"Over a thousand years have passed since Koushishi had seized power. Not much has changed since then, except for the fact that my fellow youkai have lost all semblance of discipline. It started on that fateful night when we had won our first war. Back then I was meditating, and I was assaulted by the terrible visions of the king's and prince's deaths hours before they actually happened. Perhaps if I were there by their side, I could have helped them and prevented this great tragedy. But I was too attached to them, I had raised them both as my sons, as I did with each of their ancestors. The certainty of their painful deaths had overwhelmed me, my head ached from the tears I shed in the solitude of my cave. In the end, that attachment proved to be not only their undoing, but also my kingdom's undoing. But there are still so many questions that pester my mind to this day. If Nekohana was a traitor, what was the spell she cast in her dying moments? If Shishima was so torn over everything that happened, why did he die with such a peaceful smile? And if they all perished on that night, then why is it that I only feel the faintest of Akushishi's presence every time I look into the Abyss while meditating? It seems that for all my ever-expanding knowledge, I still understand so very little. Perhaps one day I will get the answers I seek…"
Darkness was everywhere, a primordial dimness which eternally reigned. For what was more pure and untainted than certain blackness? It spawned from the smallest hole to the vast corners of the cosmos, simple, certain, everlasting. Some feared it, others bowed down in reverence, all were ignored, because in the very end, it did not care for beings which were spawned out of it who would one day inevitably rejoin it. A crimson light pierced through the celestial obsidian bolt, falling upon a seemingly endless deep forest filled with bald trees, their shadows taking the forms of tall skeletal figures in search for prey. The air was cold, a thin gray fog slightly obscuring the sights. Shishima landed on the footpath, ignoring Borof's panicked cries as the plushie hung onto his fur. The familiar sights of the Twilight Kingdom's forest were both nostalgic and alarming, for danger almost always lurked around the corner in that realm.
"There is no place like home..." the lion mused beneath his hissed breath, the vaguest hint of a smile on his sharp face.
Soon enough, Nekohana also landed from the portal above them, which immediately closed afterwards.
Like Borof, she also tried to overcome her dizziness and get accustomed to the new sights. But Shishima would not wait for them to regain their composure. He knew all too well of what dangers lurked in every corner of that realm, and those predatory fiends had no patience whatsoever for any sign of weakness. Chin up, chest forward, wings folded behind his back, the former prince walked ahead down the footpath, the sound of rusting pebbles and cracked branches in his wake.
"Shi-Shishima, wait for me!" cried Nekohana, and then she ran to catch up. "Where are we headed? Do you not want me to show you the truth?"
"Before we take any course of action, we will need to find a shelter," Shishima coldly replied, not even turning to regard her.
"Good idea, milord! Having in mind all those creepy eyes looking at us from behind the trees, I would much rather lie somewhere behind four walls," Borof confessed while relaxing on his master's shoulder and constantly looking around for any sign of danger.
"Do you have any idea where, Shishima?" the lioness asked, a frown on her face for seemingly being ignored.
"To the one youkai in the Twilight Kingdom whom I know I can trust. Now shut up."
"Exactly, woman!" the plushie exclaimed, hands on his hips, no different from a parent scolding its child. "You have no place to question-"
"Both of you, shut up," his master ordered, bringing an abrupt end to Borof's scolding speech.
Time's passage seemed endless as they kept wandering the woods, and the silence imposed on the group by the daiyoukai did not help matters either, as his companions grew increasingly bored and impatient, yet they were wise enough to not complain to him. Upon coming to a fork in the road, the group halted. In both directions which lied ahead, the paths seemed to stretch on into the deep horizon.
"Forgive my intrusion, sire, but do you know which way we should go?" the Funky Knightmare shyly asked.
Shishima's answer came in the form of him walking straight ahead, not taking any of the two paths. Nekohana gasped as she saw him disappear into the tree that separated the road. Not wasting any time, she followed suit and immediately they found themselves inside a dark cave, its cool humid air bringing chills down their backs. The only source of light being their glowing red pupils, the two demonic beings proceeded forward. A purple hue of knowledge emanated from the quartz walls around them, leaving trails of amazement and tranquility. And then, far in the distance, they could see another light. As they approached it, they noticed that there was a hole in the cave's ceiling from which the moon's crimson rays fell upon a lake and a garden which surrounded an enormous Victorian mansion.
"My goodness... I've been in these woods before, but never have I seen something so... refined. This surpasses even the capital palace's architecture," Nekohana mused as she and Borof stared awestruck at the building's façade, where countless statues rested either on top of the columns surrounding the enclosed front entrance, or encased in the hollow sections of the walls. They depicted grotesque demons and weeping angels, all of which looked down at the visitors who traversed the garden which bathed in the moonlight.
Unfazed by the threatening imagery, Shishima nonchalantly knocked at the door, the silence which followed afterwards bringing nothing but unease in the hearts of his companions. A metallic creak pierced their ears as the door swung open in answer to him, allowing the group to proceed inside. Large corridors lit by chandeliers greeted them, dusted mirrors and faded paintings decorating dull gray walls.
"Welcome!" echoed the grave voice of an old man. "I have been expecting your visit, my prince."
"Master, who said that?!" asked Borof, who immediately hid inside the lion's black mane.
"So you knew we were headed here..." Shishima walked to the farthest door which stood opposite to the mansion's entrance and pushed it open. "...Fukurokuju."
A living room greeted them. It was filled with bookshelves and mysterious household objects which had grinning faces carved onto them. In the middle of the room, sitting on an armchair behind a burning fireplace and in front of a table with filled teacups, was none other than the daiyoukai of knowledge and wisdom, Fukurokuju. Despite his appearance of an old and harmless white owl, a single look into his sharp yellow eyes was enough to bring obedience into the hearts of plenty.
"Wow, who's that?" Borof wondered, his jaw dropped in awe.
"Is that the Fukurokuju?!" Nekohana exclaimed and immediately fell on her knees. "It is an honor to meet you, sir! Never in any of my lifetimes did I imagine I would have the honor of being in your presence."
"Get up, child!" the owl sternly demanded and she did as told. "I do not desire such a mocking display of praise, worthy only of dictators and Gods."
"My apologies, I understand..."
"You have come seeking answers. Am I right to assume this, Shishima?"
"Why ask that which you already know?" the lion replied while proudly stepping in the living room, soon followed by the female. "I have returned to my former home in order to clear up the happenings of that fateful night, and also to ensure that the one behind me is not telling lies."
"Hey!" Nekohana burst with indignation, her cheeks reddening.
"I see." Fukurokuju's beak twisted into a smile. "Needless to say, my prince, that the traitorous one who now follows you is indeed speaking the truth. She does know the mystery behind your father's unfortunate demise."
"I am not a traitor!" the flower youkai raised her voice even more, her frustration ever obvious.
"Now you watch your mouth, woman! All of your actions thus far point to the opposite of what you speak!" the Funky Knightmare chastised her, after which he returned his attention to the giant owl resting on the armchair. "Milord, if I am not indiscreet, can you tell me who this Fukurokuju is?"
"He is the youkai of knowledge and wisdom, and more importantly, my former mentor."
Another smile grew on the owl's face. "It is true; I have indeed raised, trained and educated the one whom you now call master and follow so loyally. I am also the oldest being in the Twilight Kingdom, for I have seen it all - the Creation, our fall from Heaven, our escape from Hell; and I have personally aided with the founding of the realm surrounding us all. With each new information that enters this realm, regardless of its form, my mind immediately has access to it. As such, it is an ever-growing source of knowledge. Some would venture to claim that I know everything, and in a way the truth is on their side, but in actuality knowledge is, like the universe, ever-expanding."
While Borof and Nekohana were rendered speechless by their host's revelations, Shishima was the least bit impressed. Straightforwardly, he replied, "Fukurokuju, my first question is simple. Where were you on that night? Why did you not join my father's army during the final battle against Purgatory's forces?"
What followed was a long sigh in which centuries of pain and regret could be read. "The burden of knowledge... is not an easy one to bear." Shishima raised an eyebrow upon hearing that statement. "I was paralyzed back then, incapacitated even. The gates of past, present and future opened at the same time and I saw... everything that happened, was happening and would happen..." Fukurokuju paused for emphasis, "...all at once."
"If you saw what was going to happen to my father, why did you not jump in to prevent it?"
"Because with all the strength of my mind and spirit, I just could not paint the image of a world in which I lost the both of you, the king and prince whom I had cherished for so long and raised as my own sons."
"Then you are not the one responsible for what happened, I see... Is there a way for me to discover the identity of the one who plotted my father's demise, without having to rely on Nekohana's word?"
"Of course there is, and I can guide you on this quest of yours, my prince."
"Now you can't even trust my word?!" the lioness protested.
"I will discover the truth for myself." Shishima finally turned to regard her, his cold stare betraying his mistrust and unforgiving attitude. "Then I will ask you for the culprit's identity. Right now it's just your word against theirs, and that will do us no good."
"The wheels of fate are grinding once again, my prince," Fukurokuju said while getting up from his armchair, a sudden optimistic look on his face. "I sense there is much more than your father's legacy that you have to atone for, but... you will have to gain more allies first."
"Allies, here in the realm which has forsaken me?" The owl nodded back at his visitor. "Why, if the Twilight Kingdom were to discover that Nekohana and I are still alive, the both of us would be hunted down and imprisoned. What allies do you speak of?"
"Have I not taught you about the boundaries of our realm and those who inhabit it?"
And then the realization hit Shishima. "There are still plenty of regions disenfranchised with the capital's rule."
"Exactly." Fukurokuju picked up a wooden staff with a bird's claw at the top. "Among which the most vocal are the oni."
"The ogre demons? I recall them as the most honorable of fighters during the war against Purgatory. My father admired them and viewed them as valuable allies. And yet, they were never keen on how we governed on the entire land."
"They lack a certain perspective, but their hearts are in the right place. Before you set out on your newest quest, there is something I wish to see for myself..." The staff was raised and waved around the room, a powerful wind blowing inside. Various objects floated off their shelves and transformed into glowing purple cards which united into a deck that landed into the housekeeper's wings.
"A duel?" Shishima asked while producing a deck which he had secretly been working on back in Sagakin. "Keh, this will be interesting..."
Two dueling tables rose from the floor and both youkai went to them, setting their cards and beginning their match. All the while, Nekohana sat down on an armchair and observed.
"I summon Reino Usshi," Shishima said and a green minotaur plushie wielding an axe appeared by his side. "I end my turn and Reino Usshi mills a card from my deck." He smiled as he saw Uroborof, Dragon Edge go into his graveyard.
"I summon Duglass, Darma," Fukurokuju said and a blue glass with a carved grinning face appeared by his side.
"I summon Ottakara Atakara and mill two more cards from my deck." A plushie modeled after a treasure chest appeared while Ninjariban, Dragon Edge and Attacking Bonsura ended in Shishima's graveyard. "I attack with Reino Usshi and Invasion, I evolve him into Duenyan Emperor!" The minotaur plushie rushed at the opponent and transformed into a fat black cat plushie with a golden crown, a green cape and a golden staff shaped after a fish skeleton in its hands. "Duenyan Emperor, double break his shields!" Heeding its master's order, the plushie pierced down two shields with his staff. "At the end of the attack I put Uroborof, Dragon Edge under Duenyan Emperor. Turn end."
"I summon Grigyan, Darma and mill three cards from my deck." A golden chandelier with three burning candles which had grinning faces carved onto them appeared, causing Duscissor, Darma, Dupoiz, Darma and Vomirror, Darma to land in their owner's graveyard. "Gate of Moonless Night! I take Duscissor and Dupoiz from my graveyard, fuse them with Duglass and Grigyan and summon on the four of them... De Szark!" A pair of scissors with glowing eyes and a poison bottle with a grinning face carved onto it appeared and joined the other two objects, the four of them forming a magic circle out of which a majestic dark purple phoenix with a small black sun burning in its chest appeared and gave a loud bird cry in the room. "De Szark destroys Ottakara Atakara." With a single flap of its wings, the small plushie was cut into pieces. "Now, since I have four cards under him, De Szark makes your creatures enter the battle zone tapped."
"Gate of Moonless Night, you say? What an interesting strategy you got there. My turn then, I summon Darpi Luppi." A purple bird plushie wearing a skull on its head and wielding a bone scythe appeared by Shishima's side. "Now my Funky Knightmares cost 1 mana less and whenever you play a creature from anywhere other than your hand, that creature gets destroyed. Duenyan Emperor, double break his shields!" The cat plushie once more rushed at the opponent and brought down two more shields with the golden staff.
"Shield trigger, I summon Duglass, Darma." Another glass with a grinning face appeared.
"I put Ninjariban, Dragon Edge under Duenyan Emperor and end my turn."
"I summon Vogaiga, Darma." A painting of an unknown European king appeared, its glass broken to resemble a grinning face. "My Magic Tools cost 1 mana less. Also, I mill four cards..." Duscissor, Darma, Grigyan, Darma, Durinri, Darma and Griknife, Darma ended in their owner's graveyard. "...and return Grigyan, Darma to my hand. De Szark, destroy Darpi Luppi!" The phoenix gave a cry and fired a purple beam from its beak which burned away the bird plushie. "I end my turn and Gate of Moonless Night Zetsu! I take Duscissor, Durinri, Griknife and Vomirror from my graveyard, fuse them with Duglass and Vogaiga and summon on the six of them... Bangetsu Ga Ryuzark!" A pair of scissors, a telephone with eyes and a grinning smile, a cutter with a grinning face carved on its blade and a mirror with its glass cracked into a grinning face appeared and joined the glass and painting, the six of them forming a magic circle out of which a dark purple phoenix with wings sharp as blades emerged. "Now at the start of your next turn you can only untap three mana."
"Keh, not an issue whatsoever," Shishima replied as he untapped all cards. "My turn, I charge mana and attack with Duenyan Emperor, break his final shield!" The cat plushie gave a meowed battle cry and rushed forward, tearing down the last shield with a headbutt.
"Shield trigger, I summon Spiner, Shock Doctor and give -9000 power to Duenyan Emperor, destroying it." A caped physician Mafi Gang appeared and stabbed the plushie with two wires, electrocuting it until it blew up.
"When Duenyan Emperor is destroyed, I revive all Funky Knightmares under him, so I bring back Reino Usshi, Ninjariban, Dragon Edge and Uroborof, Dragon Edge!" The minotaur plushie reappeared alongside a blue ninja plushie and a purple wolf plushie with boxing gloves, all entering the battle zone tapped. "Ninjariban brings out Whitey, Dragon Soul Church and freezes De Szark. I also equip Uroborof with Go To Hell, Annihilator Blade, which revives Duenyan Emperor onto him. I end my turn and Reino Usshi mills a card." Attacking Bonsura landed in Shishima's graveyard.
"I summon Duscissor, Darma and give -2000 to Reino Usshi, destroying him." The pair of scissors with eyes appeared once more and this time they cut down the small plushie into pieces. "I also summon Grigyan, Darma and mill three." This time there were no Magic Tools that ended up in Fukurokuju's graveyard, only Rabiripit, Remembrance Doll, Ban Night Festival and Spiner, Shock Doctor. "Bangetsu Ga Ryuzark, destroy Ninjariban!" The phoenix lashed at the ninja plushie and tore it into pieces as well using its sharp wings.
"You're very resilient, I give you that much, my former mentor. However, victory is in my grasp! I charge mana and attack with Duenyan Emperor, Go To Hell revives Ninjariban whom I equip with Migawari, Nightmare Swastika. Go, Duenyan Emperor, todomeda!"
"Grigyan, block the attack!" The chandelier stood in the cat plushie's path to victory and got crushed by its staff in response.
"I put Reino Usshi under Duenyan Emperor and end my turn."
"Do not mistake me lacking shields as a sign of your impending victory, Shishima! Overconfidence led to your defeat at the hands of Hajime Shirayama, and the same outcome will now occur."
"What did you just say...?" the lion daiyoukai spoke, dumbfounded by the comparison as he was reminded of his failure to conquer Earth.
"I summon Duglass, Darma and Griknife, Darma. De Szark, double break his shields! Bangetsu Ga Ryuzark, double break his shields!" The two purple phoenixes gave loud cries and fired bright beam from their beaks which brought down four of their opponent's shields, no shield trigger to be found in any of them. "Spiner, break his final shield!" The Mafi Gang physician used his tools to zap the remaining shield as well.
"Shield trigger, I summon Syriu Heaven!" A gray plushie shaped after a floating mechanical angel appeared next to the ninja and cat plushies. "With his effect I destroy Duscissor!"
"Ultra Saver, I destroy Griknife and Duscissor stays in the battle zone," Fukurokuju stated, much to his opponent's shock. "It is over - Duscissor, todomeda!"
The pair of scissors flew at Shishima and hit him with their pointy tips, throwing him and his cards on the floor and marking the owl's victory. Nekohana stared at their host in disbelief at the level of power she had just witnessed.
"Master, are you alright?!" Borof cried as he jumped up and down on the demonic lion's nose.
"This is just a small dose of what you are about to encounter out there," Fukurokuju calmly stated as he reverted part of his deck back into household objects which he magically placed back on their shelves, after which he started packing the rest of his cards.
"Is that so?" Shishima asked as he forced himself back on his feet and packed up his own cards, Borof flying around him, no different from a small bug. "Then this means I have finally found another worthy challenge!" he exclaimed, a smirk of anticipation on his sharp face.
"Soon enough you will meet new allies..." Fukurokuju stared blankly into emptiness, distant voices of knowledge floating and gliding in the strings of his mind. "...and new enemies, in the very near future."
After dusting himself, Shishima turned to leave. "We are now in the Southeastern woods. The oni live in the caves of the Northeastern mountains. Keh, this will be an interesting journey. Borof, let us go."
"Coming, milord!" the purple wolf announced and flew after his master.
"What about me?" asked Nekohana as she got up from the armchair.
"Ah yes... Fukurokuju, be sure to keep an eye on her until my return."
"Shishima!" she protested, but soon she found Fukurokuju's white-feathered wing pull her away.
"Come, Nekohana, there is a garden I would like to show you."
"Oh, and one more thing, my former mentor..." Shishima's voice made the two stop in their tracks. "I am curious... what is your relationship to my mother's government?"
The answer was short and concise. "None whatsoever."
"Good, then I can count on you to shield the secret of our return until the right time comes."
With those parting words said, Shishima walked out of the living room and exited the mansion, Borof once more resting on his shoulder. A new chance had laid itself before him. One way or another, he would discover the truth behind the happenings of that fateful night in which Purgatory fell, the night when his life had permanently changed. And when all would be said and done, he would take back that which he rightfully deserved and his father would be avenged. Depending on the outcome, he would decide upon Nekohana's ultimate fate. Yes, the conquest for the Twilight Kingdom would definitely be an interesting one. He would set aside Hajime and Earth for the time being.