The room was dimly lit, with flickering lanterns casting shadows on the walls. The scent of incense hung in the air, mixing with the floral aroma of a burning incense. It was a small, and two-spaced room, that were divided by paper screens.
At the center part of the room, three mysterious figures were sitting over the 𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘴 covering the floor, legs-crossed to one another, and around a low table. Their faces obscured by dark, hooded robes, and their hushed whispers filled the air. Their words cryptic and veiled in secrecy.
"Nagumo, was it?" spoke the man sitting in front of the two figures. His voice was deep and rich, carrying authority, like that of a powerful noble.
"You are correct, my lord!" affirmed the old man sitting on the right. His voice was low, measured, and commanding, that held conviction like the gentle rumble of distant thunder.
The figure on the left added her thoughts with certainty, "I never imagined I would lay my eyes on her again after what happened in Sugaru." She had a playful nature about her, and her voice was reminiscent of that of a young girl, high-pitched and pure. Her tone was light and carefree, implying that she was always ready for a good time.
"I have received words from the Shogun. He didn't sound gleeful," the man at the center reveals a plain, linen envelope from beneath his robes. It was marked with a red-colored chrysanthemum design with black outlines. It was the seal of the Shogun himself.
"Let me read it!" exclaimed the girl on the left, excitingly reaches her hand towards the envelope when the man in front of him sways her hand away from it.
"Keep your hands to yourself, Kikyo," said the old man.
"What a bummer," she annoyingly replied with her arms crossed.
The old man takes off his hood revealing his weathered face set in a stern expression. His hair was a silvery-gray, pulled back into a topknot that seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding darkness. His beard and mustache, similarly gray and unkempt, were highlighted by the flickering light of the incense, casting his face in a haunting glow.
And then, in a moment of clarity, it became clear that the old man was not just a someone, but a samurai. Despite his weariness and appearance, there was still a sense of power and strength emanating from his frame, reflecting his years of rigorous training and discipline.
"My men will see to this matter, my lord. You need not to worry," said the old man while prostrating himself.
The girl bounded up to the nobleman at the center, her voice loud, with a hint of excitement. "Hey, hey, Makio-san," she exclaimed, "when will I get to meet Akari-chan?!"
"Address his majesty properly, Kikyo!"
"It's alright, Yukimura-dono," Makio chuckled softly.
"Oh, right! I heard that Kageyama will be back in a few days. I may have to busy him with that matter."
The girl's face fell for a moment, but then she perked up again. "But maybe I could come with him!" she suggested eagerly.
Yukimura, the old man, sighed "How many times do I have to tell you, it's not your place to take arms, Kikyo. You are our holy maiden," he told her.
"Your prayers and rituals are what keep us safe. We cannot risk losing you."
"Hey, Yukimura-dono," She replied, her voice low and menacing. "Are you looking down on me?" Her eyes were glowing purple as she gets agitated.
Both Makio and Yukimura was taken aback by the sudden change of her demeanor.
"N-no, of course not, please forgive Yukimura-dono's bluntness." Makio stammered.
The girl paused and reached up to push back her hood. The fabric fell away from her face, revealing her beautiful appearance. Cascading down her back, her hair was long and violet, in loose waves. Her hair was neatly arranged and adorned with a ribbon-like clip. Her lips were full and soft, and her cheekbones were high and elegant. Her skin was smooth and flawless, and her eyes were a deep, dark purple that seemed to gleam in the dim light. She turned towards Makio.
"Makio-san, are you perhaps persuaded by the old man?" her voice accompanied with a sinister chuckle and her hands buried inside the the veil, touching his face.
She draws her face closer to Makio. Her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Their bodies pressed together and their breath mingling in the air.
He remained silent.
"When I get to finish Lord Genichiro's request, we will be spending our alone time together forever. Wouldn't you want that, Makio-san?"
"Kikyo, that's enough!" screamed Yukimura.
"You wanted to keep me that bad, you could've just told me, Makio-san!"
She chuckles. Her voice was like a velvet caress that slid over Makio's skin, leaving a trail of shivers in its wake. It was a voice that spoke of secrets and whispered promises, drawing him with its alluring tone.
As she leaned in closer, her breath tickling his ear, her voice took on an even deeper timbre, sending a rush of heat through his body. He felt himself falling under her spell, powerless to resist her seductive lure.
The intense atmosphere of the room was suddenly shattered as the wooden door groaned and creaked open. The paper partitions crackled as the door pushed through, breaking the stillness of the space. A giant samurai loomed on the other side, his massive frame almost blending into the shadows. His armor was a menacing sight, appearing as a dark, foreboding mass. The 𝘕𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪 at his side was barely visible, but its deadly presence was felt nonetheless. The samurai's gaze was fixed on the occupants of the room, his eyes reflecting his unyielding determination. The silence that had filled the space was now replaced by a palpable tension, as the samurai's imposing presence filled the room.
"My lord, We have--"
The 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪 halted mid-sentence as he witnessed something he never expected to see. The shrine maiden of the district was on top of Makio, both the man and woman he respected and revered. Shocked and unsure of how to react, he could only bow before releasing a deep, ominous rumble from within his chest. The soldier's eyes remained fixed on the scene before him, as he tried to make sense of what he had just witnessed. He knew that such an act was not only scandalous but also a grave offense against the honor of his lord. Nonetheless, he remained silent, watching and waiting for what would happen next.
"Eiji," Makio replied
"We have Nagumo's whereabouts. It seems that she's residing in and old teahouse at Matsuidara."
In the heart of the land of the rising sun, the town of Matsuidara was a place of wonder and beauty, surrounded by lush forests and gentle streams. It is where Sumire, the lavender river was located. The people of Matsuidara were proud of their heritage and their town, which was known throughout the land for its enchanting festivals and the skill of its craftsmen.
For centuries, Matsuidara flourished, its people living in harmony with the land and each other. But all of that changed when the wars came.
The warring of the clans that happened fifteen years ago inflicted destruction upon the land. Three most prominent of the warring clans were the Raijinokami, Kamigawa, and Tora no Kiba clans that dominated, allowed, and regulated under the provision of the Shogun. It was dubbed as the 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘯 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘶.
Matsuidara was one of the states under the Raijinokami clan and is the main rival of Makio's clan, the Kamigawa. His armies marched through Matsuidara, leaving destruction and chaos in their wake. The people fought bravely to defend their homes, but it was all for naught. The town was destroyed, and was reduced to rubble and ash.
In the aftermath of the war, the people of Matsuidara along with the other towns were left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. The people were forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge in the mountains surrounding the town. But just when they thought things couldn't get any worse, a new threat emerged: the Zenos appeared. They hid in their homes, praying that these creatures would leave them alone. As time passes by, infestations grew, and even the Kamigawa has left them to rot with little to no help.
There were only left with the mines. Established by the Shogun, these mines were located near Zeno infestations and were supervised with the Kagimawa's Noboru generals and were using the people to get the ores for them. Disregarding their well-being, they threw them inside the infested undergrounds, and threatening to eliminate them if they disobeyed orders. The townspeople could not do anything about it and they followed their orders for their own good.
"Matsuidara? We recently had reports of a new 𝘐𝘴𝘦𝘪𝘫𝘪𝘯 infestation on that town. It's a miracle that they've survived for that long," Makio replied "Nonetheless, have you dispatched your soldiers already there?"
"Yes, my lord. We received direct orders from the Shogun and dispatched several raiding troops two days prior to our discovery of Nagumo. The information of her also came from the Shogun himself."
"It seems that the lord's army has been slacking recently. I might have to remind them of their duties later" Yukimura muttered.
"Yukimura-dono, after the Sugaru incident, the numbers of my men have decreased significantly, and I cannot afford to take the risk of going to war with the 𝘐𝘴𝘦𝘪𝘫𝘪𝘯," replied Makio.
The Kamigawa had long been at odds with its nemesis, the Raijinokami. In an effort to gain the upper hand in the ongoing conflict, the Kamigawa clan decided to launch a surprise attack on one of Raijinokami's fortified strongholds near the Sugaru reservoir, a water bank connected from the southeast divergence of the Sumire river.
As their armies approached the stronghold, they were suddenly ambushed by the Raidenokami's 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘶 army. The samurai fought back fiercely, but they were outnumbered and outflanked. The battle raged on for hours, with both sides taking heavy casualties. Realizing they couldn't win the battle, the Kamigawa called for reinforcements. The cavalry had five platoons comprised of nineteen footmen and a high-ranking officer. However, even with the added firepower, the Kamigawa samurai were still unable to break through the stronghold's defenses as a result of a greater casualty in Makio's side. The incident was dubbed as the Sugaru incident.
"Wouldn't that be a priority, my lord?" responded Eiji.
"That is off the point. We're already fighting a war at this time, and I cannot afford to incite another!"
"The Raijinokami, huh?"
A moment of silence filled the air for a while
"I can help with that!" Kikyo again with her cheerful demeanor said willingly.
"But Kikyo-"
"Hush, I will take care of the 𝘐𝘴𝘦𝘪𝘫𝘪𝘯 for you my lord! Don't you forget that the power of the Shogun flows through me, and with their guidance, I will banish them back to where they belong to,"
Makio had always been aware of Kikyo's unique skills as a 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘶. From the moment she was assigned to his army, he had been struck by her fierce determination and unwavering loyalty to the Shogun.
Over the years, he had developed a deep fondness for Kikyo. He admired her courage as a warrior and her holiness as a priestess. But as their relationship deepened, he became increasingly possessive of her, wanting to keep her close and safe from harm.
Despite his efforts to dissuade Kikyo from engaging in such perilous activities, her unrelenting eagerness to go against his will remained unwavering. She was a skilled warrior, and she was determined to use her talents to serve the Shogun, even if it meant putting her life on the line.
Makio had conflicting emotions. On the one hand, he was deeply in love with Kikyo and wanted nothing more than to protect her from harm. On the other hand, he knew that her loyalty to the Shogun was unwavering, and he couldn't rule over her or control her actions.
"Please do," he struggled to utter those words.
Makio watched as Kikyo exited the room, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She had been pleased with his response, and he was glad that he could make her happy. He turned his attention to the old man, Yukimura, who had been observing the exchange with a critical eye.
"She's just a kid," Yukimura remarked, shaking his head in disapproval.
Makio simply smiled in response, much to Yukimura's confusion. "Why are you tolerating her behavior?" Yukimura asked, puzzled.
"Because if she's happy with it, then I have no right to stop her," Makio replied, still smiling. He understood the old man's concern, but he also knew that Kikyo was a determined and loyal individual.
As Makio explained his position, Yukimura's expression softened, his worries starting to ease. "I understand your point," he said with a nod. "I will keep a close eye on her."
After standing up, Yukimura headed towards the door, preparing to follow Kikyo. However, before he left, he stopped and placed a hand on Makio's shoulder, a gesture of reassurance. "May the guidance of the Shogun be with you," he said softly before finally stepping out and is followed by Eiji, bidding him farewell, and closes the door.
Fixing his gaze on the flickering flame of the incense candle, Makio reached out and he let out a small sigh, a hint of weariness in his eyes as he contemplated his next move. He pinched the flame in between his fingers, extinguishing it in one swift motion.
The room was filled with darkness.