Chapter Forty-Four: …Turns into the Worst

Asuka jolted forwards just as something splattered the side of my face, falling to the stage boards lifelessly. Staring at her in horror, I vaguely heard the screams of the villagers, something about horses and soldiers. Numbly, my fingers touched my cheek, pulling away at the moisture they felt, my eyes flying to Mizu who was staring at me blankly, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around her. Taking charge naturally, Hanzo brought two fingers to his mouth, whistling just as the second shot rang through the air and sank into Masamune's shoulder. I hadn't even seen him move, but there he was, one hand tugging on Mizu's arm, trying to help her reach cover from the bullets.

Looking between them with a worried grimace, Hanzo slapped Saburo's shoulder, making him look away from Asuka's body, "With me! Sayomi, get them inside!"

Nodding as the boys ran behind the stage, where the shots had come from, I dropped into a crouch beside the Dragons, taking Mizu's arm, "You can't stop them." She finally whispered, making Master Katakura look up from where he was dealing with his boss. "It's happening again."

"Mizu?" When no answer came, I pulled on my hair, waving Chihiro over from where she was crouching for safety. Furiously signing until she took the huntress's other arm, I made sure they got moving before grabbing Master Katakura and telling him to help get Masamune inside. Before I could, another shot split the air above the screams, all of us ducking down further out of instinct, before with a single sound; it became clear we were safe from this one.

Behind me, Mizu's mouth was open in the most bone chilling scream I had ever had the misfortune to come across, but it was lost on Chihiro, who drunkenly staggered backwards and inspected the red blooming across her stomach for herself. Eyes widening, I jumped upwards, only just catching her when her legs gave. But the sight finally broke into Mizu, who swallowed and turned, pulling an arrow from her quiver and setting off in the same direction her brother had. "It'll be alright." I whispered, holding Chihiro close, because that's what you were supposed to say, right?

To my shock though, she pushed my arms away, forming words around the blood in her mouth, her hands too weak to sign, "Go…Go help them…" Nodding shakily, I set her back down again, pulling my sword free in the same movement. The battle was not sophisticated, and far from restrained, but I still managed to get between Kotone and a killing blow, the girl running when I bellowed for her to do so. Turning back to face the soldier with murder in my eyes, I pushed his katana away with mine, then plunged my wakizashi into his stomach, sheathing it as I turned to the next man. It had been two years since my last truly deadly battle, but survival instinct never dies. Still, my allies were beginning to fall all around me, and heartbroken, I knew we had lost.

Something suddenly smashed around my head, and whilst I tried to right myself, the gun's barrel stared me right in the face. Swallowing dryly, I let it lift my chin, feeling paralysis come over my limbs. The guy holding it grinned softly, his teeth reflected by the torches, "Sayomi Hiroto, Oda's little pet. Your head will get me that huge raise I've been waiting for."

I was going to die, but the thought calmed me more than it probably should have. At least I knew where I'd be going when that trigger was squeezed.

I'm not dying here. The thought came unbidden, and must've shown in my face because in that second, the gunman turned very, very afraid, "Y-Your eyes!" His finger pushed on the trigger, but the bullet flew into the sky, my hand holding the barrel firmly skyward. I had no idea how I was already on my feet or how'd I'd reacted so fast, but I didn't have time to dwell on it.

Luckily, Hanzo's naginata solved the problem for me, the man himself not far behind. Ignoring the impressive javelin shot he'd just pulled, he grabbed my arms, making me face him, "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine." I managed to breathe, "I've been in worse positions."

Acknowledging this with a nod, Hanzo bent and pulled his spear free, kicking the body back to the floor to get it off the blade. "It's going to be a long night." He growled, barely reacting to the circle of swords forming around us.

The fury in his eyes was reflected in mine, and without stopping to think, we whirled around, backs pushed firmly against each other as we prepared to leap back into the fray.


Dawn was slow in coming, and found us in staring at what was left of a village. Mizu had retreated into herself again, and I was holding Yori, unable to calm his crying. I couldn't fault him that, not after what Saburo had managed to report shortly before a bullet found him. Master Katakura wouldn't let us help with the aftermath, instead, he'd locked us in the Elder's house, the only building we could still be certain was stable. Some moron had knocked over the torches in the night and the fire had quickly spread. Hanzo and Itsuki had insisted on helping the Date, and he'd been allowed out to identify bodies, but Masamune himself pushed Itsuki back inside.

Three hours passed, some of the kids falling into uneasy sleep peppered with nightmares, and Ranmaru slipped in and out of the hall, carrying a bucket of water so we could wash and drink. Finally though, the doors opened a crack, Hanzo slipping between them and sliding down them, holding his head in his hands. Making to pass Yori to Mizu, I quickly thought better of it, handing him to Ranmaru who gave me a tired expression, but took the baby and sat next to Itsuki.

Hanzo looked up at my approach, setting his chin firmly onto his hands, "We didn't find any more survivors." I fell to my knees helplessly, trying to come to terms with it all.

So that was it. All that was left of Kodokuna village, the place we'd all called home, was a group of ten people, all under twenty one. Myself, Ranmaru, Itsuki, Hanzo, Mizu, Yori, Kotone, Hotaru, Mariko and Shiro. That was it.

Someone appeared behind me, pulling me back to my feet by my shoulders, then moving to do the same for Hanzo, "Right now, we can't let this swallow us." Mizu ordered, ignoring the incredulous looks we were both giving her, "Shiro and Mariko have family outside the village, they can go there."

"What about Hotaru and Kotone? Fuck that, what about Yori?" Hanzo demanded. "Face it, we're helpless!"

"Stop swearing, you'll scare them."

Unable to see the flames licking his sister's fingers, Hanzo just pushed closer to her, "More than seeing their fucking home burn to the ground you mean?"

"I just told you to stop swearing!"

"You're not the boss Mizu…You're not even a fucking shinobi anymore!" The slap echoed in the hall, my scream just a second behind.

Breathing shallowly, Mizu finally let her hand drop, waiting for her brother to turn his face back around, the horror in her eyes no less obvious. "You may be the only active ninja from this village left, but I never stopped being your superior, so don't you dare try to act bigger than you are!"

"We're getting out of hand. We'll all tired, hungry and not thinking straight." I stated, stepping between them. Mizu's hackles went back down, her eyes boring into me. "Those three will just have to stay with us for the time being."

"And what about us?" Hanzo muttered, the pink mark on his face blooming alarmingly, "Yomi, we have nowhere to go."

That's where we were all proven wrong. Before any more arguments started, but sadly not before Yori began fussing for milk (Hanzo and Ranmaru had worriedly looked at me and Mizu before giving up and running for the store) Master Katakura and Masamune appeared at the door, telling us all to start packing what we needed. Looking at them with wide eyes, the kids obeyed, sending worried looks at the three of us.

Taking Yori back off Ranmaru, I nudged him and Itsuki ahead, sending my own look at the siblings when we parted at the lane.

Together, we stared at the house, trying hard to see it as anything but the burnt husk it was now. "This wasn't how I saw the night ending." Ranmaru whispered, not even bothering to ask about shoes before stepping up.

"I hear you there."

"What should we take, Yomi?" Unable to think clearly, I just carried on looking around me, not registering the question until she asked again.

"What you think you can carry, okay?" Wrapping Yori's blanket tighter around him, I followed her into our room, running over my stuff with a careful eye.

Setting him down carefully on my bed, I pushed my trunk open, pulling out my bag and stuffing all the clothes I could still wear into it. A loud creaking distracted me, my head darting up just as Ranmaru yelled out a curse and dust appeared in the doorway, sent flying by whatever had just collapsed.

Frozen by the sounds, neither I nor Itsuki dared move until he poked his head around, coughing, "Ceiling beam just fell in. I'm okay."

Nodding in relief, I turned back to my trunk, finally placing Sakura on top of the fabric with my comb. Across the room, Itsuki managed to pull her hammer free and was steadily working on getting her clothes out. Wrapping Yori up in my cloak, and then tying the ends around my body, I carefully picked up my pack, moving into the main room to wait for everyone.

Standing alone made me realise that I hadn't seen Talon since the night before, and my mind began fussing, scared as to what had happened to him. But Ranmaru and Itsuki appeared in their respective doorways, seemingly wishing the house one last farewell before following me out into the sun.
Hanzo and Mizu were waiting for us at the edge of the lane, arms crossed and packs heavy. Neither of them spoke as we neared, and it was all they could do to avoid each others eyes. Without a word, the six of us trailed into the square, all silently wondering what the hell we were going to do now.


Kotone and the younger children were amazed by the size if the Date manor, looking torn between staying polite and staying in the room we'd been shown to, or running around the garden outside while screaming at the top of their lungs. Hotaru had no such conflict though, and she proceeded into the paradise at a slow jog, approaching one of the flawless flowerbeds curiously.

To the amusement of the soldiers playing with the other children, everyone else had a minor breakdown. Saburo's house had been one of the more colourful in the village, because whenever Hotaru came across a flower she liked, she picked it and brought it home. The anxiousness only increased when one of her hands moved from her body, stroking one of the petals happily. Getting to her feet in preparation, Mizu was about to pull her back into the house, but paused when Master Katakura came into view. From my spot in the doorway, I saw how his usually tense expression slipped, all because of the tiny girl in front of him. Still, it was only a matter of seconds before she tugged on the stem and came running back with it.

But to my surprise, she just leant forwards to sniff it, pulling away with a smile. Then she moved onto the next one, and the next, until Mizu finally recovered and went to collect her. "Leave her." Master Katakura murmured gently, still watching her, "She's not doing any harm."

Turning back to look at me, he gave a slight turn of his head. Nodding silently, I unhooked my legs from the decking and followed him, ignoring the inquiring looks from the others. Once we were round the corner, he cleared his throat awkwardly, "Two men have volunteered to take the pair you told us about across to their family. Thankfully they're prepared to take them on."

"Thank you." I whispered, bowing slightly, "And I'm sorry for the trouble we've put you through."

Master Katakura shook his head, fixing a stern look on his face, "Regretfully, it appears to be the other way around. Your friend, the girl with the fan…"

"Asuka." I filled in, "Her name was Asuka."

"Asuka was standing directly in front of Lord Masamune. It was just as she was rising that the bullet hit her."

He didn't have to spell it out for me. Closing my eyes, I let all my breath escape me, "It was a mistake."

"I afraid so." He said something else, I'm sure of it, but by then, my ears had closed themselves off, any and all sound snatched away as I digested the news.

Every ounce of adrenaline, everything that had been keeping me on my feet since yesterday morning just left, and before I knew it, someone was yelling my name, even as my head sailed straight for the boards. Something caught me around the shoulders, tugging me up just as I finally lost it.


She looks so perfect lying there, untouched by the years that should have reduced her body to nothing. It still unnerves Kingo though, that the girl lying before him looking peaceful was once a charred corpse placed in a coffin. Tenkai has said nearly nothing since the men brought her back from Kai, but the priest hasn't left her side, constantly murmuring things to her.

One night, it sounded as though he was almost bargaining with her.

Shivering at the thought and leaving the doorway quickly, Kingo heads for the kitchen, too scared to remain. Watching the warlord leave, Tenkai chuckles softly, the sound vanishing as he turns back to his daughter. "Tama…" He sighs softly, raising a hand to smooth her hair. The illusion he has managed to give to her wouldn't last long once she was awake, but when the time came, she should be able to pull it off for herself.

His thoughts turn to Sayomi, the little traitor. Of course, she wouldn't be so little now would she? In fact, it's October now, isn't it? Then in a few days, she'd be eighteen, and Ranmaru fifteen come July. He wonders to himself whether or not she's realised what gift she possesses yet, or whether she has the audacity to believe it's entirely her own skill that saved her neck against the rifleman.

A soft breathing gains his attention, his eyes widening as he looks back at his daughter, meeting her acid gaze, "Well Father." Gracia coughs, her skin turning dark and burnt again, "This is a surprise."

Unknown Source


A/N: Alright guys, I'm afraid that Memoirs will being going on hiatus now until I finish it completely. From here, everything is written with only vague help from the games and honestly, it's harder than I thought it'd be.

In the meantime, I've got a Tumblr account now (Just search for my username and it should come up). I'm open to answering any questions about the characters or plot so long as it doesn't give too much away. For the next few days though, I will be away from any form of internet, so if you do leave any messages, don't expect an instant reply.

Thank you to everyone still reading this, and I promise I'll do my best to finish Sayomi's story for you soon :)