A/N/ Hello everyone again. Chapter came out a bit late but still sorta on time. Still in the Kaneshiro arc. Nothing much to say I guess in this AN other than enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 19
The very next day the brothers, Ryuji, and Ann would scout out the land near the town. Yusuke would keep an eye on the camp while they were out.
"Morgana, if you would be so kind as to give Mr. Yusuke here your throwing knives while we are away." The younger Amamiya sibling went to his horse's satchel and took out four wrapped blades.
"Please be gentle with them," he said. Yusuke was greatly admiring the design of the hilt more than the blade.
"Fascinating, the intricacy of the handles patterns, along with the curvature, and…."
"Yusuke, you're doing it again," Ren pointed out.
"My apologies."
"No need, just be alert." Ren had grabbed a gun from his extra bag on Arsene and walked over to Ann. "Take this Miss Ann. While we are strictly doing recon it could be possible to run into trouble. I can offer you my spare pistol, think of it as shooting a rifle but shorter. Easy right."
"Okay," she said taking the gun. She tried to get a feel of it and relax as best as she could.
Ren hopped on his horse when their new guest walked up to him. "You sure your well enough to be up already?"
"I was getting antsy. You guys are heading up to Northsbury; I want in," Makoto demanded.
"You're recovering from being shot Miss Nijima, its not wise for you."
"I refuse to be useless, I'm going!"
Hopping down from Arsene, Ren goes to confront the young brown-haired woman. "You're not useless, you're hurt. There's a difference. I get you want some revenge, but in your state, all that's gonna get you is six feet underground. Now, are you going to rest, or do I have to use force?"
"I need to get to the bottom of this. My father's murderer is still alive!"
"You lost your weapon and you were shot!" Ren yelled back at her.
"I'll think of another way around. Let me through."
Sighing at the situation Ren had to go through the hard way, "Force it is then." The elder brother grabbed Makoto and lifted her onto his shoulder. Grabbing the rope he keeps on his horse, he goes towards the nearest tree and tied her up sitting down. She didn't go down without a fight.
"I would've like to avoid using force Miss Nijima but you've forced my hand. I can't have you running off injured and interfering with my mission." Tugging the rope around her hands, he was making sure it was tight enough to avoid escape but won't cause chafing around the wrist. "Miss Shiho, please make sure to feed our guest for lunch. I don't want her to starve. We'll be back in a few hours."
Ren and the others left, leaving the other combatants behind. Riding just a few miles from the town, they scanned the area for any guards nearby.
"Brother, bandits at 4 o'clock," Morgana whisper. They were held up in a tent down the hill. They each wore the same purple cloth on them. Gangs usually all shred something amongst them to show a form of unity. Whether that be a share in accents, clothing, facial features, etc.
"We'll go in non-lethal and hide them," Ren ordered. He and Ryuji snuck up quietly behind the two men and grab their necks. Putting them in a chokehold until the two bandits passed out. "That's handles that, let's hide them and keep moving."
The group of four continued on till they found the outskirts of town in a ravine. Taking a position on the hill looking over the town, Ren takes out a pair of binoculars for recon.
"I can see hired gun out in the open from this distanced," Ryuji offered.
"This is Northsbury?" Ann tried to take a peek from their position. They were crouched down to stay out of sight.
"I see about 14 guards out, 5 pathways in and out of town. Some defensive position on Main Street, but the Second Street could work for cover fire as well," The elder Amamiya brother pass the item over to Morgana.
"I don't know brother, the Second Street could funnel us in and we'll be sitting ducks. If you and Ryuji take the Third Street or Main Street, I'll have more room to pick them off."
"What about a compromise with Yusuke. Ren comes down Main Street followed by Ryuji on Third and Yusuke on Second. I could back Morgana while he focuses," Ann suggested their approach. Morgana and Ren look at each other as if the pieces were aligning.
"That's not a bad idea actually. Mona, make a mock-up map. I'm gonna recon some more. You're welcome to join Miss Ann." He had already recon with Ryuji and his brother before. It was time to give Ann some training.
Morgana took out a journal and made a sketch of the town's layout. Ren and Ann moved to another spot on the hill looking down to observed. He could see that each town member seemed tired and frightened no matter where the went. Shopping or walking past the guard made them nervous. Whoever they were up against had a stronghold on these people. They were extorting money, stealing whatever lively hood these people had left.
"Can't find our target, but I'm sure he's nearby somewhere," The older brother spoke out loud.
"Does he too have a code, like you known, like that other man?" Ann had questions back.
"Most likely within their own little group to keep the businesses going. But my informant wasn't able to get it. It seems things around here are very tight-lipped. I do have a rough description to go off of, I just feel a bit concern without a solid count of the situation. They spent another hour watching any pattern, any changes of guards. They notice they were a little bit sloppy, Ren observe, but the gang still needed to be on their toes.
"Let us regroup and head back to camp." Riding back to their hiding spot without incident, the older Amamiya brother gather around everyone to discuss the plan.
"Alright everyone listen carefully, Morgana has made a sketch of the town, study it carefully. We have about 14 guards that we can see visibly but we need to be prepared for more hiding around. We have about five exits in and out of town, however, based on the positioning of some stores, three of us can come in from Main Street, Second, and Third street from North to South. Its position in a ravine where Morgana will take a higher ground and provide cover fire. We need to do our best to minimize civilians casualties as best as we can. Ryuji and Yusuke will come with me. Ryuji, you will take Third Street and Yusuke will take Second. Think your throwing can handle that?"
"It's been some time since Madarame trained me in the art of the sword, I am still comfortable with the knives temporarily provided. Firing a gun hasn't been my forte."
"Understandable. But back to business," Ren says pointing South on Mona's sketch. "Morgana will use his rifle to pick off those we may miss and Ann will back you in case others sneak up on you. Once finished, we'll sweep the town for any stragglers. Any questions about the plan? Is everyone okay with it?
"20 guards," he heard. The voice came from their tied up guest. "I saw 20 guards there, 6 stood by the Town Hall almost at all times where their leader resided. If there's only 14, then he's out of town with his bodyguards." Ren had to admire he was impressed with her deduction.
"Thank you for your deduction, Miss. Once we have gone through town we'll cut you loose." Ren replied back.
"So you're keep me as your hostage. Typical outlaws. How do I know you're not working for Kaneshiro and plan to kill me once I'm free!"
The older Amamiya brother walked over and sat down in front of her with a smile. Morgana knew what that smile meant, the others wouldn't know but he did. Just another mask his brother wore to keep his emotions in check.
"Miss Nijima, the Phantom Thieves are far different from men like that. I don't like being compared to the scums of the earth. I consider myself a kind person Ma'am. I love my little brother, Boss, Futaba, and all the new friends I've made. Now if I was a more shady person…." She heard the click of his revolver and saw the barrel pointed below her chin. "Your head would've already been blown off. But I won't cause your in need of help. Also, I prefer not to have big sister hunt me down in case your body was found." Ren holsters his weapon and goes to untie her from the tree before going to his ending. Makoto stared at him oddly with his change in tone. One minute he seems like a kind gentlemen, but could snap into a rage the next. What the hell happened to him that would've caused it?"
"Don't look surprised Miss Nijima, I ain't heartless."
It was after supper that most of the gang went to bed that evening. Ann and Shiho shared a tent while Ryuji laid on bedding right outside, shotgun in hands reach. Shinya rested by the fire while Yusuke slept near his own steed. Makoto still hadn't regained all her strength and was using Ren's bedding. The only other people who were up were the brothers.
"There was no need to startle her like that Ren."
"I know, I just want to make sure this mission goes smoothly. I don't want any of you hurt."
"I'll have your back brother, so don't worry about it," Morgana said trying to offer comfort.
"I wouldn't if I didn't feel the chill down my spine again," Ren described. It always felt like a whirlwind of emotions at times and he didn't know how to react. Why he would put on a face sometimes. Either acting overly nice or stern. He was scared of helping people again, but he also didn't want to lose the kindness his mother taught him as a small child.
"Don't stay up too late, I'm going to bed," Ren said.
"But isn't that women sleeping your bedding?"
"Not the first time I've slept on the ground."
The group slept peacefully without any issues from the outside, from the inside of camp, the young injured Makoto Nijima moved as quietly as possible attempting to not startle the blond hair watcher by the fire. She waited till their leader and his brother both went to sleep before making her move. Moving to where the horses were tied up, she attempted to pull out Ren's pistol that he always kept in his extra bag. Arsene started neighing and huffing during her action.
"Ssshhhhh please be quiet," she whispered. Miraculously Arsene obeyed. She successfully took the pistol and holstered it in her own gun belt. It too had once belonged to her father. Crouching and moving silently, making little noise as she could, Makoto began to move away from camp.
CLICK
"You can't stay still can you, Miss Nijima.
A/N Thank you so far for all your support. Next week is chapter 20. YAAAAAAAY. As mentioned a few chapters ago, the new update schedule is on Thursday Imma stick to this as best as I can even with my new job schedule.
Thank you all for reading and feel free to review.
