To the promised planet

Chapter7: Eyes of the demon

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It was late morning. Kamui laid on the floor, kicking his legs in the small Japanese house he rented. He looked at the ceiling. It had been a week since he was stuck on this planet.

He shouldn't be here. Where he should be is the battlefield. So far, the 7th division had been scattered to where he didn't know. Abuto also disappeared. He's not dead, is he? Or maybe they were having fun fighting with Harusame. Thinking about that made him somewhat annoyed. He jumped, sat up, and looked outside.

After a while, the sun would surely shine more. But lying around the house like this is too boring. Kamui finally decided to grab his umbrella and go explore Edo again.


Back to the day when she stopped by Yoshiwara. Of course, she was summoned by Momochi after Shinobi, who was her bodyguard that day, reported the incident.

"Princess, I understand that you want to go out, but please don't put yourself at risk."

"I'm sorry, Momochi-san. I was drunk at that time..." No, even if she's not drunk, she'd interfere anyway. "He claimed himself to be a samurai but he was harassing others. I just can't stand looking at it."

"No, princess, it's not that."

"?"

"They reported that you were with Yato."

"T...That guy." Soyo was silent for a moment before continuing. "Don't worry. Even though he's Yato, he's still my best friend's brother."

"Doesn't sound like you're close to him at all. He can't be trusted."

What Momochi said was true. But she's pretty sure everything will be alright. "Don't worry. We have an agreement. He definitely won't hurt me."

Hearing that, Momochi couldn't say anything, even though she didn't know what agreement the princess was talking about. Her job is to be a bodyguard. As for political decisions, she shouldn't cross the line.

Three days later, Soyo met Aki at home to ask about finding a spaceship for Kamui.

Aki bowed her head and offered a huge apology even though she hadn't done anything wrong. "It's okay, Aki-san. Thank you for helping." All letters that were sent to the Tokugawa family's former servants were rejected. There's not even a single reply letter. No wonder. Because of the current situation, no one would dare to risk their lives to mingle with the princess who was still being targeted. They probably wanted to live their lives peacefully.

If Mizo was with her, everything would have been easier. Jiiya was like an old consultant in that castle. He's in the castle right now. Soon he'll be able to survive and come back to her. But it's a little painful because, in the past, the Jiiya was always there to help and keep her on track. When he wasn't around, it made her feel strangely awkward.

Soyo shook her head and told herself.

'It's time to take care of yourself, Soyo.'


It was late morning. Soyo decided to go out again. She put on the same wide-brimmed straw hat and walked down the street. She stopped at a grocery store when she caught sight of the red box.

'Pickled Seaweed' reminded her of Kagura. Now 3 boxes of it were already in her hand. She didn't know how Kagura's doing. If Kagura was here too, she would have given her two boxes of these.

As Soyo was staring blankly at the box of pickled seaweed, a shadow suddenly appeared from behind.

"Is that thing that delicious?"

"Kamui-san?!" As Soyo lifted the white cloth attached to the hat and turned to the voice, she saw a familiar face. He bent down and put his chin on her shoulder then looked at the red box curiously.

"Yo," he greeted with a smile on his face. Although their faces were so close, Soyo didn't step back and Kamui continued to ask. "So, is that thing in your hand delicious?"

"Strange but good. I remember I asked you but you refused to taste it."

"I can't recall that," he shrugged.

"Will you try it this time?"

Kamui nodded and took the pickled seaweed. He put it in his mouth as Soyo looked at him expectantly. "How is it?"

"Not bad."

"Is that right?" Soyo said excitedly.

"But I don't think I'll ever eat it again." Hearing that, Soyo immediately turned pale and pulled back the box of pickled seaweed in his hand.

"This is Kagura-chan's favorite snack."

The name reminded them of the day they went to Yoshiwara. Soyo gulped down awkwardly. Fortunately, Kamui pretended not to hear and didn't say anything about it.

"I'm starting to wonder why I keep bumping into you." Soyo quickly changed the subject. They kept walking, and of course, meeting Kamui like this, she wouldn't be able to go anywhere other than a restaurant.

"I thought this thing is enough to hide my identity." Soyo touched her hat. The white cloth attached to the hat was covering her face.

"Hmm…" Kamui paused to think. "Well, It's actually not a coincidence."

"Eh?"

Kamui pulled off his dull white cloak and covered Soyo. She had a confused look on her face, raising her head to look at him.

"Trying to disguise but still wearing that kind of dress. Who can't tell? if he's not crazy, then he's blind."

The blue eyes staring at hers made her feel like she had stopped breathing for a moment. The warmth from his body on his cloak wrapped around her.

And before Soyo could say anything, she found that Hitoshibashi's samurai were patrolling. She kept her mouth shut and turned away until they walked away from the area.

"I guess I need to buy a cloak." At least she wasn't wearing the official princess bulky clothes and accessories like she used to. But her, in a simple kimono, still caught this Yato eyes. "But for now, can I borrow this for a day?" Soyo asked, grabbing the cloth that was covering her.

Kamui smiled...it must have been like that. Today, he did not want to mess with the weak and annoying government flies. He wanted to eat a large meal in peace.

As they sat in a Japanese restaurant, Kamui was enjoying his meal. Soyo looked at the empty plate that kept rising. It reminded her of the first time they met.

"I realized it just now."

"Huh?" Kamui raised his eyebrow.

Soyo looked at his round eyes before replying in a simple tone. "Kamui-san… you are such a glutton."

Kamui swallowed the food, surprised for a moment before bursting out a laugh. "I'm going to teach you something, princess?" He explained with the hand holding the chopsticks pointing up. "When someone feeds you, you must order without hesitation so they don't feel embarrassed."

"Really? I didn't know that before."

Kamui tried to hold back his laughter, but couldn't bear to see her innocent face that looked so clueless. He covered his mouth and turned away.

"Kamui-san…"

"Huh?" He was still trying to hold back his laughter.

"It's too early for you to fool me."

Kamui can't hold back anymore. Soyo also covered her mouth and laughed.

After finishing his laugh, Kamui continued, "Ah, I almost forgot." He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a pale pink handkerchief.

But Soyo knew it wasn't hers.

"The one you gave, I couldn't wash the blood out so I bought a new one."

Soyo took it and looked surprised. "Actually, you don't have to return it." She didn't even think Kamui would care about such a small matter.

Kamui narrowed his eyes as if dissatisfied with the answer. "If you don't want just take it back-"

"But thank you." Soyo smiled lightly as she put it in her kimono.

"Right...It's your money anyway."

"Is that so?." Soyo laughed lightly.

It's not about whose money he used to buy it at all...

"What about my ship?" Kamui asked the important matter, causing Soyo to startle a little.

"Ah… er, It's-."

"Don't tell me you still can't find it?"

She sighed, "There's a small problem, but you don't have to worry. Everything will be fine."

He thought that he would soon hear the good news, but he didn't. "I don't want to stay here for long."

"Even I can live and eat delicious food for free," Kamui muttered and didn't say anything more.

Being around the princess wasn't too bad, but soon everything would start to get more and more boring. Maybe he should find another easier and faster way.

Kamui looked at the princess' serious face.

...Princess of Edo, isn't she a good bargain?


Although initially suspicious and distrustful, Soyo didn't mind Yato who roams around her almost every day. He might come to her in the middle of the day. Or sometimes if she didn't go out, he would show up to her at night.

And many times Kamui liked to hang his head from the roof and pulled her up to sneak away to travel outside.

But there was one time when Momochi heard one's existence from the roof. If at that time Soyo hadn't quickly stopped her, Momochi must have used cannon to fire until the whole house was destroyed.

"Wait Momochi-san. He is probably my friend."

"What kind of friend sneaking on the roof like a thief like this, princess?" Seeing that Momochi raised the cannon again, Soyo quickly pulled her arm back.

"If you shoot, people around here will be panic."

Momochi sighed, "Princess, honestly I don't trust your friend at all," she whispered.

"Even so, you can't just attack him." Because no one here can fight this Yato.

"It wasn't 'just' attack. Your friend is on top of our heads now, princess."

"He has never used the entrance as normal people do anyway. Don't think too much."

"...I'll let go for this time." Because the intruder seemed to be away. "But if the princess' friend acted like this again, I'll presume that he has bad intentions."

Momochi warned and Soyo understood well.


"Kamui-san, I think you'd better stop coming to me from the roof," said Soyo as she sat swinging on the swing. Kamui who was sitting next to her swallowed the last takoyaki before answering.

"Why?"

"If I don't come out at day, I'll be waiting here at night."

Their meeting has become a daily routine, and Soyo knows that Even she told Kamui to stop meeting, he probably wouldn't listen.

"And these days, I probably won't come out often during the day. But please just don't come to my house again."

Kamui was silent for a moment before replying, "Okay, it's a pity because the restaurant is less open at night."

Soyo laughed lightly. "Are you worried about that?"

"But don't you feel uncomfortable being watched all the time?" Kamui smiled at Soyo. "I can handle it for you."

"You mustn't hurt them!" Soyo hurriedly stopped with a tense expression on her face.

"I don't have to listen to your opinion, princess," he challenged.

"If you hurt them I'll curse your OOO to be worn out that it was completely unusable!"

"What?" Kamui's face instantly twisted. "Where did you learn that kind of word?"

"I heard from Tsukuyo-san," Soyo thought, trying to recall the past "Eh… or is it Kagura-chan?"

Kamui was shocked before getting up and walking out of there.

"Wait a minute, Kamui-san! You mustn't mess with Momochi.-san" Soyo ran after him and Kamui turned to her with a big smile.

"That depends on you."

"How?"

"Well, Between I'm bored with you and You can find a spaceship for me, what will happen first?"

"Does that mean…you're interested in me right now?"

Kamui almost choked out Takoyaki he had just swallowed. "Hey, don't say anything that sounds dangerous like that, princess. A cry baby brat like you is not my type," Kamui said, pounding on his chest. "And I'll be in trouble"

Soyo laughed, that moment Kamui realized that he had been teased by this woman again.

"But no one can hurt you anyway"

He made a face as if he had just remembered that fact before turning to smile proudly at the princess. "You're right."

Soyo's sometimes curious about his smile. She didn't know what Kamui was thinking or what he was feeling, and she wasn't sure that when he laughed with her, it's sincere or fake because the smile was always painted on his face.

but with those uncertainties, Soyo just chose to ignore them.

She wasn't taught to trust anyone easily. Especially with people who used to be enemies, and should not be trusted. But it seems that closeness and that smile are slowly breaking down the wall between her and Kamui.

Night after night passed. Both the substantive and unsubstantiated conversations made them almost forget their first purpose…

"Kamui-san," the princess called out to the owner's name in the darkness of edo night.

…At least for Soyo.

"If you're thinking of surprising me from the back like before, don't do it. You can't fool me again."

Footsteps sounded from behind.

"Kamui-san?" She turned to the voice. Feeling something rubbed against her face, her consciousness blacked out.

But not for Kamui.


The prisoner transport ship is heading towards Kokujo Island. There are Shinsengumi in the ship, who sharpen their swords, ready to help Kondo escape from prison. But it seems they failed to sneakly attack because the Shinsengumi was the one who was attacked by Naraku first.

Of course, Yorozuya also joined the battle.

Kagura fired bullets at the Naraku on the ship. But of course, they were well trained, just a bullet that hits a straight line doesn't do much damage.

Three of them attacked Kagura with Khakkhara at the same time. The purple umbrella slipped out of her hand, but her Yato instinct responded quickly. She jumped to stand on the edge of the ship before jumping and kicking the three to the other side. She sat down to pick up the umbrella on the ground but stopped midway.

The umbrella handle was chipped, causing the sticker that was taken with an important friend to almost peel off.

Kagura hurriedly stroked it back to get it firmly attached.

shadows cast from above, but even if he didn't dodge, she wouldn't be injured because the man with glasses was looking after her.

"What's wrong, Kagura-chan?" Shinpachi asked as he used his sword to defend her from the Naraku's Khakkhara.

Kagura hurriedly got up and used her umbrella to attack back. "I felt like something bad is going to happen aru."

"This's not a playground. If you don't focus, you'll die," said Okita, swinging his sword.

"A beautiful lady like me won't die easily."

"And what brought you here?"

"Gin-chan said that if we didd't come to help, he's afraid that Sho-chan ghost will haunt him."

"That's Aniki's reason. I'm asking you."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Are you so worried about me? So you've finally become a gorilla stalker for real? Ah...last time you also followed-"

Tud!!

"Okita-san!!!" Shinpachi shouted, rushing towards Okita, who was hit by Kagura's umbrella. His body flew and bumped into Naraku.

"D…don't you dare to say something like that! I'm going to puke!" Kagura raised her voice as she blasted the Naraku, releasing hot blood in her body.


It was around 2 a.m., the room where the princess was supposed to be was empty.

Momochi quickly turned around and ordered all Shinobi to come together. "Go and find her! Hurry up!"

Hattori Zenzou trusts and puts the Princess in her care. If the princess gets harmed, how could she face him? Oniwaban will be perceived as being unable to protect the Tokugawa family not once but twice, both brother and sister.

"Now it's my turn," a cheerful voice called from behind.

Momochi quickly turned to the voice, "You are!?"


Soyo didn't know how long she had slept. Regaining consciousness, she pushed herself up from the tatami floor and looked around. It was a simple Japanese room but looked like it was prepared for an official meeting.

"It's really hard to find you, Tokugawa Soyo." It was a familiar voice that the Edo people often heard through announcements on TV.

Hitotsubashi Nobunobu

Soyo sat up on the single seat in the middle of the room that seemed to be specially prepared for her and stared at the man who was sipping tea on the higher floor.

"Why are you looking at me like that? as if I had done something really bad to you before."

She wasn't tied up. Nobunobu probably didn't think that this small girl alone would be able to escape from the samurai who stood guarding the shogun around the room.

"What do you want?" Soyo asked straight to the point, trying her best to keep a calm expression on her face, even though her heart was now beating in fear.

"Why are you in such a hurry? I just want to talk to my relative whom I haven't seen for a while."

She was silent for a moment before answering. "… Fine then. Where should we start?" Soyo didn't know what he wanted and what he planned to do next. She only knew that she get out of here as fast as she could.

Nobunobu smirked contently. "So how about starting with the old man who served you?"

"Jiiya?! What did you do to him? where is he now?!"

"Oho, He seems to be very important to the former princess like you," said Nobunobu, tapping his finger on his leg.

"Answer my question."

"Hah." Hearing Soyo's harsh voice made him feel irritated. "I'm a compassionate person. An old man who doesn't even have arms like that is useless, so he's fired."

"Just fired? That doesn't sound like you at all." But the response made Soyo felt relief, "So, what do you want from me?"

"Take my side and don't fight against me."

As expected, Nobunobu tried to assemble the political power and took advantage of her.

"And if I refuse?"

NobuNobu sneered. Even if he didn't say it, Soyo knew the answer well.

"Old Bakufu and those boorish samurai could never win the war. Isn't it better if you're on my side?"

"Whether I'm on your side or not doesn't make any difference. No matter what happens, they will come to reclaim this country. Because they are...Tokugawa Shigeshige's friend"

Soyo continued, "Besides that if you're really confident that you're going to win the upcoming war, you wouldn't have to convince me to be on your side."

NobuNobu's eyebrows twitched.

"I have many friends who stand by my side. If you point your sword at me, they will point their swords at you back without hesitation."

"Friends?" Nobunobu's eyes widened, turning left and right before laughing loudly. "You don't have any friends left, the people, Shinsengumi or even Oniwabanshuu…"

"Oniwaban?" Momochi-san?

"That's right, by now they might be busy looking for you or...go serve your brother in hell."

Soyo bit her lip. "Do you think I will believe your words? Don't underestimate them too much. Your comrades are not as weak as you think." She smiled sweetly, as if unfazed. "The one who goes to hell is probably you."

Clank!

The teacup was put down loudly. Veins on the shogun's face appeared clearly.

"Of course if it was a mere samurai, they wouldn't be able to fight Oniwaban." Nobunobu looked at the samurai around the room with an insulting look. "But if it was a strong amanto, it wouldn't be difficult."

There was fear occurring in her mind and Soyo tried not to believe her instincts.

"Come in," Nobunobu called. The door slowly slid open with a familiar look woman, but this time she looked different. Neat hair and formal clothes, she bowed low to the Shogun and sat silently.

"Aki-san?" The question relentlessly popped in Soyo's head, her breathing stifling as she started to understand the situation.

There was no reply from the Tokugawa old loyalists because they'd never received the letter in the first place.

"At first I was afraid that you would suspect a bit, but it doesn't seem like you learned anything from your brother's death, former princess." Nobunobu chuckled.

Soyo looked at Aki, whose expression was still. "But I helped you…"

"You seem confused, 'everything' was a performance from the first place."

Soyo gritted her teeth.

Why?

Why it has to be her and her brother who has been betrayed over and over again?

"It must be thanks to that Yato that made everything easier."

"Yato...Kamui-san?" Soyo clenched her fist. "What does Kamui-San have to do with this?!"

"What, do I have to explain everything?"

No, Soyo knew, but she chose not to believe it. She just couldn't believe it.

"That Yato offered himself to lure you out without letting Oniwaban know in exchange for a temporary truce with Tendoshuu and only one spaceship."

Soyo was stunned and couldn't fully breathe.

"I never want your head ."

Lie. She almost died, how many times she couldn't count. If Kamui hadn't saved her, she probably wouldn't have had a chance to sit and breathe like this.

"I just want to get rid of Shigeshige limbs that will become thorns in the future. And I've already got what I wanted."

"What do you mean? Just make me listen to all these things, did you even have to catch me here? You know well that I'll never be on your side. I will never betray my brother or my friend."

"The word friend that you trust so much does not exist." Nobunobu got up and slid the door open. "Well, I didn't expect you to agree in the first place." He raised his hand towards the exit. "Go, Tokugawa Soyo, go find your friends that are nothing but corpses. You alone are worthless now."

Soyo got up and walked through the exit door. She looked at Nobunobu's confident gaze for a second before hurriedly running down the corridor and leaving.

'I tried to give you a chance to live but you threw it away. How pity...believing in the thing that doesn't exist, both brother and sister. Then just die in the most pathetic way.'

The samurai who guarded the Shogun pretended to run after him, but "No," Nobunobu raised his hand to stop them. "Let everything goes with the plan." Then, laughter echoed through the room.

When she came out of the house, she realized that it wasn't a secret place or anything. It's just an ordinary large Japanese house.

Soyo ran, ran, and ran. In the quiet Edo night, The tumultuous voice in her mind rang out as if to erupt.

Even though the road here looked unfamiliar, she didn't stop running.

Arriving at the house, she stopped and looked around as her breath sank.

There is no sign of the Oniwaban or Momochi, but she heard something. There was some noise in that room...in her room.

A trembling hand slowly slid the door.

smell of blood

among the scattered soulless bodies, there was one figure still standing. Even it was a moonless night, the blue eyes shone visibly clear. It was as if the demon had awakened tonight.

Yes, Soyo wasn't taught to trust anyone easily and it seems that after this, she must remember it well.

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