Il Cielo dei Tre Regni
by Lunar Wave

Disclaimer: This story borrows the setting and characters of the Koihime†Musou series and borrows multiple elements from Katekyo Hitman Reborn. I own neither series as they both belong to their respective owners. Also, considering Koihime†Musou could be considered a fanfic of the Three Kingdoms, I'd like to say I don't own anything related to the stories of the Three Kingdoms.

-()-

Building Up Strength

-()-

"Well, if there's one praiseworthy thing about you, it's that you at least keep up your training. Even if it's just swinging your sword every morning."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kazuto asked as he continued swinging.

"Your father never bothered to train properly. He only ever trained when there's a looming threat to the family."

"Really?"

"Don't make me repeat myself unless you want your meditative sword swinging to become a training session on how to fight a gunner." Kazuto stayed silent. This is probably the only time he's allowed to do his own thing. He'd rather keep it. Any time spent self-training is time spent not dodging bullets or being blown up. "But yes. Your father was never interested in making himself stronger. Ironic, considering he is arguably the most powerful Vongola Boss in history."

"Stronger than Primo?"

"I said only arguably. Don't twist my words. We do not have Primo or Secondo here, both considered the strongest, to compare." Reborn scoffed. "However, it's uncontested fact that your father has access to the most powerful weapons that any Vongola boss has used, used the Zero Point Breakthrough, even creating a new version of it. His experience in fighting is not to be underestimated either. So, it is safe to assume that your father is so. Primo or Secondo might still be able to best him in combat, but that's a matter of tactics."

"Tactics really do make quite the difference in fights, huh?"

"You would fight differently if matched up with a boxer, compared to a sniper." Reborn nodded. "As long as you are mortal, there is no catch-all tactic to win all fights."

"I see… even overwhelming the opponent with pure strength?"

"Violence begets more violence. Even… no, especially among Mafiosi, this is unquestionable." Reborn chuckled, "Besides, a skilled opponent can even use your own strength against you. Is that not the basis of Zero Point Breakthrough Revised?"

"Fair point. In the end, the only way to win a fight is to either: use your opponent's weakness against them or use your opponent's strength against them."

"You forgot the last one." Reborn laughed, "Don't fight in the first place. And that's the point of your own training. Avoid needing to fight. No matter how much you train, if you keep needing to fight, then you're failing horribly in keeping the momentum your father has laid before you. Now, your hour's up. Let's get back to your training."

"Got it."

This is one of the few conversations he had with Reborn that didn't end in him getting shot at. It felt nice.

-()-

Months passed, with little event, at least, that was how it was in Ryuubi Gentoku and Sawada Kazuto's territory. Chihou continued her crusade to pioneer the newly created idol industry, even though she's the only known idol at the moment. However, the news they were receiving from the capital is not good.

Reitei was reported dead, and, during the months, a scramble for power happened. According to the reports, Enshou, Kashin, and Kataigou stood on one side, and members of the Ten Eunuchs on another. According to the report, the Ten Eunuchs organized a revolt against the Kashin, causing the Imperial Court siblings, Kashin and Kataigou, to disappear. Reportedly, Kashin had an attempted assassination happen. Enshou denies Kashin and Kataigou taking refuge in her territory, claiming that, if they were, would she not have already returned the empress and the Great General to the capital?

Toutaku, whose current assignment is as a protector of the capital, took charge of the situation, and a new emperor, Kentei, was crowned. Toutaku was then appointed Grand Chancellor of the State by Kentei, with the Ten Eunuchs losing all the more power, especially with the failed revolt.

Kazuto breathed out a haggard sigh, setting aside the report received. This was a report that Shuri had given him prior, apparently from a girl named Josho Genchoku. It seems Josho is working as Shuri and Hinari's informant in the capital. At the very least, he should get the girl's opinion on the report.

"Shuri, what do you think of the… what are you doing?"

Shuri looked up, as she fiddled with a crossbow. "Hawawa, this is…"

"Is that a repeating crossbow?" Kazuto asked in surprise. He didn't expect to see Shuri working with a weapon.

"Y-yes!" Shuri nodded, as she looked up, "I'm just seeing if I can improve it… It might help if it could go a bit faster than it currently is and…"

"Are you worried about your combat ability?" Kazuto asked. "I noticed you try swinging one of the swords in storage last night."

"Th-that's!" Shuri exclaimed in surprise, before taking a more subdued look. "You noticed?"

"You really want to be a Guardian, don't you, Shuri?"

"I do." Shuri smiled bitterly, "I… I noticed."

"Noticed what?"

"Even though Sei isn't part of our army, you still were prepared for a guardian role for her… but even though we've been with you longer, and are part of your army, neither Hinari nor I were considered until we pointed out that we could work with Mist…"

Kazuto sat in silence, as Shuri placed the repeating crossbow down.

"So I figured it out… You didn't really consider Chouseihei, Sosou, me, Hinari, and Chihou-chan. There's one thing in common… You didn't want to consider us because we aren't fighters. We can't protect people, not the same way Aisha or Rinrin can."

Shuri looked up, seeing Kazuto look at her with a frown.

"I… I know I'm not strong. But I can't help but want it. Didn't I already say it? I want to join a group that would bring peace to these times… especially now that Reitei-sama passed away." Kazuto looked at the report, before nodding. "A-anyway! If I can at least shoot this crossbow… if I can be of help during fights then…"

Kazuto stood up, walked over to Ryuubi's desk, and took the box hidden under her desk, avoiding disturbing the sleeping co-leader, before pulling out the indigo ring. He then walked over to the confused Shuri.

"Wear it," Kazuto said, as he walked over to the girl. He then grabbed Shuri's greased hands, before placing the ring on her right hand's middle finger. "Imagine it lighting on fire." Kazuto demonstrated with his own ring. "Let your emotions fill you. Your frustrations. Your fears. And finally, your will. Your strong wish and let it flow through the ring."

"Wh-what do you mean? I thought!"

"Mist Guardians make use of the nature of Mist Flames. Mist Flames are natural tools for illusionists. Here's a challenge for the girl who wants to become stronger than I believe she needs to be." Kazuto chuckled, scratching his head. "If you manage to use Mist Flames, and then teach Hinari how to use it, I will never consider anyone else for the position."

"E-eh?"

"Don't wear the ring in public. Keep it to yourself. I'll tell Touka that I'm letting you borrow the ring for a while." Kazuto then stood up, grabbed a box on his desk, pulling out another identical indigo ring, "This ring is for Hinari. When you can light that ring, I will let you take it and give it to Hinari."

"Wh-why are you giving this to me now?" Shuri asked.

Kazuto silently looked at the girl, as he softly returned the ring into the box, sealing it. "I was told before that the first Lightning Guardian was a nobleman forced into the frontlines by the first head of the family… I hated the first head for that. I thought it's unfair for someone who was never a fighter in the first place to be forced to fight."

"Then why?"

"Because you wanted to fight." Kazuto smiled. "You wanted to stand at our side. I can't stop you, or rather it's hypocritical of me to try to stop you. If that's so, then I'll give you the tools to survive." Kazuto then rubbed the head of the young girl, her hat lying on the table next to her. Shuri blushed brightly, causing Kazuto to chuckle. "All I ask is that you promise that you won't risk your life. You're not as strong as Rinrin, nor as skilled as Aisha. However, you are smart. You proclaim yourself a strategist, so your strategies must end with you at our side, alive. The same with Hinari. I forbid either of you from making plans that put your lives in grave danger."

"I… I promise." Shuri fiddled with the ring on her finger.

"I'm currently teaching Touka how to use the flames as well;" Kazuto smiled, as the ring on Touka's finger glistened under the noon sun's light. "Why don't you join us tonight?"

Shuri looked at the boy, before nodding once.

"Now, let's wake up the sleepyhead. Her naptime is long overdue."

"Right!" Shuri nodded, as she pulled off the ring before placing it securely in the small pouch she keeps on her waist.

"Now, how do we do this?" Kazuto wondered, before grinning wickedly as he ran back to Shuri, taking hold of…

That afternoon, Touka was pouting the entire time, angrily glaring at Kazuto, with Shuri only able to laugh silently. The ring was in her pouch, staying safe there. Shuri has no plans to bring the ring out of her room, and it will remain with her things for the rest of the time.

-()-

"Touka, figured it out yet?"

"If Shuri-chan figures out how to light her ring before I do, I wouldn't know what to feel." To the side was the girl, calmly meditating, the ring in her hand. Hinari was there as well, watching the event, feeling rather out of place. She merely sat awkwardly next to her friend, looking at the ring, waiting for a flame to ignite. It seems that the girl saw no reason to hide the ring from her best friend, and pretty much dragged the girl to their training sessions. It's been a week since Kazuto's offer to Shuri.

Aisha and Rinrin were sleeping the night away, after a long day of patrolling the outskirts of their territory for potential Yellow Turban retaliation. Chihou was also snoozing away, having spent most of her time trying to emulate the tone and feel of Kazuto's songs. Sei was pretending to not be in the doorway of the room, although Kazuto had already spotted her shadow move. Why she bothers to hide, he wouldn't know.

Kazuto laughed. "Now just hold the ring and imagine. What do you want to do? What do you need to do? Push out all that will through your finger into the ring."

"That's easy for you to say, but it's kind of hard to imagine this supposed energy that is in all human beings."

"All the things that fear death." Kazuto corrected, "I could go into more detail, but, in the end, it's just unnecessary fluff. If anything, if I tell you more, you might find it more difficult to do this."

"That sounds difficult…" Touka murmured.

"Any progress over there?" Kazuto called to Hinari, who merely shook her head.

"Awawa… sorry, I don't see it…"

"It's fine. We'll call it a night in a few minutes." Kazuto shrugged, looking at the clock on his phone. They really should go to sleep soon, otherwise, Aisha and Rinrin will figure it out. Sei in the doorway seems to scuttle away, likely thinking that they might suddenly leave and spot her.

"E-eh!?" Touka cried out, and Kazuto could see a flash of desperation in Shuri's body language. "I think I can get it! I'm so close!" Touka then closed her eyes and seem to be desperately trying to push something out. Kazuto, for decency's sake, decides not to comment.

"Calm down. It took me a few months before I could push the flames through the ring without Hyper Dying Will Mode. And that does come with me being used to flames due to HDWM." Kazuto chuckled. "The two of you are doing well, even without as much exposure to Dying Will Flames as I did." Kazuto lit his ring and steadily held it towards Touka. "Now, focus."

Touka desperately wanted to get this right. She looked at the flames and breathed. Kazuto's warmth. She can feel it despite the small flame. A calm gentle flame, begging for something, anything, to stay. Touka realized this was the Harmony aspect of the flame. Sky Flame is so rare, but its effect begs others to gather within its grasp. To harmonize, to synchronize… to…

"Well, would you look at that?" Kazuto chuckled.

"That's amazing, milady!" Hinari exclaimed.

"Hawawa… I still haven't gotten the ring to light…" Shuri murmured.

"Eh?" Touka blinked, as she turned her eyes down to the ring on her finger. Dancing on the edge is purely orange flames dancing. It wasn't the same as regular flames. It wasn't searing hot. It danced on the tip of her ring, burning brightly, as though something was fueling it. But nothing was there, just the ring and her finger.

"Well, next is for you to try to light it, again, and again." Kazuto smiled. "After that, let's see if we can sneak a few hours into Aisha and Rinrin's schedules to get them to join us."

Touka smiled brightly at this, as the flames continued to dance on her ring. Since Kazuto gave her the ring, she's been desperately trying to light it. Now she just needs to learn to do it again.

"Well, for now, time's up. Let's go back to sleep. I don't doubt that it's going to be busy tomorrow, and Aisha might scold us for not getting enough sleep." Kazuto stretched his legs as he stood up. Hinari nodded, Shuri slightly disgruntled at her own lack of progress, but acquiesces. Touka pushed herself up.

"Kazuto-kun, are you still having nightmares?"

"Eh?" Kazuto asked. "I don't really… some, but it's been less so… in fact, I think I can handle being alone in my room tonight."

"You say that, but the last time…" Touka muttered. "Shuri, Hinari, would you sleep in the extra bed in Kazuto's room?"

"Y-yes!" Shuri nodded. Hinari nodded silently next to her.

"I'm starting to think you people want me to be dependent on you…" Kazuto grumbled.

"Is that so bad?" Touka smiled.

"You are spoiling me with all the girls that somehow end up in my room…" Kazuto sighed. Shuri, Hinari, and Touka looked away with a nervous chuckle. "You girls should be more careful…"

"It's not like we'll do this to any other boy, Kazuto-kun." Touka pouted. "We know you wouldn't do anything to harm us."

"You're the people who say I become violent in my nightmares," Kazuto says, once more spotting Sei on a nearby rooftop. Again, he didn't comment on it. Sei never once took a turn to sleep in his room, not for a lack of offering to do so, but due to Aisha refusing.

"But you calm down when we're there. You never once harmed us. Despite everything." Touka smiled.

"Chihou-chan is still feeling guilty…" Shuri added.

"… I don't know why my first kill is causing so much pain, but I wish it didn't." Kazuto grimaced. "It's been over a few months!"

"It's because the master is kind." Hinari smiled.

"I gave the orders to kill before. Within the first month of arriving in this world even!" Kazuto complained. "But they never caused this much problem…" Sure he felt sick, but not to the point of nightmares. He walked through hundreds of corpses, all of them slain by his army, under his and Touka's orders, but nightmares were strangely not part of his problem.

"An action you did yourself will always feel more powerful than something someone else did," Shuri said, a wise tone in her voice. "Even if it's under your orders. You become more emotionally invested in the act because it's you that's doing it."

Hinari nodded. "It's more personal, you can't help but see it as something you did. Orders, in the end, you can just think of it as something someone else did."

"Sometimes, I forget that you two are the smartest people in this building." Kazuto chuckled, causing the two to pout. Touka also pouted.

"I know they're smart, but!"

"Let's just go to sleep, before we bother the eavesdropping Sei from her nap." The three jumped slightly at the sudden callout. "You should stop sleeping on the rooftops soon; you might get rained on." A chuckle from Sei confirmed his suspicions.

"Mou! Sei was there the entire time?" Touka grumbled. "You should get down and at least talk to us!"

"I'm just here to enjoy my menma," Sei said before a chewing noise is heard.

"Don't empty our coffers for your addiction." Kazuto sighed. "Also, you're going on patrol tomorrow, right? You should go to sleep soon."

"Understood, milord. Enjoy your night."

Kazuto witheringly looked at the edge of the roof that Sei is supposedly sitting upon, before moving to his room. Then he spotted that all three were in the same room as him.

"If Aisha gets mad at me for this, I'm blaming you Touka."

"Give me a reward for being able to light my ring~" Touka smiled. "Besides, the bed should be big enough."

"Are you saying all three of you are sleeping with me?" Kazuto barked out in confusion, as he puts his things down on the side of his room. "There's a second bed here!" They specifically moved said second bed here for the purposes of them looking after him. It's smaller, meant to hold one person compared to his bed but it's adequate.

"Th-that's!" Shuri blushed, with Hinari awkwardly looking sideways. "If you want to, we can just g-"

"It's you two's turn in Kazuto's room." Touka poked the two. ("What turns? Also, Shuri and Hinari never shared turns!" Kazuto muttered. He was summarily ignored.) "Just get on the bed and let's go to sleep." She then dragged the two to the bed Kazuto uses. Kazuto sighed as he lay on his bed. No point switching now; Touka would just move there with him. All four of them were in sleepwear to begin with, having snuck out of their respective rooms to practice flame use. Kazuto felt Touka snuggle on his right side, while Shuri and Hinari bundled on his left.

"See what I mean? We fit nicely, right?" Touka teased. "Maybe we should move the other bed out."

"You're the only one who insists on sleeping next to me, Touka," Kazuto mumbled, before remembering. "You and Rinrin. Now you dragged Shuri and Hinari with you…"

"We'll properly sleep on the other bed but…" Shuri mumbled. "But Touka-sama insisted and…"

"I get it, I get it." Kazuto sighed, "Just sleep."

Kazuto felt Shuri nod, "Good night, Kazuto-sama, Touka-sama, Hinari-chan."

"""Good night.""" Kazuto, Hinari, and Touka echoed back.

Kazuto looked at the two girls on his left, looking so small, yet…

Looking out at the moon just through the window, his mind drifts… to a night when he was plagued with a nightmare.

"Master!?" Shuri and Hinari pushed into the tent, as Kazuto breathed heavily.

"Shuri-chan? Hinari-chan?" Kazuto coarsely asked.

"I… I heard you…" Shuri pointed lamely at the entrance of the tent. "We were still awake and…"

"We were…" Hinari blushed. "Reading…" Ah right, Hinari and Shuri were in the tent near to them, huh…

"… Sorry, you two. I just had… a bad dream…"

"… about what?" Shuri asked quietly, kneeling within, Hinari following suit.

"… I don't… want to talk about it." Kazuto lamely finished, uncertain as to how to phrase it. That the man's eyes, accusing him, calling him a monster. That he took a person's life, even though he promised Reborn… even though he swore that he would only kill if he had no other choice. Even though he…

"Kazuto-sama!" Shuri grabbed hold of him, which he violently tried to… He felt another pair of hands hold his arms back. Hinari.

"Kazuto-sama…" Hinari murmured. "Was… was that bandit your first kill?"

"E-eh?" Kazuto asked, uncertain as to what tipped them off. The bandit today was certainly the first time he killed someone. Even though… even though…

"I knew it." Shuri sighed, letting go. "Then… Why did you choose to kill him?"

"Eh?" Kazuto asked.

"You could've waited for Aisha. You could've waited for Rinrin. Why did you go out of your way to kill him yourself?" Shuri asked quietly.

"I… because… I…" Kazuto didn't know… he can't… why did he? "I… I don't know…"

What was going through his mind at that moment? Why did he, what was he thinking!? Killing. He swore… he swore that!

"I… I'm a monst…"

"No!" Shuri forcefully said. "Whatever was going through Kazuto-sama's mind at that time, you aren't a monster! There's no way someone as kind of you can be a monster!"

"Kind? But I…"

"You didn't kill a bandit to kill someone. You saved Chihou-chan." Hinari said. "Because we said the bandit was Chouhou, Chihou could be saved!"

"The reason you killed him yourself… I think it's because you didn't want to be a hypocrite."

"W-what?" Kazuto asked, violently reacting, but Hinari merely tightened her grip, reminding him that she was still there. He shouldn't do anything that could harm her… She didn't deserve to be hurt. Neither of these two does…

Shuri continued, "You didn't want to say, 'I only ordered someone to kill for me. Therefore, my hands are clean.' A coward's way of not taking responsibility. In the end, it was still you who took a person's life, then called him Chouhou because you wanted to save Chihou."

"I… Yeah… I guess that makes sense… Aisha, Rinrin… both of them have taken lives. During the fight against the Yellow Turbans, I fought as well, but I didn't kill… however, Aisha and Rinrin did. And some of my soldiers killed the people I spared. Because I was cowardly. I didn't want to kill someone…" It's been so long since that first battle. It's been festering for that long. His own hypocrisy. His own misguidance. He wants to avoid killing himself, but is perfectly happy with letting others kill for him? What kind of crazy person does that? "But then… I lied… he didn't deserve to be killed under a different name. For the use of propaganda. For the sake of saving one girl just because I thought she should be saved and he shouldn't be. Letting a man die for the sake of the ringleader of the Rebellion because the leader is cute?"

Kazuto was so out of it. He would never have said those words if he had been thinking straight.

"You didn't save Chihou just because you think she's cute! You saved her… because… because… you thought she was someone that deserved a chance. The man…" Shuri grimaced, "That bandit, he… he was evil. We heard what he planned to do. Chihou was going to be assaulted! He was going to use her to have his own army, while he blackmails her! A coward and a cheat, who just wants an easy life without working hard for it. That's why, Kazuto-sama, you shouldn't think so… so… badly about yourself."

"Then do you regret saving Chihou?" Hinari asked, still holding Kazuto from behind. Comforting pats, and gentle hugs from the girl.

"I… I don't," Kazuto said. Regardless of his thoughts, he doesn't regret saving Chihou. He regrets choosing that method, but…

"There was no planning. It was all spur of the moment. It happened. We can't change it anymore. Regardless if you're the Heavenly Messenger, Hongou Kazuto cannot change the past." Shuri forcefully said.

"… I…"

"If you regret it, then let me regret it with you." Shuri said, "I'm your strategist. Not only that, but I was there. I was right there with you. I could've told you a different plan. I could've noticed that you hated killing. I…"

"No… Shuri did nothing wrong." Kazuto sighed, calming down, as he plops down on the bedding of his tent. "Thank you, Shuri, Hinari."

"… Even if the bandit had lived, he would've died. Whether it be by Aisha-san's blade, or by execution, his death is already certain. But because you lied, Chihou could be saved. And Chihou turned out to be a good person. Is that not enough?"

Kazuto nodded slowly. He felt sleep once more take over.

"Good night… Hongou Kazuto-sama." Shuri smiled.

"Kazuto-sama is a good person, so…"

"Sawada."

""Eh?"" The two asked in unison.

"My name is Sawada. Sawada Kazuto… Hongou is a fake surname."

"Th… that's…" Hinari stuttered.

"Good night…" Kazuto smiled at them before he closed his eyes once more.

As he remembered that moment, he remembered the sheer amount of faith the two gave him. And in turn, he entrusted them with his true surname. And here they are, sleeping on his left. He'd have rubbed their heads, but his arms are occupied by the weights of their heads already. And, just like in that memory, his eyes closed.

It was the most restful night he had that month, although the scolding of Aisha that morning could do with a bit more toning down.

-()-

"Well, well, what do you think, Kazuto-sama?"

In front of Kazuto were three custom daggers that Chouseihei had procured from his store. They each have gorgeous patterns, resembling their designated person. The three daggers each had a sharp blade, but with varying designs. They basically differ in hilt color alone. One dagger's hilt is purple with golden-colored highlights. Another is similarly purple, but with silvery highlights. With one glance, Kazuto can tell they weren't real gold or silver, but the colors remain striking. The last dagger's hilt is yellow-green with blue highlights.

"I'll give you credit. They look pretty." Kazuto nodded, before grabbing one and grabbing a spare piece of parchment (one wasted by clumsiness on his part), before stabbing through it with little resistance. "Good, it's sharp too…" Kazuto smiled. "And it's fairly light." Kazuto bounced the dagger up and down, before sheathing it once more. "These are custom made, aren't they? You deliberately made them the colors of Shuri, Hinari, and Chihou." Kazuto sighed.

"But of course. It would not do if their new weapons were to clash with their current clothes."

"How much added expense is that?"

"Not much." Chouseihei chuckled. "You asked for daggers worth the coin that you gave me. I merely made use of all of it. You did not spare much expense for good daggers."

"I expected you to get high-quality normal daggers." Kazuto sighed, "Didn't think the amount I gave could buy these colors."

"I suggest allowing Houtou-sama or Koumei-sama to hold your purse next time you make transactions, Kazuto-sama." The man laughed, "You seem to have a lack of knowledge on the value of money."

"Shut up. I can at least tell if someone is scamming me." Kazuto grumbled, before taking the three daggers. Each came with a sheath similarly designed to the hilt. "I'll pass it on to the three. Thank you, Chouseihei."

"It is not a problem, Kazuto-sama." Chouseihei nodded. "You give me good business, and good business is always valued by a merchant."

"Glad to be of service." And so, the man left the room, as Kazuto stretched a bit. Shuri should be out surveying their main city with Touka. Hinari's with Chihou as the girl starts rehearsing for her next performance in town. He's already done with his state duties, so he'll just sneak out for a bit and pass on the daggers then.

And so, Kazuto placed the three daggers in his bag and walked out the door, to look for the three recipients. He knows he could've waited for later when they were meeting up at the training field, but any excuse to get out of this stuffy room is an excuse he'll take.

-()-

"Nee, futari no guuzen deau unmei nanka janakatta…"

Chihou's song reached his ears as he approached the concert hall. Well, more like a stage built near an open field, meant for celebrations, but it works fine for what it is. Chihou showed some dissatisfaction with the size, but she worked with what she got.

"Chihou-chan's becoming good at this, huh, Kazuto-kun?" Touka said from his side.

"You really did not need to come with me, Touka…" Kazuto murmured.

"And let you go around alone? Don't be silly. Besides, you're done with your work, right? Technically you're the one accompanying me~"

"… But you're following me, though?"

"It's already rare for us to patrol together, Kazuto-kun." Touka pouted.

"But we're together a lot of times regardless! The office, and the ring training! And there's no reason for us to patrol together anyway. We can do each other's jobs just fine without the other always there! It's more efficient too!"

"It's not the same, though?"

"That's enough, Kazuto-sama, Touka-sama." Shuri finally spoke up as she secured her dagger on the ribbon at her hip, finally done fiddling with it. She still seems unbalanced by the weight, but she seems to manage. She did carry that big heavy backpack around the first time.

"Sorry." Kazuto sighed. "So, do you think Bijiku-san and Bihou-san are doing well?"

"Probably?" Shuri shrugged. "I don't know why Aisha-san decided to put them as Chihou's guards, but I don't think they're complaining all that much."

"Yeah well… Hinari! Chihou! How are you doing?" Kazuto called, waving his hand at the two as they entered the area of the stage.

"Master!"

"Niisan!" The two respective girls waved back.

"Hongou-sama! Please stop being so overtly…" Sosou sighed as he seems to decide to not finish as Chihou jumped off the stage to run towards the boy.

"What brings you here, Master?" Hinari asked as she walked toward the boy.

"Well, I still need to at least oversee Chihou-chan's rehearsals, as her manager." Kazuto shrugged. Kazuto found that he actually enjoys working with Chihou's song and dance productions.

"Wasn't that my job?" Sosou muttered.

"No, your job is merchandising. Unless… you're willing to start diversifying your skillset from just merchant and into event organization?" Kazuto teased.

"No, no, I'm sorry! I don't want it!" Sosou shook his head. "I won't call myself her manager anymore, just don't put that on me!"

"… What did you do to traumatize him that much, Chihou?" Kazuto asked.

"… Ehehe…" Chihou looked away, and Kazuto decided then and there to not ask.

"Ah, it's the Heavenly Messenger!" Oh good, a distraction!

"It is! Yay!"

"Yo, Bijiku-chan, Bihou-chan." Kazuto greeted. The orange-haired sisters bound towards them with cheery smiles.

"Call me Rairai!" Bijiku told him.

"Denden!" Bihou echoed.

"If you insist, but that still won't get you in the meeting halls." Kazuto shrugged.

"Don't worry, we know that! We're the new members so we need to work up the ranks like everyone else!" Rairai nodded. "So all we have to do is impress Chouseihei-san with my merchant knowledge and Kan'u-sama with my fighting skills and we'll be set!"

"""Good luck with Aisha.""" Kazuto, Touka, and, surprisingly, Chihou remarked together. As the group was no longer a Volunteer Army, Aisha has a lot more leeway with screening new members, not needing to employ any immediately.

"How are the two doing, Chihou?" Kazuto asked.

"Hmm…" Chihou put her finger on her chin as she thought. Both Rairai and Denden looked with puppy dog eyes at the girl. She ignored them, already used to them from her older sister. "They're good bodyguards, but they're still not pulling their weight with the events."

"It's just really new, taking care of Chihou-san's logistics and stuff!" Rairai pouted. "I never know which stuff she says is needed is because she actually needs it or she's just wanting something.

"It's both." Kazuto laughed.

"That does not help." Rairai sighed.

"Just remember. Chihou-chan's technically your test run. If you do well, we'll promote you as an official. Just do your best."

"So what brought you here today, Kazuto-sama? Weren't you going to stay in the main hall to work on things?" Hinari asked.

"What things?" Kazuto chuckled. "Anyway, I'm here to give you two these." Kazuto pulled out the daggers. "Daggers to protect yourselves."

"Oh! So that's why Shuri-chan has a dagger!" Chihou said, looking at the colors of the dagger. "It even matches my outfit!" Chihou quickly snags said matching dagger. "Hmm… I might need to make something to strap it onto my leg. I don't have a lot of place on my waist." Hinari quietly takes the other dagger and secures it on her waist.

"You don't need to wear it when you dance on stage, though?" Kazuto pointed out. "You have bodyguards there. I just want you to have them whenever you go out alone."

"No, it's fine!" Chihou shook her head. "I might just end up forgetting that I have it if I don't carry it on me all the time. And it's useful to have if someone who recognizes me attacks me on stage." Chihou shivered at the thought.

"Recognizes you?" Rairai asked, "Why would anyone who recognizes you attack you? You're just a minstrel, right?"

"Yeah, of course! I'm just saying…" Chihou winced. Neither Rairai nor Denden have been informed of Chihou's circumstances. Maybe if Aisha considers them trustworthy enough.

"So… the song you were performing, last cross, by Mitsuoka Masami, right?" Kazuto changed the topic, hoping to move it out of that particular direction.

"Mmhmm." Chihou nodded. "It just… reminds me of well…"

"I see. 'We didn't meet by chance or fate. Rather it's because I was the last place you took refuge in'" Kazuto recited the first few lines. "I suppose it does fit, huh."

"Yeah. It feels like a song that fits our family the best, right now, don't you think?" Chihou asked. Kazuto knew what she was implying. This family is the last refuge for Chihou, the last place she can go to.

"It's also a relatively somber song, in comparison…" Hinari murmured. "Not as happy…"

"I have plenty of happy songs." Chihou chuckled, "And besides, the song is still hopeful, even if it's not completely happy."

"Fair enough. Fair enough."

"So, since we're here, want to let us listen to you?" Kazuto asked. "Live audience run?"

"Sure!" Chihou nodded, skipping back to the stage, her microphone in hand, and she sang.

Aisha and Rinrin would soon arrive and scold both of their sworn elder siblings, the former for abandoning duties, the latter for having fun without her.

Sei would simply laugh.

-()-

"It's finally time, Kazuto-niisan!" Rinrin grinned, as she walked side by side, towards a training field. No one other than the rulers were scheduled for this time. In the evening sky, all the members of Kazuto's family stood silently in that courtyard. Kazuto sharply looked around a bit and found no spies. That doesn't mean they didn't exist, but a cursory look was enough for now. Sei had apparently left for her own thing tonight, so she isn't here to watch the upcoming battle between Kazuto and Rinrin. Then Kazuto immediately spotted the woman up on a nearby tree, a plate of menma near her. Kazuto only blinked.

"Sure." Kazuto nodded, pulling out the pillbox containing his Dying Will Pills. More than enough time has passed between his first HDWM in this world that he was starting to get antsy and worried that he won't ever get the chance to test out his flames in a controlled environment. Also, he is unaware if the pills have some sort of expiration date, so there's that. Looking at the pillbox, he eventually saw that it did have one, and a few mental calculations since his time of arrival, about another couple of years or so. These last a long time, Kazuto notes, but he doesn't really know till when he'll be in this world either. Already it's been half a year since he arrived in this world. And yes, he considers this another world, as otherwise, the inconsistencies with history are too big to ignore. Japanese is not China's language, for one. No matter what shenanigans happened due to historians, there's no way this world is the past.

At any rate, back to the fight with Rinrin. Kazuto pulls out two pills (20 left) and hands the pillbox to Hinari, who examines the object with a curious eye as if the container itself is worthy of note.

"I don't want either of you to hurt each other, okay?" Touka called out from the sides. "This is just to make sure Kazuto-kun can last while using his Sky Flames."

"I'll be testing out some of my other tools too," Kazuto replied. "For now, sword…" he pulled out his wooden sword from his box, "contacts and earpiece," two flames split and entered his eyes and ear respectively, "… Not wearing my suit." He's currently wearing some normal clothing from this era, or well… normal by the standards of everyone in the courtyard. "And… shoes later." Kazuto briefly considered finally practicing using his flight boots, but he'll save that for after a ground spar with Rinrin. He's not as well-trained with that as he'd hope.

"Ready, oniichan!?"

"Yeah!" Kazuto nodded, downing the two pills immediately. Everyone watched as a single flame burst from Kazuto's head, eliciting a gasp from all that has not seen it before. Including Sei, who almost dropped her plate, Kazuto notes in amusement.

"Kazuto-niisan's head is on fire!" Chihou exclaimed. A sheathed dagger hangs from her waist.

"That's normal, Chihou-chan," Touka assured.

"It's not dangerous?" Shuri asked.

"It's perfectly fine, Shuri," Kazuto called back. He then looked at his phone and set the stopwatch ticking. "Here you go, Hinari." Hinari quickly returned to the others.

Alright, let's start, he thought in his head, as his wooden sword is held at the ready.

-()-

Kazuto's Hyper Dying Will Mode… Shuri was uncertain as to how to feel about it. When he drank the medicine, the fire on his head elicited a shock from her, but after a while, she noticed a lot more about it. His eyes slanted, not in a menacing way, but it does make Kazuto's usually gentle face turn to a much more serious one. It is reminiscent of the times when Kazuto was angry during meetings, but this is more pensive, tranquil. As if deep in thought. His brow furrows slightly. Even his hands seem to subtly shift, although she wasn't entirely sure.

The way Kazuto moves changed drastically in comparison to before. He moved more fluidly and is even managing to get a few hits in against Rinrin. Rinrin is having a tough time keeping Kazuto away, her spear's length keeping Kazuto away.

He casually weaves around Rinrin's swings, punishing the attacks with counters, and jumping away once in a while, to take a breath. Rinrin, in turn, took more caution with her attacks, defending each hit, although only barely, and chasing after the boy.

"Master is making a lot of unneeded movements," Aisha observed.

That was true. Kazuto's making a lot of flourishes, that even an untrained person like herself could barely catch. Subtly, she felt the dagger given by Kazuto-sama just this morning. Hinari and Chihou had both received their daggers at the same time, but she felt a bit of pride over the two since she had been alone at the time, although she wasn't entirely sure why.

"Milord is skilled enough to do so." Sei's voice casually interrupts her train of thought.

"What do you mean, S…. Sei!?" And the audience immediately spun to see Sei holding a plate of menma, chuckling.

"You need to work on your ability to check for presences." Sei laughed, before sitting down with the rest. "Anyway, the biggest problem for Rinrin-dono is that milord is exploiting the biggest weakness of her weapon. Rinrin-dono is stronger than milord, that is obvious. A single glancing hit against him is dangerous. But the weapon itself is too large. It is suited for taking large swaths of enemies with no room to dodge. Milord has all of the room to dodge her hits, and with that… flame thing he has, it seems he's fast enough to do so. Fast enough that he has enough leeway to do things that slow him down."

"I see…" Hinari nodded. "It's been around ten minutes since Kazuto and Rinrin started sparring…"

"Got it." Aisha nodded. "That's enough, Master, Rinrin!"

"Eh…? But I was going to win!" Rinrin pouted, as she withdrew with a jump.

A soft smile appeared on Kazuto's lips, something Shuri noted as reminiscent of his normal gentle smiles, although his eyes are still slanted in the seriousness that pervaded Hyper Dying Will Mode. "At any time, when I hit you, I could've turned my sword into well…" Kazuto subtly holds his wooden sword differently, shifting into a steel blade. "In turn, you only hit me once. A graze to my side, which I deliberately allowed so that I can hit you. I'd think it's my victory."

"I was going to last longer!"

"I don't doubt that. Hyper Dying Will Mode does not boost my stamina." Kazuto laughed. "If anything, it's more tiresome. If I wanted a battle of attrition, I would've stayed in my normal form."

"… Not fair! Oniisan has fought Rinrin without the flame-forehead thing so you know how I fight, but you changed your entire fighting style! It's like fighting an entirely new person!"

"If you mean I became more reckless, then yes." Kazuto laughed. "This mode does make me more assured to take risks that I normally wouldn't."

"There are some things I have to take issue with your form as well, Mast-" Kazuto's glare was even more intense this time, causing Aisha to immediately backpedal, "Kazuto-sama…"

"If you're talking about unnecessary movements, why don't you try if you can punish me?" Kazuto smiled, holding out his wooden sword. "In a battle against someone stronger but less skilled than me, I'm confident I can take them. What about someone I think would beat me in skill?" Kazuto asked. "I want to see where I stand." Aisha looked in surprise before acquiescing. She pulled out her Green Dragon Crescent Blade and walked to the field.

"Very well. I'll be your partner this time."

Shuri looked at the two and sighed, as Kazuto started fidgeting with his phone again, displaying another ten minutes, before handing it back to Hinari.

It seems Kazuto wants to at least milk the situation for all he can. Well, this was also a test of how long he can last in this form, so it's okay… Awkwardly, she touched the middle finger on her right hand, a ring sorely absent from its perch. She hoped she can learn how to use her flames soon so that she can be worthy before someone else appears that is more suited.

-()-

Hinari watched as Kazuto matched Aisha blow for blow. Neither was managing to hit the other. It seems Aisha's skill was truly a league above Rinrin. In a battle of attrition, there was little doubt that Rinrin would be the winner, but Rinrin is sorely lacking in the finesse that both are showing here. Rinrin's short height might've given Rinrin some advantage against her taller foes as well, giving less room to hit, but less room didn't mean no room.

"Hinari is mean…" Rinrin pouted.

"Awawa!" Hinari exclaimed as the others looked at her in amusement. "You heard that!?"

"Shuri did. We didn't." Touka laughed in amusement. "Rinrin has better ears than us so she heard it too."

"Hinari-chan, you shouldn't go so deep in thought that you start murmuring instead," Shuri said with a small smile.

"Awawa…" Hinari murmured, "Shuri-chan too…"

"That's!" Shuri raised her voice with a blush.

"It's fine, it's fine. I'm sure Rinrin-dono is aware of her own weaknesses." Sei chuckled. "Even I can tell. She's maneuverable even with a long spear, like the Viper Spear, but the Viper Spear itself is an issue since its size makes it difficult to use in a one-on-one fight against a skillful opponent fast enough to weave around it."

"Rinrin will practice," Rinrin says in a grumble. "If I'm not strong enough to beat Kazuto-oniisan, then how can I protect him from people who are dangerous to him?"

"Then I suppose… you fill master's weakness." Shuri says, looking at the field again. "Can't you tell? Now that Kazuto-sama is fighting Aisha-san, surely you can see it?"

"Hmm… what do you mean?" Touka asked.

"Kazuto-sama has given up trying to fight Aisha smartly," Shuri replied. "All he's doing now is reacting and counterattacking. He doesn't initiate, he doesn't take charge. It's as if he stopped thinking altogether…" Kazuto weaves around another attack, jumping backward, before sending a long slice of fire towards Aisha, who deftly dodges it, with a wave of her weapon. Kazuto hasn't even spoken once during the fight.

"Now that you mention it, Koumei-dono…" Sei says, observing the battle. "I believe you're right. Milord was certainly taking point during the first few minutes, but now he's entirely on the defensive."

"Eh…? Shuri-chan was able to read the fight!? Since when was Shuri a fighting savant too?" Touka asked.

"Th-that's! I just noticed that Master has yet to attack." Shuri murmured. "His fire hits are always to keep Aisha occupied after backing off."

"So is Aisha-chan going to win?" Touka asked, confused. "Since Kazuto is on the defensive?"

"But Kazuto-sama has yet to take a hit." Hinari chimed in, "This isn't a knockout fight, but a timed one. A defensive tactic is better than an offensive one in this case." Hinari looked at Kazuto's device.

"That's in the realm of strategy." Sei nodded. "But in the realm of strength, pure defensive tactics aren't going to get you a win."

"Then good thing offense is your job." Kazuto's haggard voice enters their area. "Chihou, water…" Chihou quickly took the pitcher of water on her side and poured the boy some. Kazuto seems to have reached his limit. The flame on his head is starting to peter out, spluttering like a dying campfire. Its warmth is still there, but it's obvious that he's exhausted. "I clearly surpassed my original ten-minute mark before arriving in this world, but how long was that, Hinari?" Hinari wordlessly passed the phone to Kazuto, who observed the time. "Around seventeen minutes of near-constant combat. Not bad all told. I think my time in the first war against the Yellow Turbans was better though… but the exhaustion is certainly real."

"So you cut off before a winner was reached?" Sei asked, disappointed.

"Aisha was winning. I gave up." Kazuto sighed. He refilled the glass and handed it to Aisha, who was wiping off her sweat with a towel handed to her by Shuri. Shuri quickly approached him and handed him his own towel. Aisha accepted the glass, as he took the towel.

"Thanks, Shuri." Kazuto wiped his face, careful to avoid the flame still burning on his forehead.

"Umm, shouldn't you stop soon?" Touka asked, pointing to her own forehead.

"It's fine. I want to check out my flying as well. Being exhausted should serve as a good way to make sure I don't fly too high off the ground." Kazuto chuckled as he put his ring into a box on his belt, summoning a pair of shoes that cover his own.

"Flying!?" Everyone exclaimed.

"Hovering at best. I'm not maneuverable enough yet." Kazuto sighed, as he put some flame into his boots. "If I fall over, I'm going to cry," Kazuto grumbled, as he started hovering, flames bursting out of his shoes. "Good. I'm still at least able to do this…" Kazuto breathed in relief. He hoped that the flames wouldn't suddenly send him spiraling, due to the output. But it seems he's still capable of regular hovering. "I'm not going to risk going higher than this."

"Why?" Touka asked, suddenly interested.

"Because if I fall over and break my neck, no one in the world would be able to heal me," Kazuto grumbled, causing everyone to flinch.

"Good." Aisha sighed, "At least you are not as reckless with your life as I thought."

"Oh, haha. Coming from the girl who soundly deflected all the attacks I could come up with." Kazuto snarked, his flame finally blowing out, his shoes disappearing, allowing him to land properly. "Come on, it's late. I'm sure the cooks are done making us food."

"Oh right! Let's go!" Rinrin said, "I'm hungry!"

"You three still need to clean up before going back," Touka replied, noting the disheveled appearances of her three sworn siblings. Kazuto chuckled weakly, while both Aisha and Rinrin looked at themselves before they too started chuckling. Soon, a chain reaction of laughter began, even though nothing funny was said. But the infectious laughter of the group carried them through.

Just another day in the territory of Ryuubi.

-()-

Months after Kentei's crowning as the emperor has passed. Aisha and Rinrin were dragged into their sessions, although not without much pouting and annoyance from both for the initial exclusion. Neither has been able to light the ring as of recent, although Kazuto notes that Rinrin is close. Shuri has managed to light a spark, so Hinari had begun her own training. So far, only Touka has been able to consistently light her ring. However, she still couldn't get the flames to cover her sword, the next step. ("There is no inherent advantage to lighting a sword on fire; it's just really intimidating." Kazuto remarks once, causing all five to look at him with a weary look.) Shuri has yet to consistently light it, although it's getting better with each training session. Hinari has yet to light it at all. Chihou once barged in, although all she did was watch and occasionally cheer her friends on. Sei never decided to come into the room.

But with this progress, a messenger arrives in the two skies' domain. This messenger is from Kousonsan's domain. The messenger leaves a perplexing message with the two magistrates, requiring the calling of all their officers into the meeting hall. Fortunately, no one was out of town, with Chihou's event scheduled in town, and Aisha having confidence in Kouhei's ability to send patrols out.

And so, the budding family looks at a perplexing message:

Ryuubi Gentoku,

Enshou Honsho has called for a gathering of warlords,
to end Toutaku's tyranny in the Imperial Capital of Rakuyou.

In honor of our alliance, I ask that you aid me in taking back the capital.
I hope for a favorable response.

Kousonsan Hakukei

-()-

Chapter End

-()-

Chapter Release Date: August 24, 2019
Last Edited: June 12, 2022

-()-

Beta Reader: No one, at least, yet.

Welp, here we go. Last chapter before I go on a break from weekly uploads. And yes, by the time I upload the next chapter, the Toutaku Arc should be completely done. However, I'll probably still upload it weekly to put a buffer time between the two chapters. Enough time to do corrections or add scenes I want to add.

So some things I want to address here for now.

Shuri and the crossbow. Historically, Zhuge Liang made improvements to the repeating crossbow. I thought it would be nice to give her a weapon or two. While we're at it, Shuri, Hinari, and Chihou's daggers are mainly for self-defense so that the non-combatant girls always have a method of defense. Considering the climate of the era, it felt weird for Kazuto not to put defenses on his familia members. This is my Kazuto's paranoia and protectiveness of his familia. Canon Kazuto is a lot more laidback, but after years of badgering to get familia members, my Kazuto has a heightened protective instinct for familia. The girls consider it more just Kazuto's gift to them so they adjusted the tools to be carried on their person. Although, considering their backgrounds, they may forget to maintain them.

The flashback scene with Shuri and Hinari. Chronologically, it's the night of the day Kazuto got his first kill. I was going to put that scene somewhere in that chapter, or the chapter after… but it didn't feel appropriate anywhere there. So, a flashback will do. It's an important scene to show because it's the moment Kazuto entrusted his true surname to Shuri and Hinari, two of the more valuable members of what will become Shoku. Shuri more so, seeing who Zhuge Liang becomes in history.

The bed scene. Nope, something original from me. Just a sort of physical relationship progression. Touka's the only one who enters his bed with no room for complaint. Everyone else uses the extra bed.

Touka is likely the main girl for Kazuto right now. Touka is the most honest person in the room, and Kazuto's hyper intuition makes him see her as someone trustworthy due to this. He likes everyone else a lot, though, and would admit that Aisha is probably the most physically appealing to him. From a story standpoint, Touka is the most likely to drag other people into her relationship. She's greedy enough to want to monopolize but kind enough to want to share. Aisha gets jealous easily. Rinrin and Chihou are selfish enough to want it on their own. And Shuri and Hinari are too soft-spoken to take charge and become the main wife. Besides, the latter four also look too young for Kazuto. They're all legal though; Kazuto's only a scant few years older than any of them.