Chapter 8

## Take It Slowly

**Chapter 8** is titled "Take It Slowly".

## Short Summary

Hachimaru greets his Princess of Fate, but it goes poorly. Hagamichi tries to poach Hachimaru for his forces, but Daruma quickly outs a stop to it. Once everyone is acquainted, Daruma allows them to come deeper into his hideout before continuing Hachimaru's training. Meanwhile, the Ata copy continues to make his way to his target.

## Long Summary

In an unnamed region of space, Ata is being fed the coordinates to his target's location. Using part of his Samurai Soul, Ata creates a copy of himself and fires it in the direction of his target. On Hachimaru's homeworld, Ann to greet her Samurai of fate. Hachimaru is hyped that his Princess is here, believing that he will now get stronger. He tries to greet Ann before realizing she hasn't said her name. His hasty approach annoys her enough that she rebuffs his greeting, so he asks Daruma for advice. He believes that fate dictates that she must be nice to him, but his master informs him that she can reject him, as she just did. He warns him that having his Trinity assembled doesn't instantly create strength, then approaches Ann and Hagamichi.

He identifies himself as Hachimaru's mentor, though they are skeptical that he is a Samurai. Daruma apologizes of his student's behalf and gently asks for her name. Though it takes a moment, Ann gives her name, and is complemented by Daruma. Hachimaru asks why they are interested in him. Hagamichi explains that since he has been determined as a friendly, he wants him to join his legion. He asks Daruma for permission to take him, saying that he could use a proper master.

Daruma refuses, claiming that Hagamichi himself still has much to learn. He exposes his Key to him, and Hagamichi realizes whose presence he is in. He profusely apologizes for his ignorance, and Hachimaru realizes his master is an important person. At Hachimaru's home, his father comes out of his room in response to his alarm to feed his son. Hearing the sound, he remembers that his son no longer needs to be fed through an IV. He calls Hachimaru for lunch, then looks outside and sees the hidden door where he hid the ronin's Holder exposed, and realizes that Daruma took Hachimaru.

Back at the training ground, Hagamichi tells Un about Daruma's presence and his intent to stay and observe the situation. Un decides to have Ann stay as well. She is reluctant, but Un tells her that sticking with her Samurai will help hone her ability to sense Locker Balls. She also tells her that being nice to her Samurai is also part of her training. Satisfied, Daruma brings them inside of his hideout.

Hachimaru immediately requests lunch, so Daruma prepares a nutrition-rich drink, which doesn't satisfy him. Remember what Un said about being nice, Ann offers to make a meal, claiming she is a great cook. When she presents her food, the look is so unappealing that even the Holders are apprehensive about trying it. Only Daruma is willing to eat it without reservation, and he suggests they try it. Everyone tries it, and despite its unappealing look, they find that they all like it. Ann's food also helps Hachimaru understand a lesson from earlier about important things being hidden behind deception. He then asks Ann for seconds, but she rebuffs him again. While he sulks about rejected, Ann leaves to hide that she is happy everyone enjoys her food.

After eating, Hachimaru tries to manifest his Samurai Soul and is able to keep it from going limp, but it is still not able to shape it properly yet. Ann is not impressed, so Daruma explains that unlike her cooking, this his first success. Ann explains that no one has eaten her food before. She is used to failing, so she simply put up a front, the way she does around her Samurai. Daruma tells her that Hachimaru does the same, but he believes she is a better Princess than he is a Samurai. Ann jokes about his eyesight, until he tells her he is blind. He tells her that while he normally can't see, he has moments where he can everything, and that similar to Ann's name, it takes time to connect the beginning and end of thing. He tells her that it's okay if things don't normally come easily, and it's best to take it slow. As proof of his point, Hachimaru manages to damage the Guard Holder's remains with his imperfect Samurai Soul. At the same time, Ata's duplicate is hacking through a meteor cloud. Annoyed that he still has not made it out of the Cube Region of the galaxy, he resolves to move faster.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Niri
* Ata
* Daruma
* Hachimaru
* Hayataro
* Ann
* Hagamichi
* Un
* Furuta