A Saniwa's Duty

Night Battles

"Let's move it people! Anomalies sighted in Ikedaya!" Chiaki yelled past the alarms, screens flashing red as the revisionists were detected in Kyoto. She quickly grouped six names and pinch-tossed it to the main screen, thereby displaying:

Izuminokami Kanesada (leader)
Horikawa Kunihiro
Kashuu Kiyomitsu
Yamatonokami Yasusada
Imanotsurugi
Ishikirimaru

The aforementioned swords quickly got ready, putting on their respective battle attire, weapons at their side. Chiaki tossed Izumi the Dial, and they were off immediately.

Once they had left, the main screen turned into something of a video game, displaying the map and statuses of each sword, among other things. Yagen stuffed his hands into his white lab coat pockets and approached the saniwa, whose gaze was fixated on the screen as she watched eagerly, taking a seat on one of the many velvet cushions that littered the lobby.

"Taichou," Yagen turned to her, watching out of the corner of his eye as the primary team advanced several nodes. "Do you think it's a good idea? To bring Ishikiri-san to 6-1?"

"Why not?" Chiaki tore her gaze off the screen, staring up at the tantou. "It's worked for us before, right? Especially when we got to Atsukashiyama."

The Toushirou closed his eyes and sighed, adjusting his glasses before returning his attention to the screen. "I'm not sure about right now though. Look, Ishikirimaru has taken a lot of hits now. The scouting's failed again too."

The redhead turned back to the screen, apprehensively picking a middle formation for defense, and watched as the oodachi in question landed some meager hits last, not quite like the usual.

Chiaki let out a smile, hoping her nerves didn't show. "Okay, Ishipapa hasn't got the best scouting, I'll admit. Plus he's kind of the slowest out of the six of them, which is totally understandable."

"How do you explain his sudden inability to land strong hits then?," Hachisuka questioned as he approached, wearing his favorite gold yukata and haori.

"Not to mention all the damage he's been taking," added Souza in his soft voice, as he brushed his younger brother Sayo's hair into a ponytail, while the latter happily enjoyed several orange slices as he sat on his brother's lap.

The redhead's heart thumped loudly, and she swore the toudans could hear it too, if they listened closely enough. Her pulse quickened and she felt herself growing warmer. This better not go where I think it's going.

"My my, aruji," came the voice of Nakigitsune's fox companion, Sei, ringing high and clear as he and his uchi came to watch too. "Could it be that you've chosen the wrong toudanshi for this mission?"

"Psh," Chiaki said as she waved them off, rolling her eyes too. Stop pretending you've got this under control. "I've chosen the wrong swords plenty of times before. What makes this mission so special?"

All toudanshis present pointed to the front, and the sage turned, confused. She turned her focus back to the main screen and her eyes grew wide as she saw that Ishikirimaru's health was down to 5 points, with the 重傷 stamp appearing in the upper right corner of his portrait. Hastily choosing the Recall option then standing up, the main screen vanished as a portal opened up, and her sword warriors climbed out.

"Kanesan, we could've taken them!" Horikawa said to Izuminokami, clearly disappointed.

"Horikawa, you know better than to disobey orders from the honmaru," Kanesan said as he scratched his nape, irritated. He glanced at the portal worriedly. "Besides..."