燃焼[Burning]

Chapter I

Three years have passed since then.

"I keep telling you! We can't always focus on Atsukashiyama!"

"Then what the hell are we supposed to focus on?!"

Ah yes, the semi-regular War Council. A time when the Saniwas of all four Sectors come together to discuss the next focus of the campaigns. Aoi shifted uncomfortably in his seat, watching the leaders of the South and West Sectors argue between focusing on taking out the enemies in Atsukashiyama and focusing on taking out the enemies in the Ikeda Inn.

The reasons flew back and forth over the table, much to the annoyance of the others present. The East Sector side of the table remained mostly quiet, as they waited for their head strategist to come up with a solution.

"I don't think focusing on Atsukashiyama is too bad. Before anyone asks, I am aware of the impending danger we are putting history in by letting the Ikeda Inn forces to run free. Here is my suggestion. The North and South Sectors will secure Atsukashiyama and the East and West Sectors can secure the Ikeda Inn premises."

Aoi's suggestion calmed the rising tension between South and West almost instantly. Both sides' leaders sat down, albeit slightly reluctantly. Aoi bit his lower lip slightly, knowing that this truce wouldn't last for too long. He needed someone to back him up, and fast.

"I agree with Aoi-san's plan." Yuri looked up from her tablet, projecting a map onto the screen. She made a few marks on the map before speaking again. "From the info my boys have been gathering, the enemy is making plans to interfere with the Ikeda Incident within the next few weeks. In terms of raw strength for night battles, the East and West Sectors have the advantage since we have a higher concentration of tantou and wakizashis combined compared to the North and South Sectors, which have their power concentrated on the resilience of tachis and ootachis." Several of the others nodded in agreement with her words, murmuring about how the girl standing before them would make a good tactician.

Yuri ignored the hushed voices, continuing her spiel, "Not to mention, the conditions for battle in the Ikeda Inn are urban areas. Any sword bigger than an uchigatana would be at a disadvantage." Aoi smiled up at his protege, thankful for the new inspiration she'd just given him.

Or at least until the spoilt brat of the North Sector spoke up.

"Hah? Do you all really think we can trust a... mongrel like her?" Sannomiya Midori sneered, her scowling countenance hidden behind a delicate fan. Yuri felt her lip quirk downwards in a slight frown, but she steeled her appearance before she said anything bad. Aoi turned to send the girl a slight glare, a hand raised for Kasen to still his hand, which rested on his blade. Yuri felt Yagen by her side, the evil aura emanating off him a slight reassurance against Midori's comment.

"That's enough, Sannomiya." The West Sector's leader spoke in his booming voice. Kaneshiro Fubuki stared the girl down, his hazel eyes narrowing with just the slightest hint of concealed anger. She huffed, snapping her fan shut and crossing her arms. "The strategy Nakajima of the East Sector proposed is fitting enough. She did well by considering the main strengths of the different Sectors." He gave a gruff nod towards Yuri, who pressed her lips together in a tight smile. "I don't want to hear another peep out of you till this meeting is over. Got that, Sannomiya?"

Midori glared distastefully at Yuri, her aquamarine eyes narrowing ever so slightly. She complied with Fubuki's command reluctantly. Yuri fought back the urge to roll her eyes and returned to her seat wordlessly, shuffling closer to Aoi. The meeting went on for an hour or two more before they were all dismissed back to their respective Citadels.

"Sometimes I wonder why I even bother going for the War Councils..." Yuri groaned as she and Yagen stepped back into the main courtyard. He offered her a reassuring smile, although that did little to lift her spirits. Bidding goodbye to him, she retreated back into her room, where Kashuu was already waiting. They settled into their usual ritual of Kashuu brushing Yuri's hair while she talked about what happened at the War Council, griping about all the things that annoyed her. This practice had started after she came back from her first attendance at the War Council stressed out of her mind, and it never seemed to have stopped.