*If you have not read my first story, "Nakanaori", you may not understand everything that is
happening.*

Act I: Heirs
     With the death of Naitsuu Hachimonguu, the one responsible for the emperor's death, the
newly released empire is at a loss for a leader. Resistance officers from each settlement meet
with those Naitsuu had associated himself with. In the brand new capitol building on Europa, the
group discusses who shall be the leader.
     Seated at the table are the many officers.
     Chigema Sutemi from Earth. Once good friend of Tenkei Hachimonguu.
     Souro Zokuzoku from the moon.
     Kourou Nouri from Charon.
     And only going by last name is Hanshou, the new officer for Europa who had led the
resistance in the last days.
     The others only announce their last names as they have fallen behind these others in
prominence.
     Hitoshi from Venus; Shigusha from Mars; Ichiji from Phobos; Kouten from Deimos;
Nayami from Thebe; Sekkaku from Ganymede; Hatsuden from Callisto; Kedakai from Pasiphae;
Souzetsu from Sinope; Aku from Mimas; Gougan from Titan; Enshoku from Oberon; Rentai
from Ariel; Kumoma from Triton; and Datsurou from Pluto.
     Also seated with them are Akari, Aritsune, and Munenori, the ones Naitsuu had
associated himself with.
     Hanshou stands to speak, "We must know who our leader shall be." The group stirs
slightly. "We should obviously go with the fact that Naitsuu Hachimonguu would have been the
new emperor. We need to go with his closest heir."
     Chigema Sutemi speaks, "Except his village was burned to the ground."
     "Then we must decide who he would have left the empire to if he had time to secure his
will," Hanshou says.
     The group of officers stare at Akari, Aritsune, and Munenori.
     Hanshou announces, "One of those he affiliated with would have been his choice. It is
clear to me that you three accompanied him, am I right?"
     The group replies by nodding their heads.
     "We must find out which one of them was closest to Naitsuu," Souro comments.
     Kourou Nouri speaks up, "I believe Akari was his fiancee."
     "Is that true?" Hanshou asks Akari.
     "Yes, it was," Akari solemnly answers still in shock at Naitsuu's death.
     "Then, I believe she should become empress."
     "Wait," Akari calls out. "I do not wish to lead this empire. I just wanted to be by
Naitsuu's side as he governed the empire. I am not meant for this."
     The crowd stares at her, making her uncomfortable. Suddenly Munenori speaks, "Well, if
Akari is the rightful heir, and she does not want it, then I am her closest living relative due to the
village being burned down. I should be next in line."
     "Hold on," Aritsune says. "You know nothing of what to do. You would completely
destroy the empire. I believe when we met you, you were living in an abandoned building and
killing anyone you thought my have some money on them."
     The crowd is startled.
     Hanshou speaks, "Well, we can not allow someone with that history to be our emperor.
Who will lead us?"
     Aritsune speaks again, "After Akari, I was the next closest to Naitsuu. Wouldn't you say
so Akari?"
     "Yes, I guess so."
     "No way you are going to let her lead the empire," Munenori shouts. "She would not be
any better than me."
     "But she has not killed anyone without reason," Chigema says.
     "How do you know?" Munenori questions.
     "I watched with a careful eye over Naitsuu on Earth. As he encountered new people, I
made checks on them. I know, whether recorded or not, that you have killed many senseless
times. Aritsune has not."
     "Well, I think that settles it," Hanshou says about to congratulate Aritsune.
     "Wait," speaks up a deep voice.
     "Kouten, what do you wish to say?" Hanshou asks.
     The officer from Deimos speaks, "Two things, one of us officers would be much more
qualified to run the empire. Second, the empire should not be in the hands of Naitsuu
Hachimonguu's heirs, because he was killed by someone else."
     "I agree that one of the officers would be better for running the empire," Hitoshi
comments. "But the one who killed Naitsuu is unidentified."
     "Still, it is not in his heirs' hands."
     "Well, we need someone to run this thing," Souro says.
     "Okay, I am going to commission a temporary ruler of the empire," Hanshou announces.
"Who should take this position."
     Random voices call out nominees.
     "Kouten for strength!"
     "Nouri for genius!"
     "Hitoshi for experience!"
     These three candidates appear to be the top prospects. The main supporters speak on the
behalf of each.
     Ichiji from Phobos speaks, "Kouten, the officer from Deimos, moon of Mars, has always
been a man of strength. He led Deimos to be the most powerful military force amongst the
moons of the solar system. I have envied him for his leadership abilities. He is the prime
candidate for an emperor who will not let the fragile empire crumble."
     Datsurou from Pluto speaks, "I am slightly embarrassed to say that Nouri, officer from
Charon, moon of Pluto, managed to make it more profitable than Pluto itself. I know that I am
one of remote fame for helping Pluto reach a level of profit equal to that of one of it's bigger
contenders of the inner solar system, still, it's moon has been the greatest surprise. Officer
Nouri's genius has allowed great advancements in his markets. He is the best candidate for an
emperor who will not let the economy suffer."
     Chigema speaks, "I am one of few here who has known Hitoshi from Venus for a long
time. He has been here from the beginning of the resistance. Both of us knew Tenkei
Hachimonguu as friends. Where Tenkei selected me to make sure his son would be unharmed,
he allowed Hitoshi to build a great wealth of knowledge of how to both destroy and rule an
empire. Simply put, Hitoshi through his experience, can make or break this empire."
     The group in the room votes. The votes are tallied and Hanshou makes the
announcement, "Hitoshi shall be commissioned as the acting ruler of the empire. I believe, due
to the vote count being very close, that Kouten and Nouri should act as advisors to Hitoshi. He
can make use of their strength and knowledge, with his experience he will find the best way to
use it."
     The crowd departs for the day. Akari, Aritsune, and Munenori all look displeased. Akari
is utterly dispirited at the lost of her love so recently. Aritsune and Munenori are upset at not
becoming ruler of the empire.
     As they walk to their rooms, Aritsune and Munenori argue with each other over which of
them is better as leader, completely ignoring Akari's despair.
     As the group splits up into their rooms, Akari lies in her bed and stares at the ceiling,
thinking to herself. Oh, Naitsuu. Why did this have to happen? I don't know what to do. No one
knows what to do. Please, tell me, what would you do? I just can not be the ruler of this
kingdom. Apparently, neither can your friends. We are all disrupted by the loss of you. I hear
Aritsune and Munenori quarreling all of the time. We are falling apart without you. Your quiet
presence always kept us together. Oh, Naitsuu, I miss you.