Blade Kittens vs. Are They Participating

Sporting Event / Competition

As the victorious Shimazu brothers left the arena, Mōri Motonari began to call the next competitors to the field. Scheduled to battle were the Ryūzōji Clan's Blade Kittens versus the Aotsuki Clan's champions, who had not chosen a name. As Ryūzōji Takanobu prepared to descend, however, Motonari received an urgent message and called a halt to proceedings.

As the messenger finished, Mōri Motonari descended from her box and advanced toward the Hashinara side, where she engaged Ryūzaki Sanosuke in discussion. For those who didn't understand what was going on, it quickly became clear from their words that Sanosuke was behind the interruption. The Silver Meteor Storm had recently absorbed the Ryūzōji Clan, and so sought to substitute their own champions for those who had already been scheduled to fight.   Motonari, however, did not see this as fair. All other teams had been given ample announcement and time to prepare for their opponents. To swap fighters out at the last moment put Aotsuki's team at an unreasonable disadvantage. When Sanosuke explained that he was simply concerned for the well-being of Takanobu, who had been known to get in over her head, however, Motonari's objections softened. She resolved to allow Sanosuke to provide another general to fight, so long as they were about the same size as the small Bakeneko being removed. After some consideration, Sanosuke selected Yagyū Jūbei, who had previously participated but was eliminated during the preliminaries. Motonari approved, on the condition that Sanosuke owed her a favor for the inconvenience as well. As she began to leave, the Silver General attempted to substitute Honda Tadakatsu as well. For Motonari, this request brought his previously stated reasoning into question, and was thusly refused outright.   Jūbei took the field with Ryūzōji Kagetada and gently apologized to Sugihara Hidemitsu and Mokka, stating that she was paying Sanosuke back for a favor. As both sides prepared to battle, Ryūzōji Matashichirō explained the change to Takanobu, who became greatly upset that she would not be allowed to participate. At the same time, Kagetada mentioned to Jūbei that the little kensei reminded her of Kamiizumi Hidetsuna, and asked if she knew the other girl. When Jūbei answered in the negative, Kagetada dropped it, but her tone had indicated that the resemblance was not a good thing, so far as she was concerned.   When Kikkawa no Myōkyū called the battle to begin, Sugihara Hidemitsu proved his bravery by challenging Jūbei to a duel. Eschewing his bow in favor of a katana, he moved to the center of the canal bridge and awaited his opponent. The little kensei did not object, but rather joined him in melee. Four strikes of her katana later, and Jūbei's superior skill became evident. Hidemitsu was left seriously wounded, barely standing, and his master, Aotsuki Tsukamoto, gave him leave to stop fighting. Following his surrender, Jūbei did not attack again.   When Mokka moved within her reach while charging toward Kagetada, the little devil did take a swing, but did not succeed well enough to stop the other's advance. Although Aotsuki attempted to dissuade her, Mokka was single-minded, and claimed that Kagetada looked like prey. A few skillful strikes from the bakeneko's kusarigama, however, impressed upon the saurian that she was not prey, but a predator. As Mokka backed off as well, and the official surrender was given, the Ryūzōji team were declared victorious.