The New Reign

The newly-appointed King Ren Tao beckoned a trio of Kaminari soldiers to leave his presence and to take his father with them back to camp.

"Bring him to my mother first so he could say goodbye. Let him pack some food and clothing then accompany him to the port and send him over to my sister. She will know where to put him."

Princess Anna approached her fiancé after the soldiers had left with the disgraced king.

"That took some courage, Ren..."

The young Kaminari ruler handed her the Harusame. "I told you I will make it right..."

The blond girl took the sword from him. "I should have never doubted you..."

"Well, if you want this relationship to work, you should trust me. That is, if you still want this relationship..." King Ren Tao whispered and avoided her gaze.

His fiancée did not answer him. Instead, she grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the Kouku and Kaminari soldiers who were beating up General Tori earlier. They were not making a raucous anymore. They just stood there ogling at something.

The last Douji descendant was sprawled on the floor with a pool of blood. His face was badly beaten and a knife was sticking out from his chest. Next to him was the Kaminari foot soldier from whom he stole the bow and arrow.

"What happened here?" the blond princess asked.

A Kouku soldier pointed at the dead Lee Pailong. "We thought he was killed but then he walked into our circle with a knife in his hand and stabbed the general to death. He eventually succumbed to his injuries..."

"Ohhh... Jun..." King Ren thought of his older sister. How would he tell her about this unfortunate news? This would definitely break her heart.

Princess Anna beckoned a lieutenant in the group to come to her. "Bring him back to Kouku for a proper burial. He is an enemy but he is dead. We give respect to the dead no matter how evil he is."

"Yes, my queen..." the lieutenant bowed down to her. The rest of the Kouku soldiers followed him.

King Ren beamed at his fiancée who was astonished by the soldiers' display of loyalty to her despite her long absence. He offered his hand to her which she gladly accepted. They walked towards the crowd that had gathered in front of the throne. Apparently, the commotion there was far from over. It was not a happy scene that they found.

King Mikihisa was down on the floor with an arrow piercing his chest. He was being held by Prince Hao. His other son, Prince Yoh held his hand as he knelt beside them. His wife and her parents, Faust, Tamao, Manta, Ryuu, Tona, Lyserg, Pirika and Horo Horo surrounded him with tears on their eyes.

"You... You took the arrow for me..." Prince Hao was shaking as he propped up his father.

In his quest to end the lineage of the Asakuras, General Tori shot an arrow towards the remaining Kasai heir. Without hesitation, King Mikihisa pushed his son aside and took the hit. It was a fatal shot.

"Of course, you are my heir, Hao..." The dying king wiped the tears from his son's cheeks. It was the first time he saw him cry since he was an infant. He then turned to his other son. "I knew you would come back, Yoh... I've lost you for a moment but you're here... "

He motioned the twin brothers to come closer so he can whisper his dying wish. "Please take care of your mother.. . Don't give her heartaches... Please take care of Kasai... I trust that you would lead this kingdom with benevolence. Above all, please take care of each other... You are brothers... Brothers help and support each other... Remember that... I love you, my sons..." The Kasai monarch breathed his last and the weeping turned into wails.

Faust knelt down in front of the dead king then gently took the crown from his head. He looked at Prince Yoh, paused for a moment before shifting his gaze at Prince Hao. "As my dear friend, King Mikihisa wishes..." He placed the Kasai crown on Prince Hao's head.

"Long live King Hao Asakura!" The Kasai palace guards raised their swords.

"Long live King Ren Tao!" The Kaminari soldiers raised their fists.

"Long live Queen Anna Kyouyama!" The Kouku soldiers shouted with all their might.

"Ohh brother, don't..." Princess Pirika shook her head at her older sibling while Tona covered his ears with his fingers.

"Long live King Horokeu Usui!" The Kouri king screamed at the top of his lungs.