#masaru

    It seems that my parents thought they could hide this information from me. Unfortunately for them, the staff loved to talk and gossip. To be frank, if they talked this much, they should be fired. Who knows what other things they could be whispering about? War was the time that snakes and rats came out to play. I would have a word with the servants before I continue on my mission. I sighed before reaching into my pocket to pull out a charm my uncle had given me years ago. It was a beautiful and thickly braided charm that he had gotten from some far-off land. It always made me feel good and safe…like he was protecting me.  

    Rubbing my tails, I blinked at them as my fur started to stand on end. A static coursed over them and a smile burst across my face. Turning around, I didn’t miss a step as my uncle emerged from the forest. He grunted as I hurled myself into his arms and he chuckled wholeheartedly at me. My uncle meant everything to me, and he was the only one who could understand my desire to avenge my sister.

    “Hey there Masami…”

    “Uncle…I’m so happy to see you again.” I gave him one more last tight hug before we separated. He had been gone for over a year and spent much of the time feeding me information. It was the only reason that I could follow the movements of the Nobara clan so closely. It was better this way to do it secretly, because my parents would throw a fit. Although, everything that my uncle did seemed to bother them. I didn’t pay them much mind when they were being whiny.

    “Yes well…the Nobara clan has been very slippery and has been harder to track.” I frowned at that, but he just chuckled and patted my head. “Fear not…Masaru and I still have them in our sights. Relax a bit, you need to take this time to rest and get your strength up.”

    “Ugh…where would that get me?” 

    “It would give you time to focus and properly plan on how to take them out.” He patted my head and sat me down on the ground. I couldn’t help the pout that formed on my face as he smiled at me. My uncle had taught me everything that I had ever known about combat, strategy, and killing. They were skills that my parents were not keen on teaching me, which made zero sense to me. I needed to prepare for the world, and because I wasn’t, I couldn’t protect my sister. 

    Uncle Jin was the only one who trained me when everything fell apart. The simple forms of training my parents gave were never enough. I needed to be stronger, more powerful and more ferocious. I made even my brothers look weak when I showed off what I could do. My uncle brought out the best in me, and I thanked him endlessly for it.

    “The Nobara clan is hoping to join with another clan to gain more strength. They have already made progress in these talks I’m afraid.” My ears perked up as my cousin walked over and sat next to his father. Jin patted him on the shoulder before he smiled at me. “Stop making that face…they won’t get far. They are very slippery, but my father and I are much better than them.”

    “You say that…but you lost an arm to one of them.”

    “Yeah well…we can’t all be you now, can we?” I rolled my eyes as he rotated his prosthetic arm. Masaru was a good fighter, so when he returned one evening without his arm, I was surprised that someone got the jump on him. Despite how pale he had been, he smiled about it and boasted about how his father took down the man who wounded him. I just thought he was an idiot for losing a vital limb. I would have put him down myself if he never would have gotten that arm. My uncle and cousin were more useful than anyone in my family currently was. 

    “I don’t know about you father, but I am hungry, and I miss our family.” Masaru reached over to pat my head, but I moved back and glared at his hand. “Still testy…I will see you both later.”

    I grumbled before I went back to dip my toes in the lake as the pair talked to each other. I wanted to leave from here so desperately. My body could not relax; I needed to do something other than this. My parents would just get pushier if I left. They would ruin anything that I wanted to do. 

    “Tell me the problem.”

    I glanced at my uncle as he appeared at my side and put his feet in the lake. I felt like an echo in a cave, constantly repeating the same thing over and over again. No one would hear what I was saying, no one seemed to care.

    “You know what the problem is…”

    “It helps to talk about it, little butterfly.” I sighed and rubbed my hands together, perhaps hearing the advice of my uncle would do me some good. 

    “I need to end this…I need to end them… every day that I waste here, is another day that they plot and scheme to kill us. They grow stronger, while everyone here grows weak. I just don’t understand it. Everyone was ready and willing to do what needed to be done in the beginning, now they have no drive.”

    “Hmm…I could see how that would be frustrating. I can agree with you that everyone seems to be taking slower steps. It is a problem…”

    “Exactly-!”

    “Ah ah!” He cut me off with a gentle poke to my nose. I pursed my lips as he chuckled and tapped my nose. “You have to realize that certain things in war take smaller steps. Not everything will be a large show of violence. In war, there are several different ways to crush your enemies. I’m sure that I taught you that correct?”

    “...yes…”

    “Now…your father is working around the clock to make sure our men are ready to attack the Nobara clan and significantly weaken them. I’m sure that you remember what your great-grandmother was known for?”

    “Her poison?” His smirk confirmed my thoughts, but that…it was too…peaceful. “If the plan is to poison them, then that is not good enough for me.”

    “Oh? Who said that was the only thing that was going to happen to them? Your great-grandmother had many different things she taught us to harm our enemies…”

    “I want blood uncle.” I glared angrily and looked up at him. I needed them to crumble underneath me; I needed them to beg for a salvation that will never come. “I need them to scream and feel nothing but agonizing torture.”

    “You will have it, dear niece.”

    “I doubt that! I was born into a family of weak imbeciles!” I huffed as he moved to touch me. I would not be coddled! “They talk and talk about things they will do! I have seen no progress! You, Masaru, and I are the only ones making any progress on killing them. You must take me with you and Masaru! I waste my time here with these people!”

    “Masami!” I stopped as he grasped my face and forced me to look into his eyes. “There is nothing that you can do right now.”

    “Bullshit!”

    “Do you really believe that you can do something?” His red eyes blazed with a calculated glare. “These things will happen when they happen, little butterfly.”

    “I have to do something!” I couldn’t stop pacing and hearing my uncle telling me to relax did nothing but make me more frustrated. “I have to continue getting stronger…”

    “Will that be enough though?” I blinked at my uncle’s turned back as he looked over the lake. That was his thinking voice, and I’m sure if I looked at him now, he would be rubbing his chin in thought. I didn’t appreciate what he was insinuating. 

    “Uncle…”

    “You just aren’t strong enough yet…it would be foolish to go right now…” 

    “What?!” I growled out and he turned to look at me surprised. I rarely ever acted out towards my uncle, so his surprise was warranted. I didn’t care about that because how dare he suggest that I couldn’t handle this! “I’m the best fighter in this family!”

    “Yes, you are…I made sure of that…but I just think you need to better prepare yourself. You have been going at this for too long…you might not actually truly be ready for-”

    “Shut the hell up!” The grass started to burn under my feet as I backed away from him. “I have drive! I have my emotions ready and able to do what must be done!”

    “Your emotions will get you killed niece!” He stepped closer to me, but I continued to back away from him. He had no right to say any of this to me! No fucking right at all! 

    “I thought you were on my side! Where is the fucking support?!”

    “I am being supportive, Masami! I’m just facing the facts right now!” I was about to turn away from him, but he gripped my shoulders tight. “You should know what I have taught you about your emotions! They will be your undoing and that is not something this family can deal with again!”

    “You need to have some fucking faith in me!”

    “The men that I saw from the Nobara clan were far beyond what they used to be. Frankly, I think you need to sit this out for a while. The only thing you’ll be doing for the family at this point is getting killed.”

    “....”

    “Do you really think that you can do this alone forever? That you’re just some super-powered being?! We all have limits Masami! You need to learn yours for once! You are nothing! Nothing to them and they will do what they need to do to stop you!”

    “....” He sighed before he let me go and decided to let me just stand there in disbelief. I just watched him walk away, stunned by his words, hurt at their deeper meaning, but above all else, I was still seething in rage. “You have something else to say to me?”

    “What?”

    “Anything. Else. To. Say?!” I wanted him to hear the venom in my voice and the anger behind it. I would not let him just walk away from me after that. He just sighed and gave me that sad sigh that everyone gave me. Like it mattered to me how they felt about my actions, my rage, my feelings in general. They could never fathom the anger and hate raging through my veins every second of every day. These “looks” were beginning to annoy the fuck out of me. 

    “You’re not as strong as you think you are, little butterfly.” 

    He turned without another word as I exploded in anger. I had none of my weapons so I could not throw them at his retreating back. I barely wanted to toss my fire; I conjured up at him. He was my uncle and I loved him dearly, and he had never talked to me like this before. I’m sure I looked like a toddler as I yelled and kicked at the dirt, my flames making the lake boil and dead fish rose to the surface. Did no one understand anything anymore? I would not be told such foolishness. 

    He thought I was weak?

    They all thought I was irrational? Emotional? Damaged?!

    I would show them just how emotional I was.

                                                 ~~~     My mind was a haze of emotions as the family ate lunch for the day. The flurry of laughter and joy made that haze darker. The carefree aura that my family had wafting off them did nothing to make me feel what they were feeling. I was everything that my father never wanted for his daughters, and I knew that it broke his heart. Through the fog, he made eye contact with me. His attention fell upon me hard, and despite the levity of the table, I saw that same heartbreak cross over his face again. I could only describe it as the heartbreak of a father who must think he failed his family. The moment he opened his mouth to speak to me; I left the table. 

    The laughter continued behind me without even the briefest pause. My absence was starting not to mean anything to them anymore. Good…it would make it easier for everyone that it did. This quest for revenge would most likely kill me, but I would make sure the Nobara clan was all dead before I finally fell. Koyuki…you deserved to be here…not me. I didn’t deserve it.

    “M-Masami…”

    “...” Why did it have to be her?

    “I-I know…that you don’t wish to be around us but…you should still eat.” I didn’t have to look at her to know that she was probably twiddling her fingers. Her soft voice was almost as soft as her footsteps. Of all my siblings, Chiharu was the only one I could never tell was walking up to me. The only one who could catch me by surprise. A skill that frustrated me because she could be so much more useful than she was. “We…we have to be prepared for anything…right?”

    “We?”

    “H-Huh? Y-Yes! The war is getting even fiercer and we-”

    “There is no “we”! There is only me, little girl!” She squeaked out in surprise as I closed the distance between us. Grabbing her collar, I pulled her so close that our noses were almost touching. “I do everything in this family on this fucking campaign! You know nothing about the struggles of war! Your only struggle is figuring out which doll to display on your fucking shelves! How to style your hair for the day! Which kimono to wear! How many fucking ways to have father and mother baby you! You know nothing of war! You only know how to be a fucking baby!”

    “I-I…I’m trying!” I blinked in surprise as she raised her voice at me. I had never heard her yell once in her life. I released my grip on her collar and her lips trembled as tears spilled from her eyes. “I miss Koyuki more than you know! I’m trying so hard to train and fight! You know nothing about me!”

    “You call this trying?! I call it being a useless fucking brat-” Mei appeared behind Chiharu and slammed her fist into my jaw. Huh…and here I thought she was just talking out her ass. My jaw stung as she didn’t let up her assault on me as she pinned me down and slammed her fists into my face again. I growled as I tasted blood in my mouth and spit it in her face. She recoiled back and I grabbed her shirt to slam my forehead into her nose. Flipping us over, I gave her the same treatment as I punched her in her stupid fucking face. She didn’t relent either as she punched me in my ribs and face. 

    Chiharu was yelling and telling us to stop, but the damage was done and I needed to blow off the steam. She managed to kick me hard enough in the side that I slammed into a side table. Grabbing a vase, I threw it at her, but she caught it out of the air and threw it right back. I moved to the side as her foot almost collided with my head, and she got her foot stuck in the wall. Standing up, I grabbed her by the waist and bent backwards, slamming her onto the floor. I’m sure that I heard something crack as a pained yelp came from her mouth. Releasing her, she wasn’t one to let up as she kicked back up to her feet and kicked me right under my chin. The blow made me stagger back, but I shook it off and charged at her. With angry roars we both were ready to punch each other before my brothers and father stepped between us.

    “STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!” The booming sound of my father didn’t really register to me, but Mei started to simmer down, but I still tried to break away from my brothers to hit that little bitch.

    “Fuck you Masami! Fuck you all the way to hell! I told you not to ever disrespect my sister again!”

    “Oh? I guess that means I mean nothing to you anymore “sister”?” I smiled at her as the blood that pooled in my mouth began to drip out onto the floor. Her eyes blazed as she tried to rush out of my father’s arms.

    “Yes! Fuck you! This family would be better off without you!”

    “Good! I want to be done with you people anyway! Koyuki was the only one of you I ever fucking loved anyway!”

    “STOP IT!” Hearing my mother’s pained yell made us both stop in our tracks. The hallway grew eerily quiet in an instant. I looked over at my mother as she held Chiharu in her arms. Chiharu was crying against her breasts and my mother had tears rushing from her eyes. Her golden eyes never looked right holding that much sadness behind them. Her face was even starting to turn red as her lips trembled. That amount of pain hadn’t been on her face since…

    “You…you are to never say such things to each other again.” She finally choked out another response. She took several deep breaths before she spoke again. “The pain of losing a sibling…is more than you should have ever had to feel. That pain is tearing you apart from us Masami. We are all we have in these harsh times, my kois. You will apologize to each other now!”

I blew out a frustrated breath as I felt Tatsuya squeeze my arm. I had no reason to apologize to her. I only spoke the truth of how I felt, and I had a feeling that they all knew that too. 

    “I…mother…she should have never spoken like that to Chiharu-”

    “Enough Mei! I’m more than aware of how she spoke to your sister! She will apologize for that too! Now do as I say!” Her soft motherly tone was now gone, replaced with her characteristic angry mother voice. If only she could channel that on the battlefield….

    “I…I’m sorry Masami…for what I said…and fighting…”

     I felt the gazes of everyone on my face, and they must have lost their minds if they thought I would apologize about something that I meant. It would be a cold day in hell before-

    “Masami…” However, having to hear the nagging of my mother would probably kill me before anyone else did. “Masami you have-”

    The sounds of our warning gongs went off with a thundering boom across our home. That meant an enemy was sighted on the mountains by mother’s old home. My brothers released me instantly and ran off. I was quick to follow them as my blood raced with excitement through my body. 

    “Masami!” My mother's cries for me didn’t even make me pause. I needed to fight something; it would relax me before I left again. I rushed into my room to grab my fans and tanto blade before I jumped from my window to the forest. I spit out the last bit of blood from my mouth as I smiled hearing the fighting and men dying ahead of me. 

    The mountains around my mother's home were usually quiet, and we never really had much trouble in them. My parents and brothers were hellbent on them being fiercely protected, I didn’t care too much about why since I could fight anything that trespassed on it.  I could prove my uncle wrong, and it would get my mind off of Mei and her foolish need to protect a weakling like Chiharu. My brothers were far ahead of me, but I could hear them yelling at some of our men that were fighting. I caught a glimpse of something that I wasn’t even sure was a human or kitsune. Regardless, it would die just like any other creature. There was also something moving in the trees above my head, and once it moved to a lower branch, I bounded off a tree and slashed its throat as it rushed at me. Grabbing a low-hanging branch, I swung myself up onto a higher one as I looked down at the thing that I killed. It was shaped like some sort of dog, but its feathery wings on its back were like a bat. Its dark blood pooled out of its throat as it convulsed a few more times before it stopped moving.

    “What the hell?”

    Peering through the trees, I smiled as more of these creatures rushed through the forest towards not only my brothers, but also towards me. Why should I care about what these things were? They would give me a fight and that was all I wanted at the end of the day. Several of the beasts tried to flank me, which meant they possessed some level of intelligence. Jumping back to the floor, I unsheathed my fan as they began to circle me. 

    “One…two…five…eight…” I was slightly offended that I only had eight of these things to contend with. It didn’t matter though because they would die soon enough. As one, they all charged at me, and I smirked at their attempt. They varied in size, but it meant little if they didn’t have the power to back it up. Unfurling my fan, I released the blades from its folds into the smallest one. It fell without much more of a fuss and I focused on the larger ones as they swung at me with raised claws and fangs. 

    I wish that I could say that they gave me a fight, proof of how much better I was then everybody, but they gave me no such elation. They gave me nothing, they were weak and that was not a test of my strength, it just meant they had nothing to offer me to begin with. I took several breaths as I stood over them and shook the blood from my blade. I was being careless and broke my tanto blade in the forehead of one of the creatures. The blacksmith was already annoyed with me as it is, and this would just make him angrier. A breaking branch landing at my feet made my gaze go skyward, and a beast of horrid proportions was falling towards me, with a gaping maw to greet me. Jumping out of its way, it rebounded on its feet quickly and almost sliced my stomach open. If I ever slacked on my training, I would have been in trouble. My mind wandered back to Chiharu, even though this was definitely not the time for it. The girl had so much potential and she could have been great. Her training didn’t even exist anymore. 

    Useless fucking girl. 

    The screech of the creature brought me back to my senses as its body began to change as I distanced myself further from it. It kept an intense level of eye contact with me as it barely let me gain that distance. Its claw extended further and further until it pulled it out and wielded it like a sword. I licked my lips in anticipation seeing such a sight, my prayers would finally be answered. The beast pulled its other claw out and I drew my fans out as they clashed against its weapons. The forest shook from the pressure of our collision and the ground cracked under my feet. 

    The metal from the fan made a harsh ringing sound and I folded my ears against my head so I could focus. It wouldn’t do me much good to be distracted by them constantly ringing. The beast opened its mouth wide, and instead of a roar, I was greeted with a bright light coming from it. I frowned and jabbed a dagger from my fan under its chin, angling it up towards the sky. A harsh beam of fierce heat emerged from it tearing through the clouds above us. With a powerful attack like that…it could have torn right through our home…and…with my mother and Chiharu most likely still inside. 

    “You just earned yourself a painful death!”

    If it believed the battle was on before, it was nothing compared to how I approached it now. Tightly gripping my fans, I swung them harshly at the tendons of the creature, hoping to deal with the extra limbs that it possessed. Four twisting and twitching limbs was not enough to phase me, but the speed they went did. I was plenty quick, but this thing was nothing like I had seen. I thought it was just a mindless and bloodthirsty creature, but it was studying me with every clash we made. 

    Every stumble over a rock or branch, it would strike at my feet right at that moment. Every time I took a breath to ready an attack, it would close the distance even more to make me rethink my strategy. It was a flurry of movements that was more frustrating than anything, but I had no doubts that I could handle such a thing. I would have to cut off those arms while also dodging the sharp claws it pulled from its body. That attack it released from its mouth wouldn’t be much trouble if I stayed out of its range. 

    The creature's long tongue flicked out every few seconds to taste the air as one of its blades nicked me on the side of my arm. Hopefully it didn’t have any poison in its body. I could push past something so trivial, but it would catch up to me before long. Having wasted enough time, I clashed with the creature once more. The blades on my fans cut across its body as it left itself open primarily on its right, but its arms counted another attack I had ready for it and sliced up against my fan and into my hand. 

    “Ah! Motherfucker!” It twisted its blade into my hand, almost like it was enjoying the sound of my frustration. I kicked it square in the chest to dislodge my hand but only succeeded in having my foot stuck by another bone sticking from its body.  Before I could take it out, the beast raised me up and slammed me onto the ground, completely winding me. I struggled to catch my breath as it did it a second time, before a third. I grunted as it slammed me against a tree, but my foot also slipped from its grasp. I tossed one of my blades at its face, but it sliced it in half before it grabbed me by the throat and lifted me up. 

    Another beam began to form into its mouth, and I kicked it in the chin, and it thankfully stopped the blast, and I wrapped my legs around its neck and squeezed it against my thighs, and thankfully it began to lose its grip. 

    “Gah!” Three of its other arms pierced my stomach and I coughed out blood onto its face. Once it began to twist, I didn’t give it the satisfaction of a scream. Instead, I heated the blood I coughed on its face to burn the bastard instead. It erupted into a heavy blaze and released me, and before I hit the ground, I slammed my fist into its chest. I smiled in deep satisfaction when I felt and heard the crunch of its body. It flew through several trees before stopping, but I was quick to drive the blades of my fan into its face. It roared in agony and I smiled more as I pushed my blades deeper before dragging it down the middle of its face. 

    I reached a bit of resistance when I reached the throat, but I loved hearing the sound of a blade ripping through a throat. It was like listening to someone play on a piano, each breaking point a musical melody, and when it reached the larynx, it finished in a beautiful guttural final silence. The beast finally fell before I left it to rot. There would be more like it hopefully but knowing my brothers…they would most likely be dead. It was just like them to never leave any scraps behind for me to play with. 

    “Masami!” I looked up into the trees as Mei jumped down with her naginata raised over her head. I suppose this is the point where someone would think she was going to kill me over our earlier fight. The more likely thing that was happening was that she was poised to kill the creature behind me. It had started to rise while I was in my thoughts, and I would have gone back to fight it, but I would give Mei her little hero moment. 

    The creature roared as she made contact with it and I turned to see that she removed its other limbs. I almost laughed at how ridiculous it looked now with only one arm and a torn throat. The blade of Mei’s naginata was a harsh and cruel beast. I would give my parents credit for securing their children with such fearsome weapons. The blade was sharp enough that I once saw her cut through light itself and sever it into a thousand pieces. It was also rumored to have been able to cut through mountains and a person’s very soul. Rumors also said that it was a one-way ticket to hell…and that it sounded like a beautiful melody when it struck the person before their final breath. I didn’t give much stock to these rumors, and they were hard to believe anyway. 

    “Come on Mei…finish it off so that we can go.” 

    “I’m more than aware of what I must do-” I pulled her back as the beast lashed out at her and a torrent of water smacked it into a tree. We both glanced back and sure enough, Hikaru was charging down the path like a crazed animal. I would have tried to stop her, but Hikaru was never one to listen. I suppose it was another surefire way to tell that we were related. With a sweeping motion of her arms, another torrent consumed much of the forest floor and swiped the bodies of the creatures away. 

    Mei and I watched as the creatures were swept away with ease and Hikaru looked quite proud of herself too. I rolled my eyes and continued down the path towards more of the beasts, and as I did, I caught sight of my father and eldest brother Hiroshi finishing off more of the creatures. That idiot Tatsuya was making his way over to them and our other guards were finishing their fights. I had to admit that I was frustrated to see that there were only so many of them left. 

    I sighed and placed my hands on my hips as I watched Hikaru tear the creature she whisked away apart. I could already hear my father about to chide her about playing with her enemy. Hiroshi and Tatsuya were checking over the guards for their injuries, but I narrowed my eyes as I tried to locate Mei. I thought that she would have come with me to get the rest of the small fry, but she was nowhere to be seen. 

    Turning on my heels, I marched back to where we had been fighting, but there was no sign of her. The bodies of the creatures had disappeared and seemed to vanish into thin air, which was…strange. Although, I just really wanted to know how Mei seemed to vanish without anyone noticing. A scent caught my attention, and my heart began to race as the smell of Mei’s blood invaded my senses. I moved even quicker as her scent carried further into the woods. Just before the panic began to set in, I finally saw her standing over one of the creatures…several in fact. My heart didn’t settle until I grabbed her and held her close. The thought of possibly losing another sister weighed too heavily on my mind and heart as I buried my face against her throat. 

    I felt her hesitation before her hand held me tight by the waist. I held her for a few more seconds before I pulled away from her. I pulled away from her as the awkwardness of the situation consumed me. 

    “I’m alright…I just saw this one running away…”

    “Right…”

    “Masami-”

    “Let’s go back to the others and see if there are more of them.” I moved further away from her when she reached out to me. This was not the time for such things, and I was distracted enough as it was. She opened her mouth to say something, but our father appeared before us.

    “Oh, thank the Gods…are you both alright?”

    “Yes, we’re fine…are Hiroshi and Tatsuya ok?” I scanned the forest for Hikaru as Mei asked about our brothers. Knowing her, she was making another wave through the forest. I rolled my eyes at the thought. Hearing the rush of water confirmed what I already thought. 

    “We should head back home and check on your mother and sister. I hope nothing made its way towards them in our absence.” I frowned at the fact that it was already over, but voicing my opinion would just be met with displeasure that I didn’t want to hear right now. 

    As my father and siblings checked on injuries for themselves and our men, a sound caught my attention. Sure enough, there was a creature that was trying to sneak away. No one else seemed to notice it, so I took the opportunity to chase after it. It was such a pathetic thing that it would be cruel to let it live now. Seeing that no one was stopping me was good, because I still wanted to fight. My injuries were starting to heal quickly enough, but I wasn’t too worried. 

    This wouldn’t take me more than two minutes. 

    “Don’t run forever you little bastard…I’d like to have some fun with you~” It turned when it heard me, but instead of fighting me….it ran quicker. There wasn’t much that could outrun me, even with my injuries healing. I learned to ignore simple pains like the ones I received. Life had hit me harder with adversity than a wound ever could.  Just another reason life could be so difficult to deal with. 

    The creature finally seemed to slow down, and I was about to end its life, but a voice stopped me in my tracks. 

    “What is the use of you creatures if you can’t even kill one of them?!” Peering around the tree, my blood began to boil. Just a mere few away from me was the son of the Nobara clan. Their heir was deep in enemy territory without any guards and only this creature that I could take out in one strike. My knuckles were white as I tried to quickly figure out how to approach this. I could hurt his father like he had hurt us, but taking out the heir could-

    “Masami!? Are you over here?!” My hair stood on end as Hikaru raced over towards them. They both stood at attention as she closed the distance. I ran from behind the tree to grab her, but I was far too late. The heir of the Nobara clan caught my eye and smirked as he moved even faster. Hikaru had no time to stop her speed as his blade caught her in the ribs, but his claws almost taking out her eye is what really caused her to shriek. 

    “AHH!”

    I slashed my fans at that bastard, but the creature grabbed him and they disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. I turned back to Hikaru as she held her bleeding face and cried out. 

    “Hikaru!” I held her bleeding side down as she whimpered and moaned in pain. It was only seconds later that the rest of our family showed up. My father and brothers quickly went to tending to her, but I backed away from her. My mind became hazy as I looked down at her blood on my hands. Her cries tore at my frame as my vision became cloudy and twisted. I staggered back as my breath just wouldn’t come to my lungs.

    Memories of seeing Koyuki dying assaulted me. Her lungs collapsing and struggling to breathe. The blood that was supposed to keep her sustained instead strangled and killed her as it pooled in her throat. I was shaking as I tried to wipe her blood from my hands. I was going to lose another sister. She was dying and it was my fault all over again. `

    Hiroshi and Mei were talking to me, but it sounded like they were underwater. I felt heavy as they tried to make me move, but I could only stare at my bloodied hand. I don’t know how I arrived home, but I imagine that Hiroshi just managed to carry me home. I hadn’t frozen up like this since I lost Koyuki. It wasn’t until hours later that I shook myself out of my shock. 

Hikaru was alive. Despite my state of mind, I did manage to hear that Hikaru was alright. I stood outside her room as she rested. She seemed comfortable, but seeing the bandage over her eye changed something in me. The fear of her potential loss escaped me, and the anger and fury replaced it. I once again found my drive outside the pain, and I would make sure that the Nobara clan faced retribution for laying their hands on a daughter of the Igarashi clan.                                                       ~~~     A mistake had to be corrected. 

I…my sister was injured and she could very well lose her eye and that pathetic heir barely had a mark on him. I would be sure that his family received a message. My family was busy tending to Hikaru and that left me enough time to go and find that bastard. It had been a few days since she was injured, and because she hadn’t woken up yet…my parents didn’t leave her side. That left me with opportunity to track down the heir. He wasn’t as difficult to find as I thought he would be. The Nobara clan was strict about their children and to be frank the only one that was often on the battlefield was their three youngest sons. The heir rarely made an appearance. I often wished that family had the misfortune of having a daughter…yes…that would have made everything even sweeter. 

    Arriving at the meeting point, I tapped my foot in annoyance. Where the hell was my contact? He said he would meet me here and he knew that I didn’t like to wait.

    “Did you think I wouldn’t show up?” My hair bristled up as he snuck up behind me and my fan almost tore open his throat. “Woah!”

    “Idiot!” I put my fan away as he chuckled and tried to play with my hair. I moved from his grasp, and he sighed and shook his head. “Do you have the information that I need?”

    “Of course I do. That idiot has been boasting about killing your sister at some high-end brothel. The rumors about her “alleged” demise are quickly making their rounds across the villages.”

    “That fucking bastard!” I rubbed my face as I tried to think about what I should do now. “How dare he think he can get away with spreading false rumors about my sister and family!”

    “I suspect that he wants others to know that your family is weak right now. In case they have some allies that wish to see the fall of your family.”

    “Any potential losses that my family may take will not deter us…in fact it would only serve poorly for our enemies. Despite the decline of their blood lust, my parents will not take another loss so lightly.”

    “So…what will you do?” He once more stepped into my space and stroked my cheek. I closed my eyes and allowed the contact. “There is much to think about…”

    “Yes…but there is only one option now…” I opened my eyes to see him leaning down towards me. Such a needy man. His lips felt nice for the moment though, rough and desperate to fill me with the passion that he had for me. Passion that was only good for a minor distraction, nothing more and nothing less. I held his face closer as our tongues swirled together, before I broke the contact. “Take me there.”

    “Masami-”

    “Now!” He sighed deeply before we left the grounds of my territory. After running for over an hour, we finally reached a village that was bustling with activity. This village was known to be a popular tourist destination for the rich. Our family came here for a vacation once, but unfortunately, my brothers got caught up with some courtesans. My mother almost burned their brothels down when she discovered them. I smirked at the memory but pushed it aside when I saw men from the Nobara clan flooding the brothel. 

    “So…are you sure that you don’t want me with you?” I rolled my eyes as I hid behind a building to change. Concealing my tails was an ability that I appreciated. There were too many humans around and I would just be sticking out too much. As long as there were no shadows being cast, I would be fine to pull this off. Pulling the veil over my face, I stepped out and Daisuke whistled as he looked me over. “Always taking my breath away…”

    “Be quiet.” I ran my fingers through my hair before I stepped into the street. “It will only take me an hour. If I haven’t returned by then you can come and rescue me or whatever…”

    “Hmm…oh to be you protector…I like the sound of that.”

    “You would…”

    Entering the brothel, I scrunched my nose at the awful smell of drugs and sex in the air. The constant sounds of moaning women and grunting men was overpowering. I have no idea how anyone could stand to hear this everyday. I could see the owner of the brothel stalking about the area, looking proud of himself. There were several sections of the building, but I could only imagine that he was in the deepest section. 

    “Hey beautiful…you want to-”

    “Fuck off.” I brushed past an annoyance before he became a problem. I also had to stay out of the owner’s eyes. It wasn’t long before I could hear the commotion in the back of the brothel. It took all of my strength to not rush down the hall and take him out right now. 

    “Yes, yes! I killed that stupid bitch! You would think this useless family would be used to losing their daughters!” I watched from behind a curtain as girls laughed at him and rubbed on his body. I could smell the alcohol on his breath from here. His guards were too busy with the other girls around them to pay me much mind as I entered. I could not be obvious and go towards him. So, I sat enough in his sight, but not enough to be obvious. It was about time that my beauty became useful. 

    “If I keep this up…this war will be over soon and all of you ladies can live with me! Treated like queens and fucked every day!”

    I sighed and refrained from rolling my eyes as the women cheered and clapped. I clapped only not to seem out of place, but I so desperately wanted them to be gone. His words about my family were irritating me. His gaze traveled the room, and I inclined my head and sipped some sake. I could see him from my peripheral vision looking me over. I rolled my shoulder and my sleeve fell down slowly. Keeping my head a bit low, I turned to lift it back up, but I peeked up from my eyelashes at him. He sat up and licked his lips, and I thanked my mother for my golden eyes. 

    I fluttered my lashes a bit and looked away from him shyly, despite feeling like I would rather swallow nails. The other girls were trying to keep his attention so I would have to make sure to capture him instead. I ran my hand over my breasts before cupping it and winking at him. I could see the disgusting thoughts rushing through his head, and even more so as I crossed my legs, showing off my legs and upper thighs. 

    Making eye contact again, I smirked as he beckoned me closer. Once I was in arms reach, he quickly pulled me onto his lap. I would have jabbed my nails into his neck, but his sudden grip on my thigh surprised me. 

    “If I didn’t know better…I would think you were trying to seduce me…” His breath in my ear almost made me hurl, but he was right where I wanted him. “All these ladies want to fuck me, but none have been this bold.”

    “Maybe I know that I can give you the best time~” We never had much interaction with his clan before the war, only on rare occasions. He also never tried to make strides to meet the other clans, so I wasn’t too worried about him knowing my voice. Just in case, I lowered my tone some. “Hearing about your tale of valor…it just…stirred something within me. My loins have been aching.”

    “Perhaps I can help you with that…” He suddenly slapped my ass and licked on my neck and I squealed in surprise. “Oh? You like that huh?”

    “Y-Yes of course…” He surprised me with how bold he was, especially with so many people in the room. Speaking of which, the other women were starting to whine and complain about the attention I was getting. “Please…let us have the room so I can show you Heaven~”

    He snapped his fingers and just like that the women filed out of the room leaving the two of us alone. I watched them leave, intent on making my move, but he suddenly picked me up and carried me to another room. “I intend to have you all over this room!”

    “Oh yes…I agree~” 

    Once he closed the door of the room…his fate was sealed.                                                    ***     “Koyuki…”

    “Hmm?”

    “Do you think that uncle will be back home soon?”

    “I…I suppose that he will. It isn’t strange for him to be away from home for long periods of time. Why do you ask?”

    “I just miss him…he always brings home sweets and amazing stories about his adventures with Masaru…”

    “I see..” I turned to her and frowned at the look on her face, but seeing my face she smiled her wondrous smile. “Sorry…I was just thinking about something…”

    “About uncle?”

    “I…yes…I just don’t want you to be disappointed.”

    “Why would I be?” Koyuki seemed to be in a mood lately, and I could not fathom why. They seemed to stem from nowhere, but I just thought it was a passing thing. “Uncle always helps with my training, and I think I’m doing quite well!”

    “Yes…you are, but he seems a bit…brutal.” She rubbed her arms and grasped my hands suddenly. “I don’t want my sweet sister to fight so harshly…”

    “I don’t think this training will be necessary though…peace has reigned for so long…”

    “Yes, I suppose…” I giggled and leaned against her as she played in my hair and rubbed my back. Being near Koyuki was like being near a manifestation of happiness and comfort. She made me feel safe and I could always rely on her to have my best interests at heart. 

    “Oh, there you both are…” I smiled as our mother appeared in the doorway.

     “What are you girls getting up to?”

    “Oh…just talking about uncle.” 

    “Oh…I see…” I frowned a bit at her displeased expression but seeing her rub her large stomach made it go away. 

    “Mother…should you be walking around? The baby could be here any day now.”

    “Oh well…”

    “I tell her the same thing…” My father appeared behind my mother, who looked surprised to see him. “You think I didn’t know you were avoiding me?”

    “Oh well…hehe…just wanted to walk around…”

    “Right…hello my girls…” Koyuki and I both rushed over to our parents to hug them. My mother chuckled as she whispered loving words to us as we all sat down to talk. Koyuki adamantly talked about her time training with our special guards, and our mother tried not to worry. The topic of our uncle washed away, but I couldn’t figure why she seemed displeased about talking about him. His past was an icy lake to tread, but I suppose some things are just too hard to get by. 

    I smiled as my parents squeezed Koyuki between them and she blushed heavily as they kissed and hugged her tight. It was just natural to gravitate towards her, and it was funny to see her be so embarrassed by all the affection. She winked at me and I giggled as she tried to shoo our parents away.

    Thinking back on her, I often wondered if I told her that I loved her enough. If I told her how much I appreciated how she looked after me. Did she know that I held such respect for her and how strong she was? Did she know that I still carry guilt over her death? Would she even forgive me for not doing more to save her life? How could anyone expect me to forgive myself when all I carried in my heart was hate and pain? 

    It should have been me, and it wasn’t. Why did the Nobara clan choose her when it should have been the eldest daughter? I would never know the answer, and I don’t think I could ever stop hating myself for being weak either. I was beginning to think that my heart was losing its feeling as the war went on. 

    Despite the heir of the Nobara clan being plastered over the walls, despite his cries for mercy and help…I felt empty. It felt like it wasn’t enough anymore, his death didn’t bring me the joy that I wanted. Staring at his severed head only made me realize that he was just the smallest fish in the pond. His father was who I wanted, and I just wanted his family to hurt like mine did. 

    A wicked smile crossed my face as I thought about the reaction and utter horror his family would feel at his death. My heart thundered in my chest as I thought about how delightful that would sound. It was just like that that the spark in my heart was back full force, ready to take my next target. 

    Oh yes…I was only just beginning.

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