Osaka

"They're both acting weird, aren't they, Shou?" Takeru commented to Corporal Kagami Shouichi as he lounged on the couch of the inn's lobby.

"I guess, if you say so, sarge," the rookie replied.

"Think about it, Ruka-chan was already there when we barged into Shin's room," he let a dart pin fly from his fingers, adding to the porcupine of pins on the nearby dart board's bullseye.

The lobby was modest, one long green couch was positioned against the wall where Takeru decided to loaf. He must have shot a dozen dart pins against the board across the room — all hitting the bullseye. Two more smaller blue and red couches were on either side, Shou sat on the blue one to the longer couch's right.

Shou shrugged, "Maybe she got there first, hacked the door —"

"And left it closed knowing there's a shinobi attack? Ruka-chan's much too smart for that," Takeru retorted.

"Maybe the shinobi closed them?"

"Maybe you should mind your own business, Sgt Maeda?" Ruka cheekily chimed in as she entered the lobby, a laptop clutched in her arms. Shou stood and gave her a salute, Takeru also gave one but remained lounging on the couch. Ruka returned the gesture and Shou sat back down.

"Just... curious, Ruka-chan," Takeru replied while releasing another dart. Ruka sat on the corner where a small high table was set.

"You can transfer that curiosity as to why the shinobi of Iga attacked the captain last night," Ruka replied.

"And why were they personally led by the Crimson Blade," Shou added.

"That too," Ruka said, pointing at Shou with a lollipop.

Ruka and Shin didn't divulge what Enami Asa told both of them, they just said that the famed kunoichi escaped after noticing she was outmatched by Shin and outnumbered with Ruka's presence.

Ruka leaned her elbows on the table as she typed on her laptop, trying to search for anything related to the shinobi of Iga, Hattori Hanzo, and Enami Asa — well, as much as the internet bothered to publish.

"You saw the Crimson Blade, right?" Takeru asked.

"Uh-huh," Ruka replied absently while scrolling amongst useless articles. She considered hacking the military's database but decided it's too dangerous, not just for her, but also her comrades in the unit.

Another pin hits the bullseye and Takeru sprang up. "Was she pretty?" He asked with a grin cheekier than Ruka's.

Ruka's gaze drifted to the sniper in disbelief. "Seriously? That's what bothers you?"

"What? I'm curious. So is Shou," Takeru nudged Shou with his foot.

"Uh.. yes, Lieutenant," Shou stuttered. "It's just, the Crimson Blade was known not to miss a target — and she failed for the first time. I'm just... nervous, maybe, if she'll strike again."

"That's not what I was asking, Shouichi," Takeru rolled his eyes before laying back down on the couch.

"It's possible," Ruka nodded, placing the lollipop in her mouth, "but unlikely."

"How so?" Shou followed up.

"Because shinobi excel most whenever they have the advantage on two things, Shou," Takeru answered, scoring another bullseye, three pins fell since the mark is already overcrowded with pins. "Do you know what they are?"

"Uhmm... stealth?" Shou replied.

"Close. Surprise is a better term," Takeru nodded.

"What's the difference?"

"Surprise can integrate both stealth, speed, and ferocity of entry, Shou. Having all of those ensures panic even if they're discovered, allowing for a smaller force to usually overwhelm a bigger one before they can organize," Ruka answered.

Shou nodded, then turned to Takeru, "and the second?"

"What do you need when you don't have the element of surprise?" Takeru responded.

"Uhmmmm... I overwhelm the enemy, with numbers."

"Bullseye," Takeru smirked, firing another one at the dart board.

"And since they've been discovered and security is heightened... it is indeed unlikely they'll strike," Shou nodded.

"Fast learner. Proud of you, Shou," Takeru grinned, shooting the last of his darts, it would have hit the bullseye, but it's filled with too many pins that it just fell to the floor.

Ruka then heaved a big sigh. She leaned back in frustration at the useless articles in the internet.

"You can drop that, Ruka-chan," Takeru said, grabbing a nearby stress ball and started playing catch with the ceiling. "The internet would be as helpful as the investigators that are scouring the room as we speak."

Ruka groaned and removed the lollipop from her mouth, "I just hate not doing anything while the captain is 'reporting' to the White Tiger."

"It's SOP, Ruka-chan. That asshole's still our commanding officer."

"They're taking too long though," Shou commented as he looked at his watch.

"Relax," Takeru snickered. "Ryu probably just got lost while driving. Echigo's a maze after all."

And just in time, the lobby doors opened, with Shin entering. All three soldiers stood in attention and gave their salute.

"As you were," Shin commanded flatly after giving a salute in response — all three sat.

"Took your time, Shin," Takeru quipped, still tossing the stress ball upward.

"Ryu got lost," Shin replied.

"Told ya," Takeru grinned at Shou who chuckled back nervously.

Shin made his way towards the table Ruka was sitting on. He noticed the fallen darts and picked it up. Noticing Takeru's stress ball, Shin threw the four darts sideways, hitting the ball in the air.

"Showoff," Takeru smirked when the ball landed again on his hand.

Takamura Ryunosuke finally entered the lobby, laughing awkwardly and was obviously blushing.

"Yo! Ryu!" Takeru greeted. "Heard you got lost — whoaaa!" Takeru stood, eyes growing wide.

"And that's why Ryu got lost," Shin chuckled as he sat opposite Ruka.

A girl followed Ryu through the door. She was pretty — almost ethereally so. And the uniform only added to the aesthetic, buttoned blouse and a pencil skirt hugging her slim body – she could have been a model if she wanted to.

"Hello there," Takeru slowly made his way to the girl with his signature attempt at suave and coolness.

"Attention, boys!" Shin barked, forcing Takeru and Ryu to stiffen at attention. Even Shou was slow to stand, captivated by the girl. Ruka leaned her head against her hand on the table, smirking amusedly at the situation before her. "Now that's nostalgic" the Lieutenant muttered.

"More like deja vu," Shin quipped back, both of them chuckling as they both remembered the time Ruka joined the unit. It was almost a mirror situation, with the exception that Shou wasn't a member yet.

"Can you introduce yourself first, Corporal," Shin commanded the girl.

"Yes sir!" She replied with confidence then bowed. "I am Tanaka Anna... Corporal Tanaka Anna, sir," the girl stuttered, Shin and Ruka's smirk widened while the three other guys seemed awestruck. "I've been assigned to the Black Dragon unit from now on..."

"Black Dragon?" Ruka whispered and Shin just shrugged, tapping his black katana with the dragon tsuba.

"... I'll be serving as your logistics and supplies officer... and perform other tasks that may be required of me. I'll be in your care!" Anna bowed enthusiastically as she finished her introduction. Her hair flipped when she stood back up, and Shou audibly gasped.

"Thanks, Anna. Your turn boys," Shin ordered, "by order of seniority." He leaned back and winked at Ruka who was chuckling at Shin with disbelief.

Ryunosuke cleared his throat awkwardly. "You've already met... ahem..."

"You sound parched, Ryu," Shin teased.

Ruka hit his arm lightly, "You're evil, cap," she whispered while trying hard not to laugh herself. Shin just pursed his lips and shrugged.

"Just... tired from driving, cap... I mean, Shin."

Anna smirked then covered her mouth with the back of her hand, clearly she found the situation funny but was still trying to respect her new senior officers.

"Proceed, Ryu," Shin's voice almost broke to laughter.

"Yes... I... uh.. I am Sgt Takamura Ryunosuke... weapons specialist..." Ryu continued, looking straight at the wall rather than Anna.

"More like weapons addict," Ruka whispered to Shin.

"I'm uh... five foot ten... I love to work out..."

"Stay professional, Ryu," Shin interjected.

"Yes... so, uhm... if you need help with anything... you can call me Ryu..."

"That didn't make sense, Ryu," Takeru chuckled. Anna also couldn't help it as a soft giggle escapes her lips.

Ryu scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "She already knows me, Shin. I drove both of you here —"

"And got lost in her eyes?" Ruka quipped.

"You beat me by half a second, Ruka-chan..." Takeru panned his head and raised an eyebrow at Ruka. The Lieutenant stuck her tongue out mischievously.

"I think he's really sweet," Anna said with a sweet smile — and Ryu seemed like he wanted to melt on the spot.

"If you think that's sweet, then you haven't met me," Takeru lowered his voice. If he did this in the presence of people he didn't know, he'd immediately be labeled a creep — good thing there are forces here that can keep him in check.

Takeru approached Anna and extended his hand, "Sgt Maeda Takeru, marksman extraordinaire..."

Anna hesitantly stretched her own hand, looking at Shin and Ruka with a confused expression.

Takeru continued unbothered, "... and I will be your samurai in shining —"

"Just bow to the girl, Takeru," Shin chuckled.

"Yep, I'm just gonna bow to the beautiful girl," Takeru immediately withdrew his hand and bowed to the girl.

Anna stared at the two officers, she was too confused it was adorable.

"He'll never let your hand go," Ruka quipped.

"And she's speaking from experience," Shin added, making the squad snicker at Takeru's expense.

"I was trying to welcome Ruka-chan, Shin," Takeru quipped back, making Ruka raise an eyebrow.

"That wasn't wholly my impression," Ruka cut in.

"Speaking of which," Takeru ignored Ruka and faced Anna again, "may I call you Anna-chan —?"

"No, you may not," Shin answered before Anna can reply.

The girl seemed so confused and out of place, that Shin hoped she wasn't considering a transfer. On the other hand Shin can also see that the girl is experiencing a good kind of confusion — like she's experiencing something new and just doesn't know how to handle it.

"I don't recall your name being Anna, Shin," Takeru retorted flatly.

"Sgt Maeda may call me —" Anna began.

"No, he may not," it was Ruka this time, not even bothering to hide her laughter.

"Even you, Ruka-chan?" Takeru whined, exaggeratedly at the "betrayal." Ruka shrugged nonchalantly.

Shin let the laughter die down. Then Anna's eyes turn to Shouichi expectantly — and the boy was frozen.

"Your turn, Shou," Shin said quietly as a light tension settles within the lobby — and Shouichi still didn't move.

"Shou," Ruka whispered softly.

Shouichi stirred, "Oh. Sorry. I... uh... uhmmm... Corporal Kagami Shouichi... in charge with... uhm... equipment... and..." she turned to Ruka with an urgent expression.

"Communications," Ruka provided.

"Yes, that... communications..." Shou turned back to face Anna awkwardly. "And... I... uhmm..."

"You were staring," Anna said softly.

Shouichi froze for about three heartbeats. Shin and Ruka's gazes met, and they both smiled connivingly — like proud siblings who were playing wingmen for their younger brother.

Shouichi then exhaled before releasing an airy breath. "I'm sorry... it's just... uhm... you're... beautiful... like, really beautiful."

Anna visibly blushed, "Thank you," she responded in a shy whisper. "I think you're pretty cute too..." the girl added, her gaze fluttering from the floor then to Shou. To the sides, Ryunosuke smiled softly while Takeru grinned naughtily, both however, looked like two idiot brothers who are proud of their not yet idiot younger brother.

"Now," Ruka slammed her palms on the table playfully, making both Anna and Shou jump in surprise, cutting the tension and allowing the two rookies to breathe.

"I am Lieutenant Kawai Ruka, tech specialist..." she made her way towards Anna who was now smiling widely, "...and pretty much everything that you need a brain for, I'm in charge of." She clasped Anna's shoulders, "and finally, finally, another brain cell is added to this unit," she pulled Anna close and made a show of crying at Anna's shoulders.

"I don't think it's that bad..." Anna muttered hesitantly while tapping Ruka's shoulders instinctively.

"It is that bad!" Ruka pulled away. "You said you'll be in charge of logistics and supplies?"

Anna nodded, her eyes darting towards each member of the unit.

"That guy," Ruka pointed at Ryu who jumped and straightened himself again. "He requests for the loudest and biggest weapons. Does he think fifty caliber machine guns, shoulder mounted miniguns, and massive 10 foot naginatas are easy to find?! Not to mention the costs and the justification I have to make to the higher ups to grant that request?! I can't just say a freaking giant of a man wanted to play with it, right?!"

"Ruka —" Shin called, but the Lieutenant was on a roll.

"And him," Ruka pointed at Takeru who gave the most charismatically creepy smile he can muster. "He's a walking red flag not just to women but also to the MP. His only redeeming quality is that he never misses any shot."

Takeru's smile immediately vanished, "That hurts, Ruka-chan —"

"And Shou!" Ruka pointed at Shou, making the boy fidget from where he stood. Ruka faced Anna again and smiled, "He's a really sweet guy, you suit each other. I hope you get along well," she finished in a tender and gentle tone.

"Lieutenant Kawai —" Shin called again.

"And you've already met Captain Sanada Shinsuke. He tries hard to look cool and intimidating, but he's actually a softie deep inside."

"Lieutenant Kawai Ruka —!" Shin raised his voice yet it held no venom nor heat. It did carry a little bit of amusement.

"Well, that's all," Ruka chirped after giving a small exhale. She pursed her lips and nodded on satisfaction, frighteningly transitioning to her usual cheerful self. Anna on the other hand, seemed awfully overloaded with information.

"That felt good... and... I may have been carried away," she remarked with a grin after noting the faces of everyone else in the lobby.

"Anyway, it's good to finally have a girl with me in the unit. Let's get along well," Ruka clapped the girl's shoulder and Anna bowed shakily.

Ruka practically skipped back to her seat with not a care on the gazes of disbelief in the men's eyes.

"What?" Ruka asked innocently when she noted Shin's gaze.

"You do realized you just shot every guy in this room," Takeru muttered.

Ruka just shrugged with a satisfied smirk.

"Anyway," Shin cut off with a hand to his forehead. "Now that introductions are over, everybody, take a seat."

Ryu cautiously moved to the longer couch. Shou turned around to face the two officers before taking a seat. Takeru swiped his hand and dusted off the smaller red couch to the long couch's left before gesturing for Anna to sit. The girl dipped her head in gratitude before she sat. Finally, Takeru sat beside Ryu on the long couch.

Shin waited until all have settled down. He usually liked these briefings, but with what Asa revealed last night and what the White Tiger's response was, this would be one of the heaviest briefings he'll have to do — not because of what he was about to say, but what he was not going to say.

"So, where do we start?" Takeru asked.

Shin and Ruka exchanged glances. Shin nodded and sighed before facing the squad again.

"You all know what happened last night. You've also heard about it, Corporal Tanaka?"

"Yes, sir," the girl replied.

"Tell us what you know so far," Ruka said.

"Well... uhm... you were attacked last night. Shinobis from Iga. Fourteen dead. Broken window... implying some escaped. That's about it, Lieutenant."

Ruka and Shin exchanged another glance — she does not know about Asa. Either that information was withheld or it still didn't reach her — chances are it's the former.

The rest of the squad knows, but not what Asa discussed, not telling Anna would only alienate her, and it's not good in building trust between the unit.

"There's only one who escaped," Shin sighed. "The Crimson Blade, Enami Asa."

Anna's eyes grow wide, a hand flies to cover her mouth as she gasped. "The Crimson... but she never fails a hit."

"Until last night," Takeru said with a proud grin.

"Are the investigators finished?" Shin asked.

"No, they're still turning that room upside down," Takeru replied.

"Although the bodies were already removed about two hours ago," Shou added.

Shin nodded. "The investigators won't see anything new. Iga shinobi are thorough, even in failure."

"So what now, taicho?" Shou asked.

"What did the White Tiger say?" Ruka followed.

Shin sighed, "Nothing significant. I gave my report, he gave the usual responses. Then turned us over to his aide-de-camp."

"Ungrateful prick," Ryu spat. "After you won him the campaign, that's how he treats you—"

"Let it go, Ryu," Shin said. Ryu growled, one last act of defiance.

"Anyway," Shin continued, "we have orders... we leave today..." he then faced Ruka, "... to Osaka." Thankfully, Ruka just nodded, never showing any reaction that they expected this through Asa's message last night.

"Osaka?" Shou asked.

"What's in Osaka?" Takeru followed.

"Military honors for this campaign," Shin replied. "We'll be received by the Shogun council for our... 'exemplary service'."

"The Shogun council?" Ruka asked in shock. "That high?"

"Yep," Ryu replied. "Tiger bastard looked furious, like he was upstaged."

"That's his fault," Takeru followed, "ordering us to commit sabotage operations and precision strikes —"

"And sending Sanada-taicho to duels," Shou added.

"You all sound like you don't like Colonel Daigoro Shirotora," Anna commented hesitantly.

"It's more a matter of personal principle rather than professionalism, Corporal Tanaka," Ryu replied.

"I hope you don't judge us immediately with this, Anna," Ruka added. "Observe us first and why we are the way we are. If you feel uncomfortable with our... views and principles, we won't stop you if you ask for a transfer."

Anna took some time to consider. "Thank you, Lieutenant. I'll... uh.. I'll take your advice."

"Thank you," Ruka responded then she turned towards Shin. "So, Shogun council, what are you planning, Cap?"

"Before that..." Ryu raised a hand.

Shin closed his eyes and exhaled, "Let me guess, you know nothing about the Shogun council?"

Ryu chuckled awkwardly.

"Muscle-brain," Ruka can't help but giggle.

"Seriously bro?" Even Takeru stared at Ryu with disbelief. "You've been in the army, and in this life, the longest among us and you don't know about this?"

"Corporals, can you kindly explain to our... sweet... Sergeant Takamura what the Shogun council is," Shin ordered in frustration and Ryu blushed in embarrassment.

Shou and Anna exchanged a glance, and as the senior, Shou began explaining. "The Shogun council is a... triumvirate... composed of the clans of the three great unifiers of Japan during the Sengoku Jidai, each member taking the name of that unifier."

"Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu," Anna added. "Together, they form the highest authority in Japan — from military, economy, to internal and external policies."

"Below them are the hatamoto," Shou said after Anna paused for a breath. "Composed of five great clans, the Date of the North and Hokkaido, the Takeda of the Eastern half of Honshu, the Mori of the Western half..." Shou paused to breathe and Anna immediately took over.

"The Chosokabe of Shikoku, and the Shimazu of Kyushu."

Ryu nodded, then his eyes widen in what seemed to be a eureka moment. "Then why are we fighting here in the Takeda's side of Honshu when Lord Shimazu's sphere of control is at Kyushu?"

"The Takeda were in a succession struggle at the start of the campaign, the Mori on the other hand, are preoccupied with Chinese aggression in the sea, the Chosokabe are isolationists, and the Date straight up refused to be involved — understandable considering Uesugi Kagetatsu and Lady Date Himawari are cousins," Shin replied. "Some internal politics may also be at play, what we know is that the Shogun council ordered us to take the Uesugi rebellion down because we're probably the only army ready and willing to respond."

"It's like we never left the feudal age," Takeru quipped.

"Got everything, Ryu-san?" Ruka asked Ryu.

"Honestly... no," Ryu replied making the senior members laugh while Shou and Anna dipped their heads for the wasted effort.

"I expected nothing less, Ryu," Shin commented dryly, making Ryu chuckle in embarrassment.

"Anyway, we'll probably get more answers at Osaka," Ruka remarked.

"That we do. Any more questions?" Shin asked.

Anna raised a hand, "Uhm.. when are we leaving?"

"Today," Shin answered. "The truck's outside. Boys, you load them up. Ruka, help Anna settle in."

"Got it, Cap," Ruka replied while the boys nodded.

"And you, Shin?" Takeru inquired.

"I'm gonna have a talk with the investigators up top, they're surely taking their time in my room."

Takeru nodded in acknowledgment.

"Anything else?"

No one answered.

"Okay, you have your orders. Dismissed."

The squad stands and files out. Takeru however, waits for Shin and Ruka at the door.

"Sgt Maeda, it's rare for you to wait for us," Ruka chirped, her smirking indicates she knows where this conversation's going.

"Just... humor my curiosity," Takeru said, rolling his shoulders like he's anxious or excited.

"Go ahead," Shin replied, eyebrows furrowed.

"What was Ruka-chan doing in your room last night?"

Shin turned to Ruka.

"It's just... the timelines don't make sense. She was there already when we barged in, and the door was locked... and..."

"She was there for official matters, Takeru," Shin lied. "You do understand confidentiality, right?"

"But at the dead of the night..."

"This is the military. You lived long enough in this career to know that some matters needed to be discussed, even during unholy hours," Shin replied.

"Okay. Fine. I rest my case." Takeru said, raising his hands in surrender, although he didn't sound like he was surrendering.

"Good. For that, you'll be joining the boys at the front of the truck while we travel."

"What?! But I wanted to get to know Anna a lot —"

"That's for being nosy, my friend," Shin and Ruka snickered.

"And you two?" Takeru bit back. "Are you both going to be chummy at the back?"

"Hmmm," Shin hummed. "There's plenty of time for that at Osaka."

Takeru's mouth drops.

"Awww. You're going to make me blush, Cap," Ruka doubled down, flirtatiously hitting Shin's arm lightly.

"What the hell are both of you doing?" Takeru asked, clearly not expecting this reaction.

"Humoring your curiosity, Takeru," Shin replied cheekily while holding his arm out.

"Why, thank you, Cap," Ruka teased further after looping her own arm around Shin's.

The two officers proceeded to the stairs, leaving a dumb founded Maeda Takeru at the lobby.
————————————————————————————-

"Let me help with that," Shou politely said, bending over to pick Anna's suitcase and loading it in the back of the truck.

The air was still a bit humid, with the storm the previous night and the punishing heat of the noontime sky — good thing the wind remained cool and blowing.

"Thank you, Shou-kun," Anna replied, blushing and brushing her hair behind her ear.

"'Shou-kun?' Already? That was quick," Takeru teased, loading his suitcase that held his beloved sniper rifle, it didn't even make a sound with how careful he placed it. "You both chummy already, like our two officers?"

"What are you talking about, Maeda-san?" Anna asked.

Shou sighed after loading his own stuff in the truck. "Takeru-san had this suspicion that Sanada-taicho and Lieutenant Kawai slept together last night."

Anna's eyes widened.

"Again, think about it..." Takeru began

"I honestly don't want to hear it again, Takeru-san," Shou politely refused.

"She could have arrived earlier? Or if she was already there, maybe they were talking about official business?" Anna suggested.

"Hmmm," Takeru huffed, still unconvinced. "What do you think, Ryu?"

Ryu approached with a massive chest slung on his shoulder.

"What the hell is that?" Anna gasped softly.

"Ryu-san's box of WMDs," Shou replied. "Lieutenant Ruka wasn't joking about the weapons, Tanaka-san."

The sound of metal clanking — no, not just metal, heavy freaking metal, made it look like the Sergeant was carrying an arsenal full of war crimes waiting to happen. Anna maintained her shocked expression until the chest disappeared inside.

"What were you asking about, Takeru?" Ryu asked, clapping to remove the dust on his hands.

"Shin and Ruka-chan, Ryu," Takeru whispered as if the wind was listening. "Do you think they're... you know..."

"This again?" Ryu replied in irritation. "Honestly, what business is that of us if they did? It's not prohibited as I recall."

"Huh," Takeru scoffed. "You know about that but you don't know about the Shogun council?"

Anna and Shou suppressed a giggle.

"And this morning, they seem terrifyingly in sync, and those eye contacts, and when did Shin start casually calling her just "Ruka" —?!"

"Just give it a rest, Takeru. Shin was stressed yesterday, with the duel then that ugly mess of an execution. Maybe Lieutenant Kawai —"

"Comforted him?" Takeru offered.

"Talked to him," Ryu finished. "We can't just jump to conclusions. And besides, think if she wasn't there, would Shin be able to survive against fifteen Iga shinobi, one of them is Enami Asa, with the element of surprise and numbers on their side?"

"Damn," Takeru muttered, "I know I won't."

"None of us would," Shou added.

"Exactly," Ryu concluded.

"Wait," Anna interjected, "Ruka-san can fight?"

The three men laughed. "We fear her more than we fear Shin, Anna-chan," Takeru replied.

"She looked so... soft and bright this morning," Anna muttered.

"Hah!" Ryu laughed. "She looked like a freaking war goddess when we barged into Shin's room last night."

"That image probably won't leave my mind anytime soon," Takeru confessed.

"Pistol in one hand, a wakizashi in the other, blood stained clothes, sweat-soaked skin, and fourteen bodies on her feet," Shou said, awe and amazement evident in his voice. "Of course not all of those were her kills but, we're used to Sanada-taicho being cool but... Lieutenant Kawai was aura farming more than Sanada-taicho was last night."

"And she's supposed to be a tech specialist? And I'm supposed to work beside her?" Anna remarked.

"She's not terrifying when she's sitting in front of her monitors. Just don't give her a drawn blade or a loaded gun and enemies to point it to," Ryu joked, making Anna laugh hesitantly.

Takeru began scratching his chin, "If I had to rank, it would be Shin, me and Ryu, then Ruka-chan —"

"The Lieutenant's above you, Takeru," Ryu interjected.

"What?!"

"You're the better shot, Takeru-san, the best arguably," Shou began. "But in close quarters, Lieutenant Kawai has you beat, and she can shoot too."

"So she's second best?" Anna asked.

"Third," Shou replied. "Why do you think it's Ryu-san that Sanada-taicho chose as his second during the duel?"

"Thank you, Shou," Ryu proudly extended a palm and Shou responded with a high five.

"You all done loading?" Ruka's voice carried after exiting the inn.

"Yes, ma'am," Shou replied as they all stood at attention.

"Good, boys, get in front. Shou, you're driving," Ruka ordered, tossing Shou the keys.

The boys moved upfront with Takeru still grumbling. Ruka approached Anna, "How are you faring so far?"

Anna looked at her with a look of reverence that seemed to disarm Ruka. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Ruka asked, suddenly conscious.

"No, nothing, ma'am," Anna stuttered.

"Spit it out, Corporal," Ruka wearily responded.

"Uhhmmm..." the Corporal began. "It's just that, the others were saying that you're like... the third best fighter in the unit."

"Only the third?" Ruka sarcastically jokes. "The Captain's obviously number one but who's second?"

"Takamura-san," Anna replied.

Ruka snapped her head, furrowed her brows, and pursed her lips, "Yep, that tracks. Wouldn't want to fight five foot ten of pure muscle. Well," she shrugged, "as long as I'm above Maeda-san, I'm satisfied even if I'm second to the last."

Anna giggled, exposing that pretty smile which Ruka can't help but reciprocate. "So, is Sanada-taicho one of the best fighters in Japan?" Anna asked.

"In the Shimazu ranks he probably is," Ruka replied. "But in Japan... there's the new lord of the Takeda — the Entei, Takeda Benimaru-sama. There's also the Chosokabe clan's Rairyu — Agatsuma Denjiro. The White Sword of the Mori can also be considered — Mori Yuuki-sama. And then there's the Shogun council's personal blade — Kaze no Yaiba, Fujibayashi Inoue..." Ruka paused as she thought of other notable fighters.

"And then there's Sanada-taicho, the Black Dragon," Anna finishes.

Ruka pursed her lips then nodded, "Yeah. That's probably where I'll put him."

"Top five, huh," Shin's voice suddenly breaks the conversation, making the girls jump in surprise as they didn't notice nor sense his approach. "That's high praise, Ruka. Although if I could also add — I'll put Myoui Mina in that list."

"The Black Swan?" Ruka muttered. "Reports say she's dead —"

"In a car accident? No body found? And with skills like hers — I highly doubt that," Shin countered.

He offered a hand to aid Ruka in climbing the truck. The Lieutenant unfortunately didn't see it and just jumped over casually. Anna suppressed another giggle as Shin stared blankly in the distance, hand still extended. He blinked twice, then scoffed in faux indignation.

Ruka turns, curious as to why Anna is giggling only to realize what she did — or what she didn't do after seeing Shin's hand.

"Oh, shit," Ruka exclaimed, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "Sorry, Cap. I wasn't paying —"

"Wasn't paying attention to your superior officer while he's trying to be a gentleman, yes. Want me to strap you in with the boys, Lieutenant Kawai?" Shin remarked flatly but unthreateningly.

"I'll cover for Kawai-san, taicho," Anna kept giggling while taking Shin's hand. Ruka on the other hand, extended hers, Anna took it. Ruka pulled Anna in while Shin steadied her.

"Thank you, Corporal. You're off the hook for the time being, Lieutenant," Shin said once Anna was inside the truck.

"I'll make it up to you, Cap. Thanks, Anna-chan," Ruka said as Shin vaults in the truck in one swift motion.

The truck had its seat set by its side in order to give space for the equipment and personal belongings of the squad — a third of the space was occupied by Ryu's WMD chest. Still, it was spacious enough to allow Shin and the ladies to sit comfortably, they could even lie down if they wanted to.

Ruka sat behind the driver's seat, Anna sat beside her, while Shin took the seat opposite them. The boys were separated by the truck's cabin although there was a small sliding window that can be opened in order to talk to them.

Shin nodded at Ruka while placing his swords across his chest. The Lieutenant nodded, she banged her fist on the cabin wall and opened the sliding window. "You three good back there?"

Ryu gave a thumbs up, grinning because Takeru was grumbling for being squeezed between him and Shou.

"Good, start it, Shou."

"Do I really have to be —" Takeru's complaints was drowned when Ruka slid the window close.

Ruka turned to Shin and grinned with satisfaction when he gave her a thumbs up.

They felt the truck vibrate as the electric engine charged to life.

"So, it's going to be a fourteen hour ride, give or take," Shin began. "Don't you think it's time for the officers to know more about our new rookie," he said with a soft grin at Anna.

Anna recoiled, taken in surprise by Shin's words. She turned to Ruka who gave her an encouraging nod.

"Well..." Anna straightened and started softly, "I... uh..."

"And don't tell me anything that's already in your file. Ruka and I already gave it a read," Shin added in firmly.

The girl bit her lip in contemplation. She looked outside the truck as it finally started to move outside the inn and into the streets of Echigo.

"I am... part of the assimilated forces," Anna began hesitantly.

"You were part of the Toyama defense force. And Toyama joined Uesugi in its rebellion," Ruka provided. "When it surrendered, you were absorbed in the Shimazu force under Colonel Shirotora, that is in your file, Corporal."

"I know," Anna dipped her head. "I just... I know why you're asking. Why did someone who participated in the Uesugi rebellion requested to be part of your unit. If protocols are followed, I should be referred back to the Takeda, along with all rebel forces."

"You were just following orders," Ruka softly placed a hand on the Corporal's shoulder.

"I'm one of the spoils of war, Kawai-san," Anna continued softly. Ruka turned to Shin who clutched his swords a little tighter.

"Tradition dictates that I could be reassigned to other units so long as no formal treaty has been made. And I... don't want to be reabsorbed in the Takeda forces. I'll just be alienated and treated as a rebel," the girl paused, and Ruka and Shin gave her the time and space she needs.

Then she raised her head, a different kind of fire flickered in her eyes, "so I decided to put matters in my own hands — and request a transfer before it's too late."

"Now that was not in the file," Ruka smiled faintly, turning to Shin who was calmly listening intently.

"Then why choose our unit?" Shin asked.

"I... uh..." Anna hesitated. "I saw you, during the execution of Uesugi-sama. How you nearly drew your blade against Colonel Daigoro Shirotora for what he did... and I thought..." she bit her lip before continuing, "I thought that if you would show mercy to a disgraced lord, then surely you would accept someone who wants to choose her own place in the world," Anna finished, her eyes bore at Shin with a resolve that wasn't there when she introduced herself — or it was already there, just needed the right push.

Shin smiled, faintly, almost like he didn't want it to be seen — but Ruka did, though Anna may not have.

"Get some rest, both of you," Shin sighed as he stretched his legs on the seat. "We have a long trip ahead," and he closed his eyes.

Anna and Ruka exchanged a glance. The Lieutenant squeezed the Corporal's hand tenderly and gave her a warm and reassuring smile which the younger girl reciprocated. She glanced outside, just in time to see the gates close as the truck left Echigo.
—————————————————————

Osaka is massive. Towering skyscrapers, with scattered pockets of nature and cultural heritage sites — shrines, temples, even some small castles. It's like the modern world grew around small pockets of feudal Japan. The sounds were a cacophony of two different ages as well, the horns of vehicles from drivers none too pleased with military convoys cutting through traffic were mixed with temple bells, creating an off beat harmony fitting with the city's identity.

The squad arrived at early morning, having rested for a few hours at an inn along the road before completing the journey. Now they traverse the highway, a few other military convoys joined them along the way, one of them was a black van emblazoned with a flaming horse on either side. In front was painted the sigil of the Takeda clan, with its banners fluttering at the side.

"Takeda Benimaru's first official meeting with the shogun council and his fellow hatamoto," Ruka quietly said, her hair blown by the morning breeze when they unfurled the trucks's cover to get a good look of the Great Lord's convoy. Seven SUVs — all of which no doubt heavily armored.

Ryu was now driving, and Shin instructed him to keep a respectful distance behind the Entei's convoy.

"What do you think is his personality?" Anna asked.

"Well, he's one of the best fighters in the country. And he just wrested control over his clan during a succession struggle," Ruka replied. "I'd say he's a hardened man. He had to fight his kin for control of his clan," Ruka then nodded at Shin, "what do you think, Cap?"

"Of the two things you said," Shin began as he watched the convoy in front of them intently, "only the latter was correct."

Both girls looked at Shin in confusion, "What do you mean, taicho?" Anna furrowed her brows.

"We'll have an audience with the council and the hatamoto tonight, you'll see what I'm talking about."

The two women shared a confused glance. It didn't seem like Shin was in a mood to talk anymore though — that's because they turned into a corner, and finally saw Osaka castle looming straight ahead.

The castle seemed relatively unchanged since the Sengoku Jidai. Massive renovations were conducted though in order to make the interior modernized but still retaining the traditional aesthetic of the feudal age.

The layout also remained the same, yet the traditional buildings were replaced by modern ones. These were now used as office spaces, quarters for servants and personnel, as well as some storage depots. The size of it made the convoy looked small — hell, it made Shin feel insignificant, even if he had been here for a handful of times, the first being his graduation at the academy.

The Entei's convoy was allowed entry with no obstructions – Shin's unit however, was hailed to a stop at the front gate.

"Identification!" The officer at the gate barked.

"Shimazu force. 507th. Black Dragon!" Ruka gave the identification given by Colonel Shirotora's aide-de-camp.

The officer checked a ledger, he flipped through the pages as he walked around the truck.

"Is Captain Sanada Shinsuke aboard?" He asked by the passenger seat where Shou sat.

"He is," Shou answered indifferently, signalling to the back of the truck with his thumb.

The officer nodded and moved on until he was looking up at Shin, "I need confirmation that you are Sanada—" he said in a bored, borderline disrespectful tone.

In a move so swift that it took Anna a whole second to process, Shin drew his katana, a black blade with a dragon tsuba, and rested the tip to the officer's cheek.

"Is this confirmation enough?" Shin said low, menacing, threateningly calm.

The officer shook in alarm and fright as he stared at the blade and the eyes of the dragon tsuba staring at his eyes. Anna's breath hitched, she understood his reaction, she knew she would also be reacting the same way if she were in that officer's shoes. Ruka on the other hand, had her hand hovering over her sidearm.

"Watch your tone, if you spoke like you did to me when Takeda Benimaru's convoy arrived, your head would be floating on the moat before you could apologize," Shin said, deathly calm and quiet.

"Yes, taicho. I apologize for the disrespect," the officer nodded urgently. "Let them... let them pass," he signalled to his comrades by the gatehouse.

Shin sheathed his blade as Ryu moved the truck forward, driving through a bridge that was built over the castle's moat.

"Was that necessary?" Anna whispered to Ruka.

"Reprimanding someone of disrespect, yes, but not that extreme probably, if it were me. Something's got him in a bad mood," Ruka whispered back.

"Will we be okay?"

"Don't worry too much, I'll try my best to reel him in."

Ryu drove them towards a series of complexes to the east of the central keep. They were flagged at a tori gate by another officer. Shin leapt from the side of the truck then knocked on the passenger side door. "Shou, with me," Shouichi nodded and disembarked.

On the other side, Ruka also leapt but ordered Anna to stay. She met Shin and Shou in front of the officer.

"Sanada Shinsuke-taicho," the officer, dressed in a black military coat, greeted and saluted a lot more respectfully than the officer by the outer entrance.

"Lieutenant," Shin saluted back, so did Ruka and Shou.

"I'm afraid only you and Lieutenant Kawai will be allowed inside at the moment," the officer said. "Your men meanwhile," he pulled out a piece of paper from within his coat, "could arrange for your squad's lodgings, as indicated in this missive."

Shin received the paper and passed it to the Corporal, "Arrange our lodgings, Shou." Shou received the paper, bowed and made his way to the truck.

"Get in the back, Shou," Ruka said quietly. "Keep Anna company," she said with a soft smile, making Anna and Shou blush.

Shou gave the paper to Ryu who was driving before proceeding to the back of the truck to accompany Anna.

"See you later, taicho," Ryu saluted before driving off.

Finally, the officer stepped aside, allowing Shin and Ruka through the tori gate and into the castle's central keep.

Shin moved with purpose, that being the wish to leave this place as soon as possible. Of all the castles he had the privilege of visiting — he hated Osaka the most. Edo is different, it's a military hub so he felt more at ease there. Osaka is politics, cloaks and daggers, honeyed words laced with poison, sweet nothings that would put ones lover to shame.

"You look... annoyed, Cap," Ruka whispered cautiously as she struggled to keep up with Shin's strides.

Shin didn't answer, not immediately. They walked through a garden of cherry blossoms, some are still in full bloom, though most are scattered on the ground. They passed another tori gate and into a covered courtyard held by massive pillars.

"I don't like this place," Shin said as they walked through. "Too many shadows. The walls have eyes, and the wind has ears."

"You had your graduation ceremony here, right?" Ruka asked.

"We did," a female voice replied. Shin and Ruka stopped.

They didn't even sense her, probably because they were both slowly getting annoyed and irritated. The girl was leaning against a pillar. She wore the same uniform that Shin does, except for the hat with the sigil of the Shogun council. On her waist was two blades, a katana and a wakizashi sheathed in pink scabbards and hilts with cherry blossoms as a tsuba. She was maybe an inch shorter than Ruka, with pink hair and an equally playful grin.

"It's been a while, I had hoped it would have extended longer," Ruka greeted with formality, yet she didn't dare hide the irritation in her voice, "Captain Miyawaki Sakura, the Blade of Spring," she saluted with a forced smile.

"Ruka-chaaan!" Sakura greeted and returned the salute. "How's my favorite kouhai doing? Am I still your favorite senpai or did Shin-kun already took that place?"

"You were never my favorite senpai, senpai," Ruka replied wearily.

"Ouch," Sakura replied playfully. "Is that because Shin-kun and I were once a thing –?"

"We were never a thing, Kkura," Shin turned to Sakura with a weariness rivaling Ruka's. Ruka on the other hand, stole a glance at Shin after using the old nickname Sakura used during their academy days.

"Was it one-sided, then? Ouch," Sakura playfully giggled.

"Why are you here anyway?"

"To meet both of you, of course. Especially you," Sakura pointed at Shin while she pushed herself off the pillar. "You're making a name for yourself, "Black Dragon," the teasing edge in her voice was laced with pride. "Heard the Shogun council will be giving you and your squad military honors tonight... in person."

"You wear their sigil on your head, of course you knew," Shin mocked yet kept his tone soft.

"Hmmm... maybe I do," Sakura hummed.

"What makes me more curious though," she circles behind them, her steps measured, deliberate. "Is if you both really survived a night with the Crimson Blade, and unscathed for that matter."

"You doubt our skills, senpai?" Ruka challenged.

"Oh, I don't doubt Shin's. Just yours, Ruka-chan," Sakura teased almost innocently.

"You'd be surprised," Shin countered. "She killed at least eight Iga shinobi on her own."

Ruka gave a proud and teasing smirk, which Sakura reciprocated with equal sarcasm as she moved in front of the pair.

"I bet I'm at least equal to you now, Kkura-senpai..." Ruka mockingly paused, more for dramatic effect, and to get under Sakura's skin.

Sakura scoffed, "I doubt that."

Ruka shrugged, "Shame that we're not allowed to test it out here in the castle."

"Yes, what a shame," Sakura replied, low but her mouth was twitching. Her hand was on her katana, while Ruka slowly placed her hands behind her back, one of which slowly gripped the tanto tied behind her waist.

Shin eyed both women, he knew how good both are. Sakura was better during their academy days — but she's been sheltered in the Shogun council.

During those years though, Ruka was with him through battles, not just behind the monitors, but also during sparring — she would also sometimes take to the field if the mission requires it. Shin now concludes that Ruka has the edge when it comes to real combat experience.

Still, fighting isn't allowed inside Osaka castle, especially amongst officers. He would love to violate it himself but right now it is Ruka that Sakura is goading into a fight – and he has command responsibility — but only until blades or guns are actually drawn.

Sakura stops in front of them, a confident smirk on her lips. "Do you think I'm a match against the Crimson Blade, Shin-kun?"

"Maybe," Shin replied.

"Do you think Ruka-chan is a match against her?"

A breath, a gust of wind, a reply — "Yes."

And Sakura draws.

Ruka reacts.

Shin moves.

He held Ruka's arm back before she could fully draw her tanto. He waited until Sakura has drawn fully though, before intercepting her sword arm.

"Smart," Sakura snickered, smirking as she stared at Shin's hand on her forearm. "Waiting till I'm at full draw so you can pin this incident on me as the instigator should we be discovered. Is Ruka-chan that important to you?"

"All my subordinates are important to me. So I advise you to stand down, Kkura," Shin responded matter-of-factly.

Sakura smirks with the right side of her lips. She disengages and sheathes her blade. Shin pushes Ruka's hand and her tanto back to its sheathe, but he didn't let her hand go.

Sakura's gaze lingered at where their hands were connected. Then she looks at Shin's eyes. "You've changed, Sanada Shinsuke."

"So have you, Miyawaki Sakura."

"I haven't —"

"The council changed you —"

"And the battlefield changed you."

Shin can only smile, "Then I hope we both changed for the better, Kkura-chan."

Sakura smiled back, "See you later at the council, Shin-kun. And you too, Ruka-chan."

Sakura winked, then turned back with a smile. She walked... then disappeared behind a pillar.

Shin relaxed and released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Then he turned to Ruka, "Did you two have beef when you were at the academy?"

Ruka shrugged, "Not really. The beef started when I was assigned to your squad."

"Something tells me you weren't randomly assigned," Shin remarked.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Cap," Ruka replied, avoiding Shin's eyes.

"Ruka —"

"Alright fine. I may have... requested... to join your squad," Ruka said bashfully, cheeks turning into that familiar pink hue that is slowly growing on Shin — even if he won't say it out loud.

"Kawai Ruka —"

"And the higher ups agreed... well, that's because nobody else was mad enough to ask to be assigned to your squad."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Think about it, Cap," Ruka began, "you have Takeru-san, a walking MP alarm. And you have Ryu-san, a living weapon obsessed with weapons. Then you —"

"What about me, Lieutenant?" Shin narrowed his eyes.

"You're... charismatic, cool... nothing wrong really... almost too good to be true..." Ruka awkwardly deflected.

Shin's face twisted in disbelief.

"Point is," Ruka continued, "nobody wanted to be under you... except me!" The girl exclaimed proudly, making Shin scoff.

"Let go of my hand, Lieutenant," Shin said flatly.

"Hmmm, how about no," Ruka teased.

"Lieutenant —"

"I'm still on the part when you said all your subordinates are important to you... and I'm one of those subordinates... it just... makes me want to cry," Ruka made an exaggerated show of crying, even fanning her eyes with her free hand.

"I'll have you charged of insubordination if you don't let go of my hand —"

"Yeah, yeah. That's also what you said that night at Echigo —"

"Finish that thought and I'll cut your wrist off."

Ruka finally let Shin's hand go, but not without obvious and exaggerated grumbling. "Can't a girl have her soft moments in life," she murmured.

"You chose this career, Ruka. That severely limited your options," Shin started walking again towards the castle's central keep.

Ruka followed, "Can't you take a hint, Cap?"

"I could. I'm just choosing not to indulge you with it."

Ruka whined under her breath as she skipped after Shin, grinning that at least, his mood seemed to have brightened — and it was all because of her.

The rest of the morning was... routine, to say the least. A lunch with fellow officers who "distinguished themselves" in the campaign, but only ended up as a parade of egos beneath a city that deserved better. Further enforces why Shin hates this place.

The afternoon was better though. They got invited to watch some of the cadets in training. Ruka sparred with one squad — seven against her, and she was smiling widely as she playfully dismantled the squad of cadets — without holding any weapon while the others wielded bokkens.

Shin enjoyed watching Ruka spar. Not because she's skilled — well she is, but because she seemed to be enjoying herself. She seemed to have fun with moving, with working up a sweat, and she glowed brighter as she did so. Of course it's different in actual combat, Ruka's switch is just as terrifying as his if Shin is honest — and he is honest, he just doesn't show it... much.

"You're not gonna spar, Cap?" Ruka grinned as she approached. Sweat soaked, her hair would be plastered to her skin right now if she hadn't tied it into a ponytail — and Shin thought she looked cute, not that he would say it.

"No," he tossed Ruka a towel. "It'd be overkill, the cadets may be forced to drop out."

Ruka caught the towel and dabbed it on her face, "Wow. What happened to the modest Captain Sanada Shinsuke I knew?"

"Still here. Just..."

"Not worth your time, I know, how very modest of you," Ruka sarcastically shook her head as she dropped the towel on a nearby bench then began swigging a canteen of water. Shin didn't bother with an answer.

"Who knows, you might inspire them. One of them may be the next Black Dragon," Ruka said after drinking.

"There's only one Black Dragon."

"Thought you hated the title."

"You keep bringing it up."

Ruka giggled, "Touchè. So where to, now?"

Shin looked at his watch, "Change back to your dress uniform. We're due at the castle in an hour and a half."

Ruka nodded, "Okay. I'll be back in five."

"Make it three," Shin countered as Ruka entered the training center to change.

Shin watched the cadets train. They were good—but his batch had produced monsters. This batch though, too many wasted movements, hesitations, like they're afraid to kill — well, that could all possibly change when they see actual combat. So far however, he can't see one among the trainees who can match even the weakest swordsman in his class.

He suppressed a smile when he heard the training center door open then close, carrying Ruka's scent with her — a pleasant mix of wisteria and sweat. "All good," Ruka chirped from behind.

Shin looked at his watch, "You're 12 seconds late, Lieutenant," he spun around to see Ruka, crisp and formally pretty in her dress uniform.

"Do I look pretty?" Ruka teased.

"Uniforms make everyone look good," again — Shin is honest, he just won't say it.

"Would it hurt you to say yes?" Ruka pushed, scrunching her nose in adorable annoyance.

"I don't want to try and find out."

"Thought you cared about your subordinates."

"I care about them not getting into trouble — and by extension, not getting me into trouble." Shin started walking. Ruka, as usual, trailed a few steps behind.

"Hah," Ruka scoffed. "As if you're the one who's gonna write all the paperwork."

"Okay. I'll do the paperwork, and you face the higher-ups."

Ruka paused, then grinned mischievously, "On second thought, I'll do the paperwork." Shin can only huff in amusement.

They reached the massive polished steel doors of the central keep. A tiger's head was engraved at the center flanked by two eastern dragons coiled upon cherry blossom trees. Waiting by the side were the rest of their squad — Ryu, Takeru, Shou, even Anna, all dressed in their dress uniforms.

"How's our lodging?" Ruka asked.

"Good," Shou replied.

"It's great, Kawai-san," Anna exclaimed. "Three rooms for two —"

"I'm taking one for myself," Shin interrupted. "The boys can all bunk together."

Takeru sighed, "The things I do for you, Shin."

"And no bringing of... 'visitors'... Takeru. We're at Osaka, the MPs are harsher here," Shin ordered.

"I'd keep him in line, Shin," Ryu smirked.

"No, you can't. He'll probably even convince you to break the rules. Shou, report to me or to Lieutenant Kawai immediately if these two are up to no good."

"Got it, taicho," Shou acknowledged.

"Killjoys," Takeru muttered, making Anna chuckle.

"So, are you all ready for an audience with the highest authorities in the land?" Ruka asked.

"No," Ryu and Shou answered.

"Yes!" Takeru and Anna replied on the contrary. Both of them did a high-five after.

"Just... keep your guards up," Shin said. "Anything could happen once we're inside."

And as if on cue, the doors opened, and out came Miyawaki Sakura, flanked by two other officers.

"Black Dragon squad," Sakura greeted. Ruka's hands instinctively go behind her back, one hand wrapping around the hilt of her tanto.

"Well, if it isn't Miyawaki-taicho —" Takeru began his attempt at flirting.

"Salute, squad. Takeru, hold your tongue, you're biting more than you can chew," Shin ordered, and the rest of the squad straightened and saluted.

"Shin-kun, Ruka-chan," Sakura greeted casually after returning the squad's salute.

"Senpai," Ruka greeted back, never losing her teasing edge.

"Guess you're here to lead us up?" Shin asked.

"Yep, it's a drag but — orders are orders," Sakura shrugged.

"Lead the way then," Shin gestured with a hand.

Sakura smirked, then turned around followed by the other two officers. Shin took one final look at his unit, each of them had their own sidearms holstered on their waist. Ruka also had her tanto behind her, and Shin had his swords. He hoped that things wouldn't go ugly — and he hated that his instincts were saying otherwise.

Shin rested his hand on the hilt of his katana. He nodded to his squad, turned, and followed Sakura inside the shadows of the keep.

The interior was deceptively modern — like a luxury hotel's reception hall. Except for a reception desk however, what greeted the group at the end of the hall were three elevators gilded in gold.

Military and civilian personnel drifted through the hall, voices low, movements measured. Shin recognized a few officers — some gokenin were also present. Though they hardly spared Shin a glance, he knew that at the very least, they sensed his presence. The gokenin's own presence pushed Asa's message back in his mind — that some gokenin resented his rise—and were planning to remove him from the board.

He tapped his fingertips at the tip of the hilt of his katana while Sakura led them to the middle elevator. The doors opened the moment they approached.

Sakura and her aides stood aside to let Shin's squad in, only after all had entered did they do so. The elevator was spacious. On its panel were only two buttons — one with a "G" icon, another with the sigil of the Shogun Council.

"Express elevator, I see. Nice," Takeru quipped. The squad assumed a loose hex formation – Shin and Ruka at the head, Takeru and Ryu at the wings, and Shou and Anna at the rear.

Sakura then pressed her thumb on what appeared to be a biometric panel. It beeped green before she pressed the button with the council's sigil.

"Ruka, can you hack this elevator?" Shin asked as the elevator hummed and they felt the inertia of it going up.

"Is that a command, Cap?" Ruka quipped, smirking.

"Not yet."

"Then I can't... at least, not yet," Ruka replied.

Sakura’s head tilted—just a fraction. "That kind of talk gets you killed," she muttered.

"We're soldiers, Kkura. Anything can get us killed," Shin retorted.

"I don't like this," Ryu whispered, fanning his chest with his shirt. "Too suffocating."

"You're just too big, Ryu," Shin replied, though he did agree with Ryu. The whole elevator felt like a sheathed blade waiting — inviting, to be drawn.

"How many floors till the council chambers?" Shou asked.

"That's classified," Sakura answered.

"Makes sense why there's no number at the button," Anna observed.

"By feel alone," Takeru closed his eyes, then smirked. "I say we're at the eight, no — ninth floor." He opened his eyes and tilted his head to get a clearer view of Sakura. "Am I right, Miyawaki-taicho?"

Sakura didn't reply as the elevator stopped smoothly with an audible ding before opening up to another hallway, this time looking exactly like feudal Japanese chambers.

"Oh. I'm so right," Takeru snickered quietly as Sakura led the group through tatami panels which lined the wooden floor, each adorned with contemporary depictions of the feudal age.

"How can you be so sure, Takeru-san?" Shou asked.

"I'm a sniper, kid. Spent too many elevator rides just to get the high ground. I may have developed... a sense... so to speak."

"Did you also develop a sense of direction?" Ryu asked.

"Well.... about that. Vertical and horizontal directions are totally different axes am I right?" Takeru shrugged — because the floor was a maze as Sakura guided the squad towards various turns. Shin swore that sometimes, the girl was purposely leading them in circles, that they weren’t being led anywhere—just kept moving. Tatami doors open and Sakura led them through, then another turn, then they passed another tatami that closed behind them — and the cycle continues.

"We get it, Kkura," Shin exhaled. "We shouldn't be familiar with the way to the chamber, now can we just get it over with already."

Sakura snickered, "You're the first squad to realize that — or just the first to voice it out. Fine, no more detours, no more attempts at disorienting you."

Sakura took the second next open left. There was no sign of the elevator doors on the right side. They kept walking straight through three more tatami doors — until finally, they reached a tatami that looked more like a gate than a door, emblazoned with a huge sigil of the council.

"A little bit in your face, don't you think, Shin?" Takeru teasingly asked.

"Do you feel small and insignificant?" Shin replied.

Ruka and Ryu stayed silent while Takeru scoffed.

"I do," Shou said quietly from the back.

"Me too," Anna added in a voice so small Shin almost didn't catch it.

"Then it did its job. How about you, Kkura?"

Sakura gave a soft huff as she stood in front of the gate, then she bowed followed by her aides. When she rose, she began announcing the squad, "The Black Dragon, Captain Sanada Shinsuke, accompanied by his squad... Lieutenant Kawai Ruka," Ruka snickered at the apparent unwillingness of Sakura to announce her name, "Sgt Takamura Ryunosuke, Sgt Maeda Takeru, Cpl Kagami Shouichi, and Cpl Tanaka Anna — here at the service and pleasure of the Shogunate."

No response — six heartbeats later, the tatami opened.

The chamber could at least be three of their own command tents combined. A dim yellow light creates a feudal ambience that's neither comforting nor reassuring — only foreboding. The only sound was the shuffle of their feet — and it's cold, like steel wrapping the entirety of one's skin. Shin clenched his fist, he can't even grip his katana for grounding and comfort as it may be seen as an act of aggression.

Sakura led them past the Gokenin who knelt on the rear ranks. About a hundred of them, twenty for each row separated only by the central aisle. In front of them were twenty daimyos seated in the same pattern as the gokenin.

Shin felt their gazes even though their heads didn't move. This is a room where he doesn't know who his allies are nor his enemies. He must play things carefully, if not for himself then for his squad — for Ruka. Damn, he hates politics.

A few meters ahead stood five seats, one for each of the hatamoto. Behind is a raised platform of gilded gold with images of tigers and dragons. Above the platform is another platform, covered with golden curtains — the seats of the Shogun council.

Sakura and her aides bowed, Shin and his squad follow their lead. They rose, Sakura turned back and looked Shin in the eye where a silent conversation was spoken. Shin understood — if things go bad, Sakura will side with the Shogun and order will be maintained. They both nodded subtly in understanding. Finally, Sakura turned and made her way to Shin's right.

Just then, "On your knees! The hatamoto enters!" A herald announces.

Shin knelt, his squad followed. The tatami to the left opened smoothly, eerily silent — and five figures entered.

"The Lady of the North, Date Himawari-sama!"

A lady in a black funeral kimono enters. She was pale — beautiful yes, but deathly pale. Shin understood, Lady Himawari was a cousin of Lord Uesugi Kagetatsu — the leader of the rebellion they just quashed, and the one who Colonel Shirotora gave a slow, agonizing, and dishonorable death. She slowly took her seat at the right most chair, her gaze landing mournfully at Shin who bowed subtly — a subtle apology for the fate of her cousin which Shin hoped the great lady understood.

Then the herald announced the next hatamoto. "The new Lord of the Takeda — the Entei, Takeda Benimaru-sama!"

Shin heard Anna gasp behind him — for who entered was not a man — but a teen, barely fifteen years of age, standing almost five foot six. He wore a bright red haori over a white kimono. In his hand was an odachi — the tip of the hilt to the tsuba was equal to the length of his knees to the soles of his feet. The scabbard extended about half a foot over the boy's head and was decorated with a coiled flaming dragon.

This is one of the best blades in Japan, the new Lord of the Takeda, who treated the succession of his clan like a kid playing a game.

"Cap," Ruka whispered behind Shin, her voice laced with soft concern. Shin slowly signalled with his hand to calm down.

The Entei glanced at Shin, then his gaze lowered to his blades. He smirked before taking his seat beside Lady Date.

"Representing Lord Chosokabe Shinsui is his heir, Lord Chosokabe Shinji!"

The heir of the Chosokabe entered, a man in his mid twenties, wearing a purple haori. Shin was not surprised that Chosokabe Shinsui was absent, they are isolationists, and his heir's presence is merely for compliance without actually being disrespectful to the shogunate.

The Chosokabe heir sat with indifference at the opposite end of the row, no doubt wishing he was anywhere else rather than this council chamber — and Shin can relate.

"Lord Mori Naoki!" The herald's voice boomed once again.

An elder daimyo enters in a red kimono. It is tamer and staler than the Entei's blazing red, but his eyes carried a wisdom and energy that belies his age. He is assisted by a girl about Ruka's age who wore a kimono of pure white, with a haori equally as white but decorated with snowflakes.

"Mori Yuuki," Ruka exclaimed as soft as she can. "The White Sword of the Mori..." she finished with reverence.

Two of Japan's best swords in one room, Shin wasn't sure if he could hold one off if it comes to a fight — but two? He just hopes they would cancel each other out should things get ugly.

Once the Lord of Mori has seated, the White Sword retreats to a corner, and the herald announces the final hatamoto. "Lord Shimazu Daifuku of Kyushu!"

Shin and his squad lowers their heads as is customary when in the presence of their lord. Lord Shimazu enters, a lean and muscular man in his early forties, dressed in a green kimono. He looked calm — for the time being. Shin knew however, that Lord Daifuku is dangerous when provoked, and behind that calm facade, is a fire of ambition that extends beyond Kyushu.

Once he was seated, Shin and his squad raised their heads. He makes eye contact with Lord Shimazu. As always, he can't read his expression — no pride, no anger — nothing — not even apathy.

Then finally, a rustling was heard at the raised platform as the silhouettes of three figures appears behind the curtain.

"Pay your respects to the Shogunate!" The herald calls — and every head bows. Even the hatamoto even though they were facing away, bowed with their torsos. Shin and the rest who were kneeling, pressed their foreheads on the floor.

More shuffling and rustling was heard until a voice from the platform speaks. "At ease, nobles of Nippon."

The room breathes for a second as they raised their heads — and the knot tightens again once they all took the next breath.

"Sanada Shinsuke!" One of the Shoguns called. "Come forth."

Shin bowed again, rose, and with his head still dipped, took five paces forward before kneeling again.

"The Shogunate applauds your performance during the suppression of Uesugi Kagetatsu's rebellion. Herald, announce his achievements!" Another Shogun commands.

"Captain Sanada Shinsuke!" The herald began, "together with his squad, they participated in twenty-two covert operations, sabotage, and assassinations. They acquired a one hundred percent success rate, with no casualties. Captain Sanada personally was ordered to fight seventeen duels against key castles, the final of which was the duel at Echigo that ended the rebellion..."

No, Shin thought, what ended Uesugi's rebellion was when Shirotora made him bleed out before putting a bullet to his head. Shin's fists clenched even tighter — so did his jaw.

"For these achievements, and effective immediately, Captain Sanada Shinsuke is hereby promoted by the Shogunate to Major of the Japanese Armed Forces. Likewise, him and his squad, who shall now be formally called as the Black Dragon unit, after the title now officially bestowed to Major Sanada Shinsuke, shall also be provided with a generous bonus for their exemplary service," the herald finished.

A hollow applause was given as Shin and his squad bowed. He can feel the pride in his squad, but he felt nothing from the assembled lords and gokenin.

"Does his daimyo have any words?" Another Shogun speaks.

"Nothing but pride, Your Excellencies," Lord Shimazu Daifuku replied.

That's all, huh, Shin huffed, meeting his Lord's gaze with a smirk. The Lord responded in kind — the first crack in his mask of indifference, and a second one won't follow, at least for the night.

"Do other hatamoto wish to say something?" A Shogun said.

"I do," the Entei responds with a wicked grin.

The room held its breath. Lord Shimazu takes a quick glance at the boy, but otherwise betrayed no emotion.

"You may proceed, Takeda-dono," the Shoguns collectively answered.

The young Lord of Takeda leaned in, and Shin felt a cold shiver run down his spine.

"There was something I heard," he started, "a... little bird whispered in my ear... that the night you won Echigo, you had a... visitor, someone clad in crimson red, the only other red I adore aside from fire."

Shin considered lying, but this is a great Lord, chances are, everyone in this room already knows of Enami Asa's attack against Shin — what they, hopefully, don't know, was the conversation right after.

"Yes, Takeda-sama," Shin replied, "the Crimson Blade, Enami Asa of Iga did strike against me that night."

A rustle of murmured voices from behind drew the Entei's eyes, he waited until they settled down before continuing. "You're the first to survive her, that's a feat worthy of your title."

"You honor me, Takeda-sama. But I wouldn't have survived had I not had the assistance of Lieutenant Kawai Ruka at that moment."

Ruka dipped her head to try to hide the blush forming in her cheeks.

"Ahhh, yes," the Entei's eyes drift towards Ruka. "It's also a noteworthy feat, taking down Iga shinobi while outnumbered. You're cultivating a monster in your ranks, Major."

"We are soldiers, Takeda-sama. We fight, then we survive, or we die."

Takeda Benimaru chuckled. "That's not a soldier's mantra, Major, nor is it a warrior's. Those are words spoken by a man who expects death."

Ruka's fist clenched, surprise and confusion filling her mind, she never really thought that Shim would have this mindset.

"We are all moving towards death. It's just that we soldiers, warriors... whatever the Great Lord wants to call it, already have one foot in our graves."

The Entei grinned. "Allow me to go back to the Crimson Blade. Iga shinobi are known to die rather than fail, yet you say she... escaped? Tell me, Major, is that behavior consistent with an Iga shinobi?"

Shin felt all eyes turn to him, even the Shoguns, veiled and shadowed as they are.

"I dare not presume reasons, Lord. But if I would be allowed to speak my mind..."

"Go ahead..."

"Enami Asa is an accomplished assassin, more so than all other Iga shinobi. Perhaps, Hattori Hanzo wanted to preserve an asset such as her."

"Perhaps," the Entei replied, his voice wrapped in speculation and suspicion. "Or perhaps she delivered a message to you, Major."

Now the eyes on Shin have weight, a pressure trying to push him down the floor to genuflect.

"Think about it, Major. You were not the commanding officer of the Shimazu force, yet Hattori Hanzo sent the Crimson Blade after you and not the gokenin Colonel Daigoro Shirotora..."

"Shin won the campaign for the White Tiger, Entei. Hattori Hanzo probably saw him as greater threat, symbolically and strategically," Shin was grateful for Lord Shimazu's interference — at least his liege lord had the sense to know that if he's disgraced, it would reflect badly on the Shimazu clan.

"Perhaps," Takeda Benimaru whispered. "But I never heard the Major's response yet."

"The only message, Takeda-sama, was that the Shinobi of Iga wanted me dead — and they failed. I assure you their next attempt will end in the same manner," Shin tried to steady his breathing as he lied, the hammering of his pulse in his ear was the only indication he did so.

"With the Crimson Blade escaping through the window?"

"No, with her head on my feet."

"Hmmm," the Entei hummed. "Do you know what I learned when I took control of my clan at my age, Major?" His hand slowly gripped his odachi. Shin flexed his hand, the hammering now extending to his chest, along with a soft ringing in his ears.

"I learned that the human mouth can lie... but the blade doesn't."

And the odachi was drawn before Shin can register it. He only saw a blur of red and heard the singing of a blade in the air. Shin moved instinctively, his hand flew to his katana as he jerked his body sideward. He drew the blade slightly, just enough to block the blade. Shin does not intend to fully commit since he's against a hatamoto — but he's also facing one of the best swords in the country, and that was his mistake.

The odachi rang against the flat of his katana, and Shin was surprised at the strength that the young Lord had. The swing felt so heavy that Shin's arms were flung upwards, fully drawing the katana from its scabbard.

Shin cursed under his breath. The Entei then braced his free hand on the floor, he spun, riding the momentum of his strike, and Shin felt his foot embedding itself in his abdomen.

He felt all the air in his body pushed out of his mouth as he was flung a few meters. He landed and rolled once, it took all his strength to keep his blade up and pointed at the Entei. His vision blurred as he struggled to stand and breathe, one hand clutching his abdomen.

Ruka herself reacted quickly, rising to one knee, she turned around to their squad, one hand wrapped around her tanto — "Hold!" She yelled just in time.

The squad froze mid motion — Takeru's pistol was already halfway out of its holster. Ryu already had his massive hand wrapped around his sidearm. Shou's was hovering over it, stopped as he was about to draw himself. And Anna was frozen in place.

"Good call, Ruka," Sakura and her aides appeared in front of the squad, their hands on the hilt of their blades.

"Senpai!" Ruka growled as she turned, her free hand clutched her own pistol.

"Now, now," Sakura's eyes turn for a fraction of a second towards Shin before returning to Ruka, yet her expression betrayed no emotion. "We both don't want to escalate things any further," she calmly warned, pushing the tsuba of her katana with her thumb. Ruka responded by pulling her tanto slightly off of its sheath.

The entire room was on their feet, well, except for Lord Chosokabe, Lady Date, and the Shoguns.

"Takeda-dono!" Lord Shimazu bellowed. "Stay your blade!"

"No hatamoto can command another hatamoto, only the shogun can, you know this Shimazu-dono," the Lord of Takeda replied.

"He is still my man, striking him down will be an act of war against the Shimazu!"

The Entei shrugged, "Only if he dies." He raised his odachi high over his head. Shin was amazed at how the young Lord can wield such an unwieldy weapon with such ease.

"Stand down, Major," Lord Mori Naoki said calmly.

"I'm afraid the Entei will not offer me that luxury, Mori-sama," Shin replied urgently before sheathing his blade. His breathing has mostly recovered, yet his abdomen cried out in pain from where the Entei's kick hit him.

He pushed the tsuba out with his thumb, assumed a low stance and hovered his hand above the hilt of his sword.

The Entei smiled, "Iaijutsu, huh. So you've decided to go for the counter-attack. The Black Dragon has good instincts."

"Taicho —" another voice, softer, filled with concern, willed Shin to survive this encounter — and it was Ruka's.

"Takeda-dono —" another warning from Lord Shimazu was drowned when the Entei charged.

"Tch," Shin cursed, he lunged low, aiming to invade the odachi's range as he began drawing his blade.

Then —

"Yuuki!" Mori Naoki's voice roared.

And from the raised platform of the Shoguns — "Fujibayashi!"

Shin saw a white blur rush past him. He fully drew his katana, the Entei's arms only a blade's reach, only to be met by a sword so white it was almost transparent — Mori Yuuki, the White Sword of the Mori stood between him and the Entei, composed and almost unbothered. Shin recognized the stance, the very first stance taught to all swordsmen — and Mori Yuuki blocked him with it.

On the other hand, a chain cut across the room and wrapped itself around the Entei's odachi, the weighted end locking the chain in place. The chain pulled and the Entei stopped in his tracks. At the raised platform, a figure wearing shinobi robes appeared, they held a kusarigama and was pulling on the Entei's odachi, preventing him from moving his blade. Shin can not be certain of their gender however, because only the name of the Shogun council's personal blade is disclosed — Kaze no Yaiba, Fujibayashi Inoue.

"Stand down, Takeda-dono," a Shogun commands.

The Entei looks down at Shin through Yuuki. Then he smirks, he disengages, and with one swing of his odachi, removes the chain wrapped around it. Wordlessly, Fujibayashi Inoue pulls the chain back.

Once the Entei has sheathed his sword and took his seat did Shin allowed himself to relax. He disengages from Yuuki, who, to Shin's surprise, bows to him wordlessly. He bowed in reciprocation before both swordsmen sheathe their blades.

"Are you satisfied, Entei?" Lord Shimazu asked in a low growl.

The Entei chuckled as the room slowly settles back down. "Barely," he replied, keeping his eyes on Shin who was making his way to his squad.

"Stand down, all of you," he whispers to his squad.

"Taicho –" Ruka whispered back.

"Shin," Ryu and Takeru followed.

"Stand down," he repeated, more firmly than the first time.

The boys stood down, but not Ruka.

"Lieutenant —"

"I'm not standing down until Miyawaki-senpai does," she growled, tightening her grip on her tanto. Sakura only gave Shin a passing glance.

"Kkura—" Shin began.

"Stand down, Miyawaki-taicho," a Shogun commands.

Two heartbeats was what it took for Sakura to relax. She fully sheathes her blade, her aides mirroring her actions. She stared again at Shin, and he understood what she wanted to say, "we need to talk." And as much as Shin dislikes the idea — he feels like he actually needs to.

"That would be enough theatrics for the day," another Shogun declares. "Miyawaki-taicho, kindly lead the Black Dragon squad back from the chambers. We believe our business with them has concluded — and we will take no other... intermissions."

Sakura turns and bows at the platform and the hatamoto. Shin bows as well, together with his squad, though he felt their reluctance like a weight on his shoulders. He risked a glance at Lord Shimazu, he gave only a subtle nod — which Shin didn't know how to interpret.

Then his gaze swept towards the Entei, he was studying him with a smirk on his face. Shin bowed with almost casual mockingness, and the Entei's smirk grew wider as he curtsied back.

The squad followed Sakura down a tatami to the right of the room. She led them to a path different from where they entered. The walk was silent, as if everyone was processing what just happened.

They come up to an elevator, this one gilded in silver as opposed to the gold one they used when they came up. Sakura was about to press the button, when she hesitated. She gave a long exhale then faced Shin, her expression twisted with barely controlled fury.

"What the hell was that, Shin?!"

Shin scoffed, "You can ask the Entei that!"

"Did the Crimson Blade really not give you any message?"

"No."

"And if she did would you even tell me?"

Shin shrugged, "if she did — which she didn't, I won't."

"Fuck — Shin!" Sakura exclaimed, placing her hands on her head. "Do you realize the implications? The shinobi of Iga have been waging their revolution for a century! If you had their attention, not just as a target for assassination —"

"You make it sound like you care, senpai," Ruka snapped.

"Do not mock me, Lieutenant," Sakura growled. "Shin may be a right bastard, but I still —" Sakura caught herself, her jaw tightening in frustration.

"Still what, senpai?" Ruka goaded.

Sakura glared at Shin, "You owe me a proper talk about this, Sanada."

"The Major doesn't owe you anything, Captain," Ruka retorted.

"Stand down, Lieutenant," Shin said firmly. "I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself."

"Taicho —" Ruka pushed but Shin stopped her with a hand.

"Shin," Sakura repeated, clearly trying to calm herself.

Shin turned to Sakura, "like I said, I can take care of myself, Captain."

"Don't pull rank on me, not now, Shin," Sakura retorted. She paced, one hand pressed on her temple, the other on her waist.

"You're not thinking of joining their rebellion, are you?" Sakura blurted.

"What? No!" Shin denied, clutching his abdomen as the sudden rise in his voice made it throb with pain. "Ruka and I killed fourteen of theirs, why would they want me joining their rebellion?!"

"Then why —?"

"Does everything Hattori Hanzo do have a hidden agenda? Even the failure of an assasination? Even the escape of a renowned assassin after said failed assassination?! Fuck —" Shin winced in pain as the throbbing in his abdomen burned.

"Taicho —!" Ruka was on him in a second, wrapping an arm around his back while the other pressed on his abdomen. His squad also tensed, ready to assist if needed.

"There's something you're not telling, Sanada Shinsuke. I know you —"

"Fine, Kkura!" Shin said through labored breaths. "If it gives you peace, I'll give you that talk."

"Hattori Hanzo has his eyes on you, that would never give me peace," Sakura muttered in reply. Her eyes fluttered towards where Ruka touched his abdomen. "But fine," she forced herself to look away, "I'll find you once I get a break from my duties..." her voice was still grumbling when she pressed the elevator's button which opened soundlessly.

"It only has one button," Sakura remarked. "I guess you know what to do," then she walked out, followed by her aides.

Ruka cursed under her breath as she supported Shin towards the elevator. The rest of the squad keeps their distance, unsure as to how to handle the situation.

"Shin," Ryu was the first to speak once the elevator doors closed. Ruka pressed the only button, one with a "G" icon.

"I'm fine Ryu."

"You're not, something's bothering you," Takeru spoke. "And it was there before Osaka, before the shinobi attack. I'd say it was there during your duel at Echigo."

Shin raised his head, he saw his distorted reflection in the elevator door's polished steel. This is him right now — a distorted blade. Someone who has no clarity — someone who doesn't know why he swings his blade.

"Not here, Takeru," Shin replied coldly. "Here, the walls have eyes, and the wind has ears."