The dirt roads led them to a dilapidated, charred house on the outskirts of the village—a place Hoshiyo had once called home more than sixty years ago as a child. With a shared effort, the sisters cleared the debris, preparing the ground for a new dwelling that would draw them closer over time.
They uncovered a stone within the wreckage of a shed beside the house. It was no ordinary stone but a marker bearing carved letters. These letters indicated it once marked the resting place of Hoshiyo's childhood horse—a creature that had likely passed away from old age, she assumed. Little did she know, this stone held a more profound significance, a clue to a past she had yet to uncover.
Hoshiyo stood by the grave, her heart heavy with memories that weren't hers but her mother's. It had been weeks since she last saw her mother, a thought that weighed on her like a stone. The longing to reunite with her intensified as she contemplated returning to the swamp. None of the girls had encountered any of the Kami in over a week and for good reason. Each was on a mission: hunting down the Shogunate responsible for the village attack and uncovering why they were being hunted, all while adjusting to their new lifestyle.
Hoshiyo sighed and whispered, "Asking us to stay behind was a mistake. What is taking them so long?"
Weeks slipped away, and Hoshiyo found herself alone, devoid of her mother's guidance or the presence of any Kami. While her sisters tirelessly trained and readied themselves for the looming battle, Hoshiyo dedicated her time to dismantling the house where her mother had briefly grown up. As the sisters dispersed across the land to hone their skills and prepare for the imminent conflict, Hoshiyo remained fixated on her solitary task.
Behind her, Takeko approached silently and gently tapped her on the shoulder. A smile crept onto Takeko's face as Hoshiyo turned to meet her gaze.
"What's on your mind?" Hoshiyo inquired softly.
Takeko scratched her left thumb with her right index finger, looking down. "I overheard you talking to Rei. I'm surprised you let her go to be with Kuzunoha in the cavern. Why didn't she want you to go with her?"
Hoshiyo sighed, crossed her arms, and sat beside the grave. "Rei kindly asked me to stay behind so I wouldn't bombard Mother with all my questions while she recovered."
"Yeah, it's probably for the best," Takeko replied.
"I heard you met a friend in the abandoned village, a cook named Moriko. Has she taught you anything valuable?"
"Yes," Takeko said, smiling. "I'll be more than ready to feed everyone during the fight while I join you on the battlefield."
Hoshiyo nodded approvingly. "Good, I'll be counting on you. Where are Seiko and Yoko?"
Takeko pointed to the mountain. "They're returning with weapons they've crafted for the fight. Everyone is doing their part, I promise. You should get some rest."
Hoshiyo smiled faintly and nodded, then slowly rose to her feet and walked past Takeko, heading toward the house. Though it had burned down years ago, the encroaching plant life had made it more livable. The scent of charred wood had faded, and she had gradually made it home.
The home now featured a brand-new futon and sun-drying vegetables hanging by the window. A small portable stovetop sat neatly on the other side of the compact space. As she stepped inside, the floorboards creaked beneath her feet, and dust floated in the air. Hoshiyo sank to her knees on the futon and collapsed face forward. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes, finally surrendering to the needed rest.
"What am I doing here? Why am I waiting around for others to show up? I don't want to be here anymore," Hoshiyo muttered to herself.
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep in the silence, a loud thud shook the room, and a gust of wind blew dirt into her face. She lifted herself off the floor, sneezing continuously for a minute.
"Sorry about that," a soft feminine voice said.
Hoshiyo raised her head and yelled, "What was that for?" Her eyes widened when she saw who stood over her—Utaku, with her ice-blue eyes and spiked hair. Utaku was always the quietest of the sisters, her features as cold as her demeanor, but she always meant well.
"I said I was sorry," Utaku replied.
Hoshiyo gasped for breath as her heart rate slowly calmed from the loud thumping she could hear in her ears. She stared at the fabric-crafted bags Utaku had tossed on the ground. "No, it's okay. You just startled me. What's with the bags?"
Utaku smirked and pulled out woven solid armor. She gently stroked each knot and said, "I crafted some samurai armor to protect us during the fight. It's not as heavy as traditional armor but strong enough to protect us."
"Wow, you're like Rokuko. You two never speak unless necessary," Hoshiyo replied, half-ignoring her words.
Utaku glared at her but chose to ignore the comment. Instead, she continued, "We've tested these against many weapons, including swords and pistols. I hope we use them when the time comes."
Hoshiyo nodded. "We will use them when the Shogunate arrives. Please hand them out to everyone so we can get used to wearing them."
Suddenly, thumping hooves echoed from a distance, growing louder as they approached the house. Hoshiyo's heart raced, and memories of the burning village flooded back. She could almost smell the flames again. She laid a hand on her swords, gripping them tightly with her sweating palms. Utaku quickly peeked out the window, squinting into the distance.
"Is it the Shogunate?" Hoshiyo asked, her voice tense.
The horses neighed loudly as their hooves thundered rapidly toward the house. Men in armor raised their flags as they approached. Hoshiyo bolted out the door, swords in hand, her heart pounding. She struggled to catch her breath as she watched them circle her house. Her eyes quickly locked onto the black flags bearing three yellow flowers within a yellow circle. It could only be the Shogunate.
"Who are you?" Hoshiyo yelled. "What is the meaning of this?"
Utaku casually left the house, her face betraying no fear. She stood beside Hoshiyo, calmly watching the men circle them like a carousel.
One soldier broke formation and galloped toward the sisters, pulling on the reins to halt his horse. The others stopped in unison, surrounding them to prevent any escape.
"Lady Gekkoin has a message for you," the warrior announced. "You've been hard to track down."
Hoshiyo frowned, gripping her swords tightly. "My sisters and I traveled to the Land of Swords and are back on business. Were you the one who dared to burn down the village not far from here?"
The warrior chuckled, his horse pacing side to side. "So you saw my work of art and know what I am capable of. I suggest you come with us. Where are the others?"
"They're not here," Hoshiyo argued, crossing her arms. "The others are on separate missions across the Land of Stars. Give me a few days to find them."
The warrior scoffed, exchanging glances with his comrades. He turned back to Hoshiyo with a sour look. "The Shogunate will no longer wait patiently for you to run off again. You alone will come with us; if you challenge us, I assure you, it will end with your head in a produce crate."
Utaku whispered, "What do you need me to do?"
"Gather the others, and come find me if I'm not dead by then," Hoshiyo whispered back.
The warrior squinted and yelled, "Seize them both. We will kill the nine siblings one after the other if we have to."
Hoshiyo and Utaku gasped quietly, their hearts heavy with the realization that this could be the end of the nine female warriors. Hoshiyo fell silent, the weight of their predicament pressing down on her. She knew that if they perished, no one would know what had happened. The others would return to be more knowledgeable about the events happening here. With no other options left, the two sisters faced the harsh truth: surrender or die.
Two samurai dismounted from their horses and roughly grabbed the sisters' arms and wrists, tying them with challenging straw ropes that chafed their skin. The girls were pulled along by these ropes and secured to the horses, making any attempt at escape futile.
Another warrior snatched the swords from Hoshiyo's hip, grinning as he said, "This is the first weapon I've taken from a living person. Thanks for the gift."
Hoshiyo scoffed, turning away to face the horse's rear. The samurai remounted and began leading the sisters like dogs on short leashes. Hoshiyo kept her head down, a frown etched in her eyes as she racked her brain for a solution to this madness.
"What could Lady Gekkoin possibly want from me?" she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
The company of Shogunate forces walked slowly and steadily towards the house near Hoshiyo's old home. The narrow dirt path led them to imposing stone walls. With each step closer, Hoshiyo's palms grew more sweat-drenched.
Through the gates, the horses halted at the front, waiting for the Shogunate to dismount. The soldiers unhooked Hoshiyo and Utaku, leading them to the front of the house, where Lady Gekkoin stood in all-black robes. Hoshiyo could almost see the flames radiating from her as she stared down at them, her face etched with a deep, permanent frown.
The Samurai kicked the back of Hoshiyo and Utaku's knees, forcing them to kneel. Another swift kick made them bow; their faces pressed into the dirt at Lady Gekkoin's feet. Hoshiyo twitched her upper lip and said, "Why are we here, Lady Gekkoin? We didn't do anything to betray your trust."
Lady Gekkoin's frown deepened. "I should have never welcomed you into my home. My daughter is dead because of you. She died from the smallpox you brought with you when I allowed you to stay here out of the kindness of my heart."
"I am so sorry for your loss. I assure you, none of us showed any signs of illness when we arrived. We're genetically immune to the typical human diseases that spread across the Land of the Rising Sun," Hoshiyo said.
"I don't believe you," Lady Gekkoin snapped. She walked down the short staircase, stopping in front of Hoshiyo. Grabbing her chin, she tilted her face, forcing Hoshiyo to meet her gaze. "Or maybe I do," she said after a moment, releasing her grip and moving to Utaku. She scrutinized Utaku's ice-cold face, her features emotionless and unmoved. The courtyard grew eerily silent as Lady Gekkoin contemplated her next move.
"Is that proof enough?" Hoshiyo asked out of breath.
Lady Gekkoin walked back up the stairs, resuming her place of authority. "The legend of the nine sisters who united the world—I believe it to be true. However, being born of the Gods won't save you. We seek a different path for Japan's future and can't allow you to get in our way."
"And what future would that be?" Hoshiyo asked, her voice strained as she struggled to catch her breath.
"We wish to create peace for our country by consolidating our power and uniting to eradicate the westerners and their influence on Japan. We no longer need your help," Lady Gekkoin declared.
Hoshiyo slowly stood, her determination evident. "You wish to close Japan to the rest of the world, but is that truly wise? The world has so much to teach us. We don't have to change our ways for anyone if we don't wish to. Your stance is born of weakness and fear of the future."
Lady Gekkoin's face flushed with rage. "How dare you!" she yelled.
Lady Gekkoin spun around, pulling a pistol from her robes. She aimed it directly at Hoshiyo's face, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. With a trembling finger, she squeezed the trigger. The loud gunshot boom echoed through the courtyard, reverberating in everyone's ears. Utaku's eyes were frozen, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.
"Hoshiyo..." Utaku whispered.