In her home, Tobari was sharpening one of her swords up against a grindstone, the sound of the blade swishing and grinding against it. Behind her, her father was tying something together, presumably his knapsack, though he held a worried gaze.

"Listen, Tobari. You shouldn't go into battle. The battlefield is a scary place. One big, ugly mess."

Tobari looks at him. "But you fight in all the battles, dad."

"That's because I've got nothing else going for me," he responded, continuing his work.

"So self-deprecating," she says with a sigh, then lifting the blade up to examine it. 'But I've gotten as big as I have the money that my father earned. From now on, I'm gonna make life easier for him to pay him back!'

Elsewhere, Suzumaru was aimlessly walking down the outside halls of his large apartment, which was of course owned by his father. He had come a family of merchants, even if Suzumaru himself was a bastard child.

"Hey, Suzumaru."

The young teenager turned around. "Brother."

"If you're looking for dad, he's not home. He's at his mistress's house."

"But I wanted to tell him about my first battle today..."

His older brother sighed. "You don't have to update him on each and every little thing. Just go when you want. Dad doesn't really care about what you're up to."

Suzumaru thought about it for a little before he nodded. "All right, brother. I'll take my leave, then."

As Suzumaru turned around to leave, his elder brother stared at him for a bit. The elder brother took out a smoking pipe, his presumed mistress or lover coming out of the room he was just in as they both sat down at the edge of the floorboards.

"You're so weird. Even if you're his bastard child, you'll never go hungry if you just stay here," he remarked. "Why are you going out of your way to put yourself in jeopardy on the battlefield?"

"Because there's something I want," Suzumaru simply replied.

"Then buy it. Or I could buy it for you?"

Suzumaru laughed a little. "It's not something money can buy."

His brother puffed a bit of smoke from his pipe. "...That's no way for a merchant to talk. Money can get you anything."

In another area of Yaenami Village, Hisame could be seen standing outside his house. His younger brother held onto him, burying her face into his waist with his mother looking at him worriedly. Two men were behind her, which were Hisame's uncles.

"Don't you die on me, Hisame. I don't care if it's dishonor, just come back alive."

"You got it," he said confidently, ruffling his younger brother's hair.

His mother turned to the two men behind her. "Little bro. Big bro. You guys say something too."

The two men rubbed their chins, looking to each other. But all they responded with was a thumbs up toward Hisame, nodding their heads as they let out a "hmph."

Hisame's mother was irritated. "Why are the men in our family such mutes!?"

Then in a more deeper area of the village, Kumehachi was putting on his sandals. His bow at his side, putting on his quiver onto his back as he gained a determined look, facing the door, his back being faced to his alcoholic father.

"The Great Kumehachi is going to war."

"Go and get yourself killed for all I care!" His father barked, chugging a liquor bottle down. "You really think you're gonna make it big in battle and rise in the world!? In your dreams!"

"You don't even have dreams," Kumehachi harshly retorts, continuing to prep himself. "The last thing I want to end up like is you."

"What!?"

"You lose what little money you have making piss-poor gambles and are killing your body with cheap liquor. No way in hell am I leading a life like that!"

Having stood up, Kumehachi slams the sliding door of his home behind him. All he could hear were the yells of his drunkard father, but he ignored them. He continued on with his resolute expression, determined to fulfill his dream.

"Kumehachi, you bastard!"

'I'm going to get even bigger. I'll become the kind of man women throw themselves at!'

Meeting up together, the five friends began to leave the village behind, off to join the Soukai army and fulfill their dreams. Hinowa looked up to the air with a bright smile on her face.

'Our lives... Are about to set sail...'

--: 4 | Preparations For War [Part 1] :--

Both Akira and Yomihime continued to ride along the path with their horses, his cousin's army just a few feet behind them. Already, he was being forced to accompany his cousin on an expedition to take down the enemy forces and take Shiranui Fortress. That was the one big obstacle for the Tenrou Nation.

As much as Akira disliked battle as a whole, he obliged as his reasoning was, "I'm simply helping out a family member." Again, Akira disliked battle. This was because of the previous one he was in... That, and he was tired of it. He had hoped after participating in the war between the Empire and the Revolutionary Army, he might be able to lay down his arms for once. But that wasn't even true in the slightest as something else seemed to have plans for him.

Though he had to admit... The Tenrou's Ten Stars were quite the strange characters if he had to describe. Though he only met a few of them... And they were still quite strange.

For example, his meeting with Shamon, Tenrou's diplomat priest that handles, well, diplomatic relationships and the like. As well as being a fashionista, apparently.

Two Days Prior...

"Uh... What the hell is this?" Akira asked, gesturing to a suit of armor in front of him.

"What? You don't like it?" Shamon let out a noise of mock hurt. "Oh, even after the hard work I spent making this samurai outfit for you. It looks absolute divine, stylish, even!"

'This guy...' Akira had unpleasant flashbacks of Dr. Stylish and his proclamations of his pursuit of stylishness. He then shook his head. "I think I'll stick to my current outfit, thank you very much."

Shamon looked revolted. "Going to battle in those drabby clothes!? I will not accept it!"

The current clothes Akira was wearing were the clothes he wore pretty much every day as an assassin for Night Raid. A ragged black hood attached to his black tunic that had small bits of areas being burned off, ripped and slight tears in them. Some trousers to go with that were a bit worn and not that maintained well, with again, slight bits of tears and rips in them, and black combat boots he was issued when he was a part of the Elite Seven. There were also a few belts and buckles, pieces of leather light armor, like a leather chestplate that rested on his tunic and some leather vambraces, but that was pretty much it.

However, at Shamon's statement, Akira couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. If anything, fashion and or looks was something he never really cared for. Not a part of his quota at all when it came to be an assassin or such.

"Why?"

"Don't you want to look stylish when executing a kill of sorts!?"

Akira deadpanned. "Why should I when the person I'm going to kill is going to end up dead, anyway?"

"Preposterous!" Shamon grabs Akira's wrist. "Come with me!"

"What the--The hell are you doing!?"

"I'm not giving you back to your cousin until I give you an outfit you will be satisfied with!"

"If you don't let me go, I will freeze your fucking ass off!"

Yes, that was a strange interaction between him and Shamon. But there were ones he were deeply annoyed by. Particularly, Mizuchi, but that was an interaction he didn't like to remember. The only thing he'd like to remember of it was about the fact that he knocked that prick onto his ass.

However, there were other members he was greatly concerned of. Najasho, or Nahashu as he's called here, wasn't necessarily a problem but still dangerous nonetheless. The ones he's found most dangerous and the ones he had to be most cautious of were Amateru, Gundari, and Kururiya. 

First, Gundari. From what Akira could generally go off of what he's seen, he's a well decorated war hero of Tenrou, a person who achieved his position as Commander and one of the Ten Stars through his achievements in battle. And with the intimidating aura he had given off, Akira was greatly reminded of by Great General Budo. Now that he thought about it... He wondered who would win. But at the very least, his skills of battle and tactics were unknown to him, but at the very least, he could be cautious around him. After all, not knowing much of an enemy's skill makes them all the more dangerous.

Secondly, Amateru. From what he's interacted with her, she was kind and gentle with a soothing voice, like the flavor of an older sister. These aspects were almost like... Cornelia... In a way. And from he's heard from his cousin, she thinks very highly of her, Amateru being one to comfort her fellow Ten Stars should they be grieving. But it's her battle nature (and pretty much all the Ten Stars) that made him despise her and the rest of them. Highly skilled in combat, her most preferred weapon being her Meihou, which was a scythe, she was known to be deadly with it, having heard stories of her terrorizing the border of one of the nations, Murasame. While wary of her, the name of the nation she's trying to conquer had piqued his interest. Especially since it shares the name of the very same Teigu his wife once wielded... And the curse that had been inflicted upon her because of the use of it's Trump Card.

Then there was the third person, Kururiya, Commander of Tenrou's ninjas. Akira could admit. There were times he could barely notice Kururiya was there, though he did note that every time he entered Yomihime's estate, he would never follow. Then again, the black-haired man did feel this odd, dark, and sinister sensation that lurked within the estate. There was a bit of history on the estate they lived in, saying that the mountain the house sat upon was home to this ancient tribe of sorts. A tribe that was loyal to this... Death god... Or that's what they called it, at least. The mere thought of this brought flashbacks to "that" thing. But enough about that, Kururiya lived up to his title as Commander of the ninjas. His stealth and espionage were quite possibly off the charts. Initially, Akira had thought Kururiya's stealth level was possibly near to the extent of Chelsea's, but he could detect Chelsea much easier. If he wasn't able to detect Kururiya as fast as he could detect Chelsea... Then he needs to be cautious as to what he's saying. Who knows where this man was lurking?

Speaking of Chelsea, he hasn't been told of where her whereabouts were, which made him all the more worried. He would ask his cousin as to where she is, but she would assure him by saying, "She is in a safe place. I will tell you in due time." It had been about more than three days since he's seen her. He could only wonder where she is and how she's doing.

Now, when it came to the rest of the Ten Stars, there weren't much to say. As for the Ten Star Akugetsu, the one thing Akira was to be wary of was his tactical ability. According to Yomihime, he is one of the many people responsible for Zuou's war plans and strategies, which are well planned and crafted. Not only that, he had skills in manipulation, economy, as Tenrou's economy was booming, and was well versed in foreign relationship, as he and Shamon have worked with each other when it came to invasion planning or when it came to establishing alliances with the other nations. Truly a terrifying and dangerous duo when it came to tactics, but when it came to combat ability, he wasn't sure. He hadn't really seen them in a fight at all. Not much could be said for Magatsu as Yomihime had told him that he's often traveling the different nations, so he never really showed himself around in Tenrou much.

And then there was the last Ten Star, Moegi, Commander of Tenrou's Southern Army. She was... Eccentric to say the last. Though she was one Akira was deeply annoyed of. Especially because she'd always try to get into his pants... Whenever chance she could ask.

Three Days Prior...

After Yomihime had taken Akira home and tended to his wounds, they heard the doors to the estate being knocked on. Gaining confused looks, especially Yomihime, they wondered who it was as usually no one ever comes here due to the legends revolving around this mountain.

Standing up from the nearby couch, Yomihime walked up to the double doors and opened, only for her to be engulfed in an embrace by a certain crimson-haired woman. Ah, that's right. There were a few people that would come here and one of those being...

"I'm here!" She exclaimed, keeping her hold tight on Yomihime.

Yomihime deadpanned. "What are you doing here, Moegi?"

"What? Is it wrong that I just want to my best friend?"

"When were we ever best friends...?"

Akira could only looked confused. With the joyful expression of this new girl, Moegi, and the stoic and deadpan expression of his cousin, it reminded him of a very familiar memory. The familiar memory of his wife's best friend just casually launching herself at her and Akame holding that usual deadpan expression. Yes. A familiar scene, indeed.

"How cruel...!" Moegi remarked, but she had gained a sultry grin as her eyes made it's way to Akira.

Yomihime sighs as she pushes the girl off her. "I already know you came here for a different ulterior motive. So? What do you want?"

"Hmm..." In a thinking position, she began walking around Akira, almost inspecting him. Akira stares at her weirdly, but shot his hand out when he sees Moegi's hand go for the hem of his trousers, grabbing her wrist tightly. "Oh?"

"What are you doing?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Oooh.~ A bit of a temper, huh?~" Moegi licked her lips. "And you have a tight grip. I like that."

"You didn't answer my question." He was then startled when Moegi grabbed his shoulders, having escaped his grasp and began leaning in closer. "What the--Oi. What the hell are you doing?"

"A handsome face," Moegi murmurs, tracing her hands along his slightly tan skin. "What charming eyes you have.~ And such beautiful skin.~"

"Huh? What the hell are you going on about?"

"Here's an idea.~ Wanna have sex?~"

Akira blinked twice. "...Huh?"

"Come on! It'll be fun.~" Moegi teased, backing up as she puffed up her chest, her battle armor greatly exposing the middle area of her cleavage. "I'll let you do anything you want to me.~"

"Not interested," Akira simply replies, shoving her off.

Moegi quivered in mock hurt. "Ah!~ So cold!~"

"Oi. Stop moaning, you fucking weirdo."

"Mmm.~ And a foul mouth.~ I like that too.~ ...Huh?" Moegi was suddenly pulled back by Yomihime. "What's up?"

"Can you please stop flirting with my cousin?" Yomihime annoyingly asked.

"What? It's not my fault he's a pretty handsome guy. Besides, he fought pretty well out there."

"Don't go the--"

"If he's that good in battle, he has to be good in bed too." Moegi then faces Akira, once again gaining a sultry smirk. "So how about it, handsome?~ Want to have some fun?~"

"Like I said, I'm not interested," Akira repeats, crossing his arms firmly.

She looked down dejectedly. "Aww, why not? Most would kill to have a time with me."

"...Because I'm married. To the woman I love. Who I am loyal to," he bluntly replies.

"Oh? Is that so? But..." She crept closer to him again, trailing a finger up his chest. "Doesn't doing it with me not sound a little bit spicy in the slightest?~"

Once again, she puffed her chest up and tried seducing him. But Akira remained standing still, giving his usual cold glare to her and replies with a simple "no." Moegi pouted at this.

"You're no fun."

"Deal with it."

Yomihime sighs again as she shook her head. "Are you done trying to seduce my dear cousin now? If you have more to say, then be quick with it. If not, then get out."

"Sheesh. You two must've been cut from the same cloth," Moegi muttered with a scoff. But she soon gains her laidback smile again. "Oh, well. Guess I'll try again some other day. I'll see you two later.~"

She went off on her merry way, Yomihime sighing as she closed the door behind her. She then turned to Akira with an apologetic expression, the black-haired man only raising his eyebrow at such a behavior from a girl like that.

"She was... Eccentric."

"That's how she is," Yomihime said with a sigh. "Try not to... Well... Just try to ignore her sexual advances. She will give up on you eventually."

Akira could only sigh himself. A long one at that. "...Somehow... I doubt that. Very much."

Present Day...

Having ridden for quite a while now, Akira and Yomihime stopped at an overlook. Again, a few feet away was Yomihime's army, having stopped to make an encampment here for the moment. As Akira gazed out into the wilderness, he heard the footsteps of his cousin walking up to him from behind. They soon stopped and fell silent, the older girl now standing next to him, their height differences showing. He was well over a foot or two higher than her. In fact, Yomihime was maybe around the same height as his wife.

Yomihime initiates a conversation. "Are you enjoying the view?"

"...Yes. Ignoring the bloodshed and the war going on... This land... It is quite beautiful. That much is certain."

"I'm glad. Both mother and aunt Miyuki loved this land dearly."

"...If mom did love this land dearly... Why did she betray it then?"

The girl smiled a little. "I didn't understand it at first, but... She found someone that changed her life... Someone she loved."

"...It was dad... Wasn't it?"

"Yes. But due to certain circumstances, they shouldn't be able to be together. But she disregarded all that. She left the land she loved so dearly, all so she could join the man she loved." Yomihime then giggled slightly. "As crazy as it sounds for some people... I think it's endearing and romantic."

"...I guess."

"Why such shallow responses, dear cousin?"

Akira sighed. "Just not one for conversation, a lot. Really."

"...There's something I want to give you, Akira. Wait right here."

The black-haired man looked confused, but nodded either way. With a nod herself, Yomihime turned around and walked into the camp that was filled with her men, Akira turning his gaze back to the land before him. A few minutes had went by before he heard his cousin's footsteps again, turning around to see her carrying a nodachi in her hands. It seemed to have sentimental value to her, as evident by the way she was carefully cradling and carrying it.

"Here," she said, presenting it to him.

"Are you sure?" Akira was skeptical. "You sure it's not some sentimental heirloom to you?"

"Just take it, dear cousin."

Albeit hesitant, he obliged with her request. His hands carefully wrapped around the saya of the nodachi blade, Yomihime gently letting go of the handle and sheathe. Once he took it, he put one hand on the handle. For some reason, he felt nervous. Nervous on unsheathing it from the saya.

But with a deep sigh, he slowly began to pull out the blade. His icy blue eyes were laid upon the dark black color of the blackened steel of the blade, small bits of gold engraving that was on the inside of the blade, the outer edge having a more silver color to it. As he drew it out of it's sheathe, the blade seemed to have let out a small hum, the light shimmering on it as it reflected the bright sun. Though upon closer inspection of the blade, he could see that the blade itself seemed to emanate a bit of coldness to it. 

Akira sheathed it, looking to his cousin. "What is it?"

"It's a Meihou, of course. I believe you can compare it to weapons of your kind. I believe you called it Teigu?"

"Yeah, but... Are you sure you want to give it to me?"

"Of course," Yomihime said with a smile. "After all. It is technically your birthright."

"Then..."

"Yes... It belonged to Aunt Miyuki. I wouldn't say it was her prized possession, but this one of the numerous armaments that made her feared on the battlefield."

'So in the end... All I get is an heirloom stained with blood.'

"But... She was hoping that it would never have to be used again. But--"

"Yeah, I get it." Akira was quiet for a moment. "...What's it's name?"

"Samui Tsuki. Mother had told me that Aunt Miyuki was born under a full moon in the dark, cold night. And the blade itself is said to represent her cold personality."

"I see... I guess it's... A fitting name. I don't now if I can accept this."

Yomihime shook her head. "Please take it, Akira. If I had kept it, it would honestly be collecting dust."

"You're sure?" He questioned, one last time.

"Yes, I'm very sure," she said with a smile. "Again... It belongs to you."

"I... Thank you... Yomihime."

The black-haired girl nodded her head with a smile. Before anymore conversation could be made, one of Yomihime's generals came up to her, calling her back to camp to discuss battle plans. Sighing, she followed, but not before bidding her cousin goodbye. With a sigh himself, Akira faced the land again.

It truly was a beautiful place. He wondered... If this civil war was over soon... Could he, Akame, and Air move here? They were already living a content life back in the Capital, but being here brought him an odd sense of serenity and peacefulness. Maybe it's because he's finally arrived at his birthplace, but it certainly didn't feel like his home. Ah, of course. His home was where ever his family is. Standing up, he looked back down at the Meihou in his hand, the nodachi blade that his mother once supposedly wielded.

He clenched it tightly. 'Akame...'