Chapter 65

A Warm Welcome (歓待, Kantai) is the 65th chapter of the To Your Eternity manga.

Summary
As Bonchien, Fushi, and Kahaku near Uralis Kingdom, Bonchien ties Fushi's hands up and asks him to transform into the Nameless Boy and to act like he was defeated. As they arrive in the kingdom, Bonchien is celebrated by hundreds of civilians. Bonchien thinks this is the work of his father who must've gotten his message and basks in the celebration. The crowd cheers at him and he plucks a hair off his head and blows it into the crowd who go crazy for it.

The crowd asks Bonchien what he's gonna do with "the immortal" and he replies they they haven't decided yet but Fushi will get the appropriate punishment. He ends by telling them more details will be given in the next issue of Weekly Bonchien and enters his castle.

Now inside, Bonchien tells Fushi and Kahaku that they can remove their ropes and that Fushi should turn back into Parona because he'll be perceived better by his family. Fushi complies and Bonchien strokes his face, as Parona, saying he definitely prefers this form, which agitates Kahaku.

Fushi asks what Bonchien is going to do with them now that they're "captured" and Bonchien tells him not to be impatient and that he's taking them to meet his father. Fushi thinks to himself that he shouldn't stay long in case Nokkers attack.

In the throne room, Bonchien's Papa welcomes him back and congratulates him on capturing Fushi. The two hug and Bonchien asks if that means he'll accept him as King now. His father tells him that that's one thing and this is another but he is quickly cut off by Bonchien saying they should have a welcoming party to celebrate. His father agrees and Bonchien claps to his servants to take Fushi away and change him out of "those shabby clothes." Kahaku quickly follows after Fushi. The servants undress Fushi as Kahaku quickly covers his eyes, then they throw him in a tub and scrub him down roughly. Kahaku, now behind the curtain with his guards, warns the servants that if they do anything terrible to Fushi they'll have to answer to him. They're finish shortly and the servants present Fushi, now in an elegant ballroom dress. Kahaku is speechless and blushes as Bonchien gives the outfit a thumbs-up. The servants ask Bonchien what they should do with Kahaku, and Bonchien tells them to eliminate his "Yanome stench" and to put him in his brother's clothes and spray him with perfume.

Bonchien turns to Fushi but he's vanished leaving only the dress behind. Bonchien gasps and shouts for Fushi, but quickly spots him as the mole running away. He quickly catches Fushi in his hands and rubs him on his face, telling him not to worry about the party. Pocoa and Torta come down and Bonchien introduces him to his siblings. Pocoa stares Fushi down and asks him why he's a girl because she wanted a boy. Bonchien tells her to take her seat and they all sit down for dinner.

Bonchien's mother asks the King what he's going to do with Fushi and he replies that he forgot, but they must do something since Fushi is a big name. Torta hopes it isn't a horrible punishment and Bonchien tells his father to decide fast since he has to write about it in Weekly Bonchien.

Kahaku speaks up and reminds the King that Fushi is under the Guardian's protection and that he should go through him first. Bonchien replies that he's heard about the Guardians and that he read it in Doctor Sandel's book. Bonchien's siblings read it too and they ask if Fushi was really just a sphere in the beginning and if the Man in Black is real. Fushi responds yes to both.

Kahaku brings up that Tonari's book has recently been discovered and is being sold. He notes that that book's interpretation have become the mainstream belief on Fushi. Bonchien says he's read it but compared to Sandel's book, Tonari's is more critical of the Guardians.

Fushi interrupts them and asks Kahaku how could they have found Tonari's diary if he burnt it up along with her body. Kahaku theorizes that since Fushi has turned into her many times, someone probably got their hands on her book during those times. Fushi points out that he only turned into Tonari around the Guardians and accuses them of stealing the diary. Kahaku tries to say he doesn't know what happened in the past as Fushi storms out of the dinner angry at the Guardians. Not before saying that "Tonari didn't write that diary for you people." Bonchien and Kahaku run after Fushi, but he's disappeared. Bonchien quickly spots Fushi again as the mole and captures him. He coddles Fushi and tells him not to worry and relax more while in the castle. Kahaku apologizes saying he's the one who put Fushi in a bad mood. He also takes the time to ask Bonchien to give Fushi his army as a reward for coming to the castle. Bonchien asks Kahaku what he wants to do with the Uralis Army and Kahaku tells him it's to resist the Nokkers and that Fushi wishes to save as many people as possible. Bonchien looks at Fushi in his hands and compliments Fushi for being very kind and that he likes him.

Pocoa comes and informs her brother that a guest is here and to come quick. Bonchien then meets High Cleric Cylira of the Church of Bennett. Bonchiens whispers over to his father telling him no one told him about this and his father says the same. Cylira informs Bonchien that he found out Bonchien captured Fushi for them and asks where he is now. Bonchien shouts that he captured Fushi and he won't let the High Cleric take his glory. As the next King, he orderse Cylira and his men to leave. Cylira complies and states his visit was sudden and then warns that he'll come another time. Bonchien assures them they don't have to come back.

With the Church of Bennett priests gone, Fushi, still as the mole, pops out of Bonchien's hair. Bonchien triumphantly declares that he has protected Fushi. Bonchien's father comes up to him and tells him that capturing Fushi hasn't changed his mind about Bonchien not being the next King. Bonchien replies that he knows, but he'll work hard to change his father's mind. Bonchien takes Fushi to his room and tells him to rest there for the night. He plops mole Fushi on the floor and bids him good bye. Fushi transforms back into the Nameless Boy and looks tiredly out the window to the kingdom. He transforms into Ligard and flies out the window but is quickly taken down by Bonchien's scabbard. Fushi falls to the ground and transforms back into the Nameless Boy. Bonchien asks him if he's running away because he doesn't like it here or that the Nokkers might come. Fushi replies both. Bonchien says he'll help with the Nokkers by giving Fushi his army but Fushi says on the way here he realized something and that he made a decision for when the next time someone important to him is killed by a Nokker. Bonchien asks him to further elaborate but Fushi says he can't since he is watching. Bonchien wonders but then kneels down to Fushi and tell hims to say it. If Fushi doesn't say it in words, he won't understand. And that only when Fushi puts things in words he can find out things like who's evil. This intrigues Fushi. He explains tearfully that the next time someone important to him is killed by a Nokker, he'll give up. He'll give his entire body over to the Nokkers.

The Beholder appears between Fushi and Bonchien and says that's unfortunate. And that if Fushi lost everything, he'll have to start over from square one again. Fushi nervously says he's fine with that. Bonchien responds that he will give Fushi a new world and that he can decide whether or not to abandon himself after that.

Chapter Notes

 * Hayase, Sandel, and Tonari all have books published about Fushi which is how most of the population is learning about him. Tonari's interpretation is the most mainstream belief.
 * Fushi decides that the next time someone important to him gets killed by a Nokker, he'll give himself up to them.
 * Bonchien declares that he'll create a new world for Fushi and after that, then Fushi can decide if he gives up.

Trivia

 * Bonchien writes a weekly paper called Weekly Bonchien.
 * The oldest book about Fushi is Hayase's Record.