"What are you saying she is coming back?" Yuzu asked
"You heard me...we must prepare ourselves as soon as she arrives. Because she won't be holding back..." Ume said
"B-but...isn't she like super fucking dangerous? How the hell do you think we can stop her?" Yuzu asked
"...that's why Matsuri wants to stop her instead of her daughter" Ume said
"Huh? What about her daughter?" Yuzu asked
"Well...Sachie has incredible powers like that old Queen. I guess Matsuri doesn't want her daughter to go through any of this since she already has do much to deal with" Ume said
"But will Matsuri be able to defeat her alone? I don't think that small army will be able to defeat them all. They're strong but if the Queen awakens...then won't they be severely hurt?" Yuzu asked
"Depends where the Queen awakens" Ume said
"Do you know where she is located?" Yuzu asked
"We're still searching..." Ume said
"Do you need any help?" Yuzu asked
"No need. You need to stay here and take care of them" Ume said
"But will you be able to handle the situation? What if she suddenly wakes up?" Yuzu asked
"That's what...we're preparing ourselves for. We have brought in a few old friends and since your father's land has finally been awoken. We'll be using that land as our battlefield" Ume said
"Huh? What for?" Yuzu asked
"That land does more than give life...it has a hidden weapon inside and since we have Kallen on our side. She'll be the one activating the weapons to slow her down or at least...defeat her before she tries to reclaim her crown" Ume said
"What about us? We can do something right?" Yuzu asked
"You girls still have a lot to live for..." Ume said
"H-huh? Wait...are you saying that...you might-"
"Yuzu listen...this is far more dangerous for you and the others. You girls have a family to take care of" Ume said
"B-but...risking your life...for others is-"
"Yuzu...please just stay calm and try not to tell the girls about this. They're still young..." Ume said
"M-mom...but...you...y-you-" Ume cupped both her cheeks and wiped the tears that appeared in her eyes
"Dear...it'll be okay. You just have to stay strong and stick together with your family and friends" Ume said
"But there has to be another way to stop her. I don't think fighting will be the answer to our problems this time..." Yuzu said
"I know what you're trying to say but...there isn't much time left for us to think of another way. We've been preparing ourselves for this..." Ume said
"Then let me do some research on this. Maybe there is a missing piece to this" Yuzu said
"Well...probably since there have been books about this. But some of the stories have missing pages. No one knows where the missing pages went but...someone got rid of them so they wouldn't know the whole truth about the corrupted child" Ume said
"So you'll be leaving?" Yuzu asked
"I have to. There are still a few things that I must prepare" Ume said
"Is there anything we can do to help? We can't just let you and Auntie handle this or the Kings and Queens. We are adults too. We can do something about this too" Yuzu said
"It's far too dangerous for you or Shai or Ortho. You three may be the next heirs for the Okogis but...we can't let you three endanger yourselves. You're still too young..." Ume said and hugged her
"I just want you safe. I don't want you to get hurt because you have your lovely girls to take care of. It's best that you don't get involved or else they will start to worry" Ume said and pulled away giving her a smile
"What about Matsuri? Didn't she go to check up on their territory? What if...she gets severely hurt or worse?" Yuzu asked as she sounded worried
"Don't worry about her. Jinah will reach up to her and send her back. We already planned everything" Ume said. Yuzu sighed softly and trembled a bit
"Just...promise me that everything will be okay and that you'll come back. Miyagi and Yua...you know how they are" Yuzu said
"Don't worry...I'll come back. Once this is over we will finally be able to live a peaceful life again" Ume said. Yuzu smiled a little and nodded
"Okay mom. I'll try and keep an eye out over the Kingdom" Yuzu said
"That's my girl. Now I better head back and get started. Kallen is probably waiting for me" Ume said
"Okay mom. I love you and please be careful. I don't want them to get worried..." Yuzu said as she looked down a bit. Ume patted her head softly and smiled
"It'll be okay Yuzu. Just stay strong for them and for me" Ume said
"O-okay. I'll...do my best" Yuzu said as she nodded
"Thank you...and I love you too. I'll be back soon" Ume said as she kissed her head softly before heading out. Yuzu trembled as she stood still and clenched her chest tightly
"You are strong, Yuzu. Don't worry about your old man. Hahaha! Your papa is strong enough to protect you and your mother. I won't leave your side my little princess"
"Heh...sorry mother but...I really can't just stay back and watch" Yuzu mumbled
I'll have to talk with Shai and Ortho...
"Yuzu? Is everything okay? The girls are getting quite impatient" Mei said as she walked up to her. Yuzu jumped a bit and turned around seeing Mei
"Hey Mei. Yeah everything is okay. I just had to speak with my mother before she left to do something" Yuzu said and held her hand
"Mama! Miyagi burned down my castle!" Yua said
"Yua is being a little annoying" Miyagi said. Yuzu couldn't help but laugh softly
"They turned out to be like you" Mei said
"Oh come on, Mei. Yua and Miyagi have a couple of your traits" Yuzu said
"Let's hurry and stop these girls before they start fighting again" Mei said as she walked ahead of Yuzu
"I'm coming my beautiful Queen" Yuzu said as she followed her and held her hand

"I'm not liking this..." Sachie mumbled as she gritted her teeth and trembled. She heard a knock and saw Asuka opening the door
"Hey... you're still here?" Asuka asked
"What do you need?" Sachie asked
"Well...I came by to talk since you're acting strange" Asuka said
"I'm not acting strange..." Sachie said as she sat on the bed
"Is this about mom?" Asuka asked
"...you wouldn't understand" Sachie said as she looked at the window
"Well...why so worried?" Asuka asked. Sachie flinched and glared at her
"Why worry? Hahaha...did you just ask me why so worried? Mother is out their getting herself killed!" Sachie said
"But mom is strong. She already unlocked one of her skills. She wants to protect us" Asuka said
"How?! By getting herself killed?!" Sachie exclaimed and felt a throb on her head as she grabbed the right side of her face
"Calm yourself down! You shouldn't lose control over your emotions!" Asuka said
"Quiet..." Sachie hissed. Asuka trembled a bit because of her sister's tone and walked up to her
"Sachie...I understand why you're like this...but everything will turn out alright. Mom wouldn't give up..." Asuka said
"And that's what I'm afraid of! Mom doesn't give up no matter what happens to her body! She doesn't care about herself! I'm scared she'll take it too far until she completely destroys herself! I want to help her! I want to try and save her! I want to stop seeing mom getting hurt!" Sachie said as tears built up in her eyes and covered her face. Asuka's heart throbbed as she walked up to her sister since she usually never showed emotion. She was scared about feelings and didn't know how to express them nor how to deal with them. Asuka reached her arms out and hugged Sachie. Sachie's eyes widened and trembled as she felt her sister's warmth
"Hey...it'll be okay. Mom will be careful this time...because there is no way she'll leave us. You just have to believe in her. She's gone through some tough bullshit...and I bet this won't be anything. Mom will come back...I know she will. You just have to believe..." Asuka said as she patted her head softly and blushed a bit
Ugh...I feel really weird right now. I haven't seen Sachie like this before...
Sachie only lifted her head up and patted her head softly before smiling a little
"Thanks...little sis" Sachie said as she smiled softly and patted her head softly. Asuka blushed and looked away
"Y-yeah whatever. Just don't tell anyone about this...so where is mother?" Asuka asked
"Huh? What do you mean?" Sachie asked as she rubbed her eyes trying to
"Mama told me to leave and then she left. I don't know where though...but when I tried to look for her I bumped into grandma. She seemed...worried and upset" Asuka said as she looked down a bit
"Huh? What happened?" Sachie asked
"I asked her about mother and she only replied saying she was busy. But her expression...grandma seemed worried. I didn't ask since she seemed a bit busy at the moment" Asuka said
"Where is she now?" Sachie asked
"Who? Grandma? She left speaking with one of the maids" Asuka said. Sachie thought for a moment before heading out the room
"She wouldn't just leave without saying anything..." Sachie said
"Who?" Mitsuko asked startling her
"O-oh..." Sachie said
"I was looking fo you mama. I bumped into grandma and she said you were busy with something" Asuka said
"I just had to-Sachie? Wait were you crying?" Mitsuko asked as she tried to touch her but Sachie backed up
"I-I'm fine..." Sachie said.
"Sachie..." Mitsuko whispered before she walked up to her and hugged her. Sachie only trembled as she hugged her back
"...I know you're worried but it's okay. You don't have to hide your feelings from me...I understand how you feel. But everything will be okay...your mother is still safe" Mitsuko whispered and pulled away before she held out a scroll and handed it to Sachie
"Here. Your mother send you two a letter" Mitsuko said. Sachie instantly opened it and started to read it

Dear girls and my precious wife,

Hey girls I hope you are doing okay. Right now we're going to sleep since we wasted a bunch of energy last night. We have traveled quite far and we're almost to our location. Please take care of each other and your mother for me. I will be back probably by tomorrow night. Depends how long it'll take for us to settle things with this mysterious bastard. Anyways please don't worry about me. I promise to come back with zero injuries or well...I'll try my best to not hurt myself. Please take care and don't do anything stupid while I'm gone. Yes Asuka...I'm talking about you. Please don't go out there and start a fight. You are very strong and amazing. Sachie please keep an eye out and help your mother around the place. I don't want her to overwork herself either. Now I better get some rest so we can wake up and get started on our trip. I love you girls and my precious wife. I'll be sending you girls another letter when I wake up. I love you!

Love,
Mom

"So mom is still okay?" Sachie asked as she let out a sigh of relief
"Yes. Your mother right now should be halfway there like she said in her letter" Mitsuko said
"Mama where were you?" Asuka asked
"At the library" Mitsuko said
"Hm? Well I was looking for you and grandma was somewhere near there. She seemed upset and I thought it had something to do with you since I was asking where you were" Asuka said
"Oh that. I was just looking into a few things back at the library. It's okay though...don't worry about it" Mitsuko said as she smiled. Asuka hugged Mitsuko and looked up
"Can we spend time together? I mean we can't go out without your permission since mom said not to go outside alone no more" Asuka said
"Sure. We can go out. I've finished what I needed to do" Mitsuko said
"Are we able to write back?" Sachie asked
"Probably not but I'll see what we can do to send the message back" Mitsuko said
"Can you buy me some steel material material?" Asuka asked
"Why do you need steel?" Mitsuko asked
"A project" Asuka said as she smiled
"No. You will not be using steel to create your silly toys" Mitsuko said
"Eh? But they're not silly toys" Asuka said
"You want to kill someone that badly?" Sachie asked
"Of course not. I'll use it on anyone who underestimates me and I'll make them fucking pay" Asuka said as she smiled. Mitsuko only ruffled her hair and sighed
"Come on girls. Let's head outside for some fresh air" Mitsuko said
"Can we get eat a few things?" Sachie asked
"I want steel" Asuka said
"Asuka no and Sachie try not to eat a ton of chocolate" Mitsuko said
"Understood" Sachie said
"...if I do well at everything then can I get a bit of steel?" Asuka asked
"We'll see" Mitsuko said
"Yes!" Asuka said
"Just don't get your hopes up... I'll be keeping an eye on you. I don't want you to play with your little project invention" Mitsuko said
"Yeah I understand mama" Asuka said
Hmm...how can I use it without getting caught?