The next events happened in a blur. Kiyoshi, Roji, and Katsu were all given up to the Bandits, along with Kiku's head and Kirara. The samurai sat wrapped up in the tight ropes and waited patiently. Kiyoshi took the time to meditate before Kyuzo rapped on her cell wall with his foot. It was the signal to begin freeing themselves of the rope.
After some quick writhing and twisting, Kiyoshi used her vambrace blade to pick the lock. With a satisfying click, she set herself free and proceeded to Kyuzo's cell. He was only sitting there, waiting. Kiyoshi unlocked his cell and popped a hasty kiss on his nose. He smiled through his mane of blonde hair.
Katsu still twisted and struggled against his rope bonds. Kiyoshi raised a wry eyebrow. "Get your act together, Katsushiro. We don't have all day." The female warrior said as she sliced through his rope bonds. "Sorry…" He mumbled, looking down in embarrassment. "Let's go." Kyuzo ordered.
The three slunk through the corridors and passageways of the gigantic ship, mutely destroying their enemies. It took awhile to reach the main controls of the ship where Kiku's head was being held.
Kiyoshi slipped next to the doorway and peeked over at the Bandits. She noticed Kirara also standing on what looked like a pillar. The Bandits argued back and forth about what to do with the prisoners. Katsu almost rushed forward, but Kiyoshi kept him pinned back. "Not yet." She warned. With a nimble roll, she hid behind a pillar which stood closer to the giant metal monsters. With a quick snap of her fingers Kyuzo and Katsu rushed forward and attacked. Kiyoshi stood up and ran towards one Bandit as Katsu took the initiative to save Kirara and Kiku.
Blades danced violently in the air as samurai and Bandit clashed. At one point the main door flew open, putting every single soul in danger. The ship was beginning to fail. Kiyoshi and Kyuzo managed to turn the metal monsters into rubble. "We have to get out of here! There should be some sort of machine to get us out!" Katsu screamed over the noise. "Follow me!" Kiyoshi shouted. She took Kiku's head and sprinted away. "You okay, Kiku?!" She yelled over the noises of destruction. "I will be!" He hollered.
Kiyoshi feverishly looked for something they could escape on. She eventually found a tiny hovercraft but realized it couldn't carry all of them. "I guess I'll have to go the hard way." She thought. "Go! Get in!" She called. "Kiyoshi, I won't leave without you." Kyuzo said. "I'll get out. Don't worry. Please just go." Kiyoshi tossed Kiku's head to Kirara and vanished within seconds.
Kiyoshi went back to the main room and climbed up the wall, braving the violent wind that threatened to fling her off. She continued and climbed onto the outside shell of the ship. Getting to her feet, she began running down the ship's end towards the hovercraft her friends sat on. Kyuzo saw her and fully extended his arms. Kiyoshi galloped down the ship, and she…
Jumped.
The world seemed to suddenly slow all around. The rush of the wind was the only noise. Kiyoshi could see Kyuzo's outstretched arms. Then she felt them grab her and swing her around a bit dramatically. Her legs felt wobbly, which was a rare occurrence. She was breathless.
"Thank you, Kiyoshi. You've saved my life, along with the lives of many others. We are forever in your gratitude." Kirara said once the exhilarating ride eased. "It was not only my doing, Priestess. It was the doing of many others, dear." She replied smoothly.
The Bandits had successfully been kept away and defeated. But Kambei was missing. That wasn't a good sign, but Katsu had remembered something. "He probably went to go save Sanai and Lady Honoka's sister!" Katsu had exclaimed as everyone bickered about Kambei's disappearance. "Are you saying he went to the Capital?" Kiyoshi asked in a hushed voice. "If that's where the kidnapped women are being held then yes. Lady Kiyoshi, I will find my Sensei and-"
"That's suicide for someone with barely any infiltration skill. I'll go." Kiyoshi interrupted. "Me too." Roji and Kiku said at once. "Can I trust you two to keep the village safe until we return?" Kiyoshi said as she turned to Katsu and Kyuzo. The blonde nodded once and met his lover's eye. It sparkled brightly with the light of battle. Kyuzo nodded.
The three samurai set off in the direction of the Capital. "We're going to have to get there on foot. There's no other way." Kiyoshi said once they were deep in the woods. "Actually there is. It's crazy, but it might work." Kiku replied. "If you're thinking about the Guardians, then that's a bad idea. They're neutral people and won't take anyone's side. Why would they help us?" Roji intercepted. "Because Kambei would ask them to turn them in. If they somehow balance who they work for, it will still keep them out of harm's way. They would be helping the Capital by turning Kambei in, and they would help us if we asked them for assistance. It's worth a shot." Kiyoshi replied after a long pause.
Back in the village, Kyuzo and Katsu kept their distances from one another. The boy stayed in the village and assisted the villagers with their tasks. The man stayed in the forest and only trained. But he kept an eye out. After several leaps, slashes, stabs, he lay down on the forest ground to rest. A sudden snap of the branch made him automatically react by pointing his sword in the direction of the sound. It was only Katsu.
"My apologies, Kyuzo! I just wanted to say that you are incredibly brave and I truly admire you!" Katsu said before running off. A ghost of a smile appeared on Kyuzo's lips when the samurai had gone. "Children… they can be incredibly naïve." He thought.