Ryizen's head snaps up, eyes wide as he
stares at Ajax in disbelief.
"You-you came back? Wait lemme rephrase that. You came back. Alive?!" Ryizen says.
"Uhh duh." Ajax says
Ryizen shakes his head, staring at Ajax like he has two heads.
"You... you're joking, right? You broke into that holding cell, took that sword, and then you came back?"
"Yeah, it was actually pretty easy." Ajax says shrugging.
Ryizen stares at him, mouth slightly open. Then he says,
"...You're insane."
He starts laughing, weak and hoarse, but real.
"The Shogun's elite guarding it... the seals on that place... and you just walk in like it's a damn tea shop!"
"Anyways I would give you this back but." Aajx says almost extending Ryizen's sword to him but stopping just outta reach.
Ryizen stops laughing abruptly, staring at the sword Ajax's holding.
"You see. I need some members to join my Kabukimono. And I've decided you'll be a great asset!" Ajax says smiling.
Ryizen blinks, staring up at him.
"Me? You... you want me? To join you?"
"Yeah. It's either that or you stay here and get executed." Ajax says, tilting his head and still smiling.
Ryizen sighs, shoulders slumping... then nods.
"Alright. I... hell, I don't have much choice, do I?"
Ajax just grins. "Sure don't."
Ryizen grumbles under his breath, but
nods.
"I guess I have no choice, then. I'll join you."
Footsteps start approaching
Ryizen's eyes snap toward the sound - shadows shift at the edge of the warehouse. More footsteps join from behind.
The Shogunate's reinforcements have arrived.
"Sweet you'll join me alright!" Ajax cheers.
Ryizen smirks, his voice low and rough- like steel being drawn from stone.
"I said I'd join you... not that I won't kick your ass later for dragging me into this."
From the shadows-the masked
enforcer lunges first, blade a streak of darkness.
"I'm sure you can handle these guys. Right?" Ajax taunts before he tosses Ryizen his sword.
Ryizen's eyes snap open, snatching the sword mid-air.
"You... you trust me?"
Ajax just simply cuts off his restraints. "Obviously."
Ryizen rubs his numbed wrists, staring at Ajax with something. Respect. Maybe even more.
"Damn. You are insane..."
He stands, his body tense and coiled, the sword like a snake in his grip.
"Alright. I've got this. Just... don't die, you crazy bastard."
"There he is. That boy he's releasing Ryizen Habimara. Stop him!" On of the soldiers yells
"He's mine!"
And like a thunderclap - the masked figure strikes.
A blur of black steel slashes toward Ajax, forcing him to roll aside as the air splits with the force of their strike.
Behind Ajax, guards fan out surrounding Ryizen now that he's free.
Ryizen smirks through blood and pain.
"Come on then! Let's see how deep your loyalty runs!"
"The names Ajax Nozami. It seems I'm your leader now Ryizen." Ajax yells out in joy.
Ryizen blocks a blow barely, a trickle of blood running down his chin.
"Ajax? What kind of goddamn name is that?"
He grins despite himself... even if it's a bloody one.
"Hey, it's a good one!" Ajax protests.
Ryizen gives a pained chuckle, parrying another strike, steel ringing through the night.
"Whatever you say, boss. Just try not to get us both killed, alright?"
"Yeah whatever." Ajax says rolling aside.
Ryizen holds his own against the masked enforcer, sword moving like a living thing - defending, counterattacking, dodging strikes with a speed and grace that seems to defy human limits.
At Ajax's side though, four guards charge.
"I'm angry y'know? And swordmen are very dangerous when they're angry, y'know. Ryizen says, pointing his sword at the masked figure.
The masked enforcer tilts their head, eyes gleaming with cold confidence.
"Really? What are you gonna do, Ronin? Bleed on me? That's not much to fear."
"Sword art. Aggression slash! Ryizen says, slashing his sword at the masked figure.
The masked figure parries the attack but it's still enough to make him stumble back. "What the?" The figure says seemingly surprised. But not for long as Ajax, having dealt with his enforcers, runs over and dropkicks the masked figure in the face. The figure ends up getting flung and crashes into a bunch of old crates. A piece of the mask cracks and breaks off revealing a bit of skin causing Ryizen to stop in his tracks for a split second.
"Wow Ryizen maybe I made a mistake you seem weak." Ajax taunts and chuckles.
Ryizen scowls, eyes burning with anger.
"Shut it. I'm not at 100 percent at the moment if you couldn't notice smartass." Ryizen snorts
The masked enforcer snickers, stepping closer.
"You were slow as death from the beginning."
They draw their blade, a snake of crimson energy coiling around the steel...
"You talk too much. I don't care who you are, you can't just execute people because you wanna. Ryizen now a part of my Kabukimono and he isn't going anywhere!" Ajax yells.
Ryizen stands tall, blood dripping from his lip, sword trembling not from fear-but fury.
"You hear that? I'm not dying tonight."
The masked enforcer freezes for half a breath-then laughs, low and bitter.
"Kabukimono... You really think that name still means something?"
They rip off the shattered mask.
Not a stranger, a woman.
Mid-thirties. Scar across her eye. Hair like Ryizen's-black as storm clouds.
And in her voice? Pain older than steel.
"You ran away once, brother... Did you really think I wouldn't find you?"
Silence hits like thunder.
Ryizen's hand trembles on the hilt.
"...Mira."
"I don't care who you are, he's coming with me!" Ajax yells and suddenly slashes his sword at her.
Mira barely dodges, eyes blazing.
"Not happening."
Ajax jumps and flips behind her. "Yes it is!" Ajax says persistently.
Mira turns with dizzying speed, blade flashing-steel against steel.
"You don't get it, do you?"
She sneers.
"He's family. He stays. With. Me."
"Yeah well I don't care about your refusal or denial he's coming with ME!" Ajax says determined and kicks her to the nearby wall.
Mira slams into the wall, cracking splintering wood with a thump.
"Damn it. You're... a stubborn one."
She winces. Blood trickles from her lip.
"Determination is one hell of a drug.Sword Art. Determination Diagonal slash!" Ajax says before slashing his sword at her.
Mira blocks, but the force knocks her back.
"Damn it."
"He's coming with me whether you want him to or not he's already agreed. So shut up!" Ajax says pointing his sword at her
Mira glares, gripping her blade with white-knuckled fury. The air hums- crimson serpents coil around her steel like vengeful spirits.
"You think this is about permission?"
She steps forward, voice dropping low.
"He ran from duty. From honor. From me. And now you waltz in a nobody with a sword and a smirk and claim him as yours?"
Her blade ignites fully now flames shaped like twin vipers.
But before she can strike
"Mira."
Ryizen steps forward - battered, bleeding... but standing tall.
"I didn't run from you."
He gestures to the guards behind her. To the blood on the ground. To the empire that chains rebels.
"Ajax may be a loudmouth idiot... but he fights for something real." "I'm not coming back with you because I've already chosen my path."
Sister and brother-across blades.
Ajax grabs her sword and shatters. "You heard him. There's no use in avoiding it." Ajax says.
Mira glares, stunned-her sword nothing more than scrap now.
"You..."
Ajax sheathes his sword. "I'm done here." He says
Ryizen's eyes blaze like thunder as Mira steps back, staring between Ajax and Ryizen... and finally, down at fragments of her blade on the ground.
"So... this is how it ends?"
"Yes it is. Ryizen let's go." Ajax says rather harshly.
Ryizen nods, walking with him.
"Yeah. Let's go... before she changes her mind."
End of Chapter