AU: Anything written like this is in Japanese:

[Heavenly Strike]

Anything written like this is in Chinese/Mongol:

[Mongol talking something offensive]

Anything written like this is a thought or memory:

"I'm sorry, Uncle..."

Anything written like this is a location:

Hiyoshi Hot Springs

Words in sentences written like this are meant to be emphasis:

"He could be dead if not for them."

"You should have died there!"


(A few minutes before)

Aiden was confused, something that he did not like in the slightest.

He was tired, but if felt odd. He usually could go the entire night combating crime and still have plenty of energy to crush anyone. Sometimes he even got to the point if being awake two days straight. Sleeping as the sun was starting to rise and waking up when the sun was setting.

"Are you alright? Can you walk?", Yuna asked as she analysed her companion's condition.

"I... I don't know... This has never happened before...", The man managed to speak.

"We need to leave. We can't stay here and wait for Lord Sakai", she concluded, worriedly.


Jin survived the fall. The bridge was on top of the sea that surrounded the island, so he wouldn't encounter his demise, at least today.

He walked, broken and humiliated, just as Khotun said. On the beach, Jin could only worry not only for Tsushima or Lord Shimura, but also himself. He felt... Hopeless.

He grabbed his sword from the sand, "Father, how can I save him...? How can I save my home...?", Jin said with cracks in his voice.

A breeze started, as if answering his plea. It was... Talking with him? Guiding him? But how? He got up and looked at the general direction the wind was going. A hill with a tree. It's telling him to go there?

"Your father's spirit lives in this sword".

A phrase that Lord Shimura said after the funeral of his father. Is he manifesting through the wind? He needed to see this to the fullest.

After walking forward for a while, reaching a bamboo forest he saw a few horses. One of them was eager to see him, of all people.

"Sora?", Jin asked and the horse immediately came to it's master.

"Lord Sakai?", a feminine voice echoed.

"Yuna? Aiden?"

"We are here!"

They are finally face to face. Yuna looks relieved, Aiden looks tired and Jin was... Depressed, to say the least.

"Jin! What happened?", Asked a distressed Yuna.

"I found Lord Shimura... I could have saved him, but the Khan was there...", The Samurai said, still feeling chapfallen.

"At least you are in one piece", Aiden tried to comfort him. It didn't help much.

"I swore do protect this island with my life. But now the mongols stole our home... They killed the samu—"

*slap*

"Cut this shit, right now!", Aiden effectively changed the vibe of the conversation in one fell swoop. Well, slap.

Jin looked puzzled at his companion.

"You forgot how it is to fight someone stronger than you, better than you, with lower morals than you! But instead of complaining and feeling sorry for yourself, we can still make a difference, prepare and then, attack!", Aiden was honestly at disbelief at how dense this man could get.

"But...", Jin tried to protest.

"You have never felt weak? Powerless? Hopeless?", The Fox's tone was far lighter this time, "Sometimes, Jin, You have to do everything you can to survive. To protect your own. And you need to be prepared that even if you give your sweat, blood and tears, it won't be enough".

Jin felt that this mas spoke from his own experience. Maybe he was making the same mistakes as him? Or was he trying to prevent him from doing so?

"The Khan will expect an attack from the Samurai... He will anticipate my plans...", Jin was starting to understand what they are talking about.

"Unless we make new ways as to surprise him", Yuna completed.

"That's how we will save Lord Shimura and retake our home", Jin said with finality.

A great sound of a War Horn made itself know. The trio knew they needed to hide, and quickly. They sent their horses to run while they hid in the tall grass.

A entire fleet passed by them. There had a bunch of soldiers, transporting stolen goods. Spearman, Swordsman, Knights and Archers loaded with (from what they could tell) the best gear available. If any of them are spotted, it's uncontested that they would die a horrible death.

After a while, they walked away from that area. It was clear that it was too much of a hotspot for them to be there.

"They must bee searching for you", Yuna joked. It suited her a lot better than Aiden.

"A shame the horses aren't here", Aiden said, a bit annoyed.

"They are samurai horses, trained to return to their masters".

With a gentle whistle, Sora galloped back to them. With a whistle of the others, the remaining horses also came back.

"Well, that's convenient", Aiden remembered how he could ask for a car to be delivered any time back in Chicago. This was way more easier. And free!

"They will hunt everyone of us", the woman declared.

"We must split up. Draw their attention elsewhere and regroup later", Jin rationalized.

"I'm not leaving you two until my brother is saved!"

"Well, if your brother needs the help of a well trained Samurai and a retired old man, do you really think that only us both will deal with all those mongols?", Aiden reminded the risks of such task.

"Indeed. We need to gather trained soldiers. Like Sensei Ishikawa or Lady Masako Adachi. They can help".

"You said the same about your uncle! My brother can help. If you save him, you will have the island best blacksmith in your debt", Yuna's anger was evolving at every syllable, "He is able to make any and ever tiol you need to save your uncle".

"Any tool?", Aiden's curiosity peaked.

"A tool to help climb the walls of the Castle...", Jin's curiosity also peaked.

Yuna saw that at least this caused a reaction, even if a small one.

"You two dream it and Taka will make it".

"Where is he being kept?", Jin asked.

"He is being hold near Kechi, although I don't know exactly where".

"Go there and ask. We will join soon enough. Aiden, I will need your assistance".

"Taka won't last long in a Mongol cage", She pleaded again.

"Yuna, I promise that we will save your brother", Jin said with all of his lasting honor.

"And your Uncle", She returned the gesture.

The trio mounted their horses. Yuna nodded and set off to Kechi, while Jin lead the way to whatever destination he was going to.

"So... Have you named your horse?", Jin asked so the travelling isn't monotonous.

"Do I really need to?".

"How will you be able to find him? You need at least some bond with your companion, since he will follow you until the end of your journey", The Samurai gave his reason as to why he should.

"Well, I am not good at naming things, or in this case, someone", Aiden tried bis best to change the topic of the conversation.

"C'mon, you don't need to be good at it. At least try".

"Fine..."

Aiden thought of a good name, "Well, it's a male, dapple and young as far as I can tell".

"...Go on..."

"He has a lot of constitution. He managed to run a long time without needing to stop while we travelled to Kaneda Castle. He also ran very quickly to the forest when we got to the rendezvous..."

"What does 'rendezvous' mean?", The Samurai asked, curious.

"It means the place we would meet if you didn't appear. But going back to the name... Hiraki".

"Light. The hope we need in times like this", Jin concluded, "That's a nice name".

"Thanks...", Aiden was perturbed at how he managed to say perfect Japanese and think on a good name with a so profound meaning behind it.


"Pardon me, but where are we going?", Aiden asked as he pets Hiraki.

"To visit Sensei Ishikawa. He couldn't go to the war for his own reasons, but now that the Mongols control the Island, I doubt he would refuse to defend his own home", Jin said as he dismounted Sora.

"I guessed as much. But what can he provide to the Island?"

"He is the best Archer of Japan. He is old, but his knowledge and experience will prove to be useful", Jin said sagely.

"Very well. Lead the way".

They continued their journey for a while. Aiden need to double check his surroundings, because he couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing.

This place, this Island, when it's not filled with mongols, blood and corpses, is absolutely gorgeous. The trees with many different colours are different from what he was accustomed to, but it was not unpleasant. The river's stream were calming and peaceful and any lighting was also an art piece.

"Let's make camp here", Jin said after the wind suddenly stopped.

Which made Aiden stop daydreaming (or rather, nightdreaming) and notice this rather strange occurrence.

Camp was made in a matter of minutes. Aiden caught a boar a while ago and started making the campfire. He honestly was great that they stopped travelling or he could very much sleep while on top of the horse.

"Y'know, I can see why you love this place", Aiden started, "I've never seen a more beautiful place before".

"Tsushima's beauties are far more vast than scenery. Where are going to the Hiyoshi Hot Springs", Jin said, eager to have a good bath after a week worth of combat and bloodshed.

"You have these here?!", Aiden asked, shocked.

"Indeed. Sensei Ishikawa's Dojo is a top of the Hot Springs. It could be worthwhile go there before visiting him".

"I can only imagine".

They ate the food and prepared to sleep. Jin would take the first turn watching over their camp. Aiden didn't fully trust the Samurai but also didn't have anyone else to rely on, so he conceded.

It was hard for him to trust in people. Very few could have his tolerance, fewer his respect and even less his friendship. He tried to not open to anyone so he wouldn't feel as bad when they'd eventually die. It was defensive mechanism, one that he didn't know himself.

Of course, he did is coping mechanisms of fighting crime and preventing other families to be the next "Nicole", the next "Jacks" and the next "Lena". But no matter what he did, the guilt still followed him. Not even destroying on his own innumerous criminal organizations did he fell not empty inside.

Maybe he was too obsessed with security and control. He was too dangerous to have company with.


Aiden woke up not in the camp.

Hw woke up in Chicago.

It was just like his Digital Trip where he felt... Alone. A city with not a single soul in the streets and all dark. He would need to turn on the generators again? Would he hear Nicky's thoughts in his head again?

"You weren't supposed to be here, Mr. Pearce", A animalistic and enigmatic voice echoed in the city.

"Who's there?!"

He felt a strong wind come to him and he protected his eyes. When the wind settled down, he was something that could honestly be described as a bootleg version of Default, but instead of a Mouse, it was a... Fox?

"...the fuck?"

"Aiden Pearce. You have your hands full, if I dare say so myself", The voice of before was sure of this person.

"They" was wearing a female yukata, a Fox's mask, which Aiden theorized it meant [Kitsune] by the Language standards. He also had a sword in it's wrist as well as... four tails in his back?

"Who are you?"

"I'm not gonna reveal who I am, but do know that I have the power to influence in your success, Mr. Pearce", The thing said, ever so politely.

"And that's supposed to ease my nerves?", Aiden pointed his PX4 at the creature.

Wait, where did he get the pistol? And why was he wearing his usual attire?

"Do not be mistaken, mortal. I wish to be of assistance on your task".

"...And how is that?"

"I know for a fact that you're not a saint. But, thanks to the circumstances of your... Arrival, I'd say that you are the most capable man to help a certain someone", The creature said, while doing a full body analyze in his interlocutor.

"You want me to help Jin?"

"Yes. His destiny is at a risk. If he doesn't evolve and recruit as many allies as possible, he is surely going to die, and that's not a desireble outcome", it spoke, casually as ever, "Could you tell me about your past?"

Aiden nodded, a bit skeptical.

"In my neighborhood, you stood up or you got beat down... So I stood up. I ran with an ugly crowd. Learned how to fight. How to shoot. I paid for it too. I took the hits, so my family wouldn't have to. Mom always said we escaped Dad when we left him back in Belfast. She only wanted peace for us and he was always fighting for something. She saw that fire in me, too. She said her sweet little boy was gone. I'd turned into Dad. That should have stung worse than it did", he spoke with a little sense of Deja Vu.

At this, the city that was dark suddenly lit up. It was such a sudden change that he needed a few seconds to adapt to the sunlight.

"You see, Mr. Pearce. I can help you, as long as you are true to yourself", The Kitsune spoke in a more serious tone.

"And what will you get of this deal?", the man asked, still adapting to the light.

"A lot, in fact. If you do this, your actions will be remembered. And the Gods do not let these services go unpaid...", It disappears as it finished speaking.


Soon after the duo woke up, a small fox was there to greet them. Jin explained how the birds, foxes and other animals could guide you to a point of interest.

Queue Jin being a bit perplexed by how this innocent fox lead them to not only a Sword, but also a Tanto. Both of them thought that it was far better for Aiden to use this set of weapons, rather than the Mongol Scimitar he had with himself. If the villagers or Sensei Ishikawa saw him with it, no doubt they would think he is a spy.

With that done, they arrived at:

Hiyoshi Hot Springs

"We've arrived".

It was, again, a beautiful sight. The hot springs's steam could be seen from afar, but when both men got near it was when their eyes lit with anticipation.

"Welcome, travelers", said a woman.

"Hello. Could we request the services of the Hot Springs?", Jin asked to the woman.

"A Samurai? Alive?"

"You may call me Lord Sakai".

"Oh, good heavens! Quick! We must serve our Lord!", she said as she ran to prepare a place.

"Is it alright to use your title for a moment of rest?", Aiden asked with slight derision.

"You say that as if you didn't want it".

"Fair enough".


"Where we can find Sensei Ishikawa?", Jin asked to one of the workers.

"He is at his Dojo now. It is on top of the Mountain. I can guide you two there if so desired".

"Lead the way", Aiden said, feeling just like he was in his 20's again.

The path was rather simple. The only thing they need to do was to walk around the mountain and they would reach the Dojo.

fwoothunk*

As soon as Jin opened the door, a arrow hit the wall beside it.

"What a nice introduction...", Aiden thought.

"Sensei Ishikawa?", Jin asked, very carefully.

"Lord Sakai's boy... And a foreigner", Ishikawa said as he eyed the European.

"He is with me, Sensei. If not for him, we wouldn't have this reunion", Jin quickly defended his friend.

Sensei Ishikawa lowered his bow, "You're lucky. If not for him I would have shot you on sight".

Aiden only nodded in response. No point in rising a fuss for caution.

"So, you survived Komoda", The archer said.

"We could've used your archery in the battle".

"I was going there but I was attacked by bandits!", He said with a little too much anger for Aiden's taste.

It sounded personal.

"Are we expecting them to return?" The Fox asked, out of curiosity.

"A Samurai is never caught by surprise, foreigner", He said with too much pride, "I'm sorry for Lord Shimura".

"He is alive", Jin corrected his presumption.

"Then maybe there is still hope".

"That's why we've come here. We need your help in trying to save him", Aiden took the initiative.

"As much as I want to help, I can't. My student is still missing. She is a skilled archer...", Ishikawa recalled with sadness.

"We will help. Then, both Master and Student can help Lord Shimura", The Samurai said with determination.

"Try to keep up", The Archer said as he nodded.


"There are other who survived Komoda?", Ishikawa asked as he followed his attacker's footprints.

"Besides you and me? I don't know", Jin told his story so far to the man.

"We still haven't searched for Lady Masako though", Aiden added.

"Maybe she can help, even at her age. I've never seen a more skilled woman in my life", The archer said with a respectful tone.

"Speaking of which, you said you had a disciple? A woman if I'm not wrong", The Samurai recalled.

"Indeed. Her name is Tomoe".

"From what clan is she?", Aiden asked.

"None. She is a commoner, but a very talented one, capable of outshooting any Samurai I know."

"So that's why you refused to train me", Jin joked.

"I remember most students I rejected", Ishikawa returned the gesture with double force.

Aiden started to realize that, despite the problems that they had to face, there was still room for humor.

"So, Jin showed promise, but this Tomoe is a prodigy?", The Fox thought out loud.

Ishikawa looks at the foreigner with a new found interest in him. He not only he predicted what he would've said, but also perfectly described the woman's talent by only audible information.

Maybe he should keep his guard up, just in case.

"Exactly".


The trio of Archer, Samurai and Vigilante fought a few mongols on the way. Apparently they took the Nakayama Outpost that was near the Hot Springs. If that outpost wasn't taken out, the city would be the next to fall. Not only that, but it looks like the trail ends in the fortress.

In the way to the outpost, Ishikawa "let Jin borrow a bow", thanks to him proving to be a capable archer. The results, according to Sensei, are acceptable.

Before doing anything regarding the main objective, they scouted from afar. There are a few archers, but no Mongol Archer is better than a trained Samurai and a Master Archer. There are also a lot of possible things they could shoot in order to kill the enemy. Torches, explosives, hornet nests... The list was vast.

The only thing they needed to do is wait for the mongols to send a patrol out the outpost. After a few hours of waiting, the patrol did leave the place.

"Wait for my signal, Jin", Sensei Ishikawa said.

Jin prepared the arrow.

The patrol left through the gate. The stupid mongol didn't even noticed how there are a few explosives in the path they were walking.

"Now!"

Jin released it. The explosion did not disappoint at all. Many of the enemies flied in the 360 directions, but there also many that still lived to tell the tale.

Not for long though...

Aiden grabbed a bow from one of the mongols archers, "No better time to learn than under pressure".

"If you want a advice, get ready for your wrists to bleed!", Jin said as he shoots another arrow.

Aiden readies the arrow with a lot of difficulty. He never expected this to be a hard task, but then again, he never shot a bow and arrow. He manages to shoot it and hit a mongol in the feet, effectively (and by mistake) pinning him in the ground.

Ishikawa takes this opportunity to shoot one in the head, "That's your first time shooting?"

"A bow? Yeah!", Aiden said as he shoots another one, this time flying right above a swordman's head.

The Master Archer watches as the foreigner does either a terrible job at even preparing his next shot or shooting with great finesse. There was no in-between.

After a while, they managed to finish their ambush. While entering the outpost, they started to investigate it for any clues as to where is Tomoe.

Ishikawa got near a bunch of corpses, "Slain prisoners..."

"Tied up", Jin complemented.

"What's that in the ground?", Aiden pointed to a pendant.

"This is Tomoe's pendant! Maybe she is in a cell?", Ishikawa suggests.

"Let's look around and see what we can find", The Samurai started his search.

In one of the buildings there was a room. A private room in good condition. There was some food, here and there as well as a...

"A female kimono?", Aiden said a loud.

"Tomoe's Kimono", Ishikawa interjected.

"They freed her for a reason", Jin gave his own conclusion.

"I hope it wasn't for the reasons I think it is...", Aiden said, clenching his fist.

"Let's look somewhere else".

In another building, an office or sorts, they found a bunch of documents written in Chinese and Mongolian. Ishikawa and Aiden looks around in some boxes as Jin looks on the scrolls.

"There is a scroll here. Archery terms... with Mongolian translations?", Jin analysis was rather... incriminating, "Your name is here, Sensei".

"She was teaching them my Way of The Bow?"

"We can't jump into conclusions right away. Maybe she was forced to do it. I've sees such things in England", Aiden tried to ease the man's emotions.

Finishing with the buildings, they started to search the outside. There was the Shooting Range they spotted while scouting. And one thing unveiled something that all of them found to be really grim.

One of the targets had a lot of arrows in it. Someone with no knowledge wouldn't see anything out of the ordinary. But the fact that the place the arrow hit was near the dead center of the target was quite surprising.

"These arrows are Japanese", Jin said.

"These are Tomoe's arrows. I taught her to knot it with the deer horns", Ishikawa said with disappointment.

"So the mongols took her weapons?"

"Jin, you're too naive", Aiden said as he approached the target, "The arrows are tightly clustered. I may not know too much about archery, but I know that no Mongol could shoot this consistently and this precise".

Ishikawa was quite surprised.

The interpretation of the man was... What was the expression? Ah yes, "go over with a fine-tooth comb". Again, he perfectly summarized the situation with minimal information. Whatever this foreigner's past is, it must have required him these skills. Spot even the slightest details and differences.

This raised his respect for the foreigner, as well as his suspicion.

"Huh, then they allowed her to use the bow", Jin said, felling proud for his friend.

"HELP!"

The trio double times to the source of noise and see a man almost dry out of blood, but still alive.

"The mongols... They allowed her to have a armour and bow... She killed my wife to be set free..."

"The bodies we found", Aiden said.

"She proved her skill to the enemy...", Ishikawa realizes.

"And they recruited her", Aiden finished the train of thought.

The poor man dies from blood loss. There was nothing they could have done.

"I've seen enough", The Archer starts to leave the outpost, "I should have killed her".

"Sensei?", Jin asked worriedly.

"She won her freedom!"

"What are you on about?", Aiden asked.

"She joined the mongols!"

"Why she would do that?", J.

"...", Ishi.

"What happened?", J.

"I pushed her too hard.", Ishi.

"Pushed her how?", A.

"A lot of pressure for success?", J.

"...", Ishi.

"What are you hiding?", J.

"Say something!", A.

"She attacked me!"

What? Attacked? This explains little to nothing to Samurai and Vigilante.

"Why?", Jin asked, a lot more calm.

"She has no idea how it is to be a Samurai".

"You drove her to the Mongols thanks to your apparently unforgiving tutelage", Aiden comments with irony.

"Don't judge me, foreigner", Ishikawa's tone was deadly serious.

"Then don't lie to us", Jin was quick to defend his friend. He might not agree with how he said it, but he did agree on the message that was given.

"I... I cannot let Tomoe teach my Way of The Bow to the enemy...", he said regretfully.

Jin turns to Aiden, "My friend".

"Yes?"

"Go after Lady Masako. I will help Sensei Ishikawa in this matter".

Ishikawa shook his head "no", "This is my fight, I don't need your weapon".

"Victory is won by warriors", Aiden started.

"Not weapons", And Jin finished.

Ishikawa had to stop on his foot after that. He looks at the Foreigner and Samurai. Both of them, side by side, looking defiantly at them.

"You two must have had great teachers, specially you, Foreigner", His suspicion on the man vanished. He was a good person.

"Aiden Pearce".

"Aiden Pearce... If you are going after Lady Masako you will need this", Ishikawa puts out a insignia of his Clan, "Show this to her, and any problem should be solved".

"Take mine as well", Jin gave a token, instead of an insignia.

"We'll meet on Kechi", Aiden said as he whistles for Hiraki to appear.

"Safe travels!"

Aiden galloped to the south as the wind started to guide him.

Wait, the wind was guiding him?


AU: Ok, that's a good part that I wanted to do. I think I managed to put some elements of fantasy without making it too absurd.

Well, I'll see y'all next chapter ;)


Date of Publication: 28th, September, 2023