"SEON!" Sayaka screamed as she reached the Saica Magoichi's tent, pushing the panels aside, stopping in her tracks as the man that had taken her into his faction, raising her when Father and Mother had sent her to the mercenary group to learn the art of gunplay, strategy and combat, to help her grow stronger. The young girl had recognized the sighs when the screams and smoke had started, accompanied by lightning and darkness.
A memory came, unwanted, cutting through the harshness of the black-and-red sky, the smiling man touching her shoulders, guiding her arms and hand, voice calm and playfully soft as he taught her how to handle the pistol, how to be fearless, honourable… her own.
A memory broken by cruelty.
Seon was on his bleeding knees, wearing very little as it was his habit when he slept, the gun, the phoenix, on the ground, by his side, green-golden eyes staring defiantly at the barrel of Oda Nobunaga's shotgun, refusing to let his pain show. Nohime stood a bit behind her husband, both guns in hand, lowered, smoking after having been fired. He was to be executed.
"Sayaka…" He noticed her as time dragged, his eyes widening slightly, darting from her to his enemy. "Get out of here, girl." The Magoichi said, not taking his eyes of the Devil King now. He knew why. It wasn't only because the Saica faction was dangerous and powerful. It wasn't just because Seon had refused to join. It wasn't just because he had started to plot against Oda. It wasn't just because he had started the contact needed to join the eastern alliance. All those factors played a part. But this was mostly because he had taken in a promising slave and asset for moulding and had set her free. This was because Sayaka had said no when ordered to join the war.
The man would kill his daughter if he felt she was in the way. A few years with the Saica had turned the shy girl into a marksman prodigy and a deadly gunslinger. But they had also taken from her the slavish admiration for her father and forced her to face the true and think for herself.
Sayaka's clear reddish-brown eyes narrowed and she ran to his side, strawberry-blond hair bouncing around her. She shrieked when the shot struck Seon. He fell, eyes lifeless. The girl knelt by his side, in shock, eyes wide.
Oda lowered his gun leisurely, examining his handiwork and his daughter. He saw the defiance in her eyes. The Devil King raised the gun once more, pressing it against her forehead. She closed her eyes, readying herself for death. There was little hope when the Devil King readied his weapons.
"Kazusa-no-suke-sama…" Nohime interrupted, softly, her voice urgent. Sayaka opened her eyes slowly, staring at the man, her expression hardening. Whatever passed between them was enough. Oda Nobunaga relaxed, holstering the shotgun, turning, crimson cape slashing the air as they left.
Sayaka's heart was pounding with dread, her mind trying to grasp the situation. Seon… Her façade broke suddenly and she wept silently for a long moment, tears falling down over cheeks as the survivors fought to drown the fires, help the wounded, searching friends through the dead. Then she wiped them away even though the flow did not stem, her expression hardening, grabbing the phoenix. She stood slowly, pistol raised towards the sky.
The young woman took a deep breath, the feel of Seon's pistol familiar and welcoming. He had been her father, the one who cared for her when she felt low, the one who taught her honour, freedom, loyalty… She shot three times, slowly.
"HEAR ME CROWS OF SAICA! LET THE RED BELL TOLL! THE SAICA FIGHT AGAINST ODA NOBUNAGA!" Sayaka yelled into the darkness. The survivors gathered, looking at the young girl they had cared for. They were her family. Some smiled proudly. Others looked grim, knowing the challenge could harm them further. Sayaka let the tears flow silently in grief even in her resolution to be courageous.
They needed to go, to rebuild. She turned towards the men that were left. Some were experienced, officials and veterans. Some were the new recruits they had left the fortress for.
"We need to return to base. To prepare for combat."
"Yes Magoichi." Saica Magoichi lowered her head softly in a nod.
"We are the Crows of Saica." She whispered into the night choked with fire and ash as her men started to pack, to move. "And with our claws sharpened we will triumph."
The shot rang out, the bullet flying true and perfect, deflecting the scythe enough so the blow that connected against Tokugawa Ieyasu wasn't deadly. The second grazed Akechi's Mitsuhide's skin, a clear warning, making him turn towards the source of the shots.
Magoichi narrowed her eyes, cocking the phoenix once more, aiming to his chest. "The head is a kill-shot sweetie. The closer the deadlier." Seon said with a smile as he showed her how to angle the weapon and tilt it for greater effect. "But it's tiny. Go for the chest. Even through armour most of the times it's a good shot. And you can still be safe while shooting." Her tears hadn't dried… but she had some things to do before allowing herself to be that weak, to let all the grief out and rise once more as the Saica Magoichi. And she could not kill him and risk the Devil King coming after what was left of the Saica. But the bluff would still be effective.
"I know those eyes…" Mitsuhide whispered, his head tilting. "My work here is done." He ran, retreating. Magoichi went to Ieyasu, kneeling by his side. He was crying in pain, calling for Honda Tadakatsu. She shot into the air, discharging the barrel, calling for aid in the way the crows had agreed, holstering the weapon carefully before kneeling next to the young man, using any fabric she could find to stem the bleeding.
Magoichi looked around carefully, appraising her chances. Tokugawa Ieyasu's life was no longer endangered but still required medicine and care. A coincidence born of sheer luck and her need for information had led the Saica faction to the hiding place of a very battered Honda Tadakatsu. They had been able to convince him to come, to see that his master was still alive, that Mikawa could still survive Oda's treachery. He stood now like a guardian, in some sort of slumber, by his master's side. Not even the engineers that were left knew how to fix him. They had suggested taking the warrior to Chosokabe Motochika but that was a trip she couldn't do in the current situation even if the time with the Saica faction had made her and the Demon of Shikoku, a neighbour to Saica territory, a good friend.
There was a sudden whisper of air as a shinobi appeared in front of her, suddenly, crouching. Saica drew the phoenix and pointed it towards the stranger with steady hand, not shooting because if a shinobi appeared that clearly in the night rarely would it be with intent to kill.
A female, a kunoichi dressed in black and grey looked up, placidly facing the gun's barrel.
"Who are you?" Magoichi asked softly, keeping her voice low so she wouldn't alert the sleeping men or disturb the sick and wounded.
"I'm the One-Eyed Dragon's shinobi. Saki." She moved softly, adopting a formal sitting positions, clawed hands on her lap. Magoichi didn't lover the weapon.
"How do I know that you are who you claim? Uesugi was almost killed by that ploy." The mercenary leader said, watching every move of the shinobi. Perhaps knowing this was why she wasn't moving much.
"I am well aware of that. We can have this conversation at gunpoint if that will make you fell at ease. You can call your men to keep their weapons trained on me. You could even tie me down to keep me still while the interrogation follows. That will not change who I am and my purpose here." There was no fear or emotion in that monotone. And her clothes and weapons were too… unique for a shinobi that was leashed to Oda Nobunaga.
"Very well." She withdrew the gun and crossed her arms. "Talk."
"I came with a proposition from my lord and his allies. Join the Eastern Alliance and fulfil your promise to the Red Bell." Saki looked up, calmly confronting the Saica Magoichi.
"Walk with me." Magoichi said slowly, holstering the phoenix. Saki stood and followed. "The Saica have been almost wiped out. What few I have…"
"Are the specialists, the elite, the ones who were strong enough to survive." Saki completed. "You made a promise but you are also thinking like the leader. There is a future ahead if the Saica can survive." The shinobi lowered her head. "I am well aware of how harsh is the request but war spares no one."
"Did you master relay the same request to the shinobi?" Magoichi asked as they rounded the corner.
"No. I did that myself." Saki's answer was sharp and small, her face as set in stone as hers.
"I see… the remnants of the defeated armies…" The leader of the Saica continued, stopping in front of the shoji that led to Ieyasu's room.
"They proved amenable to the idea of joining the alliance even if all they want to do is avenge their fallen lords."
"Tokugawa is not dead." Magoichi stated crossing her arms.
"I heard the rumours." Saki said. "You saved him from Akechi Mitsuhide. I brought medicine that might help in any case." From some hidden pocket she produced a paper package, giving it to the Saica leader.
"Honda Tadakatsu also survived."
"That I did not know." There was a slight grin in Saki's face, disappearing quickly.
"He is… unresponsive ever since he returned to his lord's side."
"I see… But as our forces were not counting on him to resurface there is really no need to adapt plans." Saki sighed, as if letting go of the tension. Saica relaxed too. The shinobi then produced a couple more papers, sealed with messages. "This is why I came."
"I…"
"We don't need your answer now Saica Magoichi." Saki turned, looking outwards. "Just join us when the call sounds."
Magoichi went silent for a moment. Then her mind warned her of something.
"Saki… Kizune Saki?"
"Oda Sayaka." She retorted coldly, turning slightly.
They faced each other for a moment then grinned. They were women in unusual positions. And they were strong enough to prevail.
