Chapter 2 - Infanticide

A gentle breeze rippled along the path, loose flakes of dried mud rolling along the ground. Mitsumi had closed the distance between her and her son, but he didn't know she was so close. She could dash forwards and end him now... but such an act wouldn't be honourable. The Emperor's spies would tell of her sneak attack and it would be for nothing.

"Kenji." Mitsumi called. The swordsman wheeled around, Tantos in hand. Mitsumi calmly walked towards him, speaking. "Things have changed, Kenji. Nakimuto has invaded, and I have until the invasion is over to save the rest of our family. I know you saw the Honour. You know they are not joking around anymore."

"Mother, are you trying to convince me, or yourself?" Kenji asked simply.

"I am trying to make you understand why I am doing this!" Mitsumi replied, a single tear escaping her eye.

Kenji's voice was dark as he spoke "I already understand. But I see no reason to just let you kill me to save a family that I doubt even truly loves you." He placed his foot behind him and brought his arms up.

"Insult me all you like." Mitsumi answered coolly, unsheathing her sword. "But don't you dare imply dishonesty on our family's part."

The mother ran at the son, aiming to feint her attack and trick him into blocking high. But he was prepared: his right hand slashed downwards and intercepted her attack. His left hand attempted a stab but was met with her sheath. She kicked him in the stomach and slashed at his torso, but he managed to step backwards fast enough that his wound was barely noticeable.

He leapt forwards at his mother while she was recovering from her slash. Mitsumi blocked all five of his attacks as he swung-left, right, up-right, down-left and directly upwards. The blades locked together and the two began to struggle against each other, but the mother pushed with all her might and the lock was broken. She thrust herself forwards but he jumped backwards and-vanished? Mitsumi couldn't see him anymore.

A flash of light told Mitsumi he was to her left, and she only just raised her sheath in time to block both Tantos. Her sword swung through the air and he staggered backwards, clutching his left shoulder. She pressed her advantage, attacking him from as many angles as she could, only to be met with his blades every time.

She attempted a right-side kick to be met with his blade, but she used the chance to slash from the left. Her blade cut across his chest and he shouted in pain, but Mitsumi gave him no respite: she thrust the sheath into his stomach, span around and slashed diagonally upwards. The force of the attack was so great that Kenji was knocked backwards. A long red line down his torso marked where the attack had landed, and blood dripped from it.

As her son struggled to his feet, Mitsumi swung the blade downwards, clearing the blood before sheathing it. "I have a duty to fulfill." she was talking to herself as much as him.
Kenji sheathed his two Tantos and looked her in the eyes. "Then fulfill it." he answered, drawing his Daimyo.

Mitsumi knew that attacking now would be met with a block and a counterattack. Nevertheless, she had a plan on what to do. She ran at him, unsheathing her blade. She initially swung from the right, but changed direction midway through and slashed upwards, catching the swordsman off guard and cutting up his torso. 

Seizing her advantage, the mother slashed at his leg and he tripped before her blade cut his hand, making him drop his sword to the ground. He lay on the ground, clutching his hand and unable to stand with her foot on his stomach. She'd beaten him. Now for the harder part.

Mitsumi's eyes closed-she couldn't bear to watch this happen-and her blade swung downwards. Something blocked it. Mitsumi opened her eyes to see a pair of dark green eyes and a toned, white face. The mother looked up and saw that whoever this woman was, she'd blocked Mitsumi's blade with her bare arm.

"Wa-wakeeda?!" Kenji was clearly as shocked as Mitsumi.

"Long time no see, Kenji." she answered, still looking at the mother. She pushed her arm against Mitsumi's blade and threw the blow off. There was barely a scratch on her skin. Mitsumi had heard about Asmana's resident witch doctor, and had hoped never to meet her face to face. "Mitsumi, that isn't something you want to do." she told the mother.

"It is not a question of wants." Mitsumi answered shortly. "Either he dies, or my whole family does. There is no debate to be made."

"Yes, there is. Namely, that your Emperor is lying to you." the witch doctor answered. "He never expected you to succeed. As soon as you left Nakimuto, he had the Takehoshu family executed."

"What?!" Kenji cried, shocked. "They're gone?! Father? Makoto? Rin?!" 

The mother could see a single tear rolling down Kenji's cheek at the mention of his oldest sister. All of a sudden he was much less of a swordsman and much more like a frightened little boy. The mother felt her stomach lurch at the sight, though she wasn't sure why. 

"Yes, Kenji. I'm sorry." Wakeeda told the swordsman, turning to him for a moment.

So they were all gone? Hikotada? Rin, Makoto, Aki, Junko, Zakai and Ike? No, not all of them. What she was hearing couldn't be true...

Mitsumi blinked, her upper lip shaking slightly. "H-how do I know you are not lying to protect Kenji? For all I know, you two are lovers."

"Firstly, my sights are on... someone else." the witch doctor sighed "Secondly, I'm just trying to stop you making a mistake. Your family are screaming for you not to kill him. He's your only kin now."

"Wakeeda, why didn't you tell me before now?" Kenji asked the witch doctor, now certainly crying. His tears left distinct streaks down his face.

"I was trying to protect you from finding out. I was stupid to think I could keep it hidden forever." Wakeeda admitted. "I'm sorry for that too, my friend."

Mitsumi could see no misgivings in Wakeeda's eyes. But these things she was saying... There was no way she could be telling the truth. At least, not the whole truth. She needed to find out for herself. Her blade turned in her hand and ran through Kenji's leg; he screamed in agony and clutched his wound.

Mitsumi spoke as she sheathed her sword "I am sorry son, but I need to get to the bottom of this. The only way I can do that is if the Emperor believes you are dead. I cannot have you trying to take on the whole Nakimuton army and exposing my lie." the mother turned around and set off for the Honour, hoping against all else that Wakeeda was lying.