Under heavy guard, the pirate soldier gestured with his hand, and the gate opened to show a capsule.
“This must be the time-stasis system for captives.”
“Don’t worry, we won’t use any mind control on you. We know it won’t work on the biologically-fortified Juraian Imperial Family. Please wait in here until negotiations have finished.”
Azusa settled into the capsule without resistance. “The next time you wake up, you’ll be on Jurai. Please be patient…” The capsule shutters closed, and time stopped for Azusa. He laid prone, eyes open, looking like an exquisite work of art.
The pirates sealed the Master Key and severed the connection between Azusa and his ship. The pirates had complete control over Azusa and Kirito. “Hah hah, the invincible Crown Prince of Jurai. What could you do now?” one of the pirates spoke to the capsule. Of course, there was no reaction from Azusa. However…
Hmph… The ship where the former hostages are being treated has been left alone. They must be in high spirits, having gotten their hands on me and Kirito. Time was supposed to be standing still for Azusa, but he had maintained his consciousness in real-time. His link to Kirito still existed even without the Master Key. The Master Key was only a supplement to his link to a Royal Tree, since the contract itself was between the minds of the tree and the person. Even so, there were limitations to a link without a Master Key. With the connection severed so thoroughly, he should not have been able to establish a link. But something other than the Master Key connected Azusa to Kirito.
Azusa opened his eyes wide. “I’ll show you pirates how Juraians make their escape!” First, Azusa verified where Funaho was being held. The comb he had given her was carved from a Juraian Royal Tree. It was easy to specify her location via Kirito. Kirito immediately came back with an answer: Funaho was being kept in an adjacent pirate spaceship.
Not good… Funaho-dono is too close. The Unit with the exterior hull removed is too powerful, and she might be caught up in the attack. But if I hesitate any longer, they’ll reclaim the people we recovered.
“Heh… Shall I help you?” someone interrupted his thoughts.
Who’s there?!
“You’re running out of time, right? Come on.” At the same moment, a violent shock rocked the spaceship carrying Azusa.
The pirates received an emergency signal from the spaceship seized by Kirito and summoned all their fellows from relatively nearby star systems. A fleet of eighteen ships were now in the solar system: numerous for pirates, but small for the Shank Guild, said to be the largest pirate force. The interim fleet commander was trembling with joy over taking possession of the Crown Prince of Jurai and a Royal Ship. There was no greater achievement. Who could blame him for falling under the illusion that status and honor within the Guild was all his?
“Hurry with that Juraian ship!” he charged, but could not wipe the smile from his face. Just then, a tremendous beam fired on the fleet.
“What’s going on?!” the commander yelled on the shaking bridge, to which one of the operators answered with a status report.
“An attack from a satellite. Its origin is unknown!”
“Well, fire back! Focus fire from every ship!” Fortunately they weren’t in close formation, and the ships came about at once, and opened fire. The beams sucked into space were aimed at something at a distance too far for the naked eye. The main computer on the console reported on the results of the attack.
“It’s no use. All blocked by a shield!”
“Impossible! Nothing could block… Could it be?!”
“There’s no energy reading of enemy shields!”
The commander knew the invisible enemy. “Light Hawk Wings! Are there other Juraian ships?! Impossible! We have the Crown Prince as hostage. Inform the attacking ship at once!!” The commander was close to screaming.
“Th-the ship the Crown Prince was held captive on…has been destroyed.” The operator murmured, dumbfounded, and the commander was truly speechless.
A few hours later, something shone among the debris of the annihilated pirate fleet. It was Azusa and Funaho, enveloped in the Light Hawk Wings. This was Azusa’s plan: protected by the Light Hawk Wings, he attacked the ship he was on, on purpose, and destroyed it. With Kirito’s help, he transported towards the reading of the comb held by Funaho. After that, protected by the Light Hawk Wings, he simply waited with Funaho until all the ships were destroyed. It was a rather in-your-face escape maneuver, only possible as a Juraian Warrior with Light Hawk Wings.
Azusa held Funaho close as they drifted through space. “I’m so sorry. You must’ve been so frightened.”
“No, I knew you would come rescue me…” Funaho cast her eyes down, blushing.
Since secrets could no longer be kept under these circumstances, Azusa explained everything to the best of his abilities. Funaho was very flexible in her thinking, did not panic, and accepted the facts. There were parts she could not process, but having understood to an extent, she nestled against Azusa and looked down upon Earth.
“I feel like I’m in a dream… That we’re so far beyond the clouds, and that blue sphere is where I live?”
“It’s so large that it’s hard to recognize it as a sphere while you’re standing on the surface.”
“It’s beautiful. But the moon is prettier from down there.” From where they were, the moon was merely a round rock full of craters.
“Perhaps… But I’m glad you’re safe. I would never be able to face Asumi-dono or your father if anything had happened to you.”
“Azusa-sama, all this risk-taking will make your family sad. Your parents and…Mitsuki-sama. I’ve long wanted to ask…is Mitsuki-sama…your sister? Or your wife…? But if she’s family, she must be worried about you. I think so… Don’t you?” She must have been flustered in her excitement, as she asked questions she would otherwise never have been able to.
In Funaho’s ears, Azusa’s voice rang full of sadness. “Mitsuki…is dead.”
“What…?!”
“It’s been eight years…”
“Um, I… I’m sorry.” Funaho, suddenly snapped awake, noticed that Azusa’s right eye was faintly glistening.
Azusa held her shoulder and smiled at her. “There’s still time until Jijii comes to get us. Will you listen to a little story?”
Funaho quietly nodded at Azusa’s kind words.