Well, hey again, as I said, I was going to republish this chapter due to some mistakes, and here it is.
I'd like to thank my beta-reader Raine1o1, he did a great job, helping me with fixing it.
(you can also visit his profile and read his stories, especially 'That sexy dress'.)
Have a nice time reading this republished chapter.
Chapter II: Friends.
When Umi opened her eyes, they were on the road, going somewhere with taupe-haired girl in front of her. Kotori was good with dagger, even if she was an heiress of some house in the Shogunate. However, when your house is bordered by the Northend, you just have to know how to defend yourself in case of something.
"So, what are you doing in our lands, travelers? Except saving me from the bandits, of course." Kotori giggled, leading them to their family castle.
"I guess you don't even know about death of King Richard…" Umi began to tell her about that battle, about dishonest knights, who disobeyed his orders and stabbed him in the back. Ash-haired girl was forced to stop and think about it a bit.
"King Richard is dead? Are you sure?" Kotori clenched her fists, looking at bluenette, who sobbed a little because of remembering such events.
"Unfortunately, he died in a battle while leading his soldiers." Upset ginger girl joined the conversation, once she finished fixing her armor. "He ordered to us to find his… Oi!"
Umi immediately slapped Honoka's neck, when the knight began to tell their secret. The samurai made sure that Kotori isn't listening to them and bended over Honoka's ear, whispering to her. "Dumb, don't EVER talk with strangers about it, you hear me?"
Receiving a nod, Umi moved away from Honoka, continuing on her way. The samurai tried to keep herself warm, but when everything around you is covered with snow, it's not much of help. They were in need of warm clothes, not light western types. Umi hoped that Kotori would give them what they need, when they reached a castle.
Silence fell on them and the wind slightly stroked their clothes a little, creeping inside of their bodies and hitting their hearts. Honoka shook her head and clenched her fists. "We could save him, but we just ran away like cowards."
"We will take our revenge, I promise." Umi added, tightening her grip on her katana's sheath.
Kotori smiled, nodding to Umi. "You're really strong, if you want to take revenge, but… Isn't it kind of dumb? Although, it's not for me to judge you… Come on, it's not far from here."
Girls were following Kotori, who was glad because of something. The beautiful snow landscapes of the North Shogunate were kind of relaxing for each girl, no matter what they felt. Umi could assume that Kotori learned who she was, because Sonoda family was quite powerful in the Shogunate. Unfortunately, Umi haven't received any news from her family in a while. She felt abandoned and this feeling was ripping her apart from the inside of her soul.
Passing through the crunching snow, Umi and Honoka can't stop shivering. Snow crackles under their feet, falls on their heads, eventually, all they could see is a land covered with snow.
"How do you even live here? It's impossible!" Honoka exclaimed, trying to keep warm by rubbing her palms.
"You'll get used to it once you start living here." Kotori shyly smiled and breathed in the cold air, passing it into her lungs. "See? You just need to get used to it."
"Thank you, but we don't want to live here, it's kind of more than we can take." Umi tried to joke. "Besides, we need to reach Yoshiwara to take a trip to Amiz."
"Can you tell me why you need to go to Yoshiwara and Amiz? Don't you suppose to regroup with your army or?"
Both of them, Honoka and Umi fell in silence. Honoka was the first who decided to tell the whole truth about the King's army. "There is no army. Everyone is dead or run away, trying to save their lives."
Kotori realized that the Westfalen Kingdom was going through the hard times. No king, no army, the greatest horde of nomads near their borders. The Westfalen was in need of help, but who could give them this help? Shogunate? No, eastern people wouldn't help them, even if they would ask them about it. A lot of blood was spilled as they had been at war with each other for a long time, so Shogun would be glad because of his death. Arabian Sultanate? They had a tense relationship, so they wouldn't be alive, when their help came. There was only the Northend that would help them, in this case. Queen of the West was from there, so Kotori bet that the Westfalen would have some help from them, like soldiers or supplies.
Among other things, the house Minami has always positioned itself as some kind of hermits, living far away from civilization. Just few of the Shogunate's politicians had known someone from this house. But the head of the household – mother of Kotori Minami – was an influential woman, who had many allies across the East. She had a pretty close contacts with the Emperor and Shogun alike, maintaining the policy of neutrality until the end, and when her house found itself between the hammer and the anvil, Kotori's mother pulled it off very neatly, becoming an ally for both sides, Emperor and Shogun.
Eventually, the householder have been waiting for one side to destroy another, because she wanted to start to live like before, without a fear for the members of her family. Supporting someone was equal to suicide, because she couldn't predict how things would go with the cruelest civil war right there. Troops of Emperor, though they were few in number, cease themselves as the military elite of the East.
Mother of Kotori Minami was the greatest schemer and politician, but her daughter have got none of any of her skills. Besides, Kotori didn't feel bad for it. She could walk for hours and hours at her family's possession, watching how wild alpacas lived there; they were her favorite animals.
During these trips, Kotori often have some incidents, like this one with bandits. Luckily, Umi and Honoka were in the right place in the right time to protect her.
The ash-haired girl always looked at the samurai with envy, she liked their composite armor which helped them to protect themselves and not practically hampered their movements, but she like more of the western types of armor.
Kotori felt the full protection from one glance on their shining armor, supplemented with heraldic cape, representing the house of each of the knights who wore it. In the East, a little flags of houses played this function. Usually, they were attached to the backs of the samurai.
Kotori really wanted to learn how to fight, to be a samurai, but her mother didn't accept it, calling her daughter a silly, who doesn't know what she want. Hearing such an insult, Kotori locked herself up in her room, staying a few days in there, without having to open up to anyone. In the end, her mother apologized to her, allowing Kotori to practice in kenjutsu dojo. After a month of training, Kotori has learned how to fight with katana but to become a true samurai, she still had to learn a lot about bushido, honor and things about Kotori didn't ever thought until now.
And though her mother didn't actually approve this idea, Kotori wanted to become a traveler. To travel around all the kingdoms, meet a ruler, philosophers and all other types people.
Kotori turned to look at her companions, trying to figure out who they were. Of course, Umi's samurai armor practically told her about bluenette's Eastern origin, but who she was right now? A soldier in the service of the fallen King Richard? She wanted to ask Umi about it; curiosity always prevailed over Kotori's mind. The serious face of the samurai, sharp features, and keen eyes like a hawk made Umi looked awesome. The bluenette was a typical soldier of Emperor's army; the Shogun's current army had no people with such an iron features.
Ash-haired girl looked at another girl, which face emphasized some kind of certain simplicity. Kotori could see a similar features of the East in Honoka, so she'd bet that ginger was also born in East. Why then Honoka wore an armor of the Westfalen's knight? Kotori couldn't wait for a moment of sharing a dinner with both of them, when she would ask them a questions about everything.
"Can I ask you a question?" Voice from behind forced Kotori to turn around.
"Yes, Umi-chan?" Bluenette's face visibly blushed, she couldn't help but look away.
"C-Can we stay for a couple of days to have some rest? Only a couple of days, then we j-"
"Of course you can!" Kotori smiled sweetly, not letting Umi to finish her request. The ash-haired girl just couldn't refuse them.
After walking for a few minutes, the trio reached a cobblestone road, which led straight into the city, where there was a castle of the house Minami.
As they made their way to the city, the girls just spent some time chatting with each other about common girlish things. As they reached a city, couple of mounted samurai with long spear yari came out of the walls to find out, who they were.
The samurai slowly pulled up to them, and seeing that two unknown girls were following the heiress of the house Minami, they then rushed off their horses to the ground and bow to her.
"Minami-san! Minami-san! Thank God, you showed up. We were worried for you, your mother…" One of them bubbled, while he bow and bow to Kotori.
"Thank you, I'm going to her right now." Kotori stopped him and the samurai nervously laughed. Together with his partner, the samurai mounted his horse and went to patrol the vicinity of the city.
Honoka and Umi looked at each other, exchanging a shrug. They haven't seen such a respect among the nobles and common soldiers. The girls had not been in the East in a while, practically, they managed to forget what kind of respect people have here for the rulers.
Walking through the streets of Kotori's hometown, the girls could see the happy people, who were busy with their own business. The trio passed by the marvelous market, where people had been trading what they could. Furs, various meat, fish, even hot noodles and manju that smelled so delicious making Honoka and Umi realize how much they wanted to eat. Their stomachs gave up and grumbled out loudly, causing Kotori to giggle; both of girls couldn't blame their bodies for that, they haven't eaten anything for a day.
"Let's hurry up, it seems like you really want to eat, right?" Umi and Honoka nodded together; they couldn't refuse such a generous offer. Food wouldn't hurt them.
The streets were decorated with various objects of Eastern culture, in spite of the northern location, snow under their feet and strained relations with Northend, the house Minami and its people were proud that they were a part of the East. Of course, the situations in the East was critical, civil war often meant a death for state, whatever Shogun or the Emperor simply couldn't let that happen.
Comparing about joining the Shogun and suppressing the Emperor's army was the best solution for the house Minami. In this case, the victory would be guaranteed one hundred percent. If the house Minami would join the Emperor's forces, the victory would be about forty percent, but the status of an ally of the Emperor would have lifted the house to unprecedented heights. Anyway, Kotori's mother decided to hold up for now and wait until one side would kill another.
The atmosphere of peace and calm was hospitable for Umi and Honoka. It seemed like they forgot what 'hospitality' is. Recently, they went into the city as killers and conquerors, it seemed like it was their duty, but the two young lady warriors were both loathed upon by the citizens of cities they conquered and by the relatives of soldiers they had slain.
Of course, no one really cared about what they brought to world with their actions. Everyone accepted the war as right thing. Still, there were those, who thought about the meaning of all this. Philosophers of the four kingdoms held their meetings around the world, each time choosing a new place and new kingdom.
However, all attempts to change anything or resolve these conflicts were harshly suppressed. The rulers weren't against the use of assassins, because these people often were the ones who had no concept about honor or mercy.
The irony is that anyone could be such a cold-hearted murderers. Even members of the royal families can be one of them.
"Welcome to Otonokizaka." A sweet voice said, as the girls approached the castle's gates.
Dreams about her family and past life visited Maki's mind, as she slept peacefully in the shelter of two sellswords. Maki wasn't a type of the people who often have a lot of dream but, when it happened it was something graceful, something that she simply couldn't forget for a couple of days. She was glad for having such imagination.
Nishikino Maki had not believed in witchcraft, magic, spirits of dead people, even alchemy didn't fit in her head. She thought that charlatans ran it, but not scientists. Mostly, such a view has arisen due to the fact that Maki often watched as her parents treated wounded or sick people. Her skepticism was raised by her parents; it has been supported by Maki's nature.
Dreaming, Maki thought that it all was happening because of power of her mind. Yes, Nishikino Maki was quite fond of herself; she didn't believe that she is the best, though. Love to herself couldn't be considered as sin or some terrible crime.
The red haired girl was dreaming about her escape from Tandeo, just before the moment when she slipped out of her house through the window, taking a katana and her well-known black leather armor with her. Her dreams were about how she killed one guard after another, putting their corpses in a row just as black widow.
Two of her main nicknames were known in the criminal world, although she has positioned herself as a player of a lower league. Maki hadn't tried to get to the top, where you need to think about a plan to keep yourself alive. Many newcomers had tried to kill you and grab your place, thinking that if they could reach the top of the criminal food-chain, they would begin to live like a royals.
It was really fun to watch. Unfortunately, the city guards had some work to clean up all the mess and remove the bodies of these fools. Pathetic.
Last one enemy in her dream fell on his knees, begging Maki for mercy, but Maki was coming closer, tightening her grip on a bloody katana. As she came over him, Maki knocked the guard to the ground and brought a katana over his head, ready to deliver a fatal blow.
*SLAP*
Someone slapped her face with hand, waking her up. Maki instantly opened her eyes, reaching out for her sword and staring straight into the face of ruby-eyed killer, who was standing in front of her.
"Oh, finally, you're awake! Maybe you should start to pack your things up? We're under the siege, by the way…" Nico said briskly, distracted by a sudden thud sound of cracking wood, which meant that the door was almost knocked out. "Eli, hold on!"
Tiny girl unsheathed her ninjato on the run, shifting it in a comfy position for her hand. Maki was wondering why Nico had a weapon like this one, and whether Nico could be one of the well-known ninjas. But mostly, she was concerned about someone who had found them, and now was trying to take their place by storm.
Finding her sheath with the sword on the table, Maki jumped off the couch and quickly put them on. Trying to do it as fast as she could but, it was too late.
"The backdoor!" Eli shouted, after there was a clang of swords. Definitely she met with the enemies on their way inside the house. The princess was fighting with someone who wore a different types of dirty light clothes, typical for desert bandits.
Some of their scimitars were covered with a good layer of rust, as if it was on purpose, in order to blast a blood of their enemy when they hit them. Maki didn't want to receive such a wound. Eli, who tried to keep bandits off the door, didn't burn a particular desire to get wounded either. The blonde blocked a couple of hits with her broadsword with bucket hilt, slowly retreated into the hall, where Maki and Nico were. The redhead already pulled out her bastard sword from its sheath while moving towards Eli.
"DEEEEATH!" A booming low voice came from the door, where some beefcake bandit came from; he was at least two meters tall and messed maybe one hundred kilos for sure. This guy would be difficult to kill, but the girls still had to get rid of other bandits.
She took a deep breath to calm herself down a little and turned her head to look at raven-haired girl who skillfully climbed the wall and slipped through the open window. "Wait for me."
Raising her eyebrow, the swordsman followed Nico with his eyes, before she vanished. It was hard to believe that she could left them here so simply.
"Maki, I need help!" Eli cried out for her after a strong blow which cause the blond to retire inside the room. Luckily for the blonde, Maki came with help directly striking her first target and throwing him into the crowd of bandits; it has created a hitch in their attack. Eli noticed them lingering and knocked over a bookcase, blocking a pass into the room, she then came closer to Maki. "Where is Nico?"
"Gone." Maki replied dryly, keeping her eyes at bandits behind the book case, who were trying to get up from the floor. It looked funny, such a scene could be played in some theater, like a part of a funny comedy.
"What do you mean by that?" Maki felt some concern in Eli's voice.
"She slipped through the window, telling that we must wait for her."
Eli huffed. Could Nico betray her after all they've been through? Of course, they wouldn't receive a benefit from this contract and when your cover has been attacked by a bunch of bandits, you can only think about yourself. After weighing all "pros" and "cons" ruby-eyed killer could easily leave them to die.
But Eli had faith in her friend, so she tried to remove all the bad thoughts out of her mind; another knocked door helped her to get back in the sense.
The situation pressed against the girls; even though Maki loved to take a risks, she wasn't sure in Eli, because they were fighting together for the first time. Her willingness to take risks vanished just like Nico did.
"Can you cover my ass a bit?" Eli asked her new partner with grin on her face. It sounded kind of pervert, but blonde had such an attitude.
"Yeah, sure." Maki nodded in response.
"Harasho, but don't stare at it, okaay~" Giggling, the princess regained an iron grimace on her face. She cut an air with her broadsword, as if she invited the bandits who already came through the front door. The first one, who were blew to the other world was some black-skinned guy with ugly scars all over his body. Wearing just a trousers, he showed a marks of some slave company. Waving his two-handed sabre, he didn't get Maki or Eli to hit with. Maki, as well as the blonde asked her, covered Eli from the next thug while her friend was busy.
Good old fights in which Eli always was in the minority, attracted her a lot. It was like a contest, where the winner took all the prizes and the loser paid for it with his life. Anyway, you need something to amuse yourself when all aspects of your work are killing people.
The clank of swords creates a cascade of sparks radiating from the swords has been capturing Eli's spirits for years. Adrenaline has played an important role in the work of sellswords. In fact, adrenaline was the main thing which caused people to fight a hundred percent of their power.
Eli perfectly remembered her first fights, without them blonde simply wouldn't survive. She fought for the money which she used for buying some food to keep herself alive. It was very kind of her father to expel his daughter from the country because of her behavior. Eli still could remember how fast her little heart was beating, when she dealt a strikes at her opponents in one of the underground arena of Arabian Sultanate.
Only complete dregs of society were in these kind of places, where Eli was too. Arena fighters usually finished their fallen opponents off and Eli was okay with that; the blonde knew what kind of people were standing in front of her. She didn't spare anyone.
Her enemies were begging for mercy so many times, so Eli couldn't even remember. Such an attitude towards her opponents lasted as long as Eli didn't meet the most important person in her new life in the Sultanate. Eli was fighting against some fresh girl from the arena who tried to break into the top of the arena fighters.
Ayase Eli thought it was just another upstart who would be easy to kill, but when they met face to face, she realized that she was entirely wrong about her. Her technique and weapon, even the appearance were saying that her opponent wasn't from the contingent of ordinary bandits who fought for the sake of food.
The first thing Eli noticed was her sword. It was typical blade of the Eastern soldiers; true, it was straight, rather than curved. Eli could remember that these types of swords with straight blades were only in special assassins – shinobi – in the service of the Emperor of the East.
Following her usual tactics, Eli tried to win her opponent with fast attacks. Unfortunately, it didn't work; her enemy was too agile even for fast attacks, which she easily evaded. Once Eli was exhausted, the girl knocked a sword out of Eli's hand and could easily finish her off, what she refused to do.
After a battle, her opponent had found Eli in the rooms of the arena fighters. Once she told Eli about how she learned about the fact that Eli was a member of the royal family, they teamed up and escaped from the arena at night, murdering a few guards who were supposed to keep an eye on the fighters and prevent all attempts of escape.
It was Nico Yazawa. In fact, Eli was alive because of her. One day later, that arena was stormed by Sultanate's soldiers, who were there because of order of Emir – local commander of sultanate's warrior – of their town. Every single man, who were there was slaughtered by Emir's soldiers.
Back in action, Eli struck the black skinned guy with her broad sword using the same method as Maki did and pushing his lifeless body into the passage. At the moment, Maki was fighting the two bandits and she was in need of help, as Eli thought.
No, Maki certainly didn't need help; a couple of skillful movements and two criminals were lying on the floor in a pool of their own blood. Eli was impressed, it was really rare to see someone who knew how to fight properly with a bastard-sword.
Anyways, the girls had to move farther into the hall because there were about seven bandits who came out of the front door and ready to fight a couple of girls. It must be admitted, Alfat had a good small army of thugs.
Loud sounds and falling bookcase meant that the desert bandits from the back door were already in the hall with the big man in their lead. The situation became increasingly strained. Eli pressed her back to Maki, who was wondering what kind of strike would be best for killing as much forthcoming bandits as she could.
"KILL!" Biggie hollered as he bent down in order to enter the room. That fat guy was close to Eli. She really had no luck lately.
The bandits were deciding who must deal the first strike, as they slowly surrounded a couple of sellswords. Silent felt on the room; no one didn't dare to attack first. Finally, the biggest bandit lost his temper, throwing away a couple of his partners and opening a straight line between him and the blonde girl.
"Little pigs…" He grinned and laughed lightly, cracking his knuckles; he was making his way towards Eli.
Lives of a couple of girls who only tried to survive in this cold and terrible world could end just right there. Their lives could end if Nico hadn't been there.
"Drop your swords, you filthy sinners." Muffled voice came from behind the big man. Absolutely everyone, who were in the hall paid attention to this voice, turning around and looking at him. The captain of the guard of the Amiz in a shining chain mail armor, behind whom were a bunch of his subordinates, was holding a steel shield with the emblem of the Sultanate on it and Damascus Scimitar. "In the Sultan's name, I demand you to drop your swords!"
"Try to take it…- ARRGH!" The big man roared as Eli plunged her blade into his back; the blonde had hit his vital areas, it was a successful strike. Biggie coughed with blood and tried to turn to the one who had hit him. At this moment, Eli pulled her broad sword out of his back, kicking him forward so he can fell right on the captain of Amiz city guards. The big man went straight at captain of the guard, falling on his way and causing guards to evade it and perceive it as a threat.
"For the glory of Sultanate!" The guards attacked them, causing bandits to start a fight, who completely forgetting about a couple of girls; Maki and Eli used it, leaving the house through the back door, while their enemies were busy killing each other.
As the girls were on the backyard of their house, they sheathed their swords and looked around, checking a yard for remaining bandits. A sudden whistle caused both of them to look up at the roof of the house, where Nico sat up with one leg hanging down. "Will you stand there forever?"
"How you did it?" Curious Eli asked her, gesturing to come down.
With a smile on her little face, Nico carefully started to go down, clinging to each ledge of that house for which she climbed. "Oh, it was simple. I ran over to the crowd of some Arabs and sneaked some pouch. You know, what happened later." Tiny girl jumped to the ground and bowed to them, causing Maki to roll her eyes.
"Let's just get out of here, I don't want to stand here, when the house is full with guys who won't mind to kill us." Maki suggested while twirling her red hair; she felt uncomfortable. Taking a look at Nico who immediately looked away, Maki raised her eyebrow, not fully understanding why they were standing there.
"Maki, you have been searching for the Lomerian dagger until we met, haven't you?"
Lomerian dagger, it's called like that because of the place in which it was made, had the appearance of a shortened sword and was made with precious metals. There was no profit to use it as weapon, but dagger was made about two hundred years ago, making it priceless, especially if you have someone from traders or collectors of the black market in Amiz or in any other big city with criminal influence.
Maki was one of the seekers of this blade. She found out an information about this dagger about a half a year ago. She lost a couple of months to get on Alfat's trail who knew something about it. Unfortunately, he refused to speak and a hasty swordsman slain him.
"So, why are you asking?"
"What if we can tell you who have it, and you will help us to get it?" Eli turned around, offering a pretty good deal to Maki. In addition, Maki didn't mind to spend some time with these girls.
"Deal."
"Then we need to go, we've got one more shelter with part of things we need. Probably we will have to find everything else in Amiz."
Checking their backs, sellswords came out on the streets of Amiz, avoiding every single guard who was on the patrol of the city. Probably, the guards already had an information about the three girls, because these trio was involved in many things which were considered as crimes under the laws of the Sultanate.
However, Maki only worried about how she would spend her gold for Lomerian dagger. She didn't wonder why Eli decided to take her with them.
In fact, she should think about everything. It was too risky to accept it that fast. But Maki was living for the moment, she never thought about consequences.
Someday, such an attitude will ruin her life.
The way to restore the empire is through the rivers of blood and violence. Everyone knows about it, but they still continued this fratricidal war. Deviating from their ideals isn't accepted on the East.
Tojou Nozomi was stuck in some village that used to be under the Shogun's control. However, after they had released the village, Nozomi met many of villagers who were thankful for releasing them from Shogun's soldiers.
"So, there is a commander of the house Yasukuni in the nearest town, huh…" Purple-haired girl in a kimono stood over a table with map, which had a wooden figurines to mark the well-known positions of the armies of Emperor and Shogun. Her thoughtful face displayed the lack of confidence in her little army. Nozomi moved a several figures of both sides of the war, thinking about their next steps.
The sound of footsteps were behind her; the samurai didn't even pay attention to it. "Tojou-san?"
"I'm listening."
"Our patrol has returned…" A nun in a white clothes squeezed her hands, worrying about something. "Actually, there is only one of them, who returned…"
Nozomi was shocked to hear this. She clenched her fists, bowing her head to the map, thinking about how it could happen.
"They had horsed archers… Our people didn't have a chance…"
"What's your name?" Nozomi turned around in order to take a look at the brunette.
"It's Hanayo Koizumi…"
"All right, where is the last survivor?"
"Come with me, Tojou-san."
The girls came out of Nozomi's tent right on the main street of the village, on which were a lot of soldiers and villagers who didn't know about a patrol. Passing by some people, everyone bowed to the commander of the small army of the Emperor's forces. Nozomi couldn't understand it. Why did they bow if we haven't protected them yet?
In fact, the advantage in this war was passing from one side of the conflict to another. The main leaders – Shogun and the Emperor – wasn't eager to take a lead of their armies and fight with each other. This duty were shifted to the people like Nozomi.
Of course, there were some battles between the main armies of the Shogun and the Emperor. One of them was right under the East capital – Tandeo. What happened to the imperial army there better left unturned.
Now, the Emperor wanted to open a direct line to Tandeo to get control of this citadel. According to his agents all over the country, Shogun and his main army was in other part of the country protecting their borders from the invasion of the nomads, who killed King Richard.
Tojou Nozomi and her people were a spearhead thrusting into the heart of the Shogunate. Romantic, but it was really scary. To be in the front of the offense, soldiers had to have an iron of will and a strong leader. Fortunately, Nozomi was just like that.
As commander, Nozomi liked to watch for her soldiers. She liked to watch for their daily routine, how they met with each other and how they did their duty.
She was sick to her stomach to look at the killed ones. Understanding that each killed person had a life, friends and family made Nozomi softer. She wanted to forget about each battle she had, though the purple-haired girl pretended that everything is okay.
She couldn't let her men to watch at her, when she was in a disarray. It would totally destroy the morale of the soldiers and their morale affected on how they lead their fight a lot. If a samurai, who was under the banner of the emperor could restrain their emotions, then ashigaru were a simple peasants who were given a weapon. Till recently, many of them didn't even know how to hold it properly. Luckily, it was fixed.
When they reached a certain bunch of soldiers, Nozomi asked them to separate a crowd so she could pass. Noticing that the crowd of soldiers were near a survivor, Nozomi hurried to him, looking at his wounds and questioning him about how it happened.
"A-archers… They knew exactly where we were…" The wounded ashigaru coughed as he held his bloody shoulder which was hit with an arrow.
"Do you mean that they have a spy among us?" Nozomi looked over a crowd, causing soldiers to exchange their glances. Who could it be? Who could be a spy into their army?
Once they had a spy among them, which means that a large army of the Shogunate's soldiers could come and ready to kill, based on the information received from the agent. Hell, Nozomi hated shinobi and different kinds of spies, but it was a war.
"Listen up!" Nozomi straightened herself up and jumped on the cart, so more of her soldiers would see and hear her. "There is a spy of the Shogun among us! That means that the commander of the nearest army of the Shogunate will lead his army to attack us. We have two options. First, we will leave the village and retreat. Second, we will give them a good fight right here, taking an advantage of surprise. And I have no desire to retreat."
The crowd began to whisper about their commander's mental health. Hanayo tried to eye her ginger haired friend, who just seemed to disappear from a view. A few hours passed by since Rin said that she would be busy with her chores, saying goodbye to Hanayo. Listening to Nozomi about the situation they were in, the brunette decided to search for Rin.
Checking almost every tent, every street of the village, Hanayo came into the garden of some house with sakura trees. The nun hadn't seen it blossom in a while. After walking around the yard, Hanayo sat down near a wooden fence putting her tired eyes on the top of the sakura tree with some paper which was nailed to it with an arrow.
Wait, what is this? Hanayo got up and went to the tree, keeping her eyes on the paper. As she came closer, Pana could see a strange familiar characters, which were write down with childish carelessness. That paper contained all important information about Nozomi's soldiers. It was clear that it was a spy document.
"K-Kayo-chin…" A thin voice behind her back caused some chills to run all over Hanayo's body. What could it all mean?
Pana slowly turned around, grabbing a hilt of her wakizashi and trying to convince herself that Rin was innocent. Unfortunately, the truth was cruel; Rin stood right in front of her with a guilty look on her face and her naginata in her hands. "You'd better explain this, Rin…"
"I… Please, I'll tell you everything later, but we need to-…" Her words were cut off by Hanayo, who pulled out her shortened katana and put a blade straight into Rin's face.
"We're not going anywhere, until you tell me what is going on here. What is this paper? Rin, tell me what you did…" Trembling arms gave her away. Hanayo was scared to death. What Rin was trying to do wasn't clear, but the ginger haired girl didn't move a muscle on her face, even when her best friend pointed a sword at her.
"Rin wasn't supposed to do that, but she had no choice, please!" Catlike girl let go of her spear, which fell to the ground. "They have my family… It was the only way to…"
Hanayo slowly lowered her wakizashi, until it reached a ground. A furious expression on her face came to naught, when the tears flowed out of Rin's eyes. "R-Rin… I…"
Their heartbreaking moment was interrupted by the sound of the horns, informing about approaching enemies. "ARMY OF YASUKUNI HOUSE!" A voice yelled, the girls then could hear a roars of the samurai, who were preparing for attack.
Hanayo blinked a couple of times to make sure she wasn't asleep. Her friend brought them to such events, and now Rin was standing in front of brunette with tears in her eyes. She had to say something, but Pana couldn't find the right words. "Rin… What have you done?"
The brunette cuddled her friend, who began to cry like a little child. Tears of disappointment and heartache, which have been collected inside Rin for a while, went outside. Hanayo gently stroked her back, trying to calm ginger down. "There-there, everything is okay."
"It's no good!" Rin answered her with hug, burying her face into Pana's shoulder. After a couple of moments, Hanayo's clothes were wet due to the tears of her friend; anyway, it was definitely the lesser of all evils.
She had to calm her friend down. But how? How she was supposed to calm down someone whose family was in the hands of the Shogunate's soldiers? Hanayo just couldn't blame Rin; everyone would have done this, if they were in her place.
"K-Kayochin, please… I'm sorry…"
Hanayo squeezed Rin's hand even harder, when tears appeared on her own face. "Rin… I don't… I don't…"
Both of them were standing in the yard, crying and holding each other in the strongest arms that could only be. They were too precious to each other, even betrayal couldn't separate him.
Hanayo slightly moved away from Rin, looking straight into her chartreuse eyes, which twinkled because of tears. "Re-Remember, Rin… I can't be mad because of that, you hear?"
"K-Kayochin…" Her lips trembled, Rin couldn't believe that her friend didn't go mad, but on the contrary, sympathize with her.
It is impossible to describe in words the state of her soul, which Hanayo has at the moment. All Hanayo can do is to trust her feelings. Once she trusted it, Hanayo interlocks her lips with Rin who immediately responds to the kiss, continuing it.
Another day were going on. Girls were kissing in the middle of the future battlefield, from which they need to get out.
But we can say it for sure.
They fell in love with each other.
Lontern, the west-fallen; The capital of the Western Kingdom, which was under threat of destruction because of the intrigues of William the Wise. His attempt to kill King Richard was successful and now, he wanted to seize the throne, because the mother of Eli and Arisa would become a lady-regent. In this case, he was ready to do everything he need to gain all power he could. William wouldn't hesitate to kill her and Arisa, if it is necessary, beating it as an accident. Luckily, he didn't even know about Eli.
That is why Roderik and A-RISE were there to prevent all of his attempts to do what he wanted. Of course, right now they wouldn't have managed with a squad of guards, but time can cure anything. Except the missing hand, obviously.
Yuuki Anju didn't feel too well. The heat all over her body could calm down a little and then flare up with renewed vigor, causing her head to turn off from time to time. Probably, she got an infection due to stab in her back.
Toudou Erena, who now and then held her lost hand, felt the same heat all over her body. Umi's strike was so sudden and fast, so it easily cut Erena's hand off. Violet-haired girl realized that her hand was cut off only in a few moments later.
Roderick was also in pretty bad shape, but compared to the other girls, he and Kira at least could give some kind of resistance, if they were caught by scouts of nomads.
Fortunately, the nomads have decided to stage a week-long feast because they successfully slain the King Richard. That victory have brought a lot of food, drinks and fun for these savages. But most importantly, their Khan was a man of an honor. He didn't scoff at some dead body of such a great man as Richard. Noticing his grace and courage in the lost battle, their Khan ordered to his men to care about his body, just like they cared about their horses. As everybody know, the horse was the most respected thing for nomad tribes.
Roderik worried about where they would stop for a night. They were on their way at least a few hours, and they were exhausted.
Riding a horse with someone who have recently tried to kill you, Roderik tried to understand their motives. Most likely, gold and power had led A-RISE to their current state. As the saying goes, when riches increases, body decreases. Roderik agree to it.
It was amusing, but if Roderik didn't know how to control himself, heads of A-RISE girls were already on the road, severed from their bodies. That would certainly affect his chances to survive, but his anger would have been appeased.
A couple of hours passed by; tired and exhausted travelers finally reached some two-story tavern whose stalls have a few horses there. Kira led her house to the stalls, gesturing to Erena and Anju and dismounting with Roderik, who wasn't against to have some rest.
"Do you even have some money to pay for the rooms?" Roderik asked as he fixed his claymore in sheath on his back, shaking off the dust of the road.
"Don't worry, we will figure it out…"
Trying to get off the horse, exhausted Erena couldn't save her balance and fell to the ground, muttering something under her breath.
"Shit, help me Roderik." Kira rushed to help Erena, who fell without a sense. As she touched her head, Tsubasa cursed and tried to gently lift her friend. "Why are you standing?! Help me, goddammit!"
Reluctantly, Roderik went to them while looking at Anju who can barely stand on her feet and as she lean on her horse. Without medical care, these two wouldn't last long, it was obvious even for Roderik.
Taking Erena, Roderik along with Tsubasa began to carry her to the inn, from which there were a few men in a leather jackets with hoods who walked out. Looking at Roderik and girls, they began to whisper, actively pointing at them. On their way to the inn, Roderik stopped in front of the guys, who's grinning and looking at them, he then found out.
"Something is wrong?"
"Nah, it's all right." He said, frowning. "It's not every day that we see a knights of the King's army in such shape. What happened to you guys?"
Tsubasa nodded to him questioningly. "Who are you to tell you about what happened to us, huh?"
"My name is Jonathan Lou, I am the commander of the first squad of Rangers of Tavria, at your service, milady." He bowed slightly, introducing himself to them. "Now, tell me what is going on."
These rangers were a people who lived in the second largest city of West-fallen – Tavria. They were subordinated to the local ruler, the Duke of Tavria. These people had an unprecedented durability and abilities to manage with swords as well as with crossbows, which weren't as common as bows. Usually, only the best of the best could have such weapon as crossbow; Jonathan's people were the best sharpshooters all over the south lands of West-fallen. The First Squad meant that their leader could have an impact on other rangers, including the commanders of the other squads. According to tradition, The First squad was a home for the best rangers. This is why they had such a respect.
Tavrian Rangers weren't drafted into the army of King Richard, because of the possible threat of an attack of the Arabian Sultanate, as Tavria was next to the maritime boundary of the two states.
Rangers of Tavria showed themselves as the greatest warriors during a guerrilla war against the Arabs, which was about ten years ago. At the time, the Sultanate has dropped about five thousand of its soldiers on the coast of Tavria. More than three thousand Arabs were slain due to the actions of the Tavrian Rangers. The Arabs and their cavalry, who weren't accustomed to fight in the woods can't even do anything to win the people who were born there.
Now, the Rangers were about eight hundred people; it was enough to observe the law in Tavria and its lands and protect the southern borders of the Kingdom along with common soldiers and knights.
Perhaps, the only hope to survive and stop William was standing in front of Roderik and girls. They just had to get close to Jonathan.
As Roderik started to speak about the battle with nomads where they lost King Richard, Jonathan Lou didn't believe them at first. After that they brought him the irrefutable evidence via their wounds, Jonathan just wanted to sit down in front of crucifix and pray for the soul of the fallen King. Once the commander of the rangers calmed himself down, he suggested to spend a night together, realizing that Roderik and girls couldn't buy a rooms for themselves.
At the moment, the rangers began to treat the wounds of the knights with their supplies. Rangers disinfect Anju's cut on her back, bandaging it. In the case of Erena, rangers gave her a strong painkiller that has paralyzed her, blocking absolutely all of her senses. Of course it was a narcotic, but without it, she would have simply died because of shock, when the rangers began to cauterize her wound.
The ranger sewed up Erena's arm after cauterization and bandaged it, resting a few medical herbs on the burnt skin to reduce the pain while the drug's effect would pass. Just think, casual acquaintance saved their lives.
"Hmm… It was tough for ya, huh, Roderik?" Jonathan said while looking at Roderick who's sitting as he talked about their lives near the stalls. The day slowly passed in the evening; the sun was setting. Jonathan opened a pocket on his leather jacket, pulling out some bundle and offering it to Roderik.
"What is it?"
"Tobacco wrapped in paper. Relaxing a little, especially after a hard day like you had though."
Roderick took a homemade cigarette, twisting it in his hands without an idea what to do with it. Seeing his attempts to understand how to use it, Jonathan smiled slightly and gestured to his mouth. Once Roderik inserted a cigarette into his mouth, he nodded to Jonathan, who lit it up with a candle, which was next to him. Roderik inhaled a cigarette smoke into his lungs and coughed because he didn't being used to it.
"It's your first time, huh?"
"Yeah, I'm not really in your southern things, you know. I'm from the north." Roderik answered him, smoking his cigarette. It was quite nice, he had to admit it, and it's really relaxing.
Jonathan also lit up his cigarette, nodding to Roderik. "I got it… You have a look of wild menace."
"Is it bad?"
Jonathan laughed, he definitely liked the Butcher.
"Not at all. I bet it is only makes you scarier in a combat, yeah?" He looked over Roderik, drawing attention to his back, where a sheath for his claymore were. "To fight with it properly, you must be a beast."
"They called me the Butcher. Richard and I often went to the vanguard in the battles… So many arrows we got together, attacking our enemies in the first lines… The East, the Arabs… And these nomads' bastards…"
Wave of memories washed over Roderik again. They have been in so many battles, so he bet that he wouldn't remember a single battle for any scar he had received. Besides, there were a lot of scars all over his body. Longitudinal scars on the arms and chest, the marks of an arrows in different areas of his body; it was the perfect time when they were young, extremely strong and agile. Two Lions of West-fallen. Roderik remembered those fights, when they were often surrounded by several squads of enemies. With his claymore, Roderik chipped their enemies with the help of Richard, who protected his dear comrade with shield.
Shinobi, Assassins, all killers suffered a defeat after defeat. Their enemies could win the unbeaten Richard only with the betrayal of his adviser.
"And this damned William the Wise, right? Bloody idiot…" Jonathan spat away, continuing to smoke his cigarette. "Listen, Roderik…"
"Yeah?" He looked at Jonathan who was staring into the blue sky.
Releasing the smoke out of his lungs, Jonathan kept his eyes on the evening clouds that were passing over the blue sky of West-fallen. "If you told me the truth, then I and my people can help you. We can go in Tavria, then I will send a letters to meet with the leaders of each squad of our rangers… What do you say?
"Are you even asking?" When Roderik heard such a proposal, his mood lifted up a little. "The sooner we get there, the sooner William's head will be on the spike."
Jonathan finished off his cigarette, throwing its glowing end on the ground, trampling it with his foot. The ranger-captain waited until Roderik finished smoking his cigarette, and then went with him into the inn, ordering food and drink for each person there.
Ahead of them stood a long way, which practically means everything. Even if Roderik wasn't entirely sure that they would be able to brought William to justice, he knew that they would do everything to ensure that the traitor got what he deserved.
Roderik wasn't going to miss this opportunity, even risking with his own life. He had to avenge his fallen brother.
It was his duty.
Huh, I hope you'd enjoyed that doze of badass girls.
Also, I'm sorry for writing it for a couple of months and giving a raw chapter to you.
I hope you love the storyline and my pervy things between girls (esp. Rin and Pana, I just couldn't help but let them kissing . )
See you.
sfn.
