Mikoto's Legacy

Summary: Genderswap. As his Sword of Damocles continues to deteriorate Mikoto thinks on what he wants to leave behind besides a giant crater. To this end he asks his loyal vanguard to perform one last service for him.

The Kagutsu Crater Incident. The disaster that had left a scar on the collective consciousness, with the sheer destructive power of a Sword of Damocles falling, annihilating everything within miles of his predecessor, and killing hundreds of thousands.

He knew exactly how far gone he was. He'd seen his Sword of Damocles and he'd felt his powers begin to break free of his control. If the search for the Colorless King didn't get him killed the old fashioned way that would be his fate. The Red King would once again bear the responsibility of so much destruction.

Mikoto stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray that was sitting on the bar by his elbow. His future could be measured in months if he was lucky, but more likely he had mere weeks before his limits were reached. He only hoped that his clansmen were at a safe distance when it came crashing down. Someone needed to be left to take care of Anna.

"Mr. Mikoto?"

Yata had sat down on the stool next to him sometime in the last hour. This was the first she'd spoken since he'd become lost in his doubts four cigarettes ago. For an instant he can see the line of blood left on her cheek by Tatara's last attempt comfort her as his life faded. Then the image is gone and he's left with his vanguard's worried but clean face.

Tatara's death had taken its toll on all of Homra. He forgot that sometimes. Then little things would remind him, like the look in Anna's eyes or Yata's burning silences. For a time, grief had made Yata physically ill, making Chitose wonder aloud whether she was pregnant and for a brief moment he had hope that maybe Yata and Tatara's relationship went beyond playful ribbing and shared laughter. That maybe Tatara hadn't been lost completely. But with a few simple words—No, Mr. Mikoto, Mr. Totsuka and I were only friends— Yata had crushed that foolish hope.

A child… Would his wishes be enough to hold his clansmen together when he was gone? Would they stay for Anna? Kusanagi would provide for her, but Homra was her family and she would need them all. Anna had lost one family already, and then Tatara who he'd soon be following. There were also those like Eric, for whom Homra was all they had. And Yata who, while it could be argued that she had Fushimi outside of Homra, was better off with her fellow clansmen.

His clansmen needed one another. But would they stay united without him? If they had something of him to hold on to—like he wished they had of Tatara— that could hold at least the core members of Homra together. And if the core remained, the others would have a place to go should they need it.

Mikoto reached out and took Yata's hand. She blushed, but didn't pull away.

Yata's loyalty was unquestionable, not only to him but to her fellow clansmen as well. She'd stayed even after Fushimi's defection, when others had wondered if she would follow her oldest friend into the arms of Scepter 4. He appreciated her loyalty enough to track down Fushimi and warn him that Yata was off limits after the man had continued to seek her out to torment her after his betrayal. When that hadn't worked he'd sucked it up and gone through Munakata to keep Fushimi away long enough for Yata to get back on her feet.

She would do anything he asked of her. Usually, out of respect for the power she'd given him over her, he asked nothing more of her than what he expected from any of his clansmen. But with time running short, she would be the best choice for what he had in mind.

He stood pulling Yata to her feet as well.

Kusanagi stared at them over the bar, his gaze holding a warning that Mikoto ignored. The rest of his clansmen were caught up in some game in the corner, and paid no attention to them as they headed for the stairs. Almost past the threshold he felt eyes on him and knew Anna had shifted her attention from her near constant search for the Colorless King to him. He would speak with her later. There were things she would need to know, plans she needed to be made aware of.

An hour later found Mikoto lying awake in his bed, cigarette hanging from his lips. Yata lay sound asleep beside him.

As he'd thought, Yata hadn't refused him. And she'd agreed to keep him company in his rooms for as long as he needed it. He intended to have her come back again tomorrow night. He couldn't stake his plans on one encounter. Fate was never that kind.

Mikoto tapped his cigarette on the lip of the ashtray on his bedside table. Beside him Yata sneezed. She had never tolerated cigarette smoke well, and though she liked to sit close to him whenever they were both in the bar, he got the sense that that she wasn't fond of the scent that lingered on his clothes. Fair enough, Tatara hadn't liked the smell either.

Yata was a good choice, not merely because she was the only real option. Her fiercely protective nature was one of her more admired traits among his clansmen. Her strength was evident simply by her survival in his world, and by her refusal to be broken by the betrayal of those closest to her. Yata's interactions with Anna showed some nurturing instinct, even if their relationship didn't reach the level of mother and daughter, or even of sisters.

Yes, Mikoto was satisfied with his choice.

Yata stood with the rest of her helpless clansmen as their King's Sword began to fall. They were too close, when the Sword hit, they would die along with their king.

Yata felt a pang in her chest. Mr. Mikoto hadn't wanted this to be how it ended. Hadn't wanted Anna to be anywhere near him if the Sword of Damocles came crashing down. Her King's last few seconds wouldn't be the peaceful, almost joyful anticipation of his reunion with Mr. Totsuka that she was sure Mr. Mikoto would have wanted them to be. Tears began to trickle down Yata's cheek.

Then, miraculously, the Sword disintegrated just before impact.

And Anna began to scream.

"You could have stopped this. It didn't have to be this way," Munakata said, sword buried deep in Mikoto's chest.

Mikoto smiled. "Yes it did."

AN:Okay, just off the bat, no one in this story is going to be perfect. They have objectives and their methods for achieving those objectives aren't always going to be nice.

So yeah Yata is a pretty passive character in this chapter. I feel confident in heading off all cries of misogyny because this trait is carried over from canon Yata, at least where Mikoto's concerned. This is however mostly Yata's story, and Girl!Yata's not going to be passive for long.