The Negotiation

King Yuan Tao walked towards the Kasai throne with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The place was dotted with palace guards who were looking at the Kaminari and Kouku delegation with disdain. He could take all of them down if they wished to attack. Although he had aged, his sword skills were still sharp and he would never backed down in any fight. He would finish every man who was responsible for his only son's death.

Ever since they had stepped foot in the palace grounds, he had been itching to charge and kill the Kasai monarch. The only thing stopping him was the prisoner's claim that his supposed-to-be daughter-in-law was still alive. Murdering the enemy king would ruin their chance to get the girl back. That would not sit well with the Kouku soldiers who were yearning for the princess to come home. They were loyal to the Kyouyama royal family after all. King Hideki was a well-beloved ruler and the overflowing support for him would definitely be extended to his lineage. The Tao monarch was just relieved that someone had survived that night.

They weren't meant to die...

He took a quick glance at his companion. General Ryuuken Tori was walking by his side wearing a grim expression. He had been in deep thought ever since they had encamped outside the Kasai palace walls. He was a king when they left Kouku but was now unofficially stripped off of his title when his men learned that Princess Anna was alive.

The blond captive called Faust was a few steps in front of them. He was instrumental in seeking audience with the enemy ruler. King Yuan thought he would be worthless as the days progress because the prisoner seemed to be descending into madness. Sometimes he would be sobbing uncontrollably then would burst out in laughter after a few minutes. Most of the time he would walk with his head lowered as if in prayer. He wasn't sleeping much and dark circles had already formed under his eyes.

Waiting for them at the end of the throne room was the Kasai king wearing a suspicious looking bird mask. Behind the enemy ruler sat two wizened couple who were looking at them with distaste. On each side stood two young men who were apparently the twin princes of Kasai. One was eyeing them from head to toe. The other was fidgeting in his place. A tall man with a goatee and a blond midget stood beside him. If King Yuan hadn't looked twice, he would have mistaken them for someone else.

"Welcome to our humble abode!" King Mikihisa greeted them. "It's been a long time, Faust."

"It's an unfortunate thing that we would be meeting again in this way, Your Highness," the blond man bowed. His eyes met Prince Hao's. The boy had grown into a stately young man. The prince responded to his acknowledgment by moving a finger across his neck. He still held a grudge against him after all these years.

Faust turned his attention to the other twin. He furrowed his eyebrows at Prince Yoh who greeted him with a sheepish smile. The boy got them into a lot of trouble but he would move mountains to get him out of it.

"Where is she?!" King Yuan demanded. "Show us Princess Anna!"

King Mikihisa waved at the palace guards to open the door to his left. The princess came out accompanied by the Asakura queen and a train of palace maids. She was wearing a blue boat neck gown, one of a few non-pink dresses that Tamao owned. Her hair was tied up neatly in a bun. Her head was adorned with a tiara containing the biggest sapphire in the land. Prince Yoh ogled at the princess from across the room.

"We have extended our warmest welcome to her in spite of you ravishing the towns you have passed along the way." King Mikihisa said calmly.

"That was your payment for murdering the Kyouyamas and taking the princess against her will," the Kaminari king retorted.

"Those are unfounded accusations."

"And how would you explain her unexpected presence in enemy territory?"

"I am here, Your Highnesses. I can explain myself," Princess Anna lifted her skirt and moved closer to the kings. "I came here of my own accord. As you would notice, I survive my family's massacre. I laid down sick and dying by the river when Prince Yoh found me. Faust and his lovely wife nursed me back to health. They are our enemies but I owe them my second life. I asked the prince's help to bring me to Kaminari thinking that he was one of King Yuan's palace servants. It was a stupid mistake and I am willing to pay for it."

Prince Yoh was about to speak but Faust shook his head at him.

"You are being made a fool, Anna," King Yuan gritted his teeth. "These people had been plotting against us since time immemorial! They are not worthy of your trust and compassion!"

"We have evidence that they had something to do with your parents' murders, Your Grace," General Ryuuken Tori moved forward and showed them a star gold pin on the palm of his hand. "Surely someone would recognize this? It was found in the place of murder."

Princess Anna quickly peered at it then shot a questioning look at Prince Yoh.

"It's mine," admitted the Kasai heir. "It was gone one day. I couldn't find it in my room no matter where I looked."

Prince Hao met Kanna's eyes from the line up of palace maids.

"It was an important family heirloom and I knew father would kill me if he found out I lost it. Faust told me stories about a family of blacksmiths in Kouku that could forge anything. I asked father if I can join the spy mission so I can sneak into Kouku and find the blacksmith to create a replica. Mosuke did an amazing job." The prince pointed at the heirloom pinned to his chest.

The color drained from General Ryuuken Tori's face.

"Did Mosuke create two replicas then?" Manta thought out loud. The story got more and more confusing.

"That is his alibi but who can prove that he is telling the truth?" challenged King Yuan.

"No one, Your Majesty. Mosuke died on the same night as the royal family's murder. His body was found by a neighbor the next day. I have personally inspected it." General Tori assured him.

"So no one can prove his innocence then." The Kaminari king's voice boomed. "His lost heirloom ended up in the royal chambers were the family was murdered. He took the princess to enemy territory when he knew trespassing is punishable by death. Moreover, he was also in Morphia when my son's ship blew up! Who would believe that he is not guilty?!"

" I would!" Princess Anna declared. "King Yuan, Yoh has nothing to do with Ren's death. If you wanted him punished for just being there, you would have to kill me as well because I was there, too. If you wanted him to die because he crossed borders then sentence me as well because I did that, too."

"Surely we don't want to go down that path, Your Grace," Faust tried to reason out with the princess. "You are the last of the Kyouyama main branch."

"Still, someone must be punished! I will burn this whole kingdom down if you would not surrender the perpetrators of my son's untimely death!" The Kaminari ruler could not be appeased.

"Then let me pay for everything. It's rightfully so." Prince Yoh approached the Kouku princess. "I did not kill your parents, Anna... I made grave mistakes but meeting you wasn't one of them. I cannot let you suffer because of my stupidity. I am willing to die for my kingdom... and for the girl I love..." He removed the strands that fell on the blonde's face and grinned at her.

Everyone fell silent.

Princess Anna was stopping her tears from falling. She cannot lose Yoh, too...

"Don't do this..."

"Do you accept the prince's offer and withdraw your army?" Faust asked King Yuan.

"Gladly. An heir for an heir."

"King Mikihisa?"

The Kasai king stood up and left the throne. "As he wishes..."

Queen Keiko wailed when the palace guards reluctantly arrested the prince.

Prince Yoh took Anna's hand and kissed it in an act of saying goodbye. The princess grasped his hand even more tightly but Yoh forcefully pulled his hand from her after whispering "I'm sorry..."

"As per Kasai custom, Prince Yoh Asakura will be executed tomorrow by sunrise."