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“Lord of Iya, Defender of Shikoku and Warriorof Tenno, Uesugi Youta Sama,
Tenno has his message for you! The tragedy of Ten-Ryu Dojo has shaken the peace and harmony in our great Yamato. More outrageous crimes and crisis are imminent as the criminals, Sora and Okada Motoya are still fleeing.
Now that we know they should be hiding in Shikoku, a province under the sole protection of you, Tenno has his order to capture the criminals alive and to return the Legacy of the Sage ancestor, Tenshin Yumeichro, as well as the cursed forbidden sword, for his retention.
In the name of JUSTICE and the force majeure of Him, you should fulfill your Oath to your Ruler and accomplish your mission within 5 days.
We believe that it would be as easy as intuitive to our Great Warrior Youta, the Descendant of the Iyo-no-futana-shima (伊予之二名𡷊）to apprehend the traitors of our people and to offer them as a tribute to us.
Tenno has sent his man, head of his Household Guard, Shogun Ueda Tsuki, ready to receive the consecration from you and to award the trophy you deserved in his great honor!
So behold the day of union 5 days afterward and Tenno is looking forward to your great news!”
The right hand man of Youta, Asano Kouichi, is reading the {Imperial Edict} just received from Ueda Tsuki 6 hours before. “The Royalty has been reported to station their troop 5 miles away from here.”
”How many men they have here?”Youta asked.
“Around 5 thousands.”
There is immediately a hustle in the meeting chamber. “This IS a threat!” “Tenno wants war!” “Then give him!” “Are you nuts? Shouldn’t we wait for our ALLIANCE first?” “You must have realized that this is an attempt of the Royalty to stop us from aligning with THEM!”
”Listen up! My friends!”Youta rises his voice to cease the debate. “Our Elder, I need your opinion.” Everybody then look at the old man sitting next to Youta.
“We should not confront Tenno or the Successor right now, My Lord. We should retreat, back to the Iya valley where no intruders dare to risk to cross the dense forest.” He closes his eyes as if he is messaging the advice from Divine.
”Yes. We shouldn’t take the risk right now. Preserve our strength and seek alliance from the West. That is the wise move we should take!”Someone cannot wait to advise his master who is now frowning and getting lost in his thoughts.
There is another hustle in the meeting chamber, mostly supporting the view point of Kouichi, until Youta finally opens his eyes and yells,
”Don’t you all ever consider about our PEOPLE!? Ask yourselves! Why should we take Shikoku at the beginning? Huh! Isn’t that the pity we had in the poor and the weak and those would were suppressed and exploited by the Royalty for decades, with their scream for redemption never been heard by others, which motivated our Mission for JUSTICE and righteousness!?” Youta paused while all the people inside the chamber were hiding from the gaze of their master.
”I feel ashamed for all of you!” Youta scolds at everyone. “Can you all imagine what nightmares would be waiting for them after our retreat?
We know that Tenno is just making up excuse for his invasion! Sooner or later we ought to face his challenge! If it is gonna to happen someday, let us decide how and when it gonna hit us then!” Youta proclaims finally, “and the Successor, I believe in her and her friends. We would not betray our faith and choose to live on in disgrace by handing the innocents to the Royalty. I choose to fight and die honorably instead!”
”Yes! And we will fight alongside you to the death, my lord!”Kouichi supports excitedly while his master nods for his appreciation.
”But if any of you should choose to escape, leave right now! Still you can take my words to your hearts: It has been my honor to have you fought by my side in all those countless furious battles before. Thank you!”
Everyone remain silent. They know that war is unavoidable if retreat is not an option. And the chance to win is incalculable. Yet none of them wants to leave. Determination is found gradually in every eye of them. Their hearts are burning with inextinguishable flame of passion and feistiness! The sweet memories of victories and friendship have fooled their sensibility for rational judgement
”Then what about the Successor, her friend and the Swords as well?” the Elder opens his eyes finally, “And that Hikirichi as well? He is supposed to seek our protection in return for his {invaluable information} of the Royalty. I guess he is another reason why Tenno cannot wait to launch the attack.”
”You are right. We should get him before they do. And the Successor, we should use our best effort to protect her friends before she returns!”
”Wisely! Gaining her trust may make her our alliance to defend ourselves.” The Elder smiles and says, but immediately interrupts by Youta,
“This is never my intent. This is our war, not hers!”
”We have sent our messenger to the West already. But to reach our alliance, it may take more than 5 days though. And it may cost another 3 days for their troop to arrive….”Kouichi reported anxiously.
”Assuming that they are willing to help.” Youta tries to remind everybody not to be over-optimistic.
“Now, where are the friends of the Successor? I need to talk to them.”
The Tazu Ryokan is heavily guarded by the men of Youta. Youta steps inside and goes straight to the Oshima’s chamber. Ai is chatting with Motoya inside.
“Well we’ll,” Youta sits down right in front of her despite Ai’s look of despise. “It is time to hear the confession from our brave okami! Why did you do that? A false alarm? And did you collude with the Samurai Girl to steal the properties of your friend? What tricks you were playing indeed?”Youta takes Motoya’s sage and finishes it. Ai presses her hand softly on Motoya’s to suppress his rage which makes Youta turns to stare at the young guy instead, full of hostility.
”So, no one tells me that it is forbidden to play firework inside my own house.” She pulls sage on her own glass and gives it to Motoya while throwing to shatter the one Youta just used, “And your accusation is too wild and rude for an innocent and honest merchant like me.”
”Oshima san! I have to tell you that your reckless and naive act has put us, the whole Shukoku, into an imminent danger! Tenno has ordered us to hand over the SUSPECTS and their properties in return for everybody’s safety here!”He then turns to face Motoya again.
Ai hits the table furiously and yells, “You should have foreseen this on the first day you occupied here! And don’t you dare to make any bad ideas about my friends!” “Then what? Set another false alarm again!? Huh?” Youta grins and interrupts Ai.
“I will kill you right now…” Ai pulls a tanto from her clothes and stab hard on the table. This definitely impresses both men.
”…….Ai san. You still hate me right? After all these years…you still don’t trust me, my real intention to liberate this place and to bring peace, happiness and EQUALITY to my people?”
”If you haven’t ever started the war, my parents would not die! You murderer!”
”Your father, he is the true hero. His sacrifice…” “No one should be sacrificed for the ambition of others”
The room is filled with tension and wrath. Motoya now feels the pain Ai has suffered and all he can do is to hold her trembling hands to express his condolence.
“Ai san, I hope you can trust me once and for all: Do you know where is your friend Sora?” He then turns to Motoya, “you and your friend are now in great danger. But in the name of Uesugi family, we will make our best effort to protect you. I swear! And we will never hand you over to Tenno! Even if this may mean another War!”
”You push us, so called YOUR PEOPLE, between Devil and the deep sea. And there is no turning back for us now! If you dare to abandon us,” Ai points the tanto at Youta.
”You can kill me right now.” Youta leans forward to press his throat against the tip.
“I have no idea where Sora is now,” Ai retreats the tanto, “and remember what you just promised my friends and what your good deeds for this place!”
Youta stands up and walks outside the room. Just before he is about to leave the inn, he is stopped by Motoya from behind.
”Uesugi Sama, I think you owe me an explanation of the ambush just happened.”
Youta stops. But before he answers Motoya, he wants to take a closer look at his people. The assault may have caused certain people restless but most of them have remained in the festive mood. After all there is only minor casualties and people here seems to have strong faith in their ruler that any chaos any troubles should be easily settled and resolved in his good hand. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr1ybR3cCK
Sun sets in the silky mist coloring the sky with a dazzling haze of orange red. Lanterns are floating slowly from the ground, hanging in midair haze like the diamonds of a royal robe. But their king is hiding his sadness and guilt behind his stinky armor, feeling ashamed and not deserved to carry the hope and grace of the people on himself.
No one should sacrifice themselves for the ambition of others.
Youta feels heavy wearing the armor which is soaked with others blood and tears. At this moment, he just wants to take them off and throws himself into the joyful crowd.
”That guy,”Youta turns and says,”is called Hikirichi. He came here a week ago, begging for a shelter, claiming some top secrets of the Royalty to offer in return. But we knew his background already and have heard about rumors of him being a traitor to his dojo which eventually led to the tragic drama you recently have encountered.”
”So you have accepted his offer? And the Royalty initiated the ambush trying to erase him?”
”No. We did not. Well technically the deal is still under a bargaining stage while the catastrophe has forced it to end automatically.”
”So you have no idea what that top secret is?”
”Of course no. But I highly suspect that it is closely related to your friend Sora.”
Motoya doesn’t reply. He did ask his father about the details of that incident as well as the background of Sora and Haru. Yet all he got was like,
”The least you know, the least danger you will face.”
Youta’s words just strengthen his belief that SOME HUGE THREAT is targeting at Sora.
”You don’t have to worry about her too much. Judging from Ai’s words and what I saw, the GIRL your friend chasing is mostly just a rookie. Though the armor she wears seems unusual…..and exceptionally SICK.”
While Motoya is still losing his mind in thinking, Youta suddenly takes off his armor.
”My Lord! Please put them on! The assassins may still hiding somewhere!” His men go into panic and urges him immediately.
Youta smiles and says,
”How can I dance wearing these stupid things.” He then joins the crowd. Kids embrace him, singing and dancing around. Youta bursts into laughter and yells,
”Forget about tomorrow! Just enjoy today!”
Motoya watches the man moving and swinging as silly as a monkey but in ecstasy. His hearts sinks when a sentiment of nostalgic suddenly overwhelms him.
Is father alright now? If the Royalty is behind all this conspiracy, are they also targeting at Okada, or even at Yoshie as well now?
A carrier pigeon is passing through the sea of lantern and lands on Motoya’s shoulder. He recognizes the metallic cylinder on it with the symbol of his clan right at once. Motoya cannot wait to open it and read the message. It is hand written by his father,
”Motoya, my son!
This may be my last words to you. Tenno has summoned his army at last to make his all out attack to our clan. We are not afraid to die. Just to die in a glorious way worths good enough to a real samurai and his family!
Don’t try to go back! It would be too late. And your sacrifice would be worthless and wasting all the effort the clan has been putting on you so far! Go! Seek your own journey! Create history that belongs to you only! In the name of Okada!
You must not cry! Men of Okada would never cry! Save the sour tears for sweet and bitter sweat in your battle field. Remember, you are the son of Okada Ryuichi, the last standing man of our clan and most of all, the pride and the precious in my life!
I pray to Kami to bring you his Grace and Protection!
Okada Ryuichi, Father.”
Motoya’s mind is freaking insane. He is literally losing control and just dashes back to the inn. Picking everything and readying to set off. He doesn’t care about the last words of his father anymore. All he wants now is to FIGHT TO DIE WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY.
Until someones appear outside his room,
”Motoya, owner of the Holy Sword, how can you move on to your next journey without your sword?”
“Sora!” Motoya rushes out. Sora hands over the Holy Sword to his trembling hand.
”Father…..and my clan….”
”You must choose your path. Tenno is going to set fire everywhere. His intention is clear: we cannot save everybody and if we fall in his trap by fooling around, we will just end up losing on both sides.”
Ai and the GIRL IN MORGAN’s ARMOR are standing beside Sora.
”Motoya san, if I were you, I would definitely rush back to fight alongside my family and eventually die together. That is what exactly I am doing here right now.”Ai says.
”But you can choose to defend those innocent and ordinary people here, bearing the last glory and honor of your clan, and to avenge on those scandalous and evil in the name of your Father at last!” Sora says. “Ryuichi Sama told me once- he sees the power in us TO BRING CHANGES to this restless world. So don’t fail him by losing your hope, Motoya kun!”
Motoya closes his eyes. Imagining his family fighting their last battle and falls one by one until the last man, his father, using his sword to support his fainting body. He turns to face him, revealing his last smile to his son,
Goodbye. This is the beginning of your era. So take charge, boy! Reshape the world by keeping up with your dream!!
Motoya looks down at the Holy Sword. He has made up his mind. He looks up and just happens to look into Sora’s eyes: a heart warming and trusting belief he can find.
Bang! Bang! Fireworks shoot up high with delightful sirens, shading the black velvet sky with colorful lights. Youta is screaming in excitement together with the dancers and the kids as the glamorous flares have shone on everybody’s astonished face.
Oshima Ai watches him enigmatically full of mixed feeling while Motoya is holding his fists tight and looking off into the distance with his eyes of determination.
The GIRL IN MORGAN’s ARMOR speaks eventually,
”So DARLING, shall we go now? Don’t put the blame on me if you miss the SHOW at last.”
Sora smiles and says to Ai and Motoya,
”I need to fulfill my promise to HER. It should not take long. Stay strong and wait for my return.” Ai and Motoya nod. They know their friend so well. She never breaks her promise.
”Look to my coming, on the day after tomorrow,” Sora holds both hands of Ai and Motoya,
”To the first light, at dawn, look to the East!”*
The forest is dim and damp. Mysterious creatives are hiding in the dark with their squinting eyes glinting with evil thirst of blood! The MAN reaches out his arms to grope ahead in the darkness carefully. The place is filled with breathtaking silence that he can barely hear his own heart beat only. Until a glare tears down the dark curtain with a feminine figure emerging from the rip.
“What makes you hesitate, still? HIKIRICHI!” The WOMAN IN WHITE KIMONO smiles and says, “Come! Take my hand. I will show you, the FUTURE YOU WANT!”
*Original quote from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(film) (2002) Gandalf, “Look to my coming, at first light, on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQC0f87jQR
