Chapter 5: Search of the King of the North (Part 2)

## Summary

The aroma of burnt toast wafted through the cracked front door of Kobayashi's apartment, beckoning Igneel like a siren song. He hadn't intended to visit so soon, but seeing Tohru frantically chasing satellites in the sky with a makeshift antenna cobbled from a mop and tinfoil, he figured Kobayashi wouldn't mind the extra pair of hands (or claws, rather).

Inside, the scene was pure chaos. Kanna, sporting a chef's hat several sizes too big, wielded a spatula like a dragon slaying sword against a stubborn pan of blackened toast. Riko, perched precariously on a stool, cheered her on, peppering the kitchen with poorly timed encouragement. In the corner, Ilulu, the high school girl of unknown origin, sipped tea with an air of detached amusement, occasionally offering cryptic pronouncements about parallel universes and alternate timelines.

Then there was Violet Evergarden. Dressed in her signature military uniform, she stood stoically by the window, eyes fixed on the swirling vortex Tohru had conjured above the rooftop. No one was quite sure what Violet's role in this domestic pandemonium was, but her unwavering presence added a touch of silent intrigue to the proceedings.

Igneel's arrival sent the scene into further disarray. Kanna nearly launched the burnt toast into orbit, Riko tumbled from her stool, and Ilulu choked on her tea, spewing a mist of jasmine across the room. Violet, on the other hand, simply inclined her head in a polite greeting.

"Igneel!" Kobayashi's voice echoed from the depths of the bathroom, where she seemed perpetually trapped in a battle with a malfunctioning showerhead. "Just in time! Tohru's gone nuts again, and these two are no help!"

Emerging from the bathroom, dripping like a drowned cat, Kobayashi found herself face-to-face with a confused dragon and a roomful of mismatched companions. Taking a deep breath, she launched into a whirlwind explanation, detailing Tohru's latest obsession with finding King Kai's Planet, Kanna's culinary misadventures, and the arrival of the enigmatic Ilulu.

Igneel listened patiently, his single horn twitching with amusement. "So, you want me to be... babysitter-in-chief?"

Kobayashi grinned sheepishly. "More like dragon-wrangler and chaos coordinator. And maybe someone to keep Kanna from setting the kitchen on fire."

With a sigh, Igneel surveyed the scene. He couldn't say no to Kobayashi, and the prospect of watching Tohru chase ghosts in the sky was too funny to pass up. Plus, the potential for some good-natured dragon banter with Ilulu was too tempting to resist.

"Alright, fine," he declared, puffing out his chest. "consider it done. I'll handle the search for this... King Kai while you lot try to keep this apartment from imploding."

The next few hours were a whirlwind of activity. Igneel, surprisingly adept at deciphering Tohru's nonsensical ramblings, joined her rooftop satellite chase, their bickering echoing across the city. Kanna, under Igneel's watchful eye, managed to salvage breakfast (somewhat), although the smoke detector got a thorough workout in the process. Riko, inspired by their celestial pursuits, started weaving constellations out of leftover yarn, much to Ilulu's amusement. Violet, ever the silent observer, continued to watch over the proceedings with a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

By the time Kobayashi returned from work, the apartment was miraculously still standing. Exhausted but strangely content, she found herself surrounded by a mismatched family of dragons, maids, and soldiers, each contributing to the unique symphony of domestic chaos. The search for King Kai's Planet might be a wild goose chase, but in this moment, under the warm glow of the setting sun, Kobayashi wouldn't trade this newfound harmony for anything.

The future was uncertain, as it always was. But for now, amidst the burnt toast, dragon scales, and yarn constellations, a spark of warmth flickered in the heart of Kobayashi's apartment. The search for the King of the North might continue, but in this haven of misfits and mayhem, they had found their own kind of kingdom, a kingdom built on laughter, friendship, and the ever-present threat of burnt toast.

As the curtain falls on this chapter, a question hangs in the air: will Tohru ever find King Kai's Planet? And more importantly, will Kanna ever master the art of making toast without setting the smoke detector off? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the adventures of Kobayashi and her dragon maid, along with their ever-growing entourage of oddballs, are far from over.

### List of Characters Included in this Chapter:

Tohru Kobayashi

Kanna Kamui

Miss Kobayashi (Mentioned)

Son Goku (Mentioned)

Riko Saikawa

Ilulu

Violet Evergarden

Mana Maohjiku (Name Unknown)

Igneel

Makoto Takiya

Master Roshi

Fafnir

The World (Mentioned)

White Snake (Mentioned)

C-Moon (Mentioned)

Yellow Submarine (Mentioned)