Chapter Text
Dawn had not yet broken as a deep mist blanketed everything within Thunder Lake. Arashi knelt before the window facing over the water. Both of his blades were laid out before him next to a set of markedly new armour. A deep blue lacquered scaled kozane-dō with silver trim, a pair of overlapping blue lamellar plates sode edged in silver like the chest armour. Blue lamellar scales kote and haidate both with silver detailing. Lastly some jika-tabi in dark blue leather with silver buckles and suneate featuring subtle lightning bolt engravings. On the other side of his blades lay his clothing for the day. A storm gray kosode, hakama, and obi.
‘ Otou-sama, Okaa-sama, I will carve a new path for our clan, be it through diplomacy or the blade. ’ Arashi let out a long breath as the words floated through his mind. ‘ I only pray that what you have both taught me will be enough. ’
With a careful and precise set of motions, Arashi pulled his hair tightly back into a ponytail. He took little time donning his clothes, then his armour. Each piece felt as if it were made with his exact measurements in mind and sat comfortably. Finally he placed both Ikazuchi and Hayate through his obi and used each blade's sageo to keep them from moving. He checked over himself once before taking his leave of his room and making his way through the tenshu.
The main hall was no longer a makeshift infirmary. Each tatami mat had been moved elsewhere and the blood cleaned up. Stood by the entrance were both Hayato and Gekido. Hayato wore the near exact same armour and clothes as his nephew, the main difference being the color of his blades' tsuka. In Hayato's hand was a neatly folded garment of grey-brown cloth, its sturdy weave suggesting it was built for more than ceremony. The two elder Raimazoku were engrossed in a conversation when Arashi made his way over to them.
Hayato spotted Arashi first and bowed his head. “Good morning, Arashi-dono, I hope you slept well.” He smiled as he looked up, then took in what Arashi was wearing. “You remind me of your father when he first wore our clans armour.”
“Indeed, I can still remember the day Raiden-dono first led the clan. He too wore the same armour as you and Hayato-san.” Gekido added as he too smiled fondly at both Arashi and the memories of the late clan leader.
“Thank you, Gekido-san, Hayato-sensei.” Arashi nodded his head to both of his elders. “Hayato-sensei, how far is Nagisa-machi?”
“Depends on if you wish to walk or run, Arashi-dono.” Hayato’s answer was simple and accompanied by a laugh. “It should take no more than a couple of hours to reach the village, and if things go smoothly, we should be home by nightfall.”
Gekido cleared his throat, interrupting the conversation. “Ah, Arashi-dono, before you head out, there is a matter of some urgency you must attend to first. A matter that cannot be postponed unfortunately. If you could both follow me.”
Arashi took a deep breath as simply hearing the words ‘ a matter of some urgency ’ sent his mind spiralling. What could possibly be so urgent just as they are about to leave for Nagisa-machi. Could someone be injured? Was there another attack? Or perhaps some word may have come about who attacked the Raimazoku? The thoughts were cast away by Hayato who placed his hand onto Arashi's shoulder and smiled. The smile was simple, but Arashi couldn’t help but see his father’s smile in his uncles. The two shared a nod of understanding as Gekido opened the main doors of the tenshu. Once the doors were open, Arashi couldn’t believe his eyes. All the surviving Raimazoku stood in a semi-circle in front of the doors. Shizuku and Inazuma stood at the front, with Hayato and Gekido taking their places beside them. All of them shared the same knowing smiles.
“Arashi-dono, if you would step forward.” Gekido asked as he gestured to the spot directly in front of the tenshu. Arashi complied and looked to each clan member while Gekido continued. “The last week has been the worst week in the history of Raimazoku. A week where we went from a clan filled with life to one haunted by death. During this time we had only myself, Hayato-san, Shizuku-san and you Arashi-dono left to lead us, but that is no longer enough.” Gekido paused for a moment, the words hanging in the air. “Arashi-dono, it is time we officially name you the Lord of Thunder Lake, and the head of the Raimazoku clan, a position that is both yours by right and one we the remaining Raimazoku give freely.”
For a moment, Arashi could only stare at the faces surrounding him—his family, his responsibility, his legacy. When he spoke, his voice was thick with emotion. "I am not my father, but I will do everything in my power to honor his memory and lead you as he would have."
"We know." Shizuku said softly, speaking for them all. The simple words carried absolute faith.
"As you are now the Lord of Thunder Lake, it is my honor to give you this." Hayato held out the neatly folded poncho. "Woven to offer protection and concealment—wear our colors proudly, or hide them when wisdom demands."
Arashi took the poncho and inspected it briefly. The fabric was soft but clearly older than even he is and had obviously been patched before. It was weighted yet flexible, moving like armor that had been reimagined as cloth. Small lamellar plates were cleverly integrated within the weave, protection disguised as simple travel gear.
“Thank you, everyone.” Arashi bowed deeply, concealing the tears that streaked down his face.
“All right, I think Arashi-dono has been held up enough.” Hayato laughed as he turned to the rest of the clan. “Back to work everyone.”
Everyone started to disperse leaving just Gekido, Hayato and Arashi by the front of the tenshu. “Well, Arashi-dono, I think it is time I also took my leave.” Gekido placed a hand onto Arashi’s back as the young lord was still bowing forward. “We all believe in you, Nagisa-machi will be the first of your success.”
As soon as Gekido had started to leave, Arashi stood straight, wiped his face, and called out to him. “Before you go, Gekido-san, how are our food stocks holding up? If I recall we had at most a week of rice left, are we nearly out?”
“I believe we have a couple of days of rice left, Arashi-dono, you nee-” Gekido gave a soft smile to Arashi but was cut off before he could finish.
“Have Misaki take Akira to the lake to fish, I cannot promise Nagisa-machi will be a quick affair and I do not wish for you all to lack food in my absence.” Arashi’s first order came naturally as both Gekido and Hayato nodded in agreement.
“Of course, Arashi-dono, it will be done.” Gekido gave a small bow before leaving after both Akira and Misaki who had gone to aid in the reconstruction of the innermost gate.
Alone now, Hayato studied his nephew with new eyes. “You already seem to be handling the new weight upon your shoulders well, just remember it is not one you need to bear alone.”
“I know, Hayato-sensei, I shall make sure to share it when I feel its weight beginning to become too much to handle.” Arashi finally swung the poncho over his head and allowed it to settle over his shoulders. “This poncho, was it my fathers?”
Hayato began to walk through the castle grounds as he spoke. “Not that I can recall, it was made for your grandfather and I believe he alone wore it.” He picked up his pace as the two reached and passed through the partial rebuilt innermost gate. “Truth be told, your father never was one to hide the clan colours, even if it were the wisest move.”
“Then perhaps I sho-” Arashi began to reply but was cut short.
“No, while I understand his pride, we are Oni. Obfuscating who we are is a tool we should use.” Hayato turned to look at Arashi as they both went from walking to a slight jog. “Know I say this to aid in your own growth and not to talk bad of my brother.”
The conversation died down as their pace continued to increase. It wasn't long before they had passed through the rest of the castle grounds. Tents had been erected in various places. Some clearly for lodgings but others for people to use to work in out of the sun's rays. The outermost gate was in a slightly better state of repair than the innermost, but it too still lacked stone and wood. Once outside of the castle, Arashi took a deep breath. While he’d been out of the castle and down to the lake, leaving out of the gates themselves was something he had never done. This was the mark of his new path, a path he alone was in control of.
The path itself was in disrepair but was still walkable. Small plants had split the dirt road and long grass covered more than half of it. However, Hayato knew exactly where he needed to go as if he had walked this path only yesterday. He led both him and Arashi down the path and toward the lake where after a few hundred metres the path joined another. This path was a stark contrast. Well maintained and well trodden. No plants grew upon it and carriage ruts were clear, as were footprints that led in both directions.
Arashi took a moment to study the path, and looked to where it went. “So, if this way is headed to Nagisa-machi, where does that way lead to, Hayato-sensei?” His question lingered as they both tried to recall the map in the council room.
“Hm, I believe it may be Kage-mori, but this path did not exist before Raiden-sama closed us off.” Hayato’s words hung in the air as his eyes lingered on the path into the forest next to the lake. “We shall have to walk it one day, perhaps we will find something even I didn’t know of.”
With a nod Arashi began to head down toward Nagisa-machi with Hayato passing him not too long after. The rest of the journey was peaceful. Both wanted to reach their destination and do what they had come to do. Talk of exploration would have to wait. Like before the path continued to be an example of a well traveled path with even some people walking the same direction as the two. Neither gave them much thought and made sure to pass them with some speed to ensure they had no time to react or even question who they were.
After another hour the two reached the crest of a small hill that had blocked their view. Once atop it Hayato’s mouth hung open and his eyes widened. Nagisa-machi was not how he had remembered it at all. The central buildings near the lake were the same. At least the same bones with additions on top. The rest was entirely new. The docks had grown to easily accommodate numerous fishing ships as well as what appeared to be two lake ferries. A small area to the centre of the docks looked to be resting upon the lake itself. The floating market. It was filled with people not just selling but buying whatever was on offer. The rest of the village was made up of newly made buildings. Most built from local wood, but several others stood out. Each one had been made from stone and were slightly larger than even the biggest wooden house. The last thing Hayato noticed was the wooden palisade erected around the village.
With no words leaving Hayato’s mouth, Arashi turned to him and nudged his arm. “Hayato-sensei, are you okay?”
Hayato didn’t make a move or even look at his nephew. “This, this is not what I was expecting.” His eyes darted from each of the most notable parts of the village to another. “Everything has changed, even the village centre is different.”
Hayato raised his arm and pointed to what he called the centre of the village. A large building sat there with a couple of smaller ones around it. Each one was built from dark lumber. The largest building had multiple floors and a sharp tall roof that reached far above anything else in the village. A small clearing could be seen to the front of the large building filled with people walking to and fro, but most notably there were clan mons. From the distance they were at, it wasn’t possible to see exactly what they were but they clearly worried Hayato. He had begun to breathe a bit heavier.
“Hayato-sensei, what do you suggest we do?” Arashi too seemed to be lost as he looked over Nagisa-machi. Each detail he took in seemed so foreign from what—from all he was told.
Everything Arashi had been taught was wrong. Each story of the world before he was born was now nothing more than that. A story. This village was so different from the castle grounds. It seemed filled with something more than life. He couldn’t place it in his mind, but it had whatever it was. If this was what the world was filled with, if this is what he was meant to take control of. Arashi’s mind began to overthink everything. However, he could not let his mind wander, he needed to stay present.
At first Hayato didn’t respond as his mind clung to its confusion, but Arashi loudly cleared his throat and snapped him out of his thoughts. “What, I,” Hayato paused to recall what Arashi had said. “Truthfully I do not know. I still believe we are strong enough to show force but I do not know what the Nagisa-machi leadership looks like. Perhaps the son of the previous elder may be in power, but I worry he alone may not make all the choices.”
“Then we use our words before our blades, Hayato-sensei, as I told Gekido so.” Arashi seemed confident, but even his clenched fists and obvious worry was easy to see.
“Arashi-dono, I will do whatever must be done but it must be by your order.” Hayato looked at Arashi with concern deep within his deep gray eyes. His flecks of blue were no longer present.
With one long inhale Arashi nodded then let out his breath. “I understand, I am the Head of Raimazoku and Lord of Thunder Lake, I will do as I have set out to do.”
His resolve stirred and his spirit lifted Arashi began to walk toward the entrance of the village. For a moment Hayato didn’t move. His own resolve still stalled by the extent of the revelation. For years he had followed his brother's isolation. An isolation meant to keep the Raimazoku safe, but now all it has done is cause them to fall behind. Eventually he saw Arashi already halfway to the village entrance and ran to catch up to him. For all the uncertainties before them, he would not let his nephew do this alone.
Each step toward the village was heavy. Both Arashi and Hayato’s hearts began to beat faster and faster. Arashi clenched his fists under his poncho and tried to manage his breaths. Some were sharp and others a bit too deep but just as the nerves were about to truly be on show. He placed a hand onto the tsuka of Ikazuchi. In an instant both his mind and heart slowed. A wave of reassurance passed over him. He had his parents' weapons and his uncle. This was all he needed to do what needed to be done.
It didn’t take much longer for the two of them to be less than fifty metres away from the village. Both Hayato and Arashi could see clearly that the wooden palisade’s gate was open and manned by two men with yari. Each guard held their yari firmly with one hand and had their other on their katanas. Hayato was taken aback. A checkpoint just to enter Nagisa-machi was unheard of in his time. Even more so well equipped guards were simply not something they had the ryo to afford. The closer they got to the checkpoint, the more they felt the eyes of the guards on them.
When Arashi and Hayato came within five metres of the guards, one stepped forward. “State your business in Nagisa-machi.” His hand gripped firmly onto his katana and never let his gaze shift from Hayato.
Arashi wasted no time stepping forward as well. “I am Raimazoku Arashi, Lord of Thunder Lake. I am here to treat with the Elders.”
The guard's expression didn't change. “The Raimazoku? Lord of Thunder Lake?” He looked to the other guard who looked just as clueless. “There’s no Lord of Thunder Lake , so either provide some missive to show the Elders are expecting you or leave. We have no want for armoured thugs in Nagisa-machi.”
“Armoured Thugs?!” Hayato roared out as he reached for his katana out of instinct. He only stopped when Arashi held up his arm. “I apologise, Arashi-dono.”
“One insult is all I will allow.” Arashi spoke with a sense of authority as he glared at the guard. “I recommend you educate yourself on my clan. Request someone with some authority if you need to, but I would suggest you do so quickly.”
The lead guard met Arashi's gaze and immediately took a step back. Something in those storm-gray eyes—a flicker of lightning, a promise of power barely contained—made his instincts scream danger. As he retreated toward the village wall, still trying to process what he'd seen, he collided with someone directly behind him. An older villager tumbled to the ground with a grunt of surprise. The man had clearly been edging closer, trying to overhear the conversation between the guards and these mysterious arrivals.
"Careful there, Sato-san," the guard said, offering his hand while shooting a nervous glance back at Arashi. "Didn't see you there."
The fallen villager accepted the help up, brushing dust from his clothes while stealing curious looks at the two armored strangers. Word was already spreading, people were emerging from nearby buildings, drawn by the commotion at the checkpoint. Once the older villager’s eyes rested on Arashi and Hayato he stood stunned.
“Hayato-san?” The older man’s voice was full of disbelief, as were his eyes. “How can you be here? Everyone said the Raimazoku all perished long ago.”
Both guards looked at the older man confused. Then back to the so-called ‘ armoured thugs ’. “You know who these men are, Sato-san?”
“Know them?” Sato turned to look at the guard who spoke. “The older man is Raimazoku Hayato, the younger man I do not know, but he looks like Raimazoku Raiden. The Raimazoku were once Lords of Thunder Lake before—well before they left without so much of a trace.” He turned back to Hayato and walked over to him, his hand outstretched. “What truly happened to the Raimazoku, Hayato-san?”
“I cannot say, Sato-san, for it is not my place to speak on such matters, but if you were to inform the Elders of our arrival. I may be able to spare some details with you.” Hayato smiled slightly at the man, taking his hand and shaking it firmly.
“I will inform them at once.” Sato agreed but before he could leave, he offered his hand to Arashi. “My Lord, may I ask your name?”
Arashi took the man's hand and did as Hayato did. Gave the man a strong firm handshake. “As I told the guards, I am Raimazoku Arashi, Lord of Thunder Lake.”
Without another word Sato took his leave, heading in the direction of the village’s centre. Meanwhile the standoff continued between Arashi, Hayato and the guards. Neither one made a move or retreated.