*Calamity*

['Present']

I opened my eyes. "W-what happened?" I asked. I looked around and saw that I was back in the train. Sitting next to me was grandma Aster who was reading a book to pass the time.

Was that what one calls a dream?

Aster looked up from her book and smiled at me. "Seems you've awakened, my sleepy child."

I tried to smile. "Y-yeah."

She frowned and put the book on her lap. "Is something the matter?"

"Grandma, who am I?" I blurted out.

She gasped. "What do you mean? You're Nightshade, an abyssmal and the new Rabbit Pillar."

I rubbed my forehead. "I mean, who was I? Before."

She tilted her head. "You... " She pressed her lips together and turned away. "It's best that you don't know. Sometimes it is best to be ignorant. Knowledge can save a person, but sometimes it can destroy them."

Destroy? Is she perhaps speaking from experience?

Suddenly, the train came to a screeching halt.

Aster sighed and stood up. "Let's go, Nightshade. Mai and Mei are waiting for us."

I stood up as well but not before glancing out of the window. I stared at my reflection on the window. At my white hair and red eyes. I looked sixteen, but was that the age I was when I died? Or is how I look now the appearance I would've had, had I lived longer? H-how had I even died to begin with?

I rubbed my forehead as I walked down the aisle. Did that dream even have any merit to it? I mean, for a portion of it, I was seeing things through the eyes of someone else. Though, those moments were blurrier than the parts which corresponded to my own 'past'. Who was she? That girl? Was she the one I was looking for?

I winced. My head hurt just thinking about it.

*Tetsuya*

[Several Days Later- Kaguya, Kuroriku]

I felt my heart sink as we made our way to the palace.

Everyone glared at me or averted looking at me as I passed through the streets.

I hadn't given it much thought, but it was the same way when I had boarded the train on the way to Makkuroyama.

"Master, why are they glaring? Do they know Yuko's secret?" Yuko asked. I had her continue to hide her tanuki ears underneath a hat just in case. I didn't want her to face discrimination for being a Kyuu Hyakuian.

"Those glares are likely intended for me," I said, turning away from the onlookers. It was best to ignore them. They were nothing but trash, anyway. Not worth giving even a single amount of thought.

"Is Master okay?" Yuko asked, grabbing a hold of my hand as we neared the palace.

I took a deep breath. "I'm fine. Just trying to forget about the last time I was here before we went to Abyssia a second time."

"When Serra nearly killed Master Tetsu?"

I glanced at Serra who walked next to his future wife and Ximena.

I gasped as I noticed Nori start to fall back in the group. He usually latched onto Ximena as much as Yuko did onto me.

"You alright?" I asked, making my way to him as we crossed a wide intersection. I wished that we could've taken a private bus to the palace rather than walking.

Nori turned around. There was fear in his eyes.

"What's the matter?" Yuko asked

Nori glanced up at the palace and gulped. "Nori... Doesn't want to return to that place."

Nor did I... I didn't want to see the king nor Tekeshi again.

"I can stay with you while the rest go to greet the king."

"The king requested that all five of us show up," Hyosetsu said as he turned around. He stared at us from the other end of the crosswalk. His eyes were as cold as ever.

"I see. Though, are you sure that you'll be fine? You might have to explain your failure in capturing my cousins," I said with a smug grin.

Hyosetsu scoffed. "At the very least I prevented them from killing Naoru. If not for me, we would only have captured the injured Etsuo. Instead, we have Roa and Man-kin too."

I shrugged as I arrived at where he stood. "Excuses. No wonder Lady Miyuki prefers Kohri."

"Master!" Yuko yelled as a hand suddenly grasped the collar of my shirt.

A sword came at me, but I blocked it with Agnes. I swatted his hand away with the shield and jumped back.

"Did I anger you?" I asked, grinning.

Hyosetsu gathered ice around his hands. "You are irritating. I should've taken care of you a long time ago."

His words sounded familiar. The attacker had said something similar. But that alone didn't mean anything. But was it possible that it was him who attacked Rosalba rather than Eiichi? His father and brother were blacksmiths after all. So, he could possess some skill too and create a convincing replica of Agnes.

I narrowed my eyes at Hyosetsu. I needed to keep an eye on him, just in case.

"Yuko, stay with Nori, avoid the palace," I said.

Yuko let go of my hand and nodded. She ran over to her best friend and held his hand. The kid was trembling.

Serrano turned around and walked over. "I can take care of them too," he said, averting looking at me in the eye.

"Same here," Ximena said, running over. "Sorry, Nori."

"Huh?" the red head asked.

Ximena sighed. "I had forgotten that you hated this place. The other times you braved through due to there being injured people."

Nori smiled slightly.

"Would it really be fine if you don't appear?" I asked, walking past Serrano.

"Yeah. He only summoned you five and Rosalba."

"I see. I leave Yuko, Nori, and Ximena in your care. Make sure no harm comes to them. You know how cruel the people in this city can be."

Serrano nodded. "Don't worry, I will. Though, all three aren't frail either."

I snickered. "That's true."

I glanced at Rosa who was waiting.

I rubbed the back of my neck. Was it me who she was waiting for?

"Don't wait," I whispered as I looked down at the white cemented sidewalk. "You silly girl."

*Osamu*

[Imperial Palace]

Tekeshi charged at me with a spear of darkness in hand. I blocked his attack with my sword, Shiva.

"Is it me or have you gotten rusty?" I asked as I swatted his weapon aside.

Tekeshi grinned as he faded from view. "Hey, I'm barely beginning to warm up!" He thrust his spear at my back but I turned left, evading it just in time.

I wrapped my hand around the shaft of his weapon. "Don't lie. Your movements are sluggish compared to what they're usually like. I know that your power has been weakening. You need more energy isn't that right?"

He dissolved his weapon and lowered his head. "I... I don't wish to absorb more. I've already deprived others of their lives in order to lengthen my own."

I took a deep breath. "You've relied on those with fragile life flames." I held out my hand to him. "Here, absorb some of mine?"

"Huh?"

I shook my hand in front of him as I continued to hold it out. "Go on. I need you to be at full power. You are the strongest piece I have at my disposal."

Tekeshi stared at me with sad eyes. "So, that why you're helping me." He chuckled. "Why did I expect something else from you? Over these past few years I've been little else than a pawn for you. I wasn't even allowed to see my own family. My little boy grew up without his daddy and now he hates me, thinking I abandoned him and the others."

I sighed. "You're being overly sentimental, Shi." Though, it has been awhile since I've seen you like this. Has the mask of the joker shattered in its entirety now? "You're a knight who has seen many years on the battlefield. Though, perhaps if you had raised your 'little boy' then he wouldn't have taken advantage of my little girl."

"You're still on about that?" he asked, glaring at me. A shadowy sword formed in his hands and charged at me. "I've told you that he didn't do it!"

"The proof shows otherwise!" I yelled as I blocked his attack.

He shook his head. "Tetsu loves Rosa! He is one who protects those he loves, not harm them!"

I pushed back against his weapon. "My brother similarly claimed to love your sister and you know how that turned out!"

Tekeshi pulled back and narrowed his eyes at me. "He didn't love her enough! He loved his fame more than her! More than his own family! If only I had been around at that time, I would've taught him a lesson. He's lucky that he hasn't run into me!"

"Well, he's currently who knows where. I'll tell you if I learn where he is. As for your son, we'll settle his case once this war is over."

He put a hand on his hip and scoffed. "Can I even trust you to do that?" he asked as he dissolved his sword into dark wisps. He narrowed his eyes at me and snickered, his laughter dripping with cynicism. "You didn't even make him a knight. Nor, did you ever truly have the intention to do so. So, how exactly can you expect me to suddenly believe your word, oh great king?"

I sighed and lowered my weapon. "Let's call this training session off. It was a nice warm up."

"Ah warm up, eh?" a voice called out. Seated in one of the thousands of white chairs around us was Eiji. He stood up from his seat and pointed his gold and blue crook at us. "How about I serve as your next challenger?"

Tekeshi grinned. "I would love to. I want to see if you've finally surpassed me like you claimed you would."

Eiji looked down and snickered. "So, you recall those words, eh?" He jumped over the silver rail, landing at the edge of the battlefield.

My old friend shrugged. "What can I say, I got a great memory."

"Only for some things," I whispered under my breath.

"I heard that!" Tekeshi said, poking me on the cheek with a gloved finger.

I couldn't help but grin. This guy, angry at you one moment and then acting as if nothing happened in the next. That part about him, it made me wonder what exactly he was hiding. He was difficult to figure out. Though, that was what I liked about him, yet also what I hated. I wondered if the day would ever come in which I could un-code him.

I slapped Tekeshi's finger away. "Don't do that," I said, walking toward Eiji. "Also, I'll be the one to take him on. You are in no state to do so."

"Hey! For once I want to battle with all I got and you rob me of the chance to do so?"

I grinned. "What can I say, I've never been one to give into your demands. Just like you aren't one to give into mine."

"Father," a voice called out from outside the room. It was Setsuko. "We've returned from the east."

I marched over to a pair of colorful doors and opened them. Along with Setsuko was Rosalba and the male knights of prophecy, including the peasant himself.

Tekeshi waved at his 'little boy' only to get glared at. Seemed he wasn't understating when he said he hated him.

"Good," I said, crossing my arms together. I lowered my head. "I'm sure that you've already heard of what happened during my expedition into the Abyss?"

Setsuko adverted looking at me directly. "What do you mean?"

"Did Tekeshi not inform you?"

"How would he know?" the peasant asked, glancing at his father.

"I met him during my descent into the Abyss. I guess that's one good thing." Though, I didn't get to accomplish my true objective. "Either way, the others except for Hideo's team and a few from Eiichi, and Hyosetsu's teams decided to relocate to other jobs. So, you'll need to recruit more allies before heading down to the Abyss. Not to mention... train more."

"Tsk. What do you expect us five to do?" the peasant asked. "Against those beings of darkness when we have been unable to do much against them?"

"Worry not, I shall personally accompany you this time. While you're training, find us more able-bodied soldiers." I shut my eyes. "Our country is already starting to feel the financial strain from the war. The other countries of this realm, as well as those of the other two realms should play their part."

"You only care about money?" Hideo asked.

What's with his manner of speaking? It seems, different.

"It's not that. We can't suffer all of the other kinds of losses alone. I rather suffer no losses, but alas, that's the nature of war. You children grew up in a period of peace, so you know little of what I speak of. Now, get going."

"Alright," Hyosetsu said. "Perhaps, we can recruit some of those we met during our time in Xeleria."

"Really? That's great!" Rosalba said.

"Hmm?" I said. "Interesting. I look forward to hearing how things turn out. As for your weapons, Tekeshi will be giving them back to you during your training period. You are dismissed. Wait at the lobby of the palace."

The knights except for the peasant and my oldest bowed before turning away.

"Seems that we'll have to put our sparring session on hold," Tekeshi said, chuckling.

Eiji crossed his arms. "Seems that way." He sighed. "Well, I guess that we could always have it there."

"'There' is where?"

Eiji chuckled. "Your place of course."

I walked on ahead. "Well, we better get going."

"Huh, you're coming too?" Tekeshi asked.

I nodded. "Yes. I can't leave the training of those five all to Anis and you."

Tekeshi chuckled. "Actually, there's going to be someone else there."

"Someone else, who?"

He grinned and winked. "You'll see."

I grumbled. "This better not be some kind of joke."

Eiji chuckled. "I don't know, but I sort of hope it is."

Tekeshi chuckled. "Come on, you really think that I'll do that?"

I turned away. "Yes, you would. Anyway, Miyuki and Eiko are waiting for us downstairs along with the others. We shouldn't keep them waiting."

"Wait, bug eyes, before we go, I'll like to ask you something. When will the knights of the other nations start to move? Or are we truly going to fight this war on our own?" Eiji asked as he dashed in front of me.

I threw a punch at him, but he blocked it with both his hands. "Not bad, your majesty, but you got to try harder if you wish to hit me. Now answer, that is if you got one to begin with."

I yanked my fist free from his hold. "The other kingdoms will start to play their role soon. For now, we're simply drawing their attention toward us."

"That's why we told Hideaki to keep Etsuo, Man-kin, and Roa in his dukedom. The abyssmals will target here, thinking of this place as the nucleus," Tekeshi said as he stood behind me.

Eiji grinned. "I see. Then have you planned a trap for when they do come here looking for those two?"

I grinned. "Yes. My newest weapon will await them, isn't that correct? Naoru."

Eiji and Tekeshi turned their attention to the door to our right. Emerging from behind it was none other than the warrior I had been preparing all this time. The ultimate anti-abyssmal fighter yet."

He bowed. "Of course, my liege. It is an honor to be given this task as well as the power to accomplish it."

"Wait, you're using him?" Tekeshi said, gasping.

"Is the secret mission you gave Eita for the purpose of training him?" Eiji asked.

"Yes. Based on his performance against those spies, I would say it was a success."

Naoru shook his head. "I owe it in part to Sir Hyosetsu. Had he not arrived, I might've fallen to the enemy's backup."

I smiled. Right. That reminds me. I have yet to ask Hyosetsu something that I've been meaning to, in regards to Rosalba. Hopefully, he'll accept. Hmm, but perhaps I should simply have him draw close to her in order to gain her trust. After what happened between her with the peasant, she likely isn't ready to start another relationship just yet.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter, if then go ahead and click on that star :3. Thoughts? Theories? Predictions for what's to come?**