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『Kodoku no Saibou』(1×1 w/ Jikkah)

Nana placed her hand gently on the glass, grateful that she had help, but she wasn’t sure how much good it would do. Motochika was dead, slain by Mori’s underhanded tactics.
 
"Katakura-sama, we have to take her before Ishida-sama becomes upset.."
"Hai. Please, continue." Kojurou said, keeping his eyes on Nana, "I promise you, Nanahime-dono.."
 
Nana’s fate seemed all but sealed, and all she could do was rely on others. Life inside the tank was dreadfully dull, nothing to do but occasionally move around to fight off cramps. On occasion a human servant or two would come and watch her before returning to their duties, but none ever attempted to speak with her.
 
They kept her fed, as it would be pointless to have a beautifully sealed corpse. But where the servants had placed her - under a window with direct sunlight - caused algae to form on the glass. They din't really know what to do about it, however; the seals on her tank kept her from killing everyone, and opening the tank to clean it would mean their doom.
"Please forgive us..." The girls seemed deeply saddened that they could do nothing to clean her enclosure, not wanting to be killed - whether it be at Nana's hand or the Emperor.
 
She frowned at their apologies, doing her best to wipe away the algae on the glass, but it grew back every time with a vengeance. The bright sunny days didn’t take long for the algae spots to turn into full blooms. The algae slowly leeched the oxygen from the water, soon even growing in her hair and on her clothes.
 
"Nanahime-dono..." It was that Katakura man. He stood before her tank, a frown on his face.
"I have sent for a friend to help in your predicament. She should be here in a day or two. We'll get this sorted."

"Yare, yare..." Akihime read over Kojurou's hastily written letter, her hand lazily moving through Yukimura's fur as he lounged at her side in his shiba form. Sasuke glanced over his fan at her.
"What is it, dana?"
"Kojurou is summoning me to the palace. Apparently there's something that needs my urgent attention." Akihime replied.
 
Nana swam to the front of the tank, looking tired and covered in green splotches. She nodded to his update on the situation, gills red and flaring slowly. The queen looked like she was becoming ill, dark circles forming under her eyes.

Amaya frowned softly at the news. “Is something wrong with the emperor?” She asked softly.
Yukimura’s ear flicked as Akihime spoke, eyes shut as he laid at her side.
 
Kojurou frowned, "Is there anything I can do for you...? You're obviously quite sick..."

"Not the Emperor..." Akihime mused, "it looks like...the Draconian Queen..."
"The what, I'm sorry?" Sasuke asked, leaning forward.
 
She thought for a moment, working out how to communicate the issue of her tank location. She turned in her tank, motioning to the window before wiping a handful of algae off the glass.

“And we’re heading to the palace..?” Amaya’s brows furrowed. “I didn’t think Draconians often leave home..”
 
Kojurou looked and moved to tug the shudders closed. He peered up at the tank lid and found a slot, probably what the servants used to feed her. He took his handkerchief and pushed it through the slot.
"Maybe this will help clean the algae?"

"No, they do not." Akihime replied before pushing herself to her feet, patting Yukimura's flank, "Come, we're all going."
"Oh, great." Sasuke muttered.
 
She took the handkerchief gratefully, using it to gently brush the algae from her own body first, finding it even grew on her scales. It wasn’t much, but it would help to clean things for a while.

Yukimura hopped up right away, trotting a few more steps in dog form before changing into human form. “It isn’t often Yokai and humans mingle- normally.”
 
"Just hold strong for just a bit longer. Akihime will help you get home, I know she will." He told her.

"Kojurou's letter makes it seem like this isn't a mutual thing." Akihime replied, "Sasuke, go get my prayer slips."
"The prayer slips? Oh, it's serious." Sasuke said before making his way deeper inside. Akihime turned to Amaya.
"Amaya, please get my bow and arrows." She requested before turning to Yukimura, "Yukimura, please prepare yourself mentally for this request. I will need your help the most."
 
Amaya nodded and hurried off to retrieve Akihime’s weapons, knowing that with this level of preparation, it was something big.
Yukimura straightened up, face serious as he nodded to Akihime’s warnings. “I can handle this, Akihime-sama, what will you have me do?” He asked eagerly.
 
"I will need your abilities to help amplify my prayer slips. While they are blessed with divine powers, a little extra help will be beneficial." She said, "If this Draconian is also as important as Kojurou claims, we will more than likely have to deal with a very powerful and mostly unwanted guest."
 
Yukimura nodded, face serious. “Who is this person, Akihime-sama? Who are we up against?”
Amaya returned with the bow and a quiver of arrows, along with several pieces of archery gear. “You should wear these, my lady.”
 
Akihime took them from Amaya with thanks, Sasuke returning with a long thick sealed box in his hands.
"If my assertion is correct...we will be dealing with the Oni King himself."
"The Oni King? Motochika?" Sasuke asked.
 
“Why would Chosokabe raise his weapon against the emperor?” Amaya frowned softly, Yukimura scowling softly.
“The Oni King is attacking the capitol.. is it because of this draconian?” He asked.
 
Akihime nodded as she secured the weapons and armor before making her way toward the exit.
"The draconian is his wife."
"You're serious...?! The Emperor has the Oni King's wife...?!" Sasuke asked, hurrying after Akihime.
 
Yukimura and Amaya were on Akihime’s heels, the Jorogumo looking worried.
“This has to be a mistake- the emperor doesn’t seem the type to take such heinous actions.” Yukimura protested.
 
"Because he wouldn't. Kojurou couldn't explain too much in such a ahort letter, perhaps to make sure it reached me in time. But we will get answers and keep Motochika from destroying the palace." She replied, stepping out of her estate and toward the front gate. Once outside, she didn't wait to summon her bakotsu carriage.
"Let's make haste, we don't know how much time is left."
 
The bakotsu pulled away at a startling pace, sensing Akihime's urgency and not wasting any time.
"Stealing and keeping a mermaid is one thing, but the Oni King's wife is a new low." Sasuke said, "One I didn't think he would sink to. ...but humans are notoriously selfish."
"Enough, Sasuke," Akihime said, "we will get our answers in due time."
 
The ride was a tense one, everyone steeling themselves for a potential fight to the death.
“Lady Akihime.” Amaya scowled softly, looking out the window of the bakotsu. “There is smoke on the horizon.”

Nana laid once more on the floor of the tank, day by day growing more exhausted until she didn’t even have the energy to wipe the algae from herself, let alone the glass. She clutched the dirty handkerchief weakly, the meal she was given this morning still swimming around her tank lazily, too tired and in pain to catch and eat it.
 
Akihime looked out the window, frowning at the long black streak above the treeline.
"Misaki, Isamu, please hurry. We haven't much time." She said. The bakotsu whinnied before moving at breakneck speeds, the carriage keeping steady despite it all.

"Nanahime-dono...?" Kojurou came to visit her, frowning deeply at her poor state, "It shouldn't be much longer now. Please, stay strong. I know Akihime is coming."
 
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