From atop a building, Jericho watched his forces skirmish with Ikarugan shinobi at the entrance to the refining plant. High above the long, boxy construct's metallic chimneys that pierced the sky, smoke from the battle accumulated to eclipse the town. The NOL forces were, as expected, making strong headway against the resistance; the ill-defended mines had already fallen, and protecting the plant forced the ninjas to fight out in the open, hardly their forte. His men could handle this without his supervision. For now, he had a move to make.

"Heyo, Jerry." Footsteps sounded from behind Jericho as a man in the dark garb of the Intelligence Department approached. "Everything going well?"

"Hazama." Jericho turned his cold gaze on the captain. "Tenjou's location?"

"Oh, you're no fun. Must it always be business with you?" With a mock sigh, Hazama dug out a folded map from his pocket and deposited it in Jericho's outstretched hand. "Oh, uh… by any chance, did you see a kid with a red jacket and spiky white hair around?"

"Yes." Jericho took the map and looked it over. A scarlet circle indicating an underground shelter at the rear of the town marked his prey's location. "Importance?"

"Oh, never mind that. Just… don't kill him, okay? Need him to run around a bit longer."

"Understood." Jericho gave Hazama a curt nod, before vanishing into the winds. Time to end this insurrection… and obtain fruits of this entire war.

A warm wind washed over Tsubaki as the trapdoor into the underground bunker opened. Although no hand silenced her, she did not speak a word, resigned to her state as a captive. She hoped the infamous Lord Tenjou would prove more reasonable and less desperate than his lackeys. She followed the ninjas down an eroded stone staircase, and the trapdoor closed tight above her.

The door led into a long, brick-walled passage, torches the only source of light. In spite of the heat playing against her skin, Tsubaki felt a chill run down her spine. This was not what she expected the path to the leader of a country should be; this was like a sacrificial hall to some fell monster lurking just beyond the flickering firelight. She swallowed, blue eyes taking in every detail she could in some desperate hope that there was a way out of this. But how could she hope to escape from such a narrow hall, whose roof was low enough to force her captors to bend down?

The hallway closed with a pair of heavy iron gates, possessing no visible means to force them open. One of the shinobi accompanying Tsubaki lifted a hand, index and middle fingers pointed upward, and muttered some incantation beneath his breath. With a horrid screech, the doors moved on their own, opening to reveal a large, circular chamber. Two bronze dragons on the wall, Japanese in design, grinned at Tsubaki, the jade of their eyes reflecting the room's torchlight. Seated beneath the statues was a man, long black hair cascading down past his chest and a red tattoo—a diamond around a circle—was etched into his forehead. As the Ikarugans approached with their captive, his eyes opened to reveal blazing orange irises. "What news? And who is this?"

"My Lord, a captive." One of the ninjas knelt to one knee, head bowed. "A battle rages overhead, forces led by the treacherous Kagura Mutsuki to occupy this hallowed land of Ikaruga. We have captured this girl, a member of the Yayoi family of the loathsome Duodecim, as a hostage."

"A hostage?" The man rose to a towering height and scowled at the men before him. "Tell me, child. What is your name?"

"I… I…" It was all Tsubaki could do to answer such an intimidating man's stare. "I am Tsubaki Yayoi, sir."

"Tsubaki. You have my deepest apologies. I am Tenjou Amanohokosaka, and as you may have surmised, the leader of the insurrection against your Librarium." Tenjou glared at both of his men in turn. "You dishonorable fools! How dare you use an innocent girl as a bargaining chip? I will not stand for such underhanded tactics. Release her immediately."

"…Yes, my Lord." The Ikarugan released his grip on Tsubaki, and both he and his partner stepped back, allowing Tsubaki and Tenjou their space. "Have you any orders?"

"Assist with the battle. You must stop Mutsuki's advance." Tenjou watched as his men each gave a curt nod and vanished, before turning to Tsubaki, whose face had gone bone pale. "Relax, Tsubaki. I mean you no harm, and will allow you to leave in peace. I seek only to keep you from the battle's furious grasp. I will not allow Gesshoku's daughter to come to harm."

"Huh?" Tsubaki cocked her head in confusion. "You… know my father?"

"Indeed. He burns with a righteousness that few of the Duodecim possess." Tenjou pulled out a flask and took a long drought from it. "You must be wondering how I am familiar with Gesshoku Yayoi. Are you aware of a usurpation some six years ago?"

"…I heard something of a power shift at the Imperator position around that time, yes." Tsubaki nodded. "I was only about nine at the time. I never heard of it being a coup d'état, however. "

"That was indeed what it was. A coup, perpetrated by conspirators to place someone of their design at the position of Imperator." Once again, Tenjou took a drink. "You are speaking to the former Imperator Librarius."

"This is it, you fiend." Bang snarled as he stood over the trapdoor, clutching the wound carved into him by Ragna's giant blade. "What do you intend to do with Lord Tenjou?"

"Make him get Tsubaki back." Ragna reciprocated Bang's glare, hand on his blade. "If he refuses, I'll kick his ass. Now hurry up and open this thing."

"Be warned. If you harm Lord Tenjou in the slightest, you will be met with the full wrath of Ikaruga. The flames of hell would be a reprieve from—"

"Yeah, yeah, I got it. Do I have to kick your ass again to get you to open this?"

Bang growled and bared his teeth in a snarl, but knelt down to open the trapdoor. "Very well, you monster."

"Well, what have we got here?" A new voice stalled Bang, and both men turned toward it. Kagura approached them, sword hefted over his shoulder. "So Tenjou's down there, unless I heard wrong?"

"You!" Bang leapt at him, fist pulled back for an attack. "You lead this loathsome invasion, do you not? Taste the fury of Bang Shishigami, you evildoer! Double Palm Thrust!"

Bang drove both fists at Kagura, a burning flare erupting from his gauntlets. Kagura stabbed the flat-tipped blade into the ground, using it as a shield from the attack. With a grunt of exertion, he delivered a punch to the flat of the blade and drove it forward into Bang, bouncing him back. Kagura shook his head and rubbed his sore knuckles. "Calm down. I'm not here to kill Tenjou."

"Detestable lies!" Crouching down, Bang snarled at Kagura while he searched his garb for a trio of throwing nails. "You have brought this army here, and yet claim peace? What manner of fool do you take me for?"

"He's not lying, you dumbass." Rolling his eyes, Ragna sat down beside the trapdoor. "Kagura tried to call the attack off. His asshole assassin overrode his command. And shit, the assassin's after Tenjou. We might wanna get on stopping that, you know."

Kagura nodded. "Yeah. David Jericho. Guy's a higher up in the Wings of Justice. If you've heard of a man referred to as the Whisper, that's him. He supposedly never has failed to kill his target." He smirked. "So why don't we change that? Can't say I really trust Jericho at this point."

"Bah! Lord Tenjou does not need your help in warding off a lowly assassin." Nonetheless, Bang straightened up and nodded at Kagura. "However, I will lead you to him, assuming you are honest in your intent. This rogue here claims that some of my comrades abducted his young friend, so he will accompany us as well."

"What? Young friend?" Kagura's eyes narrowed and his grip on his sword tightened. "You mean Tsubaki's been captured?"

With a feral growl, Ragna nodded. "Yeah, and as soon as I get my hands on those assholes, they're dead."

"Ha! Lord Tenjou and I shall prove to you that my comrades would never do such a thing. But very well." Bang walked back to the trapdoor and pulled it open. "Follow me."

In silence, Ragna and Kagura followed Bang through the torch-lit tunnel to its thick iron gate. With a hand signal from Bang, the heavy doors swung open with a metallic monster's roar. At the first sight of red hair, Ragna bolted forward, shoving Bang aside in his rush. "Let Tsubaki go, you bastard!"

"Hm?" Tenjou frowned and shook his head as Ragna gripped Tsubaki's shoulder and pointed his sword Tenjou's way. "And who might you be? Who allowed you into this chamber?"

"You ruffian! How dare you threaten…?" Bang trailed off when he saw Tsubaki. "…What? The girl truly was abducted?"

"Ragna, it's fine. Tenjou means me no harm; we were just talking." Tsubaki turned back to Bang and nodded. "Yes, your comrades did in fact kidnap me as a hostage. Tenjou, however, ordered them to free me."

"Free you? Tch." Ragna snarled at Tenjou, sword unwavering. "So why the hell's she still here if she's been freed, you bastard?"

"A hostage?" Bang lifted a fist, trembling with strain and rage. "For what reason would the honorable men of Ikaruga take such a young girl hostage for? Your claim is madness."

Tenjou raised a palm, a command for silence. "Please. I shall explain. But first, it has been some time, Mutsuki. Come on in, please. I assume you are here for Tsubaki."

"Heh. You haven't changed a bit, Tenjou. And she's certainly part of it. Let's hear what you've got to say." Kagura smirked as he stepped inside the chamber and took a seat beside Tsubaki. He turned back at Ragna and Bang with a light glare. "Well? You two gonna calm down?"

Bang nodded. "My apologies. I shall hear Lord Tenjou's explanation."

As Bang bounded over to sit cross-legged at Tenjou's side, Ragna rolled his eyes but finally lowered his sword. "Yeah, sure, whatever. If any of you try anything…"

As Ragna sat down beside her, Tsubaki gave his shoulder a pat. "Relax, Ragna. If Tenjou had ill designs for me, he would have followed through on them by now."

Kagura raised a finger. "Okay, I know you guys want answers, but Tenjou, you should know that the man who is spearheading this attack is kinda after you personally."

Tenjou's eyes narrowed. "Are you not the leader of this force, Mutsuki?"

"Not anymore, I'm not." With a sigh, Kagura shook his head. "Zero Squadron Captain David Jericho, an assassin of the highest caliber. The Whisper, as he's known by your country. He had authorization from the current Imperator to supersede my command if I elected to spare this town."

"And I assume you attempted to do so." Tenjou nodded, a look of disgust on his face. "The Wings of Justice… such a fallacy of a name. To exist merely to enforce the current Imperator's tyranny is for them to soil the name of justice. But worry not; a mere assassin will never take my life, no matter his reputation."

Kagura shrugged. "Just thought I'd let you know."

"Why, though? I am your enemy, the leader of the rebellion that threatens your Librarium. Were you to kill me here and now, this war would come to an end. Why do you stay your blade, Kagura Mutsuki?"

"For one, you seem to be treating Tsu well. Goes a long way in my book. I'd also rather try to talk stuff out with you, rather than just lop off your head. Hear what you have to say. And Jericho's an obstacle to that, so for now, I can't help but see him as more an enemy than you. He has to have a reason to do this. Something he's after." Kagura cocked an eyebrow at Tenjou. "Any idea what that might be?"

"…Possibly. It is entirely unfathomable for them to have knowledge of it, but it is the only thing I can think of." Tenjou turned and indicated something in between the twin dragon statues, a thick nail that stretched a full four feet long. "The Nox Nyctores Phoenix: Rettenjou, a weapon capable of severing connection with the Boundary… and the core to something much more fearsome."

"Lord Tenjou. Are you sure you should be telling them of this?" Bang glared at the trio before him. "Who is to say they are not, in fact, in league with this dreaded Jericho?"

"I am familiar with Kagura Mutsuki. He will not betray us." Tenjou turned back to Kagura. "I assume your uncle remains the Mutsuki family head?"

Kagura scowled, grumbling under his breath before answering. "Yes, that power-obsessed ass Belioz is still the family head."

"Unfortunate. Were you the head of the Mutsuki family, you could make headway against the corruption of the Librarium."

"Hey, uh." Ragna raised a hand, growling. "This is great and all, but why the hell do you still have Tsubaki here if you're not going to use her as a hostage?"

Bang raised a fist, teeth bared. "You impudent…!"

Tenjou lifted his palm again to silence Bang. "Relax, Bang. I did promise explanations to you both. It is true that two of my men saw fit to abduct Tsubaki as a hostage, believing that holding a daughter of the Yayoi family captive would serve as bargaining chip with the Librarium. I refuse to use a young girl's life in such a way. Tsubaki remains under my supervision both so I could explain the circumstances of my usurpation, and to protect her from the battle overhead."

Ragna cocked his head. "…Usurpation? The hell does that mean?"

"It means that he was dethroned a few years ago." Kagura smirked at Ragna. "He's the former Imperator, you know. It's how we know each other."

"The hell?" Ragna jumped to his feet, gawking at Tenjou. "…Okay, I'm confused. The hell's going on?"

"A coup d'état, organized by men of the shadows, supplanted me as the Imperator in favor of a young girl who served their purposes." Tenjou closed his eyes and shook his head. "I know little of them, other than that they seek calamity. It is to prevent their schemes I organization my rebellion. Unfortunately, it seems my strength was not enough. Only two cities remain of the Ikaruga Federation."

"Lord Tenjou, please don't speak like that!" Bang turned to Tenjou, eyes ablaze. "We can take back the fallen cities of Yabiko and Kazamotsu! Please, believe in our strength! Even as we speak, your elites march toward—"

Once again, Tenjou silenced Bang with a mere raised palm. "Be silent. Someone uninvited listens. Reveal yourself, assassin Jericho."

Silence fell, but only for a breath. Ragna leapt to his feet and stood before Tsubaki's unprotected back, sword drawn to defend her against the assassin. He cast an enraged eye at Kagura. "Protect her other side, dipshit."

Already in the process of doing so, Kagura grinned. "You don't gotta tell me to protect a lady, you know. And you really don't need to be so rude about it."

"Just making sure you got your ass in gear."

Once more, silence reigned. All present listened for any sound, any footstep, or any breath. Finally, a voice came from outside, filtered by the gate and little more than a whisper. "O hallowed wind, I summon thee to cut down my enemies, by thy will."

A gale blew through the room, setting all to shiver in its wintery breath. So complete was the following silence, Tsubaki could hear the hammering of her own heart. And without warning, without anyone even realizing he had entered the sealed chamber, Jericho leapt, descending from atop one of the dragons, a knife in a reverse grip to rip out Tenjou's throat.

Tenjou's arm came up to hook the knife arm and stop the attack, before plunging an empty palm against Jericho's gut. The blow blasted the assassin back into the far wall, cracking it. As Jericho dropped to his knees, Bang surged forward, snarling. "You fiend! You dare try your hand at the life of the great Lord Tenjou? I, Bang Shishigami, will see your end today!"

"Fool." Jericho dropped low and dashed forward, ducking underneath Bang's ferocious punch and raking his face between the eyes with the knife. As Bang collapsed forward, clutching his face, Jericho made a beeline at Tenjou, bloody blade dripping. However, a purple maelstrom of some malevolent mist spiraled his way, forcing him to leap out of its path. "Mutsuki. Cease this."

"No can do." Kagura gripped his sword in both hands and stalked toward the assassin. "You guys, get out of here. I'll deal with Jericho."

Tenjou nodded. "I shall entrust him to you, Mutsuki. Protect the Rettenjou. Tsubaki. Bang. Follow me."

Tsubaki nodded and followed as he opened the gate. "Right. Please be careful, Kagura."

Kagura grinned back at her. "How could I fail when a lovely girl's life is on the line? You gonna help, Ragna?"

"Would love to, but I'm gonna make sure the Ikarugans don't do anything to Tsubaki." Ragna snarled back at Jericho once, before following after Tsubaki and Bang. "Give him the ass-kicking of the century for me, Mutsuki."

Chuckling, Kagura nodded. "You got it. Alright, Jericho. Don't know how a mere assassin like you ended up in the favor of those in power, but I think I gotta put a stop to this. Mind telling me who set this up?"

"Yes." Jericho reversed his grip on the six-inch blade and swept forward. His opening slash clanged off Kagura's heavy blade, but he persisted. A number of rapid slashes followed, scratching the face of the black sword but making no head against Kagura's defense. His grip changed again, and he stepped to Kagura's side for a quick cut. Kagura matched the movement, staying behind his weapon to block the swipe. Jericho leapt in an attempt to vault Kagura's blade and strike from above. "Begone."

"Dragon's Ascent!" Kagura left the ground with a wide, upward hack of his sword. A cushion of wind blossomed between Kagura and Jericho to weaken the strike, but not enough to turn aside the blade. The sword ripped through Jericho's uniform and carved a deep gash into his chest. As Jericho fell to the ground and clambered to his knees, gripping his wound, Kagura landed and pointed his sword straight at the assassin. "Well. Sorry, but I can't let you kill Tenjou."

Kagura lunged forward, violet mists swirling into a dragon's head at the flat end of the sword. Jericho flipped back to evade the attack. "Traitor."

"Hardly." Kagura jumped aboard his sword, and rode it over a slipstream of purple fog after Jericho. "I just know that you've got something planned, and I don't trust it. So, not letting you go through with it. And I have stuff to discuss with Tenjou anyways. Sorry."

"Hmph." Jericho sprang to the side, and darted in for a stab at Kagura's chest. "Your life is forfeit, then."

"That so? Looking for a reason to kill me?" Before the attack was anywhere close to landing, Kagura kicked his sword up into his hands and blocked it. A squall of swift stabs followed, but Kagura's defense proved impregnable to Jericho. "You're the Whisper. Total efficiency, but you never kill someone you're not assigned to. Mind telling me how killing me fits your doctrine?"

"Assignment is to eliminate all Ikaruga sympathizers." Jericho directed a kick at the flat of the blade, and used the impact to recoil away from Kagura. He bolted straight Rettenjou, resting between the two dragons, and seized it. "Will return."

"Like hell you will!" Snarling, Kagura swung his sword in a mighty arc with both, trying to cut down Jericho where he stood. The assassin could not be allowed to abscond with the Nox. However, Jericho rolled under the hack and raced for the exit, far too swift for Kagura to hope to catch. Still, Kagura bolted after him, cursing under his breath as Jericho vanished into the torch-lit tunnel.

Thick grey smoke blotted out the sun in a great cloud held aloft by the fiery dance of the burning village, as an acrid stench burned the air. Tenjou snarled as he stood statuesque, hands balled into fists. "The wrath of the Librarium… I never thought I would see the day when it would commit wholesale slaughter for some sham of peace. Bang. How fare you?"

"I can fight, Lord Tenjou." Down on his knees, Bang clutched his gushing wound. "The assassin's blade is not enough to fell Bang Shishigami. Give me the word, my Lord, and I will deliver righteous justice to those mongrels that dare defile this town."

"Um, mister Bang?" Tsubaki approached him, tentative and nervous, ignoring Ragna's look of warning. "I could attempt to heal your wound, if you'd like."

"Huh?" Bang looked up at her, wiping away blood once more. "Why, certainly. You have my thanks, Miss Yayoi."

"Alright…" Tsubaki stepped over to Bang and knelt down, Ragna trailing her on every step to ensure the ninja didn't try anything. She lifted two fingers to the gash, and whispered an Ars incantation under her breath. Her fingers glowed a light green, and the aura extended to cover the bleeding gash and mend the skin. After nearly a minute of Bang's flesh twisting itself back into place, she ceased her chanting and pulled her fingers back. Some semblance of the gash remained, but its bleeding had ceased. "I did the best I could. However, it will still probably scar to some degree."

"That is fine." Bang bowed his head to Tsubaki. "You have my gratitude, Miss Yayoi. Now, I shall go—"

"Heed my call, o mighty wind of purgatory, and deliver thy foes to thy eternal wrath." The whisper carried on a breeze, petrifying all with its callous chill. There was no mistaking that voice; Kagura had failed to defeat Jericho. Moments later, Jericho rushed from behind Tsubaki, knife hooked to rip out her throat.

"Toh!" Tenjou lunged forward before Jericho could land the killing blow and planted an empty palm into his side. The strike, carrying an unseen force, launched Jericho bouncing along the ground. Tenjou settled into a stance, a palm raised before his chest. "Your stealth fails on me, assassin. For attempting to take an innocent girl's life, for stealing the Rettenjou, I will see your death on this day. You two. Keep Tsubaki from harm."

Spitting out dirt, Jericho pulled himself back to his feet and readied his knife. "Foolish. Your rebellion dies here, Tenjou."

He slashed with the blade, and a razor wind cut through the air. Tenjou crossed his arms before himself to block, even as the gale bore shallow cuts into his arms. Seeing an opportunity, Jericho darted forward, knife extended. With a sudden burst of speed, he brought himself to his opponent in an instant, ready to plunge his dagger into Tenjou's heart. His blade met nothing but air, as Tenjou sidestepped the attack. Tenjou's gauntleted hand burst into flame as he drove a punch at Jericho. Jericho ducked away, but by so narrow a margin his uniform caught flame. But he had no time for distractions; he hooked a foot around the back of Tenjou's leg and tripped him onto his back. "Mighty zephyr, bless my dagger for thy wrath."

Jericho descended upon Tenjou, and winds swirled as he stabbed at an inhuman pace, dozens of strikes dealt in mere seconds. However, as he paused for the briefest moment, Tenjou drove a fist into his jaw. His foe stunned, Tenjou spun up to his feet with a heavy blow to the gut, before delivering one more open palm to the chest. An invisible blast struck Jericho a moment later and sent him bouncing away. With a groan of pain, Tenjou clutched his other arm, a bloody mess from blocking against Jericho's barrage. "I curse your hallowed wind, assassin. But you should as well; it is not enough to see your attempt through."

"Concealing wind, shroud thy humble servant so that I may triumph for thee." Winds spun around Jericho, fading him from sight. Only what dirt and leaves the gales picked up marked his position. He bolted forward, aiming for Tenjou's throat.

Without warning, something caught against his blade and halted him. The spinning winds dissipated, revealing him again, and he glared at the feline beastkin that had dared stopped his advance with a single kodachi. Jubei matched his glare, sending fear through the assassin. "Howdy. Tsubaki, I reckon ya ought'a look away here."

And then Jubei stood several feet behind Jericho in the blink of an eye. Jericho started to turn his way when the blow struck. A wide gash opened up, cutting all the way along his chest, and his dagger's blade fell to the ground, severed from the hilt. He gurgled blood and, in a gush of the crimson liquid, fell to the ground, bisected.

Jubei sheathed his blade and turned back to the group, all of whom stared at him in utter awe. "Sorry I'm late. Ya'll 'right?"

"Sir Jubei. It is an honor." Tenjou nodded the beastkin's way, relaxing. "You have my—"

"Jubei!" A red-haired blur shot forward, cutting off Tenjou entirely, to tackle Jubei in a tight hug. After a moment, Tsubaki caught herself and pulled her chuckling master back to his feet. "S-sorry about that. I was just…"

"Ain't blamin' ya, 'Baki. Sorry I had ya worried." Jubei smiled at her before turning to Tenjou. "Yer Lord Tenjou, ain't ya? N' that weapon… Rettenjou? Never thought I'd see that again."

"Indeed. It has been passed down the Amanohokosaka family since the Dark War's end, to protect the Lynchpin from being used." Tenjou stepped forward and reclaimed the giant nail from where it lay by Jericho's body. As he strapped it across his back, the sound of footsteps cut off whatever he was about to say. He turned to Kagura, dashing towards the group as fast as he could. "Mutsuki. Thank you for your attempt to defeat Jericho, even if it proved unsuccessful."

"Hey, asshole!" Ragna gripped the hilt of his sword and started Kagura's way, snarling. "Great job letting that bastard go free. He almost got Tsubaki, you know."

"Which is why I was trying to get to you guys before he could do anything." Kagura skidded to a stop, panting. He turned to Tsubaki and grimaced. "Sorry about that, Yayoi. I… well, obviously, I couldn't stop him."

Tsubaki shook her head and offered him a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Sir Mutsuki."

"So. Uh, where is Jericho, any… ways… oh." Kagura paled as his eyes fell upon Jericho's remains. "Okay. So he's dealt with.'

"Yeah. I stepped in, though I reckon Tenjou could'a taken him himself." Jubei nodded Kagura. "Anyways, ya mind callin' for yer men to leave, Mutsuki? Sooner ya end this slaughter, the better."

Kagura nodded. "Much as I'd like to speak with Tenjou more, yeah. Gotta put an end to this. I'll send up a signal flare to retreat. You guys should get going. Somehow, I don't think my men would accept a retreat if they find Lord Tenjou hanging around here."

High overhead, a green beacon exploded in the air and cleared a swath through the grey clouds of smoke for all to see, the signal for an NOL retreat. As activity buzzed through the invasive forces, halting their attempt to enter the refinery just at the entrance, Tenjou sat down on a hill overlooking the village, finally at ease. "Such calamity… I must find those responsible for the NOL's corruption and eliminate them."

"U-um… Sir Tenjou?" Tsubaki cast a nervous glance his way. "May I just ask… do you intend to reclaim the position of Imperator in this war?"

"No, I do not. Whoever succeeds the current Imperator is of little matter to me. I only mean to usurp the current Imperator, to stop whatever dastardly plan her benefactors have in mind." Tenjou fixed Tsubaki with a sharp look, making her jump. "Please tell me, Tsubaki. I know of the Yayoi family's ironbound dedication to the NOL. Do you believe what I say?"

"Before today…" Tsubaki looked away, biting her lower lip. A rough hand fell on her shoulder; Ragna's. "I wouldn't have. I could never have conceived that the Librarium would do such a thing. But having seen such a barbaric attack with my own eyes… I can't discount what you say. I… don't know what side leads the path of justice anymore."

"Is it not obvious?" Bang looked at her, patriotic fervor burning in his eyes. "Ikaruga is the side of justice! We would never stoop to committing such atrocities! Please, Miss Yayoi, I beseech you—"

"You guys are willing to stoop to abducting a girl as a hostage." Ragna snorted his way. "Personally, I don't think that counts as justice or anything of that shit."

"Indeed, I cannot say my country has done much to endear you to them, Tsubaki." Tenjou sighed, scowling. "I hope you find your path soon. Bang."

Calming down, Bang stopped snarling Ragna's way and nodded at his leader. "Yes, Lord Tenjou."

"I must ask you to promise something. Should I perish in the midst of this war…" Tenjou glanced back at the massive nail strapped across his back. "You must protect the Rettenjou, and see to it that it finds its way into Jubei's hands."

Bang blinked. "…I understand, my lord. Is it for its protection I am to bequeath it to Jubei?"

"…That is one purpose of doing so, yes." Tenjou rose to his feet and delivered curt nods to Jubei, Tsubaki and Ragna in succession. "My apologies, but I must see to my people. I wish you well on your journey, Sir Jubei."

With a chuckle, Jubei shook his head. "Naw, we ain't goin' anywhere just yet. Still get some business here. N' I reckon we can help with the cleanup, as well."

With a sigh of relief, Kagura leaned on his sword, his men gathered behind them half an hour outside of the town. Although confused, they had by and large bought his reasoning that the Ikarugan forces they had been fighting were decoys to lure them into a trap, and that Lord Tenjou himself led a force to crush them there. Everything was good. Everything was going to work out. Everything was…

"Well, well, well. What's this, Colonel Mutsuki? I could have sworn you were ordered to destroy that town down there." A man in black, topped by a fedora, approached Kagura from behind, wearing an ill-concealed snarl. "May I ask what exactly you're doing? Oh, I'm Intelligence Captain Hazama, by the way. Officially sanctioned by the Imperator."

"Captain Hazama, huh?" Kagura turned to him, hand gripping his sword's hilt. Something was off here. Very off. "My apologies, but Captain Jericho made a tactical error, so I had to call for a tactical retreat. I gained intel suggesting this town to be a trap to crush my force here."

"Oh? Is that so? Can't say I heard of any such thing." Hazama's eyes cracked open as his sneer made itself more apparent. God damn it all! Once more, the core of the Kushinada Lynchpin eluded him. Maybe next time he shouldn't entrust something so goddamn important to some stupid assassin. "May I ask what became of David Jericho, anyways?"

"My apologies, Captain. He had the misfortune of encountering Tenjou Amanohokosaka and was slain in battle. As the former commander of this force, I took it upon myself to act as I saw fit."

"Which meant turning tail. Got it." Hazama eyes opened wider, chilling Kagura with his yellow, snake-like irises. "Well, whatever. If you really don't think you can take a tiny-ass mining village, I suppose I should send you elsewhere."

"Of course." Kagura dropped into an overdone bow. "Whatever my fair Imperator desires, I shall oblige."

It took all of Hazama's will to stay in control. He was clearly being mocked now, and like hell would he stand for it. But there were better ways of dealing with this annoying pest. "Very well then. Your army will meet with General Mitsurugi's outside of Akitsu for an attack on the city. You up for that? I mean, gosh, you couldn't even take this backwater dump of civilization. And Akitsu is kinda sorta like a fortress, you know."

Kagura met him with a confident stare. "Trust me. I've got this."