FIVE
Aku was visibly startled to see someone whom he had left impaled to die in the middle of nowhere, but then his look of smug pleasure returned. "You have done well, my son. I forgive you your earlier incompetence. Have a confectionary treat."
"No, thank you!" Mad Jack said, and attacked, Jack falling in with him. Aku scrambled off the throne and ran for cover, disappearing behind one of the many identical flame-design screens that filled the cavernous room. Kiku leveled the folding assault rifle she had assembled and killed most of the minions who rushed to the defense of their master. The samurai killed the rest. Mad Jack hurried to lock the throne room doors from the inside.
Jack gave Kiku a hand down from the high throne. "How'd you get here?"
"I circled around the mountain, so you would not see me, and climbed, just as you did. I got here by climbing down a disused elevator shaft. It was very frightening. Then I played along with Aku and waited for you two to come. I thought you might need some help."
An indignant Mad Jack joined them. "Now I know why you never let me undo your obi! Kiku-san, how long have you had that rifle?"
"Remember the bounty hunters who were killed when Jack-san swerved up the cliff? I took it from one of them."
"And how'd you learn to use it so well?" Mad Jack demanded. "All I trained you on was a pistol, seeing as how I thought that was all we had!"
She sighed. "I lied to you, o-samurai. I am so sorry. At first I was not sure whether I should trust you, and after that, it was awkward to confess. Forgive me. Kozuke taught me to shoot. He was expert with all types of weapons."
"But why did you never tell us you had found the rifle?" Jack asked.
She looked at him as if he had asked an extremely silly question. "You were two samurai going to war. You would have wanted to take the rifle from me and use it yourselves."
Mad Jack plucked the rifle from her hand. "Give me that!"
"See?" she said to Jack.
"I'll give it back!" Mad Jack said, annoyed. "But right now, I need it. Here. Take this." He handed her one of his pistols and three clips. "Now, get over there in a corner where you can see the doors, that's probably the safest place, and keep out of the way. You shouldn't even be here! This is warriors' work."
"Yes, Kuro-Jack-san." Stepping over and around minions she had killed, Kiku headed for a corner.
"Aku!" Jack called. They waited. No response. He called again, louder. "AAAAAKUUUUUU!" Still no response. "Aku! You are trapped! Come out and die honorably."
Unexpectedly, he came out, in the shape of a black unicorn, charging with his head low to gut a samurai. Jack got in two good cuts. Hurt, Aku shrieked and changed to a black bear, then to a black tiger, then to a giant black ant with serrated, snapping jaws. As Mad Jack leaped aside from the deadly pincers, the ant shot out a side leg and snatched the rifle. Quickly transforming back into himself, Aku opened fire. The samurai scrambled for cover behind the throne. Carefully sighting her pistol, Kiku shot the rifle out of Aku's hands. Jack darted out, grabbed the rifle, and tossed it back to her. Then, before Aku had time to change yet again, the samurai charged him and leaped, each one cutting diagonally down through one of the shapeshifter's shoulders. Their two blades met in the heart of the demon. There was a bright flash and an explosion. Jack caught the worst of it. Time pleated.
When Jack came around, he was lying on his back against the wall, as if someone had carefully moved him out of the way. Whoever had done that had also laid his sword on top of him, pointing towards his feet, as if to make sure he'd find it, and even folded his hands neatly atop the hilt.
He needed the sword. Minion reinforcements had broken in. Still dazed, his head spinning, Jack took his sword in hand. He managed to stand by using the wall to push himself up, and prepared to sell his life as dearly as possible.
Sword in one hand, pistol in the other, Mad Jack leaped between Jack and the advancing minions. "Get back, get back! I promise you that if you harm this man you will die!"
The lawyer stepped up and helpfully caught Jack's arm, bracing him. Kiku stepped up to back the samurai with her rifle.
The minions hesitated. In the sudden stillness an angry squeaking was heard. Everybody looked down. Running around on the floor, waving its tiny arms and squeaking in rage, was a mouse-sized black creature with minute pinpoints of flame for eyebrows.
Kiku peered at it and said uncertainly, "Aku?"
He squeaked shrilly at her.
"I guess that's what he truly looks like." The lawyer shook her head. "How...how insignificant he really is."
At that, the angry squeaking doubled in speed and intensity.
"That little creature caused all that trouble!" Jack said in wonder.
Mad Jack raised his foot and brought it down hard. The squeaking ceased. Mad Jack ground the toe of his shoe into the floor. There was a crunching sound, as if he'd stepped on a big black bug. He pivoted with his leg stretched out waist-high, so the minions could see the messy bottom of his shoe. "There is your master!" he said scornfully. "Are you not proud to serve him? Will it not be an honor to die for him?"
They murmured uncertainly.
"Look here, folks," the lawyer said helpfully. "It's not like he even paid us on time. I think this is an excellent time to call it quits."
"Mind if we step outside and talk it over?" a minion said.
"Please do," Jack said quickly, wanting to avoid more death if possible.
The moment the minions had left the room Mad Jack turned on Kiku. "What are you doing here? Have you lost your mind?"
"I could not desert you and let you come to this awful place alone," she said.
"Did I ask for your help? Did Jack ask for your help?"
"I am sorry, Kuro-Jack-san."
"Don't ever do anything like that again!"
"Yes, Kuro-Jack-san."
"From now on, when a samurai tells you to do something, you do it!"
"Yes, Kuro-Jack-san."
"I ought to discipline you severely!"
"Yes, Kuro-Jack-san." She smiled at him.
"Don't look at me like that!"
"Sorry, Kuro-Jack-san."
He scuffed his messy shoe on the floor. "You're a very good shot."
"Thank you, Kuro-Jack-san," she said, smiling at him again. "So are you."
"Hmmph!" he said.
"Kuro-Jack-san? Jack-san hit his head quite hard. Hadn't someone ought to see to him?"
"Well, see to him, then," Mad Jack said.
Kiku helped Jack sit down on the floor. He gingerly probed the pigeon-egg-sized lump on the back of his head, and looked up at Mad Jack. "Thanks."
Mad Jack glared as fiercely as he had glared at Kiku. "I don't want or need your appreciation. You deserve a chance to die fighting, that's all. You earned it. Your time portal should be around here somewhere. I'm going to go look for it so we can be rid of you." He walked away.
"What is your name?" Kiku asked.
"Jack."
"Where are you?"
"In the Pit of Hate."
"What day is it?"
That was a good question. "When we started down here it was Tuesday morning...I should think it's very late Tuesday night, or maybe the small hours of Wednesday morning?"
"Close enough." Kiku held up her finger, circling it slowly. "Follow my finger." She watched him watching her finger move back and forth before his face. "Close your eyes and touch your nose." He did. "Jack-san, you have a very hard head."
The lawyer walked up, high heels clicking, and handed him a cold towel.
"Thank you." He held it to the back of his head. "What time is it, anyway?"
"Twenty after seven Tuesday evening," the lawyer said.
"Is that all?" Jack said, surprised; he felt as if he'd been down in the Pit for a week.
The minions came back in, and Mad Jack hurried back over, resuming his defensive position. The minion who seemed to have appointed himself spokesman said, "Well, we don't see much point in defending Aku any more, but, well, what will we do now?"
"I have an idea about that." Jack stood up. He was still a little wobbly but feeling better by the moment. "This land has been in Aku's grip for generations. Perhaps centuries. Evil and corruption are endemic. Someone must root out the old, corrupt, wicked administrators and replace them with new, honest ones. So if you are willing to conduct yourselves honestly, you can, in effect, all be promoted. Are you willing to be honest?"
"Well, it sounds like a funny way to get a promotion, but we could try it," the spokesman said thoughtfully. "It'd be an interesting change, anyway. Who's going to promote us now that Aku's not around to do it Who's going to be in charge?"
"What will be needed," Jack said, "is a strong central authority. Someone wise, just, incorruptible, even-tempered, slow to wrath--"
Mad Jack was nodding. "Yes. I'll take over."
"Actually, I was thinking of Kiku-san," Jack said. Mad Jack bridled, and Jack went on smoothly, "If she becomes queen she will, of course, need a general to back up her authority with force. Someone strong, able to lead, and most important, not afraid to fight. The corrupt ones will resist the change. Especially at first, I expect a great deal of fighting."
Mad Jack perked up markedly at that prospect. "I'll do it!"
Jack turned to Kiku. "Kiku-san, would you be willing to become queen to help these people straighten themselves out?"
She thought it over. "I'm willing to help in any way I can, but I think being queen would be a time-consuming task. I may need some help after the baby arrives."
"Baby?" Mad Jack bleated, nearly dropping his sword. "You're pregnant? How'd that happen?" The others looked at him. "Well, I know how it happens, but--but--well--Kiku-san, I must say, this is very poor timing!"
She smiled at him.
He sighed. "We'll manage."
"General." Jack gestured at the re-employed minions. "Meet your first troops."
Rather stiffly, Mad Jack bowed to them. A minion in the back called out "Howdy!" Mad Jack's eyebrow rose, but for once he kept quiet.
"It's all very well to make Kuro-Jack-san the general," Kiku said, moving on with her usual efficiency. "He's strong and brave, that's what's needed, that settles it. But becoming a queen is rather more complicated. So far as I know, I have no royalty in my background."
"My father's the shogun. I believe that qualifies me to crown the heads of vassal states?" Jack glanced at the lawyer for confirmation. She nodded. "Kiku-san, if you don't mind being called a vassal state, to satisfy the legal requirements..."
"Not at all," Kiku said.
"I, Tokugawa Toshiro son of the shogun Tokugawa Akira, do hereby decree that you, Kiku-sama, are the ruler of all lands previously held by Aku." Jack turned to the minions. "Salute your queen!"
For a moment they all looked blank. Then Mad Jack, the new general, sank into a formal bow. He didn't do it very well, he'd have been laughed out of the shogun's court, maybe even a provincial daimyo's court, but given that it was probably the first civilized gesture he'd ever tried to make, Jack thought that even the attempt showed tremendous progress. The minions followed Mad Jack's lead, kowtowing even more awkwardly, but making a good, honest effort. Jack bowed respectfully to the entire group, and then to the new queen.
"Oh, my." Kiku looked at all the people kowtowing before her, and glanced at the experienced prince beside her, as if to say, Now what do I do?
"Acknowledge them, so they can get up," Jack whispered, "and then have that lawyer start drawing up papers to make them all commissioned soldiers of the queen. Nice and official. Make them feel important."
Kiku followed the suggestion. The lawyer sat down at a side table and began to work, and the new troops clustered around to watch.
"Kiku-sama," Jack said, "I believe you can take it from here. I'm going to go look for the time portal. Aku must have it hidden around here somewhere."
"We'll find it." She blinked rapidly. "I am happy for you, Jack-sama, I am glad you will be able to go home, but I will miss you."
"I'll miss you too." He glanced at Mad Jack, who was reading over the lawyer's shoulder as she worked, and cautioned, "Don't let him push you around."
"Oh, he's really no trouble. Not nearly as much trouble as he'd like to be." Kiku smiled. "You just have to know how to handle him."
"Soldiers!" Jack called. "Has anyone seen a gateway to the past around here?"
"I can take you right to it," said the ex-minion who had called "Howdy!" earlier. "I'm the one who always had to shovel the dinosaur poop out of it. Follow me."
As he passed Mad Jack on the way out, Jack bowed. "Without your help, I would not now be leaving. Arigato gozaimashita."
"You needn't thank me, it was well worth it to be rid of you at last!" Mad Jack's red eyes darted around, to make sure nobody was eavesdropping, and then he leaned forward and whispered, "Take care of yourself."
Jack bowed a final farewell, and followed the soldier out and down the hall to an unmarked door. The soldier opened it, and there, swirling and humming quietly, was the gate of Time. Jack stepped through.
He arrived home on a sunny summer day in exactly the spot from which he'd left, but where the entrance to the Pit had been there was now a manicured lawn. Before him was a tall, four-sided monument with writing on the three sides he could see. The writing on the side facing him said ON THIS SPOT THE HEROIC PRINCE TOKUGAWA TOSHIRO BRAVELY GAVE HIS LIFE TO SAVE THE WORLD FROM THE GREATEST EVIL EVER KNOWN.
The heroic prince, who as far as he could tell was very much alive, was puzzled for a moment, and then he understood. Of course. When Aku died, everything had been restored to normal except Toshiro himself, because he hadn't been here to be restored. He had still been in the future. He had been the one missing piece.
A middle-aged samurai couple walked up, glancing in annoyance at the ronin who had no more respect than to appear at the dead hero's monument in such a battered, ragged, filthy condition. Their evident disgust increased when the ronin let out a satisfied sigh and smiled broadly. The husband looked as if he might be going to say something to the impudent vagabond, but then the wife plucked his sleeve and said, "Not now, Yuki-chan. The sad lady has come. Let her pray in peace."
The monument blocked Toshiro's view of the sad lady, but he heard her clap to get the attention of the gods.
The wife lowered her voice. "Poor thing, she's here every day. Sometimes she stays and prays for hours. Let's let her have it to herself."
With a hard glare at the disreputable ronin, Yuki suffered himself to be led away. Letting the lady have the monument to herself sounded like a good idea to Toshiro. He was ready to walk home and let everyone know that the embarrassingly fulsome legend on the monument would have to be reworded (and, he hoped, toned down considerably). As he started to walk away, behind him he heard the sad lady began to cry; he jumped, swung around, and hurried around the monument. "Hiroko!"
Astonished, she stopped crying. "Toshiro! You are alive!" She began to cry again, and to laugh, and she grabbed him and kissed him right in front of the gods and the world. He didn't mind. She began to pat and touch him all over, as if to assure herself that he were solid and real, and he didn't mind that either, he had waited a long time for her touch, though he flinched a little when her fingers brushed the sore back of his head.
"You're hurt!" she exclaimed. "Here, sit down. I will fetch a doctor right away!"
"No, no, it's only a small bump," he said, and truly his headache was much better. "Don't go away just yet."
Heedless of his filthy condition, she clung to him.
"Hiroko-chan, how long have I been gone?"
"Four years, two months, twelve days, five hours." She clung even tighter. "When you went to fight the demon, and you did not come back, and we found no sign of you, everyone thought you must have been killed." She looked up at him. There was a smear of greasy dirt on her cheek where she had pressed her face against his chest. "Everyone else thought that. In my heart I knew you were not dead, my love. What I feared was that Aku had captured you and was holding you in torment somewhere. Every day I have prayed for your safe return.
"Toshiro-chan, what did happen?"
"Many strange things. One hardly knows where to begin."
"I won't keep you standing here to explain it now. You must be so tired." Reluctantly, Hiroko let him go. "Go home; let everyone know you are alive. Go quickly. I'll catch up. We have all the time in the world now."
He started away, glancing back once. Smiling, Hiroko waved him on in an encouraging fashion.
He began to run.
END
Aku was visibly startled to see someone whom he had left impaled to die in the middle of nowhere, but then his look of smug pleasure returned. "You have done well, my son. I forgive you your earlier incompetence. Have a confectionary treat."
"No, thank you!" Mad Jack said, and attacked, Jack falling in with him. Aku scrambled off the throne and ran for cover, disappearing behind one of the many identical flame-design screens that filled the cavernous room. Kiku leveled the folding assault rifle she had assembled and killed most of the minions who rushed to the defense of their master. The samurai killed the rest. Mad Jack hurried to lock the throne room doors from the inside.
Jack gave Kiku a hand down from the high throne. "How'd you get here?"
"I circled around the mountain, so you would not see me, and climbed, just as you did. I got here by climbing down a disused elevator shaft. It was very frightening. Then I played along with Aku and waited for you two to come. I thought you might need some help."
An indignant Mad Jack joined them. "Now I know why you never let me undo your obi! Kiku-san, how long have you had that rifle?"
"Remember the bounty hunters who were killed when Jack-san swerved up the cliff? I took it from one of them."
"And how'd you learn to use it so well?" Mad Jack demanded. "All I trained you on was a pistol, seeing as how I thought that was all we had!"
She sighed. "I lied to you, o-samurai. I am so sorry. At first I was not sure whether I should trust you, and after that, it was awkward to confess. Forgive me. Kozuke taught me to shoot. He was expert with all types of weapons."
"But why did you never tell us you had found the rifle?" Jack asked.
She looked at him as if he had asked an extremely silly question. "You were two samurai going to war. You would have wanted to take the rifle from me and use it yourselves."
Mad Jack plucked the rifle from her hand. "Give me that!"
"See?" she said to Jack.
"I'll give it back!" Mad Jack said, annoyed. "But right now, I need it. Here. Take this." He handed her one of his pistols and three clips. "Now, get over there in a corner where you can see the doors, that's probably the safest place, and keep out of the way. You shouldn't even be here! This is warriors' work."
"Yes, Kuro-Jack-san." Stepping over and around minions she had killed, Kiku headed for a corner.
"Aku!" Jack called. They waited. No response. He called again, louder. "AAAAAKUUUUUU!" Still no response. "Aku! You are trapped! Come out and die honorably."
Unexpectedly, he came out, in the shape of a black unicorn, charging with his head low to gut a samurai. Jack got in two good cuts. Hurt, Aku shrieked and changed to a black bear, then to a black tiger, then to a giant black ant with serrated, snapping jaws. As Mad Jack leaped aside from the deadly pincers, the ant shot out a side leg and snatched the rifle. Quickly transforming back into himself, Aku opened fire. The samurai scrambled for cover behind the throne. Carefully sighting her pistol, Kiku shot the rifle out of Aku's hands. Jack darted out, grabbed the rifle, and tossed it back to her. Then, before Aku had time to change yet again, the samurai charged him and leaped, each one cutting diagonally down through one of the shapeshifter's shoulders. Their two blades met in the heart of the demon. There was a bright flash and an explosion. Jack caught the worst of it. Time pleated.
When Jack came around, he was lying on his back against the wall, as if someone had carefully moved him out of the way. Whoever had done that had also laid his sword on top of him, pointing towards his feet, as if to make sure he'd find it, and even folded his hands neatly atop the hilt.
He needed the sword. Minion reinforcements had broken in. Still dazed, his head spinning, Jack took his sword in hand. He managed to stand by using the wall to push himself up, and prepared to sell his life as dearly as possible.
Sword in one hand, pistol in the other, Mad Jack leaped between Jack and the advancing minions. "Get back, get back! I promise you that if you harm this man you will die!"
The lawyer stepped up and helpfully caught Jack's arm, bracing him. Kiku stepped up to back the samurai with her rifle.
The minions hesitated. In the sudden stillness an angry squeaking was heard. Everybody looked down. Running around on the floor, waving its tiny arms and squeaking in rage, was a mouse-sized black creature with minute pinpoints of flame for eyebrows.
Kiku peered at it and said uncertainly, "Aku?"
He squeaked shrilly at her.
"I guess that's what he truly looks like." The lawyer shook her head. "How...how insignificant he really is."
At that, the angry squeaking doubled in speed and intensity.
"That little creature caused all that trouble!" Jack said in wonder.
Mad Jack raised his foot and brought it down hard. The squeaking ceased. Mad Jack ground the toe of his shoe into the floor. There was a crunching sound, as if he'd stepped on a big black bug. He pivoted with his leg stretched out waist-high, so the minions could see the messy bottom of his shoe. "There is your master!" he said scornfully. "Are you not proud to serve him? Will it not be an honor to die for him?"
They murmured uncertainly.
"Look here, folks," the lawyer said helpfully. "It's not like he even paid us on time. I think this is an excellent time to call it quits."
"Mind if we step outside and talk it over?" a minion said.
"Please do," Jack said quickly, wanting to avoid more death if possible.
The moment the minions had left the room Mad Jack turned on Kiku. "What are you doing here? Have you lost your mind?"
"I could not desert you and let you come to this awful place alone," she said.
"Did I ask for your help? Did Jack ask for your help?"
"I am sorry, Kuro-Jack-san."
"Don't ever do anything like that again!"
"Yes, Kuro-Jack-san."
"From now on, when a samurai tells you to do something, you do it!"
"Yes, Kuro-Jack-san."
"I ought to discipline you severely!"
"Yes, Kuro-Jack-san." She smiled at him.
"Don't look at me like that!"
"Sorry, Kuro-Jack-san."
He scuffed his messy shoe on the floor. "You're a very good shot."
"Thank you, Kuro-Jack-san," she said, smiling at him again. "So are you."
"Hmmph!" he said.
"Kuro-Jack-san? Jack-san hit his head quite hard. Hadn't someone ought to see to him?"
"Well, see to him, then," Mad Jack said.
Kiku helped Jack sit down on the floor. He gingerly probed the pigeon-egg-sized lump on the back of his head, and looked up at Mad Jack. "Thanks."
Mad Jack glared as fiercely as he had glared at Kiku. "I don't want or need your appreciation. You deserve a chance to die fighting, that's all. You earned it. Your time portal should be around here somewhere. I'm going to go look for it so we can be rid of you." He walked away.
"What is your name?" Kiku asked.
"Jack."
"Where are you?"
"In the Pit of Hate."
"What day is it?"
That was a good question. "When we started down here it was Tuesday morning...I should think it's very late Tuesday night, or maybe the small hours of Wednesday morning?"
"Close enough." Kiku held up her finger, circling it slowly. "Follow my finger." She watched him watching her finger move back and forth before his face. "Close your eyes and touch your nose." He did. "Jack-san, you have a very hard head."
The lawyer walked up, high heels clicking, and handed him a cold towel.
"Thank you." He held it to the back of his head. "What time is it, anyway?"
"Twenty after seven Tuesday evening," the lawyer said.
"Is that all?" Jack said, surprised; he felt as if he'd been down in the Pit for a week.
The minions came back in, and Mad Jack hurried back over, resuming his defensive position. The minion who seemed to have appointed himself spokesman said, "Well, we don't see much point in defending Aku any more, but, well, what will we do now?"
"I have an idea about that." Jack stood up. He was still a little wobbly but feeling better by the moment. "This land has been in Aku's grip for generations. Perhaps centuries. Evil and corruption are endemic. Someone must root out the old, corrupt, wicked administrators and replace them with new, honest ones. So if you are willing to conduct yourselves honestly, you can, in effect, all be promoted. Are you willing to be honest?"
"Well, it sounds like a funny way to get a promotion, but we could try it," the spokesman said thoughtfully. "It'd be an interesting change, anyway. Who's going to promote us now that Aku's not around to do it Who's going to be in charge?"
"What will be needed," Jack said, "is a strong central authority. Someone wise, just, incorruptible, even-tempered, slow to wrath--"
Mad Jack was nodding. "Yes. I'll take over."
"Actually, I was thinking of Kiku-san," Jack said. Mad Jack bridled, and Jack went on smoothly, "If she becomes queen she will, of course, need a general to back up her authority with force. Someone strong, able to lead, and most important, not afraid to fight. The corrupt ones will resist the change. Especially at first, I expect a great deal of fighting."
Mad Jack perked up markedly at that prospect. "I'll do it!"
Jack turned to Kiku. "Kiku-san, would you be willing to become queen to help these people straighten themselves out?"
She thought it over. "I'm willing to help in any way I can, but I think being queen would be a time-consuming task. I may need some help after the baby arrives."
"Baby?" Mad Jack bleated, nearly dropping his sword. "You're pregnant? How'd that happen?" The others looked at him. "Well, I know how it happens, but--but--well--Kiku-san, I must say, this is very poor timing!"
She smiled at him.
He sighed. "We'll manage."
"General." Jack gestured at the re-employed minions. "Meet your first troops."
Rather stiffly, Mad Jack bowed to them. A minion in the back called out "Howdy!" Mad Jack's eyebrow rose, but for once he kept quiet.
"It's all very well to make Kuro-Jack-san the general," Kiku said, moving on with her usual efficiency. "He's strong and brave, that's what's needed, that settles it. But becoming a queen is rather more complicated. So far as I know, I have no royalty in my background."
"My father's the shogun. I believe that qualifies me to crown the heads of vassal states?" Jack glanced at the lawyer for confirmation. She nodded. "Kiku-san, if you don't mind being called a vassal state, to satisfy the legal requirements..."
"Not at all," Kiku said.
"I, Tokugawa Toshiro son of the shogun Tokugawa Akira, do hereby decree that you, Kiku-sama, are the ruler of all lands previously held by Aku." Jack turned to the minions. "Salute your queen!"
For a moment they all looked blank. Then Mad Jack, the new general, sank into a formal bow. He didn't do it very well, he'd have been laughed out of the shogun's court, maybe even a provincial daimyo's court, but given that it was probably the first civilized gesture he'd ever tried to make, Jack thought that even the attempt showed tremendous progress. The minions followed Mad Jack's lead, kowtowing even more awkwardly, but making a good, honest effort. Jack bowed respectfully to the entire group, and then to the new queen.
"Oh, my." Kiku looked at all the people kowtowing before her, and glanced at the experienced prince beside her, as if to say, Now what do I do?
"Acknowledge them, so they can get up," Jack whispered, "and then have that lawyer start drawing up papers to make them all commissioned soldiers of the queen. Nice and official. Make them feel important."
Kiku followed the suggestion. The lawyer sat down at a side table and began to work, and the new troops clustered around to watch.
"Kiku-sama," Jack said, "I believe you can take it from here. I'm going to go look for the time portal. Aku must have it hidden around here somewhere."
"We'll find it." She blinked rapidly. "I am happy for you, Jack-sama, I am glad you will be able to go home, but I will miss you."
"I'll miss you too." He glanced at Mad Jack, who was reading over the lawyer's shoulder as she worked, and cautioned, "Don't let him push you around."
"Oh, he's really no trouble. Not nearly as much trouble as he'd like to be." Kiku smiled. "You just have to know how to handle him."
"Soldiers!" Jack called. "Has anyone seen a gateway to the past around here?"
"I can take you right to it," said the ex-minion who had called "Howdy!" earlier. "I'm the one who always had to shovel the dinosaur poop out of it. Follow me."
As he passed Mad Jack on the way out, Jack bowed. "Without your help, I would not now be leaving. Arigato gozaimashita."
"You needn't thank me, it was well worth it to be rid of you at last!" Mad Jack's red eyes darted around, to make sure nobody was eavesdropping, and then he leaned forward and whispered, "Take care of yourself."
Jack bowed a final farewell, and followed the soldier out and down the hall to an unmarked door. The soldier opened it, and there, swirling and humming quietly, was the gate of Time. Jack stepped through.
He arrived home on a sunny summer day in exactly the spot from which he'd left, but where the entrance to the Pit had been there was now a manicured lawn. Before him was a tall, four-sided monument with writing on the three sides he could see. The writing on the side facing him said ON THIS SPOT THE HEROIC PRINCE TOKUGAWA TOSHIRO BRAVELY GAVE HIS LIFE TO SAVE THE WORLD FROM THE GREATEST EVIL EVER KNOWN.
The heroic prince, who as far as he could tell was very much alive, was puzzled for a moment, and then he understood. Of course. When Aku died, everything had been restored to normal except Toshiro himself, because he hadn't been here to be restored. He had still been in the future. He had been the one missing piece.
A middle-aged samurai couple walked up, glancing in annoyance at the ronin who had no more respect than to appear at the dead hero's monument in such a battered, ragged, filthy condition. Their evident disgust increased when the ronin let out a satisfied sigh and smiled broadly. The husband looked as if he might be going to say something to the impudent vagabond, but then the wife plucked his sleeve and said, "Not now, Yuki-chan. The sad lady has come. Let her pray in peace."
The monument blocked Toshiro's view of the sad lady, but he heard her clap to get the attention of the gods.
The wife lowered her voice. "Poor thing, she's here every day. Sometimes she stays and prays for hours. Let's let her have it to herself."
With a hard glare at the disreputable ronin, Yuki suffered himself to be led away. Letting the lady have the monument to herself sounded like a good idea to Toshiro. He was ready to walk home and let everyone know that the embarrassingly fulsome legend on the monument would have to be reworded (and, he hoped, toned down considerably). As he started to walk away, behind him he heard the sad lady began to cry; he jumped, swung around, and hurried around the monument. "Hiroko!"
Astonished, she stopped crying. "Toshiro! You are alive!" She began to cry again, and to laugh, and she grabbed him and kissed him right in front of the gods and the world. He didn't mind. She began to pat and touch him all over, as if to assure herself that he were solid and real, and he didn't mind that either, he had waited a long time for her touch, though he flinched a little when her fingers brushed the sore back of his head.
"You're hurt!" she exclaimed. "Here, sit down. I will fetch a doctor right away!"
"No, no, it's only a small bump," he said, and truly his headache was much better. "Don't go away just yet."
Heedless of his filthy condition, she clung to him.
"Hiroko-chan, how long have I been gone?"
"Four years, two months, twelve days, five hours." She clung even tighter. "When you went to fight the demon, and you did not come back, and we found no sign of you, everyone thought you must have been killed." She looked up at him. There was a smear of greasy dirt on her cheek where she had pressed her face against his chest. "Everyone else thought that. In my heart I knew you were not dead, my love. What I feared was that Aku had captured you and was holding you in torment somewhere. Every day I have prayed for your safe return.
"Toshiro-chan, what did happen?"
"Many strange things. One hardly knows where to begin."
"I won't keep you standing here to explain it now. You must be so tired." Reluctantly, Hiroko let him go. "Go home; let everyone know you are alive. Go quickly. I'll catch up. We have all the time in the world now."
He started away, glancing back once. Smiling, Hiroko waved him on in an encouraging fashion.
He began to run.
END