"As you can see, there are lots of ships in port" said Gunter, pointing to the shore. After forcing both of us to get dressed, not looking at us as he gave a lecture on about 'acting like proper royalty', I had followed him to the front deck where Takumi and Camilla were waiting. My younger brother was scowling, whilst my sister was giving me a wave. They must be getting on swimmingly. We were outside the port of Cyrkensia, looking in on the full marina.

"Much more than we could handle." But we'd come so far to find Ryoma. No turning back now.

"Something more interesting than just the amount. Look at the banners on some of those on the far piers." On the far end was a fleet of boats carrying the Nohrian banners.

"Oh my, that's Xander's favourite little boat!" said Camilla. "He calls it the Sieglinde. It's practically a child to him."

Of course it couldn't be easy. But it seemed both of them had already started fighting! But this posed a perfect opportunity! With the chance of getting both of them to stop, I could stop this bloodshed!

"This poses a perfect opportunity. Why don't we try and get the two of them to stop?" I propose.

"You know they won't. Frankly, I think we should hold back until the Nohrians are defeated, then go get Ryoma then" said Takumi, smirking at Camilla. Down, boy. Don't start something. Unfortunately, Camilla takes the bait.

"You say that, but I'm sure I saw Ryoma turning tail first at the start of the war." She was winking and turned to me. Well, she wasn't wrong. I thought he might have been more reasonable… Instead of declaring me a traitor.

"Peace, both of you. Kamui, it is your call on what we do" said Gunter. It's a no brainer.

"We make a move. At the very least we can broker some peace between them. Let's make plans."

From what Subaki and Beruka could see, at least, Ryoma held the east of the city whilst Xander held the west. And in the central plaza was some invisible soldiers. The bad news was they were spotted as soon as they arrived.

"Oh cool, you're a kitsune too! You look so scaly and hard though…" said the big fox next to me, after he kicked a samurai into the waterways.

"Just like a wolfskin then. Don't know of any with a water beam though" said the wolf monster the other side, blocking off the Nohrian troops with a shipping container. They're both idiots. Tough, but stupid. We'd somehow recruited the two shapeshifters after they had managed to reveal our position to both armies by being incredibly loud

"I'm a dragon… I think?"

"Isn't that what that woman with the great rack riding?" asked Keaton, shoving Rinkah out of the way of an arrow. I look nothing like that mangy old thing!

"Nah, that's a manakete" said Kaden, with the most misplaced sense of confidence this side of me.

"Focus, you three! Once I give the signal that we've pushed far enough into the Hoshidan troops, you'll break through towards Prince Xander's force" said Gunter, his shield deflecting a naginata easily. Our goal hadn't been to attack either country, but to grab some invisible soldiers to prove that they existed and were at fault. Unfortunately, they were on a different island. One whose bridges were well fortified by both armies. A dragon vein existed, but sending in Camilla, Subaki, Reina and Beruka in alone would be tantamount to suicide.

Oboro had (thankfully) agreed to stay towards the back and help manage supplies as the army had split. Kagero had joined her on that duty, partly as bodyguard and partly as runner for the others. Thank god she'd be away from danger.

Not that a bit of bruising would stop someone as amazing as her.

FWOOSH

A small fireball soared into the sky, from where Hayato was standing. That was our mark!

"Alright, push!" I yell, throwing my dragon body into the barricade. Kaden and Keaton assisted, pushing it towards the Nohrian force. Some soldiers had tried to scale it, only to be blasted away by Orochi. Slowly, the barricade forces the amassed forces to scatter as the others charge in.

"Milady, we cannot dally here! Xander is going to make a move soon!" said Jakob, healing Camilla from a scrape. Right! Besides, the quicker we get those two on board, the less chance there is of some assassin sneaking up on Oboro…

"R-right!" I say, charging. Nohrian steel clangs off of my scales as I barrel through them, even Camilla struggling to keep pace. Due to my arm, I had elected to not use my sword style for this fight, but even as a big dragon, this hurt like hell!

"The beasts' arm is injured, flank right!" shouted a cavalier to his swordsmen. How rude!

"That's my little sister you're talking about!" yelled Camilla, flattening them. The stragglers were picked up the rest of the crew as we inched ever closer to Xander. He was standing directly on the bridge we wanted, nodding to brightly haired cavalier and a gray haired swordsman, who had pulled out a rough looking sword and hopped on the back of her horse.

"Peri and Laslow. A Wyrmslayer too… Stay back, Kamui…" said Camilla, her face severe. 'Beastkins, darlings, get ready to stop that cavalry charge" said the Malig Knight, taking off again. More cavaliers had joined their charge, building up speed. Keaton had fashioned a shield from a tavern door and was getting ready to guard.

"Kamui! I need more staves!" shouted Jakob, after healing the wounded Selena. Right, Oboro! The signal we had agreed on for healing supplies was a green flare. Luckily, Saizo's fireworks strapped to a Vulnerary made a lovely explosion.

Don't get any in your eyes though.

The firework pops into a bright green shimmer over us. In the meantime, the cavalry charge smashed into our barrier. Jumping over the defensive wall, the gray haired man that was talking to Xander landed before me, slipping right past everyone.

"Lady Kamui, a shame to meet you again under such circumstances… Let's not make this difficult now" he said, twirling his Wyrmslayer. Dammit! Everyone except me and Jakob are held up with those cavaliers!

"Stay back, milady. I shall handle this" said Jakob, grabbing a long dagger from its sheath on his waist. Before I could protest, my butler dived forwards. Luckily for him, the Wyrmslayer's larger than usual size meant he could easily outmaneuver the blade.

If that was any normal swordsman, at least. Attempting to duck the blade earned him a slash across the back. With a groan, he collapsed.

"JAKOB!"

"T-t-tis' only a flesh wound, milady…" he said, struggling to get up. A kick to the face knocking him back down.

"He should be fine… Kamui, if you'd do me the honour of a duel?" asked the man. Did he just wink at me? Asshole! Let's think about this… He's a expert swordsman, fast and deadly. That sword is designed to take down Wyverns and will probably tear my leg off too. All in all, I'm screwed. I can't go back to Yato, even with both arms I'd lose to someone like him in a second. Everyone else is still fighting off that crazed woman on a horse… And Xander's coming in as backup?!

"Kamui! I've got your staffs!" yelled Oboro, from behind me. Despite doctor's orders to not gear up, she had got herself ready for war. Thank God, I think. Wait, where the hell was Kagero?

"Get back! We need to retreat!"

"Not so likely!" yelled Xander, deflecting a blade aimed at his blue haired retainer. More Nohrian troops had snuck up behind them… Right near Oboro. "Two sisters have turned traitor. It pains me, but I will strike down all who oppose me!"

I need to help Oboro! I start to gallop towards her, before I feel the Wyrmslayer dig into my leg. The pain erupts as he yanks, pulling a lump of flesh from it. "AGHHHHHHH!" I can't help but scream. Gah! I whack my head on the floor too…

"Kamui!" both Oboro and Camilla cry out, the Malig Knight rushing for me. The mercenary swings for my sister, forcing her up into the air, whilst a Nohrian with an axe blocks the way for Oboro.

"Nohrian scum! I'll crush you all!" yelled the seamstress. Don't… Get away from here!

"Laslow… Allow me to finish my foolish sibling.." called Xander, galloping across a bridge he fashioned from a crate.

"Of c-" said Laslow, before being cut off by Kaden pouncing on him. The others managed to push off the cavalry charge! The kitsune and swordsman tumbled into the waterway, dropping the sword near me. Dammit! Orochi and Saizo had been pretty badly hurt and weren't able to fight any more… All that was with me was Keaton, Oboro, Camilla, Reina and Mozu. And we were pretty damn sore.

"Xander… If you won't listen, then I'll have to slap some sense into my idiot brother!" yelled Camilla, flying at him. Keaton charged as well, going for a tackle. Siegfried cut through the air, knocking them both to the wayside…

No… Not like this!

"Mozu! Reina! Get out of here!"

"Not without you, chief!" yelled the village girl. She drew an arrow, striking Xander in the shoulder. This was matched by a dark beam hitting her in the gut, crumpling her. Reina tried swooping in to disarm Xander, but her Naginata was no match for his holy weapon.

"Be glad that I spared your followers today, Kamui. I am here for the Hoshidan army. However, you must pay for your crimes. For what it is worth, sister, I am sorry that it ended this way." He dismounted from his horse and walked towards me, sheathing Siegfried. If I can get a bit further… I can throw myself in the water and get away… But Oboro is all surrounded… I can't leave her like this…

Xander picked up the Wyrmslayer that Laslow had dropped. Dammit… This really is the end…

"KAMUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" screamed a banshee at the highest pitch of her voice.

"Y-you?! You defeated them all?!" said the startled prince. Huh? I open my eyes to see Oboro swinging her spear like a maniac, managing to force Xander back away from me.

"YOU! DO! NOT! TOUCH! KAMUI! YOU! UTTER! SCUM!" she continued screaming. Her armour and uniform was in tatter and stained scarlet, with the spear stolen from a Nohrian splintering on every hit. Xander could do nothing but defend against the relentless barrage of strikes. She won't be able to keep this up much… I need to help!

"How are you still standing?! I won't hold back then!" yelled Xander, kicking her in the stomach. Reeling, Oboro crumples to the floor, curled up. Legs, all three of you, don't fail me now!

As Xander swings his Wyrmslayer down, I throw my entire weight into him. I feel my back burn up, but my body collides into my brother, knocking us both down. I see him collapse, then I black out…

"Milady!"

Urgh… I feel something warm washing over me. I was back as a human, laying face down on the floor. Jakob was standing over me, his Mend staff glowing brightly. Everything hurts, but my back and leg are roaring in pain.

"No, don't stand yet. We need to patch your leg up." He was fussing around on my leg, wrapping it thick in bandages.

"So lovely to see you, darling" said Camilla, holding my hand. She had a bandage on her head. Looking around, I notice most of our group had some kind of first aid covering them. "We succeeded in our half of the mission, as have the other group. Unfortunately, both the Nohrian and Hoshidan forces decided to retreat to regroup instead of join us. Likely, they'll lick their wounds then get back to fighting."

So everything was for naught? Bugger. That was still on top of those invisible soldiers, wasn't it? "W-where's Oboro?!" I ask. Last I remember was tackling her… Oh gods, I hope I didn't trample her!

"Hmm… Oh, the girlfriend…" smirked the malig knight. Good to see I can't escape this crap even in this state.

"S-she's not my girlfriend!" Not yet, anyway. I'm working on it, dammit!

"Relax, she's fine. Just had to stick her somewhere safe while she recovers. Don't worry, Orochi is staying with her to make sure she doesn't get hurt anymore." That's exactly a reason to worry! And I don't just mean leaving her with the witch!

"What do you mean recovers!" Agh! My back flares up again as I try and get up. Jakob tutts and lays me back down.

"She is fine, milady. Merely aggravated her injuries from earlier. Now, you on the other hand, are practically falling apart! As your carer, I must insist on you resting to at least allow for the muscle to fully recover on your leg" said the butler.

"Like hell am I sitting around. If I'm to convince anyone, I need to bring them the head of that invisible captain myself."

"I expected you to say this. So, we came up with a compromise."

Why does the sound of something landing behind me fill me with dread?

"Heya, chief! Heard you're flying with me for the time being" said Reina.

I think I'd rather take my chances with Xander again.