We stood outside the large and intricate gates as I rummaged through my bag. Rope, A dagger, and more odds and ends could be found.

Anzen looked from me to the guard standing next to the gate and spoke before we got within hearing distance. "Is everything prepared?"

I shrugged as I closed the bag. "Prepared enough."

He nodded. "Good. Then let's get going." But before he could start to walk forward I raised my hand.

"Hold on, we can't just expect to get this bag of supplies past the guard. Wait here."

Anzen crossed his arms as I casually strolled away from the guard and towards a secluded place at the wall.

I listened for a moment, making sure there was no one on the other side, and once I was sure, I threw the bag over my head and into the shrubbery filled gardens over the wall, leaving immediately after.

Once I returned to Anzen I nodded and we went along without a word. We didn't speak the short walk to the first guard, only practiced the plan in our heads.

The guard inspected both of us closely before talking. "What is your business here?"

Anzen immediately broke his cold demeanor and answered the guard with a friendly posture and an energetic voice. "We have important news to give the Shogun. I'm sir Anzen Adachi, you may remember me from last time I visited? I believe I remember you."

The guard replied with a smile. "Oh, yes, Anzen. But who is this man?" He moved his gaze from Anzen to me, waiting for a response.

I hadn't thought the guard would be so talkative. Quickly, I thought of a fake name. "I'm... Rikido Higishikata, a samurai from a small farming village. I'm with sir Adachi because the news concerns my town."

The guard crossed his arms. "I see... Alright then, you're free to pass." After internally letting out a sigh of relief, Anzen and I passed the guard into the courtyard. Before we could get very far, however, the guard spoke again. "Wait. Sir Higishikata, didn't you have a bag with you before? I noticed you looking through it when you were talking with sir Adachi."

My heart dropped as I slowly turned around to face him. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Anzen did as he slowly walked back to the guard. "Oh! That's very simple, he just-" Before Anzen finished his sentence, he unexpectedly swung a punch into his cranium. Once the fist collided with his head, his eyes rolled into his skull and he collapsed to the ground unconscious. We both quickly dragged him from his spot on the ground and into a nearby bush. Anzen sighed. "What a wonderful start. You best be grateful at how lucky we were that he had his helmet off."

I was still taken by surprise. "Quite ruthless for someone you apparently knew."

The cold-eyed twin looked at me in something akin to disappointment. "I didn't know him whatsoever, but people will act as though they recognize you as well if you pretend you know them."

Anzen apparently had more knowledge in deceiving people than I did, which surprised me. "Clever..." After a brief moment to make sure that the guard wasn't visible, I waved Anzen to come with me. "Come on. Best not to stay in one place for too long."

With a simple nod, we moved back to our planned path.

My eyes scanned the stone wall for my black bag as we walked, and I quickly found it. I split from Anzen momentarily to grab the supplies, but I heard voices slowly approach.

Quickly crouching, I listened to the chitchat grow louder. Nothing but idle conversation, but that didn't matter. If I didn't get these patrols off their path, they would walk straight into my bag and I would either have to leave and try to get to the Shogun before they reported anything or fight them, neither of which was a good option.

I inspected my surroundings. Nothing but sticks and dirt and rocks... Rocks. Rocks would have to do.

Picking up the biggest rock I saw on the ground, I reeled back and threw it as hard as I could towards the voices general direction.

The pheasant sized stone flew through the air and into the wall, making a loud clack.

One of the voices spoke. "Did you hear that?"

The other voice responded. "Yeah... Strange." After that, the conversation continued as normal and grew ever closer.

I muttered as I drew my sword. "Shit, shit, shit..." Carefully, I peered around the corner and at the guards. The two were too close to do anything, I had no other option than to fight. But just as I prepared to lunge towards the two men, a noise came from behind them.

It sounded as though it was Anzen's voice. "Hoot!"

Once the guards turned in curiosity, I instantly sprinted towards the supplies and quickly grabbed them.

The guards walked to the noise but quickly gave up like they had with the noise before.

After carefully sneaking back to the main path I met Anzen leaving the same garden. "I was almost caught... Thank you for your help."

He nodded as he looked away. "I know we might not be on the friendliest of terms, but if we want to make it through this mission, we need to closely cooperate."

"I agree. Sorry." Anzen grunted to acknowledge the apology. "Also, what was that sound you made?"

Anzen looked to the ground as he reluctantly responded. "An... Owl."

I tried to control myself, but a snort escaped me. "That was an owl??" The pale twin grimaced in embarrassment, not caring to respond to my rhetorical question. "Ok, ok. I'm finished. Let's get moving." And although I was finished talking about it, I couldn't seem to wipe the smile off my face. Anzen just sighed and started walking with me.

We made it through the gardens easily after that, then the real challenge began.

We were met with the Shogun's towering red palace, glowing bright with light and sound from the crowd of people that had to be inside.

Anzen whispered to me. "That's quite a tall building."

I spied the top of the palace. There was a small window that was open to let air get through. "Well, we're not walking in. The rafters are the only way." I pointed to the opening. "That's our entrance. But to get there I'll have to scale the building." Anzen gazed from the window over to me and raised his eyebrows incredulously. I could only scoff. "You doubt me? I can do that. Yeah..."

Anzen shook his head. "Then go ahead." For a moment, I just stared at the architecture that led to the opening. The pillars that led straight to the overhang of the roof were shear and couldn't be climbed. The walls were filled with ornate railings and windowsills, so it would be easy to climb, but the overhanging roof was much more of a problem. Anzen interrupted my thought with another remark. "We don't have much time if you can do it do it quickly."

As soon as Anzen spoke I started moving to the building, whispering to myself under my breath as I went. "Alright. It's simple. You're not that old."

The wall was my only option, so I put my foot on the stone base of the building and grasped a wooden windowsill, pulling myself up. Next was difficult, I would have to pull myself up by the top of the windowsill to get my foot up, but again, it was my only option.

With a modest amount of effort and strength in my fingers, I succeeded. I had already made progress.

I can do this.

A few more easy steps and I was already halfway there. I looked back at Anzen, who gave me a deadpan two thumbs up.

There was a broken piece of wood that I was able to grab and pull myself up by. It cut into my fingers, but it was the safest option.

Then there was the overhang. I could almost reach it, but my arm wasn't long enough, and there was no way in hell I would jump to grab it. At that point, the drop was easily twenty feet.

I would have to be clever, so I thought frantically, and soon enough an idea emerged.

Slowly, I unsheathed my sword and wedged it in the wooden panels of the overhang. With a few heavy tugs, the board broke and fell to the ground. I sheathed my sword and grabbed onto the new opening I had made for myself. The wooden boards bent as I put weight onto it, but it would hold me.

With a lot of anxiety and many mumbled curses, I let my feet off of the top of the wall and started shimmying sideways. The bamboo paneling creaked and crackled, and I felt as though I was drowning in sweat.

After what felt like an eternity, I made it to the end of the overhang. I carefully moved my hands from the space I made with the broken board and to the overhang's ledge. As I finally made it to the overhang, the wind caught me and waved me back and forth.

I gripped the ledge as tight as possible. If I were to fall, I would hit the stone pavement, and at best my legs would break.

Soon the sudden gust of wind ceased and I was able to throw my leg over the roof. And after what felt like forever, I was safe.

I lied on the roof and took a few deep breaths, but I wouldn't have much time to rest.

Reluctantly, I pushed myself to my feet and looked around. At the other side of the window we had to go through there was a rafter that could hold any weight, so I quickly pulled the rope from my bag and tied it in a knot. After that was finished, I threw the rope down to Anzen, who quickly climbed up.

With a shocked expression, Anzen commented. "Honestly, I thought you would fall. I suppose you're not completely decrepit."

I responded as we both went through the window. "Gee, thanks."

We carefully walked across the rafters. Looking down you could see the immense drop, along with dozens of military men and workers. We went from the entrance to the main chambers without any disturbance. Luckily these large halls and rooms were built with walls open to the ceiling, so air could move freely throughout.

But as I looked from the rafters to the main chambers, I noticed they were nearly empty, only a few prostitutes wearing nothing but near translucent sheets of clothing. Which meant the Shogun was either sleeping in his bedroom or planning something in his study room. Either way, we would have to scale down to the floor since those rooms were closed off.

I tied the rope to the rafter one last time and gave Anzen a nod. Anzen slowly climbed off the rafter and slid down the rope after making sure there was no one around to see him.

I quickly followed and soon we both found ourselves on the ground once more. We were next to the Shogun's high and mighty seat, one step away from a throne.

In nothing more than a whisper, I spoke to Anzen. "His office is just behind this chair, we should check there first."

With a simple "Sure," we were on our way. Behind the door, you could see lights and moving shadows. We had picked correctly, I knew. Crouching close to the door, then, we listened.

The Shogun's voice spoke. "Where do you think he is now, then?"

My heart raced as I heard the same old and manipulating voice I heard for so long replied. "Well, I injured him quite gravely last we met, but I believe that Kenshi's far too much of an imbecile to let himself rest. He's either gathering himself a group or on his way to kill you at this very moment. He has nowhere else to go, so you can be sure that he will come to us."

My head spun with anger, and without thought, I burst through the door.

The Shogun's eyes widened with surprise as the Doctor just smiled. Anzen mumbled to himself but followed.

I drew my sword and pointed it at the Shogun. "You already know what happens next."

The Doctor laughed as the tension built. "You better get moving, then, because you just made quite the entrance for yourself." The Doctor pointed behind me, and as I looked back I saw one of the Shogun's women scream and run into the main hall, the same hall filled with dozen's of Samurai.

Anzen shouted. "We've run out of time!"

I nodded and moved toward the shogun, readying myself.

The Shogun threw a bottle of alcohol from his desk at me, but it simply bounced off and to the ground.

Both of my hands grasped my sword tightly. "Your evil has gone on for far too long..."

But before I could swing, Anzen yelled once again. "Company!"

I turned and saw a man sprinting towards the door ahead of the rest, this must have been the Shogun's second in command.

Quickly, I commanded Anzen. "Barricade the door!" Anzen slammed the door shut and pulled a bookshelf to its side. "That should buy us enough time."

I turned to face the Shogun once again, who was still in shock and unable to do anything. But the unexpected happened. With a short flash of light, the door exploded open, sending the bookshelf flying across the room in pieces.

Anzen took the force of the attack and flew backward while I was able to jump to the ground and dodge.

The second in command stepped into the now debris-filled room. On both of his arms were shields, wider towards the elbow and coming to a near point just past his fists, functioning as brass knuckles. His eyes filled with rage and the arms under his shields were softly fading from an orange glow.

My heart raced as I realized.

"It's an Ember wielder!"