Disclaimer: I do not own Sengoku Rance nor do I own Zero no Tsukaima/Familiar of Zero
Kenshin of Zero
Chapter 2 – Turn 00
Tristain Academy of Magic, Tristain, Helkegenia.
Night has taken over in the academy. Or to be exact, a fort-like structure that was seen near the area where the summoning had taken place. The fort was shaped like a pentagon instead of the conventional square or rectangle used in medieval times, each of the corners had towers that sported smooth, sphere tops. In the middle of the fort stood the tallest tower, it was erected in a fashion that looked very similar to early rocket designs.
Louise felt one of her eyebrows twitch as she watched Kenshin eat. Around the dark-haired girl laid dirty dishes and empty baskets piled into a miniature hill. Her face smiling as she finished another large plate of food as if she just started eating.
W-w-w-w-w-what in the world have I summoned? Louise asked herself as she watched Kenshin finish the plate of food and set it aside. Kenshin stretched her torso after her 'meal' and sat down in a kneeling fashion facing towards Louise.
The mood turned silent as the two watched each other, both waiting for the other to start doing something. A few minutes passed in awkward silence until Louise, who had not been very good at staying still, broke the silence.
"So… who are you, exactly?" Louise asked, reasoning that this would be a very good time to know about the familiar she had summoned.
"My name is Uesugi Kenshin." Kenshin repeated, having given her name before, "I come from a place called MAZO, in JAPAN."
Seeing such a plain and simple introduction Louise stood up, patted her skirt and posed in a way which would make… uh… Napoleon, proud.
Though it is nothing like the Napoleon pose, just a good pose.
"My name is Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, third child of the Vallière family. One of the most renown family in the Kingdom of Tristain." Louise explained, putting her right hand on her –lacking- chest as she spoke. "You should feel lucky to be in my presence."
"Ah… I see…" came the reply as Kenshin nodded. "So that means your family is… of nobility?"
"You're pretty slow to catch on for a commoner."
"Commoner?"
"Well, you're not a mage, right? So you're a commoner."
"Why does it matter if the person is a mage or not?" Kenshin tilted her head, confused at the information that was given to her as the people back at home did not need to learn… magic to become a noble, they either rose through recommendations from other samurai or lords, and few lucky ones were able to obtain some form of title after achieving great deeds in combat.
"Uwa… just what kind of backwoods did I summon you from?" Louise said as she rubbed her forehead and taking a seat.
"Hey, the place I come from is not some kind of backwoods!" exclaimed Kenshin, feeling defensive about her… home, from taking such an insult. "From where I came from almost nobody know magic in the first place."
"That's impossible!" exclaimed Louise in return, shocked at the idea of a world without mages or nobility. "How could the commoners possibly survive without such figures of authority to lead them? Wouldn't they live in complete turmoil?"
"Th-that's…" Kenshin tried to reply, but could not find words as she realised the truthfulness of the words that came from the pink-haired figure that stood before her.
Kenshin had led her forces in hopes to unify JAPAN under the Uesugi, however the slowness of her campaigning had only prolonged the war and the suffering of the people.
It was just what Louise had said, the people are in living in turmoil.
However things have changed since the arrival of the gaijin, Rance. Ever since he was granted position as the leader of Oda's armies they have brought one of the weakest clans then into the most powerful clans. The Oda clan was then believed to be able to finally re-unite JAPAN and finally bring peace to the country.
Still, if it wasn't for the arrival of Rance, the war would have drawn out longer and perhaps even continued after she has passed on.
Perhaps… it was for the best… Kenshin thought to herself, with her disappearance the Uesugi would be absorbed quickly by the Oda, and the end of the war would be closer.
"Oi~ are you still there?" Louise asked as she waved her hands in front Kenshin in trying to regain her attention. Kenshin regained reality, blinking and flinching at the sudden movement so close to her eyes. Louise sighed and turned away, cursing her luck in summoning such a familiar.
"Uuuuuuu… I can't believe I summoned a commoner instead of something else more grand for a familiar." she complained to herself, "Perhaps I really am a zero…"
"Um… is summoning a familiar something of great importance for your people?" Kenshin asked, worried because the pink-haired girl has gotten gloomy, perhaps an understanding of what a familiar is supposed to be will help her cheer her up.
"Of course it is." Replied without looking back, though being unable to successfully cast spells she was unrivalled in the knowledge of magic teachings from books and classes. "The elements of mages are determined by the familiars that they are able to summon. It also helps the mage to learn advanced spells of their elements faster."
Louise studied Kenshin with a tired look; she had summoned a commoner with no visible alignment to any of the five elements that she knew. How was this supposed to help her become a better mage than she is now?
"So… what is a familiar supposed to do apart from showing your element?" Kenshin quizzed again. She had come to understand better of what a familiar is.
"Well, a familiar is also supposed to provide vital aid to a magician. Firstly, a familiar is able to grant its master an enhancement in vision and hearing, such as letting me see what you are able to see."
"Hm…" That would be most convenient for shinobi and scouts alike.Kenshin noted as she listened. "I don't think I can do that."
"I thought as much, anyway, familiars are able to retrieve items that the master desires, like reagents." Louise continues.
"Reagents?"
"Catalysts to be used when casting certain spells, they're things you can find in the wild like moss or sulphur."
"Hah…" Kenshin replied, something else I cannot do. "Is there anything else?"
"Of course there is." Louise said as she glanced at the weapon that Kenshin brought with her. "The most important thing for a familiar... is that the familiar exists to protect its master from any threats."
"Ah! That would be the only thing I can do." Replied Kenshin, a smile forming across her face, could this be a chance at redemption for the people that she abandoned?
She would be able to protect something, and succeed this time. She was not about to repeat the mistake that brought her to the situation she was in before.
"Which brings us to the next question," Louise crossed her eyes accusingly at Kenshin. "What did you do back from where you came from to… be restrained like that? And why were you with a bloodied weapon when you arrived like you did?"
She needed to be skeptical about Kenshin, there's no telling whether the person was a convict or just someone who was wrongly condemned. It would be a disgrace to the name of Vallière, and not to mention dangerous, if she had a criminal as a familiar.
She then realised that she was alone in a room with said familiar.
Alone and unarmed.
In a panicked stumble she clumsily brandished her wand and pointed it at Kenshin.
"Answer me from where you stand! I will scream if you come any closer!" Louise cried out, hand trembling. She feared for her life for she is not sure whether she would be able to cast a spell properly to protect herself when she needs to, and too weak physically to fight back if she were caught.
Kenshin blinked and her eyes widened with horror of the accusation she assumed that Louise had come to, and dropped to the floor.
"I... I am not a criminal." She tried to explain in defence, "I... I was a commander of my clans army when I was back home. I-I was taken prisoner during a revolt and t-tried to escape..."
"H-h-h-how can I believe anything you say r-right now?" Louise asked, her wand shaking as if massive winds were blowing against it. It was a plausible excuse, but she needed to make sure before accepting anything that the dark-haired girl said. "Do you have any proof to back up what you claim?"
That was what Kenshin was most afraid of. Ever since her imprisonment everything that belonged to her were taken, and any proof of her person was given to that imposter. The only thing that belonged to her now was the shitagi she wore and the sword she stole from the ashigaru 'boss'.
And the body that belonged to her person.
"No..." replied Kenshin, her chest began hurting as she thought of the only thing she could do to prove her innocence. "I do not have any material proof of who I was."
"Then..."
"However, I can prove innocence through action." Kenshin said in a weak tone as she bowed while kneeling, her hands placed in front of her a few inches from her body as she bowed, "Please allow me to perform seppuku."
"Seppuku? Is that some kind of show?" Louise asked in a puzzled tone, a vocabulary unknown to her despite the perfect understanding in language.
"Seppuku is the act of self-disembowelment." Kenshin explained, cringing as she described the action she will soon do unto herself. "It is performed by people of my class on many occasions to prevent capture, or in this case, preserve my honour and show my innocence."
"What!?" Louise cried out and promptly dropped her wand. "Y-you fool! You will die if you do that!"
"It is better to die with honour, than to live in shame." Kenshin replied and looked back up at Louise.
Louise took a step back, she could see the determination for Kenshin to carry out this task just to prove her innocence, and despite the action will surely lead to her death. Louise understood honour as a noble, and it is shameful to be branded as an outlaw or criminal for a noble, heck, even commoners know the shame of being branded a criminal.
However it was the first time that she ever met a person who would end her own life just to prove her innocence, and in the name of her honour as well. Surely this person that knelt before her is more than she seems.
"... with your silence, I take that as acceptance." Kenshin concluded, she reached for the wakizashi, still bloody but dry, and was about to plunge it into her abdomen before the pink-haired girl tackled her, sending them both to the ground. Kenshin found herself straddled by Louise, blushing and huffing.
"I believe you..." Louise replied, her eyes teary. "I believe that you are who you claim and not a criminal."
Kenshin felt herself lifted as Louise grabbed the collars of her shitagiand pulled her closer, their faces inches from each other as Louise stared into her eyes.
"You can't throw your life away that easily," Louise commanded, her grip shaking as it pulled Kenshin even closer. "I will not have my familiar die on the first day, do you understand me!?"
"Y... yes, my Lord..." Kenshin replied sheepishly, she felt the overwhelming authority that Louise flared off as she commanded her, and let the weapon she was holding drop to the floor. She felt the grip released as the weapon hit the floor with a metallic clang.
Louise stood up, backed away from Kenshin slowly and approached the closet on the right side of her room, she removed the black robe she was wearing and shoved it inside. She then looked back at Kenshin and brought both arms up to the sides.
"Undress me." Louise commanded in a tired tone.
"Of course, my Lord." Replied Kenshin as she walked up to Louise and started unbuttoning the uniform she was wearing. She was glad that Louise no longer believed her a criminal of sorts, and trusted her enough to let her undress. Louise winced at the clumsy hands which undressed her, but it was over quickly as she got into her night gowns.
Louise paused before climbing into her bed, her eyes found the stack of hay that was in the corner of her room. She had brought it earlier for the familiar to sleep in. She made another effort to look towards Kenshin, who stood behind her.
"That's your bed for now." She said with a yawn, then climbed into her bed and fell asleep, too tired to cover herself.
"Thank you, my Lord." Kenshin replied with a smile and with a gentle movement pulled the blankets over the sleeping Louise.
Kenshin walked towards the hay and lay it down on the floor, then with a few swift hand movements flattened it until there were no bits sticking out to poke her as she lay on it, the wakizashi laid above her head so she could reach it at a moment's notice.
Kenshin caught a glimpse outside the window, and was able to admire the two moons before sleep overtook her.
I remembered there was only one moon in my world...
Louise stood on a field of green on a bright day; the sky was clear blue except for a few fluff of clouds that slowly rolled past.
Where is this place? Louise wondered to herself, the plains are as green and shaped as the ones she usually see around the Tristain Academy of Magic, however she knew that this was not Tristain.
UWOOOOOOOOOOH!
The shout echoed through the clear sky, so loud that it shook her very soul knocked Louise on her backside. Wincing from pain she was able to have a good look at 'her' body.
She immediately realised that she was not in her own body.
She was not wearing her night-gown nor was she wearing the school uniform of the Tristain Academy of Magic, she was wearing instead a white breastplate which showed the curves of her bountiful bosoms and slim body, a dark skirt flowed from beneath the breastplate and down to her ankles accompanied by layered-plate armour covering her sides. She looked at her arm; she seemed to be wearing a black, metal gauntlet which bound her loose sleeves tight on her forearm.
She gasped as she saw from some trees in the distance, a sea of red poured out. They were soldiers who wore armour that's similar to what she was wearing, albeit painted blood-red. The majority of them wore cone-shaped hats while a few wore round-helmets, their weapons mostly consisted of spears and the curvy sword that Kenshin brought when she summoned her.
Louise then paid attention to the miniature flags that the soldiers with conic-hats are fielding; the flag was completely red and at around 2/3 to the top was a black, short diamond.
Amongst the back of the red horde she noticed other red soldiers approaching, riding on what seemed to be gigantic, wingless birds. As soon as the 'riders' approached the foot-infantry parted to let them through, and a lone rider rode to the front of the troops and stopped. He appeared to give a speech of some sort, then suddenly he brandished his sword and the red horde shouted again.
Louise was afraid and confused, was she supposed to fight this red horde by herself or something? No way in hell! She tried to run away but her legs ignored her commands to move. She desperately tried to move but found her body frozen in place.
"They seem to be in high morale." Came a voice from behind, Louise felt dizzy as her field of vision turned automatically, like she was looking through another person's eyes.
Before her stood a sharp-looking, dark-haired female; she sported a bob cut which exposed the entire forehead and is held apart by a clip. Her clothing was similar to what Kenshin had worn, the difference being that it sported a blue theme. She wore a black breastplate that was smoothly curved instead of molded into shape like the white one she had. She didn't wear a skirt but in its place were black tights that were cut off at least a hand's length from the knee.
Behind her a purple tide appeared. This army consisted of girls only, and are wearing the same armour as the girl in front of her is wearing; however instead of blue they wore black cloth beneath their purple armour, and thankfully, they wore skirts instead of tights and have black knee-high socks. Most of them are wielding weapons which can only be described as a blade on a stick. The flags they carry are light blue with a white character that Louise could not recognise.
"What shall you have us do, Kenshin-sama?" The girl repeated, patient as if she had all the time in the world.
Wait, did she just address me as... Louise thought to herself, and then she felt herself speak.
"We charge, Ai-chan." Came Kenshins voice from her mouth.
"Eh?" Ai and Louise both replied at the same time, the latter could only think it as she was in the body that uttered those words.
Are you mad!? Louise tried shouting as she attempted to gain control over this body that contained her, to turn away from the field and run away from this battle, this land that she didn't know of.
She was easily overpowered, as the body moved pass the short-haired girl, and despite her protests she felt herself reach for the katana that hung from the plate armour and drew it in one single movement, the soldiers in purple steadied as she approached.
"Warriors of Uesugi, Listen well!
Today, before us, stands the Takeda Army Group, they have conquered, terrorized and slain many foes and clans. Today, they wish to trample on our soil and take our home from us. They think that this battle will be easily won because they are fighting women..."
"Kenshin, look out!" cried Ai as three riders charge pass her from a bush, heading directly at Kenshin with spears raised.
Kenshin paid no attention, but moved at the last moment when the first rider attempted to spear her and with a simple turning motion brought her katana through the rider's head, cutting the helmet cleanly and pulled out without much effort.
The other two saw what happened to their comrade and retreated as quickly as they appeared.
Kenshin removed the blood on her katana with a single quick swing to the side, the blood flicked off and her blade shined like new.
"They are wrong!" Kenshin continued, her voice rose to a shout.
"Today, they fight the women of Uesugi! Led by the one and only Goddess of War! Today, we will put a stain of shameful defeat on their unbroken record! TODAY! WE BREAK, THE TAKEDA!"
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
This time it was the high-pitched screams of women that echoed through the plains, as the spirits of the Uesugi forces skyrocketed with her speech.
Louise froze, in terror, and then in admiration of Kenshin, who stood there before the army, shining like a Goddess as an unknown, golden aura manifested and surrounded her.
Is… is this really my familiar? She asked herself, she could not believe what she had just saw.
"We are protected by the blessings of Bishamonten." Kenshin concluded, turning around and sprinted towards the Takeda forces, which have dispatched their riders. "ALL UNITS, CHARGE!"
They charged.
Authors Notes:
Hey gaiz!
Just another quick update on the fanfiction 'Kenshin of Zero'.
Inspiration was coming slowly, and World of Tanks was distracting, but when it comes I cannot stop.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, because the real fighting will be awesome (I promise!).
Useful Notes:
JAPAN: Is spelt that way in accordance to Sengoku Rance JAPAN.
Ashigaru: Foot soldiers that were employed by the samurai classes of feudal Japan. They became mainstream soldiers during the Sengoku Era.
Shitagi: Literally translates to 'undergarments', worn by both men and women.
Wakizashi: Translates to 'side inserted sword', one of the traditionally made Japanese sword between 30 – 60 cm in length, traditionally worn by the samurai of feudal Japan, it is more of an auxiliary or backup sword compared to the katana, it is also used to remove heads of enemies and to commit ritual suicide.
Katana: Traditionally made Japanese sword that is greater than 60 cm in length, more commonly known as 'samurai sword'.
Seppuku: Translates to 'stomach-cutting', a form of ritual suicide by disembowelment, preserved only for the samurai.