Izuminokami Kanesada
和泉守 兼定

Requested by MoonlightNomad!

---------------------------------------------------------

"Hey, Horikawa. There's something I wanna ask you... About Izuminokami." Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki couldn't bear his curiosity and decided to ask Izuminokami's personal assistant, Horikawa Kunihiro.

"Kane-san...? Why the sudden interest? Don't tell me..." Horikawa's blueish eyes turned sneaky after a few moments, hoping what he had guessed was correct. Getting a stare from Mutsunokami, he realised that it might be something serious and apologised, listening to what Mutsunokami had to ask.

"Everyone, including me, is wondering why Izuminokami has long hair. I mean, he's the record holder for having the longest hair length now. Didn't he hate his hair for a time and even wanted to cut it?" He remembered one of the stories as told by Horikawa.

"Yes, Kane-san did, but the previous Master loved his long hair, so he decided to keep it." Horikawa kept his gaze down, sipping on his hot tea. He was wondering if he could tell Mutsunokami what had happened before he came here.

"The previous Master...?"

"Oh, I guess you don't know her because you joined us a few months ago. Her name was F/N-"

"Horikawa, you talk too much." 

That sudden, familiar voice from behind surprised Horikawa who turned his head suddenly to see his partner frowning. Oh no.

"Ah, Kane-san-" He prayed that Izuminokami wasn't angry at what he was doing.

"Izuminokami, don't spoil the fun...! I was about to know what your previous Master was like..." Mutsunokami whined, putting down his cup of tea and crossed his arms in protest.

"You don't need to know, newbie." Izuminokami spat, turning to leave before realising that his current Master had heard everything.

"I-Izuminokami..." She tried to explain, but Izuminokami didn't listen, taunting her with his sharp tongue.

"Master, I didn't know you were into gossip sessions as well." His Master couldn't find any words to rebut as the sword walked off.

"Master, he still hasn't recognised you as his current Master?" Mikazuki asked the sage.

"No, he hasn't, but I'm sure he will in the near future."

"You're too kind to him, Master. Youngsters nowadays have no respect." 

She smiled, sitting beside Horikawa. Mikazuki could only sigh at his Master's demeanour. She was someone who forgave others easily, making her an easy target for people with evil intentions.

"Horikawa, mind if you continue the story?"

~~

"Hey, you. Your hair is really nice. It'll be a waste to cut it off."

"Huh? I don't need a woman like you to tell me what to do."

"I'm your Master, for god's sake!" She hit the back of his head, making him drop his sword during the process. After the short-lived argument, she suggested a way for him to keep his hair but also not in his way during battles.

"I shouldn't have agreed to this idea. It looks terrible, Master! I'm not cool at all!"

"S-Sorry for that! I'm still learning how to braid! Whether you look cool or not on the outside, you won't be popular when the inside is rotten as hell."

"Huh...? Master, that's rude!"

"Now stop moving around and stay still!" She tugged on his half done braid, forcing him to sit still while she finished it. It was a nice addition to his hairstyle; the red hairtie made the braid obvious, showing off its unique design.

It was something that bonded them together.

~~

It was just like any other sortie.

Following the usual procedures, scouts were sent out to hunt for any enemies hiding in the woods.

"Weird. There's nothing in there." Izuminokami announced after knowing what the scouts told him. Normally they would ambush and attack them without notice, but this time they weren't there.

"Master, your orders?"

"Search this area, 500 meters in radius."

"Yes!" With that the unit spread out, leaving one sword behind to protect her.

"Izuminokami, any thoughts about this situation?"

"I can't think of anything to explain this... How do I say this, it seems that we are being played around with."

She walked, realising that mountains were surrounding the woods like a cage-

Wait.

Cage...?

"All members...! Gather at once!" She took out her communication device hastily and sent the message across.

"Master? What's wrong!"

"Screw their plan! We are really being played around with...!" Noticing a glint of light from the incoming wave of arrows, she pushed him down and looked around for other potential places to hide. As Izuminokami finally realised what was going on, it was too late.

"Everyone!" She called out to them, only to receive screams and sounds of disconnection from their communication devices. As the enemies appear from the woods, they threw something towards the duo, spilling blood on the ground. Her face became distorted the moment she recognized what those were. She was extremely horrified, throwing up whatever food she had in her stomach. Izuminokami was on the verge of breaking down, but he had to remain calm to protect his Master.

It was grotesque.

"You will not be forgiven...! Every single one of you!" She cried and unsheathed her sword, cutting them down at an incredible speed. Izuminokami did the same as well, putting his strength into each slash.

The group of a hundred enemy soldiers were down to just two in an hour or less.

She blocked the attack, pushing it back as hard as she could to throw its balance before stabbing its head through its eyes.

One more before a conclusion.

Izuminokami was forced towards a corner, desperately trying to prevent the tip of his enemy's sword from piercing his throat. She ran forward and stabbed its heart through. The monstrous figure turned to face her, grabbing her in an instant before pushing the tip of the sword deep into her torso.

"No!!!" Izuminokami shouted, plunging his sword deep into its head before it disappeared into thin air.

"Master!" Izuminokami picked her up and pressed a torn cloth from his sleeve against the bleeding wound.

"I'm sorry...! I'm really sorry...!" She gasped, trying to deal with the pain each time her heart beat. Blood was flooding her throat, threatening to choke her. Each breath hurt like hell.

"Hang on and stay with me! Please... F/N!" His fingers fumbled with the key that will send them back to the citadel. Once they were back she could be treated immediately-

He felt her life force vanish in an instant just seconds before the citadel appeared in front of them.

~~

Izuminokami snapped out of his visions as he woke up suddenly.

Damn, those scenes again.

Touching his braids, it did make him feel calm, but it wasn't enough. He still couldn't walk out from that incident no matter how he tried to overcome it.

Maybe I should see her today.

"Kane-san! Where are you headed to?"

"Tell Master that I will return by midnight." Riding on the fastest horse that the citadel has, reaching her resting place didn't take more than an hour.

"Hey, I'm here again, F/N. Don't ask me why I make frequent visits; you know the answer too well." He sat in front of the shabby tombstone. Her name was inscribed, but years of rain and shine had caused part of her name to fade. He tried to mend it, but it only looked worse. 

"Tell me F/N, what should I do? I still can't recognise her as my Master, with you in my heart. No matter what I did, I just can't bury this feeling and pretend that nothing has happened-" Izuminokami paused as he felt tears forming in his eyes, threatening to fall anytime.

"She's your previous Master?" He quickly turned his back to see one of the eldest swords who was trying to read the name inscribed on the stone.

"F/N L/N...? That's a fitting name for her. Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet-"

"Why are you here and how did you know this place, Mikazuki?" Izuminokami cut him off with a threatening tone. He knew that the old man was up to something whenever he isn't at his usual spot enjoying his days.

"It's her third anniversary, so I decided to come and pay a visit." Mikazuki then knelt down, lighting an incense stick before inserting it onto a small pile of soil. "Besides you, I'm the only one who knows where the previous Master was buried at. Up in the tallest mountain, in a bamboo forest. Five steps to your left and you'll find her easily with that bright reddish ribbon tied on a bamboo as a landmark."

Izuminokami was surprised at the old man's knowledge. How did he even know all of these?

"Rest assured, young one. I will tell no one of this secret ." He took out a bottle of sake from his cradle, wanting to share it with Izuminokami. 

"Let me share this treasure of mine with you, Izuminokami. I heard that it makes the mind sober."

Izuminokami didn't reply. Knowing that he will get drunk easily, he took the bottle and brought it up to his mouth, pouring a mouthful before setting the bottle on the ground. It tasted savoury.

"What do you want from me, Mikazuki?"

"It's time to clear things up, don't you think? Our cute Master is worried about you ever since she came here. You do know that it's been three years since then."

"That's not up to you to decide."

"Is that so? You're selfish as I thought, Izuminokami. F/N wouldn't like to hear that her dearest sword is on the edge of treason by trying to escape from the citadel."

Mikazuki knew those words would surely tick Izuminokami off as the near-empty bottle of sake shattered into pieces. A sword was on Mikazuki's neck, making him vulnerable to Izuminokami.

"W-What are you laughing at..." Izuminokami was baffled at Mikazuki's sudden change of expression.

"Well, this is no laughing matter, isn't it?" Mikazuki then points at his chest. "This place can hold no more than two people at a time. Which side will you choose, Izuminokami?"

Izuminokami cursed. But he knew he needed a Master to support him. Whatever spiritual power that F/N gave him was depleting, affecting his ability to maintain his body.

I'll never forget you, F/N. 

"Alright, you win, Mikazuki."

"Hmm, clean up this place before you go off, youngster."

As Izuminokami walked off after cleaning the pieces of broken glass, Mikazuki realised that the latter had cut his longest braid and placed it on F/N's tomb.

"Please give him your blessings, F/N."