Kuro felt the weird tension floating in the room.
Yayoi was the first person to speak up.
"Anna..."
"Where have you been!", Kusanagi shouted.
Yayoi jumped in surprise. Even Kuro was surprised himself, it was the first time he saw Homra's second in command act like that.
"I... have always been with the Gold King.", Yayoi answered slowly.
Anna and Kusanagi looked at her with hopeful eyes, expecting more answers.
"I'm sorry I left just like that."
Kusanagi ran his hand through his hair. He sighed.
"At least you're alive."
Yayoi replied with a bitter smile. Kuro felt excluded from the situation.
"The flowers at the door, a week after it. You're the one that left it didn't you?", asked Kusanagi.
"I didn't left it there. I asked a Rabbit to do it."
"Puple hyacinth...", said Anna.
"It means I'm sorry and forgive me."
Anna walked slowly towards Yayoi, looking up at her blue eyes.
"At least you've been living well. That's the most important thing.", Anna said.
Yayoi gave her most sincere smile. Anna has really grown up. She used to be the small girl that tailed Mikoto everywhere he goes, but now she's the Red King.
"Thank you, Anna-chan."
"So, who are you?", Kusanagi asked.
"I have been called Yayoi."
They took the time to sit down at the dusty room. Kuro stayed by Yayoi's side like he was ordered too. Shiro's order had taken a different turn.
"So, you've been with the Gold King all this time?", asked Kusanagi.
"I have been with him for as long as I can remember."
"What are you doing sleeping in the Chamber of Slates?", Kuro finally asked out of curiosity.
"I've been helping Daikoku in suppressing the Slates, since a long time ago."
Kuro and Kusanagi gave a confused look, signaling their inability to grasp the idea.
"Okay, let's put it this way. The Slates as a container, something in it is trying to get out. The King, a lid to close the container. I am the weight on top of the lid."
The two men nodded in understanding. Some questions, answered.
"So you are as important as a King himself.", said Kusanagi.
'Yes. That's why, Adolf, or Shiro as you call him, gives me the nickname the White Queen."
"White is the same as being colorless.", replied Kuro.
"Of course it's different. You can't put a color on colorless, but I am White. I follows whatever color is put on me."
"You have golden eyes before, now it's blue. Does that have to do with it?", asked Kusanagi.
"I used to be the Gold King's now I am the Blue King's now he is in charge of the Slates. It's like a mark of property."
Kusanagi leaned back, trying to digest the information he had just heard. Anna stayed quiet, but kept his eyes attentively on Yayoi.
"So, you're just like what the First King used to be, an urban myth.", said Kuro.
"I am not an urban myth. I don't exist. No one knows about me Outside of Daikoku, Adolf and a few Rabbits. Recently Reisi."
"That's why. The Green Clan didn't know about you. Or else, they'll target you first."
"But Tatara met you...", said Anna.
"It's a long story. You know, I was never allowed to step out of the palace. Daikoku wanted me to stay inside the Chamber of Slates most of the time. It was a rule he made. But you can't keep someone inside a room for half a century. So I ran away."
Kuro dropped his calm face after hearing Yayoi.
"You ran away? From the Gold King?!", Kuro asked in surprise.
"It was all under his mercy. He let me go, it's as if he wanted to teach me a lesson."
"Still how did you end up...?"
"I got kidnapped on the first day I got out of the tower. Sad, actually. But it all happened under his control. How do you think Scepter 4 was able to find out about the hideout? Who tipped the information to them?"
Kusanagi nooded again, it was the Gold King they are talking about after all. The one with the highest power above all.
"He wanted Scepter 4 to take custody of me. Then he'll step in from there and I'll go back to him. Lesson learned."
"But he didn't predict Tatara.", said Anna.
"Yes, he was the unexpected one.", Yayoi replied sadly.
"But you said you don't remember anything.", said Kusanagi.
"I am sorry about that too. I lied."
Kuro stood up, surprising everyone.
"It's all in the past now, right? We have to move forward now. ", said Kuro.
"You're right."
"Now, you have to do what Shiro asked you to do."
Kusanagi and Anna looked at Kuro, curious.
"What did he asked you to do?", asked Kusanagi.
"He wanted me to go to Homra. Probably to explain everything.", Yayoi answered awkwardly.
"We already understood everything now. Right, Anna?"
"Yes."
"But everyone is still waiting for you to return.", said Kusanagi.
"Sure."
Everyone stood up. Yayoi's chest felt lighter, most of her burdens are gone. She got rid of the things she had hidden. Before they exited the property, Yayoi looked back.
"It really hasn't changed a bit from the last time I saw it. It felt like Tatara will be coming home anytime."
"I kept it the way you both left it.", answered Kusanagi.
"I got the bouquet you made me. The red roses are beautiful.", said Anna.
"And I hoped that you'll return to this place, one day.", said Kusanagi.
"You did return. Today.", continued Anna.
Yayoi took the key she had left on top of the table, but stopped as she had forgotten something.
"Before that."
"What is it?"
"Can I have all my old clothes back? I can keep on walking around like a historical figure come to life."
"It's yours after all."
Everyone at Homra was more than surprised at finding Yayoi on their doorstep. They may be hotheads but none of them were angry when they saw her. They were grateful that she was alive and well.
And Yayoi paid them back with the explanation they need.
Their moment was interrupted when Awashima entered the bar with a number of Scepter 4 members.
"Seri-chan, is something wrong?"
"Fushimi is not here either.", she mumbled.
"What about Fushimi?", asked Kusanagi.
Yata tensed up at the mention of Fushimi's name.
"Did he do something?", asked Yata.
"He exchanged some harsh words with the Captain and left after that. Now our work is stacking up without him.", answered Awashima.
"What is that monkey thinking!", grunted Yata.
Awashima scanned the room for another face and found the girl she was sent for. That captain, she grunted angrily to herself. Works are piling up back at the base and he sent her and men to pick up some girl. A girl that dares to land a slap on the captain and called him by first name.
But the same girl that the Homra rescued from a raid some time back. Isn't she reportedly missing? Why is she here, all royal and respected.
"And I came here for her.", Awashima said as she points towards Yayoi.
"Yayoi-chan?", asked Kusanagi.
Kuro stepped forward to shield Yayoi.
"I have orders from Shiro to accompany her.", said Kuro.
Yayoi stood up and tried to break the two tension.
"Kuro-kun, I'll be fine. You can go back to Shiro. He'll understand."
Kuro looked hopelessly as Yayoi exited the bar with Awashima and the rest of Scepter 4. It wasn't surprising that she had to go. She was his after all.
Munakata kept his seat faced away from the table. It was an act of avoidance, but at that moment he was avoiding the angry blue piercing eyes standing behind his table.
Awashima felt the heavy atmosphere filling the room. She wanted to go but at the same time not wanting to go.
"I want you to stay under the protection of Scepter 4. If your identity were to be exposed, your life will be in danger.", Munakata said.
"Like you cared. You don't even cared that the Slates is taken away."
"If the Green Clan were to kill you, you'll be breaking your promise with the Gold King right?"
It was weird for the captain to act that way, or so Awashima thought. He used to be someone who can remain calm and logical despite the situation they were in. But just in the span of one night, he turned completely different.
"If you don't value the importance of your life, then suit yourself. I am not like your Gold King. I'm tired, I'm not having this debate."
Hidaka stood up in front the room that Awashima had told him to guard. It was morning again, and it's not lying to say he was still tired from yesterday. Now with Fushimi gone, all the workload is increasing.
He knew that the mysterious girl in kimono from last night, that slapped the Captain hard in the face, was behind this closed door. Awashima got her in last night, late night. God, did her and Captain ever stop working.
He knew some rumors about the girl due to the member talks. So she has been under the care of the Gold King for half the century, which means she's ageless and puts her in the same level as the now deceased Gold King and the Silver King. For some weird unexplainable and reasons no one knows till now, she somehow found her way to Homra and developed a relationship with them. Now, even the captain seems to be giving her the special treatment.
For someone, a girl, to actually be intertwined with the Gold Clan, Silver Clan, Red Clan and the Blue Clan, that's too much of a power for one girl. Hidaka shivered at his own thought.
He checked his watch. All the members are at their posts doing their job and he's here standing like a palace guard in the living quarters, guarding probably one of the most important figure in history.
Is that why she is being princess-y and not waking up even though it is this late morning?
Hidaka turned his body, hesitating between knocking and not knocking. But he made his mind to knock.
"Yayoi-sama.", he called.
He continued knocking.
No answer.
Is she still sleeping or...?
Okay, it's actually impolite to barge in a lady's room. But Hidaka was told to guard the room and the occupant, right? So this should count as doing a check.
Hidaka walked slowly towards the room. First, feeling the morning breeze in his face.
The windows are open. The bed messy, but no signs of life.
Oh please no.