In Times of War
Having reached our destination, the men crouch low to the ground in wait. The wind blowing through the bamboo creates unearthly hollow sounds, the creaking movements sounding more like the cracking of bones. Wanting to know what was on the other side of the stone wall I decide to scale a bordering Sakura tree. The other men throw apprehensive glances in my direction but I ignore them. The knotted knee like roots acts like steps to the lower branches. The moss covered limbs hinder my footing so I climb at a slow pace. Thankfully the already rustling leaves render my movement indiscernible.
I cautiously glance over the top of the wall; a sizable garden comes into view, misty from the curling steam rising from the hot spring situated in the centre. Large obsidian rocks frame the sultry bubbling water; a few ornamental shrubs strategically placed for a bather's privacy. A flash of lightning illuminates the garden; I suck in a breath. Figures which went unnoticed until now stoop amongst the foliage within the garden. The temple gong reverberates in the distance. My own hidden clansmen spring from the ground and scale the wall.
"NO! IT'S A TRAP!"
My bellowed warning is heeded too late; the first man over the edge already lays gutted on the ground, the earth absorbing his blood like a wanton spirit. With a roar I launch myself into the garden to join the fray and protect those left of my group. Screams melt into the cracking of the resounding thunder. We are sorely outnumbered; for this to have happened there must be a spy in our clan, one who is close enough to Katsura to have gained such knowledge without being suspicious. If I survive this massacre I will personally find that spy and grant him a death so slow his soul will cry out in pain even in the after life.
My blade is swift as I parry and slice into unrelenting victims. One by one they drop unceremoniously onto the cool ground with a dull thud. An icy blade bites into the flesh of my side, the samurai to bequeath such a wound not living long to revel in the accomplishment. The Shinsengumi may have greater numbers, but our Choshu warriors are trained on barren fields under the harsh rays of the sun. The heavens open up with a low rumble, the heavy rain further muffling the agonizing sounds.
Only an hour into the fight and the hot spring waters are already tinted pink, severed limbs and the odd corpse bob and churn in the gurgling broth; a scene more fitting in the world of yokai.
"AKU SOKU ZAN!"
The Shinsengumi code is yelled out as yet another of my men is ruthlessly cut down. The culprit I recognize from a previous encounter many moons ago; Captain Inoue Genzaburo of the Kyoto faction, an opponent of incalculable skill. With a sadistic smirk curling his thinned lips, there was a moment of stillness before his arms became a blur and another foolish Choshu clansmen blinded by panic and desperation is sliced in half. His body divides in two as it collapses, crimson liquid spurting in the air from the force of the strike. A blazing rage flows through my blood as the sickening awareness of defeat coils around my heart and constricts the pumping organ. Before I am able to act in retaliation, a figure ghosts through the fighting throng; enemies falling dead or dying in its wake. With one last swipe of the phantoms katana, Captain Inoue Genzaburo's head rolls over the muddy ground and obsidian rocks into the steaming spring water; eyelids still quivering and mouth still gaping.
My eyes widen in shock, the specters features become more discernable as he draws nearer; it is the boy I studied earlier by the inns well. A boy his age with the skill of a Hitokiri is mind numbing. With a voice of cold steel that shouldn't belong he delivers an unexpected message.
"Lord Katsura orders those of the Choshu to retreat, gather those still alive and leave immediately."
An additional stony glance is cast towards me for confirmation before he swiftly pivots on his heel and slits an exposed throat of a Shinsengumi soldier who dare try interrupt.
"GO!"
Without hesitation I hurry around the battle grounds, side stepping bodies and deflecting assailants in hopes of locating as many Choshu clansmen as I possibly can and relaying Katsura's message to those yet to be told. Men too injured to move are swept up onto the backs of others. Attempting to reach the northern gates would be suicide; our only option being to haul ourselves back over the wall and flee into the depths of the bamboo forest. The hitokiri will hopefully take care of any Shinsengumi who wish to pursue us. Scrambling up a slippery wall with the injured was no small feat; moans of pain from the jostling motions are muffled into bloodied gi's. Some men are even unceremoniously dropped on the other side of the wall to hasten our retreat. After what feels like a life time, we stumble into the safety of the forest; drenched, drained and disconsolate.
With one last glance back in the direction of the onsen my mind replays tonight's events. By no means is this the end, we will strengthen our forces and fight until our goal is achieved. The Shinsengumi may have won this battle, but the Choshu along with our allied forces shall win this war. As lightning streaks though the sky and thunder claps its approval I once again recite the Choshu vow into the wind, in hopes that it will be carried to the many ears of the enemy.
"Duty is weightier than a mountain, while death is lighter than a feather. Obedience, courage, honor and respect will not waver in the face of danger"
The End
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AN: hope you guys enjoyed my fic.
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Meanings:
Gi - top
Hakama - pants
Shinsingumi - Samurai group loyal to Tokugawa
Wolves of Mibu - Shinsengumi
Shoji - sliding door
Hour of the rat - between 11pm and 1am
Hour of the ox - between 1am and 3am
Kami - God
Doshi - Comrades
Onsen - Hotspring
Sakura - Cherry Blossom
Hai - yes
Yokai - demon/s
Aku Soku Zan - slay evil immediately
Hitokiri - man slayer / assassin
