Chapter Four: April - Uzuki (卯月): I wonder what strength means.
The year is 2205 A.D.
To annihilate the History Retrograde Army who schemes to alter history
Them, who were born from swords,
Engage in mortal combat as well!
I think he went to take a bath. Ah, Horikawa-san, you don't have to join him there!
Xxxxxxxxxx
Blood flows from his throat like a torrent, running down his mouth to crash on the ground. An unfailing determination electrifying his limbs, pushing him to stand up, facing the opponent. The sound of the tip of a sword that breaks, a blazing pain in the chest and behind him, the window dyeing from a red liquid as a cry resonates in the distance...
"Aruji-sama! "
"Huh? "
He turned around, eyes wide, his look fixed in the one of his interlocutor.
"You weren't even listening to me! "
"Sorry... "
The Saniwa lowered his head on the papers scattered on his desk, his mind still elsewhere. Passing a hand over his face, he smiled and nodded to the little animal sitting right in front of him, frowning in annoyance as he dusted the pink scarf around his neck.
"I'm listening to you, Ryonosuke. " he said, clapping his hands together in a silent apology.
"From what the Government of Time reputedly tells, lately, the Retrograding Force is rather discreet. " started again the kitsune, putting a paw on the work table which displayed a map lit up with red dots and historical dates.
"It isn't a bad thing if you want my opinion. " replied the Sage, analysing the data.
"Indeed. Unfortunately, the Government thinks they are preparing something. A major attack. " related the furry creature as he closed all the holographic pages, jumping from the desk to face it in a sitting position.
"The calm before the storm, huh? " declared the Saniwa, narrowing his eyes, thinking.
"They... They ask all the Saniwa to stand ready. " whispered the ball of fur, looking away, avoiding to meet the boy's look.
"That's already what we do, Ryonosuke! " abruptly exclaimed the latter, rising from his chair, taking a few steps.
"I'm just transmitting! It was you who charged me with external communications. " informed the fox, pouting.
"I know, I know... " sighed the Sage, annoyed.
A few strokes sounded and he turned again as the western-type door opened. Hasebe entering with a quick move before taking a step back, immediately feeling the atmosphere that emanated from the room.
"I... Sorry for the inconvenience. I can come back later if the master is busy. " he indicated, slightly hesitant.
"Absolutely not! Get in. " assured the Saniwa, frowning at his turn. "Ryonosuke had finished, isn't he? "
"What... what should I answer? "
"You will tell them that, with all my respect, the day they will have concrete information to give us, that day, I will be ready! "
"Understood… "
Heshikiri offered a sympathetic smile at the passage of the kitsune who crossed the exit, closing behind him. The boy sighed heavily, casually falling into one of the sofas, watching from the corner of his eye the map still active on the back wall.
"Is everything all right? " asked the Uchigatana softly, grabbing the teapot lying on the coffee table to pour some tea into a cup that he handed to the Sage.
"Thank you. " pronounced the latter, wrapping his hands around the object before taking a sip. " It's nothing. Just the daily problems. "
"I see. "
"Something's wrong? " questioned the Saniwa, his head tilted to the side in a questioning way.
"Hmm... Oh, didn't you ask for me? " affirmed Hasebe, putting his hands on his hips, adding, "Konnosuke yet told me that... "
"Ah, yes… With this story, it totally slipped my mind... " interrupted him the Sage, shaking his head energetically.
Resting his cup, he walked towards the desk, opening the drawer to get out a little white paperman adorned with his symbol.
"I've finally finished the preparations. The next sword is ready to be invoked. " he said, handing the pictogram to his second blade.
"Who is it, this time? " questioned Heshikiri, studying the little sheet of paper as if it were going to answer him.
"It's a little surprise for my secretary. Besides, I'm sure he will be happy to take care of it. " he announced, a thin smile on his lips.
"So, I leave..."
"Horikawa-san. "
"Horikawa take care of it. Very well. What else can I do? "
"Once arrived, you will take the newcomer to my room. I have documents to consult, I would rather prefer to do it in calm. "
"At your service. Take the opportunity to rest. You have invoked many new Touken Danshi recently, no one will be cross with you for taking a break. "
His Toudan passed the door without any other word, leaving the boy alone with his thoughts, a contrite smile stuck on his face.
If only…
Approaching the half-open window, he slid his fingers over the icy ledge, enjoying the cold contact opposing the summer temperatures which increased all the more as months pass by. His eyes met the silhouettes of Okita Souji's two former swords as Horikawa Kunihiro came out of the main room to join Hasebe on the engawa.
"Again... Again the same dream... Yasusada... "
Xxxxxxxxxx
The ten thousand leaf cherry tree shone throughout the estate. Watching the sacred tree from his room, his eyelids closed, the wind sightly lashing his face pleasantly with every breeze that was rising, he only heard that he was called when the shōji opened, making a muffled sound by sliding.
"Aruji-san? "
"Ah, Horikawa-san. Excuse me. Is... Kane-san finally here? " he asked without really needing an answer, a mischievous smile stretching out the corners of his mouth.
"Yes! " replied the Wakizashi, nodding sharply, sharing his master's smile.
"Well, in that case, let him in. "
A tall man with long brown hair walked through the doors, lit by the rays of the sun, sparkly illuminating the red of his rolled-up kimono.
"Yo! I'm Vice Commander Hijikata Toshizou's beloved sword. I'm a cool and strong sword who has recently become pretty popular. I'm Izu... "
"Izuminokami-san. "
"Aaah, even there..."
"A lot of people were waiting for your coming, including me. " declared the Sage, sitting down on the floor, inviting the Uchigatana to do the same.
"Hehe... here I am. " murmured the latter, laughing slightly and taking a seat in front of the golden-eyed boy.
"I guess you have a lot of questions... I'm listening. " related the Saniwa, accenting his smile.
"This... isn't rather to you to make a speech...? " staggered the former Shinsengumi sword, opening his eyes wide.
"Well, I invoked you, that's true... But, from there, you're in control of your choices. " indicated the Sage, pursing his lips, leaving the seiza position to settle more comfortably. "All the Toudan of this citadel have agreed to become my allies in the fight that opposes me and my own kind against the History Retrograde Army. It's up to you to tell me if you want to join me or not. "
"You called upon me. Taking possession of the blade that I am, and lifting it in full battle to launch the attack. Now, there is nothing that doesn't make of you my master. " (* 1)
Smiling again at these words, the boy got up and walked across the room to his chabudai to grab a small gold bell engraved with a symbol in the shape of three tomoe, coming back on his steps to hand it to the Uchigatana whilst explaining:
"Time criminals who proclaim themselves as 'Historical Revisionists' created, with the aim to correct the rightful history, the 'History Retrograding Force' and repeatedly go back in time to stage attacks of its events. To take down this Force, the Government of Time sends out, us, Saniwa to protect all history. "
"In what purpose, they doing this? " questioned Kanesada, raising one knee to lean on it.
"No one really knows. Nevertheless, there is no point in just defeating the History Retrograde Army if history itself is disturbed as well. Therefore only the smallest of troops are sent to protect history and the methods of sending are strictly restricted. The opposing Retrograde Force brings, them, unlimited troops from the future and sends them to the past. " continued the Sage, taking place again on the floor.
"It seems clear as to whom will be victorious. " said Izuminokami, sweeping the air with his hand.
"Certainly, the advantage is to the enemy. But from what I know, at the time, the Shinsengumi didn't seem to have a future either. At least, until the arrival of a certain vice-commander... " argued the boy with a half-smile, eyes narrowed with mischief.
"Hijikata-san... " whispered the sword, averting his gaze.
"Hope is vain only when there is no one left to fight. As long as the Saniwa remain standing, as long as we can count on our Touken Danshi, then we will fight. "
"Until the end... " uttered the Uchigatana in a breath (* 2), his pupils reflecting in those of the Sage, the latter repeating at his turn:
"Until the end… "
Xxxxxxxxxx
"He's not here for ten seconds, that he's already making tons of it. "
"His arrival doesn't seem to rejoice you, am I wrong? "
"Aruji! "
Turning back on himself, Kasen looked at the cherry-haired boy who had been standing behind him a minute before. Grimacing slightly, he leaned against the jamb of the pillar supporting the engawa whilst the Saniwa sat beside him, letting his legs dangle down it, watching from afar as the former Shinsengumi swords were exercising in the training hall.
"I would have believed the contrary, though. " he added in a voice feigning surprise.
"It's not that... " argued Nosada in a sigh, a rather sad expression slipping over his eyes. "He's just... just... "
"From the twelfth generation? "
"Invading! "
Exclaiming at the same time, they turned to each other, each surprised at the answer given. The Sage laughed softly, shaking his head, understanding that he had guessed right by seeing his Toudan turn away completely to contemplate the horizon.
"He admires you... tremendously, to be of this second generation, so renowned. "
"You don't know him. It isn't admiration, it's jealousy. " disclosed Kasen, spitting out those words sharply.
"All right. So he's jealous of you. I don't know about you, but I find that rather revealing. " stated the boy with a small smile, turning his head toward his Touken Danshi.
"Really? All I see is that he has nothing of a Kanesada and that the airs he gives to himself are only damaging a little more the reputation of our school. " said the latter contemptuously, folding his arms over his chest.
"And yet, you're there. " whispered the Sage, closing his eyes whilst continuing on his momentum: "You could ignore him, never meet him. This citadel is big enough for that. But you're here. "
"I... " gasped Nosada, hesitating.
"He's a Kanesada, be that as it may. " the boy added, not giving his sword the time to reply: "And you will watch over him, because, no matter what you can say, you care about him. And more importantly, he cares about you. "
"Yes... " muttered Kasen, a bitter smile on his lips, slowly turning back.
"Hey, you are to refrain from sparring here with real swords! "
"What…! "
Frowning at the exclamation of his master who had suddenly stood up, the Uchigatana turned around again, intrigued.
"Aruji? "
Falling on the vision of his younger brother fighting Yamatonokami Yasusada, real swords in his hands, he widened his eyes in surprise, stammering, completely shocked:
"I... I... Izumi... no... kami! "
Gathering the former members of the Shinsengumi was perhaps a bad idea on my part...? thought the Saniwa as he watched the battle, the dismay paralysing him on the spot.
"That idiot! Even his way of fighting lacks elegance! " exclaimed Nosada, clenching his fists.
"That's what you worry about?! " retorted the Sage, stunned.
Bursts of laughter rang out in the distance, the clash finally ending on the fall of Kanesada, and the boy sighed, holding his head in one hand. Gazing at Kasen, who was still in the grip of emotion, he smiled, patted the Uchigatana's shoulder heartwarmingly and retraced his steps, mentally exhausted. For this time, he would allow the small misbehaviour of his Toudan.
Xxxxxxxxxx
A little earlier in the day...
A few blows against the wood made him pause, forcing Konnosuke, who was lounging on his knees to get up, opening the shōji as he shifted his book to the side, watching the Toushirou enter the room, bowing to him.
"Aruji! We absolutely need to buy Sake! " exclaimed Midare with his soft voice, spreading his arms dramatically.
"Sake? Why? " amazed the Saniwa, frowning, at once curious and anxious.
"It's Jiroutachi-san! He's in withdrawal! If it continues like this, his divinity is going to run out! " exclaimed Maeda, taking a step forward, his hands clasped against his chest.
It would surprise me... But, knowing him...
"He's complaining, right? " he asked, eyes narrowed, looking bored, clearly accustomed.
"Yes, Taishō. " declared Atsushi bluntly.
"Fine, since there is no other choice... "
Standing up, he walked to his chest of drawers, and pulls out of it a small red and gold wallet that he put around the neck of the sword with long blond hair, not releasing the object as he ordered:
"Above all else, no useless purchases, no shortcuts that lead nowhere, and for pity's sake, no pure alcohol... I don't want him to start being delirious..."
"Understood! " replied his Toudan all together, coming out of the room, a smile on their lips.
"Thank you, Taishō. "
"We'll be careful on our trip! "
The sliding doors remained open in front of his closed eyes, mentally praying that things would not degenerate again.
"You're sure it was a good idea to let them go alone... The General Store can be awfully attractive for them, Touken Danshi, who do not know half of the things that are sold there. " said Konnosuke as he joined the boy in front of the entrance, giving him a dubious look.
"It's a good experience for them, no? Although... " hesitated the Sage, shaking his head in pique before adding, without combativeness: "Will happen what will happen... I don't even want to know... "
Saying these words, he went down the stairs, wandering around the citadel looking for a specific person.
"Ah, where are you going?! " the little kitsune lamented from upstairs. "And my nap?! "
Xxxxxxxxxx
A little later in the day...
"That's what you worry about?! " retorted the Sage, stunned.
Bursts of laughter rang out in the distance, the clash finally ending on the fall of Kanesada, and the boy sighed, holding his head in one hand. Gazing at Kasen, who was still in the grip of emotion, he smiled, patted the Uchigatana's shoulder heartwarmingly and retraced his steps, mentally exhausted. For this time, he would allow the small misbehaviour of his Toudan.
I could pray continually, that even the Gods would be unable to stop them. he thought, taking the path of his office, his step heavy.
Entering the room, he retrieved several different books that he held with one hand, the other getting him rid of his blue haori he rested carelessly on the back of his chair. He had to get back to work quickly, if the Revisionists were actually planning a major attack then he would need Touken Danshi much more powerful to stop them.
He passed through the smithy, which always radiated a deep heat despite the fact that the oven was off, and, placing his load on his workbench, began mentally counting the resources he had left, lining up before him the last O-fuda which was still in his possession and that he used to invoke swords of considerable rarity.
Just what it takes to appeal to him... I shall have to think of replenishing.
Sighing, he put the whole thing back and taking up his books, went to his room, still lost in his thoughts. He stopped, however, on the threshold, when he noticed that a huge fish blocked his way, as well as several other objects of all kinds.
"Yet I had said, no useless purchases." he chuckled, not at all surprised.
Smiling, he slid the shōji, stepped over the mountain of little trinkets, put the books on his chabudai before going out again to pick them up one by one. He took the time to look lengthily at the photograph, his smile widening, and hooked the stuffed tuna into the room, stowed the sunglasses and the desperately empty wallet in his drawer, as well as the scary laughing bag, and savoured his bento with a few glasses of fresh sake.
Then, coming out of his room again, the picture in his hands, he stepped towards the back of the vestibule and glued delicately the latter, his lips stretching again, on the wall just below the window facing the sacred cherry tree.
"It was a great day! "
Endnote:
Seiza: is a sitting position used by the Japanese. Generally, it is said, there, that it is the most correct way to sit. That is to say, press on the knees, the back resting on the ankles. This position is particularly used by Westerners when they practice a martial art such as judo or karate etc...
(* 1): This sentence is a metaphor of course. However, during the battle of Hakodate, the last of Shinsengumi's vice-commander, Hijikata Toushizou, the latter, on horseback in the front line of battle, raised his sword in the air to launch the assault, and thus order the troops to attack. He was shot killed in the same battle and lost the war.
Tomoe: A tomoe (巴) is an ancient heraldic symbol of Japan in the form of magatama. Try to think of the black-and-white symbols of the Yin-Yang or the Sharingan if it's easier for you! :D
(* 2): Here, I'm also referring to Hijikata. Indeed, although all of his companions were dead, that the government was in full of revolution, and that the Shinsengumi were practically no longer existing, Hijikata continued to fight for the latter, honouring his duty to the Shogun until his death in Hakodate, and so, "until the end..."
O-fuda: An O-fuda (or ofuda) is an element of the Touken Ranbu Game. It's an item used to summon powerful and rare swords, such as Mikazuki, during forging. In the real context, it is a talisman, from a shintō temple, made by inscribing the name of a kami (Gods), the name of a Shinto shrine or a symbol representing the kami on a strip of paper, of wood, of fabric or metal.
In this story, both versions are used. The O-fuda are, here, a way to invoke rare swords while praying kami.