With trembling legs, Supreme Emperor Yamaguchi waited for the arrival of the opposing party from the 18th fleet. On his right stood 1st Marine General Tojo, his assistant, Sakura, as well as the 2nd and 3rd generals of the Samurai Marines. On his left stood Prince Ozawa, Knight Champion of the 13th fleet, Vice-Admiral Kurita, and Captain Kurigiri of the Four Seasons Blossom. Overall, Yamaguchi was satisfied with the presence he gathered in the room as enough to intimidate the Chinese delegation that had to pass through a formation of one thousand Samurai Marines all lined up in the hall.
However, when the expected moment arrived, Marshal Yu Di of the 18th fleet simply stepped into the room, accompanied by two men. One of them is 1st Marine General Nezha, with a permanent pair of flames burning on the two sides of his armour and a massive spear he wielded without effort. The second, Fleet Champion Wukong, a man with a face hidden behind a helmet and radiating a supernatural aura with his staff.
All this effort in showmanship fell pale in the face of such a trio of absolute legends. As Ozawa tried to square up to Wukong to assert his dominance, he was simply pushed away with such force that even his pride was instantly wounded beyond repair. As an insult to Ozawa, Wukong flexed him by showing him the dozen cyberknight runes engraved on his shoulder pad alone. On Nezha's side, he confidently stood face-to-face with the three Marine Generals of the 13th fleet and stabbed his staff into the ground while his opposition showed discreet tremors of shock.
Alas, with the silky design of his Marshal uniform, Yu Di sat before Yamaguchi and leaned his feet on the Supreme Emperor's desk without hesitation or formality.
[Yamaguchi] - "Uh... "
Exclaimed Yamaguchi, not sure how to take in such disrespect.
For a moment, he looked to his right at Tojo, who simply looked away, refusing to back him up. Then, as Yamaguchi looked to his left, Prince Ozawa couldn't help to lower his gaze in helplessness. After a few shocked stutters while trying to find a proper response, Yamaguchi grimaced with frustration before leaning to the side to meet Yu Di's eyes behind the pair of boots on his desk.
[Yamaguchi] - "What kind of business brings you and your entire fleet to Tokyo, Yu Di! I'll remind you that your presence does not prove enough to intimidate me and the spirit of the Japanese people to submission. "
Said Yamaguchi firmly.
[Yu Di] - "Submission of your people is not what I'm here for, Mister Yamaguchi. "
Said Yu Di as he leaned his head to the other side.
Left without a choice, Yamaguchi had to shamefully follow Yu Di's gaze to the other side of his boots.
[Yamaguchi] - "Me and the 13th fleet will not be disrespected in such a way. Remind you, we were the ones who tore through your country during the Cleansing Crusade. "
Said Yamaguchi in an attempt to insult his opponent.
Yu Di smugly looked outside the room's window at the still-rebuilding city before showing a smirk at Yamaguchi.
[Yu Di] - "Wise words from a man who's facing a third firebombing of Tokyo from the Chinese he so hated. Our Storm-class titans, Jiutian Yingyuan (Nine Heavens Responding Primordial) and Xuanwu Shenji (Divine Engine of the Black Tortoise), are ready to show you our resolve for this 'negotiation'. "
Just as Yu Di finished his sentence, the room shook with the war siren of one of the titans outside.
After uncovering his ears, Yamaguchi showed a defeated look in his eyes as he hid his face behind Yu Di's boots.
[Yamaguchi] - "Name your terms! What the hell do you want from us? Are you here to finally bury the old feud between our nations? Remind you, we will not surrender so easily to you! We will fight until the last man, woman and child! "
Yelled Yamaguchi, he tried to push Yu Di's boots off his desk.
However, before he could touch Yu Di's feet, he moved them away from the desk and abruptly stood up, his height towering over Yamaguchi. With both hands pressed on the desk, Yu Di leaned toward Yamaguchi.
[Yu Di] - "We are not after your people. We are here under the directive of Judge and his council at the head of the New National Empire. The N.N.E. has tolerated your little game long enough. Due to the schism of the Empire following Lord Sniper's death, the chaos has left a chance for you to form your own little Empire right under the nose of the N.N.E., and now, Judge will not tolerate your insolence any longer. "
Yamaguchi swallowed his saliva, fearful of what words might hit him next. At first, he formed the Neo-Japanese Empire, thinking he could get away with it with a weakened Empire. However, now that the consequences of his actions hit him, he was left cornered and without escape.
[Yu Di] - "The grand vision of the Emperor will not be squandered by the ambitions of such vile little men as yourself. It's time to return to your rightful home! The 13th fleet is not your toy but an asset offered to you by the God-Emperor in the accomplishment of his plan. "
Said Yu Di in a menacing voice, enough to force Yamaguchi to lean back into his chair.
The Generals beside Yamaguchi tried to step in and protect their leader, but were immediately held back by Tojo with a firm headshake.
[Yu Di] - "You now have two options. Either dissolve the Neo-Japanese Empire and declare your allegiance under the New National Empire, or face the same indiscriminate violence the Empire used against my nation during the Cleansing Crusade. In only one of these options can you keep your head on your neck, I figure you know which it is. "
Said Yu Di as he leaned closer.
By this point, Yamaguchi knew that no amount of willpower could change the outcome of what was about to come. There is simply no way for the 13th fleet and Japan to come out victorious in such a situation. On top of that, it was clear there would be no guilt on the 18th fleet's part if they were to be given the option to wipe the city clean. But most importantly, Yamaguchi is more worried about his own survival than anything else.
Soon, Yamaguchi signed the documents which would dissolve the Neo-Japanese Empire and pledge the total loyalty of Japan and the 13th fleet to the N.N.E.'s control. As Yamaguchi picked up his pen for the last signature, he hesitated, his sweat coating his forehead and hands. Signing would mean giving up his position as Supreme Emperor, as well as losing unrestricted authority over his beloved 13th fleet.
[Tojo] - "Stop hesitating and do it. "
Said Tojo abruptly as he pointed his Chimera carbine at Yamaguchi's head.
Shocked, Yamaguchi tried to turn toward Tojo, only to receive a convincing blunt tap from the gunmetal against his skull. Left without a choice, alas, Yamaguchi put down his signature on the document before dropping his pen in dread.
[Yamaguchi] - "I've done it... Is it over now? "
Said Yamaguchi in a trembling voice.
Suddenly, three IEEB agents burst into the room and promptly encircled Yamaguchi before putting his hands in cuffs. While many in the crowd tried to object to the arrest, Wukong and Nezha quickly forced them back in line with their presence.
[Yamaguchi] - "What is this? What the hell are you people doing? Save me, someone save me! Ozawa! Save me! "
Screamed Yamaguchi as the agents dragged him away from his chair.
[Tojo] - "You did this to yourself, Yamaguchi. "
Said Tojo as he stepped forward to stare Yamaguchi in the eyes with a satisfied grin.
[Yamaguchi] - "Tojo! You shameless coward! You orchestrated all this, didn't you? You allowed them into the capital without raising the alarm! It was all you from the start! "
Yelled Yamaguchi as he tried to jump at Tojo while being restrained.
[Tojo] - "I did what was necessary. If you would stay delusional, then do not include me in your delusion. The New National Empire is the future, not your idea of a greater Japanese Empire. "
Said Tojo as he watched Yamaguchi get dragged away, his fat belly getting revealed in the struggle in an undignified scene.
[Yamaguchi] - "I'll get you, Tojo! You fucking traitor! I'll fucking get you, you'll see! When they release me, I'll fucking gut your snake-ass open! You think I don't know, but you aren't that kind of person! You did this for power, not for the people! "
Yelled Yamaguchi as he was being dragged to the door.
Tojo smirked discreetly before taking a seat in Yamaguchi's now vacated chair.
[Tojo] - "Have a safe trip, dear Supreme Emperor. "
Said Tojo as he waved his hand at Yamaguchi.
As the doors closed with Yamaguchi's screams still in the distance, Yu Di turned toward Tojo and presented him with his hand. With a delighted smile, Tojo shook Yu Di's hand with the enthusiasm of an excited child.
[Yu Di] - "You are now Lord Regent of the 13th fleet. Use your positions well, and do not repeat the mistakes of your predecessor. "
Said Yu Di in a firm voice.
[Tojo] - "I'm a man of my word, Lord Marshal Yu Di! Japan and the 13th fleet will comply with the N.N.E. as per the terms of the agreement. "
Said Tojo as he bowed toward Yu Di.
With a grunt, Yu Di pulled his hand away before signalling for his men to leave with him. As Yu Di and his two companions marched through the long hallways, he tapped on his wristband before a hologram of Judge was projected before him.
[Yu Di] - "Our part of the deal is complete. Japan, as well as the 13th fleet, has been brought into compliance. "
[Judge] - "I have honoured my part of the deal as well. Beijing is now under the jurisdiction of your forces, Marshal Yu Di. However, remember where your true loyalty stands, my friend. "
[Yu Di] - "I obey the words of the God-Emperor himself. What we have now is an alliance, not a relationship between lord and subject. You and I are both mortal men, with nothing that puts one above the other. "
Said Yu Di confidently.
[Judge] - "I speak with the Emperor's Divine Servants. I am his will manifested! You will show me respect, Marshal. "
Said Judge, his voice firm with frustration and intimidation.
[Yu Di] - "Yet, you do not control the Divine Servants; You are as much of a pawn as I am. This is the great equalizer between us two. "
Said Yu Di before ending the conversation.
Later that day, a recall order was issued to all soldiers and Marines of the 13th fleet. In the streets, both Marines and soldiers from the 13th fleet and 18th fleet were evacuating. With minimal deployment in the city, the 18th fleet was the first to disappear from the skies of Tokyo as they returned to their home in Northern China.
All the major military bases were emptied as the last of the Marines and soldiers with the Roman numeral XIII on their armour left in transport ships. By midnight, as the Four Seasons Blossom and all the other ships in the 13th fleet headed toward the mainland of the New National Empire, it also picked up all the transport ships from all across the country.
Meanwhile, just as McCree knocked on the door to the dojo, he noticed a trio of gunships packed with Samurai Marines flying over his head toward a waiting cruiser in the distance. For a moment, he kept his hand hovering above his pistol before finally letting his guard down as he saw the gunships disappear into the dock of the cruiser.
As one of the servants opened the door for McCree, he was met with the sight of a massive temple surrounded by a number of dojos. Looks can be deceiving from the outside, thought McCree to himself. From the outside, it seemed as if the place only contained a single dojo and a temple, but the truth was far from his assumption. With the lights illuminating the place at night, the whole place seemed like a scene straight from a fantasy novel, with a spiritual feel to its aesthetic and an aura of wisdom in its design.
As the different houses lit up with monks and cyber-ninja disciples, all coming to see the stranger that intruded on their sanctuary in the middle of the night, McCree began to enjoy the attention. Many of the ninjas resembled Senju with cybernetic modifications that allowed them to be more deadly and efficient. With his pair of looted Imperial Marine issue pistols, McCree began to perform a trick where he spun his pistols in both of his hands in a professional manner.
As he finally reached the main temple, he was met with the disapproving stare of what was supposed to be the grand master of the place. Without feeling the stares on him, McCree showed a confident smile as he finished his pistol trick and put them back in his holsters. However, before he could utter a single word, Senju jumped down on him from the roof above and pinned his chest under his foot. Then, with his sword pointed at his throat, Senju leaned down, his green visor burning with disdain.
[Senju] - "How dare you show yourself here after what you have done? Do you have no shame, man? "
Said Senju with hatred in his voice.
[McCree] - "Old buddy, I'm glad to see ya as well! "
Said McCree in an enthusiastic tone.
[Senju] - "Save me the formalities, you bastard! Don't pretend we are still friends after you decided to suck Jagger's balls and betray us! "
Yelled Senju as he pressed his foot harder against McCree's chest.
[McCree] - "God! Stop doing this, ya gonna break my damn ribcage! I'm not here to make amends because I'm sure it ain't just as simple as speaking a few words of apology. I'm here for something that concerns us and the people we care about! "
Said McCree as he struggled to breathe.
Senju angrily pressed the tip of his sword against McCree's chin and drew a drop of blood.
[Senju] - "I ain't about to hear whatever bullshit you might say! You'd better leave before I decide to make you pay for your betrayal in blood! "
Muttered Senju, his voice full of hatred.
[McCree] - "Damn it, man! Audrey and Athena are dead, and Kadyn's in trouble! Fuck, just listen to me first and then judge the situation! "
Muttered McCree as he squeezed the last breath of air out of his lungs.
Shocked, Senju backed away, his sword almost slipping out of his hands as he stumbled onto the stairs. With a few coughs, McCree crawled up and pulled Audrey's holographic recording out of his pocket. Upon seeing the situation, the dojo master quickly stepped forward and raised his hands.
[Inumaki] - "All of you, go back to sleep! This does not concern you! "
Screamed Inumaki at the monks and his students.
Without delay, all the students quickly bowed toward their master before returning to their quarters. Before long, Inumaki sat McCree and Senju around a small table on the tatami and poured them some tea. After McCree adjusted the holographic recording to the right timestamp destined for Senju, he slipped the device toward his old friend. As the recording began to play, Senju felt a shock of nostalgia as he saw the face of an old friend after so long.
"If you're seeing this, Senju, that means I have passed away. I confided this message to Knight Marshal Athena, who you probably know already. Look, old friend, there is not much I could say. Whoever brought you this message is probably someone I trust wholeheartedly. I do not know if Kadyn is safe by now, nor do I know how everything ended. If all went well, then I wish you well, too. All these adventures... They were precious to me. This crew– this family– is everything to me when I'm so far from home. I thank you for giving me these pleasant memories. "
Said Audrey before she paused and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"However, if this message reaches you because we lost our battle against evil, then what happens next is your choice. I cannot force anyone to fight a fight they are almost guaranteed not to win. I paid for my defiance, and it wounded the hearts of those who are awaiting my return at home. I do not wish the same for you. Maybe it's not your fight, maybe you have your own convictions. But here I am, giving you my final thoughts before the final battle. All I wanna ask you is: did I die in vain? "
Said Audrey in a sincere voice before McCree cut her recording off just before she was about to utter her next message destined for Oltevin.
As the room fell silent, Senju remained quiet as well, his face a mixture of sadness and regret.
[McCree] - "I can never do enough to redeem my actions. People, includin' those I cared for, paid for my mistake. By the time I finally understood the misguided path I was on, it was too late. I'm not here to convince you of my redemption, but I am here as a messenger– "
Senju suddenly held his finger up, stopping McCree mid-sentence.
[Senju] - "Before you continue, tell me, are you here because of a victory or are you here because of a defeat? Was Audrey's death in vain? "
McCree gave his response a moment to simmer in his mind before opening his mouth.
[McCree] - "I came here because I wish not to let Audrey and Athena's deaths be in vain. Kadyn is in danger, and she needs our help. "
Said McCree, his voice carrying a clear sincerity.
[Inumaki] - "It's your choice, Senju. You are not forced to partake in this mission. "
Said Inumaki as he abruptly broke the silence.
[Senju] - "Master! I... don't know if I'm ready. Have I learned enough? Will I be able to do enough? "
Said Senju as he stared at his blade resting in his lap with uncertainty.
[Inumaki] - "Sometimes, there's just not enough we can do, and we come face-to-face with an outcome that might not satisfy our expectations. Have you not realized, Senju? You are already more skilled than I am and did more than any of us ever could. However, there's one more lesson you have not yet learned. "
[Senju] - "Which is it, master? "
[Inumaki] - "All this time you have been here was to await this day, where the ultimate test will come to you. Considering the task at hand, you will lose often, but will you learn not to blame yourself? If you walk through the main gate toward this destiny that awaits you, will you stop blaming yourself when you have done all that you could? "
Said Inumaki before he sipped on his tea.
[Senju] - "I'm not sure, master. I know I could do more, but often I can't! I just– "
Senju stopped as Inumaki raised his palm.
[Inumaki] - "Your friend travelled through half the world just to seek help. It's not just his redemption here; it's also yours. I admire his courage because he doesn't let his limitations be the end of his story. Senju, when you envied Kadyn's powers, have you ever stopped to consider that you two might be quite different? You keep telling me that you strive to be as powerful as her, but do you see how you two are not built the same? "
Said Inumaki before leaning toward Senju.
[Inumaki] - "In both destiny and flesh, you two are fundamentally different. I declined you all the cybernetic enhancements you have requested, because you are not her and should not be her. You are Senju! If you leave tonight, then I want you to promise me that you will not blame yourself for things that Senju could not do. Your limits do not define you as a coward! This is your lesson. "
Said Inumaki as he placed his hand on Senju's shoulder.
As the moonlight glinted over Senju's blade, he saw his own face in the metal's reflection. All this time, he dwelled in his limitations and pursued a goal he could never attain. Even as he proved himself more powerful and more honourable than even his own teacher, Senju could not see past the limitations that defined him. Yet, even McCree, whose character showed terrible limitations and flaws, chose to accept himself and change. If not for him, he would've remained here, oblivious to Kadyn's predicament, as he continued to hate himself for what he could not be.
[Senju] - "I accept. "
Whispered Senju as he slowly stood up.
[Senju] - "I accept that I could not be everything at once. I might strive to become better and stronger, but I accept that I might not be enough. "
Said Senju as he put away his sword in his scabbard.
Looking up at McCree, Senju reached his hand toward his old friend.
[Senju] - "That's why we are a team. Where I could be limited, another might complete that part. Even Kadyn, as powerful as she is, needs help at times. "
Under the moonlight, McCree reached toward Senju and shook his hand. Though Senju did not show the same warmth as when they were still good friends, there was respect in his eyes. For all McCree did, Senju respected him for recognizing his mistakes and limitations while seeking to do what is right.
With a proud smile, Inumaki stepped away and came back carrying a strange-looking samurai sword. At the handle, there was a special propellant mechanism for a quick draw while the blade itself glowed blood-red. With a formal gesture, Inumaki presented the weapon to Senju.
[Inumaki] - "You have learnt your final lesson, Senju. This is my gift to you, my student. "
With a bowing gesture, Senju quickly accepted the sword into his hands.
[Inumaki] - "This is the Blood-Hound, a sword passed down from my own father. It is a high-frequency sword with a powerful built-in ejection mechanism for rapid strikes. "
Said Inumaki as he accompanied the two toward the exit.
[Senju] - "But master, this is too much for a gift. "
Said Senju as he showed a reluctant gaze.
[Inumaki] - "It's no mere gift, Senju, it is a badge. You are the first of my students to ever best me in every single duel. That deserves a reward unlike anything else. "
Said Inumaki while smiling in embarrassment.
As McCree and Senju reached the gate to the temple and dojos, Inumaki bowed down in deep respect toward them. Immediately, Senju bowed down in response. However, upon seeing that McCree isn't bowing, Senju quickly bumped him on the shoulder before he was compelled to bow as well.
[Inumaki] - "Go now! Save your friend! "
[Senju] - "Thank you for enlightening me, master! I will never forget you! "
Said Senju, while trying to hold back his emotions.
As the Uber they called arrived before them, McCree quickly jumped into the passenger seat, followed by Senju in the back. With one last goodbye, Senju left the only home he ever knew for the second time toward an unpredictable future. With one of the old crew back together, the next destination will be Eastern Europe.
In the morning, as McCree and Senju reached the Tokyo International Airport, the traces of Yamaguchi's government were already gone. Instead of soldiers and Marines from the 13th fleet, the city was now under the watchful eyes of the Imperial auxiliaries. As McCree entered the terminal, he couldn't help but smile when he saw Saitama being safe and sound in his taxi as he waited for customers.
To be continued...