That morning in Nara territory felt unnaturally quiet.
Inside the spacious, orderly daimyo residence, Morizawa Nara sat cross-legged behind his dark wooden desk. An open scroll of reports lay before him, but his eyes weren't truly reading. Sunlight pierced the shoji paper, casting bright lines across the tatami floor. Half his face was lit, the other half hidden in shadow, just like his thoughts.
The sliding door opened hurriedly.
"My lord!"
A guard burst in, breathing hard. He dropped to his knees the moment he realized his voice had been too loud.
Morizawa didn't turn immediately. "You forgot how to knock?"
"Forgive me, my lord. This… this is urgent news."
Only then did Morizawa look up. "Speak."
"Kyoto has captured Ryuma Odawara… Master Akira Kageyori's teacher."
The already silent room suddenly felt tighter.
"Ryuma?" Morizawa repeated softly. "Captured?"
"Yes, my lord. He resisted Kamakura Shogunate troops collecting extra tribute in Ogura Village, Kyoto territory. A fight broke out. The village was burned to the ground."
Morizawa leaned back. "Ogura… so they really made their move."
The guard swallowed. "We have no word on Akira Kageyori's fate. No report of his body."
"And the Emperor?"
"Ryuma will be executed. Tomorrow afternoon in the city square. He's branded a rebel. Emperor Go-Horikawa will attend in person."
Morizawa gave a faint smile. "That bold… attacking Kamakura forces in Kyoto territory." He tapped the desk rhythmically with his index finger. "Does Kyoto know Akira is of Kageyori blood?"
"No sign of it, my lord. Ryuma would never reveal it."
"Hm." Morizawa stood and walked slowly to the window. "If Akira is alive, he will act. He's not the type to hide while his master hangs."
"Orders, my lord?"
"Send spies to Kyoto. And to Ogura. Find any trace of Akira Kageyori. Dead or alive."
The guard bowed deeply. "At once."
As the guard turned to leave, Morizawa added in a lower voice, "If he lives… we will be the only ones who know who he truly is. And an enraged Kageyori could become a very… valuable tool."
The door closed. Morizawa sat again, staring blankly into the morning light.
"Interesting," he murmured. "Very interesting."
---
Meanwhile, on the western side of Kyoto's fortress, a dense forest concealed a group that did not belong there.
Akira leaned against a tree trunk, breathing heavily. The wound on his side had not fully healed. Yuna sat nearby, checking the bandage on her left shoulder.
Hyuga stood with arms crossed, gazing at the towering fortress wall in the distance.
One of his men, a disheveled-haired man named Daichi, whispered, "So… what's the plan? Just walk in?"
"You think this is a sake bar?" Hyuga replied flatly.
"I'm just asking."
Akira lifted his head. "Disguise as commoners."
Hyuga shook his head immediately. "We won't get into the fortress. Commoners are only allowed up to the city gate. The inner area is for officials and soldiers only."
Yuna looked at Akira. "Forcing entry would be suicide."
Akira stayed silent. His eyes never left the solid stone wall.
Suddenly the sound of wooden wheels approached. A merchant with a small cart passed along the path toward the city.
Hyuga gave a thin grin. "Sometimes the gods do favor the reckless."
Akira stood and approached the merchant. "Sir."
The merchant startled. "Eh? What is it?"
"We need information. About the prisoner to be executed tomorrow."
The merchant's face turned wary. "I don't want trouble."
Hyuga appeared behind Akira and tossed a small pouch of silver coins. It landed neatly on the cart.
"No one's asking you to get involved," Hyuga said casually. "Just listen, then tell."
The merchant weighed the pouch in his hand, peeked inside, saw the silver glint.
He sighed heavily. "Fine. Wait here until evening."
That evening the merchant returned, face pale.
"Only one prisoner will be executed tomorrow," he said quietly. "An old ronin named Ryuma Odawara. Hanging. In the city square. The Emperor himself will be present."
Yuna closed her eyes briefly. Akira bowed his head, fists clenched.
"You're sure only one?" Hyuga asked.
"Yes. That's what the guards were saying at the sake shop."
Akira nodded. "Thank you."
The merchant left quickly, as if afraid of his own shadow.
Hyuga looked at Akira. "If the Emperor attends, security will be doubled."
"Exactly the opportunity," Akira answered softly.
"Opportunity to die?"
"Opportunity to save."
Silence for a moment.
Hyuga exhaled long. "You're completely insane."
"Been that way for a while," Yuna said flatly.
They followed the outer wall until they found a drainage channel flowing out from the stone barrier.
Akira stared into the dark opening. "We enter through here tonight."
Daichi frowned. "That's a sewage channel."
"Better smell bad than die at the gate," Yuna replied.
No one argued further.
---
Night fell with damp air that chilled to the bone.
One by one they entered the narrow channel. Water reached their calves, making each step heavy. The stench of rot and mud choked their breath.
"If we survive," Daichi muttered, "I swear I'll bathe every day for the rest of my life."
Yuna turned silently. "Quiet."
Hyuga whispered, "If you puke, I'll shove you back."
Ahead, Akira felt along the slimy wall, checking his footing.
At the channel's end, iron bars blocked the way.
Akira pulled. No movement. Hyuga joined, veins bulging in his neck. Still nothing.
"Great," Hyuga hissed. "We die in a sewer."
Yuna knelt. From her kimono fold she drew a small piece of metal.
Hyuga narrowed his eyes. "Since when are you a thief?"
"Since I learned it's one way to stay alive."
She inserted the metal into the lock, turned slowly. Everyone held their breath.
Click.
The bars loosened.
Akira and Hyuga exchanged glances.
"You're a strange woman," they said almost in unison.
Yuna snorted. "Move before I change my mind and lock you inside."
They slipped into the dim stone corridor.
Three guards sat leaning against the wall, chuckling softly.
"I'm telling you, when the Emperor comes, we'll definitely get extra sake…"
The sentence died as Akira's hand clamped over his mouth. Hyuga's swift slash silenced the other two forever.
The bodies were dragged into a dark corner.
"Hurry," Akira whispered.
They continued until Yuna pointed at a half-open door.
"There's a staircase."
Stone steps descended into an even darker, damper corridor.
Before they could go far, heavy footsteps echoed from the opposite direction.
Five guards appeared, faces flushed, steps unsteady, reeking of sake.
They stopped when they saw Akira's group.
One guard squinted. "Hey… friends…" he chuckled. "New guards, huh?"
Everyone held their breath.
Akira stepped half a pace forward, trying to look relaxed. "Just transferred."
The guard leaned closer, struggling to focus on Akira's face. "From where?"
"North."
"Which north?" he pressed, brow furrowing.
Hyuga answered quickly, "The cold north. You wouldn't like it."
The other four laughed.
The first guard stared longer, then chuckled. "Ah… whatever. As long as you can drink."
He raised a sake jug. "Want some?"
Yuna turned her face away, hiding disgust.
Akira gave a faint smile. "Later. We're on patrol."
"Patrol?" The guard laughed loudly. "Who patrols underground? Hahaha!"
Their laughter echoed in the narrow corridor.
One guard stepped closer and slapped Akira's shoulder too hard. "Relax! That prisoner isn't going anywhere. Tomorrow he's dead anyway."
Akira felt his blood boil.
Hyuga glanced at him briefly, as if saying: hold it.
The guard squinted again. "Wait… hold on. Where did you enter from? This area isn't for new recruits."
The air shifted.
Akira's hand slowly moved toward his sword hilt.
The guard took one more step, face only inches from Akira's. "You lot…"