A Shogun's Fall

Chapter 8: Assassination Part 2

Shortly after returning from the Grand Narukami Shrine and having a pleasant talk with Yae Miko, the Guuji of the shrine itself, Kaiden returned to his room but before he could enter the room, one of the servants stopped him. 

"Excuse me, Luna-sama?" One of the servants stops him.

"Hmm? What is it?" Asked Kaiden then the servant handed him a scroll. Kaiden then reads through the scroll's contents out loud. "Kaiden Loona... Again, really?" He sighed before continuing to read the scroll. "You are cordially invited to Kamisato Ayata's birthday this coming 28th of September..." He then just muttered through the rest of it, looked at the servant, and asks him. "What day is it today?" 

"It is the 18th of September." The servant answered. "You have at least ten days left." 

"I see, thank you for bringing this to me," He said as he took out his pouch and handed the servant five Mora. 

But then the servant rejects it as soon as he sees it. "Please, Luna-sama. There is no need for tips, thank you for the gesture though." After that, he left and Kaiden went back to his room. As soon as he placed the letter and the pouch on the table, he lay down on his futon and reflects on what Yae Miko had told him earlier.

"What do I... Want, huh?" 

He thought long and hard about it to the point that he had a mild headache, but what did that achieve? Nothing, sighing to himself. He closed his eyes as he plans to ask the Shogun permission to leave for Ayaka's birthday, he also needed to buy her a present which not knowing how to do, is going to have a hard time doing so.

"What do girls her age want anyway?" He thought out loud then he remembered something important. "Oh right, Ayaka's not like the other girls her age... Hmm... Maybe a tea set would work? I don't know..." 

 As Kaiden falls into a deep sleep, to rest for the day, the Shogun opened the portal to the Plane of Euthymia. There, she saw the true Baal levitating in the center of the planes. As Raiden looks at the Shogun walking toward her, she slowly levitates down, and as soon as she does that. the Shogun then asks her a question out of the blue.

"Excuse me, but may I ask you something?" Shogun asked.

"Yes, what is it?" With a cold tone in her voice, she still responded. 

"You have been coming out of your safe space from time to time, may I ask why you've been doing this?"

"Nothing," Raiden answered.

"Is it because of that former colonel? The one who saved my life?" When the Shogun asked that, Raiden's calm composure broke. Then the Shogun nods her head. "I see, it would seem that I have hit the mark." 

"You be quiet, alright?" 

"Very well. But may I ask, why?"

"What do you mean?" 

"Why are you being so kind to him?" The Shogun asked. 

"I don't know," Raiden answered. "It's as if  it is a duty of mine to uphold."

"So a debt? If that's the case, then may I be the one to pay the debt?" The Shogun suggested. 

"There's no need for that, I enjoyed my time, besides. I have been staying here for quite a while." 

"I see... Very well." The Shogun acknowledges her words. "Then what about tomorrow, are you going to spend more time with him?" 

"Yes," Raiden answered bluntly. "You need to stay here for the time being." 

The Shogun then bows down acknowledging her orders. "Of course." 

As the Shogun stayed in the Planes of Euthymia, she watches as Raiden leaves the whole plain by opening a portal, as for Raiden herself, she couldn't wait to start another cooking lesson with Kaiden. As Raiden used the portal, she walked through it and saw her room, still spacious as ever. She then meditates and waits for the moon to descend and the sun to ascend.