The Sword of Kaigen

by M.L. Wang

he realized that it didn’t belong to his uncle but to his father. He didn’t think Tou-sama had ever touched his head like that… affectionately. “It’s time to stand up.”

As she worked, Misaki was surprised to feel Setsuko’s jiya surge into motion beside her. Setsuko raised the snow, forming a spike of her own. “Setsuko, you don’t have to—”

I love these two so much

“Hiro-kun, be a dear and give your auntie a hand,” Misaki said.

Hiro like in fruits basket :)

“No.” Misaki froze ice across her knuckles. “I am.” “What—?”

YESSSSSS

“A competent god would never make a housewife with your skill and hunger. You might look like a decorative flower, but you’re more sword than anything else.”

FACTS FACTS FACTS

Their foreheads touched, pressing together in a moment of silent support. Then the two parted ways, Setsuko rushing back toward the cellar and Misaki turning to face the threat.

“Strange little woman, my sister-in-law. I think… I would have liked to know her better.”

It was these men or her children. Robin would forgive her. Five nails of ice pierced deep into the man’s neck.

She loves Robin still

Thank the Gods she was a monster.

It was Katakouri Hakuzora, dead in the snow.

Aww :(

Crying. The sob broke off abruptly in a crunch of bone. He rounded a burning house to find a Ranganese soldier standing over a prone woman.

Now if the women knew how to fight here this wouldt be happening

Matsuda Takashi had become an explosion in death, frozen branches and blades bursting from his body in all directions—crystal ice veined with blood.

Setsuko didnt deserve thid loss of the love of her life AND her family

Unless the Sword of Kaigen served its purpose. So I will. With that thought, Mamoru’s limbs seemed to grow light, buoyed by new energy.

Bro needs to blood bend

Lazou Linghun, the Ranganese called it—the Soul Pull—a bloodline technique as rare as the Whispering Blade and as feared as Blood Puppetry.

!!!!

The thumb and first two fingers of his sword hand were gone, sliced off at the second knuckles.

Jesus christ

“Stop it!” a voice shouted, and Misaki turned to see Setsuko brandishing a kitchen knife. “Leave her alone!” “No!” Misaki’s eyes widened, panic driving her to her feet. “Setsuko, don’t!”

Oh god please

but he had hit Setsuko, so he was going to die.

And we love this energy

Blood dribbled down his blank face as he turned to face Misaki. “You’re safe now, Kaa-chan.”

Not a baby psychopath

A decade later, a fifteen-year-old Hiroshi would become known as the youngest swordsman ever to master the Whispering Blade. What the world would never know, was that he was the second youngest.

Does this mean hes gonna die :( THIS HURTS ME

The sword was pure Matsuda—half Takayubi snow, half Mamoru’s own blood—and

as its first and only victim hit the snow. Then, its work done, the sword fell to mist. The sun sank to the sea.

I did it, he thought, and the blood spreading from his body seemed unimportant. Tou-sama, Kaa-chan, I did it! He couldn’t wait to tell them!

Ughhhhh

The power that had just filled him was too big not to be remembered. He had touched divinity, held it in his hands. He didn’t hear the thunder of approaching planes or the loudspeakers announcing the arrival of reinforcements.

I went back through and I realize now what happened, his magic did its final explosion of power the way Takeshi’s did, I was crying too hard when I read it before that I didn’t clock it lol

Ranganese were demons of a different breed from the Kaigenese, but their blood seemed to be the same color, now that they lay still, letting it run together. They had all come out of the same ocean, hadn’t they? At the beginning of the world?

“In the interest of national security, his Imperial Majesty has ordered an airstrike on the area. You have ten siiranu to reach the nearest bomb shelter.”

“When I left the line, my brother and son were the only fighters left alive. There were still over a hundred Ranganese advancing on their position. No one else is coming.”

God this is so sad i really liked mamoru

“You should be proud, Yukino-san.” Takeru looked down at the wrecked woman. “He died with his sword in his hand.” Hyori screamed.

Takeru is the absolute worst

The shelter was sealed, and Mamoru was not there. Mamoru was not coming.

She sighed, melting into the warmth, trying to let herself savor it, just in case this was the last time… but, no. She wouldn’t think about that. Robin couldn’t know she was thinking that.

Still caught in her thoughts, she didn’t notice Robin leaning in until his lips met hers.

Awwww stop i want hem to be together so badly my heart is broken

“He is not the sort of person who will seek out trouble and bring it down on you. He will keep you safe.”

This pisses me off a great deal lmao

“Xuro, Misaki, I knew you loved your family. I didn’t think you were a coward.”

Snaps for Robin

“What are you, like, twice her age?” Takeru took a step forward, and sparks crackled at Robin’s fingertips.

IM DEAD

Robin was walking away? Robin was walking away.

Hey thanks for breaking my heart (:

Come back! Come back! Please, Robin! Take me with

How could she expect him to save her when she wasn’t willing to lift a finger to save herself?

He had never had any power to change this situation… only she had. And she had been too weak to make it happen.

but he still managed a wide smile as his son came running to meet him. Atsushi’s younger brother and sister were alive as well,

Oh my heart

The black-clad soldier before them was in two pieces, cut in half by what must have been a brutally decisive stroke of the katana. And there, facing him in the snow, barely a stride away, was Mamoru.

“Those pilots just shot right through him! What if he was still alive?”

held Mamoru, as a tiny baby, she had hated the feel of his jiya simply because it reminded her of his father’s. It had made her want to retch and recoil. Now she reached for it, her fingers grasping and senses straining for the smallest trace—but

IM SAD

but of course, there was nothing.

she would give her soul a thousand times over, if she could just bring Mamoru’s back.

Im crying fam

She had come here to help him, to be a good mother, if the Gods would give her this last chance.

because of you.” That was the first thing he needed know: that he hadn’t died for nothing.

This… you were my story… and I was so selfish, so tied to that shadow that I missed it. My son, I— I’m so sorry it took me this long to understand. I’m sorry—”

“I never loved you the way I should have.”

OUCHY THE ACHE

My regret has poisoned this family for years, but I swear, Mamoru, I won’t let it touch you.

This once, let me be the mother I should have been from the beginning. Let me take care of the rest, all right?”

Please Nami, please Nagi, she prayed through the tears. He’s such a good boy. Don’t let his stupid mother ruin this for him. Please… give me the strength to let him go.