At Watatsumi Island, Kapatcir was testing a few of her abilities in her new robot form, under the guidance of Sir Pentious. With each strike of her Electro talons, she left the land scarred and damaged.
« Excellent! Excellent, your birdness! With your new powers, we shall be able to conquer Inazuma and kill the evil Tits-Katana! » Pentious declared.
« She has a name, you know? » Kapatcir pointed out.
« Which is? » Pentious asked.
« …Fuck me what was her name again? » Kapatcir admitted her ignorance.
« Doesn't matter. Her name shall soon be "corpse"! » Pentious declared once more.
« As long as we get better weapons than this shit… » Blitzo pointed out as he looked at the Watatsumi armoury.
« It's Inazuman steel! Forged a thousand times! » Gorou shot back.
« Yeah, but can it do this? » Blitzo pointed a shotgun at a nearby tree, shattering its trunk and collapsing it to the ground.
« …Fuck you. » Gorou protested.
« No, doggy. Fuck me. » Blitzo replied.
« …What? » was all Gorou could say.
« Let's change the subject for a moment. » Kazuha intervened to defuse the situation. « With the help of our new associate, Thoma, I was able to contact someone that might help us acquire weapons for the resistance. »
« Well fuck me, the Mondstadtian turned out to be useful. » Blitzo commented.
« He goes by the name Nagato. He seems to have quite the collection. » Kazuha explained.
« Well this does look promising. TO THE NAGATO WAREHOUSE! » Blitzo declared.
Xxxxxxx
Five minutes later, Blitzo, Moxxie and Kazuha had busted the door of the Nagato residence. « Hello indigenous people! »
« WE CAN'T PAY YOU RIGHT NOW! » a terrified woman replied. « MY HUSBAND HAS GONE MISSING! »
« Easy there, ma'am. You don't owe us money, and we don't kill innocent civilians…» Moxxie reassured the woman.
« Are we just gonna ignore yesterday incident? » Kazuha asked angrily.
Xxxxxxx
The day before, Gorou was inspecting a map, when he received a call. « General Gorou of the Watatsumi Army, how may I help you? »
« Gorou, we need your help! It's the demons! » a panicking Kazuha replied.
« What are they doing now? » an annoyed Gorou asked.
« They're executing the surrendering-OH ARCHONS! » Kazuha exclaimed, as a gunshot could be heard.
« They're WHAT!? » Gorou exclaimed.
« In our defence, the guy did tell us to "go fuck ourselves." Can't think of any other response. » Blitzo could be heard on the other side.
« Oh, I dunno! Maybe something that isn't VIOLATING THE FUCKING CODE OF HONOUR! » Kazuha shot back. « WE'RE TURNING INTO THE FUCKING BADDIES! »
« Oh, shut it! Sometimes ya got to get your hands dirty. » Angel could be heard.
« No! You don't understand! Here in Inazuma my clan is already known as rebels against the Shogun, I'm already a wanted man for resisting the Vision Hunting Decree, and now that you morons got here you're turning the Watatsumi Army into an illegal insurgency! » Kazuha protested.
« Well you should had known what ya signed up for. » Blitzo could be heard.
Xxxxxxx
« I'm starting to think your plan all along was turning the Watatsumi Army into fucking terrorists. » Moxxie groaned annoyed.
« We're not terrorists if we win. » Blitzo replied.
« Oh Archons…» Kazuha pinched his nose annoyed.
« Anyway, ya said something about yer daddy disappearing. Since we're looking for him and his collection, could you go with the specifics? » Blitzo asked.
« Great, now the Watatsumi army is here. Anyway, that's a long story. Ever since I've known him, he's been an avid collector of all sorts of things... » the woman sighed. « He'd always get so animated when he was showing them to me... I knew nothing about the items myself, but seeing how enthusiastic and excited they made him, I was happy to believe that they were just extremely important to him. Everything was fine when we first got married. But as time went by, things changed for the worse... »
« Did he get an addiction? » Blitzo asked.
« Yes. He lost his sense of restraint. He started buying more and more things, and even resorted to borrowing money just so he could pay for them. Our expenses really spiralled out of control when he started getting interested in weapons. It was awful. There were days when he'd spend hours down at the warehouse admiring his weapons even as debt collectors were descending upon our house. » the woman explained. « He wouldn't sell them, wouldn't even touch them. Just sat there staring at them, like he was in a trance. I'm happy he has a hobby and I'm willing to support him, but making ends meet has to come first. I've tried talking to him about it so many times, but he never listens... On the last day that I saw him, I gave him an ultimatum... I said, if he refused to sell his collectibles and pay off his debts, I would divorce him and take the children with me. »
« And that led to an argument...» Kazuha reasoned.
« Actually, it didn't. Generally, he's a quiet man who likes to go with the flow. On most things, he leaves the decision-making to me. You must understand, I never would have dreamed of threatening him with divorce if the debts hadn't pushed our family to the brink... » the woman explained. « After I said those words, he froze, and was silent for a long time. When he finally spoke, he awkwardly mumbled that he would pick out a few items to sell. His voice was so meek and pitiful that I felt an urge to take everything back. But then what? If I didn't draw the line, what would happen to our family? »
« Good fucking call. » Moxxie replied.
« Had I not indulged his bad habits, we would not have found ourselves in such a predicament. » the woman replied. « And I also don't know if he had actually come to his senses, or if he was simply angry with me... »
« Whatever it was, he had it fucking coming. » Blitzo replied.
« The next thing I heard was that our warehouse had caught fire, and both he and the buyer had gone missing. » the woman continued.
« I see. I understand. » Kazuha mumbled. « The buyer came to purchase a weapon from Mr. Nagato. During the sale, a fire broke out at the warehouse, and both men disappeared. »
« At first, I assumed they must have gotten into an argument over the price... » the woman explained. « But my husband has never been one to negotiate. He never even haggles when he's out buying groceries, so it's hard to imagine him getting into a fierce argument. »
« Maybe he turned into a man for once in his miserable life. » Blitzo shrugged.
« I don't know. He just disappeared after the warehouse burned down. Perhaps he's too afraid to come home now that all his collectibles have been lost in the fire, and he's got no way to pay off our debts. » the woman sighed. « Even though I'm still a little mad at him, we're a family, and I want us to face our family's crisis together. As long as he's willing to turn over a new leaf, I know we can work things out... »
« Please don't get upset. There could be more to this situation than meets the eye. » Kazuha reassured the woman. « If collecting things is a habit that Mr. Nagato has had his whole life, it is quite unusual for this habit to change so drastically over a short period. »
« Well, we could help you, but since ya lack muneh…I have a proposal…» Blitzo smirked.
« Oh Archons this won't end well…» the woman's face turned pale.
In response, Blitzo handed her a box. « You fucks continued to have your normal lives, but every time you notice something that might interest the Watata army, you write it down this box, and we pay you. No need to worry, if the Tits-Katana pussy lickers find the box, we'll be the ones in trouble, not you. Oh, and if you hand the box over to the Shogun, we'll rape your cat. »
« …Oh thank Archons I thought this was gonna be worse…» the woman sighed in relief.
« Let's try a change of scenery, and see if we can piece together what we've learned. » Kazuha proposed. « Rest assured, we'll notify you if we find anything. »
« Ah, thank you so much. I just want him to come home... » the woman thanked the group.
And so, the three exited the building.
« Based on the information we've gathered so far, I can only surmise that the sales meeting between the two men was somehow the catalyst for Nagato's disappearance. » Kazuha reasoned. « The fire at the warehouse likely played a part in how the situation unfolded, though its exact role is a mystery. »
« Fucking great. There goes the collection. All of that because of a fucking argument…» Blitzo groaned annoyed.
« Let's keep going, since we've come this far. » Kazuha proposed.
« So what's the plan? » Blitzo asked.
« Let's head out of the city and check out the warehouse. There's still a chance we may be able to find some shreds of evidence. » Kazuha replied.
Xxxxxxx
After a while, the group reached the warehouse.
« Wait. » Kazuha warned the group. « I hear something ominous in the wind. »
« Futas? Chilli Churros? Shogun Fucks? » Blitzo asked.
« Hmm, now I'm picking up a strong scent in addition to the sound. It's right around here somewhere... » Kazuha replied.
« But there's nothing here… » Moxxie noted.
« It's gone now. But I can still sense the direction it left in. » Kazuha replied. « It felt very much like that ancient presence in Inazuma... the remnants of the Tatarigami. »
« Wait, isn't that the shit we found in that forge? » Blitzo asked.
« Indeed. But this unexpected spring of inauspicious energy may prove to be of benefit to our investigation. » Kazuha explained. « We should remain vigilant, and approach slowly. »
And so, the group begun their investigation, until Moxxie found a trap door. « Huh. "Go home G.I."…»
« Who the hell is G.I.? » Kazuha asked.
« Inazuma is no fun. » Moxxie raised an eyebrow.
« It really isn't… Anyway, the force is definitely coming from down below. » Kazuha replied. « The source of the Tatarigami energy has long since left this place, but the residue it left behind still hasn't dissipated completely. Judging from the concentration... I would have to conclude that the Tatarigami source resided here for a very long time. »
« The woman did say that the fucker wasted a lot of time in here… » Blitzo noted.
« It could well be that he was already under the influence of Tatarigami energy at that time. » Kazuha reasoned.
« And nobody noticed? » Moxxie asked.
« Apparently not. From what I've been told... Tatarigami does not turn all upon whom it preys into violent monsters. » Kazuha shrugged. « But most will develop a stubborn streak upon being exposed to the Tatarigami's unfulfilled will. Their interests become fanatical obsessions. Mr. Nagato had an interest in collecting to begin with. The influence of Tatarigami could explain why he became an obsessive hoarder, amassing more and more possessions even as he put himself in grave debt. »
« All right. We're busting this fucking place. » Blitzo smirked, with a gun and a knife in hand. And so, the group opened the door, only to see everything buried in debris. « …Well shit…»
« All we can do now is keep searching in the direction that the Tatarigami energy's source left this place. » Kazuha replied. « Two ordinary humans, entangled with the Tatarigami... I fear much misfortune has already befallen them. »
« NOT ON OUR WATCH! ONWARD! » Blitzo declared.
Xxxxxxx
After a while, and after killing some Hilichurls, they found a letter.
« The fuck is this? » Blitzo asked.
« By the looks of it, a letter, written on a piece of torn clothing. The ink is bone-dry... it must have been written quite some time ago. » Kazuha noted. « Well, let's take a look. »
And so, Kazuha begun to read.
I am Nagato. I was wounded by Amenoma Yuuya. He took my most precious blade. I chased him, but could not catch him. I lay down here to rest on account of my exhaustion. I thought that I might croak right here — my stomach kept on bleeding! But it seems that some strange power has sustained me...
Why did he steal that blade? I was going to sell it to him! He even burned my warehouse down!
Agh, it hurts. It hurts! But for some reason, I can't fall unconscious, so all I can do to distract from the pain is write.
What will happen to Sachiko, Yuuichi and Yuuji...
I'm sorry to them. I really am. Only now do I realize how stuck in my ways I was, and how blind to my obsession! I must have been cursed...
I collected all those strange and bizarre things, but they won me not one iota of happiness or warmth. Put all of it together, and it still wouldn't have been worth a single word from her mouth.
Thank you... and sorry for letting you down, Sachiko.
« According to this letter, a conflict arose because Amenoma Yuuya wanted to seize a blade belonging to Mr. Nagato. » Kazuha explained. « Yuuya started the fire that destroyed the warehouse, and wounded Mr. Nagato in the fight. Mr. Nagato kept chase as long as he could, eventually stopping here to write this letter when his strength gave out. »
« That so? So where's the body? » Blitzo asked.
« He was not only mortally wounded, but also under the heavy influence of Tatarigami. Add to that the fact that its aura seems to have attracted a horde of monsters, and... I'm afraid he may no longer be with us. » Kazuha replied. « Whatever traces there may have been of his fate beyond after this point, they've since been disturbed by the hilichurls. There's nothing more for us to find here. »
« Well as much as I would love to let this guy loose and kill any fuck he meets, perhaps it's best if we catch him and get him on our side. » Blitzo said.
« I wouldn't be surprised if he, too, fell prey to the influence of the Tatarigami. For a practitioner of the martial arts, the easiest desire to inflame would be their pursuit of further power and skill. » Kazuha replied.
« Any idea where he might be? On with the search. We must stay vigilant. At any point now, we may find ourselves in danger. » Kazuha replied.
Xxxxxxx
After a while, the group reached an island.
« He seems to have stayed here for a long time. » Kazuha noted.
« That so? » Blitzo asked.
« I'm not sure... but on closer examination, I sense that the aura may have lingered here at several different points in time... » Kazuha replied, before turning sharply. « Show yourself! It's no use hiding anymore! »
In response, a man came out of hiding. « Kaedehara Kazuha... it's you, at last. »
« Why hello there, big guy! How 'bout we avoid doing things that we may…regret…» Blitzo smirked, as he pulled out a gun.
« Indeed, there should be no enmity between us... if it is Amenoma Yuuya that stands before us. » Kazuha added. « But what if instead of facing Amenoma Yuuya... we are in fact facing the blade in his hand? »
« …Wut? » Blitzo asked.
« Tatarigami energy often lodges itself within physical objects, then works to subtly affect any living organisms in its vicinity. » Kazuha explained. « The blade has resided in Mr. Nagato's warehouse for many years, affecting his state of mind, and more recently using the sale as a means to affect... Or rather, as a means to occupy Amenoma Yuuya's body. »
« Hmph. You're sharper than I thought. You've already deduced the truth of the matter. » the blade spoke through the man.
« Wait, you're sentient? » Moxxie asked.
« Many, many years ago, I was forged by a famed bladesmith of the Isshin tradition. I was his pride and joy, in me, he placed all his hopes and dreams. » the blade explained. « As a descendant of the Kaedehara Clan, you should be able to guess our greatest regret. »
« What did Tits-Katana do this time…» Blitzo asked angrily.
« What did "Tits-Katana" do? Oh, what she didn't fucking do! At that point in time, he failed to live up to the Raiden Shogun's expectations. In the end, all he could do was to flee the nation by sea, on a ship bound for Snezhnaya. He was a bladesmith of great renown, a master of his craft! There was nothing that he could not accomplish! All he needed was more time, and a little faith. » the blade explained. « And sure enough, in the end, he achieved what he had set out to do. All of his life's work — his wisdom, his skill — it culminated in his creation of me. He not only bestowed upon me the greatest of strength, but also endowed me with a consciousness of my own... In her conceit, the Raiden Shogun lost not only the single most perfect blade in the entire world, but also an irreplaceable achievement in the art of blade-forging! »
« Okay, but how the hell do you control people? And talk and all that good shit? » Blitzo asked.
« The people of the time in which I was born never believed I had that kind of power. They saw me as a mere blade — a sharp and well-crafted one, but in all other respects an ordinary weapon. Hmph, but that gave me the opportunity to take action. » the blade replied. « After the death of my creator, I decided to leave Snezhnaya, and began my long quest to return to the distant land of Inazuma. Moving from one person to the next, I controlled the minds of countless hosts along the way, each bringing me one step closer to my ancestral home. I seek but one thing: to face the full force of the Raiden Shogun's blade, and prove my power, the might of Isshin Art! »
« So Amenoma Yuuya was not your first victim. » Kazuhua narrowed his eyes. « Tell me, what happens to those you've possessed when you've finished using them? »
« My hosts? Who cares what happens to them. They are but tools that serve my mission. » the blade replied. « When they got tired, or injured, or unusable, I hopped to the next one in line. All I needed them for was to take me back to Inazuma. »
« Intriguing…» Blitzo smirked.
« After I returned to Inazuma, I decided to bide my time in Nagato's warehouse, until Amenoma Yuuya handed himself over to me on a silver platter. At long last, I am approaching my journey's destination. I shall defeat the Raiden Shogun! » the blade declared.
« With that frail bitch body of yours? » Blitzo asked.
« …What are you getting at? » the blade asked.
« …N O. » Kazuha realized what Blitzo was planning.
« Ignore the PTSD boy here. SO, ya hate Tits-Katana guts, don't ya? » Blitzo asked.
« Why do you keep calling her that-» the blade asked, before Blitzo violently grabbed the hand of Yuuya.
« I fucking despise her as well! And wouldn't ya know… I'm a friend of plenty of people who would wish for nothing but see her on the floor, begging for the sweet release of death. » Blitzo explained.
« Oh. Hohohoho….so you intend to volunteer to become my next puppet? » the blade asked.
« Nah. I'm my own dick. But I know a guy. And that guy…makes wonders of metal. Wonders that can be possessed. That can be…controlled…» Blitzo replied. « Why resign yerself to the weakness of the flesh, hopping from one stinkin' body to the next, when ya can be metal, and fuck the unfuckable…»
«… A body of metal, you say? Oh, wondrous temptation…very well, you bring a good bargain. » the blade replied, as it levitated towards Blitzo, who wrapped the blade in a robe to avoid possessions. « Very well. I shall release this weak body and accept one of metal. Do not make me regret my decision, but I doubt I will. I sense…true hatred for the Shogun. »
« Buddy…you have no fucking idea. » Blitzo replied.
« Blitzo, what are you doing!?» Kazuha exclaimed.
« Saving this man ass, and getting a kickass sword. » Blitzo replied.
« That sword is a murderer! » Kazuha protested.
« And soon, a god killer. » Blitzo smirked. « We'll avenge your boyfriend REAAAAL good. » Blitzo smirked.
« He wouldn't had wanted any of this. » Kazuha replied.
« A murderous sword killing random fucks? Hell no. » Blitzo replied. « A sword that will obey our commands? Absolutely. »
« Bitch what? » the sword asked.
« Ya really thought we would just let ya loose, didn't ya? » Blitzo smirked.
« This wasn't in the deal! » the blade protested.
« Well you should had known what you signed up for. » Kazuha mocked it.
« Do I at least get to fight the Shogun? » the blade asked.
« Yup. And if ya behave, ya get to live as a free man. Blade. Thing. Look, ya know what I mean. » Blitzo replied.
« …Oh all right, this is manageable. » the blade replied.
However, as the blade said that, it revealed its true form, which was…less than idea…
« …Blade what the fuck is this? » Blitzo asked angrily.
« Maybe it truly did wield the power to rival the Shogun's light when it was first forged. But the long journey from Snezhnaya back to Inazuma has left it battered and broken. » Kazuha explained.
« No one knew anything of my story throughout my travels, nor did I tell it to anyone. You are the first person to know the truth. » the blade explained. « Too much time has passed... My physical state is poor, and without proper maintenance, I can only disguise my true appearance behind an outer sheen. »
« There is something else I must tell you. Though your maker may not have been aware, your ability to possess your own consciousness derived from the power of the Tatarigami. » Kazuha explained. « Tatarigami is a malevolence from the ancient past. It is the source of your mania and savagery. »
« I sensed it, but I couldn't change it. It is an integral part of my consciousness. » the blade replied.
« I do not know whether you yourself have any intention of trying to fight it. I feel a great sense of regret for you, since you embarked on a journey bound for a destination you were destined never to reach. » Kazuha continued. « The moment you embarked on this journey, you lost the only person who could have ever unleashed your true potential. And yet there was no way for you to turn your back on his ambition. You have known this for a long time. It is the true source of your despair. »
« He gave me everything... my life, my form, my consciousness and purpose... How could I possibly deny him his wish... » the blade explained. « I said to him, "Do not worry. From here on, I shall forge your legacy." How could I go back on my word... »
« Well this was a giant waste of time. » Blitzo groaned annoyed.
« When I look back at the past, I can remember the day of my forging like it was just yesterday. I once told him that I would pay any price to fulfil his wishes, such was the debt I owed to him for giving me the gift of consciousness. » the blade said. « But darkness and slaughter numb the mind. Over time, I lost sight of the difference between gratitude and grudge. Not only did I fail to fulfil his ambition... I also defiled it... »
« You are finally seeing reality clearly. » Kazuha replied.
« But I still cannot bring myself to forsake his ambition. It is the entire purpose for my existence. » the blade continued. « So, may I ask you to help me fulfil the ambitions of myself and my creator? »
« Meh. We can work with that. Hell, we can make ya better. We HAVE the technology. » Blitzo shrugged.
« Thank you all. When I was first forged, my maker was already terminally ill. He told me that he had wanted me to have the grandest opening battle. Alas, after that, he never rose from his sickbed again... » the blade explained. « Nor have I ever had the chance to prove myself in battle since. My fights were devoid of any noble meaning. They were merely the next step in my never-ending journey... the next in a long line of transgressions. »
« Well you fucked up in the past, and now we're going to fix you so you can do something good of your life. TO WATATSUMI ISLAND! » Blitzo declared.
Xxxxxxx
And so, the group was back to Watatsumi Island, fixing and improving the blade.
« All right, buddy. Ya ready ta meet yer new body? » Blitzo asked.
« To say that I'm excited is downplaying it. finally, my chance to fulfil my creator's ambition, and to rebirth the Isshin arts! » the blade exclaimed.
« So calling ya blade is kinda cringe. So what should we call ya? » Blitzo asked.
« Over the years, my real name has been forgotten by all. I'm ashamed to utter it, yet it remains strong in my mind: » the blade replied. « "Kagotsurube Isshin" »
« Sure thing, ya keep the moonspeech title or whatever. Hey edgelord! The body ready or somethin'?!» Blitzo demanded.
« After the thunderbird, THIS IS MY FINEST JOB YET! » Pentious declared, as a machine walked forward, resembling a powerful samurai.
« Do yer magic, Ishi Moshi. » Blitzo grinned.
« I do suppose I deserve this humiliation. Still, thank you, my friend. » Isshin replied, as it levitated towards the Mecha Samurai, who grabbed it.
Then, a purple glow appeared in the "eyes" of the Samurai.
« So? What do ya think? » Blitzo asked.
«…With this metal body, the Shogun shall stand no chance! » the blade declared.
« FUCK YEAH! TITS-KATANA, HERE I COME! Not yet, however. We still need to cause her more pain and suffering. » Blitzo exclaimed.
« …Are you sure you want to continue the path you're walking? Have you not learned anything about what happened to me? » Isshin asked.
« Buddy, unlike you, I don't have a conscience! That, and it's more than just obeying the last wishes of your dead master. It's the principle of things! No one shoves a katana down my rectum! » Blitzo declared.
« Yeah, and you'll feel REAL good with that attitude. » Kazuha replied.
« You're an irritable juvenile today, ain't ya? » Blitzo joked.
« Are you even taking this seriously? » Kazuha asked.
« Yes. I am. And I'm getting results. » Blitzo shot back.
« I guess I can't deny that… but how far will you go for vengeance? » Kazuha asked.
« Oh, come on, don't tell me you don't have a shroud of hatred for the whore! » Blitzo protested.
« Yes. I hate her. » Kazuha shot back. « There is not a day where do not I wish she has it coming for all she did to her own people. To my clan. To me. »
« Then why do you hesitate so much to stick it to her!? » Blitzo asked.
« Because it's not about vengeance. It's about doing what's right. » Kazuha replied.
« Well, all right. Thankfully, "doing what's right" and my vengeance seem to collide pretty well. You do you, Samurai boy. Because I'm not playing yer game. I'm playing mine. » Blitzo smirked.
« I do suppose we all do. » Kazuha sighed.
« Oh, don't be like that. Soon it will all be over. » Blitzo smirked.
Xxxxxxx
Meanwhile, at the Shogun's castle, a guard had arrived to bring some bad news to Raiden. « Your excellency! We…we bring bad news…»
« What seems to be the problem? » an uncaring Raiden Shogun replied.
« …Somehow the demons brought back the Thunderbird. » the guard replied.
« …WHAT THE FU-»
Xxxxxxx
Many thanks to Inanna for many of the suggestions for this chapter.
I hope you enjoyed this new chapter! Please review so I can know your opinion. I'm willing to accept suggestions for what is going to happen, so stay tuned! Also, remember to like and follow, if you want!
See you on the next update!