As the sun sets on the last day of peace in the Gotoshi, Kaede arrives home at Tsuchi‑dojo accompanied the mind‑controlled Danny. Emerging from the secret access tunnel, Kaede is still troubled by the thoughts she randomly had when driving back. However, when she notices a letter has been slipped under her door, she casts those thoughts aside and retrieves the letter.
"Get us a drink please, Danny," Kaede requests. Now I'm being polite to him, asking instead of ordering.
"Of course, mistress," Danny replies. "What would you like?"
"You choose." And now I'm allowing him to make decisions.
Danny heads to the kitchen while Kaede opens the envelope, extracts the letter, and begins reading. As she reads, a smile appears and broadens, ending in a smug grin. "I knew our plan would work! My sanctions have been lifted, and control of my dojo has been returned!"
"Congratulations, mistress," Danny compliments as he returns to the den with two glasses of coconut milk.
"And Tsubaki will be happy too, I bet," Kaede continues. "She'll be able to be on the front lines, and personally take down Mizu‑dojo!"
"Will you be requiring me to assist her?" Danny asks.
"Nah," Kaede dismisses. "You'll be where you belong, right by my side. And since I feel like celebrating, you'd better get the rum. The white one, not the dark."
With a nod, Danny heads back to the kitchen, returning a moment later with a full bottle of white rum. Kaede takes the bottle, opens it, and pours a large measure in each drink. Setting the bottle to one side, she perches on the sofa, grabs her drink, and beckons Danny to join her.
"A toast to the rise of Tsuchi‑dojo!" Kaede declares once Danny has joined her, downing half her drink. "Wow, that's strong!"
In contrast to Kaede's celebratory mood, Tsubaki's reaction to the sanctions being lifted and control of her dojo being returned is a lot more measured and focussed. Her evening is spent not in her sanctum, but in the smithy, making a new pair of katana specifically for achieving her goal: the killing of Chika Ueno and Hideyoshi Takenaka.
In Mizu‑dojo, the mood couldn't be more different. With the sanctions on Chika Ueno lifted by Senator Akiko Saito, the dai‑sensei can personally oversee the preparation of her dojo without the distraction of the senator's representative.
"For the first time since taking leadership three years ago, I'm envious of Tsubaki's fortifications," Chika admits to Xander as they approach the halfway point of their perimeter tour. "A ten‑foot tall steel wall would be very welcome right about now."
"Fortifications are useful, but as my father taught me, it's equally important to plan your retreat," Xander informs. "That way, if the walls are breached, you're still in control of the situation."
"That's an excellent point, and one I hadn't considered," Chika admits. "We'll plan retreat routes once we've finished preparing the perimeter."
Two hours later, with the perimeter as fortified as it can be, and with all the retreat routes mapped out, Chika and Xander return to the inner sanctum to find the videophone ringing.
"I had a feeling he'd call," Chika comments as she answers the phone.
"I wish this communication was made in less onerous times," Hideyoshi greets, bypassing formality to get to the point quickly.
"I wish this communication wasn't necessary at all," Chika replies.
"Yet events have conspired against us," Hideyoshi observes. "Know that you have at least myself and my dojo as allies."
"Are you able to send help?" Chika asks.
"I'm trying, but unfortunately Senator Jiro Kita is being less than co‑operative," Hideyoshi explains. "However, we may be able to bring in help from outside."
"The Red Scarves won't send a force over," Xander informs. "As much as we've been brokering diplomacy, they won't help."
"I feared that would be the case," Hideyoshi sighs. "But we don't necessarily need an army. In fact, just one person could prove key to ending this conflict before it gains too much momentum. If we act quickly enough, we should be able to prevent the fall of Mizu‑dojo, and prevent Mizutani itself being devastated."
"Who do you have in mind?" Chika asks.
"Hanna and Rob," Xander guesses.
"Exactly," Hideyoshi confirms. "When do they return from their honeymoon?"
"Tomorrow," Xander informs. "Not sure what time exactly."
"I'll assume early afternoon," Hideyoshi decides. "Rob was kind enough to leave their contact details when they were here previous. I just hope Hanna will agree to help."
"Hanna is many things, but she's not vindictive," Xander assures. "Unless your name is Sash Lilac."
"Why would Hanna not like one of the saviours of Avalice?" Hideyoshi asks, confused.
"Long story," Xander explains. "Suffice to say Hanna hates and will always hate Lilac."
"I'm not afraid to admit I'll never understand her," Hideyoshi sighs. "The vixen is a walking enigma."
"No‑one understands Hanna," Xander assures. "Not even her husband understands her."
"I can believe that," Hideyoshi agrees. "Nevertheless, they are our best bet at getting to the heart of this mess, and uncovering the truth."
"Thank you for your help," Chika thanks.
"The honour is mine," Hideyoshi replies. "Ganbatte kudasai."
"Hai, ganbarimasu." Chika hangs up. "And now there's nothing to do but wait."
"We'll get through this," Xander assures.
"What if we don't?"
"Then I'll give my life to protect you."
Dawn the following morning. A few miles north of Tsuchidokutsu, the city‑state's army is assembling, ready to begin the long journey to Mizutani. As the final units roll into formation, the Tsuchi general notices he is missing the Tsuchi‑dojo re‑enforcements he was promised. Waiting for them to muster will result in an unacceptable delay, so the general decides to move out without the re‑enforcements, but not before sending an urgent message to the dojo leader.
In the Tsuchi‑dojo inner sanctum, the phone rings. Kaede stirs groggily on the sofa, suffering from the effects of the previous night's celebrations. Ugh… Think I went a bit overboard last night. Kaede attempts to climb off Danny and the sofa, but slips and falls to the floor instead. "That was a mistake," she mumbles, taking a moment to gather herself before attempting to stand again. Her second attempt is more successful, and she staggers over to the phone and answers it. "Hello?… Oh… No, I didn't, I just‑… OK." Kaede hangs up. Shit. How could I forget we're meant to be part of the assault?
Kaede staggers back to the sofa and tries to wake Danny. "Hey loverboy, time to get up!"
Dany wakes with a start. "Huh? Oh, good morning mistress. How can I be of service?"
"Three things," Kaede orders. "First: find me some clothes. Second: help me get the dojo assembled and ready to march on Mizutani. And third, and in the name of the kitsune do this one immediately, make me a really strong black coffee."
In Kinzoku‑dojo, there are no such worries: Tsubaki is up at dawn assembling her warriors, and they arrive at the forest‑edge muster point ahead of schedule. Tsubaki is also armed with her two newest katana, which she forged the night before. The shorter blade of the two is etched with a design depicting the triumph of metal over water, and the longer blade with metal overcoming fire.
Meanwhile, in Mokuzai‑dojo, Ryoichi Nakano has mustered as large a force as he can. However, with most of their vehicles either heavily damaged or destroyed, their mobility is limited, and with the armoury destroyed, the only weapons available are those the ninjas already have. Despite this, Ryoichi has mustered seven fire teams with vehicles, which he personally leads.
Dawn over Mizutani reveals a city transformed. The previous cerulean picturesqueness is polluted with fortifications erected overnight, and the city's army is dug in, ready to defend. But it's in the north of the city where the biggest changes have been made: Mizu‑dojo is on total lockdown. Every drawbridge has been raised, and the dojo itself has substituted elegance and opulence for solidity and strength. The facility now closely resembles the imposing Kinzoku‑dojo, albeit without a ten‑foot steel wall sealing the perimeter.
In the command centre (previously the main training hall), Chika Ueno reviews the deployment of her warriors, making constant adjustments to attempt to close off every potential vulnerability. Accompanying her are Senator Akiko Saito, and the general of the Mizutani army. Unusually, Xander Lykos is not present: he is patrolling the perimeter of the dojo, boosting morale where he can.
A few hours later, with the sun now high enough to burn away the morning mist, Xander returns to the command centre. "I've done all I can to give the troops a boost, but I fear it's not worked well," he informs, joining Chika, Akiko, and the general at the map table.
"I'm sure you did all you could," Chika assures. "If nothing, it's allowed me to focus better on the task of defence."
"Incoming info from my scout units," the general interrupts. "The Kinzokumori forces are three hours away, with Tsuchidokutsu only an hour further."
"Senator, were you able to contact your fellow senators?" Xander asks.
"There's no need to stand on ceremony," the senator requests. "Please, call me Akiko. And no, I've not been able to reach anyone except Jiro, and he's refusing to send support."
"You'd think he'd put petty differences aside now war has arrived," Chika sighs.
"He has his own city to worry about," Akiko reminds. "I don't blame him for focussing on Yamakasai over Mizutani."
"At least Hideyoshi's on our side," Xander informs.
"Unfortunately, he's still under house arrest," Akiko replies.
"I think we can assume both Tsubaki and Kaede found ways around theirs," Chika guesses. "Hideyoshi will find a way."
"Does that mean you could have found a way around yours too?" Akiko asks.
"Of course," Chika confirms. "I simply chose not to exercise that option."
"How come?" Akiko inquires.
"I had no need," Chika explains.
"We were right to be lenient," Akiko smiles.
"I was merely repaying your generosity," Chika smiles back.
"If we survive this, you should run for senator," Akiko suggests semi‑seriously.
"I hate to spoil the moment," Xander interrupts, "but we really should focus on the upcoming fight."
"Absolutely," Chika agrees. "General?"
"We're all ready and in position," the general confirms.
"As are we," Chika confirms. "All we can do now it wait."
"May the spirit of the kitsune protect us," Akiko prays.
As Chika Ueno predicted, Hideyoshi Takenaka did indeed find a way to sneak out of Kasai‑dojo without alerting anyone, at least initially. But when one of the dojo's aircraft takes off just before dawn, it only takes a few minutes to discover the Grand Master's absence. However, by the time Senator Jiro Kita is informed of this violation of the sanctions, Hideyoshi has already left Gotoshi airspace, heading straight for Rage Ravine, and the home of Hanna Skarlett and Rob Still.