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.
KRC: This arc will be dedicated to D-Generation XX for his helpful criticism. Also, scenes in italics in this chapter will be memories/flashbacks/dreams.
Taiga Shiba sat alone at a table in Kuma's club, feeling bored. Despite the entertainment provided and the atmosphere of the club, he wasn't really feeling the vibe. Meanwhile, his partner was sitting at the bar chatting up some woman. It was likely some whore that worked here.
Taiga had to admit the girls here were pretty pleasing to his eyes, and his inner partner agreed. He could hear Bujin Gaim whisper to him, tempting him to take a couple of girls upstairs for some steamy and dirty fun. From the memories Bujin Gaim shared with him, Taiga knew the kind of kinky fun the demonic being wanted him to experience.
Any other time, Taiga might've accepted the suggestion, but he was not in the mood. Saver had promised him a duel with Zangetsu and yet he had forced him to withdraw when the guards showed up. This left Taiga unsatisfied. It was a feeling he had ever since his last fight with Nagata.
After Taiga successfully defeated and killed Nagata, he was meant to go home. But instead, he still remained in this world. Dai Shi claimed that there was still more for him to do, but Taiga had his doubts. Taiga only came to this world to have his revenge on Nagata and he had accomplished his goal. So, what was left for Taiga to do? What else did Dai Shi need Taiga for? Why couldn't Dai Shi just send Taiga home? Dai Shi was not giving Taiga any answers, at least not right now. Apparently, that information was on a need to know basis.
So, what was left for Taiga to do besides wait? The only thing he could do was to go looking for worthy opponents to challenge and test his skill against. According to the demon currently inhabiting Taiga's soul, Zangetsu was a worthy adversary yet Taiga saw no evidence of that being true when he last fought him. Zangetsu might've seemed formidable at first, but Taiga had defeated him too easily. This left him disappointed and unsatisfied.
Perhaps he should pay Shoku a visit again. There was still an Armored War God there. What was his name again? Oh, right. It was Ryugen. Then all of a sudden, the simple mention of Ryugen caused Bujin Gaim to simmer in rage. There was some history there. It seemed it was not just Zangetsu and Gaim who had offended the demon but Ryugen as well.
"Here's your wine, sir," a pretty waitress spoke as she put his cup down and poured him his drink from a bottle. Taiga felt a lustful desire when he looked at her and saw that she had beautiful long black hair. For a moment, an image of Kanu Unchou superimposed onto the waitress. Then, a whole series of erotic images rapidly crossed Taiga's mind. They showed the girl, lying helplessly in bed, moaning his name.
They were the lascivious things Bujin Gaim wanted Taiga to do to the waitress.
They were the obscene things Bujin Gaim wanted him to do to Kanu Unchou.
Taiga became tempted as he gave the waitress a once over. She was very curvy and attractive and Taiga licked his lips hungrily as his eyes flashed red under his shades.
"Will there be anything else, dear customer?" the waitress asked.
"How much for a night with you and do you have a friend or two that would like to join us?" Taiga changed his mind. He was going to indulge and enjoy himself tonight. Maybe then he could feel some form of satisfaction.
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 30: As the Tiger Sleeps
Masataka was at the museum for a class field trip. The museum had an exhibit on the Three Kingdoms era and the students were assigned to write a paper about it.
The era of the Three Kingdoms always fascinated Masataka and he could not help but draw parallels between it and Japan's own Sengoku era. They were really quite similar as they both had warlords trying to conquer the land in the name of peace and ambition, with numerous warring factions fighting to be the first to do it.
Masataka did not join any groups. He preferred to work alone so he explored the exhibit by himself. He admired the treasures and artifacts which had been recovered and carefully restored to show their brilliance. Each piece had a story and if they could talk, Masataka would be here for hours just listening to them.
Suddenly, Masataka heard some kind of ruckus and decided to investigate. He saw a student carrying a jade mirror which did not belong to him. Being a good samaritan, Masataka went to cut him off at the staircase to stop him from escaping.
Someone tackled the thief, causing him to drop the mirror on the floor. The mirror shattered and a blinding white light washed over Masataka before he felt as if he was being sucked by a powerful vacuum.
Then all of a sudden, Masataka found himself underwater. Quickly, he went to the surface and burst out, gasping for air. He choked and coughed as he attempted to catch his breath.
He looked around and soon realized that he was not alone. Staring back at him had to be the two most gorgeous women he had ever seen...who also happened to be naked.
Naked women...his one weakness. As soon as he laid his eyes on them, his nose bled.
That was the day Masataka Miyamoto met Sonsaku Hakufu and Shuyu Koukin. He may not have made quite a good first impression but he managed to make a better one when he saved their lives.
As Zangetsu's bodyguard, Shuutai's job was to shadow him and keep him safe. On most occasions, she would be at his side, ready to defend him at a moment's notice. Other times, she would stand at a safe distance, far enough to not be seen yet close enough to offer him aid if he were ever in danger.
She had followed the three Armored War Gods, sticking to the shadows as instructed by Zangetsu, ready to intervene when necessary. She watched the fierce battle take place on the port, quietly rooting for Zangetsu. She did not notice when Mars and Kamuro were defeated by their opponent as her attention was focused solely on Zangetsu. He looked like he was having trouble against Saver, but that should not be possible, right? There was no way Saver could be stronger than her Zangetsu.
Shuutai blushed at the treacherous thought. What was she thinking? Zangetsu was Sonken-sama's fiancé. He did not belong to a mere bodyguard.
Then Zangetsu fought against Majin Gaim and that was when things went horribly wrong. Saver had said something to Zangetsu, causing him to attack Saver recklessly while ignoring Majin Gaim. This cost Zangetsu the fight as Majin Gaim quickly defeated him.
When she saw Zangetsu being thrown into the river by the sudden explosion, she did not think twice as she dove into the freezing river to rescue him. She did not care how cold it was. Only one thing mattered to her and that was saving Zangetsu.
She was lucky to spot him as he was being swept away by the current and swam after him. She grabbed hold of his sleeve and swam up, pulling him with her. Both Shuutai and Zangetsu broke the surface of the water and she swam him back to shore. Shuutai shivered as she looked at Zangetsu as he lay beside her.
"Zangetsu-sama..." Shuutai whispered worriedly. She put her fingers under his nose to check if he was breathing and her eyes widened in panic. "No...No!" Shuutai quickly recalled her training. Masataka had taught her how to do CPR in case of an emergency. She had heard how effective it was when Zangetsu did the same to save Sonshoko's life, and Shuutai was not going to fail to save his.
Shuutai laid both her palms flat against Zangetsu's chest and gave him three chest compressions, counting each time.
"1, 2, 3!"
She then took a deep breath and opened his mouth so she could give him mouth-to-mouth. She then repeated the chest compressions.
"1, 2, 3!"
And once more, she performed mouth-to-mouth, breathing life into him.
"1, 2, 3! Come on, Zangetsu-sama! Please, don't die!" Shuutai begged as she performed the chest compressions one more time. As she performed CPR on Zangetsu, Shuutai prayed for a miracle.
Then all of a sudden, Zangetsu coughed as he expelled water from his lungs. Shuutai let out a sigh of relief once Zangetsu started to breathe normally.
"Thank the Heavens..."
When she was giving him mouth-to-mouth, she briefly thought if this counted as her stealing a kiss then decided that it did not. There was nothing romantic about it. The setting was all wrong. It was simply her attempt to save his life, nothing more.
After performing CPR, she saw that Zangetsu was shivering from the cold. With his clothes soaked and it being winter, he must be freezing.
"We need to get him back to the palace, hurry!"
The guards collected both Mars and Kamuro. Following Shuutai, they carried the Armored War Gods back to the palace. Like before, Shuutai carried Zangetsu on her back. She just hoped he was not too injured.
Clad in only their unmentionables, Masataka and Sonken were deep in a hot and heavy make-out session.
A long time ago, Masataka would have gotten a nosebleed just thinking about doing this with Sonken, but he had gotten used to it since. Now, not even the sight of her naked body could cause his nose to bleed.
"Masataka-kun..." Sonken moaned as he kissed her neck.
"Oh, Sonsaku-sama...I love you..." Masataka whispered.
"I love you...wait, WHAT!? Why did you say my sister's name!?"
Masataka quickly realized his slip of the tongue and knew he had just fucked up, fucked up terribly.
"Renfa-sama, wait! I can explain!"
"GET OUT!"
Sonken tossed Masataka out of her room.
"What about my clothes?" Masataka asked. His clothes were thrown in his face before the door slammed shut. "Thank you."
Masataka had to suffer the walk of shame all the way back to his room.
"I'm glad you're getting better," said Sonken as she sat beside Kannei who was sitting up in her bed. The captain of the royal guard had bandages wrapped around her waist as she rested her back on a pillow. "How are you feeling?"
"A bit sore here," Kannei admitted as she gently touched the spot where she'd been shot. It was still a bit tender as she let out a hiss. "But I'll be back on duty before you know it."
"You really should get some more rest," Sonken advised.
"It's just a flesh wound, Sonken-sama. Besides, I need to keep you safe," Kannei responded.
It was the second night of the festival, and yet Sonken's festive mood had yet to return. During the opening ceremony, someone caused an explosion that killed a lot of people. Later that same night, Sonken, Kannei, Shuutai, and Masataka confronted the mastermind behind the incident. They would have been killed if it weren't for Masataka's resourcefulness and quick thinking. Saver got away, but Masataka was determined to capture the culprit and bring him to justice.
Sonken wished she could do more. She might've helped Masataka fight against Saver, but she didn't feel that it was enough. Also, Shuyu scolded her for taking such a foolish risk, which brought her mood down even more.
"Sonken-sama, are you alright?" Kannei asked.
"I'm...fine..." Sonken lied, quite unconvincingly.
"Sonken-sama, if you're troubled, you can talk to me," Kannei reassured.
Sonken let out a sigh. Kannei could always see right through her to know when something was bothering her.
"The Tiger Festival is supposed to be a time of celebration, and yet there's tension in the air," Sonken confessed. "Why must our enemies strike during this time?"
"Considering our enemies are the RinJyuKen, they probably considered attacking now would give them a tactical advantage," Kannei answered. The RinJyuKen were trying to harvest Rinki, so attacking during a time of celebration would produce strong negative emotions.
"I just wish we could have peace."
"Sonken-sama, peace is not something easily obtained. Your eldest sister, Sonsaku-sama, and your mother both knew this. They fought, bled and died for the sake of peace. People in our position will always need to fight for peace."
"It never gets any easier, does it?"
"No, but you learn to cope, especially when you have people to share your burden."
Sonken smiled at Kannei. There was wisdom in her words. The fight for peace was not Sonken's burden alone. She had loyal generals, guards and wise advisors to help her through these bad times. She also had Armored War Gods who swore allegiance to Son Go and vowed to protect her and the kingdom. She was also fortunate to have Masataka by her side to help her through these difficult times.
"I just need to do my very best to protect the kingdom," Sonken whispered to herself. It was not just the kingdom under her protection, but also her subjects and loved ones. They all depended on her to rule over them and protect them. It was the duty that Sonsaku left to her following her passing. Sonsaku may be gone, but her legacy lives on.
All of a sudden, Shuutai burst into the room as the doors slammed open.
"Sonken-sama!" Shuutai cried in panic.
"Shuutai," Sonken said as she stood up. She remembered that Shuutai had gone out with Masataka earlier for a mission. Had he already returned? Judging from Shuutai's expression, the girl brought with her only bad news. Sonken braced herself for it. "What has happened?"
"It's Zangetsu-sama, he's been hurt," Shuutai reported. Sonken gasped.
"Go to him," Kannei urged and Sonken followed Shuutai out of the room.
Once she was left alone, Kannei released a depressed sigh. The security of Son Go was her responsibility, so she should've been out there with Zangetsu. Instead, she was stuck in bed until she recovered fully, feeling completely useless. Soon, though, she would be beside Sonken to protect her. In the meantime, she needed to rest and allow herself to heal.
Masataka was having drinks with Fuyu and Natsu when he told them what had happened with Sonken, including every embarrassing detail.
"Whoa, that sounds really bad. No wonder she's mad at you," said Fuyu.
"Now she won't even look at me much less talk to me," Masataka sighed.
"Well, you fucked up. Calling out another woman's name, and her late sister to boot, you pressed all the wrong buttons," Natsu commented.
"Women do get sour when you say the wrong name in the midst of passion," added Fuyu.
"Look, I couldn't help it, alright? I've been having these strange dreams about Sonsaku-sama," Masataka explained with a hint of frustration in his voice.
"What kind of dreams?" Fuyu questioned.
"Were they wet dreams?" Natsu inquired cheekily. He grunted when Fuyu kicked him under the table.
"No, just strange. It's pitch-black but I can only see her. She's trying to tell me something, but she's too far away that I can't hear what she's trying to tell me. Every time I try to get closer to her she keeps moving farther away from me," Masataka informed the twins.
Fuyu and Natsu exchanged curious looks then looked back at Masataka.
"That's really bizarre," the twins said in unison.
"And it's recurring. I've been having the same dream for two weeks straight."
"No wonder you can't keep Sonsaku-sama out of your head," remarked Natsu. "Didn't you used to have a crush on her?"
"Natsu-niisan!" hissed Fuyu.
"I did," Masataka confessed. "It was after we first met and I instantly fell for her."
"Yeah, she was a hot babe," Natsu agreed. Not to mention a knockout, a bombshell, and a total of 11 on the hotness scale. Just being in her presence could turn a bad day around.
"Look, can we not talk about Sonsaku-sama like this? I need to make up with Renfa-sama."
"Talk to her once she cools down and apologize, but don't take too long," Fuyu advised. "Time might heal all wounds, but if you wait too long and procrastinate, you might lose any chance for reconciliation. Also, it would not hurt to bring her a gift as a peace offering."
"And beg for her forgiveness," Natsu added. "And by that I mean you gotta grovel. Get down on your knees and beg. Beg like it's the end of the world and you could die without her.
Masataka was not the type to beg for anything, but he was willing to try anything to get Sonken to forgive him.
Shuutai had put Masataka to bed after she removed his soaking wet clothes, leaving him only in his underwear. She then dried him off before tending to his wounds. She wrapped bandages around his torso and around his forehead. His glasses were missing, washed away by the river. Fortunately, he had extras to spare.
Bandaged and lying in bed unconscious, this was how Sonken found Masataka after Shuutai went to get her. Sonken stood silently beside Masataka. Once again, someone she cared about was hurt because of her.
She knew she should not blame herself, but she couldn't help it.
When she took Sonsaku's place as ruler, she was aware that the soldiers would fight and die in her name so she was prepared for the burden. It was still a very heavy burden to bear, especially if the ones who got hurt fighting for her were people she loved.
Sonken learned how Masataka got hurt. An explosion by the docks had thrown him into the river. Fortunately, Shuutai was able to save his life.
Miraculously, Masataka was not seriously injured by the explosion.
How lucky was he?
Not lucky enough since he still got hurt. At least he was still alive.
Sonken gently kissed him on the forehead as she caressed his cheek. She then turned to Shuutai who stood vigilantly and silently behind her. Sonken was grateful to Shuutai. The girl had saved Masataka's life.
Sonken had lost Masataka once before, and she did not wish to lose him again.
The Queen of Son Go noticed that the poor girl's clothes were soaked and she was shivering. She tried to hide it, but Sonken knew the girl was freezing.
"You should take a hot bath and get a change of clothing," Sonken commanded. "I'll stay here with Masataka-kun."
Shuutai said nothing as she bowed before she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her. A guard was posted beside the door as Shuutai left to take a bath.
Masataka, Natsu, and Fuyu sat at a table in a restaurant for lunch. As they would be working together from now on, they needed to bond so there would not be any issues. They needed to be working together smoothly, like a well-oiled machine. That meant getting to know each other personally.
Natsu just told Masataka that he and Fuyu previously worked part-time at an amusement park.
"So, you both worked at an amusement park?" Masataka responded. "I would expect the two of you grew up in the circus."
"Because of our skills? Let's just say our parents encouraged us to go into the arts. It's how we both learned acrobatics and acting," Fuyu replied.
"Really worked well for us when we worked part-time at the park during summer vacation, but I hated wearing the mascot costumes," Natsu added.
"As enjoyable as it was making children smile, those costumes can get really hot and uncomfortable, especially in summer," Fuyu agreed.
"But you couldn't break character," Masataka deduced.
"Our parents worked and fought hard to keep the park open. If we complained about their livelihood, we would've been horrible sons," Natsu stated.
"Actually, Natsu-niisan would hate to see the park close because that would mean all the female staff would have to leave," Fuyu teased.
"Were they attractive?" Masataka questioned.
"It's an amusement park like Disneyland. Of course, the female staff had to be attractive," Natsu claimed.
"I wouldn't know. I never really had time to go to an amusement park, sadly," Masataka confessed.
"Wow, you really missed out a lot," Natsu remarked.
"I was too busy focusing on my studies and looking after my little brother to have much of a social life."
"What about your parents?"
Masataka scowled at the mention of his parents.
"My parents abandoned us and left us with our grandfather. I haven't seen them since."
"Man, that's rough," Natsu replied sympathetically.
"No, it's fine. It's been years and I've gotten over it. I'm living my own life now."
"But what about your little brother and your grandfather?" Fuyu asked.
"My grandfather might be old, but he's resilient for his age. As for my brother, he can take care of himself. They should be fine without me."
"But don't you miss them?"
"Yeah, if anything happened to Fuyu, I'd be worried about him too," Natsu admitted.
"Of course I miss them, but they'll be fine. They have each other," Masataka said reassuringly, more to himself than the twins.
"Fuyu!"
"Natsu!"
Rikuson and Kogai entered the twins' room to see them. They learned from Shuutai that the Fuma Brothers had been defeated by an Armored War Devil who had shown up with Saver.
Not only had Majin Gaim defeated them, but he had also taken their Golden and Silver Lockseeds from them. Without them, they could not transform into their default Arms.
While replacement Lockseeds were available for the twins, it just wouldn't be the same. Replacement Lockseeds would allow them to continue fighting, but it still wouldn't feel right. The Golden and Silver Lockseeds had always been their signature Lockseeds. They defined their identities as Armored War Gods.
At least they should be grateful that they were still alive.
Masataka was hit by an explosion and nearly drowned. Right now, he was lying unconscious. The doctor was not sure when Masataka would regain consciousness. He would wake up once he was ready, whenever that may be.
The twins were disappointed in themselves over their loss. They were also ashamed of themselves for not being able to help Masataka.
"Hey, girls," Natsu greeted with a half-hearted smile.
"Are you alright?" Rikuson asked her lover.
"We're both fine, physically speaking," Fuyu answered.
"We got our butts kicked," Natsu frowned. "But then again, with who we were facing, we didn't stand a chance."
"Who was it?" Kogai asked.
"Not sure, but he calls himself Majin Gaim and he has the powers of Bujin Gaim," Natsu answered.
Kogai and Rikuson paled. They had heard about this Bujin Gaim. He was a demonic Armored War Devil who nearly destroyed Touka Village. He was also the one behind the sudden invasion of monsters that took place before.
Bujin Gaim was dead, but it seemed his legacy lives on within a successor of his power. Bujin Gaim was nearly unstoppable, so it would make sense that his successor would be just as powerful.
"It gets worse," said Fuyu grimly.
"How much worse can it be?" Kogai questioned.
"I'm not sure if this is true or not, but the Seiryuoh is dead."
That was really bad news.
Both Masataka and Shuutai were taking shelter in a cave as a blizzard roared outside.
Shuutai noticed that Masataka was shivering from the cold.
"Zangetsu-sama, you're freezing."
"I'm...f-f-f-fine," Masataka replied as his teeth chattered. Shuutai did not believe him and so she put her arms around him in a warm embrace, resting his head on her chest. "Minmei, what are you doing?"
"If we share body heat, I can keep you warm," she explained.
"But..."
"Trust me, Zangetsu-sama. It's my pleasure-I mean duty! It's my duty."
"Alright...I trust you..."
It's not like she would take advantage of him. Although, it would've been better if they shared body heat without any clothes on.
Much, much better.
Shuutai took a warm bath. After her impromptu swim in the river, she needed it. Being soaked during winter was not pleasant as she shivered the entire way back to the palace. Fortunately, the guards' lanterns kept her warm as they rushed Zangetsu, Mars, and Kamuro back to the palace.
After putting on a new set of dry clothes, Shuutai sneezed. It looked like she was going to catch a cold, but it was worth it. She would forever regret it if she allowed Zangetsu to drown.
Shuutai went back to guard Zangetsu and stopped when she saw Sonken sitting by Zangetsu's bedside. Zangetsu had gotten hurt for Sonken's sake, and for a moment a treacherous thought crossed Shuutai's mind. If Sonken had not given Zangetsu the order to take care of Saver, then he would not have gotten hurt. The thought gave away to guilt as Shuutai realized what she was thinking.
Like Shuutai, Zangetsu had sworn loyalty to Sonken. The reason Sonken had given Zangetsu the order was because she had faith in his abilities. She would not have asked him if he was not the right man for the job.
If it was anyone's fault that Zangetsu was hurt, it was Saver's.
When Masataka heard that Sonshoko had gone missing, he quickly went to look for her. He used the Helheim Forest to quickly cross distances as he attempted to find her. He never stopped looking for her and searched everywhere.
He was worried. She was sheltered and yet she had gone off on her own without any guards to escort her. What if she got kidnapped? What if she got hurt? There would be nobody to protect her.
So he searched, day and night, using Helheim Forest to hop from one location to another.
One time, when Zangetsu entered the Helheim Forest during his search for Sonshoko, he spotted Gaim fighting against a Monkey Inves. He watched him for a bit before continuing his search, but he had a feeling that he would have a run-in with Gaim in the future.
Finally, he found Sonshoko, but instead of taking her back home he watched her. He saw that she had made friends and was traveling with them. They seemed trustworthy and they were headed for Son Go too.
So, instead of picking Sonshoko up, he left her in their company and went back to wait for Sonshoko's return. She was having an adventure and he wanted her to enjoy it.
He did go and check up on her from time-to-time until her return, just to be safe.
The following morning, Sonshoko heard that her Zan-niichan had been injured from his mission last night.
"Is Zan-niichan going to be OK?" Sonshoko asked worriedly.
"Zangetsu-sama will recover, Shao-sama. You should consider that a blessing," Rikuson said comfortingly.
"But Zan-niichan was supposed to take me to the festival. He promised."
Sonshoko frowned sadly and angrily.
It just wasn't fair!
She wanted to spend time with her Zan-niichan at the festival!
He promised her they would have fun!
But now he was hurt and unable to take her and it's all Saver and Majin Gaim's fault!
"If you want, Shao-sama, I'll take you to the festival," Rikuson offered. It was dangerous right now, so she would need to be careful and prepare some precautions. "We'll have the guards escort us so they can protect us and we won't be out long. And while we're out, you can get Zangetsu-sama a gift for when he wakes up."
Sonshoko beamed at the idea. Her Zan-niichan would be so happy once he woke up and saw that she had gotten him a present.
Masataka was walking back to his room after finishing his work for the day. As he turned a corner, he ran into Shuyu in the hallway. She was leaning against the wall, face completely flushed, holding a bottle of wine.
"...Shuyu-dono?"
"You...bastard!" Shuyu slurred as she raised her hand to slap him. He caught her wrist, stopping her. Still, that didn't stop her as she struggled. "Let go! Lemme go! Lemme go!"
"Shuyu-dono, you're drunk..." Masataka said as she pulled her hand out of his grip.
"Shaddup, you bastard!" Shuyu started beating his chest. "It's your fault! Your fault! You weren't here to protect her! You weren't here!"
The blows did not hurt, but her words did, and he was filled with guilt. His absence had caused Shuyu to lose the one she loved, someone he loved as well.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."
He was apologizing to Shuyu and Sonsaku for failing them.
Shuyu was in bed with Minamoto again.
The night before, instead of sleeping in one of the club's private rooms, the two had gone to have dinner together before spending the night together at an inn.
When morning came, neither wanted to leave the bed, so they ended up having an early morning lovemaking session.
With how stressful her life was right now, Shuyu really needed this release.
"So, was it good for you too?" Minamoto asked teasingly as they cuddled in bed.
"You were...adequate," she returned.
"'Adequate', huh? So, better than just 'fine' then?"
"It gets better each time...but...it's weird."
"Still thinking about your old flame, huh?"
Any mention of Sonsaku always saddened Shuyu. She did not express it publicly since she usually dealt with it in private.
"What was she like?" asked Minamoto.
"She was passionate, strong, and never one to waver in her resolve," Shuyu described.
"She sounds like a great woman."
"It was my honor to serve her. It was unfortunate that her time was cut short."
Shuyu missed Sonsaku terribly. Sonsaku should not have died like that. She should not have died so soon. Sonsaku and Shuyu used to talk about their lives after Sonsaku unified all of China, but now it would be forever out of Shuyu's wish. The dream of a peaceful life together was shattered when Sonsaku died.
"Say, Shuyu-san, what would you do to get her back?" Minamoto asked curiously.
Shuyu thought about it. What would she do to have Sonsaku back in her life? She knew the dead could not simply be brought back to life. It would be unnatural.
But, if Shuyu could bring her lover back to life, what price was she willing to pay?
"Anything."
And Minamoto smiled. It was not a very pleasant smile. It was an ominous one.
Masataka stood with his back facing his Moon Brigade. They were armed and ready for action. They were trained and prepared for anything. There was nothing that could frighten them.
Until now.
"My friends, today we will be going into battle. For some of you, this will be your first ever skirmish and it could also be your last. Do not fear as you will be fighting with your fellow man. We might be outnumbered, and some of you may die. Actually, most of you will probably die. In fact, there is a chance all of you will die. But do not fear because I will be-"
"Sempai," Natsu interrupted.
"Not now, Natsu. Can't you see I'm giving an inspirational speech here?"
"Turn around."
Masataka turned and saw that his soldiers had fled.
"Where'd they go?" Masataka asked.
"Oh, they ran away," Natsu answered.
"Why? I was giving them such an inspirational speech."
"Oh, you inspired them alright, with fear. I think you lay on the 'die' bit a bit too thick."
"I was being honest."
"Yeah, too honest."
"You know, this is why I stayed student council secretary. I was never good at speeches," Masataka frowned morosely.
"How did you ever lead them if your speeches are so bad?" Fuyu asked.
"Honestly, I think it's my actions and the armor that inspires them. Few words were needed. They just followed my lead once they see me in battle," Masataka admitted.
"Maybe you should leave the speeches to the pros, Sempai," Natsu told him.
"Sonsaku-sama said the same thing."
Daikyo and Shokyo were the chief entertainers for the Go Faction. Their main duties were to provide entertainment for parties and also to be Sonshoko's playmates. As such, they were usually left out of government and military matters. That did not mean they were completely clueless or useless.
The two young girls were pretty observant. They might just be around because of their cute appearance and lovely singing voices, but they kept their eyes and ears open.
They were worried about Shuyu. They noticed her recent odd behavior. She was always going out at night and coming back in the morning. They also noticed how she just came back on the first day of the Tiger Festival, right after the explosive opening ceremony.
It should've been a time of fun, excitement, and enjoyment, but instead, the Tiger Festival started tragically. So many people died horribly, that day, which really brought the twins' mood down.
While the incident had not completely erased the festive mood of the kingdom, but it did mar it slightly. The air was thick with tension and there was a villain trying to cause trouble and destroy their Tiger Festival.
Daikyo and Shokyo felt helpless. Neither of them could fight and they don't have the intelligence or wisdom to be strategists. All they could do was sing.
So, they were surprised when Sonken approached them, asking for advice.
"Girls, can I speak to you? I need your help."
It was a beautiful night. Shuyu and Sonsaku were taking a stroll together in the palace courtyard. It would've been romantic if Sonsaku was not voicing her concerns about Sonken to Shuyu.
It was not just Sonken that Sonsaku was worried about, but Zangetsu too. He had gone missing on his mission.
Sonshoko had stowed away, but Sonsaku did not scold her. She knew her baby sister was already very upset over her Zan-niichan's disappearance.
Search parties were sent to look for him but to no avail. Shuyu, like Sonsaku, wondered what had happened to him.
Shuyu got her answer when Zangetsu suddenly appeared, only for him to assassinate Sonsaku right before her eyes. An arrow of light pierced Sonsaku's chest and threw her to the ground.
"SHEREN!" Shuyu screamed.
Shuyu avoided an energy arrow aimed at her then summoned an Inves to take care of Zangetsu. She went to Sonsaku, praying that she was alright. Shuyu ignored everything else, even when Mars and Kogai showed up to deal with the traitor.
"Sheren...Sheren...Sheren..." Shuyu sobbed in grief as she held Sonsaku's body in her arms.
Shuyu was in Sonsaku's bedroom. She could almost feel Sonsaku's presence as her scent still lingered after all this time. She remembered the countless night she spent wrapped in Sonsaku's embrace and the warmth of her love.
Shuyu resisted the urge to cry when she remembered that day when the one she loved was so cruelly taken from her. She had hated Zangetsu for his betrayal and wanted revenge. She wanted him executed for killing her beloved. But then the killer's true identity was exposed, clearing Zangetsu's name. Yet, she remained angry at him for not being around to protect Sonsaku.
Even though Sonsaku had passed away a long time ago, Shuyu was still trying to get used to the idea of Sonken taking her sister's place as ruler. Shuyu did not approve of the manner in which Sonken ruled the kingdom. Sonken was content with the territory they had already accumulated instead of expanding like Sonsaku had planned.
Shuyu understood the need to focus on strengthening their defenses against the RinJyuKen, but what about afterward once their war with the monsters was over?
What about Sonsaku's ambition? Were they going to abandon it entirely?
Sonsaku dreamed of uniting China under Son Go's banner, but now with her gone, the dream could no longer be realized. The others supported Sonken's decision to defend their home, but Shuyu did not. Not completely. The only way they could truly be safe was to conquer the land and only then would Son Go experience true peace. Once their kingdom was in control and everyone submitted under their banner, then there would be no more war.
It would not even be that difficult for Shuyu to accomplish Sonsaku's ambition in her stead. With all the Lockseeds Zangetsu's Lockseed Distribution Department had gathered, Shuyu had enough power and weapons to launch an impressive campaign in Sonsaku's name. Sou Gi and Shoku would be no match for them. Nobody would be able to stop them.
Unfortunately, Sonken would not approve of this place and that vexed Shuyu.
Presently, the state of the kingdom was not very stable. There was a crisis in the middle of the Tiger Festival and it was Sonken's responsibility to assure her people that she had everything under control. She would tell them that she would take care of it. But if she were to fail, that would prove that she was an incompetent ruler. She would be dethroned and banished. Those loyal to her would follow, but Shuyu did not care. They could always be replaced.
Son Go would still need a ruler, though. Fortunately, Shuyu had the perfect candidate for the job and she was conveniently next in line for the throne. Sonshoko was still young and could be easily influenced by the right words. She would not be a true ruler but she could be just as effective as a figurehead, a puppet ruler, with Shuyu pulling the strings. She even made plans to use Sonshoko to bring Shoku under Son Go's banner. Once Sonshoko became old enough and filled out like her sisters, she would be irresistible, and the Blue King did have a weakness for beautiful women. While she hated to use Sonshoko like that, she knew it had to be done. It was a shame that the Shoku no Seiryuoh was dead now.
Shuyu did not care how far she had to go or how deplorable her tactics may be, there were no lines she was not willing to cross and no price she was not willing to pay. As long as it was all for the sake of realizing Sonsaku's dream, it would be worth it in the end, consequences be damned.
A large group of Sonken's subjects was gathered in the throne room. They were here to express their grievances and demand answers from their ruler. Somehow, word got out about what happened at the port. Coupled with what happened during the opening ceremony for the Tiger Festival, Sonken's subjects anxiously wanted answers.
People had died and they wanted to know what was going on. They especially wanted to know if Sonken was going to do anything about it.
Sonken stood before her subjects, accompanied by Daikyo and Shokyo. She had a speech ready for them, to tell them that they had nothing fear. However, just recently, she received some grave news from Rikuson. Supposedly, the Shoku no Seiryuoh was dead, killed in battle by his dark counterpart. The Blue King was respected for his power and revered throughout the land, not just by his own kingdom but by all the others.
The news of his death would only add fuel to the fire of an already tense situation, so Sonken needed to do everything in her power to ease them of their fears.
"Everyone, I know you're all scared right now when you shouldn't be. The Tiger Festival is meant to be a time for us to celebrate, but instead, it has been marred by tragedy. I know you're all scared and confused, and you want to know if anything is being done. I can assure you that I am doing all I can to bring the criminals to justice. Mark my words, they will be stopped."
Normally, this would be enough to assuage the fears and uncertainty of her subjects, but they did not seem convinced by her words as they murmured amongst themselves. Sonken bit her lower lip as she heard their doubts. This was not working.
It was time to use a different approach.
She started to sing from the heart as Daikyo and Shokyo joined her. Soon, the murmurs of uncertainty and discontent became silent as Sonken's subjects became enchanted by the beautiful and soulful melody. It touched the hearts and moved their souls, driving away all their fears.
Sonken was not her big sister. Trying to do things Sonsaku's way, as effective as they were, was not working for Sonken. Sonken was her own person and she would do things her way.
Her people needed to stand together and have their hearts joined with hers in these troubled times. A kingdom was only strong when its ruler had the support of all her subjects.
It was December 25th, many years ago, when Masataka and his little brother Minato were only children. Today would be their first Christmas without their parents.
Masataka sat at the table with Minato and their grandfather. The Christmas tree was decorated and they would be enjoying a delicious Christmas dinner.
Yet, Masataka could not get into the festive mood. Their parents' absence reminded both Masataka and Minato that they weren't coming. There would be no more Christmas spent with their parents.
"Merry Christmas, boys," their grandfather said cheerfully as he put down the Christmas cake. "I got you presents too."
"I don't want presents," Minato frowned. "I want Okaasan and Otousan..."
"They're not coming back," Masataka scowled.
"But...maybe Santa will bring them back."
Masataka slammed his palms on the table.
"They're not coming back, Minato! And Santa won't be bringing them back because there's no Santa! The sooner you realize that the better off you'll be!" Masataka snapped. He stormed out of the dining room as his brother and grandfather watched him go with saddened expressions.
"Merry Christmas, Onii-chan."
Onii-chan...Onii-chan...Onii-chan..."
"Minato..."
Masataka opened his eyes as he woke up from his brother's voice echoing in his head. He let out a groan and a yawn before he sneezed. As he scratched his head, he felt the bandages that were wrapped around his forehead. He also saw the bandages across his torso as well.
He remembered the explosion and being thrown into the river.
Shuutai must've saved his life.
Good girl.
The dream Masataka just had was a memory from a long time ago. It was their first Christmas since their parents left them. Bitter and hurt, Masataka was unable to enjoy the holiday and lashed out at his brother. Once their grandfather made him realize what he had done, he swore he would never behave like that again. He made amends and apologized to Minato. He even tried to be a good brother to Minato as well. Without their parents around, Minato needed someone to be there for him.
Masataka and Minato were deeply hurt by their parents for abandoning them. They never got an answer as to why their parents did it but after many years, Masataka just stopped caring and moved on with his life. He did not stop resenting them for it, though and because of what they did, he was unable to trust anyone but Minato and their grandfather.
Masataka kept people at arm's length, never truly making any friends, even while he was in high school. He could not trust anyone and held no ties to them.
While Masataka tried to remain close to his brother, they gradually grew distant from each other. Masataka became more focused on his studies while Minato got mixed up with the wrong crowd.
Masataka learned early on that he could only get so far in life by pushing people away. He still was not too keen on making friends or getting too close to people, so he decided to compromise. He could act polite and be friendly without making any friends. He could have people trust him without them knowing he did not trust them. It was not a perfect system and it took practice but he was able to make it work.
Masataka changed after he was dropped in this Ancient Chinese World of The Three Kingdoms. His standoffish attitude would not help him to survive in this world, so he discarded it entirely. As a result, he became close to the royal family of Son Go, becoming a surrogate brother to the youngest princess and engaged to the current queen. It was like a switch had been flipped and he was much happier.
At first, he originally believed that they only wanted him around so they could use him for his power, but the more time he spent with everyone, the more he realized that it was not the case. They genuinely wanted him around. He finally realized that he had wasted so much time with being bitter and resentful toward his parents that he had missed out on bonding with his peers. He should've made friends ages ago.
It was possibly his feelings for Sonsaku that caused the change. He could not resist her or her requests. He had become a lovesick fool and she had him wrapped around her finger.
Sonsaku's death had a profound effect on him. While the pain and grief had long since subsided, the loss of someone he loved deeply had left deep emotional scars on his heart.
He could not afford to lose anyone else, especially Sonken and Sonshoko. They were precious to him, they all were, and so he worked hard to prevent them from being harmed. It was a lot of work, but he had long adopted the behavior of a workaholic so it was nothing he could not handle.
Sonsaku's death taught Masataka a valuable lesson. He must always be vigilant, always be alert, and always hold an advantage over their enemies. That was the key to victory and the only way Masataka could protect everyone.
Masataka rubbed his head as he started to recall what happened the night before.
He went out with Fuyu and Natsu.
He had Shuutai shadow them.
They were confronted by Saver and Majin Gaim at the port.
He subdued Saver but Majin Gaim shot him in the back.
Finally, there was an explosion and everything went black.
Wait, there was something else. Saver said something before the storehouse exploded.
What was it?
"Please say hello to Shuyu-san for me..."
Masataka's expression hardened. He needed to have a talk with Shuyu.
KRC: This was originally meant to be an interlude, but it went way past that point so I decided to make it a full chapter. It mostly involves what everyone is doing while Masataka is recovering. It's like a reprieve before we go back to the action, the calm before the storm. Anyway, about the flashback scenes, they were originally omake scenes that were going to be scrapped, so I'm glad I found a way to use them.
Also, this will be the first update for 2018. I note from some reviews and feedback that this story has gotten stale. Perhaps it has, but I'm not giving up on it. I'm going to work to finish it. Until then, I will continue. Once AWG is over, then I will move onto other projects. I guess my New Year Resolution is to finish the Armored War Gods Saga.
Dai Shi sat upon his throne, casually 'flipping through channels' on his giant projection screen. He was trying to see if there was anything worth watching.
He had already watched the Black Turtle and wanted to see if there was anything else on.
It needed to be good.
It needed to be interesting.
"Perhaps I should see what's going on in Son Go..." the Lord of the RinJyuKen Akugata considered. Soon, the screen changed to show Son Go at the beginning of their Tiger Festival. He watched as everyone celebrated, feeling joyful and having fun.
It was revolting. Did they not realize that they were living in a time of war? What was the ruler thinking?
He swiped his hand across the screen and it changed to show the royal palace. There seemed to be some kind of event taking place.
Dai Shi's eyes widened when he saw the explosion that killed a lot of people. His lips curled into a vicious smile.
"Oh, now this is interesting."
Dai Shi continued to watch as the White Tiger investigated the situation. Dai Shi kept his eyes on the screen as the investigation continued. He wanted to know what would happen next.
Dai Shi observed the White Tiger and his bodyguard as they were joined by Sonken Chubo and her bodyguard. He watched as they entered a creepy looking mansion, only to find a miniature forest growing inside, a forest which bore the mysterious fruit that turned people into monsters.
Then the Red Death Saver appeared and a fight erupted. It wasn't something Dai Shi had not seen before, but when it looked like the Red Death was defeated, he escaped and blew up the mansion.
Dai Shi wondered if the White Tiger managed to survive, and he did. Of course, the White Tiger would not have been killed so easily.
Dai Shi decided to skip a few hours ahead. He wanted to see the good stuff.
"Now, what's this then?"
He saw the White Tiger getting his information from a brothel. Then it looked like the White Tiger was bringing some proper backup in the form of the Ultimate Steel and Ultimate Magic.
Oh, and the Red Death was waiting for them again, but only this time he brought the Dragonslayer with him.
There was another battle, but Dai Shi was more invested in the fight between the White Tiger and the Red Death. The White Tiger showed off another one of his forms and Dai Shi frowned in disappointment.
The White Tiger really should've just used his Celestial Armor. The Red Death stood no chance against that.
Dai Shi decided to switch his attention to the Dragonslayer. It was just as one-sided as he expected as the Dragonslayer dominated the Ultimate Steel and Ultimate Magic. Their teamwork, while impressive, was no match for the Dragonslayer's own raw power as he defeated them easily.
Dai Shi then switched back to the Red Death and the White Tiger.
Finally! Finally, the White Tiger used his Celestial Armor. Instead of killing the Red Death immediately, though, he just buried him up to his waist in the ground.
Why did he even bother wanting answers? Just kill the damn Red Death already!
But then the Red Death said something that made the White Tiger freeze. This allowed the Dragonslayer to shoot him before freeing the Red Death.
"Hm...I wonder what made him freeze like that."
Dai Shi watched as the White Tiger went mad. He was obsessed with getting answers from the Red Death and ignored the Dragonslayer. That mistake cost him dearly as he was shot in the back.
Defeated and without his armor, the White Tiger would've been easy prey to slay, but the Red Death still wanted to play with him some more.
Dai Shi watched as the explosion threw the White Tiger into the river. Dai Shi shrugged. It might seem to have killed the White Tiger, but he had survived worse. If he was such a weakling, the Seal of Heaven would not have chosen him in the first place.
Dai Shi snapped his fingers and the screen flickered into non-existence before he stood up from his throne and stretched. As entertaining as it was, he had things to do and little time to waste.
"I'll come back to this later to see what happens during the climax. I bet it will be interesting."
Dai Shi could predict what would happen next, but he still wanted to see it happen with his own eyes. It would no doubt be a grand finale for the White Tiger's festival.
