[CLOSED] knocking upon heaven's door

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

Characters: getyourgunson & mostloyaldog
Location: Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Ezogashima Hokkaido, Hi-No-Moto Japan
Rating: PG
Time: 28th October... and beyond.
Description: After much asking and pestering, Koujurou finally agrees to go on a mission with Date. Unfortunately, things aren't going to be that simple.

To be honest, where Date had really wanted to go was not here, but he really didn't have much of a choice since this was the only mission available which was bound for modern Japan. He supposed he could only make do with it since there wasn't any other real alternative - in a way, he was still going to be able to see how Japan was like, and that was more than enough for him for now. He could go to where he wanted to go next time since he was sure there would be a lot more other chances for him.

It had been a while since he did this whole 'going to another place in an instant' thing via the Shinigami's mirror, but the feeling was one which Date could shake off easily once he was through it and out into the notably colder winds of Hokkaido (or well, what he knew was called Hokkaido in this world - it seemed like with Hi-No-Moto itself, Ezogashima seemed to have changed names as well). He wasn't in his usual armor for once, but at least the threads he was wearing was doing a rather good job of being able to keep him warm. Date didn't feel too bothered by the autumn chill as he glanced behind him to make sure that Koujurou was with him through the mirror as well.

"You okay, Koujurou?" he asked once he caught sight of the elder man - now that they were finally on a mission, Date sure wasn't going to let anything compromise it. Enough time had been wasted as it was already with everything that had happened.

Comments

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

"Yes."

Said older man was currently occupied with studying his surroundings - it was the first thing he did whenever he entered a new area. Once he was satisfied with his assessment, he turned to face Date.

"The mark is here?"

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, the mission said it was around Lake Toya," was the response from Date as he turned back around to glance at their new surroundings, blinking at the somewhat scenic view that was surrounding them. This was... well, this was a bit of a change from the last missions he had been on - then again, it had been a good long while since he was last on a mission. Still, there was nothing to suggest that this mission could go wrong; they were in Japan, and Koujurou was with him. Really, what was the worst that could happen?

It was kind of hard to keep his excitement down to be honest, but still the warlord did his best to keep it subtle even as he grinned and cracked his knuckles in preparation for what was to come. "Alright, the place shouldn't be too far from here. Let's go get that kishin." That said, he quickly started off into a walk, more than eager to get this mission on the go.

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

Koujurou, of course, dutifully trailed after his master. This was the most spirited that he had ever seen Masamune since his arrival in Death City. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, given the circumstances.

Of course, recalling that only made him remember the reason why he had accepted this proposal in the first place. One of the reasons, anyway.

(He would never admit it, for one, but he too had to go through the motions before letting go.)

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

Koujurou wasn't wrong at all - this was the most spirited and excited that Date had ever been since his return to Death City. After all that had happened, finally something right was happening in his life; and it was something that he had wanted the most. Now that things were going well again, nothing was going to stop him. Once a dragon was soaring, it was just going to fly forevermore.

Keeping his eye on their surroundings, the younger samurai made sure that they were on the right track as he followed the signs that pointed them towards the direction of Lake Toya. If anything, at least the Japanese language hadn't seemed to change that all much in the last few hundred years, so he could still read the kanji on the signs without too much difficulty. Still, to think that this place used to be entirely different from what he had understood...

"Ezogashima really has changed from what we knew, huh?" came the random comment from Date as they were on their way to their destination.

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

"In some ways, yes. In others, it remains the same."

The mountains, for one, remained as they were. The forests, though diminished, still felt familiar. As for people... the only thing that ever seemed to change about them were their speech and their clothing. Their hearts and minds were not very different from their ancestors.

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

Date made a sound of agreement to those words. He hadn't really had a chance to go to Ezogashima himself back in their own world since he was more occupied with Oshu and the war, but had to admit there was a particular feeling about this place that almost made him feel right at home. Maybe it was the cold - Oshu was also located pretty up north the main land of Hi-No-Moto.

Making another turn and walking a bit more, it was pretty soon after that did they reach their destination. It was a quaint area - there didn't seem to be many people at this time of the day yet, it seemed - and the view was quite breathtaking. Still, they weren't here to sightsee and reminiscence about things; they were here to hunt down a kishin.

Looking around again, Date frowned a little as looked at the giant body of water before them. Now how in the world could they draw out their target... folklores were certainly not the warlord's forte, and he knew only the basics about the legends that surrounded a kappa. (Then again, if they were hunting down a kishin, could he even call what he was finding a kappa?)

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

Koujurou stopped at his master's side, following the latter's gaze. No bird song in the trees - no natural sounds, in fact, beyond that of the water occasionally lapping against the edges of the lake, where it ended and the rest of the forest began.

"You will need me at hand, my lord." His voice was low. "We can plan from there."

As a Weapon, they could speak in secret. That made their job easier.

"You need only say the word."

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

The lack of any other sounds aside from the water itself certainly did raise a few points for Date - most likely, the kishin should be around in this area. If not, then it would be nearby - Date wasn't too sure yet what could be done, but he was certain that Koujurou had a plan somewhere already.

Without hesitating, Date nodded in acknowledgement to the words of his retainer, taking another moment more before he held out his hand and said the command. "Transform, Koujurou."

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

Koujurou transformed in mid-step, once he was close enough to land, as a Weapon, in Date's hand. He felt the power and resolve of his master's soul almost immediately - the younger man's presence had never been more real to him before that moment.

His last mission with Motochika had been one thing. This, however...

We are hunting for a kappa, is it?

Date had been the one to arrange for the mission. Koujurou had had his own reasons for not paying very close attention that time around.

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

The swim up felt nearly unbearable, with the rush of the water and the acute bearing Koujurou had on Masamune's condition. Still, the kappa burst out with another shriek, breaking through the surface...

...and into what appeared to be a grotto. There was no telling how far underwater they actually were, and there certainly wasn't time to check, not with the way the kappa had finally succeeded tossing both Meister and Weapon off of its body.

Masamune-sama, are you all right?

He would normally be assessing the damage they had done on their mark by now, but at that moment, his master took priority.

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

With the force of the current against him, Date felt as if he had been holding on to the last of his strength - his breath was running out, and it was harder to keep his thoughts straight. Any moment now, and he was certain that he was going to run out of air--

And then suddenly, air. Date barely registered the fact that the kappa finally dislodged him and Koujurou off, instead coughing violently as he gasped for much needed oxygen. His limbs felt like lead at the moment even as he dragged himself out from the water entirely, taking a second before he pushed himself back up on his feet.

Yeah, I'm fine, he finally managed after a few moments once he had his breath back properly, taking a few steps forward. He felt better now that he was out, his strength quickly returning to him (maybe a bit too quickly for it to be entirely normal, but Date wasn't really noticing that); the Meister gave his head a shake to dislodge the last bit of fuzziness in his head before he moved forward, quickly following after the trail of blood that the kappa had left when it fled deeper into its lair.

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

Two of the kappa's legs were mangled, leaving it awkwardly hobbling away from the scene. It eventually wizened up, however, and turned with a menacing growl to face the pair again.

In the meantime, as Masamune continued to pursue, neither he nor Koujurou seemed to be aware of the fact that the latter's other ability was beginning to kick in, gradually working at the damage his Meister had obtained during the entire ordeal. It wasn't going to increase Masamune's stamina any further, but by preventing him from taking the brunt of any other attacks, they could at least stay in the fight.

Koujurou, however, was beginning to wonder if there was more that he could do. Surely he could change the flow of the battle somehow...

Masamune-sama. There is something that I wish to try.

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

Date stopped when the kappa faced them again, readying himself once more for what should hopefully be the final strike. The tiredness that came from being underwater earlier was pretty much gone by now, and if anything the Meister felt as if he hadn't just went through the lake at all. A strange realization, but Date supposed he could think on that later; more than that, however...

He kept his eye on the kishin, watching it to make sure that it wasn't going to try anything just yet as he responded to Koujurou. What is it?

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

Relinquish your control. Let me fight for the both of us.

'Trust in me' would have been the better thing to say, perhaps, but Koujurou already knew that Masamune did. It was a burden he had learned to carry years ago, in spite of everything.

The Weapon reached for his master's soul with his own, knocking on the metaphysical door that separated them both, keeping them together yet just distant enough to distinguish where one ended and the other began.

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

The warlord couldn't help but blink once when he heard those words. It certainly wasn't the oddest thing he had heard, of course, but still considering the circumstances and the situation at hand, it was still kind of strange. But at the same time, this was Koujurou who was asking this - had it been anybody else Date would have thought about it twice, but this was his Right Eye...

Tightening his hold on the Black Dragon, Date grinned as he replied verbally. "Alright, I'm leaving it to you then, Koujurou." That said, he handed control over to his retainer without another word, letting their souls come together in a way that had never been possible otherwise back in their own world.

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

The rush of power came almost immediately - a lesser man would have been overwhelmed.

Taming a dragon, however, had been Katakura Koujurou's job since he was a teenager. It had started one summer morning, when he looked out into a garden to find a boy standing on the edge, with bandages wrapped about one side of his face and a lips that didn't seem to know what a smile was anymore.

Outside, the Black Dragon flared up with newfound energy; the electricity cloaking its blade now wreathed Masamune's body. From within, Koujurou used Masamune's eye to see the situation before them, used his master's limbs to lift himself into a familiar position: crouched low, blade held horizontal, pointing towards their foe.

A heartbeat later, and Masamune was charging, guided by the control Koujurou now had. It was almost like the old days, when the Right Eye had taken it upon himself to show his master the way of the sword - his arms over Masamune's arms, his body supporting the other's, showing him the proper stances. Now, however, it was as if they were two souls in a single body, with one supplying the will and the other, the movement.

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

It was... strange, certainly, to not be the one controlling his own body wholly even though he was still there; he might have the actions, but the thoughts and will behind it wasn't fully his own at all. If it had been anybody else who was doing this Date wouldn't have felt right at all, but considering how this was Koujurou it hardly felt so bad at all. More than ever, Date could feel the new strength that ran through his body, sensing the drive and force which pushed his retainer forth now working within himself and edging him forward. It was a feeling quite unlike anything, and one Date was sure would be etched deeply into his memory.

The kappa lunged forward as well, giving its everything into this final attack as the duo made their last move. Date felt Koujurou mentally guiding his body into a swift stance, ducking low as they avoided the lunger and struck the blade of the Black Dragon right through the centre of the kishin. Around them the entire cavern echoed with the strong crackle of electricity, all directed towards the kappa as they finished it off once and for all.

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

By the time Koujurou had puttered back, he had removed everything but his hakama - he was also holding a long pole in one hand, which he set against the rotting upper beams.

The man began hanging up his clothes and armor. Midway through his task, he spoke up.

"You should remove some of your own clothes as well, my lord. We will need to dry them off."

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

In the time Koujurou took to return, Date had managed to find a bit of sturdy bark which wasn't as rotten as he thought it would have been - it was what he was using now to fan the flames, which was still going on strongly enough.

He paused in his task to look at his retainer with those words, blinking once before replying. "Ah, sure thing." He set down the bark he had been holding and proceeded to remove his coat and armor once more, putting them aside for Koujurou to pick up before he got to work on his leg guards and boots. At least he wasn't wearing his usual stuff, so it made things somewhat easier.

...so, domestic stuff aside, HOW DO WE GET THEM TO TALK.

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

Koujurou dutifully put everything up properly before finally moving to join his master. A slight sigh as he's pushing the hair out of his face.

"Now we wait."

...I. Have no idea. /stares

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

Now only in his pants, Date couldn't help but sneeze yet again at the chill which he felt. The fire helped, but it was going to be a while before he could be properly warm again; the lake had been pretty damned cold since it was close to winter time already.

As he sniffled and rubbed his nose, the man couldn't help but sigh likewise while brushing the hair away from his one good eye. "They had better not take too long." His patience wasn't going to last that all long at all, he was sure of it.

/sigh

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

"We can hardly implore on them to be fast. They are likely under the impression that we are taking our time with returning."

Koujurou was going back to the food he had laid out, reaching for one of the onigiri.

/thinks...

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

"Yeah yeah, I know." Still, it was highly aggravating - even more so when Date knew that it was partly his own fault that had landed them into this mess. He should have paid more attention to the damned kappa... otherwise they would have been back in Death City by now and all would have been well.

Date muttered a few choice words under his breath, picking up a random twig that was lying about and tossed it into the growing fire. "So much for a proper first mission for us."

[forbearanced.livejournal.com]

'First', was it? That made Koujurou pause in mid-chew, for just one second. Perhaps Masamune wouldn't notice.

"Things do not always go according to plan."

Mild and even.

[getyourgunson.livejournal.com]

Date didn't notice, of course, as annoyed as he was at the moment while he continued to stare at the flames.

"It'd be nice if something actually went according to plan for once." Always and now these days, nothing was ever going right for him. Couldn't things just go well for once? Was that too hard to ask?