Sorry, it has taken me so long to updated this story.
Hiyori feels a sharp pain in her chest as she holds onto Kanami's hand while watching the Minoseki Toji's face contort in pain. "A parting gift from Princess Tagitsu," Hiyori feels her hatred for the Great Aradama grow with each groan that lives Kanami's lips. The Princess couldn't even give them a few minutes of happiness before punishing Kanami for leaving her side. The moment when Kanami collapsed in pain scream at the top of her lungs as her eyes glowed bright orange and the Noro within her body began to attack her caused time to freeze for Hiyori as she could barely react to what was happening. "At least she's no longer conscious to feel it," That thought is the only silver lining Hiyori can see as she helplessly watches Kanami suffer in her unconscious state.
"We have to move her now," Yukari tells Hiyori kneeling down next to her and putting a hand on the Heijou Toji's shoulder. "The helicopter will be here soon."
"…" Hiyori silently nods her head and reluctantly takes a step back so Kanami can be placed on a stretcher.
"She's going to be fine," Yukari assures her. "One the Noro is removed from her Tagitsuhime won't be able to hurt her any more."
"…" Once again, Hiyori could only nod her head in response.
Meanwhile, another person who's present that also shares the Heijou Toji's pain stares out at Echizen holding a hand to her chest over her heart. Suzuka does her best to remain calm as she witnesses Tagitsuhime taking out her anger at something other than the Minoseki Toji. From where she stands, Suzuka can see the smoke from fires multiplying by the second and hear the sound of intense fighting erupting all over the city. It's as if Tagitsuhime's failure here has opened up a dam of rage and destruction as Suzuka witnesses a city being overrun with Aradama.
"Please be safe," Suzuka whispers, sending a pray for Maki's safety.
As members of the Elite Guard and even before that, both Suzuka and Maki have faced danger many times before, but this assault on Echizen feels different. Even though she knows Maki can handle herself Suzuka can't help but worry for her safety in the middle of a storm of fire and battle that Suzuka watches growing bigger by the second.
"I swear you are just as bad as those two," Kaoru comments as she passes by.
"She's right," Suzuka looking back and seeing the look on Hiyori's face. As much as she doesn't want to admit it, she would feel the same way if it was Maki who was injured.
"They managed to fend off Tagitsuhime," Akane tells them hanging up the phone with a sorrowful look on her face. "They also managed to rescue Kanami, but unfortunately she's not in good shape."
"They should have just let her escape with Tagitsuhime," Yukina complains folding her arms and looking disappointed. "Kanami was far more useful by her side than on ours."
"How can you say something like that?!" Ema asks, slamming her hands on the table. "Kanami has more uses than being a sacrificial pawn."
"Are you saying the lives she saved by being near Tagitsuhime wasn't worth the price of one Toji?" Yukina confidently asks smirking when Ema can't answer right away.
"What happened, happened let us not fight about it," Akane tells them hoping to stop another argument from breaking out. "We still need to deal with all these new Aradama that have been appearing."
The atmosphere in Akane's headquarters has been tense for a while ever since that attack occurred and many of the Toji and Riot squad members are still shaken by the way the possessed Toji would throw attack with little regard for their own well being. Accusations have been flying as to who was to blame for the sneak attack with Yukina starting a witch hunt to find those responsible. If it weren't for Akane interfering, then the Renpu president would have already arrested half the base under charges of treason. Rubbing her head as she feels another headache coming on Akane can only hope that her two friends won't start fighting again.
"We need to strengthen our defences first, and then we can discuss plans to take back the city," Akane continues. "So far, our supply lines to the city are safe, but we still need to step up our protection of the ones inside the city as the Aradama activity continues to increases. I have already requested that the Heijou Institute takes care of guarding our supply lines, so I need you two to focus on the Aradama inside the city. Ema, I want your school to take the centre of our defensive line, Yukina I want you on the right and Yuzuki." Akane looks to the so far only person in the room not to give her a headache. "Have your Toji protect the left."
"Understood," Yuzuki nods her head.
"I see to it right away," Ema agrees.
"My Toji's could handle this alone," Yukina brags but ultimately agrees to the plan.
"Also I need you all to prepare several strike teams for when we launch our counter-attack," Akane tells them. "I will leave the makeup of these teams to your own discretion, but I recommend using your best Toji for these teams as they will be the vanguard of our counter-attack."
"Kanami," Tagitsuhime's voice feels like nails on a chalkboard to Kanami as she holds her hands over her ears trapped in the dark void of her own mind. "Why do you wish to suffer like this Kanami? If you would have only given in you would have been so much more happier."
"Shut up!" Kanami yells out.
"You brought this on yourself Kanami," Tagitsuhime tells her. "It's not going to stop until you submit to me again. Do you remember last time when you suffered none stop all for nothing? In the end, you gave in to me, and now you will do so again. Or do you really think you can resist me this time?"
"Leave me alone!" Kanami screams.
"Oh I will never leave you," Tagitsuhime says. "You and I are connected now. I will always be part of you, and I will make sure you only know suffering until you return to my side."
"Kanami," Hiyori whispers whipping the sweat from the Minoseki Toji's forehead as she rides the helicopter to safety and watching her suffer and feeling so powerless to stop it.
"It isn't fair!" Hiyori grinds her teeth. "We beat her twice, and she still brings me pain! I will find her! I will kill…"
"Don't give in to your anger Hiyori," Yukari tells her. "Tagitsuhime wants you to go seeking her out, she wants both you and Kanami so don't go walking right into her hands."
"Don't give in to your hatred Hiyori," Kagari begged her daughter on her death bed. "Forget about Yukari Origami and the Aradama possessing her. Others will take care of it."
"But mother…" Hiyori tired to complain, but her mother wouldn't let her.
"Just be happy, Hiyori," Kagari tells her daughter. "All I want is for you to be able to smile every day."
"Don't give into you anger Hiyori,"
Her mother said the same thing to her the day she died and the Heijou Toji finds herself crying at the memory. Her mother begged her not to get involved, but Hiyori did the opposite attempting to kill Yukari without even considering that others might know about the Origami head was possessed or that an organization like Mokusa even existed. Back then she acted on her own, and Hiyori often wondered if her actions may have made things worse by disrupting some plan Mokusa had in place for dealing with Yukari. But then if she had listened, she would never have met Kanami, or Mai or any other of the friends she has now. Hiyori smiles slightly despite her tears remembering how Kanami throw away everything to help her escape and stayed by her side despite Hiyori's attempts to ditch her.
"Kanami fought by my side despite not knowing anything about me," Hiyori stares at the Minoseki Toji's contorting face with a heavy heart with one thought on her mind. "I can't lose her."
AN
Just to let you guys know I have recently released the first chapters of a Pokemon and Katana Maidens crossover called A Maidens Pokemon Journey following Kanami on her journey to become a pokemon master.
Summary:
Kanami sets out to become the greatest Pokemon Trainer who ever lived with the help of her partner Riolu, but along the way when she meets a certain dark-haired trainer, Kanami starts to want something other than to battle strong opponents.
If you are interested in this story, then please give it a read. I am open to suggestions for pokemon you wish the following character to capture on their journey: Kanami Etou, Mai Yanase, Mihono Asakura, Sayaka Itomi, Kaoru Mashiko, Ellen Kohagura, Hiyori Juujou, Kiyoka Musumi, Sanae Iwakura, Tagitsuhime, Ichikishimahime and Takirihime. (Tagitsuhime, Ichikishimahime and Takirihime are human in this story leading the villainous Team Aradama).