Sneaking into Shibata Castle (1)

(16 years and 9 months after reincarnation)

[Takina's POV]

"Keep your heads down... Remember, I'm a dirty old man swordsman that hired you to be my partner."

"You didn't have to say that last part... but yeah."

With monkey walking by my side, I made my way out to the streets of Niigata city and continued towards Shibata Castle.

Everytime a guard walks past us, my heart rate raises a little....

"Hey you." Someone said out... "Im talking to you, the woman with the veil!" Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm from behind.

"!" (2x)

"Y-yes?" It was actually a soldier, accompanied by three more of them. "What might you require from me, good sir?"

"Hmm..." The man stared at my face while comparing it to a piece of paper that he held in his hands. "Nah, you're not her...."

"Who might you be searching for, soldier-san?"

"Hah? Who are you to ask-"

Monkey stepped in from the sidelines, and spoke to the soldier for me.

"We are villagers from the Tengu Village that escaped here.... we were just curious about the faces of criminals alike in order to keep ourselves safe."

"Ah, that makes sense. Very well, you may have a look."

The guard showed us the paper... and inside is a ridiculous-looking drawing of my normal form.

"Pfft." Monkey bursts out, but kept himself from laughing.

"Huh...?!"

"Is something the matter with you two?"

"No, nothing." (2x)

"Rest assured, we'll notify the guards if we do see her around the city."

"I see... If there's nothing else then we'll continue on our patrol. Remember to stay safe and watch out of Oda 'rats' around these parts."

"Very well." (2x)

And there they goes...

"Monkey-san..."

"What?"

"You laughed didn't you?"

"Ahem... At least now we know the disguise works."

"Yeah..." Luckily there are no cameras in this day and age, or else I'd have easily been recognized since other than the colors, my face is literally the same as the disguise.

"Come to think of it, the soldier said something about Oda rats... Do you know anything about that, Kid?"

"Rats are an inside term for 'spies', in order to not arouse suspicions from the enemy. During my time here as a combat instructor I also hunted down a few rats in the city.

These spies are constantly hiding amongst our people and in the castle.... there's no where safe in the city anymore."

"I see... You do know more than me about the current situation it seems."

"Of course, Monkey-san. I am Kenshin-sama's bodyguard, so I must know about even the most trivial of dangers in the city in order to properly prepared against them."

__________

Evading all the soldiers and guards inside the city like this, we slowly made our way closer to the Shibata Castle.... Now, we are at the entrance to the Outer Castle, from the main gate.

The first gate is not actually the main gate of the castle, because the Castle is surrounded by a large most full of water unless you access it from the back side, where it's a hill.

Which is why a bridge is needed to cross the moat and into the actual gate, only then have you actually entered the Castle.

But I digress, there were three guards standing right outside of the gate in front of the bridge.

They are the only barrier stopping entry into the Castle, since anyone who makes it past the bridge is assumed to have gained access already.

"Let us through, I need to see Enna." Takahashi-san said those words to the three guards.

"Proceed, Takahashi-dono."

"Thank you. Let's go, kid."

"Halt, where do you think you're going, miss?"

"I am accompanying Takahashi-sama into the castle..."

"I hired her to be a geisha for me and Kenshin-sama... Let her in."

"I'm afraid I cannot do that, it is against the rules. No woman can enter Shibata Castle save for the nobles and guests."

The soldier then eyes my body up and down...

"But we could let her in if you let us have some fun with her before hand."

As soon as they learned that I'm a (disguised) prostitute, the soldiers started eyeing me with a creepy look in their face... How disgusting.

"Heresy, you dare extend your claws to the geisha that I hired for Kenshin-sama...?!"

"Not to cause any trouble of course, Takahashi-dono, but we just cannot let a random woman into the Castle without a permit. Oda rats are high in numbers, especially after Takina-ojou cut down a geisha spy from the Oda clan last time."

Oh... I shot myself in the foot it seems.

Well, time for plan B. I'm sneaking in by myself.

"Ahem... You can go sleep with some man inside the castle, who the fuck wants to lay you three with your small penises?"

"What?!" (3x)

"As for you stupid one-armed old fart, I don't need your money anymore! This 'session' is cancelled, good bye!"

Right as I turned around to leave, I winked my eye at Monkey-san who instantly understood my point and nodded back to me.

He mouthed towards me the words 'Good luck' in silence.

"That's rude even for a lord, who the hell do you think you are, lowly slut?!"

I turned around and leave, but the soldier grabbed my arm from behind.

"Hey, I'm not done with you-"

"Shut up!" I turned around and kicked him in the crotch before turning tails and running away.

"Argh...! You little bitch...!"

____________

(20 minutes later...)

I hid and waited until the afternoon... that's because soldiers will get their post changed during this time.

Another trio of soldiers went out and replaced the earlier soldiers, standing guard at the entrance of the castle.

I knew now that it's not possible to persuade the soldiers to let me in the castle, even with this disguise... that is unless I suck their cocks.

Obviously that shit is unrealistic, and there's no way in hell I'll do that. But what I can do instead is buy other women to do it for me....

During war time, prostitutes are in high demand. Many men will resort to sex in order to calm their nerves, some even rape women from the enemy's side.

This is why it's not that hard to find prostitutes - women that resort to sex work in order to survive.

I went to one of the brotel by myself.... This is where the power of money comes into play.

I walked into the shop, and headed over to the counter.

"Hey."

"A lady...? Sorry, we no longer hire geishas-"

"Thats not what I'm here for." I said as I placed a bag of coins onto the counter... it's almost half of the money I made during my time as a dancer.

"Ladies cannot hire any prostitutes or they'll raise some unneeded attention... but this bag of coins should suffice to shut any complaints you have, right?"

"O-oh, of course dear customer! What can we do for you?"

"I need a few geishas immediately.... Not to sleep with me, but with some other men. Don't ask any questions."

"Very well... please wait outside the shop, I'll get them for you."

"Thank you."

I headed outside the shop and then from my back pocket, I checked for the metal fox visor that I use as a face-guard in combat.

"Good..."

Once I make it into the castle it should as easy as walking to Enna's room and taking my sword, and then going to Kenshin-sama's room to find him.

Soon after, three women dressed in delicate and beautiful kimono walked out of the brothel, their face covered in thick makeup.

"Oh my you're cute, what's your name young mistress?"

Telling them my name might be risky now, I'll go with a fake one.

"...You can call me Kirie. Follow me, I want you three to please some men for me."

"It's a relatively simple task for the price you hired us, young mistress."

"Well majority of the money is to shut your madam's mouth so that she doesn't call the guards on me..."

"Hmm... Judging from the manner you speak in, are you perhaps a samurai from the Shibata Castle?"

"...You ask too many questions. Let's go."

Maybe I got used to speaking in a masculine manner due to my background as a guy or because I was Kenshin's bodyguard...

Either way however, I've got to speak in a more feminine way if I want to fool anyone with this disguise.

With three prostitutes by my side I walked towards the Shibata Castle....

"See those three men? Distract them and take them somewhere for me to gain a way into the Castle. Try not to raise any suspicions."

"Understood." (3x)

"Now go, we don't have time to waste."

I walked into the crowds by the street, trying my best not to stand out as the three geishas made their way to the guards.

"Halt! Who are you three, what do you want with Shibata Castle?"

"Oh, we want nothing... nothing other than the company of some handsome men."

"Get lost! The guards are on high alert for spies from the Oda Clan, you don't want to seem suspicious or else you might end up stabbed with a spear."

"Oh my, that would be a terrific outcome no doubt... but you know what else I want to be stabbed with...?" One of the geisha extends her hand and pulled the soldier's face closer....

"...I want to be stabbed by you."

"Pfft...!"

What the hell is that girl saying, that's hilariously cringe!

No wait don't be distracted, Kyrielle! I'm supposed to be sneaking into the Castle!

"Hoo hah..."

Waiting for the perfect chance when the three soldiers are not looking, I slipped past the crowd and through the front gate of the bridge.

"Phew... I'm through, finally."

There's nothing the power of money can't solve it seems. I'll make sure to get richer next time...

Anyway, let's go.

As I made my way through the actual gate of the walls, a few more guards stands at the post and eyes me in yet more creepy ways...

This disguise as a geisha is really horrible, attracting the lust of men...

I never had any vile stares from men during my one-year-long stay here at all! This is the effect of a 'perfect-woman' huh...?

As I made my way through the Castle gate, a spell activates from the door.

'Blink!' A crest of blue light shines at the floor, and envelops my body in blue aura...

Shit, this magic crest is-

The spell carved into the floor cancels my disguise, revealing my true form to the 10 or so soldiers staring at me.

"...." (?x)

"Umm... Hello?"

"It's Takina-ojou!" (?x)

"You've got the wrong person!"

Time for plan C, Cracking a way into the castle by force!

I immediately took off sprinting into the Castle.

"Wait, come back here!" (?x)

"Catch her when she's unarmed, if she gets a sword then it's over!"

____________

[Third Person POV]

With the directions given by the maids in the castle, Takahashi walks into the room that is Kenshin's.

"Pardon me, my Lord." Said the old man as he enters the room.

"Oh my.... Hyusetsu..."

"It's been a long while, my Lord."

"Indeed it has been... Has the rage finally died down?"

"Somewhat, yes.... Which is why I am here after so many years."

"I see... Hahaha this is a great thing, have a seat!"

"Yes my Lord."

"Before we catch up with each other, I have something to ask. I recognized that katana, why do you have it in your hands?"

"About that..."

Takahashi told his Lord about what exactly happened while he was gone.

"I see.... I have a feeling that Genji had already made a move, but to think that he'd have done it so quickly. That's why I haven't seen Takina lately, haha!"

"What do you think?" Monkey said as he took a cup from the tea table on the floor, and poured himself a drink. "Who are you going to side with? Is it your grandson or an outsider?"

"...Neither. I'd have problems if Takina kills my only retainer, but I'd also like to have the power to fight against the Oda Clan as well."

"The power of the Dragon Blood?"

"No. Only that fool of a grandson will mess around with blood magic... I just wanted back my sword, and to wield it one last time before I finally depart for the underworld."

"I see... I've heard of your condition from Enna but is it that bad?"

"Huhaha, you are still just as bold with words as before!..." Kenshin took a sip of tea from his own. "I have no idea when I'll be truly gone by the next coughing fit."

"I am sorry, my Lord... For being unable to tend to you by your side for so long."

"It's fine my Shinobi, you have my permission to take as long of a rest as you need!"

The two old man sips down some more tea.... Before Kenshin took his katana and his book, heading towards the roof.

"I have a feeling that I'd receive a 'guest' soon. Do help me tell Takina that I will be resting at the rooftops."

"You're making her life harder?"

"Hahaha, I guess you could say that! This is a test... if she fails, she is not worthy of my help, simple as that."

"That is oddly harsh of you, Kenshin."

"I've been too soft on all of my students, it's time to be more stern. Now then, take your time Hyusetsu, you're welcomed in the castle."

"Thank you my Lord..."

(Chapter End)