Encounter at Old Ōuchi Manor

Discovery, Exploration

Knight Commander Maxim wasn't sure what was happening to him. Everyone had suddenly started fawning over him. The civilians around Ryūzaki Sanosuke's fight, those who had clung to him on the way to The Tanuki's Glee, and even Shigeaki Fujino. All were suddenly completely, inexplicably entranced by Maxim.

The towering foreigner seemed, at least, determined to not let anyone's strange behavior affect him. He callously deflected all of Shigeaki Fujino's blatant advances. When introduced to her aunt, Shigeaki Tōno, he said as much as that they were reliable allies and nothing more. Having obviously wounded Fujino in some way, Maxim sought to make amends, and yet still wouldn't acknowledge her obvious flirtations.   All the while, Kitsuno watched from a few steps away. The well-adorned Oni's expression was a mixture nonplussed and wry amusement. Was Maxim truly this oblivious? Or perhaps he'd taken some kind of oath against any kind of romantic involvement. At the very least, those around him were finally giving him the respect his station demanded.   It seemed like the show was over, anyway. Maxim had arrived just at the tail end of Sanosuke's duel with Hōzōin In'ei. The Silver General hadn't even acknowledged the knight's presence before focusing in on some other matter. No civilians seemed to be wounded or in distress, so there was little keeping Maxim here now. With Shishikura Makiko keeping the crowds at a respectful distance, he took his leave and began a trek back across town.   The storm and accompanying earthquake had summoned Maxim in precisely the wrong direction. He realized, spotting Old Ōuchi Manor looming above on the hill, that he'd been running away from it. That meant that he was in for a decent walk back to the skirts of town and up the cliff face, but it was a nice night. The air was crisp and the streets mostly empty except where he'd just left.   As Maxim and his two companions climbed the winding bluff up toward the Manor, he began to feel an odd sensation of being watched. Looking about, he saw not a soul nearby save for the two he'd brought with him and Evaine, an extension of his own. The moon was heavy in the sky above him, though. It looked larger than it usually did, as though looming in towards him. On the black surface of the ocean below, its disc was reflected like a great glowing eye, looking up at him from the abyss. Maxim shook his head. That phenomenon must be to blame for the creepy feeling running down his spine.   Not much more time had passed before the quartet of travelers stood in front of Old Ōuchi Manor's double doors. The big wooden passage was closed, obviously locked by means of a heavy bar on the other side. Not a light was on in the visible windows. Nothing sounded from inside. With the moon rising into the sky behind him, Maxim had to face the fact that he might have left this errand for too late. He'd imagined Nagasone Kotetsu would be up forging late into the night, but if she was doing so here, there was no sign of it from outside.   Maxim sighed, but this wasn't a totally wasted trip. The cliff above Shimonoseki was quiet and private. A perfect place to have a few serious words with one of his soldiers. Calling on Shishikura Makiko, Maxim asked her what, exactly, she was working for. What was her goal? He'd noticed her trying her hardest in several of their battles, but the girl hardly had the strength to wield her katana properly. The soul of a warrior she might have, but her body did not seem able to match.   Makiko appeared surprised by the question. At least, that was what Maxim judged from what little of her expression he could see beneath that oni mask. She pondered for a moment, then gave her answer. Her only goal was to become a true member of the Tea Bucket Men. She owed everything to Baby Huey's training, and Makiko wouldn't stop striving until she'd become a samurai that the General could be proud of.   In the moonlight, Maxim nodded his head once. He seemed satisfied with that answer; perhaps it had even been what he expected. With such drive, he offered, he could help her. He could grant her power and help her to attain her goals.   A small silence followed. Makiko did not appear enthusiastic. But then, she rarely did. The girl did not often wear her emotions openly. Once she spoke again, Maxim realized that he might have given her the wrong idea. She asked what she'd have to sacrifice in return. What part of her she'd have to forsake in exchange for power. Perhaps with Maxim's known associations with Demonkind, it was not so strange of an assumption to make.   The Knight Commander clarified, however, that he was talking about training. Under his command, and with his aid, she could become the Brave Guardian Lion that General Baby Huey had seen in her potential. If she wished, he would make that happen.   Again, Makiko remained silent for a moment. Her next words were like a barb aimed straight at Maxim's heart. Was that what he'd said to Kumazaki Terutsugu as well? That other Tea Bucket Man whose life had been lost at the Battle of the Palace of the Firebird? He'd never had a chance to realize his potential under Maxim's command, and he was a true Tea Bucket Man. If Terutsugu had fallen, what chance did Makiko have?   His subordinate's words were harsh, and they rang true with conviction. Maxim kept his composure, however, and did not offer a contradiction. Instead, he suggested, they'd just need to make Makiko into a greater Tea Bucket Man than Terutsugu. Then she'd be able to face any challenge that might ever arise.   That seemed to satisfy Makiko. She bowed and said that, if he was sincere, she'd place herself into his care. Before Maxim could so much as react, however, he was stymied by a loud clattering sound from behind him. Someone inside the Manor had dropped the door bar from inside. The place was not as abandoned as it seemed. Those two great wooden doors were now groaning open, revealing only darkness within.   Maxim's instincts screamed at him as something inside the portal leaped out at him. It was quick, form uncertain as it seemed to skate upon the air and fling itself at him. There was no time to draw Hokkuken. Maxim raised a gauntleted fist and deflected the attacker, deflecting them off to the side as he interposed himself before his allies. It quickly became apparent, however, that he was not in any danger. At least, not conventional danger.   Under the brilliant moonlight, Maxim's attacker was revealed to be a buxom, divinely beautiful woman floating through the air as gracefully as if she were lounging upon a cloud. She puffed her cheeks up in mock frustration, and demanded that Maxim relent and give her a hug. The Knight Commander was, understandably, a bit flabbergasted. This woman didn't even look Japanese, and she was clearly some kind of powerful being, by the way her feet never touched the ground. And why did she keep saying she loved him?   Still on guard, he voiced his confusion. Love? Had they even met? The woman swayed to and fro in the air, then answered that no, they hadn't ever met. But she still loved him.   Maxim blinked. He couldn't shake the feeling that his strange visit to Shimonoseki was about to grow even stranger.