Second Archon War: Imperatrix Umberosa 16 (Patreon)

Imperatrix Umberosa 16: Transient Dreams

Beta'd and edited by Dr_Feelgood, The Grand Cogitator, October Daye, and Philosophysics

On most days, the primary colors in Tokyo, Japan, seat of the Raiden Shogun were purple and violet, reflecting the element of the Archon that made her home there. Not upon this day.

Rivers of black wound their way through the streets, while the sky was overcast with gray. No thunder threatened on this day, but it was raining, a steady and miserable drizzle blocked by black umbrellas. The faces of the crowd had even been blacked, with charcoal-stained water running into the sewers.

In a days-long journey, a special train car had slowly been drawn by a black engine through all 47 prefectures of Japan, appearing before all the crowds in a funeral procession that had united a nation in mourning.

The 125th Emperor of Japan, the Heisei Emperor, along with his two sons, daughter, and granddaughter, was dead. It was a shock to the nation: not since the Seventh Century AD by the Western Calendar had a Japanese Emperor been assassinated. This was an especially deep blow because his heirs had died as well, killed alongside their father in the massive terrorist attack on the Japanese heads of government.

After a long journey, the Emperor’s body, or what was left of it, arrived back in Tokyo, and traveled slowly through the city on a horse-drawn carriage. Before the carriage walked the Raiden Shogun, dressed in a pitch-black kimono, a black veil covering her face.

Behind the Emperor, before even his sons, in a place of honor, was another carriage bearing the casket of Lord Nakamura. The senior statesman, who had been the last Prime Minister of Japan and the face of the Bakufu Government, had died on live television, a video camera capturing his heroic last stand against the foreign parahuman known as Acidbath. Though he had perished, he had saved the life of Princess Ami, who walked alongside the casket now, her own clothes black, a veil obscuring her face. Beside her walked her companion Murasaki, who was in his large form, black cloth draped about the kirin.

Though his death had not come as great a shock as that of the Emperor, his death had deeply affected the nation as well. Seeing the brave old man make a heroic last stand to save his wife and that of three young girls from a foreign devil had endeared Nakamura to many of those who had doubted him, and cemented his legacy as that of a hero. Some had called the man a traitor and a coward for bowing to Raiden and surrendering his government with barely a fight, but no more.

As the procession made its way towards Musashi Imperial Mausoleum, the cameras focused on the Shogun and her family, but also a new face. A young man in a black suit, carrying a black umbrella, walking beside the Imperial casket.

Not much was known of Yukuaki, who was a distant cousin and hadn’t been in consideration for the Chrysanthemum Throne before the Wisteria Wedding, as the press referred to that dark day. With so much of the Imperial Family wiped out at a stroke, there had been some frantic concern that the unbroken line of succession from Emperor Jimmu more than two thousand years ago had been ended.

However, a bloodline so well documented had many branches, and young Yukuaki had been widely agreed to have the best claim to the throne. Some had wondered if the Raiden Shogun would simply reclaim the Throne, being the incarnation of Amaterasu, but she had personally summoned Yukyaki and informed him he would be the next Son of Heaven.

What was known was that he was in his early 20s, was unmarried and that up until now he had simply been a private citizen. Being summoned by the Shuumatsuban in the middle of the night was not the sort of thing that any Japanese looked forward to, but in this case, he had come willingly.

Above the caravan, two great serpents snaked their way through the sky, one violet, the other azure. Rumors and wild speculation still abounded as to just what had happened to Chiyo Wang when she had become Keiga, but already some were planning to erect shrines to her, and the title of “Divine Dragon” was already well established. If anything, her elevation had simply further confirmed the divine nature of her husband. They were a symbol of strength and hope, even in this dark time.

After hours of the solemn procession, the route finally arrived at the imperial mausoleum. Several tombs had been constructed by the hand of Raiden herself, which consisted of barrows made of electro crystal, their tops open to the sky.

There was a brief respite while the caskets were unloaded and made ready to be put in their final resting place. Mourners filed into the standing room only grounds, which was packed with thousands. A small platform with various foreign dignitaries and major Japanese government officials, most of them survivors of the attack, had been set aside, along with places for the media to film the event.

The first to give a eulogy was the young prospective Emperor. He stood before the crowd, looking out on them with an expression of sorrow.

“My Great Uncle, the former Emperor, came to the throne not long after the world changed,” Yukuaki began, his eyes wandering over the great sea of black. “He was born into a world of strife and war. He wished for his legacy to be that of peace, for he was a man of peace.”

Sorrow filled Yukuaki’s voice. “But that was not to be. He loved Japan, and her people, and wished only for peace. Though he strove for harmony and serenity during his reign, the world was plagued by demons and the arrival of parahumans. He cried out to heaven for respite. And heaven answered.”

All eyes turned towards Raiden, who stood serenely behind and to the side of Yukuaki. Her expression was neutral, but her eyes were slightly misty. Beside her, Ami was weeping openly, and Raiden rested a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. On her other side, Tsukuyomi looked ferocious, her teeth clenched, expression stormy. There had never really been a full explanation for where Tsukuyomi had come from, Raiden had simply announced one day that she had a second daughter, and that was that.

“At the time, I was like many of you. I was no prince, and had no expectation of becoming one. I wished for the Emperor to live a long and prosperous life, and for his son to reign after him.” Yukuaki turned towards the Emperor’s casket, and his voice broke. “I…I still wish…”

It took long moments for him to compose himself, and more than a few members of the audience broke down into tears again as well. At last, Yukuaki managed, “Your Highness…I pray only that your wisdom and courage will continue to watch over this land, and selfishly, myself. You were taken too soon.”

After that, various others eulogized the Emperor and his family, some speeches were long and eloquent, others brief and full of simmering anger.

Then, Princess Ami stepped up to the podium, a stool needing to be brought over for her to stand above it. Her eyes were clearly bloodshot, and her familiar floated next to her, a handkerchief in his little claws.

“I… I will miss the Emperor. He was a kind old man, who always listened to what I had to say,” Ami sniffled. “But… but the one I’ll really miss… is Grandpa Nakamura.”

Murasaki floated in to dab at Ami’s cheeks, but she waved him off, leaning into the microphone. “He… he was always so kind to me. I knew he’d been my mother’s enemy at first, but he really loved Japan. Everything he did… he wanted… he wanted…” At this point, Ami broke down again, and Raiden stepped forward, silently using her own handkerchief to dry Ami’s tears. The sounds of weeping could be heard from the crowd as well, as the clearly distraught young girl tried to pour her heart out.

“He just wanted us to be happy. And for Japan to be at peace. He’s the one who encouraged my mom to try to work with other nations, and to try to make things right! So why, why did… why did he have to…”

Ami, and just about everyone else watching broke down again. Even Raiden’s face was streaked with tears as she gave Ami a hug.

At last, Ami collected herself enough to turn towards Nakamura’s casket. “Thank you very much! I… I’ll always honor you! With everything I do!”

Then Ami was led away by her mother, and a dragon descended. By the time he hit the platform, Mushu had taken on the form of a man. After a moment behind a screen, he stepped out, clothed in black, a grim expression on his face. He stepped up to the podium, dabbing at his own eyes.

“I never knew my father,” he said, his tone gruff and rough. “As a lot of you know, before Raiden chose me, I was a thug. A delinquent. Good for nothing. I wasn’t a leader. I was barely even fit for human company. Raiden helped me change that. But it was Lord Nakamura who truly showed me what it was to be a real man.”

Mushu leaned heavily on the podium, his face full of sorrow and anger. “He showed me how to be humble. How to look at a problem from different sides. How to be gracious in defeat, and magnanimous in victory. That I could be more than just a thug. That I could rise up, and protect and inspire a nation. What things truly mattered in the world: family, honor, and service.”

“I won’t forget you, old man,” Mushu said, standing up, looking blankly towards the clouded horizon. “Thank you. Thank you for saving those girls. I never wanted something to happen to you, but if it had to be you instead of them…”

Ominous thunder rumbled overhead, and Raiden’s tranquil mask broke for just a moment. The entire crowd flinched back, and the wrath of a god leaked out for just a moment. Then she controlled herself again, and the crowd gasped in relief. Several nearby officials had to pick themselves up off their knees, still trembling. But Mushu stood unbowed.

“I know you’re looking down from heaven and smiling, smiling that you died as you lived! Making the world a better place for the next generation, and showing young idiots like me how to live!” Mushu was bellowing now, and had grown a good meter in height, horns sprouting from his head.

“I will not forget you! AND I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS DEBT TO STAND! JAPAN WILL STAND STRONG, AND NO ONE WILL EVER THREATEN THAT LITTLE GIRL OR THESE LANDS AGAIN!”

There was a loud cry from the audience. Not a word, but a primal bellow of agreement. There was grief here, but also an underlying current of rage that Mushu had tapped into ran strongly. Never before had an Emperor been so brazenly assassinated. Nor had an Imperial Princess been so threatened, her loyal retainer giving his life on live television for all the world to see to save her from a brutal death.

Mushu rose back up, but he did not ascend to the heavens, instead hovering over the platform, only twenty meters up, his shadow darkening the stage.

That was when Raiden stepped forward, her own eyes glowing brightly in the darkness. She did not need a microphone. Her words reverberated with power, heard more with the soul than the ears.

“Some two years ago, I arrived upon the shores of this land. How far I traveled, I do not know. Across countless worlds, through myriad eons. But arrive in Japan I did. I assumed myself to still tread upon the soil of my sacred homeland, in Inazuma, where the lightning first glowed.”

Raiden cast her gaze towards the dead, her expression still blank. At her nod, the caskets began to be interred in the barrows, lowered down to their final resting places.

“But I had come to Earth. To Japan. The land of the Rising Sun. A land stewarded by mortal men, granted dominion by the gods in ancient days.” Raiden turned towards the crowd. “I reclaimed the rulership of Japan, but for a time, I did not understand what it meant.”

Raiden beckoned, and Ami stepped forward to her mother’s side, the Shogun resting a hand on her head. “I took in a ward, not fully knowing what I did, and I met with the Emperor, not understanding who that man was. I knew him only as a steward. I did not fully understand how well his line had kept faith with his subjects, how it was an unbroken rule stretching back towards Eternity.”

Raiden’s mask broke, sorrow darkening her expression. “And I met a man who had been chosen by his people to lead. He led wisely, and well. Though at first he opposed me, he did so out of duty. He sought to forestall a tyrant, and a foolish being who did not fully understand the lands she had bonded herself to yet. But he made himself foremost amongst my vassals. It was with his sage counsel and dutiful service that Japan has prospered these last years. A transient moment, a brief flicker in the long, unending storm of Eternity.”

“But Transience too, is a part of Eternity. Each mortal life is here one moment, gone the next, but some are more profound than others. The Emperor was one such life. Another, greater in my eyes, was Lord Nakamura. For he gave me the greatest gift of all.”

Raiden turned to Ami, kneeling down, and giving her daughter a hug so tight that if she hadn’t been a parahuman, bones might have broken. As it was, Ami just appreciated it, sniffling and squeezing back as hard as she could. At last, Raiden let her go, pushing Ami gently back to arm's length.

“I did not realize how much I loved you until I nearly lost you,” Raiden whispered, tears streaming down her face. “My sister, the first Electro Archon, was cruelly slain by our foes. I was too late to avenge her. She had no one by her side to save her, when death came for her. But when death came for you, one man alone stepped forward. And took the blow meant for you.”

Ami nodded, breaking out in tears again, and Raiden pulled her back into another hug, letting out a piteous, heartrending cry. Not the cry of a god, but the cry of a mother, whose daughter had been spared from death.

After several minutes, Raiden managed to gather herself, not bothering to dry her tears as she stood, facing the crowd again. “I now understand. Eternity for oneself alone is meaningless. The bonds we forge, that is what will truly echo into Eternity, even when the Lightning’s Glow fades. This is what Lord Nakamura’s sacrifice gave me: A reason to pursue Eternity.”

“Nakamura has left us, the flash of his life has faded. But it shall shine brightly through the ages, in the lives of those he treasured! Not just my daughter, not just his own family, but for the nation he loved!”

There was a clap of thunder, and Raiden drew her sword from between her breasts, raising it on high, lightning emanating from it in a blazing halo.

JAPAN SHINES ETERNAL!

Thunder roared, and from the cairns, great trees burst forth. Thunder Sakuras stretched towards the heavens, enveloping the tomb of the Emperor and his family, but the mightiest of all was at the center. Over the tomb of Nakamura, a giant tree pierced through the clouds overhead, and sunlight erupted, blinding all present as the gloom was swept away.

THIS DAY WE MOURN THE FALLEN. BUT JAPAN IS NOT THE LAND OF THE SUN’S END! A NEW DAY DAWNS! HONOR THE FALLEN, BUT ETERNITY IS IN OUR HANDS! WE PRESS FORWARD!

A great cheer burst forth from all assembled, with cries of “BANZAI, BANZAI! TEN THOUSAND YEARS!”

After that, the Raiden departed, even as thousands of now jubilant mourners came to honor the Emperor and Lord Nakamura, giving thanks and leaving offerings at the base of the great Thunder Sakura trees.

“Well?” Mushu asked, looking at Raiden as they flew through the skies together towards the palace.

“For this day, we mourn,” Raiden stated, lightning streaming behind her. “But on the morrow, we fly to war.”

Taking a drink of her water, Alexandria did her best to calm her nerves. Beside her, the US Ambassador to the United Nations was a familiar figure, though he looked like he’d aged a good five years more than the last time they’d spoken.

“Hell of a thing,” Christopher muttered, wiping his glasses off with a cloth before perching them back on his nose. “You think the Protectorate will be necessary today, Director Costa-Brown?”

He didn’t realize she was Alexandria of course, but Ambassador Christopher had been reassigned from Tokyo to the UN, and now he was having to deal with another major Japanese mess. The main difference, however, was that global sentiment was largely on the side of Raiden this time.

Japan had done a rather brilliant job of salvaging the situation and playing it for maximum propaganda. Very few who saw the footage of Nakamura saving Princess Ami with his life against a brutal attack by a cape, swiftly identified as the American Villain Acidbath, could help but have sympathy for the Japanese. Footage of a devastated wedding party, with the bodies of slain guests massacred by mercenaries and terrorists armed with tinkertech weapons, had been horrifying, especially with the news that not only Nakamura but the Emperor and his entire family had been killed.

“I fear we will be,” Alexandria said quietly, her heart fluttering in her breast far more than it usually did. There was an extremely short list of Parahumans she would prefer not to fight. The Siberian. Farasha. Ash Beast. But there was one above all she would do almost anything to avoid conflict with. The Raiden Shogun. The fact that she had Mushu on her side was almost worse: he was an S Class threat all on his own.

And now there were two of them. What Raiden had done to Keiga, a relatively minor cape with strong but altogether unimpressive hydrokinesis powers, was still not fully understood. Whatever it had been, Keiga definitely hadn’t been able to turn into a giant dragon before. The theater with the Heart of Leviathan had to simply be a ploy… didn’t it? They did know the woman could cut Passengers as she had with Heartbreaker. What else was she capable of?

“Could we take them?” Christopher asked, turning to Alexandria.

She grimaced at that. There had to be Thinkers watching them, even before the session started. “Yes. But it would be an utter disaster. We have more capes, and I’d put our Elite against even the Shogun or her dragons. However, that would be a war with no victors, only losers. The casualties would be worse than even an Endbringer fight. We’ve never seen two major powers go to war with capes involved. It was bad enough when Iran and Iraq fought it out. How many Iranian capes did Farasha kill before Fahala Alsahra managed to check her? How many Iraqi capes did Fahala slay? Even the PRT’s estimates fall woefully short of the reality, I’m afraid.”

“And it’s not like the Pacific is much help when you’re facing a global teleporter,” Christopher agreed with a grimace. “Well, let’s see what we can do with diplomacy. They haven’t accepted our offer of aid, or the apology about American villains being involved.”

“Yes. It comes down to what the Japanese Ambassador has to say today,” Alexandria agreed, looking around the room. She grimaced. Speaking of the devil…

The Japanese Ambassador entered, flanked by a giant of a man and a shorter woman, though Keiga was a lot taller than her file said she should have been. They had her at 5’3”, but she was easily 6’ right now, though she’d also sprouted two curving purple antlers that looked like coral, while her husband’s own double-pronged horns sprouted from his head, and he was over 7’ at the moment. Well, that was why she was here. It had been a safe bet Raiden would send her strong right arm to deliver this news in person, so it was only appropriate to respond in kind.

Various ambassadors and dignitaries whispered, pointing to Mushu and Keiga, who waited at the back of the room while the Japanese Ambassador took his seat. The meeting of the UN was called into session, with various items of business brought forward, along with some housekeeping matters.

This was interrupted when not Japan, but the Philippines asked to speak. They were recognized, and the ambassador rose. “Given recent world events, the Republic of the Philippines motions that all other items of business be set aside, and the pressing matter of the Japanese Bakufu’s current situation be addressed first.”

That was a surprise. Relations between the Philippines and Japan had been historically frosty if cordial for the last forty years, though recently things had warmed up after Raiden had personally apologized and dispatched dignitaries to visit various war memorials, along with giving reparations in the form of rebuilding Davao City after it’s destruction by the Simurgh.

Much like Madison, while the Endbringer had not physically attacked the city, nearly the entire population had been driven mad, burning down their own city in an orgy of violence. It had at first seemed like Davao would be condemned, with Simurgh-addled humans haunting the ruins. But with Japanese help, Davao was well on its way to full restoration, and the Philippines had become a major trading partner and ally of Japan.

There was a brief discussion, but the motion was passed. The Japanese Ambassador, dressed in a black kimono, stood and bowed. “I request that the Divine Dragons be allowed to speak as the personal emissaries of the Raiden Shogun.”

Without waiting for permission, Mushu strode forward up to the stage, Keiga at his side. He bore a large scroll, though it looked tiny in his massive hands. A few people looked like they wanted to protest, but none did. It brought to mind an old proverb. Where does the 800lb gorilla sit? Wherever he damn well pleases.

And it looked like Raiden was about to announce again that she was an 800lb gorilla. One that had just been grievously wronged.

Mushu unfolded the scroll, made of silk and embroidered on the edge with purple. Instead of reading, however, he held it out for his wife. Alexandria knew Mushu’s grasp of English was somewhat poor and his speech heavily accented, but Keiga’s accent was mild, and that of a highly educated woman.

“Be it known that on January 10th of Heisei 14, the nation of Japan was cruelly and brutally attacked by agents of her enemies. This attack was carried out upon the leaders of Japan at a time of peace, during a wedding. This shameful attack resulted in the deaths of 65 Japanese citizens, including our Beloved Heisei Emperor and his family, as well as Lord Nakamura of the Kanjou Commission. The agents who perpetrated this attack were members of the Chinese Union Imperial-”

She got no further than that as the Chinese Ambassador stood up, shouting protests and the room erupted into chaos. This lasted for exactly three seconds, and then Mushu coughed. Thunder crackled, and lightning radiated from his jaws. Silence fell immediately, and Alexandria tensed, ready to fight.

“Something in the throat,” Mushu rumbled, his eyes glowing an ominous violet color, sparks flying from his lips as he spoke.

The silence remained, and Keiga continued, “-members of the Chinese Union Imperial group known as the Yangban, members of the terrorist state the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, mercenaries hired by the same, and rogue Japanese nationals incited to violence by the Chinese Union Imperial.”

Mutters this time; and the North Korean ambassador furiously but silently signaled his protests, at least until Mushu glared at him, at which point, he did his best to look indignant, but mostly came off as thoroughly cowed.

“Twice now, the Chinese Union Imperial has threatened Japan. They have shown their expansionist and imperialist ambitions in their conquest of Taiwan and brutal treatment of the citizens of Hong Kong. They are a threat to the peace and tranquility of nations, and to the Eternity of Japan.”

Keiga paused, looking around the room, her face set in a grim expression. Then she spoke two words: “No more.”

The ice that had formed in Alexandria’s stomach melted, and she relaxed slightly. It had been obvious it would be war. Even before the state funeral several days before, Japan had clearly been gearing up for conflict. Every parahuman and Vision Holder, even those who were not members of the Sentai and lived as civilians, had been called up. The Japanese Bakufu Navy had begun aggressive patrols in the Sea of Japan and the Desolation, sinking ships that violated their waters first and not bothering with questions until later if at all. Flights in and out of Japan from mainland China had been stopped,  their Air Force stepped up patrols, while the Army called up reserves and began drills and maneuvers.

It seemed, however, that the United States of America, and Cauldron, would be spared the war.

“A state of War has existed between Japan and the Chinese Union Imperial and her Democratic Republic of Korea puppets for some time now,” Keiga continued. “The Shogunate now officially recognizes this state, and calls for the international community to aid in the removal of the terrorist gang known as the Yangban from power, and the dissolution of the rogue state of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and its reunification with the rightful government of the Republic of Korea in Seoul.”

That did get an angry shout from the North Korean Ambassador, but to Alexandria’s shock, the South Korean Ambassador didn’t appear shocked by this in the slightest. Indeed, he nodded to Mushu, a cold glint in his eye. Well. It seemed Raiden wasn’t flying solo this time.

“This is preposterous!” the Chinese Ambassador shouted. “What evidence do you have?!”

In response, Keiga reached her kimono and withdrew a large box that had been hidden by what Alexandria had assumed was her pregnancy. She tossed it on the floor as it sprang open, and a severed head rolled out onto the floor.

This time, bedlam did erupt, with Secretary General Chrétien shouting for order as security officers raced forward. Above it all, Keiga’s voice boomed, drowning out the human cries.

“That is the head of Twenty-Seven of the Yangban. His body was among the attackers. We are currently holding Eighty-Three, captured in Japanese territorial waters and attempting to enact further harm upon Japan. Do you require further proof?”

“Ambassador, control your guests!” Secretary General Chrétien said, his nostrils flaring in outrage.

“It is not a mortal’s place to tell dragons where to roost,” the Japanese Ambassador replied calmly. “They speak for Her Excellency, the Spirit of Japan. You would do well to listen.”

The head was an appalling display, but Alexandria had to admire the guts. The remains would have to be analyzed, and showing a severed head was hardly proof that would hold up in an international court of law, but it did show exactly what Japan intended.

Mushu and Keiga departed, but not before offering one final warning: “The world has seen too many demons and monsters run free, brutalizing the common folk both at home and abroad. No more. We will have peace. Even if it must be the peace of the sword,” Keiga declared, despite the protests of multiple officials. Not long after, the roar of dragons was heard, and Alexandria excused herself. She was just quick enough to catch sight of Mushu and Keiga, now in their draconic forms, flying through a portal above the waters of the East River.

After that, there was only so much hot air for the rest of the proceedings. Japan clearly had not come for permission, or even forgiveness, only to announce their intentions. For a warlord, Raiden was behaving with shocking decorum and civility, displaying the severed heads of her slain foes aside.

In the end, South Korea submitted a report of support for Japan, along with the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. The exiled government of Taiwan did the same, though they had no seat at the UN.

By the time Alexandria flew home to her Los Angeles apartment, fighting had already broken out in North Korea and Taiwan. It had been less than an hour, but Raiden had made a broadcast at the same time that Mushu and Keiga had read their declaration, and she wasted no time. The dragons had gone straight from the UN to the battlefield.

Sighing, Alexandria stepped inside, noting that Wyatt's shoes were by the door. “Wyatt? I think it’s going to be a long day at the office for both of us. I think we- Wyatt?”

Something was off. It was too quiet, and her gut told her things were very wrong. Steeling herself, Alexandra floated forward, her fists clenched, teeth bared. When she came into the kitchen, she found a pale Wyatt sitting at the table, his hands laid flat on the surface, dressed in a white t-shirt with boxers on. Next to him at the table, a woman calmly sat, drinking a cup of tea.

“Alexandria. I have come with a message,” Kokusho said. She indicated the empty seat at the table. “Sit.”

“Call your man off behind me,” Alexandria said through gritted teeth, as an armed shuumatsuban agent stepped out of the bathroom behind her. “Hero, are you alright?”

“They haven’t hurt anything but my pride,” he said with a weak chuckle. “Got me on the pot.”

“Sit,” Kokusho repeated. “Time is wasting, and the battlefield calls.”

Alexandria  walked over to stand by her chair, but didn’t seat herself. “What do you want?”

In response, Kokusho retrieved a familiar metal suitcase from the floor, and set it on the table, popping it open. It was empty, and there were no markings on it, but Alexandria knew what it was: a transport case for Cauldron Vials.

“This was found in the residence of the traitor Ishihara,” Kokusho said calmly. “Do you know what this is?”

“If this is an accusation-”

“I already know you Americans were responsible for granting the traitors in our midst powers. But do you know what it contained?” Kokusho said quietly.

Alexandria swallowed, then glanced at Wyatt. He cleared his throat. “We know what it is.”

“I don’t think you do,” Kokusho said, calmly lifting her cup to her lips. She took a sip, then set it down. “Remnants of a Dead God.”

That was frighteningly close to the truth, and it rang a bell in the back of Alexandria’s mind, but she couldn’t quite place it.

“Barbatos warned you Americans against using parts of a Dead God,” Kokusho growled, setting her tea back down. “You did not listen. And you brought this filth upon the sacred soil of Japan.”

“The Protectorate had nothing to do with that,” Alexandria stated firmly. Legend. That was where she had heard the phrase “dead god’s remains.” He said that’s what Venti had called his Passenger.

“Half truth,” the man with the drawn bow behind her said in Japanese. Alexandria blessed the lessons she’d been making herself take.

“Hmm. It matters not.” Kokusho took out a dagger, driving it into the wood of Alexandria’s kitchen table. “This is your only warning. If we find remnants of a Dead God from you Americans in our lands again, if we even suspect you are subjecting our citizens to this blasphemy, it will be war. This time, we will accept the excuses I am certain you would make. We will not demand reparations for the mercenaries that killed Lord Nakamura. We will not ask how Tinkertech weapons from American Tinkers ended up in the hands of the terrorists who killed the Emperor. The Narukami Oshogun is merciful. Once.”

With that, Kokusho stood, walking past Alexandria. The other ninja lowered his bow, and a portal appeared behind them with a crackle of lightning.

“On a more personal note,” Kokusho said, one foot into the portal, her eyes narrowed. “If I even think one of your agents is attempting to harm my little sister Tanuki or her charges again, I will personally kill you both.”

And with that, the Shuumatsuban stepped through the crack in space-time, and were gone.

With a half sob, Alexandria rushed forward, grabbing Wyatt in her arms and squeezing as tightly as she dared.

“It’s OK, it’s OK, I’m fine. They didn’t even try to hurt me, honest. Even made me tea,” Wyatt said, his tone half joking, but Alexandria could hear his heart pounding.

“Those motherfuckers. How dare they do this to us?” Alexandria gasped, burying her face in Wyatt’s chest as he hugged her back.

“Well, someone broke into their house and took a giant shit. I guess they figured this was fair play,” Wyatt joked. He swallowed. “I’m just real glad it wasn’t my Tinkertech that was found on those mercenaries.”

Alexandria could only nod, her mind still clouded by fear and anger.

Three days later, it was discovered that every member of Toybox had been killed. It took a little while to notice, as the black market tinkers stayed hidden, and there were no bodies to find. Not to mention how the war that had erupted in China and Korea had the world slightly distracted.

But further investigation found Wisteria blooms in the workshops of the Toybox tinkers, their labs emptied of weapons and equipment. To those who knew, the message was as clear as day.

Japan would tolerate no further intrusions upon the Shogun’s Eternity.