A beautiful moon hung in the night sky.

Ougi Takaya could be seen deep within the grounds of Kokuzou Shrine, now veiled by darkness. The snow-clouds seemed to have moved off. Moonlight shone into the cedar grove in the deepening cold. The clear winter air had turned the darkness transparent and exhaled breaths white. Takaya walked slowly through the snow-covered grounds and came to stand before the ‘Great Cedar of the Countryside’.

All the trees around here were great cedars hundreds of years old. If he were to look for it, he’d probably find one as old as himself.

Takaya gazed up at the lone tree.

What was he thinking?

He suddenly lifted his left hand. His fingers groped for the presence that was ever supposed to be behind him, but they glided vainly through empty air and landed limply on his own right shoulder.

“No matter how much time passes, my place will always be at your side.”

When had those words been spoken to him?

His slitted black eyes looked up into the air to see the illusion of a single snowflake fluttering downward. As if to hug his cold back, the hand on his shoulder quietly tightened.

(Come and kill me...)

Takaya looked down and smiled. He’d had this premonition for a long time—that someday he would die at Naoe’s hands. That Naoe would be the end of Uesugi KagetoraUesugi Kagetora (上杉景虎) 1552? 1554? - Apr. 19, 1579

Also known as: possibly Houjou Ujihide (北条氏秀), Houjou Saburou (北条三郎), Saburou Kagetora (三郎景虎)

Historically: Uesugi Kagetora was the seventh son (sixth to survive to adulthood) of Houjou Ujiyasu, younger brother of Houjou Ujimasa, Houjou Ujiteru, Houjou Ujikuni, Houjou Ujinori, Houjou Ujitada, and older brother of Houjou Ujimitsu. His mother was the sister-in-law of Tooyama Yasumitsu, a vassal of the Houjou Clan (other sources say Zuikeiin, Ujiyasu's principle wife). It's likely that he and Houjou Ujihide were two different people and that Ujihide was the son of Houjou Tsunashige and living in Edo while Saburou was living in Echigo, so most historians refer to him as Houjou Saburou when describing his early life.

As a child, he was sent into the priesthood at Souun Temple in Hakone, then sent as hostage to Takeda Shingen of the Takeda Clan in the three-way alliance between Houjou, Takeda, and Imagawa formed in 1554 (though this last point is now in dispute, as it is told only in the Records of Ancient Battles of the Eight Kanto Provinces and recorded in none of the Takeda Clan records.)

He was adopted by his uncle Houjou Genan in 1569 and married Genan's daughter.

When the Houjou and Uesugi clans formed an alliance in 1569, Saburou was sent to Uesugi Kenshin in an exchange of hostages with Kakizaki Haruie. (At first, the hostage was set to be Houjou Ujimasa's third son Kunimasumaru, but Ujimasa could not bring himself to send off his son, who was then still a baby.) Saburou was sent to the Uesugi clan in early 1570. Kenshin, who never married, developed a liking for the handsome and intelligent Saburou. He married his niece Seienin, the daughter of Nagao Masakage and older sister of Nagao Akikage (Uesugi Kagekatsu) to Saburou, gave him the name Kagetora (a name that had once belonged to Kenshin himself), and adopted him into the Uesugi Clan.

When Kenshin died suddenly in 1578 without naming an heir, Kagetora and Kagekatsu, similarly adopted by Kenshin, fought for succession to the position of clan head (the Otate no Ran). Though Kagetora held the early advantage with the backing of Uesugi vassals such as Uesugi Kagenobu, Honjou Hidetsuna, Kitajou Takahiro, and the Houjou Clan, the tide of the battle turned with Takeda Katsuyori's betrayal to Kagekatsu's side.

When the Otate fell in 1579, Kagetora attempted to escape to Odawara Castle, but was betrayed at Samegao Castle by Horie Munechika and committed suicide. His wife committed suicide along with him (though there are also accounts that she remained behind at the Otate and committed suicide there when her brother Kagekatsu refused Kagetora's surrender.) His oldest son Doumanmaru died at the hands of Kagekatsu's troops along with Uesugi Norimasa, and the rest of his children were believed to have died along with their parents.

In Mirage of Blaze: He was born to Houjou Ujiyasu and Zuikeiin as their eighth (seventh to survive to adulthood) and youngest son. After his death in the Otate no Ran, he was charged by Uesugi Kenshin to become kanshousha in order to ensure that the peace of Japan is not disrupted by the onshou as the leader of the Yasha-shuu and the commander of the Meikai Uesugi Army..

(You might as well plant a sword in my back.)

Or was this also his revenge?

Against the man who refused to turn around to face him...

Takaya closed his eyes.

(There’s something wrong with me.)

When had he become so weak?

He’d refused to turn around because there had been no other trick left to him.

He was able to do nothing for his inferiority complex, his anguish. He couldn’t allow turning around to become an act of compassion. That he must never do, he thought. He could only grit his teeth and look ahead heedlessly. To continue onward. There was no other way for him to respond to his suffering with the correct sincerity.

That was why he had kept his back turned.

(Can I...stop doing that now...?) he asked inwardly, brows creased. His thoughts weighed heavily on his chest. (Your obsession is one-sided.)

It was true. He had never wanted it. He had come to it all on his own.

It didn’t hurt him. Now that the obsession had ended, he could leave or do whatever he wanted; it had nothing to do with Takaya. It never had.

There was no pain. There had never been reason for him to feel pain.

If only I could go back—...

(—to being someone who could feel like that.)

“...”

Takaya looked up at the sky.

(No...)

Listening to the wind move through the silent forest, Takaya half-closed his eyes in pain.

That wasn’t important. He didn’t want to say what Naoe could or could not do. That wasn’t it.

(That’s not it—...)

A cold wind blew.

The waning moon hung in the boughs of the cedars.

“Kagetora-sama...”

Takaya’s fingers moved. Someone was addressing him from behind: Takemata YoshitsunaTakenomata Yoshitsuna (竹俣慶綱) 1524 - 1582

Titles: Mikawa no Kami

A vassal of Uesugi Kenshin who fought in the Battle of Kawanakajima in 1561. He was commended for his bravery when he continued fighting even after losing both his horse and his armor. He supported Uesugi Kagekatsu in the Otate no Ran. Later, he committed suicide in the Battle of Uozu Castle along with twelve other Uesugi commanders..

Takemata had stayed with Takaya. Mitsuhide had intended to dispose of him after their interview, but Takaya hadn’t allowed it. “Let him stay with me,” he’d said.

They hadn’t spoken since.

“Why did you not «exorcise» me?”

Takemata was the first to break the silence.

For Takemata this was torture. He would rather have died than fallen into Kagetora’s hands. To be near him was agony.

“You are quite right to be angry. It’s only natural. Why won’t you say anything to me? Condemn me as much as you like. Otherwise I—”

“I do not intend to condemn you,” Takaya answered with his back still turned. “You acted according to my father’s orders. What should I condemn you for?”

“But...!”

“If my father has truly entered the war, then he must have a plan. I bear no grudge.”

“Th-that’s not true!” Takemata refuted, plucking up his courage. “You deceive yourself when it comes to your feelings. Do you intend to simply accept this? Do you not think it unreasonable? When Lord Kenshin is likely only using you—using you and tossing you away.”

Takaya was silent.

“I doubt you’ll listen to someone like me, but I must say this. Please stop killing yourself. You have always supported us. You’ve encouraged and consoled us; you don’t know how much you empowered us simply by being here. Truly, simply by being here you...you don’t know how much... So please, Kagetora-sama, free yourself!”

“... Free.”

“We don’t blame anyone. We don’t even have that right! Even if you decide to fight Lord Kenshin...!”

(Fight...) Takaya murmured silently in his own mind.

Takemata knelt.

“Please beat me to your heart’s content. I can’t stand this if you won’t! Please let your wrath fall on me!”

“...I am not very perceptive.”

Takemata caught his breath and looked up at Takaya. Takaya looked up at the cedar with his back turned.

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Kagetora-sama...”

The two fell into another heavy silence. They could hear a clamor in the distance, the noise carried by the wind. Takemata turned, wondering what was going on. “I will go see.”

 
The uproar was happening at the tomb imprisoning Inaba Akemi. By the time Mitsuhide heard the news and hurried over, all the guards had been downed, the sarcophagus lay in tiny pieces, and the tomb was empty.

(An intruder...?!) Mitsuhide paled and raised his voice. “Who did this?! What happened here?! Someone has snatched the hostage away!”

“No...nobody did it!” A vassal receiving treatment for his wounds hurriedly explained to Mitsuhide. “It was the hostage herself! She suddenly manifested with «power» and destroyed the sarcophagus. She struck down the sentry with her will and disappeared into the forest!”

“She used «power»? The hostage was supposed to be an ordinary person.”

“Th...that was no person! It was a snake. A snake, Mitsuhide-sama!” another sentry said as he was carried over.

“What?” Mitsuhide goggled.

The sentry moaned confusedly, “It was a snake god! A huge snake with glowing red eyes appeared in front of us. It wanted to eat us. A snake with red eyes...! It was as tall as a person!”

“An illusion, perhaps,” said a voice behind him. He turned to see Takaya.

Mitsuhide looked suspicious. “Illusion? I suppose you didn’t have anything to do with her escape?”

“I didn’t do anything. The demonic serpent hatched.”

“Demonic serpent?”

“Yeah. The child of a poisonous snake spirit. Ootomo implanted demonic serpent’s eggs into Old Castle High SchoolOld Castle High School (古城高校)

Old Castle (Kojou) High School is a fictional school set at the site of the castle which was torn down to make way for Katou Kiyomasa's Kumamoto Castle (also named Kumamoto but using different characters—隈本城 instead of 熊本城). It's likely where real-life Kumamoto Prefectural Daiichi (First) High School stands.

It was originally built as a Western school by foreigners during the Meiji Period (Daiichi was built in 1903 as an all-girls school but later become co-ed). The current school was built around 20 years ago (1970s) and is composed of two three-story buildings to north and south connected by a series of hallways with air-conditioned rooms. It also has a sports oval, a prefabricated club storehouse, and a gym under construction. Kumamoto Castle Park is quite close.’s students to brainwash them. When they hatch, they allow even ordinary people to use «power».”

Mitsuhide was astonished. That they would use such methods... “Kagetora-dono, did you knowingly refuse to take measures?”

Takaya pursed his lips disinterestedly. Mitsuhide gave him a bitter glare before resuming his usual expression and gathering his subordinates.

“Track down the hostage and bring her back. She can’t have gone far. Kagetora-dono, do not think this means you are free. You will be going with the Himuka bird-people to Broadview Ridge [Daikan-bou]. That is the appointed place for the Asara exchange. The appointed time is near.”

Takaya lifted his eyes. “You’re stealing Asara from Miike?”

“I have no choice. If Kihachi’s head’s is in Ootomo hand, then it is all the more imperative we have Asara in ours. The more so if Ootomo and Kenshin are allied. Kagetora-dono, please cooperate with us.” Takaya didn’t answer. Mitsuhide’s eyes narrowed a little, and he quickly started walking away. “We’ll be heading for Kumamoto! Shimazu forces have entered the city. We will seize on the confusion of battle to capture Kihachi’s head from Ootomo. Make your preparations, everyone!”

Takaya saw Mitsuhide off with skeptical eyes.

The entire group of Himuka bird-people approached him from behind. Enoki addressed him.

“Please don’t make any stupid moves. The luminous flame stone will spew fire this time. If you don’t want your heart roasted, you’d better follow our orders.” Takaya turned to him expressionlessly. Enoki looked at him significantly. “We believe one of your associates is coming with Miike to bring Asara. The appointed time is midnight. Let’s go, Kagetora-sama.”

Enoki’s tone was quite insolent. Takaya glanced at him sidelong before leading the way without saying a word.

“Kagetora-sama, I’ll go with you!”

Takemata was hot on his heels. Takaya looked coldly at him.

“Stay here. You’ll be a burden.”

That was all he said before heading toward the shrine alone.

As the night deepened, a girl walked alone down the national highway from Aso toward the city. She was wearing a sailor uniform.

It was Inaba Akemi after her escape from Kokuzou Shrine.

The lights of many cars passed over her, but all of them ignored her. Normally Akemi would never be out walking at so late an hour. Then—a car with stereos blasting came up behind her and unexpectedly turned on its hazard lights and approached. The car was a metallic sports type. There were two young men inside.

“Hey Miss, Miss! Where are you going at this hour?”

Inaba Akemi looked at the two with red eyes.

“It’s dangerous for a girl to be walking out alone at this hour. Look, it’s gonna get even darker up ahead. It’s dangerous out here, so why don’tcha hop on? We’ll give you a lift.”

Akemi’s small lips moved as if she were saying something. But the music was so loud it was inaudible.

“Whaaat? Argh, the music’s too loud! I’m turning it down. Miss, what did you say?”

“Juri...sama...”

“Huh?”

The car CD suddenly broke off, and the radio came on at a deafening volume, though it hadn’t been touched. Still blaring, the radio changed frequencies on its own. It startled the young men.

“What the hell? Shut it down! This is weird, the player’s broken!”

“Huh? What’s going on?! Hey...!”

Akemi suddenly opened the door and pulled on the arm of the man in the passenger seat with amazing strength. He was forcibly hauled out and tossed to the asphalt.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

The instant he was about to grab Akemi, the young man’s forehead cracked open with a sound like a watermelon splitting.

“Eek? Eeeeek!!”

The young man leaned over with a hand pressed against his forehead as it suddenly gushed blood.

“Waugh! Oi! What the hell are you doing?!”

Even when he turned off the power the noise didn’t stop. As the startled young man in the driver’s seat began to get out of the car, Akemi made an unbelievable leap right over the car. As she hit the ground, she grabbed the driver’s hair in an eagle’s grip and literally yanked him out of the car. She then took his seat and stepped on the gas.

“Wh-whaaaat?!”

The car exploded down the street. Left behind, the two young men stared dumbfounded. Then the sudden sharp screech of a vehicle breaking behind them paralyzed them with terror.

“Hey, you looking to get yourselves killed?! What the hell are you doing sitting in the middle of the road?!” yelled the helmetless boy sitting astride a purple moped: Tetsuya.

“O-our car was just stolen. By a girl—a high school student.”

“What?!”

“She just smashed open his head out of nowhere. She grabbed me with one hand and threw me out...”

The other man sank to the ground, face covered in blood. Tetsuya shuddered and went white. He could never even have imagined that Akemi had done all this. Clenching his teeth, he sped down the road in full throttle as if in pursuit of the car.

(Damn it, what the bloody hell is happening?!)

Hokage had flown off, and something was apparently happening at Old Castle High School. The school had become an uncomfortable place since Mikuriya had arrived—had all the students gone completely crazy? And Kihachi’s head was supposed to be under the school.

(I’ll crush Kihachi...Kihachi’s head!)

At Tetsuya’s back was the votive sword of Takachiho Shrine Haruya had told him to take.

He charged toward the inner city as fast as his moped would carry him.

The streets of Kumamoto had already turned into a battlefield.

Shimazu’s great army had marched down National Highway 3 and started penetrating into the city at last.

There was already an uproar. Though transformed into a ghost town, there were still a few people on the streets. The onryouonryou (怨霊)

Lit.: "vengeful ghost"; the spirits of those who died in the Sengoku period who are still so filled with rage and hatred that they continue to exist in the world as vengeful spirits instead of being purified and reborn. had been spotted everywhere.

“Monsters—! Monsters are—!”

Drivers of taxis surrounded by warriors screamed and jumped out. Employees of shops fainted as shutters and signboards were demolished. There were traffic accidents all over the place, and dispatched ambulances and patrol cars were also encircled.

“D-don’t kill meeee! Heeeelp!”

The onryou rampaged with no consideration for the living. Destroying everything around them, the army advanced toward Old Castle High School. Naturally news of their movement reached Old Castle High School moment by moment. Mikuriya sent the students out to meet them.

Defenses against the Shimazu approaching from the south included the Shira and Tsuboi Rivers, which acted as Old Castle High School’s outer and inner moats. The students had been divided into castle garrison and expeditionary forces, and divisions had been placed at various critical positions such as the Chouroku and Yotsugi Bridges.

Koganezawa Kyouko and the other 2-D juniors were assigned the intersection at Shimotori Street in the business district. Even those side streets which ordinarily saw pub-hopping students and businessmen into the late hours had emptied in recent days. The rare pedestrian sought refuge inside buildings as the students ran around shouting: “They’re coming—!”

The onryou descended like raging billows, their massive formation like a tsunami. Skirmishes were already breaking out, affording the extraordinary spectacle of young men and women in their school uniforms battling skeletal warriors.

“Over here! They’re coming!”

Kyouko gathered her will, and sharp-edged light kindled and stretched in her hand. Every hand held a snake which transformed into spears, swords, and other weapons.

“Graaaah—!”

Roaring war cries, soldiers charged at Kyouko and the others. Kyouko brandished her serpent sword, hair flying.

“Hyaaaah!”

With a heavy meaty sound the sword sliced through the crown of the foot soldier’s head. Its next stroke scythed down three soldiers in a single horizontal sweep. She was indeed a fierce warrior. Kyouko cut away the encircling soldiers, but new ones continuously took their place. A horde of onryou closed in on Kyouko in an instant.

“Get out of my waaaay!”

Swords clashed violently. The students fought as if they had eight faces and six arms, but the onryou were more than they could handle. Local earth-bound spirits also began to go berserk, and their combined mass overwhelmed the students. Along the arcade, poltergeists began to wrench open the shutters and pillage the shops.

Takaya’s classmates were conducting their own offensive and defensive operations on the Taihei Bridge spanning the Shira River. Endou was among them, unflinchingly meeting Shimazu soldiers firing guns made of will with his own «nenpanenpa (念波)

Lit.: "waves of will/thought"; a nendouryoku attack using spiritual energy which focuses the will and releases it in a burst to strike at a target.».

“Forward forward fowaaaard!”

The students who had sat in Takaya’s row in class fought with «power» on a level with his. Taihei Bridge was the scene of a intense clash of wills.

“Guh!”

“Graaah!”

A volley from the guns sent several flying. They were unique firearms fashioned by the Ikkou Sect’s Saiga group. Nothing could match their power. The students didn’t know how to create barriers. They could only single-mindedly return a barrage of will.

“Aim at their shooters! Their shooters!”

The executive office member’s command was drowned out by the sound of shelling. The students ducked their heads and desperately returned fire. But they were being pressed down. The Shimazu forces advanced slowly but steadily.

“Do not falter; they must not take this position! They can’t be allowed to break through! Fight with your will until the end!”

 
Meanwhile, the onryou escalated their destruction yet again. Municipal trams were overturned, cars demolished and turned into pillars of flame. The glass windows of buildings were crushed, railway tracks torn up, innocent city inhabitants chased through the streets. The Old Castle High School students fought on, trying to protect their city.

Patrol cars and fire engines came and went, sirens blaring. Onryou swaggered beside them as if they already owned it all. This extraordinary spectacle spread throughout the entire city.

 
The main body of enemy general Shimazu Toshihisa’s troops entered Kitaoka Nature Park to the southwest of the old castle. This was where the Hosokawa family’s mausoleum was located. It was below |Mt. Hanaoka, where Toshihisa had established his headquarters. He had a perfect view of the old castle from here.

“Reporting!” A runner approached to give his report. “Katsuta-dono’s diversionary force has entered the city center. Enemy soldiers are continuing to gather there!”

“Good. Continue the assault. What of the Noda team’s movements?”

“It is moving to flank the enemy.”

“Reporting! Another group of earth-bound spirits have gone berserk around Kumamoto Castle!”

“What?” Toshihisa stared. His aide Saruwatari NobumitsuSaruwatari Nobumitsu (猿渡信光) 1534 - 1587-05-24

Saruwatari Nobumitsu was son of Saruwatari Nobusuke and a retainer of the Shimazu Clan. He held Kaseda and Hazuki as his fiefdoms and was extolled as a brave warrior. He fought in the invasion of Higo and led 1,000 soldiers (out of 6,000 - 8,000) in the Battle of Okitanawate of May 3, 1584 against the Ryuuzouji army. His heir Yajirou was killed in the battle.

He was killed in 1587 during the Battle of Nejirozaka during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's pacification of Kyuushuu. provided an explanation. These earth-bound spirits had died in battle during the Satsuma Rebellion in the tenth year of Meiji (1877). The Satsuma army led by Saigou Takamori had besieged garrison soldiers led by Tani Tateki at Kumamoto Castle. These were ghosts from that time.

“That’s perfect. Incite them further; let them draw the enemy’s gaze. I want them to cause trouble and be as conspicuous as possible.”

Aye! the runner confirmed, and darted off.

Toshihisa observed the lights of the old castle afresh. The sports ground and buildings were brilliantly lit, like a castle illuminated by braziers. This was indeed a castle under attack.

“The enemy garrison seems to have acquired its power almost instantly,” Nobumitsu commented, and Toshihisa nodded.

“Why, in the end they’re only spineless puppets. A brute force strategy is usually as fragile as a glass cannon.”

(Wait, Iehisa. This is your battle of revenge. I will capture that tiny castle.)

Another messenger rushed over and knelt in front of Toshihisa.

“Reporting! Akechi Mitsuhide-sama has arrived in Kumamoto! He asks that you take heed of the developments around the «Golden Serpent Head» beneath the old castle! Mitsuhide-sama will personally participate in the assault on the castle!”

“What? Mitsuhide-sama—?” Toshihisa was startled. “Very well,” he answered loudly. “Send soldiers to the Aso entrance to welcome him and escort him safely to headquarters.”

At that moment.

With a sudden loud sound as of a breaker tripping, all the electrical lights in the park went off—and not just the park, but the whole city.

“Have they done it?”

Shimazu’s construction crew had cut the electrical cables beneath the bridge, causing the entire city to black out. It would be a hindrance to the castle garrison, whose human sight was unaided by other means.

“Now. Launch the attack!”

 
The students couldn’t see very far in the darkness of a blacked-out city.

Taking advantage, the Shimazu forces pushed forward. Chaos erupted in several places, and here and there the enemy broke through. Luckily there was a moon out tonight. When their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they were able to resume fighting and hold out against the enemy.

But the onryou were too numerous for them to handle.

In the midst of the battle, one brilliant warrior stood out among the rest: Narita Yuzuru.

“That position is lost! If you stay, you’ll be surrounded! Move to my location”

Fighting with Yokote no GorouYokote no Gorou (横手五郎)

Orphaned son of courageous general Kiyama Masachika of Higo, he was a giant of a man recognized as a person of unrivaled physical strength, said to possess the strength of 75 men. He was one of the coolie workers who built Kumamoto Castle.

"Yokote no" is not a family name; it means "side/beside", so Yokote no Gorou is something like "Gorou at the side". and others near Senba Bridge, the ferocity of his power was in a class of its own. Yokote no Gorou, who had lost his position after being separated from his unit, was astonished.

“Is...is he a monster...?”

The snake manifested by Yuzuru was no ordinary snake, but a huge serpent of savage power. Wielding it toward a group of attacking onryou, he mowed down dozens at a time—and then he produced four, five more which he controlled with ease. The «nenpa» he hurled trailed long tails through the air like artillery shells and destroyed targets hundreds of meters ahead.

Even Yuzuru was astonished by his own power.

(I’m amazing...!)

The amount of power he wielded was terrifying; he even wanted to thank Mikuriya for his demonic serpent.

(Now maybe I can be equal to Takaya!)

Since Senba Bridge was the most crucial point, the attacking force was a powerful one. Yuzuru shielded the students as they tried to escape. A golden aura danced up around him. He never noticed, but when he wielded his «power>, his expression held a demonic edge.

(I’ll protect everyone in Takaya’s place...!)

“Graaah—!”

Yuzuru shouted a war-cry and attacked the onryou. Overwhelmed, they were unable to advance. He drove back an entire unit by himself.

“This... ’Tis astonishing!” Deeply moved, Yokote no Gorou shivered. “I must report to my lady!”

“Haaah!”

Yuzuru launched a psychic attack. The warriors easily gave way. Yuzuru felt oddly relaxed. Power welled endless from within him. The warriors fell back like a receding wave in fear. Seizing the momentum, the students pressed the attack. But the enemy wasn’t so easily dislodged. They instantly fired a volley of their psychic guns.

“Feh!”

Yuzuru spread his arms wide to create a wall to shield the students. The bullets instantly bounced off.

“Don’t fall for their tricks! Get behind me, everyone!” Yuzuru yelled as he repelled the enemy attack. “I’ll hold this position! Don’t get ahead of me! My...!”

The asphalt broke into pieces in front of him, and he shielded himself. In the instant he lifted his head to counterattack, Yuzuru felt something go wrong. A pain ran through his forehead.

(What...!)

The sharp pain came again and again. He pressed against his forehead, bending double.

(This is—...)

He looked at his own hand. The memory immediately came back to him. He’d experienced this same pain on that Miya Island-bound ferry two years ago. He couldn’t seem to move his fingers—as if they had gone numb from cold. The feeling spread to his arms and feet, freezing them in place. He felt as if the seed’s roots were tearing through his skin.

(Wasn’t it supposed to be frozen...?)

Yuzuru was horror-stricken. The students around him called out to him, but he didn’t hear them. The ‘Seed of the Demon King’ suddenly manifested its power. Another consciousness violently forced Yuzuru’s down and under.

(I should be able to overcome it now.)

He had power now. Otherwise he would cause trouble for Takaya and the others again.

(I won’t allow it...!)

Though he fought desperately, slowly but surely darkness spread across his consciousness. It was a sign that he was being invaded, that someone else was snatching control over his body. Yuzuru resisted. He was in trouble. He had to resist...!

(I can’t... let—...)

 
“!”

Yokote no Gorou was about to leave when he heard a thunderous roar. He turned, and his eyes widened.

“What?!”

Yuzuru wrapped his arms around a power pole and pulled it out of the ground, tearing the asphalt cruelly. He ripped off the dangling power lines, sparks flying. Students screamed. Chuckling, he heaved the pole onto his shoulder.

“You couldn’t hold me back, so here I am.” Yuzuru let out a low snicker. “Won’t you let me have some fun, too?”

Gorou trembled violently. (Who...who is that?)

Yuzuru suddenly wrapped his arms around the power pole and hurled it with superhuman strength at the retreating warriors. The pole shrilled heroically through the air like a missile and leveled the warriors to the ground with a thunderous boom. After a psychic bombardment that indiscriminately pounded everything around him, including the buildings, Yuzuru lightly drew breath.

“I appear to be in fine form.”

His lips twisted into a cruel smile.

A cold wind blew across the rooftops.

Mikuriya Juri folded her arms as she glared over the city from the rooftop of the southern building.

Battle reports poured into the military operation headquarters. The battle had started about two hours ago, but no decision had been reached. They were almost evenly matched.

(We have to attain victory before the students run out of stamina.)

Which was why the «Golden Serpent Head» had to be excavated quickly.

Old Castle High School’s generators had kicked in as soon as the grid had lost power. They had been carried in along with other supplies in preparation for a siege. A small crane was currently raising the «Golden Serpent Head» from its resting place some ten-plus meters underground and through several layers of protections. Yet it was now in sight.

“It must be raised tonight. There is no more time,” Jouun said to Mikuriya. “What magnificent power. I feel as if we were taking the serpent’s quickening in our hands.”

“Verily so. I, too, am overwhelmed. I thrill to think that I might wield this eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent of legend. Once it is in my hands, I will destroy Shimazu’s soldiers in one fell swoop.”

Julia was a snake-spirit charmer, which meant that her ability at its fullest could bend the eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent to her will with ease. The «Golden Serpent Head» would be the cornerstone of the ‘Ritual of the Great Fire Wheel’, but used on its own it made for a secret weapon of terrifying power.

(The sooner it is raised, the better,) Irobe thought as he listened to the battle reports. The longer the battle stretched out, the greater the danger to the students. Though they had Narita Yuzuru with them, he couldn’t protect them all over such a wide area.

(If the power of the «Golden Serpent Head» can destroy them all in one burst—)

“Mikuriya-sama!” An executive office member attached to an inner castle command rushed up, shoving a runner aside. “A new force is heading this way from New Town! It’s enormous!”

“What?!” Mikuriya yelled, turning. “A strike at our flank? Very well—send out reinforcements. Castle garrison second unit, prepare for battle! Third unit, sortie immediately!”

Mikuriya’s crisp commands impelled the students within the school into hectic action.

“So the troops sent into the city were a diversionary force,” Jouun noted grimly. “Please be careful. A brute-force Shimazu strike will be fierce. It would be better to recall more of the garrison to reinforce our siege preparedness. We must not underestimate the enemy.”

“I did not ask your opinion regarding the attack, Jouun,” Mikuriya said coldly. “You were defeated by Shimazu forces in a castle siege—thus you fear it. I will not repeat history. We will not repeat your failures at Iwaya CastleIwaya Castle (岩屋城)

A mountain castle located in Chikuzen Province known as the location for the fierce Siege of Iwaya Castle between Shimazu forces lead by Shimazu Tadatake and Ootomo forces led by Takahashi Jouun..”

“!”

(What a thing to say!) Irobe thought. When he turned, Jouun’s face had become pale and stiff.

“I don’t need your instructions on how to fight my battle. I would like you to return to the excavation site to oversee the operation immediately.”

Jouun stood frozen in place, humiliated—then he forced calm on himself, bowed, and left the rooftop.

“Jouun-dono!” Irobe called, chasing after Jouun as he vanished into the staircase entrance.

In life, Takahashi Jouun had lost Chikuzen Iwaya Castle to Shimazu forces after a terrible siege and honorable defeat.

(What did felt as he fought?)

At the time, in order to save the teetering Ootomo, he’d made a last gambit. Shimazu planned to continue on to Tachibana Castle after the fall of Iwaya Castle. Tachibana castle belonged to his son, Tachibana Muneshige. Muneshige intended to hold Tachibana Castle to the bitter end with his biological father, but Jouun absolutely rejected that outcome. He deliberately went to ground in Iwaya Castle, despite its disadvantageous position, in order to block Shimazu’s thrust toward Tachibana Castle, gambling on reinforcements from Hideyoshi.

Recognizing Jouun’s military prowess, Shimazu adjured him again and again to surrender, to no avail. The last battle of the siege was recorded in SengokuSengoku (戦国)

The "warring states" period, lasting from 1467 to 1615, in which the warlords of Japan battled each other for the rule of the country. history as one of the fiercest ever fought. Shimazu’s casualties far exceeded their expectations, such that they could not immediately set about an assault on Tachibana Castle. The reinforcements Ootomo had requested from Hideyoshi arrived, and before that great army Shimazu was forced to retreat with the conquest of KyuushuuKyuushuu (九州)

Also known as: Kyuukoku (九国: “nine states”), Chinzei (鎮西: “west of the pacified area”), Tsukushi-shima (筑紫島: “island of Tsukushi”), Saikaidou (西海道: “West Sea Route”).

Lit.: "Nine Provinces", the third-largest and most southerly and westerly island of Japan. Its name comes from the former provinces of Japan situated on the island: Chikuzen, Chikugo, Hizen, Higo, Buzen, Bungo, Hyuuga, Osumi, and Satsuma. It is now comprised of the prefectures of Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Ooita, Saga, and Okinawa. at their fingertips. Knowing this, Muneshige pursued the Shimazu as fervently as if to avenge his father and distinguished himself highly. Thus the Ootomo managed to survive.

Jouun had given his all.

Someone who understood the meaning of that battle would never allow the words ‘repeat your failures’ to pass their lips.

In the midst of the general exodus of Sourin’s retainers, to say such a thing to Jouun, who had fought with steadfast loyalty, was outrageous.

Irobe, himself a commander, keenly sympathized.

He didn’t care about himself, but how could he repay his dead soldiers? That was what Jouun was thinking.

Irobe knew it, and he was indignant on Jouun’s behalf. He turned and was about to ascend the stairs to say something to Mikuriya, but Jouun stopped him.

“Irobe-dono, it’s fine. Let it go.”

“But Jouun-dono...!”

“Leave it. I’m fine.”

But it was intolerable for Irobe. He looked at Jouun. —What the hell was this «Yami-SengokuYami Sengoku (闇戦国)

Lit.: "Dark Sengoku", the civil war still being fought by the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period in modern-day Japan.»?

(A battle fought in contempt of all the weight of the past...?!)

 
Not just the past; the onryou were insatiable.

The dead, who should have hated the ‘war’ that killed them, instead fought a war without end as if it were the only thing that could save them.

Within the darkness, the bellows of the dead could be heard endlessly in the streets of Kumamoto.

A girl surveyed the scene from on high with the moon at her back.

The minute hand of his wristwatch twitched to the appointed time: midnight.

Chiaki Shuuhei had come to the designated hostage exchange location, Broadview Ridge.

Originally called Watchtower Nose, it had been renamed Broadview Ridge by Tokutomi Sohou because it had the most magnificent view in all of Aso. It was the highest spot on the northern rim, and offered an unbroken view of the Five Peaks of Aso and the caldera. It also offered the most beautiful view of the Buddha entering nirvana.

The moon was out, and the majestic outline of the Five Peaks could clearly be seen. They looked like a giant sleeping in the moonlight. This place jutted out like a small headland within the caldera. The wind was fierce. On the crater’s outer rim were several other ‘Noses’ indicating headlands or peninsulas—not such a misnomer if one considered that the caldera had been a gigantic lake in ancient times.

It was cold enough to freeze your ears off, and the more so due to the strength of the wind. That the elevation was 900 meters above sea level and it was midnight in midwinter didn’t help.

Chiaki Shuuhei stood waiting in front of the stone tablet bearing ‘Broadview Ridge’.

(Is that them?)

Several figures approached—perhaps five or six people. He could see each of them clearly in the moonlight. He recognized Enoki Masamichi and Saeki Ryouko among them.

(The two I met in the hospital...)

They belonged to the Himuka faith and yet were actually on Rairyuu’s side. They were the very ones who had told the «Yami-Sengoku» onshouonshou (怨将)

Lit.: "vengeful general": the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period, who continue their battles even in modern-age Japan. about Asara.

“Some nerve, pretending you were oh-so-innocent back there,” Chiaki shouted. “You were the ones who had Rairyuu kidnap the girl, weren’t you, Mr. and Miss Angels Who Flew Through the Sky. You were working with the Ikkou Sect all along. I trust you brought Inaba. You abducted Ougi Takaya too, didn’t you? Where have you stashed him?”

“I don’t see Asara-hime. Where is she?” Enoki demanded in response. “The agreement was to exchange the hostage for Asara-hime.”

“Let the hostage go first. Where is Inaba?”

“Inaba isn’t here.”

“...!” Chiaki whirled in surprise at the voice from the stairs. He knew that voice.

A high school student in school uniform approached from the observation platform.

Chiaki goggled.

It was the abducted Ougi Takaya.

“Kagetora, you!”

You’re all right!—was what he was about to say, when he felt something off about Takaya. Neither Takaya’s expression nor the coldness of his gaze changed when he saw Chiaki.

“Inaba escaped on her own. She’s not here.”

“On her own? From the Ikkou Sect?”

“Mikuriya implanted demon serpent’s eggs in the students to brainwash them; it hatched. Inaba was able to use «power», and she escaped.”

“Demon serpent’s eggs?”

Was that the magnet carried by each of the students which had attracted the spirits to them?

“She’s probably headed for Old Castle High School. Mikuriya intends to make the brainwashed students her castle garrison. Although,” Takaya paused and then added coldly, “—you probably knew about that trick a long time ago.”

(What...?) Chiaki looked puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

Takaya looked down and fell silent. The bird-people rushed breathlessly into the gap.

“Faith-Protector! We can’t find Asara! She’s not here!”

“What?! You didn’t bring Asara? What is the meaning of this?!”

“I guess it was a mistake for you to let this man come in contact with Miike.”

Enoki looked at Takaya in shock. Takaya was speaking of Chiaki.

“What do you mean?”

“He must have heard about Asara and Kihachi’s head from Miike. That information’s probably been leaked to Ootomo, and they’ve taken Asara.”

“What...?!”

“What the hell nonsense are you talking about, Kagetora?!” Chiaki demanded indignantly. Takaya looked back coldly at his shout. “What is all this crap you’re spouting?! Are you saying I’m in league with Ootomo?! Have you gone crazy or what?!”

“Where is Asara?” Takaya asked with half-lidded eyes. “Did you give her to Ootomo? Or have you hidden her away in your pocket to get ahead of Ootomo?” Chiaki had no idea what Takaya meant. Takaya told the bird-people, “There’s a possibility he’s communicating with the New Uesugi. The New Uesugi is allied with Ootomo. Ootomo is trying to obtain the «Golden Serpent Head»—aka Kihachi’s head.”

“‘New Uesugi’...?”

What was that? What was Kagetora talking about?

Chiaki had never heard of it before, and it bewildered him.

“What are you talking about? What do you mean, new? Who’s allied with Ootomo? What’ve they been blowing up your ass after kidnapping you?!”

Takaya didn’t respond. Instead, with a cold expression on his face, he abruptly readied himself to fight.

“You...!”

Chiaki shuddered. This was the first time Takaya had menaced him so directly. Bloodlust quietly filled his eyes.

(He’s gonna...fight me?)

“What the hell are you doing, Kagetora! Stop acting stupid! Are you on their side now?! You gonna ally with the Ikkou Sect?!”

A sharp pain suddenly flashed across Chiaki’s cheek.

An arrow-like object had brushed past him. His face stiffened as he felt a trickle of blood. Takaya had used his will. He didn’t trust Chiaki. He was probably on Naoe’s side, getting his orders from Kenshin.

“...I don’t have Asara.” Chiaki finally shouted through clenched teeth. “She flew off! Like those guys there!”

“Flew. Where?!”

“How should I know?! She was called by Kihachi! Asara’s blood has taken control! Hokage blasted the Miike Spirit-Protector and then went to join her Onpachi-sama!”

The bird-people tensed simultaneously. They looked at each other, nodded, and sprouted glowing auras around their bodies. They were calling on their flying ability, a gift of the Himuka people.

Their feet left the ground. A moment later they had soared high into the air away from Broadview Ridge and toward the Aso caldera.

They headed for Kumamoto.

At Broadview Ridge only Takaya and Chiaki remained.

Still glaring at each other.

“You planning to kill me, Kagetora?” Chiaki asked warily. Takaya’s bloodlust didn’t ease. “Who’s been putting stupid ideas in your head? What’ve they been telling you...?!”

“Lord Kenshin has entered the «Yami-Sengoku»”

“...!” Chiaki goggled. “What...did you...say?”

“Lord Kenshin has created a New Meikai Uesugi ArmyMeikai Uesugi Gun (冥界上杉軍)

Lit. "Underworld Uesugi Army"; the army formed by Uesugi Kenshin to hunt down the onryou so that the peace of modern-day Japan is not threatened by centuries-old conflicts. It is composed of all the spirits who have some connection to the Uesugi and who were called upon by Kenshin. The Yasha-shuu could be called its commanders, though Uesugi Kagetora is the only person with the authority to lead it. and made Naoe its general. Naoe has allied with Ootomo. It started with the SagaSaga-shi (佐賀市)

Saga City is the capital city of Saga Prefecture, located on Kyushu, the most southwesterly of Japan's four main islands. Lady in White being ordered to subjugate Ryuuzouji. They were discovered and killed by Kikkawa Motoharu.”

Chiaki was absolutely stunned.

(Entered the «Yami-Sengoku»... Naoe is the new general.)

Everything clarified in his mind. Kaizaki supporting Ootomo; Irobe and Hakkai keeping their actions secret from Kagetora, saying they were under Kenshin’s direct orders. And Naoe, alive...!

Everything they had said linked up into a single thread in his mind.

(New Meikai Uesugi Army...!)

Chiaki was shocked.

He felt as if Kenshin had thrust a blade at his own throat.

(But that’s...that’s ridiculous—...)

“Takemata Yoshitsuna gave me the details. Akechi MitsuhideAkechi Mitsuhide (明智光秀) 1526 - 1582

Title: Hyuga no Kami
Also known as: Koreta Mitsuhide

A talented general and poet who belonged to the inner circle of Oda Nobunaga's vassals. He later ambushed Nobunaga at Honnou Temple in 1582, killing both Nobunaga and his heir, Oda Nobutada. Akechi Mitsuhide then proclaimed himself the new shogun, but soon clashed against Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces and was defeated in the Battle of Yamazaki only 13 days later. He was killed en route to his stronghold of Sakamoto Castle in the village of Ogurusu by a bandit with a bamboo spear (though an alternate theory states that he was not killed but became a monk instead). took him as a prisoner of war.” Takaya was expressionless—was he suppressing his emotions? “It’s apparently what Hakkai told him.”

“...”

“Naoe—Lord Kenshin intends to eliminate me, it seems.”

Chiaki was at a loss for words.

Takaya faced him and once again gathered his «power». His eyes had lost none of their wariness as they gazed at Chiaki. At that moment Chiaki understood why he was prepared to kill.

Why there was a blade directed at him. It was for self-protection.

Kagetora, removed from his position as general and driven out of the Uesugi, had only one path left.

He was going to be eliminated.

He knew why Takaya was so on guard. The strong energy coming from him blazed like crimson flames.

Takaya was trying to protect himself.

 
The moon emerged from concealment behind a small cloud, pouring bright light onto Broadview Ridge.

Their shadows fell on the concrete at their feet.

In the strong wind, Chiaki fixed Takaya with a fierce glare.

“You suspect me too?” he demanded in a stifled voice.

“...”

“You think Kenshin has me under his wing? You think I’m gonna kill you?”

“...”

“You gonna «exorcise» me so I don’t kill you?”

Takaya glared painfully at Chiaki.

“Are you gonna kill me, Kagetora?!”

Chiaki’s aura flared from him from head to toe. His teeth set, Takaya manifested his will. The wind surged between them.

(I’m not gonna die at your hands, Kagetora...!)

The place which had sought Asura had now become the arena for a fight to the death.

 
TO BE CONTINUED...