Princess Finale Chapter 3: Condemned to Rule, a princess resurrection/怪物王女 fanfic

Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit work of fanfiction. Princess Resurrection/Kaibutsu Oujo is owned by Yasunori Mistunaga, Del Rey Manga, Kodansha, and Studio Madhouse. Please support the official release!

Author Note: Hello all, Raza here! Sorry about the wait as always though this time I did have a legitimate excuse, finals… yeah I know eww… but anyway I'm back and by now I'm sure you all know… that's right folks… it's with a heavy heart that I have to say… Princess Resurrection has finally come to an end… Now, if you're like me, I'm sure the ending fills you with both a sense of sadness and… if we're being completely honest, a little disappointment. I mean the series had so much potential especially in the beginning but then… I don't know… I felt like maybe Yasunori Mistunaga lost his way or something… a lot of things just… didn't seem to jive well (know what I mean?) especially during the middle of the series and even the ending which just kind of had me saying "what?" That's why I'll be sure to make this final as awesome possible so please give me whatever feedback you guys can! But anyway, that's enough for the time being… more on that and other stuff at the bottom. Right now, regardless of the ending and how things could've turned out… I just want to thank you Yasunori Mistunaga… thank you for bringing us this wonderful adventure/world (*bows in respect*)! And most importantly, I want to thank you… Hime, Hiro, thank you Riza and Reiri, Nakua, thank you Flandre, Francesca, Princess Sherwood, even you Ryu-Ryu. Thank you all so very much! I had a blast! May we meet again somewhere somehow; I'll pour the tea…

Enjoy the story guys! It's my tribute to the ending of this great wonderful series!

Chapter 3: Condemned to Rule:

The next few days went by rather quickly. No sooner did Hime's father leave did several royal guards appear pulling up in their fancy white cars wearing their fancy white suits… it was kind of irritating in fact. How they just up and appeared so prim and polished despite everything that had happened, but they were respectful, and they were kind, and indeed upon seeing Hime and her gang completely covered in wounds and bruises, they immediately tended to their injuries… no questions asked… no delays… no prodding or cheering, no not even smiling…

They knew… of course they all knew… the looks of Hime and her gang hell the state of the room said it all… the time of war had indeed come to an end… the time of grieving, however, had only just begun…

And so they were silent… Yes, that's right, they were all silent as the guards and their medics went about patching them all up and cleaning Hiro off for he was as the only one among them whose wounds were almost healed. Riza and Reiri weren't too far behind and Sherwood herself wasn't bad at all…

But Hime… Hime was a completely different story…

Her regenerative ability had served her well but now it seemed she was at her limit as she wobbled on her feet titling dangerously off balance. Hiro moved in to help but Sherwood was closer and so she was the one who caught her as she gently helped her sister settle on the ground…

"I've got you Onee-sama…" Sherwood said as she sank to her knees beside her sister. Hime didn't say a word, not a single word as she finally turned around to sit facing them, a subtle frown the only feature on her face as her bangs covered up her eyes, a few droplets of sweat clinging to the ends of her bloody blonde hair. Sherwood hesitated for a second before attempting to speak again but then Hime held up her hand, she lifted her head and that's when they saw it… her face… and the lifeless expression she carried…

And at first glance… it must have seemed like she was just as indifferent as ever… the same old Hime… it certainly put the guards at ease… but to those who knew her well… to Hiro, Sherwood, Riza, Reiri… that expression was not Hime. No rather it bore a different kind of indifference, one that hid her soul, one that lied about her anguish, and it was the worst kind of expression they could have seen on her face. That even as Hime relaxed her body allowing the royals to finally come in and treat her wounds, she was in submission… like she'd just given up… and it didn't help that she looked like she'd been beaten half to hell… Truly the guards had their work cut out for them as they did their best putting back the pieces of this broken princess…

After about a minute or so, a rather familiar doctor walked in and what a sight he was to see… the royal family's personal physician with his large hands and round physique and elephant like head, his eyes shimmering with love for he too was overjoyed. He didn't smile of course but the feelings that he had, that nearly brought him to his knees, they were nonetheless unmistakable… He did his best out of respect to refrain himself as he tipped his hat walking in.

"Your Highness…" The good doctor said tenderly doing his best not to offend. He made a beeline toward Hime, but he glanced around making sure everyone was being cared for. On his way over he nearly slipped as he stepped across a rather large sticky red puddle. He didn't pay it any mind, not at first, but then he realized quite quickly the nature of the puddle… and the body from which it came as his sights settled on the first princess… or what was left of her anyway…

And for a second he just stopped, dead in his tracks, for what else could he do? Even for a doctor, to look upon a corpse that… torn apart… to behold the bodily result of all the battle he must have seen walking in through that lobby only now finding the corpse he knew he was going to see. He was happy it wasn't Hime or Sherwood… but that just meant it had to be Sylvia… A fine trade if you asked most people but that was easier to say… it was disturbing to see… to see princesses like this… their beautiful delicate bodies struggling against wounds they couldn't hope to heal… indeed the royal war was a whole new level of hideous destruction. It delighted in taking glowing things, beautiful, elegant things, giving them swords and telling them to have at it. Even rabid dogs were not so vicious… And so the good doctor quickly averted his gaze for such a sight was bad for the soul as he signaled to a few nearby guards to finally collect Sylvia's body…

It was then, only then, that Hiro noticed the mood in the room had become unanimous. The royal guards no longer hid their happiness; no rather they had none left to hide as they continued patching Hime up snatching glances at the two unfortunate guards who went over to Sylvia's remains… Where to begin? There were no arms to fold, no eyes to close… hardly even a body to pick up… just pieces… here and there, scattered and unevenly cut. The guards simply stared, blinking quite frequently to avoid staring for too long, the bits of soggy bone with string like flesh connecting pieces that were jammed together, it might have been easier to just leave the room, close the door and call that her coffin… but they did their best and for the sake of sanity they worked quickly taking out a shawl and wrapping it over her head—or at least what looked like her head—before putting the rest of her in a rather stylish box—not quite a coffin but not quite a black bag. The box was nonetheless fit for royalty as Princess Sylvia was totted away with honor and dignity… the least anyone could do for her now…

And that was that. It was time to go home for whatever that was worth. The royal guards finished bandaging up everyone and after a few subtle attempts they eventually managed to get them all on their feet. Most of them could stand but Hime still wobbled. Hiro wanted so much to carry her, to support her especially now, here after everything they had been through, but once again Sherwood was closer and Hiro just sighed as they finally walked out of that room back toward that war-torn lobby…

"Fuga Fuga!" Flandre called as she saw Hime and the gang walking down the stairs. She rushed over to her master's side, a small eye-patch the only treatment for her wounds… well that and a recharged battery… at least until the Professor could properly fix her. Francesca too was there having left before to get her own battery recharged, she walked over to Sherwood with Ryu-Ryu by her side and so the entire group was together once again as they all made their way toward the busted door frame of Sylvia's mansion.

Near the front doors, passed the numerous royal guards still buzzing in and out, a familiar band of monsters (and one human) quietly waited to the side, Mikasa, her sister Hatsuse, the Flyman, and of course Madeleine. They just stared on in silent respect… but Madeleine… she shifted around restlessly as Hime got closer. She wanted to say something, that much was certain but she was still cursed and so she couldn't speak… perhaps instead she wanted to hug the princess as she had only a few times before, communicating the words of her silent mouth with the touch of her screaming heart. But even so as if a testament to Hime's true mood, the cool princess simply walked or rather limped right on pass without so much as a second glance as Hiro and the gang followed quietly in toe… Mikasa just put her hand on the mermaid's shoulder giving her a reassuring look before they both bowed along with the Flyman watching that beautiful condemned princess as she left…

Mikasa's sister, Hatsuse, also bowed though that was considerably difficult for her given she was in a wheelchair with some crutches on her lap… she kept a curious eye open doing her best to catch a glimpse of the woman who had given their mistress so much trouble. Her efforts were thankfully in vain… the look she would have seen if her angle was only slightly better… it was not Hime, it wasn't how Hime should be remembered… Riza glanced over at the mermaid who waved with a sad smile… the half-breed gave a quick wink back before bidding her farewell as she along with Hime and everybody else finally left that god forsaken mansion… for good…

Outside it was like a completely different world. Almost immediately Hiro was blinded as he walked behind Hime and Sherwood, the dazzling light from the sun along with the chirping of the birds overwhelming his senses. It was different from the sorrow in their hearts or the smell of warfare that clung to their clothing or the color of blood and dust that had seeped its way into their eyes… Up above the line of trees towering along the hills horizon, Hiro noticed several large vines as they grew well into the sky towering some twenty feet past the top of the tallest tree. It was Sherwood's triffid. So yes, there were… reminders of the war here and there including the torn up mansion behind them, but it was like the world wanted them to forget… providing them with beauty so they wouldn't remember the horror, a classic bait-and-switch. It was ineffective… and ultimately cruel…

Just ahead there was a sort of roundabout driveway that oddly enough connected to no roads. Numerous gorgeous white cars were parked out front and several royal guards were bustling about. One guard stood next to a fancy pearl white vintage limo holding the door open for them…

"Your highnesses…" The guard said tipping his chauffeur like hat as they approached. "Your vehicles have been picked up and returned to your mansions. They'll be out front when we get there."

Sherwood just nodded in acknowledgment but no words were actually said. Definitely not from Hime whose bangs covered up her eyes like it had so many times that day. The royal guard got the message and maintained a respectful silence as he waited for them all to funnel into the car. Francesca, Flandre, and Ryu-Ryu did not follow given their weight. Instead they got into another limo parked behind Hime's because you know… one limo wasn't enough, and so the cars finally pulled off driving down the beaten path toward the bottom of the hill… and there was silence throughout the ride…

After that, both Sherwood's and Hime's mansions were abuzz with life. Royal guards were coming and going, doctors were stopping by, emissaries and ambassadors as well as hundreds of well wishers also seemed to show up at random intervals… Hime met with them all, almost always walking right down the stairs whenever the doorbell rang. She greeted her guest and said her piece and then she was gone… back up the stairs she went… before anyone else could even move, before Hiro could say a word, she was gone, locking herself in the dining room… what was she doing up there all alone? That was the million dollar question that would go unanswered… and it gave rise to so many more… like what did this actually mean for them, for Hime? Was she really going through with this? Even after everything they had planned? What was going to happen to the mansion then, to Sherwood, to Riza and Reiri… to Sawawa and Hiro himself? What was going to happen to their happy little family? It was a never ending swirling pot of questions without answers and it drove Hiro mad…

So what was Hime doing up there all alone? Was she thinking about these questions too? Was she thinking up some great strategy, one to save them all and truly win the day? Whatever she was doing, it certainly kept her busy. She didn't even take her meals anymore though, to be frank, she never ate much to begin with. She at the very least used to eat something, the only other time and exception being right before her fight with Prince Severin.

So yeah it wasn't exactly reassuring… and what's more it worried Sawawa greatly. It worried them all in fact but nobody had the courage to knock on that dining room door… only Flandre seemed to go in and out but even then rarely at that as everyone, that's right everyone (yes even Riza) was busy with the sheer amount of people coming and going. This wasn't quite the victory Hiro had imaged… though that was perhaps a mutual feeling for all them… It just really got to the young blood warrior as he passed by the lobby stairs every night on his way to bed, simply exhausted from the day's activities, he'd look up longingly and sure enough… there she'd be… there was Hime walking down the stairs step by step, smiling her usual smile… and it meant the world to Hiro to see as he sighed and said "oh thank god…" rubbing his tired eyes, it was only when he turned to look back that he realized no one was there…

"Damn it…" Hiro groaned as he laid himself down to rest. This was his problem, the problem he took to bed every night since their so called victory… it didn't rob him of sleep; rather it gave him nightmares…

Hime… he thought… I just want to see you again…

Hime…

Can you hear me? Hello?

Hime…

Are you there?

If you are, if you can hear me, can I ask you something?

Was I able to protect you?

Was I able to make you proud?

Hey…

Was I able to save you?

Tell me please. Even if you have to lie… can you say 'yes' and laugh for me? Like you always do, and sip your tea with that small smile hanging off the side of your face, and your soft brow with your eyes closed… when the sun would hit your face… and you would glow for me… and I'd say "Oh…" You'd chuckle "fufu…" And everything would be alright…

Hime?

Hiro exhaled sharply as he felt his head being lifted from his pillow. He was still asleep but he could in the back of his mind, feel a supple slender tender hand as it scooped his head gently up allowing him to smell the sweetest smell on earth… then to add to his comfort for he was in paradise, perhaps he was even falling deeper into sleep, he felt a warm sensation in his throat as he tasted blood in his mouth, a taste more than familiar, nay, unmistakable, "Hime…" he mumbled through his half asleep half awake slurping, his eyes quivered as they prepared themselves to open. Hime! He thought as his mind suddenly started to bustle with thoughts.

"No Hiro…" He heard that voice… that unquestionable voice though flat and emotionless, it was powerful… and soothing as it coed him down and all the energy coursing through his veins cut out from under him. He listened intently to the words being spoken as he felt a puff of warm air gently caress his cheek and an immaculate pair of lips brought their beauty and softness to his ear.

Sleep…

That's all he heard… And for some reason that to this day he could not explain, Hiro slipped right back into sleep… there were murmurs yes, whispers, like more was being said but Hiro could not hear them as his body obeyed the command given and he slipped off out of space and time. Was it a dream? Was it reality? Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing was certain… when Hiro came to that very next morning… there was the slightest smear of blood running down the side of his lips… and when he rushed over finally bursting through the dining room door… Hime was gone… she was gone… and in her stead there was a note. Danke… was all it said…

"Reiri…" Hiro gasped out of breath as he ran back down the stairs to the vampire's basement side bedroom. He busted through her doors, feeling a bit guilty as he did, he rushed over to Reiri's casket and there the vampire was, sleeping peacefully with her arms folded, like a corpse, a beautiful corpse. "Reiri?" He whispered to her but she did not stir, the only sound in the room was her soft breathing. "Reiri." Hiro said again being a bit more forceful as he started to sweat thinking about all the time he was wasting. "Reiri!" The young man shouted as he bent over the vampire's casket to shake her.

"Fufu… Hiro? Is that you?" The vampire's beautiful and all too alluring voice suddenly filled his ears as Hiro, like a fat rat in a trap, felt his arms and his legs being bound by Reiri who all but clamped her body onto his own pulling the poor boy's blushing face down into her chest. "Come to play this early in the morning? Fufu!"

"Reiri! Wait stop! Reiri!" Hiro squealed as he… among other things… fell on top of her casket shaking it as it squeaked on the floor. A loud thumping noise came from next door and two seconds later, a half-naked Riza wobbled in.

"What the fuck!" She yawn-screamed as blood instantly rushed to her face at the sight of Reiri and Hiro in such a… compromising position. She was going to say something more but then she slipped on her way in and fell back asleep as she hit the ground.

"Reiri… please…" Hiro begged through gasps for air and freedom. It was unlikely Reiri heard him then considering he was snuggly suffocating underneath her well-sized bosom but rather she must have felt the desperation in his flailing as the beautiful sleepy vampire finally let the young man go. "I can't find Hime…" He choked straightening himself up. "I can't find her. When I went into the dining room, all I found was this…" He handed her the note.

Reiri took a second to read it before repeating it aloud. "Danke…" She said as she stared at the piece of paper and a few awkward seconds passed by.

"What does that mean?" Hiro finally asked.

Reiri just looked him straight in the eyes. "It means 'thank you'…" The vampire said and Hiro nodded as he got up to leave.

"Hiro…" She called after him but he was gone.

Flandre… I have to find Flandre… Hiro thought desperately as he rushed off to search the rest of the mansion. He went room to room half hoping to find the little robomaid and half hoping to simply find Hime. He didn't find either of them… not even a stray "fuga" as he practically turned the mansion upside down. Riza, Reiri, and Sawawa also joined in but everywhere they looked there was silence, not even a trace… It wasn't long before Hiro picked up the phone and called for help.

"H-hello?"

"Princess Sherwood?"

"*Yawn* H-Hiro? Is that you? What's the meaning of this? Calling me so early…"

"I'm sorry Princess Sherwood. I'm really very sorry. It's just… we have a problem. We can't find Hime…"

"W-what *yawn* what was that?"

Hiro let out a heavy sigh as he rubbed his eyes and face. "We can't find Hime…" His voice nearly broke as he said it again. "Flandre is also missing. We've looked all throughout the house but all we've managed to find was a note… (The car is still here too…)"

"Wait slow down Hiro… What'd the note say?"

"Danke—"

"I'll be right over."

"Wait what!? Princess Sherwood what's going—?"

*Click*

"H-hello? Hello? Damnit!" Hiro snarled as he slammed the phone back down… "WHY CAN'T ANYONE JUST TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" He yelled, not even realizing he was yelling. It was getting to be too much. All the signs he'd let slip by, all the worrying he'd done, all the concerns he had and now this? He was just about desperate enough to beg Nakua for help… he'd have to tell Sawawa to make some Ohagi again… but no he stopped right there as he calmed himself rather quickly… it was a trait he'd learned from Hime, to keep level headed even when things went farther than expected… and it just wasn't in him to get angry… at least not for long… Hime… the thought of her sustained him as he prayed for Sherwood's quick arrival.

Soon an hour had passed… and Sherwood still hadn't shown up… Hiro decided to leave the lobby and take a break from staring out the windows… He heard his stomach growl but he wasn't really hungry… he headed toward the kitchen anyway to at least attempt to eat breakfast… it'd make Sawawa smile if nothing else… as the young man approached the delicious smelling room on the far east side of the mansion, he heard two familiar voices as they echoed throughout the hall… he was going to open the door and walk right in but then he stopped dead in his tracks…

"…sure you say that but what will you do now with Hime-sama gone?" Reiri asked and Hiro's heart just about broke…

"Me?" Riza's voice echoed throughout the hall. "Well I don't really know… I mean sheesh you'd think Hime would give us some warning before she'd just… you know… up and leave… but I guess now I'll finally hit the road with Rudy and Aida…"

"Oh you mean those two frisky bitches?"

"Can it Reiri… you know it's your fault! Because of you following us that day when we attacked Dunken the Senate suspects them along with me of being vampire spies!"

"That was two years ago!"

"Yeah well whatever… The only reason none of us have been put on trial yet is because of Hime and the fact that we were… participating in the royal war on her behalf… the generals back at the senate are jackasses but even they wouldn't mess with a royal… now that Hime's gone though, and the war is over… it's time to head out and get back to work… so try not to start another fight when they get here will ya?"

"They're coming today?"

"No not today… I didn't exactly know Hime was leaving… But I'll give them a call in a little while and they'll probably be up here tomorrow…"

"I see… then it's back to work?"

"Yeah… back to doing what my kind does best…"

"Hunting my kind…"

"Yep… Hmpf… maybe I'll even see you on the battlefield!"

"Tsst please…" Reiri sighed rolling her eyes.

"Heheh! What do you plan to do Reiri?"

"Well I guess I'll also try to find a new place to live… after Kinisky's bout against me, I'm on quite good terms with the rest of the Vampire Society… in fact maybe I can even get them to sanction me my own lands since my church was destroyed and never rebuilt…" Reiri said with a small grin but right as she said that, the faint sound of shuffling caught their attention as both Reiri and Riza turned toward the door and saw Hiro as he walked away…

"Oh shit…" Riza groaned shaking her head… "DAMNIT!" She spat biting her lip… "HIRO!"

"Wait Riza…"

"Eh?"

"Hiro isn't a boy anymore…"

"What?"

"He needs some time alone…" At this Riza looked back behind her and saw the solemn look on Reiri's face…

"Damnit…" she sighed as they both stared off in the direction Hiro had left in…

Hiro just walked sluggishly through the empty halls—for they were indeed empty without Hime's presence—it tore him apart, it broke his heart as he immediately turned hoping to run away from the sound of those words, those lonesome words, of losing, of leaving, of an ending to their fairytale… and once again he was reminded about all of his problems, all of their problems… what was going to happen now? Was this really the end? Pack your bags and say your goodbyes? Could he really walk away from something like this? Could anyone? To just move on, was that really what he was supposed to do and Hime just never told him? And that was the thing too, it surprised him actually… in hindsight… how so much seemed unexplained… unaccounted for… that he or rather they all, well maybe not Hime, didn't know what to do or what all this meant… though in a way that did make sense… who'd have thought they'd actually win? Why make plans? Why tell Hiro or Sawawa what to do? Why give them false hope when victory seemed so out of reach… these questions and concerns were for a tomorrow that was never supposed to happen… and now, against all odds, the questions of tomorrow were the problems of today because tomorrow had finally come... and damn if anyone was ready…

*Knock Knock!*

Hiro heard as it tore him from his thoughts.

*Knock Knock!*

The door! The young blood warrior rushed full speed toward the lobby, he didn't even notice as he ran that Riza and Reiri were right behind him, the three almost tackling poor Sawawa who was already there with her hand on the door knob. They flung open the door practically screaming at the top of their lungs, "WHERE'S HIME?"

Of course, if they'd actually taken a moment to look out the window beforehand, they'd have realized it wasn't Princess Sherwood at the door, no, rather they had just screamed in the faces of a small squad of royal guards who just blinked a few times with sweat bubbles rolling down the back of their heads as they all just stared at one another.

"She's not here…" called a feminine voice from behind the guards and Hiro along with everyone looked over and there was Sherwood in the back with Ryu-Ryu by her side. "Sorry I'm late…" She said walking past the guards who were already bowing. "I had to send Francesca back to the Professor's so I walked here… drive me back won't you Hiro? (And were you all planning on screaming in my face when I arrived?)"

"Where's Hime?" Riza scuffed ignoring the young princess.

"Tsst… Why don't you find out for yourself?" And with that, as if on cue, the head of the royal guards, a sturdy looking captain whose build easily dwarfed the muscle mass of ten full grown men lifted his boar like head with two contending tusks on either side. He didn't speak of course but his expression said it all as he bowed his head respectfully raising his hands and there were four neatly sealed envelopes in his palms.

Sawawa dumbfound by all of this but doing her best in her usual cluelessness timidly collected the mail from the unfaltering captain and just like that the guards quickly bolted upright surprising Hiro and them by their sudden movement. They got up from their knees, bowed one last time and then, in a stupefying matter of fact kind of glory, they up, turned and left… into the rising sun…

"What's up with these letters?" Riza asked scratching her head, picking up the one that had her name on it.

"Oh for god's sake just open the damn thing!" Sherwood hissed as she held in her hand a similar kind of envelope.

And so they did.

By order of the supreme Phoenixes who rule the land:

Riza Wildman, Reiri Kamura, Sawawa Hiyorimi and Hiro Hiyorimi

Are hereby summoned to the Holy Royal Palace to bear witness to Her Majesty's, Princess Lillianne von Phoenix's, coronation.

"Ho-ley shit…" Riza whistled as everyone reread their letters trying to process the words.

"Wait a minute…" Sawawa cut in. "Oujo-sama's a princess?" At that almost everyone fell flat on their backs. It was a much needed joke even if Sawawa was the unintentional punch-line.

Riza laughed wiping the sweat from her brow. "To think Hime would just up and leave and then send us a message about it… Geazz… why does that woman always have to be so damn complicated! GAH!" The half-breed growled scratching her head with her two hands tussling messily through her hair. "Ha! Well you know Hime and her formal invitations…" Riza chuckled giving up. She threw her hands up and they all laughed as their subtle frowns started to disappear… perhaps a fear that they'd never see her again now dispelled… it brought them back life… it allowed them to smile… even as they read those messages fully remembering the fact that Hime never wanted the throne… they were too miserable to be miserable anymore and so they could only smile—Hiro knew the feeling well… at least they'd be seeing her once again.

"Wait…" Sawawa said staring at the invitation. "Is that date right? It's… tomorrow?!" The busty maid squealed and everyone looked back at the envelopes realizing she was right. "I-I've got to get ready! I need a dress! Hiro you need a tuxedo! I… I need… o-oh dear!"

"Yes you're right." Sherwood said closing her eyes walking in past them. "There are a lot of preparations that need to be made; however, I have a few things I need to discuss with you… both you and Hiro actually…" Sherwood opened her eyes and turned back toward Sawawa. Of course much to the young princess's chagrin, the busty maid was no longer there, she looked around and realized Sawawa was already out the front door.

"Hiro would you mind setting the pot on low at 11:00 for me? Turn it off at 11:45 and it's ready to eat! I've got to go get ready!" She hollered in such a rush she didn't even bother to change out of her maid outfit as she somehow magically threw a purse over her shoulder leaving both Sherwood and Hiro… and everyone else staring in disbelief…

"Fufu…" Reiri chuckled. "Well I suppose I should go too. A vampire always needs to look her best… it helps with hunting… and prepares us for any social events we may need to go to fufu… (I have the perfect dress for this as well.)"

"Hah… you call this looking your best? It's a wonder the girls don't run when they see you…"

"Oh?" Reiri twitched as a tiny vain popped out of the corner of her head. "And what about you bitch hmm?"

"Me? Heh! What's wrong with going as is?"

"A-are you stupid?"

"I don't think so…?"

"My god… alright… let's go."

"W-wha? Go where?"

"You're coming with me…" Reiri said as she grabbed the poor half-breed by the arms and dragged her away. "You're definitely dog-brained if you think I'm letting you go to Hime-sama's coronation in a tank top and jeans…" And with that the two of them, despite Riza's yelling and flailing, disappeared down the hall.

"Right… well anyway…" Sherwood said clearing her throat and wiping a few beads of sweat from her brow… "I guess I'll just have to tell you then Hiro…"

"Huh? Tell me what?"

"Goodness Hiro… certainly you haven't forgotten your manners already have you?"

"Eh?"

"Don't you think we should at least have some tea before we discuss business? Come now… even though Onee-sama isn't here you must have learned something over the past two years…"

"Ah…" Hiro said his eye twitching as a giant sweat-bubble rolled down the back of his head. He just sighed giving up, things were simpler that way. "F-forgive me… Princess Sherwood… I'll brew some tea and bring it to the dining room."

"Very good Hiro fufu!" Sherwood giggled with a faint blush on her face as she walked past him up the stairs leaving Hiro alone with Ryu-Ryu. The young boy turned to look at the giant panda as he just stared vacantly at him… slowly chewing… on bamboo… Hiro turned away, shook his head and walked over to the kitchen to brew the tea…

By the time Hiro got back up to the dining room, Sherwood was already sitting patiently in her usual spot. He brought the tea set over to her and after pouring them both a cup of Earl Grey he too took his usual seat, the both of them making plainly sure to leave Hime's spot unoccupied.

"I'm sure you've been asking yourself a lot of questions… Hiro…" Sherwood began carefully as she took a sip of her tea. "Questions like what does this mean for Onee-sama… what does this mean for you…" At this Hiro tensed up a bit but Sherwood continued anyway. "I don't need to tell you the meaning behind the invitations, they… they speak for themselves… Onee-sama really is going to accept the throne… she won't be able to stay in Sasanaki… that said…" Sherwood took a deep breath and Hiro prayed she wasn't going to say what he thought she was going to say.

Hiro… become my blood warrior…

And with that the room went silent. It told Sherwood everything she needed to know…

"I'm sorry… I realize this is all rather sudden… I don't know when you last had blood… but Hiro… Onee-sama… simply cannot be with you…" Sherwood might as well have shot Hiro in the heart as the young man cringed a little. And for a second, she simply wanted to hug him, the look in his eyes that though he'd become quite good at keeping a straight face, much like his master, he was in that instant as a little boy crying all alone in an empty field… Hiro needs to hear this… that was the one thought she kept telling herself as she took a deep breath and continued to destroy his world. "It's just not possible Hiro… you're a blood warrior… and when she becomes a phoenix… Onee-sama will take on the true form of our kind… a bird of flames… if you didn't require blood things might have been different… and what's more… as a blood warrior… it's a custom to have you… released at the end of the war…"

"What does that mean? 'Released?'" Hiro asked swiftly bowing his head as memories of Sylvia's cryptic talk returned to haunt him.

"Hiro… It'd look bad on Onee-sama if she kept you around… it's simply not done… and I know this may seem silly but if that weren't enough, she's going to be ruling an entire kingdom… she won't have time to babysit you…" At that Hiro glanced up and Sherwood realized her poor choice in words. "I know you don't need babysitting and I hate to say this Hiro but you need to understand… what use would you have for her? You can't be sent on missions or be an ambassador… without blood you'd die in three or four days… you'd be stuck in the castle condemned to follow Hime around for blood and I can assure you there are places Phoenixes have to go that no other being can venture… and again she won't have blood to give you… you saw Fuhito… and Emile… and Onee-sama… in that imperfect phoenix form… a body of flame… intangible… indestructible… it's not quite the same as a phoenix but you understand don't you Hiro? I could give you a million more reasons but I think I've made my point. There is no future for you and Onee-sama… I'm sorry… but you need to hear this… you need to understand… Hime does… come now… let me save you… accept me as your master…"

"I refuse…"

"Hiro…" Sherwood said sighing as she dropped her head a bit. "Please don't make this difficult…"

"I…" Hiro huffed as he clenched his eyes and fist shut. Memories of all the times he'd spent with Hime flooded his mind. The time the Flyman had captured her, the time Kinisky had kidnapped him, the time they were stranded for three days in a zombie infested town, the time she'd been possessed by an evil spirit, the time they went up against Fuhito in a city full of evil, the time, the time, the time… his head was filled with all the times they'd almost died, they'd almost lost everything, betting on the slimmest of chances… and yet… they were still here… they'd always made it through in the end…. somehow… some way… whether by dumb luck or brilliantly planning… but this time… was it really that different? Hime… he thought as he saw her in the black abyss of his mind, she was smiling that beautiful smile she rarely ever showed, and playing with her hair as she sipped her tea… so close he could touch her and yet so far that as he extended his hand, she shattered… a dream… it was all dream… But... He thought as he remembered all the little things, the slight movements of her hips when she walked, her inside step, the way she twirled her finger around her hair, one small loop first, then a bigger loop afterward to catch the strand between two fingers, the way she sipped her tea with her eyes closed and the soft clank her tea cup made whenever she put it down… this was a dream worth having… and one he wasn't going to let go. "I… I don't accept that…" He said shaking his head. "I don't. I don't accept that… I can't…"

"Hiro…" Sherwood tried again, this time her voice was powerful and cutting, similar to Hime's but nowhere near the same.

"No. I can't. I am sorry Princess Sherwood but I cannot accept your offer." He said bowing slightly over the table. "I can't be your blood warrior."

"Hiro…" Sherwood whispered softly. "It sounds almost like you're talking about… accepting death…" Hiro didn't respond. He just kept bowing.

"HIRO!" Sherwood yelled slamming both her hands on the table. "THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING! YOU THINK ONEE-SAMA WANTS YOU TO DIE? DO YOU THINK I DO? RIZA AND REIRI? YOUR OWN SISTER SAWAWA? ONEE-SAMA LEFT YOU HERE KNOWING THAT I'D BE THE ONE TO TAKE YOU AND YOUR SISTER IN!"

"AND I'M SUPPOSED TO JUST ACCEPT YOU AS MY MASTER? I'M SUPPOSED TO FORGET EVERYTHING ABOUT HIME?" At this Sherwood shut her mouth. Hiro noticed this and realized how loud their voices had gotten… he finally looked up at the young princess as she stared back visibly upset and that's when he realized… She wasn't ordering him around… she never was… she was begging him… "I'm sorry…" He sighed as he turned to look away… "I'm so sorry Princess Sherwood… but…" He muttered as Hime's face infiltrated his mind. "Hime is… she's everything to me…" Yes… he thought… she had to be… it'd be pretty hard to protect something you didn't love… and it was more than that… she smiled for him… in his mind and once again Hiro understood himself as he couldn't help but smile back… "I have only one master… and that is Hime… if she tells me to accept your blood then I will gladly do so… however… my soul… my… my being… they're all hers… that'll never change... But if I could be so bold… and forgive my audacity… please take care of my sister…"

"…I… I understand Hiro…" Sherwood conceded, a little bit bitterly. "I can't say I agree with you but… this is your choice… I will await Onee… Hime's word… Hmpf… Blood warriors are often released after the royal war; perhaps I've come to realize another reason why…"

"Thank you… Princess Sherwood… for everything…"

"Hmm…" She sighed as she took a sip of tea… "Onee-sama was lucky…"

"I'm sorry?" Hiro said looking up.

"It's nothing…" Sherwood smirked a little jealous as she cleared her throat and looked at the young magnificent blood warrior. "Thank you for the tea Hiro…" She smiled and he smiled too as both of them sat sipping their tea together quietly…

I was serious about driving me back though…

*Sigh* I'll get Riza…

The rest of the day passed by rather quickly and soon it was tomorrow… the fated day of Hime's coronation… Hiro just waited in the lobby for everyone to get ready… It was early, about 4:45am but he was up since… heck… he didn't even know when. It was unlikely he'd managed to get any sleep last night what with everything going on. He was just so anxious to see Hime… to see her one last time, to talk to her again, like always even if she was about to leave for good… just one more conversation, one more glance… one more "fufu" before the end… that's all his heart could really ask for… not all it wanted now… but all it could ask for…

And so he waited, he waited anxiously for that moment to draw nearer as he paced back and forth in his slender black tuxedo the blazer of which he kept unbuttoned revealing his black inner vest. Up near his neck the young man wore a black bow-tie and he also kept his hair in its usual disheveled way, the messiness complementing the cleanness of his tux, and finally, to complete the ensemble, he'd traded in his old busted up Nike shoes for some black oxfords he'd dusted off just for the occasion. All in all, he looked devilishly handsome, yes devilishly so, even as he jittered around anxiously counting down the seconds till they could go.

"Hiro?" A voice called from behind him. The young blood warrior turned around but he almost lost his balance as his eyes beheld the beautiful sight of his lovely sister walking into the lobby. Sawawa looked beautiful. Period. Hiro hardly even realized it was her at first glance what with the flair and the style of her attire. She had ditched her maid outfit for the day for a pair of small heeled black heels and a finely tailored knee-length red dress. Near her face, she had a pair of sparkling sapphire teardrop earring with a faint bit of blush and some light red lipstick. Her hair was the same though but it was also different without her usual maid like tiara on. Not to mention her dress also had two shoulder straps and a v-neck that showed off her cleavage… not that she needed to show it off given its… you know… size… If all that wasn't beautiful enough, the young maiden also donned a transparent black shawl neatly draped over her shoulders and she carried a pleasantly quaint black and white purse. Yet even still she was just as modest and as innocent as she ever was as she bashfully asked her blushing brother "How do I look?"

"Ah! Y-you look g-great sis!" Hiro managed to choke out doing his best not too stutter.

"Oh… you're so sweet!" Sawawa brimmed with life as she gave him a hug that nearly made him foam at the mouth. "You look dashing as well Hiro! I actually came to find you since I knew you finished early… could you help me put this necklace on?" Sawawa said as she held out a fine golden chain with a single diamond interlocked in emeralds at its middle. She held it as if it were the most precious item in the world.

"Ah sure…" Hiro said not really thinking still amazed at how lovely his sister looked, he reached for the chain but as he felt it and gave it a quick glance, so he realized… "This is—!" He said his eyes wide open. "This is mom's chain?"

"Mm-hmm…" Sawawa just smiled back and Hiro too couldn't help but smile as the sun peaked through the windows of the lobby and the necklace sparkled in his hands. "Here… let me turn around." And so Hiro stepped back as his sister turned on her heel. He was finally tall enough now, a little taller than her height that she didn't need to squat or kneel so they'd be face to face (which meant a great deal since she was previously the tallest out of all them in the mansion). He gently draped the golden chain over his sister's neck as she pulled her hair away. "This is nice isn't Hiro?"

"Hmm?" Hiro grunted as he squinted his eyes doing his best now to hook the ridiculous small chain (Seriously… some of those things are just down-right evil!). "What do you mean nee-san?"

"Fufu… I mean us Hiro… being together like this! Like a family… doing normal stuff… and living together…"

"Hehe… I wouldn't exactly call our lives here normal Sawawa…"

"What was that Hiro?"

"Eh! N-nothing…"

"And we have Oujo-sama to thank for all this…" Sawawa smiled contently. "Say Hiro… I never did tell you did I?

"Hmm?"

"How I got this job?"

"Ah…" Hiro said vacantly taking a second to process the question. "No. No you never did." He said shocked with himself that he'd never once asked.

"It was quite the tale… and now that I think about it… it was almost like something straight out of a manga fufu! You remember before Sasanaki things were going bad right? We'd long run out of relatives we could depend on. Accepting both of us was becoming far too burdensome especially since I was getting older so we decided to split up…"

"Yeah… I remember…" Hiro said softly. I remember alright…

"Yes… it was… so very difficult saying goodbye little brother but it was for the best… I couldn't keep imposing on our aunts and uncles… once I finished up high school, I got my driver's license and then I went right to work… but without any real skills… I was still running out of options… so I moved around…

I had arrived in Sasanaki only a month before I mailed you… our third uncle on mom's side had a place he said I could stay at; a small apartment downtown that he kept in case he was out on business. From the minute I unlocked the door and put my bags done, I went out looking for a job. But after two weeks of searching, I couldn't find anything… and once again I was running out options… I was even running out of the little bit of money I'd borrowed from our aunt…"

"Wait… but… what about what mom and dad left us?"

"Fufu…I wanted you to have that Hiro… I was saving it (still am)… to send you to college since I knew I'd never get a chance to go myself…"

"Nee-san…"

"Fufu… don't sound so sad Hiro… you're going to make me cry fufu! The story has to go bad before it can get better right? And it does get better; after all, we're here!"

"Yeah…" Hiro sighed giving a small smile.

"That's better fufu… now where was I? Oh right yes! One day… I got a call back for an interview for a position as a live-in maid. Most necessities would be covered in addition to pay every two weeks and best of all; I could bring my family along… I could bring you… and it was like a gift Hiro… it was perfect… I needed it then more than ever… I hurried to the interview on the day of and it went very well… so well in fact, that a week later, I was called back for another interview. That also went well… very well… I got a call in three days…"

"And you got this job?" Hiro smiled.

No…

No… I didn't get the job.

"There was only one position open you see… and they… they were considering me but… in the end… they gave it to someone more qualified… Fufu… that was… that was a bad time…

I ran… I just ran away… up to the edge of town, up this very hill… I just wanted everything to go back to the way it was… you, me, mom and dad… so I ran away. I sat here… on that very curb right outside the mansion's front gate… and I cried…"

"Oh… nee-san…" Hiro mumbled on the verge of tears.

"Fufu… But then… I heard a strange voice call to me… I looked up and that's when I first met Flan-chan… Of course… back then I didn't know it was Flan-chan… since I couldn't understand her, you know how she is… Needless to say, I was shocked… seeing a small little maid like her out in the middle of nowhere… near this big old abandoned house… I just stared at her for a while as she stared back at me… I was about to say something but then she said 'Fuga,' just like that… and she gave me a flyer… it was a helped wanted notice with contact information and everything… no resume required, no skill list, 'just have to be willing to put self in mortal harm for the greater good, and to be steadfastly committed to the lady of the house,' yes! That's all that was required!"

"Uhhhhh…" Hiro twitched just about ready to fall flat on his back, a few split ends in his hair sticking out… Yep… he thought shaking his head giving a subtle smirk as he wiped away his tears… that sounds like Hime alright…

"And so you see… mistress was the one who gave us this chance! And now… we'll be together forever won't we Hiro?" Sawawa smiled as she turned her head wiping away a few tears and Hiro finally got the chain to latch… Together forever huh? He stared at his sister, the warm light of the sun bathing over both of them. He'd never really noticed it before or perhaps he was just too ignorant to realize it… just how fragile she really was, the sun tracing her soft fragile form and Hiro realized she was trembling. His usual, happy go-lucky clueless, air-head of a sister had suffered so much… it was hard to understand that she had endured the same hardships as he had, even when he was off fighting for Hime, she was here, cooking, cleaning, saving up her money, she was worrying about all the little things he'd never really paid much mind… but when all those little things build up… they can break you down just like all the big things… or no perhaps even worse as they slowly take their toll… and he never once realized she might be breaking… he never thought past her smile… I'm horrible brother… he thought angrily especially as he remembered he was leaving her…

"Oh I almost forgot!"

"F-forgot what?" Hiro stuttered doing his best to shake off those feelings of self-loathing…

"Here…" Sawawa said softly as she reached out of her purse and there in her hands was a fine silver watch… Hiro instantly recognized it.

"Dad's…" He whispered as he gently collected the shining watch and for a second, he just stared at it in the palm of his hand, his fingers extended holding it up for all to see…

"Yep…" Sawawa chimed with a big smile as she stared at Hiro staring wonderfully at that beautiful silver watch.

"Hehe…" Hiro chuckled shaking his head. "You've thought of everything nee-san." The young man smiled doing his best to fight back the tears he'd just wiped away.

"Fufu… well…" Sawawa said playfully putting a thoughtful finger up to her chin… "Not everything. I just really wanted you to have this. I know father would have too… though I did want to give it to you when you got married!" At this Hiro cringed as a dark red blush consumed his face… "But… I figured a little early wasn't too bad either…"

"…W-what about when you get married sis?"

"Me?"

"Yeah!" Hiro said doing his best to talk nonchalantly and take his mind off everything. "You deserve to have a happy life sis… you shouldn't have to worry about me or anything anymore…"

"Fufu… well I don't know…" Sawawa said as she put her hands on her face smiling shyly. "With all the hardships since our parent's passed away and then this job working for Oujo-sama… I never had a chance to meet anyone special… fufu…" She smiled as she turned toward the still blushing Hiro. "Maybe when you get older and can take care of yourself I'll think about it… but till then…" Sawawa smiled as she hugged her little brother making him blush a bit… he was taller than her yet every time they hugged Hiro was unfortunately prone to suffocating… "Let me baby you a little more my baby brother…" And there was warmth in those words as Hiro gave up trying to escape and accepted the embrace of his sister.

When I grow up huh? He thought in his mind and again his feelings of self-hate resurfaced.

How could he tell her? How could he tell her that their forever was a lot shorter than she realized? It was then this moment that defined him, that brought his concerns full circle. It was this moment that Sherwood had warned him about, this irrational decision he had made and now his sister, his only remaining family, he was going to be leaving her… leaving her after she'd worked so hard to bring them back together… Hiro was going to tear them apart… but still…

How to explain it? The sense of duty, of dignity that he belonged to Hime, but it was more than just attachment, it was like a state of the mind, the love of longing he pushed to save her in all her battles, the state of his heart that beat for her the instant Sylvia's blade came nine millimeters close to ending her life, and the very nature of his own existence as a blood warrior, resurrected from the grave to serve her purpose, how could he forget those feelings? How could he just accept Sherwood as his master? And transfer over that kind of devotion? What would he have done if Hime hadn't resurrected him in the first place? He was dead… fair and square and he realized that… Sure he attended school, helped his sister take out the trash, went shopping with Riza and Reiri occasionally… but he was dead, it was pretty hard to forget… didn't that mean his life was Hime's? Just as they'd reaffirmed to one another countless times before, she was the master of his mind, body, and soul… and he was hers and hers alone till she no longer needed him.

Risk you life to serve me for the rest of your life...

Wouldn't this be easier as well? He thought still fighting furiously with himself… With Hime gone… Riza and Reiri were already making plans to go their separate ways… Nakua could still reside in her shrine but soon enough, even he and Sawawa would have to leave and then what? He still needed blood… Sherwood was the only option… and while he'd already asked her to take care of his sister it just felt wrong to impose upon the young princess… and he also wanted to keep his sister as far away from the monster realm as humanly possible… (He never really got over seeing her possessed that one time at Sylvia's mansion)… maybe he was over thinking things and maybe Sawawa would simply be happy with him by her side… but again it was just another thing that made him feel justified in his decision…

And in that he was changed.

"Sawawa…" he said taking her name into his heart, the overly earnest emotion grabbing her attention as she gave him a questioning look… "I need to tell you something… you and I…"

"Oye Hiro!" Called a familiar voice from behind him and he immediately bit his tongue… why did things always have to end with an interruption? He turned around but his mind quickly went blank as he saw the one person he knew he was going to see and yet he somehow didn't expect, a happy shrill from Sawawa aptly described the situation as Riza walk into the lobby in a beautiful thigh-length dress… and she was beautiful, something not necessarily hard to see but often hidden under her tomboyish disposition and punk clothing, today she was brimming with beauty as her black dress had a v-neck allowing the pointed white collar of her inner dress shirt to stick out. The dress itself covered up her arms and had a series of straps on either side that buckled the fabric up near her elbows in a frilly sort of style. Her inner shirt was also folded at the elbow showing off her forearms. Add to that two golden studs on each ear, a pair of beautiful dark stockings and some brown oxfords and Riza was still Riza but she was absolutely breathtaking… "H-hey Hiro! Stop staring so much willya?"

"O-oh! S-sorry… I didn't mean to!" The young boy said looking away with a silly sheepish smile. Sawawa's giggling in the background didn't help.

"I-idiot!"

"Getting rowdy already aren't we bitch?" Chimed another familiar voice and sure enough the final member of their group appeared as Reiri walked into the lobby… Beautiful? More than… The vampire strolled into the lobby and it was like one thousand miracles happening all at once, the scent of the air changed, the lighting from the sun dwindled, and Hiro couldn't help but stare… Blush? It was almost impossible for him to blush anymore as all the blood had already rushed to his head… yes… Reiri was simply extraordinary if not, in true vampiric form, the raw embodiment of beauty… that wasn't to say she looked better than Riza or Sawawa now because they all were on their own levels of beauty… it was just that… Reiri was a vampire so she always looked beautiful… to see her even more so… it was something special… and she was as she walked in donning her own dark black dress and a pair of black flats. She didn't wear any stockings showing off her seductively bare and slender legs. Her hair remained unchanged like everyone else's, and too be fair it was perfect the way it was, she wore some light makeup which brought out a pale beauty in her skin with two golden small hooped earrings which completed her face. "If Hiro wants to stare…" The vampire chuckled seductively. "He can stare all he wants… (If you're a good boy… you can even touch fufu)." You can imagine Riza's face as the two of them, regardless of their godlike beauty were still the same old duo arguing and bickering as always… and it warmed Hiro's heart, it belayed his concerns…

"You all look very beautiful…" The young blood warrior said bowing to which the girls just grinned warmly. Riza shied away at first but in the end she gave a low sigh before she too grinned as she walked over to Hiro wrapping an arm around the poor boy's neck.

"Don't go getting all soft on us now Hiro! What do you say? After the ceremony how about a jog? Three laps around Sasanaki just like always!"

"Now now bitch stop bothering this handsome young man…" Reiri chimed in throwing a mischievous grin toward Hiro as she wrapped her arm around his arm.

"Hey I know! Why don't we all take a group picture together?"

"Huh?" They all cringed as they looked toward Sawawa, the busty beauty fumbling with her pursue till she found what she was looking for, a small digital camera.

"Here we go!" She said as she walked over to a nearby table. "I can set it for a time shot. Come on guys come on! Let's take a picture together, we can show Oujo-sama!"

"I don't think she'll care much Sawawa…" Riza said scratching her head with a faint blush on her face as she refused to move.

"Nonsense!" Reiri said shaking her head… "It's a wonderful idea Sawawa… Let's capture the moment… you wouldn't believe how hard it was to get this bitch in a dress fufu!"

"OH REIRI YOU ARE TREADING A FINE LINE BETWEEN DEATH AND DYING!"

"Hush bitch! Let's go take a few pictures…"

"Wha? I… you… G-goddamnit…"

"It's okay Riza… I don't really like taking pictures either…"

"…Shut up Hiro…" And with that they all walked over to Sawawa…

"Okay now the camera's about to go. Everyone say 'Cheese!'"

"Wait what the hell?"

"Hmm?"

"Why say 'cheese?'"

"Huh? Riza-chan have you never taken a photo before?"

"Yes bitch just say 'cheese!'"

"Ah guys… we missed the flash…"

"Oh it's okay Hiro, I set it for three pictures, ten seconds apart…"

"Why the fuck do I want to say 'cheese' for? How is that relevant to taking a photo?"

"Are you serious bitch?"

"Well no it's okay Reiri-chan, if she doesn't want to say 'cheese' what else should we say?"

"Ah guys? Second flash…"

"How the hell should I know!? Werewolves don't take pictures!"

"GUYS!" Hiro cut in.

"Last picture!" Sawawa squealed.

"Let's just say 'Earl Grey!'" Everyone turned and stared at Hiro.

"Ah hell…" Riza sighed.

"EARL GREY!" They shouted at the top of their lungs.

It was about 10am when they made it to the palace… the ceremony started at 12. Happily Sawawa was driving. Riza wouldn't have been able to control herself, speeding through that wide open desert road, and that was indeed how they had to get to Hime's palace… by driving through a goddamn desert road! It certainly daunted Sawawa as she looked at the directions attached to the invitation (she didn't even know that there was a desert near Sasanaki!) but after much encouragement, from Hiro and Reiri no less, they managed to convince her to and I quote "drive us there rather than have Riza crash us there!" Riza just pouted for the rest of the ride but it was for the best as they wound up their windows and blasted the AC.

To their left and to their right Hiro couldn't count how many trains he'd seen that passed them by, each looking like they were filled to the brim with monsters. Sure enough, as they pulled into the edge of the palace, the actual castle still some thirty or forty miles away, they passed a train station the size of an airport and Hiro couldn't help but notice the hundreds… no, the thousands or maybe even millions of monsters rushing out onto the platforms all polished and dressed up finer than the stars in the sky. Many of them wore great smiles and some of them already had a hue of red on their cheeks as they stumbled and staggered with tipsy grins saluting the outcome they long since hoped for. Add to that the cars and trains yet to arrive and well… Hiro wondered if the whole world was going to show up by the end of the day… on this great and terrible day…

"Wow! Look at all these people in costume!" Sawawa smiled as they drove passed. Hiro just shook his head as he too continued to stare at the crowd, some of them ten feet tall, others hairier than a werewolf. Indeed, if ever he was thankful for his sister's cluelessness… today was the day...

And so they went, driving forward taking care not to hit the many happy monsters walking out onto the old cobble sidewalks… after about ten minutes of driving they finally made their way to what appeared to be the front gates… a solid one hundred foot white rock wall… yeah… it was no wonder Hime thought her mansion was small when compared to her old home, to this massive front fence. It stretched passed the edges of their vision around the royal palace, never mind the castle itself which was still a few miles farther in. They did their best not to linger and gawk even though Sawawa just had to pull over to take some more pictures…

Once they were about ten miles from the castle, just as they were almost at Hime's front step… they finally came across their first bout of traffic as they reached the end of a long ever growing line of cars. Actually, it surprised Hiro that it took them so long to finally find traffic what with the sheer volume of people making their way inside… Riza wasn't so impressed and she was about ready to throw a fit when, as if on cue, in the usual grandness of the kingdom, a royal guard suddenly appeared pulling up alongside them in his own car. He didn't say anything but he made notion for them to follow as he pointed toward a guarded road off to the side… and so they followed as they turned down the narrow pass that quickly opened up into a larger back alley. It must have been a service road or something for royal use only, a secret passageway through the entire town, it allowed the guards to move quickly, it avoided the congestion of the world…

Eventually they made it to an underground lot presumably within walking distance of the castle's courtyard. There they parked Hime's car before proceeding with the royal guard, a few other guards joining them along the way until finally they were there… there was the courtyard of stone sprawling out endlessly filled to the brim with a sea of monsters….

How many of them were there? What a question… there had to be more than a thousand, more than just a hundred thousand and that was just in this small section of the courtyard that they could see. There were kiosks everywhere too, set up on the lawns along with banners screaming victory in a hundred different languages. There was cheering and laughing and dancing and music so alien and yet so beautiful it was like another Earth but with different kinds of people, and through it all, the most extraordinary and simple thing there, cutting straight down the middle, untouched by the sea of monsters, there was a long aisle, a massive aisle of white stone brick as it led straight to the castle doors.

But that was hardly the end of the magnificence for no sooner did Hiro and the gang stand before the entrance of this great moment that the guards who had been escorting them moved to their sides bowing as they did, they stretched their hands out toward the pathway and Hiro had to admit… it made him feel like a god. A few monsters in the crowd quickly took notice, and the minute Hiro and the gang took their first few steps onto that white marble aisle… the crowd went wild…

Hiro was afraid. Of course, all of them were as they felt the cheering shake their bones, their very skin rumbling with goose bumps as the voices of one million happy worshippers showered them with praise. In the end, they were merely walking toward the castle's front doors and yet in the end you would have thought they'd just proclaimed world peace… yet for all that, the crowd, though loud, was surprisingly well behaved, none of them daring to cross even an inch onto that aisle. Hiro and the gang did their best to take it all in but even Sawawa was speechless, her cluelessness completely overwhelmed by how insistent this moment was on its own greatness… they were heroes… simple and clear… there was a sick sort of irony in it of course… but even Hiro had to admit this was something special… this was the kind of moment you just had to shut up and accept, the kind that many men dream about, when the world turns and smiles at you and thanks you for existing…

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" Hiro heard a booming voice call from behind them… a miracle given the crowd was still cheering. He turned around as did everyone and that's when they noticed the guards that had been escorting them as they surrounded what appeared to be a small girl… a very familiar small black-haired girl…

"NAKUA?" They all screamed in unison as they stared at the little spider goddess. Even she was dressed up on this day with a cute black dress and some black buckled shoes. She would have looked a lot cuter if she actually bothered to smile but no; she just retained her usual indifferent boredom. It didn't help the situation…

"State you're business here divine being!" One of the guards bellowed. "The kingdom and you're kind have a long-standing agreement to never interfere with one another! What reason do you have to be here today of all days? Come! Speak quickly!"

But Nakua just scuffed as she ran her hand throw her long black hair. "Hmpf… Is this how you treat all of your guests?" She asked coolly before she tilted to her side to look past the captain, to look past them all. "Princess of Monsters?"

And there she was…

Finally…

"Hime!" Hiro and the gang practically choked as they whirled around and sure enough there she really was… there was the magnificent beautiful unmistakable princess they'd been chasing like a phantom since their victory three days ago… Hime appeared before them with several attendants, guards, maids, and butlers buzzing all around her… and the crowd simply exploded… but Hiro and the gang? They just couldn't help but stare as everything else around them seemed to stop. They just stared at the woman before them. She was elegant, beautiful, more than she ever was before and yet she was unquestionably the same, like she'd somehow reached this new level of beauty so great that no matter how many times it was seen, it would be impossible to describe, like it was dynamic changing to be perfect for every situation she was in. Perhaps that was just the feeling they all had welling up inside them after being separated for so long—a whopping day I know—and yet her she was standing before them like nothing had happened. Hime was undeniable beautiful as she wore a fine red tailored cloak with some golden fur near the top, underneath that they could vaguely see an extraordinarily decorated corset complete with embroidery the like more valuable than a treasure trove of precious stones. Her dress was something else as well as it extended a little past her knees with two layers of frills, and what a fine jet black it was—a reminder of her old style yet completely remade, she wore some elegant boots that practically glowed as did everything about her body and she was just perfect… in every way imaginable…

"My apologizes Nakua." She spoke in her usual soft voice and yet it somehow boomed in way that could bring lesser men to their knees. "Captain stand down immediately."

"Y-you're Highness I—!"

"I specifically informed you that I was expecting a unique guest amongst my personal entourage…"

"A thousand apologies you're Highness!"

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to…"

"Of course… my apologizes… divine being…"

"The name's Nakua."

"Forgive me… Nakua…"

"It's fine… I understand you're suspicions captain and I myself do not fully understand why I am here…" The little spider goddess said folding her arms, a small envelope in her hands. She glanced over at Hime who in turn gave a faint smirk back before turning on her heel. "…Come Nakua, and everyone walk with me, we have a few minutes before the ceremony starts. Captain as you were…"

"Yes your Majesty!"

And with that, Hime just walked away, her eyes closed, her head slightly bowed as if she didn't notice the world that screamed around her and the great effect her very presence had on her friends, the time and energy they'd spent worrying about her (mostly Hiro but still), to then just appear before them like nothing had happened and yeah… it was just like Hime… but it only made them want to tackle-hug her even more (again mostly Hiro). Yet, as if sensing all this in her usual omniscient way, Hime simply held up her hand just as they were about to move, she said, "We'll save the reunion for later. Right now let's get inside." And that was all… that was it…

"What a woman…" Riza said shaking her head doing her best not too smile… Hiro too couldn't help but grin as they followed that magnificent woman into the giant castle of stone, the hand-carved mahogany doors sealing shut behind them sheltering their ears from the still cheering crowd—Riza was especially thankful for that.

Eventually, Hime led them to another large and heavy looking door. It must have been the height of three full grown men yet it opened instantly, effortlessly the second Hime took a step in its direction. They entered into a parlor like area and it was immaculate filled with tables, chairs, a fireplace and droves of art but among it all, there sitting patiently sipping her tea with her robomaid and panda by her side, there was the true gem of the room, Princess Sherwood as she was dressed just as beautifully as her older sister.

"Fufu… I see you all managed to find the palace on your own."

"Princess Sherwood!" They all said together staring at the cute little princess.

"Geazz is there an echo in here… or do you guys really just enjoy parroting one another?"

"Tsst… well look at you all high and mighty!" Riza chuckled as she walked over to a seat plopping down in it.

Hiro just smiled half-heartedly as he too took his seat, memories of his conversation with the little princess fresh in his mind. He looked over at Sherwood as she happened to glance in his direction but both their gazes quickly shied away. Yep, she hadn't forgotten either. He couldn't exactly blame her, after all, he was being so unreasonable… and while he knew she wasn't angry with him and they'd definitely reached an understanding, it was just something so… stupid. He looked over again at the little princess but this time he looked to her sides to see Francesca and Ryu-Ryu… Francesca looked a lot better. All the nicks and bruises she had gotten just a few days ago were completely gone. She also looked absolutely amazing in her own formal maid dress. Ryu-Ryu also looked good though he was a blood warrior so like Hiro he was fine in his own right and now he just laid by his master's side chewing bamboo like always… it was comforting… at least to some degree…. but the novelty of seeing everyone was starting to fade as Hiro glanced over at his master… Hime…

"Wow! This is a beautiful castle mistress!" Sawawa said as she looked around the room.

"Fufu… I'm glad you like it Sawawa. Please make yourselves at home… here… this time I can offer you some tea…" Hime chuckled lightly and with that several assistants quickly worked their way in pouring a cup of tea for each of them. Their kettles all poured at the same time like it was choreographed or something, the speed and efficiency, it was almost robotic but it was also regal… my god… even having a cup of tea in this castle was an experience…

"Oh!" Sawawa chimed with glee after taking a sip. "This is a-amazing! What kind of tea is this Oujo-sama?"

"Fufu… you like it? That's good, I'm glad. It's a unique tea, not available in the human world… it's called 'Phoenix Feather' due to the shape of the leaves the tea is ground from, and also because the tea bearing plant is said to only grow at the top of the tallest mountains in the surrounding desert… a desert created by the phoenixes…"

"Oh wow!" Sawawa smiled widely as she took another sip. "Oujo-sama sure is amazing! (But what do you mean not available in the human world?)"

"Hmm…" Hime hummed as she gently inhaled the aroma from her cup. "I admit I myself have missed this tea, the traditional tea of royalty… but I much prefer your Earl Grey Sawawa…" She chuckled again but there was a slight melancholy in her voice when she said that, in her passing glance, not many noticed it, certainly not the numerous servants or guards all around them but Hiro… Hiro could see it plainly… Hime… the fact that she was laughing while straining to hide her actual feelings, it was like the war had never really ended and here Hime was once again, fighting only this time… it was a different kind of war… one he couldn't help her in… and what's more… he was beginning to fear Hime had finally come to accept her fate… after all he knew her expressions well—she usually kept a straight face so whenever she frowned or slightly arched her brow, there usually was a distinct meaning behind it, and he knew this look well, the one she had on right now… despite her stoic and strong exterior… Hime had the look of a lamb… that eye rolling loneliness of a sacrificial beast resigning itself to its own slaughter… "Hime…" He called his voice quivering a bit. "I…"

"So…" Nakua cut in as she put her tea cup down and Hiro once again bit his lip. "Why have you summoned me to your coronation Princess of Monsters? Haven't we agreed upon neutrality between our dominions? Now that you are to rule the Kingdom wouldn't it look bad for you to break that policy? It would make a lot of denizens uneasy considering what my kind did to them during our last war all those years ago…"

"Hmpf. And I still chose neutrality between the kingdom and the divine beings…"

"Then why am I here?"

"All are invited on this day, whether they are of the Kingdom or not… we have humans here, we have vampires and werewolves… today all the old grudges are overlooked and all are allowed here to join in our celebration…"

"Hmpf… that sounds dangerous…"

"Yes… and no… this is the City of Phoenixes… it's virtually impossible for anyone to be killed here on this day…"

"So then it's just politics fufu…" Nakua chuckled to herself as she reached for her cup sipping nobly at her tea…

"Not at all…" Hime responded causing the little goddess's eyes to peek open. "I invited you here as a friend Nakua."

"A friend?"

"Yes… a friend… there is no other motive or reason. I still plan to uphold the kingdom's policy of neutrality toward you and other divine beings, however, that doesn't mean we can't sit down one last time and enjoy a cup of tea does it?"

"Hmpf… you really are something aren't you, your Highness? Fufu…" Nakua chuckled as she returned to her tea.

"Your majesty…" called an ornately clad maid as she suddenly walked into the room holding a clipboard before her bespectacled face. To her sides there were a few other servants but most importantly, there was a very familiar tiny blonde maid.

"Flandre-chan there you are!" Sawawa beamed as she got up from her seat and ran over to grab the little maid's hands.

"Fuga Fuga." The cute gyniod said looking all around nodding in acknowledgement and Hiro once again was relieved to see the Professor's handy work and that Flandre had two eyes once again. She looked very cute in her own formal attire which was surprising considering how cute she already was…

"…Right…" Hime said as she took one last sip of her tea. "Well then the ceremony is about to begin. I need to see to a few last minute preparations. A guard will be by in a bit to direct you all to your seats…" She stood up but rather than turning and leaving right away as per her usual direct demeanor, the young soon to be ruler just stood stationary for a moment as she looked around the table, seeing her only friends assembled in her honor, she stared as if trying to collect her thoughts and drink in their presence… "Thank you…" The words escaped her mouth. "For coming this far with me… I will never forget that…" And with that, Hime took a step back and, before the gaping mouths of the surrounding royal servants and her dearest friends, she bowed before them all as they stared back in awe at her glory… and then without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away with Flandre and a good few other servants behind her…

"Hime w-wait…" Hiro called vainly after her.

"Whatever it is… save it for later… Hiro…"

What if there isn't a later? Was what he wanted to say, "Understood…Hime…" was what he actually said as he watched the woman he loved leave… again… without so much as a second glance. She was gone, surrounded by maids and servants, like there was no end to the things she had to do… she went bustling off even in the middle of the greatest party on Earth in her honor, after she'd won a goddamn war that she didn't even want to be a part of… well… it was nice to see them putting her to work so quickly… like a slave king… condemned to power, condemned to rule… Hiro wanted to break down the castle's walls and wisp her away… Hime… she didn't belong here… oh sure she was born to be here but she didn't belong here… her face said it all…

"Excuse me?" The young blood warrior heard a voice calling from in front of him.

"Huh?" He grunted rather inelegantly as he semi-glared in its direction only to find a rather small looking maid with bright red hair, light red skin, and two horns sprouting out of her head staring at him.

"You're her majesty's blood warrior aren't you?" She said smiling as she winked both her blue eyes at him.

"Ah! Y-yes! I mean… t-that's… *ahem* that's me…"

"Great! It's nice to finally meet you! My name is Milano Falis! I'm one of the assistant sub-coordinators for her majesty's coronation and I'm here to tell you that you'll actually be participating in the ceremony as well!"

"I'm a what now?" Hiro blurted out vacantly… staring at the super cute maid who simply smiled back.

"You'll be participating in the ceremony as well!" She repeated with an even bigger smile. "Now if you'd follow me I'll fill you in on the details along the way. Don't worry, you'll mostly be standing on ceremony but you're also included in the acceptance speech… (Her majesty wrote it herself you know!) In fact, due to the contributions of all of you, you all will be participating in the ceremony as well! You're her blood warrior though so you have your own part… relax it's nothing difficult or anything. These ceremonies have been going on for thousands of years… they're not meant to be overly complicated… their just our tradition…"

At that point, Hiro just stared around the room glancing at the numerous antiques, furniture, art, and ornate clothing the servants wore as they stood like statues waiting on their every need, like each of them were a fashion statement all their own… Not meant to be overly complicated? He did his best not to point out the glaring irony… "Yeah… I understand…" He managed to cough out.

"Right! Then if you'll follow me this way…"

"Ah…" Hiro hesitated as he glanced back at Riza, Reiri, and Sawawa who were still sitting down. Riza noticed this and fanned him on his way.

"Don't worry Hiro! We'll see you soon!" She winked as she shoved another piece of tea cake into her mouth much to Reiri's continuing disappointment… and to Sawawa's never ending picture taking…

The young blood warrior just let out a small sigh before he turned a little sluggishly over to the energetic maid. He huffed a bit before she smiled even wider turning around to open a nearby door for him and they were back outside in that long corridor with its large fifty feet high ceilings. It never ceased to surprise Hiro as they made their way to a fancy marble stairway to heaven how everything they'd seen today was extraordinary, and the castle's interior was no exception, every other square inch filled with art, fancy furniture, paintings, sculptures and even more art, sometimes all of the above… hell even the damn steps he was stepping on looked like they'd been hand-tailored for his foot. He quickly shook off his feelings of awe as Milano spoke again.

"Her Majesty's coronation is as much a legal ceremony as it is a social one." She said humming along. "It gives the crowd a chance to see and get a feel for their new King but it also swears her in, detailing all the responsibilities and duties she'll have to adhere to. My Lord, you're part is really just to stand when Her Majesty calls your name and bow so that she may honor you."

"Okay… that… that doesn't sound so bad. (What's with 'My Lord?')"

"Fufu… yes! Simple just like I said! Just… try not to think too hard about it."

"Eh?"

"There will be a lot, A LOT, of Monster's there looking at you from the crowd. Don't worry and try not to get stage fright!"

"I'll… I'll do my best…" Hiro chuckled nervously as he blossomed red… Milano just smiled as she turned her head and stared at him. "Ah… Is there something on my face?"

"No…" The red headed maid laughed blushing herself. "It's just… I was curious to meet you…

"To meet me?"

"Why yes! Of course! Her Majesty's human blood warrior? A HUMAN blood warrior? Fufu… you're a legend! I mean we used to make up stories about you my Lord! How you single handedly infiltrated Werewolf-Killer Kinisky's land, how you matched Prince Gilliam speed for speed in a fight, or how you and Her Majesty took on a Chinese Deity and won…"

"I think some of those stories are a greatly inaccurate…"

"Well you know that's all they were in the end, just stories… but, if I may be so bold, Her Majesty is alive my Lord… that was due in small part to you…"

"Alive…" Hiro repeated slowly.

"And also…" Milano said as she blushed a little bit deeper. "I wanted to meet you because of Her Majesty… I mean she was always stoic… so reserved… at every party, every political meeting… ever since she was a child. Even after she became the master of the famed Blood Knights, she was cold… elegant yes but she was cold, and she never smiled…

But then… when she came back yesterday… I don't know… she was… different… she was changed… I hadn't seen her in over six years… but… I could tell immediately. She was softer somehow… more at peace if that makes sense? Fufu… I guess I just… well… I just wanted to meet the man who could do that to the woman I admired most…the kind of man who could earn the love of someone so great."

"I'm really not that amazing… After all, I couldn't really save Hime…" Hiro mumbled as he looked away.

"What was that?"

"Nothing… nothing at all…" The young blood warrior said as he kept climbing up the stairs. Milano noticed the deep sadness in him and just smiled warmly.

"My Lord…" She said with infinite tenderness. "If you can forgive my audacity I have some advice for you."

"Hmm?"

"I think you should smile more…" At this Hiro looked back at Milano and saw the great kindness twinkling in her starry blue eyes. "Today is meant to be a joyous occasion… so at the very least… try to smile for Her Majesty's sake."

"Ha…" Hiro chuckled as he stared at the beaming maid. "Thank you Milano… and it's Hiro."

"Huh?"

"My name is Hiyorimi Hiro. But please just Hiro…I… I much prefer you calling me by my name instead of 'my Lord' if you don't mind."

"O-of course! Sorry! I knew your name I just… I didn't want to be overly informal you know? Right well, your seat is just beyond this door… take care Hiro…" Milano said as she bowed her head. "And thank you…" She whispered as Hiro walked passed.

"Thank you?"

"Fufu… thank you for keeping Her Majesty alive…" She smiled as a single tear drop rolled down her cheek. "I can't tell you how much it means to me and my family that Her Majesty is… still among us…" Her voice broke a bit. "My uncle was one of her Blood Knights… Thank you for honoring his memory…" And just as she said that Hiro could swear he saw them, Hime's Blood Knights, standing side by side with Milano. As she smiled warmly at him, so too did they…

That's why you're a hero… the thought imposed itself on his mind as he stared at the specters in front of him. They aptly described it all… Milano was a shining example as well… an example of what Hime fought for… what he fought to protect… people like her, the innocent… the good…

Hiro just smiled warmly at Milano as the little maid bowed and took her leave. She couldn't have been more than a year or two older than him and yet she spoke with such wisdom and maturity… he'd have to take a page from her book… he chuckled to himself not really paying much attention to what he was doing. He quite absent-mindedly placed his hand on the door handle and then, not realizing the full extent of the weight he was putting on it or perhaps the strength he now possessed, pushed the massive mahogany door open stumbling through onto a huge balcony overlooking the sea of monsters… and no sooner did he stare out across that sea, the sheer extent of the crowd stretching off into the horizon, he instantly went deaf as they roared with life cheering as they saw him. Did they even know his name? Did they even know who he was? Perhaps, perhaps not, but Hiro couldn't even hear himself think as their screams of pure joy and support and love rang louder than the very thoughts in his own head and for a second the Earth just cheered for him and him alone … it was a sublime feeling… it filled him with fear wondering just how loud they'd cheer when Hime made her way unto that balcony…

The ceremony was about to begin.

The coronation had lasted three and a half hours and most of it, like Milano had said, was basically preaching the rights and duties dictated to Hime… It was torturous… the never ending formalities reminding them of the so-called victory they'd bet everything on…

Hiro did his best to shut it all out and just listened as he sat uncomfortably feeling like the whole world was staring at him. Hime sat right next to him so happily she was near… of course compared to the millions or perhaps tens of millions of patrons looking on in grand splendor hundreds of feet below, and the fact that they were on a giant balcony all by themselves on the side of a mountainous castle and yes… she was indeed close by… and yet he felt like she'd never been farther away, her bangs covering up her eyes and her mouth betraying nothing to emotion. He wanted so much to turn and talk to her, to whisper to her, to grip her hand gently, but in the end he stopped himself as they listened to the a group of odd monsters standing before them at the tip of the balcony. There were five of them, and they all looked identical, like weird banana shaped monsters with tentacles for limbs—Hiro could swear he'd seen them before. They wore ornate gowns with fine fabric colored like regal saints from heaven. And indeed what a fine choir of reciting priest they made as the crowd and everyone around them were captivated by their splendor… Hiro himself might have been too if he wasn't twitching as every other sentence they uttered was concluded with the name 'Lillianne.' And while Hiro could barely see Hime's face from the angle he was in, he knew her better than anyone else and he knew she must have been cringing as well…

And then it was over… thank god… it was over as the royal priest concluded their speech with a good old, "ALL HAIL THE KING!" And of course the crowd applauded and cheered louder than they ever had that day… it didn't seem possible but it was… Hiro could swear he felt the castle shake trembling before their voices and then it happened…

What everyone there saw, all the Phoenixes of the ages as they flew through the sky, screeching melodiously as they suddenly presented themselves to the senses… and for a second all the cheering turned to gasps for it was like seeing the heart of the Milky Way, or going to the edge of the universe, or meeting God face to face… this earth-shattering moment, it was the greatest experience Hiro had ever known, it was the greatest experience of all time for even time was honored to have one of its moments stained by the unanimity of all the Phoenixes flying together at once… How grand should it be if this happened every time a new king was chosen, it would never be redundant and even seeing something like this a million times which would be impossible, it was to be greater each time, such that the feeling would be reborn and the old would seem new and the experience would be greater than eternity itself…

But that was far from it for as if to add to the greatness of the moment, Hime suddenly stood up from her center chair, surprising Hiro and the gang by her sudden animation, she moved walking with both a sense of grace and confidence as if immune to the stupefying effects of the miracle happening overhead. She made her way to the five priest, a loud melody filling the air, like heaven's choir was borrowed for the day and set to play as Hime walked like a God, the hollowing of angels, of the phoenixes who cawed, filling the world with the shattering epic transcendence that could only ever be stared at mouth-agape, eyes-wide open. The entire world was cheering as the sound and the honor of that moment was seized by Hime as she knelt before the five priest, the center most of which revealed an almighty crown he (or she) took from one of the others, and with careful precision, following the heightening beauty and harmony of the phoenixes above, he placed the crown upon Hime's head. Then, with great choreographed speed, he and the other priest knelt just as Hime rose and she alone towered before the world as the Phoenixes' notes of valor filled all the airs and the crowd went wild responding with the greatest cheering of all time…

"CITIZENS OF THE MONSTER REALM!" She boomed. "HEAR ME! I am Lillianne von Phoenix, Second Princess of the Last King and your newest Ruler!

For two generations my family has fought and you have waited… waited for the day that someone would claim victory, the day when a new King could finally ascend to the throne! Today is that day! Today my father leaves this world to join my ancestors and I take over the crown! Today… we are here to officially proclaim an end to my family's civil war!

And while this does call for celebration, we should not forget the lives that were given and the sacrifices that were made… of course this applies to me as well…" Hime said turning toward her gawking friends. "Nakua the Spider Goddess, Riza Wildman, Reiri Kamura, Sawawa Hiyorimi, Sherwood von Phoenix, Ryu-Ryu, and Hiro Hiyorimi… please stand." And for a second they all just kind of stared at Hime, well not Nakua and Sherwood who got up quite quickly but it took them all a second to process her words as they stared at Hime indeed gawking as if wondering why she was looking over in their direction… they soon rushed almost unconsciously to their feet and Hime continued speaking. "I hereby proclaim each of you Knights of the kingdom, your honor is both in station and in merit… let it forever be known that you are friends of the kingdom! Bow so that I may knight you." And so they did, still working off of instinct, the meaning behind Hime's words almost too alien to comprehend, Hiro, Reiri, Riza, Sherwood, Sawawa, Nakua, hell even Ryu-Ryu all bowed and Hime walked up to the lot of them, drawing a fine elegant broad sword, she dubbed them on both shoulders as the world cheered with a happy fury.

"Rise now so that you all may take your seats except you… Hiro Hiyorimi." And with that they all sat down leaving only Hiro and Hime towering over the world. The fine princess sheathed her sword as she walked right up to him, no more than an inch away from his face… Hiro remembered Milano's words and sank to his knees ready to bow before his bestowing master and yet he found he could not. He wasn't allowed to as Hime stopped him midway by grabbing his shoulder. He got back on his feet and stared at her as she spoke again. "And to you now… Sir Hiyorimi… my Blood Warrior… my Knight… I bestow upon you the Heart of the Phoenix." She said as she reached into her cloak and pulled out a very fine medal. It was golden and appeared quite dense and heavy with an engraving of a flame at its center... Hime pinned in ever so carefully on the left side of the young man's chest… it all seemed so metaphoric… but that was just a polite word for ironic as he looked her in her eyes and she looked back… a silent conversation raging on between the two of them. "This is the highest honor in the entire kingdom, reserved only for those few warriors who go above and beyond what is expected, who through great personal sacrifice and courage inspire all us. I bestow this title upon you Sir Hiro Hiyorimi and though it is called an honor… I can assure you… the honor was mine." And just as Hime said those beautiful, articulate and heart-wrenching words she did something that no one would ever expect… something no one would ever be able to forget… certainly not Hiro for he went white in the face when it happened…

She kissed him…

Not on the mouth of course but on the cheek, soft and sublime, it was not lustful but rather it was passionate, though short and quick, the touch of her pinkish lips against his bare cheek and the clinging of her breath as it whispered inaudible things, secret things, things that only Hiro could hear despite the cheering of the world and cawing of the Phoenixes, things it took two years to say, like a royal maiden bidding her champion off before a fight, this was the first and last time Hime and Hiro kissed…

And with that, acting quickly to seize the moment, the bold new King bowed to her hero, bowed to her friends, and bowed to the crowd squeezing for the last bit of glory as the world practically killed itself screaming with overflowing love for her… and the Phoenixes themselves joined in the bawling as they cawed their final caws like a great blessing…

ALL HAIL THE KING!

Never mind fireworks, balloons or confetti… this ceremony… it made all the kings and queens of human history look like pompous children sitting on dirt mounds for a phoenix king, the absolute ruler of everything, now this was what it meant to be royalty… and the Phoenixes continued to caw reconfirming it all, combining and mixing with the clapping and cheering of the entire world, and a golden beam of light from amongst the clouds lit up the palace… for but a moment… this specific moment, the heavens themselves shined upon the Kingdom and everything was perfect… and just like that, at the climax of it all, with practiced bravado, the Phoenixes vanished, and in their stead, in the wake of the continuing cheers of the world, Hime alone lay embraced in a golden silhouette of regal dominance… Hiro, still light-headed from the touch of Hime's lips, half-wondered if she'd just become immortal… such was the weight of that moment, of this moment, that all people, monster or human, present or miles away, they would fell a soft prickling in their heart, for all things were resonate with this moment, and Hime was the center of the universe for a second or however long it all actually was as time truly did stop… and no watch remembered to tick… and that was that…

Hime simply turned on her heel and made her way to the door, the five priests still balancing on their knees. Hiro and the gang followed with her, leaving behind that bold happy world as the massive mahogany doors closed behind them… and the ceremony was truly over…

"Wow." Riza said as she massaged her quivering ears. She opened her mouth to speak again but nothing came out. That was all she could say, hell all anyone could say as they walked behind Hime, that one word describing it all, Wow… and it was just as well as a new round of clapping suddenly filled their ears, it scared Riza for a second but it was just a handful of maids, including Milano who winked at Hiro. They smiled with big teary smiles rushing up to their newly crowned Monarch.

"Congratulations your Majesty! The coronation went beautifully!" One of the maids said. "Shall I arrange for your personal carriage to take you and your guests to the festival?"

"Wait…" Hiro groaned. "We have to go to the festival too?" He squeaked doing his best not too sound too unenthused though he really just wanted to talk to Hime already… Milano smirking at him didn't help the situation either.

"Oh didn't you know?" The little maid winked at the blood warrior and at that point Hiro just wanted to go sulk in a corner.

"Mistress! You're going down to the festival too?" Sawawa cut in; her camera already in hand.

"Fufu… but of course Sawawa. As the King it is my obligation to appear before my people and join them in their celebration…" She said smiling much to Hiro's chagrin. "Come. You all must be hungry. There will be plenty to eat and drink down in the courtyard." At that Riza stood up as straight as an arrow which amused Reiri to no end as she whispered under her breath, "Heel Girl, Heel…" She almost lost her nose as Riza slashed her face and Sherwood laughed as Hime smirked and Sawawa took a picture. Nakua… well… Nakua was just Nakua and she stood there with her arms folded while Ryu-Ryu just kept chewing on some bamboo… Hiro sighed giving up. Let's just head to the damn festival already… He thought doing his best not to smile but failing proudly as they followed Hime down the castle stairs to the festival below.

By the time Hime and the gang made their way down to the festival, things were already in full swing. All throughout the courtyard there was music, dancing, and celebrating like the world was taking the week off simply to enjoy this happy turn in its events. Indeed, Hiro had never seen such cheerfulness, the minute they got near any one kiosk they were immediately hounded with love and adoration, all respectful of course, no one tackled them to the ground which was surprising, but breathing room was a bit scarce… Regardless, as they went greeting and shaking hands they were offered feast after feast of food and drink the like so exotic and so rare Hiro wondered if the King was meant to eat like this every day for all the food there looked more expensive and exquisite than the rarest of diamonds. Hime, polite and elegant, sampled all that she could, a little bit from each kiosk but after ten minutes, she'd already eaten ten times the amount Sawawa usually prepared her for dinner… never mind how much Hiro ate, he did his best not to throw up. Riza wasn't quite so overwhelmed and she quite frankly disappeared around the first stall, especially since Aida and Rudy were there. After they bowed and said their congratulations to Hime they along with Riza and an army of werewolves went about howling and enjoying the food in a never ending feast of feasts. Reiri tagged along with the werewolves but she almost started a few wars. Riza backed her up of course even though she knew the mischievous vampire was merely tagging along to annoy the half-breed and her two werewolf friends. Sawawa also disappeared as did Nakua while Sherwood decided it best if she, Ryu-Ryu and Francesca took to the other side of the court. That left just Hiro, Hime, and Flandre, the little maid driving them on their way… so mainly it was just Hiro and Hime as they rode along in their carriage… suspiciously looking like husband and wife…

"Hime…" Hiro said as they rode around to the next set of kiosks. "I didn't realize that by join your people, you meant ride around surrounded by them…"

"Fufu… what's that Hiro? If you're getting bored with accompanying your master, you can go over to the taverns…"

"E-eh?"

"Fufu… the drinking age in the kingdom is 16… a bit young but nobody ever bothered changing it… please enjoy yourself…"

"H-hime!" Hiro squealed as he looked upon his chuckling master… despite how much he'd grown he felt in that moment like the same little boy he was when she first saved his life, getting all flustered from her teasing. It certainly didn't make it any easier to talk to her as he'd been meaning to do all day, nor did it help that they were surrounded by ogling monsters and everywhere he turned there were blinding flashes of light from the millions of photos being taken… yeah… maybe Hime had the right idea by keeping her eyes closed. Guess our conversation is going to have to wait a little longer… he sighed sadly.

"Fufu… This is nice…" Hime said tearing him from his thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"It reminds me of the time we went to that festival in the human world…"

"Festival? Do you mean the Sasanaki amusement park?"

"…Yes… (I'm just nostalgic right now…)"

"What made you think of that?" Hiro asked looking at her but Hime in her usual way just gave a "fufu"… a kind of sad "fufu" actually… "I wonder…" was all she said as she gave him one of her looks. He immediately understood and smiled. A secret between the two of them… Maybe it was time for their conversation after all… "Hime I—"

"YOUR MAJESTY YOUR REIGN IS AT AN END!"

What? Hiro thought vacantly as he blinked a few times. He and Hime turned to face forward and there standing before their carriage was a man cloaked and hooded as he pointed a venomously sharp sword at them.

Screams suddenly filled his ears and Hiro glanced around seeing other hooded figures coming out of nowhere as they attacked the nearby guards throughout the crowd. He watched in horror as the men stab, slit, and cut down guards before they even had a chance to draw their swords. We're under attack? He gasped as the crowd started to panic and soon enough everywhere he looked there was chaos. He didn't have a second more to process as the man leaped some twenty feet into the air.

"CONSIDER THIS!"

SHIT! Hiro snarled as everything seemed to slow down.

"YOUR FIRST AND LAST BATTLE!"

I NEED A WEAPON! DAMN IT! I NEED A WEAPON!

"AS KING!"

HIME!

The man's sword cut deep…

"Tsst… as expected of a blood warrior… using your own body to protect your master…" The man chastised as his sword slammed deep into Hiro's right shoulder and the young man felt the old familiar feeling of blood rushing up his throat. DAMN! He thought as he buckled on his feet giving a left hook. It didn't connect as the man jumped back, pulling his sword out… painfully.

"GAH!" Hiro grunted as he jumped off the carriage following after the man. The crowd was still going wild as he could see kiosks toppling over and herds of people scattering in all directions. A few guards were fighting back but it looked like he and Hime were slowly getting surrounded.

"W-who are you?" Hiro huffed as he gripped his bleeding shoulder. "Why are you attacking Hime?" The man didn't answer. He just stood holding his sword, as if sizing the young man up. "ANSWER ME!"

"You're wasting your breath Hiro!"

"Hime!" Hiro shouted glancing back at his master. She was still sitting in her seat as calm and as comfortable as ever but she was smirking the kind of smirk she always took right before a battle. There was a sadness in it, of course, but also a great strength with the faintest hint of bloodlust—it was something of a treat for Hiro to see her smile like that… at least one last time… even if apparently they were back in a vice.

"A man who doesn't introduce himself has no respect for the opponents he fights, however… fufu… despite how… open the kingdom is on this day it's unlikely anybody with such malicious intent could so easily infiltrate the Palace… certainly not enough to be a threat… certainly not this many…"

"And?" The hooded man called instantly just standing there before them. Hiro didn't take his eyes off him, not even for a second.

"Fufu… and that means you aren't invaders at all are you? No, you and you're men are from inside the castle… in other words… you and your men are Royals… fufu… isn't that right?"

"Hmm… you're just as sharp as ever your Majesty, even after six long years but it's too late… I won't stand down… I… WE must succeed!" And with that, the hooded man raised his hand signaling to a few of his other men to attack as they jumped from behind Hime, their swords and spears pointed at her throat.

"HIME!" Hiro screamed. YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME? The young blood warrior panicked but then he heard a familiar voice go "Fuga" and sure enough Flandre was there standing before his master, she held up her hands and all the assailants went flying backward.

"Sending your subordinates to fight your battles for you?!" The man spat. "DO YOU THINK THAT'S HOW A KING DOES IT?"

"Hmpf. Traitors who don't give their names and attack from behind have no right to see my blade." Hime continued to smirk and even Hiro was smiling now as he straightened himself up. His wounds were already healing. "It's a King's place to be at the head of her army…" And sure enough as Hime said that…

"HIME!" Riza yelled rushing into battle with Rudy, Aida, Reiri and practically an army of werewolves behind them. "ONEE-SAMA!" Hiro also heard and he could see Sherwood's carriage racing toward them with what appeared to be a few hundred guards as well. It was a magnificent charge.

"Hiro catch!" Riza screamed as she got near, a few enemies cutting her off. She threw something into the air and the young man jumped up grabbing what appeared to be a hatchet in his freshly regenerated arm. "There you go!" She shouted over the screams of the crowd. "A souvenir for ya'! Put that thing to good use!"

"Thanks Riza!" Hiro yelled with a huge grin. "Now then…" He said turning toward the hooded man, a great fire in his eyes. "Hime?"

"Fufu…" The beautiful King chuckled as she brushed her hair to her side. "Defend your master Hiro." And with that… all hell broke loose. Hiro charged furiously as did the man, both of their weapons held high. To his side, Hiro could see Riza, Aida, Rudy, Reiri, Sherwood, Ryu-Ryu, Francesca, hell an army fighting in their honor with happy smiles on their faces as they charged forth vindicated in their glory. How much they all hated war yet how much they all loved it now, one last fight, one last round, together, side-by-side for her Majesty. For Hime… Hiro chuckled… What a pleasant thought… he exhaled as his axe connected with the man's sword and they collided in the middle of the field.

It was magnificent. The feats that were done in the first five minutes, the enemy was well-outnumbered, of course, storming into someone's capital… It was madness but they fought hard, and the parrying and clanging of their swords rang high and loud in the world, Hiro himself was offset by the rhythm of their fury and his opponent was skillful too and strong.

"DAMN!" The man grunted as he slammed his sword hard into Hiro's hatchet. Hiro parried it down, the thunderous blow smashing deep into the marble stone white aisle… "What you lack in strength you make up for in spirit…" The man said as Hiro returned a few attacks of his own… "As expected of her Majesty's blood warrior… A duel with you would be an honorable test indeed… however…" He said as his gaze met the young blood warrior's. "I have no time to waste with you." And with that the man jumped back, pulled out a pistol, and shot Hiro in the neck.

"GAH!" Hiro choked wide-eyed as he fell to his knees. He heard his name being shrieked as he saw a hazy vision of Riza and Reiri trying their best to rush to him. He tried to speak but what came out was blood as he looked at the man. He wasn't there. No… he stared white-faced as he turned to his side. "Sorry…" the man whispered as he ran passed sprinting toward Hime. Flandre got in his way but the man easily outpaced the little maid's robotic movements, he aimed his gun straight at Hime's head. "For Gilliam…" He whispered just loud enough for Hime to hear as their eyes met.

"YOUR MAJESTY!" A nasally voice echoed as a familiar moleman suddenly jumped in just as Hiro managed to knock the man's arm away. He bit deeply into the man's hand causing him to fire a few rounds into the air before dropping the gun.

"ARGG!" The man screamed as he cuffed the poor mole deep in the jaw. He turned toward Hime again raising his sword but the young King just smiled as she looked to his side. There, out of the corner of his eye, the man could see Hiro, his hair as white as pearl and his eyes as yellow as the sun; he swung his axe aiming for the man's head. And so he parried it, the man slamming his sword into Hiro's axe but the force of the impact proved to be too much and a loud shattering sound was heard.

"H-he broke my sword?!" The man cringed stunned… simply stunned… as nothing now stood between him and Hiro.

"Fufu but of course…" Hime cut in still smirking. "When a battle goes beyond skill and strength, it becomes a battle of wills… naturally the stronger of the two will always prevail fufu…" And with that Hiro's axe slammed deep into the man's shoulder causing him to fall thunderously to the ground… and it was over…

"You're leader has been defeated!" Sherwood yelled at the top of her lungs as the fighting started to stop. "You've lost. Throw down your weapons and surrender! There is no shame in honorably accepting defeat."

"Honorably accepting defeat…" Nakua repeated as she suddenly appeared flying down from the sky.

"Huh! Nice of you to help us out oh great friend of the kingdom…" Riza hiccupped as she, Reiri, Flandre, and Francesca all ran over to Hiro who just waved them off. His wounds were already starting to heal… at surprisingly fast rate…

"Tsst… you're drunk dog… or did you forget the kingdom and my kind are supposed to be neutral parties?"

"Well fuck you too! *Hiccup, hiccup* I think I'm going to be sick…" Riza wobbled on her feet as Reiri just shook her head helping Hiro up and Aida and Rudy did their best to keep the half-breed balanced.

"Serves you right bitch for eating and drinking everything offered to you…"

"Can it Reiri… Oh god… *Retch*"

"Do you really intend to let them go?" Nakua said as she turned toward Hime, the beautiful blonde King finally getting down from her carriage. "That's a little too lenient don't you think? Even worse than knighting me… these men you said were guards, traitors who didn't sneak in, but rather plotted behind your back… men who attacked you at your coronation, attacked and killed the people you swore to protect… will you really be so kind-hearted? As the King of these lands is it wise to set that kind of example?"

"Fufu… they killed people huh?" Hime chuckled as she walked past the spider goddess toward the body of the man. "Really?" She said and just like that a low groaning sound filled their ears. Riza looked up as did they all and there, all around them, the royal guards that had been cut down and even the enemy soldiers, all who had apparently been slain, they all started to move… they all started to get up… they were all alive…

"How?" Riza asked looking all around as all the dead seemed to rise. "How is this happening? (I really must be drunk!)" She said as she turned toward Hime.

"Fufu… didn't I mention it before? This is the City of the Phoenixes… no murders can be committed here, no sickness can ever plague us, nor poverty or drought… specifically today… the presence of so many Phoenixes ensures this… it's impossible for anyone to die..." She smiled as a loud cawing sound filled the world and a few massive phoenixes flew passed them overhead.

"Wah… Hiro…" called a weak voice. The young blood warrior looked over and sure enough there he saw the moleman from before lying on the ground.

"LADD!" He called as he rushed over to help his friend. "Are you alright?!"

"Uh… yeah! Yeah I think so! I'm just a little fuzzy right now… but my jaw doesn't hurt! That's something! Haha… could've sworn I took a hard knock…"

"You did! You did!"

"I also could have sworn you got shot…"

"Don't worry I'm fine… it's been way too long! (Two years right?) Thank you! Thank you Ladd for stepping in to help me and Hime a second time!"

"Oh hell that was nothing Hiro! I'd take a bullet for her Majesty and you! I'm just so happy you're alive and that her Majesty won! She actually won! I… you… uh… ha wa… *hiccup* H-hiro…"

"Ah! L-ladd! W-why are you crying?"

"OH Hiro! They were saying such awful things after Prince Gilliam died…"

"Huh?"

"Everyone was saying that Hime-sama was going to lose and that Princess Sylvia was going to be the next ruler! I couldn't bear the thought! I tried to contact you but none of my calls got through, heck I was about to dig right into the mansion when I finally heard the great news!"

"…Yeah…" Hiro said forcing a smile as his eyes softly drifted off to side causing Ladd to give a questioning look.

"Hiro?" A voice called as it instantly sent shivers up and down both their spines.

"Uh… Hime! A-are you alright?"

"Wait…" She said as she stared at Ladd who instantly fell to his knees. "I know you…"

"You're M-majesty! C-c-congragulations on your ascension!"

"Ladd right?"

"I'm h-honored that you remembered my name a second time!"

"Please enough of that… you're a friend of the kingdom after what you did to help me and Hiro back at the Prison… and you saved me again just now…"

"It was nothing at all you're highness!"

"Ah I see… you got the medal I sent you… good. It looks like you'll be getting another one for your services."

"Huh? O-oh thank you! Thank you so much your Majesty! I treasure this medal greatly… though… ah… I still would prefer my other request… if at all possible… (I just got of prison you know…)"

"…I wish I could show you more hospitality but we really must be leaving now… (and it's been two years since you got out of prison…)" Hime said flatly as she turned on her heel gesturing to Hiro to follow her…

"Of course your highness!" Ladd said with a comical river of tears flowing from his face as he buried his head and bowed… "Hiro where's your sister?"

"W-what?!"

"I'd love to squeeze her… a-ah! I mean see her again…"

"…Right… well she's—wait… where is Sawawa?" Hiro said as he looked around. "Nee-san!"

"Don't worry Hiro." Reiri called to him. "She's fine. We left her at a kiosk on the other side of the court."

Meanwhile… on the other side of the courtyard…

"Wow!" Sawawa squealed. "You guys really make some great parfaits! It's even better than the ones I get in Sasanaki! (Say Mr. Bartender that's a funny mask… are you participating in the festival as well?)"

"Ah… Miss? I think there's something going on… we should probably get to a safer place… (And that's not a mask… that's my face…)"

"Another parfait if you please!"

"Ma'am, did you hear a word I said?"

"I think I'll try it with mango and strawberry mixed in this time!"

"…Right…"

"Now then…" Hime said as everyone gathered around her. The royal guards were just about finished rounding up the last of the traitors who'd all but surrendered and now a few guards moved in to tie up the leader of the bunch. They sat him up right as he came to healing from Hiro's blow. "Let's see who you really are…" Hime said as she nodded to the guards and they pulled back the man's hood and face wrappings. No one was prepared for who they saw next as a few guards gasped and even Hiro and the gang themselves were shocked as they looked upon the face of the guard who'd escorted them to the courtyard… a massive man with a horse-like head and hair of yellow mane.

"Captain Andreas Dalton of the 75th Royal Unit…" Hime said with a faint flicker behind her eye. She quickly smirked. "How very interesting… tell me Captain why have you betrayed me?"

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT!" The Captain growled as he spat at the ground before her feet. Hime's smirk quickly vanished and Hiro's blood began to boil.

"Why attack me captain?" She asked again. "Even though I haven't been blessed by the Phoenixes yet… you served under my father and as a commanding officer, you should know that I cannot be killed in this city… no one can… especially on this day… So why do it? Why rebel?"

"Why don't you tell me? Your Majesty..." The guard jeered and Hiro was just about ready to punch the man in the face. He wasn't the only one.

"Oye Hime. *Hiccup* let's just beat the answer out of this jackass…" Riza said as she transformed her arms and a few werewolves cheered her on. Hime held up her hand silencing them all.

"You mentioned my brother… Gilliam nee-sama…"

At this the Captain looked up. "So you did hear… yes… Prince Gilliam…"

"Gilliam's death had nothing to do with Hime!"

"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT HALF-BREED?" The Captain snapped. "Don't you think I know that?" His voice trailed off as he looked straight at Hime who looked right back at him. "This isn't some pathetic revenge fantasy or some half-baked conspiracy… no… this is about something much larger… this is about the Kingdom… and all the other Princes and Princesses that could have ruled, that could have but didn't… all the other royals that we swore our allegiance to… hoping, praying as royal guards that would soon be at their beck and call that they would be the ones who prevailed… THAT THEY WOULD BE THE ONES WHO SEIZED THE THRONE! But they didn't…

For me, that Royal was Prince Gilliam…" The Captain said as a few tears rolled down his face. "Prince Gilliam was the only royal to ever visit the war torn ruins of Terek… my village… I don't expect you to know the name… it's a small trading outpost about 500 miles east of here, on the border of Sharrowind… For years we'd had something of a bandit problem but the King was too busy with the Royal War and other larger conflicts like those of the Werewolves and the Vampires to pay us any mind… It took years and years of lobbying just to get the same answer over and over again… that's why I decided to become a guard, appeal my family's, my… my village's problems from the inside… but then… about 22 years ago, after a decade of small skirmishes and raids… my village was razed to the ground… a lot of good men, friends of my father, were killed… a lot of my own friends, the younger kids… they went missing, probably sold into slavery… and… and the women… a lot of them wished they'd just been killed… That was… a bad time…" The captain said as everyone was silent just staring at the poor bastard in front of them…

"Of the few that survived… many choose to stay… I'd take a vacation every year and head back for about month or so… to help and rebuild what best I could… One day, I saw Prince Gilliam just walking around. Just walking through the ruined streets of my village… He couldn't have been more than 16 or so with nothing but two escorts with him. He came there to my village, a broken place no longer fit for bandits let alone royalty, he walked among us with that sharp look in his eyes, and his white suit with his right hand resting gently on his heavy sword… there was no reason for him to vacation there, we had nothing to offer him... but he didn't care... he called us worthy men… worthy warriors… we'd lost, been beaten, and yet he praised us… even in spite of all that… he praised us…

You see it's royals like you who would tell us we're okay… to make peace and treaties and to move on from our wars and grudges… that the future is bright and that we're prospering… The world is a big place your Majesty… The negotiation table can't possibly fit us all… you may have been the most popular but after waiting so long, hoping, praying for so many different royals in this damn war… a war I might add that concerns us all yet none of us can participate in… to end up with you… with this kind of mentality… that's not what I wanted… I mean knighting an evil god… bringing humans here… I should have been able to fight for what I BELIEVED IN! I should have been able to fight for Gilliam… my men should have been able to fight for the Royals they believed in! For the Royals they would have gladly served! But you and Princess Sherwood? I… we don't accept that… we can't… forgive our insubordination but we don't acknowledge you as King…

So there you have it… I gave you your answer… kill me now and be done with it… even though no murders or deaths can committed here on this day, you as the King have the sole power to kill anyone in this city… that is why I rebelled at your coronation, that is why I challenged you knowing full well that I would lose… to force you to kill me yourself… so do it… let the first judgment of your reign commence… I have no reason left to live…"

"…I refuse."

"WHAT?"

"I refuse to kill you."

"You intend to have me live with my disgrace?!"

"I don't intend anything Captain… You just didn't do enough to warrant killing…" Hime smiled and Reiri let out a light gasp as she too grinned remembering the time Hime said those exact words to her… "It takes a virtuous man to die for his beliefs but it takes a truly strong one to live for them… you championed my brother Gilliam… and while I cannot say I will do things the way he would have, I can tell you this… Gilliam believed in honorable battles… he lost the royal war… he died stubborn, and that's a compliment, fighting to very end for his beliefs… he wouldn't have wanted those who followed him to give up hope so easily… after all… that is why he praised you… because you're people didn't give up…" At this the captain looked down… tears were freely falling from his face. "Accepting death now…" Hime continued, her expression once again becoming serious. "Your village still needs you Captain… and while I can't promise you anything, I can assure of this… Terek has suffered enough…" Their eyes met. "With your help… we can truly start to rebuild…" And with that a few people in the crowd started to clap as the Captain himself looked around nodding and even more tears fell from his face…

"I… I understand…" He managed to say as he collected himself. He again looked at Hime. "You don't act like Gilliam… you're too soft and you focus too much on peace… but you speak like him… with wisdom and guile… I beg your forgiveness…" He bowed. "But if you won't kill me then I at the very least have to resign my position… I'm sure all of the men and women here who participated in this coup will also agree… the shame would be too much for us to bear… but we will continue to live… in honor of the Royals we admired… for my village… for our hopes and dreams…"

"Of course… Sir Dalton…" Hime said as she turned around. And with that, the guards freed their prisoners and the Captain walked away as did his followers… There must have been over two or three hundred of them as they passed by silently. Hiro didn't realize just how many there were until they all funneled toward the entrance of the courtyard, the sea of the civilians in their way parting to let them pass. And what a sad march they were to see, the weight of the world on their backs as the men removed their hoods and revealed their heart-broken expressions. They had put everything on the line to stand-up against Hime and it was clear many, including the Captain himself, didn't hate her… it was just that… How do you pick up and go after something like this? How do you respond when you bite the hand that feeds you and then that hand pats you back? How do you look yourself in the mirror and call yourself a victim? There was no right or wrong and that's what made the whole situation so damn difficult… gray is one hell of a color to comprehend and sure enough, as they passed through the aisle, Hiro could see a few royal guards fighting back tears with some of them just flat out leaving as they saw people they knew among the traitors… It was the first time the young blood warrior had ever seen any real hesitation in the royal guards, a sort of weakness in their infrastructure that previously seemed invincible… it was one hell of a reality for Hime to deal with on her first day… and indeed, as he looked back at his beautiful master, he could tell she was exhausted even through her indifferent expression … she had performed amazingly to be sure, her words disarming a small rebellion… it's just that here… right now… he was suddenly reminded of just how much he wanted to save her from this kind of life…

The crowd couldn't have disagreed anymore with the young blood warrior for as they looked around and saw Hime get back up on her carriage seat, giving a low sigh as she sat herself down, they couldn't help but cheer madly over their King's first 'successful' battle. A few of the traitors had yet to leave and so they departed to the backdrop of people cheering over their defeat. Again an imperfect situation, rather ironic really for a place that prided itself on being perfect, but the festivities could not be held back any longer and so, in what could easily have been ten short minutes, the courtyard was full and the partying started once again—albeit a little wearier with a heavier guard presence.

It was actually even livelier than it ever was before (I guess mortality has a way of exciting some people… or monsters…), but at that point, Hime just sped things along. She was merely there for show anyway, like a kind of blessing before the festivities really began. It was like another ceremony albeit informal as she walked through the aisles, her very presence blessing all the people who cheered with loving tears in their eyes, cheering for just a glance of the greatest King of all time. They finished their circuit within the hour and Hime managed to round them all up again, including Sawawa, as she led them all back toward the castle for their final goodbyes…

"That was some ceremony mistress!" Sawawa beamed as they all groaned just about ready to plop themselves inelegantly across the nearest piece of furniture. Hiro was exhausted and not because of the fighting! This whole day was just ceremony after ceremony and it all was just so emotionally taxing. Not to mention his tuxedo was all torn up which meant he'd have a hard time explaining to the rental store why he was returning it in bits and pieces but he'd been given a rather beautiful silky royal coat. It fit snuggly on his frame and for all intents and purposes it looked even better than his tuxedo attire… of course that didn't concern him at the moment as he glanced over at his master who looked deep in thought.

"Sawawa…" She finally said.

"Hmm? Yes Oujo-sama?"

"…I want you to reside in my mansion…"

"Huh?"

"The house and all within it, they are all yours to do with as you see fit… (Naturally, the car is yours as well.)"

"Oujo-sama! W-what are you talking about? I-it's your house…It's… that's your house…"

"Fufu… I won't be needing it where I'm going Sawawa… and I've been meaning to give this to you for quite awhile (just in case our battle with Sylvia fared worst). I had Flandre leave the deed and all the appropriate paperwork in the main file cabinet in the storage room. Please look it over when you get back."

"O-oujo-sama…"

"Think of it as my thanks for your diligent services throughout these two long years. Thank you Sawawa…" She said bowing… "Thank you very much…" Hime was bowing…

And with that, Sawawa stared for a second, they all did, just not able to comprehend the greatness, the kindness, after everything that had happened today… it was almost inconsiderate of Hime to do something like this, just breaking them completely as they were about to say goodbye… several full seconds must have passed by silently, and then she bawled. That's right. She didn't cry, she didn't sob, Sawawa bawled like a new-born babe as a river of tears flowed down her watery eyes, she was overwhelmed… and so she rushed over to embrace Hime as if that communicated her feelings far better than any words she could've mustered and she was right…

Sawawa just bawled as she clung on to Hime causing Hiro to shake in shook, both from Sawawa actually touching his master and again from Hime's insanely kind gesture… Once again in her usual Hime-fashion, she was able to catch them all off guard… like the final laugh when nobody wanted to laugh… she was just too damn good at that… but still, as if to completely confuse and further shock the poor boy, no, to shock them all, Hime just smiled… she smiled and gave a happy "fufu" as she closed her eyes and returned Sawawa's embrace, holding the busty crying maid who though older than everyone there, was as a child in that moment. She gently rocked with Sawawa as the maid bawled happily clinging onto the greatest woman in the world… and Hiro himself couldn't help but cry, they all did, overwhelmed by the majesty that seemed to glow and blind them. Hime was more than something special… and the world was in good hands, reluctant hands, but confident, kind, and best of all benevolent… she was indeed the kind of woman that thousands of years later, people would still talk fondly of, she was perfection and ultimate kindness blended into one… and they all loved her as they watched her hug Sawawa…

"No…" The busty maid whimpered through her choking tears… "No…" she shook her head squeezing Hime… and yet all the princess, no, all the King did was smile with her eyes closed rocking softly with Sawawa with infinite understanding… Hiro had only seen Hime like this a few times before… mostly around the mermaid Madeleine… she was breaking all expectations today with her impulsiveness and her love for them…

"Hiro…" Hime said kindly though her tone was still rather flat. There was, however, endearment in her words and she was becoming increasingly good at conveying her emotions without inflection or facial expression… Hiro of course was simply happy to see her expressing at all. "I need to speak with you…"

"Um…" The young blood warrior choked as his cheeks blossomed red. A sheepish "okay" was all he managed to let out as he gulped down his gasps and wiped away his tears still overwhelmed by Hime and her magnificence.

She nodded at him as she then turned toward Riza and Reiri motioning to them to help Sawawa as the poor maid was still hiccupping and tearing up, barely able to stand on her own two feet. And so they collected Sawawa, briefly having to wrestle her arms off of Hime who in turn just chuckled, the busty maid then draped herself on Riza's shoulder, the half-breed patting her back gently as Reiri held her shawl and her purse and offered her a handkerchief.

"Hime…" Riza said as she and Reiri looked over at her.

"Thank you both for your services to me… please watch over Sawawa when you can…"

"I… I will…" Riza said solemnly fighting back a few tears.

"Of course… Hime-sama…" Reiri whispered as she too looked on in awe as Hime nodded happily at them.

"And Nakua…" The King turned toward the spider goddess.

"The mansion… and Sasanaki will both be under my protection."

"Good…" Hime smirked. "Sherwood?" She called next like she was going down a magnificent list.

"I'll be going back now as well Onee-sama… I'll have to return here in two or three days for some reports the royals down in Wildlife Reserves have for me but I'll be staying in Sasanaki like we discussed earlier…"

"Fufu then everything is as it should be…"

And with that, it was time. They all knew this was goodbye… they wanted to say it in a hundred different ways but they knew the minute even one of them said the words, the entire room would probably bust out crying… well… maybe not Hime, Reiri, and Nakua… but everyone else was about to break down and sob. Hell even Francesca looked like she was about to shed a tear and Flandre was crying already as she stood next to Hime waving at them… She didn't give the goodbye "fuga" of course but things couldn't have been any clearer… Ryu-Ryu too was upset as he whimpered slightly waddling up to Hime who, again in her ultimate and final shows of kindness, gently patted the crying panda on his head… and so they turned and left…

Hiro looked on at Riza and Reiri who were the last out the door as they supported his hysterical sister. She continued to bawl happily and it roused Hiro's spirit, this great family they had, the love for one another as their hearts were tied together, it was a beautiful thing, perhaps the most beautiful thing in the world…

Just as they were leaving, Reiri turned around and bowed. "We'll by outside when you're ready Hiro… Please take your time… and Hime-sama? It has been a great honor… May you always be prosperous…" Hime nodded and with that Reiri left and Hiro and his master were finally alone together.

"Hiro." Hime called again, earning his attention… "We haven't had much time to talk have we my blood warrior? For that I am sorry…"

"It's okay." Hiro said quickly doing his best not to blush anymore… he fumbled with his eyes wiping vainly at his tears. "So… ah… this is the castle you grew up in as a child Hime?" He asked instantly biting his tongue wondering why the hell he was making small talk.

"…Yes. And it will be my home once again now that I have accepted the throne…"

"When will the Phoenixes bless you?" He asked and Hime glanced over at him. "Ah! It's just that… you mentioned to the Captain that you hadn't been blessed yet… I was just wondering if there was a ceremony or something for that…"

"You would think wouldn't you? But no… there is no ceremony for maturing into an adult Phoenix… and now that I'm crowned monarch it can happen whenever I choose. Though I've been advised to do so earlier than expected… there are… concerns about waiting…"

"Concerns like today? Isn't that dangerous?"

"Relax Hiro, I'm in no danger. I cannot be killed in this city."

"You said that before… that you can't die here… that nobody can… just for this day or something? How is that possible? How can you not die if you haven't matured? And everybody… t-those guards, the people… the dead… how can they come back without being blood warriors? Is it really just for this day, just in this place? Doesn't that mean you can still die in other places? Surely you won't be here all the time…"

"It's difficult to explain… I cannot be killed Hiro but I am not immortal… The best way I can describe it is like a force or a presence if you will… I believe humans have a similar concept… the belief that certain places are spiritual or that some can heal… like a shrine, a hot spring, or a more obvious example, a place that you might simply consider peaceful… like an aura, a positive energy, Zen… you may have noticed it here… your wounds healed much faster than they normally would didn't they? And Ladd… he was hit in the face but he didn't feel anything did he? The Phoenixes naturally have a link to this place and it can be felt by all the inhabitants… on this day when they all appear unanimously, that link is at its strongest and in this case it goes against the very nature of the world… it disallows death. The Phoenixes have acknowledged me as King and so I can always feel this link… even now I can feel it though again it's difficult to explain… you see the world through your eyes… but I can truly see it when I close mine. I can feel your breathing and hear your heart beating as well as the wind outside. I can feel the ocean on my hands and on my feet and I can even taste the cup of tea over there on that table. That's the best way I can describe it but try not to think too hard Hiro. There are some things that even I still don't know… Most of these answers are just what I got from skimming through some of the restricted books I gained access to last night. There's still more I don't know and more the phoenixes need to tell me themselves…" Hime finished. Her answer was articulate, perfect, and all encompassing. It hurt Hiro actually… how it was so specific like the rules of the Phoenixes slipped in and out and there was an answer to everything. He had tricked himself against his better judgment that perhaps he could to stay in this city without her blood… a misunderstanding that he knew he shouldn't have hoped on but he just couldn't help it. It tore him down. It robbed him of his inhibition.

"So that's it then…" He said shaking his head.

"Hmm?"

"Hime… are you really going through with this, are you really going to accept the throne?"

"…I've already been crowned Hiro…"

"But couldn't you step down?" He said trembling a bit. His eyes shifted to the ground. He couldn't bring himself to look at her as he begged for her sake. "Let Sherwood take over… like you originally planned?"

"That's not the way things work Hiro…"

"But why? I just… I just don't understand Hime! What kind of victory is this? Please tell me master, why give up on your dream? You always said you had no interest in the throne… even when your father appeared you told him that yourself!" Hiro yelled only after the fact realizing he was yelling all the while Hime just closed her eyes. "And then…" He sighed as his voice broke. "And then you just accepted it… I… I don't understand… if you tell me now that you're happy I'll drop the subject! But… but why did you really accept the throne? Hime… Why didn't you say anything when your father spoke? What could have possibly changed in those few short seconds?" There it was. Hiro had asked it. The question that had haunted him for three long nights… Why? Simply why?

"…I had no choice…" Hime said softly.

"What?"

"I couldn't reject my father Hiro… he showed me images… in my mind… in that split second… he showed me everything… the world… and the crisis awaiting Sherwood… I could never condemn my sister to that by shirking away from these responsibilities… it's as Sylvia nee-sama said…"

"Crisis? What crisis?"

"…Even if Sherwood wanted the throne… even if she became a Phoenix… there are simply things she wouldn't be able to achieve… things that would cause rifts in the world… only with me on the throne would the most "correct" future be obtained…"

"Then act as her advisor… you could guide her without accepting the throne yourself…"

"A good thought Hiro but then she wouldn't be a monarch now would she? And what's more she would be the face of the throne, the face of the kingdom… it's more than just principle, it's politics… I am more popular than Sherwood… plain and simple… she knows that… I'm older than her and I was recognized as a contender while she was just starting to acquire her public face… with that kind of… choice for the throne, could you image the uproar from the public? Today was a good example. Could you image how hard things would be going forward for Sherwood? It was my short-sight that I almost believed it could work…"

"B-but If she becomes a Phoenix then couldn't she overcome any obstacle? Phoenixes who have power over life and death…"

"Hiro… you're mistaking all powerful for having power over everything…"

"That… that doesn't make sense!"

"It does Hiro… while the phoenixes maintain balance and have tremendous power to do so; balance is a border, not a place. It's easy to define power when things go wrong around you… that isn't to say that phoenixes are any less powerful… rather most of the time it's perhaps that they are too powerful… that they know too much and so they refuse to help… it would unbalance things if every crisis was averted… but even so… that's just philosophy… if we're talking about whether or not a single phoenix could actually perform every miracle on the planet… or even if all the phoenixes combined, then the answer would most likely be no. Even for a God… that request is impossible… fufu… it would require the world to have been built differently…" Hime chuckled as she said that last part… though the way she said it… chuckling was just a means to fool herself, to stop her from biting down on her lips… Hiro saw right through it… and he couldn't smile at all…

"So what will happen to Sherwood then?"

"…The Phoenixes have acknowledged our alliance and since Sherwood has yielded to me they see no reason to continue the fighting. She's an accessory to my victory, our father's words. And she is a welcomed guest here in the castle, able to move freely, but for the most part she will remain in Sasanaki. We need a stable contact within the human realm… and she likes it there…"

"And will… will the phoenixes bless her too?"

"…Unfortunately no…"

"But!"

"It is not the way these things are done Hiro. There can only be one victor, one monarch at a time. Sherwood understands that well and she is content as things are now."

"But don't you guys have an uncle?"

"I understand your train of thought but that's different. The old King… our grandfather conceived a late child right before handing the thrown off to the son that won the war. That King then had children whom my father fought against in the next generation's war. Relax Hiro. Sherwood really is at peace with this decision and my coronation. I too am pleased… at the very least she can finally live her life peacefully, undisturbed by war."

"I… I understand…. I just had no idea things would be so… different after we won… I mean I knew things would change… but I just never expected them to be like this…"

"Fufu… tell me about it…" Hiro heard as he looked over at his master who was smiling at him. It was the kind of smile that she didn't show very often but when she did few people could interpret it. The kind of smile that showed her true self, her letting her hair down, a brief moment where she sat down and caught her breath… Hiro had only seen it once before. It was beautiful… she was beautiful… he just wished she would smile like that more often… not that he'd be able to see her if she did…

"Is there something on my face?"

"What? No! I was just… I was just thinking…"

"Fufu… didn't I tell you not to think so hard?"

"Tsst… I was just thinking about you giving my sister your mansion…" Hiro said his eyes still very moist.

"You want to know why I gave Sawawa the mansion?"

"Well… yeah… D-don't get me wrong! I'm grateful… so grateful… thank you so very much!" He said bowing deeply. "It's just… you could have given it to Sherwood… or kept it for some other use like your summer house… I mean my sister no longer works for you since you won't be in the mansion… it just feels so… I don't know…"

"You really are thinking too much Hiro…" Hime smirked and chuckled. The look on Hiro's face though made her go on as he begged her for an actual answer, the look of love and happiness pleading with her in his heart. She gave a low sigh. "I don't have family or relatives that I can care for like you do… my brothers and sisters don't exactly number very many anymore…" At this Hiro couldn't help but look away. "It's unlikely I'll ever see Sawawa or even Sherwood again… it's a good time to be charitable… fufu… or did you forget?" Hime said and Hiro looked back at her. "Your master is merciful and forgiving…" She smiled for him. It was meant as a joke but Hiro just couldn't help but feel a little sad…

"But you must have some family remaining right?" He heard himself ask pushing his luck on the subject. "You still have your father… what about your grandmother o-or your mother? What about them?"

"…My mother is probably alive… and I've never met my grandmother. Most likely she is dead."

"You don't know?" Hiro asked perhaps sounding more shocked than he intended.

"…You have to understand Hiro. The war is prepared in advance. We are… separated from our siblings and our parents to ensure fairness. The King is in a position of power so it would look unfair if he visited or communicated with any one of us. Not to mention he is ruling over the Kingdom which is why our war is waged predominantly in the human world so as not to get in his way. The monster realm is much bigger and so the King can't afford any distractions. It is likely that my mother is still with him somehow or at some other location. I should know everything soon enough now that I am the victor."

"But wasn't your mother at the ceremony? Shouldn't you have seen her there?"

"No… neither of my parents were at the ceremony Hiro save for my father and all my predecessors at the very end. It's a custom in the kingdom… you might think it strange but here the last reigning monarchs are absent during the coronation of the next line. It's supposed to be symbolic that I made it on my own without the King or my parents behind me… that it was a fair and unbiased victory and that I'm worthy to take over… like a final proving if you will… only at the end of the ceremony does the ruling monarch appear as a show of good faith to bless the coronation… my mother may have been the human equivalent of a Queen but she didn't have any real power so she had no reason to appear. I'll be seeing her later though or at least I should be when I meet my father and all the other Phoenixes in the communion chambers later on this week."

"No reason to appear…" Hiro repeated the words to himself. "What was your mother like?" He suddenly asked to which Hime gave him another long look. "Ah! I-if you don't mind me asking..."

"You certainly are very curious today aren't you Hiro…" Hime said indifferently though there was an underlying teasing tone in her voice. Hiro just shied away almost shrugging. Because this is the last time I'm going to see you, was what he wanted to say… he just blinked a few times and stared at her instead. "My mother… she was… she was like my father. The two of them were very noble and were always very formal when addressing one another or my siblings. We were… as I heard a maid once say… a very orderly family… I don't really remember much else… about the past…

By the time Sherwood was born, my father had accepted his immortality, and the Royal War was being prepared… I only saw my… our mother a few more times after that… I do remember her being kind to us then… she told us to be strong… fufu… rather compassionate for a vampiric mother…"

"Y-your mother was a vampire? Your part vampire?"

"…Wasn't that obvious Hiro? You yourself pointed it out (rather rudely if I remember correctly)."

"But I thought Vampires were incompatible with Royals especially if they haven't matured?"

"This is true since Vampire's often lust after blood… of course Reiri is a prime example of evidence to the contrary… It's just that Vampires can make very powerful companions Hiro… if they are loyal enough not to betray you, they probably never will since you've earned their respect. They're noble and view themselves as elegant not unlike the Phoenixes and the nobility of the Kingdom. They also can live very long with reports listing some of them as 250 years old and still very much alive (werewolves too have a similar life-expectancy if not a little more). Of course with the Werewolf Vampire Wars, that life expectancy is dramatically lower which is why we've been seeing a lot of younger pure-bloods like Reiri over the past few decades. And finally, they're also very resilient allowing them to give birth to Phoenixes…" At this Hiro went as red as a steaming whistle. "Our kind can place a tremendous strain on a non-Phoenix mother given the nature of our species… vampires are one of the few races that are compatible enough to stay alive. Anyway, it's not unheard of Hiro it's just very rare given how often a new King is chosen and how hard it is to gain a the favor of a Vampire in the first place." And with that Hiro just nodded doing his best not to blush even more… he certainly didn't expect Hime to go that in depth… it was interesting… hell it was embarrassing but right as Hime finished explain, a rather strange thought hit the young man then… "Can phoenixes have… ah…" he began as his eyes met with Hime's… he instantly started to blush even deeper which caused Hime to give him a questioning look. "Ah never mind…"

"What was that Hiro?"

"Ah… nothing it was just… something stupid…"

"Come now Hiro… ask your questions, I can assure you I won't think it's stupid… I think you've deserved a few answers… I think we've all deserved some…"

"Well… okay… alright…" Hiro said scratching the back of his head a little nervous as he collected himself. "Um… w-well… can matured Phoenixes have children?" He squeaked. And of course, Hime, even after saying no question he could have would be stupid, gave him another long hard look, the one she usually gave whenever he'd disappointed her… though happily she'd come to give that look less frequently as his prowess in battle increased, it was nonetheless oddly relaxing to see her scold him with her eyes at least one last time… especially now… over this 'nothing' conversation… between friends I guess… and indeed… Hiro and Hime had, at the very least, become friends as he had grown more and more at ease around her. At first he was a nervous wreck, then he became sort of quiet, solemnly watching and admiring her decisions and finally, after two long years—together, he and she had reached this sort of balance, a freedom of sorts—equilibrium. He freely asked her questions and spoke his mind without fear of offending her and if she didn't want to answer him well she didn't have to. So yes, there was a more open aspect to their relationship, one they both very much enjoyed, a certain air of trust had grown… even if she still teased and scared the crap out of him from time to time…

"I don't know…" He heard but it took him a few seconds to process the words.

"What?" Hiro practically choked. "Isn't that like not knowing about your own body?" He blurted out only after the fact remembering her oh so in depth analysis of Vampire Phoenix relations…

"Yes…"

"Doesn't that… I don't know… isn't it odd?"

"No."

"O-oh…"

"…Hiro…" Hime said looking him straight in the eye. "As I said before, the Phoenixes really are the most powerful creatures in the monster realm. That's not an exaggeration… Everything about us is closely guarded, a secret. We don't keep them from the other monsters but rather we keep them from ourselves. We have to ensure no one party gets the upper hand. All that power… there has to be balance. It'd lead to catastrophe otherwise… the other monsters would be utterly obliterated in an actual civil war between my kind. That's why we enter a 'pure and benevolent existence' when we mature. It is for their protection not our own. We must protect them from ourselves… we have to protect ourselves from each other… that's why there is so much mystery surrounding the Phoenixes. That's just part of our responsibilities. It's why we truly are royalty… we hold the faith of all worlds in our hands…

Of course… some of that mystery has been revealed… like how a Phoenix's power isn't due to our body but rather our soul. Remember when I was almost killed by that ghost, or when Emil appeared before us? Emotional situations or near death experiences can cause these powers to prematurely express themselves… at least to some degree… like an adrenaline rush Hiro, our fight-or-flight. It's not perfect, when we got into that truck accident, it all happened so fast my body didn't have time to react. That's at least part of the reason but do you see now? The situations vary dramatically… and the secrets are well hidden if not purposely misconstrued…

Hmpf… and I actually bet all of our lives on the single chance that I could change into that form and then somehow beat Fuhito…" And with that Hime took a deep breath as she finished explaining and once again Hiro was in awe. It was just like her and he half wondered and half assumed she simply enjoyed explaining things, indulging him and his stupid curiosity, like breaking her stone-wall silence for that instant to clarify a situation so obvious to her and her alone, her voice brought him the daylight when she herself was already in the sun. So indeed, Hime was being very talkative today. Hiro liked that, hell he loved it and so he felt compelled to keep her talking… and to find out more, the mysteries he'd long since swallowed finally explained. It was one of the few good things that actually came out of this war… out of this day…

"What about Emile?" He asked eagerly keeping the questions flowing. "And Fuhito?"

"You are referring to their abilities?"

"Yeah…"

"It's no different when you think about it really…"

"Eh?"

"They may have access to some of our powers prematurely but it comes at a cost. Emil for example and his illness… and Fuhito too… He lost the royal war because he used too much of his power—it pushed his body too far and ended up destroying him. That is why it's assumed only a mature phoenix can adequately use all of our powers. We need to be released from our bodies without dying—something that apparently requires a full-fledged phoenix's help to achieve… To become the immortal bird of flames…"

"But… I mean others must have done it before right? At least one phoenix had to have done it by themselves… the first of all your ancestors…"

"Yes, but again Hiro… such knowledge is likely well hidden… it may even be above me as King… and anyway it was probably extremely difficult. It's tempting though… that thought… and like that human expression… moths drawn to the flame? My brothers and sisters desperately researched it… in vain of course… And so, for the most part, apparently only a true adult phoenix can help us mature.

It took a long time before the phoenixes evolved Hiro…many monsters know this… though out of respect for us they don't mention it but our race was once a slave race… not unlike your race at the time… it took about a thousand years and countless generations and a war for a phoenix to finally mature… and even then it took about another two hundred years for the days of the kingdom to truly begin…

Indeed, even with all the years I have left ahead of me, if I were to find one of my oldest ancestors and ask them everything about our lore, it'd take them more years than they had lived to explain it all and even then the knowledge would be incomplete."

"Wow…"

"Yes…" Hime agreed as she sipped at her tea on the table. Her face suddenly became a lot more serious. "Hiro… I have a question for you now…"

"Y-yes Hime?"

"I heard you refused Sherwood's blood…" At this Hiro's brow tensed up as did his shoulders. "Is that true?" He dropped his head low allowing for his bangs to cover his eyes. "Hiro look at me." He looked back up until his eyes met her own as her piercing gaze stared deep into his soul… this was it… the moment he knew was coming…

"…I know Sherwood would gladly give me her blood Hime but that's not the point. I died. I died two years ago. Fair and square, I met with death… I passed away from this world. But then I felt life in me, your life in me… so I came back… I came back to fulfill the responsibilities immortality entailed. And now those responsibilities are complete and… and your safe…" Hiro said as his eyes watered. "It would be nice to continue living, to be there for Sawawa, to help Sherwood… To see you…" Their eyes met… "If at all possible…" His voice broke. "But you don't need me anymore Hime… You were the one who gave me this new life. I can't imagine living it for anyone other than you… to fulfill that promise as your blood warrior. You once said that you were the master of my body and my soul… you still are… and you always will be… only you… Now that it's over… it's time for me to face the music… and this time with no strings attached…"

"…That's not the answer I expected…"

And with that the room went silent. It was a chilly response… Hiro knew the kind well… Hime's abrupt what are you doing or this is stupid kind of inflection that she somehow portrayed without a change in her expression—though there were subtle signs which again were easier to read—it was her impulsive directness that truly smashed the boot into his face and let him know he was being an idiot… But he retained his ground, this was a point and he wouldn't back down from, not even when pitted against the woman he loved.

"I know… Hime… I know… But I've had a long time to think about this. I… I know this is what I want. I know you don't need me anymore… and… hehe… it's kind of soothing to think I'll have a rest."

"What about your school?" Hime responded swiftly. "And your friends… Bucchi… Hiro?"

"I dropped out yesterday Hime…"

"Hiro…"

"I should have a long time ago… I mean… I died… I was checked into a hospital… I never gave it much thought but… with some snooping… it'd be pretty easy to find out that I'm not exactly supposed to be walking around let alone attending school… If that time comes… no… when that time comes… I don't want to cause trouble for Sawawa… Just like when the director of the hospital saw I was dead… It… I don't want to cause any more trouble…"

"We can provide for you Hiro… money is not an issue as with Sawawa—" Hime started but then she stopped. Could it be? She thought thinking it all through as she stared at her blood warrior. Has Hiro changed this much… simply because of his attachment to me?

It's all about the heart…

I see… yes… I didn't notice… or no… I did, and I didn't understand. Hiro… She thought as memories of their life together flashed before her eyes…

I exist for you…

I was careless… It was the pressure I put on him…

Its kill or be killed…

He had no other options and eventually he fooled himself into loving me…

I'll protect you Hime…

Sylvia nee-sama was right… Humans aren't meant to be blood warriors… their hearts are too soft… attachment, devotion… he's just like them… my blood knights… and yet he's different… like something born from being a blood warrior rather than resurrected… you've served me so well Hiro… would it not be easier to break our bond? Just as we are now… nothing more… nothing less… "This will give you back your life…"

"But it won't give us back ours…"

That was his answer… of course that was his answer and he didn't hesitate. He didn't stutter trumping her trump card with his own, what kind of human rejects a human life?

"Master…" He said with great tenderness as he knelt to the ground before her. "I pledged myself and all that I am to you on that day in Akahone village by those cursed hot springs… I gave all that I am to you… Before then, I… I struggled to figure out what I was meant to do and who I really was as your blood warrior… and now I still stand by what I said… Hime… only you can command me… if you really think what I am doing is wrong… then order me… Order me to accept Sherwood's blood… I will not fight your command…"

"Hiro…"

"After all… how could I ever go against you Hime?" He smiled as he looked up at her and a few tears escaped his eyes.

Hime just stared on hoping her indifferent expression would not betray her… I could order him to accept her blood but that isn't what he wants… Would it really be better to let him go? Is that really how his story ends… how our story ends… you could have so much Hiro… I thought I fixed all your problems when I gave Sawawa the mansion and told Sherwood to stay in Sasanaki… and yet here we are and there's still a problem… she thought giving a low sigh. Even if we've won, we can't win… Perhaps maybe it was the universe testing her… throwing the first few hard choices down her lane preparing her for what was to come as she ruled the world…

"…Do as you please…" she heard herself say. She didn't even know if she meant what she said… but Hiro took it to heart and when he heard those words, the smile that he put on few men could look away for there was just so much love in him, it was impressive, it was maddening, it burst from the seams; it twinkled in his eyes… even Hime couldn't help but take notice as she spoke again. "You've earned a rest Hiro. You've earned much more…"

"You're too kind… your majesty."

"Fufu…" Hime chuckled smiling softly trying her best not to frown. She hadn't said all she wanted to but there was a resolve in Hiro's eyes. One she couldn't quite place. It stopped her voice in her throat, that resolve, such that even a Phoenix could not dissuade him, truly Hiro had grown into a magnificent man, and the world would be so much lesser for his loss… and even saying something like that, it didn't adequately show just how marvelous a man he'd become…

"Thank you." He said as he folded his hands nodding. "For everything I mean…"

"You don't need to thank me Hiro—"

"Yes I do." Hiro said clearing his throat as he took one step closer to Hime. "I do. You saved me Hime. You brought me back… you gave me more time with my sister… You gave her your mansion… for two years you provided for us when all our relatives could not. Don't need to thank you? You are… the best thing that's ever happened to me…" He watched her eyes carefully then, looking to see any emotion, a confession years in the making, just something to give him a little incentive to drop the charade and embrace her already, here, right before the end. And so of course Hime didn't know how to respond…

What did he want her to say? What could she say? So long her entire life revolved around fighting, around war, around servants… and now it was all gone. It was a relief but at the same time it was terrifying. For all her qualities, her perception, her genius, all the answers to all the questions she'd given him, what in the world was she supposed to do now? And here, Hiro, her blood warrior, her only and strongest… her last blood warrior… and something more… he was asking her one last question, in his words, in his eyes, in his heart, and yet for the life of her she just didn't know how to respond. She wanted to cry, to breakdown and accept whatever he had in mind, to tell him she… appreciated him… she cared about him. Love? Tears? But she had none to give… she didn't know those feelings or those words or those pains. She had them, certainly, but she didn't know them, she was never allowed to feel them. She wished she'd had more time.

She certainly wasn't hiding her emotions, at least not on purpose. It was something she indeed wished to convey, and their relationship had indeed become more open but now… she just didn't know how to say it… how to show it… where are you supposed to start? Where are you supposed to end? Hiro… he was her Hiro… that much was certain, that much was clear and yet there had to be more to it than that… how do you tell someone you love them more than I love you? How do you even prepare yourself to utter that immense trio of very specific words?

And so there was a bitterness in the air, not of disappointment but rather frustration, with both of them unable to express their love to the other. Maybe that was the ultimatum of the hour, of their meeting, the summarizing problem that was a metaphor for all the hardships that still weighed them down even here, even now, in this time of so called peace after the war, like staring at one another from behind a looking glass, perfectly able to see, but never able to touch…

"What will you do now Hiro?" Hime asked frowning inwardly… it was the best she could do… it was worst thing she could say as their moment was coming to an end…

"I think I'll spend a little time with my sis. She's taking you leaving pretty hard."

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't be. Sawawa always thought highly of you… and she knows that you have something important to do."

"Yeah…"

And just like that, silence once again resounded throughout the room… it was Hiro's final chance but there didn't seem to be an opening. He wanted to hug her. Kiss her… marry her… stay by her… yes. Oh yes. He wanted to stay by Hime's side. He wanted so much and he half felt like maybe he was getting greedy. A stark melancholy hit him there and he realized that it had consumed the room. His fault of course but he just couldn't help it.

"Hime…" "Hiro…"

They both glanced up at each other.

"Yes Hime…" He asked doing his best not to falter. It tore him up as he got ready to say goodbye but right as he thought that he noticed his master doing a most familiar gesture as she brought her hand to her mouth and bit it slightly, a small trail of blood coming down coating her finger… and he was in awe… It was a masterstroke on her part, the final gesture for them to part. It warmed their hearts even if it wasn't as grand as a hug or as sincere as a kiss, it was a symbol, a uniform symbol of Hiro's heart and a vow to her whom it belonged… and so Hiro stopped talking and simply smiled. The time for words he realized had passed and this was the final scene on their collapsing stage. So he knelt, like he always did, right before his master, taking, feeling her hand in his own as he gently lifted it separating the fingers ever so slightly so he could place his lips on the wound she had drawn. It was… a peaceful sensation, one that warmed them both in the depths of their chests, and Hime herself wished it could last forever, like seeing the second hand tick of a bell about to ring, the time was leaving and she knew looking forward this was but a fleeting instant in her life… it would be her most precious memory… she vowed it to herself… she knew it well… Hiro… she thought as she looked upon him as he took the last of her blood into his mouth but then the young blood warrior did something else… he did something so remarkable that for a second her jaw, Hime's jaw just dropped…

He kissed her hand. He kissed her hand.

A subtle warm kiss of unspoken things confirmed and sealed by the single drop of blood he left on her pearl white ring finger. He looked up at her, his eyes shimmering… Farewell… He whispered as he turned and left and that was it. That was there ending. Hime watched the man she loved leave as she licked the drop of blood he left behind… loved? Yes… Loved… She had finally concluded that to herself… Hime loved Hiro… she loved him… she wanted to whisper it, to communicate it. She wanted time to stop, as it had so many times before deep in the heat of battle where in an instant she saw a way… now no such moment of clarity came and even she… the immortal Hime, the grand Hime, the master Hime, was speechless as she watched him leave forever… before they could even be lovers… they decided to part as friends… as equals… no longer master and servant…

Hiro…

She wanted to say don't go…

She remained silent… even as the door to her large empty dining room slammed shut, the sound echoing over and over again.

Hundreds of stories below, the world was partying with millions of happy monsters dancing with drunken smiles, banners and songs and flags of the Phoenix were flying high as thousands of cheers said in thousands of different languages filled the air.

ALL HAIL THE NEW KING!

And somewhere among it all, a familiar black car roared to life.

ALL HAIL THE NEW KING!

It started as the last of its weary occupants got in.

ALL HAIL THE NEW KING!

A sleepy vampire draping her head on a blushing tipsy werewolf…

ALL HAIL THE NEW KING!

A busty maid wiping her tears next to her little brother as she gripped the steering wheel...

ALL HAIL THE NEW KING!

A sad smiling blood warrior as he closed his eyes shut.

ALL HAIL THE NEW KING!

Lillianne von Phoenix didn't say a word… not a single word…

ALL HAIL THE NEW KING!

NEXT TIME: Hiro has made a decision! A very hard decision that even Hime couldn't talk him out of… Our favorite blood warrior and Princess (sorry King) are going their separate ways… is this really happily ever after, is this really what they fought for? Is this tragedy or is this the bittersweet reality we all knew was coming? There's just one more chapter left… Find out what happens as our beloved Hiro comes to the end of his journey.

You can sleep now Hiro… You've earned a rest…

All that and more next time on Princess Finale!

End Note: Alright guys how was that for an epic update! As always sorry about the delay… not going to lie, even after I finished my finals I did take a week or two off from writing and when I finally got back to it… editing this chapter was a bitch…. I mean look at the size of this chapter! I think this is the biggest one I've released to date. Anyway, I just have a few things I want to tell you guys and don't worry. I've noticed my notes have become obnoxiously long so I'll try to cut it down hehehe!

Okay so first things first, I want to let you guys know that I'll be putting up an update feed on my profile which basically allows me to communicate with you guys—I can let you all know my progress that way. It's just a little status section that lets you know what I'm doing—if I go on hiatus because of school or something. Incidentally, I'll be going on hiatus for the month of July because of a study abroad program! Woohoo! I'll be back to work on my fics in August. Also, I want to mention that I'll be posting links to art that I draw and music that I think goes along with the story (more so with my next Princess Resurrection story, the spin-off, though I do plan to add some art for this story as well). It's just to give you guys a more immersive feel—so don't forget to check regularly for my status and art, the first one I want to have up before the end of the month! The links will be to photobucket and youtube respectively.

Finally, I really, really am excited to bring you guys my spin-off but if I keep working at my current pace and go with the story schedule I posted, I may never get to release it! So from here on out, once Princess Finale is completed, all my efforts will be focused on the spin-off. The other stories may chime in as I'm working on this but my focus is the spin-off which I hope to have at least two chapters done within the summer (don't quote me on that though).

Oh before I go… I also wanted to mention I was thinking about totally making a super twist on this story since I just saw World War Z and I was really hyped. I was thinking about making something more out of the little coup scene but in the end I decided against it… I didn't want to force something like that into the story just because I was all giddy about zombies... and also I'll save the effort for Princess Rising :)

All in all, things are moving along, just my usual delays and for that I'm apologize. Please leave me a review and comment if you guys can, let me know if you're liking this story or if it's a little dull, or if the characters are a little OOC (I've unfortunately started getting away from the source material as I move on to watching/reading other animes/mangas), and as always PM's are more than welcomed! Thanks guys! You're all awesome! Raza out! (P.S. Sorry the note was still long!)