Chapter 15: The Labors Of Hercules Aren't More Difficult Than A Confession!

Lia: Thank you for reviewing, I was really happy to know that you enjoyed the last chapters! And I hope this chapter is a fitting conclusion, and is fun to read. I think there's a little surprise at the end too, so I hope you enjoy reading!

Putxi: Thanks for the review and thanks for waiting! I hope this chapter was worth the wait and pleases you too! And I'll admit that I'm hoping that you'll say 'Oh My God!' after reading this, tee hee…. Enjoy reading!

nathan19bane: Thank you for the review and also for reading and encouraging me! And yes, you are very much welcome too! I'm sorry about the recent chapters being late, but I hope this one was worth the wait. And don't worry, I definitely won't ever let a story hang for like, two years, because I know how much that can let the readers down. And if I ever do, feel free to yell at me and get me back to business again!

Now, onto the story!

Tae's smile had never been brighter than when Tsukuyo told her what the prince of Edo intended to do. She had willingly postponed all schemes and plans, eager to see how her little sister would react to her lover's proposal. Sarutobi had deeply regretted that they would not be able to put several ideas involving bondage and ropes into action, but she too was happy to know that Sougo was finally going to take a decisive step. Even Umibozu had grudgingly agreed not to fire a single bullet or yell even once. All in all, everything was set in place for the grand event.

Kagura, of course, was entirely oblivious to all of it, and happily pranced around the garden with Sadaharu, though she did wonder why everyone was giggling so much on seeing her. She was certain that she had combed her hair well, put her cheongsam the right way and that there were no markings on her face either. Her grin lessened as she guessed that it was probably because of some prank the Sadist had played on her. Thus, she was not extremely happy to see the very same Sadist coming towards her with a mysterious look on his face.

But for once, he did not seem to be in the mood to pull a prank on her or annoy her. In fact, she was astonished to see that he actually looked a little nervous…

"China, can you quit fooling around with your dog for a moment? There's something I have to tell you, something important…"

Something important? Whatever can it be? Kagura, you fool, control yourself, damn it! He isn't going to confess or anything, arrgh; I should just stop this nonsense and reply!

"What do you have to say to me, Sadist? It had better be worthwhile, yes, because I'm busy, uh huh."

"China…. I should have known that it's been you all along…. Will you be my slave forever?"

Kagura gaped at him, her cheeks reddening, at a total loss for words. Sougo silently congratulated himself, she was about to drop down at his feet, crying yes… Suddenly, her hand touched his face. Unfortunately, it wasn't to stroke or pat him, but to give him a punch that sent him crashing through a tree twenty foot away.

He could only stare in total shock and excruciating pain as she marched away in a huff without sparing a backward glance for him. Well, looks like she didn't accept it. But why was she so furious in the first place? It's not like I said something too bad… Well, I'll just have to try again…"

Standing on the balcony, Tsukuyo face palmed, Tae sighed and Sarutobi threw her hands up in despair.

An hour or so later, Sougo sat in the infirmary, letting Tae bandage or rather, mummify him. It was not like he had much of a choice; Kagura's punches were definitely not to be taken lightly. As she wound a bandage around his arms, completely restraining him, Tae gave him a sweet, scary smile, before asking, "Sougo kun, just what kind of a proposal was that? Did you really think Kagura chan was going to agree to that?"

Tsukuyo put in, "Tha first part was good enough, but then…Where exactly did ya get tha' idea from? Any girl would hit ya fer it, yanno."

"Don't worry, Sougo san! I found that line wonderful!"

"Sarutobi san, will you please shut up? But really though, it won't do if you confess using such idiotic lines…. How about, 'all I want is you…will you please accept my feelings?'"

"Tha' ain't good enough, Tae. It's too common. How about…'Will you go to hell with me? We can be together forever…' "

"Just what the heck are you talking about, Tsukky?! Which sane girl is gonna agree to that? I think this will be just perfect, 'Spend your life with me, and we can do S&M play forever, my darling….'"

"THAT'S THE WORST!"

Sougo rolled his eyes at their animated discussion regarding suitable pick up lines, allowing his thoughts to wander away. The last one wasn't too bad, but China will probably, no, definitely kill me for it…. There's no use of confessing if I'm dead, so I'd better not. But hell, what can I say? I've never thought of having to confess to a girl in my whole life, and I'm not saying some dratted cliché either. But, actions speak better than words, don't they? That's how it's always been for us…Yeah, I've got it.

Kagura walked slowly down the corridor, muttering under her breath. Curse that sadist for saying such stuff to me, curse me for being stupid enough to take him seriously, curse everyone for giggling, curse that sadist for messing with my brains, curse the whole universe for spoiling my mood today… The litany of curses came to an abrupt halt when she saw one of their subjects waiting for her at the end of the corridor. It was Sougo, heavily bandaged and bruised. A tinge of guilt rose within her at the sight of him, when she remembered that she was the cause of those bandages. But he deserved that for messing with my feelings, uh huh!

She was just about to begin an argument with him as usual, when he stepped forward, looking unusually solemn. Her heart nearly ceased beating as he slipped his arms about her waist, pulling her closer. And when he leaned forward and kissed her, her brain short circuited. She stopped thinking about why or how it was happening, or what was the right thing to do or what if anybody saw them; she just kissed him back. It tasted like chilies and coffee, and so… like the sadist himself. But why the hell was he even kissing her?!

When they finally pulled away, Sougo was amused to see that she looked utterly shell-shocked. He wondered what she would do; hopefully, she wouldn't kill him outright. But hell, even she wouldn't be so dense as to misunderstand this, right?

"Sadist…why did you… Do you…"

"My god, China, do you really not get it? You idiot, I love you!"

"You-you…That ain't true! We are rivals, you always insult me and we fight with each other…. You're just trying to mess with my feelings, yes?!"

"So you finally admit that you do have feelings for me, China… But for goodness' sake, will you quit being so dense? Yeah, I do insult you, annoy you, hurt you, and a lot more, but hell, I love you! Though I'm only using that stupid word because I have nothing else to describe it… But I miss you when you aren't around, and enjoy fighting with you and I'm never bored with you around, even though you are an insufferable, disobedient, rude, ugly and insatiable glutton, so is that clear?"

"You sadist, are you insulting me or confessing to me, yes?! I knew it, only a jerk like you would be so clueless-"

She was cut off as Sougo kissed her again. As they parted, after a long time, he asked her with a smirk, "If I'm clueless, then what does that make you, China?"

"Yup, it looks like we're totally suited for each other, Sadist."

Meanwhile, in an adjoining balcony, Tae beamed with pleasure, Sarutobi fainted with excitement and Tsukuyo grinned happily, even as she held a kunai against Umibozu's neck, in the event that he should burst in on the happy couple. Sadaharu gave a bark of approval, before beginning to chew his newest toy.

A few months later…..

Rain pounded down steadily as several hooded figures sped noiselessly in the direction of the palace of Edo. They soon reached the massive building, and flew down the battlements, weapons ready for a fight. Suddenly, the entire party came to an abrupt halt; their leader had come to a standstill, and was gazing down at an elegant pavilion on the palace grounds.

Many people stood under it, sheltered from the rain. A man with a silver perm was arguing violently with a black haired police officer. A long haired woman, no, man was lecturing a giant duck sitting beside him. Women glided around, serving, drinking and laughing without a care in the world. But the red haired man's eyes were riveted on a couple sitting on the steps of the pavilion. The sandy haired man patted a giant white dog beside them, while the red haired woman was almost out in the rain, holding a purple parasol and apparently scolding the former. Even from the heights, they could hear her clear, loud voice and several colorful words as well. But there was no mistaking the joy in her voice and the love behind her words. All of a sudden, she turned, looked up and smiled.

Abuto was pretty sure that she couldn't see them, and that she wouldn't want to either, but looking at her, for the first time, he somehow did not want to go ahead with the mission they had come to do…. I wonder if that idiot captain does… But he's never cared about his sister, has he?

He soon received the shock of his life when the person in front of him tore his eyes away from the scene and began to go back the same way they had come, no trace of a smile on his face. Not daring to chuckle, he followed, signaling that the mission of destruction of Edo was abandoned.

The Yato soon were out of the city, and Kamui could hear them grumbling mutinously to each other. Well, they could do what they liked, as long as they remembered who the boss was. He felt Abuto come up beside him and voice the question, "Captain, why?"

Well, he didn't know that. He didn't know why the mere sight of his weak sister and her family prevented him from completing his mission. It wasn't that he felt any attachment to her. It couldn't be that he was weak. Then why?

And all of a sudden, the answer struck him, harder than any punch he had ever taken. Standing in the rain, smiling, she looked just like his mother…. Just like Kouka. His mother, who had always got hurt due to his and the Baldy's stupidity, still lived on within her only daughter, who had never left her like they had. By fighting Kagura, he would just be hurting his mother again… and he couldn't do that.

But he wouldn't tell that to Abuto. Maybe the guy already knew…. So all he did was smile and tell Abuto to keep quiet if he didn't want to be killed. But before they boarded the Harusame ship again, Kamui made sure to leave a flower at his mother's grave in Rakuyou. Abuto did not fail to notice it, chuckling softly under his breath, "Well well, looks like monsters and psycho killers are also sons and elder brothers. My, my, who would've guessed?"

Somewhere in the alleyways of Edo, a fortune teller advised her customer, "Don't worry, my dear, Cupid always finds his targets, even if he shoots blindfolded."

A/N: So there ends the fifteenth and the last chapter! I hope it made a good read and also that the ending was a fitting conclusion to this story. Thank you all so, so, so much for reading and encouraging me all the way, it means the world to me. It's a little sad for me to end it here, but I'm really quite happy with myself about the story, though I hope that I'm justified in that, tee hee. A huge, huge thanks to Akely, nathan19bane, Hellooo, Putxi, Kimchimustard, Miku Walker, Torarara, Lia, Hirude, Furuchisa, Mellize and all the anonymous guests for their reviews, you guys keep me going! I do hope you review again for the last chapter, pleeeaaase?

I know I've vacations now and all, but my workload seems to be getting heavier day by day, so I'll only be posting one shots in general. But hey, you can send me requests too! Though it's only my childish pride that makes me think that you will, tee hee.

So please do take some time out to review and send me suggestions for improvement too; I love to know what you think of it. As always, follows, favorites, constructive criticism and anything else are very, very, much appreciated!

Thanks a lot for reading and see you again in a new story!