When the vikings started burning the city, it was the ideal time for them to find him. Surely, no one would notice that he was missing, yes? They could get in, get him out, and make their way across the mountains to regroup with everyone to fight another day. Those raiders may burn their city, kill their people, but there would still be the other Daimyo and their forces left… along with the Emperor's Champion.
That was the thought on Ayu's mind when she lead the way through the burning city, slaying any and all that stood in their way with next to no effort even while wielding her nodachi with only one hand. Okuma had proven to be of the utmost help; a literal wall of muscle and strength standing between herself and any of the vikings that had thought any of them to be a easy target.
"Any plans after we get him out?"
The Shugoki rarely spoke, although this time she could understand why; having just snapped the neck of a viking warrior. She had not exactly been clear when she suggested they gather up his equipment and weapons to fish the man that had also been her best friend out of prison: "Find a ship, get on, and get as far away as we can before regrouping. There's little hope in this sort of chaos."
"You make it sound easy, tono."
"That's because we are here now, Okuma, if you please."
The prison's doors were greatly weakened from the viking attack on the city, with cracks spreading through it. Even then though, it took three hard strikes from Okuma's kanabo before they finally gave with a crack of splintering wood, leaving the way open for them to walk in.
It was eerily silent inside the prison, the guards having either fled or died even though Ayu could not even hazard a guess as to how they died when the doors should have barred all the vikings from entering. Nevertheless, the Daimyo made a waving gesture with her nodachi: spread out, find him and free him.
Most of the cells were untouched, although they were also empty. Ayu's grip tightened around the nodachi in her grip, eyes darting this way and there: every shadow made her hand twitch, ready to swing her blade and slice in half anything that dared to jump out at her, a samurai's most deeply rooted combat instinct itching -
"Ayu?"
The voice was welcomingly familiar. Ayu's head snapped in the direction of the voice, to one of the cells that still had a locked door. This area of the prison was illuminated with a few torches, casting shadows that danced over the outline of the figure sitting in the hay inside the cell, but even with the shadows obscuring most of his features, there was no mistaking this particular face, the scar that curved down the right side of his face and over his lips and those locks of raven black hair kept in a unruly mane.
"Takafumi, good to see that you are still in one piece."
"As to you, old friend."
There ya go! First of my For Honor 100 Themes challenge. I hope you all enjoyed this, and be sure to leave a review so I know how I can do better, as well as for any feedback you have for each of those one shots (which will range in word count) :) This will be updated periodically, and warnings will be posted before each chapter that involves any sort of slash or smut.
Until next time!
-Thanatos