Editing Memories of a Stone Wall (section)

===Act XXXVIII: Debts===
:>I did not issue any orders to the company I had just been placed in charge of.
:>I had no desire to disrupt the bonds between the chui and his men, nor to insult them.
:>Instead I acted, and the Chui ordered his men to follow my lead.
:>While I did not, could not remember where every trap was on the field I could spot the discreet telltale markers left behind by the Kaiu, so that Crabs did not bumble into their own traps.
:>The Hiruma, upon hearing the taiko drums signaling our charge, parted to allow us in.
:>As the Hiruma fell back behind us to rest we plowed into and over the Scorpion ashigaru.
:>And the slaughter began.
:>I had seen bushi ripped in half by oni.
:>I had stood upon the wall and faced a legion of goblins.
:>I had fought alone in the dark of the tunnels beneath the Wall against the corpses of men and women I had called friends less than an hour ago.
:>But this... this turned my stomach in ways none of that ever could.
:>No matter how horrible, how disgusting the shadowlands could be, there was danger and heroism in combating it.
:>This...
:>I killed a peasant who was weeping openly after his bamboo spear broke on my armor.
:>I had to do this. If I stood idle those peasants would bear me to the ground and kill me.
:>If I fought with anything less than my best, then my kin, my fellow Crab, would be in danger.
:>Naomi would be in danger.
:>But that didn't change how weak these peasants were.
:>So I bellowed challenges.
:>I did not just kill my foes, I maimed them.
:>I made sure each one died screaming under my tetsubo.
:>I lifted a peasant with one hand, and after holding him aloft long enough for all to see I tossed him into a pit like a sack of grain.
:>I resolved that I would be more terrible than their Scorpion masters, hopefully breaking their will and causing them to rout.
:>This was all I could do to try and limit the carnage.
:>It began to work.
:>I AM HIDA ISHIGAKI! COME, SO THAT I MAY KILL YOU ALL!
:>Instead of coming, a circle opened around me, and it kept getting wider.

:>IF YOU WILL NOT COME TO ME, THEN I WILL COME TO YOU!
:>I shouldered my tetsubo, and began to stride forward.
:>I made sure to strut a bit, showing disdain for my foes.
:>They backed away three steps for every one I took.
:>It was working..
:>Thwipthwip.
:>Two jagged bits of metal struck my armor.
:>I looked in the direction they had come from, and saw several figures in red and black armor stepping out from behind the ashigaru.
:>One of them cut the head from a peasant soldier.
:>COWARDS! You will fight the enemy and die, or you will simply die!
:>The ashigaru began to hesitate, reconsidering their retreat.
:>NOT IF I KILL YOU, SCORPION!
:>I ran towards him, and he raised his katana to deflect my attack.
:>His defense was good, he guided my tetsubo up and over his head.
:>And then his fellows attacked me, trying to cut across my back.
:>I turned aside and what would have been a deep cut to my back skittered off my sode.
:>He did slice my bicep as his blade passed, but it was little more than a light nick.
:>As I turned to face the one that struck me, he leapt back several feet.
:>And the first one stabbed at the back of my legs, trying to hamper me further.
:>But I had expected as much from Scorpion, and I shoved the end of my tetsubo back into the stomach of the Scorpion behind me.
:>I caught him as he was charging in, and he staggered back and fell on his ass.
:>The one who had been backing away could only watch as I spun around, snapping my tetsubo across the face of the sitting Scorpion.
:>He screamed in pure fury as I slew his kinsman and rushed at me with wild swings.
:>I batted one aside, a second slid past my thigh armor.
:>Another shallow sound.
:>I returned his gift tenfold.
:>My tetsubo shattered metal plates, and bones alike, and the Scorpion fell.
:>That was more than the ashigaru could bear.
:>The ones nearest me threw down their spears and began to run.
:>Slowly, the rout began to spread.
:>Only for it to be halted by the arrival of more Scorpion samurai.

:>And not a few.
:>Dozens.
:>I looked around.
:>No, not dozens.
:>Hundreds.
:>Was the Scorpion general panicking?
:>There were still thousands of ashigaru yet; it was too soon for the Scorpion samurai to take the field...
:>Whatever. There were enemies in front of me.
:>I heard the taiko drums, and smiled.
:>Shouldering my tetsubo, I waved the Scorpion to come and get me.
:>They obliged, and ran straight into burning spheres hurled by the Kaiu siege engines.
:>The Scorpion had underestimated the precision of the Kaiu.
:>When they built the traps, they had also carefully marked off ranges.
:>As the Scorpion line reeled from the siege engine fire, a cloud of arrows fell upon them, and their first lines fell like wheat before a scythe.
:>The Scorpion samurai broke and began to run.
:>Too easy.
:>The Chui raised his masakari, prepared in to order an advance.
:>I leaned in close to him, my back to the troops.
:>It wouldn't do to question his orders openly in front of his men, after all.
:>The Hiruma lead overeager pursuers into traps all the time...
:>I know Ishigaki-san, but we must run them all down. If we don't we'll never find the Scorpion Maho-Tsukai and clear our name!
:>I sighed inwardly. Fellow Crab or not, I just couldn't seem to change anyone's mind lately...
:>Then I had no choice but to follow the flow of events and hope I could avert disaster at the last moment with a well timed severe beating.
:>I prayed to my ancestors I would have the wisdom to see the moment to act when it came.
:>We formed up into a checkered formation, so that each bushi had another on his left and right just behind him.
:>The first ranks focused on knocking down enemies, while those who followed delivered the killing blows.
:>Hiruma ran ahead of our steadily advancing formation on the flanks, nipping at the fleeing Scorpion and keeping the ashigaru at bay.
:>The Scorpion were lightly armored, and were able to keep ahead of us for a time.
:>Then a humming bulb went up, and the Scorpion wheeled.
:>I knew it.

:>Hidden Scorpion threw off grass cloaks and unleashed a volley of arrow fire.
:>No time, nowhere to take cover...
:>It was close enough, and numerous enough, that the first line of Crabs fell.
:>I glanced down at my armor.
:>I looked like the block of tofu used during the women's rite for needles.
:>In a very clumsy household.
:>I could feel wet warmth spreading under my armor, but I had no way to tell how serious my injuries were
:>And the Scorpion were not about to give me time to check.
:>They rushed in, pressing their advantage.
:>These Scorpion were all armed with Yari, and moved in seamless coordination.
:>I could see that these were an elite unit of the Scorpion army; they had clearly drilled extensively together.
:>Others ran past me, further into the ranks of the Hida.
:>I found myself facing off against three at once.
:>They jabbed their Yari at me, feinting to keep me back and out of range, and began to circle around me.
:>I knew that as soon as one sensed an opening he would bury his yari in my flesh.
:>So I looked down.
:>Watching their feet.
:>The instant the one behind me moved forward and ran at the one just in front of me.
:>He was not expecting that.
:>I knocked him down and kept going.
:>The others had to chase me to keep up.
:>Now it was my turn to wheel and strike.
:>Their light armor was no match for my tetsubo.
:>The two chasing me hit the ground, but the third was able to, after picking himself up, charge into me with his yari.
:>He was strong, stronger than I expected from a Scorpion.
:>His blade pierced through my do, and I spat up bright red blood.
:>Not good, that.
:>I grabbed the haft of the yari before he could withdraw it.
:>I spun my body and yanked him off balance.
:>Ripping the Yari free I tossed it aside as I advanced.
:>He was too slow in regaining his feet, and I smashed the back of his head with my tetsubo
:>It was a bit hard to breathe now.
:>I focused my mind, drawing upon my training, and assumed the stance of the Indomitable Warrior.
:>I had been hurt worse than this, before.

:>I looked around.
:>The battle had moved on.
:>I was alone, surrounded by the dead.
:>At least these ones weren't still moving.
:>... yet.
:>Well then, since I've got time.
:>I reached behind me, into the small pack I wore on my obi and pulled out bandages and ointments.
:>I bound up my injuries as best I could, loosening my armor just enough to get to my wounds before tightening the cords.
:>A groan caught my attention.
:>Someone else wasn't quite dead out here.
:>At least, I hoped that groan came from someone who was only dying, and not already dead.
:>I looked around and my hopes were proven right.
:>Bayushi Kentaro was laying on his back, an arrow jutting from his clavicle and his leg torn and twisted.
:>I could see bone poking out from his mangled limb.
:>He looked up at me as I approached him and chuckled without any mirth.
:>I see, I see.
:>The fortunes do favor you, it seems...
:>He weakly fumbled for his tanto, and tried to raise it to his neck.
:>I smacked the blade from his hand.
:>It's not enough for you...?
:>You want to take me prisoner as well?!
:>Allowing oneself to be captured was a source of unimaginable shame for a bushi.
:>Most who suffer such fate, should they be released later, will ask for permission to commit seppuku.
:>It's why eta often take small knives with them when they go to retrieve the fallen.
:>Even having you throat slit by an eta is better than being captured.
:>It's also why most samurai, if they see an enemy that is surrounded and clearly preparing to kill himself, will let him do so.
:>But I had something different in mind.
:>The Scorpion never forgave.
:>The Scorpion never forget.
:>I wondered, if the Scorpion never forgetting also applied to the debts a Scorpion owed.
:>If I was wrong, nothing would change at all.
:>If I was right however...
:>I got out some more bandages
:>Kentaro looked at me in horror as he guessed what I was about to do.

:>No, NO!
:>I pulled the arrow from his body, and he hissed in pain.
:>I need to set your leg, or you'll end up like Toshiro.
:>Damn YOU! Just kill me already!
:>Instead I wrapped some bandages around the haft of the arrow and jammed it sideways in his mouth.
:>Shut up.
:>On san.
:>Ichi.
:>Ni.
:>I yanked on his leg, straightening out the break.
:>He screamed against the arrow and bit clean through it.
:>Then Kentaro's eyes rolled up and his head lolled off to the side.
:>... san.
:>I coughed up a little more blood as I cut some bamboo spears up to make a splint.
:>Damn, this is annoying. The shortness of breath was making my head swim a bit, and my vision was getting dark at the edges.
:>I blinked my eyes a few times and shook my head.
:>That last part was a mistake.
:>When my vision cleared I was on my knees, propped up by my hand, and staring at the ground.
:>Damn. I was injured worse than I realized.
:>When you're trained so harshly, when your greatest strength is to endure pain and fatigue, it can surprise you when those things finally catch up to you.
:>Hah. Naomi really had spoiled me rotten.
:>I finished binding Kentaro's wounds then took a brief moment to rest myself.
:>While I rested, I oriented myself.
:>The battle was back there, which meant the Scorpion came from... that way.
:>I scooped up Kentaro's unconscious body and started walking.
:>Toshiro... I know you're out here somewhere in all this chaos...
:>But where?
:>I need to tell you so much.
:>I coughed again.
:>And I need some healing magic... or that wound might just kill me.

:>I walked for what felt like hours.
:>My mind went numb, and my vision swam.
:>Just one foot in front of the other now.
:>One more step.
:>One more step.
:>One more-
:>An arrow thudded into the ground in front of me.
:>I looked up.
:>Several Scorpion were beginning to encircle me.
:>Did you get lost, Crab-san?
:>Nope.
:>I was just looking for you.
:>I knelt, slowly, and laid Kentaro down.
:>I think this belongs to you...
:>I took a step back as a Scorpion samurai-ko ran to check on Kentaro.
:>She glanced back at the one who spoke, and nodded.
:>I turned around to leave
:>The Scorpion all leveled their yari.
:>Why?
:>Why did you bring him back? Treat his wounds?
:>I spoke over my shoulder.
:>Scorpion never forget, right?
:>Does that include their debts as well as their grudges?
:>My name is Hida Ishigaki.
:>Now, are you going to move, or do I have to move you?
:>Don't be so full of yourself Crab, you can barely stand.
:>Or were you thinking we would just let you walk away because we owed you.
:>No. I was thinking you'd leave my family out of the vengeance you have planned for me.
:>Of course, if you can kill me here and now, then I won't have to worry about that either.
:>IF?
:>... if.
:>I did turn to look at him then.
:>I've killed Oni, while in worse shape than I'm now.
:>How many of you will I take with me, I wonder?
:>So... do you want to find out with me, Scorpion?
:>MATE!
:>That voice...
:>I looked over to the shout.
:>Thump.
:>Drag.
:>Thump.
:>Drag.
:>Toshiro came thumpdraging up to me.
:>He looked a bit worse for the wear, his Kimono dirtied and torn.
:>A bandage wrapped around his forehead, with blood soaking through.
:>What the hell...?
:>The others were right behind him, including Otomo-Jun.
:>What happened to you?!
:>He looked me up and down.
:>Then blasted me in the face with jade fire.
:>Uh. Yeah. Hello to you too.
:>So...what the hell happened to you?
:>We've found the Bloodspeaker.
:>It was Bayushi Satsuma!
:>You're sure?
:>Found his Jade Petal Tea.

:>The Scorpion exploded in protest.
:>WHAT?! This is some Crab Plot!
:>Otomo Jun looked at the Scorpion.
:>Crab... PLOT?
:>Have you taken leave of your senses Scorpion?!
:>Crabs do not 'plot' anything!
:>Toshiro and I exchanged a glance as he pulled out a scroll and prayed.
:>Jun had just dismissed an accusation against my clan out of hand...
:>... by insisting that Crabs were too stupid to do what we were just accused of doing.
:>I felt the usual sting of the water kami roughly binding my spirit back to my body.
:>Toshiro was also rough with his healing magic.
:>I missed Naomi even more.
:>... Naomi!
:>Toshiro. Am I an idiot?
:>He looked at me.
:>Do you want me to answer that honestly?
:>I told him of what I had seen in the Crab camp, and how Touka had roused my suspicions.
:>Monkey looked at me.
:>...but Satsuma is the bloodspeaker...
:>I mean, BOTH generals?
:>What would even be the point?
:>Kitsuki-san answered him.
:>Five thousand Crab Samurai.
:>Two thousand five hundred Scorpion samurai.
:>Ten thousand Ashigaru.
:>Another thousand peasant laborers and eta, at least.
:>He looked gravely at each of us.
:>That is quite a lot of blood. And quite a lot of bodies.
:>Ishigaki-san just said it. It seemed like Touka was deliberately trying to make this as bloody as possible.
:>Well, it seemed that Satsuma was doing the same thing.
:>...
:>Uh, so did you manage to kill Satsuma?
:>Toshiro shook his head
:>Too many Scorpion that didn't believe it.
:>He flicked his eyes towards Jun.
:>I see. They had to run away to protect the Otomo.
:>Well, I'm not certain about Touka...
:>And even if he IS a bloodspeaker, there's just no way so many Crabs are in on it...
:>Toshiro nodded.
:>That's true, Jun-sama.
:>We should make for the Crab castle, and determine once and for all if Touka is a Bloodspeaker or not...
:>Jun paused to consider Toshiro's words
:>She was dirty and disheveled, just like the rest of them. Though unlike the others, she bore no wounds.
:>Hmmm. Very well then. We'll do as you suggest.

:>We picked our way carefully back to the castle.
:>With the Scorpion.
:>That was going to make problems.
:>Jun-sama, I would suggest you show your seal more openly.
:>Will that not make it easier for the Maho-Tsukai to target me?
:>Kitsuki-san bowed his head.
:>Forgive me for saying so, but you are as of yet unharmed, are you not, Jun-sama?
:>Well, yes...
:>Then please, trust us to continue to see to your safety.
:>It will be easier to protect you from a few bloodspeakers than it will be to keep you from harm should the Crab army see and attack this group of Scorpions.
:>Jun looked around.
:>Sighed.
:>And looped her seal around her neck, showing it prominently on her chest.
:>She stared up the the sky for a moment.
:>I want to take a bath...
:>We all do Jun-sama. Please, bear with it just a bit longer.
:>Alright. Let's get going.
:>As we neared the castle I held up my hands in a sign that meant 'Don't kill us. There's a good explanation, though it's a bit long'.
:>As several Hida came out to surround us Jun stepped out into view.
:>The Crab Taisa narrowed his eyes behind his mempo.
:>The Scorpion must stay outside.
:>Was all he said.
:>At that, the Hida relaxed their stances.
:>The Scorpion did likewise.
:>Though you could cut the tension in the air with a parangu.
:>As we entered into the castle I noticed it was far, far too empty.
:>Oi, where the hell is everyone?
:>The Taisa glanced at me.
:>Touka-sama led a counter charge of most of the Hida after the Scorpion Samurai showed themselves.
:>He shrugged.
:>I'm not really sure how it happened, but this battle became very chaotic very quickly.
:>Everything is a mess out there.
:>... not good.
:>I went to check on Naomi.
:>As I suspected the medical tents had filled up quickly.
:>Exhausted looking Kuni moved from futon to futon, doing what they could with magic and medicine.
:>As I neared Naomi's futon I heard one Hiruma arguing with the Kuni.
:>He wanted to rejoin the battle, but the Kuni was adamant he was in condition to do so.

:>Ah, Ishigaki-sama!
:>The Kuni woman I had spoken too earlier greeted me.
:>You look exhausted.
:>And you look half dead!
:>Well, that is better than what we had heard, anyway.
:>Oh?
:>There was rumor going around the Scorpion had overrun your unit's position and killed you, Ishigaki-sama.
:>Huh. Well, I'm not dead, as you can see.
:>Ishi...gaki-kun?
:>I took Naomi's hands in mine the second I realized she was awake.
:>She struggled a bit, then sat up.
:>Her eyes were red and swollen.
:>She woke up a few hours ago...just in time to hear the gossip...
:>I see.
:>The Kuni woman bowed and left us.
:>Naomi's eyes teared up again, with relief this time.
:>She threw her arms around me.
:>ISHIGAKI-KUN!
:>I hugged her right back, and basked in the jealous stares of the other wounded Crab.
:>Ishigaki-kun, I've heard such awful rumors, what has been going on?!
:>Well, we're a bit worried that both commanders are bloodspeakers and were deliberately trying to make this war as bloody as possible...
:>Naomi looked at me in horror.
:>You... you aren't joking about that, are you...?
:>I shook my head.
:>BULLSHIT!
:>That Scorpion sure, but Touka-sama?!
:>It's just a susp...
:>Monkey came running in.
:>ISHIGAKI-SAN!
:>ISHI... Oh, hey Naomi-sama.
:>Ishigaki...we found it.
:>...IT?
:>He nodded.
:>Yeah. IT.
:>Had it mixed together with some macha.
:>I should have know a Crab doing the tea ceremony was proof he was a tainted monster..
:>Ah, help me up...
:>Naomi, you're...
:>... Not as badly injured as most here.
:>Help me, Ishigaki-kun.
:>I nodded and lifted her out of her futon.
:>Once we got outside I set her down.
:>She wobbled a bit, and I steadied her.
:>My legs are just stiff from laying around too much, that is all.
:>She gave me her brave smile.
:>The danger is far passed for me, so do not make that face at me, Ishigaki-kun.
:>I didn't even realize I was making a face, Naomi.
:>You never do, silly.
:>Monkey jerked his head.
:>C'mon, Jun and Toshiro are talking to the rest of the Crab command right now.

:>Save Touka and Goemon, the rest of the Crab command was present.
:>They were all staring at the macha.
:>Matemon shifted through it some more.
:>Damn. Damn. Damn.
:>He flipped the table with the tea on it over.
:>That BASTARD!
:>RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE!
:>Matemon looked to Kazuya.
:>Goemon isn't here, so you're next in the chain Kazuya.
:>What are your orders?
:>Send out the signal to recall all forces, and that Touka is to be relieved of command and captured if possible. If not, kill him.
:>The attendant ran up to the top of the castle, and the drums began to beat.
:>Kazuya looked at Jun.
:>You say the Scorpion are not convinced on the whole of their commander's betrayal.
:>Jun nodded.
:>They are not, the Scorpion do value loyalty to their superiors more than anything else...
:>A shout came up from Kitsuki-san.
:>He had a stack of papers in front of him.
:>What is it, Kitsuki-san?
:>A map! Quickly, I need a map of the area!
:>Toshiro nodded to Kazuya, who yelled for a map.
:>A peasant ran in and handed a map over to Kenshiro, who spread it out over the table once that had been righted.
:>Kitsuki-san looked over the map.
:>Jun-sama, your scribe takes excellent notes. You should reward him.
:>He then set about marking numbers down in various places on the map.
:>What are we looking at here...?
:>Shh. You'll see it soon.
:>As Kitsuki-san withdrew his hand, Matemon and Toshiro both hissed.
:>Naomi gasped.
:>Oh no...
:>I looked around, wondering if anyone one else was a clueless as I was.
:>Mantis-san obviously was, and just as obviously didn't like it.
:>Alright, you gonna fill the rest of us in on what you're seeing?
:>Naomi answered.
:>This pattern, it is a very ominous shape.
:>Matemon nodded. These numbers carry ill fortune as well.
:>Kitsuki-san spoke.
:>That's how many troops were sent to each area of the battlefield.
:>Kazuya looked.
:>Wait, are these numbers here the Scorpion forces?
:>Yes, I had a chance to review the notes of the Scribe Jun-sama left with the Scorpion as well.
:>Kazuya stroked his chin.

:>Kazuya yelled for the highest ranked Scorpion in the force that came with us to be led in.
:>When he arrived, Kazuya pointed to the map.
:>Look here, and here.
:>This shows when, where, and how many troops were deployed be each commander during this war.
:>Do you see it?
:>The Scorpion looked, then swore.
:>I looked over his shoulder, my curiosity piqued.
:>And I saw it too.
:>There was no way this battle occurred naturally.
:>Forces were being ordered to go the same area by two different commanders within minutes of each other.
:>Forces with just enough numbers and types of troops that they would be relatively equal.
:>Over and over again the pattern repeated itself.
:>Far too many times to be a coincidence.
:>And you say there is a mystical significance as well?
:>Matemon nodded.
:>This shape here...
:>Matemon used his finger to trace a line from each point where the forces clashed.
:>It makes a kanji. A very terrible kanji, only used in blasphemous curses.
:>...
:>Any word on Touka, or Satsuma yet?
:>Not yet...
:>I wondered about that.
:>Touka had taken to the field himself.
:>Why?
:>It was then that everything went red.
:>Deep, dark red.
:>Oh, oh shit.
:>Because he and Satsuma were ready to finish what they had started... that's why.