your name is Takeshi, head of the noble Sekkusu Clan, and general of the Toyotomi Shogunate
the Shogun ordered an invasion of the Korean Peninsula to launch into Ming China
your clan's distinctive bellowing cry of "SSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEKS!" before charging into battle brought fear to your enemies
you fought fearlessly, killing hundreds of enemy soldiers personally
but it was not enough, and the Ming dynasty - and Korea's navy - foiled your country's plans
shamefur dispray ensued, and the nation's armies were soundly beaten, conceding defeat a mere week ago
despite your own prowess in battle, your superiors have led you to failure
and much of your own retinue was killed, leaving you rather broken and angry
now you are a captive in this foreign land
ironic, since you sought to take captives here in the first place
however, you were able to secure enough war booty to pay for ransoms for your common ashigaru and most of your samurai - those that survived at least
your remaining retinue has departed, and you are alone for the first time since the campaign started
a recent letter from the Emperor has communicated that you are a ronin - a fugitive, to be killed on sight if you return to Japan
shamefur dispray indeed, and now you are stuck here
however word has also reached you that a certain well-respected Korean noblewoman has arranged for you to visit her
you think, perhaps she may be able to convince the remaining diplomats of the Shogun to allow you to return home
the woman's name is "Ouro Kronii" and though powerful and influential she is reportedly very mysterious
several of her enemies, foreign and local alike, have vanished without a trace, and you heard tales she was a malicious youkai
it may be suicide to meet her but you'd rather die here than go all the way home just to be executed
you follow the directions on a rather well-drawn, and surprisingly well-annotated map to one of Lady Kronii's estates
you say "surprisingly well-annotated" because you can barely write or read Korean at all
but it seems the estate is easy to find, close to your now-ruined camp
this one is by the coast, in fact close enough you can still see the patrolling Korean ships

invigorated and accepting your fate, you reach the doors of the estate, with a fortress-like wall marking it out
a single plainly-dressed retainer girl is waiting, and opens the large vermillion doors for you
you enter the richly-decorated doors, into a square ornamental garden with a large pond and numerous trees - remarkably similar to the ones back in Japan
the retainer addresses you and says "Milady has arranged for a private meeting between yourself & her"
"You need not worry, you will be well cared for..." she says, before walking away and locking you in
she spoke surprisingly clear Japanese for a lowly servant girl, although her blonde hair and tan makes you think she's no local either
regardless, you walk in to the courtyard, filled with exotic and fragrant plants
leaning over the pond, you spot a tall woman with a rather strange silver head ornament, which appears to be slowly rotating
this seems like some kind of trick; you instinctively place your hand on the hilt of your katana, ready to draw it
you hear a voice, lower and different to the servant girl, asking to herself "Kronii koko?"
"Kronii doko~" she says, turning around and flashing a malicious grin
she is robed in an azure-blue hanbok, a Korean dress, quite the contrast to the autumnal plants surrounding her
the woman's large breasts are immediately eye-catching and obvious, with a curious hole in her dress underneath & between them
she's armed, too, with two golden, oversized, heart-shaped blades, kept at her sides
but you don't recognise her from the battles you've fought - the swords look far more ornamental than practical
but you recall the tales from your soldiers of that female youkai amongst the enemy, seductive and murderous
she is easily tall enough to fit the bill, too
you remain cautiously still as she walks elegantly towards you, twirling a blue parasol
foolishly, you remember your etiquette momentarily
you bow to your foreign equal, and when you look up she is nowhere to be seen
the last thing you hear is an ominous, playful giggle in your ears
hand still on your sword hilt, you are suddenly knocked out cold with a strike to the head from behind

you regain consciousness in what looks almost like a throne room

but powerful as Lady Kronii was supposed to be, she was no queen of this land
unless she had taken you somewhere else, that is
as you get up, you notice Kronii sitting smugly on her chair, watching you
"Lady Kronii!" you bellow, "What is the meaning of this? I am Takeshi Sekkusu, and I am here to negotiate my freedom, not be held captive!"
Kronii simply laughs
"Ohohoho, you poor thing, you must know by now that's no longer neccessary. You are a fugitive, and even I cannot change that - I have a different plan for you."
you look at her angriliy though silent as she continues
"You are to remain here with me as my personal servant"
"and trophy of war~" she giggles, with shameful implications
this enrages you and you draw your katana
"This will not stand, I will defend my honour or die trying!"
you run towards her, aiming to strike her down for trying to enslave you
yet she disappears immediately, and you are tripped up as you look for her
"You idiot, did you really think that would work?" Kronii stands over you, sword drawn and pointed at your unarmoured throat
"Surely you know all who deny my perfection meet their end? I am Ouro Kronii, Warden of Time, before which you are a plaything"
you scramble around but cannot grab your katana without being pierced and killed instantly
"I can skip time back and forth at a whim, until you are dust & gone, so don't even try it"
you'd heard of her power, and now you knew its source
"Your men thought I was a man-eating youkai, you know, that's why they handed you over. They'd rather preserve themselves"
you'd been betrayed by your own soldiers, even as you'd paid their ransom
"And mmm, maybe they are right. A fool who cannot fight is no daimyo. Perhaps you will make a better dish than daimyo after all"
this woman was far from mere mortal, and now she threatened to make a meal of you
to be killed by a woman, even one of such power, seemed a great dishonour to you, and you attempt to draw your wakizashi for ritual suicide
"Go on, use that silly knife of yours, try and end it, and make cutting you up all the easier"
as you reach for it, it is gone from your sheath, thrown out of your reach
"You're not escaping that easily" she says, and she kicks you several times in a weakpoint of your armour
or what should be a weakpoint, it seems she's removed your armour when stopping time
the pain is surprisingly intense and this woman clearly knows her fighting techniques
you concede defeat, powerless and laying on the ground
"Giving up already? You can't have lost to the "clock" that quickly, Takeshi?" blurts out Kronii, confused at your sudden submission
the way she says "clock" is ominous, like it's a euphemism for something
"Now, my loyal servant...I want you at my feet, where you belong"
this is all wrong, it was supposed to be you, Takeshi, getting women to serve you as a conqueror, and now what are you doing?
grovelling, like a pig - but you know Kronii will skewer you like one if you don't act fast
already you can see your arms & armour hung up on the wall like hunting trophies
you get to your hands and knees, and crawl to the woman's bare feet
she gently pats your head, pleased you followed her orders
"That's better, now, remember, if you defy me again I will freeze you in place and kill you with a thousand cuts"
you know this is no empty threat
"So you will obey me from now on, "Lord" Takeshi"
"Yes, Milady" you state with a form of respect you normally reserved for the Shogun
"Now then, I shall escort you to my private chambers...I have another servant, a former wokou, who I would like to introduce you to..."
"And I believe my favourite clock needs a careful polish"
you have a bad feeling about this

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Pub: 01 Sep 2021 06:32 UTC
Views: 317