-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Why… why the hell did you do that?!!"
ARGH!!! I blew it! Why the hell did I just suddenly hit him after seeing that?!!
"I'm Kusanagi Kyoko! Daughter of a southern warrior clan and conqueror of Yukonami! I fear nothing! I-"
"Awooo!"
"Eeeekkk! Stay away!"
"…"
"Huh? Urk-! Damn it…"
From the distance, a dog howled which surprised me to the point that I instinctively drew my katana and stood in a defensive stance which just made me feel more frustrated.
"Why? Why am I so scared of those sounds?!"
I don't understand… I knew that I feared nothing ever since I was a child. So why am I suddenly shaking on the knees because of this?
"Argh… what is happening to me?"
"Kusanagi-sama-"
"I told everyone that I'll cut off your heads if you followed me, right?!! Show yourself!!!"
I shouted as a familiar feminine voice called me out and went against my orders to not follow me.
"I'll happily lay down my life if you wish to. But I implore that you let me live long enough to serve you for this one last time."
"I-Ishigawa-san… Tch… Forget that I said that."
"As you wish."
He spoke those lines with his female voice, and I knew that the only person who is loyal enough and is present here to say that is him.
"I've brought some warm tea. I heard you ran away from the camp and I was worried that you'll catch a cold."
"Stop treating me like a child who can't mind her own health."
"Please don't take away half of my job, Kusanagi-sama."
"Hey! Are you implying that I make so much trouble that it's already half of your job?!"
"Half of the fun in my job is from taking care of you. The other half is dressing you with formal clothes and teaching you more feminine hobbies."
He replied and poured some tea for me. Hearing his statement, I was taken aback for a moment before sipping the warm beverage.
"…Are you here to scold me?"
"Maybe?"
"Why do you sound so unsure?"
"It would be wrong to call the action of correcting the mistake of someone you are taking care of as scolding them. To be exact, I am here to teach you. Didn't I tell you ever since you came under my care? I will never scold you, but I sure will teach you about things."
"…"
What was it? Already 16 years since that event?
"I will always help you when I can, don't forget that Kusanagi-sama. I am-"
"Are you still guilty of what happened back then, Ishigawa-san?"
"…"
It was an important question… I knew that he also has to face it.
"…Yes."
"Mom and auntie accepted their fate. Don't feel bad about it."
"I can and I will… that is my only way to atone for my mistakes that costed the life of the two most important people in my life."
"Ishigawa-san…"
He paused for a moment and looked at the rice plains in front of us as he lowered his hand to put his teacup down.
"I was young and ambitious… stupidly ambitious to be exact…"
He sighed and softly spoke while I simply sat beside him to listen to that story again.
"Being the best of the best amongst the current generation of warriors in the Itsuki clan and given the title of "The Samsara War god" by Late Chief Priestess Daigo Shina, I dedicated all of my strength, time and blood to protect Shinka from the threats beyond its borders… I made the Yamaguchi clan to fear ever trying to step out of their mountain borders. I made the Akizuki clan to fear the sound of our soldiers wading through Iso river. I made the Shouri clan's tyrants to fall in a single night and even taught the Yukogahara clan's bandit raiders to fear our might by hanging the heads of their raiding party leaders on the fortresses at the border."
None of that was an exaggeration. As much as people would treat him with disdain and dishonor nowadays because of his constant cross-dressing, this person has always been feared for his military achievements that bordered between divine might and demonic wrath.
"I was so enamored by the heat of battle and the smell of intwined blood and steel that I forgot… I forgot that as an Itsuki warrior, I have people to serve unconditionally rather than an ambition to fulfill for my own self."
"Would it really be your fault in that case?"
"It is, my lady. It is… One can say that no one really expected that to happen while I was away. But if… only if I wasn't fooled with such a dumb trick… I might have been able to save them…"
He took a piece of cloth from his sleeve pocket and wiped half of his face, removing the make up on that side left him with the other side that still has it.
"I was too greedy… thinking that it will help in gathering the favor of the main family, I followed their order to chase after an enemy that doesn't actually exists. Only when I doubted their orders did I come back to Fumetsu and found my fiancée and her sister that was your mother dead with stab wounds. Beside them was a letter bearing their clan's crest that told me that I should've known my place. That as a member of the branch family of Itsuki, I cannot be married to a member of the main family of Ishigawa."
"Until when will you mourn for the wife of your master and the woman who could've been your wife?"
"Until I find all of them and plunged my blade into their hearts, I will continue to dress and act like Maya in the light of day to remind myself of my mistake that I have to carry now for the rest of my life. I adopted her surname as the sign of my undying loyalty for her… but now, I feel that it is such an irony that I am chasing after those who bears the same clan name just to avenge her and your mother."
He looked down into his teacup where his face was reflected, half of his face was manly and the other was feminine.
"Until when do I have to wait to find and kill all of them who ran away from my wrath? That was a question that ran in my mind for years upon years… The part of me who was titled as a War god who didn't forgive even after his enemy's reincarnation was still there, silently keeping the embers of his hatred warm and ready to ignite again. But as time went by and I began to understand Maya's words about not being too fixated with violence, that hatred still exists, but I can no longer feel that it would be something that would give me strength again to draw my sword for vengeance."
"Ishigawa-san…"
"I am a warrior. But what can someone who can no longer find his purpose in the battlefield be of any use in such a place? I don't know…"
Ishigawa-san was still bearing the weight of that sin on his shoulders. And I think I too, have things that I can learn from it.
"What does being a warrior mean to you now, Ishigawa-san?"
"Being a warrior is to have the resolve to move forward to protect those behind you. To be a warrior is to accept that your sacrifice will become a steppingstone for a better tomorrow."
"Even nowadays… I can't find my own definition of it. At first, I thought that I should just mind everyone's welfare and at times lead them to war. But as I continued to see that guy who never had any experience beforehand nor knew the weight of his responsibilities in leading a province out of poverty and famine, I began to question if there really was anything unique that I could do to make my own meaning of that word."
Ishigawa-san looked at me after he wiped off the make-up on his face.
"There will come a time when you will be confronted with a hard problem and you'll have to decide whether you'll face it or run away from it."
"Huh?"
"At that situation, I believe it will shape you to become who you should be as a leader and help you reaffirm yourself with your responsibilities."
Is he saying that…I shouldn't rush into it all by myself?
"When do you think it will happen, Ishigawa-san?"
"Be patient, Princess. Just like how it took many years for me to understand Maya's words, I believe you need to have the right degree of understanding and maturity in that situation for your leadership qualities to completely show up."
I quite liked that answer… I guess the first step to what I want to know if to learn to be patient about things.
"That aside, what do you plan to do now, Princess?"
"What do you mean?"
"You've seriously hurt Iwasawa-dono, have you forgotten?"
"AHH!!!"
Hearing that, I suddenly remembered everything and in shock, let go of my cup that fell with a thud on the dirt.
"At these instances, I believe that it would be better for you to simply apologize to him genuinely."
"B-but…"
"Princess… keeping your head too high and not apologizing for your faults are not good manners. Do you want your reputation with our allies to worsen again?"
"I know that… it's just… Ever since he showed that thing, I've been getting nervous. I don't want to treat this as a fear, it's just… that skull flute is annoying me."
"So, you actually have things that you fear? How cute, Princess."
"T-That's not my point! Stop teasing me!"
I insisted and raised my voice to make things clear.
"Princess… everyone has things that they fear. That's only natural."
"I… I'm not afraid. It's just that I am disturbed with it, alright?"
I tried to cover it up, but he who raised me since I was a baby knew me like the back of his hand.
"If that is so, let's go back to the camp and ask for his forgiveness."
"Urk! You really know how to bend my words…"
"Ehehe…"
We went back to the camp where everyone has already rested for the night.
"…Come in."
In front of his tent, his commander stood guard and led us inside after seeing me.
"Hey Kyoko… are you alright now?"
"You're asking me that? You look less alright than me."
"And whose fault do you think it is?"
"Kh-!"
I sat beside his bed and saw that his face was just as swollen as it was earlier. He was also speaking quite weirdly, but I guess that's because of the cotton balls in his mouth.
"Anyway… are you here to say sorry now?"
"I… I am. Sorry for hitting you earlier, I was just too scared of that whistle again."
"Alright, you're forgiven."
"Huh?"
"I already said it. I'm okay with it now."
Hold on a damn minute! Why did this guy give his approval far too early?!
"Hey, I wasn't even starting with my apology and you already forgave me?"
"I've decided way before you came here that you're not entirely at fault here, Kyoko. I became too careless and showed that thing again that I should've just kept to myself."
"Well…"
He looked at me and simply smiled even with a wound in his mouth.
"Just accept it and don't do it again. I'm already contented with that."
"A-are you sure?"
"Mm. I sure do."
I looked at him and he seems to actually be serious about what he just said.
"Ishigawa-san. I'll come back later so can you leave the two of us alone for a moment?"
"As you wish, Princess."
He left the tent and when we are hearing nothing anymore other than the ticks of the burning campfire outside, I began the conversation.
"Why do you seem so patient towards me, Iwasawa?"
"Hm? Well, that's an easy question… I guess it's because you're still too much of a child."
"Haah?! You? Treating and calling me a child?"
"That's exactly what I am talking about. Your actions and speech remind me a lot of a hyperactive and naïve brat in my province."
"And when did I sound and act like child as you claim?"
"Every other second? I almost thought that it was your natural personality."
What the… how did such an idea come up to his mind?
"But I guess… it's one of your natural charms?"
"Huh?"
"A tomboyish and headstrong princess who would kick your leg when you're late and would imprison you just because she wants to."
"Hey! Stop reminding me of-"
"She is also a childish and easy-going girl with a fragile heart. One that might shatter if those that he cares for greatly are in pain or dying… Doesn't that kind of describe you?"
"…Idiot."
I mumbled and looked away as I felt my face slightly burning up.
"You have room to improve yourself, Kyoko. Just don't let go of the you that people have come to love and care for. It is hard to serve someone that you cannot remember anymore. More so, cooperate with one."
"Huh?"
"Go there and do your best. I told you already before, right? I'm just here to support you."
As he said that, he spat the cotton ball to a bowl near him and slowly closed his eyes to drift to sleep.
"…"
Looking at this idiot right now… It makes my chest feel fuzzy.
"Support me, huh? Will you really keep up with your word?"
But… it doesn't feel unpleasant. On the contrary…
"I'll keep my word too. That reward is a promise now."
It makes me feel happy to be here.
"Good night then."
I rubbed my face on his wide and smooth palms that certainly didn't belong to a person doing heavy labor and bit him a good night before leaving the tent.
Later that night, I suddenly felt restless as I rolled on my futon and cannot find any comfortable position to sleep in.
"…"
When I am around him, I always try to hide something that I don't understand which makes me end up hurting him or insulting him… But… what is it?
"Mm."
I don't actually want to do those painful things, but at the same time, I also can't keep that jittering feeling in me that makes me end up covering for it with those hurtful actions.
"Mm…"
Am I… really… to that guy?
"Argh! I'm just ending up being more restless!"
Until midnight, I wasn't able to sleep. I just rolled and mumbled there like some moron who can't understand something.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Huh? What happened yesterday?
I woke up today with that question on my mind. For some reason, I have a painfully swelling cheek, a partly-closed mouth wound and a missing molar tooth.
"Argh! Damn, that hurts… Huh? When did I use this sedative? Did Ishida mistake it for the antiseptic? Well... that explains my memory loss..."
I slowly got up and wore my coat to get out. The bright dawn light greeted me as I limped my way to our army's war kitchen where Ishida is lining up for a meal.
"I-I-Iwasawa-sama! You should've just called me."
"Bah, bah! It's just a broken tooth, don't treat it like it's a gunshot wound."
"Still… let me help you carry your food, Kou-sama."
"Sure, thanks."
Ishida took my tray and we went around the table where rice and a morning meal of pulled pork that is only served during days when heavy tasks had to be done early in the morning.
"That smells good. Seems like the war chef knew my taste."
As I said that and looked at the grumpy-looking old man, he nodded and gave me a calm salute from behind the serving table before going back to his work.
"Anyway, Iwasawa-sama. Can you actually eat with-"
"Stop treating me like a child, Ishida-san. Come on, hand me a chopstick and let's eat now."
We clasped our hands and thanked for the food. I scooped some rice and some fibers of the pork, wanting to genuinely enjoy it. But my wounded gums sure did spoil the fun.
"No way around it… I have to endure until it grows back."
I only had short recollections about yesterday… How did I knock a tooth out again? Did I hit my head on a table of something?
Regardless, all of us has things to do today. I think I should go and contact Tatsu and his men after eating. I'll ask about their progress and if we can move to the next step now.
"Hey."
"Huh?"
Suddenly, someone called me out from behind and sat beside me in front of the table. Her tray has the pulled pork and rice, but it seems like she's the rare one that can't call a meal a breakfast if it doesn't have a miso soup.
"Well, I didn't expect that from you, Kyoko."
"What?"
"I didn't know that you began developing a taste on our new cuisine."
"Oh please, I sure won't let myself be left out of delicious things."
"Watch out though, if you get carried away, you'll probably get-"
Before the words can slip from my mouth, I stopped and instinctively placed my arms in front of my face to cover it.
"…?"
"What's you deal? I know how to watch my intake, so stop worrying that I'll get fat."
"What?"
"What? Why are you looking at me like you saw something strange?"
"N-nothing…"
Weird… if it was like before, she would've probably punched my brains out with just the simple implication of it.
"Are you alright now?"
"This? Haah… I wish I can forget about it already."
"I see… you kind of deserve it anyway."
"If I can remember the reason for it, then I'll agree with you."
"Stop joking, I'll add more to that if you don't stop talking about it."
"Please have mercy, Kusanagi-sama. Your humble ally asks for your understanding."
"Pfft! Hey! I just said stop joking when I'm eating."
"Nope, not happening."
As the two of us were enjoying our conversation over the food to prepare for a bloodless resolution to our siege of the city in front of us, we were fully unaware of the things that has been happening up in the northern front.
"Full load! Keep coordinates! HE-2 shells, 60 degrees North!"
"Preparing to fire… Primed!"
"Fire!"
There, artilleries rained bomb shells and explosive rounds on the waves of enemies.
"Reload! Pour some water in the barrel or it will overheat!"
"Open another ammo crate, no need to conserve bullets in an active defense!"
Machineguns toppled line upon line of warriors even before they can close the gap between their areas.
"Throw in the firebombs! Ignite the incendiary wall!"
"Fire in the hole!"
And infantry threw their alcohol-filled glass bottles to the wall of dried grass at the foremost trench in their lines which scared the enemy cavalry's horses.
"My lord! The enemy general has fallen!"
"Ayanami-sama! A glorious victory will soon be yours!"
Yukonami soldiers came reporting every other moment to the armored female general who was overlooking the battle from the ridge of a hill.
"Contact the artillery team. Their coordinates are off by 10 degrees."
"Yes, General!"
Mitsuha looked at the side as the other army leader was here and watching the battle. But rather than her tough and domineering expression or her calm and composed face, she was actually sweating in confusion and fear of what she is seeing.
"What can you say about it, Lady Ayanami?"
"H-huh?"
"Beautiful, isn't it? They've already sent thousands of men to charge to us, but we are yet to hear anything about losses in our line."
As he said that, he extended his arm out where he is holding a telescope and she took it to look at their lines that was still as secure as it can be.
"This is modern trench warfare, Lady Ayanami. The victory goes to who can slaughter more people in the other side without incurring as much on your own side."
"Y-you…"
"Of course, everything is yet to start. This is just… a warm-up if I may call it as that…"
In Mitsuha's mind, an indescribable aura of malice and dread covered the young general's back as he walked towards the radio officer and called his men on the battleground.
"Artillery brigade commander?"
["Ah! General, do you have new orders?"]
And… it wasn't something that Mitsuha has ever seen in her life.
"Playtime is over. Use the new shells and make it rain over their fortress."
["Yes sir!"]
That aura at Nobisuke's back… it was filled to the brim with malice. And it was something that she took great worry of as he turned around and presented her with a question.
"Lady Ayanami, do you like fireworks by any chance?"
"Fireworks?"
"It's still near dusk, but let me present some of them while we can still see it."
As he said that, three artilleries in the trenches fired simultaneously and their shell whirred through the air quickly and exploded over the enemy camp outside of the fortress and the fortress itself.
"It's something that Iwasawa-sama told me not to use often. But I think he will forgive me after I show this demonstration to him."
"-!!!"
In just a moment, bloodcurdling screams filled the air, and the fortress servants suddenly ran out of the burning buildings while rolling on the ground and clutching their wounds.
"White phosphorous. I've seen it burn through anything that it sticks on. Wood, paper, leaves… even human flesh."
"T-T-This battle is…"
That is when Ayanami Mitsuha understood the full-scale of destructiveness that their ally wields on the tip of his fingertips.
A kind of war that denies the enemy any kind of honor. It doesn't allow you to revel in the idea of performing the same kind of violence to your enemy. You will lose and you will accept it. That was how unfair their weapons and tactics are.
And the ringleader of all of it is no one else but this guy who has just been watching earlier.
"General Shimura, the enemy has been rendered powerless by the bombardment. The fortress is still on fire, should we move in now?"
"We will. Lady Ayanami, if you may lead the march."
She would usually complain about those words or assume a higher position when talking to a man, but right now, she cannot afford to be like that.
"I understand. Everyone! We are moving out!"
""Yes, Ayanami-sama!""
Right now, she cannot go against the power of this army. Nor can she raise herself above the man who is leading it.
"Kh-! We are allies, but this kind of battle where we are just sidelines…"
War can be won with either peace or total conflict. And unfortunately for the northern branch family lords of the Satou clan, the man leading the force that are retaliating against them are most likely to go with the latter option of violence.
"Let us march our master to the capital and destroy everyone who stands in his way."