Saica Magoichi waited alone in the courtyard, listening to the calm before the storm, standing over the white cobblestones, her shadow staining the stones behind her, one hand placed on her hip, the other holding the phoenix loosely by her side. The orders had been given and they were the last straw. Not the invasion of Shikoku whose lord was a Saica ally and Magoichi's friend, but the way the submission of her forces was demanded.
Soon she was standing in front of Toyotomi Hideyoshi unflinchingly. The man had deigned to come down from his tower after listening to her words of dissent. He was a giant of a man, standing directly opposed to her, arms crossed, the black and red armour adding to his menacing air. Saica was not impressed or kowtowed. She was who she was and what she had become. The other three of his main generals were there too. Takenaka Hanbei, Ishida Mitsunari and Tokugawa Ieyasu. If they were there for support or just to see with their own eyes that she actually meant to walk away from the Toyotomi would be their own business.
The gun clicked as it was cocked, the sound sharp and echoing on the empty yard. Her reddish eyes showed no emotion. The pistol was raised, pointed towards the warlord, her hand firm, the aim steady.
The trio behind him tensed. Ishida glared in rage. Tokugawa seemed shocked. Takenaka was clearly making calculations, the cold purple eyes focused with purpose.
Magoichi kept Hideyoshi in sight for a long moment before pointing upwards, discharging the gun three times, purposely and with a slight pause in-between each. From a distance a bell tolled, sharply. Her men were waiting outside, ready to depart.
"The Red Bell tolled. This contract has ended." Magoichi declared, lowering the gun once again.
"You betray us?" Toyotomi Hideyoshi asked coldly, his gravely voice made for intimidation.
Saica stiffened her resolve, staring him down with an icy disposition.
"We have no masters and we have no intention of thinking of you as one. Ever." The woman declared calmly. It was one of the rules of the contract and the first he had broken. The Saica had endured because they were vulnerable. It was no longer the case.
"You will be destroyed and conquered as soon as the land belongs to me." Toyotomi declared. He was not willing to fight at that moment because of the departure to Shikoku. It was one of the reasons why she had chosen that moment. The Mercenary knew she was being allowed to leave because Toyotomi believed in his army's strength and planned to sweep those who still resisted quickly and ruthlessly. So the Saica had two options as of that moment. Join one of the warlords that opposed Toyotomi, while getting properly paid and respected or reinforce the Saica territory and be ready to withstand the assault if no one took Toyotomi down.
"When I fall another Magoichi will rise." Saica said simply as he left. "We revere freedom." The mercenary said once more, turning away.
"Magoichi wait." Ieyasu was running towards her. Saica stopped and turned slightly.
"What is it?"
"Why… at this time… just why?" Tokugawa asked, confused. He had recovered and with the help of the Toyotomi had rebuilt his army and homeland. And had surrendered his land to Toyotomi, serving with devotion and admiration. He was blinded. But he was not as lost as Ishida. "He helped us rebuild and grow."
"He demands what we would never give." Saica declared calmly.
"Is it because we are going to invade Shikoku? The Demon…"
"Our friendship means nothing in the field of battle." Saica said. "I would think it bothered you more, seeing he is one of the reasons Honda Tadakatsu survived after what Oda has done to him."
"Toyotomi believes you are strong." The man declared, fidgeting a bit confused. Idealistic.
Magoichi shook her head.
"We are strong. And that is why we prefer to fight against him than break our beliefs." Even if it mean fighting alone. "Take care Tokugawa. And may you come to your senses before you truly lose everything that ever mattered." Now one had to wait and see if Toyotomi shinobi were deployed against them or the warlord kept his promise of only attacking after the ones that directly opposed him fell.