The march was going well. I had stuck with Gunther and Kaze for the most part.
It was going well. That is, until we followed Saizo's smoke signal and ended up in the middle of a Mokushujin ambush.
"Battle formation! Now!" yelled the old knight, quickly raising his shield to block a shuriken. Luckily, I had a plan. One to keep me as far away from Oboro and Hinata as possible.
"Takumi! Take Sakura, Oboro, Hinata and Hayato and clear out the guys behind us! We'll push forwards" I yell to my brother, grabbing my Dragonstone and transforming. Azura was close behind me, propelling me towards my goal, Saizo.
The stern ninja was just finishing off a hapless archer when I barrelled through the trees, trampling a Mokushu ninja who had nearly caught Orochi off guard. "What kind of foul Nohrian monster is this?!" he said, raising his blade. Rude. I quickly untransform in front of him. He doesn't drop his blade. "Kamui. I ought to have known. Are you here with the Mokushujin?"
I'd slap him if we weren't in the middle of an ambush. "I'm here to rescue you, ass." Honestly, that must have been on purpose. "Let's just get ourselves out of this mess and I'll explain what's happening."
His one eye squints. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend, for now. Orochi! Reina! We'll follow Kamui for the time being" he says, vanishing off into the forest. Reina is a Kinshi Knight, right? Perfect! There's nowhere further away from those two than on the ground than being in the sky. I hail her down to the clearing we were in, as Azura and Orochi make their way towards the caves where Kagero was taken. Takumi's squad was probably on their way back now too, so I need to make this quick.
"What do you need, Kamui?" asked the veteran. Her mount was scarlet from some hapless Ninja she had probably just finished with. Probably best not to ask.
"Give me a lift. I need to see what traps they've got planned for us" I say. Half truths, the best kind of truth. Whilst that was one of the things I needed to do, truth was I was laying low.
"Hope you're not squeamish, princess" laughed Reina, helping me on back. That didn't bode well. Before I could say anything, the bird had rocketed off to the skies. Oh heavens! The speed! The sinking feeling in my stomach! I feel the familiar pang of regret deep in my chest and breakfast starting to surface again… Maybe staying somewhere Oboro may be able to get near to me wasn't the best idea.
Or maybe I should have settled for Subaki. At least he didn't cackle.
"There's a lone Shrine Maiden down there!" said Reina, pointing down to the woods with her Naginata. "Do you want her or can I have this one?"
"Urf…"
"Thank you!" she cheered, diving down. Just close your eyes Kamui, it'll be all over soon. That's what I told myself, but I'm sure she just did a loop the loop.
"You don't sound like you're enjoying yourself, Kamui! Want me to let you down?" Honestly, it'd probably be for the best. This plan was a horrific failure. I give a weak nod and she sets the bird down.
"Careful now, she's a bit green" laughed the Kinshi Knight as I took a few breaths and looked to see who I was dropped with. Oh, of all the people to drop me off with…
"Oh heya Chief!" smiled Oboro, with a wave. "You're not looking too hot, did a poisoned blade get you?" One called 'Reina', maybe. She was already opening up a vulnerary and grabbing me by the shoulder. "Down it goes."
Urgh. Disgusting. Got to keep this all down, can't embarrass myself further. Wait a second… Did she just feed me something? Oh my gods, she did. Oh no no no no, I'm blushing again! Dammit, why couldn't it at least have been something romantic!
"We're making the last push to the head of those ninja, anyway. Saizo and Kaze are taking point with Rinkah. Come on, we need to clear out any remaining hostiles so they don't get blindsided" she said, pushing forwards. Of course my legs are jelly. Between Reina's wild ride and Oboro feeding me medicine, I'm surprised I'm still standing. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a Ninja hiding in a tree. The glint of steel shone in his hand.
"DUCK!" I manage to shriek out, quickly transforming and tackling the spear fighter. Luckily, the shuriken harmlessly bounced off my scales, allowing Orochi to fire off a spectral bull at my assailant. What was more important was that Oboro was under me. Uhh…..
At least it's not me just in shocked silence. She was laying there, a tinge of rose on her cheeks. W-was she blushing too? I imagine a dragon can't blush, but if I could, I'd look like a wyvern!
"Err… Kamui. Thanks for saving me, but could you move?" she meekly asked. Oh! Right! I quickly jump back and transform back. Orochi patted me on the back and laughed.
"Get a room, you two. I think Saizo's given the signal that the enemy has surrendered." How dare she! How does she know! At least Oboro's sputtering too.
"W-what do you mean, Orochi?" she asked. The diviner gave a wide smile and winked.
"Who can say? Come on, you" she said, dragging me off. "You need to be at the front and centre, the celebration can wait for later". T-this woman!
"Awawawa!" I stammer as she pulls me into the caves. Oboro wasn't following. Maybe I'll be able to compose myself with her not here. Not after staring into her eyes like that I'll be able to look at her in the eyes for a while.
At least that'd probably be mutual.
"Here's the chief!" said Orochi, grabbing the attention of Saizo, Jakob, Kaze and Sakura. Kagero was standing there, having a cut on her arm tended to by the shrine maiden. Now comes for the boring negotiation stage…
Thankfully, the conversation was short. It ended with us continuing to the coast to pursue Ryoma in Cheve. Two more days march until we reach the ship, then a day and a bit on the high seas. Kaze suggested we left Mokushu before we retreated back to my castle, which gave me some time to avoid Oboro and Hinata a bit more. Unfortunately, someone else was now latching onto me.
"So. You and Oboro?" said Orochi, walking a few paces behind. Heavens, was there a more infuriating woman? "Are you two an actual item or..?" She hadn't stopped with that wide smile since I'd saved Oboro's life. At least Azura knew to not keep on at me about it, she just tried to make situations for me.
On the whole, I guess I should thank her for it being somewhat of a success.
Can't say I have the same hopes as for Orochi.
"Hey, if you keep ignoring me Kamui, I'm going to start coming to conclusions!" Dammit! "I see a vision! The princess of no nation and a hoshidan soldier start a steamy relationship! A gripping embrace in the middle of a battlefield! A duet of blushing brides, with an army of bridesmaids!"
Those last two sound good… I mean, leave me alone!
"T-there's nothing between us!" I say, louder than I wanted.
"Ah, so the lady hasn't made a move yet… Sad, Lady Mikoto would have been telling you to hurry up and get with her" sighed the diviner. She was my mothers retainer before the attack… That was in the past now. "You know, Kamui, I was just a trainee in the castle when I first met you". Great. Baby stories. That's all I need. "I would have never thought that a nice girl like you would turn out so rude."
Don't try and guilt me, woman. I have no intention of breaking in front of you.
"Did anyone ever tell you about the time you said you were going to marry Ryoma? And then Takumi cried?" Heavens, what do I have to do to make this woman go away? "Wonder if Oboro knows of that story…"
"H-h-how much do I need to p-pay you to go away?!" I yell. Orochi laughs in my face. When I'm queen you're off to the dungeons first, hag.
"I don't want any money, milady. Just for you to stop acting like a blushing schoolgirl!" she says, still laughing. Great, another 'well wisher'.
"I can handle this myself. Leave me alone!" Why did everyone feel the need to stick their oar in! I'm making plenty of progress, I managed to act in battle with Oboro next to me! That's an improvement, right?
"Don't lie to diviners, sweetie. We know all. Here, let me read your palm" she says, grabbing my hand like a snake pouncing on its prey. She umms and ahs at it, tutting a few times too. Despite trying to free myself, her grip is much too tight. "Oh ho ho ho, have you got some interesting twists coming."
"Let me guess, blushing brides and army of bridesmaids?" Damn hag.
"Twins is what I see" she says, winking but not letting go. Twins? I'd always wanted another younger sibling like Elise… Wait, kids? How the hell does that work?
Does Oboro reject me?! Of course she would, she's smitten with Takumi! Gods, how had I managed to let myself get lost in the fantasy for so long!
"Earth to Kamui! I'm joking with you. I can't tell your future children from palm reading" she says, amused by her atrocious sense of humour. I'm almost in tears here! "But your life is going to get all topsy turvy soon."
"Meaning what." I'm just about done with this woman. She takes another dig and I'm biting her head off.
"Meaning that you shouldn't hold back. Who knows what could happen. You're both soldiers and death is a daily possibility." Orochi's voice is suddenly serious. "Don't wait on something like 'being embarrassed', seize the day or you'll regret it forever."
She's completely right. Dammit, I hate being surrounded by all these people who have it in for me. Death by good advice. What good is it if all I'm going to do is stumble over everything?
"And quit being so self conscious too, it's a terrible look for a leader" she said, walking away from me. Easy for her to say. As one irritant left, another arrived.
"I overheard your pep-talk" said Azura. Of course she did. "Also I know you practically dived on Oboro so I'm practically up to date". Ever dutiful at being nosy as always.
"Here to gloat then?" Really not in the mood to deal with her trying to set me up now. Just let me sleep darn it.
"Not at all, Kamui. You know I'm only doing this all for your own good." Such an altruist! "Besides, I was actually going to congratulate you. Before, you'd have just acted like a deer in the hunter's eyeline or run away, but you defended your beloved's life."
That's true, I did manage to take the action I wanted to. Maybe I am getting more used to her…
"We can't just throw a knife at us every time I start being nervous though!" I say. "Besides, I practically trampled her, and she's lucky I didn't puke after what Reina put me through!"
"Not really much else you could have done. So, we just need to make you bold and face your fears!" the songstress said, an evil smile on her face. Don't you dare, you damn wench! "Say… When do you think you'll be in the bathhouse next?"
My dragonstone is a weapon, and weapons are not to be directed at allies outside of training.
But I think chasing a pesky singer across the forest was warranted.