Authors Thought:

Hello dear readers back at it with another chapter.

This one was pretty interesting to write, as I had to take a shot writing combat with sword and bow, even going so far as to study minor bits of Japanese Warfare during this time period. Again, I try to write it so it's fast pace and fun for the most part.

As you've seen, there will be death in this volume, but again it's only with OC's that I've created, as I will never harm any characters in Girls Und Panzer directly, besides Miho getting punched. Let's not sweat the details, shall we? XD

This also might be the longest fight scene I've ever written too but was way fun once it was done and I'm so happy to get it out to you all.

Thank you to Neo-byzantium and jesse112 for your recent reviews.

Thank you to those who continue coming back to read this series, I very much appreciate giving some of your time to read this story.

So let's get to reading, and do enjoy.

Till the Next Author Thought.

"Not far now my lady," Michiko said, as she and Nakano walk through the woods to the bandit camp.

They were lucky the moon was high in the cloudless sky now, illuminating their path before them. While they had left Nakano's horse behind, so it would not give away their presence as they inch ever closer to the bandit camp. Every so often the sound of raucous laughter could be heard in the distance, with it getting louder the closer they got. Nakano felt her heart squeeze every time there was the sound of laughter, thinking it might be the screams of the women they had taken captive.

Though she was on a mission to save these women from their fate, great shame fill the Nishizumi's heart. For their clan had an obligation to protect their people from the horrors of banditry. There had been a time when the Nishizumi clan had been fear across Japan as warriors, masters of horse archery, and deadly with their katanas.

That time had seem to have passed after Nakano's father had returned home from Nobunaga's war.

He had returned without her brother…

For he had drowned to death in the Battle of Tedorigawa…

Nakano remembers her mother crying for days over the loss of her son…

With that beginning the fall of the Nishizumi clan's power and influence with it…

"My lady we're here," Michiko said quietly.

Bringing herself out of her thoughts of the past, Nakano focuses herself. The two women took a point of observation behind a tree, some distance from the camp still that was illuminated by many campfires.

Another physical ability that Nakano prided herself in, was her excellent vision. She could always pick out objects at extreme ranges, with no child or even adult able to outdo her. Her father would always challenge his men to try to beat Nakano spotting things in the distance, to which they always failed and her father would always have a good laugh at them.

A pleasant memory of who Nakano's father once was, not the battered man he was now.

Focusing herself again, Nakano, Using this enhanced vision, now sweep the camp over. The first thing she pick out was the small house that lay behind the camp. Nakano remember a rich merchant family had lived here, the Kawano family if she remembers right. Though they had abandoned the home when the Nishizumi clan's power faded and bandits would roam free through their territory.

Another reminder of her family's failing house.

Pushing the self-loathing away, Nakano concentrates back on the camp. The sliding doors of the house were closed, while the rest of the rouges were sitting on the ground floor in front of it, keeping close to their fires trying to keep warm as the night air became colder around them. Peering more closely, Nakano could see they were arm to the teeth as Michiko had said earlier.

Spears, katana's, sickles, and maybe a bow or two. The bandits themselves were light dress as well, with just simple kimonos and hakama's. Some had added leather armor parts to their chest and shin guards as well. Yet for the most part, and thankfully in Nakano's mind, there was no one wearing Dō armor, the heavy scale cuirass that was hard to puncture sometimes with sword and bow.

Nakano knew this well since the Nishizumi clan always train their soldiers to wear heavy armor to protect every part of them so that they could always advance through a hail of arrows and swords. They were considered by most to be the most heavily armor samurai in all of Japan, earning the nickname, Aiantaigāsu, the Iron Tigers. They even went so far as to add under armor parts to possible weak points, though it would weigh them down, the men were trained to move in it like it was made of feathers.

Though Nakano always favor lighter armor, so she could move to fight freely, using speed to win duels, rather than sheer might and armor.

After giving the bandits a headcount, Nakano number them at 34 men. Not great odds for her, but then again she had the element of surprise on her side.

"Alright," Nakano said, turning to her companion in a hushed voice. "You stay here, I'll deal with them."

Michiko look for ready to argue for a moment, but nodded, trusting in this warrior to win. "Yes my lady, please be careful, there is a large bandit amongst them, larger than any man I've ever seen. I saw him cut through a man earlier, with enough strength to break his sword."

A nod follow the response from Nakano, as she spoke. "Don't worry, I'll be careful."

Feeling resolute, Nakano went forward. Her steps were light as a felines, moving between the trees to get closer to her goal. With her bow in her left hand, she reach back with her right to take a couple of arrows from her small quiver. It only held 6 arrows, which were fit in snugly so as not to make noise as she creep forward.

Soon she reach the edge of the camp, the fires of the camp just barely illuminating near the edge of the tree she was using for cover. The smell of cook meat wafted through the air, making Nakano's mouth water since she only had a small breakfast that morning. Pushing her desire down, she pull a single arrow from her quiver, then she nocks it in her bow.

A few practices pulls with the arrow against the string, let her know once more it wasn't going to snap. Now all there was to do was go into action, against a large group of men who weren't afraid to kill, but justice had to be served.

Nakano took a deep breath, as she mentally prepare herself for battle, with the words her clan lived by in combat.

Your bow is you, the arrow is your will, make its aim true and never miss…

When your katana is drawn, only ever advance with it, and only sheath it when the enemy is defeated…

Never before…

For our wills are iron, our hearts are steel…

For Nishizumi's go forward always, and never take one step back…

Opening her eyes now, Nakano felt ready for the coming battle.

Quickly, she lean around the tree, pulling back the arrow against the string, hearing the thread strain under the pressure. Nakano never lost her form, drawing the bow with only her thumb, pulling the string high and just past her ear. She picks her first target, a man who was standing and flailing around like he was dying from something, that seem to only get his comrades to laugh harder.

He was to be the first to taste justice.

Letting her instincts take over, Nakano lines up on the man, holding her breath, remaining calm before the coming storm. Then she loose her arrow, which flew out of the darkness into the illuminated camp, flying true over space. Finally finding its home in the man who was flailing around, who was again making fun of his former comrade's death, now was receiving an arrow to the heart.

The flailing stop, as the bandit fell backward from the force of the arrow, and was dead before he hit the ground. The remaining bandits all stop their laughter and drinking, staring at the dead man, seeming not able to accept the reality of what just happen. Finally, they snap into action, letting out cries of anger and cruses, drawing their weapons and turning back in Nakano's direction in the shadows, but their heads turn left to right, wondering where the assailant was.

"Your bow is you, the arrow is your will, make its aim true and never miss," Nakano said quietly to herself, nocking another arrow, then pulling it back against the string and focus in on another target.

She pick her target, then loose another arrow, that found another bandit holding a spear. The aim was deadly, as the arrow found the same spot as the last victim, right through his heart, while falling backward into the earth. With second of their band dead, now the bandits began to call challenges to the shadows for their foe.

Nakano ignore the calls, now moving from her position to find a new tree, not wanting them to start honing on where she was. Keeping to a low crouch walk, she weave between the trees, occasionally looking to the bandit camp to watch her foe's movements, smirking as they were just shifting around in place, brandishing their weapons to the hidden foe, but not moving to find her.

Finding another tree to fire from that put her at the flank of her enemy, Nakano quickly nock another arrow, pull back, and loose. Another precise flight follows the arrow, guiding it to puncture another bandit side. He had been holding a katana too high, exposing the spot where his heart was, which the arrow found in quick succession, making the man jerk from its sudden impact, then slumped forward dead.

Just as she was nocking another arrow, the sliding door to the house slam open with such force, it shock Nakano that it didn't break entirely. Coming through the opening, an imposing man towering over the rest of the group. With a large thick black beard, coupled with his messy black hair. He was built like his arms and legs were made of tree trunks.

"What the hell is going on out here!?" The large man roar.

His men, who were already on edge, now were felt fear pierce through them, knowing how angry their boss could be, especially if his fun was being ruined at the moment.

One of the men was brave enough to reply. "Boss, someone's firing arrows at us, they already kill Tanak, Masao, Inejiro."

"Damn it!" the large man said, then turn his head left-right, scanning the edge of the woods around the camp, and spoke. "Whoever you are! If you're here to play hero I'll tell you now to knock it off, before I start killing the women!"

Nakano had just about pulled the string back on her bow to kill the large man when said man reach into the house. He pull a woman with light brown hair out into the open, her kimono she been wearing looking rip to pieces it seem like, while tears ran down her face, doing her best to cover herself up as best she could with her damaged clothes. The large man then wrap one arm around the woman, while the other hand drew a katana out to place the cold steel against her neck.

"I'll say this again! Stop playing hero before I kill her! And don't worry I got more girls to kill if you want to test me! For I am Yukimura the Bear Devil!" The man roars again, proclaiming his reputation.

That name, the very name Nakano knew well. A name that many in Japan knew, Yukimura the Bear Devil was considered to be the largest man ever seen, with the strength of ten men. He was said to have kill skilled samurai with ease, while also butchering the innocent. Some rumors said he was once trained by a great samurai, but kill him in his sleep just because his sword master had been too harsh on him during training. If that were true, then Nakano knew this man had no honor and would stoop himself to any level to win.

"You think I'm messing around!" Yukimura yell, pressing the blade more into the poor women's neck, drawing some blood, making her cry out.

Damn! If only I could have put an arrow in him before this, then his group of bandits would lose heart. Thiers no choice for me now, will have to get up close

Nakano thought, then sigh in frustration. Unnocking her bow, she place the arrow back in its quiver. Then slowly walk out of the shadows, revealing herself to campfires that illuminated her, she decided to keep her hood on for now. Yukimura's men all turn to her direction coming out of the woods, leveling their weapons at her, while their faces were a mix of anger and amusement, glad their boss had stop them from getting killed, and now were ready to pay this wannabe hero back.

"Well, well, the hero comes out of the shadows. Now drop the weapons and let us see your face," Yukimura said, keeping his blades against his captive's throat.

Nakano decided to pull her hood back to reveal herself. As the hood drop, Yukimura and his men gasp at the sight that their opponent was a woman. Their shocked faces made Nakano smile, as it was something she was used to whenever her foes realize her sex, to which amuse her to no end.

"A woman! And a beauty at that!" One of Yukimura's men said.

There was a round of agreements from the rest of the band who eye this woman over with raging lust in their eyes, though they were reserve about approaching her, especially after three of their comrades had fallen to her already.

Yukimura himself just grunted, then spoke. "Alright little lady, drop the weapons. Then I'll give you to my men to make up for killing some of my boys, it's only fair."

In that moment, Nakano took a deep breath, ignoring the suggestive comment by the bandit leader that didn't scare her. Since none of these men would be touching her, the only thing they receive from her was cold steel and the fury of the Nishizumi fighting style. Nakano look slowly over Yukimura and his men, reaching out and letting her sixth sense take over as the storm of combat was going to be in full rage soon.

The Kage no hon'nō now came into effect, the ability that Nakano rely on.

She didn't know where or how this ability came to her, but it was there. It was only made know to her when Nakano began to learn the way of the sword, the way of the Nishizumi fighting style. Her teacher Hachiro Morikawa, always said her instinct to know when her opponent would strike was something he had never seen before, no matter how deceptive the master swordsmen was, Nakano could at least parry him, though, without proper form, Nakano was nothing more than a flailing sword fighter.

Hachiro made sure to remind her of his, that she was nothing without discipline and form. When her father return home in disgrace from abandoning Nobunaga's campaign and Nakano's brother was dead as well, she devoted herself fully to learning. There were struggles and times she wanted to throw away the thought of holding a sword to protect her family, but she remain persistent till the day Hachiro, with great trust in her growth, place a real sword in her hand and told her that she had earned the right to hold it.

Now would be her time to continue to prove Hachiro's trust in her was well placed.

After examining all of her foes. She made up her mind, trusting in her abilities to win, but first, she needed to save the hostage before any harm came to her or the other women in the house.

Turning her head in Yukimura's direction, Nakano spoke to him. "My name is Nakano Nishizumi, daughter to Lord Masahiko Nishizumi, protector of these lands you have sullied with your presence. You are to answer to the destruction of a village not far from here while kidnapping the women. If you all lay down your arms, you will be given quick deaths."

The men around Nakano were silent for a bit, then they all begin to laugh loudly, pointing at the proud warrior as if she said the funniest jest ever told. All the while Nakano didn't grow angry or frustrated that they weren't taking her seriously, if anything she was glad they were taking her as a threat lightly.

Yukimura who was laughing the loudest began to calm down. He took the blade off his captive's throat, then pointed it in Nakano's direction as he spoke. "Well boys, she's royalty. That makes her more valuable for a ransom, so take her alive and will make her father pay us enough to never have to raid a village again. Thiers a good trade-off little girl."

Chuckles from Yukimura's men follow the idea, as they eye Nakano up and down, seeing a big payday in their future if they capture her. Then most likely break the deal and still keep the girl with them, just to add injury to insult.

All the while Nakano smile at her foes, as she spoke. "I think you will find that venture quite difficult."

A scowl follows the response from Yukimura as he reply back. "And why's that?"

"One of your boys try his hand at me, this was the result," Nakano said, then reach into her kimono, pulling out a cloth that was bloodied from Nakano slitting the bandit's throat from earlier who was tormenting Michiko and kill Keita Fukaya, the young boy who never wanted to be a bandit, but these men had made him one by force.

She then toss the bloody cloth on the ground, while all the bandit's eyes were drawn to it.

"Just so you know, he died begging for his life, just as I expect when you spineless lot fight someone who knows how to fight back," Nakano challenged.

That challenge was met with more furious looks than earlier, as the bandits all eye her with deathly intent. Though they care very little for one another, as a bandits' life could be snuffed out quickly and violently, sometimes by one another. Yet they were bonded together by their desire to do evil, and if one of their own was kill, they would want to get even.

"You're going to pay for that one," Yukimura said through gritted teeth.

Nakano smirk at the man as she spoke. "Oh, I don't think so."

In a flash, Nakano nock an arrow, pull the string and loose an arrow. There was little time to aim, but trust in her aptitude for the bow. Which her skill was put on display, as the arrow flew past the bandits who were shell shock by the sudden action, with the arrow aim at their boss. Yukimura's eyes went wide as he saw the arrow flying at him too fast to react. The arrow was on target, but Nakano had to pay for her snap fire, as the arrow imbedded itself in Yukimura's forearm holding his sword.

To his credit and Nakano's astonishment, Yukimura didn't yell out in pain, instead, he simply look at the arrow that had pierce his forearm, then back to one who had fired it. With his face popping with veins in pure fury at his foe, for what she had done to him.

"Take her! Rough her up a bit, will still get our money!" Yukimura yell, while throwing the girl captive back in the house, then shoving the sliding door closed.

Thanks for letting your emotions get the best of you

Nakano thought, having bank her hitting him with a arrow to anger him enough to focus on her and forget the hostage, which had work out.

The bandits charge Nakano now, raising their weapons to strike her, though they make sure not to kill, she would get some harsh treatment for hurting their boss. Quickly Nakano nock another arrow, which she snapshot at her nearest foe, with the closer distance letting her be more accurate as the arrow found the midsection of the bandit coming at her with a sickle, who went down clutching the area in horrid pain.

With just enough time, she pull her last arrow from her quiver, nock, and loose quickly into a charging bandit, hitting him in the leg that made him howl in pain, dropping his weapon to hold his thigh, gripping the damage area in intense pain. Now out of arrows, Nakano threw her bow to the side, as she undid her ties around her neck and let the cloak fall to the ground.

Underneath, she wore a blue kimono with white snowflakes sewn into the fabric, with a black hakama for lower pants wear, lastly cloth socks and woven sandals.

Lowering her stance, Nakano brought her hand over the hilt of her katana, unsheathing it in quick succession as her foes came on. The first foe came at her with a spear, thrusting it forward to pierce her, to which the young Nishizumi answer by sidestepping the clumsy over thrust that put her within his guard, with no way to retaliate, Nakano quickly brought her blade from her left to slice the man's throat.

While another kill that night for her fell to the earth, Nakano press forward into mass who were surprised by her bold push. The next man slice at her with a katana, which was met by Nakano's parry in a middle guard stance, as the ring of steel echo with each parry. A sudden feeling of danger came to Nakano, to which she parry away another of the katana thrust to turn around to meet another bandit coming up behind her to bring his blade down on her from an overhead slash.

Quickly Nakano switch to a mid-stance, thrusting the blade forward at the man who had to now answer because of his overzealous overhead swing. Nakano's blade pierce through the cloth of the man's kimono deeply, then she pull the blade out as the man shrill at his demise falling to the ground, holding his pierce stomach.

"What the hell are you all doing!? Get her!" Yukimura yell from his spot on the porch, watching this woman decimate his bandit group.

The group responded by pressing forward with more vigor to get their foe, trying to bull rush Nakano and use their numbers. Yet they were met with precise side swings from Nakano who parry away some of their spear thrust and sword swings, stunning the bandits as she dance away, seeming to know their every move and thrust. They weren't proficient at using their weapons, but they were confident in their limited skills and numbers to overtake one opponent, though much to their dismay, this opponent was only proving how deficient they were.

After parrying another spear thrust, Nakano was beginning to feel fatigued catch up to her. No matter how nimble she was, there was a lot of energy she was using to keep this large group back, whose numbers were starting to tell for her. As she couldn't overextend herself or risk catching cold steel in her body. For a moment the bandits discontinue their assault, leveling their weapons at her, as they move to completely encircle her now.

Looking left to right, Nakano eye them, wondering who would be first. There was anger in their faces but also fear. They fear her, as she was singlehandedly taking them on while having already gave 7 of their comrades the taste of a Nishizumi's wrath. Their morale had to be low, that only needed to be broken completely and they would run.

Turning her eyes back to the house, Nakano eye Yukimura, knowing he was probably the only reason they were sticking around to fight so long. They fear him more than her, with her thought being if he fell now, the rest would lose heart and scatter.

Knowing her objective, Nakano charge forward, now using the encirclement against the bandits who were thin out, rather than bunch up. She slash at several of them to her front, making them parry clumsily, while being beaten back by the finer sword handling of their foe. Nakano quickly punch a hole in their line that she ran through, heading straight for Yukimura who was astounded by her persistence.

"Fire at her!" Yukimura said, yelling down to a bandit who had to stay back with him, holding a bow.

The bandit quickly nock an arrow, then drew back the string, while aiming at the hard-charging girl. Lining up on her, with the distance so close, left little error for the bowmen, even as his nerves were waning as the girl got closer. Finally, he loose the arrow, that's aim was true, coming on straight for Nakano with little time to dodge its flight.

Relying once more on her intuition, Nakano move like a sudden flash of lighting, bringing her katana up just as the arrow was about to reach her, she flash her sword in an upward motion. The metallic whine rang in the air, as her sword connected with the arrow tip, sending the arrow upwards, spinning for a bit, then gravity brought it back down to earth, and clatter across the earth.

"She…she…she….she deflected an arrow, in-flight…" the bandit said in bewilderment, still holding his bow, whose own shock was matched by everyone else.

Nakano wasted little time, coming forward over the open ground with deadly intent. The bandit threw his shock away, along with his bow, as he reach to draw his katana. That proved to be too slow, as Nakano close the distance before he could react, as she made a precise slash across the man's hip to his shoulder. He fell backward dead, as Nakano now climb the small steps to the porch of the house, with Yukimura backing away a bit holding his sword to her.

"You are a quite skilled little girl, but now you face me. Stand back boy's, I'll deal with her, then have her afterward," Yukimura said with a smug look, having ripped the arrow from his forearm earlier.

A round of dark chuckles came from bandits, who all felt better that their boss was going to deal with this girl who had been making mincemeat of them so far. As their confidence in their boss who could cleave someone in two with a simple swing made them confident that they had nothing to fear.

Nakano eye the large man who tower over like a bear, though the only resolution remain in her eyes as she spoke. "Though the only thing you will have of me, is steel in your belly."

A chuckle from Yukimura follow the response. "Now, now, will have to break that fighting spirit of yours."

No more words were shared, as Nakano took a mid-stance, holding her katana in front of herself. Yukimura didn't bother with any stance, simply letting his katana in his right hand lay to his side. Slowing Nakano inched forward, keeping her sword in front of her, wondering when her opponent would strike, but the large man simply seem content just staying where he was.

Like a sudden flash of lighting, Yukimura swung his sword at her, catching her somewhat off guard, with only the screaming warning sighs giving her a chance to parry. The ringing of steel echo loudly across the camp, as Nakano took a couple of steps back from the blow, with her hands holding her katana feeling the impact of the strong sword swing, while just keeping it from flying out of her hands. It was made evident to her now, how strong her opponent was and that she couldn't trade steel with him if she wanted to survive.

"Come on, you were so flashy back there. Now that you met a real swordsman, you are going to show your true colors?" Yukimura boasted, feeling confident.

Not bothering with a response, Nakano press forward now. Using her speed, she made several cross and side slashes with her katana, making Yukimura curse as he parry them away, but for all his strength, the quickness of the attack was getting him off balance, as he pull back from the swings. Feeling she had the momentum back, Nakano now press her blade forward several more times trying to get the opening she wanted to beat this beast.

Yukimura growl in irritation at the young girl, who was making him look foolish in front of his men. After checking another slash from Nakano, the burly man grip the sword in both hands, then put the full force behind a slide slash. Again moving faster than a man his size should.

Though Nakano had let her intuitiveness predict the sudden attack, seeing the swing before it ever happen. Dropping to a low crouch with her knees touching the wood panels, the strong strike miss completely over her, only slicing a bit of her long ponytail. Yukimura went wide eye now, as he had overextended his strike. With Nakano pushing forward too close for him to retaliate, with the sword coming in an upward cross strike.

Just when it seem like she would finally take down this terror, Yukimura did something unexpected. Reaching out, he grabs the blade, his meaty hand taking the force of Nakano's precise swing, which didn't have enough power behind it to cut through. Blood drip down the blade, as Nakano, look on in disbelief as Yukimura was holding her blade in one hand, looking down at her with a smug look.

Before Nakano could pull the blade away, she was met by a sudden sharp pain. As Yukimura brought his head down, butting it against the young girl's forehead. In an instant, Nakano was seeing stars and felt herself falling backward onto the wooden panels. Though Yukimura didn't let this happen as he grab her by the collar of her kimono with a bloodied hand that had caught her blade earlier.

"You thought you could take on the Bear Devil girl?" Yukimura said in amusement, bringing Nakano close to his face, with the smell of alcohol on his breath was making her nauseous.

Getting a hold of her senses, Nakano brought both hands up to try to free herself from the large man's grip, but prove a difficult venture. All the while Yukimura just look on feeling great satisfaction at how powerless the young girl was before him. He make her pay for all the trouble she caused him and his men.

"I'll break you first, then give you to the boy in our group, that should brighten him up," Yukimura said, then turn to his band. "Someone go find the boy!"

One of the bandits began to walk off but was stop when Nakano spoke up. "His name was Keita Fukaya and he died fending off one of your men from harming one of the women."

That made Yukimura tense up, turning to look at his captive with clinch teeth. "You lie."

Now it was Nakano giving off a smug look. "I don't, he was never truly one of you. He was an honorable boy, a real samurai. You kill his parents, I'm here to avenge that tragedy, along with the other horrors you and your demons have committed in this world."

"Big talk from a girl who's about to be my plaything," Yukimura said, his face flush with red with anger.

"Big talk from a man who's going to die here tonight," Nakano said, doing her best to antagonize her opponent.

The antagonization seem to work, as Yukimura adjusted his grip on her kimono, giving Nakano the moment she needed. Quickly she brought her face down to bite hard into the large man's hand. A howl of pain escape the man's lip, as the teeth tore into his flesh, making him let go of Nakano's kimono. Now free, the young woman made a grab for her fallen sword, but never reach it as Yukimura in his rage state, grab her by the back of her kimono and with a forceful tug, threw Nakano off the porch.

The feeling of being weightless only lasted a few moments, before gravity drag Nakano back to earth, as she hit the dirt on her back. A sudden pain grip her, but Nakano didn't waste time, as she quickly roll over to get on her feet, which prove to be just in time as Yukimura's men came forward now, now facing a unarm opponent.

Looking at the bite mark in his hand, only made Yukimura angrier, then turn back to his men. "Enough with playing around, kill her!"

The bandits all nodded their heads, then approach slowly, leveling their weapons once more to their foe. While Nakano raise her hands in a fight stance to them, even if she was unarmed, a true samurai practice hand-to-hand combat, to be ready for any situation. Though the situation was asking a lot of her when there were more opponents than she could deal with.

Finally one of the bandits had lost patience with waiting, coming forward first to kill their foe. A katana was brandish in his hand, and quickly he swung it in a downward cross with as much force as he must, but only air was what he slash at. As Nakano had again anticipated the slash, slipping away, then spinning around to bring her elbow right across the man's nose.

A horrible crunch follow the blow, with a yelp of pain as the bandit grip his nose that has been crush. Using this moment of distraction, Nakano rip the katana from the man's loose grip, then put him down with a quick slash across the midsection, making the man spin away and fall into the ground.

"What the hell? Even unarm she is dangerous," one of the bandits in the group said, the fear evident in his voice.

Nakano felt herself grin, then look to the group with bandits Katana pointed to them. "I am a Nishizumi, my strength is beyond you, lay down your arms!"

The conviction in this young women's voice, made some of the bandits back up, thinking they might be in over their heads, while they were starting to believe the rumors of this tigress who had made it her job to hunt and kill them. Seeing his men fall back, made Yukimura growl, knowing he was losing his grip on them as they fear this girl now more than him.

"Don't back down! You run and when I'm done with her, I'll come for you! Now get in the fight!" Yukimura roar down to his men.

Whatever courage these bandits had left, was lifted by their leader's frightening words. As they came forward again, weapons level to kill this woman, though they were more cautious than before, looking to take their time to surround her once again, this time did not leave themselves to thin out.

Damn, I made a good boast back there, but I'm at my limit

Nakano thought, with her arms and legs feeling the strain of combat, while she was also feeling dizzy still. Most likely a result of the headbutt from Yukimura earlier, that was leaving her on shaky legs. Watching the bandits surround her again, Nakano wonder what her best option was, but was drawing blanks.

As finally, the bandits completed their encirclement, they all waited to move. Eyeing the young warrior with intensity, as they inch forward slowly to her. Looking left to right, Nakano held her sword in both hands near the right side of her face, ready to meet her foe again, though it might be the last time she swung her sword.

"MY LADY!" A voice calls out from the darkness of the woods.

All eyes turn in the direction, just as a few arrows came flying from the shadows, striking some of the bandits with deadly precision. They quickly fell to the ground dead from accurate arrows that added chaos to the ranks of the bandits.

Then they came from the shadows, like a group of demons, the moon only illuminating their katanas that's pristine metal shine bright. Coming into the camp, were ten black-clad samurai, wearing all of their armor and headgear. While three horse riders came around them in similar dress, while they had bows in their hands that were nock with arrows.

One the black clad warriors roar. "KILL THEM ALL!"

"HOOUUUUAAAAHHHHH!" The Nishizumi warriors reply to their leaders order, coming forward to do their duty.

A sigh of relief escape Nakano's mouth, as her guard was coming to the rescue. "Glad they finally caught up."

Even with them outnumbering the enemy, some of Yukimura's men wanted no part of this and made a break for it, while others by whatever compel them to stay, charge forward to meet the black-clad warriors. Steel was cross and curses rain down, with the occasional cry of pain from dying man. Though it was all of the bandits dying, as they were no match for the well train samurai of the Nishizumi clan.

Seeing her chance to go after Yukimura, Nakano press forward into the chaos, she was met by a bandit who still had some fortitude in him. Though not the skill, as she met his blade, checking his inept swings, then slip a wild swing, following it with a slice across the stomach. The bandit fell screaming in pain, but Nakano care little as she press on back to the house.

Yukimura was standing on the porch still, in complete disbelief that everything was being undone. This group was his largest gathering of bandits, which had allowed him to be bolder than usual with his raidings, which were now being slaughter by the Nishizumi warriors. He was brought out of his stupor as Nakano came up the steps of the porch to him, with a side swing. Quickly Yukimura reacted, blocking the blade with his, but back up as he was off-balance, and went crashing through the sliding door, shattering under his weight.

Quickly scrambling to his feet, Yukimura ready himself, watching as Nakano walk into the single-room house, brandishing not just one sword, but a second sword, her sword that had been knocked out of her hand earlier. Crossing the blades, she eye Yukimura with a death stare, but then her eyes were drawn past him, to a group of women huddle in the corner of the room. They clung to one another, trying to protect each other, which made Nakano cautious as she didn't want them to get caught in the fighting between the two of them.

"You are going to pay for hurting them," Nakano said, her voice like a low growl.

"Tch, you should just be happy you got here when you did, I was about to have my fun, but you had to go and ruin it," Yukimura shot back, gripping his katana in both hands.

"You won't touch them or any other women again, you die here," Nakano said, lowering her stance while holding both katana's at the ready.

Yukimura didn't waste any more time with words, coming forward with a diagonal strike, to which Nakano nimbly dance away from. Seeing the large man unbalanced, Nakano came forward again, alternating strikes with both blades, that Yukimura was just able to parry with, but speed was not on his side, and neither was his form. After an awkward parry, Yukimura didn't have time to block the second incoming swing that cut into his chest some making the large man grit his teeth in pain as he fell onto his back, while losing his sword in the process, that clatter away on the wooden floor.

Fighting through the pain, Yukimura raise himself up to look at Nakano coming towards him for the finishing blow, with no way to counter. For probably the first time in his life, Yukimura felt fear, when before he never met an opponent who could make him feel this way, but here this girl was about to end his life when so many before paid the price for crossing blades with the Bear Devil.

It can't end this way

Yukimura thought as he shuffle backward from the approaching warrior, it was as he was backing away did his hand touch something. Looking over his shoulder he saw a bag of flour, which made him grin. Making sure to get a good grip of the bag, he forcefully threw it at Nakano who slice it open, with a white cloud spreading in front of her.

Before she could react, Yukimura came flying out of the flour mist, knocking the blades from Nakano's hands, while gripping her throat in his large hands. Then lifting her up in the air while choking her. Nakano did all she could to get herself out of the man's grip, but with her windpipe being crush, she could do no more but struggle feebly.

"Let my lady go!" a voice challenged.

Turning his eyes away from the women he was choking, Yukimura look to one of his captives, the one earlier he had been using as a hostage, now holding the bandit's katana Nakano had been using, that now the young lady had in her hands that were shaking.

"Put that down before you hurt yourself," Yukimura said, his earlier fear gone, seeing this girl as no threat, compared to the one he was choking.

"I said let her go!" the shivering girl said, her voice though strong in her conviction to help her savior. She then came forward to strike the man who had destroy her family and village.

"Damn!" Yukimura curse, while trying to dodge the strike from the girl, since he had no weapon to counter. It was while doing this that his grip on Nakano lessen, giving the girl the chance to win.

Raising her foot up, Nakano slam the bottom of it as hard into Yukimura's face, breaking his nose that cause the man to drop her completely, bringing his own hands up to stem the bleeding. While the girl who had taken Nakano's sword, now came again, to kill her tormentor and avenge her family.

Even in a daze, Yukimura saw this and brought his hands from his face to backhand the young defiant girl. The force of the blow sending her onto her back, with sword lost in her grip clattering onto the wooded ground of the house. To which Yukimura now pick up ready to strike down the girl.

With little time, Nakano pick up her own katana quickly, then interpose herself between the girl and Yukimura's downward swing to parry the large man's swing. The blades clash and echoing as they came together. Then it happen, the poor blade in Yukimura's hand shatter against Nakano's finer steel, making the large bandit leader go wide eye.

"N-," he try to say but was silenced as Nanako's blade flash across his throat.

Yukimura didn't even bother bringing his hands ups to stem the loss of his life force, instead, he fell to his knees, while his eyes remain on the very person who had ended his life. As his vision began to fade from the loss of blood, he might have hallucinated in his final moments because of his life force leaving him.

Since he didn't see the young girl who had kill him, but a tiger looking at him with large eyes, its fangs bearing towards him in defiance, and roaring to announce it had won this fight. That was what Yukimura saw in his last moments before the darkness took him forever.

As silence took over, only the heavy breathing of Nakano remain in the house. Looking over the Bear Devil who had finally gotten justice for what he had done. Flicking her own blade to get the blood off, Nakano then turn back to the hostages.

"Is everyone alright?" She asks in a soothing tone.

The women all voice they were ok, while now coming out of the corner towards her. Nakano turn to the young girl who had taken up a sword to fight and had given her a chance to get out of the hold of the large man. Holding out a hand to her, Nakano help the young woman to her feet.

"Thank you, if you hadn't done what you did, he might have killed me," Nakano said to the women.

"Yo…you were fighting so hard to protect us, I couldn't just stand by, I already did that when he and those men kill my family," the woman said, tears falling silently from her face.

"I'm sorry," Nakano said, then turn to the other women, while getting on her hands and knees to bow to them. "Please forgive me, forgive me for not protecting you as the Nishizumi clan should. For I may have saved you, but I didn't save your loved ones."

This made the women gasp, to see a royal member of the Nishizumi clan bowing to them. Each of them turning to one another wondering what they should say or do, but they were dumbfounded on the answer.

"You save us, my lady," one of them said, making Nakano raise her head to take in the sight of the oldest woman in the group.

"You put your life on the line for ours, even though you could have easily left us to our fate. Though I will grieve for my fallen, I will be thankful that I am saved, along with the rest of the women of my village," she said.

Slowly Nakano rose to her feet, while all the women bow to her gratefully for saving their lives. It was just after they were done bowing, that one of the black-clad armor warriors of Nakano's guard came running in, with others as well.

"Lady Nishizumi, are you alright?!" the warrior said in a frightened state.

Turning around, Nakano smile at her guard. "Okabe, I'm quite alright. Did we lose anyone?"

The young warrior step forward, his eyes drawn to the large man that was dead on the floor first, then brought them back to his lady. "No, we kill all the bandits. Are you hurt in any way?"

Nakano wave her hand. "Just some bruising that will heal, I'm glad you caught up."

"My lady, you purposely ran from us, worse you took on all these bandits alone. If you were killed, I could not handle the shame of letting Lord Mashiko's last child die under my watch," Okabe shot back.

"I'm sorry Okabe, but you and the rest of you were ready to leave them to their faith. I would not be able to live with the shame if they were left to the horrors these men would have committed on them," Nakano argued.

Okabe open his mouth to argue, then closed it with a shake of the head. Knowing there was no use fighting against his lady who was as stubborn as her father.

"Very well, let us get back on the road. What should we do for the women?" Okabe ask looking at them standing behind Nakano.

"We will escort them to their village, so they can pray for their loved one's soul. Then will decide from there, also where is Michiko? The girl who guided me to this camp," Nakano ask.

"She is safe with one of our men," Okabe said.

"Good then let us get a move on. Leave the bodies for the wild to have, these monsters deserve that," Nakano order.

Okabe bow his head. "Yes, my lady."

Then he left, with Nakano guiding the women out of the house.

Though they had said they had forgiven her, Nakano could see some of them eyeing her with hatred, because her family, who once protected their people with great vigor under Tora Nishizumi, now was allowing bandits and other rouges to do as they please. While there was still the threat of other clans invading their land and end the Nishizumi clan once and for all.

Nakano knew something drastic had to change, or her family's days would be number. With warriors in short supply and her father's health worsening, it was only a matter of time before another clan try its hand.

Yet, whatever befell them, Nakano would charge forward, for she was a Nishizumi.

The victory was all that was going to keep them from total destruction, so victory would be all that matter to her in end.

No matter the cost to herself…