Section 8: The Fierce and the Invincible, Under the Drizzling Rain (2/2)

Man oh man, I'm exhausted...

At least we should be able to take a breather now.

Yeah. And at least numberwise, we're finally at a point where we can just about fight them on even terms.

That said, the way things are going, we're just going to wear ourselves out again eventually...

Yeah. It's a good thing my Alter and the others showed up when they did to give us a break, but the situation itself still hasn't changed.

Plus, even if we're able to push them back, it doesn't amount to anything more than buying time.

Unfortunately, we still don't have a way to break this stalemate...

Indeed. As things stand now, I'm afraid fighting a war of attrition is the only option we have...

Actually, we might just be able to do something about that.

？！

It took a little longer than I wanted, but I finally found their base.

YOU found their base!? Really!?

Dammit, now I'll have to keep an eye out for flying pigs...

What's that supposed to mean!?

Wooow! That's amazing, Okada! Way to go!

I told you to call me "Mr. Okada"!

Anyway, heh, it was all because that Saito idiot slipped up.

He was lurking around spying on you, so I just tailed him until he led us straight to their base.

Izo then got the bright idea of sneaking into their base all by himself, so Oryou conked him on his big dumb head and brought him back.

Way to go, Oryou! That was definitely the right call!

Don't be an idiot! If Oryou hadn't stopped me, I'd've already killed them all by now!

...

Anyway, I'd say this probably gives us a fighting chance, don't you think?

Yeah, it does. Now we've just gotta hope those guys have a way to fix this situation.

I'd have to think they do, since I'm sure they don't want things to stay like this forever, either.

If nothing else, I'm pretty sure they know how to stop those Ominous Gods.

Then it would seem our next move is to attack their base.

Yup. And since waiting will only put us at more of a disadvantage, we should get going right away!

That said, we still need to keep the Ominous Gods from making progress, so some people'll have to stay behind to hold them off.

Ahh, that's the stuff... Oh, I'll stay here and keep fighting.

Now that the Mori brat challenged me to a contest...

...I need to do an even more spectacular job of crushing those Ominous Gods!

Oryou and I'll stay behind, too. We're still fresh, since we haven't done any fighting yet.

Something about this place really suits Oryou, so don't worry. Oryou's got this.

All right, Izo, we're counting on you to show everyone else the way, and to keep Master safe.

Tch... All right, fine.

Then it's settled! The rest of us'll come with Futuro and me to bust into the enemy's home base!

Sounds good.

Come on, Okita. Let's go finish what we started.

Right... I know, Mr. Hijikata.

Okay then, we should probably get going.

Wait. I'm coming too.

I need to make those guys pay for killing my sister!

Lord Nobukatsu...

？！

Right. Let's go, Senpai!

...

...You ready, Okita?

...Yes. I know what I have to do, Mr. Hijikata.

...

...Leave those two to us.

？！

...Let's go, Master.

Okay, their base is just up ahead.

H-hang on... I need...to catch my breath...

Why did you even come along, anyway?

Up ahead, huh? Okay, let's make our way in.

It's about time you got here, Vice Commander.

Y-you! And, that outfit...

Mr. Saito...

What, don't tell me you're gonna face us all by yourself?

You got soldiers nearby waiting to ambush us or something?

Serizawa's just up ahead.

He does have a lot of low-level soldiers guarding him, but I doubt they'll be a problem for you guys.

Huh? Why are you telling us this?

Saito, does this mean

Good work, Saito. Come on, everyone. Let's go.

Huh!? What's going on!?

？！

There was no way Saito Hajime, Captain of the Third Unit, would ever betray the Shinsengumi. Not now, not ever.

Thanks, Vice Commander. I appreciate the vote of confidence.

Doesn't change the fact that this kind of work is a major pain in the ass, though.

Still, I guess that's just my lot in the Shinsengumi, since nobody else is up to the task.

The only thing on almost everyone else's mind was how to improve their swordplay, after all.

Th-then, you mean

Now hurry up and get going already.

They might figure out what's up if you take too long.

Thank you, Mr. Saito!

Hang on, Okita. Not you.

You, I can't let in.

Huh? Wh-why not?

I don't mind if you go on, Vice Commander, but not Okita.

That's my condition for letting the rest of you pass. Take it or leave it.

...Got it. Come on, Fujimaru.

Hey! Since when do you call the shots!?

Why should we even listen to anything this guy says, anyway!?

Shut up, vagrant.

Try and get in my way, and I'll cut you down, too.

YOU, cut ME down?

...Go on, Master. It's okay.

Mr. Saito and I just have some unfinished business.

？！

We don't have time to argue about this. I'm counting on you, Mr. Hijikata.

I know... See you, Saito.

Yeah, yeah. Just get going already.

Senpai...

？！

Okay, got it.

Let's go, guys.

What the hell's going on here, anyway?

Hmph. Who cares about them?

Okay, you two, we're gonna get going. But it's okay.

I know you'll both come back to us later!

The hell's she talking about?

Ugh. There's something about that queen that really throws me off my game...

...

Oh, great. And now it's raining.

All right, Okita, if you want to turn around and go back the way you came, we can call it a day here and now.

So...what're you gonna do?

...I'm going to get past you, one way or another.

Yeah, that's what I figured you'd say.

In the end, it always did come down to brute force with you. Not just for your swordplay, either. For everything.

Can I at least ask you why you're doing this?

You wanna know why? Hmm. You know how Servants all have their own desires, whether trite or grand?

Well, mine's to settle the score with you once and for all.

It never seemed right to me that everyone thought you were the best swordfighter in the Shinsengumi.

Huh. So you're finally willing to cross swords with me, even though you were never willing to when we were alive? What brought this on?

Well, c'mon, isn't it obvious?

If I'd fought you...

...I'd have killed you.

We'll see about that!

What the...!? When'd these guys get here!? I've gotta tell the comman

Too slow, fake Wolf of Mibu!

Mwahahaha! I have to say, fake or not, it feels damn good to cut those wolves down where they stand!

？！

Never mind the weaklings getting in our way! Just cut 'em all down!

Slow down, Hijikata! You're moving too fast!

How are you two doing, Nobukatsu, Little Brother? Can you keep up?

Gaaah! Why'm I the one stuck carrying the tortoise!

I'm terribly sorry about this, Lord Nobukatsu. If it would be easier, please just roll me!

I'll help too!

...What's the meaning of this, Yamanami?

What are you talking about, sir?

Saito I can understand. I never thought he was genuinely on board with me in the first place.

But you, Yamanami... I thought you and I were on the exact same page.

Does that mean you suspect me of betraying you, Commander Serizawa?

What do you think, genius!?

Kondou made you literally spill your guts, but now you're still betraying me again!? Huh!?

I made a decision to bet on you this time, Commander Serizawa.

As such, I have every intention of following you into hell itself if necessary.

Truth be told, I'm hurt that you would even suspect me of betraying you.

...

Well damn, sorry about that. I didn't mean it.

Those fools causing that commotion outside just got me a little worked up, is all.

Of course you'd never betray me. Not after Kondou made you commit seppuku.

After all, you and I both know what it's like to die at the hands of our fellow Shinsengumi.

...

...So, you made it this far.

It's over, Mr. Saito!

Like hell it is!

...

Ugh, this sucks...

This is exactly why I never wanted to cross swords with you.

The whole reason my swordplay's invincible is 'cause I made it a point never to fight anyone stronger than me...

Mr. Saito... So that's what this was about.

Huh? What're you talking about?

You didn't want me to see Mr. Yamanami again, did you?

...

Back then...I was the one who ended Mr. Yamanami's life.

You wanted to spare me from having to do that again, didn't you?

...

...

...As if I'd care about crap like that.

I just didn't like how everyone thought you were the Shinsengumi's fiercest warrior, that's all.

...Nothing more to it than that.

I see...

You always were like that, weren't you, Mr. Saito?

You're such a Snarksengumi.

...

Thank you, Mr. Saito...

Thank you for watching over Mr. Hijikata and the Shinsengumi right to the very end...

...Don't bother. I never watched over anything.

Yes, you did. I know you did.

You were there for Mr. Kondou, Mr. Hijikata, and everyone else in the Shinsengumi...

Tch. It's not like that at all.

I just go with whatever choice seems more interesting, that's all.

...Nothing more to it than that.

...

Hey, Okita.

Yes?

...Did you always have that light in your eyes?

Good question. I'm afraid I couldn't tell you.

Gotcha... I guess you couldn't, could you...

...Well, what're you waiting for? Go on, get outta here.

Okay...

What now? Something else to say?

...Your swords of freedom were really strong, Mr. Saito.

The strongest of any opponent I've faced so far.

...

...See, Okita, this is what you don't get.

That really doesn't matter once you've lost.