Story of Kusanagi-Sama
War of the Gods

Chapter 4:
Tenshi Tension

Shiitsu stood across the room from Kykoko, sword drawn. Both stared each other down, neither losing to the other in this battle of wills. After a few moments, sweat began to appear on either's face. Both were determined to not wipe the sweat away. The sweat began to roll down their faces, carressing their cheeks. A small bead of sweat hang off the edge of their chins, precariously situated. Whomever would show first signs of weakness would fall.
A bead of sweat fell from Kykoko's face.
At once, Shiitsu leapt, a war-cry on her lips, at Kykoko, who raised her sword and parried Shiitsu's sword. They clashed blades, trying to get a hit in. They both fought fiercely, neither showing any kinds of weakness.
Shiitsu, of course, knew where Kykoko was weak, having trained Kykoko from a very early age. So, Shiitsu began to swing her sword more passively, hoping that Kykoko would press the attack. She did. It was Kykoko's one most glaring weakness: she always became aggressive when her opponent began to slow down in a fight. But, before Shiitsu could slip through Kykoko's overaggressive attacks -
What are you two doing? asked a voice in their heads. They turned, and saw Kusanagi standing there, a look of bemusement on her face.
"Well," said Kykoko. "We were just having a little sparring match, Kusanagi-Sama."
"Yeah," said Shiitsu. "To prepare for the upcoming battle."
Almost immediately, Kusanagi smiled warmly and said, To relieve tension, more like it. Do not worry; you are not the only two Tenshi I am sending to take out the Three Generals.
Kusanagi put a hand each on their shoulders, and instantly Shiitsu and Kykoko felt all the tenseness leave them as they felt the touch of a Deity. As they watched Kusanagi walk off, they decided they had better get to the Tenshi Warship, the Sakaseyu, that would be leaving for Mazhyeri Fahnsi shortly.

"And the Soldier Warbots are..." queried Mha to Gii-Sha.
"Skeletally thin, lots of visible wires, five foot six," recited the tiny Rabbit Tenshi.
"And the Trooper Warbots are..."
"Big, bulky, blaster on one arm, spikes over eyes, six foot nil," said Gii-Sha, clearly bored out of her skull.
"And the Captains are..." said Mha.
"Seven foot nil, shield instead of left hand, blaster fingers, nose- mounted blaster," and before Mha could ask of the next highest Warbot, "And the Commander has six spider legs, twin laser gatlings, spiked shoulders & fingers, and is ten foot nuttin'," said Gii-Sha.
"And what do all four types have in---" asked Mha, but was interrupted by Gii-Sha. "Velocilaptor claws on their feet," said Gii-Sha, who clearly knew the whole routine by now.
Mha saw the look on her face, frowned, and said coolly, "You're acting like this whole thing is pointless. Doubtless, all the different Warbots will be guarding the Three Generals' construction site, even the Commander."
"I know that," snapped Gii-Sha. "But you're always doing this, even if I fully know exactly what we're up against."
Mha prepared to cut Gii-Sha's face with his claws, but hesitated. "Sorry," he said, "I'm just very tense right now."
"About the Three Generals?"
"Yeah," nodded Mha. "Me, too."
You have no reason to be, said Kusanagi, walking up to them. There are, apart from you, about 100 Tenshi going on this mission. Murasaki will be leading you in battle, whom you know is second only to me. Ga'an D'Zuro is going as well, and he has served well as a Tenshi. He is also very wise, and will offer you some advice. Do not worry... and Gii-Sha and Mha felt the tension and fear in them lift, not just as Kusanagi put a hand on their shoulders, but at the realization that Murasaki was Commander of this mission.
Now, it'd be best if you got on the Sakaseyu soon, said Kusanagi. It will be leaving for Mazhyeri Fahnsi in just ten minutes.
Gii-Sha and Mha both jumped quickly and bolted for the Tenshi Warship, the Sakaseyu.

Kumo sat nervously at his station aboard the Sakaseyu, pulling at his hair. Whenever he saw a loose strand of hair in his fist, he just dropped it. He barely noticed Ga'an D'Zuro walk up to him.
"Oh. Hello, Master D'Zuro," said Kumo glumly.
"What is it, Kumo?" But he needn't have asked that question. "The Three Generals, right?" asked Ga'an. Kumo paused, then nodded slowly. "Somehow," mumbled Kumo, "I feel like this trip will be the death of me..."
Ga'an picked one of Kumo's hairs off of the dark floor, examined it, and said, "But nervousness does not mean that you must pull out your hairs. How can you be nervous of something that you have never seen before?"
Kumo turned to Ga'an, "What if the Three Generals are as bad as their project name suggests? What if they're worse than that?"
"Well, we'll find that out when we get there, won't we?" said Ga'an, placing a comforting hand on Kumo's shoulder. Although his touch wasn't that of a Deity's, Kumo's tension left him and he felt comfort in the fact that several of the best Tenshi who ever surrounded him...and Kumo himself was trained by one of them. Kumo returned the gesture.
"Well, if we survive this, Master D'Zuro," said Kumo, calm once more, "Have a nice retirement." For this was going to be Ga'an's last day as a Tenshi, then Kusanagi would allow him to retire and live the rest of his life in peace.

The Sakaseyu lifted off of the landing platform moments after Mha and Gii-Sha boarded. Like most missions, Kusanagi did not go, as there were so many battles being fought elsewhere. The Sakaseyu rose higher and higher through the atmosphere of Godenku.
Kumo looked out the window beside him. He looked out at the green fields and blue skies of Godenku. He had an odd feeling, like he'd never see them again, but this feeling passed as quick as it came. He watched as the Sakaseyu left the atmosphere and set off for Mazhyeri Fahnsi...

Next Time...
In Chapter 5:
Assault...

...numerous missiles, leaving behind a clean white trail, shot from the underside of the Sakaseyu, blanketing the surface with popcorn explosions of fire and smoke...

Stay Tuned...