THE AKUNI ARMY BURST THROUGH THE DOORS to their main base in Murasakino. They've finally come back after a long spree of successful battles. The losses in combat were kept to an absolute minimum and it showed. A large number of surviving men and women barreled into the main hall and it was flooded within minutes. They felt that their military had become an absolute tour de force in the art of warfare with the brilliant tactical mind of Kadaina Meiji having given them yet another needed victory in the war. Their pride was at an all-time high. Zenpan got up on a table in the main hall to gather everybody's attention.

"Men and women," he began, "may I have your attention, please? Today was a victory that shall be recognized!"

The troops erupted once more into thunderous applause.

"All of your valiant efforts have tremendously impacted this war," the general continued. "You are all honoring the fallen by being here right now and fighting! Never forget those who we have lost and fight for those you want to protect. I could not be happier to be leading you all today. I wouldn't want a better army watching my back. I want to appreciate your efforts. Therefore, we will be holding a victory party! Take an invitation if you wish to attend!"

The crowd of people went ballistic as soon as they heard that, with swords being clashed against shields during manic chanting to show their approval. Yukan, Ite, and Kadaina looked at one another and, pleased with all that they had accomplished thus far, cracked a smile. The army was not the only person smiling in that building, and victory in a battle was not the only reason for smiling. The assassin, Mirikiteki, was putting on her trademark Cheshire-esque grin while lurking in the shadows, knowing that her plan was to be put into motion.

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The party was unexpectedly tame when keeping in mind that it was primarily young adults there. You would look at the Akuni military and see them as the type to get hammered in their college dormitories pretty much on a daily basis, but it was surprisingly chill. It wasn't completely posh, because alcohol was still commonly distributed, and it wasn't free from incidents either. This was because IDs weren't always checked when alcohol was ordered. Regardless, the party was still nothing too off-the-wall.

Mirikiteki sat at the bar alone. She was wearing a blonde wig to cover her black hair and had blue contacts to conceal her yellow eyes, which many could compare to those of a cat. She was drinking from a martini glass as a thoroughly drunk soldier sat by her.

"Hey there, beautiful," he said in an accent that seemed ripped straight from the southeastern area of the United States. "I haven't seen you around the army. Are you one of those nurses who will heal me back to perfect health if I get injured?"

"Yeah, sure," Mirikiteki said, keeping her general sultry tone of voice. She knew very well that this was not her target, as he looked to be in his mid-to-late 30s.

"Can I get you anything else, sweetie?" the man continued.

"No," she responded, unimpressed by this man's attempts at flirting, "I think you should get something for yourself. The nurse thinks it would be best for your health."

"Well, I can't ignore my nurse," the soldier responded. "Barkeep, a cold one please."

The bartender reluctantly slides another beer the already drunken soldier's way. The man then takes a massive gulp, but not enough to finish it off. After he turns his back, Mirikiteki slips a dose of ricin into his beverage, well over enough to kill him.

"Quite the party, ain't it?" the man said before reaching for his mug once more. "We should go find a special spot just for you and me to enjoy."

“Maybe in another life," Mirikiteki commented, her smile changing from awkward to menacing as the man gulped down the rest of his beverage. The man then passes out, dying from the poison he had consumed. The assassin casually moves a few seats over.

Meanwhile, on the dance floor, a slow dance number is being played. Yukan and Ite are together in the center of the floor, embracing one another.

“Man, things sure have been crazy this week," Ite began to speak over the music, having to border upon a shout due to the volume needed to carry the sound to the entirety of the dance floor. "Thank goodness Kadaina's such a good strategist. I would have never thought to attack from the inside out."

"I still can't beat him in chess," Yukan remarked. "No matter how many times I play, the man always kills my king."

"I don't even think I would stand a chance against him," Ite commented before changing the subject. "Hey, Yukan?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." Just as Ite said that Yukan had gone completely red. Ite laughed at how nervous he was about this, even though they were already dating.

"We should go get you a drink," she said, teasing him. "You look a bit flushed there."

"Hey, Ite?" Yukan responded, growing a smug grin on his face, preparing his counterattack.

"Ye-" he cut her off before she could even finish a word. He had put his lips to hers. After the kiss was finished, Ite was now just as red, if not more so, than Yukan.

"Looks like we both need drinks now," he said smugly. The two of them laughed at the situation they'd caught themselves in. The two of them went to the bar and sat right next to the assassin without even bothering to look in her direction.

"Hello," Yukan said to the bartender, "could we please get two sodas?" The barkeep went to the back to grab their beverages. During this time, Mirikiteki caught a glimpse of the rose imprint that marked Yukan's arm. She had finally found her target.

"Hello, you too," Mirikiteki said to them, changing her tone to seem more cheery and upbeat. "That was one hell of a battle, wasn't it?"

"Uh, yeah I guess," Yukan said to the girl. "What squad were you in?"

Remembering the conversation she'd had with the now-dead soldier that lay to the left of Ite, the assassin responded, "I'm just a field nurse. I was all over the place, treating a bunch of people. Say, what's your name, cutie?"

"Uh, Yukan," the swordsman responded, very confused and feeling somewhat awkward. "Yukan Kenshi."

"And I'm Ite," the archer beside him interjected, knowing that the woman before them was up to something. "I've never seen you before. Kinda weird, isn't it?" It was during this time that the bartender returned and got them their drinks.

"I'm new," she answered, having perfectly crafted her alibi and knowing how to change it to an attempt of seduction. "Brunnhilde's the name and saving lives is my game. I can save you any time. I'm very effective with mouth to mouth."

Yukan, however, was completely unphased by her attempts at flirting with him. He didn't blush at any of her innuendos and didn't seem to show any attraction to her. This confused the assassin, who had donned her best outfit for the occasion in an attempt to seduce this man and lure him away. How could he resist her? His impulses should've caused his guard to collapse long ago. Regardless, she kept these thoughts to herself.

"So, Brunnhilde," Ite began, interrogating her, "why are you in this war anyway?"

"I'm fighting for my ill old father," she had responded. "The poor man can hardly stand straight anymore."

"Sorry to hear that," Yukan sympathetically said to comfort her.

"It's fine, really," Mirikiteki continued in response. "I just hope he can get through next winter all right."

"Yukan," Ite started up, intervening once more, "can I go and talk with our new friend in private?"

"Yeah, sure," Yukan said, entirely confused as to why she'd seemed to hold a grudge with this girl. "See you in a bit?"

"Yep," she said before kissing him on the cheek. "Love you."

She then turned to the girl to smile at her in a rather mocking manner before the two of them left. Yukan sat alone at the bar, entirely confused as to what had just happened.

The two of them went to a more reclusive area on the camp, behind one of the barracks. The pale moonlight illuminated both of their faces. Once both of them were out of sight, Mirikiteki instantly dropped her act.

"Alright, kid," the assassin started in her natural tone of voice. "We both know this isn't some sort of bonding time. What do you want?"

"I know you're up to something," Ite huffed. "Your body language, your tone, your posture. I know you're trying to take Yukan. Sorry to break it to you, but he's currently mine."

"Yours?" Mirikiteki scoffed. "I don't believe that he can belong to anyone. What gives you the right to own him?" As she spoke, she began to slowly pull a katana out from behind her back. "If anything, honey, you're holding that poor boy back. When's the last time you've let him make his own choices? You seem controlling and suffocating. I would never date someone like you."

"T-that's not true!" Ite got defensive as the woman facing her began to list off her flaws.

"Oh, sweetie," Mirikiteki continued, beginning to grow that familiar smile upon her face. "Just take one look in the mirror and you'll see the selfish, arrogant little girl that I'm looking at right now."

Just as she finished saying that, she went in to stab her. Ite caught this action and managed to dodge to the right, narrowly avoiding certain death. Ite then took the chance to kick the sword out of her attacker's hand.

"What the hell?!" Ite yelled out. "What is wrong with you?!" Mirikiteki throws a dagger in Ite's direction, but she manages to dodge once again.

"Lots of things," the assassin answered, no longer worrying about blowing her cover.

At the bar, Yukan continued to sit alone, waiting as the time passed, finishing his cola. Zenpan approached the bar and sat beside the young swordsman.

"Barkeep, could I please get a Moscow Mule?" Zenpan requested before the bartender went into the back to prepare his beverage.

"Where's Kadaina?" Yukan asked, confused by the apparent disappearance of his comrade. "I thought he was partying with you and the other captains."

"He was," Zenpan answered. "However, he got into the alcohol and now he's talking to the horses in the stables. He's a fun drunk."

"You just left him?!" Yukan responded to the lack of care put into the well-being of his friend.

"He convinced me that the horse mother would get him home safely. I told the others to watch him." Zenpan began to notice the absence of another one of Yukan's friends. "Where's Ite?"

"She went off with one of the nurses to have a girl talk or something."

"Nurses? What are you talking about?" Concern began to grow within the general.

"Yeah," Yukan continued. "Her name was Brunnhilde."

"Yukan," Zenpan began, grabbing him by both shoulders. "After the win at Northwell, Kadaina sent all of the nurses to the Eastern lines to aid the injured overnight. There are none still in this camp."

"What?!" Yukan exclaimed in shock, knowing what this meant. "I have to find Ite right away."

Yukan bolted for the nearest door, his drink spilling over in the process, the cold beverage descending toward the floor like a great waterfall. Kadaina then burst through the opposite door, holding a bottle of vodka and struggling to walk right.

"Where ya goings, Yuko buds?!" He yelled out to his comrade, barely able to form a coherent thought. "Zero, is your mom's name One and your dad's name Two?"

"Okay, young man," Zenpan said, redirecting Kadaina in the direction from which he came. "Let's get you back to the barracks. Hungover Kadaina's going to kill me for this."

Yukan finally reached the spot where the two girls were fighting. They were essentially wrestling one another at this point. Scratches covered Ite's body and Mirikiteki had a cut upon her head, which was now leaking blood onto the concrete path as it ran off of her face.

"Ite, stop!!" he yelled out, trying to stop the fighting. He went over there and pulled his girlfriend off of her attacker, which had now become the victim.

"Yukan?" the archer responded in shock once she saw him.

"What on Earth?!" Yukan was baffled by the events before his eyes. "What are you two doing?!"

"Your girlfriend attacked me out of jealousy!" the assassin quickly spurted out back in character, trying to blame Ite.

"What?!" Yukan said, appalled by Ite's actions.

"She's the one who pulled a sword on me!" Ite cried out, trying to add context.

"WHAT?!" Yukan was even more disturbed by what this seemingly innocent nurse had done.

"Whatever," Mirikiteki scoffed. "I'm out of here. You can come with me if you want to get away from her, Yukan." She then stormed off, out into the distance. Ite sat there, bleeding from her scratches, gazing down at the puddle of Mirikiteki's blood in shame.

"This party kinda blows," Yukan said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Wanna head back to the barracks?"

Ite nodded silently as the two of them went back to their sleeping quarters, calling it a night.