MOVING ON! OH wait wait, wait. Before I actually go any further, mind if I just do like a small request: can I get some reviews for this as I'd like to know what people think of it and how I can improve and such. I think every writer will agree with me when I say that constructive criticism of people either way is the life blood of an author. I get that the first chapters haven't really got a lot to them, and I can understand that people may not want to read oodles of conversation, but gotta start somewhere. That and I'm referencing quite a bit so...yeah.

Anyway, with that...yeah, please Review. Meanwhile, let me try and remember the spelling of the new name.

And to carry on a running gag: WRITING HO!

Part 3

Diplomacy

It was a common thought that we had to get out.

Not just for us, but for Chiharu's sake as well.

We needed to know the situation

and being stuck inside wasn't helping us at all.

Not to mention we needed some sort of freedom.

I leaned against the bars to Chiharu's cell as the others went away from the front, save for Melissa standing near the door. She looked around, trying to find a guard of some sort. She moved her head slowly from side to side, leaning against the bars. She eventually stopped, looking to her left and nodding.

"Hey handsome" She flirtatiously spoke, giving a little giggle afterward. I heard some armor move, Melissa putting an arm through the bars and beckoning him towards her with her finger. I heard some footsteps, eventually the guard coming into view, standing with his spear just out of reach if her hand. I could see his katana at his side, in it's sheath on a belt of sorts. "Do you think you could do me...a big favor...big boy" I'm trying my best in the background not to laugh at this point. For what it's worth, considering how long ago they lived, that line may work. I couldn't see the soldier's face under his helmet, but judging on his lack of motion, he was thinking it through. "D'ya think we could have...a nice chat with Lord Saika? I'm sure a big strong man like yourself could find him for me..." The soldier barely thought for this before running off, spear and all to find the boss. He disappeared around a corner...and Melissa turned to us, giving us a smile. "Got 'im"

"Melissa...how old are those lines?" I spoke, shaking my head. She scratched the back of her head.

"Erm...It's kind of a long story...I had heard Ji using that when I was with Yuan Shao...she was kinda flirtatious until she met Pi, even when married with Yuan Xi" She shook her head as we waited. "Guess a bit of that rubbed off on me"

"Well, it seems to have worked either way" Derrick stood up as he said this. "Just got to hope we can appeal to his good nature"

"Saika's a good man...heck, I met him off the battlefield and we enjoyed each others company" I looked over my shoulder at her. "NOT in that way Jerk off"

"Didn't say a thing" I told her, turning away. "But seeing as you knew him, what's the best way to appeal to him?"

"Apart from being a good man and a skilled marksman...he's male" She didn't say much beyond that.

"What the heck do you mean by that?" Melissa spoke. Oh come on it's bloody obvious.

"Think about it" Sarah spoke, walking up to Melissa and putting a hand on her back. "We've got to do it...this way"

She took her hand off of Melissa's back, and quickly moved them both around to grab the top at the middle, going either side of her partially exposed cleavage and ripping the clothing further down, with Melissa trying her best to fight her off, swearing and moaning as she did so. OK, it has to be said, this is starting to look like the start of a really bad porno...or really good depending on your tastes. I would comment but it's not the time nor the place. After ripping enough to be almost explicit, Sarah finally backed off, Melissa covering her chest quickly, her face flushing red.

"You bunch of fricking perverts!" She shouted, looking around us. "This isn't going to turn into a frickin' orgy is it?" We all give her one of those awkward looks, her face flushing even more. "PERVS"

"Oh like we would at this moment in time. Besides, Chiharu would be kinda...lonely"

"I can think of something to entertain and be entertained" She commented. I slammed my fist against the bars behind me.

"Time and place" I told her, hearing her groaning. "Anyway, we're not going to touch you. But if Magoichi is like she says, then this will get a good first step with him" She looked away, curling up slightly to hide herself. "Besides, you're the best looking of the girls in here"

Everyone looked at me at this point, the guys giving me those 'oh you didn't just say that' looks, and the woman...Melissa gave me a neutral look through her embarrassment but Sarah and Su looked like they wanted to murder me. I hear Chiharu trying hard not to laugh. Su and Sarah exchanged looks, making a silent agreement that they would strangle me later.

"Hate to say it, but before we even did that you were showing the most, and to be fair that's what we need if we're going to play to the crowd. We also didn't need to show that much more, so damaging your clothing is minimized in comparison to, say, Sarah, or indeed Su" This got SOME of the heat off of me, but I know they still plan to murder me in my sleep. As for the guys...I might have said enough to get them to save my ass. Chiharu shakes her head out of my eye corner.

"Smooth, hotshot, smooth" You're not helping you know that... "But he's right...hate to say it but I had the same answer...as bad an answer as it may be..." She stopped leaning against the bars, turning towards us. "Besides, you look like his type"

"Don't you mean seem? In personality?" She asked.

"No, on blunt looks you're his type" I couldn't help but chuckle at this point. Melissa pulling her hands away to raise her fist at her.

"You bitch" Now Simon and Derrick were laughing, with Sarah and Su shaking their heads.

"Just...act like you want him and get your freedom" We'll see about that. Hope things work out that way that easily. "Now get back into character, he's coming back"

Melissa gave us all a questioning look, which me and Chiharu responded by motioning to the outside of the cell. She swung her arms up in frustration, sticking her finger up at us before retaking her post, doing the best she could to look seductive...badly. Sarah couldn't help but giggle. I just couldn't watch, turning to see the woman next door holding a fist in front of her mouth, trying not to laugh. Must be entertaining for her to go from Feudal Japan to this and one of her first sights being Melissa trying to appeal to the male side of this Japanese lord.

We all waited in silence, with Melissa becoming more and more embarrassed as it went on. Something I picked up on during my old life, wow that sounds weird, was thinking through what I know in order to figure out what I don't know and anticipate them. Heck, it was one of the few things that managed to save me from losing that battle against Jiang Wei...barely.

So, working things out, it's a Japanese lord. A Samurai no less, who leads a group of Riflemen. That to me says both the honor and noble thing, heck, I'd say that about most of that era, even in sections of Europe with the dying of the age of Chivalry and knights. Shame really. If he's relying on firearms, he's...either Christian or Catholic, one of the two, can't remember which one the Portuguese and Dutch were Exporting when they offered to trade with Japan. Unless there's some weird loophole in that. An eye for the ladies, I'd guess some sort of cocky. Hopefully he is kind, I don't know how reliable Chiharu's information would be considering I only just met her...but she's in the same situation as us so I guess I can somewhat trust her. Not to mention she's helping us out. I'm guessing that this guy could might be a bit...paranoid. To have a name for his troops like the Saika Rebels means he loves freedom...or he just likes to be unique. Who knows aside from himself and possibly Chiharu?

For all that, if he's acting according to character...I don't think he'll be snobby but I think he'd be...proud of his family name. Heck, most of Japan in that time was, they had emblem for their individual clans for Christ sake. Don't know about more care for family names then that. I do think our ploy will work though.

We all perked up as we heard footsteps coming back...three sets, one was wearing armor so I can presume the guy from earlier...one was carrying something heavy. Couldn't tell much more then that.

"Are you sure about this my lord? What if they are under the control of the demons?" one asked. I heard a small sigh.

"I'll know. Trust me" this one sounded confident. I felt a finger on my back, leaning closer to the bars.

"That's the one. The confident one" Chiharu told me. I looked at Melissa, nodding, watching as a figure rounded the corner, wearing what I can only describe as a kind of green trench coat made of leather. He carried a black musket over his shoulder, with affixed bayonet under the barrel. He had a bit of stubble around his otherwise clean face, and his hair was neat...he was almost a foreigner in the eyes of the Japanese I'd presume. He walked over to us with the soldier from earlier, smiling as he saw Melissa.

"Well, what do we have here?" he spoke, looking Melissa up and down. "A vixen like you among the wolves like them..." he lowered his rifle, Melissa trying her best not to look away.

"Hey Hot stuff...you wouldn't happen to be in charge here would you?" She replied. I didn't have to see her face to tell she was winking.

"Well...I lead them" he took his free hand and placed a finger under her chin, moving his musket to be ready to fire a shot into her leg if we did anything. Lead them? "I'm sure I can organize something...for a small...favor"

"What kind of favor did you have in mind?"

"How about a small kiss...maybe a drink or two"

"Wait a minute" I speak, stopping from leaning on the cell wall. "You 'lead' them? Then who the hell is in charge?" He turned to me, taking his hand away from Melissa and pulling the gun back.

"That's...a long story" He scratched the back of his head. "Problem is I don't know if we can really trust you guys yet so I can't exactly say anything that may harm us"

"Well that's a load of bullshit" Chiharu chipped in, walking over to the front of her cell. "Magoichi, you know me. Why the hell am I in here if it's a case of friend from foe?" she definitely sounded pissed at this point. Magoichi walked over to her cell, not standing to properly face her.

"Yeah...well, we may have been friends in Japan..."

"We still are you idiot. I haven't turned my blade on you now have I? Last I knew your men turned on me?"

"We don't appear to be in Japan any more...when did Azuchi have bamboo forests?"

"Oh what, you think that just because the scenery changed, it gives you the right to put your friend in a cell?"

"It doesn't...what does is the fact that the rest of the Ikko have disappeared. And the appearance of people like them"

"We have names" Su spoke.

"Not the time" Derrick chipped in.

"Magoichi, look at them...and me" there was an almost too long awkward pause here as they exchanged gazes, as if the pair were fighting a battle of wills. Magoichi broke first. "Look at what they are. You think they are strange. So am I. Look at this kid next to the wall. He's scarred, he's seen his fair share of fighting. The others surely have"

It took a while before he plucked up the courage to actually come up to the wall, beckoning me closer with his hand. I obliged, never taking my eye off of him, even when standing in front of him. He looked into my eyes, as I returned the same. I could see the same...hollowness that Chiharu had. And to be hoenst, this one was...lighter. He hadn't done as much. Either that or he was between that and the Stare.

"He's a vet, same as the others. And from what I've heard, you need as many leaders as you can get right now" Chiharu ends the silence, Magoichi backing up before breaking his gaze at me.

"How do I know I can trust you?" He asks. "I'm a trusting guy, but you can't trust everyone these days?"

"You can at the very least trust two of them in there" a new voice chips in. we all turn to it, seeing a figure step out of the shadows. "I know at least two of them" The shadows give way to someone I used to know.

"Chen?"

"Long time no see Lord Fu Xi...or is it Craig?"