This is a Tina-approved post.
There is a knock on the door. Mori Ranmaru, an eighteen year old page, whines somewhat from where he lies in Nobunaga’s arms.
“Answer it, Ran.”
Ranmaru begrudgingly escapes Nobunaga's embrace and gets to his feet. He pulls back the door to reveal a foot soldier he had grown-up alongside.
“Who is at the door?” Nobunaga asks.
“It’s
Kippla.”
Kippla enters the room. She trembles and drops to her knees in front of Nobunaga.
“I’ve been sent by Toyotomi Hideyoshi,” she says, “the Mori clan have been defeated and he now lays claim to Takamatsu Castle.”
“Excellent,” Nobunaga says.
“The M-Mori clan?” Ranmaru freezes up. “What about Nabayoshi? And Tadamasa? Are they okay? D-Did y—”
“Mori Nabayoshi is alive,”
Kippla says, “but I don’t know Tadamasa’s whereabouts.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Ranmaru reaches for Nobunaga’s sword. “You were there, weren’t you? You saw him, right? How can you not know whether or not he’s dead or alive?”
Kippla raises her hands. “I wasn’t on the battlefield.”
“That’s a lie. You’re lying. I can tell.” His fingers tremble on the handle of the weapon. “You killed him, didn’t you? With your own hands too, I bet. You killed my brother!”
“Ranmaru,” Nobunaga warns.
He ignores Nobunaga’s voice and plunges the sword through
Kippla’s chest.
“Ranmaru!”
Green blood drips down the blade, soaking
Kippla’s clothing and staining the steel blade. Seeing her blood, Ranmaru snaps out of it.
“What have I done?” His knees buckle under him.
“We won’t speak of this.” Nobunaga hurries over, taking the weapon from Ranmaru’s grasp. “If anyone asks, I killed
Kippla.”
“But, Nobu—”
“Only a samurai carries the right to bear arms,” Nobunaga says, “you’re merely a page. They’ll want you dead if they hear you struck one of our own men.”
That final statement strikes Ranmaru hard in the chest. His gaze falls on
Kippla’s body. His shoulders tremble and tears begin to roll down his cheeks.
Kippla the
Bushi was mistaken for the enemy.
Day will end at 11pm GMT (6pm EST) Thursday 22nd May.
Action resolution PMs for Night 4 will be sent around 7-9am GMT. Sorry for the delay.