Chapter 13: Even the biggest fire can start from a tiny spark, but if you have a small flame it will go faster
The day has finally arrived. After months of planning, a number of drawbacks and way too many doubts Shinsuke Takasugi was itching for blood. It irked him beyond belief that he still had to wait for all the pieces to be put into place, but it would be a shame to waste all the effort they have made until now. Besides, he had a reputation to keep and thus forced himself to appear unaffected, bored even, smoking his pipe on the command deck of his flag ship. He would get his blood bath soon, he told himself and smiled slightly, hoping that it looked as dangerous as he imagined it to.
He didn't turn around from the window, in which he could see the slowly approaching surface of Earth, when the door slid open and closed. He recognized the footsteps that approached him and tilted his head minutely to show that he was listening. He knew the newcomer would understand. It pleased him insanely that the people who worked for him have learned to read the smallest of his particularities. Then again, those who haven't never got far.
'Everything is going as planned, Shinsuke. We should be able to touch down without passing by the official channels, thanks to the bribed officers in the air control,' Henpeita reported with audible satisfaction. Takasugi stifled his own, satisfied smile and listened to the rest of the brief report. 'The last pieces have moved also. Our units have cut off all escape routes from the castle. Bansai just informed me that the Shogun has entered the bar, with Matsudaira and under the heavy escort of the Shinsengumi.'
'Good,' Takasugi muttered. Ensuring Shogun's absence from the castle on the evening that fit the Kiheitai was the masterpiece of this operation, at least if he was to trust Bansai's opinion. It was all Bansai's work: being the music producer of Edo's biggest star, "Otsuu-chan", he persuaded her that working as a hostess would spice up her image all the while keeping the innocent side of her personality intact. Or something along those lines, Takasugi hasn't really paid attention to the details.
The important part was that the club owner, after only a small suggestion from Bansai, has boasted to Katakuriko Matsudaira about the plan of having Tsuu Terakado for one night first, to see how it works. Completely "by accident", it turned out that the director of the police department was a fan. He took to the idea like fish to water and immediately booked the evening for himself and his dear friend, "Shou-chan". It very obviously went against Bansai's original suggestion, but has been the plan from the very beginning and Bansai calmed the club owner's worries. From there it was only a matter of finding a group of Yakuza disgruntled enough by the politics to want to cause some trouble.
The Yakuza would attack, pretending to aim for the Shogun's head. Any Shinsengumi forces possibly not assigned to the club would be called in as reinforcements. The castle guards would perhaps send some reinforcements, weakening the protection of the castle. All would converge in the club, where Bansai would make sure that the Shogun doesn't get hurt, should the Yakuza go too far in the heat of the battle. At the same time he, Shinsuke Takasugi, would lead an attack on the castle of Edo, where-
'However,' Henpeita continued, unperturbed that he was disturbing his commander's triumphal thoughts. Takasugi narrowed his eyes. 'Bansai hasn't seen all the main pillars of the Shinsengumi force in the club's vicinity: the vice-commander and the first captain are missing,' he said with displeasure. Takasugi huffed with annoyance. 'He also believes that your old acquaintance Tatsuma Sakamoto and Odd Jobs' Shinpachi Shimura are disguised as waiters.'
'Sakamoto,' Takasugi hissed. He hasn't accounted for that one appearing and he didn't think it was more than a coincidence. However, ever since he's been informed of the Kaientai's arrival, he has been waiting for news of trouble. Now, he had no doubt that the idiot went to meet Sakata and, with Katsura still unaccounted for after the last Shinsengumi's raid, he could only expect the pitiful rebel was there as well. Between Sakamoto's sources and the information Katsura could probably get on the Yakuza, because damned Ito hasn't been able to become responsible for all intelligence, it was not surprising they were up to date.
'We cannot ignore the possibility that the missing Shinsengumi are in the castle, perhaps together with some other forces,' Henpeita warned him needlessly. And as improbable as it was that the Shinsengumi were collaborating with those "other forces" that must have included Katsura's Jouishishi, they could not ignore that possibility. However, the Kiheitai would hardly come unprepared. Takasugi finally turned to face him, a nasty smile twisting his lips as he replied:
'I want to see them face our little Yato squad.'
Henpeita smiled. Not much in the world could stop Yato in general and Kamui in particular. Killing some Shinsengumi would be a minor but pleasurable bonus for them.
'Everybody is ready,' he said. Takasugi nodded. 'I believe we are low enough to be noticed, air control or not. If we don't want to give the princess the time to evacuate, we should act swiftly,' he added.
'Yes,' Takasugi agreed. Wasting no more time, he followed Henpeita down to where the attack squad was waiting.
It was a pretty sight. Besides his own people, who would proudly carry the Kiheitai's banners into the fight, stood the former 7th division of the Harusame pirates, with the banners of their former organization. But that wasn't it. The cherry on the cake were the banners he has had made especially for the occasion: Sakamoto's Tosan coat of arms, pure white for the White Demon and khaki green with the kanji for "katsura". The survivors from the castle, and they would make sure there were enough to carry the tale, would swear the old, legendary leaders have united and allied with the infamous space pirates.
The legendary, Jouishishi leaders and the Harusame have united and stormed the castle of Edo, would scream the headlines the following day. Furious, because they were unable to get to the Shogun, they have wrecked the castle and brutally murdered the innocent, young princess, they would mourn.
The Bakufu and Amanto supporting the Shogunate would not be able to ignore such information, they would not be able to let go of such an underhanded attack. And the Shogun, blinded by grief after his precious, innocent, little sister got brutally murdered, would descend upon the ronin with vengeful fury. There would be no mercy. If they didn't want to die, the "moderate" Joui would have no choice but to pick their katana back up and join the Kiheitai. The Yorozuya would have no choice but to fight to protect themselves and their close ones. Forced by the turning tide, people would raise. Attacked, the Harusame would retaliate.
And the war would spread.
'We're ready to go,' announced the pilot through the speakers. Takasugi smiled, his visions of the future clearing from his head as he was about to make the first step to turn them into reality. The bottom trapdoor started opening and the ship's guns opened fire to cover the attack squad.
'Charge,' yelled Takasugi, thrusting his hand in front of him, katana pointing at the castle's gates. Kamui echoed the order with glee, running forward as he screamed. His Yato followed with fierce yells. One of them spared a moment to send a series of bullets at the guards on the wall, while the others went through the castle guards as a hot knife through butter.
They jump-kicked the massive entrance gate and the wood splintered and gave with a mournful sound. Shouts of alarm rose to the sky.
The Kiheitai followed, shouting enthusiastically, waving the banners. Takasugi hoped some of the guards on the wall have seen all the colours and have survived to tell the tale. Those on the ground got trampled and even if the Yato have accidentally speared one, they have not survived the passage of the Kiheitai.
In the front courtyard, they met a second group of guards, which was larger and better prepared: they jumped aside as the Yato charged and engaged the Kiheitai instead. Steel clashed, the sounds of it being the most beautiful music to Takasugi's ears.
All the same, he pressed forward, behind Kamui and his Yato, with the core of the Kiheitai around him. Hitting the building, they spread to cover all the main corridors, as planned. While his men willingly took routes that only led to more guards, Takasugi followed Kamui, who was heading the shortest way to the private chambers of the Shogun and the princess.
Chaotic and scared guard patrols were no challenge for Yato, not even worth breaking the stride. They stopped short only at the sight Takasugi has both expected and not: Sakata and Katsura blocking passage at the end of the corridor, beyond which was the first reception hall. They were both armed. Sakata even exchanged his pathetic, wooden toy for honest steel and in other circumstances, Takasugi would congratulate him.
Instead, he took in their grim, set expressions, so similar to those they have had on board of his ship, moments before they have erased half a division of the Harusame. This time, he thought, it would not be the same. And perhaps he should be glad they found out about his plan after all. It made them cross paths with him again and this time, it would mean their death. And with them gone there would be nobody who could stop him. Takasugi felt like laughing.
'You promised me, Shinsuke,' Kamui reminded him, gleeful, not turning away from the enemy. Sakata and Katsura gripped their katana tighter and Takasugi smiled. Weapons would not help them here. Surely they knew it already.
'Be my guest, Kamui,' he purred. 'Have your fun as long as you open the passage. That was our deal,' he reminded the Yato. The last thing he wanted was to be delayed by the fight that would doubtlessly take the whole width of the corridor, which just as doubtlessly, has been Sakata's and Katsura's plan.
'Indeed,' Kamui drawled mockingly. 'I'll take care of those two alone. You guys follow the Jouishishi,' he spoke to his escort, putting accent on the name. In front of them, Sakata and Katsura glanced beyond Kamui and beyond Takasugi, eyes widening at the sight of the banners. They have obviously not expected that, which only made the inevitable victory sweeter. Takasugi wanted them to know, as they died, what would happen afterwards.
Their brief moment of distraction was all the opening Kamui needed. Silent and swift, he jumped them and, before they could properly defend, pushed them forward, hands flat on their chests. They flew across the reception hall and into the opposite wall and Kamui ran after them. Takasugi didn't wait to see how the fight continued. It would doubtlessly be pleasant, but a busy man like him had precious little time for pleasure.
There was one corridor leading away from the reception hall, to the right of the one that they just took to arrive. With the last glance at how Kamui nimbly jumped away from the perfectly synchronized attacks of the ultimate Joui tag team, Takasugi directed them that way.
Only to run into an opposing group composed mainly of the Kaientai. There was undeniable satisfaction at seeing only very few of Katsura's Joui rebels among them: it meant he has managed to break their organization and it would be all the easier to pick the worthy one up afterwards and strengthen the Kiheitai.
'This is as far as you go,' stated the short woman who was Sakamoto's second in command. Takasugi smirked mockingly. Two Yato, because he knew the woman was a Yato and he recognized the annoying, red-haired Odd Jobs' girl standing right next to Katsura's alien duck, stood no chance against the 7th division.
Behind Takasugi, the loud noise of wall breaking signalized that Kamui was having fun. The Odd Jobs' red-head looked in that direction sharply. Wasn't she Kamui's little sister? How amusing, Takasugi thought.
'Go,' Sakamoto's second in command breathed. The red-head pounced, making to go through the Kiheitai, rather than the long way around. She barely got until the group when Abuto reached out and stopped her short.
'The boss doesn't want to be disturbed,' he said with a serene smile. The red-head glared and kicked, but he blocked it. 'Entertain me instead,' Abuto purred. The red-head literally growled at him wordlessly and it seemed to please or amuse him. They both jumped and clashed in the air, two punches connecting as they both disregarded protection in favour of attacking.
'Kaientai,' Sakamoto's second in command yelled. The men behind her yelled back something Takasugi couldn't understand. He narrowed his eyes at her. 'Stand your ground. Don't let them pass,' she ordered in a firm tone.
'Leave none of them alive,' he growled to his group. Guards who didn't know the truth about Sakamoto's allegiance were better witnesses, so he didn't need the ragtag group of space merchants. He would teach Sakamoto a lesson for sticking his obnoxious nose where it didn't belong.
The idiot should have stayed in the space.
The Yato and his Kiheitai jumped forward and the two groups clashed violently. Takasugi stayed behind and, predictably, Matako took the hint to stay close to him.
'We're getting past this. No time to lose,' he told her as quietly as he could in the racket of yells and clashing steel. She nodded and looked around quickly, to find the best path. As though Takasugi couldn't do it himself, he thought irritably and barked at her to follow.