(8 years since the events of Klada Disaster)
Kyrielle Buffet/Fujiwara Takina
Age : 22
Marielle Buffet/Fujimoto Amemiya
Age : 18
____________
____________
The party continues downstairs.
In the dimly lit corridor, a white haired woman stands with a scythe in hand.
Next to her is the shabbily dressed man Yagyu Minuano. The swordsman who is on the level of Uesugi Kenshin, the Sword Saint.
Footsteps sounded in the dim hall as Takina came closer to them with her umbrella in hand.
As the disguised woman approaches, Fujimoto tightened the grip around her scythe.
"I have come for you, my sister."
"You. What is your name again?"
"I'm Kyrielle. You know me."
"...I don't recall that name."
Fujimoto draws her gun and aimed at Takina.
"But it doesn't matter, I am here to take you down. You made my life easier by finding me directly."
"....I see. Then I'm a fool, I suppose."
As tension grew in the air while the two stared down each other, Minuano stepped in front of Fujimoto's gun.
"What the hell are you doing, Fujimoto?"
"What...?"
"You're afraid to confront the truth with that woman and resorted to violence, is that it?"
"...I was just testing her resolve. If I was truly her sister then she wouldn't have given up even if I aimed my gun at her.
And it seems I was right."
"Hmph, whatever you say."
After Fujimoto put down her gun, Minuano casually strolls forward towards Takina.
"She's not in her best state of mind but she means you no harm. Do what you must."
"...Why are you helping me?" Takina asked to the man.
"Don't be an idiot, I'm helping the girl not you!
Anyways I'll give you two some room to take. Don't let ninja girl there ruin the fun either."
From the shadows, Kato Danzo came out of hiding.
"Takina-sama."
"Leave us, I'll be fine alone."
"...Understood."
Both Kato Danzo and Yagyu Minuano made their way out of the balcony, heading back towards the stage area of the castle. Their conversation can still be heard echoing down the hallway...
"Did you see me or was it just a guess?"
"It was just a guess. I couldn't see shit in that darkness. It would've been embarrassing if she was actually alone."
Kyrielle and Marielle stood in the dim hallway, looking at each other in silence.
"Sorry for the surpusr. Will you speak with me a while, Fujiwara Takina?"
"Sure."
Takina approached the white haired girl, who is now leaning on the railings of balcony, overlooking the city.
"Is it true that I am your sister?"
"Yes, there is not a single doubt about it."
"I see..."
Fujimoto took a deep breath.
"I am thankful to Minuano-sama. He may seem uncaring and annoying at first glance but he's a kind man. Without him I'd surely have made a foolish choice again."
"Would that be shooting me?"
"It'd be me running away. From the truth."
"It seems you have inner demons to fight."
"....Your sister as you know her is gone.
All I know is that one day I woke up in the middle of a forest filled with cursed spirits."
"Cursed spirits?"
"Spirits roaming the lands and reliving the moments before their death. Normal people like you will not be able to see them clearly.... The only ones who can see them are those who can perceive the Spiritual world or "mana atmosphere" as the Westerner calls it."
"Right..."
"I was taken in by a kind old man and his grandson. When the village was attacked by bandits, the old man died protecting us."
Fujimoto said as she looked at the reflection of herself in the shiny polished blade of the scythe that she held.
"After that, I joined the Takeda Clan following in his footsteps.
My point is, whether this body is your sister or not doesn't matter anymore. The person that you know as your sister is gone long ago. I am no longer the "Marielle" you know of.
I have no idea whether or not her memories are dormant or simply ceased to exist within me."
"That doesn't matter. You are still my sister."
"It does matter! I can't just decide to come with you and act like your sister... I just aren't.
I am not even sure who I am anymore. Half of my life I have spent training to become a soldier and now I don't want to be a soldier.
This war, this conflict... I start to feel that it is pointless. A waste it lives and resources. I genuinely don't know what to do anymore.
What is your idea on this world?"
"I have about the same thought, just a bit more hopeful than yours."
"What do you mean?"
"We are both outsiders in this land. We do not feel a need to fight because we don't belong here in the first place.
But for those who live here, in this city and in this country... there is a reason to fight. Even if it's just to defend their home or if it's just their duty.
We shouldn't be involved in the war because we have our own battles to worry about. That is why we should leave this conflict altogether."
"...I see what you mean. But what can I do if I decide to leave? It's not like I have anywhere else to be. Anywhere else that I can call 'home' like here."
"Take this with a grain of salt, but my mentor once told me if you wish to return to your past, go South. If you wish to venture to a new territory, go North."
"What kind of nonsensical logic is that...?"
"If I were you I'd go North. Not because of this logic... but because the fires of war will never make it to Hokkaido and no one would chase you that far anyway. It'd be cold but I'm sure you body is built to handle that, you're from a very cold place after all."
"...I see."
"Or you could come with me. It'd be a return to home in reality, but for you it's more like visiting distant land trying to find your place in this world again.
I can't promise you you'd recover your memories of the past, but I reassure you that it will be worth it.
Plus.... mother is still there for us if we do want to return."
"Mother...? Are you saying the truth?"
"Yes I am."
"I see.... Well that is a lot of options to consider so I can't just decide here on the spot..."
"I can give you some time. We are in no rush afterall. But I do prefer it if you were to give me an answer before the invasion to Niigata happens."
"Yeah... I see."
The two stared out the balcony for a while, admiring the moon on the night sky.
"There is a village to the south of the city, in the mountains. That place is the village I woke up in.
Go there and find a man named Haruta. Explain your situation to him, tell him that I sent you there and he will let you stay while you lay low.
I will give you an answer in a week. Just be patient."
"Okay."
(This is going great so far...)
As Kyrielle thought of that in her head...
"Now... Let us begin."
"What?"
"Our duel." Fujimoto said, as she picks up the scythe on the ground.
"We are going to fight over nothing?"
"It's not over nothing. This is a show for the others to see... I believe there are other members of the Takeda Clan watching us, even if they cannot hear our conversation.
So please do me a favor and fight me, so that I can maintain my facade a while longer."
"...Okay."
A small grin could be seen on Takina's face.
A sheath holding a katana can be detached from the umbrella that she had in her hand.
Lady Noyue unbinds her hair, revealing the true crimson colored hair disguised by the magic imbued within the ribbon she used to tie the hair.
"You'd accept a duel so easily?"
"I have something I need to test out... you would make a great practice partner for it."
_______
_______
(Inside the castle...)
Kato Danzo was actually a spy working for the Takeda Clan... before she betrayed the Takeda Clan and sided with the clan that she is supposed to be spying on.
Her father, Fuuma Kotaro is one of the five members of the Takeda Fangs alongside Minuano and Fujimoto. This is why she knew Minuano as well.
"...Minuano-sama, how is my father?"
"Hmm?"
"Has he told you anything about his thoughts... on my betrayal?"
"It's only been a few weeks since the attack on the Uesugi Clan. I haven't heard a thing from the man since months ago, so no."
"I see..."
"He's likely busy at the front lines nowadays."
"I wished I'd be able to speak to him but... it's also a good thing that he isn't here. He'd disrupt our plan no doubt."
"How kind of you to put yourself in harm's way just to help that woman reunite with her sister.
Now that you mentioned it, you're technically an enemy now. I could chop you into pieces right now."
"!..."
"Hahaha, relax! It was just a joke! Your old man would kill me himself if I killed you before he could talk with you."
"...It's not funny if you could be killed on a whim. Knowing you, you could've easily did that just now and have time to spare to deal with Takina-sama."
"Relax I wouldn't. I'm not the cold blooded monster you think I am!"
The two looked out towards the stage of the dining hall, where another lively performance is taking place.
"Hey, I have something to ask. Has that "Takina-sama" of yours improved since the events on that train?"
"I don't know."
"Hmm."
"But knowing her... She would have gone through her battle with you hundreds of times in her mind. She's a bit crazy in terms of fighting."
"Oh?"
"She may appear calm and collected.... But I know for a fact that she enjoys the thrill of battle even if she doesn't openly admit it.
I guess she shares this in common with you and Kenshin-sama as well."
"They say you wouldn't become so good at something that you don't enjoy at least a little."
'Bang-!'
While the two were conversing, a gunshot was heard from the balcony. And following that, the sound of the balcony collapsing could also be heard.
"My, they sure are loud."
From the dining hall below, the crowds were roused by the noises.
"They got about two minutes to settle it before the guards will arrive... I wonder if they can decide a winner on that short of a duel?"
"Do you think that Fujimoto Amemiya will win?"
"Nope. She'd get her ass beat. That girl has improved a lot since I cut her down on that train....
If it was the Fujiwara on that train then Fujimoto would've stood a chance, but it'd be impossible for her win now. The question is if she is capable of surviving long enough until the guards arrive."
(Chapter End)