Chapter Five: May - Satsuki (皐月): Kindness is strength.

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!

Tell me, Shokudaikiri... What do you mean exactly by "that's not that cool"?!

Xxxxxxxxxx

In a black, endless darkness, the sky, abandoned by its starry diamonds, accompanied the stormy night that was slowly announcing itself. Last still standing at this late hour, the Saniwa and his attendant were completing some reports on the Revisionists' recent attacks.

"I think that will be all. You can go to bed, Hasebe. " declared the Sage, letting out a yawn, the sign of his deep fatigue.

The thus appointed Uchigatana nodded in rising up from the ground on which he was sitting, and walked to the shōji, stopping on the threshold to face his master, calmly asserting :

"Please let me know the moment you need me. "

The sound of speedy footsteps on the stairs made him frown as Heshikiri turned around, annoyed:

"You're being too noisy! Hey! "

"Aruji! I handled it myself. In four hours, one of them will appear! " exclaimed Shishiou, who had just shown up between the doors.

"Wh-What? "

"Really?! "

The cherry-haired boy's eyes widened at this news, rising in his turn to take the path of the forge as if to make sure of it himself. Passing in front of his Touken Danshi without a word, he quickly rejoined the room at the other end of the citadel and examined with precision the oven, the fire having forged his precious sword dancing in front of his golden pupils, accentuating their brilliance.

"He will be here soon... The one I've been waiting for for so long... "

"The one? " inquired Shishiou, pouting. "I thought we didn't know which Tenka Goken it was. " (* 1)

The Sage turned to his two Toudan at this mention, smiling gently at them, whispering:

"Not anymore... Our new companion is someone very special... one of the rarest katana ever. "

"Who? " asked Hasebe, taking a step forward, gazing into the Saniwa's eyes, who was never tired of contemplating the molten Tachi.

"Mikazuki Munechika... "

Xxxxxxxxxx

"I hope it will last. "

The Sage offered a comforting smile to the kitsune in front of him as he rubbed him with a towel. Sitting on the engawa, at the rear of the estate, the animal with orange fur, with the clear exception of his white tail, was shivering with cold, getting closer and closer to the boy, without realising it, to find his warmth.

"Is it because you had been caught in the rain that you sulk that way, Keisuke? " he chuckled as he grabbed the fox and dropped him on his lap, affectionately scratching his right ear.

"You're really not nice! I hate being wet! " exclaimed the creature, embarrassed.

"Mm-hmm. I know. "

"Mah... I didn't think a fox could look like that! "

"Ah! Kitsune! "

The boy turned to the outraged exclamation of the animal, opening his eyes wide as he watched two of his Touken Danshi dressed in strange ways. Kitsune, himself wearing a black bowtie, quickly came to rest between the shoulders of the Saniwa whilst looking at Keisuke with a mocking eye, without pronouncing a single word.

"Nakigitsune? Yamanbagiri? "

"Aruji, we're looking for someone... " stated the Uchigatana with a cloak, removing his sunglasses.

"Mikazuki, right? " answered the Sage, shaking his head before resuming his task, grabbing a hairbrush that he used on Keisuke's unruly fur, who was sulking all the more after the creature's commentary serving as an interpreter to his sword.

"Mika... zuki? Who is he? " questioned this one instead of his owner.

"Mikazuki Munechika is a Tachi that has just been summoned. " affirmed the Saniwa, turning his eyes away for a second to look at Yamanbagiri who retorted:

"I see. So, you already met him. "

"That's right. Now, what if you explained to me that get-up? " he said, unable to stop himself from wondering questions as he stood up, the animal still offended in his pride in his arms.

"Ah! It's... It's... " stammered the blond, looking away, his cheeks red.

"Male employee of a service restaurant. " announced Nakigitsune in a breath, picking up his own kitsune.

"What? " was amazed the boy, raising his eyebrows, lost.

"It's Kasen's fault. " declared the Uchigatana, lowering his hood to cover his face.

"We had to find clothes that would fit all of us whilst waiting for the laundry to be dry, so we went to see those of Shokudaikiri-dono, and Kasen-dono said we looked like hos-something-or-other with these outfits, right Nakigitsune? " finally explained the little fox from his master's shoulder.

"Yes. "

"Host. It's a foreign word. " was taken back the Saniwa, a tense but understanding smile stretching his lips.

"We offered Ookurikara-dono hospitality so that he gets closer to everyone thanks to that! " finished Kitsune in a cheerful voice.

That damn magazine... I didn't think they would go that far... thought the sage, sighing mentally.

"Aruji-dono, you should see the main room! " added the fox, innocently.

"What, the main room?! " exclaimed at his turn the boy, panicked.

"Saniwa-sama, an urgent message! "

Turning to the voice that had spoken those words, Konnosuke running in his direction, the Sage sighed again, and darting a last look at his Toudan, began to turn back to his office, the kitsune just arrived on his heels.

"Keisuke, once I've seen exactly what we're dealing with, you'll go warn Shishiou. "

"It will be done. "

Xxxxxxxxxx

"Utsunomiya Castle? Again? "

"We can say that they're persevering. "

"That's for sure. "

"In any case, with these three Toudan deployed there, this should be more than enough. "

"Huh? Just three?! "

The Sage smiled at the blond-haired Tachi facing him as he handed him the dispatch orders. Slowly walking towards the exit, accompanied by the sword, he replied in a laughing tone:

"Just three. Believe me, with them at the controls, I'm aren't worried at all. "

"Okay! I will transmit the message then! "

Rushing into the corridor at full speed, Shishiou disappeared at the intersection of the latter, leaving the Saniwa to take the opposite path leading to the entrance of the estate. A smile still adorning his mouth, his eyes closed, he waited for the little fox, following his footsteps, to complain as he used to.

"Are you sure? I know it's probably the twelfth time we've sent a team to this area, but we shouldn't underestimate the Retrogrades, especially with what we know. "

"Konnosuke, I have assessed the risks, and I know they all will be fine. "

"But he has just arrived! "

"Konnosuke... "

"And then sending them both, don't you think that it will degenerate? You know how he is! "

"Konnosuke...! "

"And I don't even talk about Gokotai! Did you see him ?! He wouldn't have been deployed at all since his invocation that it wouldn't have changed anything! "

"Konnosuke! "

Stopping abruptly in the middle of the hallway, frowning, giving him a dirty look, he watched the animal who subsided slightly on himself at the boy's expression, suddenly realising what he had just said. The latter huffed softly as he crouching down, absently stroking the kitsune's head to comfort him whilst gently objecting:

"First, I do not allow you to say that kind of thing. There is a time for everything, and if Gokotai hasn't been sent on dispatch recently, it's for a reason. To each one his battles. "

"Sorry… "

"It's forgotten. " he murmured with a smile, taking the creature into his arms and getting back on his way, continuing: "As for Kiyomitsu... I can't say you're wrong. He never reacted well to the arrival of a newcomer, except for Yasusada. "

"He's jealous by nature. " assured in a mocking voice the animal, sliding his head on the Sage's chest, which earned him some caresses.

"And especially worried. " added the latter, rolling his eyes, amused. "The coming of Mikazuki must have panicked him even more. At this moment, he must surely imagine loads of things all more silly than one another. "

"What exactly do you hope for, by making them work together? " asked the kitsune, looking up at the boy who pursed his lips at the question.

"I'm not sure, myself. Mikazuki is a very old sword that has accumulated a lot of wisdom over all these centuries. Wisdom whose I've seen the extent when I met him, so... I don't know, maybe he could make Kiyomitsu take advantage of it occasionally. "

"Hopefully. "

Stopping finally, the bright light of the sun dazzling them slightly from their positions, the Saniwa and the fox watched, hide out of sight, as the Toudan came to line up for their upcoming departures.

"Aruji? "

Half-turning around, the boy offered a small smile to the Uchigatana who stood behind him and, leaving the kitsune to move to his shoulders, put a finger on his lips as we do to keep a secret, carefully bringing out a blue omamori of his kimono that he handed to the young man. Nodding at the understanding of his master's silent request, Hasebe grabbed the little bag and went on his way without saying anything, joining Yasusada and the others in front of the square.

"Let's hurry up and get this over- " boredly declared Kashuu before being interrupted by the arrival of the Tachi, elegantly dressed.

"I'm sorry for the wait."

"Mikazuki-san, you look so cool! " decreed Gokotai, his eyes bright with admiration.

The Sage chuckled at the Tantou's reply, sharing a sweet smile with the animal near him. Then, whilst listening to Heshikiri's explanations, he glanced down at the red-and-black clothed Uchigatana with concern.

"It's from Master. Take it with you. "

"What is this? "

"It's a protection charm. If something happens, this will protect your body. "

"Is that so? I will treasure it. "

There was something strange in the behaviour of his sword, a semblance of disdain, a disappointment, and a fear, that didn't surprise him. As thinking he was forgotten by the very one who had held out his hand to him when he had landed in this citadel, alone, lost, and hurt both mentally and physically, as thinking he had become useless, him who, more than all the others reunited, possessed a peerless loyalty towards his master.

"It's your first battle, so there's still a great deal you don't know. Be sure to ask Kashuu any questions. "

"Yes, understood. Kashuu, thank you in advance for your support. "

"Yeah, yeah. "

And certainly, that to realise all of these emotions simply by observing his Toudan must be as heartbreaking as to feel them. His head leaning to the side, a deep concern veiling his pupils, the Saniwa took a step forward whilst opening his mouth, before suddenly suspending his gesture, surprised by his own initiative.

"You can't do that... Only he can realise that he was wrong. " interjected Konnosuke, compassionate.

"I know… "

Inspiring softly, he continued to watch how things pan out, finally noticing that Yasusada too seemed to share his apprehensions, his eyes never leaving his companion of the look, the solicitude marking the features of his face.

"First, you operate that thing over there. "

"Hooo... "

"It's fine, I'll do it. Date, time, location. Now, let's get going. "

"Kiyomitsu... "

"Be careful. "

The temporal clock (* 2) started in a squeak whilst activating itself, diffusing an intense glow over the whole place, then diminishing slowly, the void replacing the place where was his Touken Danshi a second before.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Shining through the infinite blue-toned sky, a crescent moon was emerging from the surface of the clouds, like a whitish shadow. Leaned against the window of his office, arms folded against his chest, eyelids closed, and a slight grin, barely perceptible, stretching his lips, the Sage was listening to the account of the report that the Tachi was making to him, sat in front of him on one of the sofas. Lost between the various praises made of the Utsunomiya Castle, the compliments on the enemy's fighting techniques and the courage of Gokotai, he had thought he heard the old sword tell how "Kashuu" had been exceptionally talented in his way to fight, distracting a large part of the Retrogrades so that Mikazuki could protect the wounded Tantou, and thus look like the hero.

"Hahaha, I really stole the show! "

"I see that. "

Sighing, the Saniwa took a few steps towards his Toudan, sitting down in his turn on the settee just in front of his, and joined his hands in crossing his fingers, leaning on his knees with the help of his elbows, approaching the man in the same time.

"He was a little distracted today. " he said, letting a mysterious silence hover.

"Ah, really? " was amazed Munechika in squinting, curious.

"The reason I sent him is that I wanted him to learn from you. The reason I sent you is that I wanted you to learn from him. "

"Hahaha! The master is sneaky. I will remember. "

"Indeed. Kiyomitsu has many flaws, but if there's one thing you should never doubt about him is that his techniques are infallible. His daring is as rare as his dependability is sure. "

"I could see that. "

Standing up, the boy walked to his desk and settling at, asked in a soft and affectionate voice:

"I have another mission for you if you want it. "

"Hmm? "

"Find him. "

"And? " asked the Tachi, getting up, his eyes narrowing again with curiosity, but where some mischief could still be perceived.

"I don't need to tell you more. I sincerely believe that the rest must be left fulfil by itself. " informed the Saniwa, a tender look in his eyes comforting Mikazuki on the fact that the boy seemed to know very well what he was doing.

"I don't know exactly what it is all about, but I learned something today. " his sword pointed out as he opened the door to take the exit.

"Which is? " he questioned, uncertain.

"Age doesn't make wisdom. Hahaha! "

Those words were the last he heard as the door closed in a click, leaving the Sage stunned, eyes wide. Shaking his head, he smiled, his features suddenly relaxing under the relief. He frowned, however, when a desire, long ignored because of his recent nightmares, caught him suddenly under the fatigue that overwhelmed him at once:

I feel... sleepy?

Endnote:

(* 1): I don't know if you understood it, but in the first sentence of Shishiou, he says "one of them will appear". I exaggeratedly assumed that it was referring to a rare sword since he gives the 4h time, which in the Game is the exact time for forging a rare sword (five petals of cherry tree). Given that at that time (release of the anime), the only sword of the Game with such a rarity was Mikazuki, it could only be about him. However, I had a little fun imagining that "one of them" also meant "one of the Tenka Goken", since, in the recent update of the Game, new five-petal swords have made their appearances and it's only the Tenka Goken (At this moment, Juzumaru and Ooodenta).

(* 2): Pure invention on my part. It still seemed relevant to me since the machine has mechanical cogs like those of a clock and is used to travel in time. Do you think I should give the idea of the name to the studio, instead of complicating the Toudan's life by calling it "that thing" ?! XD