───

EVERYONE ANXIOUSLY ANTICIPATED THE outcome of naoya and himari's battle, as it determined who would be the next ruler of the country.

     the two held their swords, as sparks started flying once more, metal clashing against metal.

     "you whore! left me to seduce four men at a time, huh? what type of woman deserves to rule an entire country when she's a slut?", naoya insulted, causing himari to grind her teeth in indignation.

"like you men are any better! sleeping here and there in hopes of getting an heir. well? did it work? because from what I know, none of the zen'in boys were able to inherit the ten shadows technique except for megumi!", himari scoffed, to which naoya had glared at the woman.

     "at least I was born with a technique! and you? what good are you except for birthing children and staying pretty for display?!"

     himari then jumped up as naoya attempted to swipe at the woman's feet with his katana.

     "women are meant for better things! and women are human beings; they have feelings as well!

     you're the actual whore for disrespecting my feelings, toying with them for your own entertainment!

     it hurts! I just want to be loved and given the same treatment as everyone else! it's not fair that brothers, fathers, husbands, and sons, get more attention just because they're born the supposedly more superior gender!

     women are capable of great things, but you blind asses clearly can't tell because you never give us a chance!", himari ranted, feeling droplets drip from her chin, as she momentarily paused, touching her own cheeks.

the females of the crowd had all started sniffling, silently sobbing, as they could relate to what himari was saying.

so many times were they put down just because they were claimed as the "weaker gender". so many times were they told that they wouldn't succeed, simply because they were born females.

the four men stiffened up, watching as tears had daintily spilt from himari's enraged emerald eyes.

perhaps it was the original owner of the body, because himari could physically feel her heart break every time naoya attacked her, whether it be mentally or physically.

     naoya merely snorted, nearly about to burst into full on laughter.

     "are you crying? this is why women can't be on the same level as men. their emotions get in the way, and they act weak in order to get what they want!

just shut up and submit to me already!", naoya demanded, charging towards himari once more, as their faces were so close to each other that they could hear the other's breathing pattern.

"submit? need I remind you that emotions don't make women weak!", himari retorted, pushing off naoya, as the man had stumbled back a few steps.

himari then slyly impelled a cut against naoya's wrist, causing the green-haired male to drop his katana, as himari then hastily kicked the man in his private area.

     with naoya now grunting and kneeling on both knees, himari had pressed her foot against his chest, shoving him onto his back, as she impaled the holy sword into the ground — awfully close to his neck.

     "oh, and I forgot to mention. I always top", himari crazily grinned, her fiery auburn locks dripping down like lava, seemingly to burn every part of naoya's pride, as her viridescent eyes held utter supremacy.

naoya felt his heart loudly beat, almost as if his fight or flight instinct had kicked in, warning him of the incoming danger.

     himari then smiled, standing back up, as she started giggling, covering her mouth and arching her body forwards.

     "w-what are you laughing at, you crazy woman?!", naobito inquired.

     himari suddenly paused, snapping her head towards the man, who had ever so slightly twitched under the woman's condescending yet pitying stare.

     "naobito-san, did you know that your son likes to be dominated by women?", himari asked, to which everyone had glanced over at naoya, who had immediately shielded his lower region in shame.

     "naoya, you—"

     "shut it! I don't care for you lot, but as empress, I will make my first announcement", himari interrupted.

     everyone kneeled once again, as they intently listened to their new ruler.

     "fushiguro megumi will be the new head of the zen'in clan due to zen'in naobito's inability to raise his son to be a proper human.

     and zen'in maki, you're next in line, after me", himari declared, to which the green-haired girl had widened her eyes in disbelief, but nevertheless accepting the challenge.

     the woman then proceeded to dismiss all of the civilians once she proclaimed that she'll be making a lot more changes in the future, such as building more schools for those who can't afford it, and implementing the marriage law of only having one spouse at a time.

     "THANK YOU FOR YOUR BENEVOLENCE, EMPRESS HIMARI!"

     himari stood at the edge of the palace's office.

the woman wondered whether she would be able to take off the golden accessories that were symmetrically placed in her hair, with a few dangling close to her ear.

not only were the hairpins a drag, but so were the many layers of clothing that she was dressed in, with dragons and phoenixes carefully sewn on.

"greetings, empress himari. the four pillars have arrived", rumi informed, to which himari had sighed.

"how many times do I have to tell you to just call me—"

though before the woman could even finish her sentence, she was caught in an embrace by the daring gojō, to which rumi had just snickered, leaving the room.

"empress, you're so cruel!! you haven't given us an audience in a week!!", gojō whined, causing himari to chuckle, as getō harshly peeled the man off.

"that's no way to greet her majesty, satoru".

"it's fine, suguru. and I'm sorry...I've just been busy ever since the coronation".

indeed, ever since himari's been crowned as empress, she hasn't even had time to relax. and with oda nobunaga found dead across seas, the woman had to console his wife and concubine.

she supposed that since history had already changed, she'd just go on with it.

"sureee~ after inheriting the throne, you don't need us anymore, huh?", tōji teased, to which himari had just gasped.

"not true!! why do you think I gave you four a position in this hierarchy?"

sukuna scoffed, crossing his arms.

"to use us until the very end?", the demon joked.

himari shamefully cracked a small smile, to which tōji and sukuna had then stood behind the woman, placing their hands on her shoulders.

gojō and getō then kneeled on one knee, each holding onto one of himari's hands.

"we know you love us", sukuna seriously stated.

"and that you implemented the marriage law of only one spouse at a time for the fairness of others", tōji continued.

"hence we understand that you cannot choose between us four", gojō softly mumbled.

     "but we want you to know that no matter what, we will forever stay by your side. we love you, and it's a promise, nakajima himari", getō breathlessly whispered, causing himari to dip her head, as she unintentionally started to tear up.

     "I love you all too, my darlings".

[finale]