sugarcube | psl || like a ripple that chases the slightest caress of the breeze

['What? Are you crazy, man?'

- is probably a great start to the response to Itsuki's idea. Sohaya seems baffled by it, pressing on, 'We'll regroup with Buzen when he gets back! He knows we won't be staying in one spot since the armies are both coming - whoa!'

though he does struggle to keep his own footing then, using his sheathed sword as a way to keep his own balance against the shaking of the ground beneath their feet.

hyuuga is lighter on his feet, jumping in front of itsuki with his arms out in front of him even though he's not quite steady either. but this is a human, just as much as any other - if anything, he knows that this human is even more important. he's their friend and comrade just like any other, even if he's less immediately skilled in combat. he has to come home with them.

'Kagami-san, let's just wait a little longer. We have a little bit before the battle—'

the earthquake stops just as the sudden drone of war horns, echoing throughout the air, interrupts that thought.

one way or another, sekigahara has begun.]

[sweet hyuuga... Itsuki hesitates -- visibly struggling between listening and keeping his balance, but then the ground stops shaking and he perks up -- army or not, buzen should have better luck returning if the ground isn't rumbling --

and then he hears the horns,]

They're still going to fight? Even with these earthquakes...?

[there's a beat before itsuki remembers that's supposed to be a good thing. they're supposed to sound the horns, and the battle's supposed to start, regardless of what's apparently happening -- regardless of who might be down there,

he grits his teeth. he's thinking less of the enormity of running head-first into a battle zone and more of how easily he can be stopped from running.]

-- He said he was going to go scout -- he's not trying to sabotage the battle right now, is he?

[and if so, then doesn't that mean the rest of them should be down there helping?]

['Sohaya, I'm going ahead.' Oodenta seems to read Itsuki's mind, already moving toward the sound of the horns. 'Monoyoshi, come with me.'

to which Monoyoshi Sadamune, Ieyasu's beloved sword who was said to bring good fortune to him in all his battles, nods his head and immediately begins to follow after. there seems to be an unspoken understanding amidst all swords at this moment - the mission has to be seen to, but they also can't lose this human that's been entrusted to them by their friend and also by their master.

'If he is going to sabotage the battle, then we should be doing the same. That's probably what my brother and Monoyoshi are going to take care of - but we need to get you out of here,' Sohaya says. though his brow furrows, a little frustrated. '... You probably wanna see your sword, I get it, but - it's about to get really dangerous out here.'

even though all the swords can't help but be on edge. the earthquakes never occurred during history. do the humans not recognize them for what they are? what could that mean?

but they're running out of time - that's clear from the sound of galloping horses, the new rumbling of an army on the move. the battle that will end the warring states period is quickly approaching and they have to go before they're mistaken for enemies.

or - as the western armies begin to approach - it may already be a little too late.]

[as desperately as itsuki wants to follow oodenta and monoyoshi, he knows when he's outnumbered. he listens to sohaya instead, head bowed as he finally readies himself to go wherever he's told to --

a little too late to finally start listening, and itsuki realizes it as horses? soldiers? no -- the western army, moving as one. so many men, so different from the battlefield of shimabara, and yet alike.

he starts to run, tries to move into a position that won't immediately hinder sohaya and hyuuga, choosing retreat even though what he really wants to do is run forward. his hand goes to the dagger, the other touches his chest -- his power thrumming along with his frantic heartbeat. he can run but he's not faster than a man on horseback. maybe the swords can outstrip them easily, but he's already holding them back just by being here. he keeps on moving.

he wants to find buzen. but he needs to live first in order to do that.]

[Sohaya and Hyuuga exchange a look - and separate. Sohaya goes to chase after the direction of Oodenta and Monoyoshi. they'll look for Buzen, but mostly they need to focus on the mission. how do they make sure that sekigahara goes according to plan?

Hyuuga is left to watch over Itsuki, and he runs alongside him. until Itsuki can certainly get to a safe place, then he'll have a sword to be at his side - is what they hope. but it doesn't work out like that. the Eastern army comes from the other side, and it's inevitable how the charge and battle suddenly begins. Hyuuga takes Itsuki off to the side so they're not in the dead center of the fight - but it spills over. it catches up to them. Hyuuga fights human after human, killing even those who followed his former master so loyally - those that he has more in common with than different.

but as long as they come after them, he can't let them live. 'Kagami-san! Into the foliage, I'll be there soon!' because it's safer if Itsuki hides -

though at the same time there's someone who rides through on horseback, shouting those poised with bows and arrows - 'There's a demon! A demon among the Tokugawa! Pierce the fast one with the red banner when he approaches from the valley!!']

[hyuuga kills the first man and itsuki can't help it -- he closes his eyes for the briefest of moments then forces them open so he can keep running, even as men pursue them and fall to hyuuga's swift blade, over and over again --

he's in the way. why had he ever thought he'd be useful --

itsuki moves towards the forest at hyuuga's yell, but then he hears the words 'red banner' and his head snaps towards the other sword, expression frantic at first, then -- settling as he looks at the nearest archer, similarly distracted by his comrade's words. the man turns at the same time as the others, peering towards the valley and that's all itsuki really needs.

buzen is as fast as the wind, he can outrun anything and everything. he knows that.

but itsuki's running on pure adrenaline now, shaken by the sheer chaos and death, and all he knows is that he doesn't want buzen to fall the same way so many others have. so he lunges, shoves his dagger into the man's neck, then hurls himself at the next archer with a ferocity that feels almost out of character. he grabs them by the hand, thinks 'sleep' so hard that the man falls to the ground, and wishes not for the first time that he had a power that could destroy everything -- or could protect everyone. if only he had kakeru's plants or mikoto's barriers --]

[buzen has killed so many humans that he supposes it feels like nothing to add more to the number. that's what his thoughts are when war breaks out, and suddenly his scouting turns to simply trying to complete the mission. lower the numbers on the western side, give them a chance. his red banner is not the only thing dyed crimson - not when he's as bloody as he is, covered in the blood of fallen soldiers.

he races toward where more of the western army wait - he'd left one horseman in the company alive, just to make sure that he had a path to follow back. and that's when he catches sight of hyuuga and - itsuki.

hyuuga, who indicates for itsuki to head to the foliage, and itsuki who doesn't follow. why not? for a second, a foreign feeling hits buzen - he sees red, a little too.

but his feet carry him back toward that way, he slices into soldiers as he goes - not even letting fighting get in the way of his swift footwork. his gaze remains on the two in front of him. itsuki, forcing a man to sleep, and hyuuga calling out for him -

'Kagami-san, be careful!!' - because archers can be taken out in close range, but there's always soldiers with swords nearby and Hyuuga slides in to intercept.

the soldier's blade cuts against his shoulder, pulling a cry out from the sword (the sword of ishida mitsunari, the sword of the general, the sword of this soldier's master)

buzen is never fast enough when it counts the most. he still skids in just to slide his own blade into the soldier's chest before he can sever hyuuga's arm or cut further down. he cuts down all the other nearby soldiers, clearing out the immediate area before he snarls out, angry - ]

Itsuki! [a full name that only ever left buzen's mouth in warm, loving tones. but there's a fire that scalds now, his red eyes flashing. his arm wraps around hyuuga and for once he minds the blood - because it's his comrade's, not his own.] Move to the forest! Now!

[ah.

it happens so fast but itsuki can see it all so clearly still. the archer falling at his feet, hyuuga staggering in front of him, the shine of a blade slicing deep into his arm -- a blade that could have buried itself in itsuki's neck -- and buzen with his sword in the man's chest and his arms around Hyuuga, rounding on itsuki with more fury than he's ever seen before. he's seen anger and sadness but this feels more close to rage -- buzen's rage -- and it's directed right at him --

his already unsteady breathing hitches, and his gaze sweeps away when only earlier he'd been looking so desperately -- and lands on the scarlet red staining hyuuga's scarlet clothes,

for once itsuki doesn't need to be told twice. he turns and heads for the foliage, dagger still clutched in his hand and heart beating quickly with dread, so loud that it drowns out the shocked silence in itsuki's head,]

[now he listens.

it's an uncharitable thought that rings through buzen's head once - but it doesn't actually leave his mouth. he helps hyuuga get to the same denser area that's obscured by trees, and also unwelcoming to actual fighting. all battles are kept to the plains whenever possible. it's early enough in the battle that there aren't any archers who have been placed in the trees as a strategic maneuver, making it the safest for them.

more troops run by, and the sounds of war continue right from where they were kept from - they fight over the bodies of their fallen friends, and then join them on the dirt when defeated. but buzen is focused on something else entirely. he tears his flag from his arm, securing it to try to staunch hyuuga's bleeding, and then tying the fabric around his shoulder. the tantou tells him that he's okay - just a little tired and needs a chance to catch his breath.

buzen looks almost sad when he has to say - ] We don't have time for that, Hyuuga-san. Sorry - just get on my back for now as we try to travel up to higher ground. We can try to find Denta-san and the others from there.

[to which Hyuuga nods tiredly, his own breathing uneven, but ultimately lets himself be moved to Buzen's back in a piggyback.

. . . and once his comrade is secured, Buzen can turn his attention toward Itsuki. he's not mad anymore, not really. the fire burned hot, intense, and left his mouth in an angry yell - but he's truly nothing if not understanding. Itsuki probably had a reason, and Buzen will have to decide later if it's good enough - but for right now, he still has to focus.

on the mission.]

You're not hurt?

[they're away from battle now, but the fear doesn't leave itsuki. it morphs into something else, into a wave of shame and guilt so hot and intense that he can feel it prickle in the back of his throat, his eyes. he keeps it together by focusing on the quick methodical way buzen secures hyuuga's wound, the red flag moving from his arm to hyuuga's.

he keeps his gaze averted, glancing at hyuuga instead -- as if looking at the sword who got hurt for him is easier to bear than looking at buzen himself,]

I'm fine. ...Hyuuga-kun protected me.

[as if that answer is less than he deserves, as if hyuuga's help would have been better off -- but he pushes on, past whatever he's feeling.

his feelings are what got them into this mess, didn't they?]

Sohaya-kun and the others left to try and interfere. [interfere sounds like the wrong word to use,] With the battle.

[he takes a step forward, intent on following buzen's lead as they move, even if he's still not looking at him,]

[buzen nods at that - it'd be nice if swords just conveniently knew where the others were at all times, but that's not how their bond works. but he knows that being able to see from a higher ground, being able to look into the valley itself, will probably more useful to them than staying here.]

Mm, okay. [simply, a little clipped, but that can probably be attributed to the stress of the situation. this isn't the fun of battle against the revisionists, this is a war where they might actually end up losing everything.

and against everything buzen could wish for, itsuki is here.] Eyes forward. This way. Hyuuga-san, keep an eye on the rear if you can.

[there's a soft affirming grunt from hyuuga at that, and buzen will move forward, guiding them out of the foliage. they move fairly quickly if only because they don't have a choice, and are eventually brought to a higher point where they can keep a better eye on the geography of the area. luckily, sohaya, oodenta, and monoyoshi's thoughts were similar and they rush over from where they were in a nearby ledge.

they point out a moving set of troops - ieyasu's arquebus corps - and how they are proceeding toward where kobayakawa's troops are. this is where, historically, they would fire blanks upon their feet, urging them to begin the betrayal that would set off the ripple effect against the rest of the war.

the shots ring out in the air.

kobayakawa's forces move - in exactly the wrong direction, headed for the arquebus troops to fight against them instead.

among their small group, it feels like all the air has gone stale. another rumble settles underneath their feet, and in the next split moment - time itself stops.]

.... fuck.

[itsuki follows along, he keeps his dagger out just in case, but there's just forest around and behind them, and the faces of their companions in front. a swell of relief tugs at itsuki, breaking the gloom, giving him enough time to peer down at the battle beneath them.

he stiffens at the shots, at the fighting that he fully expects to ensue and then --

nothing?

it's so out of odds from what itsuki expected that it throws him off, shakes the gloom from him entirely as he turns to look at buzen, confused]

-- What's going on?

[everyone's frozen, but he heard buzen's voice as clear as a bell? whatever it is, it's not affecting them... that's

a good thing, right]

[the others similarly glance over, curious and concerned as everything around the seems to darken. to which buzen merely shakes his head and his eyes scan the horizon.]

... this timeline has been abandoned by the Time Government. The flow of time has stopped, and soon, all the humans belonging to this timeline will become deranged. They won't stop until this becomes an abandoned world and all life disappears.

[his gaze flicks from one end of the battlefield, to the other - and he thinks that he sees a distortion toward one end. in the Western Army stronghold.]

We have to go that way - now. We don't have long.

[and he'll shift so that he can give Hyuuga over to Sohaya - the Captain - for safekeeping. Sohaya nods, giving the order to all the others that they need to move.

Buzen watches the way that Sohaya's hand clenches around the hilt of his sword, how Monoyoshi shakes ever so slightly as they move. Ieyasu's swords, here at what should be the dawn of their lord's new world - except they've failed. their master's legacy no longer exists here. Hyuuga, whose master finally won in this timeline, too exhausted from blood loss to even truly comprehend.

Buzen looks to Itsuki, watching him for a moment. he's not frozen, which means he probably won't be caught up in the time distortion... even though he's human. it makes buzen reach out to him - briefly, his hand resting on his shoulder, and then nudging him forward.]

Let's go. Stay close and do what I say.

[Itsuki blinks throughout the explanation, so many questions forming in his mind that it's difficult to pick just one. time government? abandoned world? humans becoming deranged? it's not the first time he's learned a relentless amount of information at a risky time, but...

he comes back to his senses at buzen's touch -- warm and solid, even after everything... even while this is apparently happening. his hand goes up to take buzen's -- but he moves forward at his prompting instead. he can sense the shift in mood in the others too, it puts a stop to the questions itsuki wants to ask so badly.

at least, it does for a time?

itsuki follows along with the rest, but keeps close to buzen, makes sure to keep his voice low as he asks]

So the time government... stopped time? Because history changed too much? And that's why the humans are...

[they're too far away for itsuki to feel tempted to look back, so he doesn't.]

For now, they're stopped.

[but - ]

But from what I can tell, it doesn't last forever. Since time here has stopped, rather than flowing, it becomes... contaminated. Corrupted. And it'll try to kill everything here, especially those that don't belong in the era.

That includes us.

[which is why he's especially on edge, because for right now they can explain the situation while they move - but it's not going to last.]

There should be an exit - so we have to reach it.

[Itsuki follows after, silent as he attempts to understand. It's difficult to, especially when he'd just been dreaming with these people. they'd been... normal. they hadn't acted -- wrong or strange, or been emotionally wrought in some way.

nothing like the prism refraction, which is the closest situation itsuki can draw a comparison to.]

...Is it really too late for them?

[there's an edge of disbelief in his voice, the hesitance at odds with his quick pace]

[they're beginning to enter Western army territory - for now, the humans are all frozen in place, expressions still stern and anxious with the signs of war. terrible as it is, buzen hopes they remain that way for just a little longer.

the alternative is worse.

he glances toward itsuki when he asks, and nods once.]

Yes.

[clipped, simple - kill the dream of trying to save these people, before itsuki acts more out of emotion than sense]

[...

is it because he thinks there's a chance? or is it just pure egoism on his part -- to think that he could help, especially when he has no idea how to?

it's not the first time he's felt this helpless... though it has been a while. he's forgotten that feeling. he turns his head, stares at a soldier with his arms looped around another, frozen in the middle of applying pressure on a fatal wound.

the similarity doesn't escape itsuki, and he makes a small noise in the back of his throat.]

...They'd be better off sleeping forever if it has to be like this -- if the world has to be abandoned.

[meaningless words. maybe kazuha would have been able to... but not itsuki, not with his borrowed ability that's only a fraction as powerful as hers.

but he still looks on anyway, imagines what he could do if he was useful]

.... maybe.

[maybe that's true - but wouldn't that require a lot of exertion from itsuki? buzen isn't sure about the details of the dream power, of the upkeep, but that's what gets him to reach out. he wraps his fingers around itsuki's wrist as he tugs him once to get his attention.

don't get lost in the tragedy of the mission. don't lose sight of the goal.

(buzen wonders again if it was the right thing to bring itsuki here at all.)

but they feel the pulse again - intense, like the air itself has experienced one, final heartbeat. then the humans begin to move again. their movements are off - wrong. no longer like trained soldiers, but sloppy and wild. they start to kill each other and then, upon seeing the swords and itsuki -

begin to head toward them. sohaya gives the order to run for the exit, and buzen all but yanks itsuki forward - in front of him so that buzen can cover the rear.]

Go!

[buzen's hand feels warm on his skin, and itsuki thinks of all the words he wants to say --

but there's no time. buzen pushes him forward and itsuki takes the hint for once, running with the thought 'the faster i run the faster buzen will too' beating a rhythm in his head. more and more soldiers catch sight of them, and more and more head towards them. one lunges towards him and itsuki dodges even as he keeps going -- veering a little too far to the right, just close enough for any soldier to slash wildly at him]

-- Shit!

[he's doing his best but this is really like those jungle docus when the predators can instinctively tell who's the weakest in the herd tbh, itsuki is that baby elephant]

[ITSUKI IS REALLY THE BABY ELEPHANT - but the thing is that every sword is also aware that itsuki is the weakest link. another soldier goes to slash wildly at itsuki and oodenta grabs him by the arm and yeets him clear across the field.

the next soldier that heads toward itsuki's way gets stabbed in the throat and kicked by monoyoshi.

anyone that gets even close to their formation of swords - who automatically move so that itsuki is left at the center of their running pattern - gets felled quickly, though they don't manage to escape entirely unscathed. slashes and cuts slice through their clothes, but they can see the rift up ahead - the gateway to leave, though it seems to be closing]

There! Go, go!!

[later, itsuki will ask why the time government doesn't have a better system in place -- like telling the swords to leave first before trying to immediately close the time gate????? -- but for now,

he runs for the gateway along with the rest of the swords, grabbing onto the gate to try and stop it from closing too quickly, sorry he has to exhibit more gay behavior]

-- Buzen!

[sohaya runs ahead with hyuga at his back, and oodenta goes to support itsuki at the gate. buzen slashes at some more of the soldiers that are coming after them.]

Go! I'll catch up so it's a safe exit!

[playing with fire here aren't we, gou-san]

[Itsuki has really experienced a range of emotions during this mission, but this moment now? The fear that slices through him is hotter this time, sharper. Worrying about Buzen when he isn't around compared to worrying about him when he's right in front of him... as expected, there really is a difference.

and the difference is that it's worse?

he grits his teeth, and while he can't run as fast or fight as well as the swords, he can absolutely hold a gate open as long as he can.]

I'm not leaving without you!

[he'd felt terrible about not listening before, but that was then and this is now]

[the problem with holding onto a gate is that it leaves you wide open. and buzen is good at what he does, keeping most of the soldiers at bay, but he doesn't manage to quite get all of them. because itsuki is still the baby elephant of the swords, one more soldier - no, the general, ishida mitsunari - raises his sword to cut him down.

oodenta is holding onto the other side of the gate, and yet he still reaches out a hand -

but buzen is faster. not fast enough to draw his entire sword to parry in the space between them, but he raises his forearm and lets the sword cut into his flesh, slicing to the bone. it pulls out a flash of a curse from him. oodenta's outstretched hand seizes the warlord by the shoulder so he doesn't cut any further, and shoves him off.

but they're all close enough for oodenta to grab the two of them and shove them the rest of the way through the gate - stumbling through to the citadel in a bloody heap - and it closes behind them, the cries of an abandoned humanity in their wake]

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