5 Chapter 12: It's Yua Kozuki

With a cart full of possessions and souvenirs, Yua takes her time walking up the hill to the 5th district. Saying hello to kids and adults alike, she takes in the scenery she hasn't seen in quite some time. Stopping the cart from rolling down the hill with her foot, she stretches upward."It's so good to be back!"

A tired looking aid who just got off of a long shift of taking care of Youta Miyamoto walks down the hill towards her. As she passes by, her wavy white ponytail catches his eye."Yua-san?" He looks back and sure enough it is her. "Yua-san! Oh my God of Koi! I haven't seen you in ages!"

"Ah yes! Hi! How have you been? You seem like you've had a rough day.."

"Yes.. I mean no! I mean I'm okay... Anyways have you just gotten-" He sees her holding the packed cart from rolling down the hill. "I'm sorry! I'm keeping you. I mean can I help you with-"

"No no no! I'm completely fine! Don't tell me you forgot how strong I am!"

"No I haven't! I'm uh..." The poor aide is blushing from embarrassment. Seeing him turning red from ear to ear, she smiles softly and asks, "Would you mind informing Honoka or Taiyou that I've returned?"

His face turns so hot that it can blister. "I'LL DO THAT RIGHT AWAY!!" The aide runs back up the hill with full speed. "Wow! I've never seen a non-Chibushi run so quickly," she exclaims.

After receiving a bountiful of greetings, shes finally arrives at the apartment. A beautifully-decorated, gated, tiny-chateau looking apartment. "Still as pretty as ever." Setting down the cart, Yua then carries a couple of trunks of things with her. She walks up the stairs picks up the planter outside the door and takes the key out from underneath it. "I'm home!" The living area is filled with antique looking floral pattered furniture, innumerable amount of flower pots varying in size, and stacks of books on every topic are everywhere. The blinds are open to the fullest extent letting the plants bask in the afternoon sun. "Hehe. She never changes." She turns the nob of the second door to the left and sees it is just the way she left it. Maybe even a bit cleaner. "Hm.. I thought she would have converted this into a home office by now."

After about 30 round trips up and down the stairs, Yua relaxes on her bed for a second when the front door opens. "I'm home."

She stands up goes to greet the voice. At the door way is Honoka. Her bangs are a bit matted from her sweat and her cheeks have a tinge of red in them. "Welcome back!" Yua opens her arms wide open and Honoka excitedly runs over and hugs her. It's a true reunion of best friends.

"What the heck! How can you come back all of a sudden?" Honoka scolds. Yua pats her head. "I guess Taiyou didn't tell you anything either. Haha. I received a letter from him last week saying that I needed to come back as soon as possible."

Honoka cuts the reunion short and returns back to reality. "Yua! Taiyou-nii-san has been arrested and Taitsuke has been detained! I was actually summoned to meet with the Council right now, but I was told that you've come back and rushed over here."

Yua's eyes red eyes turn cold. "I see.. I see that they're finally showing their true colors. I guess it's about time that I do the same." Yua stands up and vanishes from Honoka's eyes. The door is left wide open. "Jeez. She never changes."

Yua leaps from rooftop to rooftop. With this not being a rare sight in the city, no one pays attention to it. "I can't believe those old bastards actually think that they are being sly, pulling stunts like this."

She arrives at the gates of the CODE district and walks passed the tower of Taiyo's office. When ex platoon members see her pass, excitement fills their eyes. Though they're dying to say greet her, they don't dare stop her at this moment. Her pretty face has a deadly stare that seems frightening to even decorated Chibushi veterans. It was the stare that they rarely saw back in the day. In their minds, they felt sorry for whoever pissed her off.

She arrives at the Council's Meeting Hall. At the grandiose entrance, a guard runs up to her. "Yua-san! I just heard that you were back! Were you able to meet with Honoka-san? She was supposed to meet with the Council in regards to Taiyou-san's sentence, but she went off to see you."

"Ah, yes, I did. If it is okay with you, since I am still an aid of Taiyou-san, may I meet with them instead?" The guard hesitates a bit "Um.. well..." Coming from the Council's conference room, General Miyamoto comes out. "I believe that shouldn't be a problem. Miss Kuchiki, welcome back!" The raven-haired man places his fist on his chest; Yua does the same.

"Thank you General. However, I do not go by the Kuchiki anymore, but Kozuki."

He raises his brows in surprise. "I see. I didn't hear of your marriage as I've been away for quite some time as well. This news will probably break the hearts of many men. I guess I should have to prepare something for when I return for the decrease in morale overseas. Ah. And a wedding gift for you as well." The General starts to go off on a tangent about how he remembers Yua from many years ago when she was serving in the Alliance. The guard looks at him in confusion, thinking, 'General Miyamoto... is actually having a normal conversation.. He's known for being the toughest General in terms of guidelines and regulations. Yesterday, when he was looking through the Chibushi Training Facilities, he gave out over 100 demerits in under 2 minutes! A man that anal doesn't..."

Yua does her best to hold her laughter in as she knows how stale the General's sense of humor is, but she could not contain it any longer. "Buahaha! General, I did not get married." Her laugh rings loudly, echoing into the Hall behind him. "I actually just changed my name to my mother's maiden name, but do tell those little maggots overseas that I am. Maybe then they'll get their heads straight and find a girl that is actually of marriage material."

The General, feeling a bit embarrassed, shakes his head. "I think it would just be best that we just keep this conversation a secret." He looks to the guard, who stiffens at his tense stare. "Bring Miss.. Kozuki to the conference room, maybe she can talk some sense into them."

The two come to a pair of doors two times larger than those of Ambassador Taiyou's office. The guard knocks twice before entering. "I have brought Miss Yua in placement of Miss Honoka." The

supersized room has only a seat in the middle of the room and 9 men dressed in black. Yua sits with proper posture in the chair and the 9 men begin to chant. A chi circle underneath them lights up and the faces of the 9 Council members appear.

"Miss Yua Kuchiki, it's been quite some time since we've last seen you," said the voice of the middle member. He was the King of the Koisan. Yua doesn't bother to correct him. "Well, without further ado, I believe it's best we hear about your adventures another time and get to business." The other Council members stay silent as he speaks.

The Council consists of 9 members total, 3 members from each Nation of the Alliance. Each member holds a high position in their own country, either being a General, Admiral, Ambassador (an adviser of the King), or a Royal.

The three Nations all has a different pattern of members. Torikuni, the nation of wind, has one general and two ambassadors. Shikakokka, the nation of wood, has a general, admiral, and the brother of the King. And Koisan, the nation of water and the leader of the Alliance, have two ambassadors and the King himself.

As no one else held the same status as the King, no one dared to speak their input. "I have called you here regarding Ambassador. As you have been gone for quite a while, I will explain. For quite sometime, the Ambassador Taiyou Yuuryou has been withholding important information about the Vessel Taitsuke Ryoko. Although he maybe Shikakokka's King's most trusted adviser, it is imperative that anything regarding the Vessel is relayed to the Council."

"I see... so this is why he has been locked away," Yua nods calmly.

The King pauses at her comment. "Yes.. Information regarding Vessels is like information on enemy nations; they must be immediately notified to the Council. If it were not for the unfortunate event that occurred recently, it is unclear if Ambassador Yuuryuo would have kept this information to himself completely. With him being such a high-standing individual, we cannot just search him under the safety of our pact."

"Hm.. I see." Her composed behavior disturbs the Council.

"It's good. Since you understa-"

"I never said that." Her posture changes, slouching back casually "I only said, I see, meaning. I see none of you have changed since I've been away."

The council is outraged. "Miss Kuchiki! How dare you!" It is prince Jirou, the brother of the King of Shikakokka. The wrinkles deepen on his face, showing anger. The Koisan King raises his hand and the Council quiets. "I would like to hear her intentions."

Yua clears her throat. "Thank you. Before I tell you anything, I would first off like to ask that you release Taiyou." The Council explodes once more, but are immediately silenced by the King. "Second, I would like you to acknowledge that the earth country, Kametochi, has custody of Taitsuke." The jaws of the floating heads drop. Even the dark-element users who are projecting the 9 members let out a light cough in surprise. "Lastly, that is not my name anymore. It's Yua Kozuki."

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[CHARACTER BIO]

Yua Kuchiki/Kozuki:

[Name Meaning] yu-tie/bond; a-love; ku.chiru- decay/rot, ki-tree; kozuki-above moon

[Physical Traits] white hair/red eyes

[Personality Traits] a free-spirit; goes to the beat of her own drum; an adventurer; seems to be a bit whimsical and random, but is actually just very crafty. Someone to look out for.

[Birthday] May 20, *649, 27 y/o

[Blessing/Element] TBA

[Background] 'adopted sister' of Taiyou; childhood friend of Honoka;

[EIGHT GODS & GODDESSES: BLESSING/COUNTRY]

God of Koi (Carp): Blessing of Water/ Koisan

God of Tora (Tiger): Blessing of Fire/

God of Kuma (Bear): Blessing of Thunder/ --

God Kame (Tortoise): Blessing of Earth/Kametochi

Goddess Okami (Wolf): Blessing of Ice/ --

Goddess of Shika (Deer): Blessing of Wood/Shikakokka

Goddess of Tori (Bird): Blessing of Wind/ Torikuni

Goddess Usagi (Rabbit): Blessing of Darkness/