Shuten Douji regretted not being able to face off against Futakuchi-Onna. The two had been rivals back in the Typho-Gorgon Era when they’d first been born; two neighboring warriors battling for land. Those memories were so distant and muddied after generations of reincarnation that they may as well have come from a different person. Through the years, though, the desire to battle once again against his former rival hadn’t vanished.
Thankfully, he had plenty of ways to distract himself. Yugo had taken Okita Hana around town to explain to the people what’d happened between her and Futakuchi-Onna and was currently in Onna Castle discussing the same with the most influential members of the community, leaving Shuten Douji and the Silent Hand to cleanup duty. All while remaining in their Silent Hand disguises, of course. There were other things he could be doing right now, namely focusing on the Wild Men issue over in Oni Village, but Ibaraki and the other Oni were tough. They’d take care of it.
“Why do we have to repair the wall? This isn’t our job!” One of his subordinates complained. The white-haired, gray-skinned woman sat on the gravel path surrounding the outer wall of Saikou, cutting wood to replace the destroyed panels.
“We paid for the mission, so we’ll take care of the cleanup,” Shuten Douji answered.
The Oni woman raised her eyebrows. “Since when were you so selfless?”
“Since Averyl Galerose said she’d be coming with a squad to assist the new Shogunate.” Another of his subordinates chided. He was a red-skinned, black-haired man whose job it’d been to coat the cut panels in Aura-Reinforced paint. It’d keep them stronger and standing for longer.
“Don’t misunderstand my motives! It’s as I said, we caused this mess, and so it is our responsibility to clean it up! We would be doing this regardless of whether Averyl Galerose was coming or not!” Shuten Douji lied, working furiously to place the panels perfectly in order. “Besides, when we speak she’s always complaining about how bored she is at work and how she wants to do something active. I’m just… helping a friend.”
The two Oni shared a glance.
“He just wants to look good for Averyl,” The red-skinned man whispered.
“Is that why he’s so nice to Somnia?” The gray-skinned woman asked. The Oni man nodded, causing the woman to gasp and cover her mouth as if struck. “Shuten Douji! You’re no better than Yugo!”
Shuten Douji frowned. “This is no way to talk to your leader!”
***
Hana knelt on the stage of Onna Castle’s main throne room beside Yugo, whose hair was now brown with two wings sticking up from the side of his head like mail flags. This room looked just like her Mindspace, though it was likely more accurate to say it looked like this. Just like in her Mindspace, the floors were beige tatami with walls depicting an ancient mural of Futakuchi-Onna on the left and Okukinushi on the right. Standing before said walls were Rui and his two friends. The brown-skinned one, Somnia, stood dressed in official Galerose clothing like a trained soldier. Next to her stood the Burnish boy still dressed in Oni robes with a matching hakama. Rui was dressed the same way, leaning on the wall depicting Okukinushi. Hana imagined he must’ve been comparing the room to her Mindspace given he looked around like a curious child. It was funny, she had to admit, but she needed to focus on the task at hand.
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“Shogun Hana has made her status known,” Yugo had been saying. He spoke with a thick Burnish accent now for some reason. “If there are any objections, now is the time for you to voice them. You will not be penalized for speaking freely.”
It stung a bit that Yugo needed to add that final part. Was that the impression people had of her? She could understand feeling that way about Futakuchi-Onna, but Hana had been nothing but kind from the moment she regained control! The townspeople had been receptive, though thoroughly confused. Shuten Douji swore there’d be people coming to help her with that, and Rui insisted that he could be trusted despite his relationship with her Grandmother.
“We appreciate your transparency, Shogun Hana. Many of us still hold fear of Shogun Onna, hence our reservations,” Mr. Masamura began. He knelt on the floor beneath her along with about thirty more of the most influential members of Saikou; business owners, Honor Guards, and local celebrities alike. Following his words, the people before her all glanced at one another before finally nodding to accept Mr. Masamura’s words.
The Honor Guard stood and bowed. “Thank you. I believe I speak for everyone when I say the period of economic growth that occurred from the moment of Shogun Onna’s revival has been substantial, to say the least. Discounting our negligible tourism revenue, Saikou has generated more money in the past two years than we had throughout our previous Shogun’s entire reign. Moreover, domestic disputes have all but zeroed out, though that may be due in part to fear of your predecessor and some select Honor Guard that worked under her such as myself. Under your reign, we hope that you continue to lead Saikou through this period of economic prosperity while ensuring the continued safety of its people.”
“Thank you, Mr. Masamura,” Hana said. She looked over the audience. “Are there any objections to his words? If not, this meeting will be dismissed.”
Nobody said anything for a short while, but the quiet was broken when a short, brown-haired man dressed in green robes warily stood to his feet. Fujimoto Shota stood beside his brother Kano who’d swiftly joined him.
“I do believe that you care for Saikou and that you can take care of it in your predecessor’s absence,” Shota began. “But I cannot simply handwave the indentureship I was placed under! I’m sorry, but I can’t conscionably remain in the Saikou Prefecture.”
Whispers sounded around the room following Fujimoto Shota’s words. Hana recalled her Grandmother forcing wealthy tourists to work for Saikou. They were part of the reason the place had been doing so well financially! If the whispers of “freedom” and “better opportunity” that she’d been hearing were any indication, Hana was about to mess Saikou up on her first day as Shogun!
I was so ready to throw this throne away and see the world. I decide to stay and suddenly this happens?!
Hana took a deep breath. She’d fought in a facsimile of this very room against the founder of the Saikou Prefecture. She’d personally witnessed many of her Grandmother’s business dealings. There was a way out of this.
“I see. Thank you for your service to my kingdom. In honor of your work, we would like to reimburse you for $100 per day of your indentureship. Furthermore, we would like to offer you a villa in the Saikoujin countryside which will be paid for and maintained by the Prefecture.” Hana looked over the crowd. “I will be offering this deal to any of my citizens who have been victimized by my predecessor like Fujimoto Shota was. Please pass this message along. “ Before any of the locals could get jealous, Hana decided to add the clincher. “For those who remain, as well as all local business owners, we will be waiving income taxes for the rest of the year and providing a significant tax break for the next five years you remain in business.”
Beside her, Yugo’s Myth materialized as an owl. It perched itself on her shoulder and leaned close. “That is quite generous, but I would like to know how you plan on paying for all of this?”
Hana smiled softly. “The Galerose Family is coming soon, no? Shuten Douji suggested that they’d be willing to help train my Honor Guard. I’ll be sending them off to handle Bounty missions as soon as they’re capable. They get to train and they bring in good money. It’s a win-win!”
The Owl bristled. “You'll be just fine!"