<div style="text-align: center">SEN<br/>​</div>Lady Takehara Senhime walked through the forested estate, a paper fan in hand, clad in incredibly fine silk. Her kimono was a bright blue and green, with a koi fish sewn into the hems of the robe in silvery white thread. It was, perhaps, a tad too extravagant to be wearing daily, but Senhime was a newly wed, after all. Certain expectations had to be met.<br/><br/>Multiple other ladies and lords, from the Daimyo's court, passed by her. A few greeted her, but most were either silent, either not looking at her or meeting her gaze with one of disdain. Senhime simply gave the customary politeness and continued on her way. They were likely headed to the war meeting the Daimyo had called, on his way back to the stronghold from the wedding. Senhime was largely used to the disdain of other nobles, and her own marriage had, despite giving her more legitimacy, not made them any more accepting of her origins or of her high position.<br/><br/>She slid open a screen door, and entered, leaving the setting sun outside. The orange glow still filtered through, giving the room a fiery ambiance. Inside was her husband, Lord Takehara Yukinojo, finishing tying his scabbard to his waist. He paused as she walked in, however, and his hand immediately went to the handle of his sword. Senhime herself stopped many feet away, and knelt on the floor. The air in the room was not loving nor celebratory as newlyweds might be, but of tension and mistrust. Yukinojo was the first to speak.<br/><br/>"What do you wish of me? Are we to wear the mask once more and enter the meeting as husband and wife?" His tone wasn't accusatory, though there was an edge to them that he had never used before with her. It was a coldness that Yukinojo had only adopted after the failed assassination attempt. Senhime hardly blamed him; the aftermath had been chaotic, as she both stood true to her own loyalties as Sen, but protected her husband as Senhime. It had been a traitorous choice, the path forward should have been selling her husband out to the one who commanded her loyalty. And yet...she had been insubordinate, covering up his involvement and arguing for his innocence. Senhime would not let her husband be executed as a traitor. And Sen herself was beginning to question far too many things. She was aware of how her mask was now influencing the one who wore it. All that was left was to await her own inevitable outing and execution. The walls were closing in on all sides. Her husband was doubting her, making the mask of Senhime nearly useless in keeping an eye on him. Sen was no longer the perfect blade of her liege.<br/><br/>"Lord Nakamura is awaiting our presence." Still, the mask was not so easy to discard, even in light of recent events. "New developments in Mizu, I believe. As his chief marshal, our liege wishes to give you new orders." Senhime simply bowed her head. For once in her life, Sen was entirely unsure as to her next course of action. Her path had always been what the Daimyo had wished, but going against his best interests had shaken any of that faith, her entire sense of identity. It hadn't been a sudden occurrence, questioning his orders had only become more and more common since the war started. The battle against the skin walker had only given her more pause, the demonic blade she had wielded being a sign of something far more sinister. All that remained now was the question: Was her lord under the thrall of a demon? If so, would it not be the fulfillment of her duty to work against him and exorcise the evil spirit? It was a tenuous thread of hope, she knew, but this was the only path remaining to her, the only way Sen could convince herself that her actions were still in keeping with her loyalties.<br/><br/>After a pause, Yukinojo stood up, nodding. The two exited the room together, and smiles appeared on their faces immediately as they assumed the role of a happy couple. Exchanging pleasantries, they walked together to the meeting room, and entered, bowing as they did. Many other lords were in attendance to this meeting, generals and advisors as well. Shinobu Nakamura stood at the head of the table, the blade<i>Onikiri</i>at his side. While some lords turned up their noses, the generals and many of the Daimyo's personal advisors either nodded or greeted the couple. As head marshal, Yukinojo was well-liked among the heads of the military, and Senhime had earned their respect through multiple engagements, a few even knowing of her true identity. The court nearly universally loved Yukinojo, and Senhime herself had worked her way into multiple circles after years of service. It was telling that many of the young and more forward-thinking of the nobles were at least polite. The couple took their seats near the head of the table, Yukinojo directly to the right of the Daimyo. A few basic announcements took place, then they jumped into the meat of the meeting.<br/><br/>"New developments have taken place at Mizu's capital." A general on the other side spoke up in low tones, gesturing at the appropriate point on the map. "A tsunami, in fact. A gift from the heavens, if you are so inclined, but a good opportunity. The message came in just this afternoon, which is why I called in this meeting. I believe now is the time to strike, my liege." Nakamura didn't speak up, instead turning his piercing gaze to look at Yukinojo. Senhime felt an overwhelming want to turn away, but she kept her eyes locked straight on her lord. Yukinojo spoke up next.<br/><br/>"Fortuitous indeed. While our enemy is licking it's wounds, we should move in and destroy them. Their morale will be low." Yukinojo stroked his chin. "Their resources will be split between reconstruction aid and the war. If they commit full resources to the war and leave the capital and their people in shambles, their morale will drop even lower. Their armies will find themselves caught between our own and a faltering capital. I agree with the current recommendation, my liege." Nakamura simply nodded at this, then spoke up. His voice was commanding and gravelly, almost hoarse after years of commanding soldiers.<br/><br/>"Lord Takehara will lead our troops. Generals Kiwase and Akechi, you will accompany him as advisors with your troops as well. I am attaching a Onmyodo squad to your troops with specific orders to aid you." Senhime looked up, but Nakamura did not look at her. Was she to not accompany them? "Deliver me Mizu. You are all dismissed."<br/><br/>Everyone moved to stand, but a hand on Senhime's shoulder stopped her from leaving. Yukinojo shot her a concerned glance, but exited. The only ones remaining now were a general, Senhime, another female onmyoji, and the head handmaiden, an old crone that attended to courtly matters relating to the servants. Sen knew her true identity: matriarch of the Kamaitachi. General Akechi too was a part of this organization, long serving and graying in hair, an oddity in an organization that saw many die young.<br/><br/>"We await your direction, lord and god." The members of Kamaitachi bowed their heads. Sen knew that the room was likely both guarded heavily and entirely soundproofed, if this meeting was to take place here. Nakamura gestured for them to raise their heads. The crone spoke, as she was the mouthpiece for Nakamura to deliver orders to his blades.<br/><br/>"First, our lord wishes to express his gratitude." The matriarch was looking right at Sen, the wrinkles on her face almost making a smile. "In ousting the conspiracy to assassinate him, fighting against the skin walker, and even going so far as to capture him alive...you make this organization proud, Sen. Continue to be our finest blade." Sen bowed her head. Such praise was rare and not at all commonplace. She could see similar smiles on the faces of those around her. Kamaitachi, despite it's nature, was one that celebrated it's people's successes. They were like a family to Sen. Which made what was said next all the harder to not speak out against.<br/><br/>"Kotone, you will be working with General Akechi. Your orders are to standby and use your squad to capture any skin walkers you come across, and aid General Akechi in killing Takehara Yukinojo." The onmyoji nodded, her face entirely emotionless. If Akechi or her were surprised by this, they did not show it. "Sen has done well in arguing for his usefulness, and indeed he has been a valuable tool for our lord's will. Still, his usefulness may be at an end. You will receive further orders in writing." Sen could not be surprised, even if her mind was telling her to speak up. Even though she had put forth a persuasive rhetoric as to why his loyalty should not be in question, had it not been enough? And moreover, if they were going to kill him, then where did that leave her?<br/><br/>"Sen, you will remain here. The skin walker you have captured will undergo a ceremony. Your duty will be to ensure he does not escape, and to keep his powers locked." Sen nodded, now understanding. She was to be here to keep an eye on Sho and incapacitate him again if need be. In addition, they were ensuring that her own duties as Senhime would not interfere with the operation in Mizu. The matriarch bowed, and dismissed them. Sen took a deep breath, and assumed the bearing and demeanor of Senhime once more.<br/><br/>Senhime stepped out of the room and began walking, her mind racing. Yukinojo could not die, that much was clear. He had knowledge regarding this skin walker, regarding the demon in the Daimyo's blade, and far more than that, she knew. He had plotted to assassinate his lord for a reason, and she knew it to not be a simple lust for power. Sen needed to not only puzzle out what the nature of her liege's relationship with demon-kind was, but to also move without raising the suspicions of Kamaitachi, Yukinojo, or the Daimyo. Only then would she in a position to save anyone. Senhime could no longer be just a mask.<br/><div style="text-align: center"><br/>
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