Honor Bound, Part Four

Part 4

(Several days later, near Ibaraku. Inside a bustling military camp, a lone soldier navigates the maze of tents and bodies with a hooded figure on his heels, indicating for him to wait outside a large tent at the heart of the camp. The soldier steps inside and salutes General Xiang, who sits behind a desk studying a topographical map.)

Soldier: (in Mandarin) Mr. Yamada here to see you, General.

Gen. Xiang: (in Mandarin) Thank you, send him in. Dismissed.

(The soldier steps out of the tent as the figure enters and bows slightly.)

Figure: General Xiang.

Gen. Xiang: (smiling) Mr. Yamada. Please, sit down.

(The figure takes a seat on the opposite side of the desk, continuing on in a low, quiet voice.)

Figure: (in Cantonese) I'm rather surprised that you chose your regiment's camp as our meeting spot instead of the usual place...

Gen. Xiang: (in Cantonese) You know what they say about overconfidence and carelessness... (in English) Besides, many of my men only speak one language...Mandarin.

Figure: Well, in that case, you'll forgive me if I dispense with the usual formalities...

(The figure removes his hood, revealing Kazuo's face.)

Kazuo: And get right down to business.

(Elsewhere, Rin gallops down a near-deserted path on horseback, watching in disgust as a pair of Chinese soldiers roughly shove an elderly man to the ground. He cracks the reins and speeds off, eventually stopping outside his small home.)

Rin: (sighs) ...

(Rin dismounts his horse and walks inside, silently navigating the dark hallways before reaching the bedroom. He sets aside his katana and crawls into bed next to a sleeping Ayaka, delicately kissing her cheek.)

Rin: (softly, in Japanese) I missed you...My love.

(Back at the camp, General Xiang pours a glass of sake and hands it to Kazuo, who downs the liquid in a single gulp.)

Gen. Xiang: So Nishizawa's wife is his weakness?

Kazuo: (coughing) No...Ayaka is not Rin's weakness. She will simply serve as a catalyst for his weakness...

(Rin examines Ayaka's still form, pondering her lack of response, and nudges her gently.)

Rin: Ayaka?

(Rin places a hand on Ayaka's shoulder, his face falling as he spots the beginnings of a laceration on her neck. In a panic, he rolls her onto her back, releasing a mournful, horrified wail at the sight of the long, horizontal cut running across her throat.)

Rin: Hhh!!

(Rin gasps, waking suddenly on a small cot in a room on the upper floor of the complex. Taking long, slow breaths, he rises from the bed and strides towards the window, watching the sun sink into the horizon.)

Rin: (quietly) Damn...Damn...

(Back at the camp, Kazuo smirks confidently and leans back in his chair, silently waiting while General Xiang thoughtfully considers his words.)

Kazuo: It's a good plan. You know it can work.

Gen. Xiang: But perhaps not in time to stop the attack on Tokyo.

Kazuo: The attack is doomed, regardless of whether or not we're successful. No matter how well Rin trains and arms his men, he simply lacks the manpower to ever retake the capital.

Gen. Xiang: In all likelihood, you're correct. But no matter how effective his assault is, it will strike fear into the hearts of the Chinese people and rebellious stirrings into those of the Japanese. If Rin is allowed to continue as planned...The victory will be his from a psychological standpoint.

Kazuo: Well...I suppose I should return to Kyoto, then. I have a very limited window to work Rin's imagination in our favor.

(Kazuo rises and bows slightly, turning to leave, but stops when General Xiang pounds the bottle of sake down on the desk.)

Gen. Xiang: One question before you leave...This man is your best friend. You've said so yourself, multiple times. Why betray him?

Kazuo: (shrugs) Something of a lover's quarrel, I suppose...The lengths he's willing to go to in the name of "honor." I can't stomach it anymore...It's all gone too far.

(Kazuo throws his hood over his head and turns to go, but stops once again.)

Kazuo: Let me ask you something, General...You know where Rin and his forces currently reside. Why not wipe them out and save yourself the unnecessary trouble?

Gen. Xiang: I suppose I could if I truly wanted to, but...It would be too easy, I suppose. Call me selfish, but I enjoy a challenge. Besides...We would likely suffer heavy casualties trying to flush the rebels out of their hole.

Kazuo: Why such concern? Other generals would order the strike without a second thought.

(General Xiang takes a swig from the sake bottle and chuckles.)

Gen. Xiang: Just a humanitarian, I guess...I may be without emotion or remorse for anything and everything I do, but that doesn't mean I want to cause more unnecessary death.

Kazuo: Many of those men will likely be eventually executed for treason.

Gen. Xiang: (smirking) Then I suppose I'm simply enjoying my temporary position of power, as a delayer of the inevitable.

(General Xiang sets down the bottle and gives a small salute.)

Gen. Xiang: Until next time, "Mr. Yamada."

Kazuo: (nodding) General.

(Kazuo steps out of the tent, and the General places the bottle of sake in an empty desk drawer, resuming his observation of the map laid out before him.)