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"Yippee-ki-yay, bitches!" Kurokage announced himself jubilantly as he went on the attack, clad in the heavyset armor of the Suika Arms and wielding the Suika Yari.
Some of the Kurokage Troopers attempted to attack him. Unfortunately for them, their spears were ineffective and could not penetrate the thick armor of the Suika Arms. They barely even scratched it, much less pierced it. Kurokage easily batted them aside with his Suika Yari, sending them sprawling to the floor.
Kurokage spotted Kayu fighting alone and made his way to assist her, making use of the mech-like armor's large size to his advantage. He barreled through the Kurokage Troopers standing in his way, either stomping on them or just smacking them aside with his arms and spear. They did not stand a chance against his monstrous strength.
The Kurokage Troopers were not awfully bright but they were very tenacious. Suddenly, three of the Kurokage Troopers jumped on Kurokage and clung to his armor.
"Hey, get off me! No free rides!" Kurokage shouted as he tried to throw them off. They clung tightly to him as one grabbed hold of the Suika Head to try and pry it off and get to Kurokage. "Oh, no you don't!"
[ODAMA MODE!]
Kurokage rolled back into the watermelon-like Odama Mode and did a quick spin to throw them off.
[YOROI MODE!]
The Suika Arms changed back into its warrior form and Kurokage started swinging his Suika Yari again, sending Kurokage Troopers flying as he smacked them into the air. He also fired his Seed Vulcans, gunning down any Kurokage Troopers he could see.
"Get pwned, knockoff fuckers!"
Kurokage finally reached Kayu but a foolish Kurokage Trooper stood in his way. He trembled where he stood as Kurokage towered over him. He tried to look fearless but instead looked like he was going to piss himself. Kurokage merely grabbed him by the head and tossed him aside.
Kayu turned to see Kurokage in the Suika Arms and grinned. She had defeated quite a lot of the Kurokage Troopers on her own, but they were still pretty outnumbered. She would very much appreciate the help.
"There's still too many of them!" Kayu shouted.
"Well, then let's thin their numbers!" Kurokage suggested strongly. He sent more Kurokage Troopers flying with a brutal uppercut and hammered down a few more with his huge fist. As he looked around, he noticed that Tyrant, Gridon, and Kagemusha were missing.
"Hey, where'd they go?"
"Hideyoshi went after Shishi, and then Sasuke went after both of them," Kayu answered, explaining their absence. She struck down the enemy Kurokage Troopers before her, decimating them with her Kongo Explosive Axe, showing no mercy whatsoever. After what they had done, they deserved none.
Kayu might not be as strong as Ryofu, but she was strong enough to deal with these knockoffs. The armor also further enhanced her natural physical strength, meaning she was much stronger than any of these Kurokage Troopers.
"Man, she's hot!" Kurokage commented as he grabbed a Kurokage Trooper and threw the grunt into a group of Kurokage Troopers, knocking them down like bowling pins. "Strike!"
Kurokage looked around. They had defeated quite a number of Kurokage Troopers, but there were still a lot of them around. Even with Kayu's help and the Suika Arms, this would take a while. He did not have any time to waste.
It was time to do a quick sweep of this place. Spotting the chest, which miraculously remained untouched since the skirmish began, Kurokage made a move to grab it.
The Suika Arms mech suit opened up as Kurokage popped out in only his Ride Wear bodysuit. He rolled on the floor until he reached the chest.
[LOCK OFF!]
He removed the Suika Lockseed from his SengokuDriver and scooped out both his Matsubokkuri and Matsubokkuri Energy Lockseeds. Once he had both of them in his hands, he unlocked them.
[MATSUBOKKURI!] [MATSUBOKKURI ENERGY!]
"Let's even the playing field!"
[LOCK ON!]
The Suika Arms vanished after he removed his Suika Lockseed and replaced it with the Matsubokkuri and Matsubokkuri Energy Lockseeds. He locked both Lockseeds into his SengokuDriver's Drive Bay and Genesis Core before he hit the Cutting Blade to open them.
[MIX! JIMBER MATSUBOKKURI! HA-HA!]
Both the Matsubokkuri and Matsubokkuri Energy Arms Armor Parts descended from their portals and fused together, forming the Jimber Armor Part which dropped on Kurokage's head. It then disassembled, forming his Jimber Matsubokkuri Arms.
Once clad in his Jimber Matsubokkuri Arms, Kurokage summoned some backup.
"Kurokage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Kurokage called as he summoned an army of clones to match the Kurokage Troopers' numbers. "Alright, guys! Let's sweep up the rest of these losers!"
"Gotcha, Boss!" the Kurokage clones chorused as they simultaneously hit their Cutting Blades.
[SOIYA! MATSUBOKKURI SQUASH! JIMBER MATSUBOKKURI SQUASH!]
[SOIYA! MATSUBOKKURI SQUASH! JIMBER MATSUBOKKURI SQUASH!]
[SOIYA! MATSUBOKKURI SQUASH! JIMBER MATSUBOKKURI SQUASH!]
The announcement echoed.
"Let's wreck them up!" Kurokage joined in.
[SOIYA! MATSUBOKKURI SQUASH! JIMBER MATSUBOKKURI SQUASH!]
Kayu joined in as well.
[MATSUBOKKURI ENERGY SQUASH!]
The Kurokages and Kayu jumped into the air and dove at the Kurokage Troopers. None of the cultists stood a chance against the onslaught. They were thrown to the ground as they were hit, explosions erupting on impact, marking their defeat.
Kayu and Kurokage stood proud and victorious as the cultists all lay unconscious around them.
"Not bad, huh?" Kurokage asked.
"I'll go and get the guards to pick these guys up," said Kayu.
Kosonsan would want these cultists interrogated and Kayu would gladly volunteer to pump all the information out of them. They had kidnapped Totaku, which was a huge no-no in her book.
"You go do that! I gotta find Hideyoshi!" Kurokage responded as he went to find Gridon to help him.
While Kurokage headed for the back exit, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He had this weird feeling that something was terribly wrong. But Hideyoshi had his Xuanwu Arms and special powers. How much trouble could he be in?
Kurokage just hoped he was not too late. He did not want to miss his chance to give Shishi some much-deserved punishment.
It was long overdue.
Sangokuden Armored War Gods Saga: End of the Armored War Gods
Co-Written By: Kamen Rider Chrome & Ten-Faced Paladin
Beta Reader/Editor: Busterleader92
Chapter 25: Bro Begone
The fight between Kagemusha and Gridon had ended with the former's death. But with the end of one fight came the start of another.
The fight between Gridon and Tyrant had just begun as the latter revealed himself to be a double agent and a spy. The two battled furiously with Gridon using his spear to counter Tyrant's vicious strikes.
Using the shaft of his Xuanwu Spear, Gridon parried Tyrant's swings as the latter hammered down blows on the former with the Blade Hell Claw-the sword blade that was equipped to his right gauntlet. Countering, Gridon managed to stun Tyrant momentarily to land a fierce slash across his chest.
Gridon had no doubt in his mind that Tyrant was trying to kill him. This was no joke. He was absolutely vicious and showed no remorse after killing Shishi. He might've been an evil son of a bitch, but he did not deserve to be destroyed like that.
Was Tyrant under some kind of mind control or doing this of his own volition?
Whatever the reason, Gridon wanted answers and he would get them one way or another. The only way he could get those answers was by beating Tyrant.
Tyrant went staggering back after Gridon hit him but recovered swiftly to retaliate.
The scorpion tail on Tyrant's armor proved to be practical instead of decorative. Not only was it prehensile, it was extendable too and the stinger was likely venomous.
Tyrant used the tail as a whip, delivering powerful lashes which broke through Gridon's guard.
Once he made an opening, Tyrant shot Gridon point blank in the chest with his pronged Gun Hell Claw. The recoil pushed Tyrant back as the actual blast threw Gridon into the air. Tyrant jumped up and swung the Blade Hell Claw, sending Gridon crashing to the ground.
Tyrant's wings spread and he took to the air. Fireballs orbited around him and he hurled them at Gridon who scrambled away as explosions bloomed all around him.
"Sasuke, stop! Why are you doing this!?" Gridon demanded as he tried to deflect the fireballs with his shield. They rained down on him relentlessly and he felt the intense heat through his suit.
Somehow, Tyrant's fireballs were way more intense than Kagemusha's.
"You should be more careful of who you trust! They might stand in front of you with a friendly face while secretly plotting to stab you in the back!" Tyrant advised as he continued to rain fireballs on Gridon.
"Thanks for the advice, traitor!"
Gridon summoned water onto his Xuanwu Spear and morphed it into the shape of a battle axe. He focused more water on his weapon, expanding the size of the battle axe blade until it became gigantic. He used the flat side of the axe to shield himself from the fireballs before he raised the weapon and brought it down on Tyrant.
Tyrant caught the water battle axe with his hot Hell Claws, causing a cloud of steam to spread and cover the battlefield.
Gridon realized his folly as the cloud of steam obscured his vision.
"Shit!" Gridon cursed as he tried to spot his opponent. He raised his guard up as he carefully scanned his obscure surroundings. "Where are you?" He gripped his Xuanwu Spear tightly, cold sweat beading on his face.
Suddenly, Gridon cried out as he was suddenly struck from behind. He spun around and swiped his Xuanwu Spear, hitting nothing but the steam. Suddenly, he was hit again and again and again, all from different directions.
In the cloud of steam, Tyrant took advantage of the obscurity it provided and attacked Gridon ferociously. He struck the Black Turtle Sovereign repeatedly with the Blade Hell Claw. As Gridon couldn't see where the attacks were coming from, he couldn't defend himself.
[QIONQI SQUASH!]
Finally, the cloud of steam cleared and Gridon was knocked to the ground by a destructive cannon blast from Tyrant's Gun Hell Claw. The blast was so powerful, that Hideyoshi was forced out of his transformation as the Xuanwu Lockseed popped out of his SengokuDriver.
Hideyoshi groaned in pain as Tyrant stood before him.
"Looks like it's the end of the line for you," decided Tyrant.
"Sasuke...please don't do this," Hideyoshi begged as his body hurt all over. The pain kept him rooted to the spot as fear paralyzed his body.
He stood no chance against Tyrant. The fight was one-sided from the very beginning.
"I'm sorry it had to end this way, Hideyoshi-san," Tyrant apologized. In spite of his deception and treachery, he was sincere. He really would regret killing Hideyoshi. He did truly enjoy their time together, but he had his orders and Hideyoshi needed to die. "Goodbye."
Tyrant considered using either of his Hell Claws to finish the job before settling on his Hell Stinger for it. He extended his scorpion tail as the Hell Stinger glowed. It was a bit overkill to use it on a civilian, but Hideyoshi's destruction needed to be absolute.
The Black Turtle Sovereign might be known for his incredible defense, but without his armor, he was a sitting duck and he would not be able to survive this. Even his healing powers would be no good against the lethal venom of the Hell Stinger.
Quick as lightning, Tyrant launched his Hell Stinger straight at Hideyoshi, aiming for his heart. He screamed as it was about to hit, closing his eyes and raising his hands up in front of himself in a futile attempt to block the fatal attack.
But he was already a goner...
...or was he?
"BUDDY, WATCH OUT!" Kurokage leaped in the path of the Hell Stinger, shielding Hideyoshi with his own body, causing him to explode.
"KENSHIN! NO!" Hideyoshi yelled as he watched his friend blow up before his eyes.
Retracting his tail, Tyrant saw that he had killed Kurokage when he was suddenly assaulted by...Kurokage!?
Wait, what!? How was this possible!?
The Kurokage who had heroically sacrificed himself was actually one of his clones that he used as a decoy to save Hideyoshi.
"Gotcha, motherfucker!" Kurokage yelled as he struck Tyrant with his Kagematsu-Shin. "Just what the fuck are you doing!?" He could not believe it when he saw that Tyrant was going to kill his best friend. But he was sober so he knew what he saw and he could see that Tyrant was a turncoat.
"Following orders," Tyrant responded coldly before he struck Kurokage with his Hell Claws, knocking him back. "And you're getting in my way!"
He fired the Gun Hell Claw but Kurokage quickly sidestepped as he swiftly replaced himself with a clone to take the attack. He then dashed toward Tyrant and began to attack him furiously.
Hideyoshi watched, teeth gritted and breath bated. Tyrant was on a whole other level and Kurokage was only in his Jimber Matsubokkuri Arms. The gap of power was wide and while Hideyoshi was confident in his friend's strength, Kurokage stood no chance against the Great Fiend.
Tyrant spread his wings and conjured fireballs which he hurled at Kurokage. Once more, Kurokage used his Black Shadow Clone Technique to create more clones as decoys to take the barrage before he rushed at Tyrant, driving his Kagematsu-Shin at the traitor. Tyrant blocked with the Blade Hell Claw before launching Kurokage back with a blast from his Gun Hell Claw.
Kurokage may not be in his league, but Tyrant found the Ultimate Cutter to be annoying with his persistence. He was just begging to be cut down.
"Time to end this song and dance," declared Tyrant as he hit his Seaboll Compressor to execute his finisher.
[QIONQI SQUASH!]
Hideyoshi knew what was coming. With the large gap in power, there was no way Kurokage was going to survive this.
"Kenshin! Get out of there!" Hideyoshi yelled, but Kurokage did not listen as he prepared a counterattack.
[SOIYA! MATSUBOKKURI SPARKING! JIMBER MATSUBOKKURI SPARKING!]
In a flash, Kurokage summoned his normal Kagematsu and held it in his left hand while he gripped the Kagematsu-Shin in his right.
Energy gathered around the spearheads of both weapons, forming into a giant pinecone on each. The pinecones spun like drills and sped up with each rotation. Kurokage had his sights set on Tyrant and he jumped toward his target to plunge his spears straight into Tyrant.
Tyrant's Hell Claws glowed as they gathered power while he flew at Kurokage. Kurokage's attack hit as he thrust both his spears at Tyrant, sparks flying as the energy pinecones drilled into him. However, Tyrant had used his wings as a makeshift shield, protecting him from the attack.
Tyrant spread his wings outward, throwing Kurokage back and then slashed him as he flew by causing sparks to explode on impact as he threw Kurokage to the ground. As Kurokage recovered and picked himself up from the painful attack, Hideyoshi realized that his best friend was now a sitting duck.
Tyrant flew around Kurokage, slashing him as he flew by when he was within striking distance. Tyrant repeatedly assaulted Kurokage with this move, causing sparks to blast off rapidly with each fly-by strike.
Finally, once he saw that Kurokage was on his last leg, Tyrant drove his Hell Stinger into Kurokage's chest.
"AAAAARRRRRHHHHH!"
Kurokage howled in agony as the stinger pierced his flesh. His blood became as hot as lava, boiling within him. It was unlike any pain he had ever felt before and was truly agonizing.
"Guess your family will have to plant a gravestone for you," Tyrant said somberly. He retracted his tail and delivered a devastating cannon blast from the Gun Hell Claw, shooting Kurokage in the chest at point-blank range.
Kurokage screamed as he was blasted by the explosive shot. Sparks burst rapidly from his body as he went airborne. He soon crashed to the ground and exploded.
As the smoke and flames from the explosion died, Kenshin's armor flashed and vanished as he lay on the ground, critically injured.
"Kenshin..." Hideyoshi picked himself up and limped to his friend. Kenshin was lying still. There was a fresh smoking hole in his chest.
"Hey, buddy..." Kenshin grinned weakly as blood leaked from his mouth before a groan escaped his lips. "Ugh...son of a bitch, this hurts..."
Hideyoshi knelt down beside Kenshin to inspect the wound. There was no blood as the heat from Tyrant's shot had completely cauterized the injury.
"Don't worry, Kenshin! I'll heal you right up!"
Hideyoshi desperately pressed his hand onto Kenshin's wound. He called upon his healing powers and his hands glowed. The visible injuries were bad enough but Hideyoshi sensed that Kenshin had sustained critical internal damage that needed immediate attention. He would not allow Kenshin to die, not when he could do something to save him.
Seconds passed and turned into minutes as Hideyoshi attempted to heal Kenshin, but the wound refused to heal up.
"Heal! Heal! Heal, damn you!" Hideyoshi demanded.
"Your powers won't work on a wound inflicted by the power of the Great Fiend Qionqi," Tyrant casually informed Hideyoshi.
Wasn't Tyrant supposed to kill Hideyoshi? Now was the perfect chance.
Perhaps he was interested to see if a miracle would happen.
Hideyoshi ignored Tyrant, refusing to believe his words, and desperately tried to save his best friend. Tyrant shrugged as Hideyoshi continued to try.
He would soon learn how useless it was.
"Oi, Kenshin! Just hang on, OK!? I'm going to save you! Just stay with me! Stay with me and don't go to the light!" Hideyoshi yelled to his friend as he continued to try and use his healing powers on him.
"You're wasting your time," Tyrant told him.
"Shut up! Go to Hell!" Hideyoshi snapped.
He did not care if Tyrant claimed it would not work. He would not stop trying.
"Come on! Heal! You have to heal! Heal, damn you!" Hideyoshi shouted as he increased his concentration. The glow around his hands intensified like his concentration as he focused on healing Kenshin. His brows were furrowed as sweat dripped from his face. He pushed more power into his hands to save Kenshin, straining himself to his limits.
But it's still not working.
"Why...why won't this work...?" Hideyoshi demanded shakily as his eyes began to tear up. The wound still refused to heal.
Kenshin could see how hard his friend was trying to save him, even though he was beyond hope.
"Buddy stop...I'm a goner..." Kenshin said, accepting his fate. He could feel his life slipping away.
"No, you're going to be alright! Just stay with me! You are gonna be OK!" Hideyoshi shot back. He was either desperate or in denial, but he was not going to give up on saving his best friend.
He was going to save Kenshin!
He had to do!
He could not bear to lose Kenshin! He had failed too many people already. He could not save the people that Chojo had killed when she burned Rakuyo and he was too late to save everyone who was killed in Rakuyo when the Femme Fatales paid the place a visit.
Kenshin chuckled bitterly.
"You're a bad liar...you and I both know...that ain't true..."
"Kenshin don't talk like that, please!"
Hideyoshi refused to believe he could not save Kenshin. He just had to try harder. Unfortunately, Kenshin would still not heal. Instead, he seemed to be getting worse.
All Hideyoshi was doing was delaying the inevitable.
Kenshin knew he did not have much time left. With every ounce of his remaining strength, he handed his SengokuDriver to Hideyoshi.
"Takada...take it..."
Hideyoshi shook his head, eyes closed tight and leaking tears. He refused to accept this.
"Ushio...please, no..."
Hideyoshi's tears spilled out and dripped onto Kenshin's face. Hideyoshi felt so helpless. He had this miraculously power to heal people, and yet he could not save his best friend.
"Promise me that you'll keep on fighting, buddy, and take care of Yue-chan...Yue-chan needs you...take care of her...and Miyabi."
Unable to do anything else, Hideyoshi accepted the SengokuDriver as Kenshin passed it to him.
"I promise..."
Kenshin smiled at his best friend. They had met as children and gone through elementary school, middle school and high school together.
They had gone through thick and thin together since they came to this world, fighting side-by-side. Now, Kenshin's time was up and Hideyoshi would have to go on without him.
It was a shame, really. He really wanted to see Hideyoshi get married to Totaku. He also wanted to be there when they had their first kid who would call him 'Uncle Ushi'.
Guess he would never get that chance.
"One last bro hug?" Kenshin asked.
Hideyoshi did not wish to say goodbye, but there was nothing he could do. All he could do was honor his best friend's last request.
They grasped their hands together and Hideyoshi pulled Kenshin into a bro hug.
"Ushio...I'm so sorry..." Hideyoshi murmured regretfully.
"Later, bro..." Kenshin whispered with his last breath as he faded away in his best friend's arms. Hideyoshi watched in shock and horror as his friend just vanished before his eyes.
His bro since childhood was gone.
It wasn't supposed to end like this. Kenshin was not supposed to die. Hideyoshi was supposed to look after him but he failed to save his friend.
Sorrow, grief, and rage bubbled in Hideyoshi's heart as his friend died and faded away in his arms. Hideyoshi's eyes glowed bright blue as a scale-like pattern surrounded them. He glared daggers at Tyrant who stood there, watching. Water surrounded Hideyoshi furiously as it responded to his emotions.
"SASUKE!"
The dam burst as Hideyoshi screamed and sent a violent torrent of water surging toward Tyrant. However, before the blast connected, the traitor took off in a burst of red feathers.
With his mission completed, Tyrant really had no reason to linger around. He just wanted to see what Hideyoshi would do.
Once Tyrant was gone, Hideyoshi just knelt there, still holding Kenshin's SengokuDriver. His hands trembled around the device as he gripped it tightly.
It was all he had left of his best friend Ushio Kenshin.
"USHIOOOOOOOOOOO!" Hideyoshi howled in anguish.
Kayu would find him and learn what had happened.
Kosonsan had called Hideyoshi to her office to talk. He was the one who had revealed Sasuke's treachery to her. She had not even suspected Sasuke of being a double agent. He seemed so charming and trustworthy. Then she remembered that someone else had been charming and trustworthy as well.
She had not met Nise personally, but based on the testimonies from Kanu, Ryuubi and the rest of the Shoku Warriors, the guy knew how to win people's trust. Sasuke was the same and Kosonsan had fallen for it.
She was so desperate for more Armored War Gods for more recognition and acknowledgment that she did not even consider that he might just be a traitor. Now she was down to two of them, with Hideyoshi remaining and Kayu officially taking Kenshin's place as Kurokage-Shin.
Kenshin paid the price for Kosonsan's foolishness. While he might have been troublesome and the occasional cause of her stress, he was loyal to her, even if he was only doing it for money. She actually liked him the more she got to know him and she might even call him a friend. But he was gone now, and Kosonsan had to accept that and move on. She had a city to run and people to govern.
They would hold a funeral for Kenshin, mourn for him, then move on and continue with their lives. They could not be dragged down by his death. She had lost plenty of good men from battles in the past. Like it or not, Kenshin was just another casualty. It was a bit cold, but she could not stop doing her job because one person died, no matter how close they were to her.
She would need to inform their allies of what happened. If a traitor had infiltrated her group, then the other factions might have spies among them.
The surviving cultists from the underground fighting ring had been gathered and locked up until she could decide what do with them. Some of the cultists that Kayu and Hideyoshi apprehended were people who worked for Kosonsan. Now she was having all her staff and guards investigated to see if there were any more spies hiding among them.
"How are you feeling, Hideyoshi?"
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Because-"
Hideyoshi interrupted her.
"Kenshin's gone. I know."
"He was your best friend so I understand how painful this must be." If Ryuubi had died, she was not sure what she would do. "If you need time off, I can arrange something for you."
"That's quite generous of you, Kosonsan-dono but it won't be necessary," Hideyoshi declined. "I think that, right now, what I need to do is to get back to work. I have numbers to crunch and reports to write." Returning to his usual routine might just help him cope.
"If you ever need to talk, Hideyoshi, my door is always open."
"Thank you, Kosonsan-dono. I appreciate it."
Hideyoshi bowed and stepped out of her office.
Kosonsan hoped Hideyoshi got better. Losing a close friend was never easy. She knew he was grieving and was trying to mask his emotions. Fortunately, he had Totaku by his side.
Kosonsan opened the letter she had just received from Ryuubi. She got them quite frequently from her best friend. One such letter contained a recount of Ryuubi's time in bed with Nagata, in very vivid detail. Kosonsan did not even know it could even get that hot.
But this letter was different as it contained some very grave news. She read every line which filled her with growing dread.
Things were not well in Shoku. Not well at all.
Hideyoshi sat on his bed, scrolling through the digital photo gallery on his LockPhone. He gazed at the last photo he took with Kenshin before they arrived in this world.
Hideyoshi had defeated Shishi. Unfortunately, his victory was a hollow one as he lost Kenshin as well.
He told everyone what had happened and they could barely believe it. Not only did Sasuke betray them, but Kenshin was gone too, slain by the traitor.
They would hold a funeral for Kenshin, even if there wasn't a body or any remains to bury. They needed to pay their respects to their fallen friend while mourning for him.
Kayu decided she needed to be alone. Hideyoshi understood. She needed to cry and grieve for Kenshin. They had been very close. They were more than just friends. Terms like 'friends with benefits', sexfriends, or 'lovers' did not accurately reflect the depth of their bond.
Hideyoshi contemplated what to do next. As his thoughts went toward Sasuke, he growled in anger.
"Sasuke..."
Sasuke pretended to be their friend, waiting for the chance to stab them in the back. Hideyoshi hated Sasuke for taking his best friend from him.
Hideyoshi swore he would avenge Kenshin and would have Sasuke face justice.
There was a knock on his door.
"Come in," Hideyoshi permitted and Totaku entered.
"Hideyoshi-kun, are you alright?" she asked sympathetically. She was saddened by Kenshin's death just like Hideyoshi.
"No, not yet at least," Hideyoshi answered, shaking his head. Kenshin had just died and they were still reeling from what happened.
They would move on, but not yet. Right now, they were in a period of mourning.
Totaku climbed onto the Turtle Sovereign's lap and gave him a hug. She knew he needed this as she sympathized with him. She had lost loved ones in her life too. She lost her parents when she was really young. She was then raised by her grandparents before they passed away too. It was only because of Kaku's support that she was able to move on and accept a position of authority.
She could not believe Kenshin was gone. He was her friend too and she missed him as well.
No, he was more than just a friend. He was family.
Totaku knew of the strong bond Hideyoshi and Kenshin shared. They may not share the same blood, but they were still brothers. It was why they were willing to risk themselves for the other. It was that bond that made them strong. But with Kenshin gone, she was worried about Hideyoshi. This tragedy could cause him to become bitter. He could walk down a dark path fueled by vengeance.
"It's not your fault," Totaku assured him.
Hideyoshi took comfort in her embrace, gently resting his chin on her head. He had told her that Kenshin had sacrificed himself to save him.
He felt guilty about Kenshin's death but he knew it was not his fault. It was Sasuke's fault.
The traitor was going to pay for what he did.
The thought of Sasuke's betrayal caused Hideyoshi's blood to boil. His eyes briefly turned completely black as dark scales surrounded them before turning back to normal.
"Hideyoshi-kun, would you like me to stay with you tonight?"
Hideyoshi did not want to be alone tonight.
"Yeah, I'd like that."
That night, Totaku and Hideyoshi comforted each other.
Hideyoshi still carried the dagger Shishi wanted him to use on Kenshin. He swore he would plunge it in Sasuke's back.
A stab in the back for a backstabber.
It would be karmic.
Kayu was in Kenshin's room. For a moment, she recalled the times she and Kenshin shared the bed for their usual little romps. Whenever either of them had sexual urges, they would seek the other out to have them sated.
Their arrangement was a simple and convenient one. They would just be casual lovers and remain friends without any kind of complications to their relationship. It would just be casual sex and nothing more.
It was fun. While they did not have any romantic feelings for each other, they still shared a close bond as they occasionally had hot and passionate sex.
They had fun, which was enough for them. At least, that was what they believed at first. Somewhere down the line things changed. Too bad they no longer had the chance to explore these changes.
Kayu's gaze went to the punching bag that hung from the ceiling. It was a fixture that Kenshin had added to his room here in Kosonsan's manor. He had a similar one installed in his old room back in Totaku's original residence.
Kenshin would frequently use it for his workout, or when he was angry he would use it as a therapeutic tool to channel his anger without harming others.
Thinking of Kenshin's death, Kayu felt her anger rising. Thinking of Sasuke's betrayal, her rage ignited.
She pictured Sasuke's face on the punching bag.
With a yell, she gave the punching bag a furious punch. It swung on its rope from the impact before it returned to her and she gave it another fierce punch. After one last violent blow, she caught the punching bag and rested her forehead against it.
She hugged the punching bag as she cried. Tears dripped from her eyes, both out of grief and anger. She grieved over the friend she had lost and was angered by the friend that had betrayed them. She was also mad at Kenshin for leaving them.
"You...idiot..." Kayu sobbed. "Why'd you have to leave us? Why'd you have to leave me?"
Kayu had never said it, but she had fallen for Kenshin. Unfortunately, he would never know how she really felt about him.
She would keep Kenshin's GenesisDriver and the Matsubokkuri Energy Lockseed he had lent her. With him gone, he needed someone to take his place. She would honor his memory as the new Kurokage-Shin, formally becoming Armored War Goddess Kurokage-Shin.
And once she found Sasuke, she was going to drive her Kongo Explosive Axe so far down his throat that it came out of his ass.
KRC: And so we conclude the "Cage Match of Betrayal" Arc with a somber ending. Not everyone came out alive here. Sasuke reveals himself as a traitor and Kenshin...he sacrificed his life to save his friend Hideyoshi.
Alright, so the previous chapter and this chapter were originally one chapter, but I decided to separate it to make things easier for editing. It seems less cumbersome when it's less than 20 pages. I mean, I'm OK with long chapters and all but there is such a thing as being unnecessarily long, especially if the reader is too busy to read and sit down to read a 15,000+ word chapter. Or worse, a chapter that is 40,000 words. Yes, those exist but some novelists split such long chapters into 'parts'.
Anyway, it is implied in this chapter and the previous chapter that Tyrant has the ability to teleport. Is it his special Seal of Heaven enhancement? Yes, yes it is. This just makes him even deadlier when you think about it. He can appear anywhere he wants to snipe from any direction. He did use it to confuse Gridon when he turned up alive, miraculously surviving Kagemusha's killing move. Well, now Gridon's super pissed at him, at it seems something is happening to him.
Now, this trauma will change Hideyoshi. He lost his best friend. First, he will be obsessed with getting his revenge on Sasuke. He will also be focused on perfecting all aspect of his powers. He will be focused on the offensive and defensive aspects and his abilities to heal. He might end up becoming the most powerful healer ever.
Now, I will end this A/N with some final words:
RIP
Ushio Kenshin, aka Armored War God of the Ultimate Cutter Kurokage.
You were a good friend and an awesome partner in crime.
BL: I can't believe that Sasuke's the traitor and he killed Kenshin. That traitor is gonna pay for what he had done to him. Also, rot in hell ShiToraTah Ouin, aka Kagemusha, the arrogant liger man. You stink! So go fuck yourself with a rotten grapefruit and suck on it, pussycat!
Fruits of the Tree, Yggdrasil
Qionqi Arms (Tyrant Version): This Arms form is based on Qionqi, one of the Four Great Fiends, and resembles a manticore. This Arms form grants Tyrant a pair of wings for flight, pyrokinetic abilities, and a fully functional prehensile scorpion tail tipped with a stinger called the Hell Stinger which contains a very potent venom that prevents any kind of healing. The Arms Weapon is a pair of gauntlets called the Hell Claws. The gauntlet on the right is called the Blade Hell Claw while the gauntlet on the left is called the Gun Hell Claw.
Qionqi Arms (Kagemusha Version): This variation of the Qionqi Arms is incomplete as it lacks the wings, Hell Stinger and Hell Claws. Instead, Kagemusha's version sports a long mane of golden hair and long and sharp claws, thus resembling a liger instead. Kagemusha also seems more ferocious in battle, attacking in a more vicious manner. In addition, he also has a protective energy aura that looks like fire. In this form, Kagemusha seems to be based on a liger, a crossbreed of a lion and tiger. There appear to be some mental side effects which caused Kagemusha to become feral like a wild animal.
After receiving the letter from Ryuubi, Kosonsan ordered them to get ready. They were to go to Shoku to offer aid. Already she had assembled a company of soldiers to accompany her with supplies to help their allies and friends. From what she had been informed in the letter, Touka Village had just survived another attack but the people living there were in dire need of assistance.
Kosonsan did not even need to ask Hideyoshi to come along. He would volunteer to heal any wounded with his healing powers.
But, before Hideyoshi could leave, there was still something he needed to do first.
He stood in front of Kenshin's gravestone to pay his respects. The grave itself was empty since Kenshin vanished into thin air after his death, but the sentiment was still appreciated.
Hideyoshi did not remain alone for long. Kayu approached Hideyoshi to stand before the gravestone, holding a bottle of wine and carrying two cups.
"Thank you for coming," Hideyoshi greeted as he accepted one of the cups.
"We better make this quick. Kosonsan-dono wants us to move out soon," Kayu informed him as she filled up her cup then filled up his. They clinked their cups together and raised them up to the gravestone.
"To Ushio Kenshin."
"To Ushio Kenshin."
They sipped on their wine, finishing their cups. Kayu then poured some of the wine from the bottle over the gravestone.
"Here's your favorite wine, Kenshin. Hope you enjoy it in the other world," Kayu said with a smile before she passed the bottle over to Hideyoshi.
"Wherever you are, I hope you're always watching over us, Ushio," Hideyoshi added as he poured the rest of the wine over the gravestone.
Hideyoshi and Kayu shared a moment of silence before they left, leaving behind the empty bottle of wine and cups at the gravestone.
Kayu and Hideyoshi arrived to see Kosonsan ready to leave. Her flags were raised, billowing to show their colors. She was at the head of the company on her white stallion. Every member of the company was on horseback. There were several carts filled with supplies to be distributed in Touka Village.
Hideyoshi and Kayu also found Totaku waiting by their horses for them. She was coming along as well. She was worried about their friends in Shoku.
There was no way for Hideyoshi and Kayu to refuse the maid's request once she used 'the look' on them. Neither of them could resist and had no choice but to bring her along.
Kayu and Hideyoshi climbed on to their horses. They would be riding alongside Kosonsan. Hideyoshi helped his girlfriend up onto the horse so she could ride behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist to secure herself.
Kayu and Hideyoshi had on their Drivers, the former also carrying her Kongo Explosive Axe.
Once Kosonsan saw that everyone was on their horses, she took charge so they may begin their journey.
"Onward!" Kosonsan commanded and the company was on the move, headed to Shoku on horseback.
