The Great Spirit's River Bridge

Manta Oyamada had been getting little sleep for the past 9 months. He had been pestered by the rulers of the four kingdoms who had divided views about the construction of a bridge connecting Kouku and Kasai. The king of Kaminari wanted them to speed things up. It had to be finished before his wedding with the queen of Kouku so that their guests from the other side of the land need not cross the Great Spirit's River through a raft while wearing their formal attire. Manta thought that would be fun to watch though.

Meanwhile, the king of Kouri wanted to receive a daily update on the project that he had indirectly funded through a loan to Kasai. He was keen to transport goods to Kouku and Kaminari as both butterbur and diamonds became coveted raw materials in these two new ally kingdoms. It would be a quick return on his investment as he would put it.

On the other hand, the queen of Kouku who was residing nearby had been visiting him and his men on site to check on the construction of the bridge at least once a week. She had been reminding him to take their time to ensure the quality of their work. It had to last for centuries after all. His workers would cower under her disapproving stare when she found something she did not like. Nevertheless, Manta was happy whenever she visited because he had the opportunity to chat with his old time buddy, Ryuu.

The king of Kasai had the same sentiments not because he was after a sturdy structure that would last for at least his lifetime but because he wanted to annoy the other two kings. The good thing about Hao though, was that he never showed his face at the site. Manta didn't have a friendly relationship with him so it would be awkward for them to have a conversation. What was annoying though was that everyday, Hao would send a bouquet of roses for him to forward to the Kouku guards stationed by the river to ensure their safety. The little man hated the idea of his king making a move on his twin brother's ex-lover (Were they even lovers?). Not to mention that Anna would be married to Ren Tao soon.

Manta cleared his head of those stressful memories and let out a smile. His most awaited day had come. Today, high-profile people had gathered around the Great Spirit's River to witness the opening of his first big project since he took the helm of his family business. Picnic tables had been set up on both sides of the river so guests could relax and enjoy the greenery.

As part of the ceremony, the rulers had crossed in pairs and greeted each other at the middle of the stone bridge.

"Greetings friends!" King Horokeu saluted the other three.

"Hello, horse face!" King Ren smirked at him while Queen Anna responded with a nod.

King Hao ignored the other male monarchs and kissed the blonde's hand to her fiancé's dismay. The Tao king pulled the Kouku queen away from the Kasai ruler who still managed to get Anna's attention by pointing at Ren's hair and shaking his head in disagreement over her choice.

The two pairs continued walking towards the opposite side and stepped into the territory they once considered an enemy. Their friends, family members, and visitors followed them to their respective tables.

"Hey..." Lyserg approached the Kaminari king before he crossed over to the Usuis' table. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course." King Ren said to his friend. "I will get back to you, my love." He called after Queen Anna who was making her way to the tables.

At Kouku's side of the river...

King Hao approached Ryuu who was engaged in an animated talk with Manta. The former partners did not notice their king at first and Hao almost gave them a heart attack when he cleared his throat and stared at them with eyes that could kill.

"I do hope that Anna was able to receive my gifts? Otherwise, I would be sending you off in a mission to remove the barnacles from the Homura." He grinned at the former spies.

"The queen loved them, Your Highness!" Ryuu squeaked.

That was a half lie. Anna burned each letter from Hao after reading it but she found it wasteful to throw the flowers so she had instructed Ryuu to deliver the roses over to the Kouku palace gardener for replanting.

"Oh there she is! Silly me! Of course I have to follow her wherever she goes! Talk to you later, Manta!" Ryuu scrambled out of the Kasai monarch's sight and followed the queen when she strolled beyond the picnic area.

At Kasai's side of the river...

"So what do you want to talk about?" The Kaminari king asked his friend.

Lyserg hesitated for a while. "It's about Jeanne..."

Ren spotted his fiancée walking towards the direction of the woods with her body guard. "I hope she's doing well. I have sent her a wedding invite but she has not yet replied."

"She can't come..."

"That's unfortunate..."

"Hey, I don't want to be intrusive of your private life but my cousin isn't saying anything..."

"About what? What was she supposed to say?" Ren gave him a curious look.

"Ammm... Did something happen between you, two? The night of the Royal Friendship Ball... when you went back to the academy..?" Lyserg's face grew red.

Vague flashbacks of those intimate moments popped up inside the young Kaminari king's head. He tried to shake away the thought and furrowed his brows at his friend. "I'm getting married soon, Lyserg. I would appreciate if you do not remind me of how you drugged me that night."

The future Duke of Morphia was filled with guilt. "I would apologize a thousand times if you want me to..."

"Don't be absurd. I have accepted your sorry the morning after the ball. Go to Pirika now. She's been giving me death glares from afar for holding you up here."

In the woods near the Great Spirit's River...

"Where are you going, Your Grace?" The bodyguard called after his lady as she went through a grove.

"Go back... I'll be fine..." Anna told him off.

"I can't. My king and your fiancé would kill me if I let you go alone..." Ryuu panted after catching up with her.

"Hey... It's this place..." He whispered as they stood in front of a burnt hut. Ryuu recalled their gruesome finding when he and Manta dropped by the hut after the Kouku and Kaminari troops had marched on to Kasai.

"Show me where Eliza is buried..."

"This way, My Lady..." Ryuu led her to the backyard and stopped at a mound. Roses in full bloom outlined the grave.

"Are those...?" Anna began to speak.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace! I have been taking a few buds from King Hao's gifts. Please do not punish me!" The bodyguard pleaded.

"No, it's brilliant." The Kouku queen patted his back. Ryuu almost shed tears of joy because of the compliment.

"Have you found out from the Kouku generals where they buried Amidamaru's body before the war?"

"I did. They asked the foot soldiers to put him in the cemetery for people with no relatives. He was buried next to the black smith's grave."

"Good. Dig the bones out. Both of them."

Ryuu was taken aback. "My Lady... Their bodies might still be in the process of decay..."

Anna raised an eyebrow. "My fearless bodyguard is afraid of the dead? I wonder if Hao can find me a more strong-hearted replacement..."

"I was just kidding, Your Grace!" The former spy forced out a laugh. "Whatever will you do to them?"

"I will give them a proper burial ground. Get me your annoying king after this. I need to talk with him." The blond queen turned around to go back to the sounds of merriment. She found the person she needed, leaning on a tree near the picnic area.

"Ahhh there you are.." King Hao grinned at her. "Your clingy fiancé had finally freed you from his grip."

"Are you stalking me?" Queen Anna asked him irritated.

"Just had to ensure that your bodyguard is doing his job." The Kasai monarch eyed Ryuu who took cover behind the queen to avoid his gaze.

"No need to micro manage. He's doing his job well... Since you're already in my presence, I want to buy this small piece of land in the woods where Faust and Eliza used to live."

"Conquering Kasai by purchasing our land one area at a time. I like that strategy, Anna."

"You're unbelievable, Hao... and you're also broke."

"That's true." Hao chuckled. "Let's make our first kingdom-to-kingdom transaction then. Give me the partial payment in gold coins and I'll prepare the transfer of ownership of that piece of land to the Kouku monarchy. You can send full payment once the paper work is finished. There's one condition though..."

"You and your schemes." Anna clicked her tongue.

"Oh, my queen... I'm deeply hurt that you always think that I have a hidden agenda." Yet the Asakura king did not appear offended. "This is all I ask of you: Give my brother a chance."

The blond queen was speechless.

"A chance for what?" The awkward silence was broken by King Ren when he appeared from the bushes behind them.

"To talk at least." His Kasai counterpart ignored his presence.

"Well, he isn't here, Hao. Only you know where he is. The chance will just be wasted." Queen Anna took her fiancé's hand. "Have your men deliver the deed of sale to my palace then I'll release the downpayment to you. We'll see you at the wedding tomorrow..."

"I invited him in your behalf, you know." King Hao called out to her after the trio disappeared into the trees.

"Yoh just needed to get his ass down here."