Collision Course

2 Years Ago

Captain Akira Fujiwara took a moment to examine the headless body lying in the muddy ground before him. The head was missing, lost amid the pile of bodies in the battlefield, somewhere in the stormy night, and right now, he didn't have the desire to go looking for it. The armor was ornate, easily fit for nobility, probably enchanted. However, it was the sword that worried him most of all. He picked it up; it was beautifully crafted, its blade not showing the slightest nick of damage, even after such a ferocious battle. He remembered that the blade was glowing with power, almost humming audibly during the fight, but now it was cold and silent, confirming his worst fears. A soul sword... such a weapon would have only been made for high nobles or royals, meaning he had limited time to make his escape before whoever this person's political allies were would move the Heavens to retrieve it, even more so than the body. He knew trying to take it with him would have only made him a marked man, and they were virtually impossible to destroy. He carefully sheathed the weapon before taking one last look. He knew in his heart; they were destined to meet in battle again... and next time... he might not be so lucky...

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Present Day

Akiko held her breath as the armored warrior slowly came forward with her sword in the middle guard position or Chudan no Kamae stance. She had watched Masako demonstrate these stances more than a few times... now I wish I'd paid more attention.

What made her truly terrified was the sword in the warrior's hands, glowing ominously and humming with power... I've heard that sound before, Akiko realized in her distant former life. Unbidden, the memories of the battle flooded back... the powerful blows raining down against her that she could barely block, the speed and strength she faced that night. I barely won the fight that night... and I was a taller, stronger man back then... but so was my opponent... He was a man back then as well, she realized, maybe the odds will be even, as she readied her dual swords.

"You knew this battle was destined to be... Akira Fujiwara..." a muffled voice came from the armored warrior. "Now you face justice for the cruelty you inflicted on us years ago!"

Akiko tensed up... something about the voice sounded... no... that can't be right... the storm must be playing tricks on her... and did she call her 'Akira'? But before she could even blink, the warrior was already in motion, jumping nearly ten meters high before coming down with a powerful downward strike that she just barely managed to avoid by rolling through the mud. The impact sent a shockwave of magical energy in all directions that blasted Akiko with a sheet of water as the impact hit her across the face and chest... holy hell, what kind of power was that...?! She didn't even hit me, and I felt it from here?!

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She's quick, Masako thought, instantly getting her sword back to ready position. Truthfully, she didn't expect that strike called 'Heaven's Vengeance' to actually work; it was more to get a feel of who she was dealing with.

Masako had initially come into this battle with some doubts, but no longer. The instant she saw the figure by the watchtower, she knew she was the one... the sword recognized the soul immediately, regardless of how much the flesh had changed. It was him... the sword whispered in a song of vengeance sung straight to her heart, the one who slew us all those years ago. Bring us peace... bring us justice... this is our destiny... the sword declared. Yes... she agreed, our destiny... as she brought her sword up high into the Jodan-no-Kamae stance, her sword over her head, drifting right in a semi-circle as Akiko kept her guard up.

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Akiko quickly took another step back to regain her footing. She tried a quick feint to provoke another full strike with the hope that she could dodge and counterstrike, a tactic that had worked in the past, but her opponent saw through it immediately and instead, shifted left and made a quick probing strike to her flank. She blocked the attack, feeling the power from the strike, even from such a quick tap, it almost knocked her off balance. Before she could recover, another strike, this time a tsuki thrust straight for her throat that she barely managed to dodge. Her speed is incredible... and that strength...! Even her probing attacks hit with so much power, it's taking everything I have to block them! She tried backing up, but her opponent matched her step-for-step. A distant part of her remembered that Keiko was somewhere in the area, but she quickly put it aside. If I don't find a way to reverse this fight and fast, I won't be any good to her or anyone else...!

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Keiko watched helplessly with her hands bound and her mouth gagged, sitting on the back of a horse, as the seer on another mount openly gloated. "Beautiful, isn't it...? A pity you can't appreciate it, seeing as you're useless without your focusing crystals... not that simple illusions are of any use in battle..." he mocked. "Of course, this battle was inevitable, preordained ever since their past lives fought to the death two years ago. Karmic justice demanded that Prince Masahiro Minamoto be allowed to avenge himself against the one who killed him. Even better... once Empire justice is served, Fujiwara's soul will be vanquished, and we will ensure it never returns... or if it does... it will be far too late to matter, and you will be our witness to carry the news to the infidel movement, destroying its morale once and for all."

Masahiro Minamoto... Keiko thought... oh shit... it can't be...! She watched the armored warrior attacking the smaller figure that she suddenly realized was Akiko with speed, power and precision that could only be explained with magic. Does Akiko know...? Does Masako even know...?! Akiko had more than once told me she was worried that she was losing herself to Akira's life and memories, especially while fighting... was that what was happening to Masako? Now my best friends are going to kill each other over some stupid prophecy...?!

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Masako took a moment to focus, watching her opponent recover from her last defensive attempt. Something about her opponent seemed... off... as if she were relying solely on instinct and reflexes, which if true, was a mistake she could exploit. These duels were every bit about strategy, mental focus and anticipation as they were about raw skill and physical power. She allowed her opponent to get back to her feet, studied the stance she took... she had chosen to employ niten ichi-ryū style, which gave her fluid offensive range, but potentially left her vulnerable to certain defensive scenarios. There...! Sassen... or hand swap to increase her reach... meaning she was about to try another thrusting strike...

Her eyes narrowed as the anticipated thrust came. Masako easily sidestepped it, then swung wide, unleashing an arcing wave of lethal magical energy, forcing her attacker to dive under and roll under the lethal wave before regaining her footing. 

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Akiko swore silently to herself as she reverse somersaulted back to her feet. What kind of magical cheat-code sword was this...?! Charging forward again, this time feigning with her left blade before jumping high and striking down with her right, aiming for the side of her opponent's head just below the aventail, only to strike nothing but hardened plates. Her opponent skillfully pivoted into another stance, bringing her blade up straight to Akiko's chest, which she was forced to block with both swords, and even then, found herself knocked backwards three meters flat on her back. I went for broke that time and she countered me easily...! I can't outpower her... I can't outmaneuver her... She was beginning to feel desperate. She's faster than me, just as skilled, if not better, not to mention the magic on that sword's like nothing I've ever seen before...! How can I beat this woman...?! How did Akira beat her...?! Was it just dumb luck and now my luck's run out...?!

"Last time... you caught me with my own hubris and succeeded in gaining the upper hand," Masako recalled from behind her helmet. "This time, you won't be so lucky..." She raised her sword up and Akiko's blood ran cold as she began to really feel her options running out. "This time... it's your turn to die...!"