Adaption is Key (An Aza Chobei Fanfic)

Chapter Nineteen: Second Round

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Chobei and Mizuho could sense the first landing parties' Taos. They were both stationed with Ju Fa and Tao Fa as the latter tried flirting with them more. Then, the peach-haired woman stopped once all four of them sensed two foreign energies enter the Bochu Jutsu Sanctum. Both the Lord Tensen couple opened the curtains to greet their guests below. The human duo followed them, only to see Tamiya and Fuchi at the bottom of the stairs. Chobei looked over to Mizuho, whose mouth was opened with joy to see her friend again and to have the opportunity to apologize to him.

"Fuchi... there's something I've been meaning to tell you..."

"Is this some sort of love confession?" joked Tamiya.

"I'm pretty sure not. I'm not her type and she's not mine."

Ju Fa looked down with disgust while Tao Fa was thinking to herself.

What is her type? I should really try to appeal to her...

Chobei sighed in relief that he wasn't getting into a love triangle as Mizuho climbed down to the middle of the stairway.

"I'm sorry... for not siding with you... I just wanted to help Toma reunite with his older brother... and become the swordswoman my sisters see me as..."

"Mizuho..." Fuchi started to approach his fellow clan member upwards as Tamiya followed him.

"Stay there." Mizuho commanded, as her voice boomed.

Everyone was shocked with how intimidating her tone was, considering that the swordswoman was usually a nervous wreck. Tamiya stayed back, but smirked at the girl's guts.

She's a strange one... I like it.

"Mizuho..." Fuchi continued as he met her at the middle of the stairs, "I understand... I may not have younger siblings... but I know that you're already a great swordswoman and you're meeting their expectations."

Mizuho's face smiled as soon as she heard that compliment.

"Thank you... and I've talked to the members of Lord Tensen that they're allowing us and our fellow Yamada clan members to join their ranks... and all they need you to do is leave that old man as a sacrifice.

"I'm not old!" Tamiya yelled out, hearing their conversation with the two samurai looking down below before the ravenette continued.

"They have a room full of infinite knowledge about dissection! You would love it! Please join me and the Bandit King. We have to, if we want to live."

Fuchi pondered on Mizuho's words before replying. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm okay staying with my convict. Sure, he's arrogant and a perverted idiot, but this journey had taught me about how these people want to live better lives. Sure, they committed crimes, but they have a will to live like us samurai. I want our remaining swordsmen and the convicts to return safely. The losses of Tenza, Genji, Kisho, and Senta..."

Mizuho was flabbergasted once she heard those names. Even though she didn't really care about Kisho and Genji, she was friends with Tenza and Senta since they've supported her training. The ravenette thought of Tenza as the little brother she wished she had because of his headstrong personality. Meanwhile, Mizuho enjoyed looking at Senta's art in secret while listening to him speak about his studies. Her face became more somber as Fuchi continued.