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.


Nagata found himself standing in an empty black space. He didn't know how he got here but he knew that he didn't want to remain here any longer.

The darkness and the loneliness were just unnerving, and he didn't want to experience it any longer. It felt so cold and frightening, causing him to panic.

"Hello? Anyone there?" Nagata called out.

Nagata soon found that he wasn't alone anymore. In fact, there was another presence. Standing a distance away with its back facing him was a figure shrouded in darkness and mystery.

"Who are you?" Nagata asked as he approached but the dark figure kept its distance. Nagata chased after it, but it continued to retreat from him. "Hey, come back here! I just want to talk to you!"

As Nagata started to give chase, the Seal of Heaven suddenly descended from the sky and fell into the hand of the dark figure. The dark figure finally stopped running and turned to face Nagata. The dark figure had no features. It was just a dark humanoid shape like a shadow.

As Nagata continued to stare at the figure, it revealed a pair of golden eyes that stared right back at him.

All of a sudden, the Seal of Heaven released a blinding flash of bright golden light, prompting Nagata to shield his eyes. However, while he shielded his eyes, he saw vivid visions.

Vivid, terrible visions.

He saw a huge pool of blood with Rakuyo burning in the center of it.

He gazed in horror as the terrible dancing flames consumed the city and everything inside.

The walls and buildings crumbled as the city sunk into the pool of blood.

Smoke arose from the burning city, taking the shape of tortured souls as they begged for help.

And thousands of horrendous tortured screams broke the silence.


Sangokuden Armored War Gods Saga: End of the Armored War Gods

Written By: Kamen Rider Chrome and Ten-Faced Paladin

Beta Reader/Editor: Busterleader92

Chapter 16: Reprieve & Respite


Nagata woke up with a start and bolt upright from his bed. He gasped, with his skin drenched in sweat. As his heart pounded in his chest, he took deep breaths as he ran his hand through his hair. His bangs were matted to his forehead which was soaked in cold sweat. In fact, his entire body was covered in a layer of perspiration.

"Damn it, not again..." he cursed quietly before he sighed as the shock passed.

It was no use.

He was still having nightmares.

This was a nightmare he had before, one which he had since the Fall of Rakuyo. It was because he could never forget the tragic fire that took so many innocent lives.

The nightmares about Rakuyo stopped after he accepted what happened and moved on. But after what happened the last time he went there with the others, the nightmares came back.

The nightmares about Rakuyo weren't the only ones he had. Sometimes he would have nightmares about Bujin Gaim.

He had some really bad ones since he regained his body. Bujin Gaim had committed terrible deeds and Nagata wasn't sure if he could get over the time he experienced as the demon's host. Whatever Bujin Gaim had done while possessing him still stuck in his mind and he had to relive every moment in his nightmares.

And sometimes, both nightmares blended together and those were the really bad ones.

They were really starting to mess him up.

"Wake up, Nagata-sama! It's time to get up!" Kanu called as she opened the door.

"Morning, Aisha..." Nagata greeted softly.

"Morning already...?" Ryuubi yawned as she woke up next to Nagata. Clad in only her birthday suit, she looked at Nagata and smiled. "Good morning, Nagata-sama..." She wrapped her arms around him.

"Ah, Touka!?" Nagata cried.

"Why so surprised, Nagata-sama? Have you forgotten our night together?" cooed Ryuubi.

Kanu sighed.

"It appears I was interrupting. I'll leave you both to your privacy."

She was about to close the door when Ryuubi called to her.

"There's no need to leave, Aisha. You can join us too if you'd like."

Ryuubi was very open to the idea of sharing Nagata with her sister. Kanu considered it for a moment but decided to decline.

"Some other time, Aneue. I have duties to perform, as do you. So, please finish up and get ready for the day."

With that said, Kanu left the two alone, closing the door to give them privacy.

"She really is missing out on something good," Ryuubi said as she snuggled up to her lover.

Even after all this time, Nagata was still trying to get used to the idea of having a harem and a different bedmate each night.


Two weeks had passed since Nagata regained his body.

Two weeks ago, they fought Bujin Gaim and he ended up possessing Nagata. It took the united effort of the Armored War Gods, Armored War Devils and the Shoku Warriors to capture and contain Bujin Gaim.

However, once they succeeded and managed to capture Bujin Gaim, Ukitsu planned on double-crossing the heroes so he could take control of Bujin Gaim and gain a powerful ally/weapon. Fortunately, his plan failed as he was caught red-handed by Kada before he could apply the control talisman. Realizing his plan was a failure, Ukitsu took off with Shishi.

Finally, Bujin Gaim was exorcised when Ryuubi managed to get through to Nagata and together they defeated the demon and vanquished him for good.

The memories of Bujin Gaim's deeds would always haunt Nagata, but he couldn't let those memories stop him from living and working to do what was right. He couldn't break down since everyone looked up to him. Fortunately, he had the support of his vassals. If he were to fall, they would be at his side to help him back up.

In the past two weeks, Nagata watched as the village recovered from another major battle. According to his officers, when the Kaijin invaded, they had taken them by surprise. The creatures had just appeared without warning.

Fortunately, Ryuubi managed to lead everyone to defend the villagers and successfully drove the monsters away.

A single Kaijin was hard enough to deal with, but an army of Kaijin would've been too much, even when Ryuubi, Kanu, and Chouhi had power-augmenting armor. It was a good thing that the Kaijin were simply reproductions Bujin Gaim created from Nagata's memories. He was able to duplicate their appearances, but not their overwhelming power.

And that all happened while he was trying to get his body back. Bujin Gaim had planned to conquer the land using his Kaijin army but still failed. That didn't mean that the village didn't suffer any damage. While they were pale imitations, the Kaijin were still deadly and destructive as a lot of people were hurt by them.

Nagata was just glad that those monsters were gone so everyone could focus on recovering. Most of the repairs to the buildings were finished, but cleanup was a bit tricky.


Nagata sat in his office. Stacks of paperwork remain undone, but his mind was elsewhere.

All he could think about were Nanamomo's last words:

"There is a traitor among you."

Nagata didn't want to believe it but he could not dismiss it either. There was a possibility that she was trying to plant the seeds of doubt and paranoia, but she sounded so sincere in her last moments.

And Nanamomo had even sacrificed herself in order to save them from Bujin Gaim, even if it had been in vain. Someone who was willing to give up their life could not have been lying. She had to have been sincere about the warning.

If what she said was true, then they had a spy in their midst. However, he still didn't want to believe one of them was a traitor.

He wasn't sure what to believe.

He had never felt so much doubt in his life.

But if there was a traitor hiding among them, who could it be?

Right now everyone was a suspect. It could be anyone, and Nagata did not want to suspect any of his friends. There was just no way any of them could be the spy, right? It couldn't be possible.

Thinking about all this was giving him a headache. He needed to talk to someone about this, but who could he trust with such sensitive information? If he told everyone, they would start suspecting each other, and the real spy could make plans to frame someone else. Keeping it to himself was out of the question too. It would just drive him mad.

He needed to tell someone, and he knew exactly who he could trust with this info.

And he knew just the person he could confide in.


Komei slammed another book shut and let out a cry of frustration.

"Nothing here either!"

Hoto gently rubbed her back.

"It's alright, Shuri."

"No, it's not, Hinari! I've spent two weeks trying to look up any information on Dai Shi, and I haven't found even a mention of him in any books or scrolls!"

"I know, I've been helping you," Hoto reminded. "And so has Suikyo-sensei."

"And I appreciate it. But not even the books Suikyo-sensei brought with her were of any help!"

"How about we take a break? Let's just tidy up here and then relax over some tea," Hoto suggested calmly.

Komei sighed as she nodded in agreement.

"Yes, tea sounds nice."

The door of the library opened, and Nagata entered.

"Shuri, are you busy? Oh, hey Hoto."

"Gaim-sama," Hoto bowed.

"Nagata-sama, did you wish to see me?" Komei asked.

"Yeah, I kinda do," he replied. "Shuri, do you mind if we spoke someplace private?"

Komei blushed.

"Private?"

"Yes, private. There's something I need to speak with you, and you alone."

"Yes! I mean, yes, of course."


Nagata took Komei into Helheim Forest to speak to her privately. It was the least likely of places where someone could eavesdrop on them. Once the Sakura Hurricane came to a stop, both Komei and Nagata dismounted.

"So, this is the Helheim Forest. It's beautiful," Komei said as she was marveled at the eerie, foggy forest, truly fascinated by the otherworldly realm. Ever since she heard about it, she wanted to see it for herself.

"Don't let it fool you. Remember, everything here can also kill you," Nagata warned.

Komei took his warning seriously. The fruit might seem delicious, but one bite could turn her into an Inves, which was a fate worse than death. Also, the Inves were protective of their main food source and would attack anyone trying to steal it from them. Komei could already see a few Elementary Inves watching them, but they kept their distance. Nagata kept his guard up, wearing his SengokuDriver just in case they attacked.

"Nagata-sama, why did you need to speak with me here?" she asked.

What Nagata was about to tell her was of the utmost importance. He couldn't risk the information leaking for security reasons and needed someone he could trust.

"I have reason to believe that there is a traitor among us," he told her clearly, causing her to gasp.

"A traitor? Are you sure?" Komei asked.

"Nanamomo told me with her last breath," he confirmed.

"Then we should go and warn the others," she urged.

"We can't," Nagata objected. "If we do, we may alert the traitor hiding among us. The fewer people who know, the better."

"Are you saying we can't trust anyone else?" Komei asked, shocked.

"Rinrin will most likely accidentally blurt it out. As for the others...I don't want to believe there's a traitor hiding among us..," Nagata said, ashamed that he couldn't trust the others with this information. "But what if it's true? We can't risk the traitor catching wind of this."

"Then we may need to be careful, Nagata-sama," Komei suggested. "At this point, it could be anyone."

"Right, so this stays between us," Nagata ordered.

"I'll try to investigate the matter with the utmost secrecy," she swore.

"I'd rather you not. We don't want to arouse suspicion, and if you get caught I'm worried about what might happen to you," Nagata replied.

Komei blushed as Nagata showed so much concern for her. It was touching to know he cared so much for her.

"Now, come on. We've spent enough time here already," said Nagata as he felt the hungry gazes of the Inves intensify.

As the two rode out of the forest via a Helheim portal, Jam stepped out from behind a tree. She had heard everything and her eyes narrowed behind her visor. Once Nagata and Komei exited the forest, Jam also vanished as she dissolved into a swarm and flew away.


Nagata went out grocery shopping with Chouhi, Ryuubi, and Kanu. Besides cooking, grocery shopping was an activity that allowed Nagata to enjoy a bit of normalcy in his life. While he had adapted well to this world and time period, there were just some things he couldn't do without.

The only downside was that he needed to get to the market early. They didn't have refrigerators here so he needed to get ingredients fresh off the chopping block.

Yes, the butcher's chopping block.

"Here you go, Seiryuoh-sama," the butcher said as he filled up the bag with the cuts of meat Nagata wanted. "And it's half price just for you."

"You know I'm happy enough to pay full price," Nagata retorted with a frown.

"With all due respect, Seiryuoh-sama, with all the hard work you do for us, you deserve to treat yourself," the butcher justified.

"OK, but don't keep giving out discounts. You got a family to feed too," said Nagata as he paid the butcher. "Which reminds me, how's your wife doing?"

"Oh, she's fine, thanks for asking. She just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl," the butcher smiled.

"I'm glad to hear that. I hope she stays healthy," Nagata said.

"I'm honored by your blessing, Seiryuoh-sama," the butcher bowed. Nagata rolled his eyes but didn't correct him. Claiming he wasn't really a god would just have the people claim that he was just being modest. His power as Armored War God Gaim had fully convinced them.

"Have a good day, Nikura-san," Nagata bid the butcher before he was on his way with the others.

"Nagata-niichan, what are you going to make with all that meat?" Chouhi asked.

"Oh, just my special meat stew. It's been a while since I made it," Nagata told his little sister.

"Yummy!"

"I'm glad to see the village recovering well," said Kanu as she looked around.

"So am I," Nagata agreed.

"And everyone looks so happy," added Ryuubi. "But that's to be expected since they have Nagata-sama to always protect them."

When they returned to the castle, they found the guards manhandling a young boy. He looked to be 10 years old and was struggling as he threw a tantrum, yelling at the guards to let him go.

"Lemme go! Lemme go!"

"Hey, stay still!"

"Wait until Gaim-sama comes and sorts you out!"

"Hey, what's going on here?" Nagata asked as he approached the guards with the others in tow.

"Explain yourselves!" Kanu ordered.

"Seiryuoh-sama, General Kanu, we caught this kid putting up disparaging messages all over the wall," a guard said.

"What?" Nagata turned towards the wall and there were posters put up across the wall, and what was on them was anything but good:

"The Armored War Gods are not your saviors!"

"How many loved ones have you lost in their name?"

"The Musou Seiryuoh is a monster!"

"The Armored War Gods only spread war, not peace!"

"Must we die for them!? NO! JUST SAY NO! The Armored War Gods will not decide our fates!"

Nagata was shaken by the messages. The young boy broke free and confronted Nagata. He looked angry. He looked like he loathed Nagata.

"Because of you, my big brother's dead!" the boy spat at Nagata's face, causing him to recoil in shock.

"Hey!" Chouhi snapped as she pushed the boy back. "You can't spit on my Onii-chan! Apologize, now!"

"No! It's his fault! My brother's gone because of him!" the boy snapped as he pointed an accusing finger towards Nagata.

"Alright, you're coming with us!" a guard ordered as he grabbed the kid. "Seiryuoh-sama, what should we do with him?"

"Nagata-sama?" Ryuubi asked, worried when he failed to respond.

"Nagata-sama, are you OK?" Kanu asked.

Nagata quickly wiped off the spit with his sleeve.

"I'm...I'm fine..." Nagata replied, slightly taken aback by the act. "Just take him home and inform his parents. Take down these posters too."

Nagata stepped through the gate as everyone watched.

"You both should see if he's alright," Kanu instructed her sisters. "I'm going to take care of this."

"Teach him a lesson, Aisha!" Chouhi urged.

"I will," Kanu promised.

"Just don't be too hard on him, OK?" Ryuubi asked gently.

As Ryuubi and Chouhi followed Nagata back to the castle, Kanu looked back at the posters angrily and tore them off the wall before she tore them to pieces. She then caught up to the guards to speak with the boy.

"Excuse me, could I speak with the boy?" Kanu asked.

"Are you sure, General Kanu?"

"He did spit on Seiryuoh-sama."

"Yes he did, and Nagata-sama could have easily called for this child's incarceration, or worse, immediate execution if he had been anything that these detractors spoke of him." The child seemed to pale at Kanu's words. "Allow me to speak with the boy to understand his anger."

The guards shared unreadable looks but eventually complied as they relinquished the child to Kanu, who knelt down to his eye level.

Kanu looked the boy in the eye. He tried to avert her gaze, but she wasn't going to let him get away with what he'd done. He might be a child, but he was old enough to know better than to put up such terrible posters.

"What's your name?" Kanu asked.

"...Shu," the boy answered.

"Shu, you said that Gaim-sama is the reason your brother died. Was your brother a soldier?" Kanu could sympathize with the boy. She had lost her brother too.

Shu nodded.

"He didn't come back," Shu said. "He didn't come back because he fought for him."

So Shu blamed Nagata for the death of his brother. Still, she needed to ask him about the posters.

"I understand how you feel. I lost my brother too when I was younger," Kanu confessed. "You miss him, don't you?"

Shu nodded.

"Do you think your brother would be happy that you're doing all this?"

To Kanu's knowledge, none of the soldiers were forced to join. They volunteered because they wanted to do something good and defend their home.

Shu shook his head in response to her question.

"Shu, did you make the posters?" Kanu asked.

Shu shook his head.

"Did someone give them to you?"

Shu nodded.

"Can you tell me who gave them to you?"

"It was a man, a man in white," Shu answered.

Kanu nodded. A man in white. It was likely someone working for Ukitsu, one of those White Clothes that seemed determined to ruin the Armored War Gods' reputation.

"He paid me to put these posters on the wall. He told me it was Gaim-sama's fault that my brother died," said Shu. "I believed him too. If Gaim-sama's so strong, why did my brother have to die?"

"Gaim-sama is strong," confirmed Kanu. "But he's stronger as long as we support him. Your brother believed in Gaim-sama, so he fought for him like I do."

Shu looked ashamed, but he was still angry.

"I still think it's all Gaim-sama's fault that my brother died," Shu insisted.

"I won't ask you to forgive Gaim-sama. I do ask that you honor your brother. Putting up posters like that is no way of honoring your brother," Kanu advised.

Shu was silent as he contemplated her words and nodded.

"Take it easy on him, alright?" Kanu ordered the guards.

"Yes, General Kanu!" the soldiers bowed.

Kanu smiled in satisfaction and went back to the castle check up on Nagata. She didn't need to look far as she found him in the courtyard, sitting on the steps of the castle's main door. Chouhi and Ryuubi were with him, consoling him. From the looks of things, they seemed to be successful.

As she approached, Nagata looked up at her.

"So, what happened?" Nagata asked.

"I spoke with the boy, Nagata-sama. I don't think he'll cause any more trouble from now on," Kanu informed them.

"Aisha, you should've let me punish that little meanie!" Chouhi growled.

"Rinrin, hush," Ryuubi shushed her youngest sister, although the girl in question huffed in slight disappointment.

"Nagata-sama, are you sure you're alright?" Kanu asked her beloved.

"...He blames me for his brother's death," Nagata murmured.

"His brother was one of the soldiers who served you, and he died in battle," Kanu informed him.

"I knew it. It's my fault."

"Nagata-sama, what happened to him was not your fault," Ryuubi spoke soothingly.

"He sure thinks that what happened is my fault. Who knows how many others feel the same way? And did you read those posters?"

As Shoku's Seiryuoh, Nagata considered the matters of his people seriously. Every single soul mattered to him. It automatically became his responsibility to protect the people in his territory and beyond, as he swore to bear the burden for the people of Shoku.

That was why he couldn't refute Shu's accusation. His brother had fought for Nagata and died in his name. Nagata couldn't help but feel guilty for his involvement.

"Nagata-sama, you can't allow something like this to upset you," Kanu advised.

Nagata didn't respond and quietly headed inside.

"Nagata-sama, wait," Ryuubi called. But he ignored her, and the three sisters watched him sadly go back into the castle.

"Should we go after him?" Chouhi asked uncertainly.

"No, we should give him his privacy," Kanu advised. "He needs his space right now."

"Are you sure?" Ryuubi asked.

Kanu didn't answer. She wasn't sure herself.


Nagata went up to his office and opened up the shrine of his birth parents. He needed to speak with them and contemplate.

"Okaasan, Otousan, if you can both hear me, I wish you were here. Maybe you guys can help me how to deal with this," he said to the memorial tablets that held his parents' names.

When he resolved to walk this path, he thought he only needed to deal with the RinJyuKen and the Armored War Devils. However, including the issue regarding a possible traitor among them, he now had another problem.

Seeing those posters and being spat on like that triggered a fear of rejection within him. He was glad to have met Kanu when he first found himself in this world, or there would be no way of him fitting in. The way people accepted him warmed his heart, but he often feared what would happen if they would suddenly turn on him.

He was afraid of what might happen if all of his loved ones turned their backs on him. What Bujin Gaim did while possessing his body would certainly reflect badly on him, and their enemies would definitely take advantage of what happened to sway public opinion against him. If his friends rejected him, he would be alone in a strange world, and he wouldn't have his family to fall back on for support.

For the first time in a very long time, he began to doubt his place in this world he had chosen to call home.

The door opened.

"I said I wanted to be left alone," Nagata responded.

"Sorry, but I'm not one of your little soldiers to order around," retorted Karasu as she stood in the doorway, with her arms crossed.

"Oh, Kara-chan," he realized. "What's up? Did you need anything?"

"Do I need anything to see my favorite cousin?" she smiled, but her smile soon slipped into a concerned frown as she noticed his forced calmness. "Naga-kun, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he lied.

"You're a terrible liar," she accused.

"You can always tell, huh?"

"I saw what happened and it makes me question why you still wish to protect such ungrateful people."

"They're not all like that, and the kid was in grief," he defended.

"You didn't kill his brother, so that doesn't excuse such behavior." She offered with a sadistic smile. "Want me to pay him a visit to sort him out?"

"No need," he declined. "Thanks for offering, though."

"You really shouldn't beat yourself up over this. You're not responsible for their deaths. Whether you like it or not, people die, and you can't save everyone."

"I really wish I could, though."

Karasu rolled her eyes before she went over and gave him a warm hug.

"Kara-chan?" Nagata questioned.

"You look like you need a hug," Karasu answered.

"Thanks, Kara-chan. I'm so glad you're here," he said gratefully.

"So am I," she said with a sly smile.


"I can't believe that happened," Ryuubi said, surprised, as she sat in the garden with her two sisters.

"It truly did upset him," Kanu added.

"Yeah, and what that meanie put up on the wall was mean!" Chouhi chimed in.

"He's angry at Nagata-sama for what happened to his brother," Kanu answered sympathetically. She could understand what that was like.

"But our soldiers join of their own free will. Nagata-sama didn't force them to fight," Ryuubi said.

"No, but Nagata-sama is our leader, so he's responsible for them. We all are since we're their generals too. Even if our soldiers volunteered, their loved ones would still want someone to blame for their deaths. That boy, Shu, is hurting from the loss of his brother so he needed someone to blame as an outlet. That's why he's angry at Nagata-sama. If Nagata-sama could, he would fight without an army. That way he wouldn't have to feel so guilty," Kanu stated.

"But it's not fair to blame Nagata-niichan. He's just trying to help people," claimed Chouhi.

"Some people may not see it that way, Rinrin. Some people may admire power, but there are people who fear it. They've witnessed what the Armored War Gods are capable of, and fear them for it. After all, just one of them could destroy an entire army with a single gesture," Kanu explained.

Ryuubi tapped her chin and smiled as she got an idea.

"I think I know a way to help Nagata."


The following day. Nagata was in his office, sitting at his desk. Except, he was sitting on the other side. He was usually the one behind the desk, but not this time.

"Nagata-sama, do you know why you're here?" Ryuubi asked as she sat behind his desk.

Nagata, who was sitting across from her, responded, "Because this is my office."

Ryuubi ignored his reply and continued, "We're worried about you, Nagata-sama. You're stressed and you've been having nightmares."

"So you've noticed."

"It's hard not to when we share a bed. The others notice too, how you toss and turn and talk in your sleep. You even say such terrible things."

"I'm fine, Touka."

"No, you're not! Nobody can say they are completely fine after going through what you had!" Ryuubi countered with sympathy.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't say anything because I didn't want to worry you."

Ryuubi cut him off, "This isn't something you can just keep to yourself, Nagata-sama. We're here for you. If you need someone to talk to, you can come to us. Even if you just need a hug, we're here to embrace you. You're not alone. You never were."

"So, where do we go from here?"

"Nagata-sama, because you desperately need a break, I've decided to relieve you of your duties."

"Relieve me of my duties? Wait, you're firing me?"

Ryuubi couldn't fire Nagata, right?

"No, that's not it. I'm not firing you, Nagata-sama. This will only be temporary."

"Temporary? You mean like a vacation?"

"Exactly, Nagata-sama. You need to go away for a bit to take your mind off all this stress you're having."

"But I can't go on vacation! What if we get attacked?"

"You don't need to worry. You made sure we were ready for any attacks."

Ryuubi reached up to her magatama earring for emphasis.

"But-!"

"Please, Nagata-sama. You need to take a break. You need a vacation. Do this for us, please?"

Nagata opened his mouth to argue, but Ryuubi was looking at him with soft and warm eyes. She really cared about him and didn't want to see him suffer. He took a moment to think about what she had said.

She was right. What he experienced was not something he could just get over it, and trying to cope by himself was not working.

"So what do you propose I do?" Nagata asked.

"We are going camping," Ryuubi decided, winking at him.

It took a moment for Nagata to reply after he blinked.

"Camping?"


"So, are you all packed, Nagata-sama?" Ryuubi asked as she stood in front of the castle with Nagata.

"Yes," Nagata answered as he pointed to his backpack. "I got everything right there; extra clothes, a bedroll, cooking utensils and my tent."

"That's good. So am I."

"So it's just the two of us then?" Nagata asked.

Ryuubi sighed.

Both Ryuubi and Nagata were fully prepared and were about to go, and the next thing to do before their departure was to bring escorts for their safety.

After all, Ryuubi and Nagata were very important people. They couldn't be allowed to venture alone without guards.

"I really wished it was just the two of us." She pointed over to where Gien and Ryofu stood. "Ren and Enya will be coming with us."

"Anywhere Touka-sama goes, I go," Gien said firmly.

"I am Nagata-sama's bodyguard," Ryofu stated, reaffirming her position. "And bedmate."

Nagata sweatdropped.

"Ren, you really didn't need to add that."

"It's the truth."

Nagata cracked a nervous smile. The more the merrier, right? Although, he had a feeling that Ryofu would want to crawl into bed with him.

She enjoyed whatever intimate moments she could share with him.

"Hold it right there!" Karasu suddenly shouted as she approached the group. She saw that they were packed and ready to go somewhere. Intrigued, she wondered where they could be going.

"Ah, Kara-chan," Nagata smiled.

"Where are you all going?" Karasu asked.

"We're going camping."

"Then I'm coming too," Karasu decided. She couldn't miss the chance of being together with her cousin.

Nagata blinked.

"Kara-chan, are you sure you want to go camping with us?"

Karasu gave him a leveled stare.

"Remember that camping trip we went on with Aunt Yang when we were twelve?"

Nagata's eyes widened as he went ghostly pale. He remembered. They ended up camping in Aokigahara, aka the Sea of Trees, aka the Suicide Forest.

"Aokigahara...never again...never again..." Nagata trembled as he shook his head in terror at the memory.

Oh, the things he'd seen and wished he could unsee.

Karasu put her arms around him and gently rubbed his head.

"Shh...It's OK. The ghosts aren't going to get you. I'll chase them all away."

"Aokigahara?" Ryuubi asked.

"Bad camping experience in a forest known for all the suicides that took place in it. One of the most haunted places in our home," explained Karasu. "We went on a camping trip with Naga-kun's mother and ended up camping out in the woods. We left after two days because of...reasons."

"Uh-huh," Ryuubi nodded. It sounded like a long story, one they didn't have time to listen to. She beamed as she held up a map. "Anyway, I just found a good place for us to go camping! And we won't need horses to get there!"

"I'm still not sure we should go camping. I mean what if something happens while we're gone?" Nagata asked worriedly. "RinJyuKen activity has been increasing recently."

Ryuubi frowned.

"Nagata-sama, that's why we left Iori-sama in charge and if there's trouble, he can contact us."

"But-"

"No buts! You need to go on vacation and I don't care if I have to tie you up and drag you to the campsite myself!" Ryuubi yelled, causing Nagata to step back in fright. "Sorry about that."

"No, it's OK. I understand." Nagata rubbed the back of his head. 'Touka can be scary when she's angry...kinda hot too.'

"Now then, shall we be off?" Ryuubi asked.

"But Kara-chan hasn't packed anything yet," Nagata said.

"Alright, we'll leave once Idunn-sama has packed her bag."


The group gathered in front of the castle. All their supplies were packed. Words were exchanged amongst the Shoku Warriors before the group headed out on their camping trip.

"I wanna go too!" Chouhi whined.

"Rinrin, don't be rude!" Kanu scolded.

"It's fine, Aisha. Rinrin's just worried about her big brother," Ryuubi responded kindly.

"Are you sure you don't need us to come along with you?" Kanu asked.

"Don't worry so much. Remember, I have Ren, Idunn-sama, Nagata-sama and Enya with me. We're perfectly safe."

"Well, enjoy yourselves then."

"Are you sure you don't need me to go, Ren-dono?" Chinkyuu asked Ryofu.

"I will be fine," Ryofu reassured her.

Chinkyuu still wasn't convinced, but she trusted Ryofu. Still, she felt as if she needed to say a few words to Nagata.

"You better look after Ren-dono, OK? You got that, Nagata-sama?"

Nagata smiled and patted Chinkyuu's head.

"Don't worry. Ren's in good hands."

He reassured with his thumb raised confidently.

Chinkyuu blushed and turned away.

"Hmph!"

What a tsundere response.

Iori's gaze was locked on Karasu. Even though they had fought alongside each other, there was still something about her that bothers him. He was still worried about something happening to Nagata and his group if they brought her along.

He had brought up his concerns about Karasu earlier with Nagata.


"So, I heard you were going camping," said Iori.

"Yeah, it'll just be me, Touka, Ren, Gien and Kara-chan," Nagata replied.

"So, Oda-san is going with you," Iori frowned.

"Why are you saying it like that?" Nagata asked, cocking his eyebrow.

"It's just that...are you sure you should be taking your cousin along?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Well, to be honest, I don't fully trust your cousin."

"Wait, how come?" Nagata asked, surprised.

"I just have this strange feeling like she's hiding something. Like she's plotting something bad behind our backs," Iori answered.

"Look, I know that Kara-chan can be a bit strange, but she's my cousin. I trust her."

"Well, if you say so," Iori said, though he was still left unconvinced.


Even if Nagata trusted Karasu, that wasn't enough for Iori. Bujin Gaim had not been lying about Nagata being fooled once before. If there was a traitor among them, they would pose as someone close to them to escape suspicion.

Iori was going to be keeping tabs on Karasu.

The camping group left, waving goodbye to their friends.


Ryuubi led the way, skipping in front of the group. Gien followed behind her. In the middle were Ryofu and Nagata while Karasu brought up the rear.

"Camping, camping, we're going camp-camp-camp-camp-camping!" Ryuubi sang.

"Guess Touka's been infected by Rinrin's singing disease," Nagata joked. Chouhi did like to sing nonsensical songs to lift the mood while they traveled. Ryuubi would sing along as well.

Karasu was eyeing their surroundings as they walked towards the campsite. Deep within her devious mind, she was having sinister thoughts.

So many sinister thoughts filled with blood and death.

"MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Kara-chan, why are you laughing?" Nagata asked out of curiosity, especially upon hearing that sudden, suspicious-sounding laughter.

'Was that out loud?' Karasu realized. "I just thought of a funny joke." She congratulated herself, 'Nice save.'

"Well, what was it? Do you mind sharing?"

'Shit!' Karasu cursed mentally. "It's a funny story, really. It's about a young man who was told to always obey his mother's words."

"A filial son," Gien approved. "Go on."

"Well, the son did anything the mother told him. So, one day, the mother felt really sick. She was so sick she said, 'Please, just kill me.' So, the son, after he heard this, smothered her with a pillow."

Nobody found that funny.

"That was not a funny story," Ryuubi remarked in disapproval.

"Morbid," stated Ryofu.

"Well, I just heard it somewhere," Karasu lied. 'Shit! I made that up on the spot!'

Nagata let out a chuckle.

"It's actually kind of funny, in an ironic way. I guess it's true that you should be careful with how you phrase things."

Karasu smiled. At least someone liked her 'funny' story.

"Alright, be careful everyone. The trail ahead is pretty steep," Ryuubi cautioned everyone.

Karasu imagined everyone but her and Nagata falling down the mountain. Then they could be alone together.

It was perfect.

"You know, Touka. I think you had the right idea about me going on a camping trip," Nagata said. "I actually miss this."

"Thank you, Nagata-sama."

"You miss camping?" Karasu asked her cousin.

"Not just camping, but traveling. When I first met Aisha, we went traveling from place to place. If we couldn't find a town by nightfall, we made camp or found shelter. It was because of her that I was able to see the land with her and make so many new friends."

Karasu scowled at how fondly Nagata spoke about Kanu. The time he spent traveling with Kanu, he was trying to find clues to get home. Now, he thought of this world as his home.

"We even traveled around to find my sword and the medicine for Kashin-san," Ryuubi recalled.

"Yeah, and also to find the ingredients for General Kashin's antidote. I have to say that traveling was always the best part. It sure beats sitting in an office all day looking over paperwork."

"Paperwork is the worst."

"It is. It's tedious, it's boring, but it's necessary. But if you ask me, I'd rather be traveling, though. I prefer the freedom of the open road."

"Maybe once the war with the RinJyuKen is over, we could go traveling someplace else? There's a whole world to see, right, Nagata-sama?"

"Yeah, I'd like that. I wonder what Japan is like this year."


After many hours of hiking, they finally reached their campsite. It was a clearing that was near a stream.

Ryofu had disappeared into the forest, claiming she wanted to go look for food.

As they began to make camp, Karasu observed Ryuubi as she was pitching her tent.

"Are you sure you know how to put up a tent?" Karasu asked Ryuubi.

"Of course," Ryuubi insisted.

"Because I've seen better tents. That is not a tent," Karasu pointed. "How exactly did you camp out?"

"Well, I would usually sleep under the stars," Ryuubi answered. "As for tents, well, it was usually Aisha or Nagata-sama who put them up."

"That explains it. Now we're going to need firewood too," said Karasu.

"Oh, yes. Let's go look for firewood," Ryuubi agreed.

"I'll come with you, Touka-sama," Gien offered.

"Enya, it's fine. You just stay here and look after Nagata-sama."

"But Touka-sama, I'm your bodyguard!" Gien insisted.

"It's fine. I'm perfectly safe with Idunn-sama."

"Yes, perfectly safe," Karasu agreed with a sly smile.

Gien didn't seem convinced but obeyed nonetheless.

"Come on, Idunn-sama. Let's go look for firewood," said Ryuubi.

Ryuubi and Karasu both went into the forest to gather firewood. As Ryuubi picked up sticks that were on the ground, Karasu decided it was time to make her move and eliminate the competition.

Ryuubi was gathering sticks for firewood as Karasu quietly snuck up behind her. Karasu drew her sword and was ready to strike Ryuubi down when some rustling in the woods caught their attention.

Was it a wild animal, or could it be Nagata coming to check up on them?

As she had no desire getting herself caught, Karasu quickly sheathed her sword.

The bushes parted to reveal Ryofu, carrying a wild boar on her shoulders.

"Ren, you startled us!" Ryuubi exclaimed and saw the boar. "Why are you carrying that with you?"

"Food," Ryofu answered simply. "Firewood?"

"Oh, we've gathered enough, I think. What about you, Idunn-sama?"

"Yes, I think we have plenty," Karasu answered, resisting the urge to scowl. "Now let's get this back to camp so Naga-kun can cook something delicious for us."

Ryuubi smiled and followed Ryofu back to camp. Karasu followed behind them, rage written all over her face.

The group returned and Nagata saw the size of the boar Ryofu was carrying. It would normally be too big for their group, but Ryofu was a big eater with a large appetite.

When Ryofu joined their family, Nagata always made sure to make extra portions just for her.

"Well, let's get that thing prepared," Nagata said as he took out his cooking knife. "Ryofu, do you mind helping me skin and prepare the boar for cooking?"

Ryofu licked her lips and nodded. A pig like that would be delicious, even more so with Nagata preparing it.

"We should get more things for our meal," said Ryuubi. "Some wild vegetables would do nicely. I'll go see if I can find some."

"I'll go with you," Karasu offered.

Nagata built a makeshift spit with sticks over the fire pit before he helped Ryofu to skin and butcher the pig. What they wanted was the meat, none of the organs. They made sure to clean the wild boar with river water before they set it up on the spit. Ryofu easily impaled the pig so that Nagata could set it up on the spit to roast it over a fire. He made sure to choose really sturdy sticks. Even without organs, the wild boar was still hefty.

While Nagata was cooking, Gien took the opportunity to sit down and watch him. To be honest, besides work, she had not taken the time to interact with him or get to know him. Perhaps that could change right now.

"Gaim-sama, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Gien," he allowed.

"How did you learn how to cook so well?" she asked.

"My parents taught me how to cook."

"So, you were also a cook?" Gien asked skeptically.

"Is that so hard to believe?" Nagata asked.

"I just never really thought you'd have such humble beginnings. From the stories I've heard you're the Messenger of Heaven," she said.

"Well, stories tend to exaggerate and embellish details," he replied. He had heard the stories too but hadn't heard anything that was untrue.

"I see. Never knew people from Heaven needed to eat," she commented.

"Well, we're not so different from you all, are we? We've just more advanced and developed," he replied with a chuckle.

"You're nothing like us, Gaim-sama. I was there during the Siege of Korou Fortress and I saw what you did. You were powerful, so powerful in fact, that I finally understood why Touka-sama is so loyal to you," she countered.

Nagata blinked.

"You think she's loyal to me...because of my power?"

"Yes, that's exactly it. And I can understand that now. You are indeed powerful. You took down that demon Braco when none of us could."

"Gien, Touka's not loyal to me because of my power. She's loyal to me because of how I choose to wield it. Do you really think that Touka would be even inclined to follow me out of duty if I was some kind of tyrant? We've all seen where that level of abuse led to, and I'd very much rather not go there."

"But that doesn't change the fact that you're so powerful. However, to see someone as powerful as yourself cook is just odd. Shouldn't you leave such things to servants?" inquired Gien.

"What's so odd about it? Different people have different hobbies and likes. It doesn't have to be cooking. To say that rulers, powerful or not, can't do things that any other normal person would do, it just dehumanizes them. As much as it doesn't need to be said, even rulers need people whom they can relate to the most, and vice versa. You know, mutual understanding. I love cooking, and I love to share the meals I make with my friends. That's why I do it. As for being powerful, I sometimes have doubts if I deserve to have this power at all. I didn't really earn it at first, but I work hard so that I can wield it."

"And the reason you wield it..."

"Is to protect everyone, especially the people I love."

"And you love Touka-sama."

Nagata blushed as he confessed, "Yeah, I do. Honestly, I never thought a girl like her would ever be interested in a guy like me."

"Touka-sama admires you so much. You inspire her," Gien conceded.

"I'm pretty proud of her myself. She faced Braco without fear," Nagata agreed.

Gien took in everything Nagata said to her. The way one uses their power does define the kind of person they were. Nagata didn't throw his weight around or demand respect because of his power. All he wanted was to do was to serve the people.

That was noble.

"Gaim-sama, I serve you only because Touka-sama respects you. I've also grown to respect you. So, for the sake of respect, please don't ever break Touka-sama's heart or make her cry."

"I promise. Hurting Touka is the last thing I ever want to do, Gien."

"You may call me Enya, Gaim-sama."

"Well, you may call me Nagata."

"Alright, Nagata-sama."

He had her loyalty, and now he had her friendship. Things were starting to look up for him. He had nearly forgotten the comfort that came from the company of his friends.

Coming on this camping trip was no mistake at all.


Karasu was once again alone with Ryuubi. With no witnesses around to see or stop her, she had the perfect opportunity.

She could kill Ryuubi and dump her body where nobody would find her. Once she returned to camp, she could tell them that she got separated from Ryuubi while they searched for wild vegetables.

They would go looking for her, but not find a trace of her. Nagata would need comforting, and Karasu would instantly offer it. Then, she would get rid of the others, one by one.

It was the perfect plan.

However, if she did kill the other girls on this camping trip just to be with Nagata, then he would get stressed and this camping trip was meant to give him some time off from work so he could rest and relax.

She could kill them, but she might cause Nagata to suspect her, and he may start asking questions.

Getting rid of any of them right now was ill-advised. Besides, this camping trip was for Nagata's benefit, not Karasu's.

She'd have her chance soon.


Nagata had just finished roasting the pig and was about to prepare the fish when Gien spoke up, "Touka-sama and Idunn-sama are sure taking a long time to gather food."

"Relax," Nagata replied. "She's in good hands. She's with Kara-chan."

"With all due respect, but I don't feel comfortable trusting Touka-sama's safety to your cousin," replied Gien.

"Huh?" Nagata blinked. "Why's that?"

"Honestly, I don't really trust her," Gien confessed.

"Wait, why not? She's one of us," said Nagata. Iori had said the same thing. Just what was it about Karasu that made her seem suspicious?

"It's just a feeling I have, that's all. Maybe it's nothing, but I still can't help but be concerned whenever Idunn-sama and Touka-sama are anywhere alone," Gien explained.

"Where is this coming from?" he asked.

"Remember when we saved Sui from Zhong? When that other Armored War God, Tyrant appeared, you had us take Zhong to safety. When Tanpopo was going to kill him, she was the one urging her to go through with it," explained Gien.

Nagata knew where this was going. He had heard about this from Kanu and he had confronted Karasu about it.

"Look, the reason Kara-chan might've acted that way is because she was attacked before. That may not justify her trying to turn Tanpopo into a killer, but I can understand why she felt that was necessary," Nagata defended.

"You know, but you didn't exactly see the look on her face," Gien responded. "She had this evil smile on her face like she was enjoying it. That's why I can't shake off the feeling that she's not all that she claims to be."

Nagata could tell Gien that she was being silly, he could just brush off her concerns, but then again what if there was some truth to her words? He may need to keep a closer watch on his cousin, if only just to help her.

Maybe this camping trip could help Karasu bond better with the others.

"Oh, that smells good," said Ryuubi as she returned with Karasu. Ryuubi's basket was filled with wild vegetables and mushrooms. He would need to sort through the things Ryuubi found to make sure she hadn't picked anything poisonous.

Gien was relieved to see that Ryuubi was alright.

Nagata smiled.

"See? Nothing to worry about."


Gien found a hot spring and so they decided to have a relaxing soak together. There was a huge rock to act as a divider as Nagata soaked far from the girls. Although, it wasn't like Ryuubi and Ryofu didn't have anything he hadn't seen. He had seen them naked plenty of times when they coupled.

This was actually for Karasu and Gien's sake. Seeing Karasu naked would be awkward, and he didn't want to jeopardize the friendship he had just strengthened with Gien by accidentally doing something perverted or inappropriate.

"Nagata-sama, how's the water?" Ryuubi called as she went over to him.

"Oh, it's great," answered Nagata. "I feel so relaxed right now."

"That's good," Ryuubi smiled as she sat closer to him.

"Touka, thanks for bringing me out here. I really needed this."

"It's no problem. I think we all need a chance to relax and take our mind off our troubles."

"I wish this could last forever. Too bad that we can't run away from our responsibilities."

"Yes, I sometimes wish we could just run away together and have adventures wherever we went. Maybe even settle down and raise a family."

Nagata looked to Ryuubi when she mentioned 'family'.

"A family?"

Ryuubi blushed.

"Yes, a family, with children of our own."

Nagata's eyes widened. To be honest, he never thought that far into the future. He was more concerned with survival. But to have a child with Ryuubi...? And maybe even Aisha and the others?

Wait, was he thinking of having a huge family with a whole bunch of kids?

Now he felt a little frightened about the future and the responsibilities that came with it.

"How about me?" Ryofu asked as she approached the couple.

"Ren?" Nagata questioned.

"I want to have a child with Nagata-sama too," Ryofu stated.

"OK, sure," Nagata replied. He was here to stay. Eventually, he was going to have some kids and raise a family...a big family since he had a harem.

Oh goodness, there were going to be so many kids.

"Good, let's make one right now."

"Wait, what!? Right now!? Hold on, Ren!"

But Ryofu was already trying to mount him, right in front of Ryuubi. As she and Nagata shouted, Karasu and Gien intervened.

"What are you doing!? Don't do that here! Get off my cousin right now!"

Gien's eyes widened as she saw Nagata naked and quickly covered her eyes in embarrassment.

"I JUST SAW HIS THING!"

It was a really awkward soak in the hot spring.

At least they were making unforgettable memories.

"Only I can have his babies!"

"What did you just say Kara-chan?"

"I said I hope you don't get rabies!"

"...What?"

"Never mind! I'm getting out!"

Some very unforgettable memories indeed.


A tradition for any camping trip was telling stories around the campfire. Perhaps a bit cliché, but it was a tradition that did not go outdated.

And it was Nagata's turn.

"And while the crew of five heroic pirates left the ghost ship without the treasure they were looking for, they found an even greater treasure which further strengthened their bond. The End," Nagata concluded.

Ryuubi applauded Nagata.

"That was a good story, Nagata-sama."

"Indeed," Gien agreed. "The idea of heroic pirates sounded ridiculous to me, but you made me realize they were outlaws only because they followed their own rules."

"Let me tell you about Robin Hood. He was a bandit who stole from the rich to give to the poor," Nagata replied.

But there were those who did not find the story very good, at least not as a campfire story.

"Not scary enough," said Ryofu.

"But there were ghosts," Nagata insisted.

"Not scary enough," repeated Ryofu.

"It was a good story, Naga-kun, but it's not exactly something that would be good enough for this atmosphere," said Karasu.

Well, they were in the mountains, at night, with a campfire casting shadows around them after all. It was a spooky atmosphere to set the mood to tell campfire stories, especially scary ones.

"Oh, and I suppose you have a better one?" Nagata challenged his cousin.

"I may have a story for you," Karasu accepted the challenge with a smirk. "This is a story about what a woman is capable of when her heart is broken.

"A long time ago there was a young woman. She was beautiful, with skin as pale as the moon, hair as black as night, and eyes which shone like gold. She didn't have any shortage of suitors because of her beauty. They would offer her wealth, riches, and gifts, promise her happiness, but she would reject them all.

"She rejected them all because she was already in love, but it was a forbidden love.

"She was in love with her own brother."

"Her own brother?" Gien repeated, curious and surprised.

"Yes, her older brother. It was a forbidden love so she had no choice but to watch him from afar. Eventually, he too fell in love with another girl and they would soon be married. The young woman who loved her brother could not bear to watch and secluded herself.

"But seclusion eventually gave way to madness as she heard whispers in her ears. These whispers told her to go kill the ones who hurt her. She tried to ignore them at first, but they just became louder until the whispers became deafening. Finally, she could not take the noise and decided to do something about it.

"On their wedding night, the woman snuck into the room her brother shared with his wife. With a knife, she stabbed them both in their bed and slit their throats. She was covered in their blood. And then, finally, she slit her own throat as she lay between their bodies. They were found together the next day. Since then, the spirit of the woman would rise on the day of her death to stalk married couples. She would enter their homes and slit their throats...WITH THIS KNIFE!"

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Karasu looked at everyone for their reaction to her story and couldn't help but crack a victorious smirk.

Ryuubi was holding Nagata for safety, trembling in fright.

Ryofu was silent, as usual.

Gien was hiding behind her Blunt Shattered Bone kanabo.

That was certainly a tale worthy of a campfire story.

"The End. So, how was that?" Karasu asked.

Nagata gulped.

"I think that story was a bit too scary, Kara-chan," said Nagata.

"It's a campfire story, Naga-kun. It's supposed to be scary," Karasu defended.

"I wasn't afraid," Gien lied as she shook her head in denial. "I wasn't afraid at all."

"Good, because I have a lot more stories to tell and they're scarier than the one I just told you."

Gien visibly trembled.

"It's late. How about we all just turn in for the night?" Nagata quickly suggested.

"Yes, we are going to wake up early to see the sunrise. Isn't that right, Nagata-sama?" Ryuubi added.

"If we sleep in too late, we might miss it."

"And they say the view of the sunrise from here is just breathtaking."

Karasu looked between Nagata and Ryuubi suspiciously but conceded.

"Fine, you all can go to sleep. I'll keep watch. But mark my words, tomorrow night I'm going to tell you a story that will make you never want to fall asleep again."

"Can't wait," Nagata lied with a slightly nervous tremble in his voice.

As the others retired for the night, Karasu gazed at the campfire. She may not accomplish her goal of getting rid of Ryuubi and Ryofu on this camping trip, but seeing Nagata recover from his traumatic experience was good enough for her.

Thus, she decided to postpone her assassination attempts and focus on Nagata's recovery. All that stress was getting to him and it's not good for his health. A little rest and relaxation and he would be as good as new.

Once that was done, she would finally make her move. There would be no more setbacks or delays. She would get what she wanted in the end, and nobody would be able to stop her. Even if she ran into bad luck like before, she would still pursue her goals with a steely resolve.

She may need to take Gien out as well. She didn't want any witnesses or someone interfering with her plans.

Karasu's lips widened as her eyes glowed red with a malicious shine in them.


Meanwhile, back in Touka Village, Iori was doing some target practice. For the past two weeks, he had been working very hard to improve his skills.

He needed to get stronger, but would it be enough?

Nagata was stronger than he was, but even with all that strength he still crumbled.

The tragedy at Rakuyo, when Chojo set it ablaze, was something they could never forget. It was their first great failure as Armored War Gods as so many innocent lives were lost that day.

Nagata felt responsible since he was leading the Alliance at the time.

After the fire that consumed Rakuyo and its citizens, the Alliance focused all their power to bring Chojo to justice and make her pay. It was only after her defeat that everyone could calm down and take in what happened.

They held a celebration after Chojo's defeat. It was a healthy distraction. Nagata had to be coaxed into joining the festivities as he was in a poor mood.

The memory haunted them, but not as much as Nagata. It haunted him for a long time until he finally got over it. Instead of letting it hamper him, he used it as a source of strength. He strengthened his resolve to not allow such a tragedy repeat itself.

Unfortunately, another tragedy did occur in Rakuyo. After they captured Bujin Gaim, they found the bodies of the guards he had killed.

Then when they went back Rakuyo to stop the Femme Fatales, the sight of all those bodies reopened old wounds.

Nagata was gradually having a breakdown. The stress was getting to him. Iori observed how he tried to act normal, tried to insist that he was alright but he carried the burden of his guilt upon his shoulders.

That wasn't healthy.

And yet Nagata pushed on, putting on a mask in order to maintain the image of a strong ruler. But the mask was beginning to crack and the facade was fading from the burden. Still, Nagata tried to keep up appearances for the sake of those around him.

Fortunately, Ryuubi managed to catch that something was wrong and decided Nagata needed to get out and go on a vacation.

Iori agreed.

Nagata needed to be someplace to clear his mind and help him overcome his trauma. Ryuubi was a good soul and her presence could help Nagata get better.

But Iori was worried that Karasu might do something that could jeopardize Nagata's recovery. There was just something off about that girl.

Iori just hoped he was just being paranoid, that it was all just his imagination, but he always trusted his gut instincts.

He just hoped he was wrong on this occasion.

"Airen," Kochu called as she found him with Riri.

Iori turned to face Kochu when his name was called. He wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Koi, what's up?" he asked.

"I was hoping you could tell me. Is there anything wrong?" Kochu asked.

"No, there's nothing wrong, Koi."

Kochu knew he wasn't completely honest, but she knew how to make him tell the truth. She pulled her husband's face into her big soft breasts, smothering him.

"Koi...?"

"Shh, I'm trying to make you feel better, OK?"

Iori managed to pull away.

"I'm fine. There's nothing wrong," he insisted.

"Are you sure?" she prodded.

Iori sighed. He could never hide his feelings from his wife.

"I...no, I'm not alright. It's about what happened with Bujin Gaim."

"But it's over now. He's gone."

"I know, but maybe if I was strong enough then I could've helped Nagata. Even with my power, that thing still beat me. I just need to be the best I can be. Better than I already am. Then when something stronger comes along, I'll be ready."

"Koi, you're acting like this rests solely on your shoulders."

"I guess you can say it's a remnant of my upbringing. The school I went to put a lot of pressure on us doing our best and going beyond that. We were motivated to be at the very top and I was at the top of everything. I scored top marks at every test, got first place at every competition. It's been like that since I can remember."

"Why did you try to be the best at everything you did?"

"Because it was expected of me. I may not have been the heir of the Tokugawa Clan, but my actions reflected on my family's reputation. All I wanted was for my parents to appreciate my efforts, but they either ignored my accomplishments or told me that everything I did was 'expected' just like that. So, I worked hard even if it stressed me out. I had no time to make friends. I only had time to study and improve my archery skills just so my parents could actually praise me for once. But if I look back at it all, it just seems so petty now."

Kochu understood.

"I don't think it's that petty. Every child wants their parents to be proud of them."

Iori's frown deepened as he continued.

"Yeah, and I tried, and I tried, and I tried, but nothing was good enough. Nothing was ever good enough for them. You know, Nagata and I got to talk about my parents. I asked him about his. They were supportive of him. They were always there to watch him during competitions and even taught him how to cook. Made me wish I had his parents instead."

"Are you, in fact, jealous of Nagata-sama?"

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit jealous of him. He's gotten stronger. Every time I thought I've closed the gap between us, he is able to find a way to widen it even more. He was the one who defeated Braco while I wasn't able to leave a mark on him. He was the one who lasted the longest against Bujin Gaim as well."

"But remember what he had to do to gain that power. He was put in a near-death state and all of us were in danger."

"Yeah, I guess there's always a downside. I mean, I thought when I was able to bring out Ryugen-Yomi I would be strong enough. I had so much power coursing through me. It was unreal. I felt like I could take Braco on. Of course, he showed me my place soon after. Even Bujin Gaim was able to beat me."

"That doesn't make you weak. Braco got strong because he took the power of his comrades. Bujin Gaim stole power from Nagata-sama. You gained your power because you wanted to protect us."

"And it was Nagata who saved us all, again, like always. He just makes my presence here pointless."

"Your presence here isn't pointless, Airen. You do have a place here," she reassured him.

Riri handed Iori a drawing and he saw that it was a drawing of him. She beamed at him brightly.

"You'll always be my Number 1 hero, Daddy."

Iori was touched and he smiled at his stepdaughter.

"Thanks, Riri. This makes me feel better."

"And what about me, Riri?" Kochu asked.

"Oh, you're Number 1 too, Mommy. You and Daddy are my Number 1," Riri answered.

"Well, I'm not opposed to sharing the title of Number 1 with you, Koi."

"Neither am I, Airen."

With his family around him, Iori didn't have to worry about having his work appreciated because they did appreciate all he had done for them. A caring wife and daughter made him happier than he ever was in his old life.

"You know what? How about we go on another family vacation? We could visit Kikyo. It's been some time since we last saw her."

"That sounds like a lovely idea," Kochu agreed, smiling, but then her expression changed, worrying Iori.

"Koi, what's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't know, I just feel..."

Kochu suddenly threw up on the ground.

"Mommy!" Riri yelled in shock.

"Koi!" Iori cried out as he quickly held back her hair as she continued to vomit. "Are you sick or something?"

"I don't think so," Kochi answered, groaning. She had experienced this kind of nausea before, a long time ago.

It was before Riri was born.

"Come on, let's take you to Kada-sensei," urged Iori.


Kada finished his examination of Kochu.

"She's fine."

"She threw up. She either has food poisoning or she's sick. So don't tell me she's fine! Tell me what's wrong with her and give it to me straight!" Iori demanded.

"Airen, it's fine," Kochu said as she rubbed her belly. "It's natural."

"Natural? What do you-?" Iori's eyes widened in realization. "Wait, are you telling me..."

"She's pregnant," Kada finished.

"It's true," Kochu confirmed. "I'm pregnant."

Iori was speechless.

"I'll give you two some privacy," said Kada as he left the room.

"Airen, are you OK?" Kochu asked as Iori still didn't say anything.

"You're pregnant..." he uttered. "You're pregnant. As in you're going to have a baby. You're going to have my baby."

She understood why he was freaking out. He didn't think he was ready for this.

"Airen, I know you said you weren't ready to have a baby with me, but don't you think this is a blessing?" she asked.

Iori looked up at his wife's face. She knew the risks of having a baby during these dangerous times, but she looked so happy that she was having his child. He couldn't deny her the chance, and perhaps this could be a blessing as well. Perhaps he should consider this a chance to pass on his bloodline in this new world.

But he still had doubts.

"It's just...I'm scared," he confessed.

"Airen, it'll be alright. You won't be alone. We'll raise this child together," she assured him.

"I know that, but what if I can't be a good father? You've heard how my parents raised me. I'm just afraid of making the same mistakes," he told her.

"Airen, did you really think I wasn't afraid of making mistakes when I had Riri?" Kochu asked. "I was just married and also going to become a mother. I was terrified! But then I realized I couldn't afford to be scared. I needed to be brave, for her. And I know you can be brave too."

Iori looked to the floor. Could he really do this? Kochu held his hand and gripped it gently before moving it to rest his palm on her stomach. A life was growing in there, a life they both made together out of love and not from any kind of obligation. This was their child.

"Do you really think I can be a good father?" Iori asked.

"Airen, I think Riri and I can attest to how good of a father you already are," Kochu answered.

"Alright, I'll try," he promised. "If I make any mistakes, you will be there to help me."

"Of course, and so will Riri," she assured him. "Oh, we need to tell Riri!"

"Not just yet. Let's just keep this between the two of us for now, OK?" Iori requested.

"Alright," Kochu nodded. "We'll tell her and the others, soon."


KRC: Well, this chapter mainly focuses on the daily activities of the Shoku Warriors. We find out a few things, though. Nagata is still traumatized from his experience when Bujin Gaim possessed him. And all that stress piling up on him, he really does need a vacation, badly. And then I added that maybe not everyone is happy with what Nagata is doing. That kid spat at him for his brother's death, and this is only the beginning. Hatred and resentment can be spread like a virus. It was also illustrated by what Mitsuki experienced with the speaker trying to denounce him and Sousou in Interlude II. The civil unrest is a theme that I'm addressing with these little bits, but it shows not everyone is happy with the AWGs and it's something the villains are capitalizing on. They feel that their 'heroes' are incompetent and unable to protect them due to all the deaths that they couldn't stop. What happened in Rakuyo is going to spread and Nagata is going to get a poor approval rating now as a result since the Rakuyo-restoration project was his idea.

And we get a tiny subplot with Iori and Kochu. It seems all that intercourse has resulted in a child. That's right folks, Kochu is pregnant with Iori's kid. He wasn't exactly too keen on the idea at first, citing that they lived in a dangerous time, but he realizes he can't let fear rule his decision. Plus, this child is another member to love once he/she is born. Riri also wants a little brother/sister to dote on someday since she wants to be a big sister. She's always treated as the little sister or baby of the group, but she's growing up.

Finally, we see Karasu trying to get Nagata all to herself like a classic psychotic yandere. She failed, as usual, like when she tried to interfere with the dates during the Romance in the Shoku Kingdom side story. And she failed at one time on Bacho's date when she got stung by bees right in the face.


Karasu sat by the campfire, keeping watch while everyone else was sleeping soundly in their tents.

Soon, she would wake Ryofu up when it was her turn to keep watch.

As Karasu remained in deep contemplation, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Normally, she would've taken her sword and assaulted anyone who touched her without permission, but she knew who it was.

"Kara-chan."

"Naga-kun, what are you doing up?"

"Can't sleep. Mind if I sit here with you?"

"Of course."

"Thanks."

The two sat quietly together. Nagata leaned his head against her shoulder and she gently stroked his hair.

"It's my fault," he spoke up.

"What is?" Karasu asked.

"The crimes that Bujin Gaim committed. I wasn't strong enough to resist him. So the people he killed, their blood is on my hands."

"You were possessed. You had no control over what he did with your body."

"It doesn't change the fact that he killed those people with my body."

"You eventually beat him, remember?"

"Yeah, but by then he had already killed so many people. I can still remember their faces and what he did..."

Nagata's hands trembled as he tried not to relive the experience. Bujin Gaim had murdered people. He had also raped a waitress in that tavern and left her to die when he set the place on fire. He also raped and murdered a waitress in that restaurant after he killed everyone else.

Bujin Gaim had snapped that waitress' neck while raping her. It wasn't a memory Nagata could erase anytime soon. Being trapped and aware the whole time, that was Bujin Gaim's torture for him.

"He's gone now," Karasu reminded. "You'll never have to suffer like that ever again."

"It's not just that, Kara-chan. There's also what happened at Rakuyo too. If I hadn't started that restoration project, those guards and the workers wouldn't have died."

"You weren't the one who killed them."

"But it was my decision that put them there. The Femme Fatales killed them, but I was the one who placed them there in the first place. It was my responsibility, all of it."

Nagata paused as he closed his eyes, tears brimming in them.

"How am I supposed to live with all that?"

Karasu put her arm around Nagata, holding him close.

"You're not dealing with this alone. Don't ever forget that."

Nagata took comfort from Karasu's words and allowed himself to smile.

"I'm glad you're here with me, Kara-chan."

"I'm glad I'm here for you too. Besides, we're family."

"Yeah. Hey, Kara-chan. Want to play that game we used to play?"

"You mean 'Count the Stars'?" Karasu giggled. "You always lost count."

"Not this time. I've been practicing."

"Well, show me what you got, Naga-kun."

As the two played their childhood game, Karasu smiled. Now she knew, without a doubt, that she would need to save Nagata from this life.

He would no longer have to suffer once she succeeded.

"Hey, look, shooting stars," Nagata pointed and Karasu followed his gaze towards the shooting stars. "Make a wish, Kara-chan."

Karasu made her wish.

"What did you wish for, Kara-chan?"

"It's a secret."

A secret wish that she was going to make come true.

Besides, her wish wouldn't come true if she told anyone, right?


AWG CHIBI OMAKE #16A: FISHING, GIEN STYLE

A bear was by the river, peacefully catching fish to eat. It was truly a beautiful sight to see nature at work. The bear swiftly scooped up the fish, holding the flailing creature in its forepaws.

Nothing was better than this.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Screaming, Gien sprinted out of the woods and jumped on the bear's back. She started to wail on it like a maniac as it tried to throw her off. She fell on her back but rose to her feet, adopting a boxing stance. She hit the bear with a right hook to the face and then a straight punch to the chest.

The bear swiped with its paws, but she ducked and went on the attack again, hitting the bear with powerful punches.

Finally, she managed to get the better of the bear and kicked it right in the groin. As the bear collapsed in agony, Gien picked up its fish and fled with it.

"I got dinner!" Gien cried triumphantly as she returned to the campsite with the fish.

"That will go great with the honey that Kara-chan got," said Nagata and then everyone froze, eyes wide as dinner plates.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Gien asked.

Standing behind her was the bear from earlier.

It was pissed and hungry.

This cannot end well.


AWG CHIBI OMAKE #16B: KITE FLYING

While Nagata, Ryuubi, Gien, Ryofu and Karasu were on a camping trip, the others back at Shoku Castle were doing their own thing.

Right now, Iori was relaxing as he watched Chouhi and Riri fly kites in the garden.

Iori recalled the first time he went kite flying. His big brother Ichiro actually took him out to the park since their parents were too busy.

Iori shook his head. He had no need to dwell on sad moments in his past. Forgetting about his parents for a moment, he recalled how happy he was when he flew a kite for the first time.

And then he heard a loud cry.

It was Riri. She was crying loudly.

Iori quickly ran over to his stepdaughter.

"Riri, what's wrong?"

Riri pointed up to the tree in the garden and the kite that was stuck in it.

"Daddy, my kite!"

"Don't worry, honey. I'll get it for you."

Iori rolled up his sleeves and climbed up the tree to grab the kite. He then climbed down with it.

"Is it broken?" Riri asked.

"No, it's fine," said Iori as he checked the kite for damage. "Now come on Riri, let's get this kite flying again."

"OK, Daddy!"

As Iori and Riri played together, Kochu watched from the gazebo. Iori was so worried he may not be a good father, but here he was demonstrating that he could.

She rubbed her stomach, waiting patiently for her second child to come to this world.


And a special update, here's a PREVIEW:


Revelations...


"Remember how Nagata disappeared?" Blake asked. Hearing those words alone caused both Weiss and Yang to sigh. Nagata had been gone for nearly a year. He just vanished without a trace. There was no clue of where he went or any indication that he was still alive.

Ever since the news got out about real costumed heroes and monsters, people have been trying to find out more about them.

Blake took out her tablet and showed them what was on the screen.

"I want you to read this," Blake said.

"Blake, I swear if it's your smut again..." Yang started.

"It's not smut. It's erotica and it's beautiful," said Blake defensively. "And no, this is something else."

""Sangokuden: Armored War Gods Saga"?" Yang and Weiss asked as they read the title.

"It's a web novel I found online," Blake explained.


Grief...


Gaim didn't know what compelled him to do it, but he took off his helmet to reveal his face to her.

"You look like my father..." Ruby spoke, confused.

"I know this won't make any sense. It's me, Okaasan..." he told her as tears welled up in his eyes. She reached up and held his face. "It's me. It's your son. It's Nagata. I got a chance to see you again, to tell you that I'm OK. To tell you...to tell you that I love you, Okaasan."

It was true, it didn't make sense, but Ruby Oda believed him and was relieved to see that her son would grow up and be okay.

"Nagata..." she said before her eyes closed for the last time.

"No, you can't leave me again! Okaasan! Okaasan! OKAASAAAAAAAN!" Nagata shouted. Tears flowed from his eyes as he cradled his mother's body and screamed.


Wrath...


"WHY!?"

"WHY!?"

"WHY DID YOU DO THIS!?"


Reunions...


"Mom?"

Yang's eyes widened as she heard that and turned to see Nagata staring right at her.

"Son?"

Ryuubi gasped.

"Mom!" Nagata yelled as he ran to her.

"Come here and give your mom a hug!" Yang laughed as she caught Nagata into a tight hug and everyone's jaws dropped.

Yang twirled Nagata around happily and put him down.


Legends...


[NOBUNAGA!]

[EDISON!]

[MUSASHI!]

[BENKEI!]

[NEWTON!]

[BEETHOVEN!]

[ROBIN HOOD!]

[BILLY THE KID!]

[GOEMON!]

[HEISEI RIDERS!]


COMING SOON:

SANGOKUDEN ARMORED WAR GODS SAGA 6.5

"SANGOKUDEN AWG SAGA SPECIAL SIDE STORY: HUNT FOR THE HEISEI RIDER LOCKSEEDS!"