Unmatched Lovely Princess: Formatting the Three Kingdom

by Normama

What if Kazuto wasn't the only one sent to the Koihime Universe? Will he still be able to unite the land and create his Harem? Lots of action and love...please read. Plenty of OCs too, some with very recognizable by name !

3. Chapter 002: The Tiger Finds a New Den

Unmatched † Lovely Princess ~Maidenly Romance of Three Kingdoms~

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Chapter 002: The Tiger Finds a New Den

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Disclaimer: I do not own Koihime Musou. Please, get that processed in your head!

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I was running… running… running… running in darkness.

I had no idea why I was running. It was unlike me. As the daughter of the Tiger of Kou-Tou, I would never do such a cowardly act. I did not even know who or what I was running from.

I hear voices all around me. Some were familiar, some were foreign, and others seem to originate from another world. They were all saying the same thing, "Run! Run for Life!" and my body seems to obey those words as I kept moving forward.

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a wall appeared before me stopping me in my tracks. My hands flied to the wall, pushing and feeling all around as if they expected to find some sort of switch or a way through. They found none.

Only then did my body turned around, placing my back against the wall. I saw strange black creatures coming towards me, wobbling and moaning as they did. It was not until they were very close that they began to appear like warriors, carrying weapons and shoddy armors. Their eyes glared bright red in anger at me.

They were indeed scary, but it was not like I could not fight them. Somehow my sword appeared in my grip and immediately I began to hack at them. But no matter what I did, they remain uninjured and unfazed as they continue towards me. The closer they got, the weaker my attacks became. My strength began to leave as did my will to fight. I began to sweat in panic, something I thought I would never feel again when mother died, as I dropped my weapon in fear. Was this the end for me?

Suddenly, a huge roar emitted throughout the entire area as waves of golden light sweeps through the creatures ranks. Although it had gone through me as well, unlike the creatures, I did not scream and whither in pain. Instead I felt a tremendous amount of comfort and security as it went through my body. It was a feeling that I had almost long forgotten, the feeling I had felt from my mother.

Multiple roars came one after another, with each a wave of golden light sweeps through the area and with each wave the shadowy creature slowly began to dissolve away. By the time the fifth roar echoed, the creature had turn to dust before my eyes.

Wowed by this sudden development, I glance beyond where the creature had been to see what had caused that roar. I stared out for a while before a bright light emitted in the distance. I covered my eyes from the golden light before slowly pulling my hand away. What I saw was a symbol of a Tiger's face. It was the strangest depiction of the Tiger's face I have ever seen…

---

"… …! …-en! Sheren!"

As the scene fades in, we see a long black-haired tanned woman with green eyes wearing rectangular red-rimmed glasses bending over a bed where a cherry-haired tan beauty lay sleeping. The black-haired woman wore a red, open dress that reveals most of her breast and her belly, stockings coving her long legs, a shawl hanging loosely around arms, and opera gloves. The sleeping woman, who was currently in a nightgown, had her eyes shut so tightly, with her body sweating so much and her constant unrest body twisting and turning; it was clear that she was suffering from a nightmare.

"Sheren-sama," a small cherry-haired girl with gentle deep-blue eyes, two small hair buns in "ox horn" style hidden within hair ornaments, a short white dress with pink ribbons attachment behind it, and a collar with a chain pleaded as she shook the sleeping girl's shoulder, "Please wake up!"

"…Oh~!" the sleeping girl moaned before she finally opened her azure eyes, "Dai-Kyou-chan? …Meirin?"

"Finally," the glass woman huffed a sigh of relief, "you are awake, Sheren!"

"You make it sound as if I was not going to wake up," Sheren chuckled as she sat herself up.

"Are you kidding me? I do not know what you were dreaming about, but you had moan in agony so loudly that it could be heard outside the palace's gate!"

"Oh, Meirin-chan~! You are exaggerating…"

"Actually, Sheren-sama," the small girl pinched her index fingers together, "that really was the case…"

"… … …Oh dear…"

"'Oh dear'…Is NOT what I want to hear!" Meirin rolled her eyes, "What did you dream about that was so frightening?"

"… …We will talk about it later," Sheren stated as she began to leave her bed, "Dai-Kyou-chan, can you please help me change?"

"Yes, Sheren-sama," the little girl nodded obediently.

"Sheren!" Meirin huffed annoyed, "Do not dodge the quest-…"

"Meirin," Sheren suddenly called as Dai-Kyou changed her out of her nightgown, "Could you arrange an audience with that Oracle had arrived in the city yesterday for me?"

"Eh? Why do you need an audience with him, Sheren?"

"You shall understand…"

---

A few hours later, Sheren sat majestically on the throne of her palace, now dress in a one piece dark-red dress that end around her chest region, detached red sleeves with golden lacing, and golden hairpins holding her single long cherry-color hair in a ponytail.

Meirin and a gray-ponytail-haired, lilac eyes, and tanned woman dress in maroon-color dress stood to Sheren's right. On her left was a mid-teen calm tanned girl with short-cut cherry-color haired dress in a red open dress with a white crop top, detached red sleeves, a red mark located on her forehead, and anxious azure-color eyes. A little energetic tanned girl with cherry-color, blunt bangs hair tied in two loops with white ribbons holding them in place and bight azure-color eyes stood next to the mid-teen. She was dressed in a white mini-shirt with long sleeves, a pink mini-skirt, and white nearly leg-length white socking.

They were all staring at a man with most of his face shrouded by his cloak and his skinny hands holding a crystal ball.

"So," Sheren smiled politely, "this must be the famous Oracle that the people all over the Continent had been speaking about…"

The Oracle as he was called remained silent.

"Thy Cur!" Meirin snapped at the unfazed man, "Show respect to the Warlord of Kou-Tou!"

"Meirin," Sheren address calmly, "you need not snap. He means no harm…"

"But…"

"… …I know," the man suddenly whispered loud enough to heard by everyone present in the room, "why you have summoned me, My Ladyship…"

"Do you now?" Sheren wondered.

"What could an old guy like that know about what Sheren-onee-sama's thinking," the little energetic girl huffed rudely.

"Shaoren!" the mid-teen girl exclaimed in worry, "Do not be so rude!"

"I am only stating the truth, Renfa-nee-sama…"

"Renfa," Sheren softly addressed, "Shaoren, please remain quiet…"

"As you wish, Nee-sama," Renfa bowed in response.

"Okay, Sheren-onee-sama," Shaoren booed in disproval but she too went silent.

"Now," Sheren return her attention to the patient cloak man, "tell me, o' Wise Oracle, what was my purpose for wanting an audience with you?"

The man remained silent for a while before he spoke again in a loud whisper. "Near the end of the night before to the end of early morning today, My Ladyship suffered from dream of darkness, a nightmare…"

"That is correct…"

"I am not surprise someone outside the palace would know," Meirin sighed to herself knowingly, "hearing her agonizing moan…"

With a simple calm look, Sheren silenced Meirin before continuing. "Do you by any chance know the detail of my nightmare?"

"I do," the Oracle responded almost immediately.

"Then please enlighten me and my subjects present here in this room…"

"As you wish, My Ladyship," the Oracle paused for a moment as if entering some sort of trance before speaking, in a harsh whisper, everything that had appeared and happen in Sheren's dream.

Everyone else shivered at the detail description of Sheren's vision.

"Well done, o' Wise Oracle," Sheren smiled as she applauds the Oracle's ability to tell her dream, "As expected, your reputation precedes you…"

"Your words are too kind, My Ladyship… and as you wish, I shall decipher your vision…"

Sheren laughed. "You had known from the beginning, as should be expected. Please do…"

Everyone gave the Oracle their full attention.

"Very well," the Oracle nodded, "My Ladyship, the creatures that chase you are dangers that you shall face and are a precursor to your horrible and cruel death…"

"WHAT?" Renfa and Shaoren exclaimed in shocked.

"Thy Cur!" Meirin roared, "How dare thou talk such nonsense about Our Ladyship's fate!"

"Wait, Meirin-san," the gray-haired woman restrained Meirin, "Let us hear the rest of his words…"

"But Sai-dono!"

"Everyone, settle down," Sheren calmly ordered before turning back to the Oracle, "Please continue…"

"…As your dream foretold, it matters not how you should try to do to prevent it that fate will eventually swallow you whole…"

Sheren bit her lip a bit.

"But…it would seem there is a way to change your fate…"

"Is there now? And how could it be done?"

The Oracle paused for a moment, before holding up his crystal ball. "I have travel far and wide, My Ladyship, and had seen and met with many. My prophecy became that of legends and horrors to many. As of recently, I had made one such prophecy…"

"Hey!" Shaoren frowned at the sudden change in topic, "We want news not the weather!"

"Shaoren!" Renfa sighed.

"What kind of Prophecy you made, o' Wise Oracle?" Sheren asked, ignoring her sisters' words.

"…I have predicted…the end of the Kan Dynasty…"

Everyone froze when he said that.

"Once it has comes to light, chaos will begin to shroud the land and the world would destroy itself in the confusion…"

Everyone shivered as the Oracle continue to deliver his Prophecy.

"…But all will not be lost. For it will be during this time of great need that the Heaven shall send down three messengers, each inheriting the soul of one of the Three Sovereigns of the great past, to quell the chaos and restore order to the world. Each Messenger shall have different fate, as one shall meet in the great plains of the north a person by the common name of Gentoku a Descendant of Imperial Royalty, another shall prove their worth and brilliancy in the mountains of the west, and the final one shall heal the wounds of the wetland of the southeast which was created by the fall of their mighty Tiger…"

Sheren, Renfa, and Shaoren froze when the Oracle mention the "mighty Tiger". He was talking about their mother, Son-Ken Bundai the Tiger and former ruler of Kou-Tou Region, who not long ago was killed in a campaign. They were still saddened by that event, in fact everyone in Kou-Tou had suffer from her death; she was Kou-Tou awed inspiring figure and leader.

"…And it would seems, that this very same Messenger from Heaven who will be fated to arrive here in these wetlands will also be the one to change My Ladyship's fate…"

"What do you mean?" Renfa wondered.

"In My Ladyship's vision, she was saved by the roar that had emitted from a depiction of a golden-glowing Tiger's head. The Three Sovereigns had also been compared to three animals: a sea nourishing dragon, a sun inspiring phoenix, and a moon healing tiger. It would appears that My Ladyship's vision foretold her destine meeting with the Messenger from Heaven with the soul of the Moon Healing Tiger Sovereign. Only with this Messenger can you ever hope to end the chaos that is to come…and avoid such a cruel death, My Ladyship…"

---

After the Oracle left, Sheren rested tiredly on her throne.

"Sheren-sama," Sai stated, "please do not worry so much about the dream or what the Oracle stated…"

"Hard not to worry when it is Sheren-onee-sama who is going to be killed!" Shaoren frowned, "I do not want Sheren-onee-sama to die! We just lost Mother; I do not want Sheren-onee-sama to go too!"

"No one wants that," Renfa frowned, her body shaking in worry, "I do not think I can handle another death of the family…"

"Please you two!" Meirin exclaimed, "Do not say that! Sheren will not die!"

"But the words and Prophecy of the Oracle are amazingly accurate. There are reasons to fear it…"

"That is enough everyone," Sheren huff a smile, "Everyone must die eventually, and as a warrior I must expect a short life at least…"

"Sheren!" Meirin exclaimed shocked by how calm she had remained when she said that.

"My real concern is the other parts of the Prophecy he mention," Sheren glared off into the distance, "The Kan Dynasty will end soon? Sigh…I suppose it means everything Mother had done had been meaningless…"

"Do not put it that way!" Sai frowned.

"And the destruction of the world soon afterward? Sigh~… it is an event too terrifying to imagine…"

"That is true as well," Renfa grimaced, as her eyes once again fill again with more worry, "What will happen to the people?"

"I do not know…"

"Well, all hope is not loss!" Shaoren huffed confidently, "All we have to do is find that Messenger from Heaven, the one who can save Sheren-onee-sama and help save the world!"

"Easier said than done, Shaoren," Renfa sighed, "how exactly we supposed to find this Messenger who holds the spirit of the Moon Healing Tiger Sovereign? We have no leads. We cannot just simply go around asking randomly…"

"Mm~! You are always so negative, Renfa-nee-sama! You should be more positive like Sister Sheren!"

"And you are being too unrealistic…"

"That is enough you two," Sheren laughed at her two little sisters' argument, "if this Messenger really does exist, then if by Heaven will he or she shall appear eventually… if not, Renfa-chan, you must take my place…"

"No Nee-sama! I cannot! I do not possess what it takes to lead!"

"You do, I have faith in you…"

The room fell silent as everyone wondered what would become of them when Dai-Kyou and another girl that looks like her except with sterner eyes enter the room.

"Sheren-sama," Dai-Kyou called, "Our Patrol Units has return!"

"Oh is that so?" Sheren asked eagerly, happy that an opportunity had aroused to change the subject, "Are they well?"

"They are fine," Daikyou's look alike answered in an aggressive like tone, "but…"

"What is it, Shou-Kyou-chan?" Meirin wondered in worry.

"Well… Shishun-san, Minmei-chan, and Ashe-san wish to have an audience with Sheren-sama…"

"Those three?" Sheren wondered, "Were they all not the leaders of the Patrol Units?"

"Yes, Sheren-sama," Dai-Kyou answered nervously, "they said they have something urgent to report, and it seems to be extremely important since they wish it to be as soon as possible…"

Sheren trade glances at her sisters, Sai and Meirin before turning back to the twins. "Let them through…"

---

Moments later, three people entered. The first was a stern-looking girl with glaring lilac eyes and had her violet hair tied up under a single bun hidden under a head ornament. Her v-bangs, coupled with the black scarf that hid most of her mouth, bandaged forearm and sheen, and small red dress with gray sleeves gave her the look of a fearsome warrior.

The second was a velvet cap-wearing brunette girl with her hair bundled to either side of her head, wore a monocle over her right brown eye, open-chest violet dress, and oversize maroon sleeves.

The last was a little girl with ankle-long black hair, scarlet eyes, a golden headband, a deep maroon dress, black forearm gloves covered by brown garnet, black stocking also covered by brown sheen protector, and a sword that was longer than she is tall.

"My Ladyship!" They bow in greeting.

"Raise my friends," Sheren smiled at the gestures, "What is that so urgent?"

"My Ladyship," the stern-looking girl answered, "our patrol has shown no unusual activity from the locals, but…"

"But what, Shishun?"

"…We have heard some nerve-wreaking reports from the locals…"

"Oh, and what might that be?"

"It concerns the Yellow Scarves, My Ladyship," the velvet cap-wearing brunette answered.

"The Yellow Scarves, Ashe?" Meirin repeated to which the brunette nodded, "I heard about these rebels. But they are more associated to the northern part of the continent…"

"Apparently it is no longer the case. According to reports from the locals, a detach force of the Yellow Scarves had made their way into our region and had gather followers under our noses…"

"What was that!?" Sheren exclaimed, sitting straight up when she hear that.

"Yes," the little girl nodded, "I went out to check if the situation was true and sure enough a huge number could now be found hiding about four Li northwest from here, Chou-Sa City!"

"You confirmed it already?" Shaoren asked in worry.

"I saw them with my own eyes! There were about Five Thousand in counting…"

"Five Thousand?" Sai exclaimed, "This is not good, because of our former Ladyship passing many of our troops had deserted. We have a little over a Thousand to spare…"

"We do not have much time as well," Shishun, grimaced in regret, "according to the locals, who are now getting ready to leave the city, they shall attack around noon today!'

"That soon?" Renfa asked in shock.

"Yes," Ashe frowned in guilt, "We apologize for our impudence! If only we had found this information much earlier…"

"…There is no need to apologize, you three," Sheren sighed, before turning to Meirin, "Rally the soldiers, Meirin…"

"Eh?" Meirin noted in surprise, "What do you plan to do, Sheren?"

"Is it not obvious? We will exterminate the threat before they reach here of course!"

"WHAT?" Everyone exclaimed.

"Nee-sama! Please reconsider!" Renfa exclaimed, "We are outnumber and our morality is low! We cannot possibly defeat this detach force as we are now! Let us retreat for now, gather a sufficient force, and then come back…"

"Ah~, I see all those times spent reading tactics had been useful for you, Renfa," Sheren smiled, "you already sound like a leader…"

"Uh no, that is-! Wait this not the time-…!"

"But," Sheren stood up, "with our citizen retreating, we must make sure that the Yellow Scarves do not endanger them. Our former leader and my Mother, Son-Ken Bundai, gave her life so that we may live here. We cannot simply leave!"

"But Nee-sama! What about the Prophecy-?"

"It matters not whether I shall die today or not! This battle had already been lost, now it is just a matter of Pride, the Pride of Kou-Tou. Either we die running or die fighting; I chose to fight!"

Everyone stared at Sheren before bowing in respect.

"I shall be by your side," Meirin smiled, "Non!"

At her words, a pale girl with lime-color hair, dark blue eyes behind small oval-shape glasses, a flamboyant small red dress that fail to hide most of her large breasts, and long red sleeves came in running.

"Yes, Meirin-sensei?" the girl spoke.

"Non! Gather all of our soldiers! We are moving out!"

"Yes Meirin-sensei~!" Non responded happily as she ran out again.

"Now then, let us move!" Sheren commanded, "The time to fight for life and our Prides is now!"

---

(Taiki's Perspective)

…

… …

… … …

It's morning. I saw a blue sky and white clouds.

…Okay, I guess it'll be a nice day again today.

But… why am I outside? If I fell asleep and just woke up, then I should be staring at the dirty ceiling of my room…

"Wait!" A blue sky; that means it's past morning! I better get to school!

I got up in a hurry only to realize that I was in the middle of nowhere.

"Huh?" Where f**k am I?

"Let's see…" Where am I? None of the scenery was familiar at all.

"What's with the park of Francesca? It keeps changing…" I was surrounded by Bamboo trees as far as the eye could see.

"… … …! BAMBOO TREES?" The shock hit me like being hit with a hammer, clearing up my foggy consciousness.

"Holy Cow, what is this? Where am I?" These Bamboo Trees clearly wasn't one of Japan's usual greenery. It looked straight out of a Chinese Sumi-e painting.

"Wait, wait! Think, think carefully!" I need to take deep breath and calm myself down. I'm not going to get anywhere with this panic head of mine. I filled my lungs with fresh air and then expelled the bad air. After repeating that a few times, I began to feel my panic gradually fading.

"Okay…"After a round of deep breaths, I finally felt calm again, so I looked around once more.

I'm in a Bamboo Forest which seems endless. There wasn't a single one of the evergreens which grew everywhere at Francesca Academy.

"What the heck is going on here…?" I desperately tried to remain calm as my mind began to race again, "Okay…Think about how this happened…"

I need to know my game-play and prepare my next move, just like in a baseball match.

"Yesterday I went to the history museum with Oikawa, Izumi-chan and Kazuto. On our way… that's right, I saw that strange brat. Something about him bothered Kazuto badly. That's right! Him! He tried to steal a mirror from the museum, and Kazuto tried to take it back from him and then… the b**t**d attacked him… Shiba-san and I then pitched in… Then as they fell together, the mirror broke… And when I came to, I was here!"

Hell yeah! I'm so good at remembering, but…

"… …Even while calm, I can't figure it out what the s*it going on," Why was I sound asleep in a place I'd never seen before? "Did someone kidnap me? But I'm not tied up or anything. Damn…I honestly can't figure it out. What on earth is going on?"

I got tired of thinking and flopped down on the ground.

"Damn it~… what am I going to do…?" First off, I have to figure out where I am and then head back to my house, but my stomach has been grumbling for a while, nearly robbing me my will to move. "Ah~… I'm f**king starving…!"

Wait, what the hell am I doing? I can't lie down around here in the middle of nowhere. I got to find out where I am! Grudgingly, I got back up and used my metal bat to heave myself onto my feet.

"Okay," I thought to myself, "What should I do?"

That was when I heard noise a little ways off to my right.

"Sounds mean people I guess," I shrugged as I made my why in that direction.

---

Taiki walked on as the sound grew louder. He was already beginning to pick up the various individual sounds in it: yelling, screaming, swords clash…

"… … …! Sword clashing!?" Taiki exclaimed. He rushed forward, ignoring his hunger-stricken stomach. When he got to the clearing, his eyes comically bulged out in comical shock.

What he saw was the area covered with brutal warring between a large mob of thug-like people wearing yellow armor and a small group of soldiers wearing red armors. The yellow thugs had completely surrounded the red armor army who are unable to advance or escape. A few red soldiers who were scatter here and there were brutally slain as the yellow armor thugs chopped them to pieces. As with the group, the red soldiers struggle to defend themselves and their comrades.

That was when Taiki saw them: girls of different ages fighting alongside the red soldiers, shouting commands and keeping as many of the red soldiers together as possible.

"Could those chicks be the one in charge?" Taiki wondered, before reality hit him, "Hey, what the f**k am I doing? I got to do something about this s*it!"

---

"Men of Chou-Sa City! Fearless warriors of Kou-Tou!" Sheren roared over the sounds of the battle, "Let our blood spill today as we defend for our honor, our pride, but more importantly for those we hold dear to our hearts. Let our valiant stand, against these people who entice chaos, be remembered in History, for in those tales our might will live on!"

The army roared in compliance as they muster their courage and fought with their life hanging in the balance.

Sheren smiled when she saw this and swung her sword.

Slash! One enemy fell to the ground.

Slash! Another head fell.

Slash! Slash! Two heads met the earth.

Every Yellow Scarves Rebel that came forth was cut down without hesitation.

Sheren stole a glance over to her sisters and comrades.

Renfa had refrain herself to defending the soldiers around her, despite her lack of experience with a sword.

Shaoren charged at her opponent with her war hoops and injured the Yellow Scarves Bandits enough for the soldier to finish them off.

Minmei, the small black-haired girl, swiftly parry with multiple opponent at once, despite the fact that the sword was long as she is.

Sai was on her horse firing arrows at the enemy too far to reach in combat.

Ashe wielded a glaive from one of the fallen soldiers and smacked many away, as should be expected of a fighting strategist.

Shishun leapt all over the battle field, hacking and slashing at all opponent that were unfortunate enough to be in her reach.

Meirin and Non issued orders to the soldiers, commanding them expertly on their horses.

But despite all of her comrades' skills, they are beginning to loss their appealing as the battle raged on.

Sheren took what could possibly her eighty-six enemy life. All the while, she began to wonder if it really was the right thing to do, leading everyone here to their certain death. They had been outplayed and outnumbered; at this rate it will take a miracle to get everyone out alive.

---

"Hah!" Renfa cried as she swung down to take her opponent life.

SLASH! The rebel fell, but soon many more took his place.

"There really is no end to them," Renfa frowned powerlessly, "what can I possibly do?"

"No one shall harm Our Lady," several fire up soldiers suddenly declared as they rush pass Renfa and into the crowd of Yellow Turbans wildly.

"Wait you all!" Renfa exclaimed as she rushed forward, "Come back! We can survive if we stayed together!"

"Wait, Renfa-sama!" Ashe called after, "Do not follow them by yourself!"

But it was already too late. By the time Renfa had realized her mistake she was too far from everyone else to return on her own. Her only choice is to follow her mad-stricken soldiers as they continue to charge through the Yellow Scarves' ranks. Soon, they had managed to break clear out of the swarm of the Yellow Scarves, but by then only seven of them remain.

"Are you all insane?" Renfa puffed as she turned around to face the Yellow Scarves that had begun to charge at them, "Was it really worth the effort?"

"It was!" The soldiers replied as they suddenly took their position in front of Renfa, surprising her, "Go, Our Lady, please escape while we hold them off!"

"What! You mean you all charge through just so that you could get me out of there?"

"Yes! Do not worry, the other soldiers are working with getting all the other generals and Our Ladyship out as well!"

"But why?"

"For Our Ladies who had joined us on the front willing to defend and risk their lives with us, we shall give our lives to you all. Go! If you all continue to live, then the people will still have a shimmer of hope!"

"But…"

"Rah!" they all roared as they prepared for death as the Yellow Scarves draw closer.

"NO!" Renfa cried as she rushed forward in front of her soldiers to defend them.

"Our Lady!" The soldier exclaimed in disbelief as the Yellow Scarves jeered preparing to stab Renfa.

Suddenly, without warning, a shadow slammed down in front of her blowing away the jeering Yellow Scarves.

Renfa had covered her eyes with her arms from the surprise. When she removed them, a man crouching in front of her, with his back to her. He seems well-built with tan skin. He had his strange vest tied around his waist and instead wore an open short-sleeves shirt of some kind with a unique tiger head image printed on the back. He was also carrying a large pack full of unusual weapon-like objects, open-finger black and white stripe-patterned gloves, and joint protectors over his knees and elbows. He also has messy yet strangely tamed soft-cherry head hair just loosely pushed back. It was all the detail she could see as she is unaware of what his front looks like.

"Who art thou?" One brave Yellow Scarves member demanded, "Who dares gets in our way?"

The man rose up, showing how he nearly towers over everyone else.

"Taiki Sonoma!" the man spoke in a manly yet causal tone as he brought the arm-length bulgy metal rod to rest on his shoulder "You a**holes don't mind if I crash in, do ya?"

---

"My Lady!" Ashe called to Sheren.

"What is it?" Sheren inquired as she slayed yet another Yellow Scarves Rebel.

"It is Renfa-sama! A bunch of soldiers went crazy and charged into the crowd. Renfa-sama tries to stop them, but she end up following them! I do not know where she gone!"

"What was that!?"

Suddenly, Sheren heard what would seem like multiple cries coming from the outer perimeter of the Yellow Scarves.

"What is happening?" Sheren called to Meirin, who used her position on her horse to spy across the battlefield.

"… …I …I am not quite sure how to explain this," Meirin frowned uncomfortably.

Sheren took another life before responding without letting the Yellow Scarves around her escape her view. "Give it to me straight!"

"… … …Uh, it looks like someone else has joined the fight! And that person is heading towards us, but…"

"But what?" Sheren aim to take another head only to fall short when a bunch of Yellow Scarves began to fall from the sky, some landing on other Yellow Scarves, "What the-!"

"… …The thing is… it seems like every one of the Yellow Scarves are being sent flying in all direction when they get close enough to the person…"

---

Renfa could not believe her eyes as she and the surviving soldiers walked on despite the Yellow Scarves all around her. Under normal circumstances, the Yellow Scarves would have at less nicked them a hundred times by now. There was just one slight problem: the man Taiki Sonoma, as he called himself, was protecting her group, twirling his metal rod round and round sending many flying and a few unfortunate ones plowed into the ground.

"My word," Renfa managed as Taiki smacked a few more that refuse to move out the way, sending them flying, "He is like a hurricane! This Taiki Sonoma…"

"Move it or lose it fellas~!" Taiki whistled, as he slammed his metal bat (and an unfortunate Yellow Scarves) down into the ground, "You a**es make way for her Majesty and her Royal Guards~!"

"I told you already, sir," Renfa huffed in embarrassingly, "I am not the one in charge!"

Taiki suddenly swung at her only to hit the face of Scarves when he tried to attack her. "But you ARE one of them, right?"

"That… is true," Renfa laughed nervously. Taiki had already swung at her many times, but it was only to knock out some Yellow Scarves that had tried to attack her. He had done it so frequency she was almost used to it… key word being "almost".

Renfa could still not understand this man Taiki. He had the body of a harsh fighter with amazing strength, yet his face sat between the fine line of confidence and cockiness with golden eyes which seems to remain gentle no matter what mood or situation he was in. His personality seems to comply with his face rather than his body. In her option, if it was not for that personality of his, it could easily make him quite a heartthrob to a lot girls and an envy of many boys. Taiki seems to be aware of that, yet here he was with a casual smile carved on his face.

"What a strange and unusual man," Renfa frowned before a smile slowly formed on her face as she watch Taiki bashing away even more Yellow Scarves, "…But also somewhat of a reliable man and easy to get along with…"

---

"… …! Sheren!" Meirin called out, "I see Renfa! She is on her way here!"

"She is WHAT?" Sheren cried as she swung her blade at the surrounding Scarves, "Why is she coming back into this chaos?"

"…Well, it seems that person, who was sending the Yellow Scarves flying, is leading her here…"

"… …Huh?"

But before Meirin could repeat herself, a bunch of Scarves flew pass her so fast that they left craters where they landed. Sheren turned around to find Renfa, seven soldiers, and a tall muscular man with strange fashions walking towards her.

"Renfa!"

"Nee-sama!" Renfa greeted, "I am sorry for having you worry!"

"Do not worry, I am just glad that you are fine… … …now," Sheren turn to the grinning man, "… …who is this man?"

"Taiki is the name," the man nodded before swinging his bat to his right, sending the Scarves who was charging at him flying, "Nice to meet ya!"

"Uh, pleasure…"

"Now then," Taiki huffed as he turned around, adjusting his pack as he did, "you leave the rest to me, I'll send these a** wipes flying…"

Sheren gasped, and not because of how confident and crazy he sounded. When Taiki adjusted his pack, Sheren saw for a few seconds what was printed on the back of his shirt. It was unique illustration of a Tiger's head, the same one she had saw in her dream…

---

"Batter up," Taiki smirked at the Yellow thugs in front of him, palming his metal bat several times, "Who's first?"

The thugs hesitated for a moment before three of them charge forward, slashing down towards his head. Taiki took one huge step forward, causing the blades to miss. The movement caught the thugs by surprise as their forearms slammed painfully on Taiki's shoulders, causing them to release their weapons instinctively in pain. Taiki then took another step forward, but the force of his advance sent the thugs fly back a few feet onto their behinds.

"Next~," Taiki smirked.

More began to charge forward and this time Taiki had to use his metal bat. They charged in on all sides, in every possible direction and angle, but Taiki smacked them all away, swinging his arms tirelessly as he twirled his metal bat in his hand. Some of the luckier ones merely got slammed away when their more unfortunate allies got smack to them. The unluckiest were impaled deep into the ground, unable to move and barely able to breath.

"Come on~," Taiki whined, "at least make this a challenge for me~!"

A large thug suddenly ran at him and gave him a punched in the face. When Taiki stagger, the thug swung his arm upward pushing him a meter back.

But as he recovered, instead of getting mad, Taiki huff a chuckle and smile at the thug, confusing many around him. "Now THAT'S…more like it!"

Taiki suddenly reach back into his pack and pulled out one of the baseball. He threw it up into the air and with all of his might swung his bat at the descending ball. It rocketed toward the large thug with tremendous speed and force. It collided with the thug and although it did not have the capability to go right through him, its momentum caused the thug to go flying with ball. As the thug was pushed back, many other which were not quick enough to move out of the way was taken along as well.

---

The rest of the Yellow Scarves were taken aback by the show of brute force. And so were the Son Sisters and their comrades. By now, all of Sheren's soldiers and generals have notices the arrival of this new warrior.

"Wow!" Shaoren exclaimed when she had noticed, "Where did he come from?"

"I do not know," Non managed, being the only one in ear-shot of Shaoren's exclamation, "I have honestly never seen him before…"

"…He is very capable," Shishun muttered, narrowing her eyes as she watch the newcomer, "he does not seem to have a form, but he is skill enough to make do without one…"

"Meirin-dono!" Sai called as she came over to the stun Meirin, "who is that man fighting the Yellow Scarves?"

"… …I, honestly, do not know," Meirin managed.

"But he is on our side," Renfa spoke up without turning to Sai, "He rescued me and my loyal troops…"

"Is that so?" Ashe, who came over with Sai, pondered as she glared at the seven soldiers but did nothing, "What do you think My Lady? … …? My Lady?"

Sheren didn't respond as she continues to gaze wondrous at the man that had suddenly appeared before her as he fights off the Scarves around him single-handedly.

---

"A hit~!" Taiki smirked as he threw yet another baseball into the air and …BAM! …smashed it with his metal bat as it descended, "And~ Homerun!"

The baseball sent at least twenty bandits flying as on its course through the Yellow Scarves.

"A hit~! And~ Homerun!" BAM! "A hit~! And~ Homerun!" BAM! "A hit~! And~ Homerun!" BAM!

With every baseball sent flying by Taiki's bat, many more Yellow Scarves went flying into the air, cutting clear through their ranks. These tears in the Yellow Scarves' ranks allow many of the red armor soldiers who managed to survive long enough to retreat back to the main force behind Taiki. By the time Taiki sent his third baseball, the Yellow Scarves would flinch as he threw a ball into the air and run in fear when it began to descend.

---

"Curse that man!" One of the veterans of the Yellow Scarves muttered in anger at Taiki's display of might, "We could have killed this pathetic army already if he had not shown up!"

"What do we do?" one of the new member wailed as he watch many others like him flying through the air, "Many of us joined because the Tiger of Kou-Tou died, but this guy is just as fearsome!"

"Shut up you! Let me think! Hmm~! If we are able to take out that leader, we might still have a chance…"

"Leave it to me then sir!" a fellow veteran smirked, "I shall go grab one of fallen soldier's armor and merge in…"

"No, I shall do it! There can be no mistake! We got to get this right or all of our work here is for not!"

---

Taiki sent two more baseballs before he suddenly huff a sigh and place the metal bat into his pack, before drawing out two hockey sticks and a hockey mask with a tiger design on it.

"Well~ now," Taiki smirked as he put on the hockey mask, "I'd play with my metal bat long enough. Let's now play a little hockey~!"

The Yellow Scarves tilted their head in confusion, but tense since the eerie mask only made Taiki even more terrifying.

"Here I come~!" Taiki called before sprinting toward the mob in front of him at blistering pace, a hockey stick in each hand, "Take THIS!"

WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!

Twenty people went flying as he swung his hockey sticks round and round.

"And some of THESE!"

WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!

This time, forty people went flying.

Taken aback by this sudden new twist, many began to turn tails and ran as Taiki took out anyone stupid enough to stay.

---

"He is now using a different weapon!" Shishun noted in surprise, "He must be some kind of Weapon Expert Fighter…"

By now, the Yellow Scarves have forgotten about Sheren's Chou-Sa Army and had turned their attention fully on the newcomer. As such, soldiers lost among the battle field began to return one after another. The Army was now only about Eight Hundred strong. The Yellow Scarves? They still have roughly Two Thousand, less than half of what they had started, with the bulk being taken out by the newcomer. And their numbers were rapidly decreasing.

"He does not seem even a bit tired," Sai noted as well.

"He is so COOL~!" Non exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration, "Would it be nice if he was on our side for real~?"

"It would certainly be most beneficial," Ashe mused.

"Mm~!" Shaoren puffed her cheek, "He is not so special! Mother is ten times what that man is!"

"Of course, Shaoren," Renfa gave a small smile, "no one can best Mother in our eyes. Still…"

Sheren remained silent as she continues to watch with everyone. Unfortunately, since everyone was paying so much attention to the spectacle, no one notice as one of the soldiers began to slowly creep up to Sheren, a dagger ready in his hand.

---

Taiki continue to send one Yellow Scarves flying after another when his sense, or intuition, kicked in. It was tingling like crazy, in his option, telling him that something was going on back over where he had left the girls and the red armor army.

He took a glance to see that every one of those people was staring at him… except for one ominous guy who was walking closer to the girl called "Sheren". Taiki didn't like the aura coming off that guy, and when his intuition tells him that something was wrong it was usually right. But he was too far away to do anything.

Thinking fast, Taiki suddenly jab at a Yellow Scarves in the stomach, causing the guy to double over in pain. Not wasting time, he quickly swung his hockey sticks around him, causing the rest of the Yellow Scarves flinched back or run away before he drop the hockey sticks skillfully back into the pack and pulled out a metal golf club. Positioning himself and the golf club at the still double-over Yellow Scarves, he took aim, pulled the golf club back, and…

"Fort~~~~!" KABAM! Swung at the poor guy's head, sending him flying…straight towards Sheren.

---

Seeing the oncoming projectiles, Sheren dove out of the way as she watch the Scarves flew pass her… and collided with a soldier behind her, who had ready his dagger ready to strike.

"What the-?" Sheren managed as she saw both of them fall to the ground.

"What the hell was that?" One of the soldiers wondered as he and many either help Sheren up or surround the two dazed people.

"Why did that guy send this ruffian towards Our Lady?" Another wondered.

"I have no idea-wait, look! The guy that got knocked out! He is a member of the Yellow Scarves!"

"What! Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure! Look, the helmet came off! He is wearing a yellow turban over his head!"

"That is true! Hey, I recognize him! He is one of the leaders of the rebels!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! I saw him shouting commands to those other Yellow Scarves!"

"He must have snuck in among our ranks by wearing one of our fallen comrades' armor to get close to Our Lady!"

"And that man must have known somehow so he stopped him!"

Sheren widen her eyes in realization as she glance back at her rescue who had by now reengage the Yellow Scarves.

---

"Keep lining yourselves up!" Taiki declared as he now use his cricket bat and swatted every bandits that got in range, "I'll just keep bring you piece of s*its down!"

"H-He is a monster!" A bandit cried out in horror.

"He is like a one-man-army!" Another managed.

"Our swords and weapons snap with the swing of his metal rod!"

"Our arrows knocked aside as if they were mere flies!"

"Our forces grow smaller with each of his mighty swings!"

"He is like some God of War! Run for your lives!"

"The Yellow Scarves, the Kan Dynasty, I do not care anymore! I am not facing him for either of them!"

"Our Leader had fallen already; there is no reason for me to be here!"

These were the words of the bandits as they began to run for their lives. They had seen enough of Taiki to last a lifetime. They all began to bolt in all direction.

"Hey~!" Taiki called after them, "Don't leave yet! … …Aw~, no more? Oh well…"

Taiki placed his cricket bat back into his pack as he watch the bandits scurry off. Once the battlefield was clear, Taiki glanced around. All over the ground were bodies of soldiers, mostly yellow bandits and a handful of red armor soldiers. The bulk of the bandits lying on the ground were just unconscious, having Taiki knocked them out before. Smiling at this, since he was glad that so far he had not yet killed anyone, he then turn towards the red army and slowly began to walk towards them.

The red soldiers flinched at this as some of them ready their weapons to prepare themselves. Sai gently tested her bow, ready to draw, aim, and fire if it was necessary. Even Non, who is the most airhead, began to tremble I fear.

Taiki was walking straight towards where Sheren and her sisters had gathered. Shaoren balled her fists, Renfa carefully watch Taiki's every movement, and Sheren stood tall as the man, who was taller than she was by at least a head, draw closer.

"Yo~! Ya'll!" Taiki casually greeted, despite the tenseness of the red armor soldiers, "Are you all doing fine?"

"Huh?" Sheren did a double take, "Oh yes! We are all fine…"

"That's good~," Taiki stop a good meter in front of the sisters, "See? I told ya that I could take care of them, didn't I?"

"Uh, yes…?"

"Thou thither!" Meirin suddenly voiced in anger, "How dare thou speak to Our Lady with such ill-manner!"

"Whoa!" Taiki jumped a bit from Meirin's harsh retort, "No need to get angry~! I didn't know I had to be proper while speaking to her…"

"Thou art to refer to Our Lady as 'Our Ladyship', understand~?"

"What~? Do I have to~?"

"YES!"

"Uh, Meirin," Sheren finally managed, recovering from the strange battle of words. It was still hard for her to believe that this man who fought so fearlessly towards the Yellow Scarves not too long ago was now verbally arguing with her best friends like a small child. "Uh, could you leave this to me?"

"But Sheren-!"

"Hey~!" Taiki whined, "why do you get to call her in such a casual way? 'Sheren', huh? Nice name, weird but nice…"

"…! Thy CUR! Thou dare call Sheren, Our Ladyship, by her True Name?"

"… [Key Samba]? That's not my name, Meirin-chan. My name is-…"

---

(Note from Normama: What Meirin stated, 'Thy Cur' was in Japanese, thus Taiki repeated the word by sound which sound like [Key Samba])

---

"What the-? How dare thou, using MY True Name!"

"Okay, okay! Sheesh, who put bees in your underwear…"

"…! CURSE THOU~~!"

"Meirin!" Sheren raised her voice, "Cease your words immediately!"

"…! … … Yes, My Lady…"

"Hey~! No need to yell at her," Taiki mumbled in worry.

"…I do not need thy sympathy-…"

"Meirin!" Sheren huffed, silencing her, before turning to Taiki with a bow, "Anyhow, I thank you brave warrior-…"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold the phone!" Taiki panicked as he halted Sheren's bow, "There is no need to bow!"

"-Had it not been for you, I myself and my loyal and brave army would have died here today. Even more so, you have helped us cripple the forces of the Yellow Scarves in the area. Thank you again…"

"Sister did not even miss a beat…" Shaoren sweat dropped.

"Ah~, it was nothing special," Taiki laughed as he scratched the back of head bashfully, "I would have done it for anyone…"

"H-He did not even notice?" Shaoren sweat dropped even more, "Or is it he does not even care?"

"Anyway, I'm glad I managed to help you all. Take care now…"

"…? Wait a minute!" Sheren halted as Taiki turn to leave, "Are you just going to leave just like that?"

"Yeah, I'm done here, aren't I?"

"But you fought so valiantly, did you not seek some sort of reward?"

"Reward?" Taiki gave Sheren a dumbfound expression, "You mean you expect people only to help if there was a reward involve?"

Sheren blinked at this. "Uh, I suppose you are correct…"

"Glad you understand…well then I'll be off-…"

"But nevertheless, I would like to show how much I am grateful for your aid, would you please come with us back to the palace so that you may join us for our victory celebration today…"

"Huh?"

"Sheren!" Meirin exclaimed before she comically pulled Sheren aside, "What are you doing?"

"I am inviting the man back to the palace," Sheren stated plainly, "what else I could be doing?"

"But…"

"Meirin-chan~…"

"…! Ooh~! Sheren, please do not call me like THAT!"

"Can you please go along with it? Just for now, Meirin-chan~?"

"…! … … …Ooh~, alright~!"

"Thank you," Sheren chuckled at Meirin's pouting before turning back to Taiki, "So Warrior-san, would you mind coming with us?"

Taiki frown in thought as he cupped his chin. After a minute, Taiki nodded.

"Well, my Mom before she passed away had always told me not to refuse the request of a proper Lady…" he reasoned…GROWL~! …before placing a hand on his growling stomach, "and now that I think about it, I fought on an empty stomach. I'm sure that a victory party would have some food. Why not?"

"The man sure likes to speak his mind, does he not?" Shaoren sweat dropped.

"I am sorry about having to resurface your memories of your decease mother," Sheren bowed apologetically.

"Hey, hey!" Taiki panicked again, "Like I said, there's no need to bow…"

"Ahem," Ashe suddenly coughed, catching everyone's attention, "Although I admire the man's attempt to be a gentlemen, may I remind Our Ladyship that we have yet to discover the identity of our savior?"

"Oh right~," Taiki thumped his palm, "I didn't get to say my name properly yet. Okay, before anything else happens, my name is Taiki Sonoma. You can simply call me Taiki…"

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Sheren nodded, "My name Saku, my family name is Son, and my common name is Hakufu…"

"Saku? I thought your name was 'Sheren', was I wrong?"

"Actually, it is. Allow me to restate my introduction. My Full Name is Son-Saku, my common name is Hakufu, but my true name is Sheren."

"Ah, I get it. So you live with an alias-wait, what? Did you just say your name is 'Son-Saku'?"

"…? Why yes I did. Is there something wrong?"

"Ah no, it's just that I have heard of someone with that name, only he lived 1800 years ago. The person was known in history as the 'Little Conqueror of Kou-Tou', so I was surprise you are using that name…"

"… … …? Oh, so you have heard of me…"

"Huh?"

"I am unsure what to make about what you have said about '1800 years ago', but I am the one and only Little Conqueror of Kou-Tou, Son-Saku Hakufu…"

"… … …EH~~~~!? SERIOUSLY!?" Taiki exclaimed so loudly that everyone in the immediate area felt a gust of wind pass them. Some of the people closer had to cover their ears in an attempt to muffle out the loud exclamation.

"Uh, is something the matter?"

Taiki was currently at a loss for words, gawking on the spot. He was standing in front of a very important figure in history, the Era of the Three Kingdoms to be exact. Son-Saku is the eldest son of Son-Ken Bundai, the Tiger of Kou-Tou, who after his father's death took over and began leading one successful campaign after another. He eventually conquered a good portion of the southern east side of the continent before handing down the mantle to his younger brother Son-Ken on his death bed. It was because of his string of conquest that Son-Saku became later known as the Little Conqueror.

"Uh, Sonoma-san?"

"Huh?" Taiki replied dumbly before he fully came back to reality, "Oh! Sorry about that. I'm just quite shock…"

"Upon finding out my identity?"

"Yeah~, and the fact that…you're not exactly what I expected…"

"…?" Technically speaking, Son-Saku is accurately a guy but here Taiki is standing in front of the supposed Son-Saku who is a female. Of course, being oblivious to any of this, all Sheren could do is tilt her head in confusion.

"What exactly thou art implying about Our Ladyship?" Meirin wondered suspiciously.

"… …Hmm~," Taiki cupped his chin and narrow his eyes at Meirin, looking at her from top to bottom.

"W-What is it?" Meirin asked nervously, unconsciously covering her sensitive parts, "What art thou looking at?"

"… … … …Oh!" Taiki thumped his palm, "You wouldn't happen to be Shuu-Yu Koukin, would you?"

Meirin did a double take at being recognized. "Uh, yes. My full name is Shuu-Yu; my common name is Koukin…"

"And her true name is Meirin…" Sheren chimed in.

"Sheren! You cannot tell him that! A true name can only be given to another person if they truly trust them. Having a stranger call you by your true name is a disgrace!"

"Oh, I see!" Taiki thumped his palm before bowing apologetically to Sheren and Meirin, "I'm sorry if I had offended you two. I didn't know about that!"

"Meirin, look what you did," Sheren sighed, "Our savior feels as if he is guilty of something…"

Meirin frown but kept quiet.

"Ahem, uh there is no need to apologize, Sonoma-san. Those who do not know hold no crime…"

"Okay," Taiki straighten up, "but…could you do me a favor?"

"…? Yes of course…"

"Like I said before, you can just call me Taiki. That goes for everyone else here as well. 'Sonoma-san' sounds too distant for my taste…"

"… …Very well then," Son-Saku nodded before turning to everyone else, "Everyone, let us return with our new friend…"

---

An hour later, Taiki found himself seating next to Sheren in a very old fashion party. Despite the feudal-like party, Taiki was enjoying himself for the most part. The food was delicious and he was already on his second helping. Everyone was also having a good time, even the soldiers, which gave Taiki time to get work mentally.

Already he has been introduced to the rest of Sheren's loyal friends and family members. With each one he would try his best at determining what kind of person they are, what to watch out for or how to act around each of them. This is due to his, as he would like to call, self-preservation or "judging" instinct. It is with this kind of before-hand judgment that allows him to befriend some decent people, even if it were only a handful.

With Sheren, he determined that although she seems to be someone that he can get along with he shouldn't get extremely friendly with just yet. This is because he suspects that she could have an alternative motive for inviting him here.

Meirin is not only Sheren's faithful strategist but also her closest friend. She is extremely loyal to Sheren and for some reason seems very suspicious of him. All of Taiki's instincts in judging people told him that she is someone he could be friendly with but should be wary of as well.

Turns out Sheren's timid sister Renfa is really Son-Ken Chuubou, the future ruler of Son-Go and Sheren youngest and energetic sister Shaoren is Son-Shoukou, the Bow-Waist Beauty of the Son Family. These two's characteristics were almost exactly like how he had pictured their personally to be like. Renfa has that self-doubtful personality her historical counterpart has, possibly due to the zealous atmosphere that her sister has that always seem to overshadow hers. Shaoren, like her historical character, is overly open-minded and likes to speak her thoughts. Both of them seem like the type of people that he can easily get along with.

The always-watchful Shishun was actually Kan-Nei Kouha. Historically speaking, Kan-Nei is supposed to be an ex-pirate who is rash and loud but according to what he heard Shishun is the Royal Guard of Son Clan who is quiet and wise. Although she is always glaring, Taiki's instinct told him that she is someone he can rely on the battlefield.

The always cheerful Non is actually Riku-Son Hakugen, the famous strategist of Son-Go in the not too distant future. Non is Meirin's disciple in the art of war tactics, but Taiki believes she would make a great librarian instead. Taiki's instincts told him that it was probably best not to get involve with her too much, especially when she is around books. He never really felt quite right when he's around obsessive bookworms anyhow.

When he arrived at the palace, he was introduced to Dai-Kyou and Shou-Kyou, the twin "beauty" of Kou-Tou. Although young, they are both "married" to Sheren and Meirin. Dai-Kyou seems timid and submissive but Taiki's intuition told him that she is hiding her demanding personality. Her younger sister Shou-Kyou is nearly the exact opposite, while she seems aggressive and sharp; Taiki concluded that she was actually very sensitive and immature. Taiki determined that he could have some problems talking to either of them.

The little girl with the sword that is long as she is tall is Shuu-Tai Youhei, with Minmei being her true name. An excellent swordswoman, Taiki really didn't know what to say when Minmei became distracted by cat as they went to the palace. His intuition however told him that she is someone else he will have no problem getting along with or entrusting his back to.

The eldest of the girls Sai is actually Kou-Gai Koufuku, a general who in history survive to serve three generation of the Son Family. Sai seems to be sensitive about being older than the other girls but other than that she was someone who Taiki seems to be able to talk to on equal term with.

The last one Ashe is Ryo-Mou Shimei. Despite being historically speaking a famous and brilliant general, Ashe is in reality is clumsy and a bookworm. She was also train by Kan-Nei before taken officially under Meirin's wing, which is opposed to what she was supposed to be in history. Taiki's intuition told him that meetings with her in the future could become uncomfortable.

As Taiki analyzed them, he couldn't help but wonder what was going on. According to what everyone been telling him, somehow he had landed smack in the era a little before the era of the Three Kingdoms. The Yellow Scarves (who he had unknowingly engaged before) had begun their raise to power during this time, with the Imperial Court doing very little about it.

But what struck him the most was when he was inform that Son-Ken Bundai, the Tiger of Kou-Tou, had died in battle not too long ago. The news was shocking to him, not because Son-Ken Bundai was his favorite Three Kingdom character, but was the fact that she had died earlier than she was supposed to. Historically Son-Ken Bundai was supposed to live up to the point when he was battle against the forces of Ryuu-Pyou Kyou-Sei at Kei-Shou, where she should have met her true end.

"History sure has taken a weird turn of events," Taiki muttered to himself. "Why is everything so different? Why are all the members of Son-Go chicks and Son-Ken Bundai already kicked the bucket? Ah~~! I'm not good with this brain work…"

"Are you okay, Taiki-dono?" Renfa wondered, being the only one to notice frustrations as she came over.

"Huh-? Oh, yeah! I'm good, just peachy…"

"But you look like you were in pain…"

"Huh? Ah, don't worry about it. It happens whenever I do something I'm not used to."

Renfa tilted her head in confusion, but decided not to further the question. "…Thank you…"

"Huh? Where did that come from?"

"Uh, sorry! I was talking about when we first met…back during the battle?"

"Huh… … …OH~! That!"

"That is right; I came to personally thank you…"

"Ah no need, like I said I would have done it for anyone…"

"…Even if it was the Yellow Scarves?"

"Hmm… only if they were being hunted down mercilessly likes what nearly happen to you guys…"

"I see…"

"Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Not at all, I just cannot help but think that you are extremely kind as to be willing to help anyone out…"

Taiki laughed as he took another sip from his cup. "If it were possible, I would like to help absolutely everyone…but realistically speaking life is cruel, isn't it?"

"… …Indeed…"

---

"People of Chou-Sa City, proud citizen of Kou-Tou," Sheren called, standing up from where she had sat, catching everyone's attention, "We are here today to celebrate our victory over Yellow Scarves under impossible odds. We have loss many comrades but that shall serve to make us stronger in body and spirit. We live today so that those who passed on will not be forgotten and those who cannot fight can live to create a brighter future!"

Everyone either cheered and/or applaud at Sheren's speech.

"Today, we owe our survival to a single man who single-handedly driven away the Yellow Scarves. His might on the battlefield you all yourself have witnessed. Please give a hand to the mighty Taiki Sonoma!"

"Eh?" Taiki did a double take as everyone cheered and applaud for him, "Uh, you're welcome?"

Sheren giggled as she came over to where Taiki sat. "There is no need for you to be so humble, Taiki-kun. Your action today had allowed us to cheat death. Your skills in battle are unrivaled by any General found here in Kou-Tou…"

"Flattery won't get you anywhere, Son-Saku…"

"Is that so? And here I was about to invite you…"

"Invite me?"

"Nee-sama," Renfa wondered, "What do you mean?"

"I was thinking of asking him to join us…as a General of course…" Sheren simply stated.

"… …EH~!?"

The room quickly got noisy with whispers and gossip.

"Sheren!" Meirin came over in a flash, "What are thinking?"

"Now that is a really silly question, Meirin," Sheren chuckled, "I just told everyone what I was thinking…"

"That is NOT what I am talking about! Why are you suddenly and personally asking a traveler with no clear background to join our army, as well as ranking him a General!"

"I will rank him no less than a General after that outstanding display of skill, courage and prowess on the battlefield. He has also saved our lives and my mine in particular…"

"T-That may be true but…"

"Uh," Taiki called out, "Don't I get a say in this?"

"Ah, yes!" Sheren chimed, "I would most certainly appreciate your option on the matter that concerns you, Taiki-kun…"

"Uh…I appreciate you admiring me and all to the point that you want me to join your team and all, but to be blunt I got places to go and things to get straighten out so…"

"Oh…" Sheren suddenly and briefly frown before quickly forcing on a smile, "well then, I apologize for my rude and inappropriate suggestion then…"

"Ah, don't worry about too much. You fed me after all…"

"I sure did indeed!" Sheren laughed as well almost every other people in the room.

As the party continues, however, none notice the concern looks on the Generals and younger Son Sisters' face.

---

An hour later and party had finally died down. Most of the soldiers and officials had return to their homes by then. On Sheren's insistence, Taiki decided to stay a night in the palace before heading off in the morning.

"Man," Taiki awed, causally observing his surrounding, "this place is huge! I could get lost if I'm not careful…"

"You can indeed," Sai chuckled, "it makes it harder for assassins too, so there are some benefits…"

"I suppose you're right…"

Sai has been chosen to lead Taiki to his staying quarter for the night. Meirin had also specifically told her not to let her guard down around him or even interact with him if possible. But Sai didn't mind, or to be more accurate she has hardly any reason to be warily of the man.

The man may look like a veteran in fighting, but he act too innocent to be taken seriously as a threat. He is in description a gentle person, with his own ideas of righteousness and is a person that she can easily get along with. In fact, for Sai in particular, it is a feeling that is very nostalgic to her.

"Well, here we are," Sai proclaimed as she halted in front of a door, "this shall be your sleeping quarters for your stay here. If you find anything that discomforts you please feel free to call a servant to assist you…"

"Okay, thanks Sai," Taiki nodded, "I can call you 'Sai', right?"

"I do not mind. Anyway, have a pleasant rest, Taiki," Sai bow respectably before turning to leave.

"… …Uh, hey Sai!"

"Hmm?" Sai stopped and turn back to Taiki, "Is there something wrong?"

"Uh no, not really. But there's been something that has been bugging me for a while and I was wondering if you can answer it…though it may seem personal to you…"

"Very well, if I can answer I shall…"

"Right," Taiki nodded in reassurance before his face went serious, "Sai, I was wondering what had happen Son-Ken Bundai…"

Sai froze, catching Taiki's attention.

"Sorry, I knew it; it wasn't something I should ask…"

"… … …Uh, no. Not at all. Uh, is there a reason why you are interested?"

"Well, in a way, I kind of did know her. Well actually I heard a lot about her. You know the Tiger of Kou-Tou, the Head of the Son Family? I was wondering how such a great figure could have died. If she was here, the battle against the Yellow Scarves would have been easy…"

"… … …Yes, it would…"

"So what did happen to her? Or at the very least could you tell me what she was like?"

Sai frown in depression and averted her eyes downward. Taiki couldn't help but feel as if he had asked something inappropriate again. But before Taiki could say anything Sai began to speak.

"… …Will you really listen to this?" Sai asked.

"…I honestly," Taiki began, "wholeheartedly wish to know as much as I can from you…"

Sai stared into Taiki's eyes before giving a soft sigh. "Lady Son-Ken Bundai was a magnificent person. She was a warrior who feared everything and nothing all at the same time. She is a wise leader and a foolish leader, a straightforward person and a baffling person. She is extremely loyal to her duty and to her heart. But most of all, she… … …was my closest and dearest friend both on the battlefield and in life…"

By now, Sai had begun to stare off into the distant, reminiscing.

"I have known Lady Bundai ever since she and I first met in our youth. She was a very unusual person, always smiling brightly and confidently. She and I had grown up as warriors, hunting down bandits and pirates. It was from these tasks that Lady Bundai made her first mark in the world, gaining fame and admirers wherever she went. She even became known as the 'Tiger of Kou-Tou', the only title she seem to be proud of out of all the other she had…"

"I'll bet," Taiki chuckled knowing that in every game he had played Son-Ken Bandai had always referred himself as a Tiger.

"Lady Bundai never was the type to seek for glory or power though. To her, being loyal is enough. Unfortunately, it would seems that she had entered into existence much too late. The Imperial Court had been monopolized by those corrupted eunuchs and had plagued the land with suffering. Because she was so loyal to the Royal Family of Kan, Lady Bundai received many criticisms and bad rumor every time she does work for the Imperial Court. Even I was a little baffle why Lady Bundai would even listen to those Eunuchs. Even after all these years, I could never fully understand her…"

Sai chuckled to herself; Taiki bet that she had probably remember all the times she had try to understand the Tiger of Kou-Tou only to epically fail.

"Well, eventually all of that lead to her demise I guess. Once again, she was sent on a mission assigned by the Imperial Court. She was to subdue one of the rebellions that had stirred not too far north of Kou-Tou that was causing too much trouble for them. Naturally, Lady Bundai agreed. So once again both Lady Bundai and I found ourselves on the battlefield, this time Sheren-sama also participates…"

"Did she really?" Taiki raised an eyebrow in interest.

"Yes, even then she was a wild fighter. But sadly, even though at first we were doing well, it was Sheren-sama who caused the tragedy…"

Sai bit her lower lip in agony as she lower gaze. Even Taiki could tell that she must have witness the event unfolded. "How did it happen?"

"… …Sheren-sama, a skill fighter she may be and still is, had never been one to pay attention to what is behind her. Lady Bundai notice a second late and rush to protect Sheren-sama from an ambush set by the enemy but…"

Sai couldn't continue for a moment as she held her own trembling body.

"S-She did not die immediately, surprisingly, she kept on fighting even with those critical wounds. But the horrible injures were enough to waver her usual prowess so she was injured even more afterwards. Thankfully Meirin-chan, our primary strategist at the time, managed to earn us a quick victory afterwards. But the damage was done by then, Lady Bundai was beyond recovery by then. She hung on for two days before passing away…"

"I see," Taiki nodded, "even in her final moments she fought…"

"Yes… … …though it apparently was a battle she lost in. Her first and final lose… … … … …Stupid…"

"Huh?" Taiki was taken back for a moment before noticing that tears had begun to fall from her eyes.

"Of all the battle you could have loss in you choose to loss in that one," Sai began to wail to herself, "You were always so strong, so brave, but all that did not do a thing when it really counted! Stupid…"

Taiki couldn't help but frown in sympathy. After all he knows all too well what it was like to lose someone very close. But he wasn't the type to let people just suffer like that, especially when he knew how to help.

"Sai," Taiki began, "do you believe in heaven?"

"…! Eh?" Sai sounded in utter confusion, "Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"

"Well, do you?"

"… …Yes, I do…"

"Then you shouldn't be crying for her then. I can't really guarantee it but I bet Lady Bundai is up there right now, watching and hoping to see the smiling faces of the people she work so hard for. She would expect those people, like you, to smile brightly when remembering her not cry in agony for her. She'll probably get upset and scream 'what, the HECK, are you doing? Sure I am dead but there is no reason to cry for MY sake! It is making me feel as if I died for NOTHING!' or something like that, right?"

Sai blinked a couple of times before she began to giggle to herself. That giggle grew into a soft chuckle before finally turning into a loud chore of laughter.

"Yes," Sai managed after she calmed down, wiping away her tears that had form from her laughter, "that is EXACTLY what Lady Bundai would have said to me if she was standing here right now. Hah~, how could you mimic her so well?"

"Uh," Taiki scratched his head in embarrassment, "actually, it was just something I would have said, that's all…"

"…Hmm~?"

"W-What? Is there something on my face?"

"No, not at all. It is just that, now that I think about, the more I look at you the more of Lady Bundai I see in you…"

"Really? I'm flatter; I've always been a fan of Son-Ken Bundai…"

"Are you now? Ha, that is funny…" Sai smiled before whispering quietly, "…if only you have arrived sooner, I believe Lady Bundai and he would have gotten along just fine…"

"Hmm? Did you say something?"

"Uh, no! Not at all! Anyway, have a nice rest Taiki…"

"Yeah, you too…"

With one more bow, Sai left as Taiki enter his room.

---

"There you are, Sai-dono," Meirin huffed as soon as Sai enter the courtroom, "you took so long that I fear the man may have done something to you…"

Sai chuckled to herself as she walked further into the courtroom, noticing as she did that all of her comrades were present as well from the twin Shou-Kyou and Dai-Kyou to the bottle-up Renfa.

"Sorry Meirin-chan," Sai replied, "I just had a small holdup…and I do not think that he is the type of man to try to do anything unsightly, mind you…"

"Is that so?" Sheren chuckled, "I am glad that I am not the only one then…"

Meirin gave a long sigh before speaking again. "Sai-dono, please tell me that the holdup was not about talking with that man…"

"Uh…" Sai sweat dropped. Busted.

"Sai-dono! I told you not to associate with him!"

"It not like it is a bad thing if I associate with the man just a little bit," Sai sighed, "Especially since after talking with him I could now see that we do not need to be suspicious of him…"

"What is that suppose to-…"

"What did you discover, Sai-dono?" Sheren wondered, interrupting Meirin.

"Hmm, how to explain it?" Sai cupped her chin for a moment, "Well, when I talk to him it is almost like…"

"Like?"

"… … …Like talking to Lady Bundai-sama again…"

Everyone flinched and began to stare at each other in confusion. Sheren on the other hand sighed to herself and fell back into her chair.

"I see," Sheren sighed, "Then it would be even more of a pity when he leaves…"

"More of a pity?" Non wondered, "Why would it be more of a pity?"

"You really wanted him to stay?" Meirin widen her eyes in disbelief.

"That," Sheren sighed in dejection, "And to make him a General of the Kou-Tou army…"

"Why? Why are you so insistent on having that man here with us?"

"…Mm, do remember what we were talking about in the morning?"

"Huh? What is this all of a sudden?"

"It was about that prophecy dream you had, right Sheren-onee-sama?" Shaoren wondered.

"The same one," Sheren nodded, "And according to the Oracle's translation, my guardian against the evil that wishes to harm me was a Messenger from Heaven embedded with the soul of the Moon Healing Tiger Sovereign…"

"…Or so the old man says, so what?"

Sheren hesitated for a moment before she continued. "I believe Taiki is the one that the Prophecy foretold…"

"… …EHH~?" Everyone exclaimed.

"Nee-sama," Renfa began, "Are you sure about this?"

"I am…" Sheren smiled, "I have no doubt about it…"

"That is… …Impossible!" Meirin suddenly huffed, "Sheren, are you telling me that ill-manner, casual, and simpleton excuse of a man is your candidate for the Messenger from Heaven we seek?"

"Oh my! Are you not that fond of him, Meirin?"

"That is not the point right now…"

"Yes, to answer your question Meirin, I do believe so…"

"What makes you say that?" Non wondered, "I mean, sure I can bear witness to his strength and might on the battlefield. I can share the feeling that he is a kind, if not surprisingly pure, man…"

"When you used the word 'surprisingly pure'," Shaoren mumbled, "it kind of downgrades the purpose of the word…"

"And I can also vouch for his bravery," Non carry on, "but still I do not see the reason to view him as a candidate for a Heavenly Messenger…"

"True," Ashe readjusted her monocle, "under just those reasoning, that is not enough to make him a likely candidate, let alone making him the actual Heavenly Messenger…"

"…But," Sai thought to herself out loud, "I can vouch for his ability to heal us…"

"Huh?"

"What are you implying Sai-dono?" Meirin wondered.

Sai hesitated before she answered. "I had spoken to him…about Lady Bundai-sama…"

"You spoke about WHAT?" Everyone frozen once again when Sai mention Son-Ken Bundai.

"May I finish? … … … …Thank you. Anyhow…" Sai told everyone how Taiki out of curiosity had wondered about their former Ladyship, how she had told him everything she knew about Lady Bundai, how she had let the sorrow of Lady Bundai overcome her, and how Taiki responded. "…Ever since I heard his logic, I felt myself accepting the pain more than ever now. True his words could not erase it, but he did allow me to realize that it now a part of me…"

"So in a sense," Ashe pondered, "you believe he had the power to allow us to overcome our negative emotion?"

"I believe so, even if it is just me he done to so far…"

"But still," Meirin huffed, "It cannot be enough to point him out as the Messenger from Heaven…"

"But the mark on the back of his outfit can…" Sheren suddenly mentioned.

"… …Huh?"

"Back on the battlefield, when I first met Taiki, I caught a glimpse of a design on his outfit's back. After some thinking, I have no doubt about it. The design on the outfit was a match to the figure I saw in my dream…"

"… …Does my Ladyship mean," Shishun began slowly, "the unusual tiger head you had vision in your dream had been replicated on that man's outfit?"

"That is correct…"

"It must be a coincidence!" Meirin huffed, "Or even more so, it is probably a plot thought up by an assassination attempt…"

"An assassination attempt?" Renfa wondered.

"That is right! There are hundreds of cases in past Dynasty where rebels fool the Lords or Ladies with something to comfort them, allowing them to approach, and then carry out the assassination! The Oracle must be in co-conspiracy one such and-…"

"Wow, a moment please, Meirin-dono," Minmei suddenly voice, "such a speculation is reasonable in most cases, but I do not believe it can be used in this situation!"

"I beg your pardon?"

"The Oracle is a well-respected sage and is famous throughout the continent. Plus he travels. I do not believe he has any reason to help rebels in a campaign against Sheren-sama…"

"That…is true…"

"And a while back in the battle, he had stopped an assassination attempt on Sheren-sama by a Yellow Scarves. If his objective is kill Sheren-sama, than would it not be easier to let the Yellow Scarves have their way…"

"…Yes, but…"

"We have also witness his prowess on the battlefield already. Can you honestly say that such a man-…no, warrior, would be threaten by any ONE of us if his goal is to assassinate Sheren-sama?"

Meirin remain silent this time.

"As a warrior myself, it is humiliating to say so but even with our combine might I would vouch that we would not be able to protect Sheren-sama. He must also be aware of this and so must the rebel party if they truly exist in his shadows. With his prowess, there would be no need to have such a complicated plan such as the one Meirin-dono mention…"

Sheren nodded. "I concur with Minmei-chan. … … …But it does not matter anyhow now. It is as he said, he has places to go and people to look for. Even if he is the messenger we all seek for, I cannot contain him here against his will…"

Everyone in the room now grumble.

"To think we have the solution this close to us," Renfa mutter to herself, "yet we must let it slip pass our grasp… … …"

---

Early the next morning, Taiki gave a huge yawn as he force himself upright in his bed.

"Feudal bedding sure is different from Modern Bedding," Taiki spoke to himself as he rubbed the back of his neck, "But I guess it has its own plus side, though I wish I could soon figure out what the f**k it is…"

Taiki leapt out of bed and began doing some stretching. He was almost completely nude save for the boxers. After he was done with his stretching, he began to redress himself when a knock came from the door.

"Taiki-dono?" a voice rang out, "Are you awake?"

"Hmm? Oh, Re-…I mean Son-Ken!" Taiki called to the other side of the door, "Morning!"

"I need to talk to you," Renfa suddenly called.

"Talk? Yeah sure but-," Taiki began before noticing that the door began to swing open, "Hey, hold on-!"

"I have come to-," Renfa began only to cut her sentence when she saw Taiki nude from the waist up, "Ah-! Sorry!"

"Uh," Taiki sweat dropped as Renfa spun around and shield her eyes.

"I am sorry for disturbing you! I just-…I mean, what is the meaning of you being half dress!?"

"I was just getting redress," Taiki gave a chuckle as he finally fully cloth himself, "I usually sleep with less clothes on, that's all…"

"…I see…"

"It's okay to turn around now…"

"Uh, okay," Renfa obliged and turn around only to see Taiki in a sweat clothing (keep in mind that Renfa or anyone of this time period does not know this type of clothing), "Uh, what happen to the outfit of yesterday?"

"Oh it's still here," Taiki pointed back to his pack, "But I'm wearing this now for my morning exercise…"

"Morning…Exercise?"

"Yep, to wake up my body. Which reminds me, do you know any good place where I can get some exercise going?"

---

A few moments later, Renfa watch as Taiki perform his daily routine. She had shown him to the large courtyard where Shishun would bring soldiers to train, with Taiki commenting that it would be perfect for some of usual routines. Renfa watch as Taiki jogged ten laps on the perimeter of the courtyard, then doing push-ups and sit-ups, and even walking around on his hands.

Taiki was in the middle of standing on his thumbs when Renfa began to wonder out loud.

"It is with little wonders now why you are so strong," Renfa commented, "you must have done these exercises every single day…"

"Yep~," Taiki chuckled as he began walking on his thumbs, "At first it was just jogging, push-ups and sit-ups then I began to expand on my training as I got better…"

"I can see," Renfa huffed in astonishment as she watched Taiki walked around on his thumb as if it was natural to him, "You must be very skill to do this type of thing…"

"This is nothing," Taiki smirked, "You should see me on my good days; I would even begin hopping on my head…"

"… …Are you sure that you are human?"

Taiki laughed. "Well, you are not the first to ask me that…"

"I am sure that I am not," Renfa sighed, shaking her head.

Taiki huff a final chuckle before pushed off the ground and landed on his feet.

"Phew!" Taiki breathed, "The air is so clean, allows me to breathe easier…"

"If you say so," Renfa huffed, getting up from where she had sat, "Are you finish?"

"Sort of. That was my EARLY morning exercise. Since I got nothing to do until I leave, I guess I could do some MORNING exercise now…"

"… … …You never stop training, do you?"

"Not really, I just get bored easily…"

"You speak like a true warrior," Renfa shook her head in disbelief, "Speaking of 'leaving', that is what I wanted to talk to you about…"

"Oh yeah," Taiki nodded, remembering why Renfa was with him in the first place, "What is you wanted to talk about?"

"… … … … … …Uh… … …"

"Hmm?"

"… …Uh, this is really going to sound inappropriate after you clearly made your choice yesterday…"

"Hmm?"

"…Taiki-dono… … …Would you please reconsider Nee-I mean Our Lady's offer?"

"Huh?" Taiki frowned in confusion, "You mean you want me to become a General of your army?"

Renfa nodded.

"Uh, I don't know," Taiki scratched his head, "Didn't I just say yesterday I couldn't join because I got business to do?"

"Yes I know, but I have reason to believe that… …uh, you are need here…"

"Needed here? Like for what?"

"Uh," Renfa pondered to herself for a moment, "… …Sigh~, it is complicated. You would not believe the reason even if I tell you…"

"Well, try me," Taiki chuckled, "If you needed me here that badly I want to hear the reason…"

"… … …Uh, okay…"

---

"… …So what you are saying," Taiki spoke up after he carefully listened to Renfa's story, "is that some famous old guy told Son-Saku that the dream she had the night before was telling her she is in danger and that only this Messenger from Heaven, which in this case somehow it is me, can make sure she can keep her safe?"

"Yes," Renfa nodded, wiping away the sweat that had accumulated on her forehead, "That is correct…"

"Not only that, you are also telling me that I will also help Son-Saku and the rest of you bring peace to the land when the Kan Dynasty begin to fall?"

"That is also correct…"

"… … …Phew, man! I got my work cut out for me…"

"…? You mean you believe my absurd story?"

"I heard stranger things," Taiki chuckled as he began to stretch his back, "Not to mention, considering how people act around these times, I'm not surprise people would freak out like that…"

"Hmm?" Renfa tilted her head in confusion. There was no way she could have been aware of what Taiki had known.

Taiki knew that back during the feudal era a lot of people fear the supernatural and the unknown more than they did the modern times. Many believe that the supernatural even send warnings of impelling doom. People of importance, like emperors or leaders, are especially superstitious of this. They believe it to be a message sent to them by the heavens because they are bless. So it comes to no surprise to Taiki that people would panic when they learn their rulers had a dream of their impelling doom.

"The Kan Dynasty is going to fall, huh?" Taiki shook his head as he chuckled bitterly to himself, "I'm not really surprise about that…"

"You are not?" Renfa asked in surprise, "Is it because heaven had already foreseen it?"

"Not exactly, if you think about it there had been many signs up until now. Corruption in the Imperial Court, the suffering of the mass, the Yellow Scarves Rebellion…you didn't need an extra brain to have at least guessed that this was going to happen sooner or later…"

"Hmm," Renfa thought to herself for a moment, "When you present the facts in such a way, it is possible to foresee the Kan Dynasty demise…"

"Exactly!" While all of what Taiki mention was true, the main reason he knew was because history said it would have. "But to think that because of that, somehow I ended up being a Messenger from Heaven…"

"Are you saying you are not?" Renfa asked in worry. She knew that if Taiki wasn't the Messenger then Sheren would still face the possibility of dying.

Realizing this, Taiki chose his next words carefully. "I'm not sure myself, really. I just suddenly found myself here, not knowing how or why it had happen. If I really am a messenger sent from another world, I was sent without any instruction…"

"Meaning, you have no idea what is your purposes for being here?"

"...Something similar that, I suppose. Though, personally, I think it up to everyone to decide who I am going to be seen as. I don't have control over that…"

"Your reason is justifiable," Renfa nodded in understanding, "but suppose…what if Our Lady and I believe you are? What will you do then?"

"Hmm~," Taiki frown to himself as he considered his next words, "If that is the case then I will help out all I can. But just exactly made you believe that I'm the one anyway?"

"Well to begin with, there is no doubt about your bravery and prowess on the battlefield and you save Our Lady twice already…"

"Twice?"

"One directly for stopping the Yellow Scarves' attempt to assassinate Our Lady and the other for driving away the rebels before they could kill Our Lady…"

"Ah~…" Taiki nodded repeatedly in understanding.

"…And then there was that strange design on the back of that other uniform…"

"Hmm? Oh you mean this one?" Renfa followed Taiki's pointing finger to a unique tiger-head design imprinted on the right side of his chest.

"…It truly is a bizarre design for a tiger's head…"

"Isn't it? It was the design of my school's [logo] for my [Baseball] team…"

"…? Low-go?" Renfa tilted her head at the English word, "Bay-ace-blah? What strange words…"

"…Ah~!" Taiki realized that Renfa has no idea what the English word meant, "[Logo] is just another way of saying symbol, I guess. As for [Baseball] it is a game where you try to hit a thrown ball and try to gain points for your team by running a lap while avoid being touch by the opposing team member how has the ball. In a nut shell…"

"…A game?"

"…It more of a [sport], a very competitive form of challenging game. There are many kinds, [baseball] being one of them. I'm part of a [baseball] team called The Kyoto…"

"…? The Kyoto?"

"Yep. I'm the captain of that [sport] team. And because I played the [sport] so seriously I was nicknamed the "Tiger of Kyoto"…"

"… … …Is that so?"

"Let me guess. You were just thinking, 'how strange that Taiki got a nickname so similar to my Mother's nickname', right?"

"Yes," Renfa nervously laughed.

Taiki laughed out loud. "Well, I've always been a great admirer of your mother (or at least who your mother had represented). I seriously wish I could have met her in person just once…"

Renfa laughed. "I am sure you would have wanted to… … … …so…"

"Hmm?"

"About what I asked…"

"Oh right~!"

"…The Oracle's prophecies as I mentioned earlier had been famous for their accuracies. Although I myself am unsure Our Lady herself believed in the prophecy fully, the rest of us could not shake the feeling that it is too great of an omen, especially after the passing of our mother. I am not sure I for one could ever bare the sorrow of another death of a family member…"

Taiki nodded in understanding. But he is well aware of the tragic history of Son-Go Legacy. Historically, Son-Saku succeeded in a number of campaigns to unite the land under the Son rule. However, this also earned Son-Saku a lot of enemies who either fear or despise the Little Conqueror for past action. Eventually it all came down when some vengeful soldiers of a defeated army assassinated the eldest Son ruler. The mantle was then passed on to Son-Ken, which eventually led to the declaration of the state/faction of Son-Go of the East.

"Therefore… … …although I am the potential heir to the mantle should anything happen to Our Lady, one of the Princess of Kou-Tou, and the daughter of the Tiger of Kou-Tou… …I ask-no! I beg you!"

"Huh? Wait-What!?" Taiki gasped as Renfa suddenly kneed and bowed so deeply that her forehead nearly touched the ground, "What are you doing!?"

"I do not know whether or not the prophecy is of lies or not. But if by chance it speaks the truth and you are the light amidst this sea of dread, please I beg-!"

"STOP RIGHT THERE!" Taiki sudden raised voiced halted Renfa's sentence instantly, "Are you out of your f**king mind? What if someone sees you? Think about your dignity and pride as the member of the Son Family! Heck, I won't be able to live it down if you had gone any further! Get the hell up already, Son-Ken!"

Renfa hesitantly return to her feet as Taiki uneasily frown to himself, ruffling up his hair in anxiety.

"Jeez, you didn't need to go THAT far…"

"I am sorry if I had put you on a tight spot, but I am serious about this crisis. I do not wish to see Nee-sama suffer such a cruel fate…"

"I understand that, but…"

"Please, save Nee-sama! That is all I ask of you. If you can, I shall-…"

"If it has ANYTHING to do with offering something in return, stop right there!"

"But-!"

"NO BUTS!"

Son-Ken grimaced, unfamiliar with Taiki tone of voice. It had sounded so harsh and irritated than she had ever heard from him before.

"My mom going to kill me if she'd see this…"

"Huh?"

"Before my mother passed away, she always told me to be gentle to girls and I must ABSOLUTELY not make them cry or beg in such a way. Man, I could just imagine my mother now in heaven, frowning about the fact that I in a way made you bow and beg like that…"

"Oh! My deepest apologies…"

"Uh, don't worry about it…just don't cry or beg anymore, okay?"

"… …I can do that…"

Taiki snuck a glance at Renfa. Historically after Son-Saku was assassinated Son-Ken was in next in line as the ruler of Son-Go. Although Son-Ken was nowhere nearly as strong as Son-Ken Bundai nor nearly as inspiring as Son-Saku Hakufu, in every adaptation of the Son-Ken was always portray as a talented ruler who kept Son-Go territory safe from Sou-Gi and Sho-Ku's attempts to overtake them. In fact, it was Son-Ken that would officially declare the existence of the Kingdom of Son-Go, with Son-Ken being one of the pillars of the Kingdom. Yet in every present-day account, Son-Ken always laminates his supposed inability to bear the responsibility of the Kingdom and wish numerous times that either the Tiger or the Little Conquer were still alive.

This Son-Ken was similar to every account that he had heard about, with one slight difference. It's not because Son-Ken is a girl, but because she is an emotionally sensitive girl. Since he got here, Taiki had notice that Renfa had only given shallow smiles. It was a clear sign that she was on the verge of being crush by her worries and negativity. If her current state of mind was due to the fact that her mother had died and that her sister is in danger of dying, Taiki could only imagine how much worse it could be when her sister actually dies.

"… …-he is! Son-Ken-sama!" Before Taiki could even mutter a word, a concern voice rang out.

Taiki and Renfa turn to the source of the voice to see Shishun and several guards hurryingly rushing over to them.

"Kan-Nei-san?" Renfa noted in surprise, "What are you doing here? Did something happen?"

"Nothing of great urgency except that everyone was surprise that you had disappeared from your room!" Shishun sarcastically informed, "Everyone was worry, Son-Ken-sama…"

"Err…uh, forgive me…"

Shishun gave a sigh, mixed with relief and irritation, before casting her eyes suspiciously at Taiki.

"Hey there," Taiki greeted in his usual way.

"Taiki-dono," Shishun greeted formally with a slight bow, "May I ask why art thou out here with Son-Ken-sama?"

"Cautious as always, huh?" Taiki joked, ignoring Shishun's low grumbling, "I was out here doing my morning training. Son-Ken here came with me to talk to me, and that's all…"

Shishun glared at Taiki, trying to judge the sincerity of his words. Finally, Shishun spoke again, this time less as cautious. "The morning meal is ready. My Ladyship wishes that you attend the meal as well, Taiki-dono…"

"Really? Well, okay… … …by the way, Kan-Nei…"

"Yes?"

"There's no need to be formal with me. Just 'Taiki' would be fine…"

"… … … … … …As you wish… …Taiki…" With those final awkward words, Shishun led Renfa and Taiki back into the palace.

---

Sheren watch as Taiki gorge himself with the food that was provided to him, barely keeping proper table manner. She couldn't help giggling at Taiki's carefree attitude and Meirin's critic comments as she point out every flaw that Taiki demonstrated.

"This would be the last day that he shall be here," Sheren softly spoke to herself.

Sheren had never been a believer of prophecies, even if they had foretold here fate. But ever since she met Taiki, she figure that if she could believe any part of the prophecy it would be that Taiki would have help her and her comrades protect the country. Sadly, it would appear that her hopes were too high…or so she thinks.

"…Burp-! Oh, excuse me," Taiki halted his burp early enough to not sound too rude, "Thanks again Son-Saku…"

"It is no problem," Sheren smiled, "I am your host after all. It would be rather rude of me to let the savior of my army and I leave on an empty stomach…"

"I see…"

"Anyhow," Sheren suddenly waved in Dai-Kyou and Shou-Kyou, carrying in some mid-sizes bundles, and went over to present them to Taiki.

"…? What's this?"

"Non could not help but notices that you have no journey supplies to speak so I decided to have some of my people give you some necessary supply for your trip. Depending on your conduct, they should last at least two weeks…"

"What? No, I can't accept this kind of-!"

"Do not mind it so much. Think of it as a parting gift. I hope that it shall help you on whatever quest you are undertaking…"

"Please accept it," Shou-Kyou huffed, presenting the bundle she has, "It is proof that Sheren-sama has great gratitude for your assistance the other day…"

"And," Dai-Kyou shyly whispered, loud enough so that only Taiki and Shou-Kyou could hear, "To be honest, Sheren-sama had personally chosen the content of the bundles so that she could be sure that you had a safe trip…"

"Nee-sama!" Shou-Kyou hissed, "You did not need to tell him that!"

"Huh~," Taiki awed as he stared at the bundle that was presented to him, then over to Sheren before glancing quickly over to Renfa who has become withdrawn after her supposed fail attempt to persuade Taiki, "Guess I have no choice but to accept it…"

Seeing Taiki had taken the bundles, Sheren gave one last sigh before rising from her seat.

"Taiki," Sheren began, "Once again I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your courageous display of honor and prowess yesterday. And I speak for all the people of Kou-Tou when I say that it truly is sad that you had to leave so early. Nevertheless, since you have your own task to fulfill, all I can say is that I wish you the best of luck and hope that fate will… …allow us to meet again…"

With that, Sheren gave a small bow (as did everyone else in the room).

"Oi~!" Taiki wailed, "I think I've already mentioned this but there's no need for any of you to do that for me…"

"There is no need to be humble, Taiki," Sheren smiled, "we are merely showing our respect for you and wishing for your safe journey…"

"… …More like using petty efforts to con me so that I feel compel to stay here…"

"…I beg your pardon-?"

"Thy Cur!" Meirin suddenly snapped, "How dare thou talk with such insolence to Our Lady!"

"It's the truth, isn't it?" Taiki countered, "Showering me with many shows of gratitude that far exceed what I deserve? Showing me many great courteously despite being a ruler? Continuously showering me with my accomplishment when many others who may have work under her for decades had yet to receive theirs? Clearly having an alternate motive behind all of that and not willing to tell it to me straight? If you don't consider that 'petty efforts', I don't what is…"

Sheren blinked in surprise. Many other were shock as she was as well, even the normally compose Sai and Shishun. The usually casual and good-natured Taiki had suddenly spoke words that was out of his character, as far as she knew. The change was far too sudden. No longer was Taiki speaking in a more free-spirit tone, rather a foreign tone of displease took over his speech and body language. Sheren could not help but felt that she must have done something wrong.

"…I heard from your sister, Son-Ken, about your nightmare and the prophecy. I've also heard about my role in both cases…"

Sheren gave Renfa a glance, with Renfa sinking away and trying to avoid eye contact with her.

"…The fall of the Imperial Kan. The precursor of your death. The Messenger from Heaven. The Soul of Moon Healing Tiger. I know about it all thanks to Son-Ken. Nice work, Son-Saku, very efficient. Riddling me with numerous gifts and compliments all so that you can simply keep me here to save your hide…"

"That is not-…" Sheren began only to be cut off as Taiki loudly left his seat and slowly began to walk up towards her.

"It is the truth. You can try to deny it but you should probably begin to realize it by now that it is all you're really after…"

"T-Thy Cur!" Meirin managed when she finally recover enough to notice Taiki was only a few meters away from Sheren, "Guards, stop him!"

The guards around Sheren responded but even though they pointed their spears at him, Taiki continue to move forward. His uncharacteristic actions frighten them, causing them to unconsciously shift backwards. This in turn allowed Taiki to be just a few inches from Sheren's face.

"Son-Saku," Taiki began again, "you are an admirable leader. An inspiring leader, for that matter. Everything you do, every action you take, now affects everyone below you. They look up to you; some I believe would even give their life to you. So I'll say this now, as clear and crystal clear as I could possibly state it: if you want something then just get to the point before you downgrade yourself! I had rejected your offer, and you accept it. Or at least you believe you did. You clearly didn't but instead of pressing the matter you decided to try to kiss up to me! Is that really how you should be acting? Is that really what made you known as the Little Conquer of Kou-Tou? Is that what your late mother would have wanted? Huh, SON-SAKU HAKUFU?"

Sheren didn't respond, but Taiki's words clearly began to leave a mark on her as her mind slowly processed what he told her.

"A conquer doesn't complicate things, taking different routes just to reach their target. They'd confront the problem head on and deal with in an orderly fashion. They will face impending doom wholeheartedly, ready to face humiliation if necessary. But they always make one thing clear: they won't stop until they realized that conquest. They are not afraid of one or two failure, nor do they care if they must put their life on the line in order to do so. So I'll ask this again: What is it you want and why? WHAT~ and WHY~?"

Sheren continue to stare eye-to-eye with Taiki for a moment. Then, as if something in her mind suddenly snapped, Sheren broke eye contact, hiding her eyes in the shadow of her hair bangs.

"I…" She began, "I am afraid…for my life. I thought…I thought I was prepared for it from the very beginning… …but I was wrong. I am plague with nervousness and insecurity. I feel as if I am being watch by murderous eyes, ready to pierce me at a moment of opportunity. But most of all, I fear…I fear that once something happen to me my friends, my sisters, will suffer greatly. I do not wish to see that, I do not want to go to heaven only to watch down and see them crying…"

Sheren paused for a moment before straightening up, revealing to everyone and especially to Taiki clear and doubtless eyes.

"Therefore, to insure that I survive, I wish to call upon the assistance and strength of the Messenger from Heaven, who bares the soul of one the Three Sovereign, the spirit of the Moon Healing Tiger. Taiki Sonoma, I asked-…no, I insist that you aid me in my struggle for my survival and to keep my comrades safe! Join us Taiki, help me save the dying world, save my loyal family and subjects, and my own soul! I will not force you against your will to do this, but I do not intend to let you leave until you do agree to aid me! Taiki, become my sword as we set forth into the unknown!"

"Very well! I, Taiki Sonoma, shall aid you!" Taiki answered immediately with a satisfied smirked.

---

No sooner did that bizarre conversation ended, the entire room roared in excitement. Some shouted their immediate approval while others share their hopes for the future.

Renfa for one was still too startled to do or say anything. She could not believe that Taiki had just fulfilled her request to protect her sister. But she couldn't believe that Taiki had just lecture Sheren to the point it would almost seems that the old Sheren had returned, when their mother was still alive.

Renfa could now see as she stared into Sheren's eyes that the flame of inspiration, which had been dwindled by the death of their mother, had been rekindled. It was now burning brighter than ever before.

"Yo~, Son-Ken," a voiced called her.

"Huh?" Renfa wondered in her daze, realizing that Taiki had called her.

"You okay? You look like you've been run over by a Calvary unit…"

"HUH? Did I really look like that!?"

"You do indeed," Sheren joined in, "what is the matter?"

"Oh no, it is nothing! Anyhow, Taiki I-…"

"Whoa~, stop right there!" Taiki halted, "Just to make things clear, while your words did touch me it was not the reason I decided to stay…"

"It was not?"

"Nope. If it was anything is was because of your openly express tear and her hidden concern that compel me to do so…"

"Just that?"

"Well, and also the fact that I just couldn't turn my backs to those who needed my help…"

"I see," Renfa nodded, not willing to tell Taiki that he wasn't hiding his true reason well enough, "But… I thought you had things to do. What about them?"

"I think those can wait. I'm pretty sure that if they are here they'll be able to handle themselves long enough…"

"Huh?"

"Ah~, don't mind it! Anyhow, what happens now?"

"Well," Sheren spoke, "first off, how about we get you some new threads, appropriate for warfare. Kou-Gai!" Sheren called over to Sai who came over. "Could you help Taiki pick out a general uniform for him to wear?"

"It will be done," Sai bow respectfully before turning to Taiki, "Shall we go, General Taiki~?"

"Stop it," Taiki comically wail, "It's hard enough taking this position without you finishing me off…"

Sai chuckled to herself as she led Taiki out of the room.

"Renfa," Sheren suddenly called.

"Huh? Y-Yes, Nee-sama?" Renfa managed.

"…Thank you…"

"Huh? For what?"

"I do not know what you had said to him, but it is evident that your words had affected his decision. It is proof that you shall be a great ruler one day…"

"Please, Nee-sama, do not make it sound like you want me to take over if something happens to you. Even if it is a joke…"

"Do not concern yourself with that anymore. Thanks to Taiki, the fire of the conqueror inside me had been rekindled. I will survive and help bring forth the land in our Mother's place even if it means that I must suppress others in my way." Her hand suddenly reached up and acted as if it was trying to grab hold of something. "I shall seize and unify all the land that had belonged to the Kou-Tou Region under the Son Family with my own hands. And when I have fulfilled Mother's desire, I shall pass it all to you…"

"Nee-sama…"

"…" Meirin had unknowingly snuck up behind them, and when the two finally notice they jumped in surprise, "It would appear that you are truly back, Sheren. And once again talking as if it is all a simple matter…"

"Well," Sheren giggled as she suddenly leaned on Meirin, shocking her, "If you are by my side, than it will be alright, right?"

"… … …Sigh~! Your silliness had returned as well. But yes, I will do all in my power to aid you…"

Renfa watch on with a smile.

---

Meanwhile, in another room, Sai continue to help Taiki picked out an armory that would fit him and his preference. They had try up to nine different styles already, but each one didn't satisfy the two. Finally, a set was chosen and Sai help Taiki put it on.

"You know," Taiki nervously commented as he took off his shirt and pants to replace them with the war under-clothes, "You don't have to help me on this part…"

"I do not mind if you thought it was uncomfortable for me," Sai simply stated as she prepared the outfits, "It is my duty to insure that you look outstanding when Our Lady officially make you a General in front of everyone in the city…"

"Do I have to~?"

"Yes…"

"AW~~!"

Sai chuckled as she began to redress him in armor once he has taken everything but his trucks off. As she did, she couldn't help but to notice that Taiki's body was not only muscular but was cover with old wounds. Some were small while others were large. Injuries from bruises to knife marks seem to be present on at least every part of Taiki's expose bare skin.

"Even your body shows evidences that you have seen many battles…" Sai commented.

"What? These?" Taiki noted as he looked down at his body, "Oh these are some scratches from years ago, when people first start jumping me…"

"Jumping you?"

"Yeah, I used to live in a remote area where the law doesn't have as much power. Normal people who aren't part of some gang are usually bully or attack. I was one of those that usually get jumped by a**holes because I didn't listen to them, but they end up getting their a** beat up instead…"

"I can imagine that…It is no wonder you are so strong…"

"I suppose, but then again they were pretty pathetic…"

"But I did not realize that Heaven had been such a cruel place…"

"Huh?"

"…? Were you not referring to your residences of Heaven?"

"No, of course not! If Heaven was that bad, just imagine how f**k up the mortal world would be…"

"Are you saying…you did not come from Heaven?"

"Uh, well…I suppose if you went there and only saw the good side of it, you would see it as 'Heaven'…"

"Ah~, so you came from somewhere close to Heaven…"

"…Somewhat, I guess…"

A minute of silence went by until finally, Sai added the final touch. Stepping back, Sai smile at the result. "This should do. It came out better than I expected…"

"Yeah~…I guess. But…" Taiki frowned, unsatisfied.

"Hmm?"

"There is something missing…hmm~…"

"What else could you possibly added?"

"Hmm~! Ah! I got it!" Taiki suddenly dived into his equipment pack, "I'm sure there should at least be one left in here…"

"…?" Sai watch as Taiki rumbled around in his pack before he pulled a surprising object, "Oh~!"

"Here it is!"

---

"…They sure are taking their swell time," Shaoren huffed as she tapped her foot repeatedly in impatience.

"As a princess of the Son Family, I advise you act more ladylike," Renfa huffed as she stood next to her little sister.

"There is a limit to how long a princess could be patience you know. Otherwise you are no different from a statue…"

Renfa couldn't help but sweat drop at Shaoren's logic.

Everyone aside from Sai and Taiki were now present in the large courtyard where Taiki and Renfa had been talking in the morning. Every soldier was lined up in an orderly fashion, standing in attention, in their red armor, and armed with pikes or spears. The higher ranking officers were standing in front them, also in attention. Sheren and her comrades stood in front of everyone on a higher platform.

This was the set up to formally introduce Taiki as the new General of the Army. There was only one problem: Sai and Taiki were running late.

"What on earth could be holding them up?" Meirin grumbled, "It should not have taken more than a few minutes to put on some armor…"

"Now Meirin," Sheren chuckled, "Give them some more time. Perhaps they are picking out an armory that will make him stand out the best…"

"But you know~," Non noted, "if we are talking about possibility, and seeing that Taiki-san is a guy and Sai-sama is still a maiden at heart, perhaps as Sai-sama help Taiki-san they got intimate and-…"

"Non!" Minmei panicked as her face turn red, "Sai-dono wouldn't do THAT!"

"What can we say to be sure?"

"For starters, Non," Shishun began, "Taiki is not such a character and Sai-dono knows her duty…"

"But~ you cannot deny the possibility, right~?"

"…You read too much of those sleazy dirty story, Non," Meirin sweat dropped, but even she began to worry that Non's suggestion may actually be true.

"Oh~?" an intimidating and creepy angered voice hissed from behind the talking group, "Is that how thou opinion of me run, Non-chan~?"

"Huh?" Non turn hesitantly to see Sai standing behind her, glowing faintly red with her mouth in a frown and her eyebrow twitching with suppress rage, "WAAH~~~! Sai-sama!"

"…We are going to have a talk about this after this is over, Non-chan~, a LONG~ talk~," Sai warned as Non began to comically whimper on the spot. Switching out of her rage, she turned back to Sheren with a calm face. "My Lady, Taiki is waiting in the back, ready to come forth…"

"Excellent," Sheren nodded in approval, unfazed by Sai sudden change in tone. She stood up from where she sat and came forth, catching everyone's attention. "Soldiers of Kou-Tou, today marks yet not another step towards annihilation but one of the many step towards salvation! This day is of especial important, for a new and powerful warrior has decided to join us in our fight for peace on the Continent. Only yesterday did he just aid us against the overwhelming advance of the Yellow Scarves Rebellion. It comes without saying that if he had not stepped in at that moment, none of us would be standing here right now. And now, I am honor to say that the hero that has save Chou-Sa City of Kou-Tou has now become a new General of the Kou-Tou Force. I present to you: Taiki Sonoma!"

On cue, Taiki stepped into the open and start making his way over to Sheren. Everyone, even Sheren when she turned to see Taiki, gasps at his new appearance. If his usual clothing had made look like a Wandering Warrior, the new uniform had turned him into a Celestial Warrior. Taiki now wore a black underclothing with Red Tiger theme armors covering several areas of his body. Armor loincloth, a Crimson breastplate, and Tiger Head shape shoulder guards are just some of the armor he wore. He didn't wear a helmet, but he wore a military cape with a feudal design of a Tiger printed on it. But what really caught Sheren and her comrades' attention was the unique designed tiger head symbol placed over the heart area of the armor.

Once Taiki came close enough, he got onto one knee and bow respectably to Sheren.

"Taiki Sonoma, presented himself before Our Ladyship," Taiki declared expertly. Apparently Sai had told him how he should act during the ceremony.

"Uh, yes!" Sheren responded after recovering from her shock, "Taiki Sonoma, as a General of the Kou-Tou Force, what we can expect from you is that you continue to serve Kou-Tou, protecting us from evil that wishes to harm us, and uphold our honor. Can I expect that from you?"

"I shall give my life to do as you wish…"

"Very well then. Rise General Taiki," Sheren ordered and Taiki immediately stood up tall, "Taiki, your performance yesterday, every soldier present then clearly remember your bravery and prowess. It was as if our former Ladyship's very skill has been reborn in you. Therefore, after much discussion, we have decided to give you a nickname that best suit you. From now on, you are the Kou-Tou Force's General Taiki Sonoma, the Young Tiger of Kou-Tou!"

A huge roar of approval erupted from the army. Taiki was taken aback by both his new nickname and the approval of the army. Nevertheless, Taiki accepted with a smile.

"Furthermore," Sheren continued, before holding out a remarkably brilliant sword sheath in its golden casing, presenting it to Taiki, "I, Son-Saku Hakufu, had decided to place my full trust into you and offer you the Son Family Ancestral Sword in your hands. It is the same sword that my late mother had used up to her final battle. Handle it with great care for it contains the souls of countless generation of our proud family. But if you ever find yourself in great danger, your life may come first before the sword…"

Although Taiki wanted to object taking such an important relic, Taiki understood that it was a significant offering. It shows how much trust Sheren has for him and rejecting it meant disrespecting that trust. So Taiki instead bow in gratitude and promptly accepted with great care.

"May the Heaven bless us with great fortune as we continue our pursued for peace! Onward to the future!"

Thus Taiki became the new General of the Kou-Tou Force, a new Tiger that shall carry on the great will of the former Tiger. Though the future remains uncertain, Taiki had only one thought in his mind: his duty to protect the Son Family and all they live for.

---

"Congratulation," Renfa applauded once she got the chance, "I am looking forward to fighting side-by-side with you, Taiki…"

"Thanks, Son-ken-…"

"You are one of us now, Taiki, plus my sister has presented to you the greatest of trust. You are allowed to call us by our true name now…"

"Really? Then I'm glad I accepted the sword then…"

Everyone gave a small laugh, except for Meirin who merely huffed and left.

"I guess there ARE some people who I still needs approval of first…"

"Do not worry," Sheren reassured, "She will warm up to you…"

"She is going to anyway," Non chimed in, "after all, there is no greater person out there then the valiant Taiki after all…"

"Nah, not really," Taiki laughed as he shook his head to disagree, "I'm not that great…"

"Yes you are…"

"No I'm not, because I know someone even greater than me out there…"

"Huh?" Was the collective responds.

"That person, if he is in this world as well, has more courage and skill than me," Taiki looked off into the distance, "He has a strength that even I can't hope to match. If he was serious even I won't stand a chance…"

"Such a person exists?" Shishun wondered.

"Yeah, he is one of my few close friends from the other world. Wonder how's he doing?"

---

That's it for this chapter. and in case you didn't catch on his style of fighting with his bat is similar to Thor's fighting style in the movie. If you got trouble visualizing then look there. Also note that Taiki has somewhat of a foul mouth; I did that on purpose, so expect a lot of f-bombs and what not. Next time let's go see what's happening with that viper-eye girl. Please review; what do you guys thing?

P.S.-Sorry to all those who may have played the Shin Koihime Musou game and expect this chapter to go down that way. I didn't have the game and wikipedia provided ZERO help so I couldn't follow the base plot of it, so I decided to stick everyone who is associated with Son-Go so far in (you know, since historically Riku-Son and Kan-Nei came in much later). For early warning, the same goes for Sou-Gi. The OCs for each of the faction may come in later.