
"I didn't think he would be crazy enough to blow up the place," Masataka remarked.
Besides going over the clues, Masataka had mulled over Saver all night. The Red Death seemed to know the White Devil, so he was probably from the same world as him and the twins. That was how he knew about the suicide bomber tactics. He did not sleep as he tried to figure out Saver's true identity and predict his next move.
Just who could Saver be and what did he want? Those questions kept Masataka up all night.
"If you were going to be working late, then why didn't you ask for my help, Sensei?" Kogai asked. She could've lightened his workload and then he wouldn't have stayed up all night trying to do it all by himself.
"We would've been at this all night, so I gave you the day off to enjoy the festival," Masataka answered as he rubbed his tired eyes.
"How can I enjoy myself when all this is happening?" Kogai asked, gesturing to the board.
"I'm sorry, I just thought I could concentrate better on my own and figure out their next target."
"It could be the palace," Fuyu suggested. It was the home of the royal family and the symbol for the kingdom, making it an ideal target. If the palace was bombed, it could cause widespread panic throughout the kingdom.
"Sonken-sama made sure the guards are on the lookout for anyone suspicious. They're even going to check anyone coming to the palace to make sure they're not carrying one of those explosive Lockseeds," Masataka answered. He did not want any of those Lockseeds in these walls without his knowledge.
"Well, they hit the tournament on the first day, and the only thing interesting about that was because there were a lot of people and the royal family was present," Natsu added.
"It's the Tiger Festival right now so there are going to be a lot of people out enjoying themselves. We even have people visiting the city as well," Fuyu stated further.
"So, while the palace is the most obvious target, they could attack anywhere with a large population to cause as much damage and to take as many lives as possible, all just to make a statement," Masataka concluded.
"Killing so many people just to send a message," Kogai frowned in disgust. "That's just too cruel."
"They wouldn't be bad guys if they weren't cruel, babe," Natsu returned.
"Sempai, do you need our help?" Fuyu asked.
"Won't you both get in trouble if you skip another performance with your troupe?" Masataka questioned the twins.
"I'm sure Taishiji-san will understand when she finds out how important this is," Natsu waved off Masataka's worry. If Son Go was destroyed, then the troupe could move on, but it just didn't sit right with the twins to leave Masataka and the others to fend for themselves.
"But we should still inform her about this, just so she can permit us to help you, Sempai," Fuyu added. He did not want Taishiji to be worried about their absence.
That was understandable. Despite being employed as Son Go's Armored War Gods, they also held loyalty to the performance troupe and Taishiji was still the twins' boss. They may answer to Sonken, but they also answered to Taishiji. They owed Taishiji for taking them in and giving them a home when they accidentally ended up in this world.
It was best to follow proper procedure to avoid complications.
"Alright, then I'll try to figure out what they're next move will be," Masataka said as he stood up.
"Don't you mean we will figure out their next move," Kogai corrected.
"Fine, we," Masataka relented. He would've argued that he was in charge and that his decision was final, but he was outnumbered and too exhausted to argue. It was best to take the course of least resistance.
"You also need to take a bath and go to bed, you reek, Sempai," Natsu pointed out.
"I can't sleep!" Masataka raised his fists in refusal. "I need to solve this mystery!"
Natsu grabbed Masataka's arms and pulled them down, his face screwed in a look of disgust. He had gotten a whiff of the smell under Masataka's armpits.
It was not pleasant.
"Bath. Go to bed. Now," Natsu ordered firmly.
"You can barely think straight, Sempai," added Fuyu gently. "You should get some rest before you can continue."
"Yeah, take care of yourself, man. You're not doing anyone any favors if you pass out from lack of sleep," Natsu agreed with his twin.
Masataka looked to Kogai for help and she shook her head. She agreed with the twins.
Masataka groaned. He knew they were right, but he had so much work to do. However, they had a point. He was so tired and he could barely think straight. Sleep deprivation would not help him find Saver faster to stop his plans. In fact, it would only hinder the White Devil if he can't sleep and take care of himself.
The twins were right. He was pretty tired and maybe a bath and bed were just what he needed to take a break. Once he caught some Z's, his mind would be refreshed and he would be able to solve this case with a clear head.
"Alright, just let me...Zzzzzzz..." Masataka closed his eyes and snored. He had fallen asleep in his chair.
"That was quick," Kogai remarked. She had never seen someone doze off so quickly. "He must've been really exhausted."
"Alright, someone has to carry him to bed," Fuyu said.
"Can't we leave him here?" Natsu asked.
"Natsu-niisan..."
"OK, fine. But I'm not going to carry him. He stinks."
"I don't want to carry him either."
"So, who carries him?"
"I can carry him!" Shuutai popped out of nowhere, causing the Fuma Twins and Kogai to jump, startled.
"Holy Fucking Christ! Where did you come from!?" Natsu cried.
"I'm always nearby whenever Zangetsu-sama needs me," Shuutai claimed.
"...That's kinda creepy," Natsu remarked.
"It's not creepy! I'm his bodyguard! I need to keep an eye on him, even when he sleeps!" Shuutai defended.
"...You watch him sleep?"
Shuutai blushed as she realized how that sounded.
"To protect him!"
"Wait, if you've been watching him all night, why didn't you get him to bed?" Natsu asked.
Shuutai let out a tired sigh. She sounded exhausted and frustrated as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Don't you think I would if I could? Zangetsu-sama can be inhumanly stubborn when he's absorbed by his work," Shuutai answered.
"Yeah, that sounds about right," Natsu agreed. The guy was a workaholic after all.
Shuutai was a bit ashamed of herself for falling asleep while watching Masataka. When she woke up and saw he was still working, she found that Masataka had put a blanket over her. It was a simple, yet touching gesture.
Shuutai then went over to Masataka and put him on her back. She struggled for a bit with his weight and body odor, but she was able to give him a piggyback ride.
"Um, Minmei, are you sure you don't need help?" Kogai asked.
"I'm...fine!" Shuutai huffed as she struggled to carry Masataka on her back. "I'm taking him to bed!"
"Shouldn't you buy him dinner first?" Natsu teased and Shuutai blushed before she stormed out of the office with Masataka sleeping on his back.
"Nii-san, must you tease the poor girl?" Fuyu asked disapprovingly.
"Oh, relax, little brother! I'm just messing with her coz I care!" Natsu defended.
"It's rather cute," Kogai noted. "She's so devoted to him."
"Come on, we came here to help Sempai. Let's help him figure all this out," said Fuyu as he pointed to the board.
Sonshoko had morning lessons with Rikuson. With Masataka absent, it was up to the green-haired strategist to substitute for him and pick up where Sonshoko left last time. Unfortunately, Sonshoko could not concentrate on her lessons. All she could think about was Masataka and spending the day with her.
After her lessons, Sonshoko stopped in front of Masataka's room. Shuutai stood guard in front of the door and greeted the princess when she showed up. She had just put Masataka to bed when Sonshoko came along.
"What brings you here, Shoko-sama?" Shuutai asked.
"I'm here to see Zan-niichan. He missed breakfast so I thought I could bring him something to eat," Sonshoko answered, holding a plate of rice balls she had gotten from the kitchen.
Shuutai shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Shoko-sama, but Zangetsu-sama needs his rest. He stayed up all night working," Shuutai explained.
Sonshoko's smile fell. She looked crushed.
"But...but he promised he'd take me out to the festival!"
"Weren't you told to stay in the palace for your own safety? It's not safe right now."
"I thought it would be OK if Zan-niichan was with me. He could keep me safe."
"I'm sorry, but Zangetsu-sama can't be disturbed right now. He's tired and he needs his rest."
Sonshoko frowned as she hung her head low in disappointment.
"And then he's back to work, busy as usual..."
Shuutai could see how disappointed Sonshoko was. Sonshoko was looking forward to spending the Tiger Festival with her favorite big brother. She wanted to have fun with him but found out she could not.
"Shoko-sama, I'm sure once Masataka solves this case, you and he can go out as promised," Shuutai reassured the princess.
"But by then the festival will be over..."
"Shoko-sama..."
"No, it's alright, Shuutai. Zan-niichan works so much so he needs his rest when he can get it. There's always next time." Sonshoko handed Shuutai the plate. "Here, take one, but make sure he eats something when he wakes up."
Shuutai watched as Sonshoko walked away dejectedly. Shuutai let out a sigh. Really, Saver was making everyone miserable with his scheme.
The guards were still on the lookout for any suspicious activity, but they had not spotted anyone in white robes and hoods. Of course, knowing that the guards were looking for them, the cultists were smart enough not to wear their uniforms so they could blend in with the people. They also had to act normal so they would not draw the attention of the guards.
Saver would be pretty unhappy if they did anything to ruin the plan. The cultists had Zakuro Lockseeds and were ready to use them, but Saver wanted them to follow the plan and wait for the signal. He did not want any premature explosions.
As fun as it would be to see the people run around like chickens that had their heads cut off, it would be more satisfying when the plan was executed as scheduled.
For now, the cultists needed to wait for Saver's signal. Then the real fun would begin.
Sonken had gone with Ryomo to visit Kannei and see how she was doing. The doctor had given the woman a sedative to help her asleep. She needed to rest so she could recover properly.
Both Sonken and Ryomo stood at Kannei's bedside.
Ryomo was once a member of the royal guard serving under Kannei. She was talented, but her long-sightedness in one eye caused her difficulties which made training difficult. Ryomo was later assigned as Sonken's bodyguard. It was at that time when Ryomo proved to be intelligent when she caught the assassins that had come under the guise of performers. Since then, Ryomo was assigned as Sonken's strategist. Besides her intelligence, Ryomo still had her training from her time as a royal guard, which also allowed her to protect Sonken if Kannei was not around.
Ryomo could sense Sonken's guilt and attempted to comfort her.
"Kannei-dono knew the risks, Sonken-sama."
"Masataka-kun said the same thing, but it doesn't make me feel any better. Why must people get hurt for me?"
Sonken did not like the idea of her loved ones getting hurt for her sake, and yet she allowed Masataka to fight for her. When he went missing, she thought she would never see him again. Kannei almost got killed because of Sonken's willful recklessness.
Being queen meant shouldering a heavy burden. The lives of everyone in her kingdom were her responsibility. Sonsaku used to make it look so easy, but Sonken was much softer than her sister. She cared for her kingdom and she wanted to protect it, but she could not harden her heart like Sonsaku could.
"I'm sure whoever this Saver is, Zangetsu-sama is going to teach him a lesson," said Ryomo optimistically. "After all, Zangetsu-sama is the White Devil Tiger of Divine Providence." That was another epithet given to Masataka after he gained the power of the White Tiger.
Sonken had faith that Masataka would do everything in his power to save the kingdom. Sonken just needed to be strong and put on a brave face so her subjects could not panic. It was a hard job but she had to do it for her kingdom.
When Masataka awoke, the sun had already set. He had planned to take a nap, but instead, he had slept for the entire day.
He had all-nighters before, but none this bad, and none that caused him to sleep the entire day.
Back in his world, he was the model student. He got 100 on every test and exam, followed the rules to the letter and had never gotten in trouble. That left him little time for friends and socializing, but it was not much of a loss. The other members of the student council were the closest thing he had to friends. At best, they were just acquaintances.
He had never gone out for karaoke with friends, he had never gone out for a hamburger with friends, and he had never really gone out to watch a movie with friends. In fact, he never really took the time to hang out with friends. The only free time he had was the time he spent at home to relax, during school holidays and the weekend breaks.
He enjoyed watching Kamen Rider Gaim and the character he identified with the most was Takatora Kureshima. The man was a pragmatist who appeared cold and aloof, but he actually cared about people. When the threat of Helheim Forest became known to him, he worked to try and save as much of the human population as possible. While his plans could spell the death of millions of people, he was always burdened by the guilt of being unable to do more. Everything he did was for the best of intentions, even if it made him look like a villain.
Takatora Kureshima was a pragmatist and so was Masataka. It was why he insisted that the festival should be canceled, even suggesting the curfew, to keep everyone safe. Unfortunately, he was overruled by Sonken. Neither of them was wrong, but Masataka still believed his suggestion to cancel the festival was the best one right now. They could have another festival next year.
Right now, Masataka needed to save Son Go. Whatever Saver was planning to use the Zakuro Lockseeds for, if what happened at the tournament was any indication, could not bode well for them.
As Masataka got out of bed, he failed to notice the plate of rice balls that were placed on his bedside table. He opened his door and stepped out of his room, only to bump into Shuutai. She was holding a letter in her hand.
"Minmei, good evening," he abruptly greeted.
"Good evening, Zangetsu-sama. Are you well-rested?" Shuutai inquired.
"Yes..." Masataka yawned. "I'm going to take a hot bath and get dressed."
"Here, this letter just came for you," said Shuutai as she handed him the letter. "Also, Shoko-sama was here earlier."
"Shaoren? What did she want?" Masataka asked as he started to unfold the letter to read.
"She came over to ask if you would accompany her to go to the festival."
Masataka paused. Oh, right. He had promised to go out and spend the day with Sonshoko during the Tiger Festival. So many things had happened since he made that promise that it slipped his mind.
He felt terrible about forgetting the promise he made to Sonshoko, but there was vital work to be done. He was on an important assignment and he could not afford to be distracted.
"I'll make it up to her later," Masataka promised before he read the letter. "I see. Looks like The Broker wants to see me."
"Will you need me to accompany you?" Shuutai asked.
"No need. I won't be out long," Masataka responded. "But first, I need a bath, get dressed and to go get something to eat."
"Shoko-sama was here earlier. She left you some rice balls. I put them right there beside your bed," Shuutai informed him.
Masataka turned and finally saw the plate of rice balls that was on his bedside table.
"I see. That's very thoughtful of her. I'll have them after my bath and a change of clothes."
After Masataka took his bath and got dressed, he had Sonshoko's rice balls before he went to meet Kuma alone. He drove to the club on his Sakura Hurricane. Once he arrived, he put his bike away and entered. As he was Kuma's guest, he was allowed entry without hassle.
As usual, Kuma was sitting in the VIP section, surrounded by his girls.
"Ah, Zangetsu! You got my message!" Kuma greeted Masataka with a smile. He always greeted the White Devil like an old friend.
"Your message said that you have some information for me, Kuma-san," Masataka said, cutting to the chase. He had little time to waste on trivialities.
"I sent my boys to be on the lookout for anything suspicious like I promised. One of them said they found what you were looking for," said Kuma as he handed Masataka a folded sheet of paper.
Masataka took the paper and unfolded it. He read the information that Kuma had provided him. The Broker could've provided this information on the letter he had delivered to Masataka earlier, but that's not his style after all. The Broker always gave his information face-to-face.
"Can this be verified?" Masataka asked skeptically. He did not want to go on a wild goose chase, going after leads that were a waste of his time.
"You have to check it out for yourself to find that out," Kuma answered. "So, are you satisfied?"
Masataka folded the note and placed it in his pocket. He then dropped a satchel of copper coins onto Kuma's table.
"Thank you for the information," Masataka said as he accepted the information.
"Hey, Zangetsu! Next time you come, let's play a few rounds of mahjong!" Kuma invited as Masataka walked away.
Masataka exited the club and took out his LockPhone. If he was going to do this, he was going to need backup. Otherwise, he could not claim he was prepared for anything.
If he was going to bring Saver in to face justice, he would need the twins' help.
KRC: This was basically an aftermath chapter for what happened after the end of the previous one. Just Masataka making plans and also showing how he can be a bit of a workaholic. It seems that he would spend all night trying to formulate a plan or to figure out a problem. Honestly, not very healthy since it shows the effects of staying up all night and then staying up until all the way past noon. It's not good for everyone's health. Trust me. I've been there. Never drank coffee, but I once mixed Mountain Dew and Red Bull together. Kept me awake, but I got sick the next day. All you get is a fried brain and feeling ill.
BL92: If you don't believe me, then try it. I double dog dare you. You won't feel good about yourself if you try doing your homework, working or partying at night until noon like Masataka did. Like the time when I mixed different kinds of sodas to make an ultimate soda blend with different flavors known as the Suicide Fusion. It made me hyper and kept me awake, but in the end, I feel exhausted and sick the next day. Believe me, it didn't end well and I had to pay the ultimate price for creating a monstrous soda that gives me bad stomachache for the day.
Fuyu found his girlfriend Rikuson standing outside of Sonshoko's bedroom. She looked worried and anxious.
"What's wrong, Non?" Fuyu asked.
"It's Shao-sama," Rikuson answered, sadly shaking her head. "She's upset. Zangetsu-sama was supposed to spend the day with her during the festival, but he was unable to."
Fuyu knew why. Masataka was busy on an important assignment. The man made it his mission to stop Saver that everything else was pushed aside, even the promise he made to the little princess. He could understand why Masataka could not take Sonshoko out to the festival, but Masataka did not even bother to explain things to her.
That was cold. Even for him.
"You know, even if Sempai can't take Shaoren-sama out to the festival, it doesn't mean you can't take her," suggested Fuyu.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Rikuson asked. "It's not safe right now."
"I'm sure Sonken-sama will allow Shaoren-sama to go out for just a bit. I know the bombing at the opening ceremony has everyone on edge, but you can't let something like that stop you from having fun," Fuyu reasoned. "You can't live your life if you're afraid to live."
Rikuson understood. Fuyu was telling her not to be afraid. It might be dangerous to go to the festival, but they would not be out for long.
"I'll probably need guards to escort us," Rikuson considered.
"Yeah, it's dangerous right now so she's going to need protection," Fuyu agreed.
"Tomorrow, then. Tomorrow we'll go out and I'll make sure Shao-sama enjoys herself like she's supposed to."
Fuyu smiled approvingly. Then his LockPhone vibrated and he took it out. He flipped open the device and read the message written on the screen.
"New orders?" Rikuson asked.
"Duty calls, sweetie. Sempai needs us," Fuyu said to Rikuson. He gave her a kiss on the lips before he left to do his job as an Armored War God.
"Be careful out there," Rikuson said, concerned for her lover.
"Don't worry. I'll be back, Non. Then later we can enact that scene from that book you love so much."
Rikuson blushed happily. Oh, she knew which scene he meant and she was looking forward to it. The thought of it made her tingle pleasantly all over.
But Fuyu had something else on his mind. He needed to speak with Masataka about how he was treating Sonshoko. It could not be postponed.
Meanwhile, Natsu was in bed with Kogai when he got the message. He flipped open his LockPhone to read it.
"What is it?" Kogai asked as she cuddled with him. He had one arm around her, holding her close.
"Sempai needs me for something," Natsu said.
Kogai pouted as she drew circles on his chest.
"Really? I was kind of hoping we could spend the whole night together."
Natsu gave his girlfriend a pleased smile.
"For the record, so do I, but if Sempai's calling it has to be important."
"Sensei has bad timing, though," Kogai remarked.
"Can't argue with that, Sai, but if he needs Mars' sword then I gotta lend it to him."
Kogai grinned as she licked her lips.
"And what if I need Mars' sword now?"
"That depends if your scabbard can take it."
"Oh, it fits. You know it does. Does he need to see you right away?"
"Well, he said he needed to see me later, so I think he can wait for like five or ten more minutes."
Kogai smiled and there was a naughty glint in her eyes.
"Perfect." Kogai rolled on top of Natsu and kissed him deeply. "Make it count, soldier."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Natsu was only happy to comply.