Ambush at the Grand Hall
[Takina's POV]
"Assassins!!!" Yelled the guard right next to the emperor.
"Shit, Sora-sama!" I must make my way to Genji's place at once!
This ambush is extremely dangerous.... At the moment, no guests out of the 500 people here holds a weapon except the few guards who cannot stop the 40+ assassins that sprung out of no where.
The assassins immediately targeted anyone who holds a weapon while a small fraction of them went for the emperor.
Few of the assassins ran up to the emperor where the two royal guards try to stop them, but it's 2 vs many.
"Ahh!!!" Screamed the wives of the emperor, while three of the assassins came for the emperor....
"Hatsune! Yakima! Damned cowards!"
(AN : Referring to his wives and mistress who ran at the first sight of danger instead of protecting their husband.)
Yelled the emperor as he got up on his seat and brandished a sword that he got out of his seat....
Sora-sama has the top priority but Genji is with him.... I trust Young Master can keep Sora safe even without a weapon, he's just that skilled.
This means that the only important person that require my protection now is the emperor!
"We are cutting off your head today, your Highness!"
Three assassins stood against the emperor, each brandishing different weapons - Sickles, Daggers and Sai batons.
"You fools, don't take me for being harmless just because I'm not a warrior! I'll show you what the leader of Japan is made out of!"
"Surround him, don't let him escape-"
I immediately jumped down the stage, and dashed forward at the three assassins whose backs faced me. The one with the sickle is in the middle, and he has the longest reaching weapon so he's the most dangerous!
I jumped at the assassin and easily jammed my sword through his defenseless neck. 'Stab!'
"Grk!!!... Cough!..."
"What the?!" (2x)
"Please stay where you are, Tenno-sama!"
"You're... That Uesugi's woman...!"
"How dare you strike my brother, stupid woman! Die!"
The assassin with the sai thrusted his weapon at me.... As defense, I forcibly swung my blade out of the neck of this guy, flinging a splash of blood at his face. 'Slash!' Blood Veil!
"Urgh my eyes!"
"Take this!" The other assassin from the other side swung at me with his dagger at me as well.... I immediately pushed the dead assassin at him, using the corpse as cover.
'Stab!' The assassin with the sai stabbed into my meat shield.... "You coward, hiding behind a corpse!"
"Shut up!" 'Thud!' I kicked the body with my foot and sent this assassin flying away.
I immediately turned around.... And was just in time to block a strike from the sai wielding assassin. 'Clank!'
"Idiot!" Yelled the assassin as he locks my blade with the sai's U guard, and pulls me towards him.
This action...! It's just like my dream with dad's technique!
Right as he pulls onto my sword, I gripped my sword by its blade using my offhand and gained a better leverage than he has.... I counter pulled on him and caused him to lean towards me out of balance, breaking his stance.
"Wha-?!"
"You are the idiot! Hrah!" I spun around and grew the man towards the one behind me....
"Throwing someone at me again?!-"
'Thud!' The assassin who had just recovered from my kick had the man slammed into him, and fell to the ground once more.
From the sides, the dormant emperor finally did something.
"Make my enemies disappear, Dragon's Sword Kusanagi!"
The one handed sword in his hand glow in bright blue lights. With a swing of his sword, a wave of sharp winds blasted out and cut the two assassins in half. 'Bwuom!'
It was akin to an old man swinging his cane.... Without any technique or power behind it, and yet that swing alone carved two humans into two. Such is the power of a legendary sword known as Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.
However, right immediately after the emperor blasted such powerful winds, someone jumped right at him and sent a powerful roundhouse kick to his head. 'Thud!'
"Your Highness!"
"Gah!!!..." The emperor fell to the ground.... He was knocked out from just a single kick.
Without pause the ninja reached for the Kusanagi Sword....
"No you don't!" I rushed forward and kicked the sword up to the sky. 'Tank!!!'
"Bastard!" The ninja drew a long, straight sword from his back and swung at me.
'Clank!' Deflecting his slash to the sides, I redirected my blade for a counter slash....
"...!" He raises his sword in anticipation to block, but it was a feint.
"Hah!" I sent a knee kick at his stomach.... But I wouldn't have expected his to catch my knee with his! 'Thud!'
"Hmpt!" He raised his leg and kicked it at my stomach, sending me flying backwards.... 'Thud!'
"Gah!... Hehe...." Right as I was knocked back, I caught the Kusanagi blade with my off hand.
"Shit!" Realizing my intention, the ninja jumped forward at me without pause.
"...!" He raised his leg and swung at me with a powerful kick. I swung my katana at his leg intending to cut it in half. 'Tank!!!'
The impact alone knocked my katana off my hand, and the sound of the clash had a metallic ring. He has plates on his leg!
"Take this, woman!" He dashed forward at me and raised his leg once more...
With the Kusanagi blade, I received and deflected his first round house kick. 'Tank!'
Fully pivoting off the first kick, he raised the other leg and swung it at me with a heel kick.... I ducked my head down and avoided it. 'Fwoosh!'
From the spinning momentum, his first leg comes around once more in a powerful side kick. The momentum of this kick is insane, it's like I'm fighting a spear!
"Hrah!" He thrusts his leg at me like a powerful stab from a spear.... But because this very thrust technique has so much power behind it, it should have the same drawback of a power thrust!
With the Kusanagi blade I received the kick and redirected it to the ground.... 'Thud!!!' His leg slams into the wooden floor, breaking a hole into it.
With a quick follow up, I raised my lead leg and stomped onto his leg. 'Thump!'
The stomp broke his stance, making him lean forward into his own demise. 'Stab!' I jammed the magic sword into his chest.
"Gah!!!.... Hack...!"
"Hmpt...." I put my off hand on his body and tries to push him away.... He grabbed onto my shoulder and asked me with blood curling voice.
"Urgh.... I am.... Masanaga.... Cough!.... The Spear Foot....."
"....Fujiwara Takina. It was a splendid duel, farewell."
'Shing!' I pushed his body away and pulled the sword out of his chest.
"Urgh!!!...." 'Thud!'
The ninja's lifeless body drops onto the ground... I looked over to the grand hall, where a ton of dead bodies of guards and ninjas alike lies, a sight that one shouldn't see in the Imperial Palace. A scene of pure chaos, one of hell.
Everyone should stand down, and there's but one way to let them hear my words.....
I raised the Kusanagi blade overhead and started to pour mana into it.... I hadn't used this much magic energy in such a long time, that I got extremely excited.
If the emperor's weak swing was so powerful.... What'd happen if I were the one to do it?
_________________
[???'s POV]
Urgh.... My head.... Who hit me from the sides...?!
How dare they strike ME, the Emperor...?!
"Urgh.... Where's my blade-"
...!
When I looked up, I saw a beautiful woman dressed in clothes of a shrine maiden. She stood in front of me, with my sword in her hands over her head, brandishing it with blue lights that shined brightly.
She's.... Beautiful.
She lifted her lead leg up.... She aimed the sword at the ceiling where it wouldn't hit anyone.... As she poured even more mana into the sword.... The air around her distorts lightly, her smooth red hair dancing along the winds....
And in one moment.... She stomped her leg to the floor as she swung the blade down. It was now that I had witnessed what potential this Legendary Sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi holds.
It was like a ray of hope.... A guiding blue light that shone on me when she saved my life....
I think I'm in love with her.
___________________
[Takina's POV]
"Hah!" Kusanagi One Line!
'Bwuom!!!!'
My swing blasted such a power and big wind blade that it blew a giant hole in the ceiling. This power matches the magic spells that I can perform before I sealed them away.
This is a warning shot.... A warning to all combatants in the Grand Hall to stop their fighting at once!
"...!" (?x) The entire hall immediately stopped fighting, and grasped in shock from the immense display of power that they had just witnessed.
"Masanaga the Spear Foot is no more! Your leader is dead, surrender now and stop this pointless bloodshed!" I yelled out into the Hall.
"...." Many of the assassins dropped their weapons upon hearing my words.
"Guards, arrest them!" One of the Royal Guards yelled out.
"Hmpt.... that's that."
'Fwoosh...' I swung the blade to the sides to fling off any blood splattered onto it, and then turned around.
"Urgh.... You...." Said the Emperor, who's lying on the ground right behind me.
"Tenno-sama! Are you safe?!" I immediately crouched down to support him up.
"Yes I am.... And it's thanks to you...."
"Then that's great! It'd have been troublesome if you were-"
"Tell me.... Who are you? How are you so skilled and powerful despite being a woman? Why did you save me?"
"....I am Fujiwara-no-Takina, the foreigner apprentice that serves Uesugi Kenshin, the former Sword Pioneer of the Star. As for why I saved you.... Well, it's not like I'll just leave someone to fend for themselves even if they aren't the emperor right?"
"I expected no less from the apprentice that came out of old man Kenshin's dojo itself...."
"Thank you, tenno-sama. And here's your sword...." I handed the Kusanagi blade back to him.
"Thank you."
"Tenno-sama!" A royal guard ran up to us.
"Are you safe, my Lord?!"
"Yes I am, thanks to this lady here."
"You saved the emperor as well...?! I must thank you for protecting my Lord in stead of my incompetence, you have my utmost gratitude ojou-dono!" The Royal Guard bowed his head to me.
"This is something that I will and always will do no matter what, there is no need to thank me."
After a brief pause, the emperor spoke again.
"You will be rewarded handsomely for what you've done tonight, Fujiwara-no-Takina. For now I have no more requests to make of you, you may go now."
"Thank you, Tenno-sama...."
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And thus concludes the night where I saved the Emperor from a bunch of assassins and blasted a giant hole into the ceiling of the Grand Dining Hall. I almost had to pay for the reparations if the emperor didn't ask to forfeit the fees.....
The next day, the scheduled meeting was postponed to the day after. The reason for the postpone is simple, today will be used for the prosecution of the assassins that attacked the grand Hall.
The captured prisoner's prosecution is held at a ceremonial Hall called the "Seiryo-den", a big Hall built for diplomatic affairs.
All of the guests present during the ambush were encouraged to participate.... Except me, it's mandatory for me.
____________________
(9:03 a.m.)
'Knock knock....' As I was napping in Genji's room alone, someone woke me up from outside.
"Zzz.... Coming...."
When I opened the door, I saw a maid dressed in a beautiful set of kimono carrying a tray of what appears to be clothes.
"Excuse my sudden intrusion, Lady Fujiwara-no-Takina...."
"Umm.... Can I help you?"
"I am here to deliver a message from Tenno-sama himself. You are to attend the Court held for the captured assassins.... for ceremonial testimony as well as to receive your reward for protecting his majesty."
"I see.... It will be held at 2 p.m. right? And what about the clothes?"
"Indeed you are correct. As for this set of expensive kimono.... They are meant for you, to be used during the court. It's a gift from Tenno-sama, he personally picked it for you. Here you go."
"He picked it for me...? I see...."
When I received the clothes, I finally felt how heavy it is. It probably weighs around 5 to 7 kg, given how the it's definitely heavier than my sword!
"Should I wash it before I return it?"
"You don't have to.... It is afterall a personal gift to you by the Emperor."
"A gift?! But must've been expensive right?!"
"There is no wealth too much for Tenno-sama, Fujiwara-ojou.... Please kindly accept it."
"O-oh.... Please give my thanks to the emperor then...."
"Gladly. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll return to my duties."
"Alright.... good work."
After saying those, the maid left. Without anything else to do and still being sleepyheaded, I decided to just put on the kimono before hand.
Now I said that as if it's easy to do.... but it's not! Putting this entire set of kimono on is like a chore, as there are so many layers and colors and ribons and it weighs so much that I just get extremely irritated trying to put it together! There are six layers to this!
However.....
"Hmm...." Fully dressed in my new clothes, I headed to a nearby mirror at the hallway to watch myself.
The inner layers are a mix of white and red, with countless blue patterned flowers on the outer layer. It's like this kimono is made specifically for me in mind, but that's impossible because you can't just tailor this in hours.
If I remembered correctly, traditional Japanese women who wore multiple layers are considered as dignified and wealthy, and thus are seen as more attractive.
But it sure as hell feels uncomfortable! First off there's no way I can fight in these clothes, and even as casual clothes it simply weighs too much!
It takes some effort from me just to breathe in these clothes.... My chest feels like it's not C, but E cups! And I can't even imagine wearing this in the summer.... Luckily for me, the weather now is gradually turning colder because it is autumn.
But still, after the emperor went through the trouble of picking this for me, I suppose it'd be rude to just not wear it to the courtroom.
"Sigh...."
"Oh my, Takina-san?" The voice of a familiar man was heard behind me as I made my way back to the room.
"Genji-sama?"
"You look good in that outfit. Did you buy it?"
"No.... The emperor gave them to me."
"I see.... You may have won over his favor then."
"Excuse me?"
"In our culture, when a man gifts a woman clothes, it means that he wants her to dress in a style that matches his likings."
"Hahaha, there's no way that Tenno-sama would like me right? Besides, I think this is just a gift as thanks for saving his life, nothing more or less."
"Hmm.... If you interpret it that way, I suppose there's no convincing you then. However, you should keep my words in mind because...."
Genji looked around a bit and made sure no one is nearby before leaning closer and speaking to me in a whisper.
"....I heard that the emperor is a womanizer who built an entire harem just for himself...."
"Yeah.... I've seen it first hand, on the stage last night...."
"Indeed you have. When someone of such high ranking sets his eye on something, be it objects or woman, he will not let go before he has obtained it.... Such is the greed of the royalty. You'd best take care of yourself if you have no intention to betray Oji-sama and switch over to the Oda Clan."
"I.... I'll keep that in mind."
"Then all's fair. Will you be attending the court?"
"It is mandatory for me to attend.... What about you?"
"I can't find the time to, I'm busy organizing our nobles and soldiers after what happened last night. Not anyone is allowed into the court, it seems you are the only one who can represent the Uesugi Clan."
"M-me?!"
"Take care not to dishonor our clan. I'm here to take something and I got it, so see you around."
"O-oh...."
Don't worry Genji, there's no pressure for me or anything.... Right...? Right?!
But still.... a womanizer huh?
I'm.... I'm not that kind of lady who'd just surrender herself and spread her legs to a successful man and be guaranteed success in life.
No matter how much I sugar coat it, I am just a woman who fight to improve herself - to hone my skills and become someone that has control over my life.
I want power, and the kind of power I want is the kind that'd make sure no incident like what happened in Klada can repeat itself again.... For Father's sake.
This power is not something that the Emperor can grant me. If he do want my body.... My answer would be an obvious no.
"Besides, while I do want to have a gang of handsome guys accompanying me on an adventure, it's not like I have any experience dating...."
I have my fantasies but I don't have any experience in love life.... I want my first time to be with someone who I actually care about, you know?
"Damn.... You can be quite unhinged sometimes."
"G-Genji-sama...?! S-since how long...."
I looked back at the entrance to the room, almost cringing into my own heart attack.
"Long enough to hear everything.... I realized I left something here and came back to take it. I guess I picked the worst possible timing, haha...."
"....If you want us to stay as friends, you'd better not say a damned thing about what I just blurted out, you hear me?!"
"My memory is messed up.... I didn't hear anything just seconds ago.... it's not like I heard your self-monologuing about having a harem of handsome guys going out with you-"
"Ahhh!!! It's out of context so it's not what you think it is!!!"
(Chapter end)