"If that is all, then follow us, good sirs and ladies. Lord Kiritani's carriages are waiting, and we will need to ride far and quick to avoid the Empress."
Some of the Kamisato soldiers head back up to Lord Kiritani, conversing with him briefly. The masked resistance leader looks back at your crew, nods....and then for a brief moment, a strong coast breeze sweeps across the road, pushing Lord Kiritani just ever so slightly towards the group.
"...!"
He manages to push himself back, almost stumbling backwards. To everyone else, the incident wasn't noteworthy.
Yusuke, having the keenest senses as the Cat, was the first to notice.
"Wait-!"The Cursed, however, sense something familiar.
For the briefest of moments, as Lord Kiritani entered their range, they could sense it. The ties between the Zodiac animals were as palpable to them as a scent or a color, like a sixth sense to the Cursed. It was almost ineffable, indescribable; whenever the Cursed were near each other, they could sense the other Cursed. Close enough, and the Cursed could sense which of the Cursed had approached them. The invisible chains that bound the Cursed in the cycle of reincarnation together were unmistakeable to the members of the Cursed. From the doomed Cat to the mighty Dragon to the imperious God, they could all feel each other.
For the briefest fleeting moment, they could sense that Lord Kiritani was
one of them.
Later, in Soumahara...The sounds of yelling and clashing weapons fills the training area within the Imperial Palace, racks of spears, swords and axes lined up to make a circle around the two people training within.
"Hah! Sei! Hiya!"Tomoe Todayama, General of the Amatsu Imperial Army and Captain of the Imperial Guard, was training. Her spear twirled in the air, glimmering as she swept it across, evading her opponent's first thrust and parrying a secondstrike from her opponent.
"Your footwork is amazing. As expected of the Todayama heiress."Her opponent was Hisao Hosokawa, scion of the Hosokawa Clan, ancestral retainers to the imperial Yamauchi Clan. Wielding a sword, he visibly struggled to push off Tomoe's spear and instead pushed himself back, swinging his sword back into position.
"You're not so bad yourself, Hisao. As expected of the Empress' right hand." "High praise from a fighter like yourself."Tomoe and Hisao moved into their basic stances, Tomoe's lance ready to ward off Hisao's advance. Circling each other, the two fighters studied each other, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
In an instant, they moved. In an instant, it was over.
Tomoe's spear was at Hisao's throat, and Hisao's sword was in position to swing into Tomoe's neck. Hisao closed his eyes.
"...I was close."
"You're a good sparring partner. But yes, you were close."She tapped him lightly with her lance, before sweeping her lance back and propping it up with one hand, offering Hisao the other to pull himself to his feet. The swordsman sheathed his sword, before taking her hand.
"Evenly matched again. You're skilled."
"...when we're trapped in this palace for so long, you have nothing but time." "Clearly, you had time to get some admirers."Tomoe's eyes shift to her left to see some soldiers, watching her specifically. One young-looking soldier blushes red, the others leaving him to his fate. Tomoe nods at Hisao, then walks up to the remaining soldier.
"L-Lady Todayama! I swear, I wasn't watching you! Oda, Tadakatsu and I were just..."
She strolls up to him, calmly taking his shoulder and smiling gently.
"Don't worry about it, Yusaku. You're not in trouble. I can understand. You're just learning some spear techniques from your superior. Please do remember to call me Captain, though. Not Lady. We are still comrades." "Y-yes....Captain...."
Yusaku stares down, trying to avoid looking directly at her. Tomoe nods.
"Now, Yusaku. Is there anything I can help you with?" "A-actually, the....the Empress would like to speak with you. Both you and Lord Hosokawa, Captain."
At the mention of the Empress, Tomoe's expression noticeably sours for a moment. She hides it with another smile.
"....I see. Hisao, would you accompany me? Yuki....the Empress, I mean, wants to see us." "Did she say why?" "No.".....
Tomoe and Hisao entered the Empress' bedroom. It was a spartan affair, for the ruler of Amatsu and hegemon of the Five Kingdoms; the walls were bare, being only white paper and wood, the only concession to luxury being the bed in the middle of the room, with hanging silk curtains and velvet covers. In front of the bed sat the Empress, a desk pulled up to allow her to sit on the bed while doing work. On the desk were some letters, marked with the Imperial seal. From what little Tomoe could see, they were communications from the Imperial garrison in Kamihama.
To her left were her left-hand man, Goro Gamou, and her physician, Kodai Kobayakawa, the cursed Dog and Dragon of the Juunishi. Goro regarded Tomoe with a curious look. To her right, cloaked men that Tomoe recognised as Yugen retainers. As the doors shut behind the pair who had entered, the Empress' head tilted up to gaze at the newcomers. Her red eyes were as dead as always, as they flickered towards Goro with a glare, before back to the newcomers.
"Boar. Rooster. You're late."Her voice was stern, tough, but surprisingly fragile.
Tomoe and Hisao bowed to her, placing a fist to their hearts as they did.
"Apologies, Your Highness."
"You have my apologies, Your Excellency."The Empress lazily waved them off, before stretching a bony, thin finger and gesturing for everyone to come closer.
"I have a task for all of you. Check these."She held up the letters, a fist banging on her desk. Tomoe took the letters, reading them carefully.
"Those fools in Kamihama allowed that stupid Cat to get away from me. Not only that, but they found the Rat and the Tiger helping them, too. Those traitors-!"The Empress descended into a brief coughing fit.
"Your Excellency-" "I'm fine, Dragon. Leave me be!"Each word was punctuated with a cough. Yet Kodai did not move; it was an order from God, and so he could not defy it.
Shortly, she recovered enough to continue speaking.
"....those traitorous fools dared to help the Cat escape. According to the garrison, they had help. They had a Yugen and a few others there. A woman called Rengoku Rin and her allies including a deserter, someone called the Unscarred Blade, and a swordsman from the east. Todoroki, I am told, his name was. Do those names ring a bell?" "No, Your Highness." "They also all had Gnoses. They were far stronger than our average troops. I've taken it out of their hands."She stares directly at Hisao and Tomoe.
"Boar, Rooster, your task is as follows. You will assemble a task force of our finest soldiers. We can count on the Kiryu, the Hosokawa and the Yugen to aid us. You will take those men and you will arrest the fugitives and their assistants. Your connection to the others will help us track them down. Dog, I trust that the Gamou will lend their assistance?"Goro sighs.
"We are honorbound to help, but....we don't know just how much we can."A maid approached the Empress' table.
"Another letter, Your Excellency."
The Empress took it into her hands, nodding.
"You are dismissed, Shimano. Await your next orders in the other room." "Yes, Your Excellency."
The maid disappeared, as the Empress read the letter. She closed her eyes, nodding.
"You will also bring the Rengoku girl to me personally once you have apprehended the rest. Are my orders clear?" "Your Highness, to speak frankly....if those fugitives are wielding Gnoses, then I am not sure my men are up to the task of fighting them. Surely we will have-" "Are you intending to disobey, Boar?"Tomoe felt it at the back of her head. The feeling of a barrier in her head. The feeling of inescapability.
Among the Zodiac, none of them could disobey a direct order from God. Not the rebellious Cat, nor the fierce Boar, nor even the Dragon. None of them could disobey her.
Tomoe would not risk her men if she didn't have to. She knew how far she had to bend the order, before it would count as disobeying. This was not the point to fight.
"....no, Your Highness." "Good. You will retrieve the fugitives, return the other animals to me, imprison their assistants and bring me the Rengoku girl. Dragon, I trust you....still know how to erase memories?"A brief flash of pain crossed the Kobayakawa heir's features. He nodded.
"You wish that I erase the memories of their assistants once we have captured them?" "As soon as possible. They won't be trying to break them free if they don't remember they exist." "....yes, Your Highness."Tomoe pauses.
"This report says that the Hiruma were found there. Do you know anything about this, Your Highness?"The Empress blinked.
"Are you questioning me, Boar?" "Merely asking for clarification. I did not know that the Hiruma were assisting us."The Empress studied her for a few more moments, then, seemingly satisfied, continued.
"No. As far as I am aware, the Hiruma acted of their own accord. It could be some plan by the Resistance, but....whatever they want, I can't know. Not that it'll get in my way. Now, all of you, except for the Dragon, leave me. I am tired and wish to sleep."Descending into another coughing fit, the Dragon approached, a bowl of medicine in hand. This time, the Empress did not stop him.
One of the cloaked men spoke up.
"So....a Yugen helped them? That must be my son."He removed his hood and cloak. Tomoe recognised him immediately.
"....Lord Tsubouchi."
"I am loathe to fight Setsurou, but....as the Yugen Clan, we have sworn an oath to aid the Empress. It is what it is."He placed a fist to his heart.
"We will help you, Captain Todayama. Say the word and my shinobi will be there."
Later that night....Tomoe studied the letters closely, walking back to the barracks. Hisao caught up to her.
"Todayama. What are your plans?" "....I need to figure something out. Gnosis wielders....you know our men aren't equipped to deal with that." "You know we cannot disobey the Empress." "No, but I can do as I wish within those orders. Hosokawa, you can't honestly be telling me something about this isn't off."Hisao closed his eyes.
"I made a promise to serve the Empress, Todayama. You did too." "I swore to serve the throne, yes. Not this....obsession of hers. You're Cursed too, Hosokawa. Surely something is...." "I am bound by honor. As are you. And....neither of us know how to break this curse. Yukito....I promised her." "....I see."
"Well, well."The two of them turned to see Goro walking towards them. Hisao and Goro shared a glance.
"Goro."
"Hisao."Hisao looked over at Tomoe.
"I'll leave you for now."He stalked off, leaving Tomoe and Goro alone. Tomoe looked back at him.
"....you were late again, weren't you, Gamou? The Empress was one of her moods again."He shrugged nonchalantly.
"Can I be blamed for being popular? I had something to attend to. And Yukito is always in a mood." "So. I assume you'll be riding out in the morning to hunt down the fugitives?" "Yes. What's your concern?"Goro shrugged, again.
"Well....you know. Just curious, is all. You and Hisao, always being the Empress' lapdogs..." "Don't call me her lapdog. You're Cursed too, Gamou. You can disobey her as much as the rest of us can." "So you're telling me you don't really want to chase down dear Yusuke? Or Miyako?"Tomoe's voice was less harsh when she spoke again.
"....Yamada's freedom is temporary. As is the rest of ours. You know that. We're still all bound by the Curse. All I can do is what I can." "Well....you never know. The winds might change." "....you've tried to break the curse before, and it didn't work." "A man can hope."Goro breathed in deeply, patting Tomoe on the shoulder.
"I would recommend you look into the Hiruma. I have my own suspicions, but.....well, is there any point in me sharing them with you?" "What do you mean by that?" "What could I mean? I know about as much about it as you. I'm just curious."He patted her on the shoulder again, before walking away. The moon was now gazing over the grounds, its silvery light shining over the trees in the imperial gardens.
"The winds are changing, Todayama. I can feel it. Besides....even if they don't, we can make our own fortune. As I think our friend Yusuke is doing right now."Tomoe nodded slowly. What she said next, she whispered.
"....I hope so too, Gamou."
"I see. That's....very kind of you, Tsubouchi. I'd do the same thing, I think. My mom used to tell me stories about the Juunishi, and I always really felt for the Cat. I...never thought they were real but, well, I guess we're here."
"Those are just stories. Did you seriously come along because you got told a fairy tale?"
"I just didn't dream it would be this way..."
"wao"
"wao rood"
