Chapter 6:

My Fate and My 16th Birthday

The Cursed Iris: A Tale of Fate and Time


Ayame and Atsuko were both walking from the store after they picked up supplies for Ayame’s party, “So, Atsu what did you get me for my birthday?” Ayame asked with a smile.

Atsuko got nervous at the question, and she began to whistle, “I can tell by that response that you didn’t,” Ayame said with a blank expression.

“No, I got one, you idiot,” Atsuko replied.

“That’s a lie, and you know it.”

“I assure that it isn’t,” Atsuko snapped, but she had a bead of sweat trickle down her neck. Man, what do I do? I thought that she wouldn’t have wanted anything, because she usually never asks. Atsuko thought to herself.

Ayame giggled, “I was just kidding Atsu,” she said as she rubbed her head. “I’m just happy to have all of you there to be honest. I’m still scared and confused, but I’m putting on a brave face for you all.”

Also, myself.

“Still though, some things just aren’t adding up. No matter how much I think about it…” Ayame voice trailed off, and then her eyes glazed over as if she were in a trance.

Atsuko looked at her worried, “What’s wrong Ayame?” she asked, but Ayame couldn’t hear her. All Ayame could hear were screams of someone else.

She dropped the items she was holding, and she grabbed her head in pain, “Make it stop,” she mumbled. A vision played through her mind; she saw a forest, there were multiple shards of ice around, burned trees along with frozen ones, there was also two people in the center of the destruction. Ayame recognized one of them; it was Katsumi, he had stabbed the man in the chest with his bare hands. That shocked her

“Katsumi Nakajima, you will never know happiness,” the man said with his last breath. He had a maniacal smile on his face.

Katsumi pulled his hand away, and he stared at them, “I’m not a monster,” he mumbled to himself.

“I’m not,” he continued to say. “I’m not!” he yelled, and then he grabbed his head.

When he did, he let out a loud scream. He then collapsed, which also caused Ayame to scream on her side as well. She then collapsed, but Atsuko caught her. “Ayame, Ayame what’s wrong?”

She continued to try waking Ayame up, but her eyes were completely white. Atsuko knew she couldn’t panic, so she picked Ayame up, and decided to carry her home.

******

Atsuko ran into Ayame’s house where everyone was gathered, “Someone help!” she yelled as she ran inside.

Everyone ran out of the dining room, and saw an unconscious Ayame, “What happened? Akane asked as she put her hand to Ayame’s forehead. It was cold, and it continued to get colder.

“I don’t know, but we have to help her. It’s almost like Ayame is dying right now.”

She was sweating profusely, “Ayame, what is going on? What exactly did you see?” Atsuko whispered.

******

"Ayame, Ayame, wake up," a voice echoed.

She recognized it, and it was her other self, “How did I get back here?” she asked skeptically.

"Your guess is as good as mine to be honest, it may have something to do with that tied around your pinkie."

Ayame didn’t know what she meant, but she looked at her hand. There was definitely something there; it looked like a red string. “What is this?”

"How should I know?"

“Because you’re me, I thought you would’ve known more. I wish Kikyo were here…”

"You’re dumb," her other self said with a blank expression.

“That makes you dumb then too,” Ayame snapped back, her face red with embarrassment. “This thread though, when did this get here? It wasn’t here last time, was it?”

'I don’t remember seeing it, so yeah, that thing is brand new. Must have something to do with that vision we had of Katsumi?"

Ayame remembered what she saw, she began crying. It was from the pain she saw in Katsumi’s eyes, his demeanor, and the words he said. “This really sucks, he’s dealing with so much, with seemingly no one at his side to comfort him. While I’m here with everyone comforting me,” she said.

The other Ayame stared at her, "You really love that boy, don’t you?" she asked with a concerned expression.

“It’s not love, it’s more of a I want to be the person who comforts him when he’s in these moments,” she replied as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “He needs someone like I needed someone long ago. Atsuko was there for me, so I want to be there for someone as well.

“You know you can be there for him now then,” a familiar voice stated.

They both looked back, and they saw Ryoma, “What do you mean I can be there for him now?” Ayame asked confused.

Ryoma chuckled. “That string, it connects two destinies across time. You and Katsumi Nakajima are the chosen two, fate is a tricky beast that way, but she’s kind and she’s also cruel in a way. That boy is one whose fate has decided to be cruel to.”

Ayame stared at her worriedly. “Fate decided to be cruel to him?”

“You’ll learn that fate doesn’t bless everyone,” she responded. “Now Ayame, do you really want to see Katsumi in the state he’s currently in?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Very well, so all you have to do is if you want to go see him is touch the red string and think of the person. You won’t be a physical presence, but your spirit will be there.”

“Like an astral projection?”

“Exactly, and since the thread is reacting with Katsumi already then this will be easy.”

Ayame was skeptical of Ryoma, but she had a feeling that she was right. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Excellent!” Ryoma said.

Ayame reached towards the string, and it began pulsating; almost as if it were alive. She hesitated, which seemed to annoy Ryoma. “This feels strange,” Ayame noted.

“Just do it,” Ryoma responded.

“Okay, okay, no need to sound like a shoe advertisement.”

The pulsating got stronger, and that caused a flood of memories to come, mostly Ayame’s but some of them were unfamiliar. On the other end of the string the same thing was happening to a Katsumi who was in a similar space Ayame was in. He seemed to be talking to the other version of himself, “Well would you look at that, seems like the red string is reacting to someone,” Katsumi’s other self said.

Katsumi turned around; his eyes looked dead, almost empty inside. “How did someone get in here? Thought this was our private space?”

Ayame appeared, but she was ghost like. It surprised both Katsumi’s, “You’re her...” Katsumi noted.

She stared at him, more surprised than anything. “That actually worked?”

“She’s really real?” Katsumi mumbled. “I thought you were a figment of my imagination.”

“I thought you were the same,” Ayame replied. She had a bashful smile on her face, and she was fidgeting. “I’m glad I got to meet you, one way or another you know?”

“Yeah, I could say the same to you.”

“So, Katsumi I have a question.”

He looked at her with his dead eyes, “What is the question?” he asked blankly.

“What do you think your purpose is? Do you have anyone by your side to help you find it?”

The question seemed to perk Katsumi’s ears, “Why would you ask that?” he stated as his voice cracked.

Ayame didn’t know why he reacted that way. “I’m sorry, I just wanted to help you find something worth living for. You look like you need that, plus I wanted to…” she said as her voice trailed off.

“You wanted to what?”

“I wanted to be the one by your side to help you get through the rough times! I’ve had these visions, and each one you’re nice to me, you protected me, you’re always there for me. I want to do the same to you.”

“So, you’re basically doing this for yourself?” he asked.

“N-no, I’m not, it’s just…”

“That’s what I thought; look, I get what you’re trying to do, and I truly appreciate it, but I’m a monster who is only bound to hurt you, I don’t want to do that, especially when my purpose is you. I don’t want to hurt you Ayame,” he stated as he began to cry.

Ayame heart shattered, “Katsumi listen, I don’t care if you’re a monster, even monsters need someone there for them. If you have no one, then I’ll gladly be that one. You’re not a monster, I know you aren’t.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“You’re right I don’t, but I would love to get to know you more,” she replied as she went in for a hug. She passed right through him, and she got embarrassed. “I guess I can’t hug you, can I?”

She was still chuckling bashfully, “You’re not so bright, are you?” Katsumi asked with a slight smirk.

Ayame looked at him. “You have a very handsome smile; I would love to see it more.”

He chuckled. “That means a lot, Ayame.”

Ayame giggled, “I hope you can come to me if you have any problems. I want to be there for you,” she said as she held up her wrist to show the string that was connected between them.

 “It may seem like I have no other choice, but just because fate has decided to connect us, doesn’t mean I can’t choose on how to interact with you. I’m not a big fan of fate, and they say that you’ve been cursed by it, so I would love to be the one to break that curse. Remember that I’m always here for you and I can’t wait to meet you in person. I know we will break this.”

She began to disappear, “Well, I’ll see soon Katsu,” she said as she vanished.

Katsumi stared at her, and then he looked at the string, “Break the curse huh?” he asked himself as the light in his eyes returned. “That girl maybe the death of me, but I don’t care she’s the purpose for me to move forward. I know Yushiro’s words will never stop bothering me, but I got to try and push through this for them.”

Ayame and Katsumi both woke up in their respective time periods, “Are you okay?” everyone asked them.

They both looked around, “I’m fine,” Ayame said to her family. “I just found had a little bit of motivation,” Katsumi stated to Chiyoko.

They all stared at Ayame, who wore a smile bigger than one they’ve seen from her before. Almost like she met someone she has a crush on, “Well, I’m glad you’re fine, but remember what we have to do after your party tonight,” Shiro stated.

Ayame stared at him, “Of course I remember. Why would I forget?” she replied immediately.

“Good, because I want you to have one last memory of us before you go,” Natsumi said with a sincere smile.

Katsumi stared at the girl next to him as she began to wake up, “So she made it through all of that? I’m glad,” he said with a smile.

She groaned and she looked around like a lost animal. Katsumi decided to calm her down, “You’re fine now. You’re safe,” he stated putting his hands on her shoulders.

She stared at him, “It’s you,” she said in surprise.

“Yup, it’s me,” he replied dejectedly.

She hugged him, which surprised Katsumi. “You saved me, I’m truly grateful.”

“It was nothing.”

She continued to stare at him. “You know you’re really easy on the eyes.”

That statement caused him to blush, he chuckled nervously. “What makes you say that?”

She got closer, “Well, just look at you. Your features really are perfect, especially those red eyes,” she stated with a giggle.

“Usagi you’re a little bit too close,” Katsumi said hesitantly.

She backed away from him, “Okay, I’ll back off, but Katsumi I really am grateful to you. You were the one who saved me from that horrible man. You were amazing the entire time, and I want to repay you,” she stated as she leaned in closer. Katsumi knew what was coming next and she was close to kissing him, but someone walked into the room.

“Oh good, you’re awake,” Chiyoko said with a smile.

They both looked at her completely flustered, “Did I interrupt something?” Chiyoko asked as her smile disappeared.

Katsumi sighed, “No you didn’t. So, what do you want?” he asked as he tried to shake Usagi off.

“Damn, I can’t check in on my little brother? Well anyways, I wanted to let you know that you’ve completed your last test as my student. I as of now have nothing more to teach you.”

The statement surprised Katsumi and Usagi, “You didn’t tell me that you had a student Chiyo?” Usagi stated as she looked at back in Katsumi’s direction. “You also didn’t tell me that he was your little brother.”

“I don’t need to tell you everything, you crazy little girl,” Chiyoko snapped.

“Don’t call me crazy, you hag!”

That seemed to make Chiyoko mad, “I’m going to show you a hag,” she said as she walked over to Usagi.

Katsumi decided to intervene. “Chiyoko calm down, you too Usagi.”

Usagi stopped but Chiyoko still seemed to want to hit someone. “Okay whatever you say, anyways Usagi you should reward Katsumi when you get the chance. He deserves something,” she said as she began to walk out of the room.

“Where are you going?” Katsumi asked.

“I have some thing to take care of, also, I need to talk to you later. Just the two of us.”

*******

Ayame’s party went well; she enjoyed the time she had remaining with everyone she loved. For some reason she felt like this would be the last time she had saw any of them, but she didn’t want to believe that. It scared her to think about it. The past week was also hitting her more too, because of that revelation they made to her, more and more strange things began to happen around her. But her biggest concern of all was something she hasn’t mentioned to anyone yet was a strange man in her dreams calling to the apocalypse. She doesn’t know what that means, but she really wanted to find out the truth, although the truth scared her.

Atsuko saw her expression, and she tapped Ayame on the shoulder. “Something is wrong, isn’t it?”

“How’d you notice?” Ayame asked sarcastically.

“I sense that sarcasm, but your eyebrows are doing that weird twitch it does when you get irritated.”

She sighed, “It’s just all so much, you know?” she asked as she walked out the house.

“So, I guess we’re going for a walk then?” Atsuko said.

The night was chilly, the moon was bright, and the wind was blowing. It felt like it was the middle of winter, not only that; it felt like it was the winter solstice. (That may have some symbolism in the story, so take heed to remember that.)

“In a few moments I’ll be heading out on this journey to basically save one timeline and destroy another. What if I make the wrong choice? I can’t fix that, you know?” she said as her bottom lip quivered. “I don’t want to live, knowing that I’ve ended multiple lives.”

Atsuko didn’t know what to say, “Ayame…” she muttered.

“It’s okay. If I don’t make the right choice, then I know you’ll lead me to the right choice.”

That is my job after all, Atsuko thought to herself.

The door behind them opened and Akane was standing there, “I guess it’s time then?” Ayame asked dejectedly.

Akane’s eyes were puffy as if she were crying. She had something in her hand, almost like a sword, “Ayame this is yours,” she said as she walked over. She gave Ayame the sword, but it was wrapped in a strange cloth with a chain on it. “There’s one warning I have to give.”

“What is that?”

“Please don’t unsheathe this sword until you are able to master your spirit energy. Any time before then, and I don’t know what will happen. Ayame please take heed to this, I’m begging.”

“I won’t unsheathe the sword until I’m able to master it.”

They all walked to the small shrine in Ayame’s backyard. She always knew it was there, but she never knew what was inside of it. Her mother and grandfather before he passed away had told her to stay away from it.

“It’s a weird feeling here,” Ayame noted. She felt like she’s been here before, but her memory couldn’t place the exact moment. The air was ominous, like it was alive. It was scaring her.

“The red string is reacting once again. So, the time has come then?” Uzume said with a smile.

“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for Ryusai.”

Ayame stared at the shrine, and Atsuko grabbed her hand. “It’ll be fine. I promise you that I’ll protect you with everything I got.”

“Thanks, Atsu,” she said as Akane opened the shrine. When she did, it was like the shrine roared at them; this feeling caused Ayame’s knees to buckle and she collapsed. Atsuko caught her. “The air is heavy, and it feels like it’s trying to attack me.”

They entered it, and Ayame took in everything about it. Old paintings, weapons of all sorts everywhere, dust, and there was a an alter in the middle of the shrine. It looked like it was to a deity, “That’s to our ancestor and to the Dragon Emperors. We pray to them every day, well now I’m the only one who prays to them now that dad is gone. I couldn’t count on my hands the number of times I prayed for your father to return,” Akane said to her. 

She then let out a nervous chuckle. “We live in a world of magical beings, but I couldn’t even get one prayer answered. I guess fate is funny that way, you know?”

Ayame thought of Katsumi, “Yeah, it really is,” she mumbled under her breath. She looked at the sword, So this must be the Dragonaut? It’s basically a katana, almost nothing special at all, she thought.

“Insolent brat, I’m more than just some katana. I’m going to be the one to destroy the world!” a feminine voice stated.

Ayame got confused by it, and she thought that Atsuko was playing around with her, especially at a time like this. She looked at her with anger in her eyes, which made Atsuko nervous. “I guess it wasn’t you then.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I hope the both of you are listening?” Akane asked in a stern tone. Ayame never heard her talk that way, and Akane continued what she was saying. “Ayame, Atsuko is the key to traveling through the gate. The Tsukiyama blood is special as they are the descendants of the Vermillion Bird as we explained before. It possesses special abilities to transcend multiple concepts. Time being one of them.”

“Wait, so I can transcend time?” Atsuko asked in shock.

“Not necessarily, I can’t explain the exact workings of it as I don’t know about it myself,” Maki stated.

“But you’re the matriarch of our family. You’re supposed to know everything about us.”

“I know, but your grandmother didn’t pass that info to me. She said that you’ll know about it yourself when the time comes, which I still don’t know what she meant.”

“The red string!” Ayame yelled.

Everyone looked at her confused, “What are you talking about?” Atsuko asked her.

Ayame remembered something Ryoma said about it connecting two destinies. “Listen, if Atsuko’s blood can transcend time, and if we don’t know how to; I can use the red string to connect to Katsu’s time. Atsuko has Kikyo now, so she’s able to understand where I’m coming from,” she replied.

Atsuko’s hair was two tones, one side white, and another gold now that Kikyo’s spirit and Atsuko’s spirit merged. Remember that Kikyo said that she was her own entity. That’ll be tackled in a few chapters, mainly because I as the narrator would love to see her.

“She’s on to something; this may work if we’re talking a physical presence,” Kikyo’s voice said through Atsuko.

“But how exactly will we get this string?” Akane asked.

“Resonating,” Ayame replied. “Ryoma told me that I have to resonate with Katsumi if I want to get to him. Although I don’t know how to make it appear,” she said with a sigh.

“Well then, what’s that?” Atsuko/Kikyo pointed at Ayame’s hand.

She looked at it and saw the string. She didn’t know why it resonated, but this was a chance.

Katsumi and Usagi were sitting outside staring at the full moon. It had just finished snowing, and Usagi snuggled up against Katsumi, which made him uncomfortable. “Look Usagi, I appreciate what you did for me earlier even though it was weird, but maybe you’re being too clingy.”

“But it’s so cold, and your body is so warm,” she replied.

“Man, just give me some space please! You’ve been here for an entire week now.”

“Because I wanted to be with you while you healed, my prince.”

That made Katsumi irritated, “I’m not your prince,” he snapped.

Usagi knocked him down, and she ended up on top of him, “Yes, you are. I’ve already told my mother that when I become the empress, I want you to marry me and be the emperor. I want you by my side forever Katsu,” she said with sincerity.

That surprised him, “Sorry, I can’t,” he replied. They both had a staring contest for about a minute, until Katsumi’s body began to pulsate. “This feeling again,” he said. He noticed that the red string appeared on his finger.

“What is that?” Usagi asked with a curious sparkle in her eyes.

“So, it’s time then?” Katsumi asked himself as he shook Usagi off

Ayame tugged on the string, and Katsumi felt it on his end. A wave of spirit energy went across the landscape, which caused some disturbances in the Oni around the village. He noticed it, “Usagi, I need you to hurry up and gather all of the villagers and get to the chief’s house. Stay there until I come back,” he said with a stressed tone.

Usagi nodded and she ran off towards the village. Katsumi looked at the string on his pinkie. “What’s going on today?”

Ayame’s body felt weird as the string’s energy rose, “I’m ready now,” Ayame noted.

Atsuko nodded, and she bit her finger. “This had better work.”

“I assure you that it will,” Ayame replied to her. She didn’t know how she knew it would work; she just had a gut feeling.

The shrine began to shake, which was a good sign to them. It was working, now all she had to do was get to Katsumi’s time and meet up with him. She was hoping that she would end up somewhere good, but she had to be prepared for the worst.

Atsuko dropped blood onto the string, and when she did a weird sensation passed over Ayame. The room distorted around Ayame and Atsuko, “So, I guess it’s working. Ayame, Atsuko, please be careful. I want you both to return to us safe and sound,” Akane and Maki both said in unison.

Ayame and Atsuko nodded, “We will,” they said. Then they both disappeared, “Hopefully they are able to get through this, is what I would say, but they’re the special ones in their generation. I’m place my future with them,” Akane stated.

Katsumi ran to the forest edge, “Okay, I figured out where she’s going to appear, but what the hell is going on. It’s like all types of beings are going crazy right now,” he said as he looked around.

A demon bear attacked him, he burned it away. “Damn, I didn’t expect that.”

Ayame and Atsuko saw that the distortion disappeared, and they felt wind in their hair. They were falling through the sky, and Ayame began to panic, “What the hell is going on? Why is this going to be the end before it even starts?” she yelled as she flailed around.

A loud roar echoed around them, and Atsuko sighed. “That seems like more trouble than we’re already in.”

As soon as she said it, a large creature shot up from the tree canopy, “What is that?” Ayame asked nervously. The creature got closer, as it did, it opened it’s mouth as if it were about to eat them. “No, this can’t be the end already.”

Atsuko chuckled. “Well, it seems like it.”

“Kumo catch the yellow haired girl. I’ll catch the other one after I take care of that thing,” Katsumi said as he jumped up towards the creature. “This thing is a Nobu-Suma, they’re usually docile, but tonight everything is going weird,” he mumbled.

Ayame was still panicking, but Atsuko was calm. “We have to figure something out.”

“Oh, you think!?” Ayame yelled at her. “Can you do some magic or something?”

“Can’t, my spirit energy isn’t strong enough to do magic to stop us from falling.”

“So, you’re useless!”

“Hey, don’t call me useless…” Atsuko was saying before something caught her.

That shocked Ayame to see a flying badger. “Hey, where’s my flying badger?”

“He’s on the way,” the badger replied to her.

Katsumi surrounded his fire, “Fire Demon: Cursed Fang!” he yelled as he punched the creature. “You’re nothing but a stupid, giant rodent. Time for you to burn,” he stated as his fire completely enveloped it. The Nobu-Suma yelled in pain as it began to fall back to the forest canopy. Katsumi didn’t want to start a forest fire, so he dispersed his flames before the body hit it.

“Now that that’s taken care of,” he mumbled as he looked towards the flailing Ayame. “Now, Stage 1!” he yelled as he activated the form. Ayame was close to the ground that he didn’t have much time.

“Someone please help me!” she yelled. As soon as the ground began to speed closer towards her, it seemed to have stopped about twenty feet above. “What happened?”

“Don’t worry, I got you,” Katsumi said as he looked at her with a smirk.

Ayame was shocked to see him in person, she truly never thought it was possible. “Your hands are touching my butt,” she said as she chucked nervously.

They landed, “Oops, I’m sorry,” he said as he put her down.

Atsuko and Kumo landed right after them, “Thanks badger,” Atsuko said with a smile. She looked at Katsumi and Ayame as they continued to stare at each other. “Wow Ayame has been underestimating your looks, for real,” she noted.

They broke out of the chance, and Ayame was blushing. “Atsu, what is your problem?”

“Nothing, I’m just saying he looks good.”

“You’re lying, because you have that stupid smirk on your face,” she replied.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Looks like that plan of yours actually worked, so how about we rest up now? I don’t have time to get attacked by anymore flying squirrels,” Atsuko stated as she began to walk away. She looked at Kumo, “Hey badger that can talk and fly for some odd reason. Mind giving me a ride to that village over there?”

Kumo chuckled, “I’m not your personal transport,” he said nervously.

“Oh, I know, anyways what’s your name?”

“It’s Kumo,” he replied skeptically.

“So, cloud? That’s cool not going to lie.”

That made Kumo perk up, may be because that’s the first compliment he’s received from anyone. “Do you mean it?”

“Of course, I do. Why would I lie to you; I mean badgers are my favorite animals,” she said with reassurance. “Also, his as well” Kikyo noted.

“Anyways, Kumo just know if you do this, I have a special treat for you,” she said, and without hesitation he picked her up, then took off towards the village, leaving both Ayame and Katsumi alone.

“Some friend you got. She really tricked that badger into doing giving her a ride,” Katsumi stated to break the slight tension between them.

“Yeah, Atsu has a certain way with words. She can basically trick anyone into doing something she wants, be it by force or by slight suggestions to make it seem like they wanted to do it themselves. Could be a bad thing or a terrible thing to be honest.”

“She sounds like a handful,” he noted.

“Oh, you have no idea,” Ayame replied with a heavy sigh.

“My prince!” someone yelled from the direction of the village. Which caused Katsumi to get nervous, because he knew what was coming next.

“Oh no,” he said as he prepared himself for the worst.

Usagi ran up to them, and that surprised Ayame, What the hell? Who is she? she thought nervously.

Katsumi saw her expression as he was tackled by Usagi, “You’re not hurt, are you?” she asked as she began to inspect him.

He got annoyed by this, “No, I’m fine. Did you at least do what I said? You’re the daughter of the empress, so at least put the people first and not some lowly half breed,” he replied to her in a stern tone.

Usagi straightened out and she got off of him. She had a pouty expression, which Ayame found kind of adorable in a puppy type of way. “Of course, I did. I only came here because Kumo and some girl with gold and white hair told me to,” Usagi replied.

Katsumi looked at Ayame with an exhausted expression. “Atsuko is going to be a lot more trouble than I bargained for. I can see that now.”

They all walked back to the village, and Ayame noticed a tense air about it. Almost as if they didn’t want them there.

“Don’t worry about them Ayame. They’re just not used to new faces,” Katsumi said.

“But why does it feel like there’s something more to this?”

“Well, that’s because half breeds are treated differently here. I mean, I mainly don’t blame them, but at the same time I do. Like not all half breeds are bad and all of them are good. My Katsu here is a good half breed, that Oda Nobunaga was a bad one. Simply put,” Usagi said.

“Wait, the Oda Nobunaga was a half breed?” Ayame asked confused.

“Yes, he was, but he got overzealous with his own power with the destruction of the Iga province. So, after some time and deliberation my father and mother together defeated him. The that ugly bastard Mitsuhide tried to take over, but Uncle Hideyoshi stopped him and put him away.”

“So let me guess. Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide were both half breeds too?”

“No,” Usagi replied immediately.

“What do you mean no?”

“Well, you see Mitsuhide hated half breeds, but he worked with Oda because it was advantageous to him. Once it was up, he killed Oda. Hideyoshi loved half breeds, but he knew that Oda wasn’t for the help of other half breeds. He remembered what happened multiple years earlier, and he didn’t want a repeat of what happened. Oda showed no mercy, so that’s when my mother and father stepped in.”

Ayame thought about it, “So, if those three were involved in some way, then there’s one name missing and that’s,” she was saying as the revelation hit her. “Your father is, your father is,” she said dumbfounded.

“Yes, papa is Tokugawa Ieyasu,” Usagi replied with a huge smile.

“So, he’s the shogunate?” Ayame stammered.

“That’s a word I haven’t heard in a while,” Usagi replied to her.

“I’m so confused,” Ayame said grabbing the side of her head.

“What’s there to be confused about?” Usagi asked as she stared at Ayame. “There is no shogunate anymore, but there are daimyo who work for my mother.”

“Wait so your mother is in charge?”

“Yes, papa is the one who suggested that she’d be the one to create a matriarchal society. She’s doing quite a good job at it too that soon she would have united all of Japan. Her and papa’s next goal is to unite the four eastern powers now.”

“Four eastern powers?” Ayame asked even more confused now.

“Korea, China, Shangri-La, and Japan. She’s going formed an unstable alliance so far, our histories aren’t the best but she’s trying. I’m hoping she can achieve this, because if she doesn’t, then I’d have to pick up her slack.”

Ayame noticed that Usagi’s attitude changed slightly, “Now I remember. Japan has tried to invade Korea and China before, but your mother has created an alliance with them? She’s incredible,” she replied in awe.

“You sound amazed?”

“It’s because I am. Usagi, I also noticed that you said that Shangri-La was a part of the four eastern powers, but that’s just a mythical place, right?”

"Ayame, you idiot, you’re literally a half dragon and you believe that there’s a such thing as a mythical place now?" her other half asked.

“I guess you’re right,” Ayame chuckled nervously. “Anyways, Usagi I’m interested in learning more. It’s only been a few minutes, but I’ve learned so much about how this timeline is different.”

“Wouldn’t necessarily call it different to be honest,” Atsuko said as she walked up.

Ayame looked back at her, “What are you talking about? It’s clearly different,” she stated annoyed.

“Look we’ll talk later, I’m tired,” she said as she looked at Katsumi. “So, how about you get us a place to stay?”

Ayame looked at Usagi, who still had a depressed expression, Her attitude is different now, she noted.

“Usagi quick question.”

Usagi looked at her with sadness in her eyes, “What is it?” she asked.

Ayame gave her a smile that seemed to have brightened the mood just a bit, “I was just wondering did you want to take the time and get to know each other?” she asked as she looked Usagi up and down.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Age is about 18, chest size D, slim hips, beautiful face. You’re perfect,” Ayame said pouncing on Usagi. That surprised everyone. “Usagi, please be my friend,” Ayame screamed as she groped her all over.

Atsuko got surprised, “I’ve never seen her act like this. Wish she’d pounce on me like that,” she moaned. She walked over to her, “Come on Ayame,” she stated as she dragged her away. Usagi was on the ground flustered and breathing heavily.

“Wow,” Usagi said.

Katsumi stared at her and then looked at Ayame being dragged away. He then noticed what Ayame was holding; that surprised him so much that his chest began to hurt. “Why does she have that sword?” he asked nervously.

“Katsumi are you okay?” Kumo asked him.

He was still holding his chest in pain almost as if he couldn’t breathe. “No, I’m not okay. She has that thing, and I can’t be around it because I may lose control again.”

‘I assure that you won’t,’ a voice said to him. It was Ayame’s which shocked him.

‘I promise that I won’t let you become that monster Katsu,’ she said again.

Katsumi looked at her getting dragged away by Atsuko, and she had a smile on her face. She was pleased for some reason, “She keeps saying that until I hurt someone,” Katsumi mumbled.

Now that Katsumi, Atsuko, and Ayame are together the actors in this play will make their moves. The forces of darkness and the forces of light will soon begin to clash, and soon we will meet more and more actors. I’m interested as to find out how the one writing the script will pan this out; I know you are too, aren’t you?