Turn 12.4 "The Heir Apparent."
Okunoin. Expanding outward from the mausoleum of the monk Kūkai at the temple upon Mount Kōya, it is said to be the largest graveyard in all of Japan.
While that may have been true before the war, I have no doubts that some of the mass graves of Japanese war dead have likely surpassed it. But even so, the ambience is breathtaking. Even walking amongst the shrines and burial markers, I feel like I'm in an otherworldly place.
Suzaku is feeling nervous. I hold his hand and smile gently. "Don't worry. Whatever you've done, you can make amends. And I'll be right beside you."
He nods, clutching my hand tight. It's understandable. By joining Britannia for years, he feels he has shamed his ancestors and people.
Of course, my other hand is being held captive by his cousin Kaguya. CC and Kallen are both following right beside us.
For once, CC is deadly serious. Which Kallen is kinda freaked out by.
Then again, it could just be the atmosphere. Okunoin is eerie enough by daylight. But on a night of a full moon?
After a short time, my lantern reveals we've reached our destination.
While Kaguya and I had gone to Honnō-ji alone, this time I wanted everyone possible here.
Only CC knows what I'm planning. Then again, I hadn't even known this grave still existed until she told me.
I bow deeply before the unassuming shrine. Oda Nobunaga. He who has claimed the title of 大六天魔王 (Dairokuten Maō = Demon King of the Sixth Heaven)
"Lulu, why are we here?" Kaguya looks calculatingly at me. "Surely you didn't bring us here just to look at a grave?"
I say nothing, only stepping forward. The moonlight shines down on me. Illuminating my pale features.
I slowly draw a folded fan from my sleeve. CC, meanwhile, has pulled out a tatami drum.
"思へばこの世は常の住み家にあらず" (In truth, this world is not always inhabited.)
I slowly begin to dance.
"草葉に置く白露、水に宿る月よりなほあやし" (Like glistening dew upon blades of grass, or the moon reflected on the water.)
My audience gapes at my performance. I'm not surprised. Any Japanese person with any knowledge of their own history and culture, knows this most famous verse of Atsumori.
"金谷に花を詠じ、榮花は先立つて無常の風に誘はるる" (Reciting the poetry of the Flower at Kanaya, all glory is left with the wind of impermanence.)
My voices echoes in the deathly silent forest, accompanied only by the steady beat of the drum.
"南楼の月を弄ぶ輩も 月に先立つて有為の雲にかくれり" (Those who play with the moon's southern tower, now lay hidden in the cloud of Saṅkhāra.)
I'm not usually one for such spirituality, however this is a special occasion. And a place like this deserves reverence.
I turn, advancing three steps, fan held out in front of me.
"人間五十年、化天のうちを比ぶれば、夢幻の如くなり" (A man's life is fifty years, yet compared to a life in Geten, it is naught but the illusion of a dream.)
CC looks nostalgic, lost in memories. I have no doubt it's been hundreds of years since she last witnessed this.
"一度生を享け、滅せぬもののあるべきか" (Living so brief a time, is there nothing that lasts forever?)
The world is impermanent, yes. That is why a man must create a legacy, something that will be remembered long after he has gone.
"これを菩提の種と思ひ定めざらんは、口惜しかりき次第ぞ" (Unless we take in this kernel of enlightenment, it is a most vexing truth indeed.)
I come gradually to a stop, then snap shut the fan as I lower myself to one knee in front of the gravestone.
"大六天魔王織田信長さま。我は貴官の名を継承する人である。よろしくお願いします。" (Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, Lord Nobunaga Oda. I am one who would inherit your name. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.)
CC moves to one knee next to me. "I, CC, last remaining vassal of Nobunaga Oda, my once and former contractor, have deemed this man worthy of your title. I ask you, my Lord Oda, watch over us from Naraka."
We both bow with our heads to the ground.
It had been my own idea to perform Atsumori before his grave, an act of knowledge and respect toward the man himself, before formally laying claim to his title.
Kyoto normally wouldn't have seen me until after Narita, however bloodying Cornelia's nose and my actions at Kawaguchi seemed to have struck a nerve, or perhaps a chord, with them.
I stand, feeling invigorated, and turn toward our gaping audience.
"I ask of you all, do you so witness this?"
Kaguya is the first to discern what I'm asking.
"I, Kaguya of house Sumeragi, witness this." She falls to one knee, her face rapturous.
Suzaku follows suit mere seconds later, also kneeling. "I, Suzaku of house Kururugi, witness this." His expression shone with affection.
Kallen, meanwhile, is still mostly in shock. She awkwardly kneels as well.
"I, Kallen Kouzuki of house Stadtfeld, witness whatever the hell this was."
I clap my hands three times. "大六天魔王万歳。" (All hail the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven,) I intone solemnly.
Then I pull everyone together into a group hug. "Thank you," I say quietly.
Kaguya is looking at me like it was Christmas morning. "If you had told me you were going to do THAT, I'd have brought a shakuhachi."
I kiss her forehead. "I appreciate it. But CC insisted she be the one to play."
CC sighs melancholically. "Ranmaru always played the shakuhachi. I haven't listened to Atsumori since before Honnō-ji."
Suzaku scratches the back of his head, "Um… Does anyone else feel weird that we just witnessed my Britannian boyfriend claim the title of Lord of Hell from the most infamous warlord in Japanese history, with the blessing of said warlord's last vassal, an immortal witch?"
Kallen sighs and puts her head into her hands. "My life used to make so much more sense before I met this guy..."
I sigh as I look at Kallen with a browbeaten expression, "Am I truly so vexing?"
"Yes, you smug, pretty boy bastard," she says with a frown.
Suzaku nods, "You really do go out of your way to drive people crazy."
CC giggles as she latches onto my left arm. "Why do you think I enjoy myself with him so much? He enjoys fucking with people just as much as I do," she says, planting a kiss on my cheek.
Not gonna lie, they have me dead to rights. I do love screwing with people.
Speaking of which? I check my phone messages.
[Target located. Contact time in the late evening best possible opening. Awaiting orders.]
Got ya. I smirk as I text back.
[Will conduct "interview" as soon as I return to Tokyo. Stand by.]
I start chuckling to myself. Only to be cut off by an elbow from CC.
"I thought I said to stop doing that all the time," she says with cross eyes.
I roll my eyes at her, "Oh, come on! I'm practically a super villain already, I should be able to do one evil laugh without being interrupted."
CC whispers in my ear, "Then do it when you're on the clock. As your partner, I reserve the right to stop you when I feel it's needed. And besides, someone has to deflate your swelled head."
I sigh as we walk down the path, "Yes, dear."
Upon hearing someone making a sound imitating a whip, I look back and see Suzu whistling innocently.
Smartass. I give him a flat look.
"Don't get too smug, stud. You're mine, too," CC says with a lecherous purr.
Suzaku gulps at that remark and looks to Kaguya for help, only to see her by CC's side with a beaming expression.
"Can you teach me how to manage our future husbands like that?"
CC starts laughing at that and kisses Kaguya's forehead.
"Certainly. Though just remember that I'm first wife," she says with her usual smirk.
I think I may have created a potential Death by Snu-snu situation...
Eh, fuck it. If I live long enough to die that way? I've likely beaten the odds and outlasted canon.
I start humming to myself as we walk down to our waiting transport.
Faster than a bullet
Terrifying scream
Enraged and full of anger
He's half man and half machine
The JLF's resources will be mine. And once the Chinese invasion is dealt with? We go underground and prepare. I want to take Japan in a blitzkrieg before anyone can react.
Rides the Metal Monster
Breathing smoke and fire
Closing in with vengeance soaring high
I smirk as I softly sing the next lyrics, "He is the Painkiller. This is the Painkiller."
Just a few things more, and then? Narita.
CC gives me an annoyed look, "Really? Why do you like that music so much?"
I raise an eyebrow at her in question. "Consider the type of music and what the lyrics are about, generally. Is it really so surprising that I would gravitate to heavy metal?"
She humphs and look away, "I don't hate it, but I don't really get the appeal."
She pokes me in the chest, "And I am never having sex with you while that music is on. Especially in the shower."
I grumble, "One time, one fucking time. You jumped in while I had my playlist on. Why is it my fault that you shrieked in my ear when the song startled you?"
She narrows her eyes at me,"I can easily kick you out of bed. And you still owe me for the scare, 'Lelucia'."
Kallen walks up, "Okay, what the hell? Why is Mrs. Smug Bastard angry at you?"
CC turns to the redhead with a smirk. I can already tell this is going to be funny. "Afraid I'm taking your role, Tsundere-chan?"
Kallen flips her off, "Hardly. I don't like him that much."
"Keep telling yourself that," I mutter.
I wince as Kallen smacks me in the back of the head.
"You may be my boss, but I'm still not joining your harem, you megalomaniac pervert."
I raise a finger to object, and then rub my chin in thought. "I mean, you're not wrong," I say with a shrug, "but why is that a bad thing?"
I pull out my phone and a pair of headphones and put on the song I was humming/singing. PAINKILLER, from the legendary Judas Priest album of the same name.
"In answer to your question, CC got surprised in a bad way when this came on while we were having sex in the shower. Here, take a listen."
Kallen's eyebrow twitches, "Why can't you keep your sex life to yourself?"
"Because Master Zero is very manly and he's trying to get you to join."
Thank you, Kaguya. That really, really helped, I think with my brow furrowed.
Suzaku smiles as he walks next to us, "Kallen, Lelouch is a man-whore with no sense of shame. Just stop baiting him. He enjoys messing with you."
Kallen's hand twitches as she puts the headphones on. This ought to be good.
Everyone stops to watch our resident Black Knight ace take her first taste of heavy metal.
At first, she's skeptical. But then...seeing as I know this song, I have a pretty good idea when the signature line hits.
And that's when it happens.
Her face goes into shock. Tears leak out as she starts smiling brightly.
"It's...it's..."
"Yeeees?" I say mockingly.
"It's so good!" she shrieks.
My grin reaches Cheshire cat levels.
"I never listened to this kind of music before...but..."
She turns to look at me with sparkling eyes.
"It speaks to something deep inside my soul, something I never knew was there, but now can't be ignored."
I blow on my nails in an affected manner, "I have a rather extensive collection that I will be happy to share," I say with a wink.
Whoa. That was quick. She's inches away from my face.
"I take back…" she scrunches her nose cutely as she thinks, "about one-quarter of all the nasty things I said and thought about you."
Mmm. Well, if this is an apology, I'll gladly accept.
Short kiss, but sweet. Pity it was just my cheek, but… Baby steps.
CC is bemused and saying nothing. She's thinking the exact same thing I am.
We are going to fuck Kallen so hard, her face will be as red as her hair. Just a matter of time.
Back to Tokyo, and hopefully the Guren and its mother. Q-1 is going be a wonderfully elegant murder-machine once she gets on the Red Lotus.
End of turn.
