The Long Road to Freedom 2: Fire on the Water

Honor and Vengeance

Rekkonji nodded as he and the half-breed reviewed once more their plan of action after Zheng had joined them, a hint of smugness in his air.

Kintsuke would be along the ground and lower levels to make the most use of her tonfa, with Zheng at the top with his halberd. Between them, they would maneuver the Bifang as needed, luring it with their fire until a weak spot was found and exploited; that was Rekkonji's focus with his ji polearm.

As Zheng departed to take up his perch, Rekkonji caught Kintsuke's gaze again, unaware of the expression written on his own face. She paused, waiting patiently for whatever it was he wanted to say. He licked his lips, hesitating. The silence between them roared with revelation, and Kintsuke smiled as she realized they both recognized each other. There was so much she felt she could ask him now, with that understanding in place, but now was not the time.

"Good luck, Warmaster."

The slightest of smiles pulled at Rekkonji's lips at the sound of his former title.

"Good luck, little hanyou."

With that, they parted.

As Kintsuke made her way along, she fought to keep the trepidation in her gut from coiling tight and making her nauseous. The pups were safe, Zheng's plan damaged, now all she had to do was survive this. With Zheng and Rekkonji also in the fight, she knew she should have felt more confident about her chances; but she did not.

'You're being silly, again. Knock it off; focus!'

She'd been through worse, faced direr situations than this, she was certain. All she had to do this time was survive; to protect herself. Surely she could manage that much?

***

On a cliff high above the plains of Musashi, Sesshoumaru watched his long flows of silver and mokomoko dance in the south-westerly winds. Something had knotted in the pit of his stomach, putting him on edge. He could feel it at the edge of his senses again, the thing that struggled and then faded shortly after. This time, however, it did not fade, the sensation remaining just behind his eyes and beyond his clawed fingertips as he continued to gaze out over the expanse of his ever-growing domain.

Somehow, it felt more significant than the previous episodes, and he tuned himself keenly to its minute fluctuations. Despite this, all he could make out was that something was supremely wrong, somewhere, somehow.

'Why? Why does it seem as though this Sesshoumaru should be wherever this sensation is coming from instead of here?'

He would never admit it, but he was thankful for the distraction the shadows that now sailed above him offered. He angled his head to watch as the large shimmering blackbird alighted further down the cliff, molting into the form of a man he recognized.

"Well met, Lord Sesshoumaru."

"Commander Hiken." Sesshoumaru greeted in his usual icy silk tones. "I do hope you've something of interest for me, finally."

"I just might."

***

Kintsuke watched the Bifang poke its beak into the many openings along this side of the fortress, seeking out the 'grubs' within. Above, Zheng and Rekkonji were in position, awaiting the chance to strike. She gauged how the creature would react, waiting until it was angled just so before bolting out from her hiding spot just far enough to be seen as she flared her bright green and black flames.