Ritsuka's ears were ringing. It was only natural, with the volume that covered the fortress, formerly belonging to the now deceased shogun. The people celebrating their freedom. The children, adults and old seniors crying in relief. Hope and happiness for a new age to come. Cheers and songs roaring into the night sky.
He wasn't sure how much more he could take it. That hope he heard, that hope that would disappear by the end of this. Because of that, he wandered around with Mash, isolating themselves from the happiness they had no right to partake in. They weren't talking a lot during their walk. Just idle things, about how the divinity of Japan worked in Panhuman History and the likes. But before they knew it, they stopped in front of a certain room. A room reserved for the head of magecraft.
Amako. Ritsuka bit his lip. He knew he shouldn't do this. Now that they dealt with the King of the Lostbelt... he shouldn't cause more pain. To himself or her. But... He gathered his courage. Just ignoring people wasn't in his nature. The bonds he made... they weren't mistakes. This one wasn't either. So in the end, he took a deep breath. He felt a hand squeeze his hand. Smiling back at Mash, he knocked on the door.
"C'mon in!"
Stepping inside, Ritsuka couldn't help but wince at the sight. With the scale mail dormant, having returned to its blue color and as a cloak, he could see the extent of her injuries. With the bandages off, scarred flesh tissue marred her body. Across her right eye, the result of the thunder burning her skin was visible as she turned to them with bright eyes. She waved at them, her mouth twitching a little bit from the motions. With worry, they sat down in front of her.
"Amako? Are you alright?" Mas asked with concern, with Ritsuka nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, shouldn't you rest a bit?"
Amako pouted in response. Leaning back with a sigh, she giggled before pointing at her face with a grin.
"Skin's tingling a bit, but other than that, I'm dandy! Even got some cool scars now!"
"I'm sorry!" Mash suddenly shouted, lowering her head with her eyes clenched. Ritsuka gave her a concerned look as he patted her back. Not being there to prevent that thunder to hit Amako was bothering her more than she first let on. Thankfully, the 'victim' in question waved her hand dismissively.
"Eh, don't be. You couldn't have known that he'd be able to fling you away like that." She playfully shuddered as she hugged herself. "Was a shock, to see that big weird castle flying, that's for sure!" Her features softened up as she nodded in gratitude. "Besides, those are pretty good reminders of the best fight I ever gave in my life."
"You seem pretty giddy," Ritsuka said, feeling himself smile at her bubbly aura. She hummed, nodding as she crossed her legs and held onto her feet as she began to rock back and forth.
"Sure am!" She closed her eyes, lost in her emotions as her voice grew quieter. "It still feels unreal, y'know? Last head and all that... heavy torch." She opened her eyes and gave them a sly look, covering her mouth as she cackled evilly. "Have a long way to go, if those stories about your, uh, Casters are anything to go by!"
Ignoring the pang of pain they felt, the Chaldeans laughed at the thought.
"No need to compare yourself to them."
"Yes, they are... special," Mash added. Those words only served to make her even more excited, pointing her finger towards the ceiling.
"No reason not to aim high! Besides, I actually look forward to all this responsibility! Searching for stuff, experiencing the world for them and all that stuff!"
His smile wavered for a moment, but he pushed through, as he lowered his head. He squeezed Mash's hand as he spoke softly.
"I'm sure you'll be doing just fine."
"Hehe." She rubbed her nose with her finger, blushing a bit, sheepishly. "Hey, what are the odds I can join Chaldea?"
He felt himself freeze at the words. His vision began to darken, when he looked up, shock on his face.
"Huh?"
If Amako noticed that something was wrong, she didn't show it as she tapped her fingers nervously, avoiding their gaze.
"I mean, kinda selfish, I know... But I'm sure people can handle it themselves here. I'm more of a punch girl myself and…" She took a deep breath before looking at them with determination, holding her fist up. "And you need all the help you can get, right?"
"I... Well, I... "
He tried to say something. Anything. A promise he wished could become true. Something that wasn't a hard truth, but also wasn't a lie. He felt himself choke up and he could feel the growing concern from Amako, who tilted her head at him. In times like these, he was grateful that Mash was at his side. Leaning forward, as if protecting him, she raised her arm a bit too fast as she raised her voice.
"We-we'd have to double check with our director!"
He jumped onto that line like a life boat. Mentally, he apologized for using Goredolf's name, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
"Yeah!" He lowered his head, clenching the cloth of his pants in his hands.. "If It were up to me... I'd let you join in a heartbeat... "
"Hm. Fair enough," she said with a shrug. Smiling once again, she patted them on the shoulders a few times. "Just don't be a stranger if things don't pan out. You can visit any time!" She paused, furrowing her forehead in thought as she hummed. Leaning back, she tapped her chin. "Still have to figure out how to keep in touch. In case I leave this place, y'know?"
In response, he could only smile weakly. To his relief, Amako yawned, interrupting this line of thought. Taking this as their cue, they both stood up.
"Take it easy, alright?"
"You still need to sleep," Mash agreed with a soft smile. Amako stretched her neck a few times, waving at them with a smirk.
"Sure, sure. I'll just sort things out and I'll pass out like a rock!"
They waved back and left, closing the door behind them. Despite the heaviness in their hearts, the two still smiled at each other. Her being so happy... talking one last time was worth it. But as they left, they didn't realize it.
They didn't realize that not everything could go their way.
Amako hummed to herself, tilting her head a bit as she idly turned the pages. Then, something fluttered out, causing her to blink in confusion. A couple notes came out. She frowned as she picked them up.
"Hm? Weird. Why're these smaller than the other pages?"
As Amako read the notes... her skin turned paler and paler. She repeatedly looked up from them, staring at her door, before shaking her head, a desperate smile on her face as she muttered to herself.
"Nonononono... sis, you had to be drunk, right... ?!"
When she reached of it, she was hyperventilating. Clutching it to her chest, she rushed out of her room. She couldn't keep this in. She-she had to talk to someone about this!
/
The three warlords laughed amongst each other. Some would think a scorched ruined remnant of a throne room, with the sky night above them, wasn't a good place to drink. They would be right, but it wasn't something the three would care about.
Despite the copious bottles around them however, they were merely a bit tipsy. Their faces were flushed with red, but they were surprisingly coherent. Refilling their cups, Nobu sighed, throwing up a certain item a few times.
"Geez, he really was sentimental, huh?"
The Adzuki Beanbag. Nobu didn't expect Chacha to part with it in this timeline. Or perhaps it was just a replica. Either way, finding that little shrine of his behind the throne was... sombering, in a sense. Not only the beanbag. Certain coins she recalled from stupid bets. Some armors here and there. It certainly was a decent memorial. She sighed, taking another shot. What an idiot.
"At least he had some humanity left," Takeda commented with a nod, to which she toasted. Fool or not, in the end, she couldn't entirely dismiss his determination, insane and misplaced as it was. Certainly worthy of becoming the one who realized her dream, in a sense. Of course in that moment, Nagao had to ruin with the mood as she giggled, shaking her head dismissively.
"Not that it matters because he's dead now."
"Oi, a bit more respect for my monkey."
Her glare was met with one of those deranged smiles that hit the lust for blood. Nagao tilted her head a bit, her eyes half lidded as she swayed playfully.
"Make me~!"
Before they could murder each other, Takeda raised his hands between them, chuckling warmly.
"Girls, girls. No need to fight."
As expected of a normie. It took real charisma to have as many women and men throw themselves at him like that. Raising her hands in mocking surrender, Nobu leaned back with a scoff.
"Only cause I don't wanna waste the booze."
They shared a small laugh, before the air began to shift. Mentally she groaned. Oh great, more serious stuff. How did Souji deal with that crap? She was reaching her seriousness limit! Still, she raised an eyebrow as Takeda twirled his cup a few times. Looking up at them, he frowned in a weird way that caused the hair on her neck to tingle.
"...It's not over yet. Is it?"
"It isn't," Nagao replied, seemingly unphased as she pointed at the horizon. "The Tree of Fantasy is still standing."
"Hm. And Susanoo." She shuddered, remembering the sheer power in Yomi. Spitting to the side, she scoffed. "If it was him in that rock, he'd be an issue as well."
"Which makes me wonder why he didn't make a move yet." Kagetora poked her own cheek in thought. "Surely by now he should've gotten out of Yomi. It's been hours since Chiyome lost control."
Wasn't that a concerning thing to think about. It was like the god prepared for something. Nobu downed her drink, enjoying the burning sensation down her throat. Honestly she hoped they could just blow this entire Lostbelt up before that god changed his mind for some reason.
"Who knows. I for one appreciate the rest," Takeda said, agreeing with her thoughts. Idly, Nobu stared down. Surprised, she blinked before glancing at Nagao. She tilted her head in confusion before following her gaze, letting out an 'ah'.With her class enhancing her eyesight, she could easily spot her master, walking off with Mash, seemingly more content now. Nobu chuckled dryly. They got their last talk then. Good. With a groan, she stood up, but not before swiping a bottle of the good stuff. With a teasing smirk, she winked at Takeda, shaking the alcohol at him.
"Welp, gotta check on master. Have fun with your beauty sleep."
She ignored the bloodlust she felt. Seeing that it wasn't working on her, Nagao let her killing intent down, instead giggling as she gave Takeda a peck on the cheek.
"Take care, Haru~!"
She retched as they jumped down. Inhuman bastards or not, where was their shame?!
With the two of them gone now, Takeda let out a breath of relief, alone with his thoughts. Standing up, he overlooked his people, that were starting to pass out. He felt conflicted. With this eternal war over, he felt a bit lost. He was born into an age of strife. Only knew how to be a warlord. With no emperor around, it was naturally up to him to lead those people.
To be in charge of a new future was... humbling.
His thoughts were interrupted by heavy, panicked breathing. Turning around, he was surprised to see Amako, leaning against the wall. Concern grew in him as he saw her desperate eyes, her hands gripping papers so hard they might get destroyed from the force.
"Lord Takeda... I-I need to show you something."
He licked his lips in anticipation. Damn his instincts. Here he hoped he was wrong.
/
"Everything ready?"
His voice was a whisper, his body tense. The snoring all over the place was audible. But Ritsuka didn't want to risk it. Because of that, he looked around, his servants all nodding in confirmation.
"Everyone should be dead asleep," Nobu said, raising her thumb. Nodding a few times, he motioned for them to move. It was a bit of a pain, that their designated rooms were so deep inside the fortress. Each step he made sounded like a bomb, causing him to get more nervous and nervous. Because of that, he couldn't help himself but turn to the strategists behind him while Mash was taking the front.
"Tell me. Do you think you three can take down that tree?"
"Not exactly the kind of target I get summoned for." Nobu smirked, patting his head playfully. "But we'll make do."
"As if an Avatar of the divine gets stopped by such a little thing," Kagetora agreed, before silence fell between them again. Ritsuka felt himself relax a bit, but the worries continued to plague his mind. The tree was rather grown for what he assumed was a sub type Lostbelt. None of the Crypters were around, nor the other agents of the Alien God. His gut told him they needed more power to deal with it.
The thought of convincing Harunobu and Amako went through his mind more often than not. But he couldn't. Not at the risk of them realizing the truth. Even if it happened in the end of this, where the tree was gone. He couldn't take the looks they would have. He looked around, smiling at the sleeping people. Kids huddled together, guards using each other as support.
Peaceful. Content. That's the way a Lostbelt should end, he thought in his mind. Even if it hurt him, even if he felt guilty... at least this would be a less painful way to end things. They reached the front gate, open wide with no enemies left as far as they knew. However, before they could pass by, a voice spoke up from the shadows, causing Ritsuka to turn white as a ghost.
"Going anywhere?"
No. Nononononono! Mash gasped in shock. Ritsuka felt the world turning gray, as his mind was overloaded with the emotions he was feeling. Right in front of them, were Amako and Harunobu. The latter grim. The former... in denial. Horrified. Pleading.
He knew those expressions. It were the same faces he was confronted with by those who knew the truth. The truth about their fate as a Lostbelt.