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Keeping his head low, Momonosuke tip toed across the empty hallway. Moving silently in the dark, he sneaked past the patrolling samurai wearing the crest of his clan on their kimonos. He held his breath, heart pounding away, and laughed breathlessly once their low murmurs of conversation drifted out of earshot the further they walked away.
These were warriors of the sword, battle hardened and experienced, and Momonosuke had managed to evade their notice. Truly a triumphant feat and his chest puffed up, head full of thoughts of how great of a samurai he would be in the future since he had mastered the art of stealth already.
With a toothy smile tugging on his face, Momonosuke lurked close to the wooden walls until he found his destination. The back entrance of his home. Quietly sliding open the shoji and closing it shut behind him, he looked at his surroundings first and once he concluded there were no eyes on him, he broke into a sprint.
Running across the grand green fields of his home, Momonosuke used the moon's light to guide him. The full moon granted him a safe passage, not tripping over his own feet or falling onto a hole. The hill he was heading to beckoned him with its large sprawling tree growing on the top. Branches spread out above him, dry leaves falling and scattering with the force of the wind.
Settling his hand on the bark of the tree, Momonosuke finally came to a stop and controlled his heavy pants.
"A samurai…" Momonosuke said in between breaths, "does not… lose his… composure…"
Breathing firmly through his nose, Momonosuke searched the other side of the hill. He frowned once he did not find what he was looking for. While he knew it was unbecoming of the son of a shogun, he groaned out loud.
"Hiyori, you're late!" Momonosuke complained into the night.
Exasperatedly sighing, he slumped his back against the tree and crossed his arms. Thoroughly sullen and annoyed, there was nothing else to do but wait for his sister's return.
The daughter of a shogun was, despite her status, not allowed to do many things. She was expected to act as someone befitting of her station. Thus, Hiyori was not allowed to spend time with her peasant friends. Appearances were important, the regulations the children of the shogun must follow were strict and enforced, but Hiyori as of late was far too rebellious. Defiant, and truthfully speaking, bratty.
Enough to convince Momonosuke to cover for her absence. At least the full moon kept him company. The moon goddess smiled down upon him, her luster bright and a comfort for any wandering souls at night. Momonosuke held no fear- a samurai was brave and unflinching- but beyond the discipline, he knew it in his heart he was safe.
The moon goddess was one of the patrons of the Kozuki clan along with her day counterpart, the sun god himself. Every member of the Kozuki household had pledged their fealty to the moon and sun deity for centuries, just as Momonosuke did as soon as he was able to speak and walk. The moon goddess would keep him safe at night, he was certain of it.
The sound of a branch breaking behind him had him yelp, jumping out of his skin as he whirled his head toward the source of the noise. A tiny white rabbit glanced up at him with beady red eyes before slinking into the grassy fields. Embarrassment coursed through him.
"Silly rabbit," Momonosuke scoffed, trying to save face, "What if I had been a hunter? You would have been dinner if I was hungry."
"If you're not going to eat him, can I?"
"AH!"
The undignified manly screech left his mouth before he could stop it. The unexpected voice had him trip over himself too, slipping and face planting onto the cold hard grassy ground. Pain shot up in his nose and the corner of his eyes welled up with tears in response.
Then, a snicker echoed before it was followed by a rambunctious laugh. Loud and disruptive, laughing at Momonosuke's misfortune. Laughing at his dignity.
Humiliation and embarrassment burned in him and Momonosuke scrambled to his feet, angry and righteous because how dare this stranger laugh at him.
The words slipped out of him in anger, "How dare you laugh at the son of the shogun!? Bow and apologize lest you risk my fury, you scoundrel!"
When Momonosuke faced the newcomer, the anger completely faded, withering in his throat, and his stomach churned with uneasiness.
White.
The wispy white hair caught his attention first. The big inhumane grin that stretched from ear to ear followed second. Round blazing eyes stared down at him, all seeing and all knowing. The white shirt was opened, revealing the burning red scar across a chiseled chest that spoke of years of discipline. The swindling red pendent over the scar that held a beating heart to it. The flowing purple sash whirled with the wind and of its own reality, the white shorts just as pristine as the hair. The loose sandals that were not touching the ground.
Momonosuke quickly turned pale.
He recognized the god before him. He had prayed to him often enough he would never mistake him for another. Even the presence was overwhelming.
The sun god snorted and planted his feet on the ground. The cool breeze of the night evaporated, leaving behind the heat the sun emitted.
"I think you need to get your eyes checked," the king of the gods spoke, whimsical and amused. Crouching low until their eyes were at the same height, red luminous eyes piercing into his soul, "I'm no scoundrel. I'm the sun god and you're the one who should be pleading for forgiveness."
Momonosuke had never fallen to his knees so quickly before. Not even when his father and mother were at their most angriest.
"Please forgive me," Momonosuke began, voice shaky and trembling, wrought with fear and shame, "O' great and mighty king, the sun who breathes life, whose hair is made from clouds-"
He was interrupted by an abrupt pft, another snort, before laughter rang in the air.
Hands balling into fists, Momonosuke tentatively raised his head.
The king of the gods was clutching his stomach and was laughing at him.
Momonosuke had never encountered such disrespect, such utter disregard. Here he was, begging for forgiveness and the sun was laughing.
Momonosuke had always been short tempered and he had been lectured to control it. A frail control was all he had managed.
The continued laughter made him bristle, the anger rearing its ugly head, his pride as a samurai and future shogun was being made a mockery of.
In that moment, Momonosuke could not believe that this laughing god was the king of the gods.
"You're not acting very king like!" Momonosuke indignantly shouted, lifting his chin to bravely meet the sun's fierce eyes, "What kind of king laughs at a kid!? What kind of god laughs at his devout follower!?"
By the time Momonosuke realized what he had said, he thought he was going to perish.
But instead of smiting him out of existence, the sun god grinned even wider and pointed an index finger at him.
"That kind of talk is blasphemy!" The sun released a strange hissing laugh as he straightened his back, standing at full height, "You're a funny kid, Momo."
"My name is Momonosuke," he corrected the god reflexively, half stunned and half irked, but the mannerisms drilled in him would not let it slide.
"That's what I said," the king of the gods said as a matter of fact. Momonosuke startled only slightly when the sun floated off the ground and hovered over him, "So, what are you doing out here, Momo? Trying to catch fireflies? They should be migrating here very soon!"
"Aren't you all knowing?" Momonosuke blurted out and winced immediately after.
Fortunately, the sun god shrugged off the rudeness, "Kinda? There's so many people, I can't keep track of everyone."
"Yet, you knew my name," Momonosuke carefully responded, not as frightened or angry as he had been.
The king of the gods seemed to not care about propriety. Momonosuke admitted that he was a bit loss. His teachers always stressed about the reverence, the prayers that must follow suit, and the act of bowing his head to continue receiving their gods' favor.
Gods themselves were magnificent, Momonosuke recalled from his many study sessions, they were all mighty and powerful. The king of the gods embodied every godly trait himself, divine and righteous. The sun who had held the sky with his bare hands, who had beaten titans into submission, who had conquered the throne of the gods, and was courting the hand of death.
However, there was nothing godly about the sun god currently picking his nose.
Momonosuke frowned. Gross.
The sun flicked off a booger, "Well yeah of course I know your name because your family gives me some of the best festivals! And I'm a big fan of your dad!"
The king of the gods swiftly moved to replicate an exact pose that Momonosuke's father liked to do, and his voice went low, "Oden wouldn't be oden if it wasn't boiled!"
A laugh bubbled out of Momonosuke, surprising himself. His father, Kozuki Oden, said that phrase often enough that it inspired everyone around him, Momonosuke included. It was certainly an honor to know that even the king of all spoke of his father with respect.
The sun broke character, smiling down at him, and Momonosuke felt a strange easy warmth settle in his bones.
"Tama likes Oden too! She's always attending the festivals," the king of the gods looked directly at the moon as he crossed his arms behind his head, "She likes Wano a lot. She's been here for over a century now. She's not supposed to stay in one place for too long," the sun laughed, "But I'll allow it!"
The name of the moon goddess being dropped so casually into conversation had Momonosuke's head spinning. He took it in stride though, pride blooming in his chest.
"My father is a great man and Wano is the great land of the samurai. We are grateful the moon goddess is pleased with us."
"Make sure to let her know the next time you pray then."
Momonosuke nodded and he slowly rose to his feet as he said, "You're not what I expected. Aren't you supposed to be… more divine and all?"
"I'm supposed to be," the king of the gods gave him a playful grin, "But if I was, you'd be shaking in your sandals."
"I would not!" Momonosuke retorted, temper flaring up, "A samurai is never afraid!"
He froze once more, fearing he might have truly displeased the sun this time. Only to sigh in relief when the god laughed again, not at all bothered by the continued impudence.
"Sure, sure," the sun waved him off with another grin, "I forgot how strict you samurai are, maybe I should-"
The sun paused and his grin stretched far too normal for a mortal, red eyes staring beyond his figure, "Oh! Hey! Look behind you! Here the fireflies come!"
Blinking, Momonosuke turned his back. The god's words were true- he watched, mouth agape, as a swarm of fireflies emerged from a nearby forest. Hundreds of lights flaring in the night as they flew over the grassy plains. Traversing in large groups, wings fluttering to keep them afloat.
The marvelous sight was a thing of beauty, a sight that Momonosuke would surely never forget.
A blink later and he watched, stupefied, as the sun ran to the fireflies.
"Wha- What are you doing!?" Momonosuke incredulously exclaimed.
"Following the fireflies! I'm gonna get one and give it to Torao as a courting gift!" The sun turned his back and yelled, "That's why I came to see Tama! I knew these special little guys would be flying all over Wano! See you around Momo!"
The last of the swarm of fireflies flew over the plains and the sun god, the king of the gods, followed their trail like a moth to a flame. Although, considering the nature of why he was adamantly following them, Momonosuke understood the sun's urgency.
Everyone knew of the song of the sun and death. Their courtship had spanned over centuries. If he remembered correctly, the sun was nearing the 700th gift. He was more than halfway to a thousand. Momonosuke found himself rooting for his god. He sincerely hoped the sun was able to capture the firefly and safely tuck it away.
Taking a deep breath-taking in the events that had occurred- Momonosuke released a puff of laughter and he slumped against the tree bark.
No one would believe him, Momonosuke realized. He had met the sun and all his curious whimsy and he could not relay the tale without sounding like an attention seeking brat.
"If Hiyori had been here, then maybe they would have believed us," Momonosuke muttered to himself before the name of his sister had him widening his eyes.
Whirling his head around, Momonosuke's heart sunk when he saw not a single glimpse of his sister's vibrant hair in the vicinity. His conversation with the sun god wasn't long but in that time she should have arrived by now.
An unsettling feeling sunk in his gut.
What was taking Hiyori so long? She could not be stupid enough to spend the night at her friend's house. She knew better. If she wasn't back by dawn, the entire city would be searching for her.
Sighing reluctantly, Momonosuke sat on the dewy grass blades and leaned against the tree as he crossed his arms and tried to push back the unsettling feeling. Well, there was nothing else to do but wait. He refused to go back home without her.
The night stretched further.
The moon moved.
He swallowed down the hard lump in his throat. He squashed the rise of uneasiness that screamed at him.
Hiyori was fine. She had to be-
A shriek resounded in the night.
Momonosuke's feet moved on their own accord.
Running out of the forest, the familiar form of his sister finally made an appearance. The relief was short-lived, however, as Momonosuke spotted two bulky figures chasing the heels of his sister. They were gaining on her. Hiyori screamed once more, her voice laced with panic and seized with fear.
Momonosuke bristled with anger- and so very frightened- mouth opening to shout, "Hiyori!"
"Nii-san!"
Momonosuke tried to close the distance, nothing but thoughts of protecting her from danger filling his mind, "Get away from her!"
His heart sunk when one of the tall imposing figures grabbed his sister's long green hair. Hiyori cried out, breaking down into a sob when they yanked her hair back and forced her to fall on her back.
Anger rose and Momonosuke snarled, "Don't touch her!"
"Shut up brat!" The voice was gruff, heavy, and teeth glinted in the night, a cruel smirk meeting Momonosuke now that he was in front of him. A smirk that did not relent even as Momonosuke tried with all his might to shove him off his sister.
It was futile- he knew it was- but it didn't stop him from growling and clawing at the rugged man, trying and trying in vain hopes to release his sister.
"Wanna save her?" The other bellowed, harshly tugging at the collar of his kimono. Momonosuke choked and they laughed at him, maniacal and evil, "I'm so glad you tried! The price of two kids will have us set for months!"
"Nii-san, I'm sorry," Hiyori sobbed, red eyed and snotty, tears falling like a river down her cheeks. She looked ugly- she always was an ugly crier. Any other moment, Momonosuke would have laughed at her for it. Now, he could only feel the heavy pang of regret and shame.
What kind of a big brother was he? He couldn't even protect his own sister.
Immediately, Momonosuke stopped struggling and boldly faced the two would be kidnappers despite the fear that shackled his heart and mind, despite the tears welling in his eyes, "Let us go! Our father is the shogun! Once he finds out-"
The same cruel smirk looked down at him, "Oh, but he won't. You two will be long gone by the time they even notice. So, I suggest you give up, little lord, and pray."
Hiyori sobbed even louder but in that moment, Momonosuke could barely hear it.
Pray.
Red eyes flashed behind his eyelids. The inhumane grin that felt too big. The silly pose he had reenacted, voice falling deep to imitate his father.
It was taboo to say a god's name- it would catch their attention. It was exactly what Momonosuke wanted.
"Nika!" He shouted into the night, surprising their kidnappers and stunning Hiyori into silence, "Please save my sister!"
Heart thumping loudly to his own ears, Momonosuke squashed down the nausea and waited.
It happened suddenly.
Too quick to even understand.
A powerful force had them all choke and fall to their knees. The heavy air was suffocating and Momonosuke's head was spinning. He clumsily reached for his sister, guided by instincts alone to save her from whatever this was. Hiyori's small hands clutched at his kimono, her breath stuttering and body shaking. Momonosuke trembled too, the overwhelming presence that surrounded them becoming hot and mighty.
Momonosuke looked up just in time to see it.
The same floating white hair, the wide grin, the burning red eyes, and an arm that stretched and stretched and stretched.
The sun god, in that instant, looked every bit as the king depicted in his temple.
The impact of the fist was dominating, the wind gusting forth and forcing him and sister to fall on their backs.
Momonosuke's vision blurred. He clung to his sister tighter despite his weakening limbs, refusing to part from her.
Then, he slipped into unconsciousness.
-
When Momonosuke blearily opened his eyes, it took him a couple of seconds to realize the sun was staring at him.
His breath was caught and he scrambled backwards. He tried to at least until he belatedly realized Hiyori had trapped his arm. The sight of his sister completely knocked out but safe had him nervously laugh, a wave of relief punching his gut.
"Woah, you were only knocked out for a couple of minutes! You're impressive for a mortal! Especially for a kid!" The sun god exclaimed, his smile easy going, a very sharp contrast to the wicked one he had wore when he had punched the kidnappers to the sky.
The reminder of it had Momonosuke hastily bow his head, tone dripping with nothing but pure gratitude, "Thank you! You saved my sister's life-"
"You saved her life."
Blinking, Momonosuke lifted his head. The king of the gods, shockingly, reached out to pat his head. The touch was warm, comforting. It felt like a touch from his father. Momonosuke couldn't believe he had been scared of the god before him.
"I heard you cry for help. Most people are too afraid to say my real name, so imagine my surprise when it was you calling," the sun said, "You did a good job, you know. A big brother has to protect the little ones. You did good, Momo."
The genuine praise had Momonosuke's chest swell up with unbridled warmth and pride. He sniffed, holding Hiyori closer to him.
"When will she wake up?"
The king of the gods looked over the delicate form of his sister, "Maybe morning, or sooner. Not a lot of people are able to withstand my presence when I use my power."
Well, the sun was correct about that. Momonosuke could hardly breathed throughout the entire encounter and it had knocked him and his sister out. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, a sudden crack in the ground several feet away had him jolt.
Jaw falling, Momonosuke's eyes bugged out at the wondrous and incredulous sight.
A god manifested before their eyes. Cloaked in darkness from head to toe, the sharp glowing golden eyes peering at them from underneath a plumage of feathers.
Momonosuke was no fool. He studied rigorously for hours at a day. He knew who stood before them.
It was why he wasn't shocked to see the sun immediately pounce on the cloaked figure, arms stretching to wrap death into an embrace.
Momonosuke inwardly screamed. Two gods in one night? He was reminded abruptly of the tale of Lola and Loki, the last time the two gods had been in the same place in the mortal realm. But there were no witnesses or grandeur temple or challenges to be dealt. Just two kids and the grassy plain fields.
"Torao!"
When death spoke, his voice was rich and deep but puzzled, "Nika-ya, what are you doing here?"
The king of the gods rambled, explaining the events like one would relay an exciting adventure. Golden eyes shifted to peer at Momonosuke and he stiffened under the attention. The god of death was staring at his soul, Momonosuke felt it.
Death's gaze turned again, staring off in the direction the sun had pointed at when he revealed he had all but punted two would be kidnappers.
"I see," death softly said, "Your interference changed things."
The sun tilted his head before climbing off of death to stare in the same direction.
"Oh," the sun barked out in laughter, "Good thing they're dead!"
They were dead. It shouldn't have been surprising. Momonosuke had seen the sun punched the two out of existence with his own eyes. No mortal could survive a hit from the king of all. But underneath that realization, Momonosuke caught on to what was being implied.
Death had shown up here for a reason. The sun's appearance in Wano had been to visit the moon and he had lingered in the night to catch death's courting gift- the reminder of it had him wincing, hoping the sun god had been able to acquire the little firefly before Momonosuke had called for the god.
But death had been here for one of them. The god of death ferried the souls of tragic children to the underworld personally- it was a lesser known tale, one that was passed down from a Kozuki heir four generations ago. Death had appeared after the heir's friend had drowned to save him. The heir had been grateful to the god and utterly besotted. The heir never said it but it had been evident in his writings- the longing and wishful thinking. It was a lost cause, everyone knew nothing could ever separate death and the sun.
Still, it was a tragic tale. And if the night had gone differently, Momonosuke paled, he and his sister could have had shared that same tragic fate.
His thoughts in the matter didn't last long. He found himself yelping indignantly once again when he was thrown over the sun's shoulder like a sack of potatoes. At contact, Momonosuke felt the hotness of the sun, burning as though he had a fever. It was uncomfortable but it was bearable.
"Hey!"
"Relax! I'm taking you and your sister home."
Momonosuke watched rather helplessly when his sister was picked up like one would grab a cat. King or not, he would not see his sister treated like an animal.
"Careful! She's my sister! A princess in all but name! Hold her respectfully!"
Rolling his eyes, the sun threw Hiyori over his other shoulder, "Yeah, I hear you."
"Wait-" the god of death stepped in front of the sun and if his face hadn't been hidden, Momonosuke got the feeling he would have been frowning, "I'll take us there. You'll frighten the kid with how fast you run."
"I wouldn't be afraid!" Momonosuke shouted, his pride as a samurai rearing its head.
He had gotten used to the sun's nonchalance, at the god's lack of propriety.
Death pinned Momonosuke to the spot and an all body shiver went through him, frozen by the piercing luminous golden irises.
"You're quite bold to raise your voice against me," golden eyes met sheepish red ones, "I take it you're to blame for his insolence."
The tone was scolding, cold, one Momonosuke had heard several times from his tutors and he swallowed, bowing his head, unable to meet their eyes. He had forgotten himself, had forgotten the divide between mortal and god.
"I am sorry, O' majestic death," Momonosuke apologized properly, "Please forgive me."
"You are forgiven, Kozuki Momonosuke," death proclaimed, "See to it that you keep those mannerisms on the off chance you encounter another god. The others are not as merciful as the king and I."
Momonosuke took the advice for what it was- a warning. He stiffly nodded and said nothing else.
"Good. Nika-ya, don't drop them."
"I won't Torao, they barely weigh anything. They need some meat in their bodies. Momo, eat plenty of meat! Tell your sister the same thing!"
Before he could reply to that, the god of death stepped forward and the ground beneath his boot cracked, splintering the land in two. Momonosuke's head began to spin, his vision turned spotty, overwhelming his sight. He blinked the dark circles out, endured the pounding headache, and gasped when the scenery around them changed.
Gone were the soft grassy plains and large tree on the hill. Wooden walls glared back at him, the slanted roofs, the crest of the Kozuki clan painted on the banners.
Relief hit Momonosuke hard and heavy.
He and his sister were home.
The samurai in service to his family halted at their presence. Momonosuke saw the way they hastily prostrated themselves, the way their heads touched the floor, the way their swords were presented as an offering- their very souls offered to the king of the gods and to the god of death.
The samurai that had known Momonosuke's father since he was a child spoke up.
"O' great and might king, O' majestic death," Kin'emon said, loud and clear but worried, "We are honored by your presence. In the name of Kozuki Oden, I, Kin'emon, welcome thee. How may we be of service?"
That was how Momonosuke should have spoken to the sun, and he would have if the king hadn't been so… laid-back.
"By taking Momo and his sister off my hands," the king of the gods amusedly said and Momonosuke was dragged off the shoulder, shivering when the warmth was suddenly ripped away, and was planted on his own feet with Hiyori laid right next to him, "There you go, kid. You've got pretty good servants here- for a second, they thought about fighting me to get you and your sister back!"
Kin'emon hit his head on the floor with a resounding thud, voice tight, "Please forgive us! If our words are not enough, then let us commit seppuku to appease your benevolence."
Momonosuke nearly shouted, heart hammering at the mere suggestion, but the god of death beat him to it.
"No one is cutting open their stomach," death firmly commanded before looking pointedly at the sun.
The sun grinned, "You are all forgiven! I'm more impressed honestly."
"As am I. Treat your servants well, Momonosuke," the god of death sounded oddly fond, "It is difficult to find such deep loyalty."
"I promise it," Momonosuke declared, head held high, "On my honor as the heir of the Kozuki clan."
Somehow, Momonosuke felt as though he passed a test. While it was difficult to discern the expression of death, the god nodded his approval.
A warm hand patted his head and Momonosuke returned his attention to the sun.
"Momo, keep being a good big brother," the king of the gods smiled, "And stay out of trouble, I can't always be there to save you and your sister from kidnappers!"
That last remark had Momonosuke grimacing. Now the samurai, and eventually his parents, would demand to know the full story. At least they would believe him though.
While Momonosuke knew he shouldn't he found himself hesitantly asking, "O' great and might king, will I… see you again?"
"Maybe," the sun teased, "I'll definitely be back to catch Torao's courting gift since I had to let it go to save you and your sister."
There was a loud silence.
The sun looked utterly calm despite what he had revealed.
Momonosuke was out of his depth. He was certain if his samurai were not prostrating themselves, they too would be exchanging looks.
Death sighed and he raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, the action itself incredibly mortal, breaking the ice persona of the god of death.
"My king, I told you I can't keep another insect," the god of death sharply said.
Unbelievably, the sun pouted and whined, "But Torao- these fireflies are different! They'd fit in the bug chambers, right next to the golden ladybug!"
Death took a deep inhale and deftly turned away, walking out of the estate of the Kozuki clan, "We are not arguing in front of the mortals. You can make your case while I fulfill my duties of the night."
The sun easily caught up with the god of death but he turned around to grin at Momonosuke one last time.
"I'll see you again, Momo!"
And the king of the gods swiftly picked up death, arms under the knees and back, grinning mischievously at the god he was holding bridal style. The retorts left death's mouth- curses and something about reputation- before a gust of wind followed and there was a trail of flying leaves in the wake of the gods' absence.
Blinking the headache and vision blurry away, Momonosuke inhaled and turned his back to see his samurai lifting their heads. Slowly, they rose to their feet, expressions left in a daze.
The awed silence was broken by Raizo
"They already argue like an old married couple."
Kikunojo gasped, "Right? It's adorable."
They broke into low excited chatter before Kin'emon loudly coughed. Momonosuke sheepishly laughed as the samurai gave him a look.
"Kawamatsu, please take Hiyori back to her bedroom," Kin'emon ordered and the kappa did as was he was told, gently lifting his sister off the floor.
A stern look thrown his way had Momonosuke fighting to not fidget. A samurai did not fidget.
"Momonosuke, you will retire for the night and come morning, you will explain to your father and mother why the king of the gods and his beloved death was in your home long past the witches' hour."
Momonosuke nodded but in truth, he did not catch a single wink that night, caught up in the wonder of it all.
Years later, as Momonosuke took up the mantle of shogun, he blinked as the sun showed up during his coronation. The entirety of the flower capital gasped and bowed at the god's feet.
The king of the gods grinned at him, bright and proud.
Momonosuke grinned back as wide as he could.