Holy shit this one is the longest chapter so far. And I still wanted to add more but I have to settle with cutting the chapter as it is now and add the other half for the next chapter. Otherwise, it would be way too much to digest.
Word of warning: There will be a lot and a lot of dialogues. Because visual novels are all about dialogues. This chapter follows a lot like the visual novel Majikoi S' Koyuki Route. But I've made my own version of it. While this chapter has taken a lot of dialogue from Koyuki's Route, I also changed or removed some dialogues along the way. Apologies for any missed out grammar errors in advance.
Hope you will enjoy.
Chapter 16: The true Bushido Plan
Earlier in the day, the conspiracy was unfolding. In the Tama Bridge, three ladies in Chinese-themed black dresses scanned the landscape. The first was Lin Chong, a tall girl with violet eyes and long black hair tied at the bottom.
"Kawakami City. The hotspot of warriors and martial artists, it certainly lives up to the name." she said.
"Does it? So far all I've been seeing are a bunch of small fries. All those we've beaten, just small fishes." The second lady, Shi Jin, said. She was a little shorter than Lin Chong, with green eyes and brown hair tied up.
"Good things there're so many girls in this place, at Kawakami Academy." The third girl, Yang Zhi said. She had blueish white hair with similar fashioned clothes. She had a sly grin, "Imagine all the panties in that school."
"You never stop with that nonsense." Shi Jin sighed.
The three noticed someone coming up to them on the bridge, a woman in a military uniform and an eyepatch. Margit.
"Here we go." Shi Jin said, "Get ready."
"You three!" Margit called out, "Word is that three suspicious people are found on the bridge, it's always something about this bridge. Identify yourselves and state your business."
"Oh look who it is." Shi Jin smirked, "Eberbach Margit. The tonfa specialist of German Military."
"You know who I am?" Margit whipped out her tonfas. "Who are you people?"
"We are the Liangshan Yi." Lin Chong said.
"The Fighter Group from China, descendants of past heroes?" Margit asked.
"Ohhh you know us, finally someone knows." Shi Jin remarked. "All the targets we've been taking down had no clue who we are."
"Targets?"
"Don't ask us why. We're just hired to take down targets on a list. Good that you came to us, it will save us the time." Shi Jin spun her bo-staff.
Yang Zhi smirked with a drool, her cheeks tinted pink, "I can finally know what German Military panties is like. Huehehe."
Margit puffed in her battle stance, "Fiends! You all will fall at my feet!" she dashed in and savagely attacked her foe. Margit struck a kick towards Lin Chong, who raised her spear in time blocking Margit's foot. Lin Chong swung her spear up striking the blunt end into Margit's side but the German Hound brought her tonfa up to block. Margit was knocked back and skidded on her feet.
"Wah! That was kind of intense!" Yang Zhi commented, she has scanned her target.
Margit exclaimed proudly, "You will take this! Tonfa Kick!" she launched herself stretching out a tonfa and a foot.
"Tonfa Kick!" Yang Zhi copied Margit's move. She leaped ahead with bo-staff and foot stretched exactly how Margit was doing. With Yang Zhi's bo-staff having the length advantage, the Liangshi Yi warrior kicked Margit's leg away and her staff struck her head.
"Guh! Ahh!" Margit crashed into the road, she panted, "You copied my move?"
"That's what I'm about, mimicry. Fufufu." Yang Zhi said, "Perhaps you should have done your research first."
"Don't judge us too harshly," Shi Jin said, "but it's just the task you know."
Lin Chong stepped forward, "Whittling away your combat strength is our job. Stay down, you can't win this."
Margit wobbled up to her, her voice croaked out, "I…won't…lose so easily…" her senses had been dulled from their attacks, she was too late to notice the heat when a ball of fire was shot from behind. Margit was blasted forward, "Argh! Gah!"
Margit was flat on the ground, her uniform blackened and singed. She turned her head to see the one who deal the final blow, standing over her. Another Liangshi Yi warrior, a girl with scarlet hair tied in a ponytail. Her hands were ignited in flames.
Shi Jin sulked at the fire-wielding girl, "Eh no fair Wu Song. You just came in at the last second taking the win."
Wu Song, the pyromancer, gave her a look. She said, "You all were wasting time toying with her, we're behind schedule already." she turned back to the other redhead fallen on the ground, "Sorry Margit, but too bad for you. My flames have conquered you. Wu Song, pyromancer of the Liangshin Yi." she drove a fire coated fist into Margit's face, knocking her out. "Bag her and let's move out. We have to meet up with the others."
"German Military panties," Yang Zhi lewdly panted, "here I come."
Elsewhere, in a tunnel deep under Kawakami City, three Kuki maids were creeping through. Oshitari Azumi, Stacey Connor, and Lee Jinchu. The three had been sent to this tunnel by Kuki Ageha, it had been built by the Kuki Corporation long ago and till now this tunnel had not lost its dangerous vibe.
"Ehh this sucks," Stacey groaned, "why did Ageha-sama send us down here?"
"Weren't you paying attention when Ageha-sama briefed us?" Azumi frowned at her, "The police had investigated what they can in the Kuki Corporation in light of the Naoe murders. The Matriarch of the Kuki Family, Kuki Tsubone is making her pulls in the police force to drop the case."
Lee then added, "But Ageha-sama is not done. She wants every Kuki area investigated, that's why we're here."
"What the fuck?" Stacey cursed, "Does Ageha-sama really think the Kuki Corporation actually has something going on we don't know about?"
Lee got ahead and noticed something by the wall on the tunnel. It was red emergency alarm button. Lee glanced back at Azumi, "This doesn't add up."
"What are you talking about? It's just an emergency button." Stacey said.
"Yes, and normally you don't push an emergency button. But it's too clean, which means it's been used often lately." Azumi deduced.
Stacey grinned at that, "Oh, things are getting interesting." her finger on the button, "I'm pushing it." a section of the wall dropped down opening a path. "Whoa, damn a secret entrance? Where will it take us?"
"Let's go." Azumi led on. The three cautioned through the new dark tunnel, readying themselves for anything. The hidden passageway continued on for leagues. Accessing through one final security door, light returned to their eyes.
"Finally some damn light. Hate the dark." Stacey said.
"What is this place?" Lee wondered.
"The hell? There's a bunch of giant capsules lined up." She pointed at the science fiction scene. Illuminated giant tube capsules were arranged in row with bubbling liquid in them.
"Huh? What're they storing so much of?" Azumi asked.
Lee got closer to inspect one capsule, "There're names written on them." she read through a few of them, "Taigen Sessai…Hosokawa Fujitaka…Asakura Souteki…Shimozuma Rairen…they're names of heroes of the past."
Azumi crossed her arms and frowned, "These are clones."
"The fuck?" Stacey recoiled, "I thought the Bushido Plan comprised of four clones only."
"There's a whole army of them here, just waiting." Lee said.
Azumi shook her head, "Dammit. How did we miss this? Right under Kawakami and under our feet."
"We've been distracted recently. I must admit." Lee said.
A new voice suddenly came into the fray, echoing in this secret laboratory. "But it's hardest to see what's right under your feet, right? What a deplorable thing that is."
The three maids bunched up together in battle stance. They all recognized the voice. Azumi called out. "Marple!"
The rows of giant capsules, an elderly woman in a regal black dress appeared. She told them off, "Did you think I would be caught unaware that you have arrived here? How naïve. You're late, how deplorable."
"The Library of the Stars." Lee said Marple's title.
"No way! It's Number #2!" Stacey added, "This old hag's the mastermind."
"This is truly depressing." Marple sighed at them, "We carried out this work in Kawakami, and none of you had a clue."
"What the fuck are you planning Marple?" Stacey pointed at her demandingly. "Actually you know what? It doesn't matter because now you're screwed."
Marple huffed, "This proves you're still just a girl Stacey. I'm three steps ahead of you all. Once you entered the tunnel, I activated Order 66."
"Order 66?" Lee raised an eyebrow.
Marple had a twisted smirk, "Yes. If you're a film buff, perhaps it sounds familiar. Well, consider it a parody. Order 66 has been executed."
"!" Azumi gasped in realization, she took out her tanto knife stashed under her dress, "Stacey! Lee! Take her down now!"
Marple, however, was a step ahead. "Did you think I am so foolish to fight you three like this?"
She pushed a button on a remote in her hand. A trapdoor beneath the three maids opened and they fell in. The trapdoor instantly shut itself and Marple could hear the yells falling further away. Marple declared, "Hah, it has begun."
The three maids fell through the trench Marple dropped them in. Azumi thought quickly. She took out a flashlight she hid, shining light on the wall. With other hand holding her tanto, she stabbed her blade into the wall. Metallic screeches echoes through, sparks lit up the darkness. Azumi's fall was slowing. She shouted to Lee and Stacey above her, "Grab onto me!"
Lee and Stacey reached out, catching Azumi's legs. The three plummeted down slower just in time before crashing into the bottom. Their bodies rattled as they rolled on the ground to a stop. Though injured, they could still get on their feet.
"Ah fuck!" Stacey cursed while she rubbed her hip. "That hurts like shit! But we're still standing. Nice save Azumi."
"But now we're cut off. Too far away and no signal," Lee showed zero bars on her phone. "I'm guessing Marple dropped us down in the waste disposal."
Azumi gasped, "We have to get back up to the surface. We have to find Ageha-sama! Hideo-sama!"
Back in Kawakami Academy, Usami Kyojin was at the carpark unlocking his red sedan. With him was the school nurse.
"Let me get the door for you Komon-sensei." Kyojin smiled, opening the passenger door for her.
"Thank you Usami-sensei." The school nurse returned a smile to him and got into his car. Kyojin would not admit to anyone about this, but he followed an advice that was given to him. If constantly chasing Umeko-sensei went nowhere, then he had to try other things. Which led him to asking the school nurse out on a date. The two drove off for the evening.
A large percentage of the student body and the teachers were still in school for after-school activities. No one in school took notice of four people by the school gate. Three girls and one tall boy.
The three girl were in different sizes. One was tall and had long blue hair, second had shoulder length purple hair, the last girl was short and had red hair tied in twin tail. The guy had a tattoo on his arm, his black hair was long and he had sunglasses on his forehead. They were the Itagaki Siblings.
"This is the place huh?" The guy, Ryuhei asked.
"Correct," The purple-haired girl, Ami, replied "Take the Kawakami students and teachers down and round them up."
"This is going to be good hahaha!" The twin-tailed hair girl, Angel, laughed, "Can't wait to see their terrified faces!"
"Yay." The last girl, Tatsuko, had a sleepy look, "We're going to make money."
The Itagaki Siblings charged into Kawakami Academy. No one in the school could ready themselves when the attack happened.
In the Kuki Headquarters, Kuki Hideo and his friends were in the dining hall. Aoi Touma and Inoue Jun. Hideo still had a faded bruise mark on his cheek.
"I can still see the punch mark." Jun noted. "You were really walloped."
"I don't really need to know that." Hideo said, "Anyway, thank you for coming my friends. It's nice to be together like this once in a while. Considering things of late. An investigation from the police is something serious. I'd trust my family's integrity, but if there's unrest within the Kuki Corporation we must pluck it in the bud."
"Perhaps that's why your sister has been so busy this week. She's checking every nook and cranny." Touma said. "But let us hope you're overthinking things again."
"Indeed," Hideo crossed his arm, "It was our solidarity that allowed our corporation to become number one in the world." Hideo proudly proclaimed, "We must remain at the top, that we may guide the innocent to happiness. Internal rifts must be avoided."
After his proclamation, someone entered the dining hall. An old butler, white hair and mustache with glasses. Claudio Nero said to them, "…Those aiming for the top are ever befallen with trials."
Hideo greeted him, "Oh, Claudio. What is it? We did not summon you."
There was a glint in Claudio's eye, "This is one such trial, Hideo-sama. I ask for your patience.
"Claudio?" Hideo courteous smile disappeared.
"I have been ordered to seize your person." Claudio said.
"That joke is far more extreme than your usual ones; we cannot find it humorous." Hideo said unapprovingly.
"I do not jest, Hideo-sama." Claudio stepped forward.
Hideo was cross, "! We cannot believe it. A man of your caliber is…?"
"Oi, oi, what is this? What's going on?" Jun, the baldy tough man, stepped in front of Hideo and Touma, aiming to defend them. "The old butler I know is terrifying, but he always makes his master a fine Earl Grey. That's the kind of man he is. I can't imagine him rising up."
"My ears burn to hear it…But I must ask that you sleep." Claudio said.
"…! Old man, don't blame me if you get hurt!" Jun rushed at Claudio to pin him down, but the butler was beyond the baldy. It took only an instant. The aged servant grabbed Jun and threw him clean across the room. Jun laid on the floor knocked out.
Hideo exclaimed, "No! Touma, run! As hard as you can!"
Claudio, however, raised his hands up with threads tethered to each finger. "I laid wires while we were having our earlier conversation. Escape from this room is an impossibility."
Hideo shouted in retaliation, "Claudio you bastard!" he took his Chinese Kenpo stance, "HwatahhhH!" Hideo struck out his fists.
"Ohh! Well done," Claudio blocked Hideo's attack, "a zealous strike! You have moved me!"
Hideo spat, "That is not a line to say about an attack you blocked. Ugh!" a single, nimble strike from Claudio knocked Hideo unconscious.
Touma remained where he stood and surrendered. "I will capitulate without a struggle. I have no more strength than a daddy longlegs, you see."
Claudio nodded, "You have my gratitude… Now then." Hideo, Jun, and Touma were taken away.
In another part of the headquarters, a mother was bonding with her daughter in her room. Kuki Tsubone, a high-class woman dressed in a kimono and hair tied in a bun. And Kuki Monshiro, a petite girl with hair past her waist sporting a miko-like dress.
"That is the fruits of our studies Mother." Monshiro said, in the middle of a discussing with her mother.
"…Hmm. Well done in your progress." Tsubone smiled. "We bestow praise upon you. Well done."
"Thank you!" Monshiro squeaked treasuring the approval she had received from Tsubone.
Tsubone then said, "Continue to devote yourself as such."
"Uh, umm, Mother?"
"What is it?"
"Well…" Monshiro's demeanor turned a little shy, "Would you be willing to, umm-"
Abruptly, a servant entered the room, a man in the Kuki butler uniform and sporting short blue hair. Kiriyama Koi. "So this is where you've been. I must confess, this is an awkward moment."
Tsubone bore a confused look, "Koi? Why? You were not called here."
Koi dipped his head showing his sorrow, "Apologies, Tsubone-sama, Mon-sama. This pains my heart. But I must take you into my custody."
Monshiro was the first to confront, "! What are you saying?"
Koi then had a frown, "I am serious. Please do not resist."
"What?" Monshiro shrank a little.
Tsubone quickly got in front of Monshiro, "Step back, Mon! Look at his eyes-he is truly serious." The Kuki Matriarch called for help, "Anyone?! Is anyone out there?!"
Koi said, "Unfortunately, this is quite the large-scale plan." Gradually, Koi edged closer to the two.
Monshiro stepped forward, placing herself between Tsubone and Koi, "You insolent fool! Stay away from Mother!" Monshiro then said to her mother, "Mother, please flee! Leave this place to me!"
"Please refrain from pointless resistance, Mon-sama." Koi calmly said. But Monshiro exuded an intimating aura to him.
"I care not what happens to me, provided to Mother is safe!" Monshiro declared, as if ready for battle, "I'll use everything, here and now!"
"What?" Koi stepped back.
"If the possibility exists, then I shall awaken!" Monshiro shouted, but Tsubone intervened. Seeing a chink in Koi's defences, Tsubone threw herself onto Koi.
"Mon! Run, now!" Tsubone shouted to her daughter while she held Koi back.
"But Mother!" Monshiro cried.
"What sort of mother is protected by her daughter?! Run from here!" Tsubone urged.
Monshiro's eyes were glassy, threatening to release the beads of tears. She had to get help, with her mother's instructed she turned and ran out the room, "MOTHERRRRR!"
While Monshiro ran, Koi smoothly slipped out of Tsubone's grip. He cornered the Kuki Matriarch.
"Tch. Is that all I can do?" Tsubone lamented herself.
"Rest assured that I will not treat you roughly. "Koi said with adoration, "You moved me Tsubone-sama!"
"Huh?"
"You protected your daughter, as a mother…I am glad for that." Koi nodded, "Truly glad. Thus befits a mother!"
"Koi, you bastard!" Tsubone cursed him, "What are you after?!"
"When my ambition is realized, I will be sure to show you Tsubone-sama." Koi said, "To that end, I will even carry out jobs such as this." He then added, "Oh and please do not worry about Mon-sama…she will not get far."
In the corridor, Monshiro ran for the elevator. Her frail body was losing stamina too quickly. She panted out, "Got to get help. Got to find someone! Sister!"
Down the corridor, the elevator was just by the bend. She took the turn, only to stare down the barrel of a pistol. Monshiro turned completely white and frozen. Her trembling eyes inched up to see who was pointing the gun at her. A short black-haired woman in a lolita maid outfit, odd outfit for one holding a pistol. One of her eyes was cybernetic and illuminated in green.
The woman pressed the barrel on Monshiro's forehead, "Get back in there, worm."
Monshiro shook in fright, her brain registered the woman's instructed and her feet carried her back to her room.
Tsubone let out a gasp when her daughter came back to her. "Mon!"
"Mother!" Monshiro scampered to her mother's side.
The pistol lady entered the room, Tsubone held Monshiro close.
"Oh, good that you have appeared," Koi said, "Tsubone-sama. I believe you have already met Mimori Saki."
Tsubone's lips slowly parted in shock, "Saki...impossible…you're back…how could you do this? You were once a valiant solider of the JSDF."
Saki trained her cybernetic eye on the Matriarch, "I was, Tsubone. But that's a long time ago."
"We rescued you! We gave you back your eye! We restored you from your injuries while you were nearly dead because of your mission!" Tsubone snapped at her, "This is how you repay what has been given to you?!"
Saki aimed her pistol at Tsubone which got the Matriarch to clam up. Saki scoffed, "You talking about this?" she pointed at her cybernetic eye, "Don't paint yourself with your fake benevolence Tsubone. I'm just another experiment like the clones. To you, I'm just another company project. But keep lying to yourself and sit on your high horse, if it makes you feel any better."
"Wha- you?!" Tsubone stammered.
Saki then said, "But you're right about repayment. I am indebted, but certainly not to you."
Koi stood in front of Saki, "Mimori-san, your energy is quite the show. But I must ask you to restrain yourself."
Saki rolled her eyes and holstered her pistol, "Whatever just get this over with Koi."
Tsubone and Monshiro glared at them, helpless to resist when Saki and Koi manhandled them out of the room. The Kuki Matriarch and Princess were captured.
The Kazama Family gathered in their hideout for their Friday meeting. Kazam Shouichi, Kawakami Kazuko, Shiina Miyako, Shimazu Gakuto, Morooka Takuya, Christiane Friedrich, Minamoto Tadakatsu, and Kawakami Momoyo.
In the hideout, there were two guests with them, Matunaga Tsubame and Cookie 4.
"Ohhh this is pretty neat." Tsubame took in the sights of hideout interior making a cute spin around glancing everything. "And Cookie in the fourth form is a hot girl?" she beamed at Cookie 4, "That's so impressive."
"Thank you Tsubame." Cookie 4 greeted. The fourth form was a teenage girl with long purple hair tied in twin tails wearing a black and white jumpsuit. Cookie 4 was at the centre of attention with the Kazama Family admiring her.
"So what can this form do?" Tsubame asked.
"I am good at cleaning and making popcorn." Cookie 4 said.
"Oh like your first form huh?" Takuya pointed out.
The Kazama Family, Cookie 4, and Tsubame were deep in their conversation. Momoyo, on the side, had her thoughts drifting back to her previous day. Venturing to Naoe Holdings Tower was a fruitful one. She learned a lot over the week. She pulled out her phone to make a call, only to get a message that the caller is engaged. She sighed and put her phone away, turning her attention back to the group.
This Friday Meeting evening, however, was about to be rudely interrupted.
In the Kawakami Temple, the trainee monks were in their training routine with Lu leading the training. The Kawakami Temple was always assumed to be a stronghold, everyone dwelling in Kawakami thought the temple could not be attacked by anyone. That mentality would soon be wrong.
Standing before the temple were the Liangshan Yi warriors.
"Haha," Shi Jin smirked with hands on her hips, "I bet they'd never expect anyone to come marching straight for an attack."
"Everyone's set." Yang Zhi said,
"We're ready." Lin Chong tightened her grip on her spear.
Wu Song stepped forward with flames in her hands. "Commence our offensive upon the Kawakami Temple! Begin descent!"
From above, Liangshin Yi warriors had arrived from Kuki Helicopters. They repelled down onto the temple, catching the trainee monks unaware and began their assault. Lin Chong, Yang Zhi, Shi Jin, and Wu Song charged straight for Lu.
"What in the world?!" Lu Yi yelled in surprised. He was surrounded by the four ladies.
"Don't waste time on this. Let's go! Liangshan, attack!" Wu Song led the charge. A four versus one battle began.
The temple square was a violent battleground, the Kawakami trainee monks and Liangshi Yi fighters clashed with fists and kicks. The assaulters were a step ahead of the monks, one by one the monks beaten down incapacitated. The Liangshan Yi fighters invaded the main temple, Kawakami Tesshin was kneeling down stroking his beard deep in thought.
"Hmm, since everyone was exhausted when they attacked, we're being pushed back." Tesshin hummed, "The Liangshan Yi huh? They've exploited our pride, but I suppose that's our mistake. Although these attackers came down from a Kuki helicopter. Which would suggest this attack is the Kuki Family's doing. Have we done something to upset the Kuki Corporation? Anyhow, should worst come to worst, I can force them back alone."
Tesshin rose up from his seating position, the Liangshin Yi charged right in. A casual flick from his fist, and Tesshin pounded the intruders into the wall. More came to take him on. He stood there calmly, the attackers rushed him and he showed them the might of the Kawakami Grandmaster.
Back with Lu Yi, Wu Song lunged forward, striking a fist coated in fire. Lu Yi retaliated and threw his own fist as well. But Wu Song's power was beyond his strike. Wu Song's fist connected into Lu Yi's gut. The assistant master was knocked into Lin Chong and Shi Jin, both striking him with their spear and bo-staff respectively.
"Gaahhh!" Lu Yi shouted as he got smashed into the ground, but he quickly got back onto his feet. "You all think that this will be enough to take me down?" Lu Yi fought on hard, pushing the assailants back.
Yang Zhi challenged him, "Wow, so many techniques you've just displayed. Thank you for letting me copy so many techniques."
"Reproducing my techniques was also your goal?!" Lu Yi exclaimed.
"Next you're going to say that I can imitate the form, but not match the power?" Yang Zhi snickered.
Lu Yi raised one leg up, getting into a martial art crane stance, "Precisely!" he launched himself at Yang Zhi, pulling back a fist. "Take this! Storium Fire!" his aura almost looked ignited.
"Storium Fire!" Yang Zhi mimicked Lu Yi, copying his fist and imitating the illusionary fire. Both attacks collided into each other, the blast between the two auras canceled each other out.
"W-What?" Lu Yi was taken aback. "That can't be…" shock filled Lu's spirit. Wu Song capitalized the moment, a fire-coated heel smashed Lu Yi in the back of the head. "Gwaahhh!"
Lu Yi hit the ground face first. Before he could defend himself, the entire elite four delivered their strikes onto him, knocking him out and battered him up bad.
Shi Jin stretched her arms out, "Well that was a fun one. No trouble at all heh."
"Bag him and let's go," Wu Song ordered, "We've done our part already."
Lin Chong leaned on her spear, "There's still the grandmaster. He's still decimating our forces."
Wu Song twirled the fire around her fingers, "The Kuki Corporation has sent someone over."
"Who?" Lin Chong asked.
"I see the Liangshan Yi has taken down a good percentage of the forces here," a deep male voice appeared behind them. They turned to see Helling Hyumu. "Making progress I see. Even taking down Lu Yi."
"It's you," Wu Song said, "You're the one the Kuki Corporation sent?"
"Relax. My foe is to be Kawakami Momoyo. I'm merely here to observe until she appears." Hyumu adjusted his collar. "The one ending this fight has arrived; the commander of the clones."
Tesshin stepped out of the main temple, he had defeated the Liangshi Yi that tried to take him on. Battling so many foes, however, has drained Tesshin's stamina. Despite being the grandmaster, nothing was infinite.
"Good grief…getting old is a terrible thing huh?" Tesshin paused to catch his breath, "Hmm? Is there one threat?"
Very quickly, the final opponent arrived. Her presence exuded a tyrannical aura. Her voice was deep and commanding, "You insolent wretch. I grow cross, my interest wanes." she stepped into the temple square and pointed at the grandmaster, "Kawakami Tesshin, you are fairly exhausted. Me defeating you as such is an inevitability; would you not agree that is dull; you not agree that is dull you insolent wretch?"
Tesshin raised a brow, no one has said such rude things to him before. He said, "Now this is astonishing."
The opponent proudly replied, "I give you the right to fill a page in the chronicles of my Hegemony. Hah! Rejoice! Your efforts till now have been recognized by me, your monarch!"
"This your true personality? Seiso-chan?" Tesshin stepped forward. "Seiso-chan what happened to you?"
"Wrong. You are mistaken you insolent wretch. This persona merely slept; all else was wolf in sheep's clothing. This is who I truly am." Hazakura Seiso sized him up. Her eyes were sharper, her fringe hung down with bangs between her eyes. Her hand gripped her halberd, the Sky Piercer, ready to fight.
She raised her voice in her pride, "I am Xiang Yu! The Hegemon of Western Chu! My strength uprooted mountains; my spirit shadowed the world!" she pointed her halberd at Tesshin, "Ahah! If you wish to bow your heads, now is the time. I shall reward you by trampling them."
Tesshin gave a grandfather smile, "You got a bit of a cheek. Time for some discipline."
"Such backbone! I name it praiseworthy. Let such exultation be the pride of your children and your children's children!"
"Thank you kindly."
"A war has begun! Grandmaster of the Kawakami Temple, Kawakami Tesshin! Should you defeat, you will have successfully defended the temple! Fail, and so too fails your defences!" Xiang Yu declared loudly.
Now Tesshin had a game face, "That makes it nice and simple. So let's go." He channeled his ki and manifested a giant figure of aura, "Bishamonten!"
Tesshin and Xian Yu charged into each other and a clash of auras burst, everyone around felt the effect.
In the Kazama Family hideout, everyone felt it.
Kazuko was the first to call out, "Whoa! Th-This aura…It's from the Kawakami Temple? What's going on?"
"Never felt that before, just who is it?" Miyako questioned.
Yukie put on a serious face, "The pressure feels like it's crushing me…"
"I can feel it. Definitely from Kawakami Temple. This is bad." Tsubame added.
Momoyo shot up from her seat and headed for the door, "We have to get back! Come on!"
The Kazama Family and Tsubame rushed back for the Kawakami Temple. Shock and horror gripped them in their hearts. All the trainee were knocked out and Lu Yi was absent.
"…What the…everyone is unconscious?!" Miyako's eyes were wide.
"Whoa this is wild! It's like a massive took place!" Shouichi had no sense of timing.
Kazuko spotted her grandfather at the center of the temple square. "Ah! Gramps!" she rushed and held him in her arms "Gramps! Are you ok?!" Tesshin's loud snoring gave some relief to her, "Oh, y-you're asleep. Thank goodness."
"I can't believe it…Kawakami Temple has fallen…whoever attacked got their own wounded out. But who? Who could have done this?" Chris worriedly said as she tended to one injured monk.
"The…Liangshan Yi…" the trainee monk groaned.
Time passed and the night has just arrived. As the Kazama Family and Tsubame brought the wounded into the main temple and tended to them. Cookie 4 relayed the information on the Liangshan group. "A group comprising of descendants from legendary heroes in China's history. Headquartered deep in the valleys of China. Operating as underground mercenaries these days."
Worry took hold in all of them. None of it made sense to them. Why would this group of fighters attack the Kawakami Temple out of nowhere? Momoyo and Kazuko were kneeling by the grandfather snoring in a futon. About a minute later, his eyes opened.
"Raining bloomers!" Tesshin blurted.
Momoyo deadpanned at him, "What are you saying old man?"
"Gramps!" Kazuko squeaked, "Thank goodness. You're still the same old you."
"Oh Momo…Kazuko…" Tesshin muttered, he recollected his mind, "Oh that's right, we were attacked by the Liangshan Yi. How pathetic, we lost to our complacency."
"Your injuries don't look too bad, could have been worse." Momoyo held his hand.
"Mm, don't think I can carry out the fight at this point." Tesshin said, "Something major happening. It was not just the Liangshan Yi that attacked us."
"Who?" Kazuko asked.
The main temple doors burst open taking everyone's attention, there she stood with the moonlight at her back, and her silver hair flowed with the wind. Kuki Ageha stepped into the temple, fuming with clenched fists. "The Kuki Corporation."
"Ageha?" Momoyo got up and approached her. "What is going on?"
Behind Ageha were the three maids. Azumi, Stacey, and Lee.
"The maids from the Kuki Corporation?" Tsubame tilted her head, "What are they doing here?"
"We got jumped by our higher-ups." Azumi answered, dread plastered on her face. "We escaped and managed to find Ageha-sama on the way here, but no word from Hideo-sama."
"Nothing from Mon-sama or Tsubone-sama either." Lee shook her head.
"This is fucking bullshit." Stacey cursed, "We could have stopped this."
Ageha instructed them, "Azumi, Lee, Stacey, go help the injured." She turned back to the Kazama Family, "We were all deceived. The clones, the Liangshan Yi fighters, it's all part of a plan from Hyumu, Claudio, and Marple. Right from the start. Hyumu tried to take me down but I got out, with Kojuurou's help but he didn't get away though."
Ageha summarised it all, "Claudio and Marple must have had Kuki servants take over the Kuki Corporation. Monshiro and Hideo must have been captured, mother must have been too. The Liangshan Yi fighters were targeting our peers, and then they attacked here. Turns out Seiso is the Hegemon of Western Chu, Xiang Yu, sometimes called the strongest person in Chinese history. She defeated the grandmaster and brought down the temple."
Ageha took note that someone was not with the Kazama Family. Ageha got into Momoyo's face and demanded, "Wait. Where is he?"
"What?" Momoyo back away, "Who are you talking about?"
"You know who I'm talking about."
It clicked on Momoyo, "He's at his father's company."
"We have to get to him now." Ageha said with haste, "Us, the Big Four. You, me, Yukie, and Tsubame." Ageha stormed out of the main temple with the Kazama Family and Tsubame behind her.
They could not get another step in when a giant blonde bearded man stood in their way, Hellsing Hyumu. "Heh heh…you babies seem to be in such a panic huh?"
Tsubame eyes perked up in surprise, "Wow, I can't believe you've marched back here."
"Don't misunderstand me. I am a special envoy. I am not here to fight."
Momoyo stepped forward, "What kind of envoy has that glint in his eyes?"
"Hmph," Hyumu huffed, "That is none of your business. More importantly, Marple is going to give her speech on television. You'll be told everything then, including our objective."
"Hyumu." Ageha glared. "You…"
"If it isn't Ageha-sama. You have remarkable strength, still standing after our tussle." Hyumu smirked under his moustache.
"Planning to finish the job now?" Ageha bent her legs to ready herself. "What are you waiting for? Come at me then!"
"Rest assured there will no more squabbles between us. Marple's plan are already underway." Hyumu said.
Takuya took out his phone and checked out the news, it was appalling, "What's the meaning of this?"
"Did something happen Moro?" Miyako asked.
"I heard squads of servants are moving about in packs throughout Kawakami. Witnesses are reporting the news via texts and message boards."
Hyumu nodded at that, "Oh, those would be our forces. Those servants you ordered to be on standby Azumi," he pointed at the maid, "they answer to Marple, not you."
"Call the police then." Gakuto quickly said.
"No need, they are quite preoccupied at the moment." Hyumu said.
"What the hell are you thinking?" Ayumi confronted.
"You little babies with all your questions, Marple will reveal everything soon." Hyumu took out a laptop for everyone to watch the broadcast.
The screen showed a dining hall. There stood Marple, she began her speech.
"Everyone of Kawakami: Good evening. Please listen to this old woman's grumblings. I am Marple, once ranked second in the Kuki Servant Corps." she had a subtle downcast look, "Again: once. I said my farewells to that a little earlier." She sighed, "Why? Because I find it all deplorable. Not the Kuki household, but the world today."
Marple continued, "I am fond of the Sengoku and the Japan of yesteryear. I adore the word "Samurai". However, what of the modern era? The country rots as we live. In recent elections, haven't you voted for the least bad option?" Marple shook her head, "Yes. It is a tragedy that no leader has stood out from the pack." Marple's eyes went back to the camera. "And thus I had aflash of inspiration: Why not have the people of the past lead us?"
"…What?" Ageha processed what she just heard over the screen.
Marple then said, "Suppose the heroes of the past were revived in this era. What reforms would they make to change the world? Doesn't that make you excited? So I tried raising Yoshitsune and the rest. They proved to become exemplary children. I would continue to clone numerous heroes and have them guide Japan. A clone would fill every major office."
Marple's tone seeped with her confidence, "This is the true Bushido Plan. And it is already underway."
Back with the Kazama Family, the news held them in place. Takuya was the first to speak up, "The normal Bushido Plan was for us and the heroes to push each other to new heights."
"But this is something else." Yukie said, "The true Bushido Plan is complete dependency on the heroes."
"That's what the underground laboratory is for. All those test tubes in storage." Stacey added.
Back on screen, Marple continued her speech, "And the ruler who will govern the clones has already been chosen." the camera panned right to girl in Kawakami Academy uniform.
"I'm Hazakura Seiso." She greeted, "Um, well, everyone, I'm actually…err…" her demeanour changed in a split second. Her eyes sharpened and her hair turned a little wild.
"I am Xiang Yu." she stepped forward in a boastful puff, "Haha! I can see your looks of surprise! Hahahaha!"
Marple then said, "I'm sure you know of Xiang Yu's strength in battle. And she is as strong today as she was millennia ago. As you can see." The broadcast cut to the Kawakami Temple, the broadcast showed the battle that happened a while ago. They watched as the screen showed Kawakami Tesshin and Xiang Yu battling. Tesshin's manifested aura and Xiang Yu clashed into each other, Xiang Yu smashed through and she crushed Tesshin down.
"No way!" Kazuko gasped, "She beat gramps!"
"Her performance is certainly effective." Tsubame commented, "But it is clear she did not come out of that unscathed. She looked like she has taken a beating." Tsubame's expression resembled a curious cat, "I got to observe the enemy's attack."
Xiang Yu laughed out again, "Everything is in order. Hahahaha!" she then said, "Listen! Oh masses! I am ruler! And a ruler must have a castle! Come forth, my stronghold! Show your majesty to the people!" The broadcast cut over to a wide shot over a patch of land owned by the Kuki Corporation.
Stacey gawked, "Hey what the hell? That's at the Kuki factory sites!"
The land started rumbling like a violent earthquake, it started splitting wide like a trapdoor. In the trenches, it slowly emerged. A Japanese castle rose up and took over the land. The castle was grand, tall, and mighty with a golden hue of aura.
The show cut back to Xiang Yu, coming out into the balcony of the castle's top floor. "Hahahaha! This is my castle: Kawakami Castle!"
Silence swept over the Kazama Family and the survivors.
"What have you done?" Ageha whispered.
"Whoaaaaa!" Shouichi whooped and cheered, "That was awesome!" he had zero sense of place and timing.
"Will you knock that shit off?" Tadakatsu chided him.
"This is what you have been spending our resources on? All this time?" Ageha said.
Back to the broadcast, Xiang Yu carried on her speech, "Though my origin is Chinese, feel free to pay that no heed. Such talk regards my past self after all. My current self is Japanese, born and raised! In all I do, my country Japan will be made prominent!"
The screen cuts back to Marple, "Now then, you have witnessed our power. And soon you will witness our action. Action to remake this rotten country. We will be making a world where great men are fit to live."
She then added, "The Kukis cannot perform any foolish, meddling. Not when Tsubone-sama, Hideo-sama, and Monshiro-sama are captured." Ageha's fist clenched.
Marple continued, "Now we have established this. I have a message for the youngsters of Kawakami."
The Kazama Family, Tsubame, and the others stiffened at that.
Marple said to them, "Kawakami, such a treasure house of talents. I will give you this, you have forty-eight hours to report to the Kawakami Castle. We will employ you, indoctrinate you. And then, won't you join us in counseling the greats?"
Ageha did not believe in Marple's sincerity for one second, Marple continued, "Spinning it positively. I'm asking for your assistance; more simply, I am demanding your surrender."
Yukie's heart got to her throat, "You're unilaterally demanding our surrender?"
Marple smirked at the camera, "If you oppose us? Well, you've already seen the Kawakami Temple haven't you?"
"You've gone off the rails, Library of the Stars." Azumi spat.
"We shall be in the Kawakami Castle." Marple instructed, "Come to us. Whether you will rejoice in prosperity or despair in defeat, depends on what you choose." Marple added one last thing, "By the way, we have plenty of guests inside our castle."
"Guests?" Gakuto asked, "What do they mean?"
The broadcast switch camera to reveal the castle's interior, it looked just like a traditional Japanese house, only there were a row of prison cells by the wall. The camera panned through the 'guests' inside the cells. Students from Kawakami Academy were rounded up in a corner. Students from class 2-F, 2-S, and 3-F.
The first cell, there was Fukumoto Ikurou, the open pervert of class 2-F. Suguru Oogushi, the oktaku of class 2-F. Ogasawara Chika and Kuroko Haguro, the gossip girls in class 2-F.
"Get that camera out of my face!" Chika shrieked, "This is so embarrassing!"
"Stay away from her! Let out you asshole!" Ikurou shouted.
In the second cell, from class 2-S, there was Sakakibara Koyuki, the white-haired quiet girl huddled together with Aoi Touma and Inoue Jun. There was also Fushikawa Kokoro, the haughty girl in the class.
"You dare to keep us like this?!" Kokoro shrieked.
The third cell; there was Yaba Yumiko, the spectacled girl from class 3-F and captain of the archery club. Kojima Umeko, the homeroom teacher of class 2-F, was in there as well. In the cell, there were also Lu Yi and Margit. Both are out cold on separate beds, looking badly injured.
"How low could you fiends get? Attacking the school after hours." Yumiko glared.
"Listen students," Umeko said to the camera, "Do what you think is right."
In the final cell, there were the Kukis. Monshiro and Tsubone were holding each other close while Hideo was standing by the bars with arms crossed. Hideo stared at the camera, "You would show Us, the Kukis, captured? You despicable fiends."
Kiriyama Koi, the butler overseeing the prisoners, took center stage, "We took these hostages or the greater good. Possessing these hostages gives you no choice but to capitulate. Thus is the matter settled, bearers of samurai blood."
Marple got onscreen as well, "Additionally, the Kawakami Temple has fallen. Everything that served to protect you is now gone. We've given you our explanations. Now act like the modern youngsters you are and take the easy way out." Marple gave a toothy sinister grin, "And then, the elites will make for us a splendid country."
Back with the Kazama family and the survivors. The sight of the hostages crushed them.
"Ah! They got assistant master!" Kazuko yelped.
"Maru-san!" Christiane shouted, anger was ripe in her eyes, "What happened to her?! You hurt her?!"
"Whoa! They took our classmates," Shouichi said, "Damn this is getting to be some real crap."
"Even class 2-S got taken down," Gakuto shuddered, "ah hell this is not good."
"Fushikawa-san," Yukie said with concern, "please be ok my friend."
"Yaba-senpai," Miyako bit her lip, "and Umeko-sensei they got them good."
"This is insane," Takuya was almost shaking, "how could they nab so many people so quickly?"
"They must have attacked the school not long ago, once lessons ended." Tsubame deduced.
"Anyone that were still in the school then were taken." Tadakatsu added, "We were lucky."
"I'm so sorry Hideo-sama," Azumi despaired, "I failed you."
Ageha and Momoyo had nothing to add, taking in everything that was transpiring.
Hyumu got all of their attention again. He opened up a video call on the laptop he was still holding. He said to them, "You have a direct line. If there's anything you wish to say, it's now."
The laptop showed Marple onscreen again. She had a holier-than-thou look.
She greeted them, "Oh, look at this. Ageha, the Goddess of Battle, the Sword-Saint's daughter, Matsunaga's daughter, and so many other important people have assembled." The Big Four stood together.
"How perfect." Marple said, "Should you support us, everyone watching will obey as well. What is your answer?"
Ageha stepped forward, she turned back to everyone. "I assume we are having the same thoughts."
Momoyo nodded, answering for everyone.
Ageha gazed into the screen, "Marple, your ambitions end. Your schemes end. I could tell you why your beliefs are complete folly, but you won't listen. So hear this, you all have done enough damage and caused enough misery. We're putting an end to this, you're all done for!"
Everyone cheered in agreement.
Marple over the video call chuckled, "Heh…Heh heh heh. You truly modern youths: All bark and no bite." Marple shook her head, "My, oh my. How deplorable. Do you understand what you're going up against?"
The camera showed Marple's forces. There were the clones: Xiang Yu, Yoshitsune, Yoichi, and Benkei. There was a whole platoon of Kuki servants, including Claudio Nero and Kiriyama Koi. There were the Itagaki Siblings, they sneered at the camera. And then there were the Liangshan Yi fighters.
Altogether with Hyumu and Marple, it was an army far exceeding them in numbers.
"Do you wish to stand against this force?" Marple said, "Do you think there is a chance for you lot? You're cut off from any communications and you've no reinforcements. I'll ask again, what is your answer?"
"I'll say it again, you're all done for." Ageha answered, everyone agreed.
"You've may have a force, but let's see how far they can go against me." Momoyo stood beside Ageha. "You people attacked our home and hurt gramps. Did you really think that's acceptable to me?"
"How deplorable." Marple said, "Hahaha look at such as youthful hubris, you are distasteful."
Momoyo frowned at the insult. Marple then had a look like she remembered something, "I've missed out one last detail for you, Kawakami Momoyo. The Goddess of battles."
"Me?" Momoyo raised a brow.
"You speak of family loyalty, but you are the true disappointment." Marple leaned forward.
"What are you saying?"
"You have not been keeping in touch with your parents lately, have you?" Marple's eyes sharpened with malice. "You had no clue where they were. What an uncaring child."
Momoyo's eyes burst wide, her jaws hung. Fear and anger swelled up. Momoyo was about to lunge but Ageha wrapped her arm around Momoyo's mid-section, restraining her.
"Momoyo! No!" Ageha held her back.
"What have you done?!" Momoyo screamed, "Marple you bitch! Answer me!"
Kazuko brought her hand to her mouth, she started trembling. "No! Mom! Dad!"
Momoyo roared, "Marple! What did you do?!"
On the screen, Marple said to Momoyo, "Let us find out shall we?"
Tears were welling at each corner of Momoyo's eyes. Her heart hammered in the chest and her breathing was erratic.
Marple pulled out a radio set hidden in her sleeve and started pinging a call, "To Kawakami Gore and Momoko escorts, I trust you are keeping your specific 'guests' company." Hearing the names of her parents, Momoyo's guts were twisted up. Marple's lips twisted a smirk.
"Please break the bad news to poor Momoyo."
The brief second of silence held everyone still. But then, the answer came.
"I'd rather break you in half." A hellish snarl.
That made Marple cease her leering. Hyumu had a confused look, and so did everyone.
Except for Momoyo and Ageha. They knew the voice. Relief swept over them and Ageha released Momoyo.
Ageha stared back at Marple, "Vengeance has risen."
Momoyo could not contain her smile. "Yamato."
Hope you've enjoyed this one. Ok let's summarise who's in cahoots with Marple, who's has been captured, and who has survived 'Order 66'.
For the enemies, we have Marple, Claudio, Hyumu. Apart from the kuki servant grunts, there's also Koi. With Zozuma Belfegor and Che Dominguez (we'll see the latter two in the next chapter). We got the Liangshan Yi fighters. Yang Zhi, Shi Jin, Lin Chong, and Wu Song. And there's the Itagaki Siblings: Ryuhei, Ami, Angel, and Tatsuko. And then the clones: Yoichi, Yoshitsune, Benkei, and Seiso/Xiang Yu.
Who got captured? We have Hideo, Tsubone, Monshiro, Jun, Touma, Koyuki (Ironically), Chika, Ikurou, Oogushi, Haguro, Kokoro, Yumiko, Lu Yi, Umeko, and Margit.
Who survived 'Order 66'? Ageha, the three maids, Cookie, Tsubame, Kyojin, and the Kazama Family.
Yeah I'm omitting in the inclusion of the Tenjin Academy, because in my story they don't need to be there.
Where does Yamato's side come in? Next chapter.