Alright guys another chapter for "Saint Fox Tale is only two chapters away from completion. Just a bit more and I can start focusing on other stories.
Workshops
Kenshi sighed heavily as he sat down in his Seikijin compressing various steel beams for energy conversation and cost reduction. "Being King is a lot harder than I thought it would be." he muttered recalling the decision made after they had reunited with Yukine and convened with Lashara's aunt in the secret city of Havoniwa.
"Complaining already Kenshi?" Chiaia asked with a smirk on her face as she drove a mechanoid towards him. Picking up the large steel bin beside Kenshi she turned the machine around. "What would Naruto say seeing you whine like this?" she wondered aloud as Wan carried in a new bin for him to fill.
"Just think of something fun while you're doing this." The purple haired engineer suggested. "Your compressed pellets are greater quality than ours." She explained causing Kenshi to sigh. "Besides we can recycle them so I'm sure Lashara-sama will be happy with the no cost factor as well."
"I understand." Kenshi moaned pitifully. "Where's Ji-san when you need him?" he wondered softly causing the two women to giggle.
"That is true though." Chiaia mentioned once she managed to calm herself. "No one has seen Naruto since we entered Havoniwa."
"I'm really worried." Kenshi muttered
"Naruto is really strong; I don't think he's going to lose a fight at all." Wan stated recalling Naruto's ability to dismantle his enemies.
"I'm not worried about that." Kenshi corrected her. "I'm worried that he's going to come back with a girl he's gotten pregnant." Chiaia and Wan gave wry smiles.
"Well he didn't really chase too many skirts back at the Holy Land." Chiaia offered lamely causing an audible sigh to escape Kenshi's mouth. "Probably because Lashara asked him not to since she wouldn't be able to profit if he did."
Wan chuckled nervously. "You're rather used to it aren't you?" she asked dryly as Kenshi made another noise of resignation.
"He keeps saying that the Masaki family line will always be notorious womanizers, using Tenchi-nii-chan and Seina-nii-chan as examples." Kenshi added as he unconsciously continued his task.
"He did mention something like that, didn't he?" Chiaia muttered as she pondered the information while driving the steel bin away.
Wan seemed interested "What was it he said again?" she wondered aloud. "Something about Tenchi-san being in a relationship with five women or something like that and Seina-san with like what…eight wives?"
Kenshi, if possible, looked even more troubled. "I don't really think I want that kind of lifestyle." He whimpered. "Seina-nii-chan always looks dead on his feet; it even got to the point where we had to separate him from his wives."
Chiaia, who had just returned as Kenshi was making good time, and Wan seemed a bit disturbed. "They sound…" Chiaia muttered trying to find the words "Lustful?" she supplied eventually.
"Putting it mildly" Kenshi muttered sourly as he continued his work. "I suppose I shouldn't worry too much, Ji-san always said things have a way of working out for the best."
Wan and Chiaia smiled as the three of them fell into a comfortable silence as they continued their work. Suddenly the Koro in the area started crying out. "The Koro alarm?" Chiaia muttered in surprise. "Kenshi!"
"Right!" Kenshi shouted as he hopped out of his Seikijin and rushed over to the main room where Lashara and the others were looking at the screen. "What's going on?" Kenshi called out as Chiaia and Wan caught up with him.
"There's four of Babalun's Seikijin down the ravine." One of the maids explained as they brought it up on screen. "It seems that three of them are chasing the fourth." She continued as they zoomed in on the engagement. "Confirmed, the one being chased is Ceres Taito's Seikijin."
"Ceres-kun?" Kenshi muttered in surprise. "I'm going!" he declared running out of the room. "Just in case keep the swan here!" he shouted out his orders as he ran off. Lashara sent a look at Chiaia as Maria did the same with Yukine.
Aura nodded her head seeing the two women moving. "I'm going as well." She declared as she joined the other two.
Kenshi was out of the swan before the girls had even gotten to the hangar. "Hold on Ceres-kun!" he muttered desperately as he moved as fast as he could. "Hang on."
When Kenshi got within range of Ceres he could here his pursuers taunting him. "Come on Boy!" one of them shouted gleefully as they took pot shots at Ceres. "You're not tired are you?" she mocked getting malicious laughter from her cohorts.
"We only played with you a little bit." Another crowed getting more dark laughter from the others. "It was our first time with a male Seikishi after all!"
Kenshi glared at the three as he grit his teeth. "Ceres-kun…" he muttered in frustration. "Hang on, I'm almost there." He muttered more to himself than anything else. Entering firing range he aimed his rifle at the trio and began firing at them hitting one in the shoulder and another in the wrist.
"From that distance?" one of the attackers muttered in shock. "Retreat, we can't fight him here!" she declared leaving the area at once. With shouts of confirmation her two subordinates quickly followed after her.
"Ceres-kun are you alright?" Kenshi shouted as he made his way over to his friend who was panting heavily. Seeing him falling forward Kenshi moved quickly "Whoa there Ceres-kun I've got you."
"I'm sorry Kenshi-kun." Ceres muttered startling Kenshi who looked at his friend carefully. "I'm sorry." He muttered again as the mechanism on his Seikijin's back activated trapping the two of them together. "I'm sorry." Ceres continued to mutter as if it were a mantra.
"This is bad Kenshi!" Wan's voice called out as she opened up communications with him. "That thing on Ceres' back is a bomb! They're planning to use him as a suicide bomber!" she shouted startling Kenshi who narrowed his eyes.
"Kenshi I'm here to help!" Aura called out as she pulled out a knife to cut him free.
"Stay back!" Kenshi ordered anger in his tone catching everyone who could hear him by surprise. "Go back to the Swan and get it to safety." He ordered cold fury in his words.
"But…!" Aura tried to protest as Chiaia and Yukine hovered nearby.
"Go now!" Kenshi roared as he began straining against the bindings. Kenshi knew what was happening as he felt the energy surge through his body. "Where are they?" he asked Ceres as his Seikijin began turning black. "Where are they holding Hazuki Ceres-kun?"
"There's an outpost up ahead." Ceres muttered sorrowfully.
"All right, we'll get her back." Kenshi declared as he let his anger consume him. With a mighty roar he broke the bindings trapping the two of them. Quickly compressing the mechanism he fired it off into the distance causing a large explosion to engulf the area. "Aura" Kenshi called out as calmly as he could. "Please help Ceres-kun find Hazuki." He ordered passing Ceres' limp Seikijin to Aura who had flown up to him upon his request.
"What about you Kenshi?" she asked eyeing his blackening limbs nervously.
"They've crossed the line." Was all Kenshi stated as he flew off.
"Chiaia get a mech! We're following behind him!" Aura shouted flying off towards the Swan
Finding the outpost Ceres had mentioned Kenshi wasted no time as he pounced on the nearest Seikijin guards instantly downing them as he roared out a challenge. Noticing Dagmyer and his entourage running out to face him he growled before diving into the battle as his enemies recovered from their shock. "Bring it on." Kenshi muttered quietly to himself. Striking down the first to charge him he threw the limp Seikijin over his shoulder while using his blackened claw to cut another in half.
As Babalun's forces kept on trying to bring Kenshi down Aura, Chiaia, and Ceres snuck past the commotion and made their way to the building unhindered. "Quickly!" Aura whispered as they burst through the door. However, there was no one inside, all around them were unconscious men.
Kneeling next to one Chiaia checked his pulse. "Alive." She stated as they began walking through the halls. "What's going on?" she wondered aloud as Aura led the way as she took up the rear as Ceres walked between them.
"What's going on?" he asked looking around. "Did someone else already beat them up?" he looked nervous.
"Don't let your guard down, we don't know if they're allies or not." Aura stated wisely. "Just stay calm and keep vigilant." Reaching the back of the hall they saw the only remaining door. Glancing at Chiaia Aura nodded her head.
Slowly opening the door they saw Ran cutting Hazuki's bindings. "Tch, faster than I thought." Ran muttered as she stood up letting Hazuki run into Ceres' arms. "I was hoping to be out of here before you showed up."
"You're one of the bandits working for Dagmyer." Aura stated seriously as she regarded the woman in front of her carefully.
"I don't work for Dagmyer." Ran stated easily. "He just thinks I do." She smirked seeing the confused looks on their faces. "Well if you're too stupid to figure it out…" she trailed off with a smug shrug of her shoulders.
"Oi…" Chiaia muttered threateningly. "Just speak clearly." She stated keeping her eyes on Ran the entire time.
"You're a spy aren't you?" Ceres asked causing Ran to shrug her shoulders noncommittally.
"A spy?" Aura asked as she shifted her stance. "Who do you work for?"
"Hey, is that really something you should be asking someone who gave you the only hostage these guys had over you?" she asked gesturing around the room. "Just know I'm not your enemy."
With that she hopped out the open window onto a waiting hover bike. "We'll meet again, I'm sure." She called out riding off.
Watching her disappear, Aura slowly lowered her guard. "That was surprising to say the least." She admitted without shame. "I did not expect any of our allies to have a spy so deep within their ranks."
"Right, I wonder who it is." Chiaia added as she made sure Hazuki was unharmed.
"I'm alright Chiaia-san, that lady made sure they didn't touch me. She convinced them I was worth more to them untouched." Hazuki explained. Getting a relieved sigh from Ceres who had feared the worst. "She got a letter today, and after she read it she started knocking everyone out when the fighting outside started."
"Regardless of her reasons, I'm glad you're okay Hazuki." Ceres muttered pulling her into another embrace. "I'm glad you're safe."
Hearing a loud roar they all ran outside to see the last moments of Kenshi's rampage as he completely destroyed one of the Seikijin which Chiaia recognized as Cliff Cleese's and threw it over the edge of the ravine. "Kenshi…" Chiaia muttered fearfully. "Something isn't right with him."
"He's beside himself in anger." Aura muttered shaking slightly. "His anger is almost tangible as if the entire area was weighed down by it." She shivered once as Kenshi's eyes briefly flittered over them. "I almost feel sorry for Dagmyer, to be the last one standing before the monster Kenshi has allowed himself to become."
As Dagmyer turned to flee the battle Kenshi quickly grabbed his Seikijin's tail and began twirling him around. "UWAHHHHHH!" Dagmyer screamed as the tail ripped apart sending him to the ground leaving only the inner exoskeleton of the tail intact. Slowly Kenshi began to follow after him only for his blackened limbs to crumble sending his Seikijin to the ground. Unbothered he began to make his way towards Dagmyer anyways who quickly abandoned his downed Seikijin.
"Dagmyer-sama!" the voice of the ever faithful Emera cried out as she charged at Kenshi. She managed to avoid the full body cleave he had aimed at her, instead only losing an arm as she grabbed Dagmyer and quickly fled the area.
Seeing that all of their enemies were either gone or down Kenshi let out a loud roar as the others watched him with sorrowful expressions. Slowly Kenshi emerged from the damaged Seikijin breathing heavily. "Are you alright Kenshi?" Chiaia asked worriedly as she and Aura placed their hands on his shoulders.
"I'm fine." He muttered softly. "How's Hazuki?" he asked looking around for Ceres. "And Ceres?"
"They're fine." Aura stated with a smile. "They're just over there enjoying each other's company." Seeing Kenshi's relieved smile Aura smiled softly. "She was kept safe by a girl named Ran, who is a spy for our allies."
The name rang a bell with Kenshi who looked up in surprise. "That's the name of that pickpocket Ji-san met." He muttered in recognition. "So that's what happened…" he muttered softly looking towards the Swan. "Even when he's not here he's looking out for us huh?" he asked with a small smile.
"So it would seem." Chiaia added in with a grin of her own. "Come on, let's go we still have to get to the Seikijin workshop."
Nodding happily Kenshi made his way towards Ceres and Hazuki who were smiling as they hugged each other. "So would you like to come with us Ceres-kun, Hazuki?" Kenshi asked catching their attention.
"Excuse me?" they asked uncomprehendingly.
"Refugees from Shtrayu, Shurifon, and Havoniwa are all taking shelter in my independent state." He declared with a grin getting shocked looks from the two.
(break)
"Well in the end, this shortcut ended up taking longer than we thought it would." Lashara moaned as Kenshi entered the room. "We should be heading out soon." She declared getting nods from all those around her. "Prepare for departure!" she declared gesturing for Kenshi to follow her as she left the room.
"Where are we headed?" he asked with a tilt of the head.
"You idiot, we're going to say farewell to Auntie Flora." She muttered elbowing him in the stomach. "Did you forget that we're still in Havoniwa territory?" she asked looking at him suspiciously causing him to shakily rub the back of his head.
"Maybe…" he offered when she didn't drop her look. With a sigh she shook her head as they arrived at the edge of the Swan with Maria, Yukine, Aura, and Chiaia who were all waving farewell to Flora who was waving her arms enthusiastically.
"Be safe!" she cried out with tears of happiness flowing down her face. "We'll make sure to do our part!"
"She's really energetic huh?" Kenshi asked as he leaned closer to Lashara causing the shorter blonde girl to sigh tiredly.
"Does she even know we're in the middle of a war?" she wondered aloud. "Seriously I never know what's going on in that head of hers." Maria and Yukine looked slightly embarrassed by her statements as they both turned red in the face before hurrying within the confines of the Swan.
Luckily it seemed that Babalun's forces were too busy with other things as the trip to the workshop was uneventful as everyone did their own things. Ceres and Hazuki took to cleaning the Swan together. Aura trained with her sword in the courtyards while Rea would read her books nearby. Lashara would direct the ship's crew while Yukine could often be found picking flowers garnering Maria's attention to which Yukine desperately tried to hide her activities. At the same time Chiaia could often be found chastising Kenshi who quite frequently tried to go crystal hunting. And Wan, as usual, could be found in her workshop where she kept working on her inventions.
When they neared the workshop everyone smiled as they were welcomed in. "It's been a while since I've been here." Wan mentioned as everyone looked around.
"Otou-san." Chiaia greeted as a man with reddish hair greeted them when they disembarked the Swan. Pulling the man into a hug she looked a little conflicted. "Otou-san…Mexiah-nee…." She muttered getting a pained look from the man as well.
"I've heard from the reports." He mentioned sadly. "But before we discuss that, Wan go get it ready." He ordered getting a roger from the purple haired mechanic who quickly ran off.
"Kenshi-dono, thank you for looking after Chiaia." The man stated turning to Kenshi who looked embarrassed. "There was actually some things we wanted to check so could you please follow him?" he gestured to a worker behind him. Suddenly Rea fell to her knees with a cry.
"Rea-san?" Kenshi shouted catching her before she could fall over and hit her head.
"I think I'll be okay…" she muttered weakly, though it didn't really convince anyone.
"Take her to the infirmary. She can rest there for the time being." The leader of the workshop suggested with a smile. Nodding his head thankfully Kenshi looped Rea's arm over his head before following the worker.
The walk to the infirmary was quiet as Kenshi focused on keeping Rea upright as she weakly looked around. "Here we are, set her down gently now." The worker stated as he opened the door for Kenshi to enter.
Kenshi gently set Rea down on the bed, "Take it easy for now Rea-san don't push yourself too hard."
"You worry too much." She muttered shooing him away. "Go on, get out of here."
"I'll send someone to check on her, but for now we should get going." The worker stated from the doorway.
"That's fine." Kenshi agreed as he followed the worker. "So, what do we need to do?" Kenshi asked as they walked down the long halls.
"Nothing too serious." The man replied calmly. "We just wanted to run some tests."
"I see…" Kenshi muttered as they fell into silence. Entering the labs the man showed him the device they'd be using. "So I just lay down here?" Kenshi asked as he got onto the table.
"Yeah, everything else can be handled from here." The man stated as he activated the machinery. As the machined hummed Kenshi lay still as he waited for the test to finish.
There was a sudden pinging noise as the worker let him know he could get up. "Alright that should about cover it for the tests, thank you for your cooperation Kenshi-dono." As Kenshi opened his mouth an explosion rocked the compound. "You have to get back to the Swan!" the workshop worker shouted as the sounds of gunfire started sounding off.
"What about Rea-san?" Kenshi suddenly looked very concerned.
"This isn't good, at this time there shouldn't be anyone there." The man mumbled looking worried.
"I'm going to go look for her!" Kenshi declared running off. "Get to safety!" running through the hallways Kenshi barely dodged a collision with someone as he turned a corner. "Rea-san!" he shouted happily upon seeing who it was. "What are you doing here?" he asked looking puzzled.
"KENSHI CATCH HER!" Chiaia shouted catching Kenshi by surprise. Turning to look at Rea she slipped out of his hold as she jumped a fair distance away.
"It was fun while it lasted." She smirked as she held up a familiar looking mask. "But we must part ways here."
"Neizai!" Kenshi muttered in shock as the woman ran off down one of the other hallways. "Wait!" he shouted giving chased only for the familiar arm of Doll's Seikijin blocked their path while her second arm grabbed. Chiaia's father.
"Otou-san!" Chiaia shouted in surprise and fear.
"I'll be fine, go!" he shouted seeing the danger behind them. Kenshi grabbed Chiaia and lifted her into his arms in a princess carry as he ran off, narrowly dodging Doll's attempt to catch him.
Seeing a hover bike Kenshi quickly set Chiaia down before climbing on as Chiaia placed her hands on his shoulders. "Hold on, we need to get to the Swan as fast as possible." He warned her as he put the bike into full throttle.
"There's the hangar!" Chiaia shouted as they neared the Swan's location and consequently the greatest concentration of enemies. "Of course." Chiaia muttered as Kenshi pushed them through a narrow gap between the enemy Seikijin which were pushing against Yukine and Aura.
"That's the pilot of the White Seikijin!" one of the enemies shouted as those who weren't being held back moved to capture them.
Before they could a large explosion shook one of the attackers off of Kenshi's trail as Wan smiled. "I knew saving my last shot would be smart." She declared before retreating.
"Stop them!" someone shouted as two more began chasing Kenshi and Chiaia.
Again before they could get within reach two more explosions stunned the Seikijin as Ceres and Hazuki appeared above them on one of Wan's mechanoids. "Kenshi-kun hurry!" he shouted as Kenshi made his way into the Seikijin holding bay.
One of the two Ceres had stunned angrily disabled his mech while the other went into the holding bay firing a salvo into the darkness before entering after them. As the one facing Ceres raised her weapon to finish him off a loud scream pierced the air.
"Oi you alright?" the other called out flying down to the entrance. Suddenly two piercing white eyes revealed themselves from the darkness as Kenshi's white Seikijin began walking forwards her defeated comrade in tow. Throwing the destroyed Seikijin core at her Kenshi didn't bother to watch as the two landed roughly on the ground.
"Kenshi you and Wan lead the way!" Lashara shouted as Wan joined him in her Seikijin.
"Right!" Kenshi agreed as the enemy began retreating losing their momentum. They're above us." He noted looking up.
"They're trying to crush us with a rock slide!" Maria shouted as an explosion knocked over a large boulder heading right towards them.
"Time to test this out." Kenshi stated with a grin as he excitedly raised his arms towards the falling debris. Within a bright light the falling boulder disappeared stunning all present as six pellets formed in the white Seikijin's hand. "Hey Yukine, can I borrow your rail gun?" he asked getting a surprised nod from the snow haired woman. Loading the weapon with his newly created ammunition Kenshi took aim and fired off four quick shots destroying the enemy's shields and parts of their Seikijin.
"Wow! This thing's amazing!" Kenshi shouted joyfully causing the others to stare at him oddly.
"I'm pretty sure it's you who's amazing Kenshi." Wan muttered wryly as she folded her arms.
"Just get in here so we can leave quickly!" Lashara shouted getting them both to nod their heads as they entered the Swan in preparation for their departure.
End
Alright one more chapter to go, before I close this story off. I hope you all enjoyed it.