Chapter Eleven: November - Shimotsuki (霜月): One bold Okita strike!

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!

Let's have a good day today too, Mikazuki!

Xxxxxxxxxx

An almost divine white light illuminated the November sky at this beginning of the afternoon, the translucent sun of winter resplendent like a last goodbye to the sunny days. The water of the river was slowly freezing under the cold, which was beginning to be felt more and more, and nature was rapidly losing its lustre as autumn would be soon nothing more than a memory.

The cries of an argument he knew inevitable resounded from the sparring room he was heading for, and he smiled softly as he approached Shokudaikiri and Tsurumaru who were nonchalantly standing in front of the entrance.

"Do those two not get along? Or is it the opposite? " questioned the white-haired Tachi almost rhetorically, not knowing if there was really an answer to his question.

"They get along because they don't get along. " replied automatically Mitsutada with amusement.

"I see. It's complicated. " sighed Tsurumaru, bothered.

"Well, that takes the biscuit. " said the Sage as he slid between the two swords, giving each one a look before transferring it to the two Uchigatana still in competition.

"Kondou! "

"Sakamoto! "

"Hahaha... yes, so it seems. " chuckled Tsurumaru, nodding.

"Maybe we should do something about it? " stated the Saniwa, an idea already crossing his mind.

"Hmm... Like a party "Get along from now on" ? " asked the Tachi with the eye patch, tilting his head to the side as he was thinking.

"I was thinking of something a little more drastic, Shokudaikiri. " indicated the boy with a small apologetic smile, the vision of another party creating a disaster in the citadel already making him panic.

"A little more drastic...? " repeated Kuninaga, interested. "Oh, how surprising! Master is pretty sneaky! "

"Yes... I think I'll surprise everyone! " emitted the Sage, a conniving smile stretching his lips.

"Aruji, Yamanbagiri told me that you were looking for me? "

He turned at this call, frowning suddenly, a serious expression now stretching the features of his face as his Toudan advanced toward him.

"Hasebe, yes. The History Retrograde Army struck again. " he declared, heading straight for his room.

"What?! Where?! " cried out the light-brown-haired Uchigatana, still motionless in the courtyard.

"Follow me. "

The master and the servant walked in silence beside each other, crossing the citadel until they reached the staircase leading to the upper floor. The vision, from the window of the hall, of the blossoming ten thousand leaf cherry tree even as winter was making its appearance comforted him even more on the situation to come, and he entered the room with a light step, opening without hesitation the drawer of his desk whilst he explained:

"The Retrogrades are attacking the Ikedaya inn. "

"Aruji, they've appeared there again? " exclaimed Hasebe, looking desperate. "The Sword Warriors being dispatched are- " he asked immediately.

"I knew they would reappear, and it's a chance that everyone I wanted in the next team that would be sent on an excursion to this place, have all been invoked by now. " revealed the boy, interrupting the Touken Danshi. "Whatever it be, I have already made my choice. " he related, finally pulling out a sheet of paper marked with his seal, unfolding it to write another name at the last second.

Heshikiri leaned over the Saniwa's shoulder, as the latter was sitting at his chabudai, glancing at the chosen team members, frowning in turn before relaxing a little.

"Very well, these six? "

"I hope to settle a certain conflict by adding this one, so tell them to behave well, okay? " whispered the boy with a smile, winking at his Toudan, who smiled too as he took the page in his hands.

"All right. But... "

"About Yasusada, you mean? " revealed the Sage, knowing the Uchigatana's doubts about his blue-hakama-clothed comrade.

"Yes… "

"It's up to you to talk to him if you believe it's necessary. But I sincerely think that you will only succeed in frightening him. " said the Sage, pouting as he stood up, one hand extended to the shōji to speed his sword up to the exit.

"Hmm... probably. If that's so, can I borrow this for a moment? " questioned Hasebe as he grabbed a purple box on the dresser before he went through the doors.

"The jack-in-the-box that Tsurumaru offered me? " asked the boy, his eyes widening, a grin appearing on his mouth as he understood what the Uchigatana was going to do with it. " As you want. Don't forget this. " he uttered as he approached the latter, a small blue bag hanging between the fingers of his raised hand in front of him.

"They should be able to fulfil their duty. " added Heshikiri, though looking less confident than he appeared.

Xxxxxxxxxx

The Saniwa leaned against the hallway wall jamb, his eyelids closed, his arms crossed against his chest, breathing as quietly as possible. Listening carefully, he pursed his lips between them as his attendant and his first sword conversed.

"Master has high hopes for Yamatonokami. " whispered Hasebe, adding: "However, I'm honestly concerned. He strongly adores Okita Souji- "

"That's... " interrupted Kiyomitsu, moving forward before stepping back abruptly: "all in the past now. "

"Is it really? "

"Okita Souji isn't the one who is wielding us anymore now. This is our master now." said Kashuu confidently, tightening his grip on the page bearing the Sage's seal: "Yasusada knows that, too. "

"He's not pushing himself, is he? " retorted Heshikiri, plunging his lavender-coloured eyes into his companion's carmine.

"He's gotten stronger mentally as well. Believe in him. " affirmed the Uchigatana dressed in a red hakama as he turned, watching the court absently.

"Kashuu, I'm counting on you. "

"I know. "

The steps of his Toudan going to the great room pushed him to stand up against the wall as he decided to report his presence to his other Touken Danshi.

"I didn't think you would go so far as to lecture Kiyomitsu too. "

"Aruji! So you were there... " exclaimed Hasebe, apprehensive of the boy's reaction.

"Mm-hmm... I was a little curious, I admit it. "

"I don't know who I'm trying to reassure the most, you or me. " divulged Heshikiri, sighing, closing his eyes for a moment before reopening them on the figure of his master now standing in front of him.

"I see. In this case, let's make a bet. " announced the Saniwa, looking in the distance.

"A bet? " repeated Hasebe, surprised.

"Yes. I bet on Yasusada and Kiyomitsu, and of course on the smooth running of the mission. If ever, I happen to be right, you'll leave your place as an attendant to Gokotai for a week! " declared the Sage with an exaggerated smile, turning his head towards his sword.

"What?! Come on, it's unreasonable! He has no experience! " cried out Heshikiri, spreading his arms, his face suddenly whitening at the thought of losing his precious position as the personal attendant of the Saniwa.

"Yes, I know. But he has expressed the desire so many times that I cannot refuse him again without feeling guilty. " indicated the boy, clasping his hands together as if apologising in advance, now smiling embarrassedly as he specified: "This is a good opportunity. And, how do you expect him to gain experience if he doesn't take on this role at least once? "

"Aruji... You are way too kind. " sighed the light-brown-haired Uchigatana, sweeping the air with his hand.

"Maybe. " whispered the boy, chuckling slightly.

"What if I win? " suddenly asked the second blade, remembering at once that he could be the one who was right from the very beginning.

"Hmm... Well, I would resolve myself to take drastic measures. " stated the Sage, frowning seriously again.

"That is to say? " objected Hasebe, worried.

"You'll understand if you win. "

Xxxxxxxxxx

Closing the shōji behind him, he yawned slowly as he began to get changed, swapping his green and grey hakama for a thin beige kimono, and settling on the zaisu in front of the kotatsu. Relaxing under the heat that the object was releasing, he grabbed the book on the table of the latter and tried to get lost in his reading.

All he had to do was to close his eyes to imagine Kyoto immersed in the foggy darkness. The lights of the city numerous just enough to make it visible in the distance, the clear surface of the Kamo River, lined with weeping willows, reflecting the crescent moon with clarity that night. And beyond the clouds and green mountains stood the Ikedaya Inn, dressed in purple curtains, through where a soft honey-coloured glow was filtering.

The Retrogrades would be waiting just behind the door, so numerous that Kiyomitsu couldn't help but make a comment. Swirling bodies in the room, swords swaying from side to side, a swarm of red and black particles covering the first floor. And the fighting spirit of his Touken Danshi waking up under the adrenaline of the battle, dancing relentlessly between the enemies, a triumphant smile stretching their lips.

The boy shook his head energetically to chase away this picture of his thoughts, resting his book. He had to do something to occupy his mind. Sighing, he looked around him with haggard eyes, desperately seeking a new activity. It was in these moments that he would like to be drowned under the administrative work.

"Where is Konnosuke when I need him...? " he whispered aloud, slouching in his seat.

"Aruji? "

The Saniwa raised his head quickly to the sound of that voice, offering a soft smile at the person when he entered after a moment of waiting, leaving the panels ajar as he sat beside him under the kotatsu.

"Are you all right, Kasen? " he asked, leaning slightly towards the Uchigatana, the latter placing a tray of sweets on the table.

"I thought you might be a bit hungry... " answered Kasen solemnly, avoiding the Sage's gaze and posing his own on a series of engravings hanging on the back wall.

"Thank you. " pronounced the latter, his eyes not letting go of the long blade, serving some tea in two cups whilst adding: "Are you worried? "

Scowling suddenly at the question, Nosada let out a sigh before taking a sip of the green liquid, replying:

"Not really. He's too narrow-minded to betray you in the name of his previous master. Perhaps you will say that he is loyal, to each their interpretation. "

"But? " retorted the boy, squinting, knowing full well that a 'but' would follow that sentence.

"But I have a bad feeling as if things were not going to happen exactly as planned. " explained Kasen with a grimace. "And then he's silly enough to come back more hurt than the others, only to prove how strong he is. "

Not being able to stop himself, the Sage began to chuckle noisily at the hearing of this remark, and putting a hand against his mouth to try to calm the giggle which was taking possession of him, he said with amusement:

"Between you and Hachisuka, there is really only one era. "

"What do you mean? " questioned the Uchigatana, surprised.

"You and Hachisuka are so similar, in denigrating like this your brothers when in truth, the hardest thing would be that they are no longer there. "

Nosada found himself pouting when the Saniwa uttered these words, a certain truth shining through his pupils at this gesture. After all, he wasn't totally wrong, and the only one who had been happier than him when Izuminokami had set a foot in the citadel, had been Horikawa. No... happier was a word a bit strong to translate what he had felt... maybe it was a matter of appeasement or tenderness. Yes, a fraternal tenderness that had prevented him from putting the former Shinsengumi's member to pieces when he had started shifting his belongings to organise his own when he had moved into his room.

A tense grin gradually appeared on the edges of his Toudan's lips and he knew immediately that the latter was remembering a bad memory, forcing himself to smile for form. Sighing again, the boy swung his head to the side and recited, conniving:

"Elegance and strength rather than technique and power; a name or a generation rather than an appearance or a title; softness rather than roughness are the characteristics of a real Kotetsu, the charms that inhabit a second-generation Kanesada. And yet, despite your incessant complaints, you are so quick to accept someone that is below you, just for who he is... "

"Indeed, I cannot deny our resemblance. " announced Kasen in a breath, closing his eyelids.

"Everything will be all right. " indicated the Saniwa staring at the Castella's plate in front of him. "As long as you believe in him as much as I do. "

As long as I believe in all of them...

Endnote:

Zaisu: A zaisu (座椅子) is a Japanese chair with no legs but a normal chair back. They are often found in traditional rooms with tatami mats and are often used for relaxing under heated kotatsu tables.

Kotatsu: A kotatsu (炬燵) is a low, wooden table frame covered by a futon, or heavy blanket, upon which a tabletop sits. Underneath is a heat source, formerly a charcoal brazier but now electric, often built into the table itself.