Episode Twenty: Sparkling Forest and Fateful Hot Springs!
The western end of Kyoukai housed most of its hotels and resorts, along with some of its ritzier apartment buildings. The Byakko sealing stone sat in the center of an elaborate park courtyard, not far from the elaborate Gold Blossom and Silver Egret hotel buildings. It seemed strangely apropos to start their morning here, given what was planned for this afternoon, Hiroko mused.
"Have you ever heard of Kiramori? It's a small town north of her, up in the mountains." Haruki had explained the other day. "Mom's got a friend who runs a ryokan - we visit there every summer."
"The Hidaka family always spoils us." Yasu had added. "I'm sure you'd all enjoy staying there."
Of course, everyone had accepted. Hiroko couldn't remember the last time she'd stayed at a ryokan, Izumi had never been, and the Hallowed Wellspring did have hot springs of its own, Jun had yet to experience the ones on Earth. In a few hours, the five of them would load into Yui's van and travel to Kiramori for a stay at the Hidaka Ryokan. But right now, they had to focus on something much larger.
Yasu shot Jun a concerned look as the other girl handed Kichu to her. "Are you really alright with this?"
"Part of me wants to stop." Jun said. "But if I just leave it like this, our enemies will have an easier time attacking Kyoukai." She sighed. "I want things to be different… but I don't want people to get hurt either."
Jun went for Haruki's hand. He accepted it, and she immediately cuddled up against him, muttering words of thanks to "sir knight" under her breath. For a moment, Haruki stood there, unsure of what to do, before he settled on giving Jun's hand a comforting squeeze. That seemed to help her as well.
"We still have time, Jun." Hiroko said. "If we keep trying, we'll definitely find a better answer."
"Hell, we might have the key to victory already!" Izumi said. "Or does victory have the key?"
Right, Shun's crystal. Nobody knew exactly what to make of… well, any of what Shun and Izumi had recounted to them over video chat the morning after the beach picnic. Shun had been every bit as lost as Pretty Cure was, if not more. But the six of them knew what the presence of that crystal meant.
The powers of the Shade Kingdom's Pretty Cure weren't gone after all. And if… no, when Shun's crystal was restored, the power Iris had spoken of could be unleashed. Light and shadow, resonating as one.
Like before, the rest of the group stepped back as Yasu approached the Byakko sealing stone with Kichu. The tiger carving on the stone glowed with soft white light as Kichu pressed his paws to it. White sparks danced and swirled about Kichu, Yasu, and the sealing stone as the air buzzed and hummed with power.
Once again, the light of the sealing stone built in intensity until it dissipated, revealing the interior of the Lux Temple superimposed over the surroundings. The temple was unusually empty, even for this hour, and there was no Sol waiting to greet them. Instead, Pretty Cure was met with-
Jun lit right up. "Lyra-chan! Selphie-chan!"
The two teenagers had been propped up half-asleep next to a bench, surrounded by a pile of books and scattered parchments. Lyra started at the sound of Jun's voice before eagerly prodding Selphie awake.
"Muse! Ohhhhh, I knew this would be worth it!" Lyra's smile widened as she noticed Kichu, who had since been returned to Jun. "And there's the special little guy! I'm so glad you're okay!"
Kichu flashed a peace sign. "Chuuuu."
Selphie waved to Hiroko. "Hello, fellow breeze. Are you faring well? We are… managing."
Hiroko smiled warmly. "We're all doing what we can, the best we can. Where's Sol-san?"
"In an early morning meeting." Lyra said. "The head priest has been picking his brain about how to handle the Shade Kingdom. Like, besides… doing this. He started like, right after you guys left. You must've made one heck of an impression on him, Muse. No wonder you landed a boyfriend so quickly!"
Jun and Haruki were still standing very close to each other. Haruki immediately went tomato red. Jun just calmly patted him on the shoulder.
"You're bold, Lyra-chan." she sighed.
"Anyway." Selphie said. "A different solution. Everyone is looking for one. Lyra and I are helping. Researching Shade Kingdom history." She massaged her temples. "It is… a lot. But I promised to help. The wind is always at your back." Then, to Hiroko. "That's why you're Pretty Cure's leader, right?"
"Well, the wind is always there to guide people, right?" Hiroko felt a bit weird saying that, but it felt more right than 'I suppose' or 'Do you think so?' "Actually, speaking of the Shade Kingdom-"
Lyra and Selphie listened attentively as Pretty Cure described the recent developments with Shun, namely, the contents of her dream and the teal crystal that was now in her possession.
"Cure Kirin… the Pretty Cure of Lightning." Selphie said. "A warrior in teal. That's her."
"The Lux Temple has a twin, according to… well, it's somewhere in here." Lyra gestured towards the mess of papers on the floor. "The Umbra Temple… dunno how you guys would get there or get in, but it sounds like you might have someone who does? 'Yozora Yoshimoto' isn't human, right?"
Jun nodded. "She's probably from the Shade Kingdom." she said. "And she went back there… maybe? Nobody knows where she went, not even Kiminyan."
"Maybe she's in hiding?" Haruki suggested. "Some of the stuff she said sounded really… like she was somebody important. Somebody who wouldn't want to be found."
Selphie seemed to be deep in thought now. "Important…"
Lyra's eyes widened. "Wait! Waitwaitwaitwait! Um! Hamasaki-san, wasn't it? Siegel-san was all… she knew the doors in her dream would open for her, right?"
"That's what she said, yeah." Izumi said. "It was like, an instinct thing."
"As if she was born with it. Maybe she was." Lyra was on a roll now. "That is a thing you can do, especially for something you want protected by certain people. Magic engraved into and passed down through bloodlines. And judging by what Selphie-chan and I found during our research, it sounds like-"
And then Lyra, Selphie, and the illusory Lux Temple blinked out of existence, leaving Pretty Cure alone.
Izumi slumped. "Now? Ugh, this does not rule all…"
Jun patted Izumi on the back. "There, there, Izunyan. It'll… it'll work out." She wasn't doing a very good job of hiding her disappointment. "And um, now we can focus on other things! Like our trip! And um… the stuff before our trip! I haven't spent much time around this part of Kyoukai."
"It's already getting warm out here." Haruki said. "Wanna go grab a smoothie? I know a great place."
"You mean Tropical Vivre, right?" Izumi pumped a fist. "Hell yeah! I've been craving a Flamingo Freeze for a while anyway! I'll race you there!"
Izumi took off at top speed, and Haruki immediately gave chase. As Jun and Kichu followed, the blue-haired girl shifted into cat form before both spirits parked themselves on Haruki's shoulders. Hiroko and Yasu were quickly left in the dust… and Hiroko couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
"They're all so much. But I wouldn't change it for the world." She smiled fondly as she stared after her teammates. "I'm glad we all met like this."
"You've really changed a lot, Hiroko." Yasu gently intertwined her fingers with Hiroko's. "I'm proud of you."
Hiroko felt a sudden rush of heat to her face. "I… I have, haven't I?" But not enough to keep herself from doing this. "So have you, Yasu." A summer breeze drifted past the pair as she added "Listen, I-"
"We should catch up with them." said Yasu, who hadn't seemed to hear that last bit. "They ran out of the syrup for the Royal La Mer last time I was there. I want to try one."
Hiroko swallowed the confession that had been dancing at the tip of her tongue and allowed Yasu to guide her towards Tropical Vivre. This was alright, she told herself as the pair headed onward, hand in hand. She could try again. She would try again. It was getting easier and easier to think that way.
Kiramori was, in many respects, a far cry from Kyoukai. It was landlocked where Kyoukai was coastal, rural where Kyoukai was urban, and sedate where Kyoukai was bustling. It was nestled in the mountains and surrounded by a sea of green conifers and colorful foliage. Every bit of the surrounding flora was strikingly vibrant, almost sparkling. Hiroko found herself wondering if Yasu had painted it before.
The mountain air was fresh, sweet, and a bit cooler than Kyoukai's coastal winds. There was something else there as well. A presence, not unlike the sealing energy in Kyoukai. Hiroko couldn't put her finger on it. She knew she wasn't imagining it, because Jun and Kichu were at attention the moment they arrived.
As for the Hidaka Ryokan itself, it was modestly sized and located at the base of a mountain trail. If Hiroko squinted a bit, she could spot a shrine located further up said mountain, at the end of a lantern-lined path. Jun was staring at it intently, and Kichu was leaning forward.
"Something's there, Hironyan." Jun said. "We should visit them later."
Hiroko hoped it was 'something's there' as in 'that's where the shrine's god lives' and not 'something's there' as in 'these woods are haunted too'. She'd keep it to herself for now, she decided as Pretty Cure followed Yui into the entrance of the Hidaka Ryokan-
-and were met with a loud, booming "WELCOME!" that almost knocked Hiroko off her feet.
Yui was completely unrattled. "Shunsuke-san! Good to see you're doing well."
The innkeeper on duty, Shunsuke, grinned approvingly. "Yui-san! You really did bring a full house this time!" He had cropped red hair and a short, slight build, which didn't match his impressive set of lungs in the process. "And is that Yasu-chan and Haruki-kun? My, look at how much you've grown!"
Yui removed her shoes before sitting them at the foyer and exchanging them for a pair of slippers. Her children followed her lead, and the rest of Pretty Cure followed theirs.
"We already have everything read to go, just the way you all like it." Shunsuke said as the group followed him over the threshold and towards the lobby. "So! Let's get you all checked in, shall we?"
"He's a lot." Haruki told Jun as Shunsuke led the group to the lobby, animatedly chatting with Yui the entire way. "Everyone in the Hidaka family is. But I wouldn't change it for the world."
The lobby of the Hidaka Ryokan was decorated in soft shades of red, orange, and brown. A good portion of one of the walls was occupied by a display cabinet filled with old dishware and china figurines of deer, seals, foxes, cranes, and rabbits. Framed innkeeper awards and slightly faded wall scrolls hung on the walls, and a stand full of postcards and tourism brochures sat at one of the corners.
Several small wooden tables with comfy-looking chairs sat in the room. Hiroko and Yasu accepted check-in sheets and pens from Shunsuke before sitting down at one. As the pair filled out their sheets, a teenage girl sat a homemade teacake before Hiroko and poured her a cup of piping-hot green tea.
"Hope it's okay, Tsubasa-san." said the girl as she poured a cup of tea for Yasu. She was the same height as Hiroko, with tanned skin, short and fluffy orange hair, and dark gold eyes. She wore an orange yukata and was carrying a tea tray. "You're more devoted to my king than I am, sounds like."
Hiroko stared at the girl in confusion. "King?"
The girl grinned. "You know! Coo-king! See, I tried to make this batch of teacakes eggcellent enough to suit you guys, but you butter believe I'm not bready to-"
Yasu sighed. "Teruko. Please focus. I don't want you to be pun-ished."
"Ehe… duly noted!" Teruko backed away… right into a nearby table, causing her to squeak in alarm and almost drop her tea tray. "L-let's hang soon, Yacchan! I've been etching to meet all your friends!"
Hiroko took a bite of her teacake as she watched Teruko bounce over to wait on everyone else, while occasionally shooting anxious glances her way. It was incredibly good - and her reaction must have shown on her face, because Teruko's eyes lit up the moment Hiroko had finished her cake.
"Teruko is the youngest of the Hidaka family. She started working at the ryokan this year." Yasu said between sips of green tea. "I'm glad. She's talked about it since she was little."
"It must feel nice, realizing a lifelong dream like that." Hiroko took a sip of her own green tea. "I'd like to do that myself, someday." She shook her head. "No… I know that I will."
It was odd. The Hiroko of a few months ago would've considered that idea impossible. She was too plain, too unremarkable to have any real dreams or solid goals. It was a miracle that she'd allowed herself to enroll in Mirai Academy, let alone been accepted. But the Hiroko of now was a very different person.
To find a goal for herself - that had been Hiroko's goal at the beginning of the year. And she was almost there. She could feel it in her heart. But what was her actual dream? She wasn't quite sure of that yet.
Once everyone was checked in, Teruko picked up and carried the group's luggage with surprising ease for a slender girl who stood just a bit over five feet tall. As she led Hiroko and the others to their room, which was on the second floor, she gave a detailed run-down of where the baths and other facilities were, what time everything opened and closed, and when their meals would be served.
Sometimes, Teruko would stumble on her words or get details mixed up. She quickly recovered every time, but Hiroko didn't miss the way she winced every time she messed up, or how she kept looking to her for approval. Hiroko felt a pang of sympathy for her. She understood completely, in a way.
"Our ryokan's cuisine has been passed down through the Hidaka family for generations, you know." Teruko said as she ushered the group into their room. "I hope it curries your favor, Tsubasa-san."
"I'm sure we'll love it very… mochi?" Hiroko said awkwardly.
Teruko looked very proud. "Oh, you're getting the hang of it already!" She looked a bit more relaxed now. "You really are Coo-king's top disciple!"
Pretty Cure's assigned room was spacious enough to easily accommodate five teenagers and one adult. The walls were made of polished mahogany, which contrasted nicely with the off-white tatami flooring. A raised alcove was set into one wall and housed a scroll with a waxing moon and an elegant red and white flower arrangement.
A deep brown wooden table sat in the center of the main room, surrounded by six russet cushions. A television sat on a wooden console nearby, not far from a minifridge. A pair of shoji screens, which Teruko opened for the group, led to a carpeted sitting room with a western-style table and chairs and a large set of windows, which allowed the warm afternoon sun to stream into the room.
As Teruko gave the group a crash course to the best of her abilities on where to find the room's amenities, from the AC to their yukata, Hiroko found herself drawn to the sitting room and its windows, which offered an even clearer view of the path to the forest shrine, along with the shrine itself. If she focused just a bit harder, she could even see what looked like an observatory in the distance.
"It's a beautiful view." Yasu had popped up next to Hiroko. "I want to try painting it again."
"I'd love to see it if you do." Hiroko unconsciously stepped a bit closer to Yasu as she continued to gaze outside. "Jun says something's living there. I hope she doesn't mean-"
"It's not haunted. Haruki and I would tell you if it was." Yasu said. "There are supposedly fairies living in the forest. Maybe Jun sensed one of them."
Hiroko breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. I'd rather not - wait, there are fairies living here?"
Meanwhile, Jun and Izumi were eagerly checking out every corner of the room, from the main area to the restroom (complete with indoor bathing) to the storage closet to the contents of the minifridge. Kichu, who was riding in Jun's skirtall pocket, had been struggling to stay still and quiet, and once the pair started browsing the minifridge, which was fully stocked with everyone's favorite drinks and snacks-
-he launched himself towards it with a loud "CHUUU!" Jun just managed to catch him, but now Teruko and Yui, who had been browsing the provided tour brochure with Haruki, were staring at her.
"Sorry! I was just so excited I could squeak!" Jun nudged Kichu back into her pocket. "Like 'chuu chuuu!'"
Teruko burst out giggling. "Well, it's mice to see you're so excited, Inoue-san!" She sidled up to her before adding, more quietly "I'm cheesed to see your mouse is having fun too, but you're really not supposed to bring pets here."
Izumi sidled up to her. "You'll keep it on the down-low, won't you, Hidaka? You're cool, right?"
Teruko went slightly pink. "Cool…" She took a deep breath. "Right! Yes! I am very cool!" Yui shot her a 'volume down' gesture. Teruko winced as she added, more quietly "And um, 'Teruko' is okay, really…"
"Got it, Terunyan." Jun said. "Could we see the shrine? I'm curious about it."
"T-Terunyan…" Teruko buried her hot pink face in her hands and made teakettle noises before catching herself, taking a deep breath, and trying to switch back into professional mode. "I mean! Yes! I would!" Ugh, too loud again! "As a Hidaka, I guarantee a sun-derful experience!"
"Why don't you show them some of the other places around here too?" Haruki suggested. "Our friends have never been to Kiramori before - I'm sure they'd really like a tour."
"I really would appreciate one." Hiroko said as she and Yasu rejoined the group. "Yasu was telling me all about Kiramori's legendary forest - I'd love to see more of it."
Teruko was tomato red now. "A full tour… with Mirai Academy students." She looked like she was almost ready to tip over. "I…" And now her mouth wasn't working. "If it's really okay with you guys, then-"
"Go right ahead." Yui said. "I know you'll take good care of everyone, Teruko."
And now Teruko just looked like she was about to ascend. "I serve to aim!" she squeaked. "Aim to serve! I mean! Um!" She flailed for a moment before "I'll go get changed! Meet me outside, okay?"
Hiroko watched worriedly as Teruko dropped into a shaky bow before scrambling out of the room. She felt like she was watching her old self, in a sense. Maybe she could do something to help her. She had to try.
Teruko was bouncing up and down on her heels when Pretty Cure caught up with her outside the ryokan. The orange-haired girl, who was now clad in a yellow t-shirt, an open white vest, and jean shorts, lit right up and clapped her hands together the moment she noticed them.
"Alright! Follow me!" she chirped. "I woodn't want you to miss this!"
The path through the forest and towards the shrine was steep and winding. Teruko took point, and Jun, Haruki, and Izumi followed close behind her. Jun, who seemed to be on high alert alongside Kichu, occasionally tapped Haruki's shoulder and whispered to him as they went on their way.
Hiroko and Yasu brought up the rear. Yasu did not hesitate to lean on Hiroko for support as they walked, just like she had before, during their last forest hike together. And this one was even more peaceful than the last. Perhaps it was the fresh mountain air here, mingled with the scent of conifers and fresh earth, or maybe it was the sound of birdsong, or maybe it was the aura of spiritual power here…
…or maybe it was simply that the Hiroko of now was more secure with and confident in herself than the Hiroko of back then had been. Either way, she wanted to savor this moment.
"Are there really fairies living in these woods, Terunyan?" Jun asked.
"Yup!" Teruko said. "Lots of people think they're just a local legend. But if they were just something we made up to sell postcards and magnets, then how did I see one? Because I did - and I'm not making them up!" she added with a huff. "Not like I want people to laugh at me. Not like that."
Izumi patted Teruko on the shoulder. "Hey, no sweat - we believe you."
Teruko relaxed a bit. "Ah yeah, I guess you guys would. Kyoukai's always getting attacked by giant monsters, right? One of our guests told me that once."
Everyone froze up in their tracks the moment Teruko said that. Thankfully, Teruko didn't seem to notice.
"And then there's the magic warriors that show up to fight the monsters… the Cutie Pure, right? Have you guys met them? Do they have merchandise? Photos? Anything? Knowing minds are inquiring!"
"The Pretty Cure? We've heard of them!" Haruki said, a bit too readily. Before Teruko could respond, he threw in a quick "Oh, look! I can see the shrine steps up ahead! I'll race you guys!"
Haruki took off… only for Izumi to shoot right past him, with Jun following close behind. Teruko let out a surprised squeak before immediately trying to follow, only for her sneaker to get caught in an errant tree root, causing her to pitch forward. Hiroko just managed to catch and steady Teruko before she could faceplant onto the ground.
Teruko looked equal parts flustered and quietly mortified as Hiroko helped her up. "Th-thanks…" She awkwardly forced a laugh as dusted herself off. "Bad things really do come from trees, huh?"
She skittered off, still red in the face, before Hiroko or Yasu had a chance to respond. The pair exchanged a concerned glance as they followed after her.
Hiroko could feel a marked shift in the air the moment she stepped through the gate to the shrine grounds, after offering a customary bow. She had been to several other shrines before, but she'd never felt the sense of well… being watched so strongly before. At least the watcher felt benevolent.
The shrine and its surroundings were clearly quite old but obviously well cared for. Hiroko found herself wondering how many people had passed through these grounds since the shrine had been built as she looked around. Two paths extended outward and upward beyond the shrine, one traveling to the east, the other to the west. A massive tree sat on the eastern end of the shrine grounds, shading much of it.
Hiroko found herself drawn towards the tree, which had a shimenawa wrapped around it. It was clearly quite old, perhaps as old as the shrine itself, and exuded a presence all its own. Jun must have sensed it too because she darted past Hiroko and straight towards it.
"Terunyan! Is this…" Jun flailed around for the right word before settling on "This tree has a lot of spirit, right?"
"That's right! It's the shrine's sacred tree." Teruko said proudly. "And look!" She indicated an arched hollow in the tree's trunk, which almost looked like a doorway. "The perfect size for a fairy portal. I bet anything it's one of the gates to their world." She sighed. "Wish I could go… I bet it's incredible over here."
"Yeah… I'd love to visit another world myself. Who wouldn't?" Haruki, who had caught up alongside the others, tried not to look too hard at Jun as he spoke. "But Kiramori's pretty magical too!"
Teruko moved to respond to Haruki - and then she noticed a group of young children standing a few yards away from the sacred tree. All of them were carrying bug nets and seemed to be deep in discussion.
"Eiko-chan!" Teruko called. "Come say hello!"
Eiko, a dark-skinned little girl with curious dark pink eyes and blue hair pulled into short and fluffy pigtails, broke from the group and bounded towards Teruko. Her eyes grew wide as she noticed Pretty Cure.
"Teruru! Are they-?"
"That's right!" Teruko said. "These are the tourists from Kyoukai I was telling you about - the ones who go to the famous Mirai Academy!"
Eiko's eyes grew even wider. "Geniuses…" Her eyes lit up. "Oh! Which one of you is the chef? Teruru's told me all about you!"
Hiroko blinked in surprise. "That'd be me." Oh god, she already felt a bit flustered. "And she has?"
Teruko looked aside. "Yacchan talks about you a lot, so…" she said, almost too quietly to be heard.
"Is it true you're a famous cooking genius? Are you gonna teach Teruru how to make the ultimate sweets? Have you been on TV? Cooking geniuses go on TV all the time, right? Have you made… um, I saw it on TV once, they took the bananas, and they lit them on fire! Can you do that? Mom says I'm not old enough, but-"
Eiko was excitedly bouncing up and down on her heels as she rambled at Hiroko, who could feel her head spinning a bit.
"Do you mean bananas foster, Eiko-chan? I've never made it - and I don't think my dorm supervisor would be happy if I tried." Hiroko said. "I'm not really famous either, sorry."
"Well, then Teruru and I will make you famous!" Eiko said. "She's told a bunch of guests at the ryokan about you and how she wants to cook like you someday! You'll help her, right?"
Hiroko was a bit too flustered for words upon hearing that. She unconsciously stepped back a pace, and the moment she did so, the color drained straight from Teruko's face. The orange-haired girl forced a smile as she met Hiroko's eyes before darting towards the shrine steps.
"An-anyway! Lettuce offer a prayer at the shrine!" She waved at Eiko. "Happy hunting, Eiko-chan! Bee sure to catch something cool for me!"
Eiko hesitated before hurrying towards her friends, who were waiting at the base of the eastern path. "Bye, Teruru! Bye, Chef-san! It was nice to meat you!"
As the children vanished from sight, Teruko guided the group to the main shrine. Or that had clearly been the plan, anyway, but Teruko gave up a few steps in before heaving a quiet sigh and slouching.
Hiroko laid a hand on her shoulder. "It can wait, right? There's something I was curious about anyway."
Yasu shot a knowing glance at Hiroko. "We'll go on ahead. Take all the time you need."
Hiroko guided Teruko towards the western end of the shrine grounds, which offered the best view of the observatory. It sat on a hill some distance away from here and was quite impressively-sized.
"Could you tell me about that observatory?" Hiroko asked. "I've been curious about it for a while now."
"Yet another shining star of Kiramori - excellent taste!" Teruko was trying to sound peppy, and it wasn't quite working. "One of my classmates lives there, actually. Hotaru Honoo - I used to come over there and mess with the telescope when she'd let me." Her expression faltered. "I kind of miss it."
Hiroko shot a concerned glance at Teruko. "Did something happen?"
Teruko nodded. "Honoo-san's dating Morikawa-san, our student council president, now. And Morikawa-san doesn't like me at all. Lots of people don't." She stared sadly out into the distance. "I'm sorry. I know I was being weird again. I just… Yacchan made you sound so cool, and my mouth ran ahead of my head, and-!"
"I'm not upset with you, Teruko." HIroko said. "I'm just… not really used to being praised like that."
Teruko looked genuinely shocked. "Why wouldn't people praise you? You have to be a genius with big dreams to even go to Mirai, right? And you're smart and mature and amazing at cooking, and you look really pretty in a dress and…" She smiled sadly. "Well, I'm me."
Hiroko was right, she realized. Teruko really was a lot like she had been once. Which meant she owed it to herself to be there for her, however she could.
"I thought like that too, once." Hiroko said. "I thought I was a plain and boring person. I didn't think I deserved to enroll in Mirai Academy - I couldn't even think of a true goal for myself when I did enroll."
"Huh? But you're amazing!" Teruko said. "Didn't you dream of being a professional chef? Or a personal cook? Or… honestly, you'd do amazing in our ryokan's kitchen! Why undersell yourself?!"
"You shouldn't undersell yourself either, Teruko." Hiroko said. "You've dreamed of working at your family's ryokan for years, haven't you? And you made your dream come true."
Teruko managed a thin smile. "Can't argue with that. Even if I keep screwing stuff up."
"You should've seen me when I started learning how to cook." Hiroko said. "I turned so many things into charcoal." She smiled. "If you keep working at it and keep believing in yourself, you'll get better, bit by bit. And I know you'll find friends who believe in you too, just like I did."
Teruko's eyes were watering a bit. "Do you really think so?"
Hiroko nodded. "You have me. And there will be plenty of others too. I know there will be."
Teruko burst into tears. Hiroko responded by pulling her into a tight hug. She gave amazing hugs - Jun had told her that once, and it was yet another thing she'd held close to her heart.
"Maybe you should be a teacher. Y'know, for one of those fancy cooking schools." Teruko said as the two parted from their embrace. "You're really inspirational, Hiroko."
"Well, I do lead… a school club." Hiroko said. "I guess that comes with the territory."
Teruko looked like there was something she wanted to ask - and then she jumped and wheeled around as footsteps caught her ears. "Oh! Hakkun! Are you done?"
Haruki nodded. "Do you guys want to offer a prayer too?" The rest of the group was descending the steps to the main shrine. "Or… we can go back if you're not feeling well, Teruko. It's really up to you."
Teruko laughed. "What, me, back out of the tour I offered? The sunny gal with a flare for service? No way!" She wiped her eyes on her shirt sleeve as she glanced at Hiroko. "C'mon - I brought some money to offer and everything! It'd be nonsense to show up with no cents! Am I right or am I right?"
Hiroko smiled fondly as Teruko went on ahead, before following right after her. A teacher, huh? That was certainly something to consider.
The Strawberry Kingdom was one of the most well-known tourist attractions in Kiramori. It was a vast and spacious indoor strawberry farm where hundreds of healthy-looking and vibrant strawberry plants grew in neat rows on raised planters. Guests were free to pick a container's worth of Kiramori's fresh-grown strawberries and take them home… and sample a few berries while they were at it.
Two teenage girls were among today's modestly sized crowd at the Strawberry Kingdom. One had long purple-black hair and dark fuchsia eyes framed by round spectacles. She wore a red floral-print sundress and was humming a cheerful tune as she picked strawberries and placed them in a container. Or she had been, until she noticed her companion, who looked significantly less enthused.
"Hm? Shika-chan?" the purple-haired girl asked. "Is everything alright?"
Shika had stern burgundy eyes and brown hair tied into a neat bun. She was clad in a smart pink blouse and long khaki skirt, and she looked like she had somewhere else she needed to (but didn't necessarily want to) be.
"Sorry, Hotaru-chan. I just feel like we're wasting valuable time here." Shika said. "Summer vacation isn't an excuse to slack off, and I'm already behind on-"
Hotaru laid a finger on Shika's lips. "Shika-chan. Enough. We've been studying for hours now. If you don't take a break, you won't absorb the information properly."
Shika had gone slightly pink. "I suppose, but…" she muttered.
"Shika-chan. Listen to your girlfriend." Hotaru said firmly. "Please rest." As she moved further down the row of strawberry plants, she added "Besides… my moms' strawberry pie is certified brain food!" She winked at Shika. "It's berry important to feed your mind, Shika-chan."
Shika did not look impressed by that pun. "You got that from Hidaka-san, didn't you?" she sighed. "Still… I can't argue with that. As long as we get back to st-" Her eyes widened in alarm as she started forward. "Hotaru-chan, look out!"
Hotaru, who had been very focused on picking strawberries and not at all focused on anything else, didn't catch Shika's warning and walked straight into another guest - a mountain of a man in a pink floral shirt. Hotaru fumbled her grip on her container of strawberries as she was sent reeling backward from the impact. Shika was able to catch her girlfriend before she hit the ground, but the container went flying into the air-
-and was expertly caught by the very tall man, who offered it to Hotaru.
"Be careful." he said. "It'd be a shame to waste these."
"Right… sorry about that." Hotaru said softly as she accepted the container. "I'd hate to have to pick these all… over again…"
Her voice grew quieter as she noticed the person who'd accompanied the very tall man - a much shorter individual with fluffy white hair, who was clad in loose red and black attire. One of their eyes was covered by a patch, and the other… if looks could kill, it would have been over for Hotaru and Shika right there.
"Thank you, sir." Shika said awkwardly. The white-haired person was clearly making her nervous as well. "Apologies for the trouble. And… er, enjoy your strawberries."
Seimono just smiled as he watched the two head elsewhere, arm in arm. "I plan to."
Kamryou shot the pair of girls one last death glare before glancing worriedly at Seimono. It had been a while since he'd been genuinely content. It'd been a while since he'd smiled like that. They wanted to be happy for him, but…
"Seimono-sama… aren't we wasting time as well?" they asked as they trailed after Seimono, who had returned to picking strawberries. "If Pretty Cure is here, then…"
"I know." Seimono did not take his eyes off the strawberry plants. "But the time isn't right yet." He took a moment to sample a strawberry. "Hm. That is good. Care to try one, Kamryou?"
Kamryou didn't even acknowledge the offer. "Seimono-sama."
"Kamryou." Seimono's expression softened as he regarded his partner. "I know exactly where we stand. And I know exactly what needs to be done. I will meet them on the battlefield when the time is right."
"And what if… they're more powerful now, Seimono-sama, what if they-?"
Seimono shook his head. "They're far too honorable for that. And I have no intention of losing."
Pretty Cure would be more likely to try and reason with him, or at least that leader of theirs would. Not that it mattered. Seimono had made his choice twenty-five years ago. He would be stuck walking the path of a cowardly traitor until the end. And the end was coming very soon. Seimono had been given very little to do as of late and frozen out of any meetings with Kagemera or his fellow generals on top of that. He knew damned well what that meant. The next time he was called upon would the the last.
And that was why the two of them were here. One last honorable duel before the end. One chance to see if Pretty Cure was equipped to defeat Kagemera. Or perhaps, whoever might come after him. The false Shade King was not long for this world. He had no heirs waiting in the wings, as far as Seimono knew.
It didn't matter. Knowing Kagemera, he'd ensure that Seimono went before he did. It was inevitable.
"Seimono-sama, what's wrong?"
Kamryou was looking at Seimono with concern. Kamryou, who had suffered so much for his cowardice. A greater man would have driven them away by now. But Seimono was the farthest thing from great.
"It's nothing." Seimono said. "Nothing at all. Please don't worry yourself, Kamryou."
Kamryou watched as their partner pretended to be very interested in yet another identical-looking row of strawberries. Those girls from earlier were still here too, and now Seimono was chatting with the purple-haired one about dessert recipes, as if absolutely nothing was wrong. As if Kamryou hadn't seen the provberbial sword swinging above both their heads for weeks.
Their one good eye narrowed as they tightened a fist.
"Seimono-sama, you liar."
Teruko was in top form for the rest of the group's tour of Kiramori, or at least the area near the Hidaka Ryokan. She did stumble over her words a few more times and almost tripped over her feet at least once, but she seemed much more comfortable and at ease with herself than she had just a few moments ago. It seemed like Hiroko really had been able to make a difference. Good.
Kiramori really was a nice little town. Pretty Cure eagerly drank in everything around them - the souvenir shop that sold everything from painted fairy figurines to cream-filled sponge cakes, the bakery with windows full of the most delicious-looking bread Hiroko had even seen, the local teddy bear museum…
…and a ramen shop whose tantalizing smells caught Kichu's nose. Jun just managed to catch him before he could wriggle out of her arms and dart inside and right before Teruko or the shop worker, who had just come around from the back, could see him move.
"You have to wait!" Jun hissed quietly as Kichu sulked in her grasp. "We're gonna have dinner soon."
The worker, a tall and broad-shouldered teenage girl, paused upon hearing Jun's voice before turning to regard the group curiously. She had blue-black hair worn in a short, wavy bob and warm violet eyes.
"Oh, what a cute doll!" she said warmly. "It suits you." She tipped a wink to Jun before glancing around at the rest of the group. "Are these your guests, Hidaka-san? You have quite a crew here."
"And she's been quite the tour guide." Hiroko said. "We've been having a wonderful time."
Teruko looked like she was about to tip over. "Yes! Right! The loveliest and the… tour guidiest! That's me." A pause, then "Oh! Uh, this is Ai Yukimura! She's a classmate of mine! Actually her family-"
"-is probably wondering what's taking me." Ai smiled apologetically at Teruko. "Sorry, Hidaka-san. Let's hang out later, alright?"
"Y-yes… let's." mumbled a visibly flustered Teruko as she watched Ai disappear inside the ramen shop.
Izumi patted Teruko on the shoulder as she led the group away from Shiokaze. "You'll get there someday." she said, drawing a confused look from the other girl. "I believe in you."
There was plenty more to see around Kiramori. But the group had been out and about for a while now, Teruko's two older siblings couldn't spot her forever, and dinner would be ready before too long. And thus, Teruko reluctantly led the group back to the Hidaka Ryokan.
"You guys really should come back this winter." Teruko said as they approached the ryokan. "Soaking in a nice, hot yuzu bath in snowy weather is one of the icest-"
"Teruko! There you are!"
A young woman clad in yukata was standing in front of the entrance of the Hidaka Ryokan. She had bobbed russet hair and bore a clear familial resemblance to Teruko.
"You certainly took your sweet time." The young woman sighed in exasperation. "It's time to get changed and get going, Teruko. Dinner's soon, and we'll need all hands on deck."
Teruko bowed apologetically. "Sorry, Natsumi… I meant to be back sooner, but-" Natsumi was tapping her foot impatiently. Teruko grimaced before turning to Pretty Cure. "Well, uh, see you guys later, then. Oh, and Hiroko!"
"Hm?"
Teruko grinned. "Thanks. You're even cooler than I imagined."
Now it was Hiroko's turn to look like she was going to tip over. She felt a surge of heat rush to her face as Teruko and Natsumi disappeared into the ryokan, and it only grew as Yasu laid a hand on her shoulder.
"She isn't wrong." Yasu said. "You're an admirable person, Hiroko."
Izumi gave Hiroko a hearty pat on the back. "Damn straight! There's a reason you're our leader!"
Haruki and Jun nodded in agreement as Hiroko glanced from them to Izumi to Yasu to Kichu, who offered an approving "chu chuu!" and a little fist pump. The Hiroko of a few months ago would have never imagined anyone being inspired by someone as plain as her. But now…
"Everyone, I-"
"Pretty Cure. A moment of your time."
Pretty Cure turned to find Seimono, still in human guise, standing a few yards away. Hiroko tensed as she met his eyes. What in the world was he doing in Kiramori? And if Seimono was here, then-
"Seriously?" Izumi groused. "We're on vacation, old man! Why the hell would-"
Kamryou, who had been sheltering behind their partner, shot towards Izumi, intent on throttling the blond. Seimono was forced to restrain his partner, who glared death at Izumi with their one uncovered eye.
"That tone displeases Seimono-sama." Kamryou hissed.
Seimono shook his head. "I understand the objection. We're also on vacation." And then, to Izumi "But that changes nothing. A warrior must always be prepared for combat. I'd expect you to remember that, Genbu."
Izumi was only half-paying attention to Seimono, who she answered with a curt "Yeah, whatever." She was more fixated on Kamryou, who was in a far sorrier state than she'd last seen them. Everyone was.
Jun hesitantly stepped towards Kamryou, who bristled like a feral cat. "Are you… did something happen?" Was this because they'd failed to recover the Ouryuu crystal? "If you're in pain-"
"I don't want your help!" Kamryou snarled, sending Jun reeling backward. Seimono was no longer holding them back, but it was clear that only his disapproval was keeping them from attacking Jun, who was trying to keep Kichu from wriggling out of her grasp and attacking Kamryou. "You did this!" A glare at Haruki, who had moved to comfort Jun. "You too. Him too. I hate you, I hate you, I hate-!"
"Kamryou! That's enough!" Seimono laid a hand on his partner's trembling shoulder. "We can't turn back time. We can't divest them of their crystals. And Suzaku and Ouryuu are not to blame."
"Kagemera doesn't forgive or forget." Haruki gave Jun's free hand a tight squeeze as he met Seimono's eyes. "Cross him, and your life's over. Madoka-san… Hachime told me that."
"And he was correct." Seimono's eyes darkened. "Next time, that retribution will fall on the correct target." He glanced towards Hiroko. "And before that, we have a score to settle, Seiryuu."
"It's because the five of us are together and powered up, right?" Hiroko asked. "So, now it's a fair fight."
Seimono nodded. "One last fight. Five on one, no holds barred. I'll be satisfied then."
Kamryou tensed at Seimono's choice of words. "Don't… don't say that." They clung to Seimono's side as tightly as they could as tears welled in their visible eye. "Don't say 'last', don't you dare-"
Seimono looked genuinely affected by Kamryou's obvious distress… but then he took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and hardened his demeanor. Turning back was not, had never been an option.
"The mountain shrine should be an acceptable battlefield. Wouldn't you agree, Seiryuu?"
The wind rustled through the trees as Seimono's words reverberated in Hiroko's ears. She had a feeling this day would come. And she knew what her answer would have to be. But… even so…
"You didn't want to do it, did you? You… didn't want to do any of it, right? So why did you still-?"
"Because I can't be anything else, Cure Seiryuu. Once a coward, always a coward."
...did it have to be like this?
Things seemed almost unsettlingly normal when Pretty Cure returned to their room. Yui, who was already dressed in a silver yukata, casually greeted the group before directing them to go ahead and bathe. After all, dinner would be here soon. If Yui suspected anything, she gave no indication.
It did feel nice to take a shower after running around Kiramori and even nicer to take a nice soak in one of the ryokan's indoor baths before changing into the yukata everyone had been provided with. They fit each member perfectly, came into their respective signature colors, and were incredibly comfortable to wear.
It should have been a relaxing experience. But even now, Hiroko's mind was a whirl of thoughts - about Pretty Cure's looming duel with Seimono, about the grim fatalism of a man she'd sooner reason with than leave to his fate, about her own future, and she knew her teammates were hardly any better.
"I suppose it would be." Hiroko had said. "Then, if you want to start now-"
Seimono looked a bit offended. "Now? When you haven't enjoyed an evening bath? When you haven't eaten dinner?" He shook his head. "I have no right to deprive you of such experiences."
Kamryou stared up at him confusedly. "Are the baths that important, Seimono-sama?"
"Extremely so." Seimono said solemnly. "They're the perfect balm for one's body and soul." He hummed thoughtfully. "There is a public bathhouse around here, correct? I swear we passed by one."
"That's right." Yasu said. "Just a bit east of the strawberry farm. If you require directions-"
There had been something oddly comical about Yasu pulling out her cell phone and showing a map to one of their enemies, who had sung the praises of the Strawberry Kingdom before declaring his intent to enjoy a hot springs bath of his own and wishing Pretty Cure a relaxing evening. Seimono was a strange person. But he wasn't a terrible one. And there had to be a bit more to him than 'Kagemera's servant'.
But could Hiroko or anyone else get him to listen? That was the real question here.
That evening's dinner was as amazing as Hiroko had hoped it would be. Teruko brought several courses for the six to enjoy, each one more delectable looking than the last. Fresh vegetables, stewed meat, grilled fish, chawanmushi, tempura, vinegared seafood… Hiroko eagerly helped herself to a little bit of everything, and everything tasted amazingly good. She was positively glowing as she enjoyed her meal.
"This is some of the best food I've ever had." Hiroko told Teruko as she came to bring out the penultimate course - steamed rice, miso soup, and pickles. "Coo-king would be proud."
Teruko looked very flustered but very pleased. "I'll make sure to let our chefs know!" As she finished setting out everything, she added "I hope tonight's dessert is similarly egg-celent! I helped make it!"
For a while, Hiroko was able to lose herself in a world of good food and pleasant conversation. Yui casually pressed Pretty Cure for details about their tour of Kiramori and their experiences at Mirai Academy thus far, as Izumi ate like she had never seen food before, while Yasu and Haruki worked on keeping their mother distracted so Jun could keep slipping bits of her food to Kichu.
Dessert was fresh-made peach sorbet. Teruko had looked beyond herself with happiness as Hiroko glowingly complimented her on its taste.
"I'll be sure to recommend it to my classmates." Hiroko said. "You've done really well, Teruko."
"I sure have, haven't I?" It was a wonder Teruko didn't faint on the spot. "But uh, thanks, Hiroko! And please! Please do! It means more people will turnip at our ryokan, so-"
And then Yui had to remind Teruko that she had other guests to see to, sending the girl scrambling out of the room after another hasty apology. She seemed to take it in a bit more stride this time, at least. And she would get better, bit by bit. Hiroko had no reason to believe otherwise.
Pretty Cure had gone to wind down in some of the outdoor hot springs afterward. Yui had not joined them. She would be catching up with Shunsuke, she had told the group, and probably wouldn't be back for a while. And then she had taken off, after one curt reminder not to stay up too late and to mind their volume. She had looked strangely knowing for a moment. Had it just been Hiroko's imagination?
The springs here were ringed with rocks and surrounded by an outdoor garden. A wooden wall divided the women's side from the men's. A nearly full moon hung high in the sky, and a gentle summer breeze, much cooler and drier than the ones in Kyoukai, drifted through the air. It made the steamy and hot natural spring water feel that much more pleasant. Nobody else was present outside of Pretty Cure.
Jun was leaning up against the divider wall and chatting with Haruki, who was on the men's side of the baths with Kichu. Izumi was a few yards away, talking Yasu's ear off about how to best defeat Seimono. Hiroko, who was resting her back against a nearby boulder, sighed as she stared up at the moon.
"Wait!" Haruki had started after Seimono as he and Kamryou had moved to leave. "Hachime… is he-?"
"He escaped." Seimono had not looked back at Haruki. "But that means little. Kagemera is relentless. You cannot save anyone from him. All you can do is buy them a bit of time."
"You're speaking from experience, aren't you?" Hiroko said without thinking.
Seimono stopped in his tracks before turning to meet her gaze. Hiroko would never forget how defeated he sounded and how hollow his eyes were.
"I was a naive fool. I thought these hands of mine would be strong enough to protect them. To save her. I was wrong." He looked away. "I can't take it back. But I can make sure you're prepared, Seiryuu."
Hiroko started after Seimono. "What are you talking about?" Seimono just kept walking as Kamryou continued to cling to his side. Hiroko hurried after him. "By 'they', could you mean-?"
Seimono didn't even acknowledge Hiroko. He just continued onward before vanishing in a burst of gold dust right as Hiroko reached for him, leaving her to stare at empty air.
Hiroko felt someone intertwining their fingers around her own before gently taking her hand into hers. She looked over to see Yasu.
"You do have strong hands, Hiroko."
Hiroko looked at her own hand, held in Yasu's own. There was a tiny scar on her finger, from where she had badly sliced herself trying to chop apples, an old burn scar on the back from a mishap with a stove, and a more recent cut on her thumb. A chef's hand. A hand intertwined with the delicate hands of an artist, hands that already had formed calluses on the fingers. She looked up at Yasu.
"Strong enough to support everyone, I'd hope. No matter what happens."
"Of course." Yasu's smile had to be one of the most beautiful things Hiroko had ever seen. "I have nothing but faith in you, Hiroko. Everyone here does."
Izumi popped up next to the pair, making Hiroko jump a bit. "And if we beat Seimono, that just clinches it, right?" she said. "And we will!" She knocked her fists together. "You've got my fists on your side, Hiroko!"
"And my shield." said Yasu.
"And my magic!" Jun called from her spot by the divider.
"And my sword!" Haruki called from the other side.
"Chu chu chuuu!" Kichu added.
"Everyone…" Hiroko swallowed the urge to sink under the water from embarrassment. "That's right! We'll definitely pull through - and we'll get across to Seimono. We have to try!"
That was the way she would look at it. That was the attitude that had gotten her this far. The attitude that had helped her inspire Teruko. That might help her inspire others someday. She had to look at it that way.
As her teammates returned to light conversation, Jun knocked concernedly on the divider. "Hey, Harunyan? Are you okay over there? You aren't lonely, are you?"
"Huh?" Haruki said from the other side of the baths. "No way! Actually, I like having a whole bath to myself-"
"Chuuuu."
"-to the two of us! Besides, we can still talk like this, right? We're literally right next to each other."
"That's true. Under the same moon and everything!" Jun sighed happily. "The moon sure is beautiful tonight, isn't it, Harunyan?"
"Y-yeah." Haruki went awkwardly silent for a while after that. Jun wished she understood why.
Seimono and Kamryou were sharing an outdoor bath under the same night sky as their adversaries. Nobody else was present but them - there had been two older gentlemen, but Kamryou had chased them away with death glares alone. So what if this was a public bath? For now, it was theirs.
It was quiet here. Peaceful. And the hot spring water did help - Kamryou didn't feel pain the same way most spirits seemed to, but they did feel it, constantly now, since their mauling at Kagemera's hands Soaking in these hot springs didn't make it go away, but it certainly helped. And cuddling close to Seimono helped even more. Just the two of them, at peace. This was the ideal. It needed to stay like this.
Seimono had said nothing. He'd certainly acknowledged Kamryou's presence, but he'd been too deep in thought to carry on a conversation. It was that Pretty Cure's fault, wasn't it? Talking about the past caused Seimono pain, and Kamryou loved him too much to even consider such things. How dare that child try to-
"Kamryou."
Kamryou looked up at their partner, who was staring wistfully up at the gibbous moon in the sky. "Hm? Seimono-sama?"
"The moon is beautiful tonight. Don't you agree?"
"Of course." They cuddled a bit closer to their partner as they joined him in staring up at the sky. They had never thought much of Earth's moon before. But now…. "Seimono-sama is always correct."
It was perfect like this. Just the two of them. If only it could remain that way forever. If only, if only.
Pretty Cure stole out of the Hidaka Ryokan after departing the outdoor baths and changing back into their yukata. No one noticed the five slipping into the night, as far as Hiroko could tell. The group was still as stealthy as possible, right until they reached the trail to the shrine.
Seimono and Kamryou were descending the steps from the main shrine when the group arrived. From the look of things, the pair had just finished praying. Kamryou fixed Pretty Cure with another death glare, while Seimono simply smiled and bowed in greeting, as if the group were old friends of his.
"Pretty Cure. Right on time." He cast a quizzical glance towards Hiroko. "It's two bows and two claps, isn't it, Seiryuu? It's been a while since I've done this."
Hiroko blinked. "Yes?" A part of her wondered just how the shrine's god, if that was who they were sensing, felt about the fight that was about to go down on their turf. "More importantly, we-"
Seimono cut Hiroko off with a raised hand. "That can wait, Seiryuu. You know exactly why we're here."
"Oh, trust me, we know." Izumi knocked her fists together. "Go ahead and summon that Nikuina - I'm more than ready to kick its ass!"
And Seimono burst out laughing. "Genbu! You insult me!" He stepped back a few paces before divesting himself first of his greatsword, then of his longcoat, which were both tossed aside unceremoniously, leaving him shirtless and devoid of weapons, past his own fists. "I need no strength but my own!"
Seimono let out a roar as he gathered his spirit power, which flared up around him like a flickering bronze flame. Pretty Cure instinctively retreated away from Seimono and went for their Puricells as the air around them crackled with power and the ground beneath them trembled and shook. The tremors in the earth and buzzing in the air only grew more intense as Seimono's aura flared brighter and brighter.
Kamryou, who was now hovering over the battlefield, took it all in with stunned awe. They had never seen Seimono pull off something like this, and it was truly beautiful to behold. This would be enough, wouldn't it? Enough to crush Pretty Cure. Enough to buy them and Seimono more time. Maybe.
When Seimono straightened up, his body was crackling all over with sparking bronze spirit power, his build seemed a bit larger and markedly more muscular than before, and his eyes were gleaming with light. He broke into a satisfied grin as he dropped into a combat stance.
"No more holding back! Come at me with all you have, Pretty Cure!"
"Pretty Cure! Spirit Unleash!"
Pretty Cure just managed to leap out of the way as Seimono sprang at them with the speed and force of a bullet train. He drove an energy-charged fist into the ground as Pretty Cure leapt upward. A massive fissure ripped through the ground on impact, sending massive chunks of dirt and debris flying into the air.
Seiryuu and Suzaku just managed to avoid getting smacked with errant chunks of earth, but Ouryuu and Genbu were not so lucky. The two were sideswept by a massive slab of dislodged pavement, knocking them out of the air. Seimono seized the opening he was presented with as the pair hit the ground-
-and was intercepted by Byakko, who leapt in front of the pair, shield at the ready. She channeled every drop of spirit power she had into keeping her shield up as Seimono rained blows down upon it. Her form glowed white, her arms ached, she dug her heels in as Seimono drove her further and further backward.
It didn't matter. This was the strongest shield she could manage, and it was still cracking apart, as-
-Seiryuu and Suzaku struck from behind, the blue Cure with a hail of windy bullets, the red Cure with a fiery punch. Seimono didn't even seem to notice. He neatly broke through Byakko's shield, sending the white Cure flying backward, before nailing Seiryuu and Suzaku with a reverse kick without batting an eye.
Genbu and Ouryuu came hurtling out of the distance. Seimono effortlessly caught the pair by their legs before tossing them high into the air. He sprang after the two, battering them with a hail of rapid-fire fisticuffs. The black Cure and the gold Cure had no space to retaliate, let alone parry the assault-
-which was cut off as Seiryuu, Byakko, and Suzaku struck Seimono with a spirit power-charged triple kick. It struck true - and hard enough to knock Seimono out of the air and onto the ground in a burst of dust.
Seimono just managed to right himself as the three Cures moved to pursue him. He neatly dodged Seiryuu and Suzaku's spirit power and nimbly backflipped out of the way of Byakko's physical strikes before springboarding off a nearby fence. As he launched himself towards the three, he readied another ground strike-
-and was intercepted mid-leap by Seiryuu, Suzaku, and Byakko, who caught his sizable fist in their hands. The three blazed blue, white, and red as they channeled all their strength into holding him back. He smirked at the display… before channeling his own spirit power and easily overpowering the trio.
Seiryuu smacked hard into a nearby tree, Suzaku hit the ground, and Byakko held out for a moment using her shield before Seimono broke through her guard and tossed her towards Genbu, who had been readying an attack, taking the black Cure out as well. Seimono did not look impressed with any of them.
"What happened to the heroes who thwarted Hinyu?" he scoffed. "What's with these sloppy moves?"
He was answered by one of Ouryuu's golden vines, which shot out of the darkness before wrapping around his arms and binding them to his sides, and then Ouryuu herself, who threw herself towards Seimono like a vengeful gold meteor before battering him with a hail of spirit power-charged blows.
The sight was enough to give the rest of Pretty Cure their second wind. The five blazed brightly with spirit power as they assailed Seimono on all sides. Five colors of petals danced in the wind, blue, black, white, red, and yellow, as Pretty Cure threw everything they had into beating Seimono down.
Seimono did not seem to care. Pretty Cure's attacks, especially those coming from the front, were actually causing him pain. But he seemed perfectly content to stoically endure their full-powered assault. They couldn't keep this level of power up forever. Their auras were already flickering a bit. He shot a knowing look at Kamryou, who was still keenly monitoring the battle from above before muttering a quiet
"Five… four… three… two… ONE!"
On 'one', Seimono's aura flared up with the strength of an inferno. His bindings dissolved with one flex of his muscles, and Pretty Cure was blasted away with the force of his spirit power alone. The five of them tried to get back on their feet, only to quickly crumple to their knees.
"This can't be it. These can't be the legendary warriors." Seimono stared down contemptuously at the group. "You're less than half-baked. You're completely uncooked! You'll never be ready at this rate."
"Ready for what, old man?" Genbu hissed through gritted teeth. "Are you gonna explain that, like, ever?"
Seimono's gaze hardened. "Now isn't the time for-"
"It's Kagemera, isn't it?" Ouryuu said. "You want us to defeat Kagemera, don't you?" Seimono said nothing - but Ouryuu had clearly struck gold, judging by his expression. "That's why you helped Hironyan back there, right? Because you're a good person! Because you want the same things we do, don't you?"
Seimono still did not respond, not even as Kamryou flew to his side and fixed Ouryuu with a death glare.
"Don't." they hissed. "You're displeasing Seimono-sama. Don't you dare."
Ouryuu faltered… and then Seiryuu laid her hand over the gold Cure's own before shooting her a reassuring smile. You're fine, her expression said. I'm here for you. I promise.
"It was the Shade Kingdom's Pretty Cure team, wasn't it? Those were the people you were supposed to protect." This was a shot in the dark, and Seiryuu knew it. Seimono could have been referring to any number of people. But she had to try! "But you couldn't. Because they weren't ready to fight Kagemera."
Kamryou lunged towards Seiryuu. "Shut up, or I will make you shut up!" they spat. "All of you, all of you-!"
Seimono laid a hand on Kamryou's shoulder. "It's alright. They at least deserve to know this." He met Seiryuu's gaze. "We were a pacifist nation once. Our Pretty Cure was there to help the citizenry, not to fight. When Kagemera invaded twenty-five years ago, they were not prepared. We were not prepared."
Suzaku swallowed hard. "And that's why… that's why they're gone, right?"
Seimono nodded. "Shinryuu, Shishi, Tenma, and Houou. I watched them die. Kirin… I could not save her." His voice cracked, just a bit. "If they were prepared, if I was prepared, perhaps they'd live." He dropped back into a combat stance. "And thus-"
Seiryuu's eyes widened at the mention of Cure Kirin. Selphie had dropped that name, hadn't she? Yozora had once worn that title, hadn't she? And if Yozora was from the Shade Kingdom herself, then-
"You're wrong! There's someone who-!"
But Seimono was past hearing anything Seiryuu had to say. "Save it!" he roared. "Do you think Kagemera's ilk will suffer idle conversation? Do you think they'll show you any mercy?" His aura flared back up. "Enough talk! Show me what you're actually capable of, Pretty Cure!"
And Seimono drove a fist hard into the ground. This time, the ground below him didn't just crack - it outright split in two, creating a deep ravine that opened wide and wider as it zipped towards the still-prone Pretty Cure. The air grew thicker and thicker with dust and debris as the ground split apart.
The attack connected in an eruption of dislodged earth and a massive cloud of dust - right as Pretty Cure leapt upward from the point of impact. Seimono grinned approvingly as the quintet touched down atop a nearby fence, staring him down with blazing, resolute eyes.
"Maybe we're not ready to face Kagemera yet - but we'll definitely get there! And we'll absolutely prove our strength to you!" Seiryuu said. "We have to try!" And then, to her teammates "He's right. We were being sloppy before. But if each of us focuses on what we do best-"
"Then we'll deliver a triple deluxe ass-kicking!" Genbu pumped a fist excitedly. "Sounds good to me!"
Pretty Cure exchanged glances before splitting in five different directions. Seiryuu moved to engage Seimono - but she made sure not to get too close to him. Instead, she played keep-away, maintaining a safe distance as Seimono attempted to close the gap between the pair.
"Oh? Are you waging a battle of attrition? Against me?" Seimono looked even less impressed than before. "Such shoddy strategy, Seiryuu!"
And suddenly, Seiryuu felt herself struggling to both stay out of Seimono's range - and maintain something resembling steady footing. Seimono absolutely shredded the ground as he pursued her, reducing the earth below him to a mess of scattered rubble, deep craters and rough fissures. Debris flew everywhere, forcing Seimono to worry about that on top of everything else. Still, she kept going.
Seimono was relentless. He did not falter once as he drove Seiryuu into a corner. He was laser focused on wearing her down and intercepting whatever attacks the other four might be readying. He was so laser focused on these things that he did not notice the ball of blue light steadily building in Seiryuu's right palm.
And by the time he did, it was too late. The massive blue tornado that suddenly leapt forth from Seiryuu's extended palm hit him head-on and swept him up into the air. The sheer force of the vortex left Seimono disoriented and unable to properly counter as Ouryuu and Genbu sprang towards him from both sides. As the golden Cure bound Seimono with her vines, the black Cure lashed him with her Black Ribbon.
As Seiryuu's tornado dissipated, Genbu channeled every bit of strength she could muster before thrusting the Black Ribbon forward and tossing the bound Seimono away from her. He broke out of his golden bindings once more. It didn't matter. Byakko was ready with one of her shields. This time, she didn't use it to defend herself. Instead, she shoved it full-force towards Seimono, stunning him on impact.
Seimono plummeted to the ground - and Suzaku moved in, striking Seimono from behind with a rain of fiery blows. Before he could retaliate, Seiryuu shot forth from the distance in a streak of blue, striking him straight onto the chest with a full-force spirit power-infused. Her attack connected in a bust of blue light and an explosion of blue delphinium petals. For a moment, her and Seimono's eyes met-
-and then he let out a gasp of pain as his own aura flickered and died before the sheer force of the attack sent him flying backward and straight into one of the many fissures he had created over the course of the battle in a harsh explosion of dirt and debris.
"Seimono-sama!"
Kamryou wasted no time in trying to pull Seimono out of the fissure. They were far too weak to have any hope of managing such a thing, especially with a man of Seimono's stature. He still looked appreciative as he easily levered himself out of the fissure before staggering to his feet… and promptly doubling over.
"Don't worry. I'm fine." he told Kamryou - and Ouryuu, who had started towards him, Golden Harp at the ready. He laughed softly as he straightened up. "Maybe more than fine. I haven't felt this good in a while."
Suzaku looked at him hopefully. "Do you mean-?"
"You're not all the way there yet." Seimono said. "But you have potential." He nodded to Seiryuu. "Lead them well, and I'm sure you five will triumph." His gaze darkened. "It's a shame I won't be there to see it."
Kamryou did not look at all happy with their partner. "Seimono-sama!" They hovered up close to Seimono's face as they snapped at their partner. "Don't say that stuff! You're not going anywhere, I won't let-!"
Seimono held firm. "Kamryou. You and I have both seen the writing on the wall." he said solemnly. "My time is almost up. Kagemera has no more use for me. And I…" He shook his head. "I'm past redeeming myself. Those hopes died with Lady Soyokaze. I failed her, just as I failed you, Kamryou."
"That isn't true!"
Seimono looked genuinely stunned by Seiryuu's outburst, too stunned to manage any kind of comeback.
"Soyokaze… she was Cure Kirin, right?" Seiryuu asked.
"That's right." Seimono said stiffly. "One of our kingdom's princesses. I served her family, once. I tried to get her to safety, after she survived Kagemera's attack on our kingdom. Are you implying-?"
"I'm saying it - Soyokaze is alive." Seiryuu said. "She lived - she had a life on Earth, and a husband and daughters - we've never met her, but Shun met her recently - she has to be out there somewhere!"
That was Genbu's cue to step in and summarize everything Shun had recounted about her dream, namely what Yozora (Soyokaze?) had told her, and how Shun had gained possession of the Kirin Crystal, which was cracked but - hopefully - very much fixable.
"I'm uh, gonna let the princess stuff sit for now." Genbu said. "Point is, Sieg-kun's got her mom's crystal, and her mom sure didn't sound like a spooky ghost. Actually, it sounds like she's laying low in your world. You can ask Sieg-kun and Kimi if you don't believe us - they've got proof and everything."
"You didn't fail at all." Byakko said. "You saved her, Seimono."
Seimono said nothing in response. The look on his face was… it was more than shock. It was the look of a man who had his entire worldview upended. A worldview built on one foundation - the idea that he had utterly failed, built up over the course of twenty-five years and shattered in the space of a moment.
Was it true? Had Soyokaze lived? He saw little reason to doubt Pretty Cure. They were honorable people, and Kagemera… well, Kagemera had never produced a body. And how could he have? Soyokaze, by some miracle, had escaped to and made a life on Earth. She had children, a daughter he had crossed swords with ten years ago, and a daughter who now held the Kirin crystal. She had lived. Surely, she still lived.
And where had he been all that time? Seimono stared down at his hands. Twenty-five years spent mourning at an empty grave, spent serving the man who had turned the Shade Kingdom into a mockery of its former self, spent going through the motions because he had no right to live but didn't want to die.
"I no longer have the right to face Lady Soyokaze. The Seimono she knew died long ago."
And the Seimono of now… could he really just push Kamryou away and stoically resign himself to his fate, knowing what he knew now? Knowing where Soyokaze very well could be? Knowing there was hope?
Kamryou looked at him worriedly. "Seimono-sama, does that mean-?"
No. No, he couldn't. The idea didn't sit well with him. It never truly had. He could admit that now.
Seimono shook his head. "Dying would be easy. And dead men can't atone. If she's still out there, then I have a duty to help her. Even if…" He shook his head. "It wouldn't be safe for you, Kamryou. For us."
"Don't care." Kamryou said. "Where Seimono-sama goes, I follow. Even if…" They drew a shaky breath. "Even if Kagemera tries to kill us! Because I love you, Seimono-sama!"
Kamryou noticed Seimono's hands were growing translucent, as were theirs. They stared up at their partner in confusion, who answered with a resigned smile.
"Even here, it seems." Seimono sighed. "We should be able to get back in one piece if we hurry." He nodded to Pretty Cure. "Maybe we'll meet again after all. Perhaps next time, it'll be on the same side."
And with that, Seimono departed, as Kamryou followed at his side. He kept his eyes fixed ahead, even as Pretty Cure released their transformations, and the area began to heal itself, even as Hiroko called after him once again. He couldn't stay. Not in this world. And definitely not in the Shade Palace.
There was somewhere he… somewhere they needed to be. He didn't know the way, and he knew the two of them would have no help getting there. He didn't know if they'd even make it. But… they had to try.
I can no longer be your knight. But I can still be of use to you, Princess Soyokaze. Please, wait for me.
There was a small, cramped underground dwelling on the borders of the Shade Kingdom. It had once been used as a storehouse, before it had been abandoned and left to molder, long ago. It had not seen any signs of life until very recently, until a certain woman and her small retinue had claimed it for now.
The woman in question had been holding council in a makeshift throne room. The purloined chair she sat atop was a far cry from the throne she had once occupied, and her plain but practical attire was nothing like the gowns she had once worn, but the dignity she carried herself with betrayed her origins all the same. Not that she dared involve them. Soyokaze had long lost the right to call herself a princess.
One of the people Soyokaze been deep in conversation with - a boy with black hair, skin the color of old parchment, and far more eyes than most, started towards her in alarm as she suddenly jolted to attention before clutching at her temple, as if she was nursing a sudden, sharp headache.
"Lady Soyokaze! Are you alright?"
Soyokaze answered Hachime with a small nod. She was tall, willowy, and well into middle age, with chalk white skin and two short, curved horns growing from her head. Her graying turquoise blue hair was worn in loose ringlets, and her solid red-gold eyes were very wise but terribly exhausted.
"I'm fine, Hachime." She smiled wistfully. "I just… thought maybe… I heard a dear friend calling out to me."
Hiroko had a more difficult time getting up and around the next morning than she thought she would. It seemed like that last fight with Seimono had taken more out of her and the others than she'd planned.
Yui had been asleep in her futon when Pretty Cure had made it back to their room. She didn't stir once and made no remark about where the group might have been the next morning. It didn't seem like they had to worry about her, as far as Hiroko knew. Maybe they were all in the clear, then. Maybe…
"Did you hear?" Teruko asked as she put the group's futons away. "An oni came to the mountains!"
Pretty Cure paused over their breakfast - a delicious spread with everything from hot spring rice to grilled fish. It was a struggle not to react too visibly. Yui, meanwhile, was perfectly blase.
"An oni?" She regarded Teruko with interest. "Really?"
Teruko nodded. "A ten-foot tall oni with eyes like burning coals and mighty horns, come to spar on the mountains. That's what they're saying. And I don't know who else could've carried a sword that big."
"A sword?" Hiroko said without thinking.
"A huge sword." Teruko confirmed. "Apparently, they found it near the mountain shrine. Wonder if they'd let us display it in the lobby…" She sighed as she finished putting the futons away, mercifully oblivious to the looks Pretty Cure exchanged. "I wish I could've met him. But I guess his time in Kiramori was ogre."
Hiroko became very interested in finishing her breakfast as Teruko headed out. Had people actually seen them last night? How could she have forgotten about the sword and coat that Seimono left behind? And did anyone know anything? The way Teruko stared at the group before she finally left didn't help matters.
And soon, the time came for everyone to check out. Teruko saw the group off as they prepared to leave.
"Feel free to message me anytime." Hiroko told her. "And - I'll definitely consider what you said, about becoming a cooking teacher." She smiled. "I think I'm a step closer to my goal now. Thank you, Teruko."
Teruko went beet red. "H-happy to serve anytime, Hirocchi!"
Hiroko took a deep breath of Kiramori's mountain air as the group stepped outside. As Yui headed off to take care of the luggage, Hiroko drank in the surroundings one last time, even as her mind drifted towards all that had happened yesterday. Seimono… Soyokaze… they were both a part of something much larger than her, and whatever road laid ahead of them sounded far more treacherous. She couldn't help but worry.
In the end, Seimono had decided to take the future into his own hands, instead of leaving it to fate. Just as she had. Just as she would keep choosing to do. That was the only certainty here for now.
Haruki sighed. "I kind of wonder if we should've told Teruko the truth. About us. I'm sure she'd understand."
"I wouldn't want her to worry." Yasu said. "We made the right choice." She noticed that Jun was staring intently at a nearby patch of forest, like a cat watching an out of reach bird. "Jun? Is something wrong?"
"We never got to see any fairies." Jun sounded a little grumpy about it. "I'm disappointed, Nyuasu."
"Chu chu chuuu…" Kichu sighed from his spot in her arms.
Yasu patted Jun on the shoulder. "We'll have another chance." she said. "I'm sure they're out there, Jun."
Jun lingered by the forest as the rest of the group went to load into the van. She couldn't help it. There was something there. Something just out of reach, and it was driving her up the wall. But she couldn't keep her friends waiting, and Haruki was calling out to her, so finally, she turned to leave-
-just as a rustling noise caught her sensitive ears. Jun whirled around-
-and came face-to-face with a fox peering from around the corner of a tree. A tiny fox with butter-yellow fur, sparkling orange eyes, and an orange ruff around her neck. A fox that hovered off the ground and exuded an energy that was neither human nor spirit but something else altogether.
The little fox's eyes widened in surprise as she met Jun's gaze. And then she vanished into the surrounding trees. Jun hesitated for a moment longer before smiling in satisfaction and excitedly hurrying to join the others.