Hana was the first of us to stand. She helped me to my feet and walked me over to her Grandmother, who’d once again sat on her stage. As I anticipated an attack that never came, Hana led me to kneel with her before Futakuchi-Onna. Fallen Star bristled in my Mindspace as I voiced my irritation.
“STAND UP. WE KNEEL TO NO MAN.”
“Why do we have to kneel to her?” I said to Hana, making little effort to hide my voice. “She was just trying to kill us.”
“Stop complaining!” Hana whispered a bit too loud. “When she kneels on stage it’s because she wants to talk. That means she’s done fighting! Don’t let your pride talk us into a new round of battles.”
“Tch.”
Futakuchi-Onna, who’d been listening in on our exchange, laughed. “You two argue the same way Okunishi and I used to. I was always so driven and he was always so carefree.” She smiled wistfully at Hana. “You certainly are of our blood. You’ll be just fine.”
She mentioned being married earlier, didn’t she? If she’s married, why did she… you know…?
“AS I HAVE TOLD YOU: YOU ARE HE WHO WILL INHERIT THE WORLD. IT IS ONLY NATURAL THAT SOME WOULD BE WILLING TO BREAK THEIR VOWS OVER YOU. THIS SHOULD NOT COME AS A SURPRISE.”
I appreciate the humility, Fallen Star.
“Lift your head,” Futakuchi-Onna said to Hana. When she obliged, Futakuchi-Onna continued. “From the moment I met you, I’ve wanted nothing more than for you to want something for yourself. I wanted you to see the luxuries of life as Shogun and the true beauty of Saikou and its people and choose to become Shogun.” She smiled wide as her eyes began to mist. With a snap of her fingers, Futakuchi-Onna swapped places with Hana who now knelt on stage before her Grandmother and me. “Instead, you’ve chosen your own path and made my power yours. You’ve made me proud, Okita Hana. I’d be honored to relinquish my strength and title to you.”
Hana started crying like a baby, and Futakuchi-Onna slowly started to join her. The whole time, I felt like a complete outsider in this exchange. They were hugging now as I just… knelt there and watched. The only reason I’d been so adamant about fighting her beyond my obligation with the Seekers was because I’d assumed Futakuchi-Onna was the feminine, ancient Saikoujin version of Zelos. In reality, she was just a strict nanny.
This is the last time I do something altruistic.
“YOU HAVE GAINED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF POWER FROM THIS BATTLE, AND YOUR NEWFOUND ABILITY TO ATTUNE AURA IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD. YOU HAVE BEEN BRAZEN SINCE YOUR YOUTH, AND IT HAS ALWAYS LED TO MEANINGFUL GAIN. DO NOT CLOSE YOURSELF OFF TO THIS TRAIT; EMBRACE IT.”
Fallen Star was right. If I hadn’t escaped the Fallen Star facility, I’d have never met the Perrow Family. If I’d never attempted to escape again, I’d still be there. I decided to suck it up. Getting dragged into some family drama was preferable to any of the far-worse alternatives.
“Tell me, Granddaughter. What will you do with your life when I depart?”
They’d been kneeling again, both red-eyed and smiling like idiots.
“I would like to start living it. I’ve indeed come to see more of Saikou than I’d ever thought possible, and I want to take care of the people here for as long as I live. I’m not sure what’s coming, but I want to get even stronger so that I can protect them from whatever it is – just like you helped me do when I was young.”
Futakuchi-Onna nodded. “I would be honored, then, if you inherited my blade as well.” She summoned her Mythical Weapon –Tochi no Seifuku-cha–and held it out for Hana. “This blade was made by your Grandfather to aid me in my first of many battles against the warlord Shuten Douji. Without it, I surely would have lost.” She hadn’t given me dirty looks since entering the Mindspace, but that’d changed the moment she spoke about her old supposed rival. Futakuchi-Onna side-eyed me as though I’d take offense to that barb.
“He isn’t my master. He’s an associate of my teacher. And I know how Myths work. He isn’t the same Shuten Douji.”
“Good thing he isn’t your master. You have far too much potential to learn from someone so… average.” She snorted. “Stay with little Yugo. You’ll be better off.”
Hana stood from her spot on stage and accepted Futakuchi-Onna’s blade. She swung it slowly a few times, sampling the way it felt in her hands. She’d used it in our fight earlier, though I suppose it’s more accurate to say she borrowed it. Now, it was her’s. She sheathed it, and the moment she did, Futakuchi-Onna’s body began to glow.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Ah, it seems my time has come,” Futakuchi-Onna said, standing to her feet. She ushered me to join her, which I reluctantly did.
She placed a hand on her emotional Granddaughter’s shoulder. “Grab onto your dreams, Hana. Grab onto them and don’t ever let them go. No one can do that for you but you.”
“You’re right,” Hana said through tears. “Thank you for showing me that.”
“When the ‘Myth of Futakuchi-Onna’ is reborn, she will return to Saikou.” Futakuchi-Onna smiled, looking between Hana and me. “Should you forget to pursue your dreams, or should you fail your descendants to do the same, I have no issue playing ‘Ghost’ again.”
Hana and I shared an uncomfortable glance.
“What do you mean ‘our descendants’?” I tried.
Futakuchi-Onna laughed harder than I’d ever heard out of her. “Oh, please! There’s only so much I can help you two. Surely you didn’t think I approached you for my own needs?” She smiled, the gesture looking a bit too ominous for my tastes. “I don't need you, I'll be returning to my husband very soon. As for you two, you have very important decisions to make, and I felt it necessary to get that ball rolling.”
“Grandmother!” Hana shouted, smacking Futakuchi-Onna on the shoulders.
“IT SEEMS WE MISUNDERSTOOD HER INTENTIONS.”
We?! You’re the one who misunderstood!
“What?” Futakuchi-Onna asked, genuinely confused.
“Y-you spent the last few years of my life telling me not to date and to focus on getting stronger! You can’t just… spring that on me!”
“You are an adult, as well as the current Shogun of Saikou and inheritor of my blade and power. It’s important that you start thinking about these things. Think of your mother. Surely she wants to be a grandmother, no? Besides, my words about the potential power of Rogue children were not for Rui alone to hear. The man you choose to provide your offspring is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, therefore I have taken the liberty of making that decision for you. Rui is not an unattractive man. He is no Okukinush, but he's serviceable. He cares for your wellbeing, and he has enough power to protect a family. What is there not to—”
“Goodbye, Grandmother!” Hana interrupted, pushing her away from me.
Futakuchi-Onna dropped it, but the look on her face said she didn’t want to. She moved on quickly, though, laughing the situation off and giving Hana one last hug.
“Goodbye, Hana. I look forward to watching you grow.” She turned to me. “And thank you for opening her eyes. Treat my Granddaughter well, or I will rip the Well of Souls apart and–”
She faded to a bright purple mist before she could finish. Moments later, that mist poured into Hana like the opposite of Futakuchi-Onna’s most powerful attack. The moment it ended, Hana sank to her knees and wept. It had only been a few seconds, but I could feel how much stronger she was. Indeed after a single scan, she was now Level 319 – the same level as Futakuchi-Onna. It was kind of awkward to watch her cry on the floor of her Mindspace, so I knelt beside her and placed a hand on her shaky back. Clarissa had done it to me the moment I reunited with the Perrows and it’d made me feel better, so I assumed it’d have the same effect on Hana.
It worked, a bit too well. The moment my hand touched her back she hugged me hard enough to suffocate me. Considering the strength gap between us, she very well could’ve. Thankfully, she summoned that black cloud around us both and brought us out of her Mindspace and back into the ruined land behind the Tiger Lily hotel. She held onto me all the while, sobbing over her Grandmother’s death. As uncomfortable as this all made me feel, I understood how much emotion she likely felt at the moment.
“I think I know how you feel,” I began, staring into the moon and recalling the last time I saw the Perrows. “There’s so much on your mind. So much you wish you said, so much you wish you did, so much you feel, so much you’re guilty of feeling. It’s best to just… get it out.”
Hana dug her chin into my neck and I did my best not to wince. “I have the freedom that I wanted, but… I miss her. She was strict sometimes, but I always loved her.” She held on tighter. “Thank you for being here with me. Thank you for helping me fight her. This wouldn’t have been possible without you, Rui.”
My cheeks heated as I awkwardly looked around. “Don’t–”
“Hey!” A familiar voice called from the distance. Yugo teleported before us in a blink, carrying Somnia and Archie by their back collars in either hand like kittens. “We’re on a mission! Now isn’t the time to get distracted!” Yugo turned to Somnia. “Isn't that right, Somnia?”
Somnia didn’t respond, instead fixing him with a dirty look.
Hana separated from me, looking at the Seekers with a mix of confusion and embarrassment. “H-hello. I’m Futakuchi-Onna’s granddaughter, Okita Hana.” She stood to her feet. “The situation has been handled by Rui and I. You won’t have to deal with… Futakuchi-Onna anymore.”
Yugo let go of Archie and Somnia and placed a hand on Hana’s shoulder, giving her an uncharacteristically considerate look.
“Futakuchi-Onna’s love for her home is second only to her love of her family. Every decision she’s ever made in her life has been for the betterment of both. I will make it my mission to ensure that every citizen in Saikou understands this truth. Moreso, if there is anything you need from either me or my Seekers, please don’t hesitate to ask us.” He bowed. “We are at your service, Shogun Hana.”