Climbing the stairs all the way to the upmost level had proven itself a surprisingly familiar task. In times long gone, she would cross them daily while journeying from Shishima's room to the gardens and back. Thus she had gotten accustomed to the increasing quality of life which came with the upper levels. No longer were there littered corridors filled with rats, nor lowly youkai who would verbally harass her. Many would have envied her position of residing at the same level with the daiyoukai royalty who governed over the kingdom, but in truth she had never cared about such details. If the one to rescue her from her father's clutches would have been from the lower levels, she would have moved there. Shishima's position, influence and power had never attracted her. It was during those moments of reflection, while ascending the palace's levels, that she came to the realization that what she truly saw in him was a fellow outcast, one who merely wanted to live by his own rules. And he could reciprocate her desire for belonging somewhere, that was why they used to heal each other's wounds back then. Alas, those days were but a buried gem in the old dust of time, but one she would always keep close to her heart. For no matter how many reincarnations she experienced, no matter how many lives and past lovers she had, deep inside she would never let go of Shishima, even if he willingly chose to forget her.
Much to her chagrin, two armored guards stood at the very end of the stairs which led to the top floor. Her leaf cloak and masked voice would not be enough of a convincing disguise to allow her entrance, for no commoners were allowed to set foot there without special exceptions. As such, subtler methods were required in order to gain access. She reached into her mane and searched for a particular plant called Passion's Grip - a blue flower with short petals resembling a cog. Its pollen was known for putting youkai to sleep, and although she had never seen it for herself, the time had come for its capabilities to be tested. She rubbed the flower between her clawed fingers until a small pile of yellow dust was left in her palm. Then, from behind a corner of the stairs, she tossed the pollen upwards, covered the lower half of her face with a long leaf, and hoped for the best. In only a matter of seconds she had heard two thumps, prompting her to quickly head upwards where she found two armored guards who were fast asleep on the floor.
Her plan successful, Nekohana walked past them and infiltrated the palace's upmost level, the only other place she used to call home. Much to her surprise, the corridors had endured many changes in the past thousand years. Walls, statues and portrait frames were now paved with gold so polished that it obnoxiously reflected the light from outside. But, perhaps most damning of all, it seemed that a good number of paintings depicting historical scenes and figures of the Twilight Kingdom had been replaced with portraits of Koushishi showing her in both a physically attractive and imposing royal manner. It was clear as day that her vanity knew no limits. Although she had never interacted with her, Nekohana recalled seeing the queen from afar whenever she held her extravagant banquets in the palace gardens alongside fellow daiyoukai. She always wore the unnerving smile of someone who had hidden intentions, and the company she surrounded herself with, no matter their rank, knew to always be careful around her. Rumors of the queen sending spies to assassinate her political rivals were common around the palace, and as such the daiyoukai generally tried to stay on her good side. Back then Nekohana could not help but wonder how could someone as ruthless as Koushishi give birth to someone as kind and protective as Shishima. It was only much later that she would discover just how much both mother and son had in common.
The door to the former prince's room was half-open, lazily swinging by a light breeze coming from outside. Inside there were piles upon piles of treasure chests, potion bottles, jarred ingredients and polished weapons. Gone were Shishima's bed, work table and shelves filled with books, parchments and scrolls containing vast arcane mysteries and deeper knowledge of the Twilight Kingdom's past. All those scholarly items had been replaced with material treasures, the utmost expression of Koushishi's vanity, as she had turned her son's bedroom into nothing more than a storage room. And yet, despite this current turn of events, a pang of nostalgia hit Nekohana and she recalled the day she first stepped in there. Her physical wounds had not yet healed, she had been an emotional mess after barely surviving her father's abuse, and there she was, an unworthy commoner standing by royalty's side.
"My prince, are you sure I am allowed in here?"
"Yes, as my personal servant, my room is now your new home." Shishima placed a wing around the timid Nekohana and gently pushed her in. "Worry not, as long as you're here, nobody will ever dare harm you again."
Countless human lifetimes must have passed since the fateful moment when she had been welcomed into his life. All had changed, but her love for the one who rescued her and gave her a better life. Yet she could not deny that the circle had been complete. After forcefully dragging the both of them into man's world, they had now returned into their own realm. Was it merely to spare Earth of his horrors? Or was it so she could bring back the good in Shishima? Either way, in the moment he would discover the truth behind his late father's tragic demise, Nekohana was certain that he would finally come to her way of thinking. That the Twilight Kingdom had always been corrupt, that there was something better out there for the two of them, that his destructive path of revenge made him no different from the mother he despised so much.
Noises from outside snapped her back to reality. She peeked and noticed strong lights coming from the opened theater hall which was a few rooms away. Perhaps a special event was being held. Covering herself with the leaf hood, she carefully tiptoed down the large corridor and approached a metallic door behind which she hid. Upon taking a look inside, she noticed a multitude of red and blue banners flapping above a gathered crowd of daiyoukai nobility, each of them seated and enjoying the spectacle that was being performed onstage. A red-skinned tengu dressed in navy blue court jester's clothing was juggling a goblin, an imp and a devil with its large hands, the three creatures ignited in flames and screaming in agony. Above, a pale-green gargoyle was carefully walking down the sharp spine of a dragon's skeleton that had been suspended in the air with wires coming from the ceiling. In one hand he held a spiked goblet filled with wine, in the other a sharp scimitar by the tip of its blade, both objects stabbing his palms. Despite the pain which nabbed at him, his balance was perfect and not one drop of wine was spilled on the stage. Once he reached the dragon's skull, he turned around and repeated the walk back to the tip of its tail. In the background the orchestra played a somber yet catchy violin tune and the two performers ensured they were in perfect sync with it. Once the violins hastened into an allegretto, a duo composed of a nude succubus and incubus gracefully waltzed in to the tune, willfully stepping on the pieces of broken glass from the stage floor which only served to further amplify their dancing. Upon laying eyes on them, the tengu spat a fireball upon the joined hands of the dancers, which burst ablaze and earned applause from the crowd. The pain mattered not and the couple resumed their erotic waltz with even more passion.
As the minister of Cultural Arts, Sazansho was known for demanding everything out of his theater performers and was unforgiving when it came to physical weakness. Over the course of a dozen centuries of harsh discipline, he had ensured that all youkai who enrolled in his theatrical performance courses ended up professional acrobats who could endure any kind of pain or physical stress. He glanced at Koushishi who sat at his left. She was sipping from her cup of wine with a sadistic smile stretched from ear to ear, obviously pleased by the dangerous spectacle. And if the queen was pleased, then all was well in Sazansho's world. The acrobatic show culminated with the juggler tossing the three burning fiends right into the gargoyle as soon as he reached the middle of the dragon's spine. Upon colliding with his oil-drenched skin, they all exploded in a majestic spectacle of red and blue lights, ashes and embers landing on the stage. The tengu and the dancing couple, being the only surviving performers, gave a graceful bow in front of a crowd which erupted in roared cheers and loud applause.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes today's performance of Sazansho's Theater of Acrobatic Drama!" the salamander daiyoukai exclaimed while getting up from his seat. "However, do not leave just yet, for there is one final performance you must assist, my fellow nobles!"
"My dear Sazansho, but whatever else are you having in mind for your humble audience?" asked Koushishi with a self-important tone.
"For a last act, I hereby invite with me on stage our army's Supreme Commander and overall national treasure - the esteemed general Rufu!"
Heeding his colleague's call, the wolf daiyoukai with gray fur set aside his empty glass and walked up the stage, joining him. He eyed the two soldiers guarding the entrance, who immediately straightened once they noticed. The trio of performers were quick to sweep the ashes and broken glass away and leave the spotlight to their superiors. With a wave from Sazansho's hand, two dueling tables arose from the floor between them. Rufu took out his deck and did a polite bow to his opponent, after which both set their cards and began their duel, not to prove who was the stronger among them, but to entertain the audience. Bread and circuses, as the ancient mortal saying went.
"I fortify one of my shields with Submarine Fortress Lair." The image of an undersea high-tech tower appeared on one of Sazansho's shields.
"I charge mana and end," Rufu said.
"At the start of my turn, you may draw and I also draw an extra card."
"Don't mind if I do!"
"And now I cast Brain Storm and draw three more cards. Hm, I put these two on the top of my deck and end here."
"I summon Shinobu, Boost Chain." A purple-haired Snow Faerie dressed in a pink ninja suit appeared by Rufu's side.
"My turn begins anew, you get to draw a card while I draw an extra card. Vividdraw - I summon Skeptic, Fake Supporting Actor!" A white and blue bird donning blue robes appeared by the salamander's side, allowing him to draw three more cards, after which he placed one at the top of his deck. "Due to Skeptic's effect, I end my turn here."
"I summon Esmer, Celestial Faerie." A green-haired Snow Faerie wearing a modest pink and white dress with three pairs of pixie wings coming out of her back appeared by the other's side and sent one of the wolf's shields to his mana zone, the card being Ougon! Bouken MAX. "I attack with Shinobu and Abarechain, I put the top card of my deck to my mana zone."
"Skeptic blocks the attack and destroys your creature!" The Fire Bird stood in front of the charging ninja faerie's attack and smacked here away with a flap from its wings, causing her to vanish in an explosion. "And now it's my turn again, I draw an extra card and..." Sazansho licked his fangs with his long tongue in anticipation. "Vividdraw - I cast Celebrate! The final curtain of this story! With its effect I draw a card and bring out my trump card, the king of the Bikkuri Kingdom - Meteorshower Auroratheater!" A Phoenix modeled after a carnival mask with giant purple feathers for wings, a red and a blue snake for limbs which held fans in their mouths and a wild red and blue flame surrounding its body appeared behind the laughing reptilian daiyoukai. "Aha-ahahaha, I draw three cards and attack you with Meteorshower, triple break his shields!" The Phoenix stuck out his snake-like tongue and used it to hack away three of his shields.
"Shield trigger, I cast Imen's Sign and bring out Namakeira, Alive Chain-"
"No you don't! I have 9 cards in my hand and Namakeira costs 6, so Meteorshower won't let it enter the battle zone! Aha-ahahaha, I break your final shield with Skeptic!" The white and blue Fire Bird dashes through the remaining opposing shield, tearing it to pieces. "And since this was my second attack, I summon Valchuris, Dragon Armored for free!" A trio of mice wearing dragon skulls and each armed with a repair tool appeared. "Valchuris is a speed attacker, meaning that this game is mine - todomeda!"
"Ninja Strike 4, I summon Hayabusamaru, Lightfang Ninja and block Valchuris!" Rufu intervened and a small plane-like creature flew in front of the mice trio and was destroyed by their attack.
"You won another turn. Use it well, my friend! With Celebrate's effect, I send Meteorshower to the top of my deck and end."
"Oh trust me, I will! I summon Namakeira, Alive Chain." A panda bear in a white gi appeared and lazily collapsed on the floor, holding two golden chains in his hands. "I attack with Esmer and activate Namakeira's Abarechain! I check the top two cards of my deck, add Hayabusatwin, Earth Chain to my mana zone and set up a shield. Go, Esmer, break the shield with Submarine Fortress Lair!" The green-haired Snow Faerie tossed a teapot right into the shield with the image of the undersea tower, tearing it into pieces.
"You've set up a new shield, ey? Interesting, very interesting! Anyway, Vividdraw, I summon Meteorshower Auroratheater and draw three cards again. Valchuris, break his final shield!" The mouse trio gave a battle squeak and rushed forward, using their repair tools to dismantle the opponent's shield.
"Shield trigger, I cast How about a cup of tea? and put the top card of my deck to my shield zone!"
"Still persisting, are we? Meteorshower, break his final shield!" Heeding its master's order, the Phoenix flew headfirst through the shield and tore it apart. "Ah, I see you have no more shield triggers. However, that pesky Namakeira of yours is a blocker, so I will end here!" Sazansho declared.
A confident smile grew beneath Rufu's mustache, revealing his razor sharp canines. "You've had your shining moment, my friend, but now it's my turn!" he exclaimed while revealing the card he just drew. "Behold the king of the Bouken Kingdom - Gorio Bugori, Gorira King!" An orange gorilla donning silvery armor with two golden chains wrapped around his fists that were double the size of his body appeared in the middle of the battle zone and gave a loud battle cry. "I attack with Namakeira and Gorio Bugori doubles his power and turns him into a triple breaker. Then I activate Namakeira's Abarechain to check my deck's top two cards, add Punchfox, Knuckle Chain to my mana zone and set up a new shield. Go, Namakeira, triple break his shields!" The panda bear got up from the floor and swung its golden chains towards the opposing shields, tearing down three of them.
"Shield trigger, I cast Aesthetic Movement is an Explosion! With its effect I destroy Gorio Bugori and stop Esmer from attacking or blocking until the start of my next turn!" the reptilian daiyoukai replied and his Phoenix fired a rain of multicolored precious stones which crushed the gorilla, afterwards it waved its fans in front of the Snow Faerie, causing her to faint. "Phew, that was a close one. Anyway, I believe it's time I pulled the curtain on today's grand spectacle - I summon Sr Spellcyclica, Dragment Symbol and cast Celebrate! The final curtain of this story! from my graveyard. With its effect I draw a card and bring out Mega Manalock Dragon!" A dragon made of blue crystals appeared alongside a muscular red dragon wielding a flaming sword. "When Mega Manalock Dragon is put into the battle zone, I freeze a Light and a Nature card in your mana zone. Celebrate gives him speed attacker, so I attack with Mega Manalock Dragon, freeze another Light and another Nature card in your mana zone, then I break your final shield!"
Rufu frowned as the flaming sword collided with his remaining shield. He immediately reached and picked up the card, which he revealed to everyone, saying, "Shield trigger, I cast Ougon! Bouken MAX and send Meteorshower to your shield zone face up!" A floating golden crown shaped after a wrestler's belt appeared and fired a golden beam upon the carnival Phoenix, making it disappear and having its image appear as a new rectangular shield.
"That's not enough - Valchuris, todomeda!" Sazansho excitedly ordered and the mouse trio rushed towards the wolf general and hit him with their tools, knocking him off the stage and sealing their owner's victory.
The crowd unleashed their loudest cheers and applause on that day. The banquet which would follow later that night would be even more extravagant, as per Koushishi's expectations. Satisfied with the show they had put, Sazansho walked to the fallen Rufu and helped him get back on his feet.
"Was it a crowd pleaser?" asked the old general while dusting his precious uniform.
"Judging by their reactions, I dare say yes," the younger reptile answered. "Thank you for another brilliant performance, my friend. It's always a pleasure facing someone equal in strength!"
"The pleasure was all mine. Now I must take my leave, our forces need me at the Dawn Kingdom border."
"Has your holiday ended already? I could swear you had returned from the battlefield only yesterday!"
"That's because it was indeed yesterday. However, I received a letter from my lieutenants that I am required there once again, so I'm afraid I must cut my time here short."
"But Rufu, I must insist you at least make time to return tonight, if not for our banquet, at least for the queen's private jacuzzi party. She said she has urgent news to pass on to the both of us."
The wolf paused for a moment and regarded his salamander colleague with the one eye he had left. "I see. In that case, I will be coming at her jacuzzi party around midnight. Be sure to spare me some drinks as well!"
"You know I will!"
Nekohana ran, down the hallway, past the unconscious guards, down the stairs, as far as her two legs allowed her. The very image of Rufu had made unpleasant memories resurface. Her mind was assaulted with thoughts of the arranged marriage, the inappropriate advances, the physical abuse like a nightmare she had attempted to bury long ago. Although she believed herself safe from his predatory behavior once Shishima took her under his wing, that was proven wrong on the night of Purgatory's fall.
Her prince's departure to the battlefield only made Nekohana feel all the more alone. Despite the tender moment they had previously shared in the garden, she could not shake the feeling of dread she had on the back of her mind, almost as if something terrible was on the verge of happening on that very night. Trying to ignore it, she went back into the capital palace and made her way to the stairs, bracing herself for the long climb. But as she passed by a small office room, she heard suspicious laughter coming from inside, thing which prompted her to leave her path and check what was happening. And that was when she saw Rufu, the scourge who had haunted her nightmares, together with a salamander youkai dressed in a fancy purple uniform.
"The queen's orders are loud and clear, my friend!"
"What a surprising turn of events, don't you think, Sazansho?"
"Yes indeed, once Her Highness remains sole ruler, her influence upon the Senate will be absolute. And if that will be the case, it won't be long until she grants you full control over the military as well."
"But in order for this to happen, the plan must be executed tonight with perfect precision. I will soon be off to join our soldiers back on the battlefront. Once the gates of Purgatory are broken and Metatron is the last one standing, I will call for a retreat and argue with the other generals that we have had enough casualties and that king Akushishi would be able to handle Metatron all on his own. Then we can watch the two kill each other before we will be able to claim Purgatory's land as ours."
"Oh what a brilliant spectacle that will be! I am almost saddened I cannot participate. Alas, I have my own duties in the Senate. I need to turn the public opinion among our politicians in the queen's favor. Once that happens, easy times will await us! Aha-ahahahahaha!"
Nekohana gasped loudly upon hearing their treacherous ploy. Realizing that she had given away her location, she turned tail and ran towards the gardens. Although she could not fly, she would try screaming for Shishima. He needed to know of what was going on behind the scenes so he could protect his father. He needed to take action and prevent their coup d'état. He-
All of a sudden, a ball made of blue flame hit her from the back. Although she did not experience any physical burn, she could feel her magic powers seeping away from her body and her energy being drained away. Against her will, she collapsed on the rugged floor and looked behind. To her horror, both Sazansho and Rufu were staring her down, their glowing eyes betraying nothing but malice and glee.
"My, my, if it isn't the fairest Nekohana!"
"You know this dirty ruffian, Rufu?"
"But of course, her father is a loyal soldier of mine. He had promised her hand in marriage, but unfortunately prince Shishima had to interfere and take her away from me. Such a pity!"
"You want her? But she is a mere commoner! Worse still, her blood is mixed! A fine daiyoukai such as yourself deserves better. Why not go pick a mate from your vast harem?" a disgusted Sazansho reasoned.
"Mixed blood or not, you cannot deny that she is pretty and..." Rufu leaned down and took a deep whiff of Nekohana's flower mane, "...she smells gorgeous!"
"Even so, the prince probably touched her before you, I'm not sure you would really want-"
"The prince will become irrelevant in a matter of hours, Sazansho. Then she will be all mine!"
"She still eavesdropped on us, you know. If she reveals the queen's glorious ploy to anyone, our days could be numbered."
"Perhaps you're right. A little discipline won't hurt, just to put this little sneaky flower back in her place!"
What followed next was a long series of punches, scratches and kicks from the both of them. She could feel parts of her fur coming off, her skin swelling and even some of her bones cracking. During those long agonizing moments, even parts of her body which she thought had gone numb would once again rile up in pain. The heavy beating which they gave her should have been lethal, but by the time they were done with her, she was a bloody mess that could not stand up on her fours. Most importantly, she could barely moan, let alone speak.
"There, this should shut your mouth for now!" the wolf declared and placed his hands around his belt, ready to undress and savor the pleasures of her youthful body.
"Not now, Rufu! We've wasted enough time, you've got to return to Purgatory and I have to run upstairs to the Senate. You can do whatever you want to her after we've secured our future!" Sazansho scolded him and he ultimately relented, the two of them parting ways.
Little did they know, Nekohana still had enough power to crawl to the stairs. Fighting against that heavily inflicted physical pain was an utmost difficult battle, yet she pushed on. She had to reach the final level, she had to find Shishima, she had to warn him. The Twilight Kingdom was no longer their home, it was their prison. They needed to escape, they needed to live a peaceful live, they needed to become human. Her flute, she still had it hidden inside her flower mane. She would force her lungs in order to play those specific notes, bind them both to human bodies and free them of their race's corrupting tyranny. Despite the odds being stacked against her, she had to do it. For Shishima, for themselves. He was her dearest, a life without him would have meant nothing...
Nekohana shook her head violently and tried fighting back her tears as she ran down the stairs. After everything that happened, she no longer cared if Shishima would believe her or not. She had to find him and tell him the truth which she had kept hidden for over a thousand years. Even if he were to discover it through other means, it did not matter to her, for she could no longer stay silent. He had the right to know. And she wanted to be there to comfort him, it was the least she could do.