Disclaimer: Do not own KnM.

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Chapter 21: Interlude/Forte

Himeko's eyes were wide all the same, and she seemed just as surprised as Chikane was. And though she was just about crying from the fear, she suddenly had that mixed with unexplainable happiness. "Chikane… you…" She began slowly.

Chikane, however, didn't have the time to stay focused on the new asset she now had. As much as she wanted to celebrate her voice becoming a reality, she had other things to worry about.

"Just what do you want with Himeko? Are you the one who's been calling out to us?" She spoke up, projecting her voice upward so that the dark figure could hear her clearly. The smirk continued existing on the face of the dark figure; there was a small pause of a moment before the figure dropped Himeko free, opening up his hand. Chikane ran to catch her in her arms as she fell, hopefully breaking her fall so she wouldn't get injured. Then the dark figure shrunk down to a normal size, the size of a regular man and revealed himself true, as if taking off the ebony curtain he was using to mask who he truly was.

The man had long dark hair that was just as black as the curtain he was using to conceal himself. If one looked hard enough, it almost appeared as if there were stars in the blanket of hair the man possessed. In truth, it wasn't that long, but it was quite long, hanging half way down his back. His eyes were a piercing blue, like the kind of light the moon would glow in every thousand years. He was enshrouded in some type of glow, some kind of aura, that was only faintly seen around him; It could be easily missed if one wasn't studying him, as Chikane was.

His muscles were toned, and he looked like he had a bit of a beard beginning to grow at the bottom of his chin. His skin was pale, almost like porcelain, and around his neck he wore spiritual beads that glowed a faint purple light. His clothes were a garb decorated with cyan blue ropes that matched his eyes, tied around his arms, and his waist to close the garb shut. His pants were ripped at the bottoms and straggly, and upon his feet were wooden sandals. He stood with a stern look on his face, as the smirk had disappeared. And suddenly, to Himeko and Chikane it seemed like it was nighttime again, even though it was nearing the middle of the day.

He remained stoic and silent, and Himeko had to wonder if this was one of those gods that Souma had told her about in the story on their date. That seemed so long ago now, she hardly remembered their names, but with time, she was sure it would come to her one way or another.

"Before you ask who I am…" He started mysteriously, his voice breaking the silence in such a smooth way, it felt like there was a comforting breeze blowing, like the kind of small chill one might get in through their window at night. "Know that I shall tell you, child." He finished. "But first, it is truly an experience meeting with you, Himemiya. I have finally found you." He was being so… ominous. Chikane stopped being so concentrated on being protective for a moment, and her eyes shifted to contain a look of surprise once again.

"How… how do you know my name?" She questioned softly. The whole moment seemed still, almost like time wasn't moving, even though she knew it was. This was so surreal; could she really be talking to a god, or a spirit?

"I have been watching over you for a very long time, Himemiya." He answered cryptically once again. "I know all about you, Princess." He said with no malice in his voice; it was like he was simply stating fact.

"Stop talking in riddles, identify yourself." Chikane commanded again, but less harshly than she did when Himeko was in danger.

"Very well." He closed his eyes and nodded, reopening them a moment later to explain himself. "My name is Tsukuyomi, I have many different names and aliases, but I am most commonly known to your people as the Moon God." He spoke, almost, apathetically. His voice was so calm, Himeko considered going back to sleep. Chikane, suddenly felt at ease too, a strange sense of ease, almost like it didn't belong there or mix in with her other feelings right now, as it were; But alas, it was there and she had to wonder if that was just a residual effect from the Moon God.

"Tsukuyomi… the Moon God?" Himeko questioned softly, unaware she was thinking out loud. "Wait! S-Souma told me about you. H-he told me about how you have watched over the land since time began." Tsukuyomi just nodded to her suspicions.

"Indeed, I have been in existence since the moon has. I have seen many things." He answered again, in the same cryptic style he was before, Chikane guessed that was his trademark.

"What does that have to do with me? Why were you looking for me anyway?" She asked again, cutting into the conversation. Tsukuyomi adjusted his gaze back to Chikane, and in the moment he was about to explain, he noticed that she still had her sword drawn and clutched in her hand, at the ready. For a moment his aura glowed and the sword was then put down on the ground forcibly. Chikane seemed surprised and looked down at the sword, and then back at the Moon God.

"There will be no need for swords, Princess." He spoke softly. "I am not here to hurt you. I have been searching for you for quite a while because the time for your destiny to come to fruition has arrived. You, my child, are a descendant of the moon, and thus forth, like all things under the moonlight, I am bound to you, Himemiya." He stated.

"Wait." Himeko spoke up again curiously. "Wasn't there another voice just now? I thought I heard someone else… a girl." She thought out loud once more, taking the index finger of her right hand and tapping it against her chin to think.

"Indeed." The voice answered Himeko, though she was nowhere to be seen. Himeko looked around in a small panic to see where the voice had come from, but to no avail was she able to locate it. "What you heard was not wrong, my child." The female voice spoke again warmly as she descended down as well, glowing in a bright yellow-orange light, an aura similar to that of Tsukuyomi's.

Her hair was a platinum blonde, so much so that it almost appeared completely white. Her skin was a little more tan than her counterpart's and she too wore a garb. Instead of a plain pale garb with blue ropes to fasten it shut, like Tsukuyomi's, the woman's robe was embroidered with red around the edges of the fabric, and on the extensive sleeves, there was a big red dot, symbolic of the rising sun. Around her neck there was the same spiritual pendant, except it glowed in an orange-red light, differently from the Moon God's. The garb stretched all the way down to her feet, which were bare. She bore a smile on her face and seemed to radiate warmth. Her arms were outstretched as she finally took form, the form of a normal sized woman, and Himeko's eyes widened just as wide as Chikane's were moments ago.

"Hello children, I am Amaterasu, and it is very nice to finally make your acquaintance. Like my partner, I, too, have been searching for someone. Kurusugawa." She spoke her name softly. Himeko blinked.

"M-Me?" She pointed to herself. "But, w-why me?" She asked.

"It is as Tsukuyomi said. The time for your destiny to come true is at hand, as well, my dear. You are a child of the sun, and as such, are bonded to me for life." She smiled. "I have been watching over you, dear Himeko." Amaterasu's eyes were golden, with little black specks in them, and she, at the moment, was gazing directly at Himeko.

For a moment, no one had anything to say. It was going to take Himeko and Chikane a little time to process what was happening. But when they finally did, Chikane spoke up, having a thought suddenly come to her head.

"Tsukuyomi-san." She spoke up, softly. He redirected his gaze from the tree he was just looking at to Chikane. "… Can you explain something to me?" She finished her thought looking at him, unsure if she really wanted to ask this. She had to know, but then again she was afraid all the same.

"Certainly. What is it, Princess?" He nodded.

"If you have been watching over me, like you say, then you must know that until now I didn't have the capability of speech. I couldn't utter a word and now suddenly I'm speaking as if I've been just as normal as the rest of them. Tell me, why is that? Why can I speak now, and what was wrong with me before?" She questioned, her eyes, holding the same intensity her heart was feeling at the moment. The fear, and anxiety about what could have been wrong before, the determination and willingness to know what exactly she was dealing with; Everything.

"You were cursed." He said simply.

"Cursed?" Himeko uttered, softly, not wanting to interrupt.

Chikane felt the same way Himeko did; So much so that if Himeko hadn't spoken, that's what she would have said to the Moon God standing before her.

"Indeed. Since you were born, Himemiya, you have been cursed to live without a voice, without a form of verbal expression. And until now, that curse had not been broken." He spoke clearly as he recounted the tale.

"So something broke the curse." Chikane stated, and he nodded once more. "But what?" She asked.

Amaterasu chimed in. "True love."

Chikane redirected her gaze at Amaterasu. "What?" She asked.

"True love is a powerful force in this world, and it is a rare one as well. So when one truly finds the purest form of love, they are in fact harnessing unprecedented power. That feeling of being invincible though in reality one could be slain as quick as the next, that is the power love gives to you. It's true that most humans never tap into that potential when they find love before them, but you two are special, and that is precisely why we are here. To guide you, children." Amaterasu spoke warmly. She seemed almost motherly. And Himeko, immediately felt comfortable, as if she didn't need to be so afraid anymore. Chikane started to relax as well, breathing more evenly now.

"So… I was cursed but true love broke the curse, and that's why I can speak?" She asked. "But that would had to have meant…" She started and then turned to look at Himeko. Himeko blushed faintly.

"Himeko… you broke…" She stated, realizing what had just happened.

"No, Chikane-chan. We broke it, together." She smiled.

"That bond you have, it is sacred, let it never die, children." Amaterasu couldn't help smiling as she said that.

"Why was I cursed in the first place?" After a moment, Chikane was back to questioning things.

"I believe Himeko may know something." Tsukuyomi spoke up from his silence.

"M-Me?" She stuttered again and thought for a moment.

"Do you, Himeko? Is there… something you're not telling me?" Chikane turned to her, to study her eyes. Himeko was looking back at her, and then she looked away to think more, finding the trees in the area suddenly interesting.

"N-No, I am not keeping anything from you Chikane-chan." She spoke to start. "B-but that time I went out with Souma. He told me a story, a legend about the history of the kingdoms, and in it, there were gods and goddesses like Tsukuyomi-san and Amaterasu-san. He explained to me that there was this Great Uniter a long time ago that saved the world from destruction against the bad guys." Himeko said, adjusting her gaze back at her lover.

"Yes and with mine and Tsukuyomi's blessing, he rose to fight against the evil in the world. And for many years, he reigned as the peacemaker of this state." Amaterasu explained. Tsukuyomi picked up from there.

"But, eventually the Great Uniter passed on and there had to come a new soul who would take on the responsibilities of the predecessor before him. Every hundred years, the soul is reincarnated into the body of someone new, and they will be given the job of bringing about a change, a level of peace." Tsukuyomi explained, his voice growing darker as he remembered. "But, there came a soul, hundreds of years later that betrayed us, and turned the Great Uniter into a thing of darkness and evil." His eyes were empty, but internally, he was experiencing great rage from the event that had happened. Even so it was a hundred years ago now.

"Yes, unfortunately, he misused our blessing and went on a quest for chaos and anarchy. He sought to unite under the terms of darkness and evil, under the terms of fear and blood. He abused his power and his status over the state and accomplished what he sought to accomplish. Eventually, we came to confront the man, and with no remorse, to take his lives for the many he shed those days, cleaved his soul in two so that the Great Uniter would never see those kinds of day again. We thought that the soul's existence would have grown weak and eventually died out, never to return, but it appears we were wrong. The Great Uniter has returned and each half under the watchful eyes of myself and Tsukuyomi, have matured into fine young spirits." Amaterasu finished the story.

Himeko nodded to Chikane, everything they were saying was exactly what Souma told to her that night. She wasn't sure if the Great Uniter would return, and in a time like this is when they needed him most. She didn't know what to say, but Chikane just looked at her, and their eyes locked. Something in Himeko's eyes twinkled, and reflected back to Chikane, and given a moment to think; Chikane finally came upon something.

"You mean, Himeko and I…" She started, looking back and forth between the Moon and Sun Gods.

"Yes." Tsukuyomi answered calmly. "You two are the cleaved halves of the Great Uniter's original soul. Together you make one, whole being, a whole soul." He explained.

"Essentially, as your people might think of it; Kurusugawa, you are the mate to Himemiya's soul." Amaterasu said warmly once more, regally.

"And you, Himemiya, are Kurusugawa's." Tsukuyomi filled in, addressing that one under his watch.

The wind blew by again in a calming, sort of thoughtful breeze. Chikane took a second, addressing all this, internally. Could this really be happening; Conversations with the gods themselves, Himeko and her were the Great Uniter, together, and she was cursed, but that curse was now broken? Everything seemed to be falling into place; so well in fact, that she had to believe all of this was true. And besides, why would a god come down to speak to them if it weren't all true?

Once more, she directed the conversation the way she wanted it to go.

"So, I was cursed." She started. "And I was cursed because it was a form of punishment. I was paying for what the spirit before me did. Only when a positive force with true power came along to fill in the holes I had, would the curse be broken and I be given back the tool I need for communication. The thing I have so yearned for my whole life. And true love was that thing to come along and broke the curse. We must have proved it was true just last night, Himeko." Chikane began putting all the pieces together.

Himeko blushed again remembering the night.

"Indeed." Amaterasu affirmed. "We know that it isn't your fault what the previous spirit did before you, Himemiya. But, it was a punishment, a sort of shackle we put on the spirit to prevent it from growing any darker than it had already been. It was always your destiny to find one another and reunite, as lovers. And now, it is your destiny and your mission to save your kingdom, Princess." She nodded down to her in a meaningful way.

"Himemiya." Tsukuyomi, chimed in suddenly. She looked at him immediately. "The time has come." He told her, urgently. She reached down for the sword but found that it was heavier than usual, and that she wasn't able to lift it. She tried and tried, but she couldn't get it to budge, and so she let go, then turning her body to get a better angle on it. But, this time, when she tried to touch the sword there was a small yellow light barrier that stung her, and she retracted her hand in a hurry.

"What the… Explain why I can't touch my father's sword!" She commanded, angrily. That was the only thing she had left of him and she wasn't going to lose it to some game that the Moon God was playing. "If this is a game, please cease it now! I don't have time for this."

"It is not a game." Tsukuyomi commanded just like Chikane did, which took her aback for a moment at how powerful his voice could be. "You cannot lift it or touch it because you have recognized your true role in all of this. Your true destiny, your true spirit. The sword is the sword of light, the sword of the sun, and as such is only meant to be commanded by the child of the sun." He finished.

"Himeko…" Chikane said with sudden realization. And then she turned to her. Himeko looked at her, shyly.

"Y-yes?" She answered.

"It's you. You're supposed to wield my father's sword. You are the child of the sun." Chikane placed her hands on Himeko's shoulders as she said that. They took a moment there, before Himeko walked over to the sword and tried her hand at lifting and wielding it. When her hand touched it, it didn't shock or sting her, in fact, it seemed to embrace the touch, like it was meant to happen. The sword dislodged from the ground and glowed a bright orange, radiating the warmth of a huge fire, of the sun. She was able to lift it above her head and swing it around, and it didn't seem heavy at all. She smiled, with childlike wonder.

"I-I'm doing it!" She exclaimed. "I can lift the sword, Chikane-chan!" She seemed happier than ever before. Chikane smiled as well.

"Indeed you are, Himeko." Her happiness was a bit more reserved. Well, at least she was relieved that someone she trusted completely and loved to pieces would have the honor of avenging her father, and that if it weren't going to be her, thank god it was Himeko.

"Princess." Tsukuyomi commanded again, calmly. She looked at him.

"Yes?" She answered him.

"It is time for you, child of the moon, to inherit your destiny." He spoke, proudly as suddenly a bow and arrow came to his hand, appearing there, within his firm grasp. Along with the bow in his hand, appeared a quiver of arrows, that looked to be able to sling around your torso, should one wish to carry it that way. The bow curved in a way that resembled the crescent moon, and the arrows looked to match the purple glow of Tsukuyomi himself. The bow wood was a dark, sleek, black color that shined brilliantly. Chikane slowly approached the Moon God and laid her hand on the bow, taking it first. When her hand touched it, a silverish-white glow appeared around the bow itself and her, infusing her, almost, with its power. The quiver produced the same effect as she took it from him and slung it across her torso. Within another minute, the glow died down and she looked at Tsukuyomi. He looked at her in an all-knowing way.

"I know your heart yearns for the art of archery, and that some may say, in practices back at your palace range you were quite the archer." Tsukuyomi complimented her. "Fulfill your role, children of the Sun and Moon." He said. "Do not betray us with your newfound power." He was ascending, and fading away; Disappearing for the time being, back to his cosmic bed.

"Use it to save not destroy." Amaterasu added, as she was ascending and fading as well. But, instead of having the same stern expression that her partner usually had, she bore another warm, motherly smile. "I shall be watching over you from afar. Unite, as the uniter should, and go and find your destiny." Her voice echoed into the background, and a moment later, they were gone. The atmosphere returned to normal and suddenly they were both overcome with fear as they realized that had effectively gotten lost and didn't know the way out.

"Himeko…" Chikane started.

"Yes C-Chikane?" She answered.

"I don't know the way back." She stated, unsure of herself for maybe the first time in her life.

"That's okay." She said, and Chikane was confused as to how being lost was okay. But, Himeko had the one thing that Chikane was lacking in as of recent, and perhaps that would be their savior. If they could just trust one another, maybe they'd make it out of this okay. "I think if we stick together, we'll make it." She joined her free hand in Chikane's lacing their fingers, and Chikane held onto Himeko's hand more as well, as soon as she felt the flesh touch her own.

"You're right. We'll find a way." She nodded.

Amaterasu's voice echoed one more time, as her entity was the one that was currently out; The Sun.

"I will show you the path out, children. Then it is up to you." And suddenly there would be a wind that blew by down towards a path that looked to carry them away from this area they were in now, and could possibly be the way out. Chikane and Himeko without a moment to spare and some thanks said, started their way down the path that Amaterasu had shown to them.

Chikane affirmed her identity as they walked; It all made sense. A child of the moon, being the only child of the royal Himemiya family, a princess; which meant she lived in the palace, the palace that was the only thing named for the moon in their Sun Kingdom. Palace of the Blue Moon.

And Himeko had always been bright and bubbly in her personality; She always radiated this warmth, and she was like that when she was a child also. Despite losing her parents and having to endure both the clouds and the rain, she always came out on top and found a way to shine again. She was quite possibly the reason the kingdom was so bright for Chikane, the only reason that she finally noticed its name.

And so the girls sped towards the Kingdom of the Sun to conquer the evil that had spread there.

WITH GIROCHI AND TSUBASA AND SOUMA…

The air was tense between them, and no one said anything for a good few minutes. But, eventually, Tsubasa spoke up smugly and broke the silence.

"Move aside, Girochi." He commanded.

"And what makes you think you can tell me what to do? I wasn't done with him." Girochi yelled.

"Quit your yelling." He commanded again calmly of him, holding one of his hands to his head, beneath the bangs of his hair. "You're causing me a headache." He continued. This made Girochi even angrier. "Yes, you are done with him. Is that clear to you, Girochi?" He looked at him with the deepest intensity in his red eyes; And though he was calm about it, he was certainly serious too.

"What?!" He yelled again. "I don't gotta listen to you! My sister may have a thing for you, but I certainly don't pretty boy. And if you wanna take me on too, I don't have a problem with that at all. What say you and me, have it out right now? I'll tear you to pieces!" He laughed, overconfidently as usual.

"I have no desire to fight you." He said calmly again. "Leave now, this doesn't concern you any longer." His smirk began to grow a little on his face, he couldn't help it. He returned the hand that was on his forehead to his other pocket, he stared down at Souma's unconscious body. "I'll take it from here, he's mine now."

Girochi looked upon him and was about to shout a retort, but then, witnessed the same smirk he knew to be the dark trademark of the pretty boy before him, he knew that look all too well; he wore that look before, and he knew what Tsubasa's wish was now. Rather than cause more problems, he just decided to stride past the man with teal-turquoise hair, his chains jangling as he walked, dragging across the concrete ground.

"Fine, he's all yours. See ya'around pretty boy." Girochi said as he walked off into the distance. After a moment of pause, Tsubasa slowly walked over so he was standing right in front of Souma's unconscious body, his boot tip pressed to the boy's nose.

"Rest for now, brother. I shall wait till you rise again." He spoke; he intended to stand there and wait till Souma had rested up. Then, many things would ensue.

[END OF CHAPTER 21]