Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As usual, I've been away for far too long. I had originally intended to get this done in November of the previous year, but some mental blocks and a few good things on Netflix stopped that from happening... Either way, it's chapter five time!
One quick note before starting this chapter: I'll be introducing the mysterious Tsukikage for the first time in this chapter, and she'll be on stage singing. Her music is inspired by several different genres (punk rock, big band, edm, traditional Japanese instrumental). I wanted something very wild and energetic, with a touch of elegance to it. I know it's probably impossible to convey my vision for her music just through text, but I thought it might be a good idea to give the names of some musicians and songs I listened to that inspired Tsukikage for me. So at the risk of being made fun of for my crappy taste, here's the Tsukikage playlist:
The Tsukikage Playlist: For Your Entertainment (Adam Lambert); Little Miss Obsessive (Ashley Simpson); Rusted From the Rain (Billy Talent); Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler); Breaking Benjamin (I Will Not Bow / The Diary of Jane); Fall Out Boy (Light 'Em Up / Centuries / Immortals / Sugar, We're Going Down Swinging / Thanks for the Memories / Dance, Dance); Wrong Side of Heaven (Five Finger Death Punch); Holiday (Green Day); Take Me to Church (Hozier); Imagine Dragons (Radioactive / Believer); My Chemical Romance (Bulletproof Heart / House of Wolves / Welcome to The Black Parade / Teenagers / Dead / Kill All Your Friends / Famous Last Words / Helena / I Don't Love You / The Light Behind Your Eyes); A Million Ways (Ok Go); Sirens (Pearl Jam); Don't Stop Me Now (Queen); Rock of Ages Soundtrack; Stick It To The Man (School of Rock Soundtrack); Me Against the World (Simple Plan); Hero (Skillet); In Her Bedroom (Story of the Year); Three Days Grace (Broken Glass / Chalk Outline / Fallen Angel / Gone Forever / Home / I Am Machine / It's All Over / The High Road / Over and Over / Riot); Transistor Soundtrack (We All Become / The Spine / In Circles); Headstrong (Trapt)
Some of these I like for the music, some for the lyrics, and some for the energy or the flow. But anyway, this is what comes to mind when I think of Tsukikage's music. Hope this helps visualize her and her music more clearly. I hope you enjoy chapter 5!
Yaksha City, 15 Years Ago…
Ujiyasu wasn't one for fairy tales with happy endings, but after the week he'd had, this one was a welcome surprise. Taking control of Terrera had been a huge victory for Yoshimoto, and it made sense that Chrysalia would want to keep its momentum. With seven kingdoms now under their control, they would feel near invincible. Compared to the fight Shingen put up, Yaksha must surely seem like easy pickings. His territory's western borders had been bombarded for well over two months now, reaching its height four days ago. Chrysalia's warlord probably thought having Shingen lead the charge would assure his victory. He thought wrong. Ujiyasu still remained undefeated within his own territory.
Not helping his stress levels was that terror Kenshin to the north. Despite his tumultuous relationship with the Uesugi kid, he hadn't expected to have any real trouble with him. He wasn't interested in expanding his territory for the sake of it, and between his sister Aya and his newfound rival Shingen, his battle-lust would be kept in check. Ujiyasu was hoping this sudden desire to invade Cragspur came from a need to defend against Yoshimoto's encroaching army. If Kenshin and Aya still held some sort of grudge against him after all this time, then it was never going to go away. And if things continued on as they were, then he might be forced to step out of his comfort zone and go on the offensive to protect his own kingdoms. Not something he was eager to do. All because Yoshimoto came along and threw a wrench into the system.
But there had been a glimmer of light over the last three days. Chrysalia's army had been forced to fall back from their assault on Yaksha in order to deal with increasing pressure on their western territories. In Greenleaf, Lord Motonari had made headway against Yoshimoto, claiming Violight kingdom for himself. Meanwhile, Kenshin had taken a break from making Ujiyasu's life miserable to reclaim Pugilis kingdom, which had been taken from Illusio's control last month. Ujiyasu's scouts had told him that now Motonari was making plans to head for Aurora next, in an effort to gain control of Ransei's western coast, and Shingen intended to use the sudden chaos to take back Terrera. He had also received reports of warriors from both Illusio and Terrera's armies moving towards the Terrera-Illusio border, specifically to Kawanakajima. So Shingen and Kenshin would be keeping each other busy for a while.
After all the grief he'd been given, it was understandable that Ujiyasu wanted a little peace, a story where everyone lived happily ever after. He'd received an invitation to a housewarming party for one of Yaksha's up-and-coming families two weeks ago. Nothing like a rags to riches story to brighten up your day.
He didn't associate much with the nobles of either of his kingdoms, especially not at their parties. They were these posh formal events that mostly amounted to one family trying to outdo all the others in a show of wealth and luxury. It was an unspoken fact that almost everyone present hated each other, and the only reason they attended was to upstage one another and keep their public image. It annoyed him, and in extreme cases like Kenshin and Aya's deceased father, it made him sick. To this day, he was ashamed of how he had been suckered into those high society idiosyncrasies in his youth. Becoming warlord had been a sobering experience he had greatly needed.
But when it came to stories like that of the Kurokami house, he was happy to make an exception. The Kurokami were a well-known and beloved family in Yaksha. Torabara Kurokami and his wife devoted every waking moment of their lives to the service of the kingdom, and raised their children to hold onto those same values of hard work, charity and unity. Torabara had fathered seven children, and while he himself had the ability to communicate with Pokemon, this had not seemed to pass on to any of his children. Over time, his sons and daughters married and left Yaksha City to lead their own lives, until all that remained was his youngest, Mako. The young man was generous, kind and hard working, and these traits earned him the affection of Lady Koroko. The young couple were deeply in love, and were quickly wedded. Despite Mako's big heart, he was not an ambitious man. Were it up to him, they likely would have stayed in his family's small house for the rest of their lives, continuing the humble work of his parents. But Koroko desired more. She was the daughter of simple farmers, but she had the strength and ambition that Mako did not. Inspired by the virtues the Kurokami had instilled in her, she spurred her husband and his family on to create something incredible, to benefit the whole of Yaksha.
The fruit of this dream was in full bloom. The newly built Kurokami manor was a humble building compared to the extravagant homes of Yaksha's nobility which could be seen in the distance. It was expansive, to be sure, but it seemed to have no interest in conforming to the latest trends of more recently constructed buildings. The exterior was simple, white walls and red roof. More time had gone into the courtyard outside. It was lush and colorful, and much of the vegetation appeared to have been imported from other kingdoms. Every tree was adorned with a feeder full of seeds, attracting wild Starly to flutter around them. A beautiful red maple was the centerpiece of the garden; around it could be seen a plethora of wild Pokemon. He couldn't help but grin. If they had put this much into the exterior, he was excited to see the interior.
Two servants met he and Gigalith at the entrance, there to greet them and hold the door open. In hindsight, Ujiyasu felt their services were better put toward a warning for new arrivals. For the second those doors were pulled open, the muffled sounds from beyond could be heard at full blast. Initially he thought these noises to be the usual sounds of polite, demure conversation that was commonplace for these events. In reality, what the doors had held back was the force of loud, raucous laughter that crashed over them like a mighty wave in a storm. So loud, he could barely hear the sound of music being played in the background. It gave him pause for a moment, stunned to hear anyone, much less what sounded to be a small army of people, sound so happy at a social gathering like this. A look inside reminded him of why that was.
This was a Kurokami celebration, after all, and all the Kurokami clan was in attendance. He picked out the clan's matriarch, Lady Nabaji, seated with a few of her children and their spouses in one part of the room. After her husband's passing, she had done well to take charge of the family. It was quite a sight, to see this tiny woman keep a pack of five tall, burly men in check, all while sporting a patient smile and a hearty chuckle. Ujiyasu shook his head in bewilderment. Patience was a word that had been lost on his own mother. If he or any of his brothers stepped out of line, they'd be knocked into a coma for a week. He caught sight of a few more familiar faces as he went in; various noble families of Yaksha, who could date their lineage back to the creation of Ransei (or so they claimed, anyway). It was somewhat surprising to see them associate with a family of new wealth, but if he had to guess, as with any other social gathering in the kingdom, many likely had ulterior motives to their interest in this. Unsurprisingly, Lord Tenrai Seiryu was surrounded by a throng of other affluent families. Their eyes would glance towards the Kurokami clan as someone told a joke that had the rest of the family break out in further laughter. Seiryu sneered and whispered something to his fellows, and the rest joined in their own twisted form of mirth. Ujiyasu rolled his eyes. Their lot couldn't get any joy unless it was at someone else's expense. Cragspur's warlord turned, hoping to keep distance between him and the group of mockers. He wouldn't be spared so easily, however. Turning revealed the two people perhaps more infamous in Yaksha than Lord Seiryu: The Urami Sisters. Seiryu at least understood diplomacy, The Urami sisters didn't pretend to be your ally. They took note of your weaknesses, what made you different, and they slowly chipped away until you broke. Even from a distance, he could see their beady eyes gleaming, scanning the room and whispering between themselves. He snorted. Bloodthirsty scavengers…
It was inevitable that he would be noticed. He being not only the warlord of this kingdom, an imposing man in his own right, but being accompanied by Gigalith. The two stood out easily, especially when he noticed the surprising lack of Pokemon in the house, and a total absence of large Pokemon altogether. Trying to avoid detection by the nobles was a fruitless endeavor. They gradually noticed him, along with the entire room, really. People whispered in awe, and some children present gazed in wonder. He tried to block out Seiryu's circle, but the gleam he was receiving was unmistakable. Those in the nobleman's circle waited for his first move before they did anything. But like clockwork, as he took the first steps towards the warlord, his entourage began to follow in his stride. Ujiyasu mentally groaned, and readied himself for an annoying several hours. Until a voice cut through the crowd.
"Oh my word! If it isn't Lord Ujiyasu!"
Like a guardian sent from above, two figures came into his view, eclipsing the aristocrats from his sight. A young couple, faces with matching smiles, arms linked with one another in measured affection. The man almost as tall as himself. Bearded and with thinning dark hair, his demeanor jovial and friendly. Stocky and strong, the product of years of hard work worn even on the sleeves of his formal robes. A man who clearly knew the value of a long day's work. But it was his wife who shined at his side. She was a perfectly lovely woman. Of course, Ujiyasu thought, there wasn't a single woman who could compare to his radiant wife, but the petite lady before him was pretty nonetheless. Every detail on her was groomed to perfection. Her dark brown hair, her makeup, her elegant kimono, everything was calculated and made up to be perfect to the letter. She radiated an aura of control and poise, confident that every detail of her life was in order. Anyone who looked upon her would describe her as the ideal lady. Some more tactless people would even look upon she and her husband in tandem, and wonder how this largely unimpressive man had ended up with such an exceptional woman as she. But it was clearly a match made in heaven. Looking beyond the superficial, anyone could see that they were in love. The woman's swollen abdomen proved further testament to this.
"Ah, the man and woman of the hour!" Ujiyasu proclaimed, putting his full attention on the two and making sure everyone close to them would know this. His eyes would briefly flicker to Seiryu's group one final time. Their advances towards his had been halted. Seiryu gazed in their direction, eyes clearly sizing up he and the couple before him. None around him said a word. They merely resumed their previous positions, a sort of dark air hanging over the group now. The warlord of Cragspur paid the sulking nobles no further heed, returning his attention to a livelier company. He greeted the couple with a bow. "Allow me to thank you for inviting me to your celebration. Congratulations are in order for your accomplishment."
The gesture seemed to have touched his companions, looking between one another with bewildered and happy expressions. Lord Mako was the one to speak as they both bowed to their kingdom's leader in return.
"Oh, there was no question in our minds to your invitation, Lord Ujiyasu." he said, voice flowing with gratitude. "Without your generous contribution, we never could have collected the funds we needed to build this place. We're forever in your debt, my lord!"
Ujiyasu chuckled. "Eh, that's giving a fool like me too much credit." he insisted, waving his hand. "What I gave you was barely a drop in the ocean. Were I a better man, I could have offered up some men and Pokemon to help with the construction. As I hear it, the Kurokami clan built this building with their own hands and a few neighbors. I think your own contributions should be praised here, Lord Mako."
Lady Koroko responded with a ladylike giggle. "Oh, my lord, you are too kind, and much too modest. We were expecting this project to take years to see through to completion. But with the money you offered us, our dream became a reality in only a few months. All the ambition in the world wouldn't have helped our cause had we no resources to see it through."
"I'm sure you would have found a way." Ujiyasu assured her with a grin, earning a flustered blush in response. "I understand that this is your great vision, my lady."
"Oh, no no… I can't possibly take credit…" she replied, her response so fluid and automatic one would think it had been scripted.
Mako turned his beaming face to her. "My dear, Lord Ujiyasu is right. What we've started is the result of your ambition. You were the one who worked hard and fought for this. Never in a hundred years would I have been able to envision, much less create, a place like this on my own. You have pushed our family to do something truly great for this kingdom."
"Indeed." Ujiyasu nodded in agreement. "A warlord's first and foremost duty is the protection and ruling of his kingdom. But looking after a kingdom, and looking after a kingdom's people don't always go hand in hand. It's nice to know that there is a place in Yaksha for those who might otherwise become forgotten. Especially the kids." he observed, nodding his head towards a large group of children running and playing in the courtyard outside. Many of them had dirty, ragged clothes hanging on thin frames, looking more than the typical wear and tear from normal childhood roughhousing. Among them were a few small Pokemon; a Minccino, a Sandile, and a Scraggy. Some likely had no parents or home until today.
"I can't deny. It brings me so much joy to know that we're giving people a second chance at life. All the struggling, unfortunate people who have been dealt a cruel hand can come here and have food and shelter and clean clothes. Children orphaned by war can come here and find a safe, warm place to rest, and they can even be educated." From out of earshot of the trio, the group of nobles snickered amongst themselves at the lady's professions.
"Educating peasants." one chortled, "What an amusing notion."
"I know you both are gonna make all that happen. I expect the Kurokami House will find great success in its mission." Ujiyasu responded, "And if you ever find yourself in need, know that you have my support. For the Kurokami clan, I'd be happy to lend a hand any time."
"We can't thank you enough, Lord Ujiyasu." Lady Koroko gushed, turning to lovingly gaze at her husband. "Oh, Mako… we're going to help so many people."
From behind the couple, a little girl ran up and attached herself to Mako's side. She was well dressed, though not quite to the extent of the nobles' children that could be seen. Nevertheless, she was endearing in a pink kimono, with her dark brown hair cut short and bangs perfectly trimmed just over her bright chocolate eyes.
"Father, mother!" She squealed in excitement, tugging at her father's robes. "Some of the other children have Pokemon! Did you see them? They're all so cute!"
"I did, sweetheart." Mako assured her, putting an excited tone to his voice to humor her. "They're incredible, aren't they?"
"Just don't get too close to them, Mitsubachi." Koroko's voice was gentle, but it still maintained that poised, scripted feel to it. And her smile… there was something about her smile that felt… off. Ujiyasu had noticed it for a while, but wasn't sure if he was just imagining it. He thought his interactions with noble families was making him needlessly suspicious, but… No, she was just nervous. She wanted to make a good impression on her guests. It was understandable, especially having the kingdom's nobles as house guests. "I don't want you getting bitten or scratched, my dear."
"Yes mother." the little girl agreed.
"I don't see any reason to worry." Ujiyasu assured the worrying mother with a grin. "I've never known any Pokemon to attack a child. There's nothing to be scared of." Mitsubachi looked up at the stranger she had only now noticed talking to her parents. He gave her a friendly grin, expecting her to be shy around a stranger. She returned his smile with one of her own.
"Pokemon aren't scary. They're really nice." she said. "Father was building our house, and there were people helping him, and there were Pokemon with them. And the Pokemon were carrying huge, HUGE trees, and, and rocks! And other Pokemon were helping make the ground flat. And then they were making the floor, and the walls. How can they even do that?! Our house was finished in NO TIME! It's because the Pokemon helped out! That's what Father said! And I love Pokemon because they're so cute and fluffy. But the Pokemon that built the house were HUGE and STRONG! But all Pokemon help people do things, and it makes the world a nice place!"
"Yeah, that's right." Ujiyasu agreed, nodding along as the girl kept talking. "Pokemon really are the best."
Mako laughed. "She'll just keep talking if you let her." he explained, "Mitsubachi, you should introduce yourself."
"I am Mitsubachi Kurokami. Pleased to meet you, sir." She said. "Oh, uh!" After a moment of thought, she remembered that she was also supposed to bow when properly introducing herself.
"That was very good, dear." her mother applauded her.
"It's nice to meet you, Mitsubachi. I'm Lord Ujiyasu Hojo. I'm the warlord of Cragspur and Yaksha. This is my partner Pokemon, Gigalith." He gestured to Gigalith, who rumbled out a cheerful greeting of its own.
Mitsubachi's eyes went wide. "He's so BIG!" she shouted out in wonder.
"Mitsubachi, no shouting." Koroko gently chided once again, maintaining a measured smile. "We speak quietly indoors."
"She's your first child, I take it." Ujiyasu asked, watching as the little girl looked up at the massive rock Pokemon with her jaw agape.
"Yes." Koroko answered, wondering if she had done something wrong to make this obvious.
"She'll be turning four soon." Mako mentioned.
"She speaks very well, especially for her age." Ujiyasu observed, "Some of my kids could barely string a sentence together when they were three. My one daughter's so shy, you'd be hard pressed to get her to say anything."
"Our Mitsubachi's so bright." Koroko said, voice filled with pride. "It seems like whatever I teach her, she picks up in a flash. She can count all the way up to 150, she knows how to read, and I've even started teaching her how to write. I'm sure she's going to be a wonderful big sister as well."
The adults' stories of their children were phased out by Mitsubachi, who continued to gaze in awe at the blue and red behemoth towering above her. Gigalith, aware of its little admirer, smiled down and produced a warm, encouraging rumble. The language was foreign for the small child, unintelligible. Yet she felt what was being communicated was good. So she reached out her small hand towards the rock Pokemon. She wondered if it was actually made out of rocks, or if it was really scales or skin. Ujiyasu glanced down briefly, and noticed her moving forward to pet Gigalith. Her dark brown eyes were sparkling with wonder; she almost appeared to be in a trance-like state. It was likely a trick of the light, but it almost seemed as though the moon was shining in her eyes.
"Mitsubachi!"
Just as the child's fingers had been about to brush against Gigalith, they recoiled back with her mother's sudden outburst. Lady Koroko hastily bent down to scoop her daughter into her arms, who seemed confused as to why she was being reprimanded. She wasn't the only one, as Ujiyasu, Gigalith, her husband, and a few other guests who had been close by, looked at her curiously.
"No, no. Don't get too close, my dear. You don't want to get hurt." After addressing her daughter, she turned quickly to Ujiyasu. "I apologize, my lord. She doesn't understand how dangerous Pokemon can be… Of course, interacting with them is a simple matter for a skilled warrior like yourself. But she hasn't any real experience with them. Besides, she's been taught to ask for permission before touching people's things."
Though put off by having his partner addressed like some dust collector on a shelf, Ujiyasu decided against voicing this as the woman continued her flustered rambling. It was clear in the way that she was gripping her daughter that she felt the girl's life had just been in real danger. There were few things more deadly than a protective mother, something he knew from ample experience. He glanced over to Mitsubachi. After being scolded and brought into her mother's arms, Lady Koroko had her full attention, and it was clear she was absorbing everything her mother was saying then. The warlord realized he needed to approach this delicately. Intentional or not, she may now be getting the wrong message from her mother. She needed to know that Pokemon weren't something to be feared.
"My dear." her husband spoke up, gently chiding her. "Don't get out of sorts. It's not a wild beast, it's a warlord's Pokemon. You're getting her scared over nothing."
"There's nothing to apologize for. It's always nice to see kids so excited by Pokemon." he assured with a chuckle. Mitsubachi glanced towards him, slightly reluctant. He grinned. "You never know, she might one day be a great warrior herself."
"Well, we'll see." Koroko said, letting out a nervous chortle. It was obvious the idea made her uncomfortable. "For now, she has her father and I to take care of her."
The remainder of their conversations were mundane after that moment. More congratulations, more talk of family and the future. For Ujiyasu, that day would go on to become a distant memory, largely insignificant to the rest of his life. For another life, it had been an unintentional but cruel severing of the path they were intended to walk, forcing them to tread a new road. A dark road, frightening and so, so lonely.
– – –
The sound of his name being called drew Ujiyasu back from his musings. He noticed Shingen looking at him strangely, and it took a moment to realize that Terrera's warlord had addressed him twice and received no answer. He shook his head, hoping to expel the memory that had suddenly burrowed its way in there. Hard to believe that fifteen years had passed since the Kurokami House had been built. That day, it had seemed like such a triumph for Yaksha, something significant that would bring about an incredible change for the people of the kingdom. It was strange to think of it now, a distant memory that the former warlord of this kingdom had nearly forgotten. He had tried to visit often in the beginning, offering his support. Pressures on the borders would eventually halt his visits. Defending his kingdoms from invading armies was naturally his first duty as warlord. When Nobunaga had started to go on the offensive, that had required all of his attention, all of his resources. Anything else within the kingdoms were to be left to advisers and lieutenants. Only serious problems were to be brought to his attention. The Kurokami name was never brought up once.
Was it stranger to think that he had all but forgotten them, or that memories of them were returning so clearly? Perhaps neither occurrence was as bizarre as he perceived them. But seeing Mitsubachi had put his thoughts on a twisting path, and he realized that he had a desire to set it straight. His memories of the Kurokami told the story of a lovely family who had made a happy life for themselves. The Mitsubachi that he had seen not an hour ago told a different story, one that didn't mesh well with the first. He hoped to find a simple explanation that would make things clear, but no answer he could give was an answer that he liked.
"You're the one who thinks it's okay to disappear for three months."
"I ended up sleeping at the castle last night… I got in the way Lord Kotaro showed me."
"Can you really still say that house was a blessing?"
"Maybe there's still hope for a small dream like the one my parents had for the house."
"Are you really gonna tell her not to have hope that things will get better?"
"This is Yaksha. Things never change around here."
"What's got you so upset is that you wanted to be here, and you couldn't… You're locked up in that house that's apparently been such a blessing."
"Ujiyasu?" Shingen repeated. That made three times now. He decided it best that he put the matter aside until he could make a trip to Kurokami Manor. No use dwelling on it.
"What?"
Whatever Terrera's warlord had originally wanted had been forgotten at this point. Instead his friend's behavior caused him to reply, "You've appeared out of sorts since we left the Dragon's Den."
"Ah." Ujiyasu responded, as though he hadn't realized it himself. "Well, it's nothing."
Shingen grunted back, "You don't sound convinced of that yourself." A halfhearted shrug was the only response.
Aya noted the rock warlord's behavior as well. She suspected that the hooded girl at the bar had caught his attention the same way she had Aya's. Ujiyasu clearly had some history with the girl, or at least her family. Perhaps he would be willing to divulge some of what he knew. "The Kurokami. Who are they?"
"Just a family." He stated.
"That's not the impression I received." she quipped, "They could hardly be 'just a family' if they're acquaintances of Lord Ujiyasu Hojo. It wasn't lost on me how Satorei reacted when you used the Kurokami name, either."
"I don't know what that was about." he answered, facing her so she could see he was in earnest. "Like I said, they're just a good, well-known family here in Yaksha. I wouldn't call them famous, exactly, but they're one of those older families that have lived in Yaksha for several generations. My father told me that the Kurokami used to have a hand in almost every part of Yaksha City's operation. From the farm fields to the battlefield. Most of the family has moved to live in other kingdoms since then. Far as I know, it's just their youngest son left now, along with his wife and kids."
"And that young lady was their daughter?" Aya supplied.
Ujiyasu nodded. "Seems that she is."
The Uesugi lady quirked a brow at this not-quite confirmation. "You sound uncertain. I thought that was made very clear."
"My memories tell me that Mitsubachi Kurokami is a little girl dressed like a princess, holding her mother's hand. The Mitsubachi we saw back there doesn't exactly align with that vision, now does she?"
Shingen seemed perturbed by something. "You've not seen them in so long?"
"It's been at least ten years." Ujiyasu considered, struggling to remember the exact amount of time that had passed. "Maybe more. It was some time after they had their second daughter, anyway. That's right: I stopped by to give a donation to the Kurokami House."
"Ah, yes. The young lady mentioned that you provided her parents with the funds to build their home." Shingen recalled, "An odd thing to do for a family you don't sound especially close with."
Ujiyasu explained. "The Kurokami House is more than a manor for some wealthy family to reside in. Mako Kurokami and his wife built the place to serve as a refuge for people who had fallen on hard times. If you're poor and have nowhere to go, they give you food, shelter, and help you to find good work in the city."
"Is that right? That's an honorable undertaking to devote themselves to, and in a place like Yaksha, no less." Shingen acknowledged. "I can't imagine how difficult it must be for a simple family to provide for the struggling people of this kingdom. They must be busy these days."
"From what the young woman said, it seems they have fallen on hard times themselves." Aya stated.
"I'd be shocked to find out that's the case." Cragspur's warlord admitted, "Lady Koroko is one of the strongest women I've ever met. I think she'd sooner cut her own arm off before letting everything she's accomplished be destroyed."
"Everything she's accomplished?" Aya found this phrasing unusual. "Her husband is to be given no credit for the house that bears his family name?"
"Without Lady Koroko, Kurokami House never would have been built in the first place. It was a project born out of her passion and sacrifice." Ujiyasu mentioned with a laugh, "I remember my first encounter with Lady Koroko. She marched into Cragspur castle about fifteen years ago, demanding to see me personally. She wouldn't talk to any of my generals, and none of them could dissuade her. It was actually terrifying at first, seeing that fierce determination in her eyes. I almost mistook her for a warrior seeking a battle. She petitioned me for an hour, going over her plans for Kurokami House and requesting the funds to make it happen. It was clear she wouldn't leave until she had convinced me to support her cause. It's no exaggeration to say that she is the driving force behind everything she and her husband have accomplished."
A fond grin crossed Aya's features. "She sounds to be an admirable woman. It's a shame that strength hasn't been passed down to her daughter."
"That's an unfair assessment, don't you think?" Shingen protested, "You can hardly gauge a person's strength from one encounter."
"I saw enough." Aya ensured him. "Honesty is a respectable virtue, no doubt, but it does the poor girl no favors in this case. She wears her insecurities as easily as her jacket."
"You seem unusually interested in her." Ujiyasu pondered. Aya noticed the inquisitive look he was giving her. "Is there a reason for that?"
"Not especially." she dismissed with a shrug. Once more, the dream she had the previous night flashed through her mind. As did the chance sighting she had of the woman sneaking through the castle grounds a few hours ago. She expelled both thoughts from her mind.
"Really?" he asked, a smirk nudging at his lips. "Because I was under the impression you felt a certain connection with her."
Aya scoffed. "I can't say I know what you mean." she fibbed. Ujiyasu and Shingen noted her reaction. To most, the Uesugi lady no doubt appeared as poised as ever. To the trained eye of those much closer to her, however, she came across uncharacteristically flustered. The two men exchanged glances, grinning as they came to an unspoken decision. It was rare these days to get under her skin; a little fun was certainly in order. Kenshin too noted the reactions of his companions, sighing as he prepared for what was to come.
"Well," Ujiyasu began, "I suppose it's not my place to make such assumptions. You were the one that was staring at her all the while we were there. I'm sure you were able to deduce how much the two of you had in common better than we could."
"I was not-"
"I didn't see very many similarities myself." Shingen cut in.
"No, no. Not many at all." his friend agreed, "It was mostly just the way she dressed. A bit like you did when you were younger, if I remember correctly."
"Yes, it was mostly that." Shingen carried on, "She also came across rather aloof and guarded. Though not nearly as much as you did as a teenager."
"She had no difficulty putting back half a dozen drinks as well. If nothing else, she definitely drinks like an Uesugi. Maybe I was wrong about her being the Kurokami's daughter after all."
Shingen chuckled. "An Uesugi, is she? Does that make her Aya's or Kenshin's?"
"My, what ridiculous notions." The Uesugi lady waved their comments aside, at last seeing an opening to deflect the conversation away from herself. "You can't really be suggesting that my dear brother could have fathered a child without my knowing about it. Even so… Kenshin? Could it be possible that there's a woman I was unaware of-?
"No." Kenshin answered before she could finish. Matter-of-fact, disinterested, and determined to draw his sister away from the topic of relationships.
"Actually, I thought it was more likely there was a man you hadn't told us about, Aya." Ujiyasu mentioned.
"That's also not a possibility." Her brother stated with certainty, narrowing his eyes at the suggestion.
"I dunno." The Hojo leader considered. "That would explain why you never showed any interest in me back then." He teased.
Aya rolled her eyes. "Oh, yes. That's the reason." Sarcasm bled through each word. "Perhaps now you could answer me how it is that I have no recollection of my supposed daughter. I don't claim to have any expertise on these matters, but it seems like something that would be difficult for me to not be aware of."
"Knowing you, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if you somehow kept a secret that big."
She laughed. "I'm flattered you think so highly of me." she replied, "But keeping secrets from my dear brother is something I could never do. We share our entire lives with one another, after all."
"You don't actually buy that, do you?" Ujiyasu mumbled to Kenshin.
"Truthfully, there are things I'd rather not know." He muttered back.
"Fair enough." his friend agreed, understanding that Aya was scary enough without them being privy to all her secrets.
"In any case, I hardly see a reason to dwell on this. We should be focusing our efforts on finding a suitable warlord for Yaksha. That's what is most important now." The Uesugi lady remarked, hoping to be done with this once and for all.
"You're right, of course." Shingen granted, "A shame this Mitsubachi isn't a warrior; she could be a great asset to the kingdom."
It seemed fate had no interest in her wishes. "That timid thing?" she rebutted, "She'd blow over in the wind, to say nothing of a battle."
"I've never known you to prioritize a warrior's strength above all else, Aya." Terrera's warlord assessed, "You've always been the first to say that a warlord's love for their kingdom is the most powerful force they can wield. It seemed to me she had plenty of that love for her home."
"Be that as it may, the fact remains that she is not a warrior." she reminded him.
He conceded with a sigh. "You're right, of course. Putting someone incapable of communicating with Pokemon in the position of warlord would greatly hinder the kingdom. What were your thoughts on the other two warriors, Keitatsuo and Rin?"
"A battle-hungry punk, and a short-tempered runt." Ujiyasu answered succinctly.
"Now who's jumping to conclusions?" Aya smirked.
"We saw the boy with the Zweilous fight earlier. He made it clear the only thing he was concerned with was being the strongest warrior in the land. And let's not forget: he wasn't shy about giving praise to Nobunaga. That should concern you as much as it does me. Put someone like that in charge, and he'll have Yaksha invading the other kingdoms in no time." he explained, "As for the ninja, I think she's just crazy. Making her warlord is a thought I'm not even going to entertain."
"I had another thought." Shingen declared, "This festival, Total Eclipse. The people of this city set it up at the direction of a single person: Tsukikage. It's clear they have a great deal of respect for her word."
"I remember someone saying that she was not a warrior." Aya reminded him.
"I wouldn't mind confirming that for myself." he determined, "The way that people speak of her, she sounds like more than a mere singer. I get the impression the people of this city see her more as a hero."
Kenshin nodded. "I agree; such adoration could not have been earned from being a simple entertainer alone. She's at least worth investigating."
Ujiyasu rolled his eyes. "I think you're just making an excuse to go see that concert tonight, Shingen." he scoffed, "But fine. Let's go find this ghost girl. We'll know we're close when we hear the howling Houndour, I guess."
– – –
Not far away, another trio of warlords was walking through the city lamenting the difficult task ahead of them.
"Okay, let's recap here." The day was not half over, yet the fatigue of several years could be heard in Ryo's tired voice. "What did we learn, exactly?"
Even Ryoko, the more optimistic of the twins, seemed downtrodden in her response. "Lord Shingen told us not to trust Lord Masamune, Lord Ieyasu, and Lord Mitsuhide. Lord Ujiyasu wants to take responsibility of Yaksha himself. Lord Ieyasu listed off several generals of his who were born in Yaksha and partnered with dark-type Pokemon… and he told us to watch out for Masamune and Mitsuhide."
Ryo carried on, "Lady Nō said she didn't care what we decided to do. Very helpful, as always. Lord Yoshihiro wants us to hold an open tournament and have the champion be made warlord."
Oichi, walking behind the siblings, continued, "Lord Yoshimoto also believed that we should hold a tournament…"
"A pokemari tournament…" Ryo groaned, rubbing his hand over his face.
"Hideyoshi said he'd be supporting Lady Nene's decision." Ryoko continued, "Lady Nene is focusing all her efforts on finding Kotaro, but she's adamant that Yaksha's new warlord be a ninja."
"Lord Mitsuhide essentially told us not to trust anyone." Ryo grumbled. "Masamune's not interested in working with us at all."
"Ginchiyo told us not to trust… oh boy, pretty much everyone, too." Ryoko recalled, "She supported Lord Yoshihiro's tournament idea, though."
"Yeah, but that's just because she wants to fight." her brother stated, "Whether or not it helps us pick out a warlord for Yaksha is incidental."
"The tournament's not a bad idea." Ryoko considered, "With all the warlords here to help us, it shouldn't take more than two or three days to set up."
"After the fallout from this morning, I'm a little reluctant to put my faith in anything that involves more fighting." Ryo confessed. He exhaled a deep rumble of frustration. "I know I keep saying it, but I just don't see any way that we can find a warlord for Yaksha if we can't even manage to get everyone else on the same page."
"We'll make it happen." the brunette girl promised. "Come tomorrow, we'll have a plan, and we'll get everyone together… No matter how impossible it seems now. But to do that, we need to focus and talk things out."
Ryo took a deep breath, this time more to steel himself rather than to vent his stress. "Okay, let's do that. The tournament is a good idea. If we announce that Ransei's warlords are holding a competition in Yaksha, it will draw plenty of strong warriors here quickly."
"I bet a lot of warriors are here already for whatever this festival is for." Oichi mentioned.
Ryoko seemed to gain a bit of her energy back. "That's a good point, Oichi."
"If word spreads fast enough, we can have the tournament ready in two or three days." The pink-haired girl continued.
"Do you think we should keep it to warriors with dark-type Pokemon only?" Ryoko asked. "I mean, we are doing this to find the next warlord of the dark kingdom."
"That might not be a bad idea." Ryo agreed, before a thought came to him. "Aren't there usually battle competitions that take place at festivals like this?"
"Yes, but the responsibility of organizing them often falls to the kingdom's warlord." Oichi explained.
"So does planning the actual festival. Somehow, this one got set up without a warlord."
"Unless Kotaro had this planned before he took off." Ryoko suggested.
"Kotaro doesn't strike me as the type to plan parties." Ryo shot back. "This place was more of a ghost town than Spectra the last time we were here. Three months later, it's the most popular place in Ransei. What do you thi-"
Realizing that he had trailed off, the girls both turned to find Ryo staring at a certain point in the crowd. "Ryo, what is is?" Oichi asked first. He didn't respond at first. He made a point to blink his eyes rapidly, to determine if he was seeing things correctly. Coming up next to him, his sister positioned herself so that she was able to see what he could. Oichi soon did the same. The female warriors did a double take at what they saw.
"Is that… a black Meowth?" Ryoko asked. Indeed, it was. By all outward appearances, it seemed to be an ordinary Meowth. The only exception was its fur, black as the night itself. It behaved as any other Pokemon, walking the streets and pouncing on whatever food fell from the hands of passersby. Its current acquisition was a fallen ball of dough, which seemed to give it a great deal of satisfaction.
"I didn't think there were Meowth in Yaksha, much less ones with different colored fur." Oichi marveled. Having finished its meal, the feline Pokemon began to walk off, progressively becoming obscured by the feet of the crowd.
"Hey, let's follow it." Ryo suggested, already moving in the direction it had gone before waiting for his companions to say anything.
"Huh? What for?" Ryoko asked, trailing after him.
He explained, "I want to see if it's partnered with a warrior. They might know why its color is different."
"It might just be like that family of white Wooper we saw back in Aurora." she suggested.
"What white Wooper?" Oichi asked.
"A while back, Ryo and I were walking down by a ravine near the castle. We found a group of four Wooper in a muddy burrow, and every one of them was white. But their mother was still blue, just like any other Quagsire. We asked Lord Motonari about it, and he told us it probably had to do with a change in their diet, or something different about the water they were swimming in."
"Yeah, but he said he didn't know for sure." Ryo reminded her.
They followed the Meowth around until it stopped to pounce on another morsel. They had ended up near a sparse, open part of the city where a small stage had been set up at the center. Onstage, people were seen rushing around to get ready for an act of some kind. It was an elaborate setup, decorated by lush, dark curtains and littered with instruments of every variety. An elevated platform was located at its center. Musicians dashed onto the stage and began taking their places with their respective instruments. After a minute more of preparations, the assembled band began to play their respective instruments. The first thing they played seemed to be more of a warm-up. The beat was simple and monotonous, though this was not to say it sounded dull. It was an energetic, fast-paced melody dominated by pulsing drum beats and steady strings.
People walking the streets started to take notice, and a sizable semicircle formed around the stage. Ryo, Ryoko and Oichi found themselves being pushed inward along with them.
"Hey, did anyone hear about a performance being scheduled right now?" someone asked.
"I heard all the concerts were going to take place at night." another voice said.
"It's got to be Tsukikage, right?" one excited person said, "This is totally something she would pull."
"I bet she came out to welcome the tourists." someone laughed. "Won't they be in for a surprise!"
The black Meowth, which had previously been concerned only with its meal, raised its head as the music started. Its ears perked, and its face lit up with glittering blue eyes and a wide smile. Ryo noticed it take off, racing right up to the stage at full speed. The little feline stood with its front paws pressed against the stage's side, staring up in excited marvel. Some of the people towards the front noticed it, and they grew all the more excited by its presence.
"Hey, there's Tsukikage's Meowth!" someone shouted.
"Well, we know she's here now!"
"Tsukikage! Woohoo!"
This exclamation created an uproar, spreading like a wave from the audience at the very front and flowing out to the rest. As Tsukikage's name spread further, it attracted more and more people walking by to stop and join in with the festivities. Among the people who had stopped to observe the proceedings was the group of veteran warlords, who found themselves on the opposite side of the stage from the warlords of Aurora.
"Quite an excitable crowd." Aya observed.
Shingen laughed. "What are the odds that this will be the 'Tsukikage' that we've been hearing so much about?" he mused, picking up the exuberant screams of the crowd as they pushed their way towards the stage.
"Well, I'm certainly not hearing any howling Houndour." Ujiyasu remarked, remembering what the dark-haired girl at the Dragon's Den had told them. "Seems like a lot of hype for a few musicians. If this is a Tsukikage performance, I can't say I'm that impressed."
As this statement left his mouth, things on stage began to pick up. In an instant, the simple, up-tempo beat that first drew the crowd shifted to something more distinct and complex. The droning background music had been transformed into something wild and impossibly fast. It invigorated the audience, their roars fighting to be heard over the impassioned musicians. The locals of the city had instantly been sucked into the song. Those from other kingdoms were at first taken aback by the aggressive, energetic symphony, but soon every single person was consumed by the rhythm, the crowd a roaring sea of people and Pokemon dancing and jumping and swaying to the beat.
One of the guitarists on stage leaned towards the microphone in front of him. "Ladies and gentlemen, warriors and Pokemon! Welcome one and all to Total Eclipse!"
The female guitarist on the other end of the stage continued. "As a special surprise for all in attendance, Tsukikage, Yaksha's brightest star, has chosen to make an early appearance before her concert tonight!"
The male guitarist was barely audible over the screams of the crowd. "At this time, she would like to send a special message to Yaksha, and all of Ransei, with love!"
"And those of us in Yaksha City know there's only one way she knows how to do that!"
"Ladies and gentlemen-!"
The two exclaimed in unison: "Tsukikage!"
From the central platform, a cloud of black smoke suddenly exploded and consumed the stage. The roars of the audience picked up once more, indicating to those unfamiliar with Tsukikage's performances that this was part of the show. The guitarists gave a final strum, and the band went silent. It lasted but a moment, before the drums came in again, a steady rhythm slowly building and building. The smoke gradually faded, and a tall figure took shape through the dense fog. A voice cut through. It was a woman's voice, deep, rich and powerful. It possessed an almost hypnotic quality to it. She sang, and each verse was accented with a potent boom from the drummer, the beat becoming stronger as she continued.
"Ladies and gentlemen;
May I have your attention, please;
Yaksha's been down for quite some time;
A celebration is what we neeeeeeeed!"
The band returned to life, picking up right where they had left off before the smokescreen blotted out the stage. The last of it blew away, and from the heart of the stage a woman stormed out, strutting her way to the front, dragging a microphone along with her. She was a true spectacle, whose presence commanded the attention of all in attendance. She was reasonably tall, certainly more-so than most of the musicians she shared the stage with, even some of the men. Beyond this, however, the outfit she wore covered all other distinguishable features about her. Even the color of her eyes could not be seen through the shadows cast by her black, skull-shaped mask. The costume seemed to be invoking the appearance of a Houndoom. Horns protruded from the mask, curving over the top of her head. Her tunic and pants were both black, the sleeves and hem of the tunic accentuated by gray stripes. It was fastened at the front by metallic ridges which resembled those on a Houndoom's back. This was also replicated by the belt she wore around her waist, made of the same metal as on the tunic and the horns of the mask. Under the belt was a rust-colored obi. There were pads on her shoulders resembling skulls, with tassel 'teeth' hanging from them. On her feet were mid-calf-length boots, with gray cuffs that matched the cuffs of her sleeves. She twirled, revealing one final clue to her identity: Her hair, which had mostly been obscured from behind her, was visible for but a brief moment. Long, thick, wild waves of dark brown, streaked through with inky black stripes.
"Well now!" Shingen blurted, looking on with the rest of the audience in amazement. "That's quite some entrance!"
"Certainly flashy." Kenshin agreed, observing the woman's stance. She stood tall; confident, powerful, and clearly reveling in the adoration of her cheering fans. The smile she had could not be hidden even from a distance. In the limelight of the stage, not a trace of shyness or inhibition could be found.
Aya noted these things as well, though her mind was also processing her previous encounter with Tsukikage. Hard to believe that this was the woman she had seen sneaking out of the castle grounds this morning.
Harder still to believe that this could also be the young lady that had meekly greeted her in the Dragon's Den less than an hour ago. In fact, Aya dismissed the idea completely, deciding that there was surely a more likely explanation. The more plausible solution was no doubt that the two women had been sneaking around Yaksha Castle at the same time.
Shingen glanced to Ujiyasu, chuckling as he noticed his fellow warlord's stunned expression. "I take it by your slack jaw that you've been thoroughly impressed." he joked.
Ujiyasu replied, his voice belying some shock, "Well… she definitely knows how to put on a show."
As the music picked up, Tsukikage showed that she had no intentions to stay still. There wasn't a moment that she stopped moving, her rhythm perfectly in-tempo with the band, which was quite a feat in itself. Each movement held power and felt meaningful. Her feet pounded into the floor, her fists pumped in the air, arms whipping the air around her. Her body swayed, wild, chaotic and energized. This was juxtaposed by her voice as she sang, a siren in the storm, though no less energetic. It was her voice that brought harmony to the chaos of the performance, unifying everything into one cohesive act.
"The city's shining, brighter than all the rest;
Well, color me impressed! My kingdom's brought its best!"
You guys got everything looking good as new;
Yaksha, you sure came through! Show Ransei how we do!"
The crowd cheered her on, at every opportunity breaking into a chant.
"Tsukikage! Tsukikage! Tsukikage! Tsukikage!"
It seemed that this was started by the locals of the city, but as it went on, more people joined in the chant.
"That Yaksha spirit's coming through loud and clear;
Let's have one more good cheer!"
"YEAH!"
"It's music to my ears!"
"TSUKIKAGE!"
"We need to make this the best week of our lives!"
"YEAH!"
"I'm feeling energized!"
"TSUKIKAGE!"
"Our city's been revived!"
She made a point as the performance went on to interact with the crowd as she bounded across the stage. Pointing into the audience, waving, bending and extending her hand for those closest to the stage to high-five and hold. As she scanned through the sea of people, her eyes fell on Ryo and Ryoko, the two smiling and getting into the song just as everyone else. She smiled, her gaze staying on them a moment.
"Yaksha's in its prime;
Are you seeing us, Ransei?
It is quite something to behold;
When your dark kingdom comes to play!"
"The Pawniard are gettin' down hard;
I hear Houndour howling in the moonlight;
All the Deino sing 'cause they know;
There's a party in Yaksha tonight!"
"Have you ever seen anything so cool?!" Ryoko cried, jumping up and down. "I've never seen a show like this before!"
"She's pretty talented." Ryo agreed, choosing to sway with the song rather than break into dance.
"Oh! Look up there!" Oichi gasped, pointing to the sky. The twins followed her gaze and saw a flock of Murkrow flying low, circling around the crowd. "Those are Murkrow! I've only read about them in books. They almost never come near people!"
Ryo noticed some of them swoop down to perch on nearby buildings. As they landed, he saw that they were bobbing their heads and dancing to the music, just like the people were. He laughed.
"I guess she's popular with the wild Pokemon, too!" Ryoko observed.
"That Meowth sure likes her!" Ryo said, gesturing over to it. It had yet to leave its position since the show had begun. The group tuned back in to the song, continuing to dance.
"All the Scraggy are dancing with glee;
From the forest, the Murkrow take flight;
And the Sneasel bring that sweet chill;
To the party in Yaksha tonight!"
"So cool or hot, bring what you've got;
Passing on this just wouldn't be right;
I hear the music's gonna be epic;
At the party in Yaksha tonight!"
She gave a coy wink in tandem with this last verse, driving the crowd wild. Then she proceeded to dance back towards the center of the stage, propping herself back up on the platform there. She carried her microphone along with her as she went.
"Ladies and gentlemen, people and Pokemon from Yaksha and all across Ransei!" She yelled out as the band continued to play. "It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Yaksha, the dark kingdom full of shining stars! For the next seven days, the incredible people and Pokemon of this city will be hosting a grand celebration, open to all of Ransei! This festival is the culmination of months of hard work, a project borne from the passion of those that call this kingdom home! Don't let their work go unrewarded! Let them know right now just how much you love it, Ransei!" The entire crowd broke out in thunderous applause, including the warlords present.
"That's right, Yaksha! This is your victory party, and you've invited the other sixteen kingdoms to share it with you! So please, whether you stay for a night or the week, whether you're a local or traveling from well across the land, I encourage you to make the most of your time here. Eat, shop, explore, and enjoy an evening concert every night featuring many talented musicians from across Ransei. In Yaksha, we rise with the moon and set with the sun, and I advise you to do the same. Don't be afraid to leave your mark on Yaksha, ladies and gentlemen, because Yaksha intends to leave its mark on you!" As she said this, ninjas dropped down from the rafters of the stage. They climbed over the backdrop of the stage, and painted a symbol of a crescent moon over it, a symbol commonly associated with dark-type Pokemon, as well as the kingdom wherein most resided.
"When the full moon's out, you know where it's going on;
This party don't stop 'til we see the break of dawn;
Yaksha's staging a comeback;
And we're gonna paint Ransei black!"
"There's a party in Yaksha tonight!"
A final strum of strings ended out the song, and the singer struck a final pose. A smokescreen exploded from the heart of the stage once more. The smoke would eventually clear to reveal a predictable sight: Tsukikage had disappeared from the stage, leaving no trace of her presence behind. Despite her absence, the crowd continued to cheer and chant the name of the singer.
"Tsukikage! Tsukikage! Tsukikage! Tsukikage!"
Ryoko squealed. "That was incredible!" she cheered, jumping into the air.
"Yeah, really cool." Ryo agreed, clapping along with Oichi.
"C'mon!" His sister took a hold of his wrist, and started dragging him through the dispersing crowd and towards the stage.
"Wuh-Where are we going?" he asked.
"To go talk to the performers, of course!" Ryoko cried. Oichi began to follow behind them.
"Alright, alright!" Ryo agreed, pulling his arm away. "Just let me walk on my own, okay?"
When they made it to the stage, the musicians were already putting away their instruments, and the stage itself was in the process of being dismantled by people and Pokemon. The only person not present was the star of the show.
"Hey!" Ryoko shouted, running up to the female guitarist. She looked up at the approaching trio. "We were just watching your show, and you guys were just amazing!"
The young musician grinned. "Thanks. It's always an honor to play for a Tsukikage performance." A Zubat suddenly swooped down and perched itself on her shoulder. "To be honest, I was freaking terrified that I was gonna blow it. I've only played guitar for her once before, but when Yuuki told me she wanted to do a surprise performance, no way was I gonna turn that down. I had to rush from the other side of the market just to make it here in time! Man, it was worth it, though!"
"You mean this wasn't a planned event?" Ryo asked in bewilderment.
"She wasn't supposed to perform until later tonight, but I guess she decided to welcome the out-of-towners." she shrugged, "That's just how Tsukikage is, though. Honestly, it's pretty fun, dropping everything to go sing with her. There's something really freeing about it. I guess that's why she never plans her shows."
"So is she still here?" Ryoko queried, looking around the stage excitedly. "I was really hoping to talk to her."
The guitarist chuckled. "I figured you guys weren't from around here." she said, "All the locals know that Tsukikage never sticks around after her shows. She comes, she performs, and then she disappears until the next one."
"So you've never actually talked to her?" Ryo wondered.
"Not as far as I know." she replied, "Tsukikage's just a stage name. No one knows who she really is underneath the mask. It's possible I might have talked to her and didn't even know it. Hah! Wouldn't that be something?"
"That's crazy." he remarked, "I mean, don't you need to practice? It's not like you can just go on stage and have no idea what to expect."
"That's exactly what we do, man!" she burst out laughing. "Just ask Taro; he's done more of these than I have." She gestured behind her to the drummer as he approached.
"What are we asking me, Seiko?" he asked.
"You've played drums for Tsukikage, like, what, four different shows?"
"Yeah."
"You ever practice before you play the real thing?"
He snorted. "Like hell! When Tsukikage's looking to perform, you damn well better be ready to play whatever song she wants to sing. There's no preparing for that; you drop everything you're doing, tune your instrument, and pray she picks you to play alongside her."
"Wow, I never would have believed that." Ryoko said in astonishment, "It sounded like you guys had played that song 100 times together!"
"Well, you do have to be on top of your game if you want to share the stage with Lady Tsukikage." Taro remarked, "Just because we don't practice with her doesn't mean we don't practice at all. Like I said, when she wants to put on a show, she expects you to be ready." He raised his hand up, shaking around a small bundle of papers. "She wrote this specifically for the show today. First time anyone's ever heard it, including us and Masato." He gestured to the male guitarist leaving the stage. "But she expected us to play it perfectly, and guess what?"
"We killed it!" he and Seiko exclaimed, high-fiving one another.
"That's so impressive." Oichi breathed.
"Yeah, it is." Ryo agreed, before asking:
"So, who is Tsukikage, anyway?"
As usual, I'm crap with lyrics, but I feel like I'm at least improving.
Fun Fact: I'll be making references to other Pokémon games throughout this story, some of which are integral to the plot. Only vigilant Pokémon fans will be able to spot them... I wonder how many you'll find? B)
I'm looking to get chapter 6 up quickly, mostly because I felt this chapter was a bit lacking, and I'm really excited for all the stuff that's gonna happen next time. I'm also forcing myself to get my sketches of Mitsubachi and her friends (and now Tsukikage) inked in and uploaded. Expect those in the near future as well.
Until then, I bid you adieu. Farewell 'til next time.