Il Cielo dei Tre Regni
by Lunar Wave
Disclaimer: This story borrows the setting and characters of the Koihime†Musou series and borrows multiple elements from Katekyo Hitman Reborn. I own neither series as they both belong to their respective owners. Also, considering Koihime†Musou could be considered a fanfic of the Three Kingdoms, I'd like to say I don't own anything related to the stories of the Three Kingdoms.
-()-
Their Decision
-()-
When Enshou began this campaign, she believed that she will return victorious, with Reitei as Emperor and Kentei's head to be displayed for all to see as the traitor she is. She believed that she'll be able to take back the country, with the En Clan in its rightful place at its top.
She couldn't be more further from the truth. Here she was, marching the remnants of her army to aid the south of Kishuu. While supplies arrived quickly, only preserved food was there, as southern Seishuu has declared themselves her enemy, and have their soldiers ready to strike if they try and take from the villages they passed by. Northern Seishuu, meanwhile, claims to have had their supplies drained by the previous campaign.
Enshou had half a mind to just take Northern Seishuu, right then and there, but Kishuu takes priority. She'll deal with these fair-weather friends later. In the meantime, she needed to get back to Kahoku, organize her defense force and march southwards towards Sousou's forces, to at least stop their movement.
Yes, that was what En Honsho should do.
For now, she should get some shut-eye. She needs to get to Kahoku as soon as possible, but it wouldn't do if she looked less than gorgeous.
-()-
At the same time as Enshou sulking in her tent…
"… It's a shame we couldn't even save Machi, but there isn't any news of an execution, so maybe she's still safe." Bunshuu remarked.
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Bun-chan." Ganryou nodded.
"It didn't seem as if she tattled to the Ryuubi Army either." Kataigou hummed.
"Oy, oy, Reichen!" Bunshuu frowned, "Of course she didn't! Machi isn't a traitor!"
"Seems so." Kataigou flippantly replied.
"As long as you know." Bunshuu nodded, seeming to be satisfied with that.
Kataigou frowned a bit. "… And here I thought joining the faction of the richest of the country…" was the smart choice. The easy choice. To jump to the bandwagon of the best of the country. Unfortunately, it seems as though Enshou's head had more than a few missing parts. You would think the top of the world would have a better grasp on tactics, on politicking, than anyone, but it turns out that she was just a money-spender. And to think she worked so hard to ingratiate herself to Enshou throughout all this time. It would be difficult for her to separate herself from the warlord.
Driving out the strategist was a bad move. Denhou's skill is nothing to scoff at if her previous exploit in taking Yuushuu from Kousonsan was to be seen. How it matches up to other strategists is up in the air, but Denhou is at least better than anyone else here in that department… even herself, she would have to admit. Unfortunately, she had been a nuisance to Kataigou and Kashin, who were trying to get a bit more comfort than what they had been enjoying. Denhou usually shot down their proposals on the basis that it's a waste of money (While allowing Enshou's own wastes of money, the hypocrite).
At this point…
Maybe she should start considering abandoning-ship. It's not as if anyone other than the Imperial Court of Kan knew who she and her sister were. It would result in her lifestyle tumbling from the currently lavish one she enjoys to a destitute life of living as wanderers before settling in some town with Kashin and herself resuming their old family business of butchery.
"So, Kataigou-san."
"What is it, Ganryou?" Ganryou had been sullen since the start of the campaign and had been trying to assert herself for a bit. Personally, Kataigou thought she wasn't being assertive enough even so. As one of two people who could rein in the current head of the En Clan, that lack of assertion was probably one of the chief reasons why Enshou turned out like she is. Alongside Bunshuu's enabling.
"Do you have any suggestions?"
Still, she needed to keep up appearances. While she is aware of her shortcomings as a strategist, it wouldn't do to show weakness right now. She needed to have the quick and easy opportunity to get out of Enshou's territory, and showing signs of her doubts would jeopardize that. "I fail to see what's wrong with the current trajectory? We just need to get to the battlefield quickly with the remainder of the reserve army, correct?"
"The problem is that morale will definitely be low." Oh, there wasn't any doubt about that. There were more than a few deserters who probably fled to Kahoku. Kashin was already chomping on the bit to execute them all for abandoning posts. Still, that means news of what happened south would probably reach Kishuu pretty quickly.
"Just have Reiha-chan give one of her speeches." Kataigou shrugged, "She has the charisma for it."
"I suppose that makes sense, but wouldn't it be better if we prevent the situation anyway?"
"What do you mean?"
"The deserters are foot soldiers… if we send a platoon ahead on horseback…"
"If you think so, then why not tell this to Reiha-chan?" Kataigou pointed out.
"… I'll see it done then." Ganryou nodded.
"Speaking of soldiers, where's that Kayuu?" Kataigou asked.
"Disciplining the soldiers." Bunshuu replied with a shrug, "She didn't like how easily the formation crumbled or something."
"Bun-chan. You should probably be supervising that… as the head general of our army."
"Ah… Right!" Bunshuu stood up, "I'll go, I'll go. Let's go, Toshi!"
… Acting like this, trying to appear as cool-headed and calm as possible, is a tiresome thing. But she can't stop yet. She needed to appear as though she had everything together.
And so, Empress Ka, Kataigou, began hatching a scheme … to likely ditch the Enshou Army when the going gets tough. It wasn't as if too many people knew what she looked like. It wouldn't be too difficult to do so.
Yes, she'll need to prepare for it.
-()-
Following the tumultuous discussion with Sousou on future plans, the Imperial Army's formed their own meeting. No outsiders, just inner circle members.
"Ahh, she really got us there, didn't she?"
"Sei! Take this seriously!"
"I am, Aisha." Sei waved her off, "But she really knew which buttons to push."
"Sei, you know full well what Aisha meant. Try not to downplay this too much." Kazuto cut into the two's byplay. "And Aisha, getting too worked up is exactly what Sousou wants from us."
"… Yes Milord/Master."
"Ahaha, you two got scolded!"
"Rinrin, it's not the time…" Shuri lightly chastised the girl.
"I know, I know, but it's not like I'll be able to help a whole lot in this talk." Rinrin frowned.
"Your input, no matter how small, would still be nice," Touka told her.
"Now then, I don't think there's any reason for us to discuss the war. We did the best we can with the cards we're handed." Kazuto said. "Also, I'll remind you all this: Sousou is not suggesting that Kentei will be in Kyoshou permanently." Kazuto pointed out. "Only until Enshou's threat is gone."
"That's a problem in itself." Shuri grimaced, "That means that Sousou will not be too interested in ending the war quickly. She might try to stall the war for as long as possible until she can at least convince Kentei to remain with her after it."
"That's fine. We'll still succeed in pushing the frontlines to Enshuu. We can then work on recovering from the war. After that we can consider either helping Sousou push the battle, or make our own negotiations with Seishuu to attack from that end." Kazuto shrugged. Seeing the uncertain looks on Hinari's face, "It's just a suggestion."
Sei frowned, "If we do that though, we'll be the bulk of the attack force, while Sousou can cozy it up as a defense."
"That's a lot more difficult than you'd think, Kazuto-sama…" Hinari held her hat over her eyes in worry.
"I know it is, but it would push the frontline out of Joshuu, which is exactly what we want as the Regents of Joshuu." Kazuto shook his head. "Say what you will about how underhanded Sousou is, she's right in that this is one of our few most humane options in this war."
"I don't like it." Touka shook her head, "Pushing the frontline out of Joshuu is fine, but that means another province will suffer. And we know that Sousou-san will use Paitan! Why should we let her go with them, on her own?!"
"We aren't." Kazuto consoled her, "If we do decide to do this, we will have to form an escort for Paitan that will keep her safe from… opportunistic warlords."
"And who will we send?" Aisha frowned.
"… First of all, that escort can't be big. We still need a strong presence here in Joshuu. So the fewer the better. Besides, it's easier to run if we send one strong soldier than a platoon of regular soldiers." Kazuto cautiously said. "We also need someone who can handle protecting Paitan, helping with her workload…"
"It's going to be you, isn't it?" Aisha interrupted, realizing why Kazuto is being evasive about it.
Tellingly, Kazuto did not deny it.
"W-w-w-w-w…" Touka stammered.
"""""WWHHHAAAAATTTT!?""""" Everyone in that room echoed in shock.
"Excuse me, Kazuto-niisan!" Paitan nervously said, "Not that I mind you coming with, but why would you need to be…"
"Because ranking wise, it's either myself or Touka who has the authority to stick by you for any official business. On paper, at the very least, Sousou and I have equal ranks, after all." Regent of Joshuu vs Governor of Enshuu and Yoshuu. "We need to make sure that Sousou can't try to use Paitan… too much."
"Too much?" Paitan frowned.
"We will have to concede some ground to her while blocking her from taking a li from it." Kazuto frowned, "She'll likely have a lot of grand reforms she'll want to push, and we'll have to scrutinize every little thing."
"Kind of like what we're doing now with the nobles?" Paitan frowned.
"Kind of. Except it won't just be Joshuu issues. It will be country issues. Using your name, she'll be able to make sweeping changes. Tax codes, regulations, those sorts of things. Can you honestly tell me that you'll be able to spot any irregularities in those sorts of things on your own, Paitan?" They could barely handle it with three people in one state. An entire country might be a bit too tough.
"… I… But…"
"If you think you can handle yourself, then we'll leave it at that." Kazuto nodded.
"I…"
"… Kazuto-kun…" Touka frowned, "… Go."
"Eh?" "Touka-neechan?"
It clearly pained Touka to say those words. She likely already knew what her decision would be, and how much it hurt, but… "I don't like it. That we'll be splitting up again." Touka frowned, "But it's just temporary, at least until the war is done. And… like it or not, Kyoshou is probably safer than Joshuu… especially considering that we don't know just how much we can trust Sonsaku-san to not invade us as well."
That was true. While Sonsaku's group was their nominal ally, Sonsaku had her own ambitions, and those ambitions may wind up clashing against their own. If they had to fight Enshou, Sousou, and Sonsaku, an uphill battle wasn't even going to cut it. The best they can hope for is to get a boat and sail east and pray for a miracle. That or hope for Uncle Shouichi to finally finish creating their route back to his world, and he'll bring his friends back with him.
"…"
"I want to believe that things will go well. That we aren't in a corner, and that, if all else fails, we can retreat… but…" Touka sighed, "… we can't abandon Joshuu anymore…" Touka looked forlornly at the door, likely imagining the battlefield that they had been fighting. "… we can't leave them when we have basically uprooted their lives and possibly ruined them… we need to pay them back." Touka grimaced, "… so… I know we're walking right into what Sousou wants us to do, but…"
"We need to rebuild. And the fastest way we can rebuild is if we let Sousou take the brunt of any future attacks." Aisha nodded, although she too hated that she had to concede. "… We need to start preparing the fields again. We need to return the people to their homes, compensated for all loss…" Both from war and opportunistic thieves.
"… Got it. I'll go." Kazuto nodded, "Pleasure to be working with you, Paitan."
"Are you sure, Touka-neechan?"
"No, but at least we'll be able to see if we can truly trust Sousou…" Touka nodded, "… Reborn-sensei, you said that we should learn from Sousou, right?"
"Hm? I suppose so." Reborn shrugged, "If Kazuto can treat your supposed rival and enemy kindly, I've reason to believe that she is not evil. If she isn't evil, then there is much you can learn from one another."
"I see." Touka nodded, "… I… I've been unfair to Sousou-san since we started… so…"
"Then we'll make this your olive branch." Reborn turned to Kazuto, "If Sousou betrays your group, then Bakazuto can get your friends out of there faster than any horse chasing after them."
"Of course." Kazuto nodded. "I do have an airbike."
"Who will you bring with you then? Considering that you can probably cram three people on the back of your bike."
Aisha perked up, "Then one of the Guar…"
"Actually." Kazuto shook his head, "The best option here is… Josho."
"Eh, me?" Josho blinked.
"Why?" Aisha frowned.
"The first group that goes will be basically granted a priority residence in Sousou's territory." Kazuto replied, "In other words, since we're sending only three, those three are the ones that Sousou will have no choice but to accommodate as permanent members of Paitan's guard." Kazuto then turned to Josho, "Now why Josho… well… She's small enough to fit on the bike with me and Paitan, can use a sword to defend herself, and… more importantly…"
"The information network." Josho blinked. "Since I'm the one in charge, I can use it to communicate between states."
Kazuto nodded, "That way, if the three of us has to, as an example, barricade ourselves into one of the houses, and wait for rescue, we can have Ren barrelling in sooner than later."
"It would be better if you didn't have to wait." Aisha frowned, "Why not bring Ren with you?"
"If I bring Ren, I bring Nenene, and while I could fit Ren or Nenene, four is too much for my bike." Kazuto winced.
"Don't blame this on Nene!" Nenene yelled.
"However, while Josho and I will be the people going with Paitan as her escort, we'll see if we can get Sousou to approve a few visitors from Joshuu."
"I see." Touka nodded.
"If she refuses?" Aisha frowned.
"We negotiate. If all else fails, apply Imperial Pressure." Kazuto shrugged. "If that also fails, then we'll assume that Sousou has no intention of accommodating us, and immediately get out of there when the time is right."
"The time is right?" Touka asked.
"We can't just immediately run away, after all. We're going to need to make sure that if we do run, we are prepared to deal with all the issues that come with it." Kazuto frowned.
Shuri nodded, "If you run, then there are more than a few things that we can expect: Sousou is an enemy, so we'll have Batou-san's group attack from one side, we'll attack the other, and…"
"Hope that Ryuuhyou helps us attack from the south." Kazuto finished.
"An attack on two fronts, three if Ryuuhyou helps." Shuri nodded.
"Four, if Enshou-san also attacks from the north," Hinari added.
"Eh, she'll help us?" Rinrin blinked confused.
"Who knows? It's just a possibility." Hinari winced, "She's been a bit of a wildcard since we started this war."
"A smart man once said: there are two things that are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not too sure about the universe."
"… That sounds like a strangely profound but mean and cynical quote." Shuri winced. "… Although… what does it mean for the universe to be infinite?"
"We're not holding a science class, so please spare me having to answer that." Kazuto laughed, trying to get out of that. "Anyway, at the very least, I'm starting to see a pattern with Enshou."
"Really?" Shuri asked.
"If she was truly reckless, she would've kept going with the war even when being attacked at three fronts. She probably has a sort of mental compass of how to move when things go south. One which Sousou exploited."
"…. I see." Shuri nodded, adopting a thinking pose. "… I think I can figure it out, then. If there's a pattern to her madness, then we should be able to exploit it to win the next confrontation."
"I'll leave that to you."
"Umm, as a side note… I noticed something earlier…"
"Yes?"
"When Sousou was making assumptions on our strategy… you didn't correct her?"
"About what?"
"Sousou had wrongly assumed that we didn't plan for Enshou to move south… when the bulk of our plans revolve around it."
"Sousou wasn't wrongly assuming." Kazuto scoffed, "She was digging for information. She deliberately said something that would make us look weak, to stoke at our feelings of pride and see if we'll reveal more about our strategies."
"That's!" Shuri blinked.
"Sneaky…" Hinari agreed.
"Wait, she did? It felt so natural though…" Touka murmured.
"Which makes it more insidious." Kazuto nodded.
"I see…" Josho frowned, "If I had to guess, she was digging specifically on what the endgame of our strategy would be. With the info she got from her spies, she should've been able to at least be able to figure out the broad strokes of the plan. And with enough time, she'll be able to investigate the little things. It's the unrealized final stretches that she was still unclear of."
"Likely so that she could plan against it if we ever use it against her," Kazuto replied. "Besides, she wasn't totally wrong. We wanted her to try and take Toukan. We just weren't betting on it." That was why Aisha risked waiting to burn the supplies of the northern village until Enshou was in range for their spies to see her pulling out from the area. It would bait Kayuu into wanting to take Toukan.
"True enough." Shuri nodded. But in the end, they knew Enshou enough to know that she'll want to march straight down. And even if Enshou did try to take Toukan, they can't really match Enshou soldier to soldier. Likely, after token resistance, Kan'u would just burn the supplies and flee. So all taking Toukan would do is buy them time.
"Anyway, enough about Sousou. I'm already going to be spending a lot of time, likely months with her, and I want to think of someone else for a change…" Kazuto nodded. "What are our plans for Sonsaku?"
Shuri nodded, "If we have to run from Sousou, then we're most likely have become Sonsaku's allies for better or for worse… maybe even subordinates, if the negotiations go particularly bad for us."
"I think I'd prefer being Sonsaku's subordinate than Sousou's, but that's just me." Kazuto chuckled. "Both have deep ambitions for their own future, to stand at the top of the country. But at least we don't have bad blood with Sonsaku."
"… I think so too." Touka nodded. Sonsaku was much more preferable than Sousou.
"Then… I guess we have our decision?" Kazuto turned to everyone.
"Why is this so complicated?" Rinrin frowned, "Why are we forced to do things even though we know we don't want it?"
"Because we are also in charge of the lives of countless people that have entrusted their futures to us." Kazuto replied.
"So is this the path you want to take, Kazuto?" Reborn asked.
"I guess so."
"Then, see through it till the end." Reborn replied. There was a level of discontent there that Kazuto honestly didn't want to dive in. Likely Reborn was judging him for something. There was some mistake he made that he doesn't care to elaborate on. Of course, this could all just be a figment of his imagination; Reborn was always harder to read than most people for him.
So he decided to simply give a resolute answer, "I intend to."
-()-
Kazuto sighed, as he left the room. The turnover process to cede his, Paitan's, and Josho's various jobs to the others were rather long and arduous. He needed a break.
"… Hmm?" Kazuto frowned as he spotted someone. "Still awake, Aisha?"
"Oh! Master!" Aisha greeted. "I… Are you not with Touka-sama tonight?"
"Why would I be? And anyway, Touka got really exhausted by the turnover." Kazuto winced. Considering that Touka is technically getting triple the workload… "Anyway, she and Paitan's having their own sleepover for tonight."
"I… I see… I…"
"… Aisha, are you angry?"
"Eh?"
"That I'm leaving."
"… Maybe… a little?" Aisha sighed. "I… I want to be there to protect you."
"But you need to be here to protect Touka too."
"I know that! But I'm your Guardian! I should be…" Aisha sighed, frustrated.
"Sousou will definitely stall out beating Enshou, even if she gets the perfect opportunity, you know?"
No reply seemed to be forthcoming from the silent Storm Guardian. Kazuto continued on.
"So it will be up to us to take Enshou down."
"I know."
"You need to be there to spearhead that fight. There is no one else I can trust that position to other than you."
"Not even Rinrin? Ren?"
"Rinrin's not the head of the military, Aisha. Neither is Ren. Besides, while they're both good generals, they're better suited to follow command. You'll be the one who will largely implement Shuri and Hinari's strategies."
"Likely Hinari."
"Yeah." Kazuto nodded, "With both me and Paitan gone, Shuri's likely going to be helping out on civil affairs more often than the battlefield. But even with their guidance, they aren't military commanders."
"… Far too many times, you push me away, saying I'm better off leading the military." Aisha sighed.
"Hey, it's just the once against Enjutsu." Kazuto pointed out.
"… Maybe it would've been better if I had not taken charge of Joshuu's military." Aisha gave a small half-hearted smile. "Maybe then I won't be so torn between my duty to you and my duty to Joshuu."
"If that's how you feel, then what about Touka?" Kazuto pointed out.
"… Yeah, she probably would be torn worse by this, huh…" Aisha sighed, "… Hey… Kazuto-sama…"
"Yeah?"
"… Whose turn is it tonight?"
"I think it's yours." Kazuto frowned, "Touka was yesterday."
"… Can you… hold me tonight?"
"… If that's what you want."
Aisha gave him a beautiful, somber smile, "Yes. That is what I want."
-()-
It didn't take particularly long for those living in Koutou to learn of the outcome of the last battle between the Imperial Army against Enshou's Army. After all, they, like Sousou, had been monitoring the war, and they too, like Sousou, hoped to profit from it by lending aid once things get rough.
The head of the army of Koutou, the Son Army, Sonsaku Hakufu, true name: Sheren sighed as she read the report "In the end, they didn't ask for help."
Next to her was her mother's advisor, Choushou Shifu, True Name: Raika sighed, "Making the emperor owe us would've been great, indeed, but in the end, the other opportunistic warlord got there first."
"Didn't seem that they asked for Sousou's help if the reports are correct. If anything, Sousou just invaded and attacked." The army's head strategist, Shuuyu Koukin, True Name: Meirin said, perusing through her notes.
"Fools, if they think they can even fight Enshou." Choushou frowned.
"Is that how you see it?" Sonsaku hummed.
"What do you mean?" Choushou blinked.
"Sousou was in the same position as we were." Sonsaku noted, "Waiting for things to either 1, for the Son Army to ask for help, or 2, they be so cornered that we can offer them refuge in Koutou, then swallow up Joshuu's territory as part of our own."
"Where are you going with this?" Choushou frowned.
Sonsaku smirked, "Sousou attacked, interrupting the Imperial Army's own strategy. No warning, if the reports of Kan'u's cautionary retreat and the fortifications of the capital following her arrival are true. If anything, Sousou made herself look like an invader. She still did so. Why?"
"…" There was a few seconds of silence as Shuuyu and Choushou were deliberating what Sonsaku was saying.
"Because the Imperial Army was winning." Shuuyu caught on to Sonsaku's point.
"How did you get to that conclusion?" Choushou frowned. "The Imperial Army was giving ground to the Enshou Army. They're on the back foot. There's no way they could be winning in any conventional sense."
Shuuyu shook her head. "Ryofu has been harassing their supply chain, and has been successful in her destruction. They consolidated their supplies to the capital, causing the Enshou Army to have to forage for food if they truly want to get anywhere. That would slow Enshou down."
"And if Enshou pushes anyway." Sonsaku smirked, "Then the Imperial Army would be fighting a hungry army. Hungry men don't make for good soldiers."
"They were winning." Choushou blinked as the realization kicked in, "That's why they spent resources to move all food and supplies away from their northern borders."
"It helped that they had a river flowing down from there towards their capital for easier transport." Shuuyu nodded, "… I must say that Shokatsuryou and Houtou has surpassed my expectations, turning Enshou's numbers against her so effortlessly."
"A bigger army means more mouths to feed." Choushou nodded. "Still that sounds like a brutal strategy that throws away your own territory for the sake of victory."
"They worked with what they had, and they were on the cusp of victory for it." Shuuyu pointed out. "If anything, it shows that the Imperial Army is not some pushover army even with a naïve couple as their leader."
"You really don't give Hongou or Ryuubi any credit, don't you, Meirin?" Sonsaku laughed.
"… I probably should." Shuuyu begrudgingly nodded. "It wouldn't do if I underestimate them yet again."
"Regardless, it is likely that Sousou only charged in because she knew that was her only chance to intervene in the war and make herself look good." Sonsaku sighed. "We should have offered our aid earlier. In the end, she won this round."
"What shall we do then?" Shuuyu asked.
"… We'll stop focusing much on the northern war." Sonsaku decided, "With Sousou involved, there is little chance that Enshou would be able to make much progress in her bid for power. Let's focus on ourselves now."
"I see." Shuuyu nodded, "We'll strengthen our army, strengthen our base, and fortify all sectors of Koutou."
"Sousou will be our biggest rival in our bid for the conquering of the country." Sonsaku nodded, "If the era of Son Go is to happen, we'll need to become a strong enough force that even she'll hesitate trying to take us."
"And the Imperial Army?" Choushou frowned.
"Now that Sousou has her hands on them, their fate is to become a vassal army of whoever is stronger." Sonsaku shrugged, "However, leave our channels to them open. While Sousou is likely going to form a stronger alliance with the Imperial Army, and even the Emperor, Sousou has antagonized that group at every turn. There's a chance, a chance, that they'll be driven out by Sousou."
"And when they're driven out…"
"Why, we'll welcome them with open arms, of course." Sonsaku nodded. "It would be a shame to let their talent go unused, don't you think?"
"Honestly, I'm more worried that if we let them in, they'll rise up and become a faction within our own borders, rather than a subordinate." Choushou frowned.
"Not if they truly, as they claim, want peace," Sonsaku smirked. "As long as they're suing for peace, they won't even try for a revolt." Which is the biggest difference between her faction and theirs.
"Which is why I call them naïve." Shuuyu nodded.
"Well then, now that we don't need to keep our army ready to rush in north any time soon…" Sonsaku stretched, "Let's point them south, why don't we?"
"You just want to be on the battlefield, you battle maniac." Choushou sighed.
"Domestic affairs are your job, after all!" Sonsaku smugly replied.
Choushou rolled her eyes, and walked towards a desk, and grabbing a stack of scrolls, "Even if that is the case, as long as you're in the capital, this!" She dropped said scrolls on top of Sonsaku's desk, "is your job."
"Wait, what?"
"And no, I'm not letting you get out of this. Not this time."
"M-Meirin? Help?"
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly." Shuuyu smiled. "If they need to be done today, I suppose they need to be done today."
"Slavedrivers!"
-()-
When Kazuto's group accepted Sousou's terms, it wasn't as if they left immediately. After ascertaining that, yes, Enshou has fully retreated, then they had their respective armies start returning to their main bases. Ryuubi began marching towards the northeast village to begin repairs for the damaged village. There wasn't much ceremony for their departure; it was still a time of war. It's obviously better for Kentei to leave without fanfare. Not that Touka particularly liked that either, but these days have been a string of things Touka wouldn't like. Still…
In that carriage in the middle of the more elite members of Sousou's army (for they are all elite, as far as Sousou is concerned), the three who are to serve as protectorates (and hostages, as far as the Ryuubi Faction are concerned) rode towards Sousou's capital. They are accompanied by…
"If you were going to give Kentei-sama escorts, you could've at least have sent Kan'u."
"Our head general? Don't be stupid. Would you send Kakouton to guard someone for an indefinite amount of time?"
"Then you could've sent more than two people. Maybe an entire platoon, if you're so worried."
"Are you saying the elite men of Sou Moutoku can't handle the defense of Kentei, even though you're the one who offered in the first place?"
"Don't put words in my mouth, Hongou."
"You seem to enjoy doing that yourself, though?"
"And that makes it okay for you to do so? How hypocritical of you."
"See, what I mean? I never once said that I disapproved of it, and you're already calling me out. At this point you calling me 'hypocritical' is just a lazy put-down. Be a bit more creative with your words, Sousou."
"I suppose so." Sousou conceded, as she realized that she actually has been using that word far too often, and the meaning was slowly eroding away. "It would help if you weren't so adjoined to Ryuubi's hip, that I can separate you two in my mind." Not that Sousou will ever admit that she has never once thought so. In her opinion, Hongou was in a higher weight class than Ryuubi, and she had always been treating him a bit differently in turn. "This could be a good time for you to see things from a new perspective."
"My tutor said that too." Kazuto shrugged.
"Maybe your tutor should have taught you some manners as well, considering how you talk to nobles."
"I just have a mirror policy when it comes to talking to people." Be obstinate to someone obstinate. Be hard-headed to someone hard-headed. Be polite to someone polite.
"Some people require more politeness than that, don't you think?"
"I'm not some stooge on the bottom of the corporate ladder. Once you reach a high enough rank, anytime you bow to someone else, you are indirectly lowering those who look up to you below that person. There's a limit to being too respectful."
"Fair enough. Then maybe I shouldn't bow to you so much."
"You never once bowed to me."
"Exactly." Sousou smirked.
"I'm guessing you're getting tired of hearing this by now, Kazuto-sama, but…"
"Go on, Genchoku. This isn't an official function." Kazuto nudged the girl.
"… I think I'd rather not…" Josho winced.
"You're just out of your comfort zone. You'll relax once we have some permanent rooms assigned to us that we can make livable."
"Naturally, I'll give you the best I can offer." Sousou assured.
"Hooray." Josho nodded.
"So what were you saying, Josho?"
"I'm… starting to see what everyone else was saying about your relationship with Sousou-san, Kazuto-sama. It's even weirder than how you treat Chinkei…"
"Tou is Tou."
Sousou sighed, "If it had been me, I would've excised a potential enemy, not put her in a position to sell you out." Admittedly, while Tou had been selling her on the idea of taking Joshuu, Tou had been more selling the idea of taking control of Joshuu with the Ryuubi Army intact, believing that they are far too useful to just take out completely. For that reason, Tou has been withholding certain secrets, like military bases, the formations that they like to use, their siege engines. The sorceries didn't really count.
"Being friendly with potential enemies is the Vongola way." Kazuto declared easily. "Only start being a jerk once they become your actual enemy."
"I don't think I've ever seen you be a jerk, though." Josho sighed.
Kazuto merely laughed and rubbed Josho's head in response, to which Josho merely gave an annoyed frown, and swatted him away. Sousou silently contemplated Josho's words before shaking her head, "Is Kentei-sama comfortable?" Sousou asked.
Kazuto blinked, before turning to the girl who was quietly sleeping with her head on his lap. "I think so. The past few weeks have been an exhausting time for us. This might be the first genuine break we'll have in a long while."
"You do realize the war is still ongoing, right?" Sousou pointed out.
"Enshou cannot regroup her army quick enough to form a pursuit against us. We did wind up scattering them across the battlefield." A lot of them wound up running away.
"Proof of how untrained her soldiers are."
"I wouldn't say untrained, but I suppose so," Kazuto argued, absent-mindedly patting Paitan's head. "Anyway, any stragglers trying to get an easy attack in would be immediately picked out by your soldiers, if they're as well-trained as you said. Any assassins getting in would need to be vetted by your own soldiers. And any big army that arrives, would be seen at the horizon, with enough time for me to pick Josho and Kentei up, grab a horse and gallop back to Joshuu."
"Putting a lot of faith in me."
"Not at all. Which is why I even let you sit with us."
"I see." Sousou nodded, "I suppose I did find it a bit strange that you offered at all, but it was merely to keep an eye on me?"
"If Kakouen decides to be creative with her arrows, you are in convenient grabbing range as a meat shield." Kazuto nodded, teasingly.
"Now you're just saying things to get a rise out of me." Sousou frowned.
"You look remarkably cute when you get surprised, after all."
"That's!" Sousou blinked, at the completely out of left field compliment. No, Karin! You knew he would do this! This is exactly what Eika warned you about. Then she realized that Hongou was smiling wildly at her, and she realized that she left herself completely off-guard. She composed herself alongside her reply, "I… I will have to apologize to you now, but I'm into girls."
"Bold of you to think I'm flirting." Kazuto scoffed. "I'm just making conversation here."
"Everyone would think you were flirting, Kazuto-sama." Josho sighed, "Your normal speech when it comes to girls can only be described as flirting."
"… I was raised flying between Japan and Italy a lot?" Kazuto offered an 'explanation'.
"I don't know where this Nihon and Itaria are, but try not to make things more complicated." Sousou frowned.
"Anyway!" Kazuto loudly interrupted that, turning his attention solely on Sousou. "Speaking of, Sousou, why did you decide to sit with us, within Josho's stabbing range? You didn't need to accept my invite."
"Is it bothersome to you?" Sousou asked.
"Not really. It's just a surprise."
"The way you said that makes me think you're just messing with me again."
"I just know a few reasons why someone in your position would accept. Close proximity with the Emperor, for one."
"I'll let you believe as you want." Sousou shrugged.
"Trying to make her a bit more comfortable in your presence?" Kazuto hummed.
"Seems she's pretty comfortable enough to sleep in my presence now."
"Less you, more me." Kazuto jabbed.
"That will change eventually."
"…" Josho looked at the two and sighed. "… I hope I don't regret this."
And so, the long trek to Kyoshou went.
-()-
Chapter End
-()-
Chapter Release Date: June 25, 2021
-()-
Beta Reader: Seraphius
And so, the story is shifting from the Shoku Characters to the Gi Characters! In other words: Gi Arc! And this time, the hiatus will almost certainly be long and arduous, as I try to get the Gi Kakumei Characters' personalities down… That will take a while. Boku no nihongo noga mada heta desu!
I regret not being able to write the other characters of this story. Unfortunately, the war arcs are just… a lot of work. But this far into the story, I kind of want to keep moving the plot along. I am more than aware of my own shortcomings in emotional scenes. I wish I could've given more focus on Aisha and Rinrin, at the very least. In a sense, I'm sacrificing most of my cast to the role of extras because I want this story to actually have some forward momentum. In the end, I am just a single writer, with my own issues and worries, using Fanfiction writing as a means of procrastination, to not have to think of the troubles of life. I pretty much already abandoned all my other stories, and this is the only one that I'm happily writing.
Speaking of character focus, the thing is, going into the Gi Arc, while Kazuto will be implied to be hanging out with the girls, I probably will focus on Karin the same as I focused on Touka in Shoku. I can't say I particularly like any Gi Characters more than the Shoku characters though. If I have to name a few that would probably get some possible spotlight (not a promise, I don't have any concrete plans as I write this author's note), it would be Ruru and Nagi. Why? Lightning Guardian Potential! Well for the non-Gi characters that are part of the Gi Route… the Three Chou Sisters, Tou and Suu… and that's all I can think of off the top of my head. Also, the Shoku Characters aren't completely cut out from this story. If anything, the progression of the war, as explained in this chapter, is entirely dependent on them.
Side note: if anyone hasn't noticed yet, I changed the character list for this story. It's now Kazuto and the three main heroines of the three SKM routes. It feels more… indicative of how I will be taking this story going forward.