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Requiem of Destruction (1x1 with DarkMudkip)

Nana bowed her head to Akihime, completely out of formality, she didn't like Akihime anymore than Akihime liked her. She held a large pad of papers and a charcoal pencil, for things that couldn't be answered in yes or no answers.
 
"Now then, Ishida, we will start with you." Akihime's full attention zeroed on Mitsunari and he kept his usual stoic expression, "My armies, how are they fairing. How well does your chicken preform the training?"
"Tachi has never faltered when given control of training the men. Their skill matches my own, if not exceeds it."
"Who? Tachi or my soldiers?" Akihime asked, looking bored. Mitsunari felt his jaw tighten.
"Tachi."
"I really do think he should use male pronouns." Akihime stated snidely. Mitsunari started shaking.
"They do not feel like a label such as gender fits them. Do not make this about my blade, that is not why we are here." He sneered. Akihime narrowed her eyes slightly before sitting back in her chair.
"We will discuss this later." She said.
 
Tachi stood behind Mitsunari's chair, a soft scowl on his face, but his eyes were closed behind his glasses, head bowed slightly and hands in his sleeves. He said nothing, knowing better than to speak out at a council meeting unless spoken to.
Nana stared down at her papers, a scowl on her face, she truly hated this woman, she had no compassion or regard for others.
Megohime was in the form of a blade on Masamune's hip, listening to everything Akihime said, electricity dancing off of her sheath the entire time. "You should have cut her tongue out when you had the chance.." Megohime grumbled.
 
"You're tellin' me..." Masamune muttered.
"Date, since you're so keen to speak, we'll move to you. How is Oshuu handling with sharing their food with Osaka?" Akihime asked, narrowing her eyes again as she leaned forward in a condescending manner. Masamune rolled his good eye and leaned back in his chair.
"Fine. Our farmland is pretty healthy as far as farming goes. We've had to hire more workers to compensate for the extra workload but I haven't heard any complaints." He answered. Akihime nodded slowly before her eyes moved to Kojurou.
"What's wrong with your Right Eye?" She asked. Masamune's lips formed a thin line on his face. Kojurou didn't want to be here any more than Masamune did; he was still trying to find Jin. He looked drained, eyes downcast as he simply stood behind Masamune.
"That's really none of your business." Masamune answered.
 
"Tell the bitch to shut her mouth already, she isn't interested in our personal lives anymore than she is with that Tachi boys'." Megohime was right, if Akihime found out about the predicament they were in, she'd more than likely only pick at the wound rather than try to help it.
 
"Mego thinks you should shut your mouth." Masamune said. Electricity sparked from Akihime's fingers.
"Lady Megohime should learn her place if she wants to keep her shard." She stated with a venom sweet smile. Masamune's eye turned to a slit.
"Why you-"
"Masamune-sama..." Kojurou touched Masamune's shoulder and shook his head.
 
The room was deadly quiet as Masamune and Akihime stared each other down, the only sound was the electricity coming from both Megohime and Akihime, but Megohime kept silent, not wanting Masamune to pay for her actions.
 
"That's what I had hoped~" Akihime smiled before turning to Nana, "Nana-dono, please do forgive the rudeness you have witnessed. Motochika's land is mainly fishing and trade, yes?"
 
Nana gave a brief nod, then went to writing on her pad, turning to show it to Akihime. "For the most part, the waters and land Motochika lived in are empty except for the soldiers you put under him to protect the lands and keep order. Trade is well, and the fish are bountiful."
 
"Wonderful. Because you and Motochika have been so cooperative, I will not tax the people to house and feed my soldiers. Any money made will be given to you and Motochika to do with as you wish." She said. Kindness did not suit her, real or otherwise. It was disconcerting.
 
Nana felt a lump of concern grow in her throat, but she simply nodded and turned to the next page to write again.
"Thank you for your kindness, Motochika will be most pleased." She didn't need to know that the money would simply be going back to the people to help feed and clothe them, as well as preform much needed repairs on homes.
 
As Akihime discussed further matters with her other generals, a small streak of white caught Kojurou's attention and his heart jumped straight into his throat. Had Jin been here the whole time? Was Akihime holding her captive? He tried to see desperately what the streak was before his heart sank straight to the floor and his blood ran cold. The white was the hair of a tall lanky pale man in a half mask over his mouth. He would have gone completely unnoticed by Kojurou if it weren't for his eyes. He recognized the man immediately. Akechi Mitsuhide.
"Katakura-sama." Akihime was scowling at Kojurou, Mitsuhide standing politely beside Akihime, "Did your mother teach you that it is rude to stare?" Kojurou was shaking. In any normal circumstance, he would keep his cool and apologize. In any normal circumstance, Kojurou would wait to return home to investigate the matter. But Kojurou hadn't slept, and Kojurou's wife was not safe in Oshuu. Kojurou, for once, was not thinking straight. He gripped the hilt of his katana and unsheathed it quickly.
"Kojurou!" Masamune yelled, standing to stop him. Mitsunari stood and signaled to Tachi to revert to his weapon form.
 
Chaos slowly built within the room. In a second, Tachi was in Mitsunari's hands as a blade, already unsheathed with his sheath on Mitsunari's belt, Megohime sparked more violently then before, as if threatening to reveal herself, which she planned to do if anyone moved a muscle.
When Kojurou looked at the man before him, a vivid memory played in his mind, like he had witnessed it yesterday rather than over sixteen years ago. Mitsuhide defiling his wife, her face red and streaked with tears, her pleading eyes when she looked to Kojurou. The memory was so vivid, he could almost hear her muffled screams, smell the grotto, feel the rage building inside of him. If he was alive all this time, was he the one to take Jin?
 
"You Godless son of a whore!!" Kojurou shouted and rushed at Mitsuhide, who's expression was mainly hidden besides his smiling eyes. Mitsunari was much faster, moving between Kojurou and the elf and slamming the blunt end of his blade into Kojurou's gut. Kojurou grunted and dropped to the floor, coughing and hacking. Akihime snapped her fingers.
"Arrest him."
"Like hell!" Masamune unsheathed Megohime quickly.
 
Nana, who didn't care for fighting, had moved away from the scuffle, and was waiting for it to subside- her weilder wasn't there, so she didn't act.
"Shit, that guys an Ancient Elf, be careful." Megohime warned Masamune, lightening dancing along her blade.
More memories came flooding back to Kojurou when he fell to his knees: all the nights he was woken by his wife screaming in her sleep, the nights she couldn't find sleep but only sadness, weeping until exhausted or morning came, mourning her lost children, the guilt she carried for not being able to save them. When for the first few years, she was unable to be intamate with Kojurou unless he was on bottom, for him being on top of her caused her too much mental anguish.
The thought that this man could be holding Jin, defiling her again, and stealing away her children before they even got to feed from her breast, it fueled his rage.
 
"Got it." Masamune replied. Kojurou pushed himself up and Mitsunari was ready to knock him back down.
"Where...is she...?" Kojurou growled. Mitsuhide tilted his head.
"Where is who?"
"Jin! Where are you holding her?!" Kojurou demanded. Mitsuhide made a noise.
"Forgive me, but I know no one by that name. I am a humble traveling monk, Tenkai is my name. Akihime-sama has asked me to advise her when I can." Mitsuhide - or Tenkai as he was calling himself now - looked apologetic. Kojurou only shook more. He missed Jin so much and worried so deeply for her that he didn't believe a damned word.
"I'll rip out your tongue and make sure you stay dead this time, you piece of-"
"Kojurou, get a hold of yourself." Masamune called, "We know you're worried about Jin but this is really not the best time."
 
One could've almost forgotten that Yukimura was in the room at all, for he stood quietly beside Akihime, not saying a word. He typically would've been the first one to jump to stop the fighting, the one to try and reason with all of them to calm down and come to a compromise; what everyone got were dead eyes, staring blankly across the room as if someone had stolen the very soul from his body, leaving only a puppet behind.
"Masamune!" Megohime suddenly spoke up again, worry in her voice. "That's not him! He doesn't have Jin!" She could only tell after Masamune had gotten a bit closer, this mans scent did not match the one on the cloth.
 
"He's not?" Masamune asked softly before looking to Kojurou, "Kojurou, Mego says he isn't the one who has Jin. His scent doesn't match."
"Wh-What?" Kojurou looked back and the guards grabbed him immediately.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!!" Masamune tried pushing them away but Mitsunari stopped him.
"He attacked a high ranking official. He needs to be punished." Mitsunari stated.
 
Masamune was suddenly no longer holding the Dragons Claw, Megohime standing between Mitsunari and Masamune. "He made a mistake!" She hissed. "And he isn't even hurt!" She waved her hand at Tenkai. "Kojurou never laid a finger on him." It was strange for Megohime to show herself, especially in front of others, but admittedly, she had become invested in helping Kojurou.
 
Megohime's eyes fell on Akihime, and a scowl twisted her face. "Shut up, Empire whore." She snarled.
"Akihime-sama!" Some of the guards looked from between Akihime and Megohime, almost as if asking if they should take her in too.
 
Akihime waved her hand dismissively, "Katakura-sama will be taken into custody for the night, as you are correct in saying he caused no harm. But as there was intent and an attempt made, I must take action."
"I understand.." Kojurou replied and Masamune about lost it.
"Kojurou!!"
"It's alright, Masamune-sama. It's only the night." Kojurou said. The guards pulled Kojurou away and Akihime's eyes landed on Megohime once again.
"You do look exceptionally lovely today." She remarked.
 
"And you've aged." Megohime turned away from Akihime, moving to Masamune's side, back to Akihime. "Is this meeting over? I'm sick of hearing you drone on."
 
Akihime actually looked a little taken aback by the remark, a small victory for Megohime. "Yes, we are done. Until next time." She said and everyone began to leave, "Oh, Masamune-sama?"
"What?" Masamune looked back and saw Akihime was almost radiating her fury.
"Next time leave your glorified toothpick at home. She isn't welcome here." She ordered. Masamune only gave a curt nod before leaving.
 
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