1274
You could say that Aiden was hardly surprised, flustered, bewildered, astonished or amazed by pretty much everything. Since his debut on the criminal side of "business", he meticulously planned his moves. It was a rare occasion when he didn't predict the outcome of his actions.
There are exceptions, of course. He is just a human about to enter hins middle age. A few months from being in his 40's. He couldn't predict that his identity would be revealed world wide, the death of his niece as well as some rare encouters with the police and Iraq (the person).
This? It was on another level of incalculable. It was unforeseeable. Something that if it ever left your vocal cords, people would question your sanity.
Aiden was just taking care of criminal organizations, convoy, drug deals and petty attempts at homicide of various reasons. And now he is in the middle of some hill in another place of the world in another time period of humanity.
After the "gate" closed, he honestly stood there for a few seconds before starting to have "anxiety". And to someone as paranoiac as Aiden Pearce, at man that looked over his shoulders every twenty seconds, just to make sure? This was a very controlled panick attack.
He pinched himself a few times. Put his hand in the groud to feel the dirt. Covered his nose thanks to the smoke if burnt corpses and checked his phone to only see that there was no signal. Not even a connection to something.
As to not have a mental breakdown, Aiden forced himself to calm down. He took a bunch of deep and slow breaths while crouching a bit. There is no denying that he just got teleported to... Tsushima? Yes, the Scientist said that. The event was the... Mongol invasion?
Shit, things got a lot more complicated.
After he collected himself, Aiden made sure to check his bearings. The phone was now as useful as a paper weight. Not only this thing couldn't hack, for obvious reasons, it was soon going to die out the battery. The baton and his Px4 are still useful, but a gun without bullets is also a paper weight.
It was slightly difficult to discard his phone. This small computer saved his ass more times he could care to count, not to mention the amount of time he took developing the design of his Apps. The "battery bar" symbol for the hacks he could do before he got kicked out from the ctOS servers still impressed a lot of other hackers for how simplr, yet clever it was.
Unfortunately, this just wouldn't help in the current situation.
So, he had a blunt weapon and a firearm that had... 5 cartridges. A total of 70 bullets. He would have more ammo if he got the weapons of the criminals and any other sorry punk who got in his way. But since he only got his ever trusted Px4, that was all he got.
Impressive.
He coul still hear the battle in the beach nearby. If anything, he should at least get in the good sides of the samurai. A simple plan, but he couldn't think of anything better in his state of mind.
(A few moments before)
"The mongol empire is invading our home".
Sakai Jin thought when he marched through the army with Lord Shimura at his side. He galloped at a fair pace, noticing the bows that are given to the both of them.
Jin, could only think about his past at this moment. About his home village. The Omi Village was a peaceful place, full of tradition and strength. When he eas born, he remembered when his mother, Sakai Chiyoko, spotted a Fox. She proclaimed it to be his ever protector when she couldn't look for him.
A cute and heartwarming action that drove his actions in his early years of life. Maybe he needed this determination, this resolve, to survive his father's training, Lord Sakai Kazumasa. He was training with strict discipline and constantly berated in his mistakes, but rewarded and praised in his accomplishments.
When he wasn't being almost killed by his father, he had his moments of confort and rest. Jin liked to climb trees, write some haikus, spend time with the Housemaid, Yuriko and talk with his friend, Ryuzo.
When his mother died to a still unknown illness, he felt abandoned, destroyed. Even if he was taught to master his feelings, he was just a child. A yougling that was terrified of the dark night and the howls of wolves. He did not believe she died and only after 3 days lost in the woods, teying ti search her, did he finally understood the meaning of death.
That is, on a emotional level. Not a traumatic one.
That came when Jin's father, Lord Kazumasa, died in Iki's Island. The man pleaded his son for help. One that was still terrified of death. Of course, Kazumasa was afraid of dying. He showed cracks that his enemies used and looked at his last hope of living, only to be disappointed in the results.
Of course, no one could blame him for what happened. Except for Jin himself. Lord Shimura took him under his wing, very well knowing about Jin's trials and tribulations. He did his best to teach the boy, who was still wary of doing anything related to harming another living being.
He eventually started to get around his trauma, harnessing his skills and improving his knowledge. This book, "The Art of War" was quite a treat to keep his thoughts in check, as well as understanding the danger that conflic could cause but also learning how to strategize, if needed.
After a while, in the year of 1272, Jin had participated in a friendly tourney to test his skills. He was happily surprised to see Ryuzo im the tourney. Good friends having an even fight.
Jin won that time. He felt accomplished.
He could only grimace at peaceful times now.
"They are brutal... Relentless... Unstoppable...", Jin thought, remembering the reports of other islands.
He could only feel rage when he witnessed the state of some corpses. They didn't have honor, and it disgusted him. Savages that pose as conquerors. They, the Samurai, would put a stop to this madness.
"We are eighty Samurai, against an army. Fighting to slow the invasion. Today, I die for my people", Jin finished his own monologue, looking at the beach.
"There must be thousands of them", Jin spoke aloud to no one in particular.
"We will face death and defend our own", was the determined reply from Lord Shimura.
Lord Shimura got a bit further in the army line. He planned to give a small speech, that was clear.
"Tradition. Courage. Honor!", He declared with authority. "They, are what defines us. We are the warriors of Tsushima! W are Samurai!"
A big roar of excitement and pride filled the air. It looked like this speech did lift the spirits of everyone. After a brief pause, Lord Shimura directed his attention to a man at his side.
"Lord Adachi. Go and break their spirits", He spoke.
A small nod was as good as an answer he would recieve.
Jin saw Lord Adachi gallop away. His gaze diverted to the entire fleet of Mongol Ships... He could only describe the feeling as a hauting presence looking back, with stone cold eyes. A hollow, sinister and unearthly feeling of dread.
He calmed himself, taking a few deeo breaths. He was taught to master his own sense of self in these situations. He couldn't be sorry, he needed to be better.
He looked back at the beach, only to see Lord Adachi be beheaded on sight, right after being set a flames.
"Samurai! Do you SURRENDER?" Shout the supposed leader in the beach.
"Cowards without honor deserve no mercy", the bitterness is audible in Lord Shimura's voice.
Jin couldn't agree more.
"NO MERCY!"
At this, every Samurai rushed towards the enemy, galloping downhill with the intent of drawing blood in canvases. Arrow cutted the wind above as Jin unsheathed his sword.
Some of the Mongols also rushed uphill, but as Jin learned, its over until a side has the high ground. He slashed as many as he could, giving the mongols a reason to reconsider the invasion. Slicing arms, heads, necks, chest, any possible swing that hit.
Finally, they got to the bottom. From here, it was a battle of attrition. Whoever got the furthest, made the most progress. And Jin was going full speed, slicing anyone in his way. Unfortunately, his reckless attack proved to be an advantage to the Mongol Archers, because they made rain flaming arrows in him and his horse, fainting after he collapsed.
He woke up after a few explosions. His leg was stuck beneath the horse. He tried to get up, only to see a Mongol Soldier. He quickly looked for his sword, trying to have some way to defend himself.
As soon as he grabbed the sword, the mongol was close to swing down.
*clinck*
Only to be deflected by Lord Shimura. A quick slice to the chest was enough to kill the scum.
"Jin! I need you with me," Lord Shimura said, after helping Jin get up from the horse.
Jin could only look at the battlefield, "We lost so many already..."
"We have to keep pushing, Lord Sakai", Lord Shimura used his title as to make his mide focus, "Even if it costs our lives".
"As you command, Lord Shimura", And it worked, as far as he could tell.
Jin walked a bit further at the small rocks that had some other lucky Samurai who are still alive. They are mourning the drath of their comrades, and that only fueled his rage for the Mongol Empire.
"Men! We must hunt down the Mongol Leader! Everyone with me!" Lord Shimura ordered as he rushed to the enemy.
More mongols are in front of them, and another battle would start.
"More Mongol dogs! Kill them!", Was the cry of Lord Shimura.
Half a dozen Samurai against too many Mongols.
Jin prepared his blade, taking the Stone Stance as he anticipated the enemies attacks. It proved wise, because Jin deflected a vertical downwards slice of one and quickly stabbed him in the back of the neck, the entire sword going in. He dispatched another mongol with a few slices of his blade.
He managed to dodge another attack and was forced to block another few, but his comrades managed to cover up for his mistakes. If they ever survive this battle at Komoda Beach, he is going to thank everyone.
Some of the Mongols noticed that even in numerical disadvantage, they still are winning this small conflict. When trying to make a tactucal retreat, they faced Lord Shimura's rage and properly meet their makers in hell.
The Samurai continued their onslaught, killing many and loosing few. They areived at a Mongol camp. A last line of defence until the Mongol Leader.
After killing the last Mongol, Jin looked, "We are winning! We can-", Only to find him and Lord Shimura being the only ones standing alive.
He gripped his blade tight. Most of them where close friends to him. He couldn't deny that only 80 Samurai against thousands of Mongols is quite too fee to match the enemy, but he never considered possible the idea of only two survive the entire battle.
"We are all that's left...", Jin comments solemnly.
"There is only one path to us", Lord Shimura didn't back down. "Find the Mongol Leader and kill him".
"I will fight for you until the end".
"I know".
After waking a bit further, they see him.
The one that causes this death. This battlefield. This invasion.
"I'm ready, uncle".
"We end this. Together".
With their resolve and spirits filled with determination, they rushed. Giving a rallying cry, screaming to scare their fears away, they rushed.
Only to another set of explosives do their job and knock both of them out.
Jin woke up with a sharp pain at his back. It was an arrow. He saw his uncle defeated and in his knees. He tried to walk, but couldn't. He tried to crawl, only yo get another arrow in his back, falling a bit befora a sword.
He could try and grab it, run and kill this monster that was in their home, but his injuries got the better of him.
He sae the mongol leader, walk all so casual to his uncle. After they got to a comfortable distance, the Leader had the audacity to take a bow. The snake!
"I am Khotun. Cousin of Kubkai. Grandson of Genghis", The Leader, Khotun, approached Lord Shimura, putting a hand in his shoulder. "Brother... You are a warrior, I can see that. You trained your whole life for this, and you've won battles that lesser man would've called unwinnable, yes?"
No response came from the captive.
Khotun picked up Shimura's Sword from the groud, "But... while you were sharpening your blades, you know how I prepared for today?"
Again, no reaction.
"I learned. I know your language. Your traditions. Your beliefs. Which of the villages to tame... and which those to burn", he said, as if telling that it was a sunny day.
The stone start that Lord Shimura gave was still present in his face.
"So... I once again ask you, samurai. Do you sirrender?", He offered again, this asinine ultimatum.
Yet again, not even a slight ounce of reaction came from the samurai.
Khotun just had enough of this nonsense. He lifted the blade that never left his hand, and sliced down.
"Holy shit...", Aiden said to no one in particular.
He waited for the Mongols to leave thr battlefield. There eas no denial that if he got spotted he would be killed on sight. He walked over the many, many, corpses.
Every one of them had the same type and pattern of armour, which confirmed that these Samurai are from the same army. He surveilled the area where the last samurai fought. There was this one in particular that had almost a completely destroyed armour and two arrows at his back.
He was in front a sword. A well crafted, as Aiden could tell. Not that he had good knowledge over it.
A small breeze made itself know as he approached the man. When he crouched to inspect him, the breeze got strong to thr point some dirt got in his eye. After cleaning his eye, he had a hard time figuring out what he eas witnessing.
The leafs of the trees nearby are... Rotating, circulating near the man and the sword. As if... pointing... guiding? How?
*stomp*
The man's hand hammer-fisted the ground, which was a clear indicator that he was still alive.
"Who are you?!", a slight enraged voice came from Aiden's side. Accent audible.
He looked inly to find a woman, holding a knife pointed at him. What was rather unsettling was how he understood what she sad. As if not obvious, this is Japan and Aiden was sure they didn't speak English, specially in the 11th century.
"I am not your enemy", Aiden said while noting he also had an accent of his own.
"This doesn't explain anything, foreigner", the woman spoke truth.
"He is still alive", Aiden pointed to the samurai in front of him.
The woman maintaining her distance, passed a slight glance at the tight grip in his own fist.
"Lord Sakai!", the woman immediately changed her attention to the, now named, Lord Sakai.
While she was assessing the samurai's wounds, Aiden started to notice a fee things. He knows for a fact that he doesn't understand Japanese, and yet, despite speaking English, he had the feeling that whatever was coming out from his mouth was not English. The accent of the woman was obviously what the Gen-Z would call "Engrish", because of the limitations of the Japanese language.
His own accent also bothered him. It was like him talking Japanese. A "Japaneshu" if you will. Maybe thats the reason the woman called him a foreigner. It would also explain her suspicion but not outright hostility.
"We need to get him ti safety. He is...", The woman checked the battlefield. "The last samurai this island has..."
"Do you have a place?", Auden asked, eager to some amount of safety.
"A clearing near Komoda. It should be hidden enough to heal his wounds", She stated while trying to lift Lord Sakai.
Aiden was still processing the things that had happened. The fact that he could (theoretically) speak and understand Japanese didn't sound bad per se, but also left questions without answers.
Maybe it has something to do with that Time Machine? It's not a far reality to think that it had a translator. Given that it was a Time Machine something like that should be possible.
But alas, more pressing matters are at hand than worrying about translation.
Both him and the woman managed to bring Lord Sakai to Komoda City. It was not raided by Mongols yet, as the woman said. Speaking of her, she tasked Aiden to sell the sword of the man in exchange for medicine. He agreed.
He thought himself to steal those medicine, but he remembered that this is going to turn into a warzone soon enough. Denying them that medicine would be the same as killing them and The Fox wasn't going to do that.
However, of course he needed proper clothes. His cap, sweater, coat, pants and boots would not fit at all with the surrounding area and era. Unless he eanted to be marginalized by the entire island.
He got the sword in his waist and an idea in his mind.
No one would die by getting naked.
So he stole some clothes. Now he had a simple blue tunic. A belted, slip-on overshirt reaching near the knees just like he enjoyed, with sleeves that go to his wrist. Simple brown breches and sandals with socks.
Unlike traditional sandals, these ones had a similar design to the ones used by Ancient Rome, wich was far better than those Wooden Flipflops.
A simple straw hat has also available for him, since he didn't want to betray his old visual.
He got to the doctor's house in the city. It was a moss covered hut, at best. Bur judging by how higiene and infrastructure wasn't a big thing on the outskirts of the main land, he didn't complain.
"Hello?", Aiden made himself know.
"I'm here! Como in!", The doctor also made himself know.
Aiden entered and sae the man filling skme bags. Probably to leave this place as soon as possible before the Mongols arrive.
"I am here to bargain".
"What do tou need, foreigner?", the man got a frown after hearing and now seeing who was the one talking to him.
"Medicine. I need to heak the wounds ofan acquaintance of mine", Aiden explained.
"Another victim? I should have expected..."
"Indeed".
"What do you need?"
"A few herbs for the healing, a few badages, a seam with some threads and painkillers", Aiden leaned into the wall while he spoke.
"How will be the transaction?", The doctor questioned, with caution.
Aiden took the sword and put it in the balcony, "I will give you this sword in for it. As of now, I am willing to give this small treasure of mine for the medicine", Aiden knew if he had said that the sword wasn't worth for him anymore, the Doctor could very well ask for more payment.
The Doctor looked at the blade with a contemplative expression.
"Very well, I shall see it done", And with that, the man started filling some bags for the foreigner.
(3 days after)
Jin jolted out of his sleep. He felt a sore in his entire body, as if he got hit by a carriage. Analyzing himself and the surrounding area, he could tell that someone was looking out for him. His injuries are mostly healed although not gone. He could also smell the smoke that was coming from the nearby city.
"About time you woke up", a rough voice with a thick accent was heard.
Jin quickly got uo, ready for a fight, only to see an older man than himself. His attire was one of the many villagers he encountered in his life, but his facial features are an enigma for him.
"What happened?", Jin asked, still confused.
"You almost got killed in that beach. Yuna and I got you out of there and started healing your wounds", The man explained while pointing out the many dirty bandages in a basket.
"If what you say is true, I own my life to you and Mrs. Yuna", The Lord bowed to his myterious savior. Which got a chuckle out of him.
"We should be concerned with other affairs. As for now, thou should call me Fox", "Fox" introduced himself before addressing the danger.
Wait, Fox? Why he got this sense of... Deja Vu?
"Mongols...", Fox commented.
Jin looked at some villagers, trying their best to escape the invasion. He couldn't hide his wrath and his savior noticed it, but did not comment on it.
"If you saved me, maybe you know where my sword is?", Jin asked, not looking away from the Mongols.
"I don't have it, but I know where it is. Yuna was running to get it, but they came first", Fox explain while motioning a "follow me" gesture.
Jin followed suit while The Fox guided him. Stealth was their best option. He couldn't see any weapon with his companion and he wouldn't fare that well with Mongols unarmed. They managed to bypass the enemy thanks to Fox throwing some stones to attract their attention elsewhere.
They entered a house as to avoid getting caught by a patrol.
"They are everywhere", Jin said as he peeped by the holes in the door.
"That's why you will need this".
Jin looked, hoping to see his sword, but instead, his broken armour.
"Better than nothing".
Fox just nodded.
On the outside, both of them could hear screams of agony. Jin immediately opened the door to investigate, only go see a woman running and oushing him inside.
"Hide, quickly!", she pushed "Fox" as well.
Both of them did as asked. The woman prepared herself when a mongol soldier entered. She started acting, as if she was a defenseless woman in the village. Judging by how she was crying, she would at least be nominated to the Oscar.
"Chii odoo miniih! Rice!", The soldier demanded.
The woman pointed at the box that had Jin's armour. Both men were ready to attack the soldier. But the woman proved capable enough, when she herself stabbed the soldier in the throat, killing him.
Jin felt a bit bitter at the sight. It was a honorless death. He felt even displeased when the woman started looting the corpse.
"Can you run?", The woman asked.
"I-I think so...", Jin recomposed himself.
"Good, because we need to get you your sword. I can't fight these guys alone", The Fox reminded them if their main objective.
"You can fight?"
"Yes, but not for long periods of time. My abilities are more of quick executions than warfare", Fox gave his own reasoning.
"That means we can't waste time, follow me".
She jumped out of the fhe window and didn't wait for a reply. Fox was following soon after which forced Jin to follow them before someone entered this house.
"How long I was out?", Jin questioned his companions.
"Long enough for the mongols to take over half of Tsushima", The woman replied.
"And that took about 3 days", Fox was quick to add insult to injury.
"By the Gods... These monsters...".
"Shhhh! Get down!"
Another troop of soldiers got by and the trio quickly hid. Jin couldn't possibly think how the Mongols managed to take over his entire homeland in just 3 days. That fleet might have more than just a thousand.
As soon as it was clear to continue they started to move.
Jin could only control himself while witnessing what the mongols did to the villagers. If they killed all the military and took over? That would be fine. But they are killing innocent people. And that enraged the samurai to the core of his being. He even sees a woman be killed, stabbed in the back by a spearman.
"Nothing we can do for her, Lord Sakai", The Woman said.
"But we can save the others", Fox rebutted.
"I know, but we need to hurry up before it's too late", she replied, annoyed.
They squeezed through a few rocks t not get spotted.
"Lord Shimura was with me in the battlefield", Jin said, hoping to hear good news.
"The old man? Forget him", The woman said.
"You two, wait...", Jin pleaded, almost begged.
The two stop in ther tracks, seeing a sad but hopeful face in thr Lord.
"Lord Shimura is my uncle. I have to know...".
"You're the Jito's nephew?", Asked the woman, a bit surprised.
Aiden didn't introduce himself yet, but if what he saw was true, than he could sympathize with the Lord.
"I'm not sure. I saw when he got struck by the Mongol leader, but instead of leaving his body behind, he carried Shimura with him", Fox told all he knew.
"Where did they take him?"
"East, along the cost", The woman completed the information.
"Toward Castle Kaneda..."
"Celebrating their victory, perhaps", Fox suggested.
"I could attack them, make a surprise..."
"Unless you infiltrate and kill them without being spotted then that's a good plan. If not, it's just a suicidal mission", The woman eas quick fo cut this foolish idea, "You will be killed!"
"Or... I will rescue Lord Shimura. Help him get them out of the island. He can contact the Shogun. Ask for reinforcemens", Jin was still ever hopeful.
Aiden knew for a fact that he will die if he ever tries this plan, "We didn't nurse you back from death just to you thrown your life away!"
"Then why did you two save me?"
"I couldn't leave you to die", The woman started, "And I need the help of you both".
"Lord Shimura can help the entire island. And he is the inly family I have left.", he said with a audible amount of sadness.
"Chiimegui!", A mongol shouted frim afar.
The trio nodded at themselves. They should be moving, not talking. Moving under some houser, the group manages to avoid the mongol soldiers. Using the same tactics of "throwing a rock", they manage to reach the street of the place the sword is supposed to be.
"I never asked for your names", Jin inquired casually.
"That's because it's not the proper time for introductions", Fox clarified, "But my actual name is Aiden. She's Yuna".
"A pleasure to meet my saviors".
"Pleasantries can wait", Yuna pointed at another mongol soldier entering the house.
"I will take care of him", Aiden stated.
He approached trying his best to not make a noise. He put a hand in his pocket and grabbed a piece of blunt metal and whipped his ark out. A sharp "click" could be heard.
Aiden struck the mongol's leg with all his strength, making him lose balance and immediately followed with a powerful blow to the head. A signature quick finishing blow he used with most criminals back in Chicago. It proved to be effective here as well.
With that, Yuna was quick to pull the unconscious body of the mongol inside.
Before stabbing him in the throat.
"Well, that's a damm shame", Aiden joked. He wasn't used to it.
"You two are thieves...", Jin realized a bit too late.
"When I need something, I take it", Yuna trid to defended herself.
"I am no thief, I merely know how to quickly dispatch my enemies", Aiden also tried to defend himself.
"You two walked like you knew the route".
"We scouted it, of course. Why did you think she wasn't with you when you woke up?", Aiden inquired.
To that, he couldn't aswer.
"That box looks ominous", Aiden pointed.
Indeed. It was quite beautiful in fact. Jin opened it. The black sheath with his clan's mark. The white hilt with golden adornments.
*swish*
And the silver looking blade, as polished as it can be.
He felt a bit of control coming back at his hands. He remembered the time when Lord Shimura taught him the basics of the Stone Stance, as well as the values of a Samurai.
"Öör neg Samurai!", a Mongol wqs quick to ruin the mood.
Aiden prepared himself with his baton. Yuri prepared herself with her knife. Jin l
slowly removed the blade from its sheath, turned to the mongol and took the Stone Stance.
Things would get messy really quick.
AU: So! I've decided to write again the day after, since its still just yhe beginning of the story and game. I will try to diverge from canon without it being unreasonable and unrealistic.
Chapter is prone to changes in grammar.
See ya!
Date of publication: 25th, September, 2023