Chapter 07

A sword at the service of a cause

10 years ago…

Although most of the time it was Kazuha who went to the Kamisato Estate to visit Ayaka, there were a few times when the roles were reversed, and the future Heron Princess had the opportunity to see her friend's (and fiancé's) house. And, of course, this was motivated by the desire to know his home and the people with whom he related when he was not with her. But one of the most important reasons was actually being able to train in the famous Kaedehara dojo.

As the two boys spent more time together, Ayaka heard more about the incredible skills of the Kaedehara clan's swordsmen, from Kazuha himself and from other people. And having started swordsmanship herself that year, around the same time as Kazuha, going and training with them was pretty tempting. Especially if she had the chance to clash swords directly with her friend and show him how much she had improved.

Ayaka's wish was fulfilled without much trouble on her first visit to the dojo. After the proper introductions, a bit of warming up, and exercises to loosen up the body, it was time for dueling practice. And, of course, the main event was the showdown between the two little trainees. They stood in the center of the combat area, facing each other, firmly holding the bamboo swords in front of them.

It was a little strange for Kazuha to see Ayaka's intense gaze and feel her fervent desire for combat. Of course, he already knew in advance that she had been practicing for several months already. Still, he had to admit that it was a bit difficult for him to relate the kind, sweet, smiling, and bookish young lady he had met up to that moment with a skilled swordswoman.

He understood how big his mistake was when the match began, and Ayaka launched herself without hesitation at him, wielding her training weapon with the point straight at her opponent's face. Kazuha quickly dodged that first attack, feeling the bamboo blade brush past her cheek by mere millimeters. Ayaka's subsequent three attacks against him had a similar result until Kazuha had the opportunity to cover himself with his respective weapon. Now he did take the initiative and fought back.

The next thing everyone else training that afternoon saw was those two kids moving with extraordinary agility and ferocity. None made clumsy or careless movements. In fact, they seemed quite aware of what they were doing, much more than some older students.

The confrontation lasted almost five uninterrupted minutes in which neither gave their arm to twist. Ayaka would attack, and Kazuha would dodge or cover. Kazuha attacked, and Ayaka followed suit, showing off movements so graceful they almost resembled a dance.

The fatigue little by little began to decrease their speeds, and tiny drops of sweat ran down both faces.

In the end, only one could strike the first blow.

After a series of consecutive attacks, both fighters separated, practically being in opposite corners. But neither stopped and as soon as their bare feet hit the wooden floor firmly enough, they lunged at each other again. Kazuha raised his sword above his head and brought it down hard in front, hoping to hit his opponent, who was heading straight for him with great speed. It seemed impossible that she could stop in time to avoid the strike. However, to the stunning eyes of Kazuha and the others present, Ayaka stood on one foot and quickly turned her entire body, using the sheer momentum it brought to not only dodge Kazuha's attack but also flip around him.

Kazuha barely managed to get out of his astonishment to turn to see her to the side. And yet he could only watch as Ayaka finished her full turn, pulling her sword towards him with all the acceleration it brought, hitting Kazuha hard in the back with it. And even if it was a bamboo sword, it still hurt.

Young Kaedehara took a few clumsy steps forward, pushed by the blow. He nearly fell over but planted his feet firmly on the floor and quickly turned back to Ayaka. However, he was surprised to see the young girl sitting on the ground, breathing heavily. Apparently, after that sudden and quick turn, she had lost her balance and fallen to the ground. And seeing the look of confusion on her friend's face, she laughed a little nervously, placing a hand behind her head.

Kazuha laughed as well. It was not an entirely elegant victory for the young Kamisato. Still, no one could deny that it was, indeed, a victory.

"It's enough, stop," the instructor's voice said powerfully, accompanied by two loud applause that resounded in the echo of the dojo.

The attention of the two opponents turned at the same time to the instructor, a samurai named Katsumoto. He was a tall, stocky man with thick arms, black hair and beard, and wheatish skin. At first sight, he was quite imposing and intimidating; Ayaka had been a bit shocked when she first saw him. However, he had quickly shown himself to be a good-natured man indeed. And he showed it when a broad, friendly smile spread across his thick lips as he approached her.

"Very impressive, Lady Kamisato," Katsumoto murmured, reaching out one of his large hands to the little girl to help her up. Ayaka accepted his help. "It had been a long time since I had seen Master Kazuha sweat so much in training."

"Thank you," Ayaka murmured, still breathing heavily. Once on her feet, she turned to her opponent and offered him a respectful bow. "It was a splendid duel, Kazuha. You are amazing."

"No more than you, Ayaka," answered the young man with light hair, also imitating the same act.

"Let this serve as a lesson to you not to neglect your training, Master Kazuha," Katsumoto pointed out, closely brushing against the scolding. "You can always be better."

Kazuha hung his head in embarrassment and only nodded in response.

"Very well," Katsumoto snapped, turning to the rest. "Aoi, Saki, come to the center now."

Two more students rose from their places with their weapons drawn. That was the signal for Ayaka and Kazuha to withdraw from the combat area and sit with the others around it.

Both boys sat next to each other on the ground, ready to watch the next match. They were two older students and, therefore, more experienced, so Ayaka wanted to see what they were capable of. However, her friend did not entirely share her enthusiasm. In fact, Kazuha had something else on his mind at the moment, and it was very far from that match.

"I want to confess something to you, Ayaka," young Kaedehara murmured slowly, drawing the girl's attention to him.

His voice sounded a little dismayed, and he looked not at her but at the floor, his thoughtful expression. This worried Ayaka a bit; she thought that perhaps the blow to his back had been more severe than she thought. However, it was not about that.

"My uncle… He told me not to go overboard with you in training," he murmured under his breath with regret. "He said that if I hurt you even a little, there would be consequences..."

"You mean… you let me win?"

"No, not really," Kazuha hurried to clarify. "At first, I tried to hold back, but your abilities surprised me. If I hadn't been serious, the hurt one would be me... and well, technically, I still was."

That last comment was accompanied by a small giggle. Apparently, that had been one of his unusual attempts at a joke.

"If you don't believe me, you can trust Katsumuto's words," he added, looking up at the other side of the training room, from which the samurai Katsumoto was observing the new confrontation. "He is the best swordsman in the service of the Kaedehara clan, perhaps the best in all of Inazuma. He would have noticed right away if I wasn't fighting like usual and wouldn't have praised your skills if he didn't really think that."

At that moment, he lowered his eyes again, embarrassed.

"But… As I said, I initially intended to do as my uncle asked, and I apologize to you for that."

Ayaka stared at him in silence for a few moments, not quite revealing what she was thinking. Perhaps she herself wasn't quite sure how she felt upon hearing his explanation, but she wasn't surprised either. Even at her young age, Ayaka had noticed how people always tried to give her special treatment because she is a Kamisato. But Kazuha hadn't done it in the end and even felt sorry for even considering it.

That inevitably brought a smile of gratitude to the little girl's lips.

"There's nothing to apologize for," she muttered slowly, placing a hand over his. Kazuha turned to look at her at last, a little surprised, though relieved to see that there was not a trace of anger in the girl's gaze. "But promise that you'll continue to train seriously with me. Yes?"

"Yes, I promise," he replied quickly, nodding his head and smiling back at her.

Present time…

Kazuha and Tomo walked away from the tea shop for a few minutes without saying anything. They advanced until they climbed a small high ridge, from which they had a direct view of the horizon and the setting sun. Tomo stood just on the edge of that cliff, staring into the distance. The sea was calm, and its waters lapped gently on the shore. Behind him, the sky was beginning to fill with stars. Kazuha, for his part, stood a few steps behind him.

"It's not anything as suspicious as you're thinking," Tomo muttered after a while, not needing to be asked by Kazuha. "It's just a favor for a good friend."

"Are you talking about that Divine Priestess that man mentioned?" Kazuha asked seriously.

"Yes, she is."

"And exactly what favor could a priestess ask of you?"

"Well, I guess you can get a theory or two out of what you heard, can't you?" Tomo commented with a slightly joking tone, shrugging.

It wasn't that they had really said much… but perhaps enough to actually draw a few conclusions. Kazuha didn't like to assume random things, but he would play along if his friend wanted to.

He then advanced a few steps forward until he stood by Tomo's side and could also contemplate the sunset while feeling the sea breeze touch his face. When he was ready, he just blurted out the "theory" that was running through his head:

"From what that man mentioned, I guess your friend is interested in acquiring something from that person you both mentioned; Masakatsu. And even if you say otherwise, it seems to be suspicious enough to require a secret meeting with a secret key phrase to identify yourself."

Tomo laughed, amused, and also somewhat embarrassed, upon hearing that. More than a theory, it almost sounded like an accusation... and maybe it was.

"Well, I wouldn't call it suspicious, but delicate," Tomo defended himself, scratching his cheek a little. He immediately tried to adopt a more composed posture. "Masakatsu is a famous and highly skilled craftsman, known in the underworld for developing a unique technique to create false Visions."

"What?" Kazuha exclaimed incredulously. "Did you say false Visions?"

Tom nodded.

"They are supposed to be so similar to the real ones that it is not possible to tell them apart with the naked eye. Of course, they couldn't fool the Shogun herself or someone much more experienced in the matter. But they work wonders to trick the average Tenryou soldiers into letting you go."

Kazuha thought he had misheard, but that description didn't leave much room for confusion.

False visions… He never would have imagined that something like this was even possible.

"So, that man Masakatsu gives false Visions to people to fool the Tenryou commission?" Kazuha questioned, the skepticism still in his voice. "Sounds too risky..."

"Of course it is; betrayal, at least," Tomo said with surprising ease. "However, for many people, it can be the difference. This afternoon, in front of the statue, you mentioned that you would fight to the end so that no one would take your vision away from you. Unfortunately, not everyone has the strength to do the same, even with a vision. Like that man we saw recently."

The remainder of what had happened earlier caused Kazuha a slight sense of annoyance. And not only because of Ayaka, but also because of that man, wounded and taken from his vision. It was a scene that Kazuha would have preferred not to witness. In fact, if it hadn't been for his old friend's sudden intervention… he wasn't sure what he would have done.

"Giving the Tenryou guards a false vision doesn't guarantee they won't bother you again," Kazuha pointed out a little sharply. "Sooner or later, someone might realize the cheat. If the soldiers don't do it, the priestesses in the service of the Shogun will, or even she."

"Maybe yes, maybe no. Anyway, it'd give them some time and options. And for many, that is enough. Sangonomiya Kokomi, my friend we discussed a few moments ago, is the high priestess of Watatsumi, and a strong detractor of the Vision Hunt Decree. Surely you've heard about the latest riots that have taken place there, haven't you?"

Indeed, Kazuha had heard something on the way; about fishermen refusing to go fishing, and trade routes stopped. Kazuha wasn't entirely aware either, but the rumors were starting to get louder.

"She was involved in that?" Kazuha asked curiously.

"So so. But don't tell anyone, okay?" The wandering samurai commented, winking at him knowingly.

And who exactly could I tell? Kazuha thought, but at the moment, that was not his primary concern.

Tama poked her head out at that moment, letting out a tiny meow into the air. She seemed to want to come out of hiding, but Tomo stopped her with a hand, making her stay where she was.

As he stopped his kitten, he continued with his explanation.

"Kokomi recently found out about Masakatsu's work from one of her contacts. She wishes to acquire several of these false Visions to distribute among Watatsumi and Yashiori, thus attracting more people to her cause."

"And what is that cause exactly?" Kazuha questioned, a little urgently. "Abolish the Vision Hunt Decree, perhaps?"

Tomo smiled widely and shrugged once more.

"Everything in its time, of course."

"What you're telling me is crazy," Kazuha muttered, sounding like a claim. "All this sounds like more than betrayal; it is basically insurrection. Why did you get involved in something like that?"

"Well…" Tomo muttered a little hesitantly, looking up at the already almost completely dark sky above him. "The way things are right now, it's risky for Kokomi or any of her followers to come to Inazuma personally. But a wandering swordsman like me draws much less attention. So it's ideal, don't you think?"

He turned to see him in those moments with a carefree smile and a look that perhaps tried to appear innocent... without quite succeeding. Kazuha, on the other hand, looked back at him with apparent disapproval.

"You know that wasn't what I was asking," Kazuha pointed out sharply. "You told me long ago that you would never put your sword or your skills at the service of any lord. You said the political and economic issues that interested the nobility were unimportant distractions from the real problems. Has all that changed?"

"No, of course not," Tomo sighed. "Everything I told you is accurate. But this goes beyond a simple political issue, my friend..."

Tomo's gaze was fixed entirely on the horizon. The sun had almost completely set, but the stars and the moon were so bright that they could still easily see the movement of the swaying water, as well as the leaves on the trees stirring slightly in the pleasant breeze that was blowing.

"I know you have chosen to live most of your time away from cities, towns, and people," Tomo pointed out, his voice solemn and firm. "But even so, someone as sensitive as you surely already realized that the atmosphere in Inazuma has changed; its people have changed. You can feel that air of oppression and sadness that washes over everyone, can't you? It is so intense that you cannot just be ignorant of it."

Kazuha fell silent, unable to actually say anything to deny such a statement. Of course, he had realized that things had changed. Inazuma was no longer nearly the place it was before. Lately, only in nature and away from people was where Kazuha had been able to find peace.

"Yes, we are now a calm and conflict-free nation," Tomo continued in the same tone. "But at what price? The Shogun's intentions may sound noble, but she wants to achieve her longed-for Eternity using people's wishes and dreams as a foundation. Even as a deity, she is hell-bent on fighting a futile battle against time and change, taking us all down with her. And this can only bring more suffering. As you rightly said, my sword is not in the service of any lord, and that includes Sangonomiya Kokomi. But it will always be for the good people of Inazuma. And while I'm still here, I'll do what I can to lighten this heavy load that's fallen on them. Although for that, I have to go against the wishes of the Almighty Shogun."

"And you really think giving them false visions will help them in any way?" Kazuha questioned hesitantly.

"It's only the beginning," Tomo answered, with a lighter voice. "As I said before: everything in its time..."

Kazuha again didn't know what to say. Everything his friend told him made some sense. He had thought himself many of those things, and he was sure they weren't even close to the only ones in Inazuma who believed the same. But was there really anything that could be done about it? Was there something humans could do to override the wishes of a deity…?

"There will always be those who dare to brave the lightning's glow."

Tomo had said those words to him a while ago. And he was beginning at that moment to think that there was more behind them than he had initially thought...

A sound behind them drew Kazuha's attention. This was followed by small movements in the shadows of the night. Bushes and branches moving.

Someone was approaching.

And it wasn't just one, but several...

"Tomo," he said quickly to get his friend's attention. This one, however, had actually already realized it.

"Yeah, I know," the samurai muttered slowly, his gaze still on the horizon. "They've been watching us for a long time. At first, I thought they were after Masakatsu or our new friend, but they seemed more interested in us."

As they got closer and the moonlight illuminated them, Kazuha glanced over his shoulder at their appearances; and, more importantly, their intentions.

They were ronin, about six in all. They all wore old and tattered clothes, but they came armed with swords, ready to draw. They were undoubtedly the same ones that the Tenryou Commission was looking for.

Kazuha sighed, a bit annoyed.

"If their intention is to loot us, they chose the worst targets they could," he murmured slowly to his companion. "We don't even have that much money to justify the risk."

"Well, that's not entirely true," Tomo muttered suddenly, his voice sounding a little nervous. Kazuha turned to look at him, confused. "Neither Kokomi nor I knew that someone else was going to finance this transaction, so I am bringing with me a… relatively large amount of Kokomi's money, which she planned to offer as a first payment."

The young Kaedehara narrowed his eyes slightly, incredulous that he had really heard what he heard.

"How much is a "relatively large" amount?

The presence of the ronin grew more vivid behind them, so they both turned to face them at once. Kazuha noticed that it wasn't just six, but actually almost ten. Their menacing eyes shone with the moon, and some had even already drawn their swords.

"Enough to justify the risk, certainly," Tomo commented, again quite calmly.

"And I guess just giving it to them for good isn't an option, is it?" Kazuha suggested.

"Of course not. I have to return it to Kokomi entirely, or she'll get mad; and you don't want to meet her mad, believe me. She could even force us to repay her up to the last mora. Do you have any idea how long it would take me to recover that amount…?"

"I got it," Kazuha cut him off with annoyance, sighing. Then he took a step forward, also placing his right hand on the hilt of his own sword. This put the apparent assailants on alert. "You'd better think very hard about what you want to do next," he warned them in a firm voice. "And also decide if it is worth doing it for simple money."

"Money is the least important thing to us at the moment," snapped a deep, imposing voice, echoing loudly in the darkness.

Kazuha's firmness waned at the moment of hearing that voice...

So many years had passed, but the boy's entire body reacted with a shock as soon as he heard it as if not a single day had passed.

One of the ronin moved closer. He was a tall, stocky man with thick arms and wheatish skin. And when he raised his kasa just a little with one hand, the moonlight illuminated his face. Kazuha could see it more clearly, including those intense and penetrating dark eyes and that beard no longer as straight or black as before...

"We meet again after so long, Master Kazuha," the man said stoically.

And if Kazuha had any doubts, they were instantly dispelled.

"Katsumoto…"

Author's Notes:

— Katsumoto, the samurai of the Kaedehara clan introduced in this chapter, is also an original character not based on any character in the game. Yes, I know I've been introducing several in these chapters, but don't worry, there won't be many more either.

Thank you very much for your words of support and for sharing your opinions regarding Teleport Waypoints and horses. They helped me a lot. I know that the first meeting between Ayaka and Kazuha is becoming desired. But have a little patience; I promise you it will all be worth it in the end.

We'll read each other again soon.