Chapter 20: Lonesome Me
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"Alright BenBen." I began as I ended my explanation, pointing to the setup I had prepared on the training grounds. "You understand what we're doing, right?"
"Uh-huh Che-ny!" She nodded fiercely, picking up a rock from a basket. "Leave it all to me!"
"Okay then! Bring it o-" The sound of rock hitting flesh interrupted me as I had to wince back in pain. My hand reaching up to my face as the object that hit my head came falling to the floor.
"Ow. Okay okay, now I- FUCKING HELL!"
My body swiveled instantly to avoid the second rock being thrown at me. A throbbing pain still remained but I didn't have time to acknowledge it as thousands of rocks were thrown my way, each one barely being seen by my eyes before they assaulted my body. I had to stay on my toes to even avoid
half of them.
Just… Gotta… Build… Up… Brave…
NOW!
"You! Drop whatever you're doing and come with-
Wha?!" A voice I barely recognized shouted.
Bad move.
"TSUMUGARI NO TACHI!"
The intruder, who I had now recognized as NobuNobu, barely had any time to dodge as a fist made of pure fire instantly punched the ground where she was standing, a small explosion appearing in the space she was at mere seconds ago.
"ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!" She yelled. Then she gave a good look around, from BenBen to the rocks littering the area and the bruises on my body. "Correction: are you trying to kill yourself? In that case forgive my interruption, please continue."
...Something in me snapped as my face went expressionless. Tsumugari no Tachi (Note to self: Need a better name TnT- is too long) came into full view behind me as I arched my back slightly backwards and tilted my head, pointing a finger gun at the pink haired women. "BenBen, lock and load, new target. Aim…
FIRE!"
"Yes!" BenBen lifted another rock, only to stop when she saw NobuNobu pointing her custom musket at her. "Uh…"
"Look, I have no time for whatever kind of weird...thing is going on here." She drawled before her lips turned into a grin. "I just received news that Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi, two of the best sword users in the whole of Zipang, are going to have a duel on Ganryuu Island! We can't miss it for all the gold in the world!"
"Annnnd why should I care?" DID SHE JUST MENTION THE SAVIOR OF FRANCE?!
FUCK YEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
"That's simple: now that we know where the both of them are going to be, we can meet and persuade one of them, maybe both, to join our forces." She explained. "Having people skilled at warfare is good, but we also need talented warriors to face those that simple numbers can't bring down."
"Oh." I blinked before turning away. "You do it."
"Aaaah?! What's with that reaction? Are you not interested in witnessing a duel between two literal
sword saints?"
What the fuck was this, a xianxia novel? I thought this was Isekai dammit.
"Nope. Got things to do and I don't really care. You go do it if you're that interested."
"You will not have to deal with paperwork while we're away."
"Ha!" The fool. "I've already passed on the paper work to someone else for today! Also I'd have to deal with more paperwork as they'd pile up when I'm away so in the end I'd have like, more paper work than I would if I didn't go away and in the end it's just not worth it. Really, my buttons aren't that easy to press old lady."
"Can Benkei come? Benkei would like to see the duel." BenBen asked, eyes shining with excitement.
NobuNobu's sneer instantly shifted to a foxy grin. "Suuuure! Himiko and Yoshitsune already said they're interested, so I guess we will have a nice vacation with added show while a certain
brat will remain here all alone, with nothing to do beside watching someone else do his paperwork."
"I mean…" I didn't even give the annoying old fart a glance. "Okay? Sure? You guys can go? You're really overestimating how much I actually care here. But if you want to know, while you're gone, I'm going to figure out how to fly."
I felt a vice-like hand grab my shoulder and turn me around, where I was confronted with a NobuNobu whose own Brave had reached the point it could be physically seen as a red aura around her body. "You're going,
OR ELSE." She growled, resembling every last bit the Demon King she was referred to.
Maybe if she was wearing pants and I didn't see her all beat up and crying on the battlefield that would've actually scared me. As it was… "Useless useless useless. Your threats mean nothing to me. Though, I could be persuaded for a…「Favor」."
I felt the pressure on my shoulder loosen up. Only a finger though. "Be careful what you ask for."
To the side, BenBen seemed to enjoy herself immensely.
"Oh nothing much, I'd agree if say, a certain 「Useless, Old, Western-Obsessed, Sexually Frustrated, Chronically Drunk, Freeloader」decided to say, do some work for at least a month?"
The pressure returned. It was also starting to get uncomfortably hot.
"Oh? Work you say? Why, you should have said so sooner." Nobunaga's angelic smile was anything but.
"Is there some matter that require my immensely qualified expertise?"
"Depends on if you agree. Are you sure you're up to the task?"
By this point, I was bracing for myself to get hit. It would've been so fucking worth it though.
Her smile cracked a little.
"I'm not agreeing to anything until I know what you have in mind. Spit it out already, you hateful brat."
"Pft, you're no fun." I waved my free hand at my face. "It's simple. You. Do my paperwork. For a month. Then I'll go."
One second. Two. Then she removed her hand. "One single month, starting from when we return. Anything made before that is out." She replied, voice returning to normal.
"Great! Thanks for the month long vacation!" I smiled, preparing to duck and run. "So much better than having only a day or two off, am I right?"
"Oh I agree." She raised a hand, clenching it into a fist. "Everything after that is just me generously offering to help with your training!"
The moment she threw a punch TNT (Crap is that name sticking?) appeared before her in a burst of flames, ready to counter that punch as I ducked and rolled away from her reach. "Catch me if you can, just make sure not to pull your back old lady!"
"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU,
I'M NOT OLD YOU SHITTY BRAT!"
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It took a lot of days, not as much as the last time I crossed the country at least, but we finally arrived at Ganryuu Island. There was a single ferry connecting it to the mainland, with the harbor on the island being a single wooden plank next to a beach of fine sand. Where the shore ended there was grass, soon followed by a forest of gnarled trees. All in all, it was very picturesque.
"Hey, hey. Che-ny!" BenBen called. "Do they sell any delicious food on Ganryuu Island?"
"Ganryuu Island is deserted, Benkei." Himiko told her. "I don't think there are any shops or restaurants...Ah! That person holding that really long sword!" She pointed. "That must be Sasaki Kojiro!"
She was… Different than I was expecting. Lot less purple for one thing. Tall, lanky, and with the face of a thug, she was not at all in any way easy on the eyes as she scowled at the world, her long red ponytail reaching down to the end of her sword sheath, which was no mean feat when you looked at the blade in question. Her dress wasn't even that good looking either, with a jarring combination of red and orange barley even reaching her legs before she let white stockings do the rest of the work. Combined with the cold aura she gave off? She was a goddamn nightmare to look at.
It's, it's like they tried to make Canada into a waifu honestly…
"It seems Miyamoto Musashi still isn't here." Himiko continued.
"Her sword...It's so long." BenBen observed with amazement. "Can she really fight with something like that?"
"Just be glad it's not a gunblade BenBen." I nodded, "Only edgy angsty people use long blades that also serve as a gun. It just seems to come with the territory, that and black leather."
Barring Thouma of course, wait no.
"Gun...blade? A blade that is also a gun? How does that even work?" NobuNobu scoffed. "Swords are swords, and guns are guns. If you try to fuse them together just because you can't be assed to bring both you would only get a monstrosity too brittle to serve as a melee weapon."
"Since the duel hasn't started yet, let's try to talk with Sasaki-san." Yoshi suggested.
I instantly took a step back and crossed my arms into an x shape. "Not it."
"I'll do it." Himiko slowly approached before calling out to the redhead. "Umm...Excuse me? Are you by any chance Sasaki Kojiro?"
"Mm." Distracted from her silent contemplation, she looked at everyone without a change in expression. In contrast her next words were more curious than anything. "Indeed I am. But, who are you?"
"We're...he's...Aaagh! I wanted to address the topic of who's who when we returned, not now!" After an awkward start Himiko wails in frustration. She cleared her throat. "Let's try again. I'm Himiko, and those are my Onii-san and friends. We rule Zipang, and soon the world."
"Oni-san? Rule the world?" Sasaki repeated in confusion.
Ah crap why did we leave this to
Himiko of all people…
I silently jabbed Yoshi forward with my elbow.
She immediately took the hint. "Himiko, you're just confusing her. Maybe it's best I step in."
"Oooh...Alright…" She slumped down.
"A pleasure to meet you, Sasaki-dono." Yoshi offered the swordswoman a formal nod. "My name is Minamoto no Yoshitsune. The awkward girl is Himiko, the boy is Chen Miyafuji and the others are Musashibou Benkei and Oda Nobunaga."
"..I see." Her gaze turned to me. "So you're the rumored 'Servant of Heaven', the successor of Yamato Takeru-sama."
I just silently gave her a thumbs up in response. She looked at the gesture strangely but said nothing. Maybe she understood the meaning behind it?
"Rumors of it have spread so far?" Yoshi asked.
"As inexperienced as I am, even I know how famous all of you are. What business do you have with a mere swordswoman like me?"
"Obviously, to see your duel with Musashi Miyamoto." Nobu answered with a cheeky grin. "And scout the winner, maybe even the both of you."
"I see." She didn't sound very surprised. "But I am a student of the world...I have no interest in the wars of nations. My only goal is to polish my sword technique by fighting the strongest opponents I can."
"She seems like a really tough person…" Himiko softly commented.
"If you join the Zipang army, you can fight strong swordsmen from other countries." BenBen cheerfully said, unintentionally making a good point.
"Hm...Really? Then…" For a moment Sasaki seemed very interested before hastily composing herself. "But first! I must defeat my most worthy adversary, Musashi Miyamoto! I thank you for your generous offer, but right now I must fully dedicate both my mind and body to our duel."
She's... actually nicer than I thought she'd be. Granted I thought the same of Yamato, but it's still a surprise.
Also that sword dedication is reminding me a bit
too much of China, go back to Canada you filthy gaijin.
Heh, hypocritical humor.
"But that Musashi...she's late." She turned to look in the harbor's direction, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "The scheduled time for our duel has long passed by."
"When was it supposed to be?" Yoshi asked.
"Two hours ago."
"Two hours!?" Himiko gasped. "You've been waiting that long?"
"I'm a patient woman." She simply replied. "I'm starting to get a little perturbed, though."
"Eh, I'd give it about… fifteen minutes or so." My shoulders shrugged. "By that point she's either very late or she's not coming."
"Nonsense. An agreement to duel is a sacred thing for a swordsman...I can't believe there would be a swordsman who would neglect their promise."
"Well, I suppose at this point all we can do is wait as well." Yoshi said. "Come on everyone, I prepared some refreshment."
And like that she pulled out a
goddamn picnic.
====
This was more than fifteen minutes.
"The sun has started to go down, yet no one has shown up yet." Himiko stated the very obvious. Standing up she approached the still unmoving Sasaki. "Uhm, Kojiro-san? I don't think..."
"What?" She replied with an emotionless tone.
"I think...she really skipped out on you?"
"No, there is no way the one who is called the 'Two Swords Dragon' would break a sacred promise between swordsmen." She insisted.
"Even so, not all swordsmen are as diligent as you, Kojiro-san. Instead of waiting forever for someone who may not even come, why don't you sit down with us in the meantime?"
"T-Thank you for your kind offer, but I must decline. For now I'll wait here for Musashi. I won't move a single step!"
"She's really stubborn." I heard Himiko comment under her breath when she came back.
"Eh, just leave her be." I replied. "Hopefully she doesn't have to wait for three days and two nights only for… whoever we're waiting on to really be lost the whole time but by the time she gets here we've already left and gotten her to come along with us to china where she falls into a cursed spring and ends up changing genders depending on what water temperature she's splashed with."
A sigh escaped my lips before I rolled over to my side, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a nap. Wake me when the person we're waiting for arrives."
====
I ended up waking up by myself. The moon was high in the sky, BenBen was fast asleep on Yoshi's lap, NobuNobu was snoring loudly and Himiko has resorted to chanting some kind of nursery rhyme to pass the time. Meanwhile Kojiro still looked the same as I last saw her, the same position too, but the peanut gallery got an addition in the form of a flock of creepy-looking owls, standing on the trees with glowing eyes and making their characteristical cries.
"No, Miyamoto-san hasn't arrived yet." Yoshi informed me as I began to sit up. "So, what was this about cursed springs and changing gender based on water temperature?"
"Old story from back home." I began with a yawn as I tried to wake myself up. "Well, I say old but it's only like… twenty years old? Holy shit it's been twenty years or so since it came out. Dammit all, I wasn't even born in the 90s and It seems like it wasn't even that long ago."
While we were talking Himiko has stood up and slowly approached Sasaki. "Kojiro-saaan?"
"..." The swordswoman didn't reply, her eyes closed.
"Are you awake?"
"Grr…" Just then her eyes snapped open, raw fury brimming in her pupils. The following rant was that of a teenage girl whose boyfriend stood up on their date. "MUSASHIII! WHY HAVEN'T YOU COME?!" She screamed to the heavens.
"Yahhh!? Don't scare me like that!" Himiko cried.
"What, you're scared?! Musashiii!"
"Wake up the whole island why don't you." I grumbled, covering up my ears. "Not that there's anyone to wa… Oh shit."
"Munyaaa?" Benben instantly sit up, Yoshi raising her chin just enough to avoid collision. "What? What's happening?"
"Shit! An enemy?!" NobuNobu went from sprawled on the ground to wielding her rifle in a matter of seconds. "Where?!"
"Calm down already!" Fucking… "Sasaki's patience finally ran thin and she's currently in the middle of a tantrum. Makes me wonder what she was thinking about this whole time honestly…"
Kojiro suddenly stopped shouting. "I have to go find her!"
"W-Wait a second! Do you even know where to search?"
"Of course. The tea house close to the harbor on the mainland. I heard Musashi's a regular there."
====
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE LEFT ZIPANG?!"
"Yes, yes." The old man behind the counter nodded, eyes squinting as he absentmindedly kept polishing a plate. "Musashi-chan told me that for a while she wanted to go on a tour of the world to sample the food of different countries. Just yesterday she finished gathering enough money for the journey and came here to say goodbye."
"...I was wrong." I declared, a bit dumbstruck by this turn of events. "Sasaki isn't Ranma, she's
Ryuga."
"This, this, this makes no sense!" Kojiro wails. "What about our duel?"
"Duel?"
"Yes! The one on Ganryuu Island!"
"Oh? But there is nothing on Ganryuu Island. No game, and it's the wrong season for fishing." The old man's eyes squinted even more. "Why would Musashi-chan go there?"
Saski began despairing even harder.
"Geez, what's the deal with that?" NobuNobu snorted. "Did you make that promise while drunk? Or did she just forget?"
"Unforgivable. It's absolutely unforgivable." Sasaki began to mutter. "I'll find her even if it takes years! Then I'll make her understand what it means to break a promise to duel!"
"...You know? Instead of wasting years doing it alone, we could have the Zipang army gather intelligence." NobuNobu began with a suspicious smirk. "Since our aim is world conquest, we'll surely stumble upon the place Musashi is currently in."
"W-What?" Caught by surprise Sasaki turned to look at the pink-haired girl.
"That's definitely more effective than searching blindly. In return, how about you join us?"
"Hmm…" She seemed to seriously consider NobuNobu's proposal. A quick look inside her coin purse, followed by a resigned sigh, and Sasaki reached a decision. "...Alright. I'll cooperate with the Zipang army. However! Once you find Musashi tell me immediately. Those of ill enough character to neglect a promise to duel deserve to be punished!"
"Well then, that's three for… Whatever on Hero recruitment." I declared. "Now, as long as she never says the phrase 'Musashi, because of you I've seen hell!' we'll get along
great."
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Notes:
NNB: I realized two things this update. One ended up with me coining the term 'Social' (Or in a different meaning at least), the second is just making me hit myself because I realized I should've billed the end of part one as the end of the first light novel volume. It's 80 pages long at least so it counts for something right?
Alex: Well, if all the stuff until now was an original work we may have used it on Patreon or something to make some money. As it is, only free-form for us.
NNB: Nah man, you can totally get people to pay you shit on Patreon even if you're writing fanfics. It's not like you're
selling the fanfic (Commissions don't count), it's just… "Support"
