Night Battle (
Summary[]
On the 13th of November at 11:20 am, Chihiro and the Masumi sit a cafe table, where the Masumi's rapid organisation of Chihiro's food and drink leads him to remark that they are too overprotective. Ro points out that Chihiro hasn't fully healed, and in any case he has been deemed their master in the interim. Ro asks about Uruha but Chihiro replies there's been no information. Ro admits he understands the forensics' lack of detail, given the unprecedented nature of an 18-year-contractor's corpse, though Moku is annoyed they haven't simply reported his state. Ro comments that as Shiba had said, it was better for them to not get their hopes up.
He then proceeds to cover the current situation; the Kamunabi, the Hishaku and Samura were at a stalemate. While the four had been sent to take pre-emptive action, they had found no trace of the Hishaku. Moku voices that with the Hishaku having operated covertly for four years, it would be impossible to track them, and voices his appreciation for the information Chihiro had gained from Hiruhiko. The Masumi then point out that Samura's trail is obvious; by following Owl's spirit energy, they could locate Samura easily. In addition, as the Kamunabi leadership had surmised Owl's presence to be targeting Enchanted Blades, Chihiro drawing Enten could bring Samura to them instantly.
While Ro admits they were the individuals best suited to oppose Samura and comments they want to knock some sense into him, the Kamunabi also wanting to eliminate his threat, the fact that Samura was in prime position to keep the Hishaku in check stayed their hand. With no information on the Hishaku and the possibility that civilians could be harmed, disrupting the balance between Samura and the Hishaku by taking Samura out of the equation for however long would be disastrous. Ro tells Chihiro not to draw Enten, as they have a plan involving leverage they could position against Samura.
Within a Kamunabi office, a subordinate asks the Kamunabi leader with mutton chops about a hostage he had mentioned. The leader states there was a single weakness Samura had, his daughter, but disappointedly notes she had died two years ago of acute heart failure before the Kamunabi could use her to put pressure against Samura.
At the cafe, Chihiro is surprised to hear Samura had a daughter, and Ro brings up the fact that they had visited Samura's house some time ago; he and his wife had divorced sometime ago and were living separately. Ro states after he had heard of Chihiro's death, he remembered Samura considers death to be how he separates himself from people he cares about. Picking up on Ro's comment, Moku tells Chihiro that Samura had only directly given them one direct order, Sumi revealing it was to fake his daughter Iori's death.
Three years ago, the Kamunabi had begun strict surveillance of each blade wielder's family for their safety, which Samura despised, and evidently Samura had contemplated the Kamunabi might use her against him once he had betrayed them. Ro says Iori is currently living a secret identity, and as Chihiro quickly asks whether they planned to use her as a hostage, outrage building on his face, Ro refuses the notion and instead mentions that there was little chance the Hishaku planned to simply battle Samura after their deal was concluded. They would absolutely plan something to use against Samura; that something being Iori.
Moku believes the idea impossible given Iori should be undetectable, but Ro states the convenient timing and inconsistencies on the records may be telling. Sumi still thinks it unlikely they could track her down; the spell they had placed made it impossible for anyone bar the Masumi to recognise Iori as Samura's daughter; not even Samura or Iori herself. It was the price Samura had paid to ensure his daughter's safety; their relation.
KYOTO
Chihiro takes this information in as Ro brings up the Hishaku had already done impossible things, murdering Kunishige and undoing the seal on Shinuchi, so they needed to plan for the worst. Chihiro asks if they can track the seal's state and Sumi responds she can monitor it, nothing having happened so far. Sumi and Moku both agree that it would be best to check on Iori's situation, and Ro states bringing Iori under their protection would serve to rout both Samura and the Hishaku. On board with the plan, Chihiro asks where Iori is; and she is revealed to be in Kyoto.
Elsewhere, two Hishaku members Kuguri and Toto stand in a seafood aisle of a restaurant. Kuguri carries a sword-shaped wrapped package on his back, as he looks at the sliced seafood and comments he also wants to cut something. Toto then walks up to him, telling him not to carry an Enchanted Blade around with him, much less one that wasn't usable, as it was making her nervous. Kuguri responds he needs to deepen his understanding of the blade to prepare for when he can; something Sojo had told him. As Toto asks if he can feel it happening, Kuguri says no, as it is still contracted to someone else and so he cannot forge an understanding of it as of yet.
Toto then brings up a message Yura had told each Hishaku team; "It's almost time". Kuguri believes that due to Hiruhiko's actions, the situation had become more complicated due to Hiruhiko's disorganised actions and strategy, and spitefully adds that Yura spoils him too much. Toto responds in defence of her colleagues, given they were limited at the moment; Hiruhiko was forbidden from using Kumeyuri, and is seen disgruntedly folding paper cranes by hand, both arms having been reattached; though stitches were still visible at the cut.
Kuguri acknowledges the situation and moves on, commenting that at least they could kill for the first time in a while and Toto comments their job is to kidnap a certain individual, though they had no clue where she was, prompting Kuguri's outrage. After hearing Toto report Yura's words that she can't be found, Kuguri realises the decision is a gamble and chews out Yura and Hiruhiko's similar devil-may-care attitudes. Calming him down, Toto adds that Yura had stated if they were to wait, their objective would manifest.
Within a classroom in Kyoto, Iori writes in a textbook.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Chihiro and the Masumi meet at a cafe on the 13th of November to discuss their strategy.
- While they had found no trace of the Hishaku, the Masumi are confident that by following Owl's spirit energy signal they can locate Samura; alternatively, given Owl was set to detect Enchanted Blade-level spirit energy signatures Chihiro drawing Enten would lure Samura to their location instantly.
- The four decide against engaging Samura in combat given he was keeping the Hishaku in check, and without Samura the Hishaku were free to act as they pleased; plus, the four still had little information on the Hishaku's plans.
- Ro decides on leverage instead.
- Within a Kamunabi office, a Kamunabi leader reveals that Samura's daughter Iori had passed away over two years ago.
- The Masumi reveal to Chihiro that they had faked Iori's death on Samura's orders two years ago and placed a spell that ensured nobody bar the Masumi themselves would realise Iori's identity.
- They comment that the Hishaku may plan to use Iori against Samura, and the four decide to head to Iori's location in Kyoto in order to rout both Samura and the Hishaku.
- Elsewhere, two Hishaku members Kuguri and Toto plan to mobilise and kidnap their target, a girl that can't be found. Kuguri carries Subaru's Enchanted Blade on his back, covered.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
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