037. Demand tribute from the enemy.

"Since they are on the run, why don't we just sue for peace and force them to repay us for damages," I said trying to sound calm and rational.

The entire tent was quiet for a few moments with Mister Takahashi finally speaking up. "I like the way this boy thinks!" After that, he pretty much took over the whole meeting and only a few hours later I found myself riding a horse with just him and a few guards back to the enemy camp.

"Why am I here?" I nervously asked more to myself than anything else, but Mister Takahashi clearly thought I was speaking to him.

"You're our ace in the hole, my boy!" he said cheerfully. "From your description, they should be scared silly of you. And worst comes to worst you're here to finish the job." He sounded so confident. I squeezed the handle of the Honda katana I had stolen in my dream state and didn't think I could reproduce that kind of magical killing ability at will so really hoped I wouldn't need to.

In the morning light and from the ground everything looked different, but as we approached we met a couple of guards who raised their spears to halt us and harshly barked a challenge in their own language. While I had understood it last night, now I only had the context that it meant 'stop and identify yourself.' Mister Takahashi however immediately started yammering away in their strange tongue without any hesitation. In seconds one of them left and quickly returned with some kind of lieutenant for their army that spoke our tongue.

"What bring you here?" the tall blue-haired man asked raggedly of Mister Takahashi, but then he saw me and quickly drew his katana as he angrily barked commands back in his native language.

"Whoa, whoa! Take it easy!" Mister Takahashi yelled as soldiers flooded around us, spears leveled at us. Then he patted my shoulder, not to get my attention, but theirs, saying something else in their choppy language.

"Talk anymore and we kill you now," was all the lieutenant said as if it was a challenge.

Then with a serious glance and nod from Mister Takahashi, I knew it was all up to me. My stomach clenched as I gulped down all my doubts and fears before letting my hand squeeze the handle of the Honda katana once more. A moment later, I turned my gaze to the nearest guard and steeled myself in preparation to end him as I slowly and deliberately drew the sword.

The guard I singled out was clearly spooked and sweating as he watched unmoving, nervous as he watched me prepare my weapon, yet unwilling to act against me on that alone. The next soldier over shouted until my stare fell on him. With only my piecing stare his demeanor changed instantly from cautious to mortally terrified, as did the next one I looked at. Then with a quick flinch, as if I was about to attack, all three simultaneously dropped their weapons and ran. A panic quickly took the rest of them as I turned my fear-inspiring glare over the rest of them and in seconds only the lieutenant stood before us, petrified in place. Then I approached him slowly, yet confidently sliding my sword back into its sheath.

"Now, about your surrender..." Mister Takahashi chuckled.

A few hours later their camp was empty and our army was picking through the abandoned remains while the war council had lunch in the huge chief's tent. The former chief's blood still coating the golden throne where I slew him last night, though it seemed of little concern to anyone. Through the midday meal, Mister Takahashi never seemed to tire of retelling his first-hand accounting of our morning encounter, but all my thoughts rested on what to do with the three young girls in chains who now served us.

I couldn't take my eyes off of them, yet was too shocked still to say anything to them, unsure how to refuse the unexpected gift of these beautiful foreign girls as my own personal slaves for slaying their former master. Mister Takahashi said I should be proud of claiming them, but I couldn't help but think of the pain and hurt he and his family had inflicted on Chizu who was in a similar position at home. I didn't want to be a slave owner like him, yet the sight of the three of them dressed as they were in skimpy silks and chains with exposed thighs and bellies was making my pants rather uncomfortable. And I knew I wasn't the only one either, though that issue didn't come to a head until Shinji joined us.

"Yeah, now this is more like it!" Shinji cheered and grabbed the nearest of the trio who held a platter of snacks up to him. "Time for the real spoils of victory!" he laughed, his hands already burrowing under her silks to grope at one of her tender breasts.

"Leave her alone," I spoke with calm disgust. "These girls are mine."

"Oh, come on, Kenji," Shinji complained with a laugh. He didn't let her go and continued at his rough molestation as she grimaced yet didn't resist out of fear. "Looks like you got enough to share."

I stood and simply yet seriously asked, "Are you giving up Setsuko then?"

"What? No. This is just..." he stammered clearly not expecting to be called out on his engagement to Mister Takahashi's daughter right then. "Slaves don't count as cheating..." he began, but I cut the legs out from under that argument.

"Mister Takahashi, what is the legal punishment for the rape of another man's slave?" I asked, still not raising my voice above normal conversational tone.

"Um, well... A yes..." he babbled, as surprised to be pulled into this as he had his own new slave girl sitting in his lap. "That would be theft, so the perpetrator losing a hand, or rather... er, ah... the offending body part," he said squirming uncomfortably in his chair.

"Fine!" he growled and pushed the poor girl away and stormed out of the tent. I thought about chasing after him, but coyly thought up a better plan.

"Mister Takahashi," I began.

"Please, my boy. Call me Hiro," he chuckled before happily eating a peeled olive from the fingers of his slave girl's fingers.

"We are leaving," I declared. "Your daughter has waited long enough for her wedding, don't you think?"

"What? Oh, yes, I suppose, but..." Mister Takahashi muttered.

"Good, we are going. Go tell Shinji and meet me at the horses." Then my gaze shifted to my father. "I trust you can bring home the rest of my belongings tomorrow... intact," I stressed, making him grimace at the implied insult, but I didn't even wait for his response before quickly exiting the tent myself. Everything about this place was getting on my nerves and I just wanted to go home now.

I saddled my horse and only had to wait ten minutes for the other two to reluctantly follow. Hiro had obviously convinced Shinji somehow and I hadn't waited idly. Their horses were ready to ride as well, and while neither seemed happy about leaving so suddenly, Mister Takahashi claimed to be excited to get back home. He proclaimed how it was time to put this whole war behind them and seemed to goad Shinji on my assuring him Setsuko would surely be most excited to see and marry him as soon as we returned. He was silently grumpy for the first several hours of our long trim back, but thankfully that just kept him from stupidly talking to me.

No matter how much I wanted to make it, we didn't get home that day. At nightfall, we stopped at the small village in the hills just before the treacherous isthmus that led to our town. At their one small inn, they gratefully feasted and celebrated news of our victory, yet Mister Takahashi drank far too much. Before he passed out he proclaimed how everything and everyone was funny, then was carried to a bed at the inn that had been prepared for him. Shinji also consumed more than a bit, while I found myself increasingly annoyed by every little thing, most especially Shinji's flirtations with a somewhat cute local girl. I bit my tongue and just watched in disgust as they whispered and touched each other under the table, then he took her hand and stood up.

"Where are you going?" I asked already knowing.

"For a walk," was all he said, though his knowing glance to the girl set her to blushing indecently.

"I don't think Setsuko would like that," I spat at his bald-faced lie.

"Well, I'm not fucking married to the cow yet, now am I?" he laughed and walked away from me with the girl in tow and walked out into the night. I ground my teeth in hatred, totally ignoring the fact that I probably could have done the same thing with half a dozen of the other girls who continued to serve me food. Instead, I ignored them for another hour before I went to my room, angry and alone. I restlessly tried to sleep, but was woken up by Shinji drunkenly stumbling into his room right next to mine and he still wasn't alone. I assume it we the same girl, but it could have been another one for all I knew.

He shushed her childish giggles to keep her quiet, but all too soon she was moaning instead. I rolled over trying not to listen, but then his bed started thumping on the wall. They were rutting loudly and now I knew getting to sleep would be impossible. Disgust boiling up inside my belly, I stood up and went out my door. My fist was ready to pound on the door when I heard Shinji cry out stop; it was over already. Still, I stood there for a few moments more, just to be sure, and revolted by the thought that I'd just overheard them fucking, and then the door opened before me.

The startled naked girl emerged holding her clothed and squeaked with surprise at seeing me. "I said get out!" Shinji growled crudely without even looking from where he lay on the bed. The girl, nearly in tears from being used and so quickly discarded pushed past me. Forcing past me I watched her run naked ass leaking the jerk's cum down her leg leaving uneven white drops on the wooden floor as she ran. Despite everything else I don't think I had ever hated Shinji more than I did at that moment.

I closed the door on the already snoring jerk and vowed to make sure he would pay for his foolish heartlessness. The next morning I ignored him and his soon to be father-in-law, just focusing on getting home quickly and trying to plot some way to really teach him a lesson. I was too angry and ugly with Shinji to speak with him or anyone else, but almost forgot about my anger when we got home.

"What’s going on?" I asked seeing people crowded atop the guard tower waiving at us franticly.

"Ah, good. I paid a messenger to ride here last night to bring the word of our victory home," Mister Takahashi said approvingly. "No doubt a full city-wide celebration has been prepared."

"Alright!" Shinji cheered riding right into the welcoming adoration followed happily by Mister Takahashi. There was no avoiding it so I tried to smile and catch up. It looked like every old man and woman, along with every single child had all come out to crowd up the streets, all excitedly cheering for us, welcoming home their heroes. I was just starting to let the excitement down me in the joy at being in the center of attention for the first time in my life when I watched Shinji scoop up his beautiful fiancée Setsuko into his lap, then gave her a deep and passionately kiss, much to the clamorous applause of the mob.

Watching that made my blood boil. I might have drawn my sword and run him down right then if I hadn't heard my name called out. Looking down I spotted three girls all looking at me. Yuki with her pink hair in cute pigtails was jumping up and down cheering my name next to my sister. Kouki looked like she was crying, probably worried to death when I disappeared a day ago. Finally next to her was Hazuka who was also smiling and calling out my name. With a quick desire to do something, I stretched out my hand to similarly bring someone up into my lap.