Well, I've been called out to continue this story and so, here it is.
Sorry that it is short and rushed but hey, it's something, right?
Anyway, on with the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Manyū Hiken-chō and 'Manyuu hikenchou X Op Male Samurai reader: The Samurai of truth and justice' by 'JustyTurner'. They belong to their respective owners.
Enjoy.
The Edo period.
A time of swirling cherry blossoms and simmering inequalities, courtesy of the infamous law that cruelly dictates the social standing based on bust size, a law that had fractured the land asunder.
Thought the Manyū Clan had succeeded in putting this strange and bizarre laws to use, the land is still embroiled in a time where everything is controlled by their own hormonal lust.
Meanwhile, as a lavish ornate is driven on the road, flanked by samurai on horses who guard it with their own lives, Lord Takaharu, a man whose girth matched his greed, is smiling, relaxing and smiling while beside him, fanning him with a painted silk screen, sat his most recent favorite, a woman whose ample proportions ensured her a life of comfort and privilege.
He chuckled as he gripped her hand as the gold rings on his fingers glinting in the afternoon sun but before there would be... interesting complications, the world suddenly exploded into chaos as black figures erupted from the dense bamboo forest, shadows coalescing into tangible threats.
The lord's samurai, clad in their shining armor, reacted instantly, drawing their swords with practiced ease. But their katanas are no match for the thunderous roar of muskets and one by one, they fell as their bodies are riddled with the holes as the scent of gunpowder pollute the air like a toxic fume.
Takaharu screamed, ducking as bullets whizzed past around him, cowering in fear of his life and before he thought that he is safe, the carriage door is wrenched open, and before he could reach, he was dragged out, landing unceremoniously in the dirt.
Before he could try to be defiant against these vagrants who dare to treat him in such a way, he look above as he saw a figure loomed, silhouetted against the fading light, staring into the cold, unforgiving gaze of the one and only, Kaito Shirogane.
Lord Takaharu knows him as the notorious bandit who is the bane of every self-respecting lord in the region, appearing with his impossibly sharp features framed by raven hair, his red eyes blazing with a predatory gleam and his black mask concealing the lower half of his face as the musket in his hands becoming a stark reminder of him and his faction's brutal efficiency.
Takaharu recognized the red and black shinobi outfit and the dual katanas hanging at Kaito's hips, and of course, have heard tales of the Red Serpents, a bandit clan of thieves, assassins, marauders, raiders and all around scums who loved to line their pockets with what they stole and are known for their cold-blooded pragmatism and their willingness to use any means necessary.
"You!" Takaharu stammered, his voice trembling. "You dare… you dare to assault a lord of this land! Do you have any idea who you are treating!? Do you!?"
Kaito, however, simply shifted the musket which pressed it's cold steel against Takaharu's chin as the lord's bravado crumbled, devolving him into a whimpering mess, "Wait, wait! I'll give you anything. Food. Water. Riches. The land. My castle. Even my women. So, please... Please spare me!"
Kaito just scoffed as he backhand the lord across the face, knocking him unconscious. After he is done, he surveyed the scene, his red eyes scanning his band.
The Red Serpents, a motley crew united by their greed and Kaito's ruthless leadership, appearing as wearing the similar red and black uniforms of Kaito with their faces hidden beneath their wide brimmed rice hats and wielding katana and muskets in hand, were already hard at work, stripping the dead samurai of their armor and ransacking the carriage as metal clanked against metal, and the air is thick with the smell of freshly stolen gold.
One of the bandits had dragged the lord's suitor, still weeping, from the carriage as he manhandles her, "What do we do with this one, boss?" he grunted. "She's got the goods, alright." He leered, his eyes lingering on her ample chest.
Kaito's hand moved with lightning speed, slapping the bandit hard and sending him sprawling across like a pile of dropped meat.
The bandit leader turned his attention to the woman, who cowered before him, her eyes wide with terror, afraid of what Kaito would do to her but instead of the violence she expected, Kaito just tossed her a heavy pouch of gold as he said in a surprisingly gentle voice, "Take it. Take one of the horses and get out of here. And don't look back."
The woman stared at him, bewildered at his actions.
Why would a notorious bandit like Kaito Shirogane show her mercy?
Was this some cruel game?
But the steely yet genuine look in Kaito's red eyes convinced her as she scrambled to her feet, seized one of the horses that are still alive, and galloped away, leaving the carnage behind.
As she disappeared into the distance, Kaito watched her go as a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. He turned back to his men who were staring at him as Kaito roared at them, "Enough dawdling!" His voice said which is once again filled with authority. "Finish the job or face my wrath!"
The Red Serpents resumed their looting, their movements quick and efficient and as Kaito stare at them, overseeing their task at hand, he sighed, running a hand through his messy black hair at his life.
He is many things in this country he is born in, raised in and wholeheartedly embraced in, being called by many names...
A bandit...
A thief...
And finally, a killer...
But even in this fractured land, where the size of a woman's breasts determined her worth, he couldn't bring himself to profit from such a twisted system.
He told himself it was just pragmatism, a debt repaid and a weakness to be exploited.
He is, after all, Kaito Shirogane, the leader and chief of the bandit clan, Red Serpent, a clan that once starts off as disparate ragtag groups of outcasts and the lowest of the low, grew to become the most dangerous bandits in Japan where their underlying usage of guerilla warfare, trickery, deceit and mastery of gunpowder and muskets where, while made full usage in this period of time, none are capable of mastering it more than the Serpent Clan and most bandits are powerful sharpshooters at that, have a reputation to uphold.
And in a land where it is governed by such a stupid law, they will take advantage of such a flawed, pathetic and incompetent system, put it in place just to satisfy somebody's lust, to good use.
Well, here it is everyone...
As always...
Ciao...