Chapter 5
"The Homecoming"
Part One
Dressed in his finest navy blue regimental uniform, Rito leaned back on his chair comfortably with his legs crossed and gazed at Planet Deviluke with a thoughtful expression as their ship came close to its cosmic territory. He could still remember the first time he went there to meet the most powerful monarch in the galaxy and future father-in-law, King Gid Lucione Deviluke. Three years had passed since he made a gamble to venture out on a dangerous quest. He was only a naïve human with idealistic views back then. After facing countless battles, he knew better. He sacrificed a lot of things, made mistakes and almost died but he never gave up. He gained experience, survived and now, he's going back to claim his victory.
Soon, they received a voice transmission asking for their security clearance. With a nod to his subordinate, a hologram screen appeared in front of him and he delivered the name of his vessel (Nexus) and the security code he got from his mentor Alistair in a deep, clear voice. Each of the letter and number combination he said appeared on the screen promptly.
"Identification please." it asked as his face is reflected on the screen with a hand icon beside it.
Rito straightened in his seat and place his palm over the icon on the hologram screen. "Rito Yuuki, the prince consort and commander of the Devilukean Peace Corps."
A flash of light appeared from the screen to scan his palm and his face. It only took a few seconds for his biometrics to be verified such as his retinal signature, fingerprint, vocal pattern, etc.
"Welcome Back, Rito Yuuki-sama. The guards will escort your ship to the royal castle."
"Thank you."
As soon as the transmission ended, a battalion of ships emerged from Planet Deviluke and flanked the Nexus on both sides. Once they reached the planet's atmosphere, Rito immediately noticed the floating advertising balloons and holograms welcoming his return. Curious, he activated the monitor installed in his seat and he watched as different media channels announced the arrival of Deviluke's new hero, "The Beast". Their cameras followed his ship's slow descent towards the majestic marble bridge in front of the Royal Palace where he would be welcomed by spectators from all over the galaxy.
One of his two trusted deputies, Tristan, hooted at the sight. "Wow. They all love you, don't they, Rito?" he said, amused. He is a relative of the high elf and royal tutor, Alistair, so he has the same slender frame, bobbed silver hair with purple tips and blue eyes. The noticeable differences are he's arrogant and he hasn't bothered to master the art of polite speech like his uncle.
"It's Commander Yuuki, Tristan. How many times do I have to say it?" Hyzark, the other deputy, said in reprimand. He is a slender youth with black-slitted eyes, long white hair, sharp cat ears and yellow skin with black spots like a jaguar's. He is from Planet Felitri and their race is known for their strength, catlike agility and fierce loyalty.
"What? He told me I could call him by his first name." Tristan said with a shrug. "You're so uptight."
Hyzark's ears started to perk up in irritation and before they could start getting into an argument, Rito cleared his throat. The two immediately stopped; the elfin youth looked nonchalant while the other blushed a little.
"Just like we discussed," Rito looked at the elfin male. "Tristan, after the whole regiment have landed, you'll lead the third princess' entourage."
"Yes."
"And Hyzark," Rito glanced at him. "I'd leave my ship in your hands for the time being."
"Yes, Commander Yuuki!" Hyzark answered with a salute.
"Uptight." Tristan teased and the Felitrian male hissed in response.
Rito coughed again, trying to hide his grin. Though they always bickered like that, they fight well together in the battlefield, whether they'd admit it or not. "Well then," Rito stood up from his seat. "Let's show them what we're made of." He winked before putting on his military hat.
As they both gave answering grins, Rito tipped his hat in acknowledgement and then, left the captain's deck to prepare for his extravagant descent later.
Once the door slid open, a small figure attached itself around his waist. Rito looked down and saw the pink flower head that belonged to none other than Celine. "Good morning, Papa!" she beamed as she looked up at him.
Rito smiled back. "And good morning to you, too." He pinched her nose with his gloved hand, making her giggle. "Ah, what's this? You're wearing a new dress?" he asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.
"Yes I am! Tadah~!" Celine backed away excitedly and showed off her new dress with her arms outstretched. She was wearing a beautiful buttercup yellow dress with puffed sleeves and mint green ribbon at the waist just for today's occasion. She grew up a lot since the time she left to embark on a journey with him. She was taller now and more expressive about her thoughts. She also discovered her special abilities and has become a great help in his missions. She is on her way of blossoming into a wonderful little lady and as her guardian, he is very proud of her.
"Hmm~ let me see it more closely." He took her little hand in his and twirled her around, as if they were dancing. Her eyes widened with delight.
"Yup, it's beautiful! It looks really good!" he said in approval. Celine laughed and went along with him eagerly, remembering the steps he taught her before. Humming a tune together, they danced a simple waltz in the corridor.
"You two seem to be having fun." The pair turned to see Momo in a beautiful glittery coral blue mermaid dress, watching them with a smile. "May I join in, too?" she asked, tilting her head to the side cutely.
"Uwaa~ you're beautiful, Momo-nee-chan!" Celine said, clapping her hands excitedly. "Come and join us! Let Papa have a closer look at you, too." she extended her hand towards her, welcoming Momo within their circle.
"Oh, he's welcome to do that to me and more." Momo winked, flashing a teasing smile towards Rito.
"More?" Celine asked in confusion. The simple question brought the prince consort up short.
"All right, let's dance!" Rito interrupted then he hummed and twirled Celine around. Luckily, it was enough to distract the child from asking anything else. He cast a warning glance at Momo but she only chuckled and flashed an impish grin.
"Papa! Momo-nee-chan, too."
Having no choice, he took Momo's hand in his and twirled her around just like Celine. The child giggled away while the third princess tried to subtly show off her curves with her dress that he soon realized was backless.
Rito gulped and tried to keep his eyes from seeing too much. Looking closely at Momo (like what Celine suggested) is dangerous in many ways. It's been three years already but he still hadn't become immune to her advances. If it weren't for their deal, he would've been swept away by his hormones and be ashamed to return to Lala's side forever.
In his distraction, Momo's foot got caught in her dress and she stumbled forward. Instinctively, the tangerine-haired youth quickly caught her and held her close to his side.
"Are you okay?" he asked in concern.
"Oh, yes~" She answered in a breathy tone, blushing.
He stiffened, confused by her provocative reaction. As if to answer the question in his eyes, Momo tilted her head to the side as her answer. Rito realized belatedly that his right hand landed over her butt, near her sensitive tail. Oh shit, he thought. In his panic, he quickly adjusted his hold but that sudden movement earned another moan from her.
He glared at her as he blushed to the tips of his ears. Her deliberate actions were definitely not helping. Momo smirked and pressed her body closer to him, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
"Celine~ let's hug Rito like this." She suggested, holding his arm between her breasts.
"Okay~"
"Wha-? Momo! Stop teaching her weird things!" Rito said, flustered. He couldn't shove the child away so he moved his arm from left to right instead to prevent her from getting a hold of his arm. The girl thought it's a game and she became more pumped up to catch his arm, much to Rito's dread. On the other hand, Momo was laughing shamelessly beside him and cheering Celine on.
They were too preoccupied that they didn't notice the moment another person came to the corridor to witness their ruckus. Before Celine could catch Rito's arm, locks of blonde hair wrapped around her chest and lifted her off the ground. Finally, they became aware of her presence. "Ah, hello, Yami-nee-chan~!" Celine greeted, waving her hands enthusiastically as she hung in the air.
"That's enough playing around, Celine and Momo." Yami said in her usual serious tone of voice. "And you-" she turned towards their commander. "It's time for us to go."
"Right. Thanks, Yami." Rito smiled, relieved to have Yami handle the situation.
"Hmph. Party pooper." Momo pouted. Then, she pulled on Rito's arm again and leaned over. "Remember your promise, Rito." She whispered against his ear.
Her reminder brought color to his cheeks again. "I-I know already." Rito whispered back. Satisfied with his response, Momo let him go and backed away with a smile.
The prince consort sighed, wondering how she could look so calm every time she reminded him of their promise. Just the mere mention of it brought him back to that certain moonless night in the past. He swallowed as the image of her naked form came to mind. "Ugh. Stop it." He mentally shook himself. Incidentally, his eyes met Yami's and he quickly looked away before she could read anything from his eyes. He didn't want to give her another reason to call him a pervert. Instead, he reached out to take Celine in his arms to cover up his brief distraction.
"Now Celine, be a good girl while I'm gone. I'll see you in the palace later."
Her arms around his neck tightened. "Take care of yourself, Papa. Okay?" She asked with a tinge of worry reflected in her eyes. She didn't like it when Rito goes out because he sometimes returns with injuries. Also, there were bullies in the castle. She feared that they might bully Rito if they knew he's important to her.
"I will." He said, then he kissed her forehead. The child smiled and hugged him tight again. After a brief hug in return, Rito put her down and the young girl linked her hand with Momo's in a trusting gesture. Celine had lost count how many times she saw him off like that beside her big sister Momo, hoping he would return to them safely just like always.
"We'll go on ahead, Momo, Celine." He said, after giving the final instructions to Momo about their plans. "Let's go, Yami." The two turned and made their way towards the elevator that would lead to the deck below.
Once inside the safety of the elevator, Rito breathed a sigh of relief. "You saved me today, Yami. Thank you." He said, smiling.
"It's nothing." Yami replied.
Rito studied her from the corner of his eye. Despite being a special day today, he noticed that Yami is still wearing her usual gothic attire. "Uhm, you're not going to wear something different today?"
"Is it necessary?" she asked.
"N-not really." He said, flustered. "Forget I asked."
Just then, the elevator stopped and the door slid open. With a mumbled excuse, Rito went out to tend to the final preparations himself. As Yami watched Rito talk to some of his men, she noticed that everyone around her was wearing the official navy blue uniform of the regiment instead of their casual overalls. Her eyes went to her outfit.
"Wait. Let me ask Yami about-" Rito turned to ask her opinion about something but to his surprise, she was gone.
"Commander?" one of men got his attention.
"Ah, never mind. Let's do this then…"
Inside the castle, there's a flurry of activity as they prepared for the much awaited arrival of their planet's hero and next monarch. All floors were cleaned until they were spic and span and security sweeps were done consistently in anticipation for any outside interference. It was especially busy inside the royal kitchen, too. Because of their guest's special taste, Mikan was personally involved in the menu planning because of her expertise in Japanese cuisine and Saki's company, Tennjouin Corporation, provided the needed premium ingredients from Earth.
Now for appetizer, they decided to go with crab chowder. Truthfully, some of the chefs said it was too simple to be the appetizer but Mikan told them that she has her own special recipe for it and that it was one of her brother's favorite dishes. At that, the opposition relented because their guest's enjoyment was the most important thing and Mikan knows it best.
Mikan looked at the pot of crab chowder in front of her, wondering if her brother would remember her because of its taste. "He might have forgotten about it. It's been three years after all," she thought. Her heart gave a sudden flip again. "That can't be, right?"
"Mikan." Aerin, her best friend, tapped her by the shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Mikan blinked. "Ah, yeah. Why'd you ask?" she said as she resumed stirring the chowder.
The redhead Devilukean nudged her with her hip. "Admit it. You're excited about seeing your brother again, right?" she teased, her dimple showing on her cheek.
"W-why would I be? It's only my brother." She said defensively.
"Heh~ Do you mean to say that when you almost jumped off the roof when you heard about your brother returning was you being calm? Hmm…" Aerin looked at her knowingly.
The brunette blushed as she remembered the way she acted after Yami called her with the news of her brother's return. And from the wide grin on Aerin's face, it seems she recalled it, too. Embarrassed, Mikan lowered the heat to a simmer and then, turned her friend around by the shoulders. "G-get back to work already, Aerin." she said, pushing her back towards her work station.
"Geez, you're so not honest." she giggled, letting herself to be led back to her station.
"Chef, there's a couple of slackers here!" Tayla Stavius, the 3rd placer, called out. She has long and straight blonde princess style hair, icy blue eyes and full, sensual lips. She is considered the most beautiful Devilukean in their year and the great Sycliffe heir's unofficial girlfriend. Outsiders have a high regard for her because her father owns Stavius Suites, a chain of prestigious hotels around the universe but the two knew better than to be fooled by her appearance.
"Jealous, Tayla? You can join us if you like." Aerin said, grinning.
"No, thanks. I'm too good to hang out with the likes of you and that human." Tayla said, flashing that fake smile they knew so well.
"Aerin-" Mikan tried to pull her friend back but the redhead stood in front of Tayla's table undeterred.
"Oh~ So you think a 3rd placer like yourself is too good to be with us- the 1st and 2nd placer?" Aerin said, pointing at herself and Mikan respectively. "Hmm. Your logic doesn't make any sense." She concluded with a fake smile of her own.
Tayla's cheeks flared. She never really liked being treated like an idiot. The two glared at each other and were about to exchange more hateful words when the head chef's clap broke the tension.
"That's enough, you two. Back to your stations." The head chef, Willian, scolded. He's a stout man with a bushy white mustache, round glasses and swirl-shaped Devilukean tail. His hair is black with streaks of white and he's wearing the tall white toque with the royal emblem that signified his position in the Royal Kitchen.
"Yes, Chef." They both answered, staring at each other for a few seconds before going back to their tasks. Mikan sighed tiredly. It's been two weeks already but Tayla still refused to get along with her fellow trainees, especially with her and Aerin. She preferred to cook the meals assigned to her alone and she never asked for help. She sneaked a glance back at Tayla and saw her working diligently. It's a fact that she's hard to deal with and she hated her boyfriend but Mikan respected her skills as a chef. The food Tayla makes were undoubtedly superb and she hoped that someday she'd be able to work with her.
Later, the brunette went back to stirring her chowder and then, she took a small amount and tasted it. Satisfied with how the appetizer turned out, she called the head chef over for the final critique.
"As expected, it's delicious. Good job, Mikan." Willian complimented.
"Thank you, Chef." Mikan smiled, bowing in appreciation.
The head chef looked at his watch. "We're almost done here. You can go freshen up. Your brother is almost here, yes?" he said with a wink.
"Please let me stay here and help out more, Chef."
The head chef smiled at her eagerness. It was refreshing to see someone so passionate about cooking. "Just give me a heads up, okay?" He patted her shoulder in a fatherly way and went to check on another dish. Mikan took a deep breath and let the familiar scents surround her and calm her nerves. It reminded her so much of their home and she hoped to make Rito feel the warmth of coming home to his family and friends in today's feast.
With a lilt to her steps, she went about the kitchen to help out and to learn as much as she can. Since Rito went out of his way to make himself the best man in the universe, she would try her hardest to become the best chef the Royal Kitchen of Deviluke has ever had.
Their ship had docked at the end of the bridge without a hitch. According to the plan, he would ride out with his trademark mask on and on top of his familiar, Celes. Celes is an enormous, fierce looking black war lion with sapphire blue eyes, scaly wings of a dragon and adorned in ornate armor of white, blue and gold. She first appeared before him in response to his desire to survive during his first battle in one of the chaotic planets outside the Milky Way galaxy and Celes been his familiar since then.
He stood beside the creature inside its quarters and stroked its head lovingly. His tutors insisted that he should make an entrance the crowd wouldn't forget. "Since you're dubbed a hero, you might as well go all out," Samhain suggested. However, he's not only riding out just to please the crowd but also to show off how proud he is of his familiar. She isn't a mere spectacle for everyone's pleasure but a creature worthy of the highest respect. His eyes softened as he felt traces of scars hidden beneath its silky fur. They have been to real battles together and rarely left the field unscathed. Surely, he would have a lot of stories to tell once he comes down and meet his beloved Lala.
Lala. His hand stopped in mid-motion as her name conjured her sweet, smiling face in his mind. After three long years of separation, he would finally see her face to face and that thought made his heart race in his chest. He had always dreamed of this moment. His desire to see her has driven him past his limits to accomplish his goals. But that same desire has changed him in many ways, too. His clenched his hands to fists as they started to tremble. He remained faithful to her in his heart but he did things which he doubts she would accept if she knew. The King might also think he's still unworthy of her or worse, Lala might have fallen out of love for him.
Unconsciously, he started to pace the floor as his head became filled with worries and doubts. In the middle of his musing, golden blonde hair lifted him off the ground.
"You never learn, do you?" Yami chided as she caught Rito's attention. "Your useless pacing is making your familiar nervous." She added, pointing at Celes with a flick of her head.
"Oh." Rito looked at Celes and then at her. "I'm sorry. It's just that… it's been so long I-" he looked away guiltily, his brows furrowed together in thought. For a moment, he felt pathetic for always showing his weakness to her.
Upon seeing his conflicted expression, Yami sighed and brought him closer to her. Without a word, they held each other's gaze and then slowly, she touched his forehead with hers and guided him into taking deep breaths. It was the only way she knew how to calm him down throughout the three years they've been together.
Gradually, Rito closed his eyes and followed her lead. Soon, his shoulders began to relax and the worry on his face disappeared. It was strange that she used to make his chest jump out of his chest because of fear but now, she's able to comfort him, even in his dream state.
"Are you feeling calmer now?" she asked after a while.
Rito opened his eyes and stared directly at her deep crimson eyes that have always looked gentle at such a distance. "Yes. Thank you, Yami. I really needed that." He smiled gratefully.
Flustered by the fuzzy feeling he made her feel, Yami backed away and flicked his forehead with her fist-shaped hair.
"Ow!" he said as his hand soothed the part she hit. Finally, he got a good look at her and noticed her outfit. Her black gothic dress was replaced by navy military-style one piece. It has long sleeves, two columns of gold buttons lined the front and a matching belt of white and gold cinched her waist.
He smiled because Yami took his words earlier seriously and he found that part of her endearing. "You look really cute in that, Yami." He said, "As expected of our angel."
His compliment was the last straw. She dropped him on the floor like a hot potato and said with a glare, "Don't look at me like that, pervert." Ignoring his chuckle, she turned her back at him and walked away.
She felt strangely feverish. Her heart's pounding hard in her chest, too. "Am I sick?" she thought, confusion marring her features. She can't understand why her body turns into such a state only when her target is around. Back on Earth she had similar symptoms but it wasn't that serious. Now, the feeling stayed with her longer and his every move and every word towards her triggers it. "Maybe I should start reading some medical books…"
Meanwhile, Celes nudged her master's face with her nose and made a soft whimper. Rito stopped laughing and stroked his familiar's head lovingly. "Don't worry. I'm okay now." He reassured the animal. With its help, he got on his feet and said, "Let's go, Celes!"
Once his familiar lithely came to stand by his side, Rito climbed onto its back and together, they ran after Yami who was walking away in short, quick strides. Thanks to her, he's back to his usual self.
Upon their arrival, the uniformed men in the dock quickly stood at attention and faced their leader.
"At ease." Rito said, which the group happily obliged.
After regarding his men's faces, the commander gave his thanks and congratulated them for making it back with him safely. Since they graduated as trainees and their special regiment was established in Planet Xenos, he acknowledged their bravery and loyalty for fighting battles with him for the sake of maintaining peace in the Milky Way Galaxy. His voice trembles a little as he expressed gratitude to those who lost their lives along the way and said their sacrifice would be remembered always. At this, some men were shedding tears for their fallen comrades. Then as a final note, he welcomed them back home and declared that he is proud to call them his allies. As a sign of respect and gratitude towards them, he gave them a snappy salute.
As one unit, the men answered his salute with one of their own and then, they cheered in loud voices, chanting their commander's name in unison.
Rito pressed a button in his watch and his trademark mask appeared on his face. After that, with a slight nod of his head, Tristan gave the order to summon their assigned equipment like laser rifles, sabers, drums, trumpets, flags, banners, etc. Once settled, he called them to attention and directed them to turn towards the dock exit simultaneously.
The panel opened towards the sides and the bright morning sun slipped between the gaps. Once the wide stairs connected to the bridge and the ship settled, the trumpets sounded followed by the rhythmic beat of the drums. Then, in a deep, clear voice, Rito ordered, "Forward march!" and the whole troop marched out of the ship with their heads held up high and their banners swaying with the wind. The crowd below cheered upon their descent.
Once the regiment was on the ground, the instruments stopped playing and then the drill commander broke away from the front and faced the unit with a stern expression. Seeing that everyone's in position, he issued a command in a loud voice and then, the regiment separated into four platoons- two on each side of the ship's exit without breaking cadence. The crowd applauded at their display of discipline and oneness.
Next, as the instruments sounded again, a bright red carpet rolled out in the middle of the formation and then, some of the soldiers lined up and took out their sabers to make a sword arch. Soon, the third princess' white and gold gilded carriage came out. As instructed, Tristan led the entourage atop his silver-horned unicorn. Princess Momo and Celine waved at the people they passed by. Flower petals were tossed in the air to welcome their princess' arrival.
Upon seeing the last of the third princess' entourage reach a certain point in the carpet, Rito adjusted his white dress gloves and took his saber out of its scabbard, swinging it a few times in preparation. Satisfied with his grip, he placed it back in its holder.
"Are you ready, Yami?" he asked.
The look he turned towards her made her heart skip a beat again. She couldn't say no to those bright, unwavering eyes of his so instead, she let her pure white wings come out and said, "Don't mess up."
"I know." he chuckled. "All right. Let's go!"
Yami flew out first, making a perfect twirl in the air and then, she struck a pose with her wings spread out beautifully. "Look! It's the Angel! The Angel!" The children waved at her excitedly.
She acknowledged them with a wave of her hand and then she flew under the sword arch at maximum speed. Before they could see where she's going, their attention quickly shifted towards the ship as Celes appeared and let out a loud roar. The creature looked ferocious and beautiful at the same time. But what intrigued them the most was its masked rider in full military uniform.
It was their first time to behold the "Beast" of the Devilukean Peace Corps. Unlike his contemporaries who enjoyed their time in the limelight and let everyone know about their life, the Beast kept his identity private. Many attempts were done to uncover his real identity however, it all ended in failure because his security is tight and the ones he helped personally were unwilling to say anything. Hence, no one knows where he came from or how he became the commander of the newly formed elite force, the Devilukean Peace Corps. He remained a mystery until that moment. They're hoping it will all come to light today.
At Rito's signal, the familiar jumped off the ship and ran under the arch at break neck speed and once they reached the end, her rider pulled on her reins and Celes stood up on its hind legs and together, they let out their battle cry. His men mimicked the sound, emboldened with pride as warriors. The spectators felt goose bumps as they heard the eerie sound.
The drums beat slowly and Rito took out his sword and executed perfect drills with his saber in preparation. Then with a snap, he let out a command and the whole regiment performed a silent drill with their rifles as they marched forward. The crowd clapped enthusiastically. They were amazed at how effortlessly they maneuvered their rifles in their hands. They twirled it, tossed it in the air and switched arms without breaking formation. The children, on the other hand, fell in love with the Beast and his familiar. Though the pair scared them at first, their gracefulness in moving in sync amazed them. Soon, they were following the two as they marched forward, not wanting to let them out of their sight.
"So far, so good." Rito thought, pleased that he was able to do his part perfectly and the crowd seemed to accept them wholeheartedly. It was a testament they're welcomed here. He looked at the towering castle of Deviluke. "The time has finally come, huh?" He took a deep breath.
From a distance, he noticed soldiers wearing the Devilukean armor escort the third princess' entourage ahead. Soon, four mounted individuals were coming towards him.
On their approach, Rito gave the order to stop and Yami descended from the above to stand beside him and his familiar.
Two of the escorts were unrecognizable because of their full armor but based on their coat of arms, Rito assumed they're the representatives of the Royal Family of Memorze, Deviluke's foremost ally.
The other pair were the representatives of Deviluke. First was Zastin, the incumbent commander of Devilukean Army, wearing his usual armor and the other one was Lord Melcohm Sycliffe, a member of the Royal Court dressed in a white suit and fur-lined emerald green robe.
Rito steeled himself at the sight of the nobleman. He is a grey haired man with burly built, sharp green eyes behind silver rimmed glasses and a full beard. Everything about him bespoke authority and confidence.
According to his sources, Lord Melcohm is considered the most influential figure in the council and he strongly opposed Princess Lala's engagement to him. Rumor has it that he harbored the ambition of making his eldest son Zathur to become the King but because of Rito's failure to rescue him in the battlefield three years ago, he had to pass that dream on to his second son, Zeric.
Rito knew that this day would come where he would face the powerful father of his fallen comrade, Zathur. He just hoped that Lord Sycliffe would not let his grief prompt him to make a scene. There is a right time for them to discuss about the details of the incident and the bravery of his eldest son.
After sheathing his saber, Rito expertly dismounted from his familiar and handed over the reins to Yami. And without a hint of hesitation, he strode forward to meet their distinguished escorts.
Mea was perched on the divan, eating her favorite candy as she watched the live coverage of the Beast's arrival, the fierce commander of the Devilukean Peace Corps, on her holographic television. Looking at his image now, she couldn't believe how much the prince consort had changed. The memory of them fighting in the East Garden was still fresh in her memory. She smirked as she rolled the candy in her mouth with her tongue. The thought of finding out how much stronger he had gotten since that time thrilled her.
"I don't like that look in your eyes, Mea." A voice scolded her from the door.
Mea looked up and saw the second princess standing by the door with a disapproving look. "What look?" she asked, grinning innocently.
Nana rolled her eyes, not buying her friend's play at innocence. "You know what I mean." She said, closing the door behind her. "What are you watching anyway?" she asked, moving towards the divan.
"Oh, the arrival of our future King." Mea answered nonchalantly, settling more comfortably in her seat. "He's pretty impressive, you know."
Nana glanced at the television, unimpressed. "I reserve my judgment. Ruling a galaxy is different from fighting a bunch of infidels."
Mea flinched. "Ouch. You're a tough one to please. Even though he took the chance to take the moniker you gave him seriously…" her voice trailed off suggestively.
Nana turned into a bright shade of red. "Wha-?! H-how did you even know about that?!" she demanded.
"I have my own sources. Fufufu~" Mea smirked, enjoying the look of embarrassment on her friend's face.
"W-Well anyway, he hasn't impressed me yet so, h-he still has a long way to go." Nana scoffed, crossing her arms in defiance.
"Whatever you say, Princess." The redhead said with a shrug. Nana wanted to press her point further but Mea appeared bored now so she dropped the subject. She would have to try and convince Mea about her thoughts on the prince consort at another time.
"Let's go, Mea. My father is expecting us in the grand ballroom." She said briskly, remembering why she was there in the first place.
"Hai. Hai." Mea stood up and picked up the slim remote control.
"I-I'll do that. Y-you can go on ahead." Nana said as calmly as she could.
Mea raised an eyebrow at this but she didn't question her and simply handed her the remote. Once she was out of the room, she shook her head.
"My, my. What a dishonest princess I serve." She commented in a low voice. Though the princess tried to appear indifferent, Mea had found out a long time ago how closely Nana was monitoring the prince consort's progress on television. Right now, she might be thinking it's simply for research but Mea thinks otherwise. From her perspective, the second princess' fixation on the Beast is somewhat akin to love. The redhead walked away, placing her arms behind her head. But she wouldn't tell her that. It would be interesting to watch her princess struggle with her conflicting feelings, she thought with a smirk.
Meanwhile, Nana took another look at the television screen and watched as Rito and the representatives welcomed him to Planet Deviluke.
"Finally, you're here." she said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Heh! You might have fooled everyone to think you are good but not me. I'll expose you for who you really are, you beast!" she blushed, saying his alias out loud made her recall the first time she used it. Clearing her throat, she turned off the screen and left the room.
After the four escorts dismounted and mimicked the Beast's snappy salute, Lord Sycliffe shook the young commander's hand and officially welcomed him to Planet Deviluke. They had a brief whispered exchange and then, Commander Zastin was next to offer his congratulations and to clap him on the back for a job well done.
The two Memorzian representatives waited silently for their turn to be recognized. "I wonder why he still keeps his face hidden. Do you think he has a scar or something?" one of the pair whispered in a gruff voice but surprisingly, he got no response from his companion.
"Hmm, how odd. It's not like you to be quiet, General." He nudged the general by the shoulder and their armor clanked together.
"Ah." The sound brought him back to the present. "I'm sorry, Sir. I just had a flashback. Damn."
The older warrior chuckled. "Why? Is the Beast someone you know?" he asked curiously.
Before he could answer, the honored guest stood before them and extended his hand while expressing his gratitude for meeting him there. With a push of a button, the older warrior showed his face under his helmet and grinned. "It's a pleasure to finally meet the Beast in the flesh." He answered, shaking the young commander's hand.
"The pleasure is all mine, General Erebus of the Memorzian Army." He answered.
"Very good." The older warrior beamed, impressed that the Beast recognized him. "By the way, this is my subordinate-"
"I see you've finally fulfilled your promise." The other warrior interrupted.
"Excuse me?" the Beast turned towards him. The glass on his helmet still hid half of his face so, Rito couldn't recognize him. But based on the patch on his armor's right arm, he's also a general.
"Ah, seriously, you're a tough one to beat!" The other warrior said in an exasperated voice. "Anyway, as expected of my best friend, you really make me proud, man." He continued before revealing his face underneath the helmet.
"N-no way." Rito gaped at the familiar spiky black haired guy before him. He hadn't expected to see him there, wearing Memorzian armor no less. "S-Saruyama?!"
"Yo!" he greeted with a cheeky grin and a casual salute with his middle and forefinger.
Inside the grand ballroom, all the guests from noble families across the galaxy were gathered at the upper balcony. The hall below was left empty as instructed by the palace staff. As the huge holographic screen showed the arrival of Deviluke's vanguard of peace, Beast, they enjoyed the delicacies offered and the music playing in the background.
The royal family was seated on the throne, overlooking the entrance to the grand ballroom. The King was sipping a glass of wine leisurely while the two princesses on each side of him were lost in their own thoughts. Princess Nana looked strangely displeased, with her chin resting on her clenched fist and her lips set in a straight line. Princess Lala, on the other hand, was watching the screen intently with a wistful look as her beloved and their friend Saruyama rode side by side towards the palace gate. Unconsciously, she fiddled with the metallic bunny bracelet with red eyes on her wrist.
The King caught her movement and immediately recognized the bracelet that her daughter calls Warp-kun. He cleared his throat deliberately. "If you go to him now without my permission, I'm going to send him away again. Don't test me." He warned.
Lala stopped fiddling with the device and sat up straighter in her seat. "I understand, Papa."
The holographic projection disappeared and the trumpets sounded. As the last notes disappeared in the air, the honored guests' arrival was announced and then, the doors to the great hall were opened. A welcoming music was played and the guests stepped inside the venue in an orderly manner. First, Princess Momo walked alongside a green-haired flower girl they haven't seen before. Next was Lord Sycliffe with Commander Zastin followed closely by the two Memorzian generals. The last one to enter was the Beast himself. They have crossed a few meters across the room when Rito felt the atmosphere around them suddenly change.
The moment the door opened, Lala had to restrain herself not to stand up and fly towards her beloved. It's been three years since she last saw him and at last, he's finally home. First she saw her younger sister, Momo. Her pink hair reached her shoulders now in soft waves and she looked taller, leaner and a little bit tanned. It was only three years but her sister has blossomed beautifully into a lovely lady.
Then her gaze shifted to the little girl beside her. She remembered seeing her in a picture Momo sent her several years ago. She was still a little tyke then but now, she's all grown up and looked very happy.
Afterwards, she saw the representatives for both her planet and Memorze. But she didn't give them that much attention because she always had a chance to see them in the palace. There was only one person she wanted to see the most and that is Rito.
As soon as he stepped inside the hall, her eyes stayed glued to him. She noted how much his physique changed since they were apart. Compared to before, he's taller, muscular and a little tanned. He walked confidently without tripping over something unseen. He has a different air about him and she felt so proud of him. She could only guess what he'd been through to have that confidence and to earn his title as the Beast.
But what she wanted to see most was his face. She wanted to see his gentle eyes and bright smile. She wanted to hug him tightly and to sleep beside him just like in the past. Overwhelmed by the memories, her eyes began to glisten with tears and her heart was filled with so much longing for him. She had waited patiently for this moment. She's actually tempted to go against her father's warning and just jump down to where he is now.
But before she could put her thoughts into action, there was a scream from the audience and then, she saw her sister Momo and the little girl collapsed on the floor below and was lifted in the air by an invisible force. Soon, the Devilukean representatives and the senior Memorzian general collapsed, too. The only ones who remained walking down the aisle were Rito and Saruyama, oblivious to what happened to their companions.
"What's going on, Father?!" Lala asked in a panicked tone. Her father hadn't mentioned anything about this.
"They have entered the simulation area I have ordered to be set up there earlier." The King answered calmly.
"But why are Rito and Saruyama awake?!" She asked in confusion. "If they get injured in that state, they'll die!"
"Now that's a shame, isn't it?" he lifted his glass and it was immediately refilled by the wine bearer nearby. "Now just sit still and enjoy the show, my daughter."
Rito stopped and scanned his surroundings immediately. He could still see the nobility in the upper balcony but he couldn't hear anything from them.
Something in his mind clicked. His tutors warned him that the King might have a surprise test for him but he hadn't expected that it would involve Momo and Celine into it.
"Where do you think you're going?" Lord Sycliffe scolded as Rito broke away from the line and moved towards the two girls.
"Momo!" he called out, his voice echoed as if they're inside a vacuum. The sound further confirmed his suspicion that they are inside a simulation. He quickly reached the two girls waiting for him at the aisle.
"Are the two of you all right?" he whispered, looking at them worriedly.
"We're all right, aren't we, Celine?" Momo asked the little girl.
"Yes, we are, Papa." Celine smiled innocently. "Did you see my walk? I didn't trip at all!" She said proudly.
"You did well, Celine." He said, stroking her hair playfully which earned him a giggle from the little girl.
"Momo." He whispered.
"I know." She whispered back, her face suddenly serious. "It's so like him to do something like this."
"Are you still here?"
Momo shook her head. "Only my consciousness." She answered while flexing her free hand. "I've lost my ability to sense the plants the moment I crossed a certain point in this room."
"How about Celine?"
"I'm not sure about that." She said quietly. "How about you?"
"I'm still here."
His answer made Momo look angry. "How can he-" Rito quickly shushed her with his finger to her lips. "Take this. Once I give the signal, break the vial and get out of here." He instructed, giving her a small vial discreetly. The third princess nodded and before they could say more, a hologram screen appeared overhead and the monarch of the land appeared, looking smug in his throne with a fresh glass of wine in his hand.
Rito and the others quickly got on their knee and their fists to over their hearts to pay their respects. On the other hand, the ladies bobbed a curtsy.
"Welcome, our brave new warrior." The King said with a smile. "I hope you don't mind my surprise for you. I have heard so much about your bravery and fierceness in battle. Hence, I personally want to see what you're capable of."
"I'll prove myself to you repeatedly if that is your wish, Your Majesty." Rito said calmly. "For the sake of fulfilling my promise to you, I'm prepared for anything."
The King laughed in amusement. "Prove yourself worthy then." He raised his glass in salute. "Give me a good show, Beast." He said and then, the screen disappeared.
"Wait, Your Majesty! I wasn't aware of this!" Lord Sycliffe protested but it was too late. The ground shook and an army of white robots with red goggles surrounded them in a circle.
"Now, Momo!" Rito shouted as he unsheathed his sword and assumed a fighting stance.
"Be safe, Rito." Momo said before she broke the vial in the ground and glittery, white smoke engulfed the simulation area in an instant. The scent was so strong and those who inhaled it felt a sharp pain in their brain.
The smoke cleared and only Rito and Saruyama remained at the center of the hostile robots.
"Shit. What was that smell?" Saruyama said, shaking his head as if to clear away the pain.
"Why are you still here?" Rito asked, agitated. "Do you know about this?"
Saruyama grinned. "I'm here to watch your back, man." He said, then he took out a baton from the side of his thigh, twisted it and it became a spear with a huge curved blade at one end. "I can't let you take all the glory by yourself. The one who kills the most robots, wins." He challenged, assuming a fighting stance as well.
Despite the perilous situation they're in, Rito laughed. "Suit yourself." He said, then together they fought the first wave of robots who attacked them with swords, spears and laser guns.
"6…7…" Saruyama counted out loud, the numbers rise each time he cut down a robot. "8…9… Yeah, I'm on a roll here! 10!"
Saruyama was too focused in close hand battle with the robots that he saw too late the robot that was about to fire at him. Before he could react, Rito quickly intercepted it by slicing its arm gun, kicked the robot down and brought his sword down against its head.
"Thanks, man. I owe you one." Saruyama said then, he pierced the last robot on his side through the chest. Its metallic body shivered and lost its power.
"Just don't get too carried away." Rito said before he set out again, jumped upwards and cut a robot in half. For a moment, Saruyama watched his friend and saw firsthand how truly merciless he is in a fight. He moved swiftly and targeted the vital points of his enemy. His clumsy and wishy-washy friend is gone, replaced by this fierce and adept warrior.
After almost half an hour of fighting nonstop, the last of the robots collapsed into a heap of broken metal and wires. Rito removed his sword from its body and looked over his friend nearby. "Are you done over there, Saruyama?"
"You bet!" the young general answered then he rested his spear over his shoulder. "Whew. We make a great team, huh?"
Rito smiled. "Agreed."
"So how many robots did you kill?"
The hologram screen flashed again before the Beast could answer. "That was impressive. I expected no less from the Beast of my elite force." The King said.
"Does this satisfy you, Your Majesty?" Rito straightened up and swished his sword to the side. "If not, I'm ready for the next round."
"No need. You've done well, warrior." The King smiled.
Out of nowhere, a fallen robot from behind came to life and hurtled towards him with a pointed spear. The crowd gasped and by a hair's breath, Rito dodged the weapon, he spun around and drove his sword down the robot's chest in a split second, cutting it in half. The force of the impact made bits of metal and sparks fly in the air. Finally, the robot shivered and the light from its eyes died permanently.
The ground shook again and the fallen robots were swallowed up underground and the shield surrounding the hall disappeared. Then, the two warriors finally heard the enthusiastic applause from all the nobles present. Saruyama was the first to congratulate him with hug and a handshake.
"Damn, that was a close call. Are you okay, Rito?"
"Yeah, I'm okay. Believe me, I've been through worst."
"So, how many did you kill?"
"Excluding that last attack, I got a total of 30."
"I only got 25! Close enough, I'd say." Saruyama laughed, patting his back. "Anyway, you did really great in there. I'll make sure not to get on your bad side ever."
Rito chuckled. "Yeah, please don't."
All of a sudden, he heard someone call his name coming from above. His heart raced at the sound. He knew that sweet voice. He'll recognize it anywhere. He quickly sheathed his sword and looked around to find a glimpse of her.
"Rito!" he heard again.
"Lala!" he shouted back then, his chest felt tight with longing. He bit on his clenched fist to prevent himself from crying. "Calm down. Maybe this is another test." He mumbled to himself.
A blinding flash of light shone from above him and a familiar girl with long bubblegum pink hair, teal green eyes and dressed in a flowing pastel green dress appeared. "Rito!" she called out, her arms outstretched.
His self-control snapped. His body moved instinctively and sought to catch the girl in his arms. "Lala!" he called out her name, the name he always called out in silence and in his dreams. Even if it was a trap, it didn't matter to him anymore. He had waited so long to see her face and to hold her in his arms once again.
He stretched his arms wide to welcome her in his embrace and as they came in contact, they fell on the floor and the suppressed emotions they have harbored for all these years burst forth in the form of tears, wide smiles and tiny kisses.
"Rito… Rito… Rito!" Lala rained kisses on his face and then, hugged him tight as if wanting to bury him into her being and to feel that he's really there and not a figment of her imagination. "I'm so glad… I was so worried… I thought I wouldn't see you again… I really missed you, Rito…" she cried, her face buried against his chest.
His heart ached at how much he had hurt her. With as much care as he could muster, he maneuvered both of them into a sitting position. Then, with a push of a button in his wristwatch, he revealed his face to her for the first time.
"Look at me." Rito said, his voice rough with emotion. As Lala looked at him with her tear-streaked face, he reached out and wiped her tears away gently. "I'm home, Lala. Will you… still accept me?"
"Of course I will." Lala answered with a watery smile. "Welcome back, Rito!" she added in a cheerful voice.
Tears clogged his throat. Wordlessly, he fished out the gold locket necklace out from underneath his uniform, flipped the catch and took out the ring within it. It's a gold woven band with a special rainbow-colored gem cut into a diamond shape.
"Give me your hand." He said then he took her right hand gently and stared into her eyes. "I'm sorry for making you wait for so long. Now, I have come to fulfill my promise to you. Lala Satalin Deviluke, my beloved, will you marry me?" he proposed, his face flushed.
"Yes!" Lala replied, her tears starting anew. "Yes, I'll marry you, Rito!"
After Rito placed the ring on her ring finger, the two shared their first kiss as an official engaged couple. It's a heartwarming kiss with just the right amount of passion. Once their lips parted, they shared a look and laughed for no reason at all.
"Hmm, how cozy."
Startled, the couple finally noticed the King crouched beside them on the floor.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
"Papa!"
Upon seeing their flushed faces, the King snorted then he stood up and held out his hands for both of them. The couple took hold of his proffered hands and stood up on each side of the monarch. Then with a tap of his foot, the portion of the floor they're standing on detached itself and carried them upwards for all to see.
"Let it be known to all…" The King said in a clear, authoritative voice. "That I, Gid Lucione Deviluke, hereby declare that the Beast of the Devilukean Peace Corps and prince consort of the First Princess, Rito Yuuki of Planet Earth, the future King of Deviluke!"
His announcement was greeted with approval from everyone inside the palace and those who have watched the live telecast of the whole event including the prince consort's touching proposal.
Rito leaned towards her ear and whispered, "I love you, Lala."
He loved how his words made her flush with pleasure. "I love you, too." She whispered back, her eyes shining with love and happiness. He held her by the waist and pulled her close to his side. For the first time in years, he felt free, warm and contented. He kissed the top of her head. "Yes, this is where I'm meant to be." He thought with a smile.
Amidst the noise of applause and loud cheers, the royal couple smiled tenderly at each other and together, they waved towards the crowd as a sign of thanks to their warm blessing for their official engagement.
A/N:
And that's the first part of Rito's return to Planet Deviluke. Hahaha! So, how was it? Did it get you all teary eyed? Or pushed you at the edge of your seat maybe? Come on~ Please leave a review to give little Keira here the fuzzies. lol. XD
Thank you for reading this latest chapter! I do hope you liked how it progressed so far. I apologize for the delay in the update. I've been busy with real life, you know how it is. Haha! But don't worry, writing will always be my first love so, I might be slow but I'll definitely finish this one as well. ^^
Well then, look forward to the second part of this chapter! Take care always and have a great day ahead~!
xoxo,
Keira
ASK KEIRA CORNER!
So yeah, I've read some of your questions so, let me answer them briefly without revealing too much. Haha!
1. How much time had passed?
Keira: After graduation, three years had passed since then, so basically, Rito and his school mates are 21 years old.
2. Why is Mikan graduating with Rito's peers? How did Haruna become a doctor? They got their careers way too fast! (Your reactions in a nutshell. Haha!)
Keira: In my version of Planet Deviluke, age is not an issue. So, even if Mikan decided to take up Culinary Arts as a teenager, it doesn't matter at all. They have the freedom to do what they like. Plus, they have the King to back them up, so, who the hell will go against his wishes, right? (smirks)
With regards to Haruna, she's Mikado-sensei's doctor-in-training. Haruna is very intelligent so I know she can handle the hands-on training Mikado-sensei is giving her. (I'll explain this in detail once I start writing her chapter)
3. Did Rito have some sort of enhancement done to his body?
Keira: Who knows? It's still too early in the story to reveal that, don't you think? (laughs)
4. Any last comments?
Keira: I know you're all curious about the detailed life of the girls and Rito. Don't worry, it will all come to light in due time. Just remember that the setting for this story is my own version of Planet Deviluke. All the restraints that we have here on Earth are, to some extent, not applicable. (smiles)
Still, I appreciate the questions you all posted in your reviews. Through this, I can tell how closely you are following my story. Your insights guide me on how to improve my writing, too. So, keep 'em coming! (smiles)
Well then, that's all for now. Till next time, minna-san~! (waves goodbye)
