Chapter 14
It's a warm and sunny day. They are travelling in several smaller groups, as usual, disguised as common farmers. They will spend the night in different villages along the way. They are keeping a fair pace in order to put most of the distance behind them before nightfall. They need to conserve energy the next day as the strike is to happen just before dawn the day after. Tsukahara and his men will attack the compound at dawn the shinobis must have completed most of their work by then.
The strike against Tanaka has been planned in detail. Each member of the group knows what to do. If all goes well they will have prepared for Tsukahara to take control of the compound.
Santana has hung a small bundle at the end of a stick that she carries on her shoulder. The bundle contains a few belongings, food and water. Koichi leads a donkey carrying large bags containing their weapons and other equipment. She is dressed as a peasant boy. Her long hair is braided and put up in a bun. She hides it under a wide straw hat. Her slender build clothed in loose fitting clothes leave by-passers none the wiser. She's travelled disguised like this many times before. It doesn't bother her in the least.
The previous night is still at the forefront of her mind. Brittany's body pressed against her, the look in those blue eyes, the little whimpers she made as Santana silently professed her love. Her heart doesn't only belong to her any more. This mission used to be all she could think of. It still excites her but now there is something at the other side of the attack. There is something to look forward to other than just returning to normal life. She will make a home together with Brittany.
The day is uneventful. They walk mainly in silence. No one discusses the mission. The group only makes brief stops and by mid-evening they enter the village where they will stay the night. They find the ryokan close to the village square and before long the shinobis have eaten and bathed. It's been a long day and sleep finds Santana quickly on her futon in a room she shares with her travel companions.
The following day they rise a little after dawn. The last leg of the journey will take them until mid-afternoon. Then they will make camp in the woods, rest and wait for the night to give them cover. That's when the transformation will take place. The harmless looking peasants will shed their worn simple clothes and don their black garments and cover their heads with black hoods. That's when the adrenaline starts flowing.
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Santana carefully applies the black paint around her eyes. Apart from her hands it's the only part of her body that will be visible. She's checked her equipment twice. Her weapons are in perfect condition and the small vials are filled with an assortment of poisons. She has brewed them herself. Carefully she wipes her hands on a piece of cloth and checks her hairbun. Then she places the black hood over her head and ties it at the back. She looks at Takashi and Koichi. They are dressed in the same way she is and she can see the focus and determination in their eyes. Right now they are only shinobis. She feels at home in the darkness. It's become her partner. It conceals her and protects her.
The compound is heavily guarded. They know that already. The shinobis are to sabotage the defence by striking at strategic targets. They have divided into smaller groups. One group is to target the armoury, one fix the gates so that Tsukahara's men can get in with their horses, certain guards will be targeted along the perimeter to slow down detection of the attack.
Santana, Takashi and Koichi have been assigned Tanaka himself. He is constantly surrounded by guards and he is a formidable warrior himself. It won't be an easy task. It would be foolish and arrogant to think she can just run in there and assassinate him. If he is as skilled as they say, that deserves respect. Respect for his sword and respect for the man. She knows he is in his fifties, trained and schooled in the western part of the country. His swordsmanship was widely spoken of already when he was a young man. Son of a wealthy nobleman, it was easy for him to gather warriors around him, given his social position by birth and his skills with a sword. As he grew older he became greedier. Power creates a hunger for more power. Now he wants what Kawada has. Santana will do what she can to prevent that from happening. Not because she cares about power or politics. It does not affect her who rules these lands, nor has she a preference for either of the men. This is not personal, she is a hired blade who has been commissioned. That's all that matters. And she will take pride in executing her profession with perfection simply for the sake of doing something well. There is no alternative.
The trio enter the compound from the north. They scale the wall swiftly and quietly like geckos. They must remain unseen by the guards patrolling the parapet. Even if they could easily kill the ones in sight, their absence would be noticed and that would alert the other guards. Instead they must climb again, up the wall of the main building and onto one of several terraces.
Within minutes they are inside the building heading for Tanaka's quarters. Takashi takes point and Santana follows with Koichi is close behind her. They move swiftly and silently through the corridors. Suddenly Takashi stops and presses himself up against the wall. The signs to his companions that there are guards ahead. Santana quickly draws her short sword and holds in a steady grip. Koichi carries a naginata and jutte, a long staff with a short blade attached at one end. Takashi carries a kama, sickle, in each hand as they approach the guards at a slow pace. They want to delay being discovered as long as possible. There are only two guards here in the corridor. It's a narrow corridor with wooden walls. There are a few shoji-doors along the way. They have to dispose of the guards and take a right as the corridor splits up in two directions a little further on. Tanaka's quarters are in the west wing. He doesn't share his private room with anyone and they have to pass through an ante-room to get there. There are always guards in the ante-room. All Santana's sense are on their highest alert. Every sound vibrates loudly in her ears, every smell fills her nostrils and create an impression. Her eyes are well used to the darkness by now and she is acutely aware of the sword in her hand. Her movements are deliberate and controlled. Nothing else exists except the moment. There is no fear, there is no excitement, only purpose.
At Takashi's command they spring upon the two guards. Koichi sprints past one of the guards. Seconds before he passes the man he raises his weapon and cuts his throat. The blade is so sharp it effortlessly cuts several inches into the guard's flesh. It takes an instant before copious amounts of blood gushes from the wound and leaves a distinctive smell in the air. Takashi uses the staff to make the second guard's legs fold under him and Santana swiftly steps in behind the kneeling man and grabs his head with both hands. She has put her sword back in its sheath and with a powerful twist she wrings the man's neck. There is a faint cracking sound and as she lets go, the man falls forward and hits the floor. Koichi crouches down and places two fingers on the guard's neck. Then he looks up and nods.
Takashi takes point again as they continue towards Tanaka's quarters. Before long they stand in front of the door to the ante-room. They expect there to be four guards in there. Takashi and Santana arm themselves with shurikens¸ star-shaped metal pieces with sharp sides and tips that have been dipped in strong poisons. Koichi moves to the door and looks at his companions. They both nod at him. As the door opens, three pairs of eyes quickly scan the room and locate the four men. Two are standing on either side of the door that leads in to Tanaka's room, two are sitting on the floor playing a board game.
Within seconds four shurikens are in the air. Santana has aimed for the eyes of the two guards standing up while Takashi has thrown his stars at the men on the floor. There is the faintest sound when the metal meets flesh and bone. One of the stars misses by a centimetre and hits one of the guards just above the eye. He staggers forward with blood running down his face. Koichi swiftly steps forward and quickly cuts his throat with one of his sickles. They have tried to keep the noise down as much as possible but they are not sure if Tanaka has heard them in the ante-room.
Takashi opens the door and they move inside. At first sight the room is empty. There is a futon on the floor but no one lies in it. There is a table and a dresser and several scrolls on the walls. By instinct Takashi spins around and only just manages to avoid a strike by a silvery dai katana, long sword blade. The owner of the sword is dressed in the fine clothing of a noble man. Santana thinks this must be Tanaka. He must have heard them coming and waited for them pressed against the wall, next to the door.
Takashi is fighting the man face to face now. The sword bearer is fast and skilled. She can tell by the look in Takashi's eyes that he is fully concentrated on the fight. The slightest mistake can lead to instant death. Fortunately Takashi is superbly fast and flexible and with some effort he manages to keep the blade well away from his body. Koichi and Santana are ready assist but Takashi doesn't look like he needs much help. In fact, he is forcing his opponent to retreat further and further into the room. As the older man trips just a little, caught by the corner of the low table, Santana and Koichi know the fight is over. Takashi uses the moment when his adversary loses balance, to leap up in the air and use the long handle of his weapon to deal a paralysing blow to the neck. As the stricken man falls to the floor, Takashi swiftly moves closer and with a steady rapid movement he cuts through the thin skin, sinews, muscles and wind pipes. Then he rises slowly. He's out of breath from the fight and remains quiet for a moment. Then he says to Santana and Koichi "It's not him. I felt from the start that something wasn't right. The longer I fought him the surer I got that it was too easy. This man was not a bad swordsman but he wasn't extraordinary. Take a closer look at him. This is not Tanaka."