Note: Hello everyone, welcome back for a new chapter! ;)

To recap a little, in this series we have so far spoken of a shrine outside the citadel, a shrine within the citadel and whose use is reserved for the Saniwa alone, a sanctuary from where the Touken Danshi goes on expeditions, the temporal machine being reserved for excursions, and a treatment room where the kitsune examine the Touken Danshi using a futuristic technology. Today we're going to talk about the room where Tonbokiri and Izuminokami are treated. I have already referred to this room in Zoku without naming it, what I will do here. Although it looks very much like the interior of a Shinto shrine, I decided, to avoid any confusion, to describe it as the Treatment Pavilion. There, you have been warned. :)

Please also note that this episode will be slightly different from usual. Indeed, the scene introducing Mikazuki Munechika within the anime and which normally occurs at the end of the episode would be treated here at the beginning. Although this can be confusing, it is to maintain the thread of suspense between episodes 5 and 6. With that in mind, all the action of this double episode will be written as if it was one, and therefore the scene with Mikazuki must be put aside so as not to break this thread. Thank you very much for your understanding.

Good Reading!

Chapter Five: Sen-ka - (戦火): The Fires of War.

Moonlight with silver reflections, bathing in its soft light the night skies, only glow allowing to distinguish anything in his office plunged in darkness. The digital map was shining before his eyes with its blue and green hues, the island of Honshū filled with concentrated golden circles and blood-red dots, an undeniable sign of the presence of the Retrogrades.

Concentrated on his task, the information scrolling on the screen at full speed, he only heard the knocks on the door after the second time, and realising his lack of attention, quickly permitted his visitor to enter, offering him a slight smile as an excuse. Without bothering himself with unnecessary formalities, this one straight away settled on one of the settees while being careful not to wrinkle his clothes and immediately turned his head toward the screen, looking calm.

"I've detected some historical volatility in the year 1565. I will soon be mobilising you, the First Unit. Please begin your preparations. " began to explain the Saniwa without feeling offended by this behaviour, accustomed to the individual.

"Hmm. "

"I'll be appointing someone else as commander this time. And I'd like to ask for your support. " he indicated after a second of silence before taking a lower tone, almost sorry: "I know I'm always imposing on you, since you're the oldest. "

"Think nothing of it. " simply declared the Touken Danshi with a mischievous smile, now looking at the Sage.

"I'll let you know the details of your mission at a later time, Mikazuki Munechika. "

"Roger that. "

The boy finally let out a sigh as he leaned suddenly against the edge of his desk, running a tired hand through his cherry locks.

"Something's the matter? " asked the Tachi while frowning, the tension in the room escalating abruptly.

"I have a terrible bad feeling… " the Saniwa replied, gripping his left side with a grimace of discomfort.

"You've sent Tsurumaru to help them earlier. Certainly, he will be a useful addition to the group. " Mikazuki tried to be reassuring, standing up to face his master.

"And yet… " murmured the Sage, uncertain. "Yet it cannot be avoided I'm afraid… "

Xxxxxxxxxx

In the gloomiest darkness, the calm of the night was only disturbed by the rustling of the leaves welcoming the hunting birds of prey. And throughout the sleeping estate, he alone remained up, attentive to the slightest changes, anxiously awaiting the death knell. The air was warm, almost dry, with May ending slowly to make way for June. The sun was shining brighter and longer in the sky, the wind was becoming increasingly rare, and the flowers shone in thousands of colours.

But at this precise moment, as he was having a lump in his throat as the hours went by, and that his heart was tensing up in his chest, he would have liked thunder to rumble, violent thunderstorms to burst and rain to pour endlessly.

Anything rather than this damned silence which only made his wait more arduous.

The wrath of war did not forgive. And if sacrifice was needed for peace to be restored, then sacrifice there would be. If the enemy were cornered, they could only strike. Even if it seemed unfair and disloyal, at the heart of the battle, there were no rules. It would be hypocritical of him to complain about it. He was the first to use roundabout routes to attack the opponent. Today, he had become the trapped beast, unable to step back or move forward, forced to witness his own failure.

Closing his eyes, he let a sigh escape him and slumped a little more in his chair, his chin resting in his hand.

"You should join me. This will keep your mind occupied. "

"I'm not in the mood to think for the moment. "

"And yet, you're racking your brains. And I, meanwhile, am bored stiff. "

A smile finally blooming on his lips, the Saniwa decided to get up and walked to the small table, settling on the sofa facing the one where his interlocutor was sitting.

"So? " he questioned, looking cautiously at the tray of tea and biscuits on the coffee table.

"How about you tell me about the next mission? " related the presence, nonchalant.

"What do you want me to tell you more than what I said to Mikazuki and that he to all of you, already repeated? " expressed the Sage, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"He says less than you think. "

"He knows how to hold his tongue, that's different. "

"He's just a little fop greedy for secrecies. I've known him long enough to say. "

"Oodenta! "

Shrugging, the Tachi with plum-coloured eyes did not stray from his criticism, even seeming almost amused, and leaned against the sofa, resting his arms over his head on the backrest.

"It amuses him a lot to keep people in the dark until they discover the solution by themselves. Don't tell me he never played this game with you...? "

"Of course he did... " revealed the boy, annoyed. "A Toudan of his experience only look to have fun at the expense of others. Just like Kogarasumaru does. "

"On one hand, I'm used to it so it doesn't bother me any more than that. But it's better to be careful. He's not foolproof either. " Mitsuyo indicated, narrowing his eyes, suddenly more serious.

"He is far from claiming he is. " huffed the Saniwa, pouting.

"Despite this, many rely on him. No wonder he turns a deaf ear now when asked for advice. "

It's a quality more than a flaw, in reality. thought the Sage with a thin smile, understanding the train of thought of his sword.

"In any case, he won't be the one in charge for your expedition. " he confessed, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

"Tsk! " his Touken Danshi pulled a face while straightening up, his annoyance clearly visible on his features. "This is a detail he should have had mentioned! "

"I also plan to appoint a new member so I guess it doesn't matter much at the moment. "

"What an idiot! " Oodenta continued to lose his temper, clenching his teeth. If there was one thing he liked to keep control on, it was change, and Mikazuki seemed to have taken a perverse pleasure in having fun at his expense.

"Hopefully, this mission should not take more than a few days. " declared the cherry-haired boy suddenly, coming back to where the conversation started.

"A mission with no surprises, huh? I'm not gonna complain. "

"I can only rule in your favour. I have too much to do right now. "

"And dawn is about to rise. " noticed the sword with a slight smile, his master's expression of surprise widening it a little more.

In the end, he had managed to take his mind off things.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Little by little, the day was settling, the sun rising high in the cloudless blue sky while a cool breeze crossed the citadel. Keeping walking back and forth between his room and the pavilion of treatment since he had left his office, carrying with him always more objects of all kinds, the Saniwa suddenly stopped in his tracks, his gaze lingering attentively on the stone table near the altar.

"Ryonosuke, I need you to check the supplies stock and bring me more treatment tokens. " he stated, lighting each of the candles in the room one by one.

"Understood. " nodded the kitsune with a pink scarf hesitantly, watching the boy wiggle from right to left without any real reason. "Is it really necessary to prepare all this in advance? "

"I don't know what to do or not to do… " said the Sage, lost. "But I can no longer ignore the signals that have been sent to me. "

"If the mission fails, then history will be changed... Wouldn't it be better to leave the Second Unit on-site? If there really are injured people, you could always decide to bring only them back. "

Surprised by these words, the cherry-haired boy slowly turned toward the little fox standing on his own four feet with an unsteady expression, tilting his head to one side as he questioned him, curious.

"Ryonosuke, what inevitably happens to the Saniwa after years of service? "

"Huh? " gasped the animal in amazement, not expecting such a question.

"Well, tell me. " urged the Saniwa without unkindness.

"Er... their power starts to decline... they're no longer able to take their responsibility on and they have to be replaced... "

"And while this replacement takes place, what happens to the citadel they had the charge of? "

"It becomes weaker and susceptible to be attacked. "

"Now tell me, what is the only way for a citadel to defend itself if its Saniwa disappears? " asked the Sage, approaching the hairball, crouching down in front of him.

"It's up to the Touken Danshi to defend it the best they can! " exclaimed the latter, incredulous.

"And what is the only way for the Saniwa to defend their citadel shall their Touken Danshi disappeared? " questioned the boy one last time, shaking his head sadly.

"There is none... "

"Can you see what I'm getting at? " he huffed with a slight smile.

"Yes... " pronounced the creature in a small voice, his muzzle pointing to the ground.

"Not only does it is my duty to protect and take care of them, but as their master, I would never forgive myself had something should happen to them. "

"Sorry… "

Stroking the kitsune's head by way of comfort, the Saniwa finally got up quickly before making an abrupt step backwards while his hand came to grip his chest with force, an uncontrollable cough suddenly taking hold of him.

"Aruji-sama?" called the kitsune, worried.

The pain pierced him as if he had been in the place of his real victim, making him take a few steps back again before suddenly collapsing against the wall, his breath taken away.

"Saniwa-sama! "

"It's already too late... " he whispered, staring into space, tears gathering in the corners of his eyes.

Slowly closing his eyelids, he let the suffering spread throughout his body, the unpleasant taste of blood already forming in his mouth, and waited in this state until it diminished. Then tightly clenching his fists, he straightened up at last, his chest still trembling, and went back to work.

Whatever could happen, he was ready. And whatever may happen, he will protect this citadel and its inhabitants. No matter what it could cost him.