A Shogun's Fall

Chapter 4: Town Hero and Memories

As soon as the remaining Renaisian soldiers managed to escape the islands of Inazuma by ship, it took them a while but they finally were able to rest. Captain Livia checked to see that only seven people are still alive. Four of them were injured but not severely while the other three were unharmed. 

"Captain Livia." Called out one of the soldiers. "Thank you for saving me earlier." 

"Don't mention it, Sargeant. After all, I am following Colonel Luna's orders." Captain Livia responded. 

"What were his orders?" 

"To try my best to keep you, men, alive. You are all an integral part of this operation." She paused. "Know this... Once we are ready, we will launch a full-scale invasion so great that it would terrify the other nations. We will take our revenge on those natives. Every soldier they stabbed and killed is going to be paid twice. We will not stop until the head of the Shogun rolls off the floor." 

The men and women who survived cheered for this speech from the Captain, of course. Driven by revenge can be a good source of motivation for genocide. But Captain Livia is sure that the Emperor wouldn't want to slay any civilians and take as many prisoners of war instead of brutally murdering them.

~~

As for Kaiden, currently. The former colonel was in his room, writing another chapter in his journal. As he writes, he remembers the events that had transpired in the past few days or months, he compiles it all up on a piece of paper in a notebook. 

It has been almost over a year now since I was captured. I don't know what has happened beyond the walls of the village but I was honestly happy that I didn't. One reason is that the villagers seem to depend on me which is a good thing and it felt good, to say the least. Though of course, since I'm an outsider and an enemy.

He stopped and remembers everything that had happened when he sets out to the village on the second day of his capture.

*Flashback*

The following morning, Kaiden woke up and left his room. Normally, he would straighten up his bed but this wasn't a bed but a mattress on the floor called a futon and since Kaiden never used a futon before, he didn't know what to do in this situation. He wondered if he should try and fix it or leave it alone for now. Shortly after he left, one of the maids went into his room and saw that the futon wasn't folded but it was at least neatly cleaned and placed on the side instead of being in the middle of the room.

As for Kaiden, he leaves the whole building and into the fields and saw Ayato practicing his sword skills. He swings with full force and yet there was a hint of grace when he swung the practice sword. 

"Impressed?" From behind, Kotaro asked and Kaiden just jumped out in surprise. Kotaro laughed at his reaction and soon as he stopped, he said. "If you want to join you're free to duel my son." 

"I think I'll lose." 

"Really now? You're a colonel in his early twenties, are you afraid that you will lose to a fifteen-year-old boy?" He asked with a hint of taunting in his voice. Kaiden knows what he wanted and he just sighs.

"Sure, give me a weapon too. I'll fight your son." 

"That's good. I was expecting something like that, here." He then hands Kaiden his own practice sword. He then calls out to Ayato. "Ayato! It would seem that you have a new challenger."