Chapter Eleven: November - Shimotsuki (霜月): I'm counting on you.

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!

You too, Kogitsunemaru, Mikazuki... Have a good night sleep.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Ice-cold winter, sitting on the throne of seasons, glorifying its name with a biting wind chilling the region all at once. And if only the sky was painted in white right now, and if the leaves were still clinging desperately to the branches, soon its dark and threatening reign would begin, sentencing nature to death and human beings to endless sufferings. Soon infinite snows would cover the plains, turning this world into a colourless monochrome painting.

Tightening his haori against him as he shivered, he closed the book on his knees and let himself fell back against the wall behind him, sighing.

"What's the matter, Aruji? "

Lifting his head, the Saniwa tilted it to the side and narrowed his eyes as he observed his Toudan, mentally pondering over if he should tell him or not what was on his mind.

"I'm a bit preoccupied. " he stated, his fingers caressing distractedly the cover of the book, his eyes focused on the outside visible from the opened window of the room. "Lately, the Retrogrades tend to do some unusual things to unusual places. "

"What does that imply exactly? " enquired Hasebe, standing still in front of his master, concerned.

"Well, for example… recently, they have appeared a lot during the Edo period, which is quite strange since they haven't done that, or at least, almost haven't done that in the past. " explained the Sage, watching at his sword again.

"What did you just say? " exclaimed the latter, stunned.

"Although it is disturbing, it's not that surprising. By dint of retreating as they have done since all this time, they start to get impatient. And from this impatience arises actions that don't look like them. "

"I see. Do we know more about their next moves? "

"Not really. As far as I understand, they just decided to be a bit more daring, and I'm pretty sure that's not going to settle down anytime soon. "

Nodding, the Uchigatana crossed his arms over his chest, wondering a moment before raising his look toward the boy, questioning hesitantly:

"Should we tell the others? "

"For the moment, we can't be sure of anything. I have nothing against telling the oldest, but it's useless to warn everyone. It will only create a wave of panic. " calmly replied the cherry-haired boy, reopening his book and browsing the lines nonchalantly.

"Yes, I understand… " declared his attendant, heading for the shōji. "Excuse me. "

The doors closed in a muffled sound and he dropped his reading again, his face marked by worry and concern. He could look contented in front of his Touken Danshi, but the truth was far from being this good. He obviously knew what was left to do, but that did not stop him from being worried. Whatever the next attack would be, it is in his interest to make the right choices, because such an attack would prove to be very different from all the ones they had faced until today.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Bleak November, invaded by the freezing temperatures of next winter, a day had almost elapsed, the afternoon reaching half its time. The engawa he was treading on towards his office almost slid under the intense humidity of the air, forcing him to walk slowly and cautiously.

At his side, a certain Uchigatana with red-stained nails complained loudly, not bothering with being heard by the other members of the citadel, nor troubling himself over the fact of annoying his master. But far from all that, the latter was, on the contrary, quite amused by the digs his sword was hurling at one of his comrade, his voice high-pitched, his cheeks blushing a bit more with each cutting remarks, although he could not tell if it was because of his own embarrassment or the ambient cold.

"Can't believe he's that shameless! Saying something like wanting to be warm-up in master's bosom! Who does he think he is! "

Avoiding a laugh from crossing his lips, the Sage could not help a mischievous smile from adorning them, rolling his eyes with scepticism.

"So? What's wrong with that? "

"What's wrong with that?! You're not serious, right?! Doesn't that bother you that he says such brazen things!? " exclaimed Kiyomitsu, disbelieved.

"Not at all! But I wonder… why you're the only one so bothered by this…? " the Sage stated, teasing. "Could it be that… you're jealous!? "

"What?! " shouted Kashuu, almost choking, looking away, his face this time completely red. "Nonsense! As if I… I needed to… to be cuddled by you... "

"Oh… really? So, looking all the time for compliments but not interested by cuddles, is that what you saying? " the boy indicated, his golden eyes fixed on his Toudan, deeply entertained.

"That's not…! "

Taken aback, the Uchigatana pouted in annoyance, not only embarrassed but also short of arguments.

Smiling softly, the Saniwa ran a hand over his sword's hair, and declared gently:

"Have you forgot who you're talking to? After all this time, don't you think I can read you like an open book? You can't lie to me, Kiyomitsu. "

"Hmm… " the latter murmured, biting his lower, staring at the floor he was walking on.

"By the way, I worked on something recently, maybe it will solve Shinano's issue as well as please you… "

"Huh? What thing? "

"You'll see. "

Suddenly stumbling on Hotarumaru and Kuniyuki at the entrance of the estate, they joined them when noticing the Rai school third member's return, and rejoiced, approached to greet him.

"Ah, Aruji! I'm back! " expressed Aizen, also noticing the master and his first sword.

"Welcome back! " emitted the two of them in a single voice, their eyes narrowed in a large smile.

"How was training? " Kiyomitsu asked, taking one step forward but still staying on the doorstep to avoid the cold.

"Hehe, I'm gonna wipe the floor with the Retrogrades! " said Kunitoshi, his hands resting on his hips like a great warrior.

"Ah? Don't be so sure of yourself or you're going to regret it. " teased at his turn the Uchigatana, one eyebrow raised, sceptical.

"The more you have trained, the strongest you will be on the battlefield. " claimed the Sage with a knowing wink at his Tantou.

"Then I'll surprise more than one! "

"I can't wait to see that. "

"What about sparring with me to see your progress? " questioned Hotarumaru with his usual sweet and calm voice.

"Huh? Wait, what?! No way I'm sparring with you! You're far too scary in combat! " exclaimed with fear Aizen, stepping backwards, his hands raised in front of him.

And as the others were bursting into laughter at this behaviour, the Ootachi continuing to insist on his partner to fight him, the cherry-haired boy let his gaze drifted towards the Uchigatana all dressed in red, glad to see that the latter was no longer affected by the progress his comrades could make as he had been in the past.

Guess I really don't have to worry about him anymore… he thought, mentally sighing in relief, a warm smile slightly stretching the corners of his mouth.

Xxxxxxxxxx

In a few minutes, the sun will set over the sky, vague shades of orange painting it widely. In a few minutes, the day will end, twilight announcing it slowly whilst the moon will appear behind the clouds that were darkening. In a few minutes, there will be nothing more than a thousand stars shining brightly in the night skies, travelling through history and time.

Entering the great hall, he couldn't help a smile to bloom on his mouth as he watched his Touken Danshi rejoiced in front of the outfits he had made for them for this winter.

"So that's what you were talking about! " exclaimed Kiyomitsu with a laughing grin, his hand tightening what was supposed to be Yasusada's mitten.

Nodding, the cherry-haired boy moved forward into the room, and declared, his head tilted to the side, mischievous:

"Less jealous now, I guess? "

"Stop saying that! " shouted angrily Kashuu, his cheeks red, embarrassed.

"Oya? What's the matter? " suddenly asked Mikazuki, amused.

"Nothing! Absolutely nothing! " hastened to replied the red-dressed Uchigatana, all the more embarrassed.

Letting a twinkling laugh escaped from his lips as the other swords in the room were wondering what was happening, the Sage finally turned toward the Toushirou with a scarf, the latter, well wrapped up in his new woollen blanket, smiling happily at the heat that the object was providing to him.

"Does it suits you, Shinano? "

"Yes, that's perfect! Thank you Aruji. " indicated the Tantou, hopping on the spot.

"That's great. " the Saniwa nodded as he watched his other Toudan, who also thanked him in a glance.

Then, taking the other mitten of Yamatonokami which was left in the cardboard in his hands, he whispered nostalgically:

"It would be nice if he was coming back just in time to use them... "

"Yeah… " answered Kiyomitsu, looking as well at the own mitten he was holding.

Xxxxxxxxxx

After having left his swords once the fitting and the rejoicing has ended, he had headed once again toward his office, just in time to be alerted by a new attack of the Historical Revisionists.

Sitting at his desk, he opened the holographic map on the wall in front of him, Konnosuke jumping on one of the sofas to study it as well.

"As we thought, they're targeting the Edo period. " the little fox claimed, offering a quick look at his master before focusing anew on the map to read the details.

"August 15th, 1747. Probably that they're going to interfere in the incident involving Date Munemura and Hosokawa Munetaka. " declared the cherry-haired boy, frowning slightly.

"So during Hosokawa Munetaka's assassination? "

"Exactly. As I see it, they certainly want to accelerate the Hosokawa clan's downfall. "

"This isn't going to be easy to stop them. Their force will be strong too. "

"Time to organise things differently then. " the Saniwa simply replied, resting his head against his crossed hands, thinking.

"Which means? " asked the kitsune, curious.

"Well, if they really want to stop Date Munemura from saving the Hosokawa clan, by sending a team the day before the incident, on August 14th, we might be able to take them by surprise. "

"Hmm... so the main objective would be to protect Date Munemura from any assault, probably by fighting them before they can even reach him? " the red-furred animal stated, analysing the situation.

"That's it. " agreed the Sage whilst grabbing a sheet of paper. "And the members of the team who will go on an excursion seem rather obvious."

"Swords related to the Date and Hosokawa clans? " questioned rhetorically Konnosuke, already knowing the answer.

"Are you going to warn Hasebe whilst I'm writing this down or...? " the boy interjected, looking at the motionless kitsune who was still standing in front of him, surprising him a little as he jumped back on the floor, taking his leave.

"Oh, right! On my way now! "

Xxxxxxxxxx

Rust-coloured maple leaf, carried away by this evening's whistling wind, whirled a few moments in the air before landing unexpectedly on the engawa on which he was standing, silent.

After months of waiting and perpetual questioning, the Revisionists were finally unveiling their game. In this continuous struggle against the Saniwa, and despite their many advantages, they had more than once failed in their task, fail in their plan. Now everything had changed. They were showing more determination, fewer scruples, and did not hesitate to use all the means at their disposal to achieve their goal. With that in mind, he had relied on strategy and power rather than number, like most of his own kind for that matter. But time, as ironic as it may be, was against them. As the enemy was slowly achieving their aims, the Saniwa were losing ground... Today's mission would prove to be decisive. He no longer had the right to fail, no, not anymore...

Leaned against the wall facing the temporal clock, the little fox beside him on the ground, he was watching his Toudan gathering one per one around the device, impatient to take down the Retrogrades that were attacking their precious history.

"Munemura will certainly be in the Date's main residence inside the Sendai domain at this period. And from what I know, he's not supposed to leave it before Munetaka's assassination the day after. " indicated the Saniwa, arms crossed over his chest, eyebrows frowned.

"I'll tell them! " said Konnosuke whilst heading toward Hasebe who was giving the last instructions.

Observing the sky turning from orange to black, heavy grey clouds gathering slowly together as the sign of a coming storm, his swords departing the citadel in dazzling golden light, the Sage pursed his lips with concern.

Something's wrong. Something is definitively wrong…!

He did not know yet how right this foreboding was going to be…