Section 2: Nice-Gai

Hrn!

Whoa! How the hell is this guy so strong!?

Even with two swords, there's so much power behind each swing!

I finally caught up, my lord! Allow me to assist you!

You've come at just the right time!

But be wary. These are no ordinary opponents!

Understood!

Damn! Reinforcements!

Hraaaaaah!

Not gonna happen! Okita!

Got it!

Guh!

You are as strong as I thought! But this isn't over!

Ghh... I can't believe how little trouble he's having taking both of us on!

Dammit! Both that Lord Imagawa and this guy are too damn strong! This just isn't my day.

Mr. Saito, the reinforcements may be manageable, but this armored warrior clearly has a wealth of experience!

In fact, I think I've seen this dual-wielding style somewhere before...

Your swordplay is as sharp as ever. It's no wonder you were known as the Stalwart Sword and the Invincible Sword.

Sharp as ever? Wait. Are you

A familiar dual-wielding style... Sheer strength... No way. It can't be!

Yeah. I don't know whose sick, twisted joke this is, but I ain't laughing.

You're right... It has to be him.

...Hattori Takeo, of the Goryou Eji.

I should have known you would figure it out eventually.

It's been a while, I know, but...what the hell happened to you?

Are you really the same Takeo we knew?

I mean, you always had bulky armor, but you never looked anything like...that! And you definitely didn't have horns!

My appearance isn't the only thing that has changed.

L-Lord Hattori!

Forgive me. Instead of coming to your aid, I only got in your way.

No, I'm glad you're here. I would happily take you over a hundred ordinary soldiers.

Gurk! M-my lord, what are you

Those wounds are fatal. Now, your spirit will live on in me as you become part of my own flesh.

N-no... Please...

Rest in peace, comrade. I will avenge you.

The hell? Did you just absorb that guy?

Everything I do, I do to avenge my comrades who perished in Abura-no-Koji.

You may have caught me by surprise back then, but now, I am prepared for anything.

I will not lose to the Shinsengumi again. Not even the great Okita Souji or Saito Hajime.

We'll see about that. Let's do this, Okita!

So we're going up against Mr. Takeo...

Then I'll give it everything I've got!

He's so insanely strong! I know Hattori was always strong as hell, but this is something else entirely!

Wherever it's coming from, Mr. Saito, it's the real deal!

So it would seem... And this when our plates are already more than full!

The souls of my fallen comrades fill my body with power born from their desire for revenge.

So it wasn't just him? You've been absorbing other people, too!?

And what if I have?

Are you, who betrayed countless comrades without a second thought, going to stand here and judge me?

Comrades...

Now, the time has come for you to face up to the heinous murders you committed against me and my comrades...

...and atone for them!

Full throttle-bu! Left! Right! Left, nobbu!

Aaah! What the hell are those things!? They just popped up out of nowhere!

We're the fastest ones on the mountain pass, nobu! Full throttle, full speed ahead, nobbuuu!

...This isn't a mountain pass.

In any case, they're certainly quick. We can't outrun them in my van.

...So, I guess this is happening, Master. Yet again.

？！

Indeed. I can sense her magical energy.

She's probably been absorbed, or she's just being used somehow.

We're gonna catch you if it's the last thing we do, or our name isn't the Owari Nobbu Stars, nobu!

Nooobbu Drive!

Crap, they're already catching up to us. Can you take the wheel for a moment?

？！

Really, Master? When did you learn to drive?

Oh, wait. Now that you mention it, I think I did hear something about you having to get your license for something back in summer...

Thanks. Now my hands are free. Be right back.

"Be right back"? Where are you gohey! She just jumped out of the van!

Hey, get off the hood of my car! And you're wearing SHOES!? I just waxed this thing, nobu!

...Enemy contact made. Commencing Saika.

Nooobbu drive!?

Next...

H-hey, that violates the Road Traffic Act, nobu! You're gonna get ticketed for that, nobbu!

Oho...

Bahahaha! A Two-Car Hop instead of an Eight-Boat Leap, huh? Not bad. All right, now's our chance to get these people out of here.

You go ahead! We'll catch up once we've retrieved her!

Got it! Good luck, girl!

Okay, Master, we're far enough away now. Let's fight the Nobbus here and keep them away from the people!

I'll thin their numbers out as best I can once we reach the next bend. Be ready!

I wouldn't mind using my spear on the run, but this van is just too cramped!

？！

...You could have gone on ahead.

Compassion will just get you killed.

Ahahahahahaha! Did you hear that, Master? She's not wrong.

But, people also say this: enter a fight prepared to die, and you will live; fight focused on your survival, and you will die!

In other words, there's no point in overthinking it!

Now, kill them!!!

...Okay, we managed to get off the highway. I think we've put enough distance between us that we can stop to rest for a while.

We don't have a lot of time, but we do need to rest. I'll go get some green tea and dumplings.

That will be a big help. Go on, Master. You should get some rest, too.

Thank you, Master. I have to admit, those...creatures we just fought were tougher than I was expecting.

Oh, yeah, I guess they are. They're weirdly tough, too.

？！

Their weird cuteness makes fighting them more difficult. It throws me off every time I take aim at them.

...Here's your tea.

Thank you. Ahh... That's better.

On a different subject, I'm surprised how well the roads are maintained.

The Imagawa built most of the highways and rest stops around here.

He had a highway built going in all directions, and now he's even got cars driving on it, like you just saw.

It really is hard to believe this is the Warring States period... So, what is Imagawa's ultimate goal, anyway?

...He wants to make this country, and its people, strong. Very strong.

That's why he's been taking civilians and using magical energy to turn them into powerful Imagawa soldiers.

Their slogan is, "Demonify the country, strengthen the military," and they've been promoting it across all of Japan.

I see. I've heard of, "Enrich the country, strengthen the military," but "demonify" is new...

In their vision for Japan, might makes right and the weak have no say at all.

As a result, they have lots of people volunteering to become Imagawa soldiers.

That sounds more like the law of the jungle than a civilized society.

Does Imagawa actually believe it's wrong to be weak?

Yes. In Imagawa's eyes, weakness is a crime.

That's especially true for children. They take one look at kids and decide whether they'll be soldiers or slaves.

I see. So that's why they were rounding up those people...

？！

...Master, while it never got quite as far as Imagawa has taken it, this sort of thing wasn't unusual in the Warring States period.

Sometimes, people would be kept as hostages. Other times, they'd be sold as merchandise...

...That's enough of that. We should get moving again.

I doubt the enemy is going to just sit back and let us escape.

Good point. Come on, Master, let's be on our way.

...We should be out of the woods soon. From there, it'll just be a little further to Kai.

Kai, huh... All right, let's go.

Found you, nobu!

I knew the Owari Nobbu Stars were the fastest ones on the highway, nobu!

Well, that didn't take long.

Well done! I'll admit, I had no idea what to do with you...

...things...

...when Lord Hattori gave you to me, but you've proven you can be useful.

We're the fastest ones on the mountain pass for a reason, nobbu! Try not to fall in love with us, nobbu!

All the more reason to hurry and keep goGhh!

...I knew it. Your wound hasn't healed yet.

I-I'm so sorry, Master. I can't keep up the act anymore. The truth is, I'm in pretty bad shape.

Hey! I don't think they're doing so hot!

This is perfect! Get them!

Nooobbu Drive!

Take her and get out of here. I can buy you a little time.

Tch! Don't let them get away! Perform well here, and your reward will be even better cars!

Yay, all that time spent poring over new car catalogs will finally pay off, nobu! I hope I get a good trade-in deal, nobbu!

If you don't want to catch a stray bullet, you need to run like your lives depend on it. So go! Hurry!

？！

...To think a god of war would be reduced to hobbling away from a fight.

Huh? There's more up ahead!?

...

A new enemy!? Come on, Master, let's push past him!

Too slow.

Wha...!?

Hrn!

Ghh! Who are you!? ...No, wait. Is that

You're not getting past me. You'll just have to try your luck elsewhere.

I-I know you!

But, if you insist...

...then I, Takeda, will be your opponent.

Are you okay? ...No, I guess not.

When I heard "Kai," I wondered if you might not be involved, Harunobu. I hoped I was wrong.

？！

That's right. This is Takeda Harunobu, the Tiger of Kai.

Though in your time, Master, I believe he's better known as Takeda Shingen.

That's who stands before us now...

...

You're...Takeda Harunobu...!?

Haha! Way to go! We've got them completely surrounded now.

Thanks for the assistance, General Takeda.

Assistance?

You mean you don't know? Imagawa and Takeda formed an alliance! Now we've got you right where we want you.

...There you have it.

Harunobu, is this about settling the old score between us?

And what if it is?

As if you didn't know. Out of our way!

I knew it. You're too damn slow. Some god of war you turned out to be. Guess this was a wasted trip.

Khh!

Stay down.

Gaah!

？！

H-Hotaru... Take my Master and get him out of here...

...

Hotaru? Not you too!?

You haven't heard? The Saika Group served Imagawa as mercenaries during the Holy Grail Rebellion.

You've been traveling together and you didn't know? Really?

...You lied to us?

Yes, I used to fight for Imagawa as a mercenary. But...no, I wasn't lying to you.

I can't believe this... All right. If nothing else, I have to get Master to safety...

Houshou Tsukige! ...Houshou Tsukige! Khh...

It seems you don't even have enough magical energy left to you to call your horse.

So, when Nagakura What's-his-name said he was taking us to Kai, that's because he was working for you?

...

What happened between us is between us. Master has nothing to do with it.

...Shut up for a minute.

Ghh... M-Master...

Oho, very nice. Good to have you helping us out, General Takeda.

Don't worry about the rest. We'll take it from here.

Wait.

Oh, don't worry. I'll tell Lord Yoshimoto about this so you get a proper reward.

All right, you're all coming with us.

Stay out of this.

Arrrgh! Wh-what do you think you're doing!?

Weren't you listening? You're not getting past me. Try your luck elsewhere.

Wh-what did you say!? The Imagawa and Takeda clans have an alliance. You think you can pull a stunt like this!?

Alliance? ...Oh, right. That.

Consider our alliance null and void.

Wha!? N-null and void? You can't just

Now get out of here. I don't want to see your ugly mug anymore.

Unless...

...you'd like to fight me yourself?

I... H-how dare you mock me!

Hey, you! All of you! Takeda or not, he's still just one man! Go on, get him!

...

What're you doing!? Hurry up and

What a cool guy, nobbu!

And that car... You've got an awesome ride, nobu!

Oh? You can tell?

Any friend of cars is a friend of ours, nobu! Let's go to the mountain pass for a race this weekend, nobu!

You know, your rides aren't half bad, either. I like that shade of red.

Red is the Takeda clan's color. It's wasted on the Imagawa.

You get it, nobbu! The Imagawa's new cars are expensive, the trade-in value sucks, the dealers talk down to you...

Honestly, we're sick and tired of them, nobu!

From now on, we're siding with the Takeda, nobu! What's high-octane fuel cost per gallon with you guys, nobu?

Now YOU'RE double-crossing us too!? I-I can't believe this!

And you! How dare you trick us like thi

Idiot. In turbulent times, people constantly trick and betray each other. Now either shut up, or bring it on.

Khh! Th-this isn't over! You're going to rue the day you chose to defy Lord Yoshimoto!

...Hmph.

Hey, you there. You're the Master of Chaldea, yeah?

Come with me. I want to talk to you.

I'll cut to the chase. I want you and me, the Takeda clan and Chaldea, to form an alliance...

Then listen up. I want you and me, the Takeda clan and Chaldea, to form an alliance...

？！

...and work together to kill Kenshin.

...Where am I?

So, you're awake now.

...

I'm impressed you kept your Spirit Origin intact after facing Lord Yoshimoto. Then again, perhaps I should have expected as much from the Demon Vice Commander.

...Who're you?

Is that any way to greet an old comrade? Then again, I suppose your only comrades were the people of the Shieikan dojo.

That voice...

Hey. Let me see your face.

I would if I could, but I'm afraid this IS my face now.

...Hattori.

So my voice was enough for you to figure it out, then.

I see you're still as surprisingly attentive as always, despite your frightful appearance.

It's been a long time, Vice Commander. No, wait. We used to be part of the same organization.

So I think I'll just call you by your name, Hijikata Toshizo.

Why're you here?

Why? You know why. My purpose remains the same as it always was.

The same as always...? Wait. Does that mean he's

Hellooo. So sorry to keep you waiting, Vice Commander. Oh, wait. That's Ex-Vice Commander now, isn't it?

And how are you feeling, Hattori?

Please don't mind me, sir. I'm just carrying out my orders as I always do.

Wonderful. Not even Lord Yoshimoto could face the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven and return unscathed, you see.

So it will take him some time to grow used to the magical energy he has absorbed. Oh, and we received some surprise new combat assets as well.

Suffice to say, I've had my hands quite full, which is why I arrived late. I do beg your pardon.

I thought it'd be you.

That's no surprise. I imagine Hattori's presence was enough of a clue.

Yes, Hijikata, you're right.

It's me, Itou. Long time no see, eh?