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Tense glances were shared as Kebiishi stepped through the rift in space-time onto the barren battlefield, the charged scent of lightning prevalent in the air. The Saniwa took their place at the lead of Team One, the five Shinsengumi Toudans filling the rest of the slots. The Saniwa held their teamwork in high regard, Nagasone Kotetsu positioning himself next to his master. The captain drew out his Uchigatana from his sheath while the remainder of his teammates joined in the horizontal formation.
“Alright, let’s get this party started!” Kashuu Kiyomitsu exclaimed, pointing his sword at the enemy watching them from across the field.
“Hang on…!” the Saniwa raised their hand slightly, turning their head so their ear faced the enemy, “Something’s off…”
Ghostly whispers moved in and out of audible range as the wind picked up, sweeping dust into air.
“I can’t understand what they’re saying…” Horikawa Kunihiro stated as his eyes narrowed, “What about you, Kane-san?”
“I say we attack,” Izuminokami Kanesada replied, “They seem to be distracted, at the very least.”
“Let’s get in the mood and sortie!” Yamatonokami Yasusada cried, geared up for battle as he gripped his own Uchigatana with anticipation.
The Saniwa continued to stare at the Kebiishi, noting the whispers had disappeared. A chill ran down their spine as the leader Yari raised its head, locking eyes with the sage. The human grimaced before drawing their own katana, their body suddenly on edge. The Saniwa’s eyes widened as the whispers returned, escalating to unintelligible screams almost instantly.
“Oi, Aruji!” Nagasone called, knocking his master in the arm with his elbow, “What’s the plan?”
The Saniwa snapped back to reality as the screaming came to a halt, blinking rapidly before shaking their head. They glanced at their Tandous, expressions of ambitious aggression towards the enemy clear in the swords’ eyes. The sage replied by raising their katana towards the Kebiishi, declaring their intentions.
“Beware the Yari,” the human warned, “I don’t know what’s up…but let’s end this! Charge!”
“Onward!” Nagasone shouted, dashing towards the Kebiishi beside his master.
“Ora, ora, ora!” Kashuu and Yasusada yelled in unison, following their master into battle.
“Alright, let’s attack!” Izumi growled, sprinting forward.
“Well then,” Horikawa started before rushing after Izumi, “I’ll have to do my best!”
The Kebiishi were upon them like the lightning they spawned from. The blue flames enveloped they’re foreign forms as they clashed blades with Team One. While not enough to melt the metal, the heat threatened to char their skin as the Kebiishi bared down upon them.
“Killing by cutting is my forte!”
A Tachi fell.
“Lose your head and die!”
Followed by a second.
Kashuu crossed blades with the remaining Tachi, his heels digging into the dirt below him. Yamato darted around the Naginata, managing to force the enemy’s blade deep into the earth. The Oodachi slammed its massive blade down upon Nagasone and the Saniwa, separating the human from the Toudans. The sage took a brief moment to observe their surroundings. Nagasone had turned his attention to the Oodachi, Izumi aiding him as Horikawa rushed to assist Kashuu. The Saniwa turned to face the Yari…only to find no Yari present.
The scent of lightning filled the human’s senses, their eyes going wide as they turned and swung their katana at the opening rift in space-time. A sharp twang shot through the sage’s ears as their blade splintered and exploded from their hand, the Yari suddenly appearing in the Saniwa’s peripheral vision.
The remaining Tachi and Naginata fell, leaving only the towering Oodachi and --
An agonizing screech alerted the Toudans, the scent of burning flesh assaulting their senses. The Yari had forced their Saniwa to the ground, blue flames scorching skin as the human’s fingers grasped desperately for the katana’s hilt.
“Aruji-sama!!”
“Kanesada, Kunihiro, go!” Nagasone roared, deflecting the Oodachi’s blade, “Kiyomitsu, Yasusada, with me!”
The Yari raised its own blade, thrusting it down upon the origin of the Kebiishi’s plight.
“Tyah!”
“Ora!”
The Yari’s blade was smashed back by Horikawa’s wakazashi, Izumi’s uchigatana following close behind with a decapitating rend. Flames separated from flesh, a large handprint burned into the Saniwa’s back.
“There is no enemy that I can’t cut!” Nagasone bellowed as his blade buried itself deep into the Oodachi’s skull.
Kashuu and Yamato stepped back as the last Kebiishi collapsed before them. Nagasone took a moment to catch his breath as he yanked his blade from the corpse, his eyes following his comrades hurried footsteps.
“Aruji-sama, please stop!”
The Saniwa struggled to pull themselves towards their katana’s hilt, Horikawa’s pleas falling on deaf ears. A strained cry of protest escaped the sage’s lips, feeling their body being lifted. Only when Yamato collected the katana did their master finally relax, the human’s eyes slipping closed.
“Back to the Citadel!” Nagasone commanded, a hint of panic lacing his voice.
The Saniwa opened their eyes slightly, seeing their arms dangling down along a blue coat and realizing that they were draped over Izumi’s shoulder. Kashuu’s face appeared near the sage’s, worry etched into his crimson eyes. The Tandou’s lips moved in speech, but the Saniwa only heard faint murmurs, the searing wound across their back overriding the sage’s senses.
The human’s mind began to wander…
How many times had their first sword gazed upon them like that…their red eyes filled with various emotions… The Saniwa forced their hand to brush Kashuu’s cheek, the edge of their lips twitching into a faint smile.
Don’t cry… Your makeup will run…you know…