Swords & Saniwa

Agenda

~Yamanbagiri Kunihiro~
山姥切 国広

Requested by Zen-15!

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As the fire went ablaze, it formed a torch of light in the midst of the surrounding darkness. The first unit had just returned from an expedition, and what they saw gave them a huge shock. Running towards the establishment, the sage was seen carried out by her secretary, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro. Laying her down against the grass, he took her wrist and felt for her pulse to make sure that she was still alive. He held his breath as he did, taking in a huge breath of air after her vitals were confirmed. Taking down his cape, he tied it around her bleeding thigh before looking at his fellow comrades. No one died, fortunately, but some were injured. The Government was informed and sent help quickly, trying their very best to save the building. As the sage was loaded onto a stretcher, she regained consciousness and glanced at the raging fire.

"My... citadel..." Mumbling those words, she looked at the anxious sword before falling back to darkness again.

~~

Ever since they were placed in an another new citadel, the sage changed completely.

"Aruji, there's another writing mistake here. What's wrong with you recently?" Pointing at the misspelled words, Kasen said as he noticed her gripping on her sleeve tightly.

"I am sorry!" Taking the paper from his hands, she took the pen and edited the mistake before passing it back to him, saying that nature was calling her before leaving her office abruptly. Furrowing his brows, the secretary couldn't help but worry. The same went to the duplicate who had noticed it way before his fellow comrades.

Entering the stables, one of the horses made a 'neigh' sound as it went towards the female, letting her touch its head. As her hands ran through its mane, she let out a relieved sigh as she looked into its large orbs.

"Say... Will you forgive me if you had known what I've done?"

Unknowingly, Yamanbagiri was standing behind, near the entrance as he listened to what she was about to say. The horse only twitched its ears around and remained still, its eyes still looking at the female. Caressing its throat latch, she said, "If I had died that day, it would be great."

"F/N."

Turning her back abruptly, Yamanbagiri was just standing there waiting for her reaction.

"I guess you heard everything."

"What really happened that day?"

"The fire broke out because I accidently knocked the oil lamp while I was carrying something."

Grabbing her wrist, he took her to the gathering area and shook the bell, prompting for everyone to come.

"What do you think you are doing, Yamanbagiri!" Hasebe raised his voice as he saw the sage's hand being held tightly, her face cringing due to his strength. As he was about to intervene, the duplicate forced her to say what really happened during that fateful day.

"It was just an accident, isn't it, Yamanbagiri? It's been a month and ever since then, you're acting weird." Mitsutada said as he went forward, prying his hands off from the female. 

"Yes, it wasn't just any accident! I wanted to kill myself because I had enough! That war is never-ending even when till the day I die! I am just a pawn to the Government! Once I die, they'll get a replacement immediately!" She shouted hysterically, letting her anger and tears out from her heart. Everyone could not hide the shock from their faces. 

"Here, this is the truth you wanted me to say here, Yamanbagiri!" Taking his sword, she stabbed herself, coughing out blood before collapsing. Screams were even heard before Yagen rushed forward and tried to reduce the bleeding with his jacket.

"Hasebe, call the Government! Hurry up!! Oodachis! Seize Yamanbagiri Kunihiro and don't let him get away from your sight!" Handing down orders to the lost swords, Jiroutachi and Taroutachi caught hold of him immediately and knocked him out as they watched the dying sage take her last breath.

"Aruji's... gone." Tsurumaru stammered as he felt her presence vanish in a sudden. The tantou couldn't believe what he had just said. Ichigo went up and felt for her radial pulse before pulling Yagen away from her lifeless body. It was only when the government officials came running in, attending to the sage before covering her with their blazers.

"Men, seize them! No sword is allowed to leave here alive!"

They knew their fates were sealed the moment she had decided to end her life.