At last, the final part has begun! It's mostly fluff, smut, and the epilogues remaining, so look forward to them! It's been a pleasure to write this story in preparation for HV-S01: RKR's rewrite, since that one will be greatly influenced by the style I've settled on with HV-S03: SI.

Despite my love for everything smut, it turns out wedding scenes are rapidly becoming my favourite to plan out and write. I caught the bug when designing Atalanta's wedding dress in HV-S02: QGF, and it continues on with this chapter. If there's any unclear parts, you're welcome to either Google the keywords you find difficult or write me a review below. Yes, yes, I know I promised you smut in this chapter, but those 4 (yes, four) sex-filled chapters should be coming up next as part of the brides' and groom's bridal nights (it's obviously not their 'first nights', since they've... fucked aplenty).

"I can see the future," Nobunaga declared. "This must be what you're feeling all the time, Himiko-chan. It feels great!"

The Empress shook her head. "Not if you're feeling it all the time. Then, it becomes bland – and after that: burdensome. But your enthusiasm is very welcome."

"Hopefully I can receive some of that positive feeling, you two, because I'm not feeling well right now," Tomoe grumbled. "Great Ancestor forcibly kidnapped and brought me all the way to meet you all… and my assistance wasn't even necessary. I sincerely hope you don't waste any more time; I have to return to my lord soon, since he's far from experienced."

The white-haired oni's tone was shockingly cold and firm, certainly not one somebody should use when addressing the current empress and Nihon's soon-to-be top general. There were whispers she'd replace Yoshimoto as shogun after the airheaded girl's term was over, but Nobunaga truthfully preferred the freedom being a Princess General gave her. Obviously, no point in announcing anything now when the empire's largest-scale battle of late had just concluded.

The women were sailing on the prototype battleship, captained by Kazumasu as usual. Himiko's twin decided to make herself scarce since they didn't really get along, choosing to be perfectly and distantly professional in public. The vessel had maintained only the bare minimum of sailors to operate it, the rest being sent to capture and control any surviving Mōri ships to ferry around the captives. They're not necessarily going to be treated how Nobunaga wanted them to because this was, unofficial as it was, a joint effort between her and the Minamoto Clan. Himiko's participation in the battle was still unannounced, but people would talk eventually across the next few years.

"I'm thinking of expanding northwards, Tomoe-san," Nobunaga admitted. "Initially with Chiyome and Danzō's men to gather information, because I heard there was a Divine Texture going rampant over there?"

"It's not that bad… yet," Tomoe detailed. "If left unchecked, Ashina will destroy itself, and Nihon would lose an entire prefecture once again."

'Divine Texture' was similar to Yōkai Realm, though obviously much stronger and covering a much larger area. However, despite the gaudy name, its effect usually was no less negative, because it's technically an uncontrolled and unconsented invasion of a Reverse Side Texture into the Outer World.

And the reason for Tomoe's worry was staring at them from across the waters.

The main actors of the battle decided to rest on a cruise along Nihon's western coast, moving partially northwards. This was to drop Tomoe off her current residence while taking a proper look at the isolated lands of Ashina… but also to observe Goryeo once they crossed that particular latitude. Himiko's and Muramasa's concerns of its natural coastal defences meant no amount of information would be wasteful. The Minamoto Clan's research teams were busy redesigning their naval vessels to conquer the hidden underwater sandy banks stopping all invaders from the east and south – much the same way Nihon was protected by kamaitachi against those from the west in the end of the Heian Period.

The upcoming invasion of Goryeo was pushed up the priority list due to the information Tomoe had sent to Himiko a few months earlier, which inadvertently – and to her annoyance – revealed her location to Shuten-dōji who used it to drag her out and… be a spectator on how powerful the current generation of Minamoto leaders was. She'd prefer to spend more time observing her lord's evolution in this era of turmoil, as well as researching how to turn the changes happening in Ashina for the Imperial Family's advantage.

Goryeo's Dragon Heritage had landed and was nesting in Ashina.

A good comparison to this event was Britain's similar loss almost a millennium ago. Detail-wise, of course they're different – the Pendragon lineage took a while to find a good place to settle down after being driven out of the very same empire they established, while this one happened so fast Goryeo was still in chaos behind the scenes right now. However, because of the speed and suddenness, the Divine Texture of that Dragon's Heritage was aggressively and uncontrollably encroaching on the previously-set Reverse Side-Outside World boundaries, as it came far after the human-yōkai pact was signed.

At the moment, it's still relatively contained, a combination of the weakening such sudden displacement caused to oneself along with Nihon's naturally resistive force towards foreign invading Textures. However, Himiko wasn't planning on annihilating it like she did with the Nanban force, but use it. It's best if she could assimilate the Dragon's Heritage power into Nihon's own – which was rich in its own draconic history anyway – and not having to deal with any annoying personality trait which a ruler must consider when employing foreign forces. Feria: The Darkest Lighten

She must've foreseen their chance of success, because she greenlighted Tomoe's guidance for her lord, instead of sending her to level the whole place and let the Minamoto Clan claim every ounce of Mystery Ashina had, much like how it absorbed its rivals back in the Heian Period.

'So much work to do,' she lamented, right after John Dee's Demon Pillar form fell.

Of course, she wasn't talking about corpse clean-up, because the opponents caught in front of her, Muramasa, Chiyome, Danzō, and Shuten-dōji wouldn't leave any trace behind. The higher concentration of Mystery also meant faster natural reconstruction of the landscape, leaving the menial tasksFeria: The Darkest Light and reparation easier for the losing party to shoulder instead of forcing Himiko to hand out several economical loans to lighten them.

She's merely referring to how long 'Tenka Fubu' still was, even after this monumental achievement by Nobunaga. It's still too soon to reveal to the redhead the extent Himiko was going to use her to the fullest – to rebuild Yamatai beyond the reach of its golden age – so she'd keep it to herself and her brother.

Nobunaga, meanwhile, had another task to tick during this cruise up north… which she had been dreading and feeling extremely embarrassed to do: sign a treaty with the Date Clan, who'd long reigned supreme in Honshu's northern reaches and controlled the trade between Hokkaido and the southern islands. Territory-wise, they're not extremely large, unlike the Takeda and Mōri who owned disgustingly expansive lands, but they were undoubtedly one of Nihon's domestic economic power.

…and the fact the entire crew of this ship, sparsely-manned as it was, would tease her about her relationship with Masamune. Not even her soon-to-be husband was immune from this bullying temptation! Seriously, what bastards they were!

She heard the Date contingent – mainly just Louíse and Masamune – had been meeting with Mitsuhide a few times while they were fighting the Mōri, so most of the larger points had been addressed and agreed upon. She was surprised there was little-to-no resistance from the elders who shunned the smaller blonde as a kid, so she guessed there must be some behind-the-scene development she's unaware of.

Well, if the end result was positive, then she wouldn't complain.

'I wonder how much Bontenmaru's changed…?' She pondered, before catching herself and blushing fiercely, shaking her head furiously as a result and bewildering Himiko, who's standing beside her.

"Don't worry about her; she's just having a mental affair with another woman," Nobunaga heard Muramasa explain softly to Tomoe, who clapped her hands in understanding. "It's hard being her partner, Tomoe-sama."

"I understand your feeling, young Muramasa," the white-haired oni nodded sagely, folding her arms together. "Be strong. Believe in her heart, which has you as her number one."

"WILL THE TWO OF YOU CUT IT OUT!"

The entire battleship seemed to laughed together at her outburst, her face as red as her hair.

"So it's finally over, huh."

Chiyome laid her head lazily on her husband's thigh, while Danzō occupied one of his arms, sandwiching it between her bountiful breasts. The smaller kunoichi was the one who uttered that rhetorical question, and while there was certainly contentment behind her words, her tone was inexplicably listless.

The larger kunoichi immediately replied, "Yes. Yes, it is. I shall not say 'for now', because indeed, the hardest obstacle has been overcome. Is that not right, my lord?"

"I am much more of a worrywart than the two of you; you know that," he interjected, trying to avoid taking a side in this argument by presenting himself as the extremist whose opinion had to be excluded. "This is just one small step among countless more in the future… But yes, it's very important we've taken it in the first place."

"Indeed, you and Kippōshi-san are the same," Chiyome chuckled, turning around and nuzzling her face into his stomach. They're lounging at the battleship's tallest point, above the command gallery, watching the sun set behind Goryeo's mountainous silhouette across the ocean. "She also hasn't stopped working – not even to enjoy one drink! Shirō, we have to drag her to supper one of these days."

"Maybe I can catch something. I heard deep line fishing guarantees the best results if done on a large vessel like this," he suggested. "The wake is so tremendous it disorients the fishes unused to our presence, and thus become easier to fish."

"Can you make that 'head-to-tail' banquet you did a few months' back?" Danzō inquired, thinking of one particular experimental night the girls enjoyed. "I love munching on the fried bones…"

"You and your release of inhibitions…" Chiyome sighed, clearly holding back laughter. "I can imagine the look on Kōtarō-kun's face when he sees you gorging down while ignoring all the table manners you've taught him."

Danzō frowned. "This is such a beautiful moment. Why do you have to bring him up? He is of no consequence, and will forever be an unwelcome distraction if he stagnates like this."

"Don't be too hard on him. I think eating your fist one more time will be the death of him," Muramasa gently admonished. "I think I should set up the trawling line, so… Ladies, can you let me go?"

""No.""

"…understood." As dense as he was sometimes, even he's not that stupid. Two against one? That's a bad odds.

- Munyu.

Another pair of voluptuous breasts pressed against his back, the red curtain immediately covering all three's vision telling them outright who this interloper was.

Of course, Nobunaga was always welcome.

"I'm beat…" In contrast to her playful demeanour, her complaint was filled with nothing but exhaustion. Her body was merely limp – the actual reason why she chose to just crush her own against the three instead of finding a good place to cuddle. "Himiko is such a handful, Shirō… Help me deal with that sister of yours!"

"Ahahaha…" he chuckled, before pointing out, "Isn't it the fact she's emboldened around family members? She's not that bad usually."

"G-Guh… You may be right…" she sighed.

He did have a point. A combination of being close to Kazumasu, her twin, made Himiko rather uneasy even disregarding their chilly relationship. The pair's innate powers actually interfered with each other, weakening the clarity of their respective reading and, at times of heightened emotional state, actually made them physically unwell. Additionally, Tomoe had been particularly active in today's meeting – which Muramasa skilfully escaped from for this impromptu date – and brought it to a tempo Himiko liked, which was fast, intense, and to-the-point. Shuten-dōji snuck in-and-out, careful not to let her playful nature derail the meeting too much, and focused on controlling the mood.

Surrounded by Minamoto Clan higher-ups, no wonder Nobunaga felt pressured and rather out of place. She's used to be the centre of attention and the person whose voice everyone faithfully gave time and space to listen to – even among Muramasa's lovers – so being 'just' another participant was something novel to her… especially because it's her dream they're using as a main topic.

She began sulking after placing her chin on his vacant shoulder. "I mean… feeling left out even though it's my idea in the first place… How can they keep secrets like that while having conversations nonstop? My head couldn't keep up."

"The world is a wide place," Chiyome acknowledged, her voice mildly muffled because she insisted on not moving her face away from Muramasa's stomach. "The person who wishes to reach the top of the world must also internalize its weight."

"That is why we are here with you, Kippōshi-sama," Danzō cooed, stretching one hand to clasp her shoulder from behind Murmaasa's back. "There have been too many victims attempting this alone in the past. Not again. Not with Shirō-sama here, as is the purpose of his arrival in our lives."

Those sentences stole the words right out of his mouth, leaving it hanging open, rather dumbfounded, before he awkwardly coughed. "…yes. Everything they've said."

Noticing this, Nobunaga laughed. "Finally your silver tongue has nothing to say?"

"No, I've just realized I've taught all of you too well," he admitted. "What else can I say apart from wait for Himiko's word? I have my vision of what the future should look like – much like all of you – so all I have to do is fit what I can into it and suggest what I can into that."

- …

They took a satisfying pause after that short conversation, savouring the sight of the sun's final rays descending down the horizon, symbolizing the end of Himiko's continuous strengthening from the battle earlier and time for her to rest. However, the four knew the Empress was actually a workaholic child – she simply refused to acknowledge it by playing as childishly as possible whenever they laid eyes on her out of pride – so she should still be in deep contemplation, planning the details for every branch of premonition coming her way. The only worry was Shuten-dōji became quite hyperactive at night, risking the possibility of her simply chugging a concentrated spirit down Himiko's throat for fun.

'Yes, that may be an interesting sight…' Muramasa thought gleefully.

From their previous position, they'd al settled on laying their heads down on separate parts of his body. Because he's actually on a steel battleship's body and not the soft bed he had at home, it's rather uncomfortable, especially because none of their skulls had gotten any softer with age – both metaphorically and literally – but the fragrance coming off from their dried sweat clinging onto their napes and foreheads made up for it. In this moment, with his guard down, his magical senses lost its filter and directly inhaled their Od's scent and texture, overwhelming the rather painful resting place he'd unfortunately chosen.

Thing was, he wasn't sure his tempered body was a better place to lie down, either. 'Steel is my body' and all that crap. But they seemed to like it from the first time they met him, so he let this curious fact slide.

The cool night air had begun to creep in, but Nobunaga's much higher body temperature staved it off anyway, and they relaxed for a moment, enjoying the stars now starting to contrast themselves against the dark sky. Chiyome's reptilian nature meant she slid closer and closer to the much taller buxom redhead, instinctively seeking heat, while Danzō's overwhelming voluptuousness meant her softness perfectly warmed his body anyway.

"Thank you for being with me."

The girls were surprised by his sudden declaration, before Chiyome was the first one to fearfully asked, "Why are you saying things like that? It's not yet time, is it?"

He, too, was quite surprised at how his words came out. "No, no! Oh, right, let me use this chance to finally talk to you all about everything I am in detail, yes?"

Danzō placed a finger upon his lips, however. "Jūbei-san is not here, so please wait until then."

"Ahaha! If it's Jūbei, then I'm sure she's waiting for us at our first port!" Nobunaga chuckled. "And no, I haven't told her anything – that girl's brain can work it out just fine."

Chiyome nodded, before placing her face back onto his body, closing her eyes. "Understood. It's good to know, though."

"Sorry I worried you. I still have a long time left, so let me take you all to the top of the world we discussed earlier."

"You meanie! YOU! ALL! ARE! MEANIES!"

The long trudge through countless paperwork, administerial duties, and droning negotiations had declined Mitsuhide's IQ to speaking childishly. What's quite worrying was the group wasn't sure whether she was acting or had truly devolved this way, because her demeanour to imitate her 5 year-old self was immaculate.

She had headbutted Muramasa's stomach forehead-first the instant they disembarked, leaving Himiko and the rest to continue on northwards. Nobunaga decided to postpone her meeting with Masamune so they had the single precious day when they're all together and Muramasa was able to finally come clean with everything, instead of them having to rely on snippets from post-sex Dream Cycles or Unlimited Blade Works. Besides, she wanted to take the time to steel herself from meeting who could be considered her future in-laws, and the subsequent teasing she had to endure along the way.

"I'm sorry, Jūbei-chan," Muramasa consoled, patting her back despite Mitsuhide repeating her headbutt again and again, this time from close range. "I'll arrange with Kippōshi for you to be on the front lines again, okay?"

His words and tone were similarly anachronistic with how he looked, though going completely the opposite way from Mitsuhide by way of using speech patterns of an old man.

"There's no point if we don't all go together! Isn't that right, Chiyome-san, Danzō-san?!" She sulked again and again, completely disregarding the fact they're in semi-public space in this secluded natural cove chosen as a harbour. "I know Kippōshi-sama's going to be busy from now on, so at least the three of us…"

It's a shaded area guarded and camouflaged by a giant umibōzu under the Minamoto Clan's employ. Ordinarily, it could house two or three luxury ships in an emergency, but the prototype battleship was able to be built so large because of its material advantages, and fully occupied the space. It's a quite sensitive spot because it's close to society, and thus was hidden well to prevent an enemy from using it. In fact, once Muramasa extricated himself from Mitsuhide, they quickly managed to ride away without any wait at all, since the Akechi Princess General was able to secure a good carriage easily thanks to the close distance to a city and a main road.

"Now, speak!" Mitsuhied declared, folding her arms domineeringly and ordering everyone around in the carriage. "We don't need the romantic setting. Just the whole thing!"

It's quite surprising how quickly luxury items proliferated the market, seeing they're in a similarly-comfortable carriage Himiko used which had a pioneering suspension system to make long trips bearable for everyone. This wasn't one Mitsuhide commandeered from Gifu Castle's private collection, but one she rented from a nearby city after she rode day-and-night on several horses, Mongolian army-style, just to yell out her grievances at Muramasa and her fellow 'sisters' for being left behind.

Hence, Muramasa could begin without the worry his lovers would soon shift uncomfortably in their seats. Reinforcement took care of most of the pain most days, but it's certainly an inconvenience.

"I… both am and am not Sengo Muramasa. Whether that's the name I carried from the start or one bestowed upon me by this world when I came, I don't know. Whether this 'me' is 'us' combined together, or the 'me' from before… that, too, is so unclear I simply embrace this identity from that moment forth," he began. He wasn't an eloquent speaker by all means, and the repetitive, conceptual nature of his topic made it quite hard to follow. "But… all of you have already accepted that, and I'm eternally grateful for all of you. We can move forward from this topic."

That last part should've ended questioningly, yet none of the girls raised an eyebrow to his opening monologue. They'd glimpsed and hypothesized that much together, and perhaps most of what he's about to say next.

Seeing this, he continued unhesitatingly, "To be honest, I expected to be born into Kippōshi's former world. That reality… where you died by her hands," he gestured calmly towards Nobunaga and Mitsuhide, respectively, "wasn't something I, the people of Nihon, or humanity needed at the time. Still, it happened, becoming a world bereft of Mystery and future." His eyes turned more listless than they'd ever remember those amber orbs becoming. "Where you're not mine," he gestured to Chiyome. "Where you've passed away long ago, your remains unrecoverable," he gestured to Danzō. "Where you cut your stomach open with Nō alongside you, and I wasn't," he gestured to Nobunaga. "Where you and your descendants were branded as the ultimate symbol of treason," he gestured to Mitsuhide.

"That kind of world was what I hope I can destroy. Utterly. Perfectly, to the point everyone has a happy ending."

Chiyome quipped, "But you've succeeded all the same."

"Because I'm blessed with all of you," he gently countered. "A reality where I can reach out towards all of you, where my hands can touch and save you, where my eyes can see and protect you, where my blades can materialize and slay the threats aimed at you." He closed his eyes, genuinely smiling. "I love this world. I love all of you. I love my luck, my fate… instead of becoming the people who make me up, who cursed theirs and tossed away their greed."

"'Make up'? You mean the supposed 'Sengo Muramasa'?" Mitsuhide caught one of his words, asking, "Can you explain further?"

"It's not just 'Sengo Muramasa'. Much like Kippōshi, there's quite a sizeable contingent of suitable souls matching suitable bodies. Only the opportunity is lacking for most of us. In regards to me… the 'god' who created me – if you could call it that – took every single possibility as the building blocks to make the perfect version of 'me'. A Heroic Vessel, formed from particles of mud floating across the Akashic Records." He stretched both palms apart to illustrate a moving stream, before exaggeratingly compressing the imaginary construct and pretending to forge a solid billet out of it. "A blade wielded against [Fate], but one also born from it."

"A blade of salvation…" Nobunaga pinched her chin, deep in contemplation. "Is that the concept you're chasing when you're forging us actual weapons?"

"Yes. But it's as difficult as a chicken trying to cook itself to perfection," he analogized. "What I am, much as I wish it to be, is formed by forces outside of my control and awareness. When I came to among the Akashic Records, this is the knowledge presented to me. I can only accept it as true when I cannot find evidence these are false, because these souls who're used to make 'me' are so very real." He quickly added, "In short, it's easier to birth something not of yourself than something perfectly of you. And by that, I'm speaking of the essence of individuality, and not homunculi technology, of course."

Danzō gave her piece of mind, "Even a perfectly-replicated body, mind, and soul will experience different things… or is forced to do so by circumstances. The [Fate] you talked about, Shirō-sama?" When he nodded, she continued her hypothesis, "So that's why you're not surprised at finding me, unlike most who tried to repair me to turn my original intended functions on."

"Because I know you're not the Katō Danzō whom I'm supposed to recognize. You're your own person, much like how I both differentiated myself from 'Sengo Muramasa' and accepted we're also now one and the same," Muramasa concluded. "It's fortunate, because I don't think I have the stomach to extend the same helping hand towards your other self in Kippōshi's original reality."

"Oh, that person's an absolute piece of garbage," Nobunaga spat. "I'm always thanking my lucky star that version of the Hōjō Clan wasn't run by that lunatic. Kōtarō-kun's quite similar, however, when I think about it."

Danzō huffed. "Proof he has very little potential to improve. I wonder what kind of stimulation should I present to him next time? 'Tis somehow frustrating… I have always seen him as a promising boy."

Surprisingly, Mitsuhide defended him. "I don't think he's as helpless as you've judged him to be, Danzō-san. He's just unfortunate to be constantly compared to men greater than him – both his first namesake and Senpai. Performance-wise, he's… decent, I guess?" She tilted her head, trying to remember the details of the reports she's getting of him. in this last war, none present had the capacity to pay attention to him, so it's difficult to check whether her words were true or not. "But we're digressing."

"Indeed," Muramasa nodded. "To be frank, I was confused as to why I was offered this opportunity in the first place. Back then, there were always world-ending disasters lurking around the corner, those which each reality's heroes needed my help to overcome them without fatally crippling themselves." He reached out one hand to stroke Nobunaga's even more brilliant red hair compared to his duller one, as if they were children once again. "But I guess this is a turning point in Nihon's history crucial enough to change the landscape of the world, just as far-reaching in effects as the apocalypse. And I intend to fulfil that purpose fully."

The Oda Princess General laughed, nuzzling her head deeper into his palm and earning her retainer's jealousy, because her attempt at snatching another hand was already foiled when Chiyome had sneakily stolen one away.

"And what of your predecessor? The one who assumed the identity of Minamoto-no-Yoritomo?" Danzō queried. "Do you have an idea towards his real self?"

"I have… but I cannot tell you. In fact, I've known since the start, because we don't keep secrets when we're in the Akashic Records," he admitted. "You won't be able to find anything even if you looked, because that's the deal we agreed upon when we wished for this power: zero recognition. The universe will conspire to cloud his – or my later – true identity once the era has passed, no matter how we tried to physically preserve things," he added, specifically addressing the ever-studious Mitsuhide. "Even when I tried asking Tamamo-no-Mae-sama through Himiko, her lips and my ears are mutually sealed, making us unable to communicate information about ██████. Because we know of the answer already, it's not a problem, but if it's you guys… See?" He pointed out to their confused expressions when he started speaking the name he knew to be the previous Heroic Vessel in this reality.

Chiyome confirmed. "We've heard that kind of 'static' when we're collecting information inside your Reality Marble, so this level of information security isn't surprising."

"Ah, I suppose you have, no?" He clapped his fist and palm together. "Well, let's keep moving." He sat up straighter, his posture having slowly degenerating as more and more warm, soft bodies piled up on him.

Nobunaga was the tallest and had leaned upon him like a willowy red tree, while Danzō was the… thickest in various parts and acting like an additional cushion for everyone present on his other side. Chiyome, despite her recent growth, remained the smallest and lithest, occupying his lap… and fighting over the remaining space with the disgruntled Mitsuhide, who was far too engrossed in his story to stake her position earlier, leaving her voluminous black hair to blanket almost everyone when she threw herself in last.

"And now, the first half of the plan's completed. Or, at least, what I read from 'Tenka Fubu' – I honestly only wish to support whatever Kippōshi wants and protect the rest of you," he admitted. "With this nation now under one rule from top to bottom, we can take advantage of our neighbours' fractured state to play about however we want."

Danzō's gaze, unexpectedly, dimmed from her spirited critique of Kōtarō earlier. "Are we going to war again? So soon after this one?"

Nobunaga shook her head. "Not until the next few years, at least. Objectively speaking, we need to prepare the things you've already known about: funding, resources, technological maturity, united nationalism, and so on. Recovering from a civil war, however, controlled, is nowhere near as achievable as legends might say." She suddenly smirked. "Subjectively speaking, I'd like to see all us get married first. You know, relax, honeymooning, making babies for a few more years…"

"Agreed!" Mitsuhide instantly perked up, enthusiastically raising her hand like a child in class. It's only the carriage's spacious interior and the occupants' familiarity with her antics she managed to avoid hitting anything. "Muu… but my mother wants a grandiose wedding…"

"…that's quite unfortunate. I'm sorry, Jūbei," Muramasa bowed his head.

The younger girl smiled wryly. "No, that is my preference as well… Besides, my mother's getting much better lately, so her yapping about rushing me into marriages got quieter." She pondered for a while, before suggesting, "Or maybe I can be the last one in a stagger system? That could work…"

Nobunaga immediately shut her down. "No. We're doing this together or not at all. You've sacrificed much for our cause; the least I can do is treat you as my equal, Jūbei." She paused, eyeing both Chiyome and Danzō. "Though I feel we're already a step too late anyway…"

The snake priestess chuckled. "I like ceremonies! Doing it twice in my life sure sounds novel…"

Danzō shrugged her shoulders, causing her large breasts to jiggle – a casual gesture she rarely showed. "I do not mind either way… even if this one am not excluded, everything will be fine."

"Come on, don't say that. We've been over this!" Muramasa protested. "I agree with Kippōshi – I'll do my utmost so all of us can be together, no matter how the ceremony looks like."

Like in most empires, high-ranking weddings were a big deal. Regardless of the publicity, the arrangements would be analysed to hell and back by those who witnessed and were invited to it. Mitsuhide's mother wanted a grandiose wedding… which actually had a lot of merits, especially because of the brides' social status in Nihon. It'd show the burgeoning empire's economical strength, a chance to really display what was possible, because something this size would definitely entail inviting foreign officials – if nothing, simply to demand their presences as the loser in two invasive attempts by the Nanbans. Plus, it clearly defined the public boundary between any potential new wife for Muramasa, driving most candidates away if they saw the standard required just to be looked at.

Of course, the latter was false – he wasn't the kind of man to judge others, much less women, like that – but it's a useful line in the sand so 'flies' would stop flocking around, as per usual with men like him. Annoyingly, it wouldn't deter the ones the four girls really want to keep away from him, such as Kagetora.

However, a private affair was subjectively much preferable to them – even Nobunaga, who theoretically should benefit the most from a public, harem-like wedding. For one, this wasn't a fantasy world where such events weren't only acceptable, but rather common, because then it'd realistically be turned into a dark, lecherous affair where men of influence 'display' their marriages… which were nothing but shams created to subvert public critique of slavery. Families like them were the exception and not the norm– where they married and were determined to create a family purely out of love and a sense of true camaraderie. A small ceremony would only exemplify those positive values, and would also remove the 'pests' who'd be buzzing around, trying to make deals and form connections, in a bombastic party.

…as they thought about it more along their comfortable carriage ride, the more they agreed the negatives which came with the second option were acceptable.

Prestige? Glamour? Honour? Those didn't really matter to them, and were able to be increased with time. They're not like others who bet everything on that one very special day to make their global impact… and they mostly preferred working behind the scenes, anyway. It's safer that way. Perhaps this was Chiyome and Danzō's influence speaking as well…

"I'll write a letter to Mother," Mitsuhide decided. "I'm sure she'll understand."

Once again, Nobunaga overrode her decision. "No chance. Let's face her together. I want to see her in the eyes when I declare taking her daughter away."

"Won't that be too threatening? I know she's a lot better now, but…" Muramasa doubted. However, seeing the determination in those red eyes, he relented. "…understood. I haven't seen Akechi-sama in a while, too. As the man, I have to personally be there to bow my head."

Technically, that was no longer necessary, especially in this chaotic era. With political marriages and hostage-takings being commonplace, most formalities regarding the displacement of family members were removed for efficiency's sake. A formal letter and some physical tributes were all it took to formalize the process, while the old custom entailed a complicated ritual involving ceremonial marching, complicated negotiation, lavish departure and arrival parties, and so on. That only became a juicy target in this era, so it quickly got shoved aside in favour of speed and secrecy. Yes, even though the war was practically over, it's not that easy to jump back to the old ways.

This was the irony contrasting the two processes: proposal and marriage. The modern way for the former was short… and actually rather impersonal, with peasants even adopting this mindset and proliferating elopement, unafraid of the social stigma associated with that. For the latter, the modern way was influenced by foreign affairs, removing the ritualistic, solemn traits in favour of displays of wealth and prominence.

But, in short, they wanted to do things the difficult way: the formal, time-consuming process of formal proposing to the brides' and groom's families, but a relatively modest and underwhelming wedding. Of course, it's not going to be as austere as Muramasa's and Chiyome's first actual wedding, where only nuclear family members were present plus the acting onmyōji and miko. Not even Nobunaga was there – at the time 'merely' Muramasa's childhood friend – a fact she didn't forgive the couple for the following few years. Danzō hadn't been 'reborn' by that time, and Mitsuhide wasn't close enough to brazenly demand a seat in that ceremony. It might be har dto believe looking at this forehead girl right now, but she was a shy, insecure thing back then.

…well, she still sometimes was right now, but she currently had a big enough mouth and brain to cover it up if necessary.

"Akechi-dono, please don't push yourself…" Nobunaga immediately rushed over once the middle-aged woman stumbled slightly after moving back-and-forth for quite a while already. "Remember, this is still technically the proposal phase…"

They were in one of the Akechi Clan's smaller dwellings. Mitsuhide actually was closer to living full-time in Gifu Castle now due to work, and it's a hassle for an older woman like her to keep going back-and-forth between their territory and her daughter's workplace, no matter how comfortable the roads had become lately. Because of that, it's rather poorly-staffed because all they had to take care of was a weak-bodied noble lady, and it's certainly not a place to hold large, sudden banquets. Even Ken, who's now working nearly full-time at the Imperial Castle, would be hard-pressed to satisfy them if it came down to it without Muramasa's assistance and several helpers.

"Nonsense! It's a once-in-a-lifetime event! Of course I have to use this blessing my body's accepted to push myself!" Mitsuhide's mother easily regained her balance and brushed the much taller redhead off. It was simply a slip from a change of footwear – from homely straw sandals to socks – so it's actually nothing major. "I'd regret it if I missed even a sliver of the preparations required!" She exclaimed energetically, under her daughter's flat stare.

As was usually the case, any sort of verbal aggressiveness dissipated once in the presence of parents, especially one as embarrassing as this one. While certainly not as extreme as one Muramasa had encountered, he had met much more parents than his girls, thus having more resistance to this kind of antic. Hell, he'd been one himself, when he was allowed the time to see his children grew up before he was dismissed by Alaya, though he forced himself to be more hands-off lately after digesting that overflowing burst of emotion whenever he's acting like that. While he's getting closer and closer to a full spectrum of a balanced human emotional capacity, there's still some bugs to work out every once in a while.

He actually hadn't been to this place at all, since despite his humble factual occupation, his bloodline was of a higher standing than the Akechi. Hence, Himiko and Nobunaga usually required him to deal with other problems far away, instead of helping with internal affairs like Mitsuhide was doing now. It had been a loyal family to the Oda for generations, but having little to do with the Minamoto Clan – no wonder he rarely saw Mitsuhide's mother.

Chiyome, somehow, had already inserted herself into a position he usually took, because the girls were adamant he sat out this one: one of a helper in the kitchen. Yes, her cooking wasn't better than his, but that's not the point – he was eager to escape the awkwardness of being the object of interest in the room, because just as previously discussed, a man who's about to marry four gorgeous women publicly wouldn't be accepted just like that. In fact, he could feel the murderous gazes of the men and women who'd worked for the Akechi Clan since Mitsuhide was small, as the 'culprit' who's about to take their Princess General not only away from them, but as a fourth wife. Things didn't get more demeaning than that. Whatever Mitsuhide told them, they wouldn't believe her sincerity in allowing this position to happen, because there were two women above her who were of technically lower birth.

Of course, knowing what Chiyome and Danzō had contributed to the empire, they wouldn't say it outright even towards Muramasa – to them, the enemy of all women – but they decided glaring was enough of an outlet for their negative thoughts. If Mitsuhide decided she wouldn't fight for it, then they had no right to push their subjective opinions on something as important as her marriage. They, like most, were unaware of Muramasa's exact social standing in Nihon, as his public position in the Minamoto Clan was still unpublished.

Was this wedding also supposed to double as some sort of public coming-out? Was a shocking announcement imminent, and they chose a humble ceremony to mitigate the resulting shockwave?

"Now, Shirō-kun, it's finally done!" The Akechi matriarch cheerfully set the tray she's holding in front of him. "This is the first time you're here for dinner, right? Ufufu… Jūbei don't have any friends, so I'm lonely sometimes…"

"Mother!"

"Yes, yes, why are you acting so embarrassed now? You're an adult, right?" The older woman dismissed her daughter's protest. "I was wondering when can I drop off this troublemaker in another house's hand… Finally, the time has come!"

"MOTHER!" This time, Mitsuhide's adorably wide forehead sported several angry veins, red colouring her entire face. "S-Senpai! Stop listening to her and usher her out!" She was already heading over where her mother was chatting up her future husband, keen on doing the job herself if Muramasa didn't comply. "Hush! Hush! Go away!"

The insult 'old hag' died in her throat before it came out, Mitsuhide eager to maintain her good impression on Muramasa and the other girls. Regardless how well they knew her, it's always better to watch her mouth lest she got into unnecessary trouble – which had been getting tougher and tougher, given her stress levels after not being allowed on the battlefield and swing her sword or shoot her rifle.

While Nobunaga and Mitsuhide were on their feet, trying to grab onto the Akechi matriarch without looking rude, Danzō stiffly mimicked her lord's every mannerism, being completely out of depth in dealing with this situation. Her 'parents' were the exactly sort of people the current her desired to kill with her own hands – a goal she succeeded at greatly – and her 'parenting' towards the current Fūma generation was filled with regrets. Now, with her position as a daughter-in-law, it's a completely new territory.

"Thank you for your hospitality," the buxom kunoichi formally bowed, trying to keep her expression formal, but still sincerely grateful. "We shall treat your daughter right, don't you worry."

"I'm not concerned about that, Katō-dono," the woman replied calmly, having shed her mischievousness once either one of her arms was grabbed by Nobunaga and Mitsuhide respectively. "Regardless of what outsiders try to tell you what I think, let me declare I cannot be happier at the moment. Gaining a good family through my foolish daughter is better than what I thought the Akechi Clan could get a few years ago."

"Uwah! Uwah! Uwah! Hawawawawa! S-Shut it, Mother!" Mitsuhide repeatedly screamed childishly, trying her best to drown out whatever the older woman was trying to say. "La~ La~ La~ La~ La~ La~ La~ La~… Senpai, don't listen to her!"

"A-Akechi-dono, I-I need your help with s-something…" Nobunaga, realizing the risk of continuing to allow this woman to run her mouth, worked together beautifully with her closest retainer to escort her soon-to-be mother-in-law away from the room. "I beseech you to assist me!" She even resorted to the polite language Danzōsed in her day-to-day interactions.

'This is so heavy…' Himiko complained of her clothes, though due to the occasion, even she had the tact to swallow her words.

Today wasn't about her for once.

In general, it was along the same design and lines as her usual miko outfit, but created from the beginning to accept much, much more extravagant decorations and additions. It's supposedly a party dress her namesake, Yamatai's first queen Himiko, used during formal divine gatherings, when she both negotiated and prayed to the gods for their blessing.

There were several clear problems, though.

For one, she had met the spirit of her predecessor, yes… and that woman was much more voluptuous than the current Himiko's childish body. Despite the hope she's clinging onto she'd grow into a similar figure, that was still potentially decades away – Nihon's increased Mystery level also meaning a slower growth rate in favour of longevity. Hence, the patterns around the collar clearly had to be much tighter, which defeated the purpose of the whole design anyway and ruining the original's elegance. Unlike her usual white-red colour scheme, this one was white from head-to-toe, with only her midsection tied in with black items. Her top's lower hem and obi were of similar dark colour, forming a 'wall' separating the otherwise pristine white rest of her outfit.

The sleeves were even fussier, using Magecraft to loosely attach floating square confetti-like fabric into the silhouette of a pair of overly-loose cuffs. It was annoying because of the length – Himiko's exceedingly short height compared to her namesake led to these intricate pieces brushing the floor, while the original intention was to have them float to symbolize the Empress's divine nature. Red strings and stitching matched her generally-red headdress, breaking the monochromatic palette, woven and tied in manners similar to shimenawa, symbolizing the Empress wasn't just a ruler, but also a pathway to the gods for the citizens to cherish.

However, her complaint was mostly focused on the headpiece, which was so comically large and disproportionate to her adorable facial structure she looked more like a rhinoceros beetle than a priestess. This was the one piece she was actually wearing the original of, and not just a recreation to suit her current body. Naturally, a crown adults used would look entirely ridiculous on her prepubescent size, but none of her subordinates was kind enough to relent on her discomfort and change it into a more appropriate size. A small prank to repay her usual sharp tongue, perhaps. It was shaped like half a sun – surprise, surprise – fanning wide towards its semi-spherical bottom and shortening towards the top of its central ridge.

Yasakani-no-Magatama acted as oversized necklace, since each of its tomoe-shaped beads was half the size of her face, and its overall length draped it over her stomach, with no way of shortening it because it's a Noble Phantasm. Even tying the cord was incredibly difficult for Muramasa, who was Nihon's master of Alteration, so it was left alone – ironically and funnily enough, it was akin to the modern-day Nanban overly-gilded flyting accessory only the blacksmith knew about, causing him to insultingly laugh aloud when he saw her full getup.

Even though today's the day of his wedding! Having his own sister and reigning Empress as the chief priestess was audacious enough; he now had the gall to make fun of her getup!

It was fortunate she prevented her handmaidens from applying the 'traditional' makeup the first Himiko was known to use… which looked more like warpaint and ceremonial body-carving than actual cosmetics. She wouldn't be able to live anymore if that appearance was made public.

Overall, she looked more like a gorgeous suit being moved about by a puppet than someone actually wearing it, as the overflowing fabric completely engulfed her whole body. In fact, she could huddle up and hide herself perfectly within the confines of this clothes right this instant… if the ceremony hadn't begun.

The ritualistic part of it was over quickly, given the lack of parental figure available to represent each of Muramasa's wives. Nobunaga insisted on not having anyone present in that capacity, leaving the bawling Nobukatsu locked up outside while cursing his brother-in-law nonstop for 'stealing away his beloved sister'. Chiyome's parents were… rather unenthusiastic after making the journey for what amounted to their daughter's second time, and said very little as usual. The Fūma Clan considered sending someone to Danzō's side, but they were afraid said person would return only as a head sans their body, so they relented after being at the receiving end of the buxom kunoichi's glare.

Mitsuhide's mother was perhaps the most energetic person in the room, matched only by her daughter's embarrassment of the whole situation.

Other than that, thanks to Himiko's presence, the whole thing went about rather solemnly, filled mostly with romantic, much-too-slow flirting between the groom and brides. It caused some major dissatisfaction among the guests – mostly from the remaining girls and Nobukatsu, who's still banging on the door – but no one held a candle to the diminutive Empress, who's clearly past her bedtime.

However, one look at the happiness simply beaming through Muramasa's made her swallow all her usual venomous barb.

She'd lived her whole life with him. in fact, it could be said he was the one who truly raised her as a person, and not just a future ruler of a powerful empire or a showpiece to present in front of enemy nations. Their interactions were what truly taught her the intricacies of human nature, and how to be successful in it while remaining true to oneself.

…the thing was, she suspected he was expecting the same thing taught to him from her.

Those kind smiles, warm words, comforting head pats were… quite fake. Not deliberately – she believed he didn't have a single insincere bone in his body in terms of familial affection – but because he couldn't bring forth anything more real. There was something missing from him he tried to fill in by interacting with others, like a well-made suit of armour without a moving, living core animating it. She wasn't a clairvoyant for nothing – despite something perfectly blocking every divination regarding her brother, there was enough evidence surrounding that particular bit of metaphorical negative space to build a basic conclusion.

Still, it didn't mean Muramasa was static. On the contrary, Himiko found it to be rare joyous events when he managed to overcome this natural limitation to actually pour out some genuine emotions – those coming from him and him alone, instead of mirroring another's. Sometimes, his gesture would be filled with genuine pride and happiness at Himiko's achievements and deeds, instead of being mere force of habit.

That's why she managed to rein in her jealousy when he got his first wife. The thought of another woman taking his time away from her used to instantly ignite her ire, but she just couldn't bring herself to feel that way as she witnessed how he looked at Chiyome, both from afar and when he introduced Himiko to the kunoichi with the intention of marriage. A gaze the Empress herself would never receive until decades down the line, when her scheme to enact what the first and second shoguns did to ensure the Minamoto Clan's blood purity…

Thus, let him have a second, third, and fourth wives. He didn't even need to acknowledge her feelings for him, budding and immature as they were. All she required was his love for one night, and she'd be satisfied until her deathbed.

In contrast to her ridiculous ceremonial dress, forced upon her by all her standing, role, and fussy maidservants, he looked handsome and immaculate as usual. Because this was a simple, homely ceremony as per his wishes, he could dress in a more subdued fashion than society would've forced him to wear in a more lavish event. All the formal components were there, yes, but certainly not as elaborate as the future designs Himiko occasionally foresaw with her clairvoyance.

Hey, there's no rule prohibiting abusing her precognitive powers to predict trends in fashion, was there?

His attire was the exact same shade of glimmering grey his swords were famous to achieve, which puzzled Himiko because that meant spending money on special dyes and fabrics – aspects which she knew Muramasa knew absolutely nothing about. Did Chiyome, Nobunaga, Danzō, or Mitsuhide pull something off? Regardless, it looked dashing under his copper-red hair and chiselled physique. The nagajuban held the current Minamoto Clan crest – a two-part sasarindō sandwiching a chrysanthemum flower – because there's no need to hide his allegiance anymore after today. His montsuki, a solid black covering steel-grey, sported the family crests of his wives: the four diamonds of Chiyome's estranged Rokkaku Clan, her family's old superior as Kōga shinobi; Nobunaga's five-petalled, double-layered quince; Danzō's despised triple-dragonscale motif, a tie to her old affiliation with the Hōjo Clan via the Fūma's patronage of the former; Mitsuhide's light blue bellflower which she wore often with her daily wear.

The hakama and haori were, in comparison, quite plain, though he chose a crimson turtle shell embroidery throughout the all-black outer outfit to break up the otherwise monotonous colour scheme. It's oddly similar to one of his favourite sabres, Gān Jiàng, and it could be said the shimmering grey undergarments, almost white when viewed under certain light, mimicked its partner, Mò Yé. The intricacies and symbolism he now carried upon his body were hard to judge without viewing the wedding procession in its entirety, where he showcased each layer by putting the first pieces atop each other, and shedding the outer vestments when the ceremony called for it.

His brides, as was the norm, were far more complexly attired. They're all wearing some form of shiromuku, a recent trend appearing after blending Nanban's insistence on a white colour palette with traditional Nihon design. It was quite a surprise to Himiko once she found out that yes, girls these days were already accustomed to wearing shiromuku despite the design should only be invented about 200 years later… and the Empress completely missed it! It could've been a prime business opportunity… Imagining it as something the Imperial Family first endorsed and held exclusive rights to?

Money, come!

'Ahem.' Himiko scolded herself.

Chiyome's kimono was the most complicated and expensive-looking, to the point it could be categorized as a jūnihitoe. It was brand new because her sudden growth spurt after her first wedding ceremony meant her old dress couldn't fit anymore, though not quite that different in design. Having embraced her power and responsibility more, she's more confident in sporting patterns and textures similar to her serpentine marks and scars – currently glowing bright red due to happiness – so she stitched plenty of scale-like designs and shimmering glitters to evoke a divine dragon. It's actually her personal idealized version of what Yamata-no-Orochi should do to makeover his appearance to gain more worshippers, since it's not like his reputation was the best among Nihon's Phantasmal Species despite the efforts of the Minamoto Clan to correct history's mistakes – her sleeves and skirt were ended in eight separate parts to evoke his likeness.

While excessive considering the private flavour of the ceremony, hers was what Himiko expected when a lady of noble standing got married. The rest, though…

Nobunaga was the one whose outfit sparked the Empress's money-making brain, as unexercised as it was throughout her life.

The redhead was… wearing some kind of androgynous, Nanban-Nihon fusion of a wedding… outfit. It's difficult to categorize it as an exclusively male or female clothing, but she wore it very well, with it accentuating her great figure due to its tight-but-thin design. In contrast to traditional kimono which usually hid one's body lines – a trait Nanban overflowing, flower-like design actually shared – to symbolize one's purity and hide alluring body parts from leers and glares, it both revealed and concealed a lot, playing with observers' imagination. Her collar area was covered with translucent material, sensuously showcasing bare skin and nape, and below that was a bodice which supported her sizeable breasts with the bare minimum of material, allowing their tops and sides to mildly bulge out, before continuing to a more expansive fabric which tightly bound her toned stomach, yet also thin enough for the muscle lines to peek through if one looked close enough. The back torso area was even less covered, with only triangular-cut fabric attaching the front to prevent it from falling off… and nothing more, leaving the middle portion largely open. Nobunaga was tall, and instead of a tight-binding kimono bottom, it was closer to the pants Nihon's female navy soldiers wore, though a touch more flowing and billowier as it continued down to her ankles.

Both Chiyome and Nobunaga wore high-heeled, relatively flat sandals, though for different reasons. The miko just couldn't be bothered to torture herself with a high-angled one because this was the second time she's doing it, and she was more comfortable with her usual sandals anyway. The Oda Princess General was way too tall to need any boost to her height, and chose it so she wouldn't stick out like a giant, red-topped tree among the brides. Regardless, her curvy-yet-slim figure was certainly eye-catching due to her height.

Regardless of how unusual Nobunaga's choice was, Danzō's was certainly the most troublesome. In fact, Himiko was glad this was a family affair and not a empire-wide festival of marriage, or the buxom woman would've caused quite a bit of scandal.

She was… wearing almost nothing. Actually, one could categorize that as underwear, and certainly not something one should wear outside of the bedroom.

An obscenely short, white kimono wrapped around her curvaceous figure, which appear more bombastic because she was both shorter than Nobunaga and had larger breasts and wider hips in the first place. However, calling it 'kimono' was already a gross misestimation, because only the way it was wrapped at the front resembled something close to a 'kimono'. The overall structure was, as a matter of fact, closer to Kintaro's traditional wear (something the Heavenly General Sakata Kintoki would wear as a child). It would've been a respectable casual wear for children and preteens, but when worn on her body, various parts were straining to contain her indecent parts from public view. It had been enlarged quite a few times – the amount of fabric required surprising the Imperial Family's and Hyakki Yakō's go-to seamstress, the low-ranking Miss Crane – but still very much on the limit. Her arms and thighs were bare, and two 'tails' of white fabric 'covered' her large, nearly-bare butt, though of course they floated around with the slightest movement and defeated their original purpose. White tall socks and long gloves – again, almost translucent – covered her extremities, and… that's pretty much it.

To be honest, it looked more like a fetishized sex costume than a wedding dress.

…but considering it's one of the few choices Danzō made for herself instead of leaving it to her superiors – a sign of personal growth – Himiko allowed it. She didn't know the buxom kunoichi as well as Chiyome or Nobunaga, since they didn't interact very much and Danzō preferred a much more formal setting as a creature of habit, which Himiko already had little patience for after dealing with her ministers and the nobles under her daily. Not that their antagonistic towards each other – far from it – but they just didn't have the chance to start being friends, or more than just workplace colleagues-slash-acquaintances.

Mitsuhide's sense of fashion, thankfully, was more in tune with the traditionally-minded Chiyome. While the kunoichi dressed completely the other way around – completely obscenely – when she was still working in the field, Mitsuhide always was neat and tidy, regardless of whatever verbal venom or childish whining coming out of her mouth. It's not to the extent of Himiko's usual abuse, since the Princess General's style was more of putting people in a twist than mocking their inferiority, but she was a true professional across the negotiation table – that was, thoroughly unpleasant and hateful. The Empress had dealt with countless complaints about the business practices the Akechi Clan now ran under Mitsuhide's command, but because everything she did was strictly legal, but simply cleverly executed, she gladly rejected those claims and sent the nobles' protests back.

However, in comparison to the previous three, the words to describe her were… scarce. Mostly because she stuck too well to the expected Nihon wedding dress which, regardless of how expensive and high-class every little detail was, made her look quite… say, plain. Everything she's wearing was meticulously stitched and crafted from rare materials, and she sported them great, but just…

Perhaps this was an attempt to spite someone? Her overbearing mother, perhaps? Deliberately making herself look inferior to the other three brides – who, at least judging from their lineage, two of them were inferior to the noble Akechi Clan – would definitely paint her as the fourth and last wife, instead of being of equal status with the other girls. Indeed, it was a calculating move not only because of the difference between public and private perception, but also how she managed to convince Muramasa, who's famously stubborn about things like equality and objectivity.

…but seeing the usually solemn and polite older brother now smiling gently like a fool wherever he turned his head towards, Himiko didn't have the heart to disturb this day any further. He might even feel obligated to stop her from leaving if she so much as to excuse herself after her ceremonial duties were finished, so she disappeared into the background, casting a spell to ensure her exit was flawless.

'May you find true happiness, Aniue.'