Chapter 10: Enter Itsuki - The REAL Bad-ass of the Story
In the beginning there was only creation. With creation came multiple worlds and after that came the Multi-Verse. Within all the dimensions and universes there lies a way to The Mobius Strip, where they all lead and connect to each other. Few knew of its existence but soon a small group started an ancient group called, The Order.
It is run by a council that only acts when balance is in danger. Their agents maintain that balance. Among them is Itsuki Uchiha. A skilled warrior and brilliant strategist. His time to reveal himself on to Tristain has come.
In Tristain:
Kazuko was asleep trying to forget the memories of his clan's slaughter. But the memories came rushing back in full force. Nightmare murdering his friends and family without any mercy. And as Kazuko remembered the torment, all he could think of was that Nightmare only spared him so that his power would increase ten-fold ounce he harnessed his powers.
Kazuko woke up in fear thinking that Nightmare was about to kill him. But he was gone for good, for he had finally exacted justice for the demons atrocity. It was hard to accept Nightmare's death, for his entire life, spanning centuries, Kazuko's life long purpose was fulfilled. He could no longer sleep that night. He could not comprehend what his life had in store for him anymore. Where to go and what to do with himself?
All he had were his friends, Saito, Louise, Kirche, Tabitha, and Guiche. But most importantly Henrietta. They all stood by him in the invasion of Albion, and they rescued him from there country after he unintentionally murdered their Prince. Kazuko had to take on what ever Tristain's problems had left, until he found a new purpose. He owed the institute for a home, he owed them for giving him what was close to be even called a family, and he owed them for getting them in this war between Albion in the first place.
But he did not care for what debts he owed them. He had nowhere else to go. And his best friend Saito was as stuck there as him. Missing the solar eclipse during the invasion was a bigger lose than thought. Kazuko realized soon after he could not chaos control himself or his friend Saito home. Saito's help proved invaluable to Tristain wining the battle but missing his chance to return home proved more disappointing than regretful. Besides it seemed like he grew close to his own master, Louise.
After the battle Kazuko managed to have a small room of his own at the academy as a small reward for his service and sacrifice. His relationship with Kirche was still friendly but it is becoming more apparent by the day that his heart belongs to someone else.
Later that Morning:
It was only one day before the Princess' coronation. Kazuko didn't train that day since he had much to wonder about what to even do with himself after Albion is no longer a threat to Tristain. Saito and Louise spent their day in an average school day manner. Only minus a lot of the anger and punishment Louise dished out to him. She seemed to develop after the invasion which was a miracle in of itself.
In the Tristain Palace:
At the palace Henrietta was preparing for her coronation, she would be The Queen of Tristain by tomorrow. Though the people were cheering her name, she still felt alone in the world. Before her dress was ready one of the servant's had informed her of an urgent arrival from someone of the highest authority. She could not believe who it was but it was clear as crystal.
A few minutes later Itsuki arrived and bowed to her majesty. "Your highness it is a privilege to meet you again. Thought I wished it was under less, critical circumstances.", Itsuki said trying to be formal.
"As do I Itsuki, it was long ago since I met you. You visited my home under the assumption that we were hiding something of importance to you correct?", Henrietta asked.
"Indeed. I'm surprised you remembered it that well. But thankfully your family was falsely accused by my superiors.", Itsuki replied.
"Since I will be the ruler by the next morning, why are you here exactly?", Henrietta said almost demanding an answer.
"I have come on a most important matter, both personal and serious alike. The serious, is that your country is at war with another country. And since your country has The Order's protection we will give you as much assistance we can send. I am that assistance. And the personal is my brother. Whom I reckon you have met by now considering the reports I heard from the invasion.", explained Itsuki.
"Yes I have, but what exactly about him are you interested in?", asked Henrietta.
"I want you to send for him here, today. I don't know how close you are to him, but we have not seen each other in a long time. For him it was lifetimes ago that he last saw me.", he pleaded.
"I will send for him, and honestly I am not very close to him. I have not seen him much due to the event's following the invasion.", she admitted.
Henrietta wrote a message calling Kazuko to come to the palace immediately. Before she had finished the letter Itsuki asked if she neglected the fact that he was there. "It would be best if he saw for himself.", Itsuki suggested. Henrietta agreed and sent the letter.
At the academy:
Kazuko merely spent the rest of the day with Saito and Louise, trying to take his mind off of everything. It was nice just hanging out with his friends and no danger or death hanging around the corner. As the school gates opened the messenger delivered Kazuko the letter.
Kazuko read it aloud and wasted no time getting there. Saito wanted to know what it said but Kazuko teleported his way to the palace before Saito could get an answer.
Kazuko made it to the palace gates hoping to avoid the guards from thinking he was after the princess. He entered the princess' throne room and kneeled in respect. "Your highness it is a pleasure to see you again. Though in all honesty why have you asked me here on such short notice?", asked Kazuko.
"Kazuko I have something to show you that you had to see.", Henrietta said. She opened her chamber door's and Kazuko saw his brother waiting. Kazuko was speechless he couldn't utter a word. Itsuki looked at his brother and walked to him slowly. Itsuki hugged Kazuko laughing while shouting his name.
"KAZUKO! Hahahahahahaha!", Itsuki said over joyous.
"Itsuki!", said Kazuko in response.
"I thought you were dead! Nightmare was here and I thought he got to you!", said Kazuko.
"No way, I'm too stubborn to die, like you are. Look at you! You've never aged pasted 16!", replied Itsuki.
"Hahaha. Oh Itsuki, it's so great to see you! I have missed you so much! It's been far too long.", Kazuko said with tears flowing from his eyes.
Henrietta watched to see them reunite. She may not have known in full detail the length of their separation, but she could tell from Kazuko it was like he missed his brother very much.
Kazuko hugged his brother tightly still crying a bit. "I know that it was a long time my brother but we have much to discuss.", said Itsuki.
"What is it?", said Kazuko.
"The Order has found the source of what has been distorting the balance of the multi-verse for some time. It was also the same thing that had caused Nightmare to attack our clan. For a while we have never been able to find it. So we spread our influence across several world's hoping one would draw it out. However with the disturbance here in Tristain and with Nightmare's appearance it seems like that source is somewhere in this world.", explained Itsuki.
"I'll help you anyway I can brother. And my friends will too no matter what.", said Kazuko.
"Excellent. And I need to speak to you in private brother if the princess wouldn't mind."
Henrietta left the room letting the brothers talk alone. "Listen Kazuko I need to know exactly what happened between you and Nightmare. Why did he attack our clan?", asked Itsuki.
"He said that my soul would be able to challenge The Order until I learned to fully harness them. Killing my clan was a logical step in motivating me to do so.", said Kazuko.
"That freak! I told the council that he was too dangerous to keep alive. I know that you're wondering why I never tried to see you or rebuild the clan. I am no longer Uchiha and even though you were my brother The Order demands my detachments of the past.", Itsuki said.
"I figured as much. But I understand. You were dealing with much larger things beyond anything of our world. So I knew even then you couldn't help no matter how much I missed you. And needed your guidance.", said Kazuko.
"You had my guidance brother, you just never fully noticed. I know that you were alone for such a long time, and with Nightmare gone you don't know what to do anymore. But I have seen something consistency in my travels. Usually when people have nothing big left to fill in the gap, they look for something smaller to replace it and it's all they need.", said Itsuki.
"What are you saying Itsuki?", Kazuko asked.
"Well Henrietta seems to make you blush quite a bit from what I noticed.", Itsuki joked. Kazuko didn't try to deny his very confused but undeniable feelings for her.
"Well I heard this story a million times about a peasant getting the princess and everything but really? I have no idea if that's my future nor do I even know if she's the one for me.", said Kazuko.
"Well tell me exactly what you think of her.", Itsuki said wanting to listen.
"When I first saw her I was stiff like a statue. And I feel different whenever she is around. But it's not like a simple crush, there's something else. I know that I am her familiar.", explained Kazuko.
"You mean this world's type of servant and master relationship?", said Itsuki.
"Not exactly the way you put it, but yes. I have no memory of what happened when I first came here and what happened between us. Maybe it explains how I ended up here in the first place. I don't know but the answer lies with her.", Kazuko admitted.
"Here's my suggestion. You should spend more time with her to figure out what happened and see what you can put together. I can't interrogate her because that's out of the question. But maybe you can kill two birds with one stone. You find out more about each other personally and she'll explain how you are her familiar.", explained Itsuki.
"Well I do have some dating experience from a good friend so maybe that is the best course of action. Thanks Itsuki.", Kazuko left the room and headed back to the academy.
He needed to plan out how he was going to do this. But in all honesty he was feeling nervous. Trying to hook up with royalty is no walk in the park. But at the same time there's always a formula to these kinds of things. Kazuko planned to attend the coronation parade tomorrow and try to talk to Henrietta privately. Meanwhile Itsuki would spend his time finding the, Source of Disorder, he has called it for now. While things seemed calm for now, the war was only starting.
It was the day of Henrietta's coronation and the country cheered, "Long Live the Queen!", while Kazuko was happy for her he could tell she felt alone in the world. Everyone wanted to be here, yet nobody wanted to understand her. It was something he knew full well.
As he exited his room at the academy he saw Saito with an unusual pair of glasses. "Saito what are you wearing? From what I can tell it looks like some party favor.", asked Kazuko.
"Louise said it was some family heirloom that she wanted to give me.", replied Saito.
"Interesting I suppose things are great between you two then?", Kazuko said making sure things were honestly.
"Yes but for some reason I can't take them off.", said Saito.
Kazuko was perplexed by that, however it probably did not matter. Louise accompanied them and were on their way to the parade. Louise had to make a quick trip back to her room for something that she left by accident. Saito and Kazuko then waited for her, then Saito caught glimpse of Siesta. "Oh Mr. Saito! It's good to see you again and Mr. Kazuko.", Siesta said.
"Please it's just Kazuko. No need to be that formal.", said Kazuko humbly.
"I saw what the both of you and Ms. Louise did during the invasion. How she took down the entire invasion force. It was quite a sight.", as Siesta continued Saito zoned out and looked down noticing her large bust. Then the gems on his glasses started blinking. "Saito why are your glasses doing that?", said Kazuko.
"They blink whenever he thinks of anything perverted. So when he does the gems will flash EVERY TIME. So what was it that you were staring at Saito? Her face? Or somewhere lower? YOU DISOBEDIENT DOG!", cried Louise. She then used her magic to make a large explosion right at Saito.
Kazuko could not believe how this was going. He knew Saito enough to know that his thoughts related to such things could not be helped. And if Louise see's the gems blinking or flashing, it means point-blank explosion. Saito was then dragged by her after getting fired by the blast. They all passed Guiche and Montmorency but of all the day's for her to wear a short skirt, it had to be today! Saito's glasses blinked and Kazuko yelled, "Everybody clear the area!", BOOM! They passed Tabitha with one of her book's yet shockingly the glasses went off.
"CLEAR!" BOOM! Passed Kirche, BOOM! Pass a girl BOOM! Every time they passed any girl in the academy Saito's glasses would not stop blinking!
Kazuko was frustrated by this whole thing and was about to rip those things from Saito's face if he had to. Thankfully Saito covered his eyes so that he couldn't get blasted again.
"Whew there's no way Louise can blast him again if he can't see. Then again, Saito will find a way... I swear one more time and I will rip that thing off his face even if his face goes with it! The explosions are driving me crazy and Louise's plan is way to extreme, like her temper.", Kazuko thought.
As Henrietta was passing the trio Louise said, "Saito! How can you cover your eyes at a time like this?! Look at her isn't she beautiful?!", Louise said.
Kazuko knowing the outcome he said to Saito, "If you open them I will be forced to rip out your eyes! Don't you dare make Louise shoot another blast for the love of god!", Kazuko pleaded. Louise disagreed with Kazuko saying that he wouldn't think of anything perverted again.
Saito opened them and saw Henrietta in all her beauty. She was gorgeous her hair, her cute face and her... Blink Blink Blink. This time it was much faster and Kazuko knew what happens next. Louise disgusted by Saito's perverted nature shot another explosion so powerful it broke the glasses off Saito's face. As the explosion occurred Henrietta's royal guard assumed that it was an assassin trying to kill her. They surrounded Saito believing it was him who caused the explosion. Kazuko tried to explain it was a major misunderstanding but they would no listen.
The captain, Agnes Chevalier de Milan held out her pistol and said that she would not take any chances until due process was done. Kazuko was a bit shocked by the fact she had a gun. "I had no idea that these people actually were capable to make guns. And she's not one to mess around with. Reminds me of how I acted when I first came here.", he thought.
Louise and Kazuko went to the palace hoping to sort out the misunderstanding. Kazuko was annoyed by the outcome seeing how he planned to talk to Henrietta during the parade. He was going to have a talk with Saito and Louise after this. Agnes came out of the palace dungeon's and stated that Henrietta needed to speak to him and Saito in private. Kazuko went below to the dungeon's and suspected that this place isn't the average place for a fancy hotel room. Kazuko entered Saito's cell with Henrietta with him already.
"What do you need to talk to us about your majesty?", asked Kazuko.
"I need the both of you to keep an eye on my administration. I have reason to believe that there is a traitor among us.", said Henrietta.
"Well do you have any leads or idea's on who it was? And what makes you think that?", asked Saito.
"I think so because last night we managed to capture Fouquet and we locked her in our palace dungeon's for interrogation. Unfortunately we found her this morning dead, with the life sucked out of her. I have no clue about who it could be and there is no way to find out from the cell about who did it.", explained Henrietta.
"OK Saito and I will make sure to look for any suspicious activity here. But that would work best if you allowed us to visit you here more often. If it would be no trouble for you your majesty.", Kazuko asked hoping to kill two birds with one stone. By getting to talk to Henrietta and see what he could find on the traitor.
"I don't think I can allow the both of you free passage here. Especially you Saito, with you having to protect Louise during this time of crisis. But you Kazuko I may be able to offer freedom to visit whenever you can, unless I am in an important meeting.", replied Henrietta. Kazuko agreed and thanked her for her generosity.
"I would like to see you Kazuko later tonight about a most important matter that I must divulge to you alone. And make sure nobody know's of this.", asked Henrietta. Kazuko agreed and left with Saito. Agnes escorted them and Louise back to the school with Saito and Louise in one carriage talking out there differences. With Kazuko and Agnes in another.
"I have heard quite a lot about you. Escaping Albion almost single-handedly, your battle with that demon, and your mysterious powers.", said Agnes.
"You know a lot about me, yet I know nothing about you. Do you mind I have a little knowledge of the person who arrested my friend this morning? Or is that not part of your policy?", asked Kazuko.
"I am the leader of her majesty's royal musketeers. I have served it for most of my life and have dedicated it toward her safety.", replied Agnes.
"Fascinating back story. I thank you for the brief summary, but why does your group use only guns and swords?", asked Kazuko.
"We are not mages, besides it's better to have either one of those than magic. It takes to long to cast a spell, but with a sword or pistol you use them the way they're meant to and it's done. Not taking half a minute to cast one spell.", said Agnes.
"Very interesting. I have a similar philosophy around that. Having magic has benefits but take that away without another mean's of defending yourself and your nothing.", Kazuko explained.
"I think that way as well. It appears you have much wisdom from where you come from.", Agnes said complimenting Kazuko's similar thoughts.
"Well I'm not any ordinary person where I came from. But thank you for the compliment.", he thanked
It seemed like Agnes and Kazuko had a bit in common which surprised him, thinking he was the only person there who thought the same things he did. Well as far as battle tactics go in this world.
Kazuko, Saito, and Louise made it back to the academy safely with Agnes saying goodbye to Kazuko. They went back to their rooms and planned to get some rest. Kazuko was thinking of how able to spend time with Henrietta would feel but he was too unsure to even tell. He chaos controlled back to the palace so that Louise wouldn't suspect anything. If it was private everyone had to know that he had some sort of alibi. He had to make sure there meeting was secret. As Kazuko returned discretely to the palace he went to Henrietta's throne room hoping to find her there.
She was waiting for him in her chambers to keep things discrete. She opened her door quietly saying to come in. "Your highness may I ask, why the secrecy?", asked Kazuko.
"I needed to talk to you alone because this concerns your brother. I knew in the whole time you've known me that he was alive. And I knew you were his brother.", admitted Henrietta.
"You mean you knew that my brother was alive yet you never told me?", Kazuko said shocked.
"Because I am the ruler of Tristain, I am sworn to secrecy about anything regarding The Order. It was part of our protection agreement. Believe me when I found out about your relation to him I would have told you in a heartbeat. But saying so would nullify our agreement. You must understand my duty to protect my people comes before you. No matter how much I wanted to tell you.", Henrietta said.
Kazuko said with compassion, "I understand why you put the needs of your people before me.", Kazuko said softly. Henrietta was surprised by this development, she expected anger or outrage but only received understanding.
"You do?", Henrietta asked.
"I know how it feel's needing to put the safety of others before your own personal needs. I had to train for years to keep my powers in check so that I wouldn't harm any innocent bystanders. That was before I hunted Nightmare down as much as I wanted to do, the first impulse I had.", admitted Kazuko.
"I never knew of the hardship's you took in your life.", Henrietta said. Kazuko decided this moment was perfect to try and take the opportunity to get to know her more.
"Well... would like to try and find out? We can spend some time together, just you and me.", asked Kazuko. Henrietta was shocked, she did not know what to say, react, or think! Her heart rate elevated and did not know how to respond.
"Maybe if I had some time to think about it, it's late and it has been a long day.", Henrietta said hoping Kazuko would accept her request.
"Indeed. I did not expect an immediate answer. You can give me your answer whenever you are ready.", Kazuko said generously.
"I will. But can I give you something in return for your kindness?", asked Henrietta. She hugged Kazuko tightly with Kazuko unprepared by it. She whispered in his ear, "Goodnight, my savior." Kazuko left with those last words in his head.
"Why did she say that to me? Was it something regarding our past relationship? I am or, was her familiar. Maybe she said that because I saved her life from some incident. Perhaps. But for now I must return to the academy.", Kazuko made it back to his room with nobody seeing him. He left his sword by his bed as usual and slept hard through the night.
Though the same could not be said for Henrietta...