The Art of War (Kiako and shadow never seen)
 

Kiako sat in her tent, looking over the plans. Her empire had planned their attack since the first news of an upcoming war. Perhaps it was the anticipation of leading her first battalion, but nerves had gotten the better of her. She spent so many hours peering over the maps, making sure she had not left any openings or gaps. She had trained her army until the could not stand any longer, then pushed them to go harder. Yet something did not seem right.

She pushed her hair from her face and tied it up so she could work. She stood once more, gazing up at the grand map tapestry that hanged down from the tent. she looked over the small markers she had set where her army would makes its stance. With a sigh, she reminded herself that she had studied war all of her life, that it was in her blood, and to relax.

Sitting back down, she grabbed a quill and began to write a note.

"Time does not pass again this night. The eve of war. I should be sleep, like I have instructed so many to do, yet still I remain awake. Something feels out of place here. Perhaps we should withdraw."

No, she thought. Weakness. She through the paper and wrote down a more uplifting note, something that showed confidence and sent that to her people to be announced to her people instead. It was customary after all, that the leader write down a letter and send it to the people.

She got up once again, this time walking over the her armour. The main part of the armour was siler in colour, with the long satin cape a dark royal blue. She would no wear a helmit, even though it was part of the attire. She wanted her enemy to see her for what she truly was, nothing more, nothing less.

Kaido stood in the center of his tent on the opposite side of the field. He went back to pacing with his hands held firmly behind his back and he grumbled. His last runner had been sent out to deliver a message days ago and still hadn't returned. It was obvious that something had happened to him, leaving Kaido to plan his next attack blind. He had no word from his superiors and didn't know if they wanted him to retreat or if they wanted him to continue fighting. Last he'd heard his new troops weren't coming and the rebellion didn't have enough food to send for his troops.
He stopped in the center of the room again and had to keep himself from yelling out and alerting his men to his anger and sense of defeat. He was able to strategize and knew how he wanted his men to move, but they hadn't eaten in over two days as it was and he knew that they would need their strength for the coming battle. He didn't know whether to hold down the line to protect the rebellion or send his men elsewhere to find food. He couldn't even break them up or the one's that fought would surely be defeated no matter what his plans were.
He pulled the string out of his long black hair and mussed it up. It made him feel a bit better to not be so proper and uptight, so he mussed it up again and grumbled softly. His stomach growled and it made him frown harder. He was clean shaven but he suddenly wished that he had a short beard so that he could scratch it as he tried to think.
He felt lost, but he knew he had no choice but to defend the rebellion. He and his men would surely die in the morning.

It had been a long night, but morning finally rose. Servants attended to Kiako, dressing her in her battle regalia. It took them little over an hour to complete the outfit and the ceremony. Rituals, her moaning to herself. How she hated having to go along with them, but it was the only thing that she knew would not fall on that day, so it did give her some form of relief. She walked out from her tent, her men standing at attention. They all removed their helmet in sequence and bowed down on one knee.

"Please, my brothers, stand, do not bow, for on the field I am not your superior. I am no immortal, I am not god like the ones that watch over us. I am one of you, your comrade. I will stand beside you, and I will stand victorious beside you!"

Her men cheered, putting their helmets back on and facing the battle field. Kiako got up on her black stallion and rode down the the front of the army, looking onto the horizon. The red sunrise greeted them with open arms. If blood is what you are craving God, then you shall have it, I guarantee it.

She lead her army to the battle field, sitting with a proud and strong army behind her.

Kaido walked out of his tent with his own man servent behind him and he looked over his worn and weary soldiers. A sense of doom hung over them all equally and he had to visibly straighten himself to look strong as he spoke.
"We will not live through this. We each of us know this. We will die even if my plan takes down the entire opposing army. As of today we are all doomed of starvation, for we are too far away from the forests and towns that could feed us. But let us know that as we fall, we take down parts of the other army. We will break their hold over the area and hold the line. We will protect the rebellion so that they might devise a new plan that would make them see that what we are doing, we are doing for what we believe in! We fall, knowing that it wasn't in vain! So, let us all continue and fight with EVERY ounce of our strength! Till we die where we stand. We will protect them and we will show the capital our bravery and our determination! So, let us fall as comrads and be reborn as brothers! Now, to war!"
He drew his katana and pulled his helmet down over his face. The soldiers didn't smile, but they all seemed to have a new sense of determination at his words. They were resigned to their fate, but felt in their very souls that they were ready to fight to the bitter end. They would finish what they started out to do.

Kiako did what was traditionally placed on the leader of the army to do. She, along with her two advisors, gathered in front of the army and began to ride out to the centre of the battle field. From there, her voice rang over the land.

"To the leader of the opposing army, Face me, and perhaps we may all go home tonight."

He looked back at his soldiers, then resigned to speaking to a person he knew wouldn't see hiw point of view. He climbed on top of his horse and slowly rode over to the center of the field to meet them. He didn't want to, but he knew he had to remove the mask of his helmet that covered his face. He waited till they were directly in front of each other before he pulled it off, and he looked into the eyes of the woman. He'd never met a female general before, so he was a bit surprised though he didn't show it. He tried not to look resigned to his fate, but even he had believed his speech with a whole heart. He was just tired and hungry and he knew she wouldn't want anything other than his surrender so there was nothing to discuss.

"You are brave, for such an army. I admire that greatly. Asking you to resign would be dishonourable or both of our families, so I will not do so. However, I would like to discuss a truce. If not, then let this battle continue, and a proper burial shall await you and your soldiers."

She smiled softly, looking into his eyes. Her own were cold, heartless and cruel, as she had been taught to act in front of the opposition. She could read his face from inside out.

"Perhaps an offering, food, water, and a fair trade. That is my offer to you." She could see the hunger in his eyes, and those of his men. With that, she hoped that bargaining to their needs would help her. She truly did not wish to fight when there was no hope of her opposition winning.

He didn't cast his eyes down, but seemed to mentally distance himself away from the prospect of food.
"What kind of truce could you offer me? Would you take me hostage and let my men remain at the line? Would you leave if you had me? You wouldn't, would you? My men will remain on the line, protecting the rebellion headquarters. It's the one thing you want and can't have. The line will remain, and I guarantee you we will not be the only one's burried today. We will decimate your troops, for we have nothing left."
He looked her over briefly and seemed a bit put off. She was attractive and strong, but he hated her eyes and wished to look away. A woman with cold eyes should not exist, it just didn't seem right to him. He believed that they shouldn't have to burden themselves with war. Something as graceful as a woman shouldn't have to put up with wars that men started. It seemed unfair that she be twisted into a tool that a man could use and once again he cursed the capital. (sounds sexist, but look at the times they were living in. lol)

She smiled. "I admire your bravery, and also your foolish hope. I will see you personally on the field." She reared her horse, then turned, riding back.

"Men, now, we fight!" She said, drawing her sword, She got down from her horse, and stood amongst the men. It was against the culture for the leader to fight at the level of the men, but she did not care. She had trained these men, and had grown to respect them. This was her army she had hand picked to serve her. If she died today, at least she would go knowing that she died along side the people who she trusted and loved.

The drums began to beat in the background, making the earth beat with a pulse. With that, Kiako and Her army ran head first into the fight.

He silently rode back to his own men and stopped in the center of the front line. He needed to be able to see his men in order to command them in case the plan failed, but he wasn't the type to hide in the back. He pointed the groups in their respective directions, reminding them of the plan. He then turned back and face the woman and her army. He wondered if this really was his last day, then regretted living his life the way he had before this battle. He'd been unable to save those closest to him and had lost everything, and that had brought him here. Before that he'd done what he was told, yet by doing so had brought on the attack on his loved one's. No longer would he do what someone else told him without thinking it through. He would no longer be blind to the truth and justice that he now sought out. Too bad he was going to die at the hands of the capitals soldiers.
He drew out his sword and read the inscription on it, then swung the blade fast enough to hear it cut the air. "Forward till the end!!"

The two armies hit like a clap of thunder. What was once a peaceful dried up land was soon becoming a blood soaked and wasteful place. Kiako fought as she had been taught. She did not use a long blade, they were too heavy for her. Instead, she used a knife, one the was curved and had a jagged twin blade. Blood had splattered down her attire, but it did not matter to her. She wanted this to be over as soon as it could be. At this point she could care less about expanding her empire, she just wished to be back home.

The moment had come. Many of her men laid fallen beside her, yet they still had a great lead on the other army, and many more in the camp awaiting a signal. She had found her way to him. The man that had refused her offer. Although she did tell the truth when she said she admired him, she had wished that he would have considered her offer. Killing him would not bring her pleasure.

She stood in front of him, her soldiers backing away. They could feel her intent, and moved aside. Kiako had planned to end it. All the fight here and now. It was him versus her. She would have it no other way.

Kaido looked at her and his own men moved back, giving them a respected distance. He didn't seem worried. One of them would die, though he didn't wish to kill a woman. He considered faking being even more tired and hungry than he was so that he didn't have to kill her. He imagioned that he'd go to hell if he did such a thing. He didn't let on what he was thinking, but he did look at her blade. He wondered how much it would hurt to die and he visibly swallowed. His katana dripped blood onto the ground and his long hair was matted together behind his back with blood and mud.
As they circled each other he let go of all other thoughts. He'd made his decision and he was going to stick by it. He'd agreed not to be controlled by anyone else and he was sticking to it. He watched her, and then he attacked without warning.

Kiako stepped back at the sudden attack. His blade had cut her clean across her arm. Pain filled her, but her pride would not allow her to give in so easily. She quickly pivoted around him, given them distance once again.

Her right arm hang limp at her side, blood dripping down to her fingers then falling to the ground, which very soon formed into a small pool. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to regain control. It was only a moment before she then moved to attack him.

He avoided her attack easily enough but seemed a bit unstead on his feet. He looked at her with an emotionless face and briefly wondered by they'd had to face each other. "Why do you fight? I fight so that we can live our lives in peace.. but what makes you wish to fight me? what does our peace have to do with your life?" he seemed a bit bewildered and curious, the first real signs of his emotions. he was so passionate about what he was fighting for that it was hard to hide it.

She held onto her right arm, closing the wound. "Don't think that I am someone who fights for pleasure." She was letting her emotions get the better of her. "I have watch people die around me my entire life. I have been raised as a weapon of war, and now that I lead this army, it is my duty to continue on the path that was set for me."

That was all she had ever been. Her family had considered her nothing more then an assassin. She had been sent out countless times to swiftly kill an enemy in hopes to gain more power. Her family had always done this with their royal daughters. Beautiful, agile, and deadly. That was what she was. It was not in her to disobey a direct order. And on her father's death bed, her had commanded her to kill the last remaining threat to their people, so now she was carrying out his final order.

He shook his head sadly, as if her answer hurt him. He hated that she was being used, but by the way she spoke she'd been raised to believe this. He knew that he wouldn't be able to talk her out of it.
The fighting around them stopped to watch and he could feel the bloodlust in the air. He knew that with her wounded he could probably finish her off, but he also knew that she may be more despret and cunning this way. He still wasn't sure whether or not he'd rather die than kill her, but her answer seemed lacking. He didn't want to lose to a tool. The thoughts conflicted in his mind till he didn't know what to do anymore. "Amaterasu, what do I do.." he mumbled, calling to the gods.

She looked at him curiously. She paused, glancing at the men around her. She was the only woman with in any sort of distance, and all though she did not mind that, in a way she felt less because of it. In her youth she had wished she was allowed to play with the other children, get married and have the perfect life, but that was not her fate.

She watched him carefully, not sure whether she wanted to attack or not. She took her cape, wiping the blood from her face. Beneath the crimsons stains, her porcelain skin shown through. She had always been pale, considering most of her assassinations took place at night.

She looked at him, wanting to speak. "What are you waiting for, I am wounded, finish this already."

He tilted his head, as if considering what she'd said. He looked at his men, then at hers, then up at the sky. He got the feeling that it wasn't supposed to end like this. He knew he'd regret it in some way if he went through with what he was thinking, but he just couldn't bring himself to do anything else. He went on guard and made sure to pay attention to his surroundings as to not be surprised. "No. I get the feeling that both of us are supposed to live another day. I will not attack."
His men looked surprised, then hurt as if he'd betrayed them. He saw the bloodlust in the other army's eyes and prepared for any kind of attack, whether it be from behind or honorably from the front.

Her men urged her to go after him. Instead, she put her blades away. "Back to the camp," she said, barely turning her head. Her eyes stayed on the man in front of her. She walked up closer to him, as her men retreated, looking around her, watching his men carefully.

She still gripped onto her own arm, wondering when the blood would stop, or if she would pass out from blood loss. She did not show the weakness however. Instead she remained calm in front of him. "What is your name?" she asked. She wished to know more about this man. He intrigued her, and more then that, her admiration had grown for him. She was willing to die to protect her land, and because of him she knew that at least for one more night, her men could sleep soundly.

He watched her men retreat and he nodded to give the hint to his own men. "I am Kaido." He seemed to want to talk to her, and really he did. He wanted to try and get her to think for herself so that she could decide if the fight was worth it. He put his sword away as a sign of the truce and stood up straight. "Have your men intercepted my runners? I'd like to know if they're still alive." He frowned again and suddenly seemed on edge. He needed to know how they were for he felt responsible for each one of them.
He didn't even know how they were going to last another night without food. There would be deaths in the night. Deaths that could have been avoided if he'd killed her. He suddenly realized how he'd come to regret it, but it was too late to go back. A huge weight seemed to suddenly fall on him and he almost physicly lost his breath.

"They are alive, I can tell you that. I will have them returned to you. If you have something to ask of me, ask it now. My life is right now owed to you. I would not have won otherwise. So please, if you require something, ask it now." It was the law. If you are indebted to someone, you pay them back, and from the looks of his men's eyes, and the look in his own, she could tell they were hungry. "Although, if you wish to discuss something with me in private and away from this scene, I can offer you a place to get cleaned up, and something to eat."

She felt for his people, she knew what it was to starve. It was part of her training. She had learn to go without food for a weak before it would start to affect her. She could only imagine how long it had been since he and his men had eaten.

He looked at his men, then back at her. "I would like to talk to you in private, but I will not eat without them." He stated this firmly and made it obvious that he wouldn't budge on the subject. He followed her away from the camps and had to keep his head held high eventhough he still felt that weight. It had lessened some upon hearing that his men were alive and would be returned, but he still didn't know if he could or would ask of her to feed his men. He knew he had to try and that it would be hard to trust the food provided by the enemy, but he knew without a doubt that he had to try.

She lead him back her tent. "Make yourself comfortable, I am going to get cleaned up." She walked into a part of the tent that was sectioned of. She immerged about 15 minutes later, the blood cleaned off from her, her hair clean once again, and changed into a put white robe. She sat down on a chair facing him.

She looked deep into his eyes. She wondered what is was he was thinking. For once she could not tell. He seemed conflicted, however she was determined to show him her best hospitality. Show got up, pouring two glasses of water, placing one beside him, then going back to sit doing, holding her glass. "Now, there is something you wished to discuss."

He wanted more than anything to just talk to her, but he knew that was impossible under the circumstances. Instead he decided to take the more diplomatic road, "We need food. What would I need to do to get it?" He seemed all business now. If the food was poisoned, than at least he could say that he tried if nothing else. He waited till she drank from her own water before drinking from his own. He felt uncomfortable and out of place in her tent. He was bloody and sweaty and yet he sat across from a woman in her own tent. He briefly wondered what his father would have said.

"Food, you can have it. Water as well. My medics are also at your disposal. I will send them and deliver it myself." She picked up an apple, shining it on her sleeve. "You can relax, I have no weapon on me, not do I keep any in this tent. This is my haven away from my war. Here, we are just two people." She got up, and picked up a bowl of warm water with a wash cloth inside it. "If you wish to clean yourself. You are welcome to my shower, and I will fetch some clothing for you."

She meant all that she said. Outside of the war and the blood, she was truly a caring person. She sympathized with me. She was hoping that he would accept her hospitality. The smell of the blood from his clothing was clouding her sense, and wa begining to drive her back into her blood lust state.