The demotion was a token promotion.

Ougi Takaya was assigned to guard the Life-Ripping Star. Daiken ShrineDaiken-jinja (大剣神社)

Daiken (Great Sword Shrine) is located on Mt. Tsurugi at an elevation of 1,820 meters (5,971 ft). It is known to 'sever bad connections and forge good connections'. [Great Sword Shrine] was secured with the best of the best, and he was their deputy commander.

Mt. Tsurugi, at 1955 meters (~6414 ft) above sea level, was said to be named after a Heike warrior fleeing the battlefield who had hid Emperor Antoku’s sword. It was worshiped as sacred, and until recently had been forbidden to women. It was also the eastern center of the Shikoku barrier. Nowadays, tourist lifts made the mountain easy to climb. Takaya and his men slept in a lodge near the summit and guarded the shrine a short distance down the mountain in shifts.

The view from the top, offering a panoramic view of the Shikoku mountains, was magnificent. Despite the ‘Sword’ appellation, the area around the summit was gentle. It was called ‘Heike no Baba’ [Heike Stable] because fallen warriors of the Heike Clan trained in horsemanship there in the old days. It was very cold at nearly 2,000 meters above sea level, but for the first time in a long time, Takaya felt good. The spiritual atmosphere of the sacred ground here was so strong that even Takaya’s poison barely made its presence felt. There was a ski resort nearby, but given that no snow had fallen yet, there were no visitors. The mountain was quiet and still. The lodge, which was no longer in business, was just right for the use of the Red Whales.

At night, he gazed at a sky full of stars. Tonight, Takaya was on night watch at the shrine. He put on a down jacket and made his rounds every hour. The rest of the time he was at the shrine counting the stars. They were so beautiful he felt mesmerized. He was grateful he could forget his toxicity here. But how long could he stay?

“You’re no different from those being chased out of society. I don’t care who you are.”

(Can you really say that, Reijirou?)

Tolerance had its limits. You’ll realize your ideals are dreams without any persuasive power.

(In the end, you can’t rise above interests and advantage and disadvantage, can you?)

What was he expecting? Had Reijirou’s words given him expectations? Was that why he hadn’t left the Red Whales? Did he want a place to belong? Did he want a place where he would be accepted?

(Do I see him as a comrade...?)

“Ougi. I brought dinner.”

He turned toward the familiar voice to see someone unexpected emerge from the shrine office. To Takaya’s surprise, it was Mutou Ushio. He was supposed to down at headquarters; Takaya hadn’t been told he was coming.

“Mutou... What are you doing here?”

“I came up on the pretext of replenishing your food supply. I just wanted to see how you were doing. Here.”

Ushio had a steaming cup of ramen in each hand. He handed one to Takaya and sat down next to him.

“Let’s eat. ...It’s super chilly up here, huh?”

He pulled his head down, happily cracked open his chopsticks, and began to eat the freshly-made ramen with exclamations of, “It’s hot! It’s hot!” Takaya, who thought Ushio totally hated him, looked at him in surprise.

“What’s wrong? Your ramen is getting cold.”

“Right,” he answered, dividing his chopsticks. The two of them slurped down their ramen together in front of the shrine, and after finishing their meal, took their ease.

“Delicious! When I was living on my own in Kouchi, I had this for dinner every day. It was the same cup, but the noodles were totally different. It’s especially good when you eat it like this. It’s a real treat on cold days, huh?” Ushio babbled as if he’d forgotten the tension between them, or as if he were trying to hide his guilt.

“Aren’t you supposed to be charge of transportation at headquarters?”

“Yeah. But I can’t drive, so I’m not much use. The guy in charge mostly does the checking, right? Well, I used to work part-time at a convenience store, so I guess they just gave preferential treatment to the guy with experience.”

“...How are things down there?”

“Everyone’s been depressed ever since their lord died. It’s like they’ve lost their will to fight. They’re usually such a rowdy group that you know things are bad when they’re in low spirits. Was he really that important, though? Their lord.”

It was completely incomprehensible to the worldview of a person of the modern age. I wonder what they’re going to do now, he murmured.

“What about your memory? Have you remembered anything?”

“...No.” Ushio lightly scratched the tip of his nose and looked down. “I’m afraid of remembering.”

“...”

“I was thinking—what if they’re right about me being dead? I mean, then it would mean this body belonged to somebody else just a little while ago. Someone other than me was moving these fingers, this hand—it’s disgusting.”

Takaya gave him a pained look. Ushio appeared to be having more trouble accepting that he was kanshoushakanshousha (換生者)

Those who possess others by driving out the soul from a body and making it theirs.

Unlike normal spirits, kanshousha cannot exchange bodies at will; they can only switch to another host body when their current body dies. Because kanshousha become the owners of their bodies, choubuku does not work on them. It is, however, still possible to exorcise kanshousha when they are in spirit-form (i.e. between possessions). than that he was dead.

“It’s an unpleasant feeling—just disgusting. Why would I have done it? It’s not like stealing money or things. What was I doing, extending my life by stealing someone else’s body? What reason would I have for living that long? Was my life really that miserable?”

Ushio’s every word hurt Takaya. Seeing his past self reflected in Ushio was even more painful. But this time, he couldn’t say, “I remember that feeling.” Of course he couldn’t.

“When I wonder if maybe I really shouldn’t be alive right now... I get scared. I don’t want to remember anymore.”

“Mutou...”

“I mean, I can’t believe it. If what they’re saying is true, then whose body was this? What happened to him? How could I have done something like that—?”

Ushio fell silent. Takaya felt like he was looking at his reflection. Maybe this was why he couldn’t abandon him.

“No matter how much you regret it, you can’t return your body to its original owner.”

Ushio looked up.

“You should be faithful to your own way of life so that you live his share, too. You should be more faithful than anyone else.”

“Ougi...”

“Don’t close your eyes. To turn your back is to give up on making amends. There are things you can do, right?”

There were kanshousha who took this train of thought to its logical endpoint and lived only for the sake of others. Others chose to live out their beliefs. In the end, it was up to them to decide.

Ushio stared at Takaya in amazement. He felt as if Takaya had countered his doubt. He admired Takaya with all his heart.

“...I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have burdened you.” Ushio finally confided his true feelings. “I was so stupid, sulking like a little kid. You saved me, didn’t you? At the cave and Hakuchi, too. Thank you. —I heard from Nakagawa. You’re having trouble remembering again? Are you all right?”

Takaya shook his head, suddenly looking gloomy. He couldn’t remember Yuzuru’s name.

“...Hang in there. It’ll be okay, you’ll remember. It’s just that you used a strange power and your brain circuit went haywire. He’s a close friend, right? He’s not going to just disappear.”

But Takaya was depressed. He wasn’t surprised at what Kihachi’s poison had done to him, but that wasn’t the only reason. He was devastated by the pity being shown him.

If Yuzuru knew, he would sob that Takaya was incapable of true friendship. Even Takaya didn’t want to believe it. It had been a long time since he had felt so miserable.

“It’s going to be all right. Be strong. He must be so important to you that it flew out of you. So don’t look like that.” Ushio tried his best to cheer him up, because he knew how Takaya felt. “Cheer up. You have a nice face, and I want to see more of it.”

Takaya looked at Ushio with surprise.

“I haven’t told you because it’s kinda awkward, but I developed the picture from the other day. The sneak shot,” said Ushio. “It felt wrong not to get your permission, but the picture was so good that I wanted other people to see it, so I sent it to my ‘father’. Oh, the person who gave me my name—Dr. Mutou. He’s helped me so much, I just really wanted him to see it. I feel bad for worrying him, so I wrote him a letter saying that I’m doing well. It’s not going into the photo exhibition, don’t worry—Father’s the only one who’ll see it. It’s the best work I’ve ever done, and it made me really happy. I wanted to show it to you, but then you’d tell me to throw it away, right?” He peered into Takaya’s face as if begging for forgiveness. “I’m embarrassed to tell you this, but when it finished developing, I just suddenly started crying. The sight of you was so painful.”

Photographs captured one’s essence. Ushio had read in a book somewhere that taking pictures was capturing essences. Ushio felt those words, seeing Takaya in that picture.

“You’re in pain. Your very existence is painful. You’re that kind of person. I understood that in that moment. I felt like a fool for being jealous and resentful. I wanted to apologize to you. And I want to thank you. I have for a long time.” He stopped, suddenly embarrassed. He gave a loud, meaningless laugh. “See, I’m a poet.”

Takaya didn’t laugh, but his eyes weren’t cold when he looked at Ushio. He cast his eyes down a little, thinking, What is this? He wasn’t healed. Nor was he saved. But Ushio, Reijirou, Nakagawa, Utarou, Eikichi... He felt something strange when he was with them. Takaya found himself regaining a bit of his feelings, such as anger and happiness.

(What is it about them...?)

“Don’t worry. Only Dr. Mutou will see it. If you tell me you want to see it too, I’ll it out for you.”

(Am I still alive...?) Takaya reflected inside his heart while looking at the smiling Ushio. He was accepted. Accepted—

(Am I still alive?)

“Ah, I miss the sea. Maybe it’s because I’ve been in the mountains so long. I miss the smell of the sea.” Ushio looked up at the stars and said loudly, “When I was in Kouchi, I’d often go to look at the sea. I haven’t seen it in a while. I’ll get permission from Kada and the others to go.”

“The sea? It’s not bad.”

“Right? Whales and dolphins swim around Muroto and Ashizuri. The sea is good! It’s the best...!”

Ushio stood up and suddenly felt a pain in his temples. He cradled his head. Takaya asked, surprised, “What’s wrong?”

“My...my head! My head hurts— Ow!”

“Hey, you okay?”

He seemed to be in an unusual amount of pain. He crouched low, grinding his teeth. Seeing the cold sweat on his face, Takaya said hurriedly, “We should go back to the lodge. It’s probably my fault.”

“It’s not! Lately... I’ve been getting it a lot. I wonder what it is...the drop in pressure? Ow ow ow!”

“Hold still. I’ll call someone.”

Takaya was about to get up, but a man stood in his way. It surprised him. Here was someone else who shouldn’t be here: Yoshimura, who was supposed to be in Hakuchi.

“Where’re you going, Deputy Captain? You skipping out on work and going for a drink?”

Yoshimura had been forcibly assigned to Mt. Tsurugi by Kusama. Takaya glared at him.

“Mutou isn’t feeling well.”

“My my. Well then, how about I lend him my shoulder?”

“I don’t want it, Ougi!” Ushio yelled angrily. “I found out that Yoshimura’s friends plotted against you at Hakuchi. I don’t need a coward like that helping me!”

“Humph. What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb! We almost died because of you!”

Takaya ignored them both, “I’m going to call the medical staff. Stay still.”

Takaya did so, and soon after, the medical staff carried Ushio back to the lodge. Yoshimura said to Takaya, “You seem happy with your position, Ougi. You must realize that your reign won’t last long.”

“Are you still spouting that nonsense?”

He had probably come over just to get in Takaya’s face. Takaya stared at Yoshimura furiously.

“Did you come up here just to pick on me? Every little thing you do is petty. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Bark, bark, bark. I already know your weakness. What will happen when Kada-san finds out?”

“What?”

But he apparently had no intention of revealing it here. Yoshimura returned to the lodge, saying, “The fun begins once you go back down.” He was a thoroughly unpleasant man.

Takaya still had a mission. He remained on shrine grounds to protect it. The Life-Ripping Star was said to be hidden in a secure place in the shrine. He had yet to lay eyes on it.

(Guardian of the star, huh?)

Takaya sighed deeply and looked up at the night sky.

 
Two men watched the darkened Daiken Shrine from the shadows of a rocky outcrop. They weren’t Red Whales. They were here to steal the star. Given that Mt. Tsurugi was on high alert, they had to be very skillful to get this close. They appeared to be here on reconnaissance.

“Looks like the star really is at the top of the mountain, huh?” muttered the older man in a low voice. It was one of the assassins who had attacked Sekkei Temple. He had the advantage of good night vision. “There are guards, but they look about on the same level as the ones at Sekkei Temple—nobody who’s going to present a challenge. Should we just take them out...? Are you listening to me?” he asked the other.

But the man who appeared to be the principal offender, who had a infrared night vision scope, seemed shocked. He looked away and muttered, “What is he doing here...?”

He’d spotted Takaya in the scope.

The peace on Mt. Tsurugi didn’t last long.

The following night, Daiken Shrine was attacked by the enemy.

When it started, Takaya was at the lodge. He was off duty and resting when suddenly there came a shrill alarm. He jumped to his feet.

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack—!”

He quickly turned toward the window and saw the shrine on fire. Takaya ran outside without pausing to put on a jacket.

“How many?!”

“I don’t know, the fire just started shooting toward us all of a sudden...!”

(Oda?!)

As he sprinted down the trail, light flashed ahead of him. At the same time, there was an explosion that blew the shrine roof off. He shielded himself and looked up. The enemy was moving unbelievably fast.

“The barrier must still be in place! It still holds! Firefighting can wait; secure the enemy!”

“Ougi-san, the captain—the captain’s down!”

“What?!”

The enemy had taken out garrison commander Inui first with the intention of throwing the rest into confusion. They were thorough— definitely not amateurs.

“Turn on the floodlights! We need to see them!”

There was a scream. At the same time, the floodlights began to turn on one after another. He immediately saw his comrades crossing blades with a man. He was strong. He sprinted toward the main temple building, felling guards along the way.

“Stop right there!”

Takaya’s eyes flared. The path in front of the assassin instantly exploded. Takaya attacked psychically as he ran. The enemy protected himself with a «goshinhagoshinha (護身波)

Lit. "wave of self-protection"; the goshinha is a protective mesh spun from fine strands of spiritual energy which surrounds the caster and protects from an opponent's spiritual as well as physical attacks. The mesh gains strength and stability when it is multi-layered and becomes the goshinheki. The goshinha is Naoe's forte.», but he was quickly overwhelmed by the force of the blast.

“Ougi, there aren’t many of them!”

Ushio shouted from behind the burning shrine. Takaya kept up his onslaught, not pausing to take a breath.

“Activate the thunder and lightning barriers around the star storehouse! Everyone, retreat to a safe distance immediately!”

“It’s ready!”

“On my count!”

3-2-1!

With an intense flash, the sacred rock behind the shrine burst into flames, and a high-voltage current surged through the surrounding area. It was a net with tens of thousands of volts of electric current running through it, called the thunder and lightning barrier. For about ten minutes, no one would be able to approach. Emitting sparks and an electrical hum, the barrier completely covered the burning shrine.

The enemy probably hadn’t expected this. He flinched back and then, unable to withstand Takaya’s continued attack, fled.

“You’re not getting away!”

Takaya gave chase. The enemy dashed nimbly down toward the lift station. Takaya had to find out who he was. He wove his way through the trees until he came to a depression in the slope. Had he given up on escaping? The enemy suddenly stopped and turned around. Was he about to counterattack? Then he ripped off his hat and sunglasses.

A stranger stared at Takaya. Takaya faced him warily, filled with «power». The young man spoke first.

“I shouldn’t have expected stealing the star to be easy, huh?”

“Where are you from? Miyoshi? Or...”

“Why are you here, Kagetora?”

(What...?!)

His heart skipped a beat. The other man knew him...?!

Takaya’s eyes went wide. The young man added, “So you survived after all.”

He wasn’t a possessor spirit. Takaya’s mouth fell open in shock. The other man was kanshousha. He didn’t feel like a stranger. To the contrary, his gaze, his presence, this feeling... He couldn’t believe it.

“You...!”

The young man looked at him composedly. There was no trace of his former appearance, but it was obviously him.

Takaya murmured his name unbelievingly:

“Chiaki...”

“It’s been a while since I’ve heard that name.” Yasuda NagahideYasuda Nagahide (安田長秀) 1516 - May 8, 1582? 1585? 1592?

Title: Jibu Shousuke (治部少輔)

Historically: Master of Yasuda Castle. The Yasuda family had served the Nagao Clan from the time of Nagao Tamekage (late 1400s). Nagahide supported Nagao Kagetora (Uesugi Kenshin) in the coup d'etat against Nagao Harukage, so was a close aide of Kenshin from early on. He fought in many of Kenshin's wars against Takeda Shingen, Oda Nobunaga, and Houjou Ujiyasu.

He received a commendation for bravery at the 4th battle of Kawanakajima along with six other commanders, including Irobe Katsunaga.

He supported Uesugi Kagekatsu in the Otate no Ran after Kenshin's death. He died in 1582 of illness in the midst of Shibata Shigeie's rebellion. (Other accounts mention 1585, 1592.)

Though he shared the same family name as Yasuda Kagemoto and Yasuda Akimoto, also vassals of the Uesugi Clan, he was descended from a different family.

In Mirage of Blaze: he was summoned by Uesugi Kenshin to become one of the Yasha-shuu and is second in power only to Uesugi Kagetora. reflected nostalgically. But his aura declared him still battle-ready as he stared at Takaya with his arms folded. For a while, Takaya was silent. He didn’t seem to know how to react, he didn’t seem to understand.

“You’re...alive—...” He murmured hoarsely. It was both right and wrong. Knowing that he’d been struck by Nobunaga’s hakonhahakonha (破魂波)

The "soul-ripping wave" with which Oda Nobunaga defeated Kagetora, said to be capable of destroying the soul itself, removing it from the wheel of reincarnation., he’d completely given up on the idea. Now he was right in front of him.

(He’s alive...)

His knees almost folded with relief. Tears filled his eyes. How completely unexpected. He had thought he would never see him again, but now here he was. The joy of his continued existence curled Takaya’s lips upward, but they soon warped.

(He...performed kanshoukanshou (換生)

To possess another's body, driving out their soul, so as to be reborn with memories intact. Only Naoe of all the kanshousha has the power to perform kanshou on another soul.?)

He had taken on someone else’s appearance. Chiaki Shuuhei’s body had ‘died’.

Suddenly, Takaya felt a cold wind from the fields of Aso, and his heart ached. He’d heard it from within clusters of hydrangeas on Narao Peak. Witnessing its aftermath in truth made Takaya speechless. He turned his face away. He bit his lip in self-condemnation as he was shown again how painful the act of kanshou was.

“You have no right to look like that,” Nagahide dismissed coldly. "You’re as wishy-washy as ever. You’ve forgotten why I’m here, haven’t you?

Takaya’s head jerked up. “What do you mean?”

“Humph. Neither of us are Uesugi any longer. That means we’re no longer on the same side.”

“You’re no longer Uesugi?”

“That’s right. Just as you’re no longer Uesugi’s supreme commander, I’m no longer Yasuda Nagahide of Uesugi.”

“...”

“I’m now Yasuda Nagahide of Oda.”

He couldn’t believe his ears. Takaya gasped.

(It can’t be...)

It couldn’t be true, he thought. He stared back at him, trying to deny it. But Nagahide’s expression only thrust Takaya away.

Soon, his mind grew cold. He understood why Nagahide was here.

His blood boiled. —This was ridiculous.

(Why...Oda, of all people?)

He was with Oda? It was absurd!

“Being the supreme ruler’s assassin isn’t so bad. It wasn’t just anyone who killed Chousokabe Nobuchika at Sekkei Temple: it was me, Kagetora.”

“! ...Chiaki!”

“On Nobunaga’s orders. I was told to kill the Chousokabe general and take back the Life-Ripping Star.”

He couldn’t believe it. Takaya shook his head.

“No...”

“Yes!”

“You can’t have joined Nobunaga!”

“You think too high of me,” Nagahide snorted and laughed lightly. “I’ve already severed all ties with Uesugi. Are you disgusted? Kenshin was plotting both behind your back and mine to secretly take over the «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.». He lied to us, and I’ve had my fill.”

“Chiaki.”

"Isn’t it the same for you, Kagetora?

Takaya held his breath at the question. Nagahide considered him for a while and snorted.

“But that’s trivial. My real motive is—you, Kagetora.”

Takaya’s face stiffened. Nagahide was serious. Deep in his eyes, the fire of battle glowed.

“When I fought you in Aso, I realized the true danger with all my heart— more than Oda, more than Kenshin. I understood, for the first time in my life, where the true danger lies.”

A fountain of power that never ran dry. He was a natural power breeder reactor whose destructive power in a fight knew no bounds.

“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., I came here to win against you. Otherwise, my life will never be complete. Your power is Death’s scythe. Your very existence breaks the rules. Seriously, I had goosebumps all over when I understood who my real enemy is.”

“...Chiaki.”

“It’s you, demon.”

Anger swelled in the depths of Takaya’s right eye. His fists began to shake minutely. “You don’t get to prattle about whatever arbitrary nonsense comes into your head, traitor.”

“I don’t remember betraying you. You were always my enemy.”

“That’s ridiculous! You chose Oda... How dare you side with Oda, of all people! We—don’t you remember how we—!”

He was too angry to speak. Nagahide looked coldly at him.

“I don’t need to ask why you’re protecting the Life-Ripping Star, so I won’t. The next time we see each other, there’s only one thing I’m going to do, God of Death. I’m going to kill you.”

An intense, relentless blue aura erupted from Nagahide, burning like a gas burner. Takaya instantly filled himself with all the energy he could muster. His eyes seethed with rage.

“I won’t forgive you, Chiaki!”

“I’m not gonna go easy on you this time even if you lose control, Kagetora!”

!

Hearing a tremendous crash, Yoshimura ran to the scene. He had chased after Takaya as Takaya chased after the enemy. The impact jolted him off his feet. He fell, surprised, and saw an intense flash of light from the dark forest. He ran toward it.

(You’re not getting all the credit!)

Then Yoshimura saw it: the deadly battle between Ougi Takaya and Yasuda Nagahide.

He gasped. His legs trembled. It was so terrible that he couldn’t believe it was a fight between two human beings.

(What the hell are these guys?)

“Graaah—!”

A succession of thunderous roars shook the forest. It was like the earth rumbling. Heavy tremors, as of iron balls striking each other. Invisible dense thick psychic attacks collided head-on. The exchange of psychic shots carried over to close-quarters combat. Takaya lunged with a broad-bladed hunting knife, swinging dramatically as if he were slicing the sky apart. He was using techniques he had never thought of before. The sword’s flames seared through flesh.

“Kuuuh!”

Nagahide crossed his arms and somehow managed to avoid it, while counterattacking psychically with all his might.

“!”

Takaya was blown away by a direct hit. Nagahide fired a series of shots at him. Takaya, still lying on his back, countered with a «goshinha». The ground around him was torn to pieces, and he was forced to roll to the right. Behind him, a tree was uprooted and felled.

“Haaaah!”

Takaya gathered his energy and attacked, unconsciously intermingling his psychic power with fire. Its power overwhelmed Nagahide.

(When did he...?!)

This was beyond what he’d experienced last time. He couldn’t even draw breath. Takaya’s power was even stronger than before. His offense knew no bounds. He hammered at his opponent like a demon. This was a different Takaya. Different at the basic level!

(How?)

“Don’t get cocky!” Nagahide bellowed, shooting his will from his belly.

Takaya screamed as his defense was whittled away. Hit by a barrage of blows, he rolled backward.

“Oraoraaa—!”

Takaya «shielded» himself. And then—his power trembled for a moment. He was about to lose control. Nagahide didn’t miss the opening thus created. A moment’s recoil proved fatal.

“Gwaah!”

Takaya was hit so hard that his limbs felt as if they’d been torn off. He flew backwards, bouncing twice on the ground. He tried to get up, took another hammer-blow, and collapsed to the ground.

“Not good enough, General.”

Nagahide walked up to him and lifted Takaya’s chin with the toe of his shoe. Takaya glared up at him, biting down on his humiliation.

“What happened to your left eye? You idiot. What cumbersome mess have you taken upon yourself this time?”

“Shut...up!”

“You’re an important ally to Uesugi. Maybe I should «exorcise» you here and now. Just like I killed Nobuchika at Sekkei Temple.”

Yoshimura heard their conversation. He watched them, shuddering.

“I never imagined I’d find you here, but that’s our relationship. Kagetora. I’ll make sure to say a prayer for you.”

“Chiaki...! You bastard!”

“...You still call me ‘Chiaki’, huh?” Nagahide’s eyes narrowed for a moment. “I’ll take the star, too. For our lord.”

“Chiakiiiii!”

Something unexpected happened: from out of thin air, Nagahide suddenly ignited.

“Gaah!”

He flailed. His «goshinha» was of no use. Nagahide writhed in pain within the flames that engulfed him entirely. Shocked, Takaya recoiled.

“Aah... aah...!”

“Gwaaaah! Gaaaah!”

“Ch-Chiakii!”

He reached toward him. A sharp spark hit Takaya’s hand hard. At the same time, the wind blew and what looked like a cloud of sand enveloped Nagahide. Takaya shielded himself. The wind passed, and when he opened his eyes, the fire had been extinguished. Panting, Nagahide raised his eyes.

(Someone put out the fire.)

Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him. Takaya issued a challenge. Yoshimura jumped up, thinking it was aimed at him, but Takaya was facing the opposite direction.

As if in answer to Takaya’s voice—

A slender young man appeared from the shade of the trees opposite. He was slender and serious-looking, with some childishness still lingering in his features.

“I won’t let you win so easily, guerrillas of Tosa.”

It was Date KojirouDate Kojirou (伊達小次郎) 1568? - 1590

Also known as: childhood—Jikumaru (竺丸)

Second son of Date Terumune and Yoshihime, Kojirou was favored by his mother over his older brother Date Masamune for succession as head of the Date Clan. However, Terumune favored Masamune, who became head of the Date Clan in 1584.

Yoshihime planned the assassination of Masamune, but after she failed to poison him in 1590, Masamune ordered Kojirou's death..

Takaya had never met him before. Yet he flinched back because Kojirou carried the same aura as another man Takaya knew very well. As evidence, he had a familiar-looking red bindi affixed to the center of his forehead.

Chiaki was upset as well.

(Crap...!)

“I’m Date Kojirou. I’ll be your opponent!”

Kojirou spread his hands as if he were strewing petals, and countless blood-red moths emerged to attack Takaya.

“Guh!”

They smashed through his «goshinha» and stuck to him. They were acid, melting his clothes and burning through to his flesh. Takaya tried his best to fight them off, but their numbers were too great. In the blink of an eye, he was covered all over. He couldn’t breathe...!

(I don’t think so...!)

He concentrated. Flames erupted from his entire body.

“What?!”

The moth turned instantly to ash. Kojirou immediately produced more, but the difference in power was obvious. Kojirou briefly turned incandescent, and was tragically blown away.

“Date...Kojirou, you said...?”

Kojirou appeared to be unconscious.

“You’re Masamune’s—”

He stepped closer to confirm.

Without warning he was sent flying. The momentum of his tumble leveled a bush. He put his hand to his shoulder, startled by a burning heat, and saw that the side of his Gore-Tex mountain jacket was torn and covered with blood. When he looked back, Kojirou was rising to his feet.

“Don’t underestimate the One-Eyed Dragon’s little brother.”

Kojirou had adopted a perfect kung-fu stance.

“Haaaaah!”

The surrounding rocks shattered as an invisible weight bombarded Takaya. He «shielded» himself, but his lungs were crushed by the psychic pressure. The bushes were instantly flatted. Kojirou’s will made a strange creaking sound as it pressed against Takaya.

“I’ll crush you—!”

With a sharp, unpleasant sound, Takaya’s forehead cracked. His spine screamed. The psychic weight made it impossible to breathe. It was as if he had a one-ton concrete block pressing down on him from above. He sank into the ground. His skeleton and internal organs were being crushed and deformed. He couldn’t even moan in anguish. Just when he could no longer hold up under the pressure—

With a violent explosion, earth and sand suddenly erupted in front of Kojirou’s eyes.

“!”

His attack was interrupted by a series of gouges to the ground around him, and as a coup de grace, a psychic attack was aimed directly at him. It frightened him.

“Gyah!”

He collapsed, his hands pressed against his face. Takaya was released from the pressure, but he hadn’t initiated the attack on Kojirou.

(Someone saved me?)

Who? He levered himself up from the ground and looked up to see Nagahide upright with smoke rising from his clothes.

(Chiaki—...!)

Writhing in pain, Kojirou glared disbelievingly at Nagahide. “Yasuda-dono! Why!”

“...He’s my kill...” Eyes blazing, Nagahide bellowed with all his might, “You can’t just go and steal someone else’s quarry!”

“Yasuda-dono!”

A armor-orb suddenly exploded. Takaya rose and began to fight back. he created a flaming spear which he thrust at them, but was blocked by an explosion. Yamanaka Shikanosuke appeared.

“Kojirou-dono, retreat!”

(He’s with them...?!)

Shikanosuke gathered his power. Having filled himself with energy, he raised his hand and drew a half-moon.

“Guardian god of the crescent moon, give me strength! Destroy the false faith of mine enemies!”

He threw ‘frozen light’ at Takaya. It easily pierced through Takaya’s «goshinha» straight into his lungs with a sharpness like the mirror-reflection of the sun’s rays. It had the power to freeze internal organs and body fluids. He screamed—not from cold, but from pain.

“Wait...ugh!”

While Shikanosuke held Takaya at bay, Nagahide picked Kojirou up and immediately fled. Shikanosuke withdraw into the darkness after them.

(Wh-what the hell...)

Yoshimura was too afraid to leave. After the enemy had gone, Ushio and the others finally caught up with them.

“Are you all right, Ougi?!”

Takaya was crouched on his knees. As soon as Ushio touched him, the freezing inside his body subsided. Noticing his injuries, Ushio ripped off his bandanna to stop the bleeding. The pain subsided after a while with the quick treatment, but the emotional shock was greater.

Takaya stared dumbfounded into the darkness.

(Chiaki—...!)

The news of the attack on Mt. Tsurugi soon reached Reijirou.

“What? They’ve already found us?!”

The enemy had been quicker than expected. Reijirou had thought that a sacred place like Mt. Tsurugi wouldn’t be so easily attacked. Although Takaya and the others had protected it, having his hiding place known was still a bitter blow.

“Why? How did the enemy find out about it so quickly?”

Maki stared at Reijirou, who was now wondering if someone on the inside had betrayed them.

“It wouldn’t have taken so much time if there was an inside man. Their skill appears to be considerable. That they were able to infiltrate us despite our forces being on high alert means they must be top agents.”

“Did you find out who they are?”

“Their characteristics are similar to the duo who attacked Lord Nobuchika.”

Reijirou’s face grew grave. “Were they the same men?”

“There were only two of them, but they were very strong. We managed to foil them this time, but what if there is a next time, and they come at us with greater numbers and better arms?”

“So it’s a 50-50 chance that we’ll be able to stop them next time.”

If they strengthened their security, they should be able to withstand the next attack. But the location meant that there was a limit to the number of soldiers that could be deployed. It was a difficult choice.

“We might want to think about moving...” Nakagawa suggested from next to them. He had returned from Sekkei Temple yesterday.

“Right. Right now we’re in the same position as Sogou. If we hide it like them, it’ll be target for thieves. Using it will protect us from our enemies. Should we carry out the plan?” Reijirou muttered.

Maki and Nakagawa observed him with surprise. Nakagawa immediately objected, “No, Kada-san! It’s too early; now is not the time. Besides, your position is extremely precarious right now!” Nakagawa insisted. “If you use the Life-Ripping Star now, you’ll only arouse Kusama-san’s suspicions again!”

“Now is the time, because now is when we need the power of the Life-Ripping Star!”

The murder of Nobuchika had dealt a serious wound to the mental state of the Red Whales, which was more problematic than any physical damage. They had lost hope and the will to fight. It was a time of crisis.

(The only way to give them strength is to win without Chousokabe.)

“Now, when everyone is fainthearted from the loss of Lord Nobuchika, is when we need the Life-Ripping Star—when we need a great power greater than Chousokabe!”

“Kada-san.”

“We will not be defeated by anyone. With this, the Red Whales will overcome Chousokabe’s loss. Let everyone regain the will to fight. Remind them what we’re here for! Make them remember!”

Before Reijirou’s intensity, both Nakagawa and Maki fell silent. Reijirou didn’t want the loss of Nobuchika to ‘kill’ the Red Whales.

“Nakagawa, help me persuade Kusama-san.”

“Kada-san, are you sure you want to do this?”

Reijirou stared into the air determinedly and nodded.

“I’m going to Ashizuri!”

Recall Ougi and the others. He will escort the Life-Ripping Star as the leader of its security force.

The instructions were immediately relayed to Mt. Tsurugi. The Mt. Tsurugi security force had lost several members to the latest enemy attack, including its captain, Nishikino. After taking up his command, Takaya had done a credible job of protecting the star, even though he had allowed the enemy to escape.

His repeated successes had already made him a highly-respected figure.

At Reijirou’s suggestion, the commando unit from the Hakuchi battle was formally made a permanent unit—the ‘Red Whales Special Commando Unit’—and Takaya appointed as its first captain.

“Wonderful. Kada-san has a good eye for people,” Eikichi said admiringly. He had never expected him to distinguish himself so highly when he’d met Takaya on the Iya riverbank.

Kusama-backed Ushio was slower, but seemed inspired by his irritation at Takaya to work a little harder.

“Speaking of which, what’s going on with Mutou’s headache?”

“Maybe it’s a sign that his memory is returning,” Nakagawa told Eikichi in front of the sunken fireplace in the common room.

“We don’t know Mutou’s true identity, after all. I wonder what Akutagawa’s intentions were in dragging him in.”

“Who knows? The man was a schemer; maybe, contrary to expectations, he had a bomb about to go off.”

Akutagawa-san? Eikichi muttered as he stirred the ashes in the fireplace with tongs.

“I wonder what Kusama-san is going to do now?”

Kusama had not yet returned from Sekkei Temple.

He was still not himself.

What was going to happen to the Red Whales now that they have lost their goal of restoring Chousokabe?

Where would they go?

“The only bright spot is the success of the two men of the modern age.” Nakagawa sighed deeply. —They were helping 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.. “I want to pray that they’ll become our stars of hope.”

No one knew that later, when the Red Whales learned their true identities, they would shiver with as-yet-unknown fear.

But right now they were still oblivious.

That night, Heishirou, their Urado puppeteer, came to visit Nakagawa at the East Iya hideout.

“What? Yoshimura?”

He’d suddenly wanted the role of Kusama’s bodyguard.

In the meantime, Heishirou had been with Kusama, to whom Yoshimura had sent a direct letter of appeal. The horse-guard was part of the attendant corps. In modern parlance, they were like private secretaries. When Nakagawa first heard of this, he almost burst out laughing.

“That’s ridiculous... The horse-guards require class; there’s no way Yoshimura is capable of doing that job.”

“Well. But he seems intent on asking.”

“Kada-san must not allow it.”

Kada was in control of personnel matters.

“That may be true, but just recently he was forcibly transferred to the Daiken Shrine’s security force, wasn’t he?”

On that instance Kada had said, “Interesting,” and allowed it.

“What is he thinking, Yoshimura?”

Or was he hatching another bad plan?

Reijirou was busy with the Ashizuri trip. Kusama might summon Yoshimura in the meantime. He was still angry.

(Should I allow things to go on like this?)

The Red Whales had a mountain of problems. Nakagawa sighed. Heishirou bowed low and said, “I have to go.”

“Right, thank you for coming to see me. I appreciate you stopping by.”

“Not at all.” Heishirou looked serious.

“What is the matter?” Nakagawa asked.

He hesitated and finally said nervously, “About...what we talked about the other day.”

“The other day? What do you mean?”

“About Ougi Takaya.”

Nakagawa reacted sharply. His face suddenly became serious. “Have you... learned something?”

“My memory is hazy, so I can’t say for sure...”

“That’s all right. Tell me.”

“The name Ougi Takaya. I felt like I’d heard it somewhere before, and I thought about it for a long time. I finally remembered the other day.”

Though there was nobody else around, Heishirou lowered his voice. “Ougi Takaya. I think maybe it’s the current name of Uesugi Kagetora, Uesugi’s supreme commander.”

Meanwhile, Takaya was still at the summit of Mt. Tsurugi with the Life-Ripping Star.

Takaya, who had been expected to vehemently refuse his appointment as captain of the commando unit, agreed, surprisingly, without protest. He looked like a different person from the one who had been unwilling to do anything.

What was this change of heart?

Overhead, the winter night sky was clear and crisp. The brilliance of the stars as seen from the summit was incomparably more beautiful than below. The celestial sphere was an unobstructed 360 degrees, for this spot was higher than all surrounding mountains.

The sky was vast, the stars on the verge of falling.

Takaya stared mesmerized by the starry sky, uncaring of the cold. He didn’t know much about constellations, but there were so many stars that even if he did, he probably wouldn’t have been able to pick them out.

Beneath such a great host of stars, the noisiness of the sky accentuated the silence of the world and made you afraid.

Yet this was where the stars were near.

“You can shorten the distance if you reach out your hand.”

Remembering Miya’s words, Takaya closed his eyes.

Even if you didn’t know by how much.

He wanted to be closer...

Takaya opened his eyes and glared sharply at the heavens.

He could feel a storm approaching.

“Revenge against life itself.”

The curses of winter were coming alive.

And Takaya, too, set forth—this time of his own will, for himself.