Before the Night Ends
Chapter 2
Hizen sat among a patch of palm trees. Their leaves cast a shadow over the wakizashi. This was the only spot to take cover on the beach. How else was he supposed to have the advantage of surprise against his enemies? The beach was flat with grey sand and the sea flanked them on one side. This wasn't an ideal place to hide and kill.
Mutsunokami, of course, was the least stealth of them all. He ran in a circle, laughing and breathless, as a dog chased him. Koren, a white Cockapoo with black ears from the Ashina Citadel, barked and chased after the uchigatana. When Mutsunokami turned and ran after her, she dashed away in the opposite direction. They played this game for minutes. Didn't he understand they were at war with the revisionists? Why was he taking this lightly?
When Hizen manifested in a Time Government facility, shadowy figures hovered over him as he lie on the floor. His victims clung onto him centuries after their slayings; he reeked of others' blood, yet the iron smell didn't make him gag. One had to be human to be repulsed at the scent of death.
Hizen listened to the officials. His first assignment involved being an inspector for a mission in 1863. His form was created by a shiki imbued with his new master's powers, whose household he'd join. He had no choice but to be a part of this war in a new era. Now, he was on a beach watching a dog chase the treasure of the Sakamoto clan.
High-pitched whining sounded on Hizen's left. Rozuko, a blonde Cockapoo, held a tennis ball in her mouth. The horses at the Ueda Citadel stiffened or backed away from Hizen when he neared their stalls. They sensed all the deaths on him. Didn't this dog pick up on it too?
Rozuko dropped the ball on the ground and wagged her tail in anticipation.
If Hizen threw the ball, she'd retrieve it and come back to him. She might regard him as a companion. Dogs in the present were nothing like their predecessors, who roamed in feral packs about Edo. He waved her away.
Ookanehira whistled for Rozuko. She looked towards the tachi and then back at Hizen for one more moment. When Hizen didn't budge, she made her way back to the sunny side of the beach.
The tennis ball was left behind.
"Hizen Tadahiro," Sen called.
It was his turn. He sighed under his breath as he straightened up and went to her. She scribbled something on her clipboard as they stood by the shore. What was so important that she needed to record everything a sword did with Water Artillery troops?
A foot tall troop stared at Hizen. They always looked at their owners with dark beady eyes. They had no life of their own. Hizen wasn't sure if he was supposed to pity or envy them.
"Command your troop to fire," Sen said.
Hizen withdrew his sword and pointed it at the sea. He narrowed his eyes at the troop. "Shoot."
They faced the sea and positioned the gun. Water blasted out in a thin stream and low angle.
"You have to give specific commands." Sen looked up from her clipboard.
"Huh?" The noises of the barking dog and Mutsunokami's laughter grew louder, nearer to Hizen. It burned the tip of his ears.
"These troops have range," she said. "They need to be told where to aim."
Hizen commanded catapults and archery troops and knew how they worked. They punctured and crushed their enemies with arrows and boulders. What else was there to learn? The front lines were straightforward slaughtering.
If he objected further, this would drag out. He glared down at the troop and narrowed his red eyes. He angled the tip of his sword higher this time.
"Shoot upwards, full blast."
The troop adjusted their pose. The water that burst out was as thick as a stream. It arched and fell into the sea. Droplets rained down onto the surface of the sea.
Hizen could've figured out the potential of these troops on his own. What was the point of travelling so far out into the country to learn new things this way? The saniwa placed too much time and effort into preparing for their missions. Either he was slain or he'd slay others to survive.
Hizen stomped the sand with his heel. His footprints left groves on the beach wherever he stepped.
Koren and Rozuko are from my other series, Rose and Lotus. This is the closest I'll ever get to a series crossover.
Once upon a time, Edo (modern day Tokyo) had a lot of wild dogs roaming about due to an edict to not harm dogs.