"Get ready!"

Even as he raised his sword at the ready, his eyes caught the sight of another warrior behind the Ootachi. It was 'Nameless'... as the late Lord Oda Nobunaga had called him. How did the warrior even manage to come here—if he wasn't mistaken, he did see Honebami defeated the warrior earlier. But then again, unlike other Revisionists that they've cut down... Nameless didn't dissipate into dust when cut down. Still, how did—

But considering that the Ootachi Leader was here, he had to wonder if Nameless came here as an ally or an ene—buried his blade into the Ootachi Leader's side as the dark aura surrounding the large enemy dissipated.

"That guy, why did he—?" Yagen started to exclaim aloud beside him as Mikazuki heard the monster ask the warrior about their action. And he didn't need his keen ears to also hear the reply from the 'nameless' warrior as the smaller warrior shouted out his true name for everyone to hear!

.

Kurikara Gou.

That reminded him of something. Back then when he was following Lord Nobunaga towards the mountain, he caught a flash of light coming from the tantou that Lord Akechi Mitsuhide had taken out to defend against the demon warlord. And almost an instant after that, 'Nameless' had turned sides and attacked Lord Nobunaga instead.

So that explained everything. The reason for that young warrior to keep on fighting him even when he had been retreating away from Akechi. The young man had been trying to protect his former master...

"Kurikara Gou..." he spoke slowly, "... was Akechi Mitsuhide's—"

He didn't need to finish his word before everyone behind him started to figure it out on their own.

"—Is that so?" Yagen spoke again. "So that's why back then—!"

It made sense that Kurikara's dormant instincts to protect his former master was rekindled—since at the time Akechi Mitsuhide felt that his life had been threatened. Added to the fact Akechi had been holding the tantou with him at the time, even if that alone wasn't enough to fully awaken the tantou and broke the spell that bound the warrior inside the darkness... it was enough to trigger the warrior to protect their 'true' master from danger.

"How dare you use me as one of your tools!"

Of course, it was right for Kurikara to become angry at the Ootachi. Since the tantou warrior had almost been made to kill his own master back at Honnouji. If it had been him... or anyone else who had been in that situation, they would've also been outraged.

"Now everyone! Let's finish this."

xxx

They ended up rushing forward before surrounding the Ootachi in a circular position. No words need to be said... since their enemy was only one. He let the three tantou take the preemptive strike first, followed by Yamanbagiri and Uguisumaru to weaken the enemy further. And then Hasebe and Honebami launched a double strike to break the Ootachi's armour completely... leaving him to lay down the final strike.

It was a perfect attack strategy... to defeat a rather strong enemy. And he couldn't ask for a better team to have completed this mission.

But still... even as their last enemy exploded in a great blast, the damage they left behind did not completely disappear.

Mikazuki glanced up towards the sky as he noticed a new temporary barrier had already been placed around their citadel. The Time Agency has certainly worked fast. Guess that had to do for now until a new Saniwa would arrive to take over this place.

.

A sudden cloud hovered over his heart as Mikazuki thought of the previous Saniwa. Guess he'll be missing those casual banters that they used to have together. He sighed.

A hand suddenly grasped his shoulder as Mikazuki turned around in surprise. It was just Uguisumaru.

"You alright there, Mikazuki?"

He just shrugged. What else there was to react to anyway? They've successfully completed their mission, both in terms of the matter with Lord Nobunaga and regarding the threat on the citadel. They managed to do that and return here safely without losing anyone. That was certainly a joyous occasion... but they also lost their master on the same day. It was bittersweet... this victory. How should they celebrate or mourn this occasion without going to extremes?

"So... will you change your mind now?"

Mikazuki cocked his head at the other tachi as he asked. "What do you mean?"

"About stepping down from being an aide."

Mikazuki blinked at the green tachi. That... how long has it been since he last said that? It felt like a very long time had passed since then.

Will he continue being the Saniwa's aide now... seeing that he ended up surviving his last battle? Should he pass the responsibility to someone else instead or wait for the next Saniwa to decide on it? What should he do...?

"Is it that hard to decide? Or are you still feeling guilty about lying to our master before this?"

Mikazuki just stared at the tachi as Uguisumaru laughed at him.

"I've heard from the others about the incident with Lord Nobunaga. So THAT explained a lot, especially when you said to me last time how everything had been your fault." Uguisumaru gave a gentle bump on Mikazuki's shoulder as a friendly gesture. "Now since that matter had already cleared, shouldn't that clear your conscience about remaining as the aide? Since you weren't doing anything that betrays the Saniwa or the Time Agency?"

He shrugged. "I don't know..." said Mikazuki to Uguisumaru. "Regardless... I've done something to make people doubt my allegiance to the Saniwa. I don't think that that's the kind of behaviour a trusted aide should have—"

"Oi, Mikazuki... Uguisumaru! We're having another party after this!"

Both Uguisumaru and him turned their attention to Nihongou as the yari dragged poor Kurikara and the other youngsters back inside. Honestly, that was so random!

Uguisumaru started to laugh as Mikazuki stared at him in disbelief.

"Does that look like your team was still doubting your leadership and loyalty? Come on... it's not like you to start doubting yourself—"

Mikazuki just shook his head. "No. I've realised now that I'm still a bit lacking in myself. Perhaps I should let someone else take over as the aide for the time being—"

"What're you talking about, Mikazuki?"

.

Mikazuki just stared at Hasebe blankly as the ashen-blond uchigatana glared at him sourly.

"Who have you the permission to step down as the aide of this citadel?"

"B-but, Hasebe-kun... haven't you been complaining about how I've been keeping everyone from meeting the Saniwa before? So now that I decided to step down, you can always take over as the new aide—"

"That won't do!" Hasebe spoke again. "Now that the Saniwa had left, you're now the one in charge of this citadel until the next Saniwa arrives here safely. If you step down now, it'll be a disaster for everyone! I can't afford to take over such a big responsibility from you!"

Mikazuki just blinked at the uchigatana... at loss for words. And Uguisumaru wasn't helping since the tachi kept on laughing at him. He sighed.

"Fine... you two. I won't step down as an aide since that's what you guys wished.

Uguisumaru just smiled at him. "I'm sure everyone else would've also thought the same."