To begin with, it was just another morning at the office for Hayato Tani. Another Tuesday, another pile of correspondence to wade through. For a moment, he sighed and turned his gaze to the window, wishing he could be out in the warm spring sunshine, his handsome features taking on a wistful expression. The sky was blue and wisped with cirrus clouds, the melodic sounds of the birds drifted in through the open window, he could smell freshly mown grass and the fragrance of the blossoms on the trees. Spring….his favourite time of year. He could hear the distant sounds of one of his Corporals barking out commands to his troops who were honing their fighting skills in the parade ground around the side of the building. Corporal Niamh was normally so softly spoken, but when she was drilling the troops she could certainly turn the volume up. Smiling to himself, he turned his attention back to his correspondence.

______________________________________________________________

An urgent-sounding rap on the office door startled him.

‘Come in.’ he called.

The door opened and Corporal Nadya stood before him, looking a little flushed and clearly excited about something.

‘Sir,’ she was almost babbling ‘turn on your TV and check out the news channel, you have GOT to see this, you have just got to….it’s fantastic!’

‘Calm down, Nadya,’ he reached for his remote control ‘you’ll give yourself an ulcer.’

‘Funny.’ Nadya responded, mildly as he clicked on the TV ‘Not.’

‘Today’s top story….’ The newscaster announced ‘….archaeologists have unearthed the sword of the ancient legendary warrior Tsukinoyama. Experts have confirmed that the artefact is genuine, provoking excitement in the country’s leading historians. The priceless item is to be transported to Kyoto, supposed birthplace of Tsukinoyama, to be displayed in the main museum.’

‘That’s incredible!’ Tani looked astonished ‘Many people didn’t believe the sword really existed. Legend has it that whoever possesses the sword will also possess the fighting skills of the warrior himself.’

‘I’ve heard you talk about Tsukinoyama before’ Nadya perched on the corner of his desk ‘but I don’t know that much about him.’

Tani switched off the TV and swivelled his chair around to face her.

‘He was a great Samurai warrior back in the 16^th Century. His skill and courage in battle were the stuff of legends, he was a great tactician.’

'What happened to him?’

‘He eventually died on the battlefield, so the story goes….he was critically wounded and committed seppuku right there in front of his enemy. Even his enemies paid tribute to his bravery. The sword was taken away by his personal samurai and buried.’

‘Your personal hero, I take it?’ Nadya pushed back her long brown hair and smiled at Tani.

‘Very much so,’ he met her green eyed gaze and smiled back ‘ever since I was a child. My father used to tell me stories about him.’

‘Well,’ Nadya smoothed down the jacket of her white uniform ‘being English, I never had that privilege.’

‘What,’ Tani teased ‘your father never told you stories as a child?’

‘Yeah, of course he did,’ Nadya laughed ‘you know what I mean. I got the usual English childhood stuff. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk. Robinson Crusoe, Ali Baba, and all that. The ones I loved best though, were the ones with swordfights….Robin Hood riding to Maid Marian’s rescue, etc etc.’

‘What about real life heroes?’ Tani asked.

Nadya felt herself blush. She could hardly confess that her hero was the man whose desk she was perched on.

‘Lots of those,’ she looked down for a moment, before looking back at him and enthusing ‘Especially Queen Boudicca. Now she was one hell of a leader. And a fighter!’

‘So that’s where you got your inspiration from?’ Tani was still gazing attentively at her with those warm, brown eyes.

She was not quite seventeen years old. Tani had rarely seen such determination and steel in one so young, yet underneath it all was a vulnerability that made him feel rather protective of her at times. Not that she had needed his protection much so far. She was an attractive young woman, and had caught the eye of several young men among his troops, and he had seen how she dispensed with unwelcome attention from would-be suitors. They messed with her at their peril. And she could certainly wield a katana.

_______________________________________________________

Nadya turned to the window on hearing Corporal Niamh barking out commands to the troops.

‘Gawd, she’s loud on the field, isn’t she?’ she commented ‘good job she’s not like that all the time.’

‘You can say that again.’ Tani nodded.

_______________________________________________________

Count Takeshi had also been watching the news with interest. Like Tani, he had long been fascinated by the stories of Tsukinoyama, and knew the legend concerning the sword. His covetous eyes gleamed as he listened closely to details of how the ancient weapon was to be transported to Kyoto. He dreamed of possessing the sword, of holding it in his hands, and also of possessing the legendary powers of the great Samurai himself.

‘Whoever has the sword has the power,’ he muttered to himself ‘and that would finally give me the means to defeat General Tani once and for all.’

He summoned his advisors and bade them bring the necessary maps.

_______________________________________________________

The following day, Tani called his Corporals to his office.

‘I’ve volunteered our services to escort the sword of Tsukinoyama on the final part of its journey to Kyoto.’ He told them.

‘Great!' replied Nadya, enthusiastically ‘I mean…yes, Sir.’

Tani and Niamh grinned at her eagerness. They knew how she felt.

‘So,’ began Niamh in her soft Irish lilt ‘from which point will we escort the sword?’

‘We’ll join the couriers about 10 miles outside the city,’ Tani replied pointing to the appropriate position on the wall map ‘and accompany them all the way to the museum.’

Niamh nodded her approval. She was the older of his Corporals, being 30 years of age, and had wavy, shoulder-length chestnut-coloured hair. She had sea-green eyes and in many ways was the typical Irish coleen. She definitely had the typical Irish coleen’s sharp tongue at times. She and Nadya got on extremely well and were a good team. That made Tani’s job a lot easier.

_______________________________________________________

‘When do we start?’ Nadya seemed eager.

‘The day after tomorrow.’ Tani replied, with the very slightest hint of unease in his voice.

Anyone else wouldn’t have noticed that, but his Corporals did. They both eyed him with the same concerned expression.

‘What is it, Sir?’ Nadya studied his face carefully.

‘Are you expecting trouble, General?’ Niamh asked.

‘Well,’ Tani sighed ‘I’m not sure….I’ve just got this feeling that it isn’t going to be plain sailing. I can’t explain it.’

‘You worry too much, Sir.’ Niamh remarked mildly.

‘Yes Sir,’ added Nadya with a mischievous grin ‘you’ll give yourself an ulcer.’

Niamh couldn’t stifle her giggles.

‘Funny.’ He smiled dryly at them ‘Not.’

Tani surveyed his troops as they assembled before him in the courtyard. He mounted his magnificent black horse and settled himself in the saddle looking every inch the noble leader. Nadya stood to the right, holding the reins of her own horse, and Niamh’s. Where the hell was Niamh? Not like her to keep everyone waiting. Tani saw she was getting impatient and steered his horse towards her. He leaned over a little and lowered his voice.

‘She won’t be long, Nadya. We may have to cut her a little slack.’

Nadya looked at him enquiringly.

‘It’s the anniversary today.’ He explained ‘It’s three years today since Hiro died. Niamh will be placing flowers on his grave.’

‘Oh Lord,’ Nadya muttered ‘I didn’t know.’

Well she knew about Hiro of course. Niamh’s late husband, one of Tani’s most trusted aides. Nadya knew he had been killed by one of Count Takeshi’s Emerald Guards, whilst defending Tani, and that it had all happened in front of Niamh, but she hadn’t known that it was the third anniversary that day. No wonder her friend had been unusually quiet that morning.

‘Here she comes now.’ Tani said.

Niamh bore an expression of steely determination as she took the reins from Nadya and mounted up. She caught Tani’s gaze and nodded to him.

‘Let’s go.’ She said

Nadya plonked herself in the saddle and cast a sidelong glance at Niamh.

‘I’m alright.’ Niamh assured her ‘Really.’

‘Good.’

The corporals moved to their positions either side of Tani, ahead of the troops.

‘You both okay?’ Tani asked them.

‘Yes sir,’ Niamh patted her horse 'Everything is stable.’

‘Yes sir,’ Nadya added, fluffing her horse’s mane 'We’re mane-ly okay.’

‘We know we’re cheeky mares.’ Niamh grinned.

‘But there’ll be no horsing around and we’ll try not to nag you, Sir.’ Nadya sniggered.

Smiling, Tani shook his head and rolled his eyes.

‘Don’t you two ever quit?’ he asked.

Niamh and Nadya looked at each other then at him.

‘No.’ they said, in unison

He laughed, feeling a rush of warmth towards both women. He glanced back at his troops and raised his cane in the air.

‘LET’S GO!!!!!’

_______________________________________________________

Count Takeshi had instructed Sonomanma to brief the Emerald Guard on the plan. They would ambush the couriers just before they reached the point where, according to his informants, Tani and his troops were to take over the escort duty. It was risky to steal the sword of Tsukinoyama with Tani so close by, but at the same time the forest road gave them plenty of cover. And a myriad of ways to escape. Maybe they could even ambush Tani and his army, finally to obliterate the enemy once and for all time. He would personally finish Tani with Tsukinoyama’s sword…very fitting, he thought.

‘Are they ready to go?’ he asked Sonomanma, impatiently.

‘Yes, Count Takeshi.’ Sonomanma bowed ‘They’re fully prepared.’

‘Good,’ Takeshi’s eyes glinted ‘let’s get on with it, then.’

He climbed inside his palanquin and smiled smugly to himself.

_______________________________________________________

The journey to the rendezvous point was fairly pleasant. The night before they were due to meet the sword’s couriers, they stayed in a ryokan in the countryside. Simple, traditional surroundings were exactly what Tani felt most comfortable with. Nadya liked the ryokan, with its tatami matting and shoji doors, it’s bath-house and traditional Japanese garden. She sat in a small room with Niamh, sipping green tea and enjoying a simple meal of miso, teriyaki, yakisoba and rice. Both had exchanged their uniforms for lightweight cotton kimonos and tabi socks.

‘Where’s the General now?’ Nadya asked.

‘I believe he’s having a relaxing bath.’ Niamh nodded, savouring the tranquil atmosphere.

‘I was glad of a bath, just to ease the backache.’ Nadya sighed ‘The water was hotter than I expected but it still felt good.’

‘I usually wait a while, actually,’ Niamh poured more tea for Nadya ‘the Japanese tend to bathe at temperatures higher than most gaijin can stand. If I wait till later, the water temperature tends to be more tolerable.’

Nadya nodded.

Someone somewhere in the ryokan was playing the samisen. It was very soothing and peaceful. The fragrance of the jasmine in the garden occasionally wafted in from outside.

‘I dunno,’ Nadya sighed ‘something’s bothering him.’

‘Yeah.’ Niamh nodded ‘But I’m not sure he knows himself what it is. He just feels uneasy. He’ll feel uneasy till we get that sword to its destination.’

‘Did you order the sake?’ Nadya asked.

‘Of course,’ Niamh smiled ‘it’ll be brought here when the General emerges after his bath.’

‘Not too much, I hope.’ Nadya grinned ‘We don’t want him hungover when we rendezvous with the couriers.’

‘Or still drunk. That would be worse. Imagine him having ‘spaghetti legs’ and trying to get up onto his horse!’

Both women giggled, and were still giggling when the shoji door opened and Tani entered, wearing a yukata. They bowed, in accordance with Japanese custom. Tani returned the bow and knelt on the tatami close to them. He eyed them both, looking slightly amused.

‘Well obviously something was funny,’ he commented, looking from Niamh to Nadya ‘care to share the joke?’

‘Well…..’ Niamh began.

‘We were just…’ Nadya hesitated, shrugging.

At that moment, the shoji door opened and a servant appeared with a tray, bowed and then entered. Wordlessly, she placed the tray, with a tokkuri full of warm sake and a sakazuki for each of them, on the mat and withdrew. Tani glanced at Nadya, enquiringly.

‘You were just…..?’

‘We were just…..’ Nadya didn’t dare look at Niamh, for she knew that if she did they would both start sniggering again ‘….discussing the – er – the effects of sake.’

‘Right.’ Tani nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He knew what they meant.

Niamh poured sake for Tani and Nadya, then Nadya poured for Niamh, remembering that Japanese custom required one to be served by one’s companions.

‘Kanpai.’ Tani raised the sakazuki.

‘Kanpai.’ The ladies replied in unison, following suit.

Nadya loved the taste and the warmth of the rice wine. Niamh bowed to them both, politely, then stood up.

‘If you’ll excuse me,’ she said, quietly ‘I expect the temperature of the bath will be just right for me now. Then I think I’ll turn in.’

Tani smiled and bowed. Nadya did the same, and Niamh left them. Nadya picked up the tokkuri.

‘More sake, Tani-san?’

‘Please.’ Tani smiled.

She was used to being alone with him in his office, but this felt totally different. It was odd, just the two of them in such tranquil surroundings, the samisen still playing faintly. She poured his sake, acutely aware of his eyes upon her. She hardly dared meet his gaze as she offered the sakazuki to him with the word ‘dozo’ please.

‘Domo.’ he replied softly. Thank you.

‘Have you eaten?’ she asked gently.

‘Yes, thank you, I have.’

She nodded and smiled, finally allowing herself to admire his handsome features. She tried to ignore the flutter of her heart as she found herself looking straight into those warm, velvet brown eyes of his. Don’t let me blush, she thought, please don’t let me blush. Tani poured sake for her, and offered it to her.

‘Arigato gozaimasu’ she replied.

Tani nodded and smiled. There was silence between them for a long moment. Nadya looked at him again.

‘It’s nice here.’ She remarked ‘Very peaceful.’

‘Yes, it is.’ There was a slight edge to Tani’s voice which Nadya’s sharp hearing picked up easily.

‘Tani-san, I know something’s bothering you.’ She put down her sakazuki and shifted to face him directly ‘What is it?’

‘I’m not certain,’ Tani replied, sighing ‘I just know that the Tsukinoyama sword has been sought for centuries, and it’s a prize that some people would kill to possess. I just have an odd feeling that we’re headed for trouble.’

‘What would be the point of nicking the sword?’ Nadya frowned ‘They’d never sell it on, it’s too well known.’

Tani smiled at her use of English slang, not that he would have dreamt of commenting on it.

‘If anyone stole it, they would either be a private collector, or they would be stealing for a private collector.’ He explained.

‘And you suspect somebody…?’

‘Yes. Count Takeshi has long been an admirer of Tsukinoyama.’

‘Surely he wouldn’t be so bold?’

‘Don’t bet on it.’

‘That’s why you’re so tense?'

‘I guess so.’ He sighed, stretching a little ‘I didn’t realise it was so obvious.’

Nadya smiled and moved to kneel behind him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and began to gently massage him.

‘This should help.’ She said, softly.

‘Mmm, that’s good.’ Tani murmured.

Nadya carefully kneaded his strong shoulders and she could feel him beginning to relax. She could feel the warmth of his muscular body through the yukata, and she was kneeling so close that she could breathe in the fragrance of his aftershave. His hair was still slightly damp. He was so attractive, and being so close to him was almost intoxicating. It was all she could do to stop herself from leaning forward and tenderly kissing his neck. She’d been drawn to him from the first day she began to work as his Corporal.

‘Can I ask you something?’ Tani asked.

‘Sure, what is it?’

‘There have been quite a few of the young men in my army who’ve tried to pursue you.’ He observed ‘And I was wondering….how come you’ve never taken any of them up on their offers?’

Nadya felt her face beginning to burn.

‘Well…’ she began, trying to pull together the right words ‘…..they’re nice guys, but….they’re not what I need.’

‘What do you need?’ Tani asked, quietly.

Now Nadya really was blushing. She fidgeted a little, uncomfortably, as she continued to massage his shoulders.

‘Oh…..’ she tried to keep her embarrassment out of her voice ‘…someone who’s mature and has a good sense of humour. Someone who’ll treat me as a person, not a piece of property. Someone understanding, who’ll care for me and accept me as I am. Someone I can love, who’ll love me back.’

I need you, Hayato, she thought I love you and I really need you.

Gently, her thumbs moved to massage the back of his neck.

‘Oh that’s really good.’ Tani was much more relaxed now ‘That’s wonderful.’

Nadya smiled, her face still hot.

‘So…’ he continued ‘you don’t have a real-life hero among my troops, huh?’

The question flustered Nadya and left her totally wrong-footed. What could she say to that? Her lack of reply surprised Tani, and he turned around to face her, puzzled.

‘There is someone?’ he saw the deepening flush in her cheeks and smiled ‘Lucky man.’

She looked at him in total astonishment. That was the last thing she expected him to say. Tani studied her expression, trying to read what she was really feeling, trying to understand why there was such a blush to her lovely face. Her gaze met his, and in that moment he understood. He knew. It was all there in those green eyes.

‘Nadya….’ He began.

She put her fingers to his lips.

‘Please don’t ask me.’ She sounded afraid.

Tani gently took both her hands in his, and gave her a warm, affectionate smile.

‘Nadya…’ he said softly ‘…talk to me, it’s okay. Don’t look so scared, you don’t need to be afraid, not of me. You can tell me, it’s alright, I promise. Whatever’s in your heart, just say it.’

His voice, his gaze, his touch were all so very warm and tender. So reassuring, so gently encouraging. Nadya trembled slightly as he held her hands, caressing her fingers.

‘I…’ she hesitated, and felt him give her hands a gentle squeeze ‘….I love you.’

His smile broadened.

‘There,’ he reached over and stroked her cheek with tender fingers ‘that wasn’t so difficult, was it?’

He drew her towards him and his lips brushed lightly against hers.

‘I love you too Nadya’ he whispered.

As he pulled her closer, she reached for him and their lips met again, and she was kissing him back as emotional hunger flooded over her. He pressed her so close, she could almost feel the beat of his heart as he kissed her neck and her throat.

Oh my God, thought Nadya, elated, as he stood up, still clasping her to him, drawing her towards the next room Oh my God!

He only stopped kissing her long enough to slide open the shoji door, revealing a futon already laid out on the tatami. Pausing just for a moment at the doorway, he kissed her again before sweeping her up in his powerful arms and carrying her over to the futon.

When he placed her gently down on it, she pulled him down with her, his hands already unfastening her obi.

_______________________________________________________

As dawn broke, Count Takeshi’s Emerald Guards were lying in wait along the side of the forest road, the Count himself at the fore. It wouldn’t be long now before the sword was in his possession. Then his nemesis, General Tani, would be history.

_______________________________________________________

Nadya woke, still in Tani’s arms, both of them naked, her fingers splayed on his stomach. She felt so peaceful and relaxed. He was still asleep, and Nadya shifted slightly to look into his face. He looked content, serene.

You’re so perfect, she thought, how can you be so perfect?

She rested her head back on his chest, soothed by his gentle, rhythmic breathing, and the feeling of his smooth skinned limbs against hers. The sun was just coming up outside and the birds were singing now. Would that they could stay here forever, just the two of them, away from the rest of the world. No-one had ever made her feel the way he’d made her feel last night. Presently, Tani stirred and sighed softly. His eyes opened and he saw Nadya smiling gently at him. Sleepily, he smiled back as he stretched sensuously. Nadya gave him a soft kiss, reaching up to brush his tousled hair away from his handsome face. He gazed into her adoring eyes, his arms tightening around her, and was about to say something when he heard Niamh’s voice outside the room. They both sat up quickly, clutching the futon as well as each other. One of Tani’s troops opened the shoji door, knelt and bowed and announced Niamh’s presence. Tani nodded and asked him to tell Corporal Niamh he would be with her in a moment.

_______________________________________________________

Niamh felt very agitated. So the General’s instincts about the mission had proved to be correct. She paced anxiously until Tani emerged in his yukata.

‘Oh General,’ she told him ‘you were right. The couriers and guardians of the sword were ambushed late last night…by Takeshi’s troops!’

‘Damn!’ snapped Tani ‘How late?’

‘Just after midnight.’ Niamh replied.

‘Have the troops’ vehicles arrived?’ Tani demanded.

‘Yes sir, they were delivered last night.’

‘Get the troops ready,’ Tani ordered ‘We’re moving out. Now!!’

‘There is just….’ Niamh began, Tani turned to look at her impatiently ‘..one other thing, Sir…..’

‘Which is?’ Tani asked irritably.

‘I don’t know where Corporal Nadya is, her room’s empty and….’

She broke off, as Nadya emerged from Tani’s bedroom, fastening her yukata.

‘Oh. Right.’ She said, trying to conceal how startled she was ‘That solves that problem.’

She smiled slightly and backed towards the shoji door.

‘I’ll – er – go and prepare the troops then.’ She said.

She left rather hurriedly and the servant closed the door behind her.

‘I guess we’d better get dressed.’ Tani smiled slightly and kissed Nadya’s forehead tenderly.

_______________________________________________________

Tani’s expression was grim as he ordered the troops to move out. Takeshi had gained a headstart on them, but not much of one. Nothing they couldn’t handle. This time his soldiers were all travelling to the intercept point in 4x4 vehicles, he and the two Corporals remained on horseback.

‘Nadya,’ he turned to his younger Corporal ‘Go on ahead with the first vehicle and do a bit of scouting, see if you can locate their trail along the forest road.’

‘Yes sir.’ Nadya urged her horse onward and signalled the first vehicle to follow.

Tani watched as she galloped off ahead. Then he and Niamh led the rest of the troops.

Niamh looked at him quizzically. He caught her gaze.

‘What?’ he asked

‘Nothing.’ Niamh said, quietly, looking down.

‘Come on, I know you too well. What is it?’ he asked.

‘It’s not important right now.’ Niamh replied.

'It’s Nadya, isn’t it?’ he sighed 'You don’t approve of my relationship with her.'

‘I neither approve nor disapprove,’ Niamh told him ‘I just hope you know what you’re doing.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Tani-san,’ she said ‘this is neither the time nor the place to talk about it. Not while we’re chasing Takeshi. Come on, let’s go.’

She urged her horse to a gallop and Tani did the same.

_______________________________________________________

They met up with Nadya and the others after about an hour. Nadya was fairly certain that she knew which way Takeshi and his cohorts had gone.

‘They’ve split up to try and confuse us.’ She reported ‘But I think Takeshi will have gone ahead on foot with his main Guards. The largest group have carried on alongside the forest road, but it seems a smaller group has gone through the forest itself. I’m betting that’s Takeshi, but it’s your decision, Sir.’

Tani pondered for a moment, considering the options and the logic.

‘I agree with you.’ He said, finally ‘That’s what he’s most likely to do. We go after him through the forest. The troops will have to continue on foot.’

‘I’ll tell them.’ Niamh said, 'However, if I could make a small suggestion, General..’

‘What suggestion is that, Corporal?’ he asked.

‘Well….I was just thinking that perhaps it would be prudent to send some of our troops to follow the Guards down the forest road.’

Nadya glanced from Niamh to Tani. The latter paused thoughtfully for a moment.

‘Yes,’ he nodded ‘You can go, and take ten of our fighters with you.’

‘Yes Sir.’ Niamh rode off and called the first two vehicles to follow her. Tani watched them depart, before turning to Nadya and saying:

‘Let’s go.’

They made their way through the forest cautiously, looking for any and every sign that might lead them to Takeshi.

_______________________________________________________

The Count smirked broadly. In the first hour of this new day, he had held the sword of Tsukinoyama in his hands. He had held history. Legend. Power. The means to defeat his enemies. He felt as though Tsukinoyama himself was now a part of him. The ancient blade would serve him as it had served its first and only other owner. Takeshi had run his hand lightly along the soiled steel. The artefact had not been cleaned. It was very much as Tsukinoyama had left it. As Sonomanma and Saburo looked on, he had held the sword high above his head, inhaling deeply, savouring the moment, before laying it on a velvet cushion in front of him.

‘You know what to do.’ He had told his two aides.

‘Yes, Count.’ Sonomanma and Saburo said in unison, bowing.

Now, as he recalled how the sword had felt in his hands, how heavy it had felt, how magnificent the workmanship, he felt confidence and power surge through him.

‘Ah, Tani…’ he said to himself ‘…I have the sword and soon I’ll have your head.’

_______________________________________________________

Niamh dismounted after signalling the two vehicles to stop. She studied the road, and the verge, and the path beyond which led into the countryside.

‘Corporal, what is it?’ asked one of the junior officers.

‘They left the road,’ Niamh told him, pointing out the hoofprints and tracks crossing the verge and disappearing into nearby fields ‘give me your binoculars a second, please, Tanaka.’

She scanned the surrounding area, and then she saw a thin wisp of smoke two fields away. Takeshi’s Guards were there. She handed the binoculars back to her junior officer.

‘You’re with me,’ she told him, then turning to the others, she said ‘take the vehicles off the road just behind the brush there, and stay till we get back.’

Niamh and Tanaka crept swiftly and stealthily towards the enemy’s temporary stop. They both crouched behind some shrubbery and observed. It was as if the Emerald Guard had planned to wait here for a while. There were several cars, a large van which was surrounded by armed Emerald Guard, a couple of horses which were being fed. A charcoal grill had been set up and Niamh could smell the aroma of grilled fish and chicken. There were men patrolling the edge of their encampment so she knew they couldn’t hang around long. Both she and Tanaka strained to hear the conversation. The Guards were laughing. Niamh picked up on a conversation and her heart sank.

‘Oh shite!’ she whispered in dismay to Tanaka ‘It’s here, the sword is here, Takeshi doesn’t have it with him!! Oh damn, we don’t have enough fighters here to do anything. We’ll have to go back for Tani and the rest of the troops! Damn it, we’ve been had!!’

_______________________________________________________

Tani, Nadya and their army had successfully tracked Takeshi to a clearing in the forest, and were watching their quarry carefully. Tani felt a growing sense of unease. Takeshi only had a handful of Guards with him.

‘Nadya,’ he whispered ‘go back to your horse, take half of our troops with you and go around the other side. If we can surround him, he’s not going to get away from us. When you hear me whistle, that’s when we go in and take them.’

Nadya nodded and did as she was told. It all seemed a little too easy.

_______________________________________________________

Niamh was galloping like the wind through the forest now, their fighters speeding back along the forest road. The terrible sense of dread she felt was knotting her stomach and making her mouth dry. If only she hadn’t suggested following the Emerald Guard.

_______________________________________________________

Tani waited till he knew that Nadya and his troops had surrounded the clearing, then he whistled to signal the attack. With a loud yell, his troops started to move in…and that’s when more Emerald Guard appeared behind them. The hunter had now become the hunted.

‘Kuso yo!’ Tani exclaimed ‘KUSO YO!!!’

‘Oh shit is right!’ Nadya breathed, drawing her katana and charging her horse at some of Takeshi’s men.

_______________________________________________________

As Niamh reached the point where Tani and Nadya had led the others into the forest, she paused for a moment to get her bearings. She heard the sounds of fighting in the distance and spurred her horse on, fearing that she should never have left Tani’s side.

What she saw when she reached the battle site appalled her…many of Tani’s men were dead, quite a few Emerald Guards as well. Suddenly she saw Nadya on horseback, katana drawn, battling with two Guards who were on foot. Galloping on toward her friend, she drew her own katana. Letting out a blood-curdling yell, she bore down on one of the Guards and skewered him quite efficiently. When she looked around, Nadya had dispatched the other one.

‘Thanks for the distraction,’ Nadya grinned ‘oh am I glad to see you!’

‘We’ve been tricked!’ Niamh gasped, trying to catch her breath ‘Where’s Tani?’

‘Come on!’ replied Nadya, moving off.

Tani was backing away from a group of seven Emerald Guards who were snarling as they advanced on him. Nadya let out a scream as she realised the danger he was in.

‘What do we do now?’ she shrieked.

‘Remember that little ‘pick-up’ manoeuvre we were practising a couple of weeks ago?’ Niamh said.

‘We can’t do that,’ protested Nadya ‘We couldn’t get it right, we’ll end up ripping him in half!’

‘No we won’t….’ Niamh tried to sound calm ‘…we can do this. Just make sure we keep level with each other.’

‘Oh shit!’ Nadya exclaimed.

‘Well for goodness’ sake, if you have any BETTER ideas, now would be a good time!’

Niamh readied herself and lined her horse up with Nadya’s ‘Hey….we’re good, you and I, and we CAN do this! We WILL do this! Tani needs us, right?’

‘I’m ready!’ Nadya exclaimed ‘LET’S GO!!!!!!!!!!!’

The two horses began their gallop in unison and kept perfect pace with each other.

_______________________________________________________

The seven Emerald Guards were grinning with satisfaction, smirking, savouring Tani’s obvious fear, as they slowly advanced towards him. Their pleasure was suddenly disrupted by animalistic yelling from behind, and when they turned, the smirks and the grins vanished and their satisfaction evaporated, leaving sheer terror in its place, at the sight of two horses hurtling towards them carrying Tani’s Corporals...

_______________________________________________________

Niamh gritted her teeth. Either the Guards got out of the way or they got flattened by a few hundredweight of horseflesh. Either way, she wasn’t bothered. Neither was Nadya. The Guards scattered as the horses reached them, and for a nanosecond Nadya caught sight of Tani’s horrified face as he realised what they were about to do.

‘Oh shit!!!’ she heard him exclaim.

It was too late to protest….in perfect unison, Niamh looped her arm around his right arm, and Nadya had his left arm. His feet left the ground and he was suddenly flying backwards, suspended between the two galloping horses and his two Corporals. His expression was one of total shock.

‘I don’t believe you two just did that!!!’ he yelled ‘You’re both off your bloody heads, you’ve gotta be!!!!’

‘Woooooo-hooooooooooo!’ yelled Nadya, elated.

Niamh was laughing with giddy excitement.

‘Are we good, or what?!’ she glanced at Nadya, grinning.

‘We are DAMNED good!’ Nadya laughed back.

‘You’re damned CRAZY!’ Tani retorted ‘Put me down!’

The two Corporals gradually slowed, then halted their horses, and lowered Tani to the ground.

‘Thank you.’ He smoothed his uniform down, trying not to let his adjutants see how much he was shaking.

‘Aw, c’mon General,’ Nadya remarked 'when was the last time you got picked up by two women?’

Niamh snorted, and Tani shot her a glance that promised he’d deal with her later.

_______________________________________________________

They got back to the battle site rather more subdued. Takeshi and his Guards had departed, leaving many of Tani’s men dead or injured. Tani surveyed the broken bodies and bleeding soldiers with tears in his eyes and a heavy heart.

‘I would have been among them,’ he said quietly ‘if you two hadn’t saved me. It was unorthodox….downright crazy, in fact….but you saved me. Thank you both.’

‘General,’ Niamh said, softly ‘It’s what we do. It’s what we’re here for.’

_______________________________________________________

Later that night, back at the ryokan, Tani sat with Niamh as Nadya took her turn on watch. Dressed casually in traditional yukatas, they shared green tea and a simple meal. The sun was going down, and lamps were being lit throughout the ryokan. Tani felt more relaxed now, in spite of the sadness over the loss of some of his army in the fight today.

‘What did you mean earlier today,’ he asked ‘when you said you hoped Nadya and I knew what we were doing?’

‘Tani-san,’ Niamh began ‘it’s like I said….I don’t approve or disapprove, your relationship with Nadya is between you and her. It’s just…..well….our line of work is so dangerous, and sometimes getting too involved with a fellow combatant can be a mistake. That’s all I meant.’

Discomfited, she took a sip of tea. Tani looked questioningly at her.

‘Of course it’s dangerous. I know that, Nadya knows that. We all know that. But you can’t let fear stop you living your life. If you do that, the enemy has won.’

‘I know, but I….’ she sighed heavily ‘…how can I put this? It’s been three years since Hiro was killed. When he died, part of me died too….I’ve never felt whole since that day. I miss him so much. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and expect him to be there beside me, and I can’t describe the hurt when I realise he’s gone and I’m never going to wake up beside him again. When I lost him, I wanted to die too. He was such a good man, well you know that.’

‘Yes I do,’ Tani nodded sadly 'he was a good friend.’

‘You and Nadya know the risks, but you’ve never had to live with the reality. Just be aware, that’s all I’m asking. I couldn’t bear to see either of you suffer the way I did. I couldn’t stand to watch you go through that excruciating agony. It’s too much heartbreak, I really couldn’t bear it if you or Nadya were struck with such grief.’

‘Please,’ she implored him ‘please be careful.’

‘I will.’ He touched her shoulder with much affection ‘I promise.’

The pair looked around as Nadya returned.

‘I’ve just sent a scout out to look for Takeshi, to see where he is and if it’ll be at all possible to try and get a sneak attack in before he gets too far ahead.’

Nadya sat down next to Tani, who had already started to pour her a drink. His fingers lightly caressed hers as he handed the drink over. They held each other’s gaze for a few seconds longer than was strictly necessary. Nadya gave a sheepish grin and flushed a delicate, pale pink.

I slept with the man, she thought. Yet I can’t look at him without blushing.

Niamh watched the pair and sighed inaudibly. She could not let the death of Hiro get in the way of Tani’s and Nadya’s happiness. It was unfair to want everybody else in the world to remain loveless because her own husband had died.

‘What are you thinking about?’ asked Nadya innocently, who had caught the thoughtful expression on her fellow Corporal’s face.

‘Just about Tsukinoyama’s sword and how to get it off Count Takeshi,’ lied Niamh easily.

The present day Niamh was brought back to reality by the feel of warm flesh against the side of her face. She jerked, surprised. Unbeknownst to her, the memory of her husband’s death had caused her to start crying; Tani had been wiping away her tears.

‘What’s the matter?’ he asked, looking at her with those huge, warm, chocolate brown eyes of his. His voice was full of concerned, as was his expression. Niamh thought she detected a hint of fear in his voice as well. It was his caring, understanding nature that had caused countless women before Nadya to fall hopelessly in love with him. Occasionally, she wondered about her own feeling towards him. She could appreciate his good looks, but she now realised that she did not love him.

‘Nothing,’ she replied. ‘I’ve just been thinking.’

Without another word, she got up and exited, but not before noticing the fact that Nadya held onto her General’s hand tightly.

_______________________________________________________

Further ahead from where Tani and his two Corporals were staying, the scouts that Nadya had sent out had been spotted by one of the Count’s counsellors. Sonomanma reported back to Takeshi.

‘Tani cannot be that far away, he has sent out a lone scout.’

Takeshi grinned maliciously.

‘Come with me, my dear Sonomanma. I’ve got a plan…’

_______________________________________________________

Nadya’s scout ran into Niamh who had gone outside, away from Nadya and Tani to be alone with her thoughts.

‘Where’s Tani?’ asked the scout, Niamh pointed behind her, not meeting the scout’s eyes. He gave her a look and walked past, searching for the General.

_______________________________________________________

Tani looked up as the sliding door opened. He had hoped that it would be Niamh, ready to talk about what had upset her.

‘I’ve just seen Count Takeshi. He’s not that far away. I saw him and a few Emerald Guards with the sword in a wooden hut, about forty-five minutes up the path.’

Tani grinned broadly.

‘Really? Nadya, find Niamh. You -’ he pointed at the scout, ‘- show us the way. We’re going to take the Count by surprise.’

The scout nodded as Tani and Nadya stood up. She was smiling at the General in a way to mask her exasperation.

‘What?’

‘Nothing, sir.’

She giggled as Tani pulled her to him and kissed her neck. She pushed him away, still giggling, cheeks tinted with pink again.

_______________________________________________________

A few minutes later, Tani stood outside, hands holding onto his katana, the point digging in the ground. The light breeze gently ruffled his silken raven coloured hair. He was squinting in the sunlight.

Corporals Niamh and Nadya stood on both sides, flanking him.

‘Come on, let’s get this over with.’

_______________________________________________________

Sonomanma was being addressed by the decoy, the fake Count Takeshi and the other Emerald Guard.

‘It’s been done,’ murmured the Guard.

‘You stay here,’ ordered Sonomanma. He beckoned for the fake Count to follow him, and the pair ran, carefully so they would not be seen. The remaining Guard hid round the back of the large wooden building that Tani was to be lured into. In the distance, Sonomanma kept the sword safely concealed.

_______________________________________________________

It was three storeys high and was made entirely out of wood. Tani glanced at the scout who was tagging along behind.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Positive. This is where I saw Count Takeshi. Look - is that him?’

Tani’s eyes darted over to where the scout pointed. Sure enough, Tani could see the figure of the Count, trying to get out of sight. The General turned to the three accompanying him.

‘Niamh, scout, you both go over there and try to immobilise Count Takeshi and any other Emerald Guards. Nadya, you help me locate Tsukinoyama’s sword. It must be inside that building.’

Nadya nodded and followed Tani through the heavy wooden door, which he held open for her.

‘You look down here,’ he commanded. ‘I’ll check the top storey, and then come down to do the second one, okay?’

‘Yes sir.’

Tani smiled as he turned his back on Nadya.

_______________________________________________________

The Emerald Guard hiding behind the house Tani had just disappeared into, gave the smallest of signals to people hiding nearby. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out lighter fluid and a match. He doused the back wall of the building with the flammable liquid and covered some of the grass as well, just to make sure. He then pulled out a match, lit it, and lowered it to the lighter fluid. It caught flames instantly. The Guard backed away quickly, and leapt out to assist his fellow Guards in their fight against Tani’s Corporal and sidekick.

_______________________________________________________

Nadya glanced up the wooden staircase that Tani had gone up as she passed when something caught her eye. She knew that Tani had told her to remain on the first storey, but what if it was the sword? If it was, then Tani had missed it. She clambered up the stairs quietly, keeping her eyes wide open.

The fire that the Guard had started was spreading rapidly. Smoke was billowing off the house, filling the air with soot.

_________________________________________________________

Corporal Niamh noticed the smoke and then saw the jagged flames that were swiftly engulfing the house. She tried to run to it, but another Emerald Guard grabbed her and stopped her from going anywhere near. She was hit roughly round the back of the head. There was no way she could get to the house, and she had no idea if either Nadya or Tani knew about the fire.

‘Tani!’ she screamed. ‘Tani get out, the house is on fir-’

Niamh was cut off halfway through her last word by a gag being placed in her mouth. She choked, not expecting it, and struggled relentlessly against the force behind her, but it was no use. She could not break free.

_______________________________________________________

General Tani had just about heard Niamh’s cries, but not enough to pick out what she had said. He looked out a window and saw her and the scout under heavy attack, when he noticed the smoke himself. The awful smell filled his nostrils and he started coughing. He called out to Nadya, trying to get himself heard, but he thought that his shouting was all in vain.

A piece of wood fell down just in front of Tani; the roof had started to fall apart as the fire weakened the building. The smoke was getting more by the second. Tani coughed again and held his hands over his mouth.

_______________________________________________________

Nadya tore up the stairs to the third storey of the building, searching frantically for Tani. She saw him, falling to his knees, coughing and spluttering. She dashed to his side and tried to pull him up; he was already falling unconscious.

‘Tani, come on, stand up, please!’ she begged at him, between coughs. The smoke was getting to her as well.

The pair managed to stand nearly upright, but Nadya was straining under the weight of Tani. He was leaning on her heavily, unable to support himself in his semi conscious state. She staggered backwards, and crashed into a column. The fire on the column spread from the wood to the material of Nadya’s white jacket. She felt the heat of it and craned back to see.

‘Oh shit!’ she exclaimed.

She stumbled away from the column and knew that she was going to have to really fight to be able to get out of this building alive. She forced her way back to the staircase, kicking pieces of fallen, flaming wood out of her way, when some more of the roof collapsed. She shrieked as a heavy piece of wood landed on her, knocking both her and Tani over. The staircase was totally caved in.

Nadya managed to lift the wood off her back and slung her shoulder under Tani’s arm again. The only other place they could exit from would be from out of the window.

She struggled to get back across the room to where the window was and looked out. It was nothing more than a large hole in the wood. No glass. It was also a long way down, and her jacket was still on fire. Her right shoulder was being burnt a lot.

Taking a deep breath, Nadya braced herself, eyes closed and threw herself out of the window, pulling Tani out with her.

Both landed on the grass, Tani on top of Nadya. She called out as they struck the ground. Pain shot through her back in addition to the agony tearing through the rest of her body.

Niamh caught sight of the falling bodies and quickly decapitated the final of the Emerald Guards. She and the scout made their way over Tani and Nadya.

Nadya had stood up and was wildly slapping at her right shoulder, trying to put out the flames. In the end she tore the jacket off and flung it unceremoniously to the ground and stamped out the flames. All three of the conscious looked down at Tani, lying still on the ground. Like Nadya, he had sooty marks over his face. But unlike Nadya, he was not breathing.

Niamh started to move over to Tani, to try and see what was the matter with him, when the younger Corporal got there first. She rested Tani’s head in her lap.

‘Tani?’ she whispered, looking worried. She tapped a cheek. ‘Tani?’

She rested his head back on the ground and desperately tried to make out some sounds of breathing, but heard none. She opened his mouth and made sure that his airway was clear and then formed a tight seal around his mouth.

Niamh and the scout watched as Corporal Nadya gave Tani mouth to mouth, trying to get him to start breathing again.

After a few minutes of trying, she was panting with the effort, and in fear. Tears sparkled in her eyes. She looked up at Niamh.

‘He won’t start breathing again!’ she said, horror struck. Niamh crouched down beside the pair. She failed to find a mistake in what Nadya was doing.

‘Just keep trying, that’s all you can do,’ she replied.

Nadya bent over Tani and tried once more, still to no avail. As she leant forwards again, she heard a soft moan. She froze. Niamh’s hands were on her shoulders.

‘You did it,’ she whispered. ‘He’s breathing again. Look.’

Niamh pointed at Tani’s chest, which had resumed its rhythmic rising and falling. Relief swept over Nadya. Tani opened his eyes and looked at Nadya after taking in their surroundings. Tani snaked his arms around Nadya and embraced her in a huge hug. In spite of herself, she winced as he accidentally touched her right shoulder.

_______________________________________________________

Half an hour later, the three were back in the ryokan. Nadya was in her bedroom, pacing and rubbing her right shoulder gently, and wincing at the feel of her own touch. There was a knock on the door and Niamh entered, holding an ice pack.

‘For your shoulder,’ she said, raising the pack. Nadya smiled gratefully.

Nadya was standing in just her white t-shirt that she had worn underneath her now burnt jacket. The scout had picked it up as Tani, Niamh and Nadya started to leave.

As Niamh turned to exit Nadya’s room, she struggled to remove her t-shirt so she could apply the ice pack to her burnt shoulder. Niamh heard her grunts and a few small cries of ‘ouch’ and turned back. She assisted Nadya, and with one last grin, walked through the door. Before she slid it back, she said one last thing to the younger Corporal:

‘Tani wants to see you. Shall I tell him to come in?’

Nadya nodded and thanked her. A few seconds later, Tani was in her room, sliding the door closed. She felt a bit uncomfortable again and strained to hide her cleavage from Tani with her arms on the pretence of arranging the ice pack so it was more comfortable. She sank down on the bed. Tani sat down next to her. He rearranged himself so he was sitting behind her and took the ice pack from her fingers and gently moved it in circular motions on her burn.

‘How’s that?’ he asked a few minutes later.

‘That’s fine, I can’t feel it now. It’s gone numb.’

‘That’s good,’ Tani replied, stroking Nadya’s hair affectionately. ‘I think it’s my turn to give you a backrub this time, don’t you?’

Nadya giggled embarrassedly, but nodded. He started to gently rub the space between her shoulder blades and moved his hands down so his fingers slid over her bra strap. His hands wandered so that the very tips of his fingers touched her breasts lightly. Nadya felt his hands move down her back further so he was rubbing her hips before making their way up her back again. Like before, he gently stroked her breasts.

Tani leant forwards and kissed her neck; she shuddered with pleasure. He continued to kiss at her neck and worked his way down to her left shoulder, slipping her bra strap down. Nadya turned around and pressed her lips to Tani’s as he got into a better position onto the bed, pulling her on top of him.

_______________________________________________________

Niamh was walking through the ryokan when she was stopped by the scout.

‘I wouldn’t go through there, if I were you,’ he warned. Niamh cast him a sharp look.

‘Why not?’

‘Tani and the young girl are - uh - busy,’ replied the scout. Niamh rolled her eyes.

‘Fine, well when they’re no longer busy, can you tell them that I’ve gone out to see where Takeshi is. The real Count, that is. What’s your name?’

‘Akimoto, ma’am.’

Niamh smiled at Akimoto as she walked out of the ryokan’s door.

______________________________________________________________

Ten minutes later, Akimoto momentarily stepped outside the ryokan when he saw Niamh had been ambushed by yet another horde of Emerald Guards. He ran back inside and rapped loudly on Tani’s door.

‘Sorry to bother you, but I’ve just seen Niamh outside, and she’s being attacked!’

There was a muffled cursing and a thud. He heard Nadya say ‘ouch!’

As the pair gathered their clothes, Nadya looked at Tani.

‘I’ll go.’

‘Are you sure?’ asked Tani. Nadya nodded and smiled.

Outside the ryokan was a man with a motorbike who had stopped for a second. Nadya hurried over to him, sheathing her katana as she ran.

‘Excuse me sir, can I please borrow your bike quickly? It’s urgent, a friend of mine is in deep trouble, and I need to get to her.’

Without waiting for an answer, Nadya clambered on and sped off, leaving a trail of dust in her wake. She could see Niamh surrounded by Guards, who were closing in on them. She had her own katana drawn, but there were too many Guards around her to take on. There was no way she was going to be able to do it on her own.

Nadya spotted a fallen tree trunk in the path ahead that had a plank of wood over it, so it could be used as a ramp. As she rode, she placed all her weight on the back of the bike, so the front wheel was raised off the dusty ground. She moved over to the right hand side of the path, so she was coming up right in front of it. As she rode up it, she called out to Niamh, who had managed to break out of the circle. There was an Emerald Guard in front of her, who was not aware of Nadya’s presence.

Just before Nadya drove off the ramp, she precariously raised her feet so she was crouching down on the side. She threw herself backwards, so she flipped off the bike, which went cascading off the ramp. As her body flipped head over heels, she drew her katana, and saw Niamh move to get out of the way of the bike. It crashed on the Emerald Guard that was making his way over to Niamh.

Niamh grabbed the handlebars of the bike as it tried to speed past her and she leapt into the seat, and turned it around.

Nadya landed, and as soon as her feet made contact with the ground, she turned on her heel and locked swords with an attacking Emerald Guard. She thrust her blade forwards, nudging the Guard backwards.

‘Thought you could attack whilst my back was turned, did you?’ she asked. She kicked him in the shins and then punched him in the face, her blow landed squarely on the chin. She plunged the blade of her katana down into the Guard’s left shoulder, so it reached down and penetrated his heart. She pulled the blade out and turned back to see if she could spot Niamh.

Niamh was still on the bike, chasing after the Emerald Guards, trying to mow them down. Nadya moved closer, trying to get away from the fresh new Emerald Guards that were trying to attack her. Niamh accelerated at them, causing them to run out of the way. She hit the brakes suddenly and twisted the handlebars. The effect caused the back wheel to raise itself off the ground and for the whole bike to start to turn back around. As Niamh sped past Nadya, she held out a hand to pull Nadya onto the bike behind her. The pair raced back to the ryokan before the Emerald Guards could regroup and attack again.

‘I don’t know about you,’ Niamh panted ‘but I think the best move we could make right now would be to get our asses back to HQ and take it from there.’

‘I just hope Tani-san sees it that way.’ Nadya replied.

_______________________________________________________

Back at his headquarters a few days later, Tani sat at his desk, feeling despondent. His scouts had reported that Takeshi had not returned to his castle at that time and no-one knew where he had taken the sword. It was odd…the castle would be the best place to go where he could be entrenched and protected, and it would be difficult for anyone to get the sword there.

‘It’s not your fault, Tani-san’ Nadya told him.

‘You didn’t fail.’ Niamh assured him ‘The sword was stolen before we even took custody of it. How could it be your fault?’

‘I didn’t get it back.’ Tani sighed, getting up and going to the window.

‘You mean we haven’t got it back yet.’ Niamh replied, patting his shoulder reassuringly.

Tani managed a slight smile. The sky was as clouded over as his mood. Niamh glanced from him to Nadya, and decided to leave her to talk to him. Perhaps she could make him feel better.

‘I’d better get down to the kitchen and see how they’re progressing with dinner.’ She walked over to the door ‘I know the troops are certainly ready for some food.’

Tani just grunted. Nadya smiled at her and nodded. As she closed the door, she saw Nadya slip her arms around the General’s waist.

_______________________________________________________

That night after dinner, Niamh and Nadya were heading back to their respective quarters.

‘He seemed in a better frame of mind.’ Niamh commented.

‘Yeah.’ Replied Nadya, absently rubbing the bottom of her back.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Niamh.

Nadya grinned sheepishly, and her cheeks took on a rosy hue.

‘His desk needs sanding.’ She said.

Niamh’s mouth dropped open. Nadya giggled.

Just then, Akimoto came running up to them, breathless and agitated.

‘Corporal Niamh, Corporal Nadya!!!’ he gasped ‘Takeshi’s returned to his Castle. With the guards AND the sword!’

‘Are you certain?’ Niamh’s eyes widened.

‘Positive, ma’am,’ Akimoto nodded ‘I was there, in hiding, watching. I saw them arrive, and I saw Takeshi carrying the sword himself.’

‘Come on!’ Nadya started to run towards Tani’s quarters, beckoning the two to follow her.

_______________________________________________________

Tani couldn’t sleep. There was so many thoughts galloping around in his head, so many plans. Nadya lay nestled in his arms, but she couldn’t sleep either.

‘I guess we’re both restless tonight.’ She remarked, mildly.

‘It’s going go be difficult to get the sword back, we’re going to have to plan our attack meticulously, it will have to be absolutely precise.’ Tani said.

‘That’ she replied firmly ‘is why we’re having the big meeting tomorrow. And it’s because we’re having a big meeting tomorrow’ she caressed his naked body gently ‘that it’s important you relax tonight.’

‘Yeah, I know.’ He sighed ‘So what’s on your mind?’

‘Oh…’ she sighed too ‘…it’s just Niamh.’

‘What about Niamh?’ he frowned, puzzled.

‘Well she hasn’t said anything, directly,’ Nadya turned onto her side and leant on her elbow, concern in her face ‘but I think our being together makes her uncomfortable.’

‘I talked to Niamh the other day, and she doesn’t disapprove,’ Tani assured her ‘she just needs a little adjustment time. Seeing us together must remind her of what she’s lost. She and Hiro were soulmates, they were so in love with each other and they had a wonderful marriage. She’s still grieving for him, but she wouldn’t begrudge anyone else happiness because her husband is dead. She’ll get used to us being together, my love, don’t worry.’

‘You know, for a while I wondered if…’ Nadya paused, unsure if she should say what was in her mind ‘…if she had feelings for you.’

‘She loves me, but she’s not in love with me. Her feelings for me are those of a sister for a brother, just as I love her like a sister. That’s all it is.’ Tani said ‘I hope that someday Niamh will find somebody else, but I fear that’s a long time off. She’s not ready yet.’

‘She told you she doesn’t disapprove of our relationship?’ Nadya asked.

‘Yes.’ Tani brushed Nadya’s hair back away from her face ‘She’s concerned about us, but she doesn’t disapprove. We are her family, Nadya. She cares deeply for both of us, and she worries that one of us may end up suffering the pain and grief that she’s had to endure.’

‘Niamh’s been through hell, hasn’t she?’ Nadya sighed, sitting up ‘And what’s worse, she saw him die.’

‘I promised her that we would be careful.’ Tani sat up ‘I love you, Nadya, I love you so much. I’m not going to shy away from those feelings because of something that might happen in the future.’

‘I love you too, Hayato, with all my heart.’ Nadya told him softly ‘And I think we should make the most of every day.’

Tani took both of her hands in his. She gazed at him, at his flawless features and beautiful velvet brown eyes. He caressed her fingers lovingly.

‘Do you love me enough to marry me?’ he asked, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

Nadya felt a deep emotional surge through every nerve in her body. It was a though her heart, even her very soul, had done a somersault inside her. Elation flooded over her, and her eyes moistened. She wanted to laugh, to dance, to leap up with joy.

‘Yes.’ She reached for Tani and hugged him tightly to her ‘Oh Hayato, yes!’

_______________________________________________________

The sun shone the following morning, and Niamh was in the conference room preparing for the meeting, when Nadya came in. The moment she entered, Niamh knew there was something going on. She looked radiant.

‘You must have had a good night.’ Niamh teased, grinning.

‘I did.’ She replied, hardly able to contain herself ‘Niamh, please be happy for me…Hayato’s asked me to marry him.’

‘Wow!’ Niamh’s face was a picture of startled happiness ‘Oh Nadya, that’s wonderful! Of course I’m happy for you!’

She hugged Nadya joyously.

‘I was worried,’ Nadya told her ‘that you might feel sad, because of Hiro.’

Niamh held Nadya away from her for a moment.

‘Nadya….I hurt every day because Hiro’s gone.’ She told her friend gently ‘But that doesn’t mean I can’t be happy for you. My grief for my husband is still deep and I still miss him so much, but I wouldn’t want to deprive anyone else of joy because of it. I AM so very happy for you. For both of you.’

‘Thank God.’ Nadya hugged her friend back.

_______________________________________________________

Tani stood in the conference room before the assembled troops with both Corporals at his side, having agreed on a plan of attack with the senior officers. A detailed map of Takeshi’s castle was on the wall behind him.

‘Takeshi now holds the sword of Tsukinoyama in his castle and we’re going to retrieve it, and deliver it safely to the Kyoto museum where it belongs. Make no mistake people….Takeshi has killed to get this sword and he will kill to try to keep it. We can’t make errors this time, we have to be precise and we are going to get it right’ he told them all ‘We have enough fighters to attack the castle on all sides. However, we’re going to pull one of Takeshi’s own stunts on him, and send a decoy General and two decoy Corporals to lead the troops whilst the real Corporals and I will sneak inside the castle. The last thing he’ll be expecting is for us to use one of his tricks on him.’

The troops glanced at each other and murmured comments filled the room. Tani shut them up by rapping his cane on the desk in front of him.

‘This is not a discussion, it is a briefing, the decision has been made. I know that what I am about to outline is dangerous, but we are capable of carrying this out and we are going to succeed!’

Pointing out various locations on the map, he explained how Lieutenant Takugawa as a decoy Corporal, was going to lead an assault group via the Great Wall. And how another, slightly smaller group would take the Honeycomb Maze, ably led by Lieutenant Shimizu as a decoy Corporal. The largest group would take a direct assault at the front of the castle, engaging many of the guards in what promised to be a fierce battle, led by the decoy General in the form of Captain Tashimoto. The final group would be gaining access via the Bridge.

‘Which way will you enter the castle, General?’ Shimizu enquired.

‘The uphill garden gives us the greatest opportunity to sneak up to the castle without being detected,’ Tani explained ‘there’s lots of shrubbery and grassland to give us cover if anyone patrols by. Your job is to draw them out and keep them occupied. The Corporals and I will retrieve the sword and deal with any guards who remain inside the castle. Not to mention Takeshi himself. Everybody understand?’

The troops nodded and murmured.

‘Questions?’ asked Tani.

‘When do we go?’ one of the troops asked.

‘Eager, are you?’ Tani grinned.

Everyone laughed.

‘In five days’ time.’ He saw Nadya look enquiringly at him and added ‘It’s the shortest day of the year. We leave at twilight.’

‘Understood.’ Nadya nodded.

‘Before I dismiss you all, I have an announcement.’ Tani said, drawing Nadya closer to him ‘Corporal Nadya and I are going to be married.’

Spontaneous applause and cheering filled the room. When Tani looked at Niamh, he saw the true joy in her smile and the enthusiasm in her applause. She came over and hugged and kissed them both. Rather un-Japanese, but very warmly Irish.

‘I am so thrilled for both of you.’ She told them.

Tani thanked her and went off to speak to Tashimoto, leaving Nadya with Niamh. Nadya seemed to go a little pale suddenly, and put a hand to her stomach, just for a moment.

‘Are you okay?’ Niamh asked, concerned.

‘I just felt a bit nauseous for a second. I’m okay, really.’ Nadya assured her ‘It’s just all the excitement.’

‘Hmm…’ Niamh studied her friend’s face carefully, looking for signs of illness ‘Well if you’re sure you’re okay, let’s go and work out the training schedules for the troops. We’ve got five days to be fully prepared for this.’

_______________________________________________________

Takeshi sat cross-legged on the matting, drinking sake and laughing at the fact that he now possessed the sword, and that none of his enemies, particularly Tani, had succeeded in stopping him. He had the sword, he had the power, and he was going to use it. Tani was bound to try to get the ancient weapon, and Takeshi planned to take him with it.

‘Are you certain he’ll try, Count? It would be very foolish.’ Saburo spoke quietly, afraid of incurring the wrath of his lord.

‘Of course he’ll try.’ Sneered Takeshi ‘But only an all-out assault with more fighting men than Tani can muster would get the sword back now. Oh he’ll try. And when he does, he’s mine. I will have his head with the very sword he comes to retrieve.’

‘That will be a day to celebrate, Count.’ Sonomanma said, bowing.

‘It certainly will.’ Takeshi replied, with a smirk ‘Bring it on, Tani. I’m ready for you. More sake!’

‘Yes Count.’ Saburo reached over with the flask to fill Takeshi’s sakazuki once again.

_______________________________________________________

Tani himself oversaw the drilling of the troops. The climbing practice, the sword-fighting training, the balance training, and the hand-to-hand combat practice, whilst the Corporals took charge of the fitness and gymnasium work. Between all that, he and the Corporals were going over and over the plans for their part in the attack. Errors and failure were unacceptable this time.

_______________________________________________________

Four days later Nadya awoke to find herself not in the arms of Tani, but she had pulled away from him in her sleep. She felt unbearably hot. A wave of nausea crashed over her and she pulled on her yukata, snatched up a small package she had kept hidden and ran, hands covering her mouth into the bathroom.

Once she had finished vomiting, she leant against a nearby wall and groaned. She stifled a yawn. Over the past few days she had suddenly felt exhausted, and she had a suspicion as to why. Nadya picked up the package she had dropped earlier and opened it and read the instructions inside.

A few minutes later she emerged, walking as though in a trance. She was pregnant.

_______________________________________________________

Niamh walked outside of the small ryokan she, Nadya and Tani were currently staying in when she saw Nadya sitting on the ground, absent mindedly pulling up blades of grass. She looked thoughtful.

‘Penny for your thoughts?’ she said. Nadya jumped. ‘Sorry.’

The younger Corporal shook her head.

‘What are you doing out here?’ asked Niamh. Nadya shrugged.

‘Nothing. Just thinking.’

‘Nadya…’ began Niamh softly. ‘Are you pre-’

‘Excuse me,’ interrupted Nadya. ‘There’s something I need to do.’

Without so much as a backwards glance, Nadya entered the ryokan again. She started back towards the bathroom, half suspecting that she was going to be sick again when her new fiancé emerged from the bedroom wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts.

‘There you are,’ he said warming, seizing her and giving her a long, romantic kiss.

He kissed her again, but more passionately this time, and started to pull her to the bedroom. Nadya half heartedly tried to resist him. His hands had started to undo her obi and then pulled open her yukata, hungry for flesh. He kissed his way down her chest when she abruptly pulled away, covering herself up.

‘Don’t you ever get enough?’ she asked, her tone semi serious.

‘I could never get enough of you,’ he replied, leaning forwards to kiss her again. She placed her fingers over his lips in a way that was reminiscent of just before she confessed her love for him.

‘I need you to cool down for a second. I’ve got something to tell you.’

Niamh entered the scene with Nadya looking awkward and Tani looking curious.

Nadya had started to flush, now knowing that she was going to have to make her announcement in front of Niamh. She took a deep breath and braced herself.

‘I’m pregnant.’

Nadya examined Tani’s expression. He seemed to have paled significantly.

‘You’re what?’ he whispered, evidently thinking he had misheard.

‘Pregnant,’ repeated Nadya, louder.

Tani slumped down on his and Nadya’s bed, his head in his hands, staring wide eyed at his knees. Nadya sat down next to him, watching him carefully.

‘I can’t believe it,’ he finally said, after a minute or two.

‘I would’ve thought you’d be happy,’ replied Nadya, discomfort creeping into her voice. Tani looked up at her.

‘I am, honestly, I am. It’s just…bad timing,’ he said lamely.

‘Bad timing?’ Nadya raised one eyebrow.

‘I was hoping that we could get the sword from Takeshi before even considering a family,’ replied Tani. ‘I’m going to be concerned about you.’

‘I’ll be alright.’

‘Even so…you do realise that I can’t let you fight tomorrow?’ asked Tani.

‘Excuse me? Oh no, I want to fight still!’ retorted Nadya.

‘No, Nadya, I cannot risk it. You’re carrying our child, and I don’t want to put either of you at risk. Surely you can understand my point?’

Nadya grudgingly admitted that she did, but still wanted to fight.

‘Who are you going to have take my place in the storming of Takeshi’s Castle tomorrow?’ she asked. Tani looked thoughtful for a moment.

‘I was just wondering the same thing. Let’s see…what’s Akimoto doing tomorrow? Nothing much I think. I’ll get him to take your place,’ decided Tani.

_______________________________________________________

The following morning, Tani got up and dressed and met up with Niamh before he and the rest of his troops were due to make their attack on the castle. Before he left, he quietly made his way back into his bedroom and kissed Nadya on the forehead.

As soon as Tani and Niamh exited the ryokan, Nadya, who had been pretending to be asleep sprang to life and quickly changed into some suitable clothes, snatched up her katana and set out after the pair.

_______________________________________________________

Sonomanma looked out of the window in the castle and let out a laugh. Count Takeshi gave him an odd look.

‘Come and have a look at this, sir.’

Takeshi peered out of the window. He also laughed.

‘General Tani is attacking, is he? How sad…I was expecting a more well-thought-out attack than just charging. Go and send out the Emerald Guards.’

______________________________________________________________

The real Tani, accompanied by Akimoto and Niamh hid out of sight as the Emerald Guards came charging from out of the castle to the decoys. Further behind them, Nadya drew into the bushes. She suddenly realised that it was not a good idea for her to be here and wondered if it would be possible to sneak back to the ryokan without anybody noticing her.

_______________________________________________________

Takeshi was watching the fight through the window of his castle, keeping his gaze fixed mainly on Tani’s decoy. A smirk spread over his face. He knew that there was no way Tani could win. He felt confident in that fact.

The door burst open, and three figures entered. A look of bewilderment crossed the Count’s features.

‘Tani?’ he spat. He backed off, and gaped out of the window.

‘Decoys,’ said Tani. He saw Takeshi look at Akimoto.

‘Where’s that younger Corporal of yours? She ill?’

Tani glared.

‘Like I’m really going to tell you that, Takeshi.’

The Count picked up the sword that he had kept with him obsessively and held the tip of the blade threateningly to Tani’s throat.

‘Do you really want to try and attack me?’ he asked.

Tani took a step backwards so the blade of Tsukinoyama’s legendary sword was not digging into his throat. He drew his own katana and prepared himself for a fight with Takeshi. The Count roared with laughter.

‘You seriously think that you’re going to beat me using your own katana, when I’ve got this?’ he asked, hefting the huge sword. His other hand wiped away the tears that he was crying in his mirth. ‘That’s funny. That’s a good joke, I’ll have to remember that.’

Akimoto and Niamh started forwards, preparing for their fight alongside the General. The Count shook his head.

‘No. I get the feeling that this should be a one on one, don’t you, Tani? That would make it more proper. Two enemies battling it out against each other. A final fight.’

‘Why, are you scared? You have the legendary sword. You should be able to win any fights, even if outnumbered,’ retorted Tani.

‘Hmm,’ mused Takeshi. ‘You’re right. Fine. I don’t care. It’ll be down to the both of us sooner or later.’

Akimoto and Niamh flanked General Tani, their katanas ready. Niamh swallowed nervously. She did not have much faith in the three of them against Tsukinoyama’s power.

Takeshi charged at Tani. Outside the castle, they could hear the sounds of the Emerald Guards and Tani’s troops fighting as Tani’s men attacked the castle from all sides.

_______________________________________________________

Corporal Nadya had tried to make her way back to the ryokan, where she was meant to have stayed, but had been spotted by the Emerald Guards. Soon, five of them had surrounded her, and were starting to close in on her. She cursed under her breath.

The Guard directly in front of her lunged with his katana. She caught the blade deftly in her hand and shot her foot backwards, kicking one of the Guards behind her hard in the stomach. She spun around and blocked another attack. She parried madly with her own blade and jumped, dodged, and ducked to avoid being injured. There was a clang of steel on steel as Nadya crossed blades with another Guard. She pulled her katana back and sliced through his neck. He fell to the ground.

Her hand bled as one of the four remaining Guards made a badly aimed attack at her and punctured her hand. She dropped the katana, hissing between her teeth in pain. She wished she had stayed back at the ryokan. She was certain that there was no way she could get out of this alive. What would Tani say if he found out that she had disobeyed him? Her hands flew at the head of the Guard that was currently coming for her. One rested on his chin and the other on the back of his neck. She tugged sharply and was rewarded with a sickening crack. He slumped down at her feet.

Two down, three to go, she thought.

______________________________________________________________

Akimoto screamed in pain as the Count drove the blade of the legendary sword deep inside his stomach. Takeshi staggered and nearly toppled over as Niamh leapt on his back and tried to snatch the sword from him. He threw her off and she fell to the ground. Tani swiftly crouched down and placed a hand underneath her head so she would not strike it on the ground. He helped her back to her feet.

Akimoto had staggered to the ground, leaning against the wall, in too much agony to continue fighting. It was just down to General Tani and Corporal Niamh. Takeshi swung the sword at Niamh, who turned to the side. Instead of the blade raking down her chest like Takeshi had wanted, it pierced her arm, searing through the flesh, cutting through to the bone. She gasped, but apart from that, made no reaction to the Count’s attack on her. The grip on her katana tightened. She pulled her arms back and sliced at neck height. Takeshi stepped backwards, the tip of Niamh’s blade missing him only by millimetres.

_______________________________________________________

Nadya had been forced back, closer and closer to the castle by the remaining two Guards. She ducked underneath a katana. Somehow, she had yet to sustain an injury, which she was very grateful for. She turned back and looked up at the castle. The could hear sounds of a battle inside there. General Tani must be fighting Takeshi. She turned back and rapidly parried an attack that came very close to hitting her. She backed off some more and then slapped the nearest Guard around the face with all the strength that she could muster. He backed off a little as well. His comrade stepped forwards.

Nadya heard a familiar cry of pain. It sounded like Tani had just been struck.

_______________________________________________________

General Tani was backed up against a wall, with Takeshi blocking his path, getting ready to commit murder, when Nadya burst into the castle. Her eyes took in the atmosphere. Tani being held in place by Tsukinoyama’s sword, Akimoto crumpled on the floor, too injured to carry on fighting, and Niamh clutching at her wounds.

‘Nadya!’ hissed Tani furiously. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Turning up to help her beloved General, of course,’ taunted the Count.

In a sudden movement, Tani gathered up all the energy he could and shoved Takeshi away from him. Before the Count could make another attack, Nadya crept up behind and kicked him hard in the back of the knees, causing him to lose his balance.

Takeshi slowly got to his feet. Nobody else seemed to have the power of movement as the Count angrily faced Nadya. She was held in his gaze. Takeshi lunged.

Niamh managed to break free of the spell just in time. She threw herself in front of Nadya and held the girl to her. The blade of the legendary sword penetrated the small of Niamh’s back and ripped through her stomach. Blood rushed up into her open, gaping mouth.

Nadya felt the very tip of the blade prick her stomach. She tried to move back slightly, but Niamh’s arms were still locked around her. Niamh’s blood trickled out of her mouth and onto Nadya’s top. Nadya could feel more of her blood drenching her clothes from the wound in Niamh’s abdomen.

Tani pulled Niamh away as her grip on Nadya slackened. He rested the dying woman on the floor and shot a glance at Nadya. The teen had paled, and was shaking. She was nearly saturated by the blood of her colleague. Tani could see the tears in her eyes that were threatening to spill.

The General faced Takeshi. Behind him, Nadya crouched down by Niamh, telling her that everything was going to be alright.

In Tani’s moment of hesitation, Takeshi seized his katana and threw it out of reach. Tani looked around for something that could even be vaguely used as a weapon and settled on a plank of wood that had been left lying around.

After a few minutes of ducking and jumping to avoid being struck, the General saw his opportunity and belted the Count around the back of the head, knocking him out. Tani ran back to the two Corporals.

Don’t worry, we’ll get you fixed up in no time at all,’ he said, babbling in his panic. ‘I’m not going to lose you.’

Niamh held out her arms for Tani to go down to her level and give her one final hug. After a minute or so, Tani pulled away and Niamh’s arms limply fell. She had passed. The minute remainder of her life had slipped away. Tani glanced up at Nadya. She had her head down, and was silently sobbing. Her shoulders shook with each heart breaking sob. General Tani reached out and grabbed her wrists. He embraced her, fighting back his own tears.

‘I’m so sorry,’ muttered Nadya thickly, in between sobs. ‘I never meant for Niamh to die.’

‘Shh,’ soothed Tani. ‘I know, I know. But…at least, this way…she can be reunited with Hiro. Just tell me one thing. Why did you come here?’

‘I just -’ started Nadya. ‘I just…’

She tailed off as a fresh wave of tears swept over her. Tani did his best to soothe her, despite he had also started to cry.

‘What are we going to do about Takeshi?’ asked Nadya, pointing to the unconscious figure. Tani shrugged.

‘I don’t know. Leave him. Let somebody else deal with the bastard. We’ve got the sword. I don’t care what happens to him.

Tani wiped away his and Nadya’s tears on the back of his hand. He sniffed.

The pair of them sat on the floor of Takeshi’s castle, next to the body of the woman who had readily sacrificed her life for Nadya and her unborn baby.

‘We’d better get out of here.’ Tani said, standing up and handing Nadya the sword ‘Call a couple of the men to help Akimoto.’

‘I can help him…’ Nadya began.

‘No, my love, not in your condition. Get some help.’

‘Alright.’

She paused, just for a moment, to watch Tani gently lift Niamh’s body, sorrow etched in his face. Then she summoned two of the men. Tani stood back as they helped the stricken Akimoto out, before glancing down at the lifeless form in his arms and saying gently to Nadya:

‘Let’s take her home.’

_______________

Neither Tani nor Nadya could feel any joy in delivering the sword safely to the museum in Kyoto. The excitement Tani had felt at the unearthing of the legendary weapon, and the anticipation he’d experienced at being granted the privilege of escorting it to its new home, had totally evaporated. Now it was just a thing. Just another weapon. A piece of metal which had inspired greed and a lust for power, and it had taken lives that need not have been lost. Tani knew he had to look to the future, not the past. And his future was right there beside him….his fiancé and their unborn child.

_________________

Two weeks later, before his assembled troops, Tani and his beautiful bride stood before the priest, he in his white uniform, she in an exquisite white pure silk kimono. Nadya had expected to have pre-wedding jitters at taking such an enormous, life-changing step, but she felt no nerves, no doubts, only the deepest love for the man by her side. It was the kind of love she had never thought she’d be lucky enough to find before Hayato Tani had entered her life. He smiled and took her hands in his, and she gazed deep into those beautiful brown eyes. She’d found her soulmate, and she knew she would never be complete without him. As they exchanged their seiyaku, their wedding vows, she felt such joy in her heart. The priest asked Hayato if he took Nadya to be his wife, and without hesitation or misgiving he answered:

‘Chikaimasu’. I so swear.

The priest turned to her and asked if she took Hayato to be her husband. He smiled again at his bride as she answered:

‘Chikaimasu.’

Nadya felt her eyes filling with joyful tears. A single tear spilled down her cheek, and he tenderly brushed it away. They promised to love and cherish each other for the rest of their lives. Tani gently placed the gold ring onto Nadya’s finger, and his eyes never once averted from her face as she slipped his gold wedding ring into place. Spontaneous applause broke out as Tani kissed his new wife.

______________________

The following day, Tani and Nadya stood hand-in-hand at the grave where Kanazawa Hiro and Kanazawa Niamh were buried together. Nadya had placed her wedding flowers on her friend’s final resting place.

‘I still can’t believe she’s gone.’ She said, quietly ‘I still can’t get over what she did.’

‘I know.’ Hayato squeezed her hand gently ‘But she wouldn’t want you to be sad. She’s with Hiro now, and nothing can ever hurt either one of them again.’

Hayato put an arm around Nadya and hugged her closely to him. Nadya slid her arms around his waist, burying her face in his shoulder.

‘She told me she had never felt whole since Hiro died. Now they are whole again. I know you miss her…so do I, and I miss Hiro, they were both like family. But she really didn’t want either of us to have to endure the heartache and suffering that she went through. Losing you would devastate me, Nadya. She knew that. When she saved you and our child, she saved me too. They’ll never truly leave us, my darling, because their memory will live on in us, and their love will be with us forever. We have to think of the future now. Our future.’ Hayato told her ‘All three of us.’

Nadya smiled up at him.

‘Come on,’ he smiled back ‘Let’s go home.’