Chapter Text
A fire isn't born out of nothing. All the pieces must be in place first: the tinder, the kindling, the wood piled high, all properly placed and prepared. A wet log will not burn, after all, and a site soaked with kerosine would spiral out of control in seconds. It takes time and effort, and no small amount of skill, and yet it is something that nearly anyone can achieve, given the time, space, and necessity. Young or old, rich or poor, anyone may gather and pile the wood, and wait for the moment to set it alight.
Or so the story goes.
Gira can't say that he completely understands the other kings.
It's not that he doesn't want to. Or, he thinks, that they don't want him to, either. If his whirlwind tour of Terra has taught him anything, it's that everyone is interested in him as the boy who would be king. And he, in turn, is interested in all of them.
There's a lot more to all of them than he would have ever thought, seeing glimpses of them in the news and reading about them in what books he could get from the local library.
Like Yanma Gast. He's stubborn and impatient, but also brilliant and wickedly fast. And even if he seems quick to argue with everyone from his top assistants to people walking down the street, Yanma can trust them to always have his back, just like he would always have theirs. Gira never would have expected that degree of loyalty, especially from the person who stopped the Quintet Alliance from being formed! But that makes him admire Yanma all the more.
And Hymeno Ran is just as beautiful as everyone said, and just as selfish, too! He'd watched her explode a house just to perfect the aesthetic view—or so she said, anyway. According to the boy who had lived there, the house had been in poor repair for years, and they'd never had the means to fix it. But their new house had every modern convenience and was quite cozy, and had cut the time it took for him to get to school by half. And the more he talked to others, the more similar stories seemed to come around, where the lines between selfishness and generosity seemed to be blurred beyond all recognition. (Heck, it wouldn't surprise him to learn that the butler had reasons for wearing special makeup and changing his name to seem more butler-y beyond just being hired to serve her. Maybe he was a reformed criminal or something. Who knew?) And through it all, Gira finds himself wondering whether Hymeno is the nicest or most self-centered person in the world, or somehow both at the same time. It's baffling that she'd choose to have such a reputation, but then, he doesn't expect many to understand his evil king routine either.
Speaking of which, Gira feels like he understands Kaguragi Dybowski the most out of all the kings, in a weird sort of way. They're both prone to acting—overacting, according to Yanma's grumbling—and using the roles that they put on as a way of getting closer to their goals for the good of their respective nations. But it's hard to tell where exactly the similarities end. Gira puts on the act of being an evil overlord in order to protect that good of Shuggodam and Kaguragi presents himself to be a good king and welcome host to all the nations. Could that mean that he's secretly an evil overlord at his very core? Or is there something else driving his deception in the name of the good of Toufu and maybe Terra as a whole? Gira will have to ponder it more, and maaaaybe spend more time with Toufu's king, if he ever wants to figure that puzzle out.
And then there's Rita Kaniska, who is somehow the most like what Gira had expected, and the hardest to understand because of it. Sure, they [he? she?] maybe aren't the demon lord of the north that urban legend had suggested, but the ruler of Gokkan still lays down the law with an iron fist while carrying the perfectly balanced scales of justice. Rita's shadow looms large over Gokkan, and over Terra as a whole, but they seem fair and just in their rulings, unable to be swayed even by kings, and willing to put the work in to research the truth, even for a case as unbelievable as his.
And as for Gira himself? Well, apparently, he's had royal blood all along. And because of that, it's his birthright, as much as Rcules's, to be king.
And maybe, if he can take that role fair and square, then he'll be able to spend more time making his kingdom better, and getting to learn about all of them—his subjects and the other kings, both—until he can fully understand what he's gotten himself into.
Rita calls Morfonia to their chambers when the other kings have all departed. They wait for the nervous young woman to settle before asking, "What did you think of my ruling?"
"I don't know why you put so much effort into it," Morfonia admits, slouching in her seat. "I mean… it's a loooooot, isn't it?"
Rita nods. This is part of why they wanted to discuss the case with Morfonia. If Morfonia really will be their successor, then she'll need to understand the importance of cases like this. The importance of both recognizing the other kings for the vibrant nexus points of power and personality that they are, and of not being blinded by that power. "If I hadn't put in the work, I wouldn't have arrived at the truth."
Morfonia cringes. "I guess, but is it a good truth if a king is angry at us? I mean, it's inviting war onto our doorway, right?"
Steepling their hands in front of their body, Rita nods. "You could see it that way, but it's more complicated than that. Let's go through the kings one at a time, and discuss what we know of them. We'll start with the easiest: Yanma Gast."
Morfonia purses her lips. "He's more of a president than a king, right? Came from nothing, like most of the people in our kingdom." The like me remains unsaid, but Rita still hears that part loud and clear.
"He built himself up, and he's proud because of that. The pride could become arrogance, but right now it's tempered by two things: his need to keep his own country stable, and his battle of wills with Rcules." They will bring up Rcules last, because he is the more thorny, complicated issue. "Yanma isn't one for subtlety or subterfuge. Even when he tries, it doesn't tend to go well. That's useful to know when trying to gather information from him, or from those he controls in N'Kosopa. The other useful thing to keep in mind is that he seems to be a good president–a king who cares for his people."
When did that become something that was in doubt? Rita knows that they're not the first ruler of Gokkan to have to deal with trouble among the kings, but it still makes their skin crawl. How could someone have so much power and not care where the sparks they strike will fall?
"Okay, so he's good and caring but stubborn," Morfonia summarizes. "And Hymeno Ran is… good but selfish and stubborn?"
"A good summation." Rita smiles, knowing it will soften their expression even though it can't be seen. "Hymeno also takes her role seriously. You'll find when looking into cases involving doctors that there tend to be three types: those who like power, those who like control, and those who truly like helping people. Hymeno may actually be all three, but her driving focus is her people. Just not at the expense of herself. Which isn't a bad position for a king or a doctor to take. It's impossible to pour water from an empty cup."
Rita can appreciate Hymeno's ability to set boundaries, and her dedication to both her craft and her people. Just as she can appreciate the gestures towards friendship that are starting to happen, because Rita's pretty certain they come from a place of honesty. From not understanding that Rita must remain impartial, and that means they cannot have friends.
"I guess…" Morphonia allows, and smiles. "I'd rather my cup be full to the brim. But we'd need a lot more imports from Toufu to allow that, huh?"
"Perhaps that's something we can arrange with Kaguragi. The only question would become what the Dybowski siblings ask in return." Rita pauses, waiting to see if Morfonia has any ideas.
"I don't know what we could offer them," Morfonia replies. "I mean, all we've got is ice and justice, though I guess ice can keep the produce fresh at least."
"It can, and that's not a bad thing to offer–especially during hot summers or unseasonable weather changes, ice can be instrumental in keeping Toufu's exports viable. And don't discount justice. The people working here could also be sent elsewhere to work, in times of great need." Rita pulls out the file she has on Kaguragi and slides it towards Morfonia. "But also be wary of what Kaguragi says. He came to power in unusual circumstances, and his entire political career seems predicated on telling people what they want to hear while doing what he feels is best for his country. So long as that's aligned with our goals he's useful, but the moment it's not, we should be prepared for treachery."
"He just appeared out of nowhere too, didn't he?" Morfonia asks as she opens the file, her eyes slowly widening as she reads through its contents. Not that Rita can blame her, of course—the Dybowskis are perhaps even more complicated than Rcules and Gira, even if more dependable to fall on the right side of justice in a pinch than the former, and more of a known force than the latter.
"Rather like Gira, in the appearing out of nowhere aspect, but what I've been able to trace of his history stands up to scrutiny. He really was a farmer before all this, which may be why he takes the survival of the farms and the farmers so seriously. It's one of the things Rcules has been threatening, according to multiple sources." Which brings them to the iceberg at the heart of this problem. "You believe what I discovered to be true–about Gira being a proper heir to Shugoddam?"
"I mean, I know better than to question your judgment," Morfonia replies, looking up from the Dybowski papers to study Rita and their one visible eye. "I mean, you went all around the world to gather information. You talked to people that others would overlook to find out their take on his character. And you pored through so many books and records, my eyes wanted to cross just looking at them all. If that didn't lead you to the truth, then I really don't know what could."
Rita nods. "Sometimes we're not able to find all of the truth, though. Sometimes we have to speculate, and make the best decision with the information we have. Given what we know, and what we've seen, who do you think is responsible for Gira being cast out of the Husty family?"
Morfonia's face scrunches up in the way it often does when faced with an impossible dilemma. "Do I really have to make a guess at this?"
"Not out loud, but I think you have an idea." Rita stands, pacing the space behind her desk. "The Quintet Alliance has been broken. Rcules has made it perfectly clear where his priorities lie. He cares for his own power, and for Shuggodom's supremacy. That is not a set of priorities that can be bargained with. When someone insists that you give up your power in order for them to let you keep any of it, you've lost the moment you acquiesce. And if Rcules is allowed to get away with ignoring one part of international law, what will stop him from ignoring others?"
Rita draws a deep breath, settling themself back into their body. "I could have ruled in many ways today. But the truth was clear, and I will never allow the justice that I serve to be based on anything but truth. Doing otherwise would stain me and all of the previous rulers. There is a possibility, in these troubled times, that this will lead to me being called many things, including possibly a traitor and a liar. But I must know that I have acted fairly… and I would like to ensure that my successor is someone who will do the same, even if the worst should befall me and I am assassinated for political reasons."
Morfonia lets out a deep, bone-sagging sigh at the reminder of the weight on her shoulders. "And what if I fail to live up to your standards?"
"I don't have any doubt that you can withstand the weight of my expectations". I wouldn't be discussing matters with you if I doubted your ability or inclinations." Rita turns to face Morfonia again. "And I intend to remain king for a long, long time to come. But I still want you to understand. And if you see somewhere that I have taken action without proper consideration, I want you to tell me about it."
"You won't," Morfonia says. "You never will."
And Rita knows she means it.
"I'll certainly try. And perhaps, if we're careful, and we keep to the laws, we'll have a better quintet alliance at the end of this than we did at the start." Rita settles back at their desk.
They could live with Yanma, Hymeno, Kaguragi, and Gira as equals on the international stage. They might even, in a far distant future where justice is more stable, be time and space for something like friendship between them.
But that day seems a distant dream right now, and Rita has a successor to train in the here and now.
The future will have to be patient.
Yanma doesn't know why he can't seem to stop watching Gira.
There's just something about the Shugoddam prince. But what that something is… Yanma can't put into words. He's not smart, not like Shiokara or the rest of Yanma's inner circle. Not that he's stupid, but Yanma's not sure Gira actually knows the difference between a CPU and a graphics card.
He's not graceful, drawing the eye with his every move like Hymeno. At least Yanma understands why he wants to watch her.
He's not arresting like Rita. Heh. Yanma allows a smirk to cross his face as he considers Rita being arresting.
But Gira still draws Yanma's eyes. Maybe it's the way Gira doesn't seem to know how to quit?
Whatever the reason, though, Yanma should manage to get his attention away from Gira and back onto the project he's supposed to be working on. Figuring out how the shugods work is essential to undermining Racles, after all.
And yet, when Yanma doesn't watch his eyes, they keep moving towards Gira.
"Yanma?" Shiokara's voice is meek, like he's uncertain if he's poking a sleeping cat or a sleeping bear.
"What?" Yanma asks, leaning back in his chair until his eyes meet his advisor's upside-down. (Shiokara's also pretty easy on the eyes, come to think of it, and damn he should be off this train of thought already!)
"It's just that… your hands haven't exactly moved in the past five… ten minutes…." Shiokara says. "And, well, I wanted to make sure that everything was all right."
"I'm fine. Just… thinking. Making sure I get this right, so I don't have to do it again. Nothing dumber than having to do the same work twice." Yanma manages to keep his attention on the program he's writing for all of sixty seconds, fixing two bugs and putting the final commands in the code. Which unfortunately means he's done what he set out to do, and now he just needs to let the program go about the task he set it. If he's lucky, he'll have a better understanding of how the shugods and kings weapons speak in about… five minutes. If he's unlucky, or runs into security he's not expecting, then it might very well be five hours.
Spinning his chair around, Yanma glowers at the ceiling. Maybe he should put stars up there. Or something. Anything. Because if he does, then he can't see anything that isn't actually on the ceiling.
"Say, Shiokara." Leaning forward, Yanma plants both feet firmly on the ground to stop his slow rotation. "What do you think of the other Kings?"
"What? Do you mean, like, individually, or as a collective unit?"
"As a collective unit we're kind of shit still, yeah? I'm not sure we even want to be a collective unit. Is there a way for us to manage that without someone getting a stick up their ass and trying to take over, like Rcules did?" Yanma grimaces. "But individually… I don't know. Hymeno's pretty… pretty?" Oh that is a stupid sentence, but it's already out of his mouth.
"Well, yeah," Shiokara replies thoughtfully. "I mean, hers is the kingdom of beauty and medicine for a reason, and while I know it's not really a requirement of your individual posts, you all tend to… embody the soul of your kingdoms, I suppose? In a different way than the shugods, I mean. So of course Hymeno is beautiful—a little intimidatingly so, really. And Dybowski's somehow as welcoming and generous as he is intimidating and scheming. And Gira's impossible to really understand, which is kind of intimidating in his own way, and Rita's just plain intimidating. Though I'd take you all over more time with Suji any day." He gives an overdramatic shudder, as if that was the worst possible fate that could befall him.
"Suji wasn't a leader. He was a parasite with delusions of grandeur." Yanma twirls a stylus between his fingers. "N'Kosopa always deserved better." Shiokara always deserved better, and Yanma's glad he can give him better. "Arrrgh, maybe I've just been working on this for too long. It's making me think weird sappy things. Like, I don't know… maybe Gira's…" Handsome. Fascinating. Intriguing. "Worth getting to know more."
"Well of course he is. He's the king you know the least, what with the whole rushing into things and practically stealing power out of Rcules's hands and—" Shiokara cut himself off, his eyes and mouth both going round as he came to a realization that Yanma wasn't quite ready to hear out loud. (Damn it, why did Shiokara have to be so good at reading him again?) "You LIKE him!"
"I don't!" Yanma smashes his laptop screen closed, and then winces, opening it again and making sure he hasn't interrupted the program. "I just… find him interesting. I like Hymeno, even if she's, like, liable to blow me up and then expect me to send her flowers for the medical care afterward. But Gira's fascinating." Which sounds bad, doesn't it? Sounds kind of like a crush, and Yanma is definitely not crushing on a Shugoddam prince. He would sooner choke on a power strip. "I mean, Rita's fascinating too. You know there's got to be more behind that black collar than just a love of justice and Moffun. Kaguragi could be fascinating but he's too slimy to really manage it."
A curious look passes over Shiokara's face, and it looks like he's going to press on a button that Yanma very much doesn't want him to press, but then he swallows it down and thinks better of it. "Okay, so you find him—or them—fascinating. So what do you want to do about it?"
"I don't know. I think they should stop being fascinating so I can focus on what we need to focus on." Yanma watches the box tick up towards one hundred percent completion on his program. It should hurry up so he's got something else to work on. "Thanks. For letting me gripe about them."
"Thanks, it's part of my job," Shiokara says, beaming. "I mean, if you get frustrated at them while talking to me, then it's not technically an international incident. Which is far, far better than the alternative. Like the time that you tried to flirt with Hymeno right after you became President. Or the time that you touched Moffun. Or. Uh. Every time you've talked with Rcules, come to think of it."
"I am not to blame for international incidents where Rcules is involved. He is a walking talking international incident, I'm just refusing to pretend he's not." Yanma sniffs. "And I think Hymeno's going to come around one of these days. I'm charming enough. When I want to be."
"And you could be for Gira too, if you wanted," Shiokara added. "Just saying…"
"Maybe." Yanma grins as his program pings, letting him know that it's done what it needs to do. Two button clicks opens up a trove of raw data for him to sort through, trying to find the hidden needles in the haystacks that will let him control the shugods better. "But right now, I've got some weapons to harness. Don't let anyone bother me for two hours, okay?"
Shiokara probably replies, but Yanma doesn't notice, too wrapped up in doing what he's best at. International politics, of the personal or professional kind, can wait until later.
Hymeno stands in the middle of her dressing room, already starting to peel off the layers of brocade, taffeta, and crinoline that had been enrobing her body during her sudden and unexpected travels. Foreign relations always seemed to leave her feeling tired at the best of times, but there was something about the recent goings-on that have made her feel particularly breathless. She's having a hard time puzzling out what, exactly, is causing this mood—a fact that is troubling her to no end.
But there is nothing that a fresh outfit and a good cup of tea won't help calm, even if neither will solve anything on their own, and so she waits for an appropriate new outfit to be presented to her for an evening lounge.
Sebastian raps politely on Hymeno's door and clears his throat. "Would it be acceptable for me to help my lady select her new outfit, or would you prefer I send one of your maids in?"
"It's fine," Hymeno replies, looking down at her state of undress. "You've seen me in far worse shape than this, I'm sure." She's picky about it sometimes, wanting only Cleo's assistance during the days of her menses, or Elegance's aid when she realizes something seems amiss. But today he will do just as well, and she is glad for the extra eye and ear at that.
Sebastian slides quietly into the room, and begins sorting through her closet. He looks between the closet and Hymeno, head tilted, clearly considering. The closet has an entire rainbow assortment of potential clothes, though there's a distinct tendency towards yellow.
The color of Ishibana. The color of the sun, and the flowers that line so many walkways, and of a poorly prepared tea.
Sebastian pulls out a dress a little darker than her usual bright palette, though still recognizably yellow. The front dips low, but not scandalously so, and though it's elegant, it isn't dripping in lace or decoration that she'll need to be careful of. Sebastian holds it out for her inspection. "Would this please my lady for the evening?"
Hymeno raises an eyebrow. "Mustard, Sebastian? Really?"
Sebastian smiles. "How foolish of me. Something brighter, to help cheer my lady's mood?" He replaces the gown and selects a different one, a yellow that could look like a poor white in the wrong light. In the right light, like her rooms, it seems to glow, a bright and cheery cloud of fabric.
Hymeno wrinkles her nose. "That one's always too fussy. Good for casual evenings with company, perhaps, but not for repose. Something softer, perhaps?"
Sebastian nods, and pulls out a simpler gown in a softer yellow. Something Hymeno won't have to worry about, but that will flatter her figure. Not that she has any clothes that don't flatter her–the royal seamstresses are all highly skilled and very attuned to Hymeno's physical state. They've already had to alter several dresses as Hymeno gained muscle mass from fighting so frequently.
Hymeno gestures, and Sebastian brings it over so she can run her fingers along the fabric, feeling the texture and examining for any minute flaws that they both know won't exist.
"Very well," she declares at last. "I think this one will do."
"Your taste, as ever, is exquisite." Sebastian sets about undoing all the small clasps that need to be opened to allow Hymeno to slip into the gown. "I hope it will allow you for an evening of much-needed relaxation. The last few weeks seem to have been rather trying." The invitation to speak if she wishes is obvious.
"One could certainly say as much," Hymeno says, a quiet agreement as she positions the dress's sleeves on her shoulders. She is quietly reflective for a moment, and then meets his eyes in her grand mirror's reflection.
"How traveled were you before you came under my employ, Sebas?"
"I had done some minor holiday taking, as befitting someone of my station. But I usually found the experience… lacking. I feel like I've seen more true culture of other nations while in your employ than I ever could have before coming to the palace." Sebastian begins doing up the clasps of the gown, watching Hymeno's reflection in the mirror.
"Because of your… unique affliction," Hymeno supposes, leaving the specifics unsaid. He doesn't like being reminded of his too-perfect natural state. Not usually.
Sebastian nods. "Seeing the world from your shadow feels like my first time actually seeing it. I'm very grateful for the experience." Sebastian adjusts the neckline of the dress. "How have you been enjoying your travels? I know the circumstances have hardly been ideal, but it has brought us to unique vistas."
"It has," Hymeno agrees, "though I wish that the people we were visiting—or indeed that visited us—had a bit more of your well-bred mannerisms."
"Indeed. It's like the children of Shugoddam never had an etiquette lesson in their lives, either of them." Sebastian moves to open several drawers, revealing jewelry options for the evening. He starts sorting through necklaces with deft fingers.
"And that's to say nothing of the other three, though at least they all have the excuse of other upbringings," Hymeno adds with a sigh. "Did you know Yanma tried to flirt with me? And nothing too large, Sebastian. Though perhaps the orchids?"
Sebastian inclines his head, gathering the selected necklace and moving to place it around Hymeno's throat. "I had noticed Yanma watching you rather closely. You do draw the eye of those inclined to the feminine form, my lady."
"So I've been told," Hymeno replies, beaming. "It's hard to take him seriously when it seems all bravado, though. And Gira even more so. As much of an improvement as he is over his apparent brother."
"Yanma seems to me a man who has yet to decide exactly what he wants. When he has a purpose, he moves for it with striking determination, as seen by his seizing control of N'Kosopa. My guess would be that he is intrigued by you, but not yet certain he is willing–or perhaps able–to actually vie for your hand." Sebastian pauses, making sure the necklace hangs just right. "Or perhaps he hasn't completely decided that it's you he wants. He also seems to have a strong relationship with Gira Husty."
"He does, and that's annoying in its own right," Hymeno decides. "I should have liked to have gotten to him first, at least. But then, I would have liked to have avoided Kaguragi's plots as well, even if the food in his kingdom is sumptuous."
"I think you will be more than equal to the Dybowski plotting now that we know what to look for." Sebastian selects a set of earrings to match the necklace. "And if we can use those plots to help get rid of the… distasteful Husty sibling and put his more agreeable brother on the throne, so much the better."
"Perhaps," Hymeno replies. She puts the earrings on herself, pointing a foot to remind Sebastian of the next desired part of the outfit. "Though it would be far easier if I knew what to make of any of them."
Sebastian spreads open the several racks of shoes, searching for ones with a modest heel that will match well with the dress. Something comfortable for being around the palace, but also pretty. "Despite his attempts at deception… if that's even what they are… Gira seems fairly straightforward, at least. And Rita Kaniska has acted in accordance with their stated goal of ensuring that justice is maintained, though how they can expect to continue that when Rcules has shown his absolute disdain for both precedence and binding agreements that he doesn't like…"
"Is something that we are all going to have to keep in mind," Hymeno finishes for him. "A quintet alliance certainly sounded like a good idea: to ensure mutual protection and peace. But not when all kingdoms cannot be treated fairly, nor when games of dominance or petty squabbles are treated as more important than lives."
"Indeed." Sebastian helps Hymeno slip into the selected shoes. "In your position, I wouldn't trust any of the other kings, but for the moment they seem reasonable allies against a common enemy. And when all this is done, we can see who remains true to their stated ideals and who is as two-faced as Rcules himself."
"And perhaps no few of them will learn court graces along the way," Hymeno muses, stepping into the pair with ease. "It would be nice to have a civilized meeting of kings at least once, you know…."
"I think, when we are through with crises, it would be a fine thing to educate the other kings on the finer points of etiquette. We could do so with subtlety, even, if we don't want to cause offense intentionally." Sebastian smiles at the thought of trying to coax Yanma into using proper tableware. He's not sure the strange king even knows how to sit appropriately in a chair.
"Perhaps," Hymeno replies, her smile fond as she walks towards where her gloves are laid out, selecting a wrist-length lace pair and slipping them on. "But for now, I'm glad to be back within the company of those who don't need to be taught. And ready for tea, if I might add—the lemon-chamomile blend."
"Of course." Sebastian bows. "We're all eager to serve you in any way that we can." And Sebastian is gone, heading to ensure that the tea Hymeno requested is properly prepared.
Yes, Hymeno thinks as she takes in herself in the mirror, it's good to be home. She will have to interact with her co-rulers more, as frustrating and inscrutable as they all may be. But for now, she can put them out of her mind, and enjoy a night of self-indulgence instead. She certainly deserves as much, after all she's faced recently.
Kaguragi doesn't want to be doing this.
That seems to be his life ever since the Fury of the Gods, though. He survived famine and fire in order to compromise again and again and again in search of safety and stability for a home that he is now king of.
And if that means sacrificing his little sister, so be it.
Except he's not the one deciding that the sacrifice is worth it, and he knows it.
"Suzume, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. We can find another way to keep Rcules happy. I would never force you into a marriage, no matter how politically convenient or useful."
"I know," Suzume says, "but I do."
Whether she means she wants to or she must is left hanging in the air. It's a question that she will likely never answer, and perhaps never could. But then, why too did she push for him to be king, rather than herself? And why would she continue to work alongside him at all, when she could have let herself hide in the shadows and let all the good and bad fall at his feet alone.
Suzume is good at avoiding answers when she wants to. Kaguragi has always admired that about her, and has taught himself to be almost as good.
She smiles at him now, with a twinkle that just might be fondness, or might be the start of tears.
"You'll be fine without me," she says. "And I'll play my part, just like you. No matter how muddied we must make ourselves for the good of our country, and perhaps our world."
"True words from beauteous lips." Kaguragi slips one of the fans from his pocket and fans himself dramatically before slipping it back into his flowing robes and setting aside the persona with a sigh. "Any information you find on Rcules and his plans will be greatly helpful. Especially since this new Gira person is making Rcules so uncomfortable. We need to know what Rcules is planning, and when, and why."
"Of course," Suzume responds, her voice growing steely as her expression grows grave. "And if I have the chance to take down a second tyrant king, I swear I'll do my duty, too. No matter what the cost."
"I have costs I don't want to pay. Just keep that in mind during your plans." Kaguragi paces, the weight and feel of the robes against his skin helping to keep him focused and calm as they plan this terribly dangerous venture. "Getting rid of Rcules will open so many other possibilities, though. The rest of the Kings are unique, but none of them is cruel for cruelty's sake like Rcules."
"And if it was for the greater good, we would each of us cover ourselves with mud and dirty our hands," Suzume agrees. "But don't let yourself worry too much. I'm a big girl now, and can take care of myself. Besides, even if I'm going to be heading up our surveillance of one king as his potential fiancée, that still leaves you to keep an eye on the others and make sure no-one else grows as corrupt in his place."
"Corruption wouldn't dare share the same space as Rita Kaniska." Kaguragi's mouth quirks up into a smile at the thought of the cold, unbending warrior from the north. "So long as we keep them alive, we'll at least ensure no one else like Rcules gets to keep and hold power."
"And I guess you'll need Hymeno Ran alive if you want to ensure that," Suzume muses, "since she's the top doctor in all of Ishabana and all of Terra for that matter."
Kaguragi smiles at his sister. "Which means we have to keep Yanma Gast alive, so our communications networks work and we can actually get people to where they need to go."
"So then you'll just have to keep an eye on all of them!" Suzume exclaims, and she claps a hand on her brother's back. "Knowing you, that shouldn't be too hard."
Laughing–a true laugh, not the one that he's perfected for his political career–he clasps his hands together in front of his chest. "I'll watch the other kings, and you'll watch Rcules, and together we'll make it so Toufu survives this."
That's the most important thing, after all. Toufu has to survive. Everything else–their own lives included–doesn't matter next to that.
The fact that he could have been friends with many of these kings in another life… well. Maybe there will come a time when he can be. When he can laugh at how proud and yet unbelievably bad at politics Yanma is. When he can admire Hymeno's skill with cloth and make-up, and her ability to assert her own desires in the face of a country's overwhelming needs. When he can openly admire Rita's dedication to the truth–to something that both Dybowski siblings have long had to view as flexible just to maintain their sanity.
When he can watch Gira's intense performances and say, with open honesty, I understand what you're doing, and here's how you can do it better.
When he won't have to trade his sister's safety for information, and a chance at beating one of the most selfish, arrogant people he has ever met in his life. Which, after being king for over a decade, means being at the top of a very long, very impressive list.
All of these musings are the dreams of a far younger Kaguragi, and whether he'll ever reach an age when he can openly admit to having any thoughts of his own again is entirely dependent on how this campaign against Rcules goes.
Taking his sister's hand, he gives it a squeeze. "Be careful, Suzume. And never forget I will be there for you as soon as you tell me that you need me."
"Or I you, brother," Suzume pledges, squeezing right back with a bright smile. "At least as far as I can within my position. But then, we have our ways."
She gives a little wink, and then her face turns far more solemn as she takes in his expression once more.
"You take care, and I will too, and we'll both come out of this as best we can, won't we?"
Kaguragi doesn't answer in words. He just pulls his sister into a hug–something they haven't done very often at all since becoming king and queen-in-waiting. Hugging is too clear a declaration of affection, too pedestrian–too much their old lives, when their new ones have been full of planning and pretending and posing until they convinced themselves and everyone else that they belonged where they had ended up. She knows this as well as he does, and she hugs him back, just as close, just as firm, reflecting his feelings in kind.
They haven't always gotten along perfectly, disagreeing and squabbling over minor details, but there is not one person he would trust more. Nor one who he thinks that trust would be returned to him as deeply. And there is love to be found there, too, if different than the love she would claim to give to Rcules.
Then Suzume is walking away, head held high, and Kaguragi returns to his throne.
Time to play these games of royals and gods better than he ever has before, so he can get his sister back where he belongs and open up new possibilities for them both.