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The snow-covered valley seemed to stretch endlessly, a bleak and desolate landscape as far as the eye could see. The cold was unbearable, biting into every exposed inch of skin, but it wasn't the cold that made your heart race-it was the distant war shouts echoing across the valley. The Northern army was charging, their numbers far too many to count. The overwhelming sounds of war grew louder with every passing moment, and it became clear that your army which was small in number compared to those of the North and it was not going to stand a chance unless something drastic was done.

Amid the chaos, Yuki's commanding voice rang out, urging the soldiers to prepare for battle. You barely heard him-your mind was already working, calculating. Your eyes scanned the scene. The Northern enemy was a tide about to crash upon you, their forces far too numerous to contend with head-on. But there was one thing you had: a cannon.

The Northern troops had been quick to fire, but in the chaos, one cannon had been left behind, untouched. Your heart raced, but there was no hesitation. As the rest of the soldiers readied themselves for the impending assault, you darted forward, ignoring the shouts of your comrades, your boots slipping and sliding through the snow.

The cold air burned your lungs as you made your way toward the abandoned cannon, your hands shaking with adrenaline. The Northern enemy was drawing nearer, their battle cries deafening, but you couldn't let fear take over. You had to think fast. You struck the cannon into the snow, desperate to find the lint and steel to light it. You fumbled for a moment, hands freezing, but managed to get the spark to catch, setting the cannon alight.

The Northern general, riding ahead of his men, saw your actions and laughed mockingly, his voice cutting through the wind. "You think your aim will stop us?" he taunted, his voice carrying over the field.

But you didn't care about his words. You were focused on one thing-one plan. The enemy was closing in, and you needed to make sure the cannon was aimed at the snow-filled mountain behind them. The rumbling sound of hooves grew louder as the general raised his sword, preparing to strike.

You could see the enemy's soldiers charging at you, but you remained undeterred. You fired the cannon, aiming at the mountain with all your strength. For a moment, there was silence, and then the earth beneath you began to tremble.

The enemy general's laughter faltered as the ground shook, and suddenly the snow began to move. An avalanche. A massive, roaring wave of snow came crashing down the mountain, sweeping through the valley with terrifying speed. The ground trembled beneath your feet as the avalanche hurtled toward you and the advancing enemy. You had made it work. The Northern troops were caught in the snowstorm, buried beneath the deadly rush of ice and snow.

But the avalanche didn't stop there. The snow rumbled closer, and you realized you weren't out of danger yet. The ground beneath you was becoming unstable, the weight of the snow threatening to consume you too. Your heart raced, and you spun around, scrambling to get away.

Your horse, sensing your urgency, galloped toward you, its hooves pounding the snow-covered ground. You managed to mount it just in time, urging it forward with every ounce of strength left in you. The avalanche was still coming, and you barely outran it. The rumble of snow crashing down on the battlefield seemed endless, but you pushed forward, the snow behind you devouring everything in its path.

But the danger wasn't over. As you looked to your side, you saw Yuki, struggling in the snow. He was helping one of the soldiers, but his own footing had been compromised. His hand reached out from beneath the snow, barely visible. You didn't think-you just acted.

Without hesitation, you raced back toward him, your heart pounding in your chest. The snow was thick, the air nearly impossible to breathe through, but you didn't care. You reached for Yuki's hand, your grip slipping as the snow around you shifted, but you mustered all your strength, pulling him up and out of the snow.

Together, you managed to stagger back toward the rest of the army, who had now gathered to watch the aftermath of the avalanche. The Northern troops were buried beneath the snow, their numbers decimated by your desperate gambit. Your comrades cheered, celebrating the victory, but you didn't share in their joy.

Blood soaked through your clothes, warmth mixing with the freezing cold. You felt your strength drain, and the world around you seemed to blur. You could hear Yuki calling your name, his voice filled with concern, but you could barely respond. Everything felt distant, as if you were floating, detached from your own body.

"Get him to the healer!" Yuki shouted, panic in his voice as he moved to support you.

But you were fading, your vision darkening. You had saved the army. You had saved Yuki. But now, you weren't sure if you could save yourself. As the darkness closed in, you couldn't help but smile faintly, knowing the battle had been won. Your mission had been completed.

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The morning after the battle had been won was quiet, eerily so. The snow had settled around the camp, and the once-echoing war cries had been replaced by the somber murmurs of soldiers who were still processing the victory they had narrowly achieved. Yet, amidst the celebration, one crucial figure was missing from the ranks-Taro, the man who had planned the avalanche that buried the Northern army and saved them all.

Inside the medic tent, the doctor stepped out slowly, his face pale and unreadable. His eyes darted toward Yuki, who had been pacing anxiously, waiting for any news. The moment their eyes met, Yuki's breath caught in his chest. The doctor's hesitation only deepened his unease.

"Is... is he going to make it?" Yuki's voice was a strained whisper, his usual confidence shattered by the uncertainty of the situation.

The doctor glanced over his shoulder into the tent where Taro lay, then met Yuki's gaze again. His lips parted, but no words came. He merely nodded, but it wasn't the confirmation Yuki had been hoping for. It wasn't the all-clear that he needed to hear. The silence that followed weighed heavily on Yuki's heart, pressing down on him with an unbearable force.

Yuki entered the tent with slow, deliberate steps, his boots muffled by the thick carpet of snow outside. Inside, Taro was awake, his eyes blinking in confusion, though still disoriented. The bindings that wrapped around his chest, his identity was unmistakable. It was Taro, but something it was not him either. When Taro's eyes met his, he scrambled to cover with the woolen blanket but that would be too late.

Yuki's throat tightened as he stood at the entrance, just staring. His heart clenched. The soldier who had fought beside him so fiercely, the man who had saved them all... was a woman.

The realization hit him like the avalanche. A long moment passed, and all Yuki could do was stand there, uncertain, unable to reconcile what he was seeing with the image he had in his mind. His breath caught as his mind reeled-Taro was a woman. How long had he-no-she been hiding this? Why? It was then that it all began to sink in, and before he could process further, he turned abruptly and left the tent without a word.

The silence in the camp was thick with tension. Yuki walked out, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know what to think-didn't know what to do.

Without warning, the secretary marched toward the medic tent. Not even a minute later, the secretary emerged from the tent, dragging Taro behind him by her hair, the blanket covering her body like a shroud. The camp's soldiers watched with a mixture of confusion and fear, unsure of what they were seeing. Yuki stood frozen, his mind still spinning.

The secretary thrust her forward in front of the rest of the army, his voice sharp and venomous. "This is no army-this witch-" He paused for dramatic effect before ripping the blanket off her shoulders, and untying her bun exposing her form to everyone in the camp. "Is a woman!" His voice rang through the still air. "A treacherous snake!"

The soldiers gasped, murmurs rippling through the crowd. His gaze fell on Taro-Her long, shoulder-length hair gave her definite features of a woman. It was no longer tucked under a man's bun, the disguise she had so carefully crafted, and now, the truth was laid bare.

"My name is Y/N," she said, her voice trembling as she met Yuki's eyes, her tone pleading. "I did it to save my father!" her hands laid bare in the snow, her expression desperate, but the weight of her words hung in the air. "I never meant for it to go this far."

Yuki's eyes flickered to the secretary, whose face was twisted with rage, and then to the soldiers, who were still struggling to grasp the gravity of what was unfolding before them.

"High treason!" The secretary's voice was filled with anger, his words harsh and condemning.

"I didn't mean for it to go this far!" Y/N repeated, her voice breaking.

"Ultimate dishonor!" the secretary spat, his eyes blazing. "You've deceived us all, and for what? To put us in danger? To pretend to be something you are not?"

Yuki's hands clenched into fists at his sides. The air felt thick and suffocating as he moved slowly toward Y/N, who stood there, vulnerable and exposed. Her shoulders trembled as she faced him, her gaze pleading for understanding, for belief.

"I didn't-" Y/N began again, but the words died in her throat as Yuki approached, his steps deliberate. He moved past her, heading toward the soldiers who held her sword. The tension was unbearable. Every soldier in the camp stood watching, waiting for the inevitable.

Yuki took the sword from one of the soldiers, his grip firm as he examined the blade. The weight of it seemed heavier now, its once comforting presence now carrying the weight of a choice. His gaze flicked over to Tatsunori, Tomo, and Taishi, who were stepping forward, their faces filled with disbelief and anger.

"We won't stand for this," Tatsunori declared, his voice rising, as Tomo and Taishi moved to his side, their eyes locked on the secretary. They were ready to fight, to defend their comrade.

But the secretary stepped in front of them, raising a hand to stop them. "No! She is a traitor! A spy!"

Y/N looked down at the ground, her body rigid, but her eyes remained fixed on Yuki. Her breathing quickened as she braced herself for what was to come. She had never meant for this to happen. She had wanted to save her father, to protect them all, and yet here she stood, exposed and broken, unable to fight the consequences.

Yuki stood still, his mind whirling. He could feel his soldiers' eyes on him, waiting for him to make a decision. A life for a life. The words rang in his ears. The debt he owed, the weight of it. Y/N had saved them, but at what cost? She had risked everything for them, and now, the consequence would fall on her.

Without a word, Yuki strode toward her, his steps slow and deliberate. He reached into the snow and threw the sword down in front of her.

"A life for a life. My debt is repaid," he said, his voice low and final. "Move out!"

The command was cold, clear. Yuki turned without another word, his back to her, his expression unreadable.

The secretary opened his mouth to protest, but Yuki silenced him with a sharp glance. "I said, move out," he repeated, his voice unwavering.

The Southern army, silent and solemn, began to march away, leaving Y/N standing alone in the snow, her horse by her side. She looked out at the retreating figures, her heart sinking in her chest. Her life had been crushed in the cold winds of the battlefield, and now, all she could do was stand there, abandoned by the very people she had fought to protect yet she knew she deserved it.

The soldiers, having completed their victory, didn't understand what had just transpired. To them, Y/N was still Taro, the man who had risked everything.

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The night air in the Southern city center was thick with the sounds of revelry and celebration. The people cheered and danced, waving lanterns high, their faces glowing in the warm light of the fires as the streets thrummed with excitement. The Southern army had returned victorious, having secured a win against the Northern forces. It was a hard-earned victory, and the citizens rejoiced at the defeat of their enemy.

Yuki, standing tall with his men, made his way through the center of the city, his face unreadable, despite the cheers around him. His soldiers, walking alongside him, exchanged tired smiles but said little. Their armor was worn, their faces grim, the weight of the battle still fresh in their minds. Their victory was celebrated by others, but within their ranks, there was only a heavy silence, the kind that came with the cost of war.

They walked past the bustling crowds, their steps echoing against the stone streets. As they neared the entrance of the Southern imperial castle, their anticipation was not of celebration but of a more formal, somber meeting with the Southern lords. The three lords-Nasu, Yamanaka, and Yahaguri-stood waiting outside the castle steps, their expressions unreadable, their eyes focused on the approaching army. The lords' silence was deafening. The celebrations in the city were far from their minds.

Yuki's gaze swept over them, noting the rigid composure in each lord's posture. His thoughts wandered briefly to the meeting ahead, knowing well that the lords would not share in the same joy the people had expressed. They were concerned with the greater implications, with strategy and power, and the fleeting nature of military victories.

Inside the grand halls of the castle, the Southern lord awaited them-the ruler whose lands had been threatened, and whose name carried the weight of an entire region.

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Elsewhere, outside the city, a lone figure sat silently in the cold. Y/N, now dressed in the simple tunic once more, her chest tight from the weight of the events that had transpired, had found a place to gather her thoughts in the snow-covered wilderness. A single tear traced down her cheek as she sat, her mind replaying the moment she had been left behind. The rejection stung, but she had expected no less. Her heart still ached, though, for the betrayal of her true identity, and the debt she had tried so hard to repay.

She rose from the snow, her body stiff, and prepared to mount her horse. As she adjusted her tunic, her hands trembled, the chill biting into her skin, but she did not pause. She had a mission now, one that would not allow her the luxury of lingering on past hurts.

Just as she was about to mount, the faint sound of distant shouting reached her ears, faint at first, but unmistakable. Her sharp eyes scanned the horizon, and then she saw it-the shadow of a hawk, soaring high in the sky, a figure casting its own silhouette against the nearing night. The wind whipped through the rocks, carrying with it the sound of something that made her blood run cold.

From around a bend, she saw the unmistakable figure of the Northern general, climbing slowly out of the snow, his breath a white plume in the night air. He looked around, his eyes sharp, and then, with a roar, his voice rang through the stillness of the night. The figure of the general was joined by five soldiers, and together they made their way down the snowy path. Their destination was clear. The imperial city.

The weight of the moment hit her like a surge of adrenaline. Y/N's heart pounded, her mind flashing back to everything she had witnessed-the destruction, the deception, and the battle they had fought. She couldn't stand by and let them approach the city unchallenged.

Without a second thought, she grabbed her sword from its place against the rocks, the familiar weight of it comforting in her grip. She didn't hesitate as she mounted her horse, the cold wind whipping through her hair as she rode swiftly toward the city.

The path ahead was perilous, but she didn't care. Her purpose was clear. The Northern general had come to the very gates of the city, and Y/N would not allow her people to suffer the same fate again. She would not let this victory be taken from them so easily.

The sound of hooves rang out in the stillness of the night as she galloped forward, heading straight for the imperial city. The darkness of the night only fueled her determination. Y/N's eyes were fixed on the path ahead, and as the city loomed closer in the distance, she knew there was no turning back.

This was no longer about her past or the identity she had hidden. It was about protecting the people, about stopping the Northern general from turning their victory into defeat. The battle was far from over, and this time, she would be the one to decide the outcome.

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Unedited

Author's note:

I was listening to some music earlier and got the idea of writing a pirate au so maybe (Just maybe) I'll start an outline? But with whoooo???

riariesquillᝰ.ᐟ