The Distortion

He still had not drawn his sword. Amidst all the mayhem that was taking place, his eyes followed the movements of one group in particular, the Daimyo and his bodyguards. Daisuke did not rush immediately to his pursuit, making sure they were indeed headed for the tower and not some other location. The moment his assumptions were confirmed, he led the three samurais that accompanied him towards the tallest structure in the castle.

There was, however, one uninvited guest.

“What are you doing here? Why are you following us? Do you have a death wish?” Akira shouted, still running.

“Never mind that Akira sama, can he even keep up with us?” Haru asked.

It was then that Daisuke came to a halt.

“Adam san, what is on your mind?” he didn’t sound as tolerant of his behavior.

“We don’t have the time to talk about this, just go on ahead, don’t mind me.”

Staring back with a stern look, Adam’s response made it clear that he had set his mind to it and no one would dissuade him at this point.

“You’ll drag us down, we are not ready to babysit you.” Kaito protested.

“Even I have to agree with my comrades, this won’t help either of us.” Daisuke seconded.

“I’m not asking for any protection, please proceed as if I’m not here.”

They looked at Daisuke who eyed Adam silently then resumed the chase, giving no sign of consent or dissent. Adam was free to do as he liked.

Since there was no sign of Yuuna and his brother had his hands full, he was the only one left to find and procure the fragment. He was the least suitable candidate to do it, but circumstances left them little to no choice. He did boast about putting his life on the line just like everyone else…well, his wish was granted.

It was practically suicide for non-warriors to cross the battlefield which grew more heated by the second, bodies strewn about the otherwise peaceful courtyard. Adam was witnessing some of the poor defenseless people getting caught in the crossfire. He fully realized he could suffer the same fate, so he ran. He ran faster than he ever did in his life as a mere Scholar, his lungs two breaths away from incinerating; he exerted a monumental effort in the sprint towards the tower. Huffing and puffing, he stuck as close as possible to Daisuke and his companions, which was only possible due to them being slowed down by sporadic enemies. Clearing a path in front of them was no challenge though, something Adam took advantage of to safely reach his destination…hopefully. He stumbled a few times along the way, his hands greased with the flesh and blood of some unfortunate souls who already fell in combat.

Damn you Laith, so much for not getting my hands dirtied…

* * *

Amidst the howling screams of the poor people who came to celebrate—never expecting it would turn into a nightmare—amidst the resonating sound of clanging metal, amidst the blood splattering and the body parts flying all over…one man stood still. He didn’t take action just yet, he was content with dissecting and analyzing the ongoing events, reading into every motion and intent.

He opted not to intervene.

“Why are you standing still Gin?” the sound of a cane knocking frantically on the ground became audible.

“Easy there, old man, you should tread carefully on these dangerous grounds.” Gin responded to the frantic and pale Atsuo.

“This is not the time for pleasantry!” Atsuo fretted. “You should be alongside those who are fighting, not sitting idly on the side!”

“Give it a break, you’re a smart man, you should have figured it out by now. This is a lost battle.” Gin smiled eerily.

“Well, you have yet to join the battle. As much as I dislike you, I have to admit you are our biggest asset.” Atsuo’s eyes shifted nervously to the terror surrounding him.

Suddenly, one of the raiding samurais charged at Gin with a roar…a roar that was snuffed out very fast. Gin caught the head in his palm perfunctorily and squished it like a grape between his fingers. Atsuo’s face blanched, retching at the horrible sight of the mush that previously served as a face.

“You’re right, you have no chance without me.” Gin said, still smiling, while wiping his hand onto Atsuo’s clothes. “But I still won’t do shit. Sucks for you guys, but enjoy your last moments.” his tone was extremely provocative.

“You will betray your lord, Gin?!” Atsuo’s fear was overtaken by rage.

“I think you got it all wrong, he’s your lord. Don’t you dare call that fat ass my lord.”

Atsuo would have normally been infuriated by that statement, if not for Gin’s eyes…they were real after all. His mind hadn’t played tricks on him that time. No man, animal, monster or any creature Atsuo had encountered before wore the same eyes. The iris slowly widened, disseminating throughout the eyeball like a malign disease, completely overtaking the sclera, not a tinge of white left to be discerned. The pupil dissolved into thin and vivid tendrils like thumping vessels spanning the blackness underneath. Gin’s eyes were like insidious blotches staring at the old man while he was unable to stare back, a sinister void hiding a malicious intent. They were evil manifest.

“Well then, goodbye old man. It was fun while it lasted.”

Atsuo, spirit bowing in dread, swallowed both his rage and pride as he watched Gin turn his back on him. He would never let anyone humiliate him or his lord in that fashion…but not after what he had just witnessed. The image of Gin’s eyes kept flashing in front of him, crippling his body and mind, preventing any possible movement or thought.

Gin on the other hand was thrilled, thrilled with the idea that he would at least get some enjoyment out of this boring conflict. He indeed could have annihilated the entire enemy force on his own, but he would get no pleasure from it and more importantly, he would draw too much attention towards him. That was the only rule he ought to respect at all costs. He could never bring himself to be exposed; never losing the elusive character no matter his actions, that was the main instruction. However, there was no rule stating he shouldn’t entertain himself, and he might have found a suitable attraction.

* * *

They had slain all the enemies present at the lower story. The fight was mostly one-sided since Nakamura Kensei’s subordinates couldn’t properly reorganize their ranks in time. They had yet to fully recover from the emotional shock suffered initially whereas physically, all of the alcohol consumed during the night enfeebled their bodies. Adam fell slightly behind, thus he missed the actual carnage, only witnessing the bloody aftermath which became an ordinary sight for him by then.

“You will stay here and guard the entrance in case reinforcements show up, which they surely will.” Dasiuke ordered his companions.

“Daisuke san, there are still a few men in the upper stories, are you sure about this?” Akira asked.

“I can handle it on my own. I would also feel better if I did not have to worry about watching my back.”

Akira, Haru and Kaito all nodded in agreement. Daisuke then glanced at Adam.

“Nothing has changed Adam san, if you are still intent on going up, you are on your own.”

“I understand.”

Both of them rushed up the wooden stairs, interrupted a couple of times by the enemy forces who did not pose much of a threat, just like Daisuke anticipated. Adam had witnessed a few scuffles by now, namely whenever his brother was involved, so he was slowly growing accustomed to a warrior’s capabilities—post Distortion. And yet, something about Tokugawa Daisuke was amiss. The way this veteran samurai disposed of his enemies was akin to child’s play, a bit too effortless even when considering the advantageous circumstances.

There should have been at least a semblance of a challenge when it pertained to battle, even more so when outnumbered one to four, twice. That wasn’t the case for Tokugawa Daisuke, at all. He comfortably skewered the first right through the second’s body, kicked the third one against the fourth to push them off the tower completely, both corpses splattered as they kissed the ground. The second round went down fairly similarly…the man was simply brushing off his enemies like mere insects stumbling accidentally on his way. They never stood a chance, the gap in strength was immense.

Adam was grateful they got in Daisuke’s good graces.

He would have also liked to get a chance to contemplate the inside of each story—his curious mind wouldn’t miss a chance—especially since each floor presented a different exhibition. The first one showcased a variety of weapons, the second had different paintings while the third displayed dolls. Unfortunately, taking a stroll in the castle was a luxury he could not afford seeing how he was too busy trying not to stumble over the bodies in his way.

Right before reaching the last floor, Daisuke put a hand back, motioning for Adam to stop at the stairs.

“Stay here, for now.” it didn’t sound like a request from Daisuke.

Adam didn’t argue as he trusted Daisuke’s judgment, despite his darkened and bloodthirsty expression. He was content with poking his head over the stairs to sneak a peek at the Daimyo’s chamber, trying his best to locate wherever the fragment was potentially being kept. Adam mustn’t lose track of the main target. A small part of him hoped Yuuna would miraculously be here somehow, but he wouldn’t get his hopes up, and he was right in doing so. There was no sign of her.

The irony lay in the fact that she was just on top of the roof of the very same room he was peeking at, fighting a lost battle all for the sake of ensuring everyone’s safety. And yet, it was impossible for him to notice her presence. Hearing the footsteps of an ant—however imperceptible of a noise that made—would have been more likely than hearing a skirmish between two ninjas.

The first thing Adam could glimpse was the beautiful tapestry hung across the wall to his left which portrayed a human-like figure slaying an eight-headed snake. His attention was rapidly turned towards Daisuke who found his path obstructed by four armored soldiers. From their looks, they seemed to be in a much better shape than the warriors previously encountered so far. Upon seeing them, Adam grew doubtful; this particular confrontation might prove to be more challenging than the previous ones.

He had never been this wrong in his entire life.

In his defense, Adam couldn’t have possibly known since he barely saw Daisuke in action and more importantly, no one with his current level of knowledge could predict what would unfold before his eyes.

Daisuke, faced up against four individuals, ended it in one swing of his katana.

That was hardly the craziest part. Adam took off his glasses; perhaps they had played tricks on him, they didn’t serve their usual purpose after all. What he saw did indeed happen. Daisuke’s blade did not even connect with its targets. The guards hadn’t closed the gap between them and Daisuke; they never got the chance to do so. Yet, their heads were cleanly severed, rolling on the floor, still wearing a startled look even when separated from their main bodies.

Adam tried to rationalize what he just saw however best he could. Maybe the slash was so strong it generated air pressure powerful enough to simulate the effects of the slash, as if the air itself had turned into a sharp blade—he saw his brother pull it off against Genjiro, to a minor degree. Plausible option, except the swing didn’t carry that much weight or intensity behind it. Perhaps Daisuke’s katana could extend its length or ricochet back after being thrown—implying he missed it—but what kind of blade would that be? Adam believed he would know if the Yamatojin blacksmiths made these special katanas. Unless Daisuke was somehow a wizard of sorts who would command his weapon telekinetically…but he was a Samurai.

Less plausible guesses flooded Adam’s mind in the following moments, desperately thinking of a logical explanation as to how a simple katana, a melee sword, could act as a ranged weapon capable of engaging targets beyond the reach of its own blade, while still in the hand of its wielder. Adam dug deeper and deeper into the confines of his vast knowledge and intellect…to no avail. Another surprise the world of Warriors and martials arts had in store for him…? Possible.

He would come to make sense of what he saw, eventually, but not then, not there. It was a mystery, a question, a secret for another day.

“You can come out now, Adam san.”

Fortunately, that simple phrase was all Adam needed to snap out of his rumination and focus back on the more pressing issue. He could finally stand up after staying in an awkward position peeking from the high end of the stairs—he must have looked quite silly from below. Adam walked behind Daisuke while scanning the space more thoroughly, resuming his search for possible caches of the fragment. The office wasn’t as big and they soon came face to face with the only enemy left standing in the room, except he was no longer standing. He drooped on the ground, looking devastated, yet also welcoming of his inevitable fate.

“You look pathetic, Nakamura Kensei.” Daisuke said, oozing pure unadulterated rage.

Kensei was drowning in a sea of his own sweat, his eyes sunken and his breath irregular. He slumped to the ground out of exhaustion, both physically and mentally. His will was utterly crushed.

“You did even not have the courage to end your own life.” Daisuke added.

“What does it matter? You will kill me anyway, that’s what you came here for after all.” He very much sounded like a man who had already given up on life.

Yet another appalling display of utter disregard for customs and tradition. Then again, Daisuke wasn’t surprised considering Kensei’s history.

“Was it really worth it, Nakamura? All this power and wealth you have gained just to see it fall apart by the hands of a few of samurais raiding your castle, don’t you feel any regret at all?” Daisuke said, making it a point to demean and belittle all of Kensei’s exploits.

“If you want an apology for changing sides Tokugawa, you won’t get one and no, I have no regrets. I would do it all over again if I had to.” Kensei answered coldly.

“You dare say that with a straight face after everything you have done, betraying people and backstabbing them like they did not mean anything, like you have not fought by their side in the past?! Was it really that easy for you to make such a decision?” Daisuke had to bring up that old wound—he wasn’t completely over it.

“That’s war Tokugawa; people change their allegiance and make new alliances all the time. Why are you holding that specifically against me? Why does everyone look at me like I committed the most heinous crime?” Kensei replied calmly.

“Because everyone knows you are a greedy person who simply did it to get hold of more power, even if it meant trampling on your former comrades. It is no surprise that as soon as you joined the opposition, you became a Daimyo.”

“I’m an ambitious man and I’m not ashamed to admit it, so if I have to step on others in order to rise to power, I will do it. That’s how the world works, some people need to lose so that others can win.” Kensei’s voice, although trembling, conveyed a strong conviction.

“And what about Shinji? Was that about ascending to power too?”

“That was…an accident…” Kensei answered hesitantly.

“That is a load of crap and we both know it, so answer me honestly, did you do it?” Daisuke gritted his teeth, grabbing Kensei by his clothes.

“It was not…”

“DID YOU DO IT?” Daisuke lifted him up ferociously.

Kensei remained silent for a brief moment then spoke.

“…it wasn’t my idea…but yes, I did it.”

Daisuke dropped Kensei to the floor without any regard for his safety. He was relieved that at the very least, this whole raid, which was solely based on an assumption and only an assumption, was justifiable. He never could deny entirely the possibility of it being an accident, but he kept pushing forward nonetheless. Granted, Daisuke was willing to face the consequences either way, but that tiny hesitation bugging his mind was finally put to rest.

“I will probably regret knowing this, but why? What made you do it?” Daisuke threw a disgusted glare at Kensei.

“They promised me the position of Shogun, Tokugawa! How could I refuse that?!”

“I don’t care what they promised; you don’t invite someone in your castle as a guest and assassinate him. Even when dealing with your sworn enemy, there are certain codes you must abide by, a sense of honor you should live up to.”

“That’s ironic coming from someone who secretly invaded this castle and ruined a joyous occasion for the people…did I mention you’re also breaking the peace treaty?”

Daisuke fell silent. “We will both get our due punishment.”

Kensei let out a defeated chuckle.

“Something funny?” Daisuke asked irritably.

“Not particularly, no. It’s just that before the Distortion, I was one of those people who had morals and lived by those ‘so-called codes’ like you claim. I chased after my dreams for a long time and I did so without breaking the rules, without taking shortcuts, without resorting to shady methods. How foolish of me…”

“I find it hard to imagine a scumbag like yourself doing that.”

“Yet I did. I worked my butt off, constantly delivering stunning work, yet never finding the success that I thought I deserved, that I knew I deserved. I watched while other people who were far less deserving than me climb the ranks. For a moment, doubt got the better of me and I thought maybe I overestimated my worth, that I was a self-centered prick who saw himself above everyone else. It would have been better had that been the case because the truth hurt even more.

“Only later did I realize that those same people who surpassed me never hesitated to cheat, lie, bribe and backstab to get there. They broke every rule in the book to go higher and higher while I was stuck with my stupid sense of righteousness until I died full of regrets. But the Distortion gave me a second chance, a chance I would never give up.”

“So, you do admit the error in your ways? And you still did it anyway.”

“And I would keep doing it. How do you expect me to compete against freaks like Nobunaga Oda and Miyamoto Musashi? Their name alone gave them an advantage over us regular folks, none of it was fair to begin with. So yes, I will readily cheat, I will gladly take every shortcut available and I will surely trample over anyone who stands in my way.”

Daisuke was caught off guard, this was the first time he’d heard of it. Never in his life did he expect to hear these words uttered, coming out of Kensei’s mouth no less…bold claims to say the least. It would take a fool to even entertain such things, let alone try them. It would take a fool…or an extremely brave man.

“Are you implying you wanted to surpass those people, our country’s finest?”

“You can laugh all you want, but yes I did.”

Daisuke didn’t laugh. He despised the individual before him, and he would never regret taking his life and claiming revenge for his friend. However, he suddenly found himself harboring an iota of respect for the determination and resolve shown by Kensei, even if greed and ambition had blinded him. Not many people even dreamed of stepping on the same stage as those legendary figures, let alone surpass them. Even if he was his enemy, Kensei proved to be somebody with a certain merit and that somehow made Daisuke more at peace with his decision. To slay someone you held respect for, however little, felt more comforting than killing a man with no redeeming qualities. Facing a worthy enemy was always more satisfying to a warrior’s instincts.

“Before I kill you, you will answer whatever this man has to ask you.”

Adam, hearing the conversation from the side, truly felt like an intruder, which all things considered, he was. He strode forward towards Kensei to inquire. He had to be crafty about the way in which he would formulate the question. The last time he asked anyone about the seal fragment, he was met with a barren response and there was no guarantee for the discussion to go any different this time around.

“Where do you keep your precious belongings, treasures, gifts and such?”

“Huh, a thief? I guess it’s to be expected for one to profit from the chaos.”

“Not exactly. Just answer the question.”

“That shelf to your right is your best bet.”

Adam looked at the designated shelf and it definitely looked promising. He rummaged through the artifacts, jars and boxes…nothing that hinted at the fragment. There was this peculiar box though, pitch black, not too shiny and with no visible crack or keyhole. Curiously, it had a tag on it, a parchment of sorts bearing an unknown encryption on it. This was no language he’d ever seen, and he studied languages across the board, old and new, before and after the Distortion. Human history was an ocean of mysteries, so some languages were bound to elude him…but something felt off about this one, mostly the absence of a distinct pattern. Adam brought the box closer to his ear and shook it gently…no sound. Nothing was in it…?

“I believe you found what you are looking for, Adam san?”

“Not sure…” he answered, still examining the box.

Kensei noticed that the intruder did not bother to steal any treasure—of which there was plenty—except that one box. His eyes sunk into the back of his sockets as he glanced at Adam’s hands, dreading the very prospect of what it might mean. Up until now, Kensei remained fairly calm despite his imminent demise; life had already begun to leave his body. Seeing the box had suddenly restored some of his vigor.

“What…are…you…”

“You are in no position to talk, Nakamura.” Daisuke silenced him.

“No no no no, you don’t understand, this isn’t even about me. Trust me, if you value your life and that of your loved ones, let go of that thing. You have no idea what you will get involved in.” Kensei’s voice was shaking, as was his body.

Adam’s lips twisted into a smug smile. That may have been the confirmation he needed.

“There’s a fragment inside, am I right?”

Kensei’s eyes widened. “How do you…? You don’t know what you’re dealing with…”

“Actually, I do know.” Adam paused shortly then added confidently. “And that didn’t stop me from going through with this.”

“When they find out, they will hunt you down; they won’t stop, not until you’re dead.”

Kensei was practically a goner, and yet it didn’t seem to bother him as much as the fragment getting stolen. The thought of having a stranger, not even himself, face the consequences of such trespassing terrified him beyond measure.

“I don’t believe you have any idea as to who they are?” Adam asked as he hid the fragment inside his kimono.

Earlier in the conversation, Adam was very intrigued whenever Kensei alluded to a third party aiding him in his rise to power. This might be a chance to pry up for more information.

“I don’t know, the only thing I know is that they are powerful and resourceful, they never expose themselves and it’s thanks to them that I got to where I am.” He said, his voice still quivering.

“Thanks for the information, but it’s nothing new to me.” Adam pushed back his glasses, slightly disappointed—at least he didn’t get his hopes that high up.

“So, you really do know them?” Kensei was incredulous.

“Let’s just say I’ve had a run in with these guys, not a pleasant experience I have to admit.”

“And you are still willing to get in their way?”

“Someone has to.” Adam pushed back his glasses. “That aside, how do I open this thing? Something tells me I can’t just break it, so I’m gonna assume it has to do with this ominous tag.”

“Are you out of your mi—”

“Answer the question.’ Daisuke cut him off sharply.

Kensei cringed. “It’s a…blood seal. You’ll need my blood, and only my blood, to open it.”

Adam let out a long whistle…this was getting very interesting.

“I don’t imagine you’d mind now, would you? No offense, but…you know…” Adam ran his thumb across his neck.

Kensei offered no reply, which Adam took as consent.

“Tokugawa san, sorry for delaying you a bit longer, but I would like to verify it before you do what you have to do. Just in case he’s lying.”

Adam wasn’t worried about it too much; Kensei could have lied about the fragment since the start if he wanted to be secretive. But, just in case.

“Your hand, now.” Daisuke ordered Kensei dryly.

The latter complied defeatedly. He winced when his palm was slit. Adam put the box forward before Kensei placed his bleeding hand on the tag. The mysterious encryption turned from black to a bright crimson red, as if life had been breathed into it. Meanwhile, the box itself started to wither, whatever dark material it was made from decayed rather quickly, leaving no trace behind—the tag fell swiftly to the floor beside Nakamura. And to Adam’s great joy, there it was in the palm of his hand. He found what he was looking for.

Seeing it up close felt…underwhelming. If he did not see what it looked like beforehand, he could have never guessed that it was part of three seals that held such immense potential within them. There was nothing special about the fragment, no drawing, no writing, no inscription, no pattern, no carving, no glyph…nothing. Nothing but a bland drab shard of a bigger piece. He never saw anything that resembled it, and he had studied all the existing materials in the world, nothing quite like this one. Even the bit of information he got on the three seals had no mention of their true nature. Outside of their purpose, these broken seals remained a mystery.

“You are mad if you think you can d—”

“That is enough, Nakamura.” Daisuke cut him off with a sense of finality, the edge of the katana nudging his neck. “Do you have any last words?”

Kensei gulped. If anything, he was almost glad that he would die by Daisuke’s hands right now rather than taking responsibility for exposing the fragment and failing to safeguard it.

“Nothing. I’m ready.”

Adam looked away. The next thing he saw was a katana, dyed red, and Kensei’s head detached from the neck. Daisuke shook the blood off his blade. He crouched to grab the head of the Daimyo and tossed it out of the window, landing right in the middle of the battlefield.

It was the sign of retreat, the sign that marked the end of the battle.

Or so they hoped.