Persephone/Band Story 1/Chapter 5

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**Crimson Judgment** is the fifth chapter of Persephone's Band Story.

## Synopsis

In an unexpected outcome, Takaji shoots Plaguespreader with a crossbow! Shocked, Fumino begins to question her words...

## Transcript

[Izayoi's Home, Nighttime]

(Izayoi and Kanata are preparing to sleep)

**Izayoi** : Kanata-chan, since you're an actual ninja...

**Kanata** : Hm?

**Izayoi** : I was wondering if you could tell me about your ninja friends.

**Kanata** : Hm...Since you already knew about it, then I guess I might as well spill everything!

**Izayoi** : Yay!

**Kanata** : So, from what I heard...most of the ninjas in Koto are pretty average ninjas.

**Kanata** : But...I once overheard some conversations from the shrine maidens in the dojo that there are the existence of the Nine Lords who secretly continues ninja activities in each of the 9 cities of Koto.

**Izayoi** : Whoa!

**Kanata** : I've never met them, but I've heard that they only appeared in a VIP meeting in the dojo or when a heavy punishment is about to be given.

**Izayoi** : Whoa...Sounds like something ninjas do.

**Kanata**  : Anyways, after secretly researching about them in my spare time, I found out that they really exist!

**Izayoi** : Really?

**Kanata** : Yes.

**Izayoi** : Tell me more!

(Izayoi anticipates more, with sparkly eyes)

**Kanata** : Hehe. Alright.

[Vermillion Dojo, Yahata City]

(Plaguespreader is still screaming from his wound)

**Takaji** : Do you take me for a fool? Do you not realize that I have even better spies than you can ever have?!

**Fumino** : Grandfathe-

(One of Takaji's ninjas kicks Fumino in the face)

**Sazane** : Fummi!

**Yasumasa** : What are you doing, Zaou?!

**Zaou, Takaji's Left Hand** : Who told you speak, brat?

**Fumino** : Zaou...you bastard...

**Zaou** : Heeheehee...

(Zaou walks over to Plaguespreader)

**Zaou** : Hold up, Plaguespreader. I'll help you remove the arrow.

**Plaguespreader** : ..

**Zaou** : ...

(Zaou grabs the arrow and rips it from the outside, causing the arrow's splinters to be stuck inside Plaguespreader's leg)

**Plaguespreader** : AGHHHH!!!

**Fumino** : Zaou! You bastard!

**Takaji** : Enough, Zaou. Return to me at once.

**Zaou** : ...

(Zaou returns while mocking Fumino)

**Shirokage Ninja** : The Vermillion Court is in session! All ninja leaders are to gather in this dojo...

**Shirokage Ninja** : NOW!

(In a blink of an eye, nine figures appear out of thin air)

**Fumino** : They are...

**Ayane** : ...the Nine Lords!

(One of the Nine Lords spoke, his sound as large as his figure)

**???** : BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! LONG TIME NO SEE, BRAT!

**Fumino** : That voice...

**Sazane** : One of the Nine Lords, and the most powerful among them...

**Yasumasa** : Lord Diamond, Daigan Toneguru.

**Daigan Toneguru, Lord Diamond** : WAHAHAHAHAHA, EXACTLY!

(One of the smaller lords walks forward)

**???** : How irritating. I was expecting some filthy criminals to execute...

**???** : Yet. I only find Takaji's granddaughter and her measly bunch of failures?! What is the meaning of this?!

**Daigan** : Pwoooohhh....Now, now. Lady Meiji. You'll get early wrinkles if you keep on shouting that way.

**Meijishiro Himekawa, Lady Topaz** : Shut your ape-brain, you damn gorilla! Talking with you pisses me to no end!

**Fumino** : Lady Topaz...

**Ayane** : Lady Meijishiro Himekawa...to think she would appear in person.

**Meijishiro** : Let's get this over with, you old fart!

**Takaji** : Shut up. Kids and their patience these days.

(Twin sisters appear as one makes a sinister face, while the other makes a rather pitiable face.

**Sinister-Looking Twin** : Hahaha...Meiji got roasted by Lord Takaji. Ought to show him some respect first, you know?

**Pitiable-Looking Twin** : Would you calm down, Meiji? You're embarassing yourself, you wrinkled-faced whore.

**Meijishiro** : Say that again, you punchable little brat.

**Pitiable-Looking Twin** : Wrinkled. Faced. Whore.

**Meijishiro** : You're dead.

**Sazane** : The Diabolic Sapphire Twins...!

**Kururi Kagezane, Lady Yellow Sapphire** : If we're here, order should be stabilized first. Right, Lord Takaji?

**Rikuru Kagezane, Lady Blue Sapphire** : Get this over with, so I can stab this slut in her [redacted].

(Meiji draws her katana)

**Meijishiro** : Come and try-

(But Rikuru spits at her face)

(Rikuru gives Meijishiro a middle finger)

**Rikuru** : Fuck you.

(Rikuru returns to her seat)

**Meijishiro** : SERVANTS!

(Lady Meiji's servants quickly cleans the spit, and she returns to her seat)

**???** : Are all of you done?

(A man wearing a clothing from the Taisho era is calmly sitting)

**Kururi** : Ah, Big Bro Tajima!

**Tajima Tsukijiro, Lord Emerald** : You have your title and responsibilities as lords, but you bring shame in the honor of the court.

**???** : Can't blame 'em, Tajima. They have lots of honor and battle prowess, but almost no manners.

(One of the lords is cutting his fingernails)

**Tajima** : Aren't you the same, Lord Tanetomo?

**Tanetomo-no-Girai, Lord Garnet** : Exactly. That's why I can talk about them, but you can't.

(Meanwhile, two more of the Lords are looking at Fumino and the others)

**Seika-no-Katashima, Lady Ruby** : I'm curious. Isn't this the first time we'll be judging a member of the Shirokage Clan?

**Zankai-no-Tsukishima, Lady Chrysoberyl** : ...

(Lady Chrysoberyl stares at Fumino, without speaking)

**Takaji** : With all the Lords here, we can start the trial.

**Fumino** : ...!

**Takaji** : Light the fires.

**Zaou** : At once.

**Takaji** : Let the Vermillion Court commence!

**Fumino** : ...

**Takaji** : As reported by Plaguespreader, it seems that a civilian saw them doing their activity of hunting down a mysterious man.

**Takaji** : Now, what does the Lords think of this?

**Daigan** : "Mysterious man?"

**Meijishiro** : You're saying there's info of people that you don't have, old man?

**Takaji** : Exactly. That would also mean several possibilities, by elimination.

**Takaji** : The Dojima-kai...

**Takaji** : The Taira Family...

**Takaji** : Those people from England...

**Takaji** : or the "Forbidden Ones".

**Everyone** : ...!

**Daigan** : Are you saying...they could have made a move?

**Takaji** : Either it's a solo effort, or it's unrelated to them at all.

**Tajima** : (Clenches katana)

**Rikuru** : Come on. Isn't that obvious?

(Rikuru picks up her katana and walks to the center of the dojo)

**Rikuru** : Saimon. Summon Plaguespreader's entire squadron here.

**Saimon** : At once, Rikuru-sama.

(Then, all ten of Plaguespreader's ninjas appear)

**Ninja** : What do you need us for, Riku-

(Before a moment's hesitation, Rikuru cuts off one of the ninja's heads)

**Ninja** : ...!

**Rikuru** : Your idiocy caused your identities to be jeopardized, yet you blame the young for your actions.

**Rikuru** : You are absolute trash.

**Takaji** : What say the other Lords?

(Tajima claps his hands)

**Tajima** : Well said. You indeed brought shame to all of us.

(Tajima stands up and draws his blade)

**Tajima** : You somehow let a civilian escape, let her know about your identities, and yet she still escaped.

**Tajima** : You no longer have any honor in your bones.

(Tajima cuts down two of the ninjas)

**Ninja** : P-Please, Lords! H-Have mercy!

(The ninjas starts running away, but one of them was stabbed from behind by Lady Topaz)

**Meijishiro** : Right. I can't believe I share the same thought as Rikuru, but...

**Meijishiro** : The order is "Execution".

**Takaji** : Have we come to a verdict?

(Takaji rests his head on one of his hands, as several Lords draws out their blades)

**Takaji** : ...How boring.

(Fumino and the others are terrified as they watch the Lords savagely kills Plaguespreader's ninjas)

**Seika** : Hm, are we not joining the massacre?

**Zankai** : There is no need to dirty our hands.

**Seika** : Right. It'll be a bother anyways.

**Fumino** : So this is...the Nine Lords.

**Takaji** : ...

**Fumino** : Grandfather.

**Takaji** : ...

(Takaji leaves the dojo)

**Fumino** : Grandfather...

**Takaji** : Kanata Shiroishi is exempt from the punishment.

**Takaji** : Consider it an act of mercy from me and the Nine Lords.

(Fumino and the others bows)

**Fumino/Sazane/Ayane/Yasumasa** : We are deeply thankful for your mercy!

**Takaji** : Hmph.

**Takaji** : And one more thing...

**Takaji** : All five of you along with Plaguespreader will be banned from returning to the Vermillion Dojo for one month.

**Fumino/Sazane/Yasumasa/Ayane** : ...

**Fumino** : ...Understood.

(Takaji leaves)

**Ninja** : GAAAAAH!

(The participant Lords sheathes their katanas after the last ninja is killed)

**Meijishiro** : Fufufu. That was really fun.

**Tajima** : ... \*grins\*

**Rikuru** : So basically, meeting's adjourned.

**Seika** : Oh, it's done!

**Zankai** : ...

**Daigan** : Time to go, then! WAHAHAHAHAHA!

(In a blink, all the Nine Lords vanished without a trace)

**Fumino** : They're gone.

**Sazane** : ...Sensei!

(The four struggles to untie the rope)

(Just then, Zankai appears before them)

**Zankai** : ...

**Fumino** : ...!

**Sazane** : Lady Chryso-

**Zankai** : Do not be alarmed.

**Fumino** : ...!

(All of a sudden, all four of them calmed down)

**Fumino** : (This feeling...something strange is happening...)

**Zankai** : Good. That's more like it.

(Zankai unsheathes her katana, then gently cuts the ropes that ties all four of them)

**Fumino** : Thank you very much, Lady Zankai!

**Sazane/Ayane/Yasumasa** : Thank you very much!

**Zankai** : Why would you thank me? All of you are innocent, after all.

**Zankai** : Now go, talk to him.

**Sazane** : Right!

(Zankai vanishes, while the four runs to Plaguespreader)

**Fumino** : Sensei!

**Plaguespreader** : ...Forgive me. I am a fool.

**Ayane** : ...Sensei.

**Plaguespreader** : ...

**Plaguespreader** : In order to gain the favor of the clan, I had to resort in blaming my students for my folly.

(Plaguespreader looks at the bodies of his comrades)

**Plaguespreader** : And now...my comrades are dead.

**Ayane** : Sensei...

**Plaguespreader** : I understand. Hate me if you will. It's only natural.

**Yasumasa** : We won't abandon you, Sensei.

**Yasumasa** : Besides, you saved my life.

**Sazane** : ...

**Plaguespreader** : ...

**Plaguespreader** : All of you are...stubborn idiots.

**Plaguespreader** : ...

**Plaguespreader** : I will abandon the hunt for the civilian girl, and forgive Kanata for her actions.

**Fumino** : ...Sensei.

**Plaguespreader** : ...Help me up.

(Fumino and the others help Plaguespreader up)

**Plaguespreader** : Carry me to them.

(Plaguespreader sits in front of the bodies of the decapitated ninjas)

**Plaguespreader** : ...Forgive me.

(Plaguespreader grovels before their bodies and takes out a dagger)

**Fumino** : ...?!

(Plaguespreader cuts off three of his fingers)

**Sazane** : Sensei! What are you-

**Plaguespreader** : An arrow to the knee is not enough for my blunder and my comrades' deaths...

**Plaguespreader** : Therefore...the only right thing is that I do...

**Plaguespreader** : th-this...

(Plaguespreader faints)

**Ayane** : He's losing too much blood!

(Yasumasa wraps a cloth around his wounds)

**Fumino** : Get the shrine maidens, hurry!

**Sazane** : ...!

(Sazane leaves to find the shrine maidens)

**Fumino** : You'll make it, Sensei! I know you will!

(The shrine maidens arrive and takes Plaguespreader for treatment)

**Fumino** : Sazane, send a message to Izayoi. Ask her if Kanata is with her.

**Sazane** : At once! Come, Sasorimaru!

(Sazane whistles, and a jet black falcon swoops in and lands on Sazane's hand)

**Sazane** : Find Izayoi and when you do, give her this message.

(Sazane writes a message and puts in on a small pouch)

**Sasorimaru** : ...

(Sasorimaru nods and flies away)

**Yasumasa** : Still the quiet type, I see...

**Sazane** : Yeah...

[Sasorimaru's POV]

(Sasorimaru soars across the night sky, while searching for a place with Izayoi's scent)

**Sasorimaru** : Kack-kack-kack-kack. (How foolish...Who does she think she is, ordering me around at night?!)

**Sasorimaru** : \*sigh\* kack-kack-kack-kack. (Might as well get this errand over with, so I can relax later...)

(Sasorimaru swoops down to Izayoi's house and knocks on the window)

**Kanata** : Hm?

**Sasorimaru** : Kack. (Open the damn window)

**Kanata** : Oh, Jet Black!

**Sasorimaru** : Kack-kack-kack! (Call me that again, and I'll peck your bells off!)

**Kanata** : I don't know what you're saying, but what is it? You got a message?

**Sasorimaru** : ...Kack. (...Yes)

(Sasorimaru shows Kanata his message pouch)

**Kanata** : Aw, so small.

**Sasorimaru** : KACK! (Hurry up!)

**Kanata** : Sheesh, what a bird with attitude.

(Kanata reads the message)

**Sasorimaru** : Kaaaack. (Ugh...Finally)

(Sasorimaru flies away)

**Kanata** : ...Sensei!?

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