Chapter 15: Purpose

"Are you really going?" Abe said dispassionately, his gaze cold and calculating as he observed Toyohisa. "You are just like an unstoppable arrow, aren't you? What is your purpose? Do you want to change the world, just like Lord Nobunaga?"

Toyohisa stopped in his tracks, the words of the monk echoing in his ears. No he didn't want to be like Nobunaga, why would he want to be like that man. To change the world is something he hadn't even considered, perhaps his actions would change the world but it was never his intentions in the first place. He didn't know the clear answer to the monk's question but he knew what he wanted. A huge smirk split across his face, "I want my glory, I want the heads of my enemies. The sole thing that ever exists in the heads of a Satsuma warrior, is to move forward!" He claimed with a triumphant grin his grin growing even wider.

Abe gaped his mouth at the audacious claim, his eyes widening at the audacity of his tone and his proudness. He was utterly speechless, this warrior…what exactly was this man?

"You comin' with me?" A grin on his face baring his sharp canines.

"Hah! This guy's got some balls!" Butch said with a huge grin as well as he stood on their wooden carriage, his coat billowing behind him slightly. Abe soon let out a rather forlorn smile, perhaps this was what this world needed; a man like this would certainly change something and the people around him.

"We must go back to our HQ. We have to find Scipio. And we need to find out more about other Drifters and Ends", Abe said with a tired sigh, his work was endless.

"Oh, is that so? That must be tough, eh?" Toyohisa deadpanned, saying the words with no real compassion or feeling.

"And you, warrioress? What are you to do, little one? What is your goal?" Abe said to Takeko, she was seated on one of the crumbling stone walls and had a dispassionate gaze. This one he thought was the strangest, he could not see any benefit of a female warrior going to war that had a high chance of dying. What could be her purpose?

"I wonder…" Takeko said as she pulled her hand through her hair bringing her fringe to the back revealing her half-open copper eyes. "I...want to be a shadow. Someone who serves, someone who brings the light and glory to another. That is my accomplishment", her expression somewhat dark and eyes lidded as she regarded the monk with startling clear eyes. She knew what she wanted to do, but she wasn't sure if it was what others wanted for her to do.

"Is that what you really want to do?" Toyohisa said as he stared at her. Takeko ignored him and continued to comb through her hair with her fingers. Abe couldn't help himself when a rather warm smile appeared on his face, well it was good to know that there was one that was not completely insane. Although her ambition was albeit lacking and rather suspicious but he simply didn't know enough of her to judge her so severely.

"Please take Olmine with you", Abe said, "I have handed some magical artefacts to her. I'm sure she will be useful to you". Takeko turned her head to the approaching footsteps, she spotted Oda, Yoichi and Olmine running full speed towards them. Hannibal was being carried by Yoichi.

"Wait! Wait! Wait! Otoyo, wait!" Oda cried out emphasizing out his last two words, and when he finally reached Toyohisa he took a moment to catch his breath, heaving in and out heavily as if he had just swum across the Lake Biwa. When he finally managed to catch his breath he had the face of vexation as he stared right at Toyohisa as beads of sweat travelled from his forehead.

"Are you an idiot or what?" He finally exclaimed his eyebrow twitching.

"No need to bring with me those who don't want to come. They won't be of any use", Toyohisa said obviously ignoring Oda's distress, his face straight.

"Grandma, is supper ready?" Hannibal said to Yoichi who let him off his back, Yoichi's eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

"Hey grandpa, you have just eaten and I'm not your grandma", Yoichi deadpanned, his voice laced with irritancy. Butch however found all of this very amusing as he sat perched in the carriage, his grin widening even further.

"Hey, pops", Butch called to Oda as he pulled out one of his pistols.

"What", Oda said as he looked up.

Oda barely caught the pistol as it was thrown at him, his eye open wide in surprise. He blinked his eye in shock as he peered down at the gun in his hands. He never seen such a gun before that looked so small and delicate before, compared to his matchlock that is.

"You like guns, right? Keep that on. We'll leave the Gatling gun too, without bullets it ain't worth shit", Butch said with a huge grin, his teeth showing. "You said you'd produce bullets, right? That'd be fucking awesome. So, spare us some if you, will you?"

"All right, samurais, we're leaving", Kid said, "Stay safe!" He tipped his hat to Takeko and muttered a soft 'mi 'lady' as he jumped onto the carriage next Butch. Takeko blinked her eyes in surprise before bowing slightly to the older man, at least she knew that these westerners were different from the ones that invaded Edo.

Toyohisa turned his head to the sound of rustling and the sounds of swords clanging against each other. And lo and behold a group of elves all armed and carrying backpacks full of supplies that could last them for days and perhaps more if used wisely.

"Send the news to each and every village! We must gather our warriors!" One of the elves said, indicating to one of his mates. He nodded in confirmation.

"Good, good", Oda said with a wicked smile with equally wicked intentions. "Olminipples, get 'that thing' ready".

"Good. Good warriors".

"We will stay here for today, eat hearty because you will need your energy for tonight", Oda said as he watched the elves begin to unpack and settle themselves down onto the soft earth. A couple began to put up the temporary tents and pull out the cooking ware and several were sent out to bring back food. Their days' worth of travel would soon come to an end for tonight they would've reached the mountains of Military Facility of Galdoka where the dwarves were kept in concentration camps.

The Drifters had nothing really to amuse themselves with, with Toyohisa opting to retire early and get up at dawn or talk to the fellow Drifters to find out about them a little better. He weighed his options, liking the idea of sleep a little better. Oda was of course plotting and thinking, standing or sitting alone with several elves with him and some strewn pieces of papers. He was instructing them what to do the following night. They learnt quickly and adapted to the different lands around them. He was pleased with the steadying results they were showing.

Yoiichi had disappeared promptly after they had set camp, but none of the Drifters questioned it. Perhaps Oda was a little worried consisdering they were in enemy territory but he had faith in Yoichi abilities that nothing would go wrong. Yoichi did return several hours later though and with detailed information of the fortress and its structure.

Takeko bemused herself with some leisurely strolls, also disappearing into the surrounding land when she returned she was dragging a large carcass of a dead animal with a triumphant grin.

"Look what I caught", she held up the carcass from the hoof with a smile, blood oozing from the gut, dripping onto her sleeves and her shoes. Oda simply stared at her for a few moments before rubbing his brows.

"I feel that your feminism is being called by your outrageous acts", Oda said with a sigh. "But at least we can eat some good meat tonight", he said indicating for some elves to bring some pots and knives over.

"Oh, good job. Clean it up quickly or the maggots will get to it", Toyohisa said pulling out a short blade with hungry eyes. He scrapped the idea of going to sleep so early, know that they had such a good meal in front of them. Although he was albeit surprised, he had never seen such an expression from a woman whilst holding up a dead animal. He brought back a deer from a hunting trip once and took it immediately as a gift to one of his aunt's. She responded with a blood curdling scream as he dropped the head at her feet, holding out the best meat for her in a bag. Although his intentions were good, his aunt fainted from the sight of the dead animal and its head proudly displayed at her feet. He was berated heavily from his father, uncle and his grandfather.

"I covered my tracks so they won't find much", she said pulling the head up. Yoichi came over with a bowl and placed it beneath the neck. She promptly slit the neck and allowed the blood to flood into the bowl. The blood could be used for some thing else, perhaps some soup or seasoning. Toyohisa worked on the stomach area, removing the guts and the organs and Oda was thinking of how they could reuse the bones and the hide, along with the fur.

Several hours later the meat was carved up and everything part had been separated. Nothing had been wasted and Takeko had put everything into a pot, occasionally stirring the stew and added some herbs and seasoning. The elves would eat as well, since there was plenty to share however Drifters got the first bite. There was a reason why they had only allowed Takeko to cook for them. They had not eaten anything that was cooked by an outsider; any person who was not Japanese. Even though they trusted the elves and they knew they would not betray them, there was the unknown factors of the Offscouring and Oda had enough of betrayals. They could trust at least Takeko that she would not poison their food, not too mention she was quite a good cook.

They ate mostly in silence, there was nothing to say and most of their attention and energy was spent preparing for the following night. Most of the preparations had been done, it was simply putting everything together and acting accordingly which would come with some difficulty.

"I think you should stop eating Toyo", Oda said as he set down his bowl. Toyohisa was on his fourth bowl and showed no sign of slowing down. Takeko and Yoiichi had already stopped eating after their second bowl and merely watched in bemusement as Toyohisa continued to eat.

He put down the bowl after finishing off the remnants, "I'm done now anyways". Takeko got up to collect the bowls and spoons, and soon disappeared behind one of the tents.

She came back, drying her hands on a rag. "I suppose we are all set?"

"Yeah, the preparations are done and we have the equipment are set. We have the element of surprise as well", Oda replied rubbing his stubble, deep in thought. "There shouldn't be any complications. We will shower them with gifts as well", he laughed darkly, referring to the powder which they had brought with them. It was small amounts but it enough to destroy the fortress forces.

"I look forward to this powder you keep the elves making. You regard it with so reverence", Yoichi said with a hint of mischievousness in his eyes, his lips curling into a smirk.

"It will be...a show for sure", Takeko said slowly, she pulled out her own rifle and inspected the barrels and lightly dusted the trigger.

The first mass production of the powder resulted in this, a whirling pool of destruction in such small bags. The elves lit the fuse and threw them into the compound unaware of the full ramifications of it power. Takeko, covered her nose with her long sleeve and slowly counted to a three in her head.

One.

Two.

Three.

A deafening eruption of fire and metal obliterated one of the watch towers, Takeko watched the compound structure come down in a hurtling mess crashing down on the unsuspecting soldiers down below. 'What a sight to behold', she thought.

"W-What happened?!"

"What is going on?!"

"Was that a cave-in?!"

Their surprised cries of shock, mixed with fear was not a new thing to hear for Takeko. For in her time when people would hear or see this they would immediately know what it was and run for their lives. It was a refreshing to be on the knowing side for once, and know that only they knew how to use such destructive power.

"The soil from the restrooms. The sulphur brought by Olminipples. And charcoal. Mix these three and behold black powder", Oda said with a triumphant grin, his eyes crinkling at his wide smile and manic expression. 'Ah, what good times revisited', he thought.

More explosions followed the first and debris began flying through the sky as if it were rain, unaware soldiers could only cry out in fear and horror as they saw buildings, men, weaponry blow apart in front of them in such a fiery way. The destructive power of gunpowder was not to be trifled with.

Following Oda's orders the elves relentlessly threw more bags filled with the black powder into Orte's campus, their fuse lit and ready to discharge. The only sounds were the explosions of gunpowder and the screams of soldiers, the crumbling of stone and craclking of wood. The structures of the fortress was slowly but surely crumbling and because the soldiers garrisoned were only trained for norms of attacks they were baffled on what they were to do. Fear and adrenaline running through their weins.

Takeko was standing next to Oda, she had not followed after Yoichi nor Toyohisa but opting to keep close to Oda for a while.

"It's nice to see an old man having fun. It's hard for people of your age to find something their interested in", Takeko said to Oda.

"Ha! Don't compare me to some senile old geezer! I'm still kicking and I've got my plans. I'm not planning to die anytime soon", he said with a vindictive smile. She hummed in response, a coy smile playing at her lips.

"Well I suppose it's best for me to follow after Toyo", she said finally. She patted down her dress and pulled the slipping fabric from her shoulders up.

"Yeah, do what you need to do", Oda said with a sly grin, his eyes distance as he observed his handiwork.

She pinched Hannibal's cheeks, pulling and pushing the flesh. He made strange expressions while doing so. She laughed and smiled, "Haha! You're funny old man", she laughed. Waving them a goodbye she jumped down skidded down the slope. Toyohisa had prepared the elves for battle. She felt her blood rise and her vision sharpening. She did not really enjoy battle at times but today there was another cause other than to fight for the sake of fighting, but to liberate the dwarves.

"Charge! Our enemy is afraid!" Toyohisa cried out, a huge grin spread across his face which almost seemed demonic. "Take up the battle cry! Double our élan, triple our strength!" Toyohisa's blood was boiling in anticipation, his head was high above the clouds and his body was thrumming in raw energy. For too long had he yearned this and now he was allowed to release his might upon on the soldiers. Surrounding around him was the war cries of the elves, they were hesitant at first but gathering their courage they bellowed aloud, instilling fear into the soldiers of Orte.

From the distance Oda watched the frenzy increase more and more as Toyohisa stirred up their ranks and beliefs.

'The main effect of gunpowder is not that flames that burn the bodies, nor the fragments that tear up tissues! It is the light and the sound, the shock and fear, the utter terror! Cannons, fire arrows, arquebuses, all firearms have the same purpose! Muskets were produced first in Tanegashima, Satsuma. The land of the Shimazu. Small wonder he knows just too well how to use them', Oda thought evilly.

"CHARGE!" Toyohisa bellowed, the thundering footsteps of the elves reverberated through the ground, shaking the soldiers' very bones. The elves took up another battle cry and drew out their weapons for the imminent fight, steeling their resolve they charged right through the ranks of the soldiers'. Takeko followed behind, but she in no hurry. She would rather watch the scene unfold in front of her. 'Front row seats to the chaos', she thought blandly.

High above on one of the watchtowers two soldiers' conversed to one another, "What the hell is going on?! Is it the elves? Is it the rebels?!"

"Shit!"

"Fucking demi-humans!" They took out their crossbows and knocked their arrows into the slots, but before they could even take their aim properly an arrow came hurtling through the smoke lodging itself into the wood of roof. Following the arrow was a small trail of smoke leading up to the shooter who had a rather proud smile.

"Wha…What is this?!" Confusion spread across their face marring their features.

The two soldiers' for a moment was able to get a look of what was attached to the arrow before the fuse reached it end, and ignited the black powder within the cylinder. Detonating right in front of them the cylinder exploded blowing the men apart as well as the watchtower.

Yoichi gaped his mouth in surprise, still holding onto his bow. "Wow. This is nice!" He said cheerily, a simple arrow turned into the message of death. He took out another arrow which had more gunpowder attached to it, he didn't expect that this powder would be so destructive and so easy to use. He could get using such arrows but it did seem a little crude.

"We…we had no means to know…We had no idea that he was making us produce such terrible dust on our way here…" Shara said while trembling, his voice shaking and numerous beads of sweat travelling down his covered face.

"Mix it with great care~ Take care or else everybody will die", Oda chimed his eyes narrowing.

Their memory was nothing but of the old man Nobu warning them, but they never really heeded it. They did as they were told, but now they totally understood why.

"Don't worry. You elves are very skilful. Let's give them a shower of arrows!" Yoichi said in a reassuring tone, despite his little knowledge of the powder he knew only to fear it if an enemy was using it against them.

"The explosive fire arrows aren't bad. I thought we could use them as ordinary fire arrows, but they are some fearsome weapons in the hands of Yoichi and them elves. Anyway…I didn't expect them to burn this much… To think that we could have gotten all those goods stored by Orte to us! What a pity, what a pity!" Oda said with a regretful face but what was done, was done. No turning back now.

The black smoke rising even higher, cloaking the entire sky with an ashy grey colour, obscuring the stars and moon momentarily.

"SHOUT! SHOUT! Instil more fear on them! Don't give them time to recover their morale! TRAMPLE ON THEM!" Oda yelled across the campus, his voice reaching the ears of the elves. They immediately took action.

"Everything is exploding! Fire is all over the place!"

"Run! We are surrounded!"

"Let us flee! Or else we will be annihilated!" Their shouts soon were heard by the soldiers' of Orte who had enough of this, and were soon ready to surrender themselves.

"W…What…"

"What's going…?" Another explosion blew apart another part of the campus, sending the men hurtling back a good couple metres away.

"Hey, this is bad! Let's run away!" A soldier yelled to his mate, fear evident in his eyes. His forehead shining with a fine sheen layer of sweat.

Toyohisa seized the moment within the chaos, the chance. "Take the castle! Enter the citadel!" His heart was pounding, it was banging against his chest, it hurt. Everything was chaotic, disastrous. There was no order and he thrived on it, the sheer bliss of having no rules and guidelines, he felt elated. Takeko did not know how she should feel, she was apprehensive but at the same time she felt a bubbling sensation in her chest. She didn't know what it was, it was familiar though and she welcomed it.

Takeko felt a small shiver run up her spine, there was something beyond the gates."Something is coming!" Takeko called out.

"I know!" Toyohisa cried out, his eyes slowly contracting as he drew his entire attention to the chain drawed gates. Heavy, barred and almost impenetrable, he roared on the inside at the challenge.

The gates were lowered down violently, and from there they emerged. Men wearing bulking metal armour which covered their entirety of their body, only a tiny slit which revealed their eyes was all the skin that could be seen. Strange clothing that seemed to weigh many kilograms, and large spears which were twice as long as their height. Everything about them reeked danger and death.

Toyohisa and Takeko could smell it, the pungent smell of death and yet it enticed them. The challenge, the idea of death was facing here onward was slowly embedding into their mind. They understood that, but they couldn't help but be drawn towards it, Takeko didn't understand the bubbling feeling in her chest that well because of her inexperience. However Toyohisa had a different feeling from her yet similar, but he knew exactly what it was.

He stopped for a moment to gaze at Takeko, she had a strange belated expression that he recognised. His lips curled into a smirk, a vindictive one. "Can you feel it? Something inside of you, which calls out to you. It yearns to be freed, so let it go", he whispered. He taunted and edged her, he wanted to see her released. She always held something back. He didn't want that, he wanted to see the beautiful and monstrous beast released. After all they were all demons.

Her eyes dilated as her breathing became swallowed, "Not yet. Not just yet", she breathed out, "Very soon though".

"This is the largest armoury of Orte! And this is the land guarded by us, the Armoured Defence Corps of the Orte Imperial Party! No rebels will meddle in our business and stay alive!"

Edit: 17/10/16 Future me has changed a lot of things. But have fun reading anyways.

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