It felt like a thousand needles had imbedded themselves onto his skin. Wasuren had never been burned by fire before, courtesy of the blessing of Amaterasu. But for the first time in his life, he felt the stinging pain of his seared flesh as he forced himself up from the forest ground. His trousers were ripped and bloody. A few feet in front of him, Tadayori was doing his best to assist Masaki onto his feet.
The air smelled of burnt flesh and ash. Trees were blown apart, and the land was black with burned wood and blood. Wasuren looked down at his hands, his already broken katana was still clenched tightly in his palm. It's scabbard was no where to be found. He made his way to Tadayori with a limp at every step. He placed Masaki's other arm on his shoulder and the three of them made their way out of the forest. As the walked Wasuren spotted an intermediate tier Sarugami spying on them from the top of a tree.
"T-Tadayori.." Wasuren called softly.
Tadayori nodded, "I see them too. There are more, but they're not attacking. Maybe they're afraid... I hope they're afraid."
Wasuren frowned. "Let's get out of here I have no more strength in me for another fight.
As they made their way out, a towering figure emerged from deep within the forest onto the battlefield. The figure walked at a steady pace untill it reached the metal club that belonged to the previous advanced tier Sarugami. It's big muscular and furry hands lifted up the club and placed it on his shoulder.
----
It was a cold afternoon in Hinokagura, the clouds obscured the brightness of the sun making the district look grey. People went about their daily activities unaware of the disaster taking place in Aoshima. The patrol archers at the arch that led to Kagurajo castle town, caught sight of two samurai dressed in battered red armor riding a horse towards the town. They knocked arrows and aimed. Just then, the soldiers lifted up a small hand made white flag.
Below, dressed in his signature sleeveless black gi, Kaito Hoshigami, appeared at the foot of the arch. When the riders got within a few feet of him, they disembarked from their steeds. Kaito watched with caution as they walked with obvious injuries towards him.
"You are samurai from Aoshima." Kaito spoke as he traced their red armor with his eyes, "state your business."
The samurai, too exhausted to speak pulled out a letter and handed it to Kaito. He observed the seal of the Aoshima village on the letter, and beneath that was written: to the Hoshigami head.
Kaito turned to a samurai beside him. "See to it that these men are taken care of and well rested."
---
Few minutes passed and Kaito arrived at Harunobu's chambers. Harunobu was having a discussion with Raizen who was seated beside him.
"This just arrived from Aoshima." Kaito stated with a bowed head as he presented the letter to the Daimyo. Harunobu took the letter, broke the seal and read it. When he was done, he handed it to Raizen with a frown. A few moments later, Raizen had a similar frown on his face.
"May I ask what the issue is?" Kaito asked.
"The Okami no Banshi was overwhelmed." Raizen replied, "there was an advanced tier and more than 5 hundred intermediate ones. They are sarugami."
"What about the captain Masaki?" Kaito asked.
Raizen sighed. "As of the time this letter was written, he was engaged with the advanced tier ... along with the bastard, Wasuren."
Kaito folded his arms in thought. "Who shall we send? Will you go father?"
"No." Harunobu interjected. " I need my senior Hatamoto by my side. If any heads leave for a village as small as Aoshima, it'll make the other Daimyos think us weak."
"Then i-"
"Send Raikou." Harunobu commanded. "He has 50 samurai with him, that should be enough."
Kaito hesitated then bowed and left.
---
Hoshigami Raikou was born two years before Wasuren and three years after Kaito. He, like every Hoshigami before him had to learn and master the blessing of Amaterasu at a young age. He was not a genius child but he wasn't sloppy either. At a young age of eighteen, he had proven himself a noteworthy samurai and already had several samurai at his beck and call. Seeing his competence, the Daimyo Harunobu, allowed him to be the leader of his own band of samurai similar to the Okami no Banshi. Although he had led his samurai through several hunts and missions, he had not one defining story to his name.
Like all pure bred Hoshigami, Raikou has the signature white hair and golden eyes.
He was busy having his hair braided when Kaito walked through the doors.
"Why didn't he send you? You're Hatamoto." Raikou said snarkily.
"Leave us." Kaito said to the women braiding Raikou's hair." They hastily left the room.
Raikou stood up with a stomp. "What now? Look Kaito I do-" but in a flash, Kaito's hand was around his neck and flames sparkled around him.
"Even the bastard understands respect, yet you speak as though a dog who's muzzle has just been cut." Kaito growled, "Daimyo gave a command, frankly I don't know why he picked you but he did. Yet you're complaining instead of jumping at an opportunity to prove yourself."
"Get your hands off me brother." Raikou snapped and grabbed his brother's arm, forcing it off his neck. "Firstly, never in your life touch me like that every again, and second who the hell do you think I am? I am not some dog that hops at the sound of a whistle when ever grandfather calls. Now you may have some grand ambition but I'm quite happy where I am. It's not my fault you weren't picked to go on this mission and I'm not sorry I was picked over you. Now get your head out of your ass and tell me the details so I can do my job and get back to braiding my hair. And would you please stop glowing before you burn my carpets?"
---
Raikou had donned his armor. His armor looked to be covered in dark blue scales, his helmet had eyes at the sight. His single katana and dagger at his side.
He walked into the yard where fifty other samurai were, all ready in armor.
"You heard the news, the Okami no Banshi couldn't hold their own, so we're going to bail them out."
He turned around as red flames burst from his feet. "Try to keep up boys." He yelled and vanished from their sight.