Tsuda only had that dream twice and both times they were the same. The young swordsman with hair similar to his own, the sand underneath his feet, the forest behind them and the river between them. Twice he's had that dream and twice were they the same.

He was five and six respectively when he had those dreams. Ever since then the man—who Tsuda assumes to be Sasaki Kojiro— and the dreams have never appeared again…

Until now.

This time the landscape was different, instead of the familiar scene of the forest by the river ,there was only grass. Grass that spanned to every horizon. This time, the man in Tsuda's dream swung his sword at another person. The clashing of steel echoed. Kojiro swung his nodachi with the intent to kill, his eyes focused only on the opponent in front of him.

Tsuda couldn't get a good look at who the man was fighting, but it didn't truly matter either way. Kojiro's victory was set from the very beginning. The man screamed as he swung at the legendary swordsman.

Kojiro merely stepped to the side.

"It's over."

He did not take a stance, he didn't need to, he merely held his sword straight.

Two slashes, two swings, two attacks, instantaneously.

Within the blink of an eye, Kojiro's opponent fell to the ground– much like the swallow that Tsuda saw in his first dream.

Two slashes marked an "X" on the fallen warrior's body.

There it was again. The very technique that had mesmerized the younger man. Tsuda couldn't help but hold out his hand. He wanted to achieve that. He wanted to be just like that.

He wanted to–

He took a step forward–a single step forward–and the dream shifted.

He found himself directly in front of the legendary swordsman, who's hair covered his eyes. From Tsuda's angle Kojiro's hair casted a shadow over his eyes. The younger man didn't know how he got in this position but considering it's only a dream he didn't question it.

Could he…?

"Kojiro–" Tsuda called out to the man, taking another step forward and preparing to hold out his hand. Could he finally interact with him? There was so much he wanted to ask, so much he wanted to know, and even if this is a dream, he wanted to at least try something.

But the legendary swordsman did not let the young man finish, he gripped onto his nodachi tighter and swung.

Sasaki Kojiro swung from the right.

Sasaki Kojiro swung from above.

Sasaki Kojiro swung from the left.

The taste of blood filled the young man's mouth. His eyes widened as pain filled his chest. He looked down, three slashes marked his own chest. To most all they would perceive is their deaths, and only those on Kojiro's level and above could comprehend this attack.

But to Tsuda he saw exactly what happened, as if it played out in frames. Each swing curved at an angle, blocking off any form of escape and rendering any sort of shield as useless.

He fell backwards. His vision faded to black with a single whisper leaving Kojiro's mouth.

"Tsubame Gaeshi."

Tsuda awoke with a gasp. He grasped at his chest with heavy breaths, feeling no form of damage aside from the scars of past challenges. Why did he see this dream now?

After all this time, after days, after months, after years, after more than a decade he finally has a dream relating to Kojiro again.

He doesn't understand it. Was there a purpose to this dream? Was he missing something? He felt as though he had to be.

Whatever it was he wouldn't find any answer. But for now, answers aren't what he focused on, no, what he focused on most was–

That technique, it's improved since he last saw it in a dream a decade ago. Two swings turned into three.

He steadied his beating heart, taking in deep breaths. He knows more than anyone that what he wishes to achieve is impossible.

But still—

He looked towards his own nodachi that laid against the wall on the other side of the room, sheathed in black leather.

"Sorry Musashi," He apologized to the woman who he hasn't seen in years but still left a lasting effect on him. She warned him of obsessions and passions, and looking back at it it was easy to see why. Some part of him wishes he actually listened to her, actually took her words to heart.

But he's already too far down this path to choose another one, and he couldn't even imagine any other path. He got up from his bed and stretched, walking towards his sheathed blade and picking it up.

"But this is all I am."

"Oh, are you up?" A moment later the door opened, revealing Tenka. In one arm she held a pile of clothes. "Did you sleep well?"

He shrugged. "It wasn't bad."

Tenka looked towards the mattress on the floor, a slight cringe on her face. "I apologize for this, if you give us some time we can–"

He waved off her concern. "Don't worry about it, I've slept in worse."

"Alright." She held it off for now, keeping a note to help make the room more presentable sometime later. "Anyways, I gathered some clothes for you," She thrusted the clothes in her arm towards him, startling him slightly. "I used the sizes from the clothing that you arrived with, but if there's one too big or tight then just let me know."

He looked at the clothes with a look of surprise. "T-thank you." He was unsure of how to completely show his gratitude.

"We'll be going to the Head-Commander to ask about your situation in an hour."

"Thank you." He said again with a tilted smile on his face, still unsure of how to respond to this kindness.

The smile on her face was not something he was accustomed to. "Of course."

He grabbed a random pair of shorts and a shirt from the handful, and proceeded to unbutton the outfit that he had been wearing.

A hum gained his attention, he looked back up to see Tenka standing at the door, having not moved from the spot.

"Do… Do you mind?" He asked. Despite the debacle in the hot spring yesterday, even he would feel embarrassed if he stripped down in front of a woman.

"No." She shook her head, her gaze focused solely on him. "Oh! Oh, right. My bad." Then, as if remembering exactly where she was, she quickly shook her head and turned around.

Opening the door she turned her head, "Oh, and one last thing. We're going to see the Head-Commander to talk about your predicament in an hour."

She closed the door right afterwards

"What?"

She definitely played it safe with his clothes, as they were just single colors. White shirt and dark blue jeans. It wasn't anything special but it was more than enough for Tsuda.

He held his sheathed nodachi in his left hand. Anticipation filled his heart, even though he knew he shouldn't be expecting much. If he were to be looking at it realistically, he should have been sent home right after he was cleaned up. Looking at it realistically the Head-Commander wouldn't even bother with him.

But at the moment he wasn't thinking realistically.

"Your tail's wagging." Then a condescending voice had to break him out of his stupor. His stance visibly hunched forward for a second before he stood straight up.

"Are we still doing that? I thought that was over with." He turned slightly towards the Vice-Chief.

Yachiho walked up to him with a scowl, she had already been in her uniform, having woken up hours prior.

"I'll stop when I want to, besides," She gave him a look over, her eyes focusing on his messy hair, "If that's how you look in the morning then you aren't helping yourself."

He finally noticed that half of his face had been covered by his hair, somehow. He gently tugged at a few strands of hair before sighing. "I'll deal with that later."

"You're definitely not going to visit the first Unit looking like that."

"Of course not." He bristled, "I just said I'll deal with it later."

For reasons unbeknownst to him she kept pestering him, poking at him again and again until they reached the living room.

Evidently their argument spiraled from 'you should brush your hair right now' to 'do you even do anything?'

Tenka sat on the couch, leaning against the side with a cup of water in her hand, stuck in her own little world within her thoughts, which was broken by yelling coming from the hallway.

She tilted her head to see Yachiho and Tsuda walking in, the two in a heated argument.

"You don't know how to cook?" Yachiho asked a simple question, one that caused Tsuda's mouth to clamp shut in response. "Really? In this economy?"

"I know enough."

"Let me guess, all you know is how to make a sandwich."

He did not respond.

Yachiho shook her head, walking towards the couch right next to Tenka. "You're hopeless."

Half a century ago if there was a conversation like this happening (especially with the roles switched) a fight would have occurred. Tenka shook her head with an amused smile.

She looked towards Tsuda, who opted to slouch against the couch across from her, noticing his messy hair. She stood up and walked over towards him.

He looked up at her when her shadow towered over him, with a curious gaze he wanted to question her, but before he could a portal opened behind her.

"Excuse me." She turned around and walked into the portal, coming back out a second later with a brush in her hand.

"Wha–" He made to stand up, but he was once again cut off when she gently placed a hand through his hair.

"Let me just…" She spoke calmly. Calmly brushing his hair with both the hairbrush and her hand.

Tsuda sat still, looking like a deer caught in headlights. Even Musashi's teasing didn't go this far. He wasn't shy of women, but what else was he supposed to think in this situation, what else was he supposed to do?

"Ack– Hey!" The brush caught a knot in his hair, causing him to shift his head slightly.

"Sorry about that." Tenka responded softly. "Your hair is surprisingly soft…"

Once again he didn't know what to do, so he did nothing. He just allowed her to do what she wanted, despite the embarrassment coursing through him. He tried his hardest to hide the fact that his face was slightly heating up.

His blush only deepened when he heard a snort. He looked to see Yachiho holding her hand to her mouth. She chuckled when their eyes met.

"Tch!"

Even if "appearing masculine" wasn't something that Tsuda worried himself with, even he had some pride!

Even he would find it problematic if he was treated like a random mutt.

Just bear with it for now. He told himself, all of this humiliation would be worth it, or so he told himself. Yet despite the "humiliation", he couldn't find it in himself to hate it. Subconsciously he ended up tilting his head towards Tenka.

A minute passed, Tenka clapped her hands once. "Done!"

She took steps back to admire her handiwork.

Yachiho took a breath, gathering herself. She looked over to Tenka with a smug smile and raised eyebrow. "You're enjoying yourself too much."

"Hm? Is it that obvious?"

"It is." Tsuda answered, yet despite looking away to hide his red face, he thanked her anyway. "Thank you…." He mumbled.

"Of course."

She walked back to the couch and placed the brush on the table next to it.

"Now then," She checked the time, "We have thirty minutes, I suppose that's good enough."

"I'm sure the Head-Commander won't mind if we're a bit early." A portal opened in the middle of the living room, Tenka walked up towards it and held out her hand to the young man.

"Are you ready?" She asked.

He grasped her hand in turn. With eyes full of conviction he nodded. "More than ready."

"We'll be back." Tenka waved towards her Vice-Chief, and the two stepped into the portal. It closed a moment after, leaving Yachiho to her lonesome.

With a sigh and a shake of her head, Tenka's Vice-Chief stood up and walked off.

Ren Yamashiro sat in her office; her upper body leaned back with her arms crossed in front of her. Across the desk stood the current Chief of the First Unit. Riu Myouga stood to attention, her arms crossed behind her back.

"You're certain Frederica didn't return to the Einzberns?" Ren asked.

Riu shook her head. "I have questioned her niece Illyasviel, as well as the main family. The main family in Germany have not spoken to her since she joined the Corps, and Illyasviel herself has not seen nor spoken to her since she last arrived in Japan."

"Vanishing to the public eye on Earth instead of Mato is strange but it's not unprecedented." Ren said, preparing for this to be another minor issue that she could handle within a blink of an eye, or the snap of her fingers.

"However…" Riu continued, "The young girl did say something rather concerning."

With an raised eyebrow, the Head-Commander motioned for the old woman to continue.

"Frederica allegedly has some ties with the Overmen."

All motion from Ren stopped, she repeated the sentence in her head again before she moved her chair forwards. With a sigh she laid her arms against the desk in front of her.

"That pseudo-terrorist group? Is that what this is about?"

"They–"

"I know that you think they're a problem but I can assure you, they're not." Ren Yamashiro spoke with such confidence that a slight chill slithered down Riu's spine. "What do you think a group of insecure men are going to do beyond a small college campus riot? This kind of thing isn't up to us to deal with." We have far more important things to worry about– went unspoken.

Riu finally moved her hands, striding up towards the desk with a determined look. "I know that you don't bother with them because they're men, but if they somehow get Peach ability users behind their cause… and they most likely have if what 'The Boreal Witch' said is true…"

Ren tilted her head with a look of boredom. "The Boreal Witch only mentioned that she received supplies from a single person within the Overmen. Considering the type of person she is, I wouldn't be surprised if she had seduced a higher up within that group. There is nothing else outside of that connection."

Ren stood up and proceeded to walk around the desk. "The only type of women– especially Peach ability users– who would work with the Overmen are the sadistic types or those who are in it for their own personal gain."

"If a Peach ability user were to join them then they would fall under our domain, thus it will be left to us to deal with them." Riu countered. Even for a (seemingly) frail old woman like her, she wouldn't have normally dared to talk back to the head-commander like this, no one would.

But Frederica was a student, a disciple. Riu had personally worked with the younger woman for years. Not only that, but Einzbern's other niece is in the Corps. What was she supposed to say to her? It certainly didn't help that that girl had a really bad hero complex.

Acknowledging this, Ren allowed for Riu to talk back, just this once.

"Then how about this," The Head-Commander came up with a compromise. "I have a meeting with the American President in a month. If you still haven't found her within that time, I will personally look for her."

Riu's eyes widened, and as she looked in the eyes of the Head-Commander she saw steel. This was the most that Ren wanted to do, the Head-Commander didn't care if Riu denied the offer, but she would not change it.

The older woman bowed her head. "Thank you."

"Of course." Ren smiled an obviously fake smile.

"Now then…" She closed her eyes, before opening them. Revealing letters in her iris'. She looked past the Chief of the 1st Unit towards the door, silhouettes becoming clear to her. "It seems I have a guest."

As soon as the words left her mouth, knocking echoed from the door.

"Let them in on your way out." She told Riu, who nodded and bowed before taking her leave. As the older woman opened the door, two people walked in.

Tenka Izumo walked into the room with a small smile, upon seeing her fellow chief she nodded. Riu nodded in return before her attention focused on the person behind Tenka. A young man who stood taller than both of them, with shoulder-length violet hair that covered the sides of his face. Then her eyes traveled to the item held in his hand, a long sheathed nodachi.

Her eyes narrowed at the familiar etchings on the sword handle on her way out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"Now then," Ren spoke up. She proceeded to sit on the desk and cross her legs. She leaned forward, folding one arm and holding her chin up with the hand on her other arm. "I suppose you have something important you wish to speak with me, Tenka?"

Then her eyes moved to the metaphorical elephant in the room. Tsuda's eye twitched and he subconsciously stood up straighter. To him it felt like her eyes were piercing holes through his own.

"I hope you have something important you wish to speak with me, Tenka." Ren reiterated.

Tenka took a breath and closed her eyes.

She opened her eyes and stared directly into the eyes of the Head-Commander.

"This is Tsuda Ganryu." She motioned towards the young man beside her, "And I wish for the permission to allow him to live in Mato."

Ren stared at Tenka, her gaze undiscerning. Her eyes traveled from the woman back to the man, back to the woman.

She sighed. "Were it anyone else I would have thrown them out the door immediately, but since it is you…"

She trailed off, proceeding to lean forward with her hands folded in front of her, and her legs crossed. She did not need to say anymore, Tenka understood. Ren trusted the woman in front of her, Tenka knew this.

Were it not for this trust, Tenka would not have made such a gamble.

The Chief of the 6th unit took another breath.

"I would like to keep him around as a housekeeper, someone who can manage all of the chores while our unit is out on the job."

Tsuda attempted to open his mouth, wanting to get a word in. That wasn't what he was told, he was going to say, but before he could Tenka lightly poked him on the arm, silencing him.

"He is fully capable of handling himself in this world filled with monsters, in fact he had been able to survive in Mato for a month, single handedly."

The last bit got Ren to raise an eyebrow, nonetheless she kept silent, simply observing the two in front of her and thinking about Tenka's words. Then it seemed that the words had fully sunk in a few seconds later.

"You're saying he survived out there," She tilted her head towards the window behind her, "alone. For a month?"

Outside of outright not believing that he survived alone, Ren had other questions. Did Tenka have the same questions, the same suspicions? If so then that would explain why she was adamant about keeping him here, but even then there are faster ways to get answers.

Especially if it's a man.

She inwardly shook off those thoughts, her previous conversation with Riu seemed to linger in her mind.

"You." She glared at the young man, who's mouth twitched upwards just a slight bit. His hand gripped onto his sheathed blade slightly tighter. As if noticing this, his mouth twitched again, and in a vain attempt to distract her he brought his other hand to his mouth and coughed.

"Yes… ma'am?" He seemed unsure of how to address her. Well, Ren surmised, at least he knew that he should be courteous to those obviously superior than him.

"Ma'am is good." She narrowed her eyes. "Now how about you tell me your story?"

He looked at her confused, so she reiterated. "Tell me how you got here, and what you were doing for the past month, 'alone'."

She still didn't believe that part.

So he told the same thing he told Tenka, in regards to what he was doing in Mato. Survived alone while fighting Shuuki every now and then, with nothing but a longsword and a backpack full of supplies.

At the mention of supplies, Ren cut him off.

"You were carrying items with you?" She asked. "What kind of items?"

He nodded, but he hesitated slightly before responding, "A backpack full of protein bars and water bottles."

"Then I would like you to be honest with me," Ren said candidly, "Had you been planning on getting into Mato?"

Tenka's eyes slightly widened. She had initially assumed that he was just a simple victim of the Mato Disaster who had turned an unfortunate disaster into a fortunate training opportunity. She was also so focused on finding ways to keep him around but didn't even consider the obvious questions.

She turned her head towards him to see him looking at everything except the two of them.

Then he sighed.

"Yes." He answered. "For two weeks I traveled to random places hoping to run into a Mato Disaster."

"Tenka…" Ren audibly groaned, rubbing her temples. "You brought an asylum patient into my office."

Once again, Tsuda felt the need to defend himself. "Hey! I'm not–"

"Yes…" Tenka shook her head. "I apologize for that."

"You–"

He turned towards Tenka, not having expected her to agree with the Head-Commander. But he stopped when he saw her face. She looked at him with a smug grin.

Realizing that she was teasing him again, he decided to just give up, there wasn't much he could do to defend himself—

His eyes widened, if this were a cartoon they would have seen a lightbulb turn on above his head.

Clearing his throat, he turned back around to the woman sitting on the desk. "If you'll excuse me for my rude behavior."

She raised an eyebrow at his sudden change in behavior. Tenka herself raised an eyebrow at his actions– though the smile did not leave.

He knew that he was stepping on a tight-rope with his next decision, he knew that it was insane to even suggest what he wanted to suggest, but his heart continued to beat faster. The woman in front of him was not simply just a wall–

She was the unreachable sky.

"You don't believe me, I understand that." He began his request, "But I think I can prove myself to you, if you'll allow me."

"Tsuda–" Tenka began, but this time it was Tsuda who silenced her. At first she was confused at his behavior, but then she noticed something familiar. His wording changed, the way he presented himself changed.

In a way similar to when he had challenged Yachiho to a fight.

No, he wouldn't. Tenka wanted to believe.

"And why should I bother?" Ren asked, though the way she sat up slightly showed that he had her attention.

"Let me prove myself, and if I don't manage to impress you then Tenka will take me home and you had at least an hour of entertainment. If I do impress you then I'll be allowed to stay here."

It was cocky, it was even a bit narcissistic, but the fact that he had even attempted to make a deal on his own terms with her impressed her just a slight bit– especially since he had no powers (he was a man, after all). She could appreciate some backbone.

Maybe that's why Tenka wanted him around? Just a toy to entertain her when she's bored? Ren could definitely understand that.

"And what do I gain from this?" She asked.

"An hour of entertainment." He answered simply, causing Tenka to frown and Ren's lips to twitch upwards.

"Alright then." Ren stood up from her desk and folded her arms in front of her. "You've got me intrigued. How will you go about 'impressing me' then? Should we throw you into a pit of Shuuk and see you fend for yourself?"

If she was going to go along with this then she was going to have her own fun. "Or maybe you and Tenka are going to spar? Or maybe you're going to fight with someone else?"

"No, I think…"

He would.

Tenka took a step forward, knowing and fearing what he was going to say next. "Tsuda, don't–!"

Within a blink, the sound of metal scraping against leather echoed, and within a blink Tsuda held his large unsheathed nodachi…

Aiming it directly at the Head-Commander.

"We should fight."

He took a gamble, though he knew that he was taking a risk with this decision, he didn't actually know that he was risking his life here.

Were it in any other scenario, his body would be across the very building by now.

Were it in any other scenario, Ren Yamshiro would have taken the challenge as an insult. Why would she even bother with some powerless random? But as it is now, she was very intrigued. Plus even she would feel good after putting a "cocky man" in his place.

She eyed the sword aiming at her, then looked directly into the eyes of the young man who confronted her.

And then she smiled.

Right when she opened her mouth to make her decision, the door to the office slammed wide open.

"Wait!"

The old woman from earlier ran in, all eyes focused on her but her eyes focused solely on Tsuda and the sword in his hand. Despite the annoyance in Ren's eyes, her interest focused on the old Riu Myouga, who was in a rare state.

With a concerned look, Riu asked Tsuda, "You– your name is Tsuda Ganryu?"

"...Yes?" The funk that Tsuda was in only a moment prior had nearly vanished, replaced with confusion.

"The name of the person who created that sword… Does she call herself Masamune?"

Upon hearing the name, recognition filled Tsuda's eyes, and he held down the sword– so that it was no longer facing Ren.

"You know Old Mune?"

"Old Mune… huh…" Nostalgia filled Riu's voice, and despite the tense air just a second prior, a bark of laughter echoed from the old woman.

"Nice to see that she hadn't let go of that name."

Riu shook her head, now wasn't the time for nostalgia, now was the time for concern. The adopted son of her best friend was standing right in front of her, in a place where he definitely should not be, doing something that can get him killed.

"Now then…"

She stomped up to him, and reached up to roughly grab onto his cheeks, pulling at them as if she were trying to rip them off.

"Ow– hey!"

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

(A/N)

…. I have no excuses for the late update. To those that enjoy this slop I apologize for the late chapter, and I thank you for your patience. Recently it's been proven that I cannot keep a weekly schedule for this, so instead I'm going to try and keep a biweekly schedule (one chapter every two weeks). Now for the chapter itself, I didn't want this to end on a cliffhanger at first, but I realized that if I didn't then the chapter would be far too long (I want to keep it in the 4k-5k range for now), so I decided to end it there. In regard to what actually happens in the chapter, well… I'll wait to explain my thoughts, and some things will be answered in the next chapter anyway. I don't want to rely on the "word of god" just yet.

That's all for now, hopefully I won't take as long with the next chapter, ha ha…

With much love

-An idiot on the internet