Osaka’s west gate…

 As a fresh darkness fell over the plains and the great white city of Osaka, a figure at the head of the black-clad Swan armies walked up to the final door that was the entrance into the majestic Osaka Castle itself, located at the far northwest end of the city, towering over ten stories tall.

 Rin, now clad in a black robe cut just below the knees, stood in front of the actual gates of Osaka Castle with her eyes closed as if she were thinking to herself.

 I must take Xing’s head… she thought, her head lowering to the floor. After a moment that seemed to stretch on for hours, Venus Swan herself walked up to Rin from behind and set a hand on her shoulder.

“Well done Rin. You lead my forces well, and I will happily reward you for your services, if not for the fact that you told me to do with you as I will.” Swan said.

 Rin slowly turned her body to face Swan, kneeling as soon as she was. “My task is not yet finished, Swan. I’ve yet to take the heiress of Shu’s head.”

 “But it will be done, and as soon as it is I shall give you my answer concerning your freedom.” 

 Rin nodded, then raised and straightened herself. “And now I shall finish and end this useless chaotic war.” Rin said to Swan. Caiy and Xing herself has done all they can to make their last stand here, so this will be a long, arduous, and strained. This may last well into the night of the next day.” 

 Swan grinned widely. “And when it is over, all opposition to me will be quelled, and I shall rule the land in peace.” Swan elaborated in a dreamy-like state, her eyes closing.

 Rin nodded her head again. “Yes, and let us get started. Xing’s time on this world is over. She shall soon rise to the heavens above, as the last dragon of the Kingdom of Shu, and join her general Veniet. Peace is what the people want and need, not justice and virtue.  Farewell, Swan. I shall see you when this battle is over.” Rin finished as she turned around to the soldiers prying open the castle gates.

 Not soon enough. Swan thought to herself, watching the back of Rin as she walked out of view into the heavy night fog. She then turned her head toward a standing guard named Kana.  

“You go in with her to finish off these wretched fools of Shu, and when you reach the ninth floor I want you to raise a flag out of one of the windows as a signal. When you do, we will set the castle ablaze, and leave both Rin and Xing burn. Let our men burn also. Let no one escape.” Swan told Kana. The guard nodded and walked off to join Rin and the soldiers.

“It will be a fitting end for Shu; burning and rising to the heavens above like the dragons they so claim themselves to be. This fire shall burn with the spirit of the Nai Empire…”

****

 Sitting on her knees with her hands on her hips, arms pointing away from her body with her eyes closed in a dark room on the topmost floor of the mighty castle, Xing waited. To her men that were on guard, she looked as if she were meditating, oblivious to the great battle that was going on outside. But here on the dark twelfth floor the sounds of clashing metal and blades running across and through the bodies of their victims, screams escaping them as they fell, could really barely be heard. And all that was left of the Shu Restoration forces was centered throughout the castle and just outside the castle gates, which were being torn open even as her men spoke amongst themselves. Xing was awaiting her fate, her end, and she somehow always thought it would end this way. She knew this was the end of her journey, the end for the Restoration Rebellion and the end of the dreams of her fathers before her. But she knew this country would not be Swan’s last country to conquer, far from it. And I will willingly fall to Swan’s blade, but nobody else’s…

****

  Wecos, who was recently holding off the relentless attack by Swan’s forces at the west gate, began limping toward the northwest, Osaka Castle itself. The shogunate forces had already penetrated the castle gates, and the Shu rebels were all but completely annihilated. The only gate of the five that still held was the west, and it too was on the verge of falling. Their cannons were running short on ammunition and the sky was darkening. So Wecos decided to direct the rest of her strength and that of her men to defend the heiress of Shu one last time.

“Come, we must get to Xing before Swan’s men reach the ninth floor.” She called to the rest of her soldiers. They obediently rose up and came to her side. Wecos did not bother treating any of the wounds she received during the earlier skirmishes, but continued to direct the men toward the castle gates deep in the northwest of the city.  

 This time, Wecos thought, I will finish Swan…