The Gold King had expected Yayoi to return. She will return, someday and sometime. But he didn't expect her to return like this.
Fallen on her knees, tears falling a waterfall and heart broken.
"I'm not leaving you again. I promise, I won't leave this place. This is where I belong.", she said between her cries.
For all those years he had known her, had been with her, she had never been in such a sorrowful state.
He wanted her to learn her lesson, but not like this.
She kept her promise to the Gold and had not left the Slates.
But since she returned, Yayoi had been nothing but a broken doll. She just laid there, overlooking the Slates, eyes empty.
With inquiries of his men, he just knew that the death of the Red clansman was the cause of it.
"Grieving won't bring him back.", he said.
"I'm not grieving, I'm angry.", she replied back.
"Still won't bring him back."
"I'm waiting for revenge."
"I never teach you of revenge."
"Revenge is primal."
There was a relief inside him, small though, at least she still got her sassiness. His old Yayoi is still there.
She sat up and shifted into a kneeling position.
"Homra will avenge him. I'm sure of it. And I'll stay here and do my part."
Kusanagi explored the crowded streets of the city. Trying to recognize each faces he passes through. His phone rings.
"What is it, Yata-chan?"
"I'm sorry, Kusanagi-san, I couldn't find her."
Kusanagi sighed. Bad bad bad.
He called for all members to gather at the bar. He had them all, Mikoto did, search the city for Nemu. As she went missing since Tatara's death.
But it's been 4 days. Thank goodness, the Homra members are still not tired of looking.
"Everyone, I'll stop the search for now.", Kusanagi said.
The other members replied with a surprised tone. Mikoto looked calm as he had discussed it with him earlier.
"We have other things to focus on now, to find the killer. We'll do it for her sake as well. But whenever you walk on the street, pay attention. If you find Nemu, bring her back home. Here."
Nemu left and didn't return, she must've had a reason. Maybe she hates the Homra now. But Tatara himself had given Kusanagi his final message. Take extra care of my Nemu, tell her I'm sorry but I love her.
It wasn't just take care, but it was extra care.
That idiot had been leaving things for Kusanagi to take care of, but for this one, just for this one, Kusanagi wll do anything to fulfil it.
But now, even Nemu is gone.
Yayoi stood up in the garden of the Timeless Palace. It was one of the rare times the Gold King allowed her to go out.
One of the Rabbit was there to keep watch of her.
As she look up to the sky and the twinkling lights, she thought Adolf is out there in the sky on his Himmelreich. How she kind of missed him, decades has been since she last talked to him.
Just as she had that thought the Himmelreich flew through.
This is odd. There is an odd feeling about this.
Yayoi ran back inside. Daikaku needs to know about this.
"Yayoi-sama, what's wrong?"
"Something's odd about the Himmelreich, something's happening to Adolf."
For Yayoi had warned the Gold King, the Himmelreich's explosion wasn't that much a surprise.
As the afternoon sun fills the Chamber of Slates with its rays, the two watched Adolf's body through the glass of the pod. The Gold King had ordered his Rabbit to retrieve it immediately from the crash scene and brought it to the Chamber of Slates.
"You know this is not him.", Yayoi said.
"What makes you so certain?"
"It's not him all right."
The Gold King had a certain thought going on himself. Just then another Usagi came to report.
The Blue King is here to see him.
"He's coming for this."
Yayoi said as she pointed to the pod as she walks away to the other room.
It was an automated response as whenever someone came to see the Gold King, whenever Yayoi is present she will go. No need to be ordered. It was The Gold King's number one rule. No one should see her, no one should know of her existence.
The whole incident that threw everything into spiral was coming to a close.
Yayoi watched as The Gold King made his call to Adolf. He was looking calm. But she wasn't.
She wanted to speak up, ask a lot of questions to Adolf. But at that moment, nothing seems to come out. Only a concerned look.
"Honestly, just when I thought you returned after being gone for over a half century.", he said.
"I wish we could've met up one last time."
"If that's how you feel, then stop this. Not that you'd listen to me."
"Is she doing fine?", Adolf asked, lowering his voice.
"She's here and she looks very worried."
Daikaku looked in front of him as Yayoi looked concerned as ever.
"Tell her I said sorry. But this is goodbye."
Yayoi gave a sad nod as she listens to the voice from the other end.
The night ended with the Colorless King dead, the Red King killed by the Blue King, and the Silver King himself went missing.
The truth is he was alive.
As time went by, Yayoi was the first to realize it.
"You're dying.", she said.
Daikaku was dying. He wasn't immortal and he ages, unlike her and Adolf.
That was when Yayoi had to call Adolf. He is dying.
Adolf took them both on board the newly repaired Himmelreich. The place where he'd been since the incident at Ashinaka. The Gold King had ordered him to hide from the Green King. Him, still in his Isana Yashiro body.
It was odd that Daikaku allowed her to be that far away from the Slates. But she wanted to be with him, at least during his final days.
It was also the time when Adolf and Yayoi can do their catch up. Turns out he has been completely oblivious of Yayoi's connection with the Homra members.
"The Red King avenged him.", Adolf said, comforting her.
"And thanks to you."
Adolf had realized Yayoi's odd behavior, or odd fear to be more precise. She was scared to leave the Slates, or be away from the proximity the Lieutenant had set for her and the Slates. He didn't know what causes it, until now.
She thought all of this happened because of her. Because she left the Slates, because she disobeyed the Lieutenant, that everything went awry.
"So, both of us lived a double life for some time.", Adolf said.
"You forgot about your past life, I did it in purpose."
"You can call me Shiro for a fresh change."
"Shiro, huh ..."
"And I can call you Nemu..."
"No, don't call me that."
Adolf sighed, that's understandable of her.
"Shiro... I'll try, but maybe I'll still call you Adolf sometime.", Yayoi said.
"Sure.", replied Adolf with a smile.
"When the time comes, will I wake up to your face?"
"Maybe."
She laid her head on Daikaku's feet as the sky's turning its colors into dawn. The two men having their final talk as an old friend.
"Yayoi."
Yayoi hummed as a reply, unable to look at Daikaku in his dying state. Adolf looked with sad eyes.
"When I'm gone, I want you keep on doing your job."
"I will."
As the dawning sky fills the ship with colors, Daikaku breathed his final breath.
"What a waste ... to close my eyes."
As the Gold King closes his eyes for the final time, Yayoi closes hers as well. Adolf moved to her and placed a blanket on top of her sleeping body.
As he exits the room and looked at the horizon, he made a promise.
Now he'll move forward to, till his very last breath.
Shiro called for a joint force between the Blue, Red and Silver clansmen. It was a simple meeting, done in a simple dorm room in Ashinaka.
After that he had other plans for the Blue King, Munakata Reisi.
"Munakata-san."
"Is there something else I can help you with, Isana Yashiro?"
"You're in charge of the Slates in place of the Gold King, isn't that so?"
"Yes, is that a problem? I think it's only natural since there's no one else who is suitable."
"How much do you know about the Slates?"
Shiro looked at Munakata deeply, realizing the weight and importance of their topic.
"Well, I'm nowhere near you, the First King. But I have a pretty good idea of it."
"Do you intend to become the second Daikaku Kokujouji?"
The Blue King gave no reply.
"If you don't mind, please allow me to help you with watching over the Slates..."
"You expect me to rely on someone who ran away once?", Reisi cut off Shiro's statement.
That question struck Shiro like a thunder. He had ran away from the Lieutenant once, no wonder Munakata had doubts on him.
"You might not need my help, but you're going to need someone. You have to let her help you. This is what she's born for."
Shiro went through The Gold King's room in his Timeless Palace. Having his private talk with him.
He had taken Yayoi back to her sleeping pod, a pod disguised as one of the tubes supporting the Slates.
But he was scared to see her, scared that when she woke up she'll be mad that he wasn't the one watching over the Slates.
The Gold Clan's Tokijikuin had come to ask permission to maintain the system and cease participation in the happening affairs.
Shiro looked at the people that has been in service of the Lieutenant and Yayoi for all this years.
"Thank you for your years of service to Daikaku Kokujouji.", he said with gratitude.
Munakata walked to the Chamber of Slates. The words of the First King kept playing in his head.
He kneeled on the ground and knocked on the glass. He was surprised to find a pod rising up and opened to reveal a girl sleeping inside.
"Smart.", he mumbled to himself.
All this time, the Gold King had someone hidden in here.
Munakata examined the sleeping body. She had a fade scent of flowers, a scent that had bothered him every time he walks inside this place.
She'll be sleeping. But you can't wake her up with normal ways.
Why would that old monster has a floral scent lingering around him? Turns out, she was the reason.
She's like a doll. You'll need to switch her on, but this time it's with your energy.
Munakata hovered his hand on top the girl's chest. He closed his eyes to focus on channeling his energy.
She has been helping the Gold King keep the Slates in control. Without her, he won't be able to do it this long. She will be something you'll need very much.
When the first sound of movement was heard, Munakata stopped. The girl had moved.
He found his time, looking at the delicate patterns on the kimono she was wearing. Something worthy to be worn of someone that has been with the Gold King, living in luxury and status.
When she woke up, don't be so hard on her. She had been through a rough time. Like a post-traumatic stress.
Munakata thought to himself, this girl was supposed to help him, but why does it seems like he has to take care of her too?
She thought that all this happened because she left the Slates. She thought her disobedience had caused all this discord.
The body stirred and moved, and finally she opened her eyes.
Munakata looked at her blue eyes.
You might have a lot questions, you can ask her yourself. She knew a whole lot more than I do.
"Good morning."
Is this chapter moving too fast? Maybe. Is this chapter confusing? Maybe too lol.
Apologies for everyone that is confused, but don't worry there'll be a lot of explaining happening on the next chapter! Tell me what you think. Happy reading!