Chapter 24 - The Plan
In total, about one month of peace proceded the Invasion of Aeros, also deemed ‘the Aerosian Massacre’ due to the massive casualties in the outer ring. From it, those who rallied under Oda’s name began to waver, fearing his aggressive tactics and hence nicknaming him ‘the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven.’ Simultaneously, the Saika’s influence spread throughout the south at dangerous speeds, encouraging the Herbans to back down and the Acquans to rally to their name. Ignis citizens were completely repressed, forced to work the mines for the sake of firearm production.
It was during that time that Shiwawamu Kurora began to resist her general’s pleas for battle, determined to maintain the well being of her state for as long as possible. To her, nothing was worse than a massacre, seeing as such events had occurred in the past... One of which had stolen the lives of both her fiance and father. Hence, she took the invasion as a warning and refused all calls to arms.
“Should we attack, what then? What if they come for us next? I’d rather kneel down at the Demon King’s feet then risk the lives of my people!” she snapped during a meeting debating Herba’s position in the war. Her declaration made it quite clear to the movement resisting Oda that they had run out of time, and could no longer abide to the Herban leader’s rulings.
A fiery divide erupted throughout Herba, splitting her up into two groups: those who wished to submit, and those still determined to resist. Such a divide, spurred by Saika agents, soon evolved into a full-scale civil war, leaving Herba’s co-leader distraught. Poor Kanetsugu was torn between his loyalty to his leader Kurora, and his personal wants to aid the resisting forces.
“I-I’m very, very sorry... but... as we speak, Herba is at war with herself. For me, the commander of the Ninja corp., to declare my support for the radical movement... it would be catastrophic no matter how you look at it,” the ninja confessed. A frustrated Tōdō Takatora and Daichi, who had hoped that he could aid them in their struggles, were pressing him, trying desperately to force him to pick a side rather than run and hide in the cover of the trees.
“But we need your support! Hell, we need every ounce we can manage at this rate!” the red-head tactician hissed, his voice strained as he forced himself to stay relatively calm.
Kanetsugu shook his head sadly, slowly backing away from the duo and towards the comfort of the trees behind him. “My apologies... but I’m afraid that I cannot help you. Please, you must understand my position! Just... if you can keep quiet for a little longer-”
“We don’t have any more time! It’s been a month already; Oda’s forces are most likely beyond prepared for another attack!” Daichi stepped in, narrowing his eyes at the Herban. How could they make him change his mind? If they could gain access to the Ninja Corp’ vast supply of information, then later the Saika’s...
“I am so, truly sorry... I really, sincerely do want to help... but I have to place the state first! You two... have never held such high a position...” Bowing his head, Kanetsugu glanced at the two of them one last time, before turning and darting up a tree.
Stabbing a random tree in his frustration, Takatora muttered a few curses in the Gaian tongue, leaving Daichi to flinch at his vulgarities, “Dammit! We can’t lose like this! Not to Oda!”
“Taka... you... have to relax. We’ll... think of something...” Lightly hugging his shoulders, the mercenary tried to reassure his partner with a warm smile, but failed.
“There’s nothing left to think about! Yes, we have options, but what good is that when we don’t even have the manpower to execute them?!” Takatora snapped, wriggling away from him to glare down a tree.
“I know... I just... please, I need you to stay strong... I just, we can’t do this-” Daichi murmured before pausing a moment, having suddenly realized something, “... The others...”
“You really don’t know when to give-” Though, before he could finish his retort, the mercenary shot forward and seized his wrist, before beginning to drag him off towards the Herban centre. Each time Takatora tried to argue or resist, Daichi would alternate between ignoring him or feigning kisses, each of which somehow managed to shut him up.
So alas, they finally reached the small camp the resistance set up just outside the centre. Since it was only makeshift, the camp was positioned in a concealed clearing, various tents and such set up and arranged in a very Aerosian manner. It almost felt like home... almost.
“Oh, Daichi! Did you manage to...?” Genjiro called, waving at his companions and jogging over to greet them more properly. He had a bundle of branches in his arms, suggesting that he was in charge of the fire that evening.
“No, unfortunately. But I do have an idea... Your crew, the rest went to Acqua, correct?” Daichi replied, releasing his boyfriend’s wrist in order to shake hands with his comrade.
Blinking at him, the first mate frowned a bit, trying to see if he could figure out the mercenary’s plan on his own. “Mmmm? Yes... however, I fear that they may not have made it in time... it has been a month after all...” he sighed, slightly shrugging his shoulders.
“It’s not like you to doubt your men’s capabilities. They should be there, yes, even if it’s in hiding?”
“Just... what is it you’re getting at, señior?”
Daichi nodded firmly, pulling a wad of paper and a piece of graphite out of his back pocket and scribbling some directions down. “We sail out to Acqua... we being the resisting force, and try to win over Evangeline. Surely, she must be terrified for her kingdom’s safety... but unlike the Herbans, her people are not prone to submission. Thus, that is where we will get our manpower.”
Genjiro stared at him with wide eyes, bewildered by this proposition. “Acqua... but after sir Kunichika-”
“WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT MON PÈRE?” Ears sensitive as ever, the obnoxious sea captain stormed over to listen in on their scheming, tongue ready to lash out at anyone who dared defile his father’s name. Fortunately, Daichi had a different idea.
“ Ah, perfect. Just the guy I was waiting for. Yes, your father was a very powerful man... and hence, I need you to be our spearhead,” he replied cheerfully, patting the blind pirate on the shoulder.
Creasing his forehead, Shun tilted his head to the side slightly in his confusion, not quite getting it. “... Oh? Moi? Pourquoi?”
Blinking rapidly, Takatora focused his attention on the wayward mercenary, amazed by how swiftly the man had managed to transform their options. “Wait... he’s... 100% Acquan royalty, right?” he inquired curiously. If his knowledge was correct and Motochika could be assumed dead...
“As 100% as a prince can be, Reddie!” Shun piped, toning his vocal volume down a bit as he spoke. Though, how he knew the strategist bore a unique wave of red-hair, puzzled him. Could just be the way his form looked through his blind eyes… it was different from the others, who he figured had the usual blacks and blonds and the such.
“Exactly. So, as far as I’m aware, Lady Evangeline is, by blood, illegitimate for the throne. However, you Nobuchika, are the 2nd Chōsokabe son...” Daichi continued confidently, also turning to focus his gaze upon the now-startled pirate.
“... W-wait a minute. Th-there’s no way that I... You know they won’t accept me! I fuckin bombed their ports out of retribution and shit! I can’t! I can’t be King!” Shun exclaimed, stumbling back a few steps as though his words had landed a hefty blow on his chest. It was evident that the idea of using his royal blood in a tactical manner had never occurred to him. Sure, he had joked about it and sometimes fantasized about it, but in a more logical sense, he never thought people would actually, like, go with it.
“But at the rate things are going now... you and Acqua may be our only chance.”
“B-but what if... what if they don’t...? I mean, I’ll probably have to marry her or something! And I can’t share my nonexistent power with that... that bitch!” the stressed prince wailed, beginning to ramble on and on at the thought of having to actually be responsible for his actions.
Hence, Genjiro scowled at his captain and muttered a small apology under his breath before slapping him upside the head. “Quit being so selfish! This is the fate of Sengoku that we’re talking about!” he snapped, his face darkening with alien ferocity. So that was his darker side…
As Shun shrunk away from his first mate in shock, Musashi waved over at them from across the clearing, catching their attention. “Yeah Cap’n! I’d gladly come with you... but somehow my parents found me and yeah... I’ll be handling the resistance in Herba while you’re gone!” he was yelling, cracking a crooked grin as he did so.
“I... me... King...” Staring at his feet, the captain fell into an unusual silence, signaling to them that the plan was probably final. Glancing over at where the fire was, Takatora noticed Ginchiyo and Riichi chatting upon a log. Although, he could tell from how their shoulders were sagged that it was not a very merry one.
So while Daichi and Genjiro started working out the finer details of their plans, he wandered over and frowned, picking up on the last fragments of their conversation.
“... I’m sure they’re just fine! I... I believe in them all!” Riichi was murmuring, twiddling his thumbs insecurely.
Although, instead of replying to his statement, Ginchiyo lifted her head to gaze over at Takatora, and let out a small sigh. “... Any news?”
“We’re thinking about turning our focus towards Acqua. However, the Herbans do not-”
“I’ll go.” Shooting to her feet, the Aerosian colonel placed her hands upon her hips, awaiting orders.
Takatora, however, was not too used to telling others what to do, and stared for an uncomfortably long time. “W-well, of course, but-”
“If anyone escaped that invasion, then they would have headed for Acqua, correct?!” she snapped, losing patience quickly.
“Y-yes, I would think so-”
“Then quit wasting my time with your stammering and get me a boat!” Whirling around, Ginchiyo pointed her katana sheath at Tsuru, of whom was helping some Herbans with laundry. “Kono! Begin preparations!”
Jumping slightly, the sea nurse whirled to gaze at her, eyes wide with confusion. “H-huh? Why?”
“No questions!” Stomping over to the cargo, Ginchiyo paused to check their contents, before barking orders to a lazy Musashi.
Staring after her in awe, Riichi managed a small smile, turning his head to gaze up at Takatora softly. “Oh, sorry about Tachibana-san... She’s very... direct. And blunt, especially when it comes to things like this. Even though she won’t admit it, she’s really worried for her husband’s safety,” the Aerosian soldier informed him, scooting over to give the strategist room.
He gave this statement some thought, apparently intrigued. “Tachibana Muneshige, one of the Dragon’s generals... correct?” he asked, hoping he at least remembered the names of the Dragon’s six generals.
The lieutenant nodded his head slowly, before gazing down at his feet. “So... it should be alright if we go and find him there alive... Right?”
“Yes...” Sighing, Takatora lowered himself to sit beside the Aerosian, leaving some space between them. “I guess I’ll have to leave my siblings behind yet again... Is there no place I can bring them to be safe?”
“Siblings...” Riichi echoed, frowning a bit before remembering something, “Oh! Your name, it is Tōdō Takatora, right?”
Takatora nodded his head slowly, watching the younger male carefully. “Yes... that is my name. Why?”
“I uh... know your sister. N-Natsuki-chan?” The Aerosian piped, giving him a hopeful look. However, he didn’t realize his mistake until it was too late.
“... -chan?” The darkness in his tone sent shivers down Riichi’s back and he quickly looked away.
“Oh... uh... y-yeah... w-when she came... I uh... she asked for me to escort her to the capital... and... um...”
Rolling his eyes, Takatora suppressed his over-protective-older-brother instincts and gestures for him to continue. “Tsk, whatever. At least she’s... safe?”
A small smile spread itself across Riichi’s face, almost relieved that he was being okay with this. “Oh, yes! She left with the pirates and the refugee Acquans... So I expect she’s well and with them... She actually wanted to return to Ignis, but Masamune-sama and I stopped her... This was like, oh, around the time that Hanbei died...” He paused for a moment, furrowing his brows. “Hey, what’s the big idea behind that anyway? No one tells me anything... why’s Lord Takenaka still around?!”
Frowning, Takatora furrowed his brows, debating whether or not to disclose the truth to a simple soldier. Then again, they were going to be comrades in arms… So… “I’m not supposed to tell anyone this but... that’s actually Shigeharu’s, whom you know better as Hanbei, son named Shigekado. Shigeharu... really is dead...”
Riichi’s mouth curved into an ‘o’ of shock. “REALLY?! That’s so weird!”
“Yes...” Takatora sighed as he stood up and straightened some of the folds in his robes, “Now that I know that Natsuki’s probably safe... we had better hurry up and prepare to sail...”
~*~
Sighing deeply as he stalked out of the trees and into the open, Akifumi and his small ninja troupe paused a little way before the Aeros-Azuchi border, his dark eyes scanning the area quietly. Though he knew there wasn’t much to expect, something had provoked him to go there. What exactly though, he wasn’t too sure.
“Say, Aki,” his leader, Kanetsugu, murmured to him, “We should check out the Acquan border, not Azuchi. The Aerosians would be stupid to pass through enemy territory for shelter.”
Frowning, Aki nodded his agreement slowly, yet he found himself unable to budge. “You go ahead,” he told him, eyes still locked on the horizon as if he expected something interesting to emerge there, “I just want to check.”
Gazing at him wondrously, Kanetsugu let out a small sigh, rounded up some of his companions with a swift flick of his wrist, and slunk off towards the west.
Watching him leave from his peripherals, Akifumi lowered himself to a seated position, feeling the cool wind pull and tug on his dark hair. Though he wasn't the best at socializing, his strong intuition and skill with a bow often earned him the respect he had. 'I just hope I can finish up quickly... it looks like it's going to rain...'
The air was heavy with the scent of rain and stormy tension. ‘The storm is coming, if not already hit. Even nature can weep for the Aerosians, I see,’ he thought, envisioning a smoke filled sky with ash raining down like black snow, destruction left and right, and the screaming of women and children echoing off the mountain walls.
How disastrous the ambush of Aeros must have really been. And yet, all Motonari had summed it up to be was ‘an invasion that resulted in a decimated country, and a captive people.’ It was upsetting, actually. He idolized the cool general. He was socially awkward like himself, yes, but never let it faze him from doing what he felt was right. So to hear him speak so lowly of the fallen kingdom...
Sometimes Aki wondered why it was everyone looked at opposing countries as unequal to them. So what if Aeros was one of the more militant countries. Were they not the first to boldly dangle free human rights over the heads of the Sengokuan peoples? So for such a liberating state to be ravished in such a brutal manner...
“S-sir, I think there’s something coming," one of his men muttered, dropping in beside him with his head lowered respectfully. His arm was outstretched before him, motioning to something along the horizon.
“What?” Shooting to his feet, Akifumi narrowed his eyes in the direction his scout was pointing. At first, all he saw was grass and the faint outline of Azuchian homes. But over time, a figure began to develop against the blurriness of the background until, alas, he could pick out a humanoid figure.
“Wh-what IS that? Some sort of Azuchi weapon? A trap?” one ninja murmured, a worried edge to his voice.
“Silence,” Aki snapped, waving his men down and leaning forward to get a better look at the figure.
It moved in slow, jagged jerks, hobbling from leg to leg in an uneven rhythm. Everything about it was black, raw and scorched like burnt meat left too close to the fire. He sensed it wheezing, the wounds on its body no less comfortable in the humid air than salt on a paper cut.
“I-it must be a demon!” someone whispered fearfully, interpreting long, slender blades jutting out from what should have been a man’s hands, “And its bosom is all but nude! Black as Hell itself, no doubt.”
Shaking his head furiously at these ignorant remarks, Aki took a few cautious steps forward, having to blink several times to clear his vision. Already, the grass quivered, bringing in a long, rolling mist. The sky above was crackling, stretching its ridged back of many greys and causing the hairs on his arms to stand on end. The thing before them groaned, falling to one knee and using one of its blades to soften its weighted fall.
“Wait,” Aki hissed, recognizing a minor detail in the sword’s steel “That’s no demon...”
Shooting to his feet, he darted over to catch the ruined man before he could hit the ground, supporting his lolling head on the crook of his elbow, “It’s the One-eyed Dragon!”
~*~
“The Dragon is HERE?” Hanbei exclaimed, staring at Aki as though he were mentally insane, “There’s no way in hell that guy could have survived the invasion. His freakin pagoda fell on him for crying out loud!”
“Well if you don’t believe him, why don’t you go look for yourself, your majesty,” Kanetsugu scoffed at the Ignese tactician rather irritably, his arms and forehead crossed. After Akifumi had revealed the Dragon’s presence within their borders, Kanetsugu had rushed back to establish a temporary camp for the sole purpose of attending to Masamune’s wounds. As Hanbei had pleasantly pointed out, the Aerosian lord was definitely in no stable condition; his whole body was practically burnt to a crisp. How it was he managed to limp all the way from the Aerosian capital, through Azuchi, and into Herba, he had no clue.
“Maybe his father really was some holy prophet or something...” Hanbei sighed as he watched some of Herba’s best healers rush in and out of the tent, his eyes narrowed against the pouring rain.
From what they were telling him, things weren’t looking very good. Course, it was better that the Dragon made it here to them than get himself captured by Oda or killed from blood loss, but the sheer feat of it all... he needed some answers. Answers that probably weren’t going to come to him any time soon.
“Good news: the black isn’t from the burns, but from mud and soot,” Tōdō Takatora informed him and Kanetsugu upon exiting the tent, “However, I can’t say he’ll be back on the battlefield for a while.”
“You’re an expert on these things, aren’t you? From being around mines all your life,” Kanetsugu inquired, giving him a gracious look.
Humbly shrugging his shoulders, Takatora avoided meeting his gaze, as he was currently wiping the blood and grit from his fingers with a cloth, “It isn’t my first time, treating things like this. Although, I will take up the liberty to call the One-eyed Dragon an idiot. The man is always pushing himself harder than he thinks he can handle. Are we not all human?”
“To some extent,” Kanetsugu chuckled, bowing respectfully to the red-haired tactician and shuffling off to consult his scouts. Thus far, it was apparent that the Dragon had come alone. Therefore, the fate of the Aerosian peoples was looking rather grim.
The pounding of horse hooves rippled into the clearing, bringing with it the crew that had departed Aeros only days before the invasion had ensued.
“Masamune-sama!” Riichi cried out, hopping off his horse and landing awkwardly, “I-is it true? He’s really alive?!”
“What about Tatsu and the others?” Shun added, steadying his companion.
“Patience!” Ginchiyo yelled, thwacking the two over top the head with her weapon sheath before walking over to meet the group, “What’s the situation?”
“The Dragon’s in a nasty shape, and no Aerosians seem to be with him. Also, there’s no evidence that he was followed, so it’s a dead end,” Hanbei yawned nonchalantly.
Scowling at his bluntness, Kanetsugu provided the warriors with a small bow before taking his turn to speak. “My men are doing everything they can to preserve what they can of your lord. Consider it blessing enough that he was able to make it here alive, if you would. But until he regains consciousness, I’m afraid we’re going to have to standby and continue reconnaissance”
“Naturally,” the Aerosian colonel sighed, brushing aside a lock of curly brown hair and casting her companions a scrutinizing look. “Don’t you dare bother Lord Masamune while he’s resting, understood?! I’m off to speak with Mori again,” she growled, whipping around to head for her horse.
“We’re not kids anymore, stupid lady,” Shun retorted, glaring her down angrily.
“What he meant to say was: we’ll watch over him, don’t worry!” Riichi piped in.
“No I didn’t! I specifically meant that she is a b-”
“Okay, I think we’ve heard just about enough,” Tsuru sang, hooking her arm around Shun’s and dragging him off towards the trees, “Come on Rinnie~ Let’s so see what kinds of pretty plants are here~!”
“It’s fuckin raining,” Shun complained, struggling to break free from her surprisingly strong grasp, “There’s nothing to see!”
Tsuru frowned at that, pausing to flick him in between the eyes and thus, greatly increasing his anger level. “Well, you’re like, a merman so I don’t see why rain would- oh right. You can’t exactly see things, can you?” she murmured thoughtfully.
“No fuckin duh, genius! And what's with this friendliness all of a sudden?!” Shun snorted, obviously not very pleased with his current predicament.
Riichi let out a long sigh as he watched the two of them squabble, feeling a small bubble of dread befall him. “Oh jeez,” he mumbled, glancing from the potty-mouthed pirate to the medical tent, “When Masamune-sama comes to... I don’t know who would have a dirtier mouth: he, or Shun-kun. Then again, I don’t think I want to know...”
As he turned to see if he could help with anything, a beaming Hanbei popped up in his way, strangely cheerful in the rain. Perhaps it was because he grew up in a land full of sand and never experienced real rainfall? “No comparison, silly little Satou. Then again, I will say that the Dragon will be in an awfully sour mood when he recovers. Though his arrival is a blessing in itself, earning his cooperation will be difficult even with you and Tachibana here.”
“What? Why?” Riichi murmured, his face contorting in his confusion. He had thought that, with his lord safe and sound and Kagetsuna not far behind, that their chances of succeeding had increased two-fold.
Shaking his head slowly, Hanbei watched intently as a rush of water trickled down his matted hair, his lower lip protruding slightly as he did so. “Date Masamune fears abandonment more than anything,” he muttered, his voice suddenly lacking its previously-cheerful undertone, “No doubt, when he wakes and discovers the condition of his kingdom... Mori and Tachibana are probably discussing that now. Since he is only in his mid-twenties and had not conformed to the previous Aerosian tradition of marrying young, the Date have no heir. Namikawa’s whereabouts is doubtful and Katakura shows some resistance in joining our movement, leaving Aeros completely at the mercy of Oda’s control. Unless of course we can find a loophole that could prevent that, he’ll be useless to us.”
“But he’s still alive! I-I don’t understand how all this heredity stuff has anything to do with-”
“Aeros has fallen. Accept it already. He will, without a second thought. Now, we have to move on,” Hanbei snapped, glaring the younger man down for a while, hands balled into tight fists.
If he hadn’t been an enemy of his lord, Riichi would have given into the Ignese lord’s reasoning. After all, the truth was there, shining brighter than the sun on a clear day. He just refused to see it. “... But... everyone...”
Oh, that's right. Only their ship crew and Takatora new about the plan to sail to Acqua. So if they did that and brought Masamune with them...
By now, Hanbei had turned to leave him to his thoughts, wanting to get out of the rain before he could catch a cold. Glancing up from the ground, Riichi watched as Herbans ran about to do their jobs, feeling guilt and uselessness fall over him. He had to think of something, and fast.
“... You idiot, what do you think you’re doing?! Didn’t I tell you to stay back at the main camp? You know, where people can keep an eye on you?!” Someone’s angry yelling drew his attention leftward, where he spotted Takatora attempting to drag another someone away from the medical camp. Blinking the water out of his eyes, Riichi later recognized the shady figure as being his former squad leader.
“Ah... don’t you trust me? I just wanted to make sure the rumors were true...” Daichi whined, hardly resisting the Ignis peasant’s shoving.
“Like hell I’ll trust you!” Takatora snapped, releasing the mercenary’s arm to stare him down, “Cleared or not, your previous crimes will never be wiped away. How do I know this isn’t all a part of your glorious plan? You were assigned to assassinate the Dragon at one point, were you not?!”
“Aww, c’mon Taka. Don’t be this way.”
“Quit acknowledging me so informally in public! Now answer m-”
“Eh? I thought you were from Ignis? Aren’t I supposed to be the one all caught up in shame and loss of face and stuff?”
“That’s the problem! You’re completely and utterly shameless!”
Riichi watched as this continued on, Tsuru and Shun yelling at each other to his right, Takatora and Daichi arguing to his left. Somehow, seeing the two couples depressed him. They reminded him of the good old days, when Naoto was still around and he hadn’t a care in the world...
"... I guess I'll just have to start getting used to going solo..."