A Shadow and Her Dragon
Chapter One - Finding our Enemies with a Shadow
"Ma'am, I've searched the area. There are no survivors!" The soldier bowed as he approached Kazehaya Rin, the Crimson Shinigami, and she sighed.
"Damn. I guess we came too late then. Alright men, let's head-Oh?" A board behind her crashed to the ground and she turned to face the cause of it. Her eyebrows arched questioningly as she saw a little girl cower against the wall of a burnt building.
The little girl froze as her green eyes met a pair of coal black ones. They held each other for a moment, but without thinking, the girl began to run.
"Uh, Ma'am-" Rin held a hand up to silence her subordinate and quickly ran after the girl. She was fast, but Rin quickly tackled her and they went rolling across the ground.
Finally Rin sat up and held the girl in her lap, asking with a grin, "Hey sweetie, what's up?" The girl glared and tried struggling but Rin only held her tighter and finally she stopped. "So there were survivors after all…" Rin muttered. "Tell me, are there any other-" a gun clicked behind Rin and she glanced behind her to see an older girl than the first point a pistol at her.
"Let the girl go this instant, if you want to live," was the simple command. Rin smirked and held her hands up in surrender and the little girl she was holding scrambled to join the side of the teenager. The older girls with the gun's hair was a dull reddish-pink but her gold eyes burned brightly, like molten lava.
Rin stood up slowly and did as she was told saying, "I'm not here to hurt any of you. My name is Kazehaya Rin and I'm a mercenary. We were sent here by a neighboring village to protect you guys, but it looks like we've come too late." She glanced around her at the decimated remains of the village and frowned.
"Hell yeah, you did." The girl scowled and Rin winced, but then smiled apologetically.
"Well, if it's any consolation to you, I can make it up by bringing you to the other village and they can-"
"Shut up!" The girl fired her pistol and Rin quickly dodged it, pulling out her fans from their holsters sewn at the belt on her back. The younger girl shouted, "Because of you damned soldiers, my whole village was destroyed!" She fired the gun again and Rin brushed the bullet away like a fly with her fan.
She walked calmly towards the younger girl and struck out with her right fan. The girl blocked it with the gun and pulled a second one out from behind her, firing it next.
Before she could fire it again, Rin pushed the gun into the air and they were head to head when she smiled and complimented idly, "You're quite strong,"
She dug her fans into the small hands of her opponent, causing her to drop her weapons and Rin kicked them behind her. The younger girl took a step back and Rin side kicked her, causing her to fall backwards.
"But I am too." Rin placed her foot on top of the girl's chest and smiled when she asked, "What's your name?"
The girl scowled and replied, "Maka."
"Well, Maka, how would you like to join my army? You have potential, and I can teach you how to use those guns of yours. I'm sure it would be better than living an ordinary life in the village, don't you think?"
Maka clenched her teeth and asked, "And what if I decline?"
Rin shrugged, finally pulling her foot away and hiding her fans again. She walked a few paces back to pick up the discarded guns and held them out to Maka. She reached out for them but at the last minute, Rin pulled them away with a teasing grin. Maka glared.
Rin said, "Then you can either come with me to the neighboring village willingly or unwillingly. Either way, it's my job to bring any survivors back over there. Apparently you might have some relatives there or something."
"I have no family…" Maka muttered, looking away.
Rin smiled and held a hand out to her saying softly, "Then why don't you become a part of mine?"
"Yo, Riku! Hiro! I'm back~" Rin waved broadly at the two young men just ahead. "Look what I've got! I've got some new friends." Hiro laughed and Riku groaned as they understood exactly what their leader meant by 'friends'. It seemed that every time they got new recruits she would immediately treat them as if she had known them for hundreds of years instead of only a few minutes.
"Ahhh, Rin-sama, not again." Riku scowled when Rin approached him and the older boy with two younger girls in tow. He stuck his tongue out at Maka and she copied him right away, pulling the bottom lid of her right eye to make a terrible face.
Riku returned the favor as he said, "You're too soft. I mean, this is like the fifth time this week. We barely even know half the people you allow to join, you should be more careful."
Rin laughed as she dropped Kisa, the little mute girl who Maka had been taking care of since the raid, and she instantly grabbed onto Rin's baggy pants, clutching the pant leg tightly in her small fists. Rin patted her head affectionately and said, "Calm down Botchan, you worry too much. I mean, how dangerous can these two be? As far as I know, they have no combat experience. … Yet."
"I don't worry!" Riku protested, "I just think ahead! And anyway, you should be considering who you trust too, you know! Especially when you decide to bring little girls in." He made an obvious look at Maka to make his point. "I mean, this one looks pretty ruthless underneath that pink hair of hers. What is she anyway, eight? That's way too young to join!"
Maka glared at him and said, "Well then! I'd happen to like you to know that I turned fifteen last month, you jerk!"
"Don't worry, Riku only likes pretending to be the tough guy because he thinks it'll get him more lady fans," teased the older boy, finally speaking up. His dark brown eyes shone with the sort of mischievousness you'd see in a fox and Maka could feel her cheeks turn red when he smiled at her brightly.
He grinned as steam poured out of Riku's head and he tried hitting the older boy. "What was that, you damned fox?"
Rin laughed at all of them and finally said, "Now, now you two… We have some ladies here, so let's try behaving ourselves, okay?"
"Hmph," Riku huffed, folding his arms and muttering, "I hope you didn't include yourself, Rin-sama."
"So you two," Rin said with a grin after hitting Riku hard over the head, "This," she pointed to the man with dark brown hair and eyes, "This is Hoshikana Hiro. The lead tactician and cook of the group."
"Pleased to meet you," he said with a smile, bowing. He smiled at Maka directly and said charmingly, "You're very pretty, by the way."
Maka blushed. "He's also the lady-killer," Rin smiled and said, "Take note that about ninety percent of what he says is pure flattery and is not always honest, so don't take him too seriously."
"That's not very nice Rin-chan… Now I'll never be able to seduce them if they already know my trick," he said quietly as he smiled, his fox like eyes glinting and she stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
"They're too young for you anyway, Hiro-kun. And this," she poked Riku hard in the cheek with her pointer finger as he rubbed his now swollen head, "This squirt is Riku. The guy with a temper. He may talk tough, but just ignore that, he's actually about your age Maka. Feel free to bully him like crazy, because I have a feeling he'll invite himself to do the same to you before you even consider it."
He stuck his tongue out again at Maka but didn't say anything. Hiro knelt on his knee and smiled at Kisa, "Well hello there, what might your name be?"
Kisa smiled and mouthed the words, but no sound came out. She frowned and looked down sadly. "Sorry…" Maka apologized quickly, "Ever since the raid, she hasn't been able to speak…"
"I see." Hiro said knowingly. He ruffled Kisa's short brown hair and stood up again. "So I guess they really are new recruits?"
Rin nodded, "Yup. Well, at least Maka is. Maka's shown plenty of potential and since she says she has no other family, I decided she'd fit right in with us."
"But what about her?" He asked, nodding towards Kisa.
Rin sighed and Kisa tugged on her pants again, her large eyes asking Rin to let her join. "I'm sorry Kisa-chan, but I'm afraid you're just too young. And besides, you already have family waiting for you at the village."
Kisa's eyes questioned her and Rin smiled, "Didn't you know that you had family waiting for you?" She shook her head and Rin said, "Well you do. An Auntie named Hinata and an Uncle name Masahiro, don't you know them?"
Kisa shook her head again.
Rin laughed, "Well, I'll take you to them, and then maybe in a few years you can fight for me, alright?" Kisa frowned but finally nodded in agreement. "Good girl." Rin grinned approvingly and ruffled her hair again. "Hey, can you two take Kisa-chan and show her around? I need to have a word with Maka."
"Sure," Hiro said with a smile. He held out a hand to Kisa and she took it timidly. "Alright Kisa-chan, follow me." She smiled and the three walked off together.
"As for you," Rin turned to Maka and smiled, "You'll be my apprentice, sound good?" Maka sighed and Rin's smile dropped as she asked, "Is something wrong?"
Maka mumbled, "I've never really had a family before so… I…"
"Yes?"
Maka stubbed her toe in the ground nervously, "I'm just afraid… That I won't meet any of your standards… That's all." She said in a rush, "I mean, none of you are even blood related, right? But you've all known each other for so long, I'm sure, so how can I ever fit in?"
Rin thought for a moment, watching as the sun began sinking under the horizon. Finally she smiled kindly and pulled Maka into a hug, "Don't worry about that at all. Just be yourself. A family is a group of people who care and who love each other unconditionally. It doesn't matter if we share the same blood or not because we'll share each other's hearts instead.
"By agreeing to be my apprentice you won't even have to worry about trying to be 'one of us' because in the end, you already are. Understand?"
Maka didn't understand what Rin said at the end, but by her tone of voice she nodded and said, "Okay… I understand."
"Then welcome to the family, Maka." Rin grinned and Maka finally smiled.
Welcome to the family.
Maka shot up and started panting as a cold sweat trickled down her forehead. She pressed a fist into her forehead and shook her head. It's been a long time since she had thought about that memory… Too long… It caught her off guard. She looked outside as she caught her breath.
Just another day at Takeda Shingen's manor.
It's been about two months since she joined the Tiger of Kai's army, and she was still unused to it all. During her first week around, she seemed to be unable to open her heart to any of them. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't force herself to grow attached. That was, until she met Sanada Yukimura.
After meeting him, she was finally able to open up to her new comrades and now she could talk to them as easily as she had to the Crimson Shinigami's army. But still… She worried about getting too attached.
She sighed as she pulled on her shitagi and tied it. Today was the day.
The day she would finally get revenge for her old army, her family.
The day she would finally defeat Kazehaya Rin. She had a strange feeling that was like a mix of anticipation and remorse, though why she felt sadness for a traitor like that, she didn't understand.
Maka opened the slide doors to her room and paused for a moment, simply looking at the scenery of the courtyard in front of her. Ah, today would be a good day…Wouldn't it?
"Long time no see, Sanada Yukimura," Date Masamune said with a grin. Katakura Kojurou and Kazehaya Rin stood behind him quietly, each only smiling. It's been three months since the battle with the Devil King and Maka was surprised when she saw her previous leader.
Even while hiding in the trees a few yards away, Maka noticed that Rin had cut her hair above her shoulders. Without her long black hair tied into a pony tail, Rin seemed oddly different, even though it was the same basic haircut just without the long hair, and Maka wondered what had happened in the weeks they had been apart.
Yukimura called back, readying himself for the impending battle, "I have waited impatiently for this day One-Eyed Dragon, Date Masamune! Come, let us have a fair fight!"
"Perfect. Bring your A-game and let me enjoy this. Get up! Yah-ha!" Date unsheathed all six swords and ran straight for the younger man.
"Burn ablaze my soul!" Yukimura yelled. They clashed weapons and a large clanging noise resounded over the area they fought in.
Rin smiled fondly and Maka did the same. Smile all you want, Kazehaya Rin, she thought, for today will be your last. Yours and the One-Eyed Dragon's.
She held her pistol and took aim carefully, not intending to actually shoot Rin from here, but she fired at Rin's feet and Rin jumped to the side just in time. Her black eyes searched for the enemy and when her eyes met Maka's, she grinned. She exchanged a quick word with Kojurou and walked towards Maka calmly away from Masamune and Yukimura's battle.
"Yo, Maka. It's been a while, eh?" They stood not too far apart and were still in view of the men's battle as Rin asked casually, "I suppose you're here for your revenge?"
"Indeed," Maka grinned as she aimed her pistol again carefully.
"Well, I hate to be rude, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to be brief. My Lord needs me elsewhere so," she drew her fans, "Let's be quick with this."
"Don't take me lightly, Crimson Shinigami!" Maka yelled, firing her pistol. Rin ran from side to side and was in front of Maka in a flash. She grinned and swiped the gun out of the way and then tried kicking Maka but she jumped backwards and drew her twin knives.
They clashed weapons again and were head to head when Rin said, "Ah, I see you're just as fast as ever. That's good to know, I wouldn't want our three years of training to go to waste."
Their weapons grated against each other and Rin grinned. Maka smiled back, "I learned a lot from you, Rin-sama." She aimed a kick at Rin's stomach but she jumped away before it could hit her.
"Oh?" Rin asked tauntingly, "I guess you did, but obviously not enough, if that's all you've got."
Now it was Maka's turn to grin. "Think again!" she shouted and pointed with her weapon at Rin's armor which was now singed where she had kicked.
Rin stared at it and then laughed, "I stand corrected. But..." She pointed at Maka's shoulder and where both shirts were torn. "You should be careful too."
She lunged at Maka and they clashed weapons again. They pulled back and started their flurry of attacks. Maka pulled away not too much longer, panting. By then, the sky had been filled by ominous black clouds and Rin worried that it would start raining, which would prove a disadvantage for Yukimura. Although she now worked faithfully by Masamune's side, she couldn't help but worry about the other man.
After all, they had been friends before she joined the One-Eyed Dragon. She should really hurry back and make sure Masamune doesn't seriously kill him...
"Tired already?" Rin asked returning from her thoughts, "You must be out of shape or something Maka." She grinned and Maka scowled. Rin turned to look behind her just as an explosion suddenly erupted from where Date and Sanada were fighting and she sighed, "Geez, those two must really be going all out today. I swear, Masamune just doesn't know how to conserve his energy. Though, even still, I wonder if he'll be worn out at all when he attacks Oyakata-sama..."
She shook her head and laughed almost sentimentally but Maka scowled, "Hey! Eyes over here!"
Rin looked back and smiled, "Sorry Maka, but I'm really going to have to cut this battle short now. A certain hot-headed daimyo of mine needs my help when he launches his attack on Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin's army, and if I'm correct that'll be in a few minutes, based on how Yukimura's attacks seem to be lessening. As strong as he is, he's no match for the One-Eyed Dragon."
"Don't you dare underestimate… The Cub of Kai!" Maka shouted, lunging at Rin again.
Rin blocked the attack and looked at Maka with avid interest, "Oh? Is it me Maka, or do you have a thing for Yukimura-kun? That's new. That's kind of weird though, since he's completely different from Hiro." Maka clenched her teeth and Rin laughed, "I hope it works out for you then, I hear you're working for them now, so you'll have plenty of chances."
"Shut up!" Maka yelled, pivoting quickly. Rin lost her balance and was falling forward when Maka struck but Rin quickly regained control at the last second and deflected it.
"Psych," she grinned and the knife flew out of Maka's hold. It twirled through the air and landed not too far away. She quickly grabbed Maka's other wrist and twisted the knife out of it too, then forced her to get on her knees with her arm twisted behind her back. "Sorry Maka, looks like you lost this one."
She heard a horse whiny behind her and she turned to see Kojurou signal for Masamune's army to advance. Rin thought out loud, "Hm… I see Yukimura-kun has lost as well. Time to join the fun then." She turned back to Maka and held her fan like a sword. "Looks like this is it, Maka."
Maka closed her eyes, "I'm sorry everyone… I couldn't defeat her."
Rin was about to slam the cutting edge of her fan into Maka's neck to kill her when the sound of braying horses and thousands of marching footsteps caught her attention.
She looked away from Maka and her eyes widened, "What the-?" She let go of Maka just in time to block a distorted sphere and she jumped away from it.
Maka fell flat on her face and Rin scowled as she turned to her right. "It's been a long time, Rin," came a deep voice. She clenched her teeth as a figure in black approached with soldiers clad in red with black banners followed not too far behind.
"Kaito," Rin said simply. She laughed mirthlessly and asked sarcastically, "Or should I still be calling you Nii-sama, like back when you weren't such an asshole?"
Their eyes met and Rin's hold on her fans tightened visibly. Suddenly with a tight voice she smiled and said, "I see you've recovered from our last battle, huh?" She studied his face and was satisfied to see a long red scar just under his right eye that stretched to his ear. A memento from their previous battle that took place not too long ago.
Kaito nodded and said, "As have you." She waved her left arm obnoxiously to show how it had healed from previously being broken.
"Hmph, what the hell are you doing here?" she asked then, getting straight to the point.
He nodded his head behind her and she looked at what he turned his attention to. Rin turned around to see a man with white hair stand just over the cliff.
His voice called out clearly, "Let it be known to all generals and all soldiers, gathered here at Kawanakajima! We, the Toyotomi Army, have completely surrounded this battlefield!"
"Who the hell is-?"
"Surrender to Toyotomi!" The man continued, "We promise that upon your surrender we will deal plainly with you and we will not threaten your livelihood!"
Rin glowered as she watched the man shout his commands. Soon he was joined by another man who was as big as a mountain and she could feel the pit of her stomach clench. Just looking at him made her sick.
She looked down at Takeda and Uesugi's armies and their archers all lined up for an attack. She watched as a volley of arrows flew towards the figures on the cliff and with one sweep of his enormous arm the giant cleared them with a wind based attack. The arrows flew right back towards Takeda and Uesugi and Rin had to deflect a few as some stray ones headed towards her.
The giant on the cliff took a huge step forward and roared to the sky, throwing a fist to the air. The clouds parted to reveal a golden light where he had punched and Rin's eyes widened.
"What… A monster!" Rin breathed in both amazement and fear.
"This is… His power." Kaito said simply and Rin turned to look at him. He suddenly seemed different but she struggled to think of what it was that made him so.
The giant yelled, "My name is Toyotomi Hideyoshi! Bow before me and become one under my command to bring prosperity to this country as valiant soldiers!"
"That's quite a performance for a newcomer," came a familiar sarcastic voice and Rin turned back to see Masamune approach Toyotomi calmly. Lightning sparked around his swords as he crossed his arms and grinned, "But there's something not cool about you."
Rin heard a sudden woosh of air and she turned back again as she saw a pair of Takeda's ninja subordinates appear and take hold of Maka. "Maka-san, we're here to help," one said and Rin grinned.
"See you later, Maka." She said calmly and Maka shot her a glare.
"I'll be getting you back soon," she promised and Rin laughed.
"Of course you will. I look forward to it but… Do me a favor and pass on a message to Yukimura when he wakes up."
"Heh?" Maka quirked an eyebrow up questioningly. "A... Message?"
"Obey me!" Toyotomi Hideyoshi yelled, "Those who do not obey will be shown no mercy!"
"Relief!" Masamune called back, "If it's a fight, you're on! If you can peel off even one of the dragon's scales, I'll do what you want."
Hideyoshi let out a breath of air that sounded as if he were trying to laugh, "You do not know your place, boy. Will you find out just what you are made of?"
"Perfect. It's been awhile since I've run into someone who really disgusted me." Masamune muttered as he unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Toyotomi.
"Masamune-sama!" Kojurou yelled, quickly joining him.
"Kojurou, don't interfere." Kojurou glanced behind him and met the gazes of Uesgui and Takeda calmly. Date raised his sword and said, "Number One of Oshu, Date Masamune, pressing on!"
He shot up towards the cliff Toyotomi was on like a bullet and Rin shouted, "Masamune!" She couldn't let him fight that man, no way was she going to let him! His strength and power was practically rivaling that of Oda Nobunaga's, but what was scarier than that was the fact that Toyotomi was human.
Unlike Nobunaga, infamously known as "The Devil King of the Sixth Heaven", it was easy to tell that Toyotomi did not have that unnatural air about him- and yet he was still superhuman, and that was what scared Rin the most.
She knew that Masamune hadn't even defeated the Devil King on his own, only by the help of the survivors of the other armies and Yukimura was he able to overcome the previous menace. Rin had a lot of confidence in Masamune, but not enough to feel safe with him taking a feat like this on his own and now with Yukimura out of the picture, Rin had her doubts that Masamune could make it…
She started running towards him but Kaito quickly attacked with his katana and she had to block it, "Don't interfere!" he shouted.
His weight was overbearing on Rin, yet she fought against him and growled, "Get out… Of my way… Kaito!" She jumped back and then lunged forward, attacking again.
He blocked and as their weapons shook with the force on each side said calmly, "I can't… Let you interfere… Rin!"
Rin scowled and said, "Then die!" She pulled back and jumped high into the air, "Wind Scythe Onslaught!"
"Phantom Shield!" Rin's attacks were cancelled out as Kaito's own protected him. She landed and he attacked again, "Phantom Moon!"
"Tch!" Rin rolled to the side as she felt the pressure drop so suddenly the air collapsed in on itself in a sphere right where she had been. "You aren't going to get me with that again!" she shouted, remembering how her brother had used it only weeks before and it had broken her arm.
It was an ability he seemed to have taught himself in the time they were apart. Using his wind ability, he was able to put an unbearable amount of pressure on a small area and contort anything inside that space. The area only covered about a small circle of space (which is where it got the 'moon' part of its name), and the fact that it was practically invisible – save the slight image of contortion, made it almost invincible. That was how it got the 'phantom' part.
Rin had only once felt its strength when she was trying to get across through it to attack her brother, resulting in her left arm being broken and the small scar on Kaito's face.
Back in the present, Rin tried remembering how to deal with this ability as Kaito scowled and used the same attack. Rin dodged and quickly landed behind him. He can only attack where he can see, so if I stay out of his line of sight-
"Phantom Moon!"
"No way!" Before he had even turned around, the area behind him right near where Rin had landed became contorted looking and Rin jumped back quickly to avoid it.
Kaito smiled as Rin landed farther behind him and said, "That won't work again Rin, I've learned how to attack in areas I can't see."
"Shit!" She grimaced. And this time I'm sure he won't go easy on me like the last. What do I do?
"Rin!" shouted a voice. She turned to see Masamune charging at her on his horse and he held out a hand. Without thinking, she took it and he pulled her on as they sped away.
"Why are we running away?" she shouted at him as she turned her head to watch Kaito's form grow smaller.
He yelled back, "Don't blame me, ask Kojurou! It's his stupid plan!"
"There'll be another time to attack," Kojurou called back and Rin grimaced.
"Let's just hope so…" she muttered and she pressed her cheek into Masamune's back tiredly.
A/N: -sigh- ... Well, I finally did it. I finally watched the first episode of season two for Sengoku BASARA again and managed to motivate myself into writing the first chapter.
As before, I'll keep close to the original series, probably by telling the same story with added OCs (meaning you'll see a lot of conversations that are completely word by word from the episodes, like Toyotomi's 'scene' for example), and just hope I make it through. I swear to God, I'll never make it...
I didn't like season two as much as season one and my ideas are kind of waned out right now, so this will probably move slower than my first one... I'm planning on doing a lot with Maka but other than that, things should mostly center around Masamune and Rin.
Alright, um... That's pretty much everything I have to say at the moment.
Just remember that Engrish words are bold and italicized.
Thanks for reading, -Jackal.