Three
Kichi
Whoever had crafted this table sure knew their stuff, Kichi thought as she ran her fingers over the smooth, polished top. For the past few weeks, she spent much time with this table, but this was the only time she took the time to appreciate it.
The crafter had seemingly used several pieces of wood for the top, and though there were no ornate decorations or artistic styles, the wooden grains put together formed hundreds of arrow like formations. The corners were separate rounded pieces, connecting the undersides, which weren't nailed, but seemed to fit into a groove made into the underside of the table's top, making it impossible to take out without first removing the corner pieces. The leg pieces were probably where most of the artistic choices had been made, as each leg seemed to split and round in four different directions, grooves having been cut to make it appear that it was a bird's talons bearing the weight. The table was a very fine piece of craftsmanship, and the maker should be very proud of themselves, Kichi decided.
As she continued to deliberate on finding the identity of the maker of the table, one of the voices speaking around the table called her name.
"Commander Kichi? Did you drop something?"
As if suddenly aware of how she looked to the outside world, Kichi noticed she was leaning back in a somewhat uncomfortable chair that Range would normally sit in, trying to get all four table legs in view. Suddenly understanding that gravity was going to pay her a visit unless she did something pronto, Kichi leaned forward as she grabbed both corners of the table and brought all four legs of the chair down with a very loud 'thwack'. After the unbearable sound finished echoing in her ears, Kichi looked to the four pairs of eyes staring at her and diplomatically asked, "What?"
"Did… did you drop something?" Seiji, Kichi's own logistic officer asked.
Kichi blinked several times in response, understanding that this was the first time in any of their meetings that she was being asked a direct question. Somewhat shocked, Kichi looked to the other three logistic officers, who were looking at her with mild concern. Deciding that this was the moment she had been waiting for, Kichi acted.
"Yes. Yes I did. In fact, I think it rolled out of the room. Excuse me." Kichi quickly lied, standing up and leaving the room, in her haste forgetting to close the door behind her.
Freezing as she entered the hallway at the sight of eight, now alert, faceless warriors staring her down, it took a second to remember that these were her guards, and not her keepers. Bravely ignoring the judging stares, commander, yes, commander Kichi, walked on as if she was about to do important business.
Walking to the spot where Range would normally be beating down one of his bodyguards, Kichi threw open the sliding door and witnessed the relaxed banner brute peeling a fruit with his fingers beside an individual wiping an instrument.
"Commander." Hachirou, the signal blower stated as she made her appearance.
"Hachirou, where's the general?" Kichi asked... no, demanded!
"I dunno'. He told us to wait here."
"When was this?" Kichi asked, miffed as she saw the other bodyguards playing with a ball on the grass. Kichi didn't want to admit, and couldn't admit even if she wanted to, but that looked fun as hell.
"Like, three days ago." Hachirou said, being handed a piece of the peeled citrus.
"WHAT?!" Kichi shouted, more in surprise than in anger. "Where is he?!"
"Ryuu! Where's Range?" Hachirou shouted to the four playing in the yard.
"I dunno'! Ran went with him, though!" The youngest of the bodyguards shouted back.
"He's with Ran, apparently." Hachirou quickly informed Kichi.
Kichi processed the information, biting her tongue as jealously rose up. How did the general she was attached to find such easy going bodyguards? Why was she stuck with these faceless, silent watchers who only followed her, while Range could come and go as he pleased?
"Find me, if you discover where the body you're supposed to be guarding is." Kichi venomously ordered... though it probably didn't come off that way.
"You got it. Have fun!" Hachirou happily accepted his orders, enjoying the shade and the breeze as he continued to clean his intstrument.
"You too." Kichi immediately returned without thinking, turning around in disappointment as she realized her image of a strong commander had been shattered in a flat second.
Walking the perimeter of the large storehouse they had taken over for headquartering, Kichi's command squad followed her to the training field, where hundreds of spear warriors were in spear wall formation, raising their shields and striking an invisible opponent in unison.
Originally, Kichi had been against how Range had decided what her company would be composed of, but with how many favors he was owed by strategic command for their winter war, he was able to equip his, her, and another company that wasn't even nearby with whatever he wanted. Now, looking at half her conscripts diligently training with the Tenth's more experienced warriors, she couldn't reason to be against her general's decision. A company's worth of spear warriors sure did look menacing, Kichi thought as she strode past the near five hundred drilling warriors, waving off the platoon leader coming to greet her, already having heard their training schedule for the next month, or until the monsoons hit.
While their new conscripts in the spear and harquebus platoons were working on their separate formations and drills, they would soon be moving on to mixed unit practice - or so the female logistic officers had recounted in one of their boring meetings. As Kichi was still relatively new to commanding, and was out of all but one fight during winter, Range had put her in a support role, until there was a situation where she could be trusted with the precious lives in the brigade.
By support role, she meant completely out of the daily events of every single aspect of the brigade. It was almost laughable how little she had done or accomplished since she had reinforced her company, and let loose a quiet chuckle as she moved through Kamakessai. Looking at her bodyguard's to see their non-reactions, all Kichi could do was turn back around and curse her luck. Perhaps Range was with his specialists in the forest, Kichi reasoned as she made her way to the south gate. Even if he wasn't, she could at least speak with two of her friends there.
When she was sixteen, instead of being conscripted to be a squaddie and join a company or garrison, Kichi had been chosen, no doubt by her father's influence, to be taught how to command like every other one of his children. After her journey to the central provinces and her commanding school, she had spent the next two years learning how to command, or what she thought was commanding. Her training was mostly memorizing their enemies, and the tactics and weapons they used, in theory preparing her for combat against the enemies of her nation. After finally proving herself in the wooden board games they used to show their knowledge and strategic wisdom by beating the retired general training them, she had been given her first taste of commands with a glorious mission.
The irony was not lost on her when that glorious mission had sent her to one of the safer parts of their country to go walk through the wilderness and check on villages. Then, as she got herself lost in the woods thanks to an unreliable guide and completely useless maps, she had been captured by a traitor general due to being her father's daughter. It wouldn't have been so bad, if that same traitor general didn't kill three fourths of her company, then torture her for a fortnight.
Kichi decided to remove those thoughts from her head as she continued to stroll out the gate of Kamakessai, turning off the dirt road and heading into the thigh high grass, hoping not to step on any snakes before she got to the clearing. A few more steps, and she'd be on the ink range, where all the skirmishers were busy improving their aim and reload times.
Not that she would be stopping to speak with any of them. Kichi continued, once again waving off a single platoon leader who was coming to see if she needed anything. Every other harquebusier seemed fairly concentrated, which was a good sign after the weeks of constant bickering she had watched from afar. Perhaps the Tenth's harquebus platoons finally got their stuff together, and would be able to meet their commander's expectations, Kichi mused as she continued her leisurely stroll.
It seemed the Tenth also had promoted their last platoon leader as well, as there was a new face running around, slapping weapons out of Inkling's hands, and showing them how he wanted the job done. Nodding to herself at the show of leadership, and getting a blank stare in return by the new platoon leader who knew nothing of her, Kichi moved on, not wanting to stop and introduce herself. For, she wanted to keep moving to where friends were, and stopping now was no option.
Finding the dirt path that led deeper into the forest, Kichi expertly navigated through the woods, her burdened guard desperately trying to keep up with their lightly armed commander. As she was still waiting for her new commander's armor, supposedly sent and forged by one of her father's title bearing smiths, Kichi was making do with a simple breast plate, not much different from a conscript's first piece of armor which had been growing on her recently.
As she went deeper into the undergrowth, hidden life began to show itself in the shade of the trees. Insects started to swarm around her, only to flee immediately, their primordial senses telling them not to bite her lest her body's toxic ink destroyed them. Small reptiles scurried in the damp woods, disturbed by the invader whose path sent her over their homes. Birds chirped and sang to the winds, hidden from view in their high perches.
Kichi stopped briefly to enjoy the nature that surrounded her, even if it was mostly moss and bugs. A great vast of her life had been spent indoors, under watch from Inklings not dissimilar from the guards that followed her now. Only recently in her life had she been allowed relative freedom, or what she believed was freedom. Recently, Kichi was beginning to believe that none of her choices mattered, as if she was only living to be part of someone else's plans. When she was a child, her father made her choices, and when she matured into an adult, Kichi discovered her immediate actions had been manipulated by complete strangers. Sighing away her degrading mood, she stood still as she heard an unnatural sound of bark snapping.
"Halt! Identify yourself." One of the mutant sentries demanded, his location obscured by the greenery.
"Commander Kichi, of the Sixtieth Company." Kichi stated, her inner dialogue interrupted by the hidden scout.
Suddenly aware that someone of higher position had once more returned, two Night Blades showed themselves, stepping out of hiding places only a few feet from her.
"Apologies, commander." The one who had challenged her said immediately, bowing his head in deference to her.
"No offense has been made. Can you show me to your camp?" Kichi returned, closing the distance and nearing the two cloaked individuals.
"Of course, ma'am." The hooded figure began to immediately move, their partner quickly following behind them.
It took a few minutes of Kichi silently following behind these soft stepping figures, and though her guards would never speak out, Kichi knew they were growing nervous... which made her happy, to a degree.
When the two cloaked scouts halted, and bowed, Kichi knew she had arrived at the forest camp where Range was most likely hiding. Nodding to them as they left to head back to their post, Kichi strode confidently into seemingly more forest.
However, the path ended abruptly, as if she ran into a net. Realizing she was grappling with a canvas wall, Kichi backed up a few paces, and followed along the cloth wall, finding where the corners of the fabric had been tied to trees. It had only been a week or two since she had visited this place, and it seemed in that time much work had been done to cover its existence. Dozens of these canvas walls had been raised, making a large ring with the help of the large amount of tree trunks.
After a few minutes of running her hand along perimeter wall, Kichi finally discovered the entrance, surprising the young scouts guarding it. Unlike the Night Blades, who did everything in their power to keep their skin covered with their strange multi-colored cloaks, these two were unhooded, normal looking Inklings, who looked as if they had just been conscripted. Startled by Kichi and her guard's sudden appearance, hands went to swords, but soon corrected themselves as they realized who they were looking at.
"Commander Kichi! W-welcome!" The young ones greeted, attempting to go to a knee, as if to apologize for the offense.
"Hey! None of that. Stop making a scene." Kichi ordered, gently grabbing onto their faces.
"A-apologies."
"Sorry."
The two scouts stood quietly, Kichi's hands leaving their chins as they returned to attention. "Good. Now, whose here?"
"Ma'am?"
"Is Kagehaha? Her son? Hana? Katashi? General Range? I know Akurai and Taiki are here somewhere." Kichi listed, getting a shared look of confusion from the two sentries.
"Kagehaha, Kageha, Katashi, and the six arbalest platoon leaders are here, ma'am. Along with Akurai and Taiki, of course."
"Good. Now stay here, and continue to stand guard."
"Do you need an escort, ma'am?" The other one asked, attaining a scoff from the commander.
"I already have seven, I'm afraid. Thank you."
The two seemed reluctant, but moved out of her and her guard's path, bowing lightly as she passed them and entered the camp proper.
It was almost another town, Kichi decided. Inside the canvas walls, warriors walked in pairs doing day to day routines. Routines such as storing supplies, maintaining weapons, and mending equipment, things Kichi had grown used to seeing during the winter months. Certain Inklings were in platforms built around tree trunks, pulling more canvas, like the wall the camp was made of up, showing the beginnings of a large ceiling undoubtedly to keep rain from getting into the camp.
Kids ran in between legs of working adults and warriors, their sickly white skin only stained by their obsidian eyes. Kichi knew these children, their brothers, sisters, and parents were just like she was, but something involuntary in her being made her feel slightly repulsed by these creatures, just by their appearance. She hated herself for it, especially after all the blood they had shed together. If it weren't for these mutated Inklings, she would not have survived the winter.
Yet still, she couldn't help but easily accept that they had to make their own village, hidden within dense forest, and that they couldn't enter Kamakessai without the populace entering into a state of chaos. Because of that fear shared by Range, only a few of the village's populace had even been informed of the existence of the Night Blades at all, and even then, he had barely elaborated on them.
The Night Blades didn't seem to mind either, as Kagehaha stated they preferred to come and go as they pleased, and hanging out in permanent structures were for 'suckers' or something of the like. To aid the Night Blades in their construction, and to use their temporary camp as a forward base for scouting drills and the like, the two platoons of scouts had also made the camp their home, and a home away from home for some of the arbalests.
Kichi was still unsure of the motivations of the arbalests walking in the camp. Natsumi, the second arbalest platoon leader of the Tenth Company, was still training Kichi's own company in the ways of the crossbow, doubling the number of solid projectiles that could be fired in the brigade back in Kamakessai. While their friend was training four times the amount she was supposed to, the two remaining arbalest platoons had joined the camp, trying to pick up some of the skills the scouts used. Maybe it was her inexperience with specialists, whose entire purpose on the battlefield was a single task, in this case, penetrating armor that a harquebus couldn't, but Kichi couldn't wrap her head around them being here.
Walking towards the center of the camp, Kichi could see two familiar figures staring at a large tree stump, apparently in a small leadership meeting of their own. As she hurried her pace, it appeared both Akurai and Taiki were agreeing with what a cloaked Night Blade was saying, as they gestured to the impromptu table.
Akurai must have spotted her, for as she finally neared the group, the Night Blade immediately walked off, while Taiki and Akurai both bowed in greeting.
"Commander."
"Commander Kichi."
The two spoke in relative unison, Taiki deciding to be more polite to her than her subordinate.
"Akurai. Taiki. What are you both doing?"
"Wrapping up a meeting." Akurai dispassionately stated as he returned to his normal relaxed stance, a hand resting on his sword's pommel as Kichi's guard took positions around her. This one eyed warrior had been a gift from her uncle when she became a fully-fledged commander and had proven himself a strong, silent, and above all else, loyal warrior. Akurai was only a platoon leader, but he garnered much respect in all groups of the brigade.
Taiki was being bashful for some reason, and refused to meet her gaze. His role in his company was a mystery to her currently, as she hadn't been able to get a direct answer from Range, but Kichi was certain it was of some importance. He had originally been a platoon leader, but he had been usurped, or abdicated his post for whatever reason. Either way, Taiki was now on random assignments directly from Range, which not even Taiki himself would speak about.
In fact, it seemed like her friend had been avoiding her recently, which annoyed the hell out of Kichi. Taiki used to come to her at any opportunity that would present itself, which was nice, as it was one of the few times she could dismiss her guard under the guise of secret commander stuff. Now that he had moved in with the Night Blades, she could rarely see, let alone speak with the only person she considered a friend.
Still, Taiki didn't speak, trying hard to avoid her encroaching stare. "Wrapping up a meeting, huh? Anything else?"
"No, commander." Akurai quickly stated, his response well prepared for in advance.
"Then what are you and your marauders doing? Just… scout drills?"
"Yes." Akurai simply answered, his expressionless face hard to speak to.
"Oh. Okay… Taiki, can I speak with you? I need to know where your general is." Kichi lied, more interested with just speaking with him more than the location of Range.
"Range... has told me to tell everyone that he is 'starting Arashi week a few days early, and trusts everyone to stay out of the rain'. He is supposedly nearby, but doesn't want to be found. I know Hana went with him, and to find Ran if there is anything urgent he needs to know."
"Hana too? Aren't they a thing?" Kichi asked, knowing damn well what the answer was and just trying to start a conversation.
Taiki nodded, his face saying how there was no blindfold over his eyes about his general's intentions. After a brief moment of absolute silence between the three of them, and Kichi appreciating just how intimidating seven stares into the back her head could be, she decided to speak again.
"So can I talk with you? Are you about to go?"
"Actually-" Taiki said, immediately being interrupted by Akurai.
"We are. The Night Blades caught the trail of the fish-barbarians, so we're going to check it out and see if there is any threat."
"If that's the case, I should come with -"
"That won't be necessary. We're planning to be back before sundown, and I'm sure Taiki can make it back to Kamakessai before nightfall." Akurai spoke plainly, but it was clear he was anticipating her next argument, as he continued. "We're not even bringing the platoons, with how small the tracks were, so it would be pointless to bring a fully equipped command squad to do battle."
Kichi turned to Taiki, but with one look of his already defeated face, she knew nothing would come from her pressing the matter. "Okay… well. I guess I'll see you both later?"
"Unless it rains." Akurai confirmed, only making her frown deepen on her face.
"Right. I'll be going then. Report if anything comes of your… adventure."
"Of course, commander."
With nothing further to add or gain from the Inklings in front of her, Kichi turned on her heel, and immediately left to exit the camp. A mixture of emotions hampered her every step, as she began jogging through the woods, trying not to let her guards see her face.
Maybe the carpenter was still in the town, Kichi thought as she ran her fingers over the table's top. She was sure that if she looked hard enough, she could find his works scattered around Kamakessai, and from there it was just a matter of asking the owners where they received such furniture.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" Kichi asked the empty, barely lit room as the world ended around her. Above her, the sky was tearing itself apart with lightning and thunder, the battle bloodying the earth with devastating rain. The only thing accompanying her through this storm was a single oil lamp, the soft flame uncaring for the troubles that plagued her.
At least her entire guard weren't currently judging her from behind the sliding door she stared at, Kichi thought optimistically as the sky cracked apart once more. With the sudden downpour, Kichi had told them she didn't plan to go anywhere for the night, and politely told them to fuck off.
"You're sitting in the dark, the thing you hate the most, talking to yourself! You're a woman in your prime, and you're sitting here seriously considering becoming a carpenter. Keep it together, Kichi. People will think you've gone mad!" Kichi laughed, but didn't feel any joy within it.
Kichi hated being alone.
After what had happened in Ishigaki, after her betrayal, after her torture, after she had been toyed with, mentally and physically by a demented warlord, after her rescue, after everything... all she could think of was how alone she was. Even after recovering physically, working through her suffering mentally, and processing all the horrible things that had happened to her, even after she saw the warlord's head in a bag, all she could think of how completely abandoned she was.
She had failed being a commander, allowing herself to be fooled for a month – an entire month of being mindlessly led through forests and mountains – and getting three fourths of her company killed in an ambush. Her first month of being a commander, as well.
Had she been punished for her ignorance? No. Had she been scolded by her superiors, or father? No. Not even her own warriors, those that survived, like Akurai, blamed her. No one dared to even speak about how she had completely failed her original patrol mission, as if it had never existed in the first place. So many fellow kinsmen, young boys and girls only a few years younger than her, had blindly trusted her, and paid the ultimate price for it.
She had failed being a warrior, unable to defend herself from a single Inkling, barely stronger than her. Even when armed with a master crafted sword, even when armored with shark leather and hardened steel, she had been defeated by a single, nameless, garrison warrior, before being tackled and brought to a traitor of their entire species. Even though she would never again say that creature's name, and even though the damage he had inflicted had healed months ago, he had obliterated any sense of pride she had once held. Not even her general, who had gotten her to eliminate synonyms from her head when it came to those fighting for them, hadn't tried to spread his world view onto her. A logistic officer was fair game apparently, an Inkling who didn't even participate in combat was now being taught how to become a warrior, directly by his hand... but not a fellow commander, serving under her.
As if he was telling her not to improve.
Why was it okay for her to make these life costing mistakes? Why had she not been demoted, or executed for such failings? She didn't want someone telling her that she 'couldn't have known', or 'predicted what would happen'. If she wasn't such a damn coward, she would have killed herself long ago, if for nothing else but being shamed by that damned bastard Tomio!
Roaring in a rage she that had always burned at the back of her mind, Kichi felt her body move before she knew what her actions would be. As the only companion she had in the room extinguished, and the heavy wooden table began to slowly turn and flip with what felt like tearing in her arms, legs and back, Kichi continued yelling long after thunder finished masking her wrath.
Minutes of pure darkness blinded her, and when her eyes finally grew accustomed to the black room, all Kichi could see were the ruins of the pieces of wood that she had spent hours positively critiquing. Not even the chairs had been spared from her furor, as their backs were on the floor, smashed by destructive hands and heels. As she sank to her knees, afraid to close her hands lest the splinters impaling them went deeper into her flesh, all Kichi wanted to do was cry.
But unfortunately, tears wouldn't come. All that came were the judging stares of the silent guards, who were standing motionless in the open door, as if to contain their charge's wrath to just this room, in case she would somehow burst through several walls and harm herself. They made no move to help her and rightly so, as Kichi was still armed, and quite possibly not herself.
All she could do was sit in the dark, and wait for her general, just as she did in the torture room. This time she wasn't bound by wire, but by her rank... and though she was not impaled by metal, the pain of her failures stabbed into every part of her.
All she could do was just continue to be alone, even when she was surrounded by smiles and those duty bound to die for her.
